Book Review: "The Dead Dragon Job" by Anne Lyle

 

Twenty years ago a dragon stole their loot - now they're stealing it back!

When Lord Jesper Winterglass rides into town with a dead dragon in tow, he instantly becomes the hero of the hour. The fact that no dragon has been seen near the city in centuries, or that the gold and jewels in the creature’s hoard must presumably have belonged to someone else once upon a time, doesn’t seem to bother Ravensby’s citizens. Most of them, anyway.

Detective Inspector Freya Gitasdottir has built her career on finding missing persons and lost valuables, and her investigations into the hoard’s original owners soon lead her to alleged jewel thief Lucian Thorne. But is he really a hardened criminal, or simply another victim of the arrogant, decadent Gentry who rule the kingdom of Alfheim?

Freya’s loyalties—and her magical talents—are stretched to the limit as she tries to find a middle way between the letter of the law and the dictates of her conscience. Because if she fails, the dragon isn’t the only one who’ll end up dead. - from Booksirens.com

This ARC was provided to me through Booksirens.com and I am leaving an unbiased review.

This is book one of a new series titled 'Winterglass & Thorne' and I admit, the only reason I looked at this one, was because the cover are attracted my eye. Once I read the plot synopsis, it intrigued me enough to request a copy for review. Sadly I was a bit let down.

In all truth, I did not finish this book. I made it around halfway through when I just could not stay in attention mode to complete anymore, though I did try again after several days. I liked the world design, with the intermixing of mythologies, even the ones I didn't understand, but was increasingly frustrated with the mount of racism between racial classes, and only the long-lived (elf-type) were the rich ones (though that makes perfect sense). There was just too much of it. Add in the prejudicial thoughts/sayings of many against the main character, a female law officer, and even her colleagues... It all was just too much. I am sure that it is part of the story to help make her breaks in the case appear as bigger events. 

I do enjoy a good story with a strong female lead, and this has the workings for it. I just felt that the attitudes of the masses against the character was way overboard. Some of the side characters did not seem to act/think as someone in their position would, or with the intelligence they should have. I think if those could be "banked down" this could be a good story.