Cover Image: Killing Dragons

Killing Dragons

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Member Reviews

I really tried ' twice. 2nd time got 42% of way through.
Taffy"s baby fsther was so obvious that I felt I didnt need to read further - as were the stomach upsets.
It just didn't grip me and the style was a tad prosaic with no humour and little to lift the doom and gloom. In fact, for me , the writing style dragged. And I was not interested enough to read further and find the solutions.

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This book was quite an intriguing read. I was attracted to this book because of my background in marine biology. I loved the mix of science, suspense, and the little hints of romance. This book flows at a moderate pace but it doesn't bore you. I gave this a 4/5 because I found some details a little bit far-fetched. Like my scientific mind won't wrap around some of it...other than that, this book was great and I do want to read the rest of this series.

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Sharks and dinosaurs and all things dolphins? What a killer combination! I loved this fantasy about creatures from the deep and our own doing. The adventure kept me intrigued to turn the page and the writing was interesting enough that I was kept immersed into the text. Recommend this book for all those that like creatures that go bump in the night.

Thanks to Netgalley and Delphi Imprint for a great introduction to Ms. Clark's work!

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I'm a sucker for massive lizards and this book have them in such satisfying way. The story made my heart racing, it's brilliant and fun! Can't wait to read the next book

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The ocean has always fascinated me. Any story that takes place in the ocean has a leg up when it comes time to pick my next read. When I saw Killing Dragons by Kristie Clark, I just knew I had to read the book even though I did not know anything about the author or the storyline. The cover and the thought of sea monsters alone was enough to draw me in looking for an aquatic thrill.



Eva Paz was finally living her dream. Well, kind of living her dream, that is. She was studying dolphins and felt like she was on the verge of a breakthrough. It would have been perfect except that funding was tight and she was in danger of losing her grant. Things got even worse when a mysterious sea creature starts attacking people and animals around the island and fear begins to shut things down. When one of her own dolphins is attacked, things get personal. Fueled by anger and desperate need to support her family, she begins to investigate the mystery behind the sea creature and consider an offer from a drug lord, Ignacio, that would make her money problems disappear.



Things are further complicated for Eva when Thomas Sternberg, a geneticist and former boyfriend, arrives. Eva bears mental scars from a tragedy that occurred in her past in which Thomas was a part. She has no choice but to turn to him for help, though, as the monster lurking in the depths is hungry and becoming more aggressive. The creature threatens everything she has worked for and must be stopped. Eva is going to have to turn to one of the two men to help her stop the dragon. She must decide if she can overcome the painful memories of her time with Thomas and if Ignacio may be an even bigger evil. One thing is for sure, though. The dragon must either feed or be stopped.



With my fascination with the ocean and monsters, Killing Dragons was right in the zone for my interests and it did not disappoint. Kristie Clark is obviously building a series around the characters and there is ample time given to the characters and their background more so than would be the case in a standalone novel. I was not expecting that as I jumped at the book based on the premise and the picture without knowing it was the first book in a series. Once I figured that part out, I was fine with it because the novel was entertaining enough that it left me wanting more. The characters do come to life over the course of the novel and Clark does a good job of fleshing them out. Even the dolphins have distinct personalities that come through as the novel progresses.



That is not to say that there is not plenty of action in the novel as well. Clark does a good job of developing the story and characters while keeping the novel flowing. The story never seems to lag and the monster, or dragon, is a worthy adversary for the characters in the book. It is scary yet plausible (although I never really got much of its origin) and never seems to be a reach. Even though it is definitely a creature of fantasy, it feels real in the context of the novel. Killing Dragons is a bit of Jurassic Park meets Jaws but with a fresh twist that keeps it entertaining throughout. The novel sated my thirst for aquatic adventures and I would not hesitate to recommend it to any fan of thrillers or science fiction.



I would like to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this review copy. Killing Dragons is available now.

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This book gave me very much vibes from the Jaws movie as well as the Meg. It was quick and fast-paced, loaded with scientific stuff but I did not have much trouble understanding it so that wasn't too bad. I really liked how fast-paced the book was and how I did get quite a couple of laughs and of course, the romance was great! Clark clearly knows how to write a good book and I am excited to see what else there is in the future!

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This was a great start to the Order of the Dolphin series, it was great killer animal story. The animal was a interesting read and I enjoyed going on this journey.

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I thought this was a great book it was great at pulling me in and sucking me am I am I thought it was amazing I love the front cover I thought it’s absolutely gorgeous and I’m never read from this author before so I was a little bit sceptical at first but after reading this I think I will pick up other books by this author as I think that they were very detailed with the work but also didn’t lose my focus

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Good book, a nice and thrilling book to read on a lazy weekend at the beach or pool! But think twice before you dip your toes into the water!

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Wow! What can I say? I kept hearing good things about Kristie Clark’s novel but I didn’t think I’d be hooked from the first page. It is,quite frankly, a superb novel. Full of intrigue, mystery, scary situations and everything you’d want in a novel. And that’s before we discuss the creature itself.
It would be unfair to compare it with “Jaws” but I fear some reviewers may do just that. And that would be doing Kristie Clark a huge disservice. Her book stands on its own without needing to be compared to Peter Benchley’s. But the mystery and world building the novel encompasses cannot be faulted. It does what it has to, forming a visual picture in the readers mind.
There is a second book,in this series, which I will be checking out soon. But as a series opener, this book is a must read for all ages. It is highly enjoyable and I couldn’t put it down.
Grab yourself a copy and enjoy what Kristie Clark has created.

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Enjoyeable, well-written story about a marine biologist researching dolphin vocalisations coming together with paediatrician cum geneticist ex SEAL coming to the Caribbean to lead a dive school and their encounters with a drug cartel , fish farming and the sea dragon, Lusca, that is terrorising and killing locals. Great cover and great read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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The cover pulled me in and the story kept me there!!! Wow. I truly did enjoy this book and I didn’t think I would. Highly recommend

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This is one of those books which you don't know what you've got til you've started it. It really is a gem amongst a lot of rocks. But I don't think it's a book you would consider without thinking about it first. I thought about it for several days before I requested it. But I'm glad I did.

Admittedly, I feel the dolphins stole the show. But all the characters play a significant role. The book takes you on a journey with scenery that will take your breathe away.

When dealing with mythical creatures and local legends it takes a lot to separate the real from the myth. Most legends have an aspect of truth.
Does this novel have more truth than myth. Well guess you're going to have to read it to find out.

It's different, It's entertaining, at times mind blowing but overall it it intelligently written with just enough scientific information to make you think but not more than that. The science doesn't blow your mind, just adds to the story. If you want something different away from the beaten track give this a go. In it's own way it's epic.

Enjoy!

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I have always loved books about mythic creatures come to life, dinosaurs and the deep sea. Think Steve Alten, Michael Crichton, Peter Benchley! This book kept me reading long after I should have been asleep. At the end of each chapter I'd think "just a few pages more." Didn't happen. The heroine, Dr. Eva Paz is studying dolphins communication when she is approached by the head of a cartel, who wants her to help him hunt down and kill the "sea dragon, Lusca" who is terrorizing the area. Dr. Thomas Sternberg, a cancer researcher who played a significant part in her past, reunites with her and it is in both their interests to find the monster. Really fun, well written and imaginative. I have ordered book 2!
I was provided this copy by NetGalley in exchange for my unpaid, honest review.

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<b>ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review</b>
While I love a good sea monster story I wasn’t sure what to expect when diving into this. The blurb had me more than intrigued. Nothing scares me more than reminding myself how unexplored our planet’s ocean really is and so of course I love creepy underwater reads with caverns, monsters and life or death situations. I may love the beach and all the beautiful (non deadly) sea creatures, with the ocean hiding so many unknown horrors and creatures it’s hard not to be terrified of it as a whole. Killing Dragons was a great and fun read especially with the heroine and her studying the language of dolphins. It was the perfect blend of excitement, mystery, folklore and danger. I’m not a super genius when it comes to science but it really felt like the author knew what she was talking about and fiction or not, I thought made a rather plausible hypothesis that dolphins also use echolocation to speak via the sharing of images and giving names to things/people etc. I grew so attached to the heroines dolphins I truly was getting angry, and sooooo beyond worried something was going to happen to them like a stereotypical shock factor we’re used to in many forms of entertainment. Little did I know these dolphins are more badass than I gave them credit for and the author clearly did her best as well to keep them safe. I really enjoyed the book but I will say after the first few chapters I was slowly losing interest but once things started happening again and the ‘creature’ made itself known I was all in. The very minor romance was cute and a nice way to bring back old lovers and mend festering wounds between them. They may have gotten reallllllllly unbelievably lucky in the end in but it was karma at its finest if you ask me. The series ends on a good note so it can work as a standalone.

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Thank You to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

I especially loved how the author showcased Taffy and Finn, lovable dolphins, as main characters with their own thoughts and storyline. Come on, who doesn't love a book that brings to life the thoughts and feelings of animals.
There was great characterization with a action packed plot and a bit of romance to lighten things up.
Upon finishing this fun story, I immediately went in search of the second installment and can't wait to see what is in store for this group of characters next.

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I have to admit - it was the cover of the book that initially made me want to read this book. I was all into dinosaurs when I was young, and whenever I got the opportunity, I tried to catch a glimpse of the fossil remains of these mega monsters!
River Meuse is one of the major rivers that flows through the southern part of my country, before it drains into the North Sea. - and numerous fossils of mosasauridae are found in this particular area, where these gigantic seadragons were were once abundant during the Cretaceous period.

Eva has to make sure she doesn't los her research grant, making her face difficult choices, and Thomas, Navy Seal, who saved her from the clutches of a drug lord years ago, wants to help her. Will they be able to save the dolphins and be able to trust one another?

Short chapters, shifting from one protagonist to the other, made it initially hard for me to get into the story quickly.
Decent SF thriller a la Crichton. For fans.

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Good stuff. There's a lot going on here, and this book ticks a lot of boxes and thus will appeal to a fairly wide audience. I found it engaging and enjoyed watching many of the characters succeed or fail. Recommended for thriller fans.

Thanks very much for the free review copy!!

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A great start to a new series. This book has action, adventure, and a lot of great world building. The characters are great, but admittedly the dolphins steal the show! While there were times I skimmed through some of the overly done descriptions, I am looking forward to picking up book 2 and seeing what comes next for these characters.

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Sea monsters, horror on the ocean - a thoroughly underrepresented genre. When I read the premise for this novel I was beyond keen.

Eva is a marine biologist working to unlock the language of dolphins. When she is called it to offer an opinion on what appears to be a death by some oceanic creature, it appears that something unusual is in the waters and it is causing chaos.

As I mentioned before, the premise of this book was intriguing. It linked in the lore of the lusca, had interesting information about lion fish eradication programs in the area, safe diving practices and more that added to the detailed world.

However, poor decision making, inconsistent characterisations, and a muddled group of plot points took away from the story. There was a misunderstanding that persisted for half the book that added nothing to the plot, nor achieved anything when it was eventually cleared up. There was toxic fish due to the consumption of an algae bloom, and a historic incident with a drug cartel.

The ending had a Deus ex machina feel to it, and left a many unresolved questions.

I didn't love the book as much as I loved the concept. There was some great detail and interesting variations on the genre. Unfortunately it felt muddled and overall felt a bit flat. I would probably give it 2.5 stars. Could have been a much tighter novel with a more refined focus.

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