Book Review: The Smoke Thief

"For centuries they’ve lived in secret among northern England’s green and misted hills. Creatures of extraordinary beauty, power, and sensuality, they possess the ability to shape-shift from human to dragon and back again. Now their secret–and their survival–is threatened by a temptation that will break every boundary....

Dubbed the Smoke Thief, a daring jewel thief is confounding the London police. His wealthy victims claim the master burglar can walk through walls and vanish into thin air. But Christoff, the charismatic Marquess of Langford, knows the truth: the thief is no ordinary human but a “runner” who’s fled Darkfrith without permission. As Alpha leader of the dra´kon, it’s Kit’s duty to capture the fugitive before the secrets of the tribe are revealed to mortals. But not even Kit suspects that the Smoke Thief could be a woman. 

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne knew her dangerous exploits would attract the attention of the dra´kon. But she didn’t expect Christoff himself to come to London, dangling the tribe’s most valuable jewel–the Langford Diamond–as bait. For as long as she could remember, Rue had lived the life of a halfling–half dra´kon, half mortal–and an outcast in both worlds. She’d always loved the handsome and willful Kit from the only place it was safe: from afar. But now she was no longer the shy, timid girl she’d once been. She was the first woman capable of making the Turn in four generations. So why did she still feel the same dizzying sense of vulnerability whenever he was near? 

From the moment he saw her, Kit knew that the alluring and powerful beauty was every bit his Alpha equal and destined to be his bride. And by the harsh laws of the dra´kon, Rue knew that she was the property of the marquess. But they will risk banishment and worse for a chance at something greater. For now Rue is his prisoner, the diamond has disappeared, and she’s made the kind of dangerous proposition a man like Kit cannot resist....In this bewitching novel, Shana Abé transports us into a world of exhilarating romance and magic"
 

5/5

To start this review I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of romance. You know, the romance books with the busty beauty clinging to the muscled scoundrel on the cover? Or something along those lines. I do read them, once in a blue moon, but otherwise I find them absolutely ridiculous. 

When I first read about this book I assumed it was just going to be about dragons with an under touch of romance. I didn't notice the blaring obvious 'HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF THE YEAR' (and usually historical romances are the worst) on the front cover. But the library mostly covers those with bar codes. And I didn't read the summery well enough either..but it was listed in the 'Dragons' area and I never really thought of mixing dragons with romance novels (duh! but now I know there are quite a lot of books like that).

And so I was surprised with the more romance then I expected. But it actually wasn't too bad. The romance was mild, no sudden 'passionate, intense' moments that make me want to laugh. No, The Smoke Thief is far more entertaining than that. The storyline is interesting and not bogged down by ridiculous descriptions of 'red, hot desire'. The romance moments, which were few, were believable.

The characters, the characters! Clarissa Rue Hawthorne, our heroine, is a jewel thief. She's bright, beautiful, witty, brave, independent and incredibly cool-minded.  She knows how to put on an act when need be. Rue is the first female to make the Turn (which is a smoke like state and then they can turn into a dragon after that) in four generations. When she makes the Turn on her seventeenth birthday she fakes her own death knowing her fate if the tribe learns of her Turn.

Christoff 'Kit', Marquess of Langford, alpha of the drakon, is our hero. He's the sleepy eyed, witty, amused heartthrob. Oh, and of course he's complete drooling material. When he finds Rue and learns she's a Turned female he's determined to have her. Now, that might sound utterly degrading and obsessive but you have to understand the drakon culture. Throughout the book it's stated many times that they are not humans, they are dragons. More animalistic like but don't let that turn you off, he doesn't ravish her on site (thank the lord! or I would have tossed the book if that happened) no, he intends to persuade her with his charming wit.

Zane is a twelve year old orphaned boy whom Rue picked up because he saw her in her Turned state. He's rude, quick-minded, sarcastic, loyal and a bit impulsive. He makes a few appearances in the book but plays a vital role. Zane gets his own starring role in the sequel, The Dream Thief. 

I really recommend this book. It has dragons and a jewel thief after all. The writing is beautiful, especially the prologue and epilogue. Oh, and as a side note for the prologue and epilogue, Others are humans, I got very confused while reading that but it didn't distract from the beautiful woven words.

Summery was taken from Goodreads.