Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter

August 6, 2018
The first book in MacAlister’s fluffy new series featuring dragons and demons is bursting with the author’s trademark zany humor and spicy romance (as seen in The Vampire Always Rises). Veronica is a teacher with OCD and a burning desire to write a novel during her summer break. Her plans are disrupted when her absentee half-sister, Helen, calls to beg for Veronica’s help. Suddenly Veronica’s possessed of a sword and carrying out Helen’s dying request: protecting a woman and her two children from demons. Unfortunately, Veronica’s mysterious new neighbor, Ian, is enough to provide a very delicious distraction. Ian is a tired, tormented half-dragon, half-demon hybrid called a dragon hunter, whose sole purpose is killing demons to protect innocents. Inconveniently, he’s bound to a demon lord who delights in manipulating him. When his mission collides with Veronica’s, neither demonkind nor humankind is safe. Lighthearted humor and an offbeat cast are just enough to elevate the simple, occasionally confusing plot, ensuring this quick tale will delight paranormal romance fans. Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary.

Hillary Huber's narration rescues MacAlister's complicated demon universe, achieving excellence with self-aware humor and empathy for MacAlister's motley characters. Ronnie James, a teacher and would-be writer, struggles with OCD and a fear of germs. So she's definitely out of her comfort zone with the dragon hunter powers and urgent mission bequeathed to her by her sister. Ronnie's hilarious asides about hand sanitizer and her personal boundary issues are perfectly delivered. Huber makes believable Ronnie's relationship with fellow hunter Ian, portraying him with a gravelly voice that is sometimes determined, sometimes resigned to Ronnie's outlandish ideas. Secondary characters like Ronnie's friend Teresita and members of an obscure demonic religion are equally madcap. Huber's full-bodied rendition makes this story an "audio only" pleasure. C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine