A Curse of Scales and Flame (Magic and Marvels #1) by Max Walker

So this was fun! I enjoyed the world building and it was good but there were a few holes in that world building. I’d like to more about the introduction of magical creatures into our world, and the consequences of that. I also had a few issues with story progression, how much time had lapsed being the main one. I’m not asking authors to hold my hand through these things, but I think this book would have read much better if each chapter that had a time jump, gave us the amount of time that had elapsed. I actually think it would have done a lot to show how much growth there was in Damien and Robby’s relationship, and thus made me more invested in their love story. As it transpired I didn’t feel there was enough chemistry between them. I mean they were very cute, but I don’t know, there was for sure instant connection, but they just didn’t come across very convincing as a ‘mated’ couple.

The overall story was engaging though, and I actually enjoyed the whole process of working out the origin of the curse and how to end it. Things felt a little too easy but it was still entertaining!

So not great, but not truly terrible! I do love dragons though, and I’m more than a little intrigued about Maddox and Xavier stories, so I feel like I’ll find myself picking up those books in the future.

Synopsis:

DAMIEN BLACKTHORNE
Dragons were dying. All over the world, a curse was taking us out one by one, and nobody knew how to stop it.
I watched my mother burn, I watched my little brother fall sick. I didn’t want to see anyone else die, I was determined to figure out how to stop the dragon fall.

That’s when Robby practically falls into my lap, with his big brown eyes and charming smile and his penchant for being hunted by vampires. After saving him twice from certain death, we soon come to realize that there’s a reason he’s being hunted.

And that reason may be the answer to all our problems, and the start to a whole new set of them.

ROBBY DIAZ
I liked to float through the world. I bounced off problems and tended to avoid any and all issues with a smile and a wave.

So imagine my surprise when I’m heading to a magic shop in Malibu and I’m suddenly attacked by vampires and then saved by one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen. I thought I could float away from whatever mess I stumbled into, but this problem stuck—following me all the way home.

The vampires were after me, but they didn’t want me dead… they wanted me alive. Why? And what did I have to do with this dragon-killing curse? And why was I falling for the fiery hot dragon who insists on saving me over and over again?