When I first heard about Voices of Dragons, I had no idea it was a young adult urban fantasy. Actually I had no idea what it was about at all, but Dragons are a surefire way to get my attention at least. As I heard more about it, I was a little skeptical over the premise. It truly did sound like a Romeo & Juliet set-up but with a Dragon and a girl. The book more then exceeded my expectations however.

There was something very real about the situation to me, or perhaps the reactions of the characters. Kay is described early on, through actions and her own self-evaluation, as being prone to doing reckless things for adventure. Throughout the book she does just that; climbing cliffs without lines (or a climbing buddy), choosing to continue to meet with Artegal and then enthusiastically agreeing that they should try flying. Truly the two of them were a matched set--neither seemed overly afraid of the consequences, could only see the adventure of it.

The relationships with her human friends and family were a little more strained. Aside from keeping the monumental secret that was Artegal, Kay was also neck deep in the terrifying ritual of High School dating. On the one hand her best friend Tam was deep certain that if Kay just let it happen it would be the best thing ever. After all it was for her, so why wouldn't it be for everyone else? On the other hand Kay's uncertain feelings for her other best friend Jon wavered back and forth, plaguing her with doubts and 'what ifs'. Her time with Artegal gave her a peace and serenity, despite the danger, that she desperately needed.

When the tensions began they happened fast and then kept going. I was worried about an unexpected death creating friction between Artegal and Kay, but there wasn't any. Kay was an amazingly mature girl, able to see beyond anger and fear, able to understand because of her friendship with Artegal. The last third of the book felt rushed however, as Vaughn tried to cram as much into the space as possible to wrap up the story on a satisfactory point. The military came off as being brash, aggressive and bloodthirsty honestly and I felt nothing but sympathy for the dragons' side of the conflict. I don't think enough information was provided to really support the military's aggressive stance.

The twist at the end, regarding an old wives' tale about virgins and dragons, was amusing to see played out. It was clever of them to think of it and their escape promised a continuing story I'd be most eager to read. And for the record it was downright refreshing to read a paranormal/urban fantasy novel (mainstream or young adult) that featured two characters building a true bond of friendship that was the strongest factor. ( )

I have to say, this is the second YA Carrie Vaughn book I've read that I've been disappointed in. Some authors can make the switch seamlessly and don't feel like they have lost the ability to have characters with depth (although I suppose you could argue Vaughn's adult series don't have much depth). I find it really noticeable in her YA series where everything is sort of flat and lifeless. ( )

The ending was SO GOOD, but left me wanting to scream at the same time because I wanted so much more. This is the classic tale of traditional enemies becoming friends against all the odds, and finding their own way through culture, history, and the hostility that surrounds them - only in this case, one of the parties is a dragon. When I first heard of this book, it sounded interesting enough but not something for me to rush out and find a copy of. That was before I had read any other books by Carrie Vaughn, who is fast becoming a new favorite author of mine. Awesome awesome awesome. ( )

"3 out of 5 stars. Not as good as I had hoped. I mean it was cute, and..."

Read more of this review and a TEASER here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2010/05/made-grade-voices-of-dragons-... ( )

I'm always on the lookout for books that deal with dragons whether it be medieval or modern times. From the first page, I was hooked to this story and found it hard to put down. The concept of dragons sharing a border with humans in a modern day world is a fascinating concept and I believe Vaughn nailed it. Kay is your typical teenager trying to find her way in the world while also wishing to not be treated differently just because her father is the sheriff. She stumbles across Artegal and at first both are weary but soon strike up a friendship. Their friendship sets in motion things that had been close to the surface and someone very dear to Kay is caught in the crossfire. Not willing to let things lie, she stands up and has the courage to not only face her fears but show others that dragons in this particularly instance aren't the monsters that so many have been lead to believe. My only complaint is that it seems to end on a cliffhanger. I would love it if there was a sequel to is some day and yet I can see how it would make sense were it to be by itself. I highly recommend this to those that enjoy a bit of fantasy, adventure and a modern twist on these beautiful mythical creatures known as dragons. ( )