The Smoke Thief

Shana Abé

Sep 2005 · Drakon Book 1 · Sold by Bantam

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

I found this book a few months ago as a suggestion on a random reddit thread and that was the beginning of my unending obsession with the drakon world created by Shana Abe. I recently finished the last book of this particular series (Time Weaver) and The Smoke Thief is by far my favorite, probably because it isn't so dark and ominous as the other four even though it sets up the events that lead to them. Spoilers: Some critique the hero, Kit, as being way too heavy handed with the heroine. I can see their point, but I still loved the romance. It's fantasy. It's fiction. I don't care to read about what I want in real life. In real life, I have a loving, "boring" marriage and a child. In real life, I don't want drama, but in fiction, I crave it. The heroine, Rue, is also no innocent little dove. When she is captured by Kit and brought back to the shire she has no qualms in selling out a "fellow" runner in exchange for her own freedom even though that guy (Tamlane Williams) doesn't get to return with a fancy title and large degree of freedom as wife of the Alpha. What Abe does beautifully is create supernatural beings that are brutal, and bestial and have a very strict set of rules that has kept them secret and thriving. They aren't humans that can take a dragon form, they are dragons that can look like humans. Anyways, maybe this isn't much of a review but all I can say is I love this book, I love Shana Abe's style of writing and if you want more or less a happily ever after ending to the drakon world then stop at this book. But if you want more really good story telling keep going in the series. Anyways, I'm going to start on the Sweetest Dark series now to get more of my drakon crack.

My Aunt got me a bunch of this genre of book for Xmas. Fantasy books with romance thrown in. Very girly and silly. Good escapist reading.

I read this book when I was in highschool and I loved it! As I reread the book I fell in love all over again! I love love the story of this book!!! I highly suggest others to read!

About the author

Shana Abé is the award-winning author of nine novels, including The Smoke Thief. She lives in the Denver area with four surly pet house rabbits, all rescued, and a big goofy dog. Please, please support your local animal shelter, and spay or neuter your pets.