The Dragon Conspiracy (SPI Files, #2)

by Lisa Shearin

[EBookObsessed]

Although this story was enjoyable, it was missing a little of the fun of the prior stories. Mac isn’t a kick ass agent yet, but she is losing her new agent awkwardness which was part of her quirky personality which made her so entertaining.

Makena Fraser is the newest seer for SPI (Supernatural Protection & Investigations). Mac isn’t a supernatural, but she can see through the glamours to the supernaturals hiding beneath. Teamed with her partner/babysitter, Agent Ian Byrne, Makena help keeps NYC safe and unaware of the others dwelling in the city that never sleeps.

Halloween brings out the fake vampires and witches and allows the real ones to spend the day without their glamour. It also is bringing another dragon into Vivienne Sagadraco’s territory. Russian dragon Viktor Kain has brought the cursed Dragon Egg diamonds to the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art for an exhibit on Myths. SPI is on hand to prevent anyone from stealing the diamonds, especially since the collection flaunts the diamonds stolen from the Elf and Goblin Courts. Diamonds which hold other-dimensional magic.

Rich goblin club owner Rake Moreau makes a reappearance in this story. Unlike most stories, in this series goblins are gorgeous, sexy and can bewitch a human. Rake tried to do this to Mac in the Night Shift anthology. He is still interested in taking the SPI seer home with him and when he shows up at the Met just before someone releases harpies to steal the diamonds, Rake makes the SPI short list of suspects.

When an unsuspecting human suddenly shows an ability to release the magic of the diamonds, Ian and Mac have to give him the short version of Supernaturals for Dummies and keep him safe from the real supernatural baddies who want to use his untamed and uncontrolled power to “cure” all the supernaturals in Manhattan.

With time ticking down to midnight on Halloween, when the separation of the dimensions are at their thinnest, SPI needs to find the diamonds before every supernatural looses their glamour and every turned human over 100 will turn to dust — including their 98 year old werewolf friend Yasha.

THOUGHTS:
This second SPI series novel was missing a little of the magic from the prior novel and novella. Mac is no longer a brand new agent and while she isn’t a super-spy yet, she isn’t the awkward new guy either. It still had good humor, it just wasn’t as good as the prior stories.

There is specific discussion that Mac and Ian are making sure to pursue outside romances since they are partners and a bad romance would make things awkward. Unlike most Urban Fantasy which seem to tease at a romance with the main characters but frustrates us by never getting there, I didn’t care either way. There is no real spark between them making me root for a romance.

Future stories are going to need Mac to reach higher to be a real agent since this awkward period in between newbie and full agent isn’t as funny or as exciting.