Heart of a Dragon: The DeChance Chronicles Volume One

Name: Heart of a Dragon: The DeChance Chronicles Volume One
Price: 12.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781949914276

✍️ Cortney Skinner

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$12.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A mage investigates a gang war threatening to open interdimensional portals.

The narrative follows Donovan DeChance as he manages the fallout of a supernatural turf war. His role as a collector of ancient texts informs his approach to the crisis. He must coordinate with disparate allies including a sorcerer and a gifted artist. The stakes involve preventing the collapse of the city through magical means. Skinner constructs a plot where personal relationships intersect with large-scale magical threats. The story emphasizes the burden of knowledge held by its protagonist. It explores how ancient powers can be misused in modern settings.

Key Themes

occult library gang warfare interdimensional portals

Literary Context

The story is set in a contemporary urban environment where supernatural elements coexist with street culture. It incorporates Haitian Vodou traditions through the houngan character and Mexican magical practices via Martinez. The setting reflects a blend of modern city life and hidden mystical histories.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Seanan McGuire · Ilona Andrews · Charles L. Grant · Nancy A. Collins

🕯️

Supernatural

🏛 Mystique Press 📅 2019 📖 258 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781949914276

📝 Description: Heart of a Dragon: The DeChance Chronicles Volume One

Cortney Skinner’s Heart of a Dragon introduces Donovan DeChance, a private investigator and mage who maintains the world’s largest occult library. He collects ancient manuscripts with a focus on historical texts rather than modern thrillers. The narrative centers on a conflict between the Dragons motorcycle club and the Los Escorpiones street gang. This turf war threatens to open portals between worlds due to the actions of a local houngan. Donovan relies on his lover Amethyst, his familiar Cleo, an Egyptian Mau cat, and Martinez, a Mexican sorcerer. They also assist Salvatore, a young artist with emerging magical abilities. The plot involves a race against time to stop the destruction of the city. The story draws on voodoo traditions through the houngan character and Mexican folklore via Martinez. It blends urban fantasy with supernatural mystery elements. Readers who enjoy complex magical systems and ensemble casts will find this engaging. Those preferring straightforward detective noir without supernatural interference may find it lacking. The book does not offer historical non-fiction or academic analysis of occult practices. It presents a fictional narrative driven by character dynamics and magical consequences.

💎 Our verdict on Heart of a Dragon: The DeChance Chronicles Volume One

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Skinner constructs a compelling plot where personal dynamics intersect with interdimensional threats. The narrative effectively utilizes diverse allies, including a sorcerer and an artist, to address the crisis. By grounding the story in specific cultural traditions like Voodoo and Mexican folklore, the author adds authenticity to the supernatural elements. The emphasis on the burden of knowledge held by the protagonist adds emotional weight to the race against time. This approach suits readers who enjoy intricate magical mechanics and ensemble interactions over pure mystery or historical analysis.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate complex magical systems and ensemble casts will find this narrative engaging. The book offers a unique perspective through Donovan DeChance, whose role as a collector of ancient texts provides depth to the conflict. Those interested in how historical occult practices intersect with modern gang warfare will enjoy the exploration of misused ancient powers. It is ideal for fans who prefer character-driven plots where personal relationships influence large-scale magical consequences, rather than straightforward detective noir devoid of supernatural interference.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Skinner constructs a compelling plot where personal dynamics intersect with interdimensional threats. The narrative effectively utilizes diverse allies, including a sorcerer and an artist, to address the crisis. By grounding the story in specific cultural traditions like Voodoo and Mexican folklore, the author adds authenticity to the supernatural elements. The emphasis on the burden of knowledge held by the protagonist adds emotional weight to the race against time. This approach suits readers who enjoy intricate magical mechanics and ensemble interactions over pure mystery or historical analysis.