Killing Dragons

Order of the Dolphin Book 1

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Pub Date 01 Jun 2021 | Archive Date 17 Nov 2021

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Description

In a world where sea dragons terrorize dolphins, you enter the reef at your own risk.

Marine biologist Eva Paz is on the verge of revolutionizing linguistics by cracking the dolphin communication code. Then police call her away to investigate a dead fisherman. It’s her mother’s boyfriend, but Eva is running out of time to complete her dolphin whistle library by the deadline, putting her grant at risk. Without funding, her dolphins will soon be turned loose in the deadly Caribbean.

A cartel leader makes Eva an offer she can’t refuse. He’ll fund her dolphin research if she’ll help him capture the sea dragon. His aid comes with a catch, and he doesn’t count the cost.

Then geneticist Thomas Sternberg arrives on sabbatical to lead a dive school. He wants to help Eva, but they share a tragic past. While on his watch as a Navy Seal, Eva’s brother was killed, and her dolphin was wounded.

Eva doesn’t trust Thomas, but can she set that aside to work with him to stop the sea dragon and save her dolphins?

For fans of Jaws and Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, Killing Dragons is book one in Kristie Clark’s Order of the Dolphin series.

In a world where sea dragons terrorize dolphins, you enter the reef at your own risk.

Marine biologist Eva Paz is on the verge of revolutionizing linguistics by cracking the dolphin communication...


Advance Praise

A smart, science fiction thriller that will have readers looking twice at dolphins – and scanning the waters for something far more menacing. 

Highly recommended.– Chanticleer Reviews

A smart, science fiction thriller that will have readers looking twice at dolphins – and scanning the waters for something far more menacing. 

Highly recommended.– Chanticleer Reviews


Available Editions

ISBN 9781954442023
PRICE $6.99 (USD)

Links

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Average rating from 33 members


Featured Reviews

Rating: Absolutely Loved It

This book is SUCH a hidden gem! I have always loved dolphins since I was little, and I requested this from NetGalley somewhat on a whim. I am SO glad that I did! Probably my favorite request from NetGalley that I wasn't already anticipating. I finished the book and immediately purchased a copy and preordered book 2!

What is it about?
Killing Dragons follows Eva, a marine biologist living and working in Roatan, an island off of Honduras. Eva has a grant that allows her to study dolphins' communication patterns, and she is working to understand their language; however, she is working against the clock and attempting to gather all the necessary data to re-up her grant. We also follow Thomas, a pediatric oncologist and former Navy SEAL who is working on curing cancer. He is let go from his position when a patient takes a turn for the worse, and he and his old chief boat down to Roatan to teach search and rescue/diving classes for a while. Meanwhile, there is something mysterious happening in the waters around the island. Fishermen and tourists are being mauled and disappearing by some type of sea creature that the locals have dubbed the Lusca. To figure out what is haunting their waters and save her people and dolphins, Eva must decide whether she wants to team up with Thomas, a man with whom she shares a tragic past, or another man whom she suspects of involvement with the drug trade in the area and who is engaged in harmful aquafarming, but who is promising to fund her research.

I loved basically everything about this book. The enjoyment factor while reading it was extremely high.
* I loved the plot and the pacing. I haven't read a thriller in a while, but this one was right up my alley! The characters were developed enough that I cared about them; however, I was much more concerned about the dolphins! The tension was high and the stakes felt very high as well! I may or may not have flipped ahead to the end of the chapter a few times to see whether or not I could relax any time soon!
* I loved that it has these futuristic sci-fi type Jurassic Park vibes, but it is still believable. I feel like we have no idea what is in the ocean, so if you tell me there is a sea dragon type monster out there, my first instinct is definitely not to doubt it!
* I implied it before, but I will outright say it: I loved the dolphins! I love that the author fleshes them out as characters in their own rights. Then on top of what we see in the normal course of the story, we get maybe three or four chapters (out of 70some) that are from the dolphins' perspectives. The first time this happened, I was really wary and thought that it was going to happen quite often and be silly. It actually worked really well, and it just raised the stakes and the tension for me. I loved it!
* I liked the human characters a lot as well. I maybe wasn't as invested in them as I would be in a fantasy novel or something like that, but I think that the author fleshed them out well. Some of the interactions that they had, or the thoughts that we were privy to got a bit repetitive, but it didn't take away from the overall story for me.
* The author includes a pretty cool section at the end titled "Facts in Fiction" where she walks through some of the inspirations behind different parts of the book and what parts in it are actually based in reality. I thought that was really neat and made the whole book feel more realistic.

What didn't work for me:
- Not very much. Like I said, this book was highly enjoyable. I may have had some technical complaints here and there, but I really loved the story and will be continuing on in the series for sure
- I think that there were a lot of secondary storylines to the main Lusca storyline, so there are a lot of loose ends. This wasn't a fully closed circle type mystery, which is totally fine. I was just expecting a bit more closure. However, I definitely think that we will get that in the next few books, so it's not really a complaint, just a "wait and see" type thing!

Overall, a really enjoyable read. I am glad to have found this, and can't wait to continue on with Eva, Thomas, Taffy, and Finn in Book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book since this could either be done well or be cheesy. I was happy to discover it was written very well and reminded me of Michael Crichton where the science stuff made sense and was easy to read, not so complicated to go over reader's heads.

Dr. Eva Paz is working diligently to meet her grant deadline for her research to understand and hopefully eventually be able to communicate with dolphins. In the meantime, there is a large creature lurking in the waters around the islands Dr. Paz works from and it is killing both tourists and wildlife. Eva wants to find the creature and stop it while a drug lord wants to find it, capture it and use it for capital gain. The hunt for la Lusca is on!

As I said, this book was very well written and the author describes her labor of love in writing the book over a ten year period. I found the writing to be excellent, extremely descriptive and just fun to read. I love books about dinosaurs and dragons and like every kid for a while I wanted to be a marine biologist. The book clocks in around 450+ pages but it never felt like it was that long and the short chapters make it easy to pause (though you won't want to). I am very eagerly awaiting the promised second and third books in the series.

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Enjoyeable, well-written story about a marine biologist researching dolphin vocalisations coming together with paediatrician cum geneticist ex SEAL coming to the Caribbean to lead a dive school and their encounters with a drug cartel , fish farming and the sea dragon, Lusca, that is terrorising and killing locals. Much more than that though as each has their own story which is well-explained and developed. Bottom line is "get Lusca". Realistic science fiction and, yes, shades of Michael Crichton but good. Loose ends at the end a bit frustrating but it is Book 1 so I'm hoing that they will be tied and/or explained in subsequent stories. An engaging read. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This was a so so book for me. I loved the action and any book with dinosaurs is a must read for me. I did like that this was the first book I’ve read that takes place with the virus that shall not be named. I did think the story dragged a bit and was a little confusing at times but overall a good read.

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Action packed adventure that kept me turning pages! This well-researched realistic science fiction novel will keep you wondering which is more dangerous, the monsters under the water or those who walk among us. Follow marine biologist Dr. Eva Paz and former love interest ex-Navy SEAL Dr. Thomas Sternberg as they fight the demons from their past and work together to solve the mystery of local legend, sea monster "Lusca". If you've ever dreamed of swimming with the dolphins or diving the reefs, this book is for you. It was refreshing to have a female native Roatoan as the lead scientist and get a peak into the lives of the locals as well as those who have made this beautiful island their home.

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Very interesting plot and unique characters! Kristie Clark does a wonderful job of creating the suspense for the plot of the book.

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Dr. Eva Paz is doing ground-breaking research with dolphins and their ability to communicate with humans. Running up against a deadline to produce results to keep her research grant, one of her dolphins has a potentially deadly encounter with a sea monster. A cartel leader who has an interest in Eva; an old boyfriend who arrives at the island unexpectedly and Eva’s need for further funding of her research help to create an ocean thriller. Cannot wait for book #2 of this series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions expressed are my own. #KillingDragons #NetGalley

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I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of Killing Dragons. They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but I knew from the moment I saw Kill Dragons cover I was more than likely going to like this one. I'm a sucker for sea creature stories, and I'm fairly easy to please. When it comes to such books wild action and a touch of gore and I'm pretty happy. But when I get that plus well developed characters and an excellent story, well then I'm absolutely thrilled. And that is just what I got with this one. Killing Dragons is an intelligent sea creature thriller focusing on Eva a marine biologist working to unravel the mysterious language of the dolphins...until a vicious creature shows up to terrorize her little section of the ocean. Great story, fantastic characters, and the few chapters told from the dolphins point of view were quite enjoyable. Look forward to seeing what comes next.

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This was such an interesting read and would probably make a really decent movie. Even though I have thalassophobia it is always interesting to thin about what may be lurking in the deep.

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Caribbean island , Dolphins,legendary mythical beast of Caribbean folklore. A bit of romance,

as well as nail bitten suspense, after you read this you may never want to back in the water again. Plus if you like Jaws and Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park then you might want to give this one a try and see for yourself

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Clark writes a science fiction thriller that keeps you engrossed until the last page. I enjoyed the characters and the story. Looking forward to the sequel.

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A great start to a new series. This book has action, adventure, and a lot of great world building. The characters are great, but admittedly the dolphins steal the show! While there were times I skimmed through some of the overly done descriptions, I am looking forward to picking up book 2 and seeing what comes next for these characters.

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Good stuff. There's a lot going on here, and this book ticks a lot of boxes and thus will appeal to a fairly wide audience. I found it engaging and enjoyed watching many of the characters succeed or fail. Recommended for thriller fans.

Thanks very much for the free review copy!!

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<b>ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review</b>
While I love a good sea monster story I wasn’t sure what to expect when diving into this. The blurb had me more than intrigued. Nothing scares me more than reminding myself how unexplored our planet’s ocean really is and so of course I love creepy underwater reads with caverns, monsters and life or death situations. I may love the beach and all the beautiful (non deadly) sea creatures, with the ocean hiding so many unknown horrors and creatures it’s hard not to be terrified of it as a whole. Killing Dragons was a great and fun read especially with the heroine and her studying the language of dolphins. It was the perfect blend of excitement, mystery, folklore and danger. I’m not a super genius when it comes to science but it really felt like the author knew what she was talking about and fiction or not, I thought made a rather plausible hypothesis that dolphins also use echolocation to speak via the sharing of images and giving names to things/people etc. I grew so attached to the heroines dolphins I truly was getting angry, and sooooo beyond worried something was going to happen to them like a stereotypical shock factor we’re used to in many forms of entertainment. Little did I know these dolphins are more badass than I gave them credit for and the author clearly did her best as well to keep them safe. I really enjoyed the book but I will say after the first few chapters I was slowly losing interest but once things started happening again and the ‘creature’ made itself known I was all in. The very minor romance was cute and a nice way to bring back old lovers and mend festering wounds between them. They may have gotten reallllllllly unbelievably lucky in the end in but it was karma at its finest if you ask me. The series ends on a good note so it can work as a standalone.

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I have always loved books about mythic creatures come to life, dinosaurs and the deep sea. Think Steve Alten, Michael Crichton, Peter Benchley! This book kept me reading long after I should have been asleep. At the end of each chapter I'd think "just a few pages more." Didn't happen. The heroine, Dr. Eva Paz is studying dolphins communication when she is approached by the head of a cartel, who wants her to help him hunt down and kill the "sea dragon, Lusca" who is terrorizing the area. Dr. Thomas Sternberg, a cancer researcher who played a significant part in her past, reunites with her and it is in both their interests to find the monster. Really fun, well written and imaginative. I have ordered book 2!
I was provided this copy by NetGalley in exchange for my unpaid, honest review.

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This is one of those books which you don't know what you've got til you've started it. It really is a gem amongst a lot of rocks. But I don't think it's a book you would consider without thinking about it first. I thought about it for several days before I requested it. But I'm glad I did.

Admittedly, I feel the dolphins stole the show. But all the characters play a significant role. The book takes you on a journey with scenery that will take your breathe away.

When dealing with mythical creatures and local legends it takes a lot to separate the real from the myth. Most legends have an aspect of truth.
Does this novel have more truth than myth. Well guess you're going to have to read it to find out.

It's different, It's entertaining, at times mind blowing but overall it it intelligently written with just enough scientific information to make you think but not more than that. The science doesn't blow your mind, just adds to the story. If you want something different away from the beaten track give this a go. In it's own way it's epic.

Enjoy!

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The cover pulled me in and the story kept me there!!! Wow. I truly did enjoy this book and I didn’t think I would. Highly recommend

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Enjoyeable, well-written story about a marine biologist researching dolphin vocalisations coming together with paediatrician cum geneticist ex SEAL coming to the Caribbean to lead a dive school and their encounters with a drug cartel , fish farming and the sea dragon, Lusca, that is terrorising and killing locals. Great cover and great read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Wow! What can I say? I kept hearing good things about Kristie Clark’s novel but I didn’t think I’d be hooked from the first page. It is,quite frankly, a superb novel. Full of intrigue, mystery, scary situations and everything you’d want in a novel. And that’s before we discuss the creature itself.
It would be unfair to compare it with “Jaws” but I fear some reviewers may do just that. And that would be doing Kristie Clark a huge disservice. Her book stands on its own without needing to be compared to Peter Benchley’s. But the mystery and world building the novel encompasses cannot be faulted. It does what it has to, forming a visual picture in the readers mind.
There is a second book,in this series, which I will be checking out soon. But as a series opener, this book is a must read for all ages. It is highly enjoyable and I couldn’t put it down.
Grab yourself a copy and enjoy what Kristie Clark has created.

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Good book, a nice and thrilling book to read on a lazy weekend at the beach or pool! But think twice before you dip your toes into the water!

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I thought this was a great book it was great at pulling me in and sucking me am I am I thought it was amazing I love the front cover I thought it’s absolutely gorgeous and I’m never read from this author before so I was a little bit sceptical at first but after reading this I think I will pick up other books by this author as I think that they were very detailed with the work but also didn’t lose my focus

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This was a great start to the Order of the Dolphin series, it was great killer animal story. The animal was a interesting read and I enjoyed going on this journey.

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The ocean has always fascinated me. Any story that takes place in the ocean has a leg up when it comes time to pick my next read. When I saw Killing Dragons by Kristie Clark, I just knew I had to read the book even though I did not know anything about the author or the storyline. The cover and the thought of sea monsters alone was enough to draw me in looking for an aquatic thrill.



Eva Paz was finally living her dream. Well, kind of living her dream, that is. She was studying dolphins and felt like she was on the verge of a breakthrough. It would have been perfect except that funding was tight and she was in danger of losing her grant. Things got even worse when a mysterious sea creature starts attacking people and animals around the island and fear begins to shut things down. When one of her own dolphins is attacked, things get personal. Fueled by anger and desperate need to support her family, she begins to investigate the mystery behind the sea creature and consider an offer from a drug lord, Ignacio, that would make her money problems disappear.



Things are further complicated for Eva when Thomas Sternberg, a geneticist and former boyfriend, arrives. Eva bears mental scars from a tragedy that occurred in her past in which Thomas was a part. She has no choice but to turn to him for help, though, as the monster lurking in the depths is hungry and becoming more aggressive. The creature threatens everything she has worked for and must be stopped. Eva is going to have to turn to one of the two men to help her stop the dragon. She must decide if she can overcome the painful memories of her time with Thomas and if Ignacio may be an even bigger evil. One thing is for sure, though. The dragon must either feed or be stopped.



With my fascination with the ocean and monsters, Killing Dragons was right in the zone for my interests and it did not disappoint. Kristie Clark is obviously building a series around the characters and there is ample time given to the characters and their background more so than would be the case in a standalone novel. I was not expecting that as I jumped at the book based on the premise and the picture without knowing it was the first book in a series. Once I figured that part out, I was fine with it because the novel was entertaining enough that it left me wanting more. The characters do come to life over the course of the novel and Clark does a good job of fleshing them out. Even the dolphins have distinct personalities that come through as the novel progresses.



That is not to say that there is not plenty of action in the novel as well. Clark does a good job of developing the story and characters while keeping the novel flowing. The story never seems to lag and the monster, or dragon, is a worthy adversary for the characters in the book. It is scary yet plausible (although I never really got much of its origin) and never seems to be a reach. Even though it is definitely a creature of fantasy, it feels real in the context of the novel. Killing Dragons is a bit of Jurassic Park meets Jaws but with a fresh twist that keeps it entertaining throughout. The novel sated my thirst for aquatic adventures and I would not hesitate to recommend it to any fan of thrillers or science fiction.



I would like to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this review copy. Killing Dragons is available now.

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I'm a sucker for massive lizards and this book have them in such satisfying way. The story made my heart racing, it's brilliant and fun! Can't wait to read the next book

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Sharks and dinosaurs and all things dolphins? What a killer combination! I loved this fantasy about creatures from the deep and our own doing. The adventure kept me intrigued to turn the page and the writing was interesting enough that I was kept immersed into the text. Recommend this book for all those that like creatures that go bump in the night.

Thanks to Netgalley and Delphi Imprint for a great introduction to Ms. Clark's work!

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