#Review - Dragon Heir by Molly Webb, Ava Richardson #Paranormal #Fantasy

Series: Thea Grove Vampire Hunter # 1
Format: E-Galley, 230 pages
Release Date: August 11, 2021
Publisher: Relay Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy

My name is Thea, and I’m a monster hunter. Or a monster, depending on who you ask. 

My dad trained me to be tough and ruthless, so I could replace him someday as head of our shifter clan. Then I discovered my father wasn’t the man I thought he was. So I went freelance instead. Now, I fight for the underdogs my dad used to exploit. Sure, I get paid. But I don’t do it for the money…

So when a rogue werewolf I’m hunting turns out to be innocent, I want to know who framed him, and why. His name is Marcus, and with his broad shoulders and piercing eyes, he can certainly take care of himself. But someone wants him dead. And I want to keep him alive… At least long enough for me to figure out what he’s hiding.

Because Marcus is more than just your average shifter. He’s something much stranger, and much more dangerous. An ancient secret lurks behind his fierce, smoldering gaze.

And once it’s revealed, it could tear this world apart…

Dragon Heir, by co-authors Molly Webb & Ava Richardson, is the first installment in the Thea Grove Vampire Hunter series. Thea Grove is a monster hunter who is also a consultant for the Hollowmore Police Department. She's a PI who works under the handle Ash for Cash. She lives among Arcanskin, Demonskin, Clawskin, Mareskin, and vampires. She has access to magic when the sun is out, which allows her to use her wings. She has her trusty sidekick Herodotus aka Hero, who is a cat sidhe. Her best friend is a tech witch named Anika Singh who also helps make Thea's weapons. 

Not too long ago, Thea decided to turn her back on her family when she learned they were deep into bad business, and not use the Grove name since doing so would put a target on her back. The only good Grove is her stepbrother who seems to have been brainwashed by the family and their trainers. When Thea takes a job finding a rogue werewolf named Marcus. Thea finds the guy, but also discovers that everything her client told her was a lie. He's not a werewolf, nor is he rogue. Now that Thea has found him, he’s in danger, so Thea feels obligated to keep him safe. What's worse is that Marcus seems to be a target from someone named the Arbiter.

The Arbiter, who remains a mystery, seems to be pulling the strings causing vampires to be more aggressive and attack in packs which they never do. What he wants with Marcus, and in return with Thea, isn't fully explained since most of the leads end up turning up empty. Thea also spends time working with the Hollowmore PD  following the clues left by a gruesome assassin who is letting a track of mutilated victims. The question becomes whether or not the cases are connected or not.

I think one of the failures of this book is the lack of worldbuilding. Readers are told of a so called Charter Council which is starving the human infrastructure which leads to Thea picking up the slack where the local PD can't. Readers never meet those in charge. We are also told that several hundred years ago, there was a coup against the Dragon's families which ended up with the dragons being driven into the darkness. When Thea hitches up with Marcus, she learns things that will make her even more angrier at her family, and the woman who trained her. 

Although I have some negatives, I will be willing to read the sequel even if it's just to find out who the Arbiter is. Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this e-Galley. The review is based on my thoughts, and notes. I was not offered money for my review. 

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