Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Camouflaged

SERIES:  The Bureau

AUTHOR:  Kim Fielding

PUBLISHER:  Tin Box Press

LENGTH:  180 pages

RELEASE DATE:  October 20, 2021

BLURB:

Life isn’t always easy for a Bureau agent who’s also a dragon.

Ever since Ralph Crespo was trapped in human form, he’s been going through the motions at a job he once loved. Maybe that’s why the Bureau chief seems to have demoted him to messenger. But this time a letter delivery allows Ralph to meet Anton Steinmann, and Ralph’s life takes a turn toward the unexpected.

Anton loves his remote home with its extensive caves. He’s less fond of his leadership position, however, and definitely doesn’t want the offer Agent Crespo hands him. Then Anton is kidnapped and tortured. Someone wants him dead and he doesn’t know why.

How can anyone be true to himself in a world where he doesn’t really belong? Perhaps Ralph and Anton can find the answer together—if they survive long enough.

REVIEW:

NOTE:  This is Book 8 in this series, but it can certainly be read as a standalone.  I recommend reading the other books – mostly because they are really well written and also because the characters from those books are mentioned throughout this one.

This episode tells the story of Ralph Crespo, dragon and longest serving Agent of the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs and Anton Steinmann, the Aibek of a clan of gnomes.  Chief Townsend has sent Ralph with a message for Anton which he doesn’t read.  Anton rejects the request out of hand, but suggests they try something else 😉  They enjoy their time together.  Ralph leaves and Anton goes about his business.

Ralph is tired when he returns to LA and updates the Chief.  He’s also sad because he can no longer fly as a dragon – having been stuck in his mostly human “camouflaged” form.  The Chief gives him some information though and he realizes that he’s now somehow tied to Anton.  And when he wakes, he knows that Anton is in trouble.

Ralph races back to Anton’s land and determines that indeed something has happened to Anton.  And it’s dire.  He must find Anton or Anton will die.  He manages to recover him and escape with him from his land where he’s been assaulted.  Ralph takes him to some friends’ place to recover.  And it’s there that they figure out and discuss the bond that they each feel.  Neither are sure about a lot, but it’s clear that something has brought them together and they are much stronger together than on their own.

When Anton has recovered enough, they return to his house and discover that there is trouble afoot – not just for Anton but his whole clan.  And it’s clear now that like it or not, Anton is going to have to step into the leadership role he has so far been avoiding.  With Ralph by his side though, things aren’t nearly as difficult as the thought they’d be.  But just when things seems clear, another attempt is made on Anton’s life and Ralph and Anton have to figure out how to work together to find peace.

I was very late to this series, but I’m absolutely loving it.  Ralph and Anton are really quite adorkable!  Anton is stuck in his gnome ways and he doesn’t want to deal with the political bickering and maneuvering of being the Aibek, so he’s kind of let things go.  It’s obvious that there are unhappy campers in his midst.  Ralph has been slowly weakening due to the illness that won’t let him change form.  But with Anton by his side and his fealty to Anton, he’s growing stronger.  And also he’s never felt about anyone the way he feels about Anton – and it’s the same for Anton.  I loved watching them each come into their own and shine bright for and with each other. They support each other and find in the other, the missing piece of their lives.  Highly recommended for lovers of fantast.  The word building is wonderful and so easily built into the story.  This is a fabulous series and I can’t wait for more.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon