You Slay Me (Aisling Grey: Guardian #1) – Katie MacAlister
Penguin Onyx, 2004
352 pages
RRP: US$7.99
ISBN: 9780451411525

Fire Me Up (Aisling Grey: Guardian #2) – Katie MacAlister
Penguin Signet, 2005
368 pages
RRP: US$7.99
ISBN: 9780451214942

You Slay Me and Fire Me Up are the first two novels in Katie MacAlister’s Aisling Grey, Guardian series. Aisling Grey is a Guardian, as the title states, however she has only just become aware of the fact, being thrown into the world of the supernatural and paranormal. Her Guardian status isn’t the only surprise in store for Aisling; she also finds out she is destined to be a dragon’s mate…

In the first novel, Aisling is in Paris for her uncle, to convey a historical artefact to its new owner. Unfortunately for all concerned, Aisling turns up for her appointment to find her quarry is well and truly dead, and she is the suspect! Among shenanigans involving the French police, a helpful taxi driver who teaches Aisling a few words of dubious French, more dead bodies and lots of spellcasters, Aisling meets the aptly named Drake Vireo, sexy dragon in human form who is supposed to be her mate.

Fire Me Up takes place in Budapest, where Aisling, having previously broken up with Drake, is delivering yet another priceless artefact for her trusting uncle, and attending a paranormal convention on the side. Surprisingly, Drake turns up and of course, sparks fly. However, now various other Guardians are turning up dead, and it seems hapless Aisling is in the firing line as a murder suspect again.

MacAlister’s heroines always have a bit of “everywoman” in her – a little bit of insecurity, a hint of dopeyness – but Aisling has it in spades. She manages to be in the wrong place at the wrong time at every possible instance, which is charming at first, but starts to get a little predictable by the end of the second novel. She also seems incapable of making a decision about her relationship with Drake. Yes? No? Not sure? Hmm. Even so, Aisling is a heroine who is easy to sympathise with.

The supporting characters are a lot of fun. Drake is the epitome of the alpha-male: arrogant and sexy. Thank goodness Aisling doesn’t take him too seriously, because he certainly does! Jim the demon in Newfoundland form has all the best lines, providing a lot of the laugh-out-loud moments in the series. Then there’s Rene, the helpful French taxi driver who happens to be available whenever and wherever Aisling needs him.

I’m beginning to think that MacAlister has the right idea in her long-running Dark Ones series: mix up the characters and introduce a new protagonist couple in each novel. The Aisling Grey series is a lot of fun, but as it continues my interest isn’t quite as piqued as it was in the first installment. Are Aisling and Drake together or not? How many more murders can Aisling be implicated in? And the biggest question of all: how many more times will Aisling’s uncle send her somewhere to fail to deliver a precious antique?

Paranormal romance fans will find this series a light and quick read, heavy on the romance, light on the paranormal.