Smoke Eaters

Cole Brannigan’s been a firefighter for thirty years, ten of which he’s spent fighting dragons. Where the scalies came from, and why they showed up so suddenly, no one knows, but their destructive tendencies have quickly made them the biggest threat to the human race. During a routine call gone bad, Cole makes a surprising discovery—he’s immune to dragon smoke. When knowledge of his rare ability gets out, he’s immediately conscripted into the Smoke Eaters, an elite dragon-fighting force. But between being busted back down to a rookie, a possibly corrupt mayor, and a brand new breed of dragon, Cole’s not sure how much help his talent provides.

The premise of firefighters fighting dragons is an interesting premise, and it made Grigsby’s book a fairly enjoyable read. The mix of myth and technology made the story fun, and who doesn’t love a smart-ass character who’s constantly getting in trouble, even for things beyond his control? The worldbuilding is a little cloudy, and the climax quickly disintegrates into a bit of a confusing arena that the reader flies through harum-scarum, but overall, I thought Smoke Eaters was a fun take on old myths.