All mostly very enjoyable.   My only moan is that some passages are a bit tedious: it's like you just really want the pace to keep going but instead it slows right down to tell you what someone is thinking, or some long winded conversation, right in the middle of a load of fast moving chaos that you want to be enjoying in a fast pace way.   I admit that i only felt like that a few times, so it's not like the book is like that all the way through, and that's probably why those few passages stand out so much as the rest of it is really on a good pace throughout.

So, yeah, that's my only moan.   Other than that, i really enjoyed it and i'm looking forward to more, and there's certainly plenty more books in this series.   Rachel really has done something wonderful with dragons in this dragon centric story, placing them in a dystopian capitalist environment as totally psychopathic creatures, essentially, the ultimate capitalists.   And the dragon clans' internal and external politics that get explored are really good.

Basically, everything you wanted to know about dragons but were too afraid to ask.   Now doesn't that sound like fun? ( )

a phun urban fantasy with likable characters ... world-building was entertaining. look forward to reading future adventures... ( )

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Nice Dragons Finish Last

Julius has never been the strongest or the most powerful in his dragon clan. To survive, he has kept out of the way of his ambitious siblings and hidden. But his mother has had enough of his passive behavior. Sealed into a human body, Bethesda throws Julius into the DFZ. A land ruled by spirits who abhor dragons. Julius has to hit the ground running and prove he can be a dragon without being caught. Or else he becomes his mother’s next meal.

Julius is not the typical main character who is powerful and capable or even one who starts off weaker and grows into an alpha male. He’s never wanted to be a normal dragon, which means he isn’t going to be dominant or overbearing. He’s bullied by his family and looked down on for being kind and considerate. While at times his easygoing nature may wear on readers, there’s also the interest in seeing what exactly he can accomplish. His physical and magical skills may not be enough for his fellow dragons, but his mind can be just as influential.

Despite Julius being less dominant than his siblings, he is still determined to protect those he considers friends. When he and the mage Marci team up, they end up being pulled into each other's problems. But instead of abandoning her, Julius stays by her side and weathers the oncoming storms. Of course, it helps that Julius’s brother Justin is pulled into the mix.

Rachel Aaron chooses wisely to have Julius overshadowed by his brother Justin throughout the story. Justin is everything a typical dragon would be, and his plans are abrasive and violent. With such a huge contrast between the two dragons, readers are able to see Julius’ capabilities in a different light. And experiencing the two arguing about tactics was nothing less than entertaining.

I would recommend Nice Dragons Finish Last to readers looking for an action-packed yet simple to read urban fantasy. And if you’d like to see an entirely different type of dragon, check out this novel. Sure they may be able to breathe fire and use magic, but they also have a way of using posh politics to manipulate characters behind the scenes. ( )

Many years ago, I wandered away from a lot of fantasy, because the multiple points of view and complex worlds grew less and less satisfying. Turned out I was looking for emotional connections and better defined plots and concise, intrinsic worldbuilding. I found a lot of that in fantasy romances, and now I've found some fantasy writers who deliver what I was missing, too.

This is one of the good novels, and first in a series. The characters are terrific. The author understands interesting and satisfying plot construction! The worldbuilding is entirely immersed in what the characters know and experience. And, there are surprises. Despite the seers. Also, the setting is unique and weird and promises future mayhem all on its own. Instead of hopelessly complex royal political stuff I never care about, this world delivers quite the bouquet of everything from thoughtfulness to ruthlessness. I'm in. On to the next in the series! ( )

"It took me a few chapters to get into this, but I think that’s because it’s so different. The hero is just such a nice guy. He’s in a precarious situation, and he can’t bring himself to compromise his principles to save himself. I loved that he turns his supposed weaknesses into strengths, and finds a solution by using them, and I loved the heroine’s role as a partner with a different, academic knowledge of magic.

The ending feels like a decent ending with resolution to the conflicts, but there are a few major things left open-ended." ( )