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Dark Kings #12
Heat
Nikolai is a dragon shapeshifter who knows well the meaning of loss. Orphaned and raised to be a Dragon King, he never accepts defeat. Now, Nikolai prefers his solitude . . .until a beautiful, irresistible woman calls upon him for help—and Nikola’s whole word goes up in flames.
Ever since MI5 agent Esther woke to discover her mind taken over with magic, she feels like stranger to herself. She looks to a notorious dragon, one who has the power to help her find her memory. But as she and Nikolai come closer to discovering what really happened to her, a dangerous passion ignites between them. Can this lone Dragon King help the woman he’s grown to love to uncover the truth about her past—or will a deep and fiery danger tear them both apart?
Ever since MI5 agent Esther woke to discover her mind taken over with magic, she feels like stranger to herself. She looks to a notorious dragon, one who has the power to help her find her memory. But as she and Nikolai come closer to discovering what really happened to her, a dangerous passion ignites between them. Can this lone Dragon King help the woman he’s grown to love to uncover the truth about her past—or will a deep and fiery danger tear them both apart?
323 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 30, 2018
101 people are currently reading
1,530 people want to read
About the author
Donna Grant
294books4,681followersDonna is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a hundred novels. Her most popular series is the breathtaking Dark King (aka Dragon King) series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.
In addition to her novels, Donna has written short stories, novellas, and novelettes for digital-first and print release. She has been dubbed as giving the “paranormal genre a burst of fresh air� by the San Francisco Book Review. Her work has been hailed as having “deft plotting and expert characterization� by Publisher’s Weekly and “sizzling� by RT Book Reviews.
She has been recognized with awards from both bookseller and reader contests including the National Reader’s Choice Award, Booksellers Best Award, as well as the coveted K.I.S.S. Award from RT Book Reviews.
Donna travels often for various speaking engagements, conferences, and book signings. She is also a frequent workshop presenter at national conferences such as RT Book Lovers Convention and Thrillerfest, as well as local chapters.
Born and raised in Texas, she also has ties across the border in Louisiana. Growing up with two such vibrant cultures, her Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy� side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin� and bareback riding. She is never far from her faithful 80 pound dog, Sisko, or her three cats. She can often be found at the movies or bookstore with her children. Or buying makeup. And shoes.
You an find her at
as well as her website devoted entirely to the Dragon Kings and all series that encompass the Dark World at .
In addition to her novels, Donna has written short stories, novellas, and novelettes for digital-first and print release. She has been dubbed as giving the “paranormal genre a burst of fresh air� by the San Francisco Book Review. Her work has been hailed as having “deft plotting and expert characterization� by Publisher’s Weekly and “sizzling� by RT Book Reviews.
She has been recognized with awards from both bookseller and reader contests including the National Reader’s Choice Award, Booksellers Best Award, as well as the coveted K.I.S.S. Award from RT Book Reviews.
Donna travels often for various speaking engagements, conferences, and book signings. She is also a frequent workshop presenter at national conferences such as RT Book Lovers Convention and Thrillerfest, as well as local chapters.
Born and raised in Texas, she also has ties across the border in Louisiana. Growing up with two such vibrant cultures, her Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy� side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin� and bareback riding. She is never far from her faithful 80 pound dog, Sisko, or her three cats. She can often be found at the movies or bookstore with her children. Or buying makeup. And shoes.
You an find her at
as well as her website devoted entirely to the Dragon Kings and all series that encompass the Dark World at .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 276 reviews
December 30, 2019
Who is the smarty-pants who keeps picking up books that happen to take place in the middle of a series?
Yeah, so I’m the idiot. Sue me. Actually, please don’t. Anyhoo, I would have given this book all five stars if I wasn’t a bit lost as I read it. I got the overall gist, however, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this as a standalone. Although it seems each book tackles a new couple, the background story and stories of the other characters continue in-line with the main story. Sounds confusing? Well, it was� a bit. But I enjoyed myself far too much to nitpick.
Okay, so Nikolai, one of the Dragon Kings, goes on a mission with Esther, an MI5 agent and an ally, in order to help her find the druid who erased her memories. Along the way, their undeniable attraction gains momentum and becomes an unstoppable force. Luckily enough, neither of them were complaining. Amidst the love-making and overall love connection, these two came across some interesting facts and figures. Esther finds out some hard truths about herself, truths that could affect the world as they know it. There was a really amazing fight scene with the Dark Fae that I still can’t get out of my head. It was so exciting! However, we also gain some insight on the truth to what’s going on with Ulrik, Mikkel and the Druid.
For someone who hasn’t read any of the previous books, even I’m completely invested in finding out how things will end. Will the Dark and Light Fae ever unite? What will Rhi do about Balladyn? And just who is Con destined to be with? I have so many more questions, but you know what I’m going to do in the meantime while I wait for the next book, Torched to come out?
Oh hell to the yes I’ll be going back to the beginning. Although this wasn’t as erotic as I thought it would be (slight bummer), it was no less intense and I thought it was incredible. I loved the inner workings of the Dragon Kings, how the other creatures of myth walk around humans, and the idea of these strong and fierce men finding their mates. How can I resist this delectable concoction? How can you?
Release: Jan. 30, 2018 | Genre: Paranormal Romance - dragon shifter | POV: Multiple - 3rd person | Heat: 3 out of 5 | Book #12 of the Dark Kings series | Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Yeah, so I’m the idiot. Sue me. Actually, please don’t. Anyhoo, I would have given this book all five stars if I wasn’t a bit lost as I read it. I got the overall gist, however, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this as a standalone. Although it seems each book tackles a new couple, the background story and stories of the other characters continue in-line with the main story. Sounds confusing? Well, it was� a bit. But I enjoyed myself far too much to nitpick.
Okay, so Nikolai, one of the Dragon Kings, goes on a mission with Esther, an MI5 agent and an ally, in order to help her find the druid who erased her memories. Along the way, their undeniable attraction gains momentum and becomes an unstoppable force. Luckily enough, neither of them were complaining. Amidst the love-making and overall love connection, these two came across some interesting facts and figures. Esther finds out some hard truths about herself, truths that could affect the world as they know it. There was a really amazing fight scene with the Dark Fae that I still can’t get out of my head. It was so exciting! However, we also gain some insight on the truth to what’s going on with Ulrik, Mikkel and the Druid.
For someone who hasn’t read any of the previous books, even I’m completely invested in finding out how things will end. Will the Dark and Light Fae ever unite? What will Rhi do about Balladyn? And just who is Con destined to be with? I have so many more questions, but you know what I’m going to do in the meantime while I wait for the next book, Torched to come out?
Oh hell to the yes I’ll be going back to the beginning. Although this wasn’t as erotic as I thought it would be (slight bummer), it was no less intense and I thought it was incredible. I loved the inner workings of the Dragon Kings, how the other creatures of myth walk around humans, and the idea of these strong and fierce men finding their mates. How can I resist this delectable concoction? How can you?
Release: Jan. 30, 2018 | Genre: Paranormal Romance - dragon shifter | POV: Multiple - 3rd person | Heat: 3 out of 5 | Book #12 of the Dark Kings series | Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
January 21, 2018
Seeking the truth leads to more questions�
***4.5 stars***
I started Heat a little unenthusiastically. Come on…it’s Book #12, haven't we covered everything we can yet? Aren’t we going to see the same story again with different names? So, I opened it, started, and then proceeded to nod my head in acknowledgement and praise to the author. It was different, interesting and completely sucked me in. I never once felt annoyed or frustrated hashing over old topics. There wasn’t a time that I felt like it dragged, as I was completely engaged in the journey. Heat moved at a pace that kept my adrenaline pumping. My eyes were peeled for the fae to reveal themselves. I hoped that my mind would be safe from a druid looking to take control. I knew my dragon was standing at my back and would risk his life if I was in danger.
I really enjoyed getting to see Esther and Nikolai come together. They somehow work perfectly together even though they are very different. Esther is a little mentally battered and we see her try to take control and fix the damage to her memories. I hated seeing her suffer insecurity and doubt but loved that Nikolai showed her unconditional support and understanding when she needed it the most. Henry was playing “big brother� to the extreme and I thought his overreaction was making things even more stressful to Esther.
Heat just somehow felt different. I think it had a lot to do with the other parts of the story coming together. We’re finally getting some answers and seeing the leadership battles play out. Ulrik and his past connection with Nikolai show us a different side of a character that has been portrayed as a little psychotic and a lot angry. He was once a smart, caring and loyal dragon, who lead the Silver Dragons well. We get to see some of the hurt he suffered when he was turned away from Dreagan. To be honest, I liked seeing this side of Ulrik.
Rhi has again taken an emotional kick to the heart. Balladyn’s love has been tested and I’m not sure he’s the same Fae anymore. His “love� for Rhi now seems like a *I love the idea of love* kind of love. Almost as silly as Henry’s lusty love for Rhi that he “thinks� is real. And, the one man we want to get his head out of his arse, well, I kind of get the impression that maybe (HUGE MAYBE) he’s opening his eyes.
Talking about Con, geez he’s doing some fancy juggling at the moment. Yeah, sure, he’s King of Kings and a major control freak, but man, he really needs to learn to share the load a bit more. I’m worried that one of his balls will fall and it will have catastrophic results. I kind of get the impression he’s putting off looking further into his true feelings about Rhi until things settle down. Good luck with that Con.
I haven’t read the whole series but what I have read, this is my favourite. The pacing was perfect, the storyline interesting and the connection between the main characters easy to see. The characters are multifaceted. A character that appears dark can have some light and the light may have some darkness waiting to break through. Evil isn’t always as evil as you imagined…the evil may just be coming from the person pushing from behind.
I feel like #12 is the start of the end. All the pieces have been laid out and now it’s just a question of where and how they fit together. I feel like we must be getting close to Rhi and Con’s story? There is a Rhi and Con story, isn’t there? I hope there’s a Rhi and Con story, Donna? Pretty please with sugar on the top…I’m begging for Rhi and Con to be together forever story.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
***4.5 stars***
I started Heat a little unenthusiastically. Come on…it’s Book #12, haven't we covered everything we can yet? Aren’t we going to see the same story again with different names? So, I opened it, started, and then proceeded to nod my head in acknowledgement and praise to the author. It was different, interesting and completely sucked me in. I never once felt annoyed or frustrated hashing over old topics. There wasn’t a time that I felt like it dragged, as I was completely engaged in the journey. Heat moved at a pace that kept my adrenaline pumping. My eyes were peeled for the fae to reveal themselves. I hoped that my mind would be safe from a druid looking to take control. I knew my dragon was standing at my back and would risk his life if I was in danger.
I really enjoyed getting to see Esther and Nikolai come together. They somehow work perfectly together even though they are very different. Esther is a little mentally battered and we see her try to take control and fix the damage to her memories. I hated seeing her suffer insecurity and doubt but loved that Nikolai showed her unconditional support and understanding when she needed it the most. Henry was playing “big brother� to the extreme and I thought his overreaction was making things even more stressful to Esther.
Heat just somehow felt different. I think it had a lot to do with the other parts of the story coming together. We’re finally getting some answers and seeing the leadership battles play out. Ulrik and his past connection with Nikolai show us a different side of a character that has been portrayed as a little psychotic and a lot angry. He was once a smart, caring and loyal dragon, who lead the Silver Dragons well. We get to see some of the hurt he suffered when he was turned away from Dreagan. To be honest, I liked seeing this side of Ulrik.
Rhi has again taken an emotional kick to the heart. Balladyn’s love has been tested and I’m not sure he’s the same Fae anymore. His “love� for Rhi now seems like a *I love the idea of love* kind of love. Almost as silly as Henry’s lusty love for Rhi that he “thinks� is real. And, the one man we want to get his head out of his arse, well, I kind of get the impression that maybe (HUGE MAYBE) he’s opening his eyes.
Talking about Con, geez he’s doing some fancy juggling at the moment. Yeah, sure, he’s King of Kings and a major control freak, but man, he really needs to learn to share the load a bit more. I’m worried that one of his balls will fall and it will have catastrophic results. I kind of get the impression he’s putting off looking further into his true feelings about Rhi until things settle down. Good luck with that Con.
I haven’t read the whole series but what I have read, this is my favourite. The pacing was perfect, the storyline interesting and the connection between the main characters easy to see. The characters are multifaceted. A character that appears dark can have some light and the light may have some darkness waiting to break through. Evil isn’t always as evil as you imagined…the evil may just be coming from the person pushing from behind.
I feel like #12 is the start of the end. All the pieces have been laid out and now it’s just a question of where and how they fit together. I feel like we must be getting close to Rhi and Con’s story? There is a Rhi and Con story, isn’t there? I hope there’s a Rhi and Con story, Donna? Pretty please with sugar on the top…I’m begging for Rhi and Con to be together forever story.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
January 27, 2018
Heat is Book 12 in the Dark Kings series. You will want to start at the beginning because while each book focuses on one couple, all characters are revisited in each book and an overall plot continues from book to book. We also have a crossover with the Reapers series.
So far, Heat is my favorite. I felt we are getting some good answers and getting closer to the end. Nikolai and Esther were an easy couple to root for. I was engrossed with their journey to retrace Esthers steps to find the Druid who stole her memories. It was interesting to see that not everything is so black and white. I want Ulrick to come back to the Dragon Kings so badly!
There are so many characters to follow and to figure out who’s side is on good or evil. There are still a lot of questions, but my curiosity is so great that every time a answer was uncovered I get more excited. I’m looking forward to the next book! ARC provided by NetGalley.
So far, Heat is my favorite. I felt we are getting some good answers and getting closer to the end. Nikolai and Esther were an easy couple to root for. I was engrossed with their journey to retrace Esthers steps to find the Druid who stole her memories. It was interesting to see that not everything is so black and white. I want Ulrick to come back to the Dragon Kings so badly!
There are so many characters to follow and to figure out who’s side is on good or evil. There are still a lot of questions, but my curiosity is so great that every time a answer was uncovered I get more excited. I’m looking forward to the next book! ARC provided by NetGalley.
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November 16, 2017I always wanted to read Donna Grant and I saw this on Read-now section of netgalley so I thought why not? Big mistake, it is #12 of a Dark Kings series and I red 10 pages and I got headache. There is so much back ground to the story, I can't figure out head and tail of the story. Not suitable for standalone.
March 9, 2020
Ohhhhh it’s all coming together now! Love this series.
March 27, 2018
Returning to Donna Grant’s Dark Kings world is always a treat for me. I’m always expecting high-quality writing and a wonderful romance and so far, Grant has never let me down.
HEAT is book twelve in the series and it features the sultry Nikolai and a character that we’ve seen before in the series named Esther. Esther was possessed by Druid magic and was sent to kill others. Now that she has regained her own mind back, she is trying to collect her missing memories. Nikolai, the strong and silent one, is right there to help her.
I really loved the romance in this one. Although some emotions were present from the very beginning, Grant never uses that to spur on the rest of the book. She takes her time to build the relationship between Esther and Nikolai and in the end, I really loved how it turned out.
I’m a big fan of Grant’s heroes. They’re sturdy, sexy heroes who I feel like you can count on. They aren’t overly flashy or unnecessarily alpha. They are just the perfect blend of intense and comforting. I feel like Grant writes the types of heroes that women want to marry and I definitely wanted to spend the rest of my days reading about Nikolai.
Things with Ulrik and Con heat up as well and I love that Grant has been building up to this moment for a while. It makes loyal readers like me extremely satisfied to see everything plotted out so well over the course of the series. Other POVs are included as well, enhancing the narration and furthering the plot. I can see Grant writing a lot of books in this series without it becoming stale to readers and this book is proof that she is able to writing interesting stories for her heroines.
A lot of people have been asking me if they need to read Grant’s previous series to enjoy this one. I always think it’s best to read everything the way it was meant to be read, but I don’t think you’ll have a problem jumping into this world. Just keep in mind that you’ll encounter other characters from past series here.
April 9, 2019
ARC received as review
Nikolai maybe my favorite dragon so far, and probably because his name sounds Russian. He was perfect for Esther both in and out of the bed while they search for the Druid.
My heart went out to Rhi. Can the Fae not catch a break?
Ulrik came through for Nikolai. Is there a chance he's not all bad? But will the other Dragon Kings ever forgive him if he repents?
Nikolai maybe my favorite dragon so far, and probably because his name sounds Russian. He was perfect for Esther both in and out of the bed while they search for the Druid.
My heart went out to Rhi. Can the Fae not catch a break?
Ulrik came through for Nikolai. Is there a chance he's not all bad? But will the other Dragon Kings ever forgive him if he repents?
January 17, 2018
Four and a half
Finally everything starts coming together with answers getting ever closer and after twelve books it's about time ! I loved this series when it began but after so many books if brutally honest I kind of started to feel frustrated as the author constantly teased us about the connection between Rhi and the Dragon Kings. Here we see Rhi start to truly become the awesome character that we always knew she was plus Con is starting to crack and I'm sure every other fan of this series has been dying for that. Oh and Ulrik might just step in and save the day, or will he ?
Still in typical fashion all this amazing background is wrapped around a romance and this time it's Nikolai and Esther ( Henrys sister) . Esther fell foul of the Druid working with Ulriks uncle and her memory is fragmented but luckily she is partnered with Nikolai who has an amazing gift that could really help. I liked both these characters and felt their attraction and subsequent romance seemed believable but you just know there's going to be a fly in the works and yes it's Nikolai and believe it or not his history with Ulrik . To say more would be unfair on my fellow readers but keep watching out for scenes with Rhi because those pesky secrets are starting to unravel!
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Finally everything starts coming together with answers getting ever closer and after twelve books it's about time ! I loved this series when it began but after so many books if brutally honest I kind of started to feel frustrated as the author constantly teased us about the connection between Rhi and the Dragon Kings. Here we see Rhi start to truly become the awesome character that we always knew she was plus Con is starting to crack and I'm sure every other fan of this series has been dying for that. Oh and Ulrik might just step in and save the day, or will he ?
Still in typical fashion all this amazing background is wrapped around a romance and this time it's Nikolai and Esther ( Henrys sister) . Esther fell foul of the Druid working with Ulriks uncle and her memory is fragmented but luckily she is partnered with Nikolai who has an amazing gift that could really help. I liked both these characters and felt their attraction and subsequent romance seemed believable but you just know there's going to be a fly in the works and yes it's Nikolai and believe it or not his history with Ulrik . To say more would be unfair on my fellow readers but keep watching out for scenes with Rhi because those pesky secrets are starting to unravel!
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
May 11, 2018
Upon requesting this review courtesy of NetGalley (in exchanges for an honest review), i wasn’t aware that it was part of an ongoing series, let alone the twelfth book. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, as Grant was able to smoothly intergrate the ongoing storyline well with the new couple she focused on in this book.
Grant focuses each book on the formation of a separate couple and I feel that I may have been more invested in the way the relationship between Nikolai and Esther formed if I’d already read the previous 11 books. From just reading book 12, I found the pace of their relationship was quite quick; going from stares across rooms and drawing your past, to let’s stay in bed all day having sex because it’s raining, in the blink of an eye really did not do it for me at all. Though, I suppose it would have if I’d watched how the two were before their own feature book.
And the sex. I’ve read a lot of romance, I have expectations in certain genres for what happens and Grant did not disappoint in delivering. If only the writing of it didn’t make me want to cringe every time I read it � I found myself skimming a lot of it because it sounded a bit underwhelming.
I did enjoy the storyline though, particularly the incorporation of the series major storyline and subplots. Plot twists weren’t quite as jarring as a lot of other stories, but they didn’t really need to be in this book because things were always happening to make the story move forward.
Despite initial confusion about character background and previous books, I did enjoy this book and will one day pick up the series from book 1. I think I might have appreciated a lot of the character development more if I’d done that in the first place.
�
3.5/5
Grant focuses each book on the formation of a separate couple and I feel that I may have been more invested in the way the relationship between Nikolai and Esther formed if I’d already read the previous 11 books. From just reading book 12, I found the pace of their relationship was quite quick; going from stares across rooms and drawing your past, to let’s stay in bed all day having sex because it’s raining, in the blink of an eye really did not do it for me at all. Though, I suppose it would have if I’d watched how the two were before their own feature book.
And the sex. I’ve read a lot of romance, I have expectations in certain genres for what happens and Grant did not disappoint in delivering. If only the writing of it didn’t make me want to cringe every time I read it � I found myself skimming a lot of it because it sounded a bit underwhelming.
I did enjoy the storyline though, particularly the incorporation of the series major storyline and subplots. Plot twists weren’t quite as jarring as a lot of other stories, but they didn’t really need to be in this book because things were always happening to make the story move forward.
Despite initial confusion about character background and previous books, I did enjoy this book and will one day pick up the series from book 1. I think I might have appreciated a lot of the character development more if I’d done that in the first place.
�
3.5/5
February 9, 2018
Don’t let the fact that this is the twelfth book in this series put you off reading it even if you haven’t read any of the others - it works well as a standalone. It tell s the story of Esther, who is missing some memories after her mind restored after having been taken over by a druid. She is an agent for MI5 and is searching for a dragon who she believes can help restore her memory. That dragon is Nikolai, a Dragon King who has preferred solitude for centuries, but once Esther asks for help he finds her irresistible and is determined to help, even if it means interacting with others again - including someone he once held in high esteem but fate drove a wedge between them, Can he help restore her memories? Can they resist their mutual attraction? What really happened to Ulrik - and can he help?
This is a real page turner, once where the lyrics from the Johnny Nash classic -
"There are more questions than answers
And the more I find out the less I know,
Yeah the more I find out the less I know."
prove very true in this story! As they uncover more information, that information raises more questions and dilemmas - including trying to decide just who is on each side in the different factions. The background information is skilfully interwoven so new to the series readers or anyone who has missed any of the earlier novels can still relate to events in this story. I particularly liked how the author developed the relationship between the two main characters, not rushing things for them and showing how events impinged on their growing love. It is a highly entertaining paranormal romantic suspense that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys this genre or fancies giving it a try!
I requested and received a copy of this novel. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
This is a real page turner, once where the lyrics from the Johnny Nash classic -
"There are more questions than answers
And the more I find out the less I know,
Yeah the more I find out the less I know."
prove very true in this story! As they uncover more information, that information raises more questions and dilemmas - including trying to decide just who is on each side in the different factions. The background information is skilfully interwoven so new to the series readers or anyone who has missed any of the earlier novels can still relate to events in this story. I particularly liked how the author developed the relationship between the two main characters, not rushing things for them and showing how events impinged on their growing love. It is a highly entertaining paranormal romantic suspense that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys this genre or fancies giving it a try!
I requested and received a copy of this novel. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
January 20, 2018
** ARC provided by the author for an honest review **
A magic induced coma leads to intense fiery passion. New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant continues her Dark Kings series with another must read for long time fans. Heat is one hot read, I’d take the title as fair warning!!
MI5 agent Esther has had her memory affected by magic. To discover what the magic is hiding, she seeks out the one dragon with the power to help her. Nikolai is not one to be defeated, so it becomes a matter of pride to find the answers. As the flames of their passion rise so does the danger of discovering the truth.
Fast paced and thrilling. We get some answers and a few more secrets to mull over. Grant continues the overall storyline that moves from book to book, but this one centers around Nikolai and his mate, Esther. It is filled with suspense and will have you on the edge of your seat. The way everything fits together, but still leaves questions isn’t a disappoint like it sometimes is. I found that it left me anxiously awaiting more and I cannot wait for the next book!
Both Nikolai and Esther are strong characters. Their passion mixed with the suspense brings the heat, just as the title suggests. Their story intertwines with past and continuing storylines, and while I enjoyed it, I highly recommend starting from the beginning. I mean we are in double digit books with this series, starting here will definitely leave you a bit confused.
If you’ve read and enjoyed Grant’s work before, you will not regret picking this one up. 4.5 stars
A magic induced coma leads to intense fiery passion. New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant continues her Dark Kings series with another must read for long time fans. Heat is one hot read, I’d take the title as fair warning!!
MI5 agent Esther has had her memory affected by magic. To discover what the magic is hiding, she seeks out the one dragon with the power to help her. Nikolai is not one to be defeated, so it becomes a matter of pride to find the answers. As the flames of their passion rise so does the danger of discovering the truth.
Fast paced and thrilling. We get some answers and a few more secrets to mull over. Grant continues the overall storyline that moves from book to book, but this one centers around Nikolai and his mate, Esther. It is filled with suspense and will have you on the edge of your seat. The way everything fits together, but still leaves questions isn’t a disappoint like it sometimes is. I found that it left me anxiously awaiting more and I cannot wait for the next book!
Both Nikolai and Esther are strong characters. Their passion mixed with the suspense brings the heat, just as the title suggests. Their story intertwines with past and continuing storylines, and while I enjoyed it, I highly recommend starting from the beginning. I mean we are in double digit books with this series, starting here will definitely leave you a bit confused.
If you’ve read and enjoyed Grant’s work before, you will not regret picking this one up. 4.5 stars
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February 15, 2018DNF at Chapter 8. No review. Not a standalone. This novel is suited only for fans of the series.
Book source: ARC from NetGalley.
Book source: ARC from NetGalley.
December 21, 2017
Whew! Fanning self at the moment. The title of this book is aptly named. Nikolai and Esther have unbelievable chemistry that fills the pages. They are made for one another. I absolutely love this series. The Dragon shifters are smokin' hot, pun intended. There's no need to start at the beginning of this series because each book is perfect as a standalone. However, after reading one, you may want to go back and plow through the others. Nikolai's story is fantastic! There are other paranormals in this book that you will notice throughout the series. You may need to check and see if your favorite has a story out already.
This author always does a splendid job when it comes to creating her characters and their back story. While there are hurdles to overcome, as with most paranormal romances, readers are guaranteed awesomeness in this book along with a happily ever after. And yes, I'm still waiting for Rhi's book.
This author always does a splendid job when it comes to creating her characters and their back story. While there are hurdles to overcome, as with most paranormal romances, readers are guaranteed awesomeness in this book along with a happily ever after. And yes, I'm still waiting for Rhi's book.
January 29, 2018
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Returning to Donna Grant’s Dark Kings world is always a treat for me. I’m always expecting high-quality writing and a wonderful romance and so far, Grant has never let me down.
HEAT is book twelve in the series and it features the sultry Nikolai and a character that we’ve seen before in the series named Esther. Esther was possessed by Druid magic and was sent to kill others. Now that she has regained her own mind back, she is trying to collect her missing memories. Nikolai, the strong and silent one, is right there to help her.
I really loved the romance in this one. Although some emotions were present from the very beginning, Grant never uses that to spur on the rest of the book. She takes her time to build the relationship between Esther and Nikolai and in the end, I really loved how it turned out.
I’m a big fan of Grant’s heroes. They’re sturdy, sexy heroes who I feel like you can count on. They aren’t overly flashy or unnecessarily alpha. They are just the perfect blend of intense and comforting. I feel like Grant writes the types of heroes that women want to marry and I definitely wanted to spend the rest of my days reading about Nikolai.
Things with Ulrik and Con heat up as well and I love that Grant has been building up to this moment for a while. It makes loyal readers like me extremely satisfied to see everything plotted out so well over the course of the series. Other POVs are included as well, enhancing the narration and furthering the plot. I can see Grant writing a lot of books in this series without it becoming stale to readers and this book is proof that she is able to writing interesting stories for her heroines.
A lot of people have been asking me if they need to read Grant’s previous series to enjoy this one. I always think it’s best to read everything the way it was meant to be read, but I don’t think you’ll have a problem jumping into this world. Just keep in mind that you’ll encounter other characters from past series here.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Annie� � Don't want to miss any of our posts? by email! � �
January 5, 2018
I'm a massive fan of Donna Grant's Dragon Kings, and this book did not disappoint me in the slightest.
Nikolai has a great backstory, it is heartbreaking but intriguing at the same time. And the thought of him as a baby dragon is just so cute.
The way Ms Grant brings Esther and her brother's, Henry's, story to the forefront of the book is genius as well. You don't see it coming, and it makes Esther and Nikolai one of my favourite couples in the series. I see so many strengths in them as they fight for the truth together.
The storyline that runs through all the books is there and goes from strength to strength. I don't want to say too much, but I love Rhi and boo hiss to Usaeil and Balladyn.
I understand that Ulrik's book is next and I can't wait.
This is a must read series. There is so much talent in the writing, and that draws you into a mystical world of shifters, fae and magic like no other series I've read.
Nikolai has a great backstory, it is heartbreaking but intriguing at the same time. And the thought of him as a baby dragon is just so cute.
The way Ms Grant brings Esther and her brother's, Henry's, story to the forefront of the book is genius as well. You don't see it coming, and it makes Esther and Nikolai one of my favourite couples in the series. I see so many strengths in them as they fight for the truth together.
The storyline that runs through all the books is there and goes from strength to strength. I don't want to say too much, but I love Rhi and boo hiss to Usaeil and Balladyn.
I understand that Ulrik's book is next and I can't wait.
This is a must read series. There is so much talent in the writing, and that draws you into a mystical world of shifters, fae and magic like no other series I've read.
August 22, 2020
Love and tension abound�
I can’t believe this is the twelfth book in the series already! Dragon Kings should really be old hat by now but Nikolai’s story � and Esther’s � was as unique as all that came before it. Yes, there is a common thread but even at the end of this anxiety and tension-filled courtship, there is still a lot more to learn�
My heart ached for the young Nikolai and again when he was faced with a terrible choice as an adult. Haunted by both events, they shaped him into what he became � a strong, moral, powerful Dragon King� Esther was analytical and smart but even she was drowning in the mystery that became her life. Together, they were going to solve the riddle plaguing her and at the same time fall in love�
Full of intrigue galore and a host of characters I still need a list to keep track of, this series is compelling as it was from the very first story with Esther and Nikolai’s romance my latest favourite� ~Diane, 4 stars
I can’t believe this is the twelfth book in the series already! Dragon Kings should really be old hat by now but Nikolai’s story � and Esther’s � was as unique as all that came before it. Yes, there is a common thread but even at the end of this anxiety and tension-filled courtship, there is still a lot more to learn�
My heart ached for the young Nikolai and again when he was faced with a terrible choice as an adult. Haunted by both events, they shaped him into what he became � a strong, moral, powerful Dragon King� Esther was analytical and smart but even she was drowning in the mystery that became her life. Together, they were going to solve the riddle plaguing her and at the same time fall in love�
Full of intrigue galore and a host of characters I still need a list to keep track of, this series is compelling as it was from the very first story with Esther and Nikolai’s romance my latest favourite� ~Diane, 4 stars
June 25, 2020
Re-listened on 21/1-2020.
First listened on 29/12-2019.
Review from 29/12-2019.
Although I listened to this audio book on Audible Escape, I received a ebook arc of this book that I'm saving for a future re-read of this series. I have a feeling I'm gonna re-read it. I just love dragons.
This series is so addicting. I can't get enough of it! I'm absolutely hooked and I'm so upset with myself for not starting this series sooner.
I really liked Nikolai and Esther's story. I've also liked seeing a whole other side of Ulrik lately and I felt so sorry for Nikolai at the start of this book. Poor little guy. :(
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
First listened on 29/12-2019.
Review from 29/12-2019.
Although I listened to this audio book on Audible Escape, I received a ebook arc of this book that I'm saving for a future re-read of this series. I have a feeling I'm gonna re-read it. I just love dragons.
This series is so addicting. I can't get enough of it! I'm absolutely hooked and I'm so upset with myself for not starting this series sooner.
I really liked Nikolai and Esther's story. I've also liked seeing a whole other side of Ulrik lately and I felt so sorry for Nikolai at the start of this book. Poor little guy. :(
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
October 18, 2018
Okay, so I’ve read all 12 of The Dragon Kings books (as well as the Dark Warriors series, the Dark Sword series, all the Reaper books to date, her LaRue books, all her novellas, and so on) and loved them all. The most important thing I loved about them is they are NOT written in the first person, like 95% of all dragon books are. And the second reason I love them is because they are not EROTIC, which I hate, hate, hate! Oh, there’s sex in them but Ms. Grant doesn’t try to make it as dirty as possible. There are a lot of dragon books out there but I just can’t read them for these two reasons.
That being said, I loved this book too. With Nicholai you learned a whole lot about Ulrik, a lot of nice things. I’ve never been sure about Ulrik; was he a good guy or bad guy. I mean I know he did some bad things but he never seemed to be ALL bad. And then there’s his uncle Mikkel. What a power-hungry coward he is.
And, wow! How about the turn of events with Usaeil, Queen of the Light Fae. There was a shocker. And you never know what’s going on with Balladyn. I was wondering if he was ever going to kill Taraeth. What an evil creep that King of the Fae’s was.
This was an awesome book about Nikolai following Esther wherever she wanted to go in order for her to find the Druid that messed with hers and Kinsey’s minds and then kept Esther from remember a big gap of things that happened in her life. (And all the while they fell in love.)
There was explicit sex in this book and the F-bomb was used 8 times.
As to the narration: What can I say? It’s Antony Ferguson. His women’s voices are terrible and he reads without emotion. I do think he yelled a couple of times but it takes more than that. I don’t know how many times that book said someone laughed and that’s one thing he NEVER does. No idea how he gets so many 4 and 5 star reviews.
That being said, I loved this book too. With Nicholai you learned a whole lot about Ulrik, a lot of nice things. I’ve never been sure about Ulrik; was he a good guy or bad guy. I mean I know he did some bad things but he never seemed to be ALL bad. And then there’s his uncle Mikkel. What a power-hungry coward he is.
And, wow! How about the turn of events with Usaeil, Queen of the Light Fae. There was a shocker. And you never know what’s going on with Balladyn. I was wondering if he was ever going to kill Taraeth. What an evil creep that King of the Fae’s was.
This was an awesome book about Nikolai following Esther wherever she wanted to go in order for her to find the Druid that messed with hers and Kinsey’s minds and then kept Esther from remember a big gap of things that happened in her life. (And all the while they fell in love.)
There was explicit sex in this book and the F-bomb was used 8 times.
As to the narration: What can I say? It’s Antony Ferguson. His women’s voices are terrible and he reads without emotion. I do think he yelled a couple of times but it takes more than that. I don’t know how many times that book said someone laughed and that’s one thing he NEVER does. No idea how he gets so many 4 and 5 star reviews.
January 1, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This was a "read now" selection and I'm sorry I signed up for it. I did not realize when I did so that this was #12 in the series. Many romance novels work as stand alones or out of sequence. This does NOT! There is so much missing backstory that I felt lost through the whole thing. The dragons' Scottish accents were annoying, not charming. Because I came into this series so late, I feel like I never grew to care for any of the characters and didn't feel drawn into any aspect of the story. The ending was incredibly disappointing, too. This book is obviously just one more chapter in Grant's Dark Kings saga, a saga that sadly, I have no desire to read. I gave it two stars because it wasn't totally terrible, but it certainly wasn't special enough to make me want to read any more of it.
March 29, 2018
My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!! Yes, I got a review copy of this book, but no one tells me what to think, feel, or write about any book! I think I want to collect this series in paperback!!
The cover is WOW! Love it, and you know why!
This is the 12th book in the series, and it is for adults only due to steamy content and violence. You can definitely read this book on its own, but I highly suspect that it would be so much better if each book was read in order. I want to collect them all in paperback when I can. This is only the 2nd book I’ve read in this series.
This is an awesome world full of Dragon Kings, Dark Fae, Light Fae, Reapers, Druids (both mies and droughs), magic, mates, and more! I love complex worlds where you don’t see how everything is going to work out. Surprises around corners and action galore made it impossible to put this book down. I love how well Nikolai and Ester work together and come together. They are a great pair! Still wondering what will happen with Rhi especially with what happens in this book. All sorts of drama, treachery, and more to leaving me wondering how things will go next. I really want Ulrik to come around, but who knows!
I highly recommend to any paranormal fans who loves adventure, action, and romance! I love this series, and I want more!!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!! Yes, I got a review copy of this book, but no one tells me what to think, feel, or write about any book! I think I want to collect this series in paperback!!
The cover is WOW! Love it, and you know why!
This is the 12th book in the series, and it is for adults only due to steamy content and violence. You can definitely read this book on its own, but I highly suspect that it would be so much better if each book was read in order. I want to collect them all in paperback when I can. This is only the 2nd book I’ve read in this series.
This is an awesome world full of Dragon Kings, Dark Fae, Light Fae, Reapers, Druids (both mies and droughs), magic, mates, and more! I love complex worlds where you don’t see how everything is going to work out. Surprises around corners and action galore made it impossible to put this book down. I love how well Nikolai and Ester work together and come together. They are a great pair! Still wondering what will happen with Rhi especially with what happens in this book. All sorts of drama, treachery, and more to leaving me wondering how things will go next. I really want Ulrik to come around, but who knows!
I highly recommend to any paranormal fans who loves adventure, action, and romance! I love this series, and I want more!!
February 3, 2018
4 Stars
Heat was a riveting read, Donna Grant has a way of pulling you into her story and keeping you hooked. I enjoyed the world building in this book, I loved immersing myself in the author’s vivid and vibrant writing. Her characters are likeable and intriguing. I have not read (yet) the other books in the Dark Kings series, but I really enjoyed Nikolai and Esther’s story. They were great individually, but together their chemistry was off the charts. I loved seeing Nikolai, a Dragon King possessing immense magic abilities, falling hard for Esther, a mere mortal.
Esther is a spy from MI5 who has learned the hard way how easily her species could be swiped from the earth. The Druid has gotten into her mind and controls her. She is strong, determined and always puts on a brave face, but she feels trapped by the Druid. She needs Nikolai’s help to deal with the aftermath of the attack. Esther has no power or magic, but she is protected by Nikolai. Their intense connection allows him to see into her life. He will do everything in his power to remove the magic from her mind and set her free of the Druid’s control. I loved seeing Esther coming out of her shell and slowly gaining back control of her life.
Lots of tension, great pacing, and a mysterious quality that kept me eagerly turning the pages all add up to this being a thrilling read full of surprises and extraordinary characters.
An advanced copy of this book was generously provided to me by the publisher.
Heat was a riveting read, Donna Grant has a way of pulling you into her story and keeping you hooked. I enjoyed the world building in this book, I loved immersing myself in the author’s vivid and vibrant writing. Her characters are likeable and intriguing. I have not read (yet) the other books in the Dark Kings series, but I really enjoyed Nikolai and Esther’s story. They were great individually, but together their chemistry was off the charts. I loved seeing Nikolai, a Dragon King possessing immense magic abilities, falling hard for Esther, a mere mortal.
Esther is a spy from MI5 who has learned the hard way how easily her species could be swiped from the earth. The Druid has gotten into her mind and controls her. She is strong, determined and always puts on a brave face, but she feels trapped by the Druid. She needs Nikolai’s help to deal with the aftermath of the attack. Esther has no power or magic, but she is protected by Nikolai. Their intense connection allows him to see into her life. He will do everything in his power to remove the magic from her mind and set her free of the Druid’s control. I loved seeing Esther coming out of her shell and slowly gaining back control of her life.
Lots of tension, great pacing, and a mysterious quality that kept me eagerly turning the pages all add up to this being a thrilling read full of surprises and extraordinary characters.
An advanced copy of this book was generously provided to me by the publisher.
January 28, 2018
I'm usually all for a good dragon story, so when I received this one from NetGalley, I was anxious to dive in. That excitement quickly turned to confusion as I read when I kept trying to figure out what I was missing with these characters and their story. To be fair, the info on NetGalley didn't mention a series, let alone that it was book twelve in that series! I did keep at it, but with minimal world building and only snippets of info here and there, I was left with more questions than answers. I can only assume that many of my questions were answered in previous books, but after the struggle to get through this one, I don't feel a pressing need to explore this series any further. As far as the characters are concerned, Nikolai is interesting enough, but Esther became rather tedious with her angst and whining. Had I been familiar with the world of the Dragon Kings, this one may have been more enjoyable, but as it stands, it was just too easy to set aside.
July 15, 2019
I really like Nikolai. His story is the perfect one for right before Ulrik's book. Nikolai and Ulrik are/were friends. Nikolai hasn't forgotten that. He wants that back.
One of the things I LOVE about this series is how the world lends itself to so many stories. The author has created such a dynamic world. It holds Dragon Kings, Fae, Droids, and more. It also has humans, most of which are clueless about what's really going on around them. I love how a couple of characters can go from be mentioned in one book to center stage in the next. The over arcing story continues as a couple figures out a small thing while deciding if they can't live without the other. Such is the case for Nikolai and Esther.
Nikolai's power is in his drawings. It's amazing that he can use that gift to discover truths. It's what draws Esther to him. She's lost a part of her life and it's driving her nuts. She must know what happened. They travel to London and go searching for that truth one drawing at a time. What a different and interesting premise.
I love all the characters in this world. Nikolai appeals to me a lot because he has some history with Ulrik. Left as an orphan at a very young age, Nikolai was raised by Ulrik. The pain and guilt he feels for what happened to Ulrik plagues him greatly. I felt his pain...his guilt. It was part of who he is and the author does a great job of bringing this Dragon King to life.
One aspect of this story was to show a different side to Ulrik. I admit to not being a fan of the series "bad guy". It's funny, though, how seeing a different side of a character can start to change your mind about him. That's what happens here. It made me dive right into Ulrik's book as soon as I finished Heat.
Esther is a strong and determined women. She wants her memories back. She wants to protect herself and she grows protective of Nikolai as well. I love that she just finds a way. I can't help but fall for Nikolai right along with her. They are perfect for each other and I was certainly cheering for them.
As with all of the books in this series, there are some hot moments between this couple. Donna Grant never disappoints to craft passion and heat between her characters. Romance and passion make this one hard to resist.
I was not disappointed by this book at all. At book twelve in the series, I can see myself just continuing to enjoy these books for a long time yet. I find it amazing when a series can hold my attention this long. I love the Dragon Kings and I just want things to work out for them. In the mean time, I'm completely smitten by these books.
Of course I will continue to the next book and hopefully a lot more beyond that.
An imaginative world that holds so many amazing stories, this book...this series will hold you in it's pages!
One of the things I LOVE about this series is how the world lends itself to so many stories. The author has created such a dynamic world. It holds Dragon Kings, Fae, Droids, and more. It also has humans, most of which are clueless about what's really going on around them. I love how a couple of characters can go from be mentioned in one book to center stage in the next. The over arcing story continues as a couple figures out a small thing while deciding if they can't live without the other. Such is the case for Nikolai and Esther.
Nikolai's power is in his drawings. It's amazing that he can use that gift to discover truths. It's what draws Esther to him. She's lost a part of her life and it's driving her nuts. She must know what happened. They travel to London and go searching for that truth one drawing at a time. What a different and interesting premise.
I love all the characters in this world. Nikolai appeals to me a lot because he has some history with Ulrik. Left as an orphan at a very young age, Nikolai was raised by Ulrik. The pain and guilt he feels for what happened to Ulrik plagues him greatly. I felt his pain...his guilt. It was part of who he is and the author does a great job of bringing this Dragon King to life.
One aspect of this story was to show a different side to Ulrik. I admit to not being a fan of the series "bad guy". It's funny, though, how seeing a different side of a character can start to change your mind about him. That's what happens here. It made me dive right into Ulrik's book as soon as I finished Heat.
Esther is a strong and determined women. She wants her memories back. She wants to protect herself and she grows protective of Nikolai as well. I love that she just finds a way. I can't help but fall for Nikolai right along with her. They are perfect for each other and I was certainly cheering for them.
As with all of the books in this series, there are some hot moments between this couple. Donna Grant never disappoints to craft passion and heat between her characters. Romance and passion make this one hard to resist.
I was not disappointed by this book at all. At book twelve in the series, I can see myself just continuing to enjoy these books for a long time yet. I find it amazing when a series can hold my attention this long. I love the Dragon Kings and I just want things to work out for them. In the mean time, I'm completely smitten by these books.
Of course I will continue to the next book and hopefully a lot more beyond that.
An imaginative world that holds so many amazing stories, this book...this series will hold you in it's pages!
May 10, 2021
This series is building up to the end games. Reading this series out of order will work for most readers as Ms. Grant gives enough recap of previous events to bring a reader up to date. It is recommended to read at least a few of the prior books to understand the minor characters and subplots. In this one, we focus on Nikolai. Nikoli's history is a sad one and it is what makes him such a good Dragon King. When he has to go against his adoptive father, Ulrik who later becomes one of his most trusted friend and confidante, it breaks him.
The problem with immortals or supernaturals who live a long life, is that things can change. Relationships have to change because it won't last forever. This makes Nikoli very hesitant to get involved with Ester even if she attracts him like no one has in centuries. Their love is slow to start and seems to be even slower to materialize. This works for me because this story finally brings together many of the other subplots that have been dragged out across multiple books.
Finally we see movement between Rhi and Balladyn from the Fae world. It is not the direction I was hoping. There are so many star cross lovers and betrayals in this series, I can't keep up. Including the crazy supernaturals, I am hard pressed to believe this world will survive the different factions fighting. What keeps me on edge is the King of Kings, Con. What is his end game? How is he going to fix all of this? Is he going to fix it? All I see is a huge hundred plus car pileup. As pawns are moved into place or destroyed, knights and rooks are closing in on the Queen. Except, I kind of want the Queen to be taken out in this complicated warfare because she is an evil, evil creature. On top of the Fae fight Dragons and infighting within each of the groups, there are Druids! Druids are blindsided by a female who is coming out of the blue with her powers. Is this a new threat or a possible ally?
At one point, I'm wondering if we even need a romance plot because learning that Ester and her brother are more than what they thought is just as riveting and I want to know more. Uncovering hidden secrets is what this group seems to do best. And what they find out may not be what they really wanted to know. It does enhance the storylines and build a more complex world.
This paranormal romance is recommended to dragon and fae lovers who enjoy fantasy as much as they do romance.
*provided by
The problem with immortals or supernaturals who live a long life, is that things can change. Relationships have to change because it won't last forever. This makes Nikoli very hesitant to get involved with Ester even if she attracts him like no one has in centuries. Their love is slow to start and seems to be even slower to materialize. This works for me because this story finally brings together many of the other subplots that have been dragged out across multiple books.
Finally we see movement between Rhi and Balladyn from the Fae world. It is not the direction I was hoping. There are so many star cross lovers and betrayals in this series, I can't keep up. Including the crazy supernaturals, I am hard pressed to believe this world will survive the different factions fighting. What keeps me on edge is the King of Kings, Con. What is his end game? How is he going to fix all of this? Is he going to fix it? All I see is a huge hundred plus car pileup. As pawns are moved into place or destroyed, knights and rooks are closing in on the Queen. Except, I kind of want the Queen to be taken out in this complicated warfare because she is an evil, evil creature. On top of the Fae fight Dragons and infighting within each of the groups, there are Druids! Druids are blindsided by a female who is coming out of the blue with her powers. Is this a new threat or a possible ally?
At one point, I'm wondering if we even need a romance plot because learning that Ester and her brother are more than what they thought is just as riveting and I want to know more. Uncovering hidden secrets is what this group seems to do best. And what they find out may not be what they really wanted to know. It does enhance the storylines and build a more complex world.
This paranormal romance is recommended to dragon and fae lovers who enjoy fantasy as much as they do romance.
*provided by
January 27, 2018
Heat by Donna Grant
Dark Kings #12
Another dragon king finds his mate in this book :)
Esther North, having lost part of her memory and feeling tense and worried about what lurks in her mind, has talked Nikolai, Dragon King of the Ivories, into going with her to locate the druid that took over her mind in the past. Off the two go to Ireland and Scotland to visit places that might trigger memories and help Esther achieve her goal. They have interactions with Fae, druids, dragons and others as they learn that Esther has a purpose and that her parents are not who she thought they were. While their story is taking place side stories occur in which the king of the dark fae is killed, the light fae queen’s evil is exposed even more to those she has harmed in the past, more chess pieces are moved toward an ultimate conclusion for the series, characters from previous books make appearances and the set-up for book 13 is put in play.
I enjoyed this book and believe The Dark World series would make a brilliant series for TV or the big screen. I will say that having only read three books from this series, the Reaper series from the beginning and few if any other books in this series it is not always easy to follow what has happened in the past or figure out where the story might go in the future. In spite of not having all of the backstories I am eager to keep reading this series and look forward to what will happen in this marvelous paranormal world that is so wonderfully created. I LOVED when Esther flew through the sky on the back of Nikolai while he was in dragon form…what a wonderful thing that would be to do! I would recommend reading from the beginning (if you can) and found a listing of the order to read the books should you decide to do so:
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC � This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Dark Kings #12
Another dragon king finds his mate in this book :)
Esther North, having lost part of her memory and feeling tense and worried about what lurks in her mind, has talked Nikolai, Dragon King of the Ivories, into going with her to locate the druid that took over her mind in the past. Off the two go to Ireland and Scotland to visit places that might trigger memories and help Esther achieve her goal. They have interactions with Fae, druids, dragons and others as they learn that Esther has a purpose and that her parents are not who she thought they were. While their story is taking place side stories occur in which the king of the dark fae is killed, the light fae queen’s evil is exposed even more to those she has harmed in the past, more chess pieces are moved toward an ultimate conclusion for the series, characters from previous books make appearances and the set-up for book 13 is put in play.
I enjoyed this book and believe The Dark World series would make a brilliant series for TV or the big screen. I will say that having only read three books from this series, the Reaper series from the beginning and few if any other books in this series it is not always easy to follow what has happened in the past or figure out where the story might go in the future. In spite of not having all of the backstories I am eager to keep reading this series and look forward to what will happen in this marvelous paranormal world that is so wonderfully created. I LOVED when Esther flew through the sky on the back of Nikolai while he was in dragon form…what a wonderful thing that would be to do! I would recommend reading from the beginning (if you can) and found a listing of the order to read the books should you decide to do so:
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC � This is my honest review.
5 Stars
December 15, 2022
I have fallen in love with dragon shifters and Nikolai is at the top of the heap. That man is quiet strength that is sexy as hell. He and Esther have some crazy chemistry that they both feel but have tried to push away.
I loved the beginning when Ulrik found Nikolai as an orphaned hatchling and he took him under his wing (no pun intended) even though Ulrik was a Silver King and Nikolai belonged to the Ivories. His parents were just murdered by rogue Ivories and he had a gut feeling to stay with Ulrik rather than going back to his clan. It wasn’t until he had grown into his powers that Nikolai challenged the King and become King of the Ivories.
When Esther, an M15 agent, goes on a quest to find the druid that stole her memories, she wants Nikolai by her side. Since she has been living in the castle, she and Nikolai both feel a connection. Nikolai with his powers of with just one look he can create on paper what Esther experienced. “She filled his mind like no other had before.�
Their quest takes them to London and Ireland. Their time alone allows them the time they need to fall in love and discover so much about Esther’s lost memories and much more. There is so much mystery, suspense, intrigue involved that it kept me turning those pages fast and furious. I don’t want to give anything away because there is so much that goes on with everyone! Wow this is really getting good! I can’t wait for more!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review.
I loved the beginning when Ulrik found Nikolai as an orphaned hatchling and he took him under his wing (no pun intended) even though Ulrik was a Silver King and Nikolai belonged to the Ivories. His parents were just murdered by rogue Ivories and he had a gut feeling to stay with Ulrik rather than going back to his clan. It wasn’t until he had grown into his powers that Nikolai challenged the King and become King of the Ivories.
When Esther, an M15 agent, goes on a quest to find the druid that stole her memories, she wants Nikolai by her side. Since she has been living in the castle, she and Nikolai both feel a connection. Nikolai with his powers of with just one look he can create on paper what Esther experienced. “She filled his mind like no other had before.�
Their quest takes them to London and Ireland. Their time alone allows them the time they need to fall in love and discover so much about Esther’s lost memories and much more. There is so much mystery, suspense, intrigue involved that it kept me turning those pages fast and furious. I don’t want to give anything away because there is so much that goes on with everyone! Wow this is really getting good! I can’t wait for more!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review.
January 30, 2018
Dragon King Nikolai has a gift for drawing. He only needs to see something once and he can reproduce it in great detail. There is also a little magic that helps him take his drawing just a bit further.
Esther North is now working with the Dragon Kings, but is suffering the after effects of a druid invading her mind. Maybe Nikolai can help her. Our characters have several problems to solve. Lots of different villains all with their own agenda.
This is a series that should be read in order. The underlying story carries on through each book although they each have a different hero and heroine.
Lots of magic , danger and intrigue.
A very exciting and magical series.
Esther North is now working with the Dragon Kings, but is suffering the after effects of a druid invading her mind. Maybe Nikolai can help her. Our characters have several problems to solve. Lots of different villains all with their own agenda.
This is a series that should be read in order. The underlying story carries on through each book although they each have a different hero and heroine.
Lots of magic , danger and intrigue.
A very exciting and magical series.
December 4, 2017
I've fallen in love with this series. Often I get bored and give up on a series when I start with the first book, but I've found that a great author can get you hooked later in the series causing you to read any new books and all the previous books. This is written wonderfully, I love how in every book the central plot is the focus for all the characters even through creating, establishing and modifying romantic relationships, and alliances. Of course dragons, magic, action and sex only add to my love of this series.
I was given an ARC for my honest review.
I was given an ARC for my honest review.
June 30, 2018
DNF at 7%
When I requested this one on NG, I didn't realize that it was part of an ongoing and CONNECTED series. As a result, I have been very confused and trying to catch up the entire time that I've been reading this novel. I thought I could power through, but my heart's just not in it. So now on to happier reading!
When I requested this one on NG, I didn't realize that it was part of an ongoing and CONNECTED series. As a result, I have been very confused and trying to catch up the entire time that I've been reading this novel. I thought I could power through, but my heart's just not in it. So now on to happier reading!
August 27, 2018
I was really curious on Esther and Nikolai's story and I was not disappointed! Loved it from the start up to the last!!! <3 <3 <3
Donna did it again!!! I am soooooo looking forward for Rhi's story!!!!
Donna did it again!!! I am soooooo looking forward for Rhi's story!!!!
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