Title: Darkest Flame
Series: Dark Kings (#1)
Author: Donna Grant
From: Netgalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 29th April 2014
Challenges: 2016 Netgalley & Edelweiss Challenge, 2016 Reading Assignment, 2016 Blogger Shame
Links: Goodreads - Amazon
Synopsis (from Goodreads): The Dark Kings have fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But one of the most powerful warriors of his kind will be put to the ultimate test. Is he strong enough to resist his greatest temptations? Or will he be forced to surrender - body and soul? Her beauty is a weapon. Denae Lacroix is a beautiful MI5 agent on a deadly mission. Sent to the Scottish Highlands to spy on the mysterious Dreagan Industries, she discovers too late that she’s been set up - as human bait. She is an irresistible lure for a man who has not seen or touched a woman for centuries. He is a man with a destiny - and a desire - that could destroy them both... His passion is a curse...It’s been twelve hundred years since Kellan has walked among humans - and there’s no denying the erotically charged attraction he feels for Denae. But as a Dragon King, he is sworn to protect his secrets. Yet the closer he gets to this smart, ravishing woman, the more her life is in danger. All it takes is one reckless kiss to unleash a flood of desire, the fury of dragons…and the fiercest enemy of all.
This was an interesting Book when it comes to the whole standalone factor. I think I've maybe read one book by Donna Grant before this, but despite this being the first book in a series, I did feel like I was maybe missing a little something from not reading previous series. However, once the book got going, it didn't really matter and I got into it easily enough.
I loved the fact that the heroine was not only able to take care of herself, but was allowed to take care of herself. Sure, Kellan had his alpha moments about wanting to protect her and all that, but he also let her be herself, and when she managed to protect herself he felt proud rather than berating her.
This was an interesting take on the insta-love/mate thing. Neither of the characters were particularly moony by nature, and neither of them spent the whole book just thinking about the other one and how they didn't know how they were feeling. Now don't get me wrong, there was a little bit of that, but it wasn't taking over the prose. I felt like they were their own people and they got on with their own jobs.
Now Rhi...as a side character, I loved Rhi and enjoyed the fact that there was more to the story than just the couple busy falling in love. I was slightly confused about exactly which Dragon King had an affair with the Fae, but I feel like it will come out in later books anyway, so I probably shouldn't worry about it too much!
This was a good read, I love dragon-shifters, and this mythology was well thought out and interesting.
Series: Dark Kings (#1)
Author: Donna Grant
From: Netgalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 29th April 2014
Challenges: 2016 Netgalley & Edelweiss Challenge, 2016 Reading Assignment, 2016 Blogger Shame
Links: Goodreads - Amazon
Synopsis (from Goodreads): The Dark Kings have fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But one of the most powerful warriors of his kind will be put to the ultimate test. Is he strong enough to resist his greatest temptations? Or will he be forced to surrender - body and soul? Her beauty is a weapon. Denae Lacroix is a beautiful MI5 agent on a deadly mission. Sent to the Scottish Highlands to spy on the mysterious Dreagan Industries, she discovers too late that she’s been set up - as human bait. She is an irresistible lure for a man who has not seen or touched a woman for centuries. He is a man with a destiny - and a desire - that could destroy them both... His passion is a curse...It’s been twelve hundred years since Kellan has walked among humans - and there’s no denying the erotically charged attraction he feels for Denae. But as a Dragon King, he is sworn to protect his secrets. Yet the closer he gets to this smart, ravishing woman, the more her life is in danger. All it takes is one reckless kiss to unleash a flood of desire, the fury of dragons…and the fiercest enemy of all.
This was an interesting Book when it comes to the whole standalone factor. I think I've maybe read one book by Donna Grant before this, but despite this being the first book in a series, I did feel like I was maybe missing a little something from not reading previous series. However, once the book got going, it didn't really matter and I got into it easily enough.
I loved the fact that the heroine was not only able to take care of herself, but was allowed to take care of herself. Sure, Kellan had his alpha moments about wanting to protect her and all that, but he also let her be herself, and when she managed to protect herself he felt proud rather than berating her.
This was an interesting take on the insta-love/mate thing. Neither of the characters were particularly moony by nature, and neither of them spent the whole book just thinking about the other one and how they didn't know how they were feeling. Now don't get me wrong, there was a little bit of that, but it wasn't taking over the prose. I felt like they were their own people and they got on with their own jobs.
Now Rhi...as a side character, I loved Rhi and enjoyed the fact that there was more to the story than just the couple busy falling in love. I was slightly confused about exactly which Dragon King had an affair with the Fae, but I feel like it will come out in later books anyway, so I probably shouldn't worry about it too much!
This was a good read, I love dragon-shifters, and this mythology was well thought out and interesting.
