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

Another successful Dragon king story. I love the story line & the continuation of the characters. More insight to the Ulrik & Con conflict.

I have read contemporary and paranormal by Donna Grant over the years but always loved her paranormal/fantasy the best. Heat, Dark Kings Dragon 12, does not disappoint but brings new life to this long running series.

Nikolai and Ester’s story is an amazing one with both of their histories coming into play. Of course, I always read looking for any mention of Rhi and her full story. For a while, I was discontented that her full story had not been told but now I am seeing that the time is not yet right. There are just too many questions about too many characters whose motives and ethics are not clear and need to be answered first.

This leads to the question of whether this book could be a stand-alone. While Nikolai and Esther find their HEA, their world is not suddenly a safe place. There are numerous characters with a major theme happening along with several subplots that would make this a difficult read with which to begin the series. I am not sure that one new to the series could keep up with the Light and Dark Fae, the Dragon Kings, M15 and now the Druids, who are all part of the overarching theme by starting with book 12 in the series. However, for those who have been keeping up with the Dark Kings, this is a must read.

Nothing I love more than a dragon shifter with a heart of gold, who’s also badass! This is Nikolai’s story of how he became a Dragon King. After being asleep for an extremely long period of time, he awakes to help Esther recover some memories that were taken from her by a Druid. In the process of helping her uncover who stole her memories, she sees herself through Nikolai’s eyes and it is powerful. As an MI5 agent, she has to figure out if she’s really happy with her lot in life while fighting her severe attraction to Nikolai. Can they recover her memories, and will she like what she remembers? Will Nikolai stand with her no matter the outcome?

While I did enjoy the story, this cannot be called a stand-alone. It is a slight pet peeve of mine when it comes to books. I personally feel like if it is a part of a series, it should be labeled that way and where this book falls in the series. This book was under the “Read Now” section on NetGalley. The synopsis is what pulled me in. Thankfully, the story was easy to follow on who was who and what is their role, otherwise, I would have had to add this to my DNF list. There wasn’t a huge amount of backstory which is fine, but I can definitely see how others reading this, not knowing this is a series, could be confused. I did enjoy the book and it did make me interested in reading other books in the series, but it also brought about a lot of questions.

Heat (Dark Kings, #12)
by Donna Grant

A definite buy book.... However , warning!!! If you like myself hate coming in the middle of the series, I suggest strongly you start from beginning.

Now for the rest of the story..... While I am not a sincere fan of the shifter type of stories... I think I am a closet one now! This author is a fantastic example of one with such a vivid imagination that she paints pictures in your mind while you are engrossed in her story. Such a talent is so fantastic that while I was not a fan of this type of book, I am as I said becoming a closet fan of it.... (If she is the author). I like her characters, the way she makes the story unfold and it flows easier into each element. Rather that be passion and romance, or action and adventure. The paranormal is done in a way that makes it very interesting to read. I must say the fantasy of such a world can be thrilling. I will suggest you read the series as it seems so far to be a good read! I was given this book in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are voluntarily written. Regards, Anna Swedenmom

The next Dragon King’s book delivers so much. Ulrik is looking less and less like the villain (YAY), Rhi had some devastating blows emotionally in this one, and guess what, Con was the one there for her! Nikolai and Esther were great together. Their passion and chemistry were awesome on the page.  The plot was great. The conflict was strong. The dynamic of how things are progressing was flawless in this one. Loved it. I feel so bad for Rhi; she can’t seem to get a break at all. So excited with where the series is heading and what is in store next.

This is the 12th book in Donna Grants Dragon king series - whilst it can be read as a standalone the reader would benefit from reading the previous books for a more detailed understanding of all the factions and rivalries ............

The series is brilliant ...in that it gives a different perspective ...to the usual Dragon, Fae , Druid and Human interactions .
Esther's loss of memory by magic, after her recent mission , is slowly drawing her deeper into darkness .
Dragon King Nikolai offers to help her retrace her steps in London to help her regain her memory.......his magical ability of being able to "see through the eyes" recent events as seen by others and draw the scene will prove to be vital to finding out what had happened to Esther .
Their fierce attraction to each other forces their passion to ignite.
As Esther and Nikolai come closer to finding out what had happened to her the dangers become more apparent .......can they they both survive what is to come ? Can their love survive ?

This is a brilliant book ...the characters , the world building , the fast paced action gives the reader a glimpse of true love , of dangers overcome , of honour and friendships formed .
I enjoyed the book so much that I immediately went out and bought the previous ones in the series .

If you have followed my blog for long enough, you know how much I dislike picking up a book mid-series. You would think that I know better by now and skip books that even exude that they are in a series. But I don't. I am a bookaholic and I can't pass up a book that interests me. Which Heat did. I was fascinated by the whole Dragon King/Druid/M15 triangle that was going on in this series. So I decided to chance it. Glad I did because I enjoyed this book....even if I got irritated when past books were referenced.

Heat was a bit different from the other shifter romances that I have read. The main female character was damaged but strong. She didn't have conflicting emotions about her Dragon King. She didn't try to lead him on a merry chase with him trying to guess her feelings. Everything was upfront. Which was very refreshing for a book like this. What got me also was how fresh this book was. Let me explain. I have found the longer a series goes on, the story seems too stagnant. Plotlines flounder and characters start to get boring. So for an author to keep the story as exciting and as fresh like it was the first book, I am impressed.

Heat has 3 main plotlines. The first plotline is about Nikolai and Esther trying to recover Esther's memory. They also come to the realization that there is more to Esther and her brother than what they thought. Plotline 2 is about the Druid and her uneasy alliance with Ulrich and his uncle. Plotline 3 is about the Dark Elves/Light Elves and their hatred of each other. All 3 plotlines are brought together for a spectacular finish.

Esther came across as such a vulnerable character at the beginning of the book. But the more the author revealed about her, the more I came to the realization that she was not vulnerable. She was a strong woman who was trying to track down the person who violated her. She was relentless, even at the cost of losing her mind/life.

Nikolai was also a strong man. He saw his parents being murdered by members of their own clan. He was taken in by the Silvers and raised by their king. He had to make a terrible choice when his King went, for all purposes, insane. He was everything that I love in a fictional guy. He stood by his woman, he protected her and he loved her.

I liked how the line was blurred between the bad guys and the bad, bad guys. The people who you thought were bad guys did a sudden turn around towards the end of the book. The bad guys who I thought were turning good did a 180. I like it when a book keeps me on my toes about who is bad and who is acting it to keep themselves safe. People that I started the book off having zero sympathies for ended up with my sympathy. The people who had my sympathy lost it. Like I said, I love it when a book does this.

The sex scenes in Heat were ah-maz-ing. Nikolai and Esther generated so much sexual tension in the first few chapters that I thought my Kindle was going to catch fire. When they finally had sex, it was off the off the charts hot. As was every sex scene with them afterward. I couldn't get enough!!

The end of Heat was pretty good. Nikolai and Esther's plotline was ended. But the plotline with Druid and the plotline with the Dark Elves/Light Elves were not. There was also another plotline added in towards the end of the book that made me very excited to read the next book. I cannot wait to see what will happen to some of the characters mentioned in this book.

Heat was a very fast read. Alternately action-packed and sensual, I couldn't put the book down. The author did a great job of keeping the plotlines fresh and engaging. I would reread this book and recommend it to anyone 20+. There are sex scenes, violence and language that I would feel are inappropriate for anyone under that age.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Paperbacks, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Heat.

All opinions stated in this review of Heat are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Another exciting addition to the Dark Kings series, Heat was a joy to read! While I did find this one harder to follow than its predecessor, Blaze, I was able to catch up fairly quickly and make connections to what was going on. Having read only books 10-12 of this series, I made it harder on myself, but thankfully Donna Grant does an excellent job keeping the reader in the loop. It's an increasingly complex world she has created, but with that complexity comes intrigue and mystery. I love it!

During captivity, MI5 agent Esther North's mind was altered, and now that she is free again, she cannot be sure of her memories or her stability. Becoming increasingly concerned about her liability to the Dragon Kings, Esther seeks out the help of a reclusive dragon named Nikolai. Having assisted with the banishment of a Dragon King who was like a father to him, Nikolai has been burdened with guilt and unable to find comfort. However, Esther may be able to change that. His power allows him to see into Esther's past, and what he finds may lead to Esther's recovery...or her demise. As they come together to find the Druid who damaged her so severely, they discover that their lives are more intertwined than they could have ever imagined.

Esther and Nikolai were a really inspiring couple. Even though both felt very weak, they were actually quite strong to have survived what they did. Nikolai lost both his parents as a young dragon, and then the man who raised him went insane and he played a part in taking away that which his mentor held most dear. Esther was kidnapped and her mind controlled, and she has been too afraid to sleep for fear that the Druid who scarred her would attack her again. The fact that such emotionally damaged people could find solace in each other, and then find the strength in themselves to conquer the odds that were against them for a greater good, says so much about their inner character. It made their romance all the more heartwarming, and I was so glad they got a happy ending.

I am excited to see this series continue and know that Donna Grant will continue to impress! It is a series that should satisfy anyone who enjoys stories of magic and dragons.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of Heat by Donna Grant from NetGalley. Heat is the latest installment in Dark Kings series, but reading it as a stand-alone alone novel is possible. Past plot points relevant to the current storyline are summarized when necessary. I like to read books part of a larger world, and the Dark Kings are one of my favorites. I enjoy the world building of the series. Several of the subplots reach climactic levels in this story. I dread these conflicts playing out as much as I cannot wait for them to happen, a lot is on the line for these characters. Nikolai and Esther integrate into the Dark King world in an authentic way that held my attention.

Nikolai has carried the weight of guilt since his mentor Ulrik's banishment. Nikolai was content to spend his time sleeping as a dragon in his mountain, but the growing threats to the Kings have required him to awaken. Since Esther's arrival at Dreagan, Nikolai can think of nothing but her. When Esther arrived, a druid took over her mind to use her as a weapon. The Kings contained the threat Esther presented, and her focus lies on regaining the memories the Druid took from her. Nikolai's connection to Esther amplifies his Dragon King powers and can help Esther find the Druid to retrieve her missing memories.

Nikolai's Dragon King powers begin to give Esther hope after her situation with the Druid and her mind control. Esther's support helps Nikolai come to terms with what happened to his mentor and his part in it. Their gravitation toward each other was believable from the beginning, and their physical encounters were very seductive. Nikolai and Esther did not deny the attraction they felt for each other. I prefer this to the couple that spends half their story believing a relationship cannot exist between them for absurd reasons.

Heat lived up to my expectations of this series. Nikolai and Esther are my favorite Dragon King couple since Ryder and Kinsey in Smoke and Fire. I am very eager for the series to continue. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions.

AWESOME read!!! This was another fantastic read, many questions answered and the series is progressing, along with all new questions. Definitely a couple WOW moments, a Are you Freakin kidding me.... oh... ok gosh... moment... I enjoyed every page

Heat (Dark Kings, #12) by Donna Grant ...Just finished another Dark Kings book and I'm so glad that #NetGalley let me preview it. I want my own Dark King ..but if I can't have that at least get to share their stories. Nikolai was saved by Ulrik as a hatchling when his parents were killed... Ulrik raised him and when it was time he became the Ivory King...but he sided with Con when Ulrik was thrown out. Esther is Henry's sister and has had her memories blocked. Their story to find the druid Eilish and her memories is the main story. Side stories with Rhi, Con and other kings and their mates and what happens with Balladyn and Taraeth... I can't wait for the next book.

I accepted an ARC copy of Heat and am giving my review freely.

A caveat: my advanced reader’s copy is an unedited proof, there well may be alterations to this novel at the time of publishing.

I believe there is safety enough in the galley copy to say Heat is a turning point for the magical world of the fae, druids, dragons, and humans in Great Britain. The fight of good versus evil has grown into a fraught battle of mythical beings against unassuming humans, and this pits all the Dark Kings against those looking to usurp them. The struggle between the Dark and Light Fae is lining up unseen soldiers behind the veil in a coming war and a new dragon is vying for Con’s throne. Heat highlights the spread and invasiveness of the “gray” area between light and dark, leaving readers on the edge of our seats waiting to see who will be saved, and who will be first to strike.

Our Heat heroine, Esther North is recovering from being the victim of the mysterious Druid who once controlled her and endangered everyone in the manor where the Dragons live. The shadow of dark power that has left blank spots in her memory haunts her every day. Watching the ghost of doubt that shrouds Esther, Nikolai’s powerful visions may be the only way to discover what her missing time and memories hide. Nikolai’s connection to Esther feeds the obsession this Dragon King has for a woman he knows is mate. Can he save her?

That is the ultimate question. Can these two crazy kids get over their hangups and shake off their misgivings and make with their happily-ever-aftering. The time for gathering favors is nearing its end and being a player will weigh a person’s worth and power. There isn’t any room for half-steps on the upcoming epic battleground; winners will celebrate but losses are guaranteed. Nikolai and Esther can have no room for questions--and my personal opinion is that Esther would question the sky being blue and water wet. Nickolai has a lot of work to be done.

Fear not those of us still waiting for Con’s happy ending, there is a rather vague promise that he may not die a martyr. Eh… really vague. Completely veiled threat that it could end terrible. I think I’m going to hold on to a Tinkerbell moment and just believe it is going well for him and hope that is enough to see this dragon through. Really, Donna Grant why you hating on Con?

A fair warning to any new readers interested in Donna Grant’s books, when I read my first Dark Kings novel I felt as if I needed to read the Dark Sword books to understand certain characters introduced. In kind the Dark Sword novels made me feel I was lacking the Dark Warriors background. Normally I am lamenting how a series isn’t integrated with it’s sub-series, Grant is here to nip me in the keister and teach me that there can be far too much integration. It would be best if you consider all her series and novels successive. This title picks up from the previous Dark Kings and mentions characters across the Dark World.

Donna Grant has a very good series with the Dragon Kings - I stumbled upon them a few years ago... purchasing some signed copies~ *fangirls*

This installment, Heat, follows the story of Dragon King Nikolai, who has the ability of a type of photographic memory - with a magical twist ~~with Esther North, a mortal, who has been roped into the magical drama via a Druid taking her mind for a ride. Surprisingly enough - this book has a more passive Hero type character with a very much strong, full speed ahead Heroine.
Not that Nikolai isn't strong, he's just more of a supportive strength. It's kind of nice to have in a book hero.

Heat is a wonderful book that gives you all the juicy details. If you're familiar with what's going on, LOTS of items are answered in this book and, of course, lots more are now asked. Donna Grant does a wonderful job mixing plot with romance and juggling different perspectives and situations.

We're on book twelve here and you CAN tell it's getting a little confusing. Even the King of Kings, Con (the best broody dragon and sexiness), touches on the fact that things are getting a little out of hand. There's a lot going on and it's starting to show in the writing and in the story. I HOPE Con, who's been around since day one, get's his HEA story at some point cuz he's been hanging on for a long time through all this.

Overall Rating: 3.75 Stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Character Development: 4 Stars
Dialogue: 3 Stars
Writing: 3 Stars
This series is very much paranormal romance, however there is a good balance. At no point is there 'overwhelming' sexy time or anything like that. The plot is solid and the development is good.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys shifter romance and Fae lore~ #nospoilers :D

This is book 12 in the Dark Kings series and I highly recommend that you read the previous books as this book continues to build upon the bigger story ARC. This one is about the Dragon King Nikolai and former MI5 agent Esther, who is Henry's sister. We previously saw Esther when she had her mind taken over by a powerful Druid and almost died. Nikolai was orphaned as a child and raised by a different clan of dragons. So he knows what loss means. Esther is still struggling to overcome what was done to her and the loss of her memories because of it. Because she can't remember everything that was done to her, she fears she may have done something horrific. Something even she may not be able to live with. So she asks Nikolai to help her find not only her lost memories but the druid who caused it all in the first place. Little did either of them know, that would change their lives in multiple ways!

I absolutely loved Nikolai and Esther!! He had been through so much and still managed to be a strong, honorable man! He stuck to his morals and his oath no matter that he had to turn his back on someone that was a father figure to him. No matter how much it hurt him but also made him feel guilt for not forsaking his word and standing with that man! Esther is a strong woman who even after having her mind messed with still stands up and needs to find the truth and help bring people to justice. It's what makes her who she is! And then you throw the back story that is going on with Rhi in there. I truly wanted to cry for Rhi with everything that is shown in this book that affects her. I can only hope that when she gets her HEA, that it is truly, truly EPIC! And then the little tease towards the end? I cannot wait for Ulric's book!!! All in all, another great read and I couldn't put it down once I started!

4.5stars
This book is my first that I read from the author or the series and I was really positively surprised. It is a great love story between an MI5 agent and Dragon shifter. The story is part of the series, it could be read as a standalone but it is a part of the series and there are a few couples obviously from the previous book. And they are a few things that are well described in the book but have obviously already happened in the past. books. What I didn't like the most are so many POV not just from many characters. I liked both Nicolai and Ester their story is full of mystery suspense and passion. I don't doubt that I will enjoy the next one in the series.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

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.

I absolutely loved reading Nikolai and Esther's story! I loved the connection between both of them, as they have lost so much in the past. Both struggling with their demons, creates an unbreakable bond. Raised by Ulrick, destined to become a King, Nikolai's heat bleeds for his adopted father turned brother. MI 5 agent Esther has been down a dangerous road with the Kings, brainwashed to turn against her friends. Now with memories missing Esther sets out to find the truth.

Great story. At times overwhelming with characters— and sometimes difficult to follow. Nevertheless a good solid story.