“...Noreen knew that the game had truly begun.” Flame by Donna Grant

We continue with the war of the Dragon Kings and the Others for Earth with both sides prepping and planning still.

Noreen, a dark elf, decides to warn the Dragon Kings of the plan of the Others. Despite being part of and betraying the Others. Despite the crime committed against her parents by the Dragon kings. Cain, a navy blue dragon, is sent to check up on her story. And turns out, she’s his mate. And there’s more to Noreen’s story than meets the eye.

Always nice to see Con and Ulrik and Rhi and Eirith and Cael.

At some point, you gotta wonder how long will this continue, this series. I mean we’re waaay beyond primary colors now and going into shades. The world is setting up for a big battle ahead and seriously there are so many characters now that we don’t hear about till their story comes that pushes the overall arc of the main story.
Also, what do I capitalize again? Dragon Kings? Dragon kings? dragon Kings? dragon kings?

I honestly didn’t see the chest there. 😂 I was so focused on the dragon, which is just gorgeous, that I only realized it’s on a (nice looking) chest when I was just about to post this.

Thank you St Martin’s Paperbacks for the arc of this book. And NetGalley too.

This book will be out June 30, 2020. As usual, I hope to remember the publication date. 😂 I always forget

I swear, with each book justice is just within our grasp when the author yanks it just out of reach again. It’s frustrating and addictive and I feel like when this series finally ends I be able to breathe again.

I’ve enjoyed each pairing in the series. I like how each mate the dragon kings find, have a part to play in the overall story. Noreen is a powerful player that has barely tapped into what she can do. I can’t wait to see what more will come from her. I did feel she got judged too much and I struggled a bit with that.

I loved how all-in Cain was. He didn’t hesitate to give Noreen his trust despite her being a dark fae. He was protective and fought for her. He did have a moment I wanted to shake him but overall, he was good for Noreen.

I can’t seem to get over how much gets revealed in each book, and yet more questions pop up. I want to know who Rhi’s Dragon King is. I want to know who Con’s mate is. I want to know how the final battle will go down. I have a few predictions. Hopefully I’ll learn if I’m right or wrong soon.

Betrayals, Deceptions, Revelations…

This is the seventeenth book in the Dark Kings series.

There comes a point in a person’s life when they can take no more; when boundaries are crossed that the conscience cannot live with. It is with this motivation that the Dark Fae Noreen sets out upon a dangerous path, to warn her sworn enemies, the Dragon Kings, of what the Others have planned. Though having personal reasons for hating the dragons she’ll assist them but only on her terms.

An email message is left for the Dragon Kings that implies the sender has knowledge of the Others to share. Is it real or a trap? Regardless, someone needs to investigate and Cain, Dragon King of the Navy dragons decides to take the task on. What he finds unexpectedly is one of the enemy, a Dark Fae, who by her own admission has been a member of the Others. What game is she playing? The distracting attraction between them is magnetic and as strong as the distrust they have of each other. Yet her words and admissions do lend credence to her story and her betrayal of the Others will cost her.

As enemies became lovers the insidiousness of the Other’s plan and who actually devised it was an unexpected twist that had this reader gasping. There was much information disseminated about the Others and we learn what happened to the missing bodies at the end of the last book. The battle at the Light Palace was but one obstacle the Dragon Kings had to surmount, the plan to destroy them has been centuries in the making and rapidly approaching fruition if the Others are to be believed. The Reapers, continue to stand with the Dragon Kings but how far will Death go in supporting them is still debatable.

In the character of Noreen, the author gave us a heroine like no other we have seen, she’s tough, highly intelligent and not a trained warrior or so she said. A Dark Fae with some code of ethics. The complexity of her persona was staggering. She was thrown by it being Cain that met her, his existence wasn’t part of the underlying plan that she unwittingly (perhaps) was playing out. This character kept this reader guessing, to trust or not to trust was the question. Beware of who or what might or might not be the deception. Cain was the perfect complement and foil for her, their romance was felt though not the main focus here. This pair’s journey was necessarily emotionally painful for both of them.

This intriguing book had moments that were explosive and implosive. Even at this late stage in the series, the author added more possibilities to the plot and depth to the characters. This series is a masterful multifaceted tapestry of paranormal fantasy but it’s installments like this one where the underlying storyline leaps forward that sharpens this reader’s appetite for more. We are so close to what will undoubtedly be an epic conclusion. But how it will all be resolved is yet to be determined.

How will the author tie up the threads that remain open? Many questions still need answering. What kind of being is Rhi becoming? This reader wonders about her parentage. Will Xaneth be rescued? Will the Dragon Kings be reunited with their dragonkin? Will Constantine regain his mate whose identity has been much suspected? His emotions were visible here. The King of the Dragon Kings might just have a breaking point underneath his oftentimes cold manner. I’m so looking forward to the next book, the fight to control the realm of Earth, the true home of the dragons.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

Yes! That’s all I can say!! Only not really, but this book is everything I have wanted for a while now!

We are coming to the end of this series and this book finally picked up in action!
Of course each book has a purpose and a story to tell but this one? It has everything I feel like I’ve been missing!

Twists and turns and surprises at all ends!

This story really took a turn, in the right direction, to lead us right into the end. All I want to do is talk about it but it would ALL be spoilers!

I will say these things though.
1. I REALLY liked the take on how the Kings’ story is told to this mate. It was a really fresh breath and way more informational!
2. I need Rhi to keep being strong!
3. I just need Con.
4. All the characters throughout this series, spin offs and all, better be in the last book!

This is book 17 in this series but I still think you might be able to read it as a stand alone. I have read a few others from this author that all connect together and although I have missed out on a few things I still had a great time reading the story. I loved the sexiness of the story along with the characters and the romance. This was an out of this world story that I of course couldn't put down!!

Flame is another steamy, action packed installment in the Dark Kings series. This is part of a series and will not make a whole lot of sense unless you read the whole series. Seeking to help the Kings, Dark Fae Noreen sends an email with a lot of useful information and then Cain shows up. Sent to find the truth, Dragon King, Cain finds his mate in the arms of the enemy. But things are never that straight forward in the World of the Kings, Noreen and Cain face a world of betrayal and challenges before they can work on their HEA. Con and Rhi feature pretty prominently in this story line and have my hopes high to finally get their story in the next book (pretty please, Ms Grant). Sexy, exciting, and a whole lot of addicting goodness, this is another great read in the Dragon Kings. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

I have loved this series and this book was no exception. I loved the protagonists and how they plot from book one is being pushed forward. Donna Grant makes me feel for the characters and I cannot wait for the last book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read and review.

Another intense, fiery paranormal romance by Donna Grant!

Noreen and Cain's attraction to each other is probably the most passionate and heartbreaking I've seen in this series. The story become more enticing as their relationship grows. Both are risking a lot for the greater good. Of course there was a catch that came at an almost irreparable cost.

It took me a while to get fully invested in what was happening because there was too much telling and not enough showing. What is learned is all potential critical information but I wish it had been given differently.

The plot twist got me! I expected but was wonderfully unprepared for its impact on the characters and the threat of The Others as a whole. Then things spiraled into action-packed chaos.

My heart goes out to Noreen, Rhi and Constantine! I love them all so much!

The ending was satisfying enough. I think it's fitting that the last book, Inferno, be Con's. The long awaited battle that has been millenniums in the making is about to end. I'm so anxious for what will happen. Things will never be the same but I know it's going to be epic!

Having read all of Donna Grant's book and various Series - Flame has got to be the best one yet. Donna takes you on adventures with her characters and locations that bring you into the story. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down until I was done.

Cain is not a Dragon King I knew much about but in this book I found out how critical his part was in the death of the human who betrayed Ulrik. The story continues to unfold by bringing into Cain's life everything he hates causing him to grow and learn more about the Dark Fae and mortals. During this time he is faced with the fact that possibly not everything is black and white. I admire his strength to decide to leave his mate to do the right thing knowing he would never be happy again.

Noreen is quite the shock for the reader and Cain. In my opinion she is the first really really deliberate bad girl to appear as a mate against her will. She comes across one way and then through a series of events she ends up a different way. Or does she? That is the part that adds the interest to this story. Will her hidden evilness win or will the good girl she was as a child remember everything in time? This was the very needed drama to this story.

In this story Rhi makes an appearance finally after the death of her friend Balladyn, the murdered Dark Fae King. Rhi is by far my favorite female character in this series along with Con. Both of these will star in the next book to the Dark King Series and I have waited a long time for a resolution to their unrequited love.

This is not a common story so I give it a big 5 STARS for the constant tension and heartbreak in this storyline.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

For long timed fans of Donna Grant's Dark World, Flame marks the second last book for the Dark King series. The book opened with Noreen, a dark Fae who is also part of Others (that nefarious group that wanted to kill our Dragon Kings) who send an anonymous (or so she thought) email to our Dark Kings warning them about the Others. Con then send Cain to investigate further and so the adventure begins.

I've been waiting for Cain's book for quite a long time, at one point I even thought Cain was Rhi's mysterious King. Did I love this book? Heck yes I do! It might be a slow start but I devoured every moment of it, I appreciate that Donna Grant took the time to build us up to the finale in this book. Oh and what a finale it was indeed! For us loyal readers, you'll be pleased to know that we have tremendous payoffs in this book. Quite a bit of loose ends finally came together and we even see cameos of Reapers and Death. We see the vulnerability of a fearless and stoic leader, we also worry of a beloved character going to the dark side.

All of us readers are dying to know who Rhi's Dark King is, did we finally get the reveal? Maybe or maybe not, you just have to read the book! Flame can be considered as one of Donna Grant's finest works, it will make readers clamouring for the Con's book to come earlier than slated.

I was lucky to be gifted with a copy by Netgalley, however the views above are all of my own.

Noreen, a member of the Others, is horrified when she realizes the truth about their plan. She decides that the only way to stop it is to tell the Dragon kings and hope they don’t kill her. What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with a King. Caine just wants any information he can get about the Other plan for the Kings but the longer he is with Noreen the more he wants her. But can he trust her?

Wow, so much happened in this book and I cannot wait to read the next one. I was a little apprehensive at the beginning of this book and wasn’t sure I would like where the story was going but dang was it good. I just got sucked in with every passing page and couldn’t put it down.

Noreen betrays the Others to tell the kings the truth but never expects to fall for Caine. Noreen is a Dark Fae but doesn’t kill ruthlessly like most of her kind. She has her own code and knows not to do true evil. With the help of the Kings and Reapers she finally learns the truth about her past and the Others. She was so strong, even though she wasn’t a warrior. She stepped up when she knew she was the only one who could possibly help turn the tide against the Others. I really liked her and hope we see more of her in the future. I especially want to see her and Rhi become friends.

This was a great enemies-to-lovers romance. Caine and Noreen had an instant attraction that was filled with a lot of emotions. Caine gives Noreen the truth of her past and helps her work through the pain of it. I love how supportive Caine is of Noreen. He doesn’t hold the fact she is a Dark Fae against her. He sees the truth of her and stands up to the other Kings because of that.

Like I said earlier, a lot happens in this book. We have love, betrayal, the return of an enemy, new revelations about the past, and the breakdown of a leader. It is so much but all so good. I really can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, which might be the last, because I know it is going to be mind blowing and amazing.

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*

ARC From NetGalley

DNF at ~42%

Honestly I don't think I can rate this book. Starting at #17 meant that there was just way too much I didn't understand. The writing was fine. The steamy bits were ++steamy. The premise was interesting, but I couldn't get into it. I was so confused by all the info dumps. I couldn't get invested in anyone because there was honestly more time put into explaining what had come before than there was developing the characters. This book suffers from instalove, but I mean, I think the point of a book like this is more about the sex scenes so whatever. It's par for the course. I found myself just skimming it for sexy bits and decided I was done.

With seventeen books in this series already, one would think that Grant would someday run out of ideas to write about. However, I do find that this series continues to be one that I look forward to. It has a softer touch than some of the othe paranormal romances I read. However, I like that there’s something very reliable and comforting about Grant’s writing. I know that I can count on her to deliver an entertaining book.

With FLAME, some interesting things begin to happen when an email is received from a member of the Other. Noreen is horrified by the Others’ plan for the Dragon Kings and so she secretly reaches out to warn them. I found this concept to be really fascinating and interesting. It’s definitely not one that I get to read often, so with that being said, I found myself really intrigued by this book. I like that Grant can come up with various couples in her series and having a book that features Cain and Noreen, a Dark Fae, it just made things so fun to read.

I would definitely recommend this book. It’s one of the few paranormal romance series that I think still has the spark of uniqueness.

This was my first book by Donna Grant and I really enjoyed very much. The story and the characters were so well developed that I remained engaged to the very end. Now I have to go back and read the books for the entire series to get caught up and I can't wait for the next installment. A must read!

Am I the only one heartbroken for Con? I’m just sitting here, sad as I’ve ever been. Heartbroken for this man, Dragon King, that has suffered so very much. I just want to wrap my arms around him. Surround him with love. Happy thoughts.
The story is every thing a true fan would love. I am very pleased with it. I so look forward to the next, because I believe that Con May get his HEA soon. Right now, I’ll go grab my tissues. I’ll sit and wait, with overwhelming sadness and hope. Because I need this next book. If possible now.

This book was captivating! It was a mix of fantasy and romance. It was written beautifully. The words just flow off the page. I felt like I was apart of this world and these characters lives. I loved it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Can not get enough of the Dark Kings series, loved this one. Characters were great the ending was great and can't wait for the next one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance read, I voluntary read and reviewed all opions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced reader copy which I received in exchange for my honest review.

Flame, the penultimate book in the long running Dragon King series by Donna Grant was well worth the wait! Cain, King of the Navies meets his match in Noreen, a Fae with an agenda. Like all of the books in the Dragon Kings series, the author does a fantastic job of straddling the line between providing enough background information on the Dark World to entice new readers without rehashing her previous storylines and boring longtime readers. The end of the series is clearly at hand here and all of the players are on the chess board at this point. Series favorites such as Death and her Reapers play a significant role in the story and even the Dark Warriors at McLeod Castle warrant a mention.

Grant finally reveals some much anticipated information as to the identity of the Others and wow is it jaw dropping! Cain and Noreen's romance is enjoyable albeit a bit rushed. I liked both main characters but found that the book really picked up steam when my favorite character, Rhi, entered the picture! Fresh off what appeared to be a decisive victory over her foe and onetime Queen, this book finds Rhi in an emotional place both literally and figuratively. There are some light hearted moments such as finding out that Noreen has been fan-girling Rhi for millennia, I mean haven't we all? Any woman who can destroy worlds, create worlds and drop enemies with either her rapier wit or her sword all while dressed to kill is a Queen in my book. Only Rhi can show up to a battle pretending to be bitter that it isn't a nail appointment!!

The author doles out plenty of bread crumbs to the central mystery of the entire series, the identity of Rhi's Dragon King lover. While his identity is never explicitly stated in the book, it is clear nevertheless. I won't spoil it for those who haven't read the book but I must say I was beyond thrilled!

The King of Dragon Kings, Constantine has an integral part in the book and for the first time I felt that readers got a good look at the man behind the King. Constantine shows a lot of vulnerability in Flame and I have to confess that it made me love him all the more. Ulrik too has a key role to play and the band of brotherhood that exists between Con and Ulrik was particularly heartfelt in light of their very complicated past.

In Flame, Donna Grant has set the table for what is sure to be an epic conclusion to the series. I have no doubt there will be as much bloodshed as tears to come in the series finale, Inferno. Passion, betrayal and heartbreak are set to converge when Rhi and the Dragon Kings fight for the realm they call home. I can't hardly wait! In the meantime, enjoy Flame, a great book with everything you could want in a paranormal romance.

Well, this all in all was a great addition to an awesome series. This book at times did have me a little less then enthralled. I enjoyed the characters, but the ending is where it all starts t come together, and WOW! Things are hinted that I assumed were going to happen, and new twists were introduced. I can’t wat to see how this all finally plays out.