I waited a long time to read this 2nd book in what is quickly becoming a truly dynamic series. This book was definitely worth the wait. The story picked up where the Rogue King (book 1) left off and didn't miss a beat. Ladon and Skylar had the best interactions and it was exciting to see the sisters coming together. As the series unfolds, more of the prophecies surrounding phoenixes and dragon kings comes out and moves this story forward. This book snagged my attention from the start and kept me engaged to the end. I'm ready for more and am super excited to read the next book in this series. I recommend starting with book 1 for continuity.

I loved being back in this world. My first time reading dragon shifters was with The Rogue King and I loved it. I was really looking forward to reading The Blood King so when the opportunity came up to read an early copy of this gem thanks to Entangled Publishing I quickly jumped on it. Though this is book two in the series it can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the first book as well. Ladon and Skylar with their back and forth it's perfect. And now we have to impatiently wait for the next book in this series!! This is an absolute must read!! LOVED IT!

Who doesn't love a heroine that will stand toe to toe with a dragon and not blink an eye? The Blood King is awesome, bringing back into the story of Kasia and her mate, Brand from The Rogue King and telling the story of Skylar and Ladon. I couldn't put it down!

*I would like to thank Entangled Publishing for a copy of this book in return for an honest review*

” The fire rose from her skin, surrounding her, forming intricate shapes, like flamingo wings, joined to the lines across her skin. The mark of a phoenix.

An astounding second book in a hot, must read paranormal romance series. The Blood King is a steamy, action packed romance story filled with sass, dragon politics, epic battles and bad assery! There is nothing better than a feisty heroine who can handle herself paired with an arrogant and gruff dragon king hero!

I’m not going to lie, I loved this one even more than the first! It has all the things I love in a romance and book overall. It has that hate to love vibe although a little one sided, filled with sexual tension. There are fierce female characters that kick butt and don’t need a hero to save them. It was full of paranormal creatures and of course some real steamy, sexy moments. We jump right into where book 1 left off and it is a wild ride all the way through, filled with action and suspense.

” From a simple physical perspective, mating the man wouldn’t be a hardship.”

If you have read The Rogue King and like it then you will for sure want to pick this one up. It turns the story line up a notch, put more out on the line and gives us an even better romance (at least in my opinion) Skyler is on a mission to save her sisters and take out the dragon who killed her family. She will let nothing get in the way of that even if that means having to get close to a dragon who despises, and better yet a dragon king.

Skyler is highly independent and overall protective of her sisters. She is so feisty, stubborn and will do whatever she wants. Which is a perfect match for an arrogant, grumpy dragon king who just wants to get Brand his rightful throne and protect his clan. Ladon never wanted the power, but he wants whats best for his people. The banter that is sparking between Skyler and Ladon is what I live for!

Owen has such an amazing writing style in my opinion. She puts in just the right amount of romance, actions and world building. It was all layered with suspense as many of the characters ended up in some sticky situations. It was fast paced and had my flying through the pages. I admire the time and detail she puts into the side characters as well. There is such a large cast of characters but I adore them all!

“She had to give it to the bastard- dragons were nothing short of terrifying magnificent.”

Overall this sequel did not let me down and I loved it even more than the first! I am so intrigued by story and what is going to happen and how Owen is going to tie everything together. The ended was shocking and I need to know what is going on and how the story is going to continue. I feel in love with the hero and heroine, the banter and feisty interactions they shared, but also the lengths they went for each other. It was so great that we get to see more of Brand and Kasia! The dragon politics and how everything works was interesting to see play out. We get to learn more about the dragon clans as well as some other paranormal creatures and I have a feeling we will get even more in the next book. If you are a lover of paranormal creatures, sexy, steamy romance, and some great political intrigue -I think this one is a great one for you! Owen is a fantastic author who writes amazing paranormal romances and I will read anything she publishes.

Even though I missed the first one I do like this author and she has magic with her characters. War and how it effects those around. As we enter into this world where dragons captivate us here. Ladon and Skylar are the ones whom play a game with each other I do believe. They have their own agenda but they also will get a lesson on mates which we get to witness. Then there is war that will shake him and her to the core with both having us to the front in anticipation. We have to know does he succeed? Does she find out that her sister was not quite in the predicament she believed at first? Fun question that are answered only if you step inside to find out what goes on in this world of dragons.

Less diversity in the shifter world we see in this second volume of the Inferno Rising series. This one deals almost exclusively with dragons, although there are a handful of phoenixes and some werewolves thrown in for good measure.

Many of the peripheral characters from the first book are back. We learn much more of the back story for several key players here. Kasia and Skylar in particular, but much about Ladon, as well as Brand, and others also. Several new figures are added into the mix, some of whom seem destined to have a bigger role to play in the future. Maul is still by far my favorite character though!

Ladon once again tries to walk a fine line between playing the hardass and being a good guy. It would seem a very hard thing to do, but he pulls it off remarkably well. He wants to protect Skylar and allow her the freedom that she deserves, but for a variety of reasons he is compelled to mate her very soon after their initial meeting. She is not a big fan of dragons in general, and not especially interested in furthering their cause. But it does happen to align with her own of protecting her family. So after a little convincing, she gives in and agrees to mate him, hopeful that she won't kill him in the process.

Of course, the fact that he is extremely taken with Skylar doesn't hurt his cause any! She is incredibly attracted to Ladon as well, which makes doing what she feels is her duty that much more bearable; well, okay, actually enjoyable. LOL! That these two are fated mates is fairly obvious to just about everyone -- except for them! -- from the moment they first meet. But both are so closed off and guarded, and so much else is going on around them, that it takes quite some time, and some scary experiences, for them to truly bond. Luckily, however, they do so; and thus are they able to help save one another at times.

This book was by and large a huge downer, as this merry little band of misfits tries to take on a much older, wiser, stronger, and more desperate foe. Not much seems to go their way very often. But there are some good times to be had in the midst of all the chaos and despair. And luckily Ladon and Skylar are eventually able to admit their feelings for one another and experience their own sweet measure of joy.

I definitely look forward to reading the remainder of the books in this series to see what becomes of the other sisters, and if they ever defeat the bad guy.

Oh I am loving this new series about dragons. I really got into the first book and this is just as good. There is so much tension and action in these books. I love how strong Skylar is. She has been trying to protect her sisters forever. There is another side to her she fears showing. Landon the Blood Kind is immediately drawn to her as they are destined to be mates. The problem? Skylar doesn't believe in all that nonsense. But she can't denied their chemistry. Sparks fly from these two and I love the bantering between them. Plenty of emotional baggage to work out until we get our HEA. I found I couldn't put the book down. I had to know what was gonna happen next. As for the next book, please hurry I have to know how our next phoenix handled her situation.

I'm really enjoying this series. I liked book one and was eager to read book two and it was even better than the first one! There is plenty of tension, drama, action, emotion and heat to grab and hold your interest. Ladon and Skylar have blistering chemistry and believe me when I say that the sparks and sharp banter really fly as these two clash together epically. Emotional baggage and turmoil play a huge part in this story and that held a lot of appeal for me. I though those things helped to create a romance that had a rich depth to it. Can't wait for book three!

This novel is part of the Infernal Rising series, but can be read as a stand alone. The novel was a great day on the couch read. It has action, romance and good character development. I liked the interaction between the characters, love/hate..A good read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book

Skylar thinks she is going to rescue her sister from the dragons and her supposed mate but she finds out very quickly that her sister doesn't need rescuing.

Ladon only wants to mate Skylar so that he has more power to take out the High King. But they have a lot of chemistry that neither of them were expecting.

Ladon is the leader of the Blue Dragons and he needs a strong show of power in order to get some of the other clans to side with him against the High King who is looking for Skylar and her sisters because they are phoenix's. So when Skylar agree's to accept Ladon as her mate so they can take down the High King, she isn't even sure the mating will work but it does obviously and when the other clans see what she is and that Ladon now has a phoenix as a mate, they side with him to take down the High King.

Only problem is the High King seems to have spies everywhere and he knows that Ladon and his friends now have 2 phoenix's as mates, it really makes him crazy. So much so that in order to get more power from his mate who is a powerful witch, they come up with a plan to take power from others and transfer to the High King. Now if they could get one of the Phoenix's to drain, he would get more power. But things don't go as planned and the High King has to resort to drastic measures when things go really wrong with his plans.

I love Skylar, she's sarcastic, quick witted and she really kept Ladon on his toes. I like that even when things get really dangerous for her, she just keeps looking for a solution. This had all the action, romance and great storyline that it really kept me reading on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars - I liked it. The setup for The Blood King is a bit complicated, but the bottom line is that four Phoenix sisters were sent separately into hiding as their mother's dying act and now the sisters are starting to find each other. So when Skylar shows up to save her sister ( who found her gold dragon mate in book one), king of the blue dragons, Ladon, is unwilling to let her leave and fall into the hands of a rival dragon clan or even worse be captured by the evil red dragon king. Being a Phoenix, the Skylar a prize to be won, in the past there was only ever one Phoenix and her Dragon mate was automatically high king over all six dragon clans.

I enjoyed The Blood King. Phoenix Skylar is stubborn and really makes Ladon work to win more than her agreement to be his temporary mate only while it is to her benefit. I liked the way that she challenges Ladon, and the way he finds himself falling for her and wanting something for himself even though he has been all about his duty to his people. There is a fair amount of Dragon plots and plans in the background and a pretty cool battle scene where Skylar and her sister team up to fight along side their dragons - and Skylar makes very creative use of her power to teleport others even though she doesn't have wings and can't teleport herself. There is some steamy stuff - a dragon/Phoenix coupling is hot literally. I also really liked the set up for the next sister's romance - her power is interesting and her mating looks to have some speed bumps ahead.

The Blood King was book two in the series but worked fine without having read book one.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Release date 8/25/2020

I truly enjoy this series. I was lucky enough to get an advanced reading copy of the first in the series and then was offered the chance to read the second. I was so excited to go back into the world of dragon shifters and phoenixes. I was not disappointed.

Ladon Ormarr I had to say was a bit of an asshole alpha to start, but I think that's what Owen was going for when she wrote him. He was rough around the edges, for good reason, but I wasn't so sure that Skylar deserved what he dished out. I didn't even like how it felt that their mating was a bit rushed. I was afraid that there would be no time to develop the relationship that I wanted to happen between them. However, the non-stop action was an aid in making their story stand out. The connection they were able to develop was well done and the steamy scenes were, well steamy. I wasn't disappointed. Not one bit.

I wasn't really one to read shifter romances until Abigail Owen helped me see that I had to find the right one. This book is definitely one you have to read if you are a lover of shifter romances. Also, in my opinion, you would have to read the first one to really get a grasp of what's happening. There are references from the previous book and information that I think it absolutely important to read the second. You will instantly fall in love with these heroes and heroines.

4.5/5*

The Blood King is the second book in the Inferno Rising series and tells the story of Skylar and Ladon.

The Blood King was another amazing book by Abigail Owen. I remember loving The Rogue King because it was such a good book and it was also my first Paranormal Romance I’ve read by Abigail Owen. The Blood King was also such a good book and I loved reading about Skylar and Ladon.

Skylar and Ladon are just perfect for each other. The moment I started reading about them, I knew that I was going to love them. I loved their banter and their connection. It was cute that Skylar tried to fight their connection… Skylar and Ladon are a match made in heaven because they just understand each other and fit perfectly together.

Something that I also want to mention in this review is the story building. As I mentioned in my review of The Rogue King, I think that the Inferono Rising is such an interesting series because of all the different shifters and creatures. I like that there are different colours of dragons and they’re built differently. It’s so interesting and extra points for Abigail Owen’s story building!

The Blood King was such a well-written and addictive read and I couldn’t get enough of Skylar and Ladon. I also really loved and hated the last chapter of the book. I’m so excited to read Meira’s story. It’s going to be really interesting… I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, The Warrior King!

I love this series. The action/adventure made this impossible to put down. I also love how even though these two know there is a connection they don't easily give in. Skylar is strong and isn't afraid of Ladon or his reputation. And when they finally give in their chemistry is pretty great. I'm already jonesing for the next book.

Skylar Amon and her sisters have been hiding ever since their father was killed. And when the enemy found them years later, their mother used her Phoenix powers to teleport them all to safe hiding spots.

When Skylar hears that her sister Kasia has mated a dragon she's sure it's against her will. But when she reaches her, she's shocked to learn they are destined mates.

When Ladon Ormarr, the Blood King, catches her scent he knows he has to have her. 

ARC provided by Entangled via NetGalley

Captivating and intriguing read. The storyline was so amazing well written and creative. The characters where engaging and intriguing you get so caught up in the story you don’t realize how long you’ve be read. I can’t wait to read what this author writes next

4.5/5 stars

I really liked this new addition to the dragon-phoenix shifter world. The intense chemistry and instant attraction between Skylar and Ladon was everything you want in a fated mates story! The romance was steamy, feisty, entertaining and I loved it. I would say that I really wanted a bit more build up though in Ladon and Skylar's relationship. Even with fated mates, it felt a bit rushed from enemies to lovers and I was looking for just a few more scenes to show where trust was built. However, I really do love this series and how it builds on each book as we get to discover the phoenix sisters. This story also showed a bit more of the shifter world with just enough dragon drama and politics to keep the overall story going between the romance. The teaser bit at the end where we get a glimpse at the next romance was especially intriguing and I hope the author keeps throwing us hints! Overall, I really liked it, definitely recommend it and plan on devouring the next book in this shifter series as soon as possible.

Amazing!

Ladon and Skylar have some fantastic banter and push/ pull trying to find their way as reluctant mates. I enjoyed the action and drama plus dynamics of all the characters can wait for the next story.

I voluntarily read an advanced copies.

The second book in the Inferno Rising series by Abigail Owen titled The Blood King does not disappoint. Haters to lovers trope much like the first book with a mix of sexual tension and supernatural politics. What more could you ask for in a steamy paranormal romance? The Blood King is a fast-paced action, paranormal romance that we've come to love from Owen. I can't wait to read the next book in the Inferno Rising series.

In this series, there are four sisters who are phoenixes who are finding their fated mates. This is remarkable because there is only ever supposed to be one phoenix, who dies when the new one is born. This is Skylar's book, the second sister. Skylar has some interesting talents, as do all her sisters. She believes that her sister Kasia has been taken prisoner by the Blue Dragons, and Skylar has found their stronghold and sneaked in to find and rescue her sister, Kasia. Only, Skyler learns that Kasia is not being held captive, but has found and married her fated mate, one of the dragons. In the meanwhile, Kasia and Ladon, whose hold on the throne is tenuous, keep butting heads despite their mutual attraction. Ladon knows that he needs the power of a phoenix to beat their mutual enemy and keep his people free. Now he has to pursuade the reluctant Kasia. I liked Kasia's independence and stubbornness, and that there was no instalove.

This is an interesting book with shapeshifting dragons and phoenixes, fated mates, moutain lairs, magic, kingdoms, and the politics of ruling. I liked this book as a standalone but recommend reading the books in order. The world is a complex one, and the reader will enjoy it more with a proper introduction. I am planning on re-reading this one after reading the first book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for this ARC. These are my opinions of the book.

ARC received for review

Great second book. It picks up right where the first one left off. Skylar is just as stubborn and amazing as her sister. Ladon doesn't want to take no for an answer, and doesn't. Lots of drama, battling dragons, and hot sex. Now, who will the next sister wind up with?