So I'll be honest, I had misread the description and I didn't know this was a dragon shifter book. I'm not a very big fan of shifter books. So I was a little bummed when I started reading. However, the doubts flew out the window like the fastest bird in the world. I LOVED this ARC. I started reading this yesterday and I finished yesterday. It was so good I couldn't stop reading.

The writing style is great and makes for an easy read and the characters are wild, unique and sexy as hell. Move over Skylar, Ladon is mine, mine, mine! Those two together make for great fireworks and I loved to see their relationship built and change. What I loved most about it though, is the maturity in this book when it comes to their relationship. Books like these with explicit sex scenes can easily become awkward and are often written horribly. I am not a big fan of steamy scenes but I loved those in this ARC. There are several but they are not undermining the plot. The plot is solid but for me but it lacked a bit of background information. So while this book can be read as a standalone, I think it would be better to read the books in order.

I have certainly become a big fan of dragon shifter books and I cannot wait to read the other books in this series. I loved it from the very first to the very last page. I'm looking forward to see how these books end and how each sister finds her path in life.

Another enjoyable read in the series. The story continues with the next of four phoenix sisters, Skylar, who is stubborn, impatient, protector, and a bit on the crazy side. The novel overlaps a little with the first book, but otherwise continues where the previous novel left off. Skylar has no desire for a mate and does not trust dragons, for they only want the power that comes with mating a phoenix. Ladon is a strong leader, ruthless, and claims Skylar as his own. Convincing her to mate with him is one thing. Convincing her to stay with him is another. It is a battle of wills between the two of them. They need the help of other dragon clans to stop Pytheios, before he uses a phoenix to become immortal and more powerful. Revenge is a strong motivator, for Pytheios has lied and placed his supporters within various dragon clans. Skylar, Ladon, and the others will need to work together to bring down this evil and restore the rightful leaders.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as as ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and am providing an honest review.

**Potential spoilers ahead, but nothing juicy**

This one started a little slow for me. I think that's because the author was setting the stage for the broader story which continues throughout the series even though each book focuses on a different sister. Some things were recapped and we got to see behind the scenes in regards to what the villains were up to. So it took a little while to get going. I almost wished we could get a bit more invested in Skylar and Ladon before our attention was diverted to other matters (because we're all here for the romance, right?).

Once the story picked up, I was super into it! There was a fair amount of action to get the adrenaline going and the development of Skylar and Ladon's relationship was great. I loved that once we got past Ladon only wanting Skylar for political reasons (and we got past that pretty quickly), he was all in and trying to get Skylar on board, which I thought was sweet. I didn't mind Skylar constantly pushing back, though. It felt relatable. To be the one who's always had to be strong for others, it can be hard to let your guard down.

There were a couple of reasons this was only a 3-star read for me. As someone who hasn't read the first book, it took a while for Brand to grow on me. His need to "protect" Kasia from her sister was really off-putting. Kasia clearly wasn't afraid of Skylar so it wasn't like he perceived her as a threat based on Kasia's reaction. And Skylar had only shown up because she'd heard Kasia had been kidnapped and thought she was there against her will. If anything, Brand should have seen Skylar as an ally in keeping his mate safe.

There were also some inconsistencies in the story. For instance, Skylar told Gorgon (the king of the black clan?) that Kasia was the phoenix and that Skylar didn't get anything. Then shortly after, she transports Gorgon's men using her powers and it's never addressed. I would think he'd have a reaction to her lying. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, Ladon was thrown off by that proclamation and hoped she had a good reason for saying she wasn't the phoenix, but it's never addressed.

This was, however, a fun story and I'm pretty excited about what looks to be an upcoming book for Meira and Samael!

Full disclosure: I haven't actually read the first book in this series. But, I'm a simple woman, I see a book about dragons, I download.

The Blood King continues the story of the Phoenix sisters, this time focusing on Skylar. It could be because I haven't read The Rogue King, but I did feel that there was a lot of world building missing here, there wasn't a lot of description about the time/setting etc. Instead, the story focused mostly on action, which is great if you enjoy fast paced reads.

It was a fun read and I'm sure I'll be sure to do a quick re-wind with the first book.

4.5 STARS!!!
This was such a great read with non-stop action from beginning to end. I absolutely enjoyed Landon and Skylar characters and their chemistry was one that could not be denied no matter how much Skylar tired to fight it. There were so many times I wanted her to give in and stop fighting against everything when it came to Landon not because she was weak, but because there was no use denying what was right in front of her. The side characters were just as great as the main characters and I loved that Brand and Kasia were also a huge part in this story as well. Skylar and Kasia are phoenixes and Pytheious will stop at nothing to get his hands on a phoenix. However, their mates are determined to protect them even while at war with Pytheious over their rightful thrones. This story was steamy, entertaining, and unpredictable. I'm more than excited to get Meira and Angelika's story especially with the way this one ended with Samuel and Gorgon. I can't wait to read what happens between them. Do not miss out on a great paranormal series.

Owen is very quickly becoming a go to fantasy romance writer. I loved The Rogue King and this was just as fun. The sister with all her crazy was probably even more fun to read about. If a fantasy/paranormal romance reader I highly recommend these. It is such a well executed story with multiple magical creatures.

I received an advanced reader's copy of The Blood King by Abigail Owen from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had been fortunate enough to read a few other novels by Abigail Owen previously and liked them a great deal, so I held my breath a little as I started this book in case it didn't measure up. Happily, it was as enjoyable as the others and there was no need to worry!

Overall, I this was a solid romance and I found it to be well written. Even though each novel in the Inferno Rising series can be read a standalone, they are much more enjoyable when each is read. Although the books are about dragons and their mates, each dragon warrior/king has a different personality (rather than being a carbon copy of the same trope) and their fated mates are distinct and different as well.

In The Blood King, I really liked the primary and secondary characters' interactions and found their banter to be amusing. The steamy scenes were blazing hot and action was evenly paced throughout the novel. Looking forward: the plot to overthrow the High King moved along and the big showdown that's looming is starting to build as each side digs in, firms up their allies, etc. I'm so excited to see what the next novel will bring with that!

All in all, The Blood King by Abigail Owen was an enjoyable, quick read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance/sci-fi/fantasy. Can't wait for the next novel in this series!

Skylar Is sister to Kaisa, (from book 1 “The Rogue King”) second oldest sister of four Phoenix shifters.
Skylar and her three sisters were separated and hidden from the world by their mother Serefina. She was afraid of the High King, the Red Dragon Pytheios. She’d watched as he slaughtered her mother, and then her beloved mate Zilant King of the White Dragons. He had hoped to mate with her, or destroy her and gain her powers for himself!
They were all taught to be wary of dragons especially the red dragon Pytheios. If found, they will be forced to mate and that dragon will be the ruler of all dragons! Other shifters will seek to use their powers!

What starts out as a rescue mission, Skylar thinks Kaisa has been caught and forced to mate the now Gold King, turns into a fight for freedom. Hearing her sister willing mated Brand, Skylar goes to retreat. Only to find Landon blocking her way. She’s now is prisoner! But not for long, Skylar won’t be anyone’s prisoner, nor will she be a dragon’s bride! Let battle commence!

Landon is the king of the blue dragons, after losing Kaisa to Brand, he’s running out of time. (If dragons don’t find their mate, they go mad and start to age) he’s got Pytheios breathing down his neck, he’s losing ground. He needs something to restore his clan’s faith, and a Phoenix will do that. He’s not prepared for the feelings Skylar stirs up in him. She drives him crazy, and not always in a good way....

Being a mate to the blue dragon king is not what Skylar envisaged for herself. Being told by her mother that dragons will only want her for her Phoenix and not the woman has made her very wary.

There is fireworks from the beginning of this book.
Really like this series , even though it’s only two books so far, (its a spin off from the Fire’s edge series.) You don’t have to read those to enjoy this series.
I Liked the fact Skylar is very independent, but she’s had to be. Always on her guard has made her very distrustful. Knowing she’s only a mate because she’s a Phoenix and a legacy that comes with it (mate a Phoenix rule all the dragons) puts you in the low self esteem category.
But she makes the most of it. But Skylar isn’t going to give up without a fight. She wants a partnership, not a prison!
Landon is fighting both his feelings for his mate, and the High King the Red Dragon Pytheios, the High King wants all the dragons under his rule, and has taken all but the blue clan.
Lots of action, enough passion, and a few laughs along the way.
It’s nice to catch up with the previous couple.
And also snippets of both Skylar’s and Landon’s pasts.
We also have the two remaining sisters out in the world, will we get to see them before the end of this book? 🤫
And will Landon be able to drive the Pytheios out of the blue dragon territory and possibly kill him?


🦋

The second book in the Inferno Rising series, The Blood King centers around Skylar, one of the quadruplets whose mother was the last know phoenix of their time. Now deceased, she passed her powers onto her daughters. At the start of The Blood King, Skye attempts to save her sister Kasia (the protagonist in the first book), who she believes is being held against her will. Skylar finds out quickly that her sister is actually happily mated to a dragon shifter. She also meets Ladon, the handsome blood king.

Legend says that the dragon who mates with a phoenix will become king, so Skylar is suspicious of Ladon’s intentions. Ladon knows that mating with a Phoenix will solidify his standing as the leader, but that isn’t the only reason he wants Skylar. He won’t deny their chemistry. Skylar knows that an alliance with Ladon will protect her and her sisters from the villain who killed their mother. Can she put her prejudices and suspicions aside to help those she loves, and can she embrace the fact that she may have found her mate?

This is an exciting and fun romance. I love Skylar’s sarcastic, impulsive, and tough demeanor. Fiercely loyal to her sisters, she is a no-nonsense, honest, and stubborn woman who is used to being in control, and she doesn’t like the whirlwind of emotions she feels when she’s with Ladon. No one has ever affected her the way he does, and she struggles to keep her feelings in check.

Ladon is patient, strong, and confident. He knows when to act and when to listen. His relationship with his sister and his followers show what an amazing leader he is. He trusts and depends on them implicitly, and their unfailing loyalty to him says much about his capabilities and his leadership. He puts his people above everything else and is willing to sacrifice for those he loves.

It is clear that Ladon is the first to realize how amazing he and Skylar could be together. In her, he sees a partner and equal, one who he can share his life with. He just has to convince the reluctant phoenix that they were made for each other. His patience and understanding with Skylar throughout their blossoming relationship endears me to him even more.

The antagonist in the story stands in sharp contrast to Skylar and Ladon. He is vicious and ruthless, willing to sacrifice anything for power. His ambition corrupted him long ago, and he commits some horrific deeds in the name of power. He is a loathsome, vile dragon-shifter who does some pretty terrible things, and I’m curious to see how the quadruplets and their mates deal with him in the next book.

The Blood King is a well-paced and interesting story filled with nail-biting action, excellent character development, amazing world-building, and some really cool powers. I love the sisterly bond and how important the quadruplets are to each other. Dragons, witches, shifters, evil villains, and epic love stories make this a series worth reading! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Entangled for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Skylar is one of the four remaining phoenixes and distrusts dragon shifters. When thinking she is rescuing her sister, Skylar lands right in the middle of dragon shifters, who killed her parents. Ladon is King of the Blue Clan and is in need of a miracle. A phoenix would bring the clan luck. When Skylar pops in, he claims her. It’ll take a lot for Skylar to trust Ladon but she is very attracted to him. Skylars plan is to walk away after Ladon gets his clan in order. Skylar is independent, feisty, and stubborn. She agrees to mate with Ladon but tries to keep her emotions locked up. Ladon doesn’t believe in love and keeps his emotion tightly wrapped up too. But when Skylar is taken, Laden will go to the end of the earth to find her.

Plenty of action, humor, and some sex. I loved Skylar. She takes no crap from anyone, protects her loved one with all she is, and very independent. Once Ladon let’s his emotions loose, he’ll do anything for Skylar, even give up the throne. There is a cliffhanger but this story will keep you on pins and needles. I can’t wait for the next one.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

This was my first book by Abigail Owen and I can't wait to read her other books. Her world building is phenomenal and the chemistry between main characters is off the charts. Would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys dragon shifter romances.
Thank you Abigail Owen and #NetGalley

I first found Abigail Owen when I read The Boss a
nd fell in love with the world, the characters and the storyline. I've since read quite a few of her other books, but I have to admit these dragon shifter books are my favourite. The Inferno Rising is a different series, but they all take place in the same world, are connected and in some cases have characters that cross over.
The blood king deals with new Blue Dragon king Ladon Ormarr. He needs to solidify his position and mating a Phoenix would be the perfect way to do that. When he meets Skylar, it doesn't hurt that the chemistry between them is just about off the scale and he wants her in ways that he hadn't expected.
Skylar and Ladon are a great match. Although he is a strong male character, he has far more understanding of how they can work as a team. It takes them a little while to find their rhythm with one another, but once they get there, they work well.
I love these stories and this world. There's clearly another two stories to come in the Inferno Rising series. We're given a glimpse of the next at the end of this book. I think I could make a good guess as to who will appear in the forth too. I can't wait to read them and would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys dragon shifter romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.