I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy of Ancient Vendetta through Net Galley . I really enjoyed reading this sensational paranormal Suspense Romance . This is Alpha Wolf King and Aurora the Phoenix 's story . King and Aurora are friends they are attracted to each other . Aurora spent a year being held captive and has her walls up . King wants more than friendship but is afraid to push Aurora to far before she's ready . While they work together rebuilding New Orleans after the Fall they face more and more danger and challenges . When danger from Kings past threatens everything they've rebuilt they need to stand together to stop it . This story is outstanding and action packed . The characters are fantastic . I highly recommend taking the time to read .

I have been waiting for King and Aurora’s book from book 1 and I loved every second of it.

King and Aurora’s book has been the epitome of a slow burn. They have been building up their romance on the sidelines since Ancient Protector and I am just so happy their story is finally here.

Aurora has been slowly coming back into her own since her kidnapping and she is finally in a place where she can claim her strength (ya know, when matched against King's alpha-ness). She's had a lot to deal with and well she still is, but King and his wolf are here to tell her she is has always had the ability to be his other half. Gah, I won't ruin the story but, I was here for it. I also love the little twist in King's background that came to light. LOVE IT!

As always, I was highly entertained by the mystery aspect and with the extra tie-in with King and his background. It was wonderful to see Aurora into a strong leadership role and for her to finally shake free from her trauma and step back into life.

Cannot wait for more in the series!

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I love this series and I've been waiting for Aurora and King's story. This book has romance, suspense, adventure - I can't get enough of the New Orleans shifter community - Katie Reus is a master at world-building. Her characters are interesting, vivid and with each book I get more invested in the underlying story - I can't wait to find out what happens next!

We’ve been waiting for this book for a long time now, ever since the fall of New Orleans and our introduction to the male that keeps everyone safe and the city from crumbling. King is one off the best characters in this entire series and we have been rooting for him to get an HEA for a long time now and I was so glad to see him finally find a way to bring his mate into his life and make her understand how much they needed one another. Aurora doesn’t trust herself with men, ever since she allows a male to lead her into a trap that cost her years of her life and almost meant her death and her sister’s. But now that she is in NOLA, helping King maintain order and bring the city back from the brink she is finding her self-confidence again and knows she is almost ready to acknowledge what she has known all along. When a terrible evil from King’s past comes back to try to annihilate the man she has come to love and need more than anything, Auroras knows she can no longer deny the truth and determined she will do anything to keep King safe, even travel with him into the most dangerous situations and risk her life. Can they trust their newfound relationship and the people returning to King’s life in order to defeat their enemy or will King’s life be forfeit before they even have a chance to explore their new love? I loved every moment of this fast-paced and exhilarating story. King was a male who would risk it all for not only the woman he loves but all the people that depend on him for protection, asking him a true alpha and one to be admired. I enjoyed seeing him find out more about his past and learning about his heritage alongside him. His sweetness and determination to protect Aurora showed how much he treasures his mate and knows that his love for her are a strength for him, not a weakness like some might assume. Aurora was a kick-ass alpha female and seeing her find that confidence and step up was awesome! She has always been a fighter, but watching her come back to that realization made the battles they faced worth the pain and fear. I shed many a tear as these two dealt with their bumpy road to love, but in the end there is nothing that can truly defeat two people giving their wall for love and the protection of those under their care. I am looking forward to the next story in the series and seeing more of King and Aurora as they settle into their mating for sure. As always Katie Reus amazes me with her imagination and flair for the dramatic without making the story seem too much. A Masterpiece as usual.

I love this series and I've been waiting for Aurora and King's story. This book has romance, suspense, adventure - I can't get enough of the New Orleans shifter community - Katie Reus is a master at world-building. Her characters are interesting, vivid and with each book I get more invested in the underlying story - I can't wait to find out what happens next!

This series only gets better. I don't typically gravitate towards this genre. But I would read anything by this author. A good storyteller can draw you in and immerse you any world and Reus is a master.

I have been looking forward to King and Aurora. This was a good story. Lots of our favorite characters return. I do wish more time had been spent on the love story between Aurora and King. It’s a bit of a slow burn. A few surprises and some new characters along the way. HEA.

I have been waiting for this since King and Aurora first came on scene, and it did not disappoint! I liked how their relationship developed from friendship, and he was so patient with her. They truly rely on each other as partners, which you don't always see in these kinds of scenarios. This supernatural world is fun to explore, and the tensions were fascinating. I'm really looking forward to book 5!

*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This series continues to get better & better. I thought King & Aurora's story was interesting & engaging. The plot was well thought out without the need for a major twist to it. The villain was perfectly vile, but I would have liked a little more action from him. Very well done. Looking forward to the next installment.

This book was not as entertaining or thrilling as others in the series. I felt like there was not much of a love story, that all the build up for that was in other books as this was just the final moment when they final got together. I was much more interested in background characters and the Hero's backstory. Plus, the ending was anti-climatic and confusing.

King and Aurora's story has all the feels readers have come to expect from a Katie Reus story. Although book 4, it is a standalone story, but reading the series in sequence makes the series that much better. Filled with drama and page turning suspense, the friendship between them becomes a slow burn romance that leads to them finally getting their HEA. **I was gifted "Ancient Vendetta" via NetGalley, leaving my review based on my reading.** 5 Stars!

Absolutely loved this book. This is such an awesome series and I've been waiting for this one in particular because King has intrigued me from the beginning. Love, Love, Love, him and Aurora together. They have such a great relationship dynamic.

Honestly, I really just took it for granted King, the alpha wolf shifter hero here, would get his own epic, action packed, riveting, heart melting romantic tale, folks. After all, I had already met him in previous books, and he had certainly swept me off my feet. To boot, his selfless, works 24/7, world weary supernatural body and immortal soul desperately needed that reward and had earned it, my fellow romance book loving friends.

Aurora, the heroine, had some pretty dang cool, very classy, supernatural abilities of her own. However, she was painted too much and too often as a demure, soft spoken, roaming, instrument of peace ambassador of good will on King's behalf than the supreme queen of female alpha-ness that King could have been matched with. Yeah, I know. She was meant to be the calm in the storm to his savage beast. I get that, but still can't shake the feeling this portrayal watered down her character quite a bit.

Speaking of which, too slow paced, and way too slow burn (as this main couple didn't spend nearly enough time together) had me tapping out due to boredom. Throwing in too many subcharacters and their drawn out side stories along with other subplots did not help. It caused me to lose focus on the main couple, hence my interest. This is a shame, especially considering it all started off with a vampire nemesis who was one scary, wouldn't stay dead, kind of dude.

Here's to hoping others really enjoy this story. I continue to wish this author all the best. I'm still in her fan base. I appreciate her good guy leading men and devotion to their love interest heroines. I simply just can't overly gush, rant and rave about this one, folks.

Title: Ancient Vendetta, Series: Ancient Rising (Book 4), Author: Katie Reus, Pages: 303, stand-alone but part of a series, good guy alpha leader werewolf shifter hero, paranormal romance, stays romance safe, didn't finish, heroine has past captive abuse past, too slow paced story line, has eyes only for each other main couple.

Book 1 - Ancient Protector
Book 2 - Ancient Enemy
Book 3 - Ancient Enforcer
Book 4 - Ancient Vendetta

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not rewarded or compensated in any form for this review.)

I am a big fan of Romance books and I found this one to be a very enjoyable read. I will be looking for more books from this author.

Author Katie Reus offers a perfectly crafted story putting everything that a reader of paranormal could want. You have an amazing world, danger and intrigue, mystery and surprises, and above all a fascinating romance that finally brings two people together who deserve this HEA!

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=76297

I have to admit I was surprised by how much I really enjoyed Ancient Vendetta.
The story, characters, the setting were perfect. Even with this being the first in the series I personally have read I couldn't put it down. The author keep readers updated on past stories in the series while keeping the story moving quickly.
Ancient Vendetta is a perfect romance between to friends, a very dark and evil character and world everyone is trying to keep from falling apart with one shift in the supernatural and human worlds.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Ancient Vendetta

What a great read!!
Book 4 in Ancient Rising, Ancient Vendetta is a compelling, interesting story. The characters were dynamic, powerful and engaging and the story was fast paced with action, betrayal and future alliances. This is definitely a keeper and one I will be recommending.

Katie Reus’ Ancient Vendetta, Ancients Rising #4, focuses on King, Alpha Wolf of the New Orleans territory, and Aurora, Phoenix, King’s best friend and right-hand, as they continue rebuilding his territory, keeping it strong, and facing threats/challenges—evil dragons, treacherous vampires, and rogue witches. I’ve been hoping and waiting for King’s and Aurora’s book since their first meeting in book 1. Reus’ pacing and active writing style keep Ancient Vendetta moving at a steady pace from beginning to end. I love Reus worldbuilding, character development and interactions, action/suspense, description, and use of paranormal elements, storylines, and characters. Best of all her romantic relationships are intense, both emotionally and sexually.

Aurora’s still healing from PTSD from her year-long captivity, but she’s coming into her own, growing stronger each day. But she still suffers nightmares and emotional/mental aftereffects from her captivity and secrets she’s keeping about it. Her friendship with King has deepened over time, becoming crucial, her feelings for him evolving too. Aurora’s drawn to King, wanting more than friendship. However, because of her captivity, she fears never being able to have a normal relationship and that if King knew all the details of her captivity it would change his perception of her and his feelings for her. King sensed Aurora was his mate almost from their first meeting. But not wanting to push her, he became the friend she needed him to be. However, both he and his wolf are driven by the need to mate with her. Likewise, he is increasingly under pressure from friends and allies to find a mate to cement his power as Alpha of his territory. He admires Aurora’s courage, strength, generosity, unique spirit, and magical abilities, and how she connects with his pack and the other packs/covens within his territory, gaining their respect and loyalty. While he’s grateful for her friendship and support of him as Alpha, he’s intimidated by how Aurora alone sees him as more than an Alpha—she sees him as a male. But he fears that because of her protective walls he may only ever be her friend when she was his everything.

While Ancient Vendetta is suspenseful, with well-plotted, descriptive action scenes, it focuses more on developing romantic relationships among secondary characters and conflict among different packs and covens within the territory. With all the talking and Reus setting up future potential relationships and conflicts and there were not nearly enough action scenes and interaction with the villain. Despite Ancient Vendetta being their novel, I almost feel like King and Aurora barely spend any time together alone, giving us a chance to see them interacting, their chemistry, and how their relationship evolves. The time that they spend together is mostly as friends/partners, taking care of pack business, protecting the territory, etc. In those moments, their connection and chemistry are clear but it’s not romantic. But the few intimate moments they share hint at the potential for more, displaying their affection, desire, and longing for more. I feel like the novel was missing huge chunks of these moments in the evolution of their relationship and partnership from friends to lovers. We hear their thoughts and know how they feel about each other, and we hear how everyone else views their relationship and what it should be, but we barely see the evolution play out throughout the novel for ourselves. If this were my first read in the series, I might not find the foundation for their connection as strong or believable. There are also moments I thought I might have missed a book with more of King’s backstory or forgotten it. We learn some significant information about him in such a brief time like it’s no big deal, but it kind of is, especially since the villain is connected to his past. Similarly, I love the evolution of Aurora’s character, but it would have been cool to see more of it in real-time.

Ancient Vendetta is a thrilling, steamy, suspenseful addition to the Ancient’s Rising series with interesting surprises for King and Aurora fans. I just wish it centered around and had more on-page development/evolution of King’s and Aurora’s characters and their relationship from friends to lovers.

I really enjoy Katie Reus' fictional worlds. While her shifters and other supernatural beings share some commonalities with those of other writers, she somehow manages to avoid some of the most annoying of the trope (see: Mental Communication). This book, the fourth in the Ancients Rising series, is filled with a great cast of characters that can be intimidating for those who haven't read any of the previous books in the series. However, there's enough explanation and description to make reading the previous novels a benefit but not a requirement.

Aurora is a phoenix who had been held captive for a year until her sister rescued her a year prior to the start of this book. She has become close with King, the wolf shifter alpha leader of the New Orleans area. They both sense that they are each other's mates, but Aurora's past makes her a little wary of getting close. It takes a while for the two of them to truly come together in this novel, which makes the novel feel more like a supernatural story with romance than a romantic story about supernaturals. But add in a secondary romance, family drama, and the bad guy, and you have a story that will appeal to readers if both tropes.

Of the series, I've only read one other book, so I do wish I'd had the opportunity in this one to lean a little more about Aurora's past and how she and King met and grew close to each other. That said, I enjoyed watching them finally figure it all out.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

King and Aurora have been dancing around their attraction for a while now and after the last book I figured they would end up together at some point. King has been giving Aurora time to adjust to being back and getting acclimated again after she had been kidnapped and held hostage for a year by a crazy dragon shifter. She's not sure she's ready for a relationship but the attraction she feels towards King is real and she's pretty sure he feels something for her too but neither of them are willing to make the first move.

King is a wolf shifter and Aurora is a phoenix shifter but King is the alpha of the territory she lives in. She helps him out when he needs it and has a lot of friends who she's close with. They are living in a broken world right now because some shifters went nuts and destroyed a lot that had been built and now shifters are in charge and trying to keep things safe for everyone including the humans.

When someone from King's past that he thought was dead makes an appearance, he has to join forces with a lot of different species but he has a lot of friends. What he wasn't expecting is for the Fae to come and ask for his help which opens up all kinds of secrets that he'll have to deal with.

There's a big battle, secrets are revealed, some truths come to light and we see what a deep love can overcome. This was truly a great addition to this series.

Disclosure: I was given an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.