I quite enjoyed this book that was a mixture of a magical heist mission and romance. Grant has pretty good prose and performed some excellent world building in a short number of pages.

Ravi and Yaz were great lead characters and I enjoyed watching them come together. I quite liked that the spicy scenes came at the end of the mission when both were in the right head space for some spicy times.

Dain was probably my favorite character and if he doesn't have his own series, he totally should!

I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

Reviews going live on 4/24 on storygraph, goodreads, instagram and tik tok

Rising Sun by Donna Grant is the first book in a new series featuring Yasmin, Ravi, and a cast of mysterious and not necessarily human beings on a dangerous journey.

Yasmin hasn't had an easy life and as payment for being caught stealing, she is to escort Ravi on a dangerous journey or else face unimaginable punishment. The journey takes them from being near enemies to something so much more.

Ms. Grant weaves a beautifully adventurous love story that made me sad for it to end and anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ebook ARC in consideration of an honest review. All opinions are my own and I can't wait for this to come out. I want a hard copy of it on my bookshelves.

Rising Sun (Elven Kingdoms, #1) by Donna Grant
This book took me a little while to get into. Iti s a slow burn and I am giving it 4 stars - there is a lot of world building with angst, danger, and a slow building to attraction. I enjoyed Yasmin and Ravi and look forward to the next book.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Page-turner Entertaining Whimsical Unpredictable Action-packed Scary Happily Ever After Wonderful characters Great world building.

⭐️High fantasy
⭐️Enemies to lovers
⭐️Angsty Slow burn
⭐️Check TWs

This is the first book I’ve read from Donna Grant and it’s fair to say I will be looking into more of her books after this instalment.

This book follows Yasmin, a courageous human woman with a dark past seeking answers to who she is, escaping her past and aiding to create a better world for others with a past as tormented as hers.

Ravi is a closed off and mysterious Sun Elf who is tasked to receive something that is in a place that links to Yasmins past.

The duo must work together to complete their mission, leading to a angsty journey through a will they/wont they slow burn, that had me almost ripping my hair out at points. The growth of the enemies to friendship to lovers of the two characters had me consumed whilst reading, following them both open up to one another as the book went on had my heart in a vice.

The descriptive high fantasy elements painted wonderful pictures of the world in this series and has me grasping for the next book to get the answers to the questions that had been introduced during the glimpses of reveals during reading.

This is a great book, the world building and magic system is superior and has left me wanting to know more and more after this first instalment.

I give this book 4 stars, possibly 4.5 at times, however, sometimes this book became slightly slow and dragged, not enough to lose interest, but it could have been less and more plot driven than descriptive. But over all I really enjoyed this novel and I can’t wait to read the next one.

*This was an ARC read, for my honest review*

I received this ARC through NetGalley for my honest review.

That being said. While I did think the concept of this book was good. Sadly it was a DNF. That does not mean it wasn’t a good book.
For me personally I was just having a hard time getting attached to the characters. I was pretty confused in the beginning as well. (Which could be just me)
I did enjoy the writing style though.
I might even start using the term “nay” lol

Review posted on Goodreads as well

Wow! This was a definite page-turner. From the time Yasmin agreed to go with Ravi back to a place where she experienced her worst nightmares, I was captivated. The strength of Yasmin to persevere through her fears because she gave her word, and along the way fell in love with Ravi, sucked me into the story. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series! slow burn with spice. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I was intrigued by the premise of the story but unfortunately this is a DNF for me. I appreciate the opportunity to read this though.

I didn't feel there was a ton of character development and it felt like the spice just came on suddenly when he was sick??

I flew through this because I just couldn't put it down! I loved both Yaz and Ravi and couldn't get enough of their journey together. It was a thrilling read - I couldn't wait to see how it would end - while also a sweet love story between two people who had a lot of preconceived notions about each other that initially lead to a lot of dislike. If you like romantasy and enemies-to-lovers then this one is definitely for you!

This is a 3.5, check the TW
Yasmin is trying to survive and has already been through some major trauma at the beginning of the book. She is forced to guide Ravi back to the place that caused the majority of the trauma. I really did not like Ravi at the beginning. He started out arrogant and unlikable, but grew into a more compassionate person. Yasimin dislikes elves, Ravi dislikes pretty much everyone. Neither trust or like the other but in order to make the journey and complete their mission they need to learn to rely on each other and watch each others backs. Watching them evolve was what kept me reading.

The author did a good job of creating a believable world for the story to take place in. However, there were some slow parts that dragged on and caused me to lose interest. But overall, it was a good read, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Hold onto your cloaks and sharpen those elfin ears, because Donna Grant is whisking us away on a wickedly seductive ride in her latest series! In a tale where danger and desire blend as smoothly as a well-mixed potion, we meet Yasmin—a bewitching human with secrets as deep as the dungeons of Shaldorn—and Ravi, the deliciously ruthless elf who is as swoon-worthy as he is judgmental.

When Yasmin, a survivor with a heart cloaked in shadows, is caught stealing, she’s thrust into a treacherous bargain: escort the enigmatic Ravi across the Dangerous Peaks or face a fate worse than her darkest nightmares. But what starts as a journey teetering on the edge of animosity, blossoms into an all-consuming passion that could either be their salvation or their undoing.

With each step towards the impenetrable stronghold, their journey intensifies—full of peril, promises, and a slow-burning romance that’ll leave you breathless (and yes, Ravi is definitely worth the wait!). As they navigate the thin line between love and hate, secrets unravel, and the stakes soar higher than the peaks themselves.

Will Yasmin keep her word? Can this unlikely pair breach the fortress walls—and the barriers around their hearts? And more importantly, can they make it back out?

Grant’s narrative is a masterclass in world-building—complete with a glossary of Elf classes that’s as detailed as it is delightful. True enemies-to-lovers fans, gather round, because this is a love story with teeth and truth, wrapped in layers of lush, mythical intrigue. And let’s not forget more Dain—because, seriously, who could get enough of that?

This is why Donna has been one of my favorite authors since 2012. Get ready to be enthralled, enchanted, and utterly entwined with Yasmin and Ravi’s adventure. A five-star fantasy that’s as thrilling as it is transformative. Don’t miss this ride!

**This ARC was received from NetGalley for my honest review **

Review was posted on goodreads

Donna Grant crafted a tempting novel that will leave many questions about the series left unanswered … until book 2 comes out. If you adore spy’s, tragic pasts and quest this is a great book to dip into.

This was an ARC (thank you NetGalley) , the start of this series is filled with; fast paced action
A forced Quest.
An MC whose past makes them cautious of the future.
And slow burn.
High fantasy vibes.

I do have many questions I want answered. I am hopeful in the next book we can dive deeper into both of their past as the sample we were given hasn’t been enough.

It was an interesting concept but the book just didn't hold my attention. I dnf'd it about 40% in . I couldn't find any of the characters interesting enough to keep my attention and the story just didn't do anything for me.

Loved reading the mesmerizing and spellbinding story. Even though Yasmin does not want to return to Shaldorn,, she has to guide agent, Ravi, into the city to retrieve a device. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read story full of mystery and romance. Can't wait to read the next story in the series by the phenomenal author, Donna Grant!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for Rising Sun for an honest review.

Book: Rising Sun by Donna Grant
Series: Elven Kingdoms
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Review: Rising Sun is a fantasy romance book, based in a world with Fae and Humans. The Fae are categorised into the 7 races of elves (Sun, Moon, Star, Sea, Wood, Mountain and Dark elves) which each harness unique magic. This story follows Yasmin (MMC) a magic-less human who must work alongside an elf (Ravi / MMC) who works for an agency to stop a war from beginning within their realm. This book has high stakes, one-tent trope, trauma and growth from the characters and forced proximity. I really enjoyed following Yasmine she is a competent, strong FMC who holds secrets from her past and has a hatred towards the elves. I really enjoyed this fantasy book and I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here! 🧚✨☀️🌙🌊