4.5 Stars

This is the 6th book in the Dirty Blood series and I was a little hesitant to listen/read this because I had only read the first 3 books in the series. When I was awarded the ARC - I wasn't sure if I would have missed too much in not reading books 4 and 5 - plus the fact that I REALLY have a thing about reading books out of order. Thankfully, I can honestly say that I didn't have any issues at all with it. I think I had enough of the world building done in the first three books and the only thing that was different was that the last book was that it was dealing with Aurelias and Harlow.

I went back and re-read my review for the last book that I read (Book 3) trying to remember what the storyline was about. In my review, I had been a bit disappointed, and I think that's why I stopped after that book. I had been really invested in the first 2 books, but the last book had a couple of different storylines and I was pretty frustrated by both of the FMC's - Larissa and Clara.

This book however, grabbed me right away and I was completely invested as Aurelias helped Huntley to save HeartHome. There is some REALLY important happenings with King Serpentine that have been building since the beginning. I think out of all of the characters in this series, Aurelias is the one who we see have the most character growth - and it is fun to watch.

I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the narration duo of Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo. They have been the duo for all 6 books so it helps to add to the consistency.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to and review this audio ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

This book will be coming out on August 20, 2024.

Thankyou so much Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio arc!

After reading the rest of the series via kindle, this was so exciting to be able to listen to this one! The narration was incredible, the narrators a perfect choice ♡

I will hold this series deep in my heart! It was such a epic tale from start to finish and so many big emotions were explored, Penelope did such an amazing job giving a voice to these characters and describing the scenes, it was so easy to get lost in their world. The ending was absolutely sublime, I don't want to give anything away- but this was truly such an honour to devour this book in a new way! Clash of Kingdoms was such a hit and definitely able to bring me out of my mini reading slump!

5 out of 5 - incredible!!

This is how a conclusion should be done! I absolutely did not see that ending coming, but it's what I had been hoping for. And we got to see Fang again! This book was action-packed from start to finish, and I loved almost every minute of it! The back and forth with Harlow and Aurelius was a bit much at times, but it was understandable. Still loved it!

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this via audio. I read this originally on kindle, and was nervous how I would feel about the different species being narrated. It was phenomenal. Ramona Master and Michael Ferraiuolo were fantastic for this dual narration and brought these characters to life with passion and ferocity. Fantastic job.

Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for almost this entire series!
I loved the whole series & Cobra remains my favorite brother! (:

Publisher's summary
I had the chance to leave these lands and avoid the war—but I chose to stay.
I chose to stay because if I don't keep Harlow safe, she'll die. The demons are a foe too powerful, invulnerable to Huntley's fire-breathing dragons, a fiend so untouchable that HeartHolme and the other kingdoms stand no chance.
I tried so hard to fight it, restrained my emotions from the first time we were together, but the inevitable has come to pass. I've fallen hard for this woman—a human. I've chosen to risk my immortality for her even though she wouldn't forsake her humanity for me. When this war is over, we'll go our separate ways… and never see each other again.
Huntley and I are forced to work together to save his kingdom, and his hatred for me is slowly replaced by something else… respect. I've always been close with my father, but now I realize it's only because our politics are aligned. What Huntley feels for his family is genuine… unconditional.
Now I fight for more than just Harlow. I fight for her family… like they're my own.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book!

Clash of Kingdoms
By: Penelope Barsetti
Narrated by: Ramona Master, Michael Ferraiuolo
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
Release date: 08-20-24

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. This book broke me. I have read the entire series to their whirl wind of an end. War has broke out between kingdoms and when they win the war there is losses for every side, the humans and vampires that allied with them, but the original’s father isn’t happy with the outcome and decided to take matters into hoods own hands and wants to take over the human’s kingdom. The eldest son beheads him so save the human kingdom, along with the woman’s he has fallen in love with. After killing his father he leaves the love of his life behind and heads back home with his brothers, and after declaring he would not become human for his love nor letting her become a vampire, he sinks into a huge depression, his brothers convince him to do what he must to be with the human he loves even if that means giving up immortality. Truthfully I wasn’t a fan of the ending of this book, and I felt like it ended unfinished, he gave up immortality and his family to live a mortal life with her and her family, when he would not let her do the same. The spice in the story is repetitive, and she makes it sound like all the men in the story prefer one way and aggressive, besides that the series is great to binge.

Aw my precious vampire smut. Is this it? Is this the end?
The narration was perfect as always. There was romance and an epic battle. There was even a surprise demise. Wonderful!

Being the 6th book in the Dirty Blood series, I wasn't sure how Penelope Barsetti would pull off another engaging storyline, but it was continued with mastery. In line with the first five books in the series, Clash of Kingdoms was full of action with some steamy scenes thrown in. The loose ends were all tied up in an amazing way. I can't wait to see what's next from Barsetti.

Wow - okay just wow. The only thing that comes to mind while writing this review is EPIC. Penelope Barsetti takes her listeners on a wild ride with love, hope, integrity and an ending you will never see coming. Yes there are battles, yes there is family drama and dysfunction but in the end this was the perfect ending to a saga that has felt like a chess match that I thought the good guys were destined to lose. This will be one of those series the listeners will listen to again and again.