Not sure if this was the book for me, but the insta-lust, insta-bang within the first few chapters really just threw it off for me.
Was too predictable for me and just didn't enjoy it enough to continue reading.

Received this as an advanced reader copy through #netgalley.

4/5 stars.

Quick and entertaining read. Maybe not the most fleshed out characters or world, but it kept me hooked until the very end. Also a plus for me as a Finn myself was all the Finnish names dropped here and there. It was a nice surprise.

I also enjoyed the book because there were all kinds of magical beings and not just typical fae or warrior/assassin type of princesses I've seen everywhere. And the instant connection between the mcs after all the slow burn books I have read recently was really refreshing and made me like the book even more.

The cliffhanger was amazing. I did have my suspicions about how the book would end and I really liked how it was executed. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc!

This book had a lot of potential to be a favourite but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I wanted a lot more out of the world building and had so many questions left unanswered, but in a way that was frustrating rather than intriguing.

The other point that lost me was the relationship - I don’t mind a relationship that develops quickly, but a spicy scene that lasted 5% of the book and started at the 10% mark is too much too quickly for me. I just didn’t believe in the relationship or the chemistry between the main characters.

Before moving into the rest of the review, this is the first book of a duology. I expect that some of my questions will be answered in the second book. However, my interest in the plot will be the reason I read the second one, rather than any connection to the characters. There are also related books in the series that likely provide some of the world building that I felt was lacking in this book.

Character Rating:
Kora and Dereck felt quite flat. There was some movement/growth for each of them, but Kora was the scared FMC who was just discovering her strength and Dereck was the MMC who had never met anyone like her before. They have an instant attraction, but neither of them fully communicates with the other. They weren't my favorite main characters that I have read, and I am largely only interested in them moving forward as part of my larger understanding of the wold building.

Relationships Rating:
There are several side characters, but most of them are forgettable. I really liked the older man that we meet in the latter part of the book, but the remaining characters were either villains or inconsequential. I've seen that some of them are cameo characters from other books in the series, so perhaps that is where some of the disconnect lies.

Emotional Impact Rating:
It was difficult to be overly invested in the story due to a lack of world building. Again, and not to sound like a broken record, I understand that there are other books that likely provided some of that. However, I would have liked more in this book if the intention is for it to be an interconnected standalone. There were just too many questions for me to stay invested the entire time.

Writing Style Rating:
I enjoyed the high action points of the plot, as well as the slower stealth and fact gathering parts of their overall mission. I also liked the dual POV, and I would read other books by Donna Grant.

Spice Level Rating:
There are quite a few open door spicy scenes. Not all of them feel entirely natural for the pacing of the book, and I would have readily trade some of the spice for more character development and world building. Additionally, it would be difficult to recommend closed door modifications for this book.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are honest and my own.

This was my first Donna Grant book. I liked the story but also felt I was missing a lot of information that I should have known. Now that I have found out this book is part of an ongoing series set in this world, the fact that I am missing information makes sense.

Overall, I liked the story. It started slowly, and I sometimes struggled to keep going. The book did pick up in about the last third of the story and I was happy I kept going. I am interested enough to find out what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley, DL Grant, LLC, and Donna Grant for the eARC.

"The only thing we can choose is who we love and how we live".

One of the best features of this book was the inclusion of a map at the beginning. It gave me the chance to follow the charaters' journey and understand better the world they live in.
Unfortunately I struggled to connect to the main characters, and I probably would have preferred a slow burn romance.
Despite this, the plot was original and this kept me engaged.

~ 3 ⭐️

4⭐️
2.5🌶️
“You're the only one I want to be around. Today. Tomorrow. In a million tomorrows.”

Derek and Kora are constantly on guard, and honestly, I get it. Kora’s family was destroyed by dragons, and Derek’s carrying his own pile of baggage. Watching them slowly learn to trust each other while untangling all the secrets and lies they’ve been told? So worth it—especially as things heat up between them and they finally stop pretending they’re “just friends.”

Their chemistry is undeniable, and those early spicy scenes...🔥🔥🔥 But as the story goes on, the spice cools down to focus more on the emotional side, which I actually didn’t mind. The character growth was real.

Not a fan of the random POV shifts, though. It always threw me off a bit trying to figure out whose perspective I was in, but maybe that’s just me. That cliffhanger? Torture! I’m crossing my fingers for a “bonded mates” situation in the next book because, after all that, we deserve it.

If you’re into dragons, trust issues, and high-stakes romance with a side of emotional growth, give this one a go. Just be ready for the twists!

Tropes:

⭐️Paranormal Romance
⭐️Dragon Shifter
⭐️Soul Mates / Bonds
⭐️Magic
⭐️Hidden Identities
⭐️Strong FMC
⭐️Forced Proximity


Thank you Donna Grant and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review⭐️

Donna Grant is quickly becoming one of my top favs. I read her other book, Rising Sun and was eagerly awaiting the second book. My only sadness is that after I read the first book in her series, I'm almost obsessively checking dates so I can find out what happens next in the second. That is exactly what happened with this book. I NEED the next book. Like now.

This story is told in the third person from the POV of Derek and Kora. Kora was in hiding for a long time but finally decided its time to finish her late family's legacy of killing Villete. Derek works for Villete and has pledged his life to her cause to save his kind. Derek and Kora have an insta connection of intense lust and so Derek decides to help Kora, although he doesn't realize her end goal is Villete. Kora and Derek both hide their magic (magic is a sure fire way towards death because the humans want to rid the world of it) for different reasons. But Derek is determined to find out what she is for curiosity sake. Through this journey they get close but secrets still play a big role in the events that unfold.

Kora is a straight bad ass bitch. She may have self doubt and might not be the strongest ever alive, but she pushes through her fear and pain to fight for what she believes is right. I loved her character from the beginning. I love a strong FMC and she has endured a lot to get where she is today.

Derek, its hard not to love Derek. He thinks he's selfish but he's not. Everything he does is to save his people. Then when him and Kora become close, its to keep her safe.

I love their budding romance. It starts as lust, but as their physical relationship grows their emotional relationship feels organic. None of it feels forced. I can feel how strongly Derek cares for Kora and I can feel Kora's feeling progress too.

The events at the end! And that cliffhanger almost killed me! I need the next book. I need more Kora and Derek in my life. I am salivating over finding out what happens next. January can't come soon enough!

Definitely worth the read. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The Bastard King by Donna Grant
The Bastard Duology #1

It took me awhile to get into the story but once I had read awhile…I was hooked and began to remember some of the characters from previous books in the multiverse of paranormal and human characters that have been created by this talented author. I believe the story can stand alone but would be more enjoyable for those who do read to have some sense of the past characters.

What I liked:
* Kora: believes she is the last of her species, has lived a long time, has paranormal abilities, is on a quest to kill Villette, strong, protective, focused, taken with Derek
* Derek: a dragon shifter, in service to Villette, has killed many to do free dragons he believes are enslaved, attractive to females, rather taken with Kora
* The way Derek and Kora grow in their relationship and what they learn as the story progresses
* The hints about other paranormals from previous books
* Deciding that at some point, if ever in the position to do so, I would like to start with book one and read through to the end
* That I could thoroughly dislike the evil characters and really do wish more of them had been taken out
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Knowing that there is a second book in the series that will be out in January of 2025

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The manipulation, abuse, and pure evil of some of the characters and wished there were more hellhounds to sniff out the evil doers and do them in

Did I like this book? Eventually I did
Would I read the next book in the duology? Yes

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

People use the phrase “far-fetched” as if it’s a bad thing, but isn’t that sometimes what we want out of a book? The concept can be implausible, I mean there are dragons in this, if the story gives you what you need to believe it. I didn’t find this completely convincing, but it was an overall satisfactory outing.

Things I liked:
Revenge plot!
I found the relationship progression between FMC (Kora), and the MMC (Derek) to be interesting and natural. Also, it was a twist on enemies-to-lovers.
MMC never treated the FMC as helpless. I hate that shite! “You’ve stood on your own for a long time. You’ve proven yourself to everyone. Accepting my offer doesn’t diminish your strength.”
There was some spice 🌶️.
Cliffhanger.

Things I didn’t like:
There were multiple times I felt as though I was missing something! Like certain assumptions had been made that I was expected to follow but didn’t or couldn’t based on the information I had.
The villainess was fairly one dimensional. I think I was supposed to hate her, but I didn’t really find myself having much emotion about her until three quarters of the way through the book. Then things got interesting.
The last 20 pages seemed rushed.

This is book 1 in the Bastard King Duology. You don't have to have read the Dragon Kings series in order to read this one, but I highly recommend it because some of the characters are seen in those books. And this books does build somewhat on those books. With just one fiery embrace I could destroy her…or love her until the end of time. I'm fire and death. My very presence brings terror and panic. For most, I am the last thing they will ever see. For there is only one thing I live for — freeing my kin. Every action, every battle brings me a step closer. Nothing distracts me from my purpose. Until she crosses my path. Brave and fearless, she holds me utterly enthralled. I have to know her. Her past and her future. But especially the secrets she keeps closely guarded. One taste of her lips, and I’m caught. Trapped. Seized. The more I’m with her, the harder it is to leave. But I have sworn allegiance to another who promises to free the dragons. Her or my kin. It was once an easy choice. Before my heart got involved.

I absolutely loved this book. Kora is an interesting character. I loved how she still has empathy for others, even after having lost her own family. Derek is also an interesting character. How do you keep a dragon from doing what he does best? I don't want to say, but I definitely didn't see some of that coming! I didn't see what exactly Kora is coming. I also can't wait to see what happens with Miena. My drawback, somehow I didn't realize it was going to end in a cliffhanger-even though it literally says duology in the title. I probably would have waited for the second part to be released before reading this one if I had realized. And I was slightly confused on a few things with Derek, but I am hoping that those things will be explained in the next book. Otherwise, it was well worth the read to me.

This had potential to be so good, but it fell short for me. The dynamics between hellhounds, dragon shifters, and Star people was really interesting, but I wanted more information. The worldbuilding wasn't very well developed and lead to more questions than answers. The main characters were disappointing, Derek came off as cocky and annoying and Kora just wasn't interesting to me. Their physical relationship started very quickly (which made sense, they were both pretty much instantly attracted to the other) but then they seemed to develop strong feelings very quickly too which just felt rushed. Sadly, this one wasn't for me. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Two should be enemies, a dragon shifter on a mission to save his kind, and a fearless woman hiding her own magical secret embark on a journey among a kingdom divided by magic.

Derek and Kora should be mortal enemies but with both of them keeping their true identities a secret, they can’t keep their hands of each other. This was steamy, adventure fueled, full of secrets, twists and a couple betrayals. I love a strong fmc and Kora is as fearless as they come, but who wouldn’t be when you magically revive every time someone kills you lol. From the very beginning, you know Kora is special, but when her true nature was revealed, I literally did a double take. I wont spoil it for future readers, but it’s a first for me to see that element of hers represented in books and it was amazing. Ah Derek, a warrior heart torn between the woman he loves and saving his dragon kin. While he’s his own force to be reckoned with, I love that he uplifted and supported Kora’s character as well. This pairing was well matched and the romance throughout kept pace. That cliffhanger ending was dirty though, and I’m crying because I have to wait for the second book.

This story fits into the Dragon King universe but is a standalone though I would not recommend reading it as a total standalone since many characters from the other books in the Dragon Kings are referenced here and readers might be lost without the context.  Derek saw Kora and was fascinated despite his will and ends up saving her life. Kora lives for vengeance and enters an uneasy alliance with Derek in pursuit of her goals little realizing that he is one of the people she seeks vengeance from. 
The story definitely captures you from the get-go and surprises abound around every blind corner and curve. Kora needs to get to Stonemore and Derek has the means to get her there even though he hides who is and how he can get her there from her.  Derek resists but he is fascinated by Kora and can't wait to find out more about her. T
his book is another fascinating string to pull in the Dragon Kings series and holds a lot of surprises and answers.  Derek is ignorant of the Dragon Kings and believes the dragons are imprisoned on Zora and gives his allegiance to Villette to help free the dragons little realizing that she has lied to him all his life and used her lies as the means to control him. When he comes across Merrill who is a prisoner in Stonemore he has a hard time believing the truths that Merrill imparts to him.
In the meantime, Kora goes in search of her vengeance but becomes an unwitting tool in creating a scenario that may lead to disaster. OMG! the cliffhanger is mind blowing and it's hard to wait a few more months to read the second half of the story.  A great addition to the Dragon Kings universe which I thoroughly enjoyed though I am also anxiously awaiting the next chapters in the Dragon Kings that we've met and gotten to know well.

Donna, Donna, Donna you never dissapoint me and this book is no different. Just wow I am obsessed with this book please give me more.

This is a well written book, and I like the setting on Zora. Donna Grant has created an interesting and vibrant world. I didn't love everything about this story and am hoping for more from the ending.

Kora has a good story arc. She is someone who is would want to be friends with; she has good characteristics and traits.

Derek on the other hand, I don't particularly like him. I want to like him and I defiantly have empathy for how he ended up where he has; i just want him to break the chains he has around him to become a better person. I don't want to give too much away, so suffice it to say, I found his character lacking and I hope in the conclusion he learns how decent people behave, and breaks his conditioning.

Overall I enjoyed this story and I think once I read the second half I will appreciate it that much more.

Happy Reading!

I was excited about this one but it disappointed. The writing felt very simplistic. The characters were flat and one dimensional. I said this recently in another fantast review, but I feel like a fourth of the way through a book you should have at least a decent grasp on how the world works and what kind of fantastical creatures there are. I still don't understand how this world works or what the characters are working for. Unfortunately, this one did not keep my attention.

DNF at 26%

Review goes live on October 24

The FMC Kora is seeking vengeance over the loss of her family and Derek is the last free dragon shifter who will do anything to free his people. As their worlds collide and they set out on a dangerous journey together you find that each holds secrets that could destroy their relationship.
This is a riveting and spicy love story full of twists and turns with an air of mystery.

My Opinion:

I'll be honest, I had a tough time getting into 'The Bastard King', especially in the beginning. As my first Donna Grant book, I felt a bit lost in the world she created. I had so many questions about the different species, magic, and more.
I also struggled to connect with the main characters, Kora and Derek. Their motivations weren't entirely clear, and I didn't feel like I got to see their emotional sides. And, honestly, some of their decisions drove me crazy! The romance between them felt a bit rushed, and the s€x scenes sometimes overshadowed the plot. But, I'm glad I stuck with it because the second half really picked up.
Overall, it was a bit of a rocky start, but I'm curious to explore more of Donna Grant's books.

Storyline:

Kora's been seeking revenge for years, but her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Derek, a mysterious guy with a shared secret: they're both magical.
Kora's been hiding from the world, afraid to be discovered. So when Derek offers to take her to the city, she agrees. But here's the thing: Derek's past mistakes destroyed Kora's family.
Now that Kora trusts Derek, she wants to protect him from harm. But Derek's struggling with guilt, knowing he must confess his secrets to Kora.
Can they work together to stay alive, or will their enemies tear them apart? Will Derek uncover the truth about his fellow dragons and find forgiveness?

Themes:

Enemies to Lovers
Soul Mates
Forced Proximity
Hidden Identities
Dragons
Medieval Setting
Shifter Romance
Redemption
Found family

This is an honest review. Thank you DL Grant, LLC and Netgalley for this ARC.

The Bastard King is the first book of two in a duology spinoff of The Dragon King series and is probably best read with an understanding of the background from the original series. Kora is the last of her kind and now her only mission in life is to end the dragons and the star person responsible for her families death. Derrick is beholden to Villette the Star Person for her protection of the last dragon eggs he knows of. He is fickle jumping from lover to lover until Kora. Their chemistry is off the charts but both are hiding pretty big secrets that might end any hope they have of being together. In a cliff hanger of an ending, Derrick and Kora are in the fight for their love and very lives. Steamy and fast paced, the story twists and turns in unexpected ways and leaves you wanting the end of the story for the seemingly star crossed lovers in this exciting paranormal romance. I enjoyed these main characters and the ones from past stories that make an appearance. Once again the Dragon Kings prove they are a must read for me. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.