❖ dragon shifter x hellbent (I forgot her species)
❖ kinda insta connection
❖ first instalment in duopoly
❖ FMC driven by revenge

Apparently, this is a spin-off ? Because some character appeared in an other series "dragon king" (do not quote me one that) . If it is a spin-off it didn't felt like I was missing out on something . You can totally read it without reading the other series.

As for the book, it was entertaining but the rythme felt odd . The first 150 pages were really fast paced and it was announcing a good journey for the characters .
My issue started when the characters settled in a city . It was long for no reason. If those pages were used to develop the love story I wouldn't have mind but nothing happened. Some stuff were brought up about what's going on in the city but there were no explanations . The religious aspect could have been SO interesting but they were just dumb priest following order . If you want to sacrifice children at least do it for a reason..

The characters could have been so much better .
They felt empty (?)
Both of them are strongly attracted to one another a that from page 1 and there was no explanation about it . Why do they feel like that ? How?
Thus it feel like they will learn about a mate bond or something. Who knows ?
Kora is pretty annoying. I get the whole "I'm seeking revenge for my family" but I'm kinda over it .
I'm tired of FMC feeling like they should have done better even though they were actual child when their family perished.
And that "I don't need anyone" speech every two pages makes me want to die . Seriously.
I took her so long to change her mind and still it wasn't enough.
I would have like some deep dive into her species . Her species are technically immortal, they can jump from a building and will only die for a few minutes . But the two times were this ability was shown was for stupid reasons, she wanted to be a hero to save one kid and ended up killing 10 persons + herself .

As for Dereck, I don't have much to say because when we have his pov nothing much happened .
His storyline is actually interesting. His memory loss, his kinds and why he is at Vilette services .
We didn't have much answer on anything and I feel like book two will either be hella short or hella long.

The Bastard King is a must-read (or listen) for fans of fantasy romance. It's got everything you could want: a fast-paced plot, intriguing characters, and a healthy dose of spice.

The plot? Let's just say it's a whirlwind of intrigue, secrets, and a whole lot of angst. Derek, our brooding dragon shifter, and Kora, our mysterious heroine, have got more secrets for their secrets. This world is unique. It includes dragons, hellhounds, druids, and other mythical creatures.

Derek and Kora are a match made in dragon heaven. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their secrets keep you guessing.

The only downside? The cliffhanger! I'm dying to know what happens next. Donna Grant, please, I need the sequel ASAP!

Overall, The Bastard King is a must-read (or listen) for any fantasy lover. It's got everything you could want: dragons, romance, mystery, and a cliffhanger that will leave you begging for more.

Kora knows that she is close to getting her revenge but that changes when she meets Derek. They are both magical beings that keep to the shadows. Kora knows that it is dangerous to be out in the open as she has been hiding for so long. So when Derek offers to take her to the city she agrees as that is the only way to get close to her goal. Derek knows that he can never tell Kora the truth as she will hate him as he killed her family. Now that Kora has told Derek the truth she realises that she has to keep him safe as they will come for him. Derek knows that he needs to tell her the truth but that could destroy everything. But will they make it out alive as the enemies have just grown. Will Derek find out the truth about his fellow dragons? A good read. Glad to see Merrill again. Kora has lived so many life times alone and she really needs to avenge her family for everyone’s sake. Derek is lost and he has been alone for so long being used as a weapon. Major cliffhanger.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC copy. This is my voluntary review. Can’t wait for part 2

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Another awesome book by my favorite authors. Never disappointed in any of her work. Highly recommend her to everyone.

There is nothing for me to say...nothing for me to do...other than riot. I absolutely refuse to wait until the middle of January to find out how this story ends! UGH!

I'm normally really good about not buying or requesting books that are part of a series...but this one got by me somehow. When I tell you that I literally didn't put this book down; from start to finish, I was enthralled. I read other reviews, and some of them mentioned needing more world building, but I disagree. In my opinion, this was everything it should've been - except published closer to the second book. There are definitely things that could be expounded on, but I never felt like that detracted from the storyline in any way. In fact, I think it helped keep me interested since there wasn't a ton of lore or information I had to slog through or remember.

This book was...chef's kiss. I definitely think there are going to be some who don't like it, but for me, I absolutely loved it. I will definitely be reading more books by Donna Grant - without question.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Donna for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed Kora going on a quest for vengeance and her needing Derek, as well as the interesting plot twists. I loved Derek's inner turmoil of deciding to help either Kora or help Villette in order to free his people. It felt like the book could've used more world building, as well as more background on the characters. It also would've been nice to see more emotional development between Kora and Derek. It did end on a cliff hanger, and I'm curious to see what happens next, so I will most likely read the second book.

This book was amazing! The writing was so beautiful and it was very enjoyable to read. And the romance was so good! It was such an enjoyable read.

This book was alright but not my favorite, I like that it was faster paced as opposed to a slow burn.
This is a more story based pace than like epic fantasy and world building, so don't expect extremely descriptive things like the layout of the land, this is is great for the times you want to just read a book that doesn't drag out everything and the story just progresses.
I do think Kora and Derek were cute together.
This book does end kind of cliffy, just enough that I want to read the next one cause I want to know what happens I'm invested enough to want to know :)

Thank you netgalley for the arc

Dammit Donna! Did you really need to make it a cliffhanger like that?! Kora and Derek are great characters. Both broken and full of distrust. And yet, there is an undeniable attraction. Placed within the realm of the Dragon Kings, it is a great addition to the wonderful series of Donna.

But also if you haven’t read those (although I would highly recommend it) you can read the Bastard King perfectly as a stand alone, only to find yourself cursing at Donna for not having the second part of this duology ready now. Because I really, really need to know how this story will end. Four out of five stars and a very special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Noooooooo,, now I have to wait, I love these dragon kings! Can a hellhound and a dragon ever be in love? This is the question for Derrick and Kora. Kora is the last of her people seeking revenge for their deaths. Derrick has secrets that Kora can never know about. Be aware even though it’s a cliffhanger it’s a great read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

SPORTOCHICK’S MUSINGS: The stunning ending of The Bastard King (The Bastard Duology book 1) stopped my heart, held it suspended, and my own being cried immediately for book 2.

The whole premise of this book was surprising, exciting and ties in nicely with the Dragon King series. The introduction of Kora in chapter one creates the fast-paced flow of this storyline where she is a fearless protector warrior with a mission. I like her stick-to-it-iveness on her secretive end game at all costs. She was a stubborn smart warrior and an exciting character.

When Derek enters the story, I was ready for some unhappy dramatic occurrences but ultimately, he surprised me. Slowly throughout the story the reader finds the reason behind his anger and need for revenge. This area was handled with finesse and the reader will appreciate how he comes to terms with everything.

Author Donna Grant incorporates several characters from the previous Dragon King series and you will find out what happens to several key characters from Dragon Born.

The stunning ending of The Bastard Duology book 1 stopped my heart, held it suspended, and my own being cried immediately for book 2. Read the book and let me know you agree.

This installment in the Dragon Kings world is riveting. It was a big surprise to find out what Kora was. Merrill was an unexpected twist as well. I actually said "No" when I read the ending!

The Bastard King (The Bastard Duology, #1) by Donna Grant
I gave the book 4 stars - This book is a cliffhanger and I do not like a book that does this. I don't mind if a story continues on - but I like to get to a HEA for the one I'm reading. I hope the December book clears things up.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed Page-turner Scary Tear-jerker Unpredictable.

For me the romance aspect was missing in this book. It was mainly sexual tension which was solved very instantly. I'm an angst girlie, I like when the characters are not getting what they so much desire. But then again it works for some. The plot overall was good same as the writing. But honestly I was not hooked. I dunno like there was the main plot and then there were more elements added and I'm like what's happening now. And what's up with them saying aye like they are pirates (but they are not and everytime I read aye I imagined them on a ship and sailor clothes but anyway).

3 ⭐️ this book was good, was it a masterpiece ? No but I had a good time while reading it, the book kept my attention and had me wanting more.

The Bastard King - a quick start duology

The bastard King begins with some intense burn between Kora and Derrick - the world building is choppy at best, but there are 2 earlier books that I haven't read. The author drops the nuances of the tale and backstories continually and the tale ends in a cliffhanger. The storyline takes frequent dips and turns and is not lyrical as most fantasy compositions go. The addition of the Scottish( i think) accent to when the characters speak seems at odds when it doesn't appear when they mindspeak.
Overall, it was a quick read but leaves the reader confused as to who is the MC and why the title? I would like to read the sequel to resolve my doubts.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read the book!

The idea of this book had me excited to read it. The story sounded interesting and made it sound like a good read. The characters are well thought out and the banter is fun. The drawback is that their attraction is intense and overdone. I unfortunately did not finish the book due to the the fact that the writing seemed choppy and did not pull me into the world. The sentences were nondescript and cut short.

Wow. I loved this story! It was like breadcrumbs the author kept dropping...more reveals as well as new secrets and questions. note: while not necessary to have read Dragon Arisen and Dragon Born, this story is more robust if those have been read first. I can't wait to read the sequel to this story. Thank goodness it will be a fast follower!

The first book in the duology. The story of Derek and Kora, who are bonded forever by a chance encounter. They embark on a journey together that won't be easy, because, besides all the dangers, it's the secrets that threaten their relationship the most, or rather the things that come out too late.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgalley

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

I put this book down at 40%, due to my own personal preferences in writing style

The world building was interesting. Kora's backstory could have drawn me in, however I struggled with the prose. I tend to find consistently short sentences immersion breaking and found the prose to be almost exclusively in this style.
It is a personal preference, and the author created an interesting and rich world that I would otherwise be interested in exploring.