The Bastard King by Donna Grant
The Bastard Duology series #1. Paranormal, fantasy dragon shifter romantic duology. Cliffhanger. Spinoff from prior series, dragons and man villain that show up in this story. Can be read as a stand-alone but better if familiar with the world building.
Kora is the last of her kind. She can’t stand bullying and will happily sacrifice herself to keep someone safe. She unknowingly crosses into a dragon’s land trying to save an unwitting victim and ends up with a lethal wound herself. Derek is impressed by the woman’s bravery but he’s too late to save her. Or so he believes until finds her again. She makes it clear she doesn’t trust dragons though so Derek must keep his true self hidden. At least until he can convince her to trust him.
Derek is fierce. He is fire and death. He is dragon. But he is also alone. And must follow the will of Villette, even when he doesn’t agree or remember why.
Villette is going to master the dragons, regardless who is hurt or dies in the process even as she fights her own battles and wounds.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Anthony Ferguson. The performance is filled with angst, desperation and anger as well as the beginnings of awakening. There are specific voices for Derek, Kora and Villette and I think the narrator has created a fantastic performance of this world. I listened at a speed of 1.5 to more closely match conventional conversation comfort.

A cliffhanger because it’s a duology which by definition means two books to get the full story. A concept I dislike. Why not just write one book? Then again, I won’t typically read a book over 500 pages so I guess I understand why the split.
Saying that, there are a couple of surprises at the end with additional characters that will make you want to continue the story.
I would have preferred that Derek and Kora trust each other openly but they both have prejudices that prevented them from being open and truthful. I expect this to cause conflict in the next half of the story. Derek deserves to get out from under Villette’s command and I can’t wait to find out how that happens.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and RB Media.

Derek and Kora had me intrigued from the beginning, both loners who are on separate missions that overlap and join their lives together. Each a unique species that shouldn't be together unbeknownst to each other. I wish this had more world building and background of each species and their enemies but overall the story was intriguing and I look forward to the next one as this ending on a cliffhanger. This is book one of a duology.


Thanks to NetGalley, Donna Grant and Tantor Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for review.

Where do I begin, the romance was flat, the plot was predictable, I did not like the MMC at all. It was written in 3rd person, but head hopped at strange times. This was my second Donna Grant book and It will probably be my last.

*this negative review will NOT be posted on Goodreads or Amazon

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this digital advanced copy!

There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book but my two biggest complaints would be the narrator and the fact it was told in 3rd person. I liked all the twists and turns but felt it was unfocused when we swayed from the main couple.

LOVED the cliff hanger ending though and will be waiting for the second one :)

I liked *The Bastard King*, but I have to admit that the story felt a bit cliché. The strong female lead paired with the angsty, brooding male lead is a classic combo that I typically enjoy, but here it felt a little predictable. While the worldbuilding was decent, it didn’t stand out enough to make the story truly immersive for me.

The production was okay, and the narrator did a good job bringing the characters to life, but for some reason, I just couldn’t fully sink into the story. It’s a solid listen if you’re in the mood for a familiar fantasy romance, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

DNF AT 30%

I was super excited to read The Bastard King since I loved listening to Rising Sun by Donna Grant. I did love listening to Antony Ferguson’s voice - he is just fantastic. I unfortunately just couldn’t get into the story. I think the main reason is because I couldn’t connect with the characters - there was almost too much mystery about backgrounds to really get them.

Thank you so much to the author, Tantor Media and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review. Despite this one not being for me, I look forward to reading more of Donna Grant’s work.

ARC Review - Provided audiobook from NetGalley

2.5 starts, rounded up to three for goodreads. I am still trying to decide if this is a two or three star for me.

We meet Kora in the beginning of this book and from the way she is described it sounds like she is some dumb, weak, little girl. Our male main character is some hot shot that sleeps around a lot. I do not feel like they had good chemistry together and there was nothing in this book that made me root for them as a couple. They didn't trust each other, they kept secrets, and he was always so shady. I was having a hard time with this book up until the 80% mark. Thats when all the good stuff started happening. The first half of this book was boring, not a lot happened, our MMC kept sneaking around, our FMC slept and had sex. I had no sympathy for either of these characters. Then 80% hits and actions starts happening. We have dragon fights and secrets being found out and so much is going on it was wonderful!

I enjoyed the ending, and felt that if the book was like the last 80% for the whole thing, this could be a five star read.

I will say that the audio narration was wonderful! Considering I listened to this during my whole work day, it was really good. Antony Ferguson can narrate well :)

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with this Audio ARC.

The bastard king

Kora is the last of her family. She is in a mission toward survival as one of the last of her king. She ran when her family couldn’t for a chance to survive and defeat the dragons. She doesn’t feel worthy of her family’s sacrifice.

Kora is revealed as a hellhound (love) and our other main character, Derek, is a dragon shifter under the rule of Villette, the commander who is the cause of Kora’s family slaughter. His service is in hopes of Villette freeing the rest of the dragons. When he meets Kora, he is challenged with the decision of his species and family, or this girl he is finding himself love.

Derek realizes his memories had been wiped, making his rescue mission of the dragons much more difficult. He struggles with his new feelings of love toward Kora and keeping his secret of his true dragon form.

I don’t know if this is an audiobook issue but it took me a while to understand that we were switching perspectives and POVs. It was unclear when things were switching and made me think hard about what was going on, which I didn’t like.

Also didn’t loved the spicy scenes, writing was different and just felt off here.

I didn’t realize this was a spin off until after reading reviews, but I didn’t feel I missed anything. However, it could be more enjoyable if you had read the previous books.

Book does end in a cliffhanger, and I enjoyed it enough to seek out the next book.

Audiobook narration was 3.5/5 a little flat at times. Either confusion, awkward sex scenes and not a ton of character / world building (possibly because I didn’t read original series) this was a 3 star for me. That’s one whole star for the last 20 minutes of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ALC. Release date 10/14/24.

Overall I thought this was a really good book I enjoyed Donna's writing style I thought that the overall flow of the story was really well it didn't go too quickly but it also wasn't so slow that there wasn't any action It kept me hooked from the beginning until the end right from the beginning there was action taking place there was movement to the story that kept you involved kept you interested to see what was going to happen next and where things were going to lead within the story I also really enjoyed listening to the narrator's voice It was very soothing and I think because I enjoyed the narrators voice so much it also added to the experience with the book because he really pulled you into the different characters and made you connect with them and their story

It's been quite a while since I read a fantasy. And boy, this book made me realize how much I miss it. This book is fantastic and I definitely will be reading the second book in this duology

Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This seems to be a spin-off series and I think I would have rated it higher if I had more background. Story was fun, pacing was a bit off and I felt like I was always a step behind (definitely from not reading the original series). I liked the two main characters even with the instant love connection. Ends on a big cliffhanger so I will definitely read the next one. Narrator was very good.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

I devoured *The Bastard King*—it’s everything you could want in a fantasy romance! The strong, fearless female lead, combined with dragons, magic, and a corrupt society, makes for a captivating story. I couldn't stop listening, starting the audiobook before bed and picking it up first thing in the morning. Anthony Ferguson’s narration was incredible, bringing the intensity of the characters and the world to life. If you're a fan of action-packed fantasy with a swoon-worthy romance, this is a must-read!

2 ☆
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DNF @23%. The premise of the story is what caught my attention: "I am 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." Unfortunately, the story was slow-paced, and I just couldn't get into it. I thought it was going to be a fast-paced, action-packed story.The Bastard King is book 1 in the Bastard Duology series. I will try listening to it once it's released.
The narrator did an okay job; he was easy to listen to and understand. The storyline was just too slow-paced for me. I wanted something a little faster.
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Thank you, Netgellay, and Tantor Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

❖ 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.

This was a wild ride! If you're looking for a fast-paced, intrigue-filled fantasy with a dash of spice, this is your jam.

Pros:
Plot: The plot was a rollercoaster! I was constantly guessing what would happen next, and the secrets kept me on the edge of my seat.
Characters: Derek and Kora were both complex and interesting. I loved their secrets and how they slowly revealed themselves.
World-building: Grant did a fantastic job creating a unique fantasy world filled with hellhounds, druids, and other fascinating creatures.
Romance: The romance was hot, hot, hot! I loved the immediate chemistry between Derek and Kora.

Cons:
Cliffhanger: I'm both excited and frustrated by the cliffhanger! I need to know what happens next!
Narrator: Anthony Ferguson did a great job with the male voices, but I would have loved to hear a female narrator for Kora.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! If you're a fan of fantasy, romance, and a little bit of spice, you'll love The Bastard King. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more.

The author and the narrator did a fantastic job with this story. The Bastard King was an amazing and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. This story was full of action, mystery, suspense, magic, revenge, danger, betrayal, steamy scenes and more. I enjoyed all of the characters in this story, even the evil ones but you won't know whose truly even until the very end with a cliffhanger that will have you wanting more. Kora is determined to have vengeance against those who destroyed her family, but she never expected Derek to enter her life. Derek and Kora both have secrets they keep close to their hearts, however when those secrets and the real enemies are revealed, both of their lives are on the line and knowing who to trust becomes even harder. I'm definitely looking forward to both reading and listening to the next book in this series because I need to know what happens next. Readers looking for a paranormal romance story that is action packed until the very end should not miss out on this story. It's one that I don't think will disappoint readers, and is one I will be recommending to my paranormal romance book loving friends.

DNF'd 20% of the way through. I really did not like it. I found the story boring and the world building lacking. I didn't understand the character or what they saw in one another and what really made me stop was the spicy scenes because it was so awkward with the way it was. I was not a fan of this audio book.

*The Bastard King* by Donna Grant is an electrifying, dragon-filled romance that delivers both heat and heart. Antony Ferguson’s narration brings this intense story to life with a voice that perfectly captures the brooding power of the male protagonist, a dragon shifter driven by vengeance and duty. Ferguson’s deep, commanding tone pulls you into every battle, every tender moment, making the audiobook an immersive experience that’s hard to pause.

The chemistry between the two main characters is palpable, and Ferguson’s narration enhances their emotional depth. He seamlessly shifts between the fiery passion of their connection and the tension of their conflicting loyalties. The plot is fast-paced, packed with action, and filled with secrets that keep you on your toes. If you're looking for a thrilling paranormal romance with a stellar narration, *The Bastard King* is a must-listen that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next book!