I enjoyed the conclusion of The Bastard Duology better than the first book, which is saying a lot. This book explains all and after a lot of great suspense wraps the story up very well.

Kora, the last hellhound. Derek the made dragon king who doesn't know the truth of his kind. Two star people with greedy, self-serving goals both of whom have erased Derek's memory and fed him lies. The dragon kings, their mates. There are so many great characters in this story. It's always fun to see the kings we know from other stories. Poor Kora and Derek have been through so much already and there's so much more they must conquer before they can know the full truth about themselves and their world. Their biggest challenge right now is trust, for each other and those around them. It's hard to trust when you keep getting partial stories, lies and misunderstandings. How will these two mates ever find their way back to each other and save their very existence from Meina and Villette. Can they?

The story is full of a lot of conflict, well written characters both good and evil, and finally answers to all the questions the first book left us with. I enjoyed every page of it and you will too.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Donna Grant and NetGalley for the ARC!

When I was approved for the ARC, I first read the prequal - "The Bastard King" to have context and worldbuilding. After reading this book, I had thoughts of that the storyline moved too fast. I enjoyed "The Uncrowned King" so much more as it seemed much more thought out and a clear continuation of the first book while expanding more on ideas and storylines first introduced in the first book.

Kora is trying to attempt to help Derek get his memories back, having to work along with the Dragon Kings, while also fighting a war against Miena - a star person who is hellbent on eradicating dragons from this world. There is struggle, strife, and accomplishment and I was just so happy that Derek and Kora were able to just rest at the end of this story. Definitely check out this book!

A sizzling, high-stakes fantasy romance that blazes with passion and danger. In a world where hellhounds and dragons are mortal enemies, this heart-pounding tale of forbidden love and fierce loyalty will sweep you away as a determined heroine fights to reclaim her future with the dragon who became her everything. Perfect for fans of intense romance and epic battles.

This was a great installment of the series for the Bastard King. The story flows and theres less background in this book and more action. The action scenes were described great and were spaced out appropriately to keep the reader engaged.

After reading The Bastard King (book #1), I hoped for more information on the worlds, powers, and character development. While The Uncrowned King (book #2) was an easy read, and I find the plot intriguing, I had difficulty connecting to the author's writing style. The details about the multiple magical species are surface level and mentally I struggled to create the universe in my mind.

I want to thank the author, Donna Grant, and NetGalley for eARC and allowing me to review the book!

Donna Grant does it again !! I love this book so much. Love the story and characters.

I really can’t wait to see what Donna will come up with next.

I do recommend this one.

OMG. What a great second book. Sometimes I find a second book to be a not-as-good repeat of the first book. NOT THIS ONE! I thought that there was action, romance and suspense in the first book. Boy, was I wrong! So much happened in the sequel that I could not put it down and devoured it in a day. There are new characters to fall in love with, and so much more story for our original two protagonists. Thoroughly recommend this duology for all romance, fantasy and romantasy lovers. Donna Grant is a goddess at romantasy storytelling! Based on a background check of the author, some characters in this book also feature in other series that she has written, but you don't need to know their background to enjoy their actions here (but you will want to go and find their own, unique stories and novels after falling in love with them).

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. When I have read the first book in the series, The Bastard King, I have felt that there could be more to the story, despite the difficulty I had to follow because of the writing. But I almost tried my best to finish this one. I am sorry but I am only more frustrated. More depth, better sentences could make the story readable.

This is a captivating conclusion to the Bastard Duology. Picking up where "The Bastard King" left off, Kora, a resilient hellhound, and Derek, a powerful Dragon King, face insurmountable challenges to reclaim love and identity. Kora's growth is inspiring as she learns to trust unexpected allies, while Derek's journey to uncover his magic and reclaim his throne is compelling. The story weaves passion, suspense, and emotional depth, offering twists that kept me hooked. Grant’s richly developed world and dynamic characters make this a standout in her Dark Universe. A thrilling mix of romance and action left me eager for more.

this second installment of the bastard king duology was so enjoyable

this book was a wild emotional rollercoaster in the best of ways

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

3⭐ There was a bit more world building in The Uncrowned King that helped to paint a bigger picture, but it was overshadowed by the amount of new characters introduced. With limited backstory for most, keeping track of who was who became challenging. The plot felt overstuffed, attempting to cover too much ground within the page count.

This was a remarkable enhancement compared to "The Bastard King," the initial installment in the Bastard King Duology.

The writing style has certainly evolved, and I found myself completely captivated by the narrative and its development leading to the conclusion of the duology.

The book effectively continues from where "The Bastard King" concluded, drawing readers into Kora's quest to restore Derrick's memories. I appreciated the depth of this story, which evoked a range of emotions throughout the reading experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed the final book in this duology and eagerly anticipate what Donna Grant will deliver next!
-I was privileged to receive this ARC through NetGalley and Donna Grant-
Personal Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

TROPES: DRAGONS, SHAPESHIFTERS, PARANORMAL ROMANCE, MAGIC, LOST MEMORIES

Til Next Review,
Sincerely, Lyssi

It’s no secret that I am a longtime fan of Donna Grant and I think her world building is absolutely masterful. She has a unique way of drawing her readers into the story and absolutely loving it. This is no different with The Uncrowned King.

Picking up from the cliffhanger of The Bastard King, miss Grant jumps us into action of a page turning roller coaster of a story. With a nice recap and some history of the Dragon Kings a new reader could easily follow along with the story. Kora and face off from the first pages with hopes of more coming from the actions. Lots of tension and crazy action packed battles fill the pages of the story. We have a fiery forbidden romance that tugs at your heart strings, a brooding dragon king and a resilient hellhound surprisingly make a perfect pair. If paranormal is your jam and you love some fantastic world building with a lot of spice and heat Donna Grant will always deliver exactly what you need.

Can Book 2 make you love Book 1 even more?!
All of the back story for Derek and Kora's story make this hit so much harder!

I LOVED the Lovers-to-Enemies story going on here!! Derek and Kora are amazing together and their redemption story was so good!!

I shouldn’t have to say this, but as book#2 in a duology, you should reach book 1 before this one. I read these books back-to-back and it was a pretty satisfying way to consume them. If you had to wait for this one, I’m sorry. That cliffhanger!

We join Kora who is desperate to save Derek from his potential brain-wiping fate at the hands of the woman she helped free. She ends up teaming up with dragons and their mates, finding a mutual enemy as the reason she is able to overcome years of hatred against dragonkind. We get to spend some time with familiar faces if you are aware of the larger universe of these stories. They help Kora settle in and ultimately hunt for her mate.

Derek is not so lucky. He has to try to stitch his memory back together from pieces and what the big bad tells him. He is, thankfully, skeptical, and ends up challenging the mission he is put on. This doesn’t stop the big showdown, though, but in a good way. Everyone eventually ends up in the same place, fighting it out, and we even get a grand wedding! This book was a rollercoaster that had me equal parts cringing at what Derek does and rooting for team “good dragons.” While I think you need to have read at least a few books in this world to truly appreciate the big plot work done, these two books, when read together, give a very satisfying conclusion.

This book was simply amazing. I loved everything about it and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of reading it. It was a blast.

When I started the book, I immediately realised the mistake. I haven't read the first one in the duet. But it just tells you how great this book is because I still managed every second of it. Donna Grant's Dragon shifter books are a must read if you love shifter romance. Derek and Kora's adventure was absolutely thrilling and heart wrecking. Full of action, suspense and twists..The Uncrowned King was irresistible.

The book starts at the point when the evil Star People Mirena makes Derek disappear in middle of a battle..and her other evil sister gets caught in Kora's Hellhound fire. She obliterated his memory and put false vicious ideas in his head about Dragon Kings and Hellhounds. Kora won't stop till she gets Derek back. It's an uphill battle against some really dangerous powers.


Derek isn't like other Dragons. He was created by Mirena's magic and a part of her evil plan to kill all the dragons. But he resisted consistently and his mind was repeatedly played with. The Hellhounds and Dragons are enemies as per their history. But he met Kora and their hearts got connected. Kora denied her roots for a long time but now it's time to embrace her magic and get her mate back. She was incredibly brave and resilient. She opened her heart to new ideas and new association against her past. For Derek, she was ready to do anything. Her love changed everything. Derek could fight against Mirena's manipulations because of her love in his subconscious mind. It was a lot complicated and he almost lost her while his memories were gone. But finally they joined their powers to beat the evil. Their love was strong and their bond was unbreakable even at the face of adversities. I loved meeting some of my favorite Dragon Kings and their mates again. Their loyalty and connection is epic as always. This story is full of dramatic events, epic battles of magic and heartaching love. Another winner from Donna Grant.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Allow me to set the scene, darlings: if you're strolling into Donna Grant’s Dark Universe for the first time with The Uncrowned King, stop right there. It would be like waltzing into the middle of a masquerade ball without a mask—confusing, out of place, and utterly missing the magic. This is the second book in the Bastard Duology, and trust me, the intricate web of lore and character dynamics demands (nay, deserves) the respect of a proper introduction through its predecessors.

Now, onto the main event: Derek and Kora. Their story picks up after a cliffhanger that had us all dangling precariously on the edge of a narrative abyss. This tale is not just a love story; it’s a vivid tapestry of loyalty, found family, and unwavering friendship. The chemistry between these two is electrifying, the kind that makes you grip the book tighter and mutter “just one more chapter” at 2 a.m.

Donna Grant, in her infinite genius, once again proves that her imagination is boundless—a veritable river that flows with fresh stories, fiendish villains, and, oh yes, unrelenting passion. The world she builds is so vibrant, so textured, it practically leaps off the page. You don’t read The Uncrowned King; you live it. Each word feels like a portal, dropping you smack-dab into battles that are as epic as they are magical, and moments of romance that simmer with just the right amount of tension.

But what truly sets this book apart is its connectivity. Grant’s Dark Universe doesn’t just expand; it evolves. After so many books, you’d think the threads might fray or the shine might dull—but no. It remains an unbroken, gleaming tapestry, tying this duology seamlessly into the larger universe.

And about that ending: yes, we get the much-deserved HEA (for now—because nothing is ever truly settled in a Grant book, is it?). But the lingering threads left untied? They’re the kind of deliciously maddening hooks that will have me stalking release dates for the next installment like a hawk.

So, here’s my verdict: The Uncrowned King is a triumph. It’s passionate, it’s immersive, and it’s unapologetically fantastical. If you haven’t yet delved into the Dark Universe, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. For those of us already caught in its thrall, this book is yet another jewel in Donna Grant’s glittering crown.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here impatiently waiting for whatever comes next. 👑

This is the second book in the duology and not a standalone. I’m a big fan of Donna Grant. However, the one thing I do feel about her continuing series is that you don’t always get the full effect unless you read all the previous books. This was a good solid read. Enjoyed the characters, the storyline and as always in the authors series, it’s good to see reoccurring characters.

Thanks so much for letting me read your book I loved it so much can't wait for the next one I cried laughed it was absolutely perfect in my opinion two people meeting in an unlikely way and just omg perfect