Veena’s review of Dark Heat (The Dark King Stories, Books 0.1-0.3) by Donna Grant
Paranormal Romance published by St Martin Paperbacks 31 Dec 13
We’ve been introduced to the secret behind Dreagan Whisky and had the opportunity to meet the dragon kings as they helped the dark warriors and their druids vanquish evil. Clearly we all know that evil won’t stay down for long and we’ll need new warriors on the white side and, lo and behold, welcome the dragon kings. While I thoroughly enjoyed these stories, I didn’t know that they had all already been released in e-format over the summer and this book is a just a compilation of these short stories. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this up-close and intimate look into Guy, Banan, and Hal’s stories and am salivating at those still to come.
Dark Craving marks the cracking of the emotional ice in which the dragon kings have enclosed their emotions for millennia. The first of the dragon kings to fall is Hal, king of the greens. He rescues a half-frozen Cassie when she arrives at her brother’s cottage on Dreagan land, and, before he knows it, she’s wormed into his heart and created her place. Will she accept the truth of his other self when he turns into a dragon? Can he convince the other dragon kings to accept her and let him bond with her? It’s a great start to the series, and I love how Cassie picks the green dragon out of the dragon paintings even without knowing it’s Hal.
Change is in the air and like a domino Guy is the next one smitten in Night’s Awakening. Elena goes on an unauthorized caving expedition with her boss on Dreagan land, which results in her getting injured and her boss killed. Guy, along with a couple of other dragon kings, comes to her rescue and that quickly he loses his heart to her. It seems that evil is stirring, and, despite all the protections that the dragon kings have in place, evil has found a way to expose their secrets. The only clues with regard to how deep the damage is can be found in London where the caving expedition originated. So Elena and Guy, along with a couple of other dragon kings, set off to London to identify and neutralize the threat.
Banan is the next one to find his damsel in distress in Dawn’s Desire. Jane, who is assistant to Elena’s boss, is either guilty as hell or being used in very unpleasant ways. Clearly Jane had to be on the side of good, otherwise Banan wouldn’t have fallen so hard so fast. Also, it’s pretty obvious that there’s a lot more sinister at play, especially when Jane is kidnapped and tortured and her boss is actually tortured and then killed in front of her. And this person might be high up in Her Majesty’s Government since government facilities and assets are being used.
I like how each story gets consecutively darker. Guy and Cassie is the beginning of hope. Not only have the dragon kings discovered emotions, but a new dragon king is created for the first time in centuries. With the second story, it’s clear that evil is at play but it’s not well known, and then the kidnapping and torture of Jane and definitely a play to destroy a couple of the dragon kings bring the evil out in the open and marks the open sequences in a new battle between good and evil.
It is funny how Banan and Guy each misunderstand what their women want. At least Banan is smart enough to figure it out and make things work, but Guy! Come on! He’s willing to destroy himself for love. I’m a bit disappointed, but, of course, the author works it out in unexpected ways and all ends well, but that is a bit of an interesting diversion there.
I have enjoyed the Dark Warriors series and am really looking forward to more in this series, and I can’t wait for the battle to begin and blood to flow and hearts to join.
Grade: A
Summary:
The Dark Kings are sworn to defend an ancient legacy of dragon magic. But their fiercest challenge lies in the modern world, where a woman’s love conquers all. These are their stories.
Dark Craving
Fueled by ancient magic—and enflamed by human desire—the Dragon King known as Hal can transform himself at will into one of the legendary winged creatures he is sworn to protect. But one thing he can never do is fall in love…with a mortal woman.
Night’s Awakening
The dark immortal warriors were never meant to experience human desire. But when Guy, a member of an ancient order of shape-shifting warriors, meets Elena—a mere mortal whose beauty and blind ambition shakes him to his core—all bets are off…
Dawn’s Desire
For centuries, the Dragon Kings have hidden their shapeshifting powers from the world. But when a mortal enemy threatens to expose them, the warrior Banan must leave his secret lair in the Highlands to risk his life for the dragons within—and resist the temptations of human love.
Passion’s Claim
Banan has been waiting for centuries for someone like Jane. Guy knew it was love at first sight with Elena. Can two Dragon Kings commit to two immortal women for eternity? Or does fate have something else in store?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
