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Inferno Rising #1
The Rogue King
Kasia Amon is a master at hiding. Who—and what—she is makes her a mark for the entire supernatural world. Especially dragon shifters. To them, she’s treasure to be taken and claimed. A golden ticket to their highest throne. But she can’t stop bursting into flames, and there’s a sexy dragon shifter in town hunting for her...
As a rogue dragon, Brand Astarot has spent his life in the dark, shunned by his own kind, concealing his true identity. Only his dangerous reputation ensures his survival. Delivering a phoenix to the feared Blood King will bring him one step closer to the revenge he's waited centuries to take. No way is he letting the feisty beauty get away.
But when Kasia sparks a white-hot need in him that’s impossible to ignore, Brand begins to form a new plan: claim her for himself…and take back his birthright.
As a rogue dragon, Brand Astarot has spent his life in the dark, shunned by his own kind, concealing his true identity. Only his dangerous reputation ensures his survival. Delivering a phoenix to the feared Blood King will bring him one step closer to the revenge he's waited centuries to take. No way is he letting the feisty beauty get away.
But when Kasia sparks a white-hot need in him that’s impossible to ignore, Brand begins to form a new plan: claim her for himself…and take back his birthright.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2019
1869 people are currently reading
16752 people want to read
About the author
Abigail Owen
50 books4,863 followersAbigail Owen is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and International bestselling author of 30+ books that range from upper YA (18+) epic romantasy to new adult modern mythic romantasy to super spicy adult paranormal romance. She loves magical worlds with plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of HEAs!
Abbie has a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) from Texas A&M University (gig’em Ags!), and an MBA from California State University-Sacramento. Prior to becoming a published author, she spent 15+ years using the other side of her brain in various tech- and business-related roles.
Other titles include: wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, AuDHD, spreadsheet lover, Jeopardy! fanatic, organizational guru, true classic movie buff, linguaphile, wishful world traveler, and chocoholic.
Abbie currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their (mostly) angelic teenagers, and an adorable fur baby.
Abbie has a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) from Texas A&M University (gig’em Ags!), and an MBA from California State University-Sacramento. Prior to becoming a published author, she spent 15+ years using the other side of her brain in various tech- and business-related roles.
Other titles include: wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, AuDHD, spreadsheet lover, Jeopardy! fanatic, organizational guru, true classic movie buff, linguaphile, wishful world traveler, and chocoholic.
Abbie currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their (mostly) angelic teenagers, and an adorable fur baby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 952 reviews
February 2, 2021
My first dragon shifter book. Who knew they could be so Badass?
What a great adventure and an awesome romance. I loved this book, it has a powerful ending and terrific fight scenes. This book was the story of Kasia and Brand. Brand is a rogue dragon shifter due to the fact that Uhler, King of the Gold clan killed his family when Brand was a boy and took over the throne of the Gold clan. Brand hid in the mountain caves and has been a rogue ever since.
Rogue dragons don’t generally survive, they are usually killed by their own kind, so the fact that he has survived over 500 years speaks to how strong he is. However, he is working for his friend the blue king and he has promised to bring him a Phoenix to mate in exchange for his chance at becoming part of the blue clan and getting his revenge on Uhler.
Kasia is one of 4 Daughters, of the Phoenix Serafina and her Mate Dragon shifter who was king of the white clan, though their mating wasn’t fully formed at the time the Red King killed him. The legend says that when a Phoenix mates with a Dragon King, that king becomes the High King (leader of the Five Kingdoms).
The red king wanted to be the High King and wanted to be immortal as High Kings and Phoenix’s are, so he murdered Kasia’s grandparents, her father, then last year her mother. Her mother just barely had time to send her 4 girls into hiding. Kasia is the oldest and is a Phoenix, we don’t know for certain if any of the others are.
The book has awesome twists and turns. Kasia was in hiding, but is having some sort of burning visions so she goes to a supernatural clinic and the doctor tells everyone and their brother about her. Brand finds her first but she is wary of him. Her father was a Dragon but also a Dragon hunted and killed her mother and the Red King controls 4 of the other kings and their clans.
The book definitely ends spectacularly. It is a stand-alone but it sets up the next story so that is nice also. I really want to read the next one. The romance was awesome, the sex was steamy but there wasn’t too much, there was more adventure and fantasy and the story was written well. I can’t wait for Skylar’s story next. The hate to love romance sounds like it will be fantasmorgamsic!!!
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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What a great adventure and an awesome romance. I loved this book, it has a powerful ending and terrific fight scenes. This book was the story of Kasia and Brand. Brand is a rogue dragon shifter due to the fact that Uhler, King of the Gold clan killed his family when Brand was a boy and took over the throne of the Gold clan. Brand hid in the mountain caves and has been a rogue ever since.
Rogue dragons don’t generally survive, they are usually killed by their own kind, so the fact that he has survived over 500 years speaks to how strong he is. However, he is working for his friend the blue king and he has promised to bring him a Phoenix to mate in exchange for his chance at becoming part of the blue clan and getting his revenge on Uhler.
Kasia is one of 4 Daughters, of the Phoenix Serafina and her Mate Dragon shifter who was king of the white clan, though their mating wasn’t fully formed at the time the Red King killed him. The legend says that when a Phoenix mates with a Dragon King, that king becomes the High King (leader of the Five Kingdoms).
The red king wanted to be the High King and wanted to be immortal as High Kings and Phoenix’s are, so he murdered Kasia’s grandparents, her father, then last year her mother. Her mother just barely had time to send her 4 girls into hiding. Kasia is the oldest and is a Phoenix, we don’t know for certain if any of the others are.
The book has awesome twists and turns. Kasia was in hiding, but is having some sort of burning visions so she goes to a supernatural clinic and the doctor tells everyone and their brother about her. Brand finds her first but she is wary of him. Her father was a Dragon but also a Dragon hunted and killed her mother and the Red King controls 4 of the other kings and their clans.
The book definitely ends spectacularly. It is a stand-alone but it sets up the next story so that is nice also. I really want to read the next one. The romance was awesome, the sex was steamy but there wasn’t too much, there was more adventure and fantasy and the story was written well. I can’t wait for Skylar’s story next. The hate to love romance sounds like it will be fantasmorgamsic!!!
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Amazon|Twitter|BookBub
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November 11, 2021
3.25 stars: Having had trouble rating this, I decided to take a few days to try and sort out the ambivalence I feel towards this book. Here is what I came up with:
Firstly, we’ve got ourselves yet another bond trope; the type where they (eventually) know they’re destined for each other, will be stronger together and can even hear each other’s thoughts at some point. Must be so nice.
What is not nice, however, is that despite the fact the reader basically knows from the beginning the H and the h are mates, the characters themselves are in denial (insert whiny voice: I want him/her but I really shouldn’t) and only accept the fact around the 70% mark which I found incredibly annoying.
I also sometimes feel that this type of bond-love is the lazy way out – from a narrative perspective – as the author doesn’t need to develop a convincing relationship where the H believably falls in love with the h and her awesome character and vice versa; just make them attractive and put in some life-threatening situations and all’s well. I want to believe that two main characters would also fall in love if there wasn’t a magical bond between them. I’m not sure if I would buy that here. (Also, using sex as some sort of calming agent to make Kasia’s visions less painful? 🙄).
Side note: The whole relationship dynamic between Kasia and Brand reminded me of Amanda Bouchet’s Kat and Griffin in A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles), but I actually preferred her characters as well as her world building to Owen’s.
Speaking of world building: This is my first dragon shifter book so the concept took some getting used to, but overall, I found the world-building a bit simplistic (our world, plus dragons that rule various parts and are at war; the super special phoenix; wolf shifters; a random demon; a witch) but still fun to read about. My main issue, however, was that you only meet male dragons for a good part of the book, which makes you wonder… Then comes the answer you didn’t really want: female dragons are not only exceedingly rare but also sterile! Sexist much? I’m seriously hoping this will get resolved/explained somehow in the next books.
Then there is the issue of immortality. When authors make their characters centuries-old, immortal beings I need to believe that to be true within the framework of the novel. Sure, there is no reference point (duh) but within the portrayal of a character’s actions and traits I want to be able to say: Yep, I’d buy that. And you guessed it: I don’t buy it here. The respective ancient beings’ age is just casually mentioned from time to time, but in Kasia’s case her character does not convey 500 years of wisdom and experience or even jadedness.
Another cause for my ambiguity was the writing.
Sometimes it felt unpolished and just not fluid enough; the sex scenes were often full of clichéd phrasings and descriptive adjectives that made me cringe: an orgasm becomes “that glorious edge” to be “tipped over” during which “her body squeez[es] him like a vise”/”like a fist” and, of course, she “let[s] out a keening moan”; boobs are “those gorgeous pale globes” or “pink-tipped breasts”. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.
And then the writing was often quite funny and enjoyable. Here is an "exchange" between Kasia and Brand:
As you can see, I’m still rather ambivalent towards that book. And yet, I am invested enough to find out how the story continues, especially since the ending already segues into the next part, leaving many questions unanswered. (After a HFN with Brand and Kasia in this book, the plot continues in The Blood King with Skylar and Ladon.)
My advice: If you’re planning on reading this, lower your expectations and accept this book for what it is – not overly developed, deep or innovative, but enjoyable; that's how, in the end, I had fun reading about Brand and Kasia and their journey. Hence: 3.25 stars.
Afterthought: Maybe I'm so critical because I've been reading Brandon Sanderson’s epic Mistborn at the same time?? Feel free to leave a comment. 😊
Firstly, we’ve got ourselves yet another bond trope; the type where they (eventually) know they’re destined for each other, will be stronger together and can even hear each other’s thoughts at some point. Must be so nice.
What is not nice, however, is that despite the fact the reader basically knows from the beginning the H and the h are mates, the characters themselves are in denial (insert whiny voice: I want him/her but I really shouldn’t) and only accept the fact around the 70% mark which I found incredibly annoying.
I also sometimes feel that this type of bond-love is the lazy way out – from a narrative perspective – as the author doesn’t need to develop a convincing relationship where the H believably falls in love with the h and her awesome character and vice versa; just make them attractive and put in some life-threatening situations and all’s well. I want to believe that two main characters would also fall in love if there wasn’t a magical bond between them. I’m not sure if I would buy that here. (Also, using sex as some sort of calming agent to make Kasia’s visions less painful? 🙄).
Side note: The whole relationship dynamic between Kasia and Brand reminded me of Amanda Bouchet’s Kat and Griffin in A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles), but I actually preferred her characters as well as her world building to Owen’s.
Speaking of world building: This is my first dragon shifter book so the concept took some getting used to, but overall, I found the world-building a bit simplistic (our world, plus dragons that rule various parts and are at war; the super special phoenix; wolf shifters; a random demon; a witch) but still fun to read about. My main issue, however, was that you only meet male dragons for a good part of the book, which makes you wonder… Then comes the answer you didn’t really want: female dragons are not only exceedingly rare but also sterile! Sexist much? I’m seriously hoping this will get resolved/explained somehow in the next books.
Then there is the issue of immortality. When authors make their characters centuries-old, immortal beings I need to believe that to be true within the framework of the novel. Sure, there is no reference point (duh) but within the portrayal of a character’s actions and traits I want to be able to say: Yep, I’d buy that. And you guessed it: I don’t buy it here. The respective ancient beings’ age is just casually mentioned from time to time, but in Kasia’s case her character does not convey 500 years of wisdom and experience or even jadedness.
Another cause for my ambiguity was the writing.
Sometimes it felt unpolished and just not fluid enough; the sex scenes were often full of clichéd phrasings and descriptive adjectives that made me cringe: an orgasm becomes “that glorious edge” to be “tipped over” during which “her body squeez[es] him like a vise”/”like a fist” and, of course, she “let[s] out a keening moan”; boobs are “those gorgeous pale globes” or “pink-tipped breasts”. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.
And then the writing was often quite funny and enjoyable. Here is an "exchange" between Kasia and Brand:
Growing more irritated with his attitude, Kasis proceeded to have a conversation with herself, filling in Brand’s part for him.
“What do you think of your new digs, Kasia?” she rumbled in a deep bass, her attempt at a Brand impersonation. She even pretended to have bulging muscles, lifting her arms up to pretend to stand like him.
In a falsetto, she answered her own question. “This place is intimidating and ostentatious, Brand, but I think I can look past that. Thanks for asking.”
Another round of Brand in fake low voice. “I only want you to be happy, Kasia.”
The real Brand half sighed, half growled. “Kasia.”
She ignored him, continuing her part in a squeaky voice. “ Aww. You’re such a teddy bear, Boo-boo.”
“Boo-boo?”
The disgust in his voice had Kasia bursting out laughing. “My imaginary Brand likes it when I call him Boo-boo.”
Brand’s jaw clenched. “No, he wouldn’t.”
“You don’t get to dictate what my imaginary Brand likes or doesn’t like. I’ve known him longer than you.”
“But – “ Brand cut off his own argument and shook his head. “I can’t believe we’re talking about this.”
Kasia shrugged. “You brought it up. I was having a lovely conversation with you.”
As you can see, I’m still rather ambivalent towards that book. And yet, I am invested enough to find out how the story continues, especially since the ending already segues into the next part, leaving many questions unanswered. (After a HFN with Brand and Kasia in this book, the plot continues in The Blood King with Skylar and Ladon.)
My advice: If you’re planning on reading this, lower your expectations and accept this book for what it is – not overly developed, deep or innovative, but enjoyable; that's how, in the end, I had fun reading about Brand and Kasia and their journey. Hence: 3.25 stars.
Afterthought: Maybe I'm so critical because I've been reading Brandon Sanderson’s epic Mistborn at the same time?? Feel free to leave a comment. 😊
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November 18, 2022
R A T I N G: 3.5/4 stars to The Rogue King! ★ ★ ★ ★
A prize sought by every creature. Legend held that the man who captured a phoenix would be blessed. Unable to put a foot wrong. Every choice the right one. Every action leading to greater fortune. Except legend had it wrong. The man had to capture the phoenix’s heart. The man who’d come for her would never have her heart.’
“That girl has a bleeding heart,” Ladon snarled.
“Or a death wish,” Brand tacked on.
A phoenix is a temptation and a trophy worth salivating over to any dragon king. A king is just a king without one. With one, they court over an entire species with a rare myth to establish their seat on the supreme throne. But Kasia Amon is a best kept secret nobody was to ever know about. After five centuries of being hunted in the shadows, one phoenix burned through the ash of sacrifice so her four daughters could live. Kasia’s mother spent the last minutes of her immortal life burning for her daughters, to protect them, push them apart and send them off into secrecy and away from the savage rank of dragon shifters that would do anything for a piece of Phoenix legend.
After a year in hiding, Kasia’s days of camouflage are over. She might have the gift of vision, but she couldn’t see the day she dreaded most edging nearer - her exposure and the flight of a dragon predator aiming right for her. When her existence is leaked spreading the message of a live phoenix to every creature who wants a claw, canine or talon in her myth, her time is truly up. Any beast with hungry intentions and unsated interests would love to capture a creature worth a king’s ransom. A set of neatly told lies and closely held secrets has kept Kasia out of perils way, but the rage of her Phoenix fire is the fire call that puts her on an open-wide radar.
Brand Asterot is a dreaded and damned castaway. He’s what they call a rogue dragon shifter, a wild card in the realm of dragon with not a clan to belong to, a paragon of mistrust among shifter kind. He’s the reddest flag, the baddest danger, a menacing outcast. Brutish and uncaring, he’s worn the mask of a warrior stoic since the slaughter of his family. Working as an ally to the Blood King, one among many searching for the immortal bird of fire, is just a means to a centuries old end, and if it takes bringing a fated creature into the claws of dragon domain, no sacrifice is too big.
Her imperative plan to stay hidden now burnt to flame, Kasia is stuck with a resisting gold dragon with a coarse heart and cold head. He’s perhaps the biggest predator who could have come roaring. He’s everything she was educated to deflect, everything her fabled history insists she turn tail and run from. Whether a lionhearted phoenix makes the right call in putting her faith in a self-serving mercenary to seal his path in revenge could end in either in fated flame or a field of ash.
I’ve made my way halfway through the gamut of supernatural species romance. I’ve done vampires, I’ve done werewolves, I’ve done fairies, I’ve done the sub-species between but until Abigail Owen, I’ve never done dragons. What fantastic beasts they are. The words big and proud and beastly are the first to come to mind when I think about dragons, and they do live up to their name, but to read about these dauntless predators is a roaring thrill. Those scenes that you can see splashed across the space in your mind’s eye? The gloriousness of a beast imagined, the threat of their proportion in shifted form and the fire-blasting suspense of seeing them in action really is a trivialised indulgence. It was hard not to get caught up in the understated magnificence of it all. Or maybe I was a bit too excited to fly with my first dragon novel :D
A shapeshifting urban fantasy marries a paranormal romance with The Rogue King, one that smolders with suspense. The prologue penetrates straight away, imparting a sacrifice that makes a reader feel the importance of the story/stories to come. The opening scene reads with rapture and the rest leads by example with danger and action that boosts and braces what becomes of a rogue king and a sought-after phoenix. Of how the daughters of sacrifice will find their way in a world without each other, how they’ll survive being hunted, but perhaps most importantly, how they’ll set themselves apart or become a part of their legend. The premise is new and fascinating, and while this book parts on the culmination to Kasia and Brand's portion of a lengthier arc, the book finishes on a promise of more to come for each daughter of a rare immortal. Expressive writing and dragon mythos makes it hard to look away and easy to forfeit hours of your life to wander.
My fire breathing debut wasn’t shy of leaving scorch marks. It definitely set me aglow. There are those books that look like an unchallenged enticement, then there are those that fly under the radar, over and under, until one finally takes notice. Once the bird landed, I easily took flight. Readers will appreciate this fated mates romance with a warmongering dragon race, dragon/phoenix lore, strapping characters, and, my favourite, a breath-holding finale where you get to see those scaled creatures in fiery action. As a fresh-faced newcomer to dragon romance, I’m not acquainted with reptilian lore, but the world-building, the shifting setting and the conjectural mythology winds into an open-plot adventure that you won’t want to stop reading. A book that bristles with heat, claws and clan wars…and a hellhound that i wouldn't mind adopting.
__________________________________________________
S O M E_C O N C E R N S_ I_ H A D…
While I really enjoyed this book, I want to touch on a few things that I think needed some polish or perhaps more consideration…
1) I don’t have any qualms about the fated mates trope, but with fated mates can come the absence of building a proper love bond in favour of just belonging to the ‘true mates’ label. I really did love Kasia and Brand as a pair but Brand acts indifferent and detached towards her for a hefty 60/70% of the book. We know from the start that they’re mates, that they’re drawn to each other, that they’re inevitably going to end up together, but as a reader, I need to believe that two people are actually in love, that that love can stand apart from whatever the fates cement. Both of them spend a lot of the time wanting, deflecting and ignoring each other (that got frustrating after a good while of repetition). This really doesn’t leave a lot of time for the ‘get to know you’ part. While we’ve got some short conversations and brief confessions, they don’t communicate well enough to have me believe they know each other. There is such a thing as emotional intimacy, and while something can be felt through the dual POV, it’s not the same as sharing emotional intimacy with each other. Relationships need to come with more than just a fated label. I think I needed more reassurance of their love, not just a final confession. Only after they start the mating process, does Brand become fully invested, but even then, that just might be a case of ‘we’re fated so it must be’? If they had never mated, would they have both taken that leap?
2) Onto Kasia. She’s brave and dauntless, plucky and funny. What bothered me about her character is that her too trusting nature doesn’t coincide with a learned, historical aversion to dragons. Mate or not (not that she knew it) he’s still a dragon and could have had every intention to harm her. I probably would have made multiple attempts to make my escape from Brand and I felt that she justified her staying with him out of a familiarity to him. She accepted her fate too easily - I found that surprising for someone who has her own mind. As well as that, it strikes me as odd that a 500 year old Phoenix who has been trained and educated in 500 years worth of protective survival skills often comes across as lacking in those very areas. Her skill level doesn’t justify her age. When we get a short epilogue from her sister Skylar at the end, she instantly showcases her capability and combat skills, skills that Kasia doesn’t typically display. My point being that I think it would have been realistic to have her armed and ready in situations where she can and should make use of them.
3) Brand was also a bit (a lot) frustrating at times. I understand his personality being an imprint of his neglect and expulsion, but he seems too self-absorbed to see that his and Kasia’s history is almost one and the same, and yet, it’s his pain that matters. They could have easily flipped the plan on the head and decided to work together earlier on. Instead, they spend so much time going around in circles to play the evade and conquer game. I really did want to shake that golden rogue up a time or two. Apart from caring if Kasia is injured or in harm’s way, I wanted to see that he cared about her as a person (this goes back to the emotional intimacy thing). While you could argue that he’s not great with his own emotions and while it’s within character to fend only for himself, this is a PR romance. His self-interest and need to avenge is part and parcel to his character motivations so his actions are understandable. He has been working for payback for a matter of centuries. But while understandable, if he’s playing a male love interest, relationships do require balance.
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NOTE: While there are larger plots arcing through Inferno Rising, these individual paranormal standalones can do just that: stand alone!M/i>
C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Violence, blood, injury, profanity, attempted rape and a few descriptive sex scenes.
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F A V O U R I T E-Q U O T E S:
A prize sought by every creature. Legend held that the man who captured a phoenix would be blessed. Unable to put a foot wrong. Every choice the right one. Every action leading to greater fortune. Except legend had it wrong. The man had to capture the phoenix’s heart. The man who’d come for her would never have her heart.’
“That girl has a bleeding heart,” Ladon snarled.
“Or a death wish,” Brand tacked on.
A phoenix is a temptation and a trophy worth salivating over to any dragon king. A king is just a king without one. With one, they court over an entire species with a rare myth to establish their seat on the supreme throne. But Kasia Amon is a best kept secret nobody was to ever know about. After five centuries of being hunted in the shadows, one phoenix burned through the ash of sacrifice so her four daughters could live. Kasia’s mother spent the last minutes of her immortal life burning for her daughters, to protect them, push them apart and send them off into secrecy and away from the savage rank of dragon shifters that would do anything for a piece of Phoenix legend.
After a year in hiding, Kasia’s days of camouflage are over. She might have the gift of vision, but she couldn’t see the day she dreaded most edging nearer - her exposure and the flight of a dragon predator aiming right for her. When her existence is leaked spreading the message of a live phoenix to every creature who wants a claw, canine or talon in her myth, her time is truly up. Any beast with hungry intentions and unsated interests would love to capture a creature worth a king’s ransom. A set of neatly told lies and closely held secrets has kept Kasia out of perils way, but the rage of her Phoenix fire is the fire call that puts her on an open-wide radar.
Brand Asterot is a dreaded and damned castaway. He’s what they call a rogue dragon shifter, a wild card in the realm of dragon with not a clan to belong to, a paragon of mistrust among shifter kind. He’s the reddest flag, the baddest danger, a menacing outcast. Brutish and uncaring, he’s worn the mask of a warrior stoic since the slaughter of his family. Working as an ally to the Blood King, one among many searching for the immortal bird of fire, is just a means to a centuries old end, and if it takes bringing a fated creature into the claws of dragon domain, no sacrifice is too big.
Her imperative plan to stay hidden now burnt to flame, Kasia is stuck with a resisting gold dragon with a coarse heart and cold head. He’s perhaps the biggest predator who could have come roaring. He’s everything she was educated to deflect, everything her fabled history insists she turn tail and run from. Whether a lionhearted phoenix makes the right call in putting her faith in a self-serving mercenary to seal his path in revenge could end in either in fated flame or a field of ash.
I’ve made my way halfway through the gamut of supernatural species romance. I’ve done vampires, I’ve done werewolves, I’ve done fairies, I’ve done the sub-species between but until Abigail Owen, I’ve never done dragons. What fantastic beasts they are. The words big and proud and beastly are the first to come to mind when I think about dragons, and they do live up to their name, but to read about these dauntless predators is a roaring thrill. Those scenes that you can see splashed across the space in your mind’s eye? The gloriousness of a beast imagined, the threat of their proportion in shifted form and the fire-blasting suspense of seeing them in action really is a trivialised indulgence. It was hard not to get caught up in the understated magnificence of it all. Or maybe I was a bit too excited to fly with my first dragon novel :D
A shapeshifting urban fantasy marries a paranormal romance with The Rogue King, one that smolders with suspense. The prologue penetrates straight away, imparting a sacrifice that makes a reader feel the importance of the story/stories to come. The opening scene reads with rapture and the rest leads by example with danger and action that boosts and braces what becomes of a rogue king and a sought-after phoenix. Of how the daughters of sacrifice will find their way in a world without each other, how they’ll survive being hunted, but perhaps most importantly, how they’ll set themselves apart or become a part of their legend. The premise is new and fascinating, and while this book parts on the culmination to Kasia and Brand's portion of a lengthier arc, the book finishes on a promise of more to come for each daughter of a rare immortal. Expressive writing and dragon mythos makes it hard to look away and easy to forfeit hours of your life to wander.
My fire breathing debut wasn’t shy of leaving scorch marks. It definitely set me aglow. There are those books that look like an unchallenged enticement, then there are those that fly under the radar, over and under, until one finally takes notice. Once the bird landed, I easily took flight. Readers will appreciate this fated mates romance with a warmongering dragon race, dragon/phoenix lore, strapping characters, and, my favourite, a breath-holding finale where you get to see those scaled creatures in fiery action. As a fresh-faced newcomer to dragon romance, I’m not acquainted with reptilian lore, but the world-building, the shifting setting and the conjectural mythology winds into an open-plot adventure that you won’t want to stop reading. A book that bristles with heat, claws and clan wars…and a hellhound that i wouldn't mind adopting.
__________________________________________________
S O M E_C O N C E R N S_ I_ H A D…
While I really enjoyed this book, I want to touch on a few things that I think needed some polish or perhaps more consideration…
1) I don’t have any qualms about the fated mates trope, but with fated mates can come the absence of building a proper love bond in favour of just belonging to the ‘true mates’ label. I really did love Kasia and Brand as a pair but Brand acts indifferent and detached towards her for a hefty 60/70% of the book. We know from the start that they’re mates, that they’re drawn to each other, that they’re inevitably going to end up together, but as a reader, I need to believe that two people are actually in love, that that love can stand apart from whatever the fates cement. Both of them spend a lot of the time wanting, deflecting and ignoring each other (that got frustrating after a good while of repetition). This really doesn’t leave a lot of time for the ‘get to know you’ part. While we’ve got some short conversations and brief confessions, they don’t communicate well enough to have me believe they know each other. There is such a thing as emotional intimacy, and while something can be felt through the dual POV, it’s not the same as sharing emotional intimacy with each other. Relationships need to come with more than just a fated label. I think I needed more reassurance of their love, not just a final confession. Only after they start the mating process, does Brand become fully invested, but even then, that just might be a case of ‘we’re fated so it must be’? If they had never mated, would they have both taken that leap?
2) Onto Kasia. She’s brave and dauntless, plucky and funny. What bothered me about her character is that her too trusting nature doesn’t coincide with a learned, historical aversion to dragons. Mate or not (not that she knew it) he’s still a dragon and could have had every intention to harm her. I probably would have made multiple attempts to make my escape from Brand and I felt that she justified her staying with him out of a familiarity to him. She accepted her fate too easily - I found that surprising for someone who has her own mind. As well as that, it strikes me as odd that a 500 year old Phoenix who has been trained and educated in 500 years worth of protective survival skills often comes across as lacking in those very areas. Her skill level doesn’t justify her age. When we get a short epilogue from her sister Skylar at the end, she instantly showcases her capability and combat skills, skills that Kasia doesn’t typically display. My point being that I think it would have been realistic to have her armed and ready in situations where she can and should make use of them.
3) Brand was also a bit (a lot) frustrating at times. I understand his personality being an imprint of his neglect and expulsion, but he seems too self-absorbed to see that his and Kasia’s history is almost one and the same, and yet, it’s his pain that matters. They could have easily flipped the plan on the head and decided to work together earlier on. Instead, they spend so much time going around in circles to play the evade and conquer game. I really did want to shake that golden rogue up a time or two. Apart from caring if Kasia is injured or in harm’s way, I wanted to see that he cared about her as a person (this goes back to the emotional intimacy thing). While you could argue that he’s not great with his own emotions and while it’s within character to fend only for himself, this is a PR romance. His self-interest and need to avenge is part and parcel to his character motivations so his actions are understandable. He has been working for payback for a matter of centuries. But while understandable, if he’s playing a male love interest, relationships do require balance.
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NOTE: While there are larger plots arcing through Inferno Rising, these individual paranormal standalones can do just that: stand alone!M/i>
C O N T E N T_W A R N I N G: Violence, blood, injury, profanity, attempted rape and a few descriptive sex scenes.
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F A V O U R I T E-Q U O T E S:
July 27, 2019
The Rogue King by Abigail Owen
Dragons and a Phoenix and the occasional cellphone reference, oh my.
They’ve lived hundreds of years and are just now finding their fate with a mate.
The kingdoms are still fighting for power between Gold, Blue and other races of dragons.
First in a romance series of sister Phoenix.
Not a cliffhanger but only the beginning of the dragon wars as the most dreaded of the powerful is still out there stirring up trouble.
The heroine, Kasia is strong and capable of protecting herself. She is protective of her sisters and will do what’s best even if it requires a sacrifice of love. Brand is the strong and silent type of dragon hero. Frankly he could stand to open up a bit more. I was disappointed when he was being stoic if sharing his story would have solved some problems.
Loved Maul, the hellhound. I want to know more about him.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
Dragons and a Phoenix and the occasional cellphone reference, oh my.
They’ve lived hundreds of years and are just now finding their fate with a mate.
The kingdoms are still fighting for power between Gold, Blue and other races of dragons.
First in a romance series of sister Phoenix.
Not a cliffhanger but only the beginning of the dragon wars as the most dreaded of the powerful is still out there stirring up trouble.
The heroine, Kasia is strong and capable of protecting herself. She is protective of her sisters and will do what’s best even if it requires a sacrifice of love. Brand is the strong and silent type of dragon hero. Frankly he could stand to open up a bit more. I was disappointed when he was being stoic if sharing his story would have solved some problems.
Loved Maul, the hellhound. I want to know more about him.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
August 6, 2019
You can’t beat immersing yourself in fantasy world with larger than life characters and plenty of storyline potential, and that’s exactly what Abigail Owen has created in the first in her Inferno Rising series.
Has anyone ever told you that you’re hot as a giant lizard? And I don’t mean because of the fire.”
As is often the case with first books in this genre, the set-up does initially move at a steadier pace as we’re introduced to characters who are clearly going to play their part in the over-arching storyline and discover where they fit in the ranks of this shifter world where dragons, wolves, vampires and other magical, mystical beings cohabit, and often not so peacefully.
My knight in shining scales.”
In finding Kasia, Brand meets his match—let’s be fair, any woman who can combust into flames is unlikely to be a wallflower—she presses all his buttons and tests his patience, yet as spirited and kick-ass as she is, he calms her like no one else and together they literally burn the pages.
Wait until you see what that speed means when I’m inside you. And it doesn’t mean we get there faster, just…harder.”
For me, reaching the halfway point was when this story came to life, kicking up several gears and bringing danger, action and setup for much more with it. And with Kasia’s three sisters waiting in the wings, plus plenty of delicious, single dragon shifters there for the taking, I have high hopes of what’s to come.
Has anyone ever told you that you’re hot as a giant lizard? And I don’t mean because of the fire.”
As is often the case with first books in this genre, the set-up does initially move at a steadier pace as we’re introduced to characters who are clearly going to play their part in the over-arching storyline and discover where they fit in the ranks of this shifter world where dragons, wolves, vampires and other magical, mystical beings cohabit, and often not so peacefully.
My knight in shining scales.”
In finding Kasia, Brand meets his match—let’s be fair, any woman who can combust into flames is unlikely to be a wallflower—she presses all his buttons and tests his patience, yet as spirited and kick-ass as she is, he calms her like no one else and together they literally burn the pages.
Wait until you see what that speed means when I’m inside you. And it doesn’t mean we get there faster, just…harder.”
For me, reaching the halfway point was when this story came to life, kicking up several gears and bringing danger, action and setup for much more with it. And with Kasia’s three sisters waiting in the wings, plus plenty of delicious, single dragon shifters there for the taking, I have high hopes of what’s to come.
March 6, 2021
4.5 stars
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"Legend held that the man who captured a phoenix would be blessed. Unable to put a foot wrong. Every choice the right one. Every action leading to greater fortune."
This book had it all!! everything that a brilliant paranormal/fantasy book needs: shifters, dragons, phoenixes, action packed, steam, world building, intrigue , complexity and amazing secondary characters.
Brand is a dragon shifter, from the Gold clan, a rogue one,more like a mercenary that does jobs for the Blood King,Ladon. He has a good reason for his actions, his family has been murdered a long time ago and he has been banished from his clan. Now he is searching for a female his friend and boos Ladon sent him after.
Kasia is a phoenix , one of the last ones left on earth. A phoenix should mate a dragon , if she chooses him, but Kasia only knows about her heritage and history from what her mother have been telling her. She has been thought to fear dragons, them being the ones who killed her family.
When Brand finds Kasia in a clinic, a connection forms between this two. They are on the run from lots of paranormals, because Kasia is a very valuable being that everyone wants.
During their journey to Scotland where Ladon clan is,they get closer and closer , feelings bloom inside both of them, but the reality of them being together is almost impossible.
This two had sizzling chemistry. The banter was hilarious, Kasia finding all sort of amusing names for Brand's dragon.
The plot is very well built in this book. I also love the world this author has created. We have all sorts of paranormals, amazing places , is a book that has lots of action and entertaining scenes. The secondary cast adds a huge plus to the story,each one of them is special and intriguing.
I cannot wait for the second book. I hope I will get an Arc because I am basically obsessed to read more of this adventure.
🌼Follow me on Instagram for more edits🌼
"Legend held that the man who captured a phoenix would be blessed. Unable to put a foot wrong. Every choice the right one. Every action leading to greater fortune."
This book had it all!! everything that a brilliant paranormal/fantasy book needs: shifters, dragons, phoenixes, action packed, steam, world building, intrigue , complexity and amazing secondary characters.
Brand is a dragon shifter, from the Gold clan, a rogue one,more like a mercenary that does jobs for the Blood King,Ladon. He has a good reason for his actions, his family has been murdered a long time ago and he has been banished from his clan. Now he is searching for a female his friend and boos Ladon sent him after.
Kasia is a phoenix , one of the last ones left on earth. A phoenix should mate a dragon , if she chooses him, but Kasia only knows about her heritage and history from what her mother have been telling her. She has been thought to fear dragons, them being the ones who killed her family.
When Brand finds Kasia in a clinic, a connection forms between this two. They are on the run from lots of paranormals, because Kasia is a very valuable being that everyone wants.
During their journey to Scotland where Ladon clan is,they get closer and closer , feelings bloom inside both of them, but the reality of them being together is almost impossible.
This two had sizzling chemistry. The banter was hilarious, Kasia finding all sort of amusing names for Brand's dragon.
The plot is very well built in this book. I also love the world this author has created. We have all sorts of paranormals, amazing places , is a book that has lots of action and entertaining scenes. The secondary cast adds a huge plus to the story,each one of them is special and intriguing.
I cannot wait for the second book. I hope I will get an Arc because I am basically obsessed to read more of this adventure.
unfinished
March 31, 2021Two factors lead me to DNF this. The more serious is that I just got tired of Brand. He's all single-minded in his quest for vengeance, except when the author distracts him so the bad guy can get away. He's a bitter loner with a poor-me complex that blinds him to every good thing about, well everything. Including himself. Which means that Kasia gets the short end of the stick over and over again, with a bleak future of what amounts to sexual slavery.
Which is the second issue because once I broke empathy with the characters, it became pretty obvious that the backstory/worldbuilding of this story has some serious flaws. One being the aforementioned sexual slavery that is essentially dragon society. Dragons need to be "mated" to avoid a senescence that includes rotting away into nothing. And their mates all come from other, weaker species. Like humans. And the lucky one who nabs a phoenix gets to be the high king. So no pressure on her about who she's going to "mate". And apparently it's not so much a "fated" thing as it is some ritual she has to accept. Which would be a lovely out, except that only means that the force to mate has to be indirect. Or, if you're the current high king, it just has to be "mate or die". Which is apparently just fine with everyone else for reasons.
But once that occurred to me, it further struck me that this douchenozzle has been king for five hundred years and I'm all, whaaaat? I mean, he's a brutal tyrant who regularly uses people for his own ends and makes no bones about doing so. So tell me again how he's still king? Brutal tyrants have to provide some compensating virtues to retain their power base and I can't see any signs of one here. Even just sharing spoils would work, only there hasn't been any widespread disruption to provide spoils from. Indeed, he's explicitly draining the coffers of other dragon clans, including that of his supporters. So why does he have supporters again?
Mind you, I probably wouldn't have noticed either of these "problems" if Brand hadn't been such a negatively motivated* downer. That guy can go cry in a corner somewhere while Kasia finds someone worthy of her gumption. Brand ain't it...
And so my quandary is whether to rate this or not. On the one hand, I came to hate it more than a little. On the other, it's got a great pace and the writing is vivid and I think it'll be more than interesting enough for those who like paranormal romance and don't mind a useless brooder for a leading man. Dragon. Whatever. I think I'll defer just so that my review isn't seen as representative in a negative way. I could rethink that, though, if it's still bothering me after a time.
A note about Steamy: There's an explicit sex scene by the point I got to and frankly, it's part of what broke me. Doing the casual sex thing on the way to "mate" someone else doesn't work for me. And both of them continuing on with their stupid plan in the face of their shared intimacy marks them both as idiots.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
Which is the second issue because once I broke empathy with the characters, it became pretty obvious that the backstory/worldbuilding of this story has some serious flaws. One being the aforementioned sexual slavery that is essentially dragon society. Dragons need to be "mated" to avoid a senescence that includes rotting away into nothing. And their mates all come from other, weaker species. Like humans. And the lucky one who nabs a phoenix gets to be the high king. So no pressure on her about who she's going to "mate". And apparently it's not so much a "fated" thing as it is some ritual she has to accept. Which would be a lovely out, except that only means that the force to mate has to be indirect. Or, if you're the current high king, it just has to be "mate or die". Which is apparently just fine with everyone else for reasons.
But once that occurred to me, it further struck me that this douchenozzle has been king for five hundred years and I'm all, whaaaat? I mean, he's a brutal tyrant who regularly uses people for his own ends and makes no bones about doing so. So tell me again how he's still king? Brutal tyrants have to provide some compensating virtues to retain their power base and I can't see any signs of one here. Even just sharing spoils would work, only there hasn't been any widespread disruption to provide spoils from. Indeed, he's explicitly draining the coffers of other dragon clans, including that of his supporters. So why does he have supporters again?
Mind you, I probably wouldn't have noticed either of these "problems" if Brand hadn't been such a negatively motivated* downer. That guy can go cry in a corner somewhere while Kasia finds someone worthy of her gumption. Brand ain't it...
And so my quandary is whether to rate this or not. On the one hand, I came to hate it more than a little. On the other, it's got a great pace and the writing is vivid and I think it'll be more than interesting enough for those who like paranormal romance and don't mind a useless brooder for a leading man. Dragon. Whatever. I think I'll defer just so that my review isn't seen as representative in a negative way. I could rethink that, though, if it's still bothering me after a time.
A note about Steamy: There's an explicit sex scene by the point I got to and frankly, it's part of what broke me. Doing the casual sex thing on the way to "mate" someone else doesn't work for me. And both of them continuing on with their stupid plan in the face of their shared intimacy marks them both as idiots.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
July 17, 2020
An action-packed, sexy adventure filled with plenty of sexual tension, dragons fights, brotherhood, revenge, and of course dragon clan politics.
Fast-paced and easy to read this book is my favorite one set in this universe. So far. There's always room for growth right?
Characters
Kasia is the eldest of four sisters (quadruplets), whose mother was the last known phoenix in the world. Or at least, she was until she surrendered her powers over to her daughters before promptly being murdered. So for the past few years Kasia has been living in hiding, on the run from dragon forces that would use her as a political pawn. But when she powers being to flare out of control, she is exposed by people she seeks help from and finds herself caught by Brand.
Brand is a rogue, belonging to no clan ever since the brutal fall of his family. Working mainly as a man for hire, he lives for one purpose, to avenge his family's murder. When he comes across a phoenix it seems he finally has something to bargain with for allies. But nothing goes as planned and he finds himself questioning everything he has been working toward.
"I used to think fate was a cruel as dragon-shifters, but now..."
"Now?"
"Now I think fate set me on a path to you."
"I've loved you since the moment you stole my car."
...
"That's sweet and all, but we can't hold this bastard down much longer," Wyot, one of the dragons on top of Uther, grumbled.
Brand lifted his head and grinned, "Shall we kill a king, my queen?"
She laughed, pure joy erupting from the blackness that had consumed her. "By all means."
As of now, Brand and Kaisa are my favorite pairing in this dragon-shifters universe. Though be forewarned, their connection comes on almost immediately - as though their souls call out to each other. And while they do not immediately act on it, the undercurrent is clear as day.
But based on the cliffhanger we got there at the end I can already tell Ladon and Skylar are going to be 🔥 and give them a run for their money.
Ladon stepped into her path.
With a sneer, she ran her gaze over him, sizing him up. Then she lifted a single eyebrow, obviously having found him wanting.
Ladon shoved aside the irritation that unusual reaction drew from him. "You're not going near her."
She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.
"You're not going to stop me."
"Who the hell are you?" He didn't like repeating himself.
Skylar smiled, those fantasy-inducing lips tipping up in a grim delight. "I'm Kasia's sister."
....
Another phoenix. Impossible.
On the heels of that realization came another.
Mimicking her posture, he crossed his arms and smiled back. "You shouldn't have revealed your presence to me, little firebird.
Narrowed eyes shot sparks at him. "And why not?" she challenged.
"Because now you're mine."
I'm pumped to see how their story goes because I like Ladon, and I enjoyed his friendship with Brand. I'm glad that their friendship wasn't ruined by Brand's coupling with Kaisa. And honestly, I felt bad Ladon did not get the mate he hoped for, but now we have the potential of both men getting their happily ever after with mates along with taking down the currently messed dragon ruling system? Hell yes!
I want the next book now! A year is too long to wait :(
I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thank you to the publishers Entangled: Amara for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Fast-paced and easy to read this book is my favorite one set in this universe. So far. There's always room for growth right?
Characters
Kasia is the eldest of four sisters (quadruplets), whose mother was the last known phoenix in the world. Or at least, she was until she surrendered her powers over to her daughters before promptly being murdered. So for the past few years Kasia has been living in hiding, on the run from dragon forces that would use her as a political pawn. But when she powers being to flare out of control, she is exposed by people she seeks help from and finds herself caught by Brand.
Brand is a rogue, belonging to no clan ever since the brutal fall of his family. Working mainly as a man for hire, he lives for one purpose, to avenge his family's murder. When he comes across a phoenix it seems he finally has something to bargain with for allies. But nothing goes as planned and he finds himself questioning everything he has been working toward.
"I used to think fate was a cruel as dragon-shifters, but now..."
"Now?"
"Now I think fate set me on a path to you."
"I've loved you since the moment you stole my car."
...
"That's sweet and all, but we can't hold this bastard down much longer," Wyot, one of the dragons on top of Uther, grumbled.
Brand lifted his head and grinned, "Shall we kill a king, my queen?"
She laughed, pure joy erupting from the blackness that had consumed her. "By all means."
As of now, Brand and Kaisa are my favorite pairing in this dragon-shifters universe. Though be forewarned, their connection comes on almost immediately - as though their souls call out to each other. And while they do not immediately act on it, the undercurrent is clear as day.
But based on the cliffhanger we got there at the end I can already tell Ladon and Skylar are going to be 🔥 and give them a run for their money.
Ladon stepped into her path.
With a sneer, she ran her gaze over him, sizing him up. Then she lifted a single eyebrow, obviously having found him wanting.
Ladon shoved aside the irritation that unusual reaction drew from him. "You're not going near her."
She crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.
"You're not going to stop me."
"Who the hell are you?" He didn't like repeating himself.
Skylar smiled, those fantasy-inducing lips tipping up in a grim delight. "I'm Kasia's sister."
....
Another phoenix. Impossible.
On the heels of that realization came another.
Mimicking her posture, he crossed his arms and smiled back. "You shouldn't have revealed your presence to me, little firebird.
Narrowed eyes shot sparks at him. "And why not?" she challenged.
"Because now you're mine."
I'm pumped to see how their story goes because I like Ladon, and I enjoyed his friendship with Brand. I'm glad that their friendship wasn't ruined by Brand's coupling with Kaisa. And honestly, I felt bad Ladon did not get the mate he hoped for, but now we have the potential of both men getting their happily ever after with mates along with taking down the currently messed dragon ruling system? Hell yes!
I want the next book now! A year is too long to wait :(
I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thank you to the publishers Entangled: Amara for providing me with a copy to read and review.
June 29, 2019
As much as I've enjoyed this authors Dragon stories I've never given a 5 rating until now and this book deserves it ! We have Brand a rogue Dragon desperate for revenge and loyal to the King of the Blue Dragons but unfortunately he is not trusted by many. His latest mission is to track down the impossible and that is the last Phoenix. Kasia saw her mother die because of a Dragon so has absolutely no reason to trust any of them but when her existence is discovered its Brand who fights by her side !
As I previously stated I am enjoying this world that the author has created and this story just further cemented my joy in discovering this author. Brand is the perfect hero compassionate, brave and loyal whilst Kasia was strong, determined and hilarious ( slight spoiler she steals his car ! ). For this reader the next book with the King of the Blues facing a whole new challenge cannot come soon enough.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
As I previously stated I am enjoying this world that the author has created and this story just further cemented my joy in discovering this author. Brand is the perfect hero compassionate, brave and loyal whilst Kasia was strong, determined and hilarious ( slight spoiler she steals his car ! ). For this reader the next book with the King of the Blues facing a whole new challenge cannot come soon enough.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
December 14, 2019
Legend held that the man who captured a phoenix would be blessed. Unable to put a foot wrong. Every choice the right one. Every action leading to greater fortune.
Except legend had it wrong. The man had to capture the phoenix's heart.
Dragon and Phoenix shifters? Say no more, just gimme!
From page one, I was pulled right into this fast paced paranormal romance. I loved the author's take on the shifter world and the politics and intrigue. But hands down, I loved the romance.
Since being ripped away from her family and kept in isolation for her own protection, Kasia has been trying to keep a low profile. But when her fire starts to burn out of control and bringing visions she doesn't understand, she's forced to seek outside help. It's just her luck that her "help" decides to sell her out instead.
Rogue dragon, Brand has been looking across the globe for a rumored phoenix. When he finds Kasia, Brand instantly feels a pull to her, something unexpected for the dragon who's only cared about avenging his family and finally taking revenge on the gold dragon king tore his life apart. To say Kasia throws a wrench into his well laid plans would be an understatement.
I love me some forbidden romance and Kasia and Brand were burning up like only a dragon and phoenix together can. Throw in a fast paced action packed thrill ride and this read became pretty freakin awesome in a really short amount of time.
Memorable Moments:
The car chase, meeting Hershel at his biker bar in the middle of nowhere, the final showdown *swoon worthy moment alert* and the surprise guest at the end!
Special mentions for Maul, the hellhound (awesome!), Ladon and Skylar! And of course, Arden!
Would I recommend? Yes! If you like Katie Reus, Kresley Cole, N J Walters or Rebecca Zanetti, this new series will be right up your alley.
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
SAFETY INFO:
July 5, 2019
Her mother died so she may live free, but always on the run. Kasia is a Phoenix, a prize that brings great power and immortality to whomever finds and mates with her. She is also one of the greatest prizes a dragon king could ever possess and one hunter is hot on her tale, a rogue dragon with his own agenda and his own secrets.
Brand has a job to do, a mission to complete and his reward was once all he ever wanted, to belong to a dragon clan, something taken from him when his parents died. He never expected the fiery Kasia to be anything more than part of the deal, but his heart and his dragon beg to differ. Can he turn her over to a dragon king and walk away, knowing he will be one step closer to getting the revenge he seeks against the vile Blood King or should he go for the “gold” and claim her for himself, taking back his true birthright?
Can you say, hot, hot, hot? Imagine the chemistry between a dragon and a phoenix! If you thought of burning passion, you nailed it! THE ROGUE KING by Abigail Owen is filled with danger, adventure and the embers of a raging inferno about to ignite as one woman in hiding proves that even the hunter can be captured by the game!
Wonderful storytelling by Abigail Owen, fast and furious action, and that powerful thing called love! A strong start to a new paranormal series!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Entangled Amara!
Series: Inferno Rising - Book 1
Publisher: Entangled: Amara (July 30, 2019)
Publication Date: July 30, 2019
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Brand has a job to do, a mission to complete and his reward was once all he ever wanted, to belong to a dragon clan, something taken from him when his parents died. He never expected the fiery Kasia to be anything more than part of the deal, but his heart and his dragon beg to differ. Can he turn her over to a dragon king and walk away, knowing he will be one step closer to getting the revenge he seeks against the vile Blood King or should he go for the “gold” and claim her for himself, taking back his true birthright?
Can you say, hot, hot, hot? Imagine the chemistry between a dragon and a phoenix! If you thought of burning passion, you nailed it! THE ROGUE KING by Abigail Owen is filled with danger, adventure and the embers of a raging inferno about to ignite as one woman in hiding proves that even the hunter can be captured by the game!
Wonderful storytelling by Abigail Owen, fast and furious action, and that powerful thing called love! A strong start to a new paranormal series!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Entangled Amara!
Series: Inferno Rising - Book 1
Publisher: Entangled: Amara (July 30, 2019)
Publication Date: July 30, 2019
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
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July 23, 2019This shifter paranormal was sheer fun.
In case you don't know what shifter paranormal romances are, they are HUUUUUUGE over at Kindle e-books. (Check out Zoe Chant for a good example.)
In shifter romances, heroes (and heroines at times) have animal souls, or selves, and they can shift into these animals. Sometimes they have powers. They live among us normal humans, keeping their shifter selves secret, and their culture is a palimpsest over ours. The romances are lusty with high-octane romance, often centering around finding one's mate for life.
In this one, we've got trouble in the world of dragon shifters, the apex-predators of apex-predators. But we begin with our heroine's mother on the run from a truly evil dragon king, who is determined to capture her and drain her blood so he can become immortal. She's reached the end of her running after five hundred years--but she goes out in style, sending her four daughters to various corners of the earth.
Kasia, one of the four daughters, is central to this story. She wakes up in a facility, suffering debilitating periods of pain and visions. Brand Astolot, a rogue dragon without a clan, is sent to find her, because Kasia is also a phoenix. Phoenixes have special powers all of their own, and anyone who mates with one is going to get magical bennies.
Kasia doesn't trust Brand as far as she can throw him, so she steals his one treasure--his car. But Brand is a dragon. He can fly, so she doesn't get far.
Watching the two bicker as their attraction grows is part of the fun. They are great on the run together. Kasia is no fading flower--she knows martial arts, and she also knows what she likes in a man. If she has to mate with Brand's boss, well, she can deal . . . if she decides to.
It's a fun story, with nifty characters. Bonus, Kasia's pet, Maul the hellhound! This novel comes to a satisfactory resolution, while opening up threads for what will obviously be a series centering on those four sisters.
I really look forward to the rest!
In case you don't know what shifter paranormal romances are, they are HUUUUUUGE over at Kindle e-books. (Check out Zoe Chant for a good example.)
In shifter romances, heroes (and heroines at times) have animal souls, or selves, and they can shift into these animals. Sometimes they have powers. They live among us normal humans, keeping their shifter selves secret, and their culture is a palimpsest over ours. The romances are lusty with high-octane romance, often centering around finding one's mate for life.
In this one, we've got trouble in the world of dragon shifters, the apex-predators of apex-predators. But we begin with our heroine's mother on the run from a truly evil dragon king, who is determined to capture her and drain her blood so he can become immortal. She's reached the end of her running after five hundred years--but she goes out in style, sending her four daughters to various corners of the earth.
Kasia, one of the four daughters, is central to this story. She wakes up in a facility, suffering debilitating periods of pain and visions. Brand Astolot, a rogue dragon without a clan, is sent to find her, because Kasia is also a phoenix. Phoenixes have special powers all of their own, and anyone who mates with one is going to get magical bennies.
Kasia doesn't trust Brand as far as she can throw him, so she steals his one treasure--his car. But Brand is a dragon. He can fly, so she doesn't get far.
Watching the two bicker as their attraction grows is part of the fun. They are great on the run together. Kasia is no fading flower--she knows martial arts, and she also knows what she likes in a man. If she has to mate with Brand's boss, well, she can deal . . . if she decides to.
It's a fun story, with nifty characters. Bonus, Kasia's pet, Maul the hellhound! This novel comes to a satisfactory resolution, while opening up threads for what will obviously be a series centering on those four sisters.
I really look forward to the rest!
April 1, 2021
3.5 stars for now..... I need to process this one.....
I loved the writing. I enjoyed the storyline for the most part.
BUT, I hated that it took the entire fucking book for these two to figure their shit out. Fuck it took them to the 70% mark to realize they should be together. Then they are "together" for about 5 paragraphs before she is pissed at him and says they are over. Why do you have to do this! It took everything in me to finish this book, I was that annoyed.
But luckily I was intrigued enough in the storyline to not be able to stop, and I'm glad I finished because honestly, this would have been a 4.5 star book if it wasn't for unnecessary relationship crap. So now I need to process and see if it actually bugged me as much as I think it did.
Full RTC!
I loved the writing. I enjoyed the storyline for the most part.
BUT, I hated that it took the entire fucking book for these two to figure their shit out. Fuck it took them to the 70% mark to realize they should be together. Then they are "together" for about 5 paragraphs before she is pissed at him and says they are over. Why do you have to do this! It took everything in me to finish this book, I was that annoyed.
But luckily I was intrigued enough in the storyline to not be able to stop, and I'm glad I finished because honestly, this would have been a 4.5 star book if it wasn't for unnecessary relationship crap. So now I need to process and see if it actually bugged me as much as I think it did.
Full RTC!
May 10, 2021
✨3 stars... I guess✨
Listen.
Ugh.
This book was so close to being fantastic. With the way this book was going, I was sure it would be just shy of a 5 star read, until we go to like 80%. Which is RUDE because we we're so close to the end! The finish line was in sight and I could have been so happy overall and instead the author chose to fuck it up for...reasons.
What went wrong you ask?
We went from having a heroine with all the best PNR qualities:
Then we get to 80% and we fall in to my least favourite, very common trope: the heroine out of nowhere becomes irrational and shrill.
It was especially disrespectful because of how rational she'd been up until this point.
And to make matters worse, none of this drove the plot forward!!! Everything that happened from 80% forward could have still happened if there was no relationship issue!
There was more than enough drama with all the politics and fighting to keep you excited and eager to see what happens next. But of course, when in doubt a PNR author will always take the shrill heroine look-how-silly-she's-being way out.
Am I being dramatic because that miscommunication only lasted 2 chapters? Maybe. Does that make me less pissed? Lmao not in the least.
I can't even remember all the positives I wanted to talk about in this review pre-heroine stupidity. Blagh. Maybe y'all would be less annoyed by this shit and enjoy the whole book so maybe ignore what I have to say lmao.
Listen.
Ugh.
This book was so close to being fantastic. With the way this book was going, I was sure it would be just shy of a 5 star read, until we go to like 80%. Which is RUDE because we we're so close to the end! The finish line was in sight and I could have been so happy overall and instead the author chose to fuck it up for...reasons.
What went wrong you ask?
We went from having a heroine with all the best PNR qualities:
✓ headstrong but willing to see reason
✓ take no-shit but kind
✓ loyal
✓ snarky
✓ powerful as fuck
✓ a "chosen one" trope but on a person who worked hard to have a bunch of skills and be useful
✓ and above all smart.
Then we get to 80% and we fall in to my least favourite, very common trope: the heroine out of nowhere becomes irrational and shrill.
It was especially disrespectful because of how rational she'd been up until this point.
And to make matters worse, none of this drove the plot forward!!! Everything that happened from 80% forward could have still happened if there was no relationship issue!
There was more than enough drama with all the politics and fighting to keep you excited and eager to see what happens next. But of course, when in doubt a PNR author will always take the shrill heroine look-how-silly-she's-being way out.
Am I being dramatic because that miscommunication only lasted 2 chapters? Maybe. Does that make me less pissed? Lmao not in the least.
I can't even remember all the positives I wanted to talk about in this review pre-heroine stupidity. Blagh. Maybe y'all would be less annoyed by this shit and enjoy the whole book so maybe ignore what I have to say lmao.
July 31, 2019
This was a great story! I really enjoyed the world and the characters that the author created. The hero, Brand, is a dragon shifter that does not belong to any of the dragon clans. He is considered a rogue. He is sent on a mission to find a phoenix with the stipulation that he hand her over to one the dragon kings. Kasia is feisty and fearless. She has been in hiding until Brand finds her. As the two make their way, they encounter danger at ever turn. As they fight their way through their opponents, the attraction between sparks. This book was such a fun read. Hopefully, there will be more stories in this world!
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
September 6, 2021
Really enjoyed this and can't wait to read more in this series! Great plot and pacing, the romance was SO SWOONY. This hero reminds me of a Kresley Cole hero who is out of his mind protective of his woman. Loved the dragon shifter and Phoenix elements.
The only reason I'm docking a star is because of a specific thing I don't like about the fated mates trope.
The only reason I'm docking a star is because of a specific thing I don't like about the fated mates trope.
December 17, 2020
4 stars
Highly enjoyable. Will definitely continue the series. I like the concept and the world building.
Highly enjoyable. Will definitely continue the series. I like the concept and the world building.
November 19, 2021
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
You just really can’t go wrong with dragons! I haven’t read too many shifter romances lately but I almost always seem to enjoy them when I do pick them up. This was the first book in Inferno Rising series and I am now thinking that there may be more of these books on my tbr very soon. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There was a moment when I worried that the book might not be right for me but things started to click and I was soon swept away by this story.
Kasia has always hidden what she is from the world. She is a phoenix and there are many that would like to possess her for their own gain. Dragons know that whoever she takes as a mate will become the king of all dragons. Brand shows up with plans to take her to the Blood King and proves that he will keep her safe on their journey. I really liked all of the dragon politics in this story and thought that the world-building was incredibly well done. There was plenty of action and excitement to keep things interesting.
I liked the characters in this book quite a bit. Kasia and Brand were great characters and I liked seeing them try to figure out how to navigate the impossible situation that they found themselves in. I loved that we got to see growth in both of these characters over the course of the story. I thought that they had fantastic chemistry with each other and couldn’t help but cheer them on towards their happily ever after. One of my favorite characters in the book was Maul, a hellhound. I love how much this creature added to the story and his dedication to Kasia was touching.
I alternated between the audiobook and print version of this novel and while I wasn’t thrilled by the narrators at the start I did adjust and grew to like what they added to the story. I think that this was the first time that I listened to either Sarah Puckett or Alexandre Steele and I do usually need some time to adjust to new to me narrators. In the end, I felt like they both did a good job with this story and I would listen to more of their work in the future.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance. I found this to be a very enjoyable read with wonderful world-building, fantastic characters, just enough heat, and a lot of excitement. I hope to check out the next book in the series very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Entangled Publishing and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There was a moment when I worried that the book might not be right for me but things started to click and I was soon swept away by this story. Kasia and Brand were great characters and I liked seeing them try to figure out how to navigate the impossible situation that they found themselves in. I loved that we got to see growth in both of these characters over the course of the story. Plus, you really just can't go wrong with dragon shifters. I alternated between the audiobook and print version of this novel and while I wasn't thrilled by the narrators at the start I did adjust and grew to like what they added to the story.
You just really can’t go wrong with dragons! I haven’t read too many shifter romances lately but I almost always seem to enjoy them when I do pick them up. This was the first book in Inferno Rising series and I am now thinking that there may be more of these books on my tbr very soon. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There was a moment when I worried that the book might not be right for me but things started to click and I was soon swept away by this story.
Kasia has always hidden what she is from the world. She is a phoenix and there are many that would like to possess her for their own gain. Dragons know that whoever she takes as a mate will become the king of all dragons. Brand shows up with plans to take her to the Blood King and proves that he will keep her safe on their journey. I really liked all of the dragon politics in this story and thought that the world-building was incredibly well done. There was plenty of action and excitement to keep things interesting.
I liked the characters in this book quite a bit. Kasia and Brand were great characters and I liked seeing them try to figure out how to navigate the impossible situation that they found themselves in. I loved that we got to see growth in both of these characters over the course of the story. I thought that they had fantastic chemistry with each other and couldn’t help but cheer them on towards their happily ever after. One of my favorite characters in the book was Maul, a hellhound. I love how much this creature added to the story and his dedication to Kasia was touching.
I alternated between the audiobook and print version of this novel and while I wasn’t thrilled by the narrators at the start I did adjust and grew to like what they added to the story. I think that this was the first time that I listened to either Sarah Puckett or Alexandre Steele and I do usually need some time to adjust to new to me narrators. In the end, I felt like they both did a good job with this story and I would listen to more of their work in the future.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance. I found this to be a very enjoyable read with wonderful world-building, fantastic characters, just enough heat, and a lot of excitement. I hope to check out the next book in the series very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Entangled Publishing and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There was a moment when I worried that the book might not be right for me but things started to click and I was soon swept away by this story. Kasia and Brand were great characters and I liked seeing them try to figure out how to navigate the impossible situation that they found themselves in. I loved that we got to see growth in both of these characters over the course of the story. Plus, you really just can't go wrong with dragon shifters. I alternated between the audiobook and print version of this novel and while I wasn't thrilled by the narrators at the start I did adjust and grew to like what they added to the story.
October 7, 2019
Overall, readers will want to jump into this book and be a part of this world!
Read full review in the 2019 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2019 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 27, 2019
ARC received for review
I started this and then put it down cause Donna Grant has ruined me for dragon shifter books. I am very glad I gave this book a second chance.
Kasia is a phoenix in hiding and Brand is a rogue dragon. They are chased around the world where Brand is supposed to hand her over to a dragon king for a place in the clan. Of course, love happens and Brand keeps her for himself. Lots of drama and action.
Nice epilogue, until the mini cliffy with Brand's friend and Kasia's sister. Where's the next book?
I started this and then put it down cause Donna Grant has ruined me for dragon shifter books. I am very glad I gave this book a second chance.
Kasia is a phoenix in hiding and Brand is a rogue dragon. They are chased around the world where Brand is supposed to hand her over to a dragon king for a place in the clan. Of course, love happens and Brand keeps her for himself. Lots of drama and action.
Nice epilogue, until the mini cliffy with Brand's friend and Kasia's sister. Where's the next book?
November 3, 2019
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Yes, this had all the smuttiness that I needed.
The Rogue King was such a fun book to dive into. Wasn't expecting all of that sexiness to just be shoved into my face but I'm also not complaining one bit either. In it, you will meet Kasia and Brand. What Brand - like Hershey's? No, his name is just Brand. Weird - I know.
Now these two had amazing chemistry, like right from the start. Plus, this is a dragon shifter book so I was of course down for everything that was happening around Brand. Besides all of that, the bantering was on point and all the lovey-dovey stuff was too. Ugh, not a lot to complain about - other than the fact that it is over.
I look forward to the next book in this series!
Yes, this had all the smuttiness that I needed.
The Rogue King was such a fun book to dive into. Wasn't expecting all of that sexiness to just be shoved into my face but I'm also not complaining one bit either. In it, you will meet Kasia and Brand. What Brand - like Hershey's? No, his name is just Brand. Weird - I know.
Now these two had amazing chemistry, like right from the start. Plus, this is a dragon shifter book so I was of course down for everything that was happening around Brand. Besides all of that, the bantering was on point and all the lovey-dovey stuff was too. Ugh, not a lot to complain about - other than the fact that it is over.
I look forward to the next book in this series!
August 13, 2019
Eh. It didn't wow me or disappoint me, it was just there.
November 5, 2021
2.5 stars rounded up
A dragon shifter romance with a protective alpha hero that could be fun if you don't think too hard about anything that's happening. Like the political dynamics that don't quite make sense or the sexually predatory setup of having dragon males "mate" with weaker species because dragon females are infertile. And if one of them can get himself a phoenix he becomes high king, for reasons that are unclear. And I'm really over the trope of villains in a romance sexually assaulting the heroine. Yeah....it's pretty terrible if you actually think about it.
That said, I had an okay time reading most of this. I liked that the heroine has her own power and strength and pushes back on the controlling tendencies of the hero. Dragon shifters are definitely cool and the sacrifice of the heroine's mother to save her daughters was touching. It's one of those books where I kind of went with things while reading, only occasionally thinking "umm...what???" but in hindsight, this really could have done things better. I like the ideas, not a fan of the way the world and setup were executed. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
A dragon shifter romance with a protective alpha hero that could be fun if you don't think too hard about anything that's happening. Like the political dynamics that don't quite make sense or the sexually predatory setup of having dragon males "mate" with weaker species because dragon females are infertile. And if one of them can get himself a phoenix he becomes high king, for reasons that are unclear. And I'm really over the trope of villains in a romance sexually assaulting the heroine. Yeah....it's pretty terrible if you actually think about it.
That said, I had an okay time reading most of this. I liked that the heroine has her own power and strength and pushes back on the controlling tendencies of the hero. Dragon shifters are definitely cool and the sacrifice of the heroine's mother to save her daughters was touching. It's one of those books where I kind of went with things while reading, only occasionally thinking "umm...what???" but in hindsight, this really could have done things better. I like the ideas, not a fan of the way the world and setup were executed. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2021
I love this book!
Brand was an awesome character. I loved his dry humor and mysterious way of dodging Kasia's questions.
And Kasia is kickass. I loved how she wasn't shy about her sexuality or going after what she wanted. The first love scene... OMG.
The progression of their romance made perfect sense, and I got from the beginning to the end how they fell in love. At the same time, Brand's dedication to his chosen path and reason for denying Kasia was legit, and I respected him for not giving in to his desire early on like so many other male characters do in romance.
The only thing that pissed me off was how at the end, when she found about his past through the vision, Kasia's first conclusion was to doubt him. Like GIRL, he denied you for ages! Isn't it obvious he wasn't just using you to get the throne back?
Other than that... AMAZING! Can't wait to read the next one!
Brand was an awesome character. I loved his dry humor and mysterious way of dodging Kasia's questions.
And Kasia is kickass. I loved how she wasn't shy about her sexuality or going after what she wanted. The first love scene... OMG.
The progression of their romance made perfect sense, and I got from the beginning to the end how they fell in love. At the same time, Brand's dedication to his chosen path and reason for denying Kasia was legit, and I respected him for not giving in to his desire early on like so many other male characters do in romance.
The only thing that pissed me off was how at the end, when she found about his past through the vision, Kasia's first conclusion was to doubt him. Like GIRL, he denied you for ages! Isn't it obvious he wasn't just using you to get the throne back?
Other than that... AMAZING! Can't wait to read the next one!
July 28, 2019
4.5 PNR Love Stars
“Sleep, sweetheart. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“I know you will.”
What a heart-stopping addictive introduction to the writings of Abigail Owen! If you’ve been hanging out for a sexy, suspenseful and intricately woven Paranormal, then you must add The Rogue King to your TBR! You’ll find Dragons, Phoenix, Vampires, Wolves and shifters. Oh my! And that’s just the start! What a story!
A centuries-old need for revenge and a centuries-old secret collide in this Paranormal romance that catered to our every PNR whim! Plus, we’ve added a Rogue dragon warrior to our book boyfriend shelf! Phwoar! Prepare to fall in love with the sexy brooding alpha dragon shifter, Brand Astarot.
‘He’d waited centuries for this moment, each small step moving him ever closer to when he’d take his revenge.’
As her life hung in the balance, phoenix, Serefina Amon bestowed her powers onto her four daughters, Meira, Angelika, Skylar and Kasia, sending them off, armed with her teachings and their powers to various corners of the world. No one had seen a phoenix in over five centuries, and if the secret about the four sisters were uncovered, their lives would be in danger.
‘She might trust him with her life, but her secrets were hers alone.’
After the slaying of his family centuries earlier, Brand Astarot is a rogue dragon; a mercenary who’d do any job for the right price, and right now he’s thirsty for revenge, and Ladon Ormar, The Blood King of the Blue Dragon Clan, can help him exact the revenge he seeks. However, Ladon wants something in return! Brand must deliver Kasia Amon, a mystical legendary phoenix. Ladon isn’t the only king who wants the coveted phoenix – there are other clan Kings thirsting for the mythical Kasia as she’s quite the prized possession given her gifts, and some of the kings who have Kasia in their sights are downright evil.
Brand knows Kasia’s only chance of safety is to be with the King of the Blue Dragon Clan, however, what he didn’t count on were the feelings Kasia would ignite in him. When Dragons mate, they mate for life and Brand cannot allow his feelings for Kasia to interfere on his quest for revenge and Ladon’s need for the status of High King. Easier said than done!
“I’ve had enough pain to last a lifetime, thanks to my visions. Maybe you can give me more pleasure?”
Abigail Owen rendered us spellbound whilst we held our breaths wondering, hoping and surmising how Brand and Kasia’s love story would unfold and flourish. Was it possible, after all both Kasia and Brand hold their secrets close to their chests? Unearthing those secrets was something we relished! The mysterious ruggedly handsome Brand and the fiery Kasia kept us riveted with their searing chemistry and edge of your seat suspense.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a fabulous new paranormal series, your search is over! The Rogue King was a deliciously sexy and exhilarating journey into the world of dragons, phoenix and many supernatural creatures and we’re desperate for more. This story isn’t a cliffy as each book will focus on a different couple, however, the storyline will continue through the series.
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August 4, 2019
4.25 stars
Paranormal always seems to scratch the "I need a caring, obsessed, alpha hero with a strong heroine" itch, and this did exactly that. I loved the story and the characters and I cant wait for the next one. I had to take a star off because I thought the hero didnt fight for the heroine when the time came. He delayed a bit too long and was fine with the status quo in a way that made it seem like he wasnt as attached to the heroine as he should be. But he does eventually get his ass in gear for the h.
Recommended for anyone who loves paranormal romance with strong characters.
Safety:
No cheating
No other people
Push and pull on both sides- mainly the hero.
Slight OM drama- other dragon king wants to marry heroine purely for political purposes.
Slight physical abuse towards the heroine.
Paranormal always seems to scratch the "I need a caring, obsessed, alpha hero with a strong heroine" itch, and this did exactly that. I loved the story and the characters and I cant wait for the next one. I had to take a star off because I thought the hero didnt fight for the heroine when the time came. He delayed a bit too long and was fine with the status quo in a way that made it seem like he wasnt as attached to the heroine as he should be. But he does eventually get his ass in gear for the h.
Recommended for anyone who loves paranormal romance with strong characters.
Safety:
No cheating
No other people
Push and pull on both sides- mainly the hero.
Slight OM drama- other dragon king wants to marry heroine purely for political purposes.
Slight physical abuse towards the heroine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2019
In a world of shifters, there’s one being that’s so rare it’s thought to be a myth - the Phoenix.
A prize sought by every creature.
Legend held that the man who captured a phoenix would be blessed. Unable to put a foot wrong. Every choice the right one. Every action leading to greater fortune.
Brand is a rogue dragon working with the Ladon, king of the blue dragons, in order to gain loyalty so he can avenge his parents.
Everything he’d done in his life, every single step, every job, every horrible act, had been calculated to move him closer to one goal, and one goal only.
Revenge.
Revenge against Uther, who’d killed Brand’s entire family to take the gold throne.
The king sends him after a woman, and Brand is shocked to find she’s a phoenix.
Kasia has been hidden for a long time after her mother died and passed her flames to her and her three sisters and sent them into hiding. But one mistake makes the world aware there is another phoenix and everyone wants to own her.
She is especially terrified of dragons - they want to use her as a pawn for their game of kings.
“Dragon shifters betrayed my family and killed my parents. I spent my entire life running from your kind. Do you think trust comes easily just because you think you’re the good guys? Everyone thinks they’re the good guys. Even the bad guys.”
But she trusts Brand, who she has had visions of him protecting her throughout the years. He wants to deliver her to the king safely.
The author created a really interesting world - I loved the mythology of the phoenix in paranormal romance. The dragons had a really neat hierarchy. Kasia is a good heroine. She no dainty damsel, but she’s got good sense and knows when to run and when to fight. Brand is a great love interest - strong and competent. The villain is thoroughly creepy. The set up for the next book looks awesome, I can’t wait to read more.
If you want a hot paranormal romance with forbidden love between a bodyguard and the woman he is protecting - this is one you won’t want to miss.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The release date is July 30, 2019.
A prize sought by every creature.
Legend held that the man who captured a phoenix would be blessed. Unable to put a foot wrong. Every choice the right one. Every action leading to greater fortune.
Brand is a rogue dragon working with the Ladon, king of the blue dragons, in order to gain loyalty so he can avenge his parents.
Everything he’d done in his life, every single step, every job, every horrible act, had been calculated to move him closer to one goal, and one goal only.
Revenge.
Revenge against Uther, who’d killed Brand’s entire family to take the gold throne.
The king sends him after a woman, and Brand is shocked to find she’s a phoenix.
Kasia has been hidden for a long time after her mother died and passed her flames to her and her three sisters and sent them into hiding. But one mistake makes the world aware there is another phoenix and everyone wants to own her.
She is especially terrified of dragons - they want to use her as a pawn for their game of kings.
“Dragon shifters betrayed my family and killed my parents. I spent my entire life running from your kind. Do you think trust comes easily just because you think you’re the good guys? Everyone thinks they’re the good guys. Even the bad guys.”
But she trusts Brand, who she has had visions of him protecting her throughout the years. He wants to deliver her to the king safely.
The author created a really interesting world - I loved the mythology of the phoenix in paranormal romance. The dragons had a really neat hierarchy. Kasia is a good heroine. She no dainty damsel, but she’s got good sense and knows when to run and when to fight. Brand is a great love interest - strong and competent. The villain is thoroughly creepy. The set up for the next book looks awesome, I can’t wait to read more.
If you want a hot paranormal romance with forbidden love between a bodyguard and the woman he is protecting - this is one you won’t want to miss.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The release date is July 30, 2019.
June 27, 2019
REVIEWED ADVANCE COPY THIS BOOK "THE ROGUE KING"
Good Start to a new Dragon/Paranormal series by Abigail Owens.
In this relm of fantastical paranormal creature this story centers around the Dragon Clans, Blue, Red, White and Golden Clans each has a King. Each King wants to be reign and become High King over all the kings and the clans. But first they must mate a female Phoenix Shifter.
Kasia Amon is being hunted by the Kings of the Clan. Her mother Serefina was murder by Pytheios of the Red Clan Dragon Shifters. Before Serefina died she gave her powers to her daughters. They all go into hiding.
Brand Astarot is more then a Dragon Shifter. He should be King. But he is sent to hunt down Kasia and when he finds her sparks fly. Can Brand turn her over to make with Ladon King of the Blue Clan or will Brands mating marks appear on Kasia.
There is one problem I had with Kasia if she was running hiding all these centuries and she would start flaming and burning down stuff how did she have sex with whom ever she meet before her and Brand had sex? She tells Brand she is no virgin but yet he is the only one who can absorb her Phoenix Fire. Her character would have made more sense if she was a Virgin.
This is a good start to a new series. Brand and Kasia have a pretty erotic relationship when runing and hiding.
Good Start to a new Dragon/Paranormal series by Abigail Owens.
In this relm of fantastical paranormal creature this story centers around the Dragon Clans, Blue, Red, White and Golden Clans each has a King. Each King wants to be reign and become High King over all the kings and the clans. But first they must mate a female Phoenix Shifter.
Kasia Amon is being hunted by the Kings of the Clan. Her mother Serefina was murder by Pytheios of the Red Clan Dragon Shifters. Before Serefina died she gave her powers to her daughters. They all go into hiding.
Brand Astarot is more then a Dragon Shifter. He should be King. But he is sent to hunt down Kasia and when he finds her sparks fly. Can Brand turn her over to make with Ladon King of the Blue Clan or will Brands mating marks appear on Kasia.
There is one problem I had with Kasia if she was running hiding all these centuries and she would start flaming and burning down stuff how did she have sex with whom ever she meet before her and Brand had sex? She tells Brand she is no virgin but yet he is the only one who can absorb her Phoenix Fire. Her character would have made more sense if she was a Virgin.
This is a good start to a new series. Brand and Kasia have a pretty erotic relationship when runing and hiding.
June 26, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for this title. I read and reviewed this title voluntarily.
Can I have the next one now please? I just have to read about the next couple because it's all I can think about after finishing this one!
I've never read this author before but when I saw this title on NetGalley... I asked for it. It sounded so good and I was not let down! I was kind of in a reading slump and this book pulled me out of it! It's that good! If you love fiery heroins that don't take crap from anyone and hot brooding men, you're gonna love this! Not to mention the dragon part!
Kasia is awesome! She's been dealt a rough hand in life but she's always positive and trying to make the best of her life. Brand is a man who has lost everything but still keeps going, even when it isn't easy. These two are made for each other! It was a blast watching their romance. All the action scenes were even really good. The writing is crisp and follows nicely. There's never a dull moment. I really did love this one.
My only complaint is the fact that this is a new series and I want the squeal now!!!
Can I have the next one now please? I just have to read about the next couple because it's all I can think about after finishing this one!
I've never read this author before but when I saw this title on NetGalley... I asked for it. It sounded so good and I was not let down! I was kind of in a reading slump and this book pulled me out of it! It's that good! If you love fiery heroins that don't take crap from anyone and hot brooding men, you're gonna love this! Not to mention the dragon part!
Kasia is awesome! She's been dealt a rough hand in life but she's always positive and trying to make the best of her life. Brand is a man who has lost everything but still keeps going, even when it isn't easy. These two are made for each other! It was a blast watching their romance. All the action scenes were even really good. The writing is crisp and follows nicely. There's never a dull moment. I really did love this one.
My only complaint is the fact that this is a new series and I want the squeal now!!!
June 7, 2019
5 Stars! The Rouge King by Abigail Owen
Fantastic story brought to life by great characters and awesome creatures.
It is a wickedly fun and exciting story filled to the brim with badass hunky dominate male dragon and wolf shifters and take no crap heroines!
The story is well written and has great world building, strong witty characters, great plots, twist and turns that keeps a reader rooted. I’ve never been a big fan of shifter novels so this was a welcome and pleasant surprise! This author is new to me and I’m a instant fan! I’m looking forward to the next story in this series.
Note: This tantalizing story is adult rated with strong language and very steamy sex scenes. Enjoy!
Fantastic story brought to life by great characters and awesome creatures.
It is a wickedly fun and exciting story filled to the brim with badass hunky dominate male dragon and wolf shifters and take no crap heroines!
The story is well written and has great world building, strong witty characters, great plots, twist and turns that keeps a reader rooted. I’ve never been a big fan of shifter novels so this was a welcome and pleasant surprise! This author is new to me and I’m a instant fan! I’m looking forward to the next story in this series.
Note: This tantalizing story is adult rated with strong language and very steamy sex scenes. Enjoy!
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