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Dark Kings #0.1
Dark Craving
Fueled by ancient magic—and enflamed by human desire—the Dragon King known as Hal can transform himself at will into one of the legendary winged creatures he is sworn to protect. But one thing he can never do is fall in love…with a mortal woman.
Searching for her brother in Scotland—and succumbing to the freezing cold—Cassie Hunter awakens to find herself in the arms of a magnificent Highland warrior. Across his chest is the tattoo of a fiery dragon. And in his heart is a burning passion that, once unleashed, will consume them both…body and soul.
This is a story of destiny and desire, magic and mystery, warriors and lovers.
These are the forbidden cravings of the Dark Kings.
Searching for her brother in Scotland—and succumbing to the freezing cold—Cassie Hunter awakens to find herself in the arms of a magnificent Highland warrior. Across his chest is the tattoo of a fiery dragon. And in his heart is a burning passion that, once unleashed, will consume them both…body and soul.
This is a story of destiny and desire, magic and mystery, warriors and lovers.
These are the forbidden cravings of the Dark Kings.
105 pages, ebook
First published July 31, 2012
171 people are currently reading
2825 people want to read
About the author
Donna Grant
299 books4,767 followersDonna is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a hundred novels. Her most popular series is the breathtaking Dark King (aka Dragon King) series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.
In addition to her novels, Donna has written short stories, novellas, and novelettes for digital-first and print release. She has been dubbed as giving the “paranormal genre a burst of fresh air” by the San Francisco Book Review. Her work has been hailed as having “deft plotting and expert characterization” by Publisher’s Weekly and “sizzling” by RT Book Reviews.
She has been recognized with awards from both bookseller and reader contests including the National Reader’s Choice Award, Booksellers Best Award, as well as the coveted K.I.S.S. Award from RT Book Reviews.
Donna travels often for various speaking engagements, conferences, and book signings. She is also a frequent workshop presenter at national conferences such as RT Book Lovers Convention and Thrillerfest, as well as local chapters.
Born and raised in Texas, she also has ties across the border in Louisiana. Growing up with two such vibrant cultures, her Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding. She is never far from her faithful 80 pound dog, Sisko, or her three cats. She can often be found at the movies or bookstore with her children. Or buying makeup. And shoes.
You an find her at www.DonnaGrant.com
as well as her website devoted entirely to the Dragon Kings and all series that encompass the Dark World at www.MotherOfDragonsBooks.com.
In addition to her novels, Donna has written short stories, novellas, and novelettes for digital-first and print release. She has been dubbed as giving the “paranormal genre a burst of fresh air” by the San Francisco Book Review. Her work has been hailed as having “deft plotting and expert characterization” by Publisher’s Weekly and “sizzling” by RT Book Reviews.
She has been recognized with awards from both bookseller and reader contests including the National Reader’s Choice Award, Booksellers Best Award, as well as the coveted K.I.S.S. Award from RT Book Reviews.
Donna travels often for various speaking engagements, conferences, and book signings. She is also a frequent workshop presenter at national conferences such as RT Book Lovers Convention and Thrillerfest, as well as local chapters.
Born and raised in Texas, she also has ties across the border in Louisiana. Growing up with two such vibrant cultures, her Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding. She is never far from her faithful 80 pound dog, Sisko, or her three cats. She can often be found at the movies or bookstore with her children. Or buying makeup. And shoes.
You an find her at www.DonnaGrant.com
as well as her website devoted entirely to the Dragon Kings and all series that encompass the Dark World at www.MotherOfDragonsBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
October 29, 2016
yeah. So I kinda stumbled over Donna Grant books, and they do sound interesting. I thought they could be awesome...
When I asked my friends they either hadn't read any or they were not hugely impressed. So I decided to just read a novella. I am aware that I am just reading this a wee bit randomly and that possibly reading the first book of the first series would have made more sense in regards with the world building, however my issues did not lie with the world building.
Let's just talk about the world building first...
world building
My favorite part of the novella. I actually love the idea of the world building. And the little bit I got about the Dragon Kings is enticing and interesting. There were hint about the druids and warriors as well, and frankly it left me wanting to try those book. This is a novella, little is given in terms of world building, which was to be expected. But the little that was there? Color me intrigued. I like it. I want to know what's going to happen about the silvers and I feel like I have a good idea about the world of the Dark Dragons.
story line
Basically it's your usual insta-love PNR , which I found rather disappointing. I wanted more.
character building
For me there were some interesting hints about the characters. But I didn't connect to any of them. Simply not developed enough for my taste.
writing style
Here lies the crux of my problems. While the story line was super insta and the characters did fall short in their development. I would have been totally fine with those shortcomings. This is a novella after all. But there were quite a few things I didn't like about the writing style. And that kinda spoilt my reading pleasure.
The dialogues being my biggest issue. They all felt rehearsed and too cliche. Add to that the inconsistent Scottish accents of the male cast- which I found annoying to be honest- and they became cringe-worthy at times. All the confessions and declarations felt like trained speaches and felt too preachy in my opinion, simply because we heard them a gazillion times. All of the above made it difficult to connect to the characters but more so made them feel like the utter walking, talking cliche.
Then there are a few moments where I actually liked the descriptions and I for a short moment enjoyed the writing. So all in all it felt inconsistent.
Which leaves me still wondering: I do like the idea of the world ... but I wasn't a fan of the writing style. The rest is not bad but nothing to write home about. So tell me: Should I read another book by Grant?
When I asked my friends they either hadn't read any or they were not hugely impressed. So I decided to just read a novella. I am aware that I am just reading this a wee bit randomly and that possibly reading the first book of the first series would have made more sense in regards with the world building, however my issues did not lie with the world building.
Let's just talk about the world building first...
world building
My favorite part of the novella. I actually love the idea of the world building. And the little bit I got about the Dragon Kings is enticing and interesting. There were hint about the druids and warriors as well, and frankly it left me wanting to try those book. This is a novella, little is given in terms of world building, which was to be expected. But the little that was there? Color me intrigued. I like it. I want to know what's going to happen about the silvers and I feel like I have a good idea about the world of the Dark Dragons.
story line
Basically it's your usual insta-love PNR , which I found rather disappointing. I wanted more.
character building
For me there were some interesting hints about the characters. But I didn't connect to any of them. Simply not developed enough for my taste.
writing style
Here lies the crux of my problems. While the story line was super insta and the characters did fall short in their development. I would have been totally fine with those shortcomings. This is a novella after all. But there were quite a few things I didn't like about the writing style. And that kinda spoilt my reading pleasure.
The dialogues being my biggest issue. They all felt rehearsed and too cliche. Add to that the inconsistent Scottish accents of the male cast- which I found annoying to be honest- and they became cringe-worthy at times. All the confessions and declarations felt like trained speaches and felt too preachy in my opinion, simply because we heard them a gazillion times. All of the above made it difficult to connect to the characters but more so made them feel like the utter walking, talking cliche.
Then there are a few moments where I actually liked the descriptions and I for a short moment enjoyed the writing. So all in all it felt inconsistent.
Which leaves me still wondering: I do like the idea of the world ... but I wasn't a fan of the writing style. The rest is not bad but nothing to write home about. So tell me: Should I read another book by Grant?
February 7, 2019
3.5 stars - Paranormal Romance Novella
Major insta-lust/insta-love in this one, but it worked for me. Looking forward to more sexy dragons with this series!
Major insta-lust/insta-love in this one, but it worked for me. Looking forward to more sexy dragons with this series!
August 4, 2012
Posted on Under the Covers
Donna Grant takes on dragon shifters in the first book of a brand new ebook exclusive series called the DARK KINGS.
With ancient magic, Hal is able to transform into a large green winged dragon. As a Dark King, he and his comrades are part of an immortal race that have the power to shift at will. However, this power must be honed. It is only after several centuries that a Dark King is able to control every single aspect of his powers.
American Cassandra Hunter travels to Scotland to see her brother, Dan. However, she is having the day from hell because once she arrives in Scotland, her luggage has disappeared and her brother has become indisposed. Now, Cassie must drive herself to Dan’s cottage and pick up his Great Dane, Duke along the way. Exhausted, Cassie lets herself drift away.
She wakes up to find herself in her brother’s cottage, safe and warm and she wonders how she got there. The answer pops up when she stumbles upon a hot Scot chopping up wood. And what a sight it is!
The chemistry is instantaneous between Cassie and Hal. Grant did a great job of establishing the romance early in this book. This was key because the book turned out to be much shorter than I had anticipated. Nevertheless, Grant is still able to develop the romance at a believable pace.
Something interesting happens when a naked man holding a sword (not that kind of sword :p) falls from the sky. Naturally, I approve of this because who doesn’t like a dragon-tattooed naked man falling freely from the sky? I sure do. This naked man doesn’t remember who he is. His presence became the perfect way to bring the backstory of the Dark Kings.
As the naked man (now named Tristan) learns about what he is, readers are also learning about the dragon shifter ways with him. I was sucked into this world and after devouring this book in a single sitting, I wanted more.
Grant crafts an amazingly well-written and interesting world with the dragons. I can’t wait to see what’s to come next!
*Review Copy provided by publisher
Donna Grant takes on dragon shifters in the first book of a brand new ebook exclusive series called the DARK KINGS.
With ancient magic, Hal is able to transform into a large green winged dragon. As a Dark King, he and his comrades are part of an immortal race that have the power to shift at will. However, this power must be honed. It is only after several centuries that a Dark King is able to control every single aspect of his powers.
American Cassandra Hunter travels to Scotland to see her brother, Dan. However, she is having the day from hell because once she arrives in Scotland, her luggage has disappeared and her brother has become indisposed. Now, Cassie must drive herself to Dan’s cottage and pick up his Great Dane, Duke along the way. Exhausted, Cassie lets herself drift away.
She wakes up to find herself in her brother’s cottage, safe and warm and she wonders how she got there. The answer pops up when she stumbles upon a hot Scot chopping up wood. And what a sight it is!
The chemistry is instantaneous between Cassie and Hal. Grant did a great job of establishing the romance early in this book. This was key because the book turned out to be much shorter than I had anticipated. Nevertheless, Grant is still able to develop the romance at a believable pace.
Something interesting happens when a naked man holding a sword (not that kind of sword :p) falls from the sky. Naturally, I approve of this because who doesn’t like a dragon-tattooed naked man falling freely from the sky? I sure do. This naked man doesn’t remember who he is. His presence became the perfect way to bring the backstory of the Dark Kings.
As the naked man (now named Tristan) learns about what he is, readers are also learning about the dragon shifter ways with him. I was sucked into this world and after devouring this book in a single sitting, I wanted more.
Grant crafts an amazingly well-written and interesting world with the dragons. I can’t wait to see what’s to come next!
*Review Copy provided by publisher
May 17, 2016
Eh, it was ok. The story was interesting but I just didn't feel it between the H&h. I felt there was too much crammed into this novella to get the full feel of the characters.
I think I also lost a bit of respect for the author when she wrote how the h "put the car into park" and it was a stick shift. I learned on a stick, as to my knowledge, there is no park. You either leave the car in neutral and use the emergency brake or turn the car off and put it into gear to keep it from rolling.
Way to go.
I also loathe when an author describes the female anatomy as their "sex."
It happens to be a rather big pet peeve of mine.
I don't plan to continue this series. It was entertaining, but not enough to hook me.
July 26, 2012
Oh heavens. I loved this. As most of you who follow my reviews know, I am usually not much of a shifter reader. But I'm thinking I may have to change that view cause there's no way I'm passing up the rest of this series.
Something is going in with the dragon magic and I want to know what it is. Since there's going to be guys shifting into dragons, and they're obviously going to be falling in love, it makes the reading all the better.
Something is going in with the dragon magic and I want to know what it is. Since there's going to be guys shifting into dragons, and they're obviously going to be falling in love, it makes the reading all the better.
November 29, 2015
This novella is a very short read that basically sets up the history for the series. This series by Donna Grant is about Dark Kings who can change themselves into dragon's. I think this series has the potential to be really great, and after reading several of this author's other series; I know that she writes a great love story that include hunky Highlanders!!! So I am going to continue on with the series; but I do have to say that this first novella felt very rushed to me. Seeing that it was so short, we didn't get much depth into our main characters falling into love.
Cassie Hunter arrives to visit her brother in the Scottish hills, and instead of her brother she finds a very handsome and mysterious man named Hal. They quickly develop a steamy affair, even though Hal tells Cassie that he has many secrets that he can not share. They have such a pull towards one another, they fall into love extremely fast. The trouble comes when Hal's fellow Dark King's have a problem with Hal being with a human woman. Will Hal be able to fight for his love, or will his Dragon Kin be able to stop this romantic pull that keeps drawing Hal and Cassie together?
The history of the dragons is carefully woven into this love story, and it is a fascinating one that had many questions arise for me. I do look forward to finding out some of the mysteries of the Dragon Kings. I am a sucker for a sexy Highlander; and a shapeshifter on top of that is just an added bonus. Lately I have been missing the intense attraction and passion that comes with reading a paranormal romance...so I am thinking it is time to dive back into this genre for awhile and feed my hunger! LOL
I just hope that once I get to the full book in this series it will be a lot more in depth. My biggest complaint in this novella was that the insta-love happened way too fast and without any actual reason why the couple fell in love. They basically kissed, made love, then decided they were in love. I like to have more interaction and situations that the couple experience together to warrant them falling in love. Once that happens then I can certainly make myself believe in the love that they share! Fingers crossed this series will progress into the gems that I have found in Donna Grant's other series! Moving on now...
Cassie Hunter arrives to visit her brother in the Scottish hills, and instead of her brother she finds a very handsome and mysterious man named Hal. They quickly develop a steamy affair, even though Hal tells Cassie that he has many secrets that he can not share. They have such a pull towards one another, they fall into love extremely fast. The trouble comes when Hal's fellow Dark King's have a problem with Hal being with a human woman. Will Hal be able to fight for his love, or will his Dragon Kin be able to stop this romantic pull that keeps drawing Hal and Cassie together?
The history of the dragons is carefully woven into this love story, and it is a fascinating one that had many questions arise for me. I do look forward to finding out some of the mysteries of the Dragon Kings. I am a sucker for a sexy Highlander; and a shapeshifter on top of that is just an added bonus. Lately I have been missing the intense attraction and passion that comes with reading a paranormal romance...so I am thinking it is time to dive back into this genre for awhile and feed my hunger! LOL
I just hope that once I get to the full book in this series it will be a lot more in depth. My biggest complaint in this novella was that the insta-love happened way too fast and without any actual reason why the couple fell in love. They basically kissed, made love, then decided they were in love. I like to have more interaction and situations that the couple experience together to warrant them falling in love. Once that happens then I can certainly make myself believe in the love that they share! Fingers crossed this series will progress into the gems that I have found in Donna Grant's other series! Moving on now...
August 2, 2012
Cassie and I have something in common, we travel the same. If you ever want to hear disaster stories about travel talk to me or Cassie. Oh, poor Cassie. She has been forced to move into her brother’s rental cottage. That is just the beginning of her problems though. The move was not smooth. Cassie is learning all of Murphy’s Laws when it comes to this relocation. There is a perk to this move, the distillery next door is full of hot men. Those men have the task of protecting both dragons and humans. One of them just happens to want to keep her warm. Hal and his Dragon King ilk cannot feel love for a human. This is a punishment placed on them by the King of the Kings. This punishment seemed too overkill in my opinion once all was found out about it.
I was really into this story, until the naked man with a sword fell from the sky. I had a hard time taking the novella seriously after that point. The insta-love that Cassie and Hal felt I never picked up on how they got there. It was very rushed. I know it’s a novella with a small amount of pages, I still needed more. Several things were brought up that seemed important, and then was never mentioned again. The Silvers moving for instance seemed important, mentioned, moved on. I still have no clue what happened to Cassie’s brother.
I will give the second eBook a try when it becomes available. I love paranormal romance. Dragon shifters always grab my attention. I’m hoping that since the world has been created and some of the vital components have been explained that some of the finer details will get more elaboration in the next novella. Novellas always leave me wanting more, this one has left me with wanting to know more about Tristan, the Silvers, and the portal.
I was really into this story, until the naked man with a sword fell from the sky. I had a hard time taking the novella seriously after that point. The insta-love that Cassie and Hal felt I never picked up on how they got there. It was very rushed. I know it’s a novella with a small amount of pages, I still needed more. Several things were brought up that seemed important, and then was never mentioned again. The Silvers moving for instance seemed important, mentioned, moved on. I still have no clue what happened to Cassie’s brother.
I will give the second eBook a try when it becomes available. I love paranormal romance. Dragon shifters always grab my attention. I’m hoping that since the world has been created and some of the vital components have been explained that some of the finer details will get more elaboration in the next novella. Novellas always leave me wanting more, this one has left me with wanting to know more about Tristan, the Silvers, and the portal.
March 17, 2013
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Fueled by ancient magic—and enflamed by human desire—the Dragon King known as Hal can transform himself at will into one of the legendary winged creatures he is sworn to protect. But one thing he can never do is fall in love…with a mortal woman.
Searching for her brother in Scotland—and succumbing to the freezing cold—Cassie Hunter awakens to find herself in the arms of a magnificent Highland warrior. Across his chest is the tattoo of a fiery dragon. And in his heart is a burning passion that, once unleashed, will consume them both…body and soul.
This is a story of destiny and desire, magic and mystery, warriors and lovers.
These are the forbidden cravings of the Dark Kings.
Page Count: 105 Pages
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the story and will definitely follow the series. It was a quick read and I appreciated the interaction between Hal and Cassie. The dragon structure was interesting and I look forward to learning the how's and wherefore's of their lineage and history.
There were some unresolved issues that I'm sure will be delved into further in later books like why Tristan emerged after centuries of the Amber dragons being king-less; what caused the Silver dragons to move; and why did Dragon magic no longer work to dampen the dragon's feelings for humans? Are the answers one and the same or closely linked? Only time will tell.
But at the end of the story I was left with one outstanding question. What the heck happened to Dan? Her brother was mentioned but never made an appearance in the story. I wonder if that fact will be relevant in future books.
Great start to the series.
Reading Time: 2 Hours
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VERY GOOD: The characteristics of a 4 star book include: a great story; I loved the characters; and there was an interesting plot and unique story elements; there may have been a few odd things kept the story from being amazing. I would read it again and I would recommend it to a friend.Book Description:
Fueled by ancient magic—and enflamed by human desire—the Dragon King known as Hal can transform himself at will into one of the legendary winged creatures he is sworn to protect. But one thing he can never do is fall in love…with a mortal woman.
Searching for her brother in Scotland—and succumbing to the freezing cold—Cassie Hunter awakens to find herself in the arms of a magnificent Highland warrior. Across his chest is the tattoo of a fiery dragon. And in his heart is a burning passion that, once unleashed, will consume them both…body and soul.
This is a story of destiny and desire, magic and mystery, warriors and lovers.
These are the forbidden cravings of the Dark Kings.
Page Count: 105 Pages
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the story and will definitely follow the series. It was a quick read and I appreciated the interaction between Hal and Cassie. The dragon structure was interesting and I look forward to learning the how's and wherefore's of their lineage and history.
There were some unresolved issues that I'm sure will be delved into further in later books like why Tristan emerged after centuries of the Amber dragons being king-less; what caused the Silver dragons to move; and why did Dragon magic no longer work to dampen the dragon's feelings for humans? Are the answers one and the same or closely linked? Only time will tell.
But at the end of the story I was left with one outstanding question. What the heck happened to Dan? Her brother was mentioned but never made an appearance in the story. I wonder if that fact will be relevant in future books.
Great start to the series.
Reading Time: 2 Hours
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January 17, 2013
This was a quick little read. I have not read a paranormal for a while, and it used to be all I read. I think this book reminded me why I stopped. Not that this was bad. It's just that too many of the same thing and I get a little bored. Glad I read this one though. I will have to remember to put paranormal back onto my tbr, but keep mixing them up amongst other things.
Hal, the male lead, was a shape shifting dragon. I liked him well enough. Nothing about his character was really new, but he was enough to keep my kindle in my hands.
Cassie, the heroine of this one, was a human girl who had very little family left. Only her older brother remained. Her loneliness is what had her moving to Scotland. When she arrived, she found that her luggage was missing, her brother not there waiting like he was meant to be and all this was just the beginning. With a set of keys left for her by said brother, Cassie struggles forward, having more problems along the way.
Finally arriving at her destination, she discovers she can not get into her brothers cabin and she ends up asleep in the little car in the middle of a snow storm. This is how Hal finds her, and the story moves on from there.
The world building had enough to satisfy, and the secondary characters of Hal's dragon friends were set up for their own stories. I will probably read the rest of these at some point, but I do not find myself in any real hurry to do so.
Hal, the male lead, was a shape shifting dragon. I liked him well enough. Nothing about his character was really new, but he was enough to keep my kindle in my hands.
Cassie, the heroine of this one, was a human girl who had very little family left. Only her older brother remained. Her loneliness is what had her moving to Scotland. When she arrived, she found that her luggage was missing, her brother not there waiting like he was meant to be and all this was just the beginning. With a set of keys left for her by said brother, Cassie struggles forward, having more problems along the way.
Finally arriving at her destination, she discovers she can not get into her brothers cabin and she ends up asleep in the little car in the middle of a snow storm. This is how Hal finds her, and the story moves on from there.
The world building had enough to satisfy, and the secondary characters of Hal's dragon friends were set up for their own stories. I will probably read the rest of these at some point, but I do not find myself in any real hurry to do so.
September 7, 2012
Paranormal romance especially when the para involves dragon-shifters usually gets me all aflutter. So, I was super-excited to dive into Dark Craving.
But after breezing through it in 30 minutes (it's a novella), it was just an okay, so-so, mediocre read for me :(
Which is strange because Hal with his dragon tattoo across his chest sounded yum. And that Cassie, an American in Scotland looking for her missing brother also seemed interesting. And that this is set in Scotland - hello, wonderful romance-inspiring vistas - I thought for sure, this would be a wonderful read.
But that wasn't the case for me. I felt disconnected from the characters. I wasn't given enough information about them and about the entire situation. Everything seemed superficial, on a low simmer. And I was waiting for it to boil over.
Not sure if I should continue with the second book...or at least give the second book a chance.
But after breezing through it in 30 minutes (it's a novella), it was just an okay, so-so, mediocre read for me :(
Which is strange because Hal with his dragon tattoo across his chest sounded yum. And that Cassie, an American in Scotland looking for her missing brother also seemed interesting. And that this is set in Scotland - hello, wonderful romance-inspiring vistas - I thought for sure, this would be a wonderful read.
But that wasn't the case for me. I felt disconnected from the characters. I wasn't given enough information about them and about the entire situation. Everything seemed superficial, on a low simmer. And I was waiting for it to boil over.
Not sure if I should continue with the second book...or at least give the second book a chance.
September 3, 2020
Cassie ha pasado por 34h de viaje y muchas escalas después para llegar al aeropuerto y encontrarse con su equipaje perdido y que su hermano no se ha molestado en venir a recogerla. Un desastre tras otro se va acumulando en el camino a casa de su hermano y su final es casi morir congelada... Hasta que el hombre más guapo y misterioso que ha conocido la rescata de casi morir. Pero a pesar de la atracción que sienten, Hal tiene secretos que no quiere compartir pero a pesar de que Cassie puede vivir con ello, la familia de Hal no parece estar de acuerdo.
Como libro introductorio está bien y al mismo tiempo no. Está bien porque la historia es bonita y todo eso y me gusta pero al mismo tiempo es una historia de amor tan rápida y apresurada que no ha acabado de convencerme por sí misma. Creo que deberían tomarse su tiempo porque todo el rollo de la hermandad y la trama secundaria de los silver está muy bien y creí que Cassie iba a tener su participación en algo se eso así que no sé... Es un si pero no, no sé ni si me he explicado 🤣. En fin, que continuaré con la saga porque el libro introductorio (a pesar de que aún hay 3 introductorios más) no me ha dado lo que quería jajajaja.
Como libro introductorio está bien y al mismo tiempo no. Está bien porque la historia es bonita y todo eso y me gusta pero al mismo tiempo es una historia de amor tan rápida y apresurada que no ha acabado de convencerme por sí misma. Creo que deberían tomarse su tiempo porque todo el rollo de la hermandad y la trama secundaria de los silver está muy bien y creí que Cassie iba a tener su participación en algo se eso así que no sé... Es un si pero no, no sé ni si me he explicado 🤣. En fin, que continuaré con la saga porque el libro introductorio (a pesar de que aún hay 3 introductorios más) no me ha dado lo que quería jajajaja.
May 18, 2021
2.5/5
No me convenció mucho – Esperemos por ser introductorio y que las siguientes mejoren. [Realmente son 3 relatos cortos introductorios].
Introducción no muy detallada al mundo de los dragones (nueva criatura en este universo). Cruce de historias, se comenta sobre los guerreros, druidas y Declan. Aparecen por primera vez los Reyes Dragon
En cuanto a los protagonistas y su romance; demasiado apresurado, no conecte, ahondan poco en sus historias personales – Se muda a Escocia y se enamora de su vecino rápidamente.
Es pertinente decir que este es el primer “libro” de esta serie que leo.
No me convenció mucho – Esperemos por ser introductorio y que las siguientes mejoren. [Realmente son 3 relatos cortos introductorios].
Introducción no muy detallada al mundo de los dragones (nueva criatura en este universo). Cruce de historias, se comenta sobre los guerreros, druidas y Declan. Aparecen por primera vez los Reyes Dragon
En cuanto a los protagonistas y su romance; demasiado apresurado, no conecte, ahondan poco en sus historias personales – Se muda a Escocia y se enamora de su vecino rápidamente.
Es pertinente decir que este es el primer “libro” de esta serie que leo.
November 29, 2012
A little short and not my normal taste in books but, it wasn't bad....if it would've been longer the story could have been fleshed out more and I think it needed to be. Not bad though. 2.5 stars
July 8, 2016
men of power and magic, can shift into dragon? YES This was AWESOME. I'm in love <3
February 15, 2018
Its a short story but loved every minute. You really got to feel what they did.
September 20, 2020
Dark Craving is a short story and introduction into a spin off series in the Dark Sword/Warrior series. While short, there is a pretty decent explanation of who and what the Dark Kings are. Hal was interesting enough, and Cassie was a little whiny but not enough to really make you dislike her. I’m interested in exploring more of this series
December 17, 2018
This is book 0.1 in the Dark Kings series and is the introduction to the Dragon Kings.
I liked this one as it took me back in time to see how it all began, it was a good introduction, but having read the fourteenth book in the series most recently, I could really see how the writing style had developed as well as the characters.
I enjoyed the plot and it was good to read Hal’s story.
4 stars from me for this one, I enjoyed it but much prefer the full length novels!
I liked this one as it took me back in time to see how it all began, it was a good introduction, but having read the fourteenth book in the series most recently, I could really see how the writing style had developed as well as the characters.
I enjoyed the plot and it was good to read Hal’s story.
4 stars from me for this one, I enjoyed it but much prefer the full length novels!
August 10, 2019
What a great story. Hal and Cassie are beautifully matched, the world building is amazing and the other Dragon Kings and their connection let me disappear into their world. I look forward to reading more.
September 16, 2017
This was good but I feel like I need to read the ones that came before. It felt a bit like I need the books this was spun off of. So I'll probably back track before I read anymore of this series.
August 15, 2012
3.5
Review posted on Demon Lover's Books & More
***Some Spoilers ahead-ye be warned***
I really enjoy Donna Grant's Dark Sword series (paranormal druid Highlander series, folks, it's pretty good), so I was excited when I saw this one for only 99 cents.
I love the idea of the plot, but I'm not sure I loved the delivery. If this is a prelude to a series of novels, I think it works really well. But if it's a bunch of novellas, I'm not sure how it will work.
A quick little summary is that Cassie is leaving the States and moving to Scotland to a property her brother owns but never uses. Her trip there is horrible---lost luggage, brother doesn't show, 3 days with no sleep---you name it, it happened to Cassie.
Well, her brother Dan isn't there to pick her up, but he's left a car for her. She also has to get his dog. There are several mentions of no one being able to get ahold of her brother, she sort of hints that he might be with his wife in England. But no one really knows. Seriously, the amount of attention drawn to his being gone, I was really mad that at the end, we still don't know what the crap happened to her brother!
So Cassie makes the harrowing drive to her brother's cottage, and gets that far just to not be able to get into the house. The hide-a-key has a code, and she doesn't have a code. She nearly freezes to death, but a neighbor, Hal, finds her and gets her in. The two of them have some sparks, but go on their way. I thought that Donna Grant did a great job at creating the insta-lust and molding it into attraction between the H/h.
But Hal can't let himself get too close because he's a Dragon King. He and a couple of his brethren (also Dragon Kings-each rules over a color of dragon) are stuck on earth guarding the Silvers (also dragons). They can't share their secrets with humans, but meanwhile, their old enemy is supposedly harmless (but is he really?) and a new dragon is created. The man literally falls from the sky.
There's a lot of plot packed into this novella, which is why I felt that this series needs to be full-length to really shine.
I didn't care for the heroine too much, which is odd, since there's nothing not to like about her. But maybe that's my problem? There was nothing to dislike, or to like, or anything. She was very bland.
The hero was good, but I wanted to know more, and I think that's my biggest complaint about this novella. I just wanted to know more than what was hinted at. We never found out what happened with Dan, we never found out why the Silvers moved, we never found out what happened with the knew dragon king, and we never found out why Cassie can see the tattoos move.
The dragons are a fantastic addition to highlander books, the heroine was a little too perfect, the hero was cool, and the story that we did get about the dragons was awesome. I hope the next story is longer and more in-depth.
Review posted on Demon Lover's Books & More
***Some Spoilers ahead-ye be warned***
I really enjoy Donna Grant's Dark Sword series (paranormal druid Highlander series, folks, it's pretty good), so I was excited when I saw this one for only 99 cents.
I love the idea of the plot, but I'm not sure I loved the delivery. If this is a prelude to a series of novels, I think it works really well. But if it's a bunch of novellas, I'm not sure how it will work.
A quick little summary is that Cassie is leaving the States and moving to Scotland to a property her brother owns but never uses. Her trip there is horrible---lost luggage, brother doesn't show, 3 days with no sleep---you name it, it happened to Cassie.
Well, her brother Dan isn't there to pick her up, but he's left a car for her. She also has to get his dog. There are several mentions of no one being able to get ahold of her brother, she sort of hints that he might be with his wife in England. But no one really knows. Seriously, the amount of attention drawn to his being gone, I was really mad that at the end, we still don't know what the crap happened to her brother!
So Cassie makes the harrowing drive to her brother's cottage, and gets that far just to not be able to get into the house. The hide-a-key has a code, and she doesn't have a code. She nearly freezes to death, but a neighbor, Hal, finds her and gets her in. The two of them have some sparks, but go on their way. I thought that Donna Grant did a great job at creating the insta-lust and molding it into attraction between the H/h.
But Hal can't let himself get too close because he's a Dragon King. He and a couple of his brethren (also Dragon Kings-each rules over a color of dragon) are stuck on earth guarding the Silvers (also dragons). They can't share their secrets with humans, but meanwhile, their old enemy is supposedly harmless (but is he really?) and a new dragon is created. The man literally falls from the sky.
There's a lot of plot packed into this novella, which is why I felt that this series needs to be full-length to really shine.
I didn't care for the heroine too much, which is odd, since there's nothing not to like about her. But maybe that's my problem? There was nothing to dislike, or to like, or anything. She was very bland.
The hero was good, but I wanted to know more, and I think that's my biggest complaint about this novella. I just wanted to know more than what was hinted at. We never found out what happened with Dan, we never found out why the Silvers moved, we never found out what happened with the knew dragon king, and we never found out why Cassie can see the tattoos move.
The dragons are a fantastic addition to highlander books, the heroine was a little too perfect, the hero was cool, and the story that we did get about the dragons was awesome. I hope the next story is longer and more in-depth.
August 2, 2012
Dragon lovers here is a book for you! Yup, it's a dragon-shifter book that is loosely connected with Dark Sword and Dark Warrior series. Yes I got a big thrill when I seen Declan's evil name mentioned.
Poor Cassie - From the moment we start the book her life seems like one bad luck session after another. The endless stream of bad luck made me sympathize with the character. Because that is how things work with me.
When it rain it pours, and so it does when you have such rotten luck. Then who comes to her rescue??? But one HOT man. And I have to say I love Hal's coloration combo. It makes me think of the singer for L.A. Gun's in the video "The Ballad of Jayne". Loved the combo of dark skin, inky black hair and light blue eyes. Be still my heart!!!
Gotta say that I am totally liking the premises of this story. Far different than other dragon shifters so Donna really earns kudos with that. She earned a right to be amongst the dragon writers. Cannot wait until more in this series!
August 14, 2012
A strong start for this exciting new series from author Donna Grant. I loved the story & am now happily addicted to the Dark Kings series. The story line was very appealing. It features the love story between forbidden lovers Hal ( a dragon shifter ) & Cassie ( his forbidden love) .
The immortal Dragon Kings have existed since the beginning of time. They are the guardians of humans & dragons. The pain of betrayal has led the Kings to forbid themselves fro any feelings for humans. But things are changing. When Hal rescues Cassie during a freezing snowstorm the unlikely pair become forbidden lovers. Ooh, forbidden love. But could becoming involved with Hal be hazardous to Cassie's health ?
A couple of things stood out in the story. The first was Hal's steadfast feelings for Cassie. Once committed, he was willing to fight anyone to be with the woman he loved. The second was Cassie's easy acceptance of Hal. She embraced her dragon in all his glory.
I enjoyed reading this short novella. Eagerly looking forward to the next entry in the series, " Nights Awakening " .
The immortal Dragon Kings have existed since the beginning of time. They are the guardians of humans & dragons. The pain of betrayal has led the Kings to forbid themselves fro any feelings for humans. But things are changing. When Hal rescues Cassie during a freezing snowstorm the unlikely pair become forbidden lovers. Ooh, forbidden love. But could becoming involved with Hal be hazardous to Cassie's health ?
A couple of things stood out in the story. The first was Hal's steadfast feelings for Cassie. Once committed, he was willing to fight anyone to be with the woman he loved. The second was Cassie's easy acceptance of Hal. She embraced her dragon in all his glory.
I enjoyed reading this short novella. Eagerly looking forward to the next entry in the series, " Nights Awakening " .
December 12, 2018
Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas
Donna brings you a magical world of dragon shifters and what happens when humans end up in the middle of the sexy dragon shifters and their magic. I recommend this to anyone who has read Donna Grant’s books before, who loves reading about dragon shifters (like I do…oh how I love dragon shifters…*sigh) and enjoys the paranormal romance genre. I’m looking forward to the 2nd book to the trilogy now. Is it the end of August yet? Because I think this will be the trilogy that will make me lose my patience on waiting. *sigh* At least I can look at the covers of all the books and drool at my computer while I wait. =) I want to find out more about this world Donna has created and maybe even hook myself a sexy shifter. (shhh don’t tell my hubby) =)
Donna brings you a magical world of dragon shifters and what happens when humans end up in the middle of the sexy dragon shifters and their magic. I recommend this to anyone who has read Donna Grant’s books before, who loves reading about dragon shifters (like I do…oh how I love dragon shifters…*sigh) and enjoys the paranormal romance genre. I’m looking forward to the 2nd book to the trilogy now. Is it the end of August yet? Because I think this will be the trilogy that will make me lose my patience on waiting. *sigh* At least I can look at the covers of all the books and drool at my computer while I wait. =) I want to find out more about this world Donna has created and maybe even hook myself a sexy shifter. (shhh don’t tell my hubby) =)
August 14, 2015
Short and sweet and great to read. Cassie has decided to start a new life by moving to Scotland to be nearer to her brother (but they weren't very close to begin with)
After two stop overs with the plane, arriving in Scotland and her luggage going AWOL. Picking up her brothers dog and just having bad luck.
In the Highlands of Scotland near the house of where she is staying she nearly freezes to death that is where she is found by Hal on of the Dark Kings he is instantly attracted to her. She is out like a light.
This is where I got confused as not that he found his mate and the paranormal romance stuff but the whole past with all the different Dragon Kings but after a while it all makes sense.
I will continue with the series. As I want to read about Constantine, Rhys, Guy and Banan.
After two stop overs with the plane, arriving in Scotland and her luggage going AWOL. Picking up her brothers dog and just having bad luck.
In the Highlands of Scotland near the house of where she is staying she nearly freezes to death that is where she is found by Hal on of the Dark Kings he is instantly attracted to her. She is out like a light.
This is where I got confused as not that he found his mate and the paranormal romance stuff but the whole past with all the different Dragon Kings but after a while it all makes sense.
I will continue with the series. As I want to read about Constantine, Rhys, Guy and Banan.
August 21, 2017
Un poquito enredado pero interesante
June 30, 2022
I wanted to like this series - its a prolific author writing a fantasy about dragons - sounds like a fantastic premise. Unfortunately, the story itself didn't deliver.
The story opens with the main character somehow takes 36hours and so many transfers in her flight from Arizona to Scotland that her luggage is lost (should have taken max 20h and 2-3 transfers unless one was intentionally trying to make one's travel as difficult as possible.
She also somehow freezes at 0C so badly she can't use her hands and passes out - not waking for over 12h even when undressed and massaged "not sexually" (cause he's the good guy and that would be rapey) by a strange man.
This in the context of writing that consists of poorly edited sentences that don't make sense, have many spelling errors and completely misplaced words.
The story opens with the main character somehow takes 36hours and so many transfers in her flight from Arizona to Scotland that her luggage is lost (should have taken max 20h and 2-3 transfers unless one was intentionally trying to make one's travel as difficult as possible.
She also somehow freezes at 0C so badly she can't use her hands and passes out - not waking for over 12h even when undressed and massaged "not sexually" (cause he's the good guy and that would be rapey) by a strange man.
This in the context of writing that consists of poorly edited sentences that don't make sense, have many spelling errors and completely misplaced words.
September 3, 2012
This is the first book from Donna Grant I have read, and it was great! It's the first in a spin off series about dragon shifters as old as time itself. I love shifter books and have recently gotten into a dragon phase so this seemed right up my alley. I liked how the setting was in Scotland (love the Scottish brogue!) and how the history of the Dragons is told. I'm thinking if I'd read the other series' first I'd have a better understanding of the world Ms. Grant has created, but did fine with just this book. I will definitely be reading the rest in this series and hopefully will get to the Dark Sword and Dark Warrior series too!
November 28, 2016
Cassie and Hal are a cute couple ^^
I liked the instant attraction between them, and especially how he was the soothing kind and protective guy, while she was the vulnerable sexy lonely woman, it kinda reminds me of the hero of Catherine Anderson, which I totally love, because a guy should be able to take care of his woman and these guy take that to the next level. okay all the books I read have guy doing that but Hal is the kind of sweet and kind not the macho alpha kind.
I also liked how Cassie didn't run away and she instantly embraced Hal's true self ^^
Overall, *thumbs up*
I liked the instant attraction between them, and especially how he was the soothing kind and protective guy, while she was the vulnerable sexy lonely woman, it kinda reminds me of the hero of Catherine Anderson, which I totally love, because a guy should be able to take care of his woman and these guy take that to the next level. okay all the books I read have guy doing that but Hal is the kind of sweet and kind not the macho alpha kind.
I also liked how Cassie didn't run away and she instantly embraced Hal's true self ^^
Overall, *thumbs up*
May 14, 2013
This is a series that takes place in the same magical lands of the Highlands that Grant introduced us to in Dark Swords and Dark Warriors series. I think the dragon/human shifters was a fun way to add the magic of dragons to the world that Grant has already built for us. The passion in this one wasn't as strong since it is a novella and you can only fit so much in 90 pages, but I still enjoyed this fun and quick read and think the series has a lot of potential!
January 13, 2013
Heroine: Cassandra "Cassie" Hunter
Hero: Haldor "Hal" Wilson
Costars: Rhys, Guy Royston, Banon, Constantine
Good start. I feel like there should be more to the plot line but the somkin chemistry between Hal and Cassie more than filled in the gaps. I look forward to reading the next two stories and learning more about eht Dragon Kings. 3.5 Stars
Hero: Haldor "Hal" Wilson
Costars: Rhys, Guy Royston, Banon, Constantine
Good start. I feel like there should be more to the plot line but the somkin chemistry between Hal and Cassie more than filled in the gaps. I look forward to reading the next two stories and learning more about eht Dragon Kings. 3.5 Stars
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