The story's main theme is horrific; yet, Kim's drama was overdone, really nasty.
I have been turned off by FMC's who are irrational, too needy, and unlikable before. Kim, while entitled to her distrust, suspicion of huge men who seemed nice, and swelled way too much on negativity, was so annoying I half hopes Blaze would give up on her. I very much wanted her to be put out of her misery that she loudly, obnoxiously, forced upon anyone within hearing range of her too venomous, extremely hurtful and passive-aggressive toxicity. On the other end of the spectrum is Blaze, who had to be the kindest, most sincerely loyal and honest dragon shifter ever. I understood her demons overtook her sense of rational thought and actions; however, most of her diatribes of petty, bullying insults were hurled and screeched at Blaze while she was safely BEHIND A LOCKED DOOR that he GENTLY knocked on, as he very politely, sweetly, shared personal family tidbits of information with her. I tolerated Kim for his sake, simply because he truly liked her. Gah! I so wanted to shake sense into her. No kept thinking how this is fiction, so why wasn't her nastiness times down? She made it difficult to keep reading.
Blaze was amazing, though. He had great instincts in his dragon form, who just knew that the humans he wasted into ash were deep down, bone deep, very unscrupulous, sadistic or very annoying and irredeemable individuals. He was honorable, humble, and such a wonderful individual as well as dragon.
I finished this installment under duress; I never really cares for Kim's character, even as I felt for her abusive history filled with torture, injuries, and sadistic domination. I very much believe her volatile reaction and behavior toward Blaze was too vicious and ridiculous. Blaze allowed her to take it out on him, which was wrong, and misdirected - she had no right to pass judgment when he was justified in putting those idiots out of their misery - since Kim's every inflicted hurt against herself by men in her past who were supposed to love and protect her instead produced feelings of fear, anger and intense physical pain. Still, the dragon details and other events made the book intriguing. Three stars.