That one simple kiss slayed him as nothing in his very, very long life had ever done. It physically hurt him to release her and turn his back on everything she offered, but it was for the best.
A KING WHO WALKS IN DARKNESS
The Rhys who has existed for centuries is gone. Stripped of his ability to shift forms, Rhys can no longer embody the majestic, powerful dragon he was at birth. Cut off from his heritage by one of his own, this Dragon King must remain a man, haunted by demons who torment his every waking moment. The darkness would swallow him whole . . . except a woman so beautiful and haunted becomes the one beam of light in his world...
A DESIRE THAT WILL NOT BE DENIED
Lily Ross is taking the first step in building a new life for herself. Still reeling from a relationship that nearly broke her spirit, Lily is wary of her attraction to brawny, brooding Rhys. The passion burning so brightly between them is a potent temptation, but any entanglement is destined to end in disaster. Yet when a spectre from Lily’s past threatens their growing bond, Rhys is forced to choose with his heart, or lose this woman who has become his one chance at salvation...
Donna 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.
Where to begin with this book! I’ve been itching to read Rhys’ story and let me tell you I was not disappointed!! I thought I knew how this would go the further I read but Donna Grant really kept me on my toes and had several surprises! Loved this book!!
I sat down to read a different book before this and then promptly sit it down when it didn’t catch my attention enough. When I started this book though, there was no turning back.
Five books into the Dark Kings series and Donna Grant still delivers some beautifully done romance while also weaving together a more complicated plot arc in her books. One of the things I think she excels at is her ability to have so many different characters POVs and still keep the book coherent and easy to follow.
While Grant’s romances may be underrated most of the time, I think Rhys and Lily’s romance will thrill readers. Once Lily stepped onto the page, it was apparent I was going to fall in love with her. She has his innate softness to her, but when you realize what she is going through, your heart immediately melts for her. There’s an instant connection that I didn’t have with the first book I picked up before this one. That’s why I think this book is so special.
The storyline with the Dreagan continues to get more and more complex. The action and the build up to that kind of reminds me of Lara Adrian in a way. So if you’re a fan of the Midnight Breed series, then Grant’s books may be right up your alley.
I don’t think Donna Grant gets enough of the attention she deserves, but with NIGHT’S BLAZE she sure gives readers a lot to love!
Now, I've made a habit recently of reading books where I haven't read previous installments of the series and I usually end up pretty lost in the beginning scenes..
Not so much the case with this book. Firstly I love Donna Grant and her writing style. Bit of old school and a tang of new-age spice to keep you reading...
This one can be read as a 4 part novella as I've done but I choose to write this one review. Luckily for me I had all 4 parts else I would've been busting a nail on all the cliff-enders.
I never felt like I didn't know what was happening with the greater story arc and Donna didn't overly explain it all. In this, she also didn't neglect the two main characters and their story either.
Rhys was a big softy for Lily but equally all hot alpha dragon and Lily played the appropriate damsel in distress which was suprisingly not annoying at all.
Big Gems for me was the secondry characters... Darius, Rhi and all the dragon kings and mates...
I do soooo hope that Rhi's story is quickly revealed as her last scenes ended in a confusing cliff-hanger!!! I mean, who was her dragon? Darius? Con? And poor unsuspecting Henry! Much too much confusion...
Supposed I'd just have to read the next one then!!
ARC kindly provided by the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I've been wondering about Rhys for a while now, wanting his story. When he was hurt, I was scanning the book blurbs ahead to find his story. Needless to say, I wanted to read this one!
This book was more emotional for me than the others have been. As Rhys struggled with the results of his injury and Lily's past become clear, it all just got to me. I do love it when I'm that attached to the characters. I did want to do in Lily's ex and one other (spoiler so I can't tell you) - and I do mean do in. Lay them both flat with some dragon magic or something - they both deserve it.
This book proved that these stories are not a pattern because this one has some shocks in it. My heart broke for Rhys. His poor yellow dragon self. I wanted to just hug him. And I was so proud of Lily and her ability to fight through some pretty hard emotions to stand strong. Good girl.
Strong characters and a great story just happen in Donna Grant stories. I can't seem to read them fast enough and I know they will be on that reread list that I go back to when I just need something good.
I can't get enough. I go from one to the next, usually right after closing the last page of one. If you haven't discovered this series and you love paranormal romance, you need to give these a go.
Re-listened on 8-9/1-2020. First listened on 7-8/12-2019.
Review from 8/12-2019: I just love Rhys.
I'm kind of getting frustrated with not knowing who Rhi's DK is.. I'm guessing and hoping it's Con but knowing that Grant still hasn't revealed who her DK is (I've googled this because I want to know lol) and the next book being released in this series is #16.5 and this is only book 5, I just know I'm gonna be more frustrated with the whole thing.
I read Book 4 in this series and I liked it pretty well so I continued on with this one. This wasn't a bad book but I think I won't be continuing on with this series.
Lily was a pretty strong heroine. She had a common and somewhat stereotypical heroine background - abused by a former lover. She had the emotional and physical scars to go along with the abuse. I liked that Lily was slowly finding her strength. It sucked that her progress was halted for a while but I think she came back, at the end, even stronger than ever.
Rhys was a good hero. He's lost his ability to shift to his dragon so he's all messed up in his head. I felt like it took him a long time to finally approach Lily but I couldn't be mad at him for it. He had been having a difficult time for a while. I liked how protective he was of Lily. It made him an even better, sexier hero!
The Sexy Time was fine. Nothing spectacular. The relationship between Lily and Rhys progressed really slowly because neither of them thought they were right or good enough for each other. It was sweet but also a little frustrating. Still, I had no problem rooting for them to get together!
This was an okay book. There was still a TON of stuff going on. The more I read, the more I realized how little I know about what's been going on. I still say that this would be okay as a stand-alone. But readers will either be too frustrated with questions and want to quit the book/series... or they'll be so intrigued that they want to get the rest and start from the beginning. Unfortunately, I am part of the former group. I think I'm done with this series. None of the mating ceremonies were ever written about and neither of the books I read had a real, actual happily ever after. They were more like Happy For Now or Happiness In Progress. I don't love that kind of ending; I like things all wrapped up neatly. So there was a little too much about this book and the previous one that was a little too disappointing for me to continue on.
It takes a lot of creativity to write a series, yet make each book a stand-alone. It takes a lot of writing skills to keep the premise of the story in sight and weave individual stories around various central characters and that is no mean feat.
Donna Grant continues the saga of the Dark Kings in “Night’s Blaze” as she takes the fight to Rhys, the Dragon King stripped off his powers. Unable to shift and help his brothers in battle, Rhys steps away from Dreagan and hiding from the world. Convinced and brought back to his brothers by Rhi, his mission is to destroy the rogue Dragon flying among them and keep Lily safe from any danger.
Lily Ross has left behind a torturous past that left scars physical as well as emotional. But with the love and support in Dreagan land, she keeps a job that gives her a reason to hope for a new lease of life. And a certain Dragon King is sure stoking the fires of passion and love. But the betrayal that had left too many scars on her body and soul rears its ugly head to becoming a stumbling block in their relationship.
And fate sure wants Lily and Rhys to build on that attraction, as they are destined to be mates. As they confess their feelings for each other and let the passion consume them in its fine glory, the evil circling Lily and Dreagan is getting its pawns ready to strike. And in this game of good and evil, will Lily survive the betrayal to make a future with her Dragon King? That is yet to be seen.
Donna Grant brings a closure to this relationship, but at same time she leaves the readers on the edge with so many possibilities and questions thirsting for answers, even as she continues to weave stories around the Dragon Kings and their mates. Rhys as the fallen dragon is a sheer delight to read in his fiery glory and Lily with her tenacity and courage, adds fire to the equation.
Can’t wait for the next Dragon King and his story, as more and more secrets see the light of the day in this war between the good and the evil.
Received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for an honest review.
These books just keep getting better and better. There is more at stake than ever before for every faction at play in this game of thrones. Con is doing all he can to keep the Dragon Kings, their ever-growing collection of mates, and the humans that he has sworn to protect safe.
Ulrik is more power hungry than ever, and has now openly made plays to destroy the Dragon Kings with the help of both MI5 and the Dark Fae.
Rhi is unsure of her place with the light or the dark fae. It seems that being tortured and held captive within the fae realm, has had a few rather disturbing residual effects for Rhi. That without the dragon love of her life there to help her through, have left her 'twisting in the wind' emotionally.
And then there is Rhys... In turmoil at the loss of his ability to shift into dragon form. Everyday is a struggle, forcing him to cope with his new and devastating disability; while searching for the truth behind the who's and why's of the dragon magic used to bind his shift.
Finally, into the middle of this raging storm of plots, betrayals, light, and dark; there comes Lily. Beautiful, closed, and daring to stop running from a painful past. She is all that Rhys can think about. All that he desires. He is all that she could ever need. But as the shadows of lies and treachery close in around them... The question remains. Can their love survive?
This book is awesome! By the time you get this far into a series, one comes to expect a waning of sorts. But with Night's Blaze, the opposite is true. Each conflict, character interaction, plots twist, and character addition adds a depth to the story that makes it irresistible. Though each novel spotlights a different romance, the subplot containing the action and intrigue aspects of the story are continued from novel to novel. The ending! Wow!
It has been days and I still have no idea how to write this review BUT I'll write it anyway.
What I liked. Although the romance is stand alone, the major plot isn't. I'm happy to say at least there's a progress in the story development! One of my questions answered and I'm glad that actually I trusted my instincts - Ulrik, you're a naughty bad boy but I believe the author won't condemn you forever, I hope she won't! You'll get your HEA someday *fingers' crossed*
What I disliked. I didn't expect Rhys' love story to be so BORING, I guess that sums up everything yeah huh. Reading about the heroine is well pretty much pointless. One moment she's uber weak lady damsel in distress, another moment she claimed to be strong. Well yeah, on that matter she DID but the thing is I didn't impress at all, sorry.
Further notes. I am desperately want to read about Rhi's story and up until now I still can't figure out who's her former dragon lover. I hope that dude's living in suffer for what he did to Rhi and once he'll notice how great she was and is, I want him to crawl back to her asking for second chance. Pretty please let that happen!
Main characters: Rhys (Dragon King of Yellow) + Lily (human)
NIGHT'S BLAZE is the culmination of a storyline that saw a Dragon male find his mate only to lose her to the evil that has set out to destroy the Dragon Kings. In a surprising twist of fate, Ulrik's softer side is revealed but his reasons are kept unto himself. With the appearance of a Silver Dragon long thought dead, Ulrik has some competition when it comes to destroying Con and the other Dragons.
We follow along with Rhys and the others as they embark on a plan to prevent Ulrik from taking what does not belong to him. A miscalculation in judgement ends in disastrous results leaving a Dragon King to grieve with revenge on his mind. As Ulrik contemplates his next move, he is caught unaware of the newcomers involvement.
Donna Grant weaves a fantastic tale of the paranormal. There are moments of betrayal, suspense, twist and turns, blended together into a storyline that is a pleasure to read. NIGHT'S BLAZE is a revealing story where the reader is pulled into the secret life of Dragons and the women whom they love.
Yep, the Kings are just as yummy as the Reapers. Rhys is a Dragon King who can't shift and feels he's unworthy of Lily. Lily, of course, convinces him otherwise. This bad guy is as bad as Bane in the Reaper's series. I'm sure it's going to take forever for him to die. Maybe some day I'll go back and read the first three books...when they aren't 7.99 for a e-book.
Rhys is struggling to deal with not being able to shift. He is feeling very useless and crazy. The only thing that calms him is Lily. Lily is finally starting to take back control of her life and become the person who she used to be. Her past has come back to haunt and use her. Together these two must deal with another plot against the Kings.
I loved how emotional the relationship between Rhys and Lily was. It was captivating and just what I needed. Also the King’s enemy is finally revealed!!
After the Dark Fae/Dragon magic attack, Rhys is unable to shift and is feeling miserable. Lily Ross, who is running from someone, thinks that Rhys is the coolest man ever. They both feel that they're unworthy of the other.
This book falls short of my expectations, probably mainly because Rhys is my favorite Dragon King. His sufferings prior to this book are heartbreaking, but somehow they feel lacking, feel too sterile, in his own book. He's not nearly as intriguing nor likeable as in previous books. His love for Lily seems more like puppy-dog love. It just all seems very artificial. I don't feel any real chemistry between Rhys and Lily.
Lily herself is just a damsel in distress. She was a victim before, and she is still a victim throughout this book. Everybody feels sorry for her and offering to help her, even though she continues to hide things from them and refuses to tell them anything. Even then, she is easily found out. She is trying to be "strong", but it doesn't seem like she gets anywhere there either. She is gullible, easily manipulated, has to be rescued, and is a terrible judge of character. I don't see anywhere in the book where she actually does anything meaningful for anybody. She just watches, appalled, when someone shoots and injures . She really is not good enough for Rhys. Have I mentioned that Rhys is my favorite Dragon King?
While I can normally ignore all the nice cars that the Kings are driving, the whole shopping expedition feels a bit too much to ignore, too tone deaf. This is too much of what rich, privileged people can do. Maybe I feel this way because I was reading this book in August 2022. Someone in my community just cried for help because they were running out of toilet paper and couldn't afford to buy more as they wouldn't get their paycheck for a few more days. Okay, enough ranting.
The plot itself is interesting. It is finally confirmed who the main enemy is, and it makes sense how it happened. I don't mind the plot twist toward the end. It doesn't make people look foolish for the sake of the plot, except maybe Lily and a little bit of Darius. But Darius has an excuse.
The other characters aren't making me ecstatic either: • Ulrik is not as crafty as he usually is - bit of a downer • Henry is now infatuated with Rhi. It's too bad there is still no other significant female character around for Henry, because I want Rhi to end up with someone else, and I don't want Henry to go crazy. (Note: Actually, come to think of it, Rhys and Rhi would've been good. Also, why did the author have to come up with the names Rhi and Rhys, Kellan and Phelan?) • Abby turns out to be boring. I was hoping for something more. Too bad. • Balladyn is barely there • Kyle seems to be rather...eh...stupid? I don't know why he does what he does, like what does he hope to accomplish?
On the other hand: • I want more Ryder!
After January 2024 re-"read" on Audiobook: All right, I suppose I wasn't paying enough attention, especially at the beginning, because some things seemed to be a bit inconsistent. They made it sound like the Kings didn't know yet that the Fae could teleport, or did they? It seemed like a huge deal that Henry didn't tell them how Rhi got him at Dreagan, but when she popped up everywhere later, nobody seemed to be confused. The Kings couldn't seem to communicate to each other telepathically, until they did. They also didn't know that they could just call the Fae's name and they would show up, or did they?
After April 2025 re-read on Audiobook: • Why is the author so obsessed with expensive cars and designer clothes? • How did ancient humans kill bronze dragons? I thought they were bigger dragons, not the chicken size ones, capable of protecting humans from Ulrik's dragons. Why didn't they just fly higher? It's not like those humans had fighter jets or missiles. • I thought Lily was vetted before the interview. How did they miss so many things about her? I thought Ryder was supposed to be really, really good, but he missed Lily's background and couldn't find her brother. Also, in the previous book, his ability seemed to be less than some random human/druids. • Darius' misses make no sense. Why did he wait until he got to Dreagan before informing the Kings about what happened at Lily's apartment? Also, how did he manage to
Night’s Blaze Dark Kings, Book #5 By Donna Grant ISBN# 9781250060730 Author’s Website: http://www.donnagrant.com/ Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
*Beware of Spoilers*
Finally Rhys’s book!!
Rhys is still dealing with the aftereffects of his injury. Shifting has nearly killed him and now he is stuck in human form after he used his last shift to find Lily after her apartment was broken into and she was missing. Rhys is attracted to Lily, but has been staying away from her since he doesn’t feel like he can protect her since he can no longer shift into his dragon.
Lily is finally at a good place in her life, she left her abusive boyfriend, Dennis, a year ago and she finally has shed the baggy clothes he forced her to wear, she’s working at a place she loves, and then of course there is Rhys to look at. But her life comes crashing down around her when Dennis shows up and forces her to betray those at Dreagan. If she fails Dennis will kill one of the women she works with and her little brother. Surely Dreagan can do without whatever item he’s after and it’s not worth people’s lives. However, it becomes even harder to justify after spending a magical night with Rhys.
Thanks to the help of Henry North those at Dreagan know about the plan Dennis is involved in, they just don’t know what employee has been targeted, but Rhys quickly figures it out after spending time with Lily. He quickly makes a plan to catch Dennis, but when it all goes wrong he may lose something more precious than the unknown weapon they’re protecting.
I’ve been waiting for this book for a while now and I was so excited to finally get to it! And, it didn’t disappoint! I love Rhys and couldn’t get through the book fast enough!
My previous prediction about Ulrik was also correct! And we find out who is behind everything that’s going on! Ulrik also does a good deed that was out of character, but one I expected from him. He’s not nearly as bad as everyone thinks! I’m curious to see how everything plays out with him and if there is any way he can be brought back into the fold of the Dragon Kings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I wont give any of the twists and surprises away by request of writer Donna Grant. But there is one that I just COULDN'T believe. I knew I had the whole Ulrik thing figured out. WAS I WRONG OR WHAT!!!!!
She hints at how interesting it is that these characters take her places that she never believes. I wish I could watch her brain as she writes these books.
The good thing about books in a series is that you get to know the characters as they progress. The bad thing is that I am not sure you can just start in the middle of this series. But then again it may be because I have read them all.
She has an incredible marketing team as the covers are FANTASTIC and they are released in two distinctive ways. Each book is released in 4 parts (1 a week) OR you can wait for the Complete book at the end of the 4 part release. I never can wait.
I found a book of Donna Grant's a few years ago for my Nook for free (Highland Mist).
I have been hooked ever since. I think you will be too!
I liked Rhys through the earlier books I read, so I wanted to read this one. Also, we were introduced to Lily back in the book about Kellan and Danae, so I knew who she was in the story arc. It's my favorite so far and had a good mixture of action and pathos. Not a lot of Dark fae in this one.
The issue I had with the eye color has stopped, which is a big relief. It's more appropriately included in this book.
I confess that I haven't read every book in the series. At $7.99 per Kindle edition, it's quite pricey (at least $55+) to read the whole series, and I noticed most of the reviews now are from bloggers and people who get ARCs, especially in these later books. With the big drop in review numbers, I think Ms Grant made a mistake stringing readers through too many books. Just imho.
Actually, if you skip a book here and there if the 'couple du jour' doesn't pique your interest, all you miss are the romance elements, because Ms Grant tells you what you missed from the previous book or two. So, I wasn't confused at all... same old, same old, and... cliffhanger ending. I missed exactly how Rhi got away from Balladyn and the Dark fae dungeon, but I got the gist of it in this book, enough to know all I needed to know. And Rhys had something happen to him in the last book, but we find out what and who did it in this one.
There was a new villain introduced in this story so that was interesting, and I was able to keep track of Rhi, the love-lorn Light fae who is actually the biggest heroine of the whole series. I have a feeling that we won't get her resolution until the last book, and this isn't moving along fast enough for me.
In fact, the Dragon Kings are starting to seem wimpy like Ms Ward's BDB and their wimpy Lessor adversaries. The Kings pontificate about how they are going to do something about Ulrick, but they don't do anything, and things are getting worse in general, but they only play defense, and not very well. I'm starting to think they should just all get mates, pack it up, and move to the realm they sent their dragons to, and take Ulrick's silver dragons with them! That would leave just Ulrick and the Dark fae to duke it out with each other.
I'm taking a break for a while until more books come out... one is scheduled all the way out to April, 2015! The next book doesn't sound especially interesting to me, I already read #6.5 before deciding to go back and read the series from the beginning, and the one after that I pre-ordered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I didn't love or hate this book. It was just kind of meeeh.
I was not a huge fan of Lily. She was extremely naive. She is being blackmailed into letting someone get on to Dreagan. She knows nothing about what Dreagan is. All she knows is that they make whiskey. She assumes that this guy wants to steal art and that its no big deal because they will have insurance at Dreagan. Yeah. That's just dumb. I don't know if someone would go through all the trouble Dustin went through to get art. (but then again I don't know art.. so maybe they would.) No thats not what my real problem with her was. It was that she didn't tell anyone. This always drives me crazy in books. Everything could have been so much easier if she would have just said she was being blackmailed. They could have had longer to come up with a better plan. I don't know. It just irritates me when the main character lies the whole book.
Rhys was... well he wasn't anything really. He was sweet to Lily and he was already in love with her when the book started so it was just him saying he wasn't good enough for her. So he stayed away for as long as he could... also kind of annoying.
Okay so plot wise, it was pretty good. Well okay let me rephrase: We find out one major thing that changes everything! Obviously I am not going to say what that is but my mind was blown. Then that ending was also pretty good and a total shock. What the hell Kyle? What the hell? That is the one and only time I felt bad for Lily. Kyle was a dick... so was Dustin. She had some bad male figures in her life.
I won't lie and say that I was totally into this book, I wasn't. I got a little bored but I am glad I read it and I am glad I can move on to the next one.
Yet another captivating read. Donna Grant does it again! I'm not sure how she does it, but each novel can stand alone and still deepen the plot points with plenty of twists and turns. You have to wonder whose motives ultimately drive the plot to the finish line at every turn of the page!
Not only that, each book in the series seems to make the next dragon king a cherished favorite! This book is about Rhys, who has lost his ability to shift. He knows that there is a rogue dragon among them that is trying to create disunity among the dragon kings and is certain that he was targeted to lose his powers.
The inability to shift leaves him feeling crippled and that wound matches the wounds from Lily's past. Lily, who sought out a new career in a new place, is seeking to heal her soul. Fate matches these two wounded hearts together. However, can they really help each other heal and deepen their bond despite the realities that they've once thought were unshakable now crumbling to their feet all around them?
Interesting. This is the first book I have read in the series. Yes, it finishes the couples story. It does not solve the problem in the story. So it is not "the end".
I have been waiting for Rhys' book forever! And it did not let me down. There were so many HOLY CRAP moments in this book I felt like I needed and "Oh sh** handle bar" to get through it. In a completely absorbed, loving every minute of it kind of way, of course. Because of events that happened in the previous books, we know that Rhys is having a hard time coping with what has happened, being unable to shift back into a dragon.
So it starts off with one of my favorite sexy Dragon Kings, Rhys, trying to find his place back among his fellow Kings, but he can't seem too. The only thing he can focus on is revenge and Lily Ross. Rhys is one of the most steadfast, impulsive, loyal Kings I have read about. Reading his book it is easy to see why him and Rhi have such a close relationship. The one constant in Rhys's world is Lily, a worker at Dreagan's Distillery. She is a gentle soul, almost dangerously naive, but with a backbone to handle the hard times. At all times in previous books, she has appeared frumpy and clumsy, so concerned with not drawing attention to herself. But there is a secret that Lily is hiding and desperately trying to escape from. When that secret comes to Dreagan and threatens her, she feels she has no solution...yet.
I have a love-hate relationship with books that have domestic/emotional abuse in them. I hate reading about the damage that happened to them. I hate having the to read about the scars the bastard left them with. I hate going through the emotions, because how can you not?, that they felt. Being helpless and alone. BUT I love hearing about them overcoming that time in their life. I love seeing the transition of them going from scared, shy, almost invisible even, to self-assured and courageous women. And I love it even more when the right man comes along and proves to them that they see them, REALLY SEE THEM, for the fighters they really are. While Lily has seemed throughout the last couple books as someone who is almost a pushover, I'm glad Donna gave her a chance to show that she is so much more, and that Rhys is just the King to help her.
If the love story between these two isn't enough for you, although I don't know WHY it wouldn't be, Donna picks back up several storylines from some of our favorites. Rhi is still having a hard time coping with the darkness inside her and is feeling pulled in different directions. And she discovers an unbelievable secret. This is just one of my shocks. The other one...Ulrik. Yes, you read that right. Nothing is at all as it seems with the King of Silvers and I cannot wait to see how this one plays out. Now that I know, I can definitely see why I had this tug of war in my head whenever it came to him. And in my opinion, he redeemed himself in the last couple chapters, because WHY NOT?! Con is still doing Con, being mysterious and all-around...well...Con. I really wish I could get in his head! If you are a Rhys fan you have got to read this one! It will not leave you disappointed!
“I know what you're thinking, 'cause right now I'm thinking the same thing. Actually, I've been thinking it ever since I got here: Why oh why didn't I take the BLUE pill?” - Cypher to Neo, ‘The Matrix’ (1999)
This pretty much sums up how I feel about this book and every other story leading up to this one as part of the ‘Dragon Kings’ series - but in a good way. I mean, when everything weird impossibly gets weirder for Neo in the Matrix, it’s not like the dude bows out after only one movie after shit gets real and then some. No, Neo finds out how deep that mother trucker rabbit hole goes alright when his excellent adventure continues in ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ before getting spit out the other end of ‘The Matrix Revolutions’ (I know there’s an expected future release of a Matrix 4 film, but that’s a potential analogy for another day).
Well, the same goes for the Dragon Kings, particularly in ‘Night’s Blaze’. This book had me guessing at every turn of the page between the constant plot twists and suspense and conflict. As such, it gave me all the feels! Every emotion that a human could possibly experience was felt within me to the point that I didn’t know what to think at times. At this point, I feel like I took the red pill and things are already so very complicated when I know there’s so much more to go that I don’t know how much more I can take!
And yet, in a frustratingly crazy way, I want more of the Dragon Kings and their world. I downright crave it - nay!
I NEED it.
*takes a sip of Dreagan whiskey with a shaky hand*
So, I will sum up my review of this book by saying that I really liked Rhys and Lily and I thought they both had fantastic character development. I thought sexy times were sizzling and the romance between the hero and heroine was palpable through to the end of the story with their heartwarming declarations of love. Everything else made me want to throw my Kobo against the wall while simultaneously holding me captivated with needing to know what happens next.
*drinks remaining whiskey in one swallow*
Yes, indeed, I’m willing to see how far the rabbit hole goes.
The fifth book in Donna Grant's Dark Kings series; Night's Blaze answers some long awaited questions, but the cliffhanger will set anyone up for a tantrum.
Rhys, Dragon King to the yellows, womanizer and hottie has lost the ability to shift into his Dragon ever again. That's right, he's stuck in his human form. After taking a hit from Dragon magic and Dark Fae magic, Rhys has lost his ability to shift. Saying he is lost is one thing, broken would be better. Everything is chaos and pain.
Until Lily.
Lily Ross has been working at the Dreagon shop for a few months and her interactions with Rhys have been few and far between, but their attraction is off the charts hot. Lily is shy and withdrawn and working on building a new life for herself after a horrible past relationship. Draegan has become her haven, and Rhys her fantasy. Now that her life is finally getting to happy, her past has decided to come back and cause hell all over again.
Rhys and Lily embark on an adventure of healing, love and mystery. Together they fight for their family and friends, to save Draegon from enemies and the happy they have finally found.
I think Rhys and Lily are my favorite couple so far, not to mention this book. We get some answers for some of the questions that have been circling, and a glimpse into characters sides that haven't been seen before. Not to mention, the ending to this book is sure to tick a lot of people off!