Book Review: Darkest Flame by Donna Grant
Title: Darkest Flame
Series: Dark Kings #1
By: Donna Grant
Author Info: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Age Group: Adult
Genre Type: Paranormal Romance
Publication Date: April 29th 2014
Pages: eARC, 384 pages
Source: Publisher
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
SUMMARY:
In Darkest Flame by Donna Grant, the Dark Kings have fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But one of the most powerful warriors of his kind will be put to the ultimate test. Is he strong enough to resist his greatest temptations? Or will he be forced to surrender—body and soul?
HER BEAUTY IS A WEAPON.
Denae Lacroix is a beautiful MI5 agent on a deadly mission. Sent to the Scottish Highlands to spy on the mysterious Dreagan Industries, she discovers too late that she’s been set up—as human bait. She is an irresistible lure for a man who has not seen or touched a woman for centuries. He is a man with a destiny—and a desire—that could destroy them both…
HIS PASSION IS A CURSE…
It’s been twelve hundred years since Kellan has walked among humans—and there’s no denying the erotically charged attraction he feels for Denae. But as a Dragon King, he is sworn to protect his secrets. Yet the closer he gets to this smart, ravishing woman, the more her life is in danger. All it takes is one reckless kiss to unleash a flood of desire, the fury of dragons…and the fiercest enemy of all.
Darkest Flame by Donna Grant is the first in her new adult paranormal romance series about the Dark Kings, Dragon shifters. It features powerful, Dragon shifting warriors, a sensual romance, and adventure.
The Darkest Flame introduces us to a new and exciting world of the Dark Kings. These warriors are Dragon Shifters, Kings who rule over the various realms of Dragons. Every size, every color that ruled sky, land, and sea. Only the fiercest, most intelligent and magical are chosen. As Dragon Kings they're in charge of keeping the peace between humans and dragons. When a betrayal against one of the Dragon Kings threatens peace, a war breaks out dividing the clans. The Dragons and Kings become divided on whether to continue to protect humans. No longer united, the Kings and Dragons become a threat to humans. With no choice, they retreat into legend and myth, Dragons and Kings-fading away and forgotten. Until now.
Denae Lacroix is a beautiful MI5 agent on a deadly mission. She is assigned by the secret British Government agency to infiltrate the mysterious Dreagon Industries and to gather "evidence" on them. Although cryptic in nature, she and her partner enter Scotland and Dreagon territories, what she finds is more than she could ever have imagined. Set up as human bait, Denae is betrayed by those she trusted. As she battles to save her life against those who betray her, she awakens a beast from legend. Denae is tough, smart, and resilient. She has no problem fighting what threatens her. She can kick some ass and holds her own as an M15 agent. Thrust into the world of Dark Kings, Denae is curious about them, especially the stranger that finds her deep beneath the Dreagon Caves.
She didn't know much about the Dragon King, but she recognized the thread of dark menace lurking just beneath the warm skin and thick muscle.
A scrap of recklessness he held firmly in check.
Until someone pushed him.
He was absolute power, total dominance.
Utter, breathtaking control.
Even in a rage and bloodied, he was magnificent. At that instant, Denae fully comprehended him as a Dragon King. He was protector, defender, and guardian of the realm.
He was also judge, jury, and executioner of any who dared to harm it.
Kellan has been asleep for over twelve hundred years, bitter, he has chosen to avoid any humans, and despises them for crimes committed against him long ago. Awakened by Denae, he fights the sizzling attraction between them. When old and new enemies threaten the Dark Kings and Denae, Kellan will need all his powers as a Dragon to save them. Kellan is the fierce protector, a defender and guardian of the dragon realm awakened to battle. At the center of his attention is Denae, a human unlike any of the others. The one that has awaken him. The romance between these two was hot. A sizzling one of attraction and denial. *Fanning myself*
She reached for the door as she passed it, but he caught it before it could slam in his face.
"What-" she started when she turned to find him there.
Kellan grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her agaisnt the wall. Desire surged, rose like a tidal wave. It engulfed him, consumed him.
All the raw emotions he hadn't know how to sort through turned into blinding, dazzling flame of yearning.
And it was focused on one woman.
Darkest Flame is off to a great start as far as series go. There's no need to have read Donna Grant's other books (they are awesome by-the-way) to enjoy this new series, although there are characters from them that overlap the series that I enjoyed reading about. There's Fae, evil Dark Fae, rogue agents, love and betrayal, and a war between the Dragon Kings to keep you turning the pages. Plus, my favorite, (besides the romance) is the awesome Dragon shifting and warriors battling against the baddies. I was hoping for more, and had to wait a bit for my Dragon's to really battle it out until near the end, but overall I was really happy with this story. There's mysteries to be solved, and hints of the other Dark Kings and their stories yet to come that have me anxiously waiting to continue this series.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars. I really liked it.
PLEASE NOTE: A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks in exchange for my fair review. Thank you St. Martin's Paperbacks for the review opportunity!
