SMOKE AND FIRE (Dark Kings #9) by Donna Grant-a review

Smoke and Fire

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 5, 2016

She wanted to touch him. There had always been something about being in his arms that made her feel as if she could tackle anything and the world wouldn’t dare get in her way…

SWORN TO PROTECT
A dragon shapeshifter and a computer mastermind, Ryder is sent to guard Glasgow after a devastating Dark attack. But when memories of an explosive affair come back to him-in the flesh-Ryder cannot help but want to protect the woman who haunts his dreams. Even if means shifting into the dragon he was never supposed to reveal…

DRIVEN TO DESIRE
Kinsey could never get enough of Ryder. His every touch only left her wanting more. But now that she’s seen him in his true form, Kinsey’s world is rocked to the core. She knows that to stay-and feel-alive, she must be with Ryder. But is Kinsey’s passion worth the risk of danger that comes with being a part of Ryder’s dark and fierce world?

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REVIEW: SMOKE AND FIRE is the ninth full length installment in Donna Grant’s DARK KINGS paranormal/fantasy, romance series focusing on the Dragon Kings and the women they love. This is IT specialist Kinsey Burns, and Dragon King/computer mastermind Ryder’s story line. SMOKE AND FIRE can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and backstory I recommend reading the series in order. There is a war approaching and the buildup has been ongoing for several installments.

SOME BACKGROUND: The DARK KINGS is a spinoff from Donna Grant’s DARK WARRIOR series which in turn is a spin off from Donna’s DARK SWORD series- all set in the Highlands of Scotland. The Dark Fae and their King Taraeth, along with the Ulrik the Silver Dragon King and his uncle Mikkel have declared war on the Dragon Kings by exposing the dragon’s existence to humankind. The last wars between man and the world of the paranormal saw a great loss of life on all sides-but Ulrik wants revenge against King Constantine of the Dragon Kings; Mikkel wants to become King of the Silvers, and the Dark Fae want the Dragon’s hidden weapon, and to rule Scotland and the rest of the world. SMOKE AND FIRE overlaps with Donna’s new spin off series THE REAPERS who may be a potential ally with the Dragons Kings in their war with the Dark Fae.

Told from several third person points of view SMOKE AND FIRE focuses on Kinsey Burns and her return to Ryder’s life. Believing she has been ordered to Dreagan on behalf of the IT firm for which she works, Kinsey comes face to face with the man (dragon) she once believed was ‘the one’. Three years earlier Ryder walked away from Kinsey without a reason as to why, leaving a broken hearted and shattered woman in his wake. Fast forward to present day where three weeks earlier Ryder revealed the true nature of his beast when Kinsey was attacked by the Dark Fae. What ensues is the slow rekindling of a relationship destroyed by the secrets Ryder was never willing or allowed to tell; and his fear that Con would have destroyed the woman that he loved. With Kinsey’s return comes thoughts of betrayal and heartbreak from the man who once held her heart and her soul.

SMOKE AND FIRE continues to follow the building war between the Dragons and the Dark Fae; the Silver Dragon King Ulrik and his Uncle Mikkel; and their battle for supremacy over the King of Kings Con. Rhi returns to struggle with her feelings for the Dragon King who destroyed her heart, and the Dark Fae Balladyn who is willing to give Rhi everything that he can but not the man that she wants. Rhi’s ‘cloaked companion’ will let Rhi know that he isn’t about to end her life but continues to follow Rhi wherever she goes. Con’s dalliances with the Light Fae may place the King of Kings on the front page news, and threaten everything that he has worked for to protect the Dragon Kings.

Donna Grant is slowly revealing the past, the present and the possible future for the Dragon Kings of Dreagan-their secreted lives; the hidden truth; the potential destruction of everything on earth if the Dragons go to war with the Dark Fae. Ulrik wants revenge against the man he once called a brother; and Con is willing to protect their secret at all costs. SMOKE AND FIRE is another story line that adds to the suspense of a possible war. The premise is engaging; the characters are heartbreaking and charismatic; the romance is a second chance at love. I can only hope that whatever Donna has planned for her Dragons is revealed shortly-there are quite a number of plotlines starting to converge and overlap, while others take off in another direction. The layers are building yet very little has been revealed.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy