SMOLDERING HUNGER (Dark Kings #8) by Donna Grant-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release December 29, 2016

TEMPTING FATE
Darius is back. Edinburg thought it had seen the last of this seductive Dragon King, but that was before Darius found something worthwhile. He just can’t stay away from the impossibly beautiful Dr. Sophie Martin-even though he knows that a passion this strong could prove detrimental…for them both.

CRAVING DESIRE
Sophie tried to forget her encounter with smoking-hot Darius to no avail. He’s in her dreams, tempting her. But her association with Darius catches the attention of another, putting her in mortal danger. . .and Darius, who has vowed to protect her, is her only hope. But can she trust the notorious dragon shapeshifter? The only thing she knows for sure is that she cannot resist him.

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REVIEW: SMOLDERING HUNGER is the eighth full length installment in Donna Grant’s contemporary, adult DARK KINGS paranormal/fantasy, romance series focusing on the Dragon Kings and the women they love. This is dragon shifter Darius, and Dr. Sophie Martin’s story line. SMOLDERING HUNGER can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and back story I recommend reading this series in order (especially the most recent installments) as the Dragon Kings are on the verge of war with the Dark Fae, and one of their own.

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.

Told from several third person points of view SMOLDERING HUNGER follows the building but forbidden relationship between Darius and the sexy doctor who has caught both his heart and his soul. Darius believes he lost his mate hundreds of years earlier, but his attraction and desire for Sophie is beyond anything he could have imagined. Darius’s need for Sophie has placed her in the direct line of fire when Ulrik and the Dark Fae use Sophie as a means to exact revenge against Darius and Con.

For readers who have not read the previous installments Donna Grant does an amazing job recapping the important issues and direction the series is heading. With the recent introduction of The Reapers -a group of Dark and Light Fae, selected by Death, to do her bidding-Donna has once again merged another spin off series with the Dark Kings bringing together a potential ally in the war against the Dark Fae. The Reapers are not harbingers of death, but are tasked with destroying the Light and Dark Fae who have crossed a line from which there is no return.

The number of secondary and supporting characters is not as large as in previous story lines but there still remains a large ensemble cast. SMOLDERING HUNGER follows several developing and ongoing plotlines including Rhi and Balladyn, Rhi and her former Dragon lover; the potential battle between Ulrik and Mikkel; and Con’s deadly flirtation with the Light Fae queen.

SMOLDERING HUNGER looks at another forbidden relationship between a Dragon King and his human mate. The premise is engaging but as the series develops new readers may have a difficult time catching up with the copious amount of building drama and intense but fragile relationships between King Constantine and his Dragon Kings. Again, I recommend reading the Dark Kings series in order. The characters are numerous, intense, energetic and passionate. The romance is emotional and hopeful; the happily ever after is but a glimmer for the future as conflict continues to batter the Dragon Kings and the women they love.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy