DRAGON FIRE (Vale of Stars #3) by Juliette Cross-Dual Review & Excerpt
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 30, 2019
A taste of heaven may drag him to hell…
Wounded, with a target still on his back, Kieren Moonring has been hiding in the last place his Morgon enemies might find him. In the human convent on the southern shores of Primus, his body heals quickly, but his soul is broken.
While Sister Liana tends to the recovering Morgon man hiding in their convent, she can’t stop or disguise her growing attraction. What disturbs her more is that he begins to uncover her past that is best kept buried.
Kieren fears his old enemies will find him, and then Liana. When his greatest fear comes true and she becomes their next mark…bloody hell, if he won’t murder the whole world to keep her safe.
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Sandy’s REVIEW:
DRAGON FIRE is the third instalment in Juliette Cross’ amazing adult VALE OF STARS paranormal, fantasy series focusing on a dragon hybrid species known as the Morgons. This is Morgon Kieren Moonring, and Sister Liana’s story line. DRAGON FIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and history.
NOTE: There is a novella companion series entitled NIGHTWING (Soulfire #1 / Windburn #2) that introduces several of the characters and some background history into the war between the Morgons and humankind. I would strongly recommend reading the Nightwing companion series before starting the Vale of Stars series.
Told from three first person points of view (Kieren, Liana, Dakian) DRAGON FIRE follows in the aftermath of an injury that almost killed our story line hero. Healing and in hiding at the Sisters of Saint Portia convent Kieren would meet his future, his mate in the guise of Sister Liana, a woman with secrets of her own. An attack by the Larkosians, a rogue group of Morgons, against the Sisters of Saint Portia finds Kieren and Liana on the run, hoping to find help along the way. What ensues is the building relationship between Kieren and Liana, and the potential fall-out as Liana becomes the obsession of the Blood King’s right hand man, obsession that burns with vengeance and retribution.
DRAGON FIRE is a story of power and control; destruction and obsession; family, friendship, and fated love. Liana struggles with the death of her father, and the revenge that forced our heroine into a life with the Sisters. Kieren knows it is only a matter time before his enemies discover his whereabouts but our hero has no idea that betrayal was but a dragon’s flight away.
The relationship between Kieren and Liana is one of immediate attraction but Kieren believes Liana is off-limits, a Sister of Saint Portia, a woman raised to serve and obey. A series of shared dreams and fantasies finds Kieren hoping for a future with the mate of his heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and strong, secondary and supporting characters including Demetrius and Shakara (Dragon Heartstring #.5), Kol and Moira (Waking the Dragon #1), Conn and Valla (Dragon in the Blood #2): Lucius and Jessen (Soulfire), Lorian and Sorcha (Windburn), Bowen, Craven: Bastien Silverback and his ‘bastards’ Madera and Rafe. The requisite evil has many faces including the Blood King Larkos, and Larkosian Lieutenant Dakian.
DRAGON FIRE is the prelude to war, a war between the Morgons and the Larkosians, a war meant to kill and destroy. DRAGON FIRE is also a story of discrimination and specieism, dominance and rule, authority and control. The Blood King Larkos is demanding his seat on the throne, and in doing so, sets out to destroy everyone and everything in his way, but most especially to rid the world of the human vermin. The fantastic premise is engaging and energetic; the romance is seductive and moving; the characters are strong, complex and spirited.
Reading Order and previous Reviews
Soulfire
Windburn
Nightbloom
Dragon Heartstring .5
Waking the Dragon
Dragon in the Blood
BARB’s Review:
Dragon Fire by Juliette Cross is the 3rd book in her Vale of Stars series. I could not wait to get my hands on this book, as I have come to expect a fantastic story from Juliette Cross, every time. I have read all her book, and each and everyone of them have been exciting, action packed, sexy and simply fantastic. I am happy to say that I loved Dragon Fire.
In Dragon Fire, Kieran Moonring, our hero, is recovering from serious injuries he suffered when saving his brother’s mate in the last book of this series. Kieran is a wanted man, having killed a powerful senator’s son and has been hidden at the Sisters of the Light convent, where he has been healing for many months. Kieran knows he can never become involved with any of the sisters, though he finds himself very attracted to one of them.
Liana, has been the main caretaker for Kieran, and finds herself having difficulty in fighting off her attraction to him. Kieran has decided it is time for him to return home and face the charges against him, as well as join the fight to stop the Blood King Larkos and his Larkosians. He also knows he can longer stay around Liana, as his dragon also wants to keep her as their mate. Liana has dreams about Kiernan, which she does not know is part of his dreams too.
But before he leaves, all hell breaks loose as the Larkosians have attacked the convent, and Kieran was able to get Liana and himself to safety. As he quickly grabs Liana, she sees the evil of these man who are brutally raping, killing or kidnapping the other sisters. Kiernan gets help from one of his brother’s men, and he is able to bring Liana back to Kol’s (last book hero) house, in the safety of his Morgon family and friends. Liana will learn the truths of the evil outside the convent; become friends with the mates from earlier books, as well as try to push Kiernan to succumb to their feelings. The chemistry between them was scorching hot, and started burning the pages ( ok I do read on a kindle ?), especially with the possible onset of soulfire. I really loved them together. Things do progress between them when Liana explains that she is not a true sister, but was forced to stay at the convent as punishment for killing the man who killed her father.
What follows is a very exciting, action packed adventure that will bring back many of our favorites from the first two books, as well as from the original Nightwing series. I loved seeing them all. Just when they face the senate to free Kiernan from the charges, the evil Blood King and his Larkanians attack to take over the senate. As the Morgon men join hands to fight off the enemy, Liana’s finds herself in a horrific dangerous situation that will have us holding our breaths. Will either Kiernan or Liana survive?
Dragon Fire was a fascinating read, from start to finish. Liana and Kiernan were a super couple, and it was great to spend time all the other super people we met previously This is a wonderful series that you should not miss. Juliette Cross has once again created another wonderful story that has a bit of everything; hot sexy couple; action, suspense, great secondary characters, evil villains and excellent writing. Dragon Fire was wild, crazy exciting, action packed and steamy adventure. If you have not read Juliette Cross, what are you waiting for?
His promise eased the visceral fear ripping through my bones. I’d never
seen violence like that. Not even in my father’s line of work.
Kieren knelt suddenly and ripped at the bottom of my gown. He glanced up,
his eyes a burning blue, his pupils elongated into serpentine slits. Rather
than cause more panic, his dragon’s presence made me feel safer. “I’m
sorry. I need to bind you to me.”
“To…to fly?”
“Yes.” He finished ripping off material up to my thighs, then wove it into
one long strip. His gaze flickered down my legs. “We’ll need to find some
place to hide nearby. To get you proper clothes. You’ll go hypothermic if
we fly too long. It’s cold up there.”
Glancing back where a yellow haze lit the sky in the distance, I blurted,
“But my sisters. We have to go back—we have to—”
“Liana.” His voice was gruff and hoarse, either from the smoke or from
emotion. Or both. “If I could, I’d save *every* one of them. I can only
carry one without a harness and for any length of time. As it is”—he craned
his neck back to look up at the sky—“those Morgons are likely flying nearby
above the woods.” His gaze fell back to mine. “There’s a chance we may not
even make it ourselves.” His tone softened but sent an even colder chill
through me. “Especially if we stay here much longer.”
He eased forward. On instinct, I stepped back, my body reacting without my
brain. He paused, once more tilting my chin up so I’d look at him.
“I know you’re afraid, Liana.” He caressed the back of his fingers up
across my cheek. “I’d never hurt you. I’m not one of those men you saw back
at the Temple.”
“I-I know.” I swallowed hard. “I’m just—”
“It’s all right. I’m going to protect you.” He held out a hand. “Come
closer, Liana.”
Now his voice was a soothing, calm melody against the horror filling the
night in the distance. He offered me his hand, wanting me to feel safe, to
have the choice to take it. Of course, I knew he was safe. But my survival
instincts were running riot with the images of Sister Mandia and Sister
Janice. Gulping hard, I lay my hand in his, the warmth engulfing mine.
He pulled me close, chest to chest. “Wrap your arms around my waist.”
I did, pressing my cheek to his scarred pectoral. If I wasn’t so
horror-stricken, I would relish this moment. I exhaled a deep breath, the
terror shivers ebbing. He was so big and hard and warm. He quickly looped
the fabric around and around several times until he tied the ends in a knot.
“This obviously isn’t a proper harness,” he whispered above me. “And even
without it I’d never drop you, but it will keep you to me should I have to
fight mid-air.”
Gasping, I shot my head up. He was looking back toward the Temple, a yellow
haze beyond the woods.
“Fight mid-air?” I croaked.
He looked down, cupping my face with large, warm hands. Dropping his head
lower, his lips a scant breath from mine, he murmured low, “No one will
hurt you.” A soft, tender brush of his mouth over mine. “I’ll kill every
one of them.” Another soft sweep of his lips. A nip at my lower lip. “I’ll
tear them all to pieces before they touch you.”
More growl than words, I should’ve been more afraid. Of the dangerous
violence simmering just beneath the surface. But I wasn’t. I opened my
mouth against his and pressed closer. His answering groan rumbled from his
chest to mine as he slid his tongue inside with a predatory sweep. His kiss
became deep, devouring, invading, as he banded his arms around me,
squeezing my soft body against his hard one. He bracketed his legs outside
mine, hard thighs pressing against my hips, continuing to kiss me with
bruising intensity. When I’d loosened enough to slip my tongue inside his
own mouth, he snapped away. Pulling back, he studied me with those keen
eyes. I had no idea what I looked like to him—shaken, dazed, and panting,
but all for an entirely different reason than when I’d fled the Temple.
His arms wrapped all the way around me, his fingers gripping my ribcage and
waist. “Hang on.”
That was all the warning I had before he bent his knees, whipped open his
wings, and shot up into the night sky.
Juliette calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. She has a B.A. in creative writing from Louisiana State University, a M.Ed. in gifted education, and was privileged to study under the award-winning author Ernest J. Gaines in grad school. Her love of mythology, legends, and art serve as constant inspiration for her works. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance–brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
Juliette is a multi-published author, including her Nightwing series with Kensington Publishing and The Vessel Trilogy with Samhain Publishing.
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