The Blood King (Inferno Rising, 2)

F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C You ever read a book so good that you immediately started reading it again...yup...this is one of those books. Because I was all like..no, no, no...don’t end now, I need more. First things first...eta of next book please...because I need it nowish.

The Blood King aka Tarzan 🤣 and Skylar aka crazy are a match made in heaven, these two were made for each other, they are the exact same person and so in sync. Both ruthless Both take no crap Both fearless Both loyal And they are crazy about each other...even though they don’t want to admit it, see twins. The heat between these two, hot, hot, hot….did I mention these two were so hot. I know, I know dragon shifter and Phoenix, but this was more due to their chemistry, the mental side of it.

The storyline was fantastic, a huge game of chess, and who can out maneuver who. I could not put it down, and I didn’t want to. So good. I am such a huge fan of Abigail Owens, and I can’t say enough about her dragon shifter series...both of them. Next book please.

Safe read, with two hot, take no crap people, who are so loyal to each other and their loved ones. One a sassy Phoenix, the other an intense Blood King...pretty sure you know how he got his name...earned it, and Skylar I am sure will earn herself a title as well since she is absolutely fearless. Next book please.

I love a book that includes a grumpy, tortured hero or a capable self-rescuing heroine and this book includes both. The Blood King has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, fan your face steamy sex, dangerous excitement, cut throat and loyal supernatural creatures, and even some chuckles, all set against the backdrop of a continuing war between dragon clans. Skylar and Ladon’s love story has all the feels. Ladon, king of the blue dragons, strikes a deal to mate Skylar, one of four sister phoenixes. Both see it as a political decision which will be advantageous to both of them. They agree to be mated but without love. As the war between the dragon clans continues to rage, Skylar and Ladon learn to operate as a team through the many dangers and enemies they face together but their growing attraction makes it difficult to remain on their chosen paths - to destroy the red king and bring peace to dragonkind. On their way to their HEA, Skylar and Ladon have to both learn to let down their walls - to let go of their pasts and where they thought they were supposed to go in order to embrace a life neither one thought was possible for themselves. I am excited to hear what happens next for the dragon shifters and the dragon kings and whether the evil ruthless red king will be defeated and balance restored to dragonkind. With The Blood King, Abigail Owens once again proves she’s a fantastic storyteller and world builder.

The Blood King is book 2 in Abigail Owen's Inferno Rising series, directly following (as in the last scene of book 1 is the first of book 2) The Rogue King. Though you could slog your way through and understand the premise of the series as well as gather the events of the last book, this series really should be read in order. They would not standalone well as they are essentially telling one story from the four sisters' perspectives. Besides, Rogue King was phenomenal-you should read it.

The book is done in third person omniscient style (for those whom that matters cough:me:cough) and from multiple characters, though mostly the leading two. The tone of the book was very different than that of Rogue King in that our two leads' personalities were so vastly different than Brand and Kasia. It carries on the serious undercurrent of the world situation, but Ladon and Skylar are far more the doers than the dreamers; guardians and fighters more than planners and leaders.

Ladon, the Blood King himself, is a hard as nails, die hard warrior who has known nothing but fighting for his cause (freeing the blue clan and all dragon shifters from the oppression of the rotting king) in his half a millennia of life. He is dedicated and driven to a fault, and the addition of Skyler to his life throws him into a tailspin like he's never known.

Skyler, for her part, is the daredevil of the quadruplets. The 'crazy one' as she herself puts it with a heaping helping of daring and a dash of recklessness thrown in for good measure. She's a perfect match for Ladon's stubbornness and determination, that's for sure. That very similarity causes them both headaches as well as provides middle ground.

The pairing is an interesting one for me: far from opposites attract, this is a fine example of rock meeting hard place and finding a kindred spirit instead of an obstacle. Don't get me wrong, they were definitely their own obstacles and their relationship was hard won, but they did finally win. Unlike with Brand and Kasia, the bonding happens early in the book and the story is much more about the pair finding their way to making that bond whole and real and becoming a true partnership. The opposite of the first book, but well done and done in such a way that it felt right for our couple.

I enjoyed the book and found myself very happy that the two of them found each other and made their own way in the end. I don't think I loved either as much as Brand or Kasia, but we all have our favorites. ;) I am dying for the next installment (Meira's book) and will hate waiting a year or more to see it! The overarching story progresses significantly (great points to the author for managing to spread it out well and not leave a book lacking in that arena) and we find more reasons to hate the Rotting King, as well as meeting new allies and interesting persons. Also: more lovable hellhound time. Who doesn't love that?

If you're into contemporary parallel worlds (happening alongside modern times, though in secret), stubborn characters with more pride than sense sometimes, steamy romance, great sibling relationships, powerful dragons, amazing paranormal creatures, and a story that will leave you begging for the conclusion to come sooner, this is definitely a book for you.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book just as much as the first! It’s so well written. The world of the dragons is immense. The action is intense. Great character development. Skylar is a wonderful addition to the sisters. She’s such a fierce woman with a different ability to the first sister. The injustice they have all suffered due to one man’s quest for power has you wanting payback and justice. The romance aspect is as expected. The love between she and Ladon is slow to develop and rewarding when it happens. I can’t wait to read the other sister’s stories. Love the dragon fights!

The Blood King was blistering hot!

Rating: 5 stars Steam: 3 flames Genre: Dragon Shifters / PNR

I knew from the end of The Rogue King that Skylar and Ladon were going to be fire and gasoline…but I didn't realize their chemistry would be all consuming!

Ladon, the Blood King, and Brand's friend was left without a mate with Brand taking Kasia for himself in The Rogue King. I mean what do you expect with mates fated to be together. Imagine Ladon's surprise when Skylar, one of Kasia's sisters, walks into his conference full of fight, attempting to "rescue" her sister (who she thinks has been coerced into mating a Dragon King).

Ladon feels something for Skylar immediately, lust, duty, and maybe a little something more. Could he have more with this little spitfire that gives as good as she gets? Skylar has always been her sister's protector, and apparently, she is also known as the crazy sister. She speaks her mind with reckless abandon and will not bend to any man, or dragon! I adored Skylar and her spunk and willingness to do anything necessary for her family. When she and Ladon play good cop/crazy cop; I about lost it. Skylar had me cracking up!

As soon as Ladon meets Skylar, he asks her to stay, to give him a chance, to get to know the man/dragon before she rejects his offer to mate. But things never quite go as planned. Pytheios is coming for Skylar, and the only way to protect them both is to mate. Oh boy, oil meets oil! Both Ladon and Skylar are about to go up in flames!

The Blood King took us further towards the fight against the rotting, evil, false High King, Pytheios (oh I don't like him at all). The story is getting intense, alliances are made, traitors are hiding, and we are given more glimpses into the history of the phoenixes and dragons. This book is filled with suspense, hot dragons and phoenixes, amazing characters, and a world that is unimaginably fantastic. A world where dragons fly, magic is real, and Maul (the best puppy ever) exists!

Things are coming to a head and OMG I cannot wait to see what happens next. I am heading straight into the Warrior King! This series is fantastic and gets a five-star recommendation from me!

Will her fear to love hinder her first grab at love ...

As my first read in this series, while the story stand alone in itself, I will recommend to read the first one before as it gives more insights about the background plot and the author’s world setting. Why I had to get a crash course about this fantasy world. From the four sisters, I am not certain Skylar is my favorite, her characters has some good traits but also some failings. I thought her a coward at time for refusing to acknowledge her true feelings, hiding herself behind her past issues to excuse her backtracking. After she is tough and stubborn, never letting circumstances impede her path. She is the kind of woman who takes no prisoner. Ladon did not usurp his nickname, he is ruthless and cunning but he is such with his people’s welfare in mind. It is not greed or power hunger that drive him but only to assure his clan peace and rest. He is also the first to accept the shift of his sentiments, not afraid to feel but fearing to be rejected by the one woman he needs more than air to breath. Their journey to one another is not a smooth ride as trust is not given easily on Skylar’s side, plus her independent side does not sit well with the mating state. Up to her to see past her own preconceived ideas and get to know the real Ladon.

4.5 stars I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Entangled, here is my true and unbiased opinion

4.5 Stars Wowza! Ladon and Skylar's story was action-packed! There were lots of dragon battles as well as battles of will and battles of the heart. These two were absolutely fated for each other but both were too stubborn to recognize the signs. Once they did, they were too stubborn to want to give in. LOL The banter between these two was fun and built the sexual tension. There was more to the story than the romance though. We got to know more about dragon culture and the ways in which phoenixes and dragons ruled together. And we got even more insight into Pytheios's sick determination to be the immortal ruler of all dragon clans.

I read books 2 and 3 out of order and I'm happy I read them back-to-back because while it didn't hurt to have read them this way, there were a few things in book 3 that made more sense after having finished book 2. Honestly, I think this one may be may favorite so far. But they each have their merit. I can't wait for book 4! I'm hoping it blows me away!