The Rogue King (Inferno Rising, 1)

Owens is a new to me author I found on NetGalley and I am so glad I was browsing their ‘request’ section of ARC’s. After seeing the yummy cover and reading the enticing blurb I definitely wanted to give it a read. I will surely be adding Owens to my new author list of books to explore and definitely this new series – Inferno Rising.

This book was really great! I was hooked from the first page. My only complaint is that I would really like to get my hands on the second book now; this one really left me wanting more.

Appealing characters and an action-packed storyline full of suspense, danger, betrayal, secrets, bonds of brotherhood, dragons and other paranormal creatures, revenge, delicious chemistry, fun banter, and snarky comments are contained in the pages of this well-written story. It is entertaining from beginning to end with plenty of laughs to ease the pulse-pounding tension and sense of urgency that is carried from page to page. Brand and Kasia were made for each other and I loved them together and was pleased with how everything worked out in the end. There was never a dull moment in this story and I am looking forward to reading the next. And with the cliffhanger at the end, I cannot wait to read Landon and Skyler's fiery adventure.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written book. Action and romance with spice. Great world building and descriptions. Back stories of the characters were well rounded and fleshed out. You feel their heartbreak and their need for justice and revenge. You also feel their love and connections to each other. Can’t wait to read Ladon and Skylar’s story along with the taking back of Brands kingdom. There are more battles coming.

The story was good. It's not really as stand-alone as it claims to be. The main plot continues with each additional sister. Not to say that the two main characters don't get their own happy ending, so there's no cliffhanger there.

I read Rogue King from my Kindle unlimited, and like I said, the story was good, I just personally found some of the back and forth of pride rather boring. Strong characters, well written words, and super easy plot lines, I slipped about 6 chapters and was able to follow it without confusion.

So if you love a good but predictable story, for quick enjoyment, this story will leave you with the feels you search for.

A great start to the Inferno Series!

Rating: 4 stars Steam: 3 flames Genre: Paranormal Shifters / Enemies to Lovers / Fated Mates

Brand and Kasia should never have made it together.

Brand, a rogue dragon shifter, mercenary, and loner, has been on his own since he was ten when something horrific happened. Since then, he has been singularly focused on revenge.

Kasia, a rare phoenix, supposedly good luck to whomever she mates, was raised by her mother and three sisters to never trust the dragons. You see, a dragon shifter killed Kasia's father because he mated with a phoenix and he was consumed with jealousy and then centuries later, a dragon king kills her mother. Her mother's final act to hide Kasia and her sisters to try and keep them safe.

Brand on a mission to help the Blue Dragon King so he can take down his target. Revenge is consuming him, that is until he meets Kasia. That first meeting was hot to say the least. I mean literally hot. Kasia has visions, but when she does…she explodes into flames, is blinded, and essentially experiences a full body migraine. As Brand watches one of Kasia's episodes, he quickly jumps in to assist. For some reason, his touch soothes Kasia, he soothes Kasia.

Kasia has been having visions for years, and the man standing before her now has been littered throughout them. She instantly feels as though she can trust him, but can she trust anyone? Brand's mission is to find the phoenix and turn her over to the Blue Dragon King, Ladon so the Blue King will have more power and maybe, give Brand a clan.

This book laid out a sturdy foundation for what I suspect is going to be a fantastic series. We discover how everyone has come to be where they are now. The Rogue King had an engaging story, characters that drew you in and were well developed, and the main characters had chemistry off the charts, it was explosive.

I definitely recommend this book and will continue to read this series! That ending has me needing to know what will happen in Ladon's book. I have a feeling Ladon's world is likely to burst into flames!

MY RATING SYSTEM 5 stars--WOW 4 stars--would read again 3 stars--was good, won't read again 2 stars--read it, but didn't enjoy it 1 star--didn't finish, it was so awful

Do I need to read books before this one: no Cliffhanger: war continues

SUMMARY 500 years ago, Pytheios wanted phoenix Serefina, only child of the Red King, to choose him as her mate, which would make him High King over all dragons. She chose Zilant, White King. Pytheios killed Zilant and Serefina's parents. She fled into hiding, pregnant. Pytheios took the Red crown.

Pytheios found her last year, killed her, but not before she transferred her powers and teleported her 4 daughters away to safety.

Brand, rogue dragon, is sent by Ladon, Blue King, to a health clinic in the Rockies to investigate if the woman there is in fact a phoenix. He encounters Kasia when a vision hits her, and he instinctively knows how to help her pain. Afterward, he says they leave in the morning; she'll be Ladon's mate.

Kasia knows him, has been seeing him since the visions started. But she and her family have been hiding from dragons since before she was born. She won't be a pawn. She leaves, teleporting out of the clinic and stealing a car.

Brand follows her scent and the scent of his own car.

EVALUATION Good intrigue. Getting points of view from more than Brand and Kasia, even from more than dragons and phoenixes, shows the breadth of action and scheming. Fight scenes are drawn out or not well written.

Adequate romance. Both are centuries old, but we get very little back story. For instance, she's trained as a mechanic, but we see very little of that. He has a mentor with a variety of friends, but we only get two scenes with him. The author relies too heavily on the fated mates trope to carry the relationship.

Though the writing isn't Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, or Faith Hunter, and I wasn't engrossed in the primary romantic relationship, I am curious about how the author is going to bring about a dragon revolution using these 4 phoenix sisters. I wasn't expecting to be so curious.

RECOMMENDATION To adults who like fantasy romance. This isn't urban fantasy because humans aren't involved at all.

FAVORITE QUOTES They stopped what they were doing to turn their attention to the man who could easily fit among them and the woman who stuck out like a cowlick that just wouldn’t be tamed.

POSSIBLE TRIGGERS (SPOILERS) Sex: multiple scenes Language: 108 F words, 31 Lord's name in vain, 57 S words Violence: fights, attempted kidnapping, burning, mauling