ARC Mini-Review: Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings #4)

Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings #4)

by Donna Grant

Blurb:

He’s a man of few words, but she fills his soul with poetry.

Quiet. Brooding. Capable. Shaw’s mission is simple: Root out Stonemore’s leader and determine what the Divine has in store for the people of Zora and the Kings. Just as he gets started, however, a breathtakingly beautiful woman finds and tempts him like no other. Nothing can stop him from engaging in the pleasures she offers. After all, pillow talk is sometimes the best way to uncover secrets.

Nia’s life has never been hers. From starving on the streets to becoming a slave to the Divine, she merely does what’s needed to survive. But when her latest assignment brings her face-to-face with a handsome man who makes her feel things she’s never experienced before, she begins to see that while she’s been living, she’s not really thriving.

As truths are revealed, and Nia’s blinders are removed, she realizes that she can no longer sit by and allow things to continue as they have been in her city. It’s time to take a stand. With Shaw by her side, they spark a war so many have tried to avoid. But the injustices being perpetrated must be stopped—no matter the cost.

Themes:  Paranormal, Dragons

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Well that was an interesting twist for the Dragon Kings to handle.  This new spin-off series Donna Grant began, taking her sexy, brooding, Scottish Dragon Kings to the alternate realm of Zora, home of the dragons, has become increasingly dangerous, and a little bit confusing, though I have no doubt everything will become clear in the end. The settings are exotic and interesting, the characters they meet are of course totally out of our realm of understanding, and the predicaments they find themselves in continuously are deadly and often end badly for one or more of the Kings.  Shaw, King of the turquoise, has traveled to Zora with his friend Merrill at the request of Con and the twins to aid in a mission in one of human cities on the realm. He knows the mission will be dangerous, but since not much can kill a Dragon King he is willing to risk it in order to help the twins and stop the leaders of the humans who are killing all babies with magic. Shortly after he arrives he runs into the most captivating human woman he has ever seen and he is instantly drawn to her, but he has no idea the danger she poses to him and his people.  Nia is on a mission from her leader, one that will finally release her from slavery and all she has to do is deliver a Dragon King.  She has all the tools of seduction at her disposable, but she never could have imagined just how attracted and connected she would be to Shaw even though she knows she will have to betray him in the end.  When the truth comes out they have to decide if they want to work together to defeat the evil that has infected Zora’s human population or if they will give up the new love that each of them have discovered for the other and turn their backs. I truly enjoyed reading this story, one filled with passion, betrayal, political intrigue, and love developing in the most unlikely of ways, reminding us that sometimes love comes at inconvenient times and places but should never be denied. Nia’s story was a heartbreaking one from the very beginning and one that so many could relate to in the past, but luckily not so much in our current world.  Her inner strength and ability to survive emotionally and physically despite all that she went through shows that she would make a perfect mate for a King, but her sweetness and gentleness gave Shaw in particular the cushion he needed after carrying so much anger for so many millennia. Despite her plan to give Shaw up for most of the book, I found myself enjoying getting to know her and seeing her in quiet and vulnerable moments with Shaw as they learned about one another.  Shaw has carried his pain and anger a LONG time and he doesn’t really let it go until he finally releases it to Nia, and that release allows him to move forward in life in a big way.  He offers himself wholeheartedly to Nia as soon as he meets her, not understanding the connection but willing to embrace it, and when he learns the truth he is angry, but gives her the benefit of the doubt and lets her explain herself instead of flying off the handle, which honestly surprised and please me immensely.  I loved watching how sweet and gentle he was with her, both before and after he learns about her past, and of course when he goes into battle he kicks ass and does it all to protect the woman that has captured his heart.  The heat between these two was crazy from the beginning even as they each denied the full impact it would have on their futures right up until almost the end of their story.   There were a few loose ends in this story, as Donna is wont to do, and I am dying to find out what will happen next with the overall plot arc, but I know whatever happens it will be a masterpiece.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.