Review – Darkest Flame (Dark Kings #1) by Donna Grant

Darkest Flame is an engrossing story and I was glued to my Kindle ~ Amanda, Guilty Pleasures 

Description:
The Dark Kings have fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But one of the most powerful warriors of his kind will be put to the ultimate test. Is he strong enough to resist his greatest temptations? Or will he be forced to surrender – body and soul?

Her beauty is a weapon

Denae Lacroix is a beautiful MI5 agent on a deadly mission. Sent to the Scottish Highlands to spy on the mysterious Dreagan Industries, she discovers too late that she’s been set up – as human bait. She is an irresistible lure for a man who has not seen or touched a woman for centuries. He is a man with a destiny – and a desire – that could destroy them both…

His passion is a curse…

It’s been twelve hundred years since Kellan has walked among humans – and there’s no denying the erotically charged attraction he feels for Denae. But as a Dragon King, he is sworn to protect his secrets. Yet the closer he gets to this smart, ravishing woman, the more her life is in danger. All it takes is one reckless kiss to unleash a flood of desire, the fury of dragons…and the fiercest enemy of all.

Review copy provided for an honest review

Darkest Flame is the first full length novel in the new series by Donna Grant and it was fantastic. It is an action-packed, thrilling paranormal adventure into a world of magic, dragons, Fae, secrets and evil. The Dark King series is a spin-off of her Dark Warrior and Dark Sword series and has had 3 novellas prequel to introduce the world of magic and dragons. Kellan is a dragon king and has decided to sleep instead of dealing with the humans of the world. For over 1300 years he’s been in his cave and was awakened when he hears 2 MI-5 agents come there and start a fight. When one kills the other and the one left is hurt, he had a choice to help her or let her die. In helping her, Kellan starts something that will irrevocably change the course of his and the other Dragon Kings’ lives.

Denae Lacroix is an MI-5 agent that has been sent on a mission to Dreagan to find out the secret that the place holds. Her partner betrays her and wants her injured for bait. Bait for what? She survives the fight but is hurt badly and is saved by Kellan. The company that she worked for betrayed her and she doesn’t know why. She is a bit lost now not knowing where to go and who to trust. Knowing that she will be hunted she accepts help in getting her a new identity to leave and be on her own. What happens is that she begins to care about the men at Dreagan especially Kellan. Her plans to leave go terribly wrong when she finds that MI-5 and the Dark Fae have joined forces and want to capture her and Kellan. Who wants them and why? All good questions that will hopefully get answered through a bit of adventure and danger. Denae is one strong woman and honorable.

Kellan is a complex character who believes that all human are all alike after they betrayed the dragons all those years ago. He eventually sees that Denae isn’t like that and he finds it difficult to hold onto that belief. His opinion of her changes when he finds her courage and bravery attractive and wants to protect her from those forces that want her. Kellan is torn in his attraction and fights it in the beginning. The author draws out the attraction and the fighting Kellan goes through to not give into it. When he does it all combusts into a passion and desire and it was definitely worth the wait.

There is a large cast of secondary characters that move the story along and add another layer of backstory that influence the dragon’s problems. Rhi, a Light Fae, once had a dragon lover that hasn’t been revealed. Tristan is a new Dragon King but his past is revealed which will definitely cause repercussions. All mysteries that entice the reader to want to know more. I haven’t read the other series and I feel that this story can be read as a stand-alone novel without being lost. Darkest Flame is an engrossing story and I was glued to my Kindle. The romance between Kellan and Denae is slow building, and it wasn’t an easy road, to find their deserving happiness. This is a good beginning for a new series and I look forward to more magical, dragon romance.

4.5 Stars