Review: Heat

Heat by Donna Grant
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This series is building up to the end games. Reading this series out of order will work for most readers as Ms. Grant gives enough recap of previous events to bring a reader up to date. It is recommended to read at least a few of the prior books to understand the minor characters and subplots. In this one, we focus on Nikolai. Nikoli's history is a sad one and it is what makes him such a good Dragon King. When he has to go against his adoptive father, Ulrik who later becomes one of his most trusted friend and confidante, it breaks him.
The problem with immortals or supernaturals who live a long life, is that things can change. Relationships have to change because it won't last forever. This makes Nikoli very hesitant to get involved with Ester even if she attracts him like no one has in centuries. Their love is slow to start and seems to be even slower to materialize. This works for me because this story finally brings together many of the other subplots that have been dragged out across multiple books.

Finally we see movement between Rhi and Balladyn from the Fae world. It is not the direction I was hoping. There are so many star cross lovers and betrayals in this series, I can't keep up. Including the crazy supernaturals, I am hard pressed to believe this world will survive the different factions fighting. What keeps me on edge is the King of Kings, Con. What is his end game? How is he going to fix all of this? Is he going to fix it? All I see is a huge hundred plus car pileup. As pawns are moved into place or destroyed, knights and rooks are closing in on the Queen. Except, I kind of want the Queen to be taken out in this complicated warfare because she is an evil, evil creature. On top of the Fae fight Dragons and infighting within each of the groups, there are Druids! Druids are blindsided by a female who is coming out of the blue with her powers. Is this a new threat or a possible ally?

At one point, I'm wondering if we even need a romance plot because learning that Ester and her brother are more than what they thought is just as riveting and I want to know more. Uncovering hidden secrets is what this group seems to do best. And what they find out may not be what they really wanted to know. It does enhance the storylines and build a more complex world.

This paranormal romance is recommended to dragon and fae lovers who enjoy fantasy as much as they do romance.

*provided by Netgalley