Dragon shifters galore!!

A quarter through this book and I was invested. I fell for Brand pretty quickly. I knew that there was something special about him, even when he was a brooding man.

I’ve always loved Phoenixes, so the whole story with Kasia and her sisters was very intriguing to me. It was very thought out as was the stories of all the shifters. I like the dynamic between all of them and I am truly wondering in future books how it’s all going to come together.

Also, can I just say that I loved all the men in Brand’s clans. They are a band of brothers and I love the dynamic.

There was plenty of action and adventure. There was also a LOT of steamy scenes. I was very happy with all of those and the passion that came with them. If you are looking for a steamy beach read this summer, DEFINITELY pick this one up.

Book review- The Rogue King by Abigail Owen

The story starts sadly with Kasia, her sisters and her mother. I find it fascinating that they are phoenix. No one has seen one in years and don’t believe it. If she is a phoenix, many will want her. If a king of the dragon clan is mated to a phoenix, they become high king. So, Brand is sent to retrieve her for the new king of the Blues. The author leads them on a dangerous trek from the hospital she was discovered in to Scotland where the Blues reside.
Kasia doesn’t want anything to do with a dragon shifter. The king of the reds killed her parents. So, she is not thrilled to be found by Brand. Kasia is a bit naïve and is sometimes her own enemy. She has to trust, but the author reveals Brand’s past to a point. You know he is a rogue but there is still some mystery as to who he is. He is determined to defeat the king of the golds. So, he has his own agenda. It is revenge. So, the author builds the tension between the two and then Kasia believes she knows why Brand is so interested in her life. She immediately jumps to conclusions that she naively thinks are real. Kasia has a big heart when it comes to others, but she annoyed me several times throughout the story. I had hoped she would figure things out sooner. Hopefully she will be doing better the next time I read about her. I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Kasia has to hide as she is wanted by everyone that's supernatural. A Phoenix is the biggest treasure of all especially for the Dragon shifters who would treasure her for what she could be used for. Brand is a rogue dragon shifter, living by himself but he knows if he can find Kasia, he would be able to exact revenge he has harbored for centuries. When Kasia and Brand meet, he can't hide the longing he has for her. He wants to claim andkeep her for his own. I love the chemistry between them. The author creates a world that only a great imagination could. I want to go there. I received this book from Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for a honest review.

Love the phoenix/dragon relationship mix. The story of the relationship in regard to being king was a good one. Kasia is strong and caring. Loved her relationship with Maul. We see just a little of her sisters and they should have great stories too by what little background was revealed. Brand wasn't overbearing and all macho. He was a perfect rogue dragon. The book was a bit long for the story, it could have been shortened and still the story would have been told well. Will definitely be picking up the next one.

Awesome paranormal romantic suspense. The author used her imagination and made her own magical decisions about how supernatural beings should act as well as magic they can preform. Needless to say I enjoyed all the characters especially Brand (Dragon shifter) and Kasia (phoenix). Their interactions were entertaining. I look forward to reading future books in Ms. Owen's series. I received a complementary copy of this book via Net Galley and chose to write a review.

After the death of her mother, Kasia and her sisters are forced to separate. The phoenix power dispersed to them during their dying mother's last act makes the siblings highly sought after by the warring dragon clans. On the run and unable to fully command her powers, Kasia meets Brand. He assures Kasia that to remain safe, she must accompany him to the blue dragon clan ruler King Ladon and she agrees.

On their journey, Kasia and Brand interact with various supernatural entities trying to either help or harm them. The two possess genuine chemistry. As their desire for one another increases the conflict in the story gains as well. Several of the supporting characters are intriguing, and I look forward to encountering them in future stories. Evil found in this world is truly despicable and without remorse. But the author equally discovers ways to include doubt as to whether those who seem trustworthy genuinely are, further increasing tension. It is an exhilarating ride as Kasia and Brand navigate their way through conflicts in The Rogue King.

The Rogue King represents an excellent start to the Inferno Rising series. The romance behind the story is integral to the plot, and it is quite sensual. But the excellent world-building could appeal to a predominantly urban fantasy audience. I enjoyed the balance between the two while reading an early copy of this book and will most definitely be continuing with the next book release in this series.

In The Rogue King by Abigail Owen, dragon clans, fated mates, wolf shifters and a legacy passed on to four daughters captivates the reader and introduces a new exciting paranormal romance series, Inferno Rising.

Kasia Amon is the daughter of a Phoenix shifter, a woman increasingly plagued by migraine headaches that result in full body infernos and visions – of a dragon who could be her undoing. The dragon clans know that mating with a phoenix will result in the successful dragon becoming High King over the many clans and it's this knowledge that has kept her in hiding. But she's been found.

Brand Astarot is a rogue dragon but he's made an alliance with Ladon, the Blood King of the Blue Dragon Clan. In return for a place in the clan, he's promised to bring Kasia to Ladon. Though he has an attraction to Kasia himself, his desire for revenge for the killing of his family and a place at the Blood King's side compel him to ignore those feelings for the greater good. There's only one problem. It's Brand whom Kasia has seen in her visions. And it's Brand who calms the flames with his touch, who takes away the pain of the inferno and replaces it with pleasure. Will Brand ultimately choose duty and revenge, or love?

What an exciting start to this new series! I was hooked from the very start and it's one of those stories where you want to both speed up to find out how it ends and slow down so you don't miss anything! The worldbuilding is fully fleshed out, explaining Kasia's history and how she and her sisters have been scattered to survive. One of them has settled in with wolf shifters who play a more prominent role later in the story, aiding the dragons of Brand's adopted clan as they battle for supremacy and to keep Kasia safe. There are plenty of action packed scenes and the plot keeps the reader engaged with explanations of the clans and political alliances that fill in the world without being too technical.

And of course, there's a sexy 'forbidden' romance too! Brand and Kasia have plenty of snarky banter to make the reader laugh while drawing them closer together even as they are trying to fight the attraction between them. They aren't overly successful and share some steamy scenes even as Brand comes to the realization that Kasia is his mate and he can't give her up no matter that it will affect his future plans and the revenge he's sought his whole life. The road to their happy ending isn't easy but it is an exciting one! Since it's the start of the series there are some intriguing secondary characters and I'm looking forward to exploring more of this world.
Fans of Rebecca Zanetti, Paige Tyler and Katie MacAlister's paranormal romances will want to add Abigail Owen to their reading lists!

This review has been featured at Harlequin Junkie, and posted at Amazon and Goodreads.

*I received this book free from the author.*
Kasia is one sparky little phoenix. She pretends to be fearless in order to protect herself and her sisters. She’d do anything to keep them safe…even mate a dragon. Her father may have been a dragon, but her mother had taught her that they were the enemy. Talk about trying to trust an enemy.

“”Don’t give your trust too easily in this world. More often than not, people like me are out to harm you or use you.”
“Aren’t you trying to stop me from running away?” she pointed out. “You might want to work on your sales pitch.””

Brand was just doing his job. He found the girl, now he just had to bring her to his old friend and the Blue Dragon’s new king, Ladon. Problem with that was it seemed everyone was onto the trail of the phoenix and everyone wanted her for their own selfish reasons. Brand didn’t…or so he kept trying to convince himself.

“”Kasia kept pushing. “Look at how you handled our first meeting. Your instinct was to help me.”
Now he scowled. “My first instinct was to fuck you. Long and hard.””

Faced with a heavy choice Brand goes with the selfish decision, but fate has something different in store for him and for Kasia. And you can only fight fate so long before it becomes impossible to ignore.

The Rogue King is full of action, suspense, and one hell of a romance.

The Inferno Rising series is a spin off of the Fire’s Edge series. In the Fire’s Edge series I wondered what was going on with the dragon clan’s kings as it’s a slight part of the backstory and the Inferno Rising series sheds light on all those missing pieces. I cannot wait to read more of both series! Loving me some dragon shifters!

Who doesn’t love a good shifter story, especially when it involves dragons? Although, I have to say that I’ve never read one that involved phoenixes before. Between all the fighting, suspense, and mystery behind phoenixes, this story was full of adventure.

Since mating with a phoenix is a huge deal, suffice to say that Kasia has been in hiding all of her life. Phoenixes are lucky to have in your corner and possess powers that would help you win in a battle. Her mother taught her and her sisters that people will only use you in they can get their hands on you, especially dragon shifters. If a dragon shifter mates with a phoenix, he has the power to become the high king and rule over all of the dragon shifters. So, when Brand comes storming into her life, she immediately recognizes the danger and makes a run for it. However, other beings are aware of her existence as well and would do anything to capture her for their own gain. And as the old saying goes, “Better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t.”

Honestly, Brand wasn’t a bad guy. Which is why I think Kasia stayed with him. He protected her and seemed to care about her well being. Sure he was going to turn her over to some other dragon, but the more she learned about Brand and Ladon (her intended mate) the more she became drawn to their cause. You knew the moment you met Brand and Kasia, they were perfect for each other. Their banter was on point, and their chemistry was through the roof. Not to mention the whole forbidden love angle since Brand was only retrieving Kasia for his best friend, Ladon. Let’s just say this story checked off a lot of boxes for me.

Between the suspense of not knowing what is going to happen with Kasia. The mystery of where her sisters are and if they are okay. The swoon worthy moments that Brand showed. The huge dragon battle looming overhead. Not to mention the build up of romance between Kasia and Brand. All I can say was that there wasn’t a dull moment in this story. This is my first time reading this author’s work, but it won’t be the last. The epilogue gave us a glimpse of who will be featured in the next book, and I can not wait! If you’re a fan of paranormal romances and you want something a little bit different than your typical werewolf shifter books, then you have got to pick this book up. You won’t be disappointed.

Kasia is a phoenix, supernatural creature very rare and quite immortal believed to be able to bring peace to her clan and the title of High King to the mate she’ll accept. She has powers she controls more or less but can’t change into a phoenix, this change occurring only when the phoenix gives her powers to her daughters before dying (phoenix are only females). Kasia’s mother had five daughters and she scattered them on Earth in order to protect them from the High King who covets their longevity (and for that he killed the heroine’s parents), and a priori Kasia is the only one who inherited phoenix power. That makes me think there’ll be four other books in the series.

At the beginning of the novel Kasia is in a hospital for supernatural beings where she took shelter to try and find a solution to her problem: she ignites uncontrollably, burning everything around her, with extreme pains and visions she doesn’t really understand. But the doctor, who’s understood what she is, threw the information that a phoenix has been found and all sort of supernatural beings set off in her pursuit. That’s when a rogue dragon finds her and decides to deliver her to the blue king dragon he’s working for.

Kasia is a strong heroine, who’s conscious of her powers’ limits but tries to make progress in controlling them. Her mother taught her to distrust supernatural creatures and once she’s discovered she does everything not to reveal her sisters’ existence, even to Brand, and even after she begins to trust him. She has a quite sarcastic humor I liked, like when she calls him giant lizard, Godzilla, giant gecko, or reptile boy, while knowing well that really annoys him. She’s at time a bit naïve for a woman having lived numerous centuries, and that seemed strange. The only moment when she really annoyed me though was when she jumped to the wrong conclusion about why the hero chose her as a mate.

Brand is a taciturn and very withdrawn, and at time annoying because of that. He’s focused on his revenge against the gold dragon king who killed his family when he was young but refuses to talk about it to anyone, and he also refuses to talk about anything personal. In spite of a very strong attraction for the heroine from the beginning he needs a very long time to decide not to let her to the blue dragon king who hired him to recover her. When he finally decides to act and he’s wounded she doesn’t believe in his sincerity I wanted to slap him. As he never showed his feelings, what did he expect?

The attraction between them is very quick but they try to resist as they can, each for his own reasons. There’s sensuality between them but most of all a big lack of communication. However from the start Brand is certain he can help Kasia controlling her spontaneous combustions, which allow the heroine to begin controlling this power.

On the plot side, I wasn’t disappointed. We follow them in their travel through Europe to the blue dragons’ clan, chased by diverse enemies, most of them sent by the High King who’s obviously the series’ recurring bad guy. As a consequence there are numerous battles that are well described. The universe is interesting, and the final battle is intense and gripping. As for the ending, it announces the following volume with the apparition of one of Kasia’s sisters and the immediate declaration by the blue dragon king that she’s his, like a seagull in Finding Nemo lol. This promises to create sparks!

To conclude it’s a good series’ first volume in spite of my comments (and there are dragons!! lol) and I’ll read the next with pleasure.

She chose her moment to die…to save her children!

It is insta love, which in the dragon world is very acceptable, and Brand has an overwhelming need to help the woman covered in flames.

Kasia has seen him in her visions. She has been waiting for him. Everyone wants her…dragons, werewolves, vampires… for their own reasons, but no one will make her do something that isn’t right for her.

Brand is a rogue, unclaimed by any dragon clan.

Though the theme, dragons and paranormal romance is familiar, the Phoenix is rare and coveted…by me and other lovers of the supernatural world. Even though I know dragon meets girl, falls in love, braves many dangers and lives happy ever after, it’s the bits and pieces that an author like Abigail Owen adds that makes the story special.

The world building makes the scenery and action come to life. The characters are easy for me to remember, because the story engulfed me. At times the dialogue is humorous, helping alleviate the feeling of danger that hovers around the characters. Tons of action and never a dull moment.

I have read several of Abigail Owen’s series and look forward to each and every story she writes. As expected, she gave me a magical love story and new characters to love in her new Inferno Rising series. I have met two of Kasia’s sisters and I think I know who’s story may be next. I can hardly wait.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Rogue King by Abigail Owen.

I had never heard of this author before, which is weird since she's been around for awhile. But, through the membership of NetGalley, i chose this book to do some light reading while waiting for authors I'm familiar with to come out with new books. I've got really good taste!

This was a very well written, very exciting, very romantic and very Dragon! book of Dragon shifters and Phoenixes. The storyline was well thought out and flowed wonderfully, giving me 2 of my favorite paranormal creatures in the same novel. With action galore from the very beginning, and with romance blossoming between 2 very similar yet very different creatures, I didn't have a moment of boredom. Not for a single minute did I want to put it down because there was too much description or too much inane dialogue. This has become an unusual occurrence since overdone description seems to be rampant everywhere. This was truly a treat.

I also found myself liking most of the characters, and enjoying hating the ones that I hated. Between Kasia, Brand, Maul, Ladon and the various characters on the good side, and Pytheios, Uther and the myriad of characters on the evil side, there is no lacking for entertaining dialogue and exciting action scenes, be it fights or passion. All of which were gripping enough that I found myself unable to put the book down. I mean, what else would you expect with a tussle over the crown of High King, a tug of war over the Phoenix and a wrestling match over the heart. Throw in some snappy dialogue that combined sarcasm and wit with actual conversation and you have the recipe for an exceptionally enjoyable novel. And for someone like me who was thoroughly sick of shifter novels, this was is genuine find.

I'm looking forward to reading The Blood King, book 2 in the Inferno Rising series, and going back and reading the sister series, Fire's Edge. It's always fun to find a new author, well, new to me anyway, to add to my library.

Very Well Done, Abigail Owen. Very Well Done indeed! You actually brought me back to shifters, which I never saw coming!

This book was given to my by NetGalley for which I am providing an honest and unbiased review of my own volition.

brand astarot is a rogue dragon who has survived under incredible odds. his one goal is to become part of the blue clan (the clan who allowed him to stay close and whose king he helped put in power) and take his revenge on the dragon who killed his family. when he's sent on an errand to find a mysterious woman by the blue king, he doesn't ask too many questions.

but kasia amon isn't what she seems. she is a phoenix. one of four sisters, some of whom may also have the full power of a phoenix, they were forced to scatter when their mother was killed by the crazed red king.

this story has some crossover into the fire's edge series, which i've read, so i had no trouble keeping up with the overarching mythology, but it's not necessary to read those books too. but like, why not read those books, because like the rogue king they are all hella good.

**the rogue king will publish on july 30, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.

Kasia is on the run to stay ahead of dragon shifters. Her being a phoenix makes her prized as a mate to the dragons. She ends up running into Brand, a rogue dragon shifter looking for her. He has his own agenda. These two have chemistry but also heartbreaking pasts to overcome. I loved this story.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

WOW! Just Wow! If any one reads my reviews and I mean anyone, they all know I have a THANG FOR DRAGONS!!!! I FREAKING LUUUURRRVVVEEE THEM SO MUCH!!! If I had a wish, it would be that I could shift into a dragon, Lol. This is my first read by this author and man, did she take me on a FIRE-BREATHING DRAGON RIDE!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!! This is Brand and Kasia story. Brand is a rogue dragon betrayed and on a quest for vengeance to those who wronged him and his family. Kasia, a Phoenix on the run with her sisters, too has been betrayed. Brand knows that if he mates with a Phoenix, he can enact his revenge on the dragon clan that killed his family. However, though Kasia and Brand meet and there is definitely some fire attraction going on, she feels that she cannot trust any dragons, as it was a dragon who murdered her Mum. Filled with action, suspense, a thrilling roller coaster ride of adventure, with hot some hot steamy sex thrown in, make for a wonderfully, well written story. I am sooooooo looking forward to the next book! I cannot wait!!***** 5 STEAMING, CONFLAGRATION, SCORCHING, INFERO, PYRE STARS*******

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

This book is absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed reading it! The Rogue King is a great start to a new series by Abigail Owen. It was non-stop action from beginning to end. I loved the characters, and the world building.

When Kasia can't control her fire, which also allows her to see visions, she seeks help and winds up at a clinic where someone suspects what she is and rats her out. Kaisa is the eldest of four sisters, whose mother was the last known phoenix in the world. Or at least, she was until she surrendered her powers over to her daughters before promptly being murdered. So for the past few years Kaisa has been living in hiding, on the run from dragon forces that would use her as a political pawn. But when she powers being to flare out of control, she is exposed by people she seeks help from and finds herself caught by Brand.

Brand is a rogue, which means he doesn't have a clan, since the brutal fall of his family. His only goal is revenge and for that he needs the support of a dragon clan, so he befriended King of the Blue Dragons, and if he could bring the blue King a phoenix then he's in the clan. But things take a turn. I'm not going to spoil too much more but I just LOVED the dynamic between Kasia and Brand!

There was never a dull moment in this story and I am sooo looking forward to reading the next book, especially with the cliffhanger at the end! This is a must-read for paranormal romance fans. I highly recommend it!

This book begins a new series set in the previously set up world of dragons and their fated mates. You can definitely start fresh here, but coming to this series with some groundwork definitely had me hooked from page 1!

The story that begins here starts with a phoenix. Turns out, if you have a phoenix mated to you, it automatically makes you high king of the dragons. Unfortunately for power hungry dragons, the phoenix must actually choose you, so there should be some wooing involved. That didn’t stop the evil melty current king of the dragons from trying to force himself on a phoenix. When that failed, and she found her own mate, he was determined to just suck her powers from her and kill any offspring. Said phoenix ended up having 3 daughters who had been trained their entire life for a dragon attack. Sent to various hidden places around the world, Kasia is the first one we meet up with. She is also the first one to be found by a rogue dragon for hire – Brand.

Brand has his own secrets to keep, so these two are evenly matched in hiding. They are also, surprisingly, evenly matched in running and fighting (or hot wiring cars, as the case may be). There is also, of course, some simmering interest between them. While on the run, things run hot (literally, sometimes), they are both finding their place in this world. Things they took for granted, the black and white imagined lines they drew, are all changed by the end of this book. As the intro to a series, this was a great start. This can certainly be read standalone, but with a start like this, how could you not want to read the rest?

A hot and enticing read! I'm a huge Donna Grant fan, and this book was right up my alley and just as dragon-filled as I wanted it.

Brand and Kasia were quite the pair, and I love their chemistry and dialogue. With the right notes of angst and danger, it was a thrilling, fun read that I finished quickly. For fans of fantasy romance, this one's for you!

Special thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to review.

This is the first book from Ms. Owen that I have read. I must say that I will now read more of her work. The Rogue King is a tale of mythical creatures living among the humans while battling within themselves. When Kasia's secret of being the phoenix is told, she must now be on the run while trying to keep her secrets. Brand is a gold dragon shifter who is living as a rogue and is out to avenge the murders of his family and clan. When Brand is tasked to bring Kasia to the Blue Dragon clan, Brand and Kasia have to only fight other creatures, but they also have to resist their intense attraction to each other.
Ms. Owens have weaved a tale of love and hate, friendship and traitors, and mythical creatures who will not stop in order to achieve their goal. The Rogue King is full of suspense and action. The story slowly builds and then keeps you entranced. If you like mythical creatures filled with intense sexual attraction and a fight for supreme ruling, The Rogue King is a must read! I love that this is the first book in the series because I do not want it to end. I look forward to finding out what happens next.

This is a fun read. It’s an interesting take on the Phoenix myth. I liked that the female lead needs help, not just rescuing. She may not be able to defeat the villains herself, but she’s no damsel. I also liked that it’s not just one bad guy, but basically an institution or false government that needs to be taken down. So as the series continues it’s not just about one villain, but a system to be dismantled.

There was no instalove, and although they did fall for each other quickly the attraction built. It also was tenuous because it was driven as much by hormones as personality. So while you knew a HEA was coming, things going sideways was a real possibility too. I enjoyed the world building and all of the creatures. Aside from the dragons, there are some other beings I would love to get their own books. This series could go on for a while without fear of getting stale. I can’t wait for the next book.