This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I could not put this book down! There was just so much going on and secrets were revealed and I had to keep reading til the end.

Aurora and King have been kind of circling around each other - mostly because she had been held captive for a year and was still recovering from that ordeal and King knew that and didn't want to pressure or rush her into anything. So, for the longest time, they were friends and supported each other until Aurora realized that she wanted more!

We see more of the other people in New Orleans and the past couples, so that is always fun to see them in the story. Add in an old enemy that King thought he had defeated and some secrets about King's past and you have a great mix to add to the slow build romance with King and Aurora.

There is never a dull moment and this book is just action packed and so, so full of romance which leads to a great HEA!

Whoo hoo! Finally, almost a year after Ancient Enforcer, we have another Ancient Rising story. And even better: it is about King and Aurora.

From the first story in the series, Ancient Protector, we have seen the attraction between King and Aurora. But after everything Aurora has endured, she is not ready to trust anyone.

King feels responsible for his territory. But being Alpha isn’t easy and some­times he would like to take a break. Or have a mate to help shoulder the burden. And his wolf certainly has someone in mind: Aurora, the Phoenix who was saved in Ancient Protector. But King knows that Aurora needs her space, so he only acts as her friend. However, New Orleans is facing a new unknown threat. So King and Aurora, together with their friends, will need to find a way to save New Orleans. And they get help from someone very unexpected.

But will they be in time to save everyone? As usual: a fastpaced, intense story, full of suspense, unexpected twists and turns. And of course some romance and a HEA.

Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

I've been looking forward to King and Aurora's story for awhile now. I was surprised with the slow burn for this couple in this book since we have basically been getting the slow burn for several books, but I honestly can't complain about it. It just seemed to fit these two, especially with Aurora's past trauma. I'm also excited to say that we get to learn what makes King so powerful. I loved where his story went and the new characters we got introduced too. I really adore this supernatural world that Katie Reus has created here. On top of the new characters, I just love it when we get the same side characters as well. I've come to love and adore all of them and I'll never get tired of any of them. The storyline is exciting like always, and these always make for a fast read because I just don't want to put them down. I'm looking forward to so many more books for the series.

I think everyone who has been reading this series has been waiting for Aurora and King's story. I think everyone, including Aurora and King would have been shocked if they didn't get together. They were clearly meant for each other - just waiting for the right moment to take the next step in their relationship. Both of them have complicated personal histories - and a lot of trauma. In more ways than I think they even realized, they have a similar history and similar drive to help their community. Not to mention that King is sex-on-legs level desirable.

I loved that Aurora really comes in to her own - not only as a partner to king but in her own right. And even though King is the undisputed leader of the territory - he supports her without question and completely. He also shows the community around them that she is his true partner - not just the woman in his life.

One of the best thing about this series is the kick-butt women - and this book really shows them to their best advantage. I can't wait for more stories in this series.

that being said, I am not sure I would recommend this as a starting point in the series - as there are a lot of characters and a lot to learn about this world and where things stand. But that being said - you could start here because while there is an overarching storyline - it is looser than in some urban paranormal series.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Ancient Vendetta (Ancients Rising, #4) by Katie Reus
This series is becoming one of my favorites - I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. This story is about Alpha wolf King and Phoenix Aurora. We catch up with all our old family and friends and even find some new ones. I am in love with Hunter the dragonling and want one of my own. There are new challenges to King's territory and he needs Aurora by his side. This kept you on the edge of your seat - nonstop action, angst, danger, couples finding mates, tears, laughter, emotional baggage, evil and plenty of steam to get us to a very HEA. There were also some hints as to what might be happening next...I can't wait.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Happily Ever After Romantic Great word building Haunting Unpredictable Scary Tear-jerker Tragic Action-packed Funny Wonderful characters Steamy Entertaining Easy-to-read Page-turner

King and Aurora❤️

Ancient Vendetta is the next book in the much anticipated Ancient Rising series and features our loyal and steadfast Alpha of New Orleans, King and the kind-hearted Phoenix, Aurora🥰 This book is action-packed and grip the edge of your seat filled with heaps of emotion and suspense kind of story…which makes for a spectacularly fast-paced read…and yes you got me, I didn’t want to stop reading either😉😁

Some BIG BIG BIG surprises in this one…no spoilers here…and perhaps a hint at more books in this series? If so - YES PLEASE❣️I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and voluntarily leave my honest review😍

This book had a lot going for it. I stayed up way too late reading it. Aurora was a Phoenix that had been held captive for a year and was just getting on her feet again. She was a sweet girl and liked to help people. She was also very attracted to King who was the leader of the New Orleans area. He knew she was his mate, but wanted to let her have her time to recover and come to him on her own. Meanwhile Lucuis has escaped and is killing quite a few people all to get power as he wants to kill King and rule everyone. I thought he was maybe good for about 2 pages until he mercilessly killed a bunch of people without remorse. The mystical characters and shifters in this book were all interesting and will continue to be in future books.. And how could you not love Hunter? Soo cute. I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarly leaving a review

Ancient Vendetta is the fourth book in the Ancients Rising series, and the stakes keep getting higher and higher. The story follows Aurora and King, and I was so excited to read their story! I loved them in the previous books, and I couldn’t wait for their slow-building friendship to turn into something more. It didn’t disappoint. Their story is romantic, suspenseful, dangerous, and lovely.

Enemies new and old threaten Aurora and King, and there are so many heart-pounding moments in the story. Reus continues to develop and expand the post-apocalyptical world, and it’s so intriguing. I love this world where shifters, humans, witches, vampires, and more all coexist. And there are pet dragons!! I love the pet dragons! They are so fun and sweet, and they have the best personalities. It’s so cool to see them grow and mature as the series progresses. I also really like the vision King has for the future of New Orleans.

King is the Alpha of New Orleans, and he is one of my favorite characters in the series. The story delves into King’s past, which is totally not what I expected! This was such an intriguing and, at times, heartbreaking part of the story. and it explained so much about his character. I love King’s strength and determination, as well as his deep understanding of others. He’s sharp and fair, and he has earned the respect of all who live in his territory. King wants to make his territory a better place for everyone, and he will literally give his life to ensure the safety of his people. Plus, the way he feels about Aurora is positively swoon-worthy!!

Aurora is such a fantastic heroine. Caring and kind, Aurora is well-liked by everyone. She has such a wonderful personality and is admired for her willingness to listen and learn, her acceptance of all, her eagerness to help, and her good intentions. She and King have worked so hard to rebuild New Orleans, and I think people have a lot of respect for both of them because of this. However, Aurora has been through a lot and doesn’t realize her own strength. After being held captive for a year, she suffers from PTSD, and she doesn’t know if she’ll ever be ready for love and a relationship. She struggles to forgive herself, but she never gives up hope, especially as her feelings for King come further and further to the surface.

King has been in love with Aurora for a while, but he knows she’s not ready, and he doesn’t push her. I love that King understands Aurora’s needs and never pressures her for more than she’s willing to give. You can tell he really cares about her, and he respects her. This is a woman he wants in his life for the rest of his life, and he never treats her as anything less than an equal deserving of respect and love. And they fit together so well and complement each other perfectly. I think she’s is going to be a great mate for an Alpha like King, and she’s already shown what a great leader she is. Aurora and King have such a swoon-worthy, slow-building friends-to-lovers romance, and is it (literally and figuratively) magical! Oh my word, their chemistry!

There are several other romances in the story that I totally loved, as well as hints of a few other possible love stories that I’m hoping to see in future books in the series. Reus creates such compelling characters and pairs, and I’m always eager to learn more about them and this new world they’re creating. I also really love the found families in the book. The story includes many amazing friendships and relationships, and there are a few new characters introduced, all of whom are connected to King and Aurora, that I’m super curious about.

This is a great addition to the series. It is suspenseful, layered, and romantic, and there are some fun and funny parts too. I would definitely recommend it to readers of paranormal romance, and I’m so thankful to NetGalley and the author for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars - It was really good

Alpha wolf shifter King has kept his New Orleans from collapsing. But every day is a new challenge but he never expects that an old enemy would return to destroy him and his town.

King and Aurora have been circling each other since they met and I loved seeing them finally come together. King has been taking it very slow with Aurora because he knows she needs her freedom after being captured. I liked that he was patient and never rushed her. Also King’s history was very surprising.

Aurora was a great heroine. She was kind, protective, and smart. She really is the perfect alpha mate because she tries to take care of everyone. She is always helping around the community and doing what she can to improve everyone's lives. I like that we also see her taking the alpha place with her family as well since Star is now in Scotland.

The enemy was very interesting and dangerous. I liked that this situation brought new allies for King’s territory. I am very interested in seeing if they will play a bigger role in future books. Overall, this was a great addition to this series and I really loved King and Aurora. I can’t wait to see how their mating will improve New Orleans.

Trigger Warnings: Aurora was kidnapped and held prisoner for over a year.

Ancient Vendetta (Ancients Rising #4) by Katie Reus
Publisher: KR Press, LLC
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Published: December 28, 2021

Ancient Vendetta is the fourth book in the Ancients Rising series by Katie Reus. This can easily be read as a standalone book, but I just binge read the whole series in 4 days because I knew it would be incredible!

I don't even know where to start, this book is filled with so much good stuff! The world the author has created is fascinating and I feel so invested in it. The characters are relatable, likable, and captivating!

Did I mention there are supernaturals and humans living together to survive this world? Wow!!! Dragon shifters, wolves, fae, witches, vampires and humans have come together to thrive in these new circumstances and boy, do they make this book exciting!

The romances in this book are so steamy (NSFW level steam!) and the chemistry is off the chart.

I loved how fast paced this book was, filled with twists and turns and enough suspense to make me not put this one down!

I can't wait to see what happens next with this series!

If you love romance, fantasy, and adventure, then this book is for you! I highly recommend it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What could possibly go wrong when you take all types of fantasy creatures (witches, dragons, shifters, vampires, fat, etc.) add in some humans and an end of the world scenario?

Katie Reus has taken three of my most favorite reading genres: dystopian, fantasy, and romance, and put them all in one book series for my pure reading enjoyment. At the beginning of the 'Ancients Rising' series we learn that there had been a devastating dragon attack. Populated areas all over the world had been destroyed. Those that survived are trying to pull together to create some semblance of a working society. Through the first three books we were introduced to Aurora, who has hidden her shifter side all her life due to the special power it brings her, and King, the alpha leader of his wolf shifter pack and also ruler of the rebuilding city of New Orleans.

King has a unique perspective to ruling, he hopes for a unity among the different species, he believes that together they can rebuild the world into a better place than it was before the attack, he allows for individuality but should someone get out of line he has no problem doling out a punishment. Aurora is struggling to overcome the terrors of her past. She feels a draw to King but doesn't know if she is healed enough from old wounds to let him become anything more than a friend.

When contemplating the current real world climate, I think Reus attempts to show humans how we can overcome our differences in appearance, beliefs, and culture to make the world a better, more peaceful place to live. Reus was able to check all my genre boxes while at the same time giving me hope that the world could be a better place to live if we all just put in the effort.

On a side note, I had mistakenly thought 'Ancient Vendetta' was to be the last book in this series but when I got to the end of the story, I was pleasantly surprised to see a new title listed in the 'Ancients Rising' section under 'Complete Booklist'. Reus made my day.

Since the beginning of this series King’ and Aurora’s story has been developing. The two of them have worked hard on rebuilding New Orleans along with the rest of the supernaturals and shifters who live their. As ruler King shoulders a lot of responsibility and power but he will do everything possible to make sure they rebuild and find harmony. Aurora has been healing from her captivity and the feelings she has for King are growing stronger everyday but she isn’t sure if she can set her fear aside to have what she truly wants with him. Just when you think the two of the will have that chance an evil enemy of King’s shows up and these two will have to do everything they can to defeat him.

Riveting story filled will some laughs, drama love and fighting. Loved every single moment of it.

Welcome back to post-apocalyptic New Orleans. Ancient dragons came and laid waste to humanity and finally exposed the supernatural world to the humans. King, half-wolf shifter, is Alpha of the New Orleans pack and his vision has united the other supernaturals behind him. Slowly he is rebuilding a better, more ecologically sound city, in harmony with nature, and has raised the land to reduce the risk of flooding.

Aurora is one of the rarest shifters, a phoenix whose blood had regenerative properties. Having recently escaped from a crazed man who kept her captive for her blood for over a year she is suffering PTSD and fears that she will never trust another male enough to be intimate.

King knows Aurora is his mate, but as the Alpha he has to wait for her to come to him, meanwhile an ancient foe has arisen and wants to kill King. With powers beyond anything King has seen before can he and his allies defeat the vampire and save New Orleans?

Years ago I gave up on most PNR because it was all so same-same (J.R. Ward's 'mine, mine mine' epitomised the predictability of the genre) but there are a few authors that made it through the great PNR cull and Katie Reus is one. And I honestly don't know why, she throws every PNR cliche in the book into her novels and I just nod and smile and say 'yes, yes, yes very good, very good' Maybe it's the fight scenes? Or the epic list of characters? Who knows, I just lurve them and I'm never disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I've been impatiently waiting for King and Aurora's story ever since they met in the first book of the Ancients Rising series. You can imagine my reaction when I was granted with an ARC!!! To say I was jumping of joy is lightly expressed.

King and Aurora have been dancing around each other for a while, King knows she's his mate but because of her past he is giving her all the time and space she needs to come to him. Aurora feels very strongly about King and is finding it harder and harder to keep her feelings to herself, but she's afraid that she's too damaged, too broken to be the mate of the Alpha of the territorium.
But when a threat from his past comes to endanger the lives of his pack, and especially his own live, Aurora steps up and stands by his side like a true mate. She realises that she is stronger than she thinks, that she is worthy of being King's mate and they finally give in to their feelings.
What follows is a lot of action that have you sit on the edge of your seat, all in true Katie Reus fashion. There was even a point where I was just completely gobsmacked with the turn of the story.
We also got some new interesting characters that definitely need their own story.

Highly recommended!!

I kindly received this ARC by the author via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Finally!!
We’ve been waiting for this story for a while.

Aurora is trying to go on with her life after things that happened in her past. She doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to be whole again.

King knew the minute he saw her that she was his mate. An ancient evil from his past has come back to even the score. This alpha will do anything to protect his people and his mate.

“The Alpha of New Orleans has a pet dragon? That’s…I don’t know. Unexpected.”

Hunter chirped an agreement, covered his face again with his wings then pulled them back and cackled as if he was playing peekaboo.

There was lots of action packed into this story. Great characters but so many I got a little confused on who was who. Still a amazing edition to this series.

I’ve been waiting for King and Aurora’s book and it didn’t disappoint.

After being kidnapped and losing a year of her life Aurora isn’t sure she’ll ever be ready for love. But she finds herself attracted to King. Problem is King’s an alpha and she sees herself as broken. How could she ever be his mate?

King wants Aurora but doesn’t want to push. He doesn’t know what he’ll do if she rejects him. But doesn’t know how long he can hold off as his wolf is riding him to mate.

A monster from his past, one he thought was gone forever is back. And it wants revenge. Everything King has built, everyone he cares about is threatened. Along with his life.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

I loved this book! It's so well written with truly remarkable personalities wrapped in extreme circumstances. I highly recommend it.