so funny thing is that i had no clue this was the ninth book in the series when i requested the ARC. thankfully, i was still able to follow along since it can still be read as a standalone, phew.

“Dragon Marked” blends action, romance, and rich world-building into a pretty darn compelling read. so if you’re into all that, i’d definitely recommend giving it a shot.

big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, I liked it A LOT.

I absolutely loved this! I haven’t read any of the other ones in the series, but I felt like this was very easy to follow. It was a very good fun, exciting book and I can’t wait to go back and read the other books as well.

Donna Grant's dragons are some of my favorites to read. Often with Scottish accents, you'll never find a sexier dragon shifter than in this series.

Building upon a larger storyline, each book in the series expands on the mythology and world-building and this book is no exception.

I thoroughly enjoyed the action, drama and romance that this book had. Grant's writing style is very easy to read and understand. As this is my favorite series from this author, I had some high hopes, but I am very disappointed. These books have become comfort reads for me. I am already looking forward to the next book, DRAGON FORGED.

Thank you to NetGalley, Donna Grant, and DL Grant, LLC for the opportunity to read Dragon Marked in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Dragon Marked is a story of redemption, power, and healing, wrapped in the rich mythology of Donna Grant’s Dragon Kings universe. With a wounded dragon king and a fiercely guarded druid at its center, this installment brings high-stakes fantasy, emotional depth, and a satisfying slow-burn romance that fans of the series will absolutely appreciate.

We follow Merrill, the enigmatic Orange Dragon King, as he seeks answers, and atonement, after centuries of silence. His path crosses with Katla, a druid with painful secrets of her own, and together they’re pulled into a dangerous mission that threatens not only their lives, but the fragile trust they begin to build. The emotional weight of their shared trauma is palpable, and watching them slowly lower their defenses is one of the story’s most rewarding aspects.

The pacing is a little slow at first, particularly for new readers who might be unfamiliar with the lore-heavy world. But once the action kicks in, the tension holds strong, balancing supernatural intrigue with real emotional stakes. Grant’s world-building continues to shine complex, atmospheric, and full of threads that weave into the larger saga without overshadowing the core romance.

And the romance itself? Earned and deeply felt. Merrill and Katla don’t fall into instant passion; instead, their connection grows through shared pain, small acts of trust, and moments of vulnerability that feel all the more meaningful because they’re hard-won. It’s steamy, yes, but also rooted in healing and mutual respect.

If there’s a critique, it’s that the book leans heavily on prior world knowledge—returning readers will feel right at home, but newcomers might need time to catch up. That said, the emotional core stands strong on its own, and by the end, the payoff is well worth it.

Dragon Marked is a compelling blend of fantasy and romance that doesn’t shy away from difficult themes, but still delivers the satisfying heat and heroics readers expect. It's a story about second chances at love, at redemption, and at becoming something stronger than you were before.

3.5 stars. This is the 9th book in a series. If you have read all of the other books this one would probably be a very fun, interesting read. As someone who has not read a single other book in this series, it was mildly confusing at the beginning and took some time to get into the book. The story itself was interesting to read, even if I did not really understand what was going on at first.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

To be transparent, I did not know this book was part of a series and I have not read the other books. Luckily, while I was thrown into the deep end, I wasn't completely lost but I did need to pay VERY close attention to what was going on. Though I do feel like I would have appreciated this book so much more if I had read the previous books.

I really liked the relationship between the MMC and FMC. It was deep and complex, and I enjoyed the romance immensely. The world building was insane and the plot was heavy but intriguing.

This was definitely not a lighthearted cosy read. I almost DNFed this because of how heavy, emotional and angsty it was but I pushed through. Make no mistake, there's A LOT of angst, betrayal and pain. But there's also love, forgiveness and redemption.

This book follows Merrill and Kayla’s story as they chase after a shared enemy. This book is a beautiful example of found family and persevering after trauma. I really enjoyed their relationship and the way that “he fell first”. Overall, I can’t wait to see how the story progresses as this was definitely just the start to their journey.

Dragon Marked kicks off Donna Grant’s Dragon Kings spin-off with a fiery blend of action, romance, and dragon lore. The world Grant has built is rich with history and myth, and this installment pulls you deeper into the magic and mystery surrounding the Dragon Kings.

Jaslyn is a fierce, no-nonsense heroine with a haunted past, and she pairs perfectly with the brooding and loyal Dragon King, Darius. Their chemistry is electric—equal parts tension and tenderness—and the romance unfolds with intensity without overshadowing the larger plot.

There’s a strong sense of danger running through the story, with enemies closing in and secrets unraveling, though some elements felt a bit familiar if you’ve read Grant’s previous works. Still, the pacing is fast, and the stakes remain high from start to finish.

If you’re a fan of paranormal romance with alpha dragons, bold heroines, and high-heat scenes, Dragon Marked delivers in full. A solid, sexy read that sets the stage for more fiery adventures to come.

I had not read the previous books in the series before starting Dragon Marked, but I didn't feel lost in the story. It's an interesting and complex world with the potential for endless stories.
The pacing was very slow for the first half, but steadily increased in the latter half.
I did have trouble connecting with the characters, or finding their attachments believable. The primary couple spent a lot of time as strangers, a bit of time as strangers with secret attraction, followed by what felt like a jarring and sudden emotional investment.

Dragon Marked is a fun, romantic fantasy with dragons, magic, and a bit of mystery. The story follows Evie, a woman with a strange past, and Dorian, a dragon shifter who doesn’t trust easily. As they get closer, they uncover secrets that could change everything.

The best part of the book is the mix of romance and fantasy. There’s great chemistry between the main characters, and the dragon world is interesting without being too confusing. There’s also some danger and action that keep things exciting.

Sometimes the story slows down to explain the world, but it picks up again pretty quickly. If you like steamy romance, dragons, and a little suspense, this book is worth checking out

I love Donna Grant’s books and I did enjoy this one.
Addicting world with great characters

I do highly recommend.

I didn’t love this book sadly. There was so many characters I was confused for the majority of this book. I did like how Katla and Merrill’s story ended. I’m not sure if I will continue this series.

I love dragons do I need to say more. I was a bit confused but realized this was book 9🤭 and started reading book 1 cant wait to read the whole series

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure! If you're a dragon lover, this is a must!

Well, I certainly didn’t see this one coming! of course, I had read about Vilette and Miena and the terrible things they were doing on Zora. But I was a bit surprised that we would have a story about Katla. She was the one who helped Vilette to capture all those dragons in the magic forest, including Melisse (Dragon Born).

But of course, Donna is able to give Katha a history and reason for her betrayal and now her remorse. And Merill, poor Merill. He has endured so much. (why, thank you Donna, for all the boxes of tissues well spend)

This story is bittersweet, full of unexpected out­comes and heartbroken characters. And yet, when all hope seems lost. Donna shows you it is important to keep your faith and to fight to the end. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

An amazing book about revenge and redemption but with dragons - what more could you want?! This follows a druid named Katia and a dragon named Merrill who work together (reluctantly on her part!) to kill their shared enemy. Its a continuation of the story, so I would recommend reading the other books in the series so you dont get confused. This universe/series has got such a unique backstory and includes so many magical beings/creatures, such as druids, star people and fae, so its a really fun world.

This is my first ever ARC read and I am so grateful to the author and publisher for taking a chance on me!

I did some digging and it didn’t seem like the other books in the series were a necessary read before starting this one. While I’m sure it would have provided tons of background I don’t feel as though I was lost in any way because this is the first of the series that I read. I appreciated the explanations and background so it was able to be read as a standalone, That said I will 100% be reading the rest of the books in the series and am excited to read the next book in a few months! (Unrelated but I also REALLY appreciate not having to wait a year or more for the next book…need my fantasy fix!)

I loved the writing style once I got used to reading the Scottish accent, it was a bit of an adjustment but not difficult to overcome. The story building and world building were fantastic! The journey this book took me on was better than many I’ve read recently. The MMC and FMC were a great pairing to overcome the major challenge and conquer the MMC’s inner turmoil. This book also got me right in the feels, even knowing the HEA was coming I cried more than once during this read! The spice level was just right for me and I feel like it added to the story rather than becoming the main focal point which was perfect because the story was so good!

Overall 5 stars and I can’t wait to get into the rest of the story!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

It has been awhile since I read Henry's story so I kind of forgot about Katla but I have been waiting for Merrill's book for a long time! I really wanted to know why he stayed with Villette when he didn't have to stay. Fortunately, there is much background information given so if you have not read or it has been awhile, you can get caught up quickly.

This book is such a great chance for Merrill and Katla to face their past and their guilt and realize that they can have a better future and that they are perfect for each other.

I loved that the book also answered one question so we now know about the entity and why it seemed to hate dragons and Star People but leave other races alone. Unfortunately, Villette is still on the loose!

This was an action packed book as Katla and Merrill tried to find Villette - each for their own reason. Katla wanted revenge for her years of servitude to Villette and being duped into killing many of the dragons. They each had their own guilt and were able to work through it during this journey.

Looking forward to the next book and new excitement!

Dragon Marked at its core is about redemption, forgiveness, and healing—for both Merrill and Katya. When they meet, they are both hurt and haunted by their pasts, and are offered a chance to make amends together. Even as danger dogs their steps and they face a daunting foe, an inevitable trust and undeniable devotion starts to grow between them.

I love books about mates. I don’t care that it’s pretty much insta-love; I don’t care that sometimes it forgoes the relationship development that I adore and crave in every romance. something about mates just scratches the feral part of my brain that needs them to love each other so much they will do anything for each other. So going into dragon marked, I already knew the romance would hit for me.

And I think that’s maybe the only thing that did.

There is a lot of history here. I have known about Donna Grant and her dragon books for a very long time. And yet I have never read Donna Grant or any of her dragon books until now—the ninth book in, I think, the fourth or fifth inter-connected series that she has. Not a great choice! Alas, here we are.

I get that it is on me that I don’t know a lot of the history here. But not knowing the intricate backstories diminished my enjoyment of the side character relationships and the overall plot. The first 40-50% of this book feels like just exposition. We are told exactly how Katya and Merrill got to their emotional low points; we are told what I feel like is a whole series-worth of backstory regarding how the dragons came to be on Zora and slew of history as to what has happened to them here so far; we are told why the villain Villette is the villain and also what she has done. Basically, we are told a lot of things.

And yet I was still confused. And even worse: I am not sure if my confusion is just because I don’t have a lot of the backstory or if it actually just doesn’t make sense, logically. But I will give it the benefit of the doubt, because again, I get it, it’s on me.

I will say though—if you just want to read for the romance, then go for it. but if plot inconsistencies and uncertain characterizations and questionable choices will bother you, read at least some of the books before this one.

The thing I liked most about this book was the relationship development—Grant does not take the easy mate route of insta-love. That interest and attraction is there initially, of course, but what I really appreciated (and where the full two stars of this rating comes from) are the conversations that Merrill and Katya had to get to know each other’s pain. It built genuine care and an understandable bond between the two of them. They both so desperately needed someone, but didn’t know how to ask for help. and with each other, they never had to.

Some of the conversations were tied up in the exposition, and there was a point where I felt it got a little repetitive, but never egregiously, and then the plot got rolling and there was action and more concrete problems for them to deal with which spurred the romance, so I got over it.

It was a short book, so I can’t say that it didn’t move fast. However, there was solid growth there, and I appreciate that.

There were a few shining moments in dragon marked, but for me, it was just muddled in too much history that I didn’t fully understand the gravity of, and character choices and some plotlines that just didn’t land for me. The parts of this book I enjoyed the most were when Merrill and Katya’s relationship was put in the spotlight, whether on a quiet rainy evening when they were opening up to each other, or when their bond was the reason they got out of perilous situations. And yet these brief moments were never quite able to outshine all my other hesitations.

Dragon Marked is an great book, but if you haven’t read the other books in the Dragon Kings series, you probably won’t understand a lot of what is going on and who the supporting characters are in this book. This story was long over due and well worth the wait! I highly recommend this series to anyone thinking about starting it!