e’re once again in the world of dragons, and those who have followed the series from the beginning will recognize the author’s signature style, which continues seamlessly in this book. At the heart of the story are Merrill and Katla—two characters shaped by their pasts and the mistakes they’ve made. Their journey is one of facing inner demons, overcoming old wounds, and ultimately finding and accepting love.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley.

I tried so many times, but I’m sorry to say I just couldn’t get into this book. I usually love fantasy books, especially with dragons, but it just wasn’t engaging.

Donna Grant does it again!
I absolutely loved this book! Can't wait for more in the series, between the Skye series and the the Dragon series, much of my TBR shelf is booked.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, come on, a book with dragons will always get me, and this really surprised me! World building was fabulous and I adored so many of the characters. Definitely would recommend on to my friends to read this

First things first, thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Now... let's talk... I asked for an arc of Dragon Marked without knowing that it was THE 9TH BOOK of a series, but then, after investigating it a bit, I discovered it could be read separately, so I did. I must say that I would have loved to read it as a series because I feltlike I was losing some info at the beginning. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this one. I was looking for a dragon book and I definitely found one, but I discovered one with a dash of romance, a great worldbuilding, character development, and an impresive writing, Donna Grant made me feel all kinds of emotions throughout the book. It was such a captivating story.

Really enjoyed this one and now I want to read the other 8 that came before haha.

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.