A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Even though this is book 9 in a series, it was easy to pick up and read without getting lost. I particularly loved the run down of all dragon kings and their details at the beginning of the book.
I found the beginning a bit slow, but then it picked up and I did really enjoy reading this book. I was quite surprised by the plot twist at the end, nothing is ever what it seems.
All in all this was a good read, and I will likely add the preceding books to my never ending TBR!

***Thank you so much NetGalley and Donna Grant for allowing me to be able to read this ARC***

In this story if dragons, druids, fae, shifters and mates we follow Katla (a Druid and touched with other magic) and Merrill a dragon king shifter. Katla is looking for vengeance on a Star Person named Villette, which just so happens, so is Merrill. But there are other beasts in this story that got in the way of Katla and Merrill trying to be able to do so! I absolutely loved how these two characters came together and I’m so excited to see how their story continues in the next book!

I did not realize that this was book 9 but I was able to read it and get most of what was happening. Over all it felt a little long and dragged in some areas but was a fun dragon shifter book.

Mysterious, fast-paced, and full of dragon lore 🐉✨

Dragon Marked draws readers into a world of ancient power, hidden scars, and dangerous alliances. There’s a compelling sense of history beneath the surface, and the connection between the leads feels deeply fated. With a focus on loyalty, redemption, and the secrets that bind the Dragon Kings, this is a quick, engaging read for fans of paranormal intrigue and epic romantic stakes.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was action-packed, interesting, steamy, fun and held my interest. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Dragon shifters.
Star crossed lovers
Yearning
Fast paced
All good things but wasn’t able to connect with characters. Lacked depth.

I’ve been waiting for Merrill’s story, and it was everything I hoped for and more. His bond with Katla is raw, emotional, and beautifully healing. Both carry heavy scars from their pasts, and watching them find strength and redemption in each other was powerful. Their journey across Zora, battling Villette and confronting old wounds, kept me hooked from start to finish. The emotional depth, the intense action, and the undeniable chemistry between Merrill and Katla made this one of my favorite reads in the Dragon Kings series. Donna Grant’s world-building is as magical as ever. This is a heartfelt, action-packed romance that lingers long after the final page.

A redemption story about resilience and finding a connection in the most unexpected place (not to mention steamy Scottish accents). Merrill and Katla are two souls with heavy pasts that learn to trust one another over the course of this emotional, action-packed ride of a book. A fantastic read for everyone in need of a dragon of their own.

As with the other books in this series, Dragon Marked is loaded with great characters, so much action, a difficult situation to be dealt with and a slow burn love story. Grant is so consistently good and this series is exactly as good as one would expect from her.

Merrill and Katla have been through hell with everyone else in Stonemore. The recent battle against Miena was devastating. No one is comfortable with Villette despite her having help them kill her sister. Katla is has so much remorse for her role in luring unsuspecting dragons into the brambles and to their deaths. How does she live with that now that she knows that the anger she carried for a millennium was all based on a lie. Her family was not killed. They are long gone now but they lived out their lives after the attack where Katla was certain a dragon had killed them. She's been duped and used in the worst way for so long. How many dragons died because of her? Merrill too was lied to by Miena and Villette and led to do unspeakable acts. He can't ignore that he willingly did what he was told even if he did so out of being misinformed and used. There is no happy life for these two. How can there be?

Or can there be? Merrill finds Katla taking care of three orphans in the middle of the woods. He cannot ignore their dire situation. Food is obviously and issue. He can easily contribute a tasty meal. As the two work to save the children trust begins to build, very slowly. Eventually, the children are delivered to Merrill's dragon kin to be protected and nurtured. An event Katla could never have envisioned! Now Merrill and Katla are free to seek out Villette for the revenge each needs. Their trek finds them reevaluating everything and learning to not only trust but care for each other.

They aren't getting out easily of course and a battle must be fought and won before they can find their HEA. But, of course, they do. Sigh.

Ms. Grant, keep up the good work!

Great editon to the series! Can be read one its own, as well as part of the series if you're looking for more!

When I signed up for this book, I was not aware it was part of a series. Turns out that didn't matter. This book provides enough history to keep up with the story. The world building is there as well as character development. There wasn't as much enemies to lovers as I thought there would be, but it doesn't detract from anything. Very enjoyable book that has me wanting to read the series from the beginning ...

Will be recommending to all my fantasy reading friends for sure!

I must admit that I did not realize this was part of a series when I requested it. That being said, I feel the author did a great job recapping what had previously occurred in the plot line seamlessly. I enjoyed the scenes with the dragons in their dragon form the most, and the dialogue having the Scottish accent built in.

Loved reading the mesmerizing and spellbinding paranormal story. When Merrill leaves the Dragon Kings to find his enemy Villette, he meets Katla who is protecting three children. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story by the phenomenal author, Donna Grant.

Well now I have an entire backlog of TBR got this author! This is my first Donna Grant book and will not be my last. I've already added this entire series to my digital shelves. A fabulous fantasy with all sorts of different "creatures" including dragon shifters, druid , fae, and more in a fantastically built world. My only complaint is that the pacing seemed a little slow, but I also felt the urge to devour this book in 2 days. Sleep was sacrificed for this fun but heartfelt book where two people grieving losses and mistakes that were made come together to help one another through while fighting forces much bigger than them. Learning to ask for and accept help to overcome their own battles and the battles against evil forces that are pulling their world apart. An emotional and mildlysteamy book that's inspired me to read more from this author.

Back on Zora, back with our dragons, and finally—finally—it’s Merrill’s turn to take center stage. After playing the eternal supporting role in everyone else’s fiery drama, the spotlight is where it belongs. And oh, was it worth the wait.
Donna Grant, queen of the long game and even longer emotional whiplash, somehow manages again to drop a new villain worse than the last, as if her imagination runs on dragon fire instead of coffee. Every time I think, “She can’t possibly top the last threat,” she pulls out a new horror, and I’m left slack-jawed and clutching my emotional support blanket.
Katla and Merrill: two souls battered by the weight of their pasts, navigating not just treacherous terrain, but also the even more dangerous inner landscape of guilt, healing, and trust. Their journey is half action-packed thrill ride, half emotional therapy session—with dragons, obviously. One moment you're flying through firestorms, the next you're ugly crying and whispering “they deserve happiness” like it's a prayer.
Let’s be clear: this book is not gentle. It grabs you by the throat, spins you like a cyclone, breaks your heart into little glittering shards, and still manages to serve up a swoony HEA because, well, it’s Donna “Grant-ed” after all. Pun fully intended.
So here I am again, emotionally wrung out, mascara somewhere around my collarbone, and already desperate for the next installment. Because if you think anything is truly resolved, think again. Zora always has more secrets, and Donna Grant always has more dragons—and more ways to ruin us beautifully.

When I received the ARC from NetGalley, I thought Dragon Marked was a standalone but later I found out it was book 9 of the Dragon Kings' series. This is the first time I read Donna Grant.

The beginning was too slow for me. It took multiple days to really get into the worldbuilding and story. Katla, a Druid, and Merrill, the orange Dragon King, meet again. They slowly build their trust towards each other and agree on a joint revenge mission to destroy Villette, their shared enemy. Villette has used both Merrill and Katla for her evil plans.

Even though I didn't have the knowledge of the previous relationships and characters in the series, the book can be read as a standalone. The index in the beginning of the book was the most helpful, since there are many characters/couples in the series. Some of the Scottish colloquialisms confused me a bit but I was able to figure it out.

The plot twist surprised me, which also included who the true villain of the story was. The last quarter of the book really picked up on the action, and finally the slow burn paid off.

I was not aware that this was part of a huge series when I applied for this ARC. With that said, I struggled to get into the world and characters. That is all on me, though, for not realizing I was going into a later book in a series.

Another thing that hindered my liking of this book was it being told in 3rd person. The writing was also a little difficult to understand but maybe that's just my preference.

I pushed through and read it to the end, but I honestly skipped a lot of parts. I love dragon stories and fated mates is a favorite trope of mine, but this story just wasn't for me.

Anyway... If you push past that it's a good book.
Also the spice was great 👀

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this free copy in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻!

The story is easy to follow and easy to get lost in especially since the I didn't find the world building to be that heavy. There were a few gripping moments in the book and the emotional twist towards the end really hit hard. The characters were interesting to follow and it really showed how they healed, developed and got over their personal fears and blocks. It was super engaging and kept me hooked the while time.

Donna did it again, as always another action packed, fast paced book full of love intreadue and amazing characters that grow and develop throughout the book. I can't say enough abou this book or her work as always she is a MUST READ author for me and I will pick up anything she puts out into the book world.

BRAVO on another amazing story