MIND BLOWN!!! I need like 5 more of these all with the vibes. This was so so so GREAT!!! I am obsessed!!

Omg what a gorgeous story. I was able to read this book and its sequel and trust me when I tell you: BUY THIS BOOK!

grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me this e-ARC.

this has somehow become one of my favorite worlds ever! the world building and politics was done so intentionally and well thought out that it almost felt real. couple that with the literary and evocative beauty that was the writing and you get one of the most immersive books ever. it’s also important to note how multifaceted and in depth the characters were as each of them felt so real and imminent to the overall story. i only gripes were the fact that it was quite obvious that this author has very specific literary devices that they enjoy and so it came off a but redundant at points, as well as the fact that the plot was relatively predictable. regardless, i loved this so much and i cannot wait for the next book!

I loved Blood of the Sands and couldn’t wait to get my hands the second title.
Crown of the Dunes is book two in The Ballan Desert series by S.C. Grayson.
This was an enthralling romantasy that captivated me from the very beginning.
With the writing style and the atmosphere, it all clings to you.
The writing is atmospheric and gripping, with lovely prose.
Erix and Keera’s relationship is just everything.
I need more!

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

‘Crown of the Dunes’ is an impressive continuation of the Ballan Desert series.

Once again, I was mesmerised by S.C. Grayson’s vivid writing and immersive world-building. The setting leaps off the page, drawing you straight into the heart of the desert.

This instalment is faster-paced than ‘Blood of the Sand’s, though it does slow slightly in the middle before building momentum again. The plot blends action, political intrigue, magic, and forbidden love in a compelling mix.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic had me completely hooked. The tension between the main characters was intense, especially with them on opposing sides.

I’m already tempted to re-read the duology. It’s a gripping, emotional adventure that stays with you.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such a fun read. I had read book 1 and loved it. Greyson’s does a great job with the atmosphere and brining you into the world. Definitely strong characters. I do wish the politic building was explained a little better especially as a second book but overall great read!

The plot for this book felt repetitive and less impactful than the first book. I would have loved to see more character development in this one as well. The characters stayed the same throughout the book, meaning the tension in this story fell flat.

The beginning of the book and the tension that came along with it when our two main characters weren't together was amazing! I loved seeing the yearning for one another while still acknowledging their duties to their people. I did find the reunion of the two characters to be strange because of this, since Erix seemed to give up so easily, despite leading his own group.

I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing what happens next!

It seems as soon as Erix or Keera think they’ve figured out one thing, another issue pops up! But it’s been a lovely journey watching them navigate all the changes! The twists and turns in this book were great, and I’ve been left with wanting more — looking forward to the next book!

4 Stars! ⭐️ This is the second book in the series by @S. C. Grayson and wow what a second book!! Absolutely loved it, new characters unlocked, the yearning of the two main characters. There is a duel POV like the first book and I absolutely love seeing it from both of their perspectives 🥰 100% recommend it

This book was so good, as good as the first one if not even better!
I want more and more!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book with the e-arc.

The Dyslexic Who Reads

Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Stars:🌶️🌶️

What I loved about this book:

❤️ This is a great middle book in a series. It continues the story from the first book well. It shouldn't be read before the first book.

❤️ Once again we are transformed back into the desert with all the same beautiful descriptive world that it invokes.

❤️ We see our two MCs back on conflicting sides longing for each other, and trying to get comfort from the bond they can barely feel anymore. Keera is stuck in the mountainous city missing the feel of the desert wind on her face while Erik is stuck in a trap he created, putting the clans at risk. While the city of Kelvadan is also facing changes that could lead to ruination outside of the threat of the clans.

❤️ I enjoyed the intrigue of this book, the wondering who is the villain and who is the hero is mixed in this story so well, drawing upon the good and evil we all see within ourself.

What could have been better:

🤔 I'm an avid reader, and some of this book was pretty easy to see where it was going, but I find that a curse when we read so much. There is after all, so many directions one can go in a book.

🐎 Horse facts Inspired by the horses in the book:
Arabian horses can have one less veritable than other breeds, and the Bedouins prized their horses so much that they would like their horses sleep with them in their tents.

❤️ Over all if you read the first book you need to read this second one as well! I will be waiting eagerly for the next book to come out!

Crown of the Dunes completely swept me away! This second installment in the Ballan Desert series took everything I loved about Blood of the Sands and cranked it up—more romance, more politics, more danger, more heartache. I was hooked from page one and loved every second.

The romance in this book? Unreal. The yearning, the devotion, the sacrifice, everything! The way he would give up the world for her, and she just wants to protect him from more pain. The chemistry is electric and the slow-burn love had me in my feelings the entire time.

Both MCs shine in their arcs: Keera grows stronger and more determined than ever, while Erix quietly wrestles with grief, loyalty, and the weight of impossible decisions. Please, someone give this man a break.

The world expands beautifully in this book. We dive deeper into the desert clans, their legends, and the politics that pit them against Kelvadan. The lore feels richer, the stakes feel higher, and the tension never lets go. There were twists that kept me guessing, and even when I saw one coming, the way it played out still left me gasping.

My only small thing i noticed is that the pacing drags just a little in the first half when the urgency doesn’t fully land however by the time the story hits its stride, it’s unstoppable. The final chapters are intense, emotional, and leave you desperate for book three.

If you enjoyed Blood of the Sands, you’ll fall even harder for this one. The cliffhanger nearly broke me, and I cannot wait for the finale!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and S.C. Grayson for the ARC!

Thank you so much to S. C. Grayson and netgalley for this ARC!

Wow, what a ride! Crown of the Dunes did not disappoint! There are even more insane Magical creatures to meet, more political maneuvering, court intrigue, characters you have no idea if you can trust or not, a very unhappy Desert and of course, some delightfully sassy horses. AND that's not even touching on Keera and Erix! These two have such a beautiful and tragic story, it is heartbreaking at times. Keera is pulled in two different directions, and this is quite a strong theme for this book!
There is a lot of world building in this book, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some fantastic battle scenes!
I have loved the Ballan Desert series so far and I am so excited to continue it!
The first book, Blood of the Sands is available on KU and I urge you to go read it! Crown of the Dunes is out in 4 days, perfect timing to read book 1 then move immediately on!
Crown of the Dunes has been a 4⭐️ read for me! Series over all so far is a solid 4.5⭐️
Now don't mind me while I pop off to order my hard copies of this amazing series!

I picked up Crown of the Dunes without having read the first book in the series, and to my surprise, I was immediately drawn in. While there were a few moments where I sensed some backstory I was missing, S.C. Grayson does a commendable job of weaving context into the narrative without bogging it down. It never felt like I was completely lost—just intrigued enough to want to go back and read book one.

The world-building is rich and immersive, with the desert setting adding a unique and almost mythic atmosphere. Grayson's writing is both lyrical and sharp, balancing moments of introspection with intense action and political tension. The pacing is steady, with enough twists to keep the pages turning without feeling overwhelming.

One of the standout strengths of this book is its character development. Even without prior knowledge of their arcs, the characters felt layered and believable. The relationships—both romantic and platonic—were compelling, and the emotional stakes felt real. The protagonist’s journey was especially engaging, with clear growth and conflict that made her easy to root for.

If I had to offer a critique, it would be that a few key plot elements might resonate more deeply if one has read the first installment. That said, it’s a testament to Grayson’s storytelling that Crown of the Dunes can still function as a captivating read on its own.

Overall, this is a strong, well-written fantasy that’s both entertaining and emotionally grounded. I’m definitely planning to circle back to the first book—and I’ll be keeping an eye out for what Grayson does next.

After the cliff hanger we were left on after Blood of the Sands, I wondered what direction we would go in, and I am still stunned at THAT ending.

After the events of the first book we are dropped into Keera in recovery and struggling to keep control and The Viper stuck on a plateau of his own making, unable to get to Keera. They are both separated from the one thing that would bring them peace. So they will be no one's peace, including yours or mine as the reader. In a number of increasingly risky moves, both Keera and The Viper are still on the mission of saving the desert, but what they do not yet realize is that they can only accomplish this together.

I did have some feeling of bloat around the middle of the book. I think there could have been some more tight editing, instead of circling the same issue about 10 different ways without feeling we are moving the story forward. In Blood of the Sands, I felt like there were very clear acts set in the story, however, what I believe to be Crown of the Dunes second act, lingers in a way that had me frustrated and ready to move on. I was definitely brought back in but that's what made it a 4 star over a 4.5 for me.

One of the choices that I particularly admire the author for making is not magicking away the physical evidence of the injury that Keera sustained at the end of the last book. Yes, they do heal a significant bit of the scarring, but there are several physical descriptions of her appearance that include the fact that a good portion of her body now has visible texture from her healed wounds and through most of the book, does not begin to regrow hair to the part of her head that was injured. I really respect this choice and am really happy to see that representation in a FMC.

I am anxious to see what is next for Keera and The Viper, especially after the way the author has left us at the end of this particular installment...

Wow.......the first one was good but dare I say this one was even better? It was hotter, stakes higher, and more interesting. i really love the Viper oml. That man. Such a great sequel!

🖤 Vibes:
yearning, enemies to lovers, some political plot (clans-kingdom), trials (first book), found family


📖 TL;DR:
Got this one as an ARC and did my homework and read the first one in the series to be able to write this review properly. I really like where the series is going. The character are flawed but not in an exagerated way, and they’re, of course, not superheroes. Even is one of the most common tropes, it was not carried away in a too cliche way, getting too happy too quicky. The yearning and twists in this book keep you flipping page after page. What I like the most is the slow growth for Erix and Keera compared to the first one. Can’t wait to see whats next!


🔥 Spice Level:
2/5 - some graphic spice, short scenes, vainilla


⭐ Things I give a thumbs up:

» The political intrigue
» No clif-hanger at the end
» Erix is such a perfect book boyfriend
» YEARNING IS REAL
» More world building

🤷🏻‍♀️ Things that made me want to hit my head against the wall:

» The writing gets a bit repetitive with the whole sand/dessert scenery.
» The end is a tiny bit predictable
» Still too many open questions

🎯 Would I recommend it?:

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my early copy. All thoughts are my own.

HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT...is mainly what i have to say. When i read Blood of the Sands; i was like this is cute. i liked the creatures, the enemies to lovers, and the yearning. Then i read Crown of the Dunes and i was like DAMN. I was not expecting this. I really love Keera and the Viper together. They are perfect in their own chaotic way. I need book 3 ASAP. i am obsessed.

Keira & Erix are back striving against the odds to retrieve the Heart Of The Desert. It’s so hard to describe this book without giving anything away. It’s an amazing page-turner that is everything you want in a fantasy. Plus a little smut. It’s perfection and I am drooling for the next book!

**𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘** 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑺. 𝑪. 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒔𝒐𝒏 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒕 #2)

Release Date: August 19, 2025

5⭐️3.5🌶

The tension in this book is THICK! The Desert Clans and the City of Kelvadan are still at war over supplies and water. Keera was mortally wounded when she and Erix trekked across the desert to find and kill the Fire Wyrm. They succeeded, but at a cost. Erix is now in charge of the Clans that have camped themselves outside of the City of Kelvadon, and Keera was taken by a friend back inside the city to heal from her mortal injuries.

Erix estranged mother, the Queen, plans on making Keera her heir. Despite the fact that her son has similar powers to her. The abuse that she inflicted on her son may keep him outside of the Kelvedon walls forever, or until she dies.

Keera and Erix both have the power to obtain the heart of the desert and restore it, so that the draughts and famines can stop, but they must work together to get the heart from its prison.

Erix and Keera still have feelings for each other despite the fact that they're fighting on opposing sides. They both want what is best for the desert and their people, but each group of people seem to think there is a different way to achieve that.

Will Erix and Keera find a way to work together to save the desert?

Themes/Tropes:

🍁Enemies to Lovers
🍁Shadow daddy
🍁Rival clans at war
🍁Powers matching
🍁Fated Mates
🍁Political Intrigue

TW:

✨Physical Trials
✨Battles with monsters
✨Political backstabbing
✨Training sequences
✨Abusive parents
✨Mortal injuries