Ruthless dragon king Ladon Ormarr must keep his throne–and his people–safe from the cruel High King at all costs. With war on the horizon, he’ll need a miracle to protect his clan. Luckily, the fates have dropped the irresistible Skylar Amon right into his lap. Or so he thought. Because the last thing this phoenix wants is him. A phoenix mate is the ticket to securing his throne, but this … securing his throne, but this fiery Amon sister detests Ladon, doesn’t stick to protocols, and regularly offends his warriors and advisers.
Skylar also has no intention of sticking around, nor does she believe in the whole destined-mates thing. But if it means taking out the High King who murdered her parents, she’ll put up with the too-sexy-for-her-sanity Ladon…temporarily.
Their mating bond may make them want to tear off their clothes, but outside the bedroom…well, Ladon is positive the fates hate him. Just as he starts to win over the mercurial phoenix, everything goes to hell when the High King makes his final move. And Ladon will burn down the world to keep the mate he is unwilling to live without.
Each book in the Inferno Rising series is STANDALONE:
* The Rogue King
* The Blood King
* The Warrior King
* The Cursed King
more
I love these dragon shifters! I haven’t really enjoyed shifter books in quite a while, but Abigail brought me back in like gangbusters! From the first one I read in the Fire’s Edge series, I was captivated. And I have stayed that way straight through.
This one brings us Ladon and Skylar’s story. Ladon is every woman’s most enticing dream, and most horrendous nightmare. As a Dragon, he’s magnificent. As a man, he’s headstrong, closed off, appears lacking in emotions, and a born leader…who doesn’t really want to be one.
Skylar, on the other hand, is headstrong, closed off, appears lacking in emotions, a born leader, and one of four amazing Phoenixes. As a woman, she’s definitely every man’s hottest dream, and scariest nightmare.
Match made in heaven…or hell?
I love these two. They butt heads, try desperately to not feel anything for the other, show incredible loyalty to those they love, and want only what’s best for those they feel are under their care.
With Ladon, it’s his clan, the Blue Clan, but so much more. The need to rid Dragonkind of the sadistic, deranged High King that presides over them now is dire. Ladon is doing all he can to bring that about, but so much is happening around him, so much to contend with.
Skylar, the oldest sister of the four Phoenix sisters, has been working to keep them all out of the clutches of what she sees as the evil Dragon Kings. She’s so certain that it would be catastrophic for them to mate one of them, that she goes out of her way to attempt the rescue of her sister Kasia. Big mistake. BIG mistake.
Watching these two come together, and create storms wherever they go is such a treat. I had so much fun watching them fight the inevitable. And the surrounding storyline is so exciting, so engaging, that you can’t put it down no matter who is being highlighted. Because, as much as I adore the Dragons and the Phoenixes, the entire storyline is so wonderfully written, that I can’t pass them up.
Thank you, Abigail, for bringing me back into the world of shifters. And with Dragons, no less! My favorite paranormal creature ever! If you love shifter novels, and love Dragons, you’re going to love these dual series, Inferno Rising and Fire’s Edge.
So Excellently Done, Abigail Owen, so Excellently Done, Indeed!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are, my own. As always!
Rating:
Even better than The Rogue King!
When I read The Rogue King a year ago, I think it was my first dragon shifter book. I really enjoyed it because it wasn’t just a story about a shifter and his mate, it was more of an urban fantasy about the entire kingdom and the struggles both of them had gone through and were going through. This book furthered the storylines started in the first book and there was a ton of chemistry between the couple involved.
In the first book, the The Rogue King was Brand Asterot, who ran from the Gold Kingdom and became a rogue dragon shifter when his family was murdered in order to put sympathizers to the Red King on the Throne. Though Brand is the rightful heir to the Gold Throne, dragons don’t trust Rogues. Though Brand was friends with the Blue King (who recently took that throne back from the Red King sympathizer).
In order to cement his place on the throne, the Blue King asked Brand to find him a Phoenix because legend says that if a Dragon King mates with a Phoenix and doesn’t burn to ash, he is the High King. Currently the Red King is the High King, and he stole that power when he murdered the former High King and his Phoenix Mate. The Red King tried to murder their daughter at the time but she got away, though not before he murdered her mate, the White King. Though their bond hadn’t fully formed so she didn’t die when her mate did.
She hid away and had quadruplets, which is unheard of for a Phoenix. In the past Phoenix births have only been single births and daughters, but this time there were four daughters. Years later the Red King tracked her down and killed her but as she was dying she teleported to her girls and sent them each to a different safe place. None of them know if they are the Phoenix or if more than one of them is.
When The Rogue King found the oldest daughter Kasia Amon, they discovered they were mates and so he couldn’t give her to the Blue King as he had promised. I won’t go further into the first book, but to say that the second daughter, Skylar Amon finds out that her sister is mated to a dragon shifter king and figures that it must be under duress. So she leaves the place she was hiding and goes to the mountain where the Blue Dragons live to save her.
This is where Skylar meets the Blue King, Ladon Ormarr, and he immediately claims her for himself. Though she rejects that just as quickly. The sparks fly between them from the start. Skylar is tough, she is a skilled fighter, and she is smart. Ladon is trying to do what is right for his people and trying to defeat the tyranny of the Red King. This book is exiting, the character development is terrific, the romance moves along at a great pace and it just hits all those good points in a book that I just really enjoy! The next book sounds even better. Forbidden love between the third sister and the Black King’s top enforcer/advisor.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
4.5 STARS!!!
This was such a great read with non-stop action from beginning to end. I absolutely enjoyed Landon and Skylar characters and their chemistry was one that could not be denied no matter how much Skylar tired to fight it. There were so many times I wanted her to give in and stop fighting against everything when it came to Landon not because she was weak, but because there was no use denying what was right in front of her. The side characters were just as great as the main characters and I loved that Brand and Kasia were also a huge part in this story as well. Skylar and Kasia are phoenixes and Pytheious will stop at nothing to get his hands on a phoenix. However, their mates are determined to protect them even while at war with Pytheious over their rightful thrones. This story was steamy, entertaining, and unpredictable. I’m more than excited to get Meira and Angelika’s story especially with the way this one ended with Samuel and Gorgon. I can’t wait to read what happens between them. Do not miss out on a great paranormal series.
Skylar Is sister to Kaisa, (from book 1 “The Rogue King”) second oldest sister of four Phoenix shifters.
Skylar and her three sisters were separated and hidden from the world by their mother Serefina. She was afraid of the High King, the Red Dragon Pytheios. She’d watched as he slaughtered her mother, and then her beloved mate Zilant King of the White Dragons. He had hoped to mate with her, or destroy her and gain her powers for himself!
They were all taught to be wary of dragons especially the red dragon Pytheios. If found, they will be forced to mate and that dragon will be the ruler of all dragons! Other shifters will seek to use their powers!
What starts out as a rescue mission, Skylar thinks Kaisa has been caught and forced to mate the now Gold King, turns into a fight for freedom. Hearing her sister willing mated Brand, Skylar goes to retreat. Only to find Landon blocking her way. She’s now is prisoner! But not for long, Skylar won’t be anyone’s prisoner, nor will she be a dragon’s bride! Let battle commence!
Landon is the king of the blue dragons, after losing Kaisa to Brand, he’s running out of time. (If dragons don’t find their mate, they go mad and start to age) he’s got Pytheios breathing down his neck, he’s losing ground. He needs something to restore his clan’s faith, and a Phoenix will do that. He’s not prepared for the feelings Skylar stirs up in him. She drives him crazy, and not always in a good way….
Being a mate to the blue dragon king is not what Skylar envisaged for herself. Being told by her mother that dragons will only want her for her Phoenix and not the woman has made her very wary.
There is fireworks from the beginning of this book.
Really like this series , even though it’s only two books so far, (its a spin off from the Fire’s edge series.) You don’t have to read those to enjoy this series.
I Liked the fact Skylar is very independent, but she’s had to be. Always on her guard has made her very distrustful. Knowing she’s only a mate because she’s a Phoenix and a legacy that comes with it (mate a Phoenix rule all the dragons) puts you in the low self esteem category.
But she makes the most of it. But Skylar isn’t going to give up without a fight. She wants a partnership, not a prison!
Landon is fighting both his feelings for his mate, and the High King the Red Dragon Pytheios, the High King wants all the dragons under his rule, and has taken all but the blue clan.
Lots of action, enough passion, and a few laughs along the way.
It’s nice to catch up with the previous couple.
And also snippets of both Skylar’s and Landon’s pasts.
We also have the two remaining sisters out in the world, will we get to see them before the end of this book?
And will Landon be able to drive the Pytheios out of the blue dragon territory and possibly kill him?
* i received this arc for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
5 stars
Skylar is one of the four remaining phoenixes and distrusts dragon shifters. When thinking she is rescuing her sister, Skylar lands right in the middle of dragon shifters, who killed her parents. Ladon is King of the Blue Clan and is in need of a miracle. A phoenix would bring the clan luck. When Skylar pops in, he claims her. It’ll take a lot for Skylar to trust Ladon but she is very attracted to him. Skylars plan is to walk away after Ladon gets his clan in order. Skylar is independent, feisty, and stubborn. She agrees to mate with Ladon but tries to keep her emotions locked up. Ladon doesn’t believe in love and keeps his emotion tightly wrapped up too. But when Skylar is taken, Laden will go to the end of the earth to find her.
Plenty of action, humor, and some sex. I loved Skylar. She takes no crap from anyone, protects her loved one with all she is, and very independent. Once Ladon let’s his emotions loose, he’ll do anything for Skylar, even give up the throne. There is a cliffhanger but this story will keep you on pins and needles. I can’t wait for the next one.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *
Stay with me
I can’t believe it’s over! This book was so intense that the ending snuck up on me. Before I realized it we were led to the lead in on book three, oh my goodness I can’t wait to read that story!, and I hadn’t even gotten a chance to regain my equilibrium from the epic and emotional scene before it. And it was amazing! The author pulled out all the the stops, keeping us in a constant state of emotional intensity and dangerous excitement, with this book. Her characters are so realistic in their actions and thought processes that I could imagine dragons hidden in the clouds around the world. I love that we got to see more of the phoenixes and the leaders who will shape the future of the author’s world. I know there are only two more sisters to save, but I hope there are more books because I need to know that some of the crew get their HEAs as well. This is one of those books that leaves you satisfied and yet desperately awaiting the next installment, and I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to read the next book by this author.
‘The Blood King’ was the perfect follow-up to ‘The Rogue King’ in the Inferno Rising series. It follows the journey of Skylar, one of the quadruplets (all sisters) whose mother was known as the last known phoenix in the world before her death, coming to the aid of Kaisa who she believed was forced to mate Brand. During the course of the not-so-happy reunion, she meets the Blood King, Landon, and then woo-wee! It starts to get muy caliente!
The oozing sexual tension, the back and forth banter, and the storyline captivated me from the get-go. On top of that, my love for this fantasy novel only grew when the readers were introduced to Skylar. She was a badass in every single way and it was impossible not to love this strong, sassy heroine who took shit from no one including her destined mate.
Now the only downside to this is the fact that readers will have to wait another year to read the next phoenix Meira and Samael, Captain of the Guard of King of the Black Clan, story. It’s going to be a long time coming but I am sure it’ll be worth the wait.
4 stars – It was really good
Skylar is determined to save her sister from the dragons. What she doesn’t expect is to find herself attracted to the ruthless dragon king Ladon Ormarr or to find herself being claimed by him.
After reading the first book, I was very interested in this world and the dragon’s war. I went into this book more for the background story than the romance but that quickly changed. I adored Skylar and Ladon’s relationship. It was a marriage of convenience that was beautifully written and filled with danger and excitement.
“Stubborn women keep the world from falling to shit.”
Skylar was fearless. She wasn’t afraid to out herself for her sister, or stand up to any of the dragons. She was always tough and protective and I loved her so much. I also loved how she never really panicked, she just rolled with the things happening and found ways to survive.
Ladon is known as a tough and ruthless king, but he is actually very sweet. I loved his determination to win Skylar over. He may not show a lot of feelings towards others but he really opens up with Skylar and I loved it all.
“You have my heart and my soul, woman. I love you so much, these days without you hurt like the fires of hell.”
Overall, this was a wonderful couple and a great sequel to this story. I can’t wait to read the next one and learn about Meira.
ARC received for review
Great second book. It picks up right where the first one left off. Skylar is just as stubborn and amazing as her sister. Ladon doesn’t want to take no for an answer, and doesn’t. Lots of drama, battling dragons, and hot sex. Now, who will the next sister wind up with?
OMG….Addictive….that is the best word to describe this series. The Inferno Rising series is an extension of the Fires Edge series. I have to say the series gets better and better with each book.
In this second book in the series, Skylor Amon is on a mission to save her sister. But what she doesn’t realize is that her sister is mated to a gold dragon. Her rescue mission is a bust. A bust that puts her in a very dangerous position.
Landon Omarr has taken the blue throne when he overthrew Thanatos. He has been working diligently to over throw the other Kong’s a take down the Rotting King. He helped his friend Brand take his rightful place as King of the Gold Dragons. He believes Brand is the High King since he mated a Phoenix. That is until she walked in the door. Never has there been more than one Phoenix….and this will change the events in play. But when she enters the room to save her sister, one word comes to mind. “Mine”. And so begins a whole new set of troubles.
This series is addictive. Starting with the Fires Edge and the dragon firefighters and moving into a story of four Phoenixes, the books dive deeper into the dragon world. With a unique storyline these books are easily going to be you next favorite read. Each book more in-depth than the last, with strong fierce characters. These books are full of love, loyalty, fight and heroism like you haven’t seen before.
Abigail Owen has created a unique world full of amazing characters and great stories that have your imagination running on high. There are paranormal characters mixed in with our dragon friends and the adrenaline is edge of the seat good and explosive. I think once you start you will become obsessed. So pick these up today.
Couldn’t stop reading, which made for a very late night. It has everything. Great characters, writing, storyline, action and unpredictability to keep your interest. Very easy to recommend this book, and series.
Hot Blazing Blue Flames Batman! The Blood King was blistering hot!
*****
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 3 flames
Genre: Dragon Shifters / PNR
*****
I knew from the end of The Rogue King that Skylar and Ladon were going to be fire and gasoline…but I didn’t realize their chemistry would be all consuming!
Ladon, the Blood King, and Brand’s friend was left without a mate with Brand taking Kasia for himself in The Rogue King. I mean what do you expect with mates fated to be together. Imagine Ladon’s surprise when Skylar, one of Kasia’s sisters, walks into his conference full of fight, attempting to “rescue” her sister (who she thinks has been coerced into mating a Dragon King).
Ladon feels something for Skylar immediately, lust, duty, and maybe a little something more. Could he have more with this little spitfire that gives as good as she gets? Skylar has always been her sister’s protector, and apparently, she is also known as the crazy sister. She speaks her mind with reckless abandon and will not bend to any man, or dragon! I adored Skylar and her spunk and willingness to do anything necessary for her family. When she and Ladon play good cop/crazy cop; I about lost it. Skylar had me cracking up!
As soon as Ladon meets Skylar, he asks her to stay, to give him a chance, to get to know the man/dragon before she rejects his offer to mate. But things never quite go as planned. Pytheios is coming for Skylar, and the only way to protect them both is to mate. Oh boy, oil meets oil! Both Ladon and Skylar are about to go up in flames!
The Blood King took us further towards the fight against the rotting, evil, false High King, Pytheios (oh I don’t like him at all). The story is getting intense, alliances are made, traitors are hiding, and we are given more glimpses into the history of the phoenixes and dragons. This book is filled with suspense, hot dragons and phoenixes, amazing characters, and a world that is unimaginably fantastic. A world where dragons fly, magic is real, and Maul (the best puppy ever) exists!
Things are coming to a head and OMG I cannot wait to see what happens next. I am heading straight into the Warrior King! This series is fantastic and gets a five-star recommendation from me!
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I ADORE Abigail’s writing. She is a top PNR Author for me and this series? YES. This is the second book in the series and I LOVED book one!
Hate to Love is a HUGE trope for me and this one? YESSSSSS The damn tension alone in this book is enough to set you aflame. I couldn’t stop once I started. This book is a series of calculated decisions on the brink fo chaos and I loved it. I loved the high tensions and the romantic plot that seamlessly blends with the carefully crafted fantastical world we are in.
Abigail does a great job f pulling you even deeper into this world and leaving you excited for where the next book will take you.
Since reading the teaser at the end of Rogue King, I have been waiting impatiently for Ladon’s story. Truly, I loved this couple! Instead of going with grumpy/sunshine or a similar variation, Owen gives us Ladon and Skylar. Gruff, reserved, with walls around their hearts for days, watching these two complex characters fall in love slowly was a true pleasure. The sexy scenes are definitely steamy but my favorite part was the sexual tension. In true enemy-to-lovers fashion, Skylar squashes down all that attraction but we all know that won’t work for long. Ladon’s effort to give Skylar room to be a badass and to communicate was incredibly sweet.
It took a bit to adjust to Skylar and most of that is some of the cringy, stereotypical hardass dialogue (like declaring “no shit” instead of something clever), but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed watching her character grow.
There is nothing slow about this series. The action is in your face and the romances are red hot with lots of growly men. It took some serious effort not to binge read this book and immediately start chanting for book three. Clearly, I’m seriously enjoying this series and can’t wait to spend more time getting to know the last two phoenix sisters and their mates. Black Dragons here we come!
Side Note: I formally request at least a novella featuring Ladon’s sister so I can enjoy more pining time before she takes life by the dragon horns.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Skylar and Ladon are two very strong characters. Their relationship is built up well. Story is steady paced with lots of action. See characters again from the first book. Can’t wait for the next book!
Book 2 in Inferno Rising, The Blood King is an action driven read. I really enjoyed this story, the characters interaction and the dynamics of the story had me engaged throughout. I will be recommending and looking to read more.
I truly love this universe and what an imagination Abigail Owen must contain to come up with these wonderfully horrifying characters and creatures that consume it.
This romance starts with Skylar bursts into Ladon Orrmarr’s mountain to save her sister Kasia from herself and the horrible dragon shifter Brand that Skylar thinks that Kasia was forced to mate.
Ladon lays a claim on Skylar the second Phoenix and somehow convinces her to mate him even though she hates dragon shifters.
It is his only chance to even have a chance to win the war against the High King (the Rotting King) and get the peace the dragon shifters long for.
Now they have to go to war against the golden clan to win Brand back his throne, but what happens when Skylar is kidnapped in the middle of a dragon fight and how will Ladon get back his queen before anything happens to any of them?
The story is very intriguing and you just get sucked into the world and into a war between dragons of different colors and sizes. It is very bloody but beautiful too and you sit on the edge of your seat every time there is a fight. You get to care for the characters and you don’t want to see them get hurt or die.
The only thing that made me deduct a star was Skylar and her persistence to defy Ladon and her feelings for him! She was too stubborn and annoying when it came to him but also in thinking that she knew better when it came to everything. But on the other hand I also liked that she was willful and not afraid to through herself into an unknown adventure.
I loved Ladon just as much as I did in the first book “The Rouge King” and I can’t fault him for anything he did for her but also for his people.
I can’t believe that I have to wait a whole year for Meira and Samael’s romance and story and how the war will unfold because that Rotting King is a mean one.
I can definitely recommend this book.
Ladon is a dragon king trying to hold onto his throne. Skylar is the protector of her sisters. She meets Ladon and the sparks between them are electric and all consuming. Ladon knows that Skylar is his mate but she has no intention of hanging around his kingdom. She doesn’t believe in the fated mates thing. Skylar is independent and offends the people of the court and has no fear of Ladon. Skylar disappears during a battle and Ladon will do anything to get her back. A great read and series.
I received a copy of this book and am leaving a review.
I loved everything about this book! Skylar and Ladon are wonderful characters who complement each other well. They immediately push each other’s buttons from the first meet and their chemistry is smoking hot. Ladon is trying to do what is right for his people and having a phoenix of his own is definitely a perk. When he outright claims Skyler upon meeting her though, not the best way to go and she has no qualms putting him in his place about it either. I love the constant sparks that fly between these two. Skylar will not be put under anyone’s thumb; she’s strong minded, smart, skilled, tough as nails, fights for what’s right regardless of the outcome, and is extremely protective of her sisters. She wants nothing to do with Ladon, his people, or his war with the exception of grabbing her sister (whom she figures is under duress for being mated to one of the dragon kings and needs help) and get out of there. And of course, everything explodes from there!
This book is terrific from the start! It is full of excitement, danger, suspense, action, and moves at a great pace with several twists and turns. The character development is wonderful and the interactions of all the characters are engaging, as well as the romance between Ladon and Skyler fitting for them. I am really enjoying this series and look forward to the next sister’s story.
*I received an arc of this book through NetGalley, via the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
The Blood King is a perfect example of one of my favorite romance tropes: enemies to lovers. The fact this story is also full of paranormal shifters, specifically dragons, makes it even better.
Skylar Amon is one of a quadruplet of phoenixes, a rare occurrence since there’s only supposed to one phoenix at at time. Hidden from the Rotting King of the Red Dragon Clan and each other, Skylar has finally located one of her sisters, Kasia. Skylar manages a stealthy entrance to the Blue Dragon lair only to find her sister is mated to a Gold Dragon. Dragons are supposed to be their enemy. Rescuing Kasia takes an unexpected turn when Kasia doesn’t to be rescued and Kasia’s mate, Brand, heartily agrees. Kasia and Brand are such a cute couple and the author makes their love and affection shine from the pages. The relationship does not impress Skylar and she’s even less impressed with the feelings she’s starting to have for Ladon Ormarr, king of the Blue Dragons, also known as The Blood King.
Ladon doesn’t understand his attraction to Skylar. It goes long beyond just needing to secure her as a mate because she’s a phoenix. Skylar is stubborn and doesn’t want to be claimed or chained to a mate who only wants her for who she is and the powers she has. She’s willing to take one for the team, however, if it means putting the Rotting King down permanently. As the war between the various dragon clans heat up, so does the chemistry between Skylar and Ladon. When everything is all said and done, Skylar may not be able to just up and walk away from the one man who burns her from the inside out and fires her up like no one else.
Amazing, this book is simply amazing. I read the book in under 2 days and I have a full-time job and a family. Oops, sorry guys, didn’t mean to neglect you. The chemistry between Skylar and Ladon is off-the-charts hot, from the minute Skylar stepped out of hiding and through all the stubbornness, suspense, and drama this paranormal romance brings to the table.
I love the author’s writing style, conversational and easy to follow. The pacing of the story is perfect, not too fast, not too slow. There aren’t any boring or dull spots, as the author created 3-dimensional characters and a 3-dimensional world. I was engrossed in this book from the very beginning and was drawn in by the action, romance, snark, and strength of both Skylar and Ladon. Abigail Owen is now one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to dive into more of her books.
Yes, I was provided a copy of this book to review but my thoughts, opinions, and praise are my own.