Dragon in the Blood
Author: Juliette Cross
Release Date: July 26, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Vale of Stars Book #2
ASIN: B01FNI7L1E
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: AuthorWhile all seems quiet in Gladium Province, the Morgon Guard—the global justice force for the dragon hybrid race—knows their enemy is rebuilding its forces in the underground.
Valla Moonring, an assassin for an order of the Morgon Guard, is ordered to join an expedition through the Wastelands of Aria, a formidable, icy wilderness fraught with all manner of dangers, including outlaws, deadly weather, and big-game predators.
To her great distaste, she’s partnered with a Nightwing Security operative, Conn Rowanflame, a Morgon with the aggravating ability to get under her skin. While she takes her mission seriously, Conn’s confident charm throws her off balance, a dangerous place to be in conditions like these. Especially when cold nights require close contact.
Sensual attraction binds them ever closer, igniting a passion of unexpected force—soulfire. But when the hunters become the hunted, their bond could prove perilous. Even fatal…
I enjoyed traveling though another part of the Vale of Stars world. I love that the worlds in both this series and the Nightwing series are so vast.
I loved Valla in WAKING THE DRAGON, but getting to know her in DRAGON OF BLOOD made me love her more. She was extremely stubborn and completely baddass but it was easy to connect with and understand her. Conn is new to me—at least I think he is, I don't remember him from past books if he's not—but he sure made himself known in DRAGON OF BLOOD. He was super charming and quite a bit cocky, but I enjoyed him. Both characters are super stubborn, but manage to compliment each other rather well when they are actually on the same page. Valla has issues with depending on a man and I really loved that Conn knew that Valla wouldn't tolerate a super protective male and managed to curb his alpha male instincts to allow her to be her. Valla was extremely stubborn, but managed to grow and open herself up to Conn as the story evolved.
There are a few things that kept me from giving book two 5 stars. I didn't love the villain's POV interludes in DRAGON IN THE BLOOD. We of course are meant to dislike them as a character, but I couldn't get into their voice and I really really really wanted to skip them all together. I did however get a better understanding of them and understood their motives more when their evil deeds were committed. I really love updates on previous couples even if they aren't the main focus of a book. We got a few teeny glimpses in DRAGON IN THE BLOOD, but I wanted more.
If you're new to the Vale of Stars series, I would personally suggest starting with the Nightwing series so you can learn about both the world and a good amount of the characters you will read about. You don't HAVE to read it to understand the books in the Vale of Stars series, but I am all for getting the full backstory. Juliette also has a few other series that will rock your world.
I gave it 4/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
