Heat

In the complicated 12th Dark Kings novel (after Blaze), Grant keeps helping dragon shape-shifters find their mates while pushing forward multiple plot lines involving the Light and Dark Fae, rogue dragon kings, and mysterious druids. Nikolai, the king of the ivory dragons, develops his gift of being able to see the memories of others through the pictures he draws. He helps former MI5 agent Esther hunt for the druid who invaded her mind and stole her memories. As they travel to London to visit places where Esther might have encountered the druid, Esther and Nikolai deeply connect in the expected way. Nikolai’s sensitivity in reaching out to Ulrik, the dragon king who adopted him and who seems to be pulling the strings that will cause the downfall of all the dragon kings, is particularly affecting. While series readers will devour details of who betrayed whom and celebrate this latest, steamy mating, new readers will be lost inside a story that begins and ends in the middle. (Feb.)