Ancient Enemy
Author: Katie Reus
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B-
What I’m Talking About:
Rhys, an Ancient dragon shifter who has been awake and living in the U.S. for about a year, is hunting the witch who murdered his sister hundreds of years ago. He finds help from the most unlikely ally, Dallas, a witch with an affinity for nature. Dallas is used to being considered a pariah in the supernatural world, so she keeps mostly to herself, farming the land and raising her newly adopted pet dragon, Willow. She agrees to help King and Rhys find suitable land for farming and gardens, helping humans and supernaturals with food supplies.
Ancient Enemy is the second title in Ms. Reus’s series about dragon shifters and the rebuilding of New Orleans after the Fall, when supernaturals were forced out into the open and millions of people died. It is a standalone romance, and can be read without knowledge of the previous book; however, there are crossover characters, themes, and world-building that was established in the first book.
I enjoyed Dallas’s character a lot. Her pet dragon Willow is simply adorable. As a witch, Dallas grew up knowing hatred for what she is, but she’s made a home for herself, and she’s learning that she does have friends. King respects her and her talents, bringing her into the fold of his “inner circle.” I enjoyed watching Dallas grow to accept herself and being part of a team. I like that when Rhys immediately feels a connection with Dallas, he doesn’t hold the fact she’s a witch against her, and instead, opens up to her suggestions and kindness. He confides in her right away, asking for her help (and she offers) to find the witch who killed his sister.
That said, and although the pair goes on to work together, professing feelings and exploring intimacy, they continue to hide truths from one another. They build their relationship on half-truths, which frustrated me. It doesn’t prevent their HEA, but I found the constant “but she couldn’t tell him the whole truth” vibe wore on me after a while.
Ancient Enemy is another good story in the Ancients Rising series. I like the world, but I think I’m tiring of the fated mates, PNR genre. I would get lost in the story and then something would always pull me out. And I still struggle with the fact that we don’t see the human side of things – how they just let the “big bad scary” take over and run the world. Maybe it’s the current state of the world, but I can’t imagine humans going into the quiet so easily.
My Rating: B- Liked It, but I had a few small issues
Jen
About the Book:
She should be his mortal enemy.
Ancient dragon shifter Rhys awoke from his slumber hungry for revenge against the witch who killed his sister. When his hunt takes him to the rebuilding city of New Orleans, he finds a woman he can’t keep his eyes off—but she’s a witch. While Rhys wants to despise all of Dallas’s kind, even he can’t deny that she’s beautiful, kind and…adorable. And her pet baby dragon only increases his fascination with the sexy woman. Protective instincts he never knew he had take over him as they hunt powerful monsters. He’s forced to confront everything he thought he knew about witches as his life is turned upside down.
But he wants her anyway.
Dallas Kinley is used to being hated because of what she is. Witches have always been the pariahs of the supernatural community. Until now, when the world needs rebuilding. Even though she wants to keep her distance from Rhys, vampires and humans are dying in New Orleans, so she vows to help him hunt down those responsible. But finding the enemy comes at a heavy price, because Dallas is hiding a terrible secret. As they race against the clock to find the murderers, she can only hope his need for revenge won’t rip them apart. Especially when he finds out what she’s been hiding from him.
Release Date: July 22, 2020
Publisher: KR Press
Series: Ancients Rising #2; Darkness #11
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (246 pages), e-book
Book Source: NetGalley
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)