Reviews

Ancient Vengeance by Katie Reus

wellactjoally's review

adventurous funny lighthearted

4.0

Kidnapping, poisoning, and torture, but it’s still a fun book with lots of shifters, groveling, love letters, and family reunions. Oh, and TWO virgins, and oral. 

keeneam's review

4.0

Ancient Vengeance moves at a fast pace and that was not a lot of downtime or unnecessary plot elements in the store.The heroine was a strong lead that held her ground and grew into a strong person who could stand on her own. I enjoyed the hero, but wished we could have learned more about him (hoping for this in future books). Overall, a good read.

romancejunkie1025's review

4.0

I was so excited to get to read Stella’s story, after having met her when her long-lost sister and she were reunited in a previous novel because she seemed like an interesting character that needed her own chance to spread her wings. Katie Reus’s amazing series around her shifters, dragons, vampires and all the other creatures that once secretly surrounded us humans just continuous to be compelling, fascinating, and more sensual than even I can handle at times. Stella’s story begins with her finally getting the chance to get out from under the thumb of her overprotective parents as she undertakes a solo mission into the human world, hunting the thief that stole their ancestral crown, but she quickly learns that she might not be cut out for this super-operative stuff her sister is when she is poisoned mid-flight. When she awakens she is in a strange dwelling and finds herself in the company of a sexy and mysterious protector, a Dragon shifter that she immediately trusts with not only her life and protection but soon with her heart and soul. Rhodes however is not what he seems and has a dark secret, which even as they work together and get closer, might ultimately tear them apart. With enemies closing in around them Rhodes and Stella have to decide if the truth is enough to keep them apart or they can find a way to be together despite the way they met and his true identity. I really loved seeing Stella find her way, even if she ultimately stumbles and needs Rhodes to help her find her footing and remind her that she is just as badass as her other female relatives. She is sweet at times and shows Rhodes a softness he’s never experiences, giving her the love she has to offer and at the same time the protection she craves to be able to offer. I wish she had thought to ask a few more questions up front in order to prevent her own heartache, but in the end she gave and earned the ultimate love and learned that Rhodes was the only male for her. Rhodes has had a seriously messed up past, but he has made the best of it and done what he can to protect the innocents of the world from the true bastards out there. I enjoyed watching him offer what gentleness he had to Stella, showing he a side of himself he’d never shared with anyone else, even at the fear of being vulnerable. It was obvious that he knew from the beginning he had no chance with her, but I loved seeing him open himself despite that fear. I have to say the passion between these two was expectedly off the charts, being two sexual beats in their prime that had been kept from being able to share that passion in the past and I loved seeing them be able to share with one another finally. I am dying to find out who comes next in the series and see who finds their perfect match. Katie Reus is magic incarnate and her writing never ceases to draw me in every time.

fsmeurinne's review

4.0

This is the sixth book in the Ancients Rising series, a dragon paranormal romance. We get the story of Stella and Rohdes, a great couple to add to this fantastic series. If you can read them all they are totally worth it. I love the plot line, all the different characters, and the world-building in this series. Lots of steam and great chemistry.

shadowmaster13's review against another edition

dark inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lepnut's review

4.0

This is the second book in the series and follows the story of Stella and Rhodes. Stella is the younger sister of Juniper from the first book. This can be read as a standalone as the beginning of the story has a basic catch up of the world and history.

Rhodes has been tasked with taking princess Stella... and his employers are not fussy about her condition. Not that long ago, her parents opened their realm and formed an alliance with New Orleans. Stella's long lost sister had been in New Orleans before returning home. Stella yearns for the adventure of travelling since she was very much overprotected by her family. However, she runs into trouble on her way to New Orleans and is lucky Rhodes is there to help her. He had already decided not to harm her upon seeing her and is now completely smitten.

Rhodes is the ultimate protector and is so delightfully broody! Of course, when his deception about his true mission comes to light, Stella has to come to terms with his nature.

bellatoric's review

4.0

This book was honestly so much fun to jump into. The world that Katie built was incredible, it stand-alone but it was nice to see those connections from other books, and it has two characters who are very different but have such amazing character growth between them.

Stella and Rhodes were so much fun to read and I honestly didn't want this book to end! Their romance was sweet and steamy which I really enjoyed and the author did a fantastic job at writing and portraying!

Definitely a book I couldn't put down!

Thank you so much for the ARC of this book!

nikkisbooknook's review

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Rhodes may have bitten off more than he can chew.  His latest contract gets dodgier the deeper he gets!  This merciless Princess is anything but and his inner dragon agrees with him.  Stella is sick of being cooped up in the realm.  Since her long-lost sister has been found she has been itching to go off on an adventure.  She manages to get herself a mission and as she makes her way to the portal she gets attacked.

Rhodes does not take kindly to Fae poaching on his contract and saves Stella ut has she jumped from the frying pan into the fire?

Dragon Assassins and Princesses are a complicated match at the best of times but add in a trip to New Orleans, Fae bounty hunters, poisonings and a possible mate who is placing fast and loose with the truth!

Stella is a breath of fresh air.  She just wants to be Stella, she wants to be anonymous and free for a while.  Rhodes is a bit of a lost soul.  He has no idea who his clan is but he knows what he's good at and he had a code of ethics as such and is really not pleased with the Domincary Fae sending rival bounty hunters! 

Mistaken identity, poisonings, fated mates, forced proximity and both MC's are V's!  The intimate moments between these two are so sweet and innocent but as they grow closer the intensity flashes hot!

There are some great scenes involving recurring characters in the world including Christian the vampire and his ... lion! Oh, and do not get in the way of Queen Soleil! I cannot wait to see what unfolds next!

3rd Person POV

heameljon's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

In Nova, Stella lead a very sheltered life. Besides being a Princess, Stella's parents have been overly protective ever since her older sister was kidnapped. Now that her sister has returned, Stella is being allowed some freedoms. At her sister's wedding someone stole a crown and Stella has been charged with locating the culprit. Upon leaving her realm, someone shoots her with a very powerful poison.

Dragon shifter Rhodes has never known his family or what clan he was born into. At a very young age he was forced to learn to defend himself, because of this developed skill set he has found work as a paid assassin. Rhodes was hired by the Fae to kidnap Stella. After watching her for some time he realizes that Stella is not the danger to society the Fae said she was. Rhodes only kills those that are purely evil. He was following her when she was attacked and saved her life. Once Stella awakens, she and Rhodes agree work together to learn who attacked her and discover who took her families crown.

I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley and the Publisher, KR Press LLC, for an honest review.

Even though Stella has lived a sheltered, regal life, her character has strength and intelligence. Rhodes is a strong male character who has had a hard life and even though he becomes possessive of Stella he is never dominating. I love the world Reus has built in the 'Ancients Rising' series and the interlinked relationships between the characters from book to book. I eagerly look forward to the next installment in this series.

redhairedashreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

 

4 stars - It was really good

Stella is determined to leave her realm and get some freedom from their smothering protectiveness. But her trip to New Orleans doesn’t go as planned and she finds herself with a protective bodyguard who she can’t get enough of, but isn’t telling the whole truth.

I really enjoyed Stella and Rhodes’ story. Stella is Juniper’s (Ancient Retribution) younger sister and is tired of being secluded and protected from the world. She is a smart, capable, and determined woman who just wants to actually experience life. I loved seeing Stella embrace life in New Orleans and learn to stand on her own capabilities. 

“...she is my world and I will do anything to keep her safe and protected-not that my female needs it as she is fierce.” 

Rhodes is an assassin who was tasked with kidnapping Stella. Instead he realizes she is his mate and does everything he can to protect her. Rhodes was extremely protective of Stella and made that known any time a male was around, but he never felt overbearing because he respected Stella and her ability to keep herself safe. While there is some strife between these two towards the end, I think it all played out perfectly for the situation. These two had a wonderful and very strong bond from the very beginning and I loved seeing them get their HEA.

Overall, this was another wonderful addition to this series. I love that we are getting to know a lot of the main characters that are shaping this new version of New Orleans. But, I really need Christian to admit his feelings for a certain lion and stop killing me with all the wait. 

Trigger Warnings: torture, poisoning, brief mention of mass death from a natural disaster; 

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*