🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 #Review of Hunt of the Dragon by Juliette Cross

Title: Hunt of the Dragon
Series: Vale of Stars #4
Author: Juliette Cross
Format: Kindle (249 pages)
Published: Juliette Cross (June 7, 2021)
ISBN: ASIN: ‎ B091FJ6RLC
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: Author
Rating: 5 out of 5 Wine Glasses
🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

Photojournalist Krissa Nadeem ventures into the wilderness to record the destruction by the Larkosian army. When she captures on film the Morgon Guard’s top most wanted enemy in hiding, she sets in motion a journey that will change her life forever. Not just because of the secret she uncovers, but also because of the man who will become her protector. And more. 

Bowen Huntergild, stealthy and deadly assassin, is at the head of the task force searching for the Bloodback witch who killed his sister in a blood sacrifice. When Krissa turns in her finding on film, he teams with her to discover the witch's hideout in the wilds beyond Drakos. While he focuses on the job, his dragon stirs, warning him that destiny has more intimate plans. 

What neither of them realize is that this one photograph could be the salvation or the doom of them all.

Linda's Thoughts:

Hunt of the Dragon by Juliette Cross is the fabulous fourth and final episode in her epic Vale of Stars steamy paranormal series. In full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of Juliette’s books, including this series. Even so, I was totally captivated by this installment from the prophecy to the prologue all the way to the end. Hunt of the Dragon features Morgan Bowen Huntergild and photojournalist Krissa Nadeem as its main characters – and while their romance is awesome – this book comprises much more than the romance as the arc that has encompassed the entire series evolves towards conclusion. Please know that this tale is told from multiple viewpoints - mostly Bowen’s and Krissa’s – but Mykah, a young dragon who may be the one in the prophecy to save them all, contributes to the storyline too. 

Even though this is the fourth installment, this story could work as a standalone. However, for your best enjoyment, if you have the time, I’d recommend reading the series in order.  

As the story begins, while on assignment, Krissa has taken a photo of a wanted witch and her dragon son. That photo comes to the attention of Bowen. His sister was killed by that Bloodback witch and Bowen has sworn to bring her to justice. War with Larkos Nightwing and his Larkasians is imminent but Krissa and Bowen embark on their dangerous mission into enemy territory to bring in the witch and her son. Close calls abound which serve to keep me on the edge of my seat. Along the way, the couple find that they share a strong attraction and that they are meant to be together. They make a great couple. 

Following are just a few of my favorite excerpts from Hunt of the Dragon chronicling Juliette’s wonderful way with words:

“No,” he said sharply. “I’ve taken no woman in this town.”

His thumb stroked the sensitive skin at the base of my throat then trailed over my collarbone, the small movement more intimate than I could imagine. Perhaps it was because his head was dipped low, his face mere inches from mine as he answered my question without condescension or sarcasm like he would someone who didn’t need to know such things. He told me as if I had a right to ask questions about his sex life. But I didn’t. Did I?
When his heated gaze drifted from my eyes down to my mouth, leaving a fiery trail, I was sure he was going to lean in and kiss me. Instead, he lifted his hand from my throat to cup my jaw and swept that same thumb across my bottom lip before lowering his mouth within a breath of mine and whispered, “Not yet.”

--- 

“When I catch you,” I scraped my teeth down the column of her throat and sucked at her pulse. “I’m not letting you go.”

--- 

“We’ll be on our way to Wilding Wood in an hour.”
“Your home,” I saw sweetly.
He shook his head, dipping low to capture my mouth. He slid his tongue along the seam and touched his tongue to mine when I opened for him. The kiss turned ravenous for a quick moment, then he pulled back.
“No, my love. It’s not my home anymore. But I’ll be happy to show you where my heart used to live.”
“Where does your heart live now?”
He coasted his hand from my nape to spread his palm over the left side of my chest just above my breast.
“Right here. Always right here.”

I’ve inhaled every installment in this series – but this has to be my absolute favorite. Hunt of the Dragon is an exciting, excellently-plotted, action-packed adventure with a steamy romance. Fans of the series will be happy to catch up with many favorite characters from this world who appear in supporting roles within. You can expect a rocky path and plenty of surprising twists and turns along the way for those united against the evil Larkos, but Juliette wraps everything up in a wonderful, feel-good ending which makes me happy, but also sad, as I hate to see the series end. BUT, what a way to go out! The bottom line is that Juliette writes rocking dragon stories and this one hits all the right buttons.  

  

Suggested Reading Order: 

#0.5 Dragon Heartstring
#1 Waking the Dragon
#2 Dragon in the Blood
#3 Dragon Fire
#4 Hunt of the Dragon