Fires of Ballian

Title: Fires of Ballian
Author: M.L. Rhodes
Publisher: Amber Allure
Genre: Paranormal M/M
Length: Novel (46K words)
Rating: 5+ stars out of 5, DIK

 THE BLURB

A hundred years ago, the high sorcerer of Velensperia launched a swift and deadly attack against the draegans—a race of dragon shapeshifters who’d always lived in harmony with the humans. The draegans were all but destroyed, with the few who remained, scattered and in hiding. But after a century of cruel repression, a group of them have united and begun to fight back. Their leader, Keiran Hareldson, is determined to free his people from the high sorcerer’s tyranny. For years he hid the secret of his heritage, knowing the truth would make him and those around him a target of the sorcerer’s wrath. But the time has come to fight the sorcerer in the open, and once the news spreads that Keiran is the sole surviving draegan lord, draegans and humans alike begin to flock to the draegan camp for protection.

Gaige Rizik used to be the captain of the sorcerer’s High Guard. His last assignment was to infiltrate the draegan rebel’s camp, identify the leader, and eliminate him. No one, least of all him, expected him to fall in love with the very man he’d sworn to kill. Gaige defects to the draegans’ side, and he and Keiran bind themselves to one another not only by love, but by blood when they go through the true mate ritual. With their blood merged, it allows Gaige to inherit the powerful magick of the draegan lords. But inheriting it and using it are two different things. Gaige has trouble tapping into the magick because he feels unworthy of the gift. Only half-draegan, he fears his human side and his past as the high sorcerer’s right hand will forever tarnish his future as Keiran’s mate and second in command.

When Keiran is stolen by an ancient demon from the shadow world, Gaige is left with the fate of the draegan people in his hands. They turn to him as their new lord, and he’s torn between his duty to them, and his desperate need to find his mate. Through shadow and torment, fire and darkness, Gaige and Keiran struggle to hold back the tide of the sorcerer’s ever-expanding war and stop the new and even deadlier evil that threatens their lands. In their darkest hour, only their fierce love for one another, and Gaige’s acceptance of his power, stand between them and the destruction of all they know.

THE REVIEW

Fires of Ballian, the third book in this series after True of Heart and Lords of Kellesborne, opens three weeks after Keiran, Lord of Kellesborne, disappeared. Everyone believes Keiran is dead because his captor was none other than Moh’dredion or Death. But his true-mate Gaige, now a Draegan Lord himself and leader of the entire race of draegans, holds out hope that Keiran is very much alive even though he has nothing on which to base his feelings except love and faith.

Much has happened since Keiran was captured, and Gaige is overwhelmed by his new responsibilities. His confidence in his ability to lead his people is hampered by the fact that not only is he inexperienced, but as a half draegan half human he is unable to fly and is therefore dependent on others when he needs to take to the skies to patrol. On the other hand, he is slowly developing his draegan magick and is becoming more powerful every day.

Gaige’s nemesis Jax, who had abandoned the draegans in the previous book because he had been spurned by Keiran whom he loved, had been captured by Byram, the diabolical High Sorcerer. When Gaige found out that Byram had sentenced Jax to death, he set out to find and rescue him even though he could lose his own life in the attempt.  He discovered where Jax was located and realized that Byram’s plan for the once proud draegan was the most horrible death imaginable, being eaten alive by nyctophans. His anger was so great it harnessed his power by creating a maelstrom in an incredible and awesome display that restored his faith in himself, and answered his question about whether he could lead his people and save them from Byram.

If I had any doubt that Fires of Ballian might not have been as exciting as the other stories in the series it was quickly erased as each peril was conquered. Gaige’s ability to dream and predict the future was front and center in this book as he searched for his mate, holding on to faint hope that he might still be alive. When he finds Keiran in his dreams he is losing his battle to live as Death wages a war he’s determined to win, and it seems that even Gaige’s new powers will not be enough to win his most important battle against Death who is sapping Keiran’s will to live.  With everything stacked against them Gaige still has faith that he will find his true-mate in real time and bring him home, but he had no idea that the journey would be so perilous or that the enemy would be so resourceful and powerful. Would he be strong enough to withstand and defeat Death or would draegan magick be too little, too late? Would the fates be so cruel as to deny Gaige when he found Keiran again?

The dream sequences are seductive and the love and sex between Keiran and Gaige are as erotic and sensuous as ever, even though their hope of  being together again in real life seems impossible as Keiran grows weaker. Gaige knows that time is running out and he alone may be unable to help their people survive and conquer their hated enemy Byram, but he is determined to risk everything to save both Keiran and the draegans.

 There are many adventures in this book that will have your heart pounding at an accelerated rate as Gaige races to rescue the love of his life, and you will be awed and amazed again at the wonderful mystical world of Velensperia where magick lives and the people are incredibly brave and resourceful. All of the characters are three dimensional and we get to know them no matter how small their role. This author’s paranormal stories are unbelievably creative as she lays out all the elements of a wonderful fantasy including sorcery and magick, in a well crafted adventure where the characters are as unique as the world in which they live.

When you have high expectations about the sequel to a much loved and highly anticipated series, most of the time they are never realized and you end up disappointed because the author didn’t deliver. In the case of Fires of Ballian M.L.Rhodes met and exceeded my expectations. Her writing is brilliant, the tension is electric, the characterizations are superb and the world building is incredible. What more could any fan of this series want? Her imagination is the reason why fans kept clamouring for her to finish this latest book so that they could lose themselves in a world that was so awe inspiring it took their breath away. Some series grab you by the throat and never let go – this is how these stories have impacted me since I first read The Draegan Lords reviewed here;  Fires of Ballian continued my love affair with this series that has enchanted me from the very beginning.

Can Byram achieve his wish for world domination in a new campaign that promises to be  the greatest yet or will the draegans be victorious?  I wonder how the author can surpass the thrills and chills of the previous books in Circle of Ariend and bring the series  to a satisfactory and exciting conclusion, not just for fans of action/adventure, but for romance readers as well.

It seems like I have been waiting forever for Fires of Ballian to be released, and it will be just as difficult for me to wait until Circle of Ariend completes the circle of this wonderful series. Even though I’m looking forward to this final book, when I read the last line I will be saying goodbye to old friends. I can’t wait – yet I’m dreading it.

Fires of Ballian is a gem – M.L. Rhodes you rock! If you have never read any of the books what are you waiting for?

Fires of Ballian is not a standalone book and must be read as part of the series