ARC Review: The Warrior King by Abigail Owen

About the Book:

Title: The Warrior King

Author: Abigail Owen

Series: Inferno Rising – Book 3

Publication Date: Mar. 8, 2021

Publisher: Entangled

Synopsis: Meira Amon is the most reserved of the phoenixes, finding computers easier to deal with than people and their messy emotions. But she wants revenge against the Rotting King Pytheios for the murder of her parents just as much as her sisters. Offering herself as a queen for their ally, dragon shifter King Gorgon of the Black Clan, only makes sense.

Just one problem…

Samael Veles worked his lowborn ass off to become the fiercest warrior of the Black Clan. He has pledged his life to protect his king at all costs. Yet somehow, in the middle of war, he took one look at a woman in a reflection and gave up his heart. When that woman turns out to be the phoenix promised to mate his king and help bring peace to their kind, he has no choice but to accept it.

Until her fire unexpectedly destroys the king after they’ve wed. Now Samael must choose between his loyalty to his clan and protecting the queen who might be his mate from his people’s wrath, one of which will unlock a destiny no one could have ever imagined…

LINKS:     Goodreads     |      Amazon    |      Book Depository

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My Review:

The Warrior King is such an amazing addition to the Inferno Rising series! Like the other books in the series, I adored the dynamically developed protagonists, vivid world-building, and immersive plot. The dangerous and death-defying action sequences are suspenseful and exciting, and the surprise twists left me speechless (and a little weepy). Plus, the romance is fantastic!!

The story focuses on Meira and Samael and their part in trying to find the black dragon king and helping to defeat Pytheios. At the start of the story, Meira agrees to mate Gorgon, the leader of the black dragon clan. When the mating goes horrifically wrong, Meira flees with Samael, who has sworn to protect her. Meira and Samael determine to find out what happened to Gorgon and Pytheios’ role in Gorgon’s disappearance.

Though Meira makes a commitment to Gorgon, Samael is her fated mate. Neither can refute their feelings, but both feel their future together is hopeless. Samael must fulfill his vow and protect Meira for Gorgon, even if it kills him to resist his feelings and see her with another. Meira is determined to do whatever it takes to fight against Pytheios. However, neither can fully resist their feelings, and the longer they are together, the more impossible this becomes. The romance between Samael and Meira is angst-filled, chemistry-laden swoon-tasticness!

All of the sisters have different abilities, and Meira can teleport using reflective surfaces. Meira is also an empath, which I found so fascinating. Feeling other people’s emotions threatens to consume her, but it also makes her a stronger and more compassionate person. Both of her abilities prove indispensable as she and Samael travel to different places and meet a variety of friends and foes.

Meira is technologically skilled and loves working on computers. Her advanced technical knowledge comes in handy when surrounded by so many threats, as she capably makes masterful and protective security systems. She is also very kind, nurturing, and gentle, attributes that endear her to others. Meira has such a big heart, and she always seems more concerned about others before herself. However, just because she is soft does not mean she is weak. She is as strong as her sisters, and I love that she learns this as the story progresses. You see her come into her own throughout the book, and her confidence, self-assuredness, and leadership abilities are undeniable. So are her feelings for Samael.

Samael is a powerful and fierce warrior torn between his duty and loyalty to his king and his love for Meira. He is so conflicted and selfless, and he is willing to sacrifice his own needs for the good of his people. A true leader, Samael also goes on a journey of self-discovery, and as he learns more about his leader, Meira, and himself, Samael must face his feelings. This proves difficult, as Samael has some pretty large walls to break down.

The animals are a lovely and fun addition to the story. I particularly love Vincent Van Goat. He is playful and cute, and he has the best goat name ever! Maul, the hellhound and protector of the sisters, is another one of my favorites, and his role becomes quite significant in this book. Maul has amazing abilities and is fiercely protective of the sisters, and the revelations about Maul are shocking, a bit heartbreaking, and powerful.

I loved this story, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next in the series! The action, the romance, the fantastical elements, the immense world-building, the wonderful characters, the imagery, and more make for an exciting and captivating read. Thanks so much to Entangled, Abigail Owen, and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance!

• Vincent Van Goat! He’s cute and lovable, and I love that name!

• The suspense. There are so many twists and turns and suspenseful scenes!

Favorite Lines:

If more people were your kind of reckless, the world would be a…kinder…place.

Trust could not be forced, but the truth was a good way to earn it.

That which you cannot avoid, welcome.

My mother used to say that if you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and when to quit.

Recommendations:

Want to learn more about the series? Check out my review for The Blood King!