Iron Ember

Excellent beginning for this new series! While you can read this book without reading any of the other series from Ms Grant, it does read better when you know the backstories of the other characters. I am an avid reader of all things Donna Grant and just love this new branch in the paranormal tree. Can’t wait to see where she takes us next!

4.25stars--IRON EMBER is the first instalment in Donna Grant’s contemporary, adult SKYE DRUIDS paranormal/fantasy romance series-a spin off from the author’s REAPER series which in turn is a spin off from the author’s many interconnected series and stories. This is Druids Elodie MacLean and Druid Scott Ryan’s story line. IRON EMBER should not be read as a stand alone- I recommend reading DARK ALPHA’S COMMAND (Reaper 15) for back story and cohesion as many of the events of the current story line are as of a direct result of the events in Dark Alpha’s Command. Several characters from the other series including Reaper Balladyn and Druid Rhona (Dark Alpha’s Command) and some of the original Dark Warriors / Dark Sword characters appear as secondary and supporting characters.

SOME BACKGROUND: Months earlier, betrayal and vengeance forced a take-over of power on the Isle of Skye but someone or something is killing the Druids, not only on the Isle of Skye, but around the world including Edinburgh Scotland. With the focus on the death of the Druids on the Isle of Skye, Balladyn and Rhona begin an investigation that reveals a danger targeting the Druids and the MacLean family, in particular.

Told from third person perspective IRON EMBER follows Elodie MacLean’s return to the Isle of Skye. Fifteen years earlier Elodie’s life spiralled out of control, and our heroine found herself acting out and misbehaving in a manner that labelled her persona non grata on the Isle of Skye. Having lived in Edinburgh for a number of years, her return to the Isle of Skye to face the demons from her past finds Elodie coming face to face with her future in the guise of Druid Scott Ryan but Scott has a secret, a secret that may push Elodie out of his life, a life that may no longer be under his control. Estranged from her family, Elodie struggles in the wake the loss of her magic, and the memory of what may or may not have happened. As the attacks against Elodie, and the Druids on the Isle of Skye increase, the past resurfaces revealing the truth about what happened and why. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Scott and Elodie, and the potential fall-out as Scott’s lies of omission threaten our heroine, and a predator demanding revenge focuses their energy of the Isle of Skye.

The relationship between Scott and Elodie begins when Scott, and his best friend Filip offer to help with repairs on Elodie MacLean’s family cottage. Remaining empty for close to fifteen years, the cottage is in disarray, having fallen behind in upkeep and love. As Scott and Elodie’s attraction to one another turns into something more, Elodie finds herself facing secrets, lies and betrayal at the hands of the man with whom she is falling in love, and the family with whom she is no longer close. The $ex scenes are limited but intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many of whom cross over from the author’s numerous interconnected series including warriors, Druids, Reapers and Dragons. We are introduced to Scott’s friend Filip, their ‘mentor and leader’ Georgiana, as well as Elodie’s siblings Edie and Elias.

IRON EMBER is a detailed and complex story that continues to build upon the events of Dark Alpha’s Command. Balladyn’s mate Rhona is the new leader of the Druids on the Isle of Skye, having won by default in the face of deception and betrayal by the former people in charge. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is passionate and captivating; the characters are energetic and charismatic.