Bookish Thoughts: Vale of Stars Series by Juliette Cross

After reading Juliette Cross's Nightwing Trilogy, I was not quite ready to let go of the Morgon world she had introduced me to, and I again immersed myself in her books. The Morgon race is a hybrid race, a combination of human and dragon.  The peace between the Morgon and humans is rather fragile and only in a few communities do the two races mix. I was excited to see she had written another set of books set in the same world, and it was really these three books that sold me on the series. It helped that they were on the longer side, two being full length novels.

Dragon Heartstring (Vale of Stars 0.5) (2016; 161 pgs)

Opening sentence: I fidgeted, tapping my thumbs against my pant leg while watching the numbers on the elevator panel. 

In Dragon Heartstring, Shakara Icewing and her clan has petitioned the City Commerce Council requesting the ban of the use and manufacturing of a weapon designed for the sole purpose of killing Morgon kind. How can a society that wants peace between the races allow the use and possession of a weapon specifically designed to kill one of the races? Sharkara is seen as a threat to those who are out to get her kind and Demetrius makes it his mission to protect her at all costs.

It was good to read about Demetrius and get a little update on Jessen, Moira and her dad's relationship (from Soulfire). Demetrius was a pretty big jerk in the first Nightwing novella. His dislike for Morgon kind came across loud and clear. After the incident with his sister, Jessen, however, and the birth of her child, he has had a change of heart. Is his heart and mind open enough to love a Morgan woman, however? Shakara Icewing, a healer and business woman in her own right, is not afraid of Demetrius and his wealth. She knows well his reputation, but cannot help but be drawn to him.

I liked Shakara the first time I met her in a previous book and was happy to read her love story in Dragon Heartstring. I was interesting to get a look into a human male and Morgan female perspective; see how the Morgan men varied from the women. 

Author Juliette Cross tackles some very serious issues in Dragon Heartstring, while all the while balancing the heated romance between initially reluctant lovers. It was good to see a different side of Demetrius, the softening of his heart, and that people can change.

Waking the Dragon (Vale of Stars #1) (Lyrical Press, 2016; 288 pgs)

Opening sentence: Tick.

I was thrilled when I realized Waking the Dragon featured Moira, Jessen's younger sister. She was my favorite character in Soulfire, even for her small role. Moira is all grown up in Waking the Dragon, the editor of the university paper. She is as ambitious as she is intelligent, and she is anxious to make a name for herself. Using her sister's connections to the Nightwing clan, Moira sets out to investigate the murder of human women with all evidence pointing to Morgons as their killers. Captain of the Morgon Guard, Kol Moonring, is assigned to assist Moira. Both are fiercely independent and neither inclined to give an inch to the other in terms of letting go some of their self-control.

Morgons have the advantage over humans in terms of strength and the ability to fly, but Moira is a force to be reckoned with all her own. She is tenacious and resourceful. And while she is willing to jump into danger to get her story--and save lives--she also knows her limits and knows when and who to ask for help. Kol is a very private person, brooding and stoic. I imagine he never saw himself falling for a human.

Moira finds herself in great danger in Waking the Dragon as her meddling into the investigation of the murders gets her closer to the truth. A great evil is at work, wanting to undo the progress the Morgons and humans have made in living peacefully. This novel is quite dark and suspenseful. I found myself holding my breath multiple times. I like Moira and Kol together. They fight their attraction to each other to no avail and I think their bond is even stronger for it.

Dragon in My Blood (Vale of Stars #2) (2016, 278 pgs)

Opening sentence: Strobe lights pulsed in time to the house music--aloud, hard beat, intoxicating the throng into a sensual rhythm.

Driven to hiding, the outlaws are regrouping and Valla Moonring, assassin with the Morgon Guard and Conn Rowanflame of Nightwing Security, are a part of the team sent to the Wastelands of Aria in search of their enemy who is hell bent on domination. It isn't the ideal environment for romance to bloom, but then, perhaps it is, the two isolated and forced to be in each other's company for a long period of time. Their relationship has always been fraught with animosity, their attraction hiding underneath.

Valla is the younger sister of Kol Moonring, and was raised by her brother. She is very capable of defending herself and is good at what she does. The last thing she wants is to be dominated by any man, especially Conn. I liked that Conn seems to recognize that.

It was a nice change to read a novel involving romance between two Morgons. Author Juliette Cross continues to build on a world that I find fascinating. The peace between the humans and Morgons is very tenuous, and growing more so every day. It's interesting to get a view into the different provinces and their politics. And so many characters I would like to get to know more about!

Dragon in My Blood is even darker than the previous novels, and is nonstop action from the start. The bad guys are rather formidable, the Blood King seemingly unstoppable. I am anxious to see where the series will go next!

*Source: I purchased all three of these books for my own reading pleasure.

You can learn more about Juliette Cross and her books on the author's website. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

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