{Review} Waking the Dragon (Vale of Stars #1) by Juliette Cross

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: June 9th, 2015
Finished Date: May 25th, 2015

Publishers: Lyrical Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: For Review
Format: eARC

Pages: 288
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

The Gladium Province is on the verge of civil unrest as humans and Morgons, the dragon-hybrid race, clash once more. But amid disorder can also arise passion.

When the bodies of three human women are discovered in Morgon territory—with the DNA of several Morgon men on the victims—it’s just a matter of time before civil unrest hits the Province. But for ambitious reporter Moira Cade, it’s more than just a story, and it may mean risking her own life.

Descending into the dark underworld of Morgon society, Moira is paired with Kol Moonring, Captain of the Morgon Guard, for her protection. Fiercely independent, Moira bristles at his dominance, and defies his will at every turn. Yet resistance proves futile when passion flares between them, awakening powerful emotions within both, body and soul. But as the killings continue, can their fiery newfound bond survive an even greater evil—one that threatens all of humanity, Morgonkind, and Moira’s very soul?... 

The Review: Waking the Dragon is the first book in the ‘Vale of Stars’ series by Juliette Cross and I thought it was fab!
The author is new to me and I wish I had known that there was a series that this tied into before I started it, not because it spoiled my enjoyment of this book but simply so I could read them, which I plan to do soon. I enjoyed the world that we are thrust into- Men and women with wings, capable of flying, known as Morgons and very dragonlike but they don’t shift, they are a human version of a dragon. They are living in a world alongside humans and with all species like this….. there is unrest on both sides. Gladium Province is a more forward thinking area where humans and Morgons live in peace, forming businesses, allegiances and relationships but not everyone is happy about this. Human women have begun to turn up dead, drained of blood and posed, everything points to Morgons especially when it keeps happening in their territory and that’s how we meet our leading lady Moira Cade. Moira is a journalist and getting this story could land her the job she has always wanted and because of her brother in law, she has an in….. but, in order for her to be allowed to investigate, she must agree to protection from the Morgon Guard. Of course she agrees but that is until she meets and spends a bit of time with the Captain – Kol Moonring. Used to doing things however she pleases, she is less than happy to have a domineering, protective, stoic Morgon following her around and stopping her from getting the job done – not to mention that he makes her feel all kinds of things she really doesn’t need to be feeling around him. Passion will ignite between them, forging a deep bond and making a dragon crazy with soulfire but when another more dominant force decides that Moira is just what he’s looking for….. where will that leave Kol? What will Kol do to save Moira? And just how will Moira crack the case when she is picked to be the next victim?
I loved this book – it has romance, murder, intrigue, dragons, feuds, fights, action, sexytime…. I could go on but if you like all of those in a story then you will love this! Oh, did I mention the HOT dragons??? Well there are plenty of those too. Moira was a great character, quite independent, career driven, relationship phobe, all wrapped up in a bunch of wit and sassiness – just the way I like them. I admired her drive and determination, she wasn’t afraid to utilise the people she knew to get what she needed or where she needed to be and it shows just how well thought of she is when the help is given straight away and she also wasn’t afraid to take risks. Now Kol, if ever there was a perfect partner for Moira it wold be him – they challenge each other at every turn, disagree about lots of things, she has to learn to be flexible, he has to learn that she is her own person and they just clash in a good way. I like these kinds of relationships, they frustrate each other, deny what they have and bam! when it hits them – the sparks fly. There’s no denying their chemistry and that lead to some rather steamy sexytime.
 The story was incredibly easy to get into and understand. As I mentioned – there are murders happening and Moira will investigate with the help of Kol – but that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are discoveries to be made because we need motive, then we need the enemy(ies) and to understand what’s happening…. We need a whole lot of information on dragons and their history so that the story can unravel. We get to travel to new places, sometimes forbidden, sometimes scary but always meeting new characters and broadening the world that much more. Both Moira and Kol have personal hurdles to overcome so that they can progress with each other and that’s without all of the fighting and action the story brings. I was hooked from start to finish, I really couldn’t put it down and the romance really got to me here – to the poit where I actually felt it in my gut & heart which is really rare these days. I definitely look forward to more and I’ll also be checking out the authors other books very soon.