After having read BloodLust I was rather impatient for the next in the series, so you can imagine my excitement when I was offered Instinctual to review. Let me tell you, I am totally loving this Syfy/Fantasy series Ms. Hadley has created. While the Rise of the Iliri series is not a romance, it has just enough romantic elements to appease that need in me.

In BloodLust, Sal was introduced to her Iliri roots. While she is a purebred Iliri she had been raised as a slave pet to humans and really had no clue about her very heritage and the instincts of the Iliri. Instinctual is Sal’s journey to discovering what comes most natural to a Kaisae. While Kaisae is the term used for the matriarch of an Iliri family pack unit, a true Kaisae hasn’t been seen in an eon. Sal promises to be the first and she is absolutely clueless to just what her role as a true Kaisae means. Clueless or not, her pack has every intention of seeing she is guided by her true heritage.

By the end of BloodLust, Blaec had outed the Black Blades as being made up of Iliri to their human counterparts. While they have allies in some of the military, and Blaec has garnered respect and enough chits to gain the cooperation of other elite military teams, they have their definite enemies within the government. Enemies which plan to see them humiliated and disbanded if not slaughtered outright. It will take every bit of cunning and skill to outwit and outplay their own government. Even amongst their allies they have their share of spies and traitors.

The Black Blades are made of eight individuals with remarkable skills…

We have a collection of skills,” Blaec said. “Sal changes her features and color, Cyno reads memories through touch, Arctic lets us speak in our heads, Shift and Risk heal, Razor can track anything, and I get premonitions of the future.”

Now their greatest ally in the military, General Ran Sturmgren has told them they need to increase their numbers by two as he has an extended mission for Sal and Cyno that will put them down in numbers for at least a year of deployment when they have completed their latest challenge. So while trying to maneuver the political landmines that would see them destroyed they need to go through the trials to select new members while attempting to foil the Emperor from delivering steel as bribes to potential allies that would see the downfall of the Conglomerate of Free Citizens.

On the love front, Sal must adjust to the reality of leaving Blaec behind and her very real relationship with Cyno and just what it means. He is her anchor in navigating the quagmires of the BloodLust and the sexual needs it induces. But is he more than just an outlet? Coming to terms with the very real differences between Iliri and humans when it comes to sex, love and relationships is in itself a challenge.

Once again Ms. Hadley has written a book I could not put down. I was drawn in and enraptured by the world and characters she has created. Having read a blog post by Ms. Hadley that stated that her first draft of this series was actually written in 2013 and how very appalled she was with the first draft upon rereading it, I am so amazed at the process that delivers such an engaging story. I can’t wait for the next installment which I believe is currently in edits. Here’s hoping edits don’t take too long because I sure want to know what happens next for Sal and the Iliri.

♥ Amazon US ♥ Amazon AU ♥ Amazon CA ♥ Amazon DE ♥ Amazon ES ♥ Amazon FR ♥ Amazon IT ♥ Amazon UK ♥

Auryn Hadley is a happy Texan who swelters in the summers with her husband, three dogs, and the neighborhood cats. Her coffee addiction is impressive and allows her to keep writing the next book. Her husband keeps telling her it’s great, even though he doesn’t like to read, so she ignores him.

With a degree in biology, a few decades in gaming, and a love for all things out of this world, she writes across genres looking for the story that is begging to be told. From love to loss, hopes and dreams, there’s always an escape waiting inside the pages of her books. She tries to capture the idealism of YA literature while addressing more adult topics because life doesn’t get any less exciting when you grow up.

To see what’s in the works, go to www.aurynhadley.com