Kresley Cole - Shadow's Heart

A FALLEN PRINCESS . . .
Sheltered Kosmina Daciano has always yearned for adventure. But her first trip to the mortal world turns dark when a foe curses her with bloodlust—ensuring her exile in the sinister dimension of Nightside.
AN OUTLAW SORCERER . . .
For millennia, Silt Harea has flouted the laws of the Lore with all the arrogance of a king, remaining one step ahead of ruination. Yet then a mysterious bounty hunter schemes to capture him, dispatching him straight to hell.
FIGHT TO ESCAPE A DYING REALM . . .
Within Nightside, Silt clashes with the hunter’s sister, also condemned. Never imagining that she might be the key to his escape—and his future—he vows revenge against her. But Mina is no easy quarry.
Can two doomed immortals survive long enough to salvage a nightmare, turning hatred into love and vengeance into bliss?

Comment: This is the 19th installment in the Immortals After Dark series by author Kresley Cole. Or, instead, the 3rd in the spin-off series, The Dacians. Either way, it's the most recent full length release, after Munro in 2022. I knew this would be an easy book to read, thus why I've went for it now instead of later.

In this story we focus on Kosmina, the sister of Mirceo from book #16 and niece of Lothaire, protagonist in book #11. Mina, as she is called, is a very sheltered vampire, one of the few female vampires who hasn't gone crazy, and when this story begins, her uncle Lothaire has just given her a mission. While in the middle of things, she becomes infected by a plague and is sent to Nightside, a Realm where only doomed souls live but she pairs up with Silt Harea, a sorcerer who lost everything and who was sent to the realm by Kosmina's brother! While exchanging barbs all the way while trying to find a way to escape, Silt and Mina still found each other but is there hope for them if they leave the realm alive?

The books in this series are, as often happens to long series, supposedly accessible to a new reader, in the sense the plot has a continuity that allows things to be understandable. However, truly, these books are only meaningful if readers had read the previous books too, or most of them. Otherwise, there are so many little things that get lost or don't seem to matter but to a fan, it means a lot more than the obvious.

This story might seem a bit random, but as always there's more to it and it should be said these books are happening in a period of time in which the events have a goal. The Accession is this big event/battle of some kind in which good and evil fight and throughout all these books we have been getting stories of characters who align themselves in the "good" side and the idea is they all will unite efforts to help Nix, the Soothsayer, to win the big final battle. I am assuming Nix, a beloved but crazy character, will likely only have her HEA at the very end (will it ever happen that is the question...).

This is why Kosmina and Silt meet now, seemingly in a random way but, of course, the readers know all is somehow connected. Silt will recover his powers and it is a given he will help his new family through Mina and Nix too. Anyway, Mina and Silt have a funny relationship, a sort of opposites attract, and it was cute to read about their banter as they go on through the realm battling enemies and overcoming challenges. At the same time, of course, they learn to trust one another step by step, leading them to slowly fall in love.

In terms of plot development, there isn't much to this story, in fact. Mina and Silt are traveling and learning about each other until they find a castle where it seems they will have some time to rest. It becomes obvious that the castle and the sorcerer who controls it, are there as a test, and we do wonder if Mina and Silt fall into the trap of letting themselves be at ease and believe the lies which hide the vices that can entrap them. Since Silt has been in a similar situation in the past, the question if more related to him: will he be able to ignore the temptations and follow Mina?

I think the "moral lesson" of this story is achieved as well as it can, and the romance between the protagonists show us a side of them that made me believe their relationship would endure. Yes, I'd change some details but I think that in the big scheme of things, this was a good story. As expected too, the end is sweet and positive and I had a good time remembering the experience of reading the earlier installments of the series, with similar types of plots. The very final chapter is a teaser of what's to come, so.... more waiting to see what happens next...

Grade: 7/10

Kresley Cole - MacCarrick Brothers trilogy

I've been a fan of Kresley Cole's PNR Immortal After dark series since I've read the first book, around 2007 or 2008. While in my PNR obsession period, I've read many, many books in the genre and some authors' work was clearly more appealing than others and this author was quite well liked. 

At that time, I've also decided to get her historical romance series featuring the three Scottish brothers for no other reason than the fact it was written by her. I also like historical romance and it wasn't such a hard task to want to read these books too, but it's true I wasn't motivated by their blurbs.

Now that I'm aiming to make the effort to read books which have been languishing in the Goodreads' "want to read" pile for the longest, this trilogy finally caught up my attention. I've decided to read them all in a row (usually, I prefer to read series one installment a month, more or less) and get it over with. I know, this sounds a bit harsh but the truth is that by picking the first installment and checking the others, I wasn't really that motivated to read the trilogy, not as I am in regards to other historical romances.

I think my issue was with the type of plots: all brothers are somehow involved with spying or mercenary type of activities and while this is set in the 1830s, it didn't really give me that vibe. They also believe their family is cursed and none of them will have a happy marriage, nor will they have children. This is the driving force behind some of their decisions and some plot moves but it felt to me that it made the overall story a bit frustrating at times, because it was an actual simple thing to overcome.

1.If You Dare

This is the story of Courtland, the youngest brother. He is a mercenary, working for a man in Andorra but makes the decision to switch sides and this doesn't go well. He is rescued by Annalía, the woman who is his former boss' fiance. At first he only wants to use her as tool for revenge but they fall in love and he decides to help her fight the fiancé and the harm he could cause. I was feeling rather meh abut this, actually. The story itself wasn't bad, and I liked the final part, but there was a lot in the middle I struggled to care for. This made the reading experience a little boring and all the plan discussion of doing this and that, along with the protagonist's sexy times - which felt out of place - turned this story into something a bit disjointed. 

Grade: 5/10

2. If You Desire

This is the story of the middle brother, Hugh, who is a spy and assassin. Hugh believes his talents are only related to his ability to dispatch someone and he has had a good mentor, Davis. Hugh responds to lord Weyland and he has always thought his work helped but he can't hide that his fascination with Weyland's daughter Jane also compelled him to accept her father's proposal, especially since he believed he could not marry her. The problem is that his mentor Davis is now on a mission to destroy Weyland and he plans on using Jane, and Hugh is tasked with protecting her. After years denying their attraction, they now need to be together, and their relationship clearly evolved. My problem is that the writing in this book simply discouraged me and I could find no real interest in this couple's story. It was quite a task to finish, even more so because I disliked Jane's personality.

Grade: 4/10

3.If You Deceive

This is the story of Ethan, the oldest brother. Ethan also does some enforcing/spying work and he is the one feeling the curse the most. He was always considered a good looking man but that changed when a man who caught him with his wife mistook the situation and ordered his torture. Later, Ethan got his revenge when the woman and her daughter were left destitute but now he learns the daughter, Madeleine, is looking for a husband and he decides to finish his revenge by deceiving her. Of course, things don't happen that easily and they fall in love. I liked this story the most but I feel conflicted because it was the darkest one, in terms of vibe and in what happens. Madeleine had a hard life and is living in poverty in Paris. I think her despairing situation and what Ethan does only exacerbate the whole thing and I still don't feel fully convinced by the expected happy ending. I think the positive elements weren't always balanced well enough with the less good ones.

Grade: 6/10

In summary, this trilogy didn't really grab me. I might be guilty of already having low expectations and yes, a certain lack of general interest, but I wasn't fully convinced by the stories presented. I kept hoping that all characters would have been different in some aspect or that they would make other choices in key moments... well, wishing for difference when it was not possible to change anything anyway always leads to disappointment.

I feel glad I've read the books and that I can move on from the thought of having them just waiting. I've liked certain elements but not all.

Generally speaking, the average of the three books is ordinary. My conclusion is that while I like the author's voice in PNR, her historical romance one didn't win me over.

Grade: 5/10

Kresley Cole - Munro

TORMENTED IN UNIMAGINABLE WAYS
Coming off torture at the hands of his warlock captors, Munro MacRieve never expected to find his
mate, or to lose her just as abruptly. Driven to desperation, the ruthless warrior uses his enemies’ own powers to reunite with her—in the distant past.
STOLEN FROM HER TIME
When a crazed werewolf crashes her wedding, Kereny “Ren” Codrina does what any cunning huntress would do: she captures him. Yet she finds herself softening toward the wounded beast—until he turns the tables and forces her into an incomprehensible future.
CAN A HUMAN AND AN IMMORTAL UNITE IN ORDER TO SURVIVE?
As danger mounts, Munro will do anything to make her undying, even sell his soul to an evil sorceress. But first he must convince his fiery mate that she belongs with him. If seduction means her survival, Munro will use every weapon in his arsenal to possess her—forever.

Comment: When it was announced that Kresley Cole would be releasing the next installment in the Immortals After Dark series, which has a huge fan base, all fans were certainly glad and excited she seems to be coming back. The previous book in the series had been released in 2017 and the communication from the author's team has not been great. This has led to many opinions out there and it felt as if the author simply disappeared. Thankfully, perhaps this means she will be back to some routine and more books will keep coming out.

This last hope is what all readers and fans want, after all, there are plenty of loose threads to be solved/closed and many characters have been hinted at that they would have their own romances, especially since the overall plot is leading to a specific end, the Accession, which is a big battle between two sides. I confess I can't remember all from the past books, but the key characters and situations come back as one reads along.

In this book we finally have the story of poor Munro, a Lykae trapped in a hell scenario. He is the twin of Will, whose story we got in Macrieve. Munro wants to save his mortal mate, whom he discovers in Transylvania, for everyone knows mortals don't last long among the Lorians. However, Kereni is a huntress of Lorians and at first she doesn't want to believe him when he says they are mates. Problems go their way, though, and it comes to a point where Munro has to make a decision but how will Kereni react? Could they find common ground if only they spend time together? Can Munro show Kereni what would have happened if he didn't save her? Can she find happiness with someone of a species she had vowed to hunt and kill?

Frankly, I was worried this would be a convoluted story and with too many details, not only because too long has been since the last book but mainly because it's not easy to remember all important events to specific plot points. I'm glad to say that, for me, this book worked out well enough and I've finished with a sense of relief that the author maintained her usual style.

Some readers have critiqued the romance, that it isn't as romantic and solid as desired and in a way, I agree. It's true this is a paranormal reality so the behavior of the characters isn't 100% the same as one would expect of humans and this is enough to help me suspend disbelief, but after so many installments, it's also expected that the falling in love aspect is a must and when done well, makes the story feel even stronger. I think this could have been done better but at the same time, I feel glad enough over the secondary elements to make me think of this one with less severity.

Kereni is a human and a good part of her reluctance, besides meeting Munro in a not very appealing way, is that she doesn't see herself as becoming the kind of being she has been raised to despise. However, I'm happy to say her inner conflict isn't one where her decisions drag the story down. I suppose more time could have been spent on making her realize why being immortal was important or necessary of beneficial, but in the end, I kind of liked how practical she ended up being.

Munro is a less developed character, in my opinion. He is just like any other Lykae, with all their needs and features and while he was a protagonist, I don't feel he was as special as the book's title would have demanded. I mean, I liked he found a way to find his mate and to be with her, I certainly liked the evolution of their relationship but the patterned behavior he shows until they are official mates isn't anything special (to me).

The romance could be better but I must say I was glad enough to be back to this world. It's inevitable that, with such a long series, more reasons to dislike or to love can come out as we go through each book, and some in the past have been rather "meh", but I liked the overall pace of this one and it feels obvious how much the author tried to keep things as they used to be, and one element I truly enjoyed was the presence of other characters we knew from previous books, for me this made the story feel a bit more solid because we can make connections and we can put some things into perspective by seeing them in this new situation.

The end is very sweet and cute and I even felt there was a bit too much sugar, but I can deal with it. The last chapter is also an author's trademark provocation, for we learn about yet another character who has protagonist potential but the list of characters fans want to read about keeps growing and this can be a bit unfair, how can they all have HEAs? Let's hope the author is back on her rhythm.

Grade: 7/10

Kresley Cole - Wicked Abyss

As a boy, Abyssian “Sian” Infernas had his heart shattered by a treacherous fey beauty who died before he could exact vengeance. Millennia later, a curse has transformed him into a demonic monster—just as she’s been reincarnated. Sian captures the delicate but bold female, forcing her back to hell.
Princess Calliope “Lila” Barbot’s people have hated and feared Abyssian and his alliance of monsters for aeons. When the beastly demon imprisons her in his mystical castle, vowing revenge for betrayals she can’t remember, Lila makes her own vow: to bring down the wicked beast for good.
As Calliope turns hell inside out, the all-powerful Sian finds himself defenseless against his feelings for her. In turn, Lila reluctantly responds to the beast’s cleverness and gruff vulnerability. But when truths from a far distant past are revealed, can their tenuous bond withstand ages of deceit, a curse, and a looming supernatural war? 

Comment: This is the latest installment in the Immortals After Dark series by author Krelsey Cole. This has been quite the long series and I'm still happy, overall, with the world created by the author and the characters in it. Although the main characters in this story weren't the ones I was looking for to the most, I liked seeing them getting their HEA.

In this book we have Abyssian (Sian) and Calliope's (Lila) romance, he's the king of Pandemonia, a realm very much like Hell and Calliope is the reincarnation of a fey princess who broke Sian's heart millennium ago. Sian doesn't trust Lila but he knows she is his mate, so he tries to keep her in the realm but isn't rushing to forgive her for something she can't even remember now...

Lila thinks she is just doing her part in a deal that will take her out of exile to her Sylvan realm. She knows Sian has expectations of her but she hides the fact the is aware she is his mate. The problem is that there is an obvious attraction between them and it starts to get harder and harder to deceive each other as time goes by and they fall in love...

Readers of this series certainly can tell new readers the books can be read as stand alone novels. But I really think it's very complicated to understand several situations without the background of all the other books, a task that can be challenging to a new reader who sees so many previous titles. I keep thinking having read them all is the best way to go because the author knows how to world build a concept and she has created incredible characters to go with it.

I think this is again obvious and readable in this new book. My biggest issue has to be the notion the stories have lost some of the focus they had at first. Is this a natural evolution of the series? Or is it the fact the author has other series which "steal" time out of this one? Through a devoted reader's eyes, of course.

The plot is pretty simple, we basically have the focus on the main character's romance and then the continuity of the sub plot which is the setting up for the Acession, the expected final battle between good and evil, where Nix, the central character of the series, has been fixing up everyone to the best outcome possible. Dare I say her mate is mentioned in this book?

Plots aside, the romance is definitely central stage here and for any PNR fan, this is certainly a plus but recently I've had had the feeling heroines are more and more independent, which is awesome from a feminist POV but... it's starting to become a bit repetitive.

The relationship between Sian and Lila starts off with secrets and omissions. Things progress and improve but we always know there are things to be uncovered. Eventually they are and that is one of the sources of conflict, if not the biggest. It's to be expected everything will be sorted and is, but it seems to me this has been the way almost all stories have been done, even more so with the recent books. I guess I wouldn't mind it much if the heroes weren't always the ones who need to apologize the most and the heroines are the ones who get smug to be the clever ones. It does rock for girls, but it's tiring for me that all female protagonists need to be stronger or clever or wittier than guys. Why not be themselves, why do they need to play the role of sarcastic and deceiving when it suits?

I liked it that at the end of this book, the relationship felt like a partnership, so things do seem better in this book than in others.

I liked the interactions with secondary characters. I miss the more evident clues about other possible romances but overall, things were interesting to rad about. This isn't close to my favorite book in the series but it had several details that make it easy and quick to read.

I wish the author would go back to focus on this series and not such a long distance existed between release of new books. Maybe a change in the personalities of characters would help as well...but all things considered, this is still a go-to series I like and will keep on reading.

Grade: 7/10

Kresley Cole - Shadow's Seduction

Prince Mirceo Daciano and his new friend Caspion the Tracker comb the streets of Dacia, drunkenly seeking out pleasures of the flesh. In what should have been a typical night, they coax a bevy of nymphs to bed. To impress their females, the demon and the vampire kiss on a dare.
Once they finally break away from their soul-searing kiss, they find themselves alone—and shaken. Had they imagined their explosive chemistry? Obstacles—ranging from a death sentence, to exile on a war-torn dimension—threaten to destroy their lives, much less the vulnerable promise in that one kiss.
Even if Mirceo can accept Caspion as his fated mate, the sensual vampire still must convince the stubborn demon that their bond is forever. And any royal Dacian union must receive the blessing of King Lothaire, an unpredictable and savage killer...

Comment: Since this book was revealed to be the next installment in the spin off series the Dacians by author Kresley Cole that I wanted to read it. I like m/m books and was very eager to see how the author would do with a genre which isn't what she has been known for. Whether she wanted to do it as she says in an note in the first pages or because she wanted to go with the m/m flow many authors are in these days, I just feel glad the story is out there!

This is the story of Mirceo, he's one of the Dacians we saw not only in the first installment of this spin off series but also in Lothaire, from the original Immortals After Dark series so many readers have come to enjoy.

Mirceo is one of the youngest members of the Dacian family and he is using his time freely before his heart stops and only a mate can revive his body again. One day he meets Caspion, a demon who catches his eye. At first they are simply friends but Mirceo doesn't hide he would want more.

Caspion just wants to be left in peace, he didn't want to have feelings for Mirceo, in fact he tries his best not to admit them, but at the end, finding a mate can only be a positive thing...

Five years after the first novel in the spin off series, finally a second installment is released. This author is involved with so many series/work that it's impossible to maintain a steady incoming of new books in the series we like best. Thankfully, readers have seen the day where the Dacians were again key in a book.

I confess Mirceo wasn't the character I wanted the most but just having a book was good enough.

Many readers have obviously mentioned the fact this is a m/m romance. This is the first book by the author where the main couple has a same sex relationship. To me, this doesn't bother me at all, but I can understand why others don't agree and won't read the book. When we think the Loreans, the supernatural beings that are the central stage in the author's PNR worlds, have such a wild side and long lives, why not having characters who feel their mates can be the same sex? Again, I was not bothered by this even if it was a premiere for the author.

Many also mentioned the writing didn't sound like Cole's work. I don't think there's anthing wrong with it and felt the "tone" was pretty much in sync with what we have seen in the other books. There's sex scenes, there's violence and mentions of previous known characters so what's to think it's different... I thought it was as expected.

In terms of plot, not much to say, this is very basic, they're mates, one of them disagrees , they are separated for a while but then Mirceo knows who he wants and goes after Caspion. We learn things abut each of them, and they find their HEA.

I do agree when people say this all seemed pretty fast and in this regard yes, the writing was the obvious culprit: the author could have written things in a way that would become more evident the passage of time or something because it did look like things were being rushed.

The romance, on its own was good enough. Towards the end, it could certainly be more romantic and not as abrupt as it looked like. 

Besides, there's a situation at the end that, while not that worrying (after all, a romance will definitely happen) was avoidable and it feels like the author just wanted to give a sense of despair/climax to the end of the book. It's not something pertaining the main couple, though.

I read this story very quickly. I still feel the "vibe" of these books, I liked seeing the evolution of Mirceo from an apparently wild and silly young vampire to someone who suffers because he is aware of others' pain and Caspion from a lonely demon to someone who had happiness and the love of someone else, even if not who he imagined.

All in all, a good romance for me even if predictable at times.

Grade: 8/10

Last books read in 2015

I'll take a few sentences to just present a summary of the last three books I've read in 2015, so I can get the blog tidy and on track to this new year's reads.

These three books were interesting, two just slightly better than the third, for specific reasons but I still wanted to share without writing a full comment when in reality there isn't much I can say about them that many others haven't already and certainly in a much more eloquent manner. Anyway, just a few comments about the books and my general opinion about them.

Ever since their scorching affair ended years ago, Julian, the Nightkind King, and Melisande, daughter of the Light Fae Queen, have tried to put the past behind them—and distance between them. But when a war breaks out between Julian and Justine, a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind council, they find themselves thrown together under treacherous circumstances…
Kidnapped as leverage against Julian, Melly is convinced that her former lover won’t be rushing to her rescue. But when Julian gives himself up to save her, they both end up Justine’s captives. Armed only with their wits and their anger, Melly and Julian must work together to escape. But will they be able to ignore their complicated history, or will the fiery passion that once burned them blaze again?  

Comment: This is the 8th installment in the Elder Races series, featuring Julian and Melisande. Apparently they had an affair/relationship until 20 years ago but he got proof of her cheating and they broke up. But now she's in danger and he still cares and goes out to rescue her. Everything ends up well and they talk and get back together. I thought it was pretty basic, not interesting enough when it came to the plot but the thing I found weaker was their relationship itself, I don't like lovers reunited tropes and this was one of it. I liked Julian but Melly isn't the type of heroine I like, even if she was always decent and worthy. It just didn't feel amazing to me. It was the last book of the year.

Grade: 5/10

* * *

Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped by all that her strong personality will temper the young Amunhotep’s heretical desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods, overthrow the priests of Amun, and introduce a new sun god for all to worship.
From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people. Her charisma is matched only by her husband’s perceived generosity: Amunhotep showers his subjects with lofty promises. The love of the commoners will not be enough, however, if the royal couple is not able to conceive an heir, and as Nefertiti turns her attention to producing a son, she fails to see that the powerful priests, along with the military, are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person wise enough to recognize the shift in political winds—and brave enough to tell the queen—is her younger sister, Mutnodjmet.
Observant and contemplative, Mutnodjmet has never shared her sister’s desire for power. She yearns

for a quiet existence away from family duty and the intrigues of court. Her greatest hope is to share her life with the general who has won her heart. But as Nefertiti learns of the precariousness of her reign, she declares that her sister must remain at court and marry for political gain, not love. To achieve her independence, Mutnodjmet must defy her sister, the most powerful woman in Egypt—while also remaining loyal to the needs of her family.
Love, betrayal, political unrest, plague, and religious conflict—Nefertiti brings ancient Egypt to life in vivid detail. Fast-paced and historically accurate, it is the dramatic story of two unforgettable women living through a remarkable period in history.  

Comment: I borrowed this book, in Portuguese, from the person who has been friendly enough to let me borrow more books lately. This is a book about Nefertiti told by her sister whose name I can't spell but with the nickname Mutny. So basically the author did some research on Nefertiti and then wrote an historical fiction story, more fiction than historical and told us Neferitit's life story. I think it has too many unknown and made up things to be a proper historical but when it comes to romance and adventure it's fine. Mutny is the narrator of the story and I liked her more than Nefertiti and was more interested in her than the famous sister - who might not be her sister at all, according to historical sites. So bear in mind that this has a lot of author's personal ideas...still it was interesting enough to read, it was fluid and I read it fast. It was also entertaining if not brilliant.

Grade: 7/10

* * *

A foundling raised in a world of humans
Growing up, orphaned Josephine didn’t know who or what she was—just that she was “bad,” an outcast with strange powers. Her baby brother Thaddeus was as perfect as she was flawed; protecting him became her entire life. The day he was taken away began Jo’s transition from angry girl... to would-be superhero... to enchanting, ruthless villain.
A lethally sensual enforcer on a mission
A threat to the Møriør has brought archer Rune the Baneblood to the mortal realm to slay the oldest living Valkyrie. Whether by bow or in bed, he never fails to eliminate his target. Yet before he can strike, he encounters a vampiric creature whose beauty conceals a black heart. With one bite, she pierces him with aching pleasure, taking his forbidden blood - and jeopardizing the secrets of his brethren.
A boundless passion that will lead to sweet ruin...
Could this exquisite female be a spy sent by the very Valkyrie he hunts? Rune knows he must not trust Josephine, yet he’s unable to turn her away. Despite his millennia of sexual conquests, he can’t ignore the unfamiliar longing she arouses deep within him. When Jo betrays the identity of the one man she will die to protect, she and Rune become locked in a treacherous battle of wills that pits ultimate loyalty against unbridled lust.

Comment: Sweet Ruin is the latest installment in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. We meet Jo, a sister to Thad, a younger character we've known for some books now. This is Jo's story, about her life, her choices and who and what she is. Jo really doesn't know what she is since she died at 11 and woke up again right after. She randomly meets Rune, a dark fey warrior who wants to kill Nix and the two of them quickly become an item if not intimate right away. Their happiness was planned however and Nix plays a part to make it happen. I liked the book simply because we get to see so many beloved characters. I liked the main romance but to be honest, it wasn't as captivating as some other titles. Some scenes were interesting and now I have even more characters I want to see happy and with mates. The romance wasn't spectacular but as always, it was good to see them get an HEA and be part of a continuous plot that still features so many loving couples.

Grade: 7/10

Kresley Cole - Dark Skye

As a boy, Thronos, prince of Skye Hall, loved Lanthe, a mischievous Sorceri girl who made him question everything about his Vrekener clan. But when the two got caught in the middle of their families’ war, tragedy struck, leaving Thronos and Lanthe bitter enemies. Though centuries have passed, nothing can cool his seething need for the beautiful enchantress who scarred his body—and left an even deeper impression on his soul.
Lanthe, a once-formidable sorceress struggling to reclaim her gifts, searches for love and acceptance with all the wrong immortal suitors. But she’s never forgotten Thronos, the magnificent silver-eyed boy who protected her until she was ripped from the shelter of his arms. One harrowing night changed everything between them. Now he’s a notorious warlord with a blood vendetta against Lanthe, hunting her relentlessly.
With their families locked in conflict and battles raging all around them, will Thronos and Lanthe succumb to the brutal chaos that threatens everything they cherish? Or will the fragile bond they formed so long ago spark a passion strong enough to withstand even the darkest doubts?  

Comment: It was with great expectations that I anticipated reading this book. Not only because it took a long time for this particular couple to have their HEA since we were "told" they would end up together but also because since the book arrived at my house I had to wait to get to it.

I already knew others had loved it and considering I did like the previous one a lot, I was really motivated to read it.

 

This is Lanthe and Thronos story, they have going against each other for a long time - a lot of books ago - and now, after the happenings of the last books because of the Order kidnappings and actions, Thonos finally catches Melanthe.

Trying to run away from the Order island and escaping enemies proves hard but it does allow them more than enough time to talk and to solve their issues. But even when things seem to turn well for them, there's still a final obstacle to overcome and can they honor their love?

 

I ended up enjoying this story. I still think it could have been better considering all the preparation time, if we can call it that, until it was finally their time. The story itself was good, I liked how their relationship developed and they talked and the plot moved forward at the same time while they battled enemies and obstacles.

I think the author thought about this correctly and did things well. My issues come from my own personal perspective and preferences. So, I'd say the book may be possibly better but for me, some things weren't as perfect.

 

The plot, like I said, worked out fine. I liked how the characters' change of heart, the new things they learned helped them navigate murky waters and find a common ground to be able to help each other, to compromise and how that affected their behavior. Basically, the plot is about Thronos and Lanthe getting away from the ones that chase them, they come to a compromise, they start to trust and understand the other better, they fight enemies and after an acceptance of the bond between them, they have to hold on to their happiness.

I was still glad many other characters wee present, it's always positive for me when we see beloved characters show up and be part of a world. It proves me that the author has consideration for the world she created and the readers that enjoy it.

 

The relationship between Thronos and Lanthe is funny, sweet and (to me personally) sometimes imperfect. We see them go through many emotions before the HEA happens. I don't have any issue with their personalities and the way they must work things out.

The one thing that bothers me was something the author kept putting on the page and concerns Lanthe's actions while away from Thronos.  I don't think I'd make such a big deal out of it but it was an element stressed out often and it started to feel unavoidable. Usually I don't care about the character's sexual past but in this story it had quite the highlight because of Thronos POV. We obviously learn a lot about them in this book and their story has a lot of hidden things to deal with.

I think all the references to it were exaggerated and for me, it painted a picture of Lanthe I don't think is very positive but if we think global, it didn't have to be such a big deal.

 

Anyway, al things considered, it was still a good story, a great installment in this Immortals After Dark series and it offered many clues about other characters too. The romance wasn't 100% perfect but it ended up positively and hopeful.

Grade: 8/10

Kresley Cole - MacRieve

Uilleam MacRieve believed he’d laid to rest the ghosts of his boyhood. But when a brutal torture revives those ancient agonies and destroys his Lykae instinct, the proud Scot craves the oblivion of death. Until he finds her—a young human so full of spirit and courage that she pulls him back from the brink.
Seized for the auction block, Chloe Todd is forced to enter a terrifying new world of monsters and lore as a bound slave. When offered up to creatures of the dark, she fears she won’t last the night. Until she’s claimed by him—a tormented immortal with heartbreaking eyes, whose touch sets her blood on fire.
With enemies circling, MacRieve spirits Chloe away to the isolated Highland keep of his youth. But once he takes her to his bed, his sensual mate becomes something more than human, evoking his savage past and testing his sanity. On the cusp of the full moon, can he conquer his worst nightmare to save Chloe . . . from himself?

Comment: This is the most recent installment in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. I've read all the books in this series so far and only one or two didn't seem as good as that but none was bad. This was a pleasant surprise and I loved it.

This book tells us the story of Uilleam MacRieve, he's a cousin to Bowen from book #3 and we know he was in the Order's prison and tortured along with many other Lore beings. At this point we also know most Loreans were released and Uilleam is still dealing with his terrible past and the cost of his imprudence and fear. At present he only wants revenge against the Order leader that brought his fears to the surface again and he thinks owning the leader's daughter to bring him out of hiding is the answer until something he didn't expect surprises his long dormant Instinct...

I really liked this book. It was fast paced but it had such an interesting focus on what was happening in Chloe's life and expectations and I liked seeing things through her eyes. I thin this is the best thing in the book because we get to "discover" some god things about the Lore while Chloe is learning what's to come too. I thin it was really good how we got to learn about another tpe of character from the Lore and at the same time having a notion about what happened so far, because despite this not being obvious, it still has many little deatils that made me feel like this is a global world and I enjoy having an idea about what is happening all around. Somehow I had this feeling, which is a god thing to my taste, personally.

I also enjoyed the romance between Macrieve and Chloe. He wasn't expecting to find his mate but I liked how they grew to know each other at the same time, slowly and without stupid power games. It was quite the expected twist when we found out what kind of Lorean Chloe would become and this offered quite the angsty flavor during a while...but let's be honest, it wasn't such a surprise, not really.
Still, I think they complemented each other and it was so fun to watch them together. Of course by the end, any resentment and fear that lingered in Macrieve's head disappeared and once more we learn not everything that looks a moot point is totally unchangeable and I was glad to know more about Chloe's origins.

The writing and the style are what the author got us used to. I thin she did a good job in putting a romance in the middle of what seems to be a escalating war and I can't wait to see what happens next. Many players still in motion...
The epilogue has to be mentioned..the author has stated which pair is next but the epilogue in this book presented different people and now how to suffer until the day their book will be out...I don't hate cliffhangers, but they are very annoying especially if it's from authors who take a year to write and publish their books...

Anyway, this story grabbed me and I was riveted to its page since the beginning. I couldn't put it down and it was such a pleasure to read this... I hope the next ones are as good. This one was amazing and it had all the needed things to work out, interesting protagonists, a good plot in course and new details to make the reader want more.
Can't wait!
Grade: 9/10

Kresley Cole - Shadow's Claim

#1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole introduces The Dacians: Realm of Blood and Mist, a new paranormal series following the royal bloodline of Dacia, a vampire kingdom hidden within the Lore of the Immortals After Dark.
Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament -- to the death.
Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people -- striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself -- until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.
Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails -- even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.
Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away -- or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever pitch. . . . 

Comment: This is the first book in the spin off series of Immortals After Dark, called The Dacians. The Dacians are a vampire race, hidden in the mist and no one knows where to find them. Lothaire is their new king, as we've seen in Lothaire's book. This first book is about Trehan, he met his Bride and fights in a competition to win her.

Trehan travels to Abanddon to find a demon who run away from Dacia with their secrets. In there he finds Bethina, a half sorceress, half demon and realizes she's his Bride. However, Bettina is in love with someone else although she responds to her vampire. Trehan accepts to participate in a competition in order to gain Bettina's hand and to do that he has to prove his skills and intelligence.

Bettina thinks she's been in love with her demon friend but after meeting Trehan she starts to understand true love is something completely different.

I loved this book. I think it was full of adventure and fun moments, pretty much like the first books in the paranormal series by this author. The romance was also well done, the two main characters had a lot of chemistry and there was sexual tension making the story believable.

I liked Trehan's character and how he gave up on several things to just pursue Bettina not knowing if she would reciprocate his feelings. Some scenes made me feel a bit sad because it made me think about people out there who try their everything for love or other reason and if they can't be successful, than they've lost so much...I guess it's a certain kind of bravery too and I liked Trehan a lot for that. Plus, he's a sexy character.

Bettina is a half sorceress, half demoness and she doesn't know exactly which side of hers is better, she believes she's in love and has doubts but after meeting Trehan she starts to see things differently.

I likes the story because it reminded me of all the good books in this world, the action scenes, the huge amount of different types of characters, it's a great paranormal world with lots or romance. I had a great time reading it and it has a HEA I felt was perfect.

I think the author has done a great job and I will certainly keep reading this spin off.

Kresley Cole - Lothaire

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore's most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde's crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness -- until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.
Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she'd be convicted of murder -- or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month's time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.
Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millenniaold blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Comment: Finally Lothaire arrived and I got my hands on it right away.
Once again Kresley Cole wrote a great story, full of mythology and supernatural intrigues and romance and I loved the book.
After so many years, Lothaire is close to his endgame, the conclusion of his plots and schemes, he'll be able to conquer the Horde and for that to hapen he will only need a Bride, his evil queen. However she is trapped in a mrotal's body and the only way to free her is to kill the host by extinguishing her soul. Elizabeth Pierce, a young woman who's been in prison and in the death row doesn't like the idea and considereing she's got as much control of her body as the evil queen, she wants to be the one to live...plus Lothaire isn't as repulsive as that...is he?

I could say many things about every detail but I'm still savouring the book and also mourning it because once I finished, that feeling of eagerness and having something new is gone. Still, it's abook I liked a lot, not only because of the story itself but mainly because it's part of a series I love, it's full of myhtological creatures I love seeing so many different beings as protagonists and things happening.
The story focus on Lothaire of course and we se parts of his past and where he came from in terms of eprosnality. I liekd the fact he wasn't redemed or made good in this book. He's still the same sarcastic, vicious person, but he gained some sort of "humanity" if I can say so, because he has a Bride. She makes him want things, and feel things and for that only he would have to change.
His Bride...I won't say, but she's perfect for him and in the context the author created she is the one.
I liekd the end, how things worked out for Lothaire, considering his difficulties during the book and most of al, I was surpried by a revelation too. Can't wait to see it developed in future books. Plus, we saw a side of Nix we havan't before..her vulnerability, which is good, she's not just a crazy valkyrie, she has an agenda and controls a lot of things but she's not perfect in her powers and that makes her priceless as a character because now we want her to be happy too, more than before.
This book has a lot of pages, but I managed to read it quite fast...love when this happens, this feeling of not having enough...
It was a great book.

Kresley Cole - Dreams of a Dark Warrior

Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives—only an endless yearning.
When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals, unaware that he belongs to their world.
Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan's torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?


Comment: The latest installment of author Kresley Cole is mazing. I think it's a return to that eagerness and desperation of the first books. The book previous to this one wasn't this interesting, I think, with the exception of the main male character.
Anyway, this book finally tell us the story of Regin, the Radiant. This valkyrie is one of the most loved characters in the series since the first time she appeared. Like with most characters we had hints about her HEA since then, which helps the reader to vision possible outcomings. I think this is one of the author's best features in writing, this slow building of what's to come.
So, Regin is captured by the Order, like we've seen in the previous two books, with many other Lore creatures. However she soon finds that the man responsible for the torture is none but her destined mate reincarnated, Aidan, the Fierce.
In this life, Aidan is Chase, an irish man who has no clue he is part of the Lore as he was created as human and survived a vicious attack of Neopatras, thus developping a strong hatred towards anything Lorean.
However, destiny is finally catching up...

I liked this story a lot, the pace and action were strong positive points in the book. There wasn't a boring moment and I believe we saw a credible developpment of the relationship between Regin and Chase.
Of course, many secondary characters showed up and now that the fans know the next book is Lothaire's, one of the villans - so far - all the clues and hints and innuendos in this book will work out as theories' starying points of discussion. I can't wait, especially because the more we know, the more there is to know.