Tag Archives: Immortals After Dark

Sweet Ruin (Immortals After Dark #16) by Kresley Cole-a review

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Sweet Ruin (Immortals After Dark #16) by Kresley Cole-a review

Sweet Ruin

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

About the book:Release Date December 1, 2015

An immortal assassin is caught between desire and duty…

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.

Review:

Sweet Ruin begins with Josephine, aka Jo, and her little brother on the streets with only each other to depend on. They had been in and out of the foster system until Jo finally decided that was not the way to go. They’d had “problems” with the foster parents and Jo was doing her best to take care of herself and Thaddie.

Fortunately, Mrs. Brayden, aka Miz B, a part-time librarian feeds them on a regular basis and will watch Jo’s little brother, Thaddeus, for a little while so that Jo can take care of a few things. The neighborhood wasn’t a good one. There was a gang that was brutal to girls on the streets and that made Jo’s blood boil. She did what she could to help them, until that fateful afternoon she encountered “The Wall”, the gang leader. He’d figured out she was the one that had been messing with his stuff and, last night, sat his house on fire. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your pov, he had a gun pointed at her face……and pulled the trigger.

When Jo woke, she was disoriented and it took her a little bit to remember what had happened. And, then she figured out she was…..a ghost? She seeks revenge against the one who shot her and then strikes out to get Thaddie back. But when she goes to Miz B’s, Thaddie doesn’t recognize her and Miz B tells her she died and she needs to “pass on”. Devastated, she leaves and spends a few months trying to get herself together and goes back to take her brother. But, when she arrives and sees how well he’s doing, she knows she’s lost him….for now.

Rune the Baneblood was the one Morior who had stayed awake for five centuries as the dimension of Tenebrous had gone through time and space to reach Earth. Once they neared, he woke the others. The Morior is a group of extremely powerful beings that include the first werefolf, the Overlady of Witches, and the oldest vampire, just to name a few. Their mission to kill the oldest living Valkyrie….Nucking Futs Nix herself. Rune is dispatched to ferret out information and to locate Nix and ends up in present day New Orleans. He’s called Rune the Insatiable because he uses sex to achieve his goals, and he always gets what he wants.

Since Jo has been in New Orleans, she has discovered that there are others like her. Not “just” like her, but not human. She has used her powers for good trying to rid the streets of pimps and help the girls on the streets as best she can. One night while out walking, she encounters a handsome man servicing a group of nymphs and decides to do a little spying. Rune almost immediately knows someone is watching, but he can’t see her. Once he leaves the group of nymphs, he zeroes in on Jo and they talk for a bit. Rune knows she’s not human, but doesn’t know exactly what she is. When Jo rebuffs his advances, Rune is stunned. And intrigued. What follows is a series of events that will make you laugh, will make you tear up and will definitely keep you turning the pages.

Sweet Ruin is an awesome story that will advance the Accession storyline. I, for one, was disappointed when I saw that the leads were new characters, but the disappointment didn’t last long. Cole has said that this story was necessary for a few reasons. It will push the Accession forward in a major way. She also said it had to come before the others because she’s setting up future conflicts, and that one of the new characters will play a huge role in Nix’s future. I believe that one of the Morior is Nix’s mate and can’t wait to read that story! But, I digress. Jo was a great heroine. She was so naïve in the fact that she didn’t know there were more like her, but when she finds out what she is AND what she can do? Awesome! She’s been by herself for so long and has longed for someone to be hers, and she misses Thaddie terribly. Rune, whom Jo calls Ruin to tic him off, has a heartbreaking past. He’d been enslaved for centuries and is thousands of years old, and had given up on finding a mate. When he finally figures out what Jo is and that she’s not affected by his poison blood, he feels something that he hasn’t felt in eons….Hope. But, as he and Jo navigate their burgeoning relationship, he worries that his fellow Morior will never be accepting of him, or any of them, having a mate. The two of them are an amazing pairing. Probably in my top three of the series. Nix plays a big part in this one, and we get to see a lot of the other characters from the series. I wish I could tell you what EXACTLY is happening with the Accession, but I don’t have a clue as of yet. Ha! All I can tell you is you’d better get to reading!! Well done, Kresley Cole! Very, very, very well done!!!!

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark #15) by Kresley Cole-a review

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DARK SKYE (Immortals After Dark #15) by Kresley Cole- a review

Dark Skye (Aug 14)

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 5, 2014

Eternal Obsession

As a boy, Thronos, Lord 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.

Endless Yearning

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.

Can the heat of desire burn brighter than vengeance?

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?

••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: DARK SYKE is the fifteenth instalment in Kresley Cole’s paranormal romance Immortals After Dark series focusing on any number of immortal beings of the Lore. This is Vrekener Prince Thronos Talos and the sorceress Queen of Persuasion Melanthe’s (Lanthe) storyline. As the impending war known as The Accession between the supernatural builds, Prince Thronos seeks out the one person who destroyed his life and his body –five hundred years earlier-his mate Melanthe.

As a Vrekener, Thronos is a winged angel of Skye but five centuries ago an attack against his mate’s family left Thronos mortally wounded and clinging to life. Decades of regeneration and recovery left Thronos in perpetual pain and a need for revenge wrought from his heart and his soul. With his mate on the run for her life, Thronos life falls into chaos when he finally crosses paths with the woman who will either kill him or save him from damnation.

The relationship between Thronos and Lanthe is volatile and destructive, and in this a good portion of DARK SKYE finds our leading couple in a virtual war with one another which further amped my anxiety in a series where destined mates fight their attraction and destiny. Thronos and Lanthe have a history together, one that started as children making this a friends to lovers/second chance storyline for two people destroyed by a mistake from the past. Both believe that the other has betrayed each and the results have left Thronos and Lanthe ill prepared for the truth. As our couple is thrown between Lorean Worlds and through portals not necessarily of their own making, a reluctant truce will be the only thing that keeps each other alive. Because most of the storyline focuses on the building relationship between Thronos and Lanthe, time spent with the previous storyline characters is limited and only when necessary.

Kresley Cole continues to build towards The Accession-a war that has been prophesied to destroy the supernatural powers. Nucking-Futs Nix reveals more of her all-seeing abilities as she continues to play matchmaker between the species hoping for an alliance within the Lore. As mortal enemies become friends and lovers, Nix ventures further in the hopes of finding her sister and pushing the inevitable a little further in time.

DARK SKYE is a staggeringly wonderful and imaginative storyline that furthers the addicting Immortals After Dark series closer to The Accession. Kresley’s passion and fascination with the supernatural is matched by her brilliant stories and wondrous imagination.

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

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MacRieve (Immortals After Dark #13) by Kresley Cole-a review

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MacRieve (Immortals After Dark #13) by Kresley Cole-a review

MacRieve July 2013

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Release Date: July 2, 2013

A Beast In Torment

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.

A Beauty In Chains

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.

A Full Moon On The Rise

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?

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Review:

After surviving The Order’s torturous imprisonment, Uilleam “Will” MacRieve is using whiskey to numb himself to the horrible nightmares that plague him. Not only nightmares from his imprisonment, but also the devastating things that were done to him as a child and ultimately cost him and his brother both parents and unborn sister. His twin, Munro, knows that Will is near to giving up, and is helpless to try and save his twin. The only thing that Will joneses for is a good fight or a good war. I guess he should have been careful what he wished for………….

Chloe Todd is a world class soccer player. She eats, sleeps and breathes soccer. She is focused, determined, fierce and has earned her nickname, T-Rex. She lives in a “McMansion”, her words, with her father who is away on business a lot and has always been her biggest supporter. Her mom died when Chloe was a baby, so it’s just been her and her dad. When Chloe starts feeling out of sorts, she talks to her dad about it and he hands her The Book of the Lore, tells her to read it and that he’ll love her no matter what she is, and promptly leaves on another “business trip”. Yep, things are about to get interesting.

Chloe ends up being kidnapped by witches and put up on the auction block for the highest bidder in the Lore to acquire. Why would they want Chloe you ask? Because she is the “Daughter of Webb”. The despicable leader of the order who has tormented all factions of the Lore. He’s killed, vivisected and tortured Lorean beings for a long time, determined to rid the Earth of these vile creatures. Once the call goes out about the auction, all of the Lore beings, good and evil, are determined to be the one to buy her in order to lure her father out of hiding. Munro and Will head to the auction, and, yes, you guessed it, once Will encounters Chloe on the auction block, he knows she is his fated mate.

Once Will secures Chloe within their compound, he sets out to woo her. And, woo he does, until she comes into her immortality. I can’t tell you what she is without ruining the story, but let’s just say that she becomes something that Will loathes. Will takes Chloe to Conall, his childhood home, in order to try and salvage some kind of relationship with her and overcome his own demons. Will he be successful? Well, of course he will. This is, after all, a romance, but they are in for a bumpy ride.

MacRieve is a wonderfully written story of betrayal, guilt, and ultimately love and redemption. The things that were done to MacRieve as a child will make your heart pound. And, the way he treats his mate once she comes into her immortality will make you want to cut his throat. That is the ONE thing that is held higher than anything among the Lykae, but he has to come to terms with his past in order to revel in his future. I have to be honest. Those parts were hard to read at times. He says the most awful things to her, but Chloe being Chloe, she basically thumbs her nose at him and walks her own path. Once he figures out that she is nothing like the creatures he loathes, he does everything in his power to make her feel safe and treasured. There are a few surprises along the way. One in particular that I NEVER SAW COMING!!! HOLY COW!!! And, it changes EVERYTHING!!! We get to meet a few new characters, who are great, and we also get to see our favorite Valkyrie, the one and only Nucking Futs Nix!! (I can’t wait for her book!!) If you haven’t read this series, you are sooooo missing out!!! Great series and this book was a great addition!! Can’t wait for the next installment, which we know will be Will’s twin, Munro’s book, and based on the snippet at the end of MacRieve’s book, WOW!!!

Vickie M

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KRESLEY COLE ♥ Poison Princess ♥ Promotion and Giveaway

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KRESLEY COLE  ♥ Poison Princess ♥  Promotion and Giveaway

Kresley Cole’s newest venture into the world of Young Adult literature will introduce the reader to The Arcana Chronicles with her first instalment POISON PRINCESS.

To help promote the series send off, Kresley Cole is offering a giveaway to 2 (two) lucky members at The Reading Cafe. Each giveaway winner will receive 2 signed books from her IMMORTALS AFTER DARK series.

Available for the giveaway are:

1. Kiss of the Demon King
2. Pleasure of a Dark Prince
3. Dream of a Dark Warrior
4. Demon from the Dark

To qualify for the giveaway and your chance to win 2 signed books from the IMMORTALS AFTER DARK series:

1. You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page, or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter, please post your email address along with your comment, as Twitter etc does not allow for email addresses.

3. Tell us which 2 books from the list you would like as a giveaway (we cannot guarantee you will receive the books requested, but we will make an effort).

4. Giveaway open to continental USA and Canada only.

5. Giveaway from September 23-27, 2012

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Cover Reveals and Cafe News

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Cover Reveals and Cafe News

 

From the Facebook page of Kresley Cole:

The next Immortals After Dark novel is:  MACRIEVE

RELEASE DATE:  MAY 14th 2013 

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Edge of Dawn

AUTHOR:  Lara Adrian

SERIES:  Midnight Breeds

RELEASE DATE:  January 2013

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Steel’s Edge

AUTHOR:  Ilona Andrews

SERIES:  The Edge

RELEASE DATE:  November 27, 2012

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SHADOW’S CLAIM-New release from Kresley Cole

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SHADOW’S CLAIM by Kresley Cole

From the Facebook pages of Kresley Cole:

Here it is, folks, the cover for SHADOW’S CLAIM! (11.27.12) I hope you love it as much as I do! [Below, I’ve got some more scoop on Trehan’s story and The Dacians Series in general] Background on the image: I put in a few cover requests for this one. I wanted to have the hero looking like he’d just returned from punishing the heroine’s enemies, basically a “you mess with her, you’ll see a man get mean” scenario. I requested mud on his grim face, a menacing stare that says “you’re next,” stuff exploding in the background, clothes all ripped up. And the art department delivered! That, my friends, is Trehan Cristian Daciano to a T!
Background on the book: Trehan (the master assassin from LOTHAIRE) enters a blood-sport tournament for the hand of Princess Bettina (his halfling mate). I wanted to depict a hero who desires his heroine so much, he’s eager to run into the fray for her, to spit blood with a grin on his face–because with every blow he takes and gives, he’s one step closer to claiming her (of course, Bettina has a mind of her own, and things don’t go exactly as planned for poor Trehan).
The Dacians Series is a sub-series of the continuing Immortals After Dark, with a focus on the royal Daciano family of vampires. The new books will drive forward the overarching Lore plot and will feature IAD characters–some that we know and love, some we’ve heard about in passing (for instance, Morgana, Queen of the Sorceri, is one of Bettina’s guardians!)
I hope you enjoy! 🙂

BACK COVER BLURB

Fall 2012
#1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole introduces The Dacians, a new paranormal romance collection 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.

HE WON’T BE DENIED
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.

SHE’S BOUND TO ANOTHER
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.

A BATTLE FOR HER BODY AND SOUL
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….

http://www.facebook.com/notes/kresley-cole/shadows-claim-back-cover-blurb/10150707284387920

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KRESLEY COLE-Immortals After Dark -SHADOW’S CLAIM

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Kresley Cole-Shadow’s Claim-Immortals After Dark

Kresley Cole announces new Immortals After Dark- SHADOW’S CLAIM

Book Description

Publication Date: November 27, 2012
#1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole introduces The Dacians: Realm of Blood and Mist, a brand new paranormal romance collection following the royal bloodline of Dacia, a mysterious vampire kingdom within The Lore (Cole’s world of mythological creatures in her award-winning Immortals After Dark series).

Series opener Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan Daciano, a ruthless master assassin who will use every lethal skill he possesses to defend his imperiled kingdom—as well as his newfound princess. When an ancient secret threatens to destroy them all, can Dacia’s notorious prince of shadows keep his Bride alive against all odds?

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