Review: The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole

Title: The Warlord Wants Forever
Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark, #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Pages: 163, ebook
Rating:

Nikolai Wroth, once a ruthless human warlord in the 1700s and now a general in the rebel vampire army, needs to find his Bride, the one woman who can render him truly alive. As a turned human, he doesn’t enjoy a heartbeat or breaths and is consequently weaker than fully blooded vampires. He wants his Bride for the power she will bring him and can hardly believe it when his heart beats for Myst the Coveted, a mad, fey, mythological creature.

Myst is known throughout the world as the most beautiful Valkyrie, part chillingly fierce warrior, part beguiling seductress who can “make you want her even as she’s killing you.” She has devoted her life to protecting an ancient, powerful jewel and to fighting the vampires, and she now sees a way to torment one—for with Wroth’s heartbeat comes consuming sexual desire that can only be slaked by her.

She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen the jewel which commands her, giving him absolute power over her. While he possesses it, he can make her do anything, and he plans to in order for her to experience first hand the agonizing, unending lust she’d purposely subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Wroth realizes he wants more from her and frees her, will she come back to him?

The first in Cole's Immortals After Dark series was originally published as one of three novellas in "Playing Easy to Get". It was also available on its own as a special promotional ebook from Simon & Schuster.

This is the Short Story/Prologue to the Immortals After Dark Series. And I have to honestly say, Thank god that I didn't start out with this, because there would be a high chance of me not reading the Immortals After Dark Series because of it. And I am hoping that THE WARLORD WANTS FOREVER is the ONLY Kresley Cole book I end up disliking.

THE WARLORD WANTS FOREVER started out wonderful and I really did enjoy it up until Nikolai Wroth decides to kidnap and take away the free will of his bride, Myst the Coveted. He was doing fine in my book until he went and did that. I wouldn't mind the kidnapping scenario, them spending time at his home getting to know each other if there was no free will taken away. Once he started commanding her to do things, even sexual things, the book went downhill from there.


And I had became so disappointed in him when he thought to brainwash Myst! LIKE WHAT? And there seemed to be just so much sex in this book that you'd think you were reading an Erotica Romance. Yea. I never thought I'd say there was too much sex in a book, usually there's not enough. So this one was a highly disappointed read for me, and I must say again, Thank god that I didn't start out with this book first.

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Review: Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole

Title: Dark Desires After Dusk
Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark, #6
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: May 20, 2008
Pages: 368
Rating:

Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past. A tormented warrior she should fear, but can't deny... Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon's wicked touch. Surrender to dark desires... Yet just when he earns Holly's trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs -- and claim his heart?  

“I want to go, but not alone with him! I don’t suppose you could hire someone less…” “Incredibly hot? With less lickable horns and a less sexy Sith Ifrican accent?”

 I went into DARK DESIRES AFTER DUSK liking it quite a bit like the last few books, but came out frustrated and annoyed. I think I made it a little halfway before I started getting annoyed and I guess part of that is because I found the heroine incredibly annoying. It was an exhausting read and I think my expectations may have been raised a bit too high for this book because I didn't take into account that I may have wanted to strangle the heroine.

"Fate decides . . . who I can be most satisfied with." Nibbling her lip, she asked, "Have you slept with anyone else since you knew it was me?" "Gave a halfhearted try for a witch . . . she wanted a werewolf instead."

There was no getting around it--Holly was jealous of the witch. But then Cadeon said, "And I wanted you.” I adored Cadeon when he first appeared in Wicked Deeds on a Winter Night. I found him playful, exciting, fun and easy to talk to in a best friend kind of way. Cadeon had messed up badly with his brother and he is trying to make up for it and making up for it means losing her mated female right when he is finally able to be with her. It's heartbreaking, but Cadeon is at the point where is is constantly asking himself is he really going to make up his past mistakes to his brother by betraying the one woman that he loves?

Without looking up, she said, “Cadeon, a chance can’t be reduced from zero.” “Gods, I love it when you talk mathy to me.”

 And that one woman is the most dumbest and idiotic heroine's I've ever met. The main reason why I didn't enjoy this book so much is because of Holly. She is basically a geek. A so called smart woman who is a brainiac and gets caught into this immortal mess.It is very obvious that Cade and Holly are attracted to each other. Cade doesn't fight it, but Holly fights it for the longest time, but we are more than halfway through the book and she is still pushing him away. I understand pushing him away. And some of the arguments she got into with him is only something a nerd would argue about. I feel like the middle of this book was so boring.

“You dress her in a wet T-shirt and make her carry the bags? Damn, Cade, I like how you roll"


And Holly was the most uninteresting person ever! She is the definition of geeky and nerdy. Her so called sickness was a complete joke! I just didn't connect with the heroine this time. DARK DESIRES AFTER DUSK was still pretty good, but it was just okay for me. The heroine really did ruin the book for me. I loved the dialogue and the amazing storyline as usual! How could I not? I am looking forward to the next Immortals After Dark book and hopefully it will make up for this one being not so great.

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Review: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole

Title: Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark, #3
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: September 24, 2007
Pages: 359
Rating:

Her breathless kiss haunts him... 
Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed--until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive. 

His slow, hot touch is irresistible... 
Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It's rumored that no one can tempt Bowen's hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go. 

No deed is too wicked for her seduction... 
If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul--or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

“What’s your favorite place to visit?” He absently answered, “Wherever you are.” “Bowen, five things about you can’t all be about me.” But you’re the only good thing that I’ve got.”

WICKED DEEDS ON A WINTER'S NIGHT carries off from the last book, No Rest For the Wicked. And it also features one of my favorite alpha males from the previous books, Bowen! OMFG! I LOVE BOWEN! He makes my heart beat like crazy! How could be not make yours beat so completely out of your chest!?

Bowen had a mate that died many years ago and it tore him apart. In the last book, No Rest For the Wicked he had a chance to win the tournament and get the prize of going back into the past and preventing her death, but he lost and he's an emotional wreck. He meets Mariketa during the tournament and grows an emotional tie to her, but he thinks Mariketa must be using her magic because there is no way he could feel that way about her, especially a witch. He won't accept it.

"I’m getting out, and I don’t want you to look.” He gave her a brows-drawn look of disappointment, as if she’d taken away a toy—and for no good reason."

But anyway, these two come together and it is a true fact that Mariketa is Bowen's mate. The thing is can you have two mates? MARIKETA WAS A BIT CRAZY! Only sometimes, but it was funny to watch. Unfortunately I wasn't attached to Mariketa as the heroine in this book. I was really annoyed at her and she really pissed me off a lot. So I couldn't fall for her like Bowen did. I didn't really find any qualities I liked in her. I felt like she acted like a spoiled brat through the whole book.

And as always the SEX SCENES WERE HOT! I don't think I will never get enough of them! I thought WICKED DEEDS ON A WINTER'S NIGHT would be my favorite thus far in the series, but because of the heroine and other events in the book, it was not. My favorite thus far was A Hunger Like No Other. I can't wait to read all the others and hopefully there will be more favorites.

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Review: No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

Title: No Rest For The Wicked
Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark, #2
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: October 31, 2006
Pages: 356
Rating:

A soldier weary of life . . . 
Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire – a nightmare in his mind – against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead. 

A Valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him . . . 
When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow – accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings – particularly lust – emerge multiplied. For the first time, she's unable to complete a kill. 

Become competitors in a legendary hunt. 
The prize of the month-long contest is powerful enough to change history, and Kaderin will do anything to win it for her sisters. Wanting only to win her, forever, Sebastian competes as well, taking every opportunity – as they travel to ancient tombs and through catacombs, seeking relics around the world – to use her new feelings to seduce her. But when forced to choose between the vampire she's falling for and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?

I didn't expect much from  NO REST FOR THE WICKED, but as soon as I got into the story I became unable to stop reading the book. I don't know where Kresley Cole has been all my life, but after reading two books in the Immortal After Dark Series, I can honestly say I'm in LOVE and a fan for LIFE!

The bad ass and heartless Valkyrie, Kaderin was our heroine in this one and even though I enjoyed the story immensely, I didn't enjoy Kaderin. Kaderin was just too cold to me. Don't get me wrong, I love bad ass chicks, but there were times that I thought that she went way over the top. I understand her background with vampires and all, but still. I know a lot of readers liked Kaderin, but I was not one of them. I could not stand her.

“I will tell you. In time. Anything you wish. I want there to be no secrets between us, because I’m going to... marry you.” “What? Whoa!” She scrambled away from him, real fear coursing through her. This was exactly why the night before shouldn’t have happened.   

And for our hero of the story, we have Sebastian Wroth. Sebastian was everything a girl would dream he would be. I thought Sebastian was shy, and romantic, and sexy. And he did have that gentleman warrior vive going for him as well. I felt like Kaderin didn't deserve him at all. She treated him like crap.

NO REST FOR THE WICKED was a really engaging story and had me on the edge of my seat, but I wasn't convinced of the couple of the story. I didn't really like them together and didn't enjoy them that much. In the beginning, I did a little bit. But it got really frusterating when it was the same thing over and over until we almost got to the end.

He could win her. He would win her after tonight. He’d known he would be a good husband, a good father, but he’d wondered if he could satisfy her in bed. Now he felt confident he could.  

Sebastian trying to get somewhere with Kaderin and her not giving in. It was getting annoying. And besides I just didn't see any spark between these two characters at all. It just seemed like lust to me and not really love until the end. It's like Kaderin had been pushing Sebastian away again and again and like almost to the end she suddenly decides to trust him?? But a plus was the sex was really really hot! So hot that I was blushing over her like crazy!

All and all NO REST FOR THE WICKED was a quick and fun read even though it frustrated me with the main character, *cough*Kaderin*cough* but I really really really enjoy this series and of course I will continue on. Besides one of my favorite characters in the series is next, Bowen! I can't wait to read his book and I am hoping I will like it more than NO REST FOR THE WICKED!

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Review: A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

Title: A Hunger Like No Other
Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark, #1
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: March 28, 2006
Pages: 360
Rating:

A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her . . .

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he's waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy . . .

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents -- until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae -- and their notorious dark desires -- ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire . . .

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER was a big surprise, because under that horrible cover and title there is something amazing inside this book. A beautifully written story that I came to absolutely love. I guess I should always remind myself not to judge a book by it's cover.

A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER is another one of those destined mate books, but it's one of those destined mate books that was done right this time. Lachlain is the hero of this story and he is Lykae and king, which is a werewolf and he starts out in the book finding his mate, Emma who happens to be part vampire, part-valkryie. Though he thinks she is just a vampire so in the beginning he scares her horribly, not caring since he has an attitude that she is the enemy and she is just a vampire.

Lachlain was hurt and vampires is his enemies, so I understand why he was so cruel to Emma in the beginning, but still it was hard to read the beginning and a little scary. But as the story goes on he softens up on her and becomes totally swoon worthy. Lachlain is so sweet and gentle once you get to know him and he has that sexy scottie accent. May I swoon again, PLEASE?!

Emmaline is our heroine and she is unlike any heroine I have ever read about. Emma has that shy personality to her and is untouched and it makes for an interesting heroine. This bothered quite a few people, her weakness, but I actually liked it because it was a good change, most heroines are strong willed woman. I thought Lachlain and Emmaline were a good pair.

There were parts in A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER where I was bored and also parts seemed to drag on a bit, and I got tired or the narration, but still this was a great read and I wish I would have read this book sooner, but at least a fair amount of books are out in the Immortals After Dark Series. I cannot wait to plow through the rest of them and hope they are equally if not more enjoyable.

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