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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Oh these silly immortals.
Trehan finds his mate. But Bettina is all I am in love with my bestie. Ok...and she still thinks she is fated for that other guy. But you are obvi Trehan's mate. Oh you guys are stupid. *screams* You are his mate stupid woman, no, you can't do it with that guy, you will both be miserable. Gods, you all are so stupid.
But it was cheesy, fun, and she was all look at his peen and wanted to be all over that. Even though she also was I am SO in love with someone else.
To be honest, Bettina was lame, stupid and lame. I wanted to hit her. Trehan deserved better. He was cool.
The ending was so fast, wow that conclusion, I actually wanted more drama, like make someone suffer.
It worked for me cos it was entirely in another dimension, so it was more fantasy romance.
Funfilled weirdoes fight and are angsty.
Trehan finds his mate. But Bettina is all I am in love with my bestie. Ok...and she still thinks she is fated for that other guy. But you are obvi Trehan's mate. Oh you guys are stupid. *screams* You are his mate stupid woman, no, you can't do it with that guy, you will both be miserable. Gods, you all are so stupid.
But it was cheesy, fun, and she was all look at his peen and wanted to be all over that. Even though she also was I am SO in love with someone else.
To be honest, Bettina was lame, stupid and lame. I wanted to hit her. Trehan deserved better. He was cool.
The ending was so fast, wow that conclusion, I actually wanted more drama, like make someone suffer.
It worked for me cos it was entirely in another dimension, so it was more fantasy romance.
Funfilled weirdoes fight and are angsty.
I had to check to see if I could skip this one in the IAD series, since it seemed like an offshoot, but it definitely has implications for Lanthe's book coming down the line, so I'm glad I didn't skip it.
This one has a love triangle, which is a plot shape I'm not real fond of, which is what drives a lot of the plot and causes the third-act separation despite Trehan being blooded by Bettina (and I've read two books in less than four days named Bettina, which is surprising). But I was also interested because this one is the first book where I've seen it hinted at non-heterosexual encounters in the IAD world, so I hope this get explored more later. (And that is one over-arching criticism in this series, that there have to be non-cishet Immortals in this world because it does strain belief that all characters are overtly heterosexual, no matter how much you like the pairings.)
This one has a love triangle, which is a plot shape I'm not real fond of, which is what drives a lot of the plot and causes the third-act separation despite Trehan being blooded by Bettina (and I've read two books in less than four days named Bettina, which is surprising). But I was also interested because this one is the first book where I've seen it hinted at non-heterosexual encounters in the IAD world, so I hope this get explored more later. (And that is one over-arching criticism in this series, that there have to be non-cishet Immortals in this world because it does strain belief that all characters are overtly heterosexual, no matter how much you like the pairings.)
The hero of this story, Trehan, is one of my favorites of Kresley Cole's. He is such an intense, thoughtful, loving alpha male. The only thing keeping this book from five stars for me was the heroine, she was painfully obtuse to his struggles to make her happy, irritatingly so. It is a wonderful story nonetheless.
2.5/5 ⭐️s
I don’t understand the reason why we paused everything going on in the Lore with the upcoming Accession to introduce an IAD spin-off about the Dacians, but it definitely felt like a fail to me.
This book follows Lothaire’s cousin, Trehan, as he finds his bride and leaves his home behind to fight in a tournament in order to make her his bride. Trehan’s a quintessential Cole hero: brooding, angsty, alpha male, pushes the limits of acceptable when it comes to his devotion to his bride…Nothing we haven’t seen in every single other male lead so far in this series. He wasn’t a BAD character. I just felt like we were being served underheated sloppy leftovers with him.
Trehan’s bride, Bettina, is another matter. I was eager to see her learn to live with her fears after her assault at the beginning of the book, and there were times this was really beautifully done. But any gains that made towards creating a good character were thrown away as it became more and more clear that Bettina is just. so. damn. boring. It shouldn’t take a genius to figure out their heart as long as it takes her, and she was so selfish when it came to what she wanted from others. Caspion should want her the way she wants him. Trehan should deny his basest of urges to make her happy. She wants Trehan AND Caspion, and *inserts whine* “Why can’t either man give her that?!”
By the final battle between Trehan and Caspion, I was actively routing for Trehan to drop Bettina’s ass. I hated that HE was the one apologizing when they reunited.
The main characters were my biggest issue with this book. The plot, while trivial and seemingly irrelevant in the grand scheme of Accession related things, wasn’t HORRIBLE. I think I’ve just become spoiled by Cole in this series, and I wanted to like this so much more than I did.
I don’t understand the reason why we paused everything going on in the Lore with the upcoming Accession to introduce an IAD spin-off about the Dacians, but it definitely felt like a fail to me.
This book follows Lothaire’s cousin, Trehan, as he finds his bride and leaves his home behind to fight in a tournament in order to make her his bride. Trehan’s a quintessential Cole hero: brooding, angsty, alpha male, pushes the limits of acceptable when it comes to his devotion to his bride…Nothing we haven’t seen in every single other male lead so far in this series. He wasn’t a BAD character. I just felt like we were being served underheated sloppy leftovers with him.
Trehan’s bride, Bettina, is another matter. I was eager to see her learn to live with her fears after her assault at the beginning of the book, and there were times this was really beautifully done. But any gains that made towards creating a good character were thrown away as it became more and more clear that Bettina is just. so. damn. boring. It shouldn’t take a genius to figure out their heart as long as it takes her, and she was so selfish when it came to what she wanted from others. Caspion should want her the way she wants him. Trehan should deny his basest of urges to make her happy. She wants Trehan AND Caspion, and *inserts whine* “Why can’t either man give her that?!”
By the final battle between Trehan and Caspion, I was actively routing for Trehan to drop Bettina’s ass. I hated that HE was the one apologizing when they reunited.
The main characters were my biggest issue with this book. The plot, while trivial and seemingly irrelevant in the grand scheme of Accession related things, wasn’t HORRIBLE. I think I’ve just become spoiled by Cole in this series, and I wanted to like this so much more than I did.
4.25 stars.
Great story, once again Kresley Cole kicks butt.
Although this story does start a new series it's not much different than KC's IAD series. It deals with the same characters, the same worlds, it's just focused more on Dacia and Dacians than the IAD books are and will be. So if you love the IAD series this series is also a must read.
Bettina is the Princess of Abaddon and we meet her in a violent way. She's being beaten by Vrekeners, these are the same creatures that killed her mother a couple decades before. Luckily Bettina is summoned back to her kingdom before they can kill her, from then on she has fear of crowds and doesn't leave the kingdom (or her home really) alone. Bettina, both after and before that assault, was infatuated with Caspion, she clearly wants Caspion and she is willing to do anything to get him. He just doesn't want her. Not in the way she wants him too. However her godmother and Uncle have, with Bettina's permission have set up a tournament to win both Bettina's hand and her throne. It's a tournament to the death and whoever is left standing, no matter how hideous or awful they are, they get both Bettina and the crown.
Trehan the Prince of Shadows in Dacia: Realm of Blood and Mist, is a mostly even keel vampire, he's known for his calmness and not getting emotional about things. At least until he meets his Bride. Now when we first meet him he gets woken up from his sleep and feels like he needs to protect something. Even before he meets Bettina he feels something is wrong as she's being beaten. Although he feels this way he doesn't know what it is.
Fast-forward a few months later, Trehan is on the trail of Caspion, a demon and best friend of Bettina's, who had gotten into Dacia and left without permission, which is a big deal since no one, except Dacians are supposed to know about Dacia and where it is. In his quest to get Caspion he sees a light that Bettina had put up earlier to let Caspion know she waited for him and Trehan is drawn to that light, so much so that he abandons his quest for Caspion for the time being.
Trehan finds a drunk Bettina, realizes she's his Bride and finds her willingly giving him permission to touch her and even bed her. Only to find out before he has a chance to bed her that Bettina thinks it's Caspion. As the story continues Caspion enters and Trehan enters the tournament but Trehan is the only one that makes it clear he does it for her alone. Not to kill Caspion (although that would be a plus) and not for the kingdom, just her.
I loved Trehan, he was strong, sexy, and determined. When he stated that he entered the contest for her alone my heart melted. When When he brought her to the place that she loved but was now afraid to visit and he said she was strong and she could face her fear and that he'd be there to protect her if it was needed, once again my heart melted. How and why did Bettina deny this handsome and sweet vampire for so long. He was far more patient with Bettina than I would expect him to be. I wouldn't have blamed him at all if he went to someone else while Bettina was pining for Caspion, but he didn't and that just raised him in my eyes.
Bettina on the other hand annoyed me, not enough to hate her at all but enough where I liked her but didn't love her. The one main thing that kept me from really enjoying her character was that she was so hung up on Caspion. Everything was for Caspion, about Caspion, or something Caspion needed/wanted. Ugh. It would have been one thing if Caspion deserved that kind of devotion but he didn't. I couldn't stand his character but, I will give him some credit, he didn't tell Bettina that he loved her in a romantic sense. He was fairly up front about his feelings for her and they weren't passionate or romantic.
One last thing that kept this from a solid 5 star rating was how long it took Bettina to realize that what she felt for Trehan was real romantic love and what she felt for Caspion was more sibling/friendship love. A little too long for my liking.
Other than those two things, this was fantastic.
I did get a kick of seeing a few pages with Ellie and Lothaire in the throne room. Ellie apparently doesn't sit on her own throne, but Lothaire makes a very comfortable seat. I always love seeing little snippets of my favorite couples and characters.
I can hardly wait for MacRieve and the next Dacians book.
Great story, once again Kresley Cole kicks butt.
Although this story does start a new series it's not much different than KC's IAD series. It deals with the same characters, the same worlds, it's just focused more on Dacia and Dacians than the IAD books are and will be. So if you love the IAD series this series is also a must read.
Bettina is the Princess of Abaddon and we meet her in a violent way. She's being beaten by Vrekeners, these are the same creatures that killed her mother a couple decades before. Luckily Bettina is summoned back to her kingdom before they can kill her, from then on she has fear of crowds and doesn't leave the kingdom (or her home really) alone. Bettina, both after and before that assault, was infatuated with Caspion, she clearly wants Caspion and she is willing to do anything to get him. He just doesn't want her. Not in the way she wants him too. However her godmother and Uncle have, with Bettina's permission have set up a tournament to win both Bettina's hand and her throne. It's a tournament to the death and whoever is left standing, no matter how hideous or awful they are, they get both Bettina and the crown.
Trehan the Prince of Shadows in Dacia: Realm of Blood and Mist, is a mostly even keel vampire, he's known for his calmness and not getting emotional about things. At least until he meets his Bride. Now when we first meet him he gets woken up from his sleep and feels like he needs to protect something. Even before he meets Bettina he feels something is wrong as she's being beaten. Although he feels this way he doesn't know what it is.
Fast-forward a few months later, Trehan is on the trail of Caspion, a demon and best friend of Bettina's, who had gotten into Dacia and left without permission, which is a big deal since no one, except Dacians are supposed to know about Dacia and where it is. In his quest to get Caspion he sees a light that Bettina had put up earlier to let Caspion know she waited for him and Trehan is drawn to that light, so much so that he abandons his quest for Caspion for the time being.
Trehan finds a drunk Bettina, realizes she's his Bride and finds her willingly giving him permission to touch her and even bed her. Only to find out before he has a chance to bed her that Bettina thinks it's Caspion. As the story continues Caspion enters and Trehan enters the tournament but Trehan is the only one that makes it clear he does it for her alone. Not to kill Caspion (although that would be a plus) and not for the kingdom, just her.
I loved Trehan, he was strong, sexy, and determined. When he stated that he entered the contest for her alone my heart melted. When
Spoiler
the heads of the Vrekeners that beat her rolled out of the sack during the "best present" test I was cheering, he did what Cas and her Uncle couldn't do.Bettina on the other hand annoyed me, not enough to hate her at all but enough where I liked her but didn't love her. The one main thing that kept me from really enjoying her character was that she was so hung up on Caspion. Everything was for Caspion, about Caspion, or something Caspion needed/wanted. Ugh. It would have been one thing if Caspion deserved that kind of devotion but he didn't. I couldn't stand his character but, I will give him some credit, he didn't tell Bettina that he loved her in a romantic sense. He was fairly up front about his feelings for her and they weren't passionate or romantic.
One last thing that kept this from a solid 5 star rating was how long it took Bettina to realize that what she felt for Trehan was real romantic love and what she felt for Caspion was more sibling/friendship love.
Spoiler
It was around 350 pages that she finally came around and woke up.Other than those two things, this was fantastic.
I did get a kick of seeing a few pages with Ellie and Lothaire in the throne room. Ellie apparently doesn't sit on her own throne, but Lothaire makes a very comfortable seat. I always love seeing little snippets of my favorite couples and characters.
I can hardly wait for MacRieve and the next Dacians book.
An AWESOME new series !!
When a young demon violates one of the rules of the Dacians, Trehan is sent to kill him. But by searching for him, he didn't think he was going to cross the path of Princess Bettina, a young woman half-demon half Sorceri full of surprises that proves to be his fated mate but who only has eyes for another male ...
This is the first time I read a book written by Kresley Cole (but I had heard only good about her =D) and it was a pleasant and very good discovery =D
The story isn't very original (a princess, a prince, a rival, a lot of tests, some magic etc etc) and moreover, I'm not a huge fan of predestined lovers but the author's style is very nice (lot of humor, action, feelings and twists), the universe is fascinating (the Sorceri, demons and all) and I got very attached to the characters, both secondary and main ones =)
Apparently this is a spin-off of another series by the author and although I must have missed two or three things about some characters because of that, it's not really necessary to have read this series before ... But I'll surely read it =)
The characters are very endearing and very well built : I loved Trehan (hmmm sexy and loved his blackmail to obtain the favor of Bettina, his badass side, his family I definitely want to know more about ...), Bettina (well okay sometimes she was really boring/stupid especially concerning Cas but I loved her jewelry-weapons !! I want the same !!) and I looove Morgana (very endearing in a very sociopathic way xD) and I definitely want to know more about her, her enemies and a potential mate that I would love met =D
In short, a book that starts a series that promises much and I'm really looking forward to follow the Dacians =D (but also to see more of Morgana x))
When a young demon violates one of the rules of the Dacians, Trehan is sent to kill him. But by searching for him, he didn't think he was going to cross the path of Princess Bettina, a young woman half-demon half Sorceri full of surprises that proves to be his fated mate but who only has eyes for another male ...
This is the first time I read a book written by Kresley Cole (but I had heard only good about her =D) and it was a pleasant and very good discovery =D
The story isn't very original (a princess, a prince, a rival, a lot of tests, some magic etc etc) and moreover, I'm not a huge fan of predestined lovers but the author's style is very nice (lot of humor, action, feelings and twists), the universe is fascinating (the Sorceri, demons and all) and I got very attached to the characters, both secondary and main ones =)
Apparently this is a spin-off of another series by the author and although I must have missed two or three things about some characters because of that, it's not really necessary to have read this series before ... But I'll surely read it =)
The characters are very endearing and very well built : I loved Trehan (hmmm sexy and loved his blackmail to obtain the favor of Bettina, his badass side, his family I definitely want to know more about ...), Bettina (well okay sometimes she was really boring/stupid especially concerning Cas but I loved her jewelry-weapons !! I want the same !!) and I looove Morgana (very endearing in a very sociopathic way xD) and I definitely want to know more about her, her enemies and a potential mate that I would love met =D
In short, a book that starts a series that promises much and I'm really looking forward to follow the Dacians =D (but also to see more of Morgana x))
This is an amazing start to a new spin-off of Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series. Characters from IAD make appearances and the Ascension is still on its way but we are dealing with Lothaire's mothers family. The royals of Dacia the hidden kingdom. 900 year old assassin Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, finally finds his Bride in a young half breed (1/2 Demon ½ Sorceri,) Bettina, heir to the throne of Abaddon. Unfortunately to win her he must compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament—to the death.
This book is standard Kresley Cole amazing action, sizzling sex and lots of humor. Add this to your list of must reads.
This book is standard Kresley Cole amazing action, sizzling sex and lots of humor. Add this to your list of must reads.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes