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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
This was not really what I was expecting. I understand that it was a new series - but I thought that would have more to do with it not being set on Earth (or whatever they call it), than anything else. I was wrong. It was a lot different - I'm not sure why I'm left feeling that way, but I am. Something about the style was just a bit off compared to the rest. Not that it was bad - just .... different.
The character's were certainly interesting. Now we know I like the anti-hero, but these characters weren't quite that. They struck me as neither good nor bad. Just struggling to survive really. I guess they were a bit darker than her usual heroes, but they weren't as dark as the anti-heroes. Which is probably why I'm struck by how different this book was. They were good characters, just unexpected. I really liked that Bettina had a vocation, something she was passionate about and refused to give up. You go! And Trehan was a bit darker, and he was willing to give up his home for her - impressive. Excellent, excellent.
The plot was a bit slower than her usual fare, but still enjoyable. That being said, there was the really exciting (and disturbingly archaic) tournament for Bettina's hand. I was seriously concerned that the giant troll titan thing was going to kill people I liked in order to win, but he got bested. Mwahaha! I was struck by how this story at times moved so quickly, and at others, was painfully slow. I guess I wanted more action (as in, more fighting) to keep me super interested.
Overall though, it was good. I did like the characters and the story, it just lost my interest occasionally.
Check out more of my reviews at http://whatabookbitch.blogspot.ca
Loved this book, I think it was just as good as the IAD books
Wow. Trehan and Bettina are definitely the least likable in the IAD world. Trehan joins this competition with the plan that he is going to fight his way to win the competition and at the same time, he is going to make Bettina fall in love with him. Unlike every single other competitor, he actually acknowledges Bettina after every battle. And he gave up everything--his home, his family, his library--to have the chance to be with her. What wasn't cute was how he was feeling sorry for himself when she wouldn't give him the time of day. Like dude, you can't blame her for your choices. You chose to give everything up for the girl. The girl doesn't have to pity chose you.
Then there is Bettina. This woman is brutally attacked at the beginning of the book and is bamboozled into agreeing to this competition because her godparents agreed to find her attackers and get her powers back. However when the competitors sign themselves into this competition that either ends with them as the winner or dead, she does NOTHING to stop it. Even worse, she only feels guilty for three of the competitors. Not the other 270.
And especially not Gourlav. King of Pandemonia. Primordial demon. I straight up don't get her problem with him. She just kept mentioning his three sets of horns. Like girl. What? Six horns is too many? You are half demon yourself. Gourlav and Trehan even have a moment together. Like they are allies in this competition against the hosts. In the end, we even find out that Gourlav entered this competition because he just wanted to find love.
Bettina really pisses me off all of the times when Trehan spells out EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDS, "Me or Caspion?" And Bettina never once answers his question. Or explains that she only feels romantic love for Trehan and platonic love for Cas. Never once explains her feelings. She lets everyone walk all over her, except for Trehan. Which, I guess, is good in a relationship, however her godparents boss her around like no tomorrow. The evil sorceress Morgana even manipulates her and her powers. Then, she blames all of her relationship problems on Trehan. This was the last straw for me. She is the one who is an expert in poisons, handed him the poisoned wine, and was wearing her poison ring. And yet he has to apologize for thinking she was the one who poisoned him. Combine that with the fact that she just keeps reiterating how Cas will always be in her life, and that she loves him, and I think anyone would have a right to assume the same. Despite him being crazed for not marking Bettina.
Despite these simultaneously boring and infuriating characters, this was such an entertaining book. Is it not every girl's dream to have a competition to win you over? Bettina could have had it made. 200+ lorean males entered this competition to MARRY BETTINA. I don't love the reasons that her godparents gave for running this competition--she needs someone to protect her--but at this point in the book, I am sick of her too. At least they could pass off all the responsibilities onto her strong and brave husband.
If it weren't for hearing that this particular book would be one of the important ones to re-read before Munro, it probably would have fallen towards a later place in my TBR pile. But alas, Munro had a full ass scene in this book. And he threatens Bettina because she allowed his "brother" to get beheaded. Bettina's guilty conscience isn't enough. At least someone holds her accountable. This is the exact moment that jump starts the events of his book. The whole "After that, there was nothing we could do" wasn't enough of an explanation for me. Nor for Munro, but he has to go off and save the day.
This book overlaps with so many of the other books, that it is crazy. Everything from Kiss of a Demon King and Pleasure of a Dark Prince through the torture island books, Macrieve, Dark Skye, Shadows Seduction, Wicked Abyss, and supposedly Munro. This book spans across like half of the books in the series!
I really love the moments with Queen Elizabeth and Lothaire. I was definitely laughing out loud.
“Trehan had been … underwhelmed by the Enemy of Old’s attention span.”
“We’ve found his lair in a mortal city called York—”
“It’s New York,” Stelian said with a roll of his eyes, as if he’d explained this before.”
And the FUNNIEST LINE: “Elizabeth said we’ll have Christmas year-round and decorate with only the choicest adornments!” Kosmina explained. “I don’t know what Cracker Barrel is, but its wares are of great importance to our queen.”
Like these lines are brilliant. Cole is amazing for creating this gold. I laughed out loud more with this book than any of the others.
And Nix is amazing. She really got all of the big evil sorceri to join the good guys. She is out here doing the impossible.
Then there is Bettina. This woman is brutally attacked at the beginning of the book and is bamboozled into agreeing to this competition because her godparents agreed to find her attackers and get her powers back. However when the competitors sign themselves into this competition that either ends with them as the winner or dead, she does NOTHING to stop it. Even worse, she only feels guilty for three of the competitors. Not the other 270.
And especially not Gourlav. King of Pandemonia. Primordial demon. I straight up don't get her problem with him. She just kept mentioning his three sets of horns. Like girl. What? Six horns is too many? You are half demon yourself. Gourlav and Trehan even have a moment together. Like they are allies in this competition against the hosts. In the end, we even find out that Gourlav entered this competition because he just wanted to find love.
Bettina really pisses me off all of the times when Trehan spells out EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDS, "Me or Caspion?" And Bettina never once answers his question. Or explains that she only feels romantic love for Trehan and platonic love for Cas. Never once explains her feelings. She lets everyone walk all over her, except for Trehan. Which, I guess, is good in a relationship, however her godparents boss her around like no tomorrow. The evil sorceress Morgana even manipulates her and her powers. Then, she blames all of her relationship problems on Trehan. This was the last straw for me. She is the one who is an expert in poisons, handed him the poisoned wine, and was wearing her poison ring. And yet he has to apologize for thinking she was the one who poisoned him. Combine that with the fact that she just keeps reiterating how Cas will always be in her life, and that she loves him, and I think anyone would have a right to assume the same. Despite him being crazed for not marking Bettina.
Despite these simultaneously boring and infuriating characters, this was such an entertaining book. Is it not every girl's dream to have a competition to win you over? Bettina could have had it made. 200+ lorean males entered this competition to MARRY BETTINA. I don't love the reasons that her godparents gave for running this competition--she needs someone to protect her--but at this point in the book, I am sick of her too. At least they could pass off all the responsibilities onto her strong and brave husband.
If it weren't for hearing that this particular book would be one of the important ones to re-read before Munro, it probably would have fallen towards a later place in my TBR pile. But alas, Munro had a full ass scene in this book. And he threatens Bettina because she allowed his "brother" to get beheaded. Bettina's guilty conscience isn't enough. At least someone holds her accountable. This is the exact moment that jump starts the events of his book. The whole "After that, there was nothing we could do" wasn't enough of an explanation for me. Nor for Munro, but he has to go off and save the day.
This book overlaps with so many of the other books, that it is crazy. Everything from Kiss of a Demon King and Pleasure of a Dark Prince through the torture island books, Macrieve, Dark Skye, Shadows Seduction, Wicked Abyss, and supposedly Munro. This book spans across like half of the books in the series!
I really love the moments with Queen Elizabeth and Lothaire. I was definitely laughing out loud.
“Trehan had been … underwhelmed by the Enemy of Old’s attention span.”
“We’ve found his lair in a mortal city called York—”
“It’s New York,” Stelian said with a roll of his eyes, as if he’d explained this before.”
And the FUNNIEST LINE: “Elizabeth said we’ll have Christmas year-round and decorate with only the choicest adornments!” Kosmina explained. “I don’t know what Cracker Barrel is, but its wares are of great importance to our queen.”
Like these lines are brilliant. Cole is amazing for creating this gold. I laughed out loud more with this book than any of the others.
And Nix is amazing. She really got all of the big evil sorceri to join the good guys. She is out here doing the impossible.
4.5 stars - Another good instalment in the Immortals After Dark series, half a point deducted for being a little overlong and losing momentum a little in the final chapters.
I'm not really sure what to say about this one, it was fun, Trehan was super yummy, but there were some things that kept me from really loving this book.
I'll start with the good, The tournament element added lots of fun and suspense, did I mention Trehan being a dream boat? Lots of awesome world building and a interesting hobby for our leading lady.
The bad, I really hated Bettina. She made me feel like this book was intended for the YA lover that wanted more mature steamy scenes. If that's what you want, she's full of all the teen angst and the retarded childhood blind love for a jerk, and the even worse token love triangle.
to add to the bad, I wasn't a fan of how the ending came about, just too... convenient without plausibility, and it just kind of happened. No other way to explain it without spoilers.
NOTE: This book had a lot of mistakes in it, but I'm sure that was the publisher's fault as it's a trend to have low quality ebooks., but an editor could have really tightened the plot up as well, but that's just nit picking.
All and all it was a fun romp, but I can't really recommend it unless you're hardcore for Kresley Cole or something that feels like a stereotypical steamy YA novel.
I'll start with the good, The tournament element added lots of fun and suspense, did I mention Trehan being a dream boat? Lots of awesome world building and a interesting hobby for our leading lady.
The bad, I really hated Bettina. She made me feel like this book was intended for the YA lover that wanted more mature steamy scenes. If that's what you want, she's full of all the teen angst and the retarded childhood blind love for a jerk, and the even worse token love triangle.
to add to the bad, I wasn't a fan of how the ending came about, just too... convenient without plausibility, and it just kind of happened. No other way to explain it without spoilers.
NOTE: This book had a lot of mistakes in it, but I'm sure that was the publisher's fault as it's a trend to have low quality ebooks., but an editor could have really tightened the plot up as well, but that's just nit picking.
All and all it was a fun romp, but I can't really recommend it unless you're hardcore for Kresley Cole or something that feels like a stereotypical steamy YA novel.
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book!
Kresley Cole, I have to say, is the first author that got me going with the Romance Genre. This book definitely did not disappoint.
I loved the intimate situations with Trehan and Bettina. And I loved how the story played out with a tournament and the two main guys duking it out in the arena. The suspense was DEFINITELY there.
I did find it annoying that Bettina was constantly trying to save her "true love." It was really exasperating. Hello, Bettina!? Tremendous hottie who wants you more than life itself over here! I just wanted to slap her around a bit just so she could realize what she had.
And ofcourse, I found myself laughing when Nix made herself known in this book. KC really can't write a book unless Nix is in it.
Overall, this book was amazing and I can't wait to re-read it. :=D
Kresley Cole, I have to say, is the first author that got me going with the Romance Genre. This book definitely did not disappoint.
I loved the intimate situations with Trehan and Bettina. And I loved how the story played out with a tournament and the two main guys duking it out in the arena. The suspense was DEFINITELY there.
I did find it annoying that Bettina was constantly trying to save her "true love." It was really exasperating. Hello, Bettina!? Tremendous hottie who wants you more than life itself over here! I just wanted to slap her around a bit just so she could realize what she had.
And ofcourse, I found myself laughing when Nix made herself known in this book. KC really can't write a book unless Nix is in it.
Overall, this book was amazing and I can't wait to re-read it. :=D
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
Another great IAD book 💖
Bettina is a sorcerei who has recently lost her power who is being offered up as a prize in a medieval tournament. Trehan is an assassin out to kill the demon Bettina is in love with. Trehan decides to enter the tournament to win Bettina.
Some of the tournament was a bit hard to read, but it really kept me at the edge of my seat!
Salem was amazing comic relief. Loved him.
Kresley normally writes kick ass heroines which I love. Bettina was a really vulnerable MC, but it was handled really well. I felt like Bettina was a more relatable MC if that makes sense.
Notes: Trehan is a white vampire and Bettina is a white sorcerei. The book takes place on a different plane.
Bettina is a sorcerei who has recently lost her power who is being offered up as a prize in a medieval tournament. Trehan is an assassin out to kill the demon Bettina is in love with. Trehan decides to enter the tournament to win Bettina.
Some of the tournament was a bit hard to read, but it really kept me at the edge of my seat!
Salem was amazing comic relief. Loved him.
Kresley normally writes kick ass heroines which I love. Bettina was a really vulnerable MC, but it was handled really well. I felt like Bettina was a more relatable MC if that makes sense.
Notes: Trehan is a white vampire and Bettina is a white sorcerei. The book takes place on a different plane.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved Trehan and Bettina. This is my favorite IAD so far!