Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
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
Loved the plot point of this book! It was so fun to wonder how the end of the competition would play out.
Trehan and Bettina were both lovable characters and I enjoyed reading their storyline.
Trehan and Bettina were both lovable characters and I enjoyed reading their storyline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Great book. I can say I probably only read about 3 books by this author but so far they have been really good. I read Lothaire and absolutely fell in love with that sick character, so naturally I just had to read this one. Let me tell you it will not disappoint. there is action around every corner, the two main characters are likeable and the rimance between them doesnt seem forced at all. Now every paranormal romance reader gets to the point where they feel like all PR books are starting to look the same, then that one author comes out and changes that view entirely. This author did that (with a few more). I would give it 5 stars but the book was really slow in some parts and sometimes Trehan's female annoyed the hell outta me. However still a great book.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After a very long wait thanks to some postal shenanigans I finally got my copy of Shadow's Claim.
It was everything I wanted and expected and not at all what I expected. I loved seeing more of the Sorceri/Vrekener conflict and really exploring such a new part of the IAD world.
We have a fully developed new part of the IAD without even touching stuff from the IAD series. Except for Nix as a background character and Sabine at the end but with Bettina so close to the Queen of the Soceri I think that it worked.
It was everything I wanted and expected and not at all what I expected. I loved seeing more of the Sorceri/Vrekener conflict and really exploring such a new part of the IAD world.
We have a fully developed new part of the IAD without even touching stuff from the IAD series. Except for Nix as a background character and Sabine at the end but with Bettina so close to the Queen of the Soceri I think that it worked.
fast-paced
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
While this is book #12 of the Immortals After Dark series, I actually read this book after Sweet Ruin which is book #15. In case you haven’t read my earlier reviews of this series, I’m listening to the Fated Mates podcast as I go along and I’m following the order they have given. In most cases, I have agreed to their reasoning of the order. This time…I’m not so sure. I never listen to the episode until I’ve written my review (plus this episode is a two-fer and I haven’t read the other book yet) so I’m not quite sure of the why of it yet. Anyway, on to the review.
This story is not only part of the IAD series, it is considered the first in Kresley Cole’s The Dacian’s series. Since there is this story and a sort of novella in the series, I’m not 100% sure if she intends to continue it or just let it stay absorbed into the IAD world as it is right now. Either way, there are a lot of connections to very important characters from IAD (Nix & Lothaire to just name a couple) and it’s a very entertaining read.
Bettina is an immortal, but she has a lot going against her in that regard. I won’t get into the particulars, you’ll learn them as you read, but she is not very strong when it comes to her immortal abilities. She’s extremely young compared to those around her and hasn’t found her own way yet, which makes it easier for her guardians to sway her to their will.
When Bettina and Trehan meet for the first time, there is a part of me that wants to warn readers it can be upsetting. I loved their chemistry and banter, but Bettina is not aware of who she is with at first and it can be considered dub con. Thankfully, the author pulls back. Yet it still could be hard to read for many. That being said, as it didn’t incite a negative reaction from me, I loved it all. From the first moment to the last. Bettina may get pushed around in her life which makes me feel bad about her situation, but Trehan’s situation with her made me ache for the poor man. This millennium old vampire feeling that he is not number one in his Bride’s eyes had to have been crushing to his spirit. On top of that, he had to turn his back on everything in his life in order to be by Bettina’s side.
I won’t lie, I was not a fan of Bettina’s best friend and the object of her adoration. Caspion isn’t mean or terrible, but he’s quite obtuse. He made some bad decisions and yet he somehow seems to blame Trehan and even Bettina for those decisions. He knew the cost and now wants to cry victim. I know there will be a redemption for him. It already started in this story. But he annoyed me with his actions. Instead of being up front and kind to Bettina, he just constantly threw his “nature” in her face trying to make her see things for how they were instead.
There was a bit of frustration when things blew up between Trehan and Bettina. Trehan has always had such a cool and calm demeanor and, though I realize why he lost it, it seemed out of character how quickly he jumped to some conclusions. Bettina, with her sometimes wishy-washy ways, didn’t help matters with how she approached things. I felt they both had to do a bit of groveling to find their way back, and they did eventually get there in the end.
Note: I have since listened to the Fated Mates episode regarding this book and, in my opinion, this book should be read in its proper order, after Lothaire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tense
slow-paced
I’ll write a full review later, but overall this was quite boring, had a love triangle conflict that didn’t work, and did I already say it was boring?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
kresley cole does it again
10/10. Highly recommend!! The plot, the romance, the writing... goodness gracious I get so lost in her stories. READ THIS.
10/10. Highly recommend!! The plot, the romance, the writing... goodness gracious I get so lost in her stories. READ THIS.