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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-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:
Yes
Walking backwards in our timeline (a few weeks? A few months?I’ve lost track…) to the same time period as Lothaire, Shadow’s Claim is the first of the Dacians books. Dacia is the vampire kingdom hidden by the mist, with closed borders, and that is so secret that few outsiders can claim knowledge of its existence. Trehan Daciano is one of the members of the ruling family caught up in centuries of blood feuds and is the family assassin. Bettina, half-demon half-sorceri, is heir to the Kingdom of Abaddon. After barely surviving an encounter with Vrekeners and losing her soceri power (akin to losing her soul), Bettina agrees to her guardians’ suggestion that she marry the victor of a tournament which will restore her power and give her a champion and protector.
While our group had mixed feelings on this one, I really enjoyed it. There was a very medieval and fairy-tale-like tone to the book - we have a princess locked in a tower, godparents who may or may not have the best interest of the heroine in mind, and a tournament for her hand in marriage. It takes place largely in the plane of Abaddon, with flashes in New Orleans and Dacia, and is even more closely confined to the castle and tournament grounds. And yet unlike other “small setting” books in the series the book still focuses a lot on plot rather than strictly the relationship between our hero and heroine.
I found Bettina to be a sympathetic character with her very recent trauma and controlling guardians. She’s innocent in many ways, but I liked watching her story arc as she learned to overcome her fear and recognizes when she is being manipulated. And Trehan… he may be one of my favorite of the IAD heroes now, as our most well-adjusted male Lorean. Not only does he see Bettina for herself, he helps her become more emotionally stronger as she conquers her fears on her own. His strength (aside from being a cold-blooded assassin) is in his ability to nurture Bettina, being a guide for her growth but not dictating it himself.
I’m not yet sold on the advantage of reading this out of order from the main arc. If I reread the series, I’ll likely read it after Lothaire.
Oh how I missed the Lore and all of it's inhabitants. Still missing Nix, even though she was mentioned a bit in this one. When is she ever not involved? xD
Really enjoyed this book, it had the steamy sex scenes, the action, carnage, and it's funny and sweet moments. Specially liked seeing Lothaire again. I think his interactions with Elizabeth were the funniest parts in the book, just cause he is this bad ass vamp and she has him totally wrapped around her little finger. It was great seeing them again and I hope we'll be seeing more of them in the other books as well.
My only problem with this one was Bettina. She isn't like the other heroines in the sense that she wasn't really bad-ass. She even called herself a pushover, which she is. But she never did much of anything in my opinion. I mean I'm glad she finally started getting over her trauma, but all the other heroines had their issues as well and the way they solved it, they would go own up to it and kill whatever it was. Bettina never killed the Vrekeners, Trey did it for her, and I think that took a lot out of the story for me. She did start to get better by the end but let's just say she isn't my favorite heroine from the bunch.
I still thoroughly enjoyed this one and can't wait for the next one!
Really enjoyed this book, it had the steamy sex scenes, the action, carnage, and it's funny and sweet moments. Specially liked seeing Lothaire again. I think his interactions with Elizabeth were the funniest parts in the book, just cause he is this bad ass vamp and she has him totally wrapped around her little finger. It was great seeing them again and I hope we'll be seeing more of them in the other books as well.
My only problem with this one was Bettina. She isn't like the other heroines in the sense that she wasn't really bad-ass. She even called herself a pushover, which she is. But she never did much of anything in my opinion. I mean I'm glad she finally started getting over her trauma, but all the other heroines had their issues as well and the way they solved it, they would go own up to it and kill whatever it was. Bettina never killed the Vrekeners, Trey did it for her, and I think that took a lot out of the story for me. She did start to get better by the end but let's just say she isn't my favorite heroine from the bunch.
I still thoroughly enjoyed this one and can't wait for the next one!
Loved!! Not sure why the Dacians have to be separate from the Immortals After Dark series, but I like where Kresley is going with this group.
I liked it. I'm a sucker for Kresley Cole books though. It was lengthy but I didn't think it had any parts that weren't necessary and the pace of the story was good.
I liked the story, but the fmc was annoying at times and there was none of the humor we usually get in the other books.
2020 reread: I listened to it as audiobook this time around and I didn't find Bettina nearly as annoying as the first time around. Guess she just sounded immature but that's not a sin.
I am very uncertain on my feelings for the book. While maybe my review is sorta affected due to listening to it as an audio book and not reading it myself, I cannot be sure. This was my first Kresley Cole book but read it to catch up with the book club. The overall ideas and storyline of the book did catch my attention. I knew that there would be "sexy times" and I was warned that they were a little "messy", however I was still caught off guard. I also thought the amount of possession that Trehan showed was rather odd and almost like creepy stalker, so much to the point that it made me feel uncomfortable. I did finish the entire book and while I did have issues with certain aspects of it and issues with a character or two it was not the worst book that I have ever read. I feel the world building was done well, and the characters were well explained but there was some repetitiveness that I could have done without!
Love, Love, Loved it! But then, who had any doubt about that? It's Kresley Cole! Can not wait for her next book! :D
Relistened in audio & Kresley is forever my queen❤️
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated