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bibliostorian's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was a fast read, but didn't have much to it. I did like Nikolai. But the villains were all cartoonish and the stakes were at times nonsensical. There's sexual slavery and manipulation throughout from the main AND minor villains. Overall it was... fine? I did finish it, so there's something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
Moderate: Slavery
raven168's review against another edition
3.0
I've actually had this series for a few years now and read this book way back when I got them. But as I just finished reading the last three, I kept wanting to go back and read about the hot crown prince vampire that is Nikolai. So I did.
3.5 stars
Nikolai has always been quite the lady's man. He was seducing a new woman every night and when that got boring would bring two or three to his bed. He never wanted to settle down with just one person. Until he was to meet Jane. The night the castle is attacked he was with a woman one minute and the next he had landed in a slave market where he was captured by a disgusting princess of Delfina.
Jane has a very quiet, lonely life. After a car accident took away all of her family and she pushed away her boyfriend, she went thru months of brutal rehab and surgeries just to be able to walk again. She doesn't have to work because she's got more than enough money so she moves to a cabin in the middle of nowhere. She's had dreams of a vampire and one day when she returns from her jog she finds a book on her doorstep and it makes her think of him. Falling asleep with it in her arms she's transported to a different world where she appears with the facade of a horrible princess. One that Nikolai had actually just killed. Stripped of his memories with his powers sealed, he only knows he has to get back to Elden and kill the king there. But his powers are coming back to him as he's the one who summoned Jane to his world and cast her in a glamor of the dead princess. Waking up in an unknown place, Jane is thoroughly confused but is determined to figure out what's going on. When she first goes to him in his cell, Nikolai is overwhelmed with his need to have her but still only sees her as a means to his freedom. Jane deals with the role she must play in order to survive and Nikolai does what he can to protect her after something in him snaps at witnessing an act against her that he is powerless to prevent. But it doesn't always go well for him. As his memories break thru he can't always control where he goes or even remain standing because of the pain. Despite that, Nikolai truly is a fearsome man and slays anyone who dares harm Jane (it really is totally hot). Which is good because they not only have to deal with the guards from the castle and the other evil princess, but they get attacked by ogres as well. He knows he must reclaim his home but chooses Jane above all else. But that's fine because together they defeat their immediate enemy and go off to get Nikolai his crown and kingdom back.
I loved most of the book. But things at the end I just didn't. Like how she got back to him. And what happened to her. I'm also not sure how I feel about what her job was. It kind of made sense to add it, but it seemed to be just so out of place and ...off. I don't know.
3.5 stars
Nikolai has always been quite the lady's man. He was seducing a new woman every night and when that got boring would bring two or three to his bed. He never wanted to settle down with just one person. Until he was to meet Jane. The night the castle is attacked he was with a woman one minute and the next he had landed in a slave market where he was captured by a disgusting princess of Delfina.
Jane has a very quiet, lonely life. After a car accident took away all of her family and she pushed away her boyfriend, she went thru months of brutal rehab and surgeries just to be able to walk again. She doesn't have to work because she's got more than enough money so she moves to a cabin in the middle of nowhere. She's had dreams of a vampire and one day when she returns from her jog she finds a book on her doorstep and it makes her think of him. Falling asleep with it in her arms she's transported to a different world where she appears with the facade of a horrible princess. One that Nikolai had actually just killed. Stripped of his memories with his powers sealed, he only knows he has to get back to Elden and kill the king there. But his powers are coming back to him as he's the one who summoned Jane to his world and cast her in a glamor of the dead princess. Waking up in an unknown place, Jane is thoroughly confused but is determined to figure out what's going on. When she first goes to him in his cell, Nikolai is overwhelmed with his need to have her but still only sees her as a means to his freedom. Jane deals with the role she must play in order to survive and Nikolai does what he can to protect her after something in him snaps at witnessing an act against her that he is powerless to prevent. But it doesn't always go well for him. As his memories break thru he can't always control where he goes or even remain standing because of the pain. Despite that, Nikolai truly is a fearsome man and slays anyone who dares harm Jane (it really is totally hot). Which is good because they not only have to deal with the guards from the castle and the other evil princess, but they get attacked by ogres as well. He knows he must reclaim his home but chooses Jane above all else. But that's fine because together they defeat their immediate enemy and go off to get Nikolai his crown and kingdom back.
I loved most of the book. But things at the end I just didn't. Like how she got back to him.
Spoiler
Scrounging up necessary materials to literally transport her to his realm when it's never worked before except with plastic....really?Spoiler
Normally I am all about being transformed into a vampire. I mean, how freakin' cool would that be!? But for some reason, and I really can't say why, it REALLY bugged me here.renpuspita's review against another edition
4.0
e-ARC provided by netgalley.com
Edited rating : 3,5 stars
The first book of Royal House of Shadows series. The story about the crown prince of Elden, Nicolai, who turned to sex slave and need this woman, Jane Parker, to save him.
Nicolai, once a crown prince of Elden, the magical Kingdom. Knowing as Dark Seducer, he seduced many women as he want, never bother to search his queen. But when Blood Sorcerer took over his kingdom, the king and the queen was killed but before their last breath, they send their child out of kingdom. To vengeance, say the king, and to the safety, said the queen who love her children.
Next time when he awake, Nicolai discovered he had become a sex slave. Stripped from his memory and his magic, helpless to resist his captor, the princess of Deflina, the ageless kingdom, to use his body as they please. Soon, he use his magic that left a little, to summon a mortal woman, to save him.
After the accident, Jane Parker's life change drastically. But little she know, when she found a strange book in front of her house, that book will change her life forever. Jane then summoned to Deflina. As Odette, their princess,who assumed dead. Jane then realized she "appeared" as Odette, while the real Odette already dead, and her appearance is one of Nicolai's work. In order to save his kingdom, first Jane must rescue Nicolai from Deflina, then retrieve his memory and his magic. The journey so hard, difficult, many obstacles in front of them, while Nicolai and Jane attrach to each other. Together they must face their enemy and try to make their relationship work.
I'm a proud Gena Showalter fans! I read almost all of her books (maybe just her YA books that I don't read it yet) and when I know Gena Showalter write for Harlequin Nocturne, together with another 3 author, I'm so excited and more excited when NetGalley have this title. Glad they approve my request.
I want to give this 3 stars, despite this book written by my author goddess, Gena Showalter, seems like it's not write by her, but its change after a few chapter, I can recognize her writing style, so that's why I give one star more.
The story good, the plot good, some twist, some action, steamy, but not fans of the character, even I like Jane Parker , the heroine, a bit nearly the end of story. Nicolai, not so much. One more I hear he said "mine", I'll kick his ass. I don't mind an alpha hero, but too alpha, is not good. Some things that bothered me.. where's the humor? I expect to see Gena humor sense here, but just found a few. This book too serious for me, but I still enjoy this. There so many things the author want to tell us. It's a little bit overwhelming, and some part make me confused
If you are Gena Showalter hardcore fans, you don't want to miss this.
Do I want to buy the paperback edition even I already read the ARC version? Well, yes!
Looking forward to read another Nikolai's sibling, Dayn, Breena and Micah in the next installment of this series. Next is Breena's story in Lord of The Rage by Jill Monroe
Edited rating : 3,5 stars
The first book of Royal House of Shadows series. The story about the crown prince of Elden, Nicolai, who turned to sex slave and need this woman, Jane Parker, to save him.
Nicolai, once a crown prince of Elden, the magical Kingdom. Knowing as Dark Seducer, he seduced many women as he want, never bother to search his queen. But when Blood Sorcerer took over his kingdom, the king and the queen was killed but before their last breath, they send their child out of kingdom. To vengeance, say the king, and to the safety, said the queen who love her children.
Next time when he awake, Nicolai discovered he had become a sex slave. Stripped from his memory and his magic, helpless to resist his captor, the princess of Deflina, the ageless kingdom, to use his body as they please. Soon, he use his magic that left a little, to summon a mortal woman, to save him.
After the accident, Jane Parker's life change drastically. But little she know, when she found a strange book in front of her house, that book will change her life forever. Jane then summoned to Deflina. As Odette, their princess,who assumed dead. Jane then realized she "appeared" as Odette, while the real Odette already dead, and her appearance is one of Nicolai's work. In order to save his kingdom, first Jane must rescue Nicolai from Deflina, then retrieve his memory and his magic. The journey so hard, difficult, many obstacles in front of them, while Nicolai and Jane attrach to each other. Together they must face their enemy and try to make their relationship work.
I'm a proud Gena Showalter fans! I read almost all of her books (maybe just her YA books that I don't read it yet) and when I know Gena Showalter write for Harlequin Nocturne, together with another 3 author, I'm so excited and more excited when NetGalley have this title. Glad they approve my request.
I want to give this 3 stars, despite this book written by my author goddess, Gena Showalter, seems like it's not write by her, but its change after a few chapter, I can recognize her writing style, so that's why I give one star more.
The story good, the plot good, some twist, some action, steamy, but not fans of the character, even I like Jane Parker , the heroine, a bit nearly the end of story. Nicolai, not so much. One more I hear he said "mine", I'll kick his ass. I don't mind an alpha hero, but too alpha, is not good. Some things that bothered me.. where's the humor? I expect to see Gena humor sense here, but just found a few. This book too serious for me, but I still enjoy this. There so many things the author want to tell us. It's a little bit overwhelming, and some part make me confused
If you are Gena Showalter hardcore fans, you don't want to miss this.
Do I want to buy the paperback edition even I already read the ARC version? Well, yes!
Looking forward to read another Nikolai's sibling, Dayn, Breena and Micah in the next installment of this series. Next is Breena's story in Lord of The Rage by Jill Monroe
b303tilly's review against another edition
2.0
I really like the back story, and will read the rest of the series because of it. However, the romance was too... I don't know. Short on content and on depth of feeling?
nbvanderhyden's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book! It's not perfect, but it's fantasy so I grade in a curve.
A little bit of time travel via Legend by Jude Deveraux and some Kresley Cole IAD. It's very reminiscent of IAD where the MC's know they are mates and are now instantly in love. So, more chemistry than conversation. But to be fair, if somebody killed a clan of ogres to save me, I would probably fall in love with them on the spot too.
A little bit of time travel via Legend by Jude Deveraux and some Kresley Cole IAD. It's very reminiscent of IAD where the MC's know they are mates and are now instantly in love. So, more chemistry than conversation. But to be fair, if somebody killed a clan of ogres to save me, I would probably fall in love with them on the spot too.
witandsin's review against another edition
2.0
Nicolai, Crown Prince of Elden, was once known as “The Dark Seducer.” That was until the Blood Sorcerer attacked Elden, murdering the king and queen. With their last bit of power, Nicolai’s mother sent her children to safety, while his father filled them with the need to avenge their parents and take back their kingdom. But something goes awry with the king and queen’s spells and Nicolai finds himself trapped in Delfina as a sex slave, his memories wiped and his powers bound. Nicolai’s only hope for gaining his freedom, powers, and memory is a woman not of his world: a human scientist named Jane Parker.
Vampires and violence and lust – oh my! Gena Showalter kicks off the Royal House of Shadows quartet with the rage-and-eroticism-filled Lord of the Vampires. Nicolai’s a dangerous vampire whose burning need for revenge makes him one scary alpha male. But Ms. Showalter tempers Nicolai’s darkness with his love for Jane. Jane may be the odd human in a world of supernatural beings, but she’s no wilting flower. How could she be, with a hero such as Nicolai? I respected Jane’s intelligence, strength, and pragmatic attitude. With two powerful protagonists, Lord of the Vampires should have been a solid read for me. Yet, I felt the smart premise of the story was dragged down a bit by too much emphasis on lust and the “Tarzan-speak” employed by some disgusting ogres and, at times, by Nicolai.
Lord of the Vampires is the first in the multi-author Royal House of Shadows series. Gena Showalter, Jill Monroe, Jessica Andersen, and Nalini Singh have created a fantastic world filled with possibility and Lord of the Vampires only touches on part of it. Ms. Showalter made me eager to see more. So eager, in fact, that I dove right into the second book, Lord of Rage, right after finishing Nicolai and Jane’s story. Even counting the issues I had with Lord of the Vampires, I finished it certain that the Royal House of Shadows books would make one heck of a series.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Vampires and violence and lust – oh my! Gena Showalter kicks off the Royal House of Shadows quartet with the rage-and-eroticism-filled Lord of the Vampires. Nicolai’s a dangerous vampire whose burning need for revenge makes him one scary alpha male. But Ms. Showalter tempers Nicolai’s darkness with his love for Jane. Jane may be the odd human in a world of supernatural beings, but she’s no wilting flower. How could she be, with a hero such as Nicolai? I respected Jane’s intelligence, strength, and pragmatic attitude. With two powerful protagonists, Lord of the Vampires should have been a solid read for me. Yet, I felt the smart premise of the story was dragged down a bit by too much emphasis on lust and the “Tarzan-speak” employed by some disgusting ogres and, at times, by Nicolai.
Lord of the Vampires is the first in the multi-author Royal House of Shadows series. Gena Showalter, Jill Monroe, Jessica Andersen, and Nalini Singh have created a fantastic world filled with possibility and Lord of the Vampires only touches on part of it. Ms. Showalter made me eager to see more. So eager, in fact, that I dove right into the second book, Lord of Rage, right after finishing Nicolai and Jane’s story. Even counting the issues I had with Lord of the Vampires, I finished it certain that the Royal House of Shadows books would make one heck of a series.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
leahkarge's review against another edition
4.0
When I first heard about this series, I was really intrigued by the idea that four different authors were going to write one of the four books. And I was really looking forward to the Gena Showalter and Nalini Singh ones.
Despite hearing that this wasn't one of Gena's best, I really liked it. It may not be my "Oh my God, this is totally my favorite of hers!" book, but it was still really good. I liked the world she started building up and I loved Nicolai and Jane. They were a great couple.
My only complaint is that it was too short! It is significantly smaller than pretty much anything Gena has written to date. That made Leah sad. And I've noticed the other books are just as short. Buuuut, I suppose I will get over it. At least they are consistent in the lengths.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait to read about Breena, Dayn, and Micah! Jill, Jessica, and Nalini, here I come!
Despite hearing that this wasn't one of Gena's best, I really liked it. It may not be my "Oh my God, this is totally my favorite of hers!" book, but it was still really good. I liked the world she started building up and I loved Nicolai and Jane. They were a great couple.
My only complaint is that it was too short! It is significantly smaller than pretty much anything Gena has written to date. That made Leah sad. And I've noticed the other books are just as short. Buuuut, I suppose I will get over it. At least they are consistent in the lengths.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this and I cannot wait to read about Breena, Dayn, and Micah! Jill, Jessica, and Nalini, here I come!