Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by lisa_me
Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole
5.0
4.5♥s
I'll try to give you the set-up without spoilers ...
Bettina, the future queen of the plane of Abaddon, survives a vicious attack by enemies. To appease her godparents, she agrees to marry the winner of a blood-sport tournament of suitors--an elimination match to the death. But her heart really belongs to Caspion, her childhood friend.
Trehan Daciano, the "Prince of Shadows" and a vampire, is a merciless assassin from the Realm of Blood and Shadows. Anyone who enters the secretive Realm is forbidden to leave. Trehan's task is to assassinate those who escape. Caspion entered the Realm and sneaked out, and Daciano is after him. Daciano himself is allowed to leave and return--unless he is seen.
After tracking Caspion to Abaddon, he gets mysteriously drawn to Bettina. He discovers that she is his Bride. She "bloods" him, which means that his heart starts beating, his lungs start breathing, and his … manly bits start working again. Although he lusts after Bettina (it's been one thousand years, after all), she also fascinates him. He brings her to life in more ways than one. He wants to win her over and claim her as his Bride, but Caspion and Trehan's need to assassinate him stand between them.
Trehan leaves his entire life--and his chance at the crown of the Realm of Blood and Mist--behind by showing himself at the tournament and entering the contest for Bettina's hand. But Caspion does, too. And only one can survive.
♥
Kresley Cole has done it again. She's written a sexy, suspenseful, action-packed page-turner with characters you'll love, subtle humor that will have you snickering, and dark moments that will kick you in the gut. You'll be sorry to read "The End" (so to speak).
What I love about Trehan is that he truly appreciated Bettina as a person, and not just as his fated Bride. I also love that he isn't perfect--at times he is even unsure of himself in spite of being a strong, decisive Alpha male. Bettina turns his world upside-down, and he doesn't know how to handle it.
Bettina has the best humorous inner dialog and lines. Watch for the subtle humor and inside jokes. Bettina doesn't have it easy, however. She has a long, difficult journey as she learns a number of lessons about life and the nature of love.
Shadow's Claim takes place in the Immortals After Dark universe. In the timeline, it runs roughly parallel to [b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803] ([b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803] gets 4.5♥s, and 5.0♥s for its sexy cover!). The events in [b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803] affect Trehan, as the Dacians affected events in [b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803]. We also see behind the scenes of those events. And why Trehan was so brooding in [b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803].
As a nod to fans, Cole includes cameo appearances in Shadow's Claim from some favorite Immortals After Dark characters. It would be a spoiler to name them. You'll just have to enjoy finding out for yourself.
[b:MacRieve|8158992|MacRieve (Immortals After Dark, #13)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344392086s/8158992.jpg|13001065] (Immortals After Dark, #13) has a brief set-up in Shadow's Claim. Judging by the topics of conversation, I believe that Immortals After Dark #14 does also. As of this writing, The Dacians #2 hasn't been announced. But I look forward to it!
Please see my full review at Paranormal Romance with Lisa Annesley. It includes a link to an article in which Kresley Cole talks about Lothaire, Shadow's Claim, and MacRieve.
I'll try to give you the set-up without spoilers ...
Bettina, the future queen of the plane of Abaddon, survives a vicious attack by enemies. To appease her godparents, she agrees to marry the winner of a blood-sport tournament of suitors--an elimination match to the death. But her heart really belongs to Caspion, her childhood friend.
Trehan Daciano, the "Prince of Shadows" and a vampire, is a merciless assassin from the Realm of Blood and Shadows. Anyone who enters the secretive Realm is forbidden to leave. Trehan's task is to assassinate those who escape. Caspion entered the Realm and sneaked out, and Daciano is after him. Daciano himself is allowed to leave and return--unless he is seen.
After tracking Caspion to Abaddon, he gets mysteriously drawn to Bettina. He discovers that she is his Bride. She "bloods" him, which means that his heart starts beating, his lungs start breathing, and his … manly bits start working again. Although he lusts after Bettina (it's been one thousand years, after all), she also fascinates him. He brings her to life in more ways than one. He wants to win her over and claim her as his Bride, but Caspion and Trehan's need to assassinate him stand between them.
Trehan leaves his entire life--and his chance at the crown of the Realm of Blood and Mist--behind by showing himself at the tournament and entering the contest for Bettina's hand. But Caspion does, too. And only one can survive.
♥
Kresley Cole has done it again. She's written a sexy, suspenseful, action-packed page-turner with characters you'll love, subtle humor that will have you snickering, and dark moments that will kick you in the gut. You'll be sorry to read "The End" (so to speak).
What I love about Trehan is that he truly appreciated Bettina as a person, and not just as his fated Bride. I also love that he isn't perfect--at times he is even unsure of himself in spite of being a strong, decisive Alpha male. Bettina turns his world upside-down, and he doesn't know how to handle it.
Bettina has the best humorous inner dialog and lines. Watch for the subtle humor and inside jokes. Bettina doesn't have it easy, however. She has a long, difficult journey as she learns a number of lessons about life and the nature of love.
Shadow's Claim takes place in the Immortals After Dark universe. In the timeline, it runs roughly parallel to [b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803] ([b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803] gets 4.5♥s, and 5.0♥s for its sexy cover!). The events in [b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803] affect Trehan, as the Dacians affected events in [b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803]. We also see behind the scenes of those events. And why Trehan was so brooding in [b:Lothaire|10790516|Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327888249s/10790516.jpg|15702803].
As a nod to fans, Cole includes cameo appearances in Shadow's Claim from some favorite Immortals After Dark characters. It would be a spoiler to name them. You'll just have to enjoy finding out for yourself.
[b:MacRieve|8158992|MacRieve (Immortals After Dark, #13)|Kresley Cole|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344392086s/8158992.jpg|13001065] (Immortals After Dark, #13) has a brief set-up in Shadow's Claim. Judging by the topics of conversation, I believe that Immortals After Dark #14 does also. As of this writing, The Dacians #2 hasn't been announced. But I look forward to it!
Please see my full review at Paranormal Romance with Lisa Annesley. It includes a link to an article in which Kresley Cole talks about Lothaire, Shadow's Claim, and MacRieve.