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A review by desiree_mcl
Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole
4.0
4.25 stars.
Great story, once again Kresley Cole kicks butt.
Although this story does start a new series it's not much different than KC's IAD series. It deals with the same characters, the same worlds, it's just focused more on Dacia and Dacians than the IAD books are and will be. So if you love the IAD series this series is also a must read.
Bettina is the Princess of Abaddon and we meet her in a violent way. She's being beaten by Vrekeners, these are the same creatures that killed her mother a couple decades before. Luckily Bettina is summoned back to her kingdom before they can kill her, from then on she has fear of crowds and doesn't leave the kingdom (or her home really) alone. Bettina, both after and before that assault, was infatuated with Caspion, she clearly wants Caspion and she is willing to do anything to get him. He just doesn't want her. Not in the way she wants him too. However her godmother and Uncle have, with Bettina's permission have set up a tournament to win both Bettina's hand and her throne. It's a tournament to the death and whoever is left standing, no matter how hideous or awful they are, they get both Bettina and the crown.
Trehan the Prince of Shadows in Dacia: Realm of Blood and Mist, is a mostly even keel vampire, he's known for his calmness and not getting emotional about things. At least until he meets his Bride. Now when we first meet him he gets woken up from his sleep and feels like he needs to protect something. Even before he meets Bettina he feels something is wrong as she's being beaten. Although he feels this way he doesn't know what it is.
Fast-forward a few months later, Trehan is on the trail of Caspion, a demon and best friend of Bettina's, who had gotten into Dacia and left without permission, which is a big deal since no one, except Dacians are supposed to know about Dacia and where it is. In his quest to get Caspion he sees a light that Bettina had put up earlier to let Caspion know she waited for him and Trehan is drawn to that light, so much so that he abandons his quest for Caspion for the time being.
Trehan finds a drunk Bettina, realizes she's his Bride and finds her willingly giving him permission to touch her and even bed her. Only to find out before he has a chance to bed her that Bettina thinks it's Caspion. As the story continues Caspion enters and Trehan enters the tournament but Trehan is the only one that makes it clear he does it for her alone. Not to kill Caspion (although that would be a plus) and not for the kingdom, just her.
I loved Trehan, he was strong, sexy, and determined. When he stated that he entered the contest for her alone my heart melted. When When he brought her to the place that she loved but was now afraid to visit and he said she was strong and she could face her fear and that he'd be there to protect her if it was needed, once again my heart melted. How and why did Bettina deny this handsome and sweet vampire for so long. He was far more patient with Bettina than I would expect him to be. I wouldn't have blamed him at all if he went to someone else while Bettina was pining for Caspion, but he didn't and that just raised him in my eyes.
Bettina on the other hand annoyed me, not enough to hate her at all but enough where I liked her but didn't love her. The one main thing that kept me from really enjoying her character was that she was so hung up on Caspion. Everything was for Caspion, about Caspion, or something Caspion needed/wanted. Ugh. It would have been one thing if Caspion deserved that kind of devotion but he didn't. I couldn't stand his character but, I will give him some credit, he didn't tell Bettina that he loved her in a romantic sense. He was fairly up front about his feelings for her and they weren't passionate or romantic.
One last thing that kept this from a solid 5 star rating was how long it took Bettina to realize that what she felt for Trehan was real romantic love and what she felt for Caspion was more sibling/friendship love. A little too long for my liking.
Other than those two things, this was fantastic.
I did get a kick of seeing a few pages with Ellie and Lothaire in the throne room. Ellie apparently doesn't sit on her own throne, but Lothaire makes a very comfortable seat. I always love seeing little snippets of my favorite couples and characters.
I can hardly wait for MacRieve and the next Dacians book.
Great story, once again Kresley Cole kicks butt.
Although this story does start a new series it's not much different than KC's IAD series. It deals with the same characters, the same worlds, it's just focused more on Dacia and Dacians than the IAD books are and will be. So if you love the IAD series this series is also a must read.
Bettina is the Princess of Abaddon and we meet her in a violent way. She's being beaten by Vrekeners, these are the same creatures that killed her mother a couple decades before. Luckily Bettina is summoned back to her kingdom before they can kill her, from then on she has fear of crowds and doesn't leave the kingdom (or her home really) alone. Bettina, both after and before that assault, was infatuated with Caspion, she clearly wants Caspion and she is willing to do anything to get him. He just doesn't want her. Not in the way she wants him too. However her godmother and Uncle have, with Bettina's permission have set up a tournament to win both Bettina's hand and her throne. It's a tournament to the death and whoever is left standing, no matter how hideous or awful they are, they get both Bettina and the crown.
Trehan the Prince of Shadows in Dacia: Realm of Blood and Mist, is a mostly even keel vampire, he's known for his calmness and not getting emotional about things. At least until he meets his Bride. Now when we first meet him he gets woken up from his sleep and feels like he needs to protect something. Even before he meets Bettina he feels something is wrong as she's being beaten. Although he feels this way he doesn't know what it is.
Fast-forward a few months later, Trehan is on the trail of Caspion, a demon and best friend of Bettina's, who had gotten into Dacia and left without permission, which is a big deal since no one, except Dacians are supposed to know about Dacia and where it is. In his quest to get Caspion he sees a light that Bettina had put up earlier to let Caspion know she waited for him and Trehan is drawn to that light, so much so that he abandons his quest for Caspion for the time being.
Trehan finds a drunk Bettina, realizes she's his Bride and finds her willingly giving him permission to touch her and even bed her. Only to find out before he has a chance to bed her that Bettina thinks it's Caspion. As the story continues Caspion enters and Trehan enters the tournament but Trehan is the only one that makes it clear he does it for her alone. Not to kill Caspion (although that would be a plus) and not for the kingdom, just her.
I loved Trehan, he was strong, sexy, and determined. When he stated that he entered the contest for her alone my heart melted. When
Spoiler
the heads of the Vrekeners that beat her rolled out of the sack during the "best present" test I was cheering, he did what Cas and her Uncle couldn't do.Bettina on the other hand annoyed me, not enough to hate her at all but enough where I liked her but didn't love her. The one main thing that kept me from really enjoying her character was that she was so hung up on Caspion. Everything was for Caspion, about Caspion, or something Caspion needed/wanted. Ugh. It would have been one thing if Caspion deserved that kind of devotion but he didn't. I couldn't stand his character but, I will give him some credit, he didn't tell Bettina that he loved her in a romantic sense. He was fairly up front about his feelings for her and they weren't passionate or romantic.
One last thing that kept this from a solid 5 star rating was how long it took Bettina to realize that what she felt for Trehan was real romantic love and what she felt for Caspion was more sibling/friendship love.
Spoiler
It was around 350 pages that she finally came around and woke up.Other than those two things, this was fantastic.
I did get a kick of seeing a few pages with Ellie and Lothaire in the throne room. Ellie apparently doesn't sit on her own throne, but Lothaire makes a very comfortable seat. I always love seeing little snippets of my favorite couples and characters.
I can hardly wait for MacRieve and the next Dacians book.