Tag: Immortals After Dark

Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole Book Review

Book Review, Elaine Reads Romance, paranormal May 6, 2019February 22, 2019

Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole Review

Wicked Abyss (Immortals After Dark, #18)

Title: Wicked Abyss

Series: Immortals After Dark #18

Author: Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis: This fairy tale doesn’t end with a kiss… A spellbinding Immortals After Dark tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole!

The terrifying king of hell…

As a boy, Abyssian “Sian” Infernas had his heart shattered by a treacherous fey beauty who died before he could exact vengeance. Millennia later, a curse has transformed him into a demonic monster–just as she’s been reincarnated. Sian captures the delicate but bold female, forcing her back to hell.

Meets his match.

Princess Calliope “Lila” Barbot’s people have hated and feared Abyssian and his alliance of monsters for eons. When the beastly demon imprisons her in his mystical castle, vowing revenge for betrayals she can’t remember, Lila makes her own vow: to bring down the wicked beast for good.

Can two adversaries share one happily-ever-after?

As Calliope turns hell inside out, the all-powerful Sian finds himself defenseless against his feelings for her. In turn, Lila reluctantly responds to the beast’s cleverness and gruff vulnerability. But when truths from a far distant past are revealed, can their tenuous bond withstand ages of deceit, a curse, and a looming supernatural war?

Format: Audiobook

Pages/Hours: 13 hours

Ownership: Scribd

My Rating: ★★★★☆

Tags: Paranormal Romance, Demons, Fae

Themes: Beauty and the Beast, Enemies to Lovers

Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole — Instagram @elainehowlin_

Review: I really enjoyed it but it’s not going to be one of my favourites by Cole. I kind of wish I hadn’t listened to the audio and read the ebook instead.

I loved the nods to Disney and it being a Beauty and the Beast retelling without directly following that story.

Get the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis and book cover from Goodreads. Photos from my Instagram @elainehowlin_

Book Review April 8, 2019March 3, 2019

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole Review

A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, #2)

Title: A Hunger Like No Other

Series: Immortals After Dark #2

Author: Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis: In New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Kresley Cole’s sizzling series, a fierce werewolf and a bewitching vampire become unlikely soul mates whose passion will test the boundaries of life and death.

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. Emmaline Troy is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

Sheltered Emmaline finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents—until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae—and their notorious dark desires—ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

Format: ebook

Pages/Hours: 384 pages

Ownership: Own

My Rating: ★★★★☆

Themes: Beauty and the Beast

Review: 1st Read 2016:The beginning of the book was a bit strenuous. I hated Lachlain and Emma was annoying. He was way too pushy and possessive and she was super wimpish. They do get better throughout the book but I still think Lachlain is just a bit too possessive.
Emma grows into a formidable character, though. She learns to hold her own against all the controlling bullshit that gets thrown at her. Lachlain tries his best to reel in the alpha crap but I’m still not all that impressed with him.
Despite my misgivings about Lachlain, I was rooting for the two of them. The story was captivating, thrilling and sexy.
What I really love about this series, is the world Cole has created. The mythology of the Lore is fascinating. I’m really excited to find out more about the various creatures inhabiting it.

2nd Read 2019: I enjoyed this a lot more on my second read. The main characters annoyed me a lot less because I knew why they behaved the way they did and where their story was going.

Get the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis and book cover from Goodreads. Photos from my Instagram @elainehowlin_

Book Review September 20, 2018September 4, 2018

Shadow’s Seduction by Kresley Cole Review

Title: Shadow’s Seduction

Author: Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Immortals After Dark #17 / The Dacians #2

Goodreads Rating: 3.91/5

Goodreads Link

Synopsis: In this scorching Immortals After Dark/Dacian novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole brings together a wicked vampire prince used to getting everything he desires and a demon warrior who always felt like an outcast.

A night of debauchery . . .
Prince Mirceo Daciano and his new friend, Caspion the Tracker, comb the streets of Dacia, drunkenly seeking out pleasures of the flesh. In what should have been a typical night, they coax a bevy of nymphs to bed. To impress their females, the demon and the vampire kiss on a dare.

Changes them forever . . .
Once they finally break away from their soul-searing kiss, they find themselves alone—and shaken. Had they imagined their explosive chemistry? Obstacles—ranging from a death sentence to exile in a war-torn dimension—threaten to destroy their lives . . . and the vulnerable promise in that one kiss.

How long can they resist the fire that blazes between them?
Even if Mirceo can accept Caspion as his fated mate, the seductive vampire still must convince the stubborn demon that their bond is forever. And any royal Dacian union must receive the blessing of King Lothaire, an unpredictable and savage killer…

Shadow's Seduction by Kresley Cole Elaine Howlin Literary Blog — Instagram @elainehowlin_

What I thought about the book:

This one was a bit different to previous books in the series. It’s Cole’s first M/M romance and it was just as swoon-worthy as all the others.

I’m not as into the Dacian’s as the other supernatural groups in the world. I miss the Valkyries and not even Nix showed up in this one which disappointed me but overall this is a great paranormal romance.

It’s typical Kresley Cole style with sexy banter and alpha males but with double the impact. Unusually for books in this series, there is a cliffhanger but we still get a HEA. I’m hoping the conclusion to this cliffhanger (which is due out in 2020) will tie into a previous one. Since she rarely writes cliffhangers I’m wondering if they’re connected.

“You’re under my skin, Mirceo. When we parted, you took my heart with you. Go easy with it, okay?”

“I’ll protect it forever, just as you’ll protect mine.”
― Kresley Cole, Shadow’s Seduction

My Rating:

Get the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Google | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Synopsis from Goodreads. Photos from my Instagram @elainehowlin_

Book Review April 6, 2017April 5, 2017

Kiss of a Demon King – Kresley Cole

Title: Kiss of a Demon King

Author: Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Immortals After Dark #7

Goodreads Rating: 4.35/5

Goodreads Link

Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this spellbinding story of a demon king trapped by an enchantress for her wanton purposes — and the scorching aftermath that follows when he turns the tables and claims her as his captive.

HIS OBSESSION…
Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions: the evil beauty who surrenders her body, but not her heart.

HER DOWNFALL…
Rydstrom Woede: the ruthless warrior who vows to keep her at all costs.

THEY WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO WANT EACH OTHER THIS MUCH…
With each smouldering encounter, their shared hunger only increases. If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice for her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to save his sorceress?

✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯

What I thought about the book: Great addition to the series though I didn’t enjoy it as much as previous books. It was very similar to Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night (Rydstrom even mentions it in the book) but not as good. I found the ending a little anticlimactic but overall it was a fun read.

✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯ ✯

My Rating:

Book Review September 17, 2016September 15, 2016

Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night – Kresley Cole

Title: Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night

Author: Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Immortals After Dark #4

Goodreads Rating: 4.38/5

Goodreads Link

Why I read this: I love Kresley Cole!!!

Synopsis:

This seductive paranormal series continues with a brutal Highland werewolf and an exquisite young witch, adversaries with a blood vendetta between them.

Her breathless kiss haunts him…

Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed—until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

His slow, hot touch is irresistible…

Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It’s rumored that no one can tempt Bowen’s hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

No deed is too wicked for her seduction…

If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul—or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

What I thought about the book:

Oh my gosh, I loved this!!! Favourite book in the series so far (I think I said that about No Rest for the Wicked as well…) Mari and Bowen are just amazing, the subplots are amazing, the whole thing is just amazing!

I think I might drop everything and just read all of Kresley Cole’s books (reading the Captain of All Pleasures now). To hell with laundry, I have immortals and captains to visit!

Favourite Character: Mari

My Rating: