rclz's review
3.0
I read the Kresley Cole story quite awhile back and I don't read Sholwalter so the only story I read was the Larissa Ione Forsaken by Night. I usually love her stuff but this whole series has been a struggle. Just can't connect with the characters at all.
witandsin's review
4.0
My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2016/09/review-blood-red-kiss-by-kresley-cole.html
“The Warlord Wants Forever” (Immortals After Dark, Book 1) by Kresley Cole
Myst the Coveted is the most beautiful of all the Valkyries, the one her enemies have underestimated for centuries. Five years ago vampire warlord Nikolai Wroth made the mistake of doing the same and she left him in agony. Now he’s on the hunt to capture Myst and claim her. For she’s his Bride, and he won’t let the vicious woman who tempts him like no other get away from him again.
I fell in love with “The Warlord Wants Forever” a decade ago, and it remains a favorite of mine to this day! Myst and Wroth’s story is passionate, energetic, and captivating from start to finish. Not only is it the perfect introduction to Kresley Cole’s sizzling Immortals After Dark series, it’s an edgy, exciting paranormal romance all on its own. Myst and Wroth battle in bed and out and their chemistry is simply out of this world. Myst is sassy, fierce, and sometimes vulnerable, and it’s an appealing combination. Wroth is a hardened warrior who is her equal in every way, and he has his work cut out for him if he hopes to become the man – vampire – Myst deserves. Their romance is tumultuous and engaging and no matter how many times I read it, I fall in love all over again. Myst and Wroth are a dynamic pair and the world of the Loreans Ms. Cole has created is vibrant and wholly addictive.
Please note: This is a revised edition of “The Warlord Wants Forever,” but none of the changes to the story were substantive.
“Forsaken by Night” (MoonBound Clan Vampires, Book 2.5) by Larissa Ione
Vampire Lobo was exiled from the MoonBound Clan years ago for breaking the rules using his skinwalker abilities. He’s been a loner ever since, his only comfort being his wolf, Tehya, who he found twelve years ago. His not-quite-solitary existence is turned upside down when Tehya is injured. Lobo is willing to break every rule to save her, but what will he do when she transforms and the wolf he adores becomes a gorgeous, tempting vampire?
I can always count on Larissa Ione to deliver a unique story and “Forsaken by Night” definitely fits the bill. I absolutely adored this fantastic romance that has an unusual beginning. Watching Lobo and Tehya’s love go from platonic to romantic warmed my heart. Both of them have suffered and have been shaped by circumstance, but with each other they find love and acceptance. Their love story is one of risk and sacrifice, and when you add in the sizzling heat between the two vampires, a dash of humor, and the utterly fascinating world of Ms. Ione’s MoonBound Clan Vampires, and it’s easy to see why I found “Forsaken by Night” so appealing.
Readers new to the MoonBound Clan Vampires series can jump in with “Forsaken by Night” and not get lost. That being said, “Forsaken by Night” does contain spoilers for the first two books, Bound by Night and Chained by Night.
“Dark Swan” (Otherworld Assassin, Book 2.5) by Gena Showalter
Lilica was created and raised in a lab, and all that she has in life, all that she cares about, are her sisters. When she learns that Dallas Gutierrez, an Alien Investigation and Removal agent, is a threat to one of them, Lilica decides that she’ll stop him any way she can. Then something goes wrong – or incredibly right – and Lilica’s life is bonded to the tempting man who should be her enemy…
“Dark Swan” features two complex characters falling in love against their better judgment. Gena Showalter delivers an interesting pair in Lilica and Dallas. He’s an AIR agent who isn’t entirely human, and she’s a mix of numerous species with incredible abilities. Both of them have heartbreaking pasts and neither of them are quite what others believe them to be, so watching them come into their own was fantastic. Their bond is the catalyst for their change, but it also speeds up the process of them falling in love when all the odds are against them. It’s clear Dallas and Lilica are attracted to each other from the start, but throw in their sudden bonding and the sexual tension ratchets up a thousand percent. Add in some high stakes and tons of action with Lilica trying to save her sister and Dallas trying to save the world, and you have one exciting story.
“Dark Swan” is a novella from Ms. Showalter’s Otherworld Assassin series, but from my understanding Dallas is a supporting character who first appeared in her Alien Huntress series. Having not read either series, I can say you won’t feel lost jumping into “Dark Swan,” but at the same time it’s not as easy to become invested in the story when you aren’t really familiar with the world. There are also a couple of relationships outside the main romance that I felt I was missing out on the emotional impact because I wasn’t familiar with the characters. That being said, I did like the detail and was intrigued by what I saw in this story, so I’ll definitely go back to the beginning and start with Awaken Me Darkly, the first Alien Huntress book.
Blood Red Kiss features three passionate romances with wonderfully unique characters. Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, and Gena Showalter are all powerhouse authors and their talents are on clear display in this anthology. Whether you’re a fan of Mses. Cole, Ione, and Showalter or are simply looking to read some dark, seductive paranormal and otherworldly romances, Blood Red Kiss is sure to please.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
“The Warlord Wants Forever” (Immortals After Dark, Book 1) by Kresley Cole
Myst the Coveted is the most beautiful of all the Valkyries, the one her enemies have underestimated for centuries. Five years ago vampire warlord Nikolai Wroth made the mistake of doing the same and she left him in agony. Now he’s on the hunt to capture Myst and claim her. For she’s his Bride, and he won’t let the vicious woman who tempts him like no other get away from him again.
I fell in love with “The Warlord Wants Forever” a decade ago, and it remains a favorite of mine to this day! Myst and Wroth’s story is passionate, energetic, and captivating from start to finish. Not only is it the perfect introduction to Kresley Cole’s sizzling Immortals After Dark series, it’s an edgy, exciting paranormal romance all on its own. Myst and Wroth battle in bed and out and their chemistry is simply out of this world. Myst is sassy, fierce, and sometimes vulnerable, and it’s an appealing combination. Wroth is a hardened warrior who is her equal in every way, and he has his work cut out for him if he hopes to become the man – vampire – Myst deserves. Their romance is tumultuous and engaging and no matter how many times I read it, I fall in love all over again. Myst and Wroth are a dynamic pair and the world of the Loreans Ms. Cole has created is vibrant and wholly addictive.
Please note: This is a revised edition of “The Warlord Wants Forever,” but none of the changes to the story were substantive.
“Forsaken by Night” (MoonBound Clan Vampires, Book 2.5) by Larissa Ione
Vampire Lobo was exiled from the MoonBound Clan years ago for breaking the rules using his skinwalker abilities. He’s been a loner ever since, his only comfort being his wolf, Tehya, who he found twelve years ago. His not-quite-solitary existence is turned upside down when Tehya is injured. Lobo is willing to break every rule to save her, but what will he do when she transforms and the wolf he adores becomes a gorgeous, tempting vampire?
I can always count on Larissa Ione to deliver a unique story and “Forsaken by Night” definitely fits the bill. I absolutely adored this fantastic romance that has an unusual beginning. Watching Lobo and Tehya’s love go from platonic to romantic warmed my heart. Both of them have suffered and have been shaped by circumstance, but with each other they find love and acceptance. Their love story is one of risk and sacrifice, and when you add in the sizzling heat between the two vampires, a dash of humor, and the utterly fascinating world of Ms. Ione’s MoonBound Clan Vampires, and it’s easy to see why I found “Forsaken by Night” so appealing.
Readers new to the MoonBound Clan Vampires series can jump in with “Forsaken by Night” and not get lost. That being said, “Forsaken by Night” does contain spoilers for the first two books, Bound by Night and Chained by Night.
“Dark Swan” (Otherworld Assassin, Book 2.5) by Gena Showalter
Lilica was created and raised in a lab, and all that she has in life, all that she cares about, are her sisters. When she learns that Dallas Gutierrez, an Alien Investigation and Removal agent, is a threat to one of them, Lilica decides that she’ll stop him any way she can. Then something goes wrong – or incredibly right – and Lilica’s life is bonded to the tempting man who should be her enemy…
“Dark Swan” features two complex characters falling in love against their better judgment. Gena Showalter delivers an interesting pair in Lilica and Dallas. He’s an AIR agent who isn’t entirely human, and she’s a mix of numerous species with incredible abilities. Both of them have heartbreaking pasts and neither of them are quite what others believe them to be, so watching them come into their own was fantastic. Their bond is the catalyst for their change, but it also speeds up the process of them falling in love when all the odds are against them. It’s clear Dallas and Lilica are attracted to each other from the start, but throw in their sudden bonding and the sexual tension ratchets up a thousand percent. Add in some high stakes and tons of action with Lilica trying to save her sister and Dallas trying to save the world, and you have one exciting story.
“Dark Swan” is a novella from Ms. Showalter’s Otherworld Assassin series, but from my understanding Dallas is a supporting character who first appeared in her Alien Huntress series. Having not read either series, I can say you won’t feel lost jumping into “Dark Swan,” but at the same time it’s not as easy to become invested in the story when you aren’t really familiar with the world. There are also a couple of relationships outside the main romance that I felt I was missing out on the emotional impact because I wasn’t familiar with the characters. That being said, I did like the detail and was intrigued by what I saw in this story, so I’ll definitely go back to the beginning and start with Awaken Me Darkly, the first Alien Huntress book.
Blood Red Kiss features three passionate romances with wonderfully unique characters. Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, and Gena Showalter are all powerhouse authors and their talents are on clear display in this anthology. Whether you’re a fan of Mses. Cole, Ione, and Showalter or are simply looking to read some dark, seductive paranormal and otherworldly romances, Blood Red Kiss is sure to please.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
a_seductive_cactus's review
5.0
5 "magic belts make the best accessory to any outfit" stars
Updated version of Warlord Wants Forever- still an enjoyable novella years later and makes me want to reread the IAD series…
Updated version of Warlord Wants Forever- still an enjoyable novella years later and makes me want to reread the IAD series…
amandaventure's review
4.0
*** DISCMLAIMER: This is only my review of Dark Swan by Gena Showalter. ***
Dark Swan is a novella that starts pretty much directly after Dark Taste of Rapture ended. AIR is still on the trail of the Schon Queen. For anyone who’s been following the Alien Huntress series knows, Dallas has been a central figure and we’ve all been patiently waiting for his turn as lead hero. In Dark Swan he meets his heroine, Lilica, who just so happens to be one of the triplet sisters to the Schon Queen Trinity. (And no, that’s not a spoiler. It says so in the blurb!) Dallas wants to destroy the Schon virus by any means necessary, including destroying Trinity in the process. Lilica also wants to see the end of the Schon virus but will stop at nothing to save her sister from it. They must work together and along the way love happens of course.
Now that we’ve established the facts of Dark Swan let get into the nitty gritty.
Did I enjoy the story? Yes.
How did I feel about it being novella length? NOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I think that would be my only criticism for Dark Swan. It was just too damn short. There was a lot of new ground covered here and I just felt like there wasn’t enough breathing room. I wanted more. I wanted to delve deeper into the characters. We only got small glimpses into Dallas and Lilica’s pasts and I just wanted to keep digging. After finishing the story, I still get the sense that the characters are still a bit of a mystery to me. Can I guess and assume their feelings and reasoning? Yes, but it still feels a bit like conjecture. Basically, what I’m trying to get across is that I just wanted maybe another 100 pages to learn more.
I feel like the Alien Huntress/Otherworld Assassins series’ are the orphaned children of Gena Showalter’s works. So perhaps now that Jade has finally been introduced to John maybe there will finally be some traction going on John’s story and we can finally get the conclusion to the series!!! I WANT IT NOW!!!!!!! Come on Gena Showalter, don’t let a long-time fan down at the finish line! GIMME GIMMIE GIMME!
Last but not least, let’s mention the smut. To be honest, there really wasn’t a whole lot of it in Dark Swan. This could have been remedied in that extra 100 pages I mentioned this needed. There’s basically just one sex scene and a little bit of heavy petting. Considering what a Lothario Dallas is, I would think that he would be up for some more action. Just saying…
Dark Swan is a novella that starts pretty much directly after Dark Taste of Rapture ended. AIR is still on the trail of the Schon Queen. For anyone who’s been following the Alien Huntress series knows, Dallas has been a central figure and we’ve all been patiently waiting for his turn as lead hero. In Dark Swan he meets his heroine, Lilica, who just so happens to be one of the triplet sisters to the Schon Queen Trinity. (And no, that’s not a spoiler. It says so in the blurb!) Dallas wants to destroy the Schon virus by any means necessary, including destroying Trinity in the process. Lilica also wants to see the end of the Schon virus but will stop at nothing to save her sister from it. They must work together and along the way love happens of course.
Now that we’ve established the facts of Dark Swan let get into the nitty gritty.
Did I enjoy the story? Yes.
How did I feel about it being novella length? NOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I think that would be my only criticism for Dark Swan. It was just too damn short. There was a lot of new ground covered here and I just felt like there wasn’t enough breathing room. I wanted more. I wanted to delve deeper into the characters. We only got small glimpses into Dallas and Lilica’s pasts and I just wanted to keep digging. After finishing the story, I still get the sense that the characters are still a bit of a mystery to me. Can I guess and assume their feelings and reasoning? Yes, but it still feels a bit like conjecture. Basically, what I’m trying to get across is that I just wanted maybe another 100 pages to learn more.
I feel like the Alien Huntress/Otherworld Assassins series’ are the orphaned children of Gena Showalter’s works. So perhaps now that Jade has finally been introduced to John maybe there will finally be some traction going on John’s story and we can finally get the conclusion to the series!!! I WANT IT NOW!!!!!!! Come on Gena Showalter, don’t let a long-time fan down at the finish line! GIMME GIMMIE GIMME!
Last but not least, let’s mention the smut. To be honest, there really wasn’t a whole lot of it in Dark Swan. This could have been remedied in that extra 100 pages I mentioned this needed. There’s basically just one sex scene and a little bit of heavy petting. Considering what a Lothario Dallas is, I would think that he would be up for some more action. Just saying…
redhairedashreads's review
4.0
Kresley Cole’s “The Warlord Wants Forever" 4/5
Larissa Ione "Forsaken by Night” 5/5
Gena Showalter Dark Swan 4/5
Larissa Ione "Forsaken by Night” 5/5
Gena Showalter Dark Swan 4/5
mrskanellar's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
tayrod4594's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0