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veracruzzzzz's review
5.0
This book is little different from the other Immortals After Dark instalments.
For one, it doesn't involve a worldwide adventure (like Kaderin's Talisman Hie) or a multi-layered conflict (like Malkom's escape from Oblivion).
The writer substituted her usual scenery of epicness for... one of homeliness. The two main characters are basically house-bound, so we get a lot of domestic scenes.
Ms Cole's certified sexy-time scenes are somewhat rare, since the characters have to overcome a lot of obstacles to get their happy ending.
This romance almost distances itself from the fated bride/mate theme that runs throughout the series, since some much of the relationship build-up is, well, normal relationship-y things.
Also, we get to connect with the female character a lot more than with the male. First time I've had that feeling with the IAD books.
Gotta say, props for the continuity. This novel wraps-up real nicely with the other ones. We get a juicy preview for Cadeon and Holly's story, as well as front-row seat to Nix's overarching scheming.
Wouldn't recommend it as the best taste-sample of the Immortals After Dark series, but it's amazing nonetheless.
For one, it doesn't involve a worldwide adventure (like Kaderin's Talisman Hie) or a multi-layered conflict (like Malkom's escape from Oblivion).
The writer substituted her usual scenery of epicness for... one of homeliness. The two main characters are basically house-bound, so we get a lot of domestic scenes.
Ms Cole's certified sexy-time scenes are somewhat rare, since the characters have to overcome a lot of obstacles to get their happy ending.
This romance almost distances itself from the fated bride/mate theme that runs throughout the series, since some much of the relationship build-up is, well, normal relationship-y things.
Also, we get to connect with the female character a lot more than with the male. First time I've had that feeling with the IAD books.
Gotta say, props for the continuity. This novel wraps-up real nicely with the other ones. We get a juicy preview for Cadeon and Holly's story, as well as front-row seat to Nix's overarching scheming.
Wouldn't recommend it as the best taste-sample of the Immortals After Dark series, but it's amazing nonetheless.
bookishlee18's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cekisha's review against another edition
4.0
The book started in a hauntingly beautiful way: Nomi Laress, the ballerina who wants to live more than anything, and her wish comes true making her a ghost forced to live alone in a haunted mansion.
Then comes Conrad Wroth, the vampire who refuses to live the life he was given, so he turns to the bad side and goes mad by drinking blood from his victims.
They meet by fate and fall in love.
I was really interested to see how the author will solve the problem of Nomi being the ghost and their inability to touch. The same problem will appear in [b:Deep Kiss Of Winter|6294553|Deep Kiss Of Winter (Includes Immortals After Dark, #8; Alien Huntress, #4.5)|Kresley Cole|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388294481s/6294553.jpg|6478941] but author dealt with it better in this book.
So, the whole book was enjoyable and the clichd ending with her being turned (so easily) by Marieta into the immortal didn't bother me so much. What bothered me the most was Nomi's personality - she was too meek. I know that after centuries of being alone you become lonely, but you don't have to be pathetic too, right? It was a nice read after all.
Then comes Conrad Wroth, the vampire who refuses to live the life he was given, so he turns to the bad side and goes mad by drinking blood from his victims.
They meet by fate and fall in love.
I was really interested to see how the author will solve the problem of Nomi being the ghost and their inability to touch. The same problem will appear in [b:Deep Kiss Of Winter|6294553|Deep Kiss Of Winter (Includes Immortals After Dark, #8; Alien Huntress, #4.5)|Kresley Cole|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388294481s/6294553.jpg|6478941] but author dealt with it better in this book.
So, the whole book was enjoyable and the clichd ending with her being turned (so easily) by Marieta into the immortal didn't bother me so much. What bothered me the most was Nomi's personality - she was too meek. I know that after centuries of being alone you become lonely, but you don't have to be pathetic too, right? It was a nice read after all.
idratherbereading542's review against another edition
5.0
Read Count: 2
- Main Couple: Conrad (vampire) / Naomi (ghost/phantom)
- POVs Included: Dual (Conrad, Naomi)
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UPDATED REVIEW (2/6/2022):
UPDATED RATING (5 STARS -- SAME)
Still really like this one even though it's not one of my favorites from the series. Even so, it's still a solid 5 stars as are MOST of the books in this amazing paranormal romance series.
Kresley Cole just KNOWS what we want in a paranormal romance and she's an incredible writer with such talent for storytelling and plotting out an overarching story about the Ascension throughout the entire series. Love this series so much.
That being said, I think one of the things about this one that makes it (slightly less) fun than some of the others is that they are in the house for awhile rather than on an adventure (because of them both being trapped there). I prefer the adventure stories in the series. But this one was still really very good!
Overall another great love story from the series, still love it the second time around. :)
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ORIGINAL REVIEW (11/20/2010):
ORIGINAL RATING (5 STARS)
Just when I think I have these story lines all figured out, Kresley Cole throws something completely out of left field and the story evolves into something I didn't even see coming. She's awesome.
I LOVED this story, loved Conrad, loved Naomi, and I loved Conrad and Naomi! They're so adorable together and I was truly feeling the love throughout the whole book.
What I loved most about this story, I think, is that I truly thought I had the ending all cooked up in my mind, but the ending that did happen wasn't even on my radar. Also, I loved the fact that because Naomi was a ghost for awhile, Conrad and her had a lot of time to get to know each other. Before he thought she was his Bride, before they could even touch, they got to know each other. They fell in love, not through sex or being fated, but because of each other. It was beautiful and very different from the previous books.
The obstacles these two had to face - phew! If I thought some of the other stories in this series were seemingly impossible, I just felt so terrible for them sometimes. Poor Conrad just couldn't catch a break it seemed, but in the end it all worked out.
I was also very happy to see the Wroth brothers reunited with their long lost brother, Conrad. It was nice to have another story about one of them and it was nice to hear about them all together for a change. So far I like them all. Each of them are very different, but I love them all. I can't wait for Murdoch's story too.
So what's not to love - a sexy hardened vampire softened by his female, a very likable heroine, a believable romance mingled with hot love scenes, and a scenario that looks to be impossible to overcome but somehow they do. It's everything I look for in a paranormal romance. Next please!
- Main Couple: Conrad (vampire) / Naomi (ghost/phantom)
- POVs Included: Dual (Conrad, Naomi)
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UPDATED REVIEW (2/6/2022):
UPDATED RATING (5 STARS -- SAME)
Still really like this one even though it's not one of my favorites from the series. Even so, it's still a solid 5 stars as are MOST of the books in this amazing paranormal romance series.
Kresley Cole just KNOWS what we want in a paranormal romance and she's an incredible writer with such talent for storytelling and plotting out an overarching story about the Ascension throughout the entire series. Love this series so much.
That being said, I think one of the things about this one that makes it (slightly less) fun than some of the others is that they are in the house for awhile rather than on an adventure (because of them both being trapped there). I prefer the adventure stories in the series. But this one was still really very good!
Overall another great love story from the series, still love it the second time around. :)
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ORIGINAL REVIEW (11/20/2010):
ORIGINAL RATING (5 STARS)
Just when I think I have these story lines all figured out, Kresley Cole throws something completely out of left field and the story evolves into something I didn't even see coming. She's awesome.
I LOVED this story, loved Conrad, loved Naomi, and I loved Conrad and Naomi! They're so adorable together and I was truly feeling the love throughout the whole book.
What I loved most about this story, I think, is that I truly thought I had the ending all cooked up in my mind, but the ending that did happen wasn't even on my radar. Also, I loved the fact that because Naomi was a ghost for awhile, Conrad and her had a lot of time to get to know each other. Before he thought she was his Bride, before they could even touch, they got to know each other. They fell in love, not through sex or being fated, but because of each other. It was beautiful and very different from the previous books.
The obstacles these two had to face - phew! If I thought some of the other stories in this series were seemingly impossible, I just felt so terrible for them sometimes. Poor Conrad just couldn't catch a break it seemed, but in the end it all worked out.
I was also very happy to see the Wroth brothers reunited with their long lost brother, Conrad. It was nice to have another story about one of them and it was nice to hear about them all together for a change. So far I like them all. Each of them are very different, but I love them all. I can't wait for Murdoch's story too.
So what's not to love - a sexy hardened vampire softened by his female, a very likable heroine, a believable romance mingled with hot love scenes, and a scenario that looks to be impossible to overcome but somehow they do. It's everything I look for in a paranormal romance. Next please!
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this plot - a ghost haunting her beloved home, a vampire in need of recovery.
Very sexy.
Very sexy.
kblackmon's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
coconut77's review
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cclift1114's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this because of a review I saw that made this book seem quite ridiculous and unhinged. Given that, I didn’t expect much from this book, but I did actually end up enjoying it. It may be that I’ve just read too much “trashy”, smutty romance lately, but this just seemed to be par for the course for those kind of books. I actually thought the writing was better than a lot of books in this genre. I also thought the concept was unique and the story was fun. Do I feel the need to read the rest of the books in the series right this moment? Not necessarily, but I wouldn’t roll rule it out for some easy, fun reads in the future.