Limecello’s review of No Rest for the Wicked (Immortals After Dark, Book 2) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket Star Books 31 Oct 06
This is the second book of the Immortals After Dark series, and I enjoyed it. After reading the first, I was wondering how Ms. Cole would go from vampires being the ultimate enemy, to making one her hero. It works.
Kaderin the Cold Hearted was cursed, or blessed – it all depends on one’s perspective -to feel no emotions after she watched her sisters die. She’s sent to kill a vampire, something she’d do for free, but finds that she can’t end him. Sebastian Wroth is the vampire, and it turns out that Kaderin is his Bride – his fated mate, that will bring Sebastian back to life. His heart starts beating again, and he’s got purpose.
It just so happens that the Talisman’s Hie is just about to begin – an immortal’s “Amazing Race,” with a fabulous prize. Kaderin has also won it for the past millennium, which is still impressive even though it takes place only every 250 years.
Kaderin has more reason than most to hate vampires, and Sebastian has never had much luck wooing the ladies. As a human giant, well over 6 feet tall in the 1600s, and a warlord with three brothers, he had little time for dalliance between fighting the Russians. Now, however, he’s determined to win his Bride. Sebastian in fact, joins the Talisman’s Hie, the first vampire to do so, as a way of courting Kaderin. No, he doesn’t think one shouldn’t directly compete and take away what your girl wants as a way to win her. Of course, all these supernatural creatures are different from humans. He has a really cute pet name for her too – Katja.
This is basically how the book goes – Kaderin hasn’t felt emotions in 2,000 years, and Sebastian has finally found his Bride. To say they’re both emotionally stunted would be an understatement. They work on their feelings while completing the tasks Riora, the goddess of impossibilities, sets them on. Very clever, using one thing to set off the other.
I liked this book, but my favorite character actually wasn’t the hero or the heroine – it was Bowen MacRieve, and I felt so bad for him. There were some uncertainties in the end, but it ended happily.
Grade: B-
Summary:
A vampire soldier weary of life… Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire-a nightmare in his mind-against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.
A valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him… When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow-accidentally extinguishing al of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings-particularly lust-emerge multiplied. For the first time, she’s unable to complete a kill.
Competitors in a legendary hunt… The course will take them through ancient tombs and catacombs, seeking relics around the world, and the prize for victory is powerful enough for Kaderin to change history and prevent her sisters’ deaths. Sebastian competes as well, and begins winning-her. But when forced to choose between Sebastian and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?
Read an excerpt here.
Other books in this series:
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 Read Sandy‘s review. |
 Read Limecello’s and Gwen’s review. |
Coming next:
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Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, Book 5) , coming 20 May 08! |
I just finished Dark Needs and loved it . . . now I need to read the earlier books.
Ooo that’s exciting, Liviania – the first one is my favorite!
Oh also – you’re a frequenter at the pond, (thanks!) do you have a website or anything/would you like to be included in our reader links? 🙂
p.s. – some higher duckie – my review for Dark Needs needs a link.
I liked this one but not as much as A Hunger and Wicked Deeds. And like you, Bowen stood out for me the most, I felt horrible for him by the end.
Brie – exactly! I can’t remember the order of my posts now :X – but AHLNO was my favorite, and then I like Bowen’s story a lot – and Dark Needs is good too. But this one? I mean, it was good, but – not as good as the others! 🙂
In this book, I pretty much found myself worrying about Bowen more than Sebastian and Kaderin.
I do have a website:
http://inbedwithbooks.blogspot.com.
Dangit, I didn’t get to the bookstore yesterday. But I’m going today . . . after the museum. ^_^
Yup, same thing here. But Wicked Deeds paid off for me. I love that his heroine woke him up to the current day.
And I am DYING for the 20th! WHINE! I wanna know what happens when you lick Cade’s horns, dammit!
Dee
Dee, I KNOW! AHHHH. I’m scrambling to find a copy! I just know I’m going to love Cade and reading his story 😀
My Borders already has Cade’s story on the shelves. But I didn’t buy it because I spent quite a bit of money on books today.
*GASP* Liviania, you mean the new one?! [And I know what you mean about spending too much – I just paid off some student loans today, and sadly the amount was pretty much equal to what I made in 2007] 😛 Joy.
Liviania–I say this, riddled with jealousy as my stores won’t stock til it’s legal…
You suck. LOL! I’d like like to my husband for the book. Totally.
Two more days!
Dee
Haha, I love my local stores. Books are usually on the shelf at least the Sunday before they officially come out. But yeah, I spent a little over thirty dollars this weekend on books. I’ll buy the new one Thursday or Friday. (I’m about to finish the third, so it wouldn’t have done me any good to buy it early since I wouldn’t be ready to read it ’til the release date.)
Ooo the first and the third were my “favorites” – so it only goes to follow the 5th will also make it to the top of my list – I keep looking for Dark Needs at Night’s Edge but haven’t seen it yet *pout*
tisk tisk tisk
bad bookstore no cookie for it… those are sells that don’t get counted toward the lists for the authors…
I don’t blame the readers (being one myself) but uh don’t fucking temp us if we aren’t suppose to buy it. See? all the blame is belonging to them
sez me
lime my dear I may have a copy for you to review because the person who was suppose to review seems to have gone MIA… but what title are we talking about again?
Lime–I got it! I got it!!! For a second there, I thought they were going to disappoint me, but I dug it out! Wheeee!
Off to read!
Dee
Sybil – LOL, no. I don’t remember off the top of my head. You threw like 30 random titles out there, and you’re as random as I am! I begin to understand how people get so confused when they talk to me 😛
Dee- WHEE! I’m so jealous! And good for you! You got it on the release date so it counts! [Which I didn’t know about before.] – I do wonder how they count presales?
Huh. Dark Needs and Dark Desires were both double-shelved at all the bookstores I went to (both in the romance section and with the new paperbacks).
I’ve wondered about how they count presales myself, since I often buy that way. I’m impatient.
I consider “Dark Needs” a new release – or relatively, I mean it only came out a month ago! I haven’t seen Dark Desires yet – but I don’t get to make it out to bookstores much.
I’m big on the presales- b/c I know I’ll get the book as soon as it’s available. Yay.
I finished it. Now my question is…when the HELL is Rydstrom’s book coming out? As for licking Cade… Happy sigh. 🙂
Off to haunt Kressley Cole’s website.
Dee – jeaalousssssssssss. Ahhh. That’s it. I refuse to think about Cade and his horns. Refuse.
LOL, that’s okay. There’s plenty of other…yummy…deliciously described parts to think about.
Hee hee!
Dee
LOL mean Dee. I don’t have the book yet. I shall pretend it doesn’t exist until I do 😛