Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Book CoverC2’s review of Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark Series, Book 9) by Kresley Cole|
Paranormal Romance published by Pocket 15 Feb 11

As far as the timeline of Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series goes, her latest release, Dreams of a Dark Warrior (which will from here on be abbreviated), shares some time with her previous book Demon from the Dark. DoaDW starts before and ends after Demon from the Dark, but we get glimpses of the main characters and hints of that plot as things overlap. This is a series that definitely builds on itself, so it should be read in order, says me.

We begin with a curse – Regin the Radiant and Aidan the Fierce were lovers, but fate tore them apart. Aidan is doomed to be reborn, find Regin, fall in love and remember their past together just before he again dies in her arms. Again and again and again.

Regin is a Valkyrie known for her fighting skills and her pranks. She is an immortal daughter of Odin. Aidan was a Berserker – mortal but with special fighting abilities. Just before he died the first time, Aidan vowed to win enough battles in Odin’s name so he would be gifted with immortality so they could be together forever. That didn’t work out so well for him.

When Regin again senses that Aidan may be nearby, she decides to stay away this time – watching him die is too hard and maybe if she stays away, he will get to live a long, happy life. Fate steps in again – this time around Aidan is Declan Chase, a Magister for a group called The Order (and the winner for most creative organizational name goes to….). The Order is dedicated to eliminating all immortals and they aren’t a squeamish bunch, if you know what I mean.

Chase and his henchmen snag Regin after a battle goes wrong and carry her off to a super-secret island where all sorts of immortals are being held. The Order is experimenting on them to find weaknesses and ways to defeat (exterminate) more immortals. Just before the drugs knock her out, Regin realizes that Chase is actually Aidan.

After Regin wakes up in a cell surrounded by other immortal prisoners, she re-thinks her let-Aidan-live-this-time plan. She decides that the best plan of action is for her to make Chase remember their past as quickly as possible, since he always dies right after remembering. So when Chase interrogates her to find out all he can about the Valkyries, she tells him about her life – with him. Even though he doesn’t remember yet, Chase is intrigued and attracted to her. For the first time in his adult life, being physically attracted to a woman doesn’t make him nauseous.

Regin and Chase continue their dance, neither wanting to admit that it is becoming more than a way to get information about an enemy. Chase begins to dream about his previous lives but attributes it to Regin’s storytelling abilities…or maybe an enchantment. He still doesn’t trust her or any immortal. But before he can regain his memory – like within inches of regaining his memory – his boss arrives and has Regin dragged back to her cell.

The plot really starts cranking along at that point – drugs, torture (not for the faint of heart), treachery of all sorts. The arrival of a very powerful immortal brings down the walls of the prison, but a failsafe in the island’s security protocol means the entire island will be destroyed in a few days. Regin and her friends have to ally themselves with some unsavory types to get off the island in time, including Lothaire, the Enemy of Old (a very intriguing character and the bad Immortals Nix equivalent, apparently). Will they escape before the island blows?? You know the drill, faithful reader. Read the book!

This is a very good entry in the IAD series (gruesome torture aside). A bit darker in tone – hello, set in a prison – it expands the IAD world even more. Until now, humans haven’t had much going on in the coming/happening Accession, but The Order is something to be reckoned with and they have connections on the inside of the Lore…that can’t be good. But Dreams of a Dark Warrior is.

CSquareds IconGrade: B+

Summary:

HE VOWED HE’D COME FOR HER . . .

Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives.

SHE AWAITS HIS RETURN . . .

When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals—unaware that he belongs to their world.

TO SATE A DESIRE MORE POWERFUL THAN DEATH . . .

Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan’s torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover

Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover

Book Cover Book Cover