Devon’s Review of Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark, Book 5) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance released by Pocket 20 May 08

With last month’s release of Dark Needs at Night’s Edge, Kresley Cole went from a pretty good author of paranormals, to a must read-OMG-when’s the next book-gimme now (here’s my review). Luckily, the wait wasn’t too long, and a matter of weeks later I had Dark Desires After Dusk in my hot little hands. And it has only cemented my newfound worship. The two books are very different in tone and character, but equally sexy, romantic and engrossing. You have been forewarned: this is going to be a gushing, fangirly review.

Both the hero and heroine could have been annoying, but Cole made them unusual, surprising, and likeable. Cadeon Woede is rage demon mercenary. Tough, cocky and confident. But he’s not a standard issue overbearing supernatural Alpha type. He just is who he is, I guess. Earthy is an apt adjective. He’s blunt, bawdy and occasionally rude, but very endearing. He recognized Holly as his one true mate a year ago, and has spent a lot of time learning everything about her. Or stalking her, if you want to call it that. He is completely fascinated by Holly, and although he wants to shake her up, and wants in her bed, Cade is also very accepting of her quirks. And she’s got a lot of them.

Holly starts off as the prototypical uptight heroine: sweater set, glasses, pearls, brilliant, math geek. She suffers from OCD, and indulges in a number of rituals to keep her anxiety at bay. But these aren’t just character quirks to be shed as soon as she gets laid. Holly has developed her rituals and routines to keep certain parts of her nature under control. Holly (and the reader) comes to understand that those frightening desires are perfectly normal for someone who is half-Valkyrie/Fury. But her need to control herself and her surroundings seems understandable rather than annoying as she is thrown into the violent, chaotic world of the Lore. Even though Holly comes to accept her sexuality and her warrior side, she doesn’t change drastically. I also appreciated her confidence, surprising in someone who has so many issues.

Did I mention this book was hot? There was some great “opposites attract” chemistry here. I loved each of them, and I loved the two of them together. The scenes where Cade encourages Holly to explore him were smokin’. I shouldn’t admit this, but the night I started reading this book, I was getting sleepy, but I didn’t want to stop. So I skipped around to read some of what I called “the good parts” back in high school. And read some of them multiple times. Okay, I’m a perv, but it was hot! The mate thing is beyond tired, but Kresley Cole always makes it work by showing us how the characters get to know and love each other. It’s not an instant thing.

The conflicts and plot kept my interest. There were a lot of interesting conflicts here: Holly’s struggle with herself, as well as whether she can give up her ordered existence as a human, Cade’s struggle between helping to re-gain his brother’s crown, and claiming his mate. There is not as much interaction with the larger world of the Lore. But their appearances kept the action moving and provided some humor. Cade’s brother Rydstrom makes a couple of appearances (whetting my appetite for his book). I’m curious about Rok, the smoke demon. There was a great scene set in a Lore bar. Nix and the Valkyries showed up just enough for me to enjoy, without getting on my nerves.

In short, Dark Desires After Dusk was pitch perfect. It hit all the right notes for me. I loved the hero and heroine, the romance was sweet and passionate, the action and emotion were compelling. I devoured it, and I had a hard time starting another book, because it would mean leaving Cade and Holly behind. That rarely happens. I’ll keep it on my night table, so that they will be nearby. Now I have to wait. Sob!

Grade: A

Read Livania’s review.

The Summary:

A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist…

Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny…

Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.

Surrender to dark desires…

Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs — and claim his heart?

Click on the Immortals After Dark series tag for more excerpts, more reviews, and more everything on this series.