Buy: Kindle Ebook | Paperback | Audio
Review
FANTASTIC! I loved it!
4.5 stars
Book number 9 in the Immortals After Dark series is full of all of the action, humour, romance, and sexy times; and general paranormal badassery that I love about these books.
This time, it’s shifter Garreth MacRieve and Valkyrie, Lucia the Huntress. The timing of this book takes us way back to the beginning of the series, with Garreth stepping in for his missing brother as King of the lycae. He is in New Orleans when he sees Lucia for the first time and his instincts flare with the knowledge that she is his mate – the female that is made for him, and the one that he has waited centuries for.
Lucia is another sassy, smart-mouthed and utterly kickass Valkyrie. After a bad decision in her teen years left her dying, she made a deal with a goddess to save her life – in return she would become the greatest archer in the world, as long as she keep herself pure and away from any and all contact with men.
These two are a sensational match. From the first moment they are both clearly desperate for each other, and with Garreth determined to claim Lucia, and just as determined to stay away, it sets up an epic battle of wills. The chase goes on for years until the ever-fabulous Nix becomes involved, and Lucia finds herself on a mission in the Amazon to track down a weapon that will kill her greatest enemy, and Garreth just happens to be along for the ride.
“You’re my woman, Lousha. Damn you, I’ll never want another!”
Like other books in the series, Lucia and Garreth don’t have an easy time coming together, but the slow build is fantastic. Their relationship is full of anger, frustration, teasing, and mountains of pent-up-lust, and I loved watching them play off against each other. It’s humorously angsty and full of hotness as they get closer and closer, but not quite, and the tension builds fantastically.
With his harsh, beast like voice, he rasped, “Woman, you are everything to me!” He wrapped her hair around his fist, forcing her to meet his frenzied gaze. “Why can I no’ be that for you? Let me claim you for my own. Choose me this night.”
And intermingled with it all is the story of Lucia’s desperate, dangerous and exciting hunt for a mystical weapon that atone for her past and free her from everything that is holding her back from a life with Garreth.
I loved this book! It was a fantastic adventure from start to finish. I love Garreth’s relentless pursuit, I love that Lucia gave as much as she could while still holding onto herself, and I love that when they eventually took that final step, they were an absolutely kickass couple determined to fight for each other. And the romantic and action storylines build to a fantastic ending that had me desperate to see how it was all going to work out.
There’s a nice tie-in with other books in the series, particularly with Lachlain and Emma’s story, and a lead in to future books with Regin getting quite a bit of story time, and OMG, I love Lucia and Regin together! A little bit wild and absolutely hilarious, I adored their constant banter and teasing. So freaking funny!
“Screw you and the werewolf you rode in on!”
This series is so much fun! I love knowing that when start one of these books I’m in for a great time, and this one was no exception. With the audiobook again brilliantly narrated by Robert Petkoff, I was lost in the Kresley Cole’s paranormal world, and loved every moment of Garreth and Lucia’s story.
4.5 stars.
For full series info, see our Immortals After Dark series page.