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Review: Shadow’s Seduction

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Review: Shadow’s SeductionShadow's Seduction (Immortals After Dark, #17; The Dacians, #2) by Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark #17, Dacians #2
Published by Valkyrie Press on February 28th 2017
Genres: Paranormal
Pages: 248
Goodreads
four-half-stars

FINAL DECISION:  I loved this book which is funny, angsty in the Immortals After Dark fashion, and so intensely focused on the couple that I could forget that this is part of a series.  Loved these two and their path to their HEA.

THE STORY:  Prince Mirceo Daciano, a vampire from the semi-mythical Dacia, meets Caspion the Tracker, a demon.  Mirceo wants to be more than friends with the demon, but instead settles for friendship until the two are dared to kiss by the three nymphs they had brought to their bed.  The kiss opens up a whole new problem for the two.  Caspion is determined to deny their attraction — especially because he knows what a fickle creature Mirceo is.  The possibility that the two are fated mates thrills Mirceo but he has to convince Caspion to give him a chance.

OPINION:  The romance between Caspion and Mirceo takes so many twists and turns and has as much drama as I expect from an Immortals After Dark book.

Mirceo starts the book looking to score with Caspion. He is charming and funny and irreverent.  He drives Caspion crazy with his determination, his humor and his willingness to do anything to prove the two belong together.  Mirceo, however, has his own troubles that he hides under his charming facade.

Caspion is darker and more troubled on the surface than Mirceo.  As he begins the book, he is entirely resistant to the possibility of having a sexual relationship with Mirceo insisting that he is only interested in females — even though he is attracted to Mirceo from the beginning.

These two begin with friendship that bonds them (even though Mirceo wants more) and the two begin with very sexy encounters that draw them both into more emotional and deeper connections than either expects.  This is the story of confounding expectations.  The two are truly more together — both as friends and partners — than either expects.

I especially liked the intense focus on the relationship between these two.  There is a nice dynamic of Mirceo being so open and insistent and Caspion being so resistant.  When the two finally reach and accord, it really feels that the two have journeyed together, arguing and debating and considering.

I would have given this book 5 stars, but I thought the resolution of the story was a little rushed at the end.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This is a m/m romance.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  SHADOW’S SEDUCTION is the seventeenth book in the Immortals After Dark series and the second book in the sub-series The Dacians.  This book is closest to a standalone as you will find in this series.  It is completely possible to enjoy this book without reading other books or you can read the first in the Dacians SHADOW’S CLAIM.  Of course, readers of the Immortals After Dark series

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4.5 stars.

four-half-stars

Review: Shadow’s Claim

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Review: Shadow’s ClaimShadow's Claim (Immortals After Dark, #12; The Dacians, #1) by Kresley Cole
Published by Pocket Books on November 27, 2012
Genres: Paranormal
Pages: 481
Goodreads
four-stars

Wow, Trehan is Adorable, Sexy and a Warrior

FINAL DECISION: Loved this story even if Bettina was a bit dense about her relationship with Cas. I absolutely loved Trehan who might be one of my favorite Immortal heroes.

THE STORY: The Dacians are ancient vampires who do not drink blood from the flesh. The realm is hidden from the rest of the Lore in mist but internal war and strife has diminished the five houses that make up Dacia. Trehan Daciano is known as the Prince of Shadows, he is an assassin for the Daci tasked with hunting down those who break the rules of Dacia. Trehan’s job takes him to Abaddon hunting after a demon Caspian who came to and left Dacia which is forbidden. Trehan ends up meeting Princess Bettina, a half demon/half sorceress who is a master goldsmith who creates weapons. She has been in love with Caspian for years but now she is determined to win him. Bettina has agreed to marry whatever male wins a tournament to the death. Trehan senses Bettina one night and discovers that she is his Bride. Trehan has to make a choice: his Bride or Dacia. Then he also has to win her heart.

OPINION: Oh, I adored Trehan. Brooding, a scholar, talented assassin and warrior. Smart, gentle, sweet and yet no pushover, Trehan is one of my favorite heroes from the Immortals series. He certainly has much more patience with Bettina than I would have. She spends far too long protecting her supposed love for Cas. For me, that is the negative of the book — the triangle goes on just a bit too long.

This has one of the best courtships. Trehan is so wonderful to Bettina (with a Lore twist). He is so controlled that it is especially gratifying to see him snap.

For fans of IAD there is something about Lothaire giving romantic advice which shouldn’t be missed.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book is written as the beginning of a spinoff series about the Dacians. Unfortunately, there has been little information about when or if this spinoff series is continuing. I hope it does because it is set up to be of great dramatic scope.

CONNECTED BOOKS: SHADOWS CLAIM is book 13 of the Immortals After Dark series and is a spinoff dealing with the Dacians first introduced in LOTHAIRE. This book can be read apart from the Immortals After Dark series but I recommend reading LOTHAIRE because they are connected.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars