DNF at 34% - Kaderin is an annoying worthless main female character and Sebastian is a freaking doormat. I can’t tolerate the rest of this book of these two characters going on the stupidest treasure hunt.

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley for the arc in exchange for my review.

I picked this up not realizing I read this years and years before (multiple times) due to the new artwork. Still holds up. The artwork for the cover is stunning and surprisingly different, especially considering we're in the age that all new romances are cartoon drawings and all look exactly the same. - For some reason I though this was going to be Nix's story.

I recommend this entire series, although as the books go on, they gain more details that are more on the boring side but tie into the rest of the overall plot of the series.

After book one blew me away, I was wondering what Kresley Cole could possibly do to be on par with book one. But she absolutely nailed it. I love that this book had a much different set of circumstances, while still keeping the same vibes. I adored Sebastian and the way he supported Kaderin through her quest. I'm such a sucker for he falls first/falls harder. Also, the spice in this one is top tier! So delectable! I was worried I would struggle to relate to Kaderin, but I was rooting for her all the way. I won't spoil the ending, but I will just say I was happy with how it turned out. It could've been a lot, but I really love how the Valkyries really are a sisterhood. Overall, an amazing romance and I am dying for book three!

While I like the cover of the book and a couple of the characters I did not end up enjoying this book as a whole. I liked Sebastian as a love interest up until one scene that ruined his character for me. However, I enjoyed Nikolai, Myst, and Regin’s characters a lot. I could not stand Kaderin at all, her I’m over 1,000 years old and better than you personality got old very quick. She didn’t seem to care about anyone, but herself or the two sisters she lost despite having multiple others. I really thought I would enjoy the Hie as I have enjoyed other books with trials, but it fell a bit flat for me. The modernization of the book felt odd to me as well it didn’t seem as though it meshed well with the fantasy aspect of the book.

It's such a joy getting to jump into an established series! I did not know about Kresley Cole when I started my PNR journey in the early 2000's, but I'm glad I'm getting the chance to catch up.

This is book 2 in the IAD series, and you can see the writing is hitting its stride. The world of the Lore is established, we've met the major players, and the timeline is moving forward. You do need to read these in order to get the most of it. The Warlord Wants Forever and A Hunger Like No Other are essential to understanding the conflict between these two characters.

Speaking of, this story is about Kaderin and Sebastian. Kaderin is on of the Valkyrie, connected to Myst and Emma, and Sebastian is a vampire, the brother of Nikolai. Kaderin has been without feelings since the death of her sisters, thousands of years ago. Because of her cold nature, she's not well liked among her sisters, but is a formidable opponent in the Hie, the Lore's version of the Amazing Race. She spends her free time killing as many vampires as she can. When a small Russian town asks her to kill the vampire who lives up the hill, he's not terrorizing anyone he just lives there, she heads to the castle without a second thought. Though when she meets Sebastian, who has been living a half life since being forced to turn by his brother, she is shocked when he offers him her throat. That is until this heart starts to beat. Yup, she Blooded him. She's his Bride. This awakens her own feelings and she goes running.

The rest of their story takes place during the Hie. Kaderin enters as she has every time, and Sebastian follows her into the fray. It makes for some very exciting moments of working together and building trust. Kresley Cole can write action really well. The contest takes these two around the world, and in contact with more beings in the Lore. So your understanding of the world grows.

Here's where I struggled: This is now book 3 where the MMC falls hard, falls fast, and calls their relationship fated. (The vampires with their Brides, the Lykae with their mates.) All three FMCs are full or part Valkyrie, and they don't seem to feel this pull. It's meant that no doesn't seem to mean no. The MMCs don't back down, and the FMCs are basically held hostage (sometimes literally) by these feral men. Boundaries get crossed left and right, and the FMCs forgive them in the end. I love a fated mates trope, but it only works for me if BOTH people feel the same pull. We don't get that from the FMCs, or it's substantially diminished compared to the MMCs.

Did that make me dislike the book? No. Actually, because this is the third story where this happens, I now accept it as the process. It makes me like the three books more. If it were a one off, it would be kind of creepy, but because it seems to be the way of it, I can work to suspend my disbelief.

Kaderin is a badass FMC. Sebastian has to learn that just because she looks small and dainty doesn't mean she needs protecting. She's a strong and capable fighter. We see her success in the Hie. She's renowned by the Lore. It's one of my favorite parts of having these Valkyries as FMCs, the lack of a damsel in distress.

I'm so happy that this series is getting rereleased. As an old school PNR fan, I'm thrilled to get an established series to sink my teeth into.

DNF @5%.
I tried but this is just not for me. I liked the start but the insta-love/lust killed it for me.

Thank you Netgalley/Gallery Books for the ARC.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did not buy this book, I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for a review.

DNF at 31% and gave it 2.5 stars, rounded up here. It’s not Kresley Cole though, it’s me.

I requested this book because I heard great things about Cole, and about Immortals After Dark. I went into this book 100% blind, and didn’t even realize it wasn’t the first in the series until I started reading it. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t click with me. The elements were all there - I loved a closed off character who learns to feel again (literally, in Kaderin’s case), but it just didn’t work for me. I feel like I might actually enjoy the concept of the Hie, but the execution (explaining to the readers in multiple instances that this is the magical equivalent of the Amazing Race, as if a goddess has nothing better to do than watch mortal reality TV) just didn’t work for me. The author really wants you to know that Kaderin is a badass, and makes sure that every character including Kaderin herself tells you that, without ever showing you proof for the first 12 chapters. And, just to be extra nit-picky - EVERYONE had a title/nickname. It was too much.

BUT! I refuse to write Kresley Cole off just yet. You don’t write this many books and have this many fans if you aren’t any good, and the potential is there. Underneath all my nitpicks, there are great elements - great character archetypes, and interesting plot, decent world building, and my personal favorite - an extended cast of zany side characters with I’m assuming their own character arcs. Which is why I am giving this book 3 stars despite the DNF. Because my nitpicks aren’t yours, and just because I didn’t enjoy this book doesn’t meant mean it was actually objectively bad. It just didn’t hit my buttons. I have a feeling that if I read the later books in the series, where Cole (hopefully!) grew as a writer, I’d like them a lot more, and so I’m gonna try to do that next.

Things I Loved: The prologue (vampire turned against his will, setting up up a great inner conflict), the concept of the Hie, the concept of a character named Kaderin the Coldhearted struggling with having to feel emotions again

Things I Didn’t: The execution of all of the above. But again, that’s a personal preference, not an objective statement of fact that the book is no good. I bet lots of people would enjoy it, those people are just not me.

Recommended for: People who like urban fantasy a la Toby Daye or Mercy Thompson. People who like reality TV/The Amazing Race. Fans of the fated mate trope, enemies to lovers trope, insta-love (or at least insta-lust). People who like noble vamps, everything but the kitchen sink fantasy worlds

“No Rest for the Wicked,” by Kelsey Cole

I couldn’t really get into this story. I got it because of the new cover I saw but I did not see the original cover, I wouldn’t have tried to read the book if I saw the original because it fits more with the type of book it is. It’s a adult fantasy romance detective book with supernatural creatures, that isn’t really my type of thing unless it has more of the popular tropes and vibes right now. 2 out of 5 stars.

-Vampires
-Valkyries
-Detective

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

For a book written in 2006 this book is... nearly exactly what I expected of it. It had some funny moments, but there were others where I had to remind myself, this book is not modern, it is just getting a cover revamp, it is not being rewritten to match modern times. That said, there were some things I just had to ignore like women being called "females" instead of just.. women. I really couldn't ignore the way that Sebastian kept trying to get Kaderin to have sex with him, love him, etc, and how in the end she asked straight up if he loved her and he said, nah you're just my bride, so it was a little hard for me to believe they could just magically be in love a short time later, but I digress.

The end was a bit off the mark for me anyways, with how easily their problems were solved. I've never been the hugest fan of the "Oh no, we can't possibly solve all our problems" "But wait! I've magically come up with a solution!" trope, so that's on me, really, but it doesn't help it was employed in this book. Either way, though, I really liked the idea and the plot, and while I expected a bit less "Jeff Probst" and other weirdisms and a bit more of actual fantasy for the way most of the book was written in its prose, I did enjoy it a good bit. There were some funny parts, and I enjoyed the sensitive nature of Sebastian and felt for the way he was living, especially against his will, and how that dilemma played into his characterization and person. Wasn't a big fan of the way that Kaderin was able to win The Hie for ages until two men joined the fray and then suddenly she needed help from Sebastian, whose lust she used as her advantage to get him to help her, and that it was apparently the men's fault for joining the race that she couldn't get through it.

All in all, not the worst book I've ever read. There are definitely things I would personally love to see done differently, but again, I must remind myself, this book is indeed from 2006 originally. It's a lot different from the fantasy books I'm used to.

4 stars just because i loved a hunger like no other so much that i don't think anything will compare. still a very good book.

if you liked a hunger like no other, you will like no rest for the wicked. if you didn't like a hunger like no other, well...

sebastian is a cutie-pie, clueless about women, and so damn earnest i want to just eat him up. kaderin was interesting in earlier books as kaderin the coldhearted, so i was interested in the direction her story would take. i found her growing into her emotions because of him to be very sweet. she could still be cruel, especially to him, but they were just growing pains. their story was deliciously toxic at times but ultimately vey sweet.

i didn't think i'd like the plot surrounding the hie, the goddess-held competition among the many lore races, but it surprised me. it wasn't what kept me reading, but the way it influenced the progression of their relationship. though, i ended up feeling, like, REALLY bad for bowen, poor guy. the end was so tooth-achingly sweet, and made my heart feel so full. i'm so excited to read more of these books.

No Rest for the Wicked has officially solidified itself in my top five IAD books! (Others in my top five are Kiss of a Demon King, Dark Skye, Wicked Abyss, and Dark Needs at Night’s Edge.)

Centuries ago, Kaderin the Cold-Hearted, a Valkyrie, was cursed/blessed not feel any emotions. As a vampire, Sebastian Roth, is also cursed not to feel…sexual arousal. That is until he finds his fated mate who will “blood him” by restarting his heart and ya know, blood flow.

Due to their various repressions, the first chapter remains immaculate in its all gas no breaks beginning, middle, and end. They start touching IMMEDIATELY because both of them are so overwhelmed by new sensations.

The book is a fun combination of slow and fast burn because they really can’t stop touching each other. And Kaderin is so angry about it. Because in dramatic Kresley Cole fashion, Kaderin’s sisters were killed by vampires, so she’s sworn to hate the lot. Which is easy until Sebastian, since he’s a simp who also happens to be lethally hot and hung like a horse. Oh and as a human he was nerdy and incredibly smart and very inexperienced.

Throw in an amazing race-esque plot, gratuitous limb loss (don’t worry, they regrow), and a little time travel and this book won’t disappoint. I recommend reading book one first, but it’s not necessary.

I love this series. I adore the new covers. This just brings me back to the first time I read this world six years ago. No notes, just an all around fun time!

Kresley Cole is a master at creating a true enemies to lovers dynamic. Kaderin & Sebastian are enemies strictly based on the fact that her mission is to kill vampires... And Sebastian is a vampire. But the fates have a different plan. They tension between the two of them is unmatched. Sebastian desperately wants Kaderin & she's scared to lose everything she ever worked for.

One is competing to save her sisters and one is competing to change their life as they know it. The stakes have never been higher which means these two are constantly at odds and more attracted to each other as they get closer to their end goal. The trials are incredible, engaging and dynamic. I love the glimpses into the other characters around. And the spice is really solid. It's not over done and the timing is perfect.

The interconnecting storyline, the flash backs to the previous story has me fully convinced that Kresley has a board with strings and post it notes to keep everything together. Plus the humor she infuses into every character is incredible & they feel like real people. It's so hard to be torn away from & I'm glad there are so many more to read. Obsessed with the immortals after dark series.

One of the OG romantasy series and it's so interesting with high steam and intrugue! There wasn't any consent issue like in the first book which was great. I liked how the FMC is the Valkyrie warrior and fighter and the trials she had to face while the MMC is the vampire that has gone through alot. They meet and realize that they are bonded/mates and that really affects the dislike that they have for each other. This book is steamy but not as much as the other books in the series. I loved the tension, stakes and mortal enemies vibes expect when they both did not want it. Theres a fun humorous vibe to this book that makes it even more enjoyable and the romance is steamy! I definitely recommend this to Romantasy lovers!

Kaderin has spent a thousand years numb, bearing the weight of her sisters' deaths without feeling anything—until she encounters Bastian Wroth. Bastian is a vampire, turned against his will, and when Kaderin meets him, she’s thrown off by her sudden reluctance to kill him. She’s further surprised by the rush of emotions his presence stirs in her and by his unexpected claim that she’s his fated bride.

This take on the enemies-to-lovers trope has a gentler twist. Rather than fierce hatred, their tension stems from mutual frustration and the shock of being destined for each other. Kaderin grapples with her newfound emotions, lamenting the loss of her “blessing” of emotional numbness, yet she finds herself unable to abandon Bastian, even though Valkyrie vampire hunters being with vampires is unheard of.

Bastian’s story is deeply tragic. In life, he struggled with intimacy, and becoming a vampire wasn’t his choice. For years, he’s been disillusioned with life, but meeting Kaderin rekindles his will to live. Kaderin’s initial rejection wounds him deeply, as he’s haunted by the idea that no woman could ever truly want him.

Adding to the excitement is The Hie, a globe-spanning scavenger hunt for paranormal beings led by the goddess Riora. Contestants race to collect mystical objects, and the competition comes with real risks—both from the challenges and from rivals. Familiar faces like Myst, Niklaus, Nix, and Regin make appearances, and as always, the Valkyrie interactions bring plenty of chaos and fun, with their wild personalities and love of collecting trinkets and technology.

This series has been a thrill so far, and this installment has easily become my favorite.

3.75 stars ⭐️ Sebastian and Kaderin meet and at first one might think that it’s an insta-love situation but it’s not. Yes, they are drawn to each other (she is his Bride and he makes her feel again) but boy, does she not want anything to do with him. This man (well, vampire) follows her around and she’s basically like dude, leave me alone. The competition aspect is fun and their relationship throughout it is fun. I will say I was a bit confused by the fact that it’s set in modern times, but overall I did enjoy the story, the progression of the main characters relationship and how it ended.

This series has quickly become one of my new favorites for paranormal romance, and the new cover is absolutely stunning!

No Rest for the Wicked introduces us to Kaderin the Cold-Hearted, a vampire-slaying Valkyrie, and Sebastian Wroth, a vampire turned by his brothers. Kaderin and Sebastian realize she is his Bride after she is unable to kill him and flees. This book also introduces the Hie, a deadly competition between the Lore creatures for magical prizes. Kaderin and Sebastian work together in the challenges, while Sebastian tries to win her over and show he is not like other vampires.

This might be my favorite book in the series so far! The Hie raised the stakes and introduced new Lore to the story, making it unique from the others in this series. Sebastian is a breath of fresh air in this series as well! He is not as experienced as most MMCs and needs to prove himself to Kaderin. He is down bad for her! She is more confident in their relationship and tends to push his buttons. They both learn to trust each other in the challenges, and their romantic relationship

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The third entry in Immortals After Dark and we have another Wroth brother down. In No Rest for the Wicked there’s still a Valkyrie FMC, but instead of the Lychae clan, the MMC is once again one of the Wroth brothers (vampires). (The first Wroth Brother’s story is novella The Warlord Wants Forever.) Kresley Cole has done a magnificent job of making the IAD a series of interconnected stories that can be read as standalones, but have so much more depth when read together. The stories overlap in terms of timeline and characters, not picking up exactly where the previous one left off, but still moving the overall world forward.

No Rest for the Wicked contains The Hie, described as an immortal Amazing Race, which is always fun to read about even if Bowen and Marriketa, who are the MCs of the next book in the series, might edge out Kaderin and Sebastian as my favorite competitors. It’s a fun adventure plot that I always love rereading. Whether you’ve read Kresley Cole’s entire catalogue multiple times or are completely new to her writing, I highly recommend picking up No Rest for the Wicked.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for my copy to review.