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?
My Review:
I had such high hopes for Dreams of a Dark Warrior, Kresley Cole’s (KC) eleventh installment of the Immortals After Dark series, but the book didn’t quite reach it. I do admit I was (and still am) a bit confused as to what exactly is a Berserker, but I imagine it’s a Were-Bear, but with the exception they are human and die off?
In either case, Dreams of a Dark Warrior deals with Regin and her Berserker mate, Adian, who tragically died in the past. Adian’s love for Regin is so great, though, he always reincarnates and finds his way to Regin. But whenever he regains his memories and remembers how much he loves Regin, he tragically dies again, a punishment bestowed upon him by Odin since Adian broke an oath to the god.
This time, Adian reincarnates in Declan, The Order’s second in command and overall man in charge in The Order compound. Declan can’t explain why he’s so attracted to Regin. Medically, it should be impossible as he’s practically overdosing on medicine to suppress his (unbeknownst to him) Berserker nature.
Either way, I really love Regin and I wanted to read her story like yesterday, but Declan as Aidan just didn’t cut it for me. Not even a sexy Lykae accent could redeem the fact that he worked for The Order and did some very nasty sh*t to the Lore creatures and especially to Regin while they were held captives in The Order’s Headquarters.
Plus, it’s odd for me to see how Regin could fall in love with so many different versions of Aidan. While yes, I understand “It’s what’s inside that counts” it just doesn’t make sense to me how you can completely fall in love with someone if they look completely different. It was a bit of stretch for me.
But anyhoo, Regin’s tired of so much death and can’t take the reincarnations anymore. She wants to be done with Adian once and for all, but she wants to see if she can somehow seduce Declan, and have him free her from The Order prison first. Next on her agenda is breaking the curse she and Adian can’t break free from and move on with her life. But why can’t she stop thinking of Declan? Can she do it?
Dreams of a Dark Warrior has SO MUCH going on in the background though, that it’s easy to forgive the lackluster story Regin and Declan showcase. First, we meet some new characters though I’m not sure how important they’ll be in the upcoming books, but they made an impression on me nonetheless.
First up there was Natalya – a dark fey—half fey overlord, half demon slave. She is Regin’s cell mate and the two women become allies. Another cellmate is Thad, a young high school student who is a strange blend of vampire (and half phantom) who can walk in the sun and he has a little hero worship going on for Mr. Lothaire. It’s too cute! Before he was captured, Thad had no idea he was part of the Lore and it takes him awhile to assimilate. Then there’s also Brandr, Aidan’s Berserker friend who was always there for him.
As hinted in the last review, all hell breaks loose when The Order takes El Dorada’s ring from Lothaire and activates it. El Dorada appears on the compound, wreaking havoc and destroying the building, trying to get back her ring. In the process, several creatures escape, and El Dorada breaks the necklaces inhibiting the powers from the truly evil, but leave the Lore “good guys” up sh*t creek by leaving on their necklaces.
Everything turns into a free-for-all and everyone joins in the fight, killing each other as best they can while others run from the compound as it sinks into the ground. Declan comes to his senses and rescues Regin and Natalya. Together, they join forces with Thad, Brandr, and –can you believe it?- Lothaire!
The small band of fighters make their way across the island hoping to escape, while a raging battle ensues all around them. To top things off we even see Nix flying around in a cape! LOL
Thing get really interesting as allies come together to save their relatives from this island and new alliances are forged. Can’t wait to dive into the next book!
Regin cocked her weapon, brought it to her hip. “You don’t want to mess with us. I’m about to mince meat and make hay with this thing.”
The largest one laughed. Until Natalya’s glass shard plugged his jugular.
Regin aimed and pulled the trigger. The gun kicked as bullets sprayed. It was shredding their torsos like cheese, halving their bodies. “Let’s do this! Rock out with your cocks out!”
When they’d al been dropped, Regin’s injured chest was screaming in pain, her ears ringing. Her gun was hot, and she thought she might be a little infatuated with it.
Natalya said, “Let’s go!”
“Right behind you—”
Volós stepped in front of them, blocking their way, his body stretching nearly the width of the corridor.
***
“You killed that evil woman, Mister.”
Lothaire gazed up, spied some young male peering past the edge of the overhang. In no way had Lothaire destroyed La Dorada. He’d only bought himself time.
“I saw you do it—we’re going to be all right now!”
He wanted to sneer, “Do I look all right, boy?” But his cause was greater than merely himself. And now victory was possible. He simply needed assistance with this predicament. His lips curled at the naïve immortal above him. And then I need to replenish my strength. “A hand, if you please.”
“Sure thing.” He lay flat at the edge, extending his arm down. “I’m Thaddeus Brayden. Call me Thad.”
Lothaire took his hand, his eyes locked on Thaddeus’s neck, on the spot just below the metal torque. His fangs throbbed for that skin. As always, he had to be very careful whom he fed from—he balanced forever upon a razor’s edge—and younger was ever so much better for him.
With a surprising strength, Thaddeus hefted him up to safety. “What’s your name?”
What manner of creature was he? Usually Lothaire could tell at once, but this boy’s species eluded him. “I’m Lothaire. The Ally of Old.” Not a lie. A female had once called him that. “On to terra firma, then.”
“Terra whatta? Oh, yeah, sure thing.” Once they’d moved from the gorge to more stable ground, the boy said, “Good to meet you, Mr. Lothaire.”
“Seems I owe you a debt of gratitude, Thaddeus.” Lothaire seized him by the neck, yanking the boy’s back to his own chest.
“Wh-what the hell are you doing?” he demanded, futilely struggling.
As Lothaire lowered his head, he murmured, “Now I’ll owe you a blood debt as well.” He sank his aching fangs into the male’s hot neck, drawing deep. …
[ . . . ]
Lothaire recoiled from the boy, spitting a mouthful of blood. Blood that was part vampire, yet masked by something else he couldn’t place. Lothaire wasn’t often surprised, but this had taken him unawares. Blyad’, we don’t drink our own! He spun Thaddeus around, clutching his upper arms. “What are you?” He gave him a shake. “What—are—you?”
The boy turned owl eyes up at him. “Th-they told me I’m a vampire.”
Lothaire spat once more. “Then they’ve only got half the story.” He released him with disgust, his fangs aching so badly they’d likely turn blue.
“Are y-you gonna bite me again?” he asked, his gaze darting toward the frenzied combat ahead.
Lothaire scanned for another victim. “Consider me immune to your charms.” He started forward, beings diving out of his way.
“Uh, okay. I’m just gonna trail behind you, mister, if you don’t mind. Let you run interference.”
Without slowing, Lothaire said, “You are as insignificant to me as a fly.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. So where’re we headed?”
Lothaire absently said, “To find the Blademan.” And get my ring. Finally. He stormed toward Chase’s office. When ghouls mindlessly rushed them, Lothaire dispatched them readily. Any creatures stupid enough to attack him paid with their lives.
The boy had begun gazing up at him worshipfully. As he should. “Wait, Mr. Lothaire,” Thaddeus yelled from behind him. “Those’re my girls up ahead! Or they used to be. Might wanna kill me now that I’m a vampire and all. But they’re fighting with that gigantic horse thing. Can you take him out and save them?”
Lothaire cast him a chilling glance over his shoulder. “Aid a Valkyrie and a fey?”
The boy swal owed. “For that debt of gratitude?”
Rating: 4 Kisses
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