No Rest for the Wicked (Immortals After Dark)

No Rest for the Wicked
by Kresley Cole
Release Date:  October 31, 2006
Publisher: Pocket Star
Book #2 in the Immortals After Dark series
Number of Pages:  384
Kindle
Source:  MCL
Paranormal Romance M/F
Rating:  NC-17
Read 7/7/20 to 7/8/20

 

Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.

When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow—accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever Kaderin encounters Sebastian, her feelings—particularly lust—emerge multiplied. For the first time, she’s unable to complete a kill.

And when the prize of a legendary month-long contest is powerful enough to change history, Kaderin will do anything to win it for her sisters. Wanting only to win her, forever, Sebastian competes as well, taking every opportunity—as they travel to ancient tombs and through catacombs, seeking relics around the world—to use her new feelings to seduce her. But when Kaderin is forced to choose between the vampire she’s falling for and reuniting her family, how can she live without either?

Listen, as I was writing this review, I realized I can go on for pages about this story. There is just so much going on in this story. Regardless, I’m going to at least try to keep it brief.

Kaderin was mentioned more than once in the previous book, A Hunger Like No Other, but this is our real introduction to her. She’s known in the Lore as Kaderin the Cold Hearted because she has no emotions. Not just like she’s emotionless, she truly feels no emotion. To keep it short, she had a devastating experience that caused her such intense grief and somehow (you find out the specifics in the story, of course) she woke up with absolutely no emotions one day. No joy, pain, sorry, fear, tenderness, happiness…nothing. When this book opens, all that is about to change for her.

Sebastian wasn’t born a vampire, he was turned a vampire against his wishes. He is so dismayed by this change that he hides away in an old castle wishing to die but unable to truly take the steps needed to make that happen. He wishes for someone or something to come and put him out of his misery. Well, Kaderin is just the Valkyrie to do that. She’s made it her mission to wipe out vampires. In fact, she’s not around the Valkyrie home in New Orleans very often because she’s out hunting and killing vampires. She’s contacted by the villagers that live by Sebastian’s castle to take him out.

I have to say, this is almost comical to me. Sebastian is such an anti-vampire. He’s done absolutely nothing in the hundreds of years he’s lived in the delapitated castle to warrant fear or distrust. He has never taken blood directly from a human, or even an animal. He only goes into town to pick up his order of blood from the butcher when needed. But just the fact that there are whispers about him and what he may or may not be causes enough fear in these villagers that they actually put out a call for his death. Talk about judging a book by its cover!

As usual, I don’t want to give anything away here. But I have to comment on how much I love the way Sebastian and Kaderin bring each other back to life. From the moment they meet, feeling start creeping up on Kaderin. From almost their first words to one another, Sebastian is blooded and his heart starts pumping again…a sign that he is in the presence of his Bride, the vampire version of a fated mate.  Suddenly, Sebastian doesn’t want to end his existence and Kaderin can’t just lop off his head with no thought of the ramifications. It’s really storytelling at its best in those first scenes together.

A fun little aspect of this story is Talisman Hie, an Amazing Race type of competition for immortals that takes place every 250 years. Not only is Kaderin competing, she’s won the last 4 or so competitions. We also have Bowen, a Lykae we met in the previous book, and Sebastian competing in the competition. One to try to win the prize in the hopes it will help him reunite with his mate, one to try to help Kaderin in her quest.

Ah, yes. Poor, innocent Sebastian has kept himself locked up so tightly in the castle he is really naïve about the ways of the lore. Not only does he not know about Valkyrie, witches, Lykae, etc., he also thinks since Kaderin is a woman he must be stronger and better than her. It’s actually quite humorous.

While we are introduced to many different types of immortals in this story and some characters are touched on that I can imagine we’ll be seeing again down the road, I’m always in it for the love and HEA. Sebastian and Kaderin have an instant connection; not just in the story, but one that is felt by the reader. As much as Kaderin tries to fight destiny and Sebastian even gets fed up with the path things are taking a time or two, these two cannot stay away from each other.

I loved reading their story unfold. To learn more about the Valkyrie and the vampires in the process is an added bonus. I’m that much more invested in the lives of these immortals and their lore.

4 stars