Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark) [Mass Market Paperback]

In A Hunger Like No Other, Kresley Cole introduced us to the incomparable couple of Lachlain MacRieve and Emmaline Troy. In Pleasure of a Dark Prince, Cole continues the story with Garreth, another equally likeable and lick-a-licious Lykae who also happens to be Lachlain's brother.

Pleasure of a Dark Prince seems more sumptuous in plot and visuals than previous novels, and Cole capitalizes on the innate banter that richly flows between the Valkyrie sisterhood, as well as the Lykae. You'll catch yourself laughing...frequently. The texting between Regin and Lucia, as well as the infallible Nix-isms is infectious and always delivers. It was definitely an enjoyable read, with the overall impression that more work went into plotting of this book. The key is mining back to that original story, and fans obsession with the Lykae, which I will admit, I am just as guilty of, as any other.

This time, Cole's arrow shoots true by continuing a story that remains on most readers and reviewers lists as their top favorite paranormal romance. The attraction between Garreth and Lucia is scorching hot and Cole has outdone herself with the whoopee scenes. Really, really sizzling! The stakes are higher, with Cole also hinting at the impending Accession in the Lore, and hot on everyone's heels. Action speeds up towards critical mass in Pleasure, but the characters have their own issues to deal with despite the impending cataclysm of warring supernatural factions.

Cole takes the reader back to the familiar territory of Val Hall in New Orleans, and the Lykae manse compound Kinevane in Scotland as Garreth tracks his Valkyrie/Skathian mate, Lucia the Archer. A new setting this time, Cole brings the characters to the wilds of the Amazon channeling some serious Dirk Pitt, William Race, and Lara Croft as Garreth and Lucia try to acquire the dieumort, an arrow that possesses the power to off a god. Lucia is desperate for this weapon of power due to the fact that the god they are trying to off is...her own husband, Cruach, aka Crom Cruach, The Broken, Bloody One.

For readers just discovering Cole, I highly recommend reading a Hunger Like No Other and Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night just to familiarize themselves with the Immortals After Dark series as well as the schism between Valkyrie, Lykae, Vampire Horde as well as Lachlain and Emma's story. Pleasure was a memorable, scrumptious read, that most likely I will read to tatters just like Hunger, especially since we have been left a Lore cliff-hanger of epic proportions. Greedily looking forward to what is revealed when Cole's next installment, Demon from The Dark is released!

A Fiendishly Bookish Review

Firstly I disagree 100% with the previous reviewer. This story was awesome. I was so engrossed in the book that I didn't notice the time until I'd finished and it was 5.55am. I am a huge fan of the Immortals After Dark series and eagerly await each story as they are so good.

The story is about a Lycae called Garreth MacRieve (as the previous reviewer mistook for Garth) and a Valkyrie Huntress called Lucia who is bound to be chaste and an archer for the Goddess Skathi.
There is an instant attraction between the two and it continues throughout the book despite Lucia trying not to succumb to the temptation, as she has a mission to focus on.

I can't really say much else without going on about how great it was. There were parts which made me giggle and several parts where I couldn't read the pages fast enough to find out what would happen as they gripped me completely, even one part which made me shout "NO!".

I can't wait for the next Immortals After Dark series book. I am sure it will be matching the great standard of all the others.

In an explosively hot passionate and fast paced adventure, Lucia the Archer, a Valkyrie who must never miss her target or face unimaginable pain and werewolf Garreth MacRieve; the younger brother of Lachlain from book 1 of this series set out on a quest together for very different reasons. Whilst Lucia intends to face a forthcoming battle she re-enacts every five centuries to thwart the release of a God dedicated to sacrifice, MacRieve seeks to protect the fiery Valkyrie who is his mate (not that he admits this to her) and claim her as quickly as possible. Of course despite the mutual attraction, the path to true love never runs smoothly in KC's world. This new Immortal couple; like those before them, face a barrage of misunderstandings, an array of paranormal beings trying to kill them and several vows and curses that cannot or should not be broken before they admit their love to each other.

MacRieve is one hell of a hero. His continuous pursuit of Lucia, from Louisiana to the deepest Amazon is admirable considering the knock backs he receives from her, along with the arrows that not only pierce his body, but set alight inflammable objects around him or cut through ropes that happen to be dangling heavy objects over his head. There is however a little too much internal battling on the part of Lucia as she weighs her options; become intimate with the man she loves and therefore lose her uncanny skill with a bow, or stay chaste and thwart a forthcoming Armageddon by killing a God. Let's face it, despite her protests that she cannot be intimate with MacRieve, Lucia is a goner the moment she catches sight of him and doesn't stand a chance in the face of his determined seduction.

With input from familiar faces such as the wonderfully crazy NÏx, the mouthy Regin the Radiant, a not so timid Emma, plus Lachlain and Mariketa, there is never a dull moment in this book. The enemies prove wily and treacherous, there are moments of humour to be found, plus some heart breaking scenes in the later chapters. I find KC's world building to be exceedingly well done, and every character seems important no matter what role they may play in the events that unfold around them. The new ideas this author includes in this story line are also clever and intriguing, particularly those surrounding NÏx; leaving me almost hating KC for not making her the leading lady in the next IAD book (but not quite ;)). I am now left eagerly awaiting the release of book 8 in this fabulous paranormal romance series and thankfully it's not too long a wait. In "Demon from the Dark" witch "Carrow the Incarcerated" is matched to Malkom; a demon vampire. Considering the epilogue of "Pleasure of a Dark Prince" Carrow has some interesting adventures ahead and I am left strumming my fingers until this book's publication date in August.