Book Review – No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

No Rest for the Wicked
Whoa!!! Why didn’t anybody tell me this series was so good??!! 😛 Tee hee! – joke! Had to be silly from the start. This is a series that has been recommended to me so often, and many have encouraged me to keep going despite my not so enthusiastic review of Book#1. I thank you all, really, from the bottom of my heart. This series ROCKS!!

Ok so book #2 is about Kaderin the Coldhearted (a Valkyrie that has suffered a terrible loss and has in turn, lost the ability to feel any emotions). A brutal calculating warrior, she is sent to slay Sebastian, an Estonian vampire (and Nicolai’s brother). Once she finds him however, she is at a loss on how to kill an already defeated, heartbreakingly sad but incredibly sexy man…

He cleared his throat. When she jerked her gaze to his face, he raised his eyebrows.

Caught ogling the prey! The indignity! What is wrong with me?

…and instead, they find a moment of compassion in each other’s company, and make out! Hot stuff!

He’d found his Bride – the one woman he was meant to be with for eternity – in this hauntingly fine creature.

And his body had awakened for her.

“You know what is happening to me?” he asked.

She swallowed, backing away farther. “You’re changing.” Her blonde brows drew together, and in barely audible whisper, she added, “For…for me.”

“Yes. For you.” He crossed to her until she stared up at him. “Forgive me. If I had known this was true, I would have searched for you. I would have found you somehow-“

Quickly coming to her senses, and dreading ruining her reputation by bedding a leech (vampire), she leaves him (alive) yet unsatisfied. Recognizing that she is his mate, he learns to “trace” to her location, discovering that she has entered a dangerous contest (a la “Amazing Race” for preternaturals).

The book leads us through adventure after adventure as Kaderin hunts for artifacts, fights dirty and races against powerful creatures including her own very determined vampire admirer (who is really only in the contest to be near her and protect her, trying to work with her, and not against her). Awwwww…I adore him…I do.

“Why would I put time and effort into attempting to forget you when I could spend that same time and effort to win you?”

“Because winning me is impossible. The other option may not be.”

“I have to try.” There was no way to rethink this. “I want you. In my life.”

Sebastian proves himself to be one of the most wonderful vampires I have had the pleasure of crushing on. Strong and determined, a sexy alpha male all the way, but yet, he can be as gentle and patient as an angel, with a fierce loyalty that is beyond measure.

Kaderin continuously tries his patience, with her arrogant sense of superiority, and determination not to fall in love with her “enemy”. Confused about her own changes (she is now feeling again, especially for him) she refuses his help, mostly rejects his affections (although, sometimes she gives in). She loves him one moment and practically rips his heart out the next. Even the sweet Sebastian can only take so much, and she eventually brings out an authoritative and highly irritated side of him (which in all honesty, turns Kaderin – okay – all of us – on!).

The part that hooked me solid: Kaderin attempts to seduce a male in a bar to eventually take the ring he wears (one of the contest tasks required is to get that ring), and poor Sebastian walks in just as the groping begins;

“So that’s it, then? You’ve told me you’re going home with another man? And I’ve already seen him touching you.” He looked like he wanted to throttle her.

When she put her chin in the air, his eyes narrowed. “You may have your feelings back, but you’re still a cold woman, Kaderin. Heartless.”

and as the confrontation escalates, she continues to deny Sebastian’s wishes, determined to play the game her way…

Because she was his Bride, he would be seduced into wanting her again and again, seeing things in her that didn’t exist. Then her true nature would betray his hopes like this in an endless cycle.

He could not win her.

I’ll be fighting with her for eternity.

That’s what faced him. The thought exhausted him.

“I’m weary of this. Of you.” He put his hand above her against the wall, leaning over her. “You’re right. About everything. There’s no reason for you to accept me. And you were right in saying that I’ve been compelled to want you simply because you’re my Bride. My desire for you has been forced on me. I’ve had no choice in the matter.

“You act as if I gave you reason to think differently,” she said. “I told you all along that you shouldn’t bother with me.”

He clutched the back of her neck, forcing her to face up to him. “You also told me on more than one occasion that you never wanted to see me again. I’ll oblige you. I was the first vampire to trace to a person – and I’ll be the first to forsake my Bride.”

So the race is exciting, the relationship tumultuous, and the entire book, extremely satisfying. Lots of romance, some tear-jerking moments and the side-characters were pretty great too (I got a kick out of Riora, and my heart wept, even for Bowen). This is yet another that had me up late, and in fact, I immediately jumped to the third book as soon as I was done.

Bowen’s book was next (remember Lachlain’s disheartened cousin who was in mourning over his dead mate?)… I finished it this morning and loved it just as much! But here’s the thing…I’m desperately missing the Immortal crew, so I intend to do a little late night reading tonight (I will be starting book# 4). Looks like Bowen’s review will have to wait until the morn 😉

4 stars

See you then!