| Title | : | The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark, #0.5) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 163 |
| Publication | : | First published February 7, 2006 |
She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen the jewel which commands her, giving him absolute power over her. While he possesses it, he can make her do anything, and he plans to in order for her to experience firsthand the agonizing, unending lust she'd purposely subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Wroth realizes he wants more from her and frees her, will she come.
Note: First published in the 2006 anthology,
Playing Easy to Get.
The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark, #0.5) Reviews
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Do you know a woman who's bitchy, non-compliant and difficult?
According to Cole, the answer to this is that she's just too damn empowered and has too many rights!
Surely relinquishing her unappreciated freedoms and rights will make her abundantly happy... and compliant... and slutty...
I hear an objection from the Kresley Cole fans and in the interest of fair media representation, I'll relay it to the rest of you. "But Kat, the novels ends with Wroth and Myst in an equal relationship where Myst has her freedom and Wroth is remorseful for his treatment of Myst."
That's very true.
But this happens AFTER Myst has been "tamed" and brought to heal like a bitch in heat. It also happens after Myst, who is a two-thousand year-old woman of immense power and knowledge, contemplates how happy she is now that she's no longer in charge of her own life.
I am not exaggerating, either. She reminisces on how, unknowingly, she's been waiting for a man stronger than her to come along, overpower her and take away those burdensome choices.
Stop lying! You're just angry because you don't have a kitchen to go home to!
Note to men: Despite how insanely beautiful and attractive I am, I can assure you that any attempt to kidnap or control me will not end pleasantly on your behalf. Despite my Super Slut Powers, I'm less than likely to fall to pieces at the sight of your sizable "manroot" and decide to exchange regular access to it for my freedom.
I really actually enjoyed how this novel started because Myst was just so badass. She reminded me of Holo out of
Spice and Wolf, which is a great anime if you're new to the genre and are looking for something to convince you that the Japanese aren't all weird and creepy perverts.
My issue with Cole is that she interprets female strength, in this novel, as using your sexuality as a weapon and deceiving men with the illusion of sex. I don't think sexuality mingled with deception is women's greatest weapon or strength any more than I think a man's greatest weapon is his physical strength. In fact, Myst never even really tries to outsmart Wroth, as if it's a useless attempt. Dude, you have like 1300 years on the guy! You don't have one trick up your sleeve that doesn't involve handjobs?
[image error] -
DNF at: I have no bloody shrimping idea. And frankly, I don't give a damn. I was so furious when I stopped reading I didn't even bother to check.
► I wish I had time to write a full length review to properly convey how much this piece of crap pissed me off. But I don't, so I'll give you the short of it. And I'll start by the worst of it:
► I CANNOT STAND books that promote rapey behaviour. And bringing women to submission against their will. And taming them because, you know, women are not supposed to be strong badasses. They're supposed to be compliant wimps. HELL NO.
And I don't give a damn if the f@cking hero regrets his actions at the end of the story. You do not romanticize this type of behaviour. NO YOU DON'T. And why is it that it is always female authors who write such CRAP??!! Why?!
► To make things worse, our thousands of years old, supposedly ass-kicking heroine is fine with it! Yay! Why don't I give up my free will and let the big, strong male take over?! I am nothing but a lame, weak female after all! I obviously cannot think or choose for myself! Life is so much easier when Macho Man is in charge! Yay again! I'm such a lucky girl!
I'm pretty sure feminism just committed suicide
again. Must be a PNR thing.
► If this wasn't enough, the story is also ridiculous, stupid, boring and the world building is confusing as hell. A PhD might be required to fully understand what is going on here. And I still haven't figured out when this is supposed to be happening: the Middle Ages? 2012? 1854? No freaking idea.
►To make things worse it looks like the author couldn't choose what sups and mythological creatures to use in her story so she just threw them all in there. Yeah, Kresley Cole is an equal opportunity kind of gal. Everyone gets a chance in her books, from Valkyries to Vamps. Yay.
►Anything else? Apart from the AWFUL writing you mean? And the PNR Tropes Fest? Nah, that's pretty much it.
►►Congratulations Kresley Cole, you just made it to my Black List From Hell.
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This was a great paranormal novella! I have to admit that I needed to lookup several terms, because I wasn't up to snuff on knowledge of mystical beings. For example, I had no idea of what the term "blooded" meant. Luckily, I was able to figure everything out and it didn't take away from my enjoyment of this story.
I've been meaning to make it back to this series ever since I read 'A Hunger Like No Other', which was fantastic by the way. I finally made my way back, and this short read did not disappoint! In under 200 pages, Ms. Cole crafted an addicting, steamy story.
This is a story of forbidden love between natural enemies. It is full of supernatural beings and intense sexual situations. Talk about sexual tension! The main characters, Myst and Wroth, seem to want to kill each other about as much as they want to get it on. They definitely kept things interesting.
It has been a while since I've read 'A Hunger Like No Other', so I could be wrong, but I didn't notice a strong connection between the two stories. The stories might be distantly connected, but it seems to me that they are easily read as standalone stories.
Overall, this was a fantastic choice for a quick and steamy read. It was entertaining, sexy and intriguing. I was sucked right into this story from beginning to end. -
Another comfort reread.
Favourite book, favourite series, favourite universe.
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First read:
My dearest Immortals, I know I am about 10 years late BUT I think it is about time to get acquainted with each other...
“I’ll begin with the most basic. What are you?”
“Pussy Cat Doll?”
And this is how I was introduced to Valkyries. The female immortal bloodthirsty warriors. And this is how vampire Nikolai Wroth has met his Bride, i.e. Valkyrie Myst who was really a vampire hater. But Wroth convinced her that vampires are not that bad.
I love the concept of destined mates in my PNR books. I love it when the couple cannot avoid the inevitable and they are struggling with their feelings and their raising passion until they fall in love with each other.
“I will be good to you, Myst. I will protect you. You are mine.”
This series is definitely a winner for me. I am looking forward reading stories about more magnificent monsters. -
Reread Completed for Immortals After Dark 2013 Group Reread (July 5-7, 2013)
This is the one that started it all. It's been great to go and revisit the first book of one of my favorite paranormal romance series (and book series) of all time. Even after rereading again it so many years later, it still holds an enormous appeal. I just fell into this story head-first. I have to say that the world that Kresley Cole has built stands distinctive and very strongly in the genre. This book reads more like fantasy with sex/romance than just paranormal romance (while there is nothing wrong with the later, a book that can carry itself in the fantasy world-building as strongly as the romance is even better).
I didn't forget how hot Cole writes love scenes. It's funny that although I don't consider myself a fan of erotica, I connect so strongly with her story in which the sex is frequent and blistering hot. Maybe it's because she writes it so well and there is so much else going on along with it. At any rate, this woman has you reaching for a cold drink indeed!
Nikolai Wroth:
Still fantastic. Still delicious. While I refuse to choose a favorite IAD hero, Nikolai does retain a soft spot in my heart. He makes a non-vampire lover into a sign me up first convert. He's rough and unpolished, vengeful towards Myst. But his heart is so vulnerable, and he gives it on the platter very early on. I can't resist a hard, tough hero with a soft heart. A girl could not do much better to have Wroth as her devoted husband. Even though he screws up very badly, oh boy does he make up for it! Major sighworthy points! Definitely on my hero to die for shelf for all times.
Myst:
Myst is a woman of delightful layers. She seems callous and cruel at first, but it doesn't take long to see what a big heart she has, her depths of devotion and caring. Myst's love of Nikolai's warrior-status and hard-earned battle scars was a distinctive part of her personality. At first, I had a problem with how she used her sexuality against her enemies, because I am not big on that, but I can understand the psychology behind it. What was used against her, she took for her own strength, and it was just one tool in her armament. I sympathized with her over her broken heart when she finds out what Nikolai was hiding from her. I didn't like what she did to him initially and so I didn't think his reaction was that bad. I think she met him tit for tat and respected his manner of dealing with her, knowing that he was the man for her because of his strengths and how it felt to be in his embrace.
As a couple, I loved their courtship, warts and all. When they weren't fighting, there was a lot of tenderness between. It wasn't just about sexual attraction. Even before sex was possible, I could see that bond forming between them. For a short read, Kresley Cole beautifully builds a powerful love story that is missing in nothing, although I'd be lying if I didn't admit I would have loved a full-length novel.
I can't say too many good things about this novella. This is stellar reading for this reviewer. The mix of hot romance, oh-so tender love, laugh out loud humor, and familial and friendship bonds really works for me. I can see how Cole got a series deal out of this story. This is one of those novels that has you coming back for more.
*Pauses to think about the hotness of Nikolai Wroth and fans herself* Where was I?
My series reread with the
Immortals After Dark group on Goodreads is off to a fantastic start!
Check out my
Immortals After Dark Pinboard on Pinterest!
***Original Review Below***
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I read The Warlord Wants Forever out of the
Playing Easy to Get anthology. I actually read this one second in the Immortals After Dark series because I read A Hunger Like No Other first. I remember reading A Hunger and being like, "Who are Myst and Nikolai?" When I realized that there was a prequel short story, I was on the hunt to get it. Finally I found it at a Half Price Books in San Antonio. I bought it and read it when I was in Denver for training. I actually read it about 2 and 1/2 times. I love this story so much. It's short but it's very hot and sweet. So well written, with characters that jump off the page at you. I thought I loved Lochlain, until I met Nikolai. The man is so delicious to me, and like Myst, I can't resist his scars and his warrior essence. It has a captive theme, so that might not work for some. As the saying goes, I would not kick Nikolai out of bed for eating crackers. Yet honestly, Nikolai is not a gentle lover, but Myst doesn't exactly play fair either. In the IAD universe vampires are unable to have sex until they meet their Bride who 'bloods' them. And then, watch out. Well, Myst is Nikolai's bride, despite the fact that as a valkyrie she hates vampires and kills their kind. She actually exploits the fact that she can 'blood' vampires and has killed them by almost seducing them. Well she feels an attraction to Nikolai despite her hatred of vamps. When she 'bloods' him, she leaves him hanging, in desperate need that only she can assuage for five years. Talk about frustration. This story has excellent chemistry, and the skill of Cole's writing shines in this short story. She is so good at combining humor, action, and writing characters that burn for each other.
Apparently this story does not have universal appeal, but I loved it. I really want to thank Kresley Cole for writing these fantastic stories that combine a unique look at Norse mythology, sexy alpha heroes who fall hard in love; stubborn, intelligent heroines who can take care of themselves, blisteringly hot love scenes, and laugh out loud moments, to make for an all-around enjoyable reading experience. -
Absolutely FAN-F*CKING-TASTIC! And I am talking SO GOOD that I just one-clicked ALL FIFTEEN books currently available in this series!
Myst and Nikolai ... *sigh* ... the seventh power-couple of Miss Cole's I had a pleasure of falling head over heels in love with! I can't even begin to describe the amount of love I feel for these two. They bring to the table everything I ask for in characters in order for me to enjoy the book. He is an over the top alpha, she is as sassy as they get and has that special brand of something that only Kresley Cole's heroines manage to possess. The banter is brilliant. The sex is off the charts. Who knew a ruthless vampire general and a beautiful Valkyrie could be so entertaining? The question was rhetorical, of course, because ANY couple of Kresley Cole's has the power to entertain and captivate like no other!
This author became a 'one-click' author for me after a friend suggested I read
The Professional a few years ago. Not only does she make me fall in love with genres I never thought I'd enjoy but she writes some of THE most kick ass female leads and alpha males that make your toes curl! Her stories are always super engaging, funny & absolutely scorching! They read like a breeze and NEVER disappoint! I know I say this every time I am done with one of her books but her personality clearly shines through her writing.
I also know that I am late for the party but if anyone out there who HASN'T started this series yet and loves PNR genre, DROP EVERYTHING AND READ THIS IMMEDIATELY!
Cheers!
-
Immortals After Dark has become one of my favorite paranormal romance series.
I read this novella after I had read most of the books in this series and I found it a really entertaining story. I always wanted to find out more about Nikolai & Myst, after meeting them in other books and how the series began.
Nikolai, a human turned vampire general is on the lookout for his Bride, the one woman who can make him breathe again, make his heart beat and make him become stronger.
He’s just not expecting someone like Myst, a Valkyrien warrior to be the one.
I really liked seeing these two get together. A vampire hater who is supposedly “the one” …of a vampire!!!!
He’s sexy, alpha and struggling with the feelings he has for the totally zany, quirky, sassy, devious and gorgeous Myst.
I loved their interaction and their banter was an absolute laugh a minute.He drew in closer and lowered his voice to ask in all seriousness, “You’re mad, aren’t you?”
“As—a—hatter,” she whispered back conspiratorially.
She blinked at him. “You don’t want to send me back. Who will entertain you? I can deal poker
and make shadow animals.”
I had to laugh in the scene where Myst tells us about Wroth being a celebrity in martial circles of the Lore…..and she gets all the gossip from the Lore magazine, called Tiger Beat.
I find the Valkyrien women totally fascinating and are definitely my favorite characters in this series.
They love clothes,
make-up and bright and shiny things.
They have the best lines ever….”He just dragged you down to B-moviedom.”
Regen added, “Oh for Freya’s sake Myst. He’s a vampire. Let him fricassee.”
Fantastic dialogue, humor, lovable characters and the zany world of the Lore that you just want more and more………
And, yes Myst is Nikolai’s One……
Really glad I read this story, even though it was a bit short but it gave me a bit of insight into the world the author began creating. And best of all…..we get to meet the gorgeous V girls!!!
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“I can't let you go. I'll never do that. not until I die.”
The Warlord Wants Forever is a short story indroducing us to the work of Immortal After Dark. This book made me become a fan of Kresley Cole. Her writing stryle is addicting and sexy, I also loved the characters she created, too. Nikolai Wroth is a vampire, and he is accidentally blooded by his captive, Myst. The real fun begins when he is finding his bride and wants to claim her, but that's not easy when Myst is MORE stubborn than him, she won't let him be the one who conquers her.
“You're my Bride. Mine. You belong to me.”
Aside from her writing style, Kresley Cole matched her characters so well I think that exploding chemistry must come from right matches. She not only concentrated on her setting, but also thoroughly designed her characters to be unique and unforgottable.
“Wroth! Don’t do this!”
“Five years of hell,”he sneered, palming her ass roughly. “You deserve to be fucked till you can’t walk.”
The sex scenes is well-written, I could see the dynamics of the narrative there when Myst and Nicolai are together or fight each other. I liked this book so much ! -
"Get out of the Woods and get a Room"
4.25 Stars
“Wroth! Don’t do this!”
“Five years of hell,” he sneered, palming her ass roughly.
“You deserve to be fucked till you can’t walk.”
Nikolai Wroth, Vampire Warrior
Nikolai was a famous warlord, known for his courage and strength. Until he died on the battlefield over three hundred years ago. As he lay dying he was offered a second chance at life, as a vampire. Now he fights a different kind of war. A war against full blooded vampires that drink their fill, killing innocents. Nikolai has never known love, but the intense feelings he has for Myst can't be denied."I can't lose you. The very thought makes me crazed. I can't even allow myself to imagine you leaving me."
Myst the Coveted, Sexy Valkyrie
Myst is a valkyrie, the natural born enemy of vampires. She's beautiful beyond words and loves to fight. With flame red hair and mesmerizing green eyes, she has the pointed ears of a nymph, but she's an immortal fighting machine. Myst has vowed that she will belong to no man. Yet there is something about Nikolai's kisses that have her wanting to share more than her bed.
I loved Nikolai's immediate attraction to Myst. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. And the feeling was mutual. Yes, I am a sucker for insta-love and fated couples, when done right. The cat and mouse with these two was fun filled, action packed, and HOT AS SIN!! Nikolai is blown away when he realizes that Myst is his mate, and his mortal enemy. How could fate be so cruel? This book also had the prefect amount of angst.
He'd never been in love, didn't believe he'd even slept with the same woman twice, yet he wanted everything from this pagan immortal, was sick with wanting her. He wanted to strip her soul bare and make her give all of herself, all of what she'd been in the beginning before time twisted her.
What a wonderful world Kresley Cole has created. A modern day world full of vampires, valkyrie, werewolves and demons, just to name a few. I am immediately about to start the next book in this series. It seams that a werewolf has kidnapped one of the valkyrie sisters from their home and is intent on making her his werewolf queen. I can't wait to read it!!!This summer is gonna be packed full of heat if the rest of this series is half as good as this introduction.
My Immortals After Dark Reviews:
The Warlord Wants Forever
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Untouchable
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark
Dreams of a Dark Warrior
Lothaire
Dark Skye -
This was my second read-through of The Warlord Wants Forever, and all I can say is that I'm somewhat appalled I gave it 4 stars a few years ago.
Everything about the fantasy world is unclear and explained in vague, lazy terms. The characters are obsessive, distant, and unreasonable. Worst of all, Kresley Cole completely disregards consent by writing a romance in which one partner has literally no choice but to obey every command the other partner gives, unconditionally. And to be clear, the commanding party definitely abuses his power - he nearly commands his Bride to forget her family and every other man she's ever met so that she'll be loyal to him only. That's not love, kids. That's psychotic.
Ironically: I started the next book in the series, Lothaire, right after this one because there was a several-chapter preview enclosed. Oh well, I guess I'm giving Kresley Cole another chance after all. -
Adult review for erotic content
"You're the most malicious bitch I've ever known."
"Flatterer," she chirped.
3.5 stars.
Waitress : Welcome to the Fetish Cafe. Please feel feel to browse our menu and I'll be back to take your order shortly.
Me : No need. I already know what I want. It's been a rough week and I could use some stress relief. Can you send over a man who has the ability to produce instant *cough* uh...you know...the big "O," on command?
Waitress : (raises an eyebrow) You do realize what you're asking for, right? I hear our man is pretty relentless. Sometimes makes it happen repeatedly for hours on end. I can't imagine it will be pleasant the entire time.
Me : (getting snappy) Look, I know what I'm paying for. Is my money good or what? And can I get a cup of ice?
Waitress : Honey, you're not going to need the ice. Any extra stimulation is just going to go unnoticed.
Me : Yes, I think I am. Your hostess brought me iced tea that happens to be room temperature.
.....
Guilty pleasure cheesy PNR goodness, ahoy! This series is like bodice ripping brought back to an artistic parody, except that the sex only dangerously straddles the non-con line instead of enthusiastically tripping over it. Sure you have a moment of feeling awkward, but then you just go with it. It's a fantasy based book. That's the point.
Having read
A Hunger Like No Other already, I wanted to come back and read the prequel before continuing on with the series. I was hoping for a little more world building to explain some of the questions I had with A Hunger. I did get some answers but in all honesty, this prequel short was a little more porn-ish than the first book in the series. It's okay, I didn't mind. Only with fantasy based books do I get to find myself lost in impossible scenarios which I'd be forced to shun with the contemps."Five years of hell," he sneered, palming her ass roughly. "You deserve to be fucked till you can't walk."
Hah. I love that Myst tortured Wroth by blooding herself to him, then left him in painful torment, unable to satisfy his need to have sex. Mousy heroines need not apply. Myst is here in full force, with her heel firmly planted on her man's balls. Ain'tlovehate-filled sexual tension grand?
What makes series like this one and BDB the fun guilty pleasure that they are is that fantasy becomes reality. I love vampire books where blood sharing is considered sexy. Why the heck would you want to fight a primal urge? Wouldn't it be much more fun to incorporate that into your bedroom play? Wouldn't it only add to the sexual experience? Let the kiddie vamps feast on Bambi. The grownups wanna get down and dirty... -
Enjoyed this book so much.....
Nikolai was a Super sexy, smart, General of a vampire army, but he was sweet too. Myst was a funny, sassy, kickass warrior who has been crushin on Nikolai since he was a Human warlord . They are great chemistry together. The book was smokin Hott and romantic
Can't wait for the next book....... -
2 stars
Okay, this was laughably bad. I love PNR, it's one of my favorite genres but this book was something else. I realize that it was written about a decade ago and romance has changed a bit since then, the style and diction of it. But if I read one more part with this guy ripping this chick's clothes off and licking her breasts, I was gonna die laughing.
I also got sick of moaning, cries out from pleasure, the word 'delicious' and his giant dick.
So yeah. Not the book for me. But I read it all the way to the end and didn't dnf so there's that. I want to try some of this authors other books and see if those work better for me. -
OMG...WTF did I just read ?
There was Nothing I liked about this book..
The plot didn't make sense until the last 40%..The heroine was crazy ! And the relationship between the hero & heroine was NOT love, but pure Stockholm syndrome. THIS BOOK WAS NOT EROTICA...Just pure Porn.The only thing I liked about the read was the last 10 pages or so...
Once upon a time,The first time the hero & heroine met.She was a CRAZY tease.So the hero then captures her a few years later and controls her using magic to do his 'bidding' to get even.
And if you can imagine what he wanted then you got the whole plot worked out.*rolls eyes*
The End
The ONLY reason I finished the book was because I hate DNF-ing a read.This book was just NOT my cuppa..To put it lightly ;/ -
5 stars
The Warlord Wants Forever is a fantastic beginning to a fabulous series!
Karla encourage me to go back and read the first book (novella) before starting the 8th book in the Immortals After Dark series, Deep Kiss of Winter. She said that reading this novella would help me fully understand the events that take place in the 8th book.
To be honest, I wasn't overly excited about reading this novella. I figured after seven books I had a fairly good understanding of the amazing but complex world Kresley Cole had created, and there would be little this book could offer me that I hadn't already figured out out on my own. BOY, WAS I WRONG!
This book not only answered a few questions I had but it also gave me clearer understand of the Lore (mystical world) as a whole. What I didn't expect was the sensual, captivating, and enticing love story. Nikolai and Myst, the hero and heroine, have easily become my favorite couple in the series thus far. I felt their book not only was stronger in the romance department, but it was also the most erotic of all the books. There wasn't that excessive contention between the hero and heroine that seems inherent in the rest of the series, which more often than not grates on my nerves. I appreciated and loved that particular aspect of this story.
Thank you, Karla, for encouraging me to read this short novella. It gave me a better understand of the series and a couple that I truly adore.
Note: Karla informed me of a fantastic website called Wicked Scribes. On that site is a current and very detailed Immortal After Dark character reference guide that was created by Kaleigha. It's awesome and will help me and other readers recall the details about past characters.
http://wickedscribeskresleycole.wordp... -
Reviewed by:
Rabid Reads
So. Paranormal Romance. A lot of readers don’t see a huge difference between PNR and Urban Fantasy. I do. And for the most part, I infinitely prefer UF—more save the world, less cheerleader.
Exhibit A: my sister and I were reading a well-known PNR a few years ago, our version of a buddy read (b/c I was like ten books ahead of her), and we’d shoot each other texts, snickering and generally carrying on, BUT the most often made comment was, “If someone hisses in pleasure one more time . . . ” and that pretty much sums up my problem with PNR. There’s so much sex, that sometimes it feels like I’m reading the same scene over and over again, and if an author is being lazy about the plot, and focusing mainly on the sex, I mean relationships, things can get old fast. So I’m picky about the PNR series I choose to read, and my prejudice against them can turn me into a bit of a snob.
So I’m just being honest when I say that a pen name like ”Kresley Cole” didn’t inspire much confidence in that whole area. And when the first full-length novel in the series is titled “A Hunger Like No Other“?
*snorts*
If you’re like me, you’re going to turn up your nose in a snotty display of indignation (no matter how ridiculous it is to act superior when choosing a PARANORMAL ROMANCE series).
So with my highly-refined PNR palate, how did I end up reading Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series? Well, I’ll tell you—leftover trade credit at the used bookstore.
Now I get to use fun words like “fortuitous” and “serendipitous” b/c that’s exactly what I think about that situation. Not only did I get this series b/c there was literally nothing else that I wanted (in a BOOKSTORE), but then I went home and actually started reading it. I have books on my shelves that I got from McKay’s (used bookstore) when I first moved to Chattanooga 10(ish) years ago that I still haven’t touched. But this time, I got home, grimaced at the cover a bit, and dove in.
I surfaced eight days later, having read books 1-12.
You could say I liked them.
But I’m a little confused as to where this installment originally fit. It’s listed as the first book in the series, but length-wise it’s more of a novella, and while most of the dates published are in 2011, I did find one for 2006 when the series began. So whether it was always the planned first book, or if it was a prequel added after the fact, I don’t know. Don’t really care either. Know why?
Nikolai Wroth and Myst the Coveted.
Cole focuses an several species of supernatural creatures in these books—Valkyrie, vampires, werewolves, demons, and witches—but this first book is mostly about Nikolai Wroth, a vampire, and Myst the Coveted, a Valkyrie.
Myst has been used as bait (not for the first time) by her Valkyrie half-sisters, for Demestriu, the King of the (BAD) vampires. This entails her being held captive in one of the King’s strongholds. Which is where Nikolai finds her after capturing said stronghold with the Forbearers (GOOD vampires). They have insta-chemistry and it tingles. Nikolai isn’t sure what he’s feeling at first b/c in Cole’s world, once a human is turned into a vampire, the body’s physiological actions/responses completely stop functioning.
Until the vampire meets his Bride. *winks*
So when Nikolai’s heart starts beating for the first time in hundreds of years, he knows he’s found her. Problem is, Valkyrie, more than any of the other supernatural races, value their independence. And a 300+ y.o. vampire who wants a happy homemaker for a Bride, and a fiercely independent Valkyrie named “the Coveted” b/c of how many men have desired to “own” her over the years, do not make for an easy courtship.
But where would the fun in that be?
To that end, Cole’s Valkyrie are some of the most fun and original supernaturals I’ve come across. The best way I can succinctly describe them is as tiny, little termagants who really like sparkly things, and who will say A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. When Nikolai finds Myst in her cell, she demands that he free her. He asks, “Are you innocent of malice against us?” to which she replies, “Oh good gods, no! I love, love, love to kill leeches.”
And that pretty much sums up their courtship: Nikolai asking Myst reasonable questions or requesting reasonable things, and Myst . . . well, being Myst.
It’s fun. I like it.
I think you will too. UNLESS you are mightily offended by things like Daenerys and Drogo’s “courtship” (Game of Thrones), in which case you will absolutely not like it. Make no mistake, there are intensely aggressive sexual situations in this series. So if you like big, strong alpha males that are intensely aggressive sexually in pursuit of their wily, warrior women (I LOVE accidental alliteration<——there it is again!), then have I got a series for you! Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark is hands-down the BEST paranormal romance series I have ever read (and if I can still say that 12 books in, you know I mean it), and The Warlord Wants Forever is the perfect opportunity for you to find out if you’d love it too—it’s long enough to give you a good idea of what Cole’s writing is like, but it’s not a full-length novel, so it’s both less of a time-commitment AND it’s cheaper (it’s been $1.99 on Amazon for-EVER). Try it out, and let me know what you think!
My other reviews for this series:
A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark #2) -
4 stars
Play at love and act at surrender.
Myst is a Valkyrie that is sent to lure and bait prey until her and her sisters can go for their kill. Wroth is a Forbearer, a Vampire Warlord who is respected for his cunning mind and fighting skills. Myst is unlike any creature he has ever met, she is beautiful, strong, and completely out of her ever loving mind!“You’re mad, aren’t you?”
“As— a— hatter,” she whispered back conspiratorially.
Myst blooded Wroth but unlike her other conquests, she lets him live, cursing him to face eternity without her feeding his desires finding no relief. She underestimated the Warlord and is taken captive by him, as he finds out a secret to gain control over her body and mind. As much as she deserves to be punished and forced to forever with him, he wants her to choose to stay on her own, agreeing that in two weeks’ time, she will either choose to stay or she will be free to go.“You don’t think it’s more than coincidental that you were given to me over all other females in any time and place to be my Bride, just as I’ve freed you from something that no man has been able to before?”
But how can it all work out the Valkyrie hated the vampires, where they wanted them dead the Vampires wanted their secrets. The Valkyrie is mythical creatures even more so than the Vampires, and they are trained to kill the blood suckers at first sight. So his family against hers who would win and what happens when they have to choose a side?
The Warlord Wants Forever is the first paranormal book I’ve read from
Kresley Cole, I know crazy right?!? I jumped to this series after I read The Professional: The Game Maker series, she had a way of telling a story that just drew you in and made you keep on reading; I wanted to see what she could do with a paranormal world. This had a little bit of everything and enough background to understand who they are and what is going on, they are immortal and they blend perfectly in their mythical world while fully adapting to the modern world. This was an erotically charged book; she was feisty as they come, claws and all while he was a Warlord, used to getting what he wants and used to being in charge. Even though I am way behind on the series, I can’t wait to catch up ;)
-
The weird thing about this smutty book... the world-building was stupidly well done.
Wroth is a *new vampire* meaning only a couple of hundred years old. Practically a baby compared to an immortal Valkyrie
This is honestly what first made me pick up the book — with Valkyries being a unique magic addition amongst my bookshelves that I was curious how this author would incorporate into her story
And by the GODS it paid off!
The Valkyrie coven? group? sorority? Were fucking amazing with their unique origin story, each with their own specialized powers, and general hobby in life to destroy people's life
“In response, she snapped her teeth at him. To the others she commanded, “Leave him,” then exited the cel.
The archer and the bright one exchanged a confused glance. “And by ‘leave him’ you clearly mean leave him beheaded, disemboweled, and chockful of quils like a pincushion”
They clearly had their own set of rules and norms within their society that prioritized Valkryie sisterhood above all else, especially at the risk of others' sanity.
And thus begins the entertaining and ridiculous courtship of Wroth and Myst.
Overall an average smut that made me laugh wayyy to hard so I gotta try giving the rest of the series a shot -
The Warlord Wants Forever is the short story that introduces the Immortal After Dark series...
From
Kresley Cole's website:
Nikolai Wroth, once a ruthless human warlord in the 1700s and now a general in the rebel vampire army, needs to find his Bride, the one woman who can render him truly alive. As a turned human, he doesn’t enjoy a heartbeat or breaths and is consequently weaker than fully blooded vampires. He wants his Bride for the power she will bring him and can hardly believe it when his heart beats for Myst the Coveted, a mad, fey, mythological creature.
Myst is known throughout the world as the most beautiful Valkyrie, part chillingly fierce warrior, part beguiling seductress who can “make you want her even as she’s killing you.” She has devoted her life to protecting an ancient, powerful jewel and to fighting the vampires, and she now sees a way to torment one—for with Wroth’s heartbeat comes consuming sexual desire that can only be slaked by her.
She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen the jewel which commands her, giving him absolute power over her. While he possesses it, he can make her do anything, and he plans to in order for her to experience first hand the agonizing, unending lust she’d purposely subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Wroth realizes he wants more from her and frees her, will she come back to him?
As the introduction to the IAD series, this story did its job. I wasn't wowed by it but I'm interested enough to give the next book a try. The PNR world created by Ms. Cole is unique - at least, to me - with its mixture of all kinds of PNR beings. I mean, I'm used to series being about one kind of PNR being - vampires, shapeshifters, psychics, or whatever - but it looks like the IAD series has them all "mixing and matching", and this should be fun.
I had to struggle a bit in the 1st half of story, because Wroth and Myst weren't exactly likable. He started out being somewhat cold and unemotional and then turned into an obsessive domineering "master", ugh. As for Myst, she just seemed to be too ditzy and slutty for my taste. Okay, the sexual tension between them was sizzling hot and their love scenes got me "hot and bothered", but I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable when he took her free will away from her. Every time he commanded her to do something against her will, I cringed a little because I'm not into D/s and there was definitely a D/s vibe there. Thankfully, Wroth came to his senses in the end and Myst had more depth in her than she'd led me to believe, and I ended up liking both of them.
The following books in this series are supposed to be better than this one, so I'm off to reading
A Hunger Like No Other. We shall see how I like it... -
4 Stars for The Warlord Wants Forever (audiobook) by Kresley Cole read by Robert Petkoff.
This was a fun and steamy story about a Vampire trying to make a Valkyrie his wife. -
This book's main character has a very unique race I'm not sure I've read about before; Valkyrie. Basically, if a female warrior prayed to/for lightning in their last moments of life, a Valkyrie would be born. Pretty neat stuff, but that's not even the end of all the amazing races in this novella. It's also full of vampires, fae, nymphs, demigods, werewolves, demons and more!
-
3.5 STARS
I can't believe I'm going to say this but . . . I think this one was TOO trashy for me. (Shocking, I know!)
Well, too trashy for me to consider it more than a smut read, hence the 3 stars.
But of course it was just a novella that introduces the IAD world. I have it on good authority that this series gets better and better, so I'm in for the long haul.
Plus, I LOVED the Valkyrie! Myst and her sisters were highly entertaining with their unique brand of sarcastic bad-assery. Gotta love strong heroines who don't put up with bullshit.
Looking forward to book 2! -
My first by Kresley Cole it wasn't worth my while. This book is so cliche that not only did it flirt with rape it went headlong into it and the author romanticized it.
The characters were half baked, they have almost no personality. The love interest exhibit a little when they are around each other and that is mostly about them swooning about each other.
For a 100+ pages this book managed to get on every one of my nerves.
Here are some quotes on the aforementioned rape
Yelling brutally as she cried out in pain, he buried himself into her flesh until he was thick and throbbing deep within her.
He’d done it. Myst will want the first man who can defeat her. That’s what they’d always whispered about her.
They’d been right. She’d challenged him and he’d bested her. In her mind, he deserved to claim his prize no matter the consequences.
He stilled, then bent his head to her and dragged his tongue over her nipple as if to soothe her. As if somewhere in his crazed mind, he wanted her to have pleasure.
He set to her other nipple for long moments, then sucked from her neck again. Somehow the bite turned pain to pleasure, helping her body grow slick to accept the invasion. She yanked the remains of his shirt open to sweep her fingers over his splendid chest and that helped as well.
Oh, there's also a kidnapping part.
“Wroth, you took away the free will of a creature that has had it for two thousand years. A good wager says she’s going to want it back.”
“No, you don’t understand. She’s callous. Incapable of love. It eats at me, her deception, because it’s the only thing that makes sense.” More to himself, he muttered, “Why else would she want me?” -
Not a bad story, but it got a bit cheesy towards the end.
6.5 out of 10 -
“I’ll kill you as easily as kiss you.”
This series has me in a chokehold. I’ve been reading them since January 2022 and each time I pick it up, I’ve had the best reading experience with it.
This is technically the sequel to A Hunger Like No Other but I’m following the reading order recommended by the Fates Mates podcast, since they’re pretty much obsessed with the series and know it in detail. And it made sense to read the prequel now considering the next book that follows.
Anyway, I don’t know what else to say other than I’m having a great time with this series. Kresley Cole truly created something spectacular here. The romance, the characters, the world, the plot… I can’t fault none of it. -
Updated Review:
For an IAD 1st short story, this is a 4.5 on my scale... But I could be biased.
Thus, I'm leaving my first review of this book below. It's how I felt at the time, and the male narrator honestly does a grating impression of the Count from Sesame Street for his performance of vampire, Nikolai Wroth.
However, after reading more of the series, and wishing for more audiobooks of the series (as performed by the full series narrator: Robert Petkoff, who is an unbelievable genius) I went back and gave this a second chance. It wasn't nearly as bad as I remembered. The story was quite good actually. Myst and Nikolai have a fantastically interesting relationship. The story is short and sweet, and I really understood so much more now that I am more familiar with the Lore and the characters.
I can't decide if this is better read as book one, I preferred it after reading 3 or 4 books of the series. It's definitely not necessary to read before you start the series.
Below is my first review. It still really makes me laugh because I felt so strongly. And I was creeped out by the Vampire Mating scene. Lol. Me??? Freaked by a Kresley Cole Smex scene? Impossible!! (so I'm keeping the proof:)
*****************************************************************Review1: (3stars)
Ok Kresley Cole fans, hear me out-- don't throw the uneaten popcorn at me yet.
I really liked a Hunger Like No Other, but I felt I was missing some info and thought- "oh I should finally listen to the prequel"-- A Warlord Wants Forever. (I've had the audiobook version downloaded for a long time)
(Small spoiler)
As far as helping me understand the Lore better, the first parts of the book were great. The book opens with the heroine being used as bait for the "enemy". Once she is locked up, it turns out that the the vampire who watches her eventually realizes this is his life mate. Imagine the odds... (despite their time together, he doesn't realize it till it's time to torture her.) So knowing a lot about vampires, Myst (heroine) gets him all physically excited (he can only complete sexual acts with his mate), then she gets busted out of the dungeon by her Valkyrie friends. The vampire is stuck for a long time with blue balls... years and years of blue balls. I'm telling the truth. This is the story.
So the vampire searches and searches for his mate. When they find each other, he gains control of an item that magically controls her. He forces her with commands and the magic item to do all sorts of things that excite them both. They have tons of sex. Naturally family feuds occur and there's peril and drama.
I'm not a prude. I love smexy vampire books and all the fun steamy action in PNR genre. But I just literally got so tired of the games they played once they bonded. (first he used magic to control her, then she secretly wants it, then he's unhappy she might leave him, he wants her full consent- no tricks or magic) oh yea It's probably not a good idea to mate for a lifetime with someone you coerced into bed with magic. I digress. She has to reassure him, tell him how much she wants him. blah blah blah. Blood sucking, memory stealing, blah blah, blah.
All of this is spoken or ruminated about during, before or after sex. I eventually started to lose my patience with all of the characters. It had great beginning and the rest was over dramatic sex.
But, the worst thing about my experience was the male narrator: the Great Count Chocula.
The male narrator adopted a 'Wanna Be' Dracula accent during the hot and heavy scenes. As the scene became more intense, his terrible Count Chocula impersonation became worse and worse. It sounded like he actually put in the fake fanged teeth for effect during the lustful scenes. Eventually I was cringing, laughing and wishing I had not read this prequel.
I know many people loved this one. Many of my friends here. Next time, if I try again, I'll be reading in print
-
May 2019 Re-Read. I fully recognize and acknowledge the issues in this book. There's nothing that reduces my earlier issues of forced seduction, abuse, rape, woman-being-tamed, jealous-lover, etc. But. I still love this series. The world-building alone makes it worthwhile. And, as I said below, if you read this novella, you'll have a good idea of what KC puts her characters through in each book. The path to HEA is never easy, simple, or even wanted by both characters half the time. The members of the Lore go through hell to get their happily-ever-after. Sometimes literally.
Buddy re-read with
Sarah
Okay, I admit it - I should hate this book. Forced seduction? Check. Physical blows between heroine and hero? Check. Almost, could-be-described-as, rape? Double-Check. Strong woman waiting for a man to tame her? Check. Man jealous of woman's previous 'experience'? Check. In fact, you could put a check mark next to a lot of my pet-peeves in romance novels.
I should have read this and immediately ran in the other direction, screaming out warnings. I guess the most amazing thing I can say about it is, then, that I love it. Every single torturing minute between Myst the Coveted and Nikolai Wroth had me entranced and in love with them.
What the hell happened to me?
Though this isn't my favorite story in this series, this novella will give you a good idea if you're going to enjoy the rest of the series. Kresley Cole puts her protagonists through the wringer! Not only do they suffer injustices from outside their HEA, but from the very person that's supposed to give them their HEA!
Yet every time I pick up this novella (or most any story in the series), I can't put it down. Not to come update, not to sleep, or eat, or anything. Myst is a strong as hell heroine, a Valkyrie, and one of the strongest in the Lore (the supernatural beings that have hidden their existence from humans in this world). She's got a smart mouth, and isn't afraid of her sexuality - which I found so incredibly refreshing. Nikolai is a 'gentleman warlord', in Myst's own words - something that she, and I, find hard to resist apparently!
Though I hated some of the things that both of them do to each other, I couldn't ever hate them. I wanted them to find a way through every obstacle and be happy, give each other the happiness they deserved.
Oh, and if I forgot to mention? The sex - OFF.THE.CHARTS.HOTTTTT!!! *phew*
*fans self*
I do admit that in this series I tend to forgive things that would be unpardonable in, say, a contemporary novel - the world of the Lore simple seems to beg for exceptions. It's not an easy world they live in, and alliances - even for love - are not easily made.
Obviously Myst and Wroth do find a way to their happiness, though there's much hurt before then. More hurt than I would have thought possible to shove into a novella, in fact. And though the HEA doesn't promise to be easy, I know that they're always fight to be in each other's arms and I can't help but sigh in happiness at the thought.
3.8 Stars. -
As they appear in the series from time to time, I was always curious about the love story of the dangerously charming Nikolai Wroth and the fabulously beautiful Myst. Nikolai is one of the Wroth brothers. Myst is a Valkyrie, and she is not only beautiful but a fierce warrior as well.
If I say that reading their novella made me disappointed, it would not express the intensity of my disillusionment.
Nikolai’s sense of humor, expressed in figures, nears to zero. For the most part of the story, he behaves like a possessive, overbearing jerk.
Myst’s life mission, as it turns out, is fighting with vampires. Plus, she has an Xbox addiction, and loves painting her nails.
What makes them fall in love with each other remains a mystery. Their relationship is forced, lacks romance, honesty, and intimacy. I hate the whole idea on which Nikolai and Myst’s relationship is built. The erotic scenes are repulsive, and too many for a 160-page novella. There is no considerable plot, action, or humor. Furthermore, Nikolai’s at the end of the story is totally irritating.
I have no intention to give up the series, but it is a novella I should have missed for the sake of my peace of mind. -
Francamente, esperaba más de la historia.
Había leído que la serie era algo parecido a la saga Vanir, los Dark Hunters o la hermandad de la daga negra. Pero noooop.
La historia no es mala, pero hubo momentos en que me costó mucho ubicarme en su mundo y tiempo.
Tuvo demasiado factor "S" y poco romance e historia.
La cosa fue básicamente: tú me possess, eres mía, yo te poseo... tengamos sexo y haz lo que te ordeno.
Mmmmmm, sip... no es mi tipo de libros.
***2.5 porque fue medio entretenido STARS*** -
Solid novella to the start of this series. Makes me excited to read them!
