fantastic, 11 Oct 2008
This was the first ever book that I brought of Kresley Coles and the first in the paranormal romance genre, and I have to say that it the best thing I have ever done changing from the NORMAL romance and taking a chance on Kresley Cole. The charecter are literaly brought to life on the page and what a page turner it was. Detailed descriptions of the tournement that was happening and, the Love that can not be between the two main charecters and how it boils between them. If you have never read the genre before then I would say go for it I have pre-orderd the new one as I have read all the immortals after dark and am now reading the Mcarick brothers books and have also got the sea fairing books to keep me occupied, there are just not enough hours in the day. I look forward to curling up with one of Kresleys books.

Sequel to A Hunger Like No Other, 29 Jun 2008
This is the second full length novel and third story in the Immortals After Dark Series.

It opens with Kaderin the Coldhearted (Valkyrie) coming to kill vampire Sebastian Wroth. The villagers below his castle are apparently terrified of him even though he's done nothing to provoke their fear. However, it quickly becomes apparent that she is his destined Bride, and rather than kill him, she flees, leaving a somewhat disgruntled vampire behind. Their meeting has two consequences - Sebastian's heart begins to beat, and Kaderin after centuries of being an unfeeling killing machine starts to feel emotion again.

Kaderin has more important things on her mind, however. She is about to take part in the Talisman's Hie, a kind of supernatural scavenger hunt, with the ultimate prize being a key that will allow the holder to travel backwards in time. Kaderin wants the key to be able to rescue her sisters who were slaughtered on a battlefield centuries earlier - the last time she showed mercy to a vampire. Deciding it's the only way to get close to her, Sebastian joins the Hie as well. But to gain the prize will require more than teamwork, it will take the ultimate sacrifice.

Of the two main characters I find myself slightly preferring Sebastian. Kaderin takes a little longer to warm to. But I think this is probably intended, as until this story she's been completely emotionless. It's heartwarming to read about her reawakened emotions and how they take a toll on her when she no longer sees the world in black and white.

Sebastian was turned into a vampire against his will. And he does seem to have spent a goodly amount of his immortality moping. However, this all changes when he meets Kaderin and acknowledges that maybe everything does happen for a reason, as if he wasn't a vampire he would never have met her.
I will admit when I started reading I wasn't sure about the setting - the Talisman's Hie. But I really got into it. Knowing what the prize is you can see why the competitors are all prepared to fight so desperately for it. Kaderin wants to save her sisters, Bowen the lykae wants to save his mate, Sebastian considers going back in time to save his family. When the stakes are that high you understand the ruthlessness of their behaviour.

Things I love about Kresley Cole's books.

* The banter between the characters, everyone is just so darn witty and NRFTW is no exception.

"We've established that you can't kill me."
She glared at him over her shoulder. "I ache to make those your last words."

* The fact that I believe it when the characters say I love you. In all of her books the relationship feels organic. When they get to the 'I love yous' I believe they mean them.

* The variety of her characters. Here we have demons, sirens, witches, vampires, gods, elves. Each species has its defining characteristics. But every single person we meet, no matter their species, is an individual. Even the minor characters have intriguing hints dropped about their stories.
This leads me to my one niggle about the series, which is that as it goes on, sometimes it's slightly too much. Some of the intriguing hints feel a little half-finished. The books are that good though, that I have a tendency to shrug my shoulders and assume that all will become clear in a few books time. This is probably one of the best PNR series around at the moment and I recommend it highly.



A spectacular sequal in the Immortals after dark series, 12 Dec 2007
When Kaderin is sent to a castle to kill a vampire it is Sebastian who she meets, a human turned vampire. Instead of taking his life she is giving him life, because from the moment their mouths meet, their tongues start to dance. A kiss of life is given as Sebastian's body recognizes his Bride and the Blooding starts to hum through every cell, his heart starts to pump again, lungs fill with air as his body roars to life. This is possibly the most erotic moment in Sebastian's life....until his Bride runs from him as the sun rises over the hills.

Sebastian never had much to live for but Kaderin is all the reason he needs. Adapting to this era he traces Kaderin in to a room full of magical beings. Every chosen one from their factions in entering The Hie, a contest where all need to seek magical artifacts and thereby can win points, whoever three reaches the 78 point marker first will enter the finals. The ultimate price: an artifact that will allow the owner to jump back into time twice. Kaderin has lost her two sisters a thousand years ago and now she has a chance at bringing them back and no warrior with a body that advertises to sin is going to distract her...much. When Sebastian finds a way to enter The Hie there is a smile of pure male satisfaction on his face, this contest just gotten a whole new power to reckon with!

In this Hie the stakes have never been so high....

No rest for the wicked is a masterfully told tale, it engages the reader in to a contest with vivid personalities whom are all driven to find the next artifact, and they all want or need the prize for some personal reason. The past of Kaderin and Sebastian is so well developed that it enhances the impact of their emotions. The setting of The Hie and all the Lykae's, Valkyrie's, Vampires and other beings are more than enough proof of the enticing world that Kresley Cole created, still it doesn't take the focus from the main couple, no it makes it all the more dynamic and gripping as their love awakens and evolves amd artifacts are found.

There are many fabulous secondary characters though Bowen captured my attention, he is so tortured that he screams for his own story, I can only hope that Kresley Cole hears him and tells this story sooner than later. The love between Kaderin and Sebastian is slowly working its way in to an absolutely unforgettable romance with at the end a heart wrenching moment that rendered me breathless. Their sensual encounters also take time to be build up and crest into a steaming eruption of hungry bodies and passionatly written scenes that almost burn your fingers as you turn the pages. Sebastian, though a gentleman and a man of honor, roars his claim, fulfilling all my wants and desires of what I love to see in a hero. Together they tell a spectacular and well paced tale of romance and adventure leaving room for future stories to be told.

With that Kresley Cole has enthralled me, leaving me wanting for more, curious of the further world building because I still feel many questions need to be answered. The Accession coloring the setting of the Immortals after dark world is intriguing, The Factions are for me a superb vision of fantasy which I want more of and with that it leaves me with nothing more to tell everybody than that I'm satisfied from start to finish with this tale

I can't wait for those next entries is this series! No rest for the wicked solidifies the quality of the Immortal after dark novels.

reviewed by Leontine

no rest for the wicked (imortals after dark,book 2), 07 Nov 2007
kresley cole has done it again, this book is amazing it has romance, danger, passion all rolled into one it is a fantastic read i couldnt put it down it had me hooked from start to finnish.

Wild, witty, sexy characters and a good plot!, 12 Oct 2007
After reading A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1)I was totally hooked on KC's Immortals After Dark series and couldn't wait for No Rest for the Wicked (Book 2). I was not disappointed. Other reviewers have covered the synopsis well, so I can only add that the story of Kaderin (a kick-ass valkyrie) and Sebastion (a sexy,lovable, yes lovable) vampire is inspired. I chuckled at the machinations of some of the characters, teared-up over Kaderin's angst and totally fell in love with Sebastion. The characters are well written and so much fun - they almost jump of the page. I am now just so impatient for books 3 and 4 to be released.

Although No Rest for the Wicked is an excellent stand alone book, I would agree with a previous reviewer that they are more fun when read in order. Also two characters that don't seem to have their own book but appear in books 1 and 2 are 'Myst the coveted', aka Mysty the Vampire Layer (don't ask) and Nikolai Wroth (vampire general and Sebastion's brother). Their story 'The General Wants Forever' has been published in an anthology entitled 'Playing Easy to Get"; also featuring novellas by Jaid Black and Sherylin Kenyon. Well worth getting the anthology just for Kresley Cole's story. Myst and Nikolai are HOT, HOT, HOT; and sparks fly right from the start of their steamy story.

fantastic, 11 Oct 2008
This was the first ever book that I brought of Kresley Coles and the first in the paranormal romance genre, and I have to say that it the best thing I have ever done changing from the NORMAL romance and taking a chance on Kresley Cole. The charecter are literaly brought to life on the page and what a page turner it was. Detailed descriptions of the tournement that was happening and, the Love that can not be between the two main charecters and how it boils between them. If you have never read the genre before then I would say go for it I have pre-orderd the new one as I have read all the immortals after dark and am now reading the Mcarick brothers books and have also got the sea fairing books to keep me occupied, there are just not enough hours in the day. I look forward to curling up with one of Kresleys books.

Sequel to A Hunger Like No Other, 29 Jun 2008
This is the second full length novel and third story in the Immortals After Dark Series.

It opens with Kaderin the Coldhearted (Valkyrie) coming to kill vampire Sebastian Wroth. The villagers below his castle are apparently terrified of him even though he's done nothing to provoke their fear. However, it quickly becomes apparent that she is his destined Bride, and rather than kill him, she flees, leaving a somewhat disgruntled vampire behind. Their meeting has two consequences - Sebastian's heart begins to beat, and Kaderin after centuries of being an unfeeling killing machine starts to feel emotion again.

Kaderin has more important things on her mind, however. She is about to take part in the Talisman's Hie, a kind of supernatural scavenger hunt, with the ultimate prize being a key that will allow the holder to travel backwards in time. Kaderin wants the key to be able to rescue her sisters who were slaughtered on a battlefield centuries earlier - the last time she showed mercy to a vampire. Deciding it's the only way to get close to her, Sebastian joins the Hie as well. But to gain the prize will require more than teamwork, it will take the ultimate sacrifice.

Of the two main characters I find myself slightly preferring Sebastian. Kaderin takes a little longer to warm to. But I think this is probably intended, as until this story she's been completely emotionless. It's heartwarming to read about her reawakened emotions and how they take a toll on her when she no longer sees the world in black and white.

Sebastian was turned into a vampire against his will. And he does seem to have spent a goodly amount of his immortality moping. However, this all changes when he meets Kaderin and acknowledges that maybe everything does happen for a reason, as if he wasn't a vampire he would never have met her.
I will admit when I started reading I wasn't sure about the setting - the Talisman's Hie. But I really got into it. Knowing what the prize is you can see why the competitors are all prepared to fight so desperately for it. Kaderin wants to save her sisters, Bowen the lykae wants to save his mate, Sebastian considers going back in time to save his family. When the stakes are that high you understand the ruthlessness of their behaviour.

Things I love about Kresley Cole's books.

* The banter between the characters, everyone is just so darn witty and NRFTW is no exception.

"We've established that you can't kill me."
She glared at him over her shoulder. "I ache to make those your last words."

* The fact that I believe it when the characters say I love you. In all of her books the relationship feels organic. When they get to the 'I love yous' I believe they mean them.

* The variety of her characters. Here we have demons, sirens, witches, vampires, gods, elves. Each species has its defining characteristics. But every single person we meet, no matter their species, is an individual. Even the minor characters have intriguing hints dropped about their stories.
This leads me to my one niggle about the series, which is that as it goes on, sometimes it's slightly too much. Some of the intriguing hints feel a little half-finished. The books are that good though, that I have a tendency to shrug my shoulders and assume that all will become clear in a few books time. This is probably one of the best PNR series around at the moment and I recommend it highly.



A spectacular sequal in the Immortals after dark series, 12 Dec 2007
When Kaderin is sent to a castle to kill a vampire it is Sebastian who she meets, a human turned vampire. Instead of taking his life she is giving him life, because from the moment their mouths meet, their tongues start to dance. A kiss of life is given as Sebastian's body recognizes his Bride and the Blooding starts to hum through every cell, his heart starts to pump again, lungs fill with air as his body roars to life. This is possibly the most erotic moment in Sebastian's life....until his Bride runs from him as the sun rises over the hills.

Sebastian never had much to live for but Kaderin is all the reason he needs. Adapting to this era he traces Kaderin in to a room full of magical beings. Every chosen one from their factions in entering The Hie, a contest where all need to seek magical artifacts and thereby can win points, whoever three reaches the 78 point marker first will enter the finals. The ultimate price: an artifact that will allow the owner to jump back into time twice. Kaderin has lost her two sisters a thousand years ago and now she has a chance at bringing them back and no warrior with a body that advertises to sin is going to distract her...much. When Sebastian finds a way to enter The Hie there is a smile of pure male satisfaction on his face, this contest just gotten a whole new power to reckon with!

In this Hie the stakes have never been so high....

No rest for the wicked is a masterfully told tale, it engages the reader in to a contest with vivid personalities whom are all driven to find the next artifact, and they all want or need the prize for some personal reason. The past of Kaderin and Sebastian is so well developed that it enhances the impact of their emotions. The setting of The Hie and all the Lykae's, Valkyrie's, Vampires and other beings are more than enough proof of the enticing world that Kresley Cole created, still it doesn't take the focus from the main couple, no it makes it all the more dynamic and gripping as their love awakens and evolves amd artifacts are found.

There are many fabulous secondary characters though Bowen captured my attention, he is so tortured that he screams for his own story, I can only hope that Kresley Cole hears him and tells this story sooner than later. The love between Kaderin and Sebastian is slowly working its way in to an absolutely unforgettable romance with at the end a heart wrenching moment that rendered me breathless. Their sensual encounters also take time to be build up and crest into a steaming eruption of hungry bodies and passionatly written scenes that almost burn your fingers as you turn the pages. Sebastian, though a gentleman and a man of honor, roars his claim, fulfilling all my wants and desires of what I love to see in a hero. Together they tell a spectacular and well paced tale of romance and adventure leaving room for future stories to be told.

With that Kresley Cole has enthralled me, leaving me wanting for more, curious of the further world building because I still feel many questions need to be answered. The Accession coloring the setting of the Immortals after dark world is intriguing, The Factions are for me a superb vision of fantasy which I want more of and with that it leaves me with nothing more to tell everybody than that I'm satisfied from start to finish with this tale

I can't wait for those next entries is this series! No rest for the wicked solidifies the quality of the Immortal after dark novels.

reviewed by Leontine

no rest for the wicked (imortals after dark,book 2), 07 Nov 2007
kresley cole has done it again, this book is amazing it has romance, danger, passion all rolled into one it is a fantastic read i couldnt put it down it had me hooked from start to finnish.

Wild, witty, sexy characters and a good plot!, 12 Oct 2007
After reading A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1)I was totally hooked on KC's Immortals After Dark series and couldn't wait for No Rest for the Wicked (Book 2). I was not disappointed. Other reviewers have covered the synopsis well, so I can only add that the story of Kaderin (a kick-ass valkyrie) and Sebastion (a sexy,lovable, yes lovable) vampire is inspired. I chuckled at the machinations of some of the characters, teared-up over Kaderin's angst and totally fell in love with Sebastion. The characters are well written and so much fun - they almost jump of the page. I am now just so impatient for books 3 and 4 to be released.

Although No Rest for the Wicked is an excellent stand alone book, I would agree with a previous reviewer that they are more fun when read in order. Also two characters that don't seem to have their own book but appear in books 1 and 2 are 'Myst the coveted', aka Mysty the Vampire Layer (don't ask) and Nikolai Wroth (vampire general and Sebastion's brother). Their story 'The General Wants Forever' has been published in an anthology entitled 'Playing Easy to Get"; also featuring novellas by Jaid Black and Sherylin Kenyon. Well worth getting the anthology just for Kresley Cole's story. Myst and Nikolai are HOT, HOT, HOT; and sparks fly right from the start of their steamy story.

Wooo!, 07 Oct 2008
This book was great. I was recommended to try it, realised I had it on my TBR pile and hooked it out. Finished in 2 days, and can't wait to get hold of the next one in the series 'One Foot in the Grave'.

'If Buffy and Angel had a daughter, she'd be just like Cat Crawfield, a vampire hunter with some vampire blood and an attitude.

Cat's got a few skeletons in her closet... and some buried in the backyard. The half-vampire is out to rid the world of these hideous night creatures, and when she's captured by Bones, she realizes the master vampire has a few things to teach her.

Teaming up with one of "them" wasn't in her plans, but now that the stakes have been raised, she is faced with the most difficult fight of all....'

Halfway To The Grave is the debut novel from new author Jeaniene Frost. It follows the story of Cat a vampire/human hybrid, as she goes from being an amateur vampire slayer to being a force to be reckoned with after she teams up with Bones, the master vampire who teaches her all about killing vampires. Along the way they manage to kill some evil vampires, destroy a white slavery ring and fall in love, making for an action packed novel.

X-rated paranormal romance, 30 Sep 2008
Given the explicit sex, swearing and rampant gory violence, this isn't exactly Mills & Boon plus vampires. So, yes, I enjoyed it a lot and have already ordered the sequel. You will probably feel the same as me unless you actually wanted M&B plus vamps.

Just one thing caught my snarky attention. When offered a choice between the evolutionary and creationist origins of vampires, our heroine immediately opts for the latter, saying that she's a believer. First of all many devout Christians accept evolution without a qualm so it's hardly an either/or issue which leads me to suspect the author herself believes in the stupidity which is creationism. Or, I hope, she could just be taking the easy way out by blaming it (as has been done by several other authors in the past) on Cain.

Still, despite triggering one of my prejudices, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this fun book.

Brilliant...!, 13 Aug 2008
Can't get enough of these books, funny, exiting and sexy. Desperate for the next installment as have red the first two half a dozen time.

Average vampire fiction, 21 Apr 2008
This book was recommended to me by amazon. I read a lot of Urban Fantasy / Romance so I and I knew I liked the sound of having a protagonist who was a half vampire. However, it became clear to me within the first few chapters that the book was lacking. It wasn't until near the end that the book picked up pace.

The story belted along at a frantic pace, however, it felt disjointed and also as though too many ideas were thrown into the melting pot. The relationship between Cat and Bones seemed very unrealistic, given that in the first instance they had only met a few days before. Cat was meant to be tough but she gave into Bones all too easily at the beginning by joining him in his training. The book tries to sell Cat as a rebellious young woman who won't be told what to do, but in the end she seemed a bit watered down.

My biggest problem with this book was with the character of Bones. He seemed to be a cross between Spike and Mr Darcy. Bones's speech patterns seemed very irregular and as an English person I can testify that I don't use the words `pet' or `luv' in every sentence. There was a lack of understanding about British speech patterns in writing the character, and I think the language is the key to that character and it didn't sit right. Also, Bones' back story/ history was anachronistic and was full of little holes. This may not seem a major problem to most readers but if you're going to right about a vampire who is from a different country then at least get the research right.

There were some positives about the book. I enjoyed the idea of having a half vampire/ half human protagonist; and some of the ideas behind the vampire myth were very nifty. I thought that when the book did pick up pace it was considerably better.


A little gem, 16 Apr 2008
I bought this book after reading some of the reviews on Amazon, so thank you, all you readers. I thought the book was an extremely enjoyable read. I really like the heroine, Cat or Kitten, as her vampire boyfriend calls her.I found the dialogue between Cat and Bones witty and well written. The only grip I did have was that I found Cat's mother really annoying. I will certainly be buying the next book in the series.

fantastic, 11 Oct 2008
This was the first ever book that I brought of Kresley Coles and the first in the paranormal romance genre, and I have to say that it the best thing I have ever done changing from the NORMAL romance and taking a chance on Kresley Cole. The charecter are literaly brought to life on the page and what a page turner it was. Detailed descriptions of the tournement that was happening and, the Love that can not be between the two main charecters and how it boils between them. If you have never read the genre before then I would say go for it I have pre-orderd the new one as I have read all the immortals after dark and am now reading the Mcarick brothers books and have also got the sea fairing books to keep me occupied, there are just not enough hours in the day. I look forward to curling up with one of Kresleys books.

Sequel to A Hunger Like No Other, 29 Jun 2008
This is the second full length novel and third story in the Immortals After Dark Series.

It opens with Kaderin the Coldhearted (Valkyrie) coming to kill vampire Sebastian Wroth. The villagers below his castle are apparently terrified of him even though he's done nothing to provoke their fear. However, it quickly becomes apparent that she is his destined Bride, and rather than kill him, she flees, leaving a somewhat disgruntled vampire behind. Their meeting has two consequences - Sebastian's heart begins to beat, and Kaderin after centuries of being an unfeeling killing machine starts to feel emotion again.

Kaderin has more important things on her mind, however. She is about to take part in the Talisman's Hie, a kind of supernatural scavenger hunt, with the ultimate prize being a key that will allow the holder to travel backwards in time. Kaderin wants the key to be able to rescue her sisters who were slaughtered on a battlefield centuries earlier - the last time she showed mercy to a vampire. Deciding it's the only way to get close to her, Sebastian joins the Hie as well. But to gain the prize will require more than teamwork, it will take the ultimate sacrifice.

Of the two main characters I find myself slightly preferring Sebastian. Kaderin takes a little longer to warm to. But I think this is probably intended, as until this story she's been completely emotionless. It's heartwarming to read about her reawakened emotions and how they take a toll on her when she no longer sees the world in black and white.

Sebastian was turned into a vampire against his will. And he does seem to have spent a goodly amount of his immortality moping. However, this all changes when he meets Kaderin and acknowledges that maybe everything does happen for a reason, as if he wasn't a vampire he would never have met her.
I will admit when I started reading I wasn't sure about the setting - the Talisman's Hie. But I really got into it. Knowing what the prize is you can see why the competitors are all prepared to fight so desperately for it. Kaderin wants to save her sisters, Bowen the lykae wants to save his mate, Sebastian considers going back in time to save his family. When the stakes are that high you understand the ruthlessness of their behaviour.

Things I love about Kresley Cole's books.

* The banter between the characters, everyone is just so darn witty and NRFTW is no exception.

"We've established that you can't kill me."
She glared at him over her shoulder. "I ache to make those your last words."

* The fact that I believe it when the characters say I love you. In all of her books the relationship feels organic. When they get to the 'I love yous' I believe they mean them.

* The variety of her characters. Here we have demons, sirens, witches, vampires, gods, elves. Each species has its defining characteristics. But every single person we meet, no matter their species, is an individual. Even the minor characters have intriguing hints dropped about their stories.
This leads me to my one niggle about the series, which is that as it goes on, sometimes it's slightly too much. Some of the intriguing hints feel a little half-finished. The books are that good though, that I have a tendency to shrug my shoulders and assume that all will become clear in a few books time. This is probably one of the best PNR series around at the moment and I recommend it highly.



A spectacular sequal in the Immortals after dark series, 12 Dec 2007
When Kaderin is sent to a castle to kill a vampire it is Sebastian who she meets, a human turned vampire. Instead of taking his life she is giving him life, because from the moment their mouths meet, their tongues start to dance. A kiss of life is given as Sebastian's body recognizes his Bride and the Blooding starts to hum through every cell, his heart starts to pump again, lungs fill with air as his body roars to life. This is possibly the most erotic moment in Sebastian's life....until his Bride runs from him as the sun rises over the hills.

Sebastian never had much to live for but Kaderin is all the reason he needs. Adapting to this era he traces Kaderin in to a room full of magical beings. Every chosen one from their factions in entering The Hie, a contest where all need to seek magical artifacts and thereby can win points, whoever three reaches the 78 point marker first will enter the finals. The ultimate price: an artifact that will allow the owner to jump back into time twice. Kaderin has lost her two sisters a thousand years ago and now she has a chance at bringing them back and no warrior with a body that advertises to sin is going to distract her...much. When Sebastian finds a way to enter The Hie there is a smile of pure male satisfaction on his face, this contest just gotten a whole new power to reckon with!

In this Hie the stakes have never been so high....

No rest for the wicked is a masterfully told tale, it engages the reader in to a contest with vivid personalities whom are all driven to find the next artifact, and they all want or need the prize for some personal reason. The past of Kaderin and Sebastian is so well developed that it enhances the impact of their emotions. The setting of The Hie and all the Lykae's, Valkyrie's, Vampires and other beings are more than enough proof of the enticing world that Kresley Cole created, still it doesn't take the focus from the main couple, no it makes it all the more dynamic and gripping as their love awakens and evolves amd artifacts are found.

There are many fabulous secondary characters though Bowen captured my attention, he is so tortured that he screams for his own story, I can only hope that Kresley Cole hears him and tells this story sooner than later. The love between Kaderin and Sebastian is slowly working its way in to an absolutely unforgettable romance with at the end a heart wrenching moment that rendered me breathless. Their sensual encounters also take time to be build up and crest into a steaming eruption of hungry bodies and passionatly written scenes that almost burn your fingers as you turn the pages. Sebastian, though a gentleman and a man of honor, roars his claim, fulfilling all my wants and desires of what I love to see in a hero. Together they tell a spectacular and well paced tale of romance and adventure leaving room for future stories to be told.

With that Kresley Cole has enthralled me, leaving me wanting for more, curious of the further world building because I still feel many questions need to be answered. The Accession coloring the setting of the Immortals after dark world is intriguing, The Factions are for me a superb vision of fantasy which I want more of and with that it leaves me with nothing more to tell everybody than that I'm satisfied from start to finish with this tale

I can't wait for those next entries is this series! No rest for the wicked solidifies the quality of the Immortal after dark novels.

reviewed by Leontine

no rest for the wicked (imortals after dark,book 2), 07 Nov 2007
kresley cole has done it again, this book is amazing it has romance, danger, passion all rolled into one it is a fantastic read i couldnt put it down it had me hooked from start to finnish.

Wild, witty, sexy characters and a good plot!, 12 Oct 2007
After reading A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1)I was totally hooked on KC's Immortals After Dark series and couldn't wait for No Rest for the Wicked (Book 2). I was not disappointed. Other reviewers have covered the synopsis well, so I can only add that the story of Kaderin (a kick-ass valkyrie) and Sebastion (a sexy,lovable, yes lovable) vampire is inspired. I chuckled at the machinations of some of the characters, teared-up over Kaderin's angst and totally fell in love with Sebastion. The characters are well written and so much fun - they almost jump of the page. I am now just so impatient for books 3 and 4 to be released.

Although No Rest for the Wicked is an excellent stand alone book, I would agree with a previous reviewer that they are more fun when read in order. Also two characters that don't seem to have their own book but appear in books 1 and 2 are 'Myst the coveted', aka Mysty the Vampire Layer (don't ask) and Nikolai Wroth (vampire general and Sebastion's brother). Their story 'The General Wants Forever' has been published in an anthology entitled 'Playing Easy to Get"; also featuring novellas by Jaid Black and Sherylin Kenyon. Well worth getting the anthology just for Kresley Cole's story. Myst and Nikolai are HOT, HOT, HOT; and sparks fly right from the start of their steamy story.

Wooo!, 07 Oct 2008
This book was great. I was recommended to try it, realised I had it on my TBR pile and hooked it out. Finished in 2 days, and can't wait to get hold of the next one in the series 'One Foot in the Grave'.

'If Buffy and Angel had a daughter, she'd be just like Cat Crawfield, a vampire hunter with some vampire blood and an attitude.

Cat's got a few skeletons in her closet... and some buried in the backyard. The half-vampire is out to rid the world of these hideous night creatures, and when she's captured by Bones, she realizes the master vampire has a few things to teach her.

Teaming up with one of "them" wasn't in her plans, but now that the stakes have been raised, she is faced with the most difficult fight of all....'

Halfway To The Grave is the debut novel from new author Jeaniene Frost. It follows the story of Cat a vampire/human hybrid, as she goes from being an amateur vampire slayer to being a force to be reckoned with after she teams up with Bones, the master vampire who teaches her all about killing vampires. Along the way they manage to kill some evil vampires, destroy a white slavery ring and fall in love, making for an action packed novel.

X-rated paranormal romance, 30 Sep 2008
Given the explicit sex, swearing and rampant gory violence, this isn't exactly Mills & Boon plus vampires. So, yes, I enjoyed it a lot and have already ordered the sequel. You will probably feel the same as me unless you actually wanted M&B plus vamps.

Just one thing caught my snarky attention. When offered a choice between the evolutionary and creationist origins of vampires, our heroine immediately opts for the latter, saying that she's a believer. First of all many devout Christians accept evolution without a qualm so it's hardly an either/or issue which leads me to suspect the author herself believes in the stupidity which is creationism. Or, I hope, she could just be taking the easy way out by blaming it (as has been done by several other authors in the past) on Cain.

Still, despite triggering one of my prejudices, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this fun book.

Brilliant...!, 13 Aug 2008
Can't get enough of these books, funny, exiting and sexy. Desperate for the next installment as have red the first two half a dozen time.

Average vampire fiction, 21 Apr 2008
This book was recommended to me by amazon. I read a lot of Urban Fantasy / Romance so I and I knew I liked the sound of having a protagonist who was a half vampire. However, it became clear to me within the first few chapters that the book was lacking. It wasn't until near the end that the book picked up pace.

The story belted along at a frantic pace, however, it felt disjointed and also as though too many ideas were thrown into the melting pot. The relationship between Cat and Bones seemed very unrealistic, given that in the first instance they had only met a few days before. Cat was meant to be tough but she gave into Bones all too easily at the beginning by joining him in his training. The book tries to sell Cat as a rebellious young woman who won't be told what to do, but in the end she seemed a bit watered down.

My biggest problem with this book was with the character of Bones. He seemed to be a cross between Spike and Mr Darcy. Bones's speech patterns seemed very irregular and as an English person I can testify that I don't use the words `pet' or `luv' in every sentence. There was a lack of understanding about British speech patterns in writing the character, and I think the language is the key to that character and it didn't sit right. Also, Bones' back story/ history was anachronistic and was full of little holes. This may not seem a major problem to most readers but if you're going to right about a vampire who is from a different country then at least get the research right.

There were some positives about the book. I enjoyed the idea of having a half vampire/ half human protagonist; and some of the ideas behind the vampire myth were very nifty. I thought that when the book did pick up pace it was considerably better.


A little gem, 16 Apr 2008
I bought this book after reading some of the reviews on Amazon, so thank you, all you readers. I thought the book was an extremely enjoyable read. I really like the heroine, Cat or Kitten, as her vampire boyfriend calls her.I found the dialogue between Cat and Bones witty and well written. The only grip I did have was that I found Cat's mother really annoying. I will certainly be buying the next book in the series.

4.5 stars, 24 Oct 2006
"Dark Dreamers" contains 2 stories by 2 highly imaginative and well established fantasy romance authors.

Dark Dream by Christine Feehan
This latest "Carpathian" novella is the story of Falcon, an ancient and powerful being sent to the new world to battle evil vampires; his brethren which have succumbed to the beast lurking in every Carpathian male. At last reaching the end of his own endurance, Falcon travels towards his homeland to suicide in the Carpathian mountains rather then succumb to his strengthening inner beast. Only his destined mate can chase away his monster; but after living for thousands of years, Falcon's given up hope of finding her in time. Yet whilst in Romania he meets an American woman helping the homeless children in the area, and suddenly his world is again full of colour; a sure sign this woman is his life mate. This woman, Sara Marten, has been evading an ancient vampire for 15 years and since the night he slaughtered her family, has been reluctant to open her heart. Yet immediately recognising her bond to Falcon, she finds herself again fearing for the safety of a loved one.

Showing her concern by wanting to home 7 very special children, the ancient vampire uses them as bait in an attempt to capture Sara, leaving Falcon no choice but to call upon the assistance of the Carpathians; warriors he has never met and who have no knowledge of his existence. With the sun setting, it soon becomes a race as to who will reach Sara first; her beloved Falcon or an ancient evil.
4 stars

A Dream of Stone and Shadow by Marjorie M Liu
This novella is the 4th instalment in the "Dirk and Steele" series; a detective agency which employs people with paranormal abilities. Clairvoyant Aggie often sees the future playing out before her eyes; yet for the first time she experiences someone else placing images in her mind, that of a kidnapped and abused little girl named Emma.

Although imprisoned in Scotland, each time Charlie dies he uses the time it takes for his body to heal to comfort a frightened child in America. Without corporeal form and so unable to help Emma himself, he searches for the right individual to take on the task of rescuing her, and finds exactly what he's looking for in Aggie. Already investigating a child smuggling ring Aggie soon takes on the job of hunting for Emma; however she remains somewhat wary of her informant, a faceless man who, if she's to believe her own visions (and they're always accurate), she becomes intimately involved with in the future. Learning that Charlie is in fact a gargoyle and held captive by a witch (working for Dirk and Steele certainly makes you more accepting of the unbelievable) Aggie vows that after Emma is safe, she'll travel to Scotland and free the being she's fallen in love with. Unfortunately there is only one variation of the future in which Charlie and his brother gargoyles are freed, and in that vision Aggie witnesses her own death.
5 stars

Both these stories are great; however as a die hard fan of MML, I'd like to take a moment to rave about her absolutely fantastic "Dirk and Steele" series. If you're unfamiliar with this authors works then I urge you to give the following books a try; "Tiger Eye", "Shadow Touch" and "The Red Heart of Jade". CF fans will also be left well satisfied with the latest offering in the lengthy "Carpathian" series. Both stories although not full length novels, contained cracking leading lovers battling for their love amid some strange circumstances; aided by well developed secondary characters and opposed by believable evil enemies. Both authors really excelled in creating a highly addictive paranormal romance (again) and I cannot help but recommend this book to fans of both genres.

fantastic, 11 Oct 2008
This was the first ever book that I brought of Kresley Coles and the first in the paranormal romance genre, and I have to say that it the best thing I have ever done changing from the NORMAL romance and taking a chance on Kresley Cole. The charecter are literaly brought to life on the page and what a page turner it was. Detailed descriptions of the tournement that was happening and, the Love that can not be between the two main charecters and how it boils between them. If you have never read the genre before then I would say go for it I have pre-orderd the new one as I have read all the immortals after dark and am now reading the Mcarick brothers books and have also got the sea fairing books to keep me occupied, there are just not enough hours in the day. I look forward to curling up with one of Kresleys books.

Sequel to A Hunger Like No Other, 29 Jun 2008
This is the second full length novel and third story in the Immortals After Dark Series.

It opens with Kaderin the Coldhearted (Valkyrie) coming to kill vampire Sebastian Wroth. The villagers below his castle are apparently terrified of him even though he's done nothing to provoke their fear. However, it quickly becomes apparent that she is his destined Bride, and rather than kill him, she flees, leaving a somewhat disgruntled vampire behind. Their meeting has two consequences - Sebastian's heart begins to beat, and Kaderin after centuries of being an unfeeling killing machine starts to feel emotion again.

Kaderin has more important things on her mind, however. She is about to take part in the Talisman's Hie, a kind of supernatural scavenger hunt, with the ultimate prize being a key that will allow the holder to travel backwards in time. Kaderin wants the key to be able to rescue her sisters who were slaughtered on a battlefield centuries earlier - the last time she showed mercy to a vampire. Deciding it's the only way to get close to her, Sebastian joins the Hie as well. But to gain the prize will require more than teamwork, it will take the ultimate sacrifice.

Of the two main characters I find myself slightly preferring Sebastian. Kaderin takes a little longer to warm to. But I think this is probably intended, as until this story she's been completely emotionless. It's heartwarming to read about her reawakened emotions and how they take a toll on her when she no longer sees the world in black and white.

Sebastian was turned into a vampire against his will. And he does seem to have spent a goodly amount of his immortality moping. However, this all changes when he meets Kaderin and acknowledges that maybe everything does happen for a reason, as if he wasn't a vampire he would never have met her.
I will admit when I started reading I wasn't sure about the setting - the Talisman's Hie. But I really got into it. Knowing what the prize is you can see why the competitors are all prepared to fight so desperately for it. Kaderin wants to save her sisters, Bowen the lykae wants to save his mate, Sebastian considers going back in time to save his family. When the stakes are that high you understand the ruthlessness of their behaviour.

Things I love about Kresley Cole's books.

* The banter between the characters, everyone is just so darn witty and NRFTW is no exception.

"We've established that you can't kill me."
She glared at him over her shoulder. "I ache to make those your last words."

* The fact that I believe it when the characters say I love you. In all of her books the relationship feels organic. When they get to the 'I love yous' I believe they mean them.

* The variety of her characters. Here we have demons, sirens, witches, vampires, gods, elves. Each species has its defining characteristics. But every single person we meet, no matter their species, is an individual. Even the minor characters have intriguing hints dropped about their stories.
This leads me to my one niggle about the series, which is that as it goes on, sometimes it's slightly too much. Some of the intriguing hints feel a little half-finished. The books are that good though, that I have a tendency to shrug my shoulders and assume that all will become clear in a few books time. This is probably one of the best PNR series around at the moment and I recommend it highly.



A spectacular sequal in the Immortals after dark series, 12 Dec 2007
When Kaderin is sent to a castle to kill a vampire it is Sebastian who she meets, a human turned vampire. Instead of taking his life she is giving him life, because from the moment their mouths meet, their tongues start to dance. A kiss of life is given as Sebastian's body recognizes his Bride and the Blooding starts to hum through every cell, his heart starts to pump again, lungs fill with air as his body roars to life. This is possibly the most erotic moment in Sebastian's life....until his Bride runs from him as the sun rises over the hills.

Sebastian never had much to live for but Kaderin is all the reason he needs. Adapting to this era he traces Kaderin in to a room full of magical beings. Every chosen one from their factions in entering The Hie, a contest where all need to seek magical artifacts and thereby can win points, whoever three reaches the 78 point marker first will enter the finals. The ultimate price: an artifact that will allow the owner to jump back into time twice. Kaderin has lost her two sisters a thousand years ago and now she has a chance at bringing them back and no warrior with a body that advertises to sin is going to distract her...much. When Sebastian finds a way to enter The Hie there is a smile of pure male satisfaction on his face, this contest just gotten a whole new power to reckon with!

In this Hie the stakes have never been so high....

No rest for the wicked is a masterfully told tale, it engages the reader in to a contest with vivid personalities whom are all driven to find the next artifact, and they all want or need the prize for some personal reason. The past of Kaderin and Sebastian is so well developed that it enhances the impact of their emotions. The setting of The Hie and all the Lykae's, Valkyrie's, Vampires and other beings are more than enough proof of the enticing world that Kresley Cole created, still it doesn't take the focus from the main couple, no it makes it all the more dynamic and gripping as their love awakens and evolves amd artifacts are found.

There are many fabulous secondary characters though Bowen captured my attention, he is so tortured that he screams for his own story, I can only hope that Kresley Cole hears him and tells this story sooner than later. The love between Kaderin and Sebastian is slowly working its way in to an absolutely unforgettable romance with at the end a heart wrenching moment that rendered me breathless. Their sensual encounters also take time to be build up and crest into a steaming eruption of hungry bodies and passionatly written scenes that almost burn your fingers as you turn the pages. Sebastian, though a gentleman and a man of honor, roars his claim, fulfilling all my wants and desires of what I love to see in a hero. Together they tell a spectacular and well paced tale of romance and adventure leaving room for future stories to be told.

With that Kresley Cole has enthralled me, leaving me wanting for more, curious of the further world building because I still feel many questions need to be answered. The Accession coloring the setting of the Immortals after dark world is intriguing, The Factions are for me a superb vision of fantasy which I want more of and with that it leaves me with nothing more to tell everybody than that I'm satisfied from start to finish with this tale

I can't wait for those next entries is this series! No rest for the wicked solidifies the quality of the Immortal after dark novels.

reviewed by Leontine

no rest for the wicked (imortals after dark,book 2), 07 Nov 2007
kresley cole has done it again, this book is amazing it has romance, danger, passion all rolled into one it is a fantastic read i couldnt put it down it had me hooked from start to finnish.

Wild, witty, sexy characters and a good plot!, 12 Oct 2007
After reading A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1)I was totally hooked on KC's Immortals After Dark series and couldn't wait for No Rest for the Wicked (Book 2). I was not disappointed. Other reviewers have covered the synopsis well, so I can only add that the story of Kaderin (a kick-ass valkyrie) and Sebastion (a sexy,lovable, yes lovable) vampire is inspired. I chuckled at the machinations of some of the characters, teared-up over Kaderin's angst and totally fell in love with Sebastion. The characters are well written and so much fun - they almost jump of the page. I am now just so impatient for books 3 and 4 to be released.

Although No Rest for the Wicked is an excellent stand alone book, I would agree with a previous reviewer that they are more fun when read in order. Also two characters that don't seem to have their own book but appear in books 1 and 2 are 'Myst the coveted', aka Mysty the Vampire Layer (don't ask) and Nikolai Wroth (vampire general and Sebastion's brother). Their story 'The General Wants Forever' has been published in an anthology entitled 'Playing Easy to Get"; also featuring novellas by Jaid Black and Sherylin Kenyon. Well worth getting the anthology just for Kresley Cole's story. Myst and Nikolai are HOT, HOT, HOT; and sparks fly right from the start of their steamy story.

Wooo!, 07 Oct 2008
This book was great. I was recommended to try it, realised I had it on my TBR pile and hooked it out. Finished in 2 days, and can't wait to get hold of the next one in the series 'One Foot in the Grave'.

'If Buffy and Angel had a daughter, she'd be just like Cat Crawfield, a vampire hunter with some vampire blood and an attitude.

Cat's got a few skeletons in her closet... and some buried in the backyard. The half-vampire is out to rid the world of these hideous night creatures, and when she's captured by Bones, she realizes the master vampire has a few things to teach her.

Teaming up with one of "them" wasn't in her plans, but now that the stakes have been raised, she is faced with the most difficult fight of all....'

Halfway To The Grave is the debut novel from new author Jeaniene Frost. It follows the story of Cat a vampire/human hybrid, as she goes from being an amateur vampire slayer to being a force to be reckoned with after she teams up with Bones, the master vampire who teaches her all about killing vampires. Along the way they manage to kill some evil vampires, destroy a white slavery ring and fall in love, making for an action packed novel.

X-rated paranormal romance, 30 Sep 2008
Given the explicit sex, swearing and rampant gory violence, this isn't exactly Mills & Boon plus vampires. So, yes, I enjoyed it a lot and have already ordered the sequel. You will probably feel the same as me unless you actually wanted M&B plus vamps.

Just one thing caught my snarky attention. When offered a choice between the evolutionary and creationist origins of vampires, our heroine immediately opts for the latter, saying that she's a believer. First of all many devout Christians accept evolution without a qualm so it's hardly an either/or issue which leads me to suspect the author herself believes in the stupidity which is creationism. Or, I hope, she could just be taking the easy way out by blaming it (as has been done by several other authors in the past) on Cain.

Still, despite triggering one of my prejudices, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this fun book.

Brilliant...!, 13 Aug 2008
Can't get enough of these books, funny, exiting and sexy. Desperate for the next installment as have red the first two half a dozen time.

Average vampire fiction, 21 Apr 2008
This book was recommended to me by amazon. I read a lot of Urban Fantasy / Romance so I and I knew I liked the sound of having a protagonist who was a half vampire. However, it became clear to me within the first few chapters that the book was lacking. It wasn't until near the end that the book picked up pace.

The story belted along at a frantic pace, however, it felt disjointed and also as though too many ideas were thrown into the melting pot. The relationship between Cat and Bones seemed very unrealistic, given that in the first instance they had only met a few days before. Cat was meant to be tough but she gave into Bones all too easily at the beginning by joining him in his training. The book tries to sell Cat as a rebellious young woman who won't be told what to do, but in the end she seemed a bit watered down.

My biggest problem with this book was with the character of Bones. He seemed to be a cross between Spike and Mr Darcy. Bones's speech patterns seemed very irregular and as an English person I can testify that I don't use the words `pet' or `luv' in every sentence. There was a lack of understanding about British speech patterns in writing the character, and I think the language is the key to that character and it didn't sit right. Also, Bones' back story/ history was anachronistic and was full of little holes. This may not seem a major problem to most readers but if you're going to right about a vampire who is from a different country then at least get the research right.

There were some positives about the book. I enjoyed the idea of having a half vampire/ half human protagonist; and some of the ideas behind the vampire myth were very nifty. I thought that when the book did pick up pace it was considerably better.


A little gem, 16 Apr 2008
I bought this book after reading some of the reviews on Amazon, so thank you, all you readers. I thought the book was an extremely enjoyable read. I really like the heroine, Cat or Kitten, as her vampire boyfriend calls her.I found the dialogue between Cat and Bones witty and well written. The only grip I did have was that I found Cat's mother really annoying. I will certainly be buying the next book in the series.

4.5 stars, 24 Oct 2006
"Dark Dreamers" contains 2 stories by 2 highly imaginative and well established fantasy romance authors.

Dark Dream by Christine Feehan
This latest "Carpathian" novella is the story of Falcon, an ancient and powerful being sent to the new world to battle evil vampires; his brethren which have succumbed to the beast lurking in every Carpathian male. At last reaching the end of his own endurance, Falcon travels towards his homeland to suicide in the Carpathian mountains rather then succumb to his strengthening inner beast. Only his destined mate can chase away his monster; but after living for thousands of years, Falcon's given up hope of finding her in time. Yet whilst in Romania he meets an American woman helping the homeless children in the area, and suddenly his world is again full of colour; a sure sign this woman is his life mate. This woman, Sara Marten, has been evading an ancient vampire for 15 years and since the night he slaughtered her family, has been reluctant to open her heart. Yet immediately recognising her bond to Falcon, she finds herself again fearing for the safety of a loved one.

Showing her concern by wanting to home 7 very special children, the ancient vampire uses them as bait in an attempt to capture Sara, leaving Falcon no choice but to call upon the assistance of the Carpathians; warriors he has never met and who have no knowledge of his existence. With the sun setting, it soon becomes a race as to who will reach Sara first; her beloved Falcon or an ancient evil.
4 stars

A Dream of Stone and Shadow by Marjorie M Liu
This novella is the 4th instalment in the "Dirk and Steele" series; a detective agency which employs people with paranormal abilities. Clairvoyant Aggie often sees the future playing out before her eyes; yet for the first time she experiences someone else placing images in her mind, that of a kidnapped and abused little girl named Emma.

Although imprisoned in Scotland, each time Charlie dies he uses the time it takes for his body to heal to comfort a frightened child in America. Without corporeal form and so unable to help Emma himself, he searches for the right individual to take on the task of rescuing her, and finds exactly what he's looking for in Aggie. Already investigating a child smuggling ring Aggie soon takes on the job of hunting for Emma; however she remains somewhat wary of her informant, a faceless man who, if she's to believe her own visions (and they're always accurate), she becomes intimately involved with in the future. Learning that Charlie is in fact a gargoyle and held captive by a witch (working for Dirk and Steele certainly makes you more accepting of the unbelievable) Aggie vows that after Emma is safe, she'll travel to Scotland and free the being she's fallen in love with. Unfortunately there is only one variation of the future in which Charlie and his brother gargoyles are freed, and in that vision Aggie witnesses her own death.
5 stars

Both these stories are great; however as a die hard fan of MML, I'd like to take a moment to rave about her absolutely fantastic "Dirk and Steele" series. If you're unfamiliar with this authors works then I urge you to give the following books a try; "Tiger Eye", "Shadow Touch" and "The Red Heart of Jade". CF fans will also be left well satisfied with the latest offering in the lengthy "Carpathian" series. Both stories although not full length novels, contained cracking leading lovers battling for their love amid some strange circumstances; aided by well developed secondary characters and opposed by believable evil enemies. Both authors really excelled in creating a highly addictive paranormal romance (again) and I cannot help but recommend this book to fans of both genres.



Like a long and complex dream, 06 Feb 2008
After having read the mere 176-page original gothic tale of 1764, Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto", I embarked on this 672-page equally-famous gothic fantasy by Ann Radcliffe, published thirty years later, and a best-selling literary phenomenon of its day.

The opening of Terry Castle's incisive introduction to the work notes that, "Perhaps no work in the history of English fiction has been more often caricatured." It is supposed to be "the greatest (or at least the most famous) of gothic romances ... has an archetypal `gothic villain' ... is loaded with exotic scenery ... [and] its heroine, a victim of `sensibility', faints a lot." But whilst common opinion may see it as "a bit of a `silly' book too", the conscientious reader must actually "feel a twinge of bad faith"; Udolpho is actually "bigger, baggier and more uncanny than one thought it was." This is so true.

Whilst not denying a strong gothic element in the writing, the book is also a travelogue, a morality tale, a commentary on manners, and even a comedy of errors; just like Shakespeare, the servants provide a focus for humour, and Radcliffe is not even averse to parody herself as well as the tale she tells. Indeed, one can even view the novel as a typical Jane Austen romance - a woman, her marriage options, and the descent of landed property feature heavily in the plot - but this time set on the continent and in a gothic milieu; Jane Austen even drew on some of the scenes for her `Northanger Abbey' of 1818. But Terry Castle draws attention to the title of the novel, namely the `mysteries' of Udolpho. Thus one can add to the long list of genres set out above, even that of an Agatha Christie murder-mystery, a product of the new age of enlightenment when old-style superstitious mystery was replaced by its more reasoned newcomer, although "Radcliffe's supposedly `rational' explanations are at times almost more implausible than the supernatural explanations they are meant to displace."

Whilst the consensus about the book's merits might be overwhelmingly negative - "too long, feeble in characterisation ... lacking in moral or intellectual gravitas ... [and] full of absurdities" - a closer examination reveals "a meticulous stylist ... who can create moments of considerable drama". Indeed, the style of writing is worthy of remark. The book is full of long sentences, often beautifully constructed. The book must be read at a stately pace to accord with the natural breath of the author's rhythm. Did she speak in this way, or are the construction of sentences designed so as to be read aloud within family groups as they sat before the fire on cold, dark, late-eighteenth century evenings? This style can lead to artifice, and the excessive number of commas can be exasperating on occasions.

There are whole chapters of descriptive prose about the sublime effects of the natural landscape. These are of more value than mere curiosity; the author writes very well with a sharp eye for detail. Terry Castle sagely compares her prose in this regard to the landscapes paintings of Salvatore Rosa, Poussin and Claude Lorraine that Radcliffe admired. This is all the more amazing, as she never visited the places she describes in such detail, but sees them through the eyes of fancy. Actually, she saw them through the eyes of the likes of Tobias Smollett and Hester Thrale Piozzi whose travel books she greatly relied upon. Geographically, the novel forms an arc: volume one is set in Gascony and Languedoc; volume two in Venice and Udolpho; volume three in Udolpho and Tuscany; and volume four back in Gascony and Languedoc.

Ostensibly set in the year 1584, the book is imbued with the manners and sensibilities of genteel England of 1794. For this reason, I found it convenient to forego imagining a strict rendition of time and place. Whilst the number of precise factual anachronisms is small, they are nevertheless difficult to ignore; they include such items as coffee drinking, the names of English poets, the use of knives and forks, the wearing by ladies of certain hats, and the naming of rooms as `saloons'. Moreover, the description afforded to the city of Venice is more akin to the 1780s, or what Terry Castle in her introduction describes as "the elegant Venice of Canaletto and Goldoni", rather than that of the 1580s and the city of Tintoretto and Monteverdi.

There is very little character development. Indeed, there is very little character at all, since the novel revolves almost entirely around our heroine Emily. People come into her life and then leave only when they have some part to play in Emily's story. Even her dog, who appears to be her constant companion in all her travels, appears a mere two or three occasions in order to heighten tension or play a minor part in Emily's experiences: on his second appearance, as our heroine seeks to escape from the castle in which she is held, the dog's yapping threatens to disclose her position, but I had by then even forgotten the dog's very existence, so notably absent had his presence become.

So, what is this novel to be? A gothic romance? Travelogue? Morality tale? Commentary on manners or comedy of errors? Or enlightenment mystery? Why, all of the above, of course. But in a twist of blazing insight, perhaps Terry Castle is right to recommend this book for 21st century readers as a precursor of Freud's work on the unconscious, for "like a long and complex dream - the kind in which pleasure and apprehension are so closely intermingled as to become indistinguishable - the book repays imaginative introspection." When Radcliffe writes halfway through her novel that, the heroine "blamed herself for suffering her romantic imagination to carry her so far beyond the bounds of probability, and determined to endeavour to check its rapid flights, lest they should sometimes extend into madness", she is warning the incautious reader too.

The usual high standards of the Oxford University Press's World's Classics editions are upheld in this volume. Not only the introduction, but also the standard textual note, select bibliography, chronology and end-notes all appear to guide and enhance the experience. As with all reprints of classic works of literature, I recommend that the so-called introduction (which is really more of a commentary) is best read after the novel.




If only there was more Udolpho..., 08 Aug 2007
If I'm honest, I found this book to be a major disappointment - almost more so because it could easily have been so much better. The major problem I had was with the structure of the book, which seems designed to kill off a potentially interesting story.

The middle third of the book actually set in the castle of Udolpho is excellent - its dark, suspenseful and has some genuinely compelling moments. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the remainder of the story which bookends this section. The first 200 pages drag by so slowly its almost painful. Nothing happens. There are endless descriptions of mountains. Then we are treated to more sections of nothing happening... The final 200 pages, following Emily's escape from Udolpho, are an improvement but still hugely anti-climactic. The mysteries introduced and resolved in this section really don't hold a candle to the goings-on in Udolpho and the book just fizzles out. Its a shame.

I'm certain I will read more of Radcliffe's works as 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' is essentially a good book ruined by being far too long, and I notice the rest of her works are much shorter!

(As an afterthought, I'm curious as to why the book description states that this work was 'a potent influence on Walpole'. I'm fairly certain that Walpole published his major gothic novel at least 30 years before Radcliffe wrote 'The Myseries of Udolpho', but perhaps I'm wrong).

Just plain good fun!, 12 Feb 2005
I came to this book after reading about it in Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey', which I suspect is why many enquirers are now reading this! I really enjoyed it and, although some of the other reviewers' negative comments are at least partly justified, I'd say, if you're not afraid of long novels, give it a go, it's just good fun.

By 21st century standards of horror, this story is tame and childish, but if you're like me and don't appreciate the excesses of modern horror and supernatural/occult things, but just enjoy a good read, you'll find this more to your taste. Yeah, sure there are some unbelievable parts, (like Emily's being able to compose whole sonnets on the spot, for one), but fiction like this is not really meant to be convincing. Mrs Radcliffe wrote to entertain the masses, and that's what she achieves. Yes, the desciptions can be a bit tedious at times, but if you read quickly as most of us do when we're 'in to' a novel, they soon pass and you get on with the story.

I esp. liked the fact that all the mysteries are explained in the end which saves you from having to go through the dissatisfying experience of wanting to know exactly what happened back there when 'x' did 'y' and so on, but never being told. (I sometimes wonder if some authors couldn't think of anything convincing with which to tie up their loose ends!!)

Have fun!=)

Over-rated and over-written, 24 Mar 2004
Having read Lewis' "The Monk", Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Radcliffe's own "A Sicilian Romance" I was really looking forward to a gigantic, 700-page, overblown Gothic novel. But I'm afraid that I found it very hard to account for about 500 pages in which bugger-all happened.

The plot of "Mysteries of Udolpho" is quite good, if rather predictable: arranged marriages, imprisonment in a dark and scary castle and all sorts of anxieties about authority figures, political intrigue and sexuality.

However, unlike "A Sicilian Romance", Radcliffe does not skilfully restrain the excesses of the Gothic genre (the earlier novel wraps things up in 200 pages). Her writing in "Udolpho" is unbelievably bad - as per usual she LOVES to describe nature in its most 'sublime' and 'awe-inspiring'. Though, frankly, every single description (and there are hundreds) is identical.

As for the actual story (which does matter, you know) her knack at creating tension is nowhere to be found. Her enthusiasm for mountain descriptions almost completely eclipses the need for dark undercurrents and secrets that can't be explained. She seems almost unwilling to create intrigue: every hundred pages or so she'll mention a secret document or shocking painting, but they are quickly forgotten until the plot requires them.

The heroine, Emily, is even more annoying - it's clear that you're not supposed to take her very seriously, as she is always under the impression that every man is out to ravish her. But what is the point of having an intriguing main character if the author is only going to happily talk about other characters and what they're up to while Emily's not around? This isn't stream-of-consciousness, it's 'head-swapping' - something most writers like to avoid.

All the ingredients are there, but Radcliffe's the problem here. Her narrative pace just makes no sense: she spends 300 pages on one castle, only to have the heroine escape anticlimactically and start ANOTHER 'adventure' almost near the end of the novel! Critics love to describe this book as "challenging" and "avant-garde", but this is NOT Virginia Woolf.

I would urge anyone interested in Gothic fiction to read "A Sicilian Romance" and compare it to "Mysteries of Udolpho". I honestly can't understand why the latter should hold a candle to the former.

rip-roaring Gothic, red and raw in tooth and claw., 09 Sep 2003
This book is great fun. It's far too long, and some bits of it simply don't make sense, but you can see why Ann Radcliffe's work was so inspirational to so many other writers. Her descriptions of the French and Italian countryside are beautiful (which is all the more astonishing as she never went to those places!), but it is the scenes set in the Castle that are the best. It's like a heady mix of Poe, the Marquis de Sade, Vincent Price films, and a bit of Mills and Boon-style romance. There's even the odd bit of sword-fighting thrown in for good measure. There are some enjoyably OTT Gothic parts, such as Emily's awful aunt being carted off to the tower, the bloodstained body found in the gatehouse, and a bit of a stroll round the catacombs. Plus Emily may scream and faint a lot but she is certainly no wimp. I've knocked off a star because the last couple of hundred pages or so can get very tedious, I found myself losing interest once Emily had left the Castle, plus we don't get to see enough of her wicked guardian. He's an interesting character, different to the usual demonic cad you get in this kind of thing (he has no sexual designs on Emily for one thing, he's solely interested in her for her money and the advantages that marrying her off to the highest bidder can bring). Also I could have done without the stock comic servants and their hammy way of talking, I kept expecting the maid to exclaim "lor bless you ma'am!" (in fact for all I can remember she may well have done!) It would be great fun to see this filmed, but you'd have to do it in a very panto-ish way!

fantastic, 11 Oct 2008
This was the first ever book that I brought of Kresley Coles and the first in the paranormal romance genre, and I have to say that it the best thing I have ever done changing from the NORMAL romance and taking a chance on Kresley Cole. The charecter are literaly brought to life on the page and what a page turner it was. Detailed descriptions of the tournement that was happening and, the Love that can not be between the two main charecters and how it boils between them. If you have never read the genre before then I would say go for it I have pre-orderd the new one as I have read all the immortals after dark and am now reading the Mcarick brothers books and have also got the sea fairing books to keep me occupied, there are just not enough hours in the day. I look forward to curling up with one of Kresleys books.

Sequel to A Hunger Like No Other, 29 Jun 2008
This is the second full length novel and third story in the Immortals After Dark Series.

It opens with Kaderin the Coldhearted (Valkyrie) coming to kill vampire Sebastian Wroth. The villagers below his castle are apparently terrified of him even though he's done nothing to provoke their fear. However, it quickly becomes apparent that she is his destined Bride, and rather than kill him, she flees, leaving a somewhat disgruntled vampire behind. Their meeting has two consequences - Sebastian's heart begins to beat, and Kaderin after centuries of being an unfeeling killing machine starts to feel emotion again.

Kaderin has more important things on her mind, however. She is about to take part in the Talisman's Hie, a kind of supernatural scavenger hunt, with the ultimate prize being a key that will allow the holder to travel backwards in time. Kaderin wants the key to be able to rescue her sisters who were slaughtered on a battlefield centuries earlier - the last time she showed mercy to a vampire. Deciding it's the only way to get close to her, Sebastian joins the Hie as well. But to gain the prize will require more than teamwork, it will take the ultimate sacrifice.

Of the two main characters I find myself slightly preferring Sebastian. Kaderin takes a little longer to warm to. But I think this is probably intended, as until this story she's been completely emotionless. It's heartwarming to read about her reawakened emotions and how they take a toll on her when she no longer sees the world in black and white.

Sebastian was turned into a vampire against his will. And he does seem to have spent a goodly amount of his immortality moping. However, this all changes when he meets Kaderin and acknowledges that maybe everything does happen for a reason, as if he wasn't a vampire he would never have met her.
I will admit when I started reading I wasn't sure about the setting - the Talisman's Hie. But I really got into it. Knowing what the prize is you can see why the competitors are all prepared to fight so desperately for it. Kaderin wants to save her sisters, Bowen the lykae wants to save his mate, Sebastian considers going back in time to save his family. When the stakes are that high you understand the ruthlessness of their behaviour.

Things I love about Kresley Cole's books.

* The banter between the characters, everyone is just so darn witty and NRFTW is no exception.

"We've established that you can't kill me."
She glared at him over her shoulder. "I ache to make those your last words."

* The fact that I believe it when the characters say I love you. In all of her books the relationship feels organic. When they get to the 'I love yous' I believe they mean them.

* The variety of her characters. Here we have demons, sirens, witches, vampires, gods, elves. Each species has its defining characteristics. But every single person we meet, no matter their species, is an individual. Even the minor characters have intriguing hints dropped about their stories.
This leads me to my one niggle about the series, which is that as it goes on, sometimes it's slightly too much. Some of the intriguing hints feel a little half-finished. The books are that good though, that I have a tendency to shrug my shoulders and assume that all will become clear in a few books time. This is probably one of the best PNR series around at the moment and I recommend it highly.



A spectacular sequal in the Immortals after dark series, 12 Dec 2007
When Kaderin is sent to a castle to kill a vampire it is Sebastian who she meets, a human turned vampire. Instead of taking his life she is giving him life, because from the moment their mouths meet, their tongues start to dance. A kiss of life is given as Sebastian's body recognizes his Bride and the Blooding starts to hum through every cell, his heart starts to pump again, lungs fill with air as his body roars to life. This is possibly the most erotic moment in Sebastian's life....until his Bride runs from him as the sun rises over the hills.

Sebastian never had much to live for but Kaderin is all the reason he needs. Adapting to this era he traces Kaderin in to a room full of magical beings. Every chosen one from their factions in entering The Hie, a contest where all need to seek magical artifacts and thereby can win points, whoever three reaches the 78 point marker first will enter the finals. The ultimate price: an artifact that will allow the owner to jump back into time twice. Kaderin has lost her two sisters a thousand years ago and now she has a chance at bringing them back and no warrior with a body that advertises to sin is going to distract her...much. When Sebastian finds a way to enter The Hie there is a smile of pure male satisfaction on his face, this contest just gotten a whole new power to reckon with!

In this Hie the stakes have never been so high....

No rest for the wicked is a masterfully told tale, it engages the reader in to a contest with vivid personalities whom are all driven to find the next artifact, and they all want or need the prize for some personal reason. The past of Kaderin and Sebastian is so well developed that it enhances the impact of their emotions. The setting of The Hie and all the Lykae's, Valkyrie's, Vampires and other beings are more than enough proof of the enticing world that Kresley Cole created, still it doesn't take the focus from the main couple, no it makes it all the more dynamic and gripping as their love awakens and evolves amd artifacts are found.

There are many fabulous secondary characters though Bowen captured my attention, he is so tortured that he screams for his own story, I can only hope that Kresley Cole hears him and tells this story sooner than later. The love between Kaderin and Sebastian is slowly working its way in to an absolutely unforgettable romance with at the end a heart wrenching moment that rendered me breathless. Their sensual encounters also take time to be build up and crest into a steaming eruption of hungry bodies and passionatly written scenes that almost burn your fingers as you turn the pages. Sebastian, though a gentleman and a man of honor, roars his claim, fulfilling all my wants and desires of what I love to see in a hero. Together they tell a spectacular and well paced tale of romance and adventure leaving room for future stories to be told.

With that Kresley Cole has enthralled me, leaving me wanting for more, curious of the further world building because I still feel many questions need to be answered. The Accession coloring the setting of the Immortals after dark world is intriguing, The Factions are for me a superb vision of fantasy which I want more of and with that it leaves me with nothing more to tell everybody than that I'm satisfied from start to finish with this tale

I can't wait for those next entries is this series! No rest for the wicked solidifies the quality of the Immortal after dark novels.

reviewed by Leontine

no rest for the wicked (imortals after dark,book 2), 07 Nov 2007
kresley cole has done it again, this book is amazing it has romance, danger, passion all rolled into one it is a fantastic read i couldnt put it down it had me hooked from start to finnish.

Wild, witty, sexy characters and a good plot!, 12 Oct 2007
After reading A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1)I was totally hooked on KC's Immortals After Dark series and couldn't wait for No Rest for the Wicked (Book 2). I was not disappointed. Other reviewers have covered the synopsis well, so I can only add that the story of Kaderin (a kick-ass valkyrie) and Sebastion (a sexy,lovable, yes lovable) vampire is inspired. I chuckled at the machinations of some of the characters, teared-up over Kaderin's angst and totally fell in love with Sebastion. The characters are well written and so much fun - they almost jump of the page. I am now just so impatient for books 3 and 4 to be released.

Although No Rest for the Wicked is an excellent stand alone book, I would agree with a previous reviewer that they are more fun when read in order. Also two characters that don't seem to have their own book but appear in books 1 and 2 are 'Myst the coveted', aka Mysty the Vampire Layer (don't ask) and Nikolai Wroth (vampire general and Sebastion's brother). Their story 'The General Wants Forever' has been published in an anthology entitled 'Playing Easy to Get"; also featuring novellas by Jaid Black and Sherylin Kenyon. Well worth getting the anthology just for Kresley Cole's story. Myst and Nikolai are HOT, HOT, HOT; and sparks fly right from the start of their steamy story.

Wooo!, 07 Oct 2008
This book was great. I was recommended to try it, realised I had it on my TBR pile and hooked it out. Finished in 2 days, and can't wait to get hold of the next one in the series 'One Foot in the Grave'.

'If Buffy and Angel had a daughter, she'd be just like Cat Crawfield, a vampire hunter with some vampire blood and an attitude.

Cat's got a few skeletons in her closet... and some buried in the backyard. The half-vampire is out to rid the world of these hideous night creatures, and when she's captured by Bones, she realizes the master vampire has a few things to teach her.

Teaming up with one of "them" wasn't in her plans, but now that the stakes have been raised, she is faced with the most difficult fight of all....'

Halfway To The Grave is the debut novel from new author Jeaniene Frost. It follows the story of Cat a vampire/human hybrid, as she goes from being an amateur vampire slayer to being a force to be reckoned with after she teams up with Bones, the master vampire who teaches her all about killing vampires. Along the way they manage to kill some evil vampires, destroy a white slavery ring and fall in love, making for an action packed novel.

X-rated paranormal romance, 30 Sep 2008
Given the explicit sex, swearing and rampant gory violence, this isn't exactly Mills & Boon plus vampires. So, yes, I enjoyed it a lot and have already ordered the sequel. You will probably feel the same as me unless you actually wanted M&B plus vamps.

Just one thing caught my snarky attention. When offered a choice between the evolutionary and creationist origins of vampires, our heroine immediately opts for the latter, saying that she's a believer. First of all many devout Christians accept evolution without a qualm so it's hardly an either/or issue which leads me to suspect the author herself believes in the stupidity which is creationism. Or, I hope, she could just be taking the easy way out by blaming it (as has been done by several other authors in the past) on Cain.

Still, despite triggering one of my prejudices, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this fun book.

Brilliant...!, 13 Aug 2008
Can't get enough of these books, funny, exiting and sexy. Desperate for the next installment as have red the first two half a dozen time.

Average vampire fiction, 21 Apr 2008
This book was recommended to me by amazon. I read a lot of Urban Fantasy / Romance so I and I knew I liked the sound of having a protagonist who was a half vampire. However, it became clear to me within the first few chapters that the book was lacking. It wasn't until near the end that the book picked up pace.

The story belted along at a frantic pace, however, it felt disjointed and also as though too many ideas were thrown into the melting pot. The relationship between Cat and Bones seemed very unrealistic, given that in the first instance they had only met a few days before. Cat was meant to be tough but she gave into Bones all too easily at the beginning by joining him in his training. The book tries to sell Cat as a rebellious young woman who won't be told what to do, but in the end she seemed a bit watered down.

My biggest problem with this book was with the character of Bones. He seemed to be a cross between Spike and Mr Darcy. Bones's speech patterns seemed very irregular and as an English person I can testify that I don't use the words `pet' or `luv' in every sentence. There was a lack of understanding about British speech patterns in writing the character, and I think the language is the key to that character and it didn't sit right. Also, Bones' back story/ history was anachronistic and was full of little holes. This may not seem a major problem to most readers but if you're going to right about a vampire who is from a different country then at least get the research right.

There were some positives about the book. I enjoyed the idea of having a half vampire/ half human protagonist; and some of the ideas behind the vampire myth were very nifty. I thought that when the book did pick up pace it was considerably better.


A little gem, 16 Apr 2008
I bought this book after reading some of the reviews on Amazon, so thank you, all you readers. I thought the book was an extremely enjoyable read. I really like the heroine, Cat or Kitten, as her vampire boyfriend calls her.I found the dialogue between Cat and Bones witty and well written. The only grip I did have was that I found Cat's mother really annoying. I will certainly be buying the next book in the series.

4.5 stars, 24 Oct 2006
"Dark Dreamers" contains 2 stories by 2 highly imaginative and well established fantasy romance authors.

Dark Dream by Christine Feehan
This latest "Carpathian" novella is the story of Falcon, an ancient and powerful being sent to the new world to battle evil vampires; his brethren which have succumbed to the beast lurking in every Carpathian male. At last reaching the end of his own endurance, Falcon travels towards his homeland to suicide in the Carpathian mountains rather then succumb to his strengthening inner beast. Only his destined mate can chase away his monster; but after living for thousands of years, Falcon's given up hope of finding her in time. Yet whilst in Romania he meets an American woman helping the homeless children in the area, and suddenly his world is again full of colour; a sure sign this woman is his life mate. This woman, Sara Marten, has been evading an ancient vampire for 15 years and since the night he slaughtered her family, has been reluctant to open her heart. Yet immediately recognising her bond to Falcon, she finds herself again fearing for the safety of a loved one.

Showing her concern by wanting to home 7 very special children, the ancient vampire uses them as bait in an attempt to capture Sara, leaving Falcon no choice but to call upon the assistance of the Carpathians; warriors he has never met and who have no knowledge of his existence. With the sun setting, it soon becomes a race as to who will reach Sara first; her beloved Falcon or an ancient evil.
4 stars

A Dream of Stone and Shadow by Marjorie M Liu
This novella is the 4th instalment in the "Dirk and Steele" series; a detective agency which employs people with paranormal abilities. Clairvoyant Aggie often sees the future playing out before her eyes; yet for the first time she experiences someone else placing images in her mind, that of a kidnapped and abused little girl named Emma.

Although imprisoned in Scotland, each time Charlie dies he uses the time it takes for his body to heal to comfort a frightened child in America. Without corporeal form and so unable to help Emma himself, he searches for the right individual to take on the task of rescuing her, and finds exactly what he's looking for in Aggie. Already investigating a child smuggling ring Aggie soon takes on the job of hunting for Emma; however she remains somewhat wary of her informant, a faceless man who, if she's to believe her own visions (and they're always accurate), she becomes intimately involved with in the future. Learning that Charlie is in fact a gargoyle and held captive by a witch (working for Dirk and Steele certainly makes you more accepting of the unbelievable) Aggie vows that after Emma is safe, she'll travel to Scotland and free the being she's fallen in love with. Unfortunately there is only one variation of the future in which Charlie and his brother gargoyles are freed, and in that vision Aggie witnesses her own death.
5 stars

Both these stories are great; however as a die hard fan of MML, I'd like to take a moment to rave about her absolutely fantastic "Dirk and Steele" series. If you're unfamiliar with this authors works then I urge you to give the following books a try; "Tiger Eye", "Shadow Touch" and "The Red Heart of Jade". CF fans will also be left well satisfied with the latest offering in the lengthy "Carpathian" series. Both stories although not full length novels, contained cracking leading lovers battling for their love amid some strange circumstances; aided by well developed secondary characters and opposed by believable evil enemies. Both authors really excelled in creating a highly addictive paranormal romance (again) and I cannot help but recommend this book to fans of both genres.



Like a long and complex dream, 06 Feb 2008
After having read the mere 176-page original gothic tale of 1764, Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto", I embarked on this 672-page equally-famous gothic fantasy by Ann Radcliffe, published thirty years later, and a best-selling literary phenomenon of its day.

The opening of Terry Castle's incisive introduction to the work notes that, "Perhaps no work in the history of English fiction has been more often caricatured." It is supposed to be "the greatest (or at least the most famous) of gothic romances ... has an archetypal `gothic villain' ... is loaded with exotic scenery ... [and] its heroine, a victim of `sensibility', faints a lot." But whilst common opinion may see it as "a bit of a `silly' book too", the conscientious reader must actually "feel a twinge of bad faith"; Udolpho is actually "bigger, baggier and more uncanny than one thought it was." This is so true.

Whilst not denying a strong gothic element in the writing, the book is also a travelogue, a morality tale, a commentary on manners, and even a comedy of errors; just like Shakespeare, the servants provide a focus for humour, and Radcliffe is not even averse to parody herself as well as the tale she tells. Indeed, one can even view the novel as a typical Jane Austen romance - a woman, her marriage options, and the descent of landed property feature heavily in the plot - but this time set on the continent and in a gothic milieu; Jane Austen even drew on some of the scenes for her `Northanger Abbey' of 1818. But Terry Castle draws attention to the title of the novel, namely the `mysteries' of Udolpho. Thus one can add to the long list of genres set out above, even that of an Agatha Christie murder-mystery, a product of the new age of enlightenment when old-style superstitious mystery was replaced by its more reasoned newcomer, although "Radcliffe's supposedly `rational' explanations are at times almost more implausible than the supernatural explanations they are meant to displace."

Whilst the consensus about the book's merits might be overwhelmingly negative - "too long, feeble in characterisation ... lacking in moral or intellectual gravitas ... [and] full of absurdities" - a closer examination reveals "a meticulous stylist ... who can create moments of considerable drama". Indeed, the style of writing is worthy of remark. The book is full of long sentences, often beautifully constructed. The book must be read at a stately pace to accord with the natural breath of the author's rhythm. Did she speak in this way, or are the construction of sentences designed so as to be read aloud within family groups as they sat before the fire on cold, dark, late-eighteenth century evenings? This style can lead to artifice, and the excessive number of commas can be exasperating on occasions.

There are whole chapters of descriptive prose about the sublime effects of the natural landscape. These are of more value than mere curiosity; the author writes very well with a sharp eye for detail. Terry Castle sagely compares her prose in this regard to the landscapes paintings of Salvatore Rosa, Poussin and Claude Lorraine that Radcliffe admired. This is all the more amazing, as she never visited the places she describes in such detail, but sees them through the eyes of fancy. Actually, she saw them through the eyes of the likes of Tobias Smollett and Hester Thrale Piozzi whose travel books she greatly relied upon. Geographically, the novel forms an arc: volume one is set in Gascony and Languedoc; volume two in Venice and Udolpho; volume three in Udolpho and Tuscany; and volume four back in Gascony and Languedoc.

Ostensibly set in the year 1584, the book is imbued with the manners and sensibilities of genteel England of 1794. For this reason, I found it convenient to forego imagining a strict rendition of time and place. Whilst the number of precise factual anachronisms is small, they are nevertheless difficult to ignore; they include such items as coffee drinking, the names of English poets, the use of knives and forks, the wearing by ladies of certain hats, and the naming of rooms as `saloons'. Moreover, the description afforded to the city of Venice is more akin to the 1780s, or what Terry Castle in her introduction describes as "the elegant Venice of Canaletto and Goldoni", rather than that of the 1580s and the city of Tintoretto and Monteverdi.

There is very little character development. Indeed, there is very little character at all, since the novel revolves almost entirely around our heroine Emily. People come into her life and then leave only when they have some part to play in Emily's story. Even her dog, who appears to be her constant companion in all her travels, appears a mere two or three occasions in order to heighten tension or play a minor part in Emily's experiences: on his second appearance, as our heroine seeks to escape from the castle in which she is held, the dog's yapping threatens to disclose her position, but I had by then even forgotten the dog's very existence, so notably absent had his presence become.

So, what is this novel to be? A gothic romance? Travelogue? Morality tale? Commentary on manners or comedy of errors? Or enlightenment mystery? Why, all of the above, of course. But in a twist of blazing insight, perhaps Terry Castle is right to recommend this book for 21st century readers as a precursor of Freud's work on the unconscious, for "like a long and complex dream - the kind in which pleasure and apprehension are so closely intermingled as to become indistinguishable - the book repays imaginative introspection." When Radcliffe writes halfway through her novel that, the heroine "blamed herself for suffering her romantic imagination to carry her so far beyond the bounds of probability, and determined to endeavour to check its rapid flights, lest they should sometimes extend into madness", she is warning the incautious reader too.

The usual high standards of the Oxford University Press's World's Classics editions are upheld in this volume. Not only the introduction, but also the standard textual note, select bibliography, chronology and end-notes all appear to guide and enhance the experience. As with all reprints of classic works of literature, I recommend that the so-called introduction (which is really more of a commentary) is best read after the novel.




If only there was more Udolpho..., 08 Aug 2007
If I'm honest, I found this book to be a major disappointment - almost more so because it could easily have been so much better. The major problem I had was with the structure of the book, which seems designed to kill off a potentially interesting story.

The middle third of the book actually set in the castle of Udolpho is excellent - its dark, suspenseful and has some genuinely compelling moments. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the remainder of the story which bookends this section. The first 200 pages drag by so slowly its almost painful. Nothing happens. There are endless descriptions of mountains. Then we are treated to more sections of nothing happening... The final 200 pages, following Emily's escape from Udolpho, are an improvement but still hugely anti-climactic. The mysteries introduced and resolved in this section really don't hold a candle to the goings-on in Udolpho and the book just fizzles out. Its a shame.

I'm certain I will read more of Radcliffe's works as 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' is essentially a good book ruined by being far too long, and I notice the rest of her works are much shorter!

(As an afterthought, I'm curious as to why the book description states that this work was 'a potent influence on Walpole'. I'm fairly certain that Walpole published his major gothic novel at least 30 years before Radcliffe wrote 'The Myseries of Udolpho', but perhaps I'm wrong).

Just plain good fun!, 12 Feb 2005
I came to this book after reading about it in Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey', which I suspect is why many enquirers are now reading this! I really enjoyed it and, although some of the other reviewers' negative comments are at least partly justified, I'd say, if you're not afraid of long novels, give it a go, it's just good fun.

By 21st century standards of horror, this story is tame and childish, but if you're like me and don't appreciate the excesses of modern horror and supernatural/occult things, but just enjoy a good read, you'll find this more to your taste. Yeah, sure there are some unbelievable parts, (like Emily's being able to compose whole sonnets on the spot, for one), but fiction like this is not really meant to be convincing. Mrs Radcliffe wrote to entertain the masses, and that's what she achieves. Yes, the desciptions can be a bit tedious at times, but if you read quickly as most of us do when we're 'in to' a novel, they soon pass and you get on with the story.

I esp. liked the fact that all the mysteries are explained in the end which saves you from having to go through the dissatisfying experience of wanting to know exactly what happened back there when 'x' did 'y' and so on, but never being told. (I sometimes wonder if some authors couldn't think of anything convincing with which to tie up their loose ends!!)

Have fun!=)

Over-rated and over-written, 24 Mar 2004
Having read Lewis' "The Monk", Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Radcliffe's own "A Sicilian Romance" I was really looking forward to a gigantic, 700-page, overblown Gothic novel. But I'm afraid that I found it very hard to account for about 500 pages in which bugger-all happened.

The plot of "Mysteries of Udolpho" is quite good, if rather predictable: arranged marriages, imprisonment in a dark and scary castle and all sorts of anxieties about authority figures, political intrigue and sexuality.

However, unlike "A Sicilian Romance", Radcliffe does not skilfully restrain the excesses of the Gothic genre (the earlier novel wraps things up in 200 pages). Her writing in "Udolpho" is unbelievably bad - as per usual she LOVES to describe nature in its most 'sublime' and 'awe-inspiring'. Though, frankly, every single description (and there are hundreds) is identical.

As for the actual story (which does matter, you know) her knack at creating tension is nowhere to be found. Her enthusiasm for mountain descriptions almost completely eclipses the need for dark undercurrents and secrets that can't be explained. She seems almost unwilling to create intrigue: every hundred pages or so she'll mention a secret document or shocking painting, but they are quickly forgotten until the plot requires them.

The heroine, Emily, is even more annoying - it's clear that you're not supposed to take her very seriously, as she is always under the impression that every man is out to ravish her. But what is the point of having an intriguing main character if the author is only going to happily talk about other characters and what they're up to while Emily's not around? This isn't stream-of-consciousness, it's 'head-swapping' - something most writers like to avoid.

All the ingredients are there, but Radcliffe's the problem here. Her narrative pace just makes no sense: she spends 300 pages on one castle, only to have the heroine escape anticlimactically and start ANOTHER 'adventure' almost near the end of the novel! Critics love to describe this book as "challenging" and "avant-garde", but this is NOT Virginia Woolf.

I would urge anyone interested in Gothic fiction to read "A Sicilian Romance" and compare it to "Mysteries of Udolpho". I honestly can't understand why the latter should hold a candle to the former.

rip-roaring Gothic, red and raw in tooth and claw., 09 Sep 2003
This book is great fun. It's far too long, and some bits of it simply don't make sense, but you can see why Ann Radcliffe's work was so inspirational to so many other writers. Her descriptions of the French and Italian countryside are beautiful (which is all the more astonishing as she never went to those places!), but it is the scenes set in the Castle that are the best. It's like a heady mix of Poe, the Marquis de Sade, Vincent Price films, and a bit of Mills and Boon-style romance. There's even the odd bit of sword-fighting thrown in for good measure. There are some enjoyably OTT Gothic parts, such as Emily's awful aunt being carted off to the tower, the bloods