Review: ‘No Rest for the Wicked’ by Kresley Cole
No Rest for the Wicked
by Kresley ColeSeries: Immortals After Dark #2
Published by Pocket Star on October 31, 2006
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: AudioBook, Paperback
Pages: 356
Source: Purchased
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In this next installment in the Immortals After Dark Series, USA Today Bestselling author Kresley Cole delivers a scorching tale about a forbidding vampire who lives in the shadows and the beautiful assassin who hunts him there.
A vampire soldier weary of life...
Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire—a nightmare in his mind—against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.
A valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him...
When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow—accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings—particularly lust—emerge multiplied. For the first time, she's unable to complete a kill.
Competitors in a legendary hunt...
The prize of the month-long contest is powerful enough to change history, and Kaderin will do anything to win it for her sisters. Wanting only to win her, forever, Sebastian competes as well, taking every opportunity—as they travel to ancient tombs and through catacombs, seeking relics around the world—to use her new feelings to seduce her. But when forced to choose between the vampire she's falling for and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?
First Time Read: 2010
Second Time Read: June 2014
Third Time Read: February 8, 2019
Fourth Time Read: November 21, 2021
I have loved the Immortal After Dark series since the moment I picked it up in 2010, and I’m glad I’m revisiting my favorite characters in the series for the fourth time.
Storyline/My Thoughts: I missed Sebastian and Kaderin the Cold Hearted and reading about how these two unlikely characters met for the first time. Although, Kaderin did give me a hard time when I first read this book in 2010. She was stubborn when it came to Sebastian. (She grew on me, eventually, especially after the 3rd/4th time reading her book.) She had her reasons for being stubborn, though. A valkyrie and vampire, yeah, it was not happening because of what happened in the past. Kaderin lost her sisters to vampires, and the valkyries and vampires have never gotten along until recently.
Thanks to his brother, poor Sebastian has never liked what he became, so I felt sympathy for the poor guy trying to win over a stubborn Valkyrie. He often proved that he wanted to be with her, but Kaderin made it difficult, especially when she’s trying to win the Hie. She wants to get her sisters back, and Sebastian is just getting in the way. Poor vampire!
One of many reasons I enjoyed No Rest for the Wicked is the challenges that Kaderin and Sebastian had to complete and the places they had to visit for the Hie (contest). The ending was epic and had me in tears because of what Sebastian decided to do. He won me over so many times in this book. Although he’s not my top favorite male character in the IAD series, he comes close to 3rd place. He is such a sweetheart and was able to deal with Kaderin. Yup, he has some serious patience.
Kresley Cole’s world-building and character development in each of the IAD books are impressive. I have no idea how she does it on keeping up with everything with her characters. She even throws in previous and future characters in the story. I love the Valkyries and their protectiveness of each other. Kaderin was clueless about certain things happening back in New Orleans, and I loved her reaction to what happened to Emma and Myst.
Note: This reread of the IAD series makes me realize how the paranormal romance genre will always be my favorite genre. I love falling into a world with all my favorite supernatural creatures, and Kresley Cole does a fantastic job with this series.
I give this book 4.5-stars and look forward to re-reading the next book(s) in the series.
Standalone or part of series: Each book is part of the Immortal After Dark series, and I recommend reading in order.
Steaminess Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Trope(s): Enemies to Lovers; Fated Mates.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, especially to Paranormal Romance readers.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes, definitely.
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About Kresley Cole
Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series, the young adult Arcana Chronicles series, the erotic Game Maker series, and five award-winning historical romances. Her books have been published in 23 countries and consistently appear on the bestseller lists in the U.S. and abroad.
A master's grad and former athlete, Kresley has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings.
She lives in Florida with her family and too many pets.
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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