by Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark #5
Narrator: Robert Petkoff
Length: 11 hours and 3 minutes
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Source: Gifted
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating:
Heat Level:
Narration: 4.5 cups
Bestselling author Kresley Cole continues her seductive Immortals After Dark series with this tale of a vampire shunned even by his own kind and a beautiful phantom, bound together by a passion they cannot resist.
A RAVEN-HAIRED TEMPTRESS OF THE DARK...
Naomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers -- until she encounters a ruthless
A VAMPIRE WARRIOR CONSUMED BY MADNESS...
To prevent him from harming others, Conrad Wroth's brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own.
HOW FAR WILL HE GO TO CLAIM HER?
Yet even if Conrad can win Naomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?
OK, confession time. I am slightly addicted to the Immortals After Dark series on audio. Kresley Cole has me all wrapped up in this world and its characters. The audios narrated by Robert Petkoff are brilliant. He has become my favorite narrator. His male and female voices, accents, tone and pacing are superb. DARK NEEDS AT NIGHT’S EDGE brought us a gruff hero and a spunky, ghostly heroine.
While each book in this series delivers a single couple’s story, there is some overlay and characters who are present in them all. You could listen to this on its own, but you’ll be missing out.
Caffeinated Aspects:
- Conrad is the missing Wroth brother who suffers from bloodlust. He is also one of the most feared assassins in the lore. His brothers desperate to save him, drug him and bring him to a home they have secured in NOLA. What they don’t know is that the home is haunted by its owner. Naomi Laress was a famous ballerina in the 1920’s when she was murdered by her ex-fiance. Angered, she refused to leave this earthly realm and haunts her beloved home. Conrad is able to see this feisty, sensual entity and the tale that unfolds is reminiscent of Ghost and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.
- I loved Namoi. She was fun, determined and comfortable with her sexuality.
- Conrad did not handle his sibling’s attempt to save him when he turned him into the one thing he loathes – a vampire. Consumed with rage, he succumbs to bloodlust and has spent 300 years killing and fighting the memories each brings. Each victim passes their memories to him, and it has quite literally driven him insane. Before he was turned, Conrad was a virgin which made things a tad interesting, well that and the fact that Naomi isn’t corporeal. It took me a while to warm up to Conrad.
- The relationship that developed had some tender moments, humor and telephone games. Despite not being able to touch, we did get some intense heat.
- Petkoff worked his magic delivering Naomi’s voice and personality. His ability to create the accents necessary for the characters is wonderful.
- Secondary characters from previous books are present and become involved as the romance progresses. Bowen, Caden, Rydstrom, and Mariketa. Nix’s continues to be a favorite of mine. I love scenes with her and find myself laughing out loud.
Decaffeinated Aspects:
- I love all things about ghosts, and of course, a romance with a vampire is complicated. While I thought Cole was creative as to how she managed it, I found it was still predictable. The trope isn’t a favorite of mine, but she gets kudos for keeping me entertained.
- While I felt the attraction of this couple, and I enjoyed their time together, I wasn’t as emotionally connected with them as previous couples.
DARK NEEDS AT WINTER’S EDGE was an enjoyable listen and I cannot wait to grab my earbuds and listen to the next one.
Robert Petkoff made Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole an addictive listen Share on X
Melanie Simmons
This one seems to be everyone’s least favorite (or at least the people that I’ve seen). I think it is the ghost thing. I do like how it was done too, but so not my favorite story in the IAD series. To be far, it has a lot to live up to. The most books are so amazing.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, it is the ghost thing. I love the series though. I finished 7 and cannot wait to dive into 8..lol
JoLee
I am hoping this year to do a Reread of this series as I have fallen behind. For some reason I skipped this one but my last was the next after this.
kimbacaffeinate
I am loving them on audio JoLee. Maybe you could try listening to this one 🙂
Melliane
I did try a few in this series but I can’t remember where I stopped. Maybe I’ll continue one day
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you pick them up again, I am on #7 now and loving them.
Jeann
I love the sound of all of the characters with all the supernatural characters! Conrad sounds like such a fascinating character, and his dynamic with Naomi.
kimbacaffeinate
This series is a lot of fun. You would appreciate the cast of secondary characters Jeann.
Dinees Ponton
I decided to try book one based on your review and I am now on book 4 in just about 4 days. I am hooked.
kimbacaffeinate
Dinees that makes me so darn happy. I am on 7 now, but cannot listen back to back. I envy you that ability!
Ethan
Even though the author doesn’t seem to stray too far from the typical way these kinds of stories unfold, it seems like this one is worth reading as pure entertainment.
kimbacaffeinate
She adds her own twists to the supernatural community Ethan. Her writing is tight, and the characters well developed.
The Bibliophile Babe
It’s always a little frustrating when it’s hard to connect with a couple. Series sound really fun though!
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, it does thankfully Cole writes a well developed tale and sucks you in anyway.
Katherine
You pretty much had me at The Ghost and Mrs. Muir which is a book I’ve read dozens of times. This one looks way darker but just as much fun! Maybe a little spicier though. Adding to my toppling TBR!
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, darker and spicer..although she is a ghost..LOL
Angela Adams
Cool Book Title! Thanks for the post.
kimbacaffeinate
Thank you Angela. I am behind on the blog. The Princess has been really sick, but is improving. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
ShootingStarsMag
Definitely sounds like a unique love story! I’m glad you are loving these.
kimbacaffeinate
Pure entertainment. I am currently on audio 7.
Mary Kirkland
I’ve only read the first book in this series so far and I really need to catch up.
kimbacaffeinate
I know you did! I read the same book which started this addiction. Cole mentioned the narration and bam…an addiction was born.
Maggie
I am very happy you are enjoying this series, it is one of my favorites. It keeps getting better – as crazy as that sounds.
kimbacaffeinate
I am on audio 7 and agree they just keep getting better.
Angie
I’m glad to see you enjoyed this one. I don’t think this particular series is for me, but I will have to check out that narrator and see what else he has out there!
Great review.
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you do, I really enjoy listening to him
Jonetta (Ejaygirl)
I remember reading this one (reluctantly as it’s also not a trope I generally like) and being surprised at how much I ended up liking it. It was before I discovered Petkoff so I didn’t have the pleasure of listening to the story. Congrats on a great review and enjoying this wonderful series on audio. (I switched over around #6).
kimbacaffeinate
I read book one in an anthology, and Cole herself mentioned Petkoff, I am so glad you eventually starting listened to them.
Tanya
This one wasn’t really one of my favorites. I wasn’t into the ghost thing. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn’t really what I was hoping for.
kimbacaffeinate
Yeah, I’ve already listened to #6 and loved it, so just a minor blip.
Cyn
Hee hee, fangtastic. I’m glad the narrator has been totally wow-ing you! That’s too bad you weren’t as emotional connected to the couple as before but yay for it still being a good read overall. Lovely review, Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
It was the ghost thing, but I still had a blast.
Nick
Can you believe I have yet to read Kresley Cole book, Kim? Well other than her YA which doesn’t really count. But anyways, I like that this one features different couples but that the story threads still continue on. I’ll have to look this up and see if my library has them!
Wonderful review!
kimbacaffeinate
Until November or December of last year, I had not either. I ended up reading book one in an anthology. Cole mentioned the narration and well here we are! LOL
Debbie Haupt
I need to add this series to my wish list! Thanks Kim
kimbacaffeinate
Oh, you are back to being auto-approved! Wahoo, I have a few visitors who now matter how often they comment always get held for moderation. Yes..this series is so delightful!
Wattle
Yay for great audio narrators! I’ve heard of this series but decided against reading it myself; though I must admit I’m kind of intrigued about how a ghost lady and a vampire would even work lol
kimbacaffeinate
I love this series, from the humor to the romance. Secondary characters really shine. It was interesting, but Cole made it happen.
Angela
I just picked up a of the audiobooks in this series. I’ve had them in paperback and hardback but I just love the way he narrates them!
kimbacaffeinate
I actually read book one, and there was an author’s note in the back about the audios and Petkoff which led me to listen to a sample. I never looked back.
blodeuedd
I have not read this one, I have read this series here and there and missed quite a few
kimbacaffeinate
Go back..read them all 🙂
Geybie's Book Blog
Awesome review, Kim. Sorry that this didn’t work for you. I haven’t read any book by this author but I’ve heard great things about her books.
kimbacaffeinate
Oh I loved it and it would have been a 4/5 star had it not been for the ghost thing.
Sophia Rose
I think I’ve been missing out not getting to this series on audio yet. I loved it in paper format.
Yeah, the ghost thing is a tough sell in a romance and Conrad was a cranky one. Oh Rydstrom. and Nix are two of my favs.
kimbacaffeinate
I cannot begin to express how much I enjoy listening to this series.