Dark Desires After Dusk

By Kresley Cole

Nothing will stop Cadeon of the Rage Demons from finding the means to atone for the one wrong that haunts him. But once he captures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, he finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.

Raised as a human, Holly Ashwin never knew that some legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon, who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the Cade's wicked touch.

Yet just when he earns Holly's trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs - and claim his heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Sep 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781849834254

Kresley Cole

Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals After Dark paranormal series and the young adult Arcana Chronicles. Her books have been translated into over twenty foreign languages, garnered three RITA awards, and consistently appear on the bestseller lists in the US and abroad. Before becoming a writer, Cole was a world-ranked athlete, coach, and graduate student. She 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 “far too many animals,” and spends any free time traveling. You can learn more about her and her work at KresleyCole.com or Facebook.com/KresleyCole.

Reviews for Dark Desires After Dusk

[mitabird · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't like this one as much as the last. I had a hard time getting into the story and I never felt a connection between Cade and Holly. I wasn't really convinced that they were fated to be together.

[msralways · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think I'm having conflicting thoughts about how to rate this book. As soon as I was done with it, I said five stars, but then I got to thinking and I decided on four, but with a mind of four and a half. I can't stress how good this series is and how wonderful the writing and world building is, but one of the things that impresses me the most is how these incredible characters develop through the story.

Cade and Holly were a tease on the last book and I was excited for them. No doubt about it, their story was full of guilt and desire and fear of change. Holly was strong, had a backbone that brought Cade to his knees and Cade started with doubts and the great thing about this book was that he didn't change his mind after a couple of chapters, he actually lived through things that made him think differently. This was great!

[zeek319_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I consider Cadeon Woede, the hero of the fifth installment of Kresley Cole's widely popular Immortals After Dark paranormal romance series, to be the less intense of the males in the series thus far- although he's experienced some big-time regrets in his past.After losing his father and eldest brother to war, Rydstrom Woede, Cade's next oldest brother who is now first in line to the throne of their demon Kingdom, sends Cade away to be fostered out to ensure the succession to the throne. One fateful day the kingdome falls to an invading army lead by his families' darkest enemy... and it's all Cade's fault.Instead of leaving to help Rydstrom fend off the invader, he had made the decision to stay back and fight for his foster family- who ended up murdered anyway. Feeling guilty ever since for not helping his brother, when the chance comes along all these years later to finally wrest the throne back for Rydstrom, Cade's determined to make good on his vow for revenge.And the chance for redemption just happens to center around the one woman he knows he destined for, one Holly Ashwin a bright young lady he met not long ago and has never forgotten.Now he must make a decision- protect the one woman he knows he's destined for or use her to get a magic weapon that will kill his enemy once and for all.However Holly is more than she seems- far more than even she realizes- and things become less cut and dry when the fate of the world are in the balance...As I said before, Cade is less wounded then some of the other characters we've seen in this series and it was a welcome respite, if you ask me. Sexy and charming, but no less determined, Cade's love for Holly is never in question, even when he's sure he will have to give her up to ensure his brother's throne.Holly is fascinating as well, as she keeps all her emotions under ruthless control for fear of harming an innocent. Being both Valkyrie AND Fury (even though she has no idea who she really is), she has a lot of power to keep in check but when she finally comes into her own, it's something to behold! I loved the ending when she thinks Cade has betrayed her and she manages to fight her way out of a sticky situation all on her own. She's smart and strong and just as determined as Cade and they make a wonderful pairing.

[rabidreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.After three superb installments, this series hit a bit of a snag with book 4, but I wasn’t going to hold that against Kresley Cole or Robert Petkoff, and I’m glad I didn’t because DARK DESIRES AFTER DUSK was glorious! One of the things that I love most about IMMORTALS AFTER DARK is that you meet some of the protagonists beforehand because on top of giving you something to look forward to, it also helps to get readers invested in each character’s eventual outcome.Holly wasn’t the first heroine whom I’ve encountered that’s been afflicted with OCD, however she was by far the most likable. Ashwin has lead a very PG life as a result of her condition which in turn is the reason why her transformation to Valkyrie was unusually delayed. Intense emotions and warriors are practically synonymous, so when a group of immortals attempt to kidnap her, it frees her combatant side. I think Cade’s attitude in relation to Holly’s disorder went a long way towards endearing her to me because he not only understood her limitations, but respected them, and that sensitized me to her plight instead of making it into a baffling annoyance.As fetching as some of the female leads have been, let’s face it, I listen to this series for the men (and Petkoff’s narration, but I’ll get to that), and Cadeon Woede was delectable. I liked that he wanted to do right by his brother, and to a lesser degree, his mate. His loyalties were first, and foremost to Rydstrom, although that didn’t stop him from teaching Holly how to fight. Nix’s behind the scenes meddling continues to amuse, and with all of this talk of vessels, the Ascension, and the demons going to war, it’s not unreasonable to assume that I’ll be in the loop on all things IAD when #14 comes out because this series just keeps getting better!You can tell that Robert Petkoff recorded the first ten novels in close proximity to one another by his ever increasing proficiency with Cole’s characters and writing. He was fully immersed in this universe for quite some time while bringing the audiobook versions of this series up to speed, and that fact comes through in his delivery, accents, and fervor. I enjoyed his rendition of the rage demon aspects of Cade’s personality, and applaud his commitment to the steamier parts of these stories.DARK DESIRES AFTER DUSK put the MMMmmm in demons. ~4.5 stars

[aneris-3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

2.5

There is some info-dumping in this book, but for someone who read the previous ones ages ago, it was a good reminder of the Lore and its creatures. This one deals with demon kind and their troubles with evil sorcerers. However, it is all behind the scenes or as part of some story from the past. Almost the whole book is all Cadeon and Holly travelling and trying to stay alive interrupted with sexy times.

There are so many people who disliked Cadeon. I went in the opposite direction. At least he is a nine-hundred-year-old demon. You can't exactly act surprised when he does the things he does here. What's Holly's excuse to be annoying? Definitely not my favourite type of heroine. Authors always need to invent a lot of 'endearing' quirks to make them a bit likeable.
For example, she is reading about some of the people from the Lore and finds the entry about Emmaline the Unlikely 'who slew her own father. Cut him up into three pieces. Three. I like Emmaline already.' We are told how her father was a wonderful man and that her parents had a great marriage and loved each other. Why, then, would you like someone for doing that?

The thing is I couldn't see them together at all, so when the bad thing from the description happened, I thought oh, shut up with the whining, nothing is going to happen to you. I simply couldn't get into them to sympathise with her.

Now, I am not a fan of foreshadowing and this whole story is 'wait until you get to x and do y and you'll see' type of story. You spend most of the book waiting for the inevitable to happen. That combined with the annoying heroine could be the reason why this ended up being just a bit better than an okay story.

I loved the occasional Nix appearance.

[bethanymoore · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cade was my new book boyfriend there for a minute... *fans self*

Second to the Lykae (imo) are the Demons... especially this one. I just wanted to lick his horns! (does that sound slutty to anyone else?)

[mlsimmons-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoy this series. I was not a big fan of Holly, but I loved Cadeon. He made me laugh several times.

[aliterarylion · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really liked how quirky the male protgaonist was, but felt the female was a bit too dull.

[thehistorychic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened for Review/Read for Fun (Simon & Schuster/ Kindle)Tracking Books Read Review (Short)Overall Rating: 4.25Story Rating: 4.00Character Rating: 4.50Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: Dark Desires After Dusk was full of smexy with fantastic characters!Overall Thoughts: I am really enjoying this series! I know I am late to the game and that these have sat on my kindle forever. However, I now get why people have sang the praises of the IAD series. Cade was a fantastic leading guy. He was hot, sexy, tortured, and just everything a girl could want in her HEA. However, it was Holly that really made me smile. She had spunk and was such a trooper. Plus their chemistry was off the charts. The story line was really good to. I like how all of these books weave together but each has a story that is unique to the couple. I know I am looking forward to seeing where all of this goes!Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Robert Petkoff / Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins Robert is quickly becoming one of my favorite male narrators. I love his voice and he delivers a story very smoothly. I totally approve!Final Thoughts: Ready for the next one!

[sunnysd_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cadeon Woede is known as the Kingmaker. The only throne he can't reclaim? His brother's, and the guilt for costing the deposed demon king his kingdom is crushing. He finally has a chance to repair his mistake - all he has to do is betray the one woman fate has chosen for him.Hafling Holly Ashwin is comfortable with her overwhelming OCD and her laptop. She's not nearly so sanguine about learning she's an immortal valkyrie. Top that with the tiny little fact that she's the foretold Vessel who will bear a child of untold evil or complete good, and she really wants her pills back. As battling factions fight to kill or impregnate her, the demon Cade is the only one she can depend on... except she has the sneaking suspicion he's lying to her.Can you say road trip? A fun read in a loosely linked series that doesn't have to be read in any particular order - partially because it's all happening (mostly) at the same time.

[krisrich85 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good book in the series.. Cadeon and Holly were well built characters, and the relationship was very believable for me. Nix is one of my favorite secondary characters, she is a riot. Looking forward to reading the next book.

[cmblaker · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Loved Holly as a heroine! From her total geekiness to struggles with her OCD, she was def not your average pnr heroine. The sturggles she had with her OCD were dealt with very realistically & I love how they weren't magically "cured" after she turning into a Valkeryie. Also, she really got to kick butt & take names at the end of the book. No Hero swooping in to save her, she did it all by herself.

[rosetyper9 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Anyway, I like Cade's character a lot, he has been one of my favorites for awhile, since we first met him. He is a sarcastic chauvinistic ass and he is just hilarious. I like how Holly starts to open up and accept everything and she learns who is is in the process. I still really dislike Rydstrom (Cade's brother) but maybe there will be some explanations in his book, which is next. There is some awesome plot in this book...and I am excited to see more of these characters later...but what I really want is Nix to have a book. Just sayin.

[ladyisis_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story is about Cadeon the rage demon and his quest to help his brother to reclaim his throne. Oh yes, it is also about him finally getting his mate. As anyone who has read this series in order knows Cade has been pining over a mortal woman that he is certain is his mate. He knows he can’t have because it is against the rules for a demon to claim a mortal in the Lore. Through most of the boot Cade is a smart ass and flippant with Holly Ashwin. Even after finding out that she is half Valkyrie he is still an ass. There are times that he isn't very likable especially when you know what he is planning on doing to save Rydstrom’s throne. I was impressed that he controlled himself as long as he did. I was also impressed that he trained Holly to fight and survive on the way to being sacrificed to an evil sorcerer that wants to control the ultimate warrior of good or evil. Cade does spoil Holly as well. He makes every effort to make sure she has food that she will eat and water that she will drink. He buys her clothes and boots and jewelry trying to show that he thinks that she is special to him. I guess Cade's major problem is that he has been carrying around the guilt of trying to save his foster family instead of saving Rydstrom's throne. I have to wonder though if Rydstrom would have given up his mate or family if he had to make the same decision. That guilt is what drives Cade to do the things that he does. It is right but it is one of those situations that you are damn if you do and damned if you don’t.Holly Ashwin was adopted and raised by loving human parents. None of them realized that she was part of the Lore. Holly has a lot of hang ups that human society would see as odd and strange. She has developed OCD from trying to control her Valkyrie tendencies. She is brilliant, driven and caring. She is a nerd in every way. I thought that it was funny that she was so attached to her computer. I also loved her dealing with Nix. I know that it is hard to deal with Nix on her good days and Nix seems to be driven to get Holly hooked up with Cade. It is fascinating to watch Holly come to terms with her Valkyrie half. She struggles in the beginning only wanting it all to go away. I am not sure any of us wouldn't want the same. She does come to accept her fate over time and makes a wonderful nerdy warrior.Overall this is a story that is different from the previous books. There isn't as much intimacy between Holly and Cade as there has been in the other books. Cade has to work to get Holly to trust him, like the other stories, but he isn't as smooth with the ladies as his reputation implies. Maybe it is just that he wants Holly so much. We also don’t see as much of the other characters as in the previous stories. Nix is involved and Rydstorm shows up in the beginning and Cade's crew is chasing after Neomi but that is about it. There is a despicable villain. Who meets an appropriate end. There are daring escapes, crushing betrayals, hot love scenes and a very endearing make-up. This is one of those stories that is hard to read not because it is poorly written but because one of the main characters is shady at best.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole is a 2008 Pocket Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book as an XOXpert – the official street team of XOXO After Dark. This sixth installment in the Immortals After Dark Series centers around Cadeon Woede and Holly Ashwin. Cadeon is a demon seeking redemption and Holly is the vessel he needs to obtain that goal. The problem is she's human and off limits, but he still feels she is his mate. Nevertheless, in order to get what he needs he will have to betray her. Will he chose love or redemption or can he have both? Holly and Cade couldn't be more different, and it takes Cade a long time to earn Holly's trust. Holly's a little OCD and Cade is, well… a demon, alpha, and has no shortage of confidence. However, they are perfect for each other, but of course they have some real problems to face. This book, in my opinion, has a touch more humor to it than some of the previous books in the series, which is terrific, but it in no way took away from the darker toned portions of the story. This author continues to build upon this series adding new and exciting plots, adventure, super steamy and erotic romance, and near perfect characterizations. I am eagerly anticipating the newest Immortals After Dark novel coming out in December, 2015, so I've been trying to get completely caught up with the series before the new release. However, I didn't realize I was this far behind, BUT, I am NOT backing down from the challenge. It's on.. This month is going to be dedicated to this goal… so get ready for more Immortals After Dark! Seriously, this is my favorite paranormal/ Urban Fantasy series ever and I can't wait to see what happens next! 4 stars

[msromanticreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic humor and wonderful characters. I love how every story has a twist I never see coming at the end (other than the fact that it will lead to a happy ending). Nix was her wonderfully manipulating self as usual.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dark Desires After Dusk
4 Stars

Synopsis
After waiting 900 years for his destined mate, Cadeon Woede is devastated to learn that she is human, and therefore, off limits. Tasked by his brother to locate the "Vessel" and exchange her for a magickal sword that will restore Rydstrom to his throne, Cadeon is surprised to discover that his job and his mate are one and the same, and he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice to atone for his past mistakes.

Review
This is a lighthearted and fun series, and this installment mostly met my expectations.

Holly is a likeable heroine with her quirky nerdiness and endearing OCD tendencies. Nevertheless, Cole's treatment of OCD, a serious and debilitating disorder, is somewhat superficial and comes across as trivial and mundane at times.

Cade's characterization is ambiguous. One the one hand, he is sexy (love the horns) and handles Holly's quirks with sweet sensitivity but on the other, he is an unapologetic sexist and slob, and has an ulterior motive that he keeps hidden.

Cade and Holly's romance is very steamy. They have great chemistry and their scenes together are HOT, HOT, HOT! The training sessions provide some of the best scenes in the book.

The Vessel premise is intriguing and well-developed, and the pacing is good. Unfortunately, the climax and ending are a bit rushed and Cade's questionable actions are glossed over too quickly. The book is also too disconnected from the previous installments and Nix is one of the few recurring characters. Of course, she is hilarious as always and steals every scene she is in.

All in all, an enjoyable addition to the series and it looks like Rydstrom's book is going to be a doozy.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Holly Ashwin is a mathematician, and very, very OCD. She's managed to keep her world organised and under her control for years. Then she's kidnapped by some strange beings and her world turns upside down. She suddenly encounters a world of otherworldly beings and discovers that she belongs to this world. Cadeon Woede is the man, or rather demon, who rescues her, he has a plan to trade her for a sword, but as they spend time together they both realise that there's something between them.I liked this story, I liked the characters, Holly is just like many of the science nerds I've known, and been, and Cadeon is a lot of fun. I did have some issues with him not listening to her properly but overall the two of them worked together as a couple. I was having issues with this series but this book has convinced me to keep reading.

[fanip_12 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars I really really liked this and once more, I couldn't put it down. Cadeon was a great hero who had me laughing with his lines for the first half and really feeling his pain for the second. He had a really hard choice to make and I did like the way he handled it. He never strayed from the character we've come to know from the previous books, but managed to charm me and make me care for him.Holly however, was another matter. She was the first heroine I was totally indiferrent about. I didn't like her but I didn't dislike her either. I felt that Cole stressed her OCD too much and left every other aspect of her personality hidden, so I didn't know who she was in the end. The adventure and suspense in this one was great and the story never lost its pace even for a single page. A great addition in the series and one I read in record time.Warning: the ending is more or less a cliffhanger so this should be read with Rydstrom's book already in the TBR:)

[ktleyed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed Cadeon and Holly's story, it was hard to put down! Holly, an OCD math genius in New Orleans, finds out that she's really not just an average woman, but really a Valkyrie, who's also "a Vessel" and tons of Lore people are after her to either kill her or breed with her (long story.) Cadeon, a mercenary has been hired to capture her and bring her to this evil sorcerer in exchange for a legendary sword that he's been looking for- for 900 years! To make matters worse, Holly is the woman that is destined to be his mate - and he's been spying on her for the past year, all the while knowing he can't have because she is human... or is she? Much happens on this crazed road trip as they travel north in the wilds of Canada to the sorcerer's castle. It's oh-so-complicated, but also oh-so-exciting and filled with adventure and - heat, especially for the big "first time." Very sexy. I recommend it!

[deserie4comfort · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dark Desires After Dusk is the fifth novel in the Immortals After Dark paranormal romance series. The story concentrates on Cadeon Woede, a character first introduced a couple of books ago when he was competing in the Talisman's Hie (No Rest For The Wicked). Cade has cropped up as a secondary character in all the books since then but now he finally has his own story. For a while now Cade has been painted as a fun loving but slightly unreliable (if not down right unlucky) demon. He was responsible for his brother, deposed King Rydstrom, losing the crown of their homeland and although he has fought along side Rydstrom for nine hundred years since then he has never succeeded in regaining the throne for his brother. The Dark Desires After Dusk prologue finally tells readers exactly how he lost the crown in the first place and chapter one gives Cade a sure-fire guaranteed not to fail way to regain it and redeem himself with his brother. All he has to do is capture the Vessel, a female of the Lore who is capable of giving birth to the ultimate warrior, and turn her over to an evil sorcerer who wishes to sire the ultimate evil warrior. In return Cade and Rydstrom will be given the only sword in existence that can kill Omort the Deathless who stole their throne. Determined not to get it wrong this time, Cade's resolve is tested when he realises that the Vessel is the human female that he has been mooning over for the past year. Recognizing her as his own fated female, he has been forced to watch her from afar because a mortal female would not survive the mating ritual. Holly, a mathematician suffering from OCD, has her safe controlled world ripped away from her when a posse of demons kidnap her from campus. Frightened beyond all measure her body is kick-started into its transition from human to Valkyrie. Thrown into the company of Cade, the pair makes a dangerous cross country road trip where they battle with demons, ghosts, vampires, noble fey and wendigo who all seem to want Holly either "dead or bred." This book seems to everything I could possibly desire - sexy heroes, feisty heroines, imaginative mythology and hot, Hot, HOT romance just for starters. This combined with plenty of humor and an action packed plot that speeds faster than a bullet train, makes reading Dark Desires After Dusk an addictive pleasure.

[hbos0527 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cadeon and Holly are so sweet together. She is the vessel and he needs her to save his brother's kingdom. He may have to let her go even though she is his mate. They journey together but for different reasons and fall in love.

[noahsmae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My favorite one so far. I really enjoyed the snarky banter between Cade and Holly.

[fairypenguin_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the fifth installment in Kresley Cole's wonderful Immortals After Dark series, and its one of her finest. It follows the tale a Holly, a half-Valkyrie who was raised as a human. Her neat and tidy world is turned upside down when she meets Cadeon, a demon mercenary, who informs her that not only is she an immortal, she is also the "Vessal"--a rare woman who in the coming war will bare a child of either ultimate good or evil. He offers her protection, but has ulterior motives that threaten the fragile relationship developing between them.I was amused by both characters. Cadeon is extremely funny and hot. Holly is smart and quirky, and it's fun to watch her develop a backbone. My only complaint with this book was that the ending was a bit rushed and unsatisfactory, but it's definitely worth reading anyway.

[flemmily · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I spent the morning reading this instead of doing my school work (and of course I'm spending right now writing this instead of doing my school work). Most of the series has followed this pattern: I start the book and I'm not sure I'll like it, and then I get X amount of pages in and can't put it down. Book 4 took quite a few pages to hook me, this one I got into right away. Plus you gotta love a quirky OCD heroine.

[angellocke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This one is my favorite Kresley Coles so far. She has a way of making every character unique and their own person. Most writers have one way of portraying their heroes and leading ladies. Not Cole! She even varies sex preferences among the characters so that they are unique all the way to the bone! Truly refreshing and exciting. A must read and can't wait to get my hands on the next.

[emilyjo2001 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have liked reading this series and I recommend it to those who are familiar with their mythology. In this book a demon (who is good) mates with a math nerd female immortal warrior. They go on this long trek to retrieve a sword to kill a someone who can't die by normal methods and get back his kingdom. I wonder what happened to the brother, the sword and how the big battle between the demons as well as the battle within the lore is coming will fare. With all of Nix's involvement in this battle of the lore, I want to read her romance story.

[jenson_aka_dl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For a year the infamous demon mercenary Cadeon Woede has watched his other from afar, believing the human to be forever out of his reach. Holly Ashwin enjoyed her ordered life between teaching classes and working on a new, ground breaking computer code never she never realized that there is more to her existence. When fate conspires to bring Cade and Holly together it could bring about the birth of the ultimate good or the ultimate evil that every faction of the Lore is determined to use to tip the scale in their own favor.Of all the Immortals After Dark books I have to say this has been the most disappointing one to me. I think it may have to do with the fact that Cade has stuck out to me as a character and I expected a little more from his story. I didn't like him as much as I thought I would. I enjoyed Holly's OCD quirks although I found her to be a bit on the self-centered side which kind of annoyed me. Despite my disappointment I did find it to be an engrossing story that was fast paced and read very smoothly. Although I'm looking forward to Rydstrom's story next, it is with a little trepidation based on what we found at the end of this one. In any event I am sure it will be interesting to see how it all works out.

[knielsen83 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the less "sex-filled" books in this series, but it was full of action. I love her characters and the conflicts that she sets up. I just wonder when she will write her next one. :)

[blingtastic · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

cole is back with another installment; much improved since her last novel; the hero was wicked/tortured and the tension between them pulled you in; definitely a keeper