Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (Immortals After Dark Book 4) Kindle Edition

The Immortals After Dark Series:A Hunger Like No OtherNo Rest for the WickedWicked Deeds on a Winter's Night"A Hunger Like No Other" is one of my personal top 5 favorite books, which makes it a tough act to follow. (I've read hundreds.) "No Rest" was really good, but I liked "Wicked Deeds" almost as much as "A Hunger". This book, like the first two, sweeps you up into a world of magic and super sexy paranormal species. The entire story is an adventure. No slow points, no annoying dialogue, and no weak characters.Bowen is a member of the Lycae werewolf clan. For 180 years, he has been in mourning for his dead mate. Worse than the loneliness is the guilt he carries over how she died. When she watched him change in the moonlight, Mariah of the fae was terrified. Running away in her fear, she fell over a ledge and was impaled. Bowen has lived as an empty shell ever since. A Lycae can have only one mate in his lifetime, and a male can only make children with his mate. Any dreams of having a family died with Mariah.Every 250 years, members of every species are invited to participate in the "Talisman's Hie", a scavenger hunt that only the most powerful and ruthless beings can play to the finish. The prize for this hunt is a magic key that grants it's holder the ability to time travel twice. If Bowen can win the key, he can go back and save his mate. However, he has several competitors who want the key for themselves. One is a young witch named Mariketa.Mariketa is prophesied to be one of the "Queens" of witchcraft. At only 23 years of age, she has not yet mastered her powers. While her species waits to see how her powers unfold, Mari wants to prove that she is worth their wait. Winning the Hie is the perfect opportunity. She is holding her own in the hunt until Bowen traps her in a cave. Believing her to be a powerful witch, Bowen is sure Mari will soon free herself. Trapping her will only give him a head-start to the next round. As he drops a boulder over the cave's only exit, Mari throws one of her few successful spells at him. Bowen doesn't realize that he has trapped her for weeks with 6 undead incubi.At the end of the Hie, Bowen is one of the last two competitors. He is devastated when he loses at the last second. For the past weeks, his body has been unable to heal itself. He is sure the witch put a spell on him. His body has literally fallen apart. Being immortal, his injuries can't kill him. But they have weakened him to the point that he cannot win the final round. When he gets his hands on the witch, he'll destroy her for stealing his chance to save his mate. But first he must force her to remove the spell.Bowen is shocked to learn that Mari never escaped the cave. Something is making him desperate to save her. His need to rescue her is as keen as that of a mate. He is certain the witch enchanted him. Having already lost his mate, he knows Mari can't be the one and only chosen for him. When he finds himself desperate to free her, Bowen begins to believe she must be his mate reincarnated. After she has suffered torture at the hands of the incubi, he faces his greatest challenge in convincing her to forgive him and give him a chance to win her. While escorting her back to civilization, Bowen will hunt for her, care for her, and keep her safe from the elements. He'll do whatever it takes to impress her and make her happy. Believing he has his mate back, Bowen could not bare to lose her again. When they discover that an evil sorceress is attempting to kill Mari and steal her powers, Bowen feels utterly useless. Such evil magic is the one thing his strength cannot defeat.

I'm finding it incredibly hard to review these books, because I keep wanting to repeat the same praises that I've previously voiced. Kresley Cole just keeps upping her game in this series, each one better than the last!The world and the characters are as enthralling and immersive as anything I've read. As I've talked extensively about the world in previous reviews, I think I'll just focus on the characters here - and they're worth focusing on. Though Wicked Deeds is just the fourth book in a series now fifteen books long, it's still my second favorite one. All because of Mariketa and Bowen.Mari is a young witch, not even frozen into her immortality yet, when she decides to enter the Hie - an incredibly dangerous competition. And she holds her own, right up until she meets Bowen. And even though he traps her I'd say she definitely did the worse damage by cursing him with the inability to heal. Despite what that may make you think, Mari's powers are ... volatile. She doesn't have a good control over them, and is still figuring out how to make them work. Despite, or because, of all of this Mari's a complicated girl. She's at once utterly charming and smart, funny and brave, and also utterly sick of being second best. She has a bit of a (understandable) inferiority complex that pops up occasionally - when actions of others and events lead to it. But she's not afraid to fight for what she believes she deserves, and what she wants. Plus she kicks Bowen's ass, repeatedly.Bowen's been living as a half-dead Lykae for almost two centuries; ever since his mate died - fleeing from him. Having entered the Hie to retrieve his mate, he's destroyed when he loses to Sebastian. And even he begins to question why he doesn't take those final steps to oblivion. When he's retrieved and finds out that Mari's been trapped for several weeks now, and that she's not even immortal yet, Bowen sets out to get her. Despite what he says it's not just the fact that there's an imminent threat if she doesn't call in by a certain time. Bowen feels compelled to get her out. So with grievous injuries, that won't heal, he rushes to her. Ever since I first met Bowen I knew that he was loyal, strong, brave and committed. But I loved seeing this other side of him; here he was funny and charming, joking with Mari at every turn, and loving when she teased him in return.Though Bowen is obviously conflicted, having lost his mate nearly 200 years ago he's not sure how he can feel that Mari is his mate now, he consistently (minus a few screw ups) treats Mari fabulously. He's learning throughout this, and overcoming more than a few prejudices, but watching him fall in love with Mari - not just because of the Instinct, but because of who she is - is beautiful and sweet. Their interactions made me laugh and grin, and occasionally tear up.I remember loving this book so much on my first read, and this re-read made me love it even more. It's definitely a favorite of mine.

This is the third book in the Immortals After Dark series which I originally purchased and read for the first time 5 years ago and have just recently re-read. If you are thinking of reading this series for the first time then I can highly recommend it as it just unbelievably gets better and better each book on when you think that it can't possibly do so. I would definitely advise reading the series in order as although you can read them as stand alone books they make much more sense when read as the series. At the time of writing this review the series is onto it's thirteenth full book (and a few e-novella's/short stories too) and unlike some series the writing is still fresh and new feeling.The premise of the Immortals After Dark series is that all the mythical beings you thought were make believe are not and that they all exist; Valkyries, Vampires, Werewolves aka Lykae, Fey and Witches. They call their world the Lore and live amongst us but they don't all get on and the good side (Vertas) wars with the bad side (Pravus). Every five hundred years there is an accession which is a time where both sides are destined to fight and destroy each other and only the strong will survive.This book is a follow on from the second book as we first met both love interests there where the were competing in The Hie and Bowen MacRieve had locked Mariketa (Mari) in a cave believing that she has cast a spell on him. Bowen is sent to free Mari when it becomes clear that she hadn't managed to escape the cave and there will be all out war between the Lykae and the Witches if he doesn't. Mari is not the only one in the cave as she has been trapped with others and a whole load of Incubi too so I think Bowen does feel very guilty when he eventually frees her. Can Mari forgive Bowen for locking her up and will Bowen listen to his inner wolf and accept that Mari is his mate.......A brilliant second installment and the Hie again really makes the book different to the rest of the series and stand out. A definite must read series for fans of paranormal romance and one of my still favourite series alongside The Lords of The Underworld by Gena Showalter.

Wicked deeds on a winters night begins during the events of the hie contest introduced in the last book and is the story of mariketa the awaited and bowan mcreive. Mariketa is a witch who is briefly introduced in the previous book and bowan is a werewolf who was introduced in the second book and has been a constant character ever since. Both of these characters are competitors in the hie contest and enter a tomb after one of the relics for the competition. Having found the relic bowan takes it and than does a runner sealing the cave behinde him leaving mariketa trapped inside. However before bowan escapes he is hit with a spell by mariketa taking away his healing abilities. Mariketa however isnt just any witch she is yet to become immortal and is the most powerful witch that any of the covens have seen for centuries. So when her coven finds out she is trapped in a tomb filled with incubi they don't take it lightly, neither do any of the other immortals who have also been trapped along with mariketa unbeknownst to bowan. Once all of the immortal clans are aware of there trapped comrades within the cave they demand that bowan gets them back or its an all out war between the Lyke and the other clans. So bowan goes after her and so starts the on off love story of mariketa and bowan. What I love about these books is that there is such a great balance between the romance and action/adventure. Anything is possible within the pages of the books as they cover all immortals therefore any creature or mythical place is in the realm of possibilities to explore. New central characters are introduced for future books and future stories. For anyone who is a fan of the IMAD series this is a brilliant edition to the series full of everything that makes Cole's books so addictive passion, action, adventure and characters you just wish were real.

Bowen MacRieve was nearly destroyed when he lost his one fated mate in a tragic accident, and he has spent years mourning his loss. Now he's presented with the opportunity to win her back by competiting in a scavenger hunt alongside a witch who tempts him like no other before. Mariketa the Awaited is the most powerful witch for generations and after a smouldering encounter with Bowen, she is left trapped. In order to stop a war between the witches and the Lykae, Bowen is forced to rescue Mari and he is left wondering if he truly lost his mate...or if he was mistaken all along.This is the third Immortals after Dark book (after  Hunger Like No Other  and  No Rest for the Wicked ) and has a slight overlap with the previous book in that it begins during the Talisman's Hie (a supernatural scavenger hunt). I was really looking forward to this as not only have I liked Bowen since the first book, the last book leads directly into this one. The ending of the previous book means the first couple of chapters here are almost like backstory, but it doesn't detract from the book.Bowen has always been presented as this broken hearted man desperate for the chance to reunite with his lost mate, and watching him fall for Mari was brilliant. He is a bit pushy and screws up frequently which is funny to read. Mari is brilliant and unique as the first mortal heroine to feature in the series so far. I loved the insight to the witches of the IAD world and it's different to anything I have read before. The romance is well written and carefully developed, and there is a big twist to the ending I didn't see coming.I really liked the supporting characters introduced in this book, especially the demons Cade and Rydstrom. Having glanced at the backs of the other books in the series I know that their stories are coming up (in books 5  Dark Desires After Dusk  and 6  Kiss of a Demon King  respectively) and I can't wait to read them. It was also great to be introduced to multiple species of character at once, rather than just focusing on the hero and heroine's races.The glossary of Lore (supernatural) creatures and terms has moved to the front of the book, and has been expanded again to include the new species and new information on previously included ones.All in all, this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to  Dark Needs at Night's Edge .Plot: 10/10Characters: 10/10Ending: 10/10Enjoyment: 10/10Cover: 7/10Overall: 47/50 Hunger Like No OtherNo Rest for the WickedDark Desires After DuskKiss of a Demon KingDark Needs at Night's Edge

Oh wow I loved this story, other reviewers and the synopsis have already explained what happens so I wont repeat, But this is definitley a gripping read, best in the series so far? Very possibly.I am a life-long vampire fan and the story of Bowen has got me wondering if it's not passed time to take more of an interest in the wolf. First Lachlain, now Bowen. Hot headed, ruthless, possessive and utterly delectable. The Scottish Lykae clan are a force to be reckoned withThs plot had some unexpected twists and turns that kept me glued and with a big one near the end that blew me away. As with all the paranormal romances I've enjoyed, it's the 'will they wont they' twists and turns that keep me glued.With this series we're introduced to all manner of mythical creatures which means there are never ending oppertunites for further stories. And I hope we get them.If you enjoy Christine Feehan, Gena Showalter, or JR Ward then give the Immortals After Dark a try as well. I'm sure you'll be glad you did!

Two fabulously strong lead characters.. one a 1200 year old werewolf who has spent the last 200 years mourning the death of his mate, the other a 23 year old witch who has been kept hidden behind glamours and cloaks to protect her from the 'immortal man who will claim her as his bride and hide her away from her coven'. When we first meet Mariketa she comes across as meek, but around Bowen she becomes this feisty powerful witch, which is what Bowen finds himself attracted to. This young witch should be cowering away from him, not standing toe to toe giving him hell.The chemistry between the two is intense from the very beginning, and when they begin to develop feelings for each other the intensity is turned way up.This was another "I couldn't put it down" books.