Today we have a new variety of Cover Art Coverage to share, as we compare and contrast the cover art of familiar books around the globe.  Rather than thumbs up and down, Abigail and I have picked our favorites and I hope you do, too! 




 

 

Hi Guys, Abigail here. I’m filling in for Julia this week (although her comments are still included). We’re introducing some new changes to the Cover Art Coverage posts including an updated graphic, a new layout for the covers, and the Cover Submit form is linked at the bottom instead of being embedded (let us know in the comments if you’re not a fan of the changes).  There are two series that are featuring new looks, one of which I’m a big fan of, the other gets my pick for Worst this week.  We’ve also got several highly anticipated reveals including Kresley Cole’s first YA, and the first in Gail Carriger’s new series.  And the busiest man in paranormal romance adds yet another cover to his resume.  Can you spot model Paul Marron below?

Title: Dreams of a Dark Warrior Author: Kresley Cole Series: Immortals After Dark #11 Cover Art:  Craig White  Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: Yes Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Julia Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages Publisher: Pocket (February 15, 2011) ISBN-10: 1439136807 ISBN-13: 978-1439136805 Sexual Content: Explicit sex scenes and violence during a sex scene (which is what you get for kissing up on an angry Valkyrie).   My Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.

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Description

HE VOWED HE’D COME FOR HER . . .

Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives.

SHE AWAITS HIS RETURN . . .

When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals—unaware that he belongs to their world.

TO SATE A DESIRE MORE POWERFUL THAN DEATH . . .

Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan’s torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?

Review

DREAMS OF A DARK WARRIOR is a fast paced, violent, smoking hot thrill-ride of a book, and I loved every minute of it.  From the moment twelve-year-old Reginleit the Radiant walks into a mead hall filled with wenching berserkers (yeah, I did a double take at the number “twelve”, too), this story breaks the humdrum expectations of a “soul mate” driven paranormal romance.

 

Of all the circumstances that could kept literary lovers apart, Regin and Aidan’s situation manages to be both entertaining and puzzling.  I was pleasantly surprised by a few twists on the “reincarnation of a lost love” theme.  Aidan’s present incarnation, Declan Chase, is about as tormented and reprehensible as a man can be.  In Kresley Cole’s hands, however, this just adds fuel to chemistry between Declan and Regin.  DREAMS OF A DARK WARRIOR has a great balance of flashback love-lost and present tense smoking-hotness to keep things engaging and entertaining.

 

And when I say Declan is “reprehensible”, I don’t mean he drives aggressively or thinks women are bad at math.  He is a tortured, militant xenophobe dedicated to capturing, vivisecting, and destroying all creatures of Lore.  Reading about his past, however, and the mental anguished caused by being separated from Regin, Declan garners enough sympathy to keep him hovering at the very end of the “sexy bad-man” continuum for me (Lothaire the Enemy of Old is also on that scale, FYI, if only by the tips of his fine-ass fingers).  Despite the sexual tension, and classic Kresley Cole humor, Regin and Declan have a lot of explicitly violent interactions.  I never felt the aggressive elements were over the line, but it was marked enough to be beyond the “Valkyries just want to have fun” mayhem of other Immortals After Dark novels.

 

While DREAMS OF A DARK WARRIOR wasn’t able to supplant DEMON FROM THE DARK as my favorite Kresley Cole novel to date, it is a strong addition to the series.  Funny, sexy, and I believe I already mentioned “violent”, this book has me trolling the Internet eager for my next trip into the Immortals After Dark world.

 

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
The Warlord Wants Forever A Hunger Like No Other No Rest for the Wicked Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night Dark Needs at Night’s Edge Dark Desires After Dusk Kiss of a Demon King Untouchable in Deep Kiss of Winter Pleasure of a Dark Prince Demon from the Dark	x Kelly at the Riverside Examiner Katie Babs at Babbling About Books

Title: Demons From The Dark Author: Kresley Cole Series: Immortals After Dark #10 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: Yes Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Julia Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages Publisher: Pocket (August 24, 2010) ISBN-10: 1439123128 ISBN-13: 978-1439123126   Sexual Content: Explicit sex scenes.  Mention of child abuse and rape. Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & put this author on your watch list.

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Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark paranormal romance series is about mythical creatures who “all secretly exist alongside humans and enjoy the gift of immortality. There are hundreds of different kinds: from Vampires to Lykae, from Furies to Shifters, from the Fey to Valkyries.” On August 24th, the ninth book in the series will be released (don’t worry if you haven’t read the previous eight titles as they are all standalone stories), DEMON FROM THE DARK:

[A] scorching tale of a demon outcast poisoned with vampire blood and the vulnerable young witch he vows to protect—even from himself.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster, I’m giving away a copy. (see details below).  Be sure to RSVP for Kresley’s Live U-Stream Chat on Monday, October 23rd from 6-7pm 4-5pm* to celebrate the release of DEMON FROM THE DARK and ask Kresley all the burning Immortal After Dark questions you’ve been dying to know the answers to.

**Well, Kresley fans set your clocks back because now you can chat with Kresley Cole earlier. The times have changed to 4-5 pm.**

Cover Evolution

The Immortal After Dark series has gone through quite the cover evolution when comparing the Playing Easy to Get anthology cover with the upcoming DEMON FROM THE DARK cover.  I personally love the recent black and white covers with the vibrant primary colored text, but what do you think?  Should they have stuck with the couple covers? Which one is your favorite?

The Immortals After Dark Series

Giveaway

Giveaway courtesy of Simon & Schuster

One copy of DEMON FROM THE DARK by Kresley Cole

On Sale: 8/24/10
ISBN: 9781439123126 

Description

From New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this scorching tale of a demon outcast poisoned with vampire blood and the vulnerable young witch he vows to protect—even from himself.

A DANGEROUS DEMON SHE CAN'T RESIST . . .

Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he's pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.

A MADDENING WITCH HE ACHES TO CLAIM . . .

Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving.

TRAPPED TOGETHER IN A SAVAGE PRISON . . .

In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

Click HERE to read an excerpt from DEMON FROM THE DARK

Giveaway Guidelines

1. Open to US only
2. Leave a comment telling me your thoughts on the covers for the series & a way to contact you if you win
3. Entries must be received by Midnight MST on August 24th.  Winners will be contacted and announced on August 25th.

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Interested in offering a giveaway on All Things Urban Fantasy? CONTACT ME

In just over two week, Kresley Cole will release the tenth book in her hugely popular Immortals After Dark series, DEMON FROM THE DARK.

Kresley’s publisher, Simon & Schuster, are planning tons of giveaways (FYI you’ll want to be here on Oct 17th) and a Live U-Stream Chat on Oct. 23rd.  You’ll be able to submit questions and watch Kresley answer live!

• RSVP for a Live U-Stream Chat with New York Times Bestselling Author Kresley Cole on Monday, 8/23/10 from 6-7 pm. 
• Have a Toast with New York Times Bestselling Author Kresley Cole to celebrate DEMON FROM THE DARK on sale 8/24/10.

Introduction to the Immortals After Dark

Every creature or being that was thought to be mythical . . . isn’t.

They all secretly exist alongside humans and enjoy the gift of immortality. There are hundreds of different kinds: from Vampires to Lykae, from Furies to Shifters, from the Fey to Valkyries.

These immortals call their world The Lore.

You may have had a brush with one of Lorekind already. The eccentric billionaire with hypnotic charisma—and an aversion to sunlight. The ethereal waif of impossible beauty—whose fingernails look more like claws. The Highlander with a seventeenth-century Scottish accent and animal magnetism—who can never be penciled in on the night of the full moon.

They walk among us, but they war among themselves. Each faction has its strengths, weaknesses, and age old prejudices against the others. Every five hundred years, the Accession, a battle for supremacy, rages. That time is now. . . .

Demon from the Dark
By Kresley Cole
On Sale: 8/24/10
ISBN: 9781439123126
Price: $7.99 ($9.99 CAN)

Description:

From New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this scorching tale of a demon
outcast poisoned with vampire blood and the vulnerable young witch he vows to protect—even
from himself.

A DANGEROUS DEMON SHE CAN'T RESIST . . .

Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he's pushed to the
brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.

A MADDENING WITCH HE ACHES TO CLAIM . . .

Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets
a tortured warrior worth saving.

TRAPPED TOGETHER IN A SAVAGE PRISON . . .

In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside
him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he
craves body and soul?

Click HERE to read an excerpt from DEMON FROM THE DARK