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Dark Ones #17 - Zorya Dark Ones 3
Much Ado About Vampires
Bitter at first bite…
Corazon Ferreira is one heck of a jaded woman. Not only did her husband dump her for a pretty, vivacious blonde, but her sister has lost her mind and married a vampire. Worse, it turns out that Cora herself was a vampire’s mate in a past life…the very same vampire she witnessed killing someone.
If only Cora hadn’t inadvertently been caught up in the ill-laid plans of a reanimated corpse and its master, she could deal with the distractingly gorgeous vampire. But it’s only Alec who stands between her and those who threaten her existence, and there’s only so much temptation a woman can bear before she starts taking her heart as seriously as her head…
Corazon Ferreira is one heck of a jaded woman. Not only did her husband dump her for a pretty, vivacious blonde, but her sister has lost her mind and married a vampire. Worse, it turns out that Cora herself was a vampire’s mate in a past life…the very same vampire she witnessed killing someone.
If only Cora hadn’t inadvertently been caught up in the ill-laid plans of a reanimated corpse and its master, she could deal with the distractingly gorgeous vampire. But it’s only Alec who stands between her and those who threaten her existence, and there’s only so much temptation a woman can bear before she starts taking her heart as seriously as her head…
319 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 24, 2011
58 people are currently reading
2437 people want to read
About the author
Katie MacAlister
121 books5,975 followersFor as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books followed during the years after Noble's publication. Her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell, and for the mystery world as Kate Marsh.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books followed during the years after Noble's publication. Her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell, and for the mystery world as Kate Marsh.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
January 16, 2023
This is Alec's redemption story. We met him in Zen and the Art of Vampires and Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang where he was involved in nefarious schemes. His Beloved-in-waiting had been accidentally killed (run over by panicked oxen and cart). Alec decides revenge is in order: he kills the woman driving the ox-cart, he turns her husband into a Dark One, and then he befriends that man and systematically sabotages all of his relationships, keeping him from finding a Beloved. That frustrated man is Kristoff (from the two books above).
This book opens with a miserable Alec, having been banished to Abaddon (essentially Purgatory) where he has decided to lay down and go into a sort of torpor. This is where an accidentally-banished Cora finds him and decides to revive him. To begin with, he is unappreciative, but he finds himself responding to Cora. Cora has her own problems. She has experienced a traumatic past life regression. Then during her accidental removal from regular life, she has been melded with one of the Tools of Lucifer, plus she has no idea how to get out of Abaddon.
Good old Ulfur, the Icelandic ghost, plays a significant role here. He is a lich, brought back from the spiritual to corporeal form by a lichmaster, and has stolen the three Tools of Abaddon. During his escape, he collides with Cora and they are accidentally turned into human Tools and transported to Abaddon. Things escalate from there.
As per usual in MacAlister's novels, there is overlap with previous books, there are elaborate and quite crackers plans, and a Dark One will find his Beloved. In this case, Alec ends up with two potential Beloveds, proving once again that there is some flexibility in the Beloved dynamic.
I've been having great fun with this ultra-fluffy series, but I think my enjoyment will decline if I read yet another right away. It's time to turn to other fare, but I'll be back to visit the Dark Ones and their Beloveds in the future.
This book opens with a miserable Alec, having been banished to Abaddon (essentially Purgatory) where he has decided to lay down and go into a sort of torpor. This is where an accidentally-banished Cora finds him and decides to revive him. To begin with, he is unappreciative, but he finds himself responding to Cora. Cora has her own problems. She has experienced a traumatic past life regression. Then during her accidental removal from regular life, she has been melded with one of the Tools of Lucifer, plus she has no idea how to get out of Abaddon.
Good old Ulfur, the Icelandic ghost, plays a significant role here. He is a lich, brought back from the spiritual to corporeal form by a lichmaster, and has stolen the three Tools of Abaddon. During his escape, he collides with Cora and they are accidentally turned into human Tools and transported to Abaddon. Things escalate from there.
As per usual in MacAlister's novels, there is overlap with previous books, there are elaborate and quite crackers plans, and a Dark One will find his Beloved. In this case, Alec ends up with two potential Beloveds, proving once again that there is some flexibility in the Beloved dynamic.
I've been having great fun with this ultra-fluffy series, but I think my enjoyment will decline if I read yet another right away. It's time to turn to other fare, but I'll be back to visit the Dark Ones and their Beloveds in the future.
October 20, 2011
I love Katie MacAlister and have read every book she's ever written, even those under her Kate Maxwell name. I love her humor and characters. She really brings you into the book to the point where you can picture the characters and scenes. However, this book, though entertaining and enjoyable, just didn't do it for me. I'm of the exact problem, whether it was almost like a repeat of a book I had already read by her, the plot jumping around a bit much, or that it just wasn't as well-developed as the other books seem to be.
This is the ninth book in the Dark Ones series and is the story is of Alex (vampire) and Cora. Alec is a vampire banished to the Akasha and Cora accidently gets sent there as well where she meets him and they hook up. It's the story of the two of them battling demon lords and others who are after Cora while trying to figure out just what they mean to each other.
I liked the premise of the book and I still enjoy Katie's style and wit in her writing. But, the book just wasn't as put together as usual. The characters didn't have much of a romance going on. They meet, hook up, get stuck trying to help each other out, and instantly fall in love. I wish it had the romance the other books in the series had.
This is the ninth book in the Dark Ones series and is the story is of Alex (vampire) and Cora. Alec is a vampire banished to the Akasha and Cora accidently gets sent there as well where she meets him and they hook up. It's the story of the two of them battling demon lords and others who are after Cora while trying to figure out just what they mean to each other.
I liked the premise of the book and I still enjoy Katie's style and wit in her writing. But, the book just wasn't as put together as usual. The characters didn't have much of a romance going on. They meet, hook up, get stuck trying to help each other out, and instantly fall in love. I wish it had the romance the other books in the series had.
February 15, 2019
This book, like the series, was so much fun! Vampires and past lives. I love all the characters and the world building.
March 4, 2012
Much Ado About Vampires (Dark Ones #9)
by Katie MacAlister
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...
5 out of of 5 stars
Bitter at first bite…
Corazon Ferreira is one heck of a jaded woman. Not only did her husband dump her for a pretty, vivacious blonde, but her sister has lost her mind and married a vampire. Worse, it turns out that Cora herself was a vampire’s mate in a past life…the very same vampire she witnessed killing someone.
If only Cora hadn’t inadvertently been caught up in the ill-laid plans of a reanimated corpse and its master, she could deal with the distractingly gorgeous vampire. But it’s only Alec who stands between her and those who threaten her existence, and there’s only so much temptation a woman can bear before she starts taking her heart as seriously as her head…
Mt Thoughts and Review
Cora was in the wrong place at the wrong time when creatures from a different plane came crashing through her basement wall and some blast ends up sending her to a place called Adaddon where her friend and her are banished to. Something went wrong in that basement and now she is holding a power of the Tool ,that she knows nothing about it or even that she has a new power. There she meets a vampire Alex. She has had dreams of him knowing he murdered and women and that she herself was beheaded that same day in a accident driven by oxen.Still know this she knows that the vampire Alex needs blood in order to live so she revives this handsome vampire which in turn makes her blood go wild and Alex it seems is having the same attraction to Cora.Cora hates vampires even though her sister is married to one. She has had bad experiences in the past and just can't seem to get over her anger.
Cora starts to believe that Alex is there only ticket out of Adaddon . He was banished there to many years ago and this task is not going to be so easy. Even though Cora fights the attraction she knows something is there between the two of them. She is starting to believe she was his beloved in another life.There adventure is not going to be and easy one . There adventure is wrought with danger and many obstacles that these two will need to overcome if they want to become one.Not and easy task I might add !
This couple made a fantastic pair. Cora was so funny and witty she had me laughing just about every page I read.And Alex her handsome vampire had a soft heart with protective instincts and you felt his pain so you were rooting for him to get his happily ever after.These two were willing to give there lives for one another so that just tells you about the people who they were and what big hearts .They had to make such willing sacrifices for one another. This was just a page turner filled with mystery danger and adventure all wrapped up in to one from beginning to end. The suspense was killing me ! LOL.This was one of the most funniest books I have read in a long time and that was because Cora didn't realize that Alex could read her projected thoughts and some of those thoughts were just down right sexual that had her blushing at every turn. LOL This cast of characters were delightful!Cora's sharp whit and tongue just made this more for like able and engaging!
Recommend read to all! What book I have read in this series I have enjoyed so far bur, haven't read them in order or read the all so I am rectifying that I am catching up !
by Katie MacAlister
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...
5 out of of 5 stars
Bitter at first bite…
Corazon Ferreira is one heck of a jaded woman. Not only did her husband dump her for a pretty, vivacious blonde, but her sister has lost her mind and married a vampire. Worse, it turns out that Cora herself was a vampire’s mate in a past life…the very same vampire she witnessed killing someone.
If only Cora hadn’t inadvertently been caught up in the ill-laid plans of a reanimated corpse and its master, she could deal with the distractingly gorgeous vampire. But it’s only Alec who stands between her and those who threaten her existence, and there’s only so much temptation a woman can bear before she starts taking her heart as seriously as her head…
Mt Thoughts and Review
Cora was in the wrong place at the wrong time when creatures from a different plane came crashing through her basement wall and some blast ends up sending her to a place called Adaddon where her friend and her are banished to. Something went wrong in that basement and now she is holding a power of the Tool ,that she knows nothing about it or even that she has a new power. There she meets a vampire Alex. She has had dreams of him knowing he murdered and women and that she herself was beheaded that same day in a accident driven by oxen.Still know this she knows that the vampire Alex needs blood in order to live so she revives this handsome vampire which in turn makes her blood go wild and Alex it seems is having the same attraction to Cora.Cora hates vampires even though her sister is married to one. She has had bad experiences in the past and just can't seem to get over her anger.
Cora starts to believe that Alex is there only ticket out of Adaddon . He was banished there to many years ago and this task is not going to be so easy. Even though Cora fights the attraction she knows something is there between the two of them. She is starting to believe she was his beloved in another life.There adventure is not going to be and easy one . There adventure is wrought with danger and many obstacles that these two will need to overcome if they want to become one.Not and easy task I might add !
This couple made a fantastic pair. Cora was so funny and witty she had me laughing just about every page I read.And Alex her handsome vampire had a soft heart with protective instincts and you felt his pain so you were rooting for him to get his happily ever after.These two were willing to give there lives for one another so that just tells you about the people who they were and what big hearts .They had to make such willing sacrifices for one another. This was just a page turner filled with mystery danger and adventure all wrapped up in to one from beginning to end. The suspense was killing me ! LOL.This was one of the most funniest books I have read in a long time and that was because Cora didn't realize that Alex could read her projected thoughts and some of those thoughts were just down right sexual that had her blushing at every turn. LOL This cast of characters were delightful!Cora's sharp whit and tongue just made this more for like able and engaging!
Recommend read to all! What book I have read in this series I have enjoyed so far bur, haven't read them in order or read the all so I am rectifying that I am catching up !
October 9, 2011
While I may not be an expert, I can say with complete confidence that the book, Much Ado About Vampires is just one of many paranormal romances that falls victim to bad writing. This book is nothing more than a self-indulgent, masturbatory Mary Sue fantasy dreamed up by an author who likes her men tough, buff, and randy. The main character Corazon Ferreira is a dumbed-down, sexually starved divorcée who by page 52 has determined that she will have sex with the murderous vampire from her visions. This decision is made after first draping herself over the inert body of said vampire and giving him her blood because she thinks he’s “mind-numbingly gorgeous.” The vampire, Alec Darwin is all too happy to oblige and indulge in a quickie.
I’m coming into the Dark Ones series a little late with eight books having been written prior to this one and I’m just so baffled that a series this poorly written could have lasted this long. There are so many other juicy paranormal romances out there to choose from where the characters actually get to know one another, banter for a bit and dabble in a little foreplay before having sex. I mean where is the sexual tension? Why is the main character so vapid and ridiculous? Here are a few gems I pulled from the book that perfectly illustrate what a complete nut job Corazon is.
“Dear god, you’re sexy. You’re a vampire but you’re so incredibly sexy. I just want to… what on earth am I thinking? You’re evil! You’re undead! You’re a vampire murderer! A seductive, sensual vampire murderer with gorgeous eyes and perfect hair and oh, holy mother, you can hear me, cant you?”
“Stop tempting me with your manly stubble. And chin. And jaw. But mostly your chin. Did I mention stubble?”
“You’re too damned handsome, ok? I don’t like handsome men! They’re always halfway in love with themselves, and they use their looks and seductive bodies to sway women into doing whatever they want, and I won’t have it, do you understand me! I will not have it! Stop being handsome!”
These quotes literally make my brain hurt. Even Alec the vampire thinks she’s completely unhinged but he’s got an itch that needs to be scratched so he’s willing to let her tag along. This book was beyond infuriating and the dialogue that was intended to be funny just made me cringe. Much Ado About Vampires was a colossal disappointment and the valuable time I spent reading it could have been put to more productive use. It gets one star for a paper thin plot, absurd characters, and meaningless marathon sex.
*I won this book on Goodread's First Reads Giveaways*
I’m coming into the Dark Ones series a little late with eight books having been written prior to this one and I’m just so baffled that a series this poorly written could have lasted this long. There are so many other juicy paranormal romances out there to choose from where the characters actually get to know one another, banter for a bit and dabble in a little foreplay before having sex. I mean where is the sexual tension? Why is the main character so vapid and ridiculous? Here are a few gems I pulled from the book that perfectly illustrate what a complete nut job Corazon is.
“Dear god, you’re sexy. You’re a vampire but you’re so incredibly sexy. I just want to… what on earth am I thinking? You’re evil! You’re undead! You’re a vampire murderer! A seductive, sensual vampire murderer with gorgeous eyes and perfect hair and oh, holy mother, you can hear me, cant you?”
“Stop tempting me with your manly stubble. And chin. And jaw. But mostly your chin. Did I mention stubble?”
“You’re too damned handsome, ok? I don’t like handsome men! They’re always halfway in love with themselves, and they use their looks and seductive bodies to sway women into doing whatever they want, and I won’t have it, do you understand me! I will not have it! Stop being handsome!”
These quotes literally make my brain hurt. Even Alec the vampire thinks she’s completely unhinged but he’s got an itch that needs to be scratched so he’s willing to let her tag along. This book was beyond infuriating and the dialogue that was intended to be funny just made me cringe. Much Ado About Vampires was a colossal disappointment and the valuable time I spent reading it could have been put to more productive use. It gets one star for a paper thin plot, absurd characters, and meaningless marathon sex.
*I won this book on Goodread's First Reads Giveaways*
May 29, 2012
Original post and other reviews:FANGS, WANDS AND FAIRY: MUCH ADO ABOUT VAMPIRES is Much Ado About Back Story
Style: Sexy Romp
Madcap, crazy and comic describes this tale of a vampire and his beloveds. Plural? How can that be? Yes, Cora and her vampire, Alec, find themselves pitted against the forces of not quite hell but darn close and also against Cora herself, kind of. I didn't find it as cohesive as earlier books in the series, which I read about three years ago it was light, and fun even when danger was in store. Katie has a way of making even the most dire situation amusing. Sometimes I felt it was a little too silly as we romped along through time and space. Katie plays loosely with the fabric of time and space. But the guy on the cover is really great looking and gives me a good visual for Alec. Sometimes it's hard to imagine what the heroes in vampire novels looks like.
I haven't read several of the Dark Ones series and felt the lack of back story a hindrance. Without the back story, people just pop up with little explanation. Without crucial back story I found it tough to cotton on to Much Ado and the lack made the characters seem shallow. I think there's a difference between books in a series, and a serialized story in books. Both are perfectly fine but I wish publishers would make it more apparent.
I think if I had known the more recent history of the characters the book would have been more enjoyable.
Style: Sexy Romp
Madcap, crazy and comic describes this tale of a vampire and his beloveds. Plural? How can that be? Yes, Cora and her vampire, Alec, find themselves pitted against the forces of not quite hell but darn close and also against Cora herself, kind of. I didn't find it as cohesive as earlier books in the series, which I read about three years ago it was light, and fun even when danger was in store. Katie has a way of making even the most dire situation amusing. Sometimes I felt it was a little too silly as we romped along through time and space. Katie plays loosely with the fabric of time and space. But the guy on the cover is really great looking and gives me a good visual for Alec. Sometimes it's hard to imagine what the heroes in vampire novels looks like.
I haven't read several of the Dark Ones series and felt the lack of back story a hindrance. Without the back story, people just pop up with little explanation. Without crucial back story I found it tough to cotton on to Much Ado and the lack made the characters seem shallow. I think there's a difference between books in a series, and a serialized story in books. Both are perfectly fine but I wish publishers would make it more apparent.
I think if I had known the more recent history of the characters the book would have been more enjoyable.
August 5, 2016
Cora (and just about all of the female characters) were so obnoxious that it was chore to finish reading this book. In some ways I get it, the tongue in cheek humor about a Dark One and his quip-ready Beloved is supposed to be fast paced. They're bouncing around the mortal realm and various dimensions of the immortal one. But Cora's habit of calling on Jesus and other spiritual beings was obnoxious as well as her stubborn insistence that she was kick-ass, when she wasn't. What 30 something sounds like that? Of course most of the other female characters (Elenor, Sally, and Diamond) channeled the same characteristics, which actually made the book boring. Whose the foil? Where are the calm, rational people? The long-suffering alpha males who love their pain in the ass Beloveds certainly didn't fit the bill! I love a good paranormal with witty dialogue, but without a diverse cast of characters this just didn't do it for me.
August 16, 2017
Book Review-Much Ado about Vampires by Katie McAlister
Alec is trapped in AKbaska by the Morvian Council. He just wants to fade away. He lies down behind a rock to do just that. Unfortunately Corazon comes along. She was zapped to Akbaska with Diamond by the demon lord Bael. She doesn’t like vampires but she can’t let Alec die. She decides to feed him and hopes he can get her out of limbo.
Alec is angry at her meddling but is determined to protect her, especially when he realizes she is now a key of Bael. Everyone will be after her in order to use Bael’s power through her. He is also drawn to her and is upset when she is drawn out.
She saves Alec when she is summoned out of Akbaska. She is also drawn to him and they somehow have formed a bond. Alec knows that she is not his beloved as his was killed a long time ago. She gets drawn into his world but also has a suspicion of who she might be. Alec and Cora grow closer as he tries to protect her from all those that want her. He also helps her get Diamond out of Akbaska. It turns out there is a lot more going on than they knew and not everyone is who they seem.
I love this author. Her stories are full of humor and outrageous characters. This story did not disappoint. If you’ve read this author before she introduced Alec before in Pia’s story. A lot has happened to him since but he is a tortured character. I was happy to see what happens to him. His story is full of the craziness that goes with the Dark One world. Demon lords, tools of Bael, reincarnation, Lichs, and Beloveds are included in this story where Alec is visited again.
Pia and Kristoff also make appearances and help Alec protect Cora and get to the bottom of what is truly happening. I love how the author keeps you guessing at who is a good guy and who is not.
The story was full of funny lines and conversation. Alec is exasperated by Cora on several occasions which adds to the humor. Cora is strong willed and refuses to be dictated to. It is a hilarious read and I’m happy to see Alec get his story. I give a 4 out of 5.
Alec is trapped in AKbaska by the Morvian Council. He just wants to fade away. He lies down behind a rock to do just that. Unfortunately Corazon comes along. She was zapped to Akbaska with Diamond by the demon lord Bael. She doesn’t like vampires but she can’t let Alec die. She decides to feed him and hopes he can get her out of limbo.
Alec is angry at her meddling but is determined to protect her, especially when he realizes she is now a key of Bael. Everyone will be after her in order to use Bael’s power through her. He is also drawn to her and is upset when she is drawn out.
She saves Alec when she is summoned out of Akbaska. She is also drawn to him and they somehow have formed a bond. Alec knows that she is not his beloved as his was killed a long time ago. She gets drawn into his world but also has a suspicion of who she might be. Alec and Cora grow closer as he tries to protect her from all those that want her. He also helps her get Diamond out of Akbaska. It turns out there is a lot more going on than they knew and not everyone is who they seem.
I love this author. Her stories are full of humor and outrageous characters. This story did not disappoint. If you’ve read this author before she introduced Alec before in Pia’s story. A lot has happened to him since but he is a tortured character. I was happy to see what happens to him. His story is full of the craziness that goes with the Dark One world. Demon lords, tools of Bael, reincarnation, Lichs, and Beloveds are included in this story where Alec is visited again.
Pia and Kristoff also make appearances and help Alec protect Cora and get to the bottom of what is truly happening. I love how the author keeps you guessing at who is a good guy and who is not.
The story was full of funny lines and conversation. Alec is exasperated by Cora on several occasions which adds to the humor. Cora is strong willed and refuses to be dictated to. It is a hilarious read and I’m happy to see Alec get his story. I give a 4 out of 5.
August 20, 2019
Cora has a past life regression and sees a vampire killing a woman who killed her and when she saves said vampire she goes between "he's so hot" and "vampire killing machine" so fast I have whiplash.
What I enjoyed:
* I liked the end
* Sally was an interesting character
What could have been better:
* How is a normal person perfectly ok with ending up in a hell dimension? And then gives her blood to a comatose "man" because he is good looking? This is not how sane people behave.
* All the back and forth of he's a vampire, but he's hot
* Alec was pretty passive throughout
* Book was slow
What I enjoyed:
* I liked the end
* Sally was an interesting character
What could have been better:
* How is a normal person perfectly ok with ending up in a hell dimension? And then gives her blood to a comatose "man" because he is good looking? This is not how sane people behave.
* All the back and forth of he's a vampire, but he's hot
* Alec was pretty passive throughout
* Book was slow
April 27, 2021
*This “review” is based on the audiobook-Much Ado About Vampires by Katie Macalister*
This book was just silly. The h, as is all of the h’s in every book I’ve listen to by this author, is a strong female, and won’t put up with anyone telling her what do to or where to go. Unfortunately, all of these gals are also absolutely stupid! “Hey, the bad guy kidnapped me, so I’m not going to telepathically communicate to my Dark One, because he’s too busy fighting another bad guy, and I don’t want to distract him”.
Despite wanting to bitch-slap the h, I found the book funny, and was able to finish it. However, I wasn’t really paying attention to the story after the bad guy was defeated, that part just bored me.
This book was just silly. The h, as is all of the h’s in every book I’ve listen to by this author, is a strong female, and won’t put up with anyone telling her what do to or where to go. Unfortunately, all of these gals are also absolutely stupid! “Hey, the bad guy kidnapped me, so I’m not going to telepathically communicate to my Dark One, because he’s too busy fighting another bad guy, and I don’t want to distract him”.
Despite wanting to bitch-slap the h, I found the book funny, and was able to finish it. However, I wasn’t really paying attention to the story after the bad guy was defeated, that part just bored me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2011
Favorite Quote: “A Beloved should never keep things from her Dark One.”
“I’ll be sure to pass that along to the next Beloved I see.”
Corazon Ferreirs (Cora) is not having the best of days. Her sister married a vampire, her husband dumped her, and when she decides to undergo past life regression at a party, she witnesses her own death and watches a vampire kill the one responsible. So imagine her surprise when during a house inspection with her ex-husband’s new trophy wife, she inadvertently absorbs a demonic power making her 1/3rd of a demonic “tool” and is sent to a supernatural purgutory and saves the life of the killer she saw in her dreams.
Sexy Dark One Alec Darwin is tired. He was sentenced to Akasha by the council for crimes committed against fellow Dark Ones and had decided to end it all with he wakes up to find a beautiful woman offering her blood to him. Alec has never met Cora before but feels an instant overwhelming bond with her, a Beloved bond, but that can’t be possible because he saw his Beloved killed hundreds of years ago. Plus, Cora seems to dislike him.
Cora isn’t sure what is going on. One minute she is wandering through a house and the next minute she’s in the desert on a tour of a demonic purgatory. When she turns down the “Torture and Dismembering” seminar to find a way to escape, she happens upon a gorgeous unconscious man. Realizing he’s a vampire gives her pause because she really doesn’t like vampires but she can’t let him die so she offers him her blood. When Alec awakes all he can think is who is this woman, why did she bring him back to life, and how fast can he get her on her back? From there is becomes a comedy of errors as Cora and Alec fling insults all while trying not to react upon the strong attraction they feel towards each other.
“Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop tempting me with your manly stubble. And chin. And jaw. But mostly your chin. Did I mention your stubble?”.
“What in the name of the saints are you going on about now?”
“Your too damned handsome. Ok? I don’t like handsome men. I won’t have it, do you understand me! I will not have it! Stop being handsome!”
“Your part of my punishment aren’t you? It’s not bad enough the council banished me to the Akasha-they sent you to drive me insane, didn’t they?”
Alec realizes Cora is in some serious trouble when Bael’s minions come looking for her to relieve her of the “tool”. They escape Akasha and Alec leads them to fellow Dark Ones’ home, Pia and Kristian), in hopes of learning more about her predicament and to hide from the council. What they find is Alec’s previously dead Beloved who wants him back. Add in some overzealous monks, a demon lord who sense of fashion is only mastered by her sense of torture, and you have a recipe for a crazy no holds barred comedy of errors
I was happy to learn we would be getting Alec’s story in Much Ado About Vampires. We first saw him Zen And The Art Of Vampires and again in Crouching Dragon and Hidden Fang. We know Alec isn’t all that bad and there had to be a really good reason for what he did, right? Well there is and here we find out exactly what happened and why. Much Ado About Vampires, number 9 in Katie MacAlister’s Dark Ones series, is a lighthearted and humorous paranormal romance that is heavy on the characterization and light on plot. Sexy vampires, over the top bad guys, and other eccentric characters will have you in stitches as you watch Alec and Cora race to stay ahead of those who want to control the power Cora has inside of her.
Cora and Alec were hard to get to know in the beginning, Cora more so then Alec. She comes off bi-polar. The constant back and forth dialogue (speech and telepathy) was hard to follow and Cora’s antagonism towards Alec was strange. She saw him kill someone but it was revealed in a hypnosis session. I thought it was odd she instantly believed what she saw with no reservations. Sex right off the bat is a turn off for me and I found them having sex especially unbelievable given her strong antagonism towards him. Plus, Cora speaks of her body parts in the third person. I’ve never been a fan of people who speak of their breasts as people.
I began to enjoy the story more once they are out of Akasha and Cora settles down. The storyline picks up pace and the plot starts revealing itself. Alec and Cora do make a great couple. Cora is still unsure of the whole beloved issue. Alec is alpha to the core while Cora’s exuberance and snarky side has him wanting to kiss her one minute and strangle her the next. She has a sarcastic devil riding on her shoulder whom she gives free rein too.
“Well, you know, the Occio is a really big deal. It’s one-third of the tools of Dale.”
“Bael.”
“Bael, sorry. I call him Dale. It’s a little thing we do.”
I also like how defensive she gets of Alec and tries to protect him; much to his dismay. She may be unsure about him but nobody else can. Alec isn’t as dark and broody as the rest of the Dark Ones featured. He seems more to laid back and I found his feelings towards Cora to be sweet. He isn’t going to force the joining until he is 100% sure this is what she wants too. I love how romantic he is…calling her ‘querida” and ‘my heart.’
Multiple story lines run parallel, twisting and turning to keep you guessing with little clues given along the way. There are some revelations that may raise a few eyebrows. New and old characters are in abundance and they will have you giggling and snorting through out.
All in all I found this a funny lighthearted story that will be a must have for fans of Ms. MacAlister’s Dark Ones world.
Overall Rating: C+
“I’ll be sure to pass that along to the next Beloved I see.”
Corazon Ferreirs (Cora) is not having the best of days. Her sister married a vampire, her husband dumped her, and when she decides to undergo past life regression at a party, she witnesses her own death and watches a vampire kill the one responsible. So imagine her surprise when during a house inspection with her ex-husband’s new trophy wife, she inadvertently absorbs a demonic power making her 1/3rd of a demonic “tool” and is sent to a supernatural purgutory and saves the life of the killer she saw in her dreams.
Sexy Dark One Alec Darwin is tired. He was sentenced to Akasha by the council for crimes committed against fellow Dark Ones and had decided to end it all with he wakes up to find a beautiful woman offering her blood to him. Alec has never met Cora before but feels an instant overwhelming bond with her, a Beloved bond, but that can’t be possible because he saw his Beloved killed hundreds of years ago. Plus, Cora seems to dislike him.
Cora isn’t sure what is going on. One minute she is wandering through a house and the next minute she’s in the desert on a tour of a demonic purgatory. When she turns down the “Torture and Dismembering” seminar to find a way to escape, she happens upon a gorgeous unconscious man. Realizing he’s a vampire gives her pause because she really doesn’t like vampires but she can’t let him die so she offers him her blood. When Alec awakes all he can think is who is this woman, why did she bring him back to life, and how fast can he get her on her back? From there is becomes a comedy of errors as Cora and Alec fling insults all while trying not to react upon the strong attraction they feel towards each other.
“Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop tempting me with your manly stubble. And chin. And jaw. But mostly your chin. Did I mention your stubble?”.
“What in the name of the saints are you going on about now?”
“Your too damned handsome. Ok? I don’t like handsome men. I won’t have it, do you understand me! I will not have it! Stop being handsome!”
“Your part of my punishment aren’t you? It’s not bad enough the council banished me to the Akasha-they sent you to drive me insane, didn’t they?”
Alec realizes Cora is in some serious trouble when Bael’s minions come looking for her to relieve her of the “tool”. They escape Akasha and Alec leads them to fellow Dark Ones’ home, Pia and Kristian), in hopes of learning more about her predicament and to hide from the council. What they find is Alec’s previously dead Beloved who wants him back. Add in some overzealous monks, a demon lord who sense of fashion is only mastered by her sense of torture, and you have a recipe for a crazy no holds barred comedy of errors
I was happy to learn we would be getting Alec’s story in Much Ado About Vampires. We first saw him Zen And The Art Of Vampires and again in Crouching Dragon and Hidden Fang. We know Alec isn’t all that bad and there had to be a really good reason for what he did, right? Well there is and here we find out exactly what happened and why. Much Ado About Vampires, number 9 in Katie MacAlister’s Dark Ones series, is a lighthearted and humorous paranormal romance that is heavy on the characterization and light on plot. Sexy vampires, over the top bad guys, and other eccentric characters will have you in stitches as you watch Alec and Cora race to stay ahead of those who want to control the power Cora has inside of her.
Cora and Alec were hard to get to know in the beginning, Cora more so then Alec. She comes off bi-polar. The constant back and forth dialogue (speech and telepathy) was hard to follow and Cora’s antagonism towards Alec was strange. She saw him kill someone but it was revealed in a hypnosis session. I thought it was odd she instantly believed what she saw with no reservations. Sex right off the bat is a turn off for me and I found them having sex especially unbelievable given her strong antagonism towards him. Plus, Cora speaks of her body parts in the third person. I’ve never been a fan of people who speak of their breasts as people.
I began to enjoy the story more once they are out of Akasha and Cora settles down. The storyline picks up pace and the plot starts revealing itself. Alec and Cora do make a great couple. Cora is still unsure of the whole beloved issue. Alec is alpha to the core while Cora’s exuberance and snarky side has him wanting to kiss her one minute and strangle her the next. She has a sarcastic devil riding on her shoulder whom she gives free rein too.
“Well, you know, the Occio is a really big deal. It’s one-third of the tools of Dale.”
“Bael.”
“Bael, sorry. I call him Dale. It’s a little thing we do.”
I also like how defensive she gets of Alec and tries to protect him; much to his dismay. She may be unsure about him but nobody else can. Alec isn’t as dark and broody as the rest of the Dark Ones featured. He seems more to laid back and I found his feelings towards Cora to be sweet. He isn’t going to force the joining until he is 100% sure this is what she wants too. I love how romantic he is…calling her ‘querida” and ‘my heart.’
Multiple story lines run parallel, twisting and turning to keep you guessing with little clues given along the way. There are some revelations that may raise a few eyebrows. New and old characters are in abundance and they will have you giggling and snorting through out.
All in all I found this a funny lighthearted story that will be a must have for fans of Ms. MacAlister’s Dark Ones world.
Overall Rating: C+
November 15, 2021
This is a really fun story with all the trademark humor and steamy sex scenes I've come to expect from MacAlister. Cora is a strong, independent heroine who has a bias against Dark Ones, despite her sister being a happily married Beloved. The attraction between Cora and Alec is incendiary from the start, though neither wants to admit to it being more than lust. This book should be confusing given all the twist and turns (demon lords, liches, Alec's 2 Beloveds?!?, and the Court of Divine Blood) but somehow, MacAlister makes it all work, and it all makes sense. We also get to see several characters from previous books, so that's fun.
October 6, 2018
Alec, Dark One ie vampire and Corazon were True Beloveds 400 years earlier... when she was killed (accident? planned) by a woman's runaway ox-cart.
Through a series of unplanned circumstances, Corazon ends up in Akbaska (purgatory) - where she is drawn to all but dead Alec... and she gives him her blood... she figures out they were the beloveds of the past, but he doesn't recognize her soul at first...
convulsions as they fight demons, and angels, and Princes of hell to be together, cast out Baal, and be together...
Through a series of unplanned circumstances, Corazon ends up in Akbaska (purgatory) - where she is drawn to all but dead Alec... and she gives him her blood... she figures out they were the beloveds of the past, but he doesn't recognize her soul at first...
convulsions as they fight demons, and angels, and Princes of hell to be together, cast out Baal, and be together...
August 26, 2020
Sorry to say, I got really bored with this series. It was fine as long as they were stand alone but I got burned out with the lichs, the brotherhood of the light, the Zyroas & Zeniths.So many plots & subplots to keep up with - I found I was just scrolling. The plots consist of screwing a bit of action; more screwing....Alfonse de Marco turning up, Devils, Bael.....This one with Corazon being the long last incarnation of Alec's beloved but his first souless beloved being a lich???? Just way too much.
February 5, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Such fun to read, wild and witty.
Opening Sentence: Alec Darwin was dying, or as close to it as one could be without having that last little spark of life flutter away into nothingness.
The Review:
This is the story of Corazon Ferreira, a budding real estate agent, and known vampire hater, well serious vampire dislike-er. As the story opens, we find Cora taking pictures of an old mansion along with the woman who stole her husband, who also works at the realty agency. While Cora is exploring the basement, she gets mixed up in some sort of demonic tool theft, and it’s “Welcome to Hell” time…well, Hell/Purgatory. Thankfully she stumbles upon someone who should be able to help, but needs a little saving first. But *gasp* the creature she saves is none other than the vampire that has been haunting her. Actually, he is haunting her dreams, and past life regressions, but I digress.
Alec Darwin has been sentenced to Akasha (sort of like purgatory) for crimes against his kind. Just as he has decided to fade away into nothingness, along comes Cora to bring him back. Which, by the by, was the exact opposite of his wishes. Having lost his beloved some centuries ago, Alec has merely existed all this time, and wants his time to come to an end. However, now that she has given herself to him, in every way…ahem… Alec cannot find the will to turn Cora away, especially when he finds out what a real mess she is embroiled in.
Alec and Cora, once out of the Akasha, must enlist the help of their friends, and some of their enemies, to rid themselves of the dangers of death, destruction and perpetual imprisonment. And in doing so together, they realize that even after all this time, they truly are meant to be.
Set in the age of cell phones and credit cards, Much Ado About Vampires takes place in several countries and on many separate planes of existence. Ms. MacAlister seems to have that knack for tying the dramatic into the funny, and I found myself chuckling out loud, much to the consternation of those sitting by me at the restaurant I was in while reading a good chunk of the book.
The only thing I wonder about is if some of the concepts in this story are covered in some of the previous books. It would have made some of the more bureaucratic and political situations a tad bit easier to follow.
Otherwise, as I stated before, this book was a lot of fun. Makes me want to run out and grab books 1-8 and all the other related stories. If only.
Notable Scene:
“You know, this doesn’t look like hell.”
“That’s because it’s not Abaddon. It’s the Akasha.” Alec strolled beside me as we walked down a long hallway, our footsteps echoing slightly along the smooth walls and stone floor.
“Yeah, but that greeter person told Diamond and me that this was a place of perpetual torment, and that sounds like hell to me. However, this…” I waved a hand around our surroundings. “This just looks like any old office building. I don’t see anything tormentish about it.”
“Try opening one of the doors,” he said, nodding to one as we passed it.
I paused. “Why? Is something ghoulish going on in there? Are people being dismembered? Tortured? Eaten by fire ants?”
He crossed his arms and nodded toward the nearest door. “Open it and see.”
“All right, but if it’s something gross, I’m aiming at you when I barf up my breakfast.” I opened the door and looked in, braced for the worst.
A group of a half-dozen people sat around a long table, papers scattered across its surface, which was also littered with half-empty bottles of water, and a rainbow of highlighters. Crumpled paper spilled off the table onto the floor, leading in trail to a whiteboard covered in several different styles of handwriting.
“We are agreed, then, are we not,” said a man in a business suit at the head of the table, “that examining the cost-savings that will accrue from our cutback on the performance-related functions will make good any and all productivity shortfalls we experience this quarter?”
A woman shook her head and tapped at the table with one of the highlighters. “I believe that if we realign our organizational aims to better benefit the enterprise, we can absolve our office of the clearly unsustainable redundancy of not only the expense claims, but of the external consultants, which I think we all agree will lead to the downfall of this and other management teams within the venture.”
“No, no, no!” a third man said, hoisting his pants up over his beer belly as he rose to his feet. “If we form a task force to investigate the benefits of a mentor program—“
“Good god,” I said softly, closing the door. “It’s worse than I thought.”
Alec nodded. “Middle-management committees. Still think this isn’t a bad place?”
I shuddered. “We have to get out of here.”
The Dark Ones Series:
1. A Girl’s Guide to Vampires
2. Sex and the Single Vampire
3. Sex, Lies and Vampires
4. Even Vampires Get the Blues
5. The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires
6. Zen and the Art of Vampires
7. Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang
8. In the Company of Vampires
9. Much Ado About Vampires
FTC Advisory: Penguin Group provided me with a copy of Much Ado About Vampires. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Such fun to read, wild and witty.
Opening Sentence: Alec Darwin was dying, or as close to it as one could be without having that last little spark of life flutter away into nothingness.
The Review:
This is the story of Corazon Ferreira, a budding real estate agent, and known vampire hater, well serious vampire dislike-er. As the story opens, we find Cora taking pictures of an old mansion along with the woman who stole her husband, who also works at the realty agency. While Cora is exploring the basement, she gets mixed up in some sort of demonic tool theft, and it’s “Welcome to Hell” time…well, Hell/Purgatory. Thankfully she stumbles upon someone who should be able to help, but needs a little saving first. But *gasp* the creature she saves is none other than the vampire that has been haunting her. Actually, he is haunting her dreams, and past life regressions, but I digress.
Alec Darwin has been sentenced to Akasha (sort of like purgatory) for crimes against his kind. Just as he has decided to fade away into nothingness, along comes Cora to bring him back. Which, by the by, was the exact opposite of his wishes. Having lost his beloved some centuries ago, Alec has merely existed all this time, and wants his time to come to an end. However, now that she has given herself to him, in every way…ahem… Alec cannot find the will to turn Cora away, especially when he finds out what a real mess she is embroiled in.
Alec and Cora, once out of the Akasha, must enlist the help of their friends, and some of their enemies, to rid themselves of the dangers of death, destruction and perpetual imprisonment. And in doing so together, they realize that even after all this time, they truly are meant to be.
Set in the age of cell phones and credit cards, Much Ado About Vampires takes place in several countries and on many separate planes of existence. Ms. MacAlister seems to have that knack for tying the dramatic into the funny, and I found myself chuckling out loud, much to the consternation of those sitting by me at the restaurant I was in while reading a good chunk of the book.
The only thing I wonder about is if some of the concepts in this story are covered in some of the previous books. It would have made some of the more bureaucratic and political situations a tad bit easier to follow.
Otherwise, as I stated before, this book was a lot of fun. Makes me want to run out and grab books 1-8 and all the other related stories. If only.
Notable Scene:
“You know, this doesn’t look like hell.”
“That’s because it’s not Abaddon. It’s the Akasha.” Alec strolled beside me as we walked down a long hallway, our footsteps echoing slightly along the smooth walls and stone floor.
“Yeah, but that greeter person told Diamond and me that this was a place of perpetual torment, and that sounds like hell to me. However, this…” I waved a hand around our surroundings. “This just looks like any old office building. I don’t see anything tormentish about it.”
“Try opening one of the doors,” he said, nodding to one as we passed it.
I paused. “Why? Is something ghoulish going on in there? Are people being dismembered? Tortured? Eaten by fire ants?”
He crossed his arms and nodded toward the nearest door. “Open it and see.”
“All right, but if it’s something gross, I’m aiming at you when I barf up my breakfast.” I opened the door and looked in, braced for the worst.
A group of a half-dozen people sat around a long table, papers scattered across its surface, which was also littered with half-empty bottles of water, and a rainbow of highlighters. Crumpled paper spilled off the table onto the floor, leading in trail to a whiteboard covered in several different styles of handwriting.
“We are agreed, then, are we not,” said a man in a business suit at the head of the table, “that examining the cost-savings that will accrue from our cutback on the performance-related functions will make good any and all productivity shortfalls we experience this quarter?”
A woman shook her head and tapped at the table with one of the highlighters. “I believe that if we realign our organizational aims to better benefit the enterprise, we can absolve our office of the clearly unsustainable redundancy of not only the expense claims, but of the external consultants, which I think we all agree will lead to the downfall of this and other management teams within the venture.”
“No, no, no!” a third man said, hoisting his pants up over his beer belly as he rose to his feet. “If we form a task force to investigate the benefits of a mentor program—“
“Good god,” I said softly, closing the door. “It’s worse than I thought.”
Alec nodded. “Middle-management committees. Still think this isn’t a bad place?”
I shuddered. “We have to get out of here.”
The Dark Ones Series:
1. A Girl’s Guide to Vampires
2. Sex and the Single Vampire
3. Sex, Lies and Vampires
4. Even Vampires Get the Blues
5. The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires
6. Zen and the Art of Vampires
7. Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang
8. In the Company of Vampires
9. Much Ado About Vampires
FTC Advisory: Penguin Group provided me with a copy of Much Ado About Vampires. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
February 14, 2023
I really enjoy Katie MacAlister's Dark Ones series, but I just couldn't get into Much Ado About Vampires. I don't mind when the characters go to hell, or the waiting room to hell; but I don't like when they stay there, for most of the book.
The characters were great. I loved when Cora and Alec talked to each other, through their minds; but I just couldn't get into the storyline.
The characters were great. I loved when Cora and Alec talked to each other, through their minds; but I just couldn't get into the storyline.
September 15, 2017
Not my favorite in the series probably why it took me so long to finish it. Storyline was boring and repetitive. Disappointing from such a great author.
December 15, 2018
Hilarious! Great characters and action. Got to revisit my fave characters from previous book! This was a great story!
Read
June 30, 2019Also included short story "My Heart Will Go On and On"
April 7, 2020
Great series!
April 27, 2020
It was a fun read, laughed out loud a few times, the only thing that got to me was the constant use of "Jesus wept"....it got really annoying. Looking forward to reading others in the series.
July 24, 2020
Don't understand the epilogue. Was this story a dream or did it really happen to Cora?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2022
Again another funny bok.
I love reading these books. They are fast and easy to read. I love the characters and how we see them over and over.
I love reading these books. They are fast and easy to read. I love the characters and how we see them over and over.
November 21, 2022
Love this series
August 21, 2024
Really enjoyed this book
June 24, 2017
Well, well, I have mixed feelings about this book. I like Alec and Cora was okay (a bit annoying), but the story is a bit too corny and cliche and not matured enough (or whatever you call a good, thought-out and well written story). Sometimes I felt like slapping both of them! I mean, really! In most of the other books the corny stuff isn't that bad, there is lots of it but that's okay because it is somewhat limited and there is good sex and a great story. The story here is also good, but I could not enjoy it as I wanted because it was just tooo corny >.< I'm more the type who likes sex, violence and a brilliant story - without wanting to bang my head against the wall if I read one more time about her hips and his he-man act and all the other stuff! A bit of it is charming, but not in this quantity. As you can read here, it really tried my patience sorely...
About the story: You remember Alec, Kristoff's best friend, and Cora, the sister of the therion-Beloved? Now they get their chance for eternal love. In Jas' story Cora tells her about her past-life regression and if you read it attentively you surely didn't miss that she saw herself killed in an incident we know well from Kristoff and Alec.
Together with Ulfur and her colleague Diamond, Cora gets accidentally banished to Akasha by Bael himself, which causes all three of them to become the personifications of Bael's tools - three objects which can be used to draw power from Bael. While exploring the Akashashic Plain, Cora stumbles upon a bloodless vampire and just can't bring herself to leave him like that. After feeding him, she is shocked to recognise him as the vampire Alec from her past life and realises that she is actually his reincarnated Beloved. Bemused by this, she decides not to tell him about it but can't keep herself from being attracted to him and feeling good near him. When she is summoned by de Marco, who initially sent Ulfur to steal Bael's tools, she bargains with him to summon one other person, surprising herself and Alec by deciding for him and against Diamond. Now, supported by Kristoff and Pia, they have to protect her from people wanting to misuse her as a tool and him from the Moravian council who send him to Akasha. Furthermore, they have to rescue Ulfur and Diamond, have to deal with an unwanted and ill-timed surprise and Cora has to make a choice which Beloveds normally don't have.
Here my review for the whole series:
Summary: easy to read, humorous, paranormal, kick-ass romance with lots of good sex.
The basic ideas are the same in every book: Every single book is humorous, has an macho Dark One and a kick-ass Beloved. The Beloved is the only human(-like creature) in the whole world who can save the soul of the Dark One and end his pain, most Dark Ones never find their Beloved. The dynamic between the godlike male and the female is always hot and really funny to observe. In most books at least one of the two doesn't want the relationship or has issues, he mostly wants to dominate her but she doesn't like that and gives it to him straight. Eventually he is under her thumb and she realises it may not be as bad to have a male in her live. There is a crisis they have to overcome and bad boys that need to be kicked in the ass. Always the same basic ideas and always successful. Nonetheless, each story is unique and all books are different, therefore it doesn't get boring, quite the opposite. Of course the stories are (more than) a bit corny but the really hot sex makes up for it.
The story is always interesting (and funny) and the magic system and magic world that is revealed a bit more with each book is really(!) fascinating. First, the Dark Ones (kind of vampire) are introduced together with the fact that there is magic and there are psychics like summoners, who interact with ghosts, or guardians, who make sure that nothing demonic makes itself at home in the human world. But there is a lot more to it and at the end of the official tenth book I was very pleased with the system and magic world (like the system of heaven, hell, god and devil; it's just great)!
My only critique is that the background story that becomes apparent after a few books is kind of annoying because it takes a very long time and you still don't know anything. Normally a common thread is nice but this is just annoying. I hate not getting answers to events and questions that happened, right now there are ten official books and which each book (starting with the sixth) there are only more questions. The first books can be read as stand-alones but all the characters we meet appear again in later books and I would reccomend to read them in order. I know there are quite a few books in this series, but they are easy to read and e.g. for the second book I did not even need 6 hours to read it.
read: 10.03.15, 12.08.15
About the story: You remember Alec, Kristoff's best friend, and Cora, the sister of the therion-Beloved? Now they get their chance for eternal love. In Jas' story Cora tells her about her past-life regression and if you read it attentively you surely didn't miss that she saw herself killed in an incident we know well from Kristoff and Alec.
Together with Ulfur and her colleague Diamond, Cora gets accidentally banished to Akasha by Bael himself, which causes all three of them to become the personifications of Bael's tools - three objects which can be used to draw power from Bael. While exploring the Akashashic Plain, Cora stumbles upon a bloodless vampire and just can't bring herself to leave him like that. After feeding him, she is shocked to recognise him as the vampire Alec from her past life and realises that she is actually his reincarnated Beloved. Bemused by this, she decides not to tell him about it but can't keep herself from being attracted to him and feeling good near him. When she is summoned by de Marco, who initially sent Ulfur to steal Bael's tools, she bargains with him to summon one other person, surprising herself and Alec by deciding for him and against Diamond. Now, supported by Kristoff and Pia, they have to protect her from people wanting to misuse her as a tool and him from the Moravian council who send him to Akasha. Furthermore, they have to rescue Ulfur and Diamond, have to deal with an unwanted and ill-timed surprise and Cora has to make a choice which Beloveds normally don't have.
Here my review for the whole series:
Summary: easy to read, humorous, paranormal, kick-ass romance with lots of good sex.
The basic ideas are the same in every book: Every single book is humorous, has an macho Dark One and a kick-ass Beloved. The Beloved is the only human(-like creature) in the whole world who can save the soul of the Dark One and end his pain, most Dark Ones never find their Beloved. The dynamic between the godlike male and the female is always hot and really funny to observe. In most books at least one of the two doesn't want the relationship or has issues, he mostly wants to dominate her but she doesn't like that and gives it to him straight. Eventually he is under her thumb and she realises it may not be as bad to have a male in her live. There is a crisis they have to overcome and bad boys that need to be kicked in the ass. Always the same basic ideas and always successful. Nonetheless, each story is unique and all books are different, therefore it doesn't get boring, quite the opposite. Of course the stories are (more than) a bit corny but the really hot sex makes up for it.
The story is always interesting (and funny) and the magic system and magic world that is revealed a bit more with each book is really(!) fascinating. First, the Dark Ones (kind of vampire) are introduced together with the fact that there is magic and there are psychics like summoners, who interact with ghosts, or guardians, who make sure that nothing demonic makes itself at home in the human world. But there is a lot more to it and at the end of the official tenth book I was very pleased with the system and magic world (like the system of heaven, hell, god and devil; it's just great)!
My only critique is that the background story that becomes apparent after a few books is kind of annoying because it takes a very long time and you still don't know anything. Normally a common thread is nice but this is just annoying. I hate not getting answers to events and questions that happened, right now there are ten official books and which each book (starting with the sixth) there are only more questions. The first books can be read as stand-alones but all the characters we meet appear again in later books and I would reccomend to read them in order. I know there are quite a few books in this series, but they are easy to read and e.g. for the second book I did not even need 6 hours to read it.
read: 10.03.15, 12.08.15
March 8, 2023
I love how funny and fresh the Katie MacAlister romances are. The plots are exciting and the characters are sexy but the writing doesn’t take itself too seriously. Corazon was another great character and it was wonderful getting to see Alec in a good light. If anything I just wish it was easier to find MacAlister’s books at bookstores and libraries as I now want to read more.
February 21, 2013
I discovered MacAllister’s Dark Ones series a few years ago and was hooked. Her books are about not perfect heroines and their vampires, along with some naughtiness. A host of other characters with supernatural abilities are also thrown into the mix. Much Ado About Vampires is the 9th in the series. While fun and quirky, the story presents as a tired formula. Girl meets guy who turns out to be a vampire and only a Beloved can give him back his soul. This time around, it is Corazon “Cora” Ferreira who meets her Dark One, Alec Darwin. I should make it clear that I put the book down, at least twice, with the intention of a DNF. I’m glad I stuck it out, as the ending redeemed the book for me. But, just barely.
The book is a whirlwind, and if you aren't focusing, you will get lost in a very confusing plot. Dark One Alec Darwin, has been banished to the Akasha (limbo) by the Moravian Council for crimes committed against them. Alec spent hundreds of years plotting revenge for the death of his Beloved (soul mate) who died at the hands of Krisotff Hannelore’s wife. This is a carryover story line from the last 2 books in the series.
Enter Cora who was accidentally banished to the Akasha. While a prepping a house for a real estate listing with co-worker Diamond, Cora gets caught up in a theft in progress. But, Cora doesn't stumble on an ordinary theft, she has become entangled in a supernatural one. At the biding of his master, Alphonse DeMarco, Ulfur the lich has stolen three objects know as the Tools of Bael. Demon lord Bael, premier prince of Abaddon, is understandably irate and banishes Ulfur to the Akasha and Cora and Diamond are inadvertently dragged along. When the dust has settled, Ulfur realizes that the trio has become living tools, as each has taken on the powers of the stolen objects. They can channel Bael’s powers and the three tools together equal mayhem. Confused yet? We also learn that ditsy Diamond is much more than she has let on.
Cora discovers what she thinks is a dead body. Not so, it’s a vampire. It turns out that Cora’s sister Jacinta is a Beloved so she knows all about what he is. To top it off, he is the vampire she saw when she underwent the past life regression hypnotherapy. She revives Alec even though she despises vampires. Almost immediately thereafter they end up having sex. I know, it’s a little weird. Random dead guy who happens to be a vampire and she is having sex with him in limbo. They develop a bond and it soon turns out that Cora is indeed Alec’s Beloved, albeit his reincarnated one. Cora gets rescued and then plots to get Alec out, too.
As Cora is now a tool, a whole bunch of bad guys want access to her powers and those of the other tools. These three powers together equal world domination. Alec turns to fellow Dark One, Kristoff and his Beloved, Pia for help. As it turns out, they have ties to De Marco and Ulfur. They have also resurrected Alec’s dead Beloved, Eleanor. This turns out to have been a bad move on so many levels. A series of adventures and misadventures ensues with some unexpected intervention in the form of a demon prince named Sally. Sally, it turns out has been keeping secrets about her true identity. This ties up loose ends from other series in which she appears. The book concludes with Alec’s exoneration and Eleanor being released to go back to the Underworld.
Overall, this book was ok. There are too many characters weaving in and out of the story line and it is often difficult to follow. Cora herself is a confused. She is antagonistic one minute then protective of Alec the next. She did, however develop some backbone and charges in with an army of dead people to save Alec who she is now totally in love with. I think the book was intended to tie up loose ends as the next in the series deals with another story line and a few overlapping characters. I felt as if I needed flash cards to figure out who the players were and what story lines they were previously connected to.
The book is a whirlwind, and if you aren't focusing, you will get lost in a very confusing plot. Dark One Alec Darwin, has been banished to the Akasha (limbo) by the Moravian Council for crimes committed against them. Alec spent hundreds of years plotting revenge for the death of his Beloved (soul mate) who died at the hands of Krisotff Hannelore’s wife. This is a carryover story line from the last 2 books in the series.
Enter Cora who was accidentally banished to the Akasha. While a prepping a house for a real estate listing with co-worker Diamond, Cora gets caught up in a theft in progress. But, Cora doesn't stumble on an ordinary theft, she has become entangled in a supernatural one. At the biding of his master, Alphonse DeMarco, Ulfur the lich has stolen three objects know as the Tools of Bael. Demon lord Bael, premier prince of Abaddon, is understandably irate and banishes Ulfur to the Akasha and Cora and Diamond are inadvertently dragged along. When the dust has settled, Ulfur realizes that the trio has become living tools, as each has taken on the powers of the stolen objects. They can channel Bael’s powers and the three tools together equal mayhem. Confused yet? We also learn that ditsy Diamond is much more than she has let on.
Cora discovers what she thinks is a dead body. Not so, it’s a vampire. It turns out that Cora’s sister Jacinta is a Beloved so she knows all about what he is. To top it off, he is the vampire she saw when she underwent the past life regression hypnotherapy. She revives Alec even though she despises vampires. Almost immediately thereafter they end up having sex. I know, it’s a little weird. Random dead guy who happens to be a vampire and she is having sex with him in limbo. They develop a bond and it soon turns out that Cora is indeed Alec’s Beloved, albeit his reincarnated one. Cora gets rescued and then plots to get Alec out, too.
As Cora is now a tool, a whole bunch of bad guys want access to her powers and those of the other tools. These three powers together equal world domination. Alec turns to fellow Dark One, Kristoff and his Beloved, Pia for help. As it turns out, they have ties to De Marco and Ulfur. They have also resurrected Alec’s dead Beloved, Eleanor. This turns out to have been a bad move on so many levels. A series of adventures and misadventures ensues with some unexpected intervention in the form of a demon prince named Sally. Sally, it turns out has been keeping secrets about her true identity. This ties up loose ends from other series in which she appears. The book concludes with Alec’s exoneration and Eleanor being released to go back to the Underworld.
Overall, this book was ok. There are too many characters weaving in and out of the story line and it is often difficult to follow. Cora herself is a confused. She is antagonistic one minute then protective of Alec the next. She did, however develop some backbone and charges in with an army of dead people to save Alec who she is now totally in love with. I think the book was intended to tie up loose ends as the next in the series deals with another story line and a few overlapping characters. I felt as if I needed flash cards to figure out who the players were and what story lines they were previously connected to.
March 25, 2016
Cora arbeitet als Sekretärin in der Immobilienfirma ihres Ex-Ehemannes. Dessen zweite Frau, Diamond, nimmt Cora mit zu einer Immobilie, die von der Firma verkauft werden soll. Cora soll mit Diamond zusammen Fotos von dem Gebäude machen. Doch sie läuft dort dem Lich Ulfur und einem „bösen Engländer“ über den Weg, der sich als Herrscher über das Abbadon, also der quasi Hölle, entpuppt. Zunächst von den beiden mehr oder weniger ignoriert, hebt sie einen kleinen Stein auf, den Ulfur auf seiner Flucht fallen gelassen hat, während Diamond die beiden Männer anscheinend nicht sieht und an ihnen vorbei in den Keller geht. Als der Höllenfürst Ulfur für seinen Diebstahl ins Akasha verbannt, werden auch Cora und Diamond verbannt.
Dort trifft Cora auf besagten Alec, den wir schon aus einem früheren Band kennen. Die beiden werden durch Zufall aus dem Akasha gerettet, doch Diamond steckt noch immer fest. Ihre Rettung ist leider nicht ganz so einfach und auf einmal herrscht das pure Chaos.
Dieses Mal kennen wir unseren Dunklen aus dem Vorgängerband Ein Vampir kommt selten allein (Band 6). Es ist schon etwas her, dass ich den gelesen habe, aber ich konnte mich noch dunkel an den Dunklen (haha Wortwitz, ich hab dich!) erinnern.
Das Buch beginnt rasend schnell. Allein auf den ersten 38 Seiten begleiten wir Cora bei einer Rückführung in ein früheres Leben, bei dem sie von einem Ochsenkarren im Mittelalter überfahren und enthauptet wird. Dann fährt sie mit der Frau, die ihr den Ehemann ausgespannt hat, zu einem alten Haus, um dort Fotos zu machen und dann landet sie im Vorhof zur Hölle. Und da hört es noch lange nicht auf.
Die Geschichte ist vollgepackt mit Sex, Action, Sex, bissigen Dialogen und äh, hatte ich schon erwähnt? Sex. Es handelt sich hierbei allerdings nicht um einen Erotikroman, es sind für eine Vampirgeschichte „normale“ Sexszenen. Es kommen viele bekannte Figuren aus Vorgängerbänden vor, u.a. den bereits erwähnten Ein Vampir kommt selten allein. Dazu eine Nebenfigur aus Vampir im Schottenrock und die Hauptfiguren aus Kein Vampir für eine Nacht. Falls ich eine Figur aus einem anderen Buch übersehen habe, war das nicht mit Absicht ;)
Die Personen sind wieder mal liebevoll ausgearbeitet, sowohl die Bösen als auch die Guten. Einzig Eleanor ging mir tierisch auf die Nerven. Andererseits kann ihren Unmut Alec und Cora gegenüber echt nachvollziehen. Trotzdem war es immer etwas zu viel. Ich hatte mit ihr keinerlei Mitleid, ganz im Gegenteil, ich dachte immer „Boar, Weib, halt doch endlich den Sabbel!“.
Gut gefallen hat mir, dass am Ende des Buch eine kleine Zusatzstory kommt, die es wohl bisher nur im Internet zu lesen gab. Man braucht sie nicht, um das Buch zu verstehen, aber es gibt schon eine Andeutung auf diese Geschichte im Buch, die ich jetzt erst im Nachhinein verstanden habe. Anderen Lesern würde ich empfehlen, diese Geschichte zuerst zu lesen und dann die Haupt-Geschichte in Angriff zu nehmen.
Ansonsten hat mich das Buch genauso begeistert wie seine Vorgänger, ein Wiedersehen mit den früheren Figuren war sehr schön und ich hoffe, dass es noch mehr Bände geben wird.
Dort trifft Cora auf besagten Alec, den wir schon aus einem früheren Band kennen. Die beiden werden durch Zufall aus dem Akasha gerettet, doch Diamond steckt noch immer fest. Ihre Rettung ist leider nicht ganz so einfach und auf einmal herrscht das pure Chaos.
Dieses Mal kennen wir unseren Dunklen aus dem Vorgängerband Ein Vampir kommt selten allein (Band 6). Es ist schon etwas her, dass ich den gelesen habe, aber ich konnte mich noch dunkel an den Dunklen (haha Wortwitz, ich hab dich!) erinnern.
Das Buch beginnt rasend schnell. Allein auf den ersten 38 Seiten begleiten wir Cora bei einer Rückführung in ein früheres Leben, bei dem sie von einem Ochsenkarren im Mittelalter überfahren und enthauptet wird. Dann fährt sie mit der Frau, die ihr den Ehemann ausgespannt hat, zu einem alten Haus, um dort Fotos zu machen und dann landet sie im Vorhof zur Hölle. Und da hört es noch lange nicht auf.
Die Geschichte ist vollgepackt mit Sex, Action, Sex, bissigen Dialogen und äh, hatte ich schon erwähnt? Sex. Es handelt sich hierbei allerdings nicht um einen Erotikroman, es sind für eine Vampirgeschichte „normale“ Sexszenen. Es kommen viele bekannte Figuren aus Vorgängerbänden vor, u.a. den bereits erwähnten Ein Vampir kommt selten allein. Dazu eine Nebenfigur aus Vampir im Schottenrock und die Hauptfiguren aus Kein Vampir für eine Nacht. Falls ich eine Figur aus einem anderen Buch übersehen habe, war das nicht mit Absicht ;)
Die Personen sind wieder mal liebevoll ausgearbeitet, sowohl die Bösen als auch die Guten. Einzig Eleanor ging mir tierisch auf die Nerven. Andererseits kann ihren Unmut Alec und Cora gegenüber echt nachvollziehen. Trotzdem war es immer etwas zu viel. Ich hatte mit ihr keinerlei Mitleid, ganz im Gegenteil, ich dachte immer „Boar, Weib, halt doch endlich den Sabbel!“.
Gut gefallen hat mir, dass am Ende des Buch eine kleine Zusatzstory kommt, die es wohl bisher nur im Internet zu lesen gab. Man braucht sie nicht, um das Buch zu verstehen, aber es gibt schon eine Andeutung auf diese Geschichte im Buch, die ich jetzt erst im Nachhinein verstanden habe. Anderen Lesern würde ich empfehlen, diese Geschichte zuerst zu lesen und dann die Haupt-Geschichte in Angriff zu nehmen.
Ansonsten hat mich das Buch genauso begeistert wie seine Vorgänger, ein Wiedersehen mit den früheren Figuren war sehr schön und ich hoffe, dass es noch mehr Bände geben wird.
June 10, 2012
“Much Ado About Vampires” by Katie MacAlister
Corazon Ferreria is a jaded divorced woman. She lost her husband to some babealicious blonde babe. If she now has nothing else, she has a few good friends left. While at one of her friends parties, a hypnotist is hired for fun. Corazon decides to be put under for the fun of it, but has no idea that while she is under she will see herself in a past life during the medieval time era. What Corazon sees is startling. She sees herself get run over by a breakaway ox cart wheel and sees her head decapitated. Well isn't that just great she thinks. While under, she also sees hunk of a man with green eyes walking towards her body, and sees him suck the women of the ox cart dry of her blood. Corazon will meet this man in the most unlikely place in the future, but what she will learn, is that she is this murderous vampire's beloved. Corazon will have to chose to either bind with him in order to save his life, or she can let him be punished by the vampire council and banished to Abbadon for the rest of his life. What will she do? Bind herself with this gorgeous vampire, or say to hell with it, and move on with her life? Either way, Corazon's life is going to be forever changed.
Alec Darwin has been banished to Akasha by the Vampire Council for a crime that he committed. Alec has accepted his fate. He has nothing to live for anymore. A long time ago he lost his Beloved to a freak accident where her head was decapitated by a ox cart wagon wheel. A vampire without a beloved has nothing to live for.
One day while lying by a rock in Akasha needing blood so bad, and giving up on life, a beautiful women out of nowhere offers her blood freely to him. What Alec doesn't know is that this women who offered her blood to him is his reincarnated beloved, who he had thought died. She does not look like his beloved, but she caries his beloveds soul within herself. Alec will need to protect his beloved from harms way and try and convince her to bind with him since he does not want to lose what's most dearest to him again in his lifetime. Will he be able to convince his beloved to bind with him, or will he lose her forever?
“Much Ado About Vampires” has fantastic humor and great banter throughout the entire book, the twists and turns in it will keep you up all night reading it. I loved reading “Much Ado About Vampires” by Katie MacAlister, I laughed throughout the whole book. =-)
4 Bats out of 5
Reviewed by: Raven Kelly- VampireBooks.ca
Click Here to Visit VampireBooks.ca
Corazon Ferreria is a jaded divorced woman. She lost her husband to some babealicious blonde babe. If she now has nothing else, she has a few good friends left. While at one of her friends parties, a hypnotist is hired for fun. Corazon decides to be put under for the fun of it, but has no idea that while she is under she will see herself in a past life during the medieval time era. What Corazon sees is startling. She sees herself get run over by a breakaway ox cart wheel and sees her head decapitated. Well isn't that just great she thinks. While under, she also sees hunk of a man with green eyes walking towards her body, and sees him suck the women of the ox cart dry of her blood. Corazon will meet this man in the most unlikely place in the future, but what she will learn, is that she is this murderous vampire's beloved. Corazon will have to chose to either bind with him in order to save his life, or she can let him be punished by the vampire council and banished to Abbadon for the rest of his life. What will she do? Bind herself with this gorgeous vampire, or say to hell with it, and move on with her life? Either way, Corazon's life is going to be forever changed.
Alec Darwin has been banished to Akasha by the Vampire Council for a crime that he committed. Alec has accepted his fate. He has nothing to live for anymore. A long time ago he lost his Beloved to a freak accident where her head was decapitated by a ox cart wagon wheel. A vampire without a beloved has nothing to live for.
One day while lying by a rock in Akasha needing blood so bad, and giving up on life, a beautiful women out of nowhere offers her blood freely to him. What Alec doesn't know is that this women who offered her blood to him is his reincarnated beloved, who he had thought died. She does not look like his beloved, but she caries his beloveds soul within herself. Alec will need to protect his beloved from harms way and try and convince her to bind with him since he does not want to lose what's most dearest to him again in his lifetime. Will he be able to convince his beloved to bind with him, or will he lose her forever?
“Much Ado About Vampires” has fantastic humor and great banter throughout the entire book, the twists and turns in it will keep you up all night reading it. I loved reading “Much Ado About Vampires” by Katie MacAlister, I laughed throughout the whole book. =-)
4 Bats out of 5
Reviewed by: Raven Kelly- VampireBooks.ca
Click Here to Visit VampireBooks.ca
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