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Night Rebel #1
Shades of Wicked
8 hours, 51 minutes
In this thrilling new Night Rebel series set in New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress world, sexy and ruthless vampire Ian finally meets his match!
The Rule Breaker
Master vampire Ian is unrepentant, shameless…and every shade of wicked. He’s made one too many enemies in his two centuries of existence, including Dagon, a demon who now lays claim to his soul. Ian’s only chance to escape Dagon is to join forces with a Law Guardian, but he’s never been able to abide by the rules for long.
The Law Maker
Veritas’ normal role is police, judge and jury to reprobates like Ian. But she has her own ax to grind with Dagon, so if she can use Ian as bait…well, all’s fair in law and war. As they scour supernatural hotspots to perfect their trap, Veritas soon realizes Ian’s devil-may-care, roguish image hides something much more powerful. And Ian discovers that Veritas has shocking secrets of her own. As they’re drawn to each other with a passion as intense as their peril, either love or justice will prevail. But each will have devastating consequences…
In this thrilling new Night Rebel series set in New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress world, sexy and ruthless vampire Ian finally meets his match!
The Rule Breaker
Master vampire Ian is unrepentant, shameless…and every shade of wicked. He’s made one too many enemies in his two centuries of existence, including Dagon, a demon who now lays claim to his soul. Ian’s only chance to escape Dagon is to join forces with a Law Guardian, but he’s never been able to abide by the rules for long.
The Law Maker
Veritas’ normal role is police, judge and jury to reprobates like Ian. But she has her own ax to grind with Dagon, so if she can use Ian as bait…well, all’s fair in law and war. As they scour supernatural hotspots to perfect their trap, Veritas soon realizes Ian’s devil-may-care, roguish image hides something much more powerful. And Ian discovers that Veritas has shocking secrets of her own. As they’re drawn to each other with a passion as intense as their peril, either love or justice will prevail. But each will have devastating consequences…
Audible Audio
First published October 30, 2018
1505 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jeaniene Frost
69 books27.2k followersJeaniene Frost is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author. Works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Broken Destiny series, the Night Rebel series, and the Beautiful and Beastly series. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to twenty-three different countries. Jeaniene lives in Maryland with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.
For information on Jeaniene's books, please visit: www.jeanienefrost.com
For information on Jeaniene's books, please visit: www.jeanienefrost.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,386 reviews
May 8, 2022
5 Breaking the law stars
Read Dec 6 2019
Reread May 2 2021
Reread 5/7/22
OMG I have waited so damn long for Ian's book and it did not disappoint. Ian was such a complex and over the top character I was a bit worried that whoever his love interest was would get overpowered and out shined by him. Especially when I found out it was our stiff little rule following Law Guardian. But..... but omg Veritas was so different than what I thought she was going to be like, and I loved her. She surprised the shit out of me. There was so much more too the kick ass little law guardian. She held her own with Ian's personality.
I have loved Ian Since the night huntress series. Though I thought he was funny, slutty, and kick ass, I also thought he was as deep as a puddle. Then when Vlad got his series I seen a small bit a depth to him but not enough. I learned so much about Ian in this book and I know there is more to come. His back story was so sad. Top that off by the fact that he truly loved his friends but held them at arms length it broke my heart. As a team Veritas and Ian kicked so much ass. As lovers they were smoking hot. I loved how much they opened up and trusted each other.
The plot was great. It was so nice to see Mencheres, Spade, Bones and Cat show their love for Ian and reach out to him after all the times he helped save them. Though I think Spade and Bones could have been a bit more supportive. I would also love for Ian to show more of his real self to his friends. I really liked Veritas' dad and I have so many questions about him. The books ends as a cliffhanger that has me losing it knowing I will have to wait a year to see what happens next. Great read!
*****************************************************************
OMG Ian!!!!!!!
It's Mother Fuckin' Ian!!!!!!
I have been waiting so long for my bad boy Ian to get his books and I can't fuckin' wait to get my hands on this book!!!! It's gonna be so good!
Totally Fangirling!
Read Dec 6 2019
Reread May 2 2021
Reread 5/7/22
OMG I have waited so damn long for Ian's book and it did not disappoint. Ian was such a complex and over the top character I was a bit worried that whoever his love interest was would get overpowered and out shined by him. Especially when I found out it was our stiff little rule following Law Guardian. But..... but omg Veritas was so different than what I thought she was going to be like, and I loved her. She surprised the shit out of me. There was so much more too the kick ass little law guardian. She held her own with Ian's personality.
I have loved Ian Since the night huntress series. Though I thought he was funny, slutty, and kick ass, I also thought he was as deep as a puddle. Then when Vlad got his series I seen a small bit a depth to him but not enough. I learned so much about Ian in this book and I know there is more to come. His back story was so sad. Top that off by the fact that he truly loved his friends but held them at arms length it broke my heart. As a team Veritas and Ian kicked so much ass. As lovers they were smoking hot. I loved how much they opened up and trusted each other.
The plot was great. It was so nice to see Mencheres, Spade, Bones and Cat show their love for Ian and reach out to him after all the times he helped save them. Though I think Spade and Bones could have been a bit more supportive. I would also love for Ian to show more of his real self to his friends. I really liked Veritas' dad and I have so many questions about him. The books ends as a cliffhanger that has me losing it knowing I will have to wait a year to see what happens next. Great read!
*****************************************************************
OMG Ian!!!!!!!
It's Mother Fuckin' Ian!!!!!!
I have been waiting so long for my bad boy Ian to get his books and I can't fuckin' wait to get my hands on this book!!!! It's gonna be so good!
Totally Fangirling!
November 4, 2018
Did it ever happen to you that you feared a book would go wrong in one way, but it went wrong in a completely different one?
I adore Ian; I always did, he was my favourite character. Thought that the way he was treated by his friends was uncalled for. Come on, they only had to ask, and he stood by them. But no, they stilled douted him.
“Did you think would change who I am? Nothing will...
Ha! I feel that this is a bit of a dig at people who worried that Ian wouldn't be the same! Pretty clever.
My main fear was that Ian wouldn't be the same wicked, vulgar Ian we got in the original series. Look at what happened to Vlad. I don't need a hero that is basically a doormat for the heroine. But, I'm surprised to say that actually, he remains the same. Mostly. For now.
But where I liked Veritas before and was actually excited for her to be the heroine, I'm not pretty disappointed.
Liked the storyline, there was a lot happening. Easy to read. Great pacing. Saw a different part of the world. And then the end came.
And I was let down again.
Also the cameo of the other characters from the previous series... Not so happy about that, cause I wanted to punch all of them. Btw, I need Ian/Katie scene!
But yeah. It was great. But those two things really made me angry. Still, the next book is on my to-read list as soon as it's published.
I adore Ian; I always did, he was my favourite character. Thought that the way he was treated by his friends was uncalled for. Come on, they only had to ask, and he stood by them. But no, they stilled douted him.
“Did you think would change who I am? Nothing will...
Ha! I feel that this is a bit of a dig at people who worried that Ian wouldn't be the same! Pretty clever.
My main fear was that Ian wouldn't be the same wicked, vulgar Ian we got in the original series. Look at what happened to Vlad. I don't need a hero that is basically a doormat for the heroine. But, I'm surprised to say that actually, he remains the same. Mostly. For now.
But where I liked Veritas before and was actually excited for her to be the heroine, I'm not pretty disappointed.
Liked the storyline, there was a lot happening. Easy to read. Great pacing. Saw a different part of the world. And then the end came.
And I was let down again.
Also the cameo of the other characters from the previous series... Not so happy about that, cause I wanted to punch all of them. Btw, I need Ian/Katie scene!
But yeah. It was great. But those two things really made me angry. Still, the next book is on my to-read list as soon as it's published.
January 9, 2024
I wish I could give this book more then 5stars!!! It was fabulous and so worth waiting for. Ian is without a doubt one of my very favorite rogues of all time!!! He inspires lust in not just women but man as well,hell I think he could bring the dead back to life!! He is one of the most sexiest and truly one of the most arrogant vamps of all times and he is what I think a true vampire should be,he lives life to the fullest enjoying everything and everyone he comes across,but I always knew their was more to this vamp then we knew and jeaniene has let us see more into his life from beginning til present day. You can always tell when some one has been abused or misused in their life and Ian's has had more then his share. But when veritas one of the most feared law guardian's walks back into his life with a means to kill dagon and get his soul back, the gloves come off and Ian meets his match.Veritas life has not been a easy one and we find out more about this law guardian,in fact theirs a big secret that nobody knows and veritas has hide it from even those closest to her. Can two very different people put their past's behind and heal? Oh! Yes! They can!!! Fabulous chemistry,yummier sex and funny as shit moments!!! Also I loved that bones,cat,spade and one of my favorite immortals of all time mencheres and even vlad makes a appearance!!! Can't wait for the next book in this series Wicked Bite !!!💋💋💖😉
November 19, 2018
Ian and Veritas
“Ian,” I said as I straightened. “Say good-bye. We’re leaving.”
He laughed outright. “I don’t think so. You might be lovely, but two’s lonely, while a dozen is a party.”
AND
Ian offered me his arm, which I took after a brief arch of my brow. “Careful, someone might mistake you for a gentleman.”
He flashed a grin at me. “Anyone who’d make such a mistake deserves what they get.”
AND
“Why do you care who or what I have sex with? You’re not tempting enough for it to ever be you, so how is the rest of it your concern?”
As soon as I said it, I regretted it. It was a blatant dare—and Ian loved dares...
“What if I told you I had every intention of changing your mind about taking me for a lover?”
AND
Could have loved you.
Once more, after Vlad’s books (“Night Prince”), I have read a spinoff derived from Cat and Bones’ books (“Night Huntress") that I seem to love more than the original main series. Not that I did not expect that. Ian was always stealing the show from Cat and Bones. His story was more than ready to be told. Especially after “Into The Fire" where Ian complicates his life with no reason whatsoever and offers his precious soul to a nasty demon, it was obvious that it was time for Ian to stop his slutty behaviour and mature and mainly start thinking before acting.
Veritas is an awesome female. Honestly I think she is the only female who could catch Ian's attention and make him truly care. She is mysterious, full of secrets, full of surprises, powerful, on the right side of the law and they have a common enemy. Absolutely perfect.
Veritas will shake-up Ian.
She will...
follow him,
make him follow her,
hurt him,
love him,
push him,
stand by him,
help him,
defend him,
surprise him,
make him question his morals,
accompany him,
leave him,
save him.
She will shaken and satisfy him to the core.
Huge cliff-hanger in the end which I loved. Next book in summer 2019. Enjoy!
P.S. I have a question for the people who have read the book. If you haven't read it, avoid the question because it is a big spoiler:
“Ian,” I said as I straightened. “Say good-bye. We’re leaving.”
He laughed outright. “I don’t think so. You might be lovely, but two’s lonely, while a dozen is a party.”
AND
Ian offered me his arm, which I took after a brief arch of my brow. “Careful, someone might mistake you for a gentleman.”
He flashed a grin at me. “Anyone who’d make such a mistake deserves what they get.”
AND
“Why do you care who or what I have sex with? You’re not tempting enough for it to ever be you, so how is the rest of it your concern?”
As soon as I said it, I regretted it. It was a blatant dare—and Ian loved dares...
“What if I told you I had every intention of changing your mind about taking me for a lover?”
AND
Could have loved you.
Once more, after Vlad’s books (“Night Prince”), I have read a spinoff derived from Cat and Bones’ books (“Night Huntress") that I seem to love more than the original main series. Not that I did not expect that. Ian was always stealing the show from Cat and Bones. His story was more than ready to be told. Especially after “Into The Fire" where Ian complicates his life with no reason whatsoever and offers his precious soul to a nasty demon, it was obvious that it was time for Ian to stop his slutty behaviour and mature and mainly start thinking before acting.
Veritas is an awesome female. Honestly I think she is the only female who could catch Ian's attention and make him truly care. She is mysterious, full of secrets, full of surprises, powerful, on the right side of the law and they have a common enemy. Absolutely perfect.
Veritas will shake-up Ian.
She will...
follow him,
make him follow her,
hurt him,
love him,
push him,
stand by him,
help him,
defend him,
surprise him,
make him question his morals,
accompany him,
leave him,
save him.
She will shaken and satisfy him to the core.
Huge cliff-hanger in the end which I loved. Next book in summer 2019. Enjoy!
P.S. I have a question for the people who have read the book. If you haven't read it, avoid the question because it is a big spoiler:
November 7, 2018
If you read the Night Huntress series, you will probably like this book because it stars Ian, the funniest bad-boy vamp in the series.
Veritas, a law guardian of vampires is looking to kill a demon who has a claim on Ian, so she wants to use him as bait. They are such an unlikely pair that they have to get fake vampire-married just to explain why they are hanging out together. But you know how fake marriages go in book-world...
I was a little lukewarm on this because the female character wasn't extremely likable, but it definitely had its moments. It made me laugh a couple of times, especially when Ian tells her how lucky she is to be his fake-wife:
"I know, it's a lot to take in. Never thought you'd be this happy, did you? Or this lucky! Blimey, go ahead and envy yourself. Countless other people will, I assure you."
Veritas, a law guardian of vampires is looking to kill a demon who has a claim on Ian, so she wants to use him as bait. They are such an unlikely pair that they have to get fake vampire-married just to explain why they are hanging out together. But you know how fake marriages go in book-world...
I was a little lukewarm on this because the female character wasn't extremely likable, but it definitely had its moments. It made me laugh a couple of times, especially when Ian tells her how lucky she is to be his fake-wife:
"I know, it's a lot to take in. Never thought you'd be this happy, did you? Or this lucky! Blimey, go ahead and envy yourself. Countless other people will, I assure you."
February 10, 2019
I don't read a ton of paranormal romance anymore, but when it comes to Jeaniene Frost, I just can't help myself. Fans of the Night Huntress, Night Huntress World, and Night Prince series have long requested a story devoted to fan favorite: Ian, and Frost didn't disappoint with Shades of Wicked. This novel is the first installment in her new Night Rebel series which Frost has announced will consist of “at least two books, possibly three”.
Spoiler contains my spin on the book synopsis:
Frost keeps this story fun and fast-paced with tons of banter, humor, action, but also some emotion and slow but satisfying romance. Additionally, existing fans of the connected series will get the added bonus of cameos from previous main characters. Although there is a lot of back story that supports this overall plot, Frost prepares readers well which I think may allow this to be a potential entry point for new readers. Be forewarned though, once you enter this well-loved world that Frost has successfully created, you won't want to leave. The many books associated with this urban fantasy collection will gladly keep you busy for a while. Time to get started. Enjoy!
My favorite quote:
"But there was a time tested truism on my side. Men always wanted to believe they won a match of wits against a woman. Even if their instincts told them otherwise."
Spoiler contains my spin on the book synopsis:
Frost keeps this story fun and fast-paced with tons of banter, humor, action, but also some emotion and slow but satisfying romance. Additionally, existing fans of the connected series will get the added bonus of cameos from previous main characters. Although there is a lot of back story that supports this overall plot, Frost prepares readers well which I think may allow this to be a potential entry point for new readers. Be forewarned though, once you enter this well-loved world that Frost has successfully created, you won't want to leave. The many books associated with this urban fantasy collection will gladly keep you busy for a while. Time to get started. Enjoy!
My favorite quote:
"But there was a time tested truism on my side. Men always wanted to believe they won a match of wits against a woman. Even if their instincts told them otherwise."
October 31, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! I have to tell you that I went into this book with pretty high expectations. How could I not?! I have enjoyed the heck out of the books in the Night Huntress world and Ian is an awesome character. I knew that this would be a great book and I am happy to report that I was right. Once I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down. It was really a lot of fun to be back in this world for just a bit.
This is the first book in the Night Rebel series which takes place within the Night Huntress world. Fans of the Night Huntress series have had a chance to get to know many of the characters that appear in this story but this book does stand on its own. I think that readers new to the Night Huntress world will be able to start with this book without any problem. I have read most of the books but it has been quite a few years and I hate to admit that I forgot a whole lot of the details but I had no problem keeping up with this book.
This story focuses on Ian and Veritas. Veritas is determined to take care of a demon and she thinks that Ian may be able to help. I really didn't remember much about Veritas from earlier books but she is a Law Guardian and upholds vampire laws. She is really old and has a few extra abilities. Ian quickly learns that she may be willing to bend a few rules if it helps them achieve their goal.
Ian and Veritas made a great pair. They seemed to understand each other from the very start. It was fun watching them try to outsmart the other, oftentimes unsuccessfully. They fought well together and against each other. It was just a ton of fun to see their interactions and I loved the way that they instinctively knew when they should trust each other.
This book had everything that I was looking for when I picked it up. There was plenty of action with some pretty intense scenes. I found that parts of the book were rather comical and couldn't help reading with a big smile on my face. I loved the chemistry between Ian and Veritas and enjoyed watching them become a team. I had a great time learning about the background and extra abilities that Veritas has.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I had a fantastic time with this story and thought that Ian and Veritas were perfectly matched. I cannot wait to read more from this new series!
I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books.
Initial Thoughts
It was as good as I hoped it would be. Ian has met his match!
Review copy provided by the publisher.
I loved this book! I have to tell you that I went into this book with pretty high expectations. How could I not?! I have enjoyed the heck out of the books in the Night Huntress world and Ian is an awesome character. I knew that this would be a great book and I am happy to report that I was right. Once I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down. It was really a lot of fun to be back in this world for just a bit.
This is the first book in the Night Rebel series which takes place within the Night Huntress world. Fans of the Night Huntress series have had a chance to get to know many of the characters that appear in this story but this book does stand on its own. I think that readers new to the Night Huntress world will be able to start with this book without any problem. I have read most of the books but it has been quite a few years and I hate to admit that I forgot a whole lot of the details but I had no problem keeping up with this book.
This story focuses on Ian and Veritas. Veritas is determined to take care of a demon and she thinks that Ian may be able to help. I really didn't remember much about Veritas from earlier books but she is a Law Guardian and upholds vampire laws. She is really old and has a few extra abilities. Ian quickly learns that she may be willing to bend a few rules if it helps them achieve their goal.
Ian and Veritas made a great pair. They seemed to understand each other from the very start. It was fun watching them try to outsmart the other, oftentimes unsuccessfully. They fought well together and against each other. It was just a ton of fun to see their interactions and I loved the way that they instinctively knew when they should trust each other.
This book had everything that I was looking for when I picked it up. There was plenty of action with some pretty intense scenes. I found that parts of the book were rather comical and couldn't help reading with a big smile on my face. I loved the chemistry between Ian and Veritas and enjoyed watching them become a team. I had a great time learning about the background and extra abilities that Veritas has.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I had a fantastic time with this story and thought that Ian and Veritas were perfectly matched. I cannot wait to read more from this new series!
I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books.
Initial Thoughts
It was as good as I hoped it would be. Ian has met his match!
Review copy provided by the publisher.
March 28, 2019
Didn't care much for this as its aimed at a different audience. 3 of 10 stars
December 30, 2018
While Shades of Wicked did nothing to break the paranormal genre, it is gratifying to finally have Ian's story told, even if it wasn't from his POV.
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I feel a Series re-read coming soon!!
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I feel a Series re-read coming soon!!
August 19, 2019
OMG I forgot how much fun the books by Jeaniene Frost are. Ian and Veritas were awesome and I loved to see that Ian had so much more depth than he let the world see. I can't wait to see how their relationship pans out in the next books. This was a terrific, action-filled and fun ride with an unrepentantly charming hero and a badass heroine and lots of humor. Veritas and Ian's explosive chemistry and adventures totally made my day.
I see a Cat and Bones binge coming!
I see a Cat and Bones binge coming!
May 16, 2020
Sale Alert: Kindle deal 16May20 $2.99
I almost wasn’t going to read any more books set in the Night Huntress World after I hated the final two books in Vlad’s series. But this one featured Ian and how could I not read his story after he became one of my favorite side characters for comic relief in the main series. Ian treats everything for the most part as a joke but there is something deeper to him and I was excited to see what lay beneath all the sex and snark. Plus Veritas is the Heroine in this and the Little Law Guardian also had my interest peaked.
I’m not sure why I thought that this would be from Ian’s PoV, Jeaniene Frost has always written this from the female perspective, but for some reason I was a little surprised. Being in Veritas’s head was a better fit for the story and damn that girl has some huge secrets happening. I loved the sparks between her and Ian along with the backstory we got up to this point. You’re gonna die when you find out who her father is. Plus the best scene in this book is hands down Drunk Veritas, I giggled so hard the entire chapter.
Ian, well let’s just say that man is full of surprises. He is the finder of the rare and he has been so jealous of Crispin and Spade’s finds for mates but Ian has just hit the mother load of special and unique in Veritas. Sure he didn’t plan on getting married but when it is that or death at the hand of some Law Guardians, well fake it now and worry about it later seems to be the correct response.
Plus, he needs her if he is ever going to get out of his bargain with the Demon Dagon. If they can’t find a way to kill Dagon than Ian has a scant two years to live before his soul is collected. Veritas wants him dead for her own reasons and they are great ones as well so the sham of a marriage is worth it if it means bringing down the demon she has been searching for the last two millennia.
It was great fun to see the gang as Cat, Bones, Mencheries and Spade all drop in to make sure Ian is okay, because if he is married to Veritas it doesn’t seem like it would be of his own free will. Ha on them as Ian always does exactly as Ian wants and while it might not look like the perfect match from the outside, from the inside I don’t think there was a better suited pair.
I definitely loved the entire plot line of this book and I was a little worried at the end that JF was going to do something that I’d hate so much it would ruin the entire rest of the book. However, I think that it is going to work and she threw us a Bone at the end so I’m very excited to see Ian and Veritas in the next book as the stakes have been raised and the playing field leveled for another showdown.
I almost wasn’t going to read any more books set in the Night Huntress World after I hated the final two books in Vlad’s series. But this one featured Ian and how could I not read his story after he became one of my favorite side characters for comic relief in the main series. Ian treats everything for the most part as a joke but there is something deeper to him and I was excited to see what lay beneath all the sex and snark. Plus Veritas is the Heroine in this and the Little Law Guardian also had my interest peaked.
I’m not sure why I thought that this would be from Ian’s PoV, Jeaniene Frost has always written this from the female perspective, but for some reason I was a little surprised. Being in Veritas’s head was a better fit for the story and damn that girl has some huge secrets happening. I loved the sparks between her and Ian along with the backstory we got up to this point. You’re gonna die when you find out who her father is. Plus the best scene in this book is hands down Drunk Veritas, I giggled so hard the entire chapter.
“No, you need to sit down before you fall down,” Ian interrupted. “Stay here. I’ll sort this myself.”
Outrage had me sputtering. “I can kill ’em all!”
“Of course.” Was he stifling a laugh? “You’re beauty, you’re grace, you’ll shoot them in the face.” I smiled. “That’s pretty.”
Ian, well let’s just say that man is full of surprises. He is the finder of the rare and he has been so jealous of Crispin and Spade’s finds for mates but Ian has just hit the mother load of special and unique in Veritas. Sure he didn’t plan on getting married but when it is that or death at the hand of some Law Guardians, well fake it now and worry about it later seems to be the correct response.
“Even if we both survive, I won't enforce my claim on you," I said desperately. "In fact, the first thing I'll do is drop you back at that bordello in Poland and order you a new carnival orgy, promise!" Then I threw up, spraying a stream of crimson all over him as I lost my fight against the nausea.
"See?" I managed when I finished puking. Vow sealed with a blood oath."
He looked down at himself in disgust. "This is everything I knew marriage would be.”
Plus, he needs her if he is ever going to get out of his bargain with the Demon Dagon. If they can’t find a way to kill Dagon than Ian has a scant two years to live before his soul is collected. Veritas wants him dead for her own reasons and they are great ones as well so the sham of a marriage is worth it if it means bringing down the demon she has been searching for the last two millennia.
It was great fun to see the gang as Cat, Bones, Mencheries and Spade all drop in to make sure Ian is okay, because if he is married to Veritas it doesn’t seem like it would be of his own free will. Ha on them as Ian always does exactly as Ian wants and while it might not look like the perfect match from the outside, from the inside I don’t think there was a better suited pair.
Spade stared at me as if I fascinated him. “I’ve never seen someone shagged into a state of witlessness before.”
“Then I pity your wife,” Ian snapped before I could give my own rude rejoinder. “Up your bedroom game, Charles, before Denise finds someone who will. More importantly”—his fangs came out as he snarled the rest—“the next person who insults her will get their mouth shoved up their own arse.”
I definitely loved the entire plot line of this book and I was a little worried at the end that JF was going to do something that I’d hate so much it would ruin the entire rest of the book. However, I think that it is going to work and she threw us a Bone at the end so I’m very excited to see Ian and Veritas in the next book as the stakes have been raised and the playing field leveled for another showdown.
July 12, 2025
Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost
Genres; Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense
4.25 Stars
I had a blast reading this.
Ian is hot, funny, snarky and dangerous. Veritas is full of surprises, has a bit of her own brand of snarky and can go head to head with Ian's dangerous. 🧛♀️
There are a couple of small sections that felt rushed. They needed 'more' intensity. Some of these areas felt a bit 'YA'ish or silly and trivial to me. They slowed down the flow or lessened the character/world build connection for me. It diminished the feeling of danger from Dagon. That's the main reasons for my lower stars. ⭐
The adult scenes are steamy, and often filled with humor. Some are very intense and filled with emotion. 🔥
I still need to get my thoughts more organized, so I will finish my review later.
🕔 It's 'later' & time to finish my review. ⏳
After writing the above a GR friend of mine asked about this series. When I looked back at the previous books I realized a few things.
1. I started this series back in 2013. That is nearly 6 years ago! I'm amazed the author has kept me
intrigued all these years!
2. Unfortunately I did not write a review back then and I need to rectify that.
3. I need to reread her 'Night Huntress' series & maybe some of the novellas I missed.
🤔All in all, this was a pretty great read. There was some unexpected twist & turns. It kept me entertained and involved 85% of the time.
📝 The problems mentioned in the beginning of my review most people will actually enjoy. I just like a lot of intensity in my villainous and dangerous moments. So sometimes the tongue-in-cheek etc., when used during a fight scene lighten those moments to much for me.
🎯 I really have a problem with anything that smacks me as 'YA'. I can be very judgemental in these instances. Lucky for me, there is only a couple of these areas & they happen close to the end (maybe 75 or 80% area) of the story.
The ending, while a bit of a cliffhanger, is actually very satisfying and a touch humorous.
Lets just say that Ian is about to go on the 'Hunt' 🕵️♂️ and he is determined to catch his Ver...I mean prey.
🎶 This series actually starts of with 'Night Huntress' Halfway to the Grave and includes the spin-offs 'Night Huntress World', 'Night Prince' & 'Night Rebel' (bk #2 is not yet published).
If you haven't read this series you are missing out on great ride. I highly recommend you get started on this adventure that actually starts with Cat & Bones. I mean, come on, with character names like that you have got to be curious!
Genres; Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense
4.25 Stars
I had a blast reading this.
Ian is hot, funny, snarky and dangerous. Veritas is full of surprises, has a bit of her own brand of snarky and can go head to head with Ian's dangerous. 🧛♀️
There are a couple of small sections that felt rushed. They needed 'more' intensity. Some of these areas felt a bit 'YA'ish or silly and trivial to me. They slowed down the flow or lessened the character/world build connection for me. It diminished the feeling of danger from Dagon. That's the main reasons for my lower stars. ⭐
The adult scenes are steamy, and often filled with humor. Some are very intense and filled with emotion. 🔥
I still need to get my thoughts more organized, so I will finish my review later.
🕔 It's 'later' & time to finish my review. ⏳
After writing the above a GR friend of mine asked about this series. When I looked back at the previous books I realized a few things.
1. I started this series back in 2013. That is nearly 6 years ago! I'm amazed the author has kept me
intrigued all these years!
2. Unfortunately I did not write a review back then and I need to rectify that.
3. I need to reread her 'Night Huntress' series & maybe some of the novellas I missed.
🤔All in all, this was a pretty great read. There was some unexpected twist & turns. It kept me entertained and involved 85% of the time.
📝 The problems mentioned in the beginning of my review most people will actually enjoy. I just like a lot of intensity in my villainous and dangerous moments. So sometimes the tongue-in-cheek etc., when used during a fight scene lighten those moments to much for me.
🎯 I really have a problem with anything that smacks me as 'YA'. I can be very judgemental in these instances. Lucky for me, there is only a couple of these areas & they happen close to the end (maybe 75 or 80% area) of the story.
The ending, while a bit of a cliffhanger, is actually very satisfying and a touch humorous.
Lets just say that Ian is about to go on the 'Hunt' 🕵️♂️ and he is determined to catch his Ver...I mean prey.
🎶 This series actually starts of with 'Night Huntress' Halfway to the Grave and includes the spin-offs 'Night Huntress World', 'Night Prince' & 'Night Rebel' (bk #2 is not yet published).
If you haven't read this series you are missing out on great ride. I highly recommend you get started on this adventure that actually starts with Cat & Bones. I mean, come on, with character names like that you have got to be curious!
October 30, 2018
Ian is... Ian 😏 I'm glad he didn't disappoint, he's as crazy and funny as ever.
Veritas, on the other hand, fell a bit flat in my opinion. She is badass, but that is the only thing I liked about her. There was nothing else interesting about her character. I knew the author would go for a badass female to pair with Ian, but I would have preferred if she simply paired him with a human instead.
I think that can be contributed to the fact that I feel like I've personally outgrown the whole paranormal genre and I prefer to read about character development rather than action, battling with creatures etc.
And what bothers me is that it seems there is always a solution in Frost's world. There is always a new magical trick that saves everyone or a new creature-hybrid that comes to rescue at the last minute and that bores me.
So 4/5 stars for a flat heroine and a huge CLIFFHANGER at the end! I'll be reading the sequels though, because - Ian 😏
**********
April 2018
OMG finally! Ian's story after years and years of waiting :3 I have high expectations for this one, I hope I won't be disappointed cuz I didn't like this author's recent releases.
Veritas, on the other hand, fell a bit flat in my opinion. She is badass, but that is the only thing I liked about her. There was nothing else interesting about her character. I knew the author would go for a badass female to pair with Ian, but I would have preferred if she simply paired him with a human instead.
I think that can be contributed to the fact that I feel like I've personally outgrown the whole paranormal genre and I prefer to read about character development rather than action, battling with creatures etc.
And what bothers me is that it seems there is always a solution in Frost's world. There is always a new magical trick that saves everyone or a new creature-hybrid that comes to rescue at the last minute and that bores me.
So 4/5 stars for a flat heroine and a huge CLIFFHANGER at the end! I'll be reading the sequels though, because - Ian 😏
**********
April 2018
OMG finally! Ian's story after years and years of waiting :3 I have high expectations for this one, I hope I won't be disappointed cuz I didn't like this author's recent releases.
September 21, 2018
Did I really think I wasn’t going to love Ian’s book? No, so it’s not surprising that I’m giving Shades of Wicked 5 fat stars. I honestly wasn’t sure how JF was going to make the world’s greatest manwhore fall for one woman and one woman only, but she did it in such an impressive way. This isn’t an instalove story but rather a slow burn romance that was so worth the wait. But now I’m dying over the ending and need book 2 stat!
Full review to come!
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
Full review to come!
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
May 7, 2020
4.5 Naughty Vamp Stars!
Ian has fascinated me since he was introduced to us in the Night Huntress series, like Vlad he’s another favorite JF character, I’m beyond thrilled we’re finally getting his trilogy. Ian’s a degenerate snarky pervert who’s a scoundrel yet he’s unwavering loyal to those he loves and considers family as proven the last time we seen him in Vlad’s forth and final Night Prince book Into the Fire. His sacrifice truly opened my eyes to the depths of Ian’s loyalty and honor.
Law Gardian Veritas has always seemed cold and ruthless yet, your left with the impression she’s on the side of what’s right rather than the side of Vampire Law. We learn so much more about her and her heart wrenching past. There are some surprising revelations about her and her parentage that will shock you....or maybe it was just me who was blown away by this revelation. Ian and Veritas find themselves fighting the same fight while bringing them closer together. The lengths they will go to to further their goal was at times both surprising, and extreme at times.
I loved the cameos by Cat, Bones, Mencheres, and Spade! I love how protective Bones, Mencheres, Spade, and even Cat are towards Ian when they confront Veritas. Their “intervention” was a hilarious highlight! Actually there are a few LOL moments....this is Ian’s book after all.
All-in-all I throughly enjoyed this first installment in the Night Rebel series and I’m looking forward to book two Wicked Bite (July 2019).
That said, I listened to the audiobook version of this book narrated by the very talented Tavia Gilbert who has narrated all of the Night Huntress, Night Huntress World, and Night Prince books. She’s undeniably awesome and has brought these characters to life but……why after alllllll the those books has she changed the voice of Veritas? I don’t like the new voice and it kind of threw me off. Also, I was expecting to get closure on a couple other storylines from Into The Fire that didn’t happen. Disappointing. Both of these issues are therefore reflected in my rating.
Ian has fascinated me since he was introduced to us in the Night Huntress series, like Vlad he’s another favorite JF character, I’m beyond thrilled we’re finally getting his trilogy. Ian’s a degenerate snarky pervert who’s a scoundrel yet he’s unwavering loyal to those he loves and considers family as proven the last time we seen him in Vlad’s forth and final Night Prince book Into the Fire. His sacrifice truly opened my eyes to the depths of Ian’s loyalty and honor.
Law Gardian Veritas has always seemed cold and ruthless yet, your left with the impression she’s on the side of what’s right rather than the side of Vampire Law. We learn so much more about her and her heart wrenching past. There are some surprising revelations about her and her parentage that will shock you....or maybe it was just me who was blown away by this revelation. Ian and Veritas find themselves fighting the same fight while bringing them closer together. The lengths they will go to to further their goal was at times both surprising, and extreme at times.
I loved the cameos by Cat, Bones, Mencheres, and Spade! I love how protective Bones, Mencheres, Spade, and even Cat are towards Ian when they confront Veritas. Their “intervention” was a hilarious highlight! Actually there are a few LOL moments....this is Ian’s book after all.
All-in-all I throughly enjoyed this first installment in the Night Rebel series and I’m looking forward to book two Wicked Bite (July 2019).
That said, I listened to the audiobook version of this book narrated by the very talented Tavia Gilbert who has narrated all of the Night Huntress, Night Huntress World, and Night Prince books. She’s undeniably awesome and has brought these characters to life but……why after alllllll the those books has she changed the voice of Veritas? I don’t like the new voice and it kind of threw me off. Also, I was expecting to get closure on a couple other storylines from Into The Fire that didn’t happen. Disappointing. Both of these issues are therefore reflected in my rating.
December 7, 2018
5️⃣➕🔝 Stars ✨✨
“You didn’t best me. I stopped beating on you when I realized you liked it.”
- Veritas
* * *
“Some things, you never want to forget lest you lose the lesson learned with them. My lesson was realizing who I was. Thought I knew when times were easy, but it’s who you are when things are at their worst that’s the real truth. It’s why I enjoy pain, in point of fact. You either feel it or you don’t—no lies, no broken trust, and no self-delusion.”
- Ian
* * *
“He hadn’t only found an entry into my deepest secrets; I was afraid he’d also cracked a door into my heart.”
- Veritas
* * *
“When time is short, anything less than honesty feels like a waste of effort.”
- Ian
“You didn’t best me. I stopped beating on you when I realized you liked it.”
- Veritas
* * *
“Some things, you never want to forget lest you lose the lesson learned with them. My lesson was realizing who I was. Thought I knew when times were easy, but it’s who you are when things are at their worst that’s the real truth. It’s why I enjoy pain, in point of fact. You either feel it or you don’t—no lies, no broken trust, and no self-delusion.”
- Ian
* * *
“He hadn’t only found an entry into my deepest secrets; I was afraid he’d also cracked a door into my heart.”
- Veritas
* * *
“When time is short, anything less than honesty feels like a waste of effort.”
- Ian
January 18, 2022
I've been told that I can't call myself a lover of PNR unless I've read a few authors... and Jeaniene Frost was one of them. I can happily say that not only have I tried this author, I loved what she gave me to read!
Ian was absolutely ridiculous. Powerful, intelligent, sexy, this male blew my mind with the way he lived his life. He was the exact opposite to the cool, collected and calculating Veritas. I loved the dynamic between them. How he riled her up, drove her mad, made her burn.
And when they really started to get to know each other, when they saw and realized the truth of one another... what they had became so beautiful.
Long story short, Ian gave up his soul for no reason, the demon who owns him is evil to the max, Veritas wants to kill said demon, and she and Ian team up to take him down. We get to meet other characters who I'm told have their own stories out there (Hello Bones, Cat, Mencheres, etc.). We get to meet the grim reaper? I don't know who the beautiful male is that is also Veritas's father, but I'm hoping to learn more about him. He sounds yummy!!
I do wish there was more sex in the story (I know, I'm such a dirty little ---), but Ian and Veritas are so hot together. Call me greedy but I want more! I loved the cliffy at the end and while I don't know what will happen next with this couple, I'm here for it. I'm here for all of it. I don't even have to tell you I found a new author to collect stories from.
Find more on the blog
Ian was absolutely ridiculous. Powerful, intelligent, sexy, this male blew my mind with the way he lived his life. He was the exact opposite to the cool, collected and calculating Veritas. I loved the dynamic between them. How he riled her up, drove her mad, made her burn.
And when they really started to get to know each other, when they saw and realized the truth of one another... what they had became so beautiful.
Long story short, Ian gave up his soul for no reason, the demon who owns him is evil to the max, Veritas wants to kill said demon, and she and Ian team up to take him down. We get to meet other characters who I'm told have their own stories out there (Hello Bones, Cat, Mencheres, etc.). We get to meet the grim reaper? I don't know who the beautiful male is that is also Veritas's father, but I'm hoping to learn more about him. He sounds yummy!!
I do wish there was more sex in the story (I know, I'm such a dirty little ---), but Ian and Veritas are so hot together. Call me greedy but I want more! I loved the cliffy at the end and while I don't know what will happen next with this couple, I'm here for it. I'm here for all of it. I don't even have to tell you I found a new author to collect stories from.
Find more on the blog
November 18, 2021
I am so exited to start this new series!
November 28, 2018
4.5 IAN IAN IAN stars
Yes, yes, yes, I loved this one! Thank you, Jeaniene Frost, for giving us the opportunity to finally get up close and personal with one of my all-time favourite vampires, Ian! Ian has always been a highlight of the Night Huntress books and its spin-offs. His arrogance, irreverence and filthy deviance are completely charming and so freaking hilarious! And here, in his own book, he absolutely shines, and I was revelling in all that is this fabulously unique character.
And not to be outdone, Law Guardian, Veritas stands strongly beside Ian’s massive, completely shameless, personality. We’ve seen her briefly in other books, and I loved her so much in this story! Strong, brave and powerful, Veritas is a force to be reckoned with. She is on the hunt for a demon named Dagon, and she isn’t going to let anything get in her way. When she learns that Dagon owns Ian’s immortal soul, she tracks down the eternal playboy in order to use him as bait to lure out her prey.
It’s a good idea, but of course nothing goes to plan, and though they initially hate each other, Ian and Veritas soon find themselves partnering up to take down the bad guy – in ways they could never have imagined.
This book is a wildly adventurous ride, and I loved it! It’s fun with lots of humour, action, suspense, twists, turns and supernatural badassery. There is so much more to Ian and Veritas than we knew, and as they slowly begin to get to know each other, walls are dropped, secrets are revealed and passion ignites as these two fiery vampires really get to know each other.
If you thought the infamous Chapter 32 from One Foot in the Grave was hot, it has nothing on these two when they get going. Just… damn! And all of that sexy time brings with it an emotional connection that neither Ian or Veritas can deny, and I LOVED getting so see this completely new part of Ian, that is still so irreverently… Ian.
But their battle to draw out and take down Dagon will leave them both them forever changed, with far-reaching consequences that neither of them ever saw coming.
I recommend being up to date on all of the preceding books before starting on this one – the entire Night Huntress collection, the Night Huntress World books, and the Night Prince series. You could do it as a standalone, but you’ll be missing a lot of context, and this book contains some pretty big spoilers for the earlier books so read with caution. Cat, Bones, Spade, Mencheres and Vlad (via phone) all make very welcome appearances, and it made me realise just how much I missed these characters! I loved seeing them together again, and the relationship that Ian has with Cat and Bones, in particular, was just gorgeous to see.
It all ends with kickass action, twist after twist, and a whole lot of emotion, and though the cliffy isn’t too painful, it’s still left me desperate for more and I can’t wait to see where the story is going to go from here.
As expected, this is a fantastic read, and wonderfully narrated by Tavia Gilbert how she kept all of those accents straight I’ll never know. She did a fantastic job!
Loved this one! Another fantastic addition to Jeaniene Frost’s paranormal world.
4.5 stars!
Yes, yes, yes, I loved this one! Thank you, Jeaniene Frost, for giving us the opportunity to finally get up close and personal with one of my all-time favourite vampires, Ian! Ian has always been a highlight of the Night Huntress books and its spin-offs. His arrogance, irreverence and filthy deviance are completely charming and so freaking hilarious! And here, in his own book, he absolutely shines, and I was revelling in all that is this fabulously unique character.
“He might be morally bankrupt, chronically dishonest, and inexplicably dangerous, but he was also . . . fun.”
And not to be outdone, Law Guardian, Veritas stands strongly beside Ian’s massive, completely shameless, personality. We’ve seen her briefly in other books, and I loved her so much in this story! Strong, brave and powerful, Veritas is a force to be reckoned with. She is on the hunt for a demon named Dagon, and she isn’t going to let anything get in her way. When she learns that Dagon owns Ian’s immortal soul, she tracks down the eternal playboy in order to use him as bait to lure out her prey.
It’s a good idea, but of course nothing goes to plan, and though they initially hate each other, Ian and Veritas soon find themselves partnering up to take down the bad guy – in ways they could never have imagined.
“Even if we both survive, I won't enforce my claim on you,” I said desperately. “In fact, the first thing I'll do is drop you back at that bordello in Poland and order you a new carnival orgy, promise!” Then I threw up, spraying a stream of crimson all over him as I lost my fight against the nausea.
“See?” I managed when I finished puking. Vow sealed with a blood oath."
He looked down at himself in disgust. "This is everything I knew marriage would be.”
This book is a wildly adventurous ride, and I loved it! It’s fun with lots of humour, action, suspense, twists, turns and supernatural badassery. There is so much more to Ian and Veritas than we knew, and as they slowly begin to get to know each other, walls are dropped, secrets are revealed and passion ignites as these two fiery vampires really get to know each other.
“Lucifer’s hammering hard-on! Now that was a real shag!”
If you thought the infamous Chapter 32 from One Foot in the Grave was hot, it has nothing on these two when they get going. Just… damn! And all of that sexy time brings with it an emotional connection that neither Ian or Veritas can deny, and I LOVED getting so see this completely new part of Ian, that is still so irreverently… Ian.
Ian grinned before leaning down to lick the blood off my lip. “I know, it's a lot to take in. Never thought you'd be this happy, did you? Or this lucky. Blimey, go ahead and envy yourself. Countless other people will, I assure you.”
But their battle to draw out and take down Dagon will leave them both them forever changed, with far-reaching consequences that neither of them ever saw coming.
I recommend being up to date on all of the preceding books before starting on this one – the entire Night Huntress collection, the Night Huntress World books, and the Night Prince series. You could do it as a standalone, but you’ll be missing a lot of context, and this book contains some pretty big spoilers for the earlier books so read with caution. Cat, Bones, Spade, Mencheres and Vlad (via phone) all make very welcome appearances, and it made me realise just how much I missed these characters! I loved seeing them together again, and the relationship that Ian has with Cat and Bones, in particular, was just gorgeous to see.
It all ends with kickass action, twist after twist, and a whole lot of emotion, and though the cliffy isn’t too painful, it’s still left me desperate for more and I can’t wait to see where the story is going to go from here.
As expected, this is a fantastic read, and wonderfully narrated by Tavia Gilbert how she kept all of those accents straight I’ll never know. She did a fantastic job!
Loved this one! Another fantastic addition to Jeaniene Frost’s paranormal world.
4.5 stars!
October 23, 2025
I gravitate toward completed series. There’s nothing quite like diving into an authors massive catalogue of books. Although, the downside to treating a series as one long continuous read is that you start noticing patterns — quirks of the author in terms of their writing, their syntax and storytelling — that you wouldn’t necessarily have noticed if you’d actually had those long publication gaps in between.
Jeaniene Frost is a prime example of this for me.
I’ve read so much of her work, I had to abandon her Vlad-led series three-quarters of the way through from sheer tedium. I knew where it was going and saw no point in slogging through another four hundred pages to get there. Predictability is only a bad thing when you know you aren’t going to enjoy the outcome or the enjoyment hinges on mystery, because while the technical side of Frost’s writing has improved since her first book, her storytelling hasn’t evolved much.
Shades of Wicked, another in a long list of spin-offs, covers the last eligible bachelor in Bones’ be-fanged group. The Night Huntress universe seems to be the vampire equivalent of the Bridgerton series — lets whisk Spade, Mencheres, Vlad, and now Ian, on to the eternal marriage mart with a thinly-sketched threat to fill the page count. These romances all hit the same beats unerringly, right down to the hetero-normative aesthetics. Each following the same uneasy alliance/unwelcome attraction to soulmates pipeline like its a contractual obligation.
In another story, with more interesting worldbuilding or plotting, a paint-by-numbers romance would hardly matter. But the dynamic between the two leads is the focus of these stories. Again, its a paranormal Bridgerton. The only unique selling point of this particular pairing — the fact that Veritas is substantially older and therefore stronger than her male lead — is quickly undermined as Ian himself is sporting new abilities too. He’s got a handful of centuries, her several millennia, and he can still take her hits because Frost had to contrive a way to redress it to maintain those aesthetics.
Speaking of hetero-normativity, I never expected this series to ever invest in a gay romance. I think Tyler was the only overt gay representation in this entire universe. Mencheres talked about having relationships with men for exactly one line, and Ian is the closest thing this series can count as bisexual representation. Although, we only ever see him lust and leer at women. This isn’t great because he’s every derogatory bisexual stereotype imaginable. Moreover, he’s an insatiable deviant.
Veritas did have a sexual relationship with another Law Guardian, a woman, but the way the narrative frames that relationship, whose to say if her motives were genuine attraction. It all just feels tacked on.
Power creep is a serious problem in this universe, and while, like with this plot, we have Veritas and Ian teaming up to destroy a demon of immense power, the power scaling of our heroes and foes becomes increasingly intangible. It’s sort the difference between imagining ten billion stars and ten trillion stars; in the end, your mind creates the same nebulous image. A concession to an unimaginable multitude that’s more exhausting than it is thrilling.
Characters aren’t just immortal, they’re indestructible; they aren’t just centuries old, they span millennia. Given they’re vampires, you expect them, at most, to be overpowered like a character at the end of an RPG campaign, but Frosts characters are now more like if that same game had a dozen crazy mods added to it.
Basically, the stakes in this book feel artificially inflated in a way that’s hard to ignore. It doesn’t help, as per usual, our antagonist has little presence to speak of. Or that the stakes as they are are harder to appreciate when your main character can resurrect herself with little fanfare because her father is a god in the underworld.
On a positive note, the little of our main character’s backstory we got was really good. It does come late in the story, as a post-coital confessional between her and Ian, when I would have preferred it sooner. The romance itself reminds me of Vlad’s series in how Frost is rushing these characters into love despite having multiple books to fill. In her standalone work, this is forgivable; its just unfortunate and unsatisfying here.
But who needs actual relationship building and tension when you can bypass all that with Chekhov's green eyes and crazy vampire possessiveness?
I’ve never enjoyed demons in this universe. We’ve had several repetitions of the race-against-time-for-your-soul arc and while Frost has never been good with her antagonists, these are probably her worst. They feel far too much like a placeholder. Even Dagon should be more compelling given his history with Veritas, but there’s not enough page-time between them for it to amount to much more than hostility and violence.
Shades of Wicked ends, inexplicably, like Halfway to the Grave, with our main character leaving her lover for a devil’s bargain she made to save/protect them. I get the whole if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, but it also means you don’t need to add any more if the first one works fine. Which is what this book is: fine.
Jeaniene Frost is a prime example of this for me.
I’ve read so much of her work, I had to abandon her Vlad-led series three-quarters of the way through from sheer tedium. I knew where it was going and saw no point in slogging through another four hundred pages to get there. Predictability is only a bad thing when you know you aren’t going to enjoy the outcome or the enjoyment hinges on mystery, because while the technical side of Frost’s writing has improved since her first book, her storytelling hasn’t evolved much.
Shades of Wicked, another in a long list of spin-offs, covers the last eligible bachelor in Bones’ be-fanged group. The Night Huntress universe seems to be the vampire equivalent of the Bridgerton series — lets whisk Spade, Mencheres, Vlad, and now Ian, on to the eternal marriage mart with a thinly-sketched threat to fill the page count. These romances all hit the same beats unerringly, right down to the hetero-normative aesthetics. Each following the same uneasy alliance/unwelcome attraction to soulmates pipeline like its a contractual obligation.
In another story, with more interesting worldbuilding or plotting, a paint-by-numbers romance would hardly matter. But the dynamic between the two leads is the focus of these stories. Again, its a paranormal Bridgerton. The only unique selling point of this particular pairing — the fact that Veritas is substantially older and therefore stronger than her male lead — is quickly undermined as Ian himself is sporting new abilities too. He’s got a handful of centuries, her several millennia, and he can still take her hits because Frost had to contrive a way to redress it to maintain those aesthetics.
Speaking of hetero-normativity, I never expected this series to ever invest in a gay romance. I think Tyler was the only overt gay representation in this entire universe. Mencheres talked about having relationships with men for exactly one line, and Ian is the closest thing this series can count as bisexual representation. Although, we only ever see him lust and leer at women. This isn’t great because he’s every derogatory bisexual stereotype imaginable. Moreover, he’s an insatiable deviant.
Veritas did have a sexual relationship with another Law Guardian, a woman, but the way the narrative frames that relationship, whose to say if her motives were genuine attraction. It all just feels tacked on.
Power creep is a serious problem in this universe, and while, like with this plot, we have Veritas and Ian teaming up to destroy a demon of immense power, the power scaling of our heroes and foes becomes increasingly intangible. It’s sort the difference between imagining ten billion stars and ten trillion stars; in the end, your mind creates the same nebulous image. A concession to an unimaginable multitude that’s more exhausting than it is thrilling.
Characters aren’t just immortal, they’re indestructible; they aren’t just centuries old, they span millennia. Given they’re vampires, you expect them, at most, to be overpowered like a character at the end of an RPG campaign, but Frosts characters are now more like if that same game had a dozen crazy mods added to it.
Basically, the stakes in this book feel artificially inflated in a way that’s hard to ignore. It doesn’t help, as per usual, our antagonist has little presence to speak of. Or that the stakes as they are are harder to appreciate when your main character can resurrect herself with little fanfare because her father is a god in the underworld.
On a positive note, the little of our main character’s backstory we got was really good. It does come late in the story, as a post-coital confessional between her and Ian, when I would have preferred it sooner. The romance itself reminds me of Vlad’s series in how Frost is rushing these characters into love despite having multiple books to fill. In her standalone work, this is forgivable; its just unfortunate and unsatisfying here.
But who needs actual relationship building and tension when you can bypass all that with Chekhov's green eyes and crazy vampire possessiveness?
I’ve never enjoyed demons in this universe. We’ve had several repetitions of the race-against-time-for-your-soul arc and while Frost has never been good with her antagonists, these are probably her worst. They feel far too much like a placeholder. Even Dagon should be more compelling given his history with Veritas, but there’s not enough page-time between them for it to amount to much more than hostility and violence.
Shades of Wicked ends, inexplicably, like Halfway to the Grave, with our main character leaving her lover for a devil’s bargain she made to save/protect them. I get the whole if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, but it also means you don’t need to add any more if the first one works fine. Which is what this book is: fine.
February 6, 2019
If you have devoured every word this author has written about Cat and Bones then you will be well aware how hedonistic and conniving Ian is. At this point you probably realise that he isn't my favourite character so the author had her work cut out for her to make this reader fall for him.
I admit it I was worried but this book pulled me in , gave me hope and then cruelly spat at me ! Hey I confess it I'm a hopeless romantic and if anyone could get through to Ian it would be pugnacious Veritas but with secrets of her own this was never going to be a straight forward romance . That right there is probably why this author is loved so much because it's always a wild ride of surprises that tears into her readers hearts and doesn't let go. I'm left shaking my fist and wanting more but I'm definitely no longer impervious to Ian's considerable charms !
I admit it I was worried but this book pulled me in , gave me hope and then cruelly spat at me ! Hey I confess it I'm a hopeless romantic and if anyone could get through to Ian it would be pugnacious Veritas but with secrets of her own this was never going to be a straight forward romance . That right there is probably why this author is loved so much because it's always a wild ride of surprises that tears into her readers hearts and doesn't let go. I'm left shaking my fist and wanting more but I'm definitely no longer impervious to Ian's considerable charms !
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March 13, 2022
I suddenly got MASSIVELY bit by the vampire romance bug a couple of weeks ago, so I planned to reread the Night Huntress series ASAP. Then, however, I recalled the existence of Ian. He's the sort of guy who's hard to forget: in fact, I've just created an 'awesome hero' shelf SPECIFICALLY for him. Even though it's been almost a decade since I last picked up an NH book, I recalled his personality very well, and went straight to reading his series.
Unfortunately, it kind of sucked. And not just in the vampire way. It's all because of our heroine, a 4000+-year-old vampire named Veritas. As a Law Guardian, she's the equivalent of a police officer, and she's actually shown up in the NH series too - though I had no memory of her. That kind of sets the scene for the entire book, which is in her POV.
Basically, Veritas is a TERRIBLE heroine. She's one of the oldest vampires in existence, dripping with magic, knowledge, and power... yet she comes across as a weak and somewhat moronic newbie, who's outwitted at random points with astonishing ease. She lacks Cat's vivacity in a big way. I don't need or want all my heroines to have identical personalities, but I do want them all to have one thing in common: spark. Veritas just hasn't got that. Every time she meets Mencheres (who's younger than her! And less powerful!) my jaw was on the ground from how she let him talk to her. She's almost 5000 years old - why isn't she acting like it? Where's the respect?
Also, Frost contradicts herself in this book. Early on in the NH series, she makes it clear that conventional sexism doesn't exist in the vampire world - which makes sense, for the same reason it doesn't massively exist in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark world: strength for paranormals comes down to age and experience, not just biology. Which is always refreshing, and it's one of the things I like about books like this. Yet Frost completely backtracks here and somehow presents Veritas, who's so powerful she could squash the vampire council with her pinkie finger, as considered 'lesser' by her peers if she gets married. Are you really telling me that VAMPIRES, who's lived for centuries and know power comes to down to age, would care who's in a relationship with who?
But okay, I'd have run with it - if this facet had been present in Frost's worldbuilding from the start. It wasn't. It directly contradicts what she said before, in the entire NH series, where Cat was never treated as lesser on account of her sex and Bones specifically told her she wouldn't be. That's what I'm annoyed about. That, and the fact that someone as powerful as Veritas basically allows herself to be talked down to by everyone and their dog. What's the point of being so amazing if you don't act like it?
Ian, though, was spectacular as ever. Sometimes these charming heroes come off better in others' books, and lose their charm in their own books, but his personality stayed intact and it was great. What I don't like is how his connection to Veritas was randomly explained by a last-minute revelation of precognitive abilities. Are you serious? That just cheapens their connection, because it turns out that even feeling some mystical draw to her, he resisted it for months and went after other women. Not my style. I'd rather they just stayed as 'people who weren't really interested in each other but became so after spending time with each other', because at least that's less insulting to Veritas.
So yes, I didn't feel any chemistry between them, no matter how hard I tried. As great as it was to see old favourites like Cat and Bones again too, the plot was all over the place and moved way too fast for me at the end.
Unfortunately, it kind of sucked. And not just in the vampire way. It's all because of our heroine, a 4000+-year-old vampire named Veritas. As a Law Guardian, she's the equivalent of a police officer, and she's actually shown up in the NH series too - though I had no memory of her. That kind of sets the scene for the entire book, which is in her POV.
Basically, Veritas is a TERRIBLE heroine. She's one of the oldest vampires in existence, dripping with magic, knowledge, and power... yet she comes across as a weak and somewhat moronic newbie, who's outwitted at random points with astonishing ease. She lacks Cat's vivacity in a big way. I don't need or want all my heroines to have identical personalities, but I do want them all to have one thing in common: spark. Veritas just hasn't got that. Every time she meets Mencheres (who's younger than her! And less powerful!) my jaw was on the ground from how she let him talk to her. She's almost 5000 years old - why isn't she acting like it? Where's the respect?
Also, Frost contradicts herself in this book. Early on in the NH series, she makes it clear that conventional sexism doesn't exist in the vampire world - which makes sense, for the same reason it doesn't massively exist in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark world: strength for paranormals comes down to age and experience, not just biology. Which is always refreshing, and it's one of the things I like about books like this. Yet Frost completely backtracks here and somehow presents Veritas, who's so powerful she could squash the vampire council with her pinkie finger, as considered 'lesser' by her peers if she gets married. Are you really telling me that VAMPIRES, who's lived for centuries and know power comes to down to age, would care who's in a relationship with who?
But okay, I'd have run with it - if this facet had been present in Frost's worldbuilding from the start. It wasn't. It directly contradicts what she said before, in the entire NH series, where Cat was never treated as lesser on account of her sex and Bones specifically told her she wouldn't be. That's what I'm annoyed about. That, and the fact that someone as powerful as Veritas basically allows herself to be talked down to by everyone and their dog. What's the point of being so amazing if you don't act like it?
Ian, though, was spectacular as ever. Sometimes these charming heroes come off better in others' books, and lose their charm in their own books, but his personality stayed intact and it was great. What I don't like is how his connection to Veritas was randomly explained by a last-minute revelation of precognitive abilities. Are you serious? That just cheapens their connection, because it turns out that even feeling some mystical draw to her, he resisted it for months and went after other women. Not my style. I'd rather they just stayed as 'people who weren't really interested in each other but became so after spending time with each other', because at least that's less insulting to Veritas.
So yes, I didn't feel any chemistry between them, no matter how hard I tried. As great as it was to see old favourites like Cat and Bones again too, the plot was all over the place and moved way too fast for me at the end.
October 29, 2018
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
To say this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year is an understatement. Fans of the Night Huntress series have been waiting for Ian to get his HEA for many years! And lets just say the wait was worth it! SHADES OF WICKED was everything I wanted Ian's book to be and I am so excited that there's more to come.
First of all, lets talk about Ian. Ruthless, cocky, confident, unashamed...I don't know why I had a small fear that he would change when he fell in love. That is not the case. Ian is 100% himself with just the added benefit that we're seeing him develop feelings for someone. And that someone couldn't be a better match for him. Veritas was the big revelation for me in this book because we don't really know much about her going into this and getting to know her was so much fun. She may be quickly taking over the spot for my favorite female in this series.
Another great example of why Jeaniene Frost is queen at straddling the lines between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. SHADES OF WICKED has the perfect balance between storyline, action, world building, character development, previous cast involvement and the most seductive romance. Ian and Veritas are sensual and sexy, but also intense in their purpose. Everything was mixed so well! And lets not forget the humor. Like I said, Ian is exactly what you would expect him to be and that includes the fact that he's really funny. One minute you're swooning, the next you're scared and the next you're laughing.
If there is one thing you should take way from this is that this is one of the best paranormal worlds you'll read about. Ms. Frost creates storylines full of pulse-pounding action but also some of the best characters you'll have the pleasure to read about. This new spin off only cements that fact even more for me. Ian and Veritas had me hooked from page one and addicted for more. The next installment can't come soon enough.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
November 2, 2018
It's been a long time since I picked a Jeaniene Frost book. I adored the Night Huntress series and have read most of the other books set in this world (I still need to read the two latest Night Prince novels). To be honest I don't know why I never read those two. Other shinier books grabbed my attention but I fully plan on remedying that in the next few weeks. But when I saw that she's writing a Ian book I just couldn't resist. Add in the brilliant quotes shared on Twitter and by the time I got the book I was salivating. Fifteen minutes into the audio and I was laughing my head off and sharing quotes with my best friends trying to convince them to pick it up as well (it might have backfired, though, as the sandpaper dildo one gathered some strange reactions :D).
Ian fascinated me since the very first time he showed on page. He is a degenerate pervert with a big heart. The opening scene was hilarious! I had tears run down my face and had to explain to my mother why I have trouble breathing. This mostly set the tone for the rest of the book. I hardly remembered Veritas but damn she's amazing. She has a great background and I hope we'll get to explore more about it. Especially about her father and how she came to be. The story itself was great and extremely engaging. I couldn't wait to finish the book. Especially when I hit the second part of the book. Damn trying to write a spoiler free review for this book is hard! Anyway, the last few chapters were heartbreaking! And now I'm so anxious for what will happen next and how Ian will handle things with Veritas! Damn, I want the next book NOW!
I had a fangirling moment when Kat and Bones showed up. I almost fell out of my chair (I was listening at work) I was so happy! And that intervention! Boy, was it hilarious! I adore how much Bones, Mencheres and Spade care about Ian and how much he cares about them despite his devil-may-care attitude towards life and people in general. As I said he might be a scoundrel but he has a heart of gold ;) I do hope he won't change too much as his penchant for kinky stuff is one of the things I found most fascinating about him.
Ian fascinated me since the very first time he showed on page. He is a degenerate pervert with a big heart. The opening scene was hilarious! I had tears run down my face and had to explain to my mother why I have trouble breathing. This mostly set the tone for the rest of the book. I hardly remembered Veritas but damn she's amazing. She has a great background and I hope we'll get to explore more about it. Especially about her father and how she came to be. The story itself was great and extremely engaging. I couldn't wait to finish the book. Especially when I hit the second part of the book. Damn trying to write a spoiler free review for this book is hard! Anyway, the last few chapters were heartbreaking! And now I'm so anxious for what will happen next and how Ian will handle things with Veritas! Damn, I want the next book NOW!
I had a fangirling moment when Kat and Bones showed up. I almost fell out of my chair (I was listening at work) I was so happy! And that intervention! Boy, was it hilarious! I adore how much Bones, Mencheres and Spade care about Ian and how much he cares about them despite his devil-may-care attitude towards life and people in general. As I said he might be a scoundrel but he has a heart of gold ;) I do hope he won't change too much as his penchant for kinky stuff is one of the things I found most fascinating about him.
November 11, 2018
4+ "Not so Opposites Attract" Stars!
I loved this! Ian and Veritas work very well together. There was a lot of actions and a lot of action. We get to see Kat and Bones, Spade and Manchares (sp?). Even my main man Vlad makes an appearance. The plot is very good. Overall, super entertaining. I'm very happy to back in this world. Only problem, there is a cliffhanger. 🤨 And the next book isn't out until Summer 2019. 😠 As my friend Santy says, "Death to cliffhangers!"
Overall though, I liked it a lot. Happy reading!
I loved this! Ian and Veritas work very well together. There was a lot of actions and a lot of action. We get to see Kat and Bones, Spade and Manchares (sp?). Even my main man Vlad makes an appearance. The plot is very good. Overall, super entertaining. I'm very happy to back in this world. Only problem, there is a cliffhanger. 🤨 And the next book isn't out until Summer 2019. 😠 As my friend Santy says, "Death to cliffhangers!"
Overall though, I liked it a lot. Happy reading!
May 24, 2025
Świetnie się bawiłam. W poprzednich książkach z serii niespecjalnie lubiłam postaci, o których jest ta podseria, tutaj jednak trochę się to zmieniło, bo bohaterowie już nie wydają się mieć po jednej cesze. Scena otwierająca👌. 4⭐
January 1, 2019
4-1/2 *'s for this one. Can't wait for the next!
October 8, 2019
3.25 stars
Well I liked it more that Vlad’s story but not nearly as much as I enjoyed Crispin’s (Cat & Bones) journey.
Ian is a cheeky guy just like Spade and Bones and he is living his best worst life since he only has about two years left thanks to the deal with Daigon where Ian forfeited his soul.
The law guardian Veritas came to find Ian in hopes to use him to kill Diagon Veritas was a creature of unknown power and origin (which we find out later) and she intrigues Ian.
The verbal sparring is quite funny at times but there is profound sadness at the heart of both characters. Slowly they begin revealing their secrets and a bond is created.
Veritas and Ian set out to destroy the creature who has siphoned ofd a piece of their souls piece by piece.
What I liked was multiple appearances by old favorites like Mencheres, Bones and crew. I loved the story we learned of Ian’s biological family including his real name. I enjoyed the pace of the story and how it flowed.
What I didn’t like was the narrator Tavia Gilbert. I am positive I would have enjoyed this one more If I had read it.
Well I liked it more that Vlad’s story but not nearly as much as I enjoyed Crispin’s (Cat & Bones) journey.
Ian is a cheeky guy just like Spade and Bones and he is living his best worst life since he only has about two years left thanks to the deal with Daigon where Ian forfeited his soul.
The law guardian Veritas came to find Ian in hopes to use him to kill Diagon Veritas was a creature of unknown power and origin (which we find out later) and she intrigues Ian.
The verbal sparring is quite funny at times but there is profound sadness at the heart of both characters. Slowly they begin revealing their secrets and a bond is created.
Veritas and Ian set out to destroy the creature who has siphoned ofd a piece of their souls piece by piece.
What I liked was multiple appearances by old favorites like Mencheres, Bones and crew. I loved the story we learned of Ian’s biological family including his real name. I enjoyed the pace of the story and how it flowed.
What I didn’t like was the narrator Tavia Gilbert. I am positive I would have enjoyed this one more If I had read it.
October 31, 2018
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
SHADES OF WICKED has been on my radar since I first read the excerpt on Jeaniene Frost's website. I, like many other readers of the Night Huntress series, was eager for Ian's book, and it definitely lived up to my expectations.SHADES OF WICKED has all of Frost's trademarks: amazing chemistry between hero and heroine, fun banter, great action scenes and a bad guy who is so easy to hate.
In that regard, SHADES OF WICKED is pretty similar to many of Frost's other books. Hero and heroine team up to fight a bad guy, and fall in love in the process. The difference here is that we didn't know much about Ian or Veritas. They both have lots of secrets and this leads to a story with many interesting twists as the two of them work together and begin to learn about the other. One thing I especially enjoyed about reading this book is that Frost doesn't use the info dump via narration in a character's head as a method of explaining things. We find out Veritas's secrets when she tells Ian - which feels realistic. After all, people don't go around telling themselves things in their head that they already know. Plus, it heightens the suspense for the reader, giving you plenty to wonder about as you read.
Certainly readers who have read Frost's other series set in this world may enjoy this first installment in the Night Rebel series. Obviously, there's no replacement for thirteen books worth of backstory (obviously not every book mentions these two but there's a lot that's built to this point)! But I think SHADES OF WICKED does a good job of covering the things you need to know without being too repetitive for long time fans.
With Ian's devil-may-care attitude, and Veritas's single-minded focus on her mission, the pairing off of these two is as delightful as it was unexpected. The slow build of trust between them is very interesting to watch, and the payoff is explosive. The only downside is that when you finish SHADES OF WICKED (and it ends on a cliffhanger) you won't have the next book immediately. Luckily, there's always those thirteen other Frost books to re-read in the interim.
Sexual content: Sex scenes, reference to sexual assault of a child
SHADES OF WICKED has been on my radar since I first read the excerpt on Jeaniene Frost's website. I, like many other readers of the Night Huntress series, was eager for Ian's book, and it definitely lived up to my expectations.SHADES OF WICKED has all of Frost's trademarks: amazing chemistry between hero and heroine, fun banter, great action scenes and a bad guy who is so easy to hate.
In that regard, SHADES OF WICKED is pretty similar to many of Frost's other books. Hero and heroine team up to fight a bad guy, and fall in love in the process. The difference here is that we didn't know much about Ian or Veritas. They both have lots of secrets and this leads to a story with many interesting twists as the two of them work together and begin to learn about the other. One thing I especially enjoyed about reading this book is that Frost doesn't use the info dump via narration in a character's head as a method of explaining things. We find out Veritas's secrets when she tells Ian - which feels realistic. After all, people don't go around telling themselves things in their head that they already know. Plus, it heightens the suspense for the reader, giving you plenty to wonder about as you read.
Certainly readers who have read Frost's other series set in this world may enjoy this first installment in the Night Rebel series. Obviously, there's no replacement for thirteen books worth of backstory (obviously not every book mentions these two but there's a lot that's built to this point)! But I think SHADES OF WICKED does a good job of covering the things you need to know without being too repetitive for long time fans.
With Ian's devil-may-care attitude, and Veritas's single-minded focus on her mission, the pairing off of these two is as delightful as it was unexpected. The slow build of trust between them is very interesting to watch, and the payoff is explosive. The only downside is that when you finish SHADES OF WICKED (and it ends on a cliffhanger) you won't have the next book immediately. Luckily, there's always those thirteen other Frost books to re-read in the interim.
Sexual content: Sex scenes, reference to sexual assault of a child
February 28, 2021
I bought this as an auto-buy, not even knowing it was Ian's story!
Ian, "love a good slaughter in the morning!" Not the usual ILY's mouthed after an impromptu marriage...
Ian the slut and Veritas the lady with the stick up her arse.
Or so it seems...
What initially comes off as an opposites attract story, morphs into much more as you get to know the characters... as they get to know each other.
I wanted to read about Ian getting his comeuppance, and it was all that, but it was also peeling off his layers to what really makes him tick.
And the same with Veritas.
Some of the things that lead to these reveals, was kinda 'stagey' and the first 25% I was a little disappointed in Veritas' supposed 4000+ years of wisdom. She doesn't come across as uber anything the way Menchares does, and he isn't much older than her.... Maybe even younger?
But after the first 25% I didn't care.
Veritas' life revolves around revenge against Dagos, the powerful demon. To further her plans for his death she finds Ian, (who bears his mark) as a way of luring Dagos out.
Once Ian and Veritas meet again, things just DON'T go as according to plan.
Safety (always a concern with manhos like Ian) is pretty good. Even better, the story flows without resorting to slut-shaming Ian.
One thing they do have in common is being bisexual with a preference for a bit of pain with their pleasure.
The ending is HFN as there is more to come. Angsty?
The reader, Tavia Gilbert, was awesome!
......................................................................................
p.s. upon reading the second 'Ian/Veritas' book, I knocked another star off this one because the woman was too much of an idiot in this one too.
...although that guy on the cover deserves a star ; )
Ian, "love a good slaughter in the morning!" Not the usual ILY's mouthed after an impromptu marriage...
Ian the slut and Veritas the lady with the stick up her arse.
Or so it seems...
What initially comes off as an opposites attract story, morphs into much more as you get to know the characters... as they get to know each other.
I wanted to read about Ian getting his comeuppance, and it was all that, but it was also peeling off his layers to what really makes him tick.
And the same with Veritas.
Some of the things that lead to these reveals, was kinda 'stagey' and the first 25% I was a little disappointed in Veritas' supposed 4000+ years of wisdom. She doesn't come across as uber anything the way Menchares does, and he isn't much older than her.... Maybe even younger?
But after the first 25% I didn't care.
Veritas' life revolves around revenge against Dagos, the powerful demon. To further her plans for his death she finds Ian, (who bears his mark) as a way of luring Dagos out.
Once Ian and Veritas meet again, things just DON'T go as according to plan.
Safety (always a concern with manhos like Ian) is pretty good. Even better, the story flows without resorting to slut-shaming Ian.
One thing they do have in common is being bisexual with a preference for a bit of pain with their pleasure.
The ending is HFN as there is more to come. Angsty?
The reader, Tavia Gilbert, was awesome!
......................................................................................
p.s. upon reading the second 'Ian/Veritas' book, I knocked another star off this one because the woman was too much of an idiot in this one too.
...although that guy on the cover deserves a star ; )
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