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Immortal Enemies #1
Heartless
Vengeance is irresistible…
Kaysar the Unhinged One, fae King of Midnight, can drive anyone to madness with his song. A ruthless warrior forged in hate, he lives to force his enemies to their knees. He will stop at nothing to succeed—even abduct and seduce his foe’s beloved bride, ensuring his own child one day sits on the male’s throne. Except, his prize escapes to the mortal realm before the first kiss, her heart transplanted into a mortal beauty with dangerous secrets…
Chantel “Cookie” Bardot is a professional gamer girl great at trash talking, bad at peopling. After a long awaited surgery, she begins to morph into a powerful fae princess. Catapulted into a strange land ruled by a cruel but seductive villain, she must battle flesh and blood monsters and navigate royal intrigues. But the true danger is Kaysar, whose every wicked touch tempts her beyond reason. Should she run…or descend into the darkness with him?
Kaysar the Unhinged One, fae King of Midnight, can drive anyone to madness with his song. A ruthless warrior forged in hate, he lives to force his enemies to their knees. He will stop at nothing to succeed—even abduct and seduce his foe’s beloved bride, ensuring his own child one day sits on the male’s throne. Except, his prize escapes to the mortal realm before the first kiss, her heart transplanted into a mortal beauty with dangerous secrets…
Chantel “Cookie” Bardot is a professional gamer girl great at trash talking, bad at peopling. After a long awaited surgery, she begins to morph into a powerful fae princess. Catapulted into a strange land ruled by a cruel but seductive villain, she must battle flesh and blood monsters and navigate royal intrigues. But the true danger is Kaysar, whose every wicked touch tempts her beyond reason. Should she run…or descend into the darkness with him?
384 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2022
878 people are currently reading
7320 people want to read
About the author
Gena Showalter
261 books27.8k followersGena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
June 28, 2021
4 STARS
As someone who's read Gena's entire backlist, it's safe for me to say that this woman can write the alphabet on a sheet of toilet paper and I'd read it. So while I've been ravenous for Hades's book and more of her LoTu, I will still jump at everything else she writes. And a brand new series that's titled Immortal Enemies? Yeah you bet your patootie I'll be all over it. No one writes enemies to lovers banter quite like Showalter. Then you add into it her sassy, sharp tongued, and bad@ss heroines meet tortured and uber protective heroes and I'm putty. PUTTY I TELLS YA.
The one thing I've come to appreciate about Gena's stories, is the world building. We get a new world with fae, goblins, centaurs, and seers and I was so here for it. None of it felt like a data dump. All of it felt incredibly vivid, enchanting, and completely addictive.
Kaysar the Unhinged One is certainly appropriately known through the kingdom. The man is practically deranged in his need for revenge. The only thing that drives him is bringing all of the pain and suffering to his enemies who stole everything precious from him when he was just a small boy.
Chantel “Cookie” Bardot is a quirky gamer with a best friend who's in her 60s and a cat to keep her company. She also has a bad heart and is looking at certain death unless she gets a heart transplant. Now I won't give you a summary here because you can get everything you need from the blurb. But the second Cookie gets thrust into the world of Kaysar, I was totally and completely invested.
The tension and the relationship building between these two was utterly delicious. Their banter is hilarious and with a vein of sexual tension that's so good, that by the time they finally give into you, you feel like you may go into flames yourself. There's nothing better than that build up and man, I loved it so much here. Cookie is a bit of a nut herself. A gamer, she's a bloodthirsty little thing herself. And when she gets a taste for battle in her new world, she finds she rather likes it. I couldn't picture a better half for Kaysar's particular brand of crazy. I loved watching him falling for her in spite of himself and I loved watching Cookie come into her own. I was afraid that having Lulundria's heart and some of her memories may eventually morph her into someone else, but really it just gave her a boost.
There's so much build up here that I can't wait to read next with some secondary characters. Like a certain Frostline prince that lost his loved bride only to lose her all over again when her heart goes into the body of a woman that falls for his mortal enemy. GAH. How epic does that sound? Because NEED.
I will never complain about a new series from the queen of PNR. So even though I'm pretty sure I would go crazy until I get Hades's book soon, this new series certainly helps. An entire series based on the enemies to lovers vibes? YES MA'AM! BRING IT I say.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
He struck her as a man who murdered without hesitation, breaking a sweat or regretting his actions.
As someone who's read Gena's entire backlist, it's safe for me to say that this woman can write the alphabet on a sheet of toilet paper and I'd read it. So while I've been ravenous for Hades's book and more of her LoTu, I will still jump at everything else she writes. And a brand new series that's titled Immortal Enemies? Yeah you bet your patootie I'll be all over it. No one writes enemies to lovers banter quite like Showalter. Then you add into it her sassy, sharp tongued, and bad@ss heroines meet tortured and uber protective heroes and I'm putty. PUTTY I TELLS YA.
Another chuckle. “Does my proximity bother you, sweetling?”
“Yes,” she burst out. “And I’d prefer an endearment like Machete or Chops. Now be a good boy, and let me go.”
The one thing I've come to appreciate about Gena's stories, is the world building. We get a new world with fae, goblins, centaurs, and seers and I was so here for it. None of it felt like a data dump. All of it felt incredibly vivid, enchanting, and completely addictive.
Kaysar the Unhinged One is certainly appropriately known through the kingdom. The man is practically deranged in his need for revenge. The only thing that drives him is bringing all of the pain and suffering to his enemies who stole everything precious from him when he was just a small boy.
Chantel “Cookie” Bardot is a quirky gamer with a best friend who's in her 60s and a cat to keep her company. She also has a bad heart and is looking at certain death unless she gets a heart transplant. Now I won't give you a summary here because you can get everything you need from the blurb. But the second Cookie gets thrust into the world of Kaysar, I was totally and completely invested.
The tension and the relationship building between these two was utterly delicious. Their banter is hilarious and with a vein of sexual tension that's so good, that by the time they finally give into you, you feel like you may go into flames yourself. There's nothing better than that build up and man, I loved it so much here. Cookie is a bit of a nut herself. A gamer, she's a bloodthirsty little thing herself. And when she gets a taste for battle in her new world, she finds she rather likes it. I couldn't picture a better half for Kaysar's particular brand of crazy. I loved watching him falling for her in spite of himself and I loved watching Cookie come into her own. I was afraid that having Lulundria's heart and some of her memories may eventually morph her into someone else, but really it just gave her a boost.
There's so much build up here that I can't wait to read next with some secondary characters. Like a certain Frostline prince that lost his loved bride only to lose her all over again when her heart goes into the body of a woman that falls for his mortal enemy. GAH. How epic does that sound? Because NEED.
I will never complain about a new series from the queen of PNR. So even though I'm pretty sure I would go crazy until I get Hades's book soon, this new series certainly helps. An entire series based on the enemies to lovers vibes? YES MA'AM! BRING IT I say.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
February 27, 2022
I loved this book. Heartless is the first book in a brand new series by Gena Showalter called Immortal Enemies. This is an adult fantasy/paranormal romance with fae. Showalter's take on the fae is different than what we usually get and I really loved it. The story itself is also pretty unique and interesting.
Both characters are not what you would expect, Kaysar, our hero, is a mad fae king bent on revenge after the Frostlines kidnapped, abused and kept him chained for a year, after taking him away from his baby sister. Kaysar goes after Jareth—the Frostline prince—and his new bride, Lulundria, and plans to kidnap, seduce and impregnate her so his child can one day sit on the Winter Court throne. But Lulundria escapes to the mortal realm after being severely injured and dies there, but not before Kaysar, with his magical abilities, tells her to come back to him, in one way or another. Enter, Chantel "Cookie" Bardot, our heroine, a human woman with a heart disease waiting on her miracle transplant. When she gets transplanted with Lulundria's heart, she quickly realizes that something is wrong with her. After months of recuperating, feeling like she's being hunted and strange things happening, she accidentally opens a portal back to Astaria, the fae realm, and gets transported there.
Does that sound epic? Because it is! Kaysar is a spectacular character, if you like Lothaire from Kresley Cole's IAD, you will probably really love him. Kaysar is mad, the abuse he suffered broke him, losing his sister made it even worse, he lives only to make the Frostlines suffer.
Disclaimer: I was able to read an early copy of this book as I work for the author.
Both characters are not what you would expect, Kaysar, our hero, is a mad fae king bent on revenge after the Frostlines kidnapped, abused and kept him chained for a year, after taking him away from his baby sister. Kaysar goes after Jareth—the Frostline prince—and his new bride, Lulundria, and plans to kidnap, seduce and impregnate her so his child can one day sit on the Winter Court throne. But Lulundria escapes to the mortal realm after being severely injured and dies there, but not before Kaysar, with his magical abilities, tells her to come back to him, in one way or another. Enter, Chantel "Cookie" Bardot, our heroine, a human woman with a heart disease waiting on her miracle transplant. When she gets transplanted with Lulundria's heart, she quickly realizes that something is wrong with her. After months of recuperating, feeling like she's being hunted and strange things happening, she accidentally opens a portal back to Astaria, the fae realm, and gets transported there.
Does that sound epic? Because it is! Kaysar is a spectacular character, if you like Lothaire from Kresley Cole's IAD, you will probably really love him. Kaysar is mad, the abuse he suffered broke him, losing his sister made it even worse, he lives only to make the Frostlines suffer.
"He reminded her of a lost little boy…with dreams of burning the entire world to ash."Cookie seems like a normal, sassy heroine, but she's actually Kaysar's perfect match, she secretly enjoys killing people. In her games, but still. So when she's thrown into this brand new world, with monsters and this villain trying to seduce and use her, she decides to let her true nature take over.
"Whether she realized it or not, she was unerringly immortal, incredibly powerful, and unarguably fae."Listen, I loved them together. I absolutely adored watching Kaysar being completely confounded by Cookie, completely thrown because she's not at all what he expected, watching him try so hard to hold on to his plans of vengeance. It was delightful. Cookie was also an amazing character, Showalter always has great, sassy and fun heroines, add to that the fact that Cookie is murder curious and starts to have great powers which she can use to kill people, and you get a freaking funny and epic heroine.
"Every so often, she even wondered if she herself were maybe kinda sorta…murder curious. But only every so often."Heartless was twisted, truly something new for Gena Showalter, it was darker and just more in every way. It was also pretty funny at times and just an epic and entertaining story. I loved it so much. I'm genuinely excited about this new world and what could come next!
Disclaimer: I was able to read an early copy of this book as I work for the author.
July 4, 2021
I never expected a Gena Showalter book to be so bad. There is no plot. The two psychopaths for protagonists are giving us a whiplash all the time with yes, no, yes, no, yes, no. There is no world building. There is absolutely nothing good in this book. Even the gamer abbreviations were forced. Showalter is an autobuy for me, but this book was such a disappointment. I am not interested to read more about the Immortal Enemies series. Couldn't wait for this book to finish. Blergh
March 6, 2022
What a power couple these two people are!!! I loved both Kaysar and cookie so much!!! One's as fucked up as the other which makes for a very interesting tale. Kaysar is a dark and very dangerous character who's mind at times seems very unhinged but how would you be if you were a 15 year old boy just trying to take care of your little sister after both your parents are dead and you are taken captive had your tongue cut out and raped repeatedly and physically abused and treated like a animal for over a year? Its bound to create a monster! Kaysar rules with blood and vengeance a monster feared by all and who lives only to find his missing sister Viori and wipe every Frostline from the face of the earth. But when Cookie steps into his world carrying the fae princess and wife of the frostline prince heart in her body kaysar will have his vengeance starting with making her miserable and inpregnating her and sending her back with his child. Cookie is drawn to Kaysar immediately and isn't afraid like most others are. In him she sees a kindered soul ! Together they both slightly mad and each a little blood thirsty and the chemistry amazing! Try as he might Kaysar is impressed with cookies strength and hard ass attitude and her body is waking something inside of him that has been dead for a long time! Cookie has done what no other woman has done. She has awakening him sexually after what happened as a young man sex was just a way to get information or to learn someone's secrets but with just the touch of Cookies hand and lips his body has come to life! And so has his heart. Their path isn't a easy one because both are very strong characters and butt heads constantly and old insecurities and vendettas stand in the way making things more complicated but in the end they get their happily ever after. Gena showalter is a awesome storyteller who's characters are unique as they are flawed and whether hero or villain theirs always a chance at happiness. Can't wait for book 2 in this new series! Until next time Luv's💕💋
Kaysar
“You cannot make the monster, then complain when it bites you.”
Kaysar
“You cannot make the monster, then complain when it bites you.”
April 21, 2023
“I hope you like the taste of your balls, Nick, because I’m about to shove them down your throat.”
literally the first scene from the h’s pov😭🛐🛐
i’m a sucker for psychotic, sassy bitches as heroines
👁👄👁
And this girl was batshit crazyyy🤡🙇♀️👀
“Oh, Kaysar. Isn’t this amazing?” Never had she felt so giddy. So alive. “My first actual battle. They threatened us, and now I get to kill them all by myself”
Kaysar appeared entranced.
“Will you keep count of my kills?” she asked her partner, clapping. She could hardly wait to begin.
and the fact he adored her for her crazy cause it matched his right back🙈🙈🙈
The barest hint of a smile teased the corners of his mouth. “There are three hundred and seven men before us. Something tells me your count will be all of them.”
“There is no more perfect creature.” Kaysar grazed the shell of her ear with a metal claw. She preened for him, because she couldn’t not.
and the hero, goddd the hero!!!🥹🌟💁♀️
Kaysar, The Unhinged
a narcissistic, psychotic asshole with a god complex
now usually i would hate this in a ml
like really hate it….
BUT DAMNNNN
this guy did it soo well, I couldn’t help but fall for him🫢😭😭😭
the way he was soo fucking good to Chantel was so bloody cutee 😚🫶😭
protective🦋
broody🥹
hates everyone but her 🗡🗡🗡
would kill anyone who pisses her off🤺🤺🤺
was hesitant at first but fell hard🥰
the way both these psychos fit!!👀
they were both sooo possessive of each other🤌🏻💛🌟
“I’ll rejoice the day I kill you, Kaysar.” Protective urges pitched and swelled. Harm her teammate? No. Oh, no. She’d end Jareth first, despite her companion’s protests.
Arrows flew at random, embedding in different parts of the vines. Kaysar scowled when Chantel winced. She felt each strike? Pain fanned her eyes with the next volley, a bead of sweat trickling from her temple. Her shoulders hunched ever so slightly. She did.
This was unacceptable.
“What’s wrong? Tell me.” If he knew, he could fix it. He must fix it.
Menace seeped into his tone.
“I will do this. There will be no other for you.” Her features shuttered. With a flat tone, she told him, “There will be no other for you. For any reason, even vengeance.”
“Agreed.”
He couldn’t release the word fast enough. She was considering his offer because of jealousy. She nearly frothed at the mouth at the thought of him with another. She must! The queen of the Dusklands was delightfully possessive, refusing to share her male with another.
SPOILER INCOMING
so our H wasn’t always “unhinged”
a long, long time ago he was just an innocent 12 year old trying to protect his sister after the death of their parents
but instead he got taken by the frostlines
there he was tortured for 12 months and raped every single day by the king and his brother
so obviously he hates their (the frostlines) guts and wants to end them
because not only did he lose himself but he also lost his sister during this time
bc of what has happened to Kaysar in the past he has always viewed sex as a weapon to wield
a tool to use to get info out of ppl
he has never really sought it out for pleasure or anything
which honestly kinda broke my heart
SPOILER ENDS
but all this changed when he found his *cough mate cough*🌝🗡🦋
His first and last mistress.
He had desired her, and he had won her.
For now.
Could he keep her?
He would have to find a way.
How many queens, princesses and peasants had he seduced throughout the centuries? Countless. They’d hailed from different kingdoms and had wanted different things, yet he’d had no trouble charming them from their husbands and lovers. He’d had no trouble remaining unaffected.
His relationship with Chantel wasn’t a temporary thing. Everything he did, everything he said, mattered. Because she mattered.
For the whole of his life, he’d considered himself incapable of passion. He’d lauded the inability. But it hadn’t taken Chantel long to coax his deepest desires from hiding. Now, Kaysar stood transfixed, desperate to worship at the feet of the hauntingly beautiful princess who had turned his world upside down.
Our heroine was soo fucking protective of him and godd did she flirt with him!!!👄🙈🥰
He’d endured the worst kind of abuse as a child. As an adult, he’d known only hate. No one had fought for him, a tragedy all its own. He deserved a champion. Someone to slay his dragons—someone to save him from his big bad.
“I will win you, my darling.”
She released the headboard to cup her breasts and pinch her nipples. “I’ll make you mine. You want me to win you, don’t you?” He reacted to her words as much as the thrill of her body.
She’d called him my darling.
Win him? Already done. And yet, he croaked, “Yes. Win me.”
“There will be consequences for teasing me.” “I’m counting on it.” Her smile never faltered. “If you’re a good baby boy, I’ll let you come on my tongue while I drink you down.”
ahhh omgg so cutee🥹🥹🥹
oh and did i mention that they’re both fucking crazy!??💀💀💀
“Do you happen to know if Micah has been slain yet, sweetling?” he asked, curious. Soon, the battle would end, a vast majority of the army annihilated as easily as breathing. “I’m not sure.” Her pout only kindled his desires. “I lost sight of him fifty or so deaths ago.”
She laughed, the sound of it lovelier than Prince Lark’s screams for mercy. “Do you see, Kaysar? I made fae in a can. Chicken of the siege.”
“Release him,” he repeated, the command firm. “I won’t tell you again.” But what could he do to her, if she failed to comply? His instincts shouted louder and louder. Protect. “Please? For me?” “Fine.” Huffing, she stepped back and released her hold. Kaysar breathed a sigh of relief. “But only for you, and only because you’re so sexy when you’re angry.”
She found his anger sexy?
😫😫😭
all in all this book was amazing!!!
the plot wasn’t that deep but the chemistry and off the charts sexual tension of the MCs made up for it🌻🌻
Safety:
non virgins
hero was sexually assaulted for an year when he was 12 (offpage)
both celibate after meeting
no cheating
no sharing
some of my favourite quotes💌💌💌
Kaysar’s gaze returned to Chantel again and again, her pull too powerful to deny. A beauty assured of her power.
My beauty.
“You’re a monster, and you’re going to ruin her. You know that, yes? Do you even care? She’s already poison—because of you.”
Ruin her?
When he planned to give her the world?
Once upon a time, he’d enjoyed a single fascination—his war with the Frostlines.
With Chantel, he discovered many others. Earning more endearments. Being challenged by her mysterious mind. Watching a flush heat the flawless skin soon to burn his own. Playing with those plump breasts and nipples so like little berries. Filling a body made to glove his.
When Kaysar rotated on his heel to approach the prince, Chantel swung around and patted his butt. He stopped for a moment, a smile flashing and vanishing.
The things she did.
How dare anyone not focus their every waking and sleeping moment on this female?
literally the first scene from the h’s pov😭🛐🛐
i’m a sucker for psychotic, sassy bitches as heroines
👁👄👁
And this girl was batshit crazyyy🤡🙇♀️👀
“Oh, Kaysar. Isn’t this amazing?” Never had she felt so giddy. So alive. “My first actual battle. They threatened us, and now I get to kill them all by myself”
Kaysar appeared entranced.
“Will you keep count of my kills?” she asked her partner, clapping. She could hardly wait to begin.
and the fact he adored her for her crazy cause it matched his right back🙈🙈🙈
The barest hint of a smile teased the corners of his mouth. “There are three hundred and seven men before us. Something tells me your count will be all of them.”
“There is no more perfect creature.” Kaysar grazed the shell of her ear with a metal claw. She preened for him, because she couldn’t not.
and the hero, goddd the hero!!!🥹🌟💁♀️
Kaysar, The Unhinged
a narcissistic, psychotic asshole with a god complex
now usually i would hate this in a ml
like really hate it….
BUT DAMNNNN
this guy did it soo well, I couldn’t help but fall for him🫢😭😭😭
the way he was soo fucking good to Chantel was so bloody cutee 😚🫶😭
protective🦋
broody🥹
hates everyone but her 🗡🗡🗡
would kill anyone who pisses her off🤺🤺🤺
was hesitant at first but fell hard🥰
the way both these psychos fit!!👀
they were both sooo possessive of each other🤌🏻💛🌟
“I’ll rejoice the day I kill you, Kaysar.” Protective urges pitched and swelled. Harm her teammate? No. Oh, no. She’d end Jareth first, despite her companion’s protests.
Arrows flew at random, embedding in different parts of the vines. Kaysar scowled when Chantel winced. She felt each strike? Pain fanned her eyes with the next volley, a bead of sweat trickling from her temple. Her shoulders hunched ever so slightly. She did.
This was unacceptable.
“What’s wrong? Tell me.” If he knew, he could fix it. He must fix it.
Menace seeped into his tone.
“I will do this. There will be no other for you.” Her features shuttered. With a flat tone, she told him, “There will be no other for you. For any reason, even vengeance.”
“Agreed.”
He couldn’t release the word fast enough. She was considering his offer because of jealousy. She nearly frothed at the mouth at the thought of him with another. She must! The queen of the Dusklands was delightfully possessive, refusing to share her male with another.
SPOILER INCOMING
so our H wasn’t always “unhinged”
a long, long time ago he was just an innocent 12 year old trying to protect his sister after the death of their parents
but instead he got taken by the frostlines
there he was tortured for 12 months and raped every single day by the king and his brother
so obviously he hates their (the frostlines) guts and wants to end them
because not only did he lose himself but he also lost his sister during this time
bc of what has happened to Kaysar in the past he has always viewed sex as a weapon to wield
a tool to use to get info out of ppl
he has never really sought it out for pleasure or anything
which honestly kinda broke my heart
SPOILER ENDS
but all this changed when he found his *cough mate cough*🌝🗡🦋
His first and last mistress.
He had desired her, and he had won her.
For now.
Could he keep her?
He would have to find a way.
How many queens, princesses and peasants had he seduced throughout the centuries? Countless. They’d hailed from different kingdoms and had wanted different things, yet he’d had no trouble charming them from their husbands and lovers. He’d had no trouble remaining unaffected.
His relationship with Chantel wasn’t a temporary thing. Everything he did, everything he said, mattered. Because she mattered.
For the whole of his life, he’d considered himself incapable of passion. He’d lauded the inability. But it hadn’t taken Chantel long to coax his deepest desires from hiding. Now, Kaysar stood transfixed, desperate to worship at the feet of the hauntingly beautiful princess who had turned his world upside down.
Our heroine was soo fucking protective of him and godd did she flirt with him!!!👄🙈🥰
He’d endured the worst kind of abuse as a child. As an adult, he’d known only hate. No one had fought for him, a tragedy all its own. He deserved a champion. Someone to slay his dragons—someone to save him from his big bad.
“I will win you, my darling.”
She released the headboard to cup her breasts and pinch her nipples. “I’ll make you mine. You want me to win you, don’t you?” He reacted to her words as much as the thrill of her body.
She’d called him my darling.
Win him? Already done. And yet, he croaked, “Yes. Win me.”
“There will be consequences for teasing me.” “I’m counting on it.” Her smile never faltered. “If you’re a good baby boy, I’ll let you come on my tongue while I drink you down.”
ahhh omgg so cutee🥹🥹🥹
oh and did i mention that they’re both fucking crazy!??💀💀💀
“Do you happen to know if Micah has been slain yet, sweetling?” he asked, curious. Soon, the battle would end, a vast majority of the army annihilated as easily as breathing. “I’m not sure.” Her pout only kindled his desires. “I lost sight of him fifty or so deaths ago.”
She laughed, the sound of it lovelier than Prince Lark’s screams for mercy. “Do you see, Kaysar? I made fae in a can. Chicken of the siege.”
“Release him,” he repeated, the command firm. “I won’t tell you again.” But what could he do to her, if she failed to comply? His instincts shouted louder and louder. Protect. “Please? For me?” “Fine.” Huffing, she stepped back and released her hold. Kaysar breathed a sigh of relief. “But only for you, and only because you’re so sexy when you’re angry.”
She found his anger sexy?
😫😫😭
all in all this book was amazing!!!
the plot wasn’t that deep but the chemistry and off the charts sexual tension of the MCs made up for it🌻🌻
Safety:
non virgins
hero was sexually assaulted for an year when he was 12 (offpage)
both celibate after meeting
no cheating
no sharing
some of my favourite quotes💌💌💌
Kaysar’s gaze returned to Chantel again and again, her pull too powerful to deny. A beauty assured of her power.
My beauty.
“You’re a monster, and you’re going to ruin her. You know that, yes? Do you even care? She’s already poison—because of you.”
Ruin her?
When he planned to give her the world?
Once upon a time, he’d enjoyed a single fascination—his war with the Frostlines.
With Chantel, he discovered many others. Earning more endearments. Being challenged by her mysterious mind. Watching a flush heat the flawless skin soon to burn his own. Playing with those plump breasts and nipples so like little berries. Filling a body made to glove his.
When Kaysar rotated on his heel to approach the prince, Chantel swung around and patted his butt. He stopped for a moment, a smile flashing and vanishing.
The things she did.
How dare anyone not focus their every waking and sleeping moment on this female?
July 24, 2021
3.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Kaysar realized he had a choice. Save the girl and his conscience, perhaps condemning himself and Viori in the process, or walk away and condemn the girl and his conscience.
With his parents having died of the plague, teenager Kaysar is responsible for his stopped speaking traumatized five year sister Viori. When he comes upon the Frostlines, the royal family of the Winter Court, in the woods, they capture him and he spends a year of torture at the hands of King Hador and his brother Lark. When he finally comes into his own power, using his healing song and glamara power of compulsion, he is able to escape his chains. He kills Lark but feels that wasn't punishment enough, so he decides to routinely make war on the Frostlines because of how Hador and Lark tortured and raped him and how he is still searching for his beloved sister Viori and what happened to her after he was captured.
In the aftermath, he'd discovered only the hatred remained.
After Kaysar escapes, the story then jumps centuries and we find out that Kaysar is now King of the Dusklands and his own created Midnight Court. He's earned the nickname The Unhinged One and he has jars of the Frostlines' tongues as his war trophies. Everyone in the land fears him but he still doesn't know what happened to Viori. When he is exacting a new plan of revenge on King Hador's son, Jareth, which involves kidnapping Jareth's new wife Lulundria, getting her to desire him, and then sending her back to Jareth pregnant and forced to have a child of Kaysar's in the Frostline royal court, a mortally injured Lulundria escapes to the human realm. Kaysar can't follow her because he isn't a doormaker but he did manage to sing a song of compulsion and order her to return to him.
“Return to me, princess. Return to me by any means necessary.”
Chantel “Cookie” Bardot is twenty-six years old but with a heavily damaged heart, if she doesn't get a heart transplant, she doesn't have long to live. She makes her living being paid to stream and play an enchanted forest video game and lives with a hypochondriac geriatric and an extremely picky cat. When she receives a call that a heart is ready for her, she can't believe it and a few months later when her hair starts to turn pink, she's seeing pixies buzzing around her, and vines are growing from her finger tips, she really can't believe it. As her and her roommate are finally confronting these changes in her, Chantel's vines create a doorway and she is pulled through.
An angel merged with a devil, both haunting and haunted.
The start to a new series, Heartless was amazing on the world building. The fae realm called Astaria and it's five royal courts, Summer, Winter, Autumn, Spring, Dusklands, and Kaysar's created Midnight court and the mysterious Forgotten court were engaging and fascinating. The creatures, magic, and land described by the author really placed me in this land and had me excited for the series on a whole. The author's choice to have Chantel be a professional gamer who just so happens to play a game that very closely resembled and copied the fae realm, allowing her to more readily accept her changed circumstances, felt a little too easy in the beginning but as the story went on, I thought it fit perfectly, especially since I think it was a clue to what happened to Viori.
Use her. Protect her. Use. Protect.
In order to be more accepting of Kaysar's consuming mindset of revenge, with a little feeling of childishness swings of emotions, you'll have to remember his young age when he suffered his horrific abuse; he's stuck in that age, time and place. His map making on himself, slicing his arms with the metal claws he wears on his hands, is obviously a coping mechanism to release the emotions and pain he never has learned to deal to with. This made it a little hard to fully come on board when he has insta-attraction and lust for Chantel, he felt too emotionally young for me to enjoy that dynamic he instantly had with her. As the story went on, he does grow and change as Chantel explains and is patient with him and I was able to go along with their sexual connection more.
Kaysar de Aoibheall did not beg for anything. Ever. But he had promised to be better for her, and he always kept his word.
The constant battle between these two is all about Kaysar choosing Chantel over his vengeance. Chantel is the child of divorce and with her two parents starting other families they forgot about her, she wants to be number one is someone's life for once, making Kaysar's one true love of constantly battling the Frostlines a problem for them. Along with that emotional battle, there was also physical battles that didn't skimp on some gory details. Towards the latter half, when Chantel and Kaysar hit the sheets, you could just call this the fighting and the fucking book because both are singeing the pages.
Why was she holding on to her hurt, letting fear rule her life?
Overall, this story was entertaining in it's, at times, wilding out elements and components. I thought both Chantel and Kaysar stayed too stubborn at moments towards the end that hurt the pace of the story and kept it longer than it needed to be and I'm not sure the whole thread of whatever outfit or costume Chantel wears changes her personality was needed, there was already a lot of magical components to keep track of and absorb in this story. Kaysar's slow growing might take too long for some readers but I thought his gesture at the end was good for a traumatized man learning to change a centuries long learned behavior and coping mechanism. As I mentioned, I'm into this world Showalter has created because it was at turns entertaining, wilding, gory, emotional, and sexy. I can't wait to see if I did catch a clue about Viori, if our redeemed Prince Jareth will find a new love, what King Micah of the Forgottenlands is going to get up too, and if Pearl Jean's sciatica will go away enough for her to bag a fae realm hottie. Immortal Enemies has the world building to be entertaining for awhile.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Kaysar realized he had a choice. Save the girl and his conscience, perhaps condemning himself and Viori in the process, or walk away and condemn the girl and his conscience.
With his parents having died of the plague, teenager Kaysar is responsible for his stopped speaking traumatized five year sister Viori. When he comes upon the Frostlines, the royal family of the Winter Court, in the woods, they capture him and he spends a year of torture at the hands of King Hador and his brother Lark. When he finally comes into his own power, using his healing song and glamara power of compulsion, he is able to escape his chains. He kills Lark but feels that wasn't punishment enough, so he decides to routinely make war on the Frostlines because of how Hador and Lark tortured and raped him and how he is still searching for his beloved sister Viori and what happened to her after he was captured.
In the aftermath, he'd discovered only the hatred remained.
After Kaysar escapes, the story then jumps centuries and we find out that Kaysar is now King of the Dusklands and his own created Midnight Court. He's earned the nickname The Unhinged One and he has jars of the Frostlines' tongues as his war trophies. Everyone in the land fears him but he still doesn't know what happened to Viori. When he is exacting a new plan of revenge on King Hador's son, Jareth, which involves kidnapping Jareth's new wife Lulundria, getting her to desire him, and then sending her back to Jareth pregnant and forced to have a child of Kaysar's in the Frostline royal court, a mortally injured Lulundria escapes to the human realm. Kaysar can't follow her because he isn't a doormaker but he did manage to sing a song of compulsion and order her to return to him.
“Return to me, princess. Return to me by any means necessary.”
Chantel “Cookie” Bardot is twenty-six years old but with a heavily damaged heart, if she doesn't get a heart transplant, she doesn't have long to live. She makes her living being paid to stream and play an enchanted forest video game and lives with a hypochondriac geriatric and an extremely picky cat. When she receives a call that a heart is ready for her, she can't believe it and a few months later when her hair starts to turn pink, she's seeing pixies buzzing around her, and vines are growing from her finger tips, she really can't believe it. As her and her roommate are finally confronting these changes in her, Chantel's vines create a doorway and she is pulled through.
An angel merged with a devil, both haunting and haunted.
The start to a new series, Heartless was amazing on the world building. The fae realm called Astaria and it's five royal courts, Summer, Winter, Autumn, Spring, Dusklands, and Kaysar's created Midnight court and the mysterious Forgotten court were engaging and fascinating. The creatures, magic, and land described by the author really placed me in this land and had me excited for the series on a whole. The author's choice to have Chantel be a professional gamer who just so happens to play a game that very closely resembled and copied the fae realm, allowing her to more readily accept her changed circumstances, felt a little too easy in the beginning but as the story went on, I thought it fit perfectly, especially since I think it was a clue to what happened to Viori.
Use her. Protect her. Use. Protect.
In order to be more accepting of Kaysar's consuming mindset of revenge, with a little feeling of childishness swings of emotions, you'll have to remember his young age when he suffered his horrific abuse; he's stuck in that age, time and place. His map making on himself, slicing his arms with the metal claws he wears on his hands, is obviously a coping mechanism to release the emotions and pain he never has learned to deal to with. This made it a little hard to fully come on board when he has insta-attraction and lust for Chantel, he felt too emotionally young for me to enjoy that dynamic he instantly had with her. As the story went on, he does grow and change as Chantel explains and is patient with him and I was able to go along with their sexual connection more.
Kaysar de Aoibheall did not beg for anything. Ever. But he had promised to be better for her, and he always kept his word.
The constant battle between these two is all about Kaysar choosing Chantel over his vengeance. Chantel is the child of divorce and with her two parents starting other families they forgot about her, she wants to be number one is someone's life for once, making Kaysar's one true love of constantly battling the Frostlines a problem for them. Along with that emotional battle, there was also physical battles that didn't skimp on some gory details. Towards the latter half, when Chantel and Kaysar hit the sheets, you could just call this the fighting and the fucking book because both are singeing the pages.
Why was she holding on to her hurt, letting fear rule her life?
Overall, this story was entertaining in it's, at times, wilding out elements and components. I thought both Chantel and Kaysar stayed too stubborn at moments towards the end that hurt the pace of the story and kept it longer than it needed to be and I'm not sure the whole thread of whatever outfit or costume Chantel wears changes her personality was needed, there was already a lot of magical components to keep track of and absorb in this story. Kaysar's slow growing might take too long for some readers but I thought his gesture at the end was good for a traumatized man learning to change a centuries long learned behavior and coping mechanism. As I mentioned, I'm into this world Showalter has created because it was at turns entertaining, wilding, gory, emotional, and sexy. I can't wait to see if I did catch a clue about Viori, if our redeemed Prince Jareth will find a new love, what King Micah of the Forgottenlands is going to get up too, and if Pearl Jean's sciatica will go away enough for her to bag a fae realm hottie. Immortal Enemies has the world building to be entertaining for awhile.
September 28, 2022
***SPOILERS INCLUDED***
Not a bad book one in a new series, but not great either.
Chantel wasn't my fave and I found her to be pretty ridiculous. Her name and nickname (from the blurb) led me to think she'd be a POC and I was seriously disappointed that wasn't the case. While I know this is fiction, the details Showalter included to make it seem plausible came across as silly and childish to me. Her being a gamer - silly, her best friend being a 60+ year old lady she randomly met and now they live together - silly, her receiving a fae heart (via heart transplant) then showing signs of transitioning into the supernatural and blatantly ignoring them - silly, and her going through a portal to another realm and kind of acting like and thinking she's this super badass because she's a good gamer - super silly. Since when are video game skills transferable to real life? "I'm an awesome fighter in this game so I can obviously fight in real life" Utterly laughable!
Kaysar was well written for the most part. In my opinion, his transition from harsh to soft (in terms of how he treated and thought about Chantel) was super fast, therefore making it unbelievable. Also, he's thousands of years old, yet this 26 year old, that didn't really know much about life (she's known she's had a bad heart her whole life and lived accordingly, so she hasn't even EXPERIENCED anything), is the first to drive him crazy with lust and feelings? Not buying it. He deserved a better written female counterpart. Someone who actually was a badass and had earned the title.
I'm guessing book 2 will be about Jareth. Or maybe Micah. Also, I can imagine Showalter setting up Pearl to transition to fae and like age backwards to a more desirable appearance and getting a book or ending up as someone's mate. I don't think that's the last we've seen of her. I can guess Amber will be someone's mate as well.
Overall, I'd read the next book via the library, because I'm no longer buying any Showalter books until she writes a LOTU book. And not that "nobody asked for this spinoff (rise of the warlords) with a bunch of new characters while completely ignoring current characters that should get a book" series. LOTU fans deserve answers to series long questions.
Not a bad book one in a new series, but not great either.
Chantel wasn't my fave and I found her to be pretty ridiculous. Her name and nickname (from the blurb) led me to think she'd be a POC and I was seriously disappointed that wasn't the case. While I know this is fiction, the details Showalter included to make it seem plausible came across as silly and childish to me. Her being a gamer - silly, her best friend being a 60+ year old lady she randomly met and now they live together - silly, her receiving a fae heart (via heart transplant) then showing signs of transitioning into the supernatural and blatantly ignoring them - silly, and her going through a portal to another realm and kind of acting like and thinking she's this super badass because she's a good gamer - super silly. Since when are video game skills transferable to real life? "I'm an awesome fighter in this game so I can obviously fight in real life" Utterly laughable!
Kaysar was well written for the most part. In my opinion, his transition from harsh to soft (in terms of how he treated and thought about Chantel) was super fast, therefore making it unbelievable. Also, he's thousands of years old, yet this 26 year old, that didn't really know much about life (she's known she's had a bad heart her whole life and lived accordingly, so she hasn't even EXPERIENCED anything), is the first to drive him crazy with lust and feelings? Not buying it. He deserved a better written female counterpart. Someone who actually was a badass and had earned the title.
I'm guessing book 2 will be about Jareth. Or maybe Micah. Also, I can imagine Showalter setting up Pearl to transition to fae and like age backwards to a more desirable appearance and getting a book or ending up as someone's mate. I don't think that's the last we've seen of her. I can guess Amber will be someone's mate as well.
Overall, I'd read the next book via the library, because I'm no longer buying any Showalter books until she writes a LOTU book. And not that "nobody asked for this spinoff (rise of the warlords) with a bunch of new characters while completely ignoring current characters that should get a book" series. LOTU fans deserve answers to series long questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2021
Audiobook Review
Overall 2 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 1-1.5 stars
Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and I could only suspend my disbelief for so long. I don't understand how being an amazing gamer in the real world would translate into being an actual ruthless killer in another realm. Am I also the only one who was a bit concerned that Cookie was so murder curious and had no qualms about killing people left and right? The premise was an interesting one, but besides that initial idea, there wasn't enough going on to justify how long this book was. The world and characters weren't fully fleshed out and I was left with a lot more questions than answers. There was a lot of repetition in the book and I needed much more groveling from Kaysar after what he said and did to Cookie at the end. I don't think I care enough about the secondary characters to want to continue on with the series.
The only reason I finished the book was the outstanding narration by Adam Gold. I was really impressed by his versatility and range. He voiced all of the characters (especially Kaysar) so well and I had no problems distinguishing between characters. Truly a talented narrator!
CW: kidnapping, imprisonment, sexual assault and abuse of a minor, death of parents, murder, violence, mutilation/loss of limbs and body parts, organ transplant (heart)
Overall 2 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 1-1.5 stars
Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and I could only suspend my disbelief for so long. I don't understand how being an amazing gamer in the real world would translate into being an actual ruthless killer in another realm. Am I also the only one who was a bit concerned that Cookie was so murder curious and had no qualms about killing people left and right? The premise was an interesting one, but besides that initial idea, there wasn't enough going on to justify how long this book was. The world and characters weren't fully fleshed out and I was left with a lot more questions than answers. There was a lot of repetition in the book and I needed much more groveling from Kaysar after what he said and did to Cookie at the end. I don't think I care enough about the secondary characters to want to continue on with the series.
The only reason I finished the book was the outstanding narration by Adam Gold. I was really impressed by his versatility and range. He voiced all of the characters (especially Kaysar) so well and I had no problems distinguishing between characters. Truly a talented narrator!
CW: kidnapping, imprisonment, sexual assault and abuse of a minor, death of parents, murder, violence, mutilation/loss of limbs and body parts, organ transplant (heart)
July 5, 2021
I didn't like the hero. For me it was a case of too little too late.
July 14, 2021
WTF is going on with Showalter. This is the 2nd New Series she has pushed out this year (Warlord, the other) that is reallllllllly more Cole than Showalter…though they were always…similar. Now…it’s like they are the same author…and trying to flex to again the magic with Lothaire-lite. Warlord came a smiggen closer than Heartless though on paper, the latter should be.
Not complaining since Cole seems to have abandoned IAD but come on now, either just take over IAD and give us Nix, Fury, and all the characters we have been jonesing for or stick to one new series and churn the goodness out.
BTW, the story here is good…I’m just being That Bitch.
Not complaining since Cole seems to have abandoned IAD but come on now, either just take over IAD and give us Nix, Fury, and all the characters we have been jonesing for or stick to one new series and churn the goodness out.
BTW, the story here is good…I’m just being That Bitch.
June 29, 2021
I am genuinely so sad that I am giving this book anything below 4 stars. I absolutely adore Gena Showalter and all her books but this one was such a miss for me. It got to a point where I had to force myself to finish this book. One thing that I enjoyed about this book was the world building. The main characters just let the whole book down in my opinion as they were really unlikeable. I can handle one annoying protagonist but two is a little much. I will be reading the next book as I hope it will be better but I probably won’t be as excited to read it.
July 1, 2021
Read this review on
Fresh Fiction
Gena Showalter returns with a brand new Paranormal Romance series called Immortal Enemies. This time this series features the fae and they aren’t like the fairytale like creatures that many of us believe them to me. Showalter’s style is much darker in this book than it is in her usual books. Tragic events with tragic characters are very much what this book is about, so if you’re into violence, trauma and drama, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.
There’s a lot of attention to detail in this book and especially the writing. I was impressed with the way Showalter was able to change her style to create a totally different book from her others. However, I felt like I couldn’t connect with some of the characters, the hero, in particular. Since the concept is of revenge, I just found that I couldn’t quite relate to what he was going through. He felt too cold and ruthless that the romance didn’t burn as brightly as I would have liked. However, I kept reading and I’m glad that I did because there was some thawing of his character once the romance bloomed.
Showalter does a great job with the worldbuilding in this book, so if you’re looking for a new world to dive into and lose yourself, HEARTLESS is a perfect summer read to help you escape reality.
Gena Showalter returns with a brand new Paranormal Romance series called Immortal Enemies. This time this series features the fae and they aren’t like the fairytale like creatures that many of us believe them to me. Showalter’s style is much darker in this book than it is in her usual books. Tragic events with tragic characters are very much what this book is about, so if you’re into violence, trauma and drama, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.
There’s a lot of attention to detail in this book and especially the writing. I was impressed with the way Showalter was able to change her style to create a totally different book from her others. However, I felt like I couldn’t connect with some of the characters, the hero, in particular. Since the concept is of revenge, I just found that I couldn’t quite relate to what he was going through. He felt too cold and ruthless that the romance didn’t burn as brightly as I would have liked. However, I kept reading and I’m glad that I did because there was some thawing of his character once the romance bloomed.
Showalter does a great job with the worldbuilding in this book, so if you’re looking for a new world to dive into and lose yourself, HEARTLESS is a perfect summer read to help you escape reality.
March 29, 2021
ARC provided by Edelweiss +
I love a good villain romance story. Chantal “Cookie” Bardot is a badass gamer girl with a failing heart. When a miracle happens and she receives a heart transplant she gets more than she expected when it turns out the heart belonged to a Fae Princess from another realm and she begins to change. She gets sucked into this new realm that’s like a real life video game and meets Kaiser, the realms resident psycho king.
Chantal is awesome and I loved all the Forest of Good and Evil references (The Evil Queen and The Glass Queen). Kaiser is so much fun and gave me Lothaire vibes (Kresley Cole). Together they make a kick ass team and their chemistry is through the roof.
I love a good villain romance story. Chantal “Cookie” Bardot is a badass gamer girl with a failing heart. When a miracle happens and she receives a heart transplant she gets more than she expected when it turns out the heart belonged to a Fae Princess from another realm and she begins to change. She gets sucked into this new realm that’s like a real life video game and meets Kaiser, the realms resident psycho king.
Chantal is awesome and I loved all the Forest of Good and Evil references (The Evil Queen and The Glass Queen). Kaiser is so much fun and gave me Lothaire vibes (Kresley Cole). Together they make a kick ass team and their chemistry is through the roof.
June 30, 2021
Initial thoughts... 4.5 - I really enjoyed Heartless. I experienced a Hades and Persephone vibe, which I love. The main characters Kaysar and Chantel "Cookie" are heartbreaking and flawed, but work in the best way. I really am looking forward to reading the next book and getting answers to several things.
A Favorite/Fun Quote:
"...I made fae in a can. Chicken of the siege." Lol
A Favorite/Fun Quote:
"...I made fae in a can. Chicken of the siege." Lol
July 14, 2021
Gena was my first introduction into smut. 10+ years later, I decided to pick up on of her books and uhh?????? What in the jarred, herky-jerky, rickety prose did I just read????
I found myself getting hung up on the prose. The words just did not flow and after about 30% , I started skimming. It held little interests. I didn't care about any of it. Also, it was cringe af.
I found myself getting hung up on the prose. The words just did not flow and after about 30% , I started skimming. It held little interests. I didn't care about any of it. Also, it was cringe af.
September 10, 2021
Gena Showalter starts a new series with Heartless, a paranormal romance that gave me the Immortals After Dark vibes I've been missing.
Kaysar is a rather terrifying warlord type with a magical voice that can command people to do what he wants. Kidnapped and abused for years as a child, he's sworn revenge on the fae royalty who hurt him and his sister. When the book starts, he's watching from the shadows as the son of his abuser and the son's mate get it on. Naturally, he interrupts them and attempts to kidnap the princess so he can seduce her and put his own son on the throne. She has the ability to make portals, however, and flees to the human world. Before she can, Kaysar commands her (with his fancy voice) to return to him.
Cut to Cookie, a professional gamer streaming on the equivalent of Twitch as she defeats her crappy ex. Cookie has been disabled since childhood and her failing heart has her worried for her future. Suddenly, she gets the call: there's a heart for her! And of course it's the fae princess's heart. Cookie starts transforming--not just healing but physically changing. Her hair, eyes, etc. And then one day she *oops* makes a portal and falls into Kaysar's world. Remember that command? Apparently the heart does.
There are so many things I loved about this book, but in the interest of brevity, here are a few:
- Cookie loves shiny things and doesn't apologize for it. Kaysar gives her all sorts of jewelry and she takes it and makes it clear it's not winning him any points.
- Cookie knows her way around this world because it's the world from the game! Can you even imagine popping through a portal into your favorite video game and snagging yourself the hottest homicidal fae king around? I mean seriously.
- Kaysar is an absolute jackass, but he's incredibly insistent on consent because of the abuse he suffered as a child. Yes, he does the murder stuff, but he's not an alphahole in other ways. And whew, Cookie knocks him down like 8 pegs.
- Cookie's own power is really cool. I'm not sure I should spoil it for everyone, but it's something I hadn't read before and I was thoroughly entertained.
- Adam Gold did the audio narration for this and though the book is dual POV, I didn't mind at all that he did the whole thing. He's got a delicious voice, with a deep timbre that really works for Kaysar (and apparently me). I'm hoping he does the rest of the series as well.
In all, this was the paranormal romance I wanted it to be. The chemistry and banter between the two MCs is perfection and I loved that Cookie is not quite the typical bratty heroine who tames the beast hero - she's also kind of bloodthirsty! Her best friend is a retiree and they live with an evil cat and I just loved her so much. Even when she was murder-y.
Sign me up for more in this series.
***
I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher for review.
Content Warnings: past ableism and misogyny, references to past repeated and extensive sexual and physical abuse of a child (not detailed), murder, threat of sexual assault, possibly genocide? Kaysar has done shitty things but they're sort of "he conquered the X region" so whatever that entailed
February 2, 2023
DNF @ 32%.
I cant get into this story despite an AMAZING NARRATOR. I will come back to it someday but right now I am not connecting with the plot
I cant get into this story despite an AMAZING NARRATOR. I will come back to it someday but right now I am not connecting with the plot
August 8, 2021
I don't know if maybe just starting another never-ending series weighed heavily in my not liking this book very much, or maybe at almost 50 years old, paranormal romance has had its day. I've read a lot of this author, although in this series she seems to have turned into Kresley Cole (and while she was at it, she could have finished IAD instead of starting another series). The two main characters seemed to me so excessive that even the little bit of credibility that this type of book needs, was completely missing. I think I'll live without continuing this series, but maybe I'll read the reviews of other readers to see how the secondary characters end up.
Non so se magari solo il fatto di cominciare un'altra serie infinita ha pesato molto nel mio non apprezzare poco questo libro o se magari a quasi 50 anni i paranormal romance hanno fatto il loro tempo. Per quanto poi io questa autrice l'ho letta parecchio, anche se in questa serie sembra si sia trasformata in Krlesley Cole (e giá che c'éra avrebbe potuto finire IAD invece di cominciare un'altra serie). I due protagonisti mi sono sembrati talmente tanto eccessivi, che anche quel poco di credibilitá che necessitá questo tipo di libro, mancava completamente. Penso che continueró a vivere senza proseguire questa serie, ma magari leggeró le recensioni delle altre lettrici per vedere come vanno a finire i personaggi secondari in questo libro, che sicuramente avranno il loro proprio romanzo assicurato.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Non so se magari solo il fatto di cominciare un'altra serie infinita ha pesato molto nel mio non apprezzare poco questo libro o se magari a quasi 50 anni i paranormal romance hanno fatto il loro tempo. Per quanto poi io questa autrice l'ho letta parecchio, anche se in questa serie sembra si sia trasformata in Krlesley Cole (e giá che c'éra avrebbe potuto finire IAD invece di cominciare un'altra serie). I due protagonisti mi sono sembrati talmente tanto eccessivi, che anche quel poco di credibilitá che necessitá questo tipo di libro, mancava completamente. Penso che continueró a vivere senza proseguire questa serie, ma magari leggeró le recensioni delle altre lettrici per vedere come vanno a finire i personaggi secondari in questo libro, che sicuramente avranno il loro proprio romanzo assicurato.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
July 3, 2021
This book was filled with unlikeable and juvenile characters, premise was ridiculous.
September 24, 2021
1.5 stars - Paranormal Romance
November 20, 2021
3.5 I just simply couldn’t get past the name cookie
May 29, 2022
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
I wish that I could say that I loved this book but unfortunately, this book was not that great and I had so many high expectations. I had thought that one would be a kick-ass read but unfortunately, it was so lackluster and didn’t have the normal pizazz that I have come to expect from this author. I will be honest and say that the heroine In this book is completely batty. Like I thought she would be a good one at first, but the more she got involved in the world with Kaysar, the more unhinged and crazy she became and I just couldn’t relate with her because she was all over the place and there was no sense of consistency with her at all. Her character just didn’t make that much sense to me and she ruined the story for me. It might have been a solid four-star if the heroine was a bit more stable. And yeah I guess I can see why the author decided to write her like this but when the hero who is kinda crazy becomes the sane one at the end, it really showcases the heroine, and it’s not favorable. I am completely understanding why there are so many mixed reviews of this one on Goodreads, because while a review I trusted, just about everyone else just didn’t care for it. I have come to really respect this author’s writing, but this is the biggest disappointment that I have read from her so far and to be honest, it just makes me sad because I bought this in print expecting to love it that much but yeah I regret that now (and this is why I normally will wait and read the digital copy before buying physical books). This isn’t an awful read or anything. The plot is solid, the world-building is superb and I thought the hero was crazy but badass, I really enjoyed the fantastical world that we see. I would call this a fantasy romance with a mix of mythological fantasy (as it has a world similar to what you would see in video games and didn’t have an epic fantasy feel to me) and the plot was pretty solid but I will be honest the heroine is not going to make the story better at least for me. I am sure it will work for some, but I would read reviews before reading this one to see if these aspects will work for you or not.
Trigger Warnings:
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
I wish that I could say that I loved this book but unfortunately, this book was not that great and I had so many high expectations. I had thought that one would be a kick-ass read but unfortunately, it was so lackluster and didn’t have the normal pizazz that I have come to expect from this author. I will be honest and say that the heroine In this book is completely batty. Like I thought she would be a good one at first, but the more she got involved in the world with Kaysar, the more unhinged and crazy she became and I just couldn’t relate with her because she was all over the place and there was no sense of consistency with her at all. Her character just didn’t make that much sense to me and she ruined the story for me. It might have been a solid four-star if the heroine was a bit more stable. And yeah I guess I can see why the author decided to write her like this but when the hero who is kinda crazy becomes the sane one at the end, it really showcases the heroine, and it’s not favorable. I am completely understanding why there are so many mixed reviews of this one on Goodreads, because while a review I trusted, just about everyone else just didn’t care for it. I have come to really respect this author’s writing, but this is the biggest disappointment that I have read from her so far and to be honest, it just makes me sad because I bought this in print expecting to love it that much but yeah I regret that now (and this is why I normally will wait and read the digital copy before buying physical books). This isn’t an awful read or anything. The plot is solid, the world-building is superb and I thought the hero was crazy but badass, I really enjoyed the fantastical world that we see. I would call this a fantasy romance with a mix of mythological fantasy (as it has a world similar to what you would see in video games and didn’t have an epic fantasy feel to me) and the plot was pretty solid but I will be honest the heroine is not going to make the story better at least for me. I am sure it will work for some, but I would read reviews before reading this one to see if these aspects will work for you or not.
Trigger Warnings:
May 30, 2021
Loved this new world, I loved these new characters and their story, and I can't wait to see where the series goes from here!
August 3, 2021
This was a tough book to finish. It dragged on and on and had no plot. I usually really enjoy Showalter's writing but this one is a hard pass.
April 12, 2023
Ha sido muy diferente a como esperaba que fuera, al principio pintaba que habría mucho drama con un tema que al final no fue para tanto, los personajes más que grises son negros (fuera el cliché de hacer cambiar las personas) y han quedado un par de temas abiertos que me dan muchas ganas de seguir con el segundo.
June 13, 2022
4.5/5*
Original review
Heartless is the first book in the Immortal Enemies series and tells the story of Kaysar and Chantel.
I really enjoy reading books written by Gena Showalter, so I don’t usually read the synopsis of her books. I picked up Heartless and started reading my ebook copy without knowing what the book is about. I was pleasantly surprised that this book is about fae. I think it’s Gena Showalter’s first book series with fae (or at least the first book series I’ve read of her with fae) and I really liked her take on the fae. I also really liked the story in general!
Original review
Heartless is the first book in the Immortal Enemies series and tells the story of Kaysar and Chantel.
Kaysar’s nickname is the Unhinged One, and that says a lot. He’s such a special man, if you know what I mean, but I love him anyway. He’s been through so much and there are a lot of reasons why he is the way he is. Chantel’s nickname is Cookie, and I really liked the fact that she’s a gamer. I haven’t read that many books with gamer girls. I really enjoyed reading Kaysar and Chantel’s story and seeing them work together and fall for each other.
I’m really happy that I picked up Heartless because it was such a good Fantasy Romance! I really enjoyed reading the ebook, and I also listened to the audiobook. The narrator’s voice was fun to listen to. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series, Ruthless. If you’re looking for a Romance read with a cute gamer girl and an unhinged fae? Then I highly recommend Heartless by Gena Showalter!
August 7, 2021
For people who like Harley Quinn/Joker-like romances
As a child, Kaysar was forced to endure horrendous torture and abuse at the hands of the Frostlines. Worse his abduction and torture forced him to lose track of the one person who mattered in his life, his little sister. Now driven insane with the desire for revenge he has devoted his whole life to making the remaining Frostlines suffer. And when Prince Jareth marries a Summerland princess, Kaysar comes up with a devious plot… Only to have the wounded princess escape to the mortal realm.
Professional gamer, Chantel “Cookie” Is living on borrowed time. Born with a heart defect, she needs a heart transplant in order to survive. Thankfully a donor becomes available, but after the surgery things start becoming a little… Weird. First her hair starts becoming pink and other unexplainable things start happening around her. But the topping on the cake is when she accidentally open the door to a realm that is remarkably similar to her favorite video game and encounters a handsome, dark man who tells her that he’s been searching for her.
—
I haven’t read anything by this author before, so I came into this novel fairly unsullied and on opinionated. And for the most part I was just whelmed. This type of romance isn’t my cup of tea. I’m not a fan of super dark and sociopathic heroes and heroines. I have this one a little too far into blood lust and gore for my tastes. It felt like I was reading “mad love” or watching “natural born killers.” And at times the book felt like it was glorifying serial killer romance. Not my thing.
I also found the book really slow to start. There was a lot of info dump at the beginning and I had a really really really hard time with the hero. For instance even putting aside his sociopathic tendencies, I didn’t think he was a great romantic hero. He was a little too obsessed with the heroine to the point of it being a bit scary if you’ve lived through a stalkers obsession before. Additionally there is an event that happens very late in the book that has him turning on the heroine and declaring enmity against her and the resolution to that plot move way too quickly for my taste. And frankly he didn’t grovel enough.
I didn’t love the heroine either. I found her a little too flippant and too willing to take lives. She too was a sociopath and I didn’t love that either. And this is a very personal thing, but I didn’t love that her chronic illness and disability or hand waved away with the application of magic and that she seemed to lose all of her compassion with it.
Shrugs.
I did like a couple of the side characters, Amber, Micah, and Jareth were the most interesting to me. And I suspect it will be the main characters in future books. But it all just comes down to this type of book is not my cup of tea and I didn’t like some of the ways the story was told.
Three stars
As a child, Kaysar was forced to endure horrendous torture and abuse at the hands of the Frostlines. Worse his abduction and torture forced him to lose track of the one person who mattered in his life, his little sister. Now driven insane with the desire for revenge he has devoted his whole life to making the remaining Frostlines suffer. And when Prince Jareth marries a Summerland princess, Kaysar comes up with a devious plot… Only to have the wounded princess escape to the mortal realm.
Professional gamer, Chantel “Cookie” Is living on borrowed time. Born with a heart defect, she needs a heart transplant in order to survive. Thankfully a donor becomes available, but after the surgery things start becoming a little… Weird. First her hair starts becoming pink and other unexplainable things start happening around her. But the topping on the cake is when she accidentally open the door to a realm that is remarkably similar to her favorite video game and encounters a handsome, dark man who tells her that he’s been searching for her.
—
I haven’t read anything by this author before, so I came into this novel fairly unsullied and on opinionated. And for the most part I was just whelmed. This type of romance isn’t my cup of tea. I’m not a fan of super dark and sociopathic heroes and heroines. I have this one a little too far into blood lust and gore for my tastes. It felt like I was reading “mad love” or watching “natural born killers.” And at times the book felt like it was glorifying serial killer romance. Not my thing.
I also found the book really slow to start. There was a lot of info dump at the beginning and I had a really really really hard time with the hero. For instance even putting aside his sociopathic tendencies, I didn’t think he was a great romantic hero. He was a little too obsessed with the heroine to the point of it being a bit scary if you’ve lived through a stalkers obsession before. Additionally there is an event that happens very late in the book that has him turning on the heroine and declaring enmity against her and the resolution to that plot move way too quickly for my taste. And frankly he didn’t grovel enough.
I didn’t love the heroine either. I found her a little too flippant and too willing to take lives. She too was a sociopath and I didn’t love that either. And this is a very personal thing, but I didn’t love that her chronic illness and disability or hand waved away with the application of magic and that she seemed to lose all of her compassion with it.
Shrugs.
I did like a couple of the side characters, Amber, Micah, and Jareth were the most interesting to me. And I suspect it will be the main characters in future books. But it all just comes down to this type of book is not my cup of tea and I didn’t like some of the ways the story was told.
Three stars
November 12, 2021
LIKES:
✔ The plot similar to Sworn to the Shadow God.
✔ Heroine is a gamer/geek
✔ Heroine embracing her quirky/dark side. Love it that she is not completely goody-two-shoes.
DISLIKES:
✘ Descriptions in erotic scenes were like from 20 years old (or more) bodice-ripper novel.
"His shaft throbbed unbearably for her. Impaling her topped his agenda for the day."
✘ Characters were immature and behaved like toddlers, throwing tantrums
✘ World-building is a pile of good ideas but needed to be more cohesive.
Gena Showalter's books were one of my first paranormal romances. I loved them. I do not know if my tastes evolved over the years or her writing changed so much. I might re-read one of my old favorites The Nymph King to find out.
As for this series, I will not be reading the next book.
✔ The plot similar to Sworn to the Shadow God.
✔ Heroine is a gamer/geek
✔ Heroine embracing her quirky/dark side. Love it that she is not completely goody-two-shoes.
DISLIKES:
✘ Descriptions in erotic scenes were like from 20 years old (or more) bodice-ripper novel.
"His shaft throbbed unbearably for her. Impaling her topped his agenda for the day."
✘ Characters were immature and behaved like toddlers, throwing tantrums
✘ World-building is a pile of good ideas but needed to be more cohesive.
Gena Showalter's books were one of my first paranormal romances. I loved them. I do not know if my tastes evolved over the years or her writing changed so much. I might re-read one of my old favorites The Nymph King to find out.
As for this series, I will not be reading the next book.
July 12, 2021
There is a reason why Kaysar is called the "Unhinged One". He truly is unhinged. There is a growing popularity of creating anti-heroes as the main love interest. I like this because I am get older and more jaded, I tend to like the more complex male who isn't all good or all bad. I am a bit hesitant to label Kaysar as anti-hero. He is more like a trauma patient that is heavily experiencing PTSD and hasn't recovered in thousands of years and doesn't seem to want to either.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
January 26, 2023
Can't believe Gena wrote this...I have read ALL her books to date...even the young adults...which I most certainly am not...this is the first time in many years I was surprised and disappointed!
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