Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole

Posted November 5, 2007 by Casee in Reviews | 5 Comments

Book description:

Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed — until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It’s rumored that no one can tempt Bowen’s hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul — or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

I was highly impressed when I read Kresley Cole’s first paranormal, A Hunger Like No Other. The story of Lachlain and Emma was intriguing from page 1. The world that Kresley created pulled me in immediately and still hasn’t let me go. Wicked Deeds was the long awaited (for me) story of Bowen MacRieve and Mariketa the Awaited.

We first met Bowe in A Hunger Like No Other. Since losing his mate almost two centuries ago, the pain has still not left poor Bowe. It haunts him daily how his mate, Mariah, died. See, she was running away from him on the full moon. Even I know that you probably shouldn’t run away from a Lykae on a full moon, even if you are scared out of your freakin‘ mind. Hello common sense? Anyway, Bowen is obviously very tortured.

We follow Bowe’s tortured journey in No Rest for the Wicked. There, he is competing in the Hie for the chance to win Thane’s key. What is Thane’s key, you ask? Thane’s key is the key which will take Bowe back in time so he can save his mate. When he comes face to face with Mariketa the Awaited, he is disgusted. First by his reaction to her and second b/c she’s a witch. See, Bowe is a major witch hater. In No Rest for the Wicked, we learn that Bowen trapped Mariketa and several other creatures of the Lore in a cave. In return, Mari put a powerful curse on him which will not allow him to regenerate from his injuries. So he’s majorly effed up by the end of that book.

Wicked Deeds brings us back to the Hie, but from Mari and Bowe’s point of view. There is an instant and undeniable attraction between the two. Bowe hasn’t felt attraction for another woman since he lost Mariah and he is convinced that Mari has put an enchantment spell on him. Mari is determined to stay away from Bowen b/c he’s about 200 years older than her and he obviously disdains everything she stands for.

After Bowen loses the Hie, his cousin Lachlain finds him and takes him to his home so he can heal from his injuries. When Bowen insists that all Lachlain needs to do is bring Mariketa to him to remove the curse, he finds out that not only is Mariketa and the others still entombed, but that she’s mortal. If that news isn’t bad enough, he’s just about started a war b/c Mari’s coven wants her back and wants her back now.

The relationship between Bowen and Mari is truly unique. On one hand, Bowen finds his Instinct awakened and will do anything to protect Mari. He’s soon convinced that Mari is Mariah reincarnated (when I read No Rest for the Wicked, I thought that was the case). He wants her, but he hates what she is. He doesn’t trust magic or Mari’s use of it. Mari refuses to believe that she’s Bowen’s mate. Four years before, it was foretold that a male from the Lore would recognize her as his and claim her thus taking her away from the Coven. Since then, Mari has cloaked herself in fabric and magic, at the insistence of her Coven. Mari knows that she could never be with someone like Bowen. Someone that would smother her and not allow her to be who she is.

As Bowen and Mari grow closer, there are obvious forces trying to keep them apart. After a plane crash nearly kills her, Bowe has already realized that he will hold onto Mari with everything he has. She is is mate, reincarnated or not. When Mari finally recovers from her injuries (after several heartbreaking days), who shows up at the door? None other than Mariah. Though Bowen is torn between the two, Mari makes the decision for him and leaves through a mirror. Did I mention that she could walk through mirrors and her reflection would talk back to her?

It’s in this other dimension that Mari will practice her craft and finally fulfill her destiny. It doesn’t take her long to realize that her destiny lies with Bowen MacRieve.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 3rd installment in the Immortals After Dark series. There were several new characters introduced, one of which will have his book come out sometime next year. I believe she has back-to-back full releases coming out in May ’08 and June ’08.

If you haven’t read this series, try it.

By the way, I hate the cover. It looks too cartoonish for me.

4.5 out of 5.


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5 responses to “Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole

  1. hey Casee 😀

    Glad you enjoyed this book too! I think it was the best of the series so far! me want Cade’s BROTHER story!!! (can’t remember his name) and I hope he gets his story 🙂

  2. Hey Nath,

    I want Regin’s story. Hers and then Lucia’s.

    Wasn’t his name Rydstrom? I want his book too. But I’m sure Cade’s will be good as well. 🙂

  3. I haven’t hated any of the books in the series, but I liked this better than the second on. The Hie competition just didn’t do it for me.

  4. Yep, that’s it 😀 Rydstrom! Seriously, that’s not a name that stick in my head… Regin’s story would be interesting… as long as it’s not with a vampire.

    Rosie, I agree with you… i didn’t like the Hie competition all that much.

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