Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

The essence of Torture Island™ is what Dreams of a Dark Warrior is made of. A story between a Captor and Captee with a history that rivals all histories–Regin the Radiant and Declan Chase will have you clutching your pearls and shaking your fists in the best ways possible.

Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark, #11)

Genres: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: February 15th 2011
Source: Library
Format: Scribd – Audiobook / e-book

From #1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole comes this gripping tale of a battle-maddenend warrior driven by revenge and the Valkyrie temptress who haunts his dreams.

He Vowed He’d Come For Her…

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

She Awaits His Return…

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

To Sate A Desire More Powerful Than Death…

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

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TW/CW:This novel contains mentions of vivisection and mass murder of family (off-page, but family is found on page)

“Tell me, if I take you to my room and put you in my bed, what do you think would happen?” “I can draw you a diagram. Hint: I’m slot B, and you’re tab A.”

We are in the thick of Torture Island ™ and Kresley Cole really amps up the “torture” in Dreams of a Dark Warrior. After what seems like forever, we are finally given Valkyrie, Regin the Radiant’s story! Captured by the Order along with hundreds of other Lorean’s Regin’s story takes a twist in this classic Captor/Captive romance.

From the very beginning, Nix and Regin have been my absolute favorite of the Valkyrie women; and during the #IADBiteMe group call when I found out our next book would be about Regin and her reincarnated beserker–well I think I got a little over excited. Kresley Cole didn’t disappoint (like always) and didn’t come to play games either, because Regin’s story is anything but bright. A Dark romance set in a paranormal world, Cole deals out traumatic event after traumatic event for our valiant Regin the Radiant, and time after time we get the privilege of watching her kick fate’s ass with her signature wit and humor.

I really loved getting to know Regin in a more in depth sense than what we have been able to piece about her from the other books. Fiercely loyal and with a severe inability to fear things that should be feared, Regin does what she must and what she wants without thought of the consequences. Probably one of my (if not THE) favorite heroines so far in the series, as I found her so relatable on more than one level–and honestly if I could I would blackmail the shit out of her in order to be her best friend.

“I will never be your perfect Viking, Regin! I’ve made unforgivable mistakes. I’ve no family or friends, and my men hold no love for me. I’m scarred inside and out. And I’m bloody askin’ for you anyway!”

I love a good bad boy, and oh my god was Declan Chase the epitome of a bad boy. The anti-hero of anti-heroes. This man could order my vivisection and I probably would say “thank you zaddy”. Wild. Like Regin, Declan has been through hell and back twice over; and because of this he wants revenge for all that he has lost. Not realizing that the person he keeps going back to is the one person that has all the answers for him.

I loved the reincarnation element in this story and it affected not only Declan and all his other lives, but specifically Regin. Declan and Regin are something of a power couple, but the way they had to work towards that end goal was something that truly was powerful all on its own.

The way Kresely tastefully wove those darker themes into this series made the entire IAD universe feel that much more alive and authentic. I felt the importance of every moment and every movement, and I felt the pain that Regin felt throughout the entirety of this novel.

I also am in awe of how Kresely weaves in this new information without weighing down the storyline or even slowing down the pace. We are introduced to the idea of different sections of the Lore, the Pravus (the evil side) and the Vertas (the good side), as well as new friends (HELLO THAD!!!) and some new foes (Big middle finger to you Webb!), as we dive deeper into Torture Island.

Overall, this one is a knock out story that I’m excited to read again. Filled with everything I love and more, Regin and Declan are like the finest of chocolates–you can’t simply read it once. Like always, if you haven’t started this series, please stop what you are doing and go do so now. Kresley Cole is an absolute genius; and I’m looking forward to Lothaire’s story!