Night Play (Dark-Hunter, #6)

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

book data

3,210 ratings, 4.32 average rating, 161 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		51%
4		32%
3		14%
2		1%
1		0%

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published

August 3rd 2004 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

details

Mass Market Paperback, 362 pages

url

http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/series.ph...

characters

Nick Gautier, Vane Kattalakis, Bride McTierney …more

setting

New Orleans, Louisiana, 2003 (United States)

isbn

0312992424 (isbn13: 9780312992422)

description

Bride McTierney has had it with men. They're cheap, self-centered, and never love her for who she is. But though she prides herself on being independe…more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 4,308)

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Sep 02, 2008

Kim rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, dark-hunters, paranormal

Read in September, 2008

recommends it for: Dark Hunter lovers

Vane is a Katagaria Were-hunter. He was born a wolf, and lived his life as one until puberty hit and he was suddenly transformed in to a man. Bride McTierny is a woman who has just been dumped by her boyfriend of 5 years. She is self conscious about her looks because she is heavier than the average woman.

Vane had seen Bride a few weeks back, when she stopped by Sunshine Runningwolf's art stand in New Orleans. He was totally taken by her. Sunshine had told him she would introduce t...more

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

3 comments

Feb 12, 2010

Zeek rated it:

What makes Night Play a cut above the rest in the Dark Hunter seris, is the fact that it's totally character driven. (For me, it's always about the character.) I adored the heroine, Bride. She's a real woman and her feelings are so well expressed (by showing not telling,) SK hits dead on with this one.

The book starts out with Bride being dumped by her selfish boyfriend of 5 yrs. Not five minutes after she received her dumping papers, via HER OWN fedex account no less- we meet the hero ...more What makes Night Play a cut above the rest in the Dark Hunter seris, is the fact that it's totally character driven. (For me, it's always about the character.) I adored the heroine, Bride. She's a real woman and her feelings are so well expressed (by showing not telling,) SK hits dead on with this one.

The book starts out with Bride being dumped by her selfish boyfriend of 5 yrs. Not five minutes after she received her dumping papers, via HER OWN fedex account no less- we meet the hero who swoops in for the rescue.

The hero, Vane, is alpha male to the max, of course the fact that he's what basically amounts to a werewolf in Kenyon's world has a lot to do with that.

Vane is totally focused on she-who-is-to-become-his-mate from the get go. Most of us average never-been-a-cheerleader-non-101-lb women know it's pure fantasy to believe that a man, gorgeous and ripped, would fall for us so completely and totally- but that doesn't mean we don't enjoy the fantasy of it! AND Most every woman wants her man to think she's the most beautiful creature on earth and long to be told that, as well as shown. Vane does it spades. And that's what makes one fall for him and this book too.

After years of verbal abuse by her ex, Bride's ready for some attention like Vane dishes out, even though she can hardly believe she deserves it.

There is a scene where Vane asks her to meet him at her favorite restaurant- the one which the ex never took her too because he didn't want to be seen with her, unfortunately when she arrives Vane is nowhere to be found and reservations have not been made. She stands outside only to realize her ex is coming up on her with a perfect babe on his arm. They snicker like high-schoolers at Bride and saunter in while she stands outside clutching her shawl around her, attempting to make herself invisible and thinking she's been stood up.

Right then I fell in love with the story. The first part was too unbelievable, (Vane and Bride get it on a little to early in the story AND c'mon he's just too sexy to be believed.)

But feeling like an idiot because you actually felt good about yourself for awhile only to be knocked back down into the crab pot of life once again? That I can buy into.

Never fear, Vane rescues her in stellar fashion. And, despite the typical Knight in Shining Armor cliche, the story plays out to a satisfying end.(less)

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Dec 15, 2009

Melody rated it:

Bride McTierney, beautiful both inside and out, is dumped by her long-time boyfriend after using up her connections to get ahead because she is plus-sized and cannot seem to lose the weight. But Were-hunter Vane Kattalakis, half human and half wolf, has found his true mate and everything about her is just perfect. Vane has his own problems as the offspring of a cataclysmic union between a Katagari (animal-dominant) father and an Arcadian (human-dominant) mother. The two sides were cursed by The ...more

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Sep 10, 2009

Chinablue_25 West Bostedor rated it:

Read in September, 2009

So now the author is staring to delve into another part of this mystical world and broaden the previous intro of Vane and Fang (were-hunters). I think that Vane is one of my most favorite characters after Acheron. I really enjoyed this book a lot! You also get to know the Dark Hunter Valerius a bit more. You see a softer sadder side to him that wasn't there in the previous book that he was briefly in.

Sherrilyn Kenyon is VERY good at introducing characters early on and having yo...more

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Aug 08, 2009

Morgan Ryan rated it:

bookshelves: fiction, paranormal, romance, vampires, werewolves

Read in August, 2009

Finally! I liked this one even a little more than the first one.

Not surprisingly, the main character is a Were-Hunter and not a Dark-Hunter. lol. So this time it is wolves instead of vampires. They reminded me a little of my own 'wolves', so I was instantly more drawn to these characters. Not to mention a plus-sized heroine isn't anything to sneeze at as far as the 'relating to it' goes. ;)

Bride & Vane were just so cute together, and it was a better story than the...more

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May 26, 2009

Michelle rated it:

Read in May, 2009

I truly wish this website gave half stars, because I would have given this book 4 1/2 stars. This book is the reason I keep reading Sherrilyn Kenyon, even if the basic plot is the same over and over again.

This is the story of Vane and Bride. Vane is a wolf were-hunter and Bride is just a regular old human. Consistent with all the previous Kenyon books, this is another paranormal male meets girl of his dreams, they overcome obstacles, and end up together. Except this time, Kenyon came...more

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4 comments

Oct 21, 2009

Joy rated it:

bookshelves: paranormal-romance, sherrilyn-kenyon, vampires-and-werewolves

Read in October, 2009

So Sherrilyn Kenyon readers can take a break from Dark-Hunters because this one's about a Were-hunter and more, but that doesn't mean they're not present here. Kyrian and Amanda are here together with the ever-present Acheron and his cute demon Simi, who I'm getting fond of more and more.

From what I've read in her previous novels, I'd consider this a light read. No betrayal, no ghastly tortures,and such. Vane does have scars and Bride wasn't the conventional heroine when it comes to ...more

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Jan 29, 2009

crayolaab rated it:

bookshelves: 2009, fantasy, romance

Read in February, 2009

This is the 8th book in the Dark-Hunter series, but the first to really delve into the world of the Were-Hunters. I have to admit that at first I was not impressed by the Were-Hunter focus but in the end I really enjoyed it. I have read a lot of other books with wereanimals but the division between Katagaria and Arcadian Were-Hunters makes the difference between animals who can shift into humans and humans who can shift into animals really obvious.

Despite enjoying learning more ab...more

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Jan 31, 2010

Edna Lyn rated it:

bookshelves: 2010

Read in February, 2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

This addition to the series is the next best one after Dance With The Devil. I don't know if it necessarily counts as a Dark-Hunter book though since Vane is a Were-Hunter. Nonetheless, I found this one to be very entertaining. I love Vane and Bride's first encounter. I know it does seem unrealistic but I thought it so sweet. It was basically like a fairytale with Vane coming to her store and sweeping her off her feet.

It's no surprise that I was thoroughly entertained by the second...more This addition to the series is the next best one after Dance With The Devil. I don't know if it necessarily counts as a Dark-Hunter book though since Vane is a Were-Hunter. Nonetheless, I found this one to be very entertaining. I love Vane and Bride's first encounter. I know it does seem unrealistic but I thought it so sweet. It was basically like a fairytale with Vane coming to her store and sweeping her off her feet.

It's no surprise that I was thoroughly entertained by the secondary characters. The dating advice had me in stitches. Julian and Kyrian bringing up how they met their wives was still as ridiculous as when I first read their books. I love Nick, he can do no wrong. He'll grow up from this phase with women, I'm sure of it, but for the moment he makes me laugh. Ash cracked me up when he mentioned that he's never been on a date. Then comes Grace and Amanda with their words of wisdom on dating for Vane. That whole scene and the outcome of it when Vane was actually on the date was too adorkable. Furthermore, on the topic of supporting characters, I loved the bickering between Kyrian and Tabitha. It almost made me wish those two ended up together instead. Fury turned out to be Vane's brother which surprised me but he turned out to be extremely endearing. As for Fang, it's quite obvious who he's going to end up with. It'll be a long time until I read his book though.

Although Night Play was about a Were-Hunter, Acheron popped up and continued to fascinate me. When he was playing with Simi and Marissa in the doll shop, I turned into a puddle of goo. To add to that, later in the book he was taking care of Marissa, rocking her and feeding her. I can't take it, he's too cute.

Another Dark-Hunter reappeared, Valerius. We got some scenes of him as a human in Zarek's memories when he was in Dance With The Devil and in Night Play we glimpsed him in the present as a Dark Hunter. I thought he was intriguing and very telling while he was with Bride. Also Valerius got a new squire, Otto who appeared in Z's book. The animosity between Valerius and Otto was amusing, I'm looking forward to more of it in the next book.

These books really feel like funny contemporary romances with a paranormal flare. I've gotten used to SK's style and I find her characters endearing and intriguing so I'm still keeping on with the series. Of course it's a long way until Acheron's. (less)

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7 comments

Jan 13, 2009

Jacqueline rated it:

bookshelves: dark-hunter-series

Read in August, 2005

recommended to Jacqueline by: No one, but the series was recommended to me by a kind Barns-And
recommends it for: Anyone who loves a different take on the paranormal world.

While I know it's illogical to say that every Dark-Hunter novel is my most favorite in the series, it's actually truth. I really do favor the Dark-Hunter book I most recently have read, and as such I can easily say that Night Play is one of my favorite books.

Aside from the fact that with this book Sherri introduces the idea of a seriously sexy Were-Hunter, Vane, falling in love with an Irish plus-sized store owner, Bride. The chemestry and overall emotional play between the characte...more

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Sep 09, 2009

Carrie rated it:

Read in September, 2009

Another good book in the series, although I found it a little rushed. It was like quick with the smut and slow with the action. I'm not really complaining, but it made the book feel a bit different from the rest of the series so far. On top of that, the fact that it followed a Were-Hunter as opposed to a Dark-Hunter made it unique. I really love that all these books are from a different character perspective, but they all originate from roundabout the same timeframe. It's like getting to go...more

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Mar 13, 2010

Yvensong rated it:

bookshelves: bookcrossing, vampire, werecreatures, werewolves

Owns a copy — Read in March, 2010

recommended to Yvensong by: linesbylea

I have not read all the books prior to this one, so that may color some of the mixed feelings I had.

The Prologue held no interest for me and I almost stopped reading the book there. I'm glad I didn't, because the rest of the story was entertaining. Especially, if you like lots and lots of hot sex. :)

The character development was adequate and the small surprises along the way were fun.

My biggest issue I had with the book was the constant change of viewpoint, ...more

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1 comment

Dec 28, 2009

BarkLessWagMore rated it:

bookshelves: paranormal, romance

Read in February, 2005

I think I did myself a huge disservice by reading this book without having read the others in the series. I also read it in bits and pieces whenever I could sneak in a few minutes. I enjoyed it but somewhere past the midway point when Vane and Bride meet up with others in the Katagaria & Arcadia tribes my head began to spin and as utter confusion overcame me it was here that I wished I'd read the previous books. Lots of names and issues and past wars/hurts/deaths talked about and I had a very d...more

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Mar 16, 2010

Maja rated it:

bookshelves: favourite-books, vampires

Read in March, 2010

Vane, a wolf Were-Hunter, has numerous problems; his sister and her cubs have just been laughtered, his brother is in a traumatic coma and both his parents wants him killed as much as they want each other killed. So when Vane accidentally mates with a human girl, Bride, he isn't exactly happy with the extra problem. Yet, there is something about Bride tha just draws him in and there is no way that he can leave her alone. He has three weeks to claim her as hs mate, but Vane's past comes bac to ha...more

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Oct 01, 2008

Angie rated it:

After two thoroughly aggravating Dark Hunter books in a row, Night Play was a sight for sore eyes.

Vane, a were-hunter (a white timber wolf, no less), meets Bride, a plus size boutique owner with zero knowledge of the paranormal. After a night of sex, Vane and Bride are marked as mates. This means that after three weeks, if they haven't completed the mating ritual, Bride goes on her merry way and Vane is left neutered.

The question becomes, can Vane not only convince Bride ...more

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Sep 29, 2008

April rated it:

bookshelves: dark-hunter-series, romance, vampire

Read in October, 2008

This was the first of the Were-Hunter books that I read. I need to read Kiss of the Night next, although I am more itching to read Seize the Night, because it is Valerius and Tabitha's story.

I enjoyed this story for the pure sappy romance of the love story between Bride and Vane. This is the typical "too-good-to-be-true" fairy tale love story between the gorgeous hunk of man that loves a woman for "who she is" not what she looks like, and the heavy-set, emotiona...more

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Jul 20, 2008

Cheryl rated it:

Read in January, 2009

Vale Kattalakis has lived many a centuries as a tortured soul, fighting the evil of the world. So you can imagine that in this time, Vale has gained himself some enemies along the way, especially when you are a were-hunter wolf. Lucky, Vale has only himself to look out for and not someone else. The higher powers show Vale a woman who is to be his.

Bride lives a peaceful life. She couldn’t ask for anything more. Then suddenly out of the blue, Bride’s world gets turned upside down...more

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Jan 08, 2008

faeriemyst rated it:

bookshelves: personal-collection, romance, romance-paranormal

Read in December, 2007

recommends it for: paranormal romance lovers

Night Play is one of my favorites in this series so far - it's right up there with Fantasy Lover and Dance with the Devil, although I think DwtD might come out ahead. I love, love, loved it! It was one of those books that just got better. The plot was slightly different than the previous books in the series and focused more on the love story. Bride was a wonderful, size eighteen human heroine, who knows (or knew anyway) nothing about what goes bump in the night, while Vane is a to-die-for hunky ...more Night Play is one of my favorites in this series so far - it's right up there with Fantasy Lover and Dance with the Devil, although I think DwtD might come out ahead. I love, love, loved it! It was one of those books that just got better. The plot was slightly different than the previous books in the series and focused more on the love story. Bride was a wonderful, size eighteen human heroine, who knows (or knew anyway) nothing about what goes bump in the night, while Vane is a to-die-for hunky hero. Need I say more? Everyone would love a guy like him - I know I would! This was one of those books that a few times at the end I had that big, goofy, dumb smile on my face, and don't pretend I'm the only one! ;P

Valerius makes another appearance as a slightly more likable character and he looks to be a very interesting and intriguing hero in his installment. Actually, a lot of the characters who make appearances sound like they'd be great heroes/heroines. Too bad Sherrilyn can't turn them out faster and most likely won't have time for all of them! :P

This was a nice review:
From Booklist
Bride McTierney has just been dumped via FedEx. There's not much that could ease such a broken heart until Vane Kattalakis wanders into her shop and her life. Their whirlwind affair feels too good to be true. After all, her ex-beau proved men are dogs, which turns out to be a more appropriate figure of speech than Bride could ever imagine. More character driven than her previous Dark-Hunter novels, Kenyon's latest is a nice change of pace yet still chock-full of the quirky humor, complex fantasy, and searing passion that her readers love. This book's success, however, appropriately lies with Bride and Vane. It's been said of Kenyon that she knows men, but she really knows women and all our secret fears and hidden desires. She has distilled those into Bride, who is both our sister and ourselves. Then she made a man who understands and loves her, insecurities and all. Every woman should have a Vane Kattalakis in her life. Thanks to Kenyon, every woman can.(less)

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Jan 06, 2008

maricar rated it:

bookshelves: contemporary, favorites, paranormal, romance, series, sherrilyn-kenyon, urban-fantasy

i wasn't really all that excited in reading Night Play since i did not quite like Seize The Night. but i thought, what the heck...

and you know what, it was worth it...and more. though i was a bit miffed that i got the order of reading wrong, i still immensely enjoyed Night Play. at first i did not think much of the hero being part wolf or something like that since i thought that it might just be another one of those typical "werewolf" plots, but, surprisingly enough, Vane'...more

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May 11, 2009

Janet rated it:

bookshelves: paranormal, romance

Read in September, 2007

For as much hissing and growling as these characters do, I’m not surprised to learn not all of them were born human. Bedroom histrionics aside, I’m really enjoying this series. The characters are immensely appealing, if somewhat predictable (all the men are tortured souls who can only be saved by the love of a good woman, and all the women can’t believe such a gorgeous hunk of manliness loves poor pitiful them), and somehow New Orleans is the perfect backdrop to all the otherworldly weirdn...more

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