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Dark Ones #14 - Goth Faire Dark Ones 3
A Tale of Two Vampires
Time isn’t always on a vampire’s side…
Iolanthe Tennyson has had a very bad year—due in part to the very bad men in her life. So, she’s accepted her cousin’s invitation to spend the summer in Austria indulging in her photography hobby. There, rumors of a haunted forest draw Iolanthe into the dark woods—and into the eighteenth century…
Nikola Czerny is a cursed man, forced by his half-brothers to live forever as a Dark One. But his miserable existence takes an intriguing turn when a strange, babbling woman is thrown in his path. Iolanthe claims to know Nikola’s daughter—three hundred years in the future. She also knows what fate—in the form of his murderous half-brothers—has in store for him. If only she knew the consequences of changing the past to save one good, impossibly sexy vampire…
Iolanthe Tennyson has had a very bad year—due in part to the very bad men in her life. So, she’s accepted her cousin’s invitation to spend the summer in Austria indulging in her photography hobby. There, rumors of a haunted forest draw Iolanthe into the dark woods—and into the eighteenth century…
Nikola Czerny is a cursed man, forced by his half-brothers to live forever as a Dark One. But his miserable existence takes an intriguing turn when a strange, babbling woman is thrown in his path. Iolanthe claims to know Nikola’s daughter—three hundred years in the future. She also knows what fate—in the form of his murderous half-brothers—has in store for him. If only she knew the consequences of changing the past to save one good, impossibly sexy vampire…
Audiobook
First published September 4, 2012
76 people are currently reading
2250 people want to read
About the author
Katie MacAlister
117 books5,959 followersFor as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books followed during the years after Noble's publication. Her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell, and for the mystery world as Kate Marsh.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.
Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books followed during the years after Noble's publication. Her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell, and for the mystery world as Kate Marsh.
Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
July 16, 2014
A Sensational read!! Exceptionally well written. First of all I loved how this story made me laugh from the beginning thru to the very end. The banter between Io and Nikola when they would communicate telepathically with each other was very entertaining! I loved that about this book. The romance was whimsical. I wish I was Io! And Nikola, wow! I want a man like him!! Tall, muscular, desirable and very sexy!! Also, the um was very nicely detailed!! Over all a wonderful read and highly recommend it to all adults!! Thank you for such a great book Katie!!
Note: I won this book from a contest from the author (through goodreads.com). I was in no way required to write a review. This is strictly my honest review that I wanted to write.
Note: I won this book from a contest from the author (through goodreads.com). I was in no way required to write a review. This is strictly my honest review that I wanted to write.
July 7, 2013
This book, although beautifully written in the sense of world building as others have noted, was altogether not that great. I enjoyed the overall story line, and while I thought at around page 100 that this was a bit predictable, I was proven wrong in the middle. The dialogue in this, however was the worst I've ever read. And I mean that.
*****FROM HERE ON OUT, THERE ARE SPOILERS*****
Okay, so, yes, this is the first book I've read of the series. I found this at my local library and since I love romance and vampires, I took it home with me. At first, I was captivated by the characters, the world building and wasn't even aware that there was time travel at first. But the dialogue. AWFUL. I've been ruined by authors like Kresley Cole that make it realistic, understandable, and witty. This was just... awful. No woman in their right mind would talk about the dirty sexy things that a guy wants to do to them in front of their kids. Furthermore, no woman would have long, drawn out mental conversations with a man when they're in front of people who kidnapped them and were planning on killing them.
Here are some of the quotes that were just RIDICULOUS:
*while the brother of the main character, Nikola, are standing in front of them with a knife, ready to attack...*
"I love you, Nikola."
He shot a startled glance over his shoulder.
"Whoops. Did you hear that?"
"Yes"
"Frak. Can you pretend you didn't?"
"No."
An adorably indignant look crossed over his face. She made an effort to straighten up and glare at him. "Well, I think you could if you put your mind to it."
"We will talk about this later, Io. Right now I must ascertain just what Rolf meant by his statement."
"What statement? Rolf is here?" She squinted past him. "Oh, yeah, he is here. Can I break his kneecaps?"
He shook his head, turning back to Rolf. "It is not seemly for me to stand by and do nothing while you mete out revenge. No, I must be the one to break his kneecaps. I am nothing if not generous, however, and for that reason, I will allow you to box his ears."
"I have no idea what's involved with ear boxing, and frankly, I don't think I'm going to want to know, so you can just get off your he-man high horse, and let me have a shot at the kneecapping--Nikola!"
Io screamed in his head just as Rolf lunged at him, the knife held high. Nikola, long devotee of esoteric manuscripts from the Far East, lashed out with his foot and knocked the knife out of Rolf's hand.
Like, really, wtf. What woman would talk about that shit while they're in a situation like that? The worst was when they were talking about their relationship in front of Nikola's daughter, Imogen and started talking about using sex swings during their sex play. What?!?!?! Who does that?!
I hated the dialogue with such a fiery passion that I'm not sure I want to even give this author another chance, assuming she just made these two characters seem oblivious and so unrealistically stupid. I wouldn't recommend this. Possibly another book with less stupid characters, but not this book.
*****FROM HERE ON OUT, THERE ARE SPOILERS*****
Okay, so, yes, this is the first book I've read of the series. I found this at my local library and since I love romance and vampires, I took it home with me. At first, I was captivated by the characters, the world building and wasn't even aware that there was time travel at first. But the dialogue. AWFUL. I've been ruined by authors like Kresley Cole that make it realistic, understandable, and witty. This was just... awful. No woman in their right mind would talk about the dirty sexy things that a guy wants to do to them in front of their kids. Furthermore, no woman would have long, drawn out mental conversations with a man when they're in front of people who kidnapped them and were planning on killing them.
Here are some of the quotes that were just RIDICULOUS:
*while the brother of the main character, Nikola, are standing in front of them with a knife, ready to attack...*
"I love you, Nikola."
He shot a startled glance over his shoulder.
"Whoops. Did you hear that?"
"Yes"
"Frak. Can you pretend you didn't?"
"No."
An adorably indignant look crossed over his face. She made an effort to straighten up and glare at him. "Well, I think you could if you put your mind to it."
"We will talk about this later, Io. Right now I must ascertain just what Rolf meant by his statement."
"What statement? Rolf is here?" She squinted past him. "Oh, yeah, he is here. Can I break his kneecaps?"
He shook his head, turning back to Rolf. "It is not seemly for me to stand by and do nothing while you mete out revenge. No, I must be the one to break his kneecaps. I am nothing if not generous, however, and for that reason, I will allow you to box his ears."
"I have no idea what's involved with ear boxing, and frankly, I don't think I'm going to want to know, so you can just get off your he-man high horse, and let me have a shot at the kneecapping--Nikola!"
Io screamed in his head just as Rolf lunged at him, the knife held high. Nikola, long devotee of esoteric manuscripts from the Far East, lashed out with his foot and knocked the knife out of Rolf's hand.
Like, really, wtf. What woman would talk about that shit while they're in a situation like that? The worst was when they were talking about their relationship in front of Nikola's daughter, Imogen and started talking about using sex swings during their sex play. What?!?!?! Who does that?!
I hated the dialogue with such a fiery passion that I'm not sure I want to even give this author another chance, assuming she just made these two characters seem oblivious and so unrealistically stupid. I wouldn't recommend this. Possibly another book with less stupid characters, but not this book.
August 28, 2012
Katie MacAlister has scored another win with this book as far as I am concerned. In her usual style she gives us another sexy Dark one in Nikola Czerny and his quirky heroine Iolanthe Tennyson (Io).
Iolanthe(Io) has come to Austria to spend the summer with her cousin Gretl and practice her hobby of photography , which she hopes to turn into a possible profession.
While attending a goth fair with Gretl, they meet up with some old friends of Gretl's. Imogen and Benedikt Czerny; Io desperately wants to use Imogene as a subject of some pictures withthe back drop of a local forest considered haunted, but Imogen refuses.
The next day Io talks Gretl in to taking her to the forest and leaving her there to get photo's with the idea that she will photo shop Imogen in afterwords. While walking through the forest Io comes to a clearing with a large swirling cloud.........Next she is waking up in the forest, missing her camera and phone and working her way back to the road for the trek into town. She runs smack dab into Nikola's horse and carriage in the 18th century and life just gets stranger from there...
To divulge more would be to provide more spoilers and what fun would that be you are just going to have to read it!
Thanks to Goodreads first reads and Penguin books for this advanced copy and the Great Read!
Iolanthe(Io) has come to Austria to spend the summer with her cousin Gretl and practice her hobby of photography , which she hopes to turn into a possible profession.
While attending a goth fair with Gretl, they meet up with some old friends of Gretl's. Imogen and Benedikt Czerny; Io desperately wants to use Imogene as a subject of some pictures withthe back drop of a local forest considered haunted, but Imogen refuses.
The next day Io talks Gretl in to taking her to the forest and leaving her there to get photo's with the idea that she will photo shop Imogen in afterwords. While walking through the forest Io comes to a clearing with a large swirling cloud.........Next she is waking up in the forest, missing her camera and phone and working her way back to the road for the trek into town. She runs smack dab into Nikola's horse and carriage in the 18th century and life just gets stranger from there...
To divulge more would be to provide more spoilers and what fun would that be you are just going to have to read it!
Thanks to Goodreads first reads and Penguin books for this advanced copy and the Great Read!
December 17, 2013
This was one of the worst books I have read/listened to. I read this as an audio book and frankly had to force myself to finish the story. I was disappointed in the story from the first. I had to see if the story could remain as ludicrous as it is at the beginning clear to the end, which it did not disappoint in that respect!
The dialogue was stilted from all characters. Once the heroine met the hero, the mind talking was more important to the author than moving the story along. There were so many instances where the mind talking interrupted the action of the story it became so annoying, especially as it was mostly the hero /heroine talking smut to each other. I like a good sex scene, if it's done right, which was not the case throughout the story.
The heroine was a ninny who I would in no way could believe as someone who could manage a time portal.
The narrator wasn't much help to the story either. The heroine was even less believable with this narrator's interpretation than if I'd read the book myself.
Don't be fooled by the book synopsis. The book should have been titled "The Incredibly Unbelievable Adventures of Iolanth Tennyson". I kept wondering when the story was going to be about A tale of two vampires.
I am so relieved this book is finished, I'm sorry I wasted my time.
The dialogue was stilted from all characters. Once the heroine met the hero, the mind talking was more important to the author than moving the story along. There were so many instances where the mind talking interrupted the action of the story it became so annoying, especially as it was mostly the hero /heroine talking smut to each other. I like a good sex scene, if it's done right, which was not the case throughout the story.
The heroine was a ninny who I would in no way could believe as someone who could manage a time portal.
The narrator wasn't much help to the story either. The heroine was even less believable with this narrator's interpretation than if I'd read the book myself.
Don't be fooled by the book synopsis. The book should have been titled "The Incredibly Unbelievable Adventures of Iolanth Tennyson". I kept wondering when the story was going to be about A tale of two vampires.
I am so relieved this book is finished, I'm sorry I wasted my time.
October 16, 2012
Great read. Exciting! Enjoyed the characters as well as the story.
March 2, 2016
Dies war der letzte Teil der Reihe und ich bin soooo traurig. Ich hoffe wirklich, dass die Autorin doch irgendwann noch einmal einen Band schreibt.
In diesem Band geht es um Iolanthe (was für eine Name). Sie kommt aus gewissen Gründen, die ich hier nicht verrate, zum altbekannten (also zumindest dem Liebhaber der Reihe) Gothic-Markt. Dort trifft sie auf die uns ebenfalls schon bekannten (und geliebten) Imogen und Ben. Durch einen 'Unfall' wird Io dann in der Zeit zurückversetzt und trifft dort auf den Baron Nikola, der zufällig der Vater von Ben und Imogen ist. Imogen ist in dieser Zeit allerdings erst 22 Jahre alt. Nikola ist ein super witziger Charakter. Dieses Mal ist der männliche Charakter sogar noch verschrobener als der weibliche. Er hat für seine Zeit die typische Einstellung zu Frauen, aber man merkt schnell, dass er lernfähig ist. Daher sorgt seine für uns altmodische Einstellung lediglich für jede Menge Lacher. Der Humor ist wieder sehr überspitzt, aber liegt voll auf meiner Wellenlänge. Ich habe mich stellenweise gekringelt vor Lachen. Sehr witzig sind auch die Sprachschwierigkeiten zwischen Io und Nikolai, da dieser ja viele moderne Wörter bzw. Gegenstände bzw. Redewendungen nicht kennt und diese dann akribisch aufschreibt, um sie später näher zu erforschen. Er ist auf eine ganz eigene Art ein Nerd. Liebenswert wird er vor allem dadurch, dass man schnell merkt, dass hinter der rauen Schale eine weicher Kern steckt. Das sieht man allein schon an seiner sehr ausgefallenen Dienerschaft. Er gibt denen eine Chance, die sonst nirgendwo eine Anstellung gefunden hätten. Gerade diese Nebencharakter haben mich umgehauen. Die Szenen mit ihnen waren unglaublich witzig und die Sprecherin des Hörbuchs hat sie UNGLAUBLICH gut gesprochen. Für mich ist Vera Teltz die beste Sprecherin aller Zeiten.
Neben dem Humor kommt dieses Mal die Spannung nicht zu kurz, auch wenn man als Kenner der Reihe doch immer weiß, dass es gut ausgehen wird und alles (selbst die harten Szenen) immer mit Humor ausgeschmückt sind. Für Angsthasen wie mich ist das perfekt, aber man muss den Humor dafür schon mögen. Die Spannung hält sich, weil man immer wissen will warum Io in der Zeit 'verrutscht' ist und ob sie zurückfinden wird. Bereits weit am Anfang erfährt man, dass Nikolai in Gefahr schwebt und auch das ist spannend, denn Io muss ein Unglück verhindern.
Erotisch ist das ganze auch wieder. Die beiden sind einfach klasse zusammen. Es prickelt und es sprühen Funken, neben dem ganzen Humor. Ich mag die Mischung der Autorin einfach total.
Das sollte eigentlich nur eine Kurzrezi werden, daher mache ich nun endlich Schluss. Ich möchte diese Reihe wirklich jedem ans Herz legen, der überdrehten Humor mit liebenswerten Charakteren mag. Die ersten Bände fand ich zwar gut, aber richtig genial wurde die Reihe für mich ab Band 5.
Wertung:
5 Sterne
In diesem Band geht es um Iolanthe (was für eine Name). Sie kommt aus gewissen Gründen, die ich hier nicht verrate, zum altbekannten (also zumindest dem Liebhaber der Reihe) Gothic-Markt. Dort trifft sie auf die uns ebenfalls schon bekannten (und geliebten) Imogen und Ben. Durch einen 'Unfall' wird Io dann in der Zeit zurückversetzt und trifft dort auf den Baron Nikola, der zufällig der Vater von Ben und Imogen ist. Imogen ist in dieser Zeit allerdings erst 22 Jahre alt. Nikola ist ein super witziger Charakter. Dieses Mal ist der männliche Charakter sogar noch verschrobener als der weibliche. Er hat für seine Zeit die typische Einstellung zu Frauen, aber man merkt schnell, dass er lernfähig ist. Daher sorgt seine für uns altmodische Einstellung lediglich für jede Menge Lacher. Der Humor ist wieder sehr überspitzt, aber liegt voll auf meiner Wellenlänge. Ich habe mich stellenweise gekringelt vor Lachen. Sehr witzig sind auch die Sprachschwierigkeiten zwischen Io und Nikolai, da dieser ja viele moderne Wörter bzw. Gegenstände bzw. Redewendungen nicht kennt und diese dann akribisch aufschreibt, um sie später näher zu erforschen. Er ist auf eine ganz eigene Art ein Nerd. Liebenswert wird er vor allem dadurch, dass man schnell merkt, dass hinter der rauen Schale eine weicher Kern steckt. Das sieht man allein schon an seiner sehr ausgefallenen Dienerschaft. Er gibt denen eine Chance, die sonst nirgendwo eine Anstellung gefunden hätten. Gerade diese Nebencharakter haben mich umgehauen. Die Szenen mit ihnen waren unglaublich witzig und die Sprecherin des Hörbuchs hat sie UNGLAUBLICH gut gesprochen. Für mich ist Vera Teltz die beste Sprecherin aller Zeiten.
Neben dem Humor kommt dieses Mal die Spannung nicht zu kurz, auch wenn man als Kenner der Reihe doch immer weiß, dass es gut ausgehen wird und alles (selbst die harten Szenen) immer mit Humor ausgeschmückt sind. Für Angsthasen wie mich ist das perfekt, aber man muss den Humor dafür schon mögen. Die Spannung hält sich, weil man immer wissen will warum Io in der Zeit 'verrutscht' ist und ob sie zurückfinden wird. Bereits weit am Anfang erfährt man, dass Nikolai in Gefahr schwebt und auch das ist spannend, denn Io muss ein Unglück verhindern.
Erotisch ist das ganze auch wieder. Die beiden sind einfach klasse zusammen. Es prickelt und es sprühen Funken, neben dem ganzen Humor. Ich mag die Mischung der Autorin einfach total.
Das sollte eigentlich nur eine Kurzrezi werden, daher mache ich nun endlich Schluss. Ich möchte diese Reihe wirklich jedem ans Herz legen, der überdrehten Humor mit liebenswerten Charakteren mag. Die ersten Bände fand ich zwar gut, aber richtig genial wurde die Reihe für mich ab Band 5.
Wertung:
5 Sterne
October 11, 2014
Ialanthe Tennyson is a modern girl who falls through what she refers to as a swirly thingy (time portal) she finds in an enchanted wood to a time 300 years before her birth. There she meets a vampire, Nikola Czerny, to whom she is immediately sexually attracted. Through her brief time in his home (and his time,) she learns that Nikola is a kind-hearted lord who cares deeply for his children and for his motley crew of a staff. She also realizes that she already knows Nikola's fate and that he is fated to die at the hands of his treacherous and grasping half-brothers. She has to decide to take action or allow history to take its course.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT *****
This book is TERRIBLE. First and foremost, the protagonist (IO) is absolutely OBNOXIOUS. I mean women like a little whimsy in their female characters (think Bridget Jones or Stephanie Plum) but Ialanthe proved to be a complete spas with verbal diarrhea. What should have been steamy love scenes were just weird and comedic (in a bad way). The dialogue for Nikola was equally bad. The author failed to appropriately utilize language and behavior that would have been relevant for the age he was supposed to have been from. This meant that he was openly candid (in a foolish and unmanly way) about his sexual activities and said "sweetling" just short of one MILLION times. The plot was messy (putting it VERY mildy). The book starts off seeming fairly predictable and formula and then ends by introducing a BUNCH of characters at the end - that have nothing to really do with the plot and add absolutely nothing to the value of the story.
In addition to all of this the reader is nearly unbearable. She fluctuates between weirdly froggy voices and the screeching voice that she uses for the main character. she also inappropriately employed inflection into the sentences so that she often used a tone or placed a questioning inflection at the end of a sentence that wasn't meant to be a question. It made some of the listening confusing. Overall, the reader made a bad book even worse. It was so bad during parts of the book that even when I was nearly finished I seriously considered just calling it quits.
Lastly - the beginning of Ialanthe's saga is basically a cheap imitation of Outlander....poorly done.
Save yourself the time. Pick a different book.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT *****
This book is TERRIBLE. First and foremost, the protagonist (IO) is absolutely OBNOXIOUS. I mean women like a little whimsy in their female characters (think Bridget Jones or Stephanie Plum) but Ialanthe proved to be a complete spas with verbal diarrhea. What should have been steamy love scenes were just weird and comedic (in a bad way). The dialogue for Nikola was equally bad. The author failed to appropriately utilize language and behavior that would have been relevant for the age he was supposed to have been from. This meant that he was openly candid (in a foolish and unmanly way) about his sexual activities and said "sweetling" just short of one MILLION times. The plot was messy (putting it VERY mildy). The book starts off seeming fairly predictable and formula and then ends by introducing a BUNCH of characters at the end - that have nothing to really do with the plot and add absolutely nothing to the value of the story.
In addition to all of this the reader is nearly unbearable. She fluctuates between weirdly froggy voices and the screeching voice that she uses for the main character. she also inappropriately employed inflection into the sentences so that she often used a tone or placed a questioning inflection at the end of a sentence that wasn't meant to be a question. It made some of the listening confusing. Overall, the reader made a bad book even worse. It was so bad during parts of the book that even when I was nearly finished I seriously considered just calling it quits.
Lastly - the beginning of Ialanthe's saga is basically a cheap imitation of Outlander....poorly done.
Save yourself the time. Pick a different book.
September 13, 2012
Take two blonds(who aren't blond) place one out of time and one out of place and let each hear what the other thinks...and you have the makings on one very funny tale!
Iolanthe Tennyson has had a hard time lately. Her male boss tried to grope her and when she filed a complaint false charges were made that cost her her job. Add to that, the apt. she lives in was sold and shes been tossed out...Time to leave the area and spend the summer with her Austrian cousin indulging in her love of photography.
She is drawn to the local Goth Faire where she meets her cousins friends who speak of a haunted forest below the crumbling ruins of a haunted castle. What better place to take some wonderfully haunting photos. Imogen speaks warmly of her father, who was "destroyed" in the haunted forest.
While taking her photos, which are just as haunting as she'd hoped they'd be, IO (really who's going to pronounce her name correctly) comes across a "swirly thingy" and while trying to discover what it can do, she falls through and awakes at night. Following the trail back to the "road" shows a dirt track instead, so she follows the track back to town. But before she can get there, she is sideswiped by a horse and carriage. In it is one very handsome Baron and the year is now 1703. The girl she met at the Goth Faire is there but does not recognize her. Now she knows that this handsome Baron is Imogen's father and a Moravian Dark One (vampire would be so much easier to say) and that he is soon to be lured into the forest to his doom. What's a woman to do? Save the Baron (whom she pounces on every chance she gets) and risk changing the future, or let him go and be stranded in a time that doesn't have blowdryers, laptops or (gasp) toiletpaper?
Total misfits in a totally hilarious setting come up with some very funny solutions and let love grow where it will.
Iolanthe Tennyson has had a hard time lately. Her male boss tried to grope her and when she filed a complaint false charges were made that cost her her job. Add to that, the apt. she lives in was sold and shes been tossed out...Time to leave the area and spend the summer with her Austrian cousin indulging in her love of photography.
She is drawn to the local Goth Faire where she meets her cousins friends who speak of a haunted forest below the crumbling ruins of a haunted castle. What better place to take some wonderfully haunting photos. Imogen speaks warmly of her father, who was "destroyed" in the haunted forest.
While taking her photos, which are just as haunting as she'd hoped they'd be, IO (really who's going to pronounce her name correctly) comes across a "swirly thingy" and while trying to discover what it can do, she falls through and awakes at night. Following the trail back to the "road" shows a dirt track instead, so she follows the track back to town. But before she can get there, she is sideswiped by a horse and carriage. In it is one very handsome Baron and the year is now 1703. The girl she met at the Goth Faire is there but does not recognize her. Now she knows that this handsome Baron is Imogen's father and a Moravian Dark One (vampire would be so much easier to say) and that he is soon to be lured into the forest to his doom. What's a woman to do? Save the Baron (whom she pounces on every chance she gets) and risk changing the future, or let him go and be stranded in a time that doesn't have blowdryers, laptops or (gasp) toiletpaper?
Total misfits in a totally hilarious setting come up with some very funny solutions and let love grow where it will.
December 16, 2012
A couple of years ago I started on this series with book one: A Girl's Guide to Vampires. I loved it and read the next four books with just as much pleasure. Book 6 in the series however (Zen and the Art of Vampires) sounded too triangly for my tastes and as book 7 had the same lead character as book 6 I didn't feel like buying those and somehow I never got to buying the books after those two.
Then I got this book as a present from Melliane and once I started reading I was hooked.
This is a seriously fun book. As with all Dark Ones books I've read so far it's funny, witty and has a delicious romance. I really liked Io, she's a quirky and fun character who speaks her mind. Nikola is a great character as well. I didn't know it was possible to write a nerdish alpha male, but MacAlister pulls it off.
The story was fun from start to finish. There were some inconsistencies, but MacAlister's books are just too much fun to worry about things being consistent. They're all about the romance and the two lead characters overcoming all obstacles that keep them apart.
I did think the romance in this book was less hot than in the other books I read in this series, but it was the sweetest romance I've read from MacAlister so far, so I won't hold the lack of scorching love scenes against it.
This book did remind me how much fun this series is, so I just might try to get my hands on book 8 and 9.
Then I got this book as a present from Melliane and once I started reading I was hooked.
This is a seriously fun book. As with all Dark Ones books I've read so far it's funny, witty and has a delicious romance. I really liked Io, she's a quirky and fun character who speaks her mind. Nikola is a great character as well. I didn't know it was possible to write a nerdish alpha male, but MacAlister pulls it off.
The story was fun from start to finish. There were some inconsistencies, but MacAlister's books are just too much fun to worry about things being consistent. They're all about the romance and the two lead characters overcoming all obstacles that keep them apart.
I did think the romance in this book was less hot than in the other books I read in this series, but it was the sweetest romance I've read from MacAlister so far, so I won't hold the lack of scorching love scenes against it.
This book did remind me how much fun this series is, so I just might try to get my hands on book 8 and 9.
July 6, 2015
Zeitreise. Vampire. Humor. Keine Zeit für Vampire ist wieder einmal ein gelungener Band von Katie MacAlister, in dem sich vor allem auch viele Altbekannte Charaktere tummeln. Neu ist hier allerdings, dass dieses Mal die Zeit eine andere ist und Io ungewollt in die Vergangenheit reist. Iolanthes Art ist, wie bei MacAlisters Frauen bekannt, nicht ganz einfach und dennoch unterhaltsam. Dennoch entpuppt sie sich stellenweise als etwas zu verplant und genau das lässt Io manchmal dümmer wirken als sie tatsächlich ist. Der Wortwitz wirkt somit etwas gewollter als sonst und macht sie nicht zur besten weiblichen Hauptperson der Vampir-Reihe. Nikola hingegen ist wahnsinnig witzig. Ganz vom alten Schlag hält er nicht viel von Emanzipation, zumal er noch gar nichts davon gehört hat, und Frauen, die sich kleiden wie Io sind zu seiner Zeit doch zumeist leichte Mädchen. So kommt es doch zu mehr als einem Missverständnis, welche nicht zuletzt in hitzigen Wortgefechten enden.
Mir hat dieses Buch wieder recht gut gefallen, wenn es auch nicht das beste seiner Reihe war. erfrischend war die Zeitreise-Idee und der altmodische Nikola mit seinen harschen Worten, der harten Schale und dem widerwillig weichen Kern.
3,5/5 Sternen
Mir hat dieses Buch wieder recht gut gefallen, wenn es auch nicht das beste seiner Reihe war. erfrischend war die Zeitreise-Idee und der altmodische Nikola mit seinen harschen Worten, der harten Schale und dem widerwillig weichen Kern.
3,5/5 Sternen
January 9, 2013
I won this book via a giveaway here on Goodreads! I did not know what to expect as I had never read anything by this author, but immediately was turned on by the cover! heavens men! SO hot! LOL ANYWAYS!!! LOL The book was SO freaking funny! I loved it! It was hot, lusty, VERY fast, and just LOL funny! I will say that if you are not a nerd, you may not enjoy the humor and may find it silly. I am a nerd and loved it. It deals with time travel, so you can figure out the sort of humorous situations a modern woman would find jumping back 300 years into the past! Anyway, highly recommend to anyone who loves a good funny sexy book! Will def be checking out the other books in this series and by this author! OH and I was THRILLED, as a 39 year old woman myself, that the heroine was also 39! They are normally in their 20s, so this was a real treat!
March 7, 2013
This book started out okay, but when she is transported back in time it started to get tedious. First there is the long, drawn-out confusion of what time period she is in and once that's sorted out, there's the constant attraction between them that she is resisting to the point of stupidity. Her reasons for resisting are flimsy, but the attraction between is continuously pointed out until I feel like screaming, "Just do it already! There's no real reason not to!" That's all that's happened so far and I'm already halfway through the book! It's so frustrating and tedious at this point that I can't make myself pick it up again to finish it. I wouldn't suggest this book unless you really have nothing else to do.
December 20, 2012
Two and a half stars. There was a time when I couldn't get enough of Ms MacAlister's books but I think I've outgrown them.I do like the wittiness of them but even that is starting to wear a bit thin. This book was a bit different in that time travel was involved and I liked the ending. Not going to give that away! I spent a pleasant couple of hours reading it but it didn't set my world on fire.
September 14, 2021
I did not get this book. The female was ditzy and get thrown back in time to find a Dark one. everyone calls her a slut.. The male is aloof and distracted except with her. They got back to present time but I am lost at this point. I may have to reread it but it will be a long while. Maybe it wasn't time for me to read it. Sorry. I usually am better at like a book but not at this time.
August 16, 2017
Book Review- A Tale of Two Vampires by Katie McAlister
Iolanthe Tennyson lost her job thanks to a jerk of a boss who can’t keep his hands off. So she is staying with her cousin Gretl. She wants to give her photography a go. So she is at the Gothfaire looking at all the occult things while Gretl visits with her friend.
However, Io meets some interesting people who believe in vampires. She can’t be around crazy. She flees and runs into a horse, knocks herself out. Nicola is forced to stop his carriage and make sure she is alive. He takes her home to make sure she is well. There is also an instant attraction.
Io wakes up shocked. She is in a different world it seems. Nothing like traveling to the eighteenth century to make things interesting. Io thinks she has finally lost it. The voice she hears in her head confirms it.
However she comes to believe she was sent for a reason. Her attraction to Nicola grows even more when she learns he is a Dark One. She knows his life is in danger. She is determined to save him from his brothers’ plans. That has to be the reason she is here.
Of course nothing happens as she hopes. She needs help from the portal that sent her there. The truth finally comes to light as to what really happened to Nicola.
I love this author. Her heroines are so outrageously funny. I laugh out loud every time I read her books. I have read every Dark One books so far. It was fun to read and catch up with Fran and Ben. This story shined a light on their father and what happened to Ben and Imogen’s family. Io is a total hoot. I loved her. She is almost forty and sassy. She refuses to be bossed around by Nicola which is completely hilarious. The author created these interactions between them that are relatable given the situation. They are so funny to read. I could just picture Nicola’s exasperation when Io wouldn’t do what he wanted. Or when he put on his seductive face to turn it on. Io had to fight her attraction and the images he put in her mind. This was a fun read from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down. The characters were awesome and the story is full of intrigue. You keep reading to see what happened and enjoy the ridiculousness of the characters’ reactions. Loved it. I give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Iolanthe Tennyson lost her job thanks to a jerk of a boss who can’t keep his hands off. So she is staying with her cousin Gretl. She wants to give her photography a go. So she is at the Gothfaire looking at all the occult things while Gretl visits with her friend.
However, Io meets some interesting people who believe in vampires. She can’t be around crazy. She flees and runs into a horse, knocks herself out. Nicola is forced to stop his carriage and make sure she is alive. He takes her home to make sure she is well. There is also an instant attraction.
Io wakes up shocked. She is in a different world it seems. Nothing like traveling to the eighteenth century to make things interesting. Io thinks she has finally lost it. The voice she hears in her head confirms it.
However she comes to believe she was sent for a reason. Her attraction to Nicola grows even more when she learns he is a Dark One. She knows his life is in danger. She is determined to save him from his brothers’ plans. That has to be the reason she is here.
Of course nothing happens as she hopes. She needs help from the portal that sent her there. The truth finally comes to light as to what really happened to Nicola.
I love this author. Her heroines are so outrageously funny. I laugh out loud every time I read her books. I have read every Dark One books so far. It was fun to read and catch up with Fran and Ben. This story shined a light on their father and what happened to Ben and Imogen’s family. Io is a total hoot. I loved her. She is almost forty and sassy. She refuses to be bossed around by Nicola which is completely hilarious. The author created these interactions between them that are relatable given the situation. They are so funny to read. I could just picture Nicola’s exasperation when Io wouldn’t do what he wanted. Or when he put on his seductive face to turn it on. Io had to fight her attraction and the images he put in her mind. This was a fun read from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down. The characters were awesome and the story is full of intrigue. You keep reading to see what happened and enjoy the ridiculousness of the characters’ reactions. Loved it. I give it a 4.5 out of 5.
October 5, 2017
There some things I loved and some others... not so much.
I actually loved the hero Nikola. Even though he had the slightly extreme version of insta-lust. He handled it a humorous way I thought. His tendency to slightly ramble on and on, in a scientific and distracted way was cute and a little bit awkward. I even thought the way he handled his attempts at seduction funny and believable. He admitted her was quite obsessed with Io right off the bat, and didn't fall into the typical alpha male trappings. He was a bit of a goof-ball really.
Io on the other hand, was just kind of meh. She felt all over the place in her maturity, emotions and sexually. They way she spoke and acted didn't seem to me like someone who is recovering from losing her job and her home. She wanted to be a photographer, but that detail was completely dropped and forgotten by the first half of the book. I think a lot of her reactions to things in the past were realistic to someone from 2012, she didn't gloss over the realities of living in the 1700's. Like no toilets. But she just felt a little inconsistent at the end and I don't really felt I got to know her.
I felt there where just a few to many plot/continuity issues. Just little things that weren't explained that well. Or just dropped, So I just felt a little confused...
But this is the first book I have read from this author/series so maybe that's why.
That aside where were a couple of very funny scenes. The fight scene at the fair made me laugh so hard my eyes teared up. And Nikola's comments made me snort regularly. The Viking ghost were adorable and funny. So points for humor.
And more importantly the book answered the age old question, do Vampires poop.
I actually loved the hero Nikola. Even though he had the slightly extreme version of insta-lust. He handled it a humorous way I thought. His tendency to slightly ramble on and on, in a scientific and distracted way was cute and a little bit awkward. I even thought the way he handled his attempts at seduction funny and believable. He admitted her was quite obsessed with Io right off the bat, and didn't fall into the typical alpha male trappings. He was a bit of a goof-ball really.
Io on the other hand, was just kind of meh. She felt all over the place in her maturity, emotions and sexually. They way she spoke and acted didn't seem to me like someone who is recovering from losing her job and her home. She wanted to be a photographer, but that detail was completely dropped and forgotten by the first half of the book. I think a lot of her reactions to things in the past were realistic to someone from 2012, she didn't gloss over the realities of living in the 1700's. Like no toilets. But she just felt a little inconsistent at the end and I don't really felt I got to know her.
I felt there where just a few to many plot/continuity issues. Just little things that weren't explained that well. Or just dropped, So I just felt a little confused...
But this is the first book I have read from this author/series so maybe that's why.
That aside where were a couple of very funny scenes. The fight scene at the fair made me laugh so hard my eyes teared up. And Nikola's comments made me snort regularly. The Viking ghost were adorable and funny. So points for humor.
And more importantly the book answered the age old question, do Vampires poop.
December 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this take of a later 30’s something Io who is swept into a time portal back to the 1800’s where she is immediately take as a woman of the night. She has previously met the dark ones daughter and son and embarks on a plan to save Nikola from a fated death. She falls hard for Nikola who wants nothing to do with the mysterious woman until they are drawn together in lust and hunger. While he shows her his world, she also has the chance to share her world until the brother is defeated and she has to make the biggest choice of her existence.
September 6, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! I laughed while reading this book, I have read many books about a character going back in time but I haven't laughed while reading most of them. I liked the intraction between Iolanthe Tennyson(from the present) and Nikola Czerny(300 years in the past). As soon as I finished the book, I wanted to re-read it, but my TBR is huge. I have recommended this book before I finished it. The reason it took so long to read is I had to put it aside for a library book.
July 16, 2023
So bad. Sorry. I only finished it because I hate not finishing a book I started. But horrible dialogue, random characters get added. Terrible storyline. It had potential.. the first couple chapters were ok
.. but no one speaks like that, and the plot was really pointless given the randomness of the added characters and lack of consequences. Sorry. I hate to trash a book. But I really had to force myself to finish for the sake of finishing what I started.
.. but no one speaks like that, and the plot was really pointless given the randomness of the added characters and lack of consequences. Sorry. I hate to trash a book. But I really had to force myself to finish for the sake of finishing what I started.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2020
I went into this expecting some trashy romance. Instead, what I got was just trash. The writing is awful. The dialogue is awful. The characters are flat and sometimes just stupid. Who wears a sundress to hike through the woods to take pictures? I normally force myself to finish books but life is too short to waste it on this. Just no.
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January 17, 2022
Bin sehr enttäuscht. Kenne von Katie MacAlister sowohl die Drachen als auch einige andere Vampirromane und bin eindeutig besseres gewöhnt. Ich hoffe einfach mal, dass es am tagebuchartigen Stil liegt, jedenfalls fand ich dieses Buch sehr zusammenhangslos und wenig witzig. Wäre das mein erstes Buch von MacAlister hätte ich wohl nie wieder eins ihrer Bücher in die Hand genommen
July 12, 2022
That was fun
I do so love a good time travel story and vampires, so two birds in book! I'm and Nikola were fun characters who were nearly perfect together. They kept me chuckling with their babbling banter and quirkiness. I am really glad I stumbled across this series. On to the next.
I do so love a good time travel story and vampires, so two birds in book! I'm and Nikola were fun characters who were nearly perfect together. They kept me chuckling with their babbling banter and quirkiness. I am really glad I stumbled across this series. On to the next.
March 22, 2025
laugh out out funny with a generous serving of steamy
I love Katie MacAlister’s writing style with quirky imperfect heroines that could be real women. That being said this was a funny twisty romp through time with all of the inconveniences for a beloved to fall into the path of her Dark One.
I love Katie MacAlister’s writing style with quirky imperfect heroines that could be real women. That being said this was a funny twisty romp through time with all of the inconveniences for a beloved to fall into the path of her Dark One.
December 15, 2018
This was one of my favorites! The characters are just hilarious. Reading this reminds me of a Marx brothers comedy. IO and Nikola are one of my fave couples. I tried not to read this too fast but I couldn’t put it down.
February 22, 2023
I'm sorry, but I just couldn't get into this book. I didn't feel that Nicola was a fierce vampire; I felt that he was a little crazy.
I did like the time travel part, but the book just didn't grab me.
I did like the time travel part, but the book just didn't grab me.
November 26, 2017
Wasn't my favorite in the series. Thinking I will take a break from this one for awhile...
February 12, 2018
Time-jumping heroine... with babbling problems. Quirky characters the focus, not plot.
July 26, 2020
Very funny! One of the best books in the Dark Ones series. The banter between Io and Nikola had me laughing out loud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2022
Another cute one by Katie. Katie allows the characters to be real. We have all done stupid stuff and said stupid stuff. I love reading her books. Very short reads.
November 7, 2023
2⭐️ DNF - 18% on audiobook. I only started reading this because it got good reviews on Hoopla. It just seemed too corny without being in on the joke.
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