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| Dark Needs at Night's Edge (The Immortals After Dark Series, Book 4) | 
 enlarge | Author: Kresley Cole
Publisher: Pocket
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy New: $3.13
You Save: $3.86 (55%)
New (37) Used (17) from $3.10
Avg. Customer Rating:  50 reviews
Sales Rank: 977
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: 1st Pocket Books Pbk. Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 141654707X
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9781416547075
ASIN: 141654707X
Publication Date: April 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Bestselling author Kresley Cole continues her seductive Immortals After Dark series with this tale of a vampire shunned even by his own kind and a beautiful phantom, bound together by a passion they cannot resist.A RAVEN-HAIRED TEMPTRESS OF THE DARK...Neomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers -- until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Neomi herself. A VAMPIRE WARRIOR CONSUMED BY MADNESS...To prevent him from harming others, Conrad Wroth's brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own. HOW FAR WILL HE GO TO CLAIM HER?Yet even if Conrad can win Neomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
 Five Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies! March 27, 2008
20 out of 23 found this review helpful
A slow descent into madness. That is the life of Conrad Wroth, a vampire warrior. For each kill he makes, the memories of his foes become his own. With each additional kill, the voices in his head become more pronounced until he can't differentiate between his thoughts and thoughts of his defeated enemies. Knowing that insanity is his final reward, he is determined to kill those who made him into the monster he is - his brothers.
Hoping to save their brother from the madness that is overwhelming him, Nikolai, Sebastian and Murdoch capture the defiant Conrad and imprison him in an old, vacant mansion. They don't see the apparition that Conrad sees - the ghostly vision of a stunningly beautiful woman, sure to drive him to further madness as desire begins to consume him.
Neomi Laress has been in a non-corporeal form since her tragic death eighty years ago. Not seen or heard by others, she is astounded that the madman now occupying her home can see her. Though his form is fine, his uncontrollable rages make Neomi cautious. Her presence seems to slightly calm the beast, while his presence brings some brightness to her isolated world. The two begin a mutual journey that could very well be their salvation, or their final destruction.
First, let me say that I have been thoroughly captivated by Cole's well developed world of the Lore. Upon hearing the concept of this book, admittedly I was concerned. How could the author deliver a satisfying romantic pairing between an insane vampire and a ghostly apparition? My uncertainty was quickly put to rest. From the very first page, Kresley Cole hypnotically pulled me into another romantic adventure of her Immortals After Dark Series with DARK NEEDS AT NIGHT'S EDGE.
I never should have doubted the ability of this prolific writer. With a talent for paranormal that has no equal, Ms. Cole creates a hero of dark driven needs and a bold heroine of strength and courage. Conrad Wroth is power personified, but with an irrepressible rage that he struggles to contain after his first meeting with Neomi. His attraction to the lovely ghost competes with his need for revenge. With a strength born of her long imprisonment as a ghost, Neomi is daringly attracted to unattainable life as well as the powerful vampire. The unlikely pairing of these two contrary personas is both compelling and breathtaking.
Prepare yourself for a wickedly exhilarating ride through the world of the Lore with Kresley Cole's latest offering. I can't recommend Conrad and Neomi's book enough. Fabulous, Ms. Cole! Simply fabulous!
Can a *ghost* tempt a deadly Vampire out of total darkness?.....or is he simply far too mad? April 21, 2008
19 out of 23 found this review helpful
Dangerous 'turned' vampire, Conrad Wroth, is imprisoned by his brothers in an abandoned mansion. Controlled by his bloodlust and plagued by the horrific memories of his victims, the mercenary slowly edges closer to insanity. There, on the eerie estate, a beautiful confined phantom, Neomi, haunts the grounds. A spirit that no one can see, touch or hear. An insignificant being. That is, until she discovers that there is one person who can *see* her. A force deep within Conrad calls to this woman. But he can't seem to resist the extreme pull of his darker side. And a desperate Neomi longs to be *bodily* again, willing to do anything. Their needs and desires will them to be together. If only that were possible.
Another great installment in The Immortals After Dark series. Unlike its predecessor, Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (The Immortals After Dark, Book 3), this book can be read as a stand alone. Although I recommend reading the series in order because the other books are just so darn good!
Also unlike in all the other books, the hero starts out as a completely vile villain. But Cole (author) manages to make him a sympathetic character without somehow losing his dark edge. And Neomi is another eyebrow raising character for a heroine -no body. Huh? -what are the love scenes like? You won't get it from me! ;). So both characters are similar due to there own uniqueness from any I've ever read. Two people (if you will) looking for something they may likely never be able to have because of physical (Neomi) and mental (Conrad) roadblocks. How sad is that!
And as usual, along with those great characterizations, steamy love scenes and intriguing plot, there are plenty of interesting surprises and tons of teasers for future books (especially the next one, Dark Desires After Dusk (The Immortals After Dark, Book 5)). Previous couples also make appearances, markedly Mariketa & Bowen (who else is in love with this werewolf?).
So this book is another keeper for me. Hmmmm....demons are next. Wonder whats up with those horns -*wiggling eyebrows* ;). LOL!
How a petite ballet dancer brought a raging mad vampire to his knees... April 26, 2008
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
IMMORTALS AFTER DARK SERIES:
Playing Easy To Get (Anthology that includes an IAD novella to kick- off the series)
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest For The Wicked
Wicked Deeds On A Winter's Night
Dark Needs At Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
The girl can write! Kresley Cole delivered another winner. This story brings back the main couple from "Wicked Deeds", as well as The Wroth brothers (Nikolai from "Playing Easy", Sebastian from "No Rest", and Murdoch whose story we are eagerly awaiting), to play major roles.
The fourth Wroth brother is named Conrad. Of the four vampire brothers, only Conrad became a "fallen" vampire... one who takes blood straight from the vain. By taking "living blood", Conrad also receives the memories of his victims. With 300 years of collected memories tormenting his mind, Conrad is at the peek of madness. His brothers have one chance to imprison Conrad and try to help him get well. Otherwise, Kristoff, the king of vampires, will have Conrad hunted down and slain. Nikolai has purchased an old abandoned home in New Orleans. It is the perfect place to hide Conrad with the bespelled chains that will hold him prisoner during his recovery.
Neomi has lived in her dream home, Elancourt, for eighty years. As a young and successful ballet dancer, she bought and restored the home with a loving touch. She never could have imagined it would become the scene of her murder. When her enraged ex- fiance plunged a knife through her heart, Neomi couldn't bare to die. Fighting her passing with every last breath, Neomi's spirit stayed in her home. For the next 8 decades, she remained in Elancourt as a ghostly prisoner, never able to leave her property.
In her loneliness, Neomi prays for new tenants to move into her home. Her quiet and mundane existence comes to a startling end when three men bring their mad brother into Elancourt. Dragging his chains across her marble floors, punching holes into her walls, this madman is not welcome... until Neomi learns that Conrad can see and speak to her. For the first time in 80 years, Neomi is not isolated.
Over the following weeks, Conrad and Neomi become precious to one another. They cannot touch, but they can communicate. Secrets of their pasts are shared, but neither holds any hope for a happy future. Neomi dreads the day when Conrad will leave her home. Conrad begins to make plans for finding a sorcerer who can give Neomi a corporeal body. Although there is no way to prove it while she has no physical shell, Conrad is becoming convinced that his little ballerina is actually his destined Bride. As the two fall in love, they can only express their desire through words of fantasy mating. Some how, once his enemies are no longer a threat, Conrad is going to find a way to make those spoken fantasies reality. Knowing that a vampire's Bride is his enemy's best weapon, Conrad must first slay his would be assassins. To avoid sinking back into madness, he must do it without taking their blood.
I struggled a bit between giving this book 4 or 5 stars. My one complaint is the fact that most of the story took place in Elancourt. I missed Cole's usual exciting adventures. I found myself waiting and waiting for the couple to break out of the home and travel together a bit. There were only a few times when the story left Elancourt, and none of them were with Conrad and Neomi leaving together. Still, the intense love story won me over. All told, the score would be 4.5 stars. Definitely not to be missed!
Want to read the whole series? (Believe me, you do!) Here are the links:
Playing Easy to Get (Anthology that includes the first IAD story... Nikolai's story!)
A Hunger Like No Other (The Immortals After Dark Series, Book 1) (The best of the series so far, and one of my personal all- time favorite romance novels!)
No Rest for the Wicked (The Immortals After Dark, Book 2)
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (The Immortals After Dark, Book 3)
Dark Needs at Night's Edge (The Immortals After Dark Series, Book 4)
Dark Desires After Dusk (The Immortals After Dark, Book 5)
Can't get enough Kresley? Here is her latest historical romance series:
The MacCarrick Brothers Series:
If You Dare (The MacCarrick Brothers, Book 1)
If You Desire (The MacCarrick Brothers, Book 2)
If You Deceive (The MacCarrick Brothers, Book 3)
This is how you write a ghost as a romantic lead! April 19, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Do not be turned off at the thought of a ghost as a romantic lead! Having been burned in the past by other authors on this score, I was initially skeptical. But Cole does an excellent job of leaving both the reader (and characters!) not just satisfied but very happy with the ending. 'Dark Needs At Night's Edge' offers a fresh twist to her IAD series and is an excellent addition.
The Immortals After Dark series just keeps getting better April 27, 2008
8 out of 13 found this review helpful
When Neomi Laress, a prima ballerina in the 1920s, was murdered by her jilted ex-fiance, her spirit remained fused with her New Orleans home, Elancourt. For 80 years, Neomi wandered the rooms of Elancourt, lonely, bored, and with only the newspaper for reliable entertainment. Neomi doesn't cherish her existence as a ghost, but rather accepts it and all that comes with it--including being forced to relive her brutal death every month on the night of the sliver moon. When the Wroth brothers, feared vampires who are members of the Forbearers (a group of vampires who refuse to drink directly from the vein), bring their brother Conrad into her midst, at first Neomi is eager for the company. But when she sees the violent madman in her haven, she begins to wonder if she was right to be so eager...
Conrad Wroth was changed into a vampire by his brother Nikolai, without approval or consent. Hating what he is, Conrad has devoted his life to getting even with his brothers, and he will see them dead for what they are. In the meantime, he has built a name for himself as an assassin, and a deadly one at that. Drinking the blood of his enemies, Conrad has become strong with the power of numerous immortals, though the price for that power is retaining the memories of those who he has murdered, which manifest as hallucinations that border on madness. When his brothers catch up with him in New Orleans, Conrad is ready for a fight. When they bind him in mystical chains and keep him prisoner in a haunted mansion, he vows revenge, even as he becomes fascinated with the ghostly ballerina who lives there...
Dark Needs at Night's Edge is the fourth book in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series (the first three are, in order, A Hunger Like No Other (The Immortals After Dark Series, Book 1), No Rest for the Wicked, and Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (The Immortals After Dark, Book 3)) and I have to say that this is one series that just keeps getting better.
Fans of this series will remember the Wroth brothers, Nikolai (who finds his Bride in Myst the Valkyrie in the short story collection Playing Easy to Get), Sebastian (who mates with Kaderin the Coldhearted in No Rest for the Wicked), and Murdoch (who mates with Daniela the Ice Maiden in the upcoming short story collection Not That Innocent). After learning about their history in the earlier books, I had an image of Conrad as coldhearted, a man without remorse who killed for pleasure--and for me, there's no hero in that. But Kresley Cole has a way of changing my mind about things, and in this story has crafted Conrad as a man on the verge, who can only be brought back by the love of his true Bride. The transformation that overcomes Conrad when he encounters Neomi, and the way he reforms over time just proves that you should never say never. Conrad went from being a bloodthirsty lunatic to a devoted mate, willing to do anything, sacrifice without measure, and move mountains to ensure his true love's happiness. The fact that the woman in question was a ghost didn't stop him, and he became determined to help Neomi find her corporeal self.
And Neomi. I do love Kresley Cole's heroines because these women aren't shrinking violets; they give as good as they get, and Neomi is no exception. The idea of the heroine as a ghost has been done before and badly (think Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5)), so I was a little leery about this choice. But Neomi is infused with character and doesn't just sit back and accept that she will remain bound to her home for all eternity. She knows what she wants--Conrad--and she's willing to do anything to get him. It also helps that she's sultry, a former burlesque dancer, and doesn't just bend to Conrad's will. When he fights with her, or his rage returns, she either sends him on his way or puts him in his place. Delightful!
The Immortals After Dark series gets better with each new story, and Kresley Cole as a writer continues to hone her talents, delivering dazzling new characters and infinitely more creative plots with every new offering. This series is one to cherish, and I can't wait for the next story Dark Desires After Dusk (The Immortals After Dark, Book 5) (where Cade the rage demon finds his mate), which comes out in May.
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