A-Z Challenge: "N" is for Nïx the Ever-Knowing

A-Z Challenge again!  "N" is for the Valkyrie, Nïx - the Ever-Knowing, from Kresley Cole's Immortal After Dark series.   Despite her secondary character status, Nix, a.k.a. Nucking Futs Nix is larger than her immortal life in this best-selling paranormal romance series.  Since Book 1, Cole's characters have made an impression and continue to do so with each novel.  It's an art for a writer to weave in secondary characters to the point where the fans demand their story.  Nix is one of those beloved characters.

Nucking Futs Nix

For those that aren't familiar with the Valkyrie, here's a brief description:  
“When a maiden warrior screams for courage as she dies in battle, Wóden and Freya heed her call. The two gods give up lightning to strike her, rescuing her to their hall, and preserving her courage forever in the form of the maiden’s immortal Valkyrie daughter.  Valkyrie take sustenance from the electrical energy of the earth, sharing it in one collective power, and give it back with their emotions in the form of lightning. Possess preternatural strength and speed. Also called Swan Maidens, Shield Maidens. Enemies of the Horde."  

In the series, Nïx the Ever-Knowing is the first born Valkyrie who is a soothsayer.  Her visions have made her semi-deranged, but her humor has made her endearing.  She sees the future more clearly than the present.  Hence her craziness.  Like most of the female characters, her witty dialogue is infectious.  Here's a couple of samples:

"Nix: “Once I faced a female with diamond skin,” Nïx said breathlessly. “I was transfixed—even as she was choking the life out of me.” “Really?” “No, I saw that character on X-Men. I just wanted to commiserate. Alas, I have no weaknesses.”  ―  Kresley Cole, Pleasure of a Dark Prince


“Nix: "Do it, or the pictures go live!" Witch shakes her fist at the sky, crying, "Damn you, Valkyrie! Damn you and your digital ways!” ― Kresley Cole, Kiss of a Demon King

Love that Valkyrie! 

What about you?  Are you familiar with the series?  Do you have any favorite secondary characters that your reading or writing?  How much of an emphasis do put on them?

Mina B.

Book Review: Kresley Cole’s Dreams of a Dark Warrior

Kresely Cole’s latest book and 11th in the Immortals After Dark series is Dreams of a Dark Warrior.  Regin the Radient and Aiden the Fierce have quite a past.  Regin, one of the many daughters of the god, Woden, left heaven in search of her sister.  During her quest, Regin met Aiden, a Berserker and a warrior, and their lives were never the same.

Aiden was instantly obsessed with Regin, his godly charge who radiated a mystical glow.  He knew she was meant for him and from that moment, he vowed to protect her.  As a young child and even as a grown woman, Regin considered Aiden a lowly mortal.  As a Valkyrie who was destined to be an immortal, she was intrigued by Aiden but intuitively knew not to fall in love with him.  Even though Aiden was a Berserker - a being with immense power when raged, he was still mortal.  Aiden arrogantly vowed he’d be turned into an immortal, winning ohalla; a gift bestowed by Woden to mortals who fought 200 battles in his name.  That never happened, not in Aiden’s lifetime.  And their eternal curse set not too long after he claimed her for his own.

Several centuries later and during Aiden’s fifth reincarnation, Regin is captured by Declan Chase.  He’s Aiden’s reincarnation – that's for sure – and he’s a screwed up, militant-type guy, whose job is to collect, cage or kill immortals. Chase works as a hunter for the Order, a secret, specialized operation that considers all immortals as monsters. Chase is dark and menacing. He follows his orders no questions asked until he meets Regin and begins breaking all the rules.

What I loved about this book was how screwed up the characters were.  Regin’s mind was warped after repeatedly finding and living briefly with Aiden’s reincarnations. Each one of them different yet somehow still Aiden.  She had mere moments of bliss with all of them and then they died, forcing her to live in perpetual hell without her true mate.  Chase, has such an effed up past, it’s a wonder he doesn’t kill all immortals on site.  These two were a pair.

The story captivated me from the start, which is typical Kresley Cole style.  Aiden and Regin have such history together is makes sense their relationship would be doomed.  Still, Cole manages to bring it home, and beautifully too. I really liked this book…not only for his romantic elements but for its complexity of truly dark and mysterious characters.  Dreams of a Dark Warrior was easily a 4 for me.

Until next time…read anything by Kresley Cole and you won’t be disappointed.

Mina B.

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Kresley Cole's Dreams of a Dark Warrior

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