“A Book Published This Year” 2015 Challenge; DEAD OF WINTER by Kresley Cole

The moment I got the challenge, I knew this would be the book for this topic.  I’ve had it pre-reserved at the library since I finished the last book in the series.  Even though, this book could definitely be used for the “love triangle” topic, I’m sticking to my original placement.  Since this book was first published on January 6, 2015, it works perfectly for my “A book Published This Year” topic in the reading challenge.  Keep reading to see if it was worth it!

 

DEAD OF WINTER by Kresley Cole

Book 3 in the Arcana Chronicles

 

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

 

Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.

Heartbreaking decisions
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, the Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.

Uncertain victory
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on the Lovers. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.

Two heroes returned
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first...?

 

 

MY REVIEW

5 out of 5 *Stars*

 

You know, all this time I was kicking myself because I started to read a review for this book and its first sentence was that this book ended just like the previous one had.  All through the book, I was getting more and more into the storyline, but didn’t get too excited because I “knew how it would end”.  Boy, was I thrown for a curveball!  By the time it ended, I was slack jawed and practically pulling my hair out because I wanted more, and I knew I would be waiting over a year to find out what happened.  Yes, that means there is a mega cliffhanger, and not at all like the last book… BEWARE! 

 

This book was action packed with the basis of a love triangle throughout the whole book.  I see where Evie, the main female character, is coming from.  I‘m just an innocent bystander looking in, and it was even hard for me to choose. Personally, I LOVED the first book in the series.  It’s right up there with being one of my all-time favorites.  The next two books were good too, but there was nothing like reading about Jack and Evie’s start.  That was enough to push me over to “Team Jack”.  It was still hard though.

 

One of Jack’s pitches…

“I told you I couldn’t keep doing life after the Flash, not without you.  That’s changed.  I will go on – ‘cause I got a job to do now – but I will never be right.  I’ve got to feel you with my every step, Evangeline.”

 

One of Aric’s pitches…

 

“So beautiful.  I won’t stop until you’re mine.  I won’t ever rest.  Es tevi milu.”  (Which, of course, means “I love you”.) 

 

See what I mean?  Both yummy and swoon worthy.

 

Moving along…

 

I LOVE the whole concept of this series – Tarot card characters destined to kill each other off and gain immortality.  It’s amazing how much life comes from the pages when the Arcana group together.   Besides the love triangle, this book had fights, suspenseful encounters, and witty banter.  Evie herself made me laugh out loud a few different times.  Whether it be her sometimes quirky personality,

 

“I’d trusted him to steer me through a minefield (talk about a team building exercise).”

 

or when she referenced a classic.

 

“I went all Little Shop of Horrors with those vines.”

 

Wonderful job, Cole.  I was enthralled with the story, but couldn’t help to reflect back to the many times of watching that original movie. 

 

In this book, the Arcana have a plan to save Jack and stick it to The Lovers.  It’s a plan that you can’t help but get behind.  Throughout the book though, we also got the opportunity to get to know the other Arcana.  That was a treat in itself.  A character that you would be more than happy to see exterminated in the beginning, by the end you want to see them survive.  I wanted to be immersed inside of their world, fight zombies and slavers, okay… and maybe take over the discarded male Evie chose not to pick.  That would be my cross to bear.

 

Yes, I definitely recommend this book, but of course and as always, read the other books in the series first.  Ignore the goofy looking people on the cover and try it on for size.  Comment below and let me know what you thought. 

 

14 books down, 38 to go!!

Happy Reading, Everyone!