Oh, let me tell you about this book I read back some time ago. I found it accidentally in the trope of unwilling heroines and headstrong stupid alpha males. and the book is written by Kresley Cole. You might have known about her Her Immortals After Dark series. it was like a literary addiction for me back when I didn't discover Maas's destruction. So, let's talk about Lothaire.
Immortals After Dark series contains characters who are like tightrope walkers on the moral spectrum. The world here is brutal and dangerous where there are too many creatures and too much enmity that goes on for millennia. I haven't read all of the books because there are many books but I have read some. It contains fierce ancient immortal warriors who fight tooth and nail to survive, and frankly, some of them are teetering on the edge of madness. You see, immortality in this world isn't all sunshine and rainbows; it comes with a side of constant paranoia about getting decapitated or brutally tortured by your supernatural adversaries. Fun, right?
I have read Lothaire so I want to talk about it. I hear He had some show-stealing entrance in the previous book which I haven't read. But in "Lothaire," he takes center stage, and he's the only character in the entire book. I'll be honest; Lothaire is one complicated and sometimes stupid (in an annoying way) character. I have mixed feelings about him as I neither love him nor loathe him. Most of the time, he is just too much 😭. Sometimes he is nice, sometimes he is confused, sometimes annoying, sometimes douchey-no wait most of the time douchey.
The epilogue in the book gives the back story of Lothaire's life before he became a vampire, back when he was just an innocent eight-year-old boy who reveled in puzzles and cherished his beloved puppy. It's in this glimpse that we witness the haunting transformation that would eventually turn him into the heartless and ruthless killer we see today. And to think, it all began with that innocent puppy.
Lothaire's quest in this story is to rule every kingdom he can in the Lore and in Dacia but to do that, he needs an immortal bride. Her name is Saroya, a cursed goddess who inhabits mortal bodies. Lothaire meets Saroya while she's in the body of a teenage Appalachian girl named Ellie Peirce. From the get-go, he's convinced Saroya is his bride, and he's determined to free her from her mortal prison so they can rule together. Unfortunately for Ellie, Saroya has a tendency to go on murderous rampages, landing Ellie on death row.
What follows is a battle of wills between Lothaire and Ellie. She's no shrinking violet; she's ready to go down in flames and decides to enjoy herself before her impending doom. Ellie is a force to be reckoned with, and she knows exactly how to play Lothaire's desires against him. Their interactions are a riot, with Lothaire coming off as both adorable and douchey. His analytical mind is thrown for a loop by Ellie, who keeps him guessing at every turn. The sexual tension between them could melt an egg on a hot pavement, and the love scenes are some of Kresley's best.
In the end, "Lothaire" is an intense character-driven book about two people with nothing to lose engaging in a battle of wits. Ellie is a heroine like no other, and watching Lothaire fall for her is a delightful experience. Kresley Cole has a way of drawing you into her world and leaving you hungry for more, and "Lothaire" is no exception.