Search - A Deep Kiss of Winter

First off, I'm not a big fan of anthologies. They usually mean I end up spending money on a book I will only read 150 pages of because I only care about one of the authors or because that story fits into a series somewhere and I'm a consummate completest. This one was even more annoying because it came out in hardcover. I sucked it up and bought it any way because Kresley Cole is one of my favorite authors, and the Immortals After Dark series is addictive. So I'm reviewing specifically her story, Untouchable. I may eventually go back and read Gena Showalters (I am a fan of some of her work) but for now I just focused on Daniela and Murdoch.

Second point: I realize full well that this was intended as a winter holiday/Christmas book, but I read it in July. Oops. Actually, while the theme is ice and Christmas is briefly mentioned, it's not very Christmasy. I found the cold theme oddly refreshing.

Now, to the story: Basically, Daniella is a valkyrie but she was born to and Icere mother. The Icere are people of the cold, their bodies are cold, and warmth of any kind is deadly to them. For Danii that means contact with and non-Icere beings burns painfully, and getting overheated is a constant concern. When it's discovered that she is Murdoch's Bride (his fated mate), their inability to touch physically presents a huge problem.

The characters were surprisingly well rounded, considering that their developement had to take place in only 250 pages. Without the usual action/adventure sequences typical of the series, Cole focuses almost entirely on their core problem as a couple. I liked that. Danii's desperation to be loved and feel physical affection is heartbreaking. Murdoch, meanwhile, was somewhat of a rake when human--commiting to one woman, let alone one he cannot touch, is frustrating and life altering for him. I liked them as a couple. They certainly aren't my favorite of the series, but I wouldn't expect them to be.

I would like to say that Kresley Cole is one of the most endlessly creative authors I've encountered. The settings--like the cabin in Siberia that's magically iced over--take you to another world. The sex scenes are inventive. The characters are unique and interesting. Even the secondary characters are well rounded and likeable (Nix being my standing favorite).

Now the negatives: The overlapping timelines drive me crazy. If you've read the series up to this point, you know what I'm talking about. I usually don't file them under "negative" because while they are confusing, they're also a lot of fun. But in this case, in such a short novel, trying to shove in those context clues so that we as readers will know what part of the story arch we're in...I think it was a miss calculation on Cole's part. It felt like she had to work to make the story fit, and so I had to work to make it ok in my own head. Just a bit of a stretch.

I also kind of thought that the final solution to Danii and Murdoch's problem was SO OBVIOUS. No, I won't spoil it because maybe it isn't that immediately obvious to all readers. I just thought it was a bit lazy, and when it came to that point I said "Umm, duh?" and was left feeling a bit disapointed.

Overall, it's a good story. Worth the purchase of a full priced hardcover? Not really. But worth a read if you can get it otherwise.

I enjoyed the story by Kresley Cole. It meshed will with the other Immortals after Dark stories. As a shorter story, it was a little less compelling--I think there just aren't enough pages for as much character development and story line twists. It also provided some fun glimpses of past characters & what is going on in their lives.

I did not care for the story by Gena Showalter. I thought it was very superficial and the "tie it all up at the end" ending did nothing for me. A little more character development and a little less time spent on their intimate relationship would have been welcome. This story would get two stars.

Good combination of stories. I liked both authors before reading this book and wasn't disappointed with the content. Neither story had the depth to stand up as full novels so I feel that the short story anthology was a good choice for the publisher. If you are new to either series, it might be best to read previous full novels before these stories just to simply understand some of the elements better.

Untouchable - Kresley Cole- 4 Stars - This is the story of the 4th Wroth brother Murdoch and his Ice Fey/Valkyrie Daniela. I was surprised to see that this book covered the time period from when Nikolai met Myst to when Conrad found Nèomi and beyond. Stubborn immortal pride ruled once again in this book. Sometimes I wish the characters would get over themselves a bit faster but I wouldn't be on the edge of my seat with anticipation if they did. That just proves that authors know best sometimes *smile* I enjoyed this story very much. Daniela and Murdoch are great characters though Nix continues to be my favorite. I am excited to see how this series continues to unfold.

A can't miss it read in the Kresley Cole series!
This is Murdoch Wroth and Daniela the Ice Maiden's love story...
Daniela, the Ice Maiden Valkyrie is part ice-fey... and can never feel the touch of another unless they too are ice-fey. She becomes Murdoch Wroth, the vampire's bride. He can't claim her because his touch burns her... however, they do find interesting ways to get intimate :) Love the ending... fascinating way to fix the problem!!
A good read! I love this series!

Kresley Cole's "Untouchable": Murdoch Wroth and Ice Queen Daniela's story was a wonderful and well written tale. Also, it is good to see that the Wroth brothers are now all together with their Brides. As always Ms. Cole spins great dialog with intriguing characters. I liked the way she developed this story within the background of finding the other brothers.

Gena Showalter "Tempt Me Eternally": This one on the other hand seemed forced. Aleaha Love is colorful and feisty, but come on: What she did to Breean to get away from him? I'm sure that could have been written a different way.