Review: The Dacian by Kresley Cole

Shadow's Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament—to the death. He won't be denied... Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people, striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore's most fearsome villains. She's bound to another... Desperate to earn her guardians' approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she's lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure. A battle for her body and soul... Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina's heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium's worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina's own desires to a fever-pitch...

My Review:

I must admit...in the beginning Bettina got on my nerves a little and I wanted to smack her around.  I can understand puppy love..but she had it to an extreme.  But without her annoying obsession with the other  demon, the story line wouldn't have been so satisfying.  Bettina was the essence of innocence as far as love went, and she was in love with her childhood hero.  They grew up together, both orphans and struggling to make it in their new found roles and relying on each other for support.  So I can understand why Bettina loved him...even though she knew he wasn't her mate and kept fighting against it.

Trehan was drawn to her from the beginning and was my absolute favorite character.  He was everything a haunted honorable hero should be.   He also had so much to overcome to win her heart.  The odds are stacked against him at every angle and he must fight everyone to claim his bride...even Bettina herself.

Bettina grows throughout the story and in the end I enjoyed her character as well.  She wasn't the tough bad-ass female character we are used to from Kresley...but in the end..it didn't make her any less enjoyable.  Not to mention the scorching hot sex scenes, and a story line that blows you away.  Everything you would expect from a great author!!

1/2