The way it played to me was that the minor tragedy of Holly’s past experiences (which I personally would consider worth it to build to the explosion that is sex with Cade) is that they didn’t have to be failures. It’s just that the two guys were totally unprepared for her. One was 16 and probably having his first sexual encounter; the other was a college freshman with not much more, if any more, experience. I don’t think it would be impossible to find more compatible human partners who could handle her level of sexuality and potential to be physically dominant. As it is, I’ve always figured that Regan’s reincarnated love is human in at least some of his lives. The likely differences with Greta and Regan would be that humans weren’t necessarily their first lovers, both were aware of their Valkyrie nature and knew what to expect and embrace about their sexuality, and neither was walking a razor’s edge of repression and disordered behavior to maintain their sanity.

All that added up to some terrible, but not inevitable, sexual experiences for Holly. I still say they were worth it since they lead to the opportunity to release 10 years' (since that first time) worth of pent up Valkyrie passion with a man/demon like Cade.

You won’t be hearing from me for a while.

Also, one thing I found really refreshing and different about Cade is his complete sexual confidence and comfort in his sexuality. Alpha heroes usually are, but more in the sense that they're confident their attractiveness will overpower the heroine's reluctance, and use it to dominate her either emotionally or physically.

With Cade, it was just all out there, so it drew Holly out, I felt, in a way that was so much more emotionally satisfying to me, as the reader.

I wonder if that’s because most of those alphas who use their sexuality to dominate the heroine aren’t comfortable with the *heroine’s* sexuality, especially as it is present outside the hero’s experience.

One of Cade’s most attractive qualities, IMO, is that he doesn’t take the guilt he feels about what happened with Rydstrom and his foster family out on Holly. Yeah, he’s trying to make things right, but that doesn’t become an excuse to be a complete a-hole to her every other page. And it’s not so much that Cade isn’t a complex character; it’s more, I think, that he’s not such a tormented person.

One question, though, that I couldn’t remember the answer to as I read: why will Cade’s horns grow back, but Rydstrom’s remain damaged? Is that part of Omort’s curse (I seem to remember something from No Rest For the Wicked, but I can’t find the book right now)?

With Cade, it was just all out there, so it drew Holly out, I felt, in a way that was so much more emotionally satisfying to me, as the reader.

It’s definitely my favorite of them so far, with the novella close behind.

JLFerg: thanks for posting that; it’s still not on Fictionwise, but I assume it will be soon.

So, if one key point is how Holly is much stronger than humans, causing all the trauma in the past, how, then did Greta, a fully ancient Valkyrie who presumably was stronger than Holly was before her full strength was released, manage to have sex with the human “great love” of her life??

My sense is that a Valkyrie doesn’t *have* to physically harm her partner, but Holly is so OCD, and so controlled, that she doesn’t seem to do anything in moderation. So because she suppressed every impulse and feeling, she would be, like totally out of control sexually (or at least be afraid of that). So when she’s finally with Cade, and totally let’s loose, there are a lot of years of control that are being unwound, whipping her up into a virtual frenzy.

Maybe someone else has a better explanation, though.

Dearest Niece,
Welcome to the family at last!

This letter will explain more that I didn’t have time to. Inside your welcome package you’ll find two books. One is the story of our origin and a record of the Valkyrie’s noblest warriors. Your mother’s history is among them.

Your father was a human civil engineer, the great love of Greta’s life. He was killed in a revenge hit for one of her vampire raids before Greta even knew about you.

Greta was heartbroken to give you up, but it’s the Valkyrie way to relinquish human offspring. And we all thought you were mortal. She did it with love in her heart for you. Never doubt that.

The second book will explain some of the aspects of this new world you’ve found yourself thrust into. Read both tomes. There will be a quiz-Now, 1 know that you expressed some doubts about staying a Valkyrie…

But 1 ask that you at least give Vdkyrism a sporting try. All the cool kids are doing it. And all you have to do is embrace everything you’ve ever feared and shunned for the last twenty years. Simple enough!

Lick Cade’s horns for me, and, yes, you can treat him like a hireling if you wish, because that is certainly what he is-’and what he’s used to.

Two tips: If you need to be certain that your erstwhile guardian is telling you the truth about anything, make him “vow it to the Lore.” And if you don’t want to get pregnant, don’t eat. Valkyrie are infertile if they don’t consume the fruits of the earth.

Warmly,
Nix, Proto-Valkyrie, Soothsayer without Equal,
Demigoddess, your loving auntie

I thought Nix told Holly that her dad was a HUMAN engineer (so I concluded the reference to part fury comes from her mom)? That point bothered me in subsequent passages whenever I read how a Valkyrie can only have sex with the likes of Demons.

Amy, here’s how I understand it: Holly’s father was a human engineer, but the Lore aspects of her, once released, take over and transform her into an immortal. She is also the Vessel, which requires her to be of the Lore, but not necessarily Valkyrie, IIRC. I don’t remember anything about Valkyrie being able only to mate with demons (Myst and Emma are mated with other Lore species), but it is true that only if Cade is Holly’s mate will he produce sperm when they have sex (so he can only impregnate her if they are mated, I guess). I *think* that’s correct, but I could be wrong. The longer the series goes on, the more rules we have to try to remember, lol.

Wendy: Cade is the first hero, I think, who I loved as much as the heroine. I don’t know what that says, lol, that my favorite is the raunchy, slobbish demon, but there it is.

Josie: I hope you’re reading and liking it!

limecello: I understand what you’re saying about not reading reviews. I don’t care about spoilers, so it’s not a biggie to me, but it is fun, after you’ve read a book, to see what others have said about it, IMO.

Sarah: I would probably like AHLNO better now that I’ve gotten into the whole series, and I should probably go back and re-read it. I was talking to a friend of mine about it the other day, and the things that bothered me didn’t register with her at all. Thank goodness the series is so rich that not every hero and heroine are the same.

For the record, I love Kresley Cole (as my stalking of the barnes&noble website dictates), and AHLNO was my absolute favourite book of all time. I thought Lochlain was the perfect tormented hero, and both characters showed tremendous growth throughout the book. Kaderin’s book was my least favourite – haven’t even glanced at it since I finished it.

Fellow Aussie Sarah: Galaxy Books (www.galaxybooks.com.au) had a bundle of these yesterday… They’re in Sydney city or otherwise you can order online. They usually get all paranormal releases in around the same time as the States.

Katie, I love Nix! She’s so awesome with her comments about Cade’s horns and the Mike thing as well. She cracks me up!