We just don’t see werewolves and faerie kings duke it out often enough. Luckily, we’ve pitted the dangerous and possessive werewolf Charles Cornick against the powerful, creative and quick King Dorian in Round 2 of the Alpha Showdown 2012.
Read the pitches, then make the call. Who should advance to the next round in the Alpha Showdown? The poll at the end of this post will be open for two days. Remember, alphas don’t share titles. Your votes decide who advances in the Alpha Showdown 2012.
You know him from: Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs
First appeared in: Technically, Charles first shows up in Moon Called (Buy it at Amazon), the first Mercedes Thompson book, but later appears more prominently in the Alpha and Omega novella Cry Wolf (Buy it at Amazon).
Supernatural status: Werewolf
Championed by: Jennifer from The Book Nympho (a.k.a. @TheBookNympho)
Charles Cornick is a silent and deadly werewolf, who is dominant enough to back down an alpha of a pack without drawing on the strength of his alpha. He has been his pack’s top enforcer for more than one hundred years. Charles prefers to go without reinforcements to a kill because he believes that more wolves tend to muck things up. He is so superior at his job that even members of his own pack are afraid of him.
Charles draws on his skills in martial arts and his magic skills he received from his mother’s side of the family to help him in his job as assassin for his father and alpha, Bran. He thinks of his job as enforcer as carrying out justice, but at the same time he tries not to hate himself for being good at killing.
Charles is very much in touch with his wolf; he calls him brother wolf and uses him as his guide in many things. And like all werewolves he is dangerous, angry and possessive. Do not try to harm or take what is his.
You know him from: Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan Series:
First appeared in: Dark Swan book 1, Storm Born (VBC review, Buy it at Amazon)
Supernatural status: Fae King of the Oak land in the Otherworld
Championed by: Pamela a.k.a. @SpazP | her blog
“Dorian used to watch you like a starving man who wants meat. Now he looks at you like he wants seconds.”
Dorian is the ultimate seductive Fae king with a healthy taste for bondage, and a huge hard-on for power… and Eugenie.
His bright, jewel-toned red hair and elegantly beautiful features are enticing by themselves, but are also his greatest weapon, easily leading others to underestimate him, something they only do once. He is very open with his sexuality, as sex is like breathing to the Fae, and he openly expresses his affections for Eugenie. He is conceited and self-absorbed, and yet how much more alluring is it when we realize he’d truly give up his Kingdom, and ultimately sacrifice himself, for Eugenie. HOT.
“That’s the last time you’re going to kiss me,” I warned when it ended.
He smiled knowingly, and in his eyes, I could see his own memories of that night. “So you say.”
Did I mention how incredibly arrogant he is? I did? And yet the arrogance will have you fanning yourself and wanting to slap Eugenie for being so reluctant to hook up with him. Exceptionally politically savvy, he knows the ins and outs of the Otherworld, and knowledge is power, which is also very exciting. Dorian is a character that wins you over and has you falling in love with him, despite himself. His teases are overflowing with sexual innuendo, and his playful nature is extremely hot, but when he takes Eugenie to task with her training, it only jacks up the heat further.
“You are the most boring teacher ever.”
He grinned and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, just as a knock sounded at the door. “It all depends on what you want me to teach you.”
Once Dorian makes it clear that he has to have Eugenie, he will not settle until he has her. He is the one person to stand behind Eugenie when she goes through a horrifically violent act, when nobody else will. Fiercely loyal, playfully sexual, unquestionably powerful, ruthlessly political, and passionately wicked… Dorian the baddest and hottest beast in here. He will kick your ass to the other side of the universe, while you’re still in a trance induced by his level of hotness.
How can you not LOVE Charles Cornick!
Only because I haven’t read King Dorian’s book. Damn good into for it, I just bought it.
my vote goes to Charles!…..
Has to be Charles!
I’m shocked that Charles has any votes at all!! King Dorian is HOT!
I love Dorian, but Charles can take down just about anybody.
Charles!!!
Charles!
Hm Haven’t read either of them, but Dorian sounds like V’lane, so he gets my vote (but can’t wait to meet Charles as well) 🙂
Dorian is hot, but Charles is hot AND dominant. He would wipe the floor with Dorian!
I just finished Fair Game last week & Charles is hot, hot, hot in that book. Charles has my vote!!
it was a toss-up for me, but had to go with charles in the end… though that scene with dorian and his skill with ropes almost pushed me in his direction 🙂
Go charles!!
Sadly, I haven’t read Storm Born yet…but I’ve got a thing for men with red hair and an avid interest in sex…so have to vote for Dorian. ;p
I like your reasoning, Kiera. (And you will love Dorian, if you give the Dark Swan books a try.)
I love that answer! 😉
Dorian is one of my favorite characters from a book- ever! He can’t be losing! Charles may be many things, but he’s not a king.
I have never read any of Richelle Mead’s books but that description alone will now has me interested. I still had to vote for my Charles though. How can I not. He is fiercely protective of Anna. And he knows how to get every aspect of everything he does- DONE.
Yep Charles all the way. But will be reading RM’s books. Thank you VBC for the tip.
This was a very, very tough one for me…
Oh, Dorian. sigh…
dorian all the way! :]
Dorian all the way :)!
Charles Cornick. Dorian’s a JERK – and before you ask, I have read the ‘Dark Swan’ series.
my vote goes to charles he is a bad ass
I like them both. I’m not surprised that the votes are close! I have to go with Charles though!
I haven’t read either of these, but my vote went to Charles. Dorian was championed mostly for his sexual prowess, which is hot and all and makes me want to read his series, but just being good in bed doesn’t make an alpha to me.
I haven’t read either of the books yet (although Moon Called is on my TBR pile) so I’m going solely on the descriptions here and both characters are intriguing. I chose Charles, due to the descriptions he seems like the more kick ass of the two (fighting wise). I do have to say, I almost chose Dorian, there is something about a guy willing to give everything up for the one they love that is just so.. HOT! Shame this isn’t a hotness contest =D
Dorian is a Fae ki g with the power over earth and stone! He can pick up giant rocks with his mind, hurl enormous stones, build bridges across vast lakes, etc. Yes, he’s hot hot hot, but he’s also a total badass!!!
This was a really tough choice but I know deep down that Charles is a good guy and I’m still not sure about Dorian so I had to vote for Charles …besides he is yummy sounding.
I just finished reading Moon Called and I had to vote for Charles!
Of course Charles. He is a bad assed werewolf. He is sexy with his long beautiful hair. He is his fathers enforcer and is good at it. He can show love, especially with Anna. Love this series and love Charles and the gang.
I think Charles is winning simply because not as many people have read the Swan books which in my opinion are a must they are sooo good. I like the Alpha and Omega books to don’t get me wrong but I love King Dorian. I wish there were more books coming out in this series.
It’s got to be Dorian. He is a King while Charles is just an enforcer for his father. Dorian didn’t become King by being the son of the previous King – He had to wrestle power from the earth of the land and then he molded it to his bidding to make it become the Oak Land. He doesn’t need an enforcer because he is so alpha that none of his subjects would even dream of disobeying him. He holds what’s his.
I haven’t read the novel/series with Charles Cornick. It seems good so maybe soon.
I have, however, read Dark Swan. So Dorian all the way!
Oh, Dorian, hands down. Any guy who can level an entire castle just by blinking, makes me laugh whenever he shows up AND is as cute (and hot) as he is, gets my vote.
Yeah, Dorian’s description isn’t very helpful to those who haven’t read the books. It describes why he’s hot but not why he’s alpha. Anyway, I have to vote for him. He could quickly encase Charles in earth or stone and it’s over.
Dorian all the way!
YEAH! Charles kicked butt!
I didnt get to vote but I would have voted for Charles. Now this Dorian character is very interesting…..im going to get the first book in the Dark Swan Series.
while I do love Dorian I have to go with Charles