This has been an intense Alpha Showdown. We have our first ever female alpha in the championship round. We have a newcomer in the finale. And we had some of the hottest contested battles in a long time (more than 10,000 votes when Kane fought Barrons). Take a look at the bracket for a recap of how it all went down.
Kane as proven himself against some all-time favorites like Jane Yellowrock, Mercy Thompson and Barrons. Kate Daniels defeated powerful alphas like Naasir, Raphael and Charles Cornick. This is going to be a hell of a match. Who will win and be crowned victor of Alpha Showdown 2016?
Your votes will decide!
We’ve lined up excellent bloggers to fill you in on why each alpha deserves to advance. Read the pitches, and then make the call.
You know him from: Blackthorn Series by Lindsay J. Pryor
First appeared in: Blood Shadows (Amazon)
Supernatural status: Master Vampire
Championed by: Tracey Rogers from Tracey Rogers Author
They say you always remember your first and you will remember this first timer. Step forward vampire, Kane Malloy. Not just any vampire, Kane, leader of the east side of Blackthorn, is a master vampire. A dual feeder, he’ll take your blood and your energy too. And you’ll thank him for it. With some serious skills, this bad boy can take down both the third and the fourth species.
Master vampire and a master of sex, Kane isn’t purely a vamp of action, he has the cunning label snagged too. He’s a game player, cleverly building his alliances and earning loyalty. He’s waited patiently in the shadows for years, plotting vengeance for the death of his sister, Arana, whilst remaining mindful of the Blackthorn prophecy and the looming war ahead. His enemies fear him and rightly so—with no soul, Kane will dare to go there. You want dark? Kane will go as dark as it gets.
Some say he’s a bad ass anti-hero, I say he’s a bad ass anti-hero—but maybe a little misunderstood. Fiercely protective of those he loves, he has his tender moments. So tender they’ll make you weep. He has a cobra tattoo guarding his heart, but still he let Caitlin in. But this vamp sure as hell doesn’t sparkle. He’ll have males fearing for their lives and females falling at his feet—with only his killer smirk. You’ll definitely want Kane on your side, you’ll want Kane all over you. Did I mention he has skills? Oh and a bow! Luscious navy eyes and a bow. Hello hotness.
‘I’ll make you feel as alive as I can. I’ll make your pulse race and your heart beat so fast it hurts.’ – Blood Dark
You’re asking for an alpha—he’s here. Kane’s loyal to those who deserve his loyalty and ruthless to those who don’t. Please don’t underestimate this vampire, he’s already sussed out the competition and smirked.
You know her from: The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
First appeared in: Magic Bites (VBC Review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: Your guess is as good as mine. Can we just say badass?
Championed by: Amy from VBC
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say most of you are already familiar with Kate Daniels. She’s been one of the staples of the annual Alpha Showdown since its inception in 2011.
Kate began the series trying to project herself as that of a lowly merc. Hiding does no good because it’s clear very early on that she’s packing some whopping power. With her predilection for finding trouble in all its forms, Kate has had plenty of opportunities over the course of the series to flex her muscles—both with her unmatched ability with her sword, and with her inherent knowledge of magic.
Kate has faced Gods, demi-gods, vampires, mages, legendary creatures, shifters gone loup, egotistical warlords, plus her own maniacal father—just to name a few. She’s come out on top each time not only because she’s a skilled fighter, but because she has the knowledge and understanding of so many religions and mythologies, and she uses that knowledge in cunning ways to thwart her enemies time and time and time again.
Putting all that aside, though, this is the year for the first ever female Alpha Showdown winner. No one deserves that title more than Kate Daniels.
Now for some facts*:
Kate Daniels has made it farther in the competition than any other female contestant.
Not only is she the most nominated female, she’s also one of the most nominated competitors in general for the competition (male or female).
Besides Kate, only Kate’s honey-bunny, Ethan Sullivan, and Bones have been nominated as many times. And out of these Kate has bested both Curran and Bones in past years (Kate has yet to be put up against Darth Sullivan, but I’m confident that if that comes to pass she’ll wipe the floor with him too).
You, dear fans, have made the effort to vote Kate Daniels into the competition year after year and now is your chance to crown her the 2016 Alpha Showdown Champion!
When the time comes click Vote: Kate Daniels.
*All research was done by yours truly, any errors are my fault.
Who are you putting your money on: Kane or Kate?
At the request of Alpha Showdown voters, we’re leveraging traditional polls for the voting, but also keeping reading for your chance to win awesome books. Your to-be-read pile could always use more. Trust us. Each poll will be open for 48 hours.
Participating in the Alpha Showdown is all about fun, and free books equal fun, right? We hope you’ll find lots of great new reads during this year’s Alpha Showdown, and to help that along, we’re giving away some stellar reads.
For the championship round, we needed an championship-level prize. So how about an ARC of Nalini Singh’s Allegiance on Honor?
Kate all the way… come on, who doesn’t love Kate and Curran?
READ THE DESCRIPTION OF BOTH. VOTE KATE!!!
Kate has faced Gods, demi-gods, vampires, mages, legendary creatures, shifters gone loup, and egotistical warlords. She’s come out on top each time.She controls vampires, she’s magical, her blood is a weapon, and she is a badass fighter. I really don’t understand how she hasn’t won this ever year. She would literally make Kane KNEEL.
KANE ALL THE WAY 🙂
It wouldn’t matter to me if Kate Daniels could sew heads back on and bring the dead back to life. Each to their own is what I say. People are voting for Kane because they love, appreciate and adore him. They love the Blackthorn series. Just like Kate Daniels fans they are loyal to their own.
My immortal heart and loyalty belong to Kane and TeamBlackthorn!!! <3<3
here here! Kane is awsome!!
Got to be Kate. I love her and frankly think she is a better choice out of the two. GO KATE!!
Kane baby!!
Kane all the way for me…he is one badass, Hot, Sexy as hell Master Vampire and i love the Blackthorn series its full of Dark PNR at its best….not read Kate so cant comment on Ilona Andrews books and i would def not slate her like some have done Kane and Lindsay……so def KANE FOR ME
Kane is the total alpha package!!!! There really is no competion here. Love the Blackmore series❤❤❤
Blackthorn series. Sorry for that glitch
Blackthorn series
I absolutely love the blackthorn series and am so glad to see such an awesome author getting some recognition, which is what the competition is all about after all. It’s great to see some new books I can add to my tbr list too. Thanks VBC for the competition X
Seriously? Kate losing to a newcomer? With her track record and history? Please don’t let this happen! 🙁
Team Blackthorn!!! Kane for the Win. 🙂
My heart belongs to Kane and Blackthorn, so he gets my vote always, but I’ll definitely be checking out Kate at some point. This comp is great for finding new reads!
Team Kate Daniels!!!!!
Kane for Alpha King. Blackthorn all the way.
I’m still mourning the fact that Charles Cornick did not make the final round. In the absence of Charles Cornick, Mercy Thompson, Adam Hauptman, and Simon Wolfgard, my votes goes to Kate Daniels.
Kate all the way!
Come on Kane!!
Worthy opponents !
I guess I’ve been living under a rock because this is the first I’ve heard of Kane and this series. Of to check it out now.
Lol; Linds is more well known in the UK since that is where she’s from, but Blackthorn is slowly but surely also gaining a dedicated U.S. fanbase which is where I hail from!
Give it a go just for fun! It may not beat your Kate Daniels (I haven’t read many of her books- only the first one and a very long time ago) for a #1 spot, but you could end up finding a second favorite series 🙂
How can Kate not be winning this?????? She’s without a doubt one of my favourite characters EVER! Put her and Curran together and there’s a very good reason this series is so popular 🙂
I’ve not read any of the Blackthorn series but I guess I really need to do something about that since it’s giving Kate Daniels such a run for it’s money!
Blackthorn has a very dedicated fanbase; it may not be as well known as some of these other series, but its readers are very passionate because we love this series! Give it a shot and see if it may become a new favorite of yours. Kane may not be on the level of your current fav from your perspective, but it’s just a fun time to read a new series that could become a new favorite. We can never have too many great books that we love for different reasons!
Kate.
I’m disappointed that Kate is not winning this by a landslide…Kane is only in one book. Girl power everyone!
Kane is actually in many of these books. Blood Shadows is the first of the Blackthorn series, and it’s Kane’s first feature book. He makes brief appearances in book 3; his second feature book where he’s the male lead is Blood Dark (book 5). He’s a big secondary character in book 6 which is the most recent to come out.
4,255 votes… you don’t say…
Kane is going for the win, no one will stop him…
I know no one will stop him. Voting from a browser set to private would not stop anyone. Baby jesus included.
Yeah, I agree with Sere. This “vote” is in no way genuine when you have people able to cheat and vote multiple times.
To each her own, but I TRIED to read the first Blackthorn book (Blood Shadows) and found it to be a huge yawn. And far from an “alpha”, I thought Kane came across as a creepy, rape-y, jerk. I did’t get “sexy” from him AT ALL.
Kate would stake him in about two seconds. 🙂
Rebecca,
You think we can demand a recount? =D lol
Kane won!! This series of Blackthorn is amazing. It is meant to be read as a series to get the whole experience… And Wow is it a hot one!!
Yay KANE!!!! Congrats Lindsay and Blackthorn. Victory ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So happy for Lindsay J Pryor and her blackthorn series. You and your Alpha Kane really deserved this win!
Now I need to get to this second Kate Daniels book, it’s on my kindle somewhere….
yeah i come here for new books and if i wanted sex without a story i would keep reading the kane series maybe it gets better in book two but so far not impressed hes shallow shes a twit i didn’t find anything to like about the first book. Again maybe it gets better but its hard for me to justify buying a second book. Kates series is amazing and i would read toliet paper Andrews puts out.