Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
The matches in this year’s Alpha Showdown have certainly lived up to the name. The battles have been close, the champions true alpha. It’s gotten heated, and if you think the choices were hard before, it’s about to get worse. Take a look at the bracket!
The alpha who wins this bout will secure himself a space in the championship round. Kane has defeated both Jane Yellowrock and Mercy Thompson. Barrons has bested Slade and Adam Hauptman. Who will move on?
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 him from: Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
First appeared in: Darkfever (VBC Review | Amazon
Supernatural status: Immortal. Beyond that we don’t know and we don’t really care.
Championed by: Zee at The Saucy Wenches Book Club
Jericho Barrons. He’d laugh one of his very sexy laughs if he ever found out he was being pitted against these “alphas.” Sure, they’re great fighters, immortals who’ve been around for centuries, some longer, some not so long—vampires, werewolves, shifters, demons, charming talkers, talented lovers, and other fierce competitors I’m sure. But the plain, hard truth is, none of them are even in the same league as Barrons.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with loving all of them, as long as you can admit one fact. Absolutely none of them will ever stand a chance against this vital, ferocious, compelling, virile, deadly, almost omniscient creature who you will never be able to fit neatly into a category. His sheer presence on page is enough to wipe every other so-called alpha from your mind.
The others might moonlight as gallant knights in shining arming, especially for the ladies, but Barrons will do no such thing. He will help the most distressed of damsels grow into their own heroes if they so choose. And that is the mark of a true alpha. He can kick ass with one hand tied behind his back, he can kill within seconds, it doesn’t matter how powerful his opponent is, and he can do all this without breaking a sweat. And when every soldier on the battlefield has fallen, Barrons will still be standing. I mean, even death cannot defeat him.
What you end up feeling for Barrons during the course of the series isn’t some light romantic feeling that randomly makes you swoon when he says something pretty. The fact is, he rarely says pretty things, actions speak so much louder than words, one of the most amazing lessons Barrons teaches us. And when he does speak, his words are chock full of meaning.
What you feel for him is a living, breathing, pulsating, writhing thing with a life of it’s own. Almost as real as the beast he turns into. You can tell me you didn’t fall in love with him at first sight, and sure, I’ll believe you, but I won’t believe that you didn’t feel that surge of electricity, that spike of adrenaline, every single time he was on page. And it’s a feeling that never went away, it only got stronger with each book. And that’s the point isn’t it? If you’re totally honest with yourself, you realize that this beautiful, intense, life changing force of nature makes you feel things on levels that you can’t even begin to understand. And the beauty of it is, it’s something you don’t need all the answers to. It’s liberating. It’s unique. Barrons just IS. And you will always hunger for more when it comes to him. There will never be enough.
If you want an alpha to challenge you, invigorate you, dare you, scandalize you, and make every cell in your body feel more alive than it’s ever been, Barrons is the one you’re looking for. If the thought of that scares you… it should. You’ll never be the same once you’ve bumped into Barrons in Dublin. But oh, you’ll be so much more alive.
“He’s disturbing. Carnal. Base. Forbidding. Big and powerful, radiating primal hunger. His eyes are blades, slicing into you: dark, ancient, glittering with predatory intensity. He moves like a beast even in his human skin. A woman takes one look at him, her stomach drops like a stone and she runs like hell.
Which direction she goes in is the defining point: she’ll run away—or toward him—depending on her ability to be honest with herself, her hunger for life and willingness to pay any price at all to feel so damned alive.”
I know which way I’m running. Hard. Without looking back. What about you?
Who are you putting your money on: Kane or Barrons?
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 Round 13, we have a copy of Kresley Cole’s Shadow’s Claim from her Immortals After Dark spinoff series The Dacians (VBC review). You can read it without having read the IAD series (though, VBC highly recommends checking out IAD.)
I just started Kane’s book (because of this showdown) and I REALLY like him!
That’s what is great about this showdown – you can discover new books and new characters that you adore. I’m glad you like Kane. He is totally awesome. Wait until you get to Book 5 (enough said :-))
Kane is one hot master vampire in the amazing Blackthorn series who has stolen heart! Sorry Jericho!
As always it’s no contest for me, Kane all the way!! <3
Never read Kane so it’s got to be BARRONS!
I say Barrons, but damn Kane’s winning?
lol, just like Karen – I also started reading Kane’s books ‘cuz of this showdown for I wasn’t familiar with him yet you guys though he’s fantastic
I really do need to read that 5th book sooner, so far got till the 4th one, just started it 😉
In the 1st, while I did like Kane, wasn’t impressed much, liked the bits we got of him in 3rd book and we’ll see how he’s in the 5th ‘cuz seriously, where does all this love for him come from? He’s that awesome in 5th one? Gotta hurry up my reading ;p
You will love the 5th book,he is awesome in the 5th book,then u will know where all the love is coming from…Kane Malloy always the Master Vampire.
Of course it’s Kane ladies….he’s hot, damn sexy, with a bit of a dark side, and he knows how to treat his lady! oh yeah……and he kicks ass, GO KANE!
Kane for me. Always has been since I first discovered him years ago in Blood Shadows. No contest
Wow, can’t believe THE Alpha male is getting his ass handed to him by someone I’ve never heard of before this contest! I voted Barrons but Kane has shot onto my TBR pile/
I have to say, I’ll be reading about Kane very soon. I really expected Barron’s to be winning. But what do I know? A new series for me to read. Yay!
Barrons
I will forever be a Barron’s fan.
It’s always Kane for me! He will always be my Kane <3 !!! I've been hooked on Kane since book 1!!!!!
So I just started Kane’s book. Yes, because of the Alpha showdown. I am about a quarter way in and I just have to say, I’m still a Jericho girl. Barrons all the way. Yes, Kane is dark and smouldering and definitely an Alpha, but Barrons is the ultimate Alpha. There is no competition. Am I the only one who remembers that Jericho can make a certain part of his anatomy grow. Who says size doesn’t matter?
You need to read more Catherine a quater of the book is not much but keep reading and when u read the 5th book you will know where all the love is coming from
I like the sounds of Barrons from the description above, so I’ll have to give him a try, but I’m a Blackthorn girl all the way!! Go Kane, sexy alpha master vampire 😀
Voted for Barrons, but dang now I really wany to read the Blackthorn series, curse you Alpha Showdown for increasing my TBR pile.
Definitely Barrons, but I’m intrigued by Kane. Will have to add Kane to my tbr pile. 🙂
I dont know how Kane managed to get this far along but this is not even a competition to me, Barrons all the way
Why is it that every time I refresh the page, the votes for Kane go up by one?
Its 8:30 and he already has over 600 votes….half the rounds dont even get that by the end of the two days….
Jess for me it wasn’t 8.30 in the morning but lunch time in the UK. I voted Kane before I started work! Go Kane…
Like the majority of the commenters are voting for Baroons…
It’s Kane for me. He’s all mine, btw….
Its Kane for me the Master Vampire in the Blackthorn series,if u havent read this series yet it is a must…..KANE MALLOY all the way.
For me it’s Kane all the way. Of all the showdowns this is the easiest choice for me. I just never took to Barrons.
I’m totally shocked that Raphael (Guildhunter Nalini Singh) was knocked out!!! So I can’t let my other “boy” go down without a big fight – Kane all the way.
I think KMM’s story is fab and her heroine MacLayla is good but no competition with Kane!! He’s so damn Alpha! Lucky Caitlin
I’ve not read Kane’s books so I voted Barrons, but Kane has been getting so much love during this Showdown, I’m definitely putting those books on my list to read.
Amazing fight
Love both these alpha males!
So, it’s gotta come down to which series I currently favor. Loved the first five books of the Fever series but have been a bit disappointed with the ones that have come out the past couple years, whereas each Blackthorn book seems to be better than the previous.
Kane FTW!
I totally agree with you Sarah! Blackthorn books keep getting better! The Fever series has fizzled for me also.
I’ll go with Barrons for this round. Also, the auto tweet for giveaway still says The Veil by Chloe Neil. I fixed mine when I tweeted.
Yay, go Kane! Thrilled to see that because of the time difference the British Blackthorn fans were up bright and early to put him ahead 🙂
Kane’s my Alpha for sure!
Loving this comp by the way. My TBR pile has certainly grown.
Kane can and will take on all comers, and beat them all without breaking a sweat!
Nice giveaway! I vote for Kane….
Kane everyday and twice on Sunday’s!!! Got to say I am feeling all of the Kane love right now but I’m also a bit curious about Jericho Barrons now…..might have to take a peek. But Kane’s still my man!
Jericho freaking Barrons…all day every day #thuglife
Kane is the master of all vampires as far as I’m concerned. Hot, sexy and tortured. What more could a girl want?
Love Kane!
Barrons!!
Always Barrons!
hum oki no really knowledge about those so i will go with barrons
JZB always!!!
Barrons all the way!!! Though (yes bc of the showdown) I will have to check out Kane’s book cuz any alpha who can leave Barrons behind in a showdown is worth checking out!
Kane, Kane, Kane
Barrons is my alpha!
BARRONS! ALL THE WAY…that said I will check out Kane 🙂
If I may be honest with my self …. Barron’s no contest! I’ll never look back!
Because of the Barrons I wish I were Mac. 🙂
All Love for the Sexiest Beast of All! Barrons!
It’s SO Kane :).
Kane Kane kane
I don’t know Kane but I love me some Jericho Barrons!!❤️❤️
Barrons always!
Barrons, hands down!
Barrons all the way!!