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It’s officially time for Alpha Showdown 2013! You made your nominations and we have 16 of the most badass, alpha characters from urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels locked into the bracket. Only one will be named champion and today’s first bout is sure to end in a knockout.
Round three offers two very different princes. A vampire of legend with a penchant for fire finds a suitable opponent in the always-changing, wants-to-be-good and can’t-help-but-be-bad Christian MacKeltar. Will they use weapons of old? Will their icy stares work on one another? You decide.
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 2013.
New for 2013! Every (non-spam) comment on an Alpha Showdown post will enter you to win books featuring the final four alphas. So make sure to join the discussion and cheer on your favorite alphas.
VladYou know him from: The Night Huntress and Night Prince books by Jeaniene Frost
First appeared in: The first book with Vlad as the main character was Once Burned (VBC review)
Supernatural status: Master vampire with bonus pyrokinetic skills
Championed by: Candace from Vampire Book Club | @cpblackburn73
*cracks knuckles* Okay, listen up. It’s time. Hell, it’s past time. Hot Hands stepped off Menchere’s helicopter in elegant fashion in At Grave’s End, and he’s been patiently waiting for his moment to be recognized as the true Alpha that he is. Me? I’m not so patient. I’ve been screaming VLAD IS ALPHA, HEAR HIM ROAR! for three years now. But Vlad’s been patient and reckoning has arrived.
I’m not even looking at the other names in the Showdown right now because they don’t matter. I’ve got a 600-year-old pyrokinetic vampire with regal origins who has a torture chamber. Yeah, that’s right, a bonafide dungeon in the bottom of his Romanian castle. They call him the Impaler. Uh huh. The. Impaler. Just let that double entendre sit a bit and let’s get back to the Vlad the Fanged Pyrokinetic Torture King who makes weaker vampires wet their pants. These guys facing him probably have Depends stashed in the bathroom. Why? Vlad is power personified. Feel that? It’s Vlad and he’s here to fight.
In a field fighting people raised from the dead, Vlad simultaneously tore through the undead and sent his pyrokinetic prowess to destroy someone without even looking at them. He flambéd a ghoul’s goodie bits. He sat in a graveyard and let himself be used as bait for wraiths and begged for more. His closest friend is Mencheres and we all know what kind of power that older-than-dirt vampire wields. Power hangs with power, my friends.
Now let’s get back to that Impaler business. No one, and I mean no one, has ever made scars sexier. If you have an argument against that, fine, bring it. While Vlad effortlessly roasts your guy, we sit off to the side, have coffee or hot chocolate and when he’s done, Vlad can toast marshmallows for us.
Once Burned…with Vlad, that’s all it takes.
Christian MacKeltarYou know him from: The Highlander, Fever and Fever World series by Karen Marie Moning.
First appeared in: Kiss of the Highlander, by mention only, but got his feet wet in Darkfever (VBC review). He played a prominent role in Iced, but we won’t hold that against him. Other things will get held against him.
Supernatural Status: He is a super-powerful druid by birth and a walking lie detector. However, a series of events, including a stint in dark fae prison, change him into Unseelie royality. Every girl wants a prince, right?
Championed by: Mary from Vampire Book Club
Och. There are very few men with the stamina to keep our interest across multiple series of books, but Mr. MacKelter manages to find a way to please his fans. Doona be thinking that he takes a conflict lying down. This Alpha manages to stay on top of all conflicts. No matter what the situation, performing sacred druid rituals, hurtling through dimensions, or doing a pub crawl, he gets the job done with finesse and authority. This is a character whose presence grows more sizable with each encounter, who knows his way around a fae love shack, and who has said that he believes in making a lasses dreams come true.
Okay, enough innuendo. A true Alpha is someone that is continually evolving, being tested, and struggling, but who always comes back better and stronger. Christian has changed significantly over the course of the Fever books, but he always asserts himself as one of the top players, critical to the success of every endeavor, and managing to do things his way.
So, as you vote for this year’s Alpha, keep Christian in mind. If you haven’t read the Fever series, check it out. You won’t be disappointed, not with Christian on the page. I will leave with my favorite quote from Christian, found in Shadowfever:
“Bring that sweet ass over here and I’ll show you what God made women and well-hung Scotsmen for.”
Well, okay.
This poll will be open for 48 hours. Alpha with the most votes will advance.
This is going to be quite the fight but since I’m a Fever fan all the way, I’m going with Christian
VLAD VLAD VLAD!!!!
Aingeal don’t make me go over there 😛 😉 🙂
VLAD VLAD VLAD!!!!
If you were talking Barrons, I’d be with you but Christian?????
Vlad I love your fire and passion. Christian sorry dude but you freak me out!
It’s Fever or nothing. Christian it is. 🙂
😛
Fever fans unite! 🙂
SPread the word. We can’t let Christian or Ms. Moning down! Vlad doesn’t compare.
I love the Fever series and I love Christian, but there is no way he’s a bigger Alpha than Vlad. No way!
He’s a classic. The top of the top. Vlad.
Got to be Vlad this round!!
I love the Fever Series, but not all the guy characters are indestructable. Vlad is it all the way. He could crush you with his eyes closed.
Christian, his intestines are good enough to steal.
Vlad!!! He would so enjoy impaling Christian….
Not having read either series (they have been added to the ever growing TBR list), I feel that Vlad has the edge with the Pyrokinetic skills….
Vlad, no question about it.
Oh God forgive me Vlad but I had to choose Christian!
Christian is a creep! Come on! He has a hard on for 14-years-old girl. Vlad all the way!
Vlad all the way!
Vlad! He’s a force to be reckoned with.
Go Vlad!
Again, I’ve not read the Fever series or Iced but doubtless I would have voted for Vlad anyway. Watching him set stuff (and people) on fire was the highlight of my year with Twice Tempted.
What cas I say…fire has a very pretty incarnation in Vlad 😉
I have much love for Vlad, but my vote is Christian and Fever all the way.
I like Christian… But i LOVE Vlad!!!!!!
Once again I have to say love love love Alpha Showdown. Now oh my gosh WTH. I am a Fever fan through and through. But I had to go with Vlad. Honestly Vlad is the Man. He can flambe you with a blink of an eye. BLINK OF AN EYE. Christian is still coming into being an Unseelie Prince. Oh Christian- no matter what you end up being I will still love you. But in this. It is all Vlad
<3 Thanks so much, Sheena!
Candace, you talk some good smack, girl.
Vlad all the way!
Vlad, Vlad, he’s our man if he can’t do it no one can!
This one was harder because I know them both! I just – can’t they all win?
Because alphas are bad sharers. 😀
My first thought was “Christian who?” And I’ve read the Fever books.
So of course my vote is for Vlad, the Alpha who actually makes an impression!
Vlad allllll the way
Tough choice. I love both. But I’m going with Vlad.
I have not read neither of these series but from the description I’m going with Vlad.
Gotta go with Christian. Vlad SO didn’t impress me.
Vlad all the way.
It’s Vlad all the way!
This is going to be a close one, but VLAD!!!!
This is the toughest round of the first tier! These are two of my three favorite series, but neither Alpha is the Alpha-est of their series. That said, I’m going with Vlad. He’s just so…VLAD!
I love Vlad, but Christian has so much potential thanks to the new powers he’s coming into. In this battle, it’s got to Christian!
I think Christian could eventually take Vlad, but not yet. Vlad FTW!
No question here – Vlad.
Sorry, Vlad but I vote for Christian. He’s still evolving into an even bigger alpha every day.
Wow! Two of my favorite men in a battle. Just thinking it makes my mouth water! Ahem. Anyways as much as I love Christian my vote goes to Vlad. Simply because the vampire prince does not lose….ever.
To me, Christian is King… love you Christian!
VLAD all the way!!
Vlad totally has my vote!
There is a reason why Vlad is a classic in the vamp world. He is THE ALPHA of vamps 😀
Vlad, without a doubt! Christian has potential but he’s still finding his way. Maybe in the future… But Vlad, he’s been instilling terror in the hearts of lesser immortals for centuries!
Vlad! Christian is a bit disturbing.
Christian is an Unseelie Prince, badass, sexy, smart, powerful, SCOTTISH, druid… Def Alpha
What can you say? Who doesn’t want the sexy Dracula himself. Vlad Temptest is one sexy hot fiery Vampire who will impale your ass to make a point.
By far the hardest choice we have had so far. Fever forgive me but Vlad all the way.
Vlad this round! Was a hard choice though.
Team Vlad here too!
It’s Vlad the frickin’ impaler. C’mon.
Vlad,Vlad!!!