Home of the Alpha Showdown, and one-stop shop for urban fantasy, paranormal romance and fantasy news and reviews.
The fifth annual Alpha Showdown has been the hardest fought so far. We had countless matches where a handful of votes determined the winner. Thousands of people voted, and one of our final combatants won his last round by only a single vote.
Wrath and Kaleb have demonstrated dominance throughout the Showdown. The BDB and Psy/Changeling fans have rallied in each bout, which means this final match is going to be insane.
To recap. Wrath, the vampire king from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, beat the archangel Raphael in his first match, deftly defeated Kate Daniels and squeezed out a win over Mad Rogan. Kaleb from Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series took out not one, but two vampires before defeating the Beast Lord by a single vote.
Who deserves to be crowned the Alpha Showdown 2015 Champion? You 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: The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward
First appeared in: Dark Lover (VBC Review | Amazon
Supernatural status: The Blind King, the last purebred vampire
Championed by: Jill from VBC
Wrath is a no-hold-barred badass. He’s the king of the vampire race, but don’t let that fool you, he’s not some pompous politician. He could, and often does, take on anyone and anything. He’s a fierce protector of his people. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He’s exactly the kind of man that you would want to be your friend, your bodyguard, the leader of your people, or your sexy, badass, alpha boyfriend.
He is a very reluctant king. He just wants to be a simple soldier like the rest of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Wrath isn’t made for the simple soldier life, though. He’s way too much of an alpha to be just a warrior. Oh no, he’s the literal king of the warriors.
When some obnoxious posers decide that his chosen mate Beth isn’t vampire enough to be his wife, Wrath takes the throne so that no one will take his leelan. He has single-handedly fought off assassination attempts, evil soul-less demons, and smart-ass brothers, all in day’s work for this alpha king.
Throughout his few years as King, we see him grow as a man and as a leader. We’ve watched him discover love and loyalty, struggle with the heavy burden of leadership, and find the balance in being an understanding leader and not a political push over, all with his sexy shades and ass kickers on.
Wrath has a lot more coming his way, especially with the development in the newest book The King starring Wrath and Beth, set years after their first encounter. Wrath is compassionate, strong, intelligent, loyal, honorable, and this alpha king deserves your votes!
You know him from: The Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh
First appeared in: Vision of Heat, and gets his own book in Heart of Obsidian (VBC Review | Amazon
Supernatural status: He is a cardinal Tk – and this is the reason he is the baddest of the bad asses.
Championed by: Mandi from Smexy Books | @smexybooks
Kaleb Krycheck doesn’t give a f**k about anyone but Sahara. This is the reason he will destroy all of his competition. As a child, he was torn away from his home and placed into the hands of an extremely evil man. This man invaded his mind and tore him to shreds.
“Tell me you aren’t evil.” Please.
Kaleb’s thumbs moved against he temples. “I’m sorry.”
Shaking her head in a mute refusal to accept what he was trying to tell her, she lifted trembling fingers to his jaw. “What have you done?”
“Too much that can never be undone.”
See? Kaleb has already done every horrible deed that could ever be done. Wrath? HA! Kaleb could fight him with his big toe. All of Kaleb’s power is in his mind. With just a thought, Wrath is a goner. Dust. Ash. In fact, Kaleb could be in bed with his woman, giving her her fifth orgasm, and STILL out-fight Wrath at the same time.
And if we are having a battle of who can please their heroine more, let me give you this example during sex:
“I just checked the PsyNet,” she said, her own breathing not exactly even. “This region just experienced a medium-sized earthquake.”
Kaleb turned his head on the pillow. “It was located deep underground, I made sure of that. No real damage.”
“So we literally made the earth move?” A slight pause, before Kaleb said, “I suggest we don’t engage in sex in populated areas.”
Talk about rocking your girl’s world!!!!
Who deserves the title: Wrath or Kaleb?
At the request of last year’s voters, we’re going back to traditional polls for the voting, but keep reading for your chance to win awesome books. Your to-be-read pile could always use more. Trust us.
Participating in the Alpha Showdown is all about fun, and free books totally lead to fun, right? We hope you’ll find lots of great new reads during the Showdown, and to help that along, we’re giving away some stellar reads.
For our final Alpha Showdown giveaway, we’re offering up three paranormal romances we know you’ll love: Larissa Ione’s Chained by Night, Gena Showalter’s Burning Dawn and Jeaniene Frost’s Bound by Flames.
Wrath!!!!
These are giving me new series to read.
So happy to hear it, Paula Jean!
Which one will you start first?
I just happened to look at the roster, and saw Bones lost in the beginning. That hurts 🙁 he was my first book boyfriend, and always my favorite! Oh well, go Kaleb!
It hurt me to, it hurt so much that I almost cried. Bones is my life. My heart swells when I think of him.
Curran lost by 1 vote? For those of you who thought “Oh, I’m busy and he’ll win without me.”, please whap yourself upside the head. Actually he should have won by many votes-if his competitor wasn’t so worthy too. So Wrath it is.
LOL “please whap yourself upside the head” DYING OF LAUGHTER!!! U are so funny!!!! Totally just made my day, no joke, that comment cracked me up.
U know u are only supposed to vote once right?
This is a very hard decision. I finally settled on Wrath!
Voted for Kaleb
Wrath was my first book boy friend
He has to win
I am in the pool for Kaleb. He’s just adorable. 🙂
I love Kaleb. Between him and Wrath, he’s definitely the one with more Alpha material!
I love seeing the times people post these, lol 4 in the morning?!?! If I were up at 4 in the morning I’d be a half dead zombie. Wish I had your endurance
I think it depends on your time zone: for me it’s almost 5pm but my comment it’s timed in the morning that I suppose it’s the time it really is for this blog admins =)
The time stamp is tied to the VBC homebase time zone (Central Standard Time). We have a lot of readers from around the world (shout outs to the UK, Greece, Australia & the Philippines!), so it may not be early for them. 🙂
Kaleb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wrath
I absolutely love Wrath1 I hope he wins.
For me,with a dough, it’s Wrath.
I pick Wrath!!
Wrath all the way! He is the ultimate Alpha who sees more than anybody else though he is blind
Wrath!!!!
I hate voting on these when I don’t know the other character. Because I feel like I might cheat the one I don’t know lol. But I love it because it gives me book ideas because of how much everybody likes them!!!! 🙂
Kaleb. He’s not my favourite Psy, but I never could stand Wrath and I’m sure KK could make him disappera just with one thought. Literally!
Voted for Kaleb 🙂
Wrath, though only because I haven’t read Kaleb yet but that is going to change soon!
Go Wrath!!
I’d like to consider myself unbiased so here it goes: Kaleb would win in a fight, thats out of the question. Kaleb doesn’t even have to touch Wrath before he’s dead, were talking about a guy that could destroy the world with his mind.
That being said; Wrath is the better alpha. End of story. Dont even have to justify anything.
Voted for Kaleb though because he is the one that would win in a fight. Alpha Showdown is designated to see who would come out on top in a battle, this would be Kaleb. It is also designated to finding new books and series’s to read and have a overall enjoyable time. Thank you VBC for bringing us Alpha Showdown.
Thank YOU, Elly!
Ugh my two favourites so torn on who to vote for. In the end I had to go with Wrath!
kaleb you can do it!
Should vote Kaleb buuuuut Wrath has older rights…<3
LOL totally using that line with my friend. Gotta respect your elders!!!
Wrath deserves the win!
Really like them both but when your talking Alpha your talking Kaleb
Kaleb all the way!! Love him, he is a total alpha
Looks like it’s gonna b a close match but I think Wrath will steal the win. Whoo! I love him!
As much as i adore Wrath, Kaleb can kill anybody within seconds, without having to touch you, he is badass&alpha male personified. Let’s be real in a actual alpha showdown it’s clear who would win, even though for some reason Wrath will win this round.
Boo, Wrath will win!
I love these polls
Kaleb!!
Kaleb
Love both characters, but would have to vote for Kaleb.
This is hysterical how in the hell did Wrath manage to get through all these alphas? he is practically a wimp compared to the likes of Barrons,Curran and Kaleb. Surely if there is anyone who has a chance from the bdb series it would be Rhage who can turn into a beast or Vishous who is a demi god but Wrath? lmao
I am just as confused as you are, this poll has to be rigged that is the only logical conclusion lol
LOL so what if it was? like I’m sure I’m not the only one who has voted more than once and everyone can rig an online poll, only if you know how haha.
Is it bad that I found this while conversation absolutely hilarious??? LOL
Oh yeah, I’m agree, it’s totally unbelievable for me !! He’s so insipid…
cuz he is 🙂
Woohoo go wrath
Kaleb for me.
HUZZZAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!! WRATH WINS!!!!!!!
Omg I’m so sad Alpha Showdown is over. Untill next year, everyone!!!
Also Thank you VBC for bringing us this years Alpha Showdown.