Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole Series: Immortals After Dark #16
Published by Gallery on December 1, 2015
Genres: PNR
Format: Hardcover
Source: Advance Reader Copy
Goodreads
A foundling raised in a world of humans
Growing up, orphaned Josephine didn’t know who or what she was—just that she was “bad,” an outcast with strange powers. Her baby brother Thaddeus was as perfect as she was flawed; protecting him became her entire life. The day he was taken away began Jo’s transition from angry girl…to would-be superhero…to enchanting, ruthless villain.
A lethally sensual enforcer on a mission
A threat to the Møriør has brought archer Rune the Baneblood to the mortal realm to slay the oldest living Valkyrie. Whether by bow or in bed, he never fails to eliminate his target. Yet before he can strike, he encounters a vampiric creature whose beauty conceals a black heart. With one bite, she pierces him with aching pleasure, taking his forbidden blood—and jeopardizing the secrets of his brethren.
A boundless passion that will lead to sweet ruin…
Could this exquisite female be a spy sent by the very Valkyrie he hunts? Rune knows he must not trust Josephine, yet he’s unable to turn her away. Despite his millennia of sexual conquests, he can’t ignore the unfamiliar longing she arouses deep within him. When Jo betrays the identity of the one man she will die to protect, she and Rune become locked in a treacherous battle of wills that pits ultimate loyalty against unbridled lust.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I love the Immortals After Dark series. It’s probably my favorite series out there.
But, this book feels like a filler book. Gah! I can’t believe I just wrote that! But it does. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a fantastic read! And I do think it’s a bit of a game changer. So much new information is introduced, and new characters are brought into play, but that’s kind of why I think it feels like a filler book.
The romance was too easy.
The abundance of information was all setting up for the next book, the next stage in the coming Ascension and yet, through it all, very little happened. That’s not normal for a KC IAD book. There’s usually so much going on, that you have no time to catch your breath, but this romance was very smooth, with very few obstacles. Well, really just one obstacle, and it’s a big deal, BUT it just was too easy.
Jo is a very young heroine, but she reads like a YA character. She comes into play at 8 years old, and she raises herself and her baby brother for a couple years on the streets. But she never really grows out of her attitude and behavior. When you have a 25 year old heroine with a 7000 year old hero, I get that she feels young, but this was like teenager young. I didn’t let it bother me, but when you add it to the other things that didn’t feel like a typical IAD book, it does kind of get in the way. I also still don’t understand how she died at age 11 (NOT A SPOILER!), but grew into her immortality, unless it has something to do with her species. It’s never really explained.
Now, as you can see from the rating, I obviously enjoyed the book, in fact, I couldn’t put it down! But while I’m not at all upset that the main couple were new to us, I do think that by giving us two new characters, that we lost the connection to the other characters we’ve all grown to know and love. With a series this interconnected, that’s a big deal. Do you remember Thad? He’s the teenager from the island where immortals were held and experimented on…Jo is his big sister. So there is a connection, but we don’t have that support network of the older characters to help the plot here.
All of that being said, this was a steamy, sexy, sultry romance, that while I feel it was rather easy for a Kresley Cole book, was still a fantastic read. You can’t beat Kresley Cole for excitement and interesting characters. Now that we see hints and glimpses of what’s to come, I’m really intrigued for the next installment. I know everyone wants Nix or Fury’s books, but I’ve always figured Nix would mean the end, so I’m A-OK waiting for hers.
There’s a scene towards the end where everyone comes together, and it has a sense of finality. Maybe a preview of something to come? I think it’s just one more hint and glimpse from the brilliant Kresley Cole. This may not have been my favorite book, but so much happened outside of the main romance, that you can’t help but want more. And I do. I truly do.
Hear me, Cole? I. WANT. MORE.
***ARC courtesy of Gallery Books
