Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole

Posted December 3, 2015 by Literati Lovers in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

Sweet Ruin by Kresley ColeSweet Ruin by Kresley Cole
Also by this author: MacRieve, Dark Skye, The Master, Deep Kiss of Winter
Published by Simon and Schuster on December 1st 2015
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, General
Pages: 432
Format: eARC
ISBN: 9781451650044
Goodreads
five-stars
five-flames

FTC disclaimer applies, please visit 'About' page

An immortal assassin is caught between desire and duty in this sizzling new novel from Kresley Cole’s #1 New York Times bestselling Immortals After Dark series.
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. Protecting her baby brother Thaddeus became her entire life. The day he was taken away began Jo’s transition from angry girl…to would-be superhero…to enchanting villain.
A lethally sensual enforcer on a mission Whether by bow or in bed, archer Rune the Baneblood never fails to eliminate his target. In his sights: the oldest living Valkyrie. Yet before he can strike, he encounters a vampiric creature whose beauty mesmerizes him. With one bite, she pierces him with aching pleasure, stealing 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. 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.

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Review of Sweet Ruin

Immortal After Dark (IAD) readers Kresley Cole just blew up the IAD world and reformed it into a huge wondrous universe. I saw other Goodreads users stating that the new characters were muddling the Immortal After Dark story lines. I totally disagree as they are expanding  it to monumental proportions. There is a lot of Nix in this book, and we readers are being propelled toward the Ascension!

Before I ever book blogged or even wrote a review I fell in urban fantasy romance love with Kresley Cole’s Immortal After Dark Series.  Cole’s latest book is number sixteen in the series which consists of both full length novels and a few novellas. The urban fantasy world that Cole created is full of  good and bad and shades of gray mythological characters.  The primary species are Valkyries, Vampire, Werewolves, Demons, Witches and hybrids too many to name all the fascinating characters the Cole has blended with her own imaginings.  This book in the series is a game changer, and it is the best Immortal After Dark book of the series.   Readers have been given a glimpse into how the other side of the fight for the upcoming Ascension view Nix The Ever Knowing, as the primordial Valkyrie has been playing fast as loose with the lives of both her enemies and her allies, which has always made Nix a wild card Machiavellian genius.  In Sweet Ruin the readers are given a set at the Møriør table as their archer Rune, is given the task of taking out Nix and preventing the apocalypse.  In his quest he bumps into Jo, a unknown player in the Ascension and the Lore (what the magical being of Cole’s realms call themselves).  There are several new huge players that are introduced by Cole, and they all have a huge stake in the coming Ascension.

Readers who have never read an Immortal After Dark series book, could actually jump into the series with this book as Cole does a stellar job of laying out the series arc, without bogging down the book, with a lot of knowledge series readers already know.  Since Jo is an unknown factor she learns about the Lore, right along with the reader.

Rune as the male protagonist is sexy, virile and a total manwhore.   He is deadly focused and has had a driven purpose for thousands of years.  Readers are sure to fall head over heals with Rune, when he isn’t being a dickwit.

Jo the female protagonist is just a total bad ass, and does not make apologizes for who she is. For series devotees think of Regina but with no filter what so ever. Regina’s character in the series is a blunt knife, and Jo is pretty much a splitting maul, so no finesse but she is wickedly powerful.

When Jo and Rune are combined in a romance the result is a supernova of sexuality.  Rune, the manwhore doesn’t know what to make of Jo, and her very young attitudes.  Whereas Jo is as stubborn as a female can come and will not settle for anything but the whole enchilada.  Which cause both of these characters a lot of emotional strife, which just compounds on what is already a heavy emotional load from their past.

This is a book about shades of grey, and by the time I finished the book I didn’t honestly know what side of the Ascension I was now hoping to win, as nothing is black and white in Cole’s universe.  I am excited to see where this masterful author take this series next.

 

 

 

five-stars

About Kresley Cole

Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series, the young adult Arcana Chronicles series, the erotic Gamemakers series, and five award-winning historical romances.

A master’s grad and former athlete, she has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings.
Her IAD books have been translated into twenty foreign languages, garnered three RITA awards, and consistently appear on the bestseller lists, in the U.S. and abroad.

Cole lives in Florida with her family and “far too many animals.” You can learn more about Kresley at www.kresleycole.com.

Rating Report
Plot
five-stars
Characters
four-half-stars
Writing
five-stars
Pacing
five-stars
Cover
four-stars
Overall: five-stars

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