SWEET RUIN is the latest entry in the long running and
always excellent
Immortals After Dark paranormal series by Kresley
Cole. We have two
relatively new characters to the series here, and a story
that is taking the
series in a bit of a different direction. Josephine is a
new Immortal, only 25,
aimlessly wandering around New Orleans while looking for a
way to get her
little brother Thad back. They have been separated for 14
years, since he
was just a toddler, and he has been raised by foster
parents. Half phantom,
half vampire Jo has spent her time all these years learning
and
experimenting with her powers. Jo meets up with Rune,
coming upon him
sexing four nymphs, and it's lust at first sight. Sex is
what Rune does/is.
Sex and assassination. The demon and fae mixed Rune is also
quite the
tortured soul, due to his harrowing past.
Jo and Rune hook up (in more ways than one) to chase after
the Valkyrie
Nix; which is really just an excuse to get to know each
other and adventure
all over the world. Jo is after Nix because she is holding
hostage her now
17 year old (and also Immortal) brother Thad; Rune because
he's
supposed to assassinate Nix for the shadowy group he works
for. Jo won't
give in to Rune sexually until he pledges his undying
faithfulness to her and
no more side nooky. She is, unfortunately for her, hooked
on his blood.
Rune wants to seduce Jo; and for her to not worry so much
that he must
have his freedom to wander aimlessly to seduce any and all
other women.
They talk about sex, bicker about sex, think about sex, and
fight over sex;
in alternating points of view. They wind up doing
everything but the full
Monty, however, for most of the book. (There's a reason).
There is also a
great deal of mild to medium angst and drama. The book is
really a New
Adult story thinly disguised as a Paranormal Romance.
SWEET RUIN is a fun read; light, breezy, sexy, and
humorous. Amusingly
enough, the 'Ruin' of the title is a play on the nickname
Josephine gives to
Rune by purposely mispronouncing his name. The last quarter
of the book
picks up the pace quite a bit for an exciting climax. SWEET
RUIN does little
to further the series arc (a tiny bit at the very end),
except to spend a little
book time shedding some light on Nix, who hasn't had her
story yet. As
always, any time spent with Kresley Cole's excellent
Immortals After Dark
series is reading time well spent.
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 ruthless 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.