*I received a free copy of Sweet Ruin from Gallery Books via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole Series: Immortals After Dark #16
Published by Gallery Books on 1 December 2015
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
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.
Sweet Ruin continues the saga of the immortals who mostly haunt New Orleans, and I have to say that Rune and Josie’s story was both touching and sweet, with lots of action, and even more nostalgia.
I’m not sure why I have kept Sweet Ruin hidden on my kindle for so long! But I’m very happy to have read it now – so that I’ll be ready to delve into Immortals After Dark #17 in January next year… This is a series with an extremely well done mythology, and I am always in awe when I read a new installment. The stories are also character-driven, with a solid story and an overall plot that spans over several books in the series. What’s not to like, right?
From the very beginning of Sweet Ruin, I had so many feels for Jo! She was a little girl, and she was all alone in the world, responsible for her littler brother who was just a toddler. Still, she was strong, and she was very creative when it came to taking care of him – until the day when she wasn’t able to do that anymore – when she was shot, and left for dead. Only, because Jo wasn’t human, she didn’t exactly die, she just came into her powers instead, but she had to leave her brother somewhere safe so he could grow up off the streets.
As an adult, Jo ran into Rune, a half demon half fae, several thousand years old, one who knew he would never find a mate, never be able to love. And to make things more interesting, Nix was definitely messing with both of them. I have a special place in my heart for Nix – she’s pretty out there in many ways, but she’s also fun, and I think she loves pretending she’s not got all her marbles, as it lets her do exactly what she wants, while others will always underestimate her.
Needless to say, Sweet Ruin was an action packed and very hot story. I loved the characters, and I especially loved that Jo wasn’t willing to let her needs be second. She stated very clearly what she expected from a relationship, and expected nothing less if Rune agreed to be with her. Gotta love a woman who has a backbone and the self respect to keep to her guns!
Whereas Jo would just as soon sneer at someone, he babbled greetings to everyone, inviting them to play with his toy. If she’d ever owned a toy of her own, she never would’ve shared it with people who weren’t Thaddie.
She sounded reasonable, but here was the thing: Jo was feral. There’d be no living under someone else’s roof and following someone else’s rules. Rules didn’t apply to Jo and never had. There’d be no sharing Thaddie with a woman who desperately wanted to be his mother.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
This was a fun one. I loved the new direction things are going from this series now that the others from the other place are involved. This romance pair were great.
LOL the others from the other place, eh? Way to got on not spoiling anything for anyone, Sophia 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Twitter: ailynk
very intriguing because rarely I see so many transitions? but I wonder why the title is smaller than the name?
Maybe because many people will buy anything Kresley Cole writes? 🙂
Too many books in this series… I did read a few but I confess that I stopped one day, a bit like the Kenyon series but maybe I’ll go back one day too
Oh that’s too bad, Melliane! I did start this series before I started blogging, and I think that helped. I really do love it, though.
I LOVED this one so much!! I enjoyed how Jo kept popping in on Rune and messing things up for him. Gosh, it’s been a while since I read it and I still remember some of it, I must have liked it!! Thanks for the awesome reminder. I NEED to get back to this series b/c I missed some in between 🙁
I agree! I really loved it, too, and I can’t understand why I’ve had it hidden on my kindle for so long. These immortals are just amazing 🙂 I have missed some in between, too, Kristin. Such happens.
Omigoodness, I’m not sure I realized how many books were in this series when I started it! I recently listened to Dark Deeds on Night’s Edge – which is only #5! I have lots of listening to do to catch up in this series. It’s good to know that even at #16, I’m still going to be enjoying the story, the characters, and the mythology. LOVE NIX!! I can’t even tell you how much I adore her. 😀 And I don’t think I know Rune or Jo yet but I look forward to meeting them.
Happy Wednesday! I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday!! I hope you’re having a great week, wifey! <3 *BIG HUGS*
LOL Brandee! Welcome to my world! I tend to find those series that have loads of books in them… in some ways that’s fantastic! Like with these Immortals After Dark, because I really love the universe and the mythology. And yeah, Nix is awesome. She reminds me of a very old demon we both know and love (and who scares us a little, too…) I didn’t know Rune or Jo until now, either, but they are a fantastic addition to the series for sure!
Yeah, Wednesday already. Where oh where does the time go? I hope you’re enjoying your week with Sky! {{{BIG HUGS}}}
16 books! Oh my. I love the sound of this series. Rune and Jo sound fantastic. I love strong female leads <3
Yeah, this series is fantastic, Lily! Pick it up!!!
Twitter: Mollykatie112
Gah! Another series that I read one of and never continued even though I have the next 5 sitting on my book shelf. Was Nix in the first one? It’s been a few years since I read it so I don’t remember her. As usual you have me wanting to read this one! Someday.
I can’t really remember if Nix was in the very first one, Lorna, but I do think that the Valkyries were in the first one, so she may have at least been mentioned.
Sigh. I want to read this series.
It’s very ‘you’, Christy 😉
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
Hot damn. I just read book one in the anthology Blood Red Kiss, and of course, now I want to read them all, except I am going to listen because of the narrator!
Oh my, Kim! You are in for an amazing adventure, then! I can’t wait to see what you’ll think about all the rest of the series 🙂
Oh yes this is a good series. I think I’m the only one who didn’t like this one, though. It killed me! I’m still ready for the next one even so. lol
Oh no, Anna! How come? I guess sometimes, it just happens like that. I’m definitely ready for the next one, too! Plus, there are two prior books I haven’t had a chance to read yet…
I actually *really* hated Nix in this one. She’s one of my favorite characters and I just thought she was awful and was rooting for them manage to off her. lol She really ruined it for me.
Oh my!! I’m very happy Nix will still be in a future book… I thought some of her actions were really funny. I get why you’d think the opposite, but I loved her.
I think that’s why it was so upsetting to me. I usually love her antics and find them really funny and quirky. This time just hateful. Maybe because they were against the hero/heroine so often? It’s going to take a lot for me to feel kindly towards her again, I think. But as a whole the series is one of my favorites and I adore it. Not every book will be perfect for everyone and that’s okay 🙂
You’re completely right, of course! There have been books in this series where I rolled my eyes and just thought of England 😉
I’ve always kept an eye out for the publications of Kresley Cole’s novels but I have never actually bought or read one yet… which sounds like something I should start doing. I love the sound of this mythology and the paranormal creature elements that come into it because she’s half-on-half.
Oh my gosh, Olivia! You are in for an amazing treat one of these days, then 🙂
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I really loved this book. Young Thad was my favorite part. He was just so cute. I loved the rest of the story too. I didn’t realize the next IAD was in January. Woohoo! Not much longer. 🙂