Review: ★Sweet Ruin★ by Kresley Cole

Sweet Ruin
Series: Immortals After Dark #16
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Kresley Cole
Release Date: December 1, 2015

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.

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She was a killer with blood on her hands, but she wanted to give her heart away.

You know what I love about this series? The fact that sixteen books into it, each book continues to be just as good if not even better than the last. Kresley Cole continuously delivers with badass, sassy and snarky heroines, and tortured and oh so sexy heroes. That’s not to mention the addicting story line that’s guaranteed to keep you reading well into the night. Truth be told I was hoping to see a certain lykae twin finally be getting his book and I was a little thrown when I saw the character names in the synopsis and had not the slightest idea who they were. As a die hard IAD fan, even my puny brain memory manages to hold on to every detail of this series. I was a little afraid that the book may be filler, in order to really stretch out the fans’ want of the previously introduced characters. I should have never doubted the genius that is this author, however. And once you read the book, you’ll see exactly why. Kresley stays true to her characters’ world and everything that’s going on around them, and the story of Josephine and Rune is yet another puzzle piece that builds up to a larger picture. But let’s move onto the actual book here, shall we?

You come by your trailing name honestly.”
Rune the Insatiable. He buffed his black claws. “Wringing orgasms and breaking hearts for eons.”

As an avid lover of the manwhores, I’ve read my fair share. And I can easily say that Rune the Baneblood is quite possibly the biggest manwhore I’ve read to date. Rune is a powerful warrior, half dark fey and half demon. His blood is as poisonous as his kiss, which is how he’s come to be the deadliest assassin for the Møriør. He’ll seduce the secrets out of his enemies, only to kill them in the blink of an eye soon after. He’s as skilled with his cock as he is with his bow and arrow. His past has ensured that his heart is as cold as the rest of him and not even a romp in the bed with a nymph so much as spikes his blood pressure…until a mysterious beauty turns his world on it’s axis…

Anything you think you might miss? I’d make up for it with size.”
She gave him a light squeeze, then withdrew her hand-
“Some cavemen carry big sticks. Doesn’t mean I want to get clubbed with it.”

At only 25 years old, Josephine knows how to look out for number one. There’s only one person she’ll ever put first, and that’s her beloved younger brother that she was forced to give up in order to give him a better future. If the name Thaddeus rings a bell, it should. Thaddeus is the young boy with he mysterious unknown powers we met earlier in the series. Josephine is an orphan of unknown decent and powers that she doesn’t understand. Growing up in the mortal world but with no interaction with the “other” beings that occupy it, she has no idea who she is or where she came from. All she knows is that she kicks ass. She also yearns for love. For another person to share her life with. To say that her first meeting with Rune is interesting would be an understatement, but even a naive girl like her knows a manwhore when she sees one. So why does his scent make her mouth water?

His grin, he well knew, was as crooked as his morals, and held a hint of snide; females creamed when they saw it.

Kresley Cole has a signature formula that she doesn’t waver from and I can’t get enough of. Her heroines are sassy and snarky as hell. I absolutely love it! Josephine may be young, but what she lacks for in years she more than makes up for in sass. And she definitely gives Rune the Insatiable a run for his money. Rune is as tortured as they come, and as more of his history comes to light, you begin to understand more and more about why he is the way he is. The chemistry between them is absolutely undeniable. If possible, I swear this series just gets hotter with each new book. And Sweet Ruin was practically scorching!
I devoured this book and couldn’t put it down for even a second. It was action packed, sexy, and everything I’ve come to love about this series. I loved Rune even if I wanted to beat him over the head with a blunt object for his utter stupidity at times. I also loved that we got that additional puzzle piece behind the mystery of Thaddeus and what it could mean for the Accession. There was a number of secondary characters introduced that I’m already salivating for a story for. Especially Orion. This series continues to be an addiction for me and I never want it to end. Can’t wait to see what’s in store next.