Liviania’s review of Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark, Book 6) by Kresley Cole
Paranormal romance released by Pocket 20 Jan 09

Here at the Pond we lurve The Immortals After Dark series.  No really, Gwen, Devon, Shannon C., Limecello, and I read them.  And Limecello and I are very far apart in the what-we-read spectrum.  For me, Kiss of a Demon King didn’t reach the soaring heights of Dark Needs at Night’s Edge or Dark Desires After Dusk.  That doesn’t mean it wasn’t an utterly fabulous book that I want to reread so bad despite the fact I have a giant pile of books I want to read for the first time.

One thing I admire most about Kresley Cole is the fact she can write a book that stands quite well on its own but still ties in tightly to a series.  Kiss of a Demon King occurs during the same time frame as Dark Desires After Dusk, so it enriches the experience to read both.  It’s a little difficult for me to say since I have read both, but I believe Kiss of a Demon King would be perfectly accessible to someone new to the series.

Like Dark Needs at Night’s Edge, this one has a darker tone.  Sabine, half-sister to Omort the Deathless, captures Rydstrom just as he’s about to gain a weapon that can kill Omort.  Centuries ago Omort took Tornin and deposed Rydstrom from his throne.  Now Sabine wants to bear his child and rightful heir, and denies him pleasure until he marries her.

Cole treads the line of making Sabine likeable but not good.  She’s come back from death a number of times, which twisted her mind.  Still, she makes no excuses: her goal is the survival of her and her sister Lanthe, no matter the cost to anyone else.  (Okay, another of Cole’s gifts is making me eager for future couples.  I can’t wait for Lanthe and her Vrekener’s story.  And there are still couples in earlier books I’m still waiting to hear more about.  Ooh, Regin and her berserker?  I’m so there when it happens.)

Rydstrom is utterly dedicated to his people.  Responsibility weighs heavily on him and Sabine is the first person to come along with whom he can let go of his control.  Of course, while he’s her prisoner he can’t do so.  And of course he doesn’t want to let go of his control.  It’s nice to watch the two of the fall in love without either having to compromise who they are, which is what both fear.

As for the plot . . . how can Cole manage to spend so much time developing the romance and still have so much action going on?  There are battles a plenty, as well as dividing factions, and NΪx’s official declaration of war.  It’s utterly hilarious and makes you miss NΪx, though she shows up in all her glory when she wouldn’t ruin the tone of the book.  As always, Cole’s pop-culture references are dead on.

Pretty much, I loved the book.  I love the hero and heroine’s romance.  I love their relationships with their younger siblings.  I love the war a-brewin’ on the horizon.  I love the continuity, and the fact the enigmatic Lothaire has returned.  (I wouldn’t remember him except I just reread A Hunger Like No Other and wondered why he hadn’t shown up again.  Question answered.)  All I want to know is: when does the next book come out?

Grade: A-

For more about this series, follow its tag.

Summary:
HIS OBSESSION…

Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions: the evil beauty who surrenders her body, but not her heart.

HER DOWNFALL…

Rydstrom Woede: the ruthless warrior who vows to keep her at all costs.

THEY WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO WANT EACH OTHER THIS MUCH…

With each smoldering encounter, their shared hunger only increases. If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice for her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to save his sorceress?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

… and Not That Innocent, a new anthology with by Kresley Cole, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, and Sharie Kohler, coming 21 Jul 09.