Recently Read: KISS OF THE DEMON KING by Kresley Cole

Over the weekend, I stepped away from my own book long enough to read KISS OF THE DEMON KING. I've been waiting for this book for months -- it's the next installment of Kresley Cole's IMMORTALS AFTER DARK series. She set up this one perfectly; at the end of the previous book, the hero of that book goes to his brother's house, and it's clear that some serious craziness is going down in the brother's life. That craziness is, of course, the fact that the brother (Rydstrom, a demon king) was kidnapped by Sabine, the Queen of Illusions, to father her child, and he eventually turns the tables and gets his revenge.

This is a romance, so things like kidnapping, pseudo-rape (they both ultimately consent), and revenge are all forgiveable in the end. Kresley Cole helps herself out by making it very clear that Rydstrom and Sabine are fated to be mates for eternity -- in her world-building, most immortal types only get one shot at love, and it's a predestined kind of thing. So, if you're not willing to forgive your mate for kidnapping you for her pleasure, you're basically turning your back on ever finding anyone else. Clever, eh?

Overall, I thought it was good. I liked how ridiculously non-stereotypical Sabine was; she starts off as an 'evil sorceress', and this leaves room for her to do and say things that romance's usual good girls would never consider. I also liked how Rydstrom developed throughout the book, eventually modifying his overly kingly behavior to embrace some of life's messiness (in the form of sex with a hot sorceress, of course).

And I was so into this book that I took it with me on the bus when I went out for dinner on Saturday -- and actually told my friends that if I got bored with them, I would go back to reading demon romance. If you're willing to risk social ostracism, that's a good sign of a book's appeal. Bottom line: if you're into paranormals, you should read this book (and the whole series, starting with A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER). If you don't like paranormals, or are not willing to read anything with light bondage, skip it.