Wicked Abyss (Immortals After Dark Book 17)

FINAL DECISION: A adventurous, angst filled, humorous entry in the Immortals world, this book expands the scope of the Immortals world but also gives us a beauty and the beast retelling with a twist. THE STORY: Ten thousand years ago, Abyssian Infernas was betrayed by his fey mate. He has never forgotten and has waited for her resurrection in order to get his revenge. Now the demon king of hell, Sian has his opportunity. Princess Calliope Bardot is brought by bounty hunters to Sian's domain where he keeps her prisoner. She has her own purpose as well: to gather information against Sian and his alliance in order to protect her people. OPINION: I immediately got sucked into this book although I haven't read an Immortals book in a while. The humor and drama and just great storytelling keeps me returning book after book. This book is an Immortals retelling of Beauty and the Beast including a curse, an enchanted castle and an incredible library. Of course, the castle is in hell and the beast is a demon who is slowly devolving into his demonic form. The beauty is an exiled fey princess who wants to return to her realm. Although this story has fated mates (who already had one bad lifetime experience), the development of their relationship is given a tremendous amount of time to develop and grow. I loved the interaction between Sian and Lila as the two of them fall in love. But there are secrets that each is keeping and a past that torments Sian and makes him wary of trusting Lila again. My favorite part is that Lila is a badass in this story. She is not going to sit around and allow Sian to dominate her or destroy her. By the end of the book, she clearly has evolved to his perfect mate. This book is nicely paired with SWEET RUIN and keeps on the "dark side" of the coming battle. A small but significant appearance by Nix keeps the overarching storyline going. WORTH MENTIONING: There are appearances from Rune and Jo from SWEET RUIN. And if you don't recall Sian, he's in that book as well. CONNECTED BOOKS: WICKED ABYSS is the eighteenth book in the Immortals After Dark series. This series is much better if read in order, but this book can be read as a standalone if character appearances from prior books and references to the overarching story line of the series don't both you. STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

Wicked Abyss is the seventeenth novel in Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series. This was my first time reading Wicked Abyss. It reminded me of a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and Hades and Persephone, which both are my favorite to read in romance books. I purchased it a long time ago since Kresley Cole is one of my auto-buy authors. I never got a chance to read it since I was working full-time, and I’m making up for it now, especially since the most recent novel was released in early 2022. (I’m so glad that Kresley Cole is back. I’ve missed her writing.) Storyline/My Thoughts: One of the reasons I also held off reading Wicked Abyss was that I wasn’t sure about the new characters introduced in this book. I was familiar with Abyssian “Sian” Infernas because he was first introduced in Sweet Ruin, but I wasn’t familiar with Princess Calliope “Lila” Barbot. Now that I’ve read their books, I adored these two together. Sian is King of Hell and also part of the Morior. He’s a demonic monster with a curse that had his heart broken by his mate many years ago. (millennia, to be exact) He finds out that his mate that hurt him is now reincarnated and living in the mortal world. He will do anything to have her, even keep her locked away in his kingdom. Unfortunately, Lila is not one to not fight back. She was banished to the mortal world because her parents failed to kill the Fae King of Sylvan, who Lila was supposed to marry. She’s been biding her time in the human world until the Fae King calls her back from her banishment. Unfortunately, other plans are in place for Lila, and she’s forced to be with Sian and his kingdom and deal with his anger at her past self that she can’t even remember. I felt for Lila because she is treated poorly by her so-called fiance (the Fae King), but she’s treated like crap by Sian too. She’s not the same person he knew in the past. She’s feisty and knows how to handle him. Sian is a typical alpha, and he tries everything to torture Lila with crazy tasks that can’t be completed, but she proves him wrong each time. He has issues with how he looks since he’s turning into a monster, and he mentions it several times; he’s afraid no one will love him for what is happening to him. Poor Sian! I love how Kresley Cole opens the book up with Nyx telling a story to other Valkyrie. I swear Nyx is getting crazier in each book, but it’s due to dealing with the Ascension coming up and the Morior. I hope she gets her HEA because she deserves it with everything she’s dealing with in these books. My favorite part of this book was the ending. Yes, Kresley Cole knows how to write an epic conclusion. She also knows how to write kick-butt heroines, which is one of the many reasons why I adore her stories. Lila is another one of those heroines who will go on my list of favorite kick-butt heroines. She proved it at the end of this book and how she handled Sian and dealt with the Fae King of Sylvan. Lila didn’t need any man’s help (or demon’s help). There are some very steamy scenes between the main characters, so if you are looking for steam in your PNR, this book is it, and the rest of the Immortals After Dark books. Overall, this book receives 4.5-stars, and I’m so glad I finally made time to read it. Now, I wait patiently for the next book. (I’ve already read Munro, released in January 2022, and loved it.) Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Immortals After Dark series, and I would recommend reading in order. Trope(s)/Element(s): Fated Mates; Enemies to Lovers Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy Paranormal Romance books, this book is for you. I will always recommend the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. This is one series that is worth so many rereads. I’ve lost count of how many times I read some of these books in the series.

Bit dissappointed in this book. I've been expecting Munro's story, Nïx's story, King Krostoff's, Fury's story, so many interesting characters! and we get another Møriør's story. That's fine. I love the characters sort of, Kresley Cole is one of the few authors i don't hate the female leads and super interesting and hot male leads, however this so blatantly resembled beauty and the beast (again, lately everyone wants to refference that tale) I found myself bored, rolling my eyes so much and finding fairy tale references all over the book. I hoped something way better because i know she writes super exciting stories. Oh and the price tag! The kindle version even more expensive than the hardcover, and they are not using paper or any of the other expenses involved in a printed copy to justify it! Sheesh! I should just have waited till discount or something... C.C

Another great book from Kresley Cole. I love all the books from IAD series! Everyone who likes Paranormal Romance will enjoy this book. It should not be read as a standalone.

I love all the Immortal After Dark Series, and I read them all as quickly as I get them! This one I read in a night, could not put it down!! I love how Immortals' world keeps growing and evolving with characters. But these characters are one of my top faves!! Loved it!!!

Got the book today and read it non-stop for 5 hours. And boy, was I totally entertained and satisfied - more than glad to have that feeling of satisfaction again with an IAD book which I didn't get with the last 2 ones. Kresley Cole's Wicked Abyss more than delivered in my personal opinion. The plot, the twists and the characters all had the stamp of Cole's trademark. For me, it was one of the IAD books that I couldn't bear to bring down once I started reading - I just had to know how it will end. Lila's beauty was more than a match for Sian's beast and the glimpse it provided of the other awaited characters were more than welcome. IAD fans would have a field day on this one as it brings a promise of much more to come in the exciting, mystifying and magical world of the Lore.

I'm a huge fan of Kresley Cole, especially this series, and I loved this book. It's very Beauty and the Beast, which just happens to be my favourite fairy tale - complete with library! As always Kresely Cole has a spunky, badass heroine, who you can't help cheering on, especially when she was making traps for Sian, and a hot but troubled hero, who you can fall in love with! The banter between them was brilliant to read and I found myself laughing out loud several times. Likewise, the chemistry between them was well written, as it always is, and the development of their relationship was believable... well as believable as a relationship between a fey princess and the King of Hell can be! As for the setting... It was interesting to see this idea of Hell. It's wasn't particularly hellish but I liked it nonetheless and would like to see more stories set there. It would have been nice to have seen other demons though, especially the legions. Also, the more I hear about Morior, the more intrigued I am - I really, really hope Uthyr the dragon and Darach get their own books - plus, I'm intrigued as to what will happen between the Morior and Nix and her allies. I think it's fair to say I can't wait for the next book in this series!