ARC Review: Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
 
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

 

Recommended Read!

“WICKED ABYSS felt like a play on senses and Cole made me love every second of it.”
~ Under the Covers

You all know I’m a huge fan of Kresley Cole and the Immortals After Dark has always been one of the paranormal romance series that I recommend any paranormal lover puts in their must read series.  WICKED ABYSS is book 18 in the series and when the main characters for this were announced, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t thrilled.  See, this world is so big and we’ve left open ended storylines along the way that I am already invested in seeing developed.  I know the author is driving forward an overall plot for where the world (and alliances) need to be before the final battle but I didn’t have much interest in these two going in.

That being said, as soon as you turn the first page and Nix is being her usual self… I was hooked.  Kresley Cole always has a way of telling a story that grabs my attention because it’s endearing and cute (if all the hell raising she does can be called that).  We quickly move into the main part of the story that finds out heroine Lila, a fey princess from Sylvan, in the middle of a plot to be captured and spy on the king of hell.  A demon who also happens to be her mate.  There are many things that will seemingly stand in the way of their HEA.  Kudos to Ms. Cole for never shying away from setting herself up to write huge obstacles that love must overcome.  The past cards were stacked against Lila and Sian and it was a lot of fun to see them tentatively grow their trust in each other and explore their attraction at the same time.

One thing that immediately captivated me was the way that fairytales are woven into the story.  I LOVE THAT!  Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Rapunzel…. This was done so well and it made the first quarter of the story that much more fun to read about.  But while I was enjoying the story, the play between the hero/heroine, and the sexiness factor, I kept waiting for the tie in to come.  I don’t want to give anything away here so lets just say I found that this book didn’t advance the overall series arc for me right now.  I know in the future the chess moves in this one might come to play, but I was hoping to see more in terms of that developing here.  This world just keeps getting bigger and bigger and while it’s definitely exciting, I hope it’s not starting to spin out of control.  WICKED ABYSS felt like it could be read as a standalone paranormal romance and you wouldn’t be completely lost.  It was, for the most part, the story of Sian and Lila.  And while that is fine and I enjoyed them and their story, at book 18 in a series I do hope for a bit more connection to the series.

That being said, lets go back to my love for all things Sian.  I mean, lets all agree that the demons in this series are beyond sexy and nobody can write a better horn sexy scene than Kresley Cole.  She’s masterful at playing with her creatures in a way that draws me in like a moth to a flame.  Horns, claws, pointy twitchy ears… WICKED ABYSS felt like a play on senses and Cole made me love every second of it.  Sian is adorable and vulnerable because in the millennia of hurt he’s harbored there’s also a tender part of him that still just want to be loved and cared for as much as his teenage self wanted.  I truly adored his character, he was one of my favorite things about this story.

And then there’s Lila.  Just when I think a lot of Ms. Cole’s heroines are always the same, and Lila had some traits that seem to be familiar, she was still different.  Her personality really shines through in this one and makes you connect with her as well.

In the end, this was a fun read.  A bit slower to develop as I kept expecting for more to happen.  But in Kresley Cole fashion the last 25% speeds things up and everything seems to happen.  Slow and steady build up to that point.  I don’t know how to feel about where we go from here.  What’s next?  I’m at a loss for what the next move will be.  I wish this would’ve given us a glimpse of the next book so that the excitement can build up until then, but I guess we just have to wait and see.

READING ORDER & BUY LINKS

Click on the covers to buy the books

About Kresley Cole

Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series and the young adult Arcana Chronicles. She has also written five award-winning historical romances.

Since her first novel was released in 2003, Kresley has published nineteen books with Simon & Schuster and has seen her releases translated into more than eighteen foreign languages. She has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings. Two of her favorite places to visit include the rain forests of Central America and the Queensland area of Australia.

Cole’s trademark action, sensuality, and humor are exemplified in her popular Immortals After Dark Series, which revolves around the Lore, a secret stratum of hundreds of immortal creatures--ranging from Vampires to Lykae, Furies to Shifters, and Fey to Valkyrie--that each have their strengths, weaknesses, and age old prejudices against the others. Though they secretly live among humans, they constantly war among themselves, which gives her a lot of material.

In 2007, Kresley won the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for best paranormal for her novel A Hunger Like No Other, and in January 2009, she became a #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller with her sixth IAD installment, Kiss of a Demon King. In 2010, Kiss of a Demon King earned Kresley her second RITA award. 2011 brought Cole her second #1 NYT bestseller with Dreams of a Dark Warrior.

She lives in Florida with her husband and far too many animals. She spends any free time traveling and enjoys all things related to boats and water.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

What did you think of our review?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

 ♡ Don’t want to miss any of our posts? ♡ 
Follow Under the Covers: Facebook | Twitter | Tsu | GoodReads | Email 

• About
• Latest Posts

Follow me

Francesca

Blogger/Reviewer at Under the Covers Book Blog

I’m a 30 something sun lover currently living in Florida.I’m a book and coffee addict and lover of all things elephants.

I get easily distracted by pictures of sexy guys and have tons of book boyfriends.I keep all my alpha males chained to my basement and guard them fiercely.*Back off bitches*I like to see Jason Momoa as a lot of those boyfriends, because ….. mmmmmmm JASON.MOMOA!

I’m a part time graphic designer (yes, everything you see on UTC has been done by me), run my husband's business from home and on a good day I’m a self appointed superwoman (she who can do it all).I love blogging with my girls and I couldn’t do it any other way!My first love is everything paranormal, but in the past few years I’ve re-learned to love contemporary romance.Every once in a while I like to mix things up with a historical romance, a steampunk or an LGBT book.Because I need variety to avoid book slumps.I don’t always need an HEA although I prefer one, and I love authors that can rip my heart out and make me ugly cry.

Click on photo to find me on GoodReads

Follow me

Latest posts by Francesca (see all)

• The New Guy by Sarina Bowen Book Review - February 28, 2023
• Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert Book Review - October 18, 2022
• A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone Holiday Romance Review - October 8, 2022