
Book 15 in Immortals After Dark
Sweet Ruin
by Kresley Cole
An immortal assassin is caught between desire and duty...
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.
- Spice
- 4/5
- Burn
- Medium
- Pages
- ~400
- Ending
- HEA
HEA means happily ever after: they end up together, for good.
How spicy is Sweet Ruin?
Sweet Ruin is a 4 out of 5 on our spice scale: spicy (explicit). Explicit, detailed scenes and several of them. The famous "perfect 4": real plot, real smut. Spice starts around the middle.
- Steam: Explicit open door
- Burn: Medium burn
- When: Spice starts around the middle
- Pairing: One man, one woman
- POV: Third person, dual POV (both leads)
- Ending: Happily ever after
Content warnings
Some readers like to go in blind, so these stay hidden until you tap.
Show 4 content warnings
- Child abuse (past or present)
- Murder
- Graphic violence
- Human trafficking
Our editorial notes, which may be incomplete. If something is a hard limit for you, check the author's own content notes too.
What readers say
Loading reader votes…
Read it? How spicy was it?
Tap a level to vote. Tap it again to take your vote back.
Spot a content warning we missed?
Tick anything the book has. Once a few readers report the same thing, it is added to this book's content warnings (still behind a tap) and to the hard-no filters.
Reader reviews
- Loading reviews…
Reviews and votes are from readers, not us. Community rules.
Tropes & tags
Your next read
If you liked Sweet Ruin
More by Kresley Cole
Sweet Ruin: quick answers
How spicy is Sweet Ruin?
Sweet Ruin is a 4 out of 5 on our spice scale: spicy (explicit). Explicit, detailed scenes and several of them. The famous "perfect 4": real plot, real smut. Spice starts around the middle.
Is Sweet Ruin a standalone?
No. Sweet Ruin is book 15 in Immortals After Dark. Start with A Hunger Like No Other. The series is still ongoing.
What tropes are in Sweet Ruin?
Sweet Ruin features vampires, fae, opposites attract. It is a medium burn M/F romance that ends with a happily ever after.
Does Sweet Ruin have content warnings?
Our notes for Sweet Ruin include: child abuse (past or present), murder, graphic violence, human trafficking. This list may not be complete; check the author's own content notes if anything is a hard limit for you.
What should I read after Sweet Ruin?
If you loved Sweet Ruin, try A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands, Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh. They share its vampires and fae energy at a similar spice level.















