Search - Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark, Bk 10)

Not my favorite IAD novel, but still an excellent addition to the series. Kresley Cole really excels at creating beautiful characters of such diverse and dark backgrounds but still manages to make them humorous and sympathetic while still maintaining their 'street cred.' Malkom is probably her darkest and most tormented hero to date who is both dangerously damaged in the mind and kind of sweet--my favorite combination : ). I LOVED the first half of this story where he and Carrow are getting to know each other Tarzan/Jane style in a Demon-plane wilderness. His rough wooing skills are heartbreaking as she desperately tries to resist.

I also loved the cameos by other characters especially in the compound where several Lore creatures are being held against their will and exposed to torture and medical experiments by Lore-hating mortals. There are several intriguing tidbits for possible storylines in future books particularly for Regin & Aidan/Declan and Thronos & Lanthe. I have to admit that, while I enjoy all of Kresley's novels, and this one was no exception, I mostly viewed this novel as a way to get clues for Regin's story (coming out in Feb '11) and because I knew Thronos & Lanthe had pivotal roles in upcoming novels. Dare I hope that they are the third book in the trilogy???? God I hope so!

For me the novel lost a little steam three quarters of the way through when Carrow, Malkom, and Carrow's newly adopted daughter, Ruby played house on a (somewhat) deserted island for several pages. Carrow lost a lot of her spunk and at times her relationship to Malkom truly bothered me. This is the first time that Kresley Cole's hero had crossed a line and squicked me. I found myself very uncomfortable for 3 or so chapters that it kind of killed the ending for me. But I should stress that their relationship at this point hit a nerve for me and might not for many others. So, it's not so much a critique of her writing as more an observation from the standpoint of a long-time fan who, for the first time ever!, was bothered by something one of her characters did and how they did it. Make sense?

All in all, a great story, though not my favorite. Dying, however, to get to Regin's story in February!!!

Demons, vampires, witches, and other paranormal creatures I love- check
heart racing action-check
sexual tension- check
romance (notice I put the sexual tension first)- check
a bit of horror- check
humor (witty humor even)- check
sex- check
tortured hero- oh yeah, I mean check

The perfect paranormal romance!

Grade B+

Demon from the Dark is the 8th full length novel in Kresley Cole's Imortals after Dark series. Carrow Graie is a witch who has been captured by a group seeking to add to their paranormal menagerie. They have tasked Carrow with locating Malkom Slaine, a Vemon (vampire/demon). They have her sweet niece Ruby as collateral to make her comply. Things get tricky when Carrow starts to fall in love with the beast. How can she possibly choose between Ruby or Malkom?

I love this series, but the last couple of books have left me with a bad taste in my mouth, worried that the series isn't going anywhere. Things seemed a little stagnant in terms of the big war amongst the immortals. Well, I am happy to say this book pushed all those worries to the back of my mind. It was an incredible journey and things are finally starting to pick up in terms of the overall story arc. Yay!!!!

I had a little bit of trouble getting into the story. It started out slow giving us Malkom's back story, plus coupled with my own preconceived notions, made me put it down and pick it back up repeatedly. Once I got past the first chapter (I know, short attention span) things really picked up. Malkom is a crazy beast of a man. Well, not exactly a man, a demon really. But he is completely Alpha with a soft, sensitive inner core. Carrow can't help but be drawn to him. He is fiercely protective, yet extremely inexperienced when it comes to women. He is a very unique hero and a lot of romance fans are going to adore him. I know I did.

I really enjoyed Demon from the Dark. I have not been as enthusiastic about paranormal romance compared with urban fantasy, but I thought Demon from the Dark was up there with urban fantasy this time. I highly recommend this series and this book if you like paranormal romance. I recently posted an excerpt, which you can find here. Enjoy!

Another great book in the Immortals series. Looking forward to the next one, you rock KC.

I love an author who challenges herself and I can see this book definitely being a challenge for Cole. Carrow and Malkom had to overcome a language barrier and somehow make it to the end with a happily ever after. It was entertaining and so sweet. Malkom was definitely the gruff Neanderthal. My only thing was that Carrow was a bit too much like Regin.

As to address how passive and calm Carrow became in the middle of the book, I could justify it with a combination of being a mother to Ruby and guilt from her betrayal. She did bounce back after she realized her methods weren't working so I think I can forgive the slight character shift.

I read Regin's story first (supposed to read that one after) and I can't wait to read Lanthe's story. Like the cameos from the others although I don't think Nix is in this one enough. I even got to hate Declan all over again. I think it was actually better I read Regin's story first. If I read this one, I don't think I can come to forgive Declan and start liking him in the end of that story.

Good addition to the series and worth the read.

Initially this story really worked. Malkom is a bit unusual in this series, he's only lived in Oblivion, a demon dimension, and knows nothing of the mortal world. He isn't royalty, he has no possessions or riches in the mortal world, he doesn't read or write. Carrow and Malkom don't speak the same language and he's a virgin who suffered terrible abuse as a child. He starts out pretty gross, a demon who hasn't had a bath in 400 years, not attractive at all. Their attraction grows despite all this and there is a sweetness to the connection between characters who find ways to reach out despite all their differences.

However after they leave Oblivion and are imprisoned at the Order's island compound, the whole story loses gas. Most of the scenes in the compound are blessedly short but the very long interval of them hanging around the island and trust issues...boring. It seemed like Carrow's "voice" changed after they left Oblivion, suddenly she's all deep thoughts and sensitivity. Her sudden deep and abiding love for Malkom with no questions seemed out of character and didn't fit with the first half of the story. I missed her feisty attitude.

I liked Malkom a lot, he was super sexy and heroic. But I was disappointed by the last third of the book. Great story though and certainly sets up three or four more books: Lothaire's story, Regin's story, Lanthe's story, and possibly Uilliam. Enjoy!