The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole was published in 2017, the first in what would become the bestselling paranormal romance series Immortals After Dark. It was recommended to me by my beloved book friends on Threads with promises of a fast-paced read with delectable spice.
Myst is a Valkyrie trapped in the dungeon of an evil vampire king, and when a warring faction of vampires overtakes the castle, Nikolai, a famous vampire warlord finds her there. The attraction is immediate. But Valkyries notoriously hate vampires, and Myst is fiercely loyal to her immortal sisters. Things get complicated when they discover that Myst is Nikolai’s Bride, the one woman who makes his heart beat again, and the only woman he can ever be with. Nikolai would do anything to keep her, but Myst will never trust a vampire, or so she thinks.
The Warlord Wants Forever is an incredibly short book, really it’s novella length to kick off the series. Because it is so short, by necessity the plot moves incredibly quickly. The attraction is absolutely instant, and the enemies-to-lovers plot moves quickly into the lovers territory, although the banter and tension persist to the very end.
Due to the length, there is also not a ton of world-building or a great deal of character development, but it’s enough. It feels a little rushed, but readers can still orient themselves in the world relatively easily. By the end of the book, it felt like we got to know the characters despite the quick backstories and rapid progression of events.
This book is very clearly a first novel. The excess exclamation points are a tell-tale sign. Sarah J. Maas does the same thing in Throne of Glass, and I suspect that will improve in later books. That said, it’s a compelling entry into a sweeping twenty-book series of standalones.
Let’s be honest, this one is here for the smut. The spicy scenes in this book are filthy and fantastic. Nikolai wants her so bad, and even if it is fueled by some magically fated bond, it is hot as hell. The Warlord Wants Forever is a fun, dirty little speed read, and I look forward to reading the rest of the books when I need something that’s pure lighthearted entertainment.
Writing: 3
Spice: 3.75
Kindle: $5.99
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