Finished Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole. This is the latest installment in her popular Immortals After Dark paranormal romance series.

In this one, witch Carrow Graie has been captured by humans who are experimenting on immortals. Carrow is given a terrible choice — watch a young witch die or help the humans capture half-vampire, half-demon Malkom Slaine. Of course, Carrow agrees to help find Malkom. What she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with him. For his part, Malkom has been betrayed by everyone that he’s ever cared about, but when he meets Carrow, he starts dreaming of a new life with her. Too bad her betrayal is hanging over them — and may just cost them both their lives …

I really like this series because it’s a mix of magic, romance, fun, and adventure, and I think this book is one of the best installments so far. Carrow and Malkom are both likable characters (especially Carrow), and their struggle to overcome their issues is believable. I liked the fact that Malkom just didn’t automatically forgive Carrow for betraying him and that she stood up for herself and took responsibility for her actions, even though she was coerced into doing them in the first place.

I also loved how Cole used the immortal prison setting to propel the action as well as set up future books/couples. I thought that was clever and well done. I really want to read Lothaire’s and Lanthe’s books based on what Cole does with the characters in this book. There were also lots of appearances by past characters/couples, as well as references to what happened in the other books, which I always enjoy in a series like this one.

My only little quibble would be Malkom and how he reacted after he found out about Carrow’s betrayal. Yeah, she betrayed him, but she did it to save a little girl. I think his plan to torture/maim/kill Carrow and generally destroy everything that she ever loved or cared about was a little extreme. I get that Malkom wasn’t sure that he could ever trust Carrow again, but I thought that conflict was dragged out for maybe a chapter too long. It slowed down the pacing for me at the end.

Overall, though, this is a fine addition to the IAD series, and I’m already looking forward to reading the next installment. Is it February yet?

My grade: B+.

Would I read this author again: Yes. I really like the IAD series and plan to keep on reading them.

Up next: Something from the TBR pile.

Books in my TBR pile: About 20.