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Quick answer: If you loved Kresley Cole, read Kresley Cole's The Warlord Wants Forever, then Jeaniene Frost's Halfway to the Grave, then Lara Adrian's Kiss of Midnight, and Christine Feehan's Dark Prince and Patricia Briggs's Moon Called. All are steamy paranormal romance.
Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series blends vampires, Valkyries and demons. These picks share the heat and fantasy.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Warlord Wants Forever | Kresley Cole | Adult | immortal romances |
| Halfway to the Grave | Jeaniene Frost | Adult | readers who like romantic action |
| Kiss of Midnight | Lara Adrian | Adult | readers who like vampire warriors |
| Dark Prince | Christine Feehan | Adult | the Carpathian start |
| Moon Called | Patricia Briggs | Adult | readers who like shapeshifters |
| Bitten | Kelley Armstrong | Adult | readers who like werewolves |
| Touch the Dark | Karen Chance | Adult | chaotic action |
| Spider's Bite | Jennifer Estep | Adult | assassin heroines |
| Written in Red | Anne Bishop | Adult | cozy but dangerous |
| Magic Bites | Ilona Andrews | Adult | readers who like fantasy action |
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | Adult | readers who like fantasy detectives |
| Obsidian | Jennifer L. Armentrout | 14+ | readers who like romance |
| From Blood and Ash | Jennifer L. Armentrout | Adult | readers who like spicy fantasy |
| Interview with the Vampire | Anne Rice | Adult | readers who want the beginning |
| Glass Houses | Rachel Caine | Teen | vampire towns |
1. The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
A vampire warlord meets a Valkyrie in the Immortals After Dark series. Funny, wild and full of lore.
Best for: immortal romances.
2. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Cat, a half-vampire, hunts vampires and meets a vampire hunter. Steamy and funny.
Best for: readers who like romantic action.
3. Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
Gabrielle meets a warrior from a race of vampires. The first Midnight Breed novel.
Best for: readers who like vampire warriors.
4. Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
The first Carpathian novel introduces Mikhail Dubrinsky and a human woman who becomes his lifemate. Start here if you have not yet read the series that made Feehan famous.
Best for: the Carpathian start.
5. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Mercy Thompson, a mechanic who can shift into a coyote, gets mixed up with werewolves. Warm and clever.
Best for: readers who like shapeshifters.
6. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Elena, the world's only female werewolf, is pulled back into her pack. Fast and sharp.
Best for: readers who like werewolves.
7. Touch the Dark by Karen Chance
Cassie Palmer is a clairvoyant caught between vampires and Senates. Chaotic and clever.
Best for: chaotic action.
8. Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep
Gin Blanco is an assassin in a fantasy city. Action, food and fast plotting.
Best for: assassin heroines.
9. Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Meg Corbyn finds shelter with the shape-shifters who run a trading post in a world ruled by predators. Atmospheric, cozy and tense.
Best for: cozy but dangerous.
10. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels, a mercenary, investigates a murder in a magical Atlanta. Fast and spirited.
Best for: readers who like fantasy action.
11. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Dresden, a wizard and private eye in Chicago, takes on a double murder. Witty and fast.
Best for: readers who like fantasy detectives.
12. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Katy meets Daemon, a handsome alien neighbor. Romance and action.
Best for: readers who like romance.
13. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Poppy, the Maiden, is meant to be untouched, but a guard stirs her feelings. Fantasy romance with vampires.
Best for: readers who like spicy fantasy.
14. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Louis tells a reporter his story of becoming a vampire with Lestat. The first book in the series, and the one that changed vampire fiction.
Best for: readers who want the beginning.
15. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
A girl moves to a town run by vampires. Quick and funny.
Best for: vampire towns.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Kresley Cole: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Kresley Cole. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For paranormal romance, read Halfway to the Grave. For vampires, try Kiss of Midnight. For werewolves, pick Moon Called.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kresley Cole?
An American romance author.
What is her best-known series?
Immortals After Dark.
Is it explicit?
Yes, it is for adults.
Which book here is best for vampire towns?
Try Glass Houses by Rachel Caine, which suits readers looking for vampire towns.
Which book here is best for readers who want the beginning?
Try Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, which suits readers looking for readers who want the beginning.
Which book here is best for readers who like spicy fantasy?
Try From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which suits readers looking for readers who like spicy fantasy.
Which book here is best for readers who like romance?
Try Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which suits readers looking for readers who like romance.
Which book here is best for readers who like fantasy detectives?
Try Storm Front by Jim Butcher, which suits readers looking for readers who like fantasy detectives.