High-stakes mythology, paranormal romance, and post-apocalyptic fantasy come together in stories centered on mythic creatures, deadly competitions, and complex romantic pairings. Author Kresley Cole gained prominent recognition with A Hunger Like No Other, the breakout novel in her celebrated Immortals After Dark paranormal romance series, establishing her as a central figure in contemporary speculative romance.
Career & Background
Before becoming a novelist, Cole was a world-ranked competitive athlete and coach. While completing her Master's degree in English at the University of Florida, she spent extensive hours conducting library research that later served as foundational material for her manuscripts. Her debut romance novel was published in 2003, launching a writing career spanning historical romance, fantasy, young adult fiction, and erotic romance. In 2007, Cole earned her first Romance Writers of America RITA Award for A Hunger Like No Other. In January 2009, Kiss of a Demon King became a #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller, helping earn her induction into the RWA Hall of Fame that same year. She received a second RITA Award for Kiss of a Demon King in 2010, followed in 2011 by her second #1 New York Times bestseller, Dreams of a Dark Warrior.
Cole's fiction has been translated into more than twenty languages and published internationally across dozens of countries. Residing in Florida with her family and numerous pets, she draws inspiration from her personal travels across the globe, including trips to the rainforests of Central America and the Queensland region of Australia, as well as her interest in boating and water activities.
Writing Style & Themes
Cole's writing is characterized by intricate world-building, high-octane pacing, and humor blended with dramatic tension. Across paranormal and young adult speculative subgenres, her plots frequently feature secret supernatural factions, ancient prophecies, deadly trials, and intense romantic conflicts. Works such as Poison Princess demonstrate her ability to construct post-apocalyptic settings grounded in tarot lore, while erotic romance titles like The Professional highlight her versatility across distinct genre expectations.
Major Works
- A Hunger Like No Other — Published in 2006, this novel won the 2007 RWA RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance and launched the widely acclaimed Immortals After Dark series.
- Poison Princess — The opening book in the post-apocalyptic Arcana Chronicles, introducing a young adult fantasy world built around empowered teens embodying tarot cards.
- The Professional — An erotic romance novel representing Cole's Game Maker series, showcasing her expansion into contemporary adult romance.
- Playing Easy to Get — A romance collection featuring Cole's short fiction alongside other prominent genre authors.
- Kiss of a Demon King — A major installment in the Immortals After Dark series that reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in January 2009 and earned the 2010 RITA Award.
