In this riveting new installment of New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series, Gideon, keeper of the Demon of Lies, fights to uncover the truth….

Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie—until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn’t remember the beautiful female, much less wedding — or bedding — her. But he wants to . . . almost as much as he wants her.

But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free, and a future with her means risking everything. Especially as Gideon’s enemies draw closer . . . and the truth threatens to destroy all he’s come to love . . .

Title: The Darkest Lie
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld, book 6
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HQN, Harlequin Publishing
Year of release: 2010, July 1
Format: eBook - ADEpdf, 448 pages
Source: Received digital copy from publisher via NetGalley
First line: Gideon stared down at the woman sleeping in the massive bed of cerulean cotton.
Memorable Scenes:
- Scarlet and Gideon's marriage vows > so endearing and beautiful
- Amun, William and Aeron in Hell > action-packed, heart-in-throat exciting
- The scene where Scarlet discovers what really happened in the past > heartbreaking

I want to start this review by saying it was the hardest review I’ve ever written because I did not love this book by one of my all-time favorite authors and I so wanted to. I really wanted to LOVE this book as much as I did all the other installments in this series but I just couldn’t, there were too many things that just didn’t work for me and writing this review broke my fan-girl heart a little bit.

Gideon is the keeper of the Demon of Lies. I always thought Gideon kind of sweet and inconspicuous until THE DARKEST WHISPER, where he certainly made an appearance that stayed with me and in THE DARKEST PASSION he definitely made an impression on me with his great sense of humor and had me thinking I was going to have to change my mind about him. Unfortunately in his own book it was hard to get a firm grip on his character because of some very contradictory traits. He’s sweet and tough, brave and meek, ruthless and compassionate and tender.

Scarlet is the keeper of the Demon of Nightmares. She’s ruthless, saucy, sharp, fearless and intelligent. Scarlet is the first heroine in the Lords of the Underworld series I did not like very much. And despite me not liking her she still outshone Gideon for me. She did things I didn’t like but she was fierce and passionate and underneath that fierceness was a sort of vulnerability in her yearning for someone to love and accept her. Both Gideon and Scarlet are stubborn but Scarlet won hands down in that department too. She just refused to compromise or to see things in another light, holding on to what she thought of Gideon and to her version of what had happened in the past.

The contradictions in Gideon and some other things I’ll talk about later on in this review made it hard for me to fall for him as the hero of this book. Add to that that Scarlet either worked on my nerves or did things that made me want to smack her around for most of the book and you may deduct that the main characters didn’t quite work for me in THE DARKEST LIE.

The first things that bothered me were the prologue and chapter 1. To me it would have worked so much better if chapter 1 had been the prologue and the prologue chapter 1. I didn’t understand why and see the logic of the way it was done now. Also, I was sad to see some mid-scene breaks to completely different storylines at some very inconvenient points in the scenes. Remember my rant about that in my LOVER MINE review? Needless to say I was very disillusioned to see this in a book by one of my favorite authors.

While I liked the premise of Scarlet in THE DARKEST PASSION, where the foundation for Gideon and Scarlet’s story is laid, for the greater part of this book I didn’t like Scarlet. I really didn’t like how she physically hurt Gideon and I liked the emotional hurt she caused him even less. I really resented her hitting, kicking and punching Gideon repeatedly and Gideon just “lying there and taking it,” passively, without protest or retaliation. I truly disliked how Gideon let Scarlet physically abuse him. I am not an advocate for men hitting women, definitely not, but come on! She punched, hit, kicked, stabbed him and he did…nothing!!

There was a point in the story where I seriously wondered if Gena was going to be able to redeem Scarlet and make me like her more, further along in the book. To me Scarlet was a tad whimsical. Sometimes she would show a glimpse of compassion, of caring, of feeling Gideon’s torment and pain and wanting to assuage that pain. However, these moments were far too rare in my opinion and that contributed to me not caring much about her as the heroine for most part of the book. There was a storyline in the book that broke my heart and made me sympathize with Scarlet a bit more and in the end Gena Showalter did redeem her characters enough for my resentment of Scarlet to diminish but it did reek of too little too late.

And then there was the “Gideon-speak”. I admire Gena Showalter for taking up the complicated task of writing this book because the Gideon-speak was utterly confusing throughout the whole book. It slowed the pace down for me as figuring out what he meant sometimes, or the translations offered by the other characters or by Gideon’s inner voice, would take me out of the story and the reading rhythm. In the other books of the Lords of the Underworld series I found the Gideon-speak funny and quirky but it came in small doses then. Reading and mentally translating it in the first half of this book made me feel like my head was going to explode and this was another reason, next to the slow pace, the low amount of action and the disconnection with the main couple, why it took me so long (it took me a month(!) to read this book) to finish this book.

The pace was another thing that bothered me. For at least the first half of the story the pace is slow, there’s not much happening action wise, making it the “meh” book in the Lords of the Underworld series. I have a “meh” book in every ongoing series and unfortunately THE DARKEST LIE turned out to be it in this series. I was and still am disappointed in the lack of action and new information in the first part of the book. After I’d read about 100 pages I was still at the point in the story arc where I’d left it at the end of THE DARKEST PASSION. So that was about 100 pages of no new information, no new developments, only back-story and revelations that were already known to loyal followers of this series. As I said in my review of THE DARKEST PASSION: I understand the need to write these books as stand-alones but in my opinion as someone who reads series like these in order, it is a disservice to readers who have been with the series since book 1 when you have to read about 100 pages first before you get something new in the continuing story arc.

Next to all of the above things that didn’t work for me there were also things that did work for me, fortunately! The trademark Gena Showalter humor is definitely present again in THE DARKEST LIE. I loved that she never fails me in that department and it definitely gave me the reading pleasure I missed with other aspects of the book.

The story of Gideon and Scarlet and the romance between them is heartbreaking. Even without knowing Gideon’s side of the story in the beginning, the tale Scarlet’s character reveals bit by bit through her thoughts and memories shows a Scarlet who was rejected by everyone who meant something to her, everyone who was supposed to love and cherish her. I was intrigued by how Gideon doesn’t remember Scarlet or being married to her. The why and how kept me speculating during a big portion of the book and when the answers came I was surprised by what had been going on and what had been done to Scarlet and Gideon.

Still, it is not a good sign when the side stories capture my attention more than the main couple does. In this case it there was nothing wrong with the romance or their back-story but the characters themselves just rubbed me the wrong way. The side stories however were extremely interesting and made me want more, more, and more. I want to know about Aeron and Legion (can I say cliff hanger?), William (sexy immortal extraordinaire), Amun (fairly early in the story there’s a hinting towards Amun’s HEA and if that one is carried through it’s one I really didn’t see coming but I’m very curious to see how this is going to be played out), someone I can’t name for fear of spoilers of almost all the previous books in the series, especially THE DARKEST PASSION (but wow, I can’t wait for when stuff surrounding her starts coming out of the woodworks), Strider (disaster and mayhem about to happen there).

As usual Gena Showalter had the ability to surprise me with plot twists like no other and she kept doing it in THE DARKEST LIE too. I think I’ve mentioned the 100-page mark a few times and apologize for doing it again but it wasn’t until after about those first 100 pages that at last I was pulled into the story. The new developments and plot twists I had been craving were finally delivered and the pace picked up along with a lot more action and in the end I got what I am used to in the LOTU series. In terms of overall arc and side plots the series keeps getting better and better with every new installment and THE DARKEST LIE is no exception, because despite my misgivings with Gideon and Scarlet the plot, once it got going, was intriguing and original as always.

I so wanted to be awed by another installment of the LOTU, a series I love so much, but I honestly can’t say that I was. Disappointed and heartbroken is a more accurate description of how I felt until about 2/3 into the book and when I turned the last page of it I was very sad to say that this was the first ever Gena Showalter book I had problems with. Admittedly, the last third of the book did make up for some of the disappointment I felt, but sadly it wasn’t enough to boost my rating up to more than I’ve given it now. But I have faith in Gena! As someone on Twitter said: “everyone has the right to an off day, or in this case an off book…I am convinced and confident Gena Showalter and the LOTU series will deliver for me in the next installment.

Favorite Quotes:
He was a beautiful man, his face was like an angel’s –only sprinkled with all kinds of wicked.

She’d always been interested in him? Suddenly he wanted to puff out his chest and bang on it like a damned monkey.

“Don’t reach into my pocket,” he said.
There was a suspended silence. Then a dry, “I don’t think so.”
“I don’t have a present for you.”
Interest lit her dark eyes, but she remained still. Even suspicious. “The present wouldn’t happen to be a hard c#ck, would it? Because if it is, I would have to return it. Minus a few inches.”

The moment his tongue made contact, his entire body felt like it went up in flames from the inside out. His blood turned his organs to ash. His ashed organs liquefied his bones and those liquid bones scorched his skin, leaving blisters.

I received the digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley .

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with another sizzling installment of the Lords of the Underworld series, as Aeron, keeper of the Demon of Wrath, dares to taste the forbidden . . .

For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel--a demon-assassin--has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting - and falling for - Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this 'mortal' with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't...

As the back cover blurb summarizes the story adequately I will not bother with a summary of my own but get right down to business.

Aeron is the Keeper of Wrath. He has no need or time for women in his life except for his adopted demon daughter Legion. His need to hurt outweighs his need to pleasure women and it takes time for females to warm up to him because they fear him. He's a loner and distant, he loathes weaklings and is brutally direct. But he also has a good heart and goes through fire for the people he cares about. He won’t hesitate to sacrifice himself for the ones he loves. If you thought Aeron had a hard time in THE DARKEST PLEASURE or THE DARKEST WHISPER, think again. In his book it is even worse. I really felt sorry for him numerous times throughout the book.

Aeron captured my attention from the moment he stepped on the scene in THE DARKEST NIGHT (book 1 of the LOTU). With his tattoos, black wings and his thirst for vengeance he made a big impression on me and I am normally not one to fall for this type of dark, tortured heroes. As his character was explored more in the following books I just got more and more anxious for his story. Never would I have guessed his heroine was going to be a lovely angel, albeit a fallen angel.

Olivia is sweet, resilient, persistent and headstrong. If I ever met a heroine who just doesn't give up, now matter how terrible the odds, it's Olivia. She's has a beguiling kind of innocence and honesty which makes her the total opposite of Aeron and therefore she's his perfect match. Even though I really did like Olivia, I couldn't get a complete grip on her character. To me it felt as if Gena Showalter wasn't quite able to grasp how she wanted Olivia to be. Confident, seductive and strong or sweet, innocent and a bit insecure? This made for an Olivia who would be very powerful on one page and a bit weaker on the next.

Olivia's attempts to catch Aeron naked were endearing and hilarious. Olivia's bubbly nature was a perfect counterpart to Aeron's dark and brooding character. Aeron can't but melt a little for Olivia's charm, despite fighting hard not to. Both Olivia and Aeron but Legion too, get themselves into some tricky situations and I was flipping through the pages like a madwoman, anxiously, to find out how they were going to get out of them.

For me the start of THE DARKEST PASSION was a bit slow because there's a lot of back-story on the Lords in the first few chapters. I understand the need for it because it makes the overall story arc comprehensible as a stand-alone for newcomers to the series, but for followers of the series it's a bit distracting and repetitive. However, from about page 80 I really got into it and I was treated to everything I love about Gena Showalter’s writing and this Lords of the Underworld series.

Gena Showalter's writing is humorous, hot, action-packed and fast-paced. She's not one of my absolute favorite authors for nothing. Despite the continuing story arc she manages to give each installment its own unique vibe. No book in this series feels the same and yet together they form a perfect continued story. I love the way she keeps expanding the LOTU world and overall story arc in this series. With every book new layers of information are added and new mind-blowing revelations are made and the DARKEST PASSION was no exception in this. There's a lot going on. All were things that had me wondering what they all entailed and how it was going to play out in the end. And in the end I got answers but also more questions which undoubtedly will be answered in the next book or books!

Gena Showalter keeps her readers engaged throughout the book, revealing little and big things but never too much and always enough to keep you guessing and anticipating the next revelation. One of those anticipated revelations is Gideon's story (THE DARKEST LIE). The set-up made in this book for it is simply brilliant and enticing. I can't wait to read the whole story on Gideon's HEA. Also, after reading THE DARKEST PASSION I am more convinced than ever that William belongs on my future favorite heroes list! The enticing, teasing treasure map tattooed on his body stuff definitely sealed the deal. Not to mention another glimpse of his character and his back-story.

The end of this book broke my heart, especially the scene where Aeron and Lysander battle it out. Can't say more about it because it would spoil the plot and ending but suffice to say I was sobbing while reading. However, the very end (after the heartbreaking scene) also, despite the intense emotions, did seem a bit of an easy cop out. Compared to all the preliminary, brilliant set-up throughout the book it felt a bit rushed and simply resolved, but because the rest of the book was so great I am willing to let Gena Showalter get away with it.

THE DARKEST PASSION is a perfect mix of action, plot and fights to accompany the romance and humor. Deals, promises, bargains and sacrifices form the spine of this fifth book in the LOTU series. The last few chapters really packed a punch and left me craving more, much more, of the LOTU. I really NEED to know what happens next with all these surprising twists in the plot and fascinating new characters delivered by the extremely talented Gena Showalter.

Quotes:
Paris to Aeron:
“One day, someone is going to fascinate you, draw and ensnare you, and you’ll crave her with every cell in your body. I hope she drives you insane. I hope, for a little while at least, she denies you, leading you on a merry chase. Perhaps then you’ll understand a glimmer of my pain.”

She’d fallen to the floor, robe bunched at her waist, and her panties – shit, her panties. Too white, too pure. Made a man want to rip them apart with his teeth and dirty the wearer up a bit.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

The Darkest Angel is part of the Heart of Darkness anthology with Susan Krinard and Maggie Shayne.

Lords of the Underworld tale
An iron-willed demon assassin, the angel Lysander has never known lust—until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of Lucifer, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the pure-hearted Lysander into temptation…

Title: The Darkest Angel
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld, book 4.5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HQN
Year of release: 2010 (January)
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought via The Bookdepository
First line: From high in the heavens, Lysander spotted his prey.

QnD-review:
Hero: Lysander is an angel, a soldier for the One True Deity and one of the Elite Seven. He’s a virgin, which makes him come across innocently cute, had the feeling even though he’s a badass warrior angel, he was a little scared of Bianka, or rather of his feelings for Bianka. He craves her but fights the temptations as hard as he can. Couldn't quite put my finger on Lysander's character. He stayed on the fringes of elusiveness for me.
Heroine: Bianka Skyhawk is the daughter of a Harpy and a phoenix shapeshifter. (witty, outspoken, confident, bold)
Plot: There's a flimsy plot about Bianka being the ultimate temptation and downfall for Lysander and him keeping her captive to convert her to the godly ways and if she doesn't he will have to kill her. Primarily I felt this to be a set up story for Aeron’s story whose heroine makes her appearance in this novella, and I am anxiously looking forward to it.
Writing: Though short, this novella is filled with Gena Showalter’s trademark humor, internal cravings and scorching sensuality.
Likes: Loved the oil-wrestling scene! And I was also intrigued by the set-up for Aeron's story, this is going to be interesting to say the least.
Dislikes: Again the length of the story! I wanted to read more about Lysander and Bianka and I wanted more of a plot. Also there was a lot of information and world building in the first few pages. I can imagine that for readers unknown to the series this is great because it makes the novella more stand alone, but for followers of the series it's unnecessary and felt repetitive.
Verdict: The wrap-up felt a bit rushed but with a 140 page novella that’s not strange. And even though I am not a fan of anthology length novellas, my favorite authors rarely let me down in them. Showalter proved this once again with THE DARKEST ANGEL which I enjoyed but primarily for the oil-wrestling scene and the set-up for Aeron's story: THE DARKEST PASSION.
Rating: 7.0 out of 10

Passion and danger collide in this brand-new Lords of the Underwold eBook exclusive adventure.
Once, Atlas, the Titan God of Strength, was Nike’s slave. Now, he is her master! Soon these long-time enemies destined to destroy one another will be forced to risk everything for a chance at love…

Title: The Darkest Prison
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld, book 3.5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HQN
Year of release: 2009
Format: eBook
Source: Bought at eHarlequin
First line: Reyes, once an immortal warrior for the gods, now possessed by the demon of Pain and living
in Budapest, entered his bedroom.

QnD-review:
Summary: Two deities from rival pantheons are at each other's throats when one guards the other during either pantheon being in power. They try to best each other at every turn. During the verbal and physical battles they also fall in love but they are both too stubborn to admit it. When the Titans regain power the tables are turned and Nike is taken prisoner by Atlas. Their love manifests and Atlas makes the ultimate sacrifice in order to give Nike her life and her freedom.
Hero: Atlas, Titan God of Strength. (protector, warrior, seductive and possessive)
Heroine: Nike, Greek Goddess of Strength (tough, sarcastic, weakness annoys her)
Plot: There is an awesome revelation concering LOTU Paris in this short novella. I really didn't see that one coming and it made me very anxious for Paris' story because, man, is he in for a big surprise...For this revelation alone I'd recommend reading this novella.
Writing: As always Gena Showalters writing is witty and fun and her love scenes are hot!
Likes: The chemistry between Nike and Atlas is intense and desperate like. The final scene of the story is heartwrenchingly beautiful!
Dislikes: As with most novellas: Too short to deepen out the characters
Verdict: Nice installement of the LOTU. Short but sweet filling, enough to temporary satisfy in between the full length books. As said: for the stunning revelation surrounding Paris alone I'd recommend this book but I also suspect we haven't seen the last of Nike and Atlas in this series!
Rating: 7.3 out of 10

Bound by the demon of doubt, Sabin unintentionally destroys even the most confident of lovers. So the immortal warrior spends his time on the battlefield instead of the bedroom, victory his only concern…until he meets Gwendolyn the Timid. One taste of the beautiful redhead, and he craves more.

Gwen, an immortal herself, always thought she’d fall for a kind human who wouldn’t rouse her darker side. But when Sabin frees her from prison, battling their enemies for the claim to Pandora’s box turns out to be nothing compared to the battle Sabin and Gwen will wage against love…

People who know me, my reading and my favorites won't be surprised that I can't find enough appropriate words to express how much I love Gena Showalter's books. With THE DARKEST WHISPER she nailed it again. From the first page she latched on to me and didn't let go until I reached the end.

For me Gwen is the best heroine in the LOTU series up till now. She is a character that I loved from the minute I met her in the book. She is intriguing and likeable, powerful, yet vulnerable. She had two very different sides to her. A dark, violent, powerful side, her Harpy side, but she is also known as Gwen "The Timid" because her non-Harpy side is timid, kind and selfless. This, however, is just a thin veneer and a consequence of her tamping down her Harpy side. She craves normalcy, independence, and freedom from her Harpy and she wants to prove to her sisters that she can be as wild and strong as they are.

And then Sabin. He is just so deliciously masculine and protective, all the while denying his endearment and attraction to Gwen. He too is a contraction. He is hard, harsh, vengeful and calculating but has a boyish charisma at the same time. With his efforts to control his demon Doubt he may come across as confident and sure but I think it's more determination not to let Doubt overrule him than confidence. Sabin caught my attention in the previous book with his gruff and standoffish behavior but underneath he was so passionate and so sweet to Gwen it made me melt into a puddle. As Sabin never was a character that I was particularly intrigued by, I was very surprised at how much I loved him in his own story. He has definitely conquered a place among my favorite characters in this series.

I adored Sabin and Gwen and their journey to the happy ending but I was also utterly intrigued by the tidbits surrounding Aeron, Gideon, Thorin and Paris. I loved seeing the couples Maddox, Ashlyn, Lucien, Anya, Reyes and Danika again. And Anya’s sex addict friend William, who’s become the Lords’ permanent houseguest, added an intriguing and witty note in the midst of the cast of deities, humans, demons and harpies.

Every couple in the LOTU world is unique and Sabin and Gwen are no exception. They bring something different to the series both with their personalities and their love story. I like it when authors do that and Gena Showalter never fails me. Gwen and Sabin’s story is awesome and for me THE DARKEST WHISPER is the book I loved the most of all the books I’ve read to date in this series. Despite a lot of other things going on with the other Lords and the overall story arc, the romance and chemistry between Sabin and Gwen always stayed on the forefront, their story pulled on my heartstrings and on occasion also jumpstarted my laugh muscles.

Another thing I admire in Gena Showalter's writing is that despite of the tone of this book being more dark and intense (Paris and Aeron are turning darker and more tormented with every page) and the LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD are no happy, fluffy band of warriors (they do horrid things to their enemies), she still manages to retain that humorous undertone that's so typical for her writing and which I love so much.

With THE DARKEST WHISPER Gena Showalter has expanded considerably on the foundation she build with the first three books of the series. Those were meant to introduce the world, the characters and the overall plot arc. This book expanded on that and has further set the stage for things to come. Sabin and Gwen's story was told against the backdrop of an overall plotline that definitely made me want more. The small snippets of the storylines surrounding the other Lords (Aeron, Gideon, Paris, Thorin, Cameo and Amun) show stories unfolding for which the description "interesting" is an understatement. These sneak peeks and enticing POVs show things to come that offer many things to ponder and a lot to look forward to in this series.

My favorite book of the series was THE DARKEST NIGHT but THE DARKEST WHISPER with the twists and turns in the overall plot arc that totally surprised me, the wonderful romance between Sabin and Gwen and the fleshing out of future main characters and their stories has taken over the spot on the top of my list.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

This book was released on July 1st and I reviewed it for REALMS ON OUR BOOKSHELVES







He can bear any pain but the thought of losing her…
Reyes is a man possessed. Bound by the demon of pain, he is forbidden to know pleasure. Yet he craves a mortal woman, Danika Ford, more than breath and will do anything to claim her—even defy the gods.

Danika is on the run. For months, she’s eluded the Lords of the Underworld, immortal warriors who won’t rest until she and her family have been destroyed. But her dreams are haunted by Reyes, the warrior whose searing touch she can’t forget. Yet a future together could mean death to all they both hold dear. . .

Reyes is the Lord of the Underworld possessed by Pain. He must ease his torment by hurting himself physically; only physical pain brings him relief from his demon. Emotional pain doesn't count. He has a heart wrenching choice to make, between his love for Danika and his loyalty to the Lords. He tries to prevent his fellow Lords from getting hurt and at the same time his every action is motivated by his feelings for Danika.

A holiday to Budapest, in memory of her grandfather, has changed Danika's life forever. She used to be safe and protected in the cradle of her family. Now she's alone, on the run for her life and used as a pawn by both sides in the search for Pandora's Box. She proves to be a key figure in this search. She has to make a choice too between her loyalty and love for her family and her new and unwelcome feelings for a warrior possessed by a demon. Soon she realizes that she is not capable of betraying or hurting Reyes, not even for her family.

I read this third book of the Lords of the Underworld without reading book 2 and though I did miss some details on the main plot, this didn't prevent me from enjoying this story, but still I would recommend reading the series in order for complete enjoyment.

Gena Showalter promised us dark and intense and I have to say that she does that just as well as she does fun and witty. With this book she has underlined the saying that pleasure and pain go hand in hand.
The book had a really raw, dark and intense feel, even more than THE DARKEST NIGHT, and it worked for me. There was no other way to tell Reyes and Danika's story. Their struggles don't leave much room for wit or bantering although I did have an occasional smile at some of Danika's internal dialogues when her jealousy would rear its ugly head.

For me this was a novel of conflicting feelings and interests, choices and dilemmas. Not only for Danika and Reyes but for Sabin and Paris, who also have their difficult dilemmas to deal with.

Showalter also knows how to capture the essence of the Lord and his demon in throughout the entire book. THE DARKEST NIGHT depicted Maddox's raging violence and THE DARKEST PLEASURE oozes with Reyes' agonizing pain. I was truly moved by the utter desperation for peace Reyes showed. He knows Danika is the woman for him from the start because she is the only one who can calm both him and his inner demon. I was also impressed by Danika's strength and determination.

The Lords, expanded by a few other interesting characters, mainly form the secondary cast. The war with the Hunters and the search for Pandora's box intensifies in this book which make the Lords more desperate. The camaraderie and bond is still there but there is a lot at stake and this is portrayed in the dialogues and the interaction between the Lords. Paris and Aeron monopolized my attention on every page they appeared and to say they were intriguing is a major understatement. Also, Sabin was another Lord who certainly held my attention. Their scenes really have me anticipating what's to come.


The first part of the book sets the stage for the fast paced, action-filled and mind-blowing climax in the second part of the book.
The plot is intricate and compelling and Gena Showalter did a great job in carefully and meticulously building up the world and the plot. She interlaced several subplots with the main plot, offering a promise of intriguing things to come. The build-up of the story is done perfectly, disclosing just enough to make me hunger for the next development.
Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, a surprising twist was thrown into the mix or a totally unexpected turn was taken. At the end of the book I can only guess where Gena Showalter will be taking me in the next installment of this series and I also know my guesses won’t come even close.

THE DARKEST PLEASURE turned out to be a terrific part in a series that's darker, more intense and more promising with each new installment.
This series is a definite keeper for me, combining mythology, romance and action in one compelling package!

Quote:
He was Reyes, a combination of man and demon, drawing and repelling her at the same time. He was right and wrong wrapped in the same sensual package, with a kiss and a flavor that transported her at once to the heights of heaven and the depths of hell.

He is Death, destined to be her executioner.
Ordered by the gods to escort the tempestuous Anya’s soul to hell, Lucien is an immortal warrior torn between duty and desire. For Anya sparks the flames of passion inside him as no one else ever has.
She is Anarchy, as beautiful as she is deadly.
There is nothing Anya wants more than to be Lucien’s lover. His half-hearted attempts to kill her are exhilarating. His kisses – electrifying.

They should have been enemies but they become allies, traveling the world to find and destroy an ancient relic of the gods before it can be used against him -- separating them for eternity.


Against a background of the battle between the Lords of the Underworld and the Hunters who want them destroyed, a story of an unlikely romance and love unfolds while the search for Pandora's box intensifies and takes a new turn. In this second installment of the Lords of the Underworld Series, Lucien and Anya will not only battle their own demons and curses, but also an arrogant King of Titans, Cronus, Hunters who are trying to find Pandora's box in order to get rid of the Lords for once and for all and they have to overcome the issues they have with love and affection.

Lucien was a character who snuck up on me. Before reading this book and in the first half of the book he was an enigma and it was hard for me to figure out what kind of character he really was. He and Death were so different from the other Lords and their demons. In the first book he didn't appeal that much to me but in this one, his own, he really grew on me and I loved him as the hero and in the way he dealt with Anya and his feelings for her.

Anya was a character who rubbed me the wrong way in the other books but she totally and utterly redeemed herself in her own book. Getting to know her background and her motivations I could sympathize with the way she had to deal with life in order to live and survive in the independence she craves so much. She was the breeze of humor that kept the book entertaining and funny. A true counterpart to Lucien's intensity and seriousness.

Lucien and Anya are two ultimate opposites, I have hardly read about two characters more different than these two, but still Gena Showalter makes it work between them in a wonderful way. Anya is the embodiment of Anarchy. She is fiery, chaotic, cheeky and lively. Lucien is disciplined, contained, brooding and serious.
Anya is witty and vibrant where Lucien is scarred, both inside and out. Anya is life to Lucien's death in multiple ways, both literally and metaphorically. I really enjoyed the interactions between Lucien and Anya.

Again strong secondary characters that played their part when needed, enriched the story and though they were crucial in some parts they never stole the spotlight from Anya and Lucien.
I was treated to a powerful, manipulative and arrogant King of Gods, Cronus, whom I loved to hate but still even he intrigued me. I can't shake the feeling that Cronus has some ulterior motive that doesn't necessary have to be an evil motive. I think it's something totally different than what his actions are leading the reader to believe at this moment. Behind every demand or order from him there is something that drives him, but what? This will probably (and hopefully) be disclosed further in the series.
I loved the camaraderie and bantering between the Lords.
The tidbits of the other Lords like Paris, Reyes, Aeron and Gideon are very interesting and I know that when the whole series is complete I will be one happy reader.

Gena Showalter has written an enthralling, endearing and touching installment in a series that is at the top of my favorite list. Every book has it's own vibe, it's own feel and still the recurring plot that is taking on a solid form links them all together to form a great whole. In every book just enough information on the plot is revealed to answer some questions the reader has, but at the same time provides a non-spoiler set-up for the next book or even books after that.

This book was perfectly dosed, mixing heart-stirring romance, fast-paced action, fascinating mythology, great humor and amazing characters in a way only Gena Showalter can do it for me.

This book was released on May 1st and I reviewed it for REALMS ON OUR BOOKSHELVES







An immortal warrior cursed to die every night, only to awaken the next morning knowing he has to die again. A mortal woman with a power beyond imagining...

All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she’ll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member – a man trapped in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger that calms their torments. . .and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction—and a soul-shattering test of love...

Wow!
The first thing I experienced after finishing this book was the inability to form coherent thoughts in order to review what I'd just read. I was prepared to be amazed by Showalter again, as she's done with all her books and series, but amazed doesn't even begin to cover it.
If you're looking to escape into a delectable world of demon-possessed warriors, hunters and gods out to destroy them and the strong, lovely women who can control them, you have to add this first book of the Lords of the Underworld to your MUST-read pile immediately.

Thousands of years ago a number of guards of the King of Gods decided to take matters into their own hands and released the demons in Pandora's box out of spite and jealousy. The gods punished them by bonding each one of these immortal warriors to one of the demons from the box. Maddox houses the demon Violence and since he was the one to kill Pandora, he is cursed to die every night in the same way Pandora died and come alive again in the morning. Since Maddox knows he'll die every night, he fights a continuing battle to control the demon inside him who is bent on destruction. Then he stumbles on a human woman, that's stronger than Violence and helps him control the demon: Ashlyn Darrow.
She is a para-audiologist, who feels she is cursed, since she has the ability to hear all conversations ever held in a location: past, present and in all languages. In Ashlyn's search to get rid of the maddening voices, she finds the Lords of the Underworld and the one person that can silence the voices with his mere presence, the immortal warrior Maddox.

The first meeting between Ashlyn and Maddox left me mesmerized and set the tone for the rest of their thrilling journey of love, belonging and companionship. This journey ended in a beautiful, heartbreaking grand finale that had me in tears. Maddox' agony is heart wrenching. Yet he has compassion and he struggles to control the violent demon inside him.
There's a contradiction in Ashlyn, she is special because of her ability but she craves normality. She is brave and courageous but at the same time insecure. This insecurity lessens because of Maddox' feelings towards her. She has a wry sense of humor she uses to keep her sanity, both with the voices she hears and in dealing with Maddox and the other Lords. They are both lonely; Maddox because of the possession and Ashlyn because of her ability. Also, they both crave what everyone does: love, acceptance, and belonging.

When I read Gena Showalter was coming out with a new paranormal series I wasn't sure what to expect. There are so many paranormal series on brotherhoods of warriors out there and we've also read so much about the gods, cursed warriors and the battle between good and evil. But this all couldn't have prepared me for what Showalter dishes out in this first book of the series. She has taken a known myth and the familiar concept of a brotherhood of warriors and created an opening salvo of a series that left me wondering what the heck just hit me...I should have known she would give these familiar and known concepts her own unique twist, combining the things I like about her books so much: an accessible writing style, an action-filled and unpredictable plot and characters' emotions that take you on a rollercoaster ride all the way to the last page. Events and twists in the plots are fast-paced. Just when you think you've grasped the direction everything is going in it shifts and leaves you wondering what's next. You're not given a chance to sit back and breath. Every time you think you can, the next turn in the plot takes you to the edge of your seat. I was thrown into a maelstrom of events and emotions that kept me glued to the pages, feeling bereft in the end because it had come to an end and I really needed more.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Showalter’s writing style is so fluent, action-filled, vivid and imaginative it's like watching the events on a screen. With The Darkest Night it wasn't any different. In the fighting scenes I could see the blood flying from the pages and in the love scenes I could see the sparks sizzle between Ashlyn and Maddox. The fighting scenes (as in the Alien Huntress series) once again are exquisitely depicted and the love scenes are elemental, raw, explosive and sensual. Both Maddox and Ashlyn exude a need for each other that is so intense, it borders desperation.

The concept of the Lords of the Underworld is intriguing to say the least. They are created out of punishment, doomed to be possessed by an evil demon from Pandora's box. As if that isn't enough, they are cursed with a contradictory way to relieve themselves of the torment of what housing their demons causes them. If you thought you knew cursed and tormented heroes before, think again because their suffering is nothing compared to what Maddox went through in this book or what the other Lords will have to face in future books.
This first book is just the beginning and the foundations for future books are laid in the secondary characters and their interactions.
The cast of secondary characters is very, very promising. I was captivated by all of them and they were complementary to Maddox and Ashlyn's story throughout the book, occasionally allowing us a peak at things to come. I can't wait for the stories of the other Lords of the Underworld. I loved the Lords! Their camaraderie is strong despite their torment and the curses they have to live with. The term split personality takes on a whole new meaning in this series. I was fascinated by each one of them and of course I have already picked my favorite Lords: Reyes, Aeron and Paris.

Just when I thought Showalter couldn't throw any more surprises at me, she did. And not only surprised me, but captivated, enthralled and enticed me with a book that had it all! Prepare yourself to be swept off your feet by strong, intense, compelling characters; a mythical, thrilling, action-filled plot with unexpected twists and turns; heartfelt romance and scorching passion.

Quote:
Maddox: "You are mine, woman, and I am yours. Until you, my life was desolate. I existed but I didn't truly live. Now I live, even in my death."

He is the guardian of hell, more monster than man.
She is the goddess of oppression, more angel than woman.
Together they will enter the flames to battle a horde of demon lords -- and discover a passion unlike any other...
Discover the origin of the dimOuniak and the demon spirits trapped within.

Because the story is too short to do a satisfying short summary of my own without spoiling most of it's content, the synopsis above from the website will have to suffice as a summary and I'll go straight to my opinion of this prequel to Gena Showalter's new paranormal series.

The Lords of the Underworld Series centers around the demons that were released from Pandora's box. I had the advantage of already having read the first full-length novel in the series and then it's nice to have this prequel that explains how Pandora's box came to be.
Geryon (Guardian of Hell) and Kadence's (Goddess of Oppression) love story is an added bonus for me and to be completely honest nothing more than that.

Being a huge Gena Showalter fan and obsessive in having series complete I had to have and read it and I really liked it as far as you can really like a story as short as this one. However I can imagine people not liking this novella, readers who could have done without it and I wonder if this prequel may deter people, who aren't already into Gena's writing, from this new series because it doesn't have all the elements I love about Gena's writing. All I can say to those people is: try the first full-length novel before you put this series aside.

Because it's a novella of only 63 pages it could never have the depth of a full-length novel and truthfully I didn't expect that. Still I really liked this prequel. What it lacked on the humor and bantering I love in Gena's books, it made up for it in its intensity and for me it was an emotional treat!
The feelings both Kadence and Geryon experience are so intense they kept me glued to the screen.

In short, I loved the story and liked knowing the origin of Pandora's box and the demons that house inside the Lords of the Underworld but I think this novella is only a must have if you're a Gena Showalter fan and if you're not sure about it, skip it and go straight for the full length books in this series.

Quote
She was the break of dawn in the bleakness that was his life. She was refreshing ice in smoldering heat