Review: The Darkest Night

Reviewed by Jen
 

If Paranormal Romance is your thing, you can't go wrong with The Lords of the Underworld.  The Darkest Night is the first in this steamy series and it has held up as one of my favorites.  The premise is this: Thousands of years ago, a group of demons escaped from hell. They were captured and their essence put in Pandora's Box.  A group of immortal soldiers were angry that they were not chosen to guard the box, so they rebelled --accidentally releasing the demons permanently from their prison. The box was lost. As a punishment, each warrior would have to house one of the demons within himself for the rest of time.

This story focuses on Maddox.  He holds the demon of Violence within him.  He can barely contain it. He's prone to lashing out; raging and hurting others.  He lives along with a handful of other warriors in a castle in Budapest. He rarely leaves, because he doesn't want to lose control and cause destruction among the humans.  But one day, he catches a woman trying to get to the castle.  Ashlyn is special in her own right. She can hear the voices of people who occupied the space before her. She had heard rumors about the Lords and hoped that somehow they could help her quiet the constant noise in her head.

When Ashlyn and Maddox meet, it's magic. He quiets the voices and she helps calm his beast.  But there are many obstacles the two must overcome to be together.  One, is the Hunters trying to kill Maddox and the other Lords.  The second is a curse that Maddox must die every night and suffer the fires of hell before each dawn.

I love this book. Gena Showalter is right up there with Kresley Cole in the, er, erotic literature department. Translation = she can write one hell of a sex scene.  The world building is clear and easy to understand... and original too.  I like my vampires and werewolves as much as the next girl, but it's fun to break the mold sometimes.  And this book is certainly fun. And sexy.  And engaging.  If you haven't read it, you're missing out. 5 stars.

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The Darkest Night

by Gena Showalter

Release Date: September 18, 2009

Publisher: Harlequin