The Darkest Craving (Lords of the Underworld Series #10)

( 126 )

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back with a breathtaking Lords of the Underworld tale about a warrior trapped by darkness and the woman determined to save him

Having endured weeks of torture in the bowels of hell, Kane wants nothing to do with his beautiful rescuer, Josephina Aisling. The half-Fae female threatens to awaken the demon of Disaster inside him?a beast he's determined to kill, no matter the price.

Josephina is ...

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The Darkest Craving (Lords of the Underworld Series #10)

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More About This Book

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back with a breathtaking Lords of the Underworld tale about a warrior trapped by darkness and the woman determined to save him

Having endured weeks of torture in the bowels of hell, Kane wants nothing to do with his beautiful rescuer, Josephina Aisling. The half-Fae female threatens to awaken the demon of Disaster inside him—a beast he's determined to kill, no matter the price.

Josephina is hunted by a brutal enemy—her royal family—and Kane is her only source of protection. He's also the only male to ever set her aflame, and even he succumbs to the heat. But as they navigate the treacherous world of the Fae, they are forced to make a choice: live apart…or die together.

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Editorial Reviews

From The Critics

"One of the premier authors of paranormal romance."-#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole

"Passion, humor, pulse-pounding action and just plain fun...Showalter's books are always a refreshing escape!"-New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian

"One of Showalter's biggest strengths is her ability to create wounded characters who are riveting and intense, but who also hold out the hope of redemption."-RT Book Reviews on Beauty Awakened

"Showalter does her magic with an intricately developed world, complex and intensive character arcs and dark, compelling paranormal themes. She releases that literary punch to the gut with excruciatingly detailed scenes that haunt the senses long after reading the pages."-USA Today on Wicked Nights

From the Publisher
"One of the premier authors of paranormal romance."-#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole

"Passion, humor, pulse-pounding action and just plain fun...Showalter's books are always a refreshing escape!"-New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian

"One of Showalter's biggest strengths is her ability to create wounded characters who are riveting and intense, but who also hold out the hope of redemption."-RT Book Reviews on Beauty Awakened

"Showalter does her magic with an intricately developed world, complex and intensive character arcs and dark, compelling paranormal themes. She releases that literary punch to the gut with excruciatingly detailed scenes that haunt the senses long after reading the pages."-USA Today on Wicked Nights

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780373777754
  • Publisher: Harlequin
  • Publication date: 7/30/2013
  • Series: Lords of the Underworld Series , #10
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Pages: 466
  • Sales rank: 98227
  • Product dimensions: 4.21 (w) x 6.62 (h) x 0.94 (d)

Meet the Author

Gena Showalter
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series and more than thirty other books. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Visit her at GenaShowalter.com.

Biography

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Young Adult novels from a multitude of publishers. She has appeared in Cosmo and Seventeen magazines, on MTV, and has also been featured on many regional and national news programs.

Good To Know

Gena credits much of her success to her wonderful fans, amazing family, and the three slobbery English bulldogs who sleep under her desk. She is a self proclaimed coffee addict and when she's not writing she likes to...well, we're not sure. We've never seen her do anything but write.
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Read an Excerpt


New York City

Present day

Josephina Aisling peered down at the male splayed across the motel room bed. He was an immortal warrior, beautiful in a way no mortal could ever hope to be. Silky hair of jet, chestnut and flax spilled over the pillow, the multicolored strands forming a flawless tapestry, inviting the eye to linger a minute, then a minute more…sweet mercy, why not forever?

His name was Kane. He had long, boyish lashes, a strong nose and a stubborn chin. At six feet four, he was cut with the kind of muscle only earned on the bloodiest of battlefields. Though he wore stained and dirty pants, she knew a large butterfly tattoo dominated the right side of his hip, the ink thick and black, a little jagged. The tops of the wings stretched over the material and every so often tiny waves rippled through them, as though the insect struggled to lift from his skin—or burrow deeper.

Either was possible. The tattoo was a mark of absolute, utter evil, a visible sign of the demon contained inside Kane's body.

Demon… she shuddered. Rulers of hell. Liars, thieves. Murderers. They were darkness without any hint of light. They lured and tempted. They ruined, tortured and destroyed.

But Kane wasn't the demon.

Like all of her race, the mighty Fae, she had spent a good portion of her life studying Kane and his friends—the Lords of the Underworld. In fact, at the command of the Fae king, spies had spent countless centuries following the warriors, watching and reporting back. Scribes had then printed books with stories and pictures of what they'd witnessed. Mothers had bought those books and read them to their children. Then, when those children had grown up, they had made their own purchases, the need to know what happened next too strong to ignore.

The Lords of the Underworld had become the stars of the best and the worst soap opera in Seduire, the realm of the Fae.

Josephina always ate up every detail. Especially those about the ultra sexy Paris and the devastatingly lonely Torin. Kane, the beautiful tragedy, was a close third. She could probably recite his life history better than she could her own.

He was thousands of years old. He'd only had four serious girlfriends in his lifetime. Although, for a while, he'd had a string of meaningless one-night stands. He'd fought in bloody battle after bloody battle with his enemy, the Hunters. Three times, they'd managed to capture and torture him—and she'd waited, breathless, to hear of his escape.

Going back even further, to the beginning, he and his friends had stolen and opened Pandora's box, unleashing the demons from inside. The Greeks had been in power at the time, and they'd decided to punish the warriors by turning their bodies into receptacles for the very evil they'd freed. Kane carried Disaster. The others carried Promiscuity, Disease, Distrust, Violence, Death, Pain, Wrath, Doubt, Lies, Misery, Secrets and Defeat. Each creature came with a nearly debilitating curse.

Promiscuity had to sleep with a new woman every day or he weakened and died.

Disease couldn't touch another living creature without starting a plague.

Disaster caused catastrophes everywhere Kane went, a fact that sliced at Josephina's heart and resonated deep. Her entire life was a disaster.

"Don't touch me," he muttered, his voice a sharp, callous rasp. Powerful legs kicked the already battered sheets away. "Hands off. Stop. I said stop!"

Poor Kane. Another nightmare plagued him.

"No one's touching you," she assured him. "You're safe."

He calmed, and she released a relieved breath.

When she'd first stumbled upon him, he'd been chained to a dais in hell, his chest cavity split open, his ribs spread and exposed, his wrists and ankles hanging on by fraying tendons.

He'd looked like a slab of beef at the local butcher's.

I'll have a two-pound rump roast and a pound of ground chuck.

Gross. Just gross. I'm thoroughly disgusted with you. Over the years, she'd spent so much time alone, conversing with herself had become her only source of amusement…and sadly, companionship. I would have ordered four pounds of pork loin.

Despite his condition, finding him was the best thing to ever happen to her. He was her ticket to freedom. Or possibly…acceptance?

Princess Synda, her half sister and the Fae's most bestest female ever born, wasn't a Lord, but she carried the demon of Irresponsibility. Apparently, there had been more demons than naughty, box-stealing warriors, and the excess had been given to the inmates of Tartarus—an underground prison for immortals. Synda's first husband had been one of those inmates, and somehow, when the male had died, the demon had wormed its way inside her.

When the king of the Fae had learned of it, he'd launched a hunt for details about the cause—and the solution. So far, everyone had come up empty.

I could bring Kane to a meeting of the Fae High Court, show him off, let him answer any questions the congregation has, and my father might see me, really see me, for the first time in my life.

Her shoulders drooped. No, I'm not ever going back.

Josephina had always been, and would always be the royal whipping girl, there to receive the punishments Synda the Beloved was due.

Synda was always due.

Last week, in a fit of temper, the princess had burned to the ground the royal stables, and all of the animals trapped inside. Josephina's sentence? A ticket to the Neverending—a portal leading into hell.

There, a day was like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day, so, for what had seemed like an endless eternity, she had fallen down, down, down a blackened pit. She had screamed, but no one had heard. Had begged for mercy, but no one had cared. Had cried, but had never found an anchor.

Then, she and another girl had landed in the center of hell.

How startling to realize she'd never actually been alone.

The girl had been a Phoenix, a race descended from the Greeks. Every full-blooded warrior possessed the ability to rise from the dead, time and time again, growing stronger after every resurrection—until the final death came, and there could be no more bodily restoration.

Kane began to thrash and moan again. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you," she told him.

Again, he stilled.

If only the Phoenix had responded to her so well. When the girl had first seen her, hatred had lanced at her, hatred going far beyond what the children of the Titans—like Josephina—and the children of the Greeks usually felt for each other. But even still, the Phoenix hadn't tried to kill her, had instead allowed her to follow her through the cave, searching for the exit, without having to exert any of her own waning energy. Like Josephina, she'd just wanted out.

They had stumbled past crimson-splattered walls, inhaling the fetid stink of sulfur. Grunts and groans had reverberated in their ears, creating a terrible symphony their deprived senses hadn't been ready for. Then they'd stumbled upon the mutilated warrior. Josephina had recognized him, despite his condition, and stopped.

Awe had filled her. There, in front of her—her!—had been one of the infamous Lords of the Underworld. She hadn't known how she could help him, when she could barely help herself, but she'd been determined to try. Whatever proved necessary.

A lot had proven necessary.

She looked at him. "You were my first and only opportunity to achieve my new greatest desire," she admitted, "something I definitely couldn't do on my own.

And as soon as you wake up, I'm going to need you to make good on your promise." And then.

She sighed, quieted. She brushed her fingertips over his brow.

Even in his sleep, he flinched. "Don't," he snarled. "I'll destroy you, piece by piece. You and your entire family."

He wasn't bragging, wasn't issuing a hollow threat. He would ensure it happened, and he would probably smile the entire time.

Probably? Ha! He would. Typical Lord.

"Kane," she said, and again, he calmed. "I think maybe it's time to wake you up. My family is out there, and they want me back. While a thousand years passed for me inside that pit, only a day passed for them. Since I failed to return to Seduire, Fae soldiers are probably hunting me."

To add to her bowl of miserypuffs, the Phoenix was definitely hunting her, determined to enslave her and avenge the wrong Josephina had done her during their escape.

"Kane." She gently shook his shoulder. His skin was shockingly soft and exquisitely smooth, yet also feverishly hot, the muscles beneath as tight and firm as grenades. "I need you to open your eyes."

Long lashes flipped up, revealing gold-and-emerald irises glassed over and dulled. A second later, big masculine hands wrapped around her neck and tossed her to her back. The mattress bounced, even with her slight weight. She offered no resistance as Kane rolled on top of her, pinning her in place. He was heavy, his grip so tight she couldn't breathe in the rose scent she'd come to associate with him. An odd fragrance for a male, and one she didn't understand.

"Who are you?" he snarled. "Where are we?"

He's speaking directly to me. Me!

"Answer."

She tried to reply, couldn't. He loosened his hold.

There. Better. Deep breath in. Out. "For starters, I'm your amazing and wonderful rescuer." Since receiving compliments had died with her mother, she'd decided to give them to herself at every opportunity. "Release me, and we'll work out the particulars."

"Who," he demanded, squeezing her tighter.

Black winked through her line of sight. Her lungs burned, desperate for air, but still she offered no resistance.

"Female." The pressure eased again. "Answer. Now."

"Caveman. Free. Now," she retorted as she sucked in oxygen.

Could you watch your mouth, please? You don't want to scare him away.

He jerked away from her to crouch at the end of the bed. His gaze remained on her, watching intently as she slowly sat up. A red flush colored his cheeks, and she wondered if he was embarrassed by his actions or simply struggling to hide the weakness still pumping through him.

"You have five seconds, female."

"Or what, warrior? You'll hurt me?"

"Yes." Determined. Assured.

Silly man. Would it be totally gauche of her to ask him to sign her T-shirt? "Don't you remember what you promised me?"

"I didn't promise you anything," he said, and though his tone was confident, his features darkened with confusion.

"You did. Think back to your last day in hell. It was you, me and a couple thousand of your worst enemies."

His brows drew together, and his eyes glazed with remembrance, comprehension…then horror. He shook his head, as though desperate to dislodge the thoughts now swirling through his mind. "You weren't serious. You couldn't have been serious."

"I was."

He popped his jaw, an action of frustrated aggression. "What's your name?"

"I think it's better if you don't know. That way, there's no emotional attachment and you can more easily do what I require."

"I never actually said I'd do it," he gritted out. "And why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I'm…a giant box of chocolates."

"I've heard of you," she said, and left it at that. Truth, without explanation.

"Hardly. If you'd heard anything about me, you'd be running away in fear."

Oh, really? "I know that during the many wars you've fought, your friends often left you behind, afraid you'd cause some kind of travesty for them. I know you often keep yourself shut away from the world, terrified of the same. And yet, still you've managed to slay thousands. Dare I say bazillions?"

He ran his tongue over perfect white teeth. "How do you know that?"

"Why don't we call it…gossip."

"Gossip isn't always right," he muttered. In seconds, he had swept his gaze through the small room and re-focused on her.

She also happened to know that visual caress was a habit he'd developed through the years, one meant to take everything in. Entrances, exits, weapons that could be used against him—weapons he could use.

This time, all he would have seen was the peeling yellow wallpaper, the scarred nightstand with the chipped lamp. The sputtering air-conditioning unit. The brown shag carpet. The trash bin filled with bloody rags and emptied tubes of medicine she'd used on his abrasions.

"That day in hell," he began. "You told me what you wanted, and then you made the mistake of assuming I agreed."

That sounded like a refusal. But…he can't refuse me. Not now. "You gurgled your assent. Afterward, I did my part. Now you will do yours."

"No. I never asked for your help." His voice lashed like the sharpest of whips, striking at her, leaving an undeniable sting. "Never wanted it."

"You did, too! Your eyes begged me, and you can't deny it. You couldn't see your eyes, so you have no idea what they were doing."

A protracted pause. Then, quite calmly, he said, "I think that's the most illogical argument I've ever heard."

"No, it's the smartest, but your puny brain simply can't compute it."

"My eyes did not beg," he said, "and that's final."

"They did, too," she insisted. "And I did a terrible thing to get you out." Sadly, sending the Phoenix a note of apology wouldn't fix the problem.

As weak as Josephina had been in hell, she'd required help with Kane. Only, once she'd caught up to the Phoenix, still hacking her way to freedom, there'd been a slight problem. The girl had refused so vehemently—rot in hell, Fae whore—that Josephina had known there would be no hope of changing her mind. So, Josephina had used the ability she alone carried. A blessing in the right circumstances. A curse that had kept her locked in a world without physical contact. With only a touch, she'd stolen the strength right out of the Phoenix's body, reducing the girl to a boneless heap.

Yes, Josephina had draped the warrior woman over one shoulder and carried her out of hell, the same as she'd done for Kane, fighting demons along the way—a miracle considering she'd never fought a day in her life—eventually finding a way outside, but that wouldn't matter to the Phoenix. A crime had been committed, and a price had to be paid.

"I never asked you to do terrible things." His voice contained the darkest of warnings.

One she did not heed. "Maybe not audibly, but even still, I nearly broke my back saving you." She settled to her knees, shaking the mattress and nearly bouncing the weakened Kane to the floor. "You weigh, like, ten thousand pounds. But they're glorious pounds," she rushed to add. Stop insulting the man!

His slitted gaze tripped over every inch of her. The action lacked the stealth he'd used for the room, and yet, it was almost tactile, as if he'd touched her, too. Could he see the goose bumps now breaking over her skin?

"How did a girl like you manage such a feat?"

A girl like her. Did he sense her inferiority? She lifted her chin, saying, "An information exchange wasn't part of our bargain."

"For the last time, woman, there was no bargain."

Tremors of dread rocked her, overshadowing…whatever he'd previously made her feel. "If you don't do what you promised, I'll…I'll…"

"What?"

Suffer for the rest of my life. "What would it take to change your mind and make you do the right thing?"

His expression shuttered, hiding all of his thoughts. "What species are you?"

A question totally off topic, but okay, she could roll. Since the Fae were not a well-liked race, the men best known for their lack of honor in battle, as well as their insatiable need to sleep with anything that moved, and the women known for backstabbing and scandal—and okay, fine, their ability to sew a killer wardrobe—the knowledge might spur him into action.

"I'm half human, half Fae. See?" She pulled back the sides of her hair, drawing his attention to her ears and the points at the end.

His gaze locked on those points and narrowed. "Fae are descendants of Titans. Titans are children of fallen angels and humans. They are the current rulers of the lowest level of the skies." He shot out each fact as if it were a bullet.

Can't roll my eyes at a star. "Thank you for the history lesson."

He frowned. "That makes you."

Evil in his eyes? An enemy?

He shook his head, refusing to finish the thought. Then, his nose wrinkled, as if he'd just smelled some-thing…not unpleasant, but not welcome, either. He inhaled sharply, and his frown deepened. "You look nothing like the girl who rescued me…girls who rescued me…no, just one," he said with another shake of his head, as if he were trying to make sense of things that had happened. "Her face and hair kept changing, and I recall each countenance, yet what I see now I didn't see then. But your scent…"

Was the same, yes. "I possessed the ability to switch my appearance."

One of his brows arched. "Possessed. Past tense."

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 126 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(78)

4 Star

(27)

3 Star

(9)

2 Star

(8)

1 Star

(4)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 126 Customer Reviews

  • Posted Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    I don't even know where to begin with this book...it was so very

    I don't even know where to begin with this book...it was so very painful to read, and to finish. I almost DNF'd it several times. I kept hoping it would get better. <i>(Hint: It didn't.)</i>
    I used to really love and enjoy this series. But it's gone downhill, and fast. 

    My first hate was Kane himself. In previous books, I felt for him. Not pity, but compassion, because if I were to house any of the LOTU demons, I most certainly have Disaster in me. So I was looking forward to learning more about him. But I never liked him. I could never sympathize with Kane, and I felt...nothing for him. Which made me extremely sad.

    Then Josephina. Or as Kane calls her, Tinker Bell, Tink, and oh yeah, Tinky Dink. *vomits* Oh boy. I could not stand her. Could not. She started out sooo promising. She had a sharp tongue, motivation, and questionable strength. But it was there. Then she dropped away. Tink's only value as a person is Kane. She only accomplishes things because Kane gives her permission/strength/etc. Gena TELLS us that she's a strong heroine, but no where is there proof. 

    Any time Tink does anything strong or good, Kane is there. She's the strong woman who picked up a branch while her big, strong MAN is there getting rid of the rest of the heavy tree. It was disgusting. 

    Tink being naive and a virgin and all that yadda yadda isn't even the problem. It's that Gena has reduced the woman - oh, wait, no <b>female</b>
    's role to solely be pleasure for her man. She can do other things on the side, but each woman is defined by the male who owns her. While noticeable in past books, it really stood out in this one. Kane's motivations the entire time looked something like, &quot;<b>CAVEMAN KANE NEED HIS WOMAN. KILL, GET MY WOMAN. MINE. MINE. MINE.</b>
    &quot; (Trust me, it's even more annoying in the book)

    And the &quot;villains&quot;...they were about as frightening as the monster in Robot Monster. They were unbelievable, and weak. It was obvious Kane could overpower them easily, and with the addition of William and his kids, it was laughable. The stakes needed to be a hell of a lot higher. As it was, I was very :| meh about everything.

    I can ramble on, but those are the bottom lines. I really wanted to love this book. I was so excited. I can even deal with lackluster sex scenes, even though they did bother me a little. The big issues were the blatant sexism and patriarchal demeaning all throughout this book, and these characters. I can't read something like that and enjoy it.

    8 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Gena Showalter has really toned down the language, violence, and

    Gena Showalter has really toned down the language, violence, and sex that made this series so much fun. That being said the book is sill a very good read. Kane was never one of my favorite Lords, so I was not as excited as with some of the previous books, but the more I read the more interested I became. I do miss the fire and energy of the earlier books though... because of that I only give it 4 stars. This story was not as great as Strider's or Lucien's (5 stars!).

    8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Disappointed

    Don't get me wrong, I love Gena Showalter and the Lords of the Underworld series but this just let me down. It didn't have the chemisty of the other books. The only reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 is because it hints that Torin's story might very well be next and that is the one I am eager to read.

    7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Not too happy

    I liked this one but am still missing some of the best parts that were in the lords books. The sex, fire and lang just was not there as much. I was a die hard fan and have all of her books but now she is just like most other ok wrighters to me. She no longer stands out. I will buy her books later and for much less for now on. Im not happily waiting for the next one. It was good but not what i thought i would get. If i wanted a tame book from an ok wrighter i would be fine with this but this is my fav wrighter whos work has changed greatly. Not too happy because i know how good this book could have been.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    This is the 10th instalment in the popular Lords of The Underwor

    This is the 10th instalment in the popular Lords of The Underworld and it was another one for the keeper shelf!

    Gena has taken a long running successful series and added more layers to it, in this instalment we gained the Fae and while I enjoyed the addition, they brought a whole other level of evil to the plate with their values, traditions and disciplinary styles.

    When Josephina helped Kane escape from hell she extracted a promise from him, a promise that he is determined not to keep. Josephina is desperate to escape her life and is actively looking for a solution, can Kane be the saviour she needs? Kane and Josephina together are desperate to escape their fated futures, can they help each other and change their destinies?

    Josephina was the highlight of this book for me, she was fun, feisty and reminded me of a slightly tamer Valkyrie. I enjoyed her 'fangirl' moments and her sense of humour. I empathised with her jealousy, I have a similar distaste for sharing. She lost a little of her sassiness as the story went on, but then I think I would have too with everything going on around her.


    Kane, I kind of expected to be a little more messed up, especially after his experiences in hell. Although not graphically explained, Gena alludes to what actually happened to him and since I don't see any man being able to comfortably discuss that, his lack of explanation fit well.

    The heat level wasn't as high as previous books which was a perfect fit for the characters, given the experiences that brought them together.

    William, as always was a bright spot in the book. I did get a little confused at times though as there was a point where it was alluded to that someone knew something &amp; then it was retracted. It didn't take away my enjoyment from the book though. I can't wait to get to William's book and dive into his secrets. The next book should be a good one though!

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jan 12 00:00:00 EST 2014

    Done with this author.

    I used to love this author and told my friends to buy her books. The last few books I purchased didn't seem like i was reading the same author. The most recent of her books were marketed as sizzling, hot, etc. And that is just not true. A few of my friends selected this book as our next book read and out of the 15 people who read this book not one person liked it. At our meeting we did a little research and like some of the reviewers here realized that the author had a life changing experience which changed the author so much she doesn't write the same way anymore. I'm not just talking about the sex scenes bc there is soooo much that is not the same, the language is different the characters, I could go on and on about how nothing in these last few books resembles the author we used to love. Instead of diving into a world unique and fascinating we are being preached to and picking up her books that are again marketed as something that it totally isn't. In my opinion GS might be better off just calling her new books YA or switching genres to Religious Romance and there is nothing wrong with those types of books if that is what u are into however she shouldn't try to sucker punch her readers into trying to be what she isn't anymore. I hope she leaves the LOTU series alone and my friends and I will just pretend that the series ended a few books back. Instead of buying all of her books in both ebook and hardcover book form, which we were in the process of doing we will be moving onto another author. Its really sad. We hope the best for her and were really happy that's she's happy in her home life but we will not buy the rest of the books we were missing from our collection and we have already stopped recommending her books to other like minded readers.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    I was on pins and needles reading this book I absolutely loved i

    I was on pins and needles reading this book I absolutely loved it, yes the sex scenes were died down a bit but hey, you have a guy who was raped repeatedly by minions i wouldn't be too eager or happy to hop in bed with anyone let alone the person i really want all in all a really good read if you kept up with the series then you can understand and feel where she is coming from in this story i can't wait to find out what happens to Cameo and Torin sure to be a good read for those who said this story didn't do it for them i advise you to take your time and reread the story i do it all the time and i end up getting a better understanding to whats going on. I loved it and can't wait for the next installment in the series keep it up Gena love your books!!!!!

    2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Could be better


    Details Details where are they.
    I was hoping for FIRE!!!!
    I got a fan heater.
    Hopefully the next is better.
    Crossing my fingers >…<

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    What happened to this series?!

    I'm really disappointed in this book, as well as, the direction this series has taken. I had a very difficult time finishing this book because it was very lack-luster, to say the least. I always felt so sorry for Kane in the previous books. In this book he just acts like an overbearing jerk. Josephina is a very weak heroine. This is only the second review I've ever written because I feel so strongly about how badly this series is going. I will just re-read the earlier books, and hope Ms. Showalter goes back to her previous writing style.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    .

    What happened to this series! I loved the beginning of this series but the last couple books have been written horribly! I was waiting for kane's story but its just so boring! I couldn't get through it. Paris's story was just as bad. I wanted to read the series to the end of all the Lords but I'm not wasting any more money or time on these books.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    I feel like I have been waiting a lifetime for the next LOTU boo

    I feel like I have been waiting a lifetime for the next LOTU book.  If there is one thing I adore about Gena though it is, how she is continuously pushing out other books to keep me entertained until I get my Lord fix.  Now I tried to savor and slowly read The Darkest Craving when I received in the mail, but it was definitely hard.  I have been waiting patiently for Kane's book because he never really played a major role in the other books until the last one because the other Lords did not want him (or actually his demon) causing a disaster.  Poor Kane, wherever he went, he managed to have the roof collapse on him, things come straight toward him, or of course have other people get caught in the crossfire as well.

    I always assumed Kane would never get a break.  He had to have one of the worst demons in him.  He was even afraid to really love someone due to his Demon wanting to hurt them.  The demon never wanted Kane happy.

    Gena though did a bang up job on getting the perfect heroine for Kane.  She definitely put Kane through so many obstacles in The Darkest Craving.  I truly think Josephina has come in second place to my fave heroines in the Lords series now.  Anya is still number one in my eyes....but Josephina definitely did something that proved she deserved to be second favorite.  I literally bow to her for her courage in this book...but in Kane's eyes, she was being completely insane about it.  I have to go with my girl Josephina though...she had her reasons on what she did and I supported her.  Love will make you do some crazy things and Josephina definitely proved how much she loved Kane in the end.

    I learned a lot about Kane in this book and how he has a nice side, but he shows it in a different way.  He has his possessive and mean side though, which would drive any woman crazy, but Josephina knew how to deal with it.  Josephina was a very stubborn, but strong female character.  What she had to deal with in this book, I applaud her.  She definitely proved herself and everyone around her, she is stronger than she thinks and everything else thinks.

    I am not going to describe what happened in the book in detail.  I will tell you in just a few sentences what you are going to read without giving anything away.  Kane is one sexy disturbed character, who is put through the ringer due to trying to prevent an apocalypse from happening, while dealing with a very controlling demon inside him. ( I literally cried for him every time his demon acted up ) You will find out that Josephina is hated by her family and they will do anything to humiliate her, which will make you want to go through the book and strangle them (at least that is what I wanted to do...especially when it came to the King and her sister).  
    And...last but not least...you will get a sneak peek into Torin and Cameo's heads, which will make you want to know, who they will end up with.  

    There are so much more going on in the book, but I do not want to give away any spoilers.  I just want to say this...I NEED to know who WILLIAM will end up with. He seriously still has some secrets that need to come out already.  I adored him more after this book even, though he could be a pain at times to Kane.  I still loved him.

    You will even get a little bit about the Sent Ones in this book and how they played a part in this book with the Lords.  =)  I just love Gena's spin-off series to the Lords because I am a big fan of the Angels.

    *Two of my favorite scenes in this book were the bathroom scene with Kane undressing in front of Josephina (her reaction was by far the best part) and when Josephina meets all the Lords in person.  She's definitely a BIG fan of them.  =)  *

    I give this book 5 full moons and highly recommend it to paranormal romance readers out there.  You must read the other books in the story first though.  You do not want to skip around with these books.

    I do want to warn about the ending...if you are like me and love the Lords as much as I do...you will probably need tissues at the ending.  I was bawling at the end.  

    I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    What happenee to gena

    Change the genre please, she is no longer the author that she used to be.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Sep 09 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Gena Showalter was the author that got me interested in paranorm

    Gena Showalter was the author that got me interested in paranormal romances. I have to say that I am so disappointed in many of her books now. I read somewhere that she &quot;found God&quot; and has changed her writing style due to this new found faith. I am a person of faith as well, but don't understand why she has chosen to alter her writing style so much. I almost think it's unfair to devoted readers of her Lords of the Underworld series, because since Strider's story, I have been thoroughly disappointed. Paris's story was horrible and now Kane's story left me bored. I think many authors get to a point where they have made the money they wanted to make and stop trying to entertain readers anymore. I don't think she should be toning down any of the violence and sex. I think she needs to go back and read Lucien's story or Reyes's story and start writing in that style again. She has lost me as a fan at this point. Sorry, Gena, wish I could be more positive, but I can no longer recommend your books to friends!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    I was disappointed by this story. First it seems that it is tak

    I was disappointed by this story. First it seems that it is taking so long for Ms Showalter to come out with new books in the Lords series. I know she is working on other series books, but too much time has elapsed between the last book and this one. I did not like the main female character at all, &quot;tink&quot;. At first she seemed to be a &quot;kick a..&quot; character like the other female characters that Ms Showalter writes about but then Tink just seemed to deflate into this wimpy, scared character. Instead of standing up to her family, because she had really great abilities, she cowers and the male character, Kane, becomes almost overbearing in his approach to protecting her. I also miss the other Lords. Why doesn't she include them anymore? In the first couple a books they were always together and the combination of their personalities was great. I also loved all the other female characters because again they had strong, tough personalities, but all you get is a tidbit here and a tidbit there. I believe it was a bad move to end the war with the hunters because now it seems like the series has no place to go.

    One last note is William and Gilly. First I am so tired of William playing a big role in all these books. He is great with Anya, which would be fine if more scenes were written with them together, but by himself William is just a bore. And let's get rid of Gilly or doing something else with her besides the childish displays between her and William and the over-the-top hero worship. how is the author going to age the girl that quickly just so that it seems appropriate for William to sleep with her. Kinda makes me a little nauseous when I read about them. Hopefully the author will not plan the same type of relationship with Torin and this girl he met. Seventeen is still too young. It would be really great, if Ms Showalter would collaborate with Ms Cole to join up Torin and Nix together. That would be a great read.

    Sorry Ms Showalter to be so harsh but I know you can do better.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Jul 27 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    I can't wait to read this book! I love the series! And I hope Ka

    I can't wait to read this book! I love the series! And I hope Kane's book lives up to the rest of them! 

    1 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Jul 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Boring

    Had a hard time getting through this one. Have read all previous lords books and loved them. This one was just really boring. I had to skip over so many paragraphs in this one. The best parts of this book were the snippets of torin.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue May 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Love Kane

    We havent really known much about kane in the series so i was looking forward to this book. I really like Kane and i like the twists in this book, my only complaint would be the damsel in distress. I am not liking how in the last couple books the women fall for the lords so fast no matter how bad they treat them. A little eye for an eye in that regard would be nice. I mean I love the lords but they need an ego check every now and then. Lol! Cant wait for the next one!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Lotu

    I loved this book just as much as I have loved all of the LOTU books. There is something about a tormented man who believes that he can't be loved or doesn't deserve to be loved abd then gets saved by the undying love of a strong woman that just melts my heart!!! I am sooo looking forward to Torin's story. I can not wait to feel the emotional upheaval he will experience when he can touch someone, without killing them, skin to skin for the first time!!! I am sure that I will cry!!! Struggle on Torin your turn is coming....soon I hope!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Apr 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Awesome

    Great book. I looooved d couple, the way they interacted was great. Wish it would keep going. Can't wait for d next one :( don't take soooooooo long

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