Lucinda, Darkly

Demon Princess Chronicles #1

by Sunny

After centuries of boredom and darkness, Lucinda, daughter of the High Lord of Hell, is suddenly confronted by an erotic new reality when she encounters Stefan, a warrior of the MonÈre, whose love forces her to choose between the world of the living and the dead. By the author of Mona Lisa Blossoming. Original.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Demons, Urban Fantasy, Erotica

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2007

About the author

A family practice physician and Vassar graduate, Sunny was finally pushed into picking up her pen by the success of the rest of her family. Much to her amazement, she found that, by golly, she actually could write a book, and that it was much more fun than being a doctor.

As an author, Sunny has been featured on Geraldo at Large and CNBC, and has won many awards including the prestigious PRISM Award. When she is not busy reading and writing, Sunny is editing her husband’s books, literary novelist Da Chen, and being a happy stage mom for her young actor son.

Reviews

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I was a jr i High School and in charge of picking out books for my library. Now I was told to use a site where they told the ratings of the books based off other readers finding. All fine and dandy right? So I came across this book in the teen section and was told it was about demons. Seemed like one kick ass book so I ordered it. Skip ahead 2 weeks and while at the local library I picked it up to ..just another harmless book that seemed cool and I couldn't wait for. Got it..too it to school and started to read it.
...
...
WTF!!!!!
Within the first chapter I was in tears from laughing so much. I just brought my friends a porno. Who has sex with a random dude within like an hour of meeting them...A SUCCUBUS Sorry Vampire...kinda... of course.

Well...they said demons.


So the head librarian happened to be sitting there and I showed her the book.
She also found it to be pretty funny ( love that lady, even named my first born after her)

All in all it was a good read but aside from the porn I didn't catch much else of a story line. Can't even remember her name but I can tell you what every dudes penis she messed with looks like and the exact size of her boobs.
I was not a sane child.

[Jane Stewart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time. Don't read it.

I very much enjoyed this author's book "Mona Lisa Awakening," so I tried this book. It was a let down. CAUTION SPOILERS: A former Monere Queen died and has been living as a demon for hundreds of years. All of a sudden she falls in love with Stefan, a Monere rogue. They had one short interaction and fall in love. She had never fallen for anyone for hundreds of years. There was no logic for it to happen now. Shortly after that, she forms bonds with two others, Nico and Talon. Again, she had never formed these kinds of bonds before. They need to journey to a couple of places. There are some dangers along the way. She decides they will be better off without her and plans to separate herself from them. Each of them wants to stay with her rather than be with another. She eventually agrees and keeps them as her 3 men. Nothing was interesting about this book, not the characters or the plot, not even the sex scenes. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: four. Setting: similar to current day within the U.S. Genre: paranormal erotic romance.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a spin-off series from the Mona Lisa series by the same author. It makes a lot more sense if you consider it book 4 of the Mona Lisa series. I like it - the emotional bonds between the princess and her men are interesting and compelling in the same way the Anita Blake series is.

Ludina is the Princess of Hell, and her job is apprehending rogue demons and returning them to hell. She's been demon dead (a vampire) for over 600 years, a former monere queen who was so powerful, she was reincarnated as a demon dead. The book starts out with Lucinda finding a moniere warrior (Stephen)and his half breed charge (Jonnie) intriguing. She follows them as they are pursued by a small group of humans, who have mistaken them for vampires, and helps defend them, helping Jonnie when he is injured. Stephen is drawn to her and fearless - Lucinda is moved by his fearlessness and wants to keep him. She leaves for a week on an assignment to apprehend a rougue warrior who is camped out in her territory (Nico), but he too, intrigues her and she busts him out after returning him to his Queen. She offers him the job of guarding Stephen and Jonnie, whom she decides to offer a home in her territory. While freeing Nico, she also frees a demon that has been held captive for his whole life of 26 years (Talon). While transporting the men to her home territory, she runs into a rogue demon named Derek who mortally wounds her. Talon and Nico accidentally bind themselves to her in a triumverate while saving her life. Lucinda takes them all to the High Court for protection while she returns Talon to hell, only Talon's people won't take him back, assuming he is a traitor, nearly killing Lucina, Talon, and their two guards. Lucinda's triumverate bond helps with the escape, allowing her to assume her animal form - a dragon - for the first time.

[Felicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of Laurel Hamilton's "Merry Gentry" series, but if you are, this is for you. Blood + Naughty stuff doesn't do much for me, and I'm not crazy about men just falling over a lady for no reason. If you like Anne Rice and Laurel Hamilton, this is well enough written and and interesting enough world. Just a bit dark for my tastes. I heard the earlier books are much better, this is a "spin off" of sorts. I may go back and try the first one later, but after a long wait.

[Aelin Lovelace · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was disappointing. Sunny's world is derivative to begin with, reading like cross-over fanfiction between Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry and Anne Bishop's Black Jewels, with some original concepts and quasi-original characters. The Mona Lisa books were at least an entertaining read, if I didn't think too much about the ethical quandry behind lifting so much of other authors' work (which she all but admits to in one of her acknowledgments) ... this one, frankly, bored me. I couldn't care about Lucinda, and her "males" were uninteresting at best. I'm not sure why I finished it.

It's not the worst book I ever read, but there are many others on my TBR that I would've read first had I known it wouldn't hold my interest.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

like to refer to Sunny's writing as Laurell K. Hamilton Lite. You know with an actual plot and with a side of smut that factors into the plot. As opposed to a book full of just orgies (coughs - Anita).

If you enjoyed Sunny's Monére, Children of the Moon Series (aka Mona Lisa Series), you will enjoy Lucinda, Darkly. It follows in much the same style as the Mona Lisa series and in the same world. For those of you that has read the Mona Lisa books you've meet Halcyon, Lucinda's demon brother. (Yummy BTW)

The story revolves around Lucinda's job as a guardian from Hell. While she is on Earth she runs into a rouge Monére warrior, Stefan, that brings up feelings in her that she has not had in a very long time. Like in over 600 years long. After Lucinda leaves Stefan to return to her home in Hell she gets a new job assigned to her. She must hunt a rouge Monére warrior and bring him back to his Queen. Fearing that the rouge is Stefan, Lucinda is relieved to find out it is not Stefan but a different warrior named Nico.

But once Lucinda hunts Nico down and returns him to his Queen she decides to claim him as hers. And in turn also claiming the demon that Nico's Queen has in possession.

The plot revolves around the stolen demon, Talon, who needs to be returned to his homeland and the struggles Lucinda and her rouge warriors face in doing so.

But the real struggle is the interpersonal one that Lucinda has trying to keep her emotional distance from her new found men, who are desperate to get closer to her.

So if you like reading paranormal books where the heroine has a harem of sexy men (wouldn't we all like to have one of those) this is the read for you.

[Bitten_by_Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucinda is the daughter of the High Lord of Hell and rules over a small territory. She is also somewhat of a bounty hunter of wayward demons. Lucinda has spent literally centuries alone and is getting bored with her existence, and has even convinced herself that she likes it that way on some levels. That is, until she runs into an outcast Monére warrior or two...

For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of Lucinda, Darkly in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it. It is pretty much a cross between Merry gentry and black jewel's series, but I liked it more than the laurell k hamilton but less than the Anne Bishop books. Still good to get out dust off and read again now and then as I'm waiting off something new to come along. Is the author ever going to write some more?? been over 18 months >.>

the things you find when you are reorganising/downsizing the book shelves now that you have a kindle!!

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book moved along quite quickly, which is the only reason I kept reading it. It wasn't the worst book ever, but it was very anticlimactic. Sure, things happened, but the book didn't bring me to care about the story. I think the story could have been good, done differently. As it was, I just could not connect or get interested.

[N.L. Riviezzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me torn. Part of me really enjoyed it and the other part left me wondering why I was reading it. In the end, I did like the twist on demons, "vampires" and the like so I will probably continue with the series.

[Carrie (Book Fairy) Fort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oncve again Suuny dows a great job. I loved everything about this book!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in a roundabout way. I was looking for the Sunny series by Jennifer L. Holm. Because this author is named Sunny, she showed up and I was intrigued by the whole Demon Princess so I checked it out.

This is 100% different from the Sunny series. It reminds me more of The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness with maybe a bit of Merry Gentry thrown in.

Now I'm on a quest to find the rest of the series.

[Gema Nieto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has caught me...the characters are more interesting and curious

The story is entertaining and easy to follow and as you go forward you want to know more

[Lara Ienco · Rating 4 out of 5]

PEDAZO DE ESTÚPIDA COMO VAS A TENER TANTAS DUDAS EXISTENCIALES???
Que Nico ni que Nico, Stefan es el verdadero hombre 🥴

[Michelle allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

21/2 stars on the dirty meter

A very enjoyable book. I will definitely be reading the others in the set.

[Erianna López]

Hasta ahora me está gustando bastante, lo único que me angustia es que el protagonista y Lucinda no tienen mucha interacción.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so beautiful. It was enchanting and was definitely one of a kind. This book had so many feelings swimming in my veins, I was practically on cloud nine. I absolutely adored it.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read Sunny's other series, I'm assuming I was supposed to. The history of all the mythical/supernatural creatures was lightly touched on, making me think that it was covered more in depth in the other series. Though, I still liked it. Enough information was given so that I wasn't confused, but I would have liked more.

I liked Lucinda..... up until she slept with Nico (the physical coupling). It wasn't the fact that they had sex (even though she could have just fooled around with him to accomplish what she needed. I don't care if she thought they'd all die. It was disloyal to Stefan.), it was the fact that she didn't even worry about what Stefan would think or feel about it. She worried before, when she fed from Nico, but not when she actually had sex with him? After that she didn't even think about it. She was on to worrying about Stefan thinking her disgusting for her ability to suck out essences or whatever it was that she did...... Huh?
It really irritated me. I'm all about independent women and all, but that was just hoeish behavior.

The plot was meh. Though the characters and their relationships with each other are entertaining and interesting. There was plenty of action and snarky comedy for me to enjoy it.

I will be picking up the next book, hopefully Lucinda won't be having some massive orgy with all of "her men". I just have a feeling their will be more sex with more people as the story goes on. (Not that I'd have a problem with it, it just feels like it's thrown in their for the hell of it)

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part I enjoyed this book, I thought the story was interesting, and I liked that the book was short. Sometimes I think authors feel the need to write over a certain amount of pages, and the story is dragged out. I liked the fact that this said what it needed to say and seemed to pay no attention to "word count". I also just wanted to mention that it does end on a cliffhanger. Not mid scene like some other authors (cough, moning, cough) but the story remains unfinished with the promise that it will be continued in the following novel.

I was also a little worried that I was going to be confused. I have yet to read the Mona Lisa books and both that series and this were based in the same world. Besides a few pages where the author mentioned Mona Lisa and some of the things that went on in that series, I wasn't that confused. I think the series exist in the same world, and I think that's as far as it's going to go. I could be wrong though.

The only other thing I kept noticing about this book was the fact that it reminded me heavily of LKH's Merry Gentry series. The two main characters seemed to have a lot in common, and a few other aspects that I don't want to mention because of spoilers.

Either way, I enjoyed the book and will be looking for the next in this series, and also I am mentally moving up the Mona Lisa series.

[Mika Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than her Mona Lisa series.

[Thenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this thinking it would fill in blanks in the other series set in this world, Monère: Children of the Moon, but it doesn't. This is purely Lucinda's story.

Lucinda is weary and detached at the beginning of the story and finds it very hard to believe that she's found someone she feels a connection with, let alone multiple someones. As the story progresses, though, her entourage is formed and despite her efforts to push them away, stay with her through some pretty hard times. She comes pretty close to dying and desperate acts are necessary from all sides, forging strong bonds between the various characters.

Lucinda is different from Mona Lisa, the heroine of the Monère series, in a lot of ways, being aware of her strength and her "otherness" prominent among them.

I'm curious to see how the little gang fares in the future and how the rogue demon will trouble them next in Lucinda, Dangerously.

[Akaria Gale · Rating 2 out of 5]

A huge honking pile of meh. Lucinda kinda bored me. With Mona Lisa the heroine became such an over the top Mary Sue it was fun to go along for the ride. Lucinda, the demon princess was a more rounded out character but she didn't really move me in any way. Stefan is supposed to be her great love but much of the book is spent on the other rogue Monere Nico and the Flouradeur Talon. I kept wanting the story to go back to him and Lucinda but it went everywhere but. Characters kept telling me Lucinda and Stefan were in love but I really didn't feel the love since they spent so much time apart. Lucinda showed more concern over Nico than her so-called beloved Stefan. The pacing felt uneven and the POV whiplash made this an exhausting read. It's first person Lucinda. Then third person Talon. Then third person Stefan. I like multiple POV's but don't think it worked in this tale very well.

Think I'll stick with the Mona Lisa series.

[Luu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Todavía estoy desconcertada con la historia. Lucinda no me cayo ni mal ni bien, es tolerable aunque también muy terca y mandona, esperando que hagan lo que ella dice. Me sorprendió cuando estuvo con Stefan, pero todavía más cuando aparecieron Nico y Garra, y al final Roric y Hari. Y al final un dato que no había calculado: todas las reinas tienen un harem. O sea, que este va de harem nada más que el principal es Stefan (pobre, la re quiere y sale poquito, Nico sale mucho más) En cuanto a la trama, es un poco flogita aunque voy a seguir leyéndolo, no por las escenas hots, que creo que están un poco chungas (o sea, en un momento creía que tenían la ropa, luego no, y al final se la estaba quitando, no tiene sentido ._.), sino porque se me hace una trama muy extraña y parecida a Meredith Gentry, pero mucho mejor en cierto sentido, no hay sexo porque si, sino porque tienen que o Lucinda se los come a todos.

[Brandy *Ahviel* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure what to say about this book. I liked it, but that was not the issue that I had. I guess my issue is the ending. The ending was a 'matter of fact'. Yes I know there is another book that comes out in Oct. However. Most of Sunny's books at the end let you know where the next is going. This I felt stuck.

At the beginning we are introduced to Lucinda and Stefan who is guarding a mix blood. Lucinda feels something for the first time in years as dones Stefan. They build a relationship upon those feelings in mere hours.
Then Nico is introduced and though I like Nico, I was not expecting him to be biding for Lucinda's affections as well.
The book was well written. I can't wait to see what happens next

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. Now I understand why I found this at a thrift store...
I felt as if I had come into the story midway. (Understandable now that I know this to be a "spin-off"). There was no plot, no sense of anything actually happening and what did happen made no sense.
The writing was that of fragments, incomplete thoughts and ramblings, nothing of value revealed.
And... all that bonding! Jeez. And the creepy two-way with the little guy watching?? Why was Stefan even in this book? Could his story not be saved for a later installment?
Too many characters, not enough fleshing out of said characters plus the aimless "storyline" that was rushed made for a tedious read to say the least. Not even good vamp-porn.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I like Lucinda. I also like Lucinda with Stephan's influence. I love Stephan period I think his character rocks. There is something so binding like receiving love for no other reason than to love, not because they think you are raw clay to be shaped and molded into what they want you to be. I am so happy that she found out who her real father is, I think it has plagued her for a long time, shaping who she portrayed herself to be. And what a hateful mother to be so hateful to a child to hurt them like that, makes calling her a mother feel heavy in my mouth because a true mother would not do that despite hating the father. She has been alone or shutting others out for so long that I was glad to see she has a family now.

[Nicole Bunge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read any of the "Mona Lisa" books (didn't know they existed till I picked this up) but the good news is you don't need to. (I've found a lot of 'secondary/spin-off' series are flat, or confusing, if you chance upon them without committing to read the others.
But it's a nice 'psuedo' vampire world. A lot more like Anne Bishop's "Black Jewels" books - that world - where darkness isn't evil, and a matriarchal society rules a world of magic.
Borders on 'erotica' at times, but the story is strong and kept me reading.
One nice thing about it is that it's not a cliffhanger ending. Dunno if I'll pick up the next one, but it was enjoyable.

[Cindi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't believe Sunny wrote this book. I've read every Monier book and short story she's written and none of them were like this one, none were this bad. I mean, there was no tale here. Based on her previous world-building, I expected more emotions, more conflict, more action, more interesting characters. I expected a story!

Even her word choices did not sound like Sunny wrote them. I believe that she must have been so very behind on her deadline that she asked Laurell K. Hamilton to quickly write most of it up for her; there's just TOO much in this book that more than smacks of plagerism and so I don't believe Sunny wrote this book.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sunny. She has built such a great parallel world for us with her Mona Lisa series. I was genuine;y intrigued by Lucinda and to find out she had her own spin off series, made my day. While Sunny's character set ups are pretty similar (lots of kidnapping, multiples and women who don't believe they deserve a better lot in life)she also throws in a heck of a lot of WTF? plot twists so predictability is never a concern. I will admit to getting a teensy bit weary of Mona Lisa's storyline (not nearly enough to stop reading the series mind you)so Lucinda' sstory was a welcome break. Super steamy, hot, hot, hot, BTW, so not for subway reading... unless you're into that sort of thing. lol

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book because a friend of mine recomended it to me. I also decided to read this book because it was about demons and other mythical creatures, I like reading fantasy books. One thing I like about this book was how detailed the history of the characters were, I also liked how the writer made Lucinda (the main character) seem very human even though she was a demon. Some thing I did not like was how the bond that Niko, Lucinda and Talon was not broken. If I can change something I would change the fact that Lucinda was the only female in her group with the men I think that if there was another woman then the story would have more action.