The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, #1) in Vampires, Weres and Fae!

Jul 08, 2010 Yodamom rated it liked it

It feels like a watered down version of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I did not get drawn into the story as I did with BDB. The characters did not make me want more

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Sep 26, 2009 Melindeeloo rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-romance

Dark and Steamy, Darkest Night sets the stage for a great new series!

I was hooked from the first two sentences of Darkest Night which leads off Gena Showalter's ambitious new Lords of the Underworld series. Darkest Night stars Immortal Warrior Maddox, who is cursed to die each midnight receiving six strokes from the sword with which he slew Pandora, to spend the rest of the night burning in hell, and to awake each morning to the knowledge that he will repeat this fate over and over for all ete Dark and Steamy, Darkest Night sets the stage for a great new series!

I was hooked from the first two sentences of Darkest Night which leads off Gena Showalter's ambitious new Lords of the Underworld series. Darkest Night stars Immortal Warrior Maddox, who is cursed to die each midnight receiving six strokes from the sword with which he slew Pandora, to spend the rest of the night burning in hell, and to awake each morning to the knowledge that he will repeat this fate over and over for all eternity. Possessed by the demon of violence Maddox struggles against the powerful spirit he carries within himself only to be overwhelmed by compulsions to kill, maim and destroy that he is unable to fully control. But in Ashley Darrow a woman with her own curse -- she is constantly bombarded by voices from the past -- Maddox finds something that calls to both the beast and man within him. And in the arms of this violent angel, Ashley finds not only peace but the promise of passion.

I loved Darkest Night which is far more than just a steamy paranormal romance. Showalter does an excellent job of pulling off the romance with her dangerous hero, while still managing an impressive amount of texture in her story even with the world building required by the first book in a series and introduction to a very large cast, twelve possessed warriors in all. Even though that sounds like a great deal of characters to keep track of in one book, Showalter handles it deftly by splitting the group in half. We meet Maddox's fellow Lords (and their possessor demons released from Pandora's Box) : Lucian (Death), Reyes(Pain), Aeron(Wrath), and Paris(Promiscuity) in the first half of the book and once we have them firmly established she brings on the second group former comrades who have been estranged for centuries: Sabin(Doubt), Cameo(Misery), Strider(Defeat), Kalen(Disaster), Gideon(Lies) and Amun(Dark Secrets). I already have my favorites. Add to this whole dangerous testosterone laden mix a background plot interesting enough to add depth to the story and to sustain the overall story arc for potentially twelve books --Showalter says that she has one planned for each Lord. A plot which includes tension and mistrust between the two sets of warriors who must work together in order to avoid annihilation by a group of hereditary hunters out to destroy the evil that their demons represent, plus a new power structure of the world due to the change of the ruling set of Gods in the world yanking the warrior's chain, insures that there will be plenty for the Lords to do in between the steamy stuff. I can hardly wait.

Fortunately the first three Lords of the Underworld books are coming out almost back to back, one month apart. If you want a taste of this very original new series, Showalter has excerpts for the Darkest Night and for the next two books The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld, Book 2) and The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld, Book 3), posted on the her lordsoftheunderworld website. Once you're hooked on Showalter's dark lords you'll also want to go back and explore her other excellent paranormal romances. Heart of the Dragon (Atlantis, Book 1) from her Atlantis series and Savor Me Slowly (Alien Huntress, Book 3) from her Alien Huntress series are my favorites from Showalter's more serious side, though her lighter and humorous books are good too. ...more

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Dec 02, 2010 Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance, my-ebooks, read-in-2011, demons

I was hooked from the first sentence! This one would have been an all-nighter if I didn't need sleep! The tortured hero has met his match with Maddox and his Lords of the Underworld! I have a soft spot for tortured heroes and have to admit Maddox might be the most tortured hero I've met.

Maddox and his brothers in arms have been cursed for most of their existence since opening Pandora's box. They are the Lords of the Underworld and each has been cursed with a demon of their own. They live in sec I was hooked from the first sentence! This one would have been an all-nighter if I didn't need sleep! The tortured hero has met his match with Maddox and his Lords of the Underworld! I have a soft spot for tortured heroes and have to admit Maddox might be the most tortured hero I've met.

Maddox and his brothers in arms have been cursed for most of their existence since opening Pandora's box. They are the Lords of the Underworld and each has been cursed with a demon of their own. They live in seclusion with little human contact in a world of loneliness and pain. Maddox, given Violence, must endure an agonizing death night after night. When he finds Ashlyn trespassing on his property he immediately thinks she's bait from the Hunters who will stop at nothing to destroy him and his comrades, but her incessant pleading to stay with him stirs something inside of Maddox that he hasn't felt in ages and he gives in to her request.

Ashlyn has known no other life than working for the World Institute of Parapsychology and constantly battling with the thoughts of others in her head. Her prayers are answered when she meets Maddox, he silences the voices and brings her a sense of peace she's not willing to let go of easily. Together these two will sacrifice everything to hold on to the sanctuary they've found in each other.

Ashlyn and Maddox compliment each other perfectly, although it's not an instant love connection between them. Maddox is sexy and an Alpha in its truest form but not overly possessive where you want to smack him. Ashlyn is smart and curious heroine who doesn't have any qualms of standing up to a man despite her naivete. Their relationship has a sense of Beauty taming the Beast.

The story was great, the sex was hot and the characters were very entertaining! I love that the author stayed true to the Lords and didn't try to make these ancient men too modern. I think I've found another favorite series. Fans of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood will fall for the Lords of the Underworld! ...more

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