The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld, #3) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Feb 11, 2010 Zeek rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites-pnr, favorite-author, favorites-all-time, pnr, angels-gods-demons

Ahh, the story we've been anticipating since The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld Book 1). (Ok, second most anticipated for me- I can't wait to read Torin's book!)

Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series centers around a group of immortals who are possessed with the demons who were once imprisoned in Pandora's Box.

In TDP, the story focuses on Reyes, The Keeper of Pain. Since the time that the former guards of the Gods killed Pandora and unleashed the demons of destruction each member has Ahh, the story we've been anticipating since The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld Book 1). (Ok, second most anticipated for me- I can't wait to read Torin's book!)

Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series centers around a group of immortals who are possessed with the demons who were once imprisoned in Pandora's Box.

In TDP, the story focuses on Reyes, The Keeper of Pain. Since the time that the former guards of the Gods killed Pandora and unleashed the demons of destruction each member has carried around their own personal demon. Neither can exist without the other. Reyes has lived with the urge to receive pain since the time the demon entered him. He can only receive pleasure through pain. As we've seen the first two novels- Reyes is constantly cutting himself to stay sane- the urge is that strong.

It goes way beyond that in this story. Not only does he cut himself, he commits violent acts of suicide on a regular basis- just to ease his torment. (Of course he's immortal so he never really dies, but you get the idea.)

He's learned that he cannot take a woman as well, because the urges the demon inside him inflicts on them leads them to inflict pain on those around them after he's gone from their lives.

Imagine his dilemma when he meets Danika- a woman he's been drawn to from the first time he lays eyes on her- no, even before that, because her scent had been luring him from the time she entered the Lords of the Underworlds' castle.

Of course he can't have her. To Reyes she is an angel he refuses to corrupt. And too, Aaron, one of his Underworld brothers and the Keeper of Wrath, has been ordered to kill Danika by Cronos, the newly made King of the Gods. Aaron has been driven insane by his desires and is no longer fighting the urge to kill, despite the fact he senses Danika and her family are innocents, and Reyes is torn between defending Danika or ending his friend's life.

No one knows exactly why Cronos wants them dead, least of all Danika- but by the end of the tale everything has come to light and Danika finds she is more than she ever dreamed she could be. In more ways than one.

I'm just having a blast with this series! Not overly complicated, they are like crack candy to me- irresistible, quickly consumed, and just as addicting!

I liked The Darkest Pleasure better than the last one (The Darkest Kiss), mostly because I liked the heroine so much more. (Danika's smart, vulnerable, and courageous- and though frightened she's determined to never be ill-prepared again.)

Be warned, what Reyes endures to receive his pleasure is almost icky- one scene in particular. But, thankfully, none of that really entered their bedroom- and he has some of the most romantic lines in the series thus far! ...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Peep (Pop! Pop!) rated it did not like it

Shelves: seriously-didn-t-like, character-id-punch, what-the-heck, read-in-2011, adult-cravings

While I didn't like the second book, I hated this one. Yeah. I hated it.

Let's clear a few things up, ok? Biting in a book that doesn't involve vampires is just gross. Really gross. Danika annoyed me. Her tough girl spiel just annoyed me to no end. Seriously. When someone does something, it is disgusting to reply with, "You think this is funny?" Well, what about this?" and then proceed to bite them hard enough to draw blood... on the neckt. Gross! Ewww.

So yeah, Danika annoyed me! Her bravado was While I didn't like the second book, I hated this one. Yeah. I hated it.

Let's clear a few things up, ok? Biting in a book that doesn't involve vampires is just gross. Really gross. Danika annoyed me. Her tough girl spiel just annoyed me to no end. Seriously. When someone does something, it is disgusting to reply with, "You think this is funny?" Well, what about this?" and then proceed to bite them hard enough to draw blood... on the neckt. Gross! Ewww.

So yeah, Danika annoyed me! Her bravado was just ridiculous and I found her urge to maim and kill everyone creepy and annoying. I see why she did it but boy, I wanted to shake her! They are warriors and you are human. How's about the time she palmed his nose? Um, doesn't that kill people? Ugh, and every time she went into her "zone", I growled in irritation. I wanted to scream, "Girl, get over yourself!". Actually, I did yell it. She was tough and I admire her for being confident about it. But really, it would be her against a warrior. Let's see: A few months of self defense versus a few thousand years of fighting and a demon residing in the warriors body. Really, there is no competition. But you know, I always complain about these girls in books lacking self confidence and she certainly had it.

And really? Bait?

I felt bad for Reyes. I couldn't decide if him or the dude with the demon Disaster had the worst demon. Anywho, I felt bad that he had to experience pain to feel better. At times it was a little creepy, (very creepy), but there was enough written in that you still felt bad for him. And I'm sorry, I know that we are supposed to feel bad for him, but I know I am not the only person that thought it was gross when he "took matters into his own hands."

I also felt bad for Aeron. I really like Legion. It reminded me of the Simi.

And I did hate what happened to Paris, but to be honest for a while there he annoyed me. Really annoyed me. I got over it after a while though.

And while I was happy to see him back, I thought it was weird that Anya was so quick to have William back. I think I'll take a break and revisit this series later.

It wasn't all bad though. I liked how the author always reminds of what someones power is. With that many characters, it's easy to get them mixed up, so it's nice to have a refresher every now and then.

One of my favorite parts in the book (and why do I have the feeling I typed this already??) is when they are reminiscing about a fallen warrior:

"He was a good friend," Reyes said. "He would have hated to see us like this."

"He would have looked at us with disappointment in those yellow eyes of his. We would have ignored him because he'd want us to kiss and make up, and then he would have stabbed us to get our attention."

"Being ignored wasn't something he could tolerate."

"No."

...more

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May 17, 2010 Nisha rated it really liked it

Shelves: frenemies, opposites-attract, dangerous-or-bad-boys, fantasy-romance, gods-and-elements, mythology, angels-and-demons

I never really liked Danika. I think its because she was overly angsty, or just very aggressive and angry toward the Lords. She had a right to be, since they didn't answer any other their questions and one of them was trying to kill her and her family, but it still didn't endear me toward her. Even with a heroine who I did not connect with, I still managed to enjoy this book.

Danika is on the run from the Lords (specifically, Aeron), but recently has some attention from the Hunters. If that wasn' I never really liked Danika. I think its because she was overly angsty, or just very aggressive and angry toward the Lords. She had a right to be, since they didn't answer any other their questions and one of them was trying to kill her and her family, but it still didn't endear me toward her. Even with a heroine who I did not connect with, I still managed to enjoy this book.

Danika is on the run from the Lords (specifically, Aeron), but recently has some attention from the Hunters. If that wasn't enough trouble, she's still attracted to her masochistic 'enemy' Reyes. Reyes, is one intense guy. He enjoys pain and lots of it, but it isn't really part of his character. Which makes it really hard for him to form lasting connections with the opposite sex and with himself, really. He's kinda a mess. So when Danika enters his life, he in for a tailspin as he tries to resist her, yet get a little taste of her goodness. Reyes really loves her, like the all-consuming kind. Obviously, I really like Reyes - even if he was very self-destructive and masochistic - so not my type. They have some action with the Hunters and the Gods (Actually, only Cronus) and some under the sheet and with handcuffs and knives. Yep, its the real deal, except, somewhere along the line, Pain disappears, and Reyes gets to enjoy without cutting himself up. I don't really get that part, it totally loses its street cred, right there.

We also get to see more of Paris, who is really becoming one of my most favorite characters. I truly feel sorry for the guy - he only has the power of seduction, how does that really help keep him alive? Plus, it seems like he just sacrificed his HEA for freeing Aeron. We get to see some of Sabin, who I haven't really warmed up to, but I am sure GS has something nice planned for him. Aeron also gets some of his sanity back, along with a green scaly demon from hell, Legion. They're relationship is hilarious, I'm not saying anything more. I still love Anya and her friend, William.

I liked seeing all the action and Hunters plot come together, instead of being a weird treasure-hunting plot like from the last book. Cronus is shaping up to be a somewhat tolerable god and a new villain is finally revealed. This one actually seems formidable, yet retains some level of defeatability (not a word, but gods can't die, so Cronus as an enemy is a fail). I did think the puzzle pieces coming together was a little over the top, but I figure I will have to accept that as part of GS's writing. the butterfly tattoo concept is also kinda weird. Maybe it's just a GS quirk.

Overall, I recommend this to anyone who likes a tortured self-less hero. Reyes's on the same boat as Zsadist, but no one can touch Z, he's one special mo-fo. ...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Kia rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book.. even more than the second one. I really liked seeing Reyes and Danika's relationship blossom. They faced some serious obstacles to be with each other... I couldn't help but feel for Danika's struggles between the man she craves and the guilt she felt for having such feelings for a man who had been responsible for the kidnapping and life of her family. I can't wait for the fourth book to arrive in the mail so I can see what happens next. This has been a really fun ser ...more

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