A Lords of the Underworld tale
An iron-willed demon assassin, angel Lysander has never known lust--until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of Lucifer, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the pure-hearted Lysander into temptation....
My Review:
Note: The Darkest Angel is included in the Anthology book – Heart of Darkness – which also features works from Maggie Shayne and Susan Krinard. However, I only read The Darkest Angel.
*loud sigh* I don’t know how or why – but for some inexplicable reason, the whole ‘harpy’ storyline does not do it for me. Maybe because it OVERWHELMED the last book, The Darkest Whisper, and completely stopped the storyline, or who knows? Regardless, after The Darkest Whisper was done, I was ready to move on and continue with the Lords of the Underworld (LOTU), however the author had different plans and gives us yet ANOTHER harpy story in The Darkest Angel. *sad Julie* :(
Still, The Darkest Angel is a good and short side story (which is exactly where I want the harpies to stay – on the side! LOL) We meet up again with Bianka (one of Gwen’s sisters) who is abducted by Lysander, an angel who specializes in killing demons. Lysander has become enchanted with Bianka’s beauty and hopes to turn her into a law-abiding citizen so he can act upon the burgeoning feelings he’s been having toward bad-girl, Bianka.
Bianka has other plans and wants to turn goody-goody Lysander into her very own bad boy. Thus begins a battle of wills where there can only be one winner – who will it be? Who will succumb first to the passion brewing between them – Lysander or Bianka?
But while Lysander and Bianka battle it out, we are also privy to Sabin and Gwen’s wedding, and we see that Gwen has turned into a Bridezilla. As everyone tries to stay out of her way, it is finally revealed who is stalking Aeron – an angel named Olivia. Apparently, Olivia’s been mandated to kill Aeron, but has unwittingly fallen in love with the sexy Lord of the Underworld. I found it humorous that she goes to Lysander for advice, when Lysander is struggling with the same predicament himself.
Both angels make a decision in the end – to follow their hearts – and we get geared up to FINALLY move on to the next installment in the series, The Darkest Passion (LOTU #5). Just as I was about to dismiss this short story and erase all memory of it to begin book 5 (Please don’t ask me about the awkward hot oil wrestling match between Lysander and Paris, really – just don’t *shakes head*), I read this thought Lysander has as he’s invisibly observing Gwen and her wedding party. It stopped me in my reading tracks!
Bianka released the ceiling panels and dropped to the floor. When she landed, she straightened as if the jolt had not affected her in any way. “Glad the princess is finally happy with something,” she muttered. Then, more loudly, “I don‟t understand why you can‟t get married in a tree like a civilized Harpy.”
Gwen anchored her hands on her fists. “Because my dream has always been to be wed in a chapel like any other normal person. Now, will someone please remove the naked portraits of Sabin from the walls? Please.”
“Why would you want to get rid of them when I just spent all that time hanging them?” Anya, goddess of Anarchy and companion to Lucien, keeper of Death, asked, clearly offended. “They add a little something extra to what would otherwise be very boring proceedings. My wedding will have strippers. Live ones.”
“Boring? Boring!” Fury passed over Gwen‟s features, black bleeding into her eyes, her teeth sharpening.
Lysander had watched this same change overtake her multiple times already. In the past hour alone.
“It won‟t be boring,” Ashlyn, companion to Maddox, the keeper of Violence, said soothingly. “It‟ll be beautiful.” The pregnant woman rubbed her rounded belly. That belly was larger than it should have been, given the early state of her pregnancy. No one seemed to realize it, though. They would soon enough, he supposed. He just hoped they were ready for what she carried.
* * * * *
First of all, I love Anya! Hers and Lucien’s wedding will definitely be something to read about! :)
Most importantly though is what Lysander mentions at the end about Ashlyn! WHAT THE F#@%??? *staggers around and faints* Good Lord in Heaven, what sort of baby is Ashlyn carrying? *shakes Lysander* Tell me what do you mean? Arghhhh! My imagination is running rampant wondering what it could be. I can’t wait to find out *bites fingernails* Onward to book 5!
Rating:
A Quick Note:
Gena Showalter’s new book – The Darkest Seduction (LOTU # 9) just released today 2/28/2012! Woot! :)
Great review! Excellent use of the word harpies! Is that a type of character or just some chicks you don't like? Lol. Seems like a good series.
ReplyDeleteBwahaha that SHOULD be my new code word for chicks I don't like! LOL But in this book they are actual harpies - the winged female creatures of Greek mythology though these harpies don't resemble birds in their physical features. The only similarity is they have wings. Other than that, there's a whole list of other intricacies to their characters, so much so, the author filled book 4 with them and abandoned her storyline. It was exhausting to know so much about a creature in one sitting LOL I hope she's done with them and we can move on to the LOTU men :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review as always. Cant wait to start this series.
ReplyDelete