The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter
Title: The Darkest Craving
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld, #10
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HQN (Imprint of Harlequin)
Date Published: July 30th, 2013
Edition: Paperback
Source: Purchased (Amazon)
Rating:

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.

My Review:

The latest Lords of the Underworld book, The Darkest Craving, is about Kane, Keeper of Disaster, and Josephina, a Fae with a royal family who’s bound and determined to make her life miserable. After Josephina saves Kane from hell, they both have a lot of healing and change that they need to go through, and they find themselves overcoming it best when they’re together.

I was honestly a little worried I wouldn’t like this book. Like a lot of other fans, I have noticed a change in Gena’s writing since her recent changes in her Faith and while I’m happy for her I am concerned about how it will impact where the series she started writing beforehand (including LOTU) will change direction and style.

I haven’t read her latest Angels of the Dark book, Beauty Awakened yet for that very reason, but since Lords of the Underworld is one of my favorite Paranormal Romances, I had to at least see for myself how it would be. I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed this one and I did in fact sit down with it and couldn’t put it down. There were some things I noticed about it that I think probably would’ve gone differently pre-Gena’s-Faith. But I still wasn’t really disappointed by anything.

View Spoiler »

One of the things is that Kane and Josephina rather abruptly marry before having sex and although the situation made sense of it, I am a little bit concerned that she’s going to have the rest of the Lords rush into similar situations before having sex. Although I am myself a Christian (perhaps not the strongest Christian, but a Christian nonetheless) I think that times have changed and this just isn’t the way it’s going to happen in every situation. So I’ll be curious if she’s going to make this awkward change in all of her future PNR books or if it was a one-time thing because it made sense for this book.

The other thing is that the sex scenes were a bit less graphic and not as good as her previous books, but they were more graphic than I expected to find given the reviews of Beauty Awakened. So I did notice a change here, but it wasn’t so big of a change (at least for me) that it would merit not reading the books anymore. I know, sex isn’t everything in these books, but it is a part of most PNRs, so I thought it was worth mentioning in this review.

Aside from how this book differs from previous books in the series, it was really good overall. I have never paid much attention to Kane to be honest because he never really got much page-time in other LOTU books, but in this book I definitely swooned for him and he stepped up to the plate as another badass LOTU. He’s super sexy and sweet and after he’s set his sights on Josephina (aka Tink), he treats her like the princess she is.

I also really liked that we got a lot of William in this book because he’s helping out Kane with some things. I adore William and he’s one book that I’m probably looking forward to the most from the series (soon hopefully). So it was good to get more of him. He’s always really fun. Plus, even though they’re not outwardly affectionate, you can just tell that he really cares for Kane as a friend, and it made me love him even more.

There are also some other side stories going on in this one, setting up (I’m assuming) some of the future books. Among these are most predominately Cameo and Torin (separately). Both of their stories seem to be set in motion and I enjoyed reading about them, especially Cameo who has quite a hottie in store for her! :)

The one thing that led me to move my rating down a half star was the ending. I know these books are known for their conveniently unbelievable plot twists that allow everything to fall into place perfectly. But this one just seemed a little far-fetched even for this series. I’m happy it all worked out, but at the end there it was just one conveniently placed event after another that kind of left me rolling my eyes a bit.

View Spoiler »

Probably could’ve gone without the baby re-forming inside of Josephina after she’d already come back to life from a power that she absorbed supposedly temporarily.

Still, most Lords of the Underworld fans should be happy with this installment despite the hesitation I know a lot of fans are experiencing with Gena’s change in writing style. I know I was happy with it and I’m excited for the books to come, although I really hope it’s more than just the three (Torin, Cameo, and William)!

4.5 Hearts Read more reviews & Buy it up! Goodreads LibraryThing Shelfari Amazon Barnes & Noble Book Depository Half.com Abebooks Alibris Better World Books Paperback Swap

  • Upon the Midnight Clear by Sherrilyn Kenyon

    Ever think Scrooge had it right before the ghosts ruined his life? Meet Aidan O'Conner. At one time he was a world-renowned celebrity who gave freely of himself and his money without wanting anything in return...until those around him took without asking. Now Aidan wants nothing of the world--or anyone who's a part of it. When a stranger appears at his doorstep, Aidan knows he's seen her before…in his dreams. Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams and into the home of the only man who can help her: Aidan. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions--and his anger is just the fuel she needs to defend herself… One cold winter's night will change their lives forever… Trapped together in a brutal winter storm, Aidan and Leta must turn to the only power capable of saving them--or destroying them both: trust.
  • The Mephisto Covenant: Ajax by Trinity Faegen

    Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat. A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha. With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?
  • The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faegen

    The eyes never lie. No one’s eyes are darker than Eryx. Not even the Devil’s. When Jax and Sasha first see Jordan Ellis, they know she is no ordinary teenager. She’s the daughter of the President after all, but she’s also Anabo – a descendant of Eve. What they don’t know is that Eryx plans to kidnap Jordan and force President Ellis to pledge his soul. If Eryx’s plot succeeds, the consequences would be catastrophic. But the Mephisto brothers do know about Jordan’s secret identity. And for one of them, she could be the match that leads to their soul’s salvation. Now it’s a desperate race against time to save Jordan and prevent Eryx’s haunting eyes from discovering her true identity. A thrilling story of romance, danger, and intrigue, THE MEPHISTO KISS continues the marvelous mythology that began in THE MEPHISTO COVENANT.
Load More Related Articles
  • You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

    Aisling Grey is a courier enjoying a free, work-related trip to Paris when she learns she's a Guardian. That's a keeper of the Gates of Hell, for those who don't know. She finds this out from Drake Vireo, who's scrumptiously sexy-at least in his human form. Now Drake has stolen the package Aisling was sent to deliver, and she must track him down, get the package, and try to resist the passion boiling inside her.
  • Written in Red by Anne Bishop

    As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others. Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.
  • Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

    When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.
Load More By Sarah
  • Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

    According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago. TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.
  • Untamed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

    Life sucks when your friends are pissed at you. Just ask Zoey Redbird – she’s become an expert on suckiness. In one week she has gone from having three boyfriends to having none, and from having a close group of friends who trusted and supported her, to being an outcast. Speaking of friends, the only two Zoey has left are undead and unMarked. And Neferet has declared war on humans, which Zoey knows in her heart is wrong. But will anyone listen to her? Zoey's adventures at vampyre finishing school take a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened in PC and Kristin Cast's spellbinding fourth House of Night novel.
  • Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren

    Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds… until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces. And thus does she come to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?
Load More In 4.5 Hearts

Leave a Reply

Check Also

You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

Aisling Grey is a courier enjoying a free, work-related trip to Paris when she learns she's a Guardian. That's a keeper of the Gates of Hell, for those who don't know. She finds this out from Drake Vireo, who's scrumptiously sexy-at least in his human form. Now Drake has stolen the package Aisling was sent to deliver, and she must track him down, get the package, and try to resist the passion boiling inside her.

Welcome to The YA Shelf

Helping you find the BEST young adult literature online! We're YA authors, readers and bibliophiles, who read everything and sometimes post book reviews and fandom summaries. Check out our "best books for teens" lists to see our favorites, or browse nearly 300+ book reviews!

Check out today's deals or See what's hot! Today's FREE books
Today's BestSellers


imlovingbooks

Top Posts & Pages

Sarah J Maas and YA cancel culture (what's up?)
50 YA fiction tropes and cliches we can't get enough of!
The YA shelf (young adult literature reviews)
Free POC book covers for Vella
The Best YA Fae Fantasy Books
32 thrilling mermaid books for fans of young adult (YA) fantasy novels
The Best Angel and Fallen Angel Romances for Teens
The Best YA/Teen Fiction Books With Zombies

Search

Category Posts