THE DARKEST PROMISE is book 13 in Gena Showalter's Lords
of the Underworld series. I have been a fan of this
series for years, and THE DARKEST PROMISE has everything
I love about this series and more. This may just be my
favorite book in the Lords of the Underworld series.
Gena Showalter does a phenomenal job of balancing the
exquisite longing and introspection with humor and
seriously sexy scenes. This story opens with the tragic
and immortal warrior Cameo falling into a strange world
much like ALICE IN WONDERLAND. King of the underworld,
Rathbone, makes an entertaining and convincing Cheshire
Cat. Because so much of the action takes place away from
the familiar setting and characters, I think readers new
to this series only really need to read the previous two
books before starting THE DARKEST PROMISE.
Being possessed by the demon of Misery is a heavy burden
for Cameo, but Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual brings a
little sunshine into her life in a big way. I love
Lazarus for a billion reasons, and the chemistry with
Cameo is amazeballs. I like how, even though he has
some
emotional baggage and a few women spectacularly done him
wrong, he never takes that out on Cameo. Lazarus is a
charming, rakish, warrior who makes it his mission to
make his woman happy -- even at the expense of his long-
held mission of vengeance. Since the beginning of this
series, I have been waiting for Cameo's story, and Gena
Showalter hits it out of the park with THE DARKEST
PROMISE. The supporting characters are intriguing but
never take the focus off Cameo and her evolving
relationship with Lazarus. Cameo comes across as a
complex character who has known tragedy and deals with
sorrow daily, but is a strong fighter and loyal friend.
In THE DARKEST PROMISE, Gena Showalter thankfully
refrains from having a hero who tries to push the heroine
away "for her own good", unlike so many other romance
novels. Lazarus has some internal debate about the wisdom
of walking away from Cameo but, in the end, he is too
entranced by her to let her go. It's actually Cameo who
occasionally tries to push Lazarus away for his own good,
but Lazarus won't go for that. The female characters
really help differentiate this book from other paranormal
romances. While other books might have me pulling my hair
out over the way male characters steamroll over them, the
ladies in THE DARKEST PROMISE are a different breed
entirely. The women in THE DARKEST PROMISE are just as
likely to crack a joke, cast a spell, participate in a
dual, solve a puzzle, or destroy an enemy. I also love
the show of girl power and camaraderie between powerful
women.
THE DARKEST PROMISE is a ridiculously sexy tale of
immortal warriors, fierce and fabulous women, and demons.
This super steamy romance will make you sigh, get you
hot, and make you cheer. There are so many fascinating
secondary characters in THE DARKEST PROMISE like
Rathbone, Viola, and Siobhan, that I can't wait to see
where their stories take them. I look forward to reading
Gena Showalter's next book.
New York Times bestselling author Gena
Showalter returns with a sizzling Lords of the Underworld
story about an iron-willed sovereign and the somber beauty
who melts him with a glance…
Possessed by the demon of Misery, Cameo isn't allowed to
experience joy. If she dares, her memory is wiped clean.
With no other recourse, she sneaks into a land more
fantastical than any fairy tale, determined to find the one
man with the key to her redemption.
Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual rules his kingdom with a
single unwavering focus: to build his army and annihilate
his enemies. Nothing distracts him—until Cameo. He is
relentless in his quest to make her smile…and seduce her
into his bed.
As dark forces conspire against them, threatening to destroy
the fragile bond they've forged, the once-calm Lazarus grows
crazed. Every heart-stopping kiss and wicked touch causes
Cameo to teeter on the brink of happiness. But if she falls,
she risks forgetting him forever…