REAPER is the ninth book in Larissa Ione’s “Demonica Underworld” series. This is a great book for readers who also enjoy Sherrilyn Kenyon’s “Dark Hunter” series and Gena Showalter’s “Lords of the Underworld” series because this has that same imaginative world-building and passion. Larissa Ione includes a helpful glossary at the beginning of REAPER for a reference for readers that may be new to the series or as a refresher for fans. I recommend at least reading Larissa Ione’s book AZAGOTH before reading this story, since this one continues the journey of that couple in AZAGOTH.

This story opens with an expectant father planning for the unexpected, but still unaware of the impending carnage that will turn his world upside-down. Azagoth is a dangerous man who deals with dark situations and different sorts of deadly beings all the time. Nothing really keeps him up at night or on edge, except for the possibility of his mate Lilliana and their unborn child coming to some harm at the hands of his many enemies. I love stories like this with a strong anti-hero tremendously devoted to his woman. This is a story with murder and mayhem every few pages, but the best part for me is the romance. Larissa Ione is able to convey the intensity of the feelings Azagoth and Lilliana have for each other. Azagoth’s warring feelings of love and desperation when Lilliana gets captured are a very visceral thing. The scenes of passion between this couple are scorching and deliciously so. This relationship brings to mind the scene in RAVISHED by Amanda Quick when the heroine talks about being happy to be in the hero’s clutches. Lilliana is very happy to be in Azagoth’s clutches, and she owns his heart in a way nobody else has.

REAPER is a mix of epic battle scenes paired with a gloriously torrid and terrific paranormal love story. There is a happy ending for this story but, true to a typical hero’s quest, it’s not without sacrifice and some tragedy. I look forward to Larissa Ione’s next paranormal romance.