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kazen 's review for:
The Darkest Night
by Gena Showalter
This is crack. Has to be. How else could I devour a book with so many tropes I don't like? First, a quick synopsis:
When Pandora's box was opened a whole bunch of demons (Wrath, Violence, Pain, Malice, Promiscuity, and more) were unleashed. Each took up residence in an immortal guard of the gods, cursing them for eternity. Promiscuity has to bed a different woman every day, Wrath kill those who have done egregious wrongs, and so on. Our hero Maddox holds the demon of Violence.
In semi-Sookie Stackhouse style, Ashlyn hears voices. But instead of tuning in to people's thoughts she can hear every conversation that took place in a particular spot, ever, with the mental equivalent of a babel fish. A government agency found out about her gift and uses her ability to their advantage, sending her on intelligence gathering missions all over the world. This time she's in Budapest, where the locals whisper about Angels that live up on a hill. She makes the trek hoping they'll make the voices stop, but when she meets Violence all hell breaks loose.
And now the tropes:
- Instalove. As soon as our pair meets his demon backs off the carnage and the voices in her head disappear. This is the basis for a true, deep, instant love. *~gag~*
- Mythology. I've never had much luck with paranormals that draw from gods and goddesses and feuds and things, mostly because I have no interest or memory for them.
- Girl as bait. Granted, it was the "maybe she'd make good bait," not "please use me as bait!" TSTL variety, but still.
- Ending via deus ex machina. They seem to pop up in every Greek Mythology romance. "I know, I'll rip their hearts out... then reverse the whole thing with the help of a god! All better!" -_-
The tropes aside the book was a quick, fun read. Showalter's writing is solid, though her lack of subjects in heated moments got on my nerves. ("Can't." "Hurt..." "Won't." An actual exchange.) Like the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, the idea of damaged men finding women who love them is appealing. Unlike Black Dagger Brotherhood, these guys have their demons right on the surface. Reyes, keeper of Pain, cuts himself constantly. Promiscuity has to bed a different woman every night. Disease cannot touch anyone or a horrific plague will be unleashed. I'm not sure if I like this direct approach or BDB's more subtle handling of damaged souls, but both are interesting.
The main conflict feels a little disjointed but it still drew me through the story. Solid but not amazing sex scenes round out the book.
If you're looking for a quick, sexy, paranormal read The Darkest Night could be just the thing. Just watch out for the crack.
When Pandora's box was opened a whole bunch of demons (Wrath, Violence, Pain, Malice, Promiscuity, and more) were unleashed. Each took up residence in an immortal guard of the gods, cursing them for eternity. Promiscuity has to bed a different woman every day, Wrath kill those who have done egregious wrongs, and so on. Our hero Maddox holds the demon of Violence.
In semi-Sookie Stackhouse style, Ashlyn hears voices. But instead of tuning in to people's thoughts she can hear every conversation that took place in a particular spot, ever, with the mental equivalent of a babel fish. A government agency found out about her gift and uses her ability to their advantage, sending her on intelligence gathering missions all over the world. This time she's in Budapest, where the locals whisper about Angels that live up on a hill. She makes the trek hoping they'll make the voices stop, but when she meets Violence all hell breaks loose.
And now the tropes:
- Instalove. As soon as our pair meets his demon backs off the carnage and the voices in her head disappear. This is the basis for a true, deep, instant love. *~gag~*
- Mythology. I've never had much luck with paranormals that draw from gods and goddesses and feuds and things, mostly because I have no interest or memory for them.
- Girl as bait. Granted, it was the "maybe she'd make good bait," not "please use me as bait!" TSTL variety, but still.
- Ending via deus ex machina. They seem to pop up in every Greek Mythology romance. "I know, I'll rip their hearts out... then reverse the whole thing with the help of a god! All better!" -_-
The tropes aside the book was a quick, fun read. Showalter's writing is solid, though her lack of subjects in heated moments got on my nerves. ("Can't." "Hurt..." "Won't." An actual exchange.) Like the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, the idea of damaged men finding women who love them is appealing. Unlike Black Dagger Brotherhood, these guys have their demons right on the surface. Reyes, keeper of Pain, cuts himself constantly. Promiscuity has to bed a different woman every night. Disease cannot touch anyone or a horrific plague will be unleashed. I'm not sure if I like this direct approach or BDB's more subtle handling of damaged souls, but both are interesting.
The main conflict feels a little disjointed but it still drew me through the story. Solid but not amazing sex scenes round out the book.
If you're looking for a quick, sexy, paranormal read The Darkest Night could be just the thing. Just watch out for the crack.