A review by debhayesreads
Legacy of Temptation by Larissa Ione

dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.0

If you're looking for Greek retellings? Look elsewhere
If you're looking for an Urban Fantasy? Look elsewhere

This book is marketed as "Demonica Birthright #1," so can someone please tell me why, in tiny *tiny* font at the bottom of Goodreads, it says Demonica #22. Twenty freaking two yall. I read this book thinking it was the first book in a series. Wrong. This book gave me a vibe similar to what I imagine The Black Dagger Legacy books are like—I have only read the original series. I could never imagine J.R. Ward dropping me into a spinoff series like this without actual worldbuilding. Did anyone who wasn't intimately familiar with the other books read this? Because it seems like a massive oversight.

The story follows Logan, Thanatos' son, as he navigates intra-agency cooperation between the Demon Activity Response Team (DART) and its rival anti-demon agency, the Aegis. There is little to no worldbuilding as this is secretly book number twenty-two, so you should know everything by now. The family trees and interpersonal dynamics were super convoluted and just muddy. Logan's grandmother is Lillith, the mother of demons, a succubus that, in the first chapter, before revealing herself, proceeds to seduce him before his daddy rescues him. It was gross and completely unnecessary, leading to banger lines such as,

"Logan got granny humped."

"Mace had probably put Logan Got Felt Up By His Granny all over social media by now."

I am trying to remain as objective as possible, but my god. Oh, did you think Lillith had anything to do with the main plot of the book? Wrong. She is barely even relevant to this book, and it's setting up Armageddon for Demonica book number twenty-something. Enter Eva Tennant, a deputy spokesperson, whom the Elders of the Aegis selected to participate in the intra-agency exchange program at DART headquarters. While there, she meets Logan, the hottest man ever, and they are immediately ready to rip each other's clothes off—no build-up. There is no chemistry, no sexual tension. The way they think about each other is such a turnoff. They immediately hypersexualize each other, which I get in books that are smutty smut, but I was under the impression that this book was trying to be smut with the plot.

A fight breaks out in the cafeteria of DART Headquarters, and the plot devolves from there. Consequently, we have forced proximity (kind of) where Logan needs to protect Eva. It bothers me that he had already felt protective over her and was interested in her before this, so it continues to undermine their sincerity as "enemies." They go from high-stress moments to ultra-horny, and I'm going, to be frank- the spice in this book is terrible.

"Is it weird that I want a handsome, powerful man to give me a night of pleasure to forget all the shit?"

Certain words and phrases should be blacklisted from romance books; when I read the words hot honey, aching flesh, slick channel, etc., it makes me physically recoil. Logan and Eva's relationship is very superficial. Her introduction to everyone in his life is very odd and stilted. It gives Twilight, except it's immediately the garage scene, no preamble, where Carlisle says, "Bella is with Edward. She's part of the family now. We protect our family."

There is an angelic subplot (kind of) to this book that comes out of nowhere if you read it from the perspective of Demonica Birthright #1. I don't know who these characters are. Who are Reaver and Harvester? What role do they play in heaven? What are Celestial Orders? Suddenly, it's raining blood, and a gate that ties into the Armageddon opens. Harvester sends a sign that *conveniently* "fixes" traumatic plot devices. It's just lazy writing. THE PLOT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

Even the little things don't make sense- so Logan isn't used to using the Harrowgate because Cujo can phase him places. If Logan is in trouble, Cujo can phase right to him even if he's never been where Logan is. But when Eva is in trouble, "Cujo usually couldn't phase to a location he'd never been to." Yet, on *literally the next page* after Logan frantically runs to her for dramatic suspense, "Cujo phased in next to him." This is just one example- the whole book is like this. Don't waste your time.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.