Review: The Darkest Night by Gena ShowalterAll her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member - a man trapped in a hell of his own.
Neither can resist the instant hunger that calms their torments...and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction - and a soul-shattering test of love...
Lords of the Underworld Book 1
Centuries ago, a band of warriors and guardians to the Gods attempted to teach their charges a lesson. Pandora, while a gifted warrior in her own right, was thought by the warriors to not be qualified to handle the task of guarding dimOuniak - a box made by the Goddess Oppression to contain the horrors of the world. To prove this fact and avenge their wounded egos, the warriors stole the box from Pandora and opened it, thereby unleashing it's bound demons upon the world. As punishment for their arrogance, the Gods cursed each warrior with a demon and to be forever bound to one another. Thus, the Lords of the Underworld was born.
Maddox, keeper of Violence, has never known peace. Goaded constantly by the demon Violence, Maddox burns with the need to maim, destroy and kill. When Violence first entered his body, Maddox was consumed by the demon's desires and in a fit of violent rage, killed Pandora by sinking his blade into her stomach six times. As an additional punishment for this heinous act, the Gods bestowed upon Maddox a death-curse. Each night at midnight, Maddox is doomed to die in the same fashion as Pandora. Killed with a blade to the stomach by his fellow Lord, Reyes, keeper of Pain, and then brought to the underworld by Lucien, keeper of Death, to burn in the fires of hell.
Ashlyn Darrow is suffering from her own inner demons as well. While others consider her ability to hear conversations that have taken place wherever she stands as a potential gift, all Ashlyn wants to do is silence the noise. To think her own thoughts rather than being berated by others. She does utilize her gift for her job at the Institute. An organization charged with the task of watching the supernatural and stepping in when a threat is discovered. In Budapest, at the Institutes direction, Ashlyn has come to listen for the "angels" - a group of beings that provide generously to the city and keep the threat of crime very low. Their generosity has earned the peoples adoration. In the hopes of learning how to control the voices, Ashlyn ventures to their castle against direct orders from her boss. Unfortunately for Ashlyn, her presence is met with fierce hostility and suspicion.
As long as the Lords have existed on Earth, there has been a faction of men and women bent on their destruction known as Hunters. A few hundred years ago the Hunters were successful in murdering one of the Lords: Baden, keeper of Distrust. Lured by Bait, a female seductress and skilled in the way of tempting a Lord, was able to build Baden's obsession to the point of distraction while the Hunters lay in wait to attack when the Lord least expected it. Unfortunately it was proven upon Baden's death that while the Lord may have died, his demon lived on without its human host, reeking havoc before disappearing to the unknown.
Ashlyn is immediately suspected to be bait by both Maddox and his fellow Lords but she could care less about their hostility. All she knows is that while in Maddox's presence, she can finally bask in silence. Somehow this fierce man can hush the voices in her head. For the first time she can hear the breeze whisper through the trees and relish in the pant of her savior while his hot breath fans across her cheeks. Bliss, at last.
For some reason, despite the very real fact that Ashlyn may indeed be Bait, Maddox can't let the girl go. When she screams and cries over his nightly deaths, Maddox starts to feel doubts over Ashlyn's association with Hunters. It's not long before he resolves to have the human for himself, at least to use and sink into for pleasure before releasing her. But when Ashlyn is accidentally poisoned, Maddox realizes that he'll do anything, even be at the mercy of the Gods to heal her and save her from death.
Ashlyn feels herself falling in love with Maddox with every hour they spend together. Even after her revelation that she hears voices, Maddox instantly accepts her ability instead of looking upon her with suspicion for having heard everything he's ever said. Although it's undeniable that he's happy that for some reason Ashlyn can't hear the Lords and their past conversations, he's still accepts and pleasures Ashlyn for who she is.
Amongst their blossoming love, new developments have happened in the once desolate world of the Lords. Some of their brethren have returned. When Baden had been murdered all those years ago, a blood feud burst from the rage of the Lords. While half were intent on killing each and every Hunter, the other half only longed for peace. It's Maddox and his friends that left Greece for a peaceful life in Budapest. But with these returning Lords comes the long disdained Hunters. They are crawling all over Budapest in the hopes of capturing the Lords until they locate the lost Pandora's Box. When they find it, the Hunters intend to open it, thereby re-locking the demons within the box's confines and subsequently killing their human hosts.
'The Darkest Night' was an entertaining and fast read. Don't laugh! I know it took me over a week to finish it, but when I did have a chance to sit down and read, the pages flew. Maddox was definitely a drool-worthy hero. Wonderfully violent with split-second personality shifts from moderately angry to extremely furious, Maddox is strength personified. But his wicked physique thankfully doesn't match with a dull headed man. Maddox is sensual and unfailing gentle with Ashlyn. All that pent up violence is leashed and channelled instead toward the one goal of pleasuring his heroine. Gotta love that in a hero.
I enjoyed Ashlyn too. She's not one of those insipid heroines nor did she commit any "Too Stupid To Live" moments. She also makes the ultimate sacrifice to break Maddox's death-curse. One has to admire her for that.
I also have to give Gena Showalter credit where it's certainly due. For book one in a paranormal series, the pacing was good and the reader isn't overloaded with world building. She focuses the absolute majority of page time to Maddox and Ashlyn.
Unfortunately there just wasn't anything that snagged my complete interest and held it. The novel was bit predictable and while I liked the hero and heroine, I didn't feel any real emotional connection to them. The novel didn't have that impact upon my heart that I've attained with other paranormal reads. But again, it was enjoyable but perhaps forgettable.
B-
Interested in 'The Darkest Night'? Click HERE for More Info!
