Archive for the ‘Larissa Ione’ Category

Ecstasy Unveiled
Excellent read, but I would recommend you read all of the others first. While I’m sure it works as a stand-alone somewhat, the characters in this series are far too connected, and each have a vivid storyline of their own. Not knowing them first (and the hardships they have experienced), would be unfortunate, because you’d be missing out on the maximum effect.

I found myself wanting to be a part of their family (uhhh…not that there’s anything wrong with mine, of course – love you mom! tee hee!). But you know…maybe the author can write me into the next one

Ok so, what I like about this series as it has progressed, is that the author has focused on multiple characters, allowing us to experience different facets of their lives separately from the main story line. The past couple of books have featured a main couple, but also, an extra side story that follows a potential coupling. What I also like is that trouble frequently brews between the couples (hey that’s not very nice of me!). Not just angsty drama, but serious life altering situations (ie: prejudices), and the difficulties overcoming them to satisfy what the heart wants, but keeps denying itself.

This book centers on the life of Lore, the recently discovered half human-half incubus demon ”angry” brother of the Seminus Demon trio (Wraith, Eidolon and Shade – wait-weren’t they all angry?).

Lore has issues. Lots of issues. Oh sure, he’s unbelievably sexy HOT, but despite appearing human, and being raised as a human, he hit a bump in the road when he became an adult. His demon half started showing itself (one he didn’t even know he had). He had no clue what was up. Nobody told him. And unfortunately, Seminus demons have bouts of rage and aggression and a special “ability”. Lore does too, but has no clue how to control it to his advantage. Lore has a special arm/hand thingie. 

Anyone who touched the bare skin of his right arm and hand, marked by the diluted glyphs called a dermoire that snaked from shoulder to fingernail, dropped dead on contact.

While it can restore life, it mostly takes it. Especially during sex. Which he really needs, cause you know, of the incubus thing. But he doesn’t have it much. Ergo, he’s angry. 

Lore also has a full sister (Sin) who is also half Sem demon, meaning she is their sister too (and considering Seminus Demons are strictly males, the whole “sister” thing is about to throw a monkey wrench in their already troubled world). Her side story is just as addictive, and her little fling with a bad boy paramedic (vampire/werewolf mix) leaves her irritated, and us wanting more.

Past circumstances have forced both Lore and his sister (Sin) to be under the control of another demon (Detharu), working as assassins (they are physically marked by his scalding handprint that will snuff them out if they betray him in any way). While they try to kill “morally” (no children), they must submit to their master or be unbearably tortured. Lore has been offered his last job, and will be released from his contract (Yay him! Free at last!).

Unfortunately…there’s a catch. He must kill Kynan (the most protected immortal human, who is his brother’s best friend, a part of his own family, and the key to “world peace” – well…their world, that is).

A sinister smile split Deth’s face wide open. “The target,” he said, “is Kynan Morgan. The very human you brought back to life.”

The ground shifted beneath Lore’s feet. Oh, holy hell. Though Lore had saved Kynan’s life, he hated him and really wouldn’t mind putting him in the ground. But Jesus…if he killed the human, lore would spend the rest of his sorry life looking over his shoulder. He’d have every Aegis Guardian on the planet aiming to gut him with a stang, which would be pleasant compared to what Gem and his brothers would do to him.

Deth leaned in close, so close Lore could feel the ugly demon’s heat on his face. “You have your assignment. You will kill Morgan – using your death touch – and retrieve his amulet within ninety-six hours. And if you refuse or fail, Sin will die.”

Sin, whose favorite saying was not becoming ironic reality.

No good deed shall go unpunished.

Yup, it just keeps getting worse for him…

By sparing his brothers, Lore might have condemned his sister to death.

So a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Until that man meets the very ass-kicking ”pre-angel” (Idess) sent to protect Kynan from him. If she’s successful in keeping Kynan protected, she gets her long awaited wings, becomes a true angel, but most importantly, mankind continues to be safe. 

If she didn’t succeed in protecting the most important human in existence, the very fate of all mankind, of billions of souls, would be affected when the ultimate battle between good and evil erupted on Earth.

But, he finds himself falling for her…

But never had any female fallen asleep on him. It was a surprising intimacy that gave him some hellacious warm fuzzies in a situation he had no right to feel good about at all.

And yet, he stroked her hair, and tried to be still, because crazily, this was the most amazing thing that had ever happened to him.

…and it continues to get even MORE complicated (as Idess’s job suddenly shifts into unchartered territory) .  Wonderfully so!

How is Lore going to manage this debacle?

1.) Kill Kynan, keep his sister alive, free them from their torturous contract…but the angel he’s crushing on doesn’t get her wings, he’d have to face the wrath of his demon family, and well, all mankind pretty much would end up going to hell…

OR

2.) Don’t kill Kynan, everyone’s happy but he loses his adored sister to torture and slavery, and eventual death.

and anyway…who’s behind the hit on Kynan? What’s the big deal? (and it IS a big deal!!). Oh there’s lots to read and lots to take in. In fact, I found myself backtracking through book#3 to piece together some forgotten elements that were quite integral to this continuation. This story too, had my eyes wide as the details started falling into place.

Ok I know I’m missing a ton of good stuff, but that’s probably a good thing! So I’m going to stop here because any more, and I will be giving away stuff I need to leave you the pleasure of discovering. These are not easy stories to review. They are so jam packed full of action, and backstories, side stories and potential twists, and everything always mingles together marvelously, that you’ll have a hard time putting them down. The author is quite clever and has a vivid imagination!

I did like this book, but I did not bond as much as I thought I would. After book one, I was certain Shade would be my favorite brother. Hot biker look,  long black hair, black leather, tattooed, rugged and sexy! While I felt there was emotion clearly depicted, I found myself somewhat disconnected throughout the story. I blame Shade’s “curse”! It held him back from loving, which in turn, held me back from completely *feeling* the connection between the two main characters. Never fear, it is worthy of reading, integral to the continuing storyline, and anyway, book #3 brought me back front and center!

Shade, a promiscuous Seminous Demon, with seemingly no regrets towards his sexual deviant nature, is cursed. A misdeed from his past, has cursed him with the threat of becoming invisible, and painfully starved, if he is to ever fall in love. He avoids any emotional connection (while continuing to indulge in his sexual nature), and finds himself inadvertently involved with a human female (you’ll remember Runa from book 1 – she was getting too *needy*, and Shade felt it time to cut the ties – ugh! Stupid boys!)

Shade rediscovers Runa in book 2, while they are imprisoned together in a cell. Something is different about Runa…She is just as beautiful, yet, stronger…angrier…(and has her own life changing event which affects her very existence).

“So that made what you did okay? When did you start screwing around on me?”

He propped an elbow on his knee, somehow managing to look casual, as if he got captured by Ghouls all the time and maybe enjoyed it little. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answers to.”

“Oh I want to know.”

“I don’t think you do.”

“You’re an ass.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“I was in love with you.” Silence fell like an executioner’s ax. Oh, God. Had she just said that out loud?

Shade and Runa find themselves working together against their captors, while continuously protecting each other from potential harm. As events unfold, Shade and Runa develop a new found appreciation for each other, and re-discover the meaning of friendship. While Runa learns to trust Shade, and overcome her apprehension towards him,

Her heart did a little flip, that he’d have suffered for her, and dammit, it shouldn’t be flipping for him for any reason. It seemed to be looking for any excuse to fall for him again. Clearly, it had a very short memory.

Shade fights any further emotional connection to her, that could potentially doom his fate.

“Damn you,” he said, in a voice that had been scraped over sandpaper. “Damn you for making me burn like this. For you.”

We also get glimpses into the developing connection (read: sexual tension) between a half-breed “Soul Shredder” (Gem) and a demon hating Aegis guardian (Kynan). This storyline is almost as absorbing as that of the main characters.

“What are we talking about? Sex?”

Her mouth went dry, and a shiver of both desire and anxiety race through her. “I- I don’t know. I just…could you see yourself with one?”

One long finger trailed along her jaw, the most intimate contact they’d ever had. “Never.”

With that, he stalked out of the room.

I loved how the author cleverly re-depicted many scenes from book one (that were originally overlooked as part of the environment, seemingly, unimportant to the events in book one), and, in perspective to book two, everything becomes much clearer, and crucial to the continuing story line.

While I found myself somewhat detached throughout a portion of the book, the ending was wrought with emotional discord, as alliances were forged (and not just between male and female).

“I would take your pain away if I could, human.” The words were spoken so softly Kynan barely heard them, and then Wraith was stalking away as though his feet were on fire.

I rode every twist and turn with tenacity, wanting to know more (and relieved to know I could lose myself in book# 3 and continue the ride!) I love these characters! Each and everyone is interesting, and likeable, and while I may have not bonded as intensely to the main characters of this particular novel, I have bonded to the series as a whole.

• Pleasure Unbound: A Demonica Novel
• Desire Unchained: A Demonica Novel
• Passion Unleashed (The Demonica Series)
• “Eternity Embraced” as found in the The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 anthology
• Ecstasy Unveiled (The Demonica Series)
• Sin Undone (The Demonica Series) (expected release date: Sept. 2010)

I am already loving this series. With just one book, I have bonded with the characters, and I’m as intrigued by the other two brothers, as I was with the main character. I care for every potential developing relationship, and can’t wait to see how they play out.

This book is about a demon underground world that is merged but well hidden within the human world. Demons, in this series, can be a multitude of creatures (from vampires to ghouls, to Incubi to shape-shifters). The Demon world has it’s own set of rules, and laws, and while the different species do not always get along, there is one place where all species are safe and treated without prejudice. Eidolon, a handsome, skilled doctor, and also a “Seminus Demon”, has set up a special hospital (identical to any human hospital – equipped with doctors and nurses, ambulances, and EMT professionals) for the underworld.

All demons are hunted and killed by human warriors (Guardians) that are part of a group called the “Aegis”. They are trained highly skilled fighters, and have an enormous arsenal of weapons to aid in their killing quests. They believe they are killing for the good of mankind, and protecting the human race, and kill any and all demons indiscriminately.

A wounded human Aegis fighter named Tayla is erroneously brought into the demon ER. The hospital staff are concerned and want to dispose of her (considering she IS the enemy), however Eidolon’s fair nature and indiscriminate need to save lives, protects her from being killed, and instead, he heals her. Not realizing that she is in an actual demon hospital, and unaware of the true nature of her doctor, she finds herself deeply attracted to Eidolon. She soon discovers the truth however…

“What’s your true form?”

“This is it.”

She gaped. “Your species looks like Playgirl models? It’s not fair.”

“What’s not?”

“You. You’re a demon. Evil should look…evil. Ugly. Wouldn’t hurt if you smelled bad either.” Heck she’d be happy if he just didn’t smell good. The air around him smelled faintly of spiced dark chocolate and man, making her mouth water and her libido kick into high gear.

“I’m not exactly evil.”

She snorted. “All demons are pure evil.”

“What about half-breeds. Are they evil, too?”

“They’re abominations that deserve to die the same as any other demon.”

He turned and looked at her wearing a grin that was about as evil as any she’d seen. “This is going to be fun”.

Sparks fly (whether they are entwined in a lusty encounter, or whether they are battling  each other). A few instances force Tayla to interact directly with Eidolon and his entourage. Her loyalties are put to the test as she begins to acknowledge that not all demons are evil, and finds herself caring for those of a different world. Tayla also discovers that her Warrior entourage are not all that they seem, and may not have the noble intentions she thought she was fighting for.

Eidolon’s own anger flared bright and hot as he rounded on the cause of the tension between them. “You came here to lead your Aegis colleagues to my hospital.”

“Yes.”

The betrayal streaked through him, and he had no idea why. They were enemies. He’d expected something like this. But for some reason, the knowledge that she’d wanted to destroy what he’d worked so hard for tore at him.

“I don’t need to ask why. That you hate us is obvious-”

“I don’t hate you.” she said hoarsely. Her gaze cut to him, full of misery, slicing him like a scalpel. “God help me, I don’t hate you.”

For some reason, this is one of my favorite scenes (kind of fiery but sweet at the same time). Tayla needed protection, and Eidolon took her in:

“This is your room,” she whispered. “I saw a guest room back there…”

He dropped the bags on the polished wood floor and in a flash, framed her face in his warm hands. “We’re beyond that.” He brought his head down to her neck, his lips caressing her skin. “You sleep with me.”

Like a real couple. Way too intimate. “I don’t want to.”

He inhaled deeply. “Don’t lie to me Tayla. I can smell your desire”

God, that sense of smell of his was a pain in the ass.

What I love about this book, is that we are introduced to many different characters, their feelings, their struggles, and while Tayla and Eidolon are the main focus, there are many short but deeply focused side stories that allow us to bond with all the characters and their world, and to understand them on a larger level. Each character has its own personal struggles and revelations, all seemingly real, and valid. While the main love story brings it’s own angst, each character (including Tayla) has a deeper issue that is more personal then just that of a potentially doomed love story.

Vampires may not be the focus in this book, but it captured my attention and I had a hard time putting it down. While the romance and intimacy is prominent, this book is also action packed, and a great read! I’m still quite exhausted from my late night of reading (but this story was well worth the lack of sleep).