The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
geo_ix's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it, like I knew I would. I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep last night and then when I woke up early I couldn't stop myself from reading again when usually I wait a few hours to wake up properly. I really just NEEDED to know what would happen. I'm now really unsure where this series is going to go.
Either way, I'm excited for the next book by Gena. This was just as witty and steamy as all the others. I found myself laughing and genuinely feeling happy so much throughout that I know I'll be thinking about this book for a while.
Spoiler
We had Viola show a bit of attraction to the guy after her, which I'm all for because he's a beast! And we saw more of William and the mention of his future having two possible outcomes with two different women which I'm REAL eager for, and also Hades and the chick he stuck in the mirror. There was also a man that was identical to William, which I still don't know what that's meant to mean... but honestly, I thought this would be the last book and all these other couples would be a spin off series, either in the angel series connected to this, or a new spin off... but I don't think that's the plan? There was small bits showing Galen but not enough to think he'll have a book next or even if ever, but since Viola had POV's in this, I think it's suggesting she's next. That could also be said with Hades, because of mirror girls POV's but I don't think that's the case.Either way, I'm excited for the next book by Gena. This was just as witty and steamy as all the others. I found myself laughing and genuinely feeling happy so much throughout that I know I'll be thinking about this book for a while.
moirwyn's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2018/04/11/blog-tour-the-darkest-promise-by-gena-showalter/
The Darkest Promise is the latest book in Gena Showalter’s paranormal romance series Lords of the Underworld. Each book in Lords of the Underworld is a standalone romance, but together they form a larger story. The general premise of Lords of the Underworld is this: Pandora’s box was opened, and the demons that it contained were cast into certain people to reign them in. Those people have to deal with the curse of whatever demon possesses them. And there’s a war in the underworld between Hades and Lucifer, and the immortals are choosing sides in the battle.
The Darkest Promise‘s protagonist is Cameo. She’s the host to the demon Misery. Every time she speaks, people begin to cry as they are filled with unbearable sadness. Every time Cameo feels the slightest bit of happiness, Misery wipes away all memory of it. Cameo think’s she’s doomed to never find romance, at least, not while she contains Misery. And there isn’t an easy solution to rid herself of the demon that won’t also bring about her own death. But…
Then Cameo meets Lazarus, known by the moniker of Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual. He’s spent most of his life dedicated to revenge against those who have wronged him. But Lazarus also has a deep dark secret–he’s slowly turning into crystal, and he has a limited amount of time left before it consumes him completely.
When Cameo is with Lazarus, Misery doesn’t feel like quite as much as a burden. She allows herself to dream of what happiness might be. And when Lazarus is with Cameo, all he thinks of is her, and she’s more important to him than even his grudges. But can the two of them stay together amidst the supernatural forces that threaten to tear them apart?
The tone of the story is both modern and a bit snarky, even though it has tie-ins to elements of Greek mythology. I did find that some of the more modern references and jokes had the effect of pulling me out of the story more than pulling the story into modernity. But that’s also a stylistic choice, and I’m sure that it’ll really work for some readers.
The Darkest Promise is the second book that I’ve read in the Lords of the Underworld series, and overall, I enjoyed them both. I often like the idea of romance novels more than the execution, because I like romances where the characters treat each other well. That means that there needs to be some outside forces (e.g. a demon of sadness and a crystal curse) to keep it interesting, and to keep it from going from boy-meets-girl to happily-ever-after with the span of ten pages. This is one thing that the Lords of the Underworld series does well. Each character in this book had their own issues (Cameo and her demon, Lazarus and his crystals), and those issues were obstacles to their relationship. They each had to make the choice to leave the relative comfort and safety of the lives they had become accustomed to and to actively take the risk of loving each other and letting the other one in, even knowing that their relationship was likely doomed. That leap of trust was wonderful, and as in most good romances, it paid off with a happy ending.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2018/04/11/blog-tour-the-darkest-promise-by-gena-showalter/
The Darkest Promise is the latest book in Gena Showalter’s paranormal romance series Lords of the Underworld. Each book in Lords of the Underworld is a standalone romance, but together they form a larger story. The general premise of Lords of the Underworld is this: Pandora’s box was opened, and the demons that it contained were cast into certain people to reign them in. Those people have to deal with the curse of whatever demon possesses them. And there’s a war in the underworld between Hades and Lucifer, and the immortals are choosing sides in the battle.
The Darkest Promise‘s protagonist is Cameo. She’s the host to the demon Misery. Every time she speaks, people begin to cry as they are filled with unbearable sadness. Every time Cameo feels the slightest bit of happiness, Misery wipes away all memory of it. Cameo think’s she’s doomed to never find romance, at least, not while she contains Misery. And there isn’t an easy solution to rid herself of the demon that won’t also bring about her own death. But…
Then Cameo meets Lazarus, known by the moniker of Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual. He’s spent most of his life dedicated to revenge against those who have wronged him. But Lazarus also has a deep dark secret–he’s slowly turning into crystal, and he has a limited amount of time left before it consumes him completely.
When Cameo is with Lazarus, Misery doesn’t feel like quite as much as a burden. She allows herself to dream of what happiness might be. And when Lazarus is with Cameo, all he thinks of is her, and she’s more important to him than even his grudges. But can the two of them stay together amidst the supernatural forces that threaten to tear them apart?
The tone of the story is both modern and a bit snarky, even though it has tie-ins to elements of Greek mythology. I did find that some of the more modern references and jokes had the effect of pulling me out of the story more than pulling the story into modernity. But that’s also a stylistic choice, and I’m sure that it’ll really work for some readers.
The Darkest Promise is the second book that I’ve read in the Lords of the Underworld series, and overall, I enjoyed them both. I often like the idea of romance novels more than the execution, because I like romances where the characters treat each other well. That means that there needs to be some outside forces (e.g. a demon of sadness and a crystal curse) to keep it interesting, and to keep it from going from boy-meets-girl to happily-ever-after with the span of ten pages. This is one thing that the Lords of the Underworld series does well. Each character in this book had their own issues (Cameo and her demon, Lazarus and his crystals), and those issues were obstacles to their relationship. They each had to make the choice to leave the relative comfort and safety of the lives they had become accustomed to and to actively take the risk of loving each other and letting the other one in, even knowing that their relationship was likely doomed. That leap of trust was wonderful, and as in most good romances, it paid off with a happy ending.
dukefn99's review against another edition
3.0
Read my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3010193452
dragon_lion64's review against another edition
4.0
My heart is still racing
So many emotions ran through me as I read this book. I laughed and I cried and mentally slapped both Lazarus and Cameo a few times but I loved every minute if it.
So many emotions ran through me as I read this book. I laughed and I cried and mentally slapped both Lazarus and Cameo a few times but I loved every minute if it.
lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5 stars*
At least I really liked the relationship between Cameo and Lazarus. It felt natural and right.
Also, I'm intrigued about Viola. I didn't like her much in the previous books, but she has definitely caught my attention now. The same goes to Siobhan. Let us hope for the best, but wait for the worst.
Spoiler
May, 2nd, 2016
Cameo and Lazarus!
I foresee lots of...
...and...
Hopefully, a prelude to my Gilliam as well.
Just...
bookworm_vevans's review against another edition
5.0
This story was really fun. I loved Lazarus when we first met him (think it was book #8 with Strider) and thought I had seen the last of him, but when his story picked up several books later with Cameo I was super excited to know his story would be told. He was warped sense of humor and quips made him the highlight of the book. Cameo, being the keeper of Misery, was tough because I felt just as somber as she did when the story was told. However, she did have several redeeming moments that made me enjoy her story and connection to Lazarus.
obasinaomi_'s review against another edition
5.0
The book was very nice, but I was kinda confused here. In Torin's book, ever had the fire power and urban had ice. Now in this book, it is the other way around. Am I the only one who noticed this?
jj7twin's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great read. I think I sensed the end was approaching fast after chapter 26. Took me way to long to pick the book back up once I got there. To have everyone flinch, cry, or scream at the sound of your voice would be a horrible fate. You can never have a normal conversation, make suggestions for battle plans, or tell someone you love them. Unless that someone is Lazarus. Knowing the woman you love is weakening you every second you are with her is a deep torment. Stay away from her and you both live long lives. Be with her and you have happiness the shines throughout the spirit realms. Cameo is frustrating at times because she'll reach the same logically conclusion as Lazarus but end up arguing with him about it initially. Or she'll insist on helping but not giving a plan for her role in the battle. Yes you are a warrior (regardless of what Hera said) and can handle your own but don't be a distraction unless it's for the other side.
alexperc_92's review against another edition
4.0
A good addition to the series although it had some issues with the main pair, mainly Lazarus.
So here's my candidates for the next book:
Viola
Hades
William
So here's my candidates for the next book:
Viola
Hades
William
raven168's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. Lazarus and Cameo were just great. I do wish it hadn't been such a very long time since I read when they first met because I couldn't remember much of anything about that time and I would have loved to.
I love Lazarus. While I don't know how keen I am that he was able to easily take out multiple Lords in a fight (strength is hot but sometimes I just don't want to see others I like beaten so easy), I absolutely loved his personality. He was hilarious and cocky, but fierce and devoted to Cameo.
It was so great to see the true Cameo here. Because the misery of her voice doesn't affect Lazarus, she can freely talk without experiencing the guilt she always does when other cringe. And because of that, the banter between the two is fantastic. Cameo is a warrior thru and thru, but she's also a woman. She's funny, has a soft side and desires. Lazarus makes her think these things are within reach.
When Cameo gets to Lazarus's realm, she quite literally crash lands into it. She doesn't know how long she spent healing, but she quickly learns that the place isn't safe. She meets someone named Rathbone who ends up being important and powerful, though she doesn't know who he is at the time. When Rathbone leads her to a village she finds herself in a lot of trouble. Until Lazarus shows up. Cameo doesn't remember him at all, but he definitely remembers her. Lazarus hasn't been able to forget about her because she's his mate. But the elation at finding her is dampened by the fact that the more time he spends with her, the faster the crystals in his body spread. Greatly reducing his movements and reactions. Back at his castle, Lazarus tries to woo her back to his bed but just for one night. He can't afford any more than that. But Cameo wants forever, not one night so she pushes him away. When the time comes and Cameo goes back to her own realm, she makes a promise to Lazarus should he be able to find her there. Find her he does and now it's harder than ever for him to stick to his choice to leave her. He fast needs to choose between revenge against those who made him suffer, or spending the rest of his days with the woman he loves. He makes his choice though, and with it, so does Cameo. When she does something that really urked the hell out of me. But it all works out well enough.
Lazarus comes with a lot of baggage. He seeks revenge on so many people including Hera and his father. The crystals in his body are actually not a curse, but something that he needs to be strong enough to emerge from. He obtains something that everybody has been looking for, but is afraid to tell Cameo. I did like how the title of his book would change with each chapter and what's been happening.
The ending was both good and bad. Urban has developed this weird crush on Viola that needs to be put to a stop fast because it's just weird and and happened for no reason other than she likes to cause trouble.
Despite all the uproar about Gillian not ending up with William, I'm looking forward to jumping into the next book and learning more about Puck. And seeing what happens next.
I love Lazarus. While I don't know how keen I am that he was able to easily take out multiple Lords in a fight (strength is hot but sometimes I just don't want to see others I like beaten so easy), I absolutely loved his personality. He was hilarious and cocky, but fierce and devoted to Cameo.
It was so great to see the true Cameo here. Because the misery of her voice doesn't affect Lazarus, she can freely talk without experiencing the guilt she always does when other cringe. And because of that, the banter between the two is fantastic. Cameo is a warrior thru and thru, but she's also a woman. She's funny, has a soft side and desires. Lazarus makes her think these things are within reach.
When Cameo gets to Lazarus's realm, she quite literally crash lands into it. She doesn't know how long she spent healing, but she quickly learns that the place isn't safe. She meets someone named Rathbone who ends up being important and powerful, though she doesn't know who he is at the time. When Rathbone leads her to a village she finds herself in a lot of trouble. Until Lazarus shows up. Cameo doesn't remember him at all, but he definitely remembers her. Lazarus hasn't been able to forget about her because she's his mate. But the elation at finding her is dampened by the fact that the more time he spends with her, the faster the crystals in his body spread. Greatly reducing his movements and reactions. Back at his castle, Lazarus tries to woo her back to his bed but just for one night. He can't afford any more than that. But Cameo wants forever, not one night so she pushes him away. When the time comes and Cameo goes back to her own realm, she makes a promise to Lazarus should he be able to find her there. Find her he does and now it's harder than ever for him to stick to his choice to leave her. He fast needs to choose between revenge against those who made him suffer, or spending the rest of his days with the woman he loves. He makes his choice though, and with it, so does Cameo. When she does something that really urked the hell out of me. But it all works out well enough.
Lazarus comes with a lot of baggage. He seeks revenge on so many people including Hera and his father. The crystals in his body are actually not a curse, but something that he needs to be strong enough to emerge from. He obtains something that everybody has been looking for, but is afraid to tell Cameo. I did like how the title of his book would change with each chapter and what's been happening.
The ending was both good and bad
Spoiler
good because Cameo is free from the demon, but bad because now Misery is on the looseDespite all the uproar about Gillian not ending up with William, I'm looking forward to jumping into the next book and learning more about Puck. And seeing what happens next.