Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld #1) - Gena Showalter

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His powers -- Inhuman
His passion -- Beyond immortal . . .

Darkest Night by Gena Showalter

Lords Of The Underworld, Book 1

All 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 than 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...
Though they carry an eternal curse, the Lords of the Underworld are irresistibly seductive -- and unimaginably powerful...

I have taken the “Bait” Mrs. Showalter has dangled in front of me.  This is my first read from this author,  and I enjoyed it a lot!!

I wasn’t quite sure in the beginning, but I quickly warmed to it.  Like most first books in a series, the first one bears the burden of set up.  I really like the concept, and meeting all the Lords.

Based on the Greek Mythology of Pandora’s box, Showalter put her own little spin on the story.  Thousands of years ago,  The gods assigned a warrior to guard, and protect the box that held captive all the evil demons in the world, Pandora a fierce female warrior was given the task, however the other warriors of the gods knew she wasn’t the strongest warrior to protect the box.  So, more as to prove a point to  the gods, the other warriors banded together to steal the box from Pandora.  As a result the demons escaped and upon recapture the gods cursed each of the warriors to house a demon within themselves.  Maddox’s demon is Violence,  and after Violence took over him, he went into  a rage, and killed Pandora.  As part of Maddox’s curse he is to die each night at midnight, by the same sword as he used to kill Pandora, in the same manner, 6 stab wounds to the stomach.  And two of his fellow warriors, friends, cohorts in crime are to deliver his death, every night for eternity.  After the Warriors were cursed to house the demons, they struggled to overpower their demons, and war within themselves daily to maintain that control.

Events in Greece split the warriors, some staying behind to fight the Hunters that are after them, and the missing box.  This particular group left Greece and ended up in Budapest, where the locals for centuries have thought them to be angels, some rumors of them being demons, but they’ve established a home there, and given generously to the community, and done their best to keep peace in the city.  Well the status quo routine is about to change for Maddox ( Violence ), Aeron ( Wrath ), Paris ( Promiscuity ), Torin ( Disease ), Reyes ( Pain ), and Lucien ( Death ).

They’ve been content to live and let live, as far as the Hunters are concerned, but The Hunters are coming to Budapest on their hunt for the Pandora’s box to recapture the demons, but if that happens, the warriors die. So they have to protect their demon in order to live, and now it's becoming a race against the Hunters to find Pandora's box first.

When Ashlyn Darrow appears on the property, followed by Hunters,  Maddox is the only one to go after them, because he and Torin are the only ones at home, and Torin’s curse of Disease always keeps him away from everyone.

When Maddox comes face to face in the woods surrounding the warrior’s  home,  they both instantly start to feel a peace they’ve never felt.  Of course there is concern that Ashlyn may have been sent by the hunters as “Bait”,  but Ashlyn is seeking help from the warriors, and she finds peace instantly with Maddox, and is willing to go anywhere with him.

I really enjoyed this story, in the latter part of the story, the warriors that Maddox and company split from all those centuries ago resurface in Budapest.  This adds even more yummies to the series!!  I find myself looking forward to Giddeon, Paris, and Torin most.   This was a great story of love, and soul mate finally found, self preservation, and self sacrifice.  Maddox was delicious, and even though our heroine is a human virgin, she’s strong willed and willing to do anything to save her demon lover, and she isn’t holding on to her virginity for any prudish reasons, she’s quite the horny one. Events along with personal demons of her own have just left her without much contact with many people.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys PNR, and hasn’t read this series.