Scan barcode
breezy610's review against another edition
5.0
I don't understand what was putting me off on reading these books. They are so awesome. I am going to have to buy the rest of them, because I can't get enough of Kitty.
roxnn2000's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story. It took its time introducing us to the characters and making the world interesting while still providing a great story.
I found that I had several characters I liked and am already looking forward to reading their stories.
I found that I had several characters I liked and am already looking forward to reading their stories.
kathydavie's review against another edition
2.0
Also known as Eternal Rider, The Darkest Night is the first in the Lords of the Underworld dark, dark, dark mythic fantasy series about guards for the Greek gods whose pride was hurt when the gods chose Pandora to guard a box of demons.
My Take
Well, this makes the third of Showalter's novels, which I've read. And, so far, she's been fairly consistent. I've not been impressed.
In this story, Showalter depicts the Lords as haunted men in a bad situation. Showalter's emphasis on the punishments wreaked on the men are absolutely brutal — I don't know how Showalter managed to think these atrocities up!
Yes, they are trying to make the best of it and, obviously, the start of this series is intended as the start of the men finding peace with their soulmates. I do like that the Lords do what they can to make life easier for the people in Budapest and that their depredations amongst the populace are limited to those who are wicked.
Seems there were quite a few more demons in Pandora's box than in any of the myths I've read . . . guess they had some good PR back in the day . . .
The Story
As their punishment for releasing the demons from the dimOuniak, the gods have cursed the prideful warriors to an eternity of housing the demons they released with a few extras thrown in just for laughs . . . the gods' laughs that is and "so the Lords of the Underworld were born".
Today, Ashlyn Darrow is in Budapest with the World Institute of Parapsychology to listen to conversations with/about demons. And in the streets of Budapest, Ashlyn has heard contradictory stories about the inhabitants of the castle . . . mostly that they are angels known for their not-so-secret donations to help the citizens of the city.
She fully intends to reach the castle and its occupants to ask for help in blocking the voices she cannot escape or, even better, destroying her ability.
Unfortunately for Ashlyn, she doesn't know that to enter the castle means death for humans. Fortunately for Ashlyn, it is her very humanity that will save her.
The Characters
Ashlyn Darrow is psychic. She hears every conversation that has ever occurred in the world in the history of mankind. She was given up by her overwhelmed parents when she was extremely young to the World Institute of Parapsychology.
Each Lord is half man-half demon; neither can exist alone and each fights their other half. For thousands of years, they have fought their demons and each other. For hundreds of years, they have resided in a castle outside Budapest, each has his chores to contribute to their domestic and mental survival.
A falling-out some thousands of years ago broke them initial group of warriors into two. Those in the beginning of this story are in Budapest.
Maddox / Violence dies every night at midnight at Reyes' hands after which Lucien takes him to Hell where he spends every night burning alive. He is responsible for repairs to the castle.
Torin / Disease has not been able to touch another living thing skin to skin. His responsibility is the juggling of stocks and bonds to keep them moneyed.
Lucien / Death's chore is the collection of souls and taking care of all the paperwork.
Reyes / Pain is doomed to kill Maddox every night at midnight. Six precise strokes through Maddox' stomach, exactly as Maddox's demon had forced him to kill Pandora. His personal crisis is cutting himself to relieve his Pain demon. His task is to keep them supplied with weapons . . . for they did have enemies. And they could be killed.
Aeron / Wrath's demon sometimes got away with him and rained vengeance down upon anyone he perceived as sinners.
Paris / Promiscuity must be seduce a new woman every time never revisiting an old lover; if he cannot find a new lover, he is reduced to "doing things . . . that left [him] . . . hunched over a toilet". His task is to do the grocery shopping.
Hunters are humans who have been tracking and attempting to kill the Lords of the Underworld since the warriors first were cursed. Unable to control their demons, the Lords wreaked havoc upon the world and the Hunters were formed to save it.
We know the dimOuniak as Pandora's box
The Title
The title, The Darkest Night, refers to Maddox's ordeal of dying each night at midnight and suffering through the fires of Hell before returning to life during the day.
My Take
Well, this makes the third of Showalter's novels, which I've read. And, so far, she's been fairly consistent. I've not been impressed.
In this story, Showalter depicts the Lords as haunted men in a bad situation. Showalter's emphasis on the punishments wreaked on the men are absolutely brutal — I don't know how Showalter managed to think these atrocities up!
Yes, they are trying to make the best of it and, obviously, the start of this series is intended as the start of the men finding peace with their soulmates. I do like that the Lords do what they can to make life easier for the people in Budapest and that their depredations amongst the populace are limited to those who are wicked.
Seems there were quite a few more demons in Pandora's box than in any of the myths I've read . . . guess they had some good PR back in the day . . .
The Story
As their punishment for releasing the demons from the dimOuniak, the gods have cursed the prideful warriors to an eternity of housing the demons they released with a few extras thrown in just for laughs . . . the gods' laughs that is and "so the Lords of the Underworld were born".
Today, Ashlyn Darrow is in Budapest with the World Institute of Parapsychology to listen to conversations with/about demons. And in the streets of Budapest, Ashlyn has heard contradictory stories about the inhabitants of the castle . . . mostly that they are angels known for their not-so-secret donations to help the citizens of the city.
She fully intends to reach the castle and its occupants to ask for help in blocking the voices she cannot escape or, even better, destroying her ability.
Unfortunately for Ashlyn, she doesn't know that to enter the castle means death for humans. Fortunately for Ashlyn, it is her very humanity that will save her.
The Characters
Ashlyn Darrow is psychic. She hears every conversation that has ever occurred in the world in the history of mankind. She was given up by her overwhelmed parents when she was extremely young to the World Institute of Parapsychology.
Each Lord is half man-half demon; neither can exist alone and each fights their other half. For thousands of years, they have fought their demons and each other. For hundreds of years, they have resided in a castle outside Budapest, each has his chores to contribute to their domestic and mental survival.
A falling-out some thousands of years ago broke them initial group of warriors into two. Those in the beginning of this story are in Budapest.
Maddox / Violence dies every night at midnight at Reyes' hands after which Lucien takes him to Hell where he spends every night burning alive. He is responsible for repairs to the castle.
Torin / Disease has not been able to touch another living thing skin to skin. His responsibility is the juggling of stocks and bonds to keep them moneyed.
Lucien / Death's chore is the collection of souls and taking care of all the paperwork.
Reyes / Pain is doomed to kill Maddox every night at midnight. Six precise strokes through Maddox' stomach, exactly as Maddox's demon had forced him to kill Pandora. His personal crisis is cutting himself to relieve his Pain demon. His task is to keep them supplied with weapons . . . for they did have enemies. And they could be killed.
Aeron / Wrath's demon sometimes got away with him and rained vengeance down upon anyone he perceived as sinners.
Paris / Promiscuity must be seduce a new woman every time never revisiting an old lover; if he cannot find a new lover, he is reduced to "doing things . . . that left [him] . . . hunched over a toilet". His task is to do the grocery shopping.
Hunters are humans who have been tracking and attempting to kill the Lords of the Underworld since the warriors first were cursed. Unable to control their demons, the Lords wreaked havoc upon the world and the Hunters were formed to save it.
We know the dimOuniak as Pandora's box
The Title
The title, The Darkest Night, refers to Maddox's ordeal of dying each night at midnight and suffering through the fires of Hell before returning to life during the day.
yodamom's review against another edition
3.0
It feels like a watered down version of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I did not get drawn into the story as I did with BDB. The characters did not make me want more
kcoleman's review against another edition
4.0
This was good, it took me awhile to get into the Lords and their demons, but I want to hear more about them now!
lollscoloredglasses's review against another edition
3.0
This is definitely an interesting take on Greek mythology. Complex with plenty of action. Quite excited to read Lucien's story in the next book.
booksplantsandtea's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the PN but disliked the R
(instalove ain't my thing)
Would've been a DNF if I hadn't liked the premise, banter between the boys and overarching plot line.
Reyes better get a HEA or I will riot.
Same goes for Aeron, cuz I'm weak for a man with wings (but we've established that already)
(instalove ain't my thing)
Would've been a DNF if I hadn't liked the premise, banter between the boys and overarching plot line.
Reyes better get a HEA or I will riot.
Same goes for Aeron, cuz I'm weak for a man with wings (but we've established that already)
rosamin's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
selenajean's review against another edition
2.0
The non romance bits were really interesting and would make a great urban fantasy. The romance part was annoying. I'm just not into PNR or at least this type. Too much instalove and sappiness.
elfbread's review against another edition
1.0
This book. 😖 I can’t even adequately express how much I disliked this. I haven’t rolled my eyes so much in a very long time. Annoyed by insta-love? Be prepared to hate this book!
The premise of this book sounded so interesting. Greek mythology and fantasy? YES PLEASE. I don't think that biased my expectations that much but wow, was I disappointed in this book. As a general rule, I despise insta-love (looking at you A Discovery of Witches) but this took it to a whole new level. Within one to two days of meeting who is willing to die for a sexual partner? Additionally, after a first hook up, who is head over heels in love with someone? COME ON.
I also found the dialog between Maddox and Ashlyn to be absolutely annoying. Do these two ever speak in a complete sentence to each other? Why waste your time with a sentence when you are spending time with your one true love I guess. This absolutely drove me insane and made me laugh every time they had a scene together.
Instead of focusing on this insta-love, this book would have been better served with more development of the warriors. I was interested in learning more about their characters and backgrounds, but instead I had to suffer through cringe-worthy scenes between Maddox and Ashlyn.
I clearly did not get the appeal of this book, based on it's Goodreads rating. I'm just thankful I borrowed it from my local library instead of spending money on it.
The premise of this book sounded so interesting. Greek mythology and fantasy? YES PLEASE. I don't think that biased my expectations that much but wow, was I disappointed in this book. As a general rule, I despise insta-love (looking at you A Discovery of Witches) but this took it to a whole new level. Within one to two days of meeting who is willing to die for a sexual partner? Additionally, after a first hook up, who is head over heels in love with someone? COME ON.
I also found the dialog between Maddox and Ashlyn to be absolutely annoying. Do these two ever speak in a complete sentence to each other? Why waste your time with a sentence when you are spending time with your one true love I guess. This absolutely drove me insane and made me laugh every time they had a scene together.
Instead of focusing on this insta-love, this book would have been better served with more development of the warriors. I was interested in learning more about their characters and backgrounds, but instead I had to suffer through cringe-worthy scenes between Maddox and Ashlyn.
I clearly did not get the appeal of this book, based on it's Goodreads rating. I'm just thankful I borrowed it from my local library instead of spending money on it.