The Darkest Surrender (Lords of the Underworld #8) by Gena Showalter
Paranormal Romance
Paperback
September 27, 2011
HQN

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “Just…you…learn to take an insult the right way, damn it!”.

There are some spoilers in here so proceed at your own risk.

The Darkest Surrender is Strider’s story. Strider houses the demon Defeat-a particularly nasty demon who demands winning at all cost or Strider suffers unimaginable pain. Even though Strider is very arrogant and alpha to the extreme, thanks to his demon, in here we see a different side to him. His crazy personality and off the wall humor really shines through and I found myself liking him more than I ever did in the previous books. At the end of The Darkest Secret, we learn that Strider has a teeny crush on Hailee, Amun’s girlfriend, and that Kaia slept with Paris. When Kaia runs into Strider she realizes that he is her consort but Strider wants nothing to do with her and while Kaia could take him against his will, she chooses not to. She wants him to come to her willingly because defeating him would hurt him. Strider also wants Kaia but she constantly challenges him and he fears what he would do to her in order to win.

Kaia, sister to Bianka and Gwen, is a harpy who due to The Unfortunate Incident that no one can ever mention is also known as Kaia the Disappointment. When she was younger she tried to steal another harpy’s consort and freed him, who then massacred half the harpy population in his appreciation. This caused Kaia’s clan, The Skyhawks, to be disqualified from the Harpy games for centuries. Now the games are back and Kaia and her sisters have been commanded to play. The prize? An ancient artifact that the Lords have been looking for. Strider wants to Kaia to steal it but she refuses. She finally has a chance to redeem herself to the Harpies and her mother, and she’s not going to let anything or anyone stand in her way.

I actually reread this book because the first time around I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for it. I’m glad I did. This one took me by surprise; given my initial less than enthusiastic feelings about it. It does start out slow as Ms. Showalter brings us up to date on what has happened between the last book, The Darkest Secret, and now. However her trademark humor and engaging characters soon draw us in for the ride of our lives.

I am not a fan of harpies. Even though I understand the reasons behind their personalities and attitudes, I get frustrated by their selfish childish natures. Kaia surprised me though. Somehow the selfish obnoxious trait is toned down in her. She genuinely cares for her sisters and understands the virtues of waiting rather then taking. Make no mistake, she is very self confident which works well because so is Strider. Between her telling the world how awesome she is all the time and his “ego checks” I’m surprised they can fit in the same room together with their huge heads. *grins* Kaia has some of the best lines in this story.

“Well?” Bianka shook the dress in Kaia’s face, forcefully claiming her attention. “Opinion, please. And sometime today.”

“Don’t kill the messenger, but that thing will make you look like a cracked out prom queen who has no plans on sleeping with her boyfriend when the big dance ends-because she doesn’t have a boyfriend. She’s too weird. Sorry. “

Bianka merely shrugged, unperturbed. “Hey, cracked out prom queens might be weird but they’re hot.”

“If hot is a synonym for destined to die alone, you’re right.”

Her jealousy over Strider is hilarious as she tries very hard to get him to see her as his destiny. And to forgive her for sleeping with Paris.

“You’re not innocent, Strider. You’ve nailed more tail then you can count. In fact, last time I saw you, you’d just eaten peach body lotion off a stripper.” Kaia had decided right then and there that peaches were the most disgusting fruit ever, and the world would be a better place without the them. She had already written to her congressman demanding, all orchards be burned to the ground.

Her bouts of insecurity endeared her to me more than her sisters. The Unfortunate Incident really did a number on her and the results are that she feels unworthy of Strider or anyone else’s love.

When it becomes apparent to Bianka and Gwen that Strider is Kaia’s consort (or at least Kaia thinks he is), Gwen coerces Strider into attending the games with Sabin and Lysander. Blood heals harpies and Gwen knows Kaia will need Strider there to survive. Strider bulks but soon realizes that because of this, Kaia will take no other man but him. Once at the games, we learn some interesting things about Kaia’s mother, father, and Kaia herself. We also meet some additional characters who’s story lines hint at future appearances. During all of this, we are flashing back and forth between Paris, Kane, and William who are all involved in their own quests. Ms. Showalter gives us just enough information to have us drooling for their stories.

The chemistry between Strider and Kaia is off the charts and the sex is smoking hot, but when Strider realizes he loves her, that’s when it gets really good. I loved that we didn’t have to wait till the end or for an emotionally draining fight or agonizing, “I may die” scene. He is over joyed when it happens and wants to tell her right away. *happy sigh* What I love about their relationship is the humor and easiness. Neither Strider nor Kaia are serious people. Plenty of love, laughter, and humor saturate their relationship. A nice detour from the normally broody dark nature of the other Lords.

“If you won’t sit still, then tell Papa Stridey what’s bothering you.”

“I’m thinking only prison rules are going to apply.”

A laugh burst from him. “What does that mean? That you shouldn’t drop the soap? What, does round one involve multiple shower heads?”

“Would you be serious?”

He snorted. “You telling me to be serious. Weird. But…please tell me round one involves multiple shower heads.”

The ending is a fantastic climatic finish with plenty of action and intriguing surprises. Kaia handles herself well, proving she can more than handle her own. She also does it without needing to be rescued. She forgives herself for The Unfortunate Incident and gets back some much needed pride and self respect. Ms. Showalter continues to deliver an engaging, sexy, action packed paranormal romance with enough humor and angst to appeal to all readers. I look forward to the next in the series, The Darkest Seduction, which releases January 2012.

Rating: B

Recent Reviews:
Fiction Vixen – B
Hanging With Bells – 5/5
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