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| The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Gena Showalter
Publisher: HQN Books
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy Used: $1.99
You Save: $5.00 (72%)
New (42) Used (48) Collectible (1) from $1.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  91 reviews
Sales Rank: 6400
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0373772467
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780373772469
ASIN: 0373772467
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Disappointing! October 1, 2008
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
If you're a big fan of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood and also Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series, you'll be greatly disappointed with this series as it's definitely not of the same calibre.
Which is a shame, because the premise is a great one but the book's overall content was sorely lacking. The main 'couple' spend the majority of the book snuggling in bed, and no, there isn't any sex involved (which might have kept it interesting). In fact, I don't think they even share their first kiss until more than half way through the book.
So it's pretty much slow slow slow, then all of a sudden in the last few pages there's scene change after scene change as the ending is rushed and wrapped up as if she suddenly remembered she was supposed to be telling a story.
The author also has an annoying way of noting who said what by simply having a spoken sentence then just sticking the name of the character who said it after the sentence, i.e.
"I can't see the spirit anymore." Aeron. Confused.
"Hey, we didn't even have to chain him." Paris.
"This is a first." Torin. Still laughing.
WTF? I thought I was reading a novel, not a play. It smacks of lazy or just ridiculousness to me.
Also, during the love scenes we do witness, the characters are reduced to caveman-esque verbiage that only managed to pucker my brow and incite eye-rolls.
They are my personal pet peeves with this book however and I therefore really can't in good conscious recommend this book. It's not a keeper and I won't be bothering with the rest of the series until I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel for things to read.
 Great Idea! September 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Maddox is Violence. Thousands of years ago he was an immortal warrior in the service of Mt. Olympus's Greek Gods. Then he had the idea to encourage his fellow guards to join him in opening Pandora's box out of jealousy that a woman was given it to guard. With no other cell to hold the demons they were forced into the warriors bodies, Maddox being possessed by Violence. Overcome by the demon and not aware of his actions he killed Pandora with six strokes of his sword to her stomach. The Gods further cursed him to relive her pain each midnight by Having Pain inflict the same wounds to him before he dies and Death escorts him to Hell where his flesh burns all night until he resuscitates each morning.
Ashlyn has been bombarded by voices her whole live. She has the blessing and curse of being able to hear any words ever said at a location regardless of how many centuries have passed or the language spoken in. Sent by the institute she listens for to Budapest she hears of the Lords of the Underworld who live in the towering castle above the city. A modern girl she charges to them for help in learning to control her power- only to find herself taken prisoner.
A push me pull you battle of wills commences between the couple much to the confusion of the other Lords. They'll all have to decide what in life is really important to them. Acceptance is the key.An emotional powerhouse, I found myself weeping for Disease, Violence, Pain, Wrath and the love story shared with us. A great book based on a great idea!
 Greed and Envy September 19, 2008
I found the premise for this series deplorable!
The guardians put in place to protect the world turn around and murder the guardian of Pandora's Box, the keeper of all that is evil in the world. They do this in order to prove they are more worthy. Does anyone else have a problem with this concept?
The guardians end up releasing the seven deadly sins and are cursed to spend the rest of eternity reliving their crime and trying to capture the sins. Somehow they are rewarded along the way. Confused? Me, too!
I've only read the first book in this series and regret the purchase of the other two books. Ugh!
Dark and Sensual September 15, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
In a remote fortress in Budapest, six immortal warriors are bound by an ancient curse none has been able to break. This curse was brought on upon them by the gods in consequence from unleashing the demons from Pandora's Box. Each warrior houses a demon. Maddox has Violence, Lucien is Death, Reyes is Pain, Torin is Disease, Paris is Promiscuity, and Aeron is Wrath. The Darkest Night is about Maddox, on top of housing his demon; the gods placed another curse on him for killing Pandora. Maddox dies every night at midnight the same way he killed Pandora- six stabs in the stomach with his sword. Reyes is the one who has to deliver the blows and Lucien takes Maddox to Hell.
Ashlyn Darrow hears voices; they swarm inside her head never giving her a moment's peace, until she is in Maddox's presence. She has lived a life with no love, parents, or touching. Ashlyn was abandoned at a Paranormal Institute by her parents who couldn't take her ability. Ashlyn has no idea who she works for and what they truly do, she is somewhat delusional. Her life changes drastically when Maddox takes her back to the fortress, there she is met with open hostility from the warriors.
Hunters are after the warriors thinking they are controlled by their demons with no trace of man. The hunters are looking for Pandora's Box to suck the demons out of the warriors. Danger follows at the warriors heels while Ashlyn and Maddox fall in love.
This is the first Gena Showalter book I have read and I loved it! What a story and so unlike Feehan's Carpathian novels or Moning's and Wolff's highlander series. It was a nice change; I cannot wait for The Darkest Kiss to come in the mail. Gena Showalter produced this trilogy pretty fast. What I wonder though is, since there are 6 warriors why are there only three books? Why not makes a book for each warrior? Maddox, Lucien, and Reyes have their own books, but what about Torin, Paris, and Aeron? There is an e-book by Gena Showalter called the Darkest Fire; I've heard it's a prequel to the trilogy, but that's all I know.
I highly recommend this book; it has the right amount of action, romance, and suspense.
No Way! September 10, 2008
1 out of 10 found this review helpful
This book is not what I thought. It has very foul launguage and explicit scenes that i dont like to read. Be warned if your looking for a nice story that is clean, this book is not for you! I sent it back.
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