NEW BOOK RELEASE: The Darkest Warrior by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Warrior by Gena Showalter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Púkinn “Puck” Neale Brion Connacht IV:Demon of Indifference
Butterfly: Not sure where it is located. It seems that it moves all over Puck’s body. It started from his chest.
His curse: He cannot feel anything. No compassion, no envy, no anger, no love. If he feels anything, he becomes weak.

Gillian Shaw—also known as Gillian Bradshaw, Gilly Bradshaw and Jill Brads, depending on which ID she uses:expendable human until she became immortal human.
Supernatural ability: None unless you count the ability in breaking William's heart. And she will have a bit of magic later.

Opening a parenthesis.
First of all I really need to defend horny Puck.
I truly believe that horns are sexy.
Pan from Greek mythology is sexy.
Robin Goodfellow from A Midsummer Night's Dream is sexy
Puck from English mythology is sexy.

I have read tons of PNR and fantasy books which are filled with strange looking males that fall in love. This is the beauty of these books. Anyone different is NOT ugly or scary. On the contrary, he is unique and easily loved. If I compare PNR books with the rest of the fiction books, it is obvious that PNR are the most multicultural, nondiscriminatory, liberal, free-spirited (almost hippy) books.

So for me a male with horns is not a goat.
A male with horns is a sexy devil.

Moreover, the main reason that I love really long series is that they are familiar environment. I know the author, I know the characters. It is always nice to revisit and learn their news. It is nice that I feel that I grow up with them every year.

So, I can easily say that Lords of The Underworld is in top five PNR series. Number 2 to be more precise LOL.
I can understand that it is not easy to keep an audience interested after 14 books. And this is the most important point of my ranting. If the readers keep buying and devouring these books after all this time, then it is good stuff. And the author knows what she is doing.
End of the parenthesis.

If you have read The Darkest Torment, you will probably know the beginning of Puck and Gillian's story. Gillian is dying. William tries to find a cure and he tries anything – except the most obvious solution i.e. bonding with her. Puck steps in and offers her the choice to bond with him. Gilliam accepts because
a) she does not want to die (obviously...She is only 18. She has not lived yet.),
b) she does not want to kill William, because there is a possibility that if he bonds with her he will die too.
c) she does not want to make William sad, because most probably he will not bond with her in the end. And if she dies, he will feel guilty.

So, in the beginning of The Darkest Warrior, we learn that Puck has also a hidden agenda. He wants his rightful throne back that his brother has stolen from him. His brother Sin has tricked him. He gave him the demon of Indifference, he killed their father and now he rules the desert realm of Amaranthia, like a mad king. A prophesy said that Puck needs to steal William's woman and bring her and William back to Amaranthia in order to get his throne.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy in 4 steps...
1. Steal/bond with Gillian.
2. Reach an understanding with William.
3. Bring them back to Amaranthia.
4. Get his throne.
5. Divorce Gilliam.

Unfortunately William is not easily found and convinced and Puck will fall in love with Gillian. Thus, who cares about a stupid throne?

Let's meet the characters:

William... He behaves once more like a spoiled child. Someone stole his toy and he wants her back.

“Puck took you away, and I felt as if I’d lost...”
“What? Your favorite toy?”
“Everything.”

But he will start showing signs of some more mature thinking

“If you feel like you must be with him, go, be with him. Sow your wild oats. Get him out of your system.” Staring up at the heavens, he said in a quieter tone, “I deserve this, I really do.”

The thing is that William has lost Gillian the second he became unfaithful. And he was unfaithful multiple times without feeling sorry. Unfaithfulness is not easily forgiven in PNR. Male characters are supposed to be stay celibate the second the meet their destined mates – no matter how young the females are and no matter how long they have to wait. Even Paris and his demon of Promiscuity who would die without sex, almost died because he could not live without his Sienna.

Gillian...I did not particularly liked her in the previous books. She was tortured. She had a shitty childhood. I felt sorry for her. That’s it. But she was kind of blunt/dull/Zzzz. And the fact that everyone was waiting that she will grow up and finally she will have sex with William....yes I can finally admit that it was getting on my nerves.
Thus Gillian has to grow up somehow. She has to gain experiences. She has to change her scenery for a while, let's say for 500 years give or take a few. But nobody else is allowed to change or get older. Have you read Shadow's Seduction from Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole? If yes, do you remember what happened to Caspion the Tracker? Imagine something similar for Gillian.


Puck... You animal you!

Totally possessive:
“She’s mine. I would never harm my female.”

Totally territorial:
“I have never wanted to kill a man more than I want to kill you, Pucky.”
“The feeling is mutual, Randy.”

Totally intense when his demon leaves him alone:
He met her halfway, and slanted his lips over hers. Erotic flicks of his tongue coaxed more tingles to the surface and fanned the flames of desire. Hot, so wonderfully hot. The aches magnified as he thrust with more force, his divine taste and ever-increasing frenzied pace dragging a moan of surrender from deep inside her. A sound he utterly devoured, as if he’d never been so starved—or enjoyed a tastier meal.
His skill, expert. His ruthlessness, on full display.
Puck didn’t bother to learn her, or explore her nuances; he took, gave and demanded...everything, his tongue dominating hers with a promise of untold riches. She was helpless to resist.

The 14th instalment of the LOTU series will make you love this world again. It is fast paced, well written, angsty, passionate and it opens new doors for new adventures.

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