The Darkest Night
Gena Showalter
Harlequin HQN, May 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780373772469
In their Budapest fortress, Maddox of the Immortal Warriors, as part of his punishment by the Greek Gods, dies every night at the hand of his friends, Lucien and Reyes; Lucien then takes him to Hell to complete his punishment. Every morning Maddox wakes up chained to his bed and healing. He thinks back over the millennium when out of anger and jealousy they defied the Gods and attacked Pandora. The box broke that she guarded and demons freed. The Gods intervened by placing a demon inside each of the warriors. Maddox knows that he shares his body with Violence.
Torin shows Maddox on their surveillance monitor a female intruder is coming their way; he calls her Bait based on a time long ago when a woman betrayed them leading to one of them dying and his demon freed. Maddox goes out to kill Bait and the four hunters following her.
World Institute of Parapsychology audiologist Ashlyn Darrow hears voices in her head. She hopes these angels or demons in the fortress can give her a respite. Maddox kills the hunters, but leaves Ashlyn alive. She is stunned as she has blessed silence. Ashlyn clings to Maddox who calls her Bait even as he wonders why she seems tormented and his demon wants her tortured and dead. At the keep he tells Lucien to keep Ashlyn safe as she belongs to him. He and she find needed respite as they fall in love, but a betrayal and reconciliation leaves both wondering about the future.
The fantasy species especially the band of brothers with their internal demons and the obsessed hunters seem genuine. The lead couple is a terrific pairing while the support immortal Lords of the Underworlds warriors have distinct personalities helping to establish the paranormal earth. Although the lead couple has sex too soon after she nearly died (even with a rationalization provided for her incredible miraculous recovery), fans will appreciate Gena Showalter excellent opening act in what looks like will be a great romantic fantasy saga.
Harriet Klausner
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