Desire Unchained [Paperback]

 

 

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As a brief recap, the main setting of the stories centers in Underworld General Hospital, a facility that cares for all manner of demons, vampires and ghoulies. UGH was founded by three brothers Eidolon, Shade and Wraith, who are Seminus demons. Each of the brothers has the same father but different mothers. The reason for this is that at one hundred years of age, Seminus demons reach their final maturation cycle and essentially go though a metamorphosis called the S'genisis that results in them being able to reproduce. If their sexual urges are not satisfied they lose control to the point that they will rape without care because of their intense sexual needs. If they are bonded, it is only their lifemate that can satisfy their enormous sexual requirements. Seminus demons are incubi, these guys have sex on the brain 24 hours a day. They are huge in stature, and have tattoos or 'dermoires' that shimmer and writhe depending on their mood or state of arousal. They also have a unique marking that is specific to the seminus demon on their neck or throat that sort of activates when they are mated. Their have amazing eyes that change color in anger or lust. The sems are just majorly HOT.

Shade is the head paramedic at Underworld General and as he wakes up in a dungeon chained to a wall, laying on cold concrete, the last thing he remembers is be called out on an ambulance run with his sister and fellow paramedic Skulk. On the other side of the cell, also chained to the wall is his previous lover Runa who he hasn't seen in over a year.

Runa Wagner was a sexually inexperienced human when she became intimately involved with Shade. She fell in love with him only to have her heart broken when she walks in on him in bed with two demons in a very compromising situation. Runa runs away in grief stricken and horrified that night and is attacked by a werewolf and badly injured during the mauling. She nearly dies but is rescued by her brother who is with the military and taken to a secret government instillation where she heals. However, she contracts the lycan infection and becomes a werewolf. Runa is not a happy camper. She blames Shade for her condition because of the events prior to her attack. Runa has also been tasked with infiltrating UGH and passing information to the government agency that was instrumental in saving her life.

Shade is surprised to learn from Runa that Ghouls who are harvesting body parts to sell on the underworld black market are their captors. The antagonist in this novel is a demon and a sociopath, he is absolute evil incarnate. I was completely taken by surprise when the identity of their capture and torturer is revealed. I will say that this creature has one maniacal goal and that is the painful destruction of all three brothers

Seminus demons are very conflicted by nature, they are demons after all, and have a dark side. However, Eidolon, Shade and Wraith (even though he would never admit it), also possess an inherent goodness. All Sems are born pureblood males but inherit minor traits from their mother. In Shade's case, he has the ability to accelerate the healing process in the injured. Shade was born and raised by demons who are a deeply nurturing species, and secretly he wants to be mated and have a family. However, Shade is under a love-curse that prevents him from ever mating, because if he falls in love, he will die and suffer torturous anguish for all eternity. Shade also has another issue that you will have to read about in the book that has caused him great emotional pain over his long existence.

After Shade endures physical torture, their captor manipulates his and Runa's minds so they bond while essentially in a dream state. The consequences are the same however; Shade is bonded to Runa, physically, and telepathically. Seminus demons need sex, a lot, or they die and once they are bonded, their mate is the only one that can fulfill that need. Then there is the additional problem that Shade cannot allow himself to fall in love with Runa.

Following a harrowing escape from their captor's lair. Shade takes Runa to his secret hideaway in Costa Rica where they become reacquainted. Shade also discovers something new and unforeseen about himself when he leaves Runa for a brief visit to Underworld General.

As their relationship intensifies, Runa confesses she has never been out of love with Shade. His feelings eventually become reciprocal. I was chewing my fingernails wondering what the outcome of their love story was going to be in what seemed an untenable situation. The bond between these creatures isn't only sexual; it is an emotional, physical and a telepathic linking. The desire literally pulses between them. It is a soul deep connection that they cannot deny.

The climax to this story is absolutely riveting when all three of the brothers are captured and imprisoned in the lair of the same psychopath that had Runa and Shade. My heart was sitting right up in my mouth reading and turning pages as swiftly as possible to find out how their story would be resolved.

There is a bittersweet romantic subplot written between half demon physician Gem (Tayla's sister), and Kynan the former human Aegis warrior. My heart broke for this couple, however Ms. Ione penned a cliffhanger to their story, so I am hoping for a happy resolution in "Passion Unleashed".

Ms. Ione expanded the Demonica world in Desire Unchained introducing all manner of interesting and on occasion frightening creatures. The stage is also set for Wraith's story, "Passion Unleashed", which is to be released on March 31, 2009.

"Desire Unchained", now has its place next to "Pleasure Unbound", on my keeper shelf and I will, I'm sure be reading it again.

This is book #2 in Larissa Ione's utterly imaginative world of Demonica, full of demons vampires, werewolves, ghouls, humans and every combined half version of them. And I have to say that while I enjoyed book #1 (PLEASURE UNBOUND) this one is even better. Ione's world at UGH (underworld general hospital) just seems to get more awesome the further in we go and here we really get a feel for those sexy Seminus demon brothers and the bond they share with one another.

DESIRE UNCHAINED is Shade's story which is sinfully dark and erotic (hello BDSM) however theres also a ton of action along the way and the witty between brothers banter is better then ever. Ione also serves up some very clever storylines, a great heroine, introduces new characters and gives our hero an interesting curse as well as one demented villain to overcome on his way to a HEA.

Runa is determined to make Shade pay; not only for making her fall in love with him but for cheating on her with a couple of vampires and indirectly causing the transformation that's forever changed her (especially under a full moon) Shade's been trying to avoid Runa as he was starting to develop feelings for her. That just can't happen when you've been given a curse that states you'll become invisible and plagued by insatiable thirst, hunger and lust for eternity should you happen to fall in love.

But first things first Desire Unchained opens up with Runa and Shade trapped in a madman's dungeon, when he casts a spell that binds them together as lifemates they'll have to stop fighting each other and work together to get out alive and before Shade starts to disappear.

Of course this only scratches the surface of this multilayered story and what a ride it is. With Shade's curse triggered we have the (not so) small issue of him or one of his brothers killing Runa to break it. (Badboy Wraith seems up for the task) Speaking of which, we're given plenty of interaction with both him and Eidolon, with Wraith showing a whole new side of himself here. We're also introduced to the very cool means of travel through 'Harrowgate' and subsequently get some scorching hot love scenes at Shade's love shack in South America, complete with an exclusive sex chamber and one domination scene I could have done without. Theres also a very touching side romance between the human UGH Doctor Kynan and nurse Gem which I enjoyed almost as much as our hero's and hope to see completed somewhere down the line.

Yup this is a very addictive ride, mixing the perfect combination of paranormal romance and urban fantasy and I can't wait to see where things take us next with demon brother Z...I mean Wraith in PASSION UNLEASHED. Yeah you fans of Ward's BDB might want to check this series out too, there`s some fascinating similarities.

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