The Darkest Seduction [Mass Market Paperback]

Let me start out by saying that I am a huge, huge fan of the Lords of the Underworld series. And like everyone else, I have been anxiously awaiting the story that would give poor Paris his HEA. This book gave me all the things I wanted -and even worked in some amazing surprises-- but it didn't quite live up to its potential for me.

The biggest problem is simply that the book is bloated. It's too long and stuffed with too much stuff. I was excited when I first saw how thick it was, but it was actually a hindrance to the storytelling. The first 100 pages or so really dragged. It didn't feel anything like the snarky, snappy, and sexy series I love. It was a portrait of a miserable Paris and a miserable Sienna, each enduring their own tragedies as they dream of a reunion. This could have been streamlined enormously and still conveyed the same things. It isn't until Paris finally tracks down his long-lost woman, that the book becomes engaging at all. Maybe around page 150.

**PLOT POINTS AHEAD**

Once Paris and Sienna are together, you can start to see the sparks. And in their interactions, the book has some of its best moments. After all, their reunion is what we've all hungered for. But Paris has changed so much, he is almost unrecognizable from the character we once knew. I know he's been through a lot, but I would have liked to see a few more glimpses of the suave Lord of Promiscuity. This guy is supposed to be the end-all, be-all Lothario and he just didn't deliver. Yeah, the sex is hot, but no more so than with any of the other Lords.

We're introduced to a slew of new characters, from the annoying Lord of Narcissism to three random Lords stuffed in a castle turret. I could have done without all of them. We also get a healthy dose of Zacharel, which is no doubt designed to set up Showalter's new Angels of the Dark series. And I'll admit... I'm intrigued.

There were some things I really did enjoy. Surprisingly, I liked the Galen and Legion sidestory and I find myself really rooting for these two to make a go of it. We got the set-up on Kane's story with the female Horseman. And we got a few new teasers on the enigma that is William the Dark. All of that was great --as were the fantastic developments on the Cronus/ Rhea front-- and a shocking tidbit about Strider's history.

Yet, the book didn't quite satisfy. Maybe it's because it took too long to get to the good stuff. Maybe it's because Paris isn't Paris anymore. I don't know. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't everything I hoped it would be. 3 1/2 stars.

Wow, what can I say? I've been waiting for Paris' story since he first met Sienna in The Darkest Pleasure (LOTU #3) As hyped as I was I struggled through the first 100 pages. It was sooooo slow. I mean, come on, I've been waiting for four years for these two to get together. When they FINALLY meet up past betrayals put a damper on the reunion, but are fairly quickly resolved. Then, we get treated to numerous chapters of Sienna warring between staying with Paris and (according to prophecies) getting him killed, or leaving him to fulfill the duty that King Cronus guarantees her will assure the survival of all the Lords. Tedious is the only word that comes to mind when trying to describe the drama between these two. I wanted to reach in the book, shake Sienna and yell, "MAKE A DECISION!"

The overall story was good, but I wasn't enthralled. Maybe I just hyped myself up too much. I didn't feel the *spark* that I'm always looking for. Honestly, I found myself far more interested in the side story of Galen and Legion. Not to mention the perilous situation that Kane (Keeper of Disaster) is thrown into.

While some have found the extended length daunting I probably would have been annoyed if it weren't for all the extra stories twirling around. The introduction of the angel Zacharel had me raising an eyebrow. With the situation concerning the Lords being, pretty much resolved, it looks like we're to be treated with a spin-off series featuring Zacharel and his band of bad-boy angels in Wicked Nights scheduled for release in June of this year.

In all, if you've been following the Lords from the beginning you absolutely have to read The Darkest Seduction. It ties up a lot of loose ends and, honestly, is a fun read. But promise yourself you'll stick through the first few chapters or you'll never get to the good stuff :)

My apologies to all those who loved it, but this book didn't cut the mustard. My main complaint is the lack of dialogue. It's pages and pages of introspection. I mean seriously, one character asks another a question and instead of getting a response we get paragraphs, sometimes pages, of self-analysis and back history, and most of it is redundant. By the time the second character replies, I forgot what the original question was! Not to mention, a lot of the limited dialogue between Paris and Sienna was just lacking. I literally skipped pages, looking for interesting key words to catch my eye and get me back into the storyline. And no, I wasn't in this read for the sex scenes, I was just looking for something beyond all the facts we already know. I did find the Galen/Legion plot engaging, but as other reviewers have stated, the book was bloated and the excessive plots were well ... draining. I guess I just anticipated Paris' story as a chart topper. Yes, it was great to read about the other Lords and their ladies, but the Paris/Sienna plot was simply weak.

I don't know if this is the last of the Lords, but I know I'm done. I've truly enjoyed so many of Showalter's books, though, and plan to revisit my faves. Starting with the Atlantis series--Love it.