The Darkest Secret
by Gena Showalter
(Lords of the Underworld #7)
Before they became the cursed Demon Lords of the Underworld…they lived in the heavens, among the gods…warriors, invincible immortals who protected and guarded the gods from enemies. Motivated by jealousy and hubris, Galen persuades his fellow warriors to overpower Pandora and secure the sacred relic, the dimOuniak. Then, the gods will reward them… for their foresight, courage, and bravery! However, plans go awry…the defeated warriors face the enraged gods who curse them, transforming them into demon warriors. Lords of the Underworld; each warrior hosts, becomes the keeper of a High Demon. Each must appease its personal demon, feed its needs, or suffer unimaginable pain and suffering…
I’m really, really glad that I continued with the LOU series. The Darkest Secret is a good one …with Amun and Haidee. What a compelling couple! Showalter totally surprises me with unexpected twists and turns! First, she pairs Amun, not Strider, with Haidee. She deviates from the typical i-hate-you-yet-lust-for-you scenario; redirects Strider, physically removes him from Haidee’s presence. Secondly, she recasts Haidee; transforming a despised, loathsome character into someone I actually grew to like, respect; someone I actually cheered for. Haidee’s backstory is a torturous one; a slave, she dies, relives, repeats the cycle, dies and relives again and again; she’s constantly tormented by horrific memories from her previous lives, endures the tragic deaths of her beloved family and husband, Haidee is a true survivor.
Yep, this is the same Haidee, Bait who lured Baden, the keeper of Distrust, to his death. Haidee blamed the Demon Lords for the deaths of her family and husband; she seeks revenge, and allies with the Hunters, the sworn enemies of the Lords. Murderers! These monsters must die! As Bait , Haidee entices Baden, gains his confidence, his protection, and ultimately betrays him to the Hunters who savagely decapitate him! Arriving too late to save Baden’s life, the Lords slaughter the Hunters, including Haidee. Actually, Strider’s the one who beheads her!
Sooo…you can imagine Strider’s surprise and disbelief, his WTF, when centuries later, he recognizes Haidee accompanied by Hunters. Impossible! Back from the dead? Is this the same woman, still collaborating with Hunters? The incensed Strider captures, imprisons the treacherous Haidee. An unexpected prize for the Lords. Their lesson learned. Be wary of strange women, potential Bait. Remember Baden…and Haidee!
Meanwhile…
Amun, the keeper of Secrets is also a prisoner (of sorts)… secured, guarded within his bedroom…
In The Darkest Passion, Amun accompanied Aeron and William to Hell to rescue Legion, Aeron’s surrogate daughter. Tragically, Amun and his demon, Secrets absorb thousands of hell’s minions. He hears their vile voices, relives their wicked deeds, relentless evil and demonic images. Tortured and uncontrollable, Amun physically scars himself, inflicts searing wounds, thrashes. He is a threat. Anyone in close proximity falls prey to the malevolence that exudes from him. They feel an inexorable desire for bloodlust, to unleash chaos. Tragically, he descends transmutes into full Demon. This. is. not. good! Zacharel arrives with his legion of angels, the demon assassins, who plan to kill Amun! For now, they guard him… closely. They watch and wait. Can Amun be saved?
Through this torment, Amun experiences an unexplainable connection to something, to someone… telepathically connects to Haidee! Intuitively he knows he needs her, feels her presence, and summons her to him. WTH! Haidee, (literally), claws her way to Amun as she mistakingly believes that Amun is Micah, her lover, a Hunter, and plans their escape. Albeit unsuccessful, the escape attempt forces the Lords and Zacharel to admit that an indelible bond exists between Haidee and Amun. She alleviates his suffering, stills the voices, and helps him heal. Unbelievable! The Lords, in particular Strider, crave for vengeance; wants to torture her, then kill her (again). However, for Amun’s sake, Haidee must be protected. Her presence quiets and intimidates the hellish minions as well as the demon, Secrets. “… for Amun’s sanity. He needs her. He must be with her. Both Strider and Torin gasped at the angel”.
And…Haidee attracts Amun, piques his curiosity, and he, in turn, protects her. His demon, Secrets is privy of her horrific past and shares this knowledge with Amun who discovers that there is more, there’s a profound depth to this woman. Understands her motivations to survive, to avenge her loved ones. “…there was darkness inside her. So much darkness”.
Amun and Haidee are intriguing. Initially, they hate, suspect, and distrust each other, and fortunately, they learn more about each other’s secrets, fears, burdens, and scars. Gradually, they acknowledge their prior misinterpretations, lies, betrayals, and… the relationship evolves… into respect, attraction, affection, forgiveness and sacrifice. And together, Amun and Haidee, as warriors, journey to Hell and back…
Overall, The Darkest Secret is entertaining… action-packed, transformative, tender, sexy, and fun! My one complaint is the murky mythology and another deux ex machina! (used to resolve Haidee’s lingering demons, her death, and the contrived HEA). Please, no more of the dead-no-wait-not-really-dead!
Oh, I can’t forget William…snarky, egotistical, sexy. Hope to see more of him, and learn his back story.
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And…Kaia! Her Strider suffering. Kaia is not happy! She actually threatens Amun! Kaia and Strider together? Hmmmm. Stay tuned.
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