The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter

Title: The Darkest Touch

Series: Lords of the Underworld bk 11

Author: Gena Showalter

Genre: Paranormal

Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease. Torin’s every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeley Cael. The Red Queen. When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean the end for her, but resisting her is the hardest battle he’s ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can’t win.

Thoughts: The Lords of the Underworld is one of my absolute favorite paranormal series being written, which is why I was so mad when the series seemed to falter a few books back. So even though I own every book in the series…yes I know why would I buy books in a series I wasn’t reading, I haven’t read the last couple of books. Heck I’ve had the arc of this book for weeks and just now read it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, because as I said I’ve not the read the last couple of books, but holy freaking crap was it good. It had everything I loved about this series in it. Grouchy, mean heroes. Heroines who don’t take their crap and fight for what they want.  I loved this book so much that I want to go back and do a complete series re-read. Something I’ve not done since book 6 came out.

Torin has been one of my favorite characters in the series since book one and more than once my heart has broken for him because he was unable to touch anyone. With each book I hoped he’d finally get his chance to be happy, and it never came. Then Cameo showed up and I was all yes…finally Torin is going to get some loves. While he loved Cameo and she him, they still never touched, which wasn’t fair to either of them. Torin needed someone who was going to take on his demon with no fear. Someone strong enough to fight him. He found her, trapped in another realm.

From the moment he meets Keely Torin is drawn to her. He alternates from wanting to kill her and wanting to love and protect her. Not only is he battling himself but also Keely and all of the minions and demons who are constantly coming after them. It isn’t long before Torin gives in to Keely with dire consequences, again and again. This only helps to fuel his desire and guilt.

Keely is up there with my favorite heroines in this series…those being Anya, Kaia and Sienna, those women were seriously kick ass. After being betrayed and locked away for centuries she’s more than ready to take on Torin, first out of anger and then out of sexual frustration. Where Torin is fighting against their attraction she is fighting for it. She’s just sure there is a way for them to be together if he’d just let her do what she wants. I loved her vulnerability as well. She can destroy buildings simply by thinking it, and yet all she’s ever wanted was to loved and accepted. The fact Torin accepts her for who she is, tells her she’s finally found a worthy male.

As always there’s secondary characters that intrigue us and have us wondering what’s going to happen next. Two of those are Galen, yes the same Galen who was their friend and then betrayed them, who is one of Keely’s friends from when she was imprisoned, and the revelations that we find out about him are well, lets just say I’m curious how she’s going to play them out. Then there’s Balen, the guy who Galen beheaded way back when…well he’s back and that looks to be an interesting story line as well. There’s also the crossover’s from her Angel’s series and things that are happening there that are talked about in this book.

This story completely restored my faith in Showalters writing and this series. So if you’re like me and have been looking forward to and dreading this book at the same time let me tell you it is worth the read. I also can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next.

On a side note…isn’t that cover delicious?

Grade A