Review: The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Surrender (Lords of the Underworld #8) by Gena Showalter

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (September 27, 2011)

Goodreads Description:

Possessed by the demon of Defeat, Strider cannot lose a challenge without suffering unimaginable pain. For him, nothing stands in the way of victory. Until Kaia, an enchanting Harpy, tempts him to the razor's edge of surrender.Known among her people as The Disappointment, Kaia must bring home the gold in the Harpy Games or die. Strider is a distraction she can't afford because he has an agenda of his own-steal first prize, an ancient godly artifact, before the winner can be named. But as the competition heats up, only one prize will matter-the love neither had thought possible...
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As expected this book was is an excellent addition to the Lords of the Underworld series that I love. Book number 8 and still going strong. I'm sure it can be a difficult task for an author to keep a series fresh and exciting for so long but Gena Showalter has not disappointed.

This is Strider's story, and his union with Kaia feels long in the making. When the Skyhawk harpy sisters were introduced to this series I was instantly enthralled. They are spitfires and fun to read about. Kaia has been the most interesting to me so I was glad to finally read her story. Strider wasn't one of the Lords I was absolutely dying to read right away until I got a taste of what was to come in the last book, The Darkest Lie. His story is now one of my favorites.

Kaia has had a thing for Strider for awhile but he has been pushing her away because right before they met she had slept with Paris and he didn't want to be compared to him in bed. Strider's demon is Defeat, so if he can't pleasure Kaia more than Paris did then he will feel excruciating pain for not "winning." Obviously this sets up a major roadblock for any kind of relationship for them. Not to mention trust doesn't really come easily for either of them. However, when the Harpy Games are resurrected and Kaia is in danger Strider is there for her. They face a lot of conflict, but it is those types of situations that seem to bring the Lords and their women together. The brutally violent Harpy Games makes for a thrilling setting. Harpies are fierce and value that ferocity and strength greatly which was something I already knew but was reinforced by reading about the games. I hope to read about more of the harpies in future installments of the series.

5/5

I received a copy of this book for review. Any opinions expressed are my own.

The next book in the series, The Darkest Seduction is the very much anticipated story about Paris, the Keeper of Promiscuity. This is my favorite book cover in the series so far:

Book Review: Alterant by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

Alterant (Belador #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (September 27, 2011)

Goodreads Description:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love comes the second book in the Belador series—featuring a league of international warriors with extraordinary abilities who rise up to save mankind from supernatural terrorists.

On the heels of saving mankind from destruction at the hands of the Medb coven, Evalle attempts to convince the Tribunal that she is an Alterant who can be trusted around humans. But the gods and goddess ruling over this Tribunal twist words she’d uttered in the heat of combat and hold her responsible for three dangerous Alterants that escaped their prisons. She is given a choice to either recapture those three who will lose their freedom forever or face the same sentence. Unsure that she can condemn another Alterant to a life she’d die before accepting, Evalle takes on an impossible task only to learn that the entire future of the Beladors rides on her success—and the only person who can help her is the one who wants to gut her.

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For those of you who read the first book in the Belador series, Blood Trinity, you will not be disappointed. The story picks up where the last one left off so just to be sure I didn't miss out on anything I reread Blood Trinity right before I started Alterant...a wise decision in my opinion as so much that happens in this story is related to what happened prior. I probably would've been a little lost had I not refreshed my memory.

I really enjoyed the direction the story took with Evalle basically trying to defend her race and prove that they aren't just a bunch of animals. The gods have charged her with the task of bringing in Alterants. She is in a race against time to save herself and others like her. The identity of the person who Evalle has to seek help from shouldn't have surprised me but it did. I'm glad that I was able to see another side to this person who I really didn't like in the first book.

While Evalle is handling her business, Quinn and Tzader have to deal with their own problems...many of them involving the opposite sex. I felt like I missed them in this story.They definitely had their roles to play but it felt more like they were in the background. In the end I am worried for them both as their issues are not really resolved yet. Hopefully everything will work out for them in the next book.

Storm is present in the story which made me very happy. He is so mysterious and not much is really known about him. Thankfully, some of his past is revealed so we can get a better understanding of him and his motives. Although this isn't a romance novel (which I am totally fine with), I still can't help but want a little bit of romance thrown into the mix. Watching what unfolds between him and Evalle reveals even more about Storm's character. He is caring, gentle, and very aware yet at the same time he strong, hard, and dangerous.

5/5

I received a copy of this book for review. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Contest Craze Mini-Challenge #4

Scariest Word

This challenge is hosted at The Non Reluctant Reader

How it works:

• Grab a book you're currently reading)
• Go to the 13th Chapter
• Scan the chapter for the scariest word
• Using Google/Yahoo images randomly pick on picture that comes up when you search the word
• Write a blog post that has the book's cover, title, your word and your image

Here is mine:
The Pearl Wars by Nick James

My word: WAR

Contest Craze Mini-Challenge #3

One True Pairing

This challenge is being hosted at My Cute Bookshelf

The objective of this challenge is to create a blog post with your One True Pairing (your favorite couple from young adult books) and explain why they’re your favorite YA couple.

My pick:

I picked this couple because their relationship grew out of respect and not instant attraction based on looks. There was a realness to it. They are smart, strong, and brave as individuals and even more so together. This couple is absolutely one of my favorites.

As for my "casting" choices I think that Saoirse Ronan is almost exactly how I pictured Tris in my mind. Logan Lerman doesn't have quite enough of a tough edge but I think that could be taken care of with hitting the gym to muscle up a little. Other than that I think he would be great.

Contest Craze Mini-Challenge #2

This challenge is hosted at The Elliott Review.

For this challenge you have to open a book you are reading to the 7th page, find the 7th word on that page, type the word into a Google Image Search and find a picture, then make a blog post with the book, the word, and the picture.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (ARC)

7th page, 7th word:
LOST

Contest Craze Mini-Challenge #1

It's Contest Craze Time at Princess Bookie!

Top 5 books I am looking forward to that release in 2012:
(I am just doing top 5 YA)

The Ivy: Rivals by Lauren Kunze with Rina Onur
Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by Greenwillow Books

Havoc (Deviants #2) by Jeff Sampson
Expected publication: January 24th 2012 by Balzer + Bray

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

Expected publication: May 8th 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth
Expected publication: May 2012 by HarperCollins

NOT PICTURED:

Embers & Echoes (Wildefire #2) by Karsten Knight
Expected publication: 2012 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Winner Announcement

The winner of All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin is...

Jasmyn

Congrats! I have sent the winner an email and they have 48 hours to respond.