I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Desire Unchained
by
Larissa Ione
It is part of the Demonica #2 series and is a paranormal romance in Paperback edition that was published by Forever on March 1, 2009 and has 380 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Pleasure Unbound, Passion Unleashed, Ecstasy Unveiled, Sin Undone, Eternal Rider, Immortal Rider, Lethal Rider, Supernatural, Rogue Rider, Bound by Night, Reaver, Revenant, Snowbound, "Bond of Destiny", "Z", "Azagoth", "Revenant's Epilogue", "Hades", "Razr", "Hawkyn", "Cipher", Reaper, Bond of Passion, Legacy of Temptation
Second in the Demonica paranormal-romance series set in a demon hospital in New York City.
My Take
This story is different…and the main reason it rated up to a 3. A demon hospital set up underground in New York City staffed by demons, humans, and god knows what else. Ione does an amazing job of creating the demonic cultures and providing such a wide array of personalities.
Desire Unchained only rates a 3 because the writing itself is so obvious that at times I just wanted to shut the book up and not bother with finishing.
A good example of the “so obvious” is the scene in Shade’s cave [which I absolutely adore and want for myself!] when Shade first takes Runa there after they’ve escaped Roag. Ione has spoken of Shade’s enjoyment of the BDSM side of the sex and here he is whining about how he hates the Pleasure Room and the things women have “forced” him to do to them and now he worries that his brother wouldn’t understand his extreme sexual needs? Pages later, we do discover the reasons for his hating this room, but the emphasis and Ione’s including it at such length, as well as the few scenes Ione tucks in, seem superfluous and rather over the top.
The Story
We start with this installment’s main character, Shade, chained in a dungeon in Ireland (yes, this is a contemporary story!) with an ex-flame who would just love to get her claws into him for cheating on her with two other females…can’t say humans as one was a vampire and the other was…well, other.
Seems Shade’s captor is aching for revenge and Shade and the ex- will do just fine to fulfill another brother’s role, the brother whom Roag meant to capture. Roag believes that Shade and his brothers set him up to be assassinated and he wants payback. And, man, does this guy have the imagination on payback too! Whooooa…Roag has already begun his revenge cycle when our hero escapes with the girl and now all the excitement is on. In every sense of the word.
For it seems that Shade has bonded with Runa. He will no longer be attracted to other women and is already falling in love with her. A fatal love as it will trigger the curse that will doom him to an eternity of pain, desire, thirst, and hunger in a shadow world.
The Characters
The characters are the best part. I just love that Ione has created lovable demons. Who knew?? It seems there are demons who are bad and good. Ione gives us the opportunity to understand the difference as it’s a set of demon brothers who have set up the hospital. Yeah, they have their naughty side…and it is interesting how well Ione delineates the difference between bad and naughty. I also like how she gives her demons a conscience with a desire to help their fellow…um…man??
The Cover and Title
The cover is good. There’s a fine metallic, deep-pink sheen with a tattooed Shade and leather-clad Runa embracing in its darkness. The title is certainly appropriate since the novel begins and just about ends in chains.
