A spellbinding paranormal romance novel (Lords of the Underworld)

Finally, Torin, finds happiness and a woman that's just as awesome as him. Great story, good plot line; you really get to know the characters and feel for them. They make me laughed, cried, and didn't want to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone; who wants to read an awesome book.

This is one of the best books Showalter has put out in a long time. The banter between the main characters is great. You get an update from all the major Lords, and new people have been added, hopefully to continue the series, which Showalter says she will. This is one of my absolute favorite books and I am glad I read it, and would recommend it to any paranormal romance fan.

If you have read one of Gena Showalter books then you have probably have read them all. If not then start with number one in the series it will let you in on the plot so you can go on from there.for every Lord of Underworld you will find the woman to go with them. One right after the other. So enjoy the read and some of them have audio to !

Dang, as always when I read your books they are one of the best. I wish I could give you the reviews  you deserve but i can't. but i all say this, to the  people that  read this, it is one of the best series  that  i have read so far. Please read the books for your self.  don't let anyone make up your  mind. the same as don't judge a book by the cover.

Showalter delivers again with a whirlwind of action and romance. So glad to see To run get his turn at happiness. The Red Queen is a badness lead female with intelligence, wit and the power to deliver on threats! Don't miss this one.

Gena triumphs again! Torin's story was definitely worth the wait! Her style of writing ever present, entertainingly funny, detailed, and with another kickass female! The Red Queen is now my favorite of the females, tied with Anya!

Halfway through it, and I'm so happy! The anguish experienced by Torin for being unable to touch someone or be touched in every book comes to a head here....how can I not be in love with The Keeper of Disease? No Spoilers from me. Just read it! You'll fall in love.

I didn't like it,I read The darkest Craving and really enjoyed it, but the others while good ideas and plots it just seemed like the whole of the book was just about sex. If that's your thing than you will enjoy it.

Awesome!!!!!!!! On edge, ready for more. Love Torin and soooo love the Red Queen. She and Anya are so much alike. Can't wait for next book. Waiting for Gilly an Willie's book, but thinking Legion's would be next

I would have to say this book redeemed gena for the last 3 books I would say. This is the author I feel in love with and can't wait for the rest of the series. She has mad me excited again about this series,I only hope it continues with her other books. Great book looking forward to much more.

I put this review at middle of the road because I just couldn't rate it higher. This is the second book in a row that the writer has produced that has a ditz for a heroine. A urban slang slinging, hair-fluffing, bonding with women who call themselves the 'ho patrol (or something close that definitely had 'ho' in it)' ditz. I will say this for Keeley though - at least she is mildly sympathetic, unlike the heroine in Burning Dawn who was a shallow twit who made me consider never reading another book by the author. You get these glimpses of the pain that lurks under her surface, which lets you measure her egomaniacal statements and actions and see them (perhaps) as a facade she projects to cover her vulnerabilities.

The plot was acceptable - not completely buried by the 'romance plot' of will they or won't they - although fairly shallow, relying too much upon story development from previous books in the series. Still, I was invested in how the hero and heroine were going to be able to overcome the considerable handicap of his demon, which at the end of the day was the integral part of this book.

One of my major takeaways though was how Torin's representation has changed - immensely - from the previous books he's appeared in. I liked the isolated, slightly intense guy from the previous books and in this book we get this teasing, kind of light guy. Maybe that was the 'real him'? Eh, I would have preferred a *little* more angst, introspection, etc... I didn't need him to be a mopey Heathcliff-type, but I wanted a little more serious, a little more strength-despite-adversity. Even with the references to how he'd been treated in the past - being left out because of his demon - and how this had affected him (and how this caused him to sympathize with Keeley) he just lacked a sense of depth... of gravitas.

This was a pleasant enough read for a Saturday afternoon, but I wouldn't crow about it to anyone I know. Hence my giving it a 3 out of 5 stars.

Nice book... got to say I have all of the Lords of the Underworld's books, Gena Showalter is one of my favorites authors. And Torin's book is good, only the: " I'll touch but I don't want touch you ", and the " I feel so bad for touching you, we should no this again " drama got me a tine bity ( lot! ) mad sometimes. Overall...I'm glad Torin got his book and his lady and he is happy like his others friends!

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Lords of the Underworld book. I thought that even though I was not caught up in the series, I could jump right in. I was wrong. This is not a standalone book. The problem is that many of the storylines from previous books get referenced and without the context, it gets very confusing. When I stripped the storyline down to the basics between Torin and Keeley, I was left with a sweet, plague-bringer-boy meets destructo-girl story.

I like stories about the alienated underdog. Torin’s demon is Disease and so every skin-to-skin touch results in almost certain death. Therefore, even his closest friends won’t touch him. Although they love and respect him, he’s still held at arms length. It breaks my heart because he wants to be hugged and cherished. He craves it. He constantly denies himself because he knows the consequences. Keely is a powerful royal with amazing powers. With Torin’s help she escapes from prison and wants to exact revenge on the people who have hurt her, but her trajectory changes after her relationship develops with Torin.

Unfortunately, the narrative is very repetitive – Torin and Keeley are either fighting with each other, fighting with others, getting injured, getting together or breaking up. There is a lot of bickering and I’m not quite sure why they keep reuniting.

Having said all that, like the other books in the series, this is campy, over-the-top fun. I appreciated the laugh-out-loud moments.

IN A NUTSHELL:
I wanted to really like this book, but it was too long with too little story.

I'm giving this book 4.25 Stars. I am always excited when a New Lords of the Underworld is released, and I look forward to this book as Torin as the tragic Lord captured my imagination. I was delighted at how Showalter wove the story of Disease and The Red Queen together. As always the book is action packed and Showalter left enough threads hanging to await book 12 with baited breath. The sexual heat between the two main characters Torin and The Red Queen is an inferno. At some points I still want to know why Cronus picked Mari, and why he wanted to get her to touch Torin. As with all the Lords characters, even the villains can be reformed, to a degree; as none of these demon vessels (The Lords) would be white hats even without their unwanted hitchhikers.

I had been waiting for Torin's story forever. I was NOT disappointed. Only sad part is I get to start the "waiting game" again for the next book. Lords of the Underworld is an epic series I would recommend to everyone!

This book was amazballs !! One of my top 5 fav ! No questions ask .. Gena out did her self , it was intense , sexy, HOT as hell .. Pun intended !!! Luv this book I just couldn't put it down .. Life long fan of LOTUW and to there creater !!

I've waited a long time for Torin's book and it did not disappoint. Keeley was the perfect heroine for my favorite Lord! And Baden is back, Galen not fighting the Lord's? Loved it! Thinking Cameo is next? I really need William's book!

I am going to say I really have waited for Torins story. My only complaint is how wishy washy he turned out. Don't get me wrong I still enjoyed the story very much I just hated how he would go from we will be together and then the next telling her to leave. Wow that was confusing but I am glad I bought the book to continue with this wonderful series.

I felt so bad for Torin and couldn't understand why he was so attracted and in love with this demanding little brat.

I have never read about a worse heroine, and I've read my fair share of them. I thought Danica was bad, but Keeley? She absolutely takes the cake as Biggest Bitch.

I don't know where the hell Gena Showalter is taking this series but I'm really starting to doubt that Cameo's and Gilly's stories are going to be good. Apparently GS rewrote this story three times. I wish she'd stayed with the original. This "heroine" deserved a painful death for being so conceited and thinking everyone should bow to her and thank her.

I wanted to scream every time she said "You're welcome." It wasn't funny! Nor was it adorable. And it sure as hell didn't seem like Torin was in love with her. It seemed more like just a physical lust for how she looked, nothing more. Because there was no redeeming qualities about her.

I tried, God I tried to make it through this book and find out Keeley's past so I would inevitably understand where she was coming from. But that never happened. She was never physically or sexually abused, she never freaking suffered any trauma or death or anything. I got to the point where I was skipping chapters and only reading about Cameo and Lazarus.

I really really REALLY hope Cameo's story is readable because she's been my favorite character since the first book.

Finally The Lord whose happy ending seemed impossible! Torin is The Lord who is cursed to carry Disease and just one touch from him could start ( another!) plague that could wipe out thousands of lives. Trapped in a prison in another realm Torin angers probably the most powerful female that this author has ever dreamed up. Keeleycael aka The Red Queen has been imprisoned for centuries after being tricked by Hades but she is almost ready to return to her rightful place in the world. When Torin infects Mari the one person she cares about her vengence knows no bounds and slaking it is all she craves. As am immortal warrior Torin should be safe, right? Wrong because this is the woman who sank Atlantis. Torin has The Allkey so manages to escape his cell but the powerful Queen is hot on his trail but if they are to escape the Realm they are trapped in they will have to work together and trust does not come easily.
This has been a fabulous series to read and I really think that they are books best read in order. Torins story was a good length so on that point the author really did him justice. I really liked that he got the most powerful female character that we have ever seen in these books, go Red Queen! Is it sexy? Well they do have is great chemistry and both want nothing more than to get carnal. So why am I not singing and dancing and going whoop whoop? I guess all through the series Torin has been portrayed as this tec savvy guy with mad hacking talents and yet we saw none of that here. It felt almost like a different character. I loved that he was allowed to be a warrior and show his mettle and it was delicious seeing him lose his control but for me it lacked a little something I guess.
It's fabulous to see this world continuing to grow and we get to see all the Lords pulling together in this story. There's still trouble in the works though and the war in Hell is about to come knocking at the lords door I fear. I know whose book I want next but will have to wait and see where the authors muse leads her. So this paranormal fan will be waiting impatiently for the next book

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

I’ve waited three years for Torin’s story, never quite sure why I was so drawn to him. Perhaps it began with the pity. Forced to keep a safe distance from his closest friends, always being left behind during battles for the safety of everyone involved, to never being able to share a deeper connection with a female, well, he had me rooting for his story for years, and I wasn’t the least bit disappointed.

Keeleycael aka The Red Queen was one hell of a female. Every living creature feared her, with good reason. There was a lot of talk about spilling organs, eating hearts and ripping out spines. All in a days work for Keeley. Her past wasn’t that of pampered royalty, far from it. She was a firecracker though, I loved her all the more for it. She often took things quite literally, which led to some hilarious conversations.

It was nice to finally get the full scoop on Torin, both the man and a warrior. The fact that he was a virgin was both a surprise and yet it wasn’t, but it made him even more endearing as the story progressed. He’d carried a lot of guilt for being responsible for the death of two women, all because his desire to know touch had been so overwhelming. This story had a lot more of that where Keeley was concerned, but I enjoyed how it pushed both of them to move forward despite several setbacks.

As a couple, these two were a little helpless in terms of social skills, but they’d both been denied the chance to discover how that game was played in the past. Seeing them bumble their way through lust, affection, compassion, and love was often hilarious and heartbreaking. They had both starved for affection and longed someone who loved them. Their little skirmishes were like an intense form of foreplay. I loved the effect they had on one another, all the time. What fueled her lust more than anything was the fact that he was utterly unafraid of her and her powers. They could make each other laugh, and they talked often, openly. The more he showed his caring, protective side, the more she wanted to jump his bones. Preferably skin on (hey, with her you never knew). Needless to say, they had amazing chemistry, and their journey to a HEA was quite tumultuous. The lovemaking was obviously inventive, and a very slow burn until the end of the book. But when they finally did the deed, wow!

What would a LotU book be without the side stories? Baden, Cronus, Rhea and Pandora were all together and carrying on like they were on an episode of Survivor. Alliances are made, broken, reformed, and they bickered. A lot. But the pairing of Cameo and Lazarus had me wanting more. Talk about flying sparks!

FTC: Complimentary copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

Disclaimer: I am completely guilty of not reading any of the previous books in the Lords of the Underworld series. This review could have unintentional spoilers of previous titles in the series.

I am of two minds about The Darkest Touch. Both sides of me really, and I mean REALLY, loved the Red Queen. She is nuts and a total egomaniac. Still loved her character. There was a sort of charisma about her character that just appealed to me. I am sure this says something about me so judge away. The story about her and Torin is well written and the world building made for an excellent back drop to all of the different situations.

The variety of secondary characters added a beautiful layer to the second half of this book. The immaturity and outright crazy shenanigans of everyone was a blast to read and completely entertaining.

The adventure and story of Torin and Keeley Cael (The Red Queen) is extremely original and entertaining. I loved their banter and struggle for control, both independently and of each other. I can see how this series could easily become addictive. Everyone is nuts and it makes for a lot of fun!

The other mind says:

I didn’t like the overuse of eternal dialog that was used with her and the hero, Torin. I am going to go ahead and call it an overuse, because I believe it worked at one point, but then began bogging down and effecting the flow of the story. It was too much. I think this greatly effected by ability to thoroughly enjoy The Darkest Touch.

At the time this review was published the the store Kindle price is – $1.99

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for providing an honest review.

I rate The Darkest Touch 3.5 out of 5 Bullets!

So, ever since I've learned of Torin's demon, I was always curious how his story would come about, and let me tell you, Ms. Showalter did not disappoint....

Been a huge fan of her, specially this series, as always, awesome story. We meet Keeley, and whoowee!!! do I love the fact that she is strong on her own, no whimpering maiden here! Lol. Then there's Torin, and we all know Torin (for those who don't, he is the keeper of disease and anyone who comes into skin and skin contact with him gets infected by diff. types of sickness), strong, stubborn but loyal hero, oh did I mention protective?? ;] they meet while imprisoned... and their connection is instant and off the charts.... *sigh

They start off fighting and bickering, but you sense the underlaying attraction between them (and this was before they even saw each other physically)

Off the charts chemistry... Whohoo!!

Well, I don't want to ruin the story for those who haven't read this yet but let me just tell you, a must read... We have a mixture of action, adventure, romance, laughter, seduction, angst, sadness, anger, and of course, love in this story..

Oh, and I love that little tidbit about Hades and a side of him we don't normally see......

Happy reading... ;]

4 stars

This was a very good story. I liked Torin and Keeley and liked how things came together for them regardless of the yoyoing that takes place in their relationship.

Keeley is a very powerful member of an ancient race. She was given (unwillingly) as a wife to her King when she was very young by parents that didn't care about her. She eventually killed the King but had trouble still and was saved by Hades (lord of the underworld). Hades swept her off her feet and she fell in love with him but unfortunately, Hades felt threatened by Keeley being more powerful than him and he ended up betraying her and selling her Cronos who then imprisoned her.

Torin is one of the immortal warriors that were responsible for opening Pandora's box. As a way to imprison the demons and punish the warriors responsible, the greek gods decided that the warriors should act as hosts to the demons. Torin was made the host to disease and he can't touch anyone without risking spreading a plague. If the person Torin touched was able to survive the disease, they would become a carrier and spread the disease to whomever they touch.

Keeley was imprisoned in one of Cronos' prisons and became friends with a girl named Mari. They formed a bond and Mari's good nature really helped Keeley. In a previous book, Cronos made a deal with Torin to provide him with a woman (for 24 hours) that he could touch without risking starting a plague. Although Cronos was killed in a previous book, the deal still stands and the girl shows up in Torin's room. Things don't work out the way Cronos promised though and once Torin risks a touch, Mari gets sick. Magic forces her back to her prison but Torin holds on to her so he's taken to the prison with Mari and he can nurse her. Torin's nursing doesn't help and Mari ends up dying from the disease. Keeley figures out what happened and blames Torin for Mari's death. Torin blames himself too, figuring her death was his fault because he should have never trusted Cronos.

Torin is able to escape the prison and Keeley escapes soon after. There's some minor skirmishes between Keeley and Torin but neither of them can bring themselves to actually hurt the other. There's a very strong attraction between them and they both want more. Torin knows he can't because no matter how strong Keeley is, he's sure she'd die or if nothing else become a carrier if they were to touch. Keeley is very attracted to Torin in return but blames him for Mari's death so she has a hard time letting go of her grief and pain. They start out enemies but soon become wary allies and it's not long before they're verging on a relationship. I will note that the relationship runs hot and cold through most of the story because there's the whole "we can't touch without risking death" thing to work out and it takes them a while to find the key. Thankfully, they do manage to discover the way they can touch without an issue and the story ends with them starting on a HEA together.

This was a very enjoyable story. I liked Keeley...she was a little pompous at times but underneath that you can see that she's a woman that is kind of vulnerable and wants someone to love her and prize her above others. Torin was a good hero and I was very happy with him outside of his frequent back and forths about whether he and Keeley could be together or not (which was sort of understandable). My only real complaint was a bit of frustration over the bouncing relationship issue...Overall, I liked the story very well and would recommend it and the series.

* note - I listened to the audio version of the story and the narrator did a great job.

THE DARKEST TOUCH was an excellent continuation of the Lords of the Underworld series. Although I have only read a few of the books and had to skip a lot of them, I'm in love with this series. It contains the perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and action. If you like fierce warriors with soft sides for the women they love, you would probably enjoy this series as much as I have. If you're already a fan, you probably know what I'm talking about.

What I like about the characters in this series, such as Torin and Keeley in THE DARKEST TOUCH, is that they are flawed but have redeeming qualities. Torin and Keeley are violent and dark in many ways, yet they find love and tenderness with one another.

Another thing I like about this book was how Torin and Keeley got to know one another before having sex or professing their love to one another. This was mainly due to physical limitations because of Torin's demon (Disease, which kept making Keeley sick), but it was also because of distrust and guilt.

I appreciated that the author didn't cross the line into BDSM. The characters were sexually aggressive but never cruel. The author balanced roughness with gentleness.

The only negative things about THE DARKEST TOUCH were the lack of information about what led up to the circumstances in this book (a problem for people like me who didn't read the preceding book), some details didn't match up with book one in the series, and there were too many references to movies. Still, my overall opinion of the book isn't swayed. I enjoyed reading it a lot.

I give THE DARKEST TOUCH 5 out of 5 stars for fast pacing, excitement both in an out of the bedroom, and a sweet romance (in an atypical way because of the violent natures of the characters). Warning: this book is not suitable for readers with weak stomachs and/or readers under the age of 18.

I was really looking forward to Torin's story because I wasn't sure how Gena Showalter was going to get around the whole "no touch" thing. And she did it brilliantly! This novel started out heartrending with the struggles that Torin has faced his entire existence. When he meets the Red Queen, Keeleycael, he doesn't know how to handle her because she is so outside of everyone he interacts with. She challenges him and isn't afraid to get sick from his touch. She is confident that she won't start a plague and that they can be together. Even when she wants to gut him. This is another must read in the gripping Lords of the Underworld series and as I continue with it I love how the world is developing!

I've been waiting for Torin to get his own book but wasn't sure how he was going to get a love life when he can't touch anyone's skin without either killing them or making them really sick and then a carrier for whatever disease he gave to them. But I knew whatever woman that came into his life would have to be strong and willful and Keeley (The Red Queen) is all that and more.

Keeley and Torin meet while trapped in a prison neither of them can escape from and things go from bad to worse when Torin accidentally kills Keeley's only friend, making her mad enough to want to rip his entrails out and feast on them. But first she has to escape from the prison she's in and that's when sparks really start flying.

The Red Queen is probably my favorite heroine in any of the books in this series by far. She is sarcastic, strong, willful, stubborn and did I mention sarcastic? Her comebacks are laugh out loud funny. She is exactly what Torin needed.

Torin has always been a bit of a mystery to me, we really didn't get to know him all that well as the series has gone on, but we sure did in this book, finally!

I loved that Keeley is so powerful, old and wise and still has a vulnerability about her. I also loved that Torin figures out exactly what her vulnerabilities are and takes steps to make her feel safe and secure.

My only problem with this book was I found it a little wordy and lacking any real involvement in some parts. I like a book to keep me engaged throughout the entire book and while this one did keep my interest, I found myself bored in some parts.

If you've been reading this series, you'll love this next installment and if you are new to this series I suggest starting with the first book so it makes more sense.

I feel like I've been punked! This cannot have been written by Gena Showalter; it must be a book about a different Torin and LOTU because everything I read in no way resembled the author and series I have come to love. I tried as hard as I could, but had to give up on this book (and maybe even the series) at 14%.

It reads almost like a YA novel- at least, that's the maturity level of the thoughts/dialogue of the main characters. The sarcasm coming from all characters was beyond annoying and added to the immature feeling of the book. A little sarcasm is good; a lot feels like the author is trying to cover up a lack of storyline or interesting character. Torin did not feel like the Torin we'd come to know in previous books and I immediately lost interest in his story. Keeley (irritating name) had no redeeming qualities that I could find, no personality, and eventually I had to give up on her, too.

I remember when I first discovered this series. I devoured every book and thought I'd found an author that I could follow for a while. Unfortunately, I think this series has jumped the shark. I don't feel any continuity from one book to the next, which screams of bad writing/editing. Too bad.

Originally Reviewed for Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy.

It's been a while since I sank into a LotU book which is truly sad because it is such an exceptional series. Gena Showalter does an amazing job bringing these unique men and women to life. Each warrior carries a demon inside them and each has his own battle to fight.

The Darkest Touch is book 11 and Torin's story. How can a man cursed with disease find a way to touch someone? How can he even chance it if he knows that whoever he touches he will distroy.. they will sicken and die and if they do manage to recover they will become a carrier and destroy all they touch. If they don't recover, they will pass on their illness to everyone they come into contact with and then die.. oh joy. What a burden Torin must carry. Forever alone, never daring to fall in love. Even his friends fear touching him.. So how does an author overcome such a fearful issue? It's a dilemma to be sure. And yet Ms. Showalter manages. *grins* did you really think I was going to tell you how?

Keeley Cael, the Red Queen, the most powerful woman/creature on several planets. So powerful, even Hades feared her. Sold to Cronus for a barrel of whiskey by the man she loved, Keeley has become a woman of vengeance only one slight human woman has managed to breach her shell. Keeley has become a hardened soul yet Mari (her human friend) managed to find something to value in her. When Mari shows up dead, Keeley is determined to destroy the man who killed her. Who cares if he didn't mean to, if Mari orchestrated the entire thing, Torin, keeper of disease must die.

Torin, Keeper of the Demon of Disease, untouched by friend and foe alike. Refused even the joy of battle for fear of spreading disease. Anyone he touches skin to skin sickens and dies of horrendous diseases. If by some miracle they survive they become carriers and remain cursed as Torin, unable to touch another living soul skin to skin because they too have become carriers. If they don't recover, well then they just spread their disease until they die. See win/win (she says sarcastically). When Torin finds himself in a cell opposite the Red Queen who has sworn vengeance on him, something shifts. His grief for killing an innocent is deep but his attraction to this powerful woman who someone has managed to cage.. well that overpowers everything.

Time together only seals their relationship, Keeley learns that keeping Torin alive has it's perks *grins* can we say amazing eye candy? But more than that she discovers an amazing man who is in desperate need for human touch. Can she touch him and survive? And if not can they work something out? And if not... *grins* There are questions here..

I enjoyed the premise, enjoyed Keeley and Torin but must admit it took a bit to warm up to this story. About 50% in I was finally captured. This book lacked the joy and laughter of Strider's book, The Darkest Surrender and the power of Kane's book, The Darkest Craving but it held hope. Literally, Galen is back and one has to wonder what his new purpose is. But aside from that I started to believe that somehow the Lords were going to find the box and find a way to escape their curses..

Sometimes a book silently grabs you when you aren't looking. I expected fireworks and instead got a slow burn. I actually thought I wasn't liking the book until suddenly it was like wow.. what is happening here? I couldn't put it down. Now there's a gift!

All in all, a truly excellent story.

Shauni

I don't know what to think about this one. I actually listened to this instead of reading it. I have to say that if I had to actually read it, I probably would have skipped over half of it. Was it my imagination or has Torin changed? I remember him being all tortured and sad in that hot kind of way that just makes you want to throw yourself at him (disease be damned!) so you can make him feel better. Keely was a bit hard to take if not irritating at times. Calling my boy "Charming"....oh heaven stop me from throwing something at her! And just what was it about her that made both Torin and Hades go all ga ga! The only saving grace in this book was that we got to see some of the other Lords. I cannot wait for William and Gilly to heat up the pages. Oh well...I digress. Yay Torin got his book...finally. Is it the book I hoped for? Not in a million years. Am I glad he finally has a mate? Sure. Do I wish his mate was more deserving of a male such as the magnificent T? You bet your sweet A@#. The Lords of the Underworld used to be one of my favorites, but now....I'm feeling kind of meh.

RATING: 4.5 "Too-Much Feels For Torin" STARS

I've been waiting for what seems like forever to get Torin's story in my hands, so to say I had high expectations would definitely be an understatement. With the last few books lacking the usual Lords of the Underworld-esque charm, this one needed to reel us in hook, line and sinker. I needn't have worried as Gena Showalter beautifully nails it with The Darkest Touch. Combining pulse-pounding action, sizzling and provocative passion, humour and an unforgettable cast of characters, Showalter proves why she is one of the leading authors of Paranormal Romance - and why this, while not the easiest of literary journeys, was totally worth the wait.

Given the time we've spent with Torin, Keeper of Disease, confined in a room digging up any and all information the Lords require and deprived of physical contact with anyone to prevent the spread of disease, our affection for him is strong from the onset, as is our anticipation for him to finally get his HEA and conquer his Demon's merciless vigor once and for all. Although, we aren't accustomed to any combat action from Torin in the past, with this we get the birth of a character that is just as much alpha warrior - if not more - as the rest of his friends. His character unravels with each fight ruthlessly fought, each inner emotion revealed - his guilt over killing innocents, his fierce loyalty to his Lords and their women, his desires and wants - each snarky comment exchanged, each fiercely protective gesture, and each exquisite, temptingly dangerous touch with Keeley. At the very essence, his character is the definition of what it means to be a Lord of the Underworld.

Keeleycael, The Red Queen, is a true match to Torin in every way, meeting his strength and alpha-ness with equal intensity and offering him the same snarky attitude he gives her, and a temptation that's impossible to resist. Keeley is perhaps the strongest heroines yet, her combination of sharp wit and an onslaught of impressive powers with an underlying unadorned vulnerability, make her an instant favourite. Albeit her vows of vengeance against Torin for killing her friend Mari, she begins to see him in a new light, appreciating and respecting his drawn-out efforts to right his wrongs the best way he knows how; caring, protecting and providing medicine for anyone he has touched and then punishing himself, both physically and emotionally, after their death. She sees the lonely and hurt man in him, and despite her reprisal, she desires him, craving the same attention he bestows on his unintentional victims. She supports him and his every action, challenging him to step out of his restraints and fight, while fighting for what she wants no matter the diseased consequences of Torin's touch.

As much as Torin attempts to deny the depth of his attraction to Keeley for obvious reasons, the romance between the two of them is fabulously and deliciously slow-burning, the passion constantly igniting and then being extinguished with the axiomatic fears of Disease taking root. Until, finally, the fervor destroys their imposing defenses, overshadowing all the apprehension and indecision with the beautiful flourish of love. The fear of lack in smexy scenes (as in prior books) is for naught, the tumultuous relationship bringing forth burning sexual tension and a sexy romance sure to demand a cold shower or two with every blistering touch.

In addition to a gloriously tense and fiery relationship, Showalter also compels us with her signature creative story arc, filled with fierce battles, witty, flirtatious and enticing banter, and another piece to the plot puzzle in the form of unexpected alliances, the continuing search for Pandora's box, and lethal stakes never before seen. The fast-pace and detailed plot is an emotional roller-coaster ride that will surely keep readers enthralled page after page in this dark and serious yet intricately developed world. A stunning cast of secondary characters, both old and new, rounds out this tale, giving us glimpses of more hot and intriguing stories to come (William and Cameo please!). In this, the action is nonstop, the many characters leap to life, and the romance is smoldering, leaving us breathless with anticipation and a hunger for more.

Aside from an abrupt ending not to my liking at all, The Darkest Touch is not only a savory romance, but one heck of an addictive read! Highly recommended!

Fav quotes:

"My porn name is Dr. Miles Long. I would rather eat the Nephilim I captured than raisins. Sorry, Keys, but raisins are the result of nature taking a sh*t."

"You may or may not be The Red Queen immortals fear. But I am a warrior with whom one does not screw."

"My porn name is Ivanna Longone. And if you aren't careful, I will raise up an army of raisins and we will eat you."

"Just so you know, I've eaten warriors like you for breakfast."
"Well, did you spit or swallow? Never mind. Don't answer. Your sexual kinkiness has no bearing on this situation. I'd appreciate it if you focus."

"Princess, your temper tantrums make you as defective as an open-ended condom."

"What has one hundred and thirty-two teeth and hold back the incredible hulk? My zipper."

"His kiss was rough and raw, desperate as he backed her against a wall. He gripped her by the waist and lifted her, his mouth never leaving hers. Suddenly their bodies were in perfect alignment. Two puzzle pieced fuzed together."

I agree with many reviewers that Torin's character in this book changes from previous ones. I also agree with many reviewers that Keeley, in keeping with a number of Showalter's recent heroines, is rather immature. In addition, the series' world has gotten increasingly complicated (not complex) and somewhat random, creating oddly rushed payoffs for events and characters.

There are good points! Showalter captures--even more than with Kane--Torin's isolation, including his own friends' unease and habits of distance. I also enjoy the pairing of Lazarus and Cameo, which I place up there with Strider/Kaia in terms of compatibility (who better for Cameo than a guy who is quite unfazed by her dark side?). The link of seasons to Keeley's temperament/moods is quite effective.

And Showalter is a good writer in the purist sense of the word--her sentences flow rather than jar.

*Slight Spoilers*

I found myself, unfortunately, increasingly troubled by Torin (and Keeley)'s lack of responsibility. He *feels* bad about giving in to his desires but continues to do so. Granted, the romance genre (of which I am a fan) often gets a pass in the intimacy department--heroes and heroines with wide-ranging sexual histories *never* pass on a STD, for instance.

Torin doesn't have to worry about his own history. Nevertheless, his demon is way too relevant to this issue to ignore--suspension of disbelief is difficult. Whether or not Keeley is okay with Torin continually giving her the equivalent of an autoimmune deficiency (even though she recovers) doesn't make it acceptable. In modern parlance, Torin is literally guilty of assault. The first time he had to watch Keeley cough up blood should have been the last (until a solution was found).

I realize that the same argument could be made of some of the other Lords regarding their potential to hurt their mates--it's just, the nature of Torin's problem is harder to overlook. In comparison, for example, I greatly enjoy and admire Strider's book, which I consider Showalter's best, in which the conflict is largely internal: Strider would honestly never hurt Kaia in the physical sense: instead, the book centers on his fear of being challenged by "his woman" and her sense of inadequacy. Both have to overcome their personal issues in order to bring strength to the relationship.

My feeling, comparing Torin's book to others, is that Showalter has taken on *a lot* and is likely overwhelmed by her publishers and editors and the need to add one more book to a number of series (at least four . . .). I can't really fault her for making a living--so 3 stars.

WOW.

Backtracking... personally I thought The Darkest Craving, the book before this one, fell flat a little bit. It didn’t feel like a part of the Lord of the Underworld series I’d come to know and love and yeah, it was worrying. I didn’t want the series I loved so much to lose its spark. BUT, The Darkest Touch came back with a BANG!

Everything about this book is amazeballs.

We’ve been waiting for Torin’s book for a very long time and it was so worth the wait. Keeleycael was a fabulous character. God, I love her. Any lovers of Anya here? Yes? Then you’ll LOVE Keeley, she reminds me of Anya, but is also so kickass and funny in her own way that I adored all her scenes and she fought her way to my favourite female in the series. She brought something new to the series.

Torin didn’t disappoint either. He’s the guy who has to stay behind the scenes or risk infecting everyone with his demon disease and re-infecting the world with a deadly plague. I’ve always felt for him, how lonely he must be and how left out he feels because of the seclusion he faces; now he has his woman. Seeing him get his HEA was probably the most satisfying thing to happen in a book in 2014.

The sub-plots were just as amazing. We kept up-to-date with Cameo and her current predicament, and Baden and Pandora. I’ve been shipping those two for so long, I want them back in the land of the living and it was so nice to see them again in the series!

After finishing this book I felt so satisfied. It was like the feeling you get after eating food you’ve been craving for ages. Now it’s just the killer anticipation of who’s next. Will Cameo be next to tell her story? William? Someone else? I’m dying to know.

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
Review by: Heather
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com

I do believe Ms.Gena Showalter will never disappoint me with her Lords books.

Who would have thought that Torin would be so Alpha and rough? *shiver*

Though it shouldn't be a surprise, when he led the life he did, always left behind and never one to indulge in the simplest of pleasures that others took for granted, because we wasn't a selfish a**hole that didn't care about killing the entire humanity and immortals too. He could have easily done that, but he didn't. He stayed in the shadows but thank God, that's changed!

He shines in this book like you wouldn't believe and Keeley? I'm in love with her! No wonder Kaia likes her, they're similar. Anya was kind of annoying but she did have some bad history with Keeley.

Now, I would have never thought I'd like the bad buy in the story. Well, he's bad because he has to be, but he's also not. Nope, I'm not making sense with that, but read it and you'll see. Hint: it's good ole Hades.

Besides the fact that it has given me a hangover and no other book seems to be good enough, I'm left with quite a few questions. Mainly, whose book is next? Whose story and WHEN? Because the next one could be one of two but I am dying for Willy to finally admit to loving Gilly, even though Cameo and Lazarus are hot together and he seems to like her.

Bottom lime? 5 stars. This girl definitely loves the Lords.

PERFECTION!!!!!

THANKYOU THANKYOU Gena for giving us Torin's story!!!

Torin is harbouring the demon Disease. Through each journey we have watched Torin, and suffered right along with him. You could feel his heart through the pages. You just KNEW he was going to be intense and it would rip your guts out. It did that, and so much more!!!

It was a long wait but SO worth it!!!

Intense.
Heart-wrenching.
Sexyyyyyy.

True to the writing style we have all grown to LOVE from Ms. Showalter, THIS ONE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT!!!!

MUST READ!

Lots of laughs!!
Some Tears!!
More smiles!!!!!

I am pleased and appeased with this story. It will be a pleasant anticipation for the story to continue.

<3 Torin

We finally get Torin's long awaited story. This is our chance to see more of him away from his computers behind the fortress walls. Being the keeper of disease he is unable to come into contact with anyone or anything without being fully covered for fear of starting a plague. Even his friends are afraid to touch him so this can be very lonely and make him feel apart from everyone he loves. Then he meets Keeley the Red Queen and he is in a battle for his control to keep himself away from the only woman who makes him feel things no other woman has.

Keeley the all powerful Red Queen has struggles of her own. She is a strong, powerful but vulnerable woman. She finds it hard to trust people from all her past dealings with others. With quotes like these....

"Yesterday we longed to kill him. Today we long to seduce him?" and

"Can't fault the keeper of Disease for his actions. He did warn you."

You just got to love Keeley and her thought process.

As with any great romance these two have a love hate relationship. Sometimes these characters make me laugh and sometimes I wanted to slap them.

The eleventh book of the series is Torin’s story, the carrier of the demon of Disease. Torin, desperate for the touch of another, makes a deal that finds him in a prison, where he becomes acquainted with the Red Queen. Even though she hates him at first, the attraction is undeniable. Yet, how do you fall for a man whose every touch brings death? However, as their attraction grows, Keeley, the Red Queen, is determined to find a way.

Gena Showalter gave me a paranormal romance that I could really sink my teeth into. It had all my favorite things, great characters, a fun and believable love story in a world outside of the everyday humdrum we all live in. In addition, our main characters meet at the beginning of the book and we get to enjoy their struggle all they way throughout the novel. My favorite part may be that even though the couple meets right away, it’s not instant love. They have to work for it and that makes it all the more fun to read. In the end, you’re not sure how they are going to make it work; You just know that you really want them too.

I would definitely recommend this and the rest of the series. I have not read all of the books myself, but I have read enough of them to state confidently, if you’re looking to grab a quick paranormal romance, you can be sure that this will deliver.

Too many V words? Eh, no worries cause this was gooood! How long have you waited for this? Well folks, the wait is over and it is so worth it. There is a tremendous amount of sexual tension. The slow burn, cat-and-mouse, and all-consuming kind of chase that makes the pay off worth it: that’s what we get.

Torin is so sweet, and his longing to be able to touch and be touched makes him an instant book boyfriend. No matter the demons, he is on my list. Then comes the red queen from the cell next door, Keeley. She wants him dead…. well maybe.

The Lord of the Underworld has been the most dangerous and the most (in my opinion) wanted warrior to get his happy ending. The journey to that is a long one, but a great one. Oh and did I mention funny?

Long time fans of the series will be in heaven. The wait is over. Grab a bottle of wine and settle in. It’s gonna be one heck of a ride!

I love the snarky come backs and the by play between the main characters. Sometimes I love to read the one liners. This is a love story made for romantics. I like that it is not all about the sex... that can get old fast. The need to burn your boy at the stake one minute and make love the next... yah that is about how a relationship works. LOL
I would have liked her to be more of a vicious but the man playing the flighty girl part unable to truly commit was fun. The back store make you want to read the next novel in the series and see the bad boy get his butt kicked.

I couldn't waste any more time reading this boring, silly repetitive book. I only read about 1/3 of the story and realized that there was no clear plot in place. I seldom stop a book before the end but when I noticed I was checking to see how much mode I HAD to read until it was over, I knew it was time to stop. The characters are wishy washy and uninspired. Torin is unrecognizable from who he was in previous books in the series. Not worth your time. Hopefully, Ms. Showalter will redeem herself in the next book or end the series since she seems to be tired of it.

I forced myself to read/complete it after the 1st chapter. I don't know what happened to the LOTU series. Maybe it's going on too long or maybe Gena Showalter no longer really cares. I found Kaely boring as hell as well as pretentious. Torin kept waffling between being a bitch and an alpha. I regret bitterly buying this book. I was so looking forward to Torin's story but after reading it, I'm done with this series. Do yourself a favor and get it from the library.

Just...No. It just wasn't good. Explaining exactly why this book is terrible would take a while. I just did not recognize Torin at all. I did not like Keeley, she's not clever or demonstrated abstract thinking, or even how to solve complicated problems. She just relied on her powers. Having knowledge on people and things were interesting but she did not show any wisdom or ability to make use of her knowledge. Maybe that's the point, it's suppose to be part her personality. If so, then that was not a good decision.
Again, Torin was just...not Torin. He had none of the humor and has the same problems as Keeley.
Just...no. And why Showalter, why?!?

I very seldom write book reviews unless the book is boring, or just isn't quite right for some reason, but I'm making an exception for this book. I have enjoyed all the LOTU books, but this one stands out to me. I will try to avoid spoilers, but I have to mention a couple of great aspects of this book. First of all, I had Torin's character all wrong. I pictured him as the intellectual, tech person of the bunch. Turns out that he may be the toughest warrior/fighter of them all. He is fierce, loyal, witty, and sweet as well, and that made his demon even harder for him to handle. He craves touch and a romantic relationship. Luckily, Keeley is the perfect girl for him. She is a formidable character to say the least. Torin has to be tough to handle her. It turns out that she can help the Lords with many of their other problems also - if she doesn't kill them first. There are sexual scenes in the book as usual, but they have a much warmer and truer feel to them. Torin and Keeley really love each other, and that love isn't rushed. It grows gradually and can be savored by the reader. To me, they are the most perfect couple of all the books in the series. Another huge bonus for me is that there is very little bad language. No gd's or f-bombs at all, which is refreshing. Ms. Showalter also furthers the storylines of Baden, Pandora, Cameo, Lazarus, William, Gilly, Galen and even Hades and Lucifer. The purpose and use of the artifacts is better explained, and another connection is made between the Lords and the Angels of the Dark too. All in all, a very entertaining book with both true romance and exciting paranormal scenes. I loved it!

It's steamy, funny, and all around great read.

The Keeper of Disease has never known that touch of a woman. He has always kept to himself but misses the bond that his fellow brothers have with one another and their mates. He escapes from prison with the Red Queen. Soon he realizes that he wants her more than he can fight the battle of his will to keep from touching her.

The Red Queen wants to kill him because he infected and killed her only friend. Each free from prison she starts to realize that he feels guilty for anytime that he has touched anyone because if the disease doesn't kill them than he has to in order to keep them from being a carrier.

Good story, I would recommend it.

Torin is a hero that I felt for through out this series, simply because he wasn't able to touch anyone or leave the fortress. I'm so happy he was able to find his happily ever after but for some reason I just didn't or rather enjoy Keely as his lady love. She annoyed me throughout this book. I found she was so snobby and arrogant and condescending. Pretty much just like Anya. Where as Anya I liked. Anyhoo the book I still enjoyed just not Keely in some ways

I wasn’t sure how Gena Showalter could possibly satisfy me with this book. I have been waiting for poor Torin to get some human contact since the very first installment in this series. But we went through warrior after warrior, even bringing in a new crop of Lords, until I started to fear we’d never get Torin’s story. Now, that’s it’s finally here, I am happy to say by and large, Showalter gave me what I wanted; and if this ends up the last book in the series, I could walk away content.

As the story begins, Torin is behind bars with poor Mari, the woman Cronus paired him with; the female who was supposed to be immune to his touch. Obviously, she’s not. She’s dead by the third page. But even though Mari is not the woman for Torin, she is a link to the real deal. Keeleycael is the all powerful Red Queen. She was imprisoned with Mari and counted the young woman as her only friend. When she discovers Torin’s role in Mari’s death, there is hell to pay. Keeley won’t rest until she gets revenge on Torin.

Obviously, it’s not the most auspicious start to a relationship, but Torin is drawn to Keeley right away. It takes a little while for her to come around. In the meantime, they have to escape the prison and get back to Torin’s dimension. That’s no small task as they are targeted by fellow prisoners and emissaries of Hades, bent on recapturing the Queen. Oh yeah, plus that whole pesky Disease thing.

While all of this is happening, remember, Cameo and Lazerus are stuck in the Paring Rod. Their sidestory is unfolding. So is one surrounding Baden, who is dead, but alive in spirit and stuck with the ghosts of Cronus, Rhea, and Pandora. There isn’t a lot of time spent with the Lords for the first half of the book, and I am glad, because I feel like it would have been too much happening at once. The balance was just right.

But of course, it’s Torin you want to know about. I have to say that one of my small complaints is that Torin wasn’t exactly the man I was expecting. He’s been a major character from the start, but I don’t remember him being so violence-driven or alpha. I expected a bit less blood-thirsty and a little more tortured. I thought he would be more distinct from the other Lords, but that wasn’t how it played out. As for Keeley, she reminded me a lot of the Harpies. She is violent and powerful, yet emotionally vulnerable. I was good with her as a mate for Torin. She puts up with A LOT. That brings me to my other complaint: how many times Torin waffles on their relationship. I understand why he has fears, but he tries to walk away a few times too many. It got to be a broken record. Maybe two times fewer would have been less annoying. I never thought I’d have more sympathy for the heroine than for Torin, but that’s exactly what happened.

Then there’s the sex. It totally worked for me. Not too crazy, not too tame. Showalter did a great job here, making me anticipate every touch and every kiss. Very well done.

We get many loose ends tied up here, but the door is left open with some dangling threads. Showalter could expand on stories for Cameo/ Lazerus, Galen/ Legion, or William/ Gilly. But there are enough questions answered and story arcs resolved that I feel good about leaving it here even if we never get to those books. I give Showalter credit for pulling so many elements together for the payoff here. And while it felt a little long, she did it without making it feel bloated or over-reachng.

I think fans will enjoy this one. I did.

Rating: B+

Walk in Torins shoes for a moment, he can't touch anyone. Imagine how awful and miserable that would truly be.. This story took the series up a notch for me. I devoured it! Keeley is badass and I love her abilities! Changing appearance with the seasons? So neat! This is both a heartwarming and deliciously steamy romance! 11/10!

It kills me, but 3.5 stars for The Darkest Touch. I have followed this series since Maddox and Ashlyn in book 1 and have loved all of them. But after reading this one, I miss the Lords of the Underworld of the Maddox and Ashlyn era. I understand that as they get closer to discovering the location of Pandora's box, things are going to get more complicated, but things seem to have gotten out of control. And the on again/off again romance between Torin and Keeley was like a Hollywood couple and honestly, got very tiring. I've always wanted Torin to get his HEA, because he's been alone the longest, and I'm glad he did, however, this was my least favorite book in the series.

I wish I could have my money back, what I read was a joke, was never able to finish, and still have it polluting my nook. I think the first three books were good, but the rest I skimmed through and never got into them, sadly, I also met a vicious fan fiction/role-play group that killed my desire to ever even suggest this to any of my friends. The few that bought this awful book feel the same way about the series and the idiots writing the fan fiction. Save your money.

I so let Torin touch me anytime he wanted. I so love the way Keeley is she so well the Red Queen who just wants to be love for her. Of course Torin as the demon of Disease in him and is so so so alone and just want to touch and to be touch. To know more about this book grab your copy today a so so so must read!!!!!!

✦Review: The Darkest Touch (Lords of the Underworld) by Gena Showalter http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-1Fm
Publication Date: November 25, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 5 Stars

I loved this book so much! Torin's story is finally here! If you're a fan of the series you probably love Torin as much as I do. Torin is the tortured hero who is unable to touch anyone and experience contact because of his demon, Disease. His story has always intrigued me and I wondered what kind of woman would be his destiny. Keeley, The Red Queen, is his perfect match. She's strong, funny and takes what she wants. I just loved her! Their passion and chemistry burned up the pages. Gena Showalter delivered a well written, and scorching hot romance. It was filled with action, great characters and plenty of laughs. This is one of my favorite series and one of the few favorites that get better with each book. I highly recommend the Lords of the Underworld and this new release in the series for paranormal lovers looking for an epic series. There were a few hints of some possible future stories and I can't wait to see what Gena Showalter has in store for us next.

*Review copy provided by Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so I will admit that I love this series. I will also admit that I'm honest though. I was not particularly interested in Torin's story, but I have to say that The Darkest Touch is one of my favorite Lords books now. Gena showed a side of Torin that we never really see in the other books. The Red Queen is also an interesting character. I love how the leads have differing personalities that seem to complement each other well.

I absolutely loved this book. The Red Queen is such an awesome and kick-arse heroine, and I love it! Keeley is the perfect blend of kick-arse and "old-world charm mixed with modern verve" and she is so strong "even when vulnerable". She is everything I love in my lead female characters and everything I aspire to be, especially her awesome and vast powers!

I also loved the way Gena wrote this novel - the internal monologue of the characters was very realistic, and funny, and I felt an instant connection to the characters. I also feel that Gena has really grown as an author and continues to produce wonderful books.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter
Book Eleven of the Lords of the Underworld series
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: November 25, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Official Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes the long-awaited story of Torin, the most dangerous Lord of the Underworld yet…

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.

What I Liked:

Ooo, my first Gena Showalter adult romance novel! As you regular blog followers might recall, I've read Showalter's young adult novels, The White Rabbit Chronicles. I've always said that I wanted to read one of Showalter's adult novels, especially since I LOVE romance novels... leave it to me to start with book ELEVEN of a series. Good thing it's a companion series!

Torin is the host to the demon of Disease - meaning that everyone he touches, he infects with sickness, and the person dies. Meaning... he can't be intimate with anyone. But when he frees Keeley, the Red Queen, desire sparks and sizzles between them. She wants to kill him for (accidentally) killing a friend of hers, but neither of them can resist each other.

I loved this book. Let me repeat that statement - I loved this book. I know Showalter would not disappoint. The romance, the chemistry, the sizzle between Torin and Keeley was perfect, but there was also more to this book. A war has been brewing between Lucifer and Hades, and the Lords of the Underworld (Torin and the other host Lords) are involved. Now that Keeley is free, she is involved as well (she used to be engaged to Hades, and he wants her back, evidently).

Keeley wants to kill Torin at first, because he (accidentally) killed Mari, a friend of Keeley's. But Torin really cared about Mari, and feels very guilty about killing her with his touch. Keeley wants to exact her revenge on Torin... but she finds it difficult because she also really wants him. So. That's puts a damper on her plans.

I love the hate-turned-love relationships, especially when the lust is so strong, and the emotions slowly develop. Showalter did an excellent job of building the relationship and keeping the chemistry super fiery. It was interesting to see how Showalter did that - because Torin can't touch anyone without killing them. In Keeley's case, she's strong, and believes that she can withstand his touch. She'd get sick afterwards, but hey, when the guy is that fine...

Seriously though, the cover model of this book is like, PERFECT. That is exactly how I would see Torin. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, so I didn't get to see Torin as a secondary character, but I love him up close and personal. He's tortured over his deadly curse, and yet, he's an alpha warrior, born and bred to fight and destroy. Mmm... can't say that doesn't attract me. But he's also protective and sweet and thoughtful. Gaaahhh...

I liked Keeley, too. She was fierce and competent, devious and wicked and downright hilarious. The two of them are so great together - he fights the attraction, she doesn't, he tries to leave, she doesn't let him, and back and forth like that. It's so great!

The plot of the story, involving Hades and Lucifer and the Morning Star, is pretty cool. Showalter focused on demons rather than angels, so I was cool with all of this. There is also another story arc, involving Cameo (one of Torin's ex-girlfriends) and Lazarus, whom I didn't get a really good read on. I hope there is a book twelve, and it's about the two of them...

Overall, I'm really pleased with this book. Totally satisfying romance novel, as well as paranormal novel in general. I've seen somewhere that I really should have read the other ten books in the series before reading this one, just to get a feel for Torin's character... I will do just that.

What I Did Not Like:

I think just one more scene between Torin and Keeley, at the very end of the book, would have been nice. You know what I mean. Heh.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes! As far as romance novels go, this is a really great! Read it just to experience the hot complexity that is Torin. Also, hey, the paranormal aspect was awesome. I really enjoyed it!

Rating:

4 stars. Much like from me! I hope there are more novels in the series to come. I also hope that I can go back and binge-read the other eight books in the series!

Five years ago I fell under the spell of the LOTU series thanks to a friend suggesting this series to me. Since then I have been patiently waiting for Torin, the Keeper of Disease, to get some kind of happily ever after.

Torin deserves every bit of happiness just like his other fellow demon family members/friends, but unfortunately he is doomed to never feel the real touch of a woman due to the demon that plagues him literally. If he allows himself to feel any kind of physical touch he could give the person a sickness that could lead to death or worse become the carrier of the disease to spread to others. I have felt since the beginning that Torin got shafted. Poor guy! He needs someone too just like Reyes, Strider, Paris, etc have. I was anxious though, to figure out who would be the lucky lady to be able to hook up with Torin and actually survive.

Gena gave Torin the perfect person to hook up with and I knew the minute she was introduced I would adore her. Keeley Cael, otherwise known as the Red Queen reminds me of Anya (Lucien's love), but a little feistier. Let's just say the Red Queen gives Anya a run for her money, when it comes to how scary she is and funny she can be in certain situations. One of my favorite scenes between Anya and the Red Queen is when Anya confronts her the first time. Keeley also knows how to handle tough situations and she knows how to put Torin through the ringer (literally). The guy didn't have it easy for Keeley. =)

Be prepared for some funny moments between Torin and Keeley because these two banter constantly. They also have some very heated romantic moments together that will make readers grab for a cold glass of water. (or cold shower) Ladies...Torin knows how to get creative in the bedroom.

In The Darkest Touch, Gena continues the storyline from the previous book, but with Torin and Keeley being the main characters. These two will be put through several tests thanks to what Gena had them go through, but that made me continuously flipping through the pages. (My husband may have gotten the evil eyes several times, while I was reading this book. He should know by now to not interrupt me, while I'm reading a book by Gena Showalter.) Gena also gives us glimpses into what is happening with other characters. Secrets will be let out of the bag in this book that will leave you in shock. I know one particular scene I'm still in shock over.

If you haven't read this series and are a fan of paranormal romance, I definitely recommend reading this series in order. It's a series full of action, romance, darkness, and humor that will have you on the edge of your seat.

I look forward to the next book in the series, especially since Gena left me hanging with a couple of the other characters. I know one thing, I really would love to read William's story. He's fascinated me just as much as Torin has in the LOTU series.

***Gena you have managed to add way more book boyfriends to my over-grown book boyfriend list since I started reading your books in 2009. My husband is kind of getting jealous. =)

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
REVIEW:
Of all the Lords I think Torin was the one who broke my heart the most. As the Keeper of Disease he can’t touch anyone for any reason. Because they will get sick and die. And for any reason they do survive they will have to be taken down or they will be come a carrier of that disease. Meaning the sweet, caring and totally kick ass Torin can’t ever touch or be touched. I often wondered as I read through this series how Ms. Showalter was going to solve this little issue. And in The Darkest Touch Ms. Showalter does just that. She solves Torin’s problem but only to bring him more problems.
Keeleycael ‘The Red Queen’ is one mean SOB. She is feared and hated throughout the world and the realms but we good reason. Keeley is a bit of a drama queen with a very short fuse and a pension for killing things. Needless to say that her and Torin’s first visit doesn’t good smoothly. But soon Keeley will find herself in a situation that even The Red Queen can’t bully, threaten or kill her way out of.
This was another really good story from Ms. Showalter. I just loved Torin and Keeley. They are perfect for each other after they get over the whole I want to kill you moments. If you are a Lord of the Underworld fan you will love this book. If you are new to this series, I would suggest that you start at the beginning. There is a lot of history that leads up to this book. BUT I do think that you could pick up The Darkest Touch and read it and not be too lost.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin HQN in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

~ 4 The Darkest Touch Stars ~ 

ARC The Darkest Touch

The Darkest Touch is book eleven in the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter. I have been waiting to see what the author would do for Torin since he was introduced to us in book one The Darkest Night and she did not disappoint. 

I thoroughly enjoyed The Darkest Touch. How can a relationship work when Torin is the keeper of disease? I was quit curious on how the author would be able to give Torin a relationship. I was expecting one thing and got something altogether different. I am not disappoint just suppressed in how she handled Torin our tortured hero, the skin-to-skin relationship, and the woman who became his destiny. Keeley, The Red Queen, is his perfect match and oh boy does she have the strength and power to help Torin heal emotionally and save his friends along the way. Their passion, chemistry and relationship burned up the pages. We get a well written scorching hot romance. I enjoyed the side stories and can’t wait to see what Gena Showalter has in store for us next. We get adventure, action, loads of sexual tension, a relationship that needs a lot of work to make it work, and some big surprises along the way. 

The Darkest Touch was a great installment in the Lords of the Underworld and I am looking forward to the next installment. This is one of a few favorites that keeps getting better as it goes along. I highly recommend picking up the Lords of the Underworld. 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy free of charge from Harlequin HQN with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

Torin is a hero that I felt for through out this series, simply because he wasn't able to touch anyone or leave the fortress. I'm so happy he was able to find his happily ever after but for some reason I just didn't or rather enjoy Keely as his lady love. She annoyed me throughout this book. I found she was so snobby and arrogant and condescending. Pretty much just like Anya. Where as Anya I liked. Anyhoo the book I still enjoyed just not Keely in some ways

I wasn’t sure how Gena Showalter could possibly satisfy me with this book. I have been waiting for poor Torin to get some human contact since the very first installment in this series. But we went through warrior after warrior, even bringing in a new crop of Lords, until I started to fear we’d never get Torin’s story. Now, that’s it’s finally here, I am happy to say by and large, Showalter gave me what I wanted; and if this ends up the last book in the series, I could walk away content.

As the story begins, Torin is behind bars with poor Mari, the woman Cronus paired him with; the female who was supposed to be immune to his touch. Obviously, she’s not. She’s dead by the third page. But even though Mari is not the woman for Torin, she is a link to the real deal. Keeleycael is the all powerful Red Queen. She was imprisoned with Mari and counted the young woman as her only friend. When she discovers Torin’s role in Mari’s death, there is hell to pay. Keeley won’t rest until she gets revenge on Torin.

Obviously, it’s not the most auspicious start to a relationship, but Torin is drawn to Keeley right away. It takes a little while for her to come around. In the meantime, they have to escape the prison and get back to Torin’s dimension. That’s no small task as they are targeted by fellow prisoners and emissaries of Hades, bent on recapturing the Queen. Oh yeah, plus that whole pesky Disease thing.

While all of this is happening, remember, Cameo and Lazerus are stuck in the Paring Rod. Their sidestory is unfolding. So is one surrounding Baden, who is dead, but alive in spirit and stuck with the ghosts of Cronus, Rhea, and Pandora. There isn’t a lot of time spent with the Lords for the first half of the book, and I am glad, because I feel like it would have been too much happening at once. The balance was just right.

But of course, it’s Torin you want to know about. I have to say that one of my small complaints is that Torin wasn’t exactly the man I was expecting. He’s been a major character from the start, but I don’t remember him being so violence-driven or alpha. I expected a bit less blood-thirsty and a little more tortured. I thought he would be more distinct from the other Lords, but that wasn’t how it played out. As for Keeley, she reminded me a lot of the Harpies. She is violent and powerful, yet emotionally vulnerable. I was good with her as a mate for Torin. She puts up with A LOT. That brings me to my other complaint: how many times Torin waffles on their relationship. I understand why he has fears, but he tries to walk away a few times too many. It got to be a broken record. Maybe two times fewer would have been less annoying. I never thought I’d have more sympathy for the heroine than for Torin, but that’s exactly what happened.

Then there’s the sex. It totally worked for me. Not too crazy, not too tame. Showalter did a great job here, making me anticipate every touch and every kiss. Very well done.

We get many loose ends tied up here, but the door is left open with some dangling threads. Showalter could expand on stories for Cameo/ Lazerus, Galen/ Legion, or William/ Gilly. But there are enough questions answered and story arcs resolved that I feel good about leaving it here even if we never get to those books. I give Showalter credit for pulling so many elements together for the payoff here. And while it felt a little long, she did it without making it feel bloated or over-reachng.

I think fans will enjoy this one. I did.

Rating: B+

Walk in Torins shoes for a moment, he can't touch anyone. Imagine how awful and miserable that would truly be.. This story took the series up a notch for me. I devoured it! Keeley is badass and I love her abilities! Changing appearance with the seasons? So neat! This is both a heartwarming and deliciously steamy romance! 11/10!

It kills me, but 3.5 stars for The Darkest Touch. I have followed this series since Maddox and Ashlyn in book 1 and have loved all of them. But after reading this one, I miss the Lords of the Underworld of the Maddox and Ashlyn era. I understand that as they get closer to discovering the location of Pandora's box, things are going to get more complicated, but things seem to have gotten out of control. And the on again/off again romance between Torin and Keeley was like a Hollywood couple and honestly, got very tiring. I've always wanted Torin to get his HEA, because he's been alone the longest, and I'm glad he did, however, this was my least favorite book in the series.

I wish I could have my money back, what I read was a joke, was never able to finish, and still have it polluting my nook. I think the first three books were good, but the rest I skimmed through and never got into them, sadly, I also met a vicious fan fiction/role-play group that killed my desire to ever even suggest this to any of my friends. The few that bought this awful book feel the same way about the series and the idiots writing the fan fiction. Save your money.

I so let Torin touch me anytime he wanted. I so love the way Keeley is she so well the Red Queen who just wants to be love for her. Of course Torin as the demon of Disease in him and is so so so alone and just want to touch and to be touch. To know more about this book grab your copy today a so so so must read!!!!!!

✦Review: The Darkest Touch (Lords of the Underworld) by Gena Showalter http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-1Fm
Publication Date: November 25, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading In Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 5 Stars

I loved this book so much! Torin's story is finally here! If you're a fan of the series you probably love Torin as much as I do. Torin is the tortured hero who is unable to touch anyone and experience contact because of his demon, Disease. His story has always intrigued me and I wondered what kind of woman would be his destiny. Keeley, The Red Queen, is his perfect match. She's strong, funny and takes what she wants. I just loved her! Their passion and chemistry burned up the pages. Gena Showalter delivered a well written, and scorching hot romance. It was filled with action, great characters and plenty of laughs. This is one of my favorite series and one of the few favorites that get better with each book. I highly recommend the Lords of the Underworld and this new release in the series for paranormal lovers looking for an epic series. There were a few hints of some possible future stories and I can't wait to see what Gena Showalter has in store for us next.

*Review copy provided by Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so I will admit that I love this series. I will also admit that I'm honest though. I was not particularly interested in Torin's story, but I have to say that The Darkest Touch is one of my favorite Lords books now. Gena showed a side of Torin that we never really see in the other books. The Red Queen is also an interesting character. I love how the leads have differing personalities that seem to complement each other well.

I absolutely loved this book. The Red Queen is such an awesome and kick-arse heroine, and I love it! Keeley is the perfect blend of kick-arse and "old-world charm mixed with modern verve" and she is so strong "even when vulnerable". She is everything I love in my lead female characters and everything I aspire to be, especially her awesome and vast powers!

I also loved the way Gena wrote this novel - the internal monologue of the characters was very realistic, and funny, and I felt an instant connection to the characters. I also feel that Gena has really grown as an author and continues to produce wonderful books.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter
Book Eleven of the Lords of the Underworld series
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: November 25, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Official Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes the long-awaited story of Torin, the most dangerous Lord of the Underworld yet…

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.

What I Liked:

Ooo, my first Gena Showalter adult romance novel! As you regular blog followers might recall, I've read Showalter's young adult novels, The White Rabbit Chronicles. I've always said that I wanted to read one of Showalter's adult novels, especially since I LOVE romance novels... leave it to me to start with book ELEVEN of a series. Good thing it's a companion series!

Torin is the host to the demon of Disease - meaning that everyone he touches, he infects with sickness, and the person dies. Meaning... he can't be intimate with anyone. But when he frees Keeley, the Red Queen, desire sparks and sizzles between them. She wants to kill him for (accidentally) killing a friend of hers, but neither of them can resist each other.

I loved this book. Let me repeat that statement - I loved this book. I know Showalter would not disappoint. The romance, the chemistry, the sizzle between Torin and Keeley was perfect, but there was also more to this book. A war has been brewing between Lucifer and Hades, and the Lords of the Underworld (Torin and the other host Lords) are involved. Now that Keeley is free, she is involved as well (she used to be engaged to Hades, and he wants her back, evidently).

Keeley wants to kill Torin at first, because he (accidentally) killed Mari, a friend of Keeley's. But Torin really cared about Mari, and feels very guilty about killing her with his touch. Keeley wants to exact her revenge on Torin... but she finds it difficult because she also really wants him. So. That's puts a damper on her plans.

I love the hate-turned-love relationships, especially when the lust is so strong, and the emotions slowly develop. Showalter did an excellent job of building the relationship and keeping the chemistry super fiery. It was interesting to see how Showalter did that - because Torin can't touch anyone without killing them. In Keeley's case, she's strong, and believes that she can withstand his touch. She'd get sick afterwards, but hey, when the guy is that fine...

Seriously though, the cover model of this book is like, PERFECT. That is exactly how I would see Torin. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, so I didn't get to see Torin as a secondary character, but I love him up close and personal. He's tortured over his deadly curse, and yet, he's an alpha warrior, born and bred to fight and destroy. Mmm... can't say that doesn't attract me. But he's also protective and sweet and thoughtful. Gaaahhh...

I liked Keeley, too. She was fierce and competent, devious and wicked and downright hilarious. The two of them are so great together - he fights the attraction, she doesn't, he tries to leave, she doesn't let him, and back and forth like that. It's so great!

The plot of the story, involving Hades and Lucifer and the Morning Star, is pretty cool. Showalter focused on demons rather than angels, so I was cool with all of this. There is also another story arc, involving Cameo (one of Torin's ex-girlfriends) and Lazarus, whom I didn't get a really good read on. I hope there is a book twelve, and it's about the two of them...

Overall, I'm really pleased with this book. Totally satisfying romance novel, as well as paranormal novel in general. I've seen somewhere that I really should have read the other ten books in the series before reading this one, just to get a feel for Torin's character... I will do just that.

What I Did Not Like:

I think just one more scene between Torin and Keeley, at the very end of the book, would have been nice. You know what I mean. Heh.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes! As far as romance novels go, this is a really great! Read it just to experience the hot complexity that is Torin. Also, hey, the paranormal aspect was awesome. I really enjoyed it!

Rating:

4 stars. Much like from me! I hope there are more novels in the series to come. I also hope that I can go back and binge-read the other eight books in the series!

Five years ago I fell under the spell of the LOTU series thanks to a friend suggesting this series to me. Since then I have been patiently waiting for Torin, the Keeper of Disease, to get some kind of happily ever after.

Torin deserves every bit of happiness just like his other fellow demon family members/friends, but unfortunately he is doomed to never feel the real touch of a woman due to the demon that plagues him literally. If he allows himself to feel any kind of physical touch he could give the person a sickness that could lead to death or worse become the carrier of the disease to spread to others. I have felt since the beginning that Torin got shafted. Poor guy! He needs someone too just like Reyes, Strider, Paris, etc have. I was anxious though, to figure out who would be the lucky lady to be able to hook up with Torin and actually survive.

Gena gave Torin the perfect person to hook up with and I knew the minute she was introduced I would adore her. Keeley Cael, otherwise known as the Red Queen reminds me of Anya (Lucien's love), but a little feistier. Let's just say the Red Queen gives Anya a run for her money, when it comes to how scary she is and funny she can be in certain situations. One of my favorite scenes between Anya and the Red Queen is when Anya confronts her the first time. Keeley also knows how to handle tough situations and she knows how to put Torin through the ringer (literally). The guy didn't have it easy for Keeley. =)

Be prepared for some funny moments between Torin and Keeley because these two banter constantly. They also have some very heated romantic moments together that will make readers grab for a cold glass of water. (or cold shower) Ladies...Torin knows how to get creative in the bedroom.

In The Darkest Touch, Gena continues the storyline from the previous book, but with Torin and Keeley being the main characters. These two will be put through several tests thanks to what Gena had them go through, but that made me continuously flipping through the pages. (My husband may have gotten the evil eyes several times, while I was reading this book. He should know by now to not interrupt me, while I'm reading a book by Gena Showalter.) Gena also gives us glimpses into what is happening with other characters. Secrets will be let out of the bag in this book that will leave you in shock. I know one particular scene I'm still in shock over.

If you haven't read this series and are a fan of paranormal romance, I definitely recommend reading this series in order. It's a series full of action, romance, darkness, and humor that will have you on the edge of your seat.

I look forward to the next book in the series, especially since Gena left me hanging with a couple of the other characters. I know one thing, I really would love to read William's story. He's fascinated me just as much as Torin has in the LOTU series.

***Gena you have managed to add way more book boyfriends to my over-grown book boyfriend list since I started reading your books in 2009. My husband is kind of getting jealous. =)

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
REVIEW:
Of all the Lords I think Torin was the one who broke my heart the most. As the Keeper of Disease he can’t touch anyone for any reason. Because they will get sick and die. And for any reason they do survive they will have to be taken down or they will be come a carrier of that disease. Meaning the sweet, caring and totally kick ass Torin can’t ever touch or be touched. I often wondered as I read through this series how Ms. Showalter was going to solve this little issue. And in The Darkest Touch Ms. Showalter does just that. She solves Torin’s problem but only to bring him more problems.
Keeleycael ‘The Red Queen’ is one mean SOB. She is feared and hated throughout the world and the realms but we good reason. Keeley is a bit of a drama queen with a very short fuse and a pension for killing things. Needless to say that her and Torin’s first visit doesn’t good smoothly. But soon Keeley will find herself in a situation that even The Red Queen can’t bully, threaten or kill her way out of.
This was another really good story from Ms. Showalter. I just loved Torin and Keeley. They are perfect for each other after they get over the whole I want to kill you moments. If you are a Lord of the Underworld fan you will love this book. If you are new to this series, I would suggest that you start at the beginning. There is a lot of history that leads up to this book. BUT I do think that you could pick up The Darkest Touch and read it and not be too lost.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin HQN in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

~ 4 The Darkest Touch Stars ~ 

ARC The Darkest Touch

The Darkest Touch is book eleven in the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter. I have been waiting to see what the author would do for Torin since he was introduced to us in book one The Darkest Night and she did not disappoint. 

I thoroughly enjoyed The Darkest Touch. How can a relationship work when Torin is the keeper of disease? I was quit curious on how the author would be able to give Torin a relationship. I was expecting one thing and got something altogether different. I am not disappoint just suppressed in how she handled Torin our tortured hero, the skin-to-skin relationship, and the woman who became his destiny. Keeley, The Red Queen, is his perfect match and oh boy does she have the strength and power to help Torin heal emotionally and save his friends along the way. Their passion, chemistry and relationship burned up the pages. We get a well written scorching hot romance. I enjoyed the side stories and can’t wait to see what Gena Showalter has in store for us next. We get adventure, action, loads of sexual tension, a relationship that needs a lot of work to make it work, and some big surprises along the way. 

The Darkest Touch was a great installment in the Lords of the Underworld and I am looking forward to the next installment. This is one of a few favorites that keeps getting better as it goes along. I highly recommend picking up the Lords of the Underworld. 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy free of charge from Harlequin HQN with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

Not long after this series began, I started really wanting the story of the Lord of Disease, Torin who has had to go through life isolated from normal interaction and the comfort of touch because of the nature of the demon his body houses. At first, it seems like he is content to be the tech guy and support unit, but then slowly it starts to come out in the series just how much he wants so much more than he can ever have. He wants what the other Lords have with their women. So the questions grew larger in my mind of how would it be possible and who would it be? My interest soared even higher when his minor character plot ended on a cliffhanger in the last book.

Now that the story is here, I’m going to disappoint all you Torin fans who haven’t kept up with the series and highly recommend that you don’t just jump ahead. Torin’s story grows through the series to broaden in this book to being the main story arc and it is also tangled with the series story arc as well as continuing a few other minor plot threads. Basically the book assumes that the reader has kept up with the series. In the end, can you read it out of order? With some moments of confusion and curiosity, yes you can. But should you? No, not if you want to get the most out of it.

Now, onward! This book weighed in at nearly 500 pps so the reader is by no means stinted on content. There is a lot going on with the most prominent being Torin and Keeley’s story and how they make a truly forbidden romance work especially when she starts out with a strong desire to kill him. I’ll do my best not to offer any serious spoilerage particularly since there is some real game-changer reveals for the series in this one.

The book opens with Torin grieving over the cell mate that he has accidentally killed with his disease when she naively insisted on touching him. He feels guilty enough, but then he learns the deceased Mari is the best and only friend of the demented female occupying the cell next to him in Cronus’ immortal prison. She tells him that she is Keeleycael The Red Queen and lists several painful ways she will kill him when she gets loose. Torin recognizes that he deserves her wrath, but he is on a mission to rescue his companions that through circumstances earlier that were flung to other dimensions like him. He uses the hidden All Key and escapes knowing she’ll be after him for her vengeance. And he is right. Although at first it was a bit touch and go with the enemies thing. After a time, she doesn’t go for the kill when she has the chance so he gains an interesting traveling companion and strong ally though the proximity to such an attractive female might drive him insane. His want for Keeley goes stronger by the day, but he can’t give in no matter how much she insists that she is stronger than his demon of disease. Getting to know Keeley makes his resistance even harder because he knows she is the perfect woman for him though he wonders how long her reciprocal feelings for him will last since they can’t even touch without him nearly killing her or eventually killing her. She becomes the source of his happiness and he isn’t sure if he has the strength to send her away or go away himself not that she’d let him. He knows what she considers unforgiveable because he knows Keeley. Dare he use that? But in the meantime strong enemies distract them with new and deadly situations.

Keeley knows something about the Lords and soon recognizes that Torin isn’t deserving of her revenge. In fact, he protects her from others that would harm her and tries to provide for her as they work their way through the various dimensions trying to find his companions or get back to his own. She was attracted to him from the get go, but it is not long before he surpasses every male she has encountered and she wants them to be together. After seeing the truth herself when she chose to flaunt caution with Torin and grew gravely ill, she knows her work is cut out for her if she is to keep him from being noble about things. Keeley has no problem doing what she has to do even bargaining and conniving to show him and the others how to use the four powerful instruments they have acquired so that they can rescue their friends and find Pandora’s box. Easier said than done of course because Torin isn’t her only problem. With her escape and the return of her power, she has become a person of interest to several who have their own agendas working.

The story is filled with the usual back and forth dialogue and monologues that are signature Gena Showalter. I really had my fingers crossed on this one because it was Torin’s story and I really wanted it to be something else. It is seemingly impossible for him to have a relationship and find a woman who would dare the chance of exposure to go anywhere near him. He has come to see himself as a second-rate warrior because he hasn’t been out in the field in centuries and sees any interest a woman shows him as if it’s only a matter of time before it withers and dies. This sort of fragility deserves a special woman to restore him and chase away his self-doubt. Keeley was something else and her story is even more fascinating than Torin’s when it is unveiled.

Meanwhile, the glaring problem is still there bigger than life. His fears have a strong base in reality as do the fears of those who keep him isolated. This fear is the catalyst for much of what happens personally between Torin and Keeley. They really have a big struggle and must work past so much. I confess to getting a bit impatient as stuff was going down toward the middle of the book, but sticking with these two was well worth it.

What would it take to change the impossible to the possible? And that’s the part that I’m not going to answer.

There are check-ins with Cameo and Lazarus as they fend for themselves trying to find their way through the dimensions to home. After what befell these two, I have a new Lord that I want a book for in a bad way.

The reappearance of another familiar person who shall go unnamed makes for another interesting story possibility.

The kiddies and other couples get updates and so cool- a couple other Lords will soon join Maddox in the daddy category.

But there is also William- dear William with his mysterious past and his fixation on Gilly.

And the storms of war brewing amongst demon and angel kind that is spilling over into the Lord’s world. Love the crossover to the Angels of the Dark series.

I’ll leave you with a bit of Torin and Keeley quote-age:

With a sigh, Torin moved in front of her and framed her face with his gloved hands. “Look at me, Princess. Please.”
He’s touching me. And its good, so good…
“I’ve got something to tell you. Something that’s going to change your life.”
…”O-Okay”
“Knowledge is knowing a tomato is fruit- wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.”
She blinked…”I don’t really know how to reply to that.”

Loc. 32% Torin and Keeley, The Darkest Touch

She’d heard the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Which was an odd saying, because she’d punched her way through many a male torso, and she knew for a fact that a way to a man’s heart was through the fourth and fifth ribs, but she understood the spirit of the phrase…
“I’m not overselling this when I say that you’re about to have the best dining experience of your life.” Loc. 34% Keeley, The Darkest Touch

Then she kissed him, and he felt like a man who’d just jumped out of a plane- without a parachute. He’d loved the ride down, the free fall, but hated the landing. Or would have, if he’d survived. The old Torin had burned away, flames bathing him. But a new Torin had risen, stronger, weaker, everything in between, and Keeley had become his only source of water. A man needed water to survive. Loc. 43% Torin, The Darkest Touch

All in all, it’s a ‘Don’t Miss’ for Lords of the Underworld fans and for my part, I was totally satisfied with Torin’s story. He was as deep emotionally and as sensual as any of the rest. And it was totally cool to see him in fight scenes as the true warrior he is. I have no idea who is next, but I really hope it’s Cameo and the mysterious Lazarus. I highly recommend this series to Paranormal Romance fans who like their hot loving and heavy action told with some spunky humor and engaging characters.

My thanks to Rockstar Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Well, I wanted to like this book. It seemed like Torin was going to be an interesting and possibly deep character . But, instead his personality is very different from the previous books. The red queen keys or whatever is somewhat of a rip off of Nix from the immortals after dark series from Kersey Cole imo. For one moment she is so concerned about getting her vengeance for Mari then in a second she is completely fine with him. Not to mention Mari as the red herring was kind of lame. Overall, it was just okay. I feel like a lot of Showalter's books are hit and miss now.

Torin's story is one I've been looking forward to for a very long time. I always wondered how this keeper of disease would ever find his happy ending. While he's part of the original LOTU, to me he always stood apart and you can take that quite literally. While the others appreciate his skills, they always keep at a safe distance. Almost 3000 years without a single touch has left him starved for a connection.

Now stuck in another realm as his friends, torin meets Keeley a.k.a. The Red Queen. She's something different alright. Her mood swings are extreme and her appeal undeniable. Torin doesn't know what overcomes him, but he's drawn to her. With Keeley being one of the most powerful creatures that ever existed, for the first time he really hopes there's a chance for more. Her fearlessness makes it even more difficult to keep her at a safe distance.

Torin is constantly torn between his attraction for her, the need to touch her and the fear of the consequences of that one touch. He likes her way too much to watch her die or to become a carrier of disease and therefore having to put her through the same isolation as him.

Like Keeley cares. The girl is very confident in her powers, but when it comes to matter of the hearts she struggles. It doesn't help of course that Torin keeps changing his mind about being with her. Anyone one would go bonkers.

That constant yes-no, did get tiresome at times, making me want to smack some sense into that man. Keeley was certainly not someone I was expecting, but it appears Torin prefers his woman to be a bit more volatile. These two are perfect for each other. This story is more than I ever imagined for Torin. I really liked how Gena Showalter handled to whole disease and no touching part. An excellent job, original characters and plot. Another Gena Showalter classic.

Loved it! Romance and paranormal come together with an explosive plot, leaving the reader yearning for more, with just the right amount of untold story to make me want to read the next, but cliffhanger-free! Well thought out and glorious, masterful character-building. Would have given it 5- stars, however it got a bit repetitive in parts, namely the on/off relationship with Torin and his Sugar Plum Fairy, lol. Definitely recommend this book, and, of course, the series!

Torin, possessed by the demon Disease, has spent his immortal life separate and apart from those he calls friends. Knowing his touch would either kill or create disease carriers who would spread pestilence, Torin enforced his own isolation. When he recently broke this vow of separation, he ended up in Cronus’s prison where he meets Keeleycael, the Red Queen, a very longtime prisoner. Together they escape and begin the journey towards home, but whether it is as friends or foe, neither can tell.

I’ve been waiting for The Darkest Touch for a long time, curious how Ms. Showalter could make a lover out of a man who cannot touch another. While I wasn’t wow’d by Torin’s book, I did enjoy the way the author brings together Torin and Keeley. She creates a situation that allows the pair intense sparks and passionate scenes, satisfying my inner romantic. Although I felt Keeley was a bit too over-the-top and pushy at first, she really grew on me. I love her strong will and sense of humor. She makes important decisions on a whim and justifications for reasons like “because I’m a girl.” However, Keeley is very selfish. It's all about what she is owed or what she must do for/to another to make her ledger clean. Torin's motives confuse her because she’s been so misused. I enjoyed her journey to happiness.

I also liked Torin, although I was annoyed that he had a backpack that seemed to contain every possible thing he could need while in the wilderness. How did he end up with it in prison? Unlike in each of the previous books, Torin's demon, Disease, doesn't talk to him or suggest he do things. The demon doesn't seem to have a strong opinion of Keeley either. I actually liked this change because it allows Torin the man to form his own opinions rather than his demon direct the decisions.

As much as I enjoyed the couple, I felt that the book needed at least a hundred fewer pages. There was a lot of back and forth and bickering, which I enjoyed, but it became repetitive. In addition, there are old enemies and new characters involved in a few subplots that don’t add a lot of value to this book or the overall picture. However, the biggest issue I had with the story is the introduction of an item called “Morning Star,” which not only appears to be too much like a panacea, but also leaves me wondering why the Lords are only just now hearing about it.

Overall, I liked The Darkest Touch, especially the pairing of Torin and Keeley. However, it wasn’t something that kept me glued to the pages. I think I’m at that point where I am not sure if I want to keep up with the series, but it’s not so frustrating that I want to stop. I did like that there was some positive, forward movement with respect to the mystical items and the search/rescue of Cameo/Viola. I felt like this book was more in tune with the overall story of the Lords; however, things are seem to be deviating from the original mythology - or rather it’s growing and branching off with some modification. I feel like the overall mission of finding the box and saving the warriors got lost for a while, but I’m hoping that is back on track now.

This is a solid story and enjoyable read for fans of the series, but if I start to look too deeply, I know I’ll get frustrated by some of what was left open. So I’ll put those items in my “Time Out Box” (à la Keeley) and see where the series takes me next.

My Rating: B- Liked It, but I had a few issues
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher

As always Gena gives you the story you have been waiting for!
Torin was always in his room watching everyone ( well except for when he an Cameo had there brief fling).
I didn't know where Gena would go with his story and now I understand why she had such a hard time writing this. It had to be PERFECT and I'm telling you it IS!!

Gena is a master , she not only tells us a story but you fall in love with the characters. I love the way she finds the mates and during the journey the LOVE-HATE relationship finds the LOVE at the end. As with any relationship it's not easy and she shows that in all her books.

This series has brought so much action and suspense along with the HOT romance you just have to love it!!

4.5 stars.
Somehow I missed Kane's book, book 10, and read this one. I felt a little lost in some spots, like Mari and Kane/Josephina, but otherwise I was able to follow along. But I hate reading out of order so I will read Kane's book now and then reread Torin's. It will not be a hardship to reread Tor's book. It was great!

I should not read Gena Showalter's book when I need to sleep cuz it ain't happening. Her stories are so amazing every time. Loved Torin and Keeley both such great characters and the plot was so well done loved every bargain and threat made.

I have been waiting for this book for some time. Love the series. Just wished the Red Queen could have found someway to access her hidden memories. It would have made more sense given her badass reputation.

together again, finally, the lords are brought together by the Red Queen and her newest conquest Torin, with their world changing these amazing characters show that it is family that gives them strength, family and love!

Got the audio book from the Library. Really enjoy The Darkest Touch. The writing style felt more like the LOT at the beginning. Which I was happy about. Was so happy to see Torin get his happy ever after. Can't wait for the next book.

Torin is the keeper of disease. Host to a demon. A fierce, immortal warrior. He's eveything Keelycael ever wanted in a man.

Keelycael is the Red Queen. Bold and brave. She's nothing he was looking for.

Forces collide when two possessive souls meet. Locked in a battle of wills and time, they find something neither of them knew was possible.

Love her books but this was not her best. There was too much going back and forth of "he hurt me and I'm leaving him " and the next instance they can't live without each other. As all powerful as she was I wanted to love the Red Queen and Torin--and it was ok, just not a favorite

Torin is the keeper of disease. Host to a demon. A fierce, immortal warrior. He's eveything Keelycael ever wanted in a man.

Keelycael is the Red Queen. Bold and brave. She's nothing he was looking for.

Forces collide when two possessive souls meet. Locked in a battle of wills and time, they find something neither of them knew was possible.

Love her books but this was not her best. There was too much going back and forth of "he hurt me and I'm leaving him " and the next instance they can't live without each other. As all powerful as she was I wanted to love the Red Queen and Torin--and it was ok, just not a favorite

I love this series. It is one of my favorites. I couldn't put this book down. If you are a true Lords of the Underworld fan you will love this book. That is all I am going to say because I don't believe in spoilers.

I was so excited when I found out that Gena Showalter was finally writing Torin's story. I love this series and the Lords are such great characters to read about and her stories are always entertaining, sometimes funny, sometimes emotional, but always well written and developed. Torin's story is all of that and more. Keeley is such a strong, yet vulnerable woman, and she is a great match for the very restrained and lonely Torin. Their story had action, passion, highs and lows (because Torin kept regretting his association with Keeley every time she became sick), that I wasn't sure how they would end up together permanently. The solution isn't one I saw coming and the source of that solution was also surprising. Torin is a very lonely and guilt ridden warrior who, shocker, is still a virgin! (he hadn't even "gone all the way" before he was cursed with Disease) Their road to happily-ever-after took them through many realms, dungeons, Hell, ecstasy, and heartache, but they do find it and the ending is great. Loved it! Now Gena Showalter just has to hurry up and get to William the Ever Randy's story, that will be so delicious! :-)