The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld)

This is yet another amazing book by Gena! I couldn't put it down!!!! It kept me interested in what was going to happen next, twists and turns at every direction! Can't wait for the next book to come out.

This may be my new favorite Lords of the Underworld book! I loved how we finally got to see so much of Cameo's inner thoughts and how she battled her demon. Also loved the chemistry between her and Lazarus! Can't wait for the next one!

Action packed and intense! I was riveted from page one til the last! Absolutely love this series! I have been waiting for Cameo's book for a long time and it definitely did not disappoint! Can't wait to see who is next and what will happen with the war between Lucifer and Hades. In fact, that's the only thing I would change. I like the romance, but I really want to know more about the war and see some more action and battle. I would absolutely LOVE to see the whole group fight as one (minus the ones who can't fight, like Ashlyn or the preggo ones). I think that would be freaking awesome to see them battle it out as a group!

Cameo and Lazarus!!
Cami found someone who doesn't actually cringe when she talks. Laz is immediately attracted to Cami and works to make her his anyway it could cause his demise. He wants to spend as much time loving her as he can before the same curse or illness that took his father happens to him. Cami has to fight the demon misery at every turn in order to remember her happiness and emotional connection to Laz. It's also always good to hear from the rest of the Lords of the Underworld and get little snippets of how their life is going.

I loved the book because I love the series. Hell, I have it in hardback and in audio. I wanted more assertiveness from Cameo but I understand how misery and depression can weight on every moment of life and drain even the most basic of instincts. I loved Lazarus and I think no other could have been a better match for her. He truly is one of a kind. This book is written so well and it doesn't skip a beat with the remaining single people. ;) I felt like the story ended so abruptly though. Not that it was rushed but, I would have really enjoyed the reactions of her family/friends to her demon situation at the end. I honestly cant wait till the next book!

As the Mother of Misery, Cameo, navigates the nightmare Wonderland Lazarus rules, she proves over and over she's no delicate Alice. A vixen intent on answers and a ruthless King who's passion for vengeance can only be trumped by his obsession for her. Lazarus is a male above all others, a true beast of strength and masculinity, unlike the Lord's, his character is rarely broken by his emotions, but he's continually challenged by the strength and wit of Cameo, who struggles to accept that perhaps he could truly bring her pleasure that can't be forgotten. This book is FULL of action, chemistry, adventures and twists. The tension and chemistry keeps your blood heated from beginning to end. Definitely a fun, satisfying 5 star read.

Cameo and Lazarus I so cheered for them throughout this entire story. These 2 together deserves some kind of happiness. I needed to get more information on the other characters but not much was said. Viola though now there is a lady who deserves her own story. Great to see the Sent Ones again.
Will I re-read probably not. Do I recommend- Yes. It helps with the series.
Enjoy

I had pre-ordered this book, marked my calendar for release date and even prepared my husband that I would be otherwise engaged - and it didn't dissapont. The relationship between Lazarus and Cameo is thrilling to read and had an unexpected ending. They even added new potential relationships that makes me excited to wait for the next installment of Lord's of the Underworld. More please!!!!

Such a fun read and seeing all my favorite characters again. Poor poor Cameo. Made my cry for her so many times. Lazarus aka Lazario was so hot as always and loving his "monster". Felt a little draggy in parts of the book and a part where a shirt came off but still wasn't off a few sentences later but still loved it.

The latest in the Lords of the Underworld series, The Darkest Promise, stood strong along all the others. This one was about the lone female of the Lords, Cameo, keeper of Misery. Something inside her leads her to track down Lazarus. Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual remembers Cameo and craves her body and soul. Both full of fire and passion and fear. Can Cameo come out of this with her memory intact or will her happiness be erased due to her demon. Read their story and find out all the little 'gory' ;) details for yourself, because I won't be telling any spoilers. A must read for any LOTU fan.

I've been reading the lord series for years now, Maddox's book was the first book that I actually ever read(besides school reading assignments) and this series is what got me into paranormal romance, there is just something about the way Gena writes that pulled me in and got me hooked. I've read almost every book she's published and this one doesn't disappoint. I fell in love with Cameo since the beggining because I've suffered with depression and I can relate to the misery she goes through each day. The thing is with Gena is that this series might be paranormal and these characters might not be real but with how she writes, she makes these characters feel like they are real and that you could actually go to Budapest and meet them and that's what I love. Its a non traditional series but its amazing to see how she brings them to life. I'm excited for the next book. I can't wait for the next journey. Definitely a series to get into.

Even though it had been a while since I'd read the last book, I was still able to return back to the series without having to reread all the others. The characters are amazing that they become like family and seeing each of the journeys from their perspectives is quite an adventure in itself. This was beautifully written and captivated me to the point that I hadn't wanted to stop reading and never wanted it to end. I love stories where the most unlikely of people find that they could have a beautiful life together.

I ordered the Kindle version with a cover that I thought was the story of William the Ever Randy because the cover was different from this one. Be careful when ordering. Do not go by the pictures. Read to see if it is the one you want. This is the third time I have done this. I read about the making of Pandora's box in an anthology then ordered a book that sounded like something different. I also read about Lysander and the harpy in an anthology and bought the Kindle book because I didn't read the synopsis. My mistake all three times but I think it is too tricky. Love her books though, so it is not the book that I give one star; it is the way it is sold.

Another good book in the Lords of the Underworld series, although they are getting a bit repetitive at this point. Cameo and Lazarus romance is so similar to Showalter's other Lords books. In order to be free to love the hero, or heroine in this case, he/she must "overcome" or "make peace" with their demon. This usually involves some sort of adventure looking for some kind of object to help with that process, during which the two fall madly in love. And, of course, the ending needs to have a death or a semi death and possible "resurrection". Oh yeah, and the H/h dislike each other in the beginning.

I hate to complain because the writing is really good and the characters are well developed and this is a really good book * but I think this series has run its course. How man books/novellas are there? 15+? Thats a lot. Maybe a spinoff in the same world would be better.

And is anyone else sick and tired of waiting for William's book?!?!? I understand teasing and cliffhangers but its gotten ridiculous already. Please just get it done with or without Gillian I don't care at this point.

***Timeline at the end of the book includes highlights from all the past Lords of the Underworld books. Excellent reference guide.

*I was given the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Ok, let me first say that this is the best LOTU book since The Darkest Surrender (Kaia/Strider). The last few have been boring to dismal. But Cameo and Lazarus' book recaptures the fun adventure and hot passion that the series is famous for. The obstacles the pair face don't seemed forced on the story just to add strife like in the last few books. And because Lazarus is so yummy I'd probably rate this one about my 4th favorite in the series. So why only 3 stars? Editing. I always let the first couple of editing mistakes go because, hey, we all make them. But there were so many that it got annoying. Knocked it down a star.

Wait that should put this at 4 stars instead of only 3. Well, the book lost another star not for content but on account of that little harbinger of doom, the goddess of many futures. For those who have not read the book yet I won't reveal any spoilers but lets just say there is some forshadowing involved that is going to change the storyline of a much anticipated couple. So now I speak directly to Ms. Showalter: Gena…Gena, Gena, Gena, Gena, Gena. May I call you Gena? I don't want to sound like a stuck up elitest who is trying to remind you who keeps your toast buttered so without giving you too much of a hint, its us, your fans, thats who keeps your toast buttered. William and Gilly deserve a shot together! He must save her from Puck and decipher his book and end up with his Gilly! This is what we want. This is what we've been waiting YEARS for. The foreshadowing of another? Was it to see what kind of reaction you'd get from your readership? Well Boo Hiss! How is that for a reaction? Please, I implore you, don't mess up his book. I can forgive all the other disappointments but I will not forgive that. Just think it over very carefully before writing anything rash.

I love the LotU series so this is hard for me to say: this latest installation in the series was the weakest yet.

A couple reasons the book didn't work for me:
-formulaic. They find each other, hook up encounter, one leaves, the other pines until they find each other, hook up encounter,....et cet.et cet. The series is normally very action packed but, here, the fights were a backdrop to move the H/h on to the next encounter.
- Cameo 'shaking her fist' at people all the time ...like some old man, 'why I oughta...." Stop right now and shake your fist in front of your face as if threatening someone. See how stupid that looks?
-Rushed ending. Most of the plot centered on Lazarus struggling to find out if it was possible to rid Cameo of her demon and eternal suffering so they could be together. After building on it for all the preceding chapters, kinda resolved quick and tidy.
-Too many enemies at once/ nothing ever gets resolved. I get that as immortal warriors, they have attacks from all sides all the time. As a reader, I'd like to see at least a couple storylines come to fruition before she adds more to the pile.What did the the stores add here?. i get it. everyone wants to kill Cameo/Lazarus.
-The mud fight scene.I understand the purpose and what she was doing with Cameo's character here, still felt forced. There's always one forced humor scene in these books and this was the worst....Go back and read in Anya & Lucien's story when she chains him to the bed. That was hilarious and believable. This, not so much.

Lazarus was the most redeeming aspect of the story. He had a sort of juvenile humor that was done well and it didn't make him come off goofy or immature. It was a good blend with his menace.Also, his pining for his woman, how he was so smitten for Cam. Hard not to like a male lead so besotted.
I love Gena and this is a great series. For me, I'd rather wait a little longer for a book that felt less forced than for her to churn one out to keep the series moving.

I was a huge fan of this series when it started. The books were full of action, sarcasm and just the right amount of steamy. Unfortunately, I’ve completely lost interest at this point. The heroines in the series may each have different powers but they’re all cut from the same cloth - sarcastic, immature bad asses who melt for their men. Cameo is possessed with the demon Misery and can definitely hold her own in a fight but I couldn’t have cared less about she and Lazarus. Lazarus himself was so alpha and so full of himself that I didn’t find him likeable at all. And the ongoing backstory of the fight between Lucifer and Hades with Hera and all of their magical artifacts has just gone on too long already. People pop in and out but half the time I can’t remember their significance. Definitely don’t try and jump into the series at this point without having read the other books first since it’s all linked together. I wish I could say something good about this book but I really ended up skimming it about halfway through. There isn’t much to work with and I don’t plan on reading any further in the series.

Cameo, the only female among the Lords of the Underworld, finally has her own book. She also has a terrific man as her hero: Lazarus, the Cruel and Unusual. Explaining who he is and what he does would only cause spoilers, so I'll just say that at least one of the Lords (a straight one!) said (half joking) he'd consider having Lazarus' baby. He's able to kick the Lords' butts, deal with Cameo's demon of Misery, and even makes her smile. Even better, the search for Pandora's box is finally getting somewhere. More detail is given on the history of it's creation, what it contains, what it can do and even where it is. Again, don't want to give out spoilers. The only criticism I have is that this book has much less of Showalter's smart mouthed heroine LOL lines. That's probably because the heroine here is the Keeper of Misery. Still, it's a great read and a necessary one if you're a fan of the Lords of the Underworld, and their world of immortals.

The Lords are back! *jumping up and down*

While the previous book felt more like a filler, this one isn't because we. Get. Answers! Granted, we also wake up with other questions, as well, but progress, I say!

I never thought I'd love Lazarus the way I do now. When I first encountered him in The Darkest Surrender, where he was the unfortunate consort - mate, other half - of the harpy, Juliette, I kind of felt bad for him. He was trapped, enslaved. He wasn't happy. He went so far as to ask Strider to behead him. That kind of says it all, don't you think?

So he's now king of his own realm. In The Darkest Touch, he and Cameo ended up in another realm, very close to Pandora's Box. The story goes on, with flashbacks to what happened then.

Cameo's demon makes sure she doesn't remember Lazarus - or what happened between them - but she's stubborn and, using the Paring Rod, goes to search for him.

I liked their back-and-forth, I loved their dynamic, their relationship. I loved seeing a different side of Lazarus - one I never thought he had; I loved seeing him care so much about Cameo, love her so much!

Cameo's bada** as always. The only woman among the Lords for thousands of years, she had to work harder at showing everyone she could do what the others did. She kind of has Lazarus wrapped around her little finger and she doesn't even know it.

I loved seeing the other couples, Lords and their women; loved seeing the Sent Ones again. Oh, what the heck, I just loved this book.

I so can't wait for more and it's killing me that we were given a few maybe-couples for the next book and I'm kind of losing hope William will be getting his story told, any time soon *chin trembling*

But whoever is next, I can't wait to read it. 4.5 stars.

Rating: 5/5
Heat Rating: 3/5

You know, I'm not quite sure how to express how much I loved this book. In fact I haven't enjoyed a LOTU book this much in a while. Which of course is saying something since I always enjoy them.

First off let me say that I absolutely adore Lazarus. He's totally booted Strider out of first place in my LOTU faves. Despite his moniker of Cruel and Unusual he really is a fabulous guy. Plus he was fierce, protective and willing to do anything to keep the ones he loves safe. I loved how he loved Cameo.

"What made you fall for someone like me?"
Underneath his shirt, the muscles in his back knotted. "You mean someone strong and courageous? Someone who doesn't cave to fear but overcomes it? Someone who smiles for me and me alone? Someone who empowers me with only a glance? Someone who has never placed a condition on her feelings for me, who loves me and wants the best for me?"

Besides the heart melting pretty word his feelings were also made known thru his actions as well as the book quotes located at the beginning of each chapter. I really enjoyed reading reading those.

THE DARKEST PROMISE wasn't exactly what I was expecting considering it's Cameo's book. Truthfully I wasn't expecting it to be one of my favorites in the series. I just wasn't feeling Cameo, you know? I'm so happy that that wasn't the case. As you can see from Lazarus' description, there's more to Cameo than meets the eye. Though her demon, misery, was easily apparent in the text, so wasn't her determination to overcome it's effects (at times). And of course there were facets of her personality that were wonderful to learn about.

As Cameo and Lazarus were falling for each other I was falling for the scene settings. Lazarus' realm, the Realm of Grimm and Fantica, had some great settings. Then later on in the book, when they were battling their biggest foe in the story, the different descriptions of that area were cool too. I think it's great that Showalter continues to come up with interesting and fantastical ideas to put into her books.

IMO not only is THE DARKEST PROMISE another awesome novel in the LOTU series but also perhaps the best. I think it will definitely supersede your expectations. It's totally a MUST READ.

COVER COMMENTS:
LOVE IT!!! It's sexy and really fits the book. Well, except the demon possession butterfly tattoos on his neck, right forearm and hand. He's not possessed by a demon released from Pandora's box.

A FEW LAST THINGS...
~No, William doesn't have a strong presence in this book.
~The secondary character that gets the most page time is Viola so she'll probably be the focus of the next book in the series.
~Urban is such a cutie! His antics in this were funny, even charming LOL!
~The LOTU timeline, book breakdowns and glossary located at the back of the book could have been better.

QUOTES:
"Butterflies are signs of impending success sunshine. If one leaves her chrysalis too easily, her wings are waekened. She must struggle to exit or she will never have the strength to fly. But because she flies, she brings her strength to you."

"That is the laugh I have dreamed of hearing, but it is better in reality, far better, than anything I'd imagined. Your laugh is magic. A spell of enchantment. An incantation meant to entice, lure and seduce, and if I hadn't loved you already, I would have fallen right then."

*ARC provided by author for voluntary review.

"His black heart shattered. How many times had this woman faced rejection?"
 
Wow.....This book made my heart race, goosebumps spread all over my skin, and I'm trying to wrap my head around what just happened. The Darkest Promise is by far my favorite book of this year! I was hooked from the very first page, and could not put it down. PNR lovers you need this series in your life. Even though you can read this book as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the other books in the series to get a better understanding of the setting, and the characters. My review is spoiler free, so your safe to continue reading. ;)
 
"Story of my life. Always better off alone."

Cameo is possessed by the demon of Misery. She can witness bits of happiness before it is all taken away. She is lost, and alone. And she hates it. Cameo envies the relationships between the Lords and their women. She wants to have that special someone, to love and to cherish her. And that man is none other than Lazarus.

Lazarus the Cruel, lives for one purpose. Build his army and annihilate his enemies. But on the back of his mind is the one woman who has the ability to destroy him.... Cameo.
 
"Take me unawares once, my bad. Take me unawares twice, you die."

Cameo and Lazarus's chemistry was off the walls. They were total opposites but couldn't be more perfect for one another. Cameo is Lazarus's doom, but he want's one night, full of passion and to bring Cameo pleasure. But after one taste, they both can't get enough.

When word get's out that Pandora's Box has been stolen, The Lords and Cameo are hell bent on finding it. If it get's in the wrong hands... all hell will pay. No one is safe, war is coming, and the Lords are ready. Both Cameo and Lazarus know their relationship was doomed from the start, but is their a way for them to be together, with her being the keeper of Misery? Or will she once again be all alone.
 
Read to find out.
**************************
 
The Lords of the Underworld series is one that will forever stay with you. Showalter sends you to a magical world, full of mystical creatures, angels and demons. I can't express how much this series means to me. I love it so much, anything Gena Showalter writes is a must read. I highly recommend reading the entire series  to every PNR lover out there. Fast paced, full of romance, and action. Definitely one of my favorite reads of this year, and also my favorite book written by Gena.

I am so excited to see who's book is next!
 
☆ 5 Stars ☆

I love this series, I really do...BUT...I have a few complaints. First off, the plotlines are repetitive. It's always the main characters either fighting some big baddie, fighting their feelings for each other or fighting prophecies (which may or may not come true). In any case, it's always nicely wrapped up within the last couple chapters and the whole book leading up to that point is just a lot of inner dialogue, fight scenes, miscommunication or secrets.
There is never an epilogue (lately due to the overall ARC of this new war between Hades and Lucifer) so I guess that's the reason we cannot see too far in the future....????
I would just like at least a few chapters at the end (or a separate novella maybe) to show me how all the couples that I've spent SO MUCH TIME with over the years are actually doing!!!
I get that the recent books are supposed to be happening in a very short time period of each other, but come on, I started with Maddox and Ashlyn and the deal with the Hunters and it's morphed into this war with the Hell Kings and I just want to see how my favorite guys and gals are doing! Maybe forward in time 100 years or something. A little snippet of their lives excluding all the war business or killing baddies, to just spend a few moments and enjoy being with them again and reliving their romances. Is that too much to ask???
Anyway, rant over. I liked this book...I will continue to read the series...I just want something different for once.

Cameo has longed for happiness, but knew it was out of her reach. She doesn’t remember details of her short time with Lazarus, but she knows it was special. Cameo is the keeper of the demon Misery and her demon doesn’t let her have a moment of happiness. Once she feels even a second of happiness, she forgets. Over the centuries, she hasn’t just forgotten the good things, she’s forgotten the bad. That devastates Cameo.

Though she loves her family, she knows it’s time to go her own way. She decides to make her way to Lazarus to get answers. She gets them as soon as she seems him. They had something. Something good. Something that was even great.

Lazarus is shocked to find Cameo in his kingdom. He’s even more shocked that she doesn’t remember him. He also surprised to realize that Cameo is his mate. Which isn’t a good thing. When the men in his family find their mates, their veins start to crystalize rendering them, well, statues. As much as Lazarus wants Cameo, he is not willing to give up his revenge for her. And oh does he have plans for revenge.

Cameo has no idea the impact she is having on Lazarus. All he is trying to do is seduce her. She’s having a hard time saying no. The only thing that is holding her back is that he barely seems to like her. It would help his efforts if he showed some sort of affection for her. As it stands, he seems to hardly tolerate her, only wanting her physically.

I loved this book, I hated the ending. I was really disappointed because up until the end, I was really enjoying the book. It’s the first book I read since May and I really couldn’t put it down. I adored Lazarus. After two thousand years of wanting revenge, he gave up everything for Cameo. Even his life.

So, when I first decided to review this book, I had no idea that it was number thirteen in the series. Once I found out, I was kind of nervous because I thought I was going to be completely lost, but I wasn’t, and it was very easy to follow.

Cameo is cursed by the demon of Misery. At first, I thought this book might be a bit dark and depressing because Cameo can’t experience happiness. She only brings sorrow and sadness to those around her, and every time she experiences any kind of happiness, Misery wipes her memory of it. This book was actually the opposite of what I first thought. My heart did break for Cameo a few times because she wanted to be happy so badly. Apparently in another book, Cameo did feel some type of desire and happiness from Lazarus, but of course, Misery wiped her mind clean. Now, Cameo is determined to find Lazarus because he might be her only real hope at true happiness.

I didn’t think I was going to like Lazarus at first, he is definitely cruel, but he hasn’t had an easy life either. He is determined to build an army and hurt everyone who has ever hurt him or his family. He is ruthless to others, but when it comes to Cameo, his true weakness, he can’t resist trying to bring her happiness. After a while, I warmed up to him, and I actually adored the way the treated Cameo.

Overall, the story line was very easy to follow. There was a lot of back and forth between Lazarus and Cameo. But there is also a lot of humor, and of course, sexual chemistry. I adored Cameo right from the beginning. She is such an amazing character. I wouldn’t mind going back and starting from the beginning and catching up with this entire series.

The Darkest Promise is part Alice in Wonderland, part biblical tangent, part mythological twist. You have Cameo, who is inhabited by the demon of misery. Lazarus the cruel and unusual is king of the realm of the grimm and fantica. The world Showalter has created is insane! Its so incredibly unique and fantastical! Its also VERY sexy. Talk about sexual tension!

Talk about a forbidden love that is never to be! Cameo has her memory erased the moment she experiences happiness. So, no love, no joy. Lazarus knows she is his intended (he has a weird greek word for it), but they simply cannot be together. Its all very tragic and angsty. Cameo is one of the Lords of the Underworld, but because her demon makes everyone around her miserable, she has pretty much steered clear. Lazarus also knows that keeping Cameo in his life will lead to his death, just like his father. As if these two didn't have enough against them, it seems like literally everyone is out to get either Cameo, Lazarus, or both of them! Seriously, these two can't catch a break. When Cameo makes Ever and Urban cry just by talking, my heart hurt for her. I can't even imagine not being able to talk to my godchildren!

Loved the supporting characters! Urban and Ever are adorbs! Viola is an interesting character as well. At first, I thought her demon didn't seem that bad (compared to Cameo's anyway!) but you start to see how it would still be pretty sucky.

Finally, I enjoyed the banter between Lazarus and Cameo. Despite all the tragedy and danger, there are moments when these two are hilarious and punny! It was incongruous with their situation, but it totally worked.

The latest book in this Series is just as dark and depressing as the previous ones. For those who have not read the previous books, this book can be read as a standalone. Ms. Showalter does an excellent job of re-capping the events up to date. She also creates a deeply moving story of two lost souls.

Cameo is one of the few women who are part of the Lords of the Underworld. She is literally cursed with the demon Misery. Just her voice or even a small hum from her can elicit a suicidal spiral. One would think the strongest are those who are happy and joyful. Not so, just her presence will suck the joie de vivre from everyone. This is everyone except Lazarus. Lazarus is known as the Cruel and Unusual king in the realm of Grimm and Fantica. He also has a past with Cameo she can not remember.

Both Cameo and Lazarus are characters mired in angst. They are marinated in sorrow and cooked in despair. When it comes to violations, Ms. Showalter ups it several notches because it is more than just physical pain. Both Cameo and Lazarus's free will have been stricken from them. They are forced to do things they do not want to do. This heinous transgression upon a person's mind is an intimately private abuse. I felt badly for both characters and wished only vengeance upon the perpetrators. It is questionable if either can be sane after centuries of torment. I am fond of books which make me feel some kind of emotion. This one definitely makes me feel sadness tinged with righteous anger. Who does this kind of thing? Only evil.

Still, this is a paranormal romance so there is a happily ever after, albeit a slightly bittersweet one. The romance part is conflicted as Lazarus seems to be weakened by Cameo's proximity and love. The sex parts are erotic with plenty of edging and deferred gratification. This amuses me and I enjoy Cameo's frustration.

What can be confusing is all the different Greek demi-gods warring with each other. Mix in a dash of angel mythos and it all goes to hell in a handbasket. For those who do not have a basic knowledge of Greek mythology, this series can be confusing. For those who enjoy Greek mythology, Ms. Showalter does a great job of showcasing just how petty the Greek gods and goddess can be. I'm not surprised by their cruelty and heartlessness. Fits right in with their selfish desires. This plays well in this complex world Ms. Showalter has created. With each realm she adds, it becomes more interesting and interconnected. This book provides a couple of big reveals which makes more sense about Pandora's box. The theme for this series should really be, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". This paranormal romance is recommended for readers who enjoy dark anti-heroes and edgy erotica.

* Review copy provided via Reading Alley for an honest review.

I do not recommend this to be your first Lords of the Underworld book, it was mine. Too many characters and too many backstories. In the back, there is a wonderful one page summary of the characters and their backstory, a prequel to the world, and a glossary.

The gist is a bad boy, Lazarus, is deeply in love with Cameo. Cameo is possessed by the demon Misery, so that when she speaks it makes most cry. The do a lot of fighting of creatures and a war is on the horizon. There is a lot of sexual tension and teasing and lots getting in the way of them begin together for a night and a lifetime. I can see the lure of the book, Cameo is a beautiful and strong warrior with a quest, to remove her demon, who makes her forget things. Lazarus a strong handsome warrior deeply in love, it almost got repetitive. I liked the premise, the writing, and the world, just too much for a first-timer, I give it a 3.5 just because I didn’t have enough context to care or know the world, the characters, the creatures.

I am a reviewer for Authors on The Air-Book Review Crew.
Cameo is host to The High Demon-Misery. The demon, Misery, ensures that his immortal host is in a constant state of mental, emotional,and physical anquish. Cameo must go through the Rod of Paring to find Lazarus-The Cruel and Unusual. He has answers to her questions and can help her find Pandora's box. Cameo doesn't remember that Lazarus was once her lover because Misery wipes her memory of anything that is pleasurable. Lazarus cannot forget Cameo bc she is his obsession and his curse. The longer that he is in her presence , the quicker the ice shards spread throughout his body and will totally encase him in a cocoon. How can Cameo save Lazarus and save herself at the same time?? Ohh you will have to read it to find out what happens. It is deliciously exciting. I highly recommend this book. I especially loved The Sky Serpents and Princess Fluffikens.

I enjoy Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld Series. They always have just the right amount of action and romance, and are traditionally easy to read and offer several hours of pure entertainment. Simply stated, The Darkest Promise was no different.

Fans of the series have been waiting to see Cameo find true happiness, which has been difficult since she is possessed by the demon “Misery”. The demon Misery lives to make everyone miserable, especially Cameo. The demon’s very voice drives people mad to the point that they would consider suicide. Well, all but one person, Lazarus. The only problem, Cameo doesn’t remember their last encounter – she allows Misery to wipe her memory clean - and is afraid to let him into her heart. She only wants to locate the remaining artifacts that could change her life and those of her friends forever. They want to be demon free.

Lazarus, the Cruel and Unusual, wants two things. (1) He wants revenge and (2) for Cameo to remember how she feels about him. They are meant to be together although she may prove to be his greatest weakness. The more he loves, the more he is destined to follow in his father’s footsteps…his body encased in a crystallized tomb. Is love worth his impending doom?

I enjoy how Showalter provides some symbols of hope. For example, Cameo’s butterfly tattoo and the constant mention of Lazarus being followed by butterflies, as well as being known as “The Butterfly King” did not escape me. Brilliant! They are destined to spend a lifetime together. Seeing the evolution of Cameo and Lazarus’ love and finding out how secrets can form perceptions, all yielded a very satisfying read. I also enjoyed the Insider’s Guide (because I had forgotten some of the back stories of some of the characters) as well as the Glossary of terms/plays. It was great seeing some of the characters that I have grown to enjoy in the series. And finally, I can’t wait to see what happens to the Lords in the future. We have the impending showdown between Hades & Lucifer, and a possible romance for Viola.

This book was a long time coming. We’ve watched Cameo suffer with her demon, Misery, for a while now. At first I thought that she was going to end up with her fellow warriors, but this story with Lazarus has been building for a little bit.

We join Cameo as she tumbled (literally) into Lazarus’s realm. She knows that they’ve met before, but the demon had previously removed any memory of him from her mind. This world, coupled with her own demon-based suffering, ends up making it a little difficult from her to find Lazarus without any bloodshed. Wounding one of Lazarus’s pets, though, seems to accomplish everything she needed. With a weird cat-thing in tow, she ends up being confronted by the man she most desired (re) meeting.

Lazarus doesn’t actually realize the extent of Cameo’s memory loss, but that doesn’t really slow him down much. These two are absolutely the perfect pair. His sarcasm and wit had me wishing for more Lazarus-centric scenes. Even with some truly terrible and martyr-rific decisions on both sides, I really enjoyed watching the romance between these two.

As usual, there are also a number of side stories, but none were actually distracting. We’ve met the woman in the mirror who will somehow tie to Hades in future installments (probably). We’ve also got more Hera information that will probably come in handy, a new cat-thing friend (maybe), and a huge step forward in the Pandora box situation. All in all, this was a really productive book, with another lord paired off successfully.

4.5 Stars

Anytime I crack open a Gena Showalter book I know I’m in for a fun and sexy ride. THE DARKEST PROMISE delivers.”
~ Under the Covers

I’ve had a soft spot for Cameo since the very first time we meet her. She’s the keeper of Misery and she can’t even speak without everyone around bursting into tears! The girl has had it bad. Plus, she’s also had her heart broken when she was betrayed by a previous boyfriend. I thought her little affair with Torin was interesting but I wanted to see more passion for her. I wanted someone to tip the scale and give her so much pleasure it would override all the misery she’s had to deal with. And then we get Lazarus. And boy was this exactly what I was hoping for!

Cameo and Lazarus have met, and even been lovers before. But as with anytime she experiences joy, Misery wiped her memory of those encounters and she doesn’t remember Lazarus. But she knows there’s one man she’s maybe able to be happy with and she goes in search of him into another realm.

I LOVED THESE TWO! OMG I wasn’t even expecting to love them so much. First Cameo, because the more you know about her and how she has to suffer with her demon, the more you feel bad for her and just want her to finally have happiness. You want to see her smile! And then there’s Lazarus. He’s a bad boy, through and through, and I was happy to see that we are not changing the core of who he is. But his love and devotion for Cameo really knows no bounds. Even if that includes betraying her to keep her safe. Or just relentlessly pursue her and tirelessly try to make her experience joy. I really think he’s perfect book boyfriend material and I couldn’t have fallen more in love with him. He’s fierce when it comes to protecting the ones he cares about, whether his woman or his pet sky serpents.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this story was the obstacles they had to overcome to be together. I love stories that seem impossible to have a happy ending because it just seems the author had to really dig to make that happen in a way that makes sense and doesn’t feel “too easy”. This book satisfied that for me. And through that search of their HEA we are also moving the overall series forward quite a bit, which I’m so excited to see.

This book is filled with Ms. Showalter’s signature wit and humor. I couldn’t help but smile every other page, sometimes even in the middle of swooning. That is definitely one of my favorite things about this series. As much as I fall in love with the characters and the world building is engaging and intricate, it’s that wit that gets me all giddy. Ok, yeah, and the hot alpha men too. ?

Anytime I crack open a Gena Showalter book I know I’m in for a fun and sexy ride. THE DARKEST PROMISE delivers. I think the overall series arc is building up nicely, this one is a great addition to all that while being an excellent romance on its own. I am definitely anxious to read the next one. Give it to me!

The Lords of the Underworld are back, and I’m already waiting for more!

Finally! Finally we have been blessed with Cameo’s book. I’ve been waiting on the Mother of Misery’s story since I finished the first three LOTU books years and years ago. I always knew her man would be amazing, and yes, Lazarus lives up to that title.

Let’s talk about the characters of The Darkest Promise first. Cameo is a great character. I love how she doesn’t back down and she’s bada$$, even with a macho man by her side. Her character/demon development also really fit well into the plot points of the story, despite not being mentioned in previous books. Lazarus, Cameo’s macho man, was very nice as well. *wink, wink* He’s a very unique paranormal creature, and I’m still not sure exactly what all he can do powers-wise.

What I wasn’t so sure about for this book at first though, was the two characters’ relationship. It seemed like they went from having an awesome tension to having some weird high school crush. In one of the previous LOTU books, they bickered at each other, but in this one, it was just some awkward narcissistic banter. HOWEVER, while I did miss that tension, I did grow to enjoy Cameo’s and Lazarus’s interactions fairly quickly.

Speaking of narcissistic banter, I am getting a little “ugh” at seeing this in romance books today. Example: “Concentrate on your man. Or rather, my smorgasbord of masculine delights.” This line was said by Lazarus, and I’m just not feeling it. Would any man, or person in general, really say that to their significant other? I know this is fiction, but I do like believable dialogue…

That’s probably my only major qualm with this book and books 4-12 in this series. The other stuff’s just minor things I noticed. Because, really, there was a lot of action, the plot moved along really well, there was an abrupt ending that left me wanting more, a lot of twists and turns in the middle of the book (the ending was a tad predictable, but every romance story requires a HEA, right?), and the book even has an awesome timeline at the end to refresh readers! Oh, and all of the Lords are seen or mentioned in the book, and they’re all together! Yay! I can’t remember the last time they were all in the same area at the same time.

If you are in any way a fan of Kresley Cole or J.R. Ward’s books, you’ll love Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. If you can’t decide whether or not to pick this one up, do it! You won’t regret finally knowing where Cameo’s story takes her. Also, some pretty major plot points for the entire series happen in this book. Just FYI.

Side note: I am a little disappointed by the title. Usually, the titles play into one of the narrator’s demons, but that really wasn’t the case for this book. Plus, there are a lot of The Darkest P books in this series (i.e., The Darkest Prison, The Darkest Passion, The Darkest Pleasure). Love the cover, though!

*Note: I won an ARC copy of this book from the author. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

OH MY GOSH...Cameo FINALLY gets her book and I LOVED it!!! I have been fascinated with Cameo's character since the first book in this series and with every passing book, I was always wondering when Cameo was going to get hers, and the time has finally come!!

Lazarus & Cameo are PERFECT for each other. Lazarus The Cruel & Unusual was exactly that, except with Cameo. All he wanted was to make her smile and drown her in pleasure. He wanted to mark Cameo in ways that usual people wouldn't imagine, and he wanted to mark her so she would never forget him, again. Cameo is on a quest to meet Lazarus and to experience the pleasure that only he can bring her, but she is scared and doubtful. Her demon doesn't let her have happiness and that is a problem, but not one that Lazarus doesn't welcome to overcome.

Lazarus is more than just cruel and wanting to please Cameo, he is also out for vengeance against a certain goddess and a certain harpy. He was used and violated in some of the worst ways. I really felt bad for Lazarus, but at the same time, this man is strong and in command of some very terrifying creatures, so I definitely would put my money of Lazarus winning any fight in went in to. I loved how he pushed Cameo, but at the same time, he nurtured her and just wanted to make her happy. Not many people can even be in the same room with Cameo, but Lazarus relishes his time with her, even though he is at war about it in his head, because of what happens to his kind when they find their soul mates.

Cameo is seriously, such a sweetheart. I loved her character in general, but I really loved how she was with children and how she thought of others before herself. She was astounded that Lazarus could be in the same room as her and even hear her talk without wanting to kill himself. She knows that she and Lazarus have a past connection, but her demon takes any happy memories and erases them, so she doesn't remember, but she has a feeling and she follows that feeling all the way into his domain. Cameo's loyalty was profound. Even when she thought she would never see Lazarus again, she went into a situation with her knives out and ready to defend him. The other Lords of the Underworld and their women love Cameo and I love how protective they are of her. Cameo is definitely my favorite!

The passion that is between Lazarus and Cameo is so deep and embedded into each other, that when they do come together, you don't know where one starts and the other finishes. Gena Showalter wrote an amazing story that has elements of fantasy, drama, romance and suspense. This whole series is just absolutely amazing and I am really hoping for a certain woman in the mirror and the man who has her mirror get a book, because I swear, they are twisted but would be so good together!! Uh, there is just so much love I have for this book and series and I am just so excited for the next book to come out!!

4-4.5 stars

This was a really good story and addition to the series. I have to admit to a certain amount of curiosity about how Showalter could make Cameo into a good heroine when she's inhabited by the demon, Misery but she did a surprisingly good job at making Cameo someone I could root for.

Cameo is an Immortal woman that was part of the reason why Pandora's box was opened. As punishment, the Greek gods decided that Cameo and the other's responsible would be bonded with the demons that escaped the box so the demons wouldn't be let lose on the world. Cameo was bonded with the demon of Misery, who not only tries to spawn misery in those nearby, he also makes Cameo so miserable that her life is pretty much a living hell.

Lazarus is an immortal man that has special powers and is intent on revenge. Lazarus' parents weren't happy and his childhood wasn't a good one. It was topped off by his mother being killed and his father being imprisoned (although he hated his father so the only reason that part bothered him is because it keeps him from being able to kill his father). Lazarus was also enslaved for a long time by a harpy that wanted him as her consort and used magic to hold him captive. Lazarus has sworn vengeance on the harpy, his mother's killer and his father.

Cameo and Lazarus had an encounter that took place before this book started where they worked together to try to find Pandora's box. They almost succeeded but Cameo lost her memories of that time and doesn't know what happened. Desperate to figure out what she forgot, Cameo goes to find Lazarus and try to figure out what she forgot. Lazarus has mixed feelings about seeing Cameo again because he discovered that she's his destined mate. He's seriously drawn to her and this should be a good thing but something in his heritage causes a weakness that seems likely to kill him, and the longer he spends with Cameo, the more it spreads. Because of his reluctance to experience this weakness, Lazarus attempts to spend as little time as possible with Cameo.

Despite his fears, Lazarus wants Cameo badly and figures maybe he can have just a short affair with her before they break things off and she leaves. Cameo isn't willing to be with a man that doesn't like her though so when Lazarus' reluctance shows through to Cameo, she sees it as him not liking her as a person and backs off. They do still end up in an adventure together and it gives them a few days to bond so once they split up, the longing for each other is rough on both of them. They do get reunited but there's a good amount of angst and danger to get past before things get completely settled. Thankfully, although Cameo and Lazarus both suffer from bouts of relationship dumbassedness, they do end things happily together and starting on a well deserved HEA.

I really enjoyed this story. I always felt for Cameo as a secondary character in the other books...it had to be so rough not to even be able to speak much because your voice causes people to cry (or at least wince). Until I read this book, I didn't realize how bad Cameo had it and it made me even happier that things worked out the way they did...with Cameo and Lazarus (who also had a hell of a life) getting their HEA. I wont say that the story was perfect but I had no major complaints. Overall, I loved the characters, the story was really good and it was very engaging so I'd recommend this (and the whole series). :D

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

Review: THE DARKEST PROMISE (Lords of the Underworld) by Gena Showalter
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated: 5 Stars

I absolutely loved everything about this book! THE DARKEST PROMISE is the thirteenth book in Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series and features Cameo, the keeper of Misery and Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual. I recommend reading the series in order to fully enjoy the series storyline.

I wasn't super excited for Cameo's book because I really didn't know much about her from the previous books other than she was the only female LORD. I absolutely LOVED her though! She's everything you want a heroine to be because she's strong, passionate, emotional, and she fights for her man. Lazarus was just perfect for her! I loved their banter and I loved that he was the one to make her smile and laugh. Their chemistry and the romance burned up the pages. Viola, Rathorne and the twins, Ever and Urban added fun to the book and I want more of them! This was definitely a girl power book with all the strong female characters. Viola was there as Cameo's friend and the villains were powerful women as well. This would be a fun book to read with your girlfriends and discuss with some wine one night.

THE DARKEST PROMISE is one of my favorite books in the Lords of the Underworld series! I couldn't put it down and I just loved everything about it! I highly recommend this series for paranormal romance lovers. Gena Showalter is one of the Queens of paranormal romance and she always delivers a great love story.

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

So it's no surprise that Gena Showalter's latest installment of the Lords of the Underworld series is great. But this story holds a certain significance to fans of the series. This is the story of Cameo; a fierce warrior who is inhabited by the demon Misery...where a single word from her can bring tears to any eye.

For years we've watched as Cameo desperately wanted to be a part of celebrations, to feel the excitement of a battle, to know the joy of her friends' company. But Misery loves company and always led the others around her to feel nothing but pain and sorrow. An endless cycle of the inability to just be happy.

Enter Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual, a king of an alternate universe where Cameo finds herself. Little does she know that Lazarus has been a part of her past; a past that Misery has kept from her and one that holds the greatest happiness she's known.

Showalter's has a way of showing how her characters are not only strong but also have the ability to empathize with the ones they care about. Slowly seeing the way that Lazarus fought against his desire for Cameo was completely charming (and hilarious). Along with discovering the spark between Cameo and Lazarus, we also get to see how deeply Misery has rooted itself in to Cameo's psyche. And Showalter takes us down the path of Cameo's self-discovery of her own true feelings and desires.

The only other story I've been waiting for just as long as Cameo's is William and Gilly's...a loot of new information in The Darkest Promise!!

It seems like every book I read in this series, I love it more and more. And I think it's because I get to revisit with so many characters I love. I get to watch them grow and change and its like coming home to family. An extremely odd and dysfunctional one, but still, it feels like I know this group like the back of my hand. Every book is so much fun and so very familiar.
Honestly, I didn't know if I was going to love Cameo's book because I really couldn't envision her love story. Her demon is really one of the worst of the bunch. She's always a bummer, but God she is tough and fearless and I found out during this read that I actually like Cameo. And don't even get me started on Lazarus. Because I am seriously in love with him. He has to be one of my favorite heros in this series. He's cocky and sweet and alpha--kinda the perfect book boyfriend. While their story is definitely an angsty one that had me on the edge of my seat, my favorite part about their story was the banter. These two had the most ridiculous and hilarious conversations ever. I loved every bit of dialogue between them. They melted my heart as much as they made me laugh. Gena Showalter managed to blend the perfect amount of drama, angst and wit in The Darkest Promise which made for an unputdownable read.
I so enjoyed revisiting with some of my favorites and getting to know newbies this go around. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! 5 Stars!

* IT’S FINALLY HERE! * THE DARKEST PROMISE * THE 13th NOVEL IN * THE LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD SERIES *
I must be one of the few remaining readers who thought she wasn’t into paranormal romance! I didn’t think reading about fierce, eternal, hunks of flesh being brought to their knees by beautiful woman would be my thing. Well hello, Gena Showalter! Thank you for waking me up, sunshine! I was given THE DARKEST PROMISE (Harlequin) and let me say, I’m addicted. Of course, I’m late to the party. Gena has written more than fifty-five books and has sold millions around the world. Now I need to go back and check out the previous twelve books in this series featuring delicious, intense, muscular immortal warriors.
Every book features a different gorgeous male deity. In THE DARKEST PROMISE, it’s Lazarus, The Cruel and Unusual, who rules his kingdom without mercy. His focus is to build up his military and destroy his enemies. Then the beautiful, delicate, Cameo comes into his life and he’s smitten, but she’s possessed by the demon, Misery, who makes it impossible for her to feel joy, without losing her memory. The attraction between Lazarus and Cameo is powerful, intense and dangerous. He’s determined to make her smile and seduce her into his bed.
But the demon, Misery is never far away, threatening to destroy their fragile bond. As Cameo fears happiness, Lazarus grows crazed.

Oh, what a tale we weave when we practice to deceive. Does that include helping the rest of the Lords of the Underworld steal Pandora's Box and open it? Yep! In this book we have the pleasure of following Cameo and her Demon named Misery. I was chuckling within the first few pages of the book, reading about her own personal hell. Trying to figure out where she actually landed or was it a dream? Finding out what reality that Cameo has landed in was fun. What is going on with Lazarus when it comes to Cameo? What happens when he finds her in his world? What is the deal with his world? When a dead Lazarus comes back to the real world, what happens? Can Cameo and Lazarus each find happily ever after? You're going to need to read to find out what happens when Cameo battles enemies in an alternate reality, and almost gets herself eviscerated, things get rather interesting. When Viola and Cameo are basically taken out of the fight, and then Cameo sees Lazarus in danger, what does she do? You'll once again have to read this book to find out what happens. I enjoy reading the Lords of the Underworld series. I cannot believe this is the 13th book of that series.

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

Oh Cameo whose voice can bring any one to tears due to her Demon Misery! She has always had it the toughest out of all the Lords! To never be able to talk without harming the ones you love. To always think no one loves you or even likes you for that matter?! Being the only female in an underworld dominated by men is bad enough! When you are fighting hard just to be considered an equal and battling your own Demon who wants nothing more to bring you down there is just no winning! Bring forth Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual! The only person ever to not be effected by Misery as he has suffered more than anyone ever should! Tall, dark and handsome takes on new meaning. And when the mighty fall in love, they fall hard!

Cameo and Lazarus have to overcome so much and through it all you will laugh, love, thrill and kill until their last breathes. The adventure of true love!

Here’s a small spoiler but about William, there are hints from a bespelled mirror that has foreseen his future with is true mate.....and towards the end with the deal he makes with Puck...

Love this where I read it in one night start to finish. Kept my attention and the connection between these two are scorching off the charts. Butterflies have meaning different from one to the other, good or bad...he hates to love his obsession but loves to his very core that is taking his life away more time he is with her. Something is found but it’s an apple with powers that the Lords all feel but they don’t know what it is but Lazarus does. Truths, secrets, and emotions are revealed. Revengwill be paid and a hot will be separated for good. A few POV from a few other characters too.

It has been a while since I have read a book in this series. There is a prior relationship between Cameo and Lazarus but nothing that took away from this book. I felt that connection even if it might have been more one sided in the beginning with Cameo having no memory. In fact, it was hot with Lazarus attempting to woo Cameo over. Cameo and Lazarus were good but they were not the only aspect of this book that I really enjoyed. The world as well or I should say Lazarus' kingdom. It was dark and very dangerous like Lazarus. Everything including the creatures are not as they first appear. For example: the unicorns are not fairy dust and rainbows; they are evil killing machines.

Back to the characters. Everyone that made an appearance in this book were interesting. Then there was not only Cameo's memory loss due to the demon, Misery, who possessed her; but, someone else also was going through a transform and that was Lazarus. One final comment I have to make and that is the book cover. The models were exactly portrayed Cameo and Lazarus perfectly. Fans of this series will be happy with this book.

I normally like Showalters books but this one just seemed too "wordy"..normally something I wouldn't complain about! Having to constantly go through the characters full names ie: Lazarus the Cruel & Unusual. SPOILER ALERT*****Our female lead, Cameo, has the Demon of Misery inside of her. Lazarus believes she may be the one he needs..for just 1 night. Cameo needs to be rid of her demon without dying. The demon can remove her memories at will and any love she may feel. Like all Showalter's books this has plenty of sex & angst. There is a much needed Insiders Guide included in this book. If you are just starting series with this book I think it will take a bit to get the hang of it..

I love these stories. Gena Showalter is such a fun writer and this newest addition to her shelf is pretty amazing.

I must confess though I haven't read the whole series, but this didn't make a difference to the story for me at least. It made me want to read the previous books which is a good thing, but you can just jump right in and fill in the blanks later.

This was steamy in all the right places, romantic enough to make me swoon, and intense enough to make me wish I had Lazarusby my side! In all honesty though the story always takes back seat for me with this type of story. I read this genre for the couple and Cameo and Lazarus were on fire! They aren't my favorite of the series, but they are right up there for sure.

If you are looking for mind mush with a side of steam this is definitely one to pick up!

Gena has written a great book. From the beginning of the series, Cameo was never my favorite character. However, this book has changed my view on her. I really love how Gena created the interactions between the leads. The leading male was likable as well. As a whole, I enjoyed this book more than some of my previously favorite characters' books.

I hadn't read the last two books by Gena so I have missed quite a bit. Happy that I was loaned this one. I bought the audio book as well.

Extremely happy that Cam and Laz finally got their love together. She remembers him and she figures out how to help him as he helped her.

Will I go back and read the two prior books? Most definite. So back I go. Waiting for the next Lord's of the Underworld. Could this book be read as a stand-alone? Yes.

Also this book has an amazing glossary and snippets of what the prior books are about. The snippets are great.

A bit repetitious, with the going back and forth, will I keep her, will I keep her not... But in the end.. I really liked this one... BUT... the ending did feel rushed....She told 3? 3 second news blurbs to piss him off and "wake" him.. Then naked the next second and bam!.. He's alive~
... I got this one from the library.. Couldn't bring myself to pay $11.99 for kindle version. ....I don't even pay Ward that much ..lol
... Bring on Viola and Brachan !!....and, hoping Gilly's Puck/William's story.. offers something different....

Everyone is familiar with Gena Showalter's plotline's and novels so I will just add that this particular novel, maybe it was the main character's misery curse, maybe it was the explicit sex, but this story dropped into my lap at a particularly stressful time in my own life and really provided me with the much needed diversion I needed. Showalter's novels have reached a certain level of predictability by now, but quite frankly that predictability is now therapeutic and it is nice to know I can rely on this author for much needed escapism.

I had to go back and re-read my books from the first to this one (getting ready for the next book) and I still love them. I don't usually re-read books, but was glad I did. I always felt bad for Cameo and I am glad she found a sexy man who can help her find love. Lazerous fit right in with her brothers (to me they are siblings even without being blood related). Can't wait for the next book. I hope it's just as steamy as all her other books are. ?

I don't usually read paranormal. However, I enjoyed this blurb and also enjoyed the story. I likely would've enjoyed the story more if I had started with book #1 instead of book #13. At the beginning, I found the characters hard to keep up with, but that changed pretty quickly as I got into the story. The plot was well-written and believable enough for me to really get into the story and not want to put it down. I liked these characters well enough to add the previous books to my TBR. I have a lot of reading to do!

I absolutely love the LOTU series and Gena's work. And this book is just as awesome! I have loved Cameo from the first book and I couldn't wait to read this story and when she introduced Lazarus in the Darkest Surrender, I was very intrigued. The two of them together...AMAZING. I loved the way they interacted together and the way the story unfolded and of course of the "What just happened?!" moments. I don't want to give anything away, so get your copy of this and be prepared to have your entire night go to reading the book because you will not want to put it down.

This book is definitely in my top three LOTU books. I'll start with Cameo. She shows a different type of strength then the other women. Most of the previous leading ladies had prove they were physically strong, and their epic battle was a fight against an outside opponent. Cameo is already a warrior, and her epic battle was more internal.
I like that Cameo cries multiple times in this book. That her tears aren't used to show a weakness, but rather her compassion for others.
I also like how Cameo and Lazarus' relationship grows. They both start off with this resigned hopelessness, and throughout the book their feelings change into love and hope.
Viola, goddess of the Afterlife and keeper of Narcissism, shows a tremendous amount of growth in this book. She reveals more about herself, her past, and how she feels with her demon.
One thing that Gena Showalter does that drives me crazy; TEASE ABOUT AXEL AND WILLIAM! HOW ARE THEY RELATED? WHEN WILL SOMEONE MENTION THAT THEY LOOK ALIKE? HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THESE ANSWERS?
( Takes a deep breath, and gets back to typing a review.)
I am extremely excited about the new characters, especially Siobhan. I love that there is finally a female character with dark skin. I hope to read more about her in the future.
The thing I loved most of all; the reoccurring message that love is stronger than hate.
I would definitely recommend this book.

I loved it. Cameo is a character that I really wanted a happy ending for, she's the only woman immortal, apart from Pandora who has only recently came back, and hosting the demon of Misery for so long she deserves a happy ending. All the other Lords had their turn, and I'm so glad that she now has hers.

I started reading this book and I was a bit scared. The book started straight away with fairy-tales references, and I was a bit scared that Cameo's story would become one, a bit of a cliché really. That Cameo would be represented as a weak woman that need to be saved only, and not the warrior that she is.

I was very gladly surprised. Gena showed Cameo as the woman she is; as the woman that we have been getting glimpses of throughout the series. She had her gentle, sensitive and feminine moments, and she most definitely had he bad-ass moments. I think Cameo is a very good representation of what a woman can be. She's feminine, fragile, sexy, gentle and kind, and that doesn't take away from the fact that she's a warrior, it adds to it in my opinions.

I loved the romance between Cameo and Lazarus. It was very sweet, but not sickly-sweet, it's not Gena's style, and I'm so glad. Even though I was scared of the fairy-tale theme, I did enjoy it in the end. I think it fit Lazarus more than Cameo in the end, which I think it's intriguing.

I rate most of Ms. Showalter's books a good 5 stars. I enjoyed but the plot seemed to jump more rather frequently than I would like from one scene to the next. Also, it is difficult to relate to Cameo - Misery - in that she sees everything in (of course) such a miserable light! Lazarus, instead of giving her any hope in her attraction to him, stays close-mouthed, which doesn't help either of them. You know that eventually they will work it out, accompanied by all the other Lords (and ladies) of the Underworld, but it took a long time to get to that point!

This might be my favorite GS book. I have battled Major Depression for decades, and I related to Cameo more than I've ever related to another heroine. The scenes of Cameo having crying spells and moments like those hit me so hard Cameo had a perfect HEA, and Lazarus's backstory was really creative and emotionally beautiful. A lot of things were also cleared up in this book, about Pandora's Box and demon possession.

This really is a binge-worth series but The Darkest Promise is not my favorite of it, unfortunately. In fact, this was a book that I put down and had to convince myself to pick it up to finish it. I did, however, because I do love the end HEA and seeing the characters I've spent so much time with get what they deserve. Especially Cameo, who carries the demon Misery. She's hooked up with Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual before but, because she experienced joy during their pairing (woot), her demon erased her memories of him. Lazarus is actually kind of happy that she doesn't remember him because, due to his daddy issues and the crystals rapidly spreading through is body, he just wants to hit it and quit it with the one woman he's supposed to be with. Yeah, it's complicated. And, while I felt for Cameo, Lazarus kind of irritated me as he kept pushing her away because he was sure that she was going to kill him, just because that's what happened to his father. Come on, L. Get it together. Anyway, good but not my fave of the series.

Yes! What more can I say?! Our favorite group is back for another crazy, awesome adventure. We get a chance to peek in on our favorites. And meet some new ones. I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. I finished it in about four hours. I really don't want to give anything away because the book is amazing. Much thanks to our awesome author Gena Showalter for providing us with such wonderful stories.

I started this series a few years ago at the recommendation of a friend. I ended up binge listening to the first 8 books in less than a month and became completely obsessed with the whole series! The LoTU series actually got me out of a 5 year reading slump.

The Darkest Promise was everything I'd hoped i would be. Danger, sarcasm, and sexy scenes between Cameo and Laz. yumm!

I liked it. My heart always broke for Cameo. Lazarus is hot and I really liked his personality. I thought the humor in this book was better than in the past two books. Although I didn't dislike the last two books, I didn't feel they were as good as some of the others in this series. Looking forward to the next book and I'm curious what will happen with Viola! She jumped up my curiosity level in Darkest Promise.

From the beginning i was intrigued. Its ironic how befote i tried to read this and couldnt get passed the first page. But once i tried again later it has become one of my favorite books everrrrrr! Highly recommend if you like bad ass female characters with males that love her for it!!

I hadn’t been a big fan of Cameo, but after this story of love her. Lazarus is OMG hot! The way those two play around each other until they both finally give in will drive a person crazy. This series is beyond great and I can’t get enough.

Ar first, I was lost, wondering if Gena Showalter had someone else ghost write. But then I was laughing out loud, crying and whooping. Before I knew it, I was finished, almost confused I had reached the end and a little despondent, ready for the adventure to continue. She handles Cameo's story a little different from the rest of the Lords... which was perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to the next installment of the Lords of the Underworld.

Ms. Showalter's writing style has always been adventurous, dark, quirky, and deep. Usually keeps you hooked all the way to the end. Not this time. I actually had to put it down many times over the three weeks it has taken me to read it (I usually read a book in one or two days - max).

Lazarus is the usual hot, bad boy, warrior. Cameo is beautiful and is possessed by the demon, Misery. Cameo speaks and brings misery. Yet, if she finds happiness, the demon wipes her memory so she remembers no happiness.

This book needs the reader to have read previous books in the series to help understand some of the references to places, events, and characters.

The reason for two stars? This book is too similar to others in the series, almost verging on cookie cutter. Sadly, this often happens when a series progresses beyond seven or eight books.

I absolutely loved this book! I was a little worried because Cameo has never really been a favorite character of mine but now i understand that we just haven't seen much of how she really is and her personality. Loved the story and I couldn't put it down!

Lazarus was the perfect hero for Cami!! Loved their relationship and didn't want to see try story end!

But now I'm dying to find out what happens to William and Gilly...and Hades too!!

Loved it!

The Darkest Promise is amazing and passionate I can't put the book down even after I finish reading it!! The series itself is wonderful to read it's got more action just as it does romance it keeps you on your toes wondering what's going to happen next!! This book was worth every second of reading! Definitely 5 stars!! I wish I could add more stars

I've liked the previous books, but this one I couldn't even finish. I made it to page 120 and just couldn't go on. Too much squabbling between the characters in lieu of true plot development. I failed to feel the bond between Cameo and Lazarus - they just seemed like two immortals groping each other at a bar.

Gena Showalter is one of my favorite authors in the Paranormal Genre. Unfortunately, I feel like this series is just dragging on for far too long and with each book her writing is getting weaker. Don't get me wrong though! I still enjoy the LotU series! I just wish we could get it all wrapped up soon before the author completely fizzles us out on broody Lords. Faithful fans will want to read this and will keep reading until the last book.

It was great to revisit with these familiar characters. I took a little time off from the Lords of the Underworld fter The Darkest Seduction (Lords of the Underworld, #9). However, even with skipping books 10, 11 and 12 I felt right at home.

I enjoy reading a strong female lead - and Cameo does not disappoint. I love that although she is paired with the demon of Misery, she is able to find love with Lazarus. Even after all this time Gena Showalter is still able to surprise this reader.

I read Gena Showalter's YA fiction before I tried this, and I should definitely have picked up on the word "sizzling" in the description - I was not prepared for this to be quite so adult. Unfortunately for me, Romance does not mean what it used to mean in book descriptions these days.

OMFGGGGGGGG this is the best I love it!!!! Not gonna lie wanted cameo to have her own cover by herself but whatever. Writing was exciting, hilarious and had you on the edge of you seat as always. And I have officially decided to adopt Lazarus as a lord of the underworld.This book is a most read!!!

Gena Showalter has done it again. The Darkest Promise is must summer read. The book is filled with LOTS of wit and romance. To top it off Cameo is badass who doesnt disappoint. Love, love, loved this book and can't wait for the next installment in this series.

powerfully written. I love this author. Really has amazing characters that I can fall in love with. There is action, adventure and romance wrapped in this book. Over all I will continue to look for this author because for me the most important thing in romance is connection, and I really love how I feel a part of the book she is writing. Loves.

We have waited a long time for Cameo's story (The only female Lord of the Underworld) and Gena didn't disappoint. It was a hard battle for Cameo and Lazarus to be together. Through all of the battles and overcoming doubts it was a great story about the power of love.

So, when I first decided to review this book, I had no idea that it was number thirteen in the series. Once I found out, I was kind of nervous because I thought I was going to be completely lost, but I wasn’t, and it was very easy to follow.

Cameo is cursed by the demon of Misery. At first, I thought this book might be a bit dark and depressing because Cameo can’t experience happiness. She only brings sorrow and sadness to those around her, and every time she experiences any kind of happiness, Misery wipes her memory of it. This book was actually the opposite of what I first thought. My heart did break for Cameo a few times because she wanted to be happy so badly. Apparently in another book, Cameo did feel some type of desire and happiness from Lazarus, but of course, Misery wiped her mind clean. Now, Cameo is determined to find Lazarus because he might be her only real hope at true happiness.

I didn’t think I was going to like Lazarus at first, he is definitely cruel, but he hasn’t had an easy life either. He is determined to build an army and hurt everyone who has ever hurt him or his family. He is ruthless to others, but when it comes to Cameo, his true weakness, he can’t resist trying to bring her happiness. After a while, I warmed up to him, and I actually adored the way the treated Cameo.

Overall, the story line was very easy to follow. There was a lot of back and forth between Lazarus and Cameo. But there is also a lot of humor, and of course, sexual chemistry. I adored Cameo right from the beginning. She is such an amazing character. I wouldn’t mind going back and starting from the beginning and catching up with this entire series.

Oh, what a tale we weave when we practice to deceive. Does that include helping the rest of the Lords of the Underworld steal Pandora's Box and open it? Yep! In this book we have the pleasure of following Cameo and her Demon named Misery. I was chuckling within the first few pages of the book, reading about her own personal hell. Trying to figure out where she actually landed or was it a dream? Finding out what reality that Cameo has landed in was fun. What is going on with Lazarus when it comes to Cameo? What happens when he finds her in his world? What is the deal with his world? When a dead Lazarus comes back to the real world, what happens? Can Cameo and Lazarus each find happily ever after? You're going to need to read to find out what happens when Cameo battles enemies in an alternate reality, and almost gets herself eviscerated, things get rather interesting. When Viola and Cameo are basically taken out of the fight, and then Cameo sees Lazarus in danger, what does she do? You'll once again have to read this book to find out what happens. I enjoy reading the Lords of the Underworld series. I cannot believe this is the 13th book of that series.

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

Great book. I love the entire series, but this book is better than some of the recent few books have been. Reminds me of the earlier books. Very well done -- I do wish there was a bit more to the end as others mentioned. Highly recommend if you like this series!

Gena Showalter never disappoints. The Darkest Promise delivers action, suspense, love and of coarse steamy scenes. Truly getting to know Cameo was a joy. The banter between her and Lazarus had me Lol!
If you haven't read the Lords of the Underworld series, you are truly missing out.

Love love love Cameo's story, her depression and emotions so what alot of us battle day to day. I love the story line of her and Lazurus aka The Cruel and Unusual aka The Butterfly King. This is a must read as is all of The Lords of the Underworld series. Gena Showalter has a skill beyond compare in writing these fabulous books. Can't wait til the next story line and book in the series.

I love all of Gena Showalter's books and this one is no exception! The characters continues to surprise me but stay with the storyline. Lazarus is one of my favorate characters and he could not have been a better match for her. The book was very fast paced and even ended quickly but I cant wait till the next book!