Over the weekend I had the pleasure of reading Larissa Ione’s novella, Eternity Embraced ,
and boy did it get me salivating for her Demonica World again. Man do I love that realm and all those delicious characters!
For those of you that don’t know, The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2
, originally published Ione’s story along with a compilation of other author's works including Jennifer Ashley – another one of my fav authors. Anyway, Ione recently released Eternity Embraced as a stand alone novella in e-book format. This short story was just enough to tie over all of her insatiable Demonica readers (like me) until the release of her new spin off series, Eternal Rider.
Before reading this tale, Ione mentioned that the story takes place in the Demonica World, “somewhere after Book 3.” That being said, the tale opened up with vampire slayer, Andrea Cole, who sneaks into a billionaire's home that’s infested with vampires. She’s been in this predicament before - slaying vamps and all - but that’s not what worries her this time around. Oh she knows she’ll stake some vamps, she’s just praying it won’t be the love of her life, Kaden Quinn. The novella revealed that her boyfriend, Kaden, was captured by vamps and yes…he was turned. And what’s Andrea to do now? Her one and only true love is now a fanged beast! Who will kill who first? Will Andrea stake Kaden and put an end to their dead end relationship? Or will Kaden suck the living daylights out of Andrea? Ooooh all that blood is quite the aphrodisiac.
I know what you’re thinking – all you Buffy fans. If you haven’t read the series, you're probably automatically assuming this vampire slayer story is just another remake of Joss Whedon's hit series. Well my friends…you couldn't be furthest from the truth. This is a tale about eternity embraced – not eternally doomed. It’s a paranormal romance, guys so sit back and enjoy the ride as these two lovers – Andrea and Kaden – try to find a way to be together, despite being on opposite sides.
I totally enjoyed Eternity Embraced and frankly it’s got me primed and ready for Eternal Rider. On my MB KilloMeter, I gave it a 4. Yeah, that was a nobrainer.
Until next time…Demonica, Demonica, Demonica…need I say more?
Mina B.
Book 5 and the final installment of Larissa Ione’s Demonica series is Sin Undone
. Okay, before I review, I have to give a shout out to RexRobotreviews.com. If it weren’t for their ARC tour, I wouldn’t be raving my review today. So…thank you, Rex! You rock!!
And now, onto the demonic magic of Larissa Ione. Sinead Donnelly is a demon who’s genetically flawed. She’s the first ever female Seminus Demon. For those of you who do not know the series, Seminus Demons are always male and NEVER female. In a DNA fluke, Sin was born right along with her twin, Lore. He was the typical male Seminus Demon and Sin was the anomaly. Now, she's the only Seminus female ever known to behold a disease-prone power and a killer sex drive.
Let me back up. A Seminus male demon, once gone through S’genisis – if not mated – can be a hell of a sperm bank for unsuspecting fertile females (human or demonic, otherwise). The Seminus demons in Ione’s novels - Eidolon, Shade, Wraith, Lore and now Sin - are all products of their father's overzealous sexual appetite. It’s not like a Seminus Demon can help it, really. Sex and release are as crucial to their demon species, almost like air is to humans. If you’re a Seminus demon, you MUST have sex or else.
For those of you that are unfamiliar with the series, see Larissa’s site or my previous reviews of Book 1 & 2. Book 1, Pleasure Unbound (my review) and Book 2, Desire Unchained, (my review). As I said before, I screwed the pooch and read this series out of sequence. Do yourself a favor and tow the line accordingly.
Now we first met Sin in Ecstasy Unveiled
. I laughed out loud HARD when I read the “Sex Bet” scene with Sin and Con (the dhampire: half vampire/werewolf). Freaking funny as all get out! Reading about Sin was so pleasurable it felt like a sin, truly. Sin has this abominable gift to inflict any disease to anyone/demon she touches – diseases that could wipe out entire races, let alone species. In Book 5, she’s caused a catastrophic mess by conjuring up a plague that nearly destroyed all worlds of werewolves. She didn’t mean to do it, or did she? One never knows with Sin. The disease was running ramped and Underworld General, the neutral demon hospital, was feeling Sin’s repercussions.
What makes this book different from the rest? First of all…Sin. She’s an outright mess, who fits rather nicely next to all her brother’s and their demonic/neurotic tendencies. Sin is Wraith with tits. She’s ballsy, witty and has a sex drive to outmatch most males. Basically, Con’s dream girl. And the heat that these two generate when near one another is off the charts.
Sin Undone is full of sub plots that make you wonder if this series is really over. I hope not. What a tragedy it would be to discontinue such a vivid, sadistic, sensual, demonic underworld. A complete and utter tragedy, I assure you. Sin’s book was just a lively as the others. Once you read the other novels, only then can you really appreciate Sin and her complex character. She’s hell on wheels or daggers, actually. Oh, how I enjoyed this book. I won’t tell you more than that…you’ll just have to go out and buy it when it releases, August 24th.
Larissa Ione writes like a MF and that’s meant as a compliment. If you’re looking for something different and sexy from a killer writer, then Ione’s Deminica Novels are just for you.
On the Mina Burrows KilloMeter, I gave Larissa Ione’s Sin Undone a 4.5. (Sniffle…I can’t believe the saga is over.)
Mina B.
Hells Bells! I just finished reading Larissa Ione’s Book 2 in her Demonica Novels, Desire Unchained
. Out of all four of the Seminus brothers, Shade’s story is the most unique.
Shade, like his brother Eidolon in Book 1, Pleasure Unbound 
(click here for my review), is about to go through the change: transforming himself into an insatiable sex demon. Shade’s only saving grace is finding a mate. The book begins with Shade waking up in a dungeon chained next to his ex-human girlfriend, Runa.
A year prior, she was nothing more than an innocent fling for the Seminus Demon. But for Runa, Shade was her heart’s desire until that fateful night when he betrayed her. It was a rude awakening for Runa when she caught Shade tangled in bed with two other female demons. Not only was he cheating on her but she found out his true identity, a demon. The obscene sight ripped out her heart, making her abruptly flee and by accident she ran directly into a raving werewolf. And yes, he bit her. Now, a year later, she’s a werewolf herself, stuck in a dungeon with man she loathes, her ex, Shade.
Shade broke her heart the first time and it was riveting poetic justice the way Runa wielded Shade’s heart the second time around. While being held captive by a dark enemy, they reconnect in a way neither one expected. Shade bonds himself to Runa, and is now mated to her for eternity. And what’s great – at least my favorite part – is she’s unable to bond to him, which made Shade deliciously vulnerable. The only question that haunted their romance was would Runa walk away? My oh my…how the tables are turned in this eternal relationship.
Trust is a common thread that flows effortlessly throughout this book. Ione is a master at tying in an over arching plot that brought everything back to family. Although this was not my favorite book, it was still a wonderful addition to the Demonica Series. Ione delivers with hilarious dialogue as usual, which I just couldn’t get enough of.
On the Mina Burrows KilloMeter, I give Desire Unchained a 3 ½.
Until next time…read a Demonica Novel.
Mina B.
My first introduction into Larissa Ione’s Demonica Novels was when a friend of mine lent me Book 3, Passion Unleashed
. I made a colossal mistake and read the series out of sequence and am sad to say, I didn’t get it at first. It’s not that I didn’t care for it, I thought it was okay.
But… I just didn’t understand the hype. That is, of course, until that same friend of mine (Hi Sandra) lent me the other three books in the series. And thank God she did. I zipped through books with pleasure, devouring the words as if they were my only source of food.
Larissa Ione is a killer author. The first book in her Demonica Novel series, Pleasure Unbound, is my first review for Ione. Frankly, as far as paranormal romance goes, I loved it.
Eidolon is the head physician and part owner of the Underworld General, an underground hospital for demons and other cryptic monsters. Eidolon is a Seminus demon; a sex demon who unless mated will turn into a raving sex fiend focused on nothing but impregnating his female conquests. The transformation is called S’genesis and Eidolon, the oldest of three Seminus brothers, is the first to go through the hellacious process. As his S’genesis nears, he meets Tayla, a demon-slayer who shows up in Eidolon’s hospital with wounds so severe, he’s forced to make the grueling choice to save her life or let her die.
Eidolon is the consummate professional, known for his cool disposition and fair judgment. He’s usually able to keep is sexual urges at bay, until he meets Tayla. Neither one were prepared for their fatal attraction. And the heat that resonates from this book is too great for words. An absolute must read.
There are two aspects about this author that I applaud. First, in this book, Ione starts the series out with a bang. Holy hell the sensual fever between these two unlikely characters, the demon (Eidolon) and the slayer, (Tayla) is the spellbinding. It’s such a page turner, it sucks you right in as if you’re a patient in that damned hospital, sitting idle watching all the action. But what I loved most about Ione is her wit. Man, is she hilarious. And the way she used her wicked humor within the Seminus brother’s dialogue is unmatched.
On the Mina Burrows KilloMeter, I give Larissa Ione’s Pleasure Unbound a 4.5. Oh yeah…it’s that good.
Until next time...read a Demonica Novel.
Mina B.
For those of you that don’t know, The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2
