The Darkest Promise (Lords of the Underworld) (urspr publ 2017; utgåvan 2018)

I have been waiting for Cameo and Lazarus' story since it was hinted at a couple of books ago. How could the demon of Misery be silenced by this man who was sent into another realm by Stryder?

We knew Lazarus as the consort of the harpy Juliette and that she pretty much treated him like crap. This is why he let Stryder behead him. What I failed to grasp is that he is the son of Typhon and Echinda who was the Sovereign of the Sky Serpents. In other words Mr. Lazarus is a big deal in the Underworld.

Cameo, as we know is the keeper for the demon Misery. She's never known joy, happiness and can't remember if she's ever smiled...but she does sort of remember the idea of Lazarus. She uses the Pairing Rod to enter the realm he was in to try and find him and see if he is whom her mind "remembers".

Lazarus has claimed Cameo as his, at least in his own mind, but doesn't want to. Seems his mother was his father's weakness and what ultimately led to his imprisonment. Crystal form in the blood stream until little by little they solidify. Typhon was held by Hera in a secret location after his "turned to stone" and Lazarus doesn't want to face the same fate by having Cameo be his weakness. What he tells Cameo is that he wants one night with her. One night to prove their connection and to prove to her she is quite capable of passion and feeling contentment. She just wants everything but misery has her doubting everything he says. Especially when she learns of his need for vengeance against both Juliette and Hera.

Cameo has also gone into Lazarus' realm hoping for a clue to the location of Pandora's box. Lazarus knows where it is but won't tell Cameo because he is afraid that she will use it to harm herself. She sees the sky serpents and butterflies and has odd feelings about both creatures. She knows they mean something more than what they appear to be but she can't figure out what.

They go on adventures together, some having to do with his need for vengeance. She challenged him that if he wanted her he would have to come to her in the mortal world. He didn't think he could do it but he did.

We did get a lot of information in this book.
1. Misery can not wipe Cameo's memory without her permission.
2. Lazarus seems to be able to quiet misery down.
3. The crystals that form in Lazarus' veins mean more than just him "turning to stone".
4. You really don't want to kill Hera. When the box was made Hera took some of the demons and put them in there, she still carries a couple hundred more within her body. If she dies they would be set loose upon the world looking for another host.
5. As the only son of Typhon the monster and Enchida the Sovereign of the Sky Serpents Lazarus has some pretty special skills, friends and most definitely a cool secret. Those crystals are acting like a butterflies chrysalis, he will solidify but can break out if he works hard enough to escape it. Which he does to get back to Cameo
6. The box is once again in play...someone has it. Lazarus knew where Hera was hiding it. Fought the guardian and was in possession of it. He gave it to Cameo before he turned to stone who then in turn gave it to Torin, the keeper of Disease, for safe keeping.
7. William is going crazy since Gillian is not out of his reach, married to someone else.

It took me a while to get through this book, not because it wasn't interesting but because even though I had read all the other LOTU books I still had to stop and remember who was who and ingest all this new information. Cami and Lozario, one of their nicknames for one another, are a cute couple. I mean to get her out of a depression he starts a mud fight with her....come on now, who wouldn't love a guy like that.

The war between Hades and Lucifer is heating up so we will have to see what happens there. And what of this fallen one, Brochan, who keeps stalking Viola? Does the box have the morning star in it? Will Keely be able to remember how to use it without destroying the Lords while trying to remove the demons from them? ( )

Cameo seeks out Lazarus in search for Pandora's box. Lazarus is obsessed with Cameo even though being with her causes him to weaken. He thinks having her for a night he will be able to let her go and continue with his plans for vengeance against Hera and Julietta but things don't go as planned. We get to learn more about Pandora's box and Hera's role in it, with cameo appearances by the other lords, future characters and Hades. While the author leads you to wonder how things could possibly work out I figured most of it out early. Was okay read for me.
( )

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!

Now, Lazarus is a character I know from the Bible. He is the man Jesus raised from the dead in his last miracle before his passion. Also, religiously speaking, Balthazar was the demon of misery who, like Satan, was once an angel who was banished. So, these stories had me thinking about the characters and trying to make connections in other ways. It was fascinating because obviously, the story goes in directions you could never predict but it didn't stop me from trying!

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.

I haven't read the previous books in the series. Honestly, I don't think it mattered THAT much, but because Showalter has created such a unique fantasy world, having had more background would have probably helped a bit. However, you really could read this as a stand alone like I did.

Full Disclosure: I totally skipped to the end to make sure this would end in a way I was okay with. #SorryNotSorry

 

• POV: 3rd


• Tears: no


• Trope: fantasy, paranormal, fated mates (of sorts)


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series


• Cliffhanger: no


• HEA: Yes; no epilogue

The Black Dagger Brotherhood, The Guild Hunter series...then you will probably like The Darkest Promise!

 


The Darkest Promise






 See full review on The Book Disciple ( )

I really did like this, and was so happy for Cameo to finally get her HEA, but it just didn't hook me the way the earlier books in the series did. Overall I might have given it a 3 or 3.5 if it hadn't taken me months to read it because I kept putting it down. Also, now that I know of the new HEA paring for the next couple, I'm massively underwhelmed. Still, I guess I'm glad Gena's at least writing sex scenes again! (2.5 stars) ( )

I loved this. The Lord's of the Underworld is within my top five favorite paranormal romance series. This series definitely has dark undertones. What I like the best is that you could take out all the smutty sex and still have a great story, that cant be said about too many paranormal romance series.

In this we have Cameo kepper of the demon misery and Lazarus. They are a great fit for one another, especially considering her voice does not effect him as it does others. For most the moment they hear her speak they experience an uncontrollable feeling of misery causing some to resort to even suicide. Their story takes them on a journey of vengeance. Along the way they have many hurdles to cross.

I love Showalter's writing. She can really bring a scene to life. Her characters are badass and have some wicked cool powers, but also aread very blemished. I love how I laugh when reading these. Now I just need to find something to fill my time until the next installment releases. ( )