My heart goes into pitter-patter mode when I think of the Demonica series by Larissa Ione. Hot demons, great action, humorous and the kind of smut that makes you break out into a sweat. Ecstasy Unveiled did not disappoint – I was completely entertained throughout the story.
Lore is a Seminus demon who needs sex to survive, problem is, if anyone touches his glyphs or “dermoire” on his right arm, they drop dead instantly. Kind of a buzz kill in the bedroom. In the previous book in this series, Passion Unleashed, Lore discovers he has more family than just his sister Sin – he has three brothers – Eidolen, Shade and Wraith. While Lore's problems in this book involve his brothers, they also have their arms full with violence and tempers erupting at the hospital for no obvious reason.
Lore brought back to life Kynan, a good friend of his brothers in that book, and Lore’s boss, Detharu, who Lore “works” as an assassin for is none too happy Lore gave life. Which means Lore is in for some torture and of course he doesn’t make it any easier with his smart-ass mouth.
Lore has one more kill to make, his 100th, before he is released from his slave status which will allow him and Sin to go free. Deth is not going to make it easy on him though. Deth gives him one last assignment to kill – with the twist of – if he does not achieve his goal in 96 hours, Sin will die – and let me just say, the person he has to kill is going to make things very difficult for Lore – very difficult.
Idess, a 2000 year old Memitim or guardian angel, is looking forward to the day she can finally ascend into heaven. She currently has two Primori, kind of like charges, she is looking after. Idess has not been the perfect angel, but she has taken a vow of celibacy and tries to live a moral life so she can fulfill her destiny and finally reunite with her brother Rami who is awaiting her. Before that can happen, Lore and Idess are both put to the test as Lore is assigned to kill one of Idess' Primori. They are forced together as both their fates become entwined.
Ecstasy Unveiled is such a fun book to read. Larissa Ione writes very engaging characters and once you get inside their head and you can’t help but cheer them on, laugh with them, and err, get a little excited when naked time comes.
With four brothers running around, although they are each very alpha, they each have their own personalities and each being a smart ass definitely adds to the enjoyment. One of my favorite scenarios is brotherly comraderie, similar to the Black Dagger Brotherhood books by J.R. Ward. When a group of brothers live, or in this case work together, fight together, banter and deep down love each other with an intense passion, it becomes a great atmosphere.
Lore is a tortured demon – both physically and emotionally. He has been enslaved to Deth for years and years and killing has become a way of life for him. For being a sex demon, he has lived a remarkably lonely life, choosing to take care of his needs himself, rather than risk killing a female partner with his cursed right arm. He grew up with a human mother and had no idea his father was a demon, until he turned 19 and became a raving lunatic. Sin transitioned at the same time, but Lore wasn’t there for her, and he has been punishing himself ever since. He would do anything to protect his sister, even killing someone that he knows will rip his brothers apart.
I think the weakest part of the book is Idess, which surprised me because I always love Larissa Ione’s heroines. Idess comes across as a mild mannered, meek angel, yet when her charges find themselves in danger she rushes in full force and is someone to be reckoned with. It is almost like I forgot she is suppose to be a bad ass angel - her personality just didn’t seem to go with that side of her. It takes a few chapters to warm up to her but then I was rooting her on. She has really good chemistry with Lore and they have some smoking hot love scenes – which I am sure no one doubted because we are talking about Larissa Ione here. Idess is 2,000 years old and hasn’t had sex for QUITE some time..so when the two of them come together, it is very explosive.
Sin steals the show in this book. She is cranky, doesn’t want anyone in her life but Lore (at least she won’t admit it), is blunt, has massive attitude and just all around a bad ass. Her “gift” is that she can cause disease by just touching someone. She diseases a warg (werewolf) and that disease starts to rapidly infect the warg community. Sin’s book is next in the series, although we get a sneak peek at her and her mate. They have amazing chemistry, even though they kind of hate each other at the moment. Sin and Wraith also have some chemistry of their own:
“Easy there, Smurfette.
Smurfette? “Move.”
”No.”
She hit him. Put her knuckles right in his perfect nose. He didn’t even flinch, and she got the impression he could have stopped her if he’d wanted to. Instead, he grinned, those wicked fangs gleaming. “You hit like a girl.”
She gasped in outrage. “I. Said. Move. I’m going to find my brother.
He snorted. “If I can’t find him, you don’t stand a margarita’s chance at an AA meeting.”
“Y-you arrogant ass,” she sputtered.
“It’s not arrogance if you can back it up.”
She was going to kill him. She really was.
There is a lot that goes on in this book – I have barely touched on it, but you all will have so much fun discovering it all on your own. Although the main mystery is wrapped up in this book, events are put in motion for Sin Undone and I am already itching for this book.
I will leave you with a little teaser – Idess is chained up on the bed (nothing sexually, they are having some kidnapping issues) and Lore needs release, you know sex demon issues and all that.
“Need…privacy.” He shoved to his hands and knees above her.
“No. Please. Stay.” He halted. “I want….I want to watch.” […:]
A low growl of approval dredged up from his chest as he unzipped his pants.
Lore couldn’t believe he was about to do this………..
Oh and he does it…quite well.