ARC Review: ‘The Wrath’ by Gena Showalter
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Wrath
by Gena ShowalterSeries: Rise of the Warlords #4
Published by Canary Street Press on February 6, 2024
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: eArc
Pages: 368
Source: the author
Audience: 18+/Adult
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New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with a new book in the tantalizing Rise of the Warlords series, featuring a brutal Hell king and the irresistible beauty who upends his world.
For centuries, Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has existed for one recovering the enchanted bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. He’s never been closer to success. But a new enemy has risen. A band of deadly war gods who have thirty days to destroy her or suffer the consequences. With time running out, Rathbone hires a maddening harpy-oracle, unaware she has an agenda of her own.
Neeka the Unwanted is a fierce warrior on a stop Rathbone and the gods. She’s seen the future if either is victorious, and it’s horrifying. She’ll do whatever proves necessary to forge a new path, even seduce the ruthless royal from his purpose. What she can’t predict? How the intense male will shatter her hard-won defenses along the way.
As Rathbone battles unexpected betrayals, cunning foes and the wild temptress he craves with every fiber of his being, he knows he must hold on to a cold dream or embrace a new flame.
The Wrath is the fourth installment in Gena Showalter’s Rise of the Warlord series. Readers of Gena Showalter’s beloved Lords of the Underworld series will recognize the main characters in this book. I loved that we were finally getting a book with Rathbone and Neeka. Neeka is one of the harpies that I have been interested in learning more about since she was introduced to the LOTU series.
Storyline: Neeka the Unwanted is a harpy oracle able to see visions, and she’s an asset to have when she can find certain things and predict the future. Rathbone, the King of Agonies and nephew of Hades, needs Neeka’s help in finding his dead wife’s bones. She accepts even though she knows it will put a target on her back with the Harpies and Astra Warriors, especially when they realize she’s helping the enemy. Rathbone will do anything to have his dead wife back after what happened to her, but the second he starts working with the harpy, she ends up testing his love for his dead wife. There’s also the issue of the Astra Warriors wanting his wife’s bones, too, for some reason. That reason will be revealed during Neeka’s vision and also other POVs that Gena wrote in this book.
Thoughts: I’ve always loved that Gena writes kickbutt heroines, and she once again nailed it with Neeka. Neeka could very well be my favorite harpy now after reading this book. I loved her so much, and it was emotional to find out why she had the name Unwanted to her name. It was heartbreaking to learn her backstory and what happened to her, but she’s one who endured and became a kick-butt harpy and proved everyone wrong. I loved how she handled the King of Agonies and made him flustered.
Another thing Gena writes well is alpha male characters, and Rathbone was that, plus more. He is Hade’s nephew, which is definitely a plus in his character. The interactions between him and his Uncle were funny, and I loved how these two handled each other. (I loved getting more of Hades in this book, and hopefully, we will get his book soon.) Rathbone is also someone you don’t want to mess with, and that’s something I would expect from someone related to Hades, plus what he has gone through. Yes, we learn his backstory, too.
The banter between Rathbone and Neeka was comical, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud with these two. This is a slow burn, so readers will have to wait a while, but it’s so worth it. It’s obvious these two have chemistry, but one or both are stubborn. Neeka is one lucky gal to have Rathbone. =) Rathbone is one lucky guy to have Neeka, too!
This book did have my heart beating so fast with some of the adventures that Neeka and Rathbone went through, though. It’s not going to be easy to find the bones of Rathbone’s late wife, and you’ll be surprised why the Astra Warriors want the bones, too. I loved that Taliyah from The Warlord played a role in this book, which is why I highly recommend reading these books in order.
This was another great installment in this funny, action-packed, adventurous world that Gena has created for her readers. I can’t wait for the next one, and here’s hoping we get more of Hades. Gena makes it really hard to pick up another book after reading her books because I need more of the characters and storylines she creates, which is why she will forever be one of my favorite Paranormal Romance authors. More people need to read her books.
Story Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
Steam/Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Rise of Warlords Series.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, definitely. I recommend ALL of Gena’s books.
Genre/SubGenre(s): Romance | Paranormal Romance
Trope(s)/Element(s): Fated Mates | Enemies to Lovers | Kickbutt Heroine | Alpha Hero
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About Gena Showalter
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of nearly 100 novels. Most stories fall under the genre of romance, be they paranormal, fantasy, contemporary, or young adult. She’s also co-authored a (delightfully quirky) cozy mystery series as well as a nonfiction guide about how to write a book in a year.
Gena is a dedicated mother, grandmother, and fur-mom. A woman under construction, whose life took a few unexpected turns the past few years. But she’s learned a lot and firmly believes her best days are ahead of her, not behind her. Chances are good she’s writing her next novel and already in love with the hero.
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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