Review: ‘The Darkest Surrender’ by Gena Showalter
The Darkest Surrender
by Gena ShowalterSeries: Lords of the Underworld #8
Published by HQN Books on September 27th 2011
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: AudioBook, Paperback
Pages: 426
Source: Purchased
Audience: 18+/Rated R
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Possessed by the demon of Defeat, Strider cannot lose a challenge without suffering unimaginable pain. For him, nothing stands in the way of victory. Until Kaia, an enchanting Harpy, tempts him to the razor's edge of surrender.
Known among her people as The Disappointment, Kaia must bring home the gold in the Harpy Games or die. Strider is a distraction she can't afford because he has an agenda of his own-steal first prize, an ancient godly artifact, before the winner can be named. But as the competition heats up, only one prize will matter-the love neither had thought possible...
The Darkest Surrender is the eighth book in Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. I read this book the first time in 2012 and I’m working my way through a reread of the series because this has always been one of my favorite PNR series. This book is about Strider (Keeper of Defeat) and Kaia (Harpy/Phoenix).
Strider is possessed by the demon Defeat, which means he always has to win. If he doesn’t win, then he usually feels excruciating pain, which is not fun for him. He’s tempted often by the other Lords, and his demon likes to test him. Still, the FMC, Kaia, who is half-harpy/phoenix, is definitely putting him through the wringer, especially when he has to watch her compete with other harpies in a competition. Those harpies want to take Kaia out after what happened the last time she competed. Kaia is there to prove she’s not Kaia the Disappointed, and she wants to win the prize. Strider has other plans, and she can’t let him distract her or steal the prize before she proves herself.
Strider has been one MMC in LOTU that I couldn’t wait to find out who he was going to end up with because he’s one of the most difficult MMCs. (Reminder: I’ve read this book before, but I’m glad I reread it because I needed a refresher.) He’s stubborn, hard-headed, and always wants to win, but it doesn’t help when his demon makes him that way. I thought he would end up with another FMC due to a previous book in the series, but that changed, and I’m glad he was destined to be with Kaia. He tended to be a jerk at times, but he redeemed himself. It’s mainly the mixed signals he gave Kaia, which was frustrating. Kaia handled him, though, which is why I loved her character.
Kaia is strong-willed but also stubborn, too, especially when she has something to prove in the harpy games that she hasn’t participated in for years due to what she did the last time she competed in them. I felt sorry for Kaia for how the other harpies were treating her because she didn’t deserve it. She was trying to redeem herself, and even Strider didn’t like it, which made him very protective of her, even though Kaia could very well handle herself.
I really didn’t like Juliette in this book, but that’s the whole point. You’re supposed not to like the antagonist, and she’s one who needed a chill pill because she was still hung up on what Kaia did at the last games. (Give over it!)
I did feel the storyline was different compared to the other LOTU books because it focused more on the harpy games, but it did involve something the Lords needed in order to be ahead of Galen and the hunters. It was still enjoyable but different.
With that being said, Gena had other POVs going on within the book that were interesting, too. Readers get Kane, Paris, and William’s POVs. Oh boy, there was a serious secret that came out about William. HOLY MOLY! Actually, William had several secrets come out in this book, and now I understand why he is the way he is. I think I love him even more now. No, I know I LOVE him even more!
Story Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Steam/Spice: 🌶🌶
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the LOTU series and I recommend reading in order.
Would I recommend this book/series? Yes. I recommend this to paranormal romance readers, demon lovers, and LOTU fanatics out there. If you haven’t read this series, you need to start. Add it to your wish list, your TBR on Goodreads, or go ahead and buy it. The first book is “The Darkest Night,” or you can start with the prequel, “The Darkest Fire.”
Genre/SubGenre(s): Romance | Paranormal Romance
Trope(s)/Element(s): Fated Mates | Unrequited Love | Touch Her and I’ll Unalive You | Touch Him and I’ll Unalive You | Kickbutt Heroine | Harpy/Phoenix Heroine | Demon-Possessed Hero | 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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