From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter comes a new story in her Lords of the Underworld series¿Fox is a demon-possessed immortal with many talents.–Ability to open portals-check–Power to kill the most dangerous Sent Ones-check–Scare away any man who might want to date her-mateNow, the keeper of Distrust has been marked for death, a winged assassin with … rainbow-colored eyes tracking her every move, determined to avenge the males she accidentally decimated. If only she could control the desire to rip off his clothes¿Bjorn is a fierce warrior with many complications.–Tragic, torture-filled past-check–A wife he was forced to wed, who is draining his life force-check–Ever-intensifying desire for the enigmatic Fox-mateNever has he hesitated to exterminate an evil being. Until now. The sharp-tongued female with a shockingly vulnerable heart tempts him in ways no one else ever has, threatening his iron control.But, as Fate itself seems to conspire against the unlikely pair, both old and new enemies emerge. And Fox and Bjorn must fight to survive. And learn to love¿Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.
more
OMGoodness!! This book is why I love Gena Showalter (and 1,001 Dark Nights). Fox the Executioner and Bjorn the One True Dread are sooo good together…even when one or the other is being a pain (or causing it). It was great to visit with Thane and Xerxes (although I did want to take an infirmədē-laced whip to them), Galen and Legion, William the Ever Randy, Axel and all the rest.
I cannot wait to read what’s next!
I received an advance copy of this book via InkslingrPR. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
For being the first book in the series and my first book altogether by this author, I was able to follow along pretty well with the characters and the stories. It was different than other paranormal stories I’ve read that I was hooked. I couldn’t stop reading. I enjoyed this so much. The attraction between Fox and Bjorn was palpable and their back and forth was fun to witness.
I’ve read all the books in this series. Bijorn was in a spin off series (Angels of the Dark) and I’ve been wondering if he’d ever get a book.
Fox has been in a few books too. And I’ve never really taken to her, (she seemed very cold and standoffish) but once I read why she was that way, the story had me liking her more.
The story has us visiting Fox not long after she kills innocents (“sent ones” who are angels) she is then attacked by Bijorn (he’s been sent to dispense justice after she’d killed the “sent ones”) captured and taken to his home, there she is thrown into a dungeon, to await her fate.
Back story on Bijorn ….. he’s an angel, (what class?) he’s an assassin?
He was captured a while back and tortured alongside his best friends (Thane and Xerxes) it changed his character. No longer the happy man his friends knew, but years together the three men have an unbreakable bond. And it helped to keep Bijorn grounded. Oh and he was a “wife”!! But it’s not a happy marriage, it’s a very one sided and poisonous one!!
Backstory on Fox ….. adopted “daughter” to Galen the keeper of both false hope and jealousy, she “houses” the demon Distrust. The constant nagging in her head (the demon tells her she not worthy, to kill anyone first, that way they can’t kill her. To always be distrustful of others) orphaned are a very early age, Fox has had to survive the best way she can. She’s also a Gatekeeper (she can create portals) a rare and dying breed, so she keeps that bit of information to herself. A skilled warrior and assassin, every bit as lethal as her title “The Executioner”
It’s a short story, so we don’t have time for Fox and Bijorn to have a slow relationship.
The trust between these two is slow in coming, he wonders when she will try to kill him, she wonders when she can escape. Bijorn is also told by his superiors that Fox has to die for her crimes (which he’s finding harder and harder to do) But after several incidents a tentative alliance is formed. Both fight their attraction to one another, but realise that together they are stronger. But one mistaken moment, and they are back to square one.
The story gives us more info on William (his book is next and widely anticipated) and the fight between lucifer and the Lords of the Underworld. It seems to be coming to a climax, so I have to wonder if the series is coming to an end?
I have to say, I liked this book, I would have loved a longer story. Liked how we go to catch up with old characters (would have liked interaction with a few Lords)