From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter comes a new story in her Lords of the Underworld series… For centuries, Galen the Treacherous has been the most hated immortal in the Underworld. With good reason! This bad boy of bad boys has lied, stolen, cheated and killed with abandon. Possessed by the demons of Jealousy and False Hope, he has always lived for a single … single purpose: destroy everything.
Then he met her.
Former demon turned human femme fatale — Legion Honey — sought to kill Galen, but ended up parting with her virginity instead. Afraid of their sizzling connection, she ran away…and ended up trapped in hell, tortured and abused in the worst of ways. Now she’s free, and a shell of herself, afraid of her own shadow.
Galen’s hunger for Legion has only grown. Now the warrior with nothing to lose must help her rekindle the fire that once burned inside her. But as desires blaze white-hot, will Legion run again? Or will the unlikely pair succumb to love at long last?
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.
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Can’t go wrong with a book by Gena Showalter!
I’ve been a G.S. fan for as long as I can remember. I adore the LOTU series, and Darkest Captive was an excellent addition. Only Gena can take a character that I soundly disliked from previous stories and turn him into a hero that sits at the top of my list of great guys. I loved Legion/Honey’s transformation to true badass. Another fabulous addition to the LOTU series and highly recommended.
From the moment I started reading paranormal romance, Gena Showalter won me over with her Lords of the Underworld. I love the concept. I love the supernatural beings she weaves in and out. And I love the super sexy times of course. More than one book in this series holds a spot in my top ten reads… but having said that, I was left flatly disappointed by this installment. Its a good book, don’t get me wrong. The characters are good (though, seriously, all the different names for Legion got old books ago already!), the romance is steamy and the redemption of one of the biggest baddies in all the books was nice to finally see. I just felt like it could’ve been so much MORE. It’s novella length so I knew it wasn’t going to be an in depth exploration of these characters but overall it played out so fast it felt weirdly superficial to me especially when compared to the books of the other Lords and their Ladies. Legion and Galen both deserved better (Like a full book) but I’ll take it if it’s all we get (and it seems it is). I still love Showalter and this series but my hope is that the next installment is back in track with the level of heat, passion and heart-aching moments that Ive come to expect from this series.
Gena is AMAZING!
4.5 Stars of awesomesauce!!
I found this book to be funny. Maybe not the theme the author was going for, but Legion and Galen together had some very humorous moments which made me enjoy the book more. The other Lords of the Underworld books have primarily, to me, been less humorous (but no less enjoyable!) than this one. Which is why I think I liked this one more than the others. Although, it could also be due to Galen!
Galen’s character is what someone would typically think of as the anti-hero; arrogant, has done/does bad things, etc. And that fits Galen to a T, but not totally either. There is reason for the things that he has done, but that doesn’t excuse the past. Just explains it from his side. But what I really liked was how much everything was about Legion for him. No ifs, ands, or buts. And the way that his character was with her … amazing!
Legion had a lot to overcome in this book. Her torture in hell changed who she was and what she could tolerate. But she really came out of her shell and became who she was before, with some changes. I really enjoyed how empowered she became, and her humor and at times, cluelessness about things. Her character’s humor was great when paired with her gaining confidence. And having Galen at her beck and call was really nice too!
Overall, great additional the Lords of the Underworld series! The characters were awesome and memorable. The situations they found themselves in at times were freaking funny and dangerous, but still the author brought humor to them too. I was really impressed and now can’t wait for the next book in the series! Happy reading!
It feels as if I’ve been waiting forever for Legion’s story. Or should I say Honey…or even Leila? I’ll stick with Legion for this review. Anyway, with the long wait to see her get her HEA I was a bit bummed she was relegated to a novella. Until I read the novella. Trust me, Gena Showalter does her justice and gives her the HEA she deserves.
Just as I wasn’t sure if a novella was good enough for Legion, I was certainly not convinced Baden was the man for her. Of course, the author worked her magic and had me eating out of Baden’s hand pretty quickly. He is gaga for Legion and is amazingly sweet and tender with her. He proves himself over and over with his protective nature, basically getting tortured himself in order to protect Legion.
Because this is a novella I’m going to forgive the fact that we don’t get a deep dive into the demons that are residing within Baden, or get to really interact to the extent I would have hoped with the other Lords. Because the chemistry is off the charts and I was full of warm-fuzzies, I can let those other things slide. Also, this story helped to bridge the gap to set up some of the other stories that are coming up. In that respect, it did its job beautifully.
In my defense, I received this book in a book box, so I have no background on these characters or this world. So I’m only reviewing as a standalone book. I didn’t care for it, but again that more than likely has to do with my lack of knowledge. Please don’t use my review as a review, I know that sounds stupid, but I’m only reviewing for my sake. I don’t want my lack of reading Gena’s books to be held against her from other readers!
The one that is hated finally gets his story with the one that is loved. Galen is the baddest of the bad in the immortal world. Hated by most and feared by others. Legion is the former demon who has been tortured and abused once she ran away from a small spark and connection. But now the two are reunited and the sparks fly once again. Their connection knows no bounds and their story which is short, quick and sweet really packs a punch. I have not read other books in the series but I may just have to start.
Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter was one of the first paranormal romance series I started to follow. I found them as I discovered reading a continuing series was my favorite way to enjoy paranormal romance. It is a fantastic concept, immortal warriors inhabited by the demons they set free as a punishment. They have to learn to deal with the evil inside of them, without becoming evil themselves. And they are sexy and very alpha. Fast forward to Darkest Captive, actually a few books prior, and I am not sure these books are for me anymore.
The pairing of Galen and Legion as a couple works well. Both characters require redemption at the start of their relationship. I love a salvation story as I find anti-heroes most intriguing. It is disappointing the couple did not receive a full-length novel since they have been circling one another for several books now. Perhaps the bulk of their story has already been told.
With the corruption that appears in the world, there are many ways of exploring how demons can alter one’s outlook. In the current installment, False Hope and Jealousy inhabit Galen. These inner struggles as the demons influence the host is tense, clever and entertaining.
Legion’s arc, several books back, is excellent. She barters with Lucifer to obtain a gorgeous human body, hoping to win the love of one of the Lords. In the end, just after meeting Galen, she is sent back to hell. From this return trip derives her PTSD. The physical and most notably the sexual, abuse she undergoes is a common theme in these books. Frankly, it is starting to feel overused. Not only that but Legion does all her healing off stage making the struggle feel less genuine. What I am left with is it solely serves as the main hurdle in keeping Legion from wooing with Galen. And it gives Galen the opportunity to prove his love by exacting violence on Legion’s abusers.
I tend to listen to audio-books as much as possible. Therefore, my biggest complaint with the book/series may be due to the narrator’s interpretation of the text, leading me to not fully committed to this criticism. Lately, I have felt a great deal of the character speech has been excessively juvenile. It has not been just one individual or one sex, and it seems to pop up several times over multiple installments. Actually, it has become cringe-worthy, so much so I considered stopping the book this go round. In the beginning, I did not have this issue, but the first few books I physically read. I may attempt the next book without the audio to make my final decision, but the series may have reached the back burner for me.
AH Finally Legion’s story! Now this was a precarious tale. Once a hellion a demoness extraordinaire, Legion is now a sheltered woman. A stint of torture in hell is bound to make any woman afraid of the outside world; and Legion has literally been to hell and back. She thought she had love for Aeron, another Lord, but his heart lies elsewhere. Now alone and frightened of the future, Legion is determined to fight her way back to the strong independent woman she was. There’s just one pesky former-villian that keeps trying to win her over; and she can’t stop thinking about him.
Galen is an frenemy to the Lords. As the keeper of two demons, he’s got a lot going on in his head at one time. Nothing can keep him from his goals, and he means NOTHING. He’s one determined man and he’s determined to win Legion. Don’t let the warrior exterior fool you; this villain turned dark hero will do anything to free Legion from her own personal shackles and help her overcome her past traumas. All while laying her enemies and deepest desires at her feet. Prepare to re-evaluate every thought you had about Galen in the previous LOTU books, he’ll win you over.
For new readers, this may be a hard book to follow as a LOT of the story deals with previous characters and events that’ve been happening for years in this series. But for longtime fans of the LOTU series, The Darkest Captive is a sweet blissful taste of the world and the happenings of other characters. Not every villain turned seemingly good guy gets a story and Galen’s is every bit as action packed and sexy as any fully fleshed out Lord’s novel. A sexy addition to the Lords and some hints at just what might be coming next!
I have been waiting for Galen and Legion’s story for what seems like forever now and Gena Showalter did not disappoint!! To Galen Legion is the one who got away and he is determined to have her again. And while she is very much attracted to him, she has become a shell of herself due to horrors in her recent past. However, Galen is determined to help her overcome her fears and try to recover the person she once was. This story has action, passion, and plenty of heat to go around. I highly recommend this book even if you haven’t read the previous Lords of the Underworld books.
Mercy Me!! I actually messaged the author on Facebook when I read this book – I am an AVID “Lords” fan and a massive Galen fan- I have been waiting for him to get his own story and it didn’t fall short. This was BY FAR the best book written by Gena so far! I was touched, I was thrilled, I laughed and felt myself tear up for the characters… I have always loved her books and I adored the wit/snark and humor she laces in the story…. THANK YOU!!
Not long enough
I’ve wanted to read this couple for ages. And to find it was only a novella, was a little crushing !!!
But it’s a good story.
Luckily enough it was filled with Galen and Legion/Honey. The banter was on par for this series
Great to see most of the previous couples. And leading up to Fox’s story in 2019
I love all of the Lords books and this was no exception. Legion deserves a happily ever after with the trauma that she has gone through. Galen’s character has evolved to one I was routing for to get it right despite the interference from his demons.
The plot was clever and well executed. There was a lot of action and interesting twists. The Lords of the Underworld series continues to be thrilling and feel original.
FULL REVIEW: https://shahlas-world.blogspot.com/2018/12/my-love-for-lords-of-underworld.html
Gena Showalter
Short, fast-paced and even funny at times.
Legion and Galen’s journey was entertaining, enthraling, action packed, emotional, and full of passion. I really enjoyed following their story even though it felt a bit rush at the end.
The Darkest Captive can be read as standalone but I highly recommend that you read the previous books. The characters are likeable, amazing and easy to connect to. The story is short, fast-paced and even funny at times.
If you like paranormal romance, and haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend that you do, because Gena Showalter’s storytelling is superb and she never disappoints!
This is a difficult one for me to review, I’ve only read the first book in this series and that was like 2 years ago, so although this is a novella and can be read as a standalone, I found myself a bit lost in this story, not really understanding the characters and the plot very much, but I did enjoy the storyline, but feel there is definintely more to this story than just the novella!
Legion is trying to heal after being captured, tortured and raped/abused by Lucifer and a hoarde of demons in Hell. She is a broken woman now, very unlike the one she used to be, afraid and quite timid. Galen appears to have been quite a bad character in other books in this series, having had a previous encounter with Legion, has become obsessed with her and needs her back in his bed. He feels bad at being unable to save Legion from her nightmare in hell, but jumps right into the fray as he senses an attack on her is imminent, rescuing her and nearly dying in the process!
I enjoyed their story but do wish there was more to it, but definitely need to go back and read the rest of the series!
Part of me was waiting for this book and part of me really wasn’t. The potential relationship between Legion and Galen was certainly building in the earlier books but neither of them were particularly good or interesting characters to me. That is, until I read The Darkest Captive. The Darkest Captive allowed the reader to see different sides of both Galen and Legion than we were previously presented. We get to see Legion come into herself as a former demon who learns to be a powerful woman. She becomes Lelia and claims a new name for herself. We also get to see Galen on his path to redemption and reunion with the Lords of the Underworld. There are adorable moments where he courts Leila in both romantic and demonically romantic ways. They both learn to accept each other, glaring flaws and all, and even appreciate each others flaws. I especially liked how Leila was able to deal with Galen’s twin demons of False Hope and Jealousy. One of the trademarks of this series is that the heroes host these terrible demons in them and they and their partners need to learn to cope with those demons without them taking over their lives. Leila is about to recognize when the demons are spewing their poison and combat that with her love and trust of Galen. For a story I wasn’t the most excited for (still counting down to William’s book), I very much enjoyed the redemption of Galen and Lelia.
While I’ve read Gena Showalter before, THE DARKEST CAPTIVE was my first book in her Lords of the Underworld series. All of the snark, sass, and sizzle that I’ve come to expect from Gena, served up as part of a world that only she could imagine, making for an otherworldly romp that is highly entertaining.
Legion and Galen are a match made in…well, they’re a match, and an odd one at that. I think that had I read more of the series, and known more of their backstory, I might have expected a longer book to celebrate their reunion. As a first-time reader of the series, I enjoyed THE DARKEST CAPTIVE very much, and found myself appreciating Gena’s craft in a whole new way.
I found it easy to follow Legion’s and Galen’s thread in the story, but I really did wish that I had more general background on them and the other characters and their stories, as it would have allowed me to appreciate the book more fully. If not knowing the ‘whole story’ doesn’t bother you, and you love a good sexy paranormal read, this one’s for you. It’s fun, steamy, and more than a little zany, and I enjoyed it very much, making it an easy 4 stars for me. Now, to go back and start at the beginning of the series…
I love the Lords and this book is one of the reasons why.
Any who have followed these Lords have heard of Galen and the demons he carries. Legion we have met as well but gosh help this poor female.
Legion has lived through hell and back while in Hell…
Galen has always been the baddest of the Lords…
The Lords pick on him, his daughter hates him…
But
Can these two save each other?
I will admit I have missed out on a few of the books in this series but although short I freaking loved it…
Mrs Showalter gives us a fantastic story…
And I am anxiously awaiting the next.