The Darkest Whisper - Discussion (spoilers)

[Adalee]

This is where you can discuss Book 4 of the Lords of the Underworld series, The Darkest Whisper.

[Adalee]

Okay...there is just...too much to say about this book! I don't know where to begin! ;D

Well, first of all, let me just say that this book is amazing. Once again, Gena did not disappoint. This book was full of action and suspence from page one.

Absolutely 5 out of 5 stars!

[glow=red,2,300]WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET READ THE BOOK, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER![/glow]

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely LOVED both Gwen and Sabin. I've never been one for a "damsel in distress" type woman, but Gwen grew so much over the course of the book that I grew to love her. She really came into her own and gave Sabin a run for his money. ~snickers~

Good girl Gwennie!

So...I am both happy and sad with the development between Cameo and Torin. I mean...I knew there was something going on and when I was proven right, I freakin' damn near had a heart attack.

I am a HUGE Cameo/Torin fan...so you can imagine my excitement when they were together...well...as together as they could possibly be, early on in the book.

But then...later...when we learned that they were only "using" each other because of the convenience...I was kind of sad. Don't get me wrong...I'm happy that they are attracted to one another and get a thrill out of getting off together and understand each other...but somewhere, deep down...I was truly hoping that they would love one another. But alas...~sighs~ I knew it would never happen. I can only hope that they each find someone who can make them as happy as Maddox, Lucien, Reyes and now...Sabin.

Oh and...FYI...I thought it was hilarious that Torin got a raging hard-on everytime he caught a glimpse of Nix. ~chuckles~ Oh Nixie...

I'm quite sad that Nix didn't actually make an appearance though. I thought that she would actually get to interact with the lords. ~pouts~

Oh! And Legion. Sweet sweet Legion. I adore her. And I think it's sweet that Aeron thinks of her as his daughter, and she is so protective of him. I thought for sure that she would somehow be turned into a woman and be with him. ~cackles~ But now...I'm more interested to see what she is going to think of Olivia and what Olivia is goign to think of her. ~cheeky grin~

And what...the hell. Amun...talks? I nearly died when he spoke. And Gideon...telling the TRUTH! O.O'! Oh em gee. Shocker. My poor poor lords. ~bottom lip trembles~

Gideon, Strider and Amun all writhing in pain because of there damned demons! ~shakes a fist in the air~ And then Gideon goes and gets himself tortured! I thought for sure that we would get to see more emotion from the Lords when they found Gideon. I figured there would be much more outrage, sorrow, guilt...but, I realize also that this was Sabin's HEA...so Gena couldn't waist too much time focusing on the other Lords.

Though, I'm glad we got to see more of Gideon and his relation with his demon. I am now a big fan of Gideon, whereas before he was more so on neutral ground, being that I didn't know much about him.

And Paris...gods...my poor Paris. I don't understand why he is SO upset over Sienna! Damn her! If he ends up with her...I will be furious. ~laughs~ I will respect Gena's decision, but I won't be happy about it. I'm glad that at least Aeron finally knows what Paris did for him. It was driving me insane that none of the Lords knew what happened to him and that they were all too consumed in their own lives to bother worrying about him.

But it's killing me to see Paris being so hard on himself, and not taking care of himself. Being so angry and depressed. ~pouts~ I need him to get his HEA soon...really soon. I can't believe I have to read AT LEAST two more books before he gets his own. I don't know if I can handle it. My heart aches everytime he makes an appearance. I want the old Paris back!

~sighs~ Well...I think that's it for now. ~snickers~

The only disappointment for me was that the book was not long enough! ~laughs~ Sure...it was 400 pages, but it felt like the ending was a bit rushed. Of course, that's just me. Unlike some people, I like to know every detail...nothing is "filler" in my world. So the short epilogue seemed so vague and left me with so many questions and a crushing feeling in my chest, thinkig about Gideon and Paris.

Although...I suppose that's the point, isn't it? To end the book with MANY crippling cliffhangers so that everyone is practically convulsing with need for the next book...and the next...and the next. ~laughs~

Well, I suppose I will just have to wait until ~cringes~ next year to see what happens to my lovely Lords of the Underworld.

[legion09]

Adalee, I couldn't resist reading your review. Why Gena, Why Gena, why did she have to tease us and make us think their could have been a Legion/Aeron hook up. Ugh. He thinks of her as a DAUGHTER!!!!! Noooo, say it ain't so. Now it's just completely impossible. I knew she wasn't Olivia, but I thought maybe, just maybe, she would somehow be connected to Olivia, maybe possessing her or something. But now, well all hope is gone of my Legion and Aeron being together in any way. Ok, I'm over that rant.

The book sounds awesome. I love Sabin, can't wait to read about him finally getting some happiness. I will be getting my book on Wednesday, as soon as it comes, I will begin it. Guess my boys will have to occupy themselves with cartoons for a couple hours, because they will not stop me from reading this book. I've waited too long.

[Adalee]

~snickers~ Oh legion09...I knew you'd be disappointed. But don't worry...I'm sure Olivia will be able to win our hearts...and Legions. She...sort of....makes a cameo appearance in this book. We don't get any sort of introduction to Olivia...but she makes her presence known, and there is one scene of interaction between Aeron and Olivia.

But I think it will be very interesting to see how Legion takes to Olivia...being that she is so protective and jealous of Aeron, and scared beyond belief of the Angel.

[glow=red,2,300]*More Spoilers*[/glow]

And one thing I forgot to mention...I totally fingured that once again, as with Maddox and Lucien...Gwen would simply calm Sabin's demon...but that's not quite how it works. ~chuckles~ Poor little Doubt...is afraid of Gwen's Harpy...and therefore goes into hiding so that he does bring the Harpy out in Gwen. ~cackles~ That is just...too adorable. Doubt..afraid to death of the Harpy.

Yet on the flipside, Sabin is the ONLY one that can calm the Harpy...not even Gwen's sisters can do so. Too sweey.

[legion09]

So I finally got my copy, and read it. I loved this book. It is sweet the relationship between Aeron and Legion. But I still wonder why Gena chose this route, of even bringing the character of Legion in the story. Ok, so he sees her as a daughter, that's cool and all, but legion loves him sooo much and is so possessive and jealous. I feel so bad for her that she will have to share him. I just worry that she will be hurt when Olivia enters the picture. I mean once Aeron falls in love with Olivia, Legion will no longer be first in his heart. My poor Legion. I hope Legion eats Olivia, lol. no, Olivia seems not that bad, but she had better treat Legion good. Legion is just the sweetest thing ever, and it made me so sad to read that she hates going to hell but goes to help Aeron even though the other demons try to hurt her. I wish Gena had paired her with Aeron, they would have made each other so happy.

Anyways moving on. Oh my God, I so feel for Paris, he's becoming an addict. He needs to forget that scum Sienna. He deserves so much better, but at least now Aeron can help him.

I loved the fact that Torin is so dominant in the bedroom, so that's how he gets down. Can't wait for his story. Is he a virgin btw?

My heart broke for Amun, the pain that he is in, it's absolutely insane. I can't wait for him to find a woman to help him, Oh God, he needs a HEA soon.

I felt so bad for the things that happened to Gideon, that guy has been through so much. I always took him more for a joker, but now I view him as a serious warrior. I can't wait for his story.

Now of course, I thought Gwen and Sabin were great together. Her sisters annoyed me though, they reminded me of the Valkyries from IAD. same arrogant behavior. I knew they had to have that ending of Gwen letting Galen go to show that Sabin is willing to put her happiness before the war, but I was pissed. She should have killed him or at least let Sabin and the warriors lock him up.

[Adalee]

Ummm...Torin...a virgin...~growls in frustration~ I can't remember! If I'm right, it did at one point in the book say that he hasn't slept with anyone since his curse...and that even before that, as a warrior to the Gods, he had been too busy...and that he was most likely the only 3000 year old virgin in existence...but maybe I'm thinking of a different book? ~ponders~ I have read so many that I sometimes get the confused...but I'm pretty sure that was Torin.

~runs to grab book and search for the answer~ Aha! Yes...it says "He'd never had to worry about these things before because he'd never been with a woman. Not even before his possession. He'd been too busy then, too involoved in his job. Maybe he needed to join Workaholics Anonymous, he thought dryly.He had to be the only millennia-old virgin in history."

This was during the scene in which he was contemplating his "relationship" with Cameo.

And I understand how you feel about Legion and Aeron. I feel the same way about Torin and Cameo. I KNEW that they weren't going to end up together, but it doesn't stop me in any way from wishing that they were a couple. I am a die hard Cameo/Torin fan...don't know why. But I am. ~laughs~

The one consolidation that I can think of regarding Aeron and Legion is that perhaps Legion will come to love Olivia as much as Aeron, and she'll get to be part of a family. AFter everything Olivia goes through for Aeron...I can't see Legion not falling in love with her as well. And I think that being that Aeron DOES think of Legion as a daughter, he would never turn a blind eye to her...not even for Olivia.

~huffs~ Gods! Gideon right? I agree 100% legion09. I never took him seriously before this book...in fact, he kind of grated on my nerves, but now that I have more insight to what he goes through with his demon, and how it affects his relationships...I think he is now in my top three favorite Lords...seriously. It used to be Maddox, Paris and Reyes...now it's Maddox, Paris and Gideon...and they are all in VERY close contension.

~pouts~ I want to cuddle with Paris...I want him to feel better. Thinking about him just makes me depressed. ~laughs~ Yes...I am aware that he is just a character in a book...my friends remind me daily that I take my fiction WAY too seriously...but I live this shit in my head...and his situation is just so....SAD!

~narrows eyes menacingly and shakes fist in front of face~ I swear...I am going to kick Sienna's plain little ASS for doing this to my beautiful Paris.

And yes! How could Gwen let Galen get away! I have a hard time believing that Sabin would allow that to happen...even for Gwen...and that the other Lords would be able to forgive him OR Gwen. That whole scenario had steam blowing out of my ears.

I love Gwen...I do...but despite how much growth she experienced throughout the book, that one single action proved how weak she still is...and I just cannot find it within myself to respect her decision. ~sighs~

[legion09]

Poor Torin, never having sex, and not being able to now because of Disease. Poor guy can't catch a break. I had a feeling though from before I read this book that he and Cameo were not serious. Well no harm in them using each other as long as they are honest. I do feel kinda bad for Torin though, being stuck inside all the time, and missing the action.

I hope you are right about Aeron not forsaking Legion for Olivia. So on Gena's website she mentions that Legion will get a HEA, but she can't say when or with who. That makes me happy. Maybe her and the demon Distrust will fall in love.... I have an overactive imagination. Honestly though, I've never cared about a female heroine as much as I care about Legion. Her character just called out to me. I'm weird.

I totally understand what you mean about cuddling Paris, even though he is a fictional character. I feel like that about Aeron. It's easy for me to get into characters and stories, and really feel it. I remember after I read Lover Awakened, I just couldn't stop thinking about it, and picturing all the things that happened to poor Zsadist. It really disturbed me, and I actually started to regret reading that book, just because of how it saddened me what he went through. Sometimes I feel so dumb for caring about fictional characters so much, but oh well.... Ok, tangent over. So... Gwen and Galen. Yeah, she majorly pissed me off with that, and I just couldn't believe it. She was acting as if she was starting to believe Galen now might actually want to be a father to her, hello this man is a monster. If I was living in that Budapest fortress, I would have to give her the cold shoulder for a while, knowing that they were so close, and she ruined it.

Oh man, I also hope Ashlyn never finds out the role she played in those women's lives. I would never be able to forgive myself if I was her, even though it was unintentional.

[sordidtruth]

5 out of 5 here too. *Waves flag grudgingly.*

The suspense & interaction between Sabin & Gwen is full of all the contradictions, hotter than hot attraction & mixes of barricades & blockages to love -- the trademark of what I've come to love and anticipate from Gena Showalter.

(Anyone says that love is easy - give me a gun fully loaded & I'll bullet cripple them without remorse . . . Promise.)

Now . . . onto my very personal views of the characters . . . *Rubs hands gleefully.*

First . . . . Gwen . . . her insecurities insured to me a perpetual weakness in her. I cringed inside every single time she scuttled away from Sabin's advances, her inner Harpy and family relations, but rejoiced in her every short, to the point, aggressive remark showing the strength she possessed via woman & Harpy combined. I can forgive her shortcomings & weaknesses for all the snappy comebacks & growth she did throughout the book - hello, everyone has flaws - but what I couldn't get over was the fact that despite all her tenacity & overcoming the initial fear of embracing her Harpy, she allowed Galen to fly away on his little tirade so he could continue merrily on out the roof to better prepare to destroy everything she loves. Most especially Sabin. Girl!! You have got to get a grip!! **Shakes Gwen viciously.** He's her father - big deal. He's no friggin angel! She's known him for never, betrayed the Lords - his past BFF's - will annihilate them - and her - any chance he gets . . . . and she let him go??

And the other Lords reactions? *Scoffs* Like they wouldn't be the slightest bit miffed? Anya I get - get on with it, you can't change what happened front, Gideon might as well be comatose and Strider's in agonizing pain due to his Demon. Even without that, I don't think I'd ever, ever be able to forgive her for giving my long term enemy an as you "pass go, collect 200 bodies" pass if I were a Lord. Not unless she herself brung him down, tortured and imprisoned him herself in the future . . . But the torture is optional really - I'd offer.

*Taps chin and foot simultaneously.* Now Sabin . . . I have no problems beside from him looking really relieved when he stuffed Gwen in a cell. Do not even fictional males learn? Honestly, he trains her so she can fight, tells her that she can trust him and what does he go and do? Shows her how utterly relieved he is when he locks the door before her very eyes that's what. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb! And then he longs to have her on the battlefield? *Rolls eyes.*

The cold treatment she gives him, the caging up of her sisters and how she progressed with their relationship then is what made this book so sweet to me. The icing up on the cake. I love the lead female to recognise her own potential, the power she wields over herself and her man - that she has the ability to make her own decisions and choices in life, mistakes and successes all her own. - Which is what Gwen goes through all thanks to Sabin's silly little action. Extremely satisfied with the story's flow I fall back into my always firm belief that to make characters seem uber real the author has got to throw their flaws and weaknesses in their faces, force them to come to terms with them, leading to them harnessing all that inner strength.

Enter Galen and boom everything goes haywire. When it came to Gwen making that so important decision near the end, I knew - knew - what her answer was going to be. How? For someone like Gwen - a character that has grown immensely and evolved beautifully throughout the whole of the book, with how soft-hearted and incredibly innocent her core still was, I knew she wasn't ready to give up on her dreams - the deceptively sweet hope - and thus Galen. Any bets on where that hope came from ladies??

What sold me on the true love and eternal companionship relationship between Gwen and Sabin was when they first sexually interacted together -- the scene in the shower more specifically. Even though they both refused that any commitment came out of it it was in the whole act. The branding on her skin from him, the way Gwen's Harpy nature and her wanted more. Commitment practically oozed from the pages. '"Mine to protect"' indeed . . .

Right . . . so I've gone on about Gwen & Sabin, their relationship & characters . . . . who next, who next . . . . ?

Ah. Torin-man. What to say? His and Cameo's friends-with-very-good-benefits relationship didn't shock me in the least. They are both tortured beings with seemingly no satisfaction in sight. So naturally they found it in one another - at least to an extent. Admittedly a part of me froze up, gutted. I find I have to point out it was the insane, emotional - irrational - part of me, but part of me still the same. Then came later - another scene and more insight into his confrontational view on his and Cameo's relationship. - There was going to be no love lost or between these two immortals . . . . their get-in-and-get-some-rather-than-none approach determined by circumstance alone seals the fate that they are going to have their own stories written someday in the future. Much rejoicing on my end.

And that Nix the ever-knowing can go twitch her little conical ears some place else next time -- away from Torin's camera's. Honestly, I bet she planned it all. The beat of her head too. Too bad Nix is getting her own story from Kresley. Lusty T is going to have to get his one and only female. Soon. Anybody think Torin's book is going to come before Cameo's?

Loved his reaction to Crones though. (And his dominating personality in the bedroom) Irreverence to the core. His muttered question too. At least it got Cronie-wony on a talking spree for once and a nice little explanation on the way . . . until that blasted Cameo interfered that is . . . So the meaning of the butterflies . . . basically transformation into something new with more power and freedom from the restricted beings they were once before. A sort of rebirth . . . it really aggravates me to know he was going to spill more and high tailed it back to the heavens instead.

I adored Anya attempting to stay with Lucien and then pushing Galen into uncontrollable emotion so that he would lash out, proving to the ghost kid he wasn't the so called "angel" they saw him as whilst gaining the advantage . . . if only it had worked.

Gideon and Nightmare, eh? Seems to me those demons knew each other somewhere down the line . . . intimately so. Or as intimate as demons can get. And the truth when riled . . . now there was another thing I adored. Emotion splatters him so he hides beneath sarcasm. And when that emotion clefted him, I realised just how emotionally wounded the warrior really is. Safe to say, I'll be anticipating his book immensely. Loved all the scenes in his point of view.

Aeron & Legion . . . incredibly spoilt daughter and over protective father? The thought left me grinning. The relationship between those two, as it's developed, fits so god damn well in my opinion. I never really could see Legion manifesting into a woman in the future.

I agree with you Addy. I think Legion will become as close and possessive over Olivia as she is over Aeron. I'm already loving Olivia's character. She's the epitome of strength and unwavering value. She looks, deciphers and judges for herself, rather than just obey her orders. Sees with her heart and is passionate . . . or at least that's what I'm getting from this book and the synopsis for Aeron's. She definitely loves his wings . . . *cackles.*

Paris - the epitome of anguish. All he wants is plain Sienna . . . and the seemingly elusive love all the other coupled Lords possess. I love the way his character is developing, from easygoing, fun loving and jovial to harsh, self torturing and deadened. It's a lesson and growth all intertwined, and even though it's anything but nice or fair, it's a lesson needed to be learned. He'll come out of it stronger with a new found resolution the other side. And Sienna . . . well, I have a feeling his Sienna will or is already reborn . . . another creature, stronger, more capable and in debt to someone up high and he'll be in hot pursuit of her when he spies her again.

Well, I think I've mentioned everything. If not then I'm sure I'll be back later.

[Adalee]

...Nice work Sordid...you did indeed cover everything.

I can't ever seem to sit down and right such an in depth book analysis...I can never gather my thoughts well enough to make sense of any of it. ~laughs~

~sighs~ Gods...I hope Paris doesn't end up with Sienna. I'm sorry...but there is nothing that Sienna can do from this point on to redeem herself. Sienna is dead to me. End of story. ~snickers~

I KNEW your insane, emotional - irrational - side would come out in the first Cameo/Torin scene Sordid. ~blows you a reaspberry~ I told you it would be good for you and bad for me in the end. ~pouts~

If you'll excuse me, I have to go and wallow in self-pity at the understanding that Cameo and Torin will never be together...no matter how hard I wish it. ~sulks as she walks slowly out of the room~

[sordidtruth]

Hey. Don't sweat it (like me). It took me all damn day to do. And I did miss out something - Amun - but I'll get to him tomorrow now. *Blows kiss.*

*Shrugs.* I loved your analysis and Legions. *Chuckles.* Very amusing and in depth. I must admit though, I found it to be rather difficult to resist peeking in this thread to find out everything I could. I had to wait almost an entire week for the damned book to arrive - and then I was out all day. *Pouts.*

*Laughs.* I don't particularly like the girl either . . . but I have this gut feeling he'll chase her to the ends of the world now. *Sighs also.* Wish I could help you there but alas . . . But if it helps you to believe that she is dead then go ahead . . . I won't stop you . . . yet.

Good for me? *Scoffs.* Trust me it wasn't in any way good. My heart didn't exactly stop, but it did something unusual and my stomach dropped from beneath me for sure.

Don't wallow! *Rushes over to you.* Trust me - that's a very, very bad thing to do. *You try to keep walking, ignoring me.* *Asks abruptly.* Do you want a slap? Y'know pain an' all that. Might take you're mind of it . . . Snap out of it. Or at least tell me the reasons why you want them to be together. There's got to be a reason . . . don't make me not hurt you - you wouldn't enjoy it then. *Looks at you, waiting half impatiently with determination.*

[Adalee]

~sniffles indignantly~ There isn't a reason...I just do. ~shrugs~ Ever since I first got the sense that there was something going on between Torin and Cameo...I just thought they were good together. ~sighs~ And even though I knew that Gena wouldn't pair these two together...now that it is certain they don't have feelings for one another, other than being friends-with-benefits...I'm just so...depressed.

~continues to walk out of the room, lip quivering, feet shuffling and large eyes glassy with unshed tears~ It doesn't help that I am an emotional mess considering one of my favorite fictional men ever DIED last night and damn near put me into heart failure. ~sniffles again~ I'm still trying to get over it...pardon me uncharacteristic emotional anguish.

[legion09]

Wow Sordid, you really went into some details there. But yeah, you're right on the money. I too must grudgingly admit that Olivia sounds awesome. I wondered how many of us were sneaking peaks at this thread. I wonder if Luvs has withheld so far, hmm. Gena definitely struck gold with LOTU.

[sordidtruth]

Legion - *Chuckles.* I figured it was about time I settled down and dedicated myself to a review and well . . . that's what came out. Out of all the tons of books I have read I hardly write up anything about them - even the ones I love. Reminding me to do it is useless, but even I didn't expect it to be so damn long . . .

Grudgingly, eh? *Twinkle in eyes.* I get the impression you don't much like her . . . *pats Legion's head sympathetically . . . the fictional one and the real username one .*

I wonder if Luvs has peeked to . . . It took all my self-restraint to not look and that physically hurt!