Good but, not as good as Pleasure Unbound

Shade didn’t really do much for me in Pleasure Unbound so I was skeptical about how much I’d enjoy learning about his story. Desire Unchained didn’t blow me away like its predecessor did but it’s still a good read. We finally get to learn about the curse that kept coming up in the first book. The reveal was a tad anticlimactic in my opinion. For me, Gem and Kynan sort of stole the spotlight too. I think I enjoyed their interactions more than what was happening between Shade and Runa. Oh well!

The first half of the book is great. I’m particularly fond of Runa. She went from being a weak, love struck human to a don’t-mess-with-me werewolf. Shade didn’t expect his ex lover to come back for him with a vengeance (and claws!). I liked how every time the seminus demon would try to pull the same stunts he used to pull on the wolf; she’d push back and put him in his place. You don’t survive a werewolf attack without growing a backbone! I enjoyed seeing a character learn from her mistakes for a change. Runa was on the verge of falling into her old habits with Shade more than once only to realize what was happening and then she’d conscientiously take steps to change directions. I admired her knack for dealing with Shade and the way that she overcomes being a victim.

The big bad wasn’t much of a surprise, in fact, his name is mentioned several times in the blurb which I found a little disappointing. Larissa could have played up the mystery a bit more and the same thing goes for Shade’s curse. After finishing Pleasure Unbound, I was definitely curious to learn more about it but I found the truth to be somewhat of a let down to be honest. Ione’s characters and her Demonica world are so well-developed that I expected something similar with regards to these two elements. I just found that she gave the information up either too easily or simply didn’t elaborate enough on them. Maybe I’m just nitpicking but I’d expected more.

That’s not to say that there aren’t some tender moments between Shade and Runa because there are. In fact, I was on the verge of tears more than once which never happened while I was reading about Eidolon and Tayla. Gem and Kynan are amazing in this novel. With the way that things end between them in Desire Unchained, I’m really hoping that they get a book of their own, or a spin-off, or a novella, or… something! Because their story is just begging to be told!

Desire Unchained has many of the same elements that made me fall in love with the first book of this series but on a more subdued level. It’s good but it’s just not terrific. Although, many of my fellow reviewers seem to disagree with my point of view on this; which is fine, to each their own! Wraith’s story is up next and I hope that Larissa nails this book because I think it has the potential to be pure gold. Fingers crossed!

14 people found this helpful

Fascinating and addictive...

Another great addition to the Demonica series. I never expected to like this series so much but the rich complex world of underworld general hospital with all the demons, angels, werewolves, vampires etc is just addictive. The way this author writes and how she gives you a main romantic couple along with several intense secondary stories just keeps you on the edge wanting to know what will happen next.

I didn't particularly like Shade in the first book but he was completely redeemed here. He ended up being a passionate adorable demon. Yeah sounds weird but that's how it is. And he happens to have a playroom (hello BDSM) which was a pretty hot unexpected twist. And I loved how the heroine Runa evolved significantly in this story. She went from a shy doormat to a badass werewolf who stood her ground and won her hero's heart.

Narration: Hillary Huber does a perfect job narrating this book. She adds the intensity and suspense to the story and definitely narrates a great love scene. Five star plus narration and a five star plus story make for a very enjoyable listen.

3 people found this helpful

Demons Rock

This books keeps you wanting more. More about the brothers E,Shade and Wraith and more about the slightly dysfunctional hospital. Larissa does an good job of building several different stories with the story. You will find yourself just as interested in the secondary characters like Gem as you do with the main characters Runa and Shade. The female werewolf and demon pull you into their sensuous and emotional love affair. Another good listen in the Demonica series

2 people found this helpful

good book , bad narrator

The narrator is ok, when she is not using " s" words, she sssssounds like a whisssstle and ruinssss the ssstory! Ugh I would rather sssscrape nailssss on a chalk board. She ruinssss the book! It's like that beaver from Winnie The Pooh... SSSSSay.......... grates on the ears~

8 people found this helpful

I like the narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Not sure why some have diss'ed the narrator on this one. Personally I like HillaryHuber best out of the first 3 books. MUCH better than the narration on the 3rd one. Hillary has a sultry voice and cadence that draws you in. Liked her a lot in the Midnight breed series as well. It was actually a search by Hillary as a Narrator that brought me to this series in the first place. I'll recommend the series in print to my friends. The series is great, but the constant switching in the narrators - especially in light of some reviews on the narration on the 4th and 5th books - is too annoying to bear.

What other book might you compare Desire Unchained to and why?

Midnight breed series.

Which character – as performed by Hillary Huber – was your favorite?

Shade, of course

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

definately

Any additional comments?

Just a HUGE pet peeve about this audio series(and several others) in general. Why the constant hopping between narrators. Especially if it "aint broke". I wlll be reading the remainder of the series in print IF I can find time. Good and consistant narration makes or breaks a series. Production companies would do well to pay for good narration and stick with the same one throughout the series. On a series like this - I.e. Midnight Breed, I'll go through an audio book in 2 days. Switch narrators and I probably wont finish unless it's really good, and then I'll read it in print. So revenue IS being lost.

4 people found this helpful

Weakest of the weak heroines in a single book.

Ione took two of the weakest heroines in the PNR universe and stuffed them into one book (considering how weak many PNR authors love to make their heroines, that's saying something) Runa is really pathetic. Walked in on this guy cheating on her with two women and doesnt even make him grovel to get her back. Admits to having been in love with him while he's not even sorry he cheated. She doesn't even try to pretend like she doesn't give a shit about him. Nope, instead she takes care of him and tends to his needs, all the while he could care less about her. It's enraging.

And don't even get me started on Gem. It enrages me they drug that pathetic ass "romance" out over so many books. Gems pathetic obsession with someone who wants nothing to do with her tainted every book she made an appearance in.

It's just enraging to have such weak and pathetic characters in a good story.

Ione is the best story teller and world builder and it's shame many of her stories are full of weak ass women.

1 person found this helpful

Surprisingly Better than the 1st Installment

Based on the earlier reviews, I began reading with some trepidation thinking that I might be wasting my time. I expected not to like the narration specifically. I suspect most of us like it when a series maintains the original narrator. This is the first series in which the change in narration didn't bother me at all. It appears that each installment of the series uses a different narrator which makes for it having its own personality in that regard. Familiar with Huber from the Lara Adrian series, I found she did a fair job distinguishing among characters.

That said, "Desire..." draws from many of the characters from Book 1 while incorporating new ones. Ione does a good job building from Book 1 with relationship to situations/experiences shallowly mentioned in the earlier edition. Also, the brothers Eidolon and Wraith play a central role in the plot of "Desire..." as well.

As opposed to "Pleasure... Book 1," this book infuses romantic tensions from more than just that of the main characters. The secondary characters of Gem (Tayla's sister) and Kye (Aegis commander) develop their relationship further from where Book 1 left off. Most notable is the romantic tension between the main characters of Shade and Runa that is central to the story is not that which we typically experience. The sexual tension/frustration has a psychological component of domination that can easily give most readers pause. I found myself cracking up at Runa's reactions/demands/expectations. For me, I found the romantic element of the story kind of refreshing.

1 person found this helpful

What a Great Series!

This is book 2 in the Demonica series, and Larissa Ione does not disappoint! I recommend that you read the books in order, as it makes the books so much more enjoyable. Larissa is a great writer, and the story is compelx, interesting and unpredictible. Shade, the main male character, is a totally hot Seminus Demon (ie a sex demon) who falls for Runa, a wearwolf. There is a bit of BDSM in the book, so be prepared, but in the context of the book, it works without being offensive. There is also a side romance in the book between Jem and Kiinan, 2 characters from book 1, which is also interesting and hot. Overall - great book and totally worth the credit!

1 person found this helpful

Really good. But narration change was a mistake.

This is a great series. I liked Shade, and this is a nice continuation of the Demonica series. The series would have benefitted from narration continuity. The first book is so good, it would be hard to match. The change in narration took away from the overall story. This story is not as good as Eidelon and Tayla's, but it is still an A-/B+. The next story is great too. I highly recommend this series.

6 people found this helpful

Good book, great narrator

I really like the Demonica-series! The first book is better, but this one is still a good listen :)
The narrator is great, I like her a lot.

2 people found this helpful