Customer Reviews

Lucinda, Dangerously (Demon Princess)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lucinda is a Demon Princess who's gained massive powers that no one has ever heard of before. Because of that, she's made new enemies but she's also made new life-long relationships. She has recently bonded to a Monére warrior and a creature from hell called flowers of darkness. They are literally all black and can travel through plants' roots and heal a person. Along with her lover, Stefan, his ward, Jonnie, and two bodyguards sent by her father, their little group just wants to make a new life together.

Unfortunately, soon after she's returned from hell, Lucinda is kidnapped and imprisoned by her biggest enemy, Derek, who's also a demon. He takes her to the outskirts of hell where only beings called the Bandits exist in the place. They are disfigured rejects living in a bleak and empty landscape with no salvation in sight. Derek's one goal is to regain his powers and he's willing to do anything - even sacrifice Lucinda to a horrible fate - to get them back.

Lucinda, Dangerously is the second book in the Demon Princess Series, following Lucinda, Darkly. Lucinda never thought she would end up with two bondmates, and a lover and now that she has them, she's determined to do anything to make sure they're safe and well cared for. However, she's never cared for someone else before and it's taking her a bit to get used to it. Even though the story is in mostly Lucinda's point of view, each character is nicely developed and it doesn't feel like it's just about her.

I felt that the story between Ruric, one of her bodyguards, and Mary, who's a blind human girl, sort of stole the story. I completely was fascinated with what was going on with them and I really wish their part had been longer. Not to say that Lucinda's own plot line wasn't great to read. It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. Hari, her other bodyguard, is an awesome character. At first, he seems like a thoughtless bastard but as I continue reading, unexpected sides of him are shown and he soon became one of my favorite characters.

Needless to say, this is a very erotic romance story and it more than delivers. The chemistry between Lucinda and Stefan is super hot and while she is sleeping with more than one man, it feels as if each relationship is different and special in its own way. The attraction between her and Talon, the "flower of darkness" is exceptionally sweet and I really enjoyed reading about it.

Lucinda, Dangerously is a great story with a kick-ass heroine. The writing is lovely, the characters are endearing and sexy and the plot fleshed out and wonderful. I absolutely enjoyed myself reading this story and I eagerly await the next installment in this series.

Lucinda the demon dead princess has become the most powerful being ever since she and her companions left Hell to return to the realm of the living and the Monere Queens who fear nothing except perhaps her. However, while there are those who love and adulate her; there are also those who envy her. All Lucinda wants is a nice life with those she cherishes.

She has bond-mated with Monere warrior Stefan and his ward Jonnie, and is some never before known way also with Talon "the Flower of Darkness". Her two guards, Ruric and Hari are loyal though the former also feels protective of a blind human female. However, in this little Eden has come a demonic serpent. Her enemy Derek abducts her and takes her to the edge of Hell where only the only the deadliest survive with no hope because he believes sacrificing Lucinda will restore life to this dead demon.

The complex second Demon Princess erotic fantasy (see LUCINDA, DARKLY) is an exhilarating thriller due a super support cast (including Derek) who enhance understanding of the lead protagonist; ironically much of the exciting story line is told from her either the heroine's anguished or sexual perspective. The secondary subplots embellish the super prime segue as romance, sex and danger stalk the donkey-kicking heroine and her cohorts with Derek lurking. Sunny, as usual brightens up the day with her latest romantic urban fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Lucinda, Dangerously by Sunny
Paranormal Romance- October 6th, 2009
5 stars

I have been waiting impatiently for Sunny's latest book. And Lucinda, Dangerously was everything I thought it would be and plenty MORE!! Sunny has written a story that her fans will be sure to devour. It is both dark and refreshing. A flight of the imagination that captured my attention and kept me spellbound long after I finished the last page. This story builds enormously upon her fist book Lucinda Darkly. And although I think a new reader could read her latest book, I really believe to appreciate the depth of Lucinda Dangerously the first book in the series should be read first. (If not ALL of her books!?)

In this book Lucinda, the vindicated demon princess undergoes some disturbing changes that make her more vunerable/human, something she has not felt for over 600 hundred years when her life as Monere queen was cut short. Now she lives as the demon dead. She has no heart beat and while she is sentient she is not technically alive. In the prior book Lucinda discovered her true paternity and that she can shift into a powerful dragon. But as a rare dragon shifter her life is in danger. Therefore, her father the High Lord of Hell has assigned her his personal guard for protection. As she leaves hell she warns the Monere that a rogue demon named Derek has gone broken loose and is intent on mass slaughter. But before she can even settle down with her `mismatched extended' family, she is kidnapped by Derek and taken to a desolate land where nothing heals and her powers are diminished. Escape looks impossible and her death very probable.

This was an electrifying book. Although Sunny's book/s initial storyline may seem similar to Laurell K. Hamilton's style what she does from that point is very original and never ceases to electrify me.

Sunny's fantastic mix of the sensual (Warning, Lucinda has more than one partner.), dark fantasy and unbelievably delicious storytelling is a delight for the senses. Her stories are filled with unexpected and thrilling surprises which change Lucinda physically and emotionally. The ending was very gratifying as Lucinda's courageous sacrifice transforms her to an uncertain future but she has her family and loved ones to help her transition.

The story does flip from different characters point of views and although I thought this would be distracting I found that it added to the story line as the reader gets insight to the true feeling of Lucinda's companions which made me more sympathetic to them and made for a fuller story. (Perhaps there will be a spin off?!) What strikes me as singular about Sunny's stories is how fascinating her characters are. They are not the usual cookies cutter heroes or heroines. But what attracts me to them are their core of decency and unwavering will power to overcome the unusual obstacles that come their way. Although her gorgeous characters may seem all powerful and even cold, as a reader I felt their compassion and need to help those less fortunate at great risk to themselves

I think Lucinda, Dangerously will blow your mind! I never knew what to expect and I was awed by Sunny's vivid imagination and masterful storytelling skills. As soon as I read it I had to have a moment of silence to let it soak in, I could not believe how good it was!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Alright, I read the first one 'Lucinda, Darkly' and was moderately pleased and interested in reading the next. Unfortunately I have come to find the same problems with Sunny as I have with many other writers at the moment- one "flawless" female and an abundance of potentially interesting male characters, all of which seem to either hate or love her, but can seem to agree that they all desire to screw her. In this book she brings in another female character who is, basically, a "human" blind version of her first character. And unfortunately, whatever potential the male characters have of being interesting, never develops since they are always being shuffled in and out of the story depending on the whims of that first female.

It's ridiculous, predictable, and boring. Yes, boring. Bloodshed and sex, the things that should have made for a fabulous read, but without passion.

The characters feel hollow, the story is a meandering slapped together event, the sex is random (because with Sunny, sex is the answer to everything) and dull. Dull sex. How dismal is that?

Though, I suppose if you're reading this review you've already read the first novel and thus will probably not be swayed from the second. If you do, and you happen to find yourself disappointed, you're not alone.

Sunny is one of my top-five favorite authors. This series is a branch off of her Mona-Lisa series, and she does NOT disappoint. I would definitely recommend this series and Sunny's work in general. It is a perfect compliment to your paranormal romance stock-pile.

I really enjoyed further adventures with Lucinda. She is quite a dynamic character. I can't wait to read the next installment!

Sunny is an exceptional writer,her character Lucinda and her band of followers are so so interesting.This particular book opens the door to some great future stories as this one definitely was, two thumbs up.

Lucinda doesn't get kidnapped AS MUCH as Mona Lisa does, but kidnapping is still the central plot and it doesn't change the fact that the whole Monere concept/structure/idea/terminologies were plagiarized from Merry Gentry by Laurell K. Hamilton and Black Jewels by Anne Bishop.

I don't care how good a story-teller anyone is or how improved the concept is due to the fusion of ideas from Hamilton and Bishop, PLAGIARISM IS DISGUSTING AND NEVER DESERVES PRAISE. That this book, series, sequels and predecessors were published at all makes me sick. Seeing people give it five stars makes me lose faith in humanity.

Lucinda has just got her little mismatched family of misfits home to her dusty, and disused house in Arizona, and is hoping for some time to settle down. Of course, she's snatched away almost immediatly by her demon nemisis and dragged to hell. The story-line that only makes it three-quarters of the way through the book, leaving the ending deflated.

There isn't much in the book of Lucinda's two monere men. The relationships that fueled the first book were barely present here. Except for an exceptionally well-written love scene between Lucinda and Talon, her deomon bond-mate, the book doesn't have same magic. Lucinda goes from being deadly, dangerous, and fearless, to a woman doubting herself at every turn, and feeling guilty and ashamed for doing what she needs to do to survive and keep her family safe. She just didn't feel like the same character this time around.

The passion and determination that made Lucinda: Darkly a wonderful read, weren't present in our heroine this time around. Instead, the real depth comes from her two bodyguards. One, the sarcastic deadly Hari, who faces the demons of his past, and is forced to mold himself into a better man. Second, the strangely disfigured Ruric, who is oddly drawn to a blind girl. These two threads of story really keep the book from becoming dull, but they aren't formed enough to give it a stronger rating. I hope that the series will continue and flesh out more of what's going on with these two men who outshone Lucinda in her own book.

The end of the book, after Lucinda's rebirth, and grants her the power to "bask" and sustain her monere men, was short and just glossed over. It was a thrilling idea, that seemed just a shrug. Perhaps future installments will flesh this out as well. Overall I enjoyed the book, but felt it came up short on many fronts.