Customer Reviews

Passion Unleashed (Demonica, Book 3)

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I experienced every emotion possible while reading Wraith's story. The writing flows beautifully, the plot and sub-plots are thrilling, heartwarming, frightening and suspenseful, and the dialogue is witty as well as brilliant. With each page I turned and read, I was kept on a razor's edge, not knowing how the intricate storyline was going to be resolved, let alone how Wraith and Serena Kelly were going to achieve their HEA.

Passion Unleashed

Wraith has been poisoned and is dying, slowly. Underworld General is literally crumbling and falling apart bit by bit. Staff is deserting the hospital. And, as war between human and demonkind looms, the apocalypse seems a tangible reality.

Eidolon and Shade try to find an antidote for Wraith and discover the only cure is for him to procure a charm from Serena, a beautiful, sweet archaeologist who has a zest for life. I loved this heroine, while she has lead a "charmed life" as it were, and you will understand my meaning if you read the book, she is independent and curious about all things historical. She goes to almost any lengths to recover a relic, almost like a Lara Croft type of character, except Serena is a virgin and must remain so or lose her health.

There is extraordinary irony in the love story between Wraith and Serena because he, as you know if you have read the series thus far, has always done what he wants, uncaring about the consequences of his actions on others. Wraith is a selfish, hedonist demon with a death wish, however I've always liked him. Why? He is funny, cocky, brutally honest (most of the time - lol), he is an amazing warrior and he does have a certain code that he lives by with respect to satisfying his sexual needs. Wraith never has sex with human or vampire women because of a horrific past that is really fleshed out in this story.

So, the irony you see is that the woman who holds the cure for Wraith's affliction is human and a virgin, and he must seduce her to take the charm that will save his life. Their romance is one of the more bittersweet stories I've read and while rest assured they do have their HEA, I wept for them on more than one occasion. As is the way with the seminus demons in Larissa's novels, Wraith falls hard and for the first time in his life he is forced to come to terms with deep feelings for another. The erotic scenes penned between Serena and Wraith are boiling hot, but also tender and sensuous, ladies, get ready!

The backdrop to their love story, as I mentioned above is complex, but the metamorphosis of Wraith's character is deeply embedded into an absolutely riveting story that will leave readers hyperventilating until the closing pages.

If you thought the antagonist of Shade's story was a malevolent scary creature, wait until you read the one written for Wraith's. This creature is an unequivocal hells spawn whose goal is the total destruction of earth. The graphic imagery and prose written surrounding the final battle between the Aegis army and demons took me right into the thick of the fray.

Gem and Kynan's story continues to be a roller coaster ride. Their angst and heartache also brought me to tears. I will say Kynan's future is tied to a prophecy referenced in the "Daemonica" tome that will surprise you.

Reaver's character is also fully developed and he plays an integral part in the plotline and final battle.

Larissa Ione has cleverly introduced a new and very interesting character to the storyline who is given a pivotal role in one of the subplots of Wraith's book. I'm sure this character will be the hero of the fourth Demonica novel, and we will again have the story of another tortured hero to look forward too.

I've given a great deal of thought to this series over the past couple of days. What makes it so special for me? What keeps me engaged? Why am I literally addicted? As with any series there is not a singular reason, but I think it is that the heroes are so tortured that when they find their HEA it is that much more satisfying. Secondly, these characters are so unique and well developed; you cannot help but become invested in them as a reader. Then there is the humor, OMG, the dialogue that comes out of Wraith's mouth especially had me cackling with laughter! And lastly, from my perspective, the Demonica world becomes more amazing with each story and Ms. Ione is expanding it with just the right amount of momentum. The other issue is that these books, at around 400 pages are good hearty reads, which allows for a wonderful in-depth storyline.

I have to comment that I think reading these stories in order is a must, because the plots do interconnect, each book builds on the previous.

Thankfully Larissa Ione has been contracted to write two more novels but it is going to be another long wait because they are due out in 2010.

The Demonica novels I'm sure will be my favorite series of 2009.

In most paranormal series nowadays, there seems to be one character, usually one of a group of brothers, who is messed up. He's the one who doesn't care if he lives or dies because he was horribly abused. He can't feel love, only loyalty. And he gets the best lines, because he's usually a smart aleck.

Enter Wraith. From the moment he appeared in Pleasure Unbound, he was my favorite and I couldn't wait for his book. The book has finally arrived and it is awesome.

Wraith was everything I hoped for; witty, tough, determined, vulnerable when recalling his past, and a total goober in love when he found his lady. What I liked about that was the way they fell in love. He didn't meet Serena, growl "mine" and let fate roll right over him. No, he met her to take something from her, namely her life in exchange for his, and against his will, started liking her. As the stakes grew higher and things got more serious in regard to what he needed to do, he began to be unwilling to be as selfish as he'd always been. He began to put her needs first. And they started to fall in love.

This series is a winner. It is complex and interesting, with little in-jokes and characters that leap off the page. At several points through the book I found myself smiling. Who knew Shade would turn out to be the most whipped of the brothers? That Gem would grow a nice strong spine? But there was a great deal of sad stuff too, and moments where it just didn't seem things could possibly work out. But they do, of course, which is why I love this series. It's a romance. A lot goes on, but things work out. And smoking hot love scenes don't hurt, either, and there were plenty of those, and not just Wraith and Serena.

In the end, Wraith got his happy ending, and I was extremely satisfied with that. It's always great when the extra-damaged ones find love, and Serena is worthy of him. They accept each other at a fundamental level, and to me you can't get more romantic than that.

YES! YES! YES! Excuse me, I'm having a private moment ;) I finished "Passion Unleashed" by Larissa Ione and I must say that this is one series I'm so very glad I'm hooked on. Her Demonica novels take place in an intricately built world, with enough differences from the raft of paranormals available to distinguish themselves. The characters are NOT one-dimensional caricatures of one creature or another...oh no, Ione has a vast selection of characters with multi-layered personalities on top of the traits attributable to their species and these differences from the average urban fantasy or paranormal romance today are just a couple of the things that make her novels stand-outs, IMHO :)

In "Passion Unleashed" we finally get the story of Wraith, a sex demon who's 'gotta have it'! So 'have it' he does...often and with vigor. He's the 'bad boy' of the three brothers we've read about so far and Ione certainly puts him to the test in his love story. Wraith has been infected with a poison that has no antidote. He's only got one chance to save his life...find the 'Chosen' virgin and 'deflower' her. Hey! He's a sex demon--no problem.

Serena is one of the 'Chosen'--she holds a relic that would be pivotal in the event of Armageddon. This same relic is all that protects her from an incurable disease she contracted at a young age. So holding on to her virginity isn't really a choice...it's the only thing keeping her alive. Good thing Armageddon isn't on the calendar, huh? Ummm, hold that thought. There's a fallen Angel turned renegade and he's after Serena's relic. So the chase...I mean race, is on. Oh, just one more thing. The fallen Angel can TAKE the relic from Serena, but Wraith will have to seduce it from her. But really, sex demon, no problem, right?

I don't mean to make this book sound like a light-heated paranormal romance, because it's not. Although there is much more humor in this story than the previous two, it's still a nail-biter of a suspense/action novel. And Ione doesn't let the action/suspense overcome the love aspect either. Both Wraith and Serena face life and death decisions that will affect not just themselves, but their friends, loved ones, and heck...the whole world! No pressure.

Others have reviewed "Passion Unleashed" and gone into more detail so I won't take up your time with more words. What I will say is that if you like urban fantasy, spicy paranormal romance, action and suspense, drama, and hot supernatural creatures...RUN, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore and pick up this whole series.

I've mentally called half vampire/half demon brother Wraith 'Wrath' in the past two Demonica books, because that just seemed to fit with his aura of darkness, anger and death, but amazingly that all changes here. Oh *fans self* when bad boys go good, yum!

On a mission to gain a reprieve from his impending death from a deadly poison for which there is no antedote, Wrath starts out pretending to be human and decent in order to facillitate the seduction that will save his life. But in acting that role - and for the first time in his life letting someone get close to him - Wraith is blindsided by the discovery that he actually does have a heart and a conscience. And by making Wraith's mate Serena the one woman he can't have without killing, Ione builds the tension between the pair to an incredible level. The result is smoking hot and poignant both.

The the Demonica series starter, Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Book 1), was my favorite new series release of last year and Passion Unleashed book 3 in the series is even better. I loved incubus demon Wraith's transition, from the bad boy of the first books who used sex and violence to help him hide from the torture of his past. In fact unlike his brother Eiodolan who feared the final incubus maturation, Wraith not only embraced it hoping for the mindlessness of the incubus extreme sexual need, but actually hastened it. And I loved the way that author Ione takes Wraith through his transition.

Along with Wraith's story, Passion Unleashed finishes up the thread between former leader of the demon-hunter's, the 'heavenly' Kynan, and demoness Gem which has run through all the books in the series. I have to admit that after the first book I was really looking forward to this pairing, after the second book I was not too happy - Kynan's treatment of Gem didn't fit with his character in the first book and it was not pretty - and I was perhaps even a bit more disappointed with their story here when I read the book the first time. On the second read though it didn't strike me the same, their reunion was rough but they end up in the right place at the end with a painfully earned happily ever after.

And on to the future... Ione introduces an intriguing new character, assassin Lore who able to kill with a touch - which is death to his bed partners. Lore will be the star of Demonica book 4 (not 'til 2010 though) and there is also a 5th book planned, possibly Gem and Kynan's spawn? Can't wait. If you don't mind a touch of darkness in your PNR I highly recommend Ione's Demonica series - Pleasure Unbound (#1) and Passion Unleashed are 5 star reads and Desire Unchained(#2) a respectable 4 stars.

Oh, as P.S. - don't miss the bonus the short story The Reckoning - where Eiodolan and Shade find and save Wraith- it's hidden behind the Demonica Compendium at the end of the book.

Passion Unleashed was fan-fricken-tastic! This series has easily moved into my top 5. I absolutely adore Larissa Ione's writing style. It's intelligent, fast paced, full of action and emotion, passionate connections between the characters. There's nothing not to like in my opinion. I also enjoyed catching up on past characters. Gema and Kynan's side story is alone worth the read!! We learn more of the fallen angel, Reaver.

This third installment of the Demonica series features Wraith and Serena. Wraith is the youngest brother of Shade and E, he is half Seminus demon half vampire. He grew up abused to the max and was finally rescued by his brothers. Wraith is the type that has only cared about himself in his actions and words. One night while out hunting, he is stabbed with an incurable poison. The only way to save himself is to take Serena Kelley's charm that makes him untouchable to any harm or compound. The catch she will die if he does so. This is easy enough for the demon that never touches female humans. Serena is okay for a human though, and unimpressionable by his incubus charm.... This will be harder that he thinks!

This and the 1st book were my fav in this dark erotic series! Great plot that kept my interest from beginning to end. The whole series goes on my 'to be read again' list! Bravo to Ms. Ione! Highly recommended.

I am writing this as a person who has read the previous 2 books in the series. I don't think that you should start in the middle of this series since each book builds on characters from the previous one. She does little to give you background knowledge on the characters, which I appreciate, because then it becomes repetitive.

I have read that some rate this the best one in the series. I still like the first as the best with Shade's story as 2nd. I think what kept this book from being like other books like this was that Wraith's story (the damaged brother) was not too dark. It was sad but not as brutal as Zsadist or John in the Black Dagger Brotherhood or Zarek or Acheron in the Dark Hunter series. But I still felt for the character.

I did like the balance of romance (very erotic scenes and writing) and the battle between good and evil. I felt the HEA was a bit over the top this time and wrapped up too neatly. It was a treat however to get to read about Gem and Ky. I did like this 3rd book in the series and look forward to reading more.

Side note: At the end of this book their was a physical description of each character. I realized that I had imagined everyone very wrong. It but a different spin on things when reading the books now that I know how they were meant to be seen.

This is by far my favorite in the series. Wraith's story is dark, emotional, deep, and holy, HOLY HADES, he turns out to be the most incredible, protective, gentle, fierce lover and hero I've ever read in a PNR book... and I've read TONS!

His evolution in this book is amazing, and I swear, I've been thinking about it constantly ever since I finished the book. It's like he's gotten into my head and haunts me. :o) Such a powerful, phenomenal and HILARIOUS force of nature.

The heroine, Serena, is a perfect blend of "normal" and "kicka$$." She's human, but she's charmed, meaning it's difficult for anyone to harm her. So she's able to fight and kick some demon-arse, but she's not SO tough that she isn't vulnerable as the incredible alpha male Wraith wraps his huge body (and heart) around her very soul.

I also enjoyed that the book goes large-scale and apocalyptic, but somehow, it doesn't rob from the intimacy of the main H/H's romantic journey. And FINALLY, Kynan and Gem's "secondary" story reaches a satisfying conclusion, which is actually a new beginning, and Kynan's role in all of this will make your head spin (in a good way)! In this book, we also meet the fourth Sem brother "Lore," which sets us up for book four.

How I love Wraith, let me count the ways. In the first two books, Wraith comes off as a selfish prick. He makes no apologies for who and what he is. You can take it or leave it. This can be a little off-putting and it made me wonder if I was ever going to like him. His character would have to grow leaps and bounds to become likable. In Passion Unleashed, he does. This is my favorite book of the Demonica series so far. I love Wraith! He's top 5 book boyfriend material. Passion Unleashed starts with it being a year later. Wraith is still up to his old tricks until he's poisoned while he's out hunting. In order to save himself he must convince (ahem seduce) a human female (Serena) to give him her charm. Sounds easy, right?

I could not put my Kindle down. Passion Unleashed had me enthralled from the beginning. I was on pins and needles waiting for Serena to find out the truth about Wraith and his agenda. As I've once admitted on twitter, I hate surprises and have the tendency to skip ahead while reading a book just to know what to expect. Well, with my Kindle, I haven't quite figured out how to do that without losing my page. I was itching to skip ahead just so that I'll know when and how Serena reacted when Wraith's true identity was revealed. But I didn't. I exercised major self-control.

Wraith evolved in this book without losing what makes him Wraith. Serena can hold her own and she's exactly the type of women that Wraith needs. The Sem Brothers underestimate Wraith and don't think that he can be selfless and responsible; and who can blame them. In the past, Wraith has never given them a reason to believe otherwise. But he surprises them over and over throughout the book. Wraith even surprises himself.

Passion Unleashed surprised me. It wasn't as dark as I thought it would be. It was full of humor, adventure and hot demon smex! Serena could dish it out and take it just as good if not better than Wraith. I loved it. I hated for it to end. But alas, it had to.

I first want to start this review off by saying that this book's cover is the hottest cover for the Demonica series thus far.

Larissa has done it again: three heroines in a row that I absolutely adore. In Passion Unleashed, readers are introduced to a young human named Serena. Despite being a human, there is something special about the woman--something that Wraith and his brothers want in particular. For you see, Wraith's life is in danger, and it would appear that the only thing that can save him is something that Serena owns.

Wraith, like I've said before, is my favorite of the brothers in this series. He's not a goody-goody, which, frankly, bores me in a lot of books. He's also not a huge, complete jerk either--well I believe this is debatable for some readers, but for the sake of argument, in MY eyes he's not. He is a rough character with a tortured past that he only wants to forget. The unfortunate part about this is that he cannot forget, no matter what he does.

Readers catch glimpses of Wraith's soft side during some interactions in previous books--specifically betwixt him and Kynan. This, however, cannot compare to the way he treats Serena. A whole new, vulnerable side of Wraith pours out in this book, a side that I welcomed with open arms. I think I almost got tears in my eyes at one point too while hearing him tell his story. Rip my heart out, why don't you, Wraith?

The ending of Passion Unleashed was amazing. Without a doubt, this was the best Ione has written thus far. Readers will absolutely love the showdown at the end, and then the way all the problems are solved. It was written in a way that neither felt rushed, nor neglected in the least bit. Props to you Larissa.

What I've started to notice: I dread reading these books. Not in a bad way, mind you, but with these three stories thus far, something bad inevitably happens that makes me hang on from the edge of my seat. The suspense is literally killing me in these books. I feel like I am on an emotional roller coaster, and I'm freaked out by the toll these books have taken on me. Of course, this is a good thing, and I love it, but I don't think I have ever experienced this kind of fear while reading a book--or in this case, books.

Should you read Passion Unleashed? Hell. yeah! Wraith's story is a masterpiece, guaranteed to captivate all readers.