In Review: The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter

Released: 6/29/10           448 pages

Publisher: HQN Books

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 978-0373774616

The Darkest Lie, the latest in Gena Showalter’s amazing Lord of the Underworld series, was a little jumbled. As the stories have progressed they’ve continually become more complicated. I have full confidence that Ms. Showalter knows where it all leads to, but for the reader it’s a little distracting. At the center of the mess plotline is Gideon, Keeper of Lies, and Scarlet keeper of Nightmares. Gideon’s character has been seen throughout the series, but we finally get a little more back story.

The couple already knows each other, though Gideon doesn’t remember it. And we know what the Lords went through, but heck, Scarlet, who isn’t a lord she’s the daughter of a goddess, has been through the ringer as well. She’s fiery, and stubborn, tenacious and perfect for Gideon. The scenes between the two of them were perfect, the only flaw is the repetition of her inner dialogue. Really this story could have used more scenes between them. They aren’t in lust, they actually build a relationship first, though watching them build it is a little frustrating. On one hand she is such a strong character, but poor Gideon she has a hard time trusting what they have is real.

The ongoing war between the Lords and the hunters is touched upon, but this arc has sort of fallen by the wayside as Godly politics have taken the forefront. The character roster has grown, maybe too much, making relationship development hurried.

There are also two side trips, one where Strider takes an unexpected enemy captive, and the other where Aeron, William, and Amun go to Hell to rescue Legion from Lucifer’s clutches.

The books are in no way standalone. A reader cannot just jump into the series. There is too much going on for that to happen, too many plot points that cannot just mentioned in passing. The book is well written, but it lacks a certain heart in the midst of all the chaos.