I was originally completely against Amun and Haidee being together. I thought that Gena Showalter was going to pair up Amun and Kaia and then Strider and Haidee. It seemed like Stridey-man and Haidee had chemistry in The Darkest Lie, and it seemed that Amun had a thing for Kaia. Well, I've never been so glad to be proven wrong. When I found out the pairings, I was...well, let's just say upset. I have since realized that I just have to let Gena do her thing because, hey, she actually knows what she's doing! Amun and Haidee are perfect together, and I can see now that Strider and Kaia are perfect for each other. So, Gena, I apologize for questioning your genius.


Before I get started on my review, I just wanted to mention that I am going to do this review a little differently. For the three main characters of the book--Amun, Haidee, Strider--I will be putting some lyrics of songs that made me think of them when I was reading the book, but the rest of the characters, I'll just be talking about like normal.


I hear voices in my head
The council me
They understand
They tell me things that I will do
They show me things I'll do to you
They talk to me, they talk to me

I hear voices crying
I see heroes dying
I taste the blood that's drying
I feel the tension rising

I see darkness falling
I hear voices calling
I feel justice crawling
I see faith has fallen
("Voices" by Rev Theory)

Amun has always been a little mysterious. Up until the past couple of books, he hadn't really been around much and, while I had liked and adored him, I didn't totally love him. Well, I certainly do now. The guy's a sexy beast! He is sweet, loyal, loving, fierce, intense, compassionate, and drop-dead gorgeous. And I have to say, he didn't talk hardly at all--except at the end with Strider, the asshole, and once with Haidee--but it was extremely sexy that he was able to talk inside Haidee's head because of their blood bond. He is definitely the perfect male to be with Haidee and I love how he loves her. I mean, hell! He was willing to die just to be with her! Amun is now one of my favorite Lords.


You are exactly what I'm looking for
You are the key that opens up the door
I'll take anything from you
I'd long to love you
You are exactly what I've waiting for
Waiting has only made me love you more
Tell me what you're gonna do
I'm crazy into you
("Extreme" by Valora)

I love Haidee. I remember when she was first introduced in TDL and everyone was hating on her because she killed Baden, but I loved her immediately. I didn't care that she killed Baden because 1.) I don't really know him, 2.) I knew she was going to be one of the Lords' woman, and 3.) She was just too easy to like. She's sassy and strong, brave and bold, sweet and caring, compassionate and loving. Yes, she was a Hunter. Who the hell cares! Everyone--except me--is okay with Paris being all obsessed with Sienna--who was Bait, thank you very much! And Haidee is certainly more lovable, in my opinion, than Sienna ever was. Like Amun, Haidee has quickly become one of my favorite females of the series. She rocks.


Jessie Amun is a friend, yeah
I know he's been a good friend of mine
But lately something's changed that ain't hard to define
Jessie's Amun's got himself a girl and I want to make her mine

And she's watching him with those eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it
Yeah 'n' he's holding her in his arms
Late, late at night

You know, I wish that I had Jessie's Amun's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's Amun's girl
("Jessie's Amun's Girl" by Rick Springfield)

Strider, oh Strider, you drive me crazy! I love you, but I want to hit you! You are so adorable, but you suck! I am very glad that Stridey-man's book is next because I've been waiting for it for a long time, and I can't wait to see how Kaia finally wins him over. However, I did not enjoy when he was an ass to Kaia in this book, giving her shit excuses. I really liked seeing that other side to Kaia, though--the vulnerable side as she admitted how she felt about Strider, the jealous side as she smelled the lingering scent of the stripper on his skin, and fury, which is nothing new of course, when Amun hurt him. She's really something else and I can't wait to see how their relationship turns out!


I want to marry William and have his babies. He is so damn adorable, and I love that he finally got around to going after Gilly's family. Speaking of Gilly, they are so cute together! If they don't end up as each other's happily ever after, well, I know I'll be pissed. Sure, she's only seventeen and he's centuries old, but who gives a damn?! It's pretty much the same situation with the Lords who have human mates! Just wait a couple years and it will be fine! Oh, oh, oh! Annnnnnd...We finally find out how Willie is connected to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and, let me tell you, it's pretty badass and it just makes him even sexier!


The one Lord who irritates the hell out of me right now is Paris. Goodness, he needs to get over the Sienna shit so bad, I can't even tell you! I am so glad that his book is after Strider's because then I don't have to deal with his shit anymore. UGH.


One thing I don't understand is why Kane is practically non-existent in the books. According to Gena, his book is coming after Paris's. So, shouldn't he be showing up more in these books so that we can kind of get to knowing more about him? He's probably the Lord that we know the least about.


Ashlyn is still pregnant. What! How?! Why the hell is she still pregnant! She has been harboring those demon babies inside her for six books now! Only one book she wasn't pregnant in and that was her own! Are you. Shitting me? This has got to end. She needs to pop those damn things out and let someone else have a chance at being pregnant!


Like I said before, I learned to trust Master Showalter and her Jedi Author Goddess abilities. I may not understand where the hell she's going, but I trust that she has a plan and won't let me down because she hasn't so far. Now I can't wait for The Darkest Surrender! Eek!



Favorite Quotes:
Hate. Huh. He'd never hated himself. If anything, he'd always liked himself a little too much. Once, a human female had even accused him of picturing his own face while he climaxed. He hadn't denied it, either, and next time he'd slept with her, he'd made sure to scream, "Strider" at the pivotal moment.
(Strider, pages 132-133)


"I'll blame you because you're too beautiful to resist. Because you think of my well-being even when you're in danger yourself. Because you're mine. My warrior. My...demon."
(Haidee, pages 284-285)