The Darkest Warrior (Lords of the Underworld, #14)

by Gena Showalter

[booksandcats]

So, it took me quite a long time to finish this review, because I had to find a way to put all my feelings into words so that this wouldn't take up too much space. To sum it up: I did not like this book. And just to get this out of the way, I didn't want to hate it. Yes, I was a bit startled that Gillian wasn't to end up with William after they were very clearly set up to do so during the entire series. But, after all, it is the authors story, so I will take what she puts out and judge that and try not to be influenced by what I may wish should be. So, I was ready to give this book a fair chance. But god there are so many annoying things!

1. The inconsistencies inside of the entire series! This is a recurring theme in Showalters books and it still annoys me so soo much. Puck is the first demon to be possessed and have his appearance altered because of it, no explanation given at all. Suddenly, it seems like Keely can see the future? That was never mentioned... Several other things, but either you will spot them yourselves or you don't care.

2. I don't care about the sheep legs and horns and everything, but the shift between his "oh my god I looks so ugly and horrific" and Gilly lusting after him and him being described as romance-novel hero looking... just not consistent. Either make him look like a monster and have it be one of the things in the book (like her falling form him despite his looks) or don't make it a point!

3. Insta-lust and love with absolutely no explanation. He sees her and thinks "mine" immediately. I would get this if there was an explanation behind it, like their destined mates, their bodies react because of whatever, but no, it just... is. They want each other more than anything else just because. And when I say more than anything else, that is literally. She can be mad as hell, for freaking good reasons and he steps close to her and she suddenly is all mushy and oh god please kiss me. Makes Gilly pretty annoying for most of the book until they finally do it.

4. Puck chooses to feel indifferent. Which kind of screws up the whole setup. And his whole thing with his demon is solved on the first few pages, afterwards there is literally no reason for him to be or stay indifferent. He just chooses to do it.

5. I get that the author might feel the need to prove that Puck is better than William. But god I don't like it when things get shoved in my face like that. It's not even that is is shown very clearly (it is not at all). it's just said over and over in Gilly's inner monologue, how Puck is better because of various reasons.

6. Kind of linked to the point above. Shouldn't the author try to give us something better than the guy that was part of her recovery after an abusive and terrible childhood? Instead we get an abusive asshole, that has no regards for her feelings and needs, threatens to basically rape her and deliberately breaks her finger and then leaves her for a couple of hundred years in a dangerous country where she is hurt multiple times. Yeah. Lovely chap.

7. Gilly hates him. For good reasons. But you know what? Because she gets a few hundred years to herself she decides to forgive him. Because he totally deserves that. And I get that maybe a bit, but then, why isn't it reasonable for him to forgive his brother?

8. Also: having her age freaking decades basically undermines all the character development we had in maybe 12 books of her, because let's face it, the Gilly at the end of this book is not at all the same as in the beginning. She turns from a interesting, hurt, traumatized girl into a sassy warrior queen and we have no explanation as to why. It's basically a start over with a new character. Also, a very convenient way for her to get over her fear of sex. A couple of centuries cure every phobia I guess. I was so disappointed, because I was looking forward to Showalter tackling this very serious issue (didn't have much hope of her doing it justice, but hoped nontheless).

9. I want to see a relationship that develops and grows. I can't deny that at the end of the book Puck and Gilly were a good couple, he was good for her and he was a good partner and he was maybe even better suited to her than William. But there was no development of this whatsoever. At one point they are extremely dysfunctional, at the next they are the perfect couple. That's not how this is supposed to work. Write the whole story not just the result for god's sake.

10. More a "whole series" issue. At this point they have all the lords, the leader of the Titans, the alliance of the Sent Ones, Keely (who is supposed to be one of the most powerful beings out there), Hades, quite a bit of Harpies and god knows who on one side. And they still struggle with Lucifer? I mean I get he has allies... It's just never said who they are and how come the can hold against that force that would have won them literally every war or conflict they had to fight before this with absolute ease...

I could go on for what feels like ever but I'm going to stop here and tell you the one reason why it has two stars and not one. Once they work together as a couple (with no explanation as to why) it is actually alright. It has nice chemistry, a plot that doesn't put you to sleep, but mostly I am interested in the ending of the whole series. So. I don't recommend it. At all. Also, maybe don't start the series. For real. It's quite disappointing. I'm going to finish it either way.