Book Review: Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione

Title: Desire Unchained

Series: Demonica Book 2 (formerly titled SHADOW LOVER)

Author: Larissa Ione
Purchase: AMAZON
Rating: 5 Wine Glasses
Reviewer: Crystal 

Pleasure is their ultimate weapon . . .

Runa Wagner never meant to fall in love with the sexy stranger who seemed to know her every deepest desire. But she couldn’t resist the unbelievable passion that burned between them, a passion that died when she discovered his betrayal and found herself forever changed. Now, determined to make Shade pay for the transformation that haunts her, Runa searches for him, only to be taken prisoner by his darkest enemy.

A Seminus demon with a love-curse that threatens him with eternal torment, Shade hoped he’d seen the last of Runa and her irresistible charm. But when he wakes up in a dank dungeon chained next to an enraged and mysteriously powerful Runa, he realizes that her effect on him is more dangerous than ever. As their captor casts a spell that bonds them as lifemates, Shade and Runa must fight for their lives and their hearts—or succumb to a madman’s evil plans.

Review:
Shade is a Seminus demon who was cursed by a vengeful warlock long ago so that if he ever falls in love he is doomed to suffer a fate worse then death. Him and his brothers put together Underworld General Hospital, UGH, and Shade is a paramedic who is dedicated to his job, the hospital, his brothers Wrath (who he has a special connection with) & Eidolon and little sister Skulk. And doing the normal Seminus demon thing ya’ know, banging any good-looking female he sees.

Runa was head-over-heels in love with Shade until she found him in bed with both a demon and a vampire one year ago. Fleeing his apartment in tears she found herself face-to-face with an enraged warg (werewolf) and forever changed. Now she has returned to New York for revenge only to find herself imprisoned in a dark and rank dungeon next to the demon that is to blame for everything.  

After being ambushed on a run Shade wakes to find himself chained in a dungeon next to the human female he never thought to see again, a human who seriously tested his resolve of never loving and succumbing to his curse. The worst shock though is when he realizes whom it is that is holding them captive, his once thought dead & insane brother. Roag blames his brothers for his near death and the charred state he is in now and is determined to get his sadistic revenge on them, starting with Shade. Roag places a spell on Shade & Runa that ends up with them as bonded mates. Shade must now do everything he can to keep Runa at arms length and succumbing to his own intense desires with her so the curse isn’t activated. But can he also stop Roag before he destroys the rest of his family?

Desire Unchained is an emotional roller coaster with soaring highs and heartbreaking lows. The Demonica series continues with Shade and Ione’s superb skills at world building and character development as she drops you right into the action on the first page.

Shades world is utterly dark and wicked, filled with raw sensuality and scorching romance. Not to mention that the brother’s bond is amazing, it really carries the story along and I love how even though this is Shade’s story you still get an in-depth look at them and the other characters in the series.

You can tell that Shade is a very family driven male as he struggles with his past and not being able to protect his mother and sisters. He also has to cope with his growing feelings for Runa and comes off as an ass by trying to stop her from having feelings for him in return but the alternative is so much worse.

Runa in the other hand is pretty kick ass for a heroine with incredible strength & heart and easily relatable but comes with her own tragic past that she needs to deal with.

Desire Unchained is a rich and fierce story, the plot moves forward at a quick pace and Ione delivers evil plot twists that keep you on your toes. There are a few intense scenes where you really start to wonder, OMG is this going to work out for them or are they really doomed? The ending though is nicely wrapped up for Runa & Shade but stays open for the next book in the series, Passion Unleashed, which contains Wraith’s story.

Can be read as a stand-alone but the immense group of characters might be a bit overwhelming with out the foundation that is set in Pleasure Unbound.