Review - Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

"Had Eidolon been anywhere but the hospital, he would have killed the guy pleading for his life before him.  As it was, he'd have to save the bastard.  "Sometimes, being a doctor blows," he muttered..."

So starts the first installment in Larissa Ione's Demonica Series, Pleasure Unbound.  The series is now three books deep, the fourth is set to be released on Jan 26th, and a fifth already set for September of this year as well!  This novel covers the few days before Eidolon's descent into s'genesis, a change that will convert the demon from a functioning 'demon' of society into a crazed reproduction machine.  All Seminus demons will complete this change at 100 years of age.  As a doctor at the only demon appropriate hospital, built from Eidolon's own design, he prays that he will find a mate and effectively thwart the loss of his morality and vocation.

Enter Tayla, an Aegis slayer, 'hell bent' (haha couldn't resist) on destroying all demon kind for the protection of humanity.  Tayla's band of hit-demons are brainwashed to believe all demons completely lack any sense of decency and devour humans at will.  She became involved in the organization shortly after a traumatic experience involving a demon attack on her own mother.  Killing is her business and business is "a-booming", until she begins to have bouts of temporary paralysis.  One particular episode earns her a nasty cut and a trip to the demon hospital that Eidolon runs.

Eidolon's brothers, Wraith and Shade, try to convince Eidolon to kill the slayer.  However, as all romances tend to go, he feels an inexplicable pull towards Tayla.  So starts the rocky romance and nail biting action of the novel.  I am afraid to say much more, the plot turns are something I would hate to ruin, just know they are really good!

Character development is fantastic.  Alpha males that walk the fine line of a sexual predator match well with hard edged intelligent females; add a rocking twisting turning battlefield entrenched in years of conflict (genocide in this case), and it makes this story almost impossible to put down.  The sex scenes are HOT, though I could have done with the removal of a few, I found them a little too numerous and slightly detracting from the plot.  Overall I am well on my way to falling in love with this series.  I started the second a couple days ago, and it started off even better!  Shade is my second Rhage!  The sarcastic humor bleeds off the pages, a particular quality of JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series that hooked me.

If you loved the BDB, you will love this series as well.  Yes, they are not the beloved vampires we all adore, but they come in as a very close second!  If you do not enjoy this book, I will personally take the backlash, how is that for a recommendation? ;p

Disclaimer:  Be aware that this novel is more urban fantasy than traditional romance, so be prepared for fictional violence and hospital worthy wounds/scenes.

Rating: 5/5

~Helena