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Ecstasy Unveiled (Demonica, Book 4) |  | Author: Larissa Ione
Publisher: Forever
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
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Seller: Good Books Will Follow
Rating:  67 reviews
Sales Rank: 11352
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: 1
Pages: 432
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 0446556823
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780446556828
ASIN: 0446556823
Publication Date: February 1, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A DEMON ENSLAVED
Lore is a Seminus half-breed demon who has been forced to act as his dark master's assassin. Now to earn his freedom and save his sister's life, he must complete one last kill. Powerful and ruthless, he'll stop at nothing to carry out this deadly mission.
AN ANGEL TEMPTED
Idess is an earthbound angel with a wild side, sworn to protect the human Lore is targeting. She's determined to thwart her wickedly handsome adversary by any means necessary-even if that means risking her vow of eternal chastity. But what begins as a simple seduction soon turns into a passion that leaves both angel and demon craving complete surrender.
Torn between duty and desire, Lore and Idess must join forces as they battle their attraction for each other. Because an enemy from the past is rising again-one hellbent on vengeance and unthinkable destruction.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 67
 Another Awesome Story In The Demonica Series! January 26, 2010
Book Fanatic (Toronto, Canada)
33 out of 38 found this review helpful
Lore is a halfbreed Seminus demon/human and Eidolon, Shade and Wraith's half brother. He is an assassin who has a slave bond to demon master "Deth" until he satisfies a debt owed to the creature. If you have read the Demonica series, you will know that Lore's assignment was to assassinate Eidolon, Shade and Wraith as part of the evil antagonist's plan in the previous two novels, "Desire Unchained" and "Passion Unleashed". Lore, of course did not fulfill his contract. "Ecstasy Unveiled", opens 3 weeks following the riveting conclusion of "Passion Unleashed", and Lore is having to `pay the piper' as it were regarding his failure to succeed in his assignment.
Lore is an enigma because unlike full-blooded seminus demons in the Demonica world his mother was a human which causes the genetics to go awry. What does this mean? Instead of having a gift that can be used for good (Eidolon for instance, can heal with his touch) Lore can kill by touching any creature, human or demon with his right hand. In addition, his dermoire markings, or glyphs are faded snaking from his right shoulder to finger tips. Conversely full-blooded sem's dermoires are much darker and they have a personal glyph around their neck. Lore also has the ability to resurrect the dead in certain circumstances but because of the slave bond, Deth suffers as a result of that intervention. The penalty for using his gift of resurrection or if he does not accomplish a `contract' is exceedingly unpleasant.
Lore learned soon after his S'genesis (final maturation cycle) that intimate relations with a female as with his touch causes death, he therefore has had to find other ways to satisfy the sexual requirements inherent to Seminus demons. Lore is a lonely conflicted character, he doesn't particularly like killing, but he has been left with little choice. When Deth gives him the assignment to assassinate a close friend and family member of the Sem brothers, Lore is again in a catch 22 situation. Oh, and Lore? He is HOT...
Memitim or `angel in waiting' "Idess" is eager for her ascension to heaven and she feels it is close. She has spent centuries in solitude and loneliness and has missed her brother "Rami", her mentor, terribly. Memitim are `Primori' guardians, which means they have charges to keep safe until they fulfill a destiny important to the world. If a Memitim doesn't keep their Primori safe then their time on earth is extended. Idess is an ancient, wields considerable power, she is beautiful, and lethal in battle. As fate would have it Lore's `target' is one of Idess's Primori and so the hero and heroine of this novel meet under extremely adversarial circumstances.
Lore and Idess's relationship develops slowly over the course of the story from literally battling each other into a soul deep love. Idess has been celibate for centuries but she is not a virgin which I found refreshing and unusual given her "angelic" status. I became completely invested in Idess and Lore's story and could not put this book down for wanting to find out how their tumultuous and at times bittersweet story would conclude.
Ms. Ione introduces Lore's fraternal twin sister "Sin" who is an anomaly because Seminus demons are always born male. Sin's gift is even more lethal than Lore's and she is a character with a giant chip on her shoulder due to a history of torture and abuse. Sin also has a razor sharp tongue, and an attitude to go with it, as Eidolon indicates in the story she is "like a female Wraith". Sin like her brother is an assassin and bonded to the same master as Lore, she has an extremely dark past.
Eidolon, Shade, Wraith and their families have significant roles in the plot. A mysterious "aura" has permeated Underworld General causing staff tensions to rise and two of the Sem brothers in particular to be at each other's throats. In addition, ghosts have infested the hospital and equipment failures are happening daily. Even an exorcist hired to do a "cleansing" runs for the hills.
Readers also meet a very hot dhampire (a vampire/werewolf) who I hope we will see in future Demonica stories. Lets just say, he and Sin have an `encounter'. (lol)
In "Ecstasy Unveiled", Ms. Ione takes readers through the Harrowgates (demon portals) deep inside the Sheoul or "demon realm". The amazing graphic imagery and prose brings the Demonica world to life.
IMHO, Larissa Ione continues to build the Demonica world with just the right amount of momentum. As part of this, the world and hierarchy of angels is expanded and integrated. "Ecstasy Unveiled" is full of exciting plot twists, turns, surprises, and action packed scenes that get the heart pounding. There are two main antagonists in the story, the identity of one in particular will completely surprise you and is revealed during a riveting climax. In addition, readers are treated to Ms. Ione's signature dark humor that had me chortling with laughter.
If you have enjoyed the Demonica series thus far, I don't think you will be disappointed. There is a good foundation to Demonica series written into the narrative and I think the book could be read in isolation. However, IMHO it would be far better to read the series in sequence.
 Dark, Seductive, and Satisfying February 12, 2010
Tracy (Fort Myers, Florida, USA)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
With each book I become more and more impressed with Larissa Ione's Demonica series. It's an original world with complex and unique mythologies blended nearly seamlessly into a cohesive whole, ripe with dark humor, honest and erotic sexuality, and at its core, the steely strength of love - familial and mated both. What began four books ago as a paranormal romance series has developed into a smorgasbord of trials, tribulations, dangers, and true consequences, and as a reader, I'm intensely appreciative of the pleasure each book has provided. Ecstasy Unveiled was absolutely no disappointment.
Lore, the Sem demon assassin, is one kill away from freedom from his master, but it's not freedom for himself he cares about, it's his sister Sin's life - which hangs in the balance of this particular kill. Unfortunately, the target is none other than Kynan, the human whose life he restored in the previous book, and the guy who got the girl that Lore himself was interested in. Not to mention that Kynan is real tight with the three brothers Lore recently discovered AND he's protected by the almost-angel, Idess, whose job it is to keep Kynan alive - at all costs - to save humanity. What's a demon assassin to do?
One of the things I like most about the Demonica Series is it really is a study in the adage "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." Truly, none of the good guys (and the not-SO-good-but-mostly-well-intentioned guys) can catch a break here. Lore has to kill someone he sorta hates, sure, but he doesn't WANT to kill him, really, especially as he craves a family bond and connection to his brothers Eidolon, Shade, and Wraith (and they'll kill him for taking out Kynan), not to mention he's totally hot on Idess, who really wants to get into heaven and leave the earthly plane, but to do so she's got to make sure neither Kynan NOR Lore get dead. And if that's not enough, the forces manipulating all this death and destruction are viciously evil and bent on the destruction of the brothers, their mates and children, AND Idess...basically everyone.
Oh yeah, you definitely can't say that Ecstasy Unveiled is thin on plot. My only complaint, actually, is that in this particular book there's almost too much going on as Lore's world spins out of control and the evil undermining his brothers starts ripping everything apart. I can understand - and really liked - the initiation of the story thread for Sin's (the smurfette...*giggle*) book (due out in September 2010, so look for it!), but a werewolf epidemic on top of everything ELSE that was going down in Ecstasy Unveiled made it a little too chaotic for my own tastes. I would've liked more time with Lore and Idess, seeing their relationship develop a bit more in non-life threatening or captured situations. It's a minor issue, really, but it did keep me from truly loving this book. I really REALLY liked it though.
I do not recommend this book if you haven't read the three previous novels. This is not the sort of series where you can just pick it up here and go, or read out of order, because far too much of what goes on in these books, and the characters in them, are motivated by the relationships and events of the past novels, and there's not enough exposition to satisfactorily define the world for a neophyte. Too much impact would be lost. Also, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone not comfortable or fond of sexual situations written with explicit language and without the use of flowery euphemisms. The brothers are sex demons, after all, and there's not a whole lot held back.
Really enjoyed Ecstasy Unveiled and am very pleased that the next in the series will be out in September. Until then!
Wings, Sin Fever, Chains and a Hit man January 28, 2010
Jessie Potts (Terre d'Ange)
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
The Demonica series is one of my favorites. I have been an avid follower since E and Tayla. In fact Gem and Tayla were two of my favorites. (Kind of miffed Gem and Kynan didn't have their own book but I digress) The plot of the first book was good, but it has gotten completely intense and deep with the other three books. Idess and Lore's is no exception.
Idess is what's called a Memitim, basically if she protects her Primori's, keeps them safe and passes her own 'test' then she gets to be full angel complete with wings and a key to Heaven. Wow I mean compared to Earth with all it's suffering and pain who wouldn't be eager and anxious to go to Heaven? Lore is a half breed who is forced to be an assassin and guess what? His next hit (his 100th by the way which would free him and his twin Sin) is Kynan. Yea like the Sem brothers let alone Gem would ever allow that to happen. What follows next is more than an assassination attempt, it's a deep seeded plot involving two very corrupt people who will stop at nothing to bring suffering to their victims.
Many authors try to throw in 'extras' as I call them. Look at the BDB all of a sudden Angels were brought into that series. There are many others 'cough LKH cough cough' but you get the picture. It almost seems that the authors have this amazing idea in their heads and then all the details coming out don't fit, so then BAM they add an angel, BAM now she's a succubus, BAM no cohesive plot. I have to say that Larissa Ione did spectacular. From the first book if you would have told me that it would have been about angels, fallen angels, special amulets, random siblings showing up and ghost thingies I would have told you that it's about the Aegis vs. the Demons. Ione created a wonderfully cohesive world where all these details fit... and they make sense! That's the most important thing. I cannot wait for Sin's book, that little sneak peak we get at the end of the book is too tantalizing. Larissa Ione is one of my favorite authors and I pray that all of her books maintain this level of solidarity and viciousness. (Hey people actually die in her books, and get hurt)
excellent romantic fantasy February 5, 2010
Harriet Klausner
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A Seminus half breed demon Lore is a sexual fiend and assassin. He loathes what he has done, but his contract to Deth expires after his next kill and his beloved sister will live. Nothing stops this killing machine, but this time he is stunned when the target Kynan, whom he brought back from the dead at a cost of two sunsets of agony and lost reputation amidst the Assassins Guild for his master, has the protection of an angel.
Idess the earthbound angel has one last task to earn her wings and soar to heaven to be reunited with her brother. She must protect Kynan at all costs.
When the demon and the angel confront one another, both are stunned as neither has felt an attraction to someone else ever before. They want one another, but she has a vow of chastity besides her personal security mission; he has his duty. Both know the stakes of failure especially him. Yet each question whether an angel and demon teaming up in love to fight his master can survive the encounter let alone win; as Lore and Idess know one or both will most likely fail at their assignment.
The latest Demonica romantic fantasy (see Passion Unleashed, Passion Unbound and Desire Unchained) is a strong tale that has the audience believing that demons and angels walk the earth, have family issues (just ask the hero), and binding contracts. The story line is fast-paced, but the key is the dilemma confronting the lead couple as seemingly someone they love and cherish will be hurt for eternity. This is a great entry in a super paranormal series in which angels and demons soar with passion, ecstasy and desire as they fall in love.
Harriet Klausner
Amazing characters March 24, 2010
Michelle Willingham (Southeastern VA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have read each of Larissa Ione's books, and they keep improving with every book. In this story, Lore is a classic tortured hero who earns the love of an angel. Fast-paced and emotionally-gripping, I loved every minute. It's my favorite of all the Demonica books.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 67
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