Hades, Base Instincts, Z and Razr by Larissa Ione

Each book in the series is a whole story with a beginning and an ending, however the plot of each book relies significantly on the prior books in the series. As is common in paranormal romance series, there is a couple who is the focus of each individual book in the series, however there are plot lines and character development which make it useful to read the books in their published order.

Hades

Standalone - Demonica #13 / Demonica Underworld #2
Rating - 1/2
Genre - Paranormal Romance / forbidden
POV - dual 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - library ebook
Length - 155 pages

A fallen angel with a mean streak and a mohawk, Hades has spent thousands of years serving as Jailor of the Underworld. The souls he guards are as evil as they come, but few dare to cross him. All of that changes when a sexy fallen angel infiltrates his prison and unintentionally starts a riot. It’s easy enough to quell an uprising, but for the first time, Hades is torn between delivering justice — bestowing or mercy — on the beautiful female who could be his salvation…or his undoing.

Thanks to her unwitting participation in another angel’s plot to start Armageddon, Cataclysm was kicked out of Heaven and is now a fallen angel in service of Hades’s boss, Azagoth. All she wants is to redeem herself and get back where she belongs. But when she gets trapped in Hades’s prison domain with only the cocky but irresistible Hades to help her, Cat finds that where she belongs might be in the place she least expected.

So many books in and I'm still amazed at how the author describes her characters. The males are insanely hot hunks and the females are incredibly beautiful sirens. Hades, blue mohawk and all, sounded delish and Cat, with her barely-there clothing, seemed to be his match. At least physically. Too bad having a conversation and getting to know each other was impossible. That is until Cat makes a huge mistake and Hades has to be the one to help her out.

I loved the details given for Sheol-gra, such as the Inner Sanctum, the many halls and grounds that made up the different tiers of life in this realm, and everything in between. I definitely wouldn't want to live there, even as a soul, and I'm happy that there's a place suitable for even the good demons. That was a seriously nice touch.

This forbidden romance was surprisingly sweet and I was so happy to see Hades get some happiness in his life.

Base Instincts

Standalone - Demonica #13.5
Rating -
Genre - Paranormal / LGBTQ+ / instalove
POV - dual 3rd person
Heat - explicit
Source - library ebook
Length - 154 pages

As a Seminus demon, Raze’s life literally depends on having sex with females. The problem is that he doesn’t desire females, and it’s physically impossible for him to be with males. Thankfully, he and his best friend, Fayle, have an arrangement that keeps him alive . . . if lonely. He finds some solace in his work as a medic at Thirst, a vampire club known for its rough clientele. But his carefully structured world turns upside down when he meets a mysterious male who makes him want what he can never have.

Slake is an assassin used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is Raze. But he also wants to earn back the soul he sold when he was a much different demon. All he has to do is capture a runaway succubus named Fayle and hand her over to her family. What he doesn’t count on is being caught himself by a web of lies—and his attraction to Raze.

Raze and Slake must navigate a dangerous world to be together. But as Fayle’s jealousy of their relationship turns deadly, they find themselves embroiled in a battle not only for their love, but their lives and souls.

I didn't know where this story was going to end up, but because Raze was a seminus demon, who needed a female to orgasm, I knew that there was more to Slake than met the eye.

I kept thinking maybe Slake was transgender, but the truth was a bit more complicated and I loved how it solved the problem of how these two, who were drawn to each other from the start, could be together. Raze was a sweetheart who put up with the worst qualities of his friend Fayle in order to survive. Slake saw himself as a villain and nothing could be further from the truth. Yeah, he could kill with the best of them, but he had made the most with what he had. All I know is that these two were great together, in the short time I spent with them, and I wish them the best.

Oh and I can't be the only one who thought Fayle deserved far more than she got. She was such a wicked person, but she was right about something... she was a demon so what did we expect?

Z

Standalone - Demonica #14 / Demonica Underworld #3
Rating - 1/2
Genre - Paranormal Romance / second chance
POV - dual 3rd person
Heat - explicit
Source - library ebook
Length - 127 pages

Zhubaal, fallen angel assistant to the Grim Reaper, has spent decades searching for the angel he loved and lost nearly a century ago. Not even her death can keep him from trying to find her, not when he knows she’s been given a second chance at life in a new body. But as time passes, he’s losing hope, and he wonders how much longer he can hold to the oath he swore to her so long ago…

As an emim, the wingless offspring of two fallen angels, Vex has always felt like a second-class citizen. But if she manages to secure a deal with the Grim Reaper — by any means necessary — she will have earned her place in the world. The only obstacle in the way of her plan is a sexy hardass called Z, who seems determined to thwart her at every turn. Soon it becomes clear that they have a powerful connection rooted in the past…but can any vow stand the test of time?

This story made me laugh and I know that wasn't the intention, but Zhubaal couldn't get out of his own way and Vex was hilarious.

Once upon a time, Z was a warrior angel with his best friend, Laura. They did everything together and made a vow to be everything to each other. Then she fell and she died and Z has been looking for her ever since. Surely no matter who or what she was reborn as, she'd remember him and all they shared, right?

No.

Vex was absolutely nothing like Laura and Z couldn't get past it. She felt so much for him, some of which are her old feelings coming to the surface, but she just wants him to accept her as she is. Is that too much to ask?

I loved the interaction between these two. Vex knew how to push Z's buttons and it was fun to watch.

Razr

Standalone - Demonica #15 / Demonica Underworld #4
Rating -
Genre - Paranormal Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - dual 3rd person
Heat -
Source - library ebook
Length - 152 pages

A fallen angel with a secret.

An otherworldly elf with an insatiable hunger she doesn't understand.

A cursed gem.

Meet mortal enemies Razr and Jedda...and the priceless diamond that threatens to destroy them both even as it bonds them together with sizzling passion.

Welcome back to the Demonica Underworld, where enemies find love...if they're strong enough to survive.

I freaking loved the new realm introduced in this book. We got elves!!

So I found out that Razr isn't actually a fallen angel. He's an angel being punished for a lapse in duty. His powers are mostly bound, he has to put up with torture on a regular basis, and he's not welcome in Heaven until he fixes his mistake.

Sounds easy compared to his fallen brethren who have less of a chance to make it back home.

Too bad Jedda isn't about to make things easy. She and her sisters stole the gems that Razr and his team were protecting and taking the gem back would kill her. Oh and there's a vicious fallen angel who also wants a piece of her.

I really didn't know where this story was going, but I enjoyed all of it. It's a novella so it all wrapped up quickly and my only complaint was that I didn't get to spend more time with this couple.

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award.

She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case.

She lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.

Visit https://www.larissaione.com for more information.