Gena Showalter - The Darkest Surrender

The Darkest Passion

Showalter gives her fans another treat, sure to satisfy!

RT Book Reviews

Twice as Hot

The Showalter name on a book
means guaranteed entertainment.

RT Book Reviews

The Darkest Whisper

If you like your paranormal dark
and passionately flavored, this is the series for you.

RT Book Reviews

The Vampires Bride

Thanks to Showalters great writing and imagination,
this story, reminiscent of a reality show with all-powerful
gods pulling everyones strings, will really appeal.

RT Book Reviews

The Darkest Pleasure

Showalters darkly dangerous Lords of the Underworld
trilogy, with its tortured characters, comes to a very
satisfactory conclusion[her] compelling universe
contains the possibility of more stories to be told.

RT Book Reviews

The Darkest Kiss

In this new chapter the Lords of the Underworld engage
in a deadly dance. Anya is a fascinating blend of spunk,
arrogance and vulnerabilitya perfect match
for the tormented Lucien.

RT Book Reviews

Catch a Mate

The versatile Showalteronce again shows that she
can blend humor and poignancy while keeping readers
entertained from start to finish.

Booklist

The Nymph King

A world of myth, mayhem and love under the sea!

#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward

Playing with Fire

Another sizzling page-turner
Gena Showalter delivers an utterly spellbinding story!

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole

Animal Instincts

Bold and witty, sexy and provocative,
Gena Showalters star is rising fast!

New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips

Jewel of Atlantis

Shines like the purest gem Rich in imagery and
evocative detail, this book is a sterling example of
what makes romance novels so worthwhile.

A Romance Review

Heart of the Dragon

Lots of danger and sexy passion give lucky readers
a spicy taste of adventure and romance.

RT Book Reviews

The Pleasure Slave

Definitely going on my keeper shelf.

The Romance Studio

The Stone Prince

Sexy, funny and downright magical!

New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister

Lords of the Underworld

The Lords of the Underworld series

The Darkest Night

The Darkest Kiss

The Darkest Pleasure

The Darkest Whisper

Heart of Darkness

The Darkest Angel

Into the Dark

The Darkest Passion

The Darkest Lie

The Darkest Secret

The Atlantis series

Heart of the Dragon

Jewel of Atlantis

The Nymph King

The Vampires Bride

Tales of an Extra ordinary Girl

Playing with Fire

Twice as Hot

Other must-reads

The Stone Prince

The Pleasure Slave

Animal Instincts

Catch a Mate

From Harlequin TEEN

Intertwined

Unraveled

Twisted

From Harlequin Nocturne

Lord of the Vampires

Coming soon from Harlequin Nonfiction

Dating the Undead

To Donna Glass, a real-life Bianka Skyhawk.
Your support and enthusiasm for the
Lords of the Underworld thrills me more than I can
ever say. Thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank
you! (Did I mention Im thankful?) And from all of the
warriors currently residing in the Budapest fortress:
youre welcome to come over anytime. Gideon adds:
And I hope like hell you dont! Also, Lysander says
theres a cloud with your name on itnext to his.

Fifteen hundred years ago
Or
A million years ago
(Just depends on who you ask.)

F OR THE FIRST TIME EVER , the bi-century Harpy Games ended with more participants dead than alive, and every single one of the survivors knew fourteen-year-old Kaia Skyhawk was to blame.

The day began innocently enough. With the morning sun shining brightly, Kaia strolled through the overcrowded camp hand in hand with her beloved twin sister, Bianka. Tents of every size littered the area, and multiple fires crackled to ward off the early-morning chill. The scents of filched biscuits and honey coated the air, making her mouth water.

Forever cursed by the gods, Harpies could only eat what they stole or earned. If they ate anything else, they sickened horribly. So Kaias breakfast had been a meager affair: a stale rice cake and half a flagon of water, both of which shed pilfered from a humans saddle.

Maybe shed appropriate a biscuit from a member of a rival clan, she mused, then shook her head. No, shed just have to remain semi-hungry. Her kind didnt live by many rules, but the ones they had, they revered. Such as: never fall asleep where humans could find you, never reveal a weakness to anyone and, most importantly, never thieve a single morsel of food from one of your own race, even if you hated her.

Kaia? her sister said, her tone curious.

Yes?

Am I the prettiest girl here?

Of course. Kaia didnt even have to look around to confirm that fact. Bianka was the prettiest girl in the entire world. Sometimes she forgot, though, and had to be reminded.

While Kaia had a disgusting mop of red hair and unremarkable gray-gold eyes, Bianka had luxurious black hair, shimmering amber eyes and was the image of their exalted mother, Tabitha the Vicious.

Thank you, Bianka said, grinning with satisfaction. And I think youre the strongest. By far.

Kaia never tired of hearing her sisters praise. The more powerful a Harpy was, the more respect she earned. From everyone. More than anything, Kaia craved respect. Stronger, even, than She studied the Harpies in the area, searching for someone to compare herself to.

Those who were old enough to participate in the traditional tests of might and cunning bustled about, preparing for the one remaining eventLast Immortal Standing. Swords whistled as they were tugged from sheaths. Metal ground against stone as daggers were sharpened.

Finally, Kaia spotted a contender for her comparison. Am I stronger, even, than her? she asked, pointing to a brute of a woman with bulging muscles and thick crisscrossing scars adorning her arms.

The injuries that had left those scars must have been severe indeed; immortality caused their race to heal quickly and efficiently, rarely allowing any evidence of hard living to show.

No question, Bianka said loyally. I bet shed run and hide if you decided to challenge her.

No doubt youre right. Actually, who wouldnt run from her? Kaia trained harder than anyone and had even felled her own instructor. Twice.

She didnt want to boast, but shed always trained harder than any other Harpy in their clan. When everyone else stopped for the day, she continued until sweat ran down her chest in rivulets, until her muscles trembled from the strainuntil her bones could no longer support her weight.

One day, perhaps even one day soon, her mother would be proud of her. Why, just a few nights ago, Tabitha had slapped her on the shoulder and said her dagger throwing skills had almost improved. Almost improved. No sweeter praise had ever left Tabithas mouth.

Come on, Bianka said, tugging at her. If we dont hurry, we wont have time to wash in the river, and I really want to look my best when I watch our clan destroy the competition. Again.

Just thinking of the prizes her mother would collect caused Kaias small body to puff up with pride.

The Harpy Games had begun thousands of years ago as a way for clans to discuss their grievances without causing a warwell, without causing any more warsas well as allowing allied clans to showcase their superiority, even against each other. Elders from each of the twenty tribes met and agreed on the competitions and awards.