Base Instincts (Demonica)

SE Jakes is Larissa Ione's other writing half who makes up Sydney Croft, and happens to be published by Riptide. I'm not sure if she suggested that LI comes to the latter for her first foray into MM, but if so, perhaps they should have collaborated on this.

The tale itself isn't much of a tale - one guy, Raze, is friends with a female who's being hunted by the other guy, Slake, and being a Seminus demon, Raze can only have sex with females...though he's gay. So, how do they get around this? With a slight twist, which was apparent with Slake's species name, Duosos, which I was happy to go along with, but the sex spoiled the tale. LI is known for her hot and heavy scenes that go on for at least a page or few, but these only fulfilled the very basics and then it got a bit Barbara Cartland and faded. If you're hoping for hot, sexy, erotic and sensual, don't bother - even the mating scene was entirely subdued.

So, I wasn't impressed by what I can only call a token MM tale.

Ebook courtesy of Riptide Publishing and NetGalley, in return for an honest review.

Larissa Ione is the author of the popular Demonica series. I have to confess, I’m not familiar with the series. However I’m always very interested when there is a m/m installment in a predominantly mainstream romance series.

And I have to say that I was not disappointed. Even without reading the rest of the series, the story was easy to follow. While the background is a bit funny and out there, it was a nice, steamy story to read.

Life is not easy for a sex demon who depends on females for sex – yeah I rolled my eyes a bit at that one. But Raze is inventive and has fire. He’s a strong character. Though life can be hard on him, as appears from the insight into his world. He makes it as nice as can be without any attachments.

A world which is turned upside down when he meets Slake. Like Raze, Slake is in a bit of a bind because of his heritage and a deal gone wrong. Be careful who you make a deal with! Slake comes of a tough and independent, but there is more to him than meets the eye.

Throughout the story we get to know both rather well. There is a solid insight into both characters and what drives them throughout the story. Even though the story is not very long, it was well written with a creative background and world-building that is easy to follow even if you are not familiar with the series.

However, even though Raze and Slake are fun and rather cool (and hot) characters, I couldn’t quite get into their romance. There wasn’t a lot of it to begin with as there was more conflict than screen time between the two. It’s rather from the story being told and the last chapter that the reader knows they fit together (rather well). I think if the story was a bit longer, the romance may have been a little more believable.

The author created a fairly crafty story that is dark and gritty with characters that are sorely in need of some love and happiness. From the story you can tell the author is experienced. The writing itself is strong and flowing and vivid. The editing was also well done.

I think fans of the series will love this interlude in the main series, however die-hard fans may need some more convincing.

Can I just say how much I love it when mainstream and SUPER popular M/F authors, like Larissa Ione, add a M/M book into their series? It gives people who don't even know that M/M romance exists a chance to try this AWESOME genre.

I haven't read the Demonica series (though I want to start now!), but I had no trouble following along with the story. In fact, I think it works perfectly well as a stand-alone.

Raze and Slake are two demons with very different backstories who meet by chance at a club. First of all, Raze and Slake?? Now I know I'm in a urban fantasy series! These guys have the standard muscled, tattooed bodies, tortured pasts, and searing good looks, all things many romance readers want to read about. They were two demon hotties getting it on, and there ain't nothing wrong with that!

I think my favorite part of this book was the world-building. You can tell that this author is a pro at crafting and developing her fictional world because all of the urban fantasy details really popped. It was gritty and exciting, which got me excited about the story. I also liked the bones of the plot, and the story arc kept me really interested.

However, the romance... just meh, I'm afraid. The length of the story was not nearly enough time to develop true feelings, and I'm afraid I didn't feel much chemistry between them. The sex felt mechanical, and the relationship felt very forced. Just not the umph that I was expecting.

The take away is that I now want to read more in the Demonica series, but I think that if this author wants to please M/M fans, she is going to need to write a full-length story with the emotional caliber that this genre deserves.

*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Slake has to find Fayle. His very soul depends on it. As luck would have it an incredibly sexy man is a known associate of Fayle’s. It’s win win! Raze cannot let himself be attracted to the sexy guy he kissed in the alley. As a Seminus demon he’ll have to have sex with a woman or have a woman present with him and the sexy guy unless he wants to be driven crazy and achieve a painful death. Seminus biology is not kind. What appears to be a terrorist attack brings Slake and Raze together. Fayle extends a momentary courtesy to make it work, but she’s not pleased. Fayle is not pleased at all. Fayle does a bad thing, but it leads to a fascinating discovery. It seems that Raze’s problems are solved, but now Slake has to get Fayle and save his soul. That ends up involving some high powered political machinations.

I’ve read so many of the books from the Demonica series. Reading this was like hanging out with an old friend. Then, about halfway through the book I remembered why I stopped hanging out with that friend. And basically I stopped hanging out because the stories tend to feel a little contrived and tend to have a deus ex machina ending. Although for this series I feel I should call it a demon ex machina ending. However, the good parts of the friendship, the fun world building and an entertaining cast of characters, are all there.

This book was shorter than previous books in the series and didn’t have a plot upon which the fate of all mankind and demonkind hinged. It’s easy to pick this one up if you’ve never read any of the previous books, although it was nice seeing Eidolon’s very Eidolon responses and Wraith will forever be a dick. Also, if you’re just not interested in reading this couple you won’t be left wondering what major events you’re missing out on. However, it was the lack of a major multi-realm potential catastrophe that exposed what I felt were the weaknesses in this book. I had nothing to distract me from two guys who can only really work with each other and what should have been a dead end being changed by introducing a bigger and badder character out of thin air. I was left frustrated.

If you love the Demonica books beyond all reason pick this up. It’s very Demonica and as such, a fun read.

~ ~ ~

3.5 Stars bumped for world building.

THE CHARACTERS

Raze - A compassionate healer who can never have the relationship he craves.

"Unfortunately, what he wanted was something he couldn’t have.
And for some reason, Slake’s face popped into his head, the poster boy for Can’t Have.
His cock throbbed again.
The f'er."

Slake - An assassin about to lose his soul is a pretty tricky guy.
"In Slake’s world, there was no room for kindness. He showed none and received none. Sometimes, he didn’t believe it existed."

THE STORY

We meet Raze and Slake in a demon nightclub called Thirst and instantly enter the world crafted by Larissa Ione which is a fusion of everything we love in paranormal romance. Bad, good, hot and homey. Evil, kind, dark and exciting. Sexy, romantic, loving and deadly. In other words - this place has it all. And that is what draws you in, deep in, to the world of Demonica.

Raze is a medic at both Underworld General and during stints at Thirst. Raised by humans he has compassion and a wider world view. But he lives a lonely life knowing he can never have what he wants, he only gets what he needs. And what he needs is sex every 12 hours or so.

Slake has stupidly sold his soul and is running out of time to ever get it back. When he meets, and drools over Raze, he thinks he might just have the chance he needs to keep himself out of Sheoul.
One corner of Raze’s mouth tipped up in a half smile.“I’m only dangerous if you piss me off.”
“What if I get you off ?”

There's a neat solution to the conflict and it has a real world message. Sometimes this sort of thing would bother me, but not here. I flowed well with the story and didn't feel preachy.
"No one should be judged solely by their species,"...

THE WRITING

It's been four years since I read a Demonica book, but I never forgot the world. Ione's unique creation left an indelible impression.Which is why I begged to get this book as soon as possible. I'm happy to say that it was very easy to get right back into the place. Even though things have certainly progressed I felt like I grasped everything clearly. And it didn't feel like a rehash. Well done. There's also a handy glossary to either refresh or educate the reader.

The beginning of the book felt like something of a checklist of everything that romance readers require; tats, muscles, leather pants, adjust said pants, check, check, check. But then we got into the story and the seminus needs of Raze gave a solid basis for the book giving it a unique tension and story line.

But it took me a good while to really feel like these guys had more than sexual attraction. There were some pretty big jumps to emotion which felt choppy at times and seemed to rob a bit of my connection to the romance, but I enjoyed the overall story enough that I just went with it. At the same time there isn't a lot of pretense between Slake and Raze. They're hot for each other and they don't spend too much time fighting it.

Bottom line I know that I've read more emotional, more complex books from Ione so I know what she's capable of. I can't help but hold it to those standards. That being said I really enjoyed the book and recommend it. The Demonica world is completely engrossing.

~ ~ ~

I would like to thank Riptide Publishing for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

3.5 Stars bumped for world building.

THE CHARACTERS

Raze - A compassionate healer who can never have the relationship he craves.

"Unfortunately, what he wanted was something he couldn’t have.
And for some reason, Slake’s face popped into his head, the poster boy for Can’t Have.
His cock throbbed again.
The f'er."

Slake - An assassin about to lose his soul is a pretty tricky guy.
"In Slake’s world, there was no room for kindness. He showed none and received none. Sometimes, he didn’t believe it existed."

THE STORY

We meet Raze and Slake in a demon nightclub called Thirst and instantly enter the world crafted by Larissa Ione which is a fusion of everything we love in paranormal romance. Bad, good, hot and homey. Evil, kind, dark and exciting. Sexy, romantic, loving and deadly. In other words - this place has it all. And that is what draws you in, deep in, to the world of Demonica.

Raze is a medic at both Underworld General and during stints at Thirst. Raised by humans he has compassion and a wider world view. But he lives a lonely life knowing he can never have what he wants, he only gets what he needs. And what he needs is sex every 12 hours or so.

Slake has stupidly sold his soul and is running out of time to ever get it back. When he meets, and drools over Raze, he thinks he might just have the chance he needs to keep himself out of Sheoul.
One corner of Raze’s mouth tipped up in a half smile.“I’m only dangerous if you piss me off.”
“What if I get you off ?”

There's a neat solution to the conflict and it has a real world message. Sometimes this sort of thing would bother me, but not here. I flowed well with the story and didn't feel preachy.
"No one should be judged solely by their species,"...

THE WRITING

It's been four years since I read a Demonica book, but I never forgot the world. Ione's unique creation left an indelible impression.Which is why I begged to get this book as soon as possible. I'm happy to say that it was very easy to get right back into the place. Even though things have certainly progressed I felt like I grasped everything clearly. And it didn't feel like a rehash. Well done. There's also a handy glossary to either refresh or educate the reader.

The beginning of the book felt like something of a checklist of everything that romance readers require; tats, muscles, leather pants, adjust said pants, check, check, check. But then we got into the story and the seminus needs of Raze gave a solid basis for the book giving it a unique tension and story line.

But it took me a good while to really feel like these guys had more than sexual attraction. There were some pretty big jumps to emotion which felt choppy at times and seemed to rob a bit of my connection to the romance, but I enjoyed the overall story enough that I just went with it. At the same time there isn't a lot of pretense between Slake and Raze. They're hot for each other and they don't spend too much time fighting it.

Bottom line I know that I've read more emotional, more complex books from Ione so I know what she's capable of. I can't help but hold it to those standards. That being said I really enjoyed the book and recommend it. The Demonica world is completely engrossing.

~ ~ ~

I would like to thank Riptide Publishing for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~

3.5 Stars bumped for world building.

THE CHARACTERS

Raze - A compassionate healer who can never have the relationship he craves.

"Unfortunately, what he wanted was something he couldn’t have.
And for some reason, Slake’s face popped into his head, the poster boy for Can’t Have.
His cock throbbed again.
The f'er."

Slake - An assassin about to lose his soul is a pretty tricky guy.
"In Slake’s world, there was no room for kindness. He showed none and received none. Sometimes, he didn’t believe it existed."

THE STORY

We meet Raze and Slake in a demon nightclub called Thirst and instantly enter the world crafted by Larissa Ione which is a fusion of everything we love in paranormal romance. Bad, good, hot and homey. Evil, kind, dark and exciting. Sexy, romantic, loving and deadly. In other words - this place has it all. And that is what draws you in, deep in, to the world of Demonica.

Raze is a medic at both Underworld General and during stints at Thirst. Raised by humans he has compassion and a wider world view. But he lives a lonely life knowing he can never have what he wants, he only gets what he needs. And what he needs is sex every 12 hours or so.

Slake has stupidly sold his soul and is running out of time to ever get it back. When he meets, and drools over Raze, he thinks he might just have the chance he needs to keep himself out of Sheoul.
One corner of Raze’s mouth tipped up in a half smile.“I’m only dangerous if you piss me off.”
“What if I get you off ?”

There's a neat solution to the conflict and it has a real world message. Sometimes this sort of thing would bother me, but not here. I flowed well with the story and didn't feel preachy.
"No one should be judged solely by their species,"...

THE WRITING

It's been four years since I read a Demonica book, but I never forgot the world. Ione's unique creation left an indelible impression.Which is why I begged to get this book as soon as possible. I'm happy to say that it was very easy to get right back into the place. Even though things have certainly progressed I felt like I grasped everything clearly. And it didn't feel like a rehash. Well done. There's also a handy glossary to either refresh or educate the reader.

The beginning of the book felt like something of a checklist of everything that romance readers require; tats, muscles, leather pants, adjust said pants, check, check, check. But then we got into the story and the seminus needs of Raze gave a solid basis for the book giving it a unique tension and story line.

But it took me a good while to really feel like these guys had more than sexual attraction. There were some pretty big jumps to emotion which felt choppy at times and seemed to rob a bit of my connection to the romance, but I enjoyed the overall story enough that I just went with it. At the same time there isn't a lot of pretense between Slake and Raze. They're hot for each other and they don't spend too much time fighting it.

Bottom line I know that I've read more emotional, more complex books from Ione so I know what she's capable of. I can't help but hold it to those standards. That being said I really enjoyed the book and recommend it. The Demonica world is completely engrossing.

~ ~ ~

I would like to thank Riptide Publishing for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

~ ~ ~

Loved it

AWESOME......I cannot say enough good things about this series!!!! I absolutely LOVE demonica and Lords of Deliverance. This is by far my favorite paranormal series.....and I've read a library full of them. I have read and reread this series no less than 5 times and I still love it. Larissa Ionne's ability to weave an entire world and culture is just baffling in imagery and story telling. As series go on with this many books sometimes they grow stale and lose the oomph factor. Not so with this series. Great storyline and lovable characters. Can't wait too see what she has in store for the next book. Thanks so much for another awesome read. If you haven't checked this author out you need to run not walk and do so 5+++++ stars for another smoking hot super sexy devilishly sinful read!!!!!

Loved this book!!! Larissa has once again made Demons sexy and valiant! Love the cameo by Revenant!