Larissa Ione – Pleasure Unbound

The first book in the Demonica series, published June 2008.



In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . .
She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.
Two lovers will dare to risk all.
Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .


I let myself be persuaded by a lot of good reviews on this series, and finally started reading. The blurb did not really appeal to me to start with, or I would have read it years earlier. And I have to admit, I didn’t much like the story. But I persevered, and in the end, the story became better, and grabbed me a bit. The bonding scene was good for instance. And I keep thinking: why didn’t the book start with the fighting scene, so I got to know Tayla first? Perhaps that would have put me more in the mood. Instead the book starts with Eidolon, and the hospital. And I am not fond of hospitals. You won’t catch me watching ER or Grey’s Anatomy.

I got that Kayla is a very good fighter and normally that is my kind of heroine. But I just couldn’t bond with her. And Eidolon. Well. He is a demon, and a doctor, and just not alpha enough I guess. I just didn’t care for him much. The scene’s after they find the nurse, and have to fight some demons together, that was good. But after that, I lost my concentration again.

So, my verdict: I didn’t like it enough to want to read the other books, or even more by this author. I was told: no it is not erotica, it is paranormal romance. Well, for my tastes, there is more sex than action in this book, and it totally got in the way of any exciting kind of plot. The idea of the story is not bad, but the relationship totally did not work for me. Think Buffy hooking up with Spike in the second episode.
I have been wanting to read the Sydney Croft books, as I totally fell for that storyline, but the excess amount of sex has put me of. Who knows, I might not care for it in those books, as the story itself can be good enough to get past that. I have recently won a Stephanie Tyler book (Larissa Ione + Stephanie Tyler = Sydney Croft), so I’ll wait till I have read that one.

5 stars.