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The Darkness Saga #1

Taming Darkness

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Since he was sentenced to earth eons ago, Lucifer has always lived by three simple rules: Humans are toys that are meant to be played with, love is a useless emotion, and the only creature worth fighting for is himself. To him, nothing matters but his own enjoyment, whether it be manipulating those around him, or indulging in the sins of the flesh with Lilith. Then he found young, sweet, and innocent, Maria, who is everything that Lucifer detests. She has devoted her life to her one true love, God. Unable to resist a challenge, Lucifer sets his sights on tempting Maria away from his enemy. Disguising himself as Lucas Starr, he creates a world that not even Maria can resist. He never planned on having the tables turned on him. Imagine Lucifer’s surprise when Maria brings him to his knees and shows him a glimpse of heaven once more.

Blinded by his arrogance and an unlikely vision, Lucifer falls again, this time forgetting that some lines should never be crossed. When his greatest opponent, Michael, shows up, all Hell breaks loose. Will Maria be able to accept Lucifer for who he truly is, or realize what Michael already knows: some destinies can never be changed?

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First published March 1, 2014

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About the author

Kat Daemon

10 books85 followers
Kat Daemon grew up in New York where her imagination always seemed to get the best of her. When she’s not hanging with demons, she’s usually armed with a strong cup of coffee and dreaming up her next tormented character.

She is the author of The Darkness Saga, a tale of Heaven and Hell, and The Blood Clan Chronicles. She loves vampires, the strange, and things that go bump in the night.

Sign up for Kat Daemon's newsletter to get the latest on new releases, cover reveals and more! http://eepurl.com/81Rbz

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5 stars
42 (51%)
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20 (24%)
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11 (13%)
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3 (3%)
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5 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Tracey.
1,473 reviews70 followers
March 8, 2014
4.5 devilish stars

Loved this book. It's told from Lucifers POV and his a character, his so full of himself it's amusing.

When he decides to find a new plaything he sets his site on Maria a nun about to take her vows......he enjoys messing with her and doesn't hide it so your just waiting for the tables to turn and see him fall again!

Maria is a fun character I loved watching her bloom into a fully fletched woman and develop some spirit, how will she react when he tells her who he is? She was about to become a nun.. Now she's seeing the devil himself.....

I found this book a great read it's amusing, heart warming, and sensual. I love seeing someone fall who doesn't expect to.

It's supposedly a short read 84 pages, but there big pages.

Im really looking forward to reading more of Lucas and Maria's story.

**I received an arc of this book for an honest review**
Profile Image for T.A. Brock.
Author 5 books35 followers
March 10, 2014
First off, this book was nothing like I thought it would be. It was the most wonderful kind of surprise. The let’s-get-the-villain’s-side-of-the-story trope is something I’ve seen a lot of in recent years and I tend to like those kinds of stories. It can be interesting to see something we’re familiar with told from another point of view. But let’s be honest, there are only so many ways to do this before it gets to be run-of-the-mill dull. Even still… I kind of like it when the bad guy is humanized and we get to feel for him (as is USUALLY the case with these stories). So, OF COURSE I was dying to read Taming Darkness. A story written from the devil’s point of view? Shhhhyeah. I’m in. Please, tell me how the poor widdle guy was wronged and he really isn’t as bad as they all make him out to be. I like good fiction, what can I say!

But oh no, that’s not quite how things played out. The Devil is bad y’all. And the author doesn’t shy away from that. You will cringe at Luc’s antics. He lies, cheats, hates, manipulates. He falls in LOVE. Yeah, I’m serious. With a nun-to-be. Maria, a woman who has dedicated her life to serving God. But here’s the best part (in my opinion, at least), since the story is written from Luc’s point of view, we get to see the ultimate struggle between good and evil FIRSTHAND as he deals with the moral dilemma of falling in love with a servant of his mortal enemy. It’s a terribly unconventional love story but as we all know, those make for some of the best feels.

Taming Darkness is not only a great premise, it’s beautifully written. Rich descriptions, snarky inner monologue, and characters that you want to both hug and hate make for a captivating read. I can’t wait to continue the series!
Profile Image for Jos.
1,803 reviews137 followers
Read
September 2, 2017
No rating

OK, so this is my first read by this author and a genre I never read either and I figured what the heck, let me give it a shot....... :(

It just wasn't my cup of tea. For my safety gang peeps, it is not a safe read for most of you. For me, I have my limits but I am pretty open sometimes but this crossed a little bit over, so for that I was quite turned off by the H in this one. The h was too weak for my liking.

Just didn't work for me BUT I will definitely read this genre again, I enjoyed the concept but it just didn't play out to my personal preferences but for some, it may be perfect and that's ok too:)
Profile Image for Barbara Garren.
Author 3 books23 followers
March 15, 2014
Growing up, I was never a big Rolling Stones fan, but the song "Sympathy for the Devil" still became a favorite.

This book is a perfect reason for that sympathy.

Captivating from the first page, the author provides a fresh take on Lucifer, or Lucas as we come to know him. Snarky, sexy, smart and sarcastic, he is refreshingly transparent and blind to his own faults. Including the one that captures him by surprise and brings him (nearly) to his knees with a glimpse at all he's given up.

Lucas falls prey to Maria, a sweet, innocent girl who is all that Lucas is not. He may have been the hunter but he ended up the prey. He's captivated by her pure, unadulterated delight in all the wonders of the world and of the mysterious thing called love.

Can the devil love wholeheartedly and not poison that which he unwittingly most longs for? Can he be tamed, brought to his knees by an emotion he's believed himself immune to?

The imagery and emotions are clean and realistic, the change in circumstances so smooth you barely realize when they occur, or when power and control shifts hands.

This is great writing, great structure, pacing and plot with nothing taken for granted. The author doesn't come across sanctimonious or disrespectful. Instead, she provides a unique, fresh take on an age old question: what would happen if the devil fell in love?
Profile Image for Kristen Hershinson.
1 review
March 9, 2014
Amazing! Totally hooked from start to finish! Not sure how the author did it, but I kinda love the Devil now! Can't wait for book number 2.
Profile Image for Samantha Strong.
Author 12 books92 followers
June 29, 2014
Why did no one tell me about Taming Darkness sooner?

This is my favorite type of tale, a story of a demon, doing demon-y things, that makes you love him in the process.

Lucifer's voice is distinctive. He's a snarky asshole whose self-deprecating humor is balanced by his arrogant nonchalance about the power and wealth he's gathered on earth. In some ways, he's noble and kind--despite protesting that he's not--and in other ways, he's wholly narcissistic and vapid. Underneath all of his observations is a yearning for something more. As with the any classic mythology of the Morning Star of Heaven, he's jealous and hurt that God rejected him. It's endearing and sad and understandable.

I loved, loved, loved the first half of the book. The results of his seduction of Maria was many-layered. I enjoyed seeing how his evil little plot changed him for the better and how, despite his best efforts, Maria stayed spiritually, if not physically pure, and focused on her love of a God that he hated.

But when the second half of the book arrived, it felt a little bit off. Although the voice still carried through, some of the action seemed to be a little strange. It was only when I arrived at the end of the book that I could render a judgment--too much of the plot was focused on setting things up for a future book. It's the same gripe that I have about Maggie Steifvater's Raven Boys--good, but too many loose ends created that were never intended to be tied up in this book.

However, I loved the story anyway, and I eagerly await the next installment where we get to meet a whole new and interesting caste of characters. If, like me, you're a huge fan of angel/demon books (with a heavy emphasis on demons), I would highly recommend picking up Taming Darkness.

Also posted on my blog, Magic & Mayhem Book Review Blog.
1 review
March 10, 2014
Picked this up as a recommendation from a friend, LOVED LOVED LOVED it.

This really pulled me in, great characters and lots of detail. Seeing a whole new side of Lucifer i didn't know existed!!!! I need MORE, can't wait for the sequel. Also, has a great ending that'll keep you on the edge of your seat ; )
1 review
August 13, 2016
Really great story that sucked me in ... i couldn't put this book down! Highly recommend!!!
Profile Image for Chelsie.
24 reviews
December 26, 2014
I really liked this book. I got this book free from Goodreads and the author signed it. She sent a lot of great things along with the book. I'm glad to see there will be a sequel!
Profile Image for April Hollingworth.
Author 17 books32 followers
March 31, 2014
Review Courtesy of April Hollingworth

This is Lucifer's story of how boredom of everything brings him to meet Maria a novice sister about to take her vows. How their lives in twine and the tables get turned on Lucifer as Maria shows him a glimpse of what could be. A chance of happiness, a chance of love and peace but will Archangel Michael destroy everything by showing Maria exactly who and what Lucifer the man she has come to know as Lucas Starr is. Personally I thought it was interesting and intriguing. I also couldn't help liking Lucifer and understanding him. I have to admit Maria I'm not so fond of, I found her annoying. But it is definitely a good book and worth reading. This is the first in the series and I will be looking out for the next book.

Opening scene:
If you really think about it, the whole thing was a set up anyway.

The Review:
Lucifer, is bored. Centuries of playing with the humans that caused him to loose favor and be thrown out of heaven has caused him to wonder the earth without sleep and without peace. All he has to relieve the boredom is offering contracts and manipulating those around him as well as satisfying his lust in the willing body of Lilith. Unable to resist a challenge Lucifer sets his sights on Maria, a novice sister months away from taking her vows. Determined to take this innocent away from God, Lucifer creates situations to bring Maria into contact with him, once he's captivated her, he ups his game, determined to make her come to him voluntarily. Somewhere during his execution of his plans he realizes that the unthinkable has happened when he begins to realize that the tables have been turned and that he wants and needs this human. As glimpses of heaven are shown to him Lucifer begins to realize theirs a lot more at steak than he originally thought especially when the Archangel Michael comes to interfere in his plans.

Notable Scene:
When she passed me, I caught her wrist. I could feel the drumming of her heart as I held onto her, noticing how delicate she was. If I squeezed too hard, she might just shatter.
"Sister,"I said. "Might you sit with me for a moment?" I looked into her hazel eyes, and knew it would be my goal to possess her. She had a unique beauty about her-even with her hair pulled tight beneath her bonnet and her skin not enhanced by makeup, her radiance was all too alluring. I felt the tug of desire as I got hard right there. I could almost feel the disgust of the angels looking on. Of course, she obliged and sat beside me in the pew. Her cloak brushed against my bare arm, and I felt the quiver of self-control. Raping her in the house of God was to cliche. Having her fuck me on her own terms would prove to be more challenging and more fun in the long run. I told you, I am always looking for solutions to my boredom.
I could have told her anything, anything in the world to lure her away from this house of hell. But, I decided, to be fair, I would tell her the truth. Selectively.
Profile Image for Jonel.
1,717 reviews311 followers
March 8, 2014
This author’s in your face, personal writing really makes you identify with the devil and feel for him. It also makes you giggle a time or two. I mean, really, the Spanish Inquisition can now be boiled down to boredom on the Devil’s part. Being in the devil’s head like this was absolutely priceless. There is a balance between self discovery and WTF moments interspersed with larger than life descriptions that really brings the world to life.

The character development in this novel was quite unique. The author’s in your face writing style combines with Luc’s ability to read minds to give you characters that are not only developed on the surface but all the way through. You don’t just get to know them by their actions and reactions but also the why’s and how’s.

Overall, I found it difficult to become completely engaged in the story. It was an enjoyable read yet I felt a little disjointed for part of the novel. I was much more intrigued by the ending but it took a while to warm up to.

Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Mary Bernsen.
Author 5 books81 followers
April 22, 2014
THE RAVE WORTHY: This story absolutely blew me away. It's a striking retelling of familiar deities from the bad guy's point of view. Kat was treading on dangerous waters by trying to make her reader relate to an entity most of us were raised to hate. Even in her tale of him, he was a narcissistic, self-righteous ass...but I loved every bit of it. Something about him reminded me of my husband (love you toots, heehee). The way he approached Maria was beautiful, sensual, and enlightening. Dare I even call it noble? No, I won't go that far. Still, it was a special kind of love story written in a simple, vivid rhythm that pulls you in from the very first page.

THE GRUMBLE WORTHY: I'm the daughter of a minister, so I'm pretty sure Kat sent me to hell by making me love The Dark One so fiercely LoL. In all seriousness though, I did feel like Maria was a bit of a shallow character. She definitely could use some depth. I'm hoping to see more from her in the future books in the series.
Profile Image for Georgeann Swiger.
Author 3 books29 followers
April 29, 2014
You have to hand it to an author who can make you fall in love with the bad guy. And there is no bigger badder bad guy than the devil. Lucifer takes a liking to Maria as she's getting ready to take her vows as a nun. Lucifer makes himself know to her as the charming Lucas. Without using his supernatural powers, he gets Maria to fall in love with him.

What kept me turning pages in this book is the blend of good and evil. Maria humanizes Lucifer a bit in this book, but he never loses his "bad self". Of course, who better than a nun to capture the heart of the Lord of the Underworld. I like the fact that these two characters change one another in some ways, but are unable to break through the deep seated beliefs and tendencies of one another.

When I got to the ending, I wanted more. The author gives a sample of the next book in this series. I can't wait to see what happens. I will be buying the next book as soon as it comes out.
Profile Image for Nikalyn.
123 reviews6 followers
April 6, 2015
This book really sounded up my alley. I like books where evil characters, in this case Lucifer, get redeemed and turn good by the power of love. Blah blah blah. However, this story didn't quite turn out that way. He never really became any better. He lied a lot. And he didn't ever feel bad for the things he did. He still killed and cheated and manipulated and did whatever the hell he wanted. I guess that makes it a bit more realistic. I mean, could Lucifer himself ever turn good? I really don't know how I feel about this book honestly. The female character wasn't even that great of a character. She was mousey and quiet and never stood up for herself until the very end. And it wasn't even her true self doing it. She was basically manipulated into falling in love with him. Like was anything even real? Interesting concept but I feel really disappointed by it all in all. Reading the sequel now so maybe my thoughts will change afterwards.
Profile Image for Tammy Farrell.
Author 12 books37 followers
March 10, 2014
I was really surprised by how quickly this book had me drawn in. I think I expected a devilish love story where the antagonist is a mysterious villain. But when I discovered the story was told from the devil’s perspective, and when I saw how brilliantly the author created the mind of Lucifer, I was intrigued. Let’s be clear, Luc is certainly a devil. His malevolence is unquestionable. But he also comes across as very human, which I loved. Despite his wicked inclinations, he has human characteristics, like falling in love…with a NUN! If that kind of irony isn’t human, I don’t know what is.
There also seems to be a curiosity in him, a human tendency toward boredom, and an inner struggle that makes him feel so relatable.
I really loved this book and look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Profile Image for Drue DePompei-Hoffman.
259 reviews7 followers
March 11, 2014
Taming Darkness surprised me. I don't like to spoil things for myself so I try not to read too much about a book before I actually read the book. The different take on Lucifer, the Archangels, Heaven, Hell and all that was so refreshing, I absolutely loved it. I just can't emphasize enough how this different take on those all too common book subjects was.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL REVIEW
Profile Image for Alyssa Bergen.
2 reviews
April 25, 2014
So i was recommended to read this new book by a friend, and it was the best thing i've read in a long time. Pulled me in from line 1 and i never looked back. Not only does this book have the BEST characters ever, but they are characters that you traditionally don't love which is a pleasant surprise. Luce!!!!!! Can't wait for book 2 already!!!!!!!!

Highly recommended for anyone into paranormal romance and great writing!
Profile Image for Eva Millien.
3,115 reviews45 followers
May 7, 2014
The first book in the new paranormal series featuring the fallen angel, Lucifer is an unexpected and surprising read. While I found the story to be a little on the slow slide, I still enjoyed the fascinating concept and the wonderful characters and I can’t wait to see where the author takes the series next if love can tempt the devil what else is possible?

3 ½ STARS

See my full review at:

http://www.thejeepdiva.com/review-tam...
Profile Image for Amy.
Author 3 books23 followers
September 18, 2014
This book is short, to the point, and easy to lose yourself in. The POV is Lucifer's (I know, how cool, right?) And his voice is smart and snarky, like you'd expect the devil to be. But you wouldn't expect the devil to fall in love, either. Bottom line, it's a fun, easy read, and I'd read more by this author.
1 review
March 11, 2014
Picked this up randomly after seeing a few good reviews, really loved this story from page 1. Some really great scenes that captivated me, and a few steamy ones too. Great for a rainy day! Pick this one up!!!

- Vicky
Profile Image for Raina.
4,148 reviews33 followers
June 1, 2015
It is a very interesting take on the devil. I'm just not that fond of Maria. I know she was to be a nun and had lived a simple life, but she was almost to naïve.

But the book is an interesting love story. And the choice between good and evil seem to be more grey than black and white.
Profile Image for Diane.
12 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2014
The devil is a pretty funny guy! In a sarcastic, malicious, seething way, that is (just like me!) A great read, looking forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Irina Ashurova.
1 review
March 12, 2014
Wonderful book with some hot twists and turns, not what i anticipated from a story with the Devil as the main character. A must read!
344 reviews8 followers
August 18, 2014
I wonder what is gonna happen to Maria.
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