Infernium, the second book in the Nightshade Duology by Keri Lake, is live!
Dark and gothic with elements of horror, this is a the eagerly anticipated ending to Farryn and Jericho’s story as they fight hell itself for their epic love
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Blurb
Pain is an abyss.
How naive of me to think I’d already reached the very depths of it when fate shook my world with a crushing blow. It turns out, there are fathomless levels of pain, like a winding labyrinth of doors leading to shadowy figures and long-forgotten secrets. The kind of inescapable descent into madness that twists nightmares into reality.
What lies at the end of this obscure path I have yet to discover, but where it begins, is a place called Infernium. An asylum, feared by those in Nightshade and untrodden by the angels who’ve forsaken its many lost souls.
Some say it’s the gateway to hell.
Others believe it’s where you go when the last flicker of hope dies out.
For me, it’s where I’ve damned myself for eternity–my penance for a crime against the heavens, and home to the demons that claw at my mind.
Yet, not even they stand a chance against my dark angel, Jericho. He fears nothing. Except losing me.
The longer I remain trapped, though, the stronger this darkness inside of me grows. A duality dividing my heart between love and revenge.
And, soon, saving me may no longer be an option.
Review
4 stars
I adored the first book in this series, Nightshade. It sucked me in completely, and I was obsessed with these characters, their story and their paranormal world. I have been desperately waiting for this follow-up book, and damn, what a read. Dark and gothic with elements of horror, this is a long and intricate ending to Farryn and Jericho’s story as they fight hell itself for their epic love.
Firstly, just to reinforce that this book is NOT a standalone. Make sure you’ve read Nightshade before picking up this one. And if you haven’t read Nightshade, there is not much I can say about this book without spoiling the first, so I’ll keep this review vague.
Opening this book, I was instantly drawn back into Lake’s world of angels and demons, and everything in between, and wow, what an imagination she has! It’s rich and intense, creepy and a little bit scary as Farryn and Jericho face new challenges in a fight for their very lives. And Jericho is determined to save them both.
While the first book of the series was more Farryn’s, this book is definitely Jericho’s. It’s written in dual POV, and Farryn has some dark and unique challenges to deal with in the story, but there’s definitely more Jericho time. We get to see his tragic backstory, and we follow him as he fights to save the woman he loves.
We also get to explore more of Nightshade – the mysterious realm between hell and earth – with all paths seemingly leading to Infernium, an asylum that guards a terrifying existence, that will expose long-held secrets, and that will test them both in ways they’ve never been tested before.
His finger trailed down my temple, and he pushed a stray hair behind my ear. “I shiver when I look at you. Because every cell in my body knows you are the only creature capable of destroying me. The only thing in this world I would die for.”
Along the way we see old characters and new, and there are some new characters in this book who I absolutely loved and who bring SO much to the story. Vaszhago is just the lightness that this book needs, while still bringing his own brand of badassery. I just love him!
There’s a lot of new information in this book, and with the complex mythology, the new twists and the fantastical language, it’s a bit overwhelming at times and I found some of it a bit hard to wrap my head around and remember from chapter to chapter. It’s also a really long book, and it felt a bit laggy through the middle section with all of the new information thrown at us – some we needed, some probably not. There are also strong horror elements throughout the book. It’s quite gruesome, and I skimmed over some of the scenes that made me cringe or just full-on turned my stomach. It all works towards world building, but it was just a bit too much for me personally.
I really enjoyed the beautifully written emotion throughout the story. Jericho and Farryn have an epic love that is heart-clenching and intense, and all kinds of crazy passionate. They go through so much in this book, but their commitment to each other and their willingness to fight for each other is so beautiful to see.
“Whatever wretched and vile thing lives beneath this flesh and these bones belongs to you. I am yours eternally. And you are mine.”
It’s a marathon of a read, but the story ends in a really good place, and I loved seeing Farryn and Jericho find their happy ending.
4 stars.
An Advanced Review copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
Nightshade Duology
About the Author
Keri Lake is a dark romance writer who specializes in demon wrangling, vengeance dealing and wicked twists. Her stories are gritty, with antiheroes that walk the line of good and bad, and feisty heroines who bring them to their knees. When not penning books, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and their rebellious Labrador (who doesn’t retrieve a damn thing). She runs on strong coffee and alternative music, loves a good red wine, and has a slight addiction to dark chocolate.
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