Review Daughter of Lust by Ann Mayburn

Title: Daughter of Lust (For the Love of Evil #1)
Author: Ann Mayburn
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook, 235 pgs
Release Date: June 24, 2011
Author Website


Belal, High Prince of Hell and Keeper of the Deadly Sin Sloth, is expanding his power in the world of the 1800s by trafficking opium. He revels in the results, and as sloth begins to overtake the mortal realm, all of Hell suffers. The balance of power in Hell, as well as the fate of the Universe, will be decided by a half-demon peasant girl.

Natalia Shura, the daughter of Asmodeus, High Prince of Hell and Keeper of the Deadly Sin Lust, is unaware of the nature of her birth. When her demonic side begins to awaken, her world becomes dominated by dark passions and deadly craving, and Natalia believes she is losing her mind. But Natalia's love has been foretold as the only thing that can stop Belal and his allies, and they will do anything to prevent her ascension.

Facing assassins, avenging angels, Hell's deadly politics —and her real father — Natalia must accept the love of more than one man and embrace her demonic heritage as a Princess of Lust. If she doesn't, all that she loves will be destroyed, and Heaven and Hell will plunge into Chaos.


Rating -
Sexual -
My Review:

Wow! This first in Mayburn's For the Love of Evil series is a very sexy paranormal romance/fantasy with lead characters who seem almost corporeal or incarnate. In it, Mayburn presents a creative and unique vision of Hell.

Set in both Kazan, Russia in 1870 and Hell, Mayburn is careful not to let historical aspects take over the story. It is mainly a background to highlight the treatment of women, especially unmarried ones, and the beginnings of the Opium addiction epidemic in Russian at this time.

Natalia, the female lead, is 22 and has found, much to her shame, that recently pain has been quickly mutating into pleasure. She's afraid she's going insane. A strong young woman, she defies the social conventions when she deems necessary. When she sees Raum/Vicktor, something inside her wakes up and cries out for him.

She meets the demon High Prince Asmodeus in the forest and he tells her not only is he her true father but that she was "born to help maintain the balance and keep Heaven and Hell from falling into chaos", that her "gifts are lust, bloodlust, and passion" but she doesn't need to kill to satisfy the boodlust, just "bleed [her] enemies and taste of their flesh". Not in a cannibalistic way, a lick will do.

Raum, the son of a succubus and Lucifer as well as a general in Asmodeus' army, is ordered "to watch over [Natalia] and help her through her time of transition". Additionally he is to "seduce her and help her embrace her shadowy heritage" but most importantly, to keep her alive. Raum feels like Natalia belongs to him when he meets her in the guise of an old family friend, Vicktor. He suspects she is his blood-mate.

Later after she has been somewhat intimate (i.e. third base) with Gregor, Raum/Vicktor tells her that she can use anyone she likes "but [her] maidenhead belongs to [him]". Alpha much?

Lucky Natalia! She falls in love with three gorgeous males and as the half demon Princess of Lust, she gets to keep them all. When she lets go of her proper virgin self and starts to embrace her demon half, she has hot, sexy interludes in all kinds of places: bathtubs, fields, forests and even a brothel. There is something for everyone {grin}: M/F, M/F/M, some F/F exploration and talk of M/M with a single M/M kiss.

I absolutely adored this story and am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. Fans of paranormal romance, fantasy and urban fantasy should put this at the top of their wishlist.

Warning Spoiler Alert!!!
This does have a HEA ending ... sorta. If you call still being in danger from several different demons and having the pressure of being the one who is supposed to 'keep Heaven and Hell from falling into chaos' as still having an HEA. But hey, she has her three loves and she is supposed to keep everything in check through her love; so maybe it is a HEA ending after all. {grin}