Unsurprisingly I enjoyed it like all her other installments in this universe. (Probably should be plural considering…. lol) I hadn’t gotten the first three yet but it wasn’t required to have read the first three in this part. There were references to other related series but I don’t think it would take away if I hadn’t read those.

This book gave me all the paranormal fantasy romance shenanigans that I love to read.
Rathbone thinks that Neela is the key to bringing his dead wife ( who happens to be a goddess) back to life. Neeka knows that if she does this it would lead to destruction.
Queue a bunch of shenanigans that were often hilarious as the two of them try to outwit the other, while fighting the knowledge that they are soulmates.
I think that I needed to read the other books to get a better understanding of some of the plot points, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Rathbone the King of Agonies is on a mission to retrieve the bones of his wife so she can be brought back to life. There are others that are out to stop that from happening in the realm. Neeka is an oracle that has seen what horrors will happen if either side wins. She's out to stop Rathbone any way she can even is she has to seduce him. I liked Neeka but Rath had many issues in this story. All in all not a bad read.

This was such an excellent addition to the series! I enjoyed the ride and especially the spice and had a great time reading this. I always look forward to books from Gena, she is such a talented romance author.

The Wrath is the fourth no in the Rise of the Warlords. This story was amazing. It follows Rathbone and Neeka.

Gena did a fantastic job with the characters. Rathbone is the nephew of Hades and has a surprisingly good sense of humor. But do not cross him. Neeka is The Unwanted harpy, with a sad backstory. But I do love the encounters between Rathbone and Neeka.

Showalter's Wraith is a action packed, over the top paranormal romance, with a cast of dynamic characters, a well plotted storyline
and a hot steamy romance. Infectious banter and some cameos of favorite characters makes this a must read.

*NetGalley ARC Review*

Neeka the Unwanted and her beloved Rathboner just toppled Taliyah and Roc from the top of my list in this series.

Rathbone The Only's—King of Agonies, shapeshifter, spy and closest friend of Hades—sole focus is to resurrect his murdered beloved. But first, he must find her scattered bones and put them back together. Luck would have it that harpy oracle extraordinaire—Neeka the Unwanted—might be able to help him. However, the growing attraction to the fierce little warrior begins to make him question his feelings about the woman that was his wife. The Astra are also after the bones, only because it is Azar's task to resurrect Lorelei again only to kill her, <I>again</I>. Neeka has seen that she must help Rathbone, but the Astra are also her allies now. Can Rathbone trust her? And how will the Astra handle a traitor who is best friends with their commander's mate? I do love a good complication!

Unlike the prior three books in this series, the main focus of the story wasn't on the Astra and the task. Honestly, it was refreshing, and this story felt a little more akin to the LotU series in the flow and storytelling. Also, from a character standpoint, I absolutely loved Neeka and Rathbone, both individually and as a couple. Neeka was so much fun.

* * *
Her awareness of him continued to sharpen. Her desire to talk to him, to kiss him and touch him and ride him and cuddle him and eat carrots off his chest only ever magnified.</I>

* * *

She had a great sense of humor but also a strong sense of duty. She was honest as much as she was able to be—if it didn't interfere with a premonition. Rathbone proved that he wasn't a besotted fool who refused to question his feelings or misgivings about the two women at the forefront of his dilemma. He didn't push Neeka away, and he was adorable when e paid attention to the little things about her and made her happy or feel wanted beyond the sexual.

This book felt the least rushed in this series—compared to the action-packed stories of the previous teamed up couples trying to navigate romance and outwit Erebus's machinations. The Wrath is that book that I'd happily pick up again and re-read. I always love when Gena Showalter whips out the dry humor—usually directed at someone with whom one really shouldn't be messing with:

* * *

"I'll cancel the rest of your appointments for the day, Majesty," the servant said, his tone as efficient as his manner. "I'll also cancel your afternoon orgy and pencil in a good long pout in case the young lady is correct."
Hades scowled. "Very good, Pippen. Now, let us proceed."

* * *

By far my favorite of this series! Needs has long been a standout character in this world, so I was pumped to see that she would star in this one (though she steals the spotlight in previous installments, too!).

Rathbone is also a semi-familiar face in this world. Friend of Hades, ruler of his own kingdom, he has made some questionable decisions as of the last century or so. He fell head over heels for a goddess, pushing him to take over his now current kingdom and swear vengeance upon her murderer. Since said murderer ends up being unfortunately one of Neeka’s allies, they end up crossing paths.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the goddess is up to no good and put Rathbone on a long quest to find all her bones and bring her back to life, probably killing everyone. Neeka is… amazing, though. She’s bananas and an oracle, but is also the most amazing ally a person could ever want. There are about a million oddball turns that this story takes, but I was there for it 100%. I could read a whole series about her antics, and never get bored. These two wild and crazy people truly deserve one another forever and ever. I am so glad we got to go on this amazing journey with them!

✦‪‪‪Review: THE WRATH: A Novel by Gena Showalter https://bit.ly/499dmkT
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 5 Stars

I could not wait for this one! I have loved Rathbone since he showed up in THE DARKEST PROMISE and started messing with Lazarus by putting stuffed leopards that looked like him in his bag that kept reappearing after he got rid of them. I’m not sure if it was to spy on him or just to mess with his head but it was funny. The harpies are always fun and Neeka is incredible so this book had a great heroine. I absolutely loved Rathbone and Neeka together. Gena Showalter always delivers an unforgettable love story. I always end one of her books thinking it’s my favorite and those characters are my absolute favorites and then the next book comes along and that books ends up being my favorite. Her characters draw me into their story, and I laugh and smile and get swept up in the worlds she creates. This is a new favorite but I’m sure I’ll say that on the next one too.

The Warlord Series is a spin-off series from The Lords of the Underground Series but you do not need to read it before picking up this series. I highly recommend the LOTU series though. It’s one of my favorites. Each book in the Warlord series is a standalone but I recommend reading them in order.

I highly recommend this book and this series for paranormal romance lovers looking for steamy romance with action, humor, powerful heroines and heroes you fall in love with.

*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

KINDLE https://amzn.to/3un6eCo

Book number four in Showalter's Rise of the Warlords, "The Wrath," continues Showalter's wild ride through fantastical worlds. Add a cast of colorful characters, a love story (several of them), villains, heroes, and plenty of snark, and you have a Showalter classic.

Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has been on a centuries-long quest to recover the enchanted bones of his beloved wife. Unfortunately, when he's on the verge of success, a new enemy emerges with an agenda of their own. Enter Neeka the Unwanted, a fierce, often forgetful harpy warrior with her own mission. She's determined to stop Rathbone and the gods at any cost, even if it means getting up close and personal with the king himself.

What follows is an adventurous race against time. A classic high-stakes adventure with a healthy dose of romance and intrigue, this is a book you won't be able to put down!

Another one out of the park! I don't know what magic Ms Showalter uses to keep me so darn addicted, but its working! I love this series and I especially love that it is dropping snippets of info about our LOTU characters in this series.
Neeka and Rathbone are the absolute perfect fit, and their relationship kept me entertained from start to finish. If I could offer 10 Stars, I would. Alas, five is the limit so five you get. Can't wait for the next installment!
-Vicki Rose-Platinum Book Promos

“The Wrath,” by Gena Showalter

I really liked this book. It’s a good spicy adult romance with sunshine x grumpy and also gods. I liked how the MFC is so odd and interesting and makes the MMC go crazy trying to keep up with her. “How dare he spy on her while she plotted to betray him…” its definitely worth the read. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Contemporary
-Sunshine X Grumpy
-Greek Gods
-Multi POV
-Enemies To Lovers
-Fated Mates

Thank you for the ARC.

This book is what you would typically expect from gena showalter, lots of steam, intriguing character, and being within the realm of her books really just brings me back to how much I have always loved her lords of underworld books and the spin-offs. This was a good book.

The Wrath by Gena Showalter . I am a big fan of Romance books and I found this one to be a very enjoyable read. I will be looking for more books from this author.

This book is another amazing book in the Rise of the Warlords series! This book features Rathbone and Neeka. The plot of this book is so engaging! I loved all of the twists and turns. It’s funny, fun, serious at times, but definitely oh-so-satisfying to read.

This is by far my favorite Gena Showalter series, at first I thought it was because of the Astra Planeta. This book showed me though I do like those irresistible warlords, it is the sassy Harpies that make this series amazing for me. As someone with a dry and twisted sense of humor—I can totally relate to this species. Neeka is Haprie Oracle that falls for Rathbone. This is hindered because Rathbone’s “late” wife is the gravita of an Astra Planeta named Azar. His challenge is to resurrect and kill her again. This is not your typical cookie cutter storyline for most PNRs. It is original and totally worth reading. 5 Stars.

I received a free copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a fair and honest review. Thank you.

As expected as King of Agonies, one of the hell realms, and close friend to Hades, Rathbone is a huge alphahole throughout most of this book. Neeka knows what she wants and it's not the men in her past. She wants to be someone's one and only and even though she's drawn to Rathbone, she will never accept being one of his stable of concubines especially when he's still pining over the bones of his long dead wife. I love her strong character especially her sunny and quirky personality and I was rooting for her to finally get her HEA.
I've only read a couple other books in this series and now I'm curious to read the Lords of the Underworld series it's based on. There's just something about these strong aplha males turning into such teddy bears around their fated mates!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This writer never disappoints!! Her writer is enjoyable and so, so Hot, and the characters are have depth and really get you routing for them.

This was a book of wrong time, wrong place, but turned in wrong place right time. It was such a journey reading as these characters realize that fate always wins. What was an enemies to lovers turn into unaware of happiness till fate brought a true soulmate. From the beginning to end ….speaking of ending whoa didn’t see that coming can’t wait till the next book.

GENERAL INFO

The Wrath - Book #4 Rise of the Warlords

Year Pub: 2/6/24, Read 2/6/24

Book's cover: very dark and brooding H

Format: eBook, 378 pgs. kindle

Source:  🙏🏾 Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Canary Street Press for this ARC 💙 !  I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: paranormal romance, fantasy

Tropes: enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, vampires and shifters, fated mates

 HEA/HFN ending: HEA

Epilogue Included: no

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary:  

Rathbone is attempting to resurrect his deceased wife by gathering her enchanted bones. Hitting a wall he hires Neeka, a seer and harpy to help find him. She knows that bringing back his wife will bring the end of the world.

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F


Flashbacks: yes, Rathbone's wife, the Astra

Jealy/Possy/OTT H/h : a little w/ Neeka and Rathbone's wife.

Amount of Sex In The Book: enough

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

🚺Neeka the Unwanted

🚹Rathbone the Only

H /h RELATIONSHIP INFO

OW/OM/Exes: Rathbone's wife Lore

AUTHOR OVERVIEW: 
Gena Showalter-an auto buy author for me. I've read LOTU and Book#1 The Warlord(gave 3⭐)

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 3.5/4

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: yes

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes