Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1) by Gena Showalter

Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless—and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. 

 But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions at any cost…until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.

Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. 

Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. 

Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation—or her ultimate damnation?

• Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Dark
• Creatures: Angels & Demons 
• Age: adult
• Source: owned ebook
• Read on February 27, 2013

Final rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★

My guardian Angel by ~Camino-Studios

One word: AMAZING! I felt skeptical about reading it, mostly because it's connected to Lords of the Underworld. Actually, only the characters are connected with LoU - so it really isn't necessary to read LOU first. (But because of this book i will definitely read LOU now). And it's my first Gena Showalter experience!

Anyway, this story was sweet, funny and sometimes tragic, but still amazing book! The characters were just so intriguing and i can't wait to read more about them.

The world building is quite interesting, and i liked Hierarchy and i really loved Army of Disgrace. This is a story of Angels and Demons, or actually Sent Ones and Demons. There is a certain hierarchy. The Most High ruled the heavens (Merciful One, the Anointed One and the Mighty One are the tree ruling members, going by the name of The Most High). They had appointed several underlings and one of them is Deity Germanus. Germanus is a lesser king, who leads the Elite Seven—Zacharel, Lysander, Andrian, Gabek, Shalilah, Luanne, Svana and they all lead their own armies. Zacharel leads the Army of Disgrace, and he is the main character of this story.

Since this is a story of Sent One and Demons, then here is a bit more about them: Sent Ones are like angels, but not really. They are adopted children of the Most High, and their lives are tethered to Them. They are the source of their power and essential for their own existence. Angels are lesser in the hierarchy and they are servants and messengers.

There are many types of the demons and all of them did different things. They also had ranks and they liked to attach themselves to humans or posses them. Demons fed off the panic and upset, thus weakening humans and making them easy target.

“It shall be my pleasure to remedy it. First, it is not your strength or your speed that draws me. It's your... everything. Your laugh, your wit, your emotions and the way they change. Your courage, your sweetness, your near obsessive delight in cookies. Second, you are indeed a prize. You've made me want what no one else ever had. A communion of bodies."

 CHARACTERS

♦ Zachariel

Sinful Angel - Josh Kloss by ~shinhbang

“You know, you’re pretty when you smile,” she said, patting the side of his cheek.
“Fierce, woman. I am fierce.”
“If you say so.” 

Sexy Angel in charge of a complete mess of an army! He didn't care for the lives of the humans, especially when they were possessed by demons. He killed them, and for that he was punished to lead the worst army of Angels ever. They are all close to falling, and it's up to him to stop that happening. Most of his army doesn't care about anything, and some of them kill human or two, and for those deaths he gets punished. That fact changed his mind about killing humans or letting his army kill them. And then....he meets Annabelle, and saves her. And then some sparkles happen... and a lot of things.

He also tries to be emotionless - when someone he loved died, he closed off so he could not suffer all of that grief again. Basically, he is very cold character at first. Did i mention that he is extremely arrogant, kick ass, and quite interesting. Also has a gentle side, is a fierce warrior. He is also a virgin! A VIRGIN! VIRGIN! How rare it is for this genre. But i really loved him, and he felt guilt, remorse and regret for some things that he had done, especially to what he had done to Anna accidentally.

♦ Annabelle

“Look, Winged Wonder. Get me out of here, then we'll hammer out the details about where I'm staying. Okay?"
"Winged Wonder," he said, nodding. "I find that I do not mind that one. It fits."
"Captain Modesty fits better," she muttered.
"I disagree. Winged Wonder is clearly the better choice for a man such as me." 

Annabelle was attacked on her 18th birthday by a Demon. He killed her parents, violated her and hurt her. In shock and despair, she said to everyone that the monster killed her parents, and they judged her to be criminally insane and unstable. Not even her brother believed her. No one did. In just one night she lost everything and was thrown into institution for the criminally insane, and four years have passed from then. While she could see - because her eyes turned colorless and pale - and could feel the demons, the demons sensed her to and hurt her many many times. And because of that, doctors still thought she was insane and that she was trying to hurt herself, despite her efforts to convince them otherwise. Enter Fitzpervert who used her situation to his own benefit. And then, one night, Zachariel finds her, and after lot of convincing, and a lot of calling him names such as Winged Wonder and so on, he finally rescues her and takes her to his home.

She is a fighter, she will never go without a fight, extremely brave as well, she tries to turn situations in her advantage, she is traumatized, but she doesn't show it easily. She doesn't trust easily either! She is also half Japanese. She was a strong and brave heroine, and overall, great.

♦ Others:

There were many great characters as well. I liked Thane, Xerxes and Bjorn, they are very interesting characters and I want to know more about them. They met and bonded while they were in the captivity of the demons. They are all damaged, and still have side effects from it, because of which they were put in Zachariel's army. They love each other, and they would do anything for each other forever and ever.

Koldo on the other hand i found quite amazing. His wings were torn when he was young, and he never could regenerate them since. But it doesn't make him any less deadly. I couldn't believe what he had gone through for a person he knows for only 3 months - he gave up on something he cherished so much so he could help. He is just...amazing... I am glad the next book is with him!

OVERALL:

I loved it! It was just... great and i loved everything about it. Can't wait to see what sequels have in store!

MY REVIEW ON GOODREADS