Customer Reviews

Dance with the Devil (Dark-Hunter, Book 4)

5 star:		(135)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

When things go badly in New Orleans, Zarek is again exiled to the Alaskan wilderness. Certain that his death was immanent; his soul purpose in living was to piss everyone off. What else is new? So it was with great surprise that while seriously injured from a fight with blood squires, Dark Hunter's and Artimis's creature to kill the Dark Hunters-Thanatos, he finds himself in the home of an enchanting blind woman who lives alone in the woods with a wolf. Astrid was sent to judge him insane and a threat to humanity, or innocent of all the crimes against him. Blind only while deciding how to serve justice she is terrified by Zareks "spit in your face" attitude. However, while his words are gruff his actions speak differently and so she struggles to figure out what Asheron sees in him that would deem him innocent.

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL is the long awaited (and wondered) about story of Zarek, the slave become Dark Hunter that killed the village of people he was sworn to protect and was therefore banished to the harsh wilderness of Alaska almost a millennium before. Although this story, I think, is more intense than the previous installments, I would have been disappointed had it been anything less. I was amazed that the intensity Zarek portrayed in NIGHT EMBRACE wasn't lost within the pages of his story. Somehow, buried deep within Zarek is a true hero that has given up on himself even as he fights to protect the lives of others. Astrid is a heroine unlike any other that will have your jaw dropping as she sorts thru two thousand years of gruesome history to pass judgment. And as always, Ms Kenyon has woven her lighted hearted humor with the newest cast members added to the Dark Hunter world as well as one we all love to hate. So, in true Dark Hunter fashion, be prepared for another heart-stopping page-turner from Ms Kenyon with an astonishing ending!

To those of you who have never read a Dark Hunter novel, this is an excellent novel and yes you could read it as a stand alone book, but if you went back to read the other stories, you will spoil some of the endings for yourself.

This is the third (or fourth, if you count Fantasy Lover, as I do) of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series, and if you've read Talon's story you'll be familiar with Zarek, the surly, murderous Roman ex-slave. Zarek has been banished to Alaska for the past 900 years for burning down the village he was supposed to protect, and killing everyone in it. Acheron managed to persuade Artemis to give him one more chance, and in Midnight Embrace Zarek joined the other Dark-Hunters in New Orleans. But there he made a serious mistake: killed two police officers in full view of mortals. Now he is back in Alaska, knowing that he won't go unpunished - someone, soon, will be sent to kill him.

And then it happens: he's been tracked down by Thanatos, the killer of Dark-Hunters. In trying to escape, he is hurt and thinks that it's all over, but then he wakes up in a comfortable bed in a warm house, with a beautiful - and blind - woman taking care of him. Pretending that she cares about him and wants to look after him. She has to be pretending, doesn't she? After all, no-one has ever really cared about him. No-one has looked after him. Everyone he's ever known has betrayed him or used him to gain pleasure from his pain.

What Zarek doesn't know is that Astrid is a judge: an Olympian justice who has been ordered by Artemis and Acheron to judge and pass sentence on Zarek. Artemis, of course, wants him dead, but Astrid suspects that Acheron really wants her to find him innocent. And yet, in all her centuries of judging Astrid has never, ever found a single person innocent of the crimes alleged against him. Zarek, too, seems like a hopeless case. He rejects her, threatens her companion (a wolf who is actually a shapeshifter), has no manners or social graces, refuses to answer her questions. And she knows about his past, his murderous acts.

And yet... there's something about him...

Gradually, Astrid begins to learn about Zarek's past. The illegitimate son of a Roman officer, he was the household whipping-boy. His father, his half-brothers and all the servants treated him cruelly and mercilessly. By the time of his death, in his late twenties, his body was so scarred and misshapen that Artemis, without even asking had `healed' his wounds and given him a `normal' appearance. But no-one had ever thought to show Zarek kindness, or teach him how to behave with courtesy. He has been rejected by his own kind, the Dark-Hunters, every bit as much as in his life he had been rejected by mortals.

But, as Astrid finds herself falling in love with him, she wonders how she can possibly find him anything other than guilty for the crimes of his past. Unless... is it possible that they weren't his crimes at all?

Zarek's story is heartwrenching. But in Dance With The Devil we also find out much more about Acheron, so much so that I can't wait for his story. Just who - or what - is Acheron? What happens to him when he loses his temper and even gods quake before him? I both liked and hated him in this book: after all, he's known the truth about Zarek all along and still abandoned him to 900 years of painful exile.

But I see that Kenyon isn't planning on satisfying our curiosity any time soon; the next book in the series is about Wulf, Talon's apparent friend mentioned in Midnight Embrace (I say apparent because, although Talon claimed Wulf as his best friend, he barely thought of the man in most of the book). There's also a very strange extract from something else at the end of this book, completely unexplained in any way - although it's called A Dark-Hunter Christmas, it makes no sense on its own and it's clearly part of a long story, there is no publication date or any other information given.

Loved Zarek; roll on Acheron!

wmr-uk

Zarek has had more than his fair share of hard knocks in his life, putting it mildly. Being born to a Roman slave, fathered by Roman royalty, Zarek never belonged, but he always knew his place...as a slave. Zarek went through things that no human being should have to endure and has a shell of armor around himself so thick that no one will ever be able to penetrate it. At least that's what he thinks. After nine hundred years living in the Alaskan wilderness, Zarek sets off to New Orleans only to return to Alaska knowing that he'll either die before he gets there, or die in the biting cold that he's gotten so used to. At least that's what he thinks...

In all her years as a justice nymph, Astrid has never judged a man innocent. The closest she ever came was when she though she was in love with the man she was jugding, which she learned never to do again. When Acheron requests that she be the one to judge Zarek, she is stunned. First by what she sees in his eyes, and second by what she is almost positive the outcome will be. She doesn't count on Zarek though, nor the feelings he envokes in her.

In Kenyon's usual manner, she can bring a reader from tears to laughter in a page of reading. Although there is humor, it doesn't take away from the emotional intensity of the book. What Zarek had to endure as a slave brought me to tears, but it showed how strong Zarek is to endure and keep living, even though I wouldn't call what he was doing living. Astrid and Zarek are perfect for eachother and Kenyon has another hit in Dance With The Devil. Don't miss it!!

I'm a horror, mystery, suspense, and sci-fi kinda girl. Romance novels just aren't "real" to me. Granted, vampires aren't either but they're a step up from romance and mushy steamy love scenes that last all night. I'm more likely to get bitten by a vampire than I am to meet a guy that is romance novel quality. So, when Amazon recommended this series for me and I found that it was classified as romance, I was a bit hesitant to read it. Sure it had vampires or Daimons as they call them in this series. But it was romance! Ewww!!! So I read the first book that was about Kyrian, and considered it a sweet comic love story with action/adventure. It was good. So I read the second in the series with Talon and Sunshine, and found more of the same. I even read Fantasy Lover because Julian kept being mentioned and I wanted to know his story too. That was good and I would read it again, but then I read Zarek's story...

Zarek is one of those guys that I think we've all drooled over at one time or another. Dangerous, "chip on his shoulder", loner. Typical bad boy. He's introduced in Night Embrace where we get an idea of where he got this reputation. But in the very beginning of Dance with the Devil, we learn that the bad boy isn't completely bad. Not an original idea, but Ms. Kenyon used this theme well with this character.

Some people have said this book had too much graphic violence and too much humor and some even complain about the few trite phrases like "Revenge is a dish best served cold", not even mentioning that the title itself is a bit of an overused phrase. Someone please explain to me how a novel involving people called Dark Hunters that are soulless and slay Daimons can possibly have too much graphic violence. Violence is almost a requirement and I honestly didn't notice a lot of violence. Given the circumstances in this book, some violence was necessary and the few violent scenes were well written and served to move the story forward.

I COMPLETELY disagree with those that give this book a rating lower than 4 stars. This book is so far my favorite in the series! While it shocks me that I read this far into a romance series, if the rest of the series is like this, or even remotely similar, I will continue to read. I suggest that others that usually don't read romance series try this one. It's different from the rest and that's exactly what makes it so good.

I have read all of the books in Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series, and imagine my surprise when the "hero" I thought I'd like the least turns out to be my favorite by a large margain. Nothing against the others, they are sexy and funny and brave and you should definitely read their stories, but Zarek is truly special. Trapped in an existance where everyone hates him (but not as much as he hates himself), Zarek expects to be killed any minute for mistakes he has made in the past. He almost welcomes death as a means to escape his isolated, lonely situation, but instinct keeps him fighting back whenever anyone does try to finish him off. Thank goodness, because that gives Astrid the chance to come into his life, and they are so great together. She is able to find the goodness deep inside him and make him realize he is not only capable of being loved, but of loving in return. What I liked best about this pair is that they fall in love before making love. Not that I can't appreciate hot sex scenes that begin in lust and eventually turn to lovemaking, but it was a nice change of pace that love came first this time. I also liked that Astrid was more traditional and conservative than her female counterparts in the other DH novels. They are all terrific characters, but I recognize myself more in Astrid and this made the relationship sweeter somehow. And I also really appreciated the time that Astrid and Zarek got to spend trapped in her cabin, so that I got to know their characters better without the confusion of too many other gods, goddesses, vampires, demons and such butting in. Of course they all descend en masse eventually, but by then I had my whopping dose of (dare I say it) good old fashioned boy-meets-girl romance. That this is truly a romantic story is what puts in on my keeper shelf, and I hope SK tries this approach more often in future DH novels. I'll check them all out from the library, but I'll go out and *buy* the ones like Dance with the Devil where the couple connects in such a sweet and tender (yet still very sexy) way.

This is by far one of the best series I've ever read! Ms. Kenyon is the first author that completely hooked me on this sub-genre of paranormal romance!

This is Zarek's story and I think by far the best! I was concerned that I would not care for his story since he was less then totally likeable in the past stories that he was in. I feared in vain! Ms. Kenyon managed to write this story and make me totally fall in love with Zarek!

Zarek is a former slave. During his mortal life he knew nothing but pain. He was the whipping boy, and gentle goodness was totally absent from his life. Life as a Dark-Hunter is no better. He has been banished to the wilds of Alaska for the past 900 years for a crime he can't remember. What he does not know is that Ash has made a deal with the devil (ok not the devil, Artemis the she-devil of the Gods) Zarek is going to be judged by the one women who has never judged a man and found him innocent!

Astrid has been selected to judge Zarek. Ash knows that Astrid will see the good in Zarek and so he puts all his faith in Astrid! Astrid is sent to Zarek and is blind so she is unable to see the person that she is to judge. She feels that she does not have what it takes to give an fair verdict since the last man she judged she had the bad luck of falling for him. Problem was he ended up trying to kill her. Still she takes her assignment and finds herself with a grumpy, dark-hunter who does not care one way or another if he lives or dies!

Zarek can't believe that the time he is spending with Astrid is starting to thaw his long ago frozen heart. She makes him want things that he feels that he should'nt have, and that's Astrid. Her heart, and her soul. He is not worthy in his opinion since he is a former slave and she is a star far out of his reach. Astrid finds herself falling in love with Zarek, knowing that he is a good man. She knows him better then anyone, and is willing to break her promise not to get personally involved with her charge by allowing him into her heart!

Together they fight off the bad guys and find each other! This was a very touching story and a few times I found myself crying! This book introduces us to some new dark-hunters as well as squires, as well as explain some of the mystery surrounding Zarek. This book was a very fast read and I can't wait until the next book in this series is released!! In the mean time I guess I will have to re-read the ones that I already have! For a fun read you can't go wrong with this author!

Why do I give Dance With the Devil 5 stars? The answer is simple: ZAREK. Zarek could arguably win the award for the most tortured hero in the history of romance novels (literally and figuratively). We first meet Zarek in Night Embrace. The guy has a mega chip on his shoulder. He doesn't take crap from anyone, and he doesn't play by anyone's rules. Zarek seemed completely unlikable, and I, personally, kept hoping that a daimon would zap him.
However, now that I've read DWTD, I want to marry the guy and love him with every fiber of my being. Sherrilyn Kenyon does an amazing job of character development with Zarek. After reading this book, I know why Zarek was mad at the world and why he really, really needed someone to rescue him and love him.

In DWTD, Zarek must face his day of reckoning for betraying the Dark Hunter code and the goddess Artemis. In order to avoid execution, he must be judged. His judge has to find redeeming qualities in Zarek that prove his ability to love. Unbeknownst to Zarek, the nymph Astrid (his judge) disguises herself as someone who appears to have all of the qualities Zarek hates most. Astrid's job gets tougher when she gets a peek into Zarek's psyche and makes some amazing discoveries. Zarek, meanwhile,is having a tough time maintaining his aloof facade as he finds himself drawn to Astrid.

This story is action-packed and sensual, with plenty of paranormal thrown in for good measure. The imagination and creativity of Sherrilyn Kenyon knows no boundaries. Her world of Dark Hunters,Were Hunters, and others come alive to even the most practical person. I reccomend ALL of the Dark Hunters series, but Dance With the Devil is my personal favorite thus far. This is the only paranormal book I think I've ever read that made me cry, which is an amazing accomplishment.

OK now I hardly ever give a book a 5 star rating so this was a first in quite a while. I have to be really emotionaly touched by a story to give it a 5, this story did that. I always knew that Zarek's Story was going to be good. He is such a lost, tortured soul that it would be powerful, I just didn't realize how powerful.
Sherrilyn writes of a man who has never known any form of love or compassion. He assumes that he is worthless and that everyone should treat him that way. He has been alone for so long that even though he craves companionship, he has no idea how to talk to someone. You could actually feel how lonely he was and see the pain in his eyes.

Astrid is a Nymph (not Nympho, yet) who has come to judge him. She must decide if he is to live or be put to death. She is blind while on Earth and must use her heart to find the truth. When she meets Zarek, she knows that this man is not like any she's met or judged before. There is a real possibility that he is innocent.

An evil Dark-hunter killer is sent to dispatch Zarek. He want his revenge and is now after Astrid as well. Zarek must fight the fight of his life to save the one person in the whole universe that means more to him than anything ever has. He is willing to die to save her.

I laughed and cried reading this book, mostly cried. I know I just finished this book but I already want to reread it. The love scenes are hot but also so very tender that it makes your heart ache. There is humor in this book mostly provided by Simi and Sasha. There is danger and excitement. There is love.

I really can't recommend this book enough. It was simply a wonderful treasure.

Man oh man, what a story! Zarek I simply loooooooove you!

SK manages to infuse into her books 'main men' who are real ... they may be sexy "beasts" but SK's message (if you ask me) is that you always need to look under the exterior: don't judge a book by it's cover! Just because these guys are a little rough around the edges doesn't mean they don't have their own stories to tell or that they can't make absolutely awesome 'heros' in a romance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zarek's character is deep and dark .... but there is a heck of alot more underneath .... which I will leave you to discover; Astrid and Zareks's story is simply beautiful.

This was the first dark-hunter story that I have read and it was one of the best books I have read lately ..... SK also writes as Kinley MacGregor and 'Born in Sin' is another book she has written lately that has simply hit me somewhere in the region of the heart (and is a story that I will never forget ... which is exactly the same as I feel about 'Dance with the devil') ..... these 'leading men' are different from the norm and are heart-wrenchingly superb!!!!!!!!

I suggest that you borrow, buy, or rent this baby, cause it will be the best book you lay your hands on ....... but hey, make sure you like something with a twist of sci-fi or supernatural type stuff in it (cause I don't want to encourage someone who may put a nasty review on this site or anyother cause it wasn't their cup of tea!)

SK please keep this wonderful series coming ... I can't wait to read more and more of your work!!

Good reading, Kristina

PS I should also mention that the sex scenes in this novel are simply sublime too ..... this book is a total package!

This is my favorite Dark-hunter novel in the series, to date. This story had it all: sexy tortured hero, dedicated heroine with a lot of integrity, arctic setting, dream sequences, Daimons and Apollites with a grudge, and the forever mysterious Acheron.

Zarek truly does have a sad, sad history with no childhood whatsoever. Some of the things that he had to endure were tear provoking. His brutal history does a lot to explain why he is a loner and not accepted by the other dark hunters. In spite of his terrible treatment as a slave, he has a heart of gold - it just takes sweet Astrid to uncover it. Zarek's journey to redemption, love, and accepting himself is a great story.

This book has raised the bar pretty high for me as far as the paranormal/fantasy romance genre, but I look forward to reading the remainder of the series. I just hope that Artemis gets whats coming to her in one of the next books!