Dance With the Devil, Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dance With the Devil, by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dark Hunter Series, Book 3
reviewed by cfmomLisa
I owe everyone a huge apology as this book review is going up almost a week later than my deadline. That’s the second deadline I’ve missed, and completely not the way I like to run my schedule. So I apologize to the lovely MVF staff that has graciously given me time and space to get my *shit* together, and to the followers and readers that I failed with not meeting my committment. I hope you all know that I am deeply sorry and will strive to not let this tardiness happen again. Yes, I know that life happens, but I don’t want to be known for missing my deadlines (including my fanfic story which has been a huge delay and I promise I’m working on it). Anyway….
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read this book so I’m actually surprised I’ve never written up a review on it at least on Goodreads before now. So let’s get to it: Dance With the Devil is book three in the Dark Hunter series. Zarek is known as the scary and truly soulless Dark Hunter whom everyone fears…even the immortals. Yeah, yeah all the Dark Hunters are soulless – but Zarek takes that to an entirely different level. Hated in his human life, he now strives to make people hate him in his immortal one. It’s the only thing in his life that seems to make him happy, and of course that makes Ash’s life a bit difficult at times. Artemis on her best day isn’t known for compassion, and Zarek’s loves to stir up trouble. We begin his story with the end of his antics in New Orleans from Talon’s book. He’s headed back to his banishment in the forsaken state of Alaska. Nevermind that he would’ve loved to stay in the milder climate of New Orleans, that he loved the people, the smells, the sounds, the…well, everything. He ruined any chance he had by not only being caught on camera roughing up some of the police, but also because he’s hated by the other Dark Hunter now stationed in New Orleans – his very own brother Valerius. Then of course he broke his oath/alliance/whatever to Dionysus (Artie’s cousin or half brother – honestly I can never keep it all straight with those gods/goddesses) so he’ll be after him in addition to the kill order Artemis put out on him herself.
Things look pretty bleak for the resident most hated, and he’s just fine with that. His life and afterlife have never been kind to him so he’s used to expecting the worst and getting it. In fact, he doesn’t trust it when people are kind to him – hence him shattering a handmade bowl that Sunshine gave him.
Oh my dear Zarek. He really does make it impossible not to like him. Yes, you read that correctly. I said impossible not to like him. Sure, he’s abrasive. Hell, he’s downright antisocial, but it’s on purpose to deflect and protect – and even through his sinister verbal barbs there’s a dark and wicked humor there. Gotta love Ash for fighting Artie so hard to save him. And truly, so many of the terrible situations that Zarek finds himself in are not of his doing, but rather due to the machinations of others. Damn those Greek Gods always meddling in the affairs of others for their own entertainment. Sickos. Sheesh.
So we have a Greek slave, abused and beaten since childhood, never knowing the love of a parent or a gentle hand. He’s scarred, scary, and considered pyscho…. Now why does this ring a bell? Oh, I know…this might seem like deja vu because if you read the Dark Hunters, you might be very familiar with another series of yummy vampire baddies known as the Brothers – or Black Dagger Brotherhood – and Zarek and Zsadist have a great many things in common. One big difference: Zarek was executed for a rape he didn’t committ and died a virgin, while we know that was not the way things went for Zsadist, and I don’t just mean that Zsadist wasn’t executed because believe me he prayed to be. The other big difference, in my opinion, between the two is Zarek’s sense of humor which see more and more as the series progresses. Zsadist cracking a joke is rare, but fitting to his personality.
To anyone observing them from the outside, and even those that spend time with both men, they both seem utterly incapable of compassion or mercy. To everyone it would seem, except that one person that was fated for them. Yes, each scarred, supposedly soulless warrior, has a savior in the fairer sex. With Zsadist it was Bella. With Zarek we have Astrid.
Oh Astrid. So tired of her life as a judge. So tired of the lies that human and immortal alike are capable of telling each other. So tired of her existence. Artemis calls upon her little cousin to be Zarek’s judge. Now, Artemis is never without ulterior motives as we are all starting to realize (or know) so there has to be some trick here. There is. Astrid has never, not once in all her existence, found a single person she’s been sent in to judge as innocent. Not one. This explains why Astrid is so tired of her life, and doesn’t want to accept Artemis’ request. The only reason she accepts the “job” is because Ash asks her to. Ash has always been kind to Astrid, and when she was a child he would come and read stories to her while he was visiting Artemis. Ash’s request makes Artemis suspicious, as it well should. Ash’s powers are something we’re starting to see far outshine any others and if he’s agreeing so easily to Artemis’ choice of judge, requesting Astrid to take the task even, then her suspicions aren’t unfounded. We aren’t let in on the secret just yet though, and I won’t let you in on it either. Spoilers and all….. ;)
Besides, I’ve already told you that Astrid is Zarek’s savior and she is in every way that a person can be saved (yes, I just quoted a bit of Titanic there). And Zarek, as his life is completely revealed to us, deserves happiness. He truly does, and he’s truly innocent so the fact that Astrid and Zarek are meant for each other is a happy coincidence, but the ruling isn’t compromised or unjust. And this won’t be the last we see of Zarek, as is becoming common throughout the series. In each subseqent appearance we see further changes in Zarek and get a taste of more and more of his dark and wicked sense of humor which I just adore.
I love this book, this character, and of course this series. Give me more and I’ll eat it up like the finest dessert. :)
Until next time,
~Lisa
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