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Dante Valentine #3
A la droite du diable
Avant, Danny tuait le temps. Aujourd’hui elle tue des démons. Vous me reconnaissez ? Danny Valentine, pour vous servir, nécromante et mercenaire. Je dors peu et je n’ai pas un caractère facile. Il faut dire que je viens tout juste de tirer un trait sur sept ans de ma vie – et sur mon partenaire – pour traquer quatre démons renégats qui se sont échappés de l’Enfer. Je finirai bien par les trouver. A moins qu’ils ne me trouvent d’abord. Mais personne n’a jamais prétendu qu’il était facile d’être le bras droit du Diable, hein ?
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
73 people are currently reading
1721 people want to read
About the author
Lilith Saintcrow
132 books4,512 followersLilith Saintcrow was born in New Mexico, bounced around the world as a child, and fell in love with writing stories when she was ten years old. She and her library co-habitate in Vancouver, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
July 29, 2018
These books are hitting a lot of my feel-good buttons. Fantastic action, overpowered characters, and a world so chock-full of tech and magic that it feels like Blade Runner had a love child with Kim Harrison's Hollows.
A human turned half-demon necromancer bounty-hunter with demon lover gets mixed up in a plot of Lucifer's. Sound good? Add trust issues between her and her demon lover and throw in some immolations, boss battles, and impossible demon-hunting action and a lot of miscommunication and play-acting, and we've got ourselves a fun novel. :)
Do I like how her lover is back? Yes. Do I appreciate that Dante is whining less? Yes. Do I like how the trust issues keep popping up? ... sort of. It seems realistic but not all that pleasant. I want more action and intrigue and big developments, not this kind of drag-ass.
But it ain't bad. Not saying it was bad. I just can't deal with more than one novel's worth. :) Trust your man, Dante! Even if he is a fallen demon. :)
A human turned half-demon necromancer bounty-hunter with demon lover gets mixed up in a plot of Lucifer's. Sound good? Add trust issues between her and her demon lover and throw in some immolations, boss battles, and impossible demon-hunting action and a lot of miscommunication and play-acting, and we've got ourselves a fun novel. :)
Do I like how her lover is back? Yes. Do I appreciate that Dante is whining less? Yes. Do I like how the trust issues keep popping up? ... sort of. It seems realistic but not all that pleasant. I want more action and intrigue and big developments, not this kind of drag-ass.
But it ain't bad. Not saying it was bad. I just can't deal with more than one novel's worth. :) Trust your man, Dante! Even if he is a fallen demon. :)
July 17, 2023
Half of the book was a snoozefest, the other half was pretty good. Saintcrow sure knows how to write her climaxes.
January 26, 2016
I'm not sure if I've ever read a series quite as frustrating as this one. When it's good, it's OMG-can't-stop-must-keep-reading-this-is-A-MAZING! good, but when it's bad, it's plodding- tedious-we've-been-over-this-a-bajillion-times-ugh-shoot-me-now bad. And it's such a shame, because it could have been so freakin' awesome!
Now, the repetative elements aren't the author's fault. Editors often suggest each book in a series is written as a standalone. Because of the nature of publishing, people will often pick up books in the middle of a series and they obviously want to be able to read it with all the facts. (This is something I don't think happens as much now, with places such as Goodreads helping us organise what book goes where in a series, but anyway...) But, when binge-reading this series, OMG, it's like we wading through treacle. And the author clearly has her favorite descriptive sentences. I get it. It's tough to keep a series fresh and describe things in new and interesting ways but keep the same 'meaning'. Still, Saintcrow has a lovely way with words (sometimes straying into purple prose) - I just wish she'd flex her wordy-muscles a bit more. (But not too much, Trailer Park Fae - just, no).
I just wish Dante would punch a certain demon in the face, tell him where he can shove his
This review is turning into a rant. THAT'S what this damn series does to me! I'm ranting because on the one side, I love it. I love that it's dark, and different, and Dante is bi-sexual, and she wields swords and CAN kick-ass (more of Dante kicking ass please!) There's so much I LOVE here, but gosh-darnit you have to wade through the waffle to get to the good stuff.
Yes, I will read the final books because I have to know if I'm right about the overall arc... *grumbles*
Now, the repetative elements aren't the author's fault. Editors often suggest each book in a series is written as a standalone. Because of the nature of publishing, people will often pick up books in the middle of a series and they obviously want to be able to read it with all the facts. (This is something I don't think happens as much now, with places such as Goodreads helping us organise what book goes where in a series, but anyway...) But, when binge-reading this series, OMG, it's like we wading through treacle. And the author clearly has her favorite descriptive sentences. I get it. It's tough to keep a series fresh and describe things in new and interesting ways but keep the same 'meaning'. Still, Saintcrow has a lovely way with words (sometimes straying into purple prose) - I just wish she'd flex her wordy-muscles a bit more. (But not too much, Trailer Park Fae - just, no).
I just wish Dante would punch a certain demon in the face, tell him where he can shove his
This review is turning into a rant. THAT'S what this damn series does to me! I'm ranting because on the one side, I love it. I love that it's dark, and different, and Dante is bi-sexual, and she wields swords and CAN kick-ass (more of Dante kicking ass please!) There's so much I LOVE here, but gosh-darnit you have to wade through the waffle to get to the good stuff.
Yes, I will read the final books because I have to know if I'm right about the overall arc... *grumbles*
January 26, 2016
********Please Be AWARE, this may contain SPOILERS***************
I have never read a book that disappointed in quite the same way as this one. First, I was already familiar with the fact that Lilith Saintcrow can't seem to make it through a paragraph with out having her main character repeat themselves at least three times. However, if that were the only problem with this book, then I could happily go on ignoring it as a writer's quirk until the end of the five book series, but as it stand this book has so many more points of absolute failure to contemplate.
The first place I'll start is that Saintcrow gives absolutely no information to anyone at all, except small little piss ant details that are either redundant from actions already previously seen through out the other books and the beginning of this one, or make absolutely no sense OR mean absolutely nothing at all. Japh tells Dante absolutely nothing, will not answer her questions, tells her to do something and expects her to comply with no reason why she should do these things. Dante on the other hand tells him everything, shows him everything and trusts him because she "LOVES" him.
Second, Japh is a manipulative, abusive, psychopathic asshole demon with no redeeming qualities what so ever. How Saintcrow seems to think that he makes a great leading man character for Dante makes no sense. How is this someone to fall in love with? He picks Dante up in the middle of a transport station and shakes the shit out of her to show her just how much stronger he is than she is, and proceeds to tell her that she will do what he says, whether she wants to or not and there is nothing she can do about it. She can either tow the line by choice or he's going to make her do it. AND HE TELLS HER SHE DOESN'T NEED TO KNOW WHY, FOR HER OWN GOOD. Oh, and she might be mad now, but she will "grow out of it", after all she is acting like she is still human.
I can't even put into words how deceived Saintcrow has made me feel about Japh, someone who obviously is not a good being. And yes, I know the guys a demon, but I was hoping she was going to go bring something new to everything, rather than create a completely stereotypical demon character. Instead she tries to make us, the reader, feel like it's okay to stick with an abusive asshole because "you love him" and he is doing all of this "for your own good".
I have never read a book that disappointed in quite the same way as this one. First, I was already familiar with the fact that Lilith Saintcrow can't seem to make it through a paragraph with out having her main character repeat themselves at least three times. However, if that were the only problem with this book, then I could happily go on ignoring it as a writer's quirk until the end of the five book series, but as it stand this book has so many more points of absolute failure to contemplate.
The first place I'll start is that Saintcrow gives absolutely no information to anyone at all, except small little piss ant details that are either redundant from actions already previously seen through out the other books and the beginning of this one, or make absolutely no sense OR mean absolutely nothing at all. Japh tells Dante absolutely nothing, will not answer her questions, tells her to do something and expects her to comply with no reason why she should do these things. Dante on the other hand tells him everything, shows him everything and trusts him because she "LOVES" him.
Second, Japh is a manipulative, abusive, psychopathic asshole demon with no redeeming qualities what so ever. How Saintcrow seems to think that he makes a great leading man character for Dante makes no sense. How is this someone to fall in love with? He picks Dante up in the middle of a transport station and shakes the shit out of her to show her just how much stronger he is than she is, and proceeds to tell her that she will do what he says, whether she wants to or not and there is nothing she can do about it. She can either tow the line by choice or he's going to make her do it. AND HE TELLS HER SHE DOESN'T NEED TO KNOW WHY, FOR HER OWN GOOD. Oh, and she might be mad now, but she will "grow out of it", after all she is acting like she is still human.
I can't even put into words how deceived Saintcrow has made me feel about Japh, someone who obviously is not a good being. And yes, I know the guys a demon, but I was hoping she was going to go bring something new to everything, rather than create a completely stereotypical demon character. Instead she tries to make us, the reader, feel like it's okay to stick with an abusive asshole because "you love him" and he is doing all of this "for your own good".
August 25, 2009
The main arc plot was an interesting idea. Dante and Jeph are forced into making a deal with the devil. They'll hunt 4 top flight demons and otherwise be hunters for him for seven years, during which time Dante will have his protection. Japh will get his full demon powers back and they'll have access to the devil's intelligence network.
The problem was that all of that is vastly overshadowed by the relationship between Dante and Japh and I found that relationship highly problematic, enough so that if it isn't better by the next book I think I'm done with the series.
Japh treats Dante like a child, then acts angry when she acts like one.
He's changed her on a genetic level without her informed consent and still refuses to tell her what exactly that means. He doesn't stop her from looking, but he doesn't help her search either (and I suspect the missing oragami notes contain things that are important so I wouldn't be surprised if he's actually hindering her search). That's bad enough. What's worse is that he treats her like a slave "for her own protection."
He doesn't tell her anything because he "doesn't want to worry her" even though not having information has led to her nearly getting killed on multiple occasions. At one point he uses his greater strength against her, lifting her against the wall so high her feet can't touch the ground and terrifying her.
It's abundantly clear that he doesn't think of her (or treat her) as an equal or even someone he respects. He humors her in a very condescending manner. He keeps talking about how she needs to just trust him, but he shows absolutely no trust in her. He doesn't trust her to take care of herself, he doesn't trust her to make her own mistakes and find her own solutions... he's nauseatingly paternalistic and I fail to see why she still loves him.
Apparently he's sworn to protect her because of the relationship between them, but it's clear that means only physical protection. He doesn't seem to care if by physically protecting her he destroys her emotionally and psychologically and kills everything that make her who she is.
For a while Dante seems to get that, but when she learns he didn't take the devil up on his offer to kill her to regain what he was suddenly all is forgiven.
It seems to me that those are two very separate issues and I was more than a little frustrated and angry that Dante conflated them.
What Japh is doing isn't love.
They talked about it a little but it's too soon to say if it makes a difference or even if Japh gets the problem. Trust is a two way street that has to be earned. The book seemed to end with the idea that since he never agreed to kill her for the devil and has saved her life on numerous occasions, somehow it's all okay when it's clearly not. You can't keep a person wrapped in cotton all her life, it's not fair and eventually she'll suffocate.
The problem was that all of that is vastly overshadowed by the relationship between Dante and Japh and I found that relationship highly problematic, enough so that if it isn't better by the next book I think I'm done with the series.
Japh treats Dante like a child, then acts angry when she acts like one.
He's changed her on a genetic level without her informed consent and still refuses to tell her what exactly that means. He doesn't stop her from looking, but he doesn't help her search either (and I suspect the missing oragami notes contain things that are important so I wouldn't be surprised if he's actually hindering her search). That's bad enough. What's worse is that he treats her like a slave "for her own protection."
He doesn't tell her anything because he "doesn't want to worry her" even though not having information has led to her nearly getting killed on multiple occasions. At one point he uses his greater strength against her, lifting her against the wall so high her feet can't touch the ground and terrifying her.
It's abundantly clear that he doesn't think of her (or treat her) as an equal or even someone he respects. He humors her in a very condescending manner. He keeps talking about how she needs to just trust him, but he shows absolutely no trust in her. He doesn't trust her to take care of herself, he doesn't trust her to make her own mistakes and find her own solutions... he's nauseatingly paternalistic and I fail to see why she still loves him.
Apparently he's sworn to protect her because of the relationship between them, but it's clear that means only physical protection. He doesn't seem to care if by physically protecting her he destroys her emotionally and psychologically and kills everything that make her who she is.
For a while Dante seems to get that, but when she learns he didn't take the devil up on his offer to kill her to regain what he was suddenly all is forgiven.
It seems to me that those are two very separate issues and I was more than a little frustrated and angry that Dante conflated them.
What Japh is doing isn't love.
They talked about it a little but it's too soon to say if it makes a difference or even if Japh gets the problem. Trust is a two way street that has to be earned. The book seemed to end with the idea that since he never agreed to kill her for the devil and has saved her life on numerous occasions, somehow it's all okay when it's clearly not. You can't keep a person wrapped in cotton all her life, it's not fair and eventually she'll suffocate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2018
I definitely enjoyed The Devil's Right Hand more than Dead Man Rising, the second book in the series. Book three definitely felt much more like what I loved about Working for the Devil. It's good having Japhrimel back on the scene. He has a lot of great scenes with Dante. I will need to continue on with this series with Saint City Sinners.
January 27, 2016
The beginning of this story takes place awhile in the future – apparently Dante has quietly snapped from her last ordeal. The ordeal was focused on in the first book and brought to glaring light in the second, it would have broken almost anybody. She is back with Japh and he has slowly been healing her, but also sheltering and protecting her without her knowledge.
Now they have no choice but to get back into the meat of things as Lucifer tries to be creative in tricking and destroying them both. Once they leave their safe haven together, Dante grows suspicious, hostile, and downright difficult. This is the point in the series for me where I really started disliking the character. She is ungrateful, quick to jump to conclusion, can’t trust anyone, refuses to listen to reason, says cruel things to those who care about her, and is a little too Unfeeling about killing.
She is a necromancer but again little is done with this power. The author prefers focusing on her transformation and the mystery with it rather than her supernatural ability. More focus is spent on her with swords and fighting than anything else. I still really dig Japh – he didn’t reveal everything to her, sure, and he has flaws, sure, but he’s still more than she deserves the way she starts acting to people.
There’s a lot of action in this short novel, like the others, so it’s a quick read. There’s a lot of personal angst that started getting on my nerves and the struggle is focused more on that than anything else, but action scenes when present are fierce and exhilarating.
This dark series is gritty and complex with its unusual hierarchy of demons. Not many of supernatural creatures or people exist. Overall another great book in the series, but not as enjoyable in some ways as the other two; on the other hands, parts of it are more enjoyable than the other two. Go figure.
Now they have no choice but to get back into the meat of things as Lucifer tries to be creative in tricking and destroying them both. Once they leave their safe haven together, Dante grows suspicious, hostile, and downright difficult. This is the point in the series for me where I really started disliking the character. She is ungrateful, quick to jump to conclusion, can’t trust anyone, refuses to listen to reason, says cruel things to those who care about her, and is a little too Unfeeling about killing.
She is a necromancer but again little is done with this power. The author prefers focusing on her transformation and the mystery with it rather than her supernatural ability. More focus is spent on her with swords and fighting than anything else. I still really dig Japh – he didn’t reveal everything to her, sure, and he has flaws, sure, but he’s still more than she deserves the way she starts acting to people.
There’s a lot of action in this short novel, like the others, so it’s a quick read. There’s a lot of personal angst that started getting on my nerves and the struggle is focused more on that than anything else, but action scenes when present are fierce and exhilarating.
This dark series is gritty and complex with its unusual hierarchy of demons. Not many of supernatural creatures or people exist. Overall another great book in the series, but not as enjoyable in some ways as the other two; on the other hands, parts of it are more enjoyable than the other two. Go figure.
September 14, 2008
I thought my love for ass-kicking femme fatales would be enough for this book to mildly entertain me, but alas, no. The writing is awful and the main character is more of a whiny girl than a female James Bond which is what the cover and synopsis both suggest. Rarely do I stop reading a book halfway through but the only things that kept me going were the fight scenes and those were too few and far between to keep me interested. Overall it was pretty disappointing.
May 14, 2016
If I read the phrase 'molecule-drip nail polish' one more time I'm going to burn the book.
October 13, 2007
I guess this book in the series was okay....I'm a little put off by the writing now, the constant repeating of thought and dialogue is annoying. The stories are just "eh" for me right now, but I'll finish them out.
September 9, 2020
Boy, this book just pushed the series right down the crapper.
Firstly, I feel like Dante had a personality change between books 2 and 3. Seriously, for like 3/4 of the book I kept reading because I thought we were going to get a dramatic reveal that she'd been brainwashed or something.
Secondly, Japh is just evil.
Look, in book 1 I never bought their relationship - it was reluctant allies, and then it somehow took a hard turn over the course of like 3 days into soulmates or something. I thought the emotional impact of his death in book 1 just didn't land. It was baffling.
Book 2, her grieving endlessly over a dude she was with for like a couple days, meh. But I liked book 2 more, because ironically, Jace's death really hurt, and I loved the dive into her backstory, and the resolution she got there.
Then this book. My jaw hit the floor when it was revealed that YEARS had passed since book 2 ended, and Japh has not explained a single goddamn thing about when she is, what her powers are, what their bond is, the ramifications, etc. She's left floundering around trying to find books, and he even seems to be hindering her there, stealing her notes.
What the fuck.
Now, he lies to her, manipulates her, bullies her. Gaslights her. Is amazingly adept at diffusing her anger when she finds out he hid yet another critical bit of info from her, by acting all emo that she's mad, saying he Fell for her and that should be enough for her to trust him (which is a fucking laugh, since he refuses to explain what that fucking means! ), and just guilting her until she ends up apologizing and convinced he's the wronged party. She's being shockingly reasonable here - she's not even asking she get to be part of making the plans (you know, treated like a fucking partner), she just wants to be INFORMED of the plan. But he flat out refuses.
It isn't cute. It is abusive, manipulative, and controlling. And he doesn't love her. He treats her like a pet, a possession.
It is disgusting.
And she just goes along with it. She's like a totally different character. So abused and beaten down that when she gets an inkling that he's hiding something from her - after the like 3538949263 time she's actually caught him hiding something from her - she just shrugs it off, lecturing herself about being a paranoid bitch.
And then she apologizes to him.
Constantly.
And then, later in this book, it isn't just manipulation and lies to keep her in line, he physically overpowers her. And that's it, I'm fucking out.
Fuck this book, fuck this series, and fuck this author. If I wanted to read about a strong female warrior abused into submission by a "love interest" I sure wouldn't be reading UF. This is fucking gross.
Firstly, I feel like Dante had a personality change between books 2 and 3. Seriously, for like 3/4 of the book I kept reading because I thought we were going to get a dramatic reveal that she'd been brainwashed or something.
Secondly, Japh is just evil.
Look, in book 1 I never bought their relationship - it was reluctant allies, and then it somehow took a hard turn over the course of like 3 days into soulmates or something. I thought the emotional impact of his death in book 1 just didn't land. It was baffling.
Book 2, her grieving endlessly over a dude she was with for like a couple days, meh. But I liked book 2 more, because ironically, Jace's death really hurt, and I loved the dive into her backstory, and the resolution she got there.
Then this book. My jaw hit the floor when it was revealed that YEARS had passed since book 2 ended, and Japh has not explained a single goddamn thing about when she is, what her powers are, what their bond is, the ramifications, etc. She's left floundering around trying to find books, and he even seems to be hindering her there, stealing her notes.
What the fuck.
Now, he lies to her, manipulates her, bullies her. Gaslights her. Is amazingly adept at diffusing her anger when she finds out he hid yet another critical bit of info from her, by acting all emo that she's mad, saying he Fell for her and that should be enough for her to trust him (which is a fucking laugh, since he refuses to explain what that fucking means! ), and just guilting her until she ends up apologizing and convinced he's the wronged party. She's being shockingly reasonable here - she's not even asking she get to be part of making the plans (you know, treated like a fucking partner), she just wants to be INFORMED of the plan. But he flat out refuses.
It isn't cute. It is abusive, manipulative, and controlling. And he doesn't love her. He treats her like a pet, a possession.
It is disgusting.
And she just goes along with it. She's like a totally different character. So abused and beaten down that when she gets an inkling that he's hiding something from her - after the like 3538949263 time she's actually caught him hiding something from her - she just shrugs it off, lecturing herself about being a paranoid bitch.
And then she apologizes to him.
Constantly.
And then, later in this book, it isn't just manipulation and lies to keep her in line, he physically overpowers her. And that's it, I'm fucking out.
Fuck this book, fuck this series, and fuck this author. If I wanted to read about a strong female warrior abused into submission by a "love interest" I sure wouldn't be reading UF. This is fucking gross.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2017
It feels like someone replaced Japh with a condescending, abusive alpha-douche hero. I hated it so much. He treated Dante like an idiot, constantly hiding information from her, physically hurting her, holding her prisoner and giving very little shit about what all of this is doing to her psyche. He does all this under the guise of "protecting" her but honestly, he did a really shit job of it.
I didn't like Dante's overly aggressive personality in the previous books but I think I'll take that over the angsty mess she'd turned into in book 3. Dante from the previous two books was absent here, replaced by a spineless snivelling doormat. Move over, folks! There's a new doormat in town:
She gave so much shit to Jace for hiding his mob background but lets Japh get away with pretty much everything. At the end, she forgave Japh because he refused to kill her in exchange for his power.
Excuse me?
That's the LEAST he could do. I can't believe she's rewarding him FOR NOT KILLING HER. What the actual fuck. So, what? He physically abused you, put you through mental hell and treated you like you were handicapped, but he didn't kill you so that makes it all okay?
I didn't like Dante's overly aggressive personality in the previous books but I think I'll take that over the angsty mess she'd turned into in book 3. Dante from the previous two books was absent here, replaced by a spineless snivelling doormat. Move over, folks! There's a new doormat in town:
She gave so much shit to Jace for hiding his mob background but lets Japh get away with pretty much everything. At the end, she forgave Japh because he refused to kill her in exchange for his power.
Excuse me?
That's the LEAST he could do. I can't believe she's rewarding him FOR NOT KILLING HER. What the actual fuck. So, what? He physically abused you, put you through mental hell and treated you like you were handicapped, but he didn't kill you so that makes it all okay?
August 23, 2024
3.5 stars
The stoey is good, but these books are definitely a product of their time.
The stoey is good, but these books are definitely a product of their time.
December 15, 2017
I think I'm gonna have to go with 1 star for this just because it made me so angry and also I literally skimmed half of it. I've been sitting here for the past few days like 'but Devann, you gave Twilight 2 stars ffs, surely you can bump this up?' But really Twilight is like 'so bad it's also funny' and this is just 'so bad you're alternately bored out of your mind and also in a blind rage'.
I read the first two books in this series a few years ago and while they were never really outstanding, they were still pretty fun. I do think there needs to be a little bit more explanation of the world-building overall. A lot of things you can figure out by context clues but there are just a lot of weird words and phrases and places and historical events being thrown around in this series and I personally have a hard time keeping it all straight. I know it's bad to just do pages and pages of exposition but I feel like sometimes you need to explain some things in more detail too.
But the reason I really hated this book, and the reason that I didn't read more than a few chapters of it back when I originally started the series, is the 'relationship' between Dante and Japh. He's just absolutely horrible to her. He literally physically changed her body and won't tell her anything about what she is now, and also steals/messes up the research she is trying to do on her own. I've heard a lot of people say 'there's nothing to tell' in their reviews of the later books but if that's the case why does he not just SAY THAT instead of acting like a smug mysterious asshole all of the time? Either way he's lying to her and also seems to find it amusing when she gets angry about it.
Then about halfway through the book he like grabs her and throws her against a wall and tells her that she'd better stop asking questions and do what he says and she'll 'get over' hating him and I'm like ???? lmao get fucked. Sorry, I try not to swear in reviews a lot but this book made me so mad. Anyway, I've asked someone who has read them all and she apparently continues to stay with him through the rest of the series so I am OUT of here. There's just literally no excuse to treat someone like that at all, much less someone you are supposed to be in a relationship with. If it was at least shown as being a bad thing with the promise that she will eventually leave him then I could maybe power through it, but not if this shit is gonna be endgame. Ugh.
I read the first two books in this series a few years ago and while they were never really outstanding, they were still pretty fun. I do think there needs to be a little bit more explanation of the world-building overall. A lot of things you can figure out by context clues but there are just a lot of weird words and phrases and places and historical events being thrown around in this series and I personally have a hard time keeping it all straight. I know it's bad to just do pages and pages of exposition but I feel like sometimes you need to explain some things in more detail too.
But the reason I really hated this book, and the reason that I didn't read more than a few chapters of it back when I originally started the series, is the 'relationship' between Dante and Japh. He's just absolutely horrible to her. He literally physically changed her body and won't tell her anything about what she is now, and also steals/messes up the research she is trying to do on her own. I've heard a lot of people say 'there's nothing to tell' in their reviews of the later books but if that's the case why does he not just SAY THAT instead of acting like a smug mysterious asshole all of the time? Either way he's lying to her and also seems to find it amusing when she gets angry about it.
Then about halfway through the book he like grabs her and throws her against a wall and tells her that she'd better stop asking questions and do what he says and she'll 'get over' hating him and I'm like ???? lmao get fucked. Sorry, I try not to swear in reviews a lot but this book made me so mad. Anyway, I've asked someone who has read them all and she apparently continues to stay with him through the rest of the series so I am OUT of here. There's just literally no excuse to treat someone like that at all, much less someone you are supposed to be in a relationship with. If it was at least shown as being a bad thing with the promise that she will eventually leave him then I could maybe power through it, but not if this shit is gonna be endgame. Ugh.
December 14, 2010
Storyline: Dante Valentine, necromance, bounty hunter, part demon after being altered by Japrimel, possible magi (if she can find the time to get qualified), and pre-cog, just wants to be left alone after the events of Dead Man Walking where she lost her ex lover Jace, her home, and ended up leaving her home city.
Japhrimel and Dante end up in Italy (I love the play on cities names that the author comes up with.) She is studying what it means to be a Magi, and also trying to understand what exactly a Hedaira (demon term for human lover). Japhrimel, it seems, is bribing her with gifts to keep her away from the Devil's summons. Japhrimel thinks he can keep her away from the Devil.
But the Devil has other ideas. The Prince wants Dante to be his Right Hand, a position that Japhrimel previously held. She is to find the 4 high level demons that has escaped Hell, and are planning a revolution against Lucifer.
Funny thing about demons, they never tell the truth. Lucifer binds Dante to his services for 7 years, in lieu of his protection and gives Japhrimel his demon back. He then attacks her once he finds out that Eve contacted Dante. Now, it seems, all bets are off.
We also find find out that Eve, who is Dante's sedayeen lovers daughter, has also escaped Hell, and wants to kick Lucifer to the curb. Eve asks for Dante's help and also hints that Dante may also be her mother as well. How weird would that be?
First, I really truly hated the first 100 pages of this book. I felt like Dante was a spoiled little brat who needed her little bottom smacked more than once. She really got on my last nerves, and it took patience of steel to keep reading the rest of this book.
Once the action did in pick up after the deal with the Devil, it got better, and new characters were introduced including one from a previous book; Lucas. Lucas is now trying to be Dante's bodyguard until all four demons are captured, or dead.
The relationship between Dante and Japhrimel is like fire and gasoline. There is some major issues that they keep running into, and I'm stupified that Dante is such madly in love with him.
Anyway, onward and upward to Saint City Sinners!
Japhrimel and Dante end up in Italy (I love the play on cities names that the author comes up with.) She is studying what it means to be a Magi, and also trying to understand what exactly a Hedaira (demon term for human lover). Japhrimel, it seems, is bribing her with gifts to keep her away from the Devil's summons. Japhrimel thinks he can keep her away from the Devil.
But the Devil has other ideas. The Prince wants Dante to be his Right Hand, a position that Japhrimel previously held. She is to find the 4 high level demons that has escaped Hell, and are planning a revolution against Lucifer.
Funny thing about demons, they never tell the truth. Lucifer binds Dante to his services for 7 years, in lieu of his protection and gives Japhrimel his demon back. He then attacks her once he finds out that Eve contacted Dante. Now, it seems, all bets are off.
We also find find out that Eve, who is Dante's sedayeen lovers daughter, has also escaped Hell, and wants to kick Lucifer to the curb. Eve asks for Dante's help and also hints that Dante may also be her mother as well. How weird would that be?
First, I really truly hated the first 100 pages of this book. I felt like Dante was a spoiled little brat who needed her little bottom smacked more than once. She really got on my last nerves, and it took patience of steel to keep reading the rest of this book.
Once the action did in pick up after the deal with the Devil, it got better, and new characters were introduced including one from a previous book; Lucas. Lucas is now trying to be Dante's bodyguard until all four demons are captured, or dead.
The relationship between Dante and Japhrimel is like fire and gasoline. There is some major issues that they keep running into, and I'm stupified that Dante is such madly in love with him.
Anyway, onward and upward to Saint City Sinners!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2015
I like this series, but I'm noticing that if I read each book back to back, things start to get on my nerves. There is a lot of repetition. And I don't mean the current book explaining something that happened in the earlier books, I mean the current story as a whole has much repetition. Such as the word noisome. I don't want to hear that word again. Ever. And another thing I've noticed. Dante (or should I say Saintcrow) has a tendency to think things, but turns right around and says them. As an example: I thought to myself, how are we getting out of this? Followed by dialogue that says the same thing. Either think it OR say it, sister. Don't do both because then we have sentences where we are reading things twice. Whole paragraphs and scenes of twiceness.
It seems that the stronger physically Dante gets, the more petulant she becomes. Everything is an argument. I can understand some degree of stubbornness, but hers is getting worse. She argues everything. And complains about this that and the other. But, she is definitely getting more kickass when it comes to battle. When she isn't being stubborn and doing what the safe thing is.
And giraffes are extinct in this future world. Not really a major point, but it pissed me off. And Dante is bisexual. I knew she had a relationship with Doreen, but I didn't know it was that kind of relationship. The lady gets around. Human men...human women...male demons...and she also had an attraction to the trans sexwitch Polyamour in the last book. Dante is an equal opportunity lover. Extra star for free lovin :) I really liked the different side of Japh in this book. There was one moment towards the end that was really nice.
I am reading the omnibus edition if the book, and will rate each book rather than the entire series as a whole. This is book 3 in the Dante Valentine series. I recommend it if you are looking for a futuristic sci-fi UF story with a smidgen of romance thrown in. Although the relationship is a little off. He is a winged demon. The wings are kind of on the creepers side.
It seems that the stronger physically Dante gets, the more petulant she becomes. Everything is an argument. I can understand some degree of stubbornness, but hers is getting worse. She argues everything. And complains about this that and the other. But, she is definitely getting more kickass when it comes to battle. When she isn't being stubborn and doing what the safe thing is.
And giraffes are extinct in this future world. Not really a major point, but it pissed me off. And Dante is bisexual. I knew she had a relationship with Doreen, but I didn't know it was that kind of relationship. The lady gets around. Human men...human women...male demons...and she also had an attraction to the trans sexwitch Polyamour in the last book. Dante is an equal opportunity lover. Extra star for free lovin :) I really liked the different side of Japh in this book. There was one moment towards the end that was really nice.
I am reading the omnibus edition if the book, and will rate each book rather than the entire series as a whole. This is book 3 in the Dante Valentine series. I recommend it if you are looking for a futuristic sci-fi UF story with a smidgen of romance thrown in. Although the relationship is a little off. He is a winged demon. The wings are kind of on the creepers side.
January 3, 2009
Book 3 of the Dante Valentine series.
I really enjoy this series. I love the first-person perspective that includes hearing Dante's thoughts as well as dialog and what she's experiencing. The internal monologue adds a lot to the depth of the character for me. The romance is a minor part of the story line - very few sex scenes - really just the emotional stuff, but so well written that you understand her confusion and motivations fully. You can't start this series in the middle - it uses a bit of futuristic pidgin and unique terms that you learn as you read.
Plot: Dante's been living with her fallen demon Japh in Tuscany for at least six months, recovering from the psychic attach she suffered in book 2. Japh finally breaks it to her that the devil has demanded a meeting with her, and they can't avoid it any longer. Dante and Japh have serious inter-species communication issues, and Dante has tons of emotional baggage from a horrible childhood, so there are plenty of tense moments and misunderstandings between them throughout the book. They meet the devil, and Dante ends up his hired gun for 7 years, while Japh gets all his powers back but is still exiled from hell. Dante, in turn, must hunt down 4 demons that have escaped hell. Of course, she's not really the one Lucifer is hiring - he's using her to get Japh's services back (formal head assassin of hell), but at least Dante and Japh get something for it in return. Dante and Japh are separated while Japh gets his powers back and Dante is immediately attached and end up on the run. The plot gets a lot more complicated from there, but I'd be spoiling it if I summarized more. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat wondering where the author would take me next.
I really enjoy this series. I love the first-person perspective that includes hearing Dante's thoughts as well as dialog and what she's experiencing. The internal monologue adds a lot to the depth of the character for me. The romance is a minor part of the story line - very few sex scenes - really just the emotional stuff, but so well written that you understand her confusion and motivations fully. You can't start this series in the middle - it uses a bit of futuristic pidgin and unique terms that you learn as you read.
Plot: Dante's been living with her fallen demon Japh in Tuscany for at least six months, recovering from the psychic attach she suffered in book 2. Japh finally breaks it to her that the devil has demanded a meeting with her, and they can't avoid it any longer. Dante and Japh have serious inter-species communication issues, and Dante has tons of emotional baggage from a horrible childhood, so there are plenty of tense moments and misunderstandings between them throughout the book. They meet the devil, and Dante ends up his hired gun for 7 years, while Japh gets all his powers back but is still exiled from hell. Dante, in turn, must hunt down 4 demons that have escaped hell. Of course, she's not really the one Lucifer is hiring - he's using her to get Japh's services back (formal head assassin of hell), but at least Dante and Japh get something for it in return. Dante and Japh are separated while Japh gets his powers back and Dante is immediately attached and end up on the run. The plot gets a lot more complicated from there, but I'd be spoiling it if I summarized more. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat wondering where the author would take me next.
January 7, 2015
The Dante Valentine hunting season is open an all bets are off.
Throughout this book I wanted nothing so much as to slap someone upside the head. And let me tell you, there were plenty of candidates needing some serious slapping in this book, including the two main characters and the author. Ranting and spoilers ahead.
After Danny and Japhrimel rode off into the sunset at the end of the previous instalment, I was expecting to see lots of hot sex (they did have several months' worth of catching up to do) but mainly I was expecting Japh to do a lot of explaining about what the fuck he made Dante into. Well, guess what? Not so much of the hot sex (it is referred to but it is all fade to black and here they are laying tangled stroking each other's faces scenes) and Japh says no, he is not comfortable talking about Fallen and hedaira. And Danny just accepts that and attempts to do her own research on the subject instead. Now, any sane person would see that there is some serious slapping required right there. He changed her , modified her genes for Christ's sake, without her informed consent might I add, and now he is not comfortable talking about it? Are you fucking kidding me?
It gets worse, though. As soon as the cheesefest idyll of the first few pages is over, it turns out that while he was stewing in the jar for a few months, Japhrimel has become an abusive, controlling, jealous asshole of epic proportions. Being crispy fried does not appear to have done any good to his character. His actions and motivations in this book basically come down to I am stronger, wiser and older so what I say goes. I don't have to discuss anything with you or tell you anything, I just expect you to trust me blindly and do what I say and, if you don't, I will force you. He dangles her by the scruff like a naughty fucking puppy and tells her to fucking obey. And guess what, she does not cut off his balls and feed them to the fucking hellhounds, she pretty much does as he says and apologises.
This, apparently is Dante Valentine's character development. She carries on loving a man who has made it clear that he most definitely does not consider her an equal, who will treat her as an imbecile child and is prepared to use force on her (other than the dangling episode, he does a lot of dragging and restraining throughout). Most of her internal whining (and it is still as repetitive as ever) comes down to he is not telling me things, he wants to leave me, how will I stand it, my heart is breaking, what am I gonna do. And in the end all is forgiven because he didn't agree to kill her and "Everything's going to be all right. He's here."
Way to go there Lilith. Other than, possibly, Charlaine Harris, I don't think I have ever seen an author fuck up her characters this much. You are not writing "Living with the Devil: a frank and unflinching look at abusive relationships", you are writing "The Devil's Right Hand", an urban fantasy with a strong(ish) romance theme. You romanticising this shit is really not fucking on.
Another candidate for slapping is Lucifer himself. For various reasons but mainly because one would expect the Lord of Hell to fucking man up and stop letting all these demons escape from Hell left right and centre or, if and when they do, to deal with it himself, instead of making stupid fucking bargains.
And it is all such a shame. Because in terms of plot and momentum this was much better than the previous book (which is why I gave it two stars rather than one), interesting new characters are introduced and the world building with its mixture of futuristic sci-fi and magic is still pretty good. We travel from Tuscany* and Venice in the Hegemony to freetowns of Prague and Sarajevo, see more of the Nichtrvren and Werecain and learn about other species (Swanhilds, Kobolds and Anhelikos, the latter being particularly fascinating) that inhabit this world, yet all of this is overshadowed by the abusive relationship between the main characters, the repetitive writing and a certain amount of discontinuity from the previous books (e.g. all of a sudden we find out that Doreen was Dante's lover, not just her friend, which, I am pretty sure, was never mentioned in the first book).
* The names of places and languages that Saintcrow uses are all slightly modified, e.g. American is Merican, Italian is Taliano, Tuscany is Toscano, Venice is Venizia and so on. To be honest, I am a bit ambivalent about this. It seems to be done just for the sake of it and I am not sure that place names/language evolve in this way.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, the second was frustrating and this one is just infuriating. I'm wondering if I should cut my losses and drop it. I suspect that I probably won't. I'm more than half way through and I do want to see what happens. I dragged myself through worse books before (this attitude of soldiering on to the end no matter what is completely irrational, I know that, but still can't seem to help myself). What I would really like is for Dante to acquire some POWER so that she can show Japh what's what, cut off his balls and make him eat and re-grow them very slowly and very painfully. Or just put him back into the crispy fried jar for a few years to think about his behaviour. I doubt this will happen, though.
Throughout this book I wanted nothing so much as to slap someone upside the head. And let me tell you, there were plenty of candidates needing some serious slapping in this book, including the two main characters and the author. Ranting and spoilers ahead.
After Danny and Japhrimel rode off into the sunset at the end of the previous instalment, I was expecting to see lots of hot sex (they did have several months' worth of catching up to do) but mainly I was expecting Japh to do a lot of explaining about what the fuck he made Dante into. Well, guess what? Not so much of the hot sex (it is referred to but it is all fade to black and here they are laying tangled stroking each other's faces scenes) and Japh says no, he is not comfortable talking about Fallen and hedaira. And Danny just accepts that and attempts to do her own research on the subject instead. Now, any sane person would see that there is some serious slapping required right there. He changed her , modified her genes for Christ's sake, without her informed consent might I add, and now he is not comfortable talking about it? Are you fucking kidding me?
It gets worse, though. As soon as the cheesefest idyll of the first few pages is over, it turns out that while he was stewing in the jar for a few months, Japhrimel has become an abusive, controlling, jealous asshole of epic proportions. Being crispy fried does not appear to have done any good to his character. His actions and motivations in this book basically come down to I am stronger, wiser and older so what I say goes. I don't have to discuss anything with you or tell you anything, I just expect you to trust me blindly and do what I say and, if you don't, I will force you. He dangles her by the scruff like a naughty fucking puppy and tells her to fucking obey. And guess what, she does not cut off his balls and feed them to the fucking hellhounds, she pretty much does as he says and apologises.
This, apparently is Dante Valentine's character development. She carries on loving a man who has made it clear that he most definitely does not consider her an equal, who will treat her as an imbecile child and is prepared to use force on her (other than the dangling episode, he does a lot of dragging and restraining throughout). Most of her internal whining (and it is still as repetitive as ever) comes down to he is not telling me things, he wants to leave me, how will I stand it, my heart is breaking, what am I gonna do. And in the end all is forgiven because he didn't agree to kill her and "Everything's going to be all right. He's here."
Way to go there Lilith. Other than, possibly, Charlaine Harris, I don't think I have ever seen an author fuck up her characters this much. You are not writing "Living with the Devil: a frank and unflinching look at abusive relationships", you are writing "The Devil's Right Hand", an urban fantasy with a strong(ish) romance theme. You romanticising this shit is really not fucking on.
Another candidate for slapping is Lucifer himself. For various reasons but mainly because one would expect the Lord of Hell to fucking man up and stop letting all these demons escape from Hell left right and centre or, if and when they do, to deal with it himself, instead of making stupid fucking bargains.
And it is all such a shame. Because in terms of plot and momentum this was much better than the previous book (which is why I gave it two stars rather than one), interesting new characters are introduced and the world building with its mixture of futuristic sci-fi and magic is still pretty good. We travel from Tuscany* and Venice in the Hegemony to freetowns of Prague and Sarajevo, see more of the Nichtrvren and Werecain and learn about other species (Swanhilds, Kobolds and Anhelikos, the latter being particularly fascinating) that inhabit this world, yet all of this is overshadowed by the abusive relationship between the main characters, the repetitive writing and a certain amount of discontinuity from the previous books (e.g. all of a sudden we find out that Doreen was Dante's lover, not just her friend, which, I am pretty sure, was never mentioned in the first book).
* The names of places and languages that Saintcrow uses are all slightly modified, e.g. American is Merican, Italian is Taliano, Tuscany is Toscano, Venice is Venizia and so on. To be honest, I am a bit ambivalent about this. It seems to be done just for the sake of it and I am not sure that place names/language evolve in this way.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, the second was frustrating and this one is just infuriating. I'm wondering if I should cut my losses and drop it. I suspect that I probably won't. I'm more than half way through and I do want to see what happens. I dragged myself through worse books before (this attitude of soldiering on to the end no matter what is completely irrational, I know that, but still can't seem to help myself). What I would really like is for Dante to acquire some POWER so that she can show Japh what's what, cut off his balls and make him eat and re-grow them very slowly and very painfully. Or just put him back into the crispy fried jar for a few years to think about his behaviour. I doubt this will happen, though.
February 19, 2017
I love this series. I've read this book, the whole series, at least once a year since it's publication. So I am a bit biased in my love for Dante and Japhrimel. This series is by no means perfect. Saintcrow does love repetition in her descriptions of particular things, so it's not a good idea to read this series back to back. I'd recommend waiting a month in between each book, so that Saintcrow's idiosyncrasies don't overwhelm and annoy you to the point that you focus on the use of "noisome" or "molecule-drip" or something like that, which if you counted the actual uses of certain words per book isn't really that overwhelming but in a 5 books series is certainly noticeable. This series is too good to let its minor foibles overtake the brillance of the overall story.
Dante has her flaws; she's fiercely independent, doesn't trust easily, is aggressive even when it's unnecessary and doesn't forgive transgressions but what we see in book one and two is Dante's progression into a different way of being, a maturity of character, if you will. She begins the series with a very set idea of who she is and what she believes and nothing can change that. If you cross her, lie to her or even betray by omission she cuts you loose. She's not big on second chances. But once the Devil enters into her life, forcing Japhrimel on her, everything she was quite certain of starts to become a bit blurry. So the series becomes more than just a kickass heroine dispatching demons and baddies but is also a study of love, identity and humanity, Dante's humanity that is.
Japhrimel, too goes from being one type of being into another, quite literally like Dante he physically goes from Demon to Fallen, but we only see him through the lense of Dante; so his changes are more of a reflection of Dante's mental and physical changes than truly his. We see him as more human cos Dante sees him as becoming more human. We see his violations of trust as counter to what we believed cos that's how Dante feels. His kindness, arrogance, love everything comes through Dante. At one point Japhrimel asks Dante to trust him through his actions and I think the reader should too. So I'm very forgiving of Japhrimel's choices at times. Dante makes it easy to forget that he was the Devil's Right Hand for eons.
Even with all that said, this book does commit one of my biggest bugbears in series reads, it lacks a real story. The premise is simple enough. Dante is rehired by the Devil to be his new Right Hand. She is tasked with finding, capturing or eliminating four escaped demons. Though the book does keep to this premise, i.e. Dante is hired and she does try to find the demons it fails to provide a denouement. As a standalone book it's weak on story; it's more of a setup for the final two books. Though it's exciting and action packed it's almost utterly pointless if you don't read the following books, which is why it gets 4 stars instead of 5. But if you end up reading all the books this one was central to bridging who Dante was to who she becomes, so it's essential to the whole. Personally, I think Saintcrow should have worked this book into Saint City Sinners and just had a massive 3rd book but she didn't.
Dante has her flaws; she's fiercely independent, doesn't trust easily, is aggressive even when it's unnecessary and doesn't forgive transgressions but what we see in book one and two is Dante's progression into a different way of being, a maturity of character, if you will. She begins the series with a very set idea of who she is and what she believes and nothing can change that. If you cross her, lie to her or even betray by omission she cuts you loose. She's not big on second chances. But once the Devil enters into her life, forcing Japhrimel on her, everything she was quite certain of starts to become a bit blurry. So the series becomes more than just a kickass heroine dispatching demons and baddies but is also a study of love, identity and humanity, Dante's humanity that is.
Japhrimel, too goes from being one type of being into another, quite literally like Dante he physically goes from Demon to Fallen, but we only see him through the lense of Dante; so his changes are more of a reflection of Dante's mental and physical changes than truly his. We see him as more human cos Dante sees him as becoming more human. We see his violations of trust as counter to what we believed cos that's how Dante feels. His kindness, arrogance, love everything comes through Dante. At one point Japhrimel asks Dante to trust him through his actions and I think the reader should too. So I'm very forgiving of Japhrimel's choices at times. Dante makes it easy to forget that he was the Devil's Right Hand for eons.
Even with all that said, this book does commit one of my biggest bugbears in series reads, it lacks a real story. The premise is simple enough. Dante is rehired by the Devil to be his new Right Hand. She is tasked with finding, capturing or eliminating four escaped demons. Though the book does keep to this premise, i.e. Dante is hired and she does try to find the demons it fails to provide a denouement. As a standalone book it's weak on story; it's more of a setup for the final two books. Though it's exciting and action packed it's almost utterly pointless if you don't read the following books, which is why it gets 4 stars instead of 5. But if you end up reading all the books this one was central to bridging who Dante was to who she becomes, so it's essential to the whole. Personally, I think Saintcrow should have worked this book into Saint City Sinners and just had a massive 3rd book but she didn't.
September 27, 2009
#3 Dante Valentine
I loved the world Saintcrow built in books 1 & 2 in this series -- and I *adored* Japh, the hero.
I bought book 3 but Dante was so negative, so unlikeable that I couldn't even finish the book :-(
I loved the world Saintcrow built in books 1 & 2 in this series -- and I *adored* Japh, the hero.
I bought book 3 but Dante was so negative, so unlikeable that I couldn't even finish the book :-(
May 18, 2013
I really am falling for Japhrimel. The conflict is getting worse in this book. I don't know what is going to happen and now I'm thinking Dante is going to lose her soul. Working with the Devil just leaves a taint which can't be removed. The story is getting weird. Off to read the next one.
August 18, 2008
Orbit,fall07,Urban Fantasy,Dante Valentine Series
February 21, 2023
The GraphicAudio recording is fabulous
This third book in the series is somewhat less dark and violent than the previous two books, with a bit more focus on the romance. The GA performance is, as always, fabulous. There is just one recording for this third book.
Audio performance: 5 stars
Story: 3 stars
Average: 4 stars
This third book in the series is somewhat less dark and violent than the previous two books, with a bit more focus on the romance. The GA performance is, as always, fabulous. There is just one recording for this third book.
Audio performance: 5 stars
Story: 3 stars
Average: 4 stars
December 12, 2013
1st Quarter: Boring
2nd Quarter: Boring
3rd Quarter: Boring but a little less so
4th Quarter: HOLY CRAP NOT BORING
So yeah….a majority of this book was a solid 2 stars. I was interested because by this point I know the characters and have concern for them. But mostly it was just Danny and Japh playing house. And frankly I totally kept forgetting the fact that they were doing this for multiple years. YES, YEARS. I kept forgetting because they didn’t act like they had been together for years - only I don’t think they could. She doesn’t quite know how to act in a relationship that long and he is a demon who can’t be expected to act in the normal human manner.
The fact that years had passed between books 2 and 3 was even harder to believe once I realized that in all that time Japh had explained exactly jack shit to Danny (and extension to the reader) about what a Fallen was, a Hedaira was, Danny’s new abilities, his freedom, etc. etc. etc. I.e. NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE. He showered her with gifts and leisure, but would never explain anything or even answer her direct questions. Danny went so far as to hunt down books by Magi and spend days at a time locked in a library trying to figure stuff out for herself but got exactly nowhere.
That pissed me off. They are in a relationship or whatever the hell you want to call it when a demon and human-turned-demonish have together. TALK TO ONE ANOTHER. OR AT LEAST TALK TO THE READER!! Seriously just info dump me already!
Then bam – finally some action. The Devil wants to meet up with Danny and there is no more avoiding it. Only Danny didn’t even know she was avoiding it because Japh never told her about all of his summons/threats/requests to see her! CAUSE HE NEVER TELLS HER ANYTHING.
Can you sense a bit of frustration on my part about that?
So now, FINALLY, the main plot of the book – the Devil wants Dante to take Japh’s place as his Right Hand, his assassin, his personal demon killer. And her first task?? Kill 4 demons of the greater flight who have escaped Hell.
Oh yeah….this is gonna be just great.
So insert fights, chases, INSANE EXPLOSIONS, pain, hurt, BLOOD, etc etc etc…still kinda boring to be honest…
The last quarter of this book is what got me though, like 4 stars got to me, and it had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MAIN PLOT. It was all about 1 scene between Japh and Dante that literally changes their relationship to its core. I totally related to Dante in this scene and her behavior afterwards. Although she has a ridiculous penchant to be a complete in utter fucking brat that can be super annoying – in this one situation Japh was totally in the wrong.
Japh so shocked and disgusted me all I could think about was wanting her to run from him. Seriously as far as she could get. But given her current predicament that just wasn’t smart. She needed his strength and protection and power to survive. But still….RUN.
My favorite part of this whole thing… Seriously….LOVED THAT PART.
This whole portion of the book till the very end kept me up reading late in the night because I couldn’t stop myself. I so understood Dante in this situation and it connected me to her so much. By the end… so yeah…but like I said that didn’t have much to do with the main plot! And of that main plot not much happened, so in that respect this book was total FILLER.
Anyways, onto book 4 which I am hoping will show significant improvement relationship wise for Japh and Dante, but sadly other reviews I have read (which I shouldn’t have) don’t give me much hope in that respect.
2nd Quarter: Boring
3rd Quarter: Boring but a little less so
4th Quarter: HOLY CRAP NOT BORING
So yeah….a majority of this book was a solid 2 stars. I was interested because by this point I know the characters and have concern for them. But mostly it was just Danny and Japh playing house. And frankly I totally kept forgetting the fact that they were doing this for multiple years. YES, YEARS. I kept forgetting because they didn’t act like they had been together for years - only I don’t think they could. She doesn’t quite know how to act in a relationship that long and he is a demon who can’t be expected to act in the normal human manner.
The fact that years had passed between books 2 and 3 was even harder to believe once I realized that in all that time Japh had explained exactly jack shit to Danny (and extension to the reader) about what a Fallen was, a Hedaira was, Danny’s new abilities, his freedom, etc. etc. etc. I.e. NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE. He showered her with gifts and leisure, but would never explain anything or even answer her direct questions. Danny went so far as to hunt down books by Magi and spend days at a time locked in a library trying to figure stuff out for herself but got exactly nowhere.
That pissed me off. They are in a relationship or whatever the hell you want to call it when a demon and human-turned-demonish have together. TALK TO ONE ANOTHER. OR AT LEAST TALK TO THE READER!! Seriously just info dump me already!
Then bam – finally some action. The Devil wants to meet up with Danny and there is no more avoiding it. Only Danny didn’t even know she was avoiding it because Japh never told her about all of his summons/threats/requests to see her! CAUSE HE NEVER TELLS HER ANYTHING.
Can you sense a bit of frustration on my part about that?
So now, FINALLY, the main plot of the book – the Devil wants Dante to take Japh’s place as his Right Hand, his assassin, his personal demon killer. And her first task?? Kill 4 demons of the greater flight who have escaped Hell.
Oh yeah….this is gonna be just great.
So insert fights, chases, INSANE EXPLOSIONS, pain, hurt, BLOOD, etc etc etc…still kinda boring to be honest…
The last quarter of this book is what got me though, like 4 stars got to me, and it had NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MAIN PLOT. It was all about 1 scene between Japh and Dante that literally changes their relationship to its core. I totally related to Dante in this scene and her behavior afterwards. Although she has a ridiculous penchant to be a complete in utter fucking brat that can be super annoying – in this one situation Japh was totally in the wrong.
Japh so shocked and disgusted me all I could think about was wanting her to run from him. Seriously as far as she could get. But given her current predicament that just wasn’t smart. She needed his strength and protection and power to survive. But still….RUN.
My favorite part of this whole thing… Seriously….LOVED THAT PART.
This whole portion of the book till the very end kept me up reading late in the night because I couldn’t stop myself. I so understood Dante in this situation and it connected me to her so much. By the end… so yeah…but like I said that didn’t have much to do with the main plot! And of that main plot not much happened, so in that respect this book was total FILLER.
Anyways, onto book 4 which I am hoping will show significant improvement relationship wise for Japh and Dante, but sadly other reviews I have read (which I shouldn’t have) don’t give me much hope in that respect.
Read
April 24, 2024Just couldn’t get into it. Dnf at 20%
November 14, 2007
Dante is back in 'The Devil’s Right Hand', the third book in the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. After everything Dante has faced, the horrors of Rigger Hall, the death and rebirth of Japhrimel, and the very final passing of Jace Monroe, you would think that things couldn’t get any worse. But you would be wrong.
The Devil isn’t done with Dante. He’s been calling her for a long time and he’s tired of waiting for her answer. Dante has spent time recovering from her final battle in Rigger Hall away from Saint City, Japhrimel never very far away. She’s had time to relax and isn’t walking around with her sword in her hand all the time, an amazing thing for her. But when the Devil calls, you can’t ignore him forever.
The Devil contracts Dante as his new Right Hand. She has seven years to hunt down and kill four demons that have escaped from the bowels of hell. In return Japhrimel is given back his full demon powers and the Devil promises protection for Dante for all eternity. But he isn’t called the Father of Lies for nothing.
As Dante gets her first taste of battle since her near defeat by Mirovitch she realizes that she might be in over her head. She has become a pawn in the Devil’s game and he wasn’t kind enough to share the rules first. But it isn’t like Danny Valentine to back away from a fight and at the end of the day it is still one of the things she does best. With a new blade at her side, the first one lying broken at the bottom of the ocean, Dante wonders if she carries a blade that could kill the Devil.
One of the things that I’ve really enjoyed so far about this series is that with each book you get to see Dante and Japhrimel’s relationship evolve. All along Dante has treated Japhrimel like a human, no different from how she treats everyone else in her life. Dante seems to forget that Japhrimel is not a man but a demon and she receives a grim reminder of this fact.
Dante is also haunted by her past. Jace’s voice echoes through her mind, she sees his ghostly figure in a bar that he never visited in life, and once faced with a grown Eve all Dante can think about is her deceased friend and lover Doreen. It is a hard, hurtful past that she can’t put behind her, something that makes her more human despite the fact that she isn’t quite human anymore.
While you could pick this one up and enjoy it out of sequence with the rest of the novels I would recommend you start with 'Working for the Devil', the first book in the series. At this point there is just too much story, and while you would be able to pick it up along the way, wouldn’t you rather get to know Dante and Japhrimel from the beginning?
The Devil isn’t done with Dante. He’s been calling her for a long time and he’s tired of waiting for her answer. Dante has spent time recovering from her final battle in Rigger Hall away from Saint City, Japhrimel never very far away. She’s had time to relax and isn’t walking around with her sword in her hand all the time, an amazing thing for her. But when the Devil calls, you can’t ignore him forever.
The Devil contracts Dante as his new Right Hand. She has seven years to hunt down and kill four demons that have escaped from the bowels of hell. In return Japhrimel is given back his full demon powers and the Devil promises protection for Dante for all eternity. But he isn’t called the Father of Lies for nothing.
As Dante gets her first taste of battle since her near defeat by Mirovitch she realizes that she might be in over her head. She has become a pawn in the Devil’s game and he wasn’t kind enough to share the rules first. But it isn’t like Danny Valentine to back away from a fight and at the end of the day it is still one of the things she does best. With a new blade at her side, the first one lying broken at the bottom of the ocean, Dante wonders if she carries a blade that could kill the Devil.
One of the things that I’ve really enjoyed so far about this series is that with each book you get to see Dante and Japhrimel’s relationship evolve. All along Dante has treated Japhrimel like a human, no different from how she treats everyone else in her life. Dante seems to forget that Japhrimel is not a man but a demon and she receives a grim reminder of this fact.
Dante is also haunted by her past. Jace’s voice echoes through her mind, she sees his ghostly figure in a bar that he never visited in life, and once faced with a grown Eve all Dante can think about is her deceased friend and lover Doreen. It is a hard, hurtful past that she can’t put behind her, something that makes her more human despite the fact that she isn’t quite human anymore.
While you could pick this one up and enjoy it out of sequence with the rest of the novels I would recommend you start with 'Working for the Devil', the first book in the series. At this point there is just too much story, and while you would be able to pick it up along the way, wouldn’t you rather get to know Dante and Japhrimel from the beginning?
October 29, 2010
While I loved the first two books in the series, I have to admit I was a little disappointed by this entry. Saintcrow has a lovely feel of futuristic UF in her books & it reminds me of some of the old pulp books I'd find at thrift stores as a kid. This book just doesn't entirely capture the feel of the first two. I'll give a warning- there may be some spoilerish stuff in this review.
The third book finds Danny recovering from not only the psychic trauma from the previous case, but also doing some grieving over Jace. When Danny finds that Lucifer has been calling after her & wanting Danny to become his Right Hand as well as wanting her to hunt some escaped demons, some of the results cause Danny to seriously think about her current situation as well as her relationship with Japh.
This following part is sort of spoilerish. Ok. I can understand the problems in Danny & Japh's relationship. Neither of them know what it's like to be the other, so it's like two people trying to talk in two different languages & come to an agreement. So it's understandable that at some point they were due to have issues about what needs to be told & what doesn't. But did it have to be stretched out for so long in the book? Japh spends a good chunk of the book not telling Danny anything, even when things are trying to kill her. It's like "Oh, you have to hunt these 4 demons down & you're Lucifer's Right Hand for 7 years, but I'm going to lock you up for that time because of reasons I'm not really going to tell you, but rest assured that you're in lots of danger". A little of that is ok & perfectly understandable, but come on... after a while of reading it, it becomes a little repetitive. Danny just wasn't herself in this book. Even from the beginning of the book she was acting foolish. When you've got things chasing after you, trying to trick you & kill you, do you put on a bracelet that just magically appeared next to you on a ferry? Granted, the bracelet isn't doing anything bad to her, but come on... the Danny I know would've been a little more cautious about putting it on without any prior knowledge of what it could do to her. Assuming Japh sent it to you is a little out of character. In any case, too much time was spent on Danny being hurt & mistrusting Japh. After a while I just wanted to scream "Enough already! Move the plot forward!"
But even so, the book wasn't bad. It just seemed like it was a novella stretched out to book length. There's still promise, though. This book seemed to be a turning point for the series, so hopefully the next book will be a little better.
The third book finds Danny recovering from not only the psychic trauma from the previous case, but also doing some grieving over Jace. When Danny finds that Lucifer has been calling after her & wanting Danny to become his Right Hand as well as wanting her to hunt some escaped demons, some of the results cause Danny to seriously think about her current situation as well as her relationship with Japh.
This following part is sort of spoilerish. Ok. I can understand the problems in Danny & Japh's relationship. Neither of them know what it's like to be the other, so it's like two people trying to talk in two different languages & come to an agreement. So it's understandable that at some point they were due to have issues about what needs to be told & what doesn't. But did it have to be stretched out for so long in the book? Japh spends a good chunk of the book not telling Danny anything, even when things are trying to kill her. It's like "Oh, you have to hunt these 4 demons down & you're Lucifer's Right Hand for 7 years, but I'm going to lock you up for that time because of reasons I'm not really going to tell you, but rest assured that you're in lots of danger". A little of that is ok & perfectly understandable, but come on... after a while of reading it, it becomes a little repetitive. Danny just wasn't herself in this book. Even from the beginning of the book she was acting foolish. When you've got things chasing after you, trying to trick you & kill you, do you put on a bracelet that just magically appeared next to you on a ferry? Granted, the bracelet isn't doing anything bad to her, but come on... the Danny I know would've been a little more cautious about putting it on without any prior knowledge of what it could do to her. Assuming Japh sent it to you is a little out of character. In any case, too much time was spent on Danny being hurt & mistrusting Japh. After a while I just wanted to scream "Enough already! Move the plot forward!"
But even so, the book wasn't bad. It just seemed like it was a novella stretched out to book length. There's still promise, though. This book seemed to be a turning point for the series, so hopefully the next book will be a little better.
December 4, 2016
Third in the Dante Valentine urban fantasy series set in an alternate world. Yup, Lucifer has forced Danny back into his employ.
My Take
Well, Lucifer and Japhrimel. Japh did an end-run on Dante, and she now has to serve the Devil for the next seven years as his Right Hand, read "assassin". But Lucifer also has to protect Danny throughout eternity, and Japh gets his full Demon power back even though he’s Fallen. All that they have to do is find four of the Greater Flight demons who have escaped Hell. Oh, well, if that’s all…
Almost as soon as they both agree to the bargain, everything falls apart. Only, Dante then discovers who one of the demons is, and somehow Dante must find a way out of that bargain.
I think I’m still reading this series due to entropy; I’ve fallen in and can’t stop until I reach the end. I like the concept of Dante and there certainly is no shortage of action. If only there were a shortage of Dante’s brain. Christ, whine, whine, whine! And she’s supposed to be one of the best necromancers in the world? I’m terrified that all the others are so much less because I’m surprised she managed to make it to this point at all. No, I take that back. As long as emotion is not involved Danny seems to function/fight just fine. Get emotion involved and she goes all to pieces. Can’t think. Can’t function. Just seems to stand there and do what Danny does best — whine and short circuit her brain into stupid land.
I can understand her being cautious about Japh. He is a demon after all and demons lie. But if she ever sat down and made a list of the positives and negatives, she’d shut up. Actually, if Dante and Japh would sit down and talk, I suspect things would go much better which would probably screw up the storyline, so what do I know. I suspect Saintcrow modeled Valentine after Anita Blake. Another necromancer with relationship issues. Unfortunately, Saintcrow didn’t think it all the way through. Thank god that Anita at least doesn’t whine.
Devil’s Right Hand is the start of a new major action. I want to say it’s a bridge novel, but it starts the sequence I suspect will be continued in Saint City Sinners , 4.
The Cover and Title
The cover is stark and makes me think of Emma Peel and the Avengers with the title as very clean graffitti.
The title reflects Dante's own title as The Devil's Right Hand.
My Take
Well, Lucifer and Japhrimel. Japh did an end-run on Dante, and she now has to serve the Devil for the next seven years as his Right Hand, read "assassin". But Lucifer also has to protect Danny throughout eternity, and Japh gets his full Demon power back even though he’s Fallen. All that they have to do is find four of the Greater Flight demons who have escaped Hell. Oh, well, if that’s all…
Almost as soon as they both agree to the bargain, everything falls apart. Only, Dante then discovers who one of the demons is, and somehow Dante must find a way out of that bargain.
I think I’m still reading this series due to entropy; I’ve fallen in and can’t stop until I reach the end. I like the concept of Dante and there certainly is no shortage of action. If only there were a shortage of Dante’s brain. Christ, whine, whine, whine! And she’s supposed to be one of the best necromancers in the world? I’m terrified that all the others are so much less because I’m surprised she managed to make it to this point at all. No, I take that back. As long as emotion is not involved Danny seems to function/fight just fine. Get emotion involved and she goes all to pieces. Can’t think. Can’t function. Just seems to stand there and do what Danny does best — whine and short circuit her brain into stupid land.
I can understand her being cautious about Japh. He is a demon after all and demons lie. But if she ever sat down and made a list of the positives and negatives, she’d shut up. Actually, if Dante and Japh would sit down and talk, I suspect things would go much better which would probably screw up the storyline, so what do I know. I suspect Saintcrow modeled Valentine after Anita Blake. Another necromancer with relationship issues. Unfortunately, Saintcrow didn’t think it all the way through. Thank god that Anita at least doesn’t whine.
Devil’s Right Hand is the start of a new major action. I want to say it’s a bridge novel, but it starts the sequence I suspect will be continued in Saint City Sinners , 4.
The Cover and Title
The cover is stark and makes me think of Emma Peel and the Avengers with the title as very clean graffitti.
The title reflects Dante's own title as The Devil's Right Hand.
September 24, 2017
http://delivreenlivres.blogspot.fr/20...
Une bonne addition à cette saga surprenante au niveau du contexte. Mais j'ai trouvé que le personnage de Danny devenait de plus en plus extrême (au niveau caractère) et du coup je l'apprécie un peu moins que dans les tomes précédent.
Le diable à besoin de Danny et surtout de Japhrimel pour traquer 4 démons qui se sont enfuis et qui se sont révoltés contre son autorité, chose qu'il ne peux pas laisser passer.
Il passe donc un contrat avec le duo qui stipule que si ils lui obéissent et sont à son service 7 ans, et traquent les démons renégats, il les laissera tranquille et en plus Japh récupère une partie des pouvoirs qu'il avait perdu en créant Danny.
Tout semble aller pour le mieux entre eux, mais en fait le problème c'est que Danny ne supporte pas d'être mise de coté, de ne pas comprendre les choses. Du coup elle pique des crises de confiance envers Japh régulièrement. Elle n'arrive pas à savoir si il l'aime vraiment, ce qu'on pourrait croire évident vu son sacrifice, ou si il ne fait que l'utiliser pour arriver à ses fins, chose qui serait probable vu qu'il a maintenant le beurre et l'argent du beurre vu qu'il retrouve ses pouvoirs tout en étant bientôt totalement libéré de l'enfer et de ses chaines.
D'un coté je comprendre Japh bien sur, sachant que Danny méprise tout le coté politique et ne veut pas être mêlée à tout ça. Si il lui disait tout elle refuserait d'en faire parti vu qu'elle se considère toujours comme étant humaine, malgré sa transformation. Elle ne comprends pas la position dans laquelle il est et ce qu'il est obligé de faire pour sauver leurs vies, et du coup il ne lui explique rien et elle s’énerve.
Elle se voile totalement la face en fait en imaginant pouvoir juste continuer comme avant, et ça Japh l'a très bien compris, il sait que leurs vies n'auraient pas de valeur sans les magouilles qu'il continue à faire et le fait de montrer leurs pouvoirs.
Mais je comprends aussi Danny, bien qu'elle soit un peu trop terrifiée et incertaine. J'avais un peu l'impression qu'elle était toujours sur les nerfs, toujours à se méfier de tout, à fleur de peau et à la limite de l'explosion.
Et c'est un peu fatiguant sur le long terme je trouve.
Bon après l'intrigue est bien faire, rien à dire la dessus. Je ne me suis pas ennuyée, le rythme est bon, et on est totalement dedans quand on le lit quasiment d'une traite.
Je continuerais cette série avec plaisir, en espérant que Danny se calme un peu dans le prochain tome !
16/20
Une bonne addition à cette saga surprenante au niveau du contexte. Mais j'ai trouvé que le personnage de Danny devenait de plus en plus extrême (au niveau caractère) et du coup je l'apprécie un peu moins que dans les tomes précédent.
Le diable à besoin de Danny et surtout de Japhrimel pour traquer 4 démons qui se sont enfuis et qui se sont révoltés contre son autorité, chose qu'il ne peux pas laisser passer.
Il passe donc un contrat avec le duo qui stipule que si ils lui obéissent et sont à son service 7 ans, et traquent les démons renégats, il les laissera tranquille et en plus Japh récupère une partie des pouvoirs qu'il avait perdu en créant Danny.
Tout semble aller pour le mieux entre eux, mais en fait le problème c'est que Danny ne supporte pas d'être mise de coté, de ne pas comprendre les choses. Du coup elle pique des crises de confiance envers Japh régulièrement. Elle n'arrive pas à savoir si il l'aime vraiment, ce qu'on pourrait croire évident vu son sacrifice, ou si il ne fait que l'utiliser pour arriver à ses fins, chose qui serait probable vu qu'il a maintenant le beurre et l'argent du beurre vu qu'il retrouve ses pouvoirs tout en étant bientôt totalement libéré de l'enfer et de ses chaines.
D'un coté je comprendre Japh bien sur, sachant que Danny méprise tout le coté politique et ne veut pas être mêlée à tout ça. Si il lui disait tout elle refuserait d'en faire parti vu qu'elle se considère toujours comme étant humaine, malgré sa transformation. Elle ne comprends pas la position dans laquelle il est et ce qu'il est obligé de faire pour sauver leurs vies, et du coup il ne lui explique rien et elle s’énerve.
Elle se voile totalement la face en fait en imaginant pouvoir juste continuer comme avant, et ça Japh l'a très bien compris, il sait que leurs vies n'auraient pas de valeur sans les magouilles qu'il continue à faire et le fait de montrer leurs pouvoirs.
Mais je comprends aussi Danny, bien qu'elle soit un peu trop terrifiée et incertaine. J'avais un peu l'impression qu'elle était toujours sur les nerfs, toujours à se méfier de tout, à fleur de peau et à la limite de l'explosion.
Et c'est un peu fatiguant sur le long terme je trouve.
Bon après l'intrigue est bien faire, rien à dire la dessus. Je ne me suis pas ennuyée, le rythme est bon, et on est totalement dedans quand on le lit quasiment d'une traite.
Je continuerais cette série avec plaisir, en espérant que Danny se calme un peu dans le prochain tome !
16/20
January 26, 2010
Hmm.. I really want to like these books. And I do in a strange way. This book, the 3rd in the Dante Valentine series was a set up for the final books I believe.
We begin sometime after the last book. I think at least 2 years, but I can't really be sure. I guess time is all relative. She's has settled into her life away from almost all the long term characters we had previously met, except for one. The poor guy. Dante once again amazes me with how paranoid and hypocritical a person can be.
This guy, has pledged his life to her and she doubts him at every turn. There is actually almost a whole chapter that she spends figuring out all the paranoid ways she thinks he might have betrayed her. She gets really upset that he's not telling her things but ends up holding back a huge piece of information from him. He clearly longs for words of reassurance from her, that she does indeed love him and not her former lovers. Which I even wonder, because now that he's gone she wears this necklace that he gave her that is made up of his power and blood, and she keeps his old sword on an alter in its own room. I can see how the poor guy might be jealous. Anyway, he fights off hell for her, literally and you think she's finally realized he's one of the good guys, except one of the last things she says about him, makes me think otherwise.
Dante Valentine has a lot of baggage. I get it. She had a crappy childhood and people she loves keep dying. She's holding her best friend at arms length, and her... lover?... mate?... I don't really know what they are, but she is a really bitch to him.
I bet by now you've noticed I've talked a lot about this relationship and not much about the plot. There is a reason for that. I have no idea what the plot really was. I feel after 382 pages, nothing really got resolved. I guess more accurately, I was unsure what was supposed to be resolved. She agrees to work for the devil again for 7 years, but it got so jumbled in the end, I'm not sure anymore what she's supposed to be doing. For that matter, I really don't feel like our narrator has actually changed much at all. Maybe the next book will prove me wrong.
I purchased the entire series after loving the first book, so I'm committed to seeing this through. This book, I liked it better that the first half of book #2 but not as much as the second half of book #2, so I guess that makes it even. 3.5 stars.
We begin sometime after the last book. I think at least 2 years, but I can't really be sure. I guess time is all relative. She's has settled into her life away from almost all the long term characters we had previously met, except for one. The poor guy. Dante once again amazes me with how paranoid and hypocritical a person can be.
This guy, has pledged his life to her and she doubts him at every turn. There is actually almost a whole chapter that she spends figuring out all the paranoid ways she thinks he might have betrayed her. She gets really upset that he's not telling her things but ends up holding back a huge piece of information from him. He clearly longs for words of reassurance from her, that she does indeed love him and not her former lovers. Which I even wonder, because now that he's gone she wears this necklace that he gave her that is made up of his power and blood, and she keeps his old sword on an alter in its own room. I can see how the poor guy might be jealous. Anyway, he fights off hell for her, literally and you think she's finally realized he's one of the good guys, except one of the last things she says about him, makes me think otherwise.
Dante Valentine has a lot of baggage. I get it. She had a crappy childhood and people she loves keep dying. She's holding her best friend at arms length, and her... lover?... mate?... I don't really know what they are, but she is a really bitch to him.
I bet by now you've noticed I've talked a lot about this relationship and not much about the plot. There is a reason for that. I have no idea what the plot really was. I feel after 382 pages, nothing really got resolved. I guess more accurately, I was unsure what was supposed to be resolved. She agrees to work for the devil again for 7 years, but it got so jumbled in the end, I'm not sure anymore what she's supposed to be doing. For that matter, I really don't feel like our narrator has actually changed much at all. Maybe the next book will prove me wrong.
I purchased the entire series after loving the first book, so I'm committed to seeing this through. This book, I liked it better that the first half of book #2 but not as much as the second half of book #2, so I guess that makes it even. 3.5 stars.
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