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The Withrow Chronicles #3
Deal with the Devil
Withrow Surrett has two big problems: a vigilante and a villain who keep getting in his way as he searches the small Southern city of Durham, North Carolina, for a vampire who shouldn't be there. Throw in Withrow's mad cousin Roderick, a coven of technopagans, neighborhood kids who stay up late to watch the bogeyman walk down their street, a quest for revenge, hidden history and an unexpected acquaintance from the past and Withrow's having a hell of a time as the self-proclaimed boss of all the vampires around.
Withrow finds himself chasing - and chased - down dark alleys, up suburban streets and across ivied campus quads in pursuit of hidden truths and flamboyant foes. Confronting feelings he hasn't experienced in decades, Withrow is forced to question the life he's made for himself. They say no man is an island but can a vampire spend forever alone? Is it possible Withrow has even less control over the world around him than he thought?
In DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, Withrow tackles all this with his signature dark humor and readiness to fight.
Withrow finds himself chasing - and chased - down dark alleys, up suburban streets and across ivied campus quads in pursuit of hidden truths and flamboyant foes. Confronting feelings he hasn't experienced in decades, Withrow is forced to question the life he's made for himself. They say no man is an island but can a vampire spend forever alone? Is it possible Withrow has even less control over the world around him than he thought?
In DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, Withrow tackles all this with his signature dark humor and readiness to fight.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Michael G. Williams
30 books86 followersMichael G. Williams writes queer-themed science fiction, urban fantasy, and horror celebrating monsters, macabre humor, and subverted expectations. He’s the author of three series for Falstaff Books: the award-winning vampire/urban fantasy series The Withrow Chronicles; a new urban fantasy series featuring real estate, time travel, and San Francisco’s most beloved historical figures, SERVANT/SOVEREIGN; and the science fiction noir A Fall in Autumn, winner of the 2020 Manly Wade Wellman Award.
Michael is an avid podcaster, activist, and gaymer, and is a brother in St. Anthony Hall and Mu Beta Psi. He lives in Durham, NC, with his husband, a variety of animals, and more and better friends than he probably deserves.
Michael is an avid podcaster, activist, and gaymer, and is a brother in St. Anthony Hall and Mu Beta Psi. He lives in Durham, NC, with his husband, a variety of animals, and more and better friends than he probably deserves.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 13, 2017
"A year ago my cousin thought himself the gun and me the bullet: he could aim and fire me at a problem. He agreed to let me stay in his domain in return for removing the vermin from one particular corner of it. My cousin does not realize just how great a problem he has, however, I do. I intend to solve that problem and I intend to use my cousin to do it."--Roderick
This book has some meat on it--but plenty of blood sauce for vampire lovers. Our favorite vampire, Withrow, has just discovered that Raleigh has a homemade superhero. That's not really the problem. Raleigh also appears to have a demon, who just happens to be offering exactly what Withrow has been missing out on since he stopped living and separated himself from humanity: sensual contact. And there are the yummy twin brothers who look as if they are being fed upon, despite the fact they both appear to have superhuman powers. Does that tempting demon have anything to do with their sudden superpowers?
Who is feeding on those twins? Why isn't that vampire under Withrow's control?
Sometimes raisng a city takes a villiage of vampires--even ones that avoid each other like the plague. We get to meet Seth and Beth--two lone vampires who run businesses in Raleigh and do not cause trouble. We also get to see more of cousin Roderick--and he's more manipulative than every other vampire put together.
Finally, Jennifer--the salesperson who wiped out zombies--has come back. She's not going to let monsters take over Raleigh. She is extending her hand of friendship to Withrow, but he's got his own issues.
Buy the entire set of books--you'll have some great summer reading.
This book has some meat on it--but plenty of blood sauce for vampire lovers. Our favorite vampire, Withrow, has just discovered that Raleigh has a homemade superhero. That's not really the problem. Raleigh also appears to have a demon, who just happens to be offering exactly what Withrow has been missing out on since he stopped living and separated himself from humanity: sensual contact. And there are the yummy twin brothers who look as if they are being fed upon, despite the fact they both appear to have superhuman powers. Does that tempting demon have anything to do with their sudden superpowers?
Who is feeding on those twins? Why isn't that vampire under Withrow's control?
Sometimes raisng a city takes a villiage of vampires--even ones that avoid each other like the plague. We get to meet Seth and Beth--two lone vampires who run businesses in Raleigh and do not cause trouble. We also get to see more of cousin Roderick--and he's more manipulative than every other vampire put together.
Finally, Jennifer--the salesperson who wiped out zombies--has come back. She's not going to let monsters take over Raleigh. She is extending her hand of friendship to Withrow, but he's got his own issues.
Buy the entire set of books--you'll have some great summer reading.
December 14, 2015
The Withrow Chronicles series by Mr. Williams has an interesting twist. He sets his vampire - suburban fantasy series in a different subgenre each time. First story was Perishables with a subgenre of Zombie Horror where Withrow Surrett has to decide if saving his Homeowners association is worth the effort. In Deal with the Devil, the subgenre is Superhero. Mr. Williams does not get all the nuances and tropes of superpower prose like his did with Zombie horror, but he does an admirable job.
Aside from how Mr. Williams is keeping the series fresh with flipping genres, Deal with the Devil is still a strong vampire story. Not the strongest or funniest of the series (the fact there is a Transylvania county in North Carolina, for real, gave me real LOL moments in Tooth & Nail - detective noir is the subgenre), but provides many pivotal changes to the ongoing series plotline. This book is a must-read for the series fans. While each story of the series can be a stand alone, Deal with the Devil refers back to both of the preceding stories a lot - I would recommend reading the first two stories first. This book changes the series from a fun bunch of stand-alones to a true series.
Roderick, Withrow's cousin, continues on his crazy way and I still don't feel like I got a good grasp on the character, his motives, or goals. He makes Harley of Batman and Joker fame look stable - I think, unless he is playing crazy, which I wouldn't put it past him. He is also playing his cousin. Withrow thinks he is a King on the chessboard of vampire politics but as the story unfolds he realizes being a King in chess is only being another piece on the board - and it is the chessmasters who control the game. He hasn't figure out who the chessmasters are, but, by the end of book 3, he is beginning to realized he is being played and moved. I had to read the ending twice to get all the twisty logic - and it is cool. Makes me want to read the whole series again to see if I am missing other stuff. I really would like to see what happened in Chicago directly.
So to sum up - read this series in order. This book is not the "best" from a stand-alone story point of view of the series, but may be the best from the series point of view.
Aside from how Mr. Williams is keeping the series fresh with flipping genres, Deal with the Devil is still a strong vampire story. Not the strongest or funniest of the series (the fact there is a Transylvania county in North Carolina, for real, gave me real LOL moments in Tooth & Nail - detective noir is the subgenre), but provides many pivotal changes to the ongoing series plotline. This book is a must-read for the series fans. While each story of the series can be a stand alone, Deal with the Devil refers back to both of the preceding stories a lot - I would recommend reading the first two stories first. This book changes the series from a fun bunch of stand-alones to a true series.
Roderick, Withrow's cousin, continues on his crazy way and I still don't feel like I got a good grasp on the character, his motives, or goals. He makes Harley of Batman and Joker fame look stable - I think, unless he is playing crazy, which I wouldn't put it past him. He is also playing his cousin. Withrow thinks he is a King on the chessboard of vampire politics but as the story unfolds he realizes being a King in chess is only being another piece on the board - and it is the chessmasters who control the game. He hasn't figure out who the chessmasters are, but, by the end of book 3, he is beginning to realized he is being played and moved. I had to read the ending twice to get all the twisty logic - and it is cool. Makes me want to read the whole series again to see if I am missing other stuff. I really would like to see what happened in Chicago directly.
So to sum up - read this series in order. This book is not the "best" from a stand-alone story point of view of the series, but may be the best from the series point of view.
February 2, 2014
Another truly excellent work in the Withrow Chronicles. There is always a danger that a series like this could get old hat very quickly, but Michael G. William's reinvention of genre every time he takes you on a Withrow journey really livens things up a notch each time I dip my toe in these vampyric waters! Here the master storyteller takes Withrow into a demonic new encounter and gets him well and truly wrapped up the mortals and social demands that he's been trying oh-so-hard to avoid up until now.
I found this volume to be far more emotional than the others as Withrow's story deepens. He really opens up here as a character and, even though the sassy, snarky vamp that I love is still very much present, the new edge of compassion and depth he gets within these pages is truly something to behold. I am also very pleased to see the full return to his strange relationship with Jennifer, I love her construction in this book and her stunning return to the action. I also really, for the first time, loved Roderick in this one. Before he was amusing and sort of light relief in some quite serious scenes, but now I feel like I am seeing him for the first time as he truly is and that is a terrifying and excellent thought!
Character is perhaps the most striking part of this book, although I was highly impressed as always with the explosion of complex and highly enjoyable plot that Williams has planned out here. I adore how everything is left until the final 20% of reading for you and Withrow to uncover, plus there are plenty of excellent twists even after the exposition to keep you guessing as to where the next volume will lead.
This book, as always, is highly recommended and this series is getting better and better with every volume. I know it'll be a long wait for the next book, but the moment it's on sale I will definitely be there to grab the next chapter in Withrow's existence!
I found this volume to be far more emotional than the others as Withrow's story deepens. He really opens up here as a character and, even though the sassy, snarky vamp that I love is still very much present, the new edge of compassion and depth he gets within these pages is truly something to behold. I am also very pleased to see the full return to his strange relationship with Jennifer, I love her construction in this book and her stunning return to the action. I also really, for the first time, loved Roderick in this one. Before he was amusing and sort of light relief in some quite serious scenes, but now I feel like I am seeing him for the first time as he truly is and that is a terrifying and excellent thought!
Character is perhaps the most striking part of this book, although I was highly impressed as always with the explosion of complex and highly enjoyable plot that Williams has planned out here. I adore how everything is left until the final 20% of reading for you and Withrow to uncover, plus there are plenty of excellent twists even after the exposition to keep you guessing as to where the next volume will lead.
This book, as always, is highly recommended and this series is getting better and better with every volume. I know it'll be a long wait for the next book, but the moment it's on sale I will definitely be there to grab the next chapter in Withrow's existence!
November 8, 2019
Withrow the vampire continues his adventures. This time we find out that Zombies and other vampires, and silly humans are not the only things that he has to deal with. In this book he gets to deal with athletics, University level educational system and a masked vigilante as well as technopagan witches and maybe just a bit more on top of all that.
As if keeping all that straight isn't enough, he also has to figure out to to kick some major butt!!! On more fronts than one.
Michael G Williams shows his ability to make a world that is odd and magical while having the humor to make it fun. Not everybody that writes about vampires chooses to make them gluttons who weight 350 pounds. But somehow, Not only does he make an unusual hero...but one that we readers love just as he is.
As if keeping all that straight isn't enough, he also has to figure out to to kick some major butt!!! On more fronts than one.
Michael G Williams shows his ability to make a world that is odd and magical while having the humor to make it fun. Not everybody that writes about vampires chooses to make them gluttons who weight 350 pounds. But somehow, Not only does he make an unusual hero...but one that we readers love just as he is.
September 8, 2016
This book is set in the town in which I live (Durham NC), and reading a novel set here is a new experience for me. It also added another dimension of appreciation because I know the surroundings in which the action occurs, and it was fun to follow it on that level in addition to just watching the plot unfold.
Even though they are basically underworld thugs and murderous vampires, Withrow and Roderick are two characters that I like so much I would read just about any story in which they featured.
I enjoyed this take on the superhero story turned inside out, and I'm pleased to know that there will be two more books in the series.
Even though they are basically underworld thugs and murderous vampires, Withrow and Roderick are two characters that I like so much I would read just about any story in which they featured.
I enjoyed this take on the superhero story turned inside out, and I'm pleased to know that there will be two more books in the series.
September 22, 2017
So far this is my favorite out of the series. I feel like it combined the strengths of the first two books into one neat little package. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but when I got hooked I got hooked hard and powered through the rest. That's mostly because there is A LOT going on that needed to be set up in the beginning, which made it all well worth the wait in the end.
What I really liked about this book is that we're seeing Withrow continue to slowly change his mind about both allies and friends. Jennifer and Rodrick are back again, helping out with the process. I also really liked The Bulls Eye, the vigilante trying to make Durham a safer place. I found her character incredibly interesting between her prior trauma and the new persona she's created for herself. I really enjoyed her interactions with Withrow in particular, as well as his insights into her.
The description was amazing, just like in the other books in the series. I don't live in Durham, but I'm there frequently. It's been fun to come across some of the landmarks mentioned in the book. I've also enjoyed viewing the city in a whole new light as a result.
Like in the other books, there are no punches pulled when it comes to violence and vampires being vampires. The hair on the back of my neck definitely stood up at one point in particular and I'm still not 100% okay with the lingering mental image, haha. While Withrow might be regaining a little of his humanity, I like that he still is what he is at his core and owns up to it.
I am really excited to see where everything's headed now that we know more about the powers in play.
What I really liked about this book is that we're seeing Withrow continue to slowly change his mind about both allies and friends. Jennifer and Rodrick are back again, helping out with the process. I also really liked The Bulls Eye, the vigilante trying to make Durham a safer place. I found her character incredibly interesting between her prior trauma and the new persona she's created for herself. I really enjoyed her interactions with Withrow in particular, as well as his insights into her.
The description was amazing, just like in the other books in the series. I don't live in Durham, but I'm there frequently. It's been fun to come across some of the landmarks mentioned in the book. I've also enjoyed viewing the city in a whole new light as a result.
Like in the other books, there are no punches pulled when it comes to violence and vampires being vampires. The hair on the back of my neck definitely stood up at one point in particular and I'm still not 100% okay with the lingering mental image, haha. While Withrow might be regaining a little of his humanity, I like that he still is what he is at his core and owns up to it.
I am really excited to see where everything's headed now that we know more about the powers in play.
December 4, 2020
I received this book free from the author after having won its sequel, Attempted Immortality, in a Goodreads giveaway. This series is getting more fun and exciting as it progresses.
Withrow, the vampire boss of North Carolina, is enjoying a night out with friends when he smells an invading vampire. While trying to track him, he discovers a human with super powers, who smells particularly enticing.
Additionally, he sees a "devil", there is a vigilante working the city and Jennifer McCordy (from the first two novels) and his cousin Roderick have returned to "help".
Is it a coincidence that all these "people" converge in Durham, NC at the same time?
Withrow, the vampire boss of North Carolina, is enjoying a night out with friends when he smells an invading vampire. While trying to track him, he discovers a human with super powers, who smells particularly enticing.
Additionally, he sees a "devil", there is a vigilante working the city and Jennifer McCordy (from the first two novels) and his cousin Roderick have returned to "help".
Is it a coincidence that all these "people" converge in Durham, NC at the same time?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2022
Curiouser and Curiouser
More twists and turns to try to follow. Well fleshed out characters, lots of crossing and double crossing. Withrow is trying his hardest to keep his territory trouble free but he better watch his back.
More twists and turns to try to follow. Well fleshed out characters, lots of crossing and double crossing. Withrow is trying his hardest to keep his territory trouble free but he better watch his back.
October 23, 2017
Full review here:
http://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/2...
I'll be curious as to what surprises Book Four holds within its bound pages.
http://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/2...
I'll be curious as to what surprises Book Four holds within its bound pages.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews