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"The enemy of my enemy should be left the hell alone."

A creatively violent killer who's clearly not human is targeting Milus Dei members, and Gideon Black isn't exactly sure he should stop it. After all, the deadly cult hasn't done him any favors -- unless you count torturing his father and brother, brutally experimenting on his friends, killing countless Others, and attempting to use his power to wipe out the rest.

So when Milus Dei asks for his help finding the killer, he's pretty comfortable turning them down.

Then two strangers turn up with personal stakes in the investigation, both a type of Other no one's heard of before. Their paths cross with Gideon, and they soon learn they have a common enemy. But it's not Milus Dei.

With the help of a thief, a genie, and an uneasy alliance with the cult that's been hunting him down, the DeathSpeaker faces his greatest challenge yet. There's a monster beneath the city, an immortal shapeshifter whose goals are far beyond revenge -- and the future of the world is written in blood.

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2016

120 people are currently reading
131 people want to read

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Sonya Bateman

51 books270 followers

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5 stars
324 (49%)
4 stars
232 (35%)
3 stars
81 (12%)
2 stars
11 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Ami.
6,239 reviews489 followers
August 23, 2016
~*~*~ SPOILER REVIEW ~*~*~

OMG!! This is definitely my favorite book so far (and one of my favorites of the year!!) from The DeathSpeaker Codex series because of a number of reasons.

The MAJOR one?? The appearance of GAVYN DONATTI AND IAN!!!



Gavyn and Ian are the main characters from Bateman's Gavyn Donatti series. I read the two books around 5 years ago but the series stopped. Sonya Bateman said that she was trying to get the rights from the publisher so I didn't really have any expectation. So imagine my surprise when they appeared here (Sonya said in her FB that she now had the rights, and there might be future Gavyn Donatti books. Yippee!!)

Gideon and Taeral were joining forces with Gavyn and Ian to stop "batshit crazy, ten-thousand-year-old jaguar djinn" who were targeting the Miles Dei members (yep, the djinn killed them by ripping their hearts out and sucked their blood dry!). For once, the threats didn't directly against Gideon and team, and I was quite happy with that. These guys need a break. I was also quite overjoyed with the wipe out of the Valentines and that evil FBI agent, Redfield. This is one occasion where I didn't particularly feel bad for the victims *lol*



As always, it went fast-paced, doused with some awesome banters between Gideon/Taeral and Gavyn/Ian. I loved that Gideon was getting more comfortable with his own power. Gideon and Gavyn clicked immediately, having to deal with hot-tempered Taeral and Ian. I loved this team so frickin' much. I hope they will work together again.

Sadie rather takes a back-seat since she was dealing with a teenager rat, Eli. I was completely amused with this development. It seemed that Sadie totally became Mama Wolf for Eli and Taeral was dragged along for the ride, being an 'unexpected' father to Eli -- what could he do? Sadie is his girlfriend *LOL*

All in all, this was TRULY FUN read!! I loved every minute of it, cannot think of ANYTHING wrong with it. None. For that alone, I'm giving this 5-stars. Because if I have to pick a book in this series to re-read, this will be the one (and I don't really do re-read haha). I can't wait for more Gideon Black as well as more Gavyn Donatti.

SQUEEEE *hugs book*

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Diadria Robinson-Moore .
87 reviews1 follower
September 14, 2016
Good

This was a good installment in the series. It was a cross over of two of the author's series,and I think this was a successful venture. Well worth the $4 and the read.
Profile Image for M.
1,576 reviews
May 3, 2020
This is a fun, quick-read Urban Fantasy, which I thoroughly enjoyed. For a short book of less than 250 pages, author Sonya Bateman squeezes in a lot of action, drama, and snark. The complex, crossover storyline features two supernatural teams from Bateman’s UF series—Team Fae from the DeathSpeaker Codex and Team Djinn from the Gavyn Donatti series. The newest, powerful Other-being is a fascinating addition, as is a terrified, helpless sort-of rat-being. It took a bit of pushing to quash my disbelief about the Milus Dei’s volte-face.

4.5 stars, bumped up to 5, because I will probably reread this UF.
Profile Image for Vincent Archer.
443 reviews22 followers
April 4, 2019
Another book, another Other type.

There's a number of twists in this book, not including the appearance of a new type of Other, that not only nobody pretty much ever heard about, but that has also never heard about the Other (or, rather, has forgotten everything about them).

There's still too much of a 180 for one of the new characters (no spoiler). No idea how much it's going to be managed in the future, since it's a bit too unbelievable and feels a bit forced.
Profile Image for Laurla2.
2,603 reviews9 followers
March 2, 2022
-5 stars. fast paced, engaging story that i didnt want to put down. brings in donatti and ian to join the fight (from her gavyn donatti series).

"i realize your relationship with our organization didn't exactly begin on the best of terms-"
"being kidnapped and tortured is not a relationship."

"this is ridiculous. these two are lying. they've another purpose here, and it is not to help us. the djinn are a myth."
"is that so fairy?"
"i am fae!"
11 reviews
May 12, 2017
DNF. Building on the attempt to ruin the series begun in the last book, this volume sees Black actively aiding the Milus Dei, the secret society which has been hunting, killing and torturing him and his friends for 3 of the last 4 books. Because clearly their ongoing attempts at genocide are all a big misunderstanding. Just like those whacky Nazis. Seriously, WTF?
Profile Image for Kirsty.
42 reviews4 followers
August 12, 2017
This is a really underated series! The books are short but still fit the whole story into them and are soo fun! I love how there's something different and new in every book but with the same characters that I love. Also Eli is my child, I love him so much, if anything happens to him my heart will be utterly broken.
13 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2017
This book was phenomenal. The series gets better with every book and does not fail the mind and imagination. This is how I would think real life magic might possibly be if it was to truly exist.

Some people complained that Gideon was working with Milus Dei? That is not true. You need to really read the book to understand.
Profile Image for Elaina Myers.
356 reviews2 followers
May 17, 2018
Another great story about Gideon and his friends!

Wow! After the way the last book ended, I certainly did not expect the way this book started, at all. Some new interesting people (including a new enemy), more unexpected situations (some horrifying), and some new alliances and friendships were built. Satisfying read for sure!
Profile Image for Angela V. Herndon.
698 reviews3 followers
September 6, 2017
TALK ABOUT ADVENTURE!!! These Deathspeaker series are AMAZING!!!! I cannot wait until a television producer grabs it up and make it into a series!!! I could even spot a budding relationship forming!!! I can't wait to read where this all will lead to!!!!
Profile Image for Jeff.
462 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2018
Still having fuuuuuun

Five books in and still enjoying the story. Not many storylines continue to evolve beyond three books. Happily, this series has exceeded the average. Time to go for six.
Profile Image for Jim Kratzok.
1,070 reviews3 followers
May 3, 2019
Another fun read!

Gideon and company are once again thrust into a world of mayhem and pain. Along the way, they find out that Djinns really do exist and they don't like being called genies! But they make great partners when you need to save the world...
Profile Image for Pamela Cunningham.
723 reviews
January 30, 2020
This is the fifth book in( The Deathspeaker Codex book series )

This was another great read as always these book have a ton of action but there's also a surprisingly great story awesome world building and plenty of heart . I'm ready for the next book in this series.
30 reviews
December 15, 2016
Gripping characters, and baddies who really deserve their comeuppance. Well-written books that make you go looking for the next one as soon as you finish one.
541 reviews3 followers
July 6, 2018
And the winner is......

Another great installment in this series. New kinds of Others, l new friends met, old enemies vanquished. Love these books!
Profile Image for Olivia.
549 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2021
Absolutely loved this book and the characters. Another great book in this series I'm definitely addicted to them.
Profile Image for Maggie Deaton.
748 reviews4 followers
October 7, 2016
A Superb Series !

A fantastic read with great character development and a super job creating an alternate reality where the face and many of the "Others" live and dwell. Looking forward to the next in the series. On my way to pre-order!
Profile Image for Heath Greenfield.
26 reviews
September 4, 2016
I love these books...

Short reads, but they're satisfying... This adventure involves fighting a big, bad djinn with the help of good djinn and his great...great x a bunch descendant. We still have a cult within the government chasing the fae, but for once, they're on the same side. The pace is good, and we have some new characters joining the team. It could have been longer, but the plot was tight and the high points were hit. The only really unsatisfying detail was how the Valentine's were handled...more time could have been given to explaining how that all happened. Four stars, and a request to keep them coming.
Profile Image for tracey welch.
185 reviews
November 16, 2016
Absolutely fantastic

What an amazing ride. This story just grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. Fast paced, full of fun and action along with a great murder mystery on top of the most fantastic magical characters I've had the pleasure of reading in a while. And the dialogue between these characters is so witty and natural, you'd swear you were speaking it yourself.

Book 5 is by far the best one of the series, in my meager opinion, but, I would highly recommend reading each and every one, especially this one. I eagerly await book 6.
Profile Image for Delia.
2 reviews
August 20, 2016
I really enjoy this series, and this book doesn't disappoint. We have more magic shenanigans and the normal cast of characters with a couple new ones to help out. Apparently there is a book on them as well and I will be checking that out. They were blended in nicely and I would like to know their story. I can't wait til the next one. ^^
Profile Image for Teri Southerland.
76 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2016
Love this series!

This is a breath of fresh air for an avid reader. Seeing as how I don't get out much (paralysed vocal cord over airway) I love the way she gets her books out there shout out to Facebook. This author reminds me of a cross between Kim Harrison and Laurel Hamilton with a statement like that how could you go wrong?
Profile Image for Lisa Schwarz.
39 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2016
Creative and entertaining

Normally by the fifth book in a series that I read on a binge...one right after another, I get a bit exhausted with either the plot or characters. But truthfully, this was my favorite yet. The hero is funny and lovable, strong and charismatic. Love this series. Can't wait for the next!
Profile Image for Julia Stephanie.
2,108 reviews6 followers
August 22, 2016
I fall more and more in love with this series with each book. Definitely recommend this book and series to everyone! It has lots of feel good vibes and I am in love with its unique view on the supernatural. Can't wait for the next one!
16 reviews2 followers
August 22, 2016
City of secrets review

This is the fifth book in the series and I have read every book. Love the unique characters in the books, this series is a must read; it keeps your attention and makes you want more.
Profile Image for Meghan Zombieluv.
15 reviews
August 24, 2016
I adore this series!

I don't know how Sonya Bateman whips these books out so fast, but keep them coming! Tragic, heart rending, and full of hope! I hope there are many more books to come!
Profile Image for Cryogenic Fire.
230 reviews3 followers
September 4, 2016
Cracking little series

I'm growing very fond of Gideon Black and his ragtag 'family'. The more I read of this series the more I like it. It has fun relatable characters, snappy little plots and each book is just the right size for a light read.

Definitely recommended.
Profile Image for Justin Berg.
9 reviews
January 28, 2017
A great new Gideon Black story

I loved how Sonya Bateman brought Gavyn and Ian from her Master and Apprentice / Master of None books into the Deathspeaker storyline to create a wider universe.
Profile Image for Ambra.
57 reviews11 followers
September 7, 2016
Great book! And I was so happy to read about Gavin and Ian again!!
Profile Image for Steve.
48 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2017
Best yet!

I've thoroughly enjoyed this series, and this book was the best yet. I'm going to have a very hard time waiting for the next. Now, off to get 'Master of None'!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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