Dealing in Death

Death and the Devil #2.5

by L.J. Hayward

Ethan Blade—assassin extraordinaire, cold-blooded killer, heartless monster, and . . . retiree?

I’ve spent my whole life dealing in death, efficiently eliminating targets while fighting to preserve a sense of self and morality, to avoid becoming as detached and ruthless as my siblings. I thought I had succeeded. Then I met Jack Reardon—contrary, handsome, forgiving, and far too good for the likes of me—and my life was tipped upside down. When he asked me to move in with him, he didn’t specify that I had to quit my job, but I wanted to—for myself, not for him. I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.

My old instincts—“Ethan Blade”—are soon tempted out of retirement by a job offer I can’t afford to refuse and by an old hook-up of Jack’s he’d be a fool to refuse. While falling prey to my own temptation, Jack struggles with his. Which is precisely when the true danger exposes itself—one of my siblings with no such sense of self or morality. Only pain. And he is prepared to rain it down on me and Jack, unless I can square the Ethan Blade I want to be with the one I need to be, in time to save us both.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, LGBT, Action, Suspense

200 pages, ebook

First published August 30, 2019

About the author

L.J. Hayward has been telling stories for most of her life, a good deal of them of the tall variety. She loves reading but doesn’t seem to have enough time between wanting to be a more disciplined writer, being the actual erratic writer she is, and working for dollars in a dungeon laboratory. She also lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, but rarely sees a beach and can’t surf, though she thinks living on a houseboat might be fun. At least then she’d have an excuse to get a cat.

Reviews

[Rosabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave Ethan alone!!!!!! 😩😭💔🥲

That was my thoughts through this one, I was hesitant to read it because it's the same events from book two, but from Ethan's pov. I was so wrong! Forgive me Ethan, my love. 😭

This one gave a whole new perspective on the circumstances and got us ready for the last one, (I'm not ready btw), it cemented the fact that Ethan loves Jack, there is NO doubt in my fucking mind about it and seeing Jack from his pov, God, my ovaries couldn't take it. 😢 they died an honorable death. 😐

I wish they talked more though, I think that's a thought that a lot of people have through this series, why the fuck don't they talk? But anyways, I loved it, can't help it. 🤯🤷🏻‍♀️

P.S. After reading two whole books and 6 short ones, I still don't get it what they mean when they say:

"he closed his eyes and went sideways".

The first time I read this I thought: why the hell did he fall of the chair? 😧😐 Then it was explained, but I keep imagining the same thing, cause I don't get it!!!

Need a friend. 🤣🤓

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 5 out of 5]

Then he kissed me back and I was tumbling wildly within the tight hold of his arms. I couldn't feel my feet or the top of my head. The only parts of me that were real and solid were those he was touching. My waist, back, chest, arms, lips. The rest of me was incidental, shrapnel from the explosion of Jack kissing me. Every moment of pain and laughter and comfort was encapsulated in that one long and far too short moment. It hurt and it healed and when it ended, it felt like a new beginning.

Gahhh, I'm still swooning just thinking about that kiss... Ever wondered what it felt like for Ethan? Or what he was up to when he and Jack were not together? 

THIS was 100% pure and unadulterated Ethan Blade! Assassin extraordinaire turned retiree and lover, with nothing to worry about than how to make Jack smile and keep his ever growing car pool in good repair.

If..., yeah, if...  If it weren't for a certain sibling thwarting his plans by posing a threat to Jack's well-being. If it weren't for his own goddamn insecurities about finding his place in life. If it weren't for his own goddamn thoughts about not being good enough for Jack. And if it weren't for his growing suspicion that Jack might have found someone else who would be a better fit for him. If wishes were horses... 

This sounds familiar? It sure does. This short novel - yep, it's longer than the previous novellas and nope, no worries, just one timeline this time - is Ethan's POV of the events that mostly took place in Why the Devil Stalks Death and a small part that led to them. I virtually hear you moan now that this is old news and you already know that, right? Wrong! THIS IS SO MUCH MORE! Yes, there were scenes we already know, but since it is the other one's perspective, they still felt new and in my opinion the author did a great job in giving us more background info without being too repetitive. We got really up close to Ethan's inner struggle and his vulnerability, so much so that he made me tear up all over again, even if I knew what would happen. And seeing Jack through his eyes rounded out the picture I have in my head of both of them.

I was struck anew by how he made me feel. Not just the types of emotions he inspired - because he sparked them all in me, lust, joy, fear, anger, contentment, love - but the simple fact that he made me feel anything at all. 

I would fight for that until all the blood was gone from my body. I would fight for him. For us.

But there is also a great deal of new - quite action-packed scenes we don't know about and a hint of what we will have to brace ourselves for in the final instalment in this series. 

If I wouldn't have fallen head over heels for Ethan Blade already, I sure as hell would have done so now. Thank you, LJ Hayward, for this little gem that felt like a gift. 

***ARC generously provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!***

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

my first 5-star read from this series (although book one did come pretty close), but are we really surprised bc this book was basically events from book 2, but from Ethan’s perspective. i loved how we were able to learn more about him as an individual, as well as what he’s been doing whenever he would visit Jack then immediately leave.

i love this man, that’s all i'm gonna say. 🥰🥰

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My old review, and the novella I just listened to don’t match and I’m so confused.
I need to open my kindle editions and reread again. Ahhahahahaha
5 stars regardless because Ethan could spit in my mouth any day.


1st review:
✨THE ETHAN POV✨ that we all wanted, needed, craved and deserved. 💅🏼💅🏼
To have a sneak peak into his lil noggin, just made the second book EVEN MORE EPIC and awesome, when you got to see the story unfold again but from Ethan’s head cinema.

To be fair, parts of this POV shit me to tears, and I wanted slightly more from Ethan emotionally…. But…. It’s Ethan ✨ and I forgive him 👏NO👏MATTER👏WHAT👏

Manipulated people? Forgivable. Stealing? Forgivable. Lying to people? Forgivable. Hurt people? Forgivable. Murdered people? Forgivable. Tortured people? FORGIVABLE 👏


The fact that there’s only 1 more book, KILLS ME. Who is supposed to be my entire personality when jackXEthan story is over?! 😭😭😭

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Ethan’s POV all the way.
For lots of events but mostly what happened in book 2.
But if you think this is a rehash of the same old, think again.

What we get is an in-depth look into the mind of the man behind the sun-glasses. And why he is who he is and does what he does. We get to know his deepest worries, his insecurities and self-doubts, his defeatist notion he will never be enough for Jack.

And darn, I ached for him, I wanted to bear hug him (even though he might not have quite appreciated it) and shout rage at those people who tried so hard to make him an unfeeling, unthinking, inhuman killer.

It takes a very brave and courageous man to even try and fight the seemingly all powerful and controlling powers that are the Cabal, to try and pry their claws away from him, his life and the man he loves. And boy, does he love Jack. It shines through every thought and action.

And yet, I was stunned when in book 2 Ethan decides to take the plunge and do something Jack has named a hard limit …

I kissed him. On the mouth. … It hurt and it healed and when it ended, it felt like a new beginning.
“Just so that you know,” I whispered.

If you have been following the series, you know that Jack doesn’t kiss on the mouth because he has to love a person before he does that. And more. He has to trust them with everything they are.
WE know Jack has been very close to it a few times (thank you for all the intense UKT -unresolved ‘kissing tension’, Ms. Hayward!) but it’s just never seemed to be the 'right time.. So, for Ethan to ‘tell’ Jack how he feels about him in this way, bears a lot of significance.

And when Jack finally can’t hold back any longer and chooses to kiss Ethan out of his own accord … it’s more than sigh-worthy! And deeply meaningful. For both, but for Ethan in particular …

“There is so much I want ….” A home. A life I chose for myself. Freedom. But most of all – him. And he gave me everything the moment his lips touched mine.”
(Guess, who is going to reread both the ‘kissing scenes’ in book 2 and here to get the full impact!!!)

However, as the coda suggests, the Cabal are not going to watch Ethan walk away that easily. And I bet that they are more than ready to make life as difficult as possible for Jack and Ethan. If they are willing to give them a life at all.

Something Ms. Hayward has ‘kindly’ left with us to ponder about, until the last book is released.
This novella helps to understand Ethan and his motives better, and I adored every word of it!

What a stellar series!
Highly recommended.

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5***** stars


A whole book from Ethan’s POV. ♡

This novella goes alongside the events from book #2 and let us see all that we’ve missed when we were only got Jack’s side. I was smiling and swooning A LOT at Ethan. He is such a lovable and special and wonderful character.


The Coda left me a little speechless at the end, tho.


**************
Death and the Devil Series:

Book 1 - Where Death Meets the Devil - 4.5 stars
Novella Collection - Death and the Devil - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Why the Devil Stalks Death - 4.5 stars
Book 2.5 - Dealing in Death - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - When Death Frees the Devil - 4.0 stars

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had trepidation going into this book. Not because I thought it wouldn't be a good story or because I didn't think the writing would be as wonderful as the other books in this series.

I had trepidation because it was exclusively Ethan's POV. Those who've read each story up until this point, particularly Book 2, know that Ethan had an awful childhood, with effects lingering long into his adult life.

But to see those effects and Two's continued presence now? And from Ethan's POV? It hurt. I just want to hug him and keep him away from anyone associated with the Cabal.

While none of the overall storylines were new here, seeing the events take place while Ethan was "away" was eye opening. Jack doesn't know the half of it.

We learn a lot more than we knew before, especially of the relationships in Ethan's life aside from Jack. And we learn a LOT more about the Cabal. Which only leads to more questions, but I will assume that's what Book 3 is for.

This book will pack an emotional punch for readers, and especially Ethan lovers. It cannot be read as a standalone. I'm glad we got this glimpse into the enigma of One Three, and I look forward to Book 3 even more!

[Reem · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, apparently Death is Ethan, as in ‘Death and the Devil’. I kept wondering about that 🤔
Anyway, this is whom I cast as Ethan in my ‘Head Cinema’ as Chelsea calls it:

Only as himself, cause Ethan laughs more than Kaz💖💖💖.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, getting Ethan’s POV was everything. Made the last book so much better now that I’m seeing it from a different perspective. Eek only one book left!

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Chelsea so eloquently and succinctly said in her reviews:

Live, laugh, Ethan Blade. ♥️

I have nothing further to add, your honour.

[Sandy Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

There will be spoilers here, but, if you've read book 2, none of it is a spoiler and this book does NOT stand alone.

This is basically a recap of key scenes from book 2, Why the Devil Stalks Death, but shown (or told, often) through Ethan’s point of view. I adored Ethan. I wish we were in his head more in the previous books.

One thing to note—an interesting choice, the author writes Ethan’s perspective in first-person POV instead of the other books’ third person POV for Jack. The writing shines in the third-person POV, but here in first-person, many scenes have Ethan telling the reader what happened, rather than allowing us to see it play out in and immersing us in Ethan’s perspective, which was unfortunate and often gave the book a dry, emotionless sensibility when it could have packed a powerful emotional punch. I still loved being in Ethan’s head when we did get some points of immersion. Just...would have loved a true deep first-person POV throughout. I wonder if the author didn’t want to fully repeat scenes in Ethan’s POV and thought the summary would be welcome? Maybe. Hmmm. But the result felt like surface-level skimming of the potential depths of this wonderful character’s lived experience.

We see Ethan using an implant like Jack’s (revealed end of book 2). This should be significant. I don’t know what it means yet, but, I hope the author goes somewhere with it in book 3 so it isn’t a massive coincidence. I wonder if Ethan and Jack will use the connection more in the future?

Anyway. This book endeared Ethan to me forevermore, and cemented my admittedly extreme dislike of Jack. This relationship is painful for me to read, I’ll admit. Why?

Ethan gives and risks everything and receives nowhere near that in return. Constantly. In this book, we see that he really doesn’t know what’s going on in Jack’s head; all the pining/wondering/being tempted by about/by Adam Quinn happens in Jack’s POV in book 2. Ethan has no idea of the full extent to which that is happening, and the dramatic irony of it about killed me.

However, the author skillfully shows that Ethan senses he can’t fully trust Jack, and Ethan holds back exposing his deepest secrets because of that. Jack’s affection for Ethan IS conditional, and Ethan’s instinct is to guard his vulnerable self and secrets so that he won’t lose Jack. Unfortunately, the entire situation gaslights Ethan into taking on responsibility/blame for things that happen, thinking a lot of the events are his fault, that if only he were a better/different person, he’d be worthy of Jack. As if he could help the circumstances that forged him into who he is. As if he doesn’t see just how hard he’s working to change his life while still protecting Jack’s life.

It was heartbreaking. Even worse when, as another reviewer pointed out, at one point Jack becomes the “victim” in the book, because Ethan “lied” to him (when really, Ethan truly could not trust Jack with all his truths) and that felt so wrong and awful.

This relationship is unequal. Ethan is the one who fell first and hardest. He’s the one who bent over backward and is trying to change his life to be with Jack (not his personality though, thank goodness, that’s one thing Jack does seem to value). Ethan is the one who took a chance and asked for exclusivity. Jack would have kept hooking up with randos while being in an open relationship with Ethan. Ethan is the one risking his life just to be with Jack, and risking it to protect Jack from all the things he cannot help being connected to, even as he desperately tries to extract himself safely. Ethan is the one who builds them a fortress. Ethan invites Jack to share in things he enjoys (and Jack rejects that at a crucial moment, because it’s more important to him to do something with Adam Quinn at the time, though he uses the “job” aspect as an excuse. We know this from book 2).

There’s also the scene in which Ethan finally wants to and gives Jack a blowjob. That was a beautiful scene, but, reading it, I realized Ethan doesn’t even know that Jack saw a horrific video of Ethan as a boy and knows exactly why Ethan had such trauma around giving them. Jack withholds what he knows about Ethan from Ethan, and it felt so unfair yet again. I don’t think Jack will ever tell Ethan what he saw/knows about what happened to Ethan.

And most important, that first kiss on the mouth. I was so upset about the position Jack put Ethan in. Basically, to show Jack without words exactly how he feels, how all-in he is, Ethan puts his whole soul on the line and kisses Jack...without Jack’s consent.

Yes. I said it. No one else seems to care about/notice that, but, Jack made that no-kissing-on-the-mouth boundary VERY clear. And Jack never said it would be okay. I understand why Ethan finally did kiss Jack on the mouth, but, the entire lead up to it was a total clusterfuck of Jack waffling over Adam Quinn (yes, the guy he had a 2-3 night hookup with months ago, that’s the basis for this temptation...which says a lot about how much he actually is attracted to Adam, because it took Ethan more than a year to cement a relationship with Jack), and he put Ethan in the position of having to be the one...yet again...to take the biggest risk and Show Jack how he felt, and Ethan did that without Jack’s consent.

The situation made me sick. Jack couldn’t even give that first kiss to Ethan. And I know from book 2 he actually was hoping Ethan would just kiss him...and he STILL never gave Ethan clear consent that he was open to it. I can’t even describe how sad that kiss made me. It should have been pure joy. Instead it was just one more thing Jack denied Ethan till Ethan took the risk.

The cherry on top was the very offhand way Ethan summarized going with Jack to make sure Adam Quinn made it to the airport. Ethan just thought, oh good, seeing Adam leave safely is giving Jack closure. But I know from book 2 that Jack was STILL gazing wistfully after Adam and thinking about what could have been if he’d made a different choice.

I will give Jack one thing. The special gift he got for Ethan was truly touching and heartfelt and lovely. That was a moment with Jack in which I respected his efforts in this relationship.

Okay, OKAY I'll give him two things. Jack does risk his job to be with Ethan, so, he does feel very strongly about him. But. On Jack's terms/conditions, which is part of what keeps killing me.

I don’t know why all these guys fall so hard for Jack, but...there’s no denying they do. And Ethan wants him more than anything. So. On to book 3.

HFN. But I’ll never fully trust Jack to be loyal to Ethan the way Ethan is to him. He has no idea what he has in Ethan, because Ethan can’t yet trust him enough to truly show him. And that’s just sad.

There are no OP physically at this point, but, in book 2 and therefore in this book, Jack is emotionally cheating on Ethan and lying to himself and to Ethan that he is just undercover and acting friendly with Adam for work. Gross.

I still thoroughly enjoy this author’s writing and storytelling style, which is why I keep coming back to be beaten black and blue in the heart with a metaphorical stick. Help! 😂🥰

Ethan, you deserve the world and someone to finally treat you like the king you are. I only hope book 3 shows that potential for you with Jack, because he is your choice, and I respect that. (Yes, I really do, stop laughing people!)

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually care for books that retell the same timeline from a different POV, but this was baby Ethan’s perspective, so I’m still savoring the treat—both the good and the bad. 😮‍💨

We get a deeper look into Ethan’s tragic past and his “brothers” from the Cabal… Two, that sick fuck. We see Ethan’s pain firsthand during Jack’s stupidity, which only made me hate Jack even more—seeing what it did to Ethan. And, of course, my hatred for Adam just keeps growing. 💔

Again, I think Ethan was an idiot, but for the first time, he was afraid and vulnerable… and Jack just threw more gasoline on the fire. But I hold on to the firm belief that Jack, while stupid, was already in love with Ethan and never would gave in.

Things to live by:
Ethan giving a lap dance
Ethan dirty talking ( new kink unlocked)
Ethan wearing Jack’s clothes
Ethan kissing Jack
Ethan safe in Jack’s arms

What do we do now, Jack?”
“Anything you want.”(…)
“Anything?” My voice dropped into a husky rumble.
Jack battled against a smile, but lost when I tipped his uniform hat off the back of his head. The smile was sweet but debauched, patient but expectant. Supportive but nervous. He could charm me so easily. No wonder I loved this contrary, stubborn, beautiful man.
“Hmm, but there is so much I want . . .” A home. A life I chose for myself. Freedom. But most of all—him.
And he gave me everything the moment his lips touched mine.

This is almost over… I’m already stressing the fuck out… feeling the horrible slump I’m definitely going in…. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Snjez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice addition to the series.

Although the storyline is pretty much the same as in Book 2, I'm glad we got Ethan's POV. I loved learning more about him, especially how he feels about Jack. That was just lovely.

[Ele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh...I have never been bored with this author's books but I admit I skimmed some here. I'm a little disappointed tbh. It was basically the same story but from Ethan's POV. The scenes, the dialogue and, of course, the outcome was the same. One or two things fell into place and one could say it was something new, but that's about it. I like glimpses of Ethan's POV but I think I can safely say I prefer Jack's. This took all the air of mystery out of Ethan's persona. And on a side note, I believe that after Ethan decided he was to kill Two, he could have done it way sooner and avoid this outcome. It felt a little fake reading this from his POV..

[Ky · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each new addition to this series I get more and more hooked on the story!

"Dealing in Death" is a book that's halfway between #2 and #3 and which was supposed to be a novella but probably Ethan sucked L.J. Hayward in and didn't want to let her go. So, thanks Ethan! Getting an additional full-length book was a great surprise!

This is the first time that we get to read the events from Ethan POV - except for some short scenes in previous books. The plot takes us in a journey down memory lane at the beginning as it goes back a few months and we finally get to find out what Ethan was up to all those months that Jack was waiting for him to make a re-appearance into his life.

There are a few time jumps that bring us around the same time that Why the Devil Stalks Death (book #2) started, only this time we see everything through Ethan's eyes, and let me tell you: it was quite an experience! Usually I don't read books retelling a story from a different POV but this was Ethan so there was no way I was passing on reading it. And it turned out my decision was the right one, because even though I knew was was going to happen I was still glued to my screen. It was like reading a whole other story, plus we got to see what it was like being in Ethan's head!

What amazed me the most is how different Ethan was seeing things from Jack and vice versa. While Jack thought that he had Ethan's reactions and feelings down and that he understood the way he operated and the reasons behind his actions, after reading Ethan's side of the story is clear that even though Jack does indeed know him very much he was still slightly off at times.

I hope there will be more books from Ethan's POV in the future and I look forward to the third book in the series were we'll finally see how the opportunity that opened up for Ethan is going to work out both for him on a personal level and for him and Jack as a couple (see how good I'm being at not spoiling anything just in case someone doesn't know already?)

Another thing that couldn't be missing from Ethan's book - as I've come to think about it - is some additional information about his past. I feel like now we know him pretty well and we finally have a full picture of how horrific his childhood was. It's really a miracle that he came out of it being so balanced and still being capable of expressing emotions - even if it takes him time and it's only with Jack.

This is definitely NOT a standalone, so you'll most likely be lost if you just jump in the story here. The best thing is to start at the beginning and gradually make your way to this point. For those already familiar with the story, in this series the novellas are not just additional or deleted scenes, they play a really important role to the whole plot so you'll be missing out on a lot if you decide to just stick with the main books.

I can't wait to see what new adventures await Jack and Ethan. I'm ready for the next part!




*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Normally, I don't read the same plot from a different POV, but I made an exception for Ethan. I'm glad I did. Seeing the story, so far, through Ethan's sensitive eyes, and being inside his head was quite the experience. I hurt so much for Ethan, who just wants to live his life. No matter how the Cabal tried to break him, Ethan is still in tact. Damaged, for sure, but in tact.

I'll definitely be rereading this series start to finish, once it is done.

[Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes “the other PoV” books don’t really add anything new to an already told story?

Well this book certainly isn’t one of those. Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t read it immediately after finishing book 2, because this way, it felt like a completely new, albeit slightly familiar story.

We get Jack’s pov for everything that happened and that eventually led to him killing Two.

To make it short: I loved it, and it made me understand and like Ethan even more. The plot line with Eve Garotte aka Nine made so much more sense now that we get the BTS that Jack was unaware of in book 2.

And the Coda about Dejana? Wow. That was a bit unexpected, and made me really looking forward to book 3, where (hopefully) we see Ethan finally free from the Cabal.

As for the previous books, Rowan Scott’s narration was close to perfect.

So if you’re reading this series: don’t ever skip the novellas and the in-between books, they’re really important for the overall story arc!

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan blade baby boy sweet Assassin can do no wrong and this book proved it.

I’ve been obsessed with Ethan and Jack since the first book in this series and after reading book 2 I was devastated for Ethan and angry with Jack and hating Adam, and now after reading this book and knowing all Ethan felt I’m even more convinced of Ethan’s Blade supremacy.

I don’t want this series to ever end

[Sahitya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking for the next book in this series intermittently, but maybe it’s been a while and I completely missed that this novella was releasing at the end of August. Thanks to some of the author Facebook groups I follow for reminding me of it and I knew I had to read it immediately.

I was actually surprised to know that this novella is the story before and during the events of Why the Devil stalks Death from the POV of Ethan. I was a bit worried that it might get repetitive because I already know what happened, but I was also excited because I was going to get to be inside Ethan’s head the whole time. But the author really managed to surprise me. There are a lot of things that happened in Ethan’s life during the same time as the investigation in Book 2, and it was fascinating to read about it all. The pacing was very quick and it felt like I was piecing together a puzzle, trying to find answers to some of the lingering questions from the previous book. I also think it was nice to finally read a book in a single timeline, though I suspect we won’t be that lucky in the next installment. And of course it was wrong of me to expect a relatively peaceful ending, because a couple of things that happened here seem like an indicator of much more personal dangers coming the way of our protagonists in the future - and I can’t wait to read them about them all.

We never really get to know Ethan a lot, so it was a joy to read this book. His POV lays bare all his insecurities, his craving for affection, his unusual relationship with all his siblings, his desperation to want to be with Jack but also worrying if he is keeping the other man from true safety and happiness. The love that he feels for Jack is reflected in his every thought and action, and it made me very emotional to read his thoughts. Every time he felt that Jack might want to be with someone else, or he was endangering Jack’s life, I teared up and just wanted to give Ethan a hug. How far have I come from being scared of this ruthless assassin to being utterly and helpless in love with him. Their relationship is just perfect and the way the author described all the myriad feelings that Ethan felt during the “kiss” was wow!!!! What an amazing moment that was...

Finally, this was a novella I didn’t know I needed but now can’t live without. Getting to know Ethan better is wonderful and I adore the author for making us care about this couple even more. I really hope the next book comes out soon, and maybe the author will take pity on us readers and give us a dual POV this time. And for anyone out there wondering if you should read this series - If you love reading about emotionally closed off lethal killers finding love, chapters full of cliffhangers that’ll keep you at the edge of your seat, and the refreshing setting of Australia, this series is perfect for you and I think you should start reading immediately.

[fleurette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely read short stories between the main books in the series, but I make an exception for this series. Not only these short stories are very important for the whole story of the series, but also they include the voice of Ethan. And they are usually very good.

This, however, is probably the weakest of the stories I read. To some extent, this is a re-telling of the events from the last book from Ethan's perspective. And I would definitely prefer it to be a completely separate story. Fortunately, I read the last book in this series long enough not to remember exactly everything. But even though it's a very good story and well written and I like Ethan a lot, I would prefer something else.

I'm not completely disappointed, but I didn't quite expect it.

[Meep · Rating 2 out of 5]

This really adds very little to the verse. The novella follows book two so closely that a lot of scenes appeared cut and paste. Ethan's pov added angst while offering little we didn't already now. I wasn't feeling the connection. The little bit of -what Ethan was doing- could easily have been incorportated into book two, even here it was largely off-page. We did get to see a little more of Nine and there's a tease regarding Eleven but no information.
I don't consider this a necessary part of the series. To me it was more a writing exercise -writen from another pov- that didn't entirely work.

[Mirian]

I’ve decided to skip this installment because I don’t read first POV—and according to the reviews it can be skipped. I may come back to it later.

[Lisazj1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

*SWOON* *dreamy sigh* And really, that's all you need to know. I'm generally not a fan of a total retelling from a different POV, but this look at Ethan's side of Why the Devil Stalks Death is an absolute must-read if you love Jack and Ethan. <3<3<3

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A whole book from Ethan's POV

YAAAAASSS!

Being in Ethan's head was such a treat. To be able to understand how he was feeling in different scenes from book 2, was heartbreaking at times. He was truly all in with Jack and wanted to do what was best for him... He was also being his regular ^Quirky^ self and that made him retreat at times.

I loved his POV. I loved him before and I love him even more now. He was so perfectly flawed and human. Such a great character 👏🏻 👌🏻 ❤️

[Nelly S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I was really looking forward to getting a better understanding of Ethan, but I found the book sadly underwhelming. It is basically the previous book re-written from Ethan’s POV. It rehashes the same story. So dialogue from key scenes (a lot) is repeated and since I read book 2 just a few weeks ago, I could recognize all of it. I expected to get additional insight into Ethan by the end of it, but I didn’t. Even the inner dialogue seemed pretty much the same. I would have appreciated more information on his childhood and his time with the Cabal for example. I think this book could easily be skipped.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

‘Dealing in Death’ is basically a retelling of ‘Why the Devil Stalks Death’ from Ethan’s POV. Quite frankly, it doesn’t add much in the grand scheme of things.

Yes, we do get a better understanding of Ethan’s motivations, but it really wasn’t necessary, or all that pivotal.

With that caveat, I was still thoroughly entertained by this extended novella. It really was a bit of extra for the fans of the series, and I’m not going to complain about that!

Up until this point, Ethan’s been quite an enigma. While readers see through Jack’s eyes how Ethan struggles with and then finally (to an extent) accepts how he feels for Jack, it’s still a pretty big mystery as to what exactly goes on in that complicated mind.

‘Dealing in Death’ gives a window into Ethan, and his constant struggle.

He’s in a tug-of-war between the emotionless killing machine he was trained to be, and the life and freedom he wants with Jack.

I really felt for Ethan. Granted, I’ve had a slightly unhealthy soft spot for the morally ambiguous assassin since book 1, but in this case I think I’m completely justified!

It isn’t just the push-and-pull between his two lives that readers get to see. We also get a front row seat to exactly what Ethan feels for Jack, and how Ethan struggles to process those still-new and foreign feelings, and the physical desires that come with it.

Yeah, I might have swooned a couple of times. Don’t judge me. They’re just a very sweet yet slightly dysfunctional pair!

Beyond that, we also get a run-down of some of the major action scenes from book 2 from Ethan’s end. Plus, readers get to see how Ethan interacts with his siblings, particularly Two.

It was interesting to see Two’s role in making Ethan who he is, and how things were playing out behind the scenes while Jack was working on the case in book 2.

Again, I don’t think it necessarily added too much to the overall story. But it was still a fun ride.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. I think fans of the series will appreciate it, though I’m not sure whether it’ll be a required read for the final book. In any case, I’m stoked to see how Ethan and Jack’s grand tale ends in book 3!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars

Dealing in Death is the latest installment in L.J. Hayward’s incredible Death and the Devil series. It is officially book 2.5 as it mostly covers the same basic storyline of Why the Devil Stalks Death, but this time from Ethan’s POV. It gives readers a chance to learn what Ethan was up to when he was away from Jack all those months, as well as to see the events of the second book from Ethan’s perspective. Ethan has been such a mysterious character and I really enjoyed getting a full-length story from his perspective. Hayward has always done a great job showing us Ethan’s vulnerability lurking underneath the stone cold killer, but here we really see his inner self in fascinating ways. I really enjoyed the insight into what drives him and how he makes the choices he does. It was nice to see just how tenderly Ethan cares about Jack and how truly meant for one another they are.

What also impressed me is how intense and exciting this story is, even considering how much of it we already saw play out in an earlier book. Sometimes in this type of story, things can feel flat from the repetition. But in this case, I was at the edge of my seat with excitement, even knowing exactly how the story was going to play out. It was really fun watching the pieces come together as we see it all through Ethan’s eyes, and making connections to the things we already saw happen. It is really incredibly well done and Hayward has such a way with building complex stories and making them clear and accessible.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my favorite, only second to first book. But I'm not sure how to rate it. It is so full of typos that I had to force my way through the story. Since this is definitely not the first book released by this author, I can only assume she doesn't really care about the presentation of her art. Such a shame to have such talent and not care what it looks like to the public.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd re-read. Absolutely loved this book. Love getting Ethan’s POV and getting more of his backstory. He is such an intriguing character. His perspective makes book 2 so much better, giving us the full story here and letting us see it all from a different perspective. Really interesting way of writing. Fine example of psychopaths done well.

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whole book from Ethan's POV? Uh, fuck yes! Gimme!

We only got one short story from his POV, so aside from knowing he was into their relationship, we didn't really get insight later on and especially in book 2 and what Ethan was up to all the time.

This was a real treat, because I myself always love getting both POV's of the MC's in romance books. I can live without it if it's really well written - as with these books, I have been doing fine without Ethan's POV for the most part - but if I could get both I would take that over one POV any day.

So getting basically a full length book, or novella, from his POV was awesome and such a treat. I always always was wondering what Ethan was getting up to when he was gone days, weeks, months at a time.

We get that here, and find out that Ethan might not have been as retired as he said...although he is definitely trying to be and that is his ultimate goal. But Ethan is having to deal with his own shit that he isn't exactly talking with Jack about...just as Jack wasn't talking enough with Ethan in the second book.

Plus, one of my favorite things about getting his POV is we get just how deep his love for Jack goes, how much he thinks about him, how deeply he cares for him, how scared he is that he isn't enough for Jack and that he doesn't deserve him. It really puts things, in well...perspective ;).

Plus, it's been quite awhile since I read the second book so I forgot some things that happened here and there, and also there were new things that happened in this from Ethan's POV to make it refreshing as well and not just the same story over again, because it wasn't.

(Like, Two was just called Two the whole time in this book so I forgot that he had been pretending to be the Constable.)

I just loved this, and it is definitely worth a read, especially because it gives us so much insight into Ethan and his past and why he does what he does and how he thinks, and how crazy in love with Jack he is, so if we don't get his POV in the last book...it will be okay, because I know more about how Ethan operates. (although if it was split between both Jack and Ethan's POV, that would be so awesome...IMO)

Two massive thumbs up from me, I couldn't put it down once I started it. Definitely recommend!