Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark-Hunter, Book 4)
While I am an avid Dark-Hunter fan, I haven’t read anything Dark-Hunter in a while. In fact, I haven’t even read Acheron despite receiving a copy before the US release date, thanks to being in Australia (yes, I know it’s blasphemy). I don’t remember why I read everything in order except for Zarek but that’s what I did, so I only read it now.
Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon features Zarek, a former Roman Slave who was made a Dark-Hunter. Generally deemed insane and irredeemable, he lives in the middle of nowhere in the Alaskan wilderness after being banished for an unspeakable deed he did about a thousand years ago or thereabouts. After fucking with a bunch of gods in the previous novel, Acheron, effectively his boss, and Artemis, the “bitch goddess” who founded the Dark-Hunters, argue about whether or not he should be executed. To maintain impartiality they send the goddess Astrid, baby sister to the Fates, to judge him guilty or innocent.
Astrid has never found anyone innocent in all the years she’s been sent to judge a Dark-Hunter. While she starts off thinking Zarek is most likely going to be guilty, she gives him the benefit of the doubt, as she is supposed to do, and tries to stick it out with him in a cabin in the woods with her “pet” wolf. Through the course of the novel we learn about Zarek’s past and a lot of new and important Dark-Hunter mythology.
What I liked about it
The mythology behind the Dark-Hunters never ceases to interest me. Kenyon always inserts everything in such a way that it fits with the story while at the same time each new tidbit makes you keep coming back for more. I think this is one of her biggest strengths–the way she can always pique your interest.
What I didn’t like about it
If this is the first Dark-Hunter you read you may get confused. Hell, I was confused a bit and I’ve read all the books except for Acheron and Dark Side of the Moon (I got bored). Her books are really not meant to stand alone. Also, too much introduction of the Dark-Hunter mythology in one go may be overwhelming for some. (For instance, I’m so glad I already knew what a Dream Hunter was or else I would be like, What? What? Who is this again? I had enough trouble remembering all the mythology behind the Apollites plus what happened in the last book.)
Yay or nay?
Overall it was quite an interesting read. I’m glad the Dark-Hunters are really like super heroes or else half the action sequences would be too much like a trying hard Die Hard sequel. (Oh, wait, they did that already. 
). I really felt the raw emotion that came with every tiny bit of Zarek’s past that came to light. It seemed like, dude, were you really such an asshole in your past life that this is your karma? It was almost like a telenovela/soap opera–except he wasn’t this poor starving girl that was being abused by her stepmother who knows she’s the real daughter of her father who knows nothing and has a prince charming that her evil stepsister drugs and ends up in a compromising position with and therefore they have to marry and wait I’d better stop this plot line now. In this way, I think Kenyon did well in evoking emotion and empathy from me.
I would recommend this book, but only if you’ve read the other books in the series as it can be confusing. Start with Night Pleasures (or Fantasy Lover–I couldn’t finish that one either but I might try again sometime) and see if you don’t get addicted. I know I did! You can read an excerpt here.
Where you can buy this book
AUSTRALIA: Booktopia | Dymocks | Ever After | Fishpond | Galaxy | Intrigue | Rendezvous | Romance Direct | Romantic Reflections | Siren | More
DIGITAL BOOKS: Dymocks | Kindle
WORLDWIDE: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Borders | The Book Depository
Acheron Cheat Sheet (Part 3)
Sherrilyn Kenyon book signing at Galaxy (the slightly tipsy version)
Acheron marathon
Sherrilyn Kenyon book signing at Galaxy
Acheron Cheat Sheet (Part 2)
Acheron Cheat Sheet (Part 4)
Book Bizzo #2 Sherrilyn Kenyon to visit Sydney, the Sunshine Coast talks romance, and books popular with the five finger discount crowd
Acheron Cheat Sheet (Part 5)
Acheron Cheat Sheet (Part 6)
Acheron Cheat Sheet (Part 1)
I liked this one too, but again, that edge of victimization Kenyon throws in too often started bugging me with this one. (Ash’s story had it bad too.)
Although I’m addicted to the Dark Hunters, none of them are re-reads for me- definitive proof of my love!- except Night Play! I love Vane & Bride!
Zeek, I don’t think Zarek was as bad as Ash in terms of victimisation. For me, the uncertainty over whether or not he did the things he’s accused of puts him in a kind of limbo where he can’t really defend himself because he’s not sure of the truth. Although, now that I thik about it, I found Zarek most interesting in the book before this one, where he goes a bit crazy and to hell with everyone else.
On Vane and Bride, I totally agree! They’re my favourite couple in the series–their book finally convinced me to keep going with the Dark-Hunters.
I actually liked this one quite a lot
Zarek turned out to be completely different than how he was portrayed in previous books 
Vane and Bride!! Love, love, love Vane and his brothers
Which book was Vane’s brother in? And did Astrid’s dog friend (too lazy to look it up) get his own story?
Vane’s bro is a novella in the new Kenyon anthology that we have that neither of us has read yet but Miel has read and she said it was ok. Doggy doesn’t have his own book yet.
Vane has two brothers. Fury’s story was in the Dead After Dark anthology and Fang’s book will be released later this year. No idea if Sasha will get his own book and at ARRC, Sherri said that she won’t commit to guaranteeing a character will get a book because she now has a stalker from promising a character a book and then the character died.
I read Fantasy Lover when it was released and wasn’t all that enthused, I thought it was kind of wishy washy. But at the end of the book, there was a blurb for the first “official” Dark-Hunter book, so I gave her another chance and was really glad I did. A couple years later, I reread FL for the first time and actually liked it.
“My hero is from the shit pit.”
— Sherrilyn Kenyon, ARRC.
Leave a comment
Where can I buy these books?
Or click here to find your local bookshop.
Snazzy book people
Special thanks to BOOKSELLER+PUBLISHER for keeping us abreast of what's going on in the Australian book industry, and particularly to Tim Coronel, who patiently explains to us the intricacies of book publishing in plain Tweet-lish.
Website| Twitter | Tim Coronel
Book Thingo bloggers
Contests and giveaways
Discounts
Recent posts
Browse
Archives
Cheat sheets
10 Random keepers
2010 Reading challenges
What we’re reading
Keywords
Recent Posts
Most Discussed
Most viewed