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    Dance With the Devil: A Dark-Hunter Novel
    Dance With the Devil: A Dark-Hunter Novel
    Dance With the Devil: A Dark-Hunter Novel
    Audiobook11 hours

    Dance With the Devil: A Dark-Hunter Novel

    Written by Sherrilyn Kenyon

    Narrated by Fred Berman

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Zarek's Point of View:

    Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.

    Insanity: A condition many say I suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don't suffer from my insanity-I enjoy every minute of it.

    Trust: I can't trust anyone...not even myself. The only thing I trust in is my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to hurt anyone who gets in my way.

    Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I'm tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled-I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

    Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me and I tremble. She smiles and my cold heart shatters.

    Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until the night Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateFeb 15, 2010
    ISBN9781427210203
    Dance With the Devil: A Dark-Hunter Novel
    Author

    Sherrilyn Kenyon

    Sherrilyn Kenyon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several series, including the Bureau of American Defense novels BAD Attitude, Phantom in the Night, Whispered Lies, and Silent Truth and the Belador series that includes Blood Trinity, Alterant, and The Curse. Since her first book debuted in 1993 while she was still in college, she has placed more than eighty novels on the New York Times list in all formats and genres, including manga and graphic novels, and has more than 70 million books in print worldwide. She lives with her family near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit her website at SherrilynKenyon.com.

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    Reviews for Dance With the Devil

    4.5/5

    78 ratings28 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Dark Hunter: " A souless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed" SK "Dance With The Devil"Zarek, a rogue dark hunter, is a cold and calculating killer. At least that is how the rest of the dark hunter world sees him. They have exiled him. Not only does he has the dark hunters to worry about but he has betrayed a god which can cause more suffering than anything he has suffered in the past.Astrid is chosen by the fates to judge Zarek. She holds his fate in her hands, guilty or innocent, life or death. A mission that Astrid does not want to undertake. Tricking Zarek into her care she learns more about his past and of who he is and is determined to save his life and show him love.
    • 3/5
      Here is the thing with this book---I actually really enjoyed all the Zarek, Astrid, "Dog", and Simi sections (which should have been the main part of the book). However, too much time spent with Artemis---I really like her in small doses. I hope that we get more Jess in the future (though looking through her book list not yet) and Spawn is great! I like the pairing of Z and A---I think it was a great way to make him more likable! (though honestly I kind of like the humor his charact...more Here is the thing with this book---I actually really enjoyed all the Zarek, Astrid, "Dog", and Simi sections (which should have been the main part of the book). However, too much time spent with Artemis---I really like her in small doses. I hope that we get more Jess in the future (though looking through her book list not yet) and Spawn is great! I like the pairing of Z and A---I think it was a great way to make him more likable! (though honestly I kind of like the humor his character has and how everyone is sure that he is bad LOL)
    • 4/5
      Zarek is a dark hunter and has been banished to Alaska. Astrid is a nymph who is sent by the gods to judge Zarek. The gods believe that Astrid will find Zarek guilty of the charges brought against him since she's never found anyone innocent. However, while she is getting to know Zarek, Astrid falls in love with the outcast. Zarek was introduced to readers in "Night Embrace" (which explains the charges against him). This book follows in the big footsteps of it's predicessors in the series. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters jumped out of the page at me. Another winner!
    • 5/5
      I really don't know what to say about this book. I loved Zarek, Astrid was wonderful (I love that name!), the story was perfect. The End.Okay, so maybe I have a bit more to say...I believe Sherrilyn Kenyon's writing has gotten better as the series progressed. Fantasy Lover was great but a bit choppy, Night Pleasure was nice but the weakest so far (IMO) and still somewhat choppy (not to mention it's the only one I've given away so far), Night Embrace was nice and enjoyable but needed the romance developed more in the first half, but Dance with the Devil was wonderful all the way through.This one felt different to me from the two previous Dark-Hunter novels; it rather had the same feeling as Fantasy Lover. This book felt more isolated from the rest of the series because it was in Alaska and there weren't as many characters or as much action (at least in the first half that is). Zarek was the perfect tortured hero and Sherrilyn Kenyon captured that...well, perfectly. I felt for all he suffered because he was more than a character in a book to me. Astrid was terrific as the nymph who is believable at helping him heal and love. Ash was of course wonderful, and the welcome addition of Simi added some much needed humor to a tense plot. I can't say I enjoyed Artie the Bitch; I really can't wait until she gets hers. I know Ash is getting his own book (or books, I've heard there are two but I don't want to read too much before I've read the rest of the series), and I sincerely hope he gets his freedom from her (and naturally she suffers horribly). He deserves so much better, and though he sees himself in Zarek, he also reminds me of Julian from FL with his storyline. This is my perfect book and it's staying on my keeper shelf for a very long time.
    • 5/5
      Ok, in all fairness we can't at all call this 'vamp fiction' (there's no biting) but it is a wonderful piece of paranormal romance. Zarek, a Dark-Hunter, suffers from isolation and madness following countless injustices against him during his 900+ year life time. At last he is being put on trial, so to speak, with the likely outcome that he will be executed. Astrid is the nymph charged with judging him. Despite the fact that she is supposed to remain impartial, she finds herself feeling deep sympathy and caring for the man with the deeply tortured soul. It is always challenging for an author to make their romantic lead so flawed and dangerous. Kenyon pulls it off with style and humor. Despite his moody, often cruel attitude you find yourself wanting the best for him. It's deeply romantic. At times in a light, soft way. At times in a dramatic cerebral way. Bottom line, by the end of the book you have no doubt that the two characters are in love and that you want them to be together. Side characters and world building add enhancement without overshadowing the lead couple. We see characters like the all-powerful Acheron, his demon companion Simi (comic relief in a big way), and Sasha the Were-Hunter. They're all intensely interesting and well developed. I would recommend the Dark-Hunter series to any fan of paranormal romance. This book will be a particular treat for Dark-Hunter fans.
    • 4/5
      Dance With The Devil is the fourth book in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series and focuses on Zarek, and picks us up right where we left off in the last book. Zarek in the helicopter leaving New Orleans for Alaska, where he was banished centuries before for a crimes even he is still fuzzy on. And added to this, the events of New Orleans, Artemis has decided enough is enough and Zarek should be punished once and for all.Permanently.Astrid, a nymph and judge, is called upon to cast sentence on Zarek. It’s up to her to decide whether he is capable of good or if he is truly a lost cause. Blinded in order to deliver a true verdict, Zarek stumbles upon her and she takes him in. What she doesn’t expect is to fall for him in the process.First of all, I have to say - what is it with tortured souls whose names begin with Z?Okay, moving on…Zarek is the son of a senator and a slave. He was given up at birth by his mother and tormented and tortured until his death where upon Artemis made him a Dark Hunter. A cold and tortured soul Zarek has lead a lonely life and through the glimpses of his past throughout the book it’s hard not to feel for the man, though he’d never want your compassion, and wouldn’t be afraid to tell you so.Astrid and Zarek’s relationship was a slow burn through the book and didn’t feel rushed. There’s nothing worse than a book that throws two conflicting characters together in the first couple of chapters – where do you go for the rest of the book?Added to this was the threat of Thantos, a Daimon who cannot be killed and created for the soul purpose of destroying rouge Dark Hunters and is after Zarek for maybe more than what they’ve been led to believe.I also have to get in a brief mention of Simi. I don’t want to give too much away, but I heart Simi.Final Thoughts…I had a little trouble getting back into the swing of this series after leaving a gap between this and the last. And since I had such a huge interest in Zarek’s character from Night Embrace I was afraid I had raised my expectations a little too high.Again, like with Night Embrace, I found myself more intrigued at times with stories going on elsewhere. Ash and Artemis’s storyline had me hooked just as equally as Astrid and Zarek’s. So far Sherrilyn has only given us small glimpses of Ash’s background and I for one can’t wait until I get to his book. But seeing how his book is number sixteen in the series my patience is going to be seriously tested. My rule for reading a series in order may be seriously broken by this character!Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series is a great addition to any paranormal romance/urban fantasy lover. I’ll say it again, if you’ve not picked these books up then I suggest you do! You’ll wonder why you haven’t sooner!
    • 4/5
      This is the first Dark Hunter book. I Loved it. My heart wept for the life Zarek had to endure before finding love. Kenyon is turning out to be one of my favorite authors. I fully intend to back up in this series and start at the beginning.
    • 5/5
      Zarek is a Dark Hunter, who has commited some terrible act in the past -about 1000 years ago- and was punished in exile in Alaska during all this time. Every other Dark-Hunter avoids him and is forbidden to talk with him. He's consider insane and dangerous and his creator, goddess Artemis, demands his execution. Acheron, leader of the Dark Hunters, steps in and asks for a judge to decide whether Zarek should live or die: the judge is to be Astrid, daughter of Thetis.Zarek, is the epitome of a tortured hero; I have never so far read about a more tortured one. Zarek was a lowly Roman slave during his mortal life. He was beaten and whipped to such great extent as to render him a cripple and hideously scarred; no wonder he can't believe he's actually handsome now. In all his 2000 years' life, he has never had a single person show him tenderness or kindness. Not allowed to talk to other dark hunters, living in Alaska's wilderness inside a small cabin for 22 out of 24 hours every summer, he's always been alone. No wonder his sanity is in question.This book is about Zarek; Astrid is a good heroine, meaning she's not bad or TSTL; but there's not much oomph in her. Astrid is a nymph. She has never judged someone innocent before and the only time she considered doing so, he ended up trying to kill her. She has been disappointed by everyone and lost her trust to people, as well as her joy in life. When Zarek arrives in her cabin, his crude behavior and few but harsh comments seem to point to his evil nature. But a few unexpected shows of kindness in his part, throw her off balance. And she decides to find out more about him in the only place he cannot hide: his dreams. And what she sees shocks her. How can a man stand so much, for so many years, and still be sane? Astrid is tempted to show him some tenderness and love, but her past experience as well as Zarek's gruff behavior won't make that easy. So, the question remains: is Zarek worth saving or not? But it turns out that she doesn't have much time to figure it out, since the executioner is already on the loose searching for Zarek and everyone who might have helped him.The first 2/3 of the book were mostly emotional. We learn about Zarek's past, see his relationship with Astrid evolve and their starting to care for each other. Being trapped in a remore cabin, makes that more believable than it otherwise would be. Zarek has a tendency to melodrama (lines like "I have always been alone" appear in his mind at least in every second page), but seeing what he's been through I didn't really mind it. The last third is pure action. Astrid and Zarek try to defeat Thanatos (=Death) and run for their lifes, while other dark hunters along with Acheron get involved in the fight. All in all, this book greatly reminded me of a Hollywood blockbuster:) It could never claim any artistic prize in the Cannes festival, but people will run to see it anyway! It's purpose is to entertain and it achieves its goal spectacularly. Cheesy lines, especially during the fights, overdone melodrama and grand, poetic but unrealistic declarations of love, remove any artistic/literary merit but the tight, fast paced plot, interesting characters and ominous atmosphere guarantee enjoyment. And enjoy it I did, and probably will again. It's a guilty pleasure, much like Shwarcheneger's or Die Hard movies: you know it's silly and has some ridiculous scenes, yet you end up loving it anyway. But it made me realize one thing: I don't really care for Kenyon's style enough to read every book of the series. I will have to pick my way through them carefully, because it seems it's the plot that captured me, rather than her writing. Any suggestions on where to go next are welcome!Note: In Greek Parthenopi is a female only name, and the 'Parthena' part means 'Virgin'. So Parthenopaeus, is not exactly a name for a super masculine hero for me. It actually ruins my vision of Acheron:(
    • 5/5
      It's ironic to me that my favorite Dark-Hunter book was about Valerius, and my second favorite should be about his brother, Zarek. All the hunters are emotionally scarred (they became hunters because of a great betrayal), but Zarek is almost feral. Even other Dark-Hunters fear him because he's so unpredictable and vicious. Only Acheron can see past all that. So, when the gods decide Zarek must die because he is too dangerous, Ash demands he be judged first. Astrid, a justice nymph, is sent to determine if he is worthy to live. His life, and ultimately his heart, is in her hands. I loved this entry to the series. When Astrid comes to Zarek, she is blind - as justice must be. He is harsh and brutal is coversation, but takes tender care of her never-the-less. These two made a dynamic couple, and the story was fast-paced with a lot of action. I didn't think another book could top this until I got to Seize the Night. Still, this cemented my commitment to the entire series. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      These books really are a guilty pleasure, and this one (the 4th I've read) is my favourite so far. Definitely need to download the next!
    • 5/5
      I absolutely adored this story. I loved Zarek's perspective. It was really nice to understand him better and understand why he is the way he is. I wish that we knew more about him before this book, though. I find myself wanting to know more.I am absolutely loving this series and can not wait to keep reading. I finish one book, then move right on. I'm loving the cross over between the different types of immortals.
    • 4/5
      Yeah! I finally found time to read a book! I'm so behind...but I digress.I hadn't read the previous book (Night Embrace, I think) for a while, so it took me a bit to get up to speed on the lexicon of the Dark Hunters again. But, it didn't take too long, and soon I was distracted by Zarek, anyway.This book did slow down in the middle...well, the action part of the plot did. With so much sex, I was beginning to wonder where the bad guys went! But they returned with a vengeance, bringing with them more clues about the most powerful and mysterious Ash.A nice, fast read in the on-going series.One other note: I'm not reading every book in the series, but the ones I have read are all chronologically connected. I think I've read 1, 2, 4, and 6, and have have 10 waiting (Valerius' book). I might look at the intervening ones, too, but V's book was recommended.
    • 4/5
      Dance with the Devil remains one of my favorites within the Dark-Hunter series and I always enjoy the reappearance of Zarek and Astrid in the subsequent books.Despite Zarek's abrasive personality, one can't help finding his interactions with others both funny and sweet. For example, early on Zarek blows up the helicopter of a Squire leaving him stranded but gives him advice on surviving the harsh terrains of Alaska. Then, there's the time when Astrid is soaking wet after venturing into a blizzard. Zarek prepares her a hot drink without being asked but tells the blind nymph it is a mixture of arsenic and vomit.Astrid's determination to do right is admirable as well. Once she realizes the reasons for Zarek's behaviour, she refuses to give up on him. Neither does she allow him to push her around. She defies even the Greek gods to be with Zarek but has no qualms about letting him know what is acceptable behaviour.Then, there's the added bonus of meeting Simi as well as learning more of Acheron and Artemis's relationship. The demon's childlike innocence is at odds with her ability to kill and makes for a very funny contrast. Which is what makes Simi so fun. And while Acheron and Artemis's relationship doesn't bode well, the reasons for it and how it will end for them is a strong hook to keep on reading.Definitely a keeper and one which no Dark-Hunter fan should miss.
    • 5/5
      Astrid is sent to judge Zarek to secure his fate. When Thanatos shows up to kill Zarek, he goes on the run to protect Astrid.
    • 5/5
      This is the 3rd book in the Dark Hunters series. It's been so long since I've read the second one that I can't remember if I even DID read the second one. Is that sad or what? Anyway, moving along...in this book, Zarek is being held accountable for all of the wrongs he has committed. Artemis wants nothing more than to see him dead, so she orders his death. Acheron doesn't want to see one of his men killed unfairly, so he makes a compromise with Artemis: let Zarek be judged, and if he's found guilty then the death order will stand. He personally chooses Astrid for this task. She's never found anyone innocent and in the process of being a judge she feels like she is losing all compassion for anyone or anything. But Acheron knows she will be fair and she agrees to judge Zarek. When she first meets Zarek, he is everything they promised he would be: angry, cruel, and uncaring. Or so it seems. Part of her wants to just find him guilty and be able to go home, but there's something about Zarek that makes Asterid want to find out more about him. As she learns more about his past, she sees things that will haunt her for the rest of her life. Only Asterid seems to see the good in him, but how can you save someone that doesn't want to be saved?My Review: I'll admit, this book started off kind of slow for me. Not sure why, the story line actually jumped right into things, but for some reason I just couldn't get connected. It didn't take long before I just couldn't put it down! I loved Zarek, he was such a tortured soul and even though he comes off as uncaring and basically just an asshole, you know that deep down there's more to him. The scenes that chronicled his abuse were heartbreaking, even more so when you assume that some kids were are and are actually treated that way. This book actually reminded me a lot of the Black Dagger Brotherhood's Zsadist; he was also abused growing up and it very obviously shaped who he became. He's even called "Z" a lot too by those around him, so sometimes I was like "which book am I reading?" Not in a bad way though, I loved Zsadist so much and I love Zarek as well. Asterid is great too, she's a tough chick and doesn't take any of Zarek's crap. I like how even though everyone insists he's beyond help and he's such an evil person that she refuses to give up on him. Little pieces of the man underneath his hard exterior show through every once in awhile and she starts to see that the way he acts is a defense mechanism. If people don't get close to you they can't hurt you. And of course he has no reason to trust anyone, after his horrible childhood and 900 year banishment in Alaska. The romance is very hot in the book, even though it's not the main focus. It takes a long time for Zarek to even open up much to Asterid and the way she finally connects with him is unexpected. As much as I loved the main characters, I really loved the two minor characters of Sasha and Simi as well. Sasha is the werewolf that stays with Asterid while she's judging Zarek, and he absolutely HATES him. The feeling's mutual too. Sasha stays in wolf form so that Zarek doesn't realize what he is, because he can't know he's being judged, but he makes comments about Zarek constantly to Asterid (they can communicate to each other with their minds) that is most often hilarious. My favorite though is Simi, a demon who can take human form, but mostly she appears as a tattoo on Acheron's body. She's sassy, witty, and spoiled. And she absolutely hates Artemis. She always talks about barbecuing people she doesn't like and my favorite quote from her came at the end:"I understand all right. I understand the bitch-goddess needs the Simi to barbecue her until she learns to be nice to people. I think she'd be rather attractive on fire. I could make her look like that old sea hag or something."I definitely think the Dark Hunter series is unique and I love learning about all of them and the Greek mythology that is a central part of all of the books. This book to me wasn't as original, since like I said the story of BDB's Zsadist was very similar. But I still love love LOVED this book and can't wait to read the next one in the series!My rating: 5/5 stars
    • 4/5
      A great story, one of many is the Dark Hunter Series.Zarek, is a Dark Hunter (a vampire like immortal), though they don't seem to drink blood or need to feed for that matter, Zarek did not feed during the whole story. He has been bannished for over 900 years to Alaska where he has lived a quiet life. The duty of a Dark Hunter is to kill Daimons - beings who feed on humans, but of course Zarek has not had to deal with any of them in the last 900 years.His life as a human before he bacame immortal was that of a slave and a rotten life it was too - he was treated abominably by everyone he met - I think I missed him becoming a Dark Hunter and why he chosen on death to this duty.He has just been summoned to New Orleans by the leader of the Dark Hunters, Acheron (nicknamed Ash) and something happens there and he attacks some policeman and is once again banished back to Alaska - this time with a possey not far behind him. The Goddess Artemis wants him dead but before than can happen Astrid, a judgement nymph is sent to earth to decided whether Zarek is insane or not - will he be innocent or guilty. She gets into his dreams and sees what his life was like, it takes he quite awhile to get Zarek to trust her because he is so uncaring and whole lot of other horrible things, on the outside anyway.It was an intersting story, I think you need to read a few in this series to get an idea of what they are about.
    • 4/5
      When it comes to paranormal books, I normally don't go in too much for the ones that are too heavy on the romance. Normally you'd expect this series to fall in that category, but the whole backstory with the Gods and Goddesses has gotten me totally hooked in!Kenyon's 4th Dark-Hunter book (counting Fantasy Lover as book one) tells the full story of Dark-Hunter Zarek, who's been banished to the far reaches of Alaska. Zarek first appeared in the previous book, Night Embrace, when he was called to New Orleans to help out with the overabundance of Daimons that always infiltrate the city during the annual Mardi Gras celebration.Unfortunately, Zarek's life hangs by a thread. The Goddess Artemis, creator of all the Dark-Hunters, wants him dead and has sent her executioner Thanatos to hunt him down and kill him. Zarek's sour disposition towards everyone around him—and towards life in general—hasn't helped his situation any. It seems that only Acheron, the firstborn Dark-Hunter and leader of their kind, truly understands his plight and is able to see the good that lies dormant within Zarek. In a final attempt to spare Zarek's life, Acheron requests that he be judged by Themis, and agrees to be bound by whatever decision the judge comes to. If deemed that Zarek poses a danger to society, then he will agree to the Dark-Hunter's death. Now it is Astrid—daugher of Themis and sister to the Three Fates—who must determine Zarek's fate. Astrid, who herself has begun to feel despondent and emotionally bankrupt, and has never before proclaimed anyone innocent in the history of the world. Is he beyond redemption? Or can he be saved by the hand of Fate... or the heart of an impartial judge?
    • 3/5
      Plot: a better and more balanced plot than in the previous Dark-Hunter books, but with a few gaping plotholes. The ending is becoming routine by now, and makes you wonder just how this universe managed to exist when what supposedly is a unique thing to happen tends to happen every few months. Characters: Interesting build-up with Zarek, but the supposed danger in him is mollified far too much by fluff. The rest is rather flat and boring. A pity is that the heroine's blindness is not utilized fully - she's given a way out of it immediately rather than go through with the handicap. Side characters get no attention; they're out-of-the box and have very little depth.Style: Can we please stick to one POV for more than two paragraphs? Reading this is like getting whiplash. Other than that, purple prose especially in the sex scenes, which are rather unimaginative and boring. Plus: Good setup for Zarek. Minus: The constant POV changes, the unavoidable happy end, and the avoidance of really addressing what Zarek's past would have done to him. Summary: One of the better books in the series, but still with plenty of flaws.Addendum: the parallels between Zarek and Zsadist from Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood are quite amusing. Out of the two, however, Zsadist is by far the one with better characterisation, and also gets to play in the better series.
    • 5/5
      An ex-slave banished to the wilds of Alaska centuries previous because his tongue and behavior is dangerously offensive, the Dark Hunter Zarek was offered a temporary reprieve when New Orleans needed reinforcements. Unfortunately, he managed to screw up. Now he's back in Alaska with not only the Blood Squires but a Thanatos and a judgment nymph on his trail.Astrid (the nymph) doesn't know what to make of Zarek, but she's pretty sure he isn't guilty. And he still isn't going to know what hit him.One of my favorite of the Dark Hunter series, I reread this one every now and then.
    • 4/5
      Zarek hates everyone including himself. To top it off, he messed up in New Orleans and is facing certain death when he returns to Alaska. But, he has a chance at redemption when Astrid comes to judge him. Will he also find his true love? One of Kenyon’s better Dark-Hunter stories.
    • 4/5
      I wasn’t expecting to like this installment in the series, mostly because Zarek is not the most charming of Dark-Hunters. I was pleasantly surprised! I ended up like this quite a bit, despite Zarek’s surliness. It helps if it hasn’t been *too* long since you read Night Embrace (Talon’s story), because there’s a lot of reference to Zarek’s part in that book. There were a few things that didn’t make sense to me in this, not the least of which was the story behind Astrid’s blindness. She’s supposed to lose her sight while she’s judging someone, yet she can use her “companion”, Sasha, to see. Isn’t that cheating? Regardless, this troublesome little detail isn’t enough to get in the way of the true purpose of the story, which is to tell a love story about the gods.
    • 4/5
      Fun read, immortals abound, Zarek is a dark hunter, immortal, soulless, exiled. Astrid is an immortal who is supposed to judge him.Complete Vampire slash but a fun and compelling read, I couldn't put it down!
    • 4/5
      Despite it's flaws (Kenyon tends to repeat herself, and she's obviously ripping off Buffy and Charmed)- I like the series. It's all about the characters, dude. I love them, and though the heroes all tend to look and act alike ... you just gotta love them too.Dance with the Devil, is considered one of the best in the Dark Hunter series. Although it's a good story, I wouldn't say it's my favorite so far. Zarek is a one hard, tortured hero and considering his past, he has every right to be.Never shown love in his previous life, he endured abuse at the hands of everyone he met. As a roman slave to the nastiest generals that ever live, who just happens to be his father as well, he had the short end of the stick all his life.After he turns DH, a village he was sworn to protect is destroyed. Unfortunately he doesn't remember how it exactly happened. Laboring under the impression that HE was the source of destruction he submits to his punishment willingly, (exile in Alaska), and lives hundreds of years relatively alone and frozen, if not in body then emotion.Then SHE comes along and melts his defenses. People who love tortured heroes that are waiting to be saved by love, will adore Zarek. And I must admit, I fell for him too.
    • 5/5
      Can I give it a sixth star... *checking*... Nope, not possible! I think I love this so much because it's Zarek, the badass who never speaks unless he's questioning your intellect with a snarky comment. I am in love with his sarcasm and his... Well, everything. Astrid finally finds a way to bring out his civil side (even if it's only for her). We get a look into his past and his reasoning more than we get hers and I just felt heartbroken for him.
    • 5/5
      At last.....another Dark-Hunter book that I could really sink my teeth into (pun intended;-)). I had greatly enjoyed the first book of the series, Fantasy Lover, but the stories in between that book and Dance with the Devil had left me feeling underwhelmed and less than satisfied. As I suspected it might, Dance with the Devil gave me a meatier tale with two well-developed characters that I could totally root for and who were very relatable, as well as getting back to some stronger relationship building. Even though the story took place within a matter of days, much like the previous books, the connection between Zarek and Astrid was more palpable and consequently more believable to me, because they actually spent large swaths of time virtually alone together, during which they were able to communicate on a fairly deep level. Their communication wasn't always of a direct nature, since Zarek was bound by the Dark-Hunter code which forbade him from telling anyone about who or what he was. Still, I thought that the author used a very creative solution for getting around that by having Astrid join Zarek in his dreams, where she was able to see the things he dreamed about (nightmares really), and they could talk about some things that he wouldn't be able to discuss when he was awake. It also provided the opportunity for Astrid to give Zarek some much-needed love and kindness in a “safe” environment, as well as a couple more steamy love scenes than would have been possible otherwise. I also liked how, in the dreams, Astrid gifted Zarek with a few small childhood pleasures that he had been harshly denied in his human life. I just think that the hero and heroine being together and interacting in more than just a sexual way for a large part of the book really helped to solidify their burgeoning love for one another.Zarek definitely earned a place at the top of my most tortured heroes list. I've seen other readers liken him to Zsadist from J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and after reading this book, I would have to agree that it is an apt comparison. Zarek's torment was somewhat different from Zsadist's, but no less inhumane and cruel. What was truly heartbreaking to me about it was when I discovered through a bit of research that some Roman slaves really were treated that badly. Sherrilyn Kenyon certainly did her homework on that one. Even in the last book, Night Embrace, I could tell that there was a lot of depth lurking beneath the surface of Zarek's gruff exterior and harsh words, and he certainly didn't disappoint me in this story. Inside, he has a sensitive, compassionate heart and especially around Astrid, he is extremely tender and gentle. He was strong enough to live through 2000 years of loneliness, torture and betrayal, but no matter how brutally he was treated, his tormentors were never quite able to kill that part of him that longed to love and be loved. He just buried it very deeply inside, where I'm not sure even he realized it still existed, making it a challenge for Astrid to find and unlock it. The only thing about Zarek which I would have liked to know that wasn't told, is exactly how he became a Dark-Hunter and what his act of vengeance was. Typically, it seems that the Dark-Hunters were warriors in their human life, but Zarek was a lowly slave. This left me wondering why Artemis decided to grant him immortality, but this part of his backstory was never explored. Otherwise, Zarek was a wonderful character who has become one of my favorite heroes.I knew after reading about Zarek in Night Embrace that he would need a strong, patient heroine to help him overcome his past, and in my opinion, Ms. Kenyon wrote the perfect mate for him. Astrid is very intuitive and understanding of Zarek, instinctively knowing that he isn't the bad person everyone thinks him to be. I loved that she never took his barbs and sarcasm personally, but realized it was just part of the armor he used to protect that most fragile piece of himself, his heart. This was wonderful, because it meant that there were no silly misunderstandings between them. She also exhibited some bravery in staying by Zarek's side to keep him from being killed by the gods, even though by doing so, she was endangering her own life. Additionally, she showed determination by not giving up on finding out the truth about what happened to Zarek's village, which nearly everyone thought he was responsible for decimating 900 years ago. Overall, she was just a warm, kind, gentle and loving heroine who was exactly the kind of woman Zarek needed in his life.Dance with the Devil had a fairly broad secondary character palette. Acheron and Artemis returned from previous books, and readers get to know Ash even better. Ash played a strong role in this book, and the depth that was added to his character made him all the more lovable, but still an enigma that leaves me wondering exactly who and what he is. Acheron's little demon companion, Simi, is introduced in this book, and she is mostly cute and endearing, although I will admit that she talks a little too much for my taste. She is a child-like creature who has stream of consciousness dialog, basically no filter between her brain and her mouth, but her heart is definitely in the right place. There are a number of other new characters who were introduced in Dance with the Devil as well including Jess aka Sundown who is Zarek's friend and the first cowboy Dark-Hunter; Sasha, Astrid's Katagari (Were-Hunter) wolf companion; Syra, the first female Dark-Hunter to grace the series; Spawn, the first Apollite Dark-Hunter, and M'Adoc, a Dream-Hunter. There was also a brief mention of D'Alerian, another Dream-Hunter who appeared in Night Pleasures, and several assorted squires. Some of these characters were quite intriguing, but unfortunately, I'm not aware of any of them appearing in their own books as of yet.While I did enjoy Dance with the Devil a lot, especially when compared with some of the previous books in the series, it wasn't absolutely perfect for me. The author seems to have a habit of throwing supernatural powers into the story for the sake of convenience, and Dance with the Devil unfortunately was no exception. It just wasn't as pronounced in this book as in past ones which made it more palatable. I was also able to take it a little bit better because there were no human characters who were being afforded these powers either. Ms. Kenyon also seems to enjoy creating lots of new characters, as is evidenced above, which usually means new mythology as well, but again unlike previous books, she managed to weave most of these elements in without bringing the story to a screeching halt to do it, which I greatly appreciated. The last thing that was a little bothersome to me was the ending. There was certainly some excitement in the climax, but things just seemed to peter out a little too quickly. Maybe it was because the bad guy wasn't quite as bad as he seemed, so I didn't get the satisfaction of his comeuppance. Also, the final romantic scenes between Zarek and Astrid, while quite happy, seemed to be a little lacking and I felt they needed a bit more zing to them. Overall though, my complaints are pretty minor and didn't detract much from my overall enjoyment of the novel. Dance with the Devil still managed to earn a place on my keeper shelf and has definitely reinvigorated my interest in the Dark-Hunter series which I now look forward to continuing in the future. There are currently 25 novels and short stories (#26 is due to be released in August) in the Dark-Hunter series with Dance with the Devil being the sixth. A complete list of all the books and their recommended reading order can be found on Sherrilyn Kenyon's website.A Dark-Hunter Christmas – This is a short 16-page bonus novella that can be found in the back of Dance with the Devil, but I'm not sure if it is in every edition. The story is that of Gallagher, a relatively young Dark-Hunter (only about 100 years), who was newly introduced for this tale. Readers will get to see yet another side of Acheron and Simi that adds a bit more depth to their characters, and also get a brief visit with a bunch of the Were-Hunters from Sanctuary as well as Tabitha (Seize the Night). I don't know if Gallagher will play a part in any future Dark-Hunter stories or if he might someday get his own, but I felt like I got to know him well enough to think that he would make a good hero. Overall, this was just a quick, heartwarming holiday-themed read that emphasizes the importance of family and how people don't necessarily have to be related by blood to consider themselves family. For some reason this novella is no longer listed in the recommended reading order for the Dark-Hunter series on Sherrilyn Kenyon's website. I know of one other story that disappeared from the chronology which is now included in another full-length novel, so I'm not sure if that's what happened to this story as well or not. Rating: ****1/2
    • 5/5
      4.5 stars This is the 4th book in the Dark-Hunter series.Zarek is a Dark Hunter who's been mostly banished to Alaska because he destroyed a village he was supposed to protect--900 years ago--and rather than killing him outright, this is his "second chance." Between his human life as a hideously abused slave, and his centuries of isolation, he has a not-undeserved reputation for insanity. In Night Embrace, he showed up in New Orleans to help out, and got himself noticed, so he's expecting the assassins any day now.When Thanatos, the killer of Dark Hunters shows up, Zarek can't help fighting, but he knows it's all over. Except that he ends up waking up in a warm, soft bed, and finds himself in the company of the beautiful, compassionate, and blind Astrid.Astrid is the strictest of the Olympian judges, known for never having found a subject not guilty, and she's been tasked with judging Zarek. She's also scrupulously fair, and burned out on her job. Every time she's ready to pronounce Zarek guilty, he does something that makes her wait, and reevaluate.Of course, they fall in love (look at the spine--it's a romance), and it's sweet and poignant--Zarek having never in all those centuries known affection, and Astrid being torn between her duty and emotions.And in the process, a lot of things are cleared up, things which got to be pretty darn infuriating.Zarek has got to be one of the most extremely tortured heroes I've read. His absolute devotion to duty in spite of all he's been put through is both admirable, and just a wee bit too much for me. His temper does... heh... temper it somewhat, but I still found it a little too good to be true that he never, in all those centuries, was even tempted to turn on those colleagues who'd long ago turned their backs on him. Still, it was only a half-star's worth of irritation.I see why this series has such devoted followers. What I'm still struggling with understanding is that as much as I've loved all the books in this series that I've read, I don't feel invested in it.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book, and adored the whole story of Zarek's life!
    • 4/5
      This is one of my favorite Dark-Hunter books -- not because it's written any better than the others, but because Zarek is one of the more developed and interesting characters in this series. However, after rereading it for the nth time, I do have to admit that the plot is fairly weak. It focuses first on Zarek overcoming his past, then on his relationship with Astrid, and finally on Zarek's conflict with Artemis and the other Dark-Hunters. The book hardly touches at all on the ongoing battle against the Daimons. So, while Zarek himself is interesting, his story isn't as much.