Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Dance with the Devil (Dark-Hunter, Book 4) - Sherrilyn Kenyon

Description~

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?


Wow! I enjoyed this book SO MUCH! And after the last Dark Hunter book falling a bit flat I was extremely cautious to continue. BUT everyone told me how Zareks story was SO GOOD that I just couldn't leave my Dark Hunters.

In this DH book you meet Zarek. In Z's human life he was a slave/whipping boy for his very own family. Z's life was a loveless one and I found it extremely hard to read about. At one point in the book he talks about the day he died. He refered to it as the day he died down on his hands and knees like a dog! :*( Later Z became a Dark Hunter and got sent to a village to protect his humans. Z's life soon turned upside down when he was accused of killing everyone is his village and bruning it down. The worst part of the matter was that Z couldn't recall any events that took place pushing him to believe that he must have been guilty. z got banished to Alaska where he lived a life of solitude.

Jumping ahead we meet the emotinally detatched nymph Astrid. Being a judge has worn on Astrids poor soul and left her believeing she in incapable of feeling. Astrid is approached by Artemis and Ash to judge Zarek. If he is found unstable he will be put to death. Otherwise he will be free to remain living his life out as a Dark Hunter.

One thing I really liked about this story was that it involved a nymph falling for a Dark Hunter. It really puts a spin on the norm when BOTH are immortals with powers! Of course Z has no idea at first that Astrid is an immortal. I loved the fact that during the judgement Astrid was blind. It was so sweet seeing Z help her out when she was knocking into stuff and when she broke the glass and he picked her up and carried her into the next room I just gushed! Z was very hard for Astrid to get into b/c of his past but, wow she is one persistant gal! Z never felt worthy of her but she taught him that everyone is worthy of love. And in the mean while she even found herself being able to feel soemthing that she thought was locked away forever!

Another thing I loved (which happens in all of SK's DH books) was that you always get these amazing side characters with wonderful stories! First theres Thanatos; Artemis sent him to kill Z. You find out there is a lot more to his story! Thanatos's wife was killed long ago and he has had vengence in his heart ever since. You also get to meet the Dark Hunter Sundown; he is Z's best/only friend. He helps Z try to get Astrid out of trouble a few times and persoanlly I can't wait to read his story...hes a cowboy! YEE HAW! lol And who can forget Sasha; Astrids werewolf posing as her pet that helps her see. And above all you meet Simi. Simi is a demon who lives on Ash's body as a tattoo. Simi is a crack up! She is basically a 6 year old in a powerful demon body! Ash treats Simi as a daughter and their relationship is just too cute!

Ok so there is TONS of action, romance and HAWT SEX! Basically the three comon factors in all the Dark Hunter books that leave you breathless!

Snib Bit~

Here in her arms, for the first time, he felt peace. There was a part of him so calm now, so tranquil, and another part of him that was on fire, dying to touch her. Zarek lowered himself down on top of her so that he could nibble the tender flesh of her neck. He felt the chills run down her body. He scraped her skin with his fangs, tempted to sink them in. What would she taste like? What more emotions would she make him feel?

"Are you going to bite me, Zarek?" she asked, making her throat vibrate under his lips. He ran his tounge over the vein that throbbed on her neck.

"Do you want me to?"

*OH YES PLEASE PLEASE!!! lol Ok so go get this book if you haven't already.


I give this book a total of...




<3monroe

10 comments:

Nicole McLaughlin said...

wow...if you like these, you have to read the series by JR Ward. The Black Dagger Brothers or something like that. I just read the first one....HOT!!!

July 23, 2009 at 1:04 PM
nath said...

I really enjoyed this one as well!! The series was really good, too bad that the author couldn't keep it up.

You didn't like Wulfe story? I loved that one as well :P

July 23, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Rowena said...

Yay, I'm really glad that you're enjoying this series. I knew you would love this book. Great review sweets!

July 23, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Monroe Dawson said...

Nicole-
I HAVE read BDB!!! Well only the first book and I REALLY liked it...REALLY LIKED IT! lol In fact my friend is mailing the second book to me now!

Nath-
No No I havent made it to Wulf yet...hes next. I didn't TOTALLY love Night Embrace...Talons story. Idk youd have to read my review (only a few back from here) but there was just something that made me not love it. Which I normally love the DH books!

Wena-
Thanks baby cakes! ;o)

July 23, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Nicole McLaughlin said...

Awesome, we will be reading it about the same time!! :) I really liked it, but always had to laugh when she referenced 2Pac, Biggie, etc!! I don't know why, it just struck me as funny. It was fun to imagine it though, set the tone i guess. Anyway...have you read the "extra" scene from Wrath and Beth on her website. It's under Slices Of Life I think. SIZZLE!!!!!!

July 24, 2009 at 8:08 AM
Maija said...

This is my favorite Kenyon novel. I loved Zarek!

July 24, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Monroe Dawson said...

Nicole-
Oh ya their gangster talk is a bit over the top but it doesnt stop me from reading them!

Maija-
How could anyone NOT love Zarek! *sigh

July 24, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Tia said...

Sorry I'm late bunny! Good review! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Zarek. He's my boyfriend. I don't see the next BDB in your lineup yet. I agree totally with you guys about the brothers being wiggerish...at first I thought it was all gonna be this big ass joke and make the books suck...it didn't. I still totally love them even if they are a little over the top. The dialogue still makes me chuckle. I have to admit.

July 27, 2009 at 12:56 PM
~ames~ said...

I've been planning on rereading this series to catch myself up (left off around book 12) but this review makes me want to skip all the books and head straight to this one. LOL

July 27, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Monroe Dawson said...

Tia-
Oh I LOVED Zarek! His story broke my heart! Love them Dark Hunter men! MMMmmm...lol

Ames-
You should!!! Although Fantasy Lover holds a special place in my little heart! <3

July 30, 2009 at 4:30 PM