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kathydavie's review
3.0
Second in the Dante Valentine urban fantasy series.
My Take
This is an interesting manner in which to provide us with Dante's childhood background…a fascinating and gruesome background at that.The irritating bits were all the whining that Dante did about Jace and his hanging around; about Japh and his being dead. With all the experience Dante has with the paranormal, you'd reckon she'd have considered that there was a possibility of her being able to bring Japh back. And it was just too convenient that Jace dies when he does. Yes, I know it would have been more work to write in more conflict but…jeez…
The Story
Dante is trying to forget her recent past, and her old past is jumping up to bite her in the back. Something or someone is torture-killing old schoolmates.
dajoyofit's review against another edition
4.0
What a ride! About 65% through the book, I thought how great this would be as an HBO or Starz mini series.
There was a lot of angst and action. The storytelling, characters, and the narrators voice are captivating. Unfortunately the author’s stylistic choices make for a clumsy reading. Which isn’t fun
I think DMR was a good wrap up of Bk 1, imo. A great stopping point if you’re not interested in continuing on with the series. Based on reader reviews, I’m stopping here. Especially because it looks as if the next book develops a new plot that spans Bk3 - 5.
As much fun as it was to ride along with Dante’s adventures in Bk 1 & 2, the writing style is different enough that it goes from feeling fresh to incoherent rather fast. My version of the book contained a lot of typos, as a result, a lot of nonsensical sentences. I had to skim over entire paragraphs. So not a reflection on the author but on her publisher.
There was a lot of angst and action. The storytelling, characters, and the narrators voice are captivating. Unfortunately the author’s stylistic choices make for a clumsy reading. Which isn’t fun
I think DMR was a good wrap up of Bk 1, imo. A great stopping point if you’re not interested in continuing on with the series. Based on reader reviews, I’m stopping here. Especially because it looks as if the next book develops a new plot that spans Bk3 - 5.
As much fun as it was to ride along with Dante’s adventures in Bk 1 & 2, the writing style is different enough that it goes from feeling fresh to incoherent rather fast. My version of the book contained a lot of typos, as a result, a lot of nonsensical sentences. I had to skim over entire paragraphs. So not a reflection on the author but on her publisher.
hectaizani's review
3.0
A relative newcomer to the Dark Fantasy genre, Lilith Saintcrow pens a
tale that will seem superficially familiar to the aficionado.
Protagonist Dante (Danny) Valentine is a necromance, a half-demon and a
bounty hunter. Beginning where “Working for the Devil” the previous
(and first) novel in the series left off, we find Danny immersing
herself in her work collecting bounties nonstop as a means to forget
about the death of her lover. Japhrimel a full demon, is the reason
that Danny now finds herself to be semi-immortal, inhumanly beautiful
and nearly invulnerable.
Danny receives a call from close friend and fellow necromance, Gabe, who
asks for her help in investigating a series of killings. The victims
are seemingly unrelated, with two being psions and one a normal, until
Danny using her talents calls back one of the murdered spirits, and is
told “Remember Rigger Hall. Remember. REMEMBER!” Aided by former
lover, Jace, the shaman who taught her almost everything she knows about
bounty hunting, Danny begins an investigation that will tear her apart
by forcing her to confront her tortured childhood at Rigger Hall.
When she starts receiving letters and phone calls from The Devil asking
where Japhrimel is, since he can’t seem to locate him in hell, Danny
begins to wonder if she is losing it. She knows Japhrimel is dead she
witnessed Lucifer kill him with her very own eyes. Now the voices in
her head tell her she could have brought him back if only she knew how.
It’s a story that melds a little bit of cyberpunk, with a dash of
paranormal romance, and then brings that together with just enough
thriller/horror elements to satisfy the reader. This reviewer would
suggest reading “Working for the Devil” first for the full effect.
Fortunately a glossary is provided, as the author not only uses Egyptian
phrases, but also makes up many of her own names for common things –
such as werecain instead of werewolf or lycanthrope and nichtvren for
vampire.
This series should be immediately and immensely popular with fans of
Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison and Charlaine Harris. A powerful
urban fantasy, with a strong female lead wielding immense power, but who
has the sensitivity to question her own humanity.
tale that will seem superficially familiar to the aficionado.
Protagonist Dante (Danny) Valentine is a necromance, a half-demon and a
bounty hunter. Beginning where “Working for the Devil” the previous
(and first) novel in the series left off, we find Danny immersing
herself in her work collecting bounties nonstop as a means to forget
about the death of her lover. Japhrimel a full demon, is the reason
that Danny now finds herself to be semi-immortal, inhumanly beautiful
and nearly invulnerable.
Danny receives a call from close friend and fellow necromance, Gabe, who
asks for her help in investigating a series of killings. The victims
are seemingly unrelated, with two being psions and one a normal, until
Danny using her talents calls back one of the murdered spirits, and is
told “Remember Rigger Hall. Remember. REMEMBER!” Aided by former
lover, Jace, the shaman who taught her almost everything she knows about
bounty hunting, Danny begins an investigation that will tear her apart
by forcing her to confront her tortured childhood at Rigger Hall.
When she starts receiving letters and phone calls from The Devil asking
where Japhrimel is, since he can’t seem to locate him in hell, Danny
begins to wonder if she is losing it. She knows Japhrimel is dead she
witnessed Lucifer kill him with her very own eyes. Now the voices in
her head tell her she could have brought him back if only she knew how.
It’s a story that melds a little bit of cyberpunk, with a dash of
paranormal romance, and then brings that together with just enough
thriller/horror elements to satisfy the reader. This reviewer would
suggest reading “Working for the Devil” first for the full effect.
Fortunately a glossary is provided, as the author not only uses Egyptian
phrases, but also makes up many of her own names for common things –
such as werecain instead of werewolf or lycanthrope and nichtvren for
vampire.
This series should be immediately and immensely popular with fans of
Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison and Charlaine Harris. A powerful
urban fantasy, with a strong female lead wielding immense power, but who
has the sensitivity to question her own humanity.
sasha_reads_books's review
5.0
It's not every day that you read a sequel and say that it is better than the first in every way. The main characters are fleshed out way better in this novel and the action and drama are excellently written.
A couple of warnings for those of you who care about such things. The level of gore in this book is extreme and there are several moments with nudity spread throughout the book. I didn't mind them, but these would definitely raise the ire of some folks, I would bet.
A couple of warnings for those of you who care about such things. The level of gore in this book is extreme and there are several moments with nudity spread throughout the book. I didn't mind them, but these would definitely raise the ire of some folks, I would bet.
birdloveranne's review against another edition
4.0
Took way longer than I liked, for the dead man to rise.
mamap's review
2.0
R- for language.
Harsh. It's hard to live through and awful past.
And she keeps killing off people we like.
Harsh. It's hard to live through and awful past.
And she keeps killing off people we like.
sparklingreader's review
4.0
Dante, aka Danny, Valentine is a half-human/half-demon female bounty hunter who can literally speak with the dead. That alone makes her unique in the community of psions in her city. Her connection with the savagely murdered bodies that start showing up in the city creates more than a stir among the police – and the media. Police necromancer Gabe asks her friend Danny to help figure out who is killing others with power. The investigation takes Danny on a nightmare trip into her past as she tries to find the killer before he/she/it can kill again.
While fighting the external demons, Danny is also beset with guilt and grief over the loss of her demon lover. Her live-in partner knows he can never replace Jeph in her heart or life, but he keeps trying.
And then there’s Lucifer. He keeps writing and calling, wanting to speak with her dead lover – the man he killed.
There is a lot going on in this book, but all the conflicts and angst are skillfully woven into a tale that is one part dark fantasy, one part chick lit, one part crime thriller all woven into a sometimes gory tapestry that works on many levels.
The author skillfully pulls out the emotions of the characters, drawing the reader in until you can’t put the book down, but at the same time, those with less than strong constitutions may want to read this in between meals.
While not my usual type of read, I found the story well crafted and entertaining. If you want to try something a little more romantic than Stephen King, definitely pick up this one.
While fighting the external demons, Danny is also beset with guilt and grief over the loss of her demon lover. Her live-in partner knows he can never replace Jeph in her heart or life, but he keeps trying.
And then there’s Lucifer. He keeps writing and calling, wanting to speak with her dead lover – the man he killed.
There is a lot going on in this book, but all the conflicts and angst are skillfully woven into a tale that is one part dark fantasy, one part chick lit, one part crime thriller all woven into a sometimes gory tapestry that works on many levels.
The author skillfully pulls out the emotions of the characters, drawing the reader in until you can’t put the book down, but at the same time, those with less than strong constitutions may want to read this in between meals.
While not my usual type of read, I found the story well crafted and entertaining. If you want to try something a little more romantic than Stephen King, definitely pick up this one.
claire_loves_books's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this, Danny does spend a lot of the book feeling miserable and kind of ignoring her main problem - but I didn't mind too much because she distracts herself by being kickass, rather than just moping her way through the whole book (looking at you twilight new moon). The world building continues giving a more fleshed out version of Danny's world and we get to know a lot more about her past. A great book and I'm off to read the next one.
seeinghowitgoes's review
2.0
I read 1 and 2 together so my review is a little stunted. The events that I remember are most likely from the wrong book, but my overall impression is as follows:
That said, it wasn't all that bad of a series. While the concept was somewhat original, I couldn't really invest myself in the series. Dante, a Necromancer is summoned by the Devil (yes, THE Devil) to do his bidding. Basically retrieve an object from a minion gone wild. Oh, and kill him too. In the process she obtains a demon familiar by the name of Japhrimel and of course raging attraction and teh sex occurs.
SPOILER Said Demon of course dies. Traumatised by this, as I was growing somewhat fond of the demon, I demanded to know if he was coming back. One only has to look at the title of book two to figure it out tho, which made more than a little of the angst in book 2 kind of useless. END SPOILER. I'm not waiting for book 3, and if it does come out, I doubt I'll be rushing for the stands.
That said, it wasn't all that bad of a series. While the concept was somewhat original, I couldn't really invest myself in the series. Dante, a Necromancer is summoned by the Devil (yes, THE Devil) to do his bidding. Basically retrieve an object from a minion gone wild. Oh, and kill him too. In the process she obtains a demon familiar by the name of Japhrimel and of course raging attraction and teh sex occurs.
SPOILER Said Demon of course dies. Traumatised by this, as I was growing somewhat fond of the demon, I demanded to know if he was coming back. One only has to look at the title of book two to figure it out tho, which made more than a little of the angst in book 2 kind of useless. END SPOILER. I'm not waiting for book 3, and if it does come out, I doubt I'll be rushing for the stands.