nitzan_schwarz
Written on Mar 7, 2013
Zarek is the most dangerous of all the Dark-Hunters. He endured a lifetime as a roman slave and centuries as a Dark-Hunter in exile. Zarek trusts no one. Because of his steadfast denial to follow any orders, he is kept in Isolation in Alaska where his activity is seriously limited and closely monitored. There are many who fear he will one day unleash his powers against humans as well as vampires. Have nine hundred hears of exile made Zarek too vicious to be redeemed? The gods want Zarek dead but reluctantly agree to allow justice goddess Astrid to judge him. Astrid has never yet judged a man innocent, and yet there is something about Zarek that tugs at her heart. He views even the smallest act of kindness with shock and suspicion. But while Astrid struggles to maintain her impartiality in the face of her growing attraction to Zarek, an executioner has already been dispatched...
- ISBN10 0312949383
- ISBN13 9780312949389
- Publish Date 27 June 2006 (first published 27 December 2003)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 28 October 2014
- Publish Country US
- Imprint St. Martin's Press
- Format Paperback (US Mass Market)
- Pages 361
- Language English
Reviews
Amanda
Written on Jun 17, 2011
I like my characters with tortured souls. There is a depth and complexity to this kind of character that raises the stakes of his or her love story and makes it that much more intense. Zarek has known torture both as a human and a Dark-Hunter. When reviewing Night Embrace, I said, “All the anger and hatred in Zarek’s case is his way of defending himself; strike first, and you are the hurt-er, not the hurt-ee.” Oh, how right I was.
Zarek’s story will break your heart. The hurt and pain he has had to endure is unfathomable and extreme. The more we learn, the more we understand Astrid’s desire to help him, and give him everything that has been denied to him. Z has only known pain and hatred, and does not understand or trust any positive emotion, yet we catch glimpses of someone who is kind, gentle, and loving — the opposite of what everyone suspects Zarek to be.
Like the books that precede Dance with the Devil, the supporting cast of characters only enrich the story. Why do I have to wait until book 15 to read about Acheron? I am guessing that is likely because his character is so complex that his story needs to build over the course of the series, and will wreck me upon completion. I loved Simi, Acheron’s demon that resides on his body in the form of a tattoo (even Kyle thought a demon that could take shape as a tattoo was pretty cool). And Sasha provided a good vehicle for Zarek to show his true colors to Astrid.
Every book in the Dark-Hunter series gives us more secrets that allows us to constantly reassess our knowledge of the Dark-Hunter world. Where in the first couple books, this was incredibly frustrating because it felt as though there was so much left out, now that we have a better handle on the Dark-Hunters, it only serves to propel the series forward and keep us entertained and fascinated with the world and its characters.
Linda
Written on Nov 15, 2010
ibeforem
Written on Sep 28, 2008