The Devil's Right Hand (Dante Valentine, #3)

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The Devil's Right Hand (Dante Valentine #3)

by Lilith Saintcrow (Goodreads Author)

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 3,037 ratings · 168 reviews

Dante Valentine, Necromancer and bounty hunter, just wants to be left alone. But the Devil has other ideas.

The Prince wants Dante. And he wants her now. And Dante and her lover, Japhrimel, have no choice but to answer the Prince's summons. And to fulfill a seemingly simple task: become the Devil's Right Hand, hunt down four demons that have escaped from Hell, and earn His...more

Paperback, 432 pages

Published September 1st 2007 by Orbit (first published January 1st 2007)

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Jan 04, 2013 Anzu The Great Destroyer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of the series and fans of the author

Shelves: the-fantasy-of-urbans, evil-horned-ones, ball-busting-chicks, could-have-been-sooo-much-better, d-oh, i-am-disappoint, is-it-just-me-goddammit, paranormal-fix, reviewed-2012, the-future-is-dark, zzzzzzz

Ok, so apparently Dante has to grieve over someone in each book else Saintcrow won’t be happy. Book two over Japh, and now over Jace. Yay Dante.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I touch The Devil’s Right Hand, and I feel like yawning. I touch it again, just to make sure, and I yawn again. I open the book. Chapter 1.

It’s for you,” Japhrimel said diffidently, his eyes flaring with green fire in angular runic patterns for just a moment before returning to almost-human darkness. […]

My vision ge...more

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Jan 03, 2009 Anita rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anita Blake fans who love action/adventure

Shelves: paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy, paranormal-mystery, five-star-favorites

Book 3 of the Dante Valentine series.

I really enjoy this series. I love the first-person perspective that includes hearing Dante's thoughts as well as dialog and what she's experiencing. The internal monologue adds a lot to the depth of the character for me. The romance is a minor part of the story line - very few sex scenes - really just the emotional stuff, but so well written that you understand her confusion and motivations fully. You can't start this series in the middle - it uses a bit of...more

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Oct 12, 2007 Krystal rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: variousfemaleauthors, supernatural-stuff

I guess this book in the series was okay....I'm a little put off by the writing now, the constant repeating of thought and dialogue is annoying. The stories are just "eh" for me right now, but I'll finish them out.

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Dec 27, 2007 Inara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: novels-gods-angels-demons-devils, novels-paranormal, novels-urban-fantasy

In this third book Dante and Japhrimel are living together in a villa in the Toscano countryside where Japh spoils Dante with gifts and helps her through her nightmarish experiences at Rigger Hall. One day the Prince of Hell is summoning Dante again and offers her to her big surprise a job as his Right Hand. She´d have to hunt down four demons who left hell and Lucifer can´t let them get away with it because if he did his role as Prince of Hell could be challenged and chaos would reign in Hell....more In this third book Dante and Japhrimel are living together in a villa in the Toscano countryside where Japh spoils Dante with gifts and helps her through her nightmarish experiences at Rigger Hall. One day the Prince of Hell is summoning Dante again and offers her to her big surprise a job as his Right Hand. She´d have to hunt down four demons who left hell and Lucifer can´t let them get away with it because if he did his role as Prince of Hell could be challenged and chaos would reign in Hell. They bargain with Lucifer and among other things Japh wants his place restored in the Greater Flight and his full demon powers back. Grudgingly Lucifer accepts. Through the hunt Dante has more and more doubts about the Devil´s real reasons to choose her and not Japh as his Right Hand. What are his plans? And what does Japh know about them?
Although I´m not a violent person in this book I was tempted repeatedly to throttle Dante and smack some sense into her head. Whatever Japh does – it´s never enough. She mistrusts him constantly, doesn´t follow either his orders or pleas, is constantly accusing him to lie (and forgets that she herself is no stranger to that) in short she´s nearly unbearable and acting like a spoiled brat. I don´t know why Japh – metaphorically speaking – doesn´t pack his bags and leaves her for good. To a certain degree I can understand Dante´s fear of loosing Japh now that he has his full powers back but she´s just to paranoid in this book. And her stubborn attitude is annoying and silly. Okay, admittedly Japh should have told her more about what he knows or suspects about their commission he´s a bit too secretive but he´s no man but a demon and to measure him with human standards will never go well – Dante should have learned at least this after all their year(s) together (I didn´t figure out the time period it was very confusing). Apart from that the book is full of action, suspense, fast paced and very entertaining. Some new characters are introduced first and foremost Lucas the Deathless and a fellow necromance Leander. I liked the book very much especially Japh I admit and he´s the reason for my five star rating – Dante herself only gets two stars for being a whiny nuisance. Hopefully her character will turn for the better in the next books – keeps fingers crossed now...

Website of the author: http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/
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Nov 14, 2007 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dante is back in 'The Devil’s Right Hand', the third book in the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. After everything Dante has faced, the horrors of Rigger Hall, the death and rebirth of Japhrimel, and the very final passing of Jace Monroe, you would think that things couldn’t get any worse. But you would be wrong.

The Devil isn’t done with Dante. He’s been calling her for a long time and he’s tired of waiting for her answer. Dante has spent time recovering from her final battle in Rigg...more Dante is back in 'The Devil’s Right Hand', the third book in the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. After everything Dante has faced, the horrors of Rigger Hall, the death and rebirth of Japhrimel, and the very final passing of Jace Monroe, you would think that things couldn’t get any worse. But you would be wrong.

The Devil isn’t done with Dante. He’s been calling her for a long time and he’s tired of waiting for her answer. Dante has spent time recovering from her final battle in Rigger Hall away from Saint City, Japhrimel never very far away. She’s had time to relax and isn’t walking around with her sword in her hand all the time, an amazing thing for her. But when the Devil calls, you can’t ignore him forever.

The Devil contracts Dante as his new Right Hand. She has seven years to hunt down and kill four demons that have escaped from the bowels of hell. In return Japhrimel is given back his full demon powers and the Devil promises protection for Dante for all eternity. But he isn’t called the Father of Lies for nothing.

As Dante gets her first taste of battle since her near defeat by Mirovitch she realizes that she might be in over her head. She has become a pawn in the Devil’s game and he wasn’t kind enough to share the rules first. But it isn’t like Danny Valentine to back away from a fight and at the end of the day it is still one of the things she does best. With a new blade at her side, the first one lying broken at the bottom of the ocean, Dante wonders if she carries a blade that could kill the Devil.

One of the things that I’ve really enjoyed so far about this series is that with each book you get to see Dante and Japhrimel’s relationship evolve. All along Dante has treated Japhrimel like a human, no different from how she treats everyone else in her life. Dante seems to forget that Japhrimel is not a man but a demon and she receives a grim reminder of this fact.

Dante is also haunted by her past. Jace’s voice echoes through her mind, she sees his ghostly figure in a bar that he never visited in life, and once faced with a grown Eve all Dante can think about is her deceased friend and lover Doreen. It is a hard, hurtful past that she can’t put behind her, something that makes her more human despite the fact that she isn’t quite human anymore.

While you could pick this one up and enjoy it out of sequence with the rest of the novels I would recommend you start with 'Working for the Devil', the first book in the series. At this point there is just too much story, and while you would be able to pick it up along the way, wouldn’t you rather get to know Dante and Japhrimel from the beginning? (less)

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Mar 03, 2013 Mistress of the Dark Path rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the beginning of "The Devil's Right Hand Man" Dante Valentine is still recovering from the previous trauma of the last book. She had watched her former boyfriend get killed and couldn't do anything to save him. This has caused a lot of guilt that she doesn't know how to get past. Also, she has apparently been back with Japh for some time since the last novel. Though they seem to have been getting along well, their relationship is nowhere near perfect. He is hiding a lot from her and she is wo...more In the beginning of "The Devil's Right Hand Man" Dante Valentine is still recovering from the previous trauma of the last book. She had watched her former boyfriend get killed and couldn't do anything to save him. This has caused a lot of guilt that she doesn't know how to get past. Also, she has apparently been back with Japh for some time since the last novel. Though they seem to have been getting along well, their relationship is nowhere near perfect. He is hiding a lot from her and she is working hard to figure out what he is not telling her. To top this off, the Devil wants Dante's services again. This is going to put a rift between her and Raph as well as add a lot of danger which she had been avoiding.

The plot itself is rather interesting and could have made the book great. The problem is the author spends too much time in Dante's head where she is plagued by constant guilt, depression, and old memories. Of course the author wants to recap the activities of previous books for new readers, but it just wasn't done well. There may be those that didn't mind this, but I like my heroines strong. It's okay for them to be depressed of they think their lover is dead, but that is not the problem here. Dante is so stuck in the past that she can't get out of it. I got tired quickly of her constant angst, worry and distrust. If she really is such a great Necromance and fighter, she shouldn't be dwelling full time on all her depressing issues. On top of this, the man that has sacrificed so much for her looks bad in her eyes. Honestly, I feel Japh probably has good reasons for his behavior and Dante should have been able to see that. Unfortunately her poor attitude prevents it. Mostly, their relationship becomes a bigger mess than it already was.

I'm not going to say people shouldn't read this book. Everyone has their own taste and I'm sure some people will like this novel and appreciate it. For me, I just had a hard time due to my personal expectations for a heroine. If you prefer similar traits to me, you most likely will not enjoy "The Devil's Right Hand Man" but if the factors I mentioned above are not a problem, it may be worth trying. This series started off with a bang and I really enjoyed it. Perhaps my expectations for the next book in the series got in the way, but each person has to decide that for themselves. (less)

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Feb 27, 2013 Fancy Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: delicious-romaces, demons, dystopia, favorite-author, future, kick-ass-heroines, kill-me-slowly-w-an-umbrella, let-me-lick-you-guys, misc-supe, mystery, my-favorites, sci-fi, surprising, vamps-weres-warriors-oh-my, witchcraft, whiney-wimpy-females

Ok, can i start by saying i already typed this and somehow i deleted it all by accident?
I want to say that i love the concept of this world, and of the characters. i love how kickass Danny is in the first book. but then in the second she's all mopey. now in this book, there isnt even a PLOT! it's like it's only the rising action of one big book! when i got to the end i was like "What?!"
Not to mention how STUPID Danny is being! Japh starts pushing her around because she is CONSTANTLY COURTING DA...more Ok, can i start by saying i already typed this and somehow i deleted it all by accident?
I want to say that i love the concept of this world, and of the characters. i love how kickass Danny is in the first book. but then in the second she's all mopey. now in this book, there isnt even a PLOT! it's like it's only the rising action of one big book! when i got to the end i was like "What?!"
Not to mention how STUPID Danny is being! Japh starts pushing her around because she is CONSTANTLY COURTING DANGER! HE IS TRYING TO PROTECT HER! granted, he's being a complete and utter douche about it, but still. instead of speaking to him rationally, our MC decides to run away, strike out on her own for SEVEN YEARS! One, thats idiodic! Japhrimel will find you before a month runs out. and if he doesnt, Lucifer will! And lucifer want to TORTURE AND KILL YOU! Two, there's Japh, Lucas, several Greater Flight Demons and some imps and HellHounds after her! why not stay with the big strong demon! the demon who FELL AND CAN NEVER GO BACK ALL TO BE WITH YOU!
she seems to have two settings: Martyr and Selfish. she either wants to die to protect the ones she loves, even when the ones she loves she treats like shit and they have a better plan for her protection than her hairbrained, half-assed "plans"! 'Oh! good idea! send out a huge blast of power and attract the hungry, ANGRY demons who want to KILL YOU!'
when she's being selfish, it's usually when she is all whiney because she didn't get her way, or, more often than the former, people are desperately TRYING TO HELP HER! it blows my mind that they keep coming back.
now that i have sufficiantly complained, lets get to the stuff i love about this series; the reason i havn't abandoned it yet.
The world this is placed in is FABULOUS. well, actually it's quite the dystopia, but finally! vampires and werewolves (werecain and Nichtvren, but still) ARE NOT SEXY! THEY ARE EVIL AND SORT OF DISGUSTIING! while the Nichtvren are still otherworldly beautiful, they are still scary and evil! you have no idea how nice it is to focus on someother kinds of Paras for once!
Danny. Danny is selfish, whiney and pathetic at times, but she has never been predictable. i never know quite what she'll do, and that is something i prize in a series.
Japhrimel. I am sooooo Team Japh. always have been, but he is so infuriating when he witholds information from danny. it kills me. almost makes me convert to Team Let-Danny-Become-A-Lesbian-or- Somehow-Bring-Jace-Back!
the other characters. a lot of the time,the supporting characters are left to rot after their initialy intro. in this series, they grow and evolve and HAVE THEIR OWN LIVES! PRAISE JESUS!
so as you can clearly see, my relationship with this series is love-hate. i have to finish it, kicking and screaming, hoping Danny grows a pair and stays with Japh. (less)

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Nov 25, 2011 Lynn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, series

She did it - she wrote her way from a bleak 2 stars for the first volume up to a five stars for the third. Very, very well done!

I like this book a lot! The series gets better and better, and is on its way to one of my favorite.
Very well written, very good plotting, and the character-development of Dante and the development of her relationship with Japh is so well written I enjoyed the book immensly.

There are two things I like especially:
One is the foreign-ness of the world LS is creating. As...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Connie302 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Thank God. I was so relieved to find that not only was this an improvement on #2, but that Japh is no longer a 2D character. Which is good considering that what this book lacks in amazing plot, it makes up for in character development. What I didn't like, however, was how Jace was just occasionaly brushed over, but never really broached as a topic. After #2's heartache I would have expected Dante to be a little more hung up about it (though not to the degree that she felt when she thought Japh g...more

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Mar 18, 2011 Kathy Davie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Third in the Dante Valentine fantasy series. Yup, Lucifer has forced Danny back into his employ. Well, Lucifer and Japhrimel. Japh did an end-run on Dante and she now has to serve the Devil for the next 7 years as his Right Hand, read “assassin”. But Lucifer also has to protect Danny throughout eternity and Japh gets his full Demon power back even though he’s Fallen. All that they have to do is find four of the Greater Flight demons who have escaped Hell. Oh, well, if that’s all…

Almost as soon a...more Third in the Dante Valentine fantasy series. Yup, Lucifer has forced Danny back into his employ. Well, Lucifer and Japhrimel. Japh did an end-run on Dante and she now has to serve the Devil for the next 7 years as his Right Hand, read “assassin”. But Lucifer also has to protect Danny throughout eternity and Japh gets his full Demon power back even though he’s Fallen. All that they have to do is find four of the Greater Flight demons who have escaped Hell. Oh, well, if that’s all…

Almost as soon as they both agree to the bargain, everything falls apart. Dante is attacked in their house and, after escaping that explosion, she is attacked by an imp after which…well, you get the point…attack after attack after… Only, Dante then discovers who one of the demons is and somehow Dante must find a way out of that bargain.

I think I’m still reading this series due to entropy; I’ve fallen in and can’t stop until I reach the end. I like the concept of Dante and there certainly is no shortage of action. If only there were a shortage of Dante’s brain. Christ, whine, whine, whine! And she’s supposed to be one of the best necromancers in the world? I’m terrified that all the others are so much less because I’m surprised she managed to make it to this point at all. No, I take that back. As long as emotion is not involved Danny seems to function/fight just fine. Get emotion involved and she goes all to pieces. Can’t think. Can’t function. Just seems to stand there and do what Danny does best---whine and short circuit her brain into stupid land.

I can understand her being cautious about Japh. He is a demon after all and demons lie. But if she ever sat down and made a list of the positives and negatives, she’d shut up. Actually, if Dante and Japh would sit down and talk, I suspect things would go much better which would probably screw up the storyline so what do I know. I suspect Saintcrow modeled Valentine after Anita Blake. Another necromancer with relationship issues. Unfortunately, Saintcrow didn’t think it all the way through. Thank god that Anita at least doesn’t whine.

Devil’s Right Hand is the start of a new major action. I want to say it’s a bridge novel, but it starts the sequence which will be continued in Saint City Sinners I suspect.

The cover is stark and makes me think of Emma Peel and the Avengers with the title as very clean graffitti.
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Feb 02, 2011 D. Lewis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Upon completion of this book I decided that the character Dante Valentine departed from the heroine she once was and has arrived somewhere much closer to "cliched female lead".
**potential spoilers below**

What I liked most about this book was the glimpses into the otherworldly history and beings outside of Valentine's knowledge. The history of Hediera and their Fallen, the angel like creatures who feeds on fear, the Nichtreven, the Hellsvront agents who can't quite be placed, Deathless... all ch...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the third book in the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. Thankfully it was much, much better than the second book.

The books starts with Danny living peacefully in Toscano with Japh by her side. Danny is finally getting to do some research into her half-demon nature and Japh remains silent about any information he could give her. The peaceful existence falls to pieces when a summons from Lucifer comes and Danny and Japh can no longer ignore it. Lucifer forces Danny to be his Righ...more This is the third book in the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow. Thankfully it was much, much better than the second book.

The books starts with Danny living peacefully in Toscano with Japh by her side. Danny is finally getting to do some research into her half-demon nature and Japh remains silent about any information he could give her. The peaceful existence falls to pieces when a summons from Lucifer comes and Danny and Japh can no longer ignore it. Lucifer forces Danny to be his Right-Hand for seven years. Lucifer has 4 demons that he wants Danny to hunt down and kill. When Japh throws getting his demonic power returned to him into the bargain and leaves Danny alone with no explanation, she ends up in quite the fix.

There was a lot of action in this book and the return of the more self-sufficient Danny that we were introduced to in book one. I really liked the inclusions of other demons and the ending took a twist that I wasn't expecting. Really it was the ending that made this book for me and tied Danny into a mess so complicated that it was intensely interesting. I really liked this book it was fast paced and easy to read. Danny got a new sword and it is awesome to have her fighting how she likes to fight.

I still have a number of complaints. I *still* think Danny acts strange about Japh. She needs to stop being so obsessed over him. I was also disappointed at the pace of the storyline; the storyline didn't progress as far as I had expected. In fact the third and fourth book (which I am in the middle of) would have probably been more appropriate as one book. I was also frustrated with how Danny's half-demon nature is made a big deal of but we still don't know anything about it. Most of these things could be done intentionally by Saintcrow to take us by surprise later and I guess I will have to wait and see about that. At the end of this book I was glad I had the next one because there really isn't anything resolved in this book, just more questions.

This was a good book. I enjoyed it, much better than the second book. Hopefully in the fourth book some of the plot-lines will find some resolution. (less)

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Oct 28, 2010 Chibineko rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While I loved the first two books in the series, I have to admit I was a little disappointed by this entry. Saintcrow has a lovely feel of futuristic UF in her books & it reminds me of some of the old pulp books I'd find at thrift stores as a kid. This book just doesn't entirely capture the feel of the first two. I'll give a warning- there may be some spoilerish stuff in this review.

The third book finds Danny recovering from not only the psychic trauma from the previous case, but also doing...more While I loved the first two books in the series, I have to admit I was a little disappointed by this entry. Saintcrow has a lovely feel of futuristic UF in her books & it reminds me of some of the old pulp books I'd find at thrift stores as a kid. This book just doesn't entirely capture the feel of the first two. I'll give a warning- there may be some spoilerish stuff in this review.

The third book finds Danny recovering from not only the psychic trauma from the previous case, but also doing some grieving over Jace. When Danny finds that Lucifer has been calling after her & wanting Danny to become his Right Hand as well as wanting her to hunt some escaped demons, some of the results cause Danny to seriously think about her current situation as well as her relationship with Japh.

This following part is sort of spoilerish. Ok. I can understand the problems in Danny & Japh's relationship. Neither of them know what it's like to be the other, so it's like two people trying to talk in two different languages & come to an agreement. So it's understandable that at some point they were due to have issues about what needs to be told & what doesn't. But did it have to be stretched out for so long in the book? Japh spends a good chunk of the book not telling Danny anything, even when things are trying to kill her. It's like "Oh, you have to hunt these 4 demons down & you're Lucifer's Right Hand for 7 years, but I'm going to lock you up for that time because of reasons I'm not really going to tell you, but rest assured that you're in lots of danger". A little of that is ok & perfectly understandable, but come on... after a while of reading it, it becomes a little repetitive. Danny just wasn't herself in this book. Even from the beginning of the book she was acting foolish. When you've got things chasing after you, trying to trick you & kill you, do you put on a bracelet that just magically appeared next to you on a ferry? Granted, the bracelet isn't doing anything bad to her, but come on... the Danny I know would've been a little more cautious about putting it on without any prior knowledge of what it could do to her. Assuming Japh sent it to you is a little out of character. In any case, too much time was spent on Danny being hurt & mistrusting Japh. After a while I just wanted to scream "Enough already! Move the plot forward!"

But even so, the book wasn't bad. It just seemed like it was a novella stretched out to book length. There's still promise, though. This book seemed to be a turning point for the series, so hopefully the next book will be a little better.(less)

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Aug 25, 2009 Schnaucl rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: august, fiction, cyberpunk, read_2009, series, urban_fantasy, owned

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The main arc plot was an interesting idea. Dante and Jeph are forced into making a deal with the devil. They'll hunt 4 top flight demons and otherwise be hunters for him for seven years, during which time Dante will have his protection. Japh will get his full demon powers back and they'll have access to the devil's intelligence network.

The problem was that all of that is vastly overshadowed by the relationship between Dante and Japh and I found that relationship highly problematic, enough so tha...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Ana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm not really sure about my stance concerning this book. I am torn between wonder and utter shock.

Jaf managed to fill me with regret and absolute fury with his actions in this book. He was secretive and untrustworthy.

His relationship with Danny grated my nerves at best and totally upset me at worst. She is put in an impossible situation and he seems to only make it worse every time he opens his mouth.
I was never one to condone with physical or mental violence within a relationship...For me, t...more

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May 23, 2012 Stacy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This one's a hard one to rate. It's basically a transition book, allowing Dante to recover from the trauma of the previous book and then setting up the big hunt that I assume will make up the final two books. When the action happens, it's good, but I think I'm going to have to go low on this one because there's a bit too much infinite looping going on. (Let's call it Anita-itis, but at least we know it won't still be going on 10 books from now.)

Example interaction:
Her: I trust you. I do. I just...more This one's a hard one to rate. It's basically a transition book, allowing Dante to recover from the trauma of the previous book and then setting up the big hunt that I assume will make up the final two books. When the action happens, it's good, but I think I'm going to have to go low on this one because there's a bit too much infinite looping going on. (Let's call it Anita-itis, but at least we know it won't still be going on 10 books from now.)

Example interaction:
Her: I trust you. I do. I just wish you'd explain things to me so I know what's going on.
Him: I am your Fallen.
Her: WTF?
Her (internal): I can trust him. Right? But what isn't he telling me? Oh, right, ANYTHING--he isn't telling me anything. But I still trust him. Right?

And...repeat 1000 times.

Example 2:
Him: You go ____ while I take care of these _____.
Her: What? No! I can take care of myself! I'm fighting, too!
Him: I am your Fallen. I will protect you.
Her: WTF? (drawing sword)

And...repeat 100 times. (It would be more, but there just wasn't as much action this time.)

Anyway, I get that Dante is a damaged person with trust and self-worth issues. That's what made the last book so awesome. I get that Japh is the inscrutable demon whose sole purpose is to take care of Dante, whether she likes it or not (and without bothering her with "trifles".) Even though they have a hard (impossible) time communicating effectively, they are inextricably bound. I have no problems with that, and I don't feel like any of the behaviors in this book were out of character. I get that their connection has to be tested and that they have to pass some period of uncertainty before they can reach a healthy level of accord. BUT, a whole book of pretty much nothing but that is a little hard to take. It just got a bit too repetitious. I'm also not sure I feel that it was really resolved at the end. It felt a bit like an "I Love Lucy" ending--"Oh, Lucy!" "Oh, Ricky!" Cue eye roll, wry grin, shrugged shoulders, and CUT!

If this is the end of it, I'm fine, but if it drags on for the last two books it's going to kill what started out as a really promising series. Less whining! More butt-kicking!!! Also liking Leander and Lucas--they can stick around and kick butt, too.

Oh--and I'm really enjoying the extras at the end of this and the previous book. I love when authors take the time to create "supporting materials" like these book excerpts and class lectures.(less)

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Feb 04, 2012 Ducky rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: annoyingly-addicting, delightful-chemistry, guilty-pleasures, hot-guy-alert, kick-ass-heroine, pnr-angel-demon, the-dark-side, morbid-curiosity

There are things that I appreciated about this book, but there are far more things that pissed me off. Often I found myself tempted to stop reading, but I somehow managed to stick with it (I hate leaving books unfinished, no matter how horrid).

The Good

1) Characterization: Wow. Saintcrow isn't afraid to expose every little flaw in the human psyche. Every fear, every doubt -- we get to see it all. Now, this makes for some really annoying characters, but I still found myself admiring her realistic...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Gloria Mundi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: demons, science-fiction, urban-fantasy, unhealthy-relationships, futuristic, magic, i-can-see-your-halo, weres, vamps

The Dante Valentine hunting season is open an all bets are off.

Throughout this book I wanted nothing so much as to slap someone upside the head. And let me tell you, there were plenty of candidates needing some serious slapping in this book, including the two main characters and the author. Ranting and spoilers ahead.

After Danny and Japhrimel rode off into the sunset at the end of the previous instalment, I was expecting to see lots of hot sex (they did have several months' worth of catching up...more

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Sep 14, 2008 Lauren rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought my love for ass-kicking femme fatales would be enough for this book to mildly entertain me, but alas, no. The writing is awful and the main character is more of a whiny girl than a female James Bond which is what the cover and synopsis both suggest. Rarely do I stop reading a book halfway through but the only things that kept me going were the fight scenes and those were too few and far between to keep me interested. Overall it was pretty disappointing.

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Jan 11, 2012 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, urban-fantasy

3.5 stars. It would have been higher, but I was so annoyed with the characters. Firstly, Dante, we get it. You're not human anymore. We don't need to be reminded every five minutes. And Japh, sweetie, stop being such a jerk. Give a little. You want to be with Dante, and that means you have to make some effort to, you know, tell her things. And not push her around or manipulate her or force her to do what you want (even if it's for her own safety).

I like Dante, I really do, but she was so whiny...more

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Aug 08, 2011 mlady_rebecca rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: author__lilith_saintcrow, genre__urban_fantasy, genre_sub__demons_or_angels, genre_sub__witches_psychics, pov__first_person_female, fiction__part_of_a_series, 2011, genre_sub__necromancers_or_reapers, fiction__speculative, in_retrospect__remember_it_poorly, format__mass_market_pb

I think I'm getting whiplash with respect to Dante's relationship with Japhrimel. Dante goes from clinging to him one moment, to running away from him the next. I'm beginning to think the only people safe from Dante's mood shifts are those she lost to death.

Although, I do agree with Dante on the fact that Japhrimel's "just trust me" thing has to go. Being bossed around and kept in the dark does not make for a good relationship.

Switching subjects, I mentioned in a previous review that this serie...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Marla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this entire series! I read all of the books in less than a week. The one thing that keeps me from rating this 5 stars is the way the main character goes from a fantastic character that can accomplish most anything on her own to a helpless twit that can't even think without the help of others. Then, in the blink of an eye she's back to being able to think and act on her own again and back and forth. I mean everyone needs help and has to have the help of others but she goes from...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Rach3975 rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-it-kindle

2.5 stars. Whew, I was beginning to think I was never going to finish this. To be fair, it wasn't all the book's fault; the kids and I were sick. But even so, The Devil's Right Hand dragged for me. I'm tired of Japh treating Dante like a toddler, making decisions for her that he feels are in her best interest and denying her answers every time she asks questions. He's a great bodyguard, but I hate him as a romantic interest.

I usually like reading about protagonists who've overcome a difficult c...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Jamie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

********Please Be AWARE, this may contain SPOILERS***************

I have never read a book that disappointed in quite the same way as this one. First, I was already familiar with the fact that Lilith Saintcrow can't seem to make it through a paragraph with out having her main character repeat themselves at least three times, either with in their thoughts or by spoken word. However, if that were the only problem with this book, then I could happily go on ignoring it as a writer's quirk until the e...more ********Please Be AWARE, this may contain SPOILERS***************

I have never read a book that disappointed in quite the same way as this one. First, I was already familiar with the fact that Lilith Saintcrow can't seem to make it through a paragraph with out having her main character repeat themselves at least three times, either with in their thoughts or by spoken word. However, if that were the only problem with this book, then I could happily go on ignoring it as a writer's quirk until the end of the five book series, but as it stand this book has so many more points of absolute failure to contemplate.

The first place I'll start is that Saintcrow gives absolutely no information to anyone at all, except small little piss ant details that are either redundant from actions already previously seen through out the other books and the beginning of this one, or make absolutely no sense OR mean absolutely nothing at all. Japh tells Dante absolutely nothing, will not answer her questions, tells her to do something and expects her to comply with no reason why she should do these things. Dante on the other hand tells him everything, shows him everything and trusts him because she "LOVES" him.

Second, Japh is a manipulative, abusive, psychopathic asshole demon with no redeeming qualities what so ever. How Saintcrow seems to think that he makes a great leading man character for Dante makes no sense. How is this someone to fall in love with? He picks Dante up in the middle of a transport station and shakes the shit out of her to show her just how much stronger he is than she is, and proceeds to tell her that she will do what he says, whether she wants to or not and there is nothing she can do about it. She can either tow the line by choice or he's going to make her do it. AND HE TELLS HER SHE DOES"T NEED TO KNOW WHY, FOR HER OWN GOOD. Oh, and she might be mad now, but she will "grow out of it", after all she is acting like she is still human.

I can't even put into works how deceived Saintcrow has made me feel about Japh, someone who obviously is not a good being, and yes, I know the guys a demon, but I was hoping she was going to go bring something new to everything, rather than create a completely stereotypical Demon character. Instead she tries to make us the reader feel like it's okay to stick with an abusive asshole because "you love him" and he is doing all of this "for your own good".(less)

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Oct 18, 2012 Amara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Not at all sure how to rate this one either. It was better than the last one, but still with the repetition that drives me bonkers. I was tempted to give up again about 1/2 way, but kept reading for Japh. Was good after the 1/2 way mark, as was the last one. Seems to be a pattern.

I may have turned on Danny now. She was rather irritating in this one. Although I can't pinpoint if it's the character, or just the horrible repetition. I could have taken her doubts, her whining, and all that... once....more

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Dec 10, 2012 StrangeBedfellows rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I finished Book 1 I thought, "wow! I can't wait to read the next one." After finishing Book 2, I thought, "I have to tell everyone about this series." Now, after living and breathing this last book for the last ten conscious hours, I feel that same hum of contentment I felt back in the days when Robb's (Roberts's) In Death series was still a new and exciting thing. Danny has all the ass-kicking, hair-pulling appeal as Eve Dallas, with that same core of vulnerability to keep her character cr...more

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Jan 26, 2010 Tara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, read-in-2010

Hmm.. I really want to like these books. And I do in a strange way. This book, the 3rd in the Dante Valentine series was a set up for the final books I believe.

We begin sometime after the last book. I think at least 2 years, but I can't really be sure. I guess time is all relative. She's has settled into her life away from almost all the long term characters we had previously met, except for one. The poor guy. Dante once again amazes me with how paranoid and hypocritical a person can be.

This gu...more Hmm.. I really want to like these books. And I do in a strange way. This book, the 3rd in the Dante Valentine series was a set up for the final books I believe.

We begin sometime after the last book. I think at least 2 years, but I can't really be sure. I guess time is all relative. She's has settled into her life away from almost all the long term characters we had previously met, except for one. The poor guy. Dante once again amazes me with how paranoid and hypocritical a person can be.

This guy, has pledged his life to her and she doubts him at every turn. There is actually almost a whole chapter that she spends figuring out all the paranoid ways she thinks he might have betrayed her. She gets really upset that he's not telling her things but ends up holding back a huge piece of information from him. He clearly longs for words of reassurance from her, that she does indeed love him and not her former lovers. Which I even wonder, because now that he's gone she wears this necklace that he gave her that is made up of his power and blood, and she keeps his old sword on an alter in its own room. I can see how the poor guy might be jealous. Anyway, he fights off hell for her, literally and you think she's finally realized he's one of the good guys, except one of the last things she says about him, makes me think otherwise.

Dante Valentine has a lot of baggage. I get it. She had a crappy childhood and people she loves keep dying. She's holding her best friend at arms length, and her... lover?... mate?... I don't really know what they are, but she is a really bitch to him.

I bet by now you've noticed I've talked a lot about this relationship and not much about the plot. There is a reason for that. I have no idea what the plot really was. I feel after 382 pages, nothing really got resolved. I guess more accurately, I was unsure what was supposed to be resolved. She agrees to work for the devil again for 7 years, but it got so jumbled in the end, I'm not sure anymore what she's supposed to be doing. For that matter, I really don't feel like our narrator has actually changed much at all. Maybe the next book will prove me wrong.

I purchased the entire series after loving the first book, so I'm committed to seeing this through. This book, I liked it better that the first half of book #2 but not as much as the second half of book #2, so I guess that makes it even. 3.5 stars.(less)

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Jun 28, 2011 Rosa (Bajan Rosa Books) rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dante Valentine is a whiny, dense, stupid, bitch, who's lack of self worth gets her in trouble most all the time. If she would learn to trust she wouldn't get herself half-killed at the end of every book!!! I have never been soooooooooo pissed off by a protagonist

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Feb 16, 2013 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: spec-fic

c2007: FWFTB: necromancer, seven, rogue, hell, right-hand. The emotion that this book elicited from me was that I wanted to slap Dante - quite often. But the plot develops along with the characters with enough unexplained items to tap my foot in impatience while I wait for the next one. I know why the author has made her so whiney and insecure but I think that this went a little overboard. But......I'm hooked. Highly recommended to the normal crew (although one naugthy member had tried to steal...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Jenn Carges rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think the only reason I'm still reading this series is because I haven't found something else to read yet. It's a good idea for a story in this genre, but I can't stand the main characters. The lead female is way too needy and whiny. It's also really annoying that the author has her think something and then say it out loud immediately afterward, word for word so we are reading it twice. The lead male has absolutely no personality until this book and now the little bit he has, he acts like an a...more

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About Lilith Saintcrow

Lilith Saintcrow was born in New Mexico, bounced around the world as an Air Force brat, and fell in love with writing when she was ten years old. She lives in Vancouver, Washington, in a house full of stray cats and children.

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Books by Lilith Saintcrow

Working for the Devil (Dante Valentine, #1)

Saint City Sinners (Dante Valentine, #4)

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“What you cannot escape, you must fight; what you cannot fight, you must endure.” — 100 people liked it

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The Devil's Right Hand (Dante Valentine #3)

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