Rating: 
Summary: Hair of the Dog, anyone?
Review: Zarek....Mad, Bad, and Misunderstood. Zarek is condemned to live his Immortal life in Alaska for a Crime he did not commit & Because of this supposed "Crime" is black balled by the rest of the Dark Hunters.Behind his Sarcasm, Anger, and cynicism lies the soul of a poet looking for his "Star". This novel is absolutely great & will pull on your heart strings. Kenyon has a Knack for making totally believable and Lovable characters.
Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars
Review: Like all of Kenyon's previous novels, I give this one 5 out of 5. The story takes place right after Night Embrace (Talon's Stroy/book 3 in the series if you count Fantasy Lover {Julian's Stroy}), when Zarek leaves New Orleans & is reassigned back to Alaska. When, in Night Embrace, Zarek was seen killing a Daimon (whom the cops thought was a human, duh!) & was seen on the local news, almost getting in a fight with Valerus, tricking Sunshine & making a deal with the enemy (though he stops short of the deal when he finds he was tricked), & other bad things- the mother of the Dark-Hunters, Artemis, wants him dead. He's in isolation anyway, its not like he can do any good or be missed! But Ash persuades her to let him be Judged as guilty or innocent, before she decides his fate. Ash sends in Astrid. A justice nymph that had yet to find anyone she judged as innocent, her judging was used on other Dark-Hunter rouge accounts, & she isn't as heartless in her judging fate as she seems. Blind, so she can judge fate with justice rather than physical attributes, & given one week to find if the cold-hearted Zarek can care for anyone but himself, & a companion to make sure the bad boy doesn't try anything harmful to her (like some other DH's did) she is given Sasha. A Lykos male who silently bickers with her about why he has to stay as a wolf & eat from a dog dish on the floor, & that she has no right to give his clothes to Zarek (just b/c he is a wolf, so Zarek thinks he just a normal animal rather than a shape shifter, doesn't men that she can make up some excuse about why a mans clothes (Sasha's) are in the house & let Zarek use them). But her judging is interrupted when, after she finds Zarek & the week is almost over, she finds that that she is not the only one who wants to decide the fate for this Devil of a Dark-Hunter...
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: I just finished Kiss of the Night, which was a fine book, but I was somewhat disappointed. I didn't know why for a bit, but then I realized just how much I had enjoyed Dance with the Devil. The book was full of depth, meaning, and there was a real connection with the hero. The issues seemed more personal, and the reader was allowed to sympathize with a genuine fleshed character rather than the typical Fabio-esque stereotype. I think that Kenyon's plotting and character development was more complex in this novel, which left the reader expecting the same level of commitment in future plots. While I sincerely hope that Ms. Kenyon does not deliberately torture all of her heroes to produce the torn and angst-ridden souls, I do expect a similar level of connection in her novels since now it is obvious that she can achieve it. This is a very genuine novel that does not condescend to the reader or depend on any assumptions.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable
Review: The character development of Zerek was fabulous -- I can't say enough about that -- and I'm not into tortured heroes! What got me the most was that he even felt rejected after death (by the other Dark Hunters), that their uneasiness around him felt as agonizing --to him-- as the physical pain he endured in his lifetime. Very well done! And very easy to empathize with. The only thing I would recommend to SK for future novels is that there were times when she told me what the charater was thinking/feeling rather than to show me and/or to let me figure it out by myself. Readers are pretty intelligent and don't need EVERYTHING explained. Other than that -- excellent story! I will continue to read the series. I want to let you know that when I read this, I was having a very bad day, so I grabbed this book (because my friend told me Zarek's use of cliche would cheer me up), some chocolate and a glass of my favorite Zinfandel and a few hours later, I was crying, and my personal situation took on a whole new perspective. Thank you, SK, for a very unforgettable protagonist.
Rating:
Summary: Even better than her previous novels!
Review: First of all, let me say that Sherrilyn Kenyon is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. Fantasy Lover opened a whole new door into the romance genre for me. Her following Dark Hunter novels are so original they are actually hard to classify. They are more than paranormal fiction and not really horror or thriller. 'Romance' doesn't quite describe their plots entirely.
Now for 'Dance with the Devil'. Zarek was one of those ambiguous characters in Night Embrace; it was hard to know what to make of him. Even though he was a real hard-ass, there were clues that he wasn't bad to the bone, like he wanted everyone else to think. In this installment of the Dark Hunter series, you see into his past life and even his present one. Punished in his human life and shunned in his Dark Hunter life, it's amazing he has any shred of humanity left.
Astrid is the justice nymph version of Zarek. She has never found anyone innocent and even so, Ash requests her to judge Zarek. As a blind woman alone in a cabin with her 'pet' wolf, she learn more about Zarek and the trials he has already come through.
If you liked any of Kenyon's other novels, you'll love this one. Also, if you like Xena (even the tiniest bit. On some level, we all do...) this series will enthrall you. If you enjoy angst-y heroes, Zarek will make you swoon (if anyone has swooned since 1875).
If you didn't like any of her other books, don't bother with this one. It's better than the others, but it's not any different. Again, if you don't like magic or mythology in your romance novels, leave this one alone.
Kenyon gives a great spin on Greek mythology and vampires. If you're intrigued at all, give it a shot!
Rating: 
Summary: Simply awful
Review: Honestly appalling and truly underdeveloped as a concept, the plot of this book had so much potential. At its core, it is a classic romance/thriller setup: the innocent heroine, driven to help the surly handsome man with his dark past even as he pushes her away. The author's intention to spice up the conflict by developing her "Dark-Hunter" race and throwing in some mythological references is perfectly fine. The book could have been positively delicious if it were well-written at all. The fact is that this author's writing style is clunky, heavy-handed, and rife - no, DRIPPING - with cliches. Her dialogue is insultingly cliched as well. This author personifies the reasons why so many people make fun of romance novels - it's ill-concieved and badly written. The only thing the author seems to have spent time on are the sex scenes. She certainly didn't research any mythologies or her setting (Alaska) ...
Rating:
Summary: best so far
Review: Of the four books and two novellas so far (Dance with the Devil, Night Embrace, Night Pleasures, Fantasy Lovers, Dragonswan, Phantom Lover), this was my favourite. Other reviewers have summed up the plot, so I'll give my impressions. Unlike the other novels, this book is set in the frozen Alaskan wilderness (incidentally, I'm from Northern Canada, so I can totally relate to the freezing cold, lack of amenities, wild animals, and isolation). You really see how much stronger Zarek is than all the other Dark-Hunters, Daimons, and humans, as they try to hunt him down and kill him in wilderness. Zarek had a horrible life, was anti-social as a Dark-Hunter, was exiled to Alaska for 900 years, and now, unknown to him, Astrid, a justice nymph, has been sent to judge him. If Astrid finds him guilty, he will be killed. If innocent, he will be allowed to live. Astrid is particularly helpless, being blind and in the Alaskan wilderness, while Zarek is truly scary, and more than a little bit psychotic in his social manners. The relationship between Zarek and Astrid is even stronger and more bittersweet than the other books' couples, as we see Zarek learn to trust for the first time in his long life. How sweet Astrid and psychotically abrasive Zarek learn to love each other is a pretty wild story. This was just a great book, and I've reread it 4 times now, along with the rest of the series. Archeron, Simi, Syra, Spawn, Sundown, the legedary DaySlayer and the three Fates also make appearances in the book.
Rating:
Summary: Third Darkhunter! Whew! Zarek is H-O-T!!!
Review: I was nearly DYING to read Zarek's story and when I did, I was blown away! We meet him for the first time as the crazy Darkhunter who is exiled to Alaska in the second book in the series called 'Night Embrace', but we soon realize there is a lot more to this intriguing Hunter than what is shown.
Nearly 900 years in exile in Alaska, before people lived there, before the States were formed and before anything resembling humans even walked in the frozen state, Zarek made the gods furious for a deed that he cannot even recall well. Being a former Roman slave and being shunned by all, he is used to being alone, but a taste in New Orleans in which he was called to help Talon (Night Embrace) made him aware just how lonely he is.
About to be destroyed by the god who created him, Zarek is ready to die. His only savior? His immediate boss, head Darkhunter Acheron of Parthenopaeus who believes in him and knows without a shadow of a doubt that Zarek is innocent of the horrible thing that happened that night and caused his exile. He is even willing to pander to the god Artemis to save Zarek.
Artemis agrees, only if a judge is sent to judge him. If he is found innocent, then he is to be set free, but if not? He will be destroyed. Who do they send? Astrid, the god of truth.
Astrid is blind in the human world and needs the help of her friend in the form of a wolf. Coming upon Zarek by accident in a snow storm, bleeding and helpless, Astrid will determine if the most damned man is worth saving.
What she discovers is beyond anything she can imagine and soon she is desperate to help this tortured man. But can she save him before its too late? Can the unlovable be loved? Will Zarek open his heart after all these centuries? Is it Fate that throws these two unlikely souls together?
So touching and so romantic, I was blown away by this latest installment!!! We yet again meet a few more Hunters and more information and history on them all. We are becoming anxious for Acheron's tale now... Look for Wulf's story in April of 2004.
Tracy Talley~@
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: I have really enjoyed the Dark Hunter Series. Well written, with some twists in it. Zarek story was wonderful and I can't wait to read the next one. Hope there's more coming.
Rating:
Summary: A hero to live for.
Review: He uses his sharp tongue and gruff exterior as protection against further insult and pain. In two millennia no one has ever bothered to look beyond Zarek's blanket hostility and punishing rage. But after 900 years of exile a judge is sent by the gods to determine if he redeemable or better off dead. Astrid. The only person in 2,000 years who didn't cringe at his touch. Keep the Kleenex handy. Zarek will steal your heart.
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