Friday, September 7, 2007

'Working for the Devil' by Lilith Saintcrow


ISBN: 0316003131
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 384pp
Publisher: Orbit
Price: $6.99

Working for the Devil is the first in a five book series covering the life and times of Dante Valentine.

Dante, Danny for short, is the kind of character you can really sink your teeth into. A katana-wielding Necromancer, Dante doesn't take crap from anyone. Tough, smart, and deadly, she's built a reputation for herself in Saint City. She's one of the best, maybe even the best, and that is why one rainy day the Devil asks for her help.

The Devil has a job for Dante and he isn't going to let her refuse. A demon has escaped from hell with something very precious - an egg that, if opened, could mean an apocalypse for Earth. For Dante the job is even harder to turn down once she learns that the demon she will be hunting is the same one that almost killed her a few years before. The demon, Santino, had also killed her friend Doreen and Dante feels honor bound to hunt him down. Japhrimel, the Devil's right hand demon and most deadly assassin, is made Dante's familiar and protector.

Driven by a dark past that is only hinted at in Rigger Hall and the brutal murder of Doreen, Dante checks with her contacts in Saint City for any sign of Santino. Japhrimel is always a few steps away and at first Dante is uneasy about having the demon shadowing her. But after awhile the feel of his dark aura and his cinnamon smell become as familiar to her as her own skin.

Dante gets help, whether she wants it or not, from her Necromancer and cop friend Gabriele, Gabe's hedgewitch boyfriend Eddie, and ex-lover Jace who just happens to have ties to the Mob. Not to mention the demon. They follow Santino to Nuevo Rio where the hunters become the hunted.

One of the things that really stood out about this book was the world. The technology is advanced (think Blade Runner) and the mix of floating cars and laser guns with ancient Egyptian gods and swords fit perfectly. It's complicated and not everything is explained in depth. Things are just mention in passing, thrown at you and either you catch it or you don't. But this isn't a problem, it only adds to the feeling of reality, as Dante fights her way toward Santino and the egg.

Based in a world full of advanced technology and ancient magic, Working for the Devil is a dark urban fantasy that reaches out and grabs you by the throat. It is one kick butt start to what I'm sure will turn out to be one of the better series around. If Dante Valentine isn't on your reading list, you're missing out.

SciFiChick read and reviewed this one too...

13 comments:

KAYLEE said...

NICE POST WILLL READ IT:P

Katie said...

It's a really good book

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good book. Great review!

Angela/SciFiChick said...

Glad you enjoyed. This series seems to be gathering a large following!

Katie said...

Thanks Bill! :)

Angela, I really liked this one. I was looking online though and saw that they had been published before under a different publisher. I wonder why they never picked up under that other house.

minijonb said...

i love the cover! i'd buy the book just for that.

Katie said...

Yeah I like the cover too! :) All of them are really eye catching

Pallav said...

isn't it a bit cliched that every place the devil is mentioned the name Dante gets squeezed in somehow...I mean the authors should get creative with the names at least! :)

N

Katie said...

Nothingman, yeah but it totally works here. The name fits the character perfectly. But it's got all sorts of kick ass action

Jay said...

sounds like a cool book..

care to trade links? mine is http://;jaysmoney.blogspot.com

if you want to trade please add my link then contact me back and i'll add yours!
thanks!

Anonymous said...

I'm putting this series on my list of potential reads! Sounds like a kick-butt chick!

T.C. Robson said...

I have the first four books on order now. :D

Katie said...

That's great! You'll have to tell me if you like them or not. I really, really like the series but it's bittersweet.