Death Doesn’t Bargain
Deadman’s Cross, Book #2
By Sherrilyn Kenyon
ISBN# 9780765385710
Author’s Website: sherrilynkenyon.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
Review
*Beware of possible spoilers*
This book picks up where the previous installment, Deadmen Walking, left off. After Vine took Cameron, Kalder sacrificed himself to get her back. Now he’s trapped there, being tortured, while the Deadmen scramble to find a way to save him. And, Vine has somehow found his brother that Kalder was accused of killing. What’s worse than being tortured? Watching your baby brother being tortured because of you.
Thorn is able to free Kalder, and his debt has been paid therefore, he is no longer bound as a Deadman. Unfortunately, Thorn was not able to save his brother. So, imagine Kalder’s surprise when Kalder finds him nearly drowning in the sea. Everyone fears it’s a trick, but Kalder can’t turn his back on the boy he raised.
Vine is back with a vengeance in this book. However, it’s not Devyl she’s after this time. She has her eyes set on Kalder and his love interest, Cameron. And, she has some powerful allies to help her get the job done. Can Kalder and the Deadmen thwart her plans and save the day once again?
I find this series is a little difficult to read with similar character names (Kadar and Kalder, as an example) and the various races and demons that I can’t keep straight. And then there are Hell-hunters and Hellchasers, which are also confusing. Some of these chapters drag on for so long, clocking in at 40-to 50-page chapters. Thankfully, there are some small chapters too. Sometimes, you really do need a palette cleanser when dealing with the big chapters though.
Despite all that, I found myself really enjoying Kalder and Cameron’s budding romance. It had a sweet innocence to it that I really enjoyed. Neither of them thought very highly of themselves and were amazed at how the other treated them. Cameron especially found it difficult to imagine the hot merman actually found her attractive. I did like this romance much better than Devyl and Mara’s, which seemed a bit forced.
Kalder seemed to possess every known power, ranging from those of his people all the way to that of a goddess, even. Yet, he seems to get defeated rather easily at the end of this book. I guess love really does make you vulnerable.
Speaking of the ending … We did not get a clear resolution on this one. Vine’s schemes have put more people in danger and could very well end the world, as we know it. The Deadmen will have to set sail to another adventure to solve this problem.
Overall, I found this book to be decent once you get past all the things I’ve already mentioned that make this hard to read. And, it’s nice getting some glimpses from other characters from the crossovers of Kenyon’s various series set in this world. I especially enjoyed seeing my favorite grumpy surfer, Savitar! It was like a little family reunion.
I do hope we get a little more of Kalder and Cameron’s romance in the next book too. I felt it got cut a bit short with what was going on, in the end.
