Name: Emma's review of Death's Dancer by Jasmine Silvera
Item: Death's Dancer
Rating: 5
Author: Emma

Jasmine Silvera

Isela Vogel makes a living dancing for gods. When powerful necromancer Azrael enlists her to help find a killer she enters a world more dangerous--and magical--than she's ever known. And the one man she shouldn't trust is the only one who can get her out alive.

Death's Dancer

Emma

Oooh, I loved this! The writing was beautiful. The story is exciting. The romance is delicious. I love the whole cast of characters. I was half way through this book when I knew I needed to order the next two in the series! Gotta know what happens!!

Jo H

Thank heaven I left this behind in the middle of my micro slump and came back a few days later because this was fantastic, unique, and magical. And the descriptions of the dance routines were beautiful and had me imagining Isela celebrating her art so clearly it felt almost real.

This book (like my beloved Wolfsong by TJ Klune) is a supreme example of where the distinction between UF and PNR is so blurry that both apply. But as PNR is just UF where the romance is the primary element, that makes sense. And Death's Dancer also has some of the loveliest writing I've come across in UF/PNR, something I've only ever said before about Wolfsong. 

Death's Dancer is equal parts romance and non-romance that I think is such a sweet spot for me. Which is odd because although most of my favourite PNR's are 'other' plot-heavy, many UF's that are romance heavy are frustrating to me because the romance gets in the way of the action and otherwise awesome story.

This also includes an overly 'alpha' type MMC that I don't usually enjoy, although I wouldn't say that he is bad enough to be called an alpha-hole. Azrael is incredibly arrogant, very bossy and somewhat possessive, but he is also highly capable (hence the arrogance) and is generally decent to most people (unless they cross him) including his very loyal staff. He is also an actual leader rather than a tyrant or a bully like many others. Azrael is also powerful, intelligent and virtually immortal, but not totally invincible as is shown a number of times in the story which is so refreshing. And he has moments of vulnerability which is what sold him to me after my initial distaste.

Isela is wonderful. She is literally a master of her craft but is struggling a little in her daily life because of the problems with her hip. In the story, we see that she does rely on some help from her friends and her family to relieve the pain at times. So often when things like these are part of the narrative, the author chooses to keep it a secret and cause unwarranted tension so I was really glad to see that not happen here. A small thing perhaps, but one that irritates me so much in lots of books. However, she is physically strong in ways that only dancers and athletes are because of the discipline necessary in the years-long training that makes them successful in their careers.

But Isela is also brave. So brave in the face of her new... TBC

Emma &
Death's Dancer by Jasmine Silvera

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Emma &Death's Dancer by Jasmine Silvera

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Emma &
Death's Dancer by Jasmine Silvera