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hemmel_mol's review against another edition
4.0
I did not understand a lot of the plot because the constant switching in time. What are they investigating now? Are the MC's in a fall out here, or not yet? Is Infinity Team folded? Who is the immediate threat again???
But I am definitely gonna read it again, first the 'before' chapters and then the 'after' chapters.
But I am definitely gonna read it again, first the 'before' chapters and then the 'after' chapters.
sara11_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I highly enjoyed the relationship portions of this book, but got a little lost in the thriller portion (or it was just dumber than I think and I'm trying to make it too complicated. I didn't mind the Before and After timelines but don't think they benefited this book as much as the first one. I think a linear timeline might have worked better, at least for me.
Spoiler
Did Ethan really know who the serial killer was the whole time and didn't tell Jack? That seems far fetched even for these two dummies.platoniclume's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nmcannon's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As I explained in my Where Death Meets the Devil review, my experience with LJ Hayward’s government agent/assassin romance is out of the ordinary. Instead of reading each individual novella and novel, I played the two visual novel adaptations from Maybe: Interactive Stories. Why the Devil Stalks Death’s adaptation included all the novellas between books 1 and 2, in addition to the book proper. Quite the treat!
Meta-State agent Jack Reardon and assassin Ethan Blade love each other very much. When they’re together, sparks fly. The problem is: when and how can they be together? Their jobs are diametrically opposed. Jack must stay in town, while Ethan globe-trots and feels unsafe staying in one place for twenty-four hours. The love is there, sure, but how will our two leads sort out of the logistics? Also: there’s a serial killer on the loose.
Though welding a novel and novellas together made a mess of the pacing, I adored this sequel. While I enjoy witnessing people fall in love, what really gets me is seeing two people navigate being utterly besotted with each other. Hayward manages to mix a startling amount of character development into a thriller premise, and the story became my catnip. Under Hayward’s pen, Jack and Ethan are OTP material. Though sometimes the narrative awkwardly set it aside, the serial killer mystery kept me on my toes. Hayward balances transparency and obscurity with clues, so the reader can follow the logic and stands a chance at figuring out the culprit. Why the Devil Stalks Death tackles and complicates the notion of the Meta-State as well, which made me breathe easier. Privacy is a human right. Any organization who routinely violates that right is going to be trouble.
Why the Devil Stalks Death is a solid sequel that I recommend to anyone who enjoyed its predecessors. Here’s hoping When Death Frees the Devil receives a visual novel adaptation too!
My review of Book 1: Where Death Meets the Devil: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/2cd63ec2-e801-4ff6-be0c-fa8ca9e7f325
My review of Book 1: Where Death Meets the Devil: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/2cd63ec2-e801-4ff6-be0c-fa8ca9e7f325
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
book_slut03's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
megsslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sylvia221's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. What an epic book it is. It blew my mind. I seriously can't think of any words that can describe this. It was just wonderful. I might've had heart attacks while reading the near death fights. Same as the first everything was confusing and I had so many questions swarming in my Mind and Thank god, all was solved in this very book.
In this book, My darling ethan blade quit his assassin job just to be with Jack. That made me cry and also filled my heart with warmth. Jack too didn't have any hook-ups in the four months Ethan went away. They're just too perfect for each other.
Whenever Jack thought about hurting or killing Ethan my heart tightened and I was honestly disappointed in their separation as I wanted them to solve a problem together. I ached for their re-union which happened at the very end and I'm so goddamn happy with it.
In this book, My darling ethan blade quit his assassin job just to be with Jack. That made me cry and also filled my heart with warmth. Jack too didn't have any hook-ups in the four months Ethan went away. They're just too perfect for each other.
Whenever Jack thought about hurting or killing Ethan my heart tightened and I was honestly disappointed in their separation as I wanted them to solve a problem together. I ached for their re-union which happened at the very end and I'm so goddamn happy with it.
divapitbull's review against another edition
5.0
Why the Devil Stalks Death
5 stars despite some annoyances because 1. I LOVE Ethan, 2. I love Ethan and Jack together and 3. I mostly like (although he severely tested my patience in this one) Jack. In this second full-length novel in the trilogy we are back to the “Before” and “After “organizational plot device from the first book. It works even less well here than it did in Where Death Meets the Devil -which is to say…Not at all. Switching between Before and After is enough to give you whiplash. It’s confusing, disjointed and annoying. It’s a testament to the core story – the relationship between Ethan and Jack – that it is enjoyable and engaging enough to transcend the way in which their story is told.
It's been 4 months since jack and Ethan parted in Vietnam and Jack is starting to have his doubts about whether Ethan really is going to follow through with moving in with him (I mean hell, he doesn’t even know where he is). It’s a good thing that his job with The Office of Counterterrorism and Intelligence keeps him busy hunting terrorists. Jack returns home to find Victoria in his garage around the same time that he is given an undercover assignment as – more or less himself. He is going undercover as his cover for his covert secret job in the clandestine Office. He is going undercover as Specialist Security Advisor Jack Reardon from the International Security Office– loaned to the Melbourne police department’s newly minted Infinity Strike Force tracking a serial killer known as The Judge.
Jack and Ethan’s reunion is heartwarming. Every time these two are on the same page together sparks ignite, and their chemistry is palpable. And then there’s that damn Before and After plot device being used to create unnecessary tension and angst. I spent half the book with my face scrunched up worried that Jack really was a colossal dickhead; and the other half convincing myself that he could not possibly have done what was being suggested. As it was, Jack sabotaging their very new and fragile relationship by leaving Ethan at home waiting for him and deciding NOW is the time he must have a “friend” and that he’s going to go for drinks and dinner with his “friend” Adam – made me fantasize about The Judge removing one of his testicles with a rusty paring knife. The fact that Adam – the forensic psychologist on the Infinity strike force; was a former hook up of Jack’s who still obnoxiously had the hots for him – made me want that testicle in a jar to put on my mantle. In Jack’s very limited and generously offered defense; Ethan is having his moments of slinking off to destinations unknown, weird bruises, cold-hearted killer moods, silent distance and avoidance of sexy times.
As Jack tracks a serial killer, Ethan once again confronts his past. They stumble over having a real relationship, they both fuck up (someone fucks up MORE than the other, IMO) and they both confront their fears. Jack accepts his chest grenade for what it is, and Ethan confronts his trauma and strives to learn how to live. Ethan is heartbreakingly vulnerable, and Jack is sweetly protective (when he gets his shit together). There are kisses…on the mouth (Thank God) and blowjobs all around. Jack accepts Ethan and all his borne of trauma OCD quirks, and Ethan feels truly safe with Jack. (And I guess Jack feels truly safe with Ethan too because he decides Ethan really isn’t going to kill him)
So in summary:
Jack repeated “I am so sorry you had to deal with him, as a kid and now. Anything you need, just ask me, okay, baby?
Ethan: Despite the twisting guilt and flowing doubts, I had to laugh. “Baby”?
Grimacing, Jack muttered, “I was trying something. Clearly it didn’t work”.
Ethan: My laughter subsided into a smile as I closed the space between us. “Don’t sell yourself short. It may have worked more than you thought it did”.
Looking forward to the third and final book even though I know I’m going to get a migraine from more Before and After nonsense; and wishing there were like ten novellas between Why The Devil Stalks Death and the final book. I LOVE these guys!
5 stars despite some annoyances because 1. I LOVE Ethan, 2. I love Ethan and Jack together and 3. I mostly like (although he severely tested my patience in this one) Jack. In this second full-length novel in the trilogy we are back to the “Before” and “After “organizational plot device from the first book. It works even less well here than it did in Where Death Meets the Devil -which is to say…Not at all. Switching between Before and After is enough to give you whiplash. It’s confusing, disjointed and annoying. It’s a testament to the core story – the relationship between Ethan and Jack – that it is enjoyable and engaging enough to transcend the way in which their story is told.
It's been 4 months since jack and Ethan parted in Vietnam and Jack is starting to have his doubts about whether Ethan really is going to follow through with moving in with him (I mean hell, he doesn’t even know where he is). It’s a good thing that his job with The Office of Counterterrorism and Intelligence keeps him busy hunting terrorists. Jack returns home to find Victoria in his garage around the same time that he is given an undercover assignment as – more or less himself. He is going undercover as his cover for his covert secret job in the clandestine Office. He is going undercover as Specialist Security Advisor Jack Reardon from the International Security Office– loaned to the Melbourne police department’s newly minted Infinity Strike Force tracking a serial killer known as The Judge.
Jack and Ethan’s reunion is heartwarming. Every time these two are on the same page together sparks ignite, and their chemistry is palpable. And then there’s that damn Before and After plot device being used to create unnecessary tension and angst. I spent half the book with my face scrunched up worried that Jack really was a colossal dickhead; and the other half convincing myself that he could not possibly have done what was being suggested. As it was, Jack sabotaging their very new and fragile relationship by leaving Ethan at home waiting for him and deciding NOW is the time he must have a “friend” and that he’s going to go for drinks and dinner with his “friend” Adam – made me fantasize about The Judge removing one of his testicles with a rusty paring knife. The fact that Adam – the forensic psychologist on the Infinity strike force; was a former hook up of Jack’s who still obnoxiously had the hots for him – made me want that testicle in a jar to put on my mantle. In Jack’s very limited and generously offered defense; Ethan is having his moments of slinking off to destinations unknown, weird bruises, cold-hearted killer moods, silent distance and avoidance of sexy times.
As Jack tracks a serial killer, Ethan once again confronts his past. They stumble over having a real relationship, they both fuck up (someone fucks up MORE than the other, IMO) and they both confront their fears. Jack accepts his chest grenade for what it is, and Ethan confronts his trauma and strives to learn how to live. Ethan is heartbreakingly vulnerable, and Jack is sweetly protective (when he gets his shit together). There are kisses…on the mouth (Thank God) and blowjobs all around. Jack accepts Ethan and all his borne of trauma OCD quirks, and Ethan feels truly safe with Jack. (And I guess Jack feels truly safe with Ethan too because he decides Ethan really isn’t going to kill him)
So in summary:
Jack repeated “I am so sorry you had to deal with him, as a kid and now. Anything you need, just ask me, okay, baby?
Ethan: Despite the twisting guilt and flowing doubts, I had to laugh. “Baby”?
Grimacing, Jack muttered, “I was trying something. Clearly it didn’t work”.
Ethan: My laughter subsided into a smile as I closed the space between us. “Don’t sell yourself short. It may have worked more than you thought it did”.
Looking forward to the third and final book even though I know I’m going to get a migraine from more Before and After nonsense; and wishing there were like ten novellas between Why The Devil Stalks Death and the final book. I LOVE these guys!
dutchtreat's review against another edition
3.0
I still love the story and characters, but the now/then alternating chapter format was much more distracting in this book over the first. I think there weren't enough distinguishing clues for setting, or the transitions weren't stark enough to mentally cue the back and forth, at least for me.
I'm still diving into book 3 next!
I'm still diving into book 3 next!