Review of The Devil's Right Hand, by Lilith Saintcrow

So here we are at the third book of this series. I think the author has pretty much stopped summarizing what has happened in the previous books, which is to my relief since I read both previous books, but would be confusing to the audience who hasn't. New readers are bound to wonder how and why Danny changed from human to this hedaira being. They would know that she and Japhrimel are a couple, which is really what is relevant in this arc, so that makes sense. However, they wouldn't know who Eve is, wonder about Gabe and Jace, and only half an idea of what happened between Danny and Lucifer. But I understand that's probably a conscious artistic decision; and even if it weren't, it's hard to moderate between too much summarization of past arcs/books, and too little.

The first few chapters seem out of character for Danny, because she has never been so girly. I almost feel impolite writing this, as if I may know this character better than the author, so presumptuous. But still, Danny has never been so spoiled, so why did it take her such a short time to begin taking Japhrimel for granted? She took Jace for granted, and is a little selfish with (romantic) relationships, but she seemed a little too unreasonable with Japhrimel - even if she didn't understand the honor system that demons held. It's like she regresses while she's with him. Then after the meeting with Lucifer, she returns to rational thought once again - fighting for her survival, and thankfully, slightly calmly this time around. I wonder if this may be a metaphor for the way some women must grow in relationships.

Japhrimel must grow as well, because he doesn't seem to understand that no matter how much he tries to protect her, the demon laws of his culture will never apply to Dante. That is the heart of all relationships, no? To understand what the other person cares about the most, while caring through life and death for the other person. One must have a black sense of humor to read this book, for I find myself more entertained and laughing uproariously at the times when Danny is most in danger, because of the absurdity of her existence. The author's sense of humor also thinly veils the many other popular culture references in the characters of the novel, aside from the most obvious of Dante to Dante's Inferno.

Personal preference: I really like Lucas the Deathless. His efficiency and dryness humor me to the utmost. Eve personifies to me the ultimate femme fatale, the kind of woman that Polyamour only dreams of becoming - a being who seduces without effort, so persuasive is her essence. This book makes up for my saying about the first two books of the series that there is no character development. I take it back - because Dante is changing. While my attention was not caught by the characters in the previous books, now I am fascinated by the relationship between Lucifer and his child Japhrimel. As well as by the cruel love between Dante and Japhrimel. Though I am still impressed by the author's action scenes, they do not seem to take priority here, for all that the fate of the living world hangs in the balance between Lucifer, Eve, Japhrimel, and Dante.

For all the paranormal abilities and fantasy action, I felt that what's happening here was really an essential human conflict. All those vampires and werewolves died in that bar, because the Eldest son and youngest daughter of Lucifer decided to rebel. Son and daughter against their father: a family conflict. A main character wedded to this Eldest son, making Lucifer technically Dante's father-in-law, as revolting to her as it may be. Lucifer, for all his demon power, struggles with the two things most human parents struggle with: letting go of their children, and learning to like their children-in-law. Japhrimel, for all his demon power, also struggles with a human situation: vying for independence from family, and coping with the wrath of his lover. And Dante, who isn't sure she's human, struggles with personal values, personal loyalties, her feelings for her lover, and ultimately, what she wants out of life. The fact that most of this book is set in vaguely Middle Eastern settings may also be a comment on real events.

For all that this book mainly just explained the relationship between various characters, and is the start a whole new arc that is expected to take roughly several books, I was satisfied, because character relationships mean something to me. This is in contrast to the first book, driven by introductions, settings and action, or the second book, driven by plot and existential ruminating over the ghosts of a person's past. Lilith Saintcrow prioritizes different aspects in each book, stretching them to the fullest, which gives different parts of the series a distinct flavor. This is a different style from most of the authors that I've read, who keep the same stylistic preferences for the whole series, but ups the stakes for the character each time, charged with whatever the author is most good at. This author seems to take a more well-rounded approach.