Quick & Dirty: Ominous paranormal pirate adventures ensue as they continue to fight evil spreading out into the world. The romance features a male who believes he’s too awful to be loved and a woman who has no problem speaking her mind. Cliffhanger alert!

The Review:
Death Doesn’t Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon is the second novel in the Deadman’s Cross trilogy. This is a series set in the early 1700s where a band of mismatched supernatural companions are fighting for their eternal redemption while also warding off evil from entering our world and potentially bringing about the end of days. If you are a fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s other series, I imagine there is a character or two who show up that you might be excited about appearing. I haven’t read any of the other series but I do recognize a name.

I will try to minimize any spoilers but this book relies heavily on events from the previous book, Deadmen Walking. Cameron Jack and her brother have been rescued from Devyl Bane’s evil ex-wife Vine but unfortunately at a great cost. Kalder Dupree gets a ‘big break’ and is reunited with his old crewmates. The Gates have been breaking and evil has been escaping keeping the crew of the Sea Witch busy. An old enemy has returned, forcing the shipmates to believe that someone could turn on them at any moment.

Death Doesn’t Bargain is written in the third person and jumps around between many different perspectives. Bane and Thorn show up a lot but Cameron and Kalder are the main players because of their romance storyline. I feel like Death Doesn’t Bargain is not your typical romance. After, Deadmen Walking, you know Cameron and Kalder had feelings for one another. This novel explores those feelings and characters thoughts and concerns about why they are or are not compatible for one another.

Kalder grew up never knowing true love/familial love and because of that he believes that he isn’t worthy of real love. When his alone or with Cameron, he is really self-deprecating and full of self-hate but when he has an audience he is all cockiness and bravado. As a “merman”, Kalder has a lot of strengths the other members of the Sea Witch do not have but recently he has been forced to work with one big weakness…*no spoilers*. Kalder believes he has a huge darkness inside of him that cannot be controlled. I liked Kalder and I really felt for the way he was forced to grow up but it did get annoying listening to him complain over and over again why he wasn’t worthy of love and how horrible his parents were to him.

Cameron Jack is the light to Kalder’s dark. Cameron is eternally optimistic. I’m guessing that has to do with her angelic bloodline. She is constantly trying to show Kalder the good inside of him. Cameron is extremely outspoken and strong willed. If she doesn’t believe something is right she will speak her mind even if it gets her in trouble.

If you are a fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s other series, I imagine there is a character or two who show up that you might be excited about appearing. I haven’t read any of the other series but I do recognize a name.

Overall, I do think Death Doesn’t Bargain suffers a bit from middle book syndrome because a few things to happen but mostly it sets up the big showdown that will be in book three. I think I prefer to read these books for the highly entertaining supernatural ‘pirate’ world that the author has created. I love the banter, I love the different supernatural creatures which I really wish I could see spend more time on the page. I can’t wait for the third book and the smackdown that is inevitable!

4.5 Stars

My love for Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Pirates from her Deadman’s Cross series continues. Death Doesn’t Bargain, the 2nd installment focuses on Kalder Dupree, who captured my heart from the last book. As a tortured soul, love does not come easy, but for his crew and his Cameron, he would give anything. It’s not hard to see that Cameron Jack and the Deadman’s Crew feels exactly the same way. They would plow through the land and ocean and hell for that matter to get Kalder back.

Kalder and Cameron are the cutest couple. Don’t get me wrong, they were nowhere close to being a sappy couple. They are actually pretty kickass but super cute. They had danced around each other, until shit hit the fan and made them pretty much own up to their feelings. I honestly like them more from the previous couple. I thought there were less angst.

What I liked most about the book is the continuous update of what is going on in this world and how the crew is tied in to the DH world. Most especially tidbits of information about Thorn, whom the next book is suppose to be about. There’s of course the constant bantering between the crew and some action…the typical Kenyon fun.

Yo Ho Ho, Sherrilyn Kenyon takes no prisoners with DEATH DOESN’T BARGAIN, the second book in the Deadman’s Cross series. The Deadman were given a chance to redeem their soles by being part of Thorn’s Hellchaser army. They are tasked with killing the demons who escaped their prison and threaten mankind. This Historic Fantasy takes place in 1717. It is mermaid, Kalder Dupree’s and Sephirii, Cameron Jack’s story.

I made the mistake of reading DEATH DOESN’T BARGAIN without reading book one, DEADMAN WALKING. It took a few chapters for me to get all the characters straight and figure out what was going on. After I did, I loved this story. I want to go back and read book one to find out what I missed.

I really enjoyed Kalder’s character. We discover a lot of interesting things about his past and his lineage. He is not all that he appears. He is a good (mer)man, despite his cruel upbringing. He carries a lot of guilt, some of it unwarranted. He is selfless, always putting others before himself. Cameron is an interesting compliment to Kalder. She is sweet, caring, curious, and honest. They have a yin-yang relationship.

The Deadman have many interesting adversaries. It keeps the plot exciting. I love that DEATH DOESN’T BARGAIN takes place in the Dark-Hunter Universe, and that characters like Acheron make an appearance in the novel. The story frequently reminded me of a more serious Pirates of the Caribbean. However, it does have its funny moments.

As always, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s writing style is exemplary. You feel like you are in the proper time-period. I really liked the epilogue. I am highly anticipating the release of book three, AT DEATH’S DOOR. Followers of Kenyon’s Hunter Legends Series should enjoy this book. Furthermore, people that like pirate fantasies with a paranormal twist. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.