The Mercenary Librarians series has rarely been about lending books. Oh, there is the occasional acquiring of books and subsequent lending of them. But what is really going on is all about the need for people like the mercenary librarians.

In a futuristic post-apocalyptic Atlanta, those in power are obscenely wealthy and viciously powerful. They hoard technology and use unscrupulous methods to control the masses. The heroines and heroes of this series amass a book collection while they protect their community and strive to fight the good fight as they reset the balance of power.

While all that is going on, there are romances blossoming. Before Dance with the Devil begins, Dani and Rafe have already begun to hopelessly fall for each other. You know. I know it. Their friends know. It just takes the pair a while to give in to the idea. While they infiltrate Atlanta power circles, they do the dance (with each other and the devil). While under cover, they happen upon Rafe’s sister Tessa, who is in her own world of trouble. The addition of Rafe’s family, along with Rainbow (from the last book) top off the story with a lovely layer of heartwarming emotion.

This third book in the series brings back almost every character from the first two books. I’m not a fan of a crowded cast of characters, but in this case, one might argue it was necessary. The story appears to build to a possible series ending showdown, but the last few pages tease the reader with a conceivable future storyline.

Fans of post-apocalyptic fiction who like a little romance in their scifi should consider this series. Dance with the Devil is best read after reading the first two books.

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

Dance with the Devil is the third installment in author Kit Rocha's Mercenary Librarians. A trio of information brokers led by Nina, have joined forces with a squad of elite super-soldiers led by Knox and his Silver Devil Squad (Conall, Rafe, Gray, and Mace), to use their knowledge to help the hopeless in a dystopian post-apocalyptic United States (mostly Atlanta) ruled by a corporate autocracy. Nina and her friends Maya and Dani were part of a government program specializing in clones and genetic modification to be Executive Security operatives.

Maya, who never forgets anything she learns, uses her wealth of secrets to weaken the TechCorps from within. Maya has a huge bounty on her head because she knows some damaging secrets. Dani strikes from the shadows, picking off the chain of command, one ambush at a time. Dani is a walking weapon who shouldn't be taken lightly. And Nina is organizing their community—not just to survive, but to fight back with help from people like Jaden Montgomery, and Savitri.

Knox's Silver Devils are now considered Rogue by TechCorps who has tried hard to take them down. As with the previous installments, this book features two characters, while also including a rash of other characters. Danijela (Dani) Volkova and Rafe Morales are the primary characters, while the rest of the Silver Devils as well as Maya and Nina all play their parts. Dani is a character who I have been waiting to learn more about. Dani was genetically engineered in a clone facility to be the perfect warrior.

From the first moment she was introduced, it was explained that she could not feel pain, and that she was nearly untouchable and has been on a mission to destroy various aspects of the Protectorate. It was presumed that she had a heart as cold as ice, but this story tries hard to fix that. Rafe was military intelligence who has had a biochemical implant planted in his brain who finds Dani to be a challenge that he aims to solve. Rafe is smart and he absolutely knows that by pushing Dani she might not ever let her walls down.

Now that Tobias has been removed from the equation, there are others who are itching to take his place including Helen Anderson and the Professor. When Maya needs to make contact with a sympathetic insider, Dani and Rafe are the only ones with the skill-set and experience to infiltrate the highest levels of the TechCorps. They'll go deep undercover in the decadent, luxury-soaked penthouses on the Hill. This book has a few additional characters that have apparently joined with Nina's group since they are all basically clones.

Those like Ava who is Nina's sister, Beth, and Phoenix who helps Dani and Rafe when they agree to go on an undercover mission to get closer to who is now pulling the plug at Techcorps. If you've read this series from the beginning, you know that Ava is not an easy character to like. There are those like Mace who would love to see if he can get through her shields. Beth is a creme puff who is always smiling and it seems as though nothing bothers her. She is a helluva fighter though. Then comes Phoenix who has her fingers in many pies all at once. When all is said and done, Phoenix proves she can be a team player. Then comes Rainbow. Rainbow is adorable and not to be ignored.

Even though the synopsis claims this is the final installment in the series, why would the authors leave a open ended cliffhanger which really needs to be addressed.

I’m always excited for another Kit Rocha book, but my anticipation for Dani and Rafe’s book was sky high. These two gorgeous, yet deadly characters seemed to be engaged in a ‘will they or won’t they?’ dance over the last two books.

The Mercenary Librarians is a spin-off of the Beyond series, but if you haven’t read the previous series don’t worry, these books can absolutely be read on their own. In the previous two books, Deal with the Devil and The Devil You Know, this author duo introduced this world to new readers and set up the found family-like relationships between these characters. All of these characters are unique, competent, and total badasses. I have a thing for badass, competent protagonists so it’s no wonder I absolutely adore the Mercenary Librarians.

This is Rafe and Dani’s book and they absolutely shine. The sexual tension is off the charts between these two, but they haven’t made that final fall into each other’s arms. Rafe sees Dani exactly as she is and would literally do anything to help and protect her, except take her to bed without the understanding that he wants more than just one night. So he’ll wait and get past her walls until she finally lets him all the way in. But until then it’s a sexy dance between the two, as they can’t help but tease and torment each other.

Thankfully, this author duo doesn’t make their readers wait too long for this couple to give in to their feelings for each other.

But what this team does is fight the bad guys, and that fight is still ongoing. The president of Techcorps is dead, but now there is a power vacuum and Dani, Rafe, and the team need to know what’s going on. So it’s agreed that our couple will go undercover for information. Which is when the shit hits the fan. Rafe’s sister has been taken captive and one of Dani’s former colleagues is in attendance at one of the functions they are attending. So Dani does what Dani does best, and that’s to eliminate the threat and get them all out of the situation. I had to read this scene multiple times because Dani is so awesome. I might be a little in love with her.

This is an ongoing plot arc, and while I like where the book left our cast of characters, I’m hoping for more books in this series to delve deeper into what happens after the big climax and conclusion. This is one big found family who has chosen to give back to their community and make it a better place amidst the backdrop of the ugly, depraved, sinister world of Techcorps. Each character came into the first book with tragic backstories and emotional baggage. They are now healing, falling in love, and finding acceptance. But there are more stories to tell, and the set-up for their romances has been intriguing. I really hope readers get to read these stories. I want more Ava, Conall, and Mace. I want more badass fight scenes and tender moments where these characters get together for big dinners. I just want more.

We finally get the novel where Dani and Rafe get together! Rafe has been pining for Dani since they first met in the heist of Deal with the Devil. Turns out Dani has been having those same kind of feelings in his direction. But, unlike him, she never had a nice loving family upbringing and so didn't know either what to do or how to recognise them.

In the aftermath of the last novel, the president of the Techcorps is dead and there is now a bit of a power grab going on in his absence. This leads Dani and Rafe into undercover mode to try to get information that will lead them forward in next steps. In the process, they find Rafe's sister being held captive which kinda puts a spanner in the works.

While their lives are actively in danger, rather than just a routine heist that offers no typical danger in the face of Dani's skills, Dani finally throws caution to the winds and more or less does throw herself at Rafe. This is made super easier given their undercover profiles are that of a married couple.

I can't believe we don't have future books in this series currently listed or projected, cause they sure as hell set up future stories for Conall not to mention polyamory for Mace in the latter half of this novel, and damned if I don't want to see Ava getting cozy with not one but two people!

It would, though, make sense if this was a trilogy with no future books forecasted. The whole new landscape of this world the authors have been playing in for what must be a decade for now has been presented, with power given to the people rather than being lorded over them by a faceless Techcorp.

It's great to finally see Dani and Rafe get their due! Plus I love the plot of this series too. Definitely a quick read but so much fun and looking forward to hopefully more in the series!

This is the third book in this series, and I absolutely love how the series have evolved in the three books. We went from two different groups fighting for a better life, to the merging of those groups gathering others to make life better for everyone. This story revolves around Rafe and Dani. They’ve been dancing around each other for two books, and this one where they get together is explosive. Add in their fight with TechCorps, gaining allies, losing allies, more tech, spy missions…I could just go on and on. I thought this one was the concluding title until almost the very end, and then my hopes where dashed/filled with the idea that there’s another one coming. I can’t wait! Dystopian adventure, steamy romance, action-packed battles, and more, this one has it all. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

In Dance with the Devil, we are following Dani and Rafe. Dani is a kick-ass extremely independent woman who can take down a group of trained soldiers on her own, and shoot the wings off a fly. Rafe is a studly charismatic ex-protectorate soldier who got into this life to help his family, and now all he wants to do is protect Dani.

Dani and Rafe have been circling around these growing feelings for each other since we first met them in book 1. Now we are finally getting them as the main couple and it was just as good as I thought it would be. Danie, Rafe, and the rest of the team are trying to take down a bigger chunk of Techcorp. Dani and Rafe go undercover together... as a couple... and boy is the sexual tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. When they finally decide to see where it could go it was like FINALLY!!

The rest of the story was action-packed! There are lots of epic fight scenes and lots of edge-of-your-seat moments where you aren't sure if everyone we've come to know will make it out of this one alive.

I loved how it ended, and I hope that we get more of these characters and this world!

This is the third book in a post apocalyptic world with lots of steamy romance, kickass action and some political machinations thrown into the mix just to make things interesting. I have enjoyed all three of these books, and certainly hope that there will be more. I just love this found family and want to spend a lot more time with them.

As with the previous two books there are multiple perspectives, with a focus on the romantic couple, who get most of the page time. This time around we get to see Dani and Rafe finally come together, and when they finally do the sparks just fly and I am surprised that they did not set my ipad on fire! I have really enjoyed these two since the first book and was really hoping that when they did finally get together it would be epic, and I was not disappointed. I really liked that Rafe realized that he needed to go slowly with Dani, so that their relationship would not crash and burn before it even began. I also appreciated Dani’s hesitancy to start something with Rafe, because she wanted to protect him and herself from heartbreak.

The plot outside of the romance was exciting and full of action. The crew infiltrates TechCorps and we get to see how the rich have been living in this world, and it was quite the eye opener. The opulence and the total disregard for human life was mind boggling, but was to be expected given what we know already about TechCorps and who runs it. The overall plot that has been developing over the course of this series, is for the most part resolved in this book. But there are certainly enough threads left dangling at the end of this one that there could be a lot more books.

The other thing that sets these books apart from other sci fi series, is how well the characters are written and how vividly the setting/world is drawn. The two ladies who write these books do such a marvelous job of totalling immersing you in their stories and have you rooting for the characters, even sometimes the ones that you don’t like that much. I also love the sense of community and found families that this series has continued to showcase. It gives me hope that even when humanity is at its worst there will be people who will shine as the best that we have to offer.

This is another great installment in this series. If you enjoy science fiction with some steamy sex and romance, then you really need to give this one a try. If you are not a science fiction fan but enjoy great romance, than you should also give this one a try. It just might change your mind about science fiction.

Dance With the Devil delivers on the promises made in the first two Mercenary Librarians books, Deal With the Devil and The Devil You Know.

Rafe has been pining for Dani since she stabbed him a little bit the first time they met. Dani would have liked to work off the sexual tension between them, but once she adopted Rafe as one of her people, she couldn’t just tromp on his feelings. This is their book and Kit Rocha doesn’t make us wait too long before letting Dani and Rafe decide to risk heartbreak. Even more than the other books, this one explores the ways the characters feel like they’ve made themselves into monsters to survive living in TechCorps controlled Atlanta. Before they can fully reclaim themselves as humans, they have to accept that there is no ethical living under corporate control.

There are plenty of battles, fights, and action in Dance With the Devil. It’s a fun book with great characters, and some A+ heat between Rafe and Dani. If you want escape, it’s there.

But what I love best about the minds that make up Kit Rocha is that they understand the revolution is bigger than the gun fights and violence. The revolution is the former captain of a super soldier squad using his protective instincts to perfect a cookie recipe for a little girl, who was created to be a cheap instrument of war. The revolution is a clone designed to be a super soldier building a community center and figuring out how to feed people instead of kill them.

There’s something quintessentially Southern about The Mercenary Librarians, and it isn’t just peach pie and iced tea. It’s the recognition that the governing body wasn’t made to help you, but to keep you in line and out of the way. The refugees and the people who live in the shadow of TechCorps know that if they want to survive, they have to help themselves. Nina is the Heart that has gathered found family and allies together. In rescuing people for the sake of rescuing people, she has built not just an army capable of revolution, but also the infrastructure to govern in the aftermath. I keep going back to what Nina tells Knox early in Deal With the Devil:

"I’m going to keep trying. Even if it changes nothing.”

This is the foundation of the series. There is value in trying regardless of long term success.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Tordotcom via NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.

It's Dani's time to shine and our lady has A LOT going on as she tries to avoid admitting she has a bucketload of feelings for Rafe while also having to go deep undercover in what is possible one of the worst places in Atlanta with the sex-on-a-stick hottie. You might think an undercover job in the glitzy, over-the-top TechCorps inner circle wouldn't be half bad, but IT REALLY IS. From the waste to the egos to the amoral parties, it's just a whole lot of terrible.

That said, Dani does get to spend some quality time with Rafe. Rafe, who very much sees Dani for what she is and would tear down the world if she needed him to. Rafe, who knows he needs to move slow so he doesn't ruin what could be between them before it really starts. Yeah, Rafe's smart and sexy and he absolutely knows pushing Dani will only result in her never allowing him past her walls.

MEANWHILE, bad things are happening, the crew are preparing for the worst, secrets are being uncovered, there's danger around every corner, and there's a reckoning on the horizon. Nina, Knox, and the others are determined to not only survive the coming fight, but live the lives they've only dreamed of after. Which means they have a lot riding on what's coming and their determination to win is epic.

As an aside, I'm being cautiously optimistic that we'll get to see more in this world. We got Nina, Maya, and Dani's stories (along with the corresponding Devils), but there are so many more desperate to break free from the entities holding them hostage. Plus, there's Ava and Mace (and Beth!) who need to figure things out. And and and...yeah. There's a lot under the surface that can still be tapped and I'm 100% here for it.

Dance with Devil is book 3 in Kit Rocha’s Mercenary Librarians series, and I was very excited for this book…and let me tell you it did not disappoint.

Dance with Devil picks up a little after the events of The Devil You Know, and finally the story is about Dani and Rafe. They are tasked with going undercover on The Hill, where all the baddies of TechCorps live and plan. I don’t want to go into heavy detail because it will ruin the plot of the book, but the information they gather is critical in the revolution that they are apart of and by the end of the book, moves are made and we get a HFN ending for the characters when it comes to the TechCorps plot line.

Through the espionage and uprising of these characters, Dani and Rafe’s relationship development still shines though. These two have had my attention since book 1. Kit Rocha knows how to write tension between characters and that is exactly what I felt as a reader whenever Dani and Rafe were on the page together. And when the tension finally snapped…it was WELL worth the wait. Also, it is worthy to note that the spice is made especially better because Rocha’s ability to write the emotional connection and development between characters laid the foundation for it.

Of course everyone in this found family makes an appearance, and we get some new faces as well. And even though get a HFN, breadcrumbs were left for another plot line to take off and my fingers are crossed that we get more books in this series! If you like post-apocalyptic settings, found family, reverse grumpy/sunshine, and a plot line that will keep you engaged, The Mercenary Librarians series is one to check out!

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

Pretty good. A bit slow, in some respects, at the start, but it gains momentum and becomes a fine adventure tale. This book follows closely after the previous book in the series, and brings to a head the fight between our "heroes" and the nasty, villainous power brokers and elite of Atlanta. Many of the previous supporting characters are back to, well, support. I was pulled into these books by the series title "Mercenary Librarians", but stayed with them even though there is very little librarian aspect to them. While I'd been under the impression that this book would be the culmination of this series, I"m glad to report that the final scenes make it obvious that the author has more in store.

I have preordered this book for myself. I enjoy Kit Rocha's books and this series. I recommended it for the public library also. Even though I don't like how Tor has pushed the ebook purchasing back for public libraries.

I was just not impressed with this book. I rarely read sci/fi so that may have something to do with it. It also might have something to do with how long from the first it was published. What attracted me to the first was the library aspect which just wasn't in this book. I had trouble getting into it and actually didn't finish it. It just didn't hold my attention.

This is sincerely one of my favourite book series over the past few years. I really love the way the authors handle this version of a post-apocalyptic world - the way the handle genetics, technology, peoples survival, it's sincerely so well written. How the characters develop and interact, how the series progresses, it's such a great series. Highly recommend in general, absolutely grab this latest installment or start it if you haven't!

So so good! What an excellent continuation of the series. A slow burn start that quickly turns into a ranging inferno. I can’t wait for what comes next.

Excellent for long time fans and newbies alike. A must read for fans of Martha Wells, Suleikha Snyder, and Patricia Briggs.

Mercenary Librarians has been one of my favorite series during this pandemic, especially as it is so full of hope and possibility, and I loved how this was a conclusion to an arc but there are still so many dangling threads, I need more books! Besides, my fave, Conall, needs to get his HEA!

Dani used to be in Executive Security and then was an assassin, but nowadays she works with Nina and Maya to build a safer world and bring down TechCorps. The fact she feels no pain sometimes make it easier for her to take risks, especially as she’s also been augmented to be super fast and trained as a super efficient killer.

Rafe joined the Protectorate to be able to support his family financially, but wasn’t wholly prepared for what it would cost his heart and soul to execute the orders of TechCorps to keep communities submissive and reliant. But when the Silver Devils left and joined Nina and family, they’ve been able to build a new family and community and work to overthrow the institutions that hurt those they care about.

In Dance with the Devil, they’re working to infiltrate the highest echelons of the Hill and gain the information and access that would allow them to finally destroy the threat they present to regular communities. I love the way so many of the epigraphs call back to previous books’ epigraphs as well as planting new mysteries and insight into TechCorps and the monstrosities they’ve committed. This is such an intense ride with political machinations as well as physical action and immediate changes. I love how it is working to change the system and the world, but it doesn’t shy away from how sometimes the cost is higher than anticipated and the consequences must be grappled with.

I adore this book and this series and all of these characters, even (especially) the most messy and feral. I have so many new questions after that ending and I need there to be more books in this world. The way Kit Rocha builds a world and characters and interpersonal dynamics is so fantastic and always gives me so many feelings. I highly recommend this series for hopeful dystopia and wonderful romances!

I am a huge fan of this series (and the larger universe it's set in), and while I felt the ending of Dance with the Devil tied things up enough for the third book in a trilogy, I hope to see lots more stories from Kit Rocha set in this world. This is me pleading with the publisher to keep them coming!

I just really like this series, it's brain candy because you know exactly how it's going to work out, and that it will in fact work out. Let's go, bring on many, many more.

Read this on vacation, and it's a great poolside read! At this point in the trilogy, if you're not already invested in the found family of Nina's librarian crew and the Silver Devils, I don't think you'll have a good time -- so much of the book is about the extended cast rather than the main couple. On the other hand, if you want to wallow in all the family feels of characters you've come to know and love over the past two books, this is great! The heroines of this series are SO superpowered that even when they're in terrible situations, neither you nor they are very worried, and that can actually be a really liberating reading experience. Rafe and Dani are already most of the way in love with each other from the get-go, but they don't actually bang until pretty far into the novel, so there's a good amount of sexual tension built up. They have (in my opinion) the Correct dynamic for an m/f couple, namely, he thinks she's perfect and worships the ground she walks on. Aside from the romance, the plot is also a lot of fun! The world Donna and Bree have built is so much larger than we see in just this trilogy, and it's really interesting to get glimpses of what lies beyond Atlanta.