Slow start for me. When a doctor and a vampire come together all kinds of stuff happens.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book.

I wish I’d read the others in the series before jumping into this book, to have more background on the characters, but it wasn’t impossible to follow as a standalone.

Overall, I’d say this book was okay. It’s terribly well written, but I just didn’t get sucked in as much as I’d have liked by the plot.

I’d give this author another go for sure though.

I really wish I'd read the other two books in the series first, because I love the world that's been created in this book! The plot was good, and the romance even more so - I love a good vampire romance!

Genre: historical paranormal romance
France, 1768

Twenty years ago, Mina Van Helsing gave up hope of marrying her beloved Rafael Dracul, when he abandoned her rather than elope, and since been working tirelessly to treat patients afflicted with malnutrition and exhaustion among other ills amongst the impoverished working class of France. A blood plague of vampirism stalks the land, with many of the working class choosing to be turned to give their families a better chance at food and wealth. But Rafael has walked back into her life, and with him rumors that as a vampire he is responsible for this blood plague. Mina must rely on help from her friends Les Dames Dangereuses to clear Rafael’s name.

@plottrysts convinced me to check this series out, and I took the leap starting out with book three in the series. It’s a second chance romance, with Mina and Rafael seeing each other for the first time in twenty years at the beginning of the story. Mina has grown up and moved on, throwing her passions into becoming a doctor, while Rafael has not contacted her and continued pining (as vampires are wont to do) for decades.

I might have enjoyed some of the plot a bit more had I read the first two books, but nothing took away from the relationship. Mina and Rafael have the sort of vampire romance I love - no holds barred obsessed with each other, even when they know it may not be the best idea. Mina’s friends are also delightfully invested in reuniting Mina and Rafael.

Overall, the novel is an intriguing take on vampirism and the struggles of the working class against the aristocracy in France, plus a light touch of political intrigue with action and romance. The series is on KU!

This is the third and concluding book of Riley's Dames Dangereuses series, paranormal romances set in France during the reign of Louis XV. In the last book, we met Mina Van Helsing, vampire doctor, when she came to help a couple of newly-turned werewolves through their Change. Note: we say she's a "vampire doctor," but we mean that she specializes in /treating/ vampires⁠ (and other supernatural creatures). ⁠
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Turns out that the feckless second son of the Dracul family and Mina have A Past. 20 years ago, when she was 17, they fell in love. On the night they were going to elope, Rafael abandoned her. No, he didn't suddenly learn from all of the other 100+ vamps who fell in love with 17 y/o girls that he should let her grow up a little bit before he, y'know, made her undead. Instead, he learned from scores of historical romance heroes who know that the best way to protect the woman you love from your own enemies is by breaking up with her.⁠
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Now he's back and ready to pick up where they left off, conveniently forgetting that while 20 years might not seem like a lot to him, it's been a lifetime for Mina. The book is mostly concerned with their second chance, although it's also the conclusion of the story arc that kicked off with The Assassin and the Libertine.⁠
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We've been impressed all along with the fun PNR worldbuilding, which flips the "vampire aristocracy" trope on its head: French peasants are choosing to become infected with the "blood plague" because they ⁠can't find enough human food to eat. We find out more about the origins of the blood plague in this book. If you like HR and vampires, we recommend this series as a fun entry in both genres!⁠

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

This book marks the conclusion to what is a unique historical fantasy series that I have really enjoyed. Each book has been different - with a different type of supernatural at the center of each. And while The Agent and the Outlaw will remain my favorite of the series, this second chance romance was still a great read. We finally get to see the conclusion to the overarching storyline that's pulled the three books together which I admit I was a bit more invested in than Mina and Rafael. The growth of the characters, and the depth each is written with though makes for a beautiful story and the addition of intrigue, adventure, and supernatural just makes it all even better.

This is an underrated series and in an underrated genre (historical fantasy) that I think most would enjoy if given the chance.

This was such a suspenseful, hot, intriguing and steamy book! I love the spice between the hero and heroine. It kept me turning pages!

Lily Riley serves us another delicious addition to the Les Dames Dangereuses series with “The Doctor and the Devil.” I’m not a fan of second chance romance but the chemistry between our protagonists (Mina and Rafael) had me coming back for more! I love a good monster romance and have thoroughly enjoyed Riley’s slow burn romances in this series. “The Doctor and the Devil” includes elements of dark academia, court intrigue, and steamy romance scenes as we follow our protagonists through their journey in solving the scientific mystery of a blood plague wreaking havoc on 18th century France while simultaneously reconciling their long-broken relationship.

I found the extra set of “skills” Rafael possesses as an elder vampire intriguing and enjoyed the banter between characters. An element of this series that I LOVE is that characters from books past (Daphne and Charlotte) are just as central to the plot as our main characters. I think the books can be read as standalones but the experience is heightened if read in order. Book 1 “The Assassin and the Libertine” is a delicious enemies to lovers romance and Book 2 “The Agent and the Outlaw” features betrayal and kidnapping 👀

I recommend this series to fans of “The Viscount Who Loved Me”/ Bridgerton series, anyone who enjoys 18th century French Court aesthetics, and lovers of vampire romance. “The Doctor and the Devil” is not for folks who read for "all vibes no plot," because there is quite an intricate plot that requires a certain amount of commitment to read.

Ps. Thank you Lily Riley for giving me an opportunity to exercise the long-dormant part of my brain that speaks French!