Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha Series: Mercenary Librarians #1
Published by Tor on July 28, 2020
Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
The United States went belly up 45 years ago when our power grid was wiped out. Too few live in well-protected isolation while the rest of us scrape by on the margins. The only thing that matters is survival. By any means. At any cost.
Nina is an information broker with a mission: to bring hope to the darkest corners of Atlanta. She and her team of mercenary librarians use their knowledge to help those in need. But altruism doesn’t pay the bills—raiding vaults and collecting sensitive data is where the real money is.
Knox is a bitter, battle-weary supersoldier who leads the Silver Devils, an elite strike squad that chose to go AWOL rather than slaughter innocents. Before the Devils leave town for good, they need a biochem hacker to stabilize the experimental implants that grant their superhuman abilities.
The problem? Their hacker’s been kidnapped. And the ransom for her return is Nina. Knox has the perfect bait for a perfect trap: a lost Library of Congress server. The data could set Nina and her team up for years...
If they live that long.
The start of the Mercenary Librarians series is an action-packed, sexy ride which uplifts the heart. I didn’t get too much of the librarian theme in Deal with the Devil. But I did love the smart, strategic and tactical way every action was planned using all the information they could get. I loved the technology and the people who made it work for them like Conall and Maya.
Nina and Knox are the leaders of their teams. We alternate between their points of view. They each feel responsibility, and try to figure out their best options. Neither has a great history; they have lost people and been on their own for awhile.
Nina has built quite the little group and a community where she lives. She is an altruistic idealist, believing in helping others as much as she can. It’s an homage to her lost sisters, Ava and Zoey. Knox broke his team free from TechnoCorps, and has his own wish to give tribute to his lost medic, Mace.
TechnoCorps is the greedy, wealthy corporate body that with their rich friends controls everything, and takes everything. Knox went into their Special Forces to try to help people and ended up being in their death squad, the Protectorate. They loom over everyone. This premise of the greedy, evil, rich corporate group is everywhere these days, as well as great technology. Money and power always seem to corrupt.
I love how story was combined with amazing world-building and character development. I felt I knew and liked each person on the teams, learning their style and sense of humor. I enjoyed watching them become friends as they allied to fight common enemies. Knox and Nina’s romance was interwoven with their battle to improve their community and fight evil. I can’t wait for more next year in The Devil You Know.
About Kit Rocha
Once upon a time, two best friends decided to write paranormal romance. And while that was awesome, they also sometimes wanted to write insanely dirty stuff that wasn’t paranormal at all. This is that stuff.
Kit Rocha is the dystopian-erotic-romance writing alter-ego of writing duo Moira Rogers.
How do you make a Moira Rogers? Take a former forensic science and nursing student obsessed with paranormal romance and add a computer programmer with a passion for gritty urban fantasy. Toss in a dash of whimsy and a lot of caffeine, and enjoy with a side of chocolate by the light of the full moon.
By day, Bree and Donna are mild-mannered ladies who reside in the Deep South. At night, when their husbands and children are asleep, they combine forces to unleash the product of their fevered imaginations upon the page
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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This sounds pretty exciting! Wonderful review, Anne? Seems like the author got the characterizations and world building just right.
Thanks! I really liked this one. The feel was like Polaris Rising although the story is completely different. I don’t know if that makes sense.
This sounds perfect for me! I had hoped to get to it this month, but July’s almost over so it might be next month. But I can’t wait?
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did
Oh I was actually wondering about this one and now I want to try it as well!
I’d recommend it! I thought it was great.
This sounds like a great series! I loved Polaris Rising and so did my daughter (saw your comment above). She’s been trying to find something similar since finishing the series and I think we’d both enjoy this story.
I think you would. The feel is similar even though it’s a totally different story. I hope you get a chance to read it.
This sounds like a great book. Good to know the first book doesn’t have as much of the librarian theme. I like how you describe how every action was planned using all the information they could get. That sounds well done. The world building and characters sound great too.
Yes they did a great job with both the world-building and the characters. I really appreciate it when characters beyond the main ones feel real and I get a sense of their personality. The whole group had a sense of humor.
Also, I think all my comments at your blog might be going to spam?
I agree it’s awesome when you get a feel for the personality of the characters beyond the main ones.
Thanks for letting me know! I’ll check my spam to see if your comments are there.
fabulous cover and i do like a good dystopian novel. glad you enjoyed all the characters along with the story
It is an awesome cover. I don’t always pay attention to covers as much as the story. I really thought this story was well done.
This sounds like such a thrilling read and its definitely one I want to touch base with. This is an author I definitely want to read and SOON.
Great review
I hope you will! I really enjoyed it a lot I think it will be a very fun series.
It’s definitely on my TBR pile. I was curious to why they are mercenary librarians? Did you read the Beyond series? I was wondering if this was as sexy or less sexy times than that one.
I’ll try to answer without being spoilery. I did not read the Beyond series but I would guess this is slightly less sexy. They are mercenary librarians because they live in a time of dystopia where the general population has no books, info or libraries. They are finding books in abandoned places and creating a library. They support themselves by being mercenaries.
I skimmed the review and I am so exited that you liked it so much! Going to grab it for sure when it comes out! 🙂
Great Review!
I hope you love it too. I thought it was fantastic.
I’m hearing so many things about this book and I cannot wait to read it!! I’ve one-clicked already and am impatiently waiting! 🙂
It was originally due out in May and with the pandemic it got delayed so I had it awhile. I wish I had read it sooner but I just try to keep up with my ARCs if I’m lucky.
I really enjoyed this one as well-its unique and fascinating!
I’m glad you enjoyed it too!
I think this one had me at “mercenary librarians!” But I’m just not sure I’m up to a post-apocalyptic novel or series right now… in the midst of a pandemic, with widespread protests (for a good cause) and questionable use of federal officers. It’s a little too close to reality. For now, I think I’m more comfortable with books set before COVID, or on/in other worlds. I’ll save this for when the world feels a little less scary.
It had me at librarians plus I have always enjoyed this author.. I can see how some issues might be difficult now but it is obviously fiction.