In this “carniepunk” e-novella from the author of Wicked As They Come, a knife-thrower meets a lady journalist determined to uncover his dark and dangerous past. Bad boy knife-thrower Marco Taresque is the hottest and most dangerous performer in the caravan. He keeps to himself until a pesky female journalist arrives, anxious to interview him about his checkered past—his last assistant disappeared under mysterious and bloody circumstances, earning him the nickname “The Deadly Daggerman.”Unsinkable journalist and adventurer Jacinda Harville doesn’t take no for an answer, and she’s determined to wear down Marco no matter how threatening—or incredibly desirable—he might appear. He agrees to an interview—but only if she’ll let him strap her to a spinning table and throw knives at her body. How can she say no? And how can she resist him when he leans close for a kiss that strikes her more sharply than any blade? It’s the first time she’s let a man get the better of her, and she’s determined it will be the last… Just when she thinks she can’t take any more of his games, Jacinda receives a note from Marco saying he’s finally ready to tell her the truth about what happened to his missing assistant. She sets out for an address miles away, but what she finds there turns the tables on everything she thought she knew about the tender lover who wears a smile as sharp as his knives. As secrets are unraveled and passions take hold, Ginger realizes her hard heart has melted. But will it be too late to save Marco—and herself—from the daggerman’s dangerous past?
My Review
I think this was my least favorite of all of Delilah S. Dawson’s Blud series novellas. It wasn’t a bad story by any means, it just wasn’t my favorite. This author has an amazing way with words that helps the reader to see and feel everything that’s going on within the stories. That’s one of the reasons why I love reading her books. At times it feels as if you are a resident of Sang instead of an outsider looking in.
The Damsel and The Daggerman has us back in the world of Sang at Criminy’s Clockwork Caravan. Jacinda Harville has arrived to attempt to write a book in which she hopes to include the true story of what happened with Marco Taresque, “The Deadly Daggerman”. Marco is accused of being the perpetrator behind the disappearance of his assistant. There was never a body, just a whole lot of blood and a missing dagger throwing duo. Will Jacinda be able to gain the trust of the quiet Marco and get him to tell her the truth behind what happened? Is he really as dangerous as the papers say? Will Criminy show himself for more than 5 minutes in this book? You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out!
I had a hard time identifying with Jacinda. I think it has a lot to do with my own personal traits more than the character herself. She is a very strong and independent woman. She sees what she wants and takes it. She doesn’t ask permission to be who she is. Which is a great thing as far as heroines go. She is comfortable in her own skin. She really is a great female lead as a character and a woman in general. She doesn’t fall into the damsel in distress role at all. Now that I think about it, I kind of wish I was more like her lol. Dawson is notorious for writing amazing and strong heroines in her books and Jacinda absolutely falls into that category.
I enjoyed the mystery behind Marco’s story, but felt it was a bit predictable. There are so many possible outcomes for his situation, but I did enjoy the path Dawson chose to take. Parts of it were unexpected for me, so it wasn’t a complete loss of surprise.
One of the things I enjoy about Delilah S. Dawson’s books is that while there are sex scenes that are super steamy, they don’t overwhelm the story. I’m not a big reader of erotica. It usually makes me feel uncomfortable and feels unrealistic, so I don’t read much of it. If there is too much sex in a book, for me, it takes away from the book and I will find myself skimming those scenes. Dawson’s books aren’t like that at all. There is the perfect balance between love and sex and they are always connected in some way. Her characters have an intense DESIRE to be together, even when they deny it vehemently. I think that makes her sex scenes, and almost sex scenes, much hotter and much more believable. I don’t skim her sex scenes. AT ALL!
This book has a very real message. It’s about building trust, letting go of the past and making a new life for you. Many of us have let things from our past keep us from living in the present and looking forward to the future. This book is an example of what you can do when you let it all go.
I recommend this book to everyone, as usual. I fully believe you could read this novella all by itself without having read the previous books. You’re cheating yourself, but you won’t miss any big points. A solid 4 stars.
Additional Amazon Purchase Links for the
Other Books in Delilah’s Blud Series
Wicked as They Come
Wicked as She Wants
Wicked After Midnight
The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance
The Mysterious Madam Morpho
About Delilah S. Dawson
Delilah S. Dawson comes from a long line of Roswell, GA natives. WICKED AS THEY COME is the first in her Blud series for Pocket/S&S, and a creepy paranormal YA, SERVANTS OF THE STORM, will be out with Simon Pulse in 2014. Her next YA, DELINQUENT, will be out in 2015. She is also an Associate Editor at www.CoolMomPicks.com and www.CoolMomTech.com, where she is given the more eccentric and geeky products to cover. Delilah lives with her husband, two small children, a horse, a dog, and two cats in Atlanta. Find out more at http://www.whimsydark.com/
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