Raped, her mind almost broken, not sure who she is, Dante Valentine has been to Hell, literally. Betrayed by her friends, her lover, and worst of all herself, Dante is hanging on to sanity by a thread. The one constant in her life is rage. If she knew now what would happen when she answered the doorbell so many months ago to an invitation from the Devil, Dante may have made some different decisions. But hindsight is always 20/20, and changing the past is not an option. A pawn in a game she doesn’t understand, all Dante can do is go forward with friends and enemies at her side. But this time…the Devil will pay.

TO HELL AND BACK concludes the Dante Valentine series in spectacular fashion. A dark urban fantasy that follows Dante’s struggles with the role she’s been placed in amongst the Devil’s minions, we wonder whether she can stay true to herself while staying alive. Her demon lover, Japhrimel, returns, continuing to play the game no one has explained to Dante. One thing that’s always clear is that, demon or not, he loves Dante no matter what, and will do anything to save her. He’s not always understandable, but you know her safety is his first concern. Also making appearances are Eve, Dante’s demon daughter, and Lucas, McKinley, and Vann, Dante’s compatriots. Though Dante believes they are working together, everyone has his or her own agenda, raising the suspense level as surprise after devastating surprise slam Dante’s back to the wall.

If you're looking for a sweet HEA, this is not the tale nor the characters for you. But as an exciting and satisfying conclusion to an entertaining series, TO HELL AND BACK does not disappoint. Dante’s humanity carries the day, and the tale, and will leave you wishing for more. Lilith Saintcrow has jumped into my favorite author list and I can't wait for new stories from her pen to enjoy.

Kathy Samuels