Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow

Her first series, the Watcher sequence beginning with Dark Watcher ( 2004), is an historical fantasy that edges towards some underlying sf assumptions, but does not explicate them, as the protagonist, cursed/blessed with Psi Powers, fights dark forces The Society sequence also features operatives with some sf-like abilities. I reviewed them on PBS here (book 1) and here (book 2, don't read if you dont want to be spoiled over the end of book 1)… too lazy to review it again on vox.(1976- ) US author of several series in closely associated genres, most of them incorporating more than one mode: the mix usually involves paranormal romance topoi, sometimes in connection with Vampires, sometimes with Werewolves and Urban Fantasy, sometimes set in the Near Future.

Anyway, I liked the world quite a bit in these books (necromancers, schools for people with gifts, going over to hell and talking to the devil? how could you not), although there is quite a bit of angst going on. In Dead Man Rising Danny seems to have grown a little bit, although her very headstrong attitude remains. Actually I was beginning to feel wrung out over reading about her past and how many loved ones she's had die.

There is more backstory of her past which explains some of it she's had a tough life. The angry Dante thing was better in the second book – Dead Man Rising. A review I mostly agree with (Dante is angry and explodes over things I don't really think are that big a deal), except I thought that the relationship between Dante and Japhramel was believable (it grew subtley, I noticed it, but I think many people didn't find it obvious enough? I don't like the over-obvious 'I LOVE YOUUUU, you are my SOULMATE even though I just met you and know nothing about you' storyline, and didn't think this was that). The books deal with a futuristic world where the protagonist is a necromancer who calls the dead to ask them questions, or brings people back if they aren't over the gate yet.

There's a review of Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow (I love that name), over at Smart Bitches, Trashy books.