Dangerous Deception (Dangerous Creatures)

Several reviews indicate some consternation about whether there will actually be a third book in this series. A few assume there won't be; others assume there will. I can't say for sure, of course, but I'll be shocked if there isn't. Maybe even a fourth. Dangerous Deception ends on as much of a cliffhanger as Dangerous Creatures did, and there's so much story yet to be told - especially for three characters in particular. And Stohl and Garcia have only said that there's no news as of *yet.*All that's certain is how much has changed already, and how much more change is probably coming. But we saw a paradigm shift in the Beautiful Creatures books, one that Stohl and Garcia saw through to at least a reasonable point of closure... so I am strongly tempted to think we'll see the same in this series, which contains its own radical reordering of reality: not only what the breaking of the Order has meant for the basic nature of the balance, but also what it means for caster powers. How muddied things are really getting. How "things fall apart" and then rearrange. What the new constellations will look like, constellations which are still very much forming.If I had to pick a theme for this book, it would be this: power corrupts. But the Pliny quote at the beginning of the book gives me hope that that isn't the end, much less a nihilistic end, of the tale - the fear I think some readers have found most incomplete and dismaying. We see the Death card appear. And as is said in the book, Death means transformation. We don't see that card until relatively late in the book, either - and I don't think it just refers to the climactic - or some would say anticlimactic - final scenes. Too much is still in flux.That said, I won't personally be horrified if this *is* the close of the series. Yes, it would leave a lot of story untold. So what? Things change. Things are left unfinished. That doesn't mean there isn't more story. There's always more story. I've read numerous other tales where you want to know what happens next, but you don't find out. I'm weird, I know, but I don't find this to be a bad thing. Sure, I wish the book were there, or at least more chapters - but I wish that of every series with characters in it I love. But sometimes the story goes on without you. What matters more to me is the sense that it goes on. And this one definitely does. That's part of the reason I'm giving it a 5, despite a few places I found a bit too predictable or melodramatic or suffering from touches of non sequitur, plot-wise. Garcia and Stohl don't pull their punches. I admire that.Frankly, I have to wonder if this is the end for Dangerous Creatures... and the beginning for a third series. I have a difficult time not seeing Ethan and Lena getting involved at some point. Don't tell me they haven't noticed their own rings freaking out, and haven't done anything about it. Don't tell me Macon and company are out to lunch on this one. Stohl and Garcia don't operate that way. And don't tell me Silas is so thick as to not anticipate how Ridley and Angelique have responded to the changes he's forced on them - and that includes at least some of the psychological ones. The Blood Incubi of Ravenwood understand power better than most - though also less than most, in essential ways. That didn't work out well for Abraham. I doubt it will for Silas either. Evil often has a significant hand in its own undoing.As I said, power corrupts. That includes plans. I suspect, like the Tower card in the same spread as Death, that cataclysm is coming, and not just in the form of Angelique. I suspect a major battle between two characters. I suspect at least one other character may buy it during that conflict, one we don't want to see die, and we'll throw the book across the room at that point, but it'll be who that character has come to be, and probably always was... and anything less won't be true to that character. It may even turn the tide, and show once again that the seemingly smallest acts are actually the largest, the ripples that travel farthest.I look forward to finding out just what happens with all those TPs Nox is still carrying around. What Ridley's surprise power is, and what all she acquired in the first round, never mind the second. And from whom, which we still don't know, and I suspect is important, since it certainly was for Angelique. And if the infusions carry their donor's personality even after the donor's passing - assuming the donor really has passed on - what or even who else is still, essentially, on the playing board?And to be honest, I'm very much looking forward to how all this concatenates so as to bite Silas really hard in the ass. ;-) What can I say? Like the Beautiful Creatures books, Dangerous Creatures is proving to be a big cherry lollipop.One final provocative question: the title. Just which "Deception" are we talking about, if not more than one? There was certainly more than one dangerous dream going on in book one....

This book is the darkest of the Beautiful Creatures series thus far, and its cliffhanger ending is terribly frustrating. Nevertheless, it, like the preceding volumes, spins a can’t-put-down, riveting tale filled with complex characters, surprising twists, and, dark as it is, is sprinkled with bits of delightful humor. I will wait impatiently for the next volume and grab it as soon as it becomes available. The originality and careful craftsmanship of these novels are too compelling to resist.

It was a pleasant read, enjoyable at times and monotonous at others. Overall worth the time if you enjoyed the series.

SPOILERSI'm speechless. This book definitely surprised me !!! Literally I'm in shock.I loved that in this book they introduced Liv and John again, because they are both amazing characters. I'm totally in love with Necro, she's kind but strong, friendly but brave. Also, Sampson was a well-developed character, but I think he could do more things.Silas as well is a great and a creepy villain, but really, sometimes, he was too stupid, and I felt it also forced in some parts of the book. I hate Floyd, and I'm sorry Kami and Margaret, but she was VERY annoying.Everything about Silas' labs was incredible, that was something very creative, and in those parts of the book, I couldn't put it down and I was so excited because it was very mysterious and full of action. Comparing it to Dangerous Creatures, this was a hundred times better, the plot was more interesting, more intriguing and definitely more complex!That ending was PERFECT, but killed me, because Link and Ridley were an amazing couple, and just that she turned to Silas' side made me very sad, because she wasn't really a bad girl until he destroyed her.Nox was good, sometimes annoying, but he always wanted the best for Rid, so in that ending there was a big betrayal to us the readers!!!Ridley became definitely one of my favorite characters of all time! So badass, brave, powerful, sensitive, and a hundred more amazing values.Action-packed, fast paced and definitely heart breaking.5/5 with no doubt!

But still good. I like when endings go very different than what you assume…even if hard to swallow at first. I definitely feel like there’s another spin-off coming from this ending. Ridley has become a main player to me in this world.

I actually might love this series more than beautiful creatures! I'm a Scorpio and I always felt that the stories of the sirens in Greek mythology spoke to me. Scorpios are the sirens of the zodiac, so this series feels like it was written for me.I love hearing Ridley's side of things, and her thought patterns seem so in tune with my own. I don't think I have ever related to a character more..The way they spin this tale is mesmerizing. You can taste it on the tip of your tongue... In book one it was sugar and sweet, but this one tastes like power.. and it will leave you craving all that you can get ;)(I purchased this myself!)

Ridley has always been my favorite character from the beautiful creatures series and it hasn't changed going into these books ! Her Kiev for link and for being a dark caster is something I love about her. In book 2 she is taken my the last remaining evil ravenwood and used j. One of his many labs. Putting powers into other caster and seeing what happens. What happens to a girl who was neither good nor bad but Ridley ? What happens to a siren when more power is added , is the call to power to much ? This story was epic and cAnt wait for book 3 !

Great book

Thought it was a great deal to buy the book for 100 INR but it came damaged

Perfect condition and came earlier that expected! Absolutely thrilled!

Book arrived in time and in perfect condition. I haven't read it yet as I have a plethora of books waiting to be read. The book is good quality and well made. I'm looking forward to reading it. I love the characters in these books, I have read the first four in the series and thoroughly enjoyed them. Hoping this one will be as good. Thank you.

Dangerous Deception is so dark, dangerous and beautiful. Great to see what Wesley Jefferson Lincoln alias Link do and his friends.