A Dance with Death - Hardcover

by Amanda Linsmeier (Author), Molly Von Borstel

He laces his fingers into my hair and slowly draws me in, his powerful hand gently threaded into the wet strands. I whimper, from fear more so than pain. It doesn't hurt. But each word is enunciated as he warns, "Do. Not. Ever. Steal. From. Me. Again."

Corliss Bell would do anything to bring her older sister, Aven, back to life. She'd give up her dreams of being a professional ballerina. She'd resign herself to never leaving the small seaside town of The Pins. Hell, she'd even make a deal with a demon. After all, demons are masters of death.

When a town mystic tells Corliss there's a demon living nearby who may be the key in returning Aven to life, she's emboldened by the idea of getting her beloved sister back. Corliss sneaks into the demon's dilapidated mansion to beg for his help. But instead of finding him, she discovers a pair of enchanted red ballet slippers and steals them. The demon comes to reclaim what is his but finds Corliss and the slippers hopelessly intertwined. He imprisons her in his mansion, forcing her to dance for him every evening as punishment for stealing. Far from a helpless captive, Corliss begins working out a plan to bring Aven back to life, as soon as she can convince the demon-Orrin--to help her.

Hauntingly beautiful, with lush prose and a vividly creepy atmosphere, A Dance with Death is a compulsively juicy read that will wind its way into your psyche. Part horror, part magic--this is the gothic love story you didn't know you were missing.

Author Biography

Amanda Linsmeier has been a book nerd as long as she can remember, and it was that great love of reading--especially R.L. Stine novels and fairytales--that eventually brought her to writing her own stories. In high school, she won the class vote for "Most Romantic Girl", a title she's ridiculously pleased with. Amanda is the author of Six of Sorrow and Starlings. She feels most joyful when writing, scream-singing her favorite songs, playing in the water, and laughing with her beloved family. She lives in a small house surrounded by trees and cornfields, with a man who smells like maple syrup and woodsmoke. Together they have three wonderfully wild children, a dog, and an assortment of half-feral cats.