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Glimmer Falls #2
A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch
Calladia Cunnington curses the day she met Astaroth the demon, but when he shows up memoryless, why does she find him so helpless . . . and sort of hot?
Calladia Cunnington knows she’s rough around the edges, despite being the heir to one of small-town Glimmer Falls� founding witch families. While her gym obsession is a great outlet for her anxieties and anger, her hot temper still gets the best of her and manifests in bar brawls. When Calladia saves someone from a demon attack one night, though, she’s happy to put her magic and rage to good use . . . until she realizes the man she saved is none other than Astaroth, the ruthless demon who orchestrated a soul bargain on her best friend.
Astaroth is a legendary soul bargainer and one of the nine members of the demon high council—except he can’t remember any of this. Suffering from amnesia after being banished to the mortal plane, Astaroth doesn’t know why a demon named Moloch is after him, nor why the muscular, angry, hot-in-a-terrifying-way witch who saved him hates him so much.
Unable to leave anyone in such a vulnerable state—even the most despicable demon—Calladia grudgingly decides to help him. (Besides, punching an amnesiac would be in poor taste.) The two set out on an uneasy road trip to find the witch who might be able to restore Astaroth’s memory so they can learn how to defeat Moloch. Calladia vows that once Astaroth is cured, she’ll kick his ass, but the more time she spends with the snarky yet utterly charming demon, the more she realizes she likes this new, improved Astaroth . . . and maybe she doesn’t want him to recover his memories, after all.
Calladia Cunnington knows she’s rough around the edges, despite being the heir to one of small-town Glimmer Falls� founding witch families. While her gym obsession is a great outlet for her anxieties and anger, her hot temper still gets the best of her and manifests in bar brawls. When Calladia saves someone from a demon attack one night, though, she’s happy to put her magic and rage to good use . . . until she realizes the man she saved is none other than Astaroth, the ruthless demon who orchestrated a soul bargain on her best friend.
Astaroth is a legendary soul bargainer and one of the nine members of the demon high council—except he can’t remember any of this. Suffering from amnesia after being banished to the mortal plane, Astaroth doesn’t know why a demon named Moloch is after him, nor why the muscular, angry, hot-in-a-terrifying-way witch who saved him hates him so much.
Unable to leave anyone in such a vulnerable state—even the most despicable demon—Calladia grudgingly decides to help him. (Besides, punching an amnesiac would be in poor taste.) The two set out on an uneasy road trip to find the witch who might be able to restore Astaroth’s memory so they can learn how to defeat Moloch. Calladia vows that once Astaroth is cured, she’ll kick his ass, but the more time she spends with the snarky yet utterly charming demon, the more she realizes she likes this new, improved Astaroth . . . and maybe she doesn’t want him to recover his memories, after all.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2023
894 people are currently reading
35291 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Hawley
6books2,038followersSarah Hawley is the USA Today bestselling author of Servant of Earth and the Glimmer Falls series. She has an MA in archaeology and has excavated at an Inca site in Chile, a Bronze Age palace in Turkey, and a medieval abbey in England. When not dreaming up whimsical love stories, she can be found reading, dancing, or cuddling her two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,371 reviews
March 15, 2024
I’m so happy to say that I loved this book even more than the first, and I really liked the first. Calladia and Astaroth are two of the most chaotic, lovable and charming characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading! It did start a little itty bitty slow but once I got the hang of it I devoured this book and I can’t recommend it enough!
October 2, 2024
Who knew I needed a book with an eccentric demon falling in love with a brash and violent witch while on a quest!?! The romance between these two was top-tier, they were absolutely ready to tear each other to pieces and I loved how that played out in their relationship; going completely feral for one another. Our demon, Astaroth, was so unequivocally enamored by the strength and brutality of said witch, Calladia. It was so refreshing to see a warrior like FMC who is all too happy to jump into a brawl; Sarah Hawley did an amazing job of writing such a fiercely raw and fragile character in both Calladia and Astaroth. I loved that the two were willing to do anything for one another by the end and that their perilous enemies to lovers story was so sweet and fun. I cannot wait to continue with this series, give me all the books!
December 8, 2023
I have to wait until November to catch this fireworks display??? Cruel
March 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -NetGalley ARC
Description:
Calladia Cunnington knows she’s rough around the edges, despite being the heir to one of small-town Glimmer Falls� founding witch families. While her gym obsession is a great outlet for her anxieties and anger, her hot temper still gets the best of her and manifests in bar brawls. When Calladia saves someone from a demon attack one night, though, she’s happy to put her magic and rage to good use . . . until she realizes the man she saved is none other than Astaroth, the ruthless demon who orchestrated a soul bargain on her best friend.
Astaroth is a legendary soul bargainer and one of the nine members of the demon high council—except he can’t remember any of this. Suffering from amnesia after being banished to the mortal plane, Astaroth doesn’t know why a demon named Moloch is after him, nor why the muscular, angry, hot-in-a-terrifying-way witch who saved him hates him so much.
Review:
This is Book #2 in the Glimmer Falls Series. You meet both of these characters in the first book, her more so than him. The chemistry between Calladia and Astaroth is evident from pretty much the beginning of this story. They bring out the best in each other and each helps the other see and address their problems. He helps Calladia find her voice and step away from the toxic relationship with her mother and in turn she helps Astaroth see that being part human isn’t a weakness. I loved the story line and the growth of both characters. Even though you could read this as a stand alone I would suggest you read the first book before reading this one. Highly recommended if you love:
Enemies to Lovers Trope
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Humor
Supernatural Characters
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Description:
Calladia Cunnington knows she’s rough around the edges, despite being the heir to one of small-town Glimmer Falls� founding witch families. While her gym obsession is a great outlet for her anxieties and anger, her hot temper still gets the best of her and manifests in bar brawls. When Calladia saves someone from a demon attack one night, though, she’s happy to put her magic and rage to good use . . . until she realizes the man she saved is none other than Astaroth, the ruthless demon who orchestrated a soul bargain on her best friend.
Astaroth is a legendary soul bargainer and one of the nine members of the demon high council—except he can’t remember any of this. Suffering from amnesia after being banished to the mortal plane, Astaroth doesn’t know why a demon named Moloch is after him, nor why the muscular, angry, hot-in-a-terrifying-way witch who saved him hates him so much.
Review:
This is Book #2 in the Glimmer Falls Series. You meet both of these characters in the first book, her more so than him. The chemistry between Calladia and Astaroth is evident from pretty much the beginning of this story. They bring out the best in each other and each helps the other see and address their problems. He helps Calladia find her voice and step away from the toxic relationship with her mother and in turn she helps Astaroth see that being part human isn’t a weakness. I loved the story line and the growth of both characters. Even though you could read this as a stand alone I would suggest you read the first book before reading this one. Highly recommended if you love:
Enemies to Lovers Trope
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Humor
Supernatural Characters
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
did-not-finish
August 5, 2023Dnf at 25%.
I am picky. I started this advance reader copy but I cannot finish it.
I should have not picked up a second book after the first book had some issues with it. But the cartoon cover is so cute! It just made me want to read it.
This has so many annoying elements and I was finding myself speed reading to try to skim my way through. And my time is more valuable than that.
I hate when authors describe their man whore heroes' pasts. It is so unnecessary for me to know that he slept with Lord Byron. And who knows how many other men and women and other gender non-binary people. So, he is a non-discriminate manwhore. Yay.
I think it's hard to make a villain from a prior book be the hero of his own story. And just giving him amnesia does not make him a sympathetic character. And the heroine is also unlikable. It makes it super cringe when they have lusty thoughts towards each other. They were enemies yesterday. Like real, dangerous and potential deaths enemies yesterday. But today, they look at each other and think "oh how sexy".
Basically, this book is likely fine for a lot of readers but not for me. I cannot continue to waste my time with this book.
I am picky. I started this advance reader copy but I cannot finish it.
I should have not picked up a second book after the first book had some issues with it. But the cartoon cover is so cute! It just made me want to read it.
This has so many annoying elements and I was finding myself speed reading to try to skim my way through. And my time is more valuable than that.
I hate when authors describe their man whore heroes' pasts. It is so unnecessary for me to know that he slept with Lord Byron. And who knows how many other men and women and other gender non-binary people. So, he is a non-discriminate manwhore. Yay.
I think it's hard to make a villain from a prior book be the hero of his own story. And just giving him amnesia does not make him a sympathetic character. And the heroine is also unlikable. It makes it super cringe when they have lusty thoughts towards each other. They were enemies yesterday. Like real, dangerous and potential deaths enemies yesterday. But today, they look at each other and think "oh how sexy".
Basically, this book is likely fine for a lot of readers but not for me. I cannot continue to waste my time with this book.
July 1, 2024
This was essentially the first book with the same tropes and plot points. I was looking forward more to this one for more angsty hatred/romance with forced proximity in a camping trip. No denying all of that was present in this book, but it just fizzled out.
The build up between the hate/love was fine. But once it hit the romance peak it fizzled. It should focus more on Calladia and Astaroth than Astaroth/Oz. The drama of them two hooking up should have a bigger impact.
I wanted more from the camping trip- I wanted more cozy tent vibes/long hikes, idk. I didn’t care for the restaurant scenes, the werewolves characters. They all did nothing.
I mentioned this earlier, but it essentially felt like the same book.
Witch gets stuck with a demon and start off on the wrong foot- both demon and witch have parent issues- forced proximity (not that I’m complaining- i love that trope and never get enough of it) - demon has immorality issues- relationship is going to be shocker to the friend group - a political protest scene- telling a parent not to talk to them unless there is change.
That’s it. That’s the summary of both books.
Also I didn’t enjoy the political aspect of both of these novels- i didn’t care and it just took away from the romance.
Also the smut- I didn’t like it in the first one and this one was just as disappointing. Some of the lines the author writes are very awkward and unrealistic. Like I had to turn away from the book when I read:
“𝘚𝘩� 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘵. 𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.�
I’m sorry- what? Huh? Explain the logic here please. I’m lost.
Writing overall is so millennial, like early on in the book Calladia said “cool story,bro.� Unironically. This would be fine if this was published in 2009.
Overall, disappointed. If you read the first one just skip the one. You’ve essentially already read this one too. Don’t know if I want to try the next one a chance. Maybe if it’s different from the first two.
The build up between the hate/love was fine. But once it hit the romance peak it fizzled. It should focus more on Calladia and Astaroth than Astaroth/Oz. The drama of them two hooking up should have a bigger impact.
I wanted more from the camping trip- I wanted more cozy tent vibes/long hikes, idk. I didn’t care for the restaurant scenes, the werewolves characters. They all did nothing.
I mentioned this earlier, but it essentially felt like the same book.
Witch gets stuck with a demon and start off on the wrong foot- both demon and witch have parent issues- forced proximity (not that I’m complaining- i love that trope and never get enough of it) - demon has immorality issues- relationship is going to be shocker to the friend group - a political protest scene- telling a parent not to talk to them unless there is change.
That’s it. That’s the summary of both books.
Also I didn’t enjoy the political aspect of both of these novels- i didn’t care and it just took away from the romance.
Also the smut- I didn’t like it in the first one and this one was just as disappointing. Some of the lines the author writes are very awkward and unrealistic. Like I had to turn away from the book when I read:
“𝘚𝘩� 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘵. 𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.�
I’m sorry- what? Huh? Explain the logic here please. I’m lost.
Writing overall is so millennial, like early on in the book Calladia said “cool story,bro.� Unironically. This would be fine if this was published in 2009.
Overall, disappointed. If you read the first one just skip the one. You’ve essentially already read this one too. Don’t know if I want to try the next one a chance. Maybe if it’s different from the first two.
November 28, 2023
So what we've got here is a contemporary PNR romcom, with some big dashes of amnesia and road trip romance. You see, after the events of the first book (A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon), Astaroth (big baddie who's also real hot) was banished from the demon plane. Calladia, really awesome witch and personal trainer, saves him from death at the hands of a different bad guy demon. But that's before she realizes that it's Astaroth, her Mortal Enemy. Since he's got amnesia, though, he doesn't realize this all-around-amazing-and-hot-as-hell witch is his enemy. She very quickly decides to help him get his memory back, so they embark on a road trip/quest to find it. And along the way, if they happen to encounter only one room at the inn WITH only one bed in it, them's the breaks...
We were very into the attraction these two have for each other. Calladia isn't just a personal trainer; she's an extremely muscular woman who loves to brawl. As a demon, Astaroth isn't too shabby with the brawling, but he's no taller than she is and much slimmer. He's absolutely enthralled with the thought that she can throw him around, and she loves the idea of mussing his prim and proper appearance. Calladia is also impressed with how easily Astaroth accepts her just as she is - and isn't that what we all want in our romantic partners?
We also really liked the take on amnesia romance. In many romances, amnesia can be used to heighten the angst: one partner knows something about the other, or they feel they can't commit until they know that the amnesiac partner is free to do so. But here, Calladia knows a lot about Astaroth already, and she's not afraid to tell him what she thought about him. The amnesia is used to reveal his essential person, without the inhibitions his current politics places on him.
�
This was fun and sexy and we don't regret reading it.
7-Word Summaries:
Meg: Amnesia gives us all a fresh start.�
�
Laine: Eternal enemies of 12 hours make up.�
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
We were very into the attraction these two have for each other. Calladia isn't just a personal trainer; she's an extremely muscular woman who loves to brawl. As a demon, Astaroth isn't too shabby with the brawling, but he's no taller than she is and much slimmer. He's absolutely enthralled with the thought that she can throw him around, and she loves the idea of mussing his prim and proper appearance. Calladia is also impressed with how easily Astaroth accepts her just as she is - and isn't that what we all want in our romantic partners?
We also really liked the take on amnesia romance. In many romances, amnesia can be used to heighten the angst: one partner knows something about the other, or they feel they can't commit until they know that the amnesiac partner is free to do so. But here, Calladia knows a lot about Astaroth already, and she's not afraid to tell him what she thought about him. The amnesia is used to reveal his essential person, without the inhibitions his current politics places on him.
�
This was fun and sexy and we don't regret reading it.
7-Word Summaries:
Meg: Amnesia gives us all a fresh start.�
�
Laine: Eternal enemies of 12 hours make up.�
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Want to read
November 1, 2024Such a pity that I didn’t get to read this book this October, which I’d been wanting to do since last year. Well, hopefully I’ll get to read it soon�
I’ve been wanting to read this book since last year. I’ve been seeing it everywhere in the bookstores and even showed genuine interest in it, but I’m very hesitant with buying books before having them read, I have to love the book in order to buy them. I know, an odd habit.
But then while one of my best friends noticing this, she gifted this to me as a birthday present. 🥹
Nothing will make a bookworm happier than receiving a book for their birthday!
I’ve been wanting to read this book since last year. I’ve been seeing it everywhere in the bookstores and even showed genuine interest in it, but I’m very hesitant with buying books before having them read, I have to love the book in order to buy them. I know, an odd habit.
But then while one of my best friends noticing this, she gifted this to me as a birthday present. 🥹
Nothing will make a bookworm happier than receiving a book for their birthday!
June 19, 2023
The second book in the Glimmer Falls series is a delight from beginning to end. I’m gonna rank watching Astaroth fall head over heels for the woman who kicks his ass BECAUSE she kicks his ass in my top 10 experiences of 2023.
January 31, 2024
(1.5)
A watt-pad story from the depths of hell
A watt-pad story from the depths of hell
May 24, 2024
The first book was by far my favorite. This one? I struggled to finish it mostly because I couldn't imagine those two together. I didn't get the chemistry between them
January 26, 2024
Didn't think I'd be able to finish this but I did yayyy!!! The first book was average, this one was kinda below average, but I do think it got a little better as it went on. I'm not sure if I should give book three a chance or not though.
Like, I don't really care about the characters, the storylines are just okay, the romances kinda meh, I don't see that changing with book three. Maybe only if I need a background noise type of read when I'm doing something else.
The audiobook for this one was better than the first, that's something.
2.5ish
Like, I don't really care about the characters, the storylines are just okay, the romances kinda meh, I don't see that changing with book three. Maybe only if I need a background noise type of read when I'm doing something else.
The audiobook for this one was better than the first, that's something.
2.5ish
January 19, 2024
“Oh my warrior queen,� Astaroth said softly. “Has anyone ever worshipped you the way you deserve?� I’M A PUDDLE.
November 29, 2023
A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch is a delightful and heartwarming story about love, acceptance, and overcoming prejudices. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys fantasy romance with a dash of humor.
The story follows Astaroth, a powerful demon who is sent on a quest to find a witch who can help him break a curse. Along the way, he meets Calladia, a kind and compassionate witch who is everything he never thought he could want in a partner.
Astaroth and Calladia's relationship is the heart of the story, and it's beautifully developed. They start off as enemies who are forced to work together, but they gradually develop a mutual respect and affection for each other. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their interactions are often hilarious and heartwarming.
Sarah Hawley does an excellent job of world-building, creating a world that is both familiar and fantastical. The demon realm is a dark and dangerous place, but it's also home to some of the most interesting and complex characters in the story. The witch's village is a more peaceful place, but it's also not without its own problems.
The story is full of action and adventure, but it's also a lot of fun. Hawley has a great sense of humor, and she weaves it into the story throughout. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some truly touching moments.
A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch is a charming and heartwarming story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It's a love story that is sure to please fans of fantasy romance.
Overall Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Recommended for: Fans of fantasy romance, adventure, and humor.
***Big thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for my gifted copy of this book, all opinions are my own.***
The story follows Astaroth, a powerful demon who is sent on a quest to find a witch who can help him break a curse. Along the way, he meets Calladia, a kind and compassionate witch who is everything he never thought he could want in a partner.
Astaroth and Calladia's relationship is the heart of the story, and it's beautifully developed. They start off as enemies who are forced to work together, but they gradually develop a mutual respect and affection for each other. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their interactions are often hilarious and heartwarming.
Sarah Hawley does an excellent job of world-building, creating a world that is both familiar and fantastical. The demon realm is a dark and dangerous place, but it's also home to some of the most interesting and complex characters in the story. The witch's village is a more peaceful place, but it's also not without its own problems.
The story is full of action and adventure, but it's also a lot of fun. Hawley has a great sense of humor, and she weaves it into the story throughout. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some truly touching moments.
A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch is a charming and heartwarming story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It's a love story that is sure to please fans of fantasy romance.
Overall Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Recommended for: Fans of fantasy romance, adventure, and humor.
***Big thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for my gifted copy of this book, all opinions are my own.***
January 13, 2024
There were some enjoyable enemies-to-lovers moments in this book but unfortunately it dragged so much for me (evident in the fact that it took me over a month to read it).
But ironically, the last 10% or so then felt incredibly rushed and the book ended quite abruptly.
And then some of the language used was incredibly cringey (namely “my warrior queen� and “my warrior king”�..no, just no).
I’d be tempted to give up on this series, if not for the fact that the next book is a romance between a werewolf and a vampire (which I’m trash for).
Also, can we get a book about Lilith, please and thank you? She’s easily the best character in this series so far.
But ironically, the last 10% or so then felt incredibly rushed and the book ended quite abruptly.
And then some of the language used was incredibly cringey (namely “my warrior queen� and “my warrior king”�..no, just no).
I’d be tempted to give up on this series, if not for the fact that the next book is a romance between a werewolf and a vampire (which I’m trash for).
Also, can we get a book about Lilith, please and thank you? She’s easily the best character in this series so far.
June 27, 2024
the characters got on my nerves and i just didn’t like this idk sorry
December 17, 2023
As humorously whimsical and steamy as its predecessor! Sarah Hawley’s second instalment in the magical (and deliciously chaotic) Glimmer Falls series was an absolute joy from start to finish. I urge everyone even remotely into fantasy or romance to check this series out.
I should start by saying that this is a sequel that continues right where book one left off. So, if you’re new to the series and don’t want spoilers, I highly recommend starting with A Witch’s Guide To Fake Dating A Demon before picking this up.
I LOVED every second of this! I knew before starting that I’d enjoy it as I loved the first book soo much, but I didn’t anticipate loving Calladia and Astaroth’s story even more than Oz and Mariel’s. The enemies to lovers dynamics (which includes some fabulously witty dialogue) was really entertaining, as was Calladia whose penchant for starting bar room brawls made her an instant favourite.
Given his actions in the first book, I was prepared to dislike Astaroth. But his redemption arc, which includes being left on earth with amnesia (and no one to help except a reluctant Calladia) was surprisingly quite endearing.
I enjoyed exploring a more vulnerable side to Calladia and Astaroth, both of whom are quite standoffish and emotionally guarded characters. And their chemistry was absolutely scorchingly addictive!
Calladia assertive demeanour and ability to not suffer fools fantastic and I loved that she’s described as being physically strong (her muscled calfs get quite a few appreciative mentions from Astaroth.) But most importantly, I loved that she’s (rightfully) proud of her strength. Given the complex emotional journey she undertakes, (with her mother and an emotionally abusive ex) it was great to see how proud she is of everything accomplished.
Astaroth, too goes through quite a huge transformation. Without his power or memories, the demon we all loved to hate is practically a whole new person. Which did make liking him a bit more palatable after his villainous performance in book one. We do get to delve into his past a little and explore his reasons for the villainous behaviour which I was really intrgued by.
There’s a lot to unpack that may lead to spoilers so I’ll just say, even you you disliked him previously� but love emotionally complex, morally grey characters who set off on a path to redemption then you’ll definitely like Astaroth in this. I was also impressed Hawley’s use of British colloquialisms and sense of humour for Astaroth. I find alot of non-UK authors struggle with making British characters (or characters with British accents) sound British—but Hawley absolutely nailed it!
The romance was also incredible and I adored that Astaroth’s initial attraction to Calladia stemmed from her ability to strong arm him. Their interactions were comedy gold and their chemistry gloriously intense.
I also have to give a shoutout to Astaroth’s mother, Lilith, who (despite being just a secondary character) was stole the show with her utterly hilarious antics� and AO3 obsessed penchant for NSFW Tudor Tentacle fanfics. The juxtaposition between her love and support of Astaroth, with Calladia’s cold & emotionally manipulative mother was also instrumental in helping Calladia finally stand up for herself, which I loved!
I’ve been eager to explore Demon realm in more depth so was really excited we were able to do so this time around, though I still look forward to seeing more of Glimmer Falls (and the rest of this magical world) in the next instalment.
Definitely a must read for fans witchy, paranormal Rom-Coms, trust me you’re gonna absolutely devour this!
Also, a huge thank you to Javerya over at Gollancz for the finished copy.
I should start by saying that this is a sequel that continues right where book one left off. So, if you’re new to the series and don’t want spoilers, I highly recommend starting with A Witch’s Guide To Fake Dating A Demon before picking this up.
I LOVED every second of this! I knew before starting that I’d enjoy it as I loved the first book soo much, but I didn’t anticipate loving Calladia and Astaroth’s story even more than Oz and Mariel’s. The enemies to lovers dynamics (which includes some fabulously witty dialogue) was really entertaining, as was Calladia whose penchant for starting bar room brawls made her an instant favourite.
Given his actions in the first book, I was prepared to dislike Astaroth. But his redemption arc, which includes being left on earth with amnesia (and no one to help except a reluctant Calladia) was surprisingly quite endearing.
I enjoyed exploring a more vulnerable side to Calladia and Astaroth, both of whom are quite standoffish and emotionally guarded characters. And their chemistry was absolutely scorchingly addictive!
Calladia assertive demeanour and ability to not suffer fools fantastic and I loved that she’s described as being physically strong (her muscled calfs get quite a few appreciative mentions from Astaroth.) But most importantly, I loved that she’s (rightfully) proud of her strength. Given the complex emotional journey she undertakes, (with her mother and an emotionally abusive ex) it was great to see how proud she is of everything accomplished.
Astaroth, too goes through quite a huge transformation. Without his power or memories, the demon we all loved to hate is practically a whole new person. Which did make liking him a bit more palatable after his villainous performance in book one. We do get to delve into his past a little and explore his reasons for the villainous behaviour which I was really intrgued by.
There’s a lot to unpack that may lead to spoilers so I’ll just say, even you you disliked him previously� but love emotionally complex, morally grey characters who set off on a path to redemption then you’ll definitely like Astaroth in this. I was also impressed Hawley’s use of British colloquialisms and sense of humour for Astaroth. I find alot of non-UK authors struggle with making British characters (or characters with British accents) sound British—but Hawley absolutely nailed it!
The romance was also incredible and I adored that Astaroth’s initial attraction to Calladia stemmed from her ability to strong arm him. Their interactions were comedy gold and their chemistry gloriously intense.
I also have to give a shoutout to Astaroth’s mother, Lilith, who (despite being just a secondary character) was stole the show with her utterly hilarious antics� and AO3 obsessed penchant for NSFW Tudor Tentacle fanfics. The juxtaposition between her love and support of Astaroth, with Calladia’s cold & emotionally manipulative mother was also instrumental in helping Calladia finally stand up for herself, which I loved!
I’ve been eager to explore Demon realm in more depth so was really excited we were able to do so this time around, though I still look forward to seeing more of Glimmer Falls (and the rest of this magical world) in the next instalment.
Definitely a must read for fans witchy, paranormal Rom-Coms, trust me you’re gonna absolutely devour this!
Also, a huge thank you to Javerya over at Gollancz for the finished copy.
November 15, 2024
I preferred this so much more to the first book and I’m even more excited for the 3rd book now! I loved the romance as she truly didn’t like him at all!
April 8, 2025
Read this if you like self-insert, emo FanFiction.
Full review - I rated this book extremely low, so as you can imagine I have a lot of critiques on this one:
1. This book is half a romance and half propaganda about gender identity, gender norms, diversity, and being non binary.
I personally don’t enjoy books when it’s extremely obvious that the author is trying to push any agenda and politics into the story.
In this case it definitely came across very forced and it got to be distracting. The author cared more about pushing political ideas rather than crafting a good story.
I feel like there’s a fine line incorporating things like that. And if you bring it up in a hundred different ways throughout the book, it really takes away from the story rather than add anything to it. And in this particular book, it just didn’t make sense why this was continuously brought up in every chapter. So it quite literally read like political propaganda rather than a witchy romance.
There’s even a full blown protest with chants and paper signs and people screaming and everything! I really just wanted to read about a witch and a demon falling in love today. I didn’t mean to sign up for DEI lessons when I started this.
Someone else described the author as “aggressively shoehorning representation into the book,� and the book reading like a middle aged manager going on a DEI journey at work, and I couldn’t agree more.
2. The part about the 600 year old demon being a “Swiftie� immediately turned me off.
I can’t stand reading about pop stars and celebrities in books. So the part about the FMC joyously discovering the MMC is a Taylor Swift fan and then singing the song together annoyed the shit out of me. I can’t stop rolling my eyes.
3. As far as the plot, the story itself was slow moving and boring. Nothing actually happened for most of it. They were just sort of camping and wandering around.
It was especially strange because someone was trying to find them and murder them and also the MMC had amnesia and needed to find a witch to get his memory back, but there was ZERO sense of urgency from either of the main characters. If it was me, I’d be moving a little faster and trying not to die. Not getting into recreational bar fights and singing Taylor Swift.
4. This is a romance between a witch and a demon, but the witch didn’t really do any magic throughout the book� what?
You literally had one job when writing a witchy book. Why isn’t there magic? Where is the magic? Where are the spells? What’s even the point of her being a witch?
Also, demons are supposed to have magic too. So why isn’t he doing magic?
Why not just write a contemporary romance, rather than a fantasy?
5. Lilith is a character in this book. Like THE Lilith. Mother of demons. And her singular personality trait is that she’s OBSESSED with FanFiction. ?????????????
FanFiction on AO3 specifically. Which she mentions A LOT.
Oh and she’s also an airhead since she only talks about FanFiction and nothing else. Which if you’re a fan of Greek mythology too, then you know this is all just a HUGE disservice to Lilith.
6. Lastly, this FMC also has major mommy issues, which would be fine, but this book reads like an angry teenage girl was writing this story to self-soothe and write a crappy fictional mom to stick it to her real mom. It’s very obvious angry, self-insert, I-hate-my-mom FanFiction.
This whole book, from the gender identity discussions, to the mommy issues, to the joyous moment where we find out the sexy demon is a “Swiftie,� all made this read like very emo, self-insert FanFiction rather than a planned and edited romantasy.
Also I can tell by the tangents about how rich people are horrible, evil, disgusting people, that the author also really hates people who have money too. So much of what was is inside this book probably should exist inside the pages of a private journal.
I can’t tell you how surprised I am that this was traditionally published.
Full review - I rated this book extremely low, so as you can imagine I have a lot of critiques on this one:
1. This book is half a romance and half propaganda about gender identity, gender norms, diversity, and being non binary.
I personally don’t enjoy books when it’s extremely obvious that the author is trying to push any agenda and politics into the story.
In this case it definitely came across very forced and it got to be distracting. The author cared more about pushing political ideas rather than crafting a good story.
I feel like there’s a fine line incorporating things like that. And if you bring it up in a hundred different ways throughout the book, it really takes away from the story rather than add anything to it. And in this particular book, it just didn’t make sense why this was continuously brought up in every chapter. So it quite literally read like political propaganda rather than a witchy romance.
There’s even a full blown protest with chants and paper signs and people screaming and everything! I really just wanted to read about a witch and a demon falling in love today. I didn’t mean to sign up for DEI lessons when I started this.
Someone else described the author as “aggressively shoehorning representation into the book,� and the book reading like a middle aged manager going on a DEI journey at work, and I couldn’t agree more.
2. The part about the 600 year old demon being a “Swiftie� immediately turned me off.
I can’t stand reading about pop stars and celebrities in books. So the part about the FMC joyously discovering the MMC is a Taylor Swift fan and then singing the song together annoyed the shit out of me. I can’t stop rolling my eyes.
3. As far as the plot, the story itself was slow moving and boring. Nothing actually happened for most of it. They were just sort of camping and wandering around.
It was especially strange because someone was trying to find them and murder them and also the MMC had amnesia and needed to find a witch to get his memory back, but there was ZERO sense of urgency from either of the main characters. If it was me, I’d be moving a little faster and trying not to die. Not getting into recreational bar fights and singing Taylor Swift.
4. This is a romance between a witch and a demon, but the witch didn’t really do any magic throughout the book� what?
You literally had one job when writing a witchy book. Why isn’t there magic? Where is the magic? Where are the spells? What’s even the point of her being a witch?
Also, demons are supposed to have magic too. So why isn’t he doing magic?
Why not just write a contemporary romance, rather than a fantasy?
5. Lilith is a character in this book. Like THE Lilith. Mother of demons. And her singular personality trait is that she’s OBSESSED with FanFiction. ?????????????
FanFiction on AO3 specifically. Which she mentions A LOT.
Oh and she’s also an airhead since she only talks about FanFiction and nothing else. Which if you’re a fan of Greek mythology too, then you know this is all just a HUGE disservice to Lilith.
6. Lastly, this FMC also has major mommy issues, which would be fine, but this book reads like an angry teenage girl was writing this story to self-soothe and write a crappy fictional mom to stick it to her real mom. It’s very obvious angry, self-insert, I-hate-my-mom FanFiction.
This whole book, from the gender identity discussions, to the mommy issues, to the joyous moment where we find out the sexy demon is a “Swiftie,� all made this read like very emo, self-insert FanFiction rather than a planned and edited romantasy.
Also I can tell by the tangents about how rich people are horrible, evil, disgusting people, that the author also really hates people who have money too. So much of what was is inside this book probably should exist inside the pages of a private journal.
I can’t tell you how surprised I am that this was traditionally published.
November 24, 2023
This review can also be found at
I had a fantastic time with this book! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, and was excited to get the chance to read this newest installment. This book takes place shortly after the events of the first book but features a different pair of characters. The book could be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the series in order if possible since the events of the prior book play a role in this installment.
Calladia and Astaroth are enemies. At least they were enemies until Calladia, who is a witch, finds the demon Astaroth suffering from amnesia and appearing to be rather helpless. She decides to help him and as they join together on a quest, they both find that they are drawn to one another. Astaroth doesn’t remember much of his recent years and he seems like a whole new demon. As they both discover what really happened, they learn that things are more serious than they could have imagined.
I really liked the characters. Calladia and Astaroth were wonderful characters. Calladia had some pretty big issues with her mother to deal with and Astaroth’s mother was a bit of a surprise. I liked these two as a couple and thought that they had a lot of chemistry. It was obvious just how much they both cared for one another and I couldn’t wait to see them figure out a way to make things work.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Helen Laser did a wonderful job with this story. I loved the voices that she used for the various characters which really helped to bring the story to life. I thought that she was able to add just the right amount of emotion to her reading to take this story to the next level. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this entertaining story.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining romance featuring wonderful characters. I loved that both had some extra abilities and seemed to understand and support each other. I hope to read more of this talented author’s work very soon!
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
I had a fantastic time with this book! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, and was excited to get the chance to read this newest installment. This book takes place shortly after the events of the first book but features a different pair of characters. The book could be read as a stand-alone but I would recommend reading the series in order if possible since the events of the prior book play a role in this installment.
Calladia and Astaroth are enemies. At least they were enemies until Calladia, who is a witch, finds the demon Astaroth suffering from amnesia and appearing to be rather helpless. She decides to help him and as they join together on a quest, they both find that they are drawn to one another. Astaroth doesn’t remember much of his recent years and he seems like a whole new demon. As they both discover what really happened, they learn that things are more serious than they could have imagined.
I really liked the characters. Calladia and Astaroth were wonderful characters. Calladia had some pretty big issues with her mother to deal with and Astaroth’s mother was a bit of a surprise. I liked these two as a couple and thought that they had a lot of chemistry. It was obvious just how much they both cared for one another and I couldn’t wait to see them figure out a way to make things work.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Helen Laser did a wonderful job with this story. I loved the voices that she used for the various characters which really helped to bring the story to life. I thought that she was able to add just the right amount of emotion to her reading to take this story to the next level. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this entertaining story.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining romance featuring wonderful characters. I loved that both had some extra abilities and seemed to understand and support each other. I hope to read more of this talented author’s work very soon!
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
January 17, 2024
That was.. welp. I really liked previous book so I was excited to read this one, but oh boy, the disappointment hit hard. The plot was a clumsy copy of Mariel&Oz's story - again we have a main character with mum issues that needed a sexy demon to realize what she's worth and to finally stand up for herself.
I'm not buying the love story here, like come on, they were sworn enemies like 5 seconds ago and now they are shagging and sharing "iloveyous" barely couple days after Astaroth almost killed Calladia's friends? It's just doesn't make sense for me at all. And if I'm gonna hear "warrior queen" one more time, I'm gonna throw up 🤮 It was really disappointing.
I'm not buying the love story here, like come on, they were sworn enemies like 5 seconds ago and now they are shagging and sharing "iloveyous" barely couple days after Astaroth almost killed Calladia's friends? It's just doesn't make sense for me at all. And if I'm gonna hear "warrior queen" one more time, I'm gonna throw up 🤮 It was really disappointing.
January 24, 2025
3.75⭐️ i did enjoy this one but i think the first one was a little bit better! calladia and ozroth are a really lovely couple. we adore british men (demons) in this household!
January 23, 2024
I was so looking forward to this book after reading A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon. It was such a fun and sexy romance, and so is A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch. It’s comical and has amazing banter, and the enemies-to-lovers romance is fabulous.
The villain of the first book is the main character in this one, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about him, but I ended up really liking him! Astaroth has a great redemption arc, and he changes a lot while he has amnesia. I enjoyed his story as he tries to figure out who he is, why he’s being hunted, and more. There are a lot of layers to Astaroth, and now that he’s stripped of his memory, he can’t use it as a wall to keep up the ruthless deal-maker reputation he’s curated. Though he’s still pretentious and a bit snooty, he is also really caring and thoughtful. It’s like having amnesia gave him the opportunity to be a better version of himself, though he’s not let off easily. Astaroth has to face his mistakes and those he hurt, especially Oz (loved this part), and he has to prove that his change is sincere.
Astaroth’s story also highlights the political unrest on the demon plane and the prejudices and extremism that parallel real-life situations. It’s an interesting plot that ties in some of the events that happened in the first book quite cleverly.
Calladia is pretty great, too. She’s prickly and combative and never backs down from a fight. In fact, she likes to start them. But she’s not as cold and hard as she pretends to be. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have rescued and helped the demon she and her friends recently defeated. And as much as she hates Astaroth, she reluctantly also finds him pretty attractive. And when he calls her his warrior queen…Whew! Calladia fights her feelings so hard, much to Astaroth’s delight.
Astaroth finds Calladia’s strength, snark, and prickliness attractive, which I loved, especially since not many people accept her wholly and completely. The banter, the sarcasm, and the bickering � Ahhhh, there’s so much sexual tension between these two, and there’s more than one laugh-out-loud moment between them. And can we talk a bit about Astaroth’s views on sexuality, autonomy, consent, and being one’s authentic self? My word, what a marvelous demon! By the end of the book, I totally forgot about how much I disliked him before, and I was rooting for his redemption.
This is a fun addition to the series, and I loved seeing the characters from the first book and how their lives are progressing in the fabulous Glimmer Falls. ( Can I live there for a day or two, please?) Special thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
The villain of the first book is the main character in this one, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about him, but I ended up really liking him! Astaroth has a great redemption arc, and he changes a lot while he has amnesia. I enjoyed his story as he tries to figure out who he is, why he’s being hunted, and more. There are a lot of layers to Astaroth, and now that he’s stripped of his memory, he can’t use it as a wall to keep up the ruthless deal-maker reputation he’s curated. Though he’s still pretentious and a bit snooty, he is also really caring and thoughtful. It’s like having amnesia gave him the opportunity to be a better version of himself, though he’s not let off easily. Astaroth has to face his mistakes and those he hurt, especially Oz (loved this part), and he has to prove that his change is sincere.
Astaroth’s story also highlights the political unrest on the demon plane and the prejudices and extremism that parallel real-life situations. It’s an interesting plot that ties in some of the events that happened in the first book quite cleverly.
Calladia is pretty great, too. She’s prickly and combative and never backs down from a fight. In fact, she likes to start them. But she’s not as cold and hard as she pretends to be. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have rescued and helped the demon she and her friends recently defeated. And as much as she hates Astaroth, she reluctantly also finds him pretty attractive. And when he calls her his warrior queen…Whew! Calladia fights her feelings so hard, much to Astaroth’s delight.
Astaroth finds Calladia’s strength, snark, and prickliness attractive, which I loved, especially since not many people accept her wholly and completely. The banter, the sarcasm, and the bickering � Ahhhh, there’s so much sexual tension between these two, and there’s more than one laugh-out-loud moment between them. And can we talk a bit about Astaroth’s views on sexuality, autonomy, consent, and being one’s authentic self? My word, what a marvelous demon! By the end of the book, I totally forgot about how much I disliked him before, and I was rooting for his redemption.
This is a fun addition to the series, and I loved seeing the characters from the first book and how their lives are progressing in the fabulous Glimmer Falls. ( Can I live there for a day or two, please?) Special thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
January 10, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Just so delightful! I hope we get many more books set in this world with these characters, because they are SO much fun and very lighthearted. There's cheesy charm, great romance, and wonderful humour, not to mention I absolutely love the setting of Glimmer Falls.
Calladia and Astaroth had an amazing dynamic - he's lowkey (not even lowkey, honestly) obsessed with her and I am here for it! I loved their banter and bickering, and it made for some fantastic chemistry between the two of them.
There was also a very emotional underlying storyline surrounding Calladia and her mother, and I really loved seeing how that played out, and how you don't have to forgive someone for treating you horribly just because you're related to them.
Overall this is turning out to be one of my favourite series and I'm seriously excited for the next book!
Just so delightful! I hope we get many more books set in this world with these characters, because they are SO much fun and very lighthearted. There's cheesy charm, great romance, and wonderful humour, not to mention I absolutely love the setting of Glimmer Falls.
Calladia and Astaroth had an amazing dynamic - he's lowkey (not even lowkey, honestly) obsessed with her and I am here for it! I loved their banter and bickering, and it made for some fantastic chemistry between the two of them.
There was also a very emotional underlying storyline surrounding Calladia and her mother, and I really loved seeing how that played out, and how you don't have to forgive someone for treating you horribly just because you're related to them.
Overall this is turning out to be one of my favourite series and I'm seriously excited for the next book!
November 30, 2023
DNF @ 20%
I just couldn’t get into this book enough to finish it. I really liked the first book in this series but this one just didn’t grip me enough in the first 20%. I found Calladia quite an abrasive character and I couldn’t warm to her, and the execution of the amnesia plotline was already frustrating me. It’s a shame but ultimately it’s just wasn’t the book for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.
I just couldn’t get into this book enough to finish it. I really liked the first book in this series but this one just didn’t grip me enough in the first 20%. I found Calladia quite an abrasive character and I couldn’t warm to her, and the execution of the amnesia plotline was already frustrating me. It’s a shame but ultimately it’s just wasn’t the book for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.
May 1, 2024
This was even better than the first book!
More banter, more giggles, more pining and more adventure.
Loved it!
Much love to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC.
More banter, more giggles, more pining and more adventure.
Loved it!
Much love to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC.
February 17, 2024
RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
(ma paastun nüüd mõnda aega klassikalise kirjanduse peal)
(ma paastun nüüd mõnda aega klassikalise kirjanduse peal)
May 11, 2024
⭐️3.0
Their sarcasm and wit was much appreciated and better than the first book😂
Their sarcasm and wit was much appreciated and better than the first book😂
February 14, 2024
I have become increasingly disenchanted with contemporary romantic fiction, a genre I used to enjoy for pure escapism. It seems that instead of choosing to tell good storylines the authors continue to rehash their political agendas…which since they are all saying the same thing is not only redundant but a snooze-fest. I am not sure how someone with an MA in archaeology is qualified to lecture on politics…but I choose my experts differently.
I definitely don’t read my fiction to rehash current politics ad nauseam, I would just watch local news for that, but if that is your thing you might enjoy this book…it has a two party political system, borders open/closed, immigration, accepting people for who they are, fake news aka misinformation, protests, marches, pan-sexuality, social media usage including “influencers� and live streaming, hackers, fan fiction, off shore bank accounts, embezzlement, full bodily autonomy, verbal and emotional abuse, breaking up with your parents, pegging, racism, anti-patriarchy, trust fund, image, politicking, anti-family, pronouns, anti-gender binary, pro-men punching girls aka full on bare knuckle fighting as equals between men and women, entitlement, swifties, personal branding, attitude and ingratitude.
There were a couple of good ideas and a handful of decent lines I can quote and save you the time of reading this if that isn’t your thing�
“She was a puzzle box, constantly revealing new secrets, and he hoarded them like a greedy dragon.�
“‘I did enjoy a brief stint in piracy.� Talk about a group that understood the importance of branding. From their flags to their wildly original methods of execution, pirates had nailed the creative brief.�
“‘There you go, sounding like a Jane Austen character again. Next I’ll find out you have a country estate and a fondness for waltzing.’�
“‘I’m going to rip his entrails out, knit them into a scarf, and wear it while I cut him into pieces.’� (Scarily similar to one of my favorite Buffy quotes about wearing their rib cage as a hat.)
“For love or money
For family or fame
Your heart has a want
So wish on the flames
This wish granter*be spelled by Britannia the benevolent, 1956
*Results may vary…�
“amused that someone with the bone structure of a storybook Princess had the manners of a feral cat.�
“Insurance for magical mishaps and extraplanar acts of malice.�
“Weaponized disappointment was easier to survive than a fireball.�
“This headache, zero stars for amnesia.�
“‘Don’t touch me� she said loudly…that had been one of her kickboxing instructor’s biggest tips: people remembered what they heard, so if she needed to tussle, she should make it clear the other person had instigated it.�
Sadly, Chris gave me this book for Christmas, so I was determined to see it through to the bitter end and bitter it was as my reading really ground to a halt and I wasted a month plus on just this one book. Not my cup of tea and as such not a recommendation from me. The worst part was I didn’t care for either main character.. the female is a human witch who is a self proclaimed gym rat who doesn’t look feminine and feels free to bash a man’s face into a bar and start a bar room fight because he hit on her in said bar…who was raised as a one per center with a trust fund but rejects her political mother and everything she stands for…and the male is a part demon hybrid who has been faking being full bloodied to gain power and influence who looks effeminate, steals human souls, dresses in dapper suits and is pan sexual (of the two I preferred Astaroth).
I definitely don’t read my fiction to rehash current politics ad nauseam, I would just watch local news for that, but if that is your thing you might enjoy this book…it has a two party political system, borders open/closed, immigration, accepting people for who they are, fake news aka misinformation, protests, marches, pan-sexuality, social media usage including “influencers� and live streaming, hackers, fan fiction, off shore bank accounts, embezzlement, full bodily autonomy, verbal and emotional abuse, breaking up with your parents, pegging, racism, anti-patriarchy, trust fund, image, politicking, anti-family, pronouns, anti-gender binary, pro-men punching girls aka full on bare knuckle fighting as equals between men and women, entitlement, swifties, personal branding, attitude and ingratitude.
There were a couple of good ideas and a handful of decent lines I can quote and save you the time of reading this if that isn’t your thing�
“She was a puzzle box, constantly revealing new secrets, and he hoarded them like a greedy dragon.�
“‘I did enjoy a brief stint in piracy.� Talk about a group that understood the importance of branding. From their flags to their wildly original methods of execution, pirates had nailed the creative brief.�
“‘There you go, sounding like a Jane Austen character again. Next I’ll find out you have a country estate and a fondness for waltzing.’�
“‘I’m going to rip his entrails out, knit them into a scarf, and wear it while I cut him into pieces.’� (Scarily similar to one of my favorite Buffy quotes about wearing their rib cage as a hat.)
“For love or money
For family or fame
Your heart has a want
So wish on the flames
This wish granter*be spelled by Britannia the benevolent, 1956
*Results may vary…�
“amused that someone with the bone structure of a storybook Princess had the manners of a feral cat.�
“Insurance for magical mishaps and extraplanar acts of malice.�
“Weaponized disappointment was easier to survive than a fireball.�
“This headache, zero stars for amnesia.�
“‘Don’t touch me� she said loudly…that had been one of her kickboxing instructor’s biggest tips: people remembered what they heard, so if she needed to tussle, she should make it clear the other person had instigated it.�
Sadly, Chris gave me this book for Christmas, so I was determined to see it through to the bitter end and bitter it was as my reading really ground to a halt and I wasted a month plus on just this one book. Not my cup of tea and as such not a recommendation from me. The worst part was I didn’t care for either main character.. the female is a human witch who is a self proclaimed gym rat who doesn’t look feminine and feels free to bash a man’s face into a bar and start a bar room fight because he hit on her in said bar…who was raised as a one per center with a trust fund but rejects her political mother and everything she stands for…and the male is a part demon hybrid who has been faking being full bloodied to gain power and influence who looks effeminate, steals human souls, dresses in dapper suits and is pan sexual (of the two I preferred Astaroth).
August 4, 2023
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy
Sadly this one just didn't work as well for me as the first book did. In particular, the characters felt much less organic than the characters from the first one. Also, the magic-fied pop culture references were a bit over the top for my tastes. I enjoyed the first few, but after a while they felt shoe horned and overwhelming.
The plot also felt a bit like deja vu to the first book. An overbearing mother, forced proximity with a demon, a protest, a big issue that is resolved a lil fast.
The romance between the two main characters had its moments - especially in the last third of the book. While I didn't 100% believe them as a couple, they were still fun to read about.
Sadly this one just didn't work as well for me as the first book did. In particular, the characters felt much less organic than the characters from the first one. Also, the magic-fied pop culture references were a bit over the top for my tastes. I enjoyed the first few, but after a while they felt shoe horned and overwhelming.
The plot also felt a bit like deja vu to the first book. An overbearing mother, forced proximity with a demon, a protest, a big issue that is resolved a lil fast.
The romance between the two main characters had its moments - especially in the last third of the book. While I didn't 100% believe them as a couple, they were still fun to read about.
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