Demon's Captive Mate

Court of the Hollow King #1

by Sera Bishop

I’m a demon soldier with blood on my hands. He’s a gentle angel healer. Our bond was an accident, but now I’ll kill to keep him safe.

I’ve been a soldier of Hell for a hundred years, immersed in bloodshed and carnage. Then a terrible battle leaves me on the brink of death. To save my life, I’m brought to Vasia, Hell’s enslaved angel healer.

The first time Vasia touches me, our souls entwine in a mating bond. It should be impossible. But I can’t deny the pull, no matter how much I want to. I need him. I crave his touch. And no one in Hell’s treacherous Court can know.

Barren and denied a mate by his own people, Vasia embraces our bond like he’s starved for it. He shows me tenderness I thought no longer existed in the world. He believes in the man I could be instead of the demon I am. I’d do anything to keep him from harm—even defy the King of Hell himself.

But angels can’t live in Hell, and Vasia’s survival depends on the most dangerous thing of all. The one thing I don’t believe in. The one thing I can’t give him.

Freedom.



The Court of the Hollow King is an MM romance series set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy universe, with omegaverse style dynamics—heats, soul bonding, big alphas and their feisty mates. There is no on-page mpreg but it exists in the world.

Each book is a standalone romance, but the series has an overarching plot and is best read in order.

Genres: Omegaverse, M M Romance, Fantasy, Romance, Demons, Paranormal, Angels

350 pages, ebook

First published May 1, 2023

About the author

Join my newsletter for fun snippets, exclusive freebies, book updates, and more! https://subscribepage.io/kvehLd

I'm a long-time reader who loves all things dark and MM. I have a huge soft spot for big, over-protective alphas—arrogant, deadly, kinda thick when it comes to feelings…but they’d do anything for their true mate. And they can’t help being drawn to the omega type who’s never fit in.

My readers are always guaranteed high heat, forever love, and intense, immersive worlds.

It makes me happy when readers connect with me, so don’t be afraid to reach out on social media or through email!

Reviews

[winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 3/18/2024:

Loved it just as much the second time. There’s some typos (at least in the older edition I was reading) but I love this unusual A/B/O world full of angels and demons.

—
7/13/2023:

(slaps down money on the table) I’ll take 20 more of these books, please and thank you. I CANNOT wait for the sequel stories, and may beg for the ARCs. So good.

If you like this genre (fantasy m/m omegaverse) then you’ll likely really enjoy this. Really fun premise—Demon alpha and an imprisoned angel omega forcibly bonded in Hell (literally) mid-demons-vs-angel war. The characters are likable and there’s a decent amount of pages for a good plot to develop. It ends HFN, no major cliffhangers, but sets up the world for the next stories.

Spice: 4/5
Angst: 3/5

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this.
- accidental bond
- learning to trust each other
- scenting
- slow falling in love
- a balance of sex scenes and fantasy plot that I personally enjoyed
- wing appreciation (although not that much wingtimacy)
- characters earning HEA

I immediately dived into the second book

NSFW infos:
- almost seven foot tall demon, ridged black horns, dark claws
- smol angel
- felching
- strict top/bottom
- heat
- knotting
- no mpreg
- feedback loop during sex

[Jinx]

Not a review more like a note to self in case I don’t remember having tried to read this. 🚩: present tense used in 3rd person POV.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I liked the story and characters a lot, but it sort of lost me toward the end. Could totally be me and my goldfish attention span, but either way, I found myself dragging toward the finish line and it affected the way I perceived the whole book. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[𖤓𝔐𝔦𝔰𝔞☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this one, the worldbuilding was a bit strange sometimes (why would children be called pups, they're not werewolves) but the relationship was lovely and the story had a lot of stuff I love, like an unexpected mate bond, getting out of captivity, lots of mutual caretaking, and much more. The story was a bit bleaker than my usual preference, and a little bit slow at times, but it wrapped up with a nice HEA.

[OneDayI'll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweeter than expected

Sweeter than expected but lacking in any real world building. The very vague and short into explains nothing of any importance. Behaviors don't match the world they're living in. Behaviors don't match the roles of those involved in any way. What exactly is the king, what does he do, and what is his end game? No clue. How does he choose his ranking officers outside of just letting them fight each other until winners move up? How can you trust someone like that? It doesn't make sense. The bond is never explained. Why the angels limit it and why the demons don't even know it exists is never explained. What the hollows are and how the king became the king of them I title instead of demon king is never explained. Why the book title focuses on the court when they never touch on it except 3 limited scenes that take place in it is never explained. There's no layout for a sequel. No secondary characters were singled out to continue the story. It took a year of traveling to get where they were going but they have no way to create this "haven" they talked about or invite others to it. The king hid away? How can he rule hidden away? Nothing makes any sense. It's so character driven but the characters don't really communicate anything outside of feelings, and most of that is inner monologues. Why would readers want to visit this world again when they learned nothing about it or its inhabitants?

[Shelba · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars… as wonderful as I found the story and the characters (sad omega and caretaking ftw), and as caught up in it as I would get, I still noticed quite a few typos. So, half a star off for that. I do hope to see more from this world in the future

[yaishin · Rating 4 out of 5]

the books name made it sound like it would be porn with a plot but I'm glad it wasn't.

[Amur Thera · Rating 5 out of 5]

The good
    + Rone's complete investment in the bond once he realizes Vasia is his
    + Nur. He better get a book, too
    + Wing grooming!
    + Vasia never giving up on Rone
    + The sacrifices they make for each other
    + Rone trying to be the best primus for Vasia
    + Vasia adopting some demon traits for himself... *cough* tiny murder kitten
    + Just the right amount of magic dick
    + Yannick. He also needs a book


The neutral
    o I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased
    o I need friends to read this because I have theories that I need to share!
    o Their first acquaintance was a bit wobbly, but the pay-off was worth it in the end


The bad
    - I just really, really, really wanted to see the angels' faces when they realized Vasia had a fated mate. A fated mate who was a demon. My disappointment about this missed chance is immeasurable
    - I wanted more nesting!


Quotes

    "I don't even know what love is."
    "Then I'll love you until you do."

I need people to read this so I can share my theories. I also need someone to punish the Angel Court for obvious reasons. And all the demon generals, while we're at it. I can't wait for Nur and Yannick to get their HEAs (they will, right?!), and I hope to learn a little more about the world-building in the sequels. I'll definitely be reading the next book. Would recommend!

[Dionysus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Demon's Captive Mate had all the ingredients to make an amazing story. Demon's, Angels , Hell , Hollows , different . realms . I expected so much more from this story.

I loved the beginning of the story , Vasia tying Rone to him to save his life and their connection. It started out great but honestly it just became too long. Some of the issues became so repetitive and I felt like half the time Rone wasn't behaving like the war general he was said to be . There were a lot of issues unresolved when they leave hell and even when they're separated there was a lot that was just I just skimmed over .

I'm giving this 3 starts cause I haven't written it off just yet. I'm hoping the next books are better and the story picks up and details are clearer.

*I received and ARC of this book and this is my honest review.*

[Precious · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You will live,” he murmurs to the giant demon. “And so will I. But what kind of life will we have?”

When an Angel is made prisoner in Hell, and a Demon seeks help, a bond like no other is formed. Sometimes it eats them, sometimes it gives them life but with their two worlds at odds, it's safe to say that their happy ending will be a well fought one.

-Safety. Vasia can’t be vulnerable.

-Privacy. He doesn’t want to share this moment with anyone.

Said like a true gentleman. Oh my goodness, Rone is everything and more. He is one big fellow who knows nothing but killing and war. When he is healed by a tiny Angel his life gets turned upside down. Contrary to his Demon nature, he is kind, patient and loves wholeheartedly even though he may not realize it so. I enjoyed reading how Rone changes over the course of the book. The author left no stone unturned with this one.


“I love you,"

“Vasia.”

“It’s alright if you don’t love me,”

“I don’t even know what love is.”

“Then I’ll love you until you do.”

Vasia, my angel. I have no words to express how much I breathe for him. He is so sweet and strong and values his mate so much to the point that he is willing to die than part from him. My heart broke seeing how much he was willing to risk for Rone. I enjoyed seeing how Vasia also changed during the course of the book and how much of a backbone he has regardless of his nature.

“Do you think it’s okay? Leaving the rest of the world behind?”

“There will be others who need a place like this.”

I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters yet. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am sad now that it's over.

//ARC Review//

[Thurman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was odd. The beginning was ok, the middle was kinda boring and the end was confusing. I almost didn't finish the book at 27%. I stopped to read some reviews and thought it might get better. It didn't get better but I finished it anyway.
There are a lot of unanswered questions like:

What happened to Rone when Vasia left and used the gate? Did he just wander around and finally end up in the corner of someone's house?
What about the Court? Who is in charge? What happened to the King?
Is anyone looking for Rone and/or Vasia?

And when they finally find each other????? Rone comes back to himself...

with a bath? A freaking bath is all it took to reform a bond with Vasia? A bath? I almost gave it 2 stars for that.

We defiantly need an epilogue:

Did the bond ever get as strong or stronger than it did before the separation?
Did they find a home near the beach?
Are they still happy years later?
How goes the war?

I got the ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.
angst 4/5
heat 3/5
story 2/5
POV dual

[Leigh Gaskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I always love when an author can take something that’s already been written about (alpha/omega, angels/demons, etc) and put their own spin on it. This was VERY interesting to say the least! I did feel that it was dragging in a few spots, I felt that Vasia was a bit wishy washy but I guess that’s to be expected considering who and what his mate is as well as where he is imprisoned. All in all, this is a solid read, plenty of source material for more books and I’m HERE FOR IT! If I know who the Hollow King’s mate is then I’m SUPER STOKED too! This is a perfect example of why I love ARC reading, I love to find these hidden gems!

I received my ARC from GRR in exchange for an honest review.

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demon's Captive Mate is the first book in the Court of the Hollow King series. This is the story of Vasia an omega angel prisoner trapped in hell and Rone an alpha demon. I loved the world building and characters in the book. Sera Bishop does an amazing job of bringing the world and characters to life. There is a lot going on in the story but I really enjoyed it. I loved watching these two figure things out. I would definitely recommend this book.

[MariaR · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book with a really low expectation bar, but I was surprised to find it actually a nice read. I would even rate it 4 stars if it wasn't for the confusing and very surface-level world-building. I believe it will be more clear in the next books, but right now I'm not invested enough to continue.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

I liked this take on angels and demons, with Vasia, an angel, being trapped in Hell. We get POVs from both characters, where the book takes place mostly in Hell. Vasia is trapped in all the ways he can be trapped. His wings are shackled and he’s a prisoner. He has a gentle nature and he knows the amount of time he can survive in Hell is limited, as his light and essence are fading. He’s shocked and horrified when he realizes Rone is his mate for two reasons. The first, he was told he could never form a bond, and the second is that Rone is a demon.

Vasia and Rone have the benefit of the bond making them not want to leave each other, but they fall into a rather sweet love story between the two of them despite their circumstances. They make great sacrifices for each other as they embark on a journey to be able to be together. The book opens a door for more in the series and I would definitely be interested to see what is next for the pair.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Maitana C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for me. I was very intrigued by the blurb, and the characters were interesting. The story line was hard for me to follow at first, and then around 25% in I was bored.

The book jumps right in, and I felt like I was missing a lot of world building. I had to reread sections to make sure I knew what they were talking about. This felt very much like and already established world.

I found it hard to love the characters. It seemed more surface level, and I just never felt like they truly connected until much further in the book.

Overall this wasn’t my favorite, but it also wasn’t bad. 2.5/5 ✨

[... · Rating 4 out of 5]

RE-READ 6/10/25: I just read a recent release by this author and really enjoyed it, so poked around to see what else she'd written and realized I'd actually read one of them, this one! But now there were a couple more books out in the series, so I decided to re-read this one since I didn't remember the details and there seems to be an overarching series arc... and I'm glad I did! It's creative world building that I really enjoyed, and now I'm looking forward even more to continuing the series! Still a 4-star read for me 😊

ORIGINAL READ: 7/30/23 - 4-star rating with no review

[Mom Needs Coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great World Building, Plot, Character Development, and Romance.

Mild (lower end) relationship angst
Angel/Demon
Hurt/Comfort
Mate Bond
Forced Proximity
Primus/Vergis (alpha/omega)
Dual third person POV

CWs- captivity, violence (not between lovers), infertility, threat of harm, death

Listen, I don't do angst but I'll read almost anything with a Romeo and Juliet theme. So *Angel Plus Demon With A Mate Bond* was too good to pass up. Also, I'm a sucker for wings and soft alphas so this ticked a lot of my boxes.

I can't stand miscommunications but I'll admit I was only mildly annoyed here, as I knew I would be, as a low angst reader. It was surprisingly great. The problems were not drawn out and angst ridden plus each individual problem was addressed before a new problem arose (within the relationship not the plot). Even though the men struggled with their feelings, they did not let that interfere with their decency towards one another for the most part.

There are dark themes in this book but the relationship is not dark. Rone and Vasia, overall, treat one another well.

Rone is a demon. He's aware he was once human but all he remembers is living and dieing as a demon during this neverending war. He is a creature made from death with the sole purpose of killing angels until his next death. I was expecting him to be a total monster but he wasn't. Did he have some qualities that made him dark and rough around the edges? Absolutely. Did that make him a bad mate? No, it made him an even stronger one in my opinion. If he had to fight for Vasia, Rone wasn't hesitating. If he struggled to understand Vasia, it was from his own knowledge of Hell and his demon nature, not because he was stubborn or cruel.

Vasia is an angel. He left New Yden and accidentally ended up in Hell as a prisoner. He is a vergis who has never experienced a heat so he is not allowed a mate in New Yden, prompting his escape. With Rone, Vasia doesn't immediately accept the mate bond, which I easily agreed with, but after a while I was fairly frustrated. Vasia is kind and intelligent but also, in my opinion, hypocritical. His only friend in Hell is someone who is known for his darkness yet Vasia struggles to see past his own prejudices regarding Rone who treats him very kindly. When anything frustrated me in this book, it was usually tied to Vasia standing in his own way.

HOWEVER... The climax until the ending made up for all my annoyances regarding Vasia. I was so proud of him. I bet the next time I read this book I'll be more understanding of Vasia's struggles.

******
5 STARS and I stand behind my assessment---

1. Debut fantasy novel. Maybe the author has other books in contemporary, I don't know, but for a first fantasy this was incredibly well done. World building, plot, character development, meaningful interactions with side characters, a continuing story arc that is recognizable but does not pull focus from this individual plotline, nicely fleshed out preternaturals... Yeah, as someone who loves PNR I'm really happy with this story.

2. The book feels like a slow burn and is a tad bittersweet which I found to be quite enjoyable. I was a bit annoyed at times (again, I'm a low angst reader) but then things moved in a direction I hadn't been expecting and the book caught my attention all over again. The conflict wasn't a surprise but the way it happened made me adore Rone and Vasia. I'll admit, I was a bit undecided about Vasia in the beginning, but the way he handled the conflict thrilled me.

3. Barren individual remains barren. I have to say, as someone who got her only child through the magic of science I am not a fan of the "I was infertile until love cured me" trope. Fertility struggles are no joke and I appreciate not being blindsided by a "miracle baby" here.

4. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a "plot over smut" reader. This book is high heat, something I'd normally accept but not feel worth mentioning, but I'm mentioning the s-x here because it was surprisingly enjoyable. It also didn't take away from the plot even though it was quite frequent. That's a pretty solid plus for me.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Rone . . .

Captain Romanos (“Rone”) is a demon soldier dying of severe wounds from the raging war going on. Because they don’t want to lose a Captain, Quartermaster Magnus has two demons drag in a gentle angel healer, Vasia, who is an enslaved captive of Hell. He is ordered to heal the Captain, despite telling them he is beyond healing and they should let him pass to oblivion. But the king of Hell ordered it. But as Vasia touches Rone to examine his wounds, something impossible occurs. The ice inside of Rone melts at the angel’s touch and their souls react with a mating bond. And if Rone dies now, his mate Vasia will also die unless he can heal the demon. They dragged him away when Rone passed out. But he needs to get back to him and save him. Both of them will suffer pain from being apart and it will worsen, especially for Rone who is so badly hurt already. So when slops are brought to him for his meal, he talks the guard into taking him to Rone so he can be sure he is healing and doesn’t relapse and die. Their bond has stabilized Rone who, though unconscious and still badly wounded, is no longer dying. But to heal him will cost Vasia a large amount of his soul light, maybe all of it. Hell has already drained much of it away. Then to his dismay, the Quartermaster arrives ready to take him back to his cell. He tries to convince him he needs to monitor Rone’s healing or his heart could give out. But a messenger arrives from the Hollow King saying a private suite has been prepared for Vasia and Rone until Rone is fully healed. But why is the king doing this? What does he want from them?

Vasia establishes a blood connection to see the patient’s wounds and heal them from the inside. It is Rone’s best chance of survival. And his severe wounds have been rotting into poison. So Vasia begins the deep healing he can now perform. As Rone finally starts to regain consciousness, he first wonders why he should bother to live – until he remembers the angel and feels a deep longing. The room is not familiar and he panics, telling Vasia he would send him away, making Vasia avoid him. But eventually Vasia returns to tell him about a primus (protector) and a vergis (one who can bear children). The two form a mating bond. Rone went tense, having realized what Vasia just told him. But later, when they sit and talk, Vasia is almost certain he scents Rone’s arousal!

They both feel the strong pull to each other but they cannot let anyone know. The angel’s presence comforts Rone, and Rone will protect him at all costs. But Vasia needs his freedom away from Hell if he is to survive his fading soul light. Rone has no power to give him that. And does the king have plans for them he hasn’t revealed yet?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish this one. I started it early this year, and stopped reading it in the middle. I had mentally shelved the book as a dnf title, but I kept wondering how it ended, so I went back and finished the second half within the past two days.

The world-building was good. I was expecting a simpler world with a greater focus on the romance, but Bishop does it all: make a fantasy world and a romance. Both New Yden and Hell are oppressive factions, and our characters struggle to build a future away from both influences. Aside from angels and demons, we have humans and a host of other creatures (like river snakes and serpents). This installment gave us a glimpse into the storyworld, and left us with questions: Why is the demon king waging a war against New Yden? (They hint at a possible reason, and I'm curious to see if my guess is right). Why are the demons pulling back troops? What is with the Seraphim Council?

The romance itself was sweet, with very little angst. It's set against the backdrop of Hell, which is a cruel and unforgiving place, and the romance works as an escape from the darkness. I liked watching Rone and Vasia grow closer. They were adorable. I was rooting for them. Also: the smut was good (like, really good ;)). Bishop knows what she's doing. Some descriptions were . . . graphic, but overall the romance was sizzling and soft (loved the duality). The romance arc as a whole was done well. I was satisfied with it.

I would say the only downfalls were the pacing and the melancholia. Like I said, I lost motivation to read a little past the halfway point (I want to say around 60%?). We know from the first few chapters that Vasia is sick, and that is one of the driving conflicts of the book, which is fine, but it gets dragged to the very end. I saw the third act coming from a mile away, but it took forever to get here. The last third of the book was great, but it needed to come a little earlier. While this book had a good progression of subplots - it had multiple suspenseful points, which I liked- the plotting could have been tighter. As it was, we had moments of action separated by lulls.

There was also an element of this book that was just . . . depressing. Rone has a miserable existence in Hell, where all he knows is fighting and bloodshed, and Vasia is constantly in pain or a state of weakness. The only comfort they have is with one another. As it was, there's a pervasive sense of sadness in the book. I could have done with a little humor or something to lift the mood.

In all, this was a well-written book. The romance was tender and sexy, and the world-building was done well. I feel like Bishop has plans for this story. We'll see if I stick around long enough to see how it all unfolds.

[S a n d r a · Rating 3 out of 5]

❊ Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook ❊


3.5 ⭐

Posted yesterday this review but it got somehow erased so here we go again.

That cover? I'm in? The title? Color me intrigued. The plot? OMG, an angel and a demon?? So need it!!

The world building was more interesting than I was expecting, really. We mostly know about Hell since this first book mainly takes place there, and we get an inside into Hell's politics and see how there's a rebellion going against the King.

The King was one of the most intriguing things. There's something going on there, with him being a Primus and how he behaved with our MCs. So I can't wait for more books to come and discover more about him. Same with Nur, the Hollow that's more humanlike than his other kins. He's caring, a good friend for our Angel and another integuing secondary characters.

We get a brief look into angel society, and let me tell you something: it doesn't sound that good. Pretty dystopic, I would say, and there's a certain couple (Vasia's cousin being one of them) that looks like will have their own book full of drama and fighting against their government.

A now, our mains. Vasia and Rone. Their bonding is unexpected, should have been imposible, and it's totally out of their hands. There's a mutual need due to the bond, but it's not instalovish. There's some forced proximity (mostly because they physically and emotionally need to be together after the bond establishes) that gets them closer, and what starts as a need due to the bond slowly shifts into something deeper, sweeter, and fairly hotter.

I can't deny there was a part I the beginning/middle the story felt a bit slow for me. But I'm thinking it was more a me thing than a plot thing, so I'm not taking it much into consideration.

As I said, it's not instalovish and that was a big point for me. Maybe there was too much politics in the middle, but it was pretty interesting too, so... Maybe not so bad a thing.

Towards the end the things become addictive, and I was glued to my kindle, needing to know how things would develop. There's a bit of drama, raw emotions and a deep growth of characters.

I can't wait to read more books in the series and see new couples joining then in their haven near the sea!!

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author presents us with the well-known theme of alpha and omega, but this time in the world of angels and demons. Despite the fact that these designations are quite common in paranormal romances, this book pulled me in from the first page to the last.
I liked the very well developed world. This applies both to the Court of the Hollow King, where most of the book's action takes place, and to New Yden. The author perfectly presented the machinations occurring at the courts and the eternal war between angels and demons. Thanks to this, the book is full of action, and numerous twists will keep the reader's attention. Although at first it would seem that it is immediately clear who is good and who is evil, not everything turns out to be so obvious.
I liked the main characters a lot. Vasia, on the one hand, small and delicate, is actually a vergis (omega) with a very strong will. He is considered worthless by the Seraphim Council, which means that he is not allowed to have a mate. Still, he doesn't let it break him. When his position as an angel healer is not enough for him, he tries to find his path in the human world. This decision leads to his capture by demons.
Rone is a male who, both as a human and a demon, has never known kindness. Everything he achieved, he had to fight for. The only thing he was good at was killing, which allowed him to reach the rank of captain in the army of demons.
These two are so different that it would seem that any feeling between them is impossible. And yet, an unexpected bond allows them to discover unknown feelings and change perceptions of the world around them. The book presents a beautiful story of love, which is a stimulus to overcome unimaginable odds. Sometimes it's bittersweet, which makes us sympathize with the characters even more.
I am eagerly waiting for the next part of the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tashyka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The familiar concept of alpha and omega is presented by the author, but this time in the context of the battle between angels and devils. Despite the fact that these labels are frequently used in paranormal romances, I was captivated by this story from beginning to end.
I appreciated the world's high level of development. This is true not only of New Yden, where the bulk of the novel is set, but also of the Court of the Hollow King. The author skillfully depicted the courtly intrigue and the never-ending battle between angels and demons. As a result, there is a lot happening in the book, and there are enough of surprises to keep the reader interested. Although it may appear at first that good and evil are easily discernible, this is not always the case.
The protagonists struck a chord with me. Vasia may look fragile, but she's actually an omega (vergis) with a lot of determination. The Seraphim Council does not permit him to have a mate because of his poor value in their eyes. Nevertheless, it hasn't broken him down. When he realizes that being a healer in heaven isn't satisfying enough, he ventures down to Earth to find his place. Because of this choice, demons are able to kidnap him.
Neither in his human nor his demon forms has Rone ever experienced kindness. Everything he accomplished was hard-won. He excelled at nothing except killing, which propelled him to the position of captain in the demons' armed forces.
Because of their vast differences, it seems unlikely that they could ever develop feelings for one another. Nonetheless, they form an unlikely friendship that opens them up to new experiences and perspectives. The book tells a heartwarming tale of love that serves as inspiration for facing insurmountable challenges. The melancholy moments deepen our understanding and compassion for the characters.
I cannot wait for the next installment. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Alexandra Criddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to preface this review by saying I went into this story not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. This story does have tropes of: omegaverse-ish, mating, enemies/lovers, Forced Proximity, First Time.

The reader is immediately enveloped into a whole new world that feels grimy and dangerous. Especially for one of our male leads, Vasia, is an angel who was been kidnapped and enslaved forced to heal the very race of demons who are at war with his own kind. He’s immediately attached to Captain Rone, a demon who is gravely injured requiring Vasia’s attention, and recognizes they share a bond. They both learn to accept the inevitable and try to manage their bond through a dangerous court setting in hell whilst trying to dance around their growing feelings for one another. This comes to a head and they both have to decide what decisions they need to make regarding their relationship and their lives.

This story does lack world building, and I would love to see more details. It felt like I was having to fill in with my own imagination which I don’t always hate but this story would have gone up a star for me if the world building was there. I enjoyed the dialogue between the two characters, and it didn’t feel forced or out of place for the setting. The story is dual POV in third person. While I’m not a fan of third person, I didn’t have trouble following along. The spicy times were okay, I think they could have been more developed as well as far as description and feeling. I know that seems hard under the POV setting.

All in all, this was a story you should definitely give a try. I found that the more I read the more I enjoyed the story. I think the ending could have been more significant when our two main characters reconnected, but I think it was a nice ending to an otherwise angsty story of two beings who just wanted to be together.

I do recommend giving this story a try. I have already read the second story and will continue on with the third.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a debut romance from this author. Once this book got going, I could not put it down until I finished it.

If you like:
- Fated, bonded mates
- Non-human MCs (horns, claws, talon feet, wings, you get the drift)
- Omegaverse aspects (pregnancy is mentioned but doesn't happen - but there are many other typical elements present - heat, slick, scent glands)
- Wing kink!!
- Size difference
- First times
- High stakes

Then you should check out this book!

This is the first book set in a post-apocalyptic world with demons (who used to be humans) and angels, and what a harsh world it is too. The world-building and opening was well done, just very vivid and creative. Rone is a captain in Hell, and is gravely wounded. When Vasia, an angel being held prisoner there, goes to heal him, he discovers that Rone is his bonded mate.

I loved these two together - the rough Rone, who is allowed to finally have softness and love in his life. Vasia, who has been cruelly treated for his life by the angels for not being able to have children, finding someone that loves him for who he is. The chemistry these two had as they grew into the bond was just off the charts. And so many sweet moments too. (Also!! Can I just say that I'm so glad that Rone didn't have like magic sperm or anything that "fixed" Vasia.)

I won't give any spoilers away - but I couldn't stop reading because of the uncertainty in trying to figure out how Rone and Vasia would escape hell and find their HEA. The tension definitely keeps amping up through the whole story, and ahhhh that last quarter! My heart!

I think this series can just continue to build on the world building, introduce more characters, and really go places! So now I need stories for some of these other characters please, Nur especially!

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I honestly don’t know what I can say about this book that isn’t a spoiler. Because it was a roller coaster. So much happened, and it all had such big knock on effects that it’s hard to actually write a review about the plot.
Rone is a demon captain for the Hollow King and is gravely injuring fighting the angels of New Yden. An angel, Vasia is brought to him and ordered to heal him, unknowingly bonding the two of them together. Forced to stay together while Rone heals, the two bond, with Vasia revealing he’s a vergis, which is basically this story’s version of an omega, and Rone is a primus, essentially an alpha. But primus demon’s aren’t really a thing, and despite vergis being prized in New Yden, Vasia is barren, and worthless to them. Which was why he ventured out on his own and was captured by Hell.
These two characters are so very different, but are also similar in that they’re both trapped in different ways, so reading them come together and forge a bond was so wonderful. Vasia is a gentle sweetheart, but he’s brave and determined. Rone is brute strength personified, and a true protector. They were perfect for each other and it was just a joy to read, because even in the dark moments their bond was just so special.

I won’t lie, I was very confused at the start of this story. There was so much to absorb about the world and the history that I feel like a reread is in order to get the most enjoyment out of it. But boy was this a rich world. I got the feeling that the author had spent a lot of time planning how everything was going to work, and it paid off. Because now I just want more.
There were a bunch of characters introduced towards the end that could all have stories of their own, so I cannot wait to read more about this world.


I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since my last paranormal dystopian read, and I found it easy to get immersed into Rone and Vasia's world of demons and angels. I thought the politics and war strategies in the demon court were interesting to explore, and I appreciate that Sera Bishop eased into the storyline slowly so I had time to get my bearings. The mate bond between Vasia and Rone was frightening at first, because I didn't understand what it meant for them, but as they learned how to open up to each other I was happy they had a safe space together when the rest of the demons seemed like they were out to get them. Don't even get me started on the steamy, steamy nights they spent solidifying their connection--seriously hot and a welcome distraction from how stressed the rest of their situation made me. The first half of this book built slowly, more focused on Rone and Vasia's connection than anything else, but the second half was a desperate quest to save their bond that involved more than a few twists and turns. My love for these characters snuck up on me, and I was surprised by how invested I was in their happiness and how full of despair I was when it seemed like there was no future where the two of them could be together. This book had moments when I thought my heart was going to split in half, but Rone and Vasia had immense inner strength and they did whatever it took to secure their happy ending. It was honestly a relief to get to the ending and convince myself that the hardest days of their lives were finally over, and I think Rone and Vasia's destination was a perfect fit for what they'd each been seeking.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[AntheMore · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 "meh" stars.

It wasn't bad but it isn't anything to gush about either. I guess I would've liked more depth into Rone and Vasia's relationship, something more felt than told.
There was indeed a progression in their relationship as they learned to be with each other and how to function as vergis and primus (which is an ersatz of an alpha/omega dynamic with a few tweaks), but it missed a clear goal.

The plot was like a quick succession of events where the characters and the reader muddled through without knowing what would be next. Rone was static in his choices and actions despite knowing that Vadia was fading away in Hell's Court and Vasia was kinda or kinda not trying to find an exit, and no one could grab the political games at the Court, I didn't understand what was happening and what games were played and anyway it didn't seem that important to the characters? There were stakes but it was like they were blurred on purpose and we always were left on the border, never to have a clear idea of what was going on. Rone had a clear disinterest for them and I must admit I did too.

I didn't care much for the supportive cast, the King is at times this all powerful being with a dense aura, all mysterious, and other times, just another demon that rose to this position and that can easily be replaced. We don't understand his motives and his figure was inconstant. Nur was also mysterious but a little bit more sympathetic as Vasia's friend in the Court. Lucian and Yannick were also fine but the same problem aroused like everywhere else: I wasn't involved with them, I didn't feel a connexion and a link to these characters and the events.