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From the Demon Accords Universe: meet Katrina Westing. One of Tatiana Demidova's fixers, deadly fighter, borderline psycho. She can make personnel problems literally disappear. Turned at age twelve, trapped in a child's body for 170 years, rescued from personal hell by Chris Gordon. This is her story.

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First published December 10, 2021

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About the author

John Conroe

35 books1,702 followers
I'm the Urban Fantasy author of the Demon Accords series. For more information, check out my website or follow me on Facebook at the Demon Accords page.

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5 stars
811 (68%)
4 stars
276 (23%)
3 stars
87 (7%)
2 stars
11 (<1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Gavin.
1,075 reviews445 followers
August 15, 2023
Blood Cull was such an awful book that I’d probably never have read this one had it not been for the fact I’d already bought it in advance!

The good news is that this was a pretty fun book in the Demon Accords series. It absolutely helped that it was a prequel, so not damaged by the mess that was the Blood Cull happenings, and that we had a fun new lead POV character in the assassin/spy vampire Katarina Weston.

We followed the story of the vampire as she was turned at 12 years old and trapped for two hundred years in the body of a child until Chris eventually managed to age her up in one of the earlier Demon Accords novels.

Katarina was a fun character. A little darker and less moral than the likes of Chris and Declan (at least pre-Blood Cull shitshow) but still likeable enough despite her violent inclinations! Her character arc made it easy to understand how she ended up as she did.

The best bit of the story was all the stuff that happened before the start of the regular Demon Accords series. The stuff we got from after Kat ran into Chris and Tanya was OK but more of a different perspective on events we already knew rather than anything new like the earlier parts of the book.

On the whole I liked this and would enjoy reading more about Katarina as a lead character.

Rating: 4 stars. Pity the main story arc has gone awry as Conroe is perfectly capable of writing fun stories!

Audio Note. In a twist we got a new female narrator in the form of Lily Ganser for this Katarina POV book. It worked fairly well as it definitely gave Kat a different feel. The only flaw was the new voices for familiar characters like Chris and Declan. Ganser did try to keep the accents consistent with Cronin’s take on the series so that was a plus for the production.
Profile Image for Gareth Otton.
Author 5 books131 followers
June 16, 2023
The most 'Vampire' story of the Demon Accords

In a series filled with vampires, this is the most 'Vampire' story yet. The reason for this is that this story follows a vampire from her creation up until the events of God Hammer, which is a period of over 150 years.

The modern day setting for this series means that the long vampire lifespan has never really been explored in the same way it was here. Yes, we know that the Elders are thousands of years old, but here we get to experience it. Being as this indefinite lifespan is one of the most awesome parts of being a vampire, that made this story all the more fun to read.

That actually meant that I enjoyed the first part of this story that was set in the past and explored Katrina's early life more than the second half that caught up to more familiar events. It's not that I didn't enjoy seeing those events through a new perspective, but more that I enjoyed getting to watch Katrina do her things behind the scenes much more.

Ultimately, this book fleshed out Katrina into a very interesting character and I would very much be interested in reading more about the queen's fixer in the future.
Profile Image for Dave Stone.
1,348 reviews97 followers
April 7, 2024
Pretty good
Number two in the unnamed prequel series (trilogy?).
Book of Levi
Darkkn Knight <----
White Wolf
This one is better than Book of Levi, it adds a fair bit of new stuff & background.
Still, it's basically retelling of known events from a different POV.
Light, Fun, and the least guns of any Demon Accords book EVER! (it does contain some guns)
Profile Image for Tawnya.
396 reviews57 followers
July 21, 2025
This book was fun. Seeing everything from Katrina’s point of view and hearing her thoughts was interesting. Her story began with such a horrific event. I never really thought about the era in which she was turned. The historical events that occurred while she was doing her part for the coven read like a political thriller. Having read what she was able to accomplish BECAUSE she looked twelve I almost regret her being aged by Chris. This is a nearly 500 page book that I read in less than three days. I do not give 5 stars often. Most books I love are 4 stars. To me 5 stars mean more than just loving it. That I have given it 5 says a lot. Also if someone who has never read the series started reading this book I guarantee they would get the entire series. There are some very slight spoilers towards the end after we get Declan, but over half of the book takes place before the series. Those who hadn’t read the series are sure to want to see what was going on.
Profile Image for Pam Bales.
2,526 reviews12 followers
April 23, 2024
My, oh my
Not sure what I was doing when this "masterpiece" was released. It's been silently waiting for me to get back to it since then. What a "life" Katrina is living. Awesome characters, plots, incredible settings, and just pure entertainment make anything from this series just incredible. Glad Mr. Conroe continues fleshing out the characters making them more relatable and revealing the plots from different standpoints. Hate to finish one because the wait between seems indeterminal. Highly recommended! #19 in series.
Profile Image for Todd.
2,226 reviews8 followers
March 24, 2023
The second of The Demon Accords' Vella series covers the life of Katrina Westing, assassin/spy for the Demidovas as told from her point of view starting when she was turned at the age of 12.
Another excellent saga in John Conroe's tremendous world
65 reviews
April 7, 2023
Amazing

What a great way to see these side characters stories. It’s also great how it connects back to the main story and you get to see a different view from certain events. Cant wait to see what comes next.
Profile Image for William Howe.
1,801 reviews88 followers
March 31, 2023
fun

I really enjoy the series The Demon Accords. And this is a nice visit to one of the minor characters.

I think this would have presented itself better as diary entries, but that’s an editing choice.

Looking forward to the next full book in the series
Profile Image for Dana Faulkner.
287 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2023
Katrina as we have never seen her

It always amazing to read a book that shows you a different version of stories you absolutely love. This book starts way before God Touched and we get to meet Katrina from her early beginnings and later we get to see Chris, Tanya and Declan’s stories from a different viewpoint. Loved this book.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
109 reviews15 followers
April 24, 2023
Enjoyable time line

I have never read this author before and because Darkkin Knight was on the Kindle vella platform, I decided to try it.

I really did enjoy the main character Katrina's journey from a turned at 12 years old vampire through the centuries to a natural born enforcer and assassin.

This novella had enough appeal to me to encourage my reading of the parent series, The Demon Accords.

If there was one thing that I did not like, it was that the novella just stopped. No segue into a book in the series, just a finale to this contemporary side of the story and that was it.

Great story, great execution, a tad bit abrupt on the ending.
Profile Image for Steph.
2,158 reviews305 followers
December 31, 2024
Nov 2024: Audiobook re-read DNF'd
Tried to listen to this with my husband, but sadly the narrator was a major fail for me.
Note to self: skip audio narrated by Lily Ganser (https://www.audible.com/search?search...)

Kindle Read @ Nov 2023
“While vampires turn from you, the feeders almost seem to prefer you.”
“They think that because I look to be a child, that I am gentle. I disabuse them of that fallacy.”
I loved this addition to the Demon Accords. Katrina, the child vampire, is first introduced early in the series, but remained a small part despite her interactions with Chris and how he saved her from her fate. So, I was thrilled for the chance to learn more about her. Conroe did not disappoint! Katrina is a spectacularly fascinating and entertaining character.

Katrina was turned into a vampire at the age of 12. Her early time in vampiredom was horrendous, but she thankfully finds herself with compassionate and trustworthy vampires who started as caretakers, of a sort, but become friends and family. She quickly learns how to use her size and appearance to her advantage and becomes Galina's spy and assassin, when needed. She's so good at her job that she earns the favor of the oldest and most powerful of vampires, Elder Senka.

Yet, her tenacity gets her in trouble and as punishment she's sent to live with the Outsiders. It's after decades there she meets the first born vampire, Tatiana. The prospect of an aging vampire gives Kat renewed hope that her situation will not remain the same for eternity.

Conroe weaves Kat's story throughout the series and leaves off with the creation of Arcane and our introduction to Declan.

Claudia
28 reviews1 follower
April 17, 2022
This is a serial story line originally told through Kindle Vella. The stories follow Katrina's early life through the years as she learned to be a vampire in a child's body. Numerous new characters and events are explored through 1800's and early 20th century. We see peaks into Galina's background and some casual, almost prophetic, foreshadowing of what is to come through the main series. Very interesting read for any fan of the Demon Accords main series.
Profile Image for Don.
1,489 reviews11 followers
November 24, 2022
Kindle Vella story, delivered in episodes. I’ve never read The Demon Accords, but this story seemed to stand on its own pretty well. Interesting main character, some of the episodes are really good and action packed. I ran out of tokens and decided this would be a good place to mark is completed. There’s always another one dropping but I’ll wait for another free week to read more. Made it to Episode 45
Profile Image for Rondell Garcia.
14 reviews
April 29, 2023
Great character

Finally a story that wasn’t about Declan… then it was…smgdh

Watching Katerina come into this world, watching how she carried herself and earn her place was amazing to read thoroughly enjoyed it. Don’t want to give it away, but what I feel was a betrayal from those she fought for was underserved! Since when does “defending” your own life cause for punishment. Why did she need to ask permission to save herself or take revenge against those who wronged her and would’ve comeback to finish the job if they found out she was still alive? … she was punished to save face politically by her superiors and I felt that was all kinds of wrong. If there was ever a time to break bad…or in her case break worse, lol it would’ve been then. But then Tanya came along, a light pushing back the ever increasing dark that was Kats life. It’s no wonder she is so loyal.

Like all of the demon accord series, it was a great story till DECLAN arrived and began sucking all the air….no, the LIFE out of room. Then it just became the Declan story and how everyone is his backup. Smgdh.

I guess what I really liked about this story was that it reminded me of the good old days of reading about the demon accords. When things were handled by blade and skill and righteous holy rage, now you got one character blasting moons apart from light years from his Prius, while everyone sits back in awe of the size of his “majestic beam”.

That’s right folks, Declan appears and everything you can do and have done, means nothing against his ever increasing awesomeness. Ugh…I hate that guy. I skipped over the last two installment of the demon accords because they revolved around Declan. Hate that guy soooo damn much!
Profile Image for Thorsten.
310 reviews4 followers
July 1, 2023
A fun read, I enjoyed reading about Katrina's origins, development and struggles as an immortal stuck in a 12-year-old's body. I did feel that the first half of the book was a lot stronger than the second half as it was focused exclusively on Kat's adventures. Once she became an Outsider, it turned more into a highlights reel for the main cast.

I love this author's writing and ability to story tell. The weakness that the main series has developed, however, is that it gets bogged down with all the main characters fawning over each other's greatness. Katrina was barely a peripheral player in most of the events of the second half and it just became about her learning how great Tanya, and then Chris, and then Declan are.

I still enjoyed it but I think she is a quirky and fun character and I would have preferred more of her own adventures or perhaps even new adventures with the main cast that take place between the last and next books. No main character in their own novel should ever have to say "I missed everything that happened but it was really cool to watch the video afterward."
189 reviews
August 15, 2025
amazing urban fantasy!!

I read tons of Urban Fantasy, and one of my favorite elements is how the author decides on the interaction of modern people and technology with the supernatural. This series brings the relationship of supernaturals and modern tech to a whole new level! How deep the story goes with science, government, and real human emotions and interaction with the supernatural world. By far, John Conroe relates the most realistic approach of any author I've read! And, the plot lines are so superb, I can't put this book down! Amazingly real characters, nonstop unpredictable plot twists, emotional growth, superbly written dialogue, and a fallible MC you want to route for! In fact, the only negative of this series is how it has effected my sleep! I;m up all night reading these nonstop pager turners! Thank you John, you master word-smith!
Profile Image for Doug Sundseth.
890 reviews9 followers
July 24, 2025
This is a character piece on Katrina Westing, the vampire that was turned when she was a child and then aged to adulthood by Chris.

The parts of the story occurring before "God Touched" are quite entertaining, giving us an interesting background for this character and providing more details on the world. She is well drawn, and the events also provide more background detail for the supernatural world of the series.

When the timeline reaches the start of the series, things become more sketched in. We see only things not shown in other books (understandably), but since this is a long series, that means mere mentions of things from15 or more books before.

Entertaining, but only for fans of the series; this would be a bad place to start.
12 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2023
Great character exploration, good story.

I really liked the exploration of someone I had considered a minor character in the main series. John weaved a plausible backstory of how someone could survive in a prepubescent body for many decades, as long as they had a purpose and friends. I know he wanted to move the story along, but I would have liked to see more of that to help justify her reason to live during the decades in the outer guard. Still, a really great book that adds even more dimensions to a great series.
Profile Image for Superbunny.
645 reviews19 followers
June 30, 2023
i've never read a john conroe book before, but i found this a little strange. it started out very interesting but quickly became underwhelming. the book spans a couple of centuries and somehow the way it was written made it sound blah blah, fast forward, blah blah blah, rinse repeat. when i read other reviews i think this book is suppose to be part of a bigger universe. maybe all this would make more sense if someone has read some of the other books belonging to the same universe. as a random, standalone, it's 3.75
30 reviews
July 2, 2023
Financed By Fans

An interesting character from the main series. However the premise is wasted in large part with verbatim conversations, only from a different perspective, copied from the previous books. On top of that, the book was financed through Vella where readers pay as Conroe writes. This format, at least with Conroe, has proven to be riddled with continuity and editing issues (in more than one Vella title). All in a more expensive way to purchase. He’s done this with two books and appears to be working on a third.
825 reviews
July 15, 2023
Conroe has taken to filling in his universe by telling the main Demon Accords story from various viewpoints. This one is quite interesting with a rather vicious and emotionally stunted vampire, turned too young and therefore considered an outcast to her kind. In response she ends up becoming a vicious assassin who revels in her job. Much of the book takes place over the first 140 or so years of her life before the main story in the Accords.
Her conversion to a follower of her Darkkin queen is nicely covered and how it all blends into the larger story towards the end of the book.
254 reviews
April 2, 2023
Just like Vella but still nice all in one go!

Yes I did read it on Vella but I had hoped might be some more but wasn’t that I noticed. Do I regret buying it twice - NO! I just read it twice and if my paying twice increases sales so John Conroe continues to write then it is definitely money well spent!!! For the small amount of money this gave me several hours of quality entertainment you the reader tell me if it is worth it, I already know it is to me.
39 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2023
loving the backstories

This brings so much colour to a character richly deserving of having her story told. Not having Vella in Ireland I’m only getting this now, so a delayed opportunity to gush over the continuing saga that entertains and enthralls.
It’s such a good series I wonder where it goes longer term… perhaps an xmen kids / next generation is in our future?
One can only hope :)
Profile Image for Carrie-Ann Sharpe.
4 reviews
April 8, 2023
Eeeeeeek!

As per usual I couldn't put it down. The links and story telling from each perspective truly offer a 3e image of this amazing world.
I can't get enough, I hope he never stops writing them!
Lydia, Nika, Arkade, aunt ash, Senka maybe? Just a few of the ones Ide love to hear about back story wise.
From human to Vampire and onwards!
Never stop Conroe, you make a world I adore escaping too!
275 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2023
solid addition to the Demon Accords Saga

Disclosure alert: I am smitten by the whole Conroe world and its quirky family and this little novella was a satisfying fill-in to that saga. Start at the beginning of the series, though-this book won’t mean anything to you as a stand alone but with all the story under your belt, it will resonate and periodically take you back to big events in the main storyline.
Profile Image for KitCat.
456 reviews7 followers
May 3, 2023
This fills in some backstory for one of my favorite side characters. It was enjoyable read, especially the parts before she meets Tanya. After she meets Tanya the author has to fit her story around what was already written.

Enjoy this series a lot and always look forward to another story from the world. (I have no idea how the author is going to wrap up the primary story arc but it’s fun to imagine.)
47 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2023
Still too much, but a welcome diversion.

I’ve loathed a lot of this series because it has become such a constant fanboy fest on a pair of characters who stopped having any ties to reality and became boring to me. This was something very different and all the backstory was super. I still get bored with characters who evolve powers every couple of chapters and never lose a fight…but the history of things was super.
Profile Image for Amyiw.
2,816 reviews68 followers
January 6, 2024
This was great until it caught up to the series and meeting Chris. Once this happens it is a bit of a repeat but interesting to get it from a different POV. I wanted it to go past where the current series is but instead it stops at the birth of Omega. which is many books back.

I'm liking the spin off books for certain, though wasn't crazy about the 3.5 Black Frost though it was essential to Declan in Fairy. Levi and the 3 Compendiums were quite good for me.
1 review1 follower
April 13, 2023
Love, Love, Love the Old Books from Katrina’s Point of View

The first part of the book is all new content on Katrina’s back story. The second part is a review of key Demon Accords story-lines from Katrina’s point of view along with some more new content. Darkkin Knight is in my top three favorites out of the entire demon Accords Universe. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
688 reviews3 followers
April 14, 2023
Darkkin Knight. Katrina's story!

An excellent fill in the blanks tale. This is Chris's life from Katrina's point of view, sort of.
This book can be read as a stand alone, but it is much better if you have the background of the whole Demon Accords.
Understanding the how and why of Katrina is awesome. I can't wait for more of the Accords!
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