Black and Silver

by Gwendolyn Harper

Ivy Saint James was desperate.
Despite being a powerful Witch in Dublin's magical community, her talents could only do so much in healing her sister from a horrible illness. Running out of options, she finds herself on the doorstep of a notorious Infernal - an Incubus by the name of Silas Grey - and makes a deal with the gorgeous demon.
If he saves her sister, he can have her magic at his beck and call.

Except Silas isn't only interested in her supernatural skillset...
He wants her.
He agrees to her bargain on one condition - that she becomes the Incubus Pleasure Dom's primary food source.
And it's hotter than hell's flames.

Will selling herself to a devil be too much for Ivy to handle?
Or will she learn to embrace her own shadows?

(This is an adult romance novel with sexually explicit scenes and darker themes meant for readers 18 years and older. Content warnings are found at the beginning of this book. Please use your own discretion to decide if this book is for you.)

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, BDSM, Spicy, Demons, Magic

439 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2023

About the author

Gwendolyn Harper is the benevolent doppelganger (aka pen name) of author Lauren Devora. They share many similarities, including their love of stories, and enjoy being able to entertain audiences through the written word.
When she's not writing romances, Gwendolyn spends her time drinking coffee, petting dogs, and daydreaming about the next book she'd like to create.
For more info, follow Gwendolyn Harper on Instagram @gwendolyn.harper.books

Reviews

[Stephanie Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows how writing consent into sexy scenes DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE SPICE. The Dom/sub relationship between Silas and Ivy was developed beautifully and showcased conversations about expectations, limits, safety, and aftercare. Honestly 4.75 stars and 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5 spice.

[Marla Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy is a total badass. And this is one of the best BDSM relationships I've read in a long time.

[Sarah Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

I’ve read ALOT of spicy books and Incubi are my second favorite supernatural (vampires are #1). These incubi also have vampiric traits so it was like having both my favorite supernaturals in one.
As a submissive myself, I LOVED the BDSM. It was perfectly done. The informed consent, the building trust, the aftercare (swoon), the perfect use of the safe word. All of it was great. I loved how there was no punishment for using the safe word. That is one of my many pet peeves about books using BDSM tropes. They always seem to make the safe word out to be a negative to use. Which is 100% bullshit and the opposite of the purpose. What’s the point of having a safe word if you are punished for using it?! Punishments were done well. Rules were clearly defined BEFORE punishments were implemented. Another pet peeve of mine. How can you punish someone for breaking a rule when no rules have been established? Also loved how the punishments were shown to be more incentives, rather than punitive. As they should be. The point of the punishment isn’t to harm the person for breaking the rule, it’s to provide incentive for them to NOT break it.
Overall everything was done so well. My only sore spot (and only cuz I feel secondhand cringe so hard it’s like it’s happening to me lol) is that I wish she was more experienced at the start so it wasn’t as cringey at first as they did the informed consent and first scenes. But really this is just a testament to how good this is written because I could FEEL her nerves and embarrassment. (Could also be amplified by the fact I’ve been there and know how awkward those conversations can be when you are new the community, but it’s still written so perfectly.)

[Sierra Fettkether · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to DNF this book unfortunately. I’m halfway through and no actual plot has developed or barely even started. I feel like it’s mainly the FMC feeling insecure and MMC talking in his head how she shouldn’t. This might be a good book for people who are starting spicy reading but if you’re an avid spicy book smut addict like I am, I don’t think you’ll enjoy it honestly. I’ll probably finish bits and pieces here and there if Im inbetween books but I’m not a huge fan. Not to say it was terrible, but the summary on the back of the book made it sound way more intense than it ended up being. Am Incubus demon being a pleasure dom and overly caring? It didn’t fit the bill for me.

[Petra Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy is a powerful witch but cannot cure her sister’s advanced cancer. As a last resort she makes a deal with the Incubus Silas Grey, a pleasure Dom*, to be his primary food source.

He doesn’t realize he needs her powers too.

*Silas is definitely a dark pleasure Dom. Prolonged ecstasy can be torture too. 😇

I read it on KU but liked it so much I bought it.
______________
Re-read January 2026:
It’s even better than I remembered.

“That’s it, that’s it. Come for me, Ivy.”

What I love:
—Ivy’s snark
—“Dark, lovely, intense” Silas
—how completely gone Silas is for her
—how deliciously tantalizing consent conversations can be
—the term “infernals” for demons
—the longing
—the side characters

CW: Blood/sex spellwork, biting/marking, demons who are actually demonic, slavery (off page, secondary character), powerful retribution.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I liked this very much! Ivy is a badass witch with self-image issues; Silas is a hot hunk of an incubus who needs to be in control of his demonic side at all times. When Ivy approaches him with a deal in mind--her sister is dying and nothing else has worked--Silas agrees. She'll be his concierge witch for life: spells and potions on demand, and also 'feed' him. With her orgasms. Because he's a sex demon, right?

Right. Tons of plot-advancing smut (really!), a bit of paranormal mystery, a likable and funny FMC, and an MMC who lives by a code of fully informed consent at all times. Great fun!

[Jess Mota · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like the author read 50 shades of Grey and said I can do that but better and they did. This feels like a plausible, sweet BDSM relationship that actually shows how it really is but with magic. It was a little longer than I felt necessary at times but the plot behind the many scenes was good and I found myself also wanting to find out how the revenge would happen. 4.5

[cityanimal · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 60% - smutty - but somehow no chemistry - so it’s boring

[GigiReads]

DNF 12%. I thought this was a dark romance about demons and witches? so far it's like reading about a bunch of old ladies at a ridiculously polite tea party 😮‍💨

[Phoebe Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ivy: this is the craziest most mind melting magical sex with the hottest big dicked emotionally available well dressed immortal absolute statue of a man who has unending riches and loyal friends and endless free time (except when he goes in public to kill bad boys and drive his bitchin car and steal my panties) and gives me anything I want and never gets mad at me and makes me restaurant quality food and worships the ground I walk on and relentlessly demands that we follow my boundaries and absolutely worships me in body mind and spirit and whose eyes literally light up when they see me

Also Ivy: do you think he even likes me though

[Gwen]

RTC, but overall super spicy and sweet romance between a dom demon and curvy witch sub. While FMC is submissive, she’s still powerful. A bit boring at times though. This is smut with an underlying small plot.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

i had to DNF about halfway through. it's not a particularly terrible book, the writing was good, the characters were interesting, its just the book dragged after a while. instead of 500 pages it could have easily been about 100 pages less

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually review my dark romance books. But the in-depth conversations about consent and boundaries was such a nice change from current trends in dark romance. This book sets a standard for how it should be done. Our FMC is a plus size queen and the way the author approached topics of body positive and self care were beautiful. The non-sexual acts of intimacy had me kicking my feet. That is not to say this book isn’t SPICY. Proof that both you can do both in the dark romance genre.

***
“Silas locked his eyes on hers. “Before anything else, you take care of yourself. Before your day starts, you do your morning routine and you eat breakfast. If you’re thirsty, you drink water. If you’re tired, you rest. If someone needs something from you, but you’re feeling burnt out or in need of a break, you tell them it will have to wait until the next day.” “Silas—” The red in his eyes brightened. “I mean it, Ivy. Your cup has been empty for far too long. It’s time to start filling it.”

“She was his salvation. His soul’s eternal resting place would not be in the craggy pits of Hell, but in her pounding heart, swelling lungs, coursing blood. He’d never die. He’d simply return to be the fibers that knit Ivy’s perfect body together.”

[Prettylittlefly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jedyną czerwoną flagą chłopa było to, że się patrzy jak ktoś je.
A ogólnie bardzo cute.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok obviously I'm in my smut era, so that's just a given at this time.

BUT!!! this is a bdsm urban romantasy with a plus size heroine. So we're gonna sing some praises real quick . Again, like Kiss of the Basilisk, consent is a big thing. Love that. Even better? There is no "oh woe is me I am too traumatized and broken to have a healthy relationship." So I love that more. Everyone is willing to grow and learn.

NOW WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT. I am a fat woman. I have always been fat since my earliest memories. So has this FMC and therefore the FMC has also experienced a lot of the canon events of fat women: the belittling family, the abusive partners, the shame, the mocking for experiencing attraction, and the hatred for simply existing. Because of that this book had me CRYING. I love romantasy. I love smutty love stories but they are always enjoyed with an understanding of "that not for me. I'm not them." This is the first book I have ever read like this where that WAS me. Where the FMC wasn't praised for her slim hips and petite frame. Ivy is encouraged to eat a healthy amount, and to enjoy herself without shame, to feel beautiful, and valuable beyond her looks.

So, was it full of cum and sex? Yes. Was it also incredibly therapeutic to read something where a fat woman was loved for everything she is (tummy included)? YES.

MANDATORY READING FOR THE FAT ROMANTASY GIRLS.

[Ade Sfăt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no business liking this as much as I did 😔

This was juicy in the most delicious way. The plot being small.: but actually catchy? The passion? The yearning? 🙂‍↔️ all the love declaration and the baddest-bitch in Dublin ending??

Also such a positive way of expressing consent and body image that they just felt into place like a puzzle.

I enjoyed the overall style of writing of the author and I’m sure I will explore more of her books in the future.

-> a heads up that this is another example where the smut-menu being 3 pages longs needs to be taken seriously

[Pageturner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a little long and boring. The story was secondary and seemed shoehorned in with the villain only really being introduced right at the end. Ivy was great super strong and I love me a curvy MFC so always a win. Silas seemed to be obsessed with Ivy which was no bad thing I just felt his character needed some depth.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good but it wasn't to my taste. I wanted more romance and adventure and a little less sex- only because the sex wasn't what I wanted it to be. But it's an incubus romance sooo not really sure what I was thinking 🤔. Overall the story was written well just didn't hit the spot for me

[Serial Romance Librarian]

DNF 90%

[Ciru · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars.

If you want a book where BDSM/Dom-sub dynamics are the main thing, learning to love yourself, found family, with magical creatures, mafia boss vibes and a bit of a mystery, then you'll enjoy this.

I loved Ivy's witching parts more. That's what kept me reading. Silas was just an okay, supportive partner to her, like he didn't wow me. When she got mad at him and pushed back as the third act scene, I loved that. The day to day and heavily BDSM play scenes mostly bored me.

The Ivy having family and body image issues sort of mirrors what happened in Gold and Platinum and since I'd recently read that book, it felt more like now an established book format.

I liked the mystery. Liked that the overall culprit wasn't as clear cut and loved Ivy's revenge though she at times sounded too cocky.

Ivy and Silas bored me. Yuup, at some point I was when are we getting to the end.

All that being said, while this one didn't hit the spot like Green and Gold, I will continue with the series.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

Another book that was at least 100 pages too long. 🥲 This one’s on me though, because I read it on Kindle and didn’t check beforehand.

I liked the world that this was set in and how witches, demons, and other fantastical/paranormal creatures lived amongst humans in Ireland/England. I liked the characters. The steamy scenes were *steamy*. But some of the plot got confusing at times. We met so many different people (and some for seemingly NO reason???) that by the time the conflict was trying to wrap up, I didn’t care and just wanted it to be done. The way they came to their conclusion at the end over “who did what to whom” etc. felt like the author realized at 450 pages that she needed to come up with an ending and she needed to make it happen, QUICK.

Overall, I would have enjoyed this more had there been 100 pages fewer and if the author had trimmed down some of the characters/side plot stuff.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! The story was captivating enough that I almost wanted more of that than the smut scenes, but those were also well done. Silas and Ivy's relationship is swoon-worthy.

What I liked: The continuous emphasis on consent. Silas: everything about him. New book boyfriend, for sure. The setting! Loved the Dublin setting. Ivy because she's a badass witch. Plus size representation. Ivy had a little bit of body issues but she really bloomed into herself throughout the book. She didn't totally hate her body and the story wasn't obsessed with her being fat, it was just a fact, and I really liked that. The d/s and BDSM stuff managed to be really caring and tender which is so refreshing to read. No third act breakup or major miscommunication! Rapists, traffickers, and disgusting men get their comeuppance. Pretty brutally but completely deserved.

Things I didn't like: I'm trying to think of something. Maybe the amount of sex? It was a lot, but that's strictly a personal thing and has nothing to do with the quality of the story.

[Megan Benne · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first incubus romance and this was a spicy fun time. The plot was a little surface level and although there were some stakes it just wasn’t high enough. I did enjoy Silas and Ivy and their dynamic. Silas helped Ivy see some of her insecurities and made sure she was also taking care of herself….what a good pleasure dom he was😛

[MaRiSa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian Grey should take notes.
This had surprisingly not only good main characters, but had some interesting plot too. Though the smut scenes clearly dominate the book, but it didn't bother me that much because I liked Ivy and Silas' chemistry.

[hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a tad long, but their relationship was so sweet (ch18…).
everything worked out a littlee too easily, but the side plot was still interesting.
this book solidified what my fav book set up is! basically.. consists of two people coming together due to some deal/ needing to work together.. bonus points if they are living in the same house! =absolute fav scenario!! i feel like i don’t read much standalone fantasy romances like this as often as i wish!

4.5? 4.75?

[Kimball · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea. Seems Insta love which is not my thing

[Ashley D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is next level smut, my GOD 🤪👹

[JC Sevart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty cute and the magic of it all is fun. I love some good lore and this one doesn't hold your hand through it which makes learning about the world feel exciting

[nancy]

dnf @41%

[Darbi Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but not for me. I think I’ve basically forgotten most of what happened and I finished it over lunchtime