Deals with the Devil

The Devil's Due #1

by Veronica Ford

The hellgate is opening and magic is coming back. We’re not ready.

I don’t want to be a witch. Magic means trouble, every time. I just want to be a regular, mundane professor.

But then that freaky cat shows up, and now magic is bursting out all over campus. Roses are on a murderous rampage, the library is throwing books at me, and the students are having orgies under the willow tree (well, that might not be due to magic).

I need to close the hellgate that’s spewing wild magic all over the university before it triggers the magical apocalypse. And I need to do it fast, because Satan might be coming to campus, which…wouldn’t be great.

But I’m a little distracted – okay, a lot distracted – by the new English professor, the one who watches me like he knows something about me. Something I don’t know.

See what I mean? Magic means trouble.

If you like Debbie Cassidy and KF Breene, then you’ll love this slow-burn paranormal fantasy with smart characters, a little bit of steam, and a lot of chaos. College will never be the same again.

441 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[:) · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I wasn’t required to read this book for class, I would’ve DNFed it. And this is coming from someone who RARELY DNFs.

The characters were so godawful. They were all completely surface level with no development or really much personality.

Luna is the main protagonist and we get the entire book from her first person POV. She’s the definition of a cringey, “not like the other girls”, chosen one trope character with no personality. The entire book she just whines about how she doesn’t want to be a witch and just wants to be a “normal” english professor. She thinks she’s so quirky by CONSTANTLY saying stuff like “Holy Hecate!” “Herme’s Handbaskets!”, etc. She counts by saying “One and one pony, two and two pony, etc”. One time, a character adressed her as “Miss” and she got mad and said “I’m not a miss. I’m an English Professor.” Like girl it is not that deep stop embarrassing yourself. Luna has no agency whatsoever in this book. It’s all just things happening to her and she’s all like “I wanna live a normal life and just be a normal girl and not be a witch”. She faces zero consequences for her actions.

Marlowe is the main love interest of this story and honestly, that’s it. He has no personality and his only purpose is to make Luna horny. His entire character is just being “hot”. However, the reader doesn’t even get a sense of why he’s like this other than he’s just your stereotypical dark haired, “morally gray” love interest. Oh and apparently the fact that he rides a motorcycle is a VERY important detail to constantly mention.

Honestly, even if Marlowe and Luna sucked as individual characters, you’d think maybe their relationship would be good, but nope! Luna has amnesia for some reason and because they’re star crossed lovers for some reason they constantly just fuck for some reason. Keep in mind, from Luna’s POV, this is the random coworker she just met. As a UConn student, I can safely say that the spice scenes in this book have forever scarred my school experience here. Also I need this girl to shut up about her damn “sacral chakra”. LIKE WE GET IT YOURE HORNY???

All of the other characters aren’t even worth talking about tbh cause there’s not a single well-developed, round, dimensional character in this book. Uncle Sean and Aunt Katie are annoying af. Gram entire purpose is just to be background info. Pam and Nicki are your stereotypical sidekick best friends. Mira, William, Faith, and Jane are just plot devices. Karen was just for a dumb shock-factor betrayal. The only characters that I somewhat liked were Nathan and Naasira. Nathan was a flat character too but I just liked his guardian angel role. Naasira I only liked because she reminded me of Nazeera from the Shatter Me series. And don’t even get me started on Sabrina the teenaged witch-

In terms of plot, this book was so terribly disorganized. The author tried to squeeze so much into this book that what actually made it in, just lacked. Why were there so many scenes with naked students? Luna just getting abducted by the Fae for two chapters felt really jarring and in a bad way. It should’ve at least been expanded upon or kept until the next book. Its placement was also very odd and broke up any suspense that was being built for a climax. A lackluster, anti-climatic climax at that. The fact that this spider guy just came and webbed the portal temporarily shut just felt very lazy.

I really hate how this book couldn’t decide what aspect of fantasy it was going to focus on. There’s witches, fairies, Fae, demons, gods, etc. Picking all of these aspects of fantasy and throwing them into a single book makes it so everything is very surface level, unorganized, and confusing. I feel like the author should’ve picked one or two things to focus on. That way they could go into so much more detail instead of just dropping random references and hoping the reader is going to understand it. I appreciate all of the thought that went behind researching all of these fantastical aspects, but I shouldn’t have to do research to understand important pieces of the book.

The typos were also ridiculous. There were so many misspelled words along with forgotten spaces, enters, and punctuation. I recognize this author is self publisher, but these mistakes were so often that it felt like there wasn’t even any proofreading. These mistakes are also things that your basic writing program should be catching. Or literally just run it through grammarly or something. I can forgive a few typos, but this was just so frequent that I actually need to talk about it.

I understand that this is only the first book of the series and that questions will be answered and characters will hopefully be developed. But a first book should AT LEAST make me want to read more. I was not invested in any of the characters or the plot whatsoever. Unfortunately, I am required to read the second book for class.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book of The Devil's Due Series, Deals with Devil was an introduction, while irritating at times, seems to set up the rest of the series. Throughout the book, the whole setup of the main character and finding out who she is (not just as readers, but also herself discovering who she is) seemed to take the front seat and drove the whole novel. There were parts of supernatural and fantasy subjects, but those did not seem to take focus until the second half of the book. In my opinion, the book was not well written and took on many stereotypical concepts that have been done better before. The tone was invulnerable and immature at times. The spice seemed to come out of nowhere at times and was confusing (not something I believe has a write of being published). While some parts of the book were okay, I enjoyed the second half due to the mere plot and action, with little character growth or involvement from the main character. That in itself is a red flag for the type of book it was. If I were to read this by myself, it would be left as DIF as it seems to be a mere prologue that did not have the hook that interested me or would intrigue me to continue the series. All in all, if you are looking for a stand-alone book to get you into this series, DO NOT pick this one. If you are looking for a slow-burning plot of more than 300 pages that is a mere prologue, look no further.

[jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deals with the Devil by Veronica Ford had such a cool premise but for me, the plot execution went flat a bit.

POSITIVES:
- The book is set at the UConn Storrs campus. This is just nice personal aspect that I appreciated because I'm pretty familiar with most the locations the book takes place. It's cool to be able to walk through the setting of the book. The book actively made me want to visit Horsebarn Hill. My favorite scenes include references to the Hill.

- The pacing. This is probably an unpopular opinion but I appreciated the pacing of the book. I like how at the beginning, the author takes her time in introducing the characters and the role they play in both the story and as professors. While these character's personalities are 100% cliche, it at least set up the roles that the characters would fit into. Personally, I love books driven by character rather than plot (to an extent).

- The allusions and symbolism. I love the mythological allusions in this story. I wrote my entire college essay on Greek mythology so seeing that Dionysus is mentioned numerous times was a nice surprise. Not only that, but other mythologies like African mythology is also included. Most of the chapter titles also all have a deeper meaning connected to it, which I appreciate. It makes me want to research where exactly the names stem from.

- The ending. Again, not about the plot, but more about the characters. I definitely want to learn more about certain characters (Marlowe, Luna's mom, Faith, etc.). I also am very interested in seeing Sabrina and Pam (and anyone else) interact with magic. So far, I think we, the reader, have really only seen Luna interact with magic. I want to see Sabrina and Pam being mentored by Faith in the next book about the secrets of magic. Not only will it teach them the magic system, but also us! We really got little to nothing about the magic system in the book. I think Ford did a fine job in making me want to read more about the cast of characters.

NEGATIVES:

- Plot. I did not understand how the portal to literal Hell closed temporarily in one scene. It was all... sudden. I think. I know in fiction there's a rule of suspending reality and believability but still. I think it could've been more spread out. I know I said I liked the pacing but really that only applied to the characters and how well we got to know them throughout. The pacing of the plot has a lot to be desired I feel.

- The repetitiveness. I feel like for a portion of the book, chapters are structured the same. At the beginning, something weird is happening on campus! People are having public displays of intimacy, trees are glowing, people are dancing, oh my! Luna is always shook to her core and tries to stop it. Usually fails. Then the police show up. Then Luna flames officer Tickety. Rinse and repeat. I guess someone could say that all of these events contribute to foreshadowing and such, and I could see it. But still, it made the reading experience a bit more dull.

Overall, the book was fine. It made me want to read the second book for the sake of seeing where the characters go so props to Ford for that. I genuinely think the second book will be better than the first. The first served as a precursor to the cool things happening in the sequel (i hope).

[Wynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did think that Deals With the Devil was a very interesting read. It was truly unlike anything I have ever read before, especially within my limited past experience in the genre of fantasy novels/culture. In my opinion, it was very well written, as well as easy to read without being too dull. This is something that I particularly enjoyed because compared to the previous fantasy novels I've read, I had a much easier time understanding the plot and what exactly was being described. At the same time, I was still left with a feeling of mystery, which is something I liked. Something I also really enjoyed was the way in which the perspective of the main character was written. I have a bias towards novels written in first-person because I really appreciate being able to know what is going on inside the main character’s head. I believe that knowing these things as the plot went along allowed me to feel more connected and related to Luna, because although she knew some things we as an audience did not, she also was discovering things along with us most of the time, which made me feel like we were in it together.
One scene that I found particularly important was when Luna confronted her Aunt Katie and Uncle Sean about the things they were keeping from her. I found it very important because it seemed like a big turning point in the plot for me personally. Up until that point, Luna had just been kind of going along with everything that was occurring, even if it seemed odd to her. Everything else finally caught up to her and she demanded answers. It also went deeper to question her relationship with her Aunt and Uncle. She had always had such a deep level of trust, love, connection, etc. with them, and now that her world was shifting, she was beginning to question that relationship, especially when they wouldn’t give her the answers she was looking for. The scene emphasizes Luna’s character growth, the severity of the situation, and adds even more mystery to the plot, which is one of my favorite parts of the novel. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to any and all readers, even those who may be hesitant to jump into the genre of fantasy.I did think that Deals With the Devil was a very interesting read. It was truly unlike anything I have ever read before, especially within my limited past experience in the genre of fantasy novels/culture. In my opinion, it was very well written, as well as easy to read without being too dull. This is something that I particularly enjoyed because compared to the previous fantasy novels I've read, I had a much easier time understanding the plot and what exactly was being described. At the same time, I was still left with a feeling of mystery, which is something I liked. Something I also really enjoyed was the way in which the perspective of the main character was written. I have a bias towards novels written in first-person because I really appreciate being able to know what is going on inside the main character’s head. I believe that knowing these things as the plot went along allowed me to feel more connected and related to Luna, because although she knew some things we as an audience did not, she also was discovering things along with us most of the time, which made me feel like we were in it together.
One scene that I found particularly important was when Luna confronted her Aunt Katie and Uncle Sean about the things they were keeping from her. I found it very important because it seemed like a big turning point in the plot for me personally. Up until that point, Luna had just been kind of going along with everything that was occurring, even if it seemed odd to her. Everything else finally caught up to her and she demanded answers. It also went deeper to question her relationship with her Aunt and Uncle. She had always had such a deep level of trust, love, connection, etc. with them, and now that her world was shifting, she was beginning to question that relationship, especially when they wouldn’t give her the answers she was looking for. The scene emphasizes Luna’s character growth, the severity of the situation, and adds even more mystery to the plot, which is one of my favorite parts of the novel. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to any and all readers, even those who may be hesitant to jump into the genre of fantasy.

[Kinsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was pretty wild!

Full disclosure, I had to read this book for a class I’m taking. That being said, I did actually read the whole thing word-for-word. It was definitely entertaining, and I couldn’t help but finish it.

My initial though after finishing the book was: “that’s it?” While there was stuff happening in this book, there was not nearly enough plot for my taste. Given the length of this book, relatively little happened. I don’t want to spoil anything for prospective readers, but there are only a few main plot points, all of which are completely postponed for the other books in this series. Not a single plotline reached its conclusion; this book cannot, under any circumstance, stand alone. I know that’s not the point of a book in a series, but there was very little material that didn’t rely on a second book, and the plot unfolded sooo slowly.

It’s very clear that the author has a plan. She sprinkles breadcrumb after breadcrumb for the reader to pick up on and utilizes chapter of her book for each breadcrumb. Because of this, the book’s pacing was incredibly slow, and the writing got clunky and somewhat unclear at times. However, it is a nice reward to finally get to a plot point where everything connects, where we can finally munch on those breadcrumbs. Overall, though, I would say that the breadcrumbs are mostly heavy-handed and unnecessary.

The characterization in this book was almost non-existent. Many of the characters were VERY one-dimensional, cookie cutter, and lacked backstory. The men in this book basically only got physical descriptions, and the main character basically just objectifies every man she meets. Marlowe, Nathan, Cerne, Anasi, Finnbhera; they’re all described as hot in some way or another, and are given very little backstory. Even other female characters weren’t given many deeper backstories, plotlines, or descriptions. The main character, Luna, is especially one-dimensional and reads very much like a typical Wattpad y/n character. She doesn’t want the responsibility she’s given, she hates participating in things, she’s way too cool to show her affection to others, she immediately catches the eye of all the men in this book, she is adorably awkward and shy, she just wants a boring, normal life; the list goes on. The bottom line for me is that there isn’t a single character in this book that I feel emotionally invested in.

Finally, I was very frustrated with the lack of character agency in this book, especially for the main character. There is not a single time in this book that Luna genuinely has to make a hard choice. Everything she does is because some exterior force requires it. This book is an example of the “Chosen One” trope done poorly, and Luna never once really steps up to the plate. The ending only comes because of an exterior, deus-ex-machina-type force coming in to temporarily conclude the plot. This all leads to a very bipartisan reading experience, with little to no rooting for/against any of the characters.

Overall, the book was entertaining (there are some pretty ~freaky~ things that go on between characters that are highly amusing), it was written by someone who has a plan, and it wasn’t terrible. However, I had major issues with pacing and characterization, and I was left pretty underwhelmed and uninvested. I’m interested to see where the next book goes (I also have to read that one for class), and (hopefully) how the pacing picks up and we find out more about the characters. Stay tuned!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deals with the Devil by Veronica Ford is my first urban fantasy novel I have read in recent years, and it definitely made me want to read more from the genre. I have always enjoyed fantasy, but never imagined myself as an avid reader and participator in the genre.
Deals with the Devil was a fun, exhilarating read – it had romance (my favorite), magic, action, familial conflict, friendship, and literary references. All things that I never thought I could find in the same place in an urban fantasy novel, especially one by a new-ish author. I loved Deals for its raw and authentic writing and delivery by the author. The backdrop of our very own UConn made the novel even more special, our middle-of-nowhere university is shown in a special light I never considered previously. The read was honestly a pleasure, it was amusing and it felt great reading something that was both enjoyable and for coursework, how lucky am I!
A scene I enjoyed most was between Marlowe and Luna on horsebarn hill on their (not really first) first date, chapter titled “Damn, That Man”. I love Ronnie’s dialogue between the two (sort of) lovers, with tension and hesitance and the odd feeling that Marlowe knows something we all do not, at least not yet. Through the sequence of events we learn of Marlowe and Luna’s history, they have known each other in the past, and Luna’s memories have been lost on her but are flooding back. I believe this interaction allows the reader to see Luna in a new light, she is enduring an internal struggle to grasp her identity, to understand and relive her past. I love it too for its yearning and unrequited love it emanates and Ronnie’s prose is most brilliant in these intimate scenes.

The main character Luna subverts a typical Chosen One trope, as she is continually a mess, distracted and confused. She follows an atypical path in an atypical story line that sets Deals apart from other fantasy novels. Luna has hero qualities but will linger on an attractive man’s appearance, or look at skeletons eating ice cream in the eye and simply walk away.

The ending of the novel gives readers foresight into the coming transformation Luna will be going through for the rest of the novels. She no longer wants to be on the sidelines of her life, and instead is embracing the powerful witch she is meant to be. She forms a community of interesting, diverse, strong willed friends and family who are able to aid Luna on her journey. I definitely recommend Deals with the Devil for anyone interested in urban fantasy, and nontypical characters and storyline that keeps readers hooked throughout!

[Blake · Rating 1 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring by more than 0.50 of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

Liked the premise.
Started off badly. I do NOT like books (shows or films) that start at one point, then go back to show how got there.
The MC and other characters kept irritating me. Also MC and her colleagues often seemed younger than late 20s or older.
I really did not like the love interest. I really should not be hoping the book ends with the LI's death. Actually make that 'both' of them, the LI that the family wanted for her 'put me off' to. I found neither attractive, more repellent. Not surprised they turned out to be brothers.

Was thinking 2.25* and maybe give book 2 a chance, then it got near the end. Yet another hot guy who wants her shows up, Finnebarra (sp?). And she's a complete idiot making deals with no idea what she's agreeing to! Because the LI said it so she agreed, to not let on she's still not got her memories of 'who she is to Finn'. Honestly she's TSTL. And her memories being blocked got old and was not resolved by the end of the book, after over 400 pages! There's no good plot reason for her still to be missing her important memories of 'what she's supposed to do, who she is', at the end of the book. She's got a huge challenge for the next book without her being the only one who doesn't know WTH is actually going on. So I'm done.

First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: No

Would you recommend?: No


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Reese Raposa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3 out of 5 stars
Deals With The Devil was an enjoyable read that kept me engaged and quickly moving through the chapters, but the book also had its flaws. The setting being at UConn is something that continued to intrigue me throughout the book because, as a student myself, it was interesting reading about a place I engage everyday. I think this would attract any reader, even a non-UConn student, because the author wrote about the campus generically enough for any reader to connect their personal experiences to the setting. Essentially, what was UConn in the book, could have been any college campus, and I think this was a fascinating setting for an urban fantasy book. Another reason that I enjoyed this book is because I think it was meant to be a simple read, it was not meant to be super deep and hold a lot of substance. It felt perfect to read during the Halloween season, and felt as if it was a book I decided to read on my own, not an assignment for a class. Although it is amazing to read a novel with a lot of substance and meaning, books that are in a way a “passive” read are just as good for when a reader wants to read something that is fun and lighthearted and I think that is exactly what Veronica Ford was trying to do with her book.
Though I liked the book for the most part, there were definitely some flaws that I did not love. I despised the main character, Luna. I should preface that I tend to dislike many protagonists in books, but I think that is a personal issue. I found Luna to be incredibly immature for the age she was supposed to be. Luna was in her late 20s, and a college professor but I think that she could be sold as a 16-year old high school student. Luna was not immature in the sense that she acted like a child, but instead she did not seem to have any life experience under her belt. I can see how it was probably intentional for the plot-line of the story, but listening to her internal monologue was frustrating for a reader who would completely think and act differently from the way Luna did. I do not blame Veronica Ford for writing the character the way she did because it was necessary to the plot, but the character just frustrated me and I did not find her relatable at all.
I would say to pick up this book if you are new to fantasy, or urban fantasy, and want a quick and lighthearted read. As a person who likes to correlate my books with the season, I think it was perfect for fall/halloween. I would just warn the reader that you may not love some of the characters but although they have their flaws, they also have really good parts in the book too.

[Victoria Hancock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deals with the Devil is a very cookie-cutter fantasy novel in a way, managing to capture a lot of the typical fantastical elements and magic systems. Most stories stick to one mythic creature/system while Ford chose to wrap them all together- Greek gods, Fae, folklore, etc. Sometimes it can feel like a little bit much and it doesn't always make sense like, how can all these different religious creatures canonically exist in the same universe? We also never really get an explanation for that among lots of other minor and major plot points. However, this is the first book in the series so I can only assume (and hope) that most of these questions are answered in the later book. I felt like the pacing of the book was very skewed, with things moving slowly to begin and then a million different major things happening in the final 50 pages of the book, each of with had bigger connotations to the world by themselves than the first 90% of the book. It was still interesting, just felt very rushed. Some of the decisions Luna makes are relatively annoying and she can be cringey at times but a lot about her were reasonable character traits and I understood her decisions. Sometimes, though, she really bothered me but not enough that I hated her. I do think she's a little too horny. Like, the amount of her thirsting on these men was a bit much. Something that did discredit it a bit was the number of typesetting errors I found. It just bothered me and made it feel slightly less professional of a read. I think Ford's use of allusion and references in her titles is very heavy-handed and tends to get lost on the majority of readers. I quite enjoyed that aspect and I think it hits hard for people when they understand it but some are very obscure, and the meaning is lost. I did enjoy the framing of "Not the Beginning" and "Not the End" framing this as a framework story meaning future Luna is telling the story of past Luna. I especially enjoyed "Not the End" and what it implies for the next installation. Overall, it was a solid book, and it ended at a point where I'm interested in the next book and how the story will progress. A nice, middle of the road story.

[Elena Camacho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I liked the first book in this series. This book sets up the rest of the series and is about a professor named Luna who is starting her career as a professor at UConn. She wishes to be a normal professor, but magic breaks out on campus. She goes through challenging events in hopes of closing the hell gates. It is a good book that kept me intrigued but it had its flaws. While I was reading the book it felt uneven to me. Sometimes I felt like situations were too dragged out, some chapters didn't help the story progress, or the events that should have had more time/ more explaining felt rushed. Even though I felt like the storyline was uneven, there are some parts of the book that I personally liked which may be a hot take with some people. I personally did like the romance that was going on between Marlowe and Luna because of the tension between them. It kept me on my toes, I wanted to know more about them. Every time those two showed up I was always wondering what was going to happen, and will I find out more about the two, I was intrigued by their connection. In a sense to me, it wasn't an ordinary love story because I felt like you couldn’t predict everything that would happen between them and while reading there was information, I did not expect to be thrown in. Veronica Ford's writing is very engaging and will always keep you thinking. Personally, it helped that I read this for a class because I liked the symbolism and metaphors my teacher would point out in the book. Especially with the titles for each chapter. Each title meant something and tied with the theme of the devil and what was going on at campus. I enjoyed those little hidden gems. Overall, it is a good book, and would recommend it to someone who is starting to read fantasy (I felt like it was an easy read) or if you like stories that are engaging and make you think/ like looking for the symbolism/connections.

[Madison Tomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deals with the Devil by Veronic Ford is a semi-engaging, untraditional fantasy novel set on the University of Connecticut campus. This novel centers around the protagonist and narrator Luna, a professor at the University of Connecticut who swore she would never return to the school. She grew up with magic and her grandmother taught her witchcraft starting from a young age. However, Luna herself had no magic, or so she thought. Upon her return to UConn, weird things began to happen on campus, like streakers and Starbuck’s closing! Amid the chaos, Luna learns more about herself than she ever thought possible.

Personally, I found this novel engaging and interesting. The main character, Luna, was relatable and comedic and the supporting characters, such as Marlowe and “Sorority Sue,” were interesting to learn about as the story progressed. The romance subplot was also engaging, though the novel left many questions unanswered about where the romance would go. I am excited to find out when reading the second book! I also enjoyed the author’s intentional use of foreshadowing and symbolism. Together, they created an extra layer to the book that you would not pick up on without a careful eye. This aspect made Deals with the Devil more alluring.

However, there were a few things I did not like about this book. Namely, the writing style was very basic. During some parts of the novel, I found it hard to stay entertained because of the basic writing style. Another aspect that i was not fond of in this book was how contemporary it was. Usually when I read a fantasy novel, I expect swords and dragons, not smartphones and Starbucks. This is just my own personal preference, though.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a contemporary urban fantasy that is an easy read. The magic systems in this book were unique and appealing. Also, the unfinished romance left readers wanting more. I found this book to be a generally good read.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Suspecting Professor, Undisclosed Powers, Stolen Memories, & A Hint of Romance. In “Deals with The Devil”, Ford gives you all that and more. Forced on an involuntary journey of self-discovery, Luna – a recent PhD graduate and new University of Connecticut (UConn) Professor - finds herself at the center of pervasive magical happenings occurring at the university. With slim family to turn to, Luna discovers how to forge acquaintances, friendships, and relationships, while contending with a past she cannot recollect and a key part of her identity that’s been concealed by those whom she trusted most. Dealing with an unfathomable betrayal, Luna must decide how she will navigate the life she wanted with the one she is chosen for.

Many themes are present throughout the development of the novel including family, self-discovery, trust, and forgiveness. With a classic good vs. evil narrative trope the novel has you questioning what is considered good or bad and what makes it so. A budding romance between Luna, the chosen one, and Marlowe, a dark, mysteriously always present protector and a coven tasked with preparing, directing, and protecting Luna makes you interested, but a past and future of unknowns keeps you hooked. The presence of otherworldly creatures leads to character and plot development, while they band together combining their abilities to save UConn.

As a new and developing author, Ford delivers an enjoyable and undemanding read. Therefore, if you’re looking for a quick and intense plot, this probably won’t be the book for you. As one who hasn’t read much urban fantasy, I feel this was a likeable and easy read that featured many typical elements expected of urban fantasy. After completing book one, so many unknowns remain, you’ll be eager to snatch up book two of The Devil’s Due Series.

[Katherine Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy and fun read for fantasy & UConn Lovers!

For those looking for an introduction to fantasy, Veronica Ford's Deals with the Devil is an energizing and simple read. The plot, which involves an English professor who must try to close a gate in order to save the world, is exciting and features simple language. I'm unsure if I liked Luna's character as a whole, because I thought the world made her learn things even if she didn't want to know about her past. Although, It can be relatable due to the fact that she is reserved and an outcast. The story was more “realistic”in a way, because it intertwines concepts, such as careers, with dark fantasy.
Being placed on UConn’s campus was quite interesting. If you are familiar with UConn, you need to read this- the story takes place at familiar locations such as Horse barn Hill, Student Union, and Mirror Lake, and it is easy for the reader to pair reality with fantasy. What will happen at these familiar locations? Being familiar with the campus, it was so easy to paint a picture in my mind.
The relationship between Marlowe and Luna was romantic, tense, and mysterious throughout the story and kept me wanting to read. The story includes details that are fun yet confusing such as the mysterious cat that kept showing up. This novel was very inclusive, being with a strong female lead (which you usually don't see in fantasy novels) who works to understand the uncanny and dark world around her. I do admit that the ending was a little confusing to me. I would have liked to have more background information related to Luna and her family, but overall I found this book to be a fun light and easy read!

[Cynthia Nocton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Deals with the Devil for a class recently, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Being able to recognize specific landmarks from around town being name-dropped in a book felt so cool, especially now that I can imagine the events of this book happening as I go to classes.
Veronica Ford, the author, has done a tremendous job of making real-feeling, authentic, compelling characters, and I found the main character and her crew very likeable. I would especially like to shout out my favorite character Pam, who genuinely made me laugh several times. Other favorites of mine include Marlowe, Sabrina, Nathan, Nicki, and Sean, but everyone was very likeable (unless, of course, they weren’t meant to be).
I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding. This world is one where pretty much any system of belief is not only real, but observably so, and without giving away too much, a lot is going on with that. We are introduced to beings, spirits, monsters, and gods from throughout the world, and at no point does the narrative fall into the two most common pitfalls of this kind of setting, i.e. cultural appropriation and/or poor research. No, Veronica Ford is clearly well-versed in the way she writes these characters, and the characters following these deities are appropriate as well, which I really appreciate.
I would recommend this book if you enjoy fantasy in a modern, real-world setting, and aren’t dissuaded by a generous but not excessive amount of sex. I also would recommend it if you enjoy books with a fair bit of references to other media, from ‘80s song titles to medieval poems, and to anyone who is familiar with UConn, as it is fun to read and say “hey! I know this place!”

[Ermmah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating it 3 out of 5 stars.
Deals with the Devil was a very engaging book, however it had its moments that made me want to put the book down. As a UCONN student, I really loved the idea of having magic and witchcraft on campus. I was able to immerse myself into the setting on a different level compared to other books, mainly because I am physically in the setting myself every day. Because of that, I will say that the book was on my mind more than other books as it felt like I was living some of it. It was interesting to read it from a teacher's perspective, as it made me think of what could be happening in my own teachers’ lives.
The beginning of the book wawa a little slow to me, and a little too detailed. I personally don think we need the day by day process we were shown from Luna. Also, Luna is an interesting protagonist, I have not decided if I really like her or not. She doesn’t seem to be a girls girl, but she also has moments where it feels like she assumes other’s feelings instead of staying true to what is happening around her.
I really enjoyed the way the characters all interacted with each other. Marlow and Luna’s relationship is super interesting, I do wish they could hold more of a conversation that (spoilers) more physically intimate scenes. It felt like they just jumped to that, instead of conveying what they feel with each other. There was no, ‘hey im into you”, just a jump into intimacy.
If you’re looking for an urban fantasy read, this is relatively light and super enjoyable. I just wish the plot had more straight forward points. However it is the first in the series, maybe that changes. I am excited to see where the rest of the story goes.

[Madeline Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Deals With The Devil” by Veronica Ford is an urban fantasy that takes place on the University of Connecticut campus. The main character and narrator, Luna, has lost her memory. This adds a lot to the conflict and character development seen throughout the book.

This was not my favorite book, but it was a very easy read with a fairly simplistic fantasy world. The characters were unique and fun to read.

My main frustration with the book was the lack of answers — even in the conclusion. It was difficult to connect with Luna because she knows so little and still hasn’t regained any sense of her memory at the end. There is also no explanation of the magic system which made the story a bit hard to follow.

However, I’m now reading the second book in the series and have started to get some answers. So what I have taken from this series is that it is one long book that is broken up into a series. It definitely leaves you wanting to know more.

I also enjoyed the hidden literary quotes in the titles. I thought that was very clever and added an interesting bit of foreshadowing.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a long journey and many unanswered questions. I also think it has a good urban fantasy setting. The University of Connecticut has a lot of well-known “landmarks” that were included in fun ways.

I am interested in seeing where the series goes and how the characters continue to grow. I am hoping to get some answers as I get further into the second book.

[Evelyn McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before reading, “Deals With The Devil,” I had not picked up an urban fantasy novel in a very long time. I think that this novel is a really great reintroduction into the genre of urban fantasy. Veronica Ford definitely accomplished in writing a book that was easy to pick up and dive into. I found myself reading through huge portions of the book, way past what I had planned to read in one night. What made this book so likable to me was all of the interesting characters and how the story was able to uphold its sense of mystery for so long. Luna is a dynamic main character and it was a fun journey getting to know the ins and outs of this story from her point of view. She can be a bit difficult to love due to her stubbornness, but the overarching story kept me very engaged with this book. If you’re somebody who is familiar with the UConn Storrs campus, you have to read this book. The setting is a huge part of the story and being able to follow along with all of the landmarks mentioned is such a treat.
One of my favorite parts of this novel is the priority placed upon the experiences of women. There were some awesome moments between the main female characters that I loved to see. One of the main drawbacks of this story that I found is that the ending of this first book lacked a lot of closure. I am sure this was most likely done on purpose, as it had left me wanting to read more in the second novel in the series. Looking forward to reading more!

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deals with the Deal was my first ever fantasy novel I have ever read. Taking the risk to read it was a great choice. This book was a book you couldn’t put down. There were several reasons this was a great read. One being that it took place at the University of Connecticut. With the history of uconn and the nature around Uconn, it was the perfect setting for this type of book. The scenes in the book take place on some of the most famous spots on campus, such as horsebarn hill, dairy bar, mirror lake etc… Another reason why I was attached to this book was because it has a mix of magic, family and friend conflicts and romance between the characters. My favorite scene in this book was the love interest between the main character Luna and a man named Marlowe. The way it dives deep into their relationship had me wondering what the outcome would be. With Luna navigating her life the best way she can, given her struggles and challenges that she had no control over, she has been the “chosen one” to complete the journey and quest.
One of the reasons I really enjoyed this book was because of the chapter titles. Veronica Ford used literary references for her chapter title. These chapter titles are based on poems and songs to get you thinking as well as helping you understand what may occur throughout this chapter. The addition of this literary tool really helped me understand each chapter. I really recommend looking up the chapter titles and finding their meaning. For her book Deals with the Deal, she has a web page which I will attach at the bottom of this review, she has a playlist specifically created for this book. I also recommend everyone to listen to it throughout the book. By the last chapter of the book it leaves you with the way Luna develops and the person she grows into in the upcoming novels.


Playlist: https://www.veronicafordauthor.com

[Gifty B]

Reading this book felt like I was on a roller coaster. It was extremely interesting seeing Luna’s character development, although at times I wish her development was slightly faster than it was in certain chapters. The book was confusing at times because there were so many events happening right after the other, sometimes I felt like I could not keep up. I am used to reading romance novels and mafia books so this is different from any of my other books. The thing that kept me interested throughout the book was the romance between Luna and Marlowe. It was extremely interesting, intimate, and beautiful how Marlowe was waiting on her to remember and he was just extremely patient. (even though he didn’t have a choice) Regardless of how spicy and explicit some scenes were between them, it was beautiful just seeing how respectful Marlowe was regardless of anything and it was beautiful witnessing how much he cared about her and just wanted to ensure her safety despite anything else. The book kept me locked in although some parts were harder to follow. I enjoyed how I was able to properly visualize the settings as a UConn student. In some of the settings that were talked about, I had a vivid image of what part of campus the scenes were happening in. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I’m looking forward to reading the next two books because there’s so much more I want to know that was not talked about in the book

[Reid Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book… with proofreading issues
“Deals with the Devil” is a magical realism book with the silly humour of K.F. Breene, the Connecticut witchiness and dark hotty of Deborah Harkness, and the crazy on-campusness of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was a great book, and I really, really wanted to give it five stars, but—proofreading. I’ll allow for a few missing spaces, spelling and grammar typos. However when the errors are this prolific, I need to take a point off.

Despite proofreading issues, it’s a good story and worth the read. The plot is the commonly used trope of a hero who doesn’t know she’s a hero. She'll either save the world as we know it or destroy it. The campus sits on a Hellmouth, and there is a spunky grandmother, students, fellow professors, and the random Irish relatives who own the local pub that remains open, even when Starbucks isn’t. A diverse cast of angels, demons, fae, witches, a cat and a chipmunk pepper the pages and get in Luna’s way trying to save her from herself all while not telling her anything because of binding spells. This book has all magical-realism tropes I’ve seen/heard/read before, but done in a unique way.

I recommend this book to lovers of magical realism, K.F. Breene, Deborah Harkness, Shannon Mayer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and people who like to hate on UConn but love whales and motorcycle-riding bad-boy incubi.

[Eliana Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

UCONN x fantasy is not a combo I ever thought I would read but I'm not mad about it. This book has all of your classic fantasy tropes and cliches, personally not my favorite, but I know a lot of people may love it. There was nothing very wrong with this book I just could not get into it.
I do think if you are someone that has a lot of previous experience and or knowledge of some myths, poets, famous writings, etc. then you would LOVE the level of detail and thought Ford brought into this book.
I personally, did not know much and I do not like when I have to research something in order to get a deeper understanding of a book, however I know some people may love that aspect.
If you take the time to really look into things like chapter titles and some references, then the book really takes on a whole new level that is really interesting.
The characters were a little bit bland for me, I wish I could know them on a "deeper" level after finishing the first book.
If you are expecting a massive finale, this is not the book. The ending was a bit disappointing and left you with no choice but to read the next book to learn what you really wanted to learn the entire time you read this one. Again, not entirely a bad thing, just not my cup of tea.
If your into fantasy and want to give this one a try, go for it.

[David Broke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to a series about a somewhat lost professor of English who wants very badly NOT to be magical. She just wants to live a quiet life as a professor. However, fate has other things in store for her.
I was immediately drawn in by the MC's somewhat goofy approach to life -- she feels very real in the way she stumbles around trying to figure things out and avoid things that are uncomfortable. In the first third or so of the book, she's rather passive. A lot of things happen TO her. But it soon becomes clear that this is because she's trying so hard to avoid getting involved. By the middle of the book she's been forced to participate, and the action really picks up. So does the mystery.
I love the relationship between the MC and her best friend, and I'm intrigued by the relationship between the MC and the male lead. It's pretty clear there's some kind of history there, but we're not sure exactly what it is. Hopefully we find out in Book 2, which I just started!
Things I really enjoyed: the chapter titles, the brief and unexpected sex scenes, and the many literature and pop culture references
Things I didn't enjoy: Not much. Ford has not written the Great American Novel, but I don't think she meant to. It's an easy, enjoyable read.

[Jennifer O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just would like to say that I think that this book is a very good read, and if you are into fantasy or any such thing this book is definitely for you. I would even say that if you are new to the genre I feel like this book is a good introduction to the world of fantasy if you don’t  want to do an immediate deep dive. It gives the reader a sense of familiarity with the characters while still having a plot line that will keep you engaged. I only take away one star just because it does come off as a very young adult novel, but this is also a good thing because with busy day to day life it’s a book you can pick up and put down without a ton of thought. Even with it being more of a casual fantasy read it does still give a good amount of urgency to keep reading with the fast paced energy in the book. There are even some hints of romance (definitely not for young young adults though), but they give it another element without taking away from the action. I myself am a fan of a good romance novel and this one definitely gave an essence of that, but even without that romantic element it would still be a great fantasy book. All in all I would recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy or anyone who is already a fantasy lover!

[Sean Gasperini · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in Veronica Ford's The Devil's Due Series, "Deals with the Devil," is a pretty rough start to the tetralogy. The protagonist, Luna, is pushed along in a manner similar to that of Harry Potter, where she is just in the right or wrong place at the right time. The difference is that it is done too frequently and feels forced that really make it feel like Luna has little to no autonomy. Instead of a person who truly wants nothing to do with magic, a "pick me girl" attitude surfaces.

This is not helped by the fact that it feels as though the book lacks a lot of plot. That may be done so that the book can lure in more readers to start the next book in the series but, can also feel like a slap in the face when nothing is addressed. There are monsters and supernatural interactions, but it just takes too long too build up and does not present any twists or something that the reader would not expect after the first 15ish chapters.

My hope is that the next book in the series will answer these questions, a bunch of them. The hope is that this next book (D.I.D.) snowballs into something that I will really enjoy otherwise, I don't think that this is a saga I'll continue to read.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Deals with the Devil (The Devil's Due Series Book 1)" plunges readers into a world where magic is both thrilling and troublesome. The story follows a professor reluctantly entangled in the chaos of witches and hellgates on campus. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists, from murderous roses to magical mayhem, creating a spellbinding atmosphere.
The protagonist, caught between the urgency of closing the hellgate and navigating newfound magical powers, encounters distractions in the form of a mysterious English professor. The author weaves a tale that balances smart characters, a touch of steam, and a lot of chaos. It's a slow-burn paranormal fantasy that promises a captivating journey through the unpredictable landscape of college life transformed by magic.
For fans of authors like Debbie Cassidy and KF Breene, this book offers a unique blend of supernatural elements, romance, and suspense. With every page, "Deals with the Devil" ensures that college will never be the same again.

[Deon Portes · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone relatively new to the fantasy genre, "Deals with the Devil" felt like stepping into a whole new world. While I'm still finding my footing amidst fantastical realms, Ford's storytelling made the journey an enjoyable one.

One of the aspects I enjoyed was the romance between Luna and Marlowe. Their relationship was filled with tension, mystery, and a hint of forbidden allure. It added a layer of depth to the story that I found myself invested in.

Despite being new to fantasy, I found the plot of relatively easy to follow. However, there were moments where the pacing felt a bit slow or overly detailed, which occasionally pulled me out of the narrative. Nevertheless, these moments were overshadowed by the excitement of unraveling Luna's overarching story.

As someone who usually prefers to relate closely to the protagonist, I initially struggled to connect with Luna on a personal level. Yet, despite this initial disconnect, I was so curious about her past and the secrets she held. With each chapter, I found myself drawn deeper into Luna's journey.

[Kabir Adegbuyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deals With The Devil" was an interesting book that caught my interest about the main character luna and how she navigates her life as Uconn professor but also her magical aspect her life throughout all of its chapters by keeping a fast pace. I found the UConn setting to be a fascinating touch to the story, bringing people of all backgrounds with the university a sense of connection and access. Veronica Ford built a compelling setting for this urban fantasy novel by carefully creating the campus environment, which allows readers to include their own experiences into the story itself. The book's simplicity was refreshing and made it a great option for a light read and really showed a different kind of creativity for me by combining a normal life of a professor with a magical life . It was a nice change from more complex novels because it felt more like a personal choice than required home work.

[Baidahu · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Deals with the Devil" by Veronica Ford is a book featuring both positive and negative features. On the positive side, it's an entertaining and exciting novel that keeps readers fascinated from beginning to end. The plot is full of tension and mystery, making it an exciting read for everyone who enjoys a good story.

However, a disadvantage of the book is that it can be overly ambiguous at times. Readers may get confused or doubtful about key aspects of the plot, which might detract from their enjoyment of the book. The amount of uncertainty can make it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the story and connect with the characters on a more profound level.

Overall, "Deals with the Devil" is an enjoyable book with plenty of drama and mystery, but the excessive uncertainty may leave some readers dissatisfied.

[Owen Finch · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book does a great job of exemplifying different literary elements, I feel like the story itself is rather underdeveloped. The book was written by an English professor to demonstrate these many conventions and, to be perfectly honest, this is apparent when you read it. This book does an excellent job of displaying symbolism, foreshadowing, and twists, but many of the aspects of the story are not complete. I personally do not find any of the characters relatable or even believable, and many aspects such as the storyline and magic systems only really develop when such a development is required to move the narrative forward. Some aspects of the book are rather comedic and/or well put together, making parts of the novel enjoyable, but most of the novel just feels like a chore to read.

[caroline 🌷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a class and I really enjoyed it. Deals with the Devil is set on the UCONN campus, so reading the references to the familiar landmarks was actually really cool. Ford did a great job of building complex, likable characters and her use of foreshadowing was actually really impressive. I felt like there was a reveal on every other page. I was not a huge fan of the writing style at some points but there were also times when I did not mind it at all, so it was not a huge issue. Although Luna’s “reluctant hero” character type is very mainstream I think Ford managed to offer her own unique twist to it which is really impressive. I recommend this book if you are a fan of urban fantasy and stories where nothing is coincidental and every sentence serves a purpose. And of course if you are a student at UCONN you should definitely give this book a try no matter your preferences.