In the gloomy alleyways of an unknown city where supernatural beings cast their shadows, Dante, a mercenary with a mysterious past and a soul touched by darkness, embarks on a dangerous mission.
He is tasked with investigating the sudden disappearance of young women and the disturbing rise of the undead in the city.
Accompanied by the charming vampire Lariza, whose words are sharper than her fangs, he must confront a bizarre conspiracy that will be a challenge even for their extraordinary powers to unravel.
Everything points to the workings of a mysterious cult that is pulling the strings of the city and spinning its sinister plans in the shadows. But as Dante and Lariza follow the twisted paths of the investigation, they come across an even greater treat: a mysterious figure who seems to know more about Lariza than they would have liked.
With each step, the between reality and nightmare blurrs, and Dante and Lariza must confront a web of schemes, betrayal and forbidden sorcery.
In "How to start a demonic cult and get away with it", the boundaries between right and wrong are put to the test. Can the odd duo once again avert impending disaster and put an end to the machinations of the demonic cult, or will they themselves be devoured by its dark powers?
Devi Letalis, often referred to as the Swiss Pocket Demon by her court, is as versatile as a demon queen can be: Not only is she dedicated to Dark Fantasy, she is also an award-winning burlesque dancer, costume designer and performance artist. She has been transporting her audiences into dark worlds full of mystery and magic for years. Devi Letalis' works are an artistic manifesto of darkness, emerging from the forbidden archives of Inferno, inviting us to explore the abyss of the human soul. In her circle of hell, better known as Vienna, she lives with a cave troll and two poetic cats.
Devi writes her books in German and English, and brings them to you directly from the forbidden archives in the demon realm.
What a great next chapter to this series. I loved it. Well written and intense. More deep insight in the psychological issues of the characters, while it still felt mostly light-hearted, charming, and funny, but also very authentic.
I have literally devoured this story. It was very exciting and didn't lead where I expected it to go. The characters are so well-thought-out and relatable. Also, great humour that releases the tension when necessary. The writing-style is very unique, and needed some getting used to, but it's very enjoyable. Love the fast pacing. It never feels dull or boring.
How to Start a Demonic Cult and Get Away with It is a wild ride of supernatural intrigue, morally grey choices, and characters you can’t help but love (and fear a little). The dynamics, the tension, and the sharp-witted banter make this book impossible to put down. Dark, clever, and full of unexpected twists—if you love demons, dangerous alliances, and a touch of madness, this one’s for you!
Title: How to Start a Demonic Cult and Get Away With It Author: Devi Letalis
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is an engaging urban fantasy thriller.
While the plot takes some jumps sometimes, and the writing can be a little confusing in places, overall, this book is a fun romp on the dark side of life.
The FMC is fantastic, as is the MMC and his zombie sheep.
I love a good vigilante story, and this did not disappoint.
If you're looking for a tale of twists, banter, and deadly intrigue, this one is for you.
There's a pet sheep... An undead sheep Self aware vampire.. too self aware for how long they live? It seems like an unwanted trait to have when your basically unkillable. Snarky, clever, charming, cocky and temperamental with more than an edge of danger A dowry of blood feeling writing but with hell of a lot more character depth, humour and plot Loved how the cult was the main plot point but when she started it she did it so casually, it showed that the character depth and development was done well because I agreed with the others when it was "just a Liz thing to do." In fact every character was really well fleshed out and written, i would have liked more involving Liz and Lariza but that might have been in book one or coming up in the next instalment. Didn't realise it was the second book but it gave you enough information to know the relevant information you needed. I was a bit confused as to what Dante and her actually were as they flirted and seemed to have sexual chemistry but never actually did anything yet she obviously wasn't opposed to sex or taboo sex as she slept with the son. Though i haven't read the first one so take that lightly I did find some bits were a little confusing as to where they were and hard to imagine their surroundings as it didn't always provide descriptions or tell us so it felt a little jumpy between some scenes leaving you questioning how they got there. Overall I really enjoyed this book and will be reading the first one and waiting for the next one!
Devi Letalis delivers a dark urban fantasy that understands the best supernatural thrillers balance cosmic stakes with genuinely odd partnerships. Dante, the mercenary with a soul touched by darkness, and Lariza, the vampire whose words cut deeper than her fangs, make for a compelling duo navigating a city where supernatural shadows have overtaken the streets. Letalis excels at the conspiracy structure: disappearing young women, rising undead, and the mysterious cult pulling strings from the shadows create genuine momentum. The revelation of a figure who knows more about Lariza than she would prefer adds personal stakes to the apocalyptic threat. The boundaries between reality and nightmare blur effectively, and the forbidden sorcery feels appropriately costly. As Book 2 in the Inferno's Forbidden Archives series, some worldbuilding assumes prior knowledge, and occasional prose choices suggest translation or non-native English construction. Still, for readers seeking dark urban fantasy with queer representation, moral complexity, and the question of whether right and wrong can survive demonic machinations, this offers satisfyingly sinister territory. A thriller that takes its darkness seriously while enjoying its own absurdity.
Devi didn't disappoint. You liked the vibe of the first book? She did it again, but different. Dark humour and some scenes that made me giggle, great banter between Dante and Lariza, and amazing chemistry between the characters. I don't want to spoil by dropping some names, but the mental health of some characters seems to be at an all-time low. I can't wait to see, where this is going.
The plot was very different and had me on the edge of my seat until the very (intense) end.
I've been eagerly awaiting the second part for a long time and now I'm waiting for the third again. A great book. Damien's story in particular fascinates me. He really is a poor guy! I love Devi's black humor! It's great! Her writing style is great. Very vivid and her dialog is very quick-witted. I also find the new characters very exciting. Especially Matt! I'm really looking forward to the next book.
As the first one, this didn't disappoint. Interesting story, that was very different and out there. Loved to see how the characters developed after the first book, and some left me surprised. I don't want to spoil too much, but some of our favourites are back and they were intense. Great writing and storytelling. I can't wait for the next one.
Viewed on it's own the book provides an engaging story that builds up tension and smartly eases it in the right moments with some dark humor and heartfelt moments in just the right amount. I came to really appriciated the structure of a short story arc that introduces the most important reaccuring and new characters before developing into the bigger story. Where it really shines however is in the development of the characters of the first book. Despite being a fantasy story the second book really builds on their personalities, flaws and issues in an authentic way rarely seen in any media. Also: that last chapter, man, that last chapter really got me...
The books in this series are truly something else. Loved the characters, the plot was kind of weird, but that made it so amazing and lets it stand out. It's like its own genre, no idea how to describe it. Funny, suspenseful, dark, intense.
Both the first book and this one were really fantastic. Lots of action and great, dark humour. Loved the banter between the characters. Didn't get bored for even one moment.
Lariza and her zombie sheep Puschel are still with Dante. She hunts the evilist men since she can read their mind. Dr. Matthew Sanders of the Goetia Academy has some of her ancient letters trying to have her help him bring his list love back to life.
That ending destroyed me. This will cause me sleepless nights. I love the characters so much, please, more.
Edit: I read it a second time now, and still, I am speechless. This book is intense, the story was fun to read, and I love how Dante´s and Lariza´s relationship evolved. And speaking of a woman scorned. Lariza isn´t f*cking around. Let´s just say, you and what army? I love the whole idea of Lamia Vult haha (And still better my Name is in there ;) ) I wonder, if it´s referring to Deus Vult, but as I know Devi, she probably put a lot of thought into the whole thing. This story is just constantly on my mind. I can´t wait to find out how this all ends.
WTF did I just read? How was this so funny, charming, intense, heartbreaking at the same time? What are you doing to me, Damien? Be still, my heart. And will Leigh be my new favourite boi?
And wtaf was that? Melech? Melech? Melech? I am dead. I need to rest and when I have recovered from the shock, read it again. I still love him, of course. He is as awesome as ever.
Where is book number 3, Devi? I need to know, how this all ends :'(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.