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Diabolic Romance #2

The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon

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Wally and Bez have spent the last six months eluding the Collective together. Not that the mages have spent much time pursuing the dangerous devil and his misfit mage, since even the best magics can’t match a Diabolic’s strength.

When Bez surprises Wally with an anniversary trip to a special event hosted by the Fae, Wally is presented with a chance to work on rare artifacts belonging to a Fae noble. However, Bez learns the Fae may be connected to the recent abductions of fellow demons, allowing them to crossover into various Hell dimensions—and threatening to expose his secret.

Bez is not the unstoppable devil that everyone believes he is. If the Collective learns about Bez’s deceit, they will rain down the full force of their magical resources to kill him. Wally and Bez will need to work together to unravel the mystery behind the missing demons and study intricate dimensional magics all while traveling in a magical villa through space and time.

316 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2024

101 people are currently reading
2867 people want to read

About the author

M.N. Bennet

11 books358 followers
MN Bennet is a high school teacher, writer, and reader. He lives in the Midwest, still adjusting to the cold after being born and raised in the South.

He enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy stories with huge worlds (sometimes too big), loveable romances (with so much angst and banter), and Happily Ever Afters (once he’s dragged his characters through some emotional turmoil).

When he’s not balancing classes, writing, or reading, he can be found binge watching anime or replaying Baldur's Gate 3 for the millionth time.

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5 stars
116 (41%)
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101 (35%)
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49 (17%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Menoa.
688 reviews25 followers
May 3, 2024
BEZ AND WALLY. BELOVED BABIES.

I loved the first installment so much, loved everything else the author wrote so OFC I was delighted when I got an arc for this one.

After the events of the first book, Wally and Bez live their life together, and they're on the verge of celebrating their 6th month anniversary when everything goes awire.

Suddenly, they have to deal with missing demons, faes, and old foes.

This book was so freaking fast paced, I loved every second of it.
Wally and Bez are so in love and the way they will tear the world apart each other: chief kisses.
Mora and Kell were hilarious. Love me some morally grey(black) lesbians.

Special shout-out to the best dog who ever lived 🥰

I can't wait for the release date to hold it in my hands.

The book will be out in June! Get ready for some screaming then.
2,839 reviews3 followers
June 20, 2024
highly recommended and imaginative

Rating: 4.5🌈

Mage Wally and his bonded Demon, Bez, return in MN Bennet’s highly imaginative sequel, Darling Demon, a book that’s astonishing in creative elements and plot twists.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s so mentally entertaining, with the sheer amount of depth that Bennet goes into as Wally and Bez get into a horrible situation with first the Fae, and then an ever increasingly worse group of villains.

There’s really no way to go about pointing out aspects of this story that I adore without giving spoilers because I feel as though they are also some of the most clever elements that Bennet wrote into the storyline. It’s one creative piece of thinking after another that just builds onto each other here , expanding on the universe as we thought we knew it magically.

What can I say? That the fabulous characters, demon Mora and her witch wife Kell, are back as main characters and their deep relationship and outlook on love is as remarkable and rewarding as anything else here.

We get a new family member, a pet. He’s adorable. The scorpion familiar isn’t happy.

And that ending still makes me think of whether or not, I’m impressed by the author’s choices because I didn’t see it coming or sorry because I wanted something more comfortable when this book has been anything but. That’s on me.

Bennet has always narratively gone for the wild and intriguing, the unimaginable and deliciously dangerous. That’s how we end up. True to everything and everyone.

I hope we and Bennet return, someday to check in. I love to see what’s happened next.

highly recommended.

Diabolic Romance:
The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil #1
The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon #2
Profile Image for S.S. Genesee.
Author 5 books56 followers
June 12, 2024
This was such a wonderful sequel! I loved going back to Wally and Bez's story, seeing where it took us with the absolutely crazy ending that was in the first book. This did NOT disappoint as there was just so much exciting action and thrills throughout the whole thing! The Fae magics starting us off with a bang, then how that leads us to the mysterious villa, and all leading to a villain in this book that's even more fearsome than the one from before. I also loved how this expanded on the lore that we learned in the first book, and Wally is the best character because I love how it's in his design to be an over-explainer, helping little ol' me understand things.
I do have a fave side character tho.... Kell won my heart. I love her, she can do no wrong.
Profile Image for TeeReads.
623 reviews23 followers
September 5, 2024
4 stars

This was still fun, but not *quite* as enjoyable for me as book one. I still really enjoyed the banter and shenanigans between Wally and Bez. They are just so unexpectedly adorable together. Bez is just hilarious. And I will always love a good nerdy character, like Wally. I think it was the over arching plot that just didn't live up to the first book. It was still interesting and intriguing, and I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen, so it is still good, just different. All in all, it's a fun reading experience with great characters. I had a good time, I just liked book one fractionally more. I am definitely curious about where Wally and Bez are headed with all their new changes. This magical world is well-developed and engaging, that's for sure.
Profile Image for PleaseGoAwayImReading.
434 reviews26 followers
April 21, 2024
I enjoyed this so much! I loved Wally and Bez in the first book so I was excited to read this one.

This book has a lot going on — stakes are high because nefarious fae forces are after Bez’s essence, thinking he’s the real Beelzebub, which leads to all sorts of adventure and dangerous situations for Wally and Bez as well as their friends Mora and Kell.

I was definitely anxious watching Bez and Wally try to get out of danger, as well as each trying to protect the other. The banter between these two is some of my absolute favorite, whether it’s Wally making sarcastic remarks about Bez’s disgusting food combination preferences, or Bez making his endless dirty puns to get Wally to blush.

This was so fun. I hold out the hope to be able to read about more of Wally and Bez’s adventures in future books!
25 reviews1 follower
May 30, 2024
The author sent me an ARC and I’m giving my honest review ✨

“You made it very clear my nature defaults to murder, and I can’t jump into this situation rashly. My instinct upon arriving here was kill first, ask questions later.”

Oh wow. This series just keep getting better and better.

I obviously loved Bez and Wally. Bez was extremely witty, dramatic and SO FUNNY. Most of my highlights from them are “Aww” or “Bez, hilarious”.

But MAN DID I LOVE KELL AND MORA. That was so unexpected, but I adored them and their dynamic. It was great learning more about the differences between witches and mages!

And finally, the plot. Omg. One of the things I love about MN Bennett’s books is that the plot is as interesting and enticing as learning more about the characters. The whole villa, how it worked and the backstory was top notch.

I can’t wait until next installment 🥲
Profile Image for Yackie.
619 reviews5 followers
Read
June 15, 2024
Imagine if I actually read a book I’ve started or bought recently.
It’s not my fault June is filled with sequels of series I like slash am entertained by!

This book was a lot. But in a good way. What’s happening??? Who can tell, but I like it!
Profile Image for Stephanie Beverly.
Author 2 books10 followers
February 25, 2025
Listened on audible. Performance was great. Interesting end. I wonder if there will be another book? I would be curious to know how ... things work out.
Profile Image for Sasha Fountain.
228 reviews10 followers
June 10, 2024
After a quick reread of Book 1 to prep, I jumped in and devoured most of this book in a few days. We pick up shortly after Wally and Bez have survived the antics from Book 1, and they quickly get into a new bunch of trouble.

Wally and Bez are now hiding out and taking commissions from private collectors. Bez decides to take Wally to a show as a nice date night, but a high-ranking Fae temporarily removes Wally from the show. He offers Wally a job, but Bez is extremely suspicious and demands that Wally refuse it. Without getting into spoiler territory, Wally's decision to take the job kicks off the adventure in this book.

I loved how MN Bennet developed the narrative because we get more of the world in this book. We get Fae, long-lost demons, and old foes as well. Mora and Kell added a lot of comedy to the book, which balanced out the action.

I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.

Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,070 reviews517 followers
June 14, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars


This is the second book in the Diabolic Romance series, and M.N. Bennett had done it again. The world this author has crafted is complex and engaging, and the characters are thoroughly entertaining. I was sucked in from the start and couldn’t stop reading.
Bez is as sassy and snarky as ever, a little bit mean in his words, but his heart is there on his sleeve. And his heart beats for Walter Alden. Whatever Bez is, he’s wholly invested in his mage and I love to see it.

Overall, I’m a fan of this author’s work and this series in particular. The plot builds seamlessly on the story that came before, the layers deepen, and most of all, two men love each other unconditionally. It’s a great read, and I highly suggest you pick this one up.

Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
Profile Image for L.E. Scott.
Author 9 books6 followers
May 11, 2024
What a rollercoaster.

First, I just want to take a moment to appreciate the way Bennett writes animal companions. Tony and Weather are perfect even though neither of them are your typical pet (despite Weather being a bit more typical than Tony). I especially love Weather's 3-in-one deal. Who would think to write a Cerberus as a big friendly puppy?

Next, I want to examine the relationship between Wally and Bez and how adorable it is. Bez is sometimes a bit of a jerk, but it's so clear that he really loves Wally. The places that pulled the most at my heartstrings were when Bez showed vulnerability, when it flashbacked to his past in Beelzebub's Hell realm, or when either of them were frantic to save/protect the other. Their relationship is complex, and I enjoy that. Bez tries to blame their connection for his own feelings sometimes when he allows himself to be vulnerable (way too much false bravado, but it's understandable given his past), and Wally gets stuck in his own head far too often, but they balance each other which is what good couples do. Bez's impulsivity and cynicism balance Wally's naivety and tendency to overthink. Wally's compassion and analytical mind balance Bez's ferocity and tendency to act out.

Third, I love, love, love Kell. She's mischievous, snarky, badass, and does what she wants. Also love that her witch's hat is basically the Tardis of hats. It's great to see what she's like because it gives you an idea why Mora decided to bond with her. I love that Mora's character is expanded on a bit in this book and you get to see how much she helped Bez when he was first getting a footing in the mortal realm.

Now let's talk about villains, because this book has some doozies. The first villain gets taken care of pretty quickly, which is good for building tension. Then there are some red herring moments, such as when Wally meets Weather, but I love that the actual villain was kind of a twist (Bennett does have a knack for those) but at the same time, no one could predict the way it turned out. The villain causes some chaos, is way too OP sometimes, and almost kills everyone. Basically, everything you could want in a villain. Bonus that he's not even trying to be evil, but the protagonists are just getting in the way of his own idea of virtue. I love when villains have motivation other than just a grab for power and status or a need to satiate some lust for pain and suffering.

Worldbuilding in this book was mainly about Diabolics, Fae, and Baron Novus' house, which is the setting for almost the whole book. There was a bit of additional monster lore, the knowledge of which helped Wally out of some tricky situations, but not much more about the collective other than to imply that they had basically decided to steer clear of Wally and Bez for the time being.

Like the previous book, this book's spicy scenes get very spicy. Like five chili peppers spicy. I love that there are additional dynamics added to the scenes as their emotional bond grows. Everything about the scenes makes me love them as a couple. There are a lot of sex jokes (mainly from Bez) that help ease the tension sometimes after emotional scenes, but they never seem forced in.

Final thoughts. If you loved the first book, this is an excellent sequel, and you should definitely check it out. The development of Wally and Bez's relationship is worth another book, one to explore this new Wally that we find introduced at the end of this one, but I fear the implications of what conflict another story would bring. I don't want my boys to lose the happiness they've found or have it threatened again.
Profile Image for Calypso.
9 reviews
September 19, 2024
I loved the first book and was SO looking forward to this one but is very .. Weird to me.

First of all, I hate Mora and Kel. They're the most aggravating and annoying supporting characters I've read in a while, I don't understand why the author felt like they needed to be in the story at all. If you're gonna have reoccurring side characters they need to be at least somewhat tolerable, these ones aren't.

Second, Wally deserves better than Bez atp. Bez says he loves him but all the does is berate him for his interests, support him in nothing, never stand up for him, doesn't listen to him or his wants,always acting like a spoiled child. He's a incredibly bad romantic partner. Sure he protects Wally but that doesn't mean much, is like he views Wally as an annoying property. Which makes sense since he's a demon and all, but at some point in the second book you'd just expect for the MC to start treating the other better. He's awful for Wally, my baby bean deserves someone who actually cares and supports his interests and doesn't act like he's an annoying pest . Bez is supposed to be funny and witty but he just comes across as whiny and a bully to his partner.
This is a incredibly toxic relationship but it feels like the author doesn't realize that.

I liked the plot over all and the world building is amazing, the author writes so vividly and detailed , this is incredibly well written . I haven't read such a well written world in an mm book in a while,or such interesting plots and actions. Is just that the romance and some characters are unbearable, it wouldve been a better book without the romance by far. Just Wally's adventures and trying to build himself a life.
Profile Image for Sofie.
300 reviews8 followers
April 22, 2024
One of my new comfort reads 🥲🥲🥲 I JUST LOVE WALLY AND BEZ SO MUCH.

This is the second book in the Diabolic Romance series and it continues the story of Wally and Bez. For six months they've been lying low, hiding from the Collective. On the night of their anniversary, Bez surprises Wally with tickets to an illustrious and rare fae performance. There, they meet the fae Baron Novus, who commissions Wally to assess the rare artifacts he has in his home. But Novus is dangerous and soon, Wally and Bez, along with Mora and Kell are trapped in a trans-dimensional villa with a dangerous demon stalking them.

As always, I LOVED the characters. It was so cool to get more of Mora and to finally meet Kell. Both are chaotic in their own ways. Ofc, I loved the added depth and nuance to Wally and Bez's relationship. They seem so unlikely a pair, but they really fit well together and love each other. Bez was also snarky as usual, maybe even more so in this one, haha. The plot was intense! It felt like they were all trying to survive a haunted mansion. Sometimes it felt like it dragged a little but I always felt drawn back in.

The ending was very intriguing! I'm not sure if there will be more books (I hope so!) but I also kind of just want a story where Bez and Wally are happy and living their best lives and everything is ok 🥹 And Weather and Tony being the bestest pets ever 🖤🖤🖤

In all, I really loved this book and I consider this whole series to be one of my favourite ones 🖤🖤🖤

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷
Profile Image for Chris.
107 reviews5 followers
June 8, 2024
More Wally & Bez adventures! We got to explore more of the Fae and that was kind of cool. The big bad this time was really cool. I could easily imagine what they looked like and it was kind of frightening. I wouldn’t want to see them at night that’s for sure. Our breakout star was Weather. I will not elaborate as to avoid spoilers.

Okay but real quick because I did rate this lower than I anticipated. I think this really just suffered from too much character building and not enough plot. There’s nothing wrong with it. It was done spectacularly, I just kind of felt that perhaps the plot would have done better if it was broken into two books. I again don’t want to spoil anything, but I think building more into the Fae aspect would have been so much better for this entry and then used the BiG Bad as the baddie for book three.

Anyways, more Wally & Bez content please 🙏🏽 thank you to the author for letting me continue with Wally & Bez by offering me an eARC for my honest review!

The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon by MN Bennet releases June 10, 2024!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Indus.
197 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I don't know why but the first book didn't really click for me. The second, on the other hand, was a very fast and action-packed book that I could follow a little better. The first felt like the world wasn't built enough for me to be invested in its destruction, but the second one didn't.

The characters: I feel like the adorable character is overdone, and wally verged a little too close to that a few times. Thankfully the author didn't push that in my face too much this time around. I also thought Eligio was interesting and a little compelling. I want more on his story and where he went wrong. I also wasn't expecting that revelation on Abe and it kind of made me sad.

The setting: idk,I had some trouble following this.

For me, these books make me feel a little too rushed through them. On the one hand, the quick pace is fun but on the other, it's hard to keep up. Still, I'll read more in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kevin.
1,317 reviews88 followers
June 6, 2024
The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon is the second book in the Diabolic Romance series. Wally and Bez have been in hiding from the Collective for the past six months when they catch the eye of a Fae noble. In the Fae’s magical home, they uncover a plot to abduct demons and harness their energies to travel across the dimensions of Hell. They must work to dismantle the scheme before it threatens to expose Bez’s secret.

I loved that this book is mostly about Wally and Bez and their relationship, with the rest of the plot just being secondary to that. While that does leave this book feeling like a side quest or a filler second installment, it allows for their crucial dynamic and romance to further develop. At this point, they are already acting like an old married couple with loving bickering and banter without having lost the spice. They are just fun, funny, and undeniably in love. The book also adds Mora and Kell to provide a bit of variety and to further explore Bez’s history and background. I look forward to seeing where this series goes after that ending.

*Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
200 reviews4 followers
May 18, 2024
This is the second part of Bez and Wally’s story, which I was looking forward to, and I wasn’t disappointed. There is a lot happening and I couldn’t keep up with the ‘science-y’ side of things – demon essence, devil essence, mana and all the different planes of existence, but that didn’t detract from the story. Bez and Wally maintain their deep affection for each other. Wally rambles, Bez is hilarious. All the main relationships were developed further, and Wally and Bez reach an HEA. I recommend first reading book 1 – The Misfit Mage and his Dashing Devil – so you understand the relationship between Bez and Wally and also the numerous references to things which occurred previously. 4.5*

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Marija P..
291 reviews1 follower
May 30, 2024
The moment I got notification about this ARC I clicked the request button. I loved the first book and the sequel is equally good. Even better, I'd say.
The book is fast-paced, so many things happen! This time the biggest problem is the fact that demons go missing and Fae are trying to get their hands on Bez. We get to learn more about Fae world and Bez's past.
Mora and Kell - two characters that you'll adore! I was surprised that we got to see them so much in this instalment and to be honest, I'd love to read more about them.
Bez's jokes will make you blush and the spicy scenes got really hot.
I don't want to spoil anything, so grab the book and enjoy!

I received an ARC for free in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Josiah.
77 reviews2 followers
June 9, 2024
Wally and Bez are at it again! I was so excited that I was able to get back into their story so quickly after having read the first book earlier this year. I had high expectations of this book, and let me tell you I was NOT disappointed. There is so much happening in this book from the very start of the story, I was captivated immediately.

This story has a new adventure that feels completely apart from the first book’s story, but in such a good way. We got to see a whole new side of both Bez and Wally while continuing to get their snarky and adorably grotesque banter. I was also super excited to see more of Mora in this one, plus getting to meet and learn about Kell was really exciting. These characters added a whole new dynamic to the story and brought even more excitement and life to everything.

This book has its emotional rollercoaster moments, something I’m definitely beginning to see as a trend in MN Bennet’s works, and I am living for it! There is also a TON of uncertainty about what is about to happen next, which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

I highly, highly recommend this book and series, and I can’t wait to see how the story continues/concludes in the next book (whenever that may happen).

I received an advance reader copy for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jeanette Waters.
2,004 reviews5 followers
June 8, 2024
Book two of the Misfit Mage series (and the author does promise more adventures) begins six months after the confrontation with the Collective, and a kidnapping by a Fae baron. There's still lots of sarcasm. Bez and Wally have a sizzling chemistry, Bez is more open and Wally has grown into his magic. There's danger and a new mystery to solve. Along with demon Mora and her witchy wife, Kell, they explore a formerly floating house vessel. And find missing Diabolics.
I like this Bez more than I did in book one. Wally is still and adorable nerd. I hope Mora and Kell join them on more adventures as Kell's chaos plays really well against Wally's moral code
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Stephen.
12 reviews
May 18, 2024
Joining Wally and Bez for more adventure in The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon offered a lot more than anticipated. The continued character development MN Bennet offers in this volume is surprising and at times heartbreaking. If you enjoyed the first volume, I assure you also enjoy this volume too.

That being said, there were some slow moving scenes and story lines that could have been edited back a bit. I did consider walking away from it a couple of times, but I am happy I finished this novel and you will be too. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
87 reviews
May 18, 2024
This book was amazing and I am so glad I was able to received this ARC. I read the first book in the duo the same way and had an amazing time with that one as well. The only issues I saw were grammar related, but I know those will be fixed before the book is released. I highly recommend this set of books to anyone who would be interested in a story like this. The characters are easy to love and the storyline is well written. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Juniper.
3,391 reviews24 followers
June 9, 2024
It’s a treat to be reunited with Wally and Bez, characters I learned to love in the first installment of their story (gentle note here that it’s good to start with book one, for context on the relationship and the world building, if you haven’t already). In this book, the stakes are high, the banter is on point, the characters are truly and deeply themselves, and there’s a lot going on (and I mean that in the best way). Well worth a read.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Sara Irons.
410 reviews6 followers
June 30, 2024
Bez and Walter go up against a Fae Prince in this book.

Bez gets bad vibes from a Fae that is offering Walter a new job. Walter being very naive, thinks Bez is only jealous of the beautiful Fae.

Bez was correct and Walter is kidnapped by the Fae. This starts a whirlwind of problems for them. They become engaged in a fight for thier lives.

Would you give part of your being to save someone you love? Will Bez and Wally survive the onslaught of danger? You'll have to come read the story to find out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
2,573 reviews44 followers
April 5, 2024
Another great adventure with Wally and Bez. Some of this tore my heart out, and the rest just kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought we were losing some beloved characters a few times. The world building and descriptions are amazing and made me feel like I was there. I'm so glad to be back on terra ferma again . Kudos to the author's

brilliant brain. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion .
Profile Image for Jasmine.
71 reviews
April 8, 2024
I dived straight into this book from the previous one. The growth of the characters was nice to follow. Wally's insatiable curiosity for everything gives the relationship a run for its money. It was nice getting to know the other characters in the book as well as learning more about Bez's past.

This series is a nice pallet cleanser for me from the other heavy books I read. I hope more books will be out soon!
Profile Image for Chyanne.
123 reviews14 followers
May 16, 2024
Holy moly, M.N. Bennet hit it out of the park with this one. I read book one so I was already excited to see what Wally and Bez were up to and book two did not disappoint. It kept me on the edge of my seat with how much was going on. We meet some new faces as well as spending time with familiar ones. I’m soooo happy we got more of Mora and Kell in this book. And it wouldn’t be Bez and Wally if we didn’t get plenty of banter and intimate time. Over all I think I loved this book, maybe even a little more than I loved book one.
Profile Image for K-Me.
2,824 reviews
June 11, 2024
I will admit the covers are what drew me into this series! I am huge on unique characters and this series has them in spades! The supporting characters are vivid, and all have colorful personalities. Mora and Kell tended to steal the show when they were on page. Bez and Wally bring on plenty of crazy banter of their own. I particularly liked that their banter could be a little bit dark as well. I am so pleased that there is definitely more to come with this series!
Profile Image for Angeli.
903 reviews1 follower
October 10, 2024
The finale to the duology by M.N. BennetM.N. Bennet. Wally and Bez continue their steamy romance until Wally gets kidnapped by a fae. Quite a few action scenes and we learn more about Bez's history. We finally Kell, Mora's long-term partner, and they contribute to the wackiness of this entertaining sequel.
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