No Rest for the Wicked

Life is Hell #1

by Naomi Valkyrie

Delilah Hawthorne

I’m burned out, used up, and currently a sorry excuse for a demon. I need a break. In a bold move, I leave my bar in the hands of a fellow demon and head out of the city with no specific destination.

Finding myself in a small town called Juniper Lake, I think I’ve finally gotten a chance to rest and recharge. No more killing. No more vengeance. Just the sweet relief of peace and quiet.

But the joke’s on me. Juniper Lake is full of secrets. It looks like the old saying is true. There really is no rest for the wicked.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Witches, Demons, Urban Fantasy

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2020

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Reviews

[Taylor Jefferson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not consider myself a particularly materialistic person but when it comes to free kindle books I am a greedy gremlin. I hoard them, I have hundreds. In an attempt to weed through the massive pile I try to randomly pick one up a couple times a month. So far the quality has been low. This was surprisingly enjoyable until I found out the rest of the series follows other characters.

Delilah is a demon who needs a break from all her demoning. She rents a cabin in the small town of Juniper Lake but her unfortunate luck lands her trapped by witches to carry out their bidding. The hunky local sheriff can tell she is hiding something and he has secrets of his own.

Delilah was great. Snarky without crossing into annoying territory. There wasn’t any pulling punches on her being a demon and what that entails. Even though the witches were controlling her Delilah can be brutal and she did what she had to with her life on the line. I like the push and pull between her and Malachai. Each knowing the other person is hiding something but intrigued enough they can’t stay away.

I enjoyed this but overlooked some things because I assumed this was the first book in a 6 book series. Then when I read the synopsis for book 2 I found it follows a totally different couple. There was so much left on the table for Delilah, Cassian and Malachi. I’m sure we will get a bit more info in the next book but I’m disappointed. They had just agreed to start a relationship. How did Malachai end up in Juniper lake? What even is Cassian? There was no real payoff or closure for the throuple and it brings my rating from a 4 to a 3. As a first book this was good but as a standalone it’s disappointing. I will probably pick up book 2 at some point but for now I’m annoyed.

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked (Life is Hell book 1) by Naomi Valkyrie

5 +++++ Stars

This author continues to blow me away with her words and the imagination she puts into her storylines. She has taken a genre I normally avoid and has me glued to my kindle wanting to know what happens next. Every book I finish of hers has me anticipating the next. Her character building is phenomenal and has me connecting and completely understanding those I'm reading about.

This book was no exception, something else this author does better than many is take a story and cut out all the dragging, all the descriptions I dont need of surroundings and such and puts a pace on it that I personally love and appreciate. It's a fast paced story, but one that is never hard to follow. I love that she is not scared to do this.

I loved Delilah! Her no nonsense inner dialogue, her strength, and her quest to just get away and relax, also that small soft side she doesn't even realize she has. Her life in the city leaves no room for down time and I could feel how much she needed that. The dedication of this book describes Delilah perfectly! Then add in her supporting cast, Malakhi was a little harder to read, but as the book went on I found myself understanding him better. Caspian and Sheridan absolutely cracked me up, their comebacks and then the pranks were awesome.

This story had it all. There was drama, danger, twists and turns, Demons, Hunters, witches, fallen angels and even a nix and a shifter to keep me completely engrossed in this story. I Loved the ending, it left me wanting the next as soon as possible, and also left me wanting to know more about Malakhi and his history.

I can't recommend this book enough, I can't recommend this author enough. I am one of her biggest fans and will read whatever she chooses to write!

[Rita White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of the Life is Hell Series.  What a ride! This book is a short, fast-paced book that has a bunch of characters that you learn a lot about in a short amount of time.  The author takes each character and goes in depth so you get a good feel for each of them.  My hope is that in the other 4 books, she will expand on each character.
Delilah is a demon trying to go on vacation to rest and see what a semi normal life would be like.  She picks a small little town and rents a cabin by the lake.  There is a nosey sheriff, a diner and other things you would find in a small town, but it also has demons, demon hunters, witches, and other creatures that you will just have to read to find out about. Oh, and the cover is wicked good! Do yourself a favor and read this book!
#lifeishellseries
#norestforthewicked
#NaomiValkyrie

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked (Life Is Hell Book 1)
By Naomi Valkyrie
5 out of 5 stars

I loved reading the book No Rest for the Wicked (Life Is Hell Book 1) by Naomi Valkyrie. It is a paranormal story that had me hooked from the very beginning. I love the character of Delilah Hawthorne. She is a demon who is burned out and needs a break. She finds herself in the town of Juniper Lake. Little does she realize what is in store for her. Delilah is intelligent, independent, and has plenty of sarcasm. I enjoyed reading about how she sees the world and herself. She also is finding herself in serious situations. She is determined to gain as much information as she can to help not only herself but those around her as well. This is a very entertaining story. I enjoyed reading about the additional characters who interact with Delilah. The author does an amazing job of creating a well-written book that I didn’t want to put down until the final page. I want to know more about Delilah and the other characters in the story. Don’t miss out on a wonderful tale that doesn’t disappoint. I highly recommend reading it.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked by Naomi Valkyrie
I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
When I read the synopsis of this book, I thought the Sheriff was going to be a bad guy... not a love interest! I am very happy about where things have ended. It makes me want to get the rest of the series!!! I think that if you love Demons, Witches, Angels, and what I believe to be a siren. Then this is the book for you! There are a ton of twists and there isn't exactly a cliffhanger, but it does leave you wanting more.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked (Life Is Hell Book 1) by Naomi Valkyrie is a paranormal romance story. Naomi’s story telling gets better with each book she writes. Her narrative is on point and her characters are delightful. It's a fast-paced story that doesn’t lack for anything to make it a good strong story. With danger and Demons, shifters and drama, witches and fallen angels and more what could you ask for. Watching Naomi grow as, an author is a pleasure.

[LaliLovely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read through this so much faster than I thought I would ! Before I knew it I was 69% in & it was around 4:20 in the afternoon . I would've been defying the universe if I hadn't finished it ! I lovelovelove 🌶 , & even though this book doesn't have any , the story & flow were so good I didn't even notice . To be honest , now that I've met her , Delilah is 1 of my favorite book heroines . Her main character energy goes so hard . Loved spending a day cuddled up with this book !

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I have read all of this author’s books, this is my favorite yet so far. This is a well developed story that is a great start to a new series. The characters brought the story to life for me. I had no problems connecting with them. Delilah is such a great character and my favorite. It is so great seeing a character that is so strong and female to boot. She feels that she is a burnt out demon so she takes a break only to find herself in a small town that has many secrets. Will she learn there is no rest for the wicked or will she find the peace and quiet she desires? This is such an engaging story that I couldn’t put down until the last page. I highly recommend this book and this author.

[Laura Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of the Life is Hell Series.
What a ride! This book is a short, fast-paced that has a bunch of characters that you learn about in a short amount of time. The author takes each character and goes in depth so you get a
good feel for each of them.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delilah is a demon, a demon who deals in lust and vengeance, but she is also burnt out and needs a break, so as she leaves the site of her last kill and while smoking a cigarette, she decides that she is going to leave the bar in the capable hands of a fellow demon and best friend and drive to the first quiet place she spots, a break is just what she needs, she’ll rent somewhere and not murder anyone, not be in a city and just be able to relax. After three days of driving, she enters Juniper Lake, it is a small town and looks to be the perfect place, as she goes to get some gas, she finds that there is a cabin that she might be able to rent, so after filling up, she goes to the General Store and asks to speak to the realtor, who agrees to rent it to her, so Delilah picks up some groceries and then heads to the cabin, all while thinking that she probably hasn’t laid as low as she expected, given that the town is so small, she will already be the latest gossip.

On arrival at the cabin, it is cosy and just the right size for her, so Delilah unpacks the groceries and goes to light a cigarette and realising that she will have to smoke outside, which isn’t much of a hardship when she sees the view of the lake and dockside out back. She decides to curl up with a book and as she is about to fall asleep she feels the tug of a summoning spell, she manages to ignore it, but is annoyed that even on vacation, she can’t rest. The next morning, Delilah realises that she forgot to get milk and as she can only eat so much dry cereal for breakfast, she decides to go into town, but on the way there senses the magic of the circle and decides to go and investigate it, not noticing a specific demon’s energy, she prepares to remove the circle when the town’s Sheriff surprises her, he asks her what she is doing there and as she gives her reasons, realises that it isn’t what humans would normally do and that the Sheriff isn’t buying any of it, so she leaves the circle and heads back to the car, thinking about the eye candy she has just met and hoping that she doesn’t run into him or another summoning spell again.

Malakhi watches Delilah leave and wonders what she is hiding, followed by photographing and destroying the circle and wondering who cast it and why, so he heads back to the station and continues to go through the motions of his day to day work, but cannot get Delilah or the circle out of his head. He decides to do some research into the town's background to see if he can spot something suspicious, but most of the records aren’t electronic yet. It is three nights later and three more summoning spells later that Delilah gives in and goes to give the summoner a piece of her mind, but when she gets there it turns out that there are three girls at the site and she is less than impressed that they bind her to them so that she has to do their bidding. She is trying to figure out whose bloodline around there has enough power to bind her and also thinking that she has made a mistake coming to this sleepy town in the first place, when the witches dismiss her, she is still mad, so she has a smoke and when she has calmed down, she decides to do some research on the town and see if she can figure out their plan.

Malakhi goes to work, but is tired after spending most of his free time looking through the old files from the courthouse, but after he has made an appearance at the station so as not to arouse suspicions he heads back there and runs into Delilah, he wonders what she is doing there and is forced to engage in more awkward conversation with her. Eventually he leaves and Delilah starts reading the towns donated journals under the guise of writing a book about them, when after several hours, she returns the finished books to the shelves she finds one last one, but this one is different, she feels the residual magic and decides to glamour it take it to the diner to read while she has something to eat, what she doesn’t expect is the Sheriff to join her and ask why she took it, she responds as her usual sarcastic self and proceeds to pay the bill and leave. As she is summoned again, she is told the reason that she has been summoned and bound, the witches want her to kill someone, but she doesn’t want to commit murder on vacation, but it looks like she hasn’t got a choice, but when her best friend turns up a couple of days later and she is still bound and not being released any time soon, she realises that she has to do something about it, but will she be able to stay hidden in plain sight, or will the Sheriff realise what she is and what she has been doing? This is a magic filled adventure with a drizzle of romance and plenty of action, but you have to read to the end to find out how the adventure ends.

[Jennifer Alice Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked (Life is Hell #1) by Naomi Valkyrie

This short read is full of all sorts of paranormal activities. From the beginning you meet Delilah a Demon who is unsatisfied in her endeavors or rather bored. She sets off on an adventure that leads her to small town USA for a much needed vacation. Things take a fast turn for this sassy demon. This is a dual POV and it definitely is a fun little read. There might be some TWs to some but nothing extreme, and doesn't affect the books impact in any way. 4 stars.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal romance which is the first book in an exciting new series by Valkyrie. Delilah Hawthorne is a vengeance demon who is tired of killing and vengeance and just wants a vacation. Arriving in the small and peaceful looking town of Juniper Lake she rents a cabin and prepares for a restful vacation but unfortunately fate has other ideas. Delilah not only has a nosy sheriff to deal with but also three conniving witches who are set on murder, so it’s just as well that the Sheriff is rather sexy. Delilah soon realises that here really is no rest for the wicked! This fun and action packed story had me gripped from start to finish. The authors wonderful world building and descriptive narrative really bought both the characters and the setting to life and made me feel immersed in the story. The characters all add a different element to the story and I especially loved the main character, Delilah and her witty comments. I found this an entertaining and engaging read and look forward to the rest of the ‘Life is Hell’ series.

[Ilona Nurmela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully jaded film noir feel story of a demon working through her vacay

This book has a Jessica Jones feel to it - as it should - for Delilah sold her soul to get revenge on an ex, landed herself in demon status and has been killing cheating hubbys for 200yrs. She takes a vacay in a quiet town and, of course, there’s trouble. There’s also her having hots for the sheriff Malakhi. I loved Delilah’s no-nonsense attitude, adaptability and even her jaded outlook as well as the whole film noire feel of the book (half the time had music from noir films playing in my mind as I read). The plot is good, the reveals are gradual and the story, including the will-they-won’t they pulls you in. Kills are not overly gruesome but fade to black just like the MMF storyline & love scenes. If LGBTQ isn’t your cuppa, this probably isn’t for you. Recommended for lovers of dark demon fantasy, film noir and angel-demon relationships with a nix thrown in. The series continues, but this book can totally be read as a standalone story.

[Randi Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked (Life is Hell #1) is a devilishly good book! Delilah is a demon whose main job is to track down and kill a certain type of person. She is burned out and decides to take a vacation. Of course the best laid plans of demons, go awry. Going in to the book I had no idea what to expect. I love a good paranormal and this one fits that bill.
The book was a page turner! The plot is well thought out with enough twists and turns to keep me wondering. It is of course on the dark side, how could it not, given the main characters calling? But it's not so dark that it can turn one off. No graphic scenes of any type. In some ways the book is even sweet at times.
Delilah & the Sheriff are intriguing and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I'm so incredibly curious about the Sheriffs background, and about this town. I've not read anything by Naomi Valkyrie before this, but I will be adding her to my to be read list!
Read and enjoy!

[Gail Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked (Life Is Hell Book 1) by Naomi Valkyrie - Review by Gail Guerrero

Five Stars

I am not disappointed in purchasing this book. I am extremely happy. The author gives you a little bit of everything. We have demons and witches. Delilah is a demon who is tired of the hunt. So she takes a step back and moves to a small town. What she wasn’t expecting is for small town life to have so much drama. When she gets summoned she is thrown into a revenge plot. I loved how she had some morals. Like yes I am a demon but I don’t just hunt just anyone. I like that she felt remorse and even tried to help victims. I enjoyed the open relationship and understanding the characters had. The author wrote the story well. I enjoyed Sheridan’s character. She was herself unapologetically. Definitely will read more by this author.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give No Rest for the Wicked (Life Is Hell Book 1) by Naomi Valkyrie, 5 stars.

This book was incredible. I love how it incorporated the whodunit with the supernatural. Yes, I have read these types of stories before, but the author really put her on spin on it. The story is gripping and very interesting. I was left guessing until the end. And then there are the characters. Delilah is absolutely wonderful and a new favorite main character. She is real and flawed, yet still has a big heart. The secondary characters are also great and make this book and world even better. Another thing I like is the variety of supernatural creatures and relationships that we see in his book. I get tired of seeing the same thing over and over and over, so I appreciate variety that much more.

If you are a fan of supernatural murder mysteries set in an incredible world, this book is for you.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked is book 1 in Naomi Valkyrie's Life is Hell series. It is my first demon book, so i didn't know what to expect. It was really good, written with enough details that I was not confused. There was a lot of good description so I could envision the different characters. There were demons, angels, witches, and more. I love Delilah's character. She is very sarcastic and has a I don't give a F attitude. The book had me laughing out loud a couple times. Despite being a killer, she is a pretty cool chick, lol. The book had a lot of characters, and their relationships and history were well written. The book ended good, it wasn't a cliff hanger, but ended open enough to leave readers anticipating the next story. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Quickly became a fan of the author and her writing style.

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
No Rest for the Wicked (Life Is Hell Book 1) by Naomi Valkyrie

Wow! I absolutely loved this book and is definitely my favorite by this author. From the moment I started reading I couldn’t stop I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This author continues to amaze me with her attention to detail and her characters are simply amazing. This story has a bit of everything from mystery to action, fantasy , paranormal, witches, and romance. Delilah is feeling a little like a burnt out demon, so she decides to take a break which finds her in a small town that is full of secrets. Will she find the peace and quiet shes seeking? Will she find there’s no rest for the wicked? Find out what happens next in this must read. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

This author is quickly becoming one of my favorites. This is a genre I wouldn’t think I would enjoy but then I get so into the story I’m begging for more. I felt real bad for Delilah, getting forced to work on her vacation and on top of that doing something she did not want to do for 3 witches she never meant to come into contact with. I was excited to see her meet the sheriff, Malakhi and to see where their relationship would head. I was not prepared for but, was ecstatic to welcome Caspian into this mix! I really enjoyed the flow of this book, the story, and the characters. I love that the author introduced LGBT+ characters into this story and I am really looking forward to see what happens next with this trio. I also wouldn’t mind see what comes of Sheridan and her crush.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked by Naomi Valkyrie a sublime five-star read. This is number one in the Life is Hell series, and I can’t wait for more, its not often I come across an author that brings a freshness to a genre, but this one does. I was used to reading just the authors I knew and loved as I was getting fed up with the repetitiveness I was finding in other new authors, this one there is no repetitiveness everything is well plotted and from an imagination I can only imagine must be vast and a wicked maze, all of the characters feel fresh and real. I love the wit and one liner’s that is peppered throughout as well, it really does keep you on your toes. Well done Naomi Valkyrie for keeping up the great writing and refreshing this tired reader’s heart.

[Betsy Melano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delilah is a demon who owns a bar in a busy city. After almost 200 years, life has gotten pretty mundane. She’s tired of the same old routine and decides that she needs a change (who doesn’t these days right?) What could be better than vacationing in a small town in the middle a nowhere for her to enjoy some reading and relax.

I love reading a new series and getting to know new characters and when the main character is a demon, it adds just the right amount of danger! Ms. Valkyrie’s characters are so fascinating it adds and enhances the paranormal worlds she creates. You will want to keep reading and not put the book down until to the end.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: No Rest for the Wicked
Author: Naomi Valkyrie
FOUR STARS
I am not usually a Paranormal reader but the story line in the description of this book really intrigued me. I picked it up and read it all in one evening. It kept me well entertained and involved. Meeting the different characters and how they all blended and melded into the story line. Yes there is a romance blossoming in this, however that was not the focus of the story. You will meet a couple demons, a few witches a fallen angel or 2. Some kind of water creature and a shape shifter just to name a few. Very good story and I would love to read more from Ms. Valkyrie.
KLH

[Kerry carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Naomi Valkyrie  is one of my favourite authors. I love her mix of mystery and paranormal and this book definately doesn't disappoint.

Delilah is a demon. Her whole existence revolves around murder and basically satisfying her needs. When this life isn't working out for her she leaves the city hoping that a quiet place would give her some much need peace and quiet.

Boy how wrong she was. With witches, shapeshifters  and her being forced to commit murder there literally is no rest for the wicked.

Can Delilah survive the binding by the witches? How many people will die? And can her love interest Sheriff Malakhi  save her and his town?

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. It was so much better! I really enjoyed the fast pace of the story and the intriguing characters. There is so much going on and so so many secrets. I enjoyed it all!

Delilah is not what I expected. I was expecting a sex addict, cruel demon. But surprisingly she is nice and just tired and wants a break from life. She has all kinds of cool powers and abilities. The other characters in here are all full of surprises.

Again I am thrilled at how enjoyable this story is. The smooth writing and the fast pace was wonderful. I can see why this has a lot of five star reviews. I look forward to the next one

[Lyndsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a couple other books by this author so i knew I would enjoy this one before I even opened it and I was so right!

Delilah is a demon living among us and when she snaps and needs a break from it all, she finds a small little town to relax in, or so she thinks.
This author has a way of giving enough details you can just picture everything that the characters are seeing and experiencing without being overly descriptive.
I really enjoyed this book and had a few laughs, a few edge of my seat moments and overall just enjoyment. I can't wait for more in this new series!

[Rachel Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked by Naomi Valkyrie is the first book in the Life is Hell series and was an amazing read! I was fully immersed in this book from the first few pages. It was also a shirt novel, so it's very quick to read. Delilah, the main female character, was such a blast to read, she had me laughing throughout the whole thing, I immediately fell in love with her character! All the rest of the characters were amazing too, of course, but Delilah was the one who had me laughing and became my favorite. This was such a good book, I can't wait to read the next installment in this series!

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Rest for the Wicked by Naomi Valkyrie
Five Stars

No Rest for the Wicked is the first book in the Life is Hell Series by Naomi Valkyrie. I have to say Ms. Valkyrie is becoming one of my go to authors. Her books get better and better with each new book. This is my new favorite. Delilah is a delightful demon. The storyline had me hooked from the very first page and I couldn’t put it down until I read the last page. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. If you like paranormal, this is the book for you.

[Erica Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all. It has complex complicated charters. The storyline captivated me. I always like to pick up a book by Naomi Valkyrie. I am never disappointed with any of her work. It captures me in the first paragraph until the last sentence. This storyline is about a demon named Delilah. Now Delilah is a tired demon who just wants to take a break. When she found the small town of Juniper Lake so that this was going to be the place. Or is it? Will she have the rest she deserves or will her services be needed? I highly recommend this book and author. You will not be disappointed.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book, No Rest for the Wicked (Life Is Hell Book 1) by Naomi Valkyrie. It's a paranormal story that had me hooked from the very beginning. I love the main character Delilah. When I read the synopsis of this book, I thought the Sheriff was going to be a bad guy. Instead, he's a love connection. There are a ton of twists and there isn't exactly a cliffhanger, but it does leave you wanting more. This is a well developed story that is a great start to a new series. No Rest for the Wicked is the first in the Life is Hell series,

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me laughing and feeling bad for the characters. Delilah is someone you should not mess with. She will always get her way in the end. For a demon she was very human. I loved that I could relate to her and everything she does is on her terms. She knows she's a demon but tries to do some good in her situation. I wish I got more background to Caspian. These the only characters that was just there. Yes he tried to help his friend but I had more questions than answered. I can't wait to read more!