Azreth has always faced life alone. Trust is dangerous.
Like all demons, he is a monster, forced to kill and abuse to survive.
When he’s imprisoned on the mortal plane and bound to a cruel human lord, his only hope for escape is the lord’s mistreated wife, who offers herself to him in exchange for his protection.
She may be small, but her mind is as sharp as any sword. Trusting her to help him navigate this strange new world is probably a mistake.
Her kindness is a trap, and he won’t fall for it.
No mortal could love a demon, and a demon shouldn’t love anyone at all.
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Hell Sent is a novella-length spicy fantasy monster romance featuring a prickly cinnamon roll hero and a gentle heroine on a journey of mutual healing and self-acceptance.
This book is a retelling of Demon Bound through Azreth’s eyes. Reading Demon Bound first is recommended but not required. This book is intended for adults and contains spicy scenes and violence. See the author’s website for detailed content information.
Nina K. Westra is an elf enthusiast and fantasy romance author with a love of antiheroes, outsiders, and feminist men. Her books feature sweetness and spice, action and adventure, and heart-wrenching (usually forbidden, always angsty) romance with non-human men.
She lives in the ridiculously beautiful Pacific Northwest, and when she’s not writing, she can usually be found petting someone’s cat.
For news, ARCs, and free stories, sign up for her newsletter at ninakwestra.com.
This is the novella after Demon Bound. This is from the demons POV.
I enjoyed this, but since it was pretty much the same story except in the demons POV I felt that it didn’t add much. Yes you get to learn more of his background, but it didn’t feel necessary.
I was really looking forward to this one as I really wanted more from Azreth in the first one but it just felt like it was stilling missing something. I think if this would have been a dual pov and one book it would have been perfect. Both parts separately just didn't feel like enough.
Thank you nerd fam for gifting me the eARC While I did love reading the story from Azreths point of. Ore in this novella, it could have all been put into book one with duel point of view . Still w joyed it very much
Thank you to the Nerd Fam and the author for this ARC!
It was a quick read from Azreth POV. I absolutely loved how it showed how he transformed over the book. His perspectives changed on being a demon and what he considered “weak.” His growth throughout the book was great and I enjoyed it!
Hell Sent is book 1.5 in the Demons of Ardani series, where we follow the journey of Raiya and Azreth, but we are hearing and seeing everything from Azreth's POV. And let me just say I am so glad Nina wrote this version because Azreth is just the sweetest demon. Even though he was abused and forced into a life of merely surviving just because he was born with a disability, he not only finds a way to accept himself as he is, but also thrives with the help and kindness of Raiya. I was so invested in his character development and it did not disappoint!
This book was an emotional journey and the perfect story after the empowering growth for Raiya in book 1, Demon Bound. It would also make an amazing tandem read. I love the relationship that develops between Azreth and Raiya, they fit so perfectly.
I highly recommend giving the Demons of Ardani series a go if you like monster fantasy romance, please make sure you check the trigger warnings for both books.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC and also to Nina K. Westra for the opportunity to read the Demons of Ardani series.
3.5⭐️ I really liked getting azreth’s pov, especially when we got flashbacks from the hell realm. Like how he was born, and was so happy just to exist, but my heart hurt for him and how he was treated. He definitely gives, looks like he can kill you, will kill you, but only if he needs to because he’s a cinnamon roll. It was also nice to see him discover things in the mortal realm, like reading his inner monologue especially since he doesn’t talk too much in demon bound. But I loved to see him open up to raiya, and show his vulnerable side since he never could in the demon realm.
This review is a couple days after the release day but thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC. My reviews are always 100% honest.
This is the same story that was told in Demon Bound, but from Azreth’s POV.
Now you don’t HAVE to read this after finishing Demon Bound, but I do feel like it enhances the story. You get some flashbacks of Azreth while he was in hell and it helps you get a better understanding of him and fills in some of the blanks of when he is separate from Raiya. I really enjoyed both stories.
A day in the life of a demon trapped in the real world. This was a good little accompanying tale from our MMC's perspective and I enjoyed the read. In a lot of ways it was giving synopsis glimpse, bonus content energy. Which, as I'm sure we have all experienced once or twice after a new read, we are just hankering to have while we wait for a next installation.
Thank you Nerd Fam for the arc. I really wanted to love this book. I enjoyed Azreth so much in Demon Bound, but this book did not hit for me. Felt like it could have all been wrapped up in one book. This just felt short for me.
I suspect I missed a fair bit in not having noticed that Hell Sent is a second book, not the first, but I always have respect for an author who writes a supernatural character with a voice that doesn't sound human. The culture shock feels right.
This feels a bit like a lite version of AK Caggiano, minus the humour but with a fair bit of angst.
I was so excited for Azreth’s POV! After reading Demon Bound last year, and falling in love with our cinnamon-roll demon- I needed it!
Azreth is one of those MMC’s that you’re like- ‘if that’s what he’s SAYING, then what is this 10/10 hunk of demon man THINKING!?’ Needless to say, he did NOT disappoint. I love him even more now!
If you love monster romances, cinnamon-roll hero’s (with a prickly side), and a strong but gentle heroine- then this is for you!
𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩 is a re-telling of Demon Bound, from our MMC’s POV! I would HIGHLY recommend reading Demon Bound first, and having 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩 at the ready for when you finish, because you will NEED to see this romance unfold from Azreth’s eyes.
Hell Sent is Azreth POV from Book 1. The character growth in this book is amazing, you are able to understand his emotions and understand why he responds in a certain way because of what he goes through.
It truly broke my heart to see how he was treated because he was made differently and he just assumed everything he went through was normal til he met Raiya who showed him how he should be treated.
I love being able to read the MMC POV because seeing it in his eyes when he was first made to being summoned to meeting Raiya.. it was wonderful. The bonus part about this novella being his POV, IS THE SPICY SCENES!!!!! I will NEVER get over the magic hands and i’m talk about he uses magic to make multiple hands to pleasure Raiya… LIKE ARE WE JOKING!!! 😭
❤️🔥 Demon MMC & Gentle Human FMC ❤️🔥 Character Growth ❤️🔥 Male POV ❤️🔥 Emotional Healing ❤️🔥 Forced Proximity
Hell Sent by Nina K. Westra is an amazing companion novel to Demon Bound! Seeing the inner workings of Azreth's mine is both interesting and hilarious at times. Seeing him more in-depth made his character that much more dynamic and lovable.
I loved Azreth in Demon Bound, but I grew to adore him in Hell Sent. He's such a broody cinnamon roll that wanted to be good, but his demon instincts get in the way.
I think reading Demon Bound and Hell Sent in tandem would be a fantastic idea. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys an adventurous, sweet but spicy monster romance.
I liked getting Azreth's POV in Hellsent but would have enjoyed it more being in one book. I do rating this one lower. I do not know if it was planned to be seperate from the beginning or was decided to be made after. I do think this could be done as a tendem read or seperately. All in all it was a solid read and do suggest it if you are into monster romance and want his POV. Personally I did not know if I would like it but was pleasantly surprised.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and I was anticipating enjoying this novella before going in since I knew it was from Azreth’s perspective, but it just fell flat for me. It was quite literally book one from Azreth’s perspective—I didn’t really get anything fresh—and I really struggled to connect with Azreth. Personally, I feel like the first book should’ve just been a dual POV.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted digital arc. This rating and review is my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hell Sent is dark, intense, and emotionally gripping. Westra delivers a twisted romance with raw chemistry and complex characters that keep you hooked, it’s a haunting, addictive read. Getting Azreth’s POV of the events in demon bound was the move for this story, seeing the growth from him as he learned the ways of humans, and accepting that love is not wrong brings so much closure for me from book 1. *
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* Thank you to The Nerd Fam & Nina K Westra for my advance copy! 💜
Loved seeing things from Azreth's perspective and getting to know a bit more of his backstory, too. He is adorable!
And yes, even though it is a novella, I would have preferred this one to be a bit longer. Of course I already know what happened in Demon Bound, but some of my favourite scenes from that book were not included here, or felt a bit rushed over. I would have preferred a more in depth look at this POV.
What was there, however, was still very nicely done, and I enjoyed reading it very much.
The book provided us with a lot of background information on Azreth’s origin. It really shows all the personal struggles he was dealing with on the mortal plane. It also shows that he was able to overcome his prejudice and ignorance of what mortals really were like. There is always one person who can change your perspective on the world and Raiya is the person for Azreth. Absolutely beautiful!
I’m not a huge fan of a retelling from a new POV, I think this book could’ve benefitted from making book 1 into alternating POVs or an extended epilogue at the end of book 1 instead of making it a 1.5. With that being said, azreth is such a charming and lovable character that it was still an enjoyable read
I really liked having the story from Azreth’s POV. I will say, maybe if the book had just been a dual POV, it would have been a little more impactful since this story is the exact same timeline. I did like the flashbacks from Azreth before he came to the mortal world as well.
3.5 ⭐️ Hell Sent gave me what I didn’t know I needed: Azareth’s POV. Seeing everything through Azareth’s eyes—the way he’s been taught that love is a disease, how feeding off emotions has warped his sense of connection—was so impactful.
He’s not just a demon. He’s a cinnamon roll dipped in grief and guarded silence. His journey from confusion to clarity hit hard, and the way he slowly realizes Raiya isn’t a threat, but a lifeline? Chef’s kiss. There’s still spice (a lot of it), but it’s layered with emotional vulnerability in a way I didn’t expect.
Huge thanks to NerdFam and Nina K. for the ARC. 3.5 solid stars again—especially now that I fully get him.
“The more time he spent with her, the more he was beginning to feel like he was her prisoner, not the other way around.”
If you’ve read Demon Bound and thought you loved Azreth then — Hell Sent will have you head over heels. This spicy, emotional, and utterly addictive novella delivers everything fans of the Demons of Ardani series have been waiting for — Azreth’s point of view.
Azreth is one of those rare MMCs who completely transforms under the spotlight of his own POV. Broody, brutal, and demonically charming, Hell Sent peels back his layers to reveal something deeply vulnerable beneath all the magic and muscle. His confusion over the human world is both hilarious and heart-wrenching, and watching his emotional journey unfold is nothing short of spellbinding.
A retelling of Demon Bound from Azreth’s perspective, Hell Sent invites us back into the tension-filled cage where this demon’s story truly begins — only this time, we get the internal dialogue, the raw reactions, and the tender unraveling of a creature built for destruction who suddenly wants to protect. The added spice (hello, magical hands 😳) is just the cherry on top of a story already brimming with heat and heart.
Raiya, the gentle but fiercely intelligent human heroine, shines even brighter here through Azreth’s eyes. She's not just a means to his freedom, but a mirror for everything he thought he wasn’t worthy of: kindness, trust, and yes — love.
Westra’s writing is lush and emotional, balancing demon-powered intensity with surprisingly tender moments. She masterfully explores themes of emotional healing, forced proximity, and what it means to choose vulnerability over violence.
💖 Demon MMC & Gentle Human FMC 💖 Character Growth 💖 Male POV Goodness 💖 Emotional Healing 💖 Forced Proximity 💖 SPICE (with a dash of demon magic)
This novella may be short, but its emotional punch is massive. Though I would’ve loved a longer format to let some of the big emotional beats breathe even more, Hell Sent still hits in all the right ways. Azreth’s growth from cold captor to soft-hearted protector is beautifully done, and the ending? Chef’s kiss.
For anyone who enjoys monster romances with depth, spice, and soul — this is a must-read. And if you haven’t read Demon Bound yet? Grab it first, then have Hell Sent ready to devour. You’re going to want to see this story from both sides.
Azreth is officially top-tier book husband material. 🖤
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC. #demonsofardani #demonbound #hellsent #thenerdfam
Huge thanks to Nina K. Westra for the opportunity to read an early copy; this is my unbiased review.
There’s something irresistible about a story that leans into monstrosity and then dares to ask - what if love bloomed there anyway? A retelling of Demon Bound, through Azreth's eyes instead of Raiya's, Hell Sent is a dark little gem of a novella: sharp-edged, tender-hearted, and quietly aching beneath all its teeth.
Azreth is the kind of hero I love best: brutal by design, shaped by a world that never showed him softness, and so utterly bewildered when he’s offered something like grace. His dynamic with Raiya - fragile and fiery in all the right ways - carries the emotional core of the story. Their relationship is built in inches: stolen moments, a tentative truce, the slow miracle of trust. The spice is there (and deliciously demon-flavoured), but it never overwhelms the deeper narrative of healing and hard-earned connection.
I adore how Westra explores power - what it means to have it, to lose it, and to offer it to someone else. Raiya, though mortal and physically vulnerable, is never passive. She’s cunning, steady, and quietly subversive in a world that wants her broken. Her resilience made my heart hurt.
That said, the brevity of this novella sometimes works against it. There were emotional beats that deserved a little more room to breathe, especially as Azreth shifts from suspicion to genuine affection. I'd have loved a longer format, which would have allowed for even richer development and higher emotional stakes, but what is here still packs a hefty punch.
This is a story for readers who crave monstrosity wrapped in tenderness, for those who love watching someone slowly, stubbornly believe they’re worthy of being loved. Dark, a little bloody, and oddly beautiful, Hell Sent is a tale of two broken creatures learning to become something more gentle, together.
Nina Westra’s second book in her Demons of Ardani is the much needed story from Azreth’s POV. Hell Sent provides readers new insight to Demon Bound (book one of Demons of Ardani). A quick read that takes you back to the dark, but irresistible world created, to remind readers why Azreth and Raiya are a couple that we want to see thrive. The themes of monsters are made due to circumstance, but not all monsters look like monsters and not all heroes are clean cut and wholesome.
Azreth’s story starts out as an opportunity to save himself. Knowing that Raiya needs to get away from her husband he agrees to help, but this story fills in his thoughts and behaviors that we didn’t get to fully see before. Yes, he is not of the human world, but his understanding of the human psyche goes beyond even that of humans. He is large and ruthless, but kind and soft with Raiya, that even she doesn’t fear him. Having every reason to, she can see the trust and protective streak in him.
If you enjoy monster romances but the monster is the exact opposite down to his core, this book is for you! Nina is not shy about portraying Azreth as the big bad monster, but she is thoughtful in how she brings humanity out of said monster. It is evident that there is so much more than meets the eye, especially as readers get to see Raiya through Azreth’s eyes. It is evident how capable of human emotion he is and his ability to feel it better than human’s themselves.
Nina has written a dark, yet insightful and emotional story that I devoured. You do not necessarily have to read book one before enjoying this book, however I strongly encourage that you do, because it brings to life the full beauty of this romance.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect: 👿Prickly Cinnamon Roll MMC 🖤Gentle FMC 👿Emotional Healing 🖤Unavoidable Proximity 👿Reluctant Allies to Lovers 🖤Demon x Human
Hell Sent was a novella I approached with eager curiosity—after all, I was already smitten with the dynamic between Raiya and Azreth in Demon’s Bound. The idea of delving deeper into Azreth’s mind was something I could not resist.
While the story was delivered in some ways, I have to admit that it did not quite capture me the way the first did. However, this reaction is less about the novella’s quality and more about personal preference. Stories told from this particular POV have never quite been my thing, and I’ve always felt they work better when placed later in a series. In this case, much of the emotional ground felt familiar, mirroring the dynamics we had already experienced in the original book.
Although I normally love dual POVs, I found Raiya’s voice in the first book more compelling and easier to connect with. That said, Azreth remains an incredibly fascinating character. There’s a quiet strength to him—a gentle, self-aware demon navigating a violent world that does not quite fit him. Seeing events unfold through his perspective shed light on just how utterly misplaced he feels within his demonic roots.
I suspect that if I revisited this story at a slower, more contemplative pace, its layers would resonate further. That said, I couldn’t help but wish for a novella focused on Azreth’s fresh start on Earth, perhaps woven with flashbacks from his past. Instead, this alternative retelling revisits familiar beats from the main storyline. While it has undeniable merit, the first book already stands strong as a beautifully crafted tale in its own right. In the grand scheme of things, I’d recommend holding off on this novella until later in your reading journey—it might feel more rewarding that way. Of course, that is just my opinion!
Huge thanks to Nina K. Westra and the @TheNerdFam team for the eARC!I’m so grateful I got to dive into this intense and emotional journey early in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Huge thank you to The Nerd Fam for this gifted eARC, here is my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the story was good and the world building was done well. I felt like the world building was more flushed out in this book.
In this book we experience the MMC's perspective. In book 1 Demon Bound we get to see the FMC's perspective. I really enjoyed that aspect, I would however highly recommend to tandem read these books, I feel you get a more complete story that way.
In this book we dive more deeply into the Hell relms with some of Azreth's back story. We learn more about where he came from and the trauma that he indured. I really enjoyed that deeper dive into his character to really understand where he was coming from and why he was so worried when he started to have feelings for Raiya.
I really loved the romance in this story. The way that their feelings develop so naturally was really nice to read. I loved all the tension and I loved all of the doubts and second guessing at first. I love that we feel Azreth's longing for Raiya, he longs for her so much it is powerful. I love how he longs for her, it is so pure and innocent in a way. I love me a non human love interest with a tragic past and trust issues, because the way that these men absolutely LONG for their woman, I love it! I think that one of my favorite moments in this book was when they were in the Romer camp and they shared a bed role and just cuddled. I loved how sweet that moment was for them.
I really liked the story and I loved the characters especially Azreth, he is such a cinnamon role demon MMC and I love it. I felt like the pacing in this book was much better compared to book one. I felt it was paced more evenly.
I would recommend this book and I highly recommend reading this and Demon Bound in tandem to get a more complete story.
Hell Sent by Nina K. Westra is a deeply emotional dark fantasy that explores survival, trust, and the limits of love in a world where cruelty is currency. Azreth is the perfect brooding antihero—scarred, vicious, and utterly convinced he’s incapable of trust or love. His imprisonment on the mortal plane and forced bond to a cruel human lord sets the stage for a story that’s as much about navigating pain as it is about navigating power.
Enter the lord’s wife—a woman who’s endured her own horrors and has the resilience to match. Her sharp mind and quiet strength are captivating, and her willingness to bargain her safety for Azreth’s protection is a bold move. Their uneasy alliance is tense and layered, full of sharp edges and growing, reluctant intimacy. Watching Azreth grapple with the idea of kindness—of the possibility that someone might see the monster and still offer compassion—is both heartbreaking and beautifully done.
Westra’s writing is atmospheric, pulling you into a world of shadows, violence, and fragile hope. The exploration of power dynamics is handled with care, but some readers might find the relationships a little too sharp for comfort. The pacing dips slightly in the middle, and while the romance is slow-burn and intense, the full emotional payoff doesn’t always land as hard as it could.
Still, Hell Sent is a standout for fans of dark, gritty fantasy where survival isn’t pretty, trust must be earned drop by drop, and love—if it comes at all—is both a triumph and a tragedy. Azreth’s journey from monster to something more is one that lingers long after the final page.
I chose to tandem read these two books. If it’s your first time reading these books, I highly recommend doing a tandem read. Demon Bound is told by the perspective of Raiya and Hell Sent is told by the perspective of Azreth. It’s really easy to find your rhythm, but if you want some help I provided my reading order at the very bottom.
If you read Demon Bound and you’re looking for a refresher before book two comes out (please be soon 🤞🏻🤞🏻) Hell Sent is the perfect choice. It has all the main story beats but you get so much more details on who Azreth is and it’s gorgeous.
Raiya and Azreth are just so perfect for each other. They compliment each other so well and just speak with such positivity to one another. Raiya is so compassionate and understanding. Azreth’s receptivity to growth and change made him so endearing. Who would have thought a relationship with a demon could be so non-toxic and healthy.
And now I’m off to read more books by Nina K Westra, thanks!!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC. #demonsofardani #demonbound #hellsent #thenerdfam
Tropes:
Forced Proximity Demon x Human Reluctant Allies to Lovers Mutual Healing Touch Her and Die Character Growth Assurance
Tandem Reading Guide:
HS 1-2 DB 1 HS 3 until the chapter break on page 26 DB 2-3 HS finish 3 DB 4-5 HS 4 DB 6 HS 5-6 DB 7 until the chapter break on page 66 HS 7 DB finish 7 HS 8 DB 8 HS 9 DB 9 HS 10 DB 10 HS 11 DB 11 HS 12-14 DB 12-13 HS 15 until the 2nd chapter break on page 116 DB 14 HS finish 15 DB 15 HS 16 DB 16-17 until the chapter break on page 161 HS 17 until the chapter break on page 137 DB finish 17 HS finish 17-19 until the chapter break on page 150 DB 18 HS finish 19 DB 19-20 HS 20 DB 21-22 HS 21 DB 23-24 HS 22 DB 25-27 HS 23 until the 3rd chapter break on page 195 DB 28 HS finish 23 DB 29 HS 24 DB 30 HS 25 DB 31 HS 26