Thicker than Water

Redwater Demons #1

by Ellie Roth

“Hate is learned, hunter. And I see you were a very good student.”
“Thanks. I try.”

Julian Jackson, demon hunter, doesn’t expect his latest mission to end with him accidentally adopting the demon he was supposed to capture, but tiny Desi immediately wraps JJ around her little finger—and wakes up all his brotherly protective instincts. Hiding her in the midst of the hunters’ headquarters is a challenge, but he’s determined to make it work… until another demon breaks in and abducts her.

Cassius Chin, demon, is dumbfounded to learn that the demon toddler he just saved from the evil hunter didn’t actually want to be rescued—and that Desi wants her JJ back. Meeting with the hunter to discuss joint custody over their jointly kidnapped daughter is a new low in Cass’s immortal life, and co-parenting her with JJ is an exercise in patience… and several other emotions he doesn’t want to examine too closely.

As JJ and Cass raise Desi together, they slowly realize that they’re more alike than they ever would’ve expected—and that their growing attraction to each other is stronger than the hatred they’ve always taken for granted. But when their makeshift family is threatened by hunters and demons alike, will they return to the safety of their old lives or risk everything to build a new future together?
--
Thicker than Water is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy that features a modern world filled with demons from another dimension and the hunters who (eventually) love them, a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, reluctant fake dating, found family vibes, tragic backstories, mild to moderate steaminess, major angst, and a happy ending for our protagonists (with a few plot threads left open for later books).

*Content warnings available on website.

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Demons, Slow Burn, Paranormal

442 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2024

About the author

Ellie Roth is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy author who writes about love interests earning their happy endings and found families building a more hopeful world for themselves. She can mostly be found in a New York town that no one can pronounce unless they grew up nearby, slouching over her laptop and probably giving herself back problems. Her hobbies include writing, working out, and scrolling through Tumblr to indulge her latest fandom obsessions.

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Reviews

[Mello · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, BookSirens and the author, for the opportunity.

What to expect:
📍Co-parenting a demon child
📍Forced proximity
📍Forbidden romance
📍Human x Demon
📍Slow burn
📍Found family
📍Fake dating
📍Small Town romance
📍Food truck culture

This is the first book of a new paranormal romance series that looks like it will have an interesting mix of couples (ex: 2nd books it's going to be FF). The world setting is promising with some very unique elements that I haven't seen before. It's basically modern society but there's a kind of 'magic', and long ago something happened that beings from other dimension were summoned by crazy humans that wanted power or the usual destroying-the-world plan (it was not carefully explained in this book so this is mostly my interpretation). Those creatures take the form of the summoner's nightmares and are tied to them as slaves. So humans started calling them 'demons', and of course they needed to be caught and destroyed. An organization was created to hunt them, and that leads to present day were hunters are like human elites with strong physiques and magic abilities that were brainwashed at some point. It's like a creepy cult with stupid rules and hierarchy of blood. On the other hand demons became 'civilized' and now have an organization of their own with lots of paperwork and bureaucracy. 🤣🤣 The duality it's hilarious right?

The premise was great, but a few things didn't worked out for me. It's mainly the author's writing style and questionable choices for the plot. The pace of the story was slow, which didn't bother me at all if not for how things were rushed at the end. More than a 100 pages in the middle of the book featuring them being a family of three and having sweet moments together with nothing moving the plot, and then the cliché scenes of absurd distrust- falling in the hands of the enemy a couple of times - betrayal of an important side character - almost died scene and let's officialized this relationship hurried in the last pages. It was a shame really, because I wanted to enjoy it more. This is quite subjective so if you find it interesting don't let me guide your opinion! The couple was amazing with lots of possibilities and the kid got me giggling a few times. In general, it was an okay read, but other readers may appreciate it more 😊.

PS: I still don't understand why if they were running away from two scary magical organizations and they had the ability to teleport to anywhere in the world, they still choose to live in the same small town where these organizations were located 😭🤣?? Believe it or not, I only realize this detail after finishing the book and organizing my thoughts, but now I can't stop focusing on that...

[Aysha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thicker than Water is the first book in the Redwater Demons series and can be read as a standalone as it ends on a HEA for the couple, but not for the series. I do intend to just read it as a standalone.

What a unique book! Ellie Roth is a new author to me but when I read the blurb I just couldn’t resist! And I’m so glad I didn’t, I fell in love with JJ, Cass and Desi and couldn’t put the book down.

I loved Roth’s unusual portrayal of demons and hunters.

JJ is a great fighter, hard working, and yet so kind and sweet to Desi.

Cassius is snarky, one of the strongest demons, and spoils both JJ (when they get along) and Desi. I loved both of these characters so much.

One of my favourite parts of this book is JJ and Cass’s relationship with Desi (who is an adorable ray of sunshine who could melt anyone’s heart!). I loved seeing them come together for her. There was lots of hatred and distrust on both sides and it was really interesting and authentic to see how they slowly went from dislike to tolerating each other, to then liking each other and falling in love. Their developing relationship was beautiful, romantic, sexy and powerful. Roth delved into a deeper topic with their love about two species that are at war with each other and the damaging impact it can have on a family.

There is lots of danger and action in this book. I felt so many emotions: joy, excitement, humour, worry, anger, sadness, there was even a moment when I cried! I would urge you to go in blind with this book, I’ve tried to say as little as possible about the plot.

I do wish we had a bit more time with JJ and Cass. This is a slow burn and it doesn’t have any explicit sex scenes to me, more like a clean sex scene, if that makes sense.

I’m probably not going to continue the series as I feel very happy with where JJ, Cass and Desi are. While I know there will probably be glimpses of them in the series, them not being main characters won’t be the same for me as I don’t have any sentimental or endearing feelings towards any of the side characters/ future MCs.

This book has triggering content such as mention of murder of main character’s family, imprisonment and torture of MCs (one tortured by a friend), mention of human/ demon trafficking and slavery, oppressive system for demon hunters, and panic attacks.

Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (just JJ, Cass and Desi)
World building: 🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊🖊

😈 MM Demon/ Hunter romance
❤️‍🔥 Enemies to lovers
🏠 Co-parenting
🥰 An adorable 4 year old demon girl who turns into a wyvern
🤭 Fake relationship

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

JJ lost his family when he was a child; his parents, his life, were gone in one moment. Taken in by the Sanctum, JJ was trained to be a demon hunter, to be ruthless, dangerous, cold blooded, and monstrous. He’s good at it, and he tries to be great, to prove to the Sanctum that he was worth saving. But when he comes face to face with a young demon, whose age is somewhere between toddler and child, JJ can’t be the hunter he’s supposed to be.

If you’re looking for a new paranormal romance, or a demon/demon hunter romance, or a family-oriented adventure story, this is well worth a read. However, for people who aren’t as interested in kid-focused books, you might want to wait for the sequel, instead, which I will be eagerly waiting to read.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Dreamcatcher]

DNF @ 11%

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This book, right here, is what I love MOST about reviewing. I come across a blurb that I love the sound of, by an author that is new to me, and the book blows me away! I freaking LOVED this book!

Julian is a demon hunter. His latest job finds himself adopted by the demon he was sent to kill. But she's just a little girl, and he cannot. He then finds said toddler kidnapped from him, and a demon contacts him, to share custody! (I'm sorry, but that really did make me chuckle!) But as Cassius and JJ bond over Desi, pieces are being moved on the cheesboard, and it's not very clear who will come out on top.

Like I said, freaking loved this book!

I loved the jump straight in for JJ and Desi. I loved the gentle way we are told about this world and the people and demons in it. The world building is excellent, and I could keep up and follow what was being thrown at me at all times. Cass and JJ have redefined the SLOW BUILD! I love the gradual way the attraction builds between these two. It's slow and subtle, and one of them thinks/says something and its "say what now??" SOme funny moments, too.

It's violent in places. JJ bears the brunt of that but not all is on page. MUCH is implied. I liked that we don't get it all, but we get some clues as to how bad it really was.

While JJ and Cass have a slow build, when we get to the main event?? Totally fade to grey and I freaking LOVED THAT TOO!! I'm big enough to admit, I like my books on the steamy side, and I'm also big enough to admit that not all books nned to be explicit. I loved that this one was not.

Betrayal of the highest order is painful for JJ, but Cass comes to the rescue, in his true form. And I loved that there was no indication that demons in this world had another form! There is some indication who might be next, at the end of this one with a bit of the next book. Actually, it gives you the next TWO books, I hope!

This is a new to me author, at the start of a new series. Two questions I ask myself when I read new authors and starts of series: will I read more by this author?? And will I continue the series. My answers to both questions is a HELL FREAKING YES!!

I can't fault this, I really cannot.

5 full and oh-so shiny stars!

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thicker Than Water is the first book in Ellie Roth's MM paranormal romance series, Redwater Demons. This is a slow burn romance that is equal parts quirky and heart felt, with an underlying thread of darkness driving the story forward and more than a few laugh out loud moments.

I absolutely adored this book, from start to finish. I didn't know what to expect but I have been totally blown away by just how much I love this book.

The premise seems pretty simple. In a supernatural hotspot of Redwater, Julian Jackson is a well know demon hunter. He joined the shady group that hunt and kills demons after the death of his parents and beloved little sister some years before. The demon hunters do some dark and dangerous things to the hunters that defect, and the demons they capture and torture. When a mission goes wrong, Julian finds himself taking care of a demon toddler that he takes to protecting .

Cassius Chin is a demon who had been summoned to earth a couple centuries ago. He and a couple of fellow demons seem to wander and do good where they can. That is how he hatches a plan to kidnap the child demon who had been kidnapped by a hunter. Except that the child is bereft without her human protector.

With Cassius and Julian having to enter a custody arrangement to look after the little girl, Desi, the quirkiness and the danger in the situation begins to snowball. Cassius and Julian start a classic enemies to lovers/opposites attract romance, one that is fraught hurdles that put both their lives and Desi's life in danger.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 This came so close to a 5-star read for me, but I’m not a huge fan of interpersonal angst and tension (and it’s hard to mention more in the review without spoilers), but that’s what brought it down a bit for me. It’s very well-written, that part just makes me sad and frustrated, lol, since it isn’t resolved here but is clearly set up for the larger overarching plot. I certainly have hopes it will be sorted by the end of the series, but that doesn’t help me now, lol.

I loved Desi, JJ, and Cass, and their relationship was awesome. We get a great slow burn as JJ and Cass are forced to spend time together in order to spend time with Desi. Their joint caring for the Desi reveals so much about them (to each other and to the reader), that it’s impossible not to care for them. I love how JJ maintained so much goodness despite the Sanctum. There’s definitely a lot of prejudice that needs to be countered.

I appreciated all the sweet moments with Desi, just trying to let her be a kid and supporting her love of wyverns, dragons, and food. I would have liked to spend a bit more time with JJ and Cass once they were dating, but I did think the slow burn made it much more realistic given how adversarial they were to begin with (and how much prejudice there was).

I’m definitely curious about some of the ramifications of what happened here, and I’m looking forward to the next book. (And, you know, kind of hoping that the Sanctum is going to be burned to the ground.)

I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens and Ellie Roth for a free advance review e-copy of this book, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Julian Jackson, demon hunter, and Cassius Chin, demon, find themselves on the same side when they inadvertently both adopt a young demon girl. Trying to keep her whereabouts hidden from The Sanctuary, the organisation Julian works for, and which the local townspeople call the cult on the hill, Julian and Cassius start to bond beyond their shared dependant.

What I liked: I enjoyed the character development and romance, and the secondary characters were brilliant too. The world building was a great concept, the plot kept me guessing, and the down time between action scenes helped grow the belief in the relationships. I got choked up in a few places, so the writing was definitely on point.

What didn’t work for me: Most of it was fantastic, but I was left a bit confused by whether demons are a known or hidden entity in the world. It seemed that ordinary humans in the town knew about them, though I got the impression from other situations that they weren’t known to the general public. Maybe I missed something I’ll pick up on a reread.

Final thoughts: I am really looking forward to the rest of the series, especially after I read the super cute prequel novella, ”The Finer Points of Demonic Form FX-905” available on Ellie Roth’s website when you join her mailing list - read it after Thicker than Water though to avoid spoilers.

Who would like this: Fans of contemporary fantasy with a mid range romance element (fade to black scenes).

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always looking for a new fantasy series to dive into, and Five Broken Blades instantly grabbed my attention. There was so much about this that promised to tick my boxes, which meant I went in with high expectations.

While Five Broken Blades certainly had me hooked, I will be honest by saying it was far from perfect. There were too many things that were overly obvious, there was too much focus on relationships that were built upon nothing, and there were some points where things felt too young for the story. Despite these things, the story had me hooked. Due to that, I found myself unable to put the story down. Even though I worked out what was going to happen with many of the characters, it was not enough to lessen my desire to witness how things would play out. I was eager for the little details, and these kept me turning the pages. My hope is that the next book is not quite as juvenile and delves deeper into the complexities offered within the story (as it stands, the characters have yet to reach the potential promised of them), ensuring I remain hooked on this world with plenty to offer.

All in all, this was a fun start to the series that has left me eager for more. While not perfect, it did all the necessary things to ensure I will be picking up the second book in the series to see what comes next.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Roth, this book is chefs kiss perfect! As someone who hasn’t read fantasy in a WHILE, I was slightly worried that I wouldn’t be able to get invested in this book. Truly was not the case! JJ and Cass are such sweet well rounded characters and Desi is just the cherry on top.

The vibe:
Slow burn enemies to lovers including an oops we accidentally adopted a child? But the twist is the child is a demon that one of the co-parents was sent to kill! Really interesting and nuanced take on learned vs innate behaviours and how people are trained to hate others.

Pros:
- All the characters are incredible ! looking forward to seeing them grow in future stories
- The magic and the fantasy element was quite simple and understandable ! But still super interesting and fun.
- The little snippet of the next book setting up what’s to come has me even more excited

Cons:
- lots of world building that i am horrible at keeping up with, however, i can only assume that many things will be relevant going forward in the series

My standout quote:

“It was the first time I really felt like I belonged on Earth. Like it was really my home.”

JJ’s heart squeezes. “I’m glad,” he whispers. “Because Earth would be a hell of a lot less without you.”

Cass smiles back. “And I’d be a hell of a lot less without Earth. Earth, and‍—and everything it’s given me.”

Thank you to the publisher and Booksirens for my free advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hunter and a demon are a most unlikely pairing. Add a demon toddler, and some high-strung friends, and a secret society with dark objectives… and chaos is ensured…
This is an interesting starting for a new series. The main characters are likeable, it is a low burn non-explicit romance, where both Cass and JJ have some issues to work with before giving in to their feelings (specially JJ, after a traumatic childhood). Desi is adorable, and their family dynamic is really cute. The world building is also interesting, Redwater and its myriad of food trucks and gossip vendors… That’s sweet and funny as well.
So, generally speaking, I quite enjoyed this story. But I felt the pace was a bit awkward, sometimes it was really fast and sometimes a too slow for my liking… and there are so many questions left unanswered, I feel unsatisfied. For me Cass and JJ’s ending is not a HEA but a HFN, and considering that the next book in the series will deal with a different couple, I guess that’s how the author intends it… and I do not feel completely happy about it. But that’s simply how I feel about it.
I received an ARC and this is my voluntary review

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunter Julian Jackson, JJ, does not expect his latest mission to change his whole life. Instead of turning the young demon child over to his superiors, he sets her up in his room, determined to keep her safe. However, she is kidnapped by another demon, Cassius Chin. Cass had no idea that little Desi did not need rescuing and wanted her JJ back. The two agree to joint custody and to co-parent. Little did they know that they both will find more than they ever expected. Danger does come calling and they will need all their wits and a little help from friends if they are to survive.

This was a great enemies to lovers story. JJ had a tough life and all he ever knew was a hunter life style. Meeting Desi and Cass changed everything and had him looking beyond his “sheltered” life - so many new things for him to experience. Cass had been summoned some time ago and knew that hunters were trouble, but watching JJ with Desi made him rethink his past knowledge. With everything they go through, these two will touch your emotions and have you routing for a happy ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and this is my very own opinion.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

JJ is a demon hunter. Unfortunately his latest hunt brings him a demon Wyvern, presenting as an adorable four year old little girl named Desi. What’s a demon hunter to do? Protect her of course. Cass is a demon. He kidnaps Desi to protect her, not realizing she had bonded to JJ. What’s a demon to do? Share custody?

The hunter learns that demons are frustrating, annoying, and this particular demon is very attractive. The demon learns that not all hunters are blood thirsty, mindless killers. And this particular hunter is protective and sweet. Sweet? Cass was in serious trouble.

I liked that JJ and Cass’ relationship progressed slowly. The depth of their relationship had a solid foundation before the romance kicked in. Cass’ demon was different and interesting. The other demons and JJ’s friends (both good and bad) played a large and important role in the story development.

The love (and food, and plushies) they showered Desi with was sweet. She was the impetus that this story flowed from and I thought the author used her very well.

This was a satisfying story that I enjoyed.

I received an arc of this book.

[SNik · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in series (Redwater Demons). Paranormal. Enemies to lovers. Slow burn/closed door. Found family. Dual POV.

Saving an adolescent demon is not something JJ has ever done before, but his instant connection with Desi forces him to deny his training and protect her. When ancient demon Cass rescues the young demon he certainly doesn’t expect to offer to co-parent with a lethal demon hunter, no matter how sweet JJ is with Desi nor how cute he looks.

This book was so wonderfully unexpected, the focus being mainly on how Cass and JJ slowly form a family and dedicate themselves to their shared daughter and eventually to each other. The world building with opposing forces of demons and hunters was interesting, and definitely felt like any moment the danger would intrude on the safe and caring bubble Cass and JJ created around Desi. The secondary characters were extremely relevant, and the personal connections between them and Cass and JJ are so important. There were so many emotional parts of the story and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment with Cass and JJ. 4.5 rounded up

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific take on enemies to lovers with a (demon) baby along the way

Ellie Roth has stared her newest series out strong with a terrific take on the enemies to lovers trope with a demon baby (well four year old) along the way. Demon Cass and demon hunter JJ are not supposed to be friends never mind lovers but a little demon called Desi brings them together and they both end up realizing that they love each other as they learn to become co parents of this impossibly cute little girl. Ms. Roth never goes into how demons started being brought into this Earth but she does indicate that they are dragged unwillingly from their home world by humans doing magic and that it’s been going on for a long time. I kind of like that she doesn’t feel like she needs to give us the whole story and instead that she just drops her tidbits in when it’s natural to bring them up in the storyline. She gives lots of interesting hints about politics and power plays in the book and presumably the overall story will continue in the future books. Can’t wait.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent starter for a new series/new universe. Cass is a demon who has been on Earth for over two hundred years. JJ is a demon hunter raised in the Sanctum of Redwater. Enemies, they are connected by Desi, a new demon, who is in the form of a four year old human. With big puppy dog eyes, she enchants both men. And they'll do anything to save her.

This story is as much a rescue of JJ as it is Desi. Orphaned at age ten, the Sanctum raises and indoctrinates him. Questioning Sanctum rules is discouraged. Consorting with demons could bring imprisonment and execution. Falling in love with one would mean imprisonment and deprogramming.

The evolving relationship between Cass and JJ is fun to witness. They're unable to touch, skin to skin due to a spell, but the romance is there. Rather steamy with a tinge of angst. The solution was quite original.

Excellent worldbuilding and great secondaries, some more supportive than others. Cass and JJ's unity brings danger and betrayal. Desi's sunshiny and inquiring nature makes it all worth while.

Ellie Roth is a new author to me. I'm hooked on her world and can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jay Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This book was given to me for free, but the opinion is my own. *
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were a pleasure to read. The romantic relationship was nicely written. Normally, authors don't know how to write the trope of enemies-to-lovers, which leads to getting section of the book dedicated to "enemies" and another section dedicated to "lovers", while skipping the juicy in-between. It's my pleasure to say this book represents the best of the trope.
And I have to say, the first half of this book had very few flaws.
It was the second part that frustrated me a bit. Now, I believe in giving characters, and therefore readers time to catch their breath after tension, but there's a difference between giving us a break from the story and going on a tangent. There were times I thought about the purpose of a scene.
I still loved reading the book. It became like a gift I would give myself after a hard day.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thicker Than Water is an enemy/lover, fake relationship, low angst, with great characters, and this a new author for me and I wasn't disappointed.
Julian Jackson, a demon hunter, finds his latest mission upended when he ends up adopting Desi, a small demon who instantly wins his heart and stirs his protective instincts. Hiding Desi at the hunter’s headquarters proves challenging until a rival demon kidnaps her. Cassius Chin, the demon who rescues Desi, is baffled to discover that Desi actually wants Julian. Forced to confront Julian to discuss shared custody, Cassius faces an unexpected and uncomfortable journey of co-parenting. As Julian and Cassius navigate their new roles and growing attraction, they discover surprising similarities between them. Facing threats from both hunters and demons, Julian and Cassius must decide whether to return to their old lives or risk everything to build a future together as a family.

[Deb Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series starter! I found the storyline to be unique and interesting featuring Cass a demon that has been on earth for a couple centuries. For a change he and his fellow demons actually wander the earth doing good and come across a child that has been captured by a hunter who they decide to rescue! However things go awry as Desi (the child) is distraught without Julian ( a hunter and Desi's JJ) and so they make a custody arrangement. It was such a great read following them from enemies to lovers, with some angsty moments as they have hurdles to jump to keep Desi safe before they can get their well deserved ending. Looking forward to the next book.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

A demon and a demon hunter grudgingly end up co-parenting a little girl, who's also a demon. This is a book where the enemies are actual enemies at the start.

I expected to read a fun urban fantasy with Buffy vibes. I got so much more!
The interactions between Cass, JJ, and Desi are always fun and sweet. It's clear how both of these guys just love her so much.
We also get to explore the toxicity of the demon hunter cult in visceral detail and I'm all here for it.

These characters are alive, they have their own issues they choose to face, and they grow because of each other. This is a really solid book and I can't wait for the rest of the series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens and Ellie Roth for a free advance review copy of this book, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the co parenting dynamic between JJ (Demon Hunter) and Cassius (Demon), as they try to navigate this tricky new relationship in order to give the best possible life to their demon daughter Desi. The family bonding moments were very cute and wholesome (especially the 13 boxes of strawberries moment) and was great seeing them grow closer and closer.

The pacing was a bit off, switching a lot between full speed and no speed. But overall was still a fun read.

3.5/5

[RadeanReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful enemies to lovers where the orphaned demon toddler adopts the mortal enemy duo to be her daddies. The unofficial parental enemies are forced to spend time together while they navigate custody, but end up catching feelings for each other. Although a slow burn romance with plenty of action, the connection and character development between the three main characters was beautifully written. By the end, you, the reader, will feel connected to them and can’t help to love and feel what they feel.

This was a great book to be introduced to when you’re new with fantasy - demons, demon hunter, and dragons.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read!

This is a beautiful story about found family, healing and unconditional love, and acceptance of "otherness".

JJ and Cass have plenty of baggage, with emotional and physical wounds that run deep. But their mutual love for their kind-of-kidnapped, kind-of-adopted daughter lets them see the vulnerabilities and similarities in one another.

This is a really beautifully told story of two men coming together despite very real challenges, bonding over the love of their daughter, and coming to understand genuine and unconditional love for the self and for the other.

I highly recommend.

[Cori Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable demonic kid is saved from a fate actually worse than death when she's doubly-kidnapped by two men on opposite sides of the demon/hunter fence. A heap of good-faith custody negotiation results, then a slow-burn romance, mostly wildly fluffy but with some violence and angst too.

Fade-to-black nookie, interesting if light-touch world-building, and a solid ending with an option on the next book (following different characters though.)

Definitely recommend if the actual summary (mine is a bit rubbish, go check out the main entry!) sounds up your alley!

Deserves a better review than this, but I figured something was better than nothing, so here you are.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, the love story felt really natural and organic, making it easy to get into the story. The characters had a lot of depth, and I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the series, when it comes out. Would recommend to readers looking for a good bit of non-romantic over-arching plot in their book series, and to readers looking for a cleaner read that’s mostly fade-to-black. Overall 9/10, would read again.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura Wilke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was such a fun read. Great protagonists and side characters, including a cute 4 year old girl/demon who bonds everybody together. The world building is fantastic. It’s a world similar to ours but with demons, magic and an organization that’s meant to protect humans from evil demon summoners and the demons they summon. Or is it? The story ends with a HEA but there are several story threads that are not wrapped up. Yes! There’s a planned sequel. I’m ready to reserve my copy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow....that was one heck of a story. I didn't want it to end. There's so much more I want to know. Especially about Obie. And I really wanted to see a certain place destroyed. Not going to lie. I'm really hoping Obie does the honors later on. I just feel like he needs to be the one to flatten the place. I'm ready to see the next story, but I really want Obie's story. So I'm going to be impatient for that one lol. Definitely recommend this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Abby Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thicker Than Water by Ellie Roth is a fantastical LGBT+ romance focusing on a demon hunter, JJ, and a demon, Cassius, who find themselves having to coparent a little demon child. I picked up this book because it seemed cute and different than what I had been reading previously. I was immediately hooked.

JJ and Cassius are thrown for many loops as they attempt to give Desi, the demon child, as good a childhood as possible. They protect her from the demon hunters and live a domestic life to keep her happy. Not only was the plot of this book interesting and well-written, but the characters were fleshed out very well and were very lovable. I enjoyed the character interactions and the relationships that formed between them all. The romance between JJ and Cass was adorable and moved along at an appropriate and believable pace. I was rooting for them throughout the entire book and was invested in their happiness.

Overall, I gave this book 4.25/5 stars. It was very enjoyable, fast paced, and the writing was fantastic. I loved the characters and the plot. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a really cute fantasy romance that is different than the others. I really enjoyed this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new paranormal romance series and I thought it was a good start to the series, the world building was good as was the introduction of characters, there is some whose stories I really hope we get. This is JJ and Cas’s story and of course we can’t forget about little Desi who started it all and brings them together from enemies to lovers to family this is a good story but it does have some darkness in it so please check trigger warnings, I’m looking forward to reading more from this series in the future.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping slow burn

I read this in one sitting, unable to stop once I started.

It's a slow burn, fade to black paranormal romance with a gripping series plot and an engaging romantic arc. JJ and Cass fall for each so naturally and I loved reading it.

I'm even more excited to read the rest of the series, you're going down, creepy cult on the hill.

Fair warning: this book is written in third person present tense, which took me a minute to adjust to, but it's well executed and once I'd adjusted, I stopped noticing.