Dempress

by Anastasiya Serada

In the tarot universe, where the immortal major arcana cards rule as gods over the four tarot courts, and where the Wheel of Fortune shuffles the deck that changes peoples’ lives, Page of Wands is destined to become the immortal Empress. Easier said than done, considering her dark past and her ambiguous relationship with Devil.

They’re complete opposites: Empress is the purest card in the deck, and Devil is full of sin and tempting demons. But their cards are pulled together by destiny in the tarot layout, and the attraction is inevitable. Page is the only one who can inhale Devil’s ashes and know the real him without being magnetized and affected. It’s a true union—the one he has always dreamed of.

If Page chooses to be with him, Devil’s alluring darkness will envelop her with his ever-dancing ashes, ultimately corrupting her pure Empress energy… She has only three months to transform, or die.

Genres: Romantasy, Fantasy

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2024

Reviews

[America Otero · Rating 5 out of 5]

English/Español

Dempress es un libro corto y rápido de leer pero con una trama que te atrapa desde el primer momento y si apenas estás empezando a leer en inglés, lo recomiendo porque tiene un nivel fácil de entender.

No se si fue la anticipación o la historia pero no podía dejar de leerlo, me enamoré completamente de la historia entre Page y Baphomet. Además usar el tarot como base para crear el mundo es una de las cosas más ingeniosas que he visto en libros desde hace un tiempo, siendo muy creativo. Y como bruja que está aprendiendo a leer el tarot puedo decir que hay elementos verídicos pero también la autora se toma la libertad creativa de añadir otros y me fascina esa combinación

La trama es un insta-love/lust y mientras que no me encanta, en este libro no me molestó.

Ahora mientras que me gustó mucho el libro si hay cosas que podrían mejorar. Cabe recalcar que está es la novela debut de la autora y por eso creo que tiene mucha oportunidad de crecimiento para perfeccionar su técnica y un gran potencial.

Durante la trama hay algunas cosas que quedan del todo inconclusas, al igual de que muchos de los encuentros entre los protagonistas son por conveniencia y hasta un poco forzados.

En cuanto al final, puede sentirse forzado y abrupto ya que se resuelve muy rápido y deja situaciones inconclusas por lo cual espero que tengamos un segundo libro.

Sin embargo, si ustedes lo que buscan es un libro rápido de leer, que no sea pesado y que los entretenga esta es una gran opción.


Dempress is a short and quick book to read but with a plot that catches you from the first moment.

I don’t know if it was the anticipation or the story but I couldn’t stop reading it, I completely fell in love with the story between Page and Baphomet. In addition, using the tarot as a basis to create the world is one of the most ingenious things I have seen in books for a while, being very creative. And as a witch who is learning to read the tarot I can say that there are true elements but also the author takes the creative freedom to add others and I am fascinated by that combination

The plot is an insta-love/lust and while I don’t love it, in this book it didn’t bother me.

Now although I really liked the book, there are things that could be improved. It should be emphasized that this is the author’s debut novel and that is why I think she has a lot of opportunity for growth to perfect her technique and great potential.

During the plot there are some things that remain completely unfinished, just as many of the encounters between the protagonists are for convenience and even a little forced.

As for the end, it can feel forced and abrupt since it is resolved very quickly and leaves unfinished situations so I hope we have a second book.

However, if you are looking for a quick book to read, that is not heavy and that entertains you, this is a great option.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I want to say the book is so beautiful and I loved the story.
The storyline and characters captivated me.
I also enjoyed the supporting characters—I'd love to see more of them!

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Anastasiya says welcome to the tarot universe, she really welcomes you into this world 🤭

Thank you so much to Ana for sending me a copy of Dempress! I loved this book and the world she created in here. I’m so glad and grateful to have connected with you on here as you’re such a sweet soul! 🥹✨

I was captivated right off the bat from chapter 1 and I have little knowledge when it comes to tarot cards but the way Ana expressed it in her book as well as each characters in here are named after tarot cards was so freaking cool!

You have a nice blend of characters in this book especially Page’s group of friends. You come to find out Page is very different from others but her friends are very supportive of her when it comes to figuring out her power abilities.

But when she meets Baphomet, who is the Devil, the tarot cards pulled them together by destiny and the attraction between these two are so strong and I ate up every sizzling banter moments and the way Baphomet expressed his interest towards Page had me blushing the entire time! 🤭

I can’t wait to read more from Anastasiya and I just can’t get over how beautiful this cover is! 😍✨

[Emily Kurosawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Believe me, you’re not a lost cause. You’re a burning goddess.” - Baphomet

Dempress is a lovely debut novel with a unique universe setting. My knowledge of tarot cards is *slightly* limited, but, Anastasiya Serada did a brilliant job weaving in the tarot cards' representation (characters). And thanks to Anastasiya, I'm curious to learn more about tarot cards.

"The man looked like a mesmerizing demon from the land of the damned, and she wanted to be forsaken along with him." - Page

This book follows the story of Page (FMC), the Princess of Wands and Baphomet, the Devil (MMC). Easy to keep up; the pace and flow of the storyline were well-balanced throughout the book. I enjoyed the side characters (great group of friends) interactions with the main characters, especially when they were trying to help Page master her element(s).

"They were two souls whose cards were pulled out together by destiny in the tarot layout."
- Page

Page questioned herself quite often; she had doubts and insecurities. However, with Baphomet's and her friends' endless support, Page found her strength and self-worth and realised it's okay to be different. Therefore, Page slowly became the person she was meant to be: Dempress.

Sentenced for her crime: Page's fire (her element) accidentally harmed another person. Released from imprisonment—Page is back home, adjusting to the life that she once had. Page and Baphomet crossed paths at her friend's fashion show, and they were drawn to each other; the attraction and tension between them heated up instantaneously.

Constantly reminded by her family to control her fire, it can be difficult for Page to rein in it when her emotions are involved. Yet, Baphomet doesn't shy away from Page's fire. No... he loves how his siren burns. But... The Wheel of Fortune is turning—the deck is shuffling the tarot universe. Their premature relationship is at risk, and Page's life is about to change.

*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review

What to expect:
- Debut novel
- Dual POV/third POV
- Fantasy
- Second chance
- Forbidden romance
- Tarot card universe/inspired characters

[Lorna Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Dempress was such a fun read!

I really enjoyed seeing the tarot deck come to life in such a unique way—it was refreshing and added a nice twist to the story.

The book follows the Page of Wands and her relationship with the rest of the tarot, especially how she stands out from the other wands, which causes tension with her family and the other major arcana.

I did have a hard time connecting with the different personalities of the tarot as sometimes they were not always truly what the cards mean, but it added SO MUCH to this story. It made sense! Loved!!!

I love the Empress card in tarot so reading this was everything! HER AS EMPRESS?! The backstory to the creation of the Empress, wow! Watching her turn into the Empress was just ✨chef’s kiss✨.

The Magician in this book was definitely an interesting take to having a villain story, it was cool.

The romance was definitely spicy, especially with her relationship with the Devil card, Baphomet. It was hot, for sure.

Baphomet allowed himself to step back for her to become her true self and that was so great to see but gosh it made me hurt for Page and Baphomet. But I loved how he was always in the background trying to protect her. We gotta protect him!

This story is spicy and follows the insta-love trope, so if you’re into that, you’ll enjoy this one!

Also! Triumph is my favorite character!!😍

[ciin_leest · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading this book so much! This debut was put together very nicely and I enjoyed every page. The twists and turns kept me on edge while reading, never knew what would happen next. The Tarot card universe was well developed and easy to follow. I really liked how the author put this world together. The dual POV between Page and Baphomet (the devil) gave the story much more depth for me, I love it when a book has multiple POV's! 

Thank you Anastasiya Serada and Nisha's Books and Coffee PR for this ARC to read and review.

[ReadingInPyjamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel was a quick and fun read! The Tarot inspired world was so cool and easy to dive into, and the plot twists had me hooked. I loved the forbidden romance between Baphomet (The Devil) and Page ( Princess of Wands), it was so emotional, full of drama, passion, rules of the Abyss, and obstacles to overcome. The characters were vividly portrayed, and the dual POV worked perfectly for the story. If you enjoy atmospheric romantasy books and unique worlds, don't miss this one!

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of Dempress from Anastasia Serada and Nishas Books and Coffees PR!

Dempress is truly such an incredible read and I loved it so much. There were so many unexpected twists and turns throughout this story and it was a definite rollercoaster ride of an adventure for sure. I also love Page and Devil so much and their chemistry with one another is off-the-charts! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Forbidden love is one of my favorite tropes to read and this book does it so well. Overall, I loved it and highly recommend reading Dempress!

[Ioana Soare thesunbooks]

DNF at 21% for now

[Annie Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful, there may be spoilers! I really liked the universe that was created for this novel. Page and Baphomet have an incredible and undeniable chemistry. I am a Spanish speaker and it was easy to read the book, to follow the story. I really hope there is a continuation and that the Tarot Universe is explored further. Although after Lovers' wedding, everything seemed very rushed to get to the end. And what will happen if Page can't have children! How sad... Also Magus disappeared. We have something here!!
What will happen now with Aqua and Amador's children? There are many open questions...

"I'm afraid a war is coming..."

[Nellie (Nellie Reads A Lot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really interested in the premise of this, but felt like I lost the plot along the way. Devil and Page's relationship leads to some steam. Page is important and has unknown powers. I'm not really sure where we ended up, though.


Thanks to Anastasiya and Nisha's Books for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

[G W]

You can unfortunately tell this is a debut novel.

I’m not an insta-love/lust fan, but something about this book had me keep reading until about 32% when I just couldn’t take it anymore. Page is incredibly immature, and there’s a lot of weird back and forth between various relationships and an inability for these relationships to have realistic follow throughs. For example, Aqua is supposed to be in love with Page’s brother, but then offers to pose nude with a Major for a photograph and Page is totally cool with it even though that Major had been pining over a different person (I think…I honestly don’t remember). Then, Page is just kissing everyone when she thanks them, even the person that she said she would only like as a friend. Also, Devil decides not to fight for Page when Empress tells him they can’t be together with the hopes that he can get her back after the new moon or something. That seems odd for someone who can’t stop thinking about this person. And then, there’s the issue of when he tells her they can’t see each other anymore. Page handles it very weirdly, seeming to get over it within a few pages which is also weird because she was obsessed with this man?? She acts very childish about it when her friends ask, and it’s not really explored how she feels about it.

The other issue is the pacing and formatting. When there is a change of location, there’s no indication. It just falls into the next paragraph. There’s no page break or anything which threw me for a loop a few times. And as for pacing, it just felt odd. There was a lot that happened but then at the same time, it felt like nothing major happened to advance the story.

The characters felt hollow and the story felt disjointed. I was really excited about reading this, but the story lacked any real direction in my opinion.

[Kaela Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh man I was disappointed in this… and I feel really badly feeling this way.

The writing felt like a fan fiction to me which just didn’t draw me in on top of insta love being the trope and I wish I’d known that sooner because that’s the worst for me in any book. Insta lust may be one thing and a bit more understanding but love? Gives me the ick real bad. I don’t read reviews before reading , but I do see now that a few people stated that this has hit so- if that’s a no for you I would say not to read this.

I am a certified tarot reader and practicing Witch so I genuinely was very excited for this and it just did not work in my favor.

The smut was… okay? It felt like YA pushing to not be and again, very fan fiction feeling not an actual 300 page novel. Things were rushed, there wasn’t a real plot line, I saw the story itself a mile away and the Devil sounded hot af but didn’t really hit any marks once you really read it…

I’m really sorry to the author , I’m sure the more books she writes the better it will get and I’ll gladly try to read any others she makes but this unfortunately, didn’t hit at all for me

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review: Dempress✨
⚜️Dempress is a debut novel that follows Page, The Princess of Wands, as she finds love, learns who her real friends are, and learns how to control her power of fire... But that's not the only power she's destined to control.

Dempress takes you on a journey full of twists and turns, second chances, and found family. I laughed with this book, certainly cried a few times but was over all captured by the unique take on the Tarot Universe.
Definitely a rollercoaster ride of emotions between our MMC, Devil/Baphomet, and FMC, Princess of Wands/Page as they fall in love against the rules of Abyss, and while many people tried to stop them they had even even more people cheering them on!

The characters were beautifully written, and I felt like I could easily follow who was who as POVs shifted.
While bits of the world building were beautiful, I wish it had more but I loved using my imagination on what the different Arcana dimensions would look like.⚜️

🗓️: October 5th
⭐: 4.5/5
🌶️: 3/5

[Jessica Steed · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟 2/3🌶️
Dempress is a story told in a very unique Tarot card universe, where people hold positions of the major and minor arcana cards. Their society is a caste and people are divided into The Major arcana and the Minor arcana. I thought that the way this universe was done was different and it definitely drew me in.

I would put this book in the New Adult type category and because that is not necessarily my favorite book genre, it did take me a bit to get into it. The FMC is very young and some of the events in the beginning of the book felt like a YA type scenario. However, I did end up getting into the story and the world building. I did really like the MMC and some of the side characters and towards the end it seemed like the FMC was starting to come into her own a bit.

My takeaway is if you enjoy the NA or your transitioning from YA to NA this would be a good read for that. I will read the next book in the series to see where the story goes and if the FMC continues to become a more developed adult character

[Scarlettreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. I don't know much about tarot cards but this book made me wanna learn. I loved the entire storyline and the characters. I'm a huge fan of forbidden romance and this was perfect. We have our main character Page, who is the princess of wands but her destiny is to become the immortal empress after the current empress suddenly goes missing. At Page's friends fashion show she meets Baphomet(Devil) and there's an instant connection. Baphomet soon finds out Page is the next empress. Empress is the purest card in the deck, while Devil is consumed with darkness and demons but in a tarot shuffle their cards are pulled together. If Page chooses Baphomet she won't be pure. She only has 3 months to transform or die.

I absolutely loved Baphomet and Page. I also enjoyed the side characters and would love to see more with them!!!

[Crim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for so much more BUT! IF you really really love smut and insta-love this is the one for you.

For me I prefer plot over smut. I think for this unique of a story I overhyped it in my brain. I absoulutely LOVE the idea of a tarot card deck being the premise of the characters. And with that I was a tad dissapointed. The plot has huge potential and I feel like it didnt snag me as much as I had hoped. The characters were so interesting to read but it felt a tad rushed at times. I was hoping for a more deep dive rather than fluff.

But I can say if you're planning to read this go for it. I know someone out there will love this.

A huge thank you to the author for this gift to read early.

[Samantha Mannone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly did not want to put this book down. I devoured it in one sitting. I think the author using the tarot deck to base her universe on was genius and incredibly unique. The growth of Page from someone who has just given up on feeling anything close to happiness into this woman filled with confidence that just glows is incredibly inspiring. I'm one of those lucky people who can imagine the book like a movie as I'm reading, and it really made reading the story and world that was created, that much more enjoyable. There are so many great characters in this story and some great villains. I can't wait to see where this story goes next, and I hope I get to read more by Anastasiya.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am actually in love that this book is insta love, it’s a realistic vibe some do fall in love quick, but for Devil to feel this instant attraction for Page is beautiful. I love how Page is confident within herself inside and out, she’s doesn’t let anyone change who she is. Triumph I love !! Aqua is lowkey my favorite in the whole book . The beach scene 😍 waitttt not the high priestest popping up in the middle of them almost having sex 😂😂 … annoyed bophomet annoyed. I’m starting to feel like Page should be with Triumph I would love them together! I hate strength and magus they can both go lick hot coal. Gaia can also lick hot coal. Ugh the ending was so good I need a book 2 !!!!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an absolutely refreshing concept Anastasiya!! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to read this story as an arc.

This was a fast paced and easy read. I adore our FMC and MMC and their instant/forbidden love story. Supporting characters were to die for, I'm thrilled that they had more than 2 dimensions and you get to follow some of their stories.

I only wish the world could have been more developed, but I appreciate that the plot didn't get lost in lore dumps, which can often happen in original concept worlds!

Overall a fantastic book about love, friendships and personal growth!!

[Thea Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She was life. A day spent with her was worth more than a whole lonely immortal existence."

This world is so unique and I've never read anything like it. The characters represent the different tarot cards and I'm obsessed. I love how the magic system was written for each character. Then the romance between Page and Baphomet was so sweet. If you love fantasy romance with forbidden love, this is the story for you.

Read if you love:
Tarot universe
Unique magic
Dual POV
Forbidden love
Obsessed MMC
Found family

[Kenzie Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

i wish i could give this 4 stars or even 5. i had such high hopes. despite the interesting storyline and the premise of the story, there were plot holes and inconsistencies throughout, the smut level was mid and would just fly by the scenes without any details. curious to see if this will become a series and iron out the weird bumps in the plot.

[Bookish Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like Lucifer falls into a deck of tarot cards. When I first met Devil, I immediately thought of Tom Ellis from Lucifer. It is such a unique premise and executed well. Makes me want to get more comfortable with my tarot deck.

[sahltmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dempress, was such a goooood read. Definitely a quick fun read. The storyline and the characters got me obsessed.
Insta love and Spice was 🌶️🌶️
The drama, forbidden romance was soooo good and just had me wanting to read more. If you love romantasy, this one is definitely your read!!

[Tayler Borre · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4☆

it was a very unique story. I loved all of the tarot cards elements. the cover is absolutely stunning

[Literary X Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dempress is an atmospheric, sensual, romance novel set against a tarot inspired universe. The story follows the Tarot cards in character form and tells the story of Page, Princess of Wands, and Baphomet, the Devil card. Dempress was a short, fast paced read with a focus on the emotional and physical relationship of the characters at hand.

The author had a beautiful way with words and I enjoyed the descriptions used when capturing the raw emotions between Page and Baphomet. Dempress sets the tone for the romance between Baphomet and Page within the first few chapters, and takes the reader on a journey through the highs and lows of their relationship, along with Pages personal character development.

If you enjoy tarot, insta-love, forbidden romances, and a little extra heat in your books, then this book is for you.

[✨ D ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the tarot card theme. It did take me longer to get into this because tarot is still a little confusing to me. I enjoyed reading this book. The plot was fast paced, but sometimes felt rushed? I had a great time reading this book, nonetheless. It was definitely a fun read!

[Amrauthor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my book review of Anastasiya Serada’s Dempress. It is her debut novel. This is a fantasy romance with the world of Tarot at its heart.

https://www.amrauthor.com/post/dempre...

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fast paced book there was never a dull moment. The friendships in this book were so amazing and including tarot cards into the mix of this story made it so interesting. Even though this was insta love I still really enjoyed the romance. Triumph is without a doubt my favourite, his and Page’s friendship is to die for! The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous and the words inside are all the same 🤍

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tarot and forbidden love, what could go wrong?

The expectation and description of the plot sounded fantastic, and I was extremely excited to read this. The delivery of the plot unfortunately fell flat for me and left me feeling mediocre about the book. The writing was the major blockage for me. It felt immature in that it lacked maturity in terms of themes and vocabulary, and no overarching cohesiveness. Everything felt sloppy and almost copy paste, which I can't explain enough how much of a shame it was. It made it nearly impossible to enjoy reading which truly frustrated me.

The plot itself was okay, not including delivery. Though the world building was somewhat of a mystery to me. It's a weird mix of the modern world with a twist of tarot magic that never really gets fully explained and only briefly discussed when the time presented itself. I understand why the plot needed both to function, but I wish it would have been one or the other, or at least better combined.

The large cast of characters lacked depth and true emotion. There is a lot of secondary characters to keep track of which was to be expected given they're modeled after a tarot deck, but it was just a hassle. It mostly boils down to 4 or 5 cookie cutter characters interacting with our FMC and MMC, which brings absolutely nothing good to the reader. Speaking of which, even our two lovebirds felt 2D. I was expecting so much in terms of their personalities and tension but all I got was lukewarm spice and pitiful characters.