What do you think?
Angel Ruin #1
The Shadows that Listen
It's been five years since the world was brought to its knees by an immortal war.
Anyone who survived the day the other worlds arrived remembers it clearly. The ground cracked open, and daemons crawled from the depths of hell. The sky bled the colour of a raging fire and angels arrived to stop them. Only humanity quickly realised that they were not their allies, and they're certainly not their guardians.
Amara Jones is a human warrior working for the Angel Intelligence Agency. She spends her days at a desk searching for those who don't make it home in time for curfew. When Amara’s boyfriend is added to that list, she is forced to choose between running off into the darkness to save him and her own life.
Suddenly she’s thrust into the midst of a war that she's not equipped to fight, and quickly realises that she is unlikely to survive on her own.
Nathaniel is the archangel leading the destruction on humanity, for which he cares little. After he finds Amara hiding in the dark, she leaves a lasting impression in the form of a blade through his abdomen and her enemy quickly changes from daemons that lurk in the shadows to the vengeful winged beast that stalks her from the skies.
Amara soon discovers that Nathaniel may not only be the key to survival, but to finding the man that she loves.
The only question is - who will survive the night?
Anyone who survived the day the other worlds arrived remembers it clearly. The ground cracked open, and daemons crawled from the depths of hell. The sky bled the colour of a raging fire and angels arrived to stop them. Only humanity quickly realised that they were not their allies, and they're certainly not their guardians.
Amara Jones is a human warrior working for the Angel Intelligence Agency. She spends her days at a desk searching for those who don't make it home in time for curfew. When Amara’s boyfriend is added to that list, she is forced to choose between running off into the darkness to save him and her own life.
Suddenly she’s thrust into the midst of a war that she's not equipped to fight, and quickly realises that she is unlikely to survive on her own.
Nathaniel is the archangel leading the destruction on humanity, for which he cares little. After he finds Amara hiding in the dark, she leaves a lasting impression in the form of a blade through his abdomen and her enemy quickly changes from daemons that lurk in the shadows to the vengeful winged beast that stalks her from the skies.
Amara soon discovers that Nathaniel may not only be the key to survival, but to finding the man that she loves.
The only question is - who will survive the night?
457 pages, ebook
First published September 9, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 985 reviews
April 6, 2025
DNFed 29%.
The premise was so good, reminds me so much of Susan Ee’s Angelfall series which I LOVED.
However.
The writing just isn’t good. And by writing, I don’t mean the line level. It was decent enough, a lot of repetitions not caught and blocky, repetitive sentences the same length at times that made it monotone but the wrtiting was bad in two crucial areas:
The characters psychological acuity. For instance, a person who has never been to space needs to show a bit of wonder and fear the first time going there, and not confidence for it to make sense if we are to believe the character has never been to space, right?
An angel who believes and call humans insects, needs to treat them as such until they learn better, right?
I just didn’t not believe the reactions, behavior and actions most of the time from the characters. They lack psychological acuity.
For example, an IMMORTAL ARCHANGEL who sees humans as INSECTS, yet he immediately smirks, laughed, is amused and leans in to whisper flirtily in her ear? Why? It seems more likely he would be cold and calculated, not behave like a cocky fratboy. His character was the most two dimensional and everytime he behaved like 22 year old Chad, it took me out of the story.
The dialogue is also very info-dumpy, over-explanatory. Like Afriel when our FMC meets him at the club. And he could have just said “I’m his second”. That’s all the info we need, as readers, layers of inuedos and meanings are there. Yet the dialogue continues where and the clunkyness is heavy as he reiterates what sounds like background info dump while speaking to a human he sees as an instect, and we are to believe, an immortal angel warrior sounds like a robot regurgitating backstory of the mmc. It’s so… clunky. And as a reader we can tell the author did not trust us to understand underlying context.
And the fmc is sort of dumb and a lot of their actions are illogical.
Maybe I’ll try again but I can get past bad line level writing if the characters feel fleshed out and 3D. They did not and it could have used a lot more rounds of edits to take away and remove the over explanation and add more plausible reactions from the characters in tuned with their backgrounds but I think the author lacked that eye as their actions doesn’t make sense with how the author tried to portray them, hence the unbeliveability.
Sorry, I just can’t continue with a story where I can’t believe the characters and they don’t feel real
The premise was so good, reminds me so much of Susan Ee’s Angelfall series which I LOVED.
However.
The writing just isn’t good. And by writing, I don’t mean the line level. It was decent enough, a lot of repetitions not caught and blocky, repetitive sentences the same length at times that made it monotone but the wrtiting was bad in two crucial areas:
The characters psychological acuity. For instance, a person who has never been to space needs to show a bit of wonder and fear the first time going there, and not confidence for it to make sense if we are to believe the character has never been to space, right?
An angel who believes and call humans insects, needs to treat them as such until they learn better, right?
I just didn’t not believe the reactions, behavior and actions most of the time from the characters. They lack psychological acuity.
For example, an IMMORTAL ARCHANGEL who sees humans as INSECTS, yet he immediately smirks, laughed, is amused and leans in to whisper flirtily in her ear? Why? It seems more likely he would be cold and calculated, not behave like a cocky fratboy. His character was the most two dimensional and everytime he behaved like 22 year old Chad, it took me out of the story.
The dialogue is also very info-dumpy, over-explanatory. Like Afriel when our FMC meets him at the club. And he could have just said “I’m his second”. That’s all the info we need, as readers, layers of inuedos and meanings are there. Yet the dialogue continues where and the clunkyness is heavy as he reiterates what sounds like background info dump while speaking to a human he sees as an instect, and we are to believe, an immortal angel warrior sounds like a robot regurgitating backstory of the mmc. It’s so… clunky. And as a reader we can tell the author did not trust us to understand underlying context.
And the fmc is sort of dumb and a lot of their actions are illogical.
Maybe I’ll try again but I can get past bad line level writing if the characters feel fleshed out and 3D. They did not and it could have used a lot more rounds of edits to take away and remove the over explanation and add more plausible reactions from the characters in tuned with their backgrounds but I think the author lacked that eye as their actions doesn’t make sense with how the author tried to portray them, hence the unbeliveability.
Sorry, I just can’t continue with a story where I can’t believe the characters and they don’t feel real
May 18, 2026
This read like fanfiction.
A dystopian where nights are for the war between heaven and hell. If a human was out after lockdown, they become fair game.
Amara is an agent of Angel Intelligence Agency. When her perfect boyfriend goes missing (like literally the most wonderful, best person ever), Amara stays out past the lockdown and ends up forging an unwelcome and tentative alliance with an archangel.
She’s spunky, fearless, and not like other girls.
He’s cold, vengeful, and morally grey.
The writing was just too cheesy for me. This is supposed to be an adult novel, but you’re hit with:
But Xavier’s smile has always had a hold on me: boyish, charming and cheeky all at once. He could make anyone melt. His forest-green eyes that are shielded by heavy lashes, and contrasted so beautifully by his brandy skin, have won the hearts of many.
How many cliches can you fit in one description?
Another example of ‘she’s not like other girls and needs you and everyone else to know that’:
“You have to stop giving him compliments, or one day I swear that pretty head of his will explode.” Layla can’t really help it, though; it’s just who she is. She’s sweet, she’s kind, she’s compassionate. She’s likely to die in the field. It’s a realisation that dawns on her as quickly as it does me. I know it by the vacant look that casts over her eyes.
It’s trying to catch that 2000s/2010s charm where supernatural, angel, and dystopian romances were the obsession. I just couldn’t get past the writing style.
Dnf at 33%.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
A dystopian where nights are for the war between heaven and hell. If a human was out after lockdown, they become fair game.
Amara is an agent of Angel Intelligence Agency. When her perfect boyfriend goes missing (like literally the most wonderful, best person ever), Amara stays out past the lockdown and ends up forging an unwelcome and tentative alliance with an archangel.
She’s spunky, fearless, and not like other girls.
He’s cold, vengeful, and morally grey.
The writing was just too cheesy for me. This is supposed to be an adult novel, but you’re hit with:
But Xavier’s smile has always had a hold on me: boyish, charming and cheeky all at once. He could make anyone melt. His forest-green eyes that are shielded by heavy lashes, and contrasted so beautifully by his brandy skin, have won the hearts of many.
How many cliches can you fit in one description?
Another example of ‘she’s not like other girls and needs you and everyone else to know that’:
“You have to stop giving him compliments, or one day I swear that pretty head of his will explode.” Layla can’t really help it, though; it’s just who she is. She’s sweet, she’s kind, she’s compassionate. She’s likely to die in the field. It’s a realisation that dawns on her as quickly as it does me. I know it by the vacant look that casts over her eyes.
It’s trying to catch that 2000s/2010s charm where supernatural, angel, and dystopian romances were the obsession. I just couldn’t get past the writing style.
Dnf at 33%.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
February 26, 2025
ANGELS DEMONS MILLENNIAL CORE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🫑 (ONLY KISSING)
-Urban fantasy 🏙️
-Enemies to reluctant allies to… 👀
-SLOW burn & yearning ❤️🔥
-Angel/demon warfare 🪽
-Twists, turns, secrets & betrayal 💔
“Then may I ask why you have your hand wrapped around my throat, and my arm pinned to the tree?”
“Perhaps this is how I like my women.”
What in the actual fuck did Louisa put in this book because I ATE IT UP.
This was serving all the Hush Hush, Fallen, Mortal Instruments, 2010s vibes, but the story was still so unique, well thought out, and planned.
What I loved:
🪽 This story was AMAZING. It was action packed, it had tense moments, emotional moments, and it all flowed really well.
🪽 Louisa isn’t scared to rip your heart out lol. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.
🪽 All the characters were 10/10, even very minor side characters were fleshed out; they all had their own unique personalities and stories.
🪽 This is a proper SLOW BURN. If you prefer your romantasy books with low/no spice but want more of a focus on the emotional aspects of the relationship, THIS BOOK.
What I didn’t love:
🪽 The writing wasn’t without its flaws, and there was repetitiveness for things like “his lip twitched”, “he smirked”, like the man was doing a lot of lip twitching, lip quivering and smirking. But I think a new editor for book 2 should be able to fix that. IT WAS SUCH A SMALL THING.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🫑 (ONLY KISSING)
-Urban fantasy 🏙️
-Enemies to reluctant allies to… 👀
-SLOW burn & yearning ❤️🔥
-Angel/demon warfare 🪽
-Twists, turns, secrets & betrayal 💔
“Then may I ask why you have your hand wrapped around my throat, and my arm pinned to the tree?”
“Perhaps this is how I like my women.”
What in the actual fuck did Louisa put in this book because I ATE IT UP.
This was serving all the Hush Hush, Fallen, Mortal Instruments, 2010s vibes, but the story was still so unique, well thought out, and planned.
What I loved:
🪽 This story was AMAZING. It was action packed, it had tense moments, emotional moments, and it all flowed really well.
🪽 Louisa isn’t scared to rip your heart out lol. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.
🪽 All the characters were 10/10, even very minor side characters were fleshed out; they all had their own unique personalities and stories.
🪽 This is a proper SLOW BURN. If you prefer your romantasy books with low/no spice but want more of a focus on the emotional aspects of the relationship, THIS BOOK.
What I didn’t love:
🪽 The writing wasn’t without its flaws, and there was repetitiveness for things like “his lip twitched”, “he smirked”, like the man was doing a lot of lip twitching, lip quivering and smirking. But I think a new editor for book 2 should be able to fix that. IT WAS SUCH A SMALL THING.
August 16, 2026
˗ˏˋ 4 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .
honestly it took me a bit to get into it but like once i got to like 15% i was SO LOCKED IN!! the twists were insane, i was so gagged-
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• nathaniel
love him! the yearning from his POV?? deceased. also like he's tall and has wings, and literally is the angels of all angels!! what's not to love?
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• amara
i loved that she took no shit from nathaniel and stood up for herself from time to time again! and that fact that she's a soldier, +1000 pts for you!!
literally loved the banter between the two! him calling her slayer and her calling him bird boy 💀
didn't expect to cry coming into this book but like i bawled my eyes out the last 100 pages.. i love how this book sets up for book 2 and i have soo many questions that needs to be answered!
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
omggg it was insanely addictive?? the slow burn yearning was asdfhjkk- i'm literally obsessed!!!! i need book 2 so badly after that cliffyy~ full rtc!!
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
literally so sick of summer, it's tooo hot like get me out of here.. soooo i guess i'm just gonna pretend it's autumn now and bring fantasy season back 🙂↕️ anddd this is an urban fantasyyyyy~!!! literally hoping this will alter my brain chemistry :))
honestly it took me a bit to get into it but like once i got to like 15% i was SO LOCKED IN!! the twists were insane, i was so gagged-
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• nathaniel
love him! the yearning from his POV?? deceased. also like he's tall and has wings, and literally is the angels of all angels!! what's not to love?
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• amara
i loved that she took no shit from nathaniel and stood up for herself from time to time again! and that fact that she's a soldier, +1000 pts for you!!
literally loved the banter between the two! him calling her slayer and her calling him bird boy 💀
didn't expect to cry coming into this book but like i bawled my eyes out the last 100 pages.. i love how this book sets up for book 2 and i have soo many questions that needs to be answered!
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
omggg it was insanely addictive?? the slow burn yearning was asdfhjkk- i'm literally obsessed!!!! i need book 2 so badly after that cliffyy~ full rtc!!
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
literally so sick of summer, it's tooo hot like get me out of here.. soooo i guess i'm just gonna pretend it's autumn now and bring fantasy season back 🙂↕️ anddd this is an urban fantasyyyyy~!!! literally hoping this will alter my brain chemistry :))
June 9, 2026
This book revived my love of all those classic noughties/2010s dystopian, urban fantasy/romances. It was fun, fast-paced and nostalgic, but also refreshing. The characters in this are well executed. Nathaniel and Amara both have flaws and inner conflicts they're battling that give them a depth and relatability that makes them seem so real. You can't help but to care and root for them and the dynamic and development between them was delicious. A GENUINE slow-burn!
The plot was action-packed and interesting and though it wasn't necessarily surprising, I was along for the ride and loving it. I'm excited for where this is going and I need book two now, please. A killer when this isn't even published until August. Also, after reading the bonus chapter, I'm keeping fingers AND toes crossed for more Nathaniel pov in the next book. It did take until between 15%/20% to really grip me, and I nailed where the plot was taking us from the beginning so it was a bit predictable, but not necessarily less compelling for it. Overall I had a great time.
The plot was action-packed and interesting and though it wasn't necessarily surprising, I was along for the ride and loving it. I'm excited for where this is going and I need book two now, please. A killer when this isn't even published until August. Also, after reading the bonus chapter, I'm keeping fingers AND toes crossed for more Nathaniel pov in the next book. It did take until between 15%/20% to really grip me, and I nailed where the plot was taking us from the beginning so it was a bit predictable, but not necessarily less compelling for it. Overall I had a great time.
Did Not Finish
July 23, 2026DNF @ 6%
I truly have never DNF’d a book this early in my life and I hate that this is the outcome of what I’d hoped to be an exciting reading experience. The Shadows that Listen was one of my most anticipated reads in 2026 so trust me when I say that the decision to call it before the story even gets a chance to take off pains me deeply.
Ultimately my decision to stop reading all comes down to the writing format and my opinion that this book could seriously benefit from additional rounds of editing and refinement to make it stronger. It seems like the entire concept of connective words between sentences has been abandoned which made them feel really stilted without any natural flow… in which I’ll include an example below to showcase my point:
”I was with him when this all started. We were at his mother's house having lunch. The ground split in two right down the street. Daemons began to crawl from the depths of hell. Xavier and I went into soldier mode immediately, prepared to run straight into battle.”
Why are there so many full stops when we could be utilising words such as ‘when’ and ‘as’ for better structure and overall flow? I even went as far as to ask some peers for their advice in case I’m being overly judgemental in my opinion and this response perfectly sums up how reading these passages felt: “I feel like I’m in the car with someone who’s brake-checking.” This encapsulates my thoughts into the perfect visualisation as reading these sentences aloud makes me feel like I’m being choked by my seatbelt as the brakes slam. This quickly became a source of frustration for me as it continually pulled me out of the dialogue which makes me so sad. I was ready to once again thrive in my nostalgic 2010s era, but alas it’s for the best that I move on instead.
I will additionally clarify that this is based on the published ebook edition that is readily available to buy and/or download on Kindle Unlimited, not an uncorrected proof copy.
I truly have never DNF’d a book this early in my life and I hate that this is the outcome of what I’d hoped to be an exciting reading experience. The Shadows that Listen was one of my most anticipated reads in 2026 so trust me when I say that the decision to call it before the story even gets a chance to take off pains me deeply.
Ultimately my decision to stop reading all comes down to the writing format and my opinion that this book could seriously benefit from additional rounds of editing and refinement to make it stronger. It seems like the entire concept of connective words between sentences has been abandoned which made them feel really stilted without any natural flow… in which I’ll include an example below to showcase my point:
”I was with him when this all started. We were at his mother's house having lunch. The ground split in two right down the street. Daemons began to crawl from the depths of hell. Xavier and I went into soldier mode immediately, prepared to run straight into battle.”
Why are there so many full stops when we could be utilising words such as ‘when’ and ‘as’ for better structure and overall flow? I even went as far as to ask some peers for their advice in case I’m being overly judgemental in my opinion and this response perfectly sums up how reading these passages felt: “I feel like I’m in the car with someone who’s brake-checking.” This encapsulates my thoughts into the perfect visualisation as reading these sentences aloud makes me feel like I’m being choked by my seatbelt as the brakes slam. This quickly became a source of frustration for me as it continually pulled me out of the dialogue which makes me so sad. I was ready to once again thrive in my nostalgic 2010s era, but alas it’s for the best that I move on instead.
I will additionally clarify that this is based on the published ebook edition that is readily available to buy and/or download on Kindle Unlimited, not an uncorrected proof copy.
December 1, 2024
If you’ve been missing urban fantasy vibes specifically with angels then this book is about to be your new favorite!
Oh my god there are so many amazing aspects of this book! It’s the perfect blend of romance and action! And the banter and tension between the characters has me giggling and swooning!
I can’t wait for book 2!!
Oh my god there are so many amazing aspects of this book! It’s the perfect blend of romance and action! And the banter and tension between the characters has me giggling and swooning!
I can’t wait for book 2!!
May 5, 2026
Review of uncorrected proof from NetGalley
NOOOO. I wanted to love this book with all my heart. I went in with such high expectations and absolutely loved the premise, wanted some angels & demons, and urban fantasy. But this was not it.
My biggest issue with this book is the marketing. This is NOT a slow burn enemies to lovers. If you’re flirting within the first few interactions, it’s not slow burn. And if you’re teaming up after the first interaction, it’s not enemies to lovers. This really set me off for the rest of the book :/
I was really holding out for the big “twists” at the end, hoping against hope that I would be surprised but I wasn’t… I guessed what Amara was pretty early on, and wasn’t all that surprised to find out about Jeremy either. Also her whole “I’ll team up with you and then I’ll kill you” thing to the archangel felt so stupid I was like girl pls we all know you’re going to fuck him this is so unserious. I’m just very sad I didn’t love this :(
I’m giving it two stars because I JUST wanted to love it so bad. It definitely did give crescent city with angels at times, so kudos for that, I guess?
NOOOO. I wanted to love this book with all my heart. I went in with such high expectations and absolutely loved the premise, wanted some angels & demons, and urban fantasy. But this was not it.
My biggest issue with this book is the marketing. This is NOT a slow burn enemies to lovers. If you’re flirting within the first few interactions, it’s not slow burn. And if you’re teaming up after the first interaction, it’s not enemies to lovers. This really set me off for the rest of the book :/
I was really holding out for the big “twists” at the end, hoping against hope that I would be surprised but I wasn’t… I guessed what Amara was pretty early on, and wasn’t all that surprised to find out about Jeremy either. Also her whole “I’ll team up with you and then I’ll kill you” thing to the archangel felt so stupid I was like girl pls we all know you’re going to fuck him this is so unserious. I’m just very sad I didn’t love this :(
I’m giving it two stars because I JUST wanted to love it so bad. It definitely did give crescent city with angels at times, so kudos for that, I guess?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2026
I was drawn in by the premise but found the execution really disappointing. The writing felt YA, and there was no slow burn or chemistry between the characters. Amara the FMC is extremely frustrating and arrogant. She claims “I turned out perfect without a single flaw” — yet possesses zero critical thinking skills. Humans with demon blood? No questions. Meat on a planet that hasn’t produced meat in years? No questions.
At the beginning, we’re told that Amara doesn’t want to marry her boyfriend Jeremy. Yet once he’s taken, Amara spends the entire book trying to convince the reader that she loves Jeremy and can’t imagine her life without him. Amara meets Nathaniel the archangel and they embark on a quest to find Jeremy. Moments after meeting, they create pet names for each other — bird boy and slayer — which made me continually cringe. The dialogue between them felt very reminiscent of teenagers, even though Amara is 27 and Nathaniel is 500 (why are they ALWAYS 500? Pick a new number, I beg).
The pair flirted, shared touches, and rapidly developed feelings for each other over 4-5 days. Amara is constantly trying to convince us of how much she "LOVES” Jeremy, while teasing and poking Nathaniel. The emotional cheating in this book was EXTREMELY icky. In one scene, Nathaniel asked Amara if she needed a hand in the shower and advised that he’d be more likely to rescue her upon hearing her moan. My jaw dropped! I could not find a reason to root for these two while Amara had a boyfriend the ENTIRE time. How are people ok with this? The storyline would have worked much better if Jeremy was her brother instead.
I think the world building was quite limited, however I did enjoy the sprinkles of angel lore. I found it bizarre that the Angel Intelligence Agency possessed absolutely zero information on the angels or demons. Perhaps, consider changing the company name? The plot twists were very predictable, from the identity of people, to the bond, and memories. If it were not for my buddy read with Bel, I would have dnf this book and will not be continuing the series. P.S. This is not comparable to Crescent City or The Mortal Instruments.
Thank you Hachette Australia for the arc 🖤
At the beginning, we’re told that Amara doesn’t want to marry her boyfriend Jeremy. Yet once he’s taken, Amara spends the entire book trying to convince the reader that she loves Jeremy and can’t imagine her life without him. Amara meets Nathaniel the archangel and they embark on a quest to find Jeremy. Moments after meeting, they create pet names for each other — bird boy and slayer — which made me continually cringe. The dialogue between them felt very reminiscent of teenagers, even though Amara is 27 and Nathaniel is 500 (why are they ALWAYS 500? Pick a new number, I beg).
The pair flirted, shared touches, and rapidly developed feelings for each other over 4-5 days. Amara is constantly trying to convince us of how much she "LOVES” Jeremy, while teasing and poking Nathaniel. The emotional cheating in this book was EXTREMELY icky. In one scene, Nathaniel asked Amara if she needed a hand in the shower and advised that he’d be more likely to rescue her upon hearing her moan. My jaw dropped! I could not find a reason to root for these two while Amara had a boyfriend the ENTIRE time. How are people ok with this? The storyline would have worked much better if Jeremy was her brother instead.
I think the world building was quite limited, however I did enjoy the sprinkles of angel lore. I found it bizarre that the Angel Intelligence Agency possessed absolutely zero information on the angels or demons. Perhaps, consider changing the company name? The plot twists were very predictable, from the identity of people, to the bond, and memories. If it were not for my buddy read with Bel, I would have dnf this book and will not be continuing the series. P.S. This is not comparable to Crescent City or The Mortal Instruments.
Thank you Hachette Australia for the arc 🖤
August 3, 2026
I just KNEW I would love this book from the tropes listed and I was so glad I signed up for this arc because it did not disappoint. In fact, I gobbled it up like a little gremlin🥴
I love a good apocalypse premise, so when you add in angels and demons, I am SO SAT.
Amara is quite a baddie FMC and I knew I’d love her — and ended up liking her more and more as the story went on!
And then Nathaniel pops out of nowhere and now I have a new book boyfriend that I’m VERY interested in adding to my list (we must see where this series goes but I’m damn near sure that he will be on it sooner or later).
The plot twists aren’t crazy because you feel them coming but they still make you angry and want to throw things. Also killing off my fav side characters? I’m 😭🙃
I’m genuinely so excited to see where this goes? I think this new fall out vibes, dystopian-esque fantasy romance series will be HOT and I’m already down bad.
Overall
4.5 ⭐️
🫑 just some kisses (but I think this man AND Amara might be freaky and LORD am I so ready)
Thank you so much to Orbit and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy!
I love a good apocalypse premise, so when you add in angels and demons, I am SO SAT.
Amara is quite a baddie FMC and I knew I’d love her — and ended up liking her more and more as the story went on!
And then Nathaniel pops out of nowhere and now I have a new book boyfriend that I’m VERY interested in adding to my list (we must see where this series goes but I’m damn near sure that he will be on it sooner or later).
The plot twists aren’t crazy because you feel them coming but they still make you angry and want to throw things. Also killing off my fav side characters? I’m 😭🙃
I’m genuinely so excited to see where this goes? I think this new fall out vibes, dystopian-esque fantasy romance series will be HOT and I’m already down bad.
Overall
4.5 ⭐️
🫑 just some kisses (but I think this man AND Amara might be freaky and LORD am I so ready)
Thank you so much to Orbit and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy!
December 6, 2024
Absolutely worth the read!! I couldn’t put it down and I loved the urban fantasy vibes. Cannot wait to get more from this author!
September 22, 2026
3 Stars
This was...fine.
An urban dystopian/fantasy book where Angels and Demons have invaded earth. But the angels aren't the good guys that humans had hoped for.
Our FMC Amara is in the human version of an army, the AIA, Angel Intelligence Agency. She is strong and fierce and had a good sense of humour. When her partner doesn't make it home before curfew (and those out after curfew disappear), she goes in search of him.
The story is very simple, with VERY short chapters and pretty obvious twists. There was one twist I didn't guess which made me gasp, but the rest was pretty obvious from what we learnt along the way.
I liked it but didn't love it.
I thought the fighting scenes were pretty well written but those were probably the best parts.
I wanted much more connection between Amara and the MMC (who I won't talk about, because zero spoilers!). I liked the MMC and especially towards the end when we learned much more about him. However, apart from some decent banter, there wasn't the connection or chemistry I needed between them.
Overall, it was fine but lacking and I won't be rushing to continue the series unfortunately. I feel like I have read this story many times before.
This was...fine.
An urban dystopian/fantasy book where Angels and Demons have invaded earth. But the angels aren't the good guys that humans had hoped for.
Our FMC Amara is in the human version of an army, the AIA, Angel Intelligence Agency. She is strong and fierce and had a good sense of humour. When her partner doesn't make it home before curfew (and those out after curfew disappear), she goes in search of him.
The story is very simple, with VERY short chapters and pretty obvious twists. There was one twist I didn't guess which made me gasp, but the rest was pretty obvious from what we learnt along the way.
I liked it but didn't love it.
I thought the fighting scenes were pretty well written but those were probably the best parts.
I wanted much more connection between Amara and the MMC (who I won't talk about, because zero spoilers!). I liked the MMC and especially towards the end when we learned much more about him. However, apart from some decent banter, there wasn't the connection or chemistry I needed between them.
Overall, it was fine but lacking and I won't be rushing to continue the series unfortunately. I feel like I have read this story many times before.
August 18, 2026
Oh. Yeah. I was hooked. Still hooked.
I'm dangling from this hook until the next book is out.
Amara has been trained to fight and survive in a world ravaged by angels and daemons. Nathaniel is an archangel who reluctantly meets and teams up with Amara to face a common foe. And we get to see the walls between them break down piece by piece... and then get built back up again... and then slowly crumble once more.
This was some of the best back and forth banter in the most delectable slow burn. I was laughing at their antics while they were rolling their eyes at each other. I was kicking my feet while they were literally kicking each other. I felt the hatred that turned slowly into a tentative trust. I felt the chemistry oozing from the pages despite Amara's constant inner turmoil. God this was so good.
I also want to say, I predicted most of this story pretty early on, but that didn't take anything away from how it was later carried out and revealed. I was still sitting jaw dropped at some moments. Had me wishing for a fancy blade to jump into the action myself.
I can be a little nitpicky about small things, but really this book was giving me life. I understand why she calls him archangel so much, but I really wish she had used his real name sooner because yelling "archangel!!" just doesn't hit the same in a high stress moment. And I do think there was a little more repetition in her mental debate about Jeremy - I know she thought about it a lot on purpose but also, I didn't need to reread the same thought process numerous times during her journey.
Thank you to Orbit for the advance digital copy of this book!!
I'm dangling from this hook until the next book is out.
Amara has been trained to fight and survive in a world ravaged by angels and daemons. Nathaniel is an archangel who reluctantly meets and teams up with Amara to face a common foe. And we get to see the walls between them break down piece by piece... and then get built back up again... and then slowly crumble once more.
This was some of the best back and forth banter in the most delectable slow burn. I was laughing at their antics while they were rolling their eyes at each other. I was kicking my feet while they were literally kicking each other. I felt the hatred that turned slowly into a tentative trust. I felt the chemistry oozing from the pages despite Amara's constant inner turmoil. God this was so good.
I also want to say, I predicted most of this story pretty early on, but that didn't take anything away from how it was later carried out and revealed. I was still sitting jaw dropped at some moments. Had me wishing for a fancy blade to jump into the action myself.
I can be a little nitpicky about small things, but really this book was giving me life. I understand why she calls him archangel so much, but I really wish she had used his real name sooner because yelling "archangel!!" just doesn't hit the same in a high stress moment. And I do think there was a little more repetition in her mental debate about Jeremy - I know she thought about it a lot on purpose but also, I didn't need to reread the same thought process numerous times during her journey.
Thank you to Orbit for the advance digital copy of this book!!
March 9, 2026
Wow, what a great read - this is dystopian vibes - angels and daemons. A lot of banter and angst and just great writing.
This is set in a world ravaged by a war between angels and daemons - where humanity was the collateral of that conflict. But unlike most stories, the angels in this story can be just as lethal and cruel as the daemons. Amara is a human, working as a soldier she tries to track down the numerous people that go missing every night as a result of angels/daemons. But she is limited by the strict curfews set in place by an agreement with the angels - and if you are out after curfew you are likely never coming back. But for the past 2 years she’s made a comfortable life for herself with her boyfriend even while in lockdown. Until one day, he doesn’t come home by curfew. Desperate she decides to go out and look for him. Instead she finds a lethal archangel who’s willing to spare her and make a deal. Together they will work to find a dangerous fallen angel and Amara’s boyfriend.
This is set in a world ravaged by a war between angels and daemons - where humanity was the collateral of that conflict. But unlike most stories, the angels in this story can be just as lethal and cruel as the daemons. Amara is a human, working as a soldier she tries to track down the numerous people that go missing every night as a result of angels/daemons. But she is limited by the strict curfews set in place by an agreement with the angels - and if you are out after curfew you are likely never coming back. But for the past 2 years she’s made a comfortable life for herself with her boyfriend even while in lockdown. Until one day, he doesn’t come home by curfew. Desperate she decides to go out and look for him. Instead she finds a lethal archangel who’s willing to spare her and make a deal. Together they will work to find a dangerous fallen angel and Amara’s boyfriend.
April 27, 2026
If you’re into Angels, Demons, and a military style dystopian, you’ve come to the right place.
TSTL is fun, fast paced, and a suuuuper slow burn. Packed with enemies to lovers, hidden revelations, a FMC who carries a bit of weight to her character, and a decent amount of fleshed out side characters.
I loved how Carmody wrote Amara’s character, being put into the adoption/fostering system and how that moulded her and her very prevalent attachment issues, it’s sad but so true with adoptees. Amara is ready to die for the cause and her friends and she’s completely at peace with it, sad but in a nice way? 🤷🏻♂️
A very solid plot with no downtime makes for a very fun read.
The pacing was really good, so easy to lose yourself in and easily digestible, short chapters are always a plus for me!
There’s a *gasp* moment that I genuinely did not see coming at all and makes me want to read the sequel all the more! 🫨🫨
I’m a sucker for lore and I would love to know more of the Angels and Demons so fingers crossed we get that! 🤞🏻
Thank you to Orbit for the early copy! 🫶🏻
TSTL is fun, fast paced, and a suuuuper slow burn. Packed with enemies to lovers, hidden revelations, a FMC who carries a bit of weight to her character, and a decent amount of fleshed out side characters.
I loved how Carmody wrote Amara’s character, being put into the adoption/fostering system and how that moulded her and her very prevalent attachment issues, it’s sad but so true with adoptees. Amara is ready to die for the cause and her friends and she’s completely at peace with it, sad but in a nice way? 🤷🏻♂️
A very solid plot with no downtime makes for a very fun read.
The pacing was really good, so easy to lose yourself in and easily digestible, short chapters are always a plus for me!
There’s a *gasp* moment that I genuinely did not see coming at all and makes me want to read the sequel all the more! 🫨🫨
I’m a sucker for lore and I would love to know more of the Angels and Demons so fingers crossed we get that! 🤞🏻
Thank you to Orbit for the early copy! 🫶🏻
October 2, 2026
3.75⭐️ a fun, grungy, bingeable time! That bonus chapter was sooo good.
Tropes/themes:
-War between angels and demons
- human x angel survival duo (reluctant allies)
- missing boyfriend
- dystopian modern world
Ok honestly was not expecting to binge this as fast as i did, but i just rlly wanted to know what would keep happening! This was fast-paced, had cool angel / demon lore that i always love and the romance, while a little instalusty, was more subtle than i thought.
Ngl the romance wasn’t my fave just because of her already having a boyfriend, it threw me off even if jeremy seemed too good to be true. The reveals were admittably a bit obvious buttttt idk im kinda rooting for them now especially after the bonus nathanial pov like omgggg seeing the other side! I can also appreciate the true slowburn (again they be 👀👀 each other tho lustily) w no spice in this book.
Plot was cool, this wasn’t like super unique in romantasy standards but i did just rlly vibe with all the lore.
Ending lowkey gagged meeee why was i depressed. And how nathanial and amara (btw love her name) are gonna go in book 2??? Im kinda here for ittt like this is just good story entertainment and i rlly liked it for the vibes and good book binge to help me relax from finals😀
Thank youuuu to my besties at Orbit for the gifted physical ARC and finished copies! All opinions are my own.
Tropes/themes:
-War between angels and demons
- human x angel survival duo (reluctant allies)
- missing boyfriend
- dystopian modern world
Ok honestly was not expecting to binge this as fast as i did, but i just rlly wanted to know what would keep happening! This was fast-paced, had cool angel / demon lore that i always love and the romance, while a little instalusty, was more subtle than i thought.
Ngl the romance wasn’t my fave just because of her already having a boyfriend, it threw me off even if jeremy seemed too good to be true. The reveals were admittably a bit obvious buttttt idk im kinda rooting for them now especially after the bonus nathanial pov like omgggg seeing the other side! I can also appreciate the true slowburn (again they be 👀👀 each other tho lustily) w no spice in this book.
Plot was cool, this wasn’t like super unique in romantasy standards but i did just rlly vibe with all the lore.
Ending lowkey gagged meeee why was i depressed. And how nathanial and amara (btw love her name) are gonna go in book 2??? Im kinda here for ittt like this is just good story entertainment and i rlly liked it for the vibes and good book binge to help me relax from finals😀
Thank youuuu to my besties at Orbit for the gifted physical ARC and finished copies! All opinions are my own.
August 8, 2026
Oh my goodness, I did not expect to love this book as much as I did and I love, love, loved this book! It was beautifully written and enthralling. I loved everything about it: the war of angels v daemons v humans, the unique reimagination of creatures like the hellhounds and chimeras, the AIA, the romance, just everything!
The characters were well rounded and complex. The imagination of the world building was vivid and believable. The mixture of dystopian, fantasy and romance was chef’s kiss.
I loved the love triangle. I could predict what was coming in that aspect, but was still drawn into the romance! It was a perfect a balance for me of emotions and sexy, sassy, banter. Not to mention ending up in situations of which they just had to be close to each other.
I did not see all of the twists coming and loved the ending, other than I have to wait for the next book.
I can’t believe I haven’t seen more about this book and def going to be recommending it and looking for the next one.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC!
The characters were well rounded and complex. The imagination of the world building was vivid and believable. The mixture of dystopian, fantasy and romance was chef’s kiss.
I loved the love triangle. I could predict what was coming in that aspect, but was still drawn into the romance! It was a perfect a balance for me of emotions and sexy, sassy, banter. Not to mention ending up in situations of which they just had to be close to each other.
I did not see all of the twists coming and loved the ending, other than I have to wait for the next book.
I can’t believe I haven’t seen more about this book and def going to be recommending it and looking for the next one.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC!
February 23, 2025
‘Just one more chapter.’ Is what happened here.
I I just stalked the authors socials after reading because I need updates on THE NEXT BOOK ASAP PLEASE!! & I actually saw it described as a hint of ‘Crescent City, The Mortal Instruments & Hush Hush’ - the fact I am currently reading the CC series & Hush Hush series as well & have read the Mortal Instruments (which btw is my fav SH world series) - this is 100% that vibe!!👏🏽
This was incredible for a first debut novel. I was hooked. Super easy to read. I was second guessing myself a lot & then I was like ‘HUH’ & gasped!!!
Post apocalyptic dystopian world - my favourite time of reading genre/books & this defiantly hit the bar for me🤌
I was sitting at a 4/4.5 star then the last 20% of this book made it a 5 star read for me. I was going through all the emotions & I just had to finish it. It’s once of those you won’t want to put down.
Yeah i’m obsessed. Congrats to this beauty👏🏽🩷
I I just stalked the authors socials after reading because I need updates on THE NEXT BOOK ASAP PLEASE!! & I actually saw it described as a hint of ‘Crescent City, The Mortal Instruments & Hush Hush’ - the fact I am currently reading the CC series & Hush Hush series as well & have read the Mortal Instruments (which btw is my fav SH world series) - this is 100% that vibe!!👏🏽
This was incredible for a first debut novel. I was hooked. Super easy to read. I was second guessing myself a lot & then I was like ‘HUH’ & gasped!!!
Post apocalyptic dystopian world - my favourite time of reading genre/books & this defiantly hit the bar for me🤌
I was sitting at a 4/4.5 star then the last 20% of this book made it a 5 star read for me. I was going through all the emotions & I just had to finish it. It’s once of those you won’t want to put down.
Yeah i’m obsessed. Congrats to this beauty👏🏽🩷
September 16, 2026
I think this author has a lot of promise and I will be revisiting her in the future! This book had a lot of fun things including an impulsive but relatable FMC, good banter, and a lot of fun action scenes. Sadly for me, there were a decent amount of logic issues that got in the way of me being fully immersed in the story.
September 20, 2026
This book is phenomenal!! This is a dystopian book I've been craving since I read Beneath. This book delivered I expected!! We had paranormal, dystopian, banter, longing, yearning, and uncertaint This book was perfection!! I cant wait for book 2!! If you love angels and deamons fighting and hope for humanity, I highly recommend this book
May 26, 2025
★★★☆ I wanted to give this 5 stars so bad, but multiple things drove me crazy, so we'll have to settle for a 3.5.
Spice: 🫑
🎵 Theme Song: "Darkside" - Bring Me The Horizon
🗡 Post-apocalyptic world
🗡 Angels/Archangels vs demons
🗡 Fierce female warrior
🗡 Enemies to reluctant allies to...👀
🗡 Fate vs free will
📖 Plot Overview
Amara is a warrior in the Angel Intelligence Agency, where heaven has turned earth into collateral damage in a war between angels and demons. When her boyfriend Jeremy vanishes without a trace, she breaks curfew to search for him—and runs straight into the Archangel Nathaniel. Instead of smiting her on sight, he... pairs up with her? Yep. Cue an unlikely alliance between an elite archangel and a human warrior as they unravel a much bigger mystery that may change the fate of the world.
But there are secrets between them, and what they uncover might burn the whole world down.
⚔️ Characters
Amara (FMC): Fierce, mouthy, and not here to be saved. She's a badass warrior who refuses to be underestimated—even by literal archangels. I loved her confidence, her refusal to be silenced, and how she throws herself into danger, as if fear is just a concept.
Nathaniel (MMC): Broody archangel energy, powerful and intimidating, but I wanted more. The build-up didn’t quite reach the intensity I hoped for, and the chemistry felt more like a flicker than a blaze. Give me more moments that represent this quote!!!
⚔️ World-Building
- Post-apocalyptic setting with angels/demons was so up my alley
- Strong atmosphere—gritty, haunting, and cinematic. Felt like a movie in my head.
♥️ What I Loved
✔️ Amara is that girl. She had fight, fire, and a set of sharp blades.
✔️ The enemies-to-allies energy was fun, and I was hyped to see where their relationship would go.
✔️ The banter was so fun. Found myself kicking my feet
✔️ I love any story when a female is kicking demon @$$
💔 What I Didn’t Like
✖️ Repetitive language (how many times can someone twitch or smirk?)
✖️ The ending felt... meh. No big payoff - ending felt a little rushed
✖️ Missed opportunities! I wanted a big underdog arc or shock-value twist to punch me in the chest.
✖️ The romance wasn’t romancing. There wasn’t enough yearning, angst, or build-up, and no payoff.
✖️ There are more - read my spoilers if you want to know.
📝 Overall Thoughts
The Shadows That Listen is one of those books that had everything I love—angels, a fierce FMC, post-apocalyptic vibes, and reluctant allies—but stumbled right at the finish line. It should have been a 5-star read. The world was there, the writing had its moments, and Amara is the kind of character I cheer for in every scene.
But some missed opportunities, repetitive phrasing, lack of emotional build-up in the romance, and a "meh" ending knocked it down to 3.5 stars. I’ll still read the sequel (because I’m curious and mildly invested), but I hope the next book delivers the emotional stakes, twists, and payoffs I know this series is capable of.
If you like angels, urban fantasy, and badass heroines with sharp mouths and sharper blades, check this out.
⚠️ Hidden Spoiler Rant
Spice: 🫑
🎵 Theme Song: "Darkside" - Bring Me The Horizon
🗡 Post-apocalyptic world
🗡 Angels/Archangels vs demons
🗡 Fierce female warrior
🗡 Enemies to reluctant allies to...👀
🗡 Fate vs free will
📖 Plot Overview
Amara is a warrior in the Angel Intelligence Agency, where heaven has turned earth into collateral damage in a war between angels and demons. When her boyfriend Jeremy vanishes without a trace, she breaks curfew to search for him—and runs straight into the Archangel Nathaniel. Instead of smiting her on sight, he... pairs up with her? Yep. Cue an unlikely alliance between an elite archangel and a human warrior as they unravel a much bigger mystery that may change the fate of the world.
But there are secrets between them, and what they uncover might burn the whole world down.
⚔️ Characters
Amara (FMC): Fierce, mouthy, and not here to be saved. She's a badass warrior who refuses to be underestimated—even by literal archangels. I loved her confidence, her refusal to be silenced, and how she throws herself into danger, as if fear is just a concept.
Nathaniel (MMC): Broody archangel energy, powerful and intimidating, but I wanted more. The build-up didn’t quite reach the intensity I hoped for, and the chemistry felt more like a flicker than a blaze. Give me more moments that represent this quote!!!
“I think that you want someone who challenges you. You want something that you have to fight for, someone who’s going to keep you on your toes. You want someone who would crawl from the grave back to you.”
⚔️ World-Building
- Post-apocalyptic setting with angels/demons was so up my alley
- Strong atmosphere—gritty, haunting, and cinematic. Felt like a movie in my head.
♥️ What I Loved
✔️ Amara is that girl. She had fight, fire, and a set of sharp blades.
✔️ The enemies-to-allies energy was fun, and I was hyped to see where their relationship would go.
✔️ The banter was so fun. Found myself kicking my feet
✔️ I love any story when a female is kicking demon @$$
💔 What I Didn’t Like
✖️ Repetitive language (how many times can someone twitch or smirk?)
✖️ The ending felt... meh. No big payoff - ending felt a little rushed
✖️ Missed opportunities! I wanted a big underdog arc or shock-value twist to punch me in the chest.
✖️ The romance wasn’t romancing. There wasn’t enough yearning, angst, or build-up, and no payoff.
✖️ There are more - read my spoilers if you want to know.
📝 Overall Thoughts
The Shadows That Listen is one of those books that had everything I love—angels, a fierce FMC, post-apocalyptic vibes, and reluctant allies—but stumbled right at the finish line. It should have been a 5-star read. The world was there, the writing had its moments, and Amara is the kind of character I cheer for in every scene.
But some missed opportunities, repetitive phrasing, lack of emotional build-up in the romance, and a "meh" ending knocked it down to 3.5 stars. I’ll still read the sequel (because I’m curious and mildly invested), but I hope the next book delivers the emotional stakes, twists, and payoffs I know this series is capable of.
If you like angels, urban fantasy, and badass heroines with sharp mouths and sharper blades, check this out.
⚠️ Hidden Spoiler Rant
December 14, 2024
I received an ARC of this by the author. Thank you so much.
THIS IS THE BOOK OF 2025
5/5⭐️
I haven’t read a book like this in a long time. It’s a combination of dystopian and fantasy and it took me back fifteen years ago when I began reading this genre. Louisa has done an incredible job of storytelling, writing complex characters and settings. The plot was magnificent and it all flowed so well. I only wished there was more romance, as it’s quite slow burn, but something to look forward to in book 2! The slow burn made want to throw my kindle to the other side of the room! It was devastatingly beautiful. 💗
THIS IS THE BOOK OF 2025
5/5⭐️
I haven’t read a book like this in a long time. It’s a combination of dystopian and fantasy and it took me back fifteen years ago when I began reading this genre. Louisa has done an incredible job of storytelling, writing complex characters and settings. The plot was magnificent and it all flowed so well. I only wished there was more romance, as it’s quite slow burn, but something to look forward to in book 2! The slow burn made want to throw my kindle to the other side of the room! It was devastatingly beautiful. 💗
March 28, 2026
I decided to read The Shadows That Listen because of its comparison to Angelfall by Susan Ee. Unfortunately, it misses the mark due to underdeveloped worldbuilding and a lack of chemistry between the FMC and MMC.
Readers are introduced to the world through the FMC’s experience of nightly lockdowns meant to protect humans from the ongoing war between angels and demons. She works as an agent for the Angel Intelligence Agency, but for an organization with such a name they seem to know remarkably little about the angels, demons, or the world since their arrival. This lack of information becomes one of the most frustrating aspects of the novel.
The romance also falls flat. There is little to no chemistry between the FMC and MMC. In what appears to be an attempt to differentiate the story from Angelfall, Carmody has the FMC’s boyfriend be kidnapped instead of a sibling. However, this choice undercuts the romantic tension, as the developing relationship between the FMC and MMC veers uncomfortably close to emotional infidelity despite the FMC repeatedly questioning her existing relationship.
Although the FMC is written as an older character, her voice does not reflect this. Instead, she comes across as an inexperienced young adult who is in over her head. While this could have worked as a character trait, it clashes with her portrayal as highly competent. Despite having only two years of training, no field experience, and a primarily desk-based role, she consistently performs at an implausibly high level.
I ultimately rated the novel three stars rather than two because the twist at the ending was genuinely surprising and well-executed. Without my frustrations with worldbuilding and the FMC’s characterization, I would have enjoyed the book much more.
Overall, The Shadows That Listen had an intriguing premise and a strong final twist, but it ultimately fell flat due to weak worldbuilding and a developing relationship with little to no chemistry. While it may still appeal to readers who enjoy angel/demon conflicts, those looking for rich worldbuilding and compelling romance may find it lacking.
Readers are introduced to the world through the FMC’s experience of nightly lockdowns meant to protect humans from the ongoing war between angels and demons. She works as an agent for the Angel Intelligence Agency, but for an organization with such a name they seem to know remarkably little about the angels, demons, or the world since their arrival. This lack of information becomes one of the most frustrating aspects of the novel.
The romance also falls flat. There is little to no chemistry between the FMC and MMC. In what appears to be an attempt to differentiate the story from Angelfall, Carmody has the FMC’s boyfriend be kidnapped instead of a sibling. However, this choice undercuts the romantic tension, as the developing relationship between the FMC and MMC veers uncomfortably close to emotional infidelity despite the FMC repeatedly questioning her existing relationship.
Although the FMC is written as an older character, her voice does not reflect this. Instead, she comes across as an inexperienced young adult who is in over her head. While this could have worked as a character trait, it clashes with her portrayal as highly competent. Despite having only two years of training, no field experience, and a primarily desk-based role, she consistently performs at an implausibly high level.
I ultimately rated the novel three stars rather than two because the twist at the ending was genuinely surprising and well-executed. Without my frustrations with worldbuilding and the FMC’s characterization, I would have enjoyed the book much more.
Overall, The Shadows That Listen had an intriguing premise and a strong final twist, but it ultimately fell flat due to weak worldbuilding and a developing relationship with little to no chemistry. While it may still appeal to readers who enjoy angel/demon conflicts, those looking for rich worldbuilding and compelling romance may find it lacking.
April 19, 2026
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of this, and honestly, thank god, because I’ve been screechin' with excitement since I read the synopsis. If you’re like me and your brain has approximately 47 tabs open at once, consider this your sign to clear your schedule. I inhaled this in two sittings.
I’m not here to write a literary thesis. I’m here for the vibes, and the vibes were very much giving a mix of the Grinch smirk and surprised Pikachu.
I was so emotionally invested in Amara and Nathaniel that by the end, I felt personally victimised by the fact that there wasn't a sequel already waiting for me.
I wish there was more lore for me to devour, the depth would've really helped me connect with the characters more. I wanted more of the world and its history. Like give me the full Lord of the Rings level deep dive. But the chemistry between the leads carried me through. If you’re a sucker for a FMC who can hold her own and a MMC who is basically a "golden retriever with a dark secret" archetype, you’re going to have a good time and stay.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy 🖤
*Editing to say I'm so glad this book has blown up. It was so fun and I'm still thinking of it a month later.
I’m not here to write a literary thesis. I’m here for the vibes, and the vibes were very much giving a mix of the Grinch smirk and surprised Pikachu.
I was so emotionally invested in Amara and Nathaniel that by the end, I felt personally victimised by the fact that there wasn't a sequel already waiting for me.
I wish there was more lore for me to devour, the depth would've really helped me connect with the characters more. I wanted more of the world and its history. Like give me the full Lord of the Rings level deep dive. But the chemistry between the leads carried me through. If you’re a sucker for a FMC who can hold her own and a MMC who is basically a "golden retriever with a dark secret" archetype, you’re going to have a good time and stay.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy 🖤
*Editing to say I'm so glad this book has blown up. It was so fun and I'm still thinking of it a month later.
July 15, 2026
“perhaps monsters are born out of the heartbreak they endure.”
—
this book was super addictive, fun, and fast paced. it gave me vibes from a bunch of my favorite romantasy books, while still feeling unique.
i love LOVE forced proximity, so if you’re a fan of that trope, you’ll absolutely devour this book.
the dystopian urban fantasy vibes were immaculate, and the war between angels, daemons, and humans had me hooked.
nathaniel… yes sir, tysm. tall, dark, mysterious, AND has wings? welcome back hunt athalar. the bonus chapter in his pov was everything, and i’m begging for dual or multi pov in the next book!
the banter and slow burn were so good, and i’m so excited to see these characters continue to grow and watch their relationship unfold.
the ending of this book had me GAGGED. i feel like i totally should’ve seen it coming, but for some reason i didn’t?? i was also absolutely devastated by a certain scene at the end.
the way this book ended is setting up book two so well, and i’m so beyond excited to see where the story goes.
thank you so much to orbit books & netgalley for this e-arc! ♥︎
“𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.”
—
this book was super addictive, fun, and fast paced. it gave me vibes from a bunch of my favorite romantasy books, while still feeling unique.
i love LOVE forced proximity, so if you’re a fan of that trope, you’ll absolutely devour this book.
the dystopian urban fantasy vibes were immaculate, and the war between angels, daemons, and humans had me hooked.
nathaniel… yes sir, tysm. tall, dark, mysterious, AND has wings? welcome back hunt athalar. the bonus chapter in his pov was everything, and i’m begging for dual or multi pov in the next book!
the banter and slow burn were so good, and i’m so excited to see these characters continue to grow and watch their relationship unfold.
the ending of this book had me GAGGED. i feel like i totally should’ve seen it coming, but for some reason i didn’t?? i was also absolutely devastated by a certain scene at the end.
the way this book ended is setting up book two so well, and i’m so beyond excited to see where the story goes.
thank you so much to orbit books & netgalley for this e-arc! ♥︎
“𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.”
April 27, 2026
I think the end of this book emotionally broke me, y’all. I did not expect to be hit with a full-on wave of tears 😭😭
This is exactly what my reader heart lives for. If you asked me what genre I could never walk away from, it would always be urban fantasy/dystopian. Those are the stories that made me, the ones I grew up reading and obsessing over… and this one absolutely delivered!!!!!
The strong FMC..The stoic MMC who just so happens to be an angel 👀 ..and their snarky banter that hit every single time🫠 The constant will-they-won’t-they tension, the push and pull… I was so locked in😂 And the adrenaline spikes throughout this whole book were absolutely insane!!!
I flew through this one like an actual speed demon, doing my best to catch up to @thispaperdream😂 I failed lmbo but I loved every second of it😍
Thank you so much to Louisa Carmody, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC
This is exactly what my reader heart lives for. If you asked me what genre I could never walk away from, it would always be urban fantasy/dystopian. Those are the stories that made me, the ones I grew up reading and obsessing over… and this one absolutely delivered!!!!!
The strong FMC..The stoic MMC who just so happens to be an angel 👀 ..and their snarky banter that hit every single time🫠 The constant will-they-won’t-they tension, the push and pull… I was so locked in😂 And the adrenaline spikes throughout this whole book were absolutely insane!!!
I flew through this one like an actual speed demon, doing my best to catch up to @thispaperdream😂 I failed lmbo but I loved every second of it😍
Thank you so much to Louisa Carmody, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC
April 15, 2026
Apocalypse on Earth, and humans are just collateral damage.
Angels and demons are at war, and Amaris, a truly badass FMC, is trying to save the people she loves while being drawn in by Nathanael, archangel extraordinaire, whose interest in her is… not exactly subtle, the experienced reader can make an educated guess early on.
He’s very much fighting his fate, which adds tension. No scent description, but his pug-like snores were oddly adorable.
Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read with a strong heroine.
Angels and demons are at war, and Amaris, a truly badass FMC, is trying to save the people she loves while being drawn in by Nathanael, archangel extraordinaire, whose interest in her is… not exactly subtle, the experienced reader can make an educated guess early on.
He’s very much fighting his fate, which adds tension. No scent description, but his pug-like snores were oddly adorable.
Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read with a strong heroine.
January 15, 2025
This had me hooked from the very first page! Every chapter left me wanting more, and I couldn’t put it down. The twists kept me guessing, and the story was so vivid and gripping that it’s still stuck in my head. Can’t wait for the next one!
September 30, 2026
4.25 stars
Y’all, we found an angel and demon romantasy book that I actually liked! Please clap.
Our main character Amara lives in a world where angels are in an ongoing war with demons, and because of this, humans have become collateral damage. When her boyfriend, Jeremy, gets taken by a demon, she must team up with an angel to brave the world at large in the hopes of saving him before it’s too late.
The first thing that stood out to me was how unique this story was. I found the world so fascinating. I never thought to pair dystopia with angels and demons. It seems so obvious, and yet this is the first time I’ve read a story with this type of vibe, and I ate it up.
I really liked this world that the author created. It was interesting to see through our characters how we got to this point and where it all went wrong. I was especially interested in which aspects of our world were kept, which were improved, and which parts were lost. Since Amara and Nathaniel had to navigate the world while searching for her missing boyfriend, we got to see so much of it, which really emphasized the sheer size of the landscape. That being said, I wish we got to see the main city even more and spent more time there at the beginning before venturing outside into the wild unknown. I have no doubt that we’re going to see even more of this in later books, and I’m so excited for that.
I really liked Amara because she had a healthy amount of urgency while also being flawed and vulnerable, but not in an annoying way. Nathaniel was her perfect counterpart because he provided a different perspective and challenged her at every twist and turn. This led to amazing banter and a red-hot romance. I was eating the dialogue up.
The audiobook was fantastic. You would have thought that the narrator was trying to get nominated for an Oscar with how much she committed to this role. You really felt the happiness, turmoil, misery, and so many other emotions just from the inflection in her voice and the overall delivery of the performance. The audiobook also really emphasized how great the pacing was. We were never in one place for too long, and we were in places just long enough to help push the plot forward. I was never bored once while reading this book.
While the plot was a little basic, it was executed extremely well, and this was one of the better romantasy books that I’ve read in a minute.
Thank you to Orbit and Hachette Audio for the gifted copy.
Y’all, we found an angel and demon romantasy book that I actually liked! Please clap.
Our main character Amara lives in a world where angels are in an ongoing war with demons, and because of this, humans have become collateral damage. When her boyfriend, Jeremy, gets taken by a demon, she must team up with an angel to brave the world at large in the hopes of saving him before it’s too late.
The first thing that stood out to me was how unique this story was. I found the world so fascinating. I never thought to pair dystopia with angels and demons. It seems so obvious, and yet this is the first time I’ve read a story with this type of vibe, and I ate it up.
I really liked this world that the author created. It was interesting to see through our characters how we got to this point and where it all went wrong. I was especially interested in which aspects of our world were kept, which were improved, and which parts were lost. Since Amara and Nathaniel had to navigate the world while searching for her missing boyfriend, we got to see so much of it, which really emphasized the sheer size of the landscape. That being said, I wish we got to see the main city even more and spent more time there at the beginning before venturing outside into the wild unknown. I have no doubt that we’re going to see even more of this in later books, and I’m so excited for that.
I really liked Amara because she had a healthy amount of urgency while also being flawed and vulnerable, but not in an annoying way. Nathaniel was her perfect counterpart because he provided a different perspective and challenged her at every twist and turn. This led to amazing banter and a red-hot romance. I was eating the dialogue up.
The audiobook was fantastic. You would have thought that the narrator was trying to get nominated for an Oscar with how much she committed to this role. You really felt the happiness, turmoil, misery, and so many other emotions just from the inflection in her voice and the overall delivery of the performance. The audiobook also really emphasized how great the pacing was. We were never in one place for too long, and we were in places just long enough to help push the plot forward. I was never bored once while reading this book.
While the plot was a little basic, it was executed extremely well, and this was one of the better romantasy books that I’ve read in a minute.
Thank you to Orbit and Hachette Audio for the gifted copy.
April 26, 2025
4.5
I need time to think about that book. I have feeling that i just watched tv show about angels, humans and apocalypse. I like how author built the plot, we have many plot twists (some of them predictable, some no, but still good). FMC reminds me of Buffy or more like Cordelia and MMC reminds me of Damon from Vampire Diaries. Don't ask me why, I just feel it haha
Tropes
- angel/deamon/human war;
- dystopian vibes;
- one bed;
- 'that`s my girl';
- badass FMC;
- enemies to lovers to enemies?
- you can trust no one
Anyway, it was captivating and I def gonna read second book
I need time to think about that book. I have feeling that i just watched tv show about angels, humans and apocalypse. I like how author built the plot, we have many plot twists (some of them predictable, some no, but still good). FMC reminds me of Buffy or more like Cordelia and MMC reminds me of Damon from Vampire Diaries. Don't ask me why, I just feel it haha
Tropes
- angel/deamon/human war;
- dystopian vibes;
- one bed;
- 'that`s my girl';
- badass FMC;
- enemies to lovers to enemies?
- you can trust no one
Anyway, it was captivating and I def gonna read second book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 985 reviews