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Demons & Ramen
Exorcist Denis Kaine has spent his life fighting demons, but nothing could prepare him for losing his twin brother. When the Vatican declares Xavier's death a suicide, Denis knows better. Something made his brother pull the trigger. He's going to find out the truth, no matter the cost.
Fueled by rage, whiskey, and a reckless disregard for his own survival, Denis scours the dark underbelly of Rome, exorcising every creature that slithers up from Hell to get in his way. But his search takes a dangerous turn when he stumbles upon a Vatican-sealed crypt and accidentally releases something far older, far more powerful than any demon he's ever faced.
She's not a ghost. She's not a demon. But she’s hungry, and she’s not leaving without raiding his fridge.
Now, exiled from the Church and stuck with a thousand year old roommate named Emma, Denis is forced into an uneasy alliance. If he wants to know the truth about Xavier's death, he'll need Emma’s help. Armed with a messenger bag full of holy water and their habit of making bad decisions, they dive into the darkest corners of faith, power, and the Vatican's buried secrets.
And something is watching. Hell isn't the only thing hunting him.
Fueled by rage, whiskey, and a reckless disregard for his own survival, Denis scours the dark underbelly of Rome, exorcising every creature that slithers up from Hell to get in his way. But his search takes a dangerous turn when he stumbles upon a Vatican-sealed crypt and accidentally releases something far older, far more powerful than any demon he's ever faced.
She's not a ghost. She's not a demon. But she’s hungry, and she’s not leaving without raiding his fridge.
Now, exiled from the Church and stuck with a thousand year old roommate named Emma, Denis is forced into an uneasy alliance. If he wants to know the truth about Xavier's death, he'll need Emma’s help. Armed with a messenger bag full of holy water and their habit of making bad decisions, they dive into the darkest corners of faith, power, and the Vatican's buried secrets.
And something is watching. Hell isn't the only thing hunting him.
- GenresUrban FantasyParanormal
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 23, 2025
This was a great suprise.
The plot is interesting, the pacing is good and I loved that it alternates between the overall mystery, some "monster if the chapter" action, and the relationship between the characters. The writing is solid and show humour, action, and some deeper feelings.
It gave me some Dresden files and Supernatural vibes.
It has a lot of entertainment value and I hope there will be a next book.
The plot is interesting, the pacing is good and I loved that it alternates between the overall mystery, some "monster if the chapter" action, and the relationship between the characters. The writing is solid and show humour, action, and some deeper feelings.
It gave me some Dresden files and Supernatural vibes.
It has a lot of entertainment value and I hope there will be a next book.
May 2, 2025
3.5 stars
I received a copy of this book for taking part in the blog tour, in exchange for an honest review
I will start with a couple of technical things before going into the proper review, because even if they aren’t really big things they buggered me while I was reading so I think they’re worth mentioning (and okay, the first point made me laugh, a lot, but it wasn’t meant to funny so…)
First things first, if you want to use a language that is not your own, you should find someone whose mother tongue is the language you’re using. And mind me, you must find a native speaker and not someone who speaks the language. Here the author uses Italian because the beginning of the story is set in Rome, and mind me, everyone in Italy would understand what is said here, but… “Prosciutto panino” made me laugh! A lot. I kept giggling about it for days. And it wasn’t the only one. The problem is that this wasn’t a comedic moment; it was just a normal scene. So, whichever language you want to use, find a native speaker to double-check.
And another thing that bothered me is that the first thing we learn is that Xavier, our MC’s brother, killed himself. For the Catholic Church, suicide is a Big Sin; it’s a one-way ticket to Hell. But this thing is not addressed for a long time in the story, and this thing irked me. Denis fears that his brother is in Hell and he doesn’t want to believe it because his brother was a really good guy, and this is understandable, but every time this theme came up there is the ideas of the Church pending on it like a big Sword of Damocles and nobody addressed it for a long time. It was annoying. And sure, it wasn’t a big thing, but every time the topic was mentioned, this thing threw me out of the story.
That said, I can start with the proper review. This is a nice book, and if you are a fan of Supernatural, you’ll probably love this one. There are a ton of things in common between the two, and the vibes are pretty similar.
Denis is an exorcist on a mission; he wants to discover what really happened to his brother, and he is ready to send all the demons he can find back to hell to get answers.
And he finds himself with an unexpected sidekick and houseguest (but don’t let her be called sidekick!!). Together, they will have to form a truce and find answers (and a way to make money, too!).
My favourite parts were the ones that follow Denis around as he worked as an exorcist and an expert in the paranormal. I have a confession to make: I am not a fan of Supernatural, so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy these parts so much, but to me, they were the highlights of the reading.
I also loved the secondary characters quite a lot. I wanted more of Martin and his dogs (and the bookstore!). The parts with them were like small islands of normalcy, and they balance the plot quite well. And then I just have to mention Lisa, I think she is one of the best fictional nuns ever!
On the whole, this is a nice book, it is entertaining and captivating and it has also some really good characters!
I received a copy of this book for taking part in the blog tour, in exchange for an honest review
I will start with a couple of technical things before going into the proper review, because even if they aren’t really big things they buggered me while I was reading so I think they’re worth mentioning (and okay, the first point made me laugh, a lot, but it wasn’t meant to funny so…)
First things first, if you want to use a language that is not your own, you should find someone whose mother tongue is the language you’re using. And mind me, you must find a native speaker and not someone who speaks the language. Here the author uses Italian because the beginning of the story is set in Rome, and mind me, everyone in Italy would understand what is said here, but… “Prosciutto panino” made me laugh! A lot. I kept giggling about it for days. And it wasn’t the only one. The problem is that this wasn’t a comedic moment; it was just a normal scene. So, whichever language you want to use, find a native speaker to double-check.
And another thing that bothered me is that the first thing we learn is that Xavier, our MC’s brother, killed himself. For the Catholic Church, suicide is a Big Sin; it’s a one-way ticket to Hell. But this thing is not addressed for a long time in the story, and this thing irked me. Denis fears that his brother is in Hell and he doesn’t want to believe it because his brother was a really good guy, and this is understandable, but every time this theme came up there is the ideas of the Church pending on it like a big Sword of Damocles and nobody addressed it for a long time. It was annoying. And sure, it wasn’t a big thing, but every time the topic was mentioned, this thing threw me out of the story.
That said, I can start with the proper review. This is a nice book, and if you are a fan of Supernatural, you’ll probably love this one. There are a ton of things in common between the two, and the vibes are pretty similar.
Denis is an exorcist on a mission; he wants to discover what really happened to his brother, and he is ready to send all the demons he can find back to hell to get answers.
And he finds himself with an unexpected sidekick and houseguest (but don’t let her be called sidekick!!). Together, they will have to form a truce and find answers (and a way to make money, too!).
My favourite parts were the ones that follow Denis around as he worked as an exorcist and an expert in the paranormal. I have a confession to make: I am not a fan of Supernatural, so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy these parts so much, but to me, they were the highlights of the reading.
I also loved the secondary characters quite a lot. I wanted more of Martin and his dogs (and the bookstore!). The parts with them were like small islands of normalcy, and they balance the plot quite well. And then I just have to mention Lisa, I think she is one of the best fictional nuns ever!
On the whole, this is a nice book, it is entertaining and captivating and it has also some really good characters!
May 4, 2025
I enjoyed this book from the very beginning. Although it had a lot of dark humor in it this book dealt with some heavy topics.
Father Denis Kaine is a renowned exorcist who is dealing with a traumatic, life altering episode that literally pulls him into darkness ready to end it all.
What I enjoyed about this book is how Father Denis Kaine was portrayed. Yes, he was a priest. Yes, he was one of few priests who was authorized by the Catholic church to perform exorcisms. Yes, Father Kaine was still a man. Finding his twin brother's body after an apparent s**cide, Father Kaine goes off the deep end. Fueled with a spirit of rage and vengeance, he is on a mission to exorcise and eradicate as many demons as possible that he can find until his late-night exorcism binge leads him to a 700 tomb where he unwittingly releases a powerful entity that is not a demon nor ghost but a being who is hungry and quite bored.
Emma the mysterious entity that Father Kaine unleashes decides to hunt him down to offer her thanks but what she finds is a shell of a man on a reckless journey to nowhere fast. Emma provided the much-needed comic relief in this story. She was bright, sarcastic, energetic, and everything Father Kaine didn't know he needed.
Father Kaine quickly realized that he was not getting rid of Emma anytime soon and accepted the fact that he had an unwanted roommate who loved to cook and eat meals pretty much all of the time. No matter how much he tried to rid himself of Emma the more he realized that his attempts were futile. Father Kaine and Emma had a rocky start to their unorthodox relationship, but Emma was everything Denis needed when he needed it.
This story portrayed the effects of pain experienced by grief. Although Father Kaine was a priest he wasn't above falling into a pit of despair and doubt. This book deals with heavy issues surrounding s**cide, attempted s**cide, demonic possession, child death due to SA (not on page but mentioned), grief, secrets of the catholic church, ideology of the catholic church, rebelling against the catholic church. There is spice but it is closed door.
This is a story of dealing with grief, losing oneself, finding strength, accepting the help of others and finding redemption. Father Kaine went through a lot in this book, but never once did he lose sight of his purpose in life which was exorcising demons and saving as many souls as possible even if it meant losing his own.
Father Denis Kaine is a renowned exorcist who is dealing with a traumatic, life altering episode that literally pulls him into darkness ready to end it all.
What I enjoyed about this book is how Father Denis Kaine was portrayed. Yes, he was a priest. Yes, he was one of few priests who was authorized by the Catholic church to perform exorcisms. Yes, Father Kaine was still a man. Finding his twin brother's body after an apparent s**cide, Father Kaine goes off the deep end. Fueled with a spirit of rage and vengeance, he is on a mission to exorcise and eradicate as many demons as possible that he can find until his late-night exorcism binge leads him to a 700 tomb where he unwittingly releases a powerful entity that is not a demon nor ghost but a being who is hungry and quite bored.
Emma the mysterious entity that Father Kaine unleashes decides to hunt him down to offer her thanks but what she finds is a shell of a man on a reckless journey to nowhere fast. Emma provided the much-needed comic relief in this story. She was bright, sarcastic, energetic, and everything Father Kaine didn't know he needed.
Father Kaine quickly realized that he was not getting rid of Emma anytime soon and accepted the fact that he had an unwanted roommate who loved to cook and eat meals pretty much all of the time. No matter how much he tried to rid himself of Emma the more he realized that his attempts were futile. Father Kaine and Emma had a rocky start to their unorthodox relationship, but Emma was everything Denis needed when he needed it.
This story portrayed the effects of pain experienced by grief. Although Father Kaine was a priest he wasn't above falling into a pit of despair and doubt. This book deals with heavy issues surrounding s**cide, attempted s**cide, demonic possession, child death due to SA (not on page but mentioned), grief, secrets of the catholic church, ideology of the catholic church, rebelling against the catholic church. There is spice but it is closed door.
This is a story of dealing with grief, losing oneself, finding strength, accepting the help of others and finding redemption. Father Kaine went through a lot in this book, but never once did he lose sight of his purpose in life which was exorcising demons and saving as many souls as possible even if it meant losing his own.
June 15, 2025
This book is a heartwhelming story filled with dark humour and surprisingly interesting action scenes.
In Demons & Ramen by A.M. Loweecey, we follow Father Denis Kaine in his journey after the death of his twin brother, Xavier.
Along the way, he picks up an unwanted houseguest, Emma, who just won't leave him alone.
Although I'm not used to reading this type of books (especially ones with such heavy catholic themes), I surprised even myself with how much I enjoyed it.
This is my fist story told by A.M. Loweecey, and I am excited to read more! The writing was really beautiful and it pulled you right in.
I definitely appreciated the way Catholicism is represented. However, I am slightly confused with a few aspects of it.
Being a priest, his religion and devotion to the Catholic church is, obviously, a prominent detail in the story. Therefore, the lines Denis drew between what was a sin and what wasn't was confusing.
His relationship with Emma, for instance.
As a reader who enjoys character development, Emma's character was, in my opinion, a bit underdeveloped. Who is she exactly? What are her goals? What drives her? Who was she in her past life?
Besides this, we weren't presented with enough context of how Denis feels about the non marital sex "rule" of the church before - and after - it happened.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed his unusual ways, there just wasn't enough exposition about what he thought was appropriate and the lines he was willing to cross. Especially if we consider Emma's status as a supernatural creature, being an exorcist, shouldn't he want to exorcise her? He mentioned it a few times in the beginning, but he just abruptly stopped mentioning it.
Now, one might argue that it was because they were at the point where the romance started to develop, and I do agree, but since Emma's character didn't feel like it was super established, the romance, unfortunately, felt slightly rushed.
However, I truly loved the way the story spun interesting action scenes and motivations for the main character. I relished in the several scenes where we saw Denis being a normal human being who had doubts and anxieties that couldn't be easily soothed.
As a bonus, we also got a cute photo of the author's cute dog, Zeus, in the end. XD
Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
In Demons & Ramen by A.M. Loweecey, we follow Father Denis Kaine in his journey after the death of his twin brother, Xavier.
Along the way, he picks up an unwanted houseguest, Emma, who just won't leave him alone.
Although I'm not used to reading this type of books (especially ones with such heavy catholic themes), I surprised even myself with how much I enjoyed it.
This is my fist story told by A.M. Loweecey, and I am excited to read more! The writing was really beautiful and it pulled you right in.
I definitely appreciated the way Catholicism is represented. However, I am slightly confused with a few aspects of it.
Being a priest, his religion and devotion to the Catholic church is, obviously, a prominent detail in the story. Therefore, the lines Denis drew between what was a sin and what wasn't was confusing.
His relationship with Emma, for instance.
As a reader who enjoys character development, Emma's character was, in my opinion, a bit underdeveloped. Who is she exactly? What are her goals? What drives her? Who was she in her past life?
Besides this, we weren't presented with enough context of how Denis feels about the non marital sex "rule" of the church before - and after - it happened.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed his unusual ways, there just wasn't enough exposition about what he thought was appropriate and the lines he was willing to cross. Especially if we consider Emma's status as a supernatural creature, being an exorcist, shouldn't he want to exorcise her? He mentioned it a few times in the beginning, but he just abruptly stopped mentioning it.
Now, one might argue that it was because they were at the point where the romance started to develop, and I do agree, but since Emma's character didn't feel like it was super established, the romance, unfortunately, felt slightly rushed.
However, I truly loved the way the story spun interesting action scenes and motivations for the main character. I relished in the several scenes where we saw Denis being a normal human being who had doubts and anxieties that couldn't be easily soothed.
As a bonus, we also got a cute photo of the author's cute dog, Zeus, in the end. XD
Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
September 3, 2025
3.5/5 because Goodreads doesn't permit half stars! Thank you to Epic Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this!
All in all it was a very fun read, I'm an appreciator of exorcist characters and Denis Kaine now certainly ranks among my favorites. I know this book keeps getting described as "Dresden Files" but as a man who recently started watching Supernatural for the first time (I'm on S2E9); Denis Kaine and Dean Winchester would either be best friends or at each others throats and there is no in-between. I also really felt for Denis in that he lost his twin brother, his emotional baggage of that death is highly poignant and you can really feel the impact of it because Xavier is ever present in Denis's thoughts.
I did have to remove a star because I just don't like Emma as a character, she also didn't get a lot of development in this book either which might have saved her character for me if it happened. She just kind of barges into Denis's life and sort of takes over his everything, she doesn't respect his very understandable boundaries either. I noticed a few plotholes with her too, like how does she know what instant ramen (created in 1958) is when she's been gone for 700 years? Or how to make a latte using a steam wand (created in the 20th century)? I really liked Lisa as a character and wish we got to see more of her, and I do appreciate the maternal energy she exudes as well as how much she genuinely cares for Denis! And towards the end I really liked Lisa and Emma's interactions and bonding over being a history enjoyer and literally living it.
Something else I greatly appreciated from this book is the duality of exorcists that we get to see, we consistently hear from Denis that Xavier was a very traditional exorcist who dealt only with demons but Denis himself blends different traditions together to work against a wider variety of creatures which I think is a really cool thing.
ALSO THAT ENDING??? Wild, very well done and I didn't see it coming!
All in all it was a very fun read, I'm an appreciator of exorcist characters and Denis Kaine now certainly ranks among my favorites. I know this book keeps getting described as "Dresden Files" but as a man who recently started watching Supernatural for the first time (I'm on S2E9); Denis Kaine and Dean Winchester would either be best friends or at each others throats and there is no in-between. I also really felt for Denis in that he lost his twin brother, his emotional baggage of that death is highly poignant and you can really feel the impact of it because Xavier is ever present in Denis's thoughts.
I did have to remove a star because I just don't like Emma as a character, she also didn't get a lot of development in this book either which might have saved her character for me if it happened. She just kind of barges into Denis's life and sort of takes over his everything, she doesn't respect his very understandable boundaries either. I noticed a few plotholes with her too, like how does she know what instant ramen (created in 1958) is when she's been gone for 700 years? Or how to make a latte using a steam wand (created in the 20th century)? I really liked Lisa as a character and wish we got to see more of her, and I do appreciate the maternal energy she exudes as well as how much she genuinely cares for Denis! And towards the end I really liked Lisa and Emma's interactions and bonding over being a history enjoyer and literally living it.
Something else I greatly appreciated from this book is the duality of exorcists that we get to see, we consistently hear from Denis that Xavier was a very traditional exorcist who dealt only with demons but Denis himself blends different traditions together to work against a wider variety of creatures which I think is a really cool thing.
ALSO THAT ENDING??? Wild, very well done and I didn't see it coming!
May 1, 2025
This was a new to me author, but I was intrigued enough by the blurb to take a chance on it, plus I’ve always had a weakness for dark humour and urban fantasy so thought why not and I’m so glad I did. With a rebel exorcist for a hero who’s devoted his life working for the church ridding the world of things they’d rather keep quiet, well where were they when his twin brother needed them, his death was something else they were keen to brush under the carpet. It's when he’s looking for the truth he uncovers something not even his vast knowledge can explain, only that this particular being is, old and hungry, and, because of him, free and on his doorstep. Since she didn’t wait for an invite, she’s definitely not a vampire and, luckily for him she’ll settle for eating what’s in his fridge to sate her appetite. Whether or not this will be a match made in heaven or hell remained to be seen.
The humour here is at the darker end of the scale but doesn’t take itself too seriously with a bit of a tongue in cheek vibe. There was a great flow to the writing, with the overall story setting a steady pace and I loved A.M. Loweecey’s style, her use of words made it easy to visualise certain scenes, they were described so clearly, and I quickly found myself sucked into the story. I loved the dynamics and the dialogue between the two main characters, Denis and Emma. After losing his brother Denis had seemed to hate himself for still being alive but the arrival of the fiery Emma challenged him and gave him purpose, reinforcing his intention to find the truth and while I know Denis is a priest and Emma, at over a thousand years old, would fall well and truly in the cougar category. There was a spark of something between them but not enough that it detracted from the story but if Demons and Ramen should develop into a series it will be interesting to see if anything develops between them and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more.
The humour here is at the darker end of the scale but doesn’t take itself too seriously with a bit of a tongue in cheek vibe. There was a great flow to the writing, with the overall story setting a steady pace and I loved A.M. Loweecey’s style, her use of words made it easy to visualise certain scenes, they were described so clearly, and I quickly found myself sucked into the story. I loved the dynamics and the dialogue between the two main characters, Denis and Emma. After losing his brother Denis had seemed to hate himself for still being alive but the arrival of the fiery Emma challenged him and gave him purpose, reinforcing his intention to find the truth and while I know Denis is a priest and Emma, at over a thousand years old, would fall well and truly in the cougar category. There was a spark of something between them but not enough that it detracted from the story but if Demons and Ramen should develop into a series it will be interesting to see if anything develops between them and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more.
June 11, 2025
TL/DR: Sorry, for this one I’m just going to say get the book, you won’t be sorry. If you need more, see below.
Ok. All I can think of is wow! I really try to not compare authors, I get it, but it’s not my thing. I can’t help myself here. Keep in mind it is a unique, funny, irreverent, sad, crazy book, but I need to say it. I was getting Jim Butcher’s “Dresden” vibes. Now instead of a wizard, the MMC is a priest, a twin actually, that performs exorcisms and instead of “Bob”, he appears to be stuck with a 700+ year old ghost he freed in Rome.
I honestly did not know what to expect, but I loved this book and I really hope it is part of a series. I mean, sure, technically they wrapped everything up but there are a lot of unanswered questions.
Also, a special shout out to the bookstore owner, his two dogs and his husband who stands beside him with the family drama. You have to love a boss who brings you homemade pierogi’s (didn’t know they could be sweet too) and brings his dogs to work. Yes, they increase sales, but come on. Dogs!
Also, I think everyone could use a Sister Lisa in their life. She has known the twins since seminary school, when they were fast tracked on the exorcism path. She is amazing. Strong but feels like home. Will slap you upside your head (maybe with a frying pan) and then give you a hug and ask you for sheets for your very uncomfortable couch. Family. Found family who always has your back.
I can’t recommend this book enough. I am campaigning for at least a sequel, if not a whole series. I would like to thank the author, A. M. Loweecey; Epic Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!
Ok. All I can think of is wow! I really try to not compare authors, I get it, but it’s not my thing. I can’t help myself here. Keep in mind it is a unique, funny, irreverent, sad, crazy book, but I need to say it. I was getting Jim Butcher’s “Dresden” vibes. Now instead of a wizard, the MMC is a priest, a twin actually, that performs exorcisms and instead of “Bob”, he appears to be stuck with a 700+ year old ghost he freed in Rome.
I honestly did not know what to expect, but I loved this book and I really hope it is part of a series. I mean, sure, technically they wrapped everything up but there are a lot of unanswered questions.
Also, a special shout out to the bookstore owner, his two dogs and his husband who stands beside him with the family drama. You have to love a boss who brings you homemade pierogi’s (didn’t know they could be sweet too) and brings his dogs to work. Yes, they increase sales, but come on. Dogs!
Also, I think everyone could use a Sister Lisa in their life. She has known the twins since seminary school, when they were fast tracked on the exorcism path. She is amazing. Strong but feels like home. Will slap you upside your head (maybe with a frying pan) and then give you a hug and ask you for sheets for your very uncomfortable couch. Family. Found family who always has your back.
I can’t recommend this book enough. I am campaigning for at least a sequel, if not a whole series. I would like to thank the author, A. M. Loweecey; Epic Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!
June 19, 2025
This book has plenty of demons but hardly any ramen (seriously, ramen is only mentioned once).
Ramen isn’t the only thing this book lacked, though. It also lacked any goal for the characters.
At first you get the impression that Denis (MMC) is looking for the demon that disrupted his twin sibling’s life, but then for the first 50% of the book he does nothing to reach this goal. It was essentially exorcism after exorcism that had nothing to do with the main story line. The exorcisms seemed to just be a way to break up the constant food scenes. The author must have been super hungry and watching Supernatural when writing.
I was ready to DNF at 50%, but I persevered since I received an ARC and owed them a review.
At this 50% mark, the goal is finally revealed. It’s not uncovering the identity of the mysterious woman or why she was imprisoned 700 years ago, nor is it to look for the demon. It’s to find out where his sibling is located. At this point I guessed the "twist" that ends the book.
The next 50% of the book was just as underwhelming. A few more random exorcisms occur and a lot more eating before we get to the last 10% where the ultimate battle occurs. The problem here is I still hadn’t fallen in love with the characters nor felt anxious about their fate (I’m someone that cries over characters often and I just felt absolutely nothing for this group). I don’t even understand how the characters fell in love with each other because they were all SO boring. Except for Lisa. Lisa was pretty cool.
Maybe skip this one and go grab a nice bowl of ramen instead.
Ramen isn’t the only thing this book lacked, though. It also lacked any goal for the characters.
At first you get the impression that Denis (MMC) is looking for the demon that disrupted his twin sibling’s life, but then for the first 50% of the book he does nothing to reach this goal. It was essentially exorcism after exorcism that had nothing to do with the main story line. The exorcisms seemed to just be a way to break up the constant food scenes. The author must have been super hungry and watching Supernatural when writing.
I was ready to DNF at 50%, but I persevered since I received an ARC and owed them a review.
At this 50% mark, the goal is finally revealed. It’s not uncovering the identity of the mysterious woman or why she was imprisoned 700 years ago, nor is it to look for the demon. It’s to find out where his sibling is located. At this point I guessed the "twist" that ends the book.
The next 50% of the book was just as underwhelming. A few more random exorcisms occur and a lot more eating before we get to the last 10% where the ultimate battle occurs. The problem here is I still hadn’t fallen in love with the characters nor felt anxious about their fate (I’m someone that cries over characters often and I just felt absolutely nothing for this group). I don’t even understand how the characters fell in love with each other because they were all SO boring. Except for Lisa. Lisa was pretty cool.
Maybe skip this one and go grab a nice bowl of ramen instead.
July 12, 2025
A special thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC/DRC copy. Also, a special thank you to A.M. Rycroft at Epic Publishing for sending me a physical copy to review.
I was drawn to this book because of the title, but it has more mention of demons than ramen. Read the book and you’ll find out why it is titled the way it is.
While the synopsis of the book was appealing, the cover art comes off as AI generated. The cover itself isn’t necessarily good or bad, I think some people will love it and others will not. For me, I think had I not read the synopsis, I don’t believe I would have purchased it in the store. That being said, after just completing the read…
I absolutely couldn’t put this book down! The storyline is extremely fast-paced from start to finish. This book would be great for anyone in the genre niche of religious-horror, fans of exorcisms, Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and True Blood. There’s a lot of dark witty, satirical humor that made me love this book even more.
The only real issues that I had with this story was the analogy of blue rivers and snow. It was rather repetitious, but also came off as too “flowery” with the majority of the text having a considerably darker/menacing feel. The other issue I found was that Emma’s character was never fully explained to what/who she is. Is she exclusively a rusalka, who is a shapeshifter that can turn into a myriad of demons? Or is she something else? I waited the entire novel for the answer and did not find it at the conclusion of the book. For these reasons I give this a 4 out 5* rating.
Would I recommend this book, absolutely 💯 %!
I was drawn to this book because of the title, but it has more mention of demons than ramen. Read the book and you’ll find out why it is titled the way it is.
While the synopsis of the book was appealing, the cover art comes off as AI generated. The cover itself isn’t necessarily good or bad, I think some people will love it and others will not. For me, I think had I not read the synopsis, I don’t believe I would have purchased it in the store. That being said, after just completing the read…
I absolutely couldn’t put this book down! The storyline is extremely fast-paced from start to finish. This book would be great for anyone in the genre niche of religious-horror, fans of exorcisms, Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and True Blood. There’s a lot of dark witty, satirical humor that made me love this book even more.
The only real issues that I had with this story was the analogy of blue rivers and snow. It was rather repetitious, but also came off as too “flowery” with the majority of the text having a considerably darker/menacing feel. The other issue I found was that Emma’s character was never fully explained to what/who she is. Is she exclusively a rusalka, who is a shapeshifter that can turn into a myriad of demons? Or is she something else? I waited the entire novel for the answer and did not find it at the conclusion of the book. For these reasons I give this a 4 out 5* rating.
Would I recommend this book, absolutely 💯 %!
July 31, 2025
Demons, trauma, and a shapeshifter roommate, just your average work week for an exorcist.
This book throws you headfirst into a haunted blender of demons, monsters, ghosts, and one grumpy exorcist with enough emotional damage to qualify for a group discount on therapy. Denis Kaine is not here to play by your rules, he’s too busy battling hellspawn, pissing off the church, and trying not to strangle his new 1000-year-old shapeshifter housemate, Emma.
Denis was born with the sight, trained to send demons back to the abyss with a glare and a Latin prayer, or maybe a ritual of a different religion (hence pissing off the church) but underneath the holy water and salt circles is a man drowning in grief. His twin brother Xavier, also an exorcist, should have been untouchable. So why did he take his own life? Denis isn’t letting that question go, even if it means battling every demon he finds for the answer.
Then there's Emma. Oh, Emma. She’s ancient, chaotic, morally ambiguous, and has apparently decided crashing at Denis’s bachelor pad is the vibe now. She can shift into literally anything, but she decides the steam punk aesthetic is the way to go this century. The banter between her and Denis? Top tier. Think “demon slaying odd couple with unresolved trauma and trust issues.”
This story is fast paced, gloriously unhinged, and surprisingly heartfelt. It’s a spicy stew of grief, horror, and hilarious one liners, all served with a side of supernatural ass kicking. If you like your urban fantasy with bite, banter, and emotional scars that don't heal with holy water, read this book.
This book throws you headfirst into a haunted blender of demons, monsters, ghosts, and one grumpy exorcist with enough emotional damage to qualify for a group discount on therapy. Denis Kaine is not here to play by your rules, he’s too busy battling hellspawn, pissing off the church, and trying not to strangle his new 1000-year-old shapeshifter housemate, Emma.
Denis was born with the sight, trained to send demons back to the abyss with a glare and a Latin prayer, or maybe a ritual of a different religion (hence pissing off the church) but underneath the holy water and salt circles is a man drowning in grief. His twin brother Xavier, also an exorcist, should have been untouchable. So why did he take his own life? Denis isn’t letting that question go, even if it means battling every demon he finds for the answer.
Then there's Emma. Oh, Emma. She’s ancient, chaotic, morally ambiguous, and has apparently decided crashing at Denis’s bachelor pad is the vibe now. She can shift into literally anything, but she decides the steam punk aesthetic is the way to go this century. The banter between her and Denis? Top tier. Think “demon slaying odd couple with unresolved trauma and trust issues.”
This story is fast paced, gloriously unhinged, and surprisingly heartfelt. It’s a spicy stew of grief, horror, and hilarious one liners, all served with a side of supernatural ass kicking. If you like your urban fantasy with bite, banter, and emotional scars that don't heal with holy water, read this book.
September 29, 2025
I've been a fan of Alice Loweecey, aka A. M. Loweecey author of this book, for quite a while. Her Falcone and Driscoll series is superb. It's amateur sleuth with a great premise.
This one is supernatural with a great premise. It's sassy like Falcone and Driscoll but it's sassy demons and exorcists this time.
Father Denis Kaine is an exorcist and is not a favorite of the Church, or at least some of them are not fans, but he's a sort of necessary 'evil' as he's really good at exorcising demons. Not as good as his brother was, but his brother is dead and Denis has to carry on alone. But not as alone as before. Emma is in his life now whether he likes it or not. I like Emma quite a lot. She doesn't put up with any guff and keeps Denis moving forward. And he needs the push as there is serious evil in town and it's using Denis' past to haunt him.
What tends to get me to love a book is the relationship of the characters. Do I get a good vibe, does the interaction feel real, is there chemistry. Yep to all of that in this book. I love the interaction with Denis and Emma, Denis and Lisa, Denis and Lisa and Emma...the women are take no guff and fun and smart. Some might have issue with how certain things are portrayed due to religious views, but I am not a fan of organized religion, I prefer spiritual to 'religious' and this is spiritually uplifting for all that it's supernatural in flavor. There's love and friendship which I admire.
I can definitely recommend this book and author. I have been assured that there will be more books to the series. I am well-pleased.
This one is supernatural with a great premise. It's sassy like Falcone and Driscoll but it's sassy demons and exorcists this time.
Father Denis Kaine is an exorcist and is not a favorite of the Church, or at least some of them are not fans, but he's a sort of necessary 'evil' as he's really good at exorcising demons. Not as good as his brother was, but his brother is dead and Denis has to carry on alone. But not as alone as before. Emma is in his life now whether he likes it or not. I like Emma quite a lot. She doesn't put up with any guff and keeps Denis moving forward. And he needs the push as there is serious evil in town and it's using Denis' past to haunt him.
What tends to get me to love a book is the relationship of the characters. Do I get a good vibe, does the interaction feel real, is there chemistry. Yep to all of that in this book. I love the interaction with Denis and Emma, Denis and Lisa, Denis and Lisa and Emma...the women are take no guff and fun and smart. Some might have issue with how certain things are portrayed due to religious views, but I am not a fan of organized religion, I prefer spiritual to 'religious' and this is spiritually uplifting for all that it's supernatural in flavor. There's love and friendship which I admire.
I can definitely recommend this book and author. I have been assured that there will be more books to the series. I am well-pleased.
April 30, 2025
Thank you A.M. Loweecey for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was fantastic! The marketing on the blurb is spot on. If you love Harry Dresden, then David Kaine is going to be your new best friend. Kaine is so snarky, irreverent, and completely full of arrogant sass. He is also chock full pf pain and self loathing too. His temper gets the best of him sometimes, leading to bad choices with consequences.
Emma is the perfect counterpoint for him. She knows what she wants, and she isn't afraid to order him around to get it. She is confident, wise, and also has a fiery temper as well.
I enjoyed every minute of this book from start to finish. The pace was fast, with a few slower pauses to catch your breath. All the characters were interesting and memorable, even the few side characters too.
I love that the spice was closed door. With this book being on the shorter side, it kept the action going at full tilt without the distraction.
I wanted to mention that this book deals heavily with su!c!de. There is a detailed on page un-aliving attempt, and also the descriptive bloody aftermath of another characters un-aliving as well. There is also a scene dealing with a young girl's murder caused by child SA. No on page graphic details, but there is enough to piece it together if this topic would affect you. None of these scenes feel like they are there for shock value, and fit well into the narrative of the book.
This book was fantastic! The marketing on the blurb is spot on. If you love Harry Dresden, then David Kaine is going to be your new best friend. Kaine is so snarky, irreverent, and completely full of arrogant sass. He is also chock full pf pain and self loathing too. His temper gets the best of him sometimes, leading to bad choices with consequences.
Emma is the perfect counterpoint for him. She knows what she wants, and she isn't afraid to order him around to get it. She is confident, wise, and also has a fiery temper as well.
I enjoyed every minute of this book from start to finish. The pace was fast, with a few slower pauses to catch your breath. All the characters were interesting and memorable, even the few side characters too.
I love that the spice was closed door. With this book being on the shorter side, it kept the action going at full tilt without the distraction.
I wanted to mention that this book deals heavily with su!c!de. There is a detailed on page un-aliving attempt, and also the descriptive bloody aftermath of another characters un-aliving as well. There is also a scene dealing with a young girl's murder caused by child SA. No on page graphic details, but there is enough to piece it together if this topic would affect you. None of these scenes feel like they are there for shock value, and fit well into the narrative of the book.
April 30, 2025
Rating: 3.5/5
Author A.M. Loweecey delivers a dark-like-themed humorous story of a priest, Father Denis Kaine, who performs exorcisms. But Denis, he’s no ordinary priest. His Xavier twin brother, who was also a priest, were both exorcists. When Xavier passes under unfortunate circumstances that Denis says were caused by a demon. Denis then pursues all avenues to find the culprit through the Vatican City, cemeteries, and using various resources, including the powers that he’s had since he was a child. However, when an uninvited entity comes into his home, Denis’s life becomes even more complex, and he ends up with a new partner.
His new partner/roommate, Emma, is over a thousand years old and a woman. Though Demons & Ramen is about exorcisms, spirits, and demons, it does have some dark themes, but there is humor to it as well. There’s banter between Denis and Emma. And though Denis is a priest and Emma is a thousand years old, there are some intimate scenes between them, but they are not detailed. I enjoyed the story, and it appears the ending was left with some more adventures to come.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 @epicpublishingbooks , @amloweecey , 𝘢𝘯𝘥 @pages_of_cedar 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺.
Author A.M. Loweecey delivers a dark-like-themed humorous story of a priest, Father Denis Kaine, who performs exorcisms. But Denis, he’s no ordinary priest. His Xavier twin brother, who was also a priest, were both exorcists. When Xavier passes under unfortunate circumstances that Denis says were caused by a demon. Denis then pursues all avenues to find the culprit through the Vatican City, cemeteries, and using various resources, including the powers that he’s had since he was a child. However, when an uninvited entity comes into his home, Denis’s life becomes even more complex, and he ends up with a new partner.
His new partner/roommate, Emma, is over a thousand years old and a woman. Though Demons & Ramen is about exorcisms, spirits, and demons, it does have some dark themes, but there is humor to it as well. There’s banter between Denis and Emma. And though Denis is a priest and Emma is a thousand years old, there are some intimate scenes between them, but they are not detailed. I enjoyed the story, and it appears the ending was left with some more adventures to come.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 @epicpublishingbooks , @amloweecey , 𝘢𝘯𝘥 @pages_of_cedar 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺.
May 8, 2025
I enjoyed this book very much! This was a new author to me, and from the blurb given, I was hooked. My all-time favorite book was ordained by David Watkins, so I was intrigued as to if this book would roll into what I enjoyed with that one. With that being said, I could not compare the two they are two very different books but in an amazing way!
I loved how the story flowed in this one, how it covered heavy topics like suicide in the Catholic church, but the book itself was very cheeky in parts, and had a lot of dark humor to kind of mellow it out. I loved it, I loved the characters and how she portrayed simple things so that you could visualize what was going on, almost as if you were there. Watching Father Denis and Emma's relationship grow throughout the book was amazing.I felt that Emma gave him that push he needed to find out what happened. She is fiery and tenacious where he is nothing of the sort, and I think in the end that made them a great team.
Overall, the book was great, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
I loved how the story flowed in this one, how it covered heavy topics like suicide in the Catholic church, but the book itself was very cheeky in parts, and had a lot of dark humor to kind of mellow it out. I loved it, I loved the characters and how she portrayed simple things so that you could visualize what was going on, almost as if you were there. Watching Father Denis and Emma's relationship grow throughout the book was amazing.I felt that Emma gave him that push he needed to find out what happened. She is fiery and tenacious where he is nothing of the sort, and I think in the end that made them a great team.
Overall, the book was great, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
August 14, 2025
This was a pretty pleasant read.
I loved Denis as the protagonist and enjoyed his dry humor and no-nonsense-attitude. The exorcism scenes were great and the highlight of the book for me. His desperation in the search for answers regarding his twin brother's suicide was heart-breaking and I really felt for him.
That being said, something I did not enjoy but was unfortunately a big part of this book, were Emma and her relationship with Denis. At the beginning, I found her amusing enough, albeit somewhat annoying, but as soon as they started constantly pawing at each other, they kind of lost me. I just didn't feel the chemistry.
And what was going on with all the cooking and eating? Seriously.
All in all, though, the book kept me engaged and giggling here and there. I would probably read a sequel.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2025
This book was interesting. I liked the idea of family and how determined Denis was to find out what happened to his brother. He was willing to fight demons, and eventually, an entity caught up with him. He released Emma, and she was no ordinary spirit. I was confused about how a Catholic priest was attracted to Emma; however, I am not that familiar with many priests performing exorcisms. I was also not happy with all the Latin in the book. I took Latin for years and knew what was being said, but I assume that other readers do not. It was also more of a chore to translate, rather than the author telling me the translation, and knowing I was right. This is definitely a fun read, one to not take too seriously. I am giving this book a 3/5. I was given a copy; however, all opinions are my own.
April 24, 2025
I was really intrigued by both this cover and the blurb, so I was excited to read this. I started reading, and I was immediately drawn into the story. One thing I will say upfront is that this is little bit darker than I expected, but that’s not really a bad thing. I wasn’t sure I was going to like Emma at first, too, but she really grew on me. Denis is a really tormented soul, and his actions throughout the book really made me wince a few times. This book straddles the moral line sometimes in a couple ways, but at the end you really can’t help but adore the dynamic between Denis and Emma, and I came to root for their partnership. This is definitely worth a read, especially if you like a little bit darker urban fantasy read. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
July 4, 2025
Demons & Ramen starts off with Denis' twin brother having taken his own life and Denis himself vowing to find out what really happened because he believes that his brother's death was a result of demon possession. Along the way, Denis, a priest, starts up a co-habitation with a female supernatural being and ends up creating an exorcism business with her. And oh, he also works at a bookstore.
This book wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the characters very much and I didn't find the story interesting. The actual story differs from the book synopsis a bit. I do think this book has a unique idea and I'm sure this is good for readers that enjoy this genre, urban fantasy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy to review.
This book wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the characters very much and I didn't find the story interesting. The actual story differs from the book synopsis a bit. I do think this book has a unique idea and I'm sure this is good for readers that enjoy this genre, urban fantasy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy to review.
August 20, 2025
This book reminded me of a clever combination of Dresden Files meets The Exorcist with the additional vibes of Constantine.
Father Dennis (whilst of a grumpy and brooding nature) was a talented priest who exorcised demons as his main gig whilst moonlighting as an antique bookseller in the daylight hours.
The characters of the various demons and hellish creatures were well portrayed and the side characters of Emma (an otherworldly being) as well as Xavier (Dennis's brother in a ghostly form) added depth and humor to the story. In terms of the setting, it was both dark, atmospheric and suspenseful which, in turn, enhanced my enjoyment of the book.
A big thankyou to Net galley, EPIC Publishing and the author for an early ARC of this gripping and fascinating book.
Father Dennis (whilst of a grumpy and brooding nature) was a talented priest who exorcised demons as his main gig whilst moonlighting as an antique bookseller in the daylight hours.
The characters of the various demons and hellish creatures were well portrayed and the side characters of Emma (an otherworldly being) as well as Xavier (Dennis's brother in a ghostly form) added depth and humor to the story. In terms of the setting, it was both dark, atmospheric and suspenseful which, in turn, enhanced my enjoyment of the book.
A big thankyou to Net galley, EPIC Publishing and the author for an early ARC of this gripping and fascinating book.
October 15, 2025
The book starts strong with Denis’ twin brother having committed suicide and Denis vowing to find out what really happened as he believed his brother was possessed by a demon.
It then starts to drift. That initial drive to solve his brother's death seems to take a back seat to exorcisms and food.
He accidentally frees a 700 hundred year old entity that moves in with him. I wasn't interested in that element at all and it takes up a good portion of the book.
It didn't work for me. I didn't find the characters that interesting and the mystery plot wasn't focused on. It might appeal more to urban or paranormal fantasy fans whereas I wanted more horror mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
It then starts to drift. That initial drive to solve his brother's death seems to take a back seat to exorcisms and food.
He accidentally frees a 700 hundred year old entity that moves in with him. I wasn't interested in that element at all and it takes up a good portion of the book.
It didn't work for me. I didn't find the characters that interesting and the mystery plot wasn't focused on. It might appeal more to urban or paranormal fantasy fans whereas I wanted more horror mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
May 10, 2025
This was a pretty good book. It started a little slow for me but picked up quickly. I liked the story line and the dark humor sprinkled in throughout. I would recommend this to readers who like the supernatural and don’t mind very dark humor.
May 14, 2025
Quite an intriguing and dark tale. New to me author & a definite new story. It’s dark & dangerous, and yet witty and attention stealing. Will definitely keep this author on my radar
June 18, 2025
This wasn't for me. It was hard to follow and a little jumpy.
August 5, 2025
i love books that have dark humor and the dynamic between Father Denis andEmma. ather Father Denis is a priest who does exorcisms who trying to find the deomn who kill his brother. one day emma 1000 yr old enitity shows up moves in and become his new not really wanted partner. there banter had me laughing and i enjoyed reading this story
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