“I don’t want you calm. I never have.” Ezra’s lips curled up into a smile with sharp edges and no warmth, his fangs peeking through. “I want you dangerous.”
When Aviva lands a baffling murder investigation, she discovers that the key to solving the crime lies in the last place she expects—a deadly magic gaming hall aboard a freaking yacht. Because why solve a supernatural murder on nice solid ground?
While she navigates this high-stakes inquiry on the high-seas, she’s also hunting a mysterious artifact. Should it fall into the wrong hands, it’s game over for any half-demons—like her.
No pressure.
But here’s the real storm on the horizon. Her ex-lover and partner-in-crime, Ezra, is still in the picture. Sparks are flying, and not the good kind. Well, not always. Old wounds and smoldering desires have resurfaced, and she’s not sure if she’ll sink or swim..
Bon voyage.
Featuring a smart, funny heroine and a banter-fueled vampire romance, this wickedly addictive urban fantasy will keep you listening way past bedtime.
Deborah Wilde is a global wanderer and hopeless romantic. After twelve years as a screenwriter, she was also a total cynic with a broken edit button, so, she jumped ship, started writing funny, sexy, urban fantasy and paranormal women’s fiction books, and never looked back.
She loves writing smart, flawed, wisecracking women who can solve a mystery, kick supernatural butt, banter with hot men, and still make time for their best female friend, because those were the women she grew up around and admired. Granted, her grandmother never had to kill a demon at her weekly friend lunches, but Deborah is pretty sure she could have.
Demon on Deck strengthens the game here all the way through.
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Demon on Deck, the second book in Deborah Wilde’s Bedeviled series, explores the origins of the main female character, Aviva Fleischer, a agent of the Jewish paranormal agency The Maccabees, who is trying to hide her identity as a half demon being.
The complex universe that author Wilde created in book 1, and started establishing a series mystery arc about a human purity sect and a cure for vampirism continues here. The cases that Aviva, her team as well as her ex-boyfriend, the Vampire Prince, Ezra, involve multiple otherworldly fascinating characters, intriguing paranormal realms, and compelling investigations.
Ones in this case that lead to some surprising twists and revelations.
Demon on Deck strengthens the game here all the way through. The characters have been able to be used in ways that deepen their power and development. The storylines have greatly expanded both the world building and the overall arc narrative.
And the suspense and plot going forward is greatly amplified by the ending here without it being a cliffhanger.
I’m really excited for the next book in this series. Another winner and rec for me.
Cover by: Covers By Christian.
Bedeviled: Big Demon Energy #1 Demon on Deck #2 Better the Demon You Know #3 Demon in Disguise #4 The Demon’s Due #5 - Aug 18,2025
This is the second book in the Bedevils AF series and I liked this one more than the first book! A magical (or so we think) woman is staked while relaxing at a spa. But when the body disappears and the other officers minds erased, Avila ends up in a world of trouble. Now she still won’t be getting the promotion she wants. Teamed back up with Darsh, Sachie and Ezra again they must find the killer before Aviva’s time is up. But how can they find the killer when everyone is keeping secrets. All the while, she is also secretly trying to work the case of the half-shedim since it could hit close to home. There was still plenty of action and suspense in this book, same as the first. Aviva is portaled to another place and must work to hide her demon, Cherry bomb. But this time, she’s actually learning from her mistakes and actually thinking before rushing in. With work and Ezra. And omg Ezra is being tempting in this one! There are some definite bomb shells dropped at the end of this book though! I couldn’t believe my ears as I was listening to all of them! From finding lost family to being blind sided by someone else to a theory about her first case, I am on the edge of my seat waiting to start the next book!
I’m Soooooo loving this series, and this book more than the previous one. I guess it might be the world building, even though Wilde‘s urban fantasy style is pretty familiar to me by now.
Aviva is back, trying to prove her mother that she’s worthy and deserving (which she totally is in my book), and while navigating there once again, presence of her ex, Ezra, a royalty vampire and super sexy temptation, she’s also trying to solve a murder and a crime that took place at a unique style casino on a yacht.
I know, so much happening in just this first paragraph, I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Then again, Aviva is part demon, so she’s much more equipped to deal with this lifestyle.
Her crew is still working with her, and with all the twists and turns, there’s a HUGE discovery happening in this book. Secrets are starting to come out and I have a feeling all hell is about to break loose. And considering the hell that’s breaking all over the place, this is a statement!
Sweet baby Buddha, I’ll never get used to her wit and fun writing. There’s just so much snark and mindfuck in her stories, it’s an absolute delight.
And this one is made that much better in that the series itself is just so fun!
I’ve got a soft spot for urban fantasy because it’s the kind of sub-genre that keeps things interesting with its twists on the modern world and technology with fantastical elements such as magic and fictional creatures but also fast-paced enough to keep a reader engaged with the plot. The Bedeviled AF series is just that, with mystery subplots and a delightful slow-burn with baggage between Aviva and Ezra, two exes that could fill a train with how many secrets lie between them and the ones they care for.
I’m enjoying learning more backstory of the characters, particularly Darsh and Ezra, and was giddy with excitement when we got a reveal in terms of parentage of the Aviva sort. The banter and dialogue are a highlight of the story, and I love how even though the stakes often seem diminished at times, it more so feels like the books aren’t taking themselves too seriously.
Solid instalment of the series, and I’ll definitely be continuing on with the sequel.
The second book in this series has Ezra joining the team once again, but this time Darsh is the lead. Trying to find out what happened to Calista, who besides Ezra, is a Prime vampire (meaning they were born vampire, not turned) and not too many Primes exist, if any. Aviva finds herself on the wrong side of a master Demon, Delacroix, and to keep herself from being wiped out, she will have to do his bidding along with still maintaining her secret of being half demon.
There is still a lot of snark and sarcasm and the funny moments this author is known for.
There are some great action scenes and some moments where I thought Aviva and Ezra would come back together, but what I am really struggling with is how the author is keeping these two enemies for so long. They have a few good moments, but then it’s back to enemies. I’ll continue on with the next book because I’m invested in the characters at this point, but it will be up to book 3 to see if I’ll finish this series out.
While it took me a minute to get into this- I was trying to remember what happened last time- once I caught up with the regulars I was back up to speed. Which was good because this book is not lacking in action. Aviva is a brilliant detective but she’s still looking for her mothers approval and bitterly disappointed when she doesn’t get it. Thankfully he best friend Sachie knows this and can see it also, so she has her back. Ezra is involved again as the investigation is of importance to him. But these two just keep hurting each other and they’re both too stubborn to apologise. There are still too many secrets, not everyone is who they seem, and not everything appears as it should.
The mystery of this book was all kinds of interesting with new world building dimensions, but could I fully appreciate it all with the tension between Aviva and Ezra?! The twists and turns in the mystery played right along with the twists and turns in the way all the characters central to this tale understood themselves and each other. And the depth, just the depth to Aviva and all the people in her life, the depth to the sheer volume of sand folks are burring their heads in...it's just things I don't have the right words for.
All I want is for Aviva and Ezra to be stuck in a room together and finally talk all their issues out. ... And my own knitted item.
Aviva and her team investigate a spa staking, but her ex Ezra is hiding something important. The case takes them to a demon-run casino, where patrons lose more valuable things than money, and dangerous secrets are revealed.
This book kept me on edge the whole time (in a good way). Aviva's emotional struggle with her identity, and whether to trust her friends, is raw, and her confusing relationship with the gorgeously enigmatic Ezra continues to grip me. There are bloody conflicts around every corner, but the humour and snark make this a really fun and enjoyable read despite this.
I'm just sad I need to wait 2 months for the next book. I might go read it again, while I wait
I did enjoy Book 2 of the Bedeviled AF series - we got some more insight into Avi's origins, and got to do the 'two steps forward, one step back' (or is it the reverse?) dance in her relationship with Ezra that feels very familiar from Nava and Rohan's story.
There's also some interesting world building going around vampire primes and the five-fold flame magic system that begin to overturn what Avi thought she knew about magic - not to mention new developments and sources of tension in her relationship with Michael.
Basically, like so many of Ms Wilde's books, this was a hell of ride, and I'm already looking forward to buckling up again for the next one.
The fabulous latest instalment in the Bedeviled AF series, which seriously left me wanting more!!!
This was jam packed full of mystery, intrigue, action, chemistry and amazing characters. The story is gripping and the only complaint I have is that I want book 3 NOW - I need more!
Avi is an amazing hero, as ever, but the complex characters she is surrounded by, draw you in to a enticing multilayered story that mesmerises… so much is going on, in this story and the overall series.
A fabulous book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
This exciting book is full of turns and twists, big reveals, and more. Aviva, secretly working on her previous case, finds herself in a bind over the new case she was assigned. Hoping it would be a cut and dry case, she finds herself on an elusive yacht with a threat to her life. With help from her close friends on the Spook Squad and her ex, they race to find clues that will save her from a wicked demon whose sight is set on her. I enjoyed this book, its magical world, snarky characters, and humorous wit and look forward to reading the next installment.
I like Aviva and her friends in this story. I just wish that she would trust her closest friends enough to let them know that she is half demon. She is so afraid of that part of herself that she thinks that her friends will reject her as well because of it. Ezra and her definitely have a rocky time in this book, but fortunately it doesn’t break her like it did the first time they broke up. She does get to meet her dad and her half sister in this book as well. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
There's so much going on in this second installment of the series. Readers learn more about the characters and what lead them to where they are now. I love how the female lead characters are strong and intelligent. They are capable of defending themselves and leading. This is a series full of adventure and effectively explores the many facets of relationships that include familial, friendships and romantic partners.
Avi is a fantastic FMC! This second book took me on an adventure that is amazing. I Love this world and Getting lost in it while I was reading this was wonderful! I think that this second picked up fluidly and perfectly from book one, read it first for best enjoyment of this Great Story!!! I Loved It !!! No Spoilers! I HIGHLY Recommend!!!
While the first book in this series only rated 3 stars for me. This one gets an easy 5. There were definitely a few twists and turns I didn't see coming. I'm going to the next book because I want to be surprised even more. Loved the world building and the interactions of human and the paranormal.
I loved this entertaining, well-written, action-packed, fast-paced storyline. The MCs are engaging, defined, have chemistry, keep secrets, and are determined. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series. I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my honest review.
Fantastic writing. Love the characters and story. World building done right. Not too complex for my dyslexia. Good mysteries are wonderful to find. Excited to see what happens with the new folks without spilling any of the story.
This book builds on the previous one. Aviva and Ezra's enemies to lovers (again?) relationship is nuanced and intriguing. Michael's motivations remain murky. All in all a great book .
Phew, a super-twisty book. I'm really liking this series - it's super clever and I'm enjoying that the mystery aspects are prominent. I also love that Aviva is continually learning about herself and readjusting perceptions. All in all, can't wait for #3!
I enjoyed this book, it’s mystery and magic. As in book one I liked the Jewish mythology and diversity of characters. The big secrets of book one are all still secrets at the end of book two, it’s too prolonged for me, I can’t handle the stress! Anyways, looking forward to book 3 out in a few months.
I always get sucked into the worlds created by Deborah Wilde! The relationships between the characters lure you in, and the mystery happening in the plot keeps you holding out in suspense to the end. Can't wait for the next book!
Book 2 contains some reveals, lots of intrigue, passion rekindled and lost and a host of questions to move us on to book 3. A true engrossing roller coaster read.
The twists and turns in the story blow my mind away. And all I kept thinking thru out the first one and this one, was who made Ezra back off of their relationship. Because it was clear with the first book that he always loved her. Can’t wait to read the conclusion
This was a pretty good read, but there is just something about the series I'm not loving. I don't know if it's the darker tones of imagery or if it's the lack of family dynamic ... Can't quite put my finger on it though.
Avi is chaos incarnate. She attempts good but it inevitably goea sideways. Ezra is an enogma wrapped in a yummy skin. Darsh and Sach seem like good peeps. Michael is....hmm. Love that knitting is in the story.
Avi and Ezra and the team have to find the murderer in a sensitive case. Snarky dialog, great characters, giant twisty reveal. Great mystery storyline!
This series r is getting better with each book. I know with Wilde's books, the religious background cam be complicated to get into. However, once you get into it, the snark and banter make them a fun read. I can't get enough