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Becoming the Devil
She wasn’t born a devil but she was made for Hell.
Sloane’s new life as a devil requires some serious work. If she’s going to survive the cutthroat world of Jeznia, she needs to learn how to use her magic. It’s not an intuitive skill to learn and, although he’s great at worshipping her between the sheets, Lord Balthazar could learn a thing or two about being a helpful teacher.
As she struggles to find her power and strength, a new threat emerges, forcing her to work harder and faster than any devil before her. Dangerous risks must be taken to survive, tensions rise as their relationship becomes strained, and through it all, one question still why was her soul red?
The clock is ticking as the threats close in around her. If Sloane fails, even just for a moment, she risks not only losing her life, but the greatest love she’s ever known.
Sloane’s new life as a devil requires some serious work. If she’s going to survive the cutthroat world of Jeznia, she needs to learn how to use her magic. It’s not an intuitive skill to learn and, although he’s great at worshipping her between the sheets, Lord Balthazar could learn a thing or two about being a helpful teacher.
As she struggles to find her power and strength, a new threat emerges, forcing her to work harder and faster than any devil before her. Dangerous risks must be taken to survive, tensions rise as their relationship becomes strained, and through it all, one question still why was her soul red?
The clock is ticking as the threats close in around her. If Sloane fails, even just for a moment, she risks not only losing her life, but the greatest love she’s ever known.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 3, 2025
Y’ALL, Alessandra Vu was NOT playing with this one!! This was such a great second book in the Bargain with the Devil series and I can’t wait for the next book!!
What I loved:
1. First of all, let’s start with how well Vu did at reminding us of events that took place in book 1 without it being an info dump. As things came up that required us to recall things from book 1, Vu expertly wove in prior details as little reminders for those like me who usually can’t remember anything specific but the vibes 😅
2. I really loved watching Sloane learn how to handle her magic and this idea that magic is a sentient being that may one day not listen to her and try to control her instead of her controlling it. I think that’s a really intriguing premise that may prove to be really interesting in the future!!
3. I loved that in this book Sloane didn’t assume as much as she did in the first book, which is likely due to her becoming more confident in herself and not second guessing or questioning herself or those around her quite as much. I loved seeing this change in her confidence and growth because she is a freaking queen who should own it!
4. I loved learning more of the background about the different houses and circles, especially when Sloane decided to go to the seventh circle and essentially fight her way from the bottom circle of hell to the top circle of hell. I also loved learning that the only other person who has done this was Umbra!! I have no clue how Umbra did these feats without magic, but I have no doubt she did because she is a freaking baddie!
5. As much as Umbra can be very difficult to understand and love, I really do love her because she is this enigma who has gone through so much, much more than we know about, and she is incredibly resilient. Umbra came from literally the lowest circle of hell and worked her way to being the shadow seer of the highest Lord; she does not care what people think about her, she can fight just as good as anybody else even though that’s not what shadow seers are known for, and she does not give up. Bottom-line, she is amazing and I won’t hear opposition to this. Thank you, GOOD DAY SIR! I’m loving watching this, not quite a friendship but I feel it will become one, of her and Sloane coming to understand each other and appreciate each other and both of their roles in Balthazar’s life.
6. Of course, I loved Balthazar and how brooding he was, but also how he was a sub for Sloane!! He loves the idea of her ruling and him being by her side, BECAUSE HE KNOWS SHE’LL BE MORE POWERFUL THAN HIM AND HE SEES THAT AS A WIN FOR HIM TOO, which I love!! WE LOVE A MAN WHO SUPPORTS HIS QUEEN!! I love how much he encourages her and how much faith he has in her, but also how much care he has for her when he has been taught caring is a weakness. He is literally opening up to her when no past experience has told him this was smart for him in life. He’s making himself vulnerable in order to have her, and I love this softness from a devil.
7. The spice was fantastic, especially given their raw connection to one another. I will never get over the idea of her dominating him until she unleashes him and then he goes wild. Like, I didn’t think I would enjoy it this much, but I do!!
8. Lastly, I really loved the introduction of Zyvn. Basically, he was sent from Odantha, which is essentially Heaven, to unalive Sloane. However, when he discovered she had very old magic, he instead let his curiosity get the better of him and started to play detective with her on why she had this old magic in the first place. I loved that he’s this contracted unaliver but his curiosity won out and now he’s “helping” the person he was sent to unalive solve a mystery. I am really looking forward to watching their friendship grow hahaha
Thank you to Alessandra Vu for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
4.5 stars!
What I loved:
1. First of all, let’s start with how well Vu did at reminding us of events that took place in book 1 without it being an info dump. As things came up that required us to recall things from book 1, Vu expertly wove in prior details as little reminders for those like me who usually can’t remember anything specific but the vibes 😅
2. I really loved watching Sloane learn how to handle her magic and this idea that magic is a sentient being that may one day not listen to her and try to control her instead of her controlling it. I think that’s a really intriguing premise that may prove to be really interesting in the future!!
3. I loved that in this book Sloane didn’t assume as much as she did in the first book, which is likely due to her becoming more confident in herself and not second guessing or questioning herself or those around her quite as much. I loved seeing this change in her confidence and growth because she is a freaking queen who should own it!
4. I loved learning more of the background about the different houses and circles, especially when Sloane decided to go to the seventh circle and essentially fight her way from the bottom circle of hell to the top circle of hell. I also loved learning that the only other person who has done this was Umbra!! I have no clue how Umbra did these feats without magic, but I have no doubt she did because she is a freaking baddie!
5. As much as Umbra can be very difficult to understand and love, I really do love her because she is this enigma who has gone through so much, much more than we know about, and she is incredibly resilient. Umbra came from literally the lowest circle of hell and worked her way to being the shadow seer of the highest Lord; she does not care what people think about her, she can fight just as good as anybody else even though that’s not what shadow seers are known for, and she does not give up. Bottom-line, she is amazing and I won’t hear opposition to this. Thank you, GOOD DAY SIR! I’m loving watching this, not quite a friendship but I feel it will become one, of her and Sloane coming to understand each other and appreciate each other and both of their roles in Balthazar’s life.
6. Of course, I loved Balthazar and how brooding he was, but also how he was a sub for Sloane!! He loves the idea of her ruling and him being by her side, BECAUSE HE KNOWS SHE’LL BE MORE POWERFUL THAN HIM AND HE SEES THAT AS A WIN FOR HIM TOO, which I love!! WE LOVE A MAN WHO SUPPORTS HIS QUEEN!! I love how much he encourages her and how much faith he has in her, but also how much care he has for her when he has been taught caring is a weakness. He is literally opening up to her when no past experience has told him this was smart for him in life. He’s making himself vulnerable in order to have her, and I love this softness from a devil.
7. The spice was fantastic, especially given their raw connection to one another. I will never get over the idea of her dominating him until she unleashes him and then he goes wild. Like, I didn’t think I would enjoy it this much, but I do!!
8. Lastly, I really loved the introduction of Zyvn. Basically, he was sent from Odantha, which is essentially Heaven, to unalive Sloane. However, when he discovered she had very old magic, he instead let his curiosity get the better of him and started to play detective with her on why she had this old magic in the first place. I loved that he’s this contracted unaliver but his curiosity won out and now he’s “helping” the person he was sent to unalive solve a mystery. I am really looking forward to watching their friendship grow hahaha
Thank you to Alessandra Vu for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
4.5 stars!
September 22, 2025
I like the premise of the story, the characters, and the world. It’s a very different take on heaven, earth, hell and how they interact which is really cool. But there are some inconsistencies with the writing that I don’t love.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews