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Demure (Moderne Legenden der Sidhe)
Recent college graduate Sierra Lopez has no idea what she wants to do with her life. With a degree that’s useless on its own, Sierra decides to complete a one-year master’s program at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Alone in a new city, Sierra downloads Tinder, expecting to go on a few casual dates during her study of human aging and fragility.
But then she meets the mysterious and brooding Aodhan De Thuaidh, who doesn’t seem to be at home in Dublin either. When he’s 30 minutes late for their first date, however, Sierra writes him off as just another jerk, intending never to see him again.
Except Aodhan keeps showing up. First around campus, then at a bar, and during Sierra’s work hours at the campus library. He claims it’s just a chance they keep running into each other, which annoys Sierra to no end, but something about Aodhan just isn’t adding up…
Hope. E Davis’s Demure is a spicy NA fantasy novel for fans of Twilight who no longer want to read about teenagers and who enjoy the fantasy worlds built by Sarah J. Maas and J.R.R. Tolkien.
But then she meets the mysterious and brooding Aodhan De Thuaidh, who doesn’t seem to be at home in Dublin either. When he’s 30 minutes late for their first date, however, Sierra writes him off as just another jerk, intending never to see him again.
Except Aodhan keeps showing up. First around campus, then at a bar, and during Sierra’s work hours at the campus library. He claims it’s just a chance they keep running into each other, which annoys Sierra to no end, but something about Aodhan just isn’t adding up…
Hope. E Davis’s Demure is a spicy NA fantasy novel for fans of Twilight who no longer want to read about teenagers and who enjoy the fantasy worlds built by Sarah J. Maas and J.R.R. Tolkien.
386 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2025
40 people are currently reading
4966 people want to read
About the author
Hope E. Davis
15 books142 followersWhen Hope isn’t writing her next novel, she is busy traveling the world, trying new foods, or hanging out with friends. A graduate from Metropolitan State University, Hope grew up in Colorado, USA, but currently calls the Netherlands her home. To find information about her other or future novels, follow Hope on TikTok or Instagram: @hopeedavisauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
April 30, 2024
I decided to get this book from BookSirens as an ARC for an honest review. I have many thoughts.
The premise had potential and I was quite excited about this. Unfortunately, I don’t think it was properly executed. The writing style felt very disjointed and juvenile for me, and the characters came across very flat. Especially Aodhan, he seemed robotic the whole time. The chemistry and dialogue was very forced and awkward.
It felt like almost nothing happened within the first 50% of the book, and could’ve benefited from some faster pacing.
There were several continuity errors I noticed. One was where Aodhan says he was waiting for Sierra and was going to walk her to her next class, and then they proceed to walk to the library for their work shift. Another was where Sierra mentions multiple times that she has no social media and no friends, but then is described multiple times also scrolling social media and checking on her friends? And then she claims her hair always looks great no matter how she sleeps or if she’s outside, it’s always in beautiful curls and “women wished they had it” but then literally a chapter or two later her hair is a mess and she’s attempting to make it look presentable. What happened to you always having perfect hair, huh?
I think that entirely too much time was spent on Sierra’s insecurity about her psoriasis. I completely understand that this is meant to have Auto Immune Representation, but her psoriasis took up so much time and felt like it was the biggest facet of her personality. It was mentioned multiple times a chapter, sometimes several instances within a page or two. She was constantly complaining, constantly embarrassed and calling herself disgusting. If I were a person with psoriasis reading the way she talked about her condition and saying it was a “disfiguring disease” I would probably be very offended. She literally made it seem like psoriasis is akin to cancer.
It also made sure to mention she was Hispanic because I think the author wanted to be different by having a Latina FMC, but the only time it actually cared that she was Hispanic was whenever she was mentioning her appearance and on MULTIPLE OCCASIONS it referred to her “Hispanic hips”, “Hispanic curves” and how certain clothes made her “look like she was hiding a pregnancy” because of said Hispanic curves.
We also just HAD to know that she’s a vegetarian, and be reminded constantly. And then for her to think that the reason the Fae magic is disappearing is because “they’re not vegetarian, they’re living alone and are lonely, and they don’t exercise regularly” IS RIDICULOUS LOL. So she gets changed into a Fae so she can study it.
Also who just randomly decides to have sex in not just the microfilm room of a library but also a hollowed out tree???
The premise had potential and I was quite excited about this. Unfortunately, I don’t think it was properly executed. The writing style felt very disjointed and juvenile for me, and the characters came across very flat. Especially Aodhan, he seemed robotic the whole time. The chemistry and dialogue was very forced and awkward.
It felt like almost nothing happened within the first 50% of the book, and could’ve benefited from some faster pacing.
There were several continuity errors I noticed. One was where Aodhan says he was waiting for Sierra and was going to walk her to her next class, and then they proceed to walk to the library for their work shift. Another was where Sierra mentions multiple times that she has no social media and no friends, but then is described multiple times also scrolling social media and checking on her friends? And then she claims her hair always looks great no matter how she sleeps or if she’s outside, it’s always in beautiful curls and “women wished they had it” but then literally a chapter or two later her hair is a mess and she’s attempting to make it look presentable. What happened to you always having perfect hair, huh?
I think that entirely too much time was spent on Sierra’s insecurity about her psoriasis. I completely understand that this is meant to have Auto Immune Representation, but her psoriasis took up so much time and felt like it was the biggest facet of her personality. It was mentioned multiple times a chapter, sometimes several instances within a page or two. She was constantly complaining, constantly embarrassed and calling herself disgusting. If I were a person with psoriasis reading the way she talked about her condition and saying it was a “disfiguring disease” I would probably be very offended. She literally made it seem like psoriasis is akin to cancer.
It also made sure to mention she was Hispanic because I think the author wanted to be different by having a Latina FMC, but the only time it actually cared that she was Hispanic was whenever she was mentioning her appearance and on MULTIPLE OCCASIONS it referred to her “Hispanic hips”, “Hispanic curves” and how certain clothes made her “look like she was hiding a pregnancy” because of said Hispanic curves.
We also just HAD to know that she’s a vegetarian, and be reminded constantly. And then for her to think that the reason the Fae magic is disappearing is because “they’re not vegetarian, they’re living alone and are lonely, and they don’t exercise regularly” IS RIDICULOUS LOL. So she gets changed into a Fae so she can study it.
Also who just randomly decides to have sex in not just the microfilm room of a library but also a hollowed out tree???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2024
As much as I love to support indie authors, Demure suffers from avoidable mistakes that result in a much lower rating than I ever want to give an author, and doubly so for an indie author. Let me explain.
Davis' style of writing is very detached and procedural. This is particularly jarring during the intimate moments between Sierra and Aodhan where there is just no passion at all. Because the writing is so methodical, it becomes difficult to be emotionally connected and invested in the characters.
My next issue is much more personal, and I'm sure a lot of readers will feel differently than I do. With that said, I found it uncomfortable to see the author relying so heavily on negative hispanic stereotypes. Sierra's family is described as: manipulative guilt weaponizing mother, parents had too many kids, inconsistent 'spanglish' use, and the classic oldest daughter (despite Sierra being a middle child with successful older sisters...) expected to put her life on hold to take care of the family trope. What really pushed me to include this issue in my review was towards the end of the book when Sierra has to contend with never seeing her family again, she does not even HESITATE to never see them again and is not upset about this. To me, this was the ultimate confirmation that Sierra hated everything about her heritage and where she came from. Her family and their culture were depicted as having zero redeeming qualities and Sierra is only ever resentful of them. Personally, I have to side-eye any author who displays an entire culture this way.
All in all, I think Demure is having an identity crisis. The cover is giving dream-works princess fairytale vibes, and this book is not that. The description is giving YOU stalker thriller vibes, which is maybe the first five pages of the book. The back includes a comparison to Sarah J Maas and J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy landscapes, and this is not that either. The Fae fantasy world is not flushed out enough for me to really consider it world building. This book does not have a flushed out magic system, an expansive world map, or an in-depth culture and language. The first half of the book takes place in Dublin, Ireland and follows Sierra and Aodhan falling in love while she works at the library, and the second half is about Sierra being kidnapped, escaping, kidnapped again, and escaping again, before she is turned into a Fae. It's like two different books from two different genres were combined to make one book and it just doesn't work out in this case.
The WORST offense - that I could not help but mention - is how outrageous Sierra's reaction to the King's blood ritual is. Sierra agrees to go along with the ritual, after being kidnapped, despite seeing the alter, restraints, and bowl they intend to fill WITH HER BLOOD, just because it's her boyfriends dad and she wants him to like her. GIRL! Just no. And this is the girl that's supposed to save the Fae? They're doomed, absolutely no braincells found anywhere. I cannot.
Davis' style of writing is very detached and procedural. This is particularly jarring during the intimate moments between Sierra and Aodhan where there is just no passion at all. Because the writing is so methodical, it becomes difficult to be emotionally connected and invested in the characters.
My next issue is much more personal, and I'm sure a lot of readers will feel differently than I do. With that said, I found it uncomfortable to see the author relying so heavily on negative hispanic stereotypes. Sierra's family is described as: manipulative guilt weaponizing mother, parents had too many kids, inconsistent 'spanglish' use, and the classic oldest daughter (despite Sierra being a middle child with successful older sisters...) expected to put her life on hold to take care of the family trope. What really pushed me to include this issue in my review was towards the end of the book when Sierra has to contend with never seeing her family again, she does not even HESITATE to never see them again and is not upset about this. To me, this was the ultimate confirmation that Sierra hated everything about her heritage and where she came from. Her family and their culture were depicted as having zero redeeming qualities and Sierra is only ever resentful of them. Personally, I have to side-eye any author who displays an entire culture this way.
All in all, I think Demure is having an identity crisis. The cover is giving dream-works princess fairytale vibes, and this book is not that. The description is giving YOU stalker thriller vibes, which is maybe the first five pages of the book. The back includes a comparison to Sarah J Maas and J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy landscapes, and this is not that either. The Fae fantasy world is not flushed out enough for me to really consider it world building. This book does not have a flushed out magic system, an expansive world map, or an in-depth culture and language. The first half of the book takes place in Dublin, Ireland and follows Sierra and Aodhan falling in love while she works at the library, and the second half is about Sierra being kidnapped, escaping, kidnapped again, and escaping again, before she is turned into a Fae. It's like two different books from two different genres were combined to make one book and it just doesn't work out in this case.
The WORST offense - that I could not help but mention - is how outrageous Sierra's reaction to the King's blood ritual is. Sierra agrees to go along with the ritual, after being kidnapped, despite seeing the alter, restraints, and bowl they intend to fill WITH HER BLOOD, just because it's her boyfriends dad and she wants him to like her. GIRL! Just no. And this is the girl that's supposed to save the Fae? They're doomed, absolutely no braincells found anywhere. I cannot.
May 1, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Demure tells the story of Sierra, a graduate student in Dublin. Here she meets the mysterious Aodhan, first on a failed Tinder date and then all around campus, suddenly and inexplicably meeting him around every corner... Her dislike for Aodhan keeps growing and she just wants him to leave her alone - or does she? And what is up with Aodhan, anyway? Sierra is curious and soon finds herself in a magical situation much bigger than herself.
My review on this novel will be kind of split? I felt so differently about the first and second half of the book.
The start felt quite slow and, at times, choppy to read, with inconsistencies that could have been avoided (in my opinion) - for example, some contradictions regarding social medias and TV. I also struggled with two main points:
- The MMC shows some serious red flags towards the start of the book and the FMC is so quick at overlooking them.
- FMC is so quick to assume and accept that MMC could be a supernatural being, basing her assumptions on Twilight. It makes the reveal of who the MMC is... quite anticlimactic.
The second part, once they reach a magical forest, is completely different. I found it intriguing, fast-paced in all the right ways and beautifully written! The setting is wonderful and I enjoyed the world-building - I look forward to finding out more about Sidhe in the sequel. The story is more tense, secrets are revealed, new characters enter the scene... and the book ends on a cliffhanger that has me wanting a sequel asap (it's out in December!). Highlights of the second half were getting an insight into the magic of different faes, the delightful setting and the way in which the transition of a fae was handled.
This is an urban fantasy for fans of Twilight, but make it older, and fae stories with romance and spice.
🌶🌶
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Demure tells the story of Sierra, a graduate student in Dublin. Here she meets the mysterious Aodhan, first on a failed Tinder date and then all around campus, suddenly and inexplicably meeting him around every corner... Her dislike for Aodhan keeps growing and she just wants him to leave her alone - or does she? And what is up with Aodhan, anyway? Sierra is curious and soon finds herself in a magical situation much bigger than herself.
My review on this novel will be kind of split? I felt so differently about the first and second half of the book.
The start felt quite slow and, at times, choppy to read, with inconsistencies that could have been avoided (in my opinion) - for example, some contradictions regarding social medias and TV. I also struggled with two main points:
- The MMC shows some serious red flags towards the start of the book and the FMC is so quick at overlooking them.
- FMC is so quick to assume and accept that MMC could be a supernatural being, basing her assumptions on Twilight. It makes the reveal of who the MMC is... quite anticlimactic.
The second part, once they reach a magical forest, is completely different. I found it intriguing, fast-paced in all the right ways and beautifully written! The setting is wonderful and I enjoyed the world-building - I look forward to finding out more about Sidhe in the sequel. The story is more tense, secrets are revealed, new characters enter the scene... and the book ends on a cliffhanger that has me wanting a sequel asap (it's out in December!). Highlights of the second half were getting an insight into the magic of different faes, the delightful setting and the way in which the transition of a fae was handled.
This is an urban fantasy for fans of Twilight, but make it older, and fae stories with romance and spice.
dnf
May 3, 2024DNF at 20%.
I didn't feel connected to the characters. The family issues over the phone felt like randomly added drama and based on stereotypes about Hispanic families that could've been left out. Aodhan was just a bag of red flags, without the charm that I'm used to seeing in morally grey/unhinged characters. He didn't come across as mysterious, just as an incel ass. I made it 20% in, and I still don't know anything about magic. At least a bit of a reveal could've kept me interested, maybe a snippet about an accidental brush with magic or weird stuff happening around her? But the characters and writing style in itself didn't hook me, so I was already fading out.
I didn't feel connected to the characters. The family issues over the phone felt like randomly added drama and based on stereotypes about Hispanic families that could've been left out. Aodhan was just a bag of red flags, without the charm that I'm used to seeing in morally grey/unhinged characters. He didn't come across as mysterious, just as an incel ass. I made it 20% in, and I still don't know anything about magic. At least a bit of a reveal could've kept me interested, maybe a snippet about an accidental brush with magic or weird stuff happening around her? But the characters and writing style in itself didn't hook me, so I was already fading out.
August 15, 2024
Ireland and fae?! This couldn’t be more up my alley. The Irish are so connected to their folklore and fairytales (so obvi I am obsessed too) and it’s about time they’re intertwined with the modern fantasy genre.
I loved the story and feel such a connection to the characters. I struggle sometimes with understanding fantasy leads and their decisions but I felt like Sierra was one of my friends, so in this case, I found myself constantly nodding my head and (not so silently) encouraging her to do what she needs to do!
I had an advanced copy of the book and have found myself constantly thinking about it afterwards. What I would give to go to the treehouse. Also, the audacity the author had on leaving me on that cliff hanger is insane but thankfully the second book comes out at the end of the year HALLELUJAH
I loved the story and feel such a connection to the characters. I struggle sometimes with understanding fantasy leads and their decisions but I felt like Sierra was one of my friends, so in this case, I found myself constantly nodding my head and (not so silently) encouraging her to do what she needs to do!
I had an advanced copy of the book and have found myself constantly thinking about it afterwards. What I would give to go to the treehouse. Also, the audacity the author had on leaving me on that cliff hanger is insane but thankfully the second book comes out at the end of the year HALLELUJAH
May 2, 2024
Rating 4 🌟
Spice 🌶️🌶️
- He falls first
- Enemies to lovers
- Hidden magical world
- Slow burn
- Magical Creatures
- Magical forest
- Found family
- FMC is 25 plus
- Trans rep
Quote 🌹 “Listen to me, Sierra, I desire your body because of who you are, not because of the way you look.”
When I first dived into this, I thought Aodhan, the MMC was a bit full on with 🚩🚩🚩 and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to tolerate or even like him. This changes later on, thankfully.
The main MFC Sierra shows the reader some good representation of what it's like to deal with an overprotective parent, breaking free from traditional family values and/or expectations, living with a auto immune condition and no having genuine friendships.
The story gradually builds, the author cleverly referencing twilight, while also keeping the same pace as that of twilight does.
It is very much a slow burn and more on the sweet than spicy side. However it is an open door, which I do appreciate 😜
What I like is this book tricks you into thinking that everything is finalised and rosey, to suddenly drag you into another world; a hidden magical world. It gives the feel that you are commencing the second book in the series or part 2. Henceforth, many developments reveal themselves. For example, the mention of the use of outdated rituals.
It made me feel like when Dorothy is transported to Oz, If Dorothy ended up in a romantasy setting.
The last part of demure has what I refer to as a 'female empowerment monologue' between sierra and another female character,is something that I really enjoyed with how this was written.
The only reason it's not 5 star is I would have preferred the cast going to the hidden world sooner, rather than later.
I recommend this to those who enjoy lots of discussion of folklore in a fantasy setting.
Thank you Hope.E.Davis for the opportunity to step inside your first fantasy novel 🙏
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Spice 🌶️🌶️
- He falls first
- Enemies to lovers
- Hidden magical world
- Slow burn
- Magical Creatures
- Magical forest
- Found family
- FMC is 25 plus
- Trans rep
Quote 🌹 “Listen to me, Sierra, I desire your body because of who you are, not because of the way you look.”
When I first dived into this, I thought Aodhan, the MMC was a bit full on with 🚩🚩🚩 and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to tolerate or even like him. This changes later on, thankfully.
The main MFC Sierra shows the reader some good representation of what it's like to deal with an overprotective parent, breaking free from traditional family values and/or expectations, living with a auto immune condition and no having genuine friendships.
The story gradually builds, the author cleverly referencing twilight, while also keeping the same pace as that of twilight does.
It is very much a slow burn and more on the sweet than spicy side. However it is an open door, which I do appreciate 😜
What I like is this book tricks you into thinking that everything is finalised and rosey, to suddenly drag you into another world; a hidden magical world. It gives the feel that you are commencing the second book in the series or part 2. Henceforth, many developments reveal themselves. For example, the mention of the use of outdated rituals.
It made me feel like when Dorothy is transported to Oz, If Dorothy ended up in a romantasy setting.
The last part of demure has what I refer to as a 'female empowerment monologue' between sierra and another female character,is something that I really enjoyed with how this was written.
The only reason it's not 5 star is I would have preferred the cast going to the hidden world sooner, rather than later.
I recommend this to those who enjoy lots of discussion of folklore in a fantasy setting.
Thank you Hope.E.Davis for the opportunity to step inside your first fantasy novel 🙏
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 29, 2024
This was such a cozy fantasy read! It was so modern and relatable to us every day women who sometimes wish there was a Fae man who is obsessed with you. The setting is half in modern day Dublin and half in the Fae world of Sidhe. The writting was really good, you can picture the surroundings in each scene. It took me a minute to figure out how the plot played in to everything, but I eventually got to it toward the end. The FMC had self confidence issues, that she was able to work through out the book, and I really loved seeing her grow more confident with herself. I think the second book will be more action packed with how the author ended things!
May 15, 2024
3/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
I’m honestly sad that I’m leaving a three star review for this book. The premise was initially enticing to me, and I was so excited to read this!
I was thrown off by the FMC for the majority of the story. I couldn’t get a true sense if we were supposed to like and root for her; her relationship with her mother, her lack of friendships and her initial reactions to our MMC were all building blocks for me not rooting for her. Because of this and some odd jumps in plot, I couldn’t connect with the story as I had hoped I would.
2/5🌶️
I’m honestly sad that I’m leaving a three star review for this book. The premise was initially enticing to me, and I was so excited to read this!
I was thrown off by the FMC for the majority of the story. I couldn’t get a true sense if we were supposed to like and root for her; her relationship with her mother, her lack of friendships and her initial reactions to our MMC were all building blocks for me not rooting for her. Because of this and some odd jumps in plot, I couldn’t connect with the story as I had hoped I would.
June 24, 2024
I bought this on my own as I really liked the premise. I’m not a spicy reader and I appreciated that the author highlighted chapters with sex scenes at the front of the book in case someone wanted to skip. But I ended up skipping them because I couldn’t get with the writing. I finished the book, but I skipped a LOT. Also the author description, a writer for fans of Twilight who no longer want to read about teenagers and enjoy fantasy worlds built by Tolkien and Maas? I fell for it and totally shouldn’t have.
Also, the Mexican stereotypes? Totally could have done without. Aodhan is also a GIANT walking red flag.
Also, the Mexican stereotypes? Totally could have done without. Aodhan is also a GIANT walking red flag.
May 6, 2024
spoiler free!
I give it a 4/5⭐️
2.5/5🌶️🔥
This story is set in modern Dublin and typically I have a really hard time with stories set in modern day times. But this one was done perfectly to where it didn’t really bother me! Without giving away too much, there is a fae realm that is still behind on the times, a fae male that comes from that realm, and the magic feels very ancient, so the fact that it was set in modern times didn’t really bother me at all!
I LOVED the FMC Sierra. She is a college student from America, living in Dublin to go to school, and she’s experiencing all those college life struggles — debt, scraping meals together with what she can afford, a very tiny living space, family that she’s trying to avoid, and long hours between studying and working in the library for a little extra money. She also struggles with insecurity about her skin because she has PSORIASIS!! As someone who has developed stress induced psoriasis and has been struggling with it the last couple of years I felt so seen 🥹✊🏻 Sierra is smart, beautiful, stubborn, and totally relatable.
Aodhan is cool too, but Sierra was the real star of the show for me😆🙌🏻
Anyway, I don’t want to give too much about the story away, but this is a great fantasy read that would be perfect for those who want a light fantasy read. There’s no crazy world building and everything was easy to understand!
Highlights:
🔥”who did this to you?”
🔥male/female romance, but has some LGBTQ+ friendly themes
🔥a few steamy smutty scenes, but it wasn’t overdone 🙌🏻
🔥relatable FMC
🔥protective MMC
🔥choosing your own path
🔥rewriting your fate
All in all, I highly recommend!! And I can’t wait to see where book 2 takes things!
I give it a 4/5⭐️
2.5/5🌶️🔥
This story is set in modern Dublin and typically I have a really hard time with stories set in modern day times. But this one was done perfectly to where it didn’t really bother me! Without giving away too much, there is a fae realm that is still behind on the times, a fae male that comes from that realm, and the magic feels very ancient, so the fact that it was set in modern times didn’t really bother me at all!
I LOVED the FMC Sierra. She is a college student from America, living in Dublin to go to school, and she’s experiencing all those college life struggles — debt, scraping meals together with what she can afford, a very tiny living space, family that she’s trying to avoid, and long hours between studying and working in the library for a little extra money. She also struggles with insecurity about her skin because she has PSORIASIS!! As someone who has developed stress induced psoriasis and has been struggling with it the last couple of years I felt so seen 🥹✊🏻 Sierra is smart, beautiful, stubborn, and totally relatable.
Aodhan is cool too, but Sierra was the real star of the show for me😆🙌🏻
Anyway, I don’t want to give too much about the story away, but this is a great fantasy read that would be perfect for those who want a light fantasy read. There’s no crazy world building and everything was easy to understand!
Highlights:
🔥”who did this to you?”
🔥male/female romance, but has some LGBTQ+ friendly themes
🔥a few steamy smutty scenes, but it wasn’t overdone 🙌🏻
🔥relatable FMC
🔥protective MMC
🔥choosing your own path
🔥rewriting your fate
All in all, I highly recommend!! And I can’t wait to see where book 2 takes things!
April 15, 2024
Sierra Lopez is unsure exactly what she wants to do with her life, but she knows she needs to get some distance from her family in Texas. While she considers her options, she's finishing a master's degree in Dublin and attending the occasional Tinder date. When Aodhan shows up thirty minutes late for their date, Sierra gives him a piece of her mind and assumes that's the last of their interactions. But Aodhan keeps showing up all around her, at her work, around town, and around her classes. What exactly is his deal, and what does he want with her?
Sierra initially seems independent and driven, but her prickly nature is a front. While she is more than willing to be irritable to the males in her life, she struggles to stand up to her mother's unreasonable expectations. She also has an extreme amount of anxiety around her psoriasis, which causes her to resist getting close to others. While she does work to grow and find her own way, her character development appears to be held back by her relationship with Aodhan.
Aodhan, meanwhile, is a large group of red flags that has managed to gain sentience and rampage through Ireland. He exhibits strange stalking behavior, kisses Sierra in an attempt to lay claim to her while she's on a date with another man, and has clearly been raised in an upper class society where he looks down on humans. While it later becomes clear why he isn't initially truthful with Sierra, he still gatekeeps information and leaves her dependent on him. My main issue with the character is I just don't believe he has any real feelings for Sierra. While he does tell her all the things she wants to hear, his actions are controlling and are more motivated by resource guarding than the desire to help Sierra. The lack of selfless action on Aodhan's part severely undermines the plot's romance and makes it difficult to truly engage with the story.
Demure is an urban fantasy romance that fans of Twilight and Darkfever will enjoy. It ends somewhat abruptly with clear designs for a second book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sierra initially seems independent and driven, but her prickly nature is a front. While she is more than willing to be irritable to the males in her life, she struggles to stand up to her mother's unreasonable expectations. She also has an extreme amount of anxiety around her psoriasis, which causes her to resist getting close to others. While she does work to grow and find her own way, her character development appears to be held back by her relationship with Aodhan.
Aodhan, meanwhile, is a large group of red flags that has managed to gain sentience and rampage through Ireland. He exhibits strange stalking behavior, kisses Sierra in an attempt to lay claim to her while she's on a date with another man, and has clearly been raised in an upper class society where he looks down on humans. While it later becomes clear why he isn't initially truthful with Sierra, he still gatekeeps information and leaves her dependent on him. My main issue with the character is I just don't believe he has any real feelings for Sierra. While he does tell her all the things she wants to hear, his actions are controlling and are more motivated by resource guarding than the desire to help Sierra. The lack of selfless action on Aodhan's part severely undermines the plot's romance and makes it difficult to truly engage with the story.
Demure is an urban fantasy romance that fans of Twilight and Darkfever will enjoy. It ends somewhat abruptly with clear designs for a second book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 7, 2024
I had really high hopes for this book as I was seeing the comparisons to other really popular fantasy/romantasy books and could not wait to get this in my hands.
I think this book had a lot of potential but starts off pretty slow. You learn a little bit about the FMC's background and what her daily routine is with school and working at the library, her fights with her mother over the phone that happen a lot and feel randomly thrown in there. There isn't much else that happens besides that in the first quarter of the book, but what was there felt mostly unnecessary.
I had a hard time connecting to the characters. While I did like the fmc in some parts of the book, the majority of the time I just couldn't get passed some of her dialogue or thought process. There was so many times where Sierra should have had a bigger reaction to what was happening or what she found out, and I think anything would have been better than what we actually got. When you officially meet the MMC-and get past his creepy, robotic nature, all we see is the awkwardness between the two for awhile before things continue and it flat out made me uncomfortable.
At the half way mark some things do start happening and while it did help the story move along more, the writing was just something I personally wasn't a fan of and had a hard time getting through. It felt rushed in some areas and had some plot holes I just couldn't look past.
In my opinion this one just fell short for me. I'm not sure if it was a me thing or what but it just missed the mark and unfortunately as much as I wanted to love it, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Other readers may devour this story and I hope you do. You will have to read it and find out for yourself and it makes me sad I didn't love it because I wanted to so bad.
I think this book had a lot of potential but starts off pretty slow. You learn a little bit about the FMC's background and what her daily routine is with school and working at the library, her fights with her mother over the phone that happen a lot and feel randomly thrown in there. There isn't much else that happens besides that in the first quarter of the book, but what was there felt mostly unnecessary.
I had a hard time connecting to the characters. While I did like the fmc in some parts of the book, the majority of the time I just couldn't get passed some of her dialogue or thought process. There was so many times where Sierra should have had a bigger reaction to what was happening or what she found out, and I think anything would have been better than what we actually got. When you officially meet the MMC-and get past his creepy, robotic nature, all we see is the awkwardness between the two for awhile before things continue and it flat out made me uncomfortable.
At the half way mark some things do start happening and while it did help the story move along more, the writing was just something I personally wasn't a fan of and had a hard time getting through. It felt rushed in some areas and had some plot holes I just couldn't look past.
In my opinion this one just fell short for me. I'm not sure if it was a me thing or what but it just missed the mark and unfortunately as much as I wanted to love it, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Other readers may devour this story and I hope you do. You will have to read it and find out for yourself and it makes me sad I didn't love it because I wanted to so bad.
October 17, 2024
I’m going to DNF this after chapter 17.
It’s a slow start, I wasn’t sure where we were going with the story, and the main characters (especially the MMC) aren’t likeable. Which is fine because I’m usually drawn to side characters more than the main characters. But the MMC creeped me out from the start and it’s just not a fun reading experience.
It’s a slow start, I wasn’t sure where we were going with the story, and the main characters (especially the MMC) aren’t likeable. Which is fine because I’m usually drawn to side characters more than the main characters. But the MMC creeped me out from the start and it’s just not a fun reading experience.
December 18, 2024
I was lied to. This was a hot mess express. From his 🍆 being so big she can’t wrap both of her hands around it to the dingy FMC who has a medical degree but absolutely no common sense. Made it to 45% and said “where’s the plot?” Then immediately regretted it.
May 2, 2024
I recently finished reading the enthralling novel "Demure" by Hope Davis, and I was impressed by the author's ability to blend elements of romance, suspense, and fantasy seamlessly. The story takes place in Dublin, Ireland, and follows Sierra Lopez, a college student, as she enters the world of online dating in search of companionship. Sierra uses the Tender app to meet new people, and after a few swipes, she connects with Aodhan De Thuaidh, a mysterious man who is thirty minutes late for their first date.
As the story unfolds, Sierra's initial attraction to Aodhan evolves into something deeper, something more profound. She becomes increasingly suspicious of his strange behavior, yet she can't help but be drawn to him. She notices that he always wears a beanie on his head, a quirk that only adds to his enigmatic persona. Despite her doubts, Sierra continues to see Aodhan, her curiosity leading her to discover that he is a Fae, a mythical being from the world of fairies and magic. Sierra's fascination with Aodhan's true identity only deepens, and she becomes eager to learn more about his world and his past, and to share her own.
However, Sierra has a secret of her own, which she fears will drive Aodhan away. She grapples with the decision to reveal her secret to him while navigating the dangers of Aodhan's world of magic and fantasy. The plot also includes suspense as Sierra finds herself in the middle of a kidnapping, which adds a thrilling twist to the storyline. The book concludes with a cliffhanger that made me eager to discover what happens next.
At first, I found it a bit challenging to get into the plot, but as the story unfolded, I found myself fully immersed in the world of Sierra and Aodhan. The middle and end of the book are a whirlwind of excitement, filled with thrilling developments that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, and I'm sure you will be too, to see how Hope Davis continues to captivate readers with her enthralling characters and intricate plotlines.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens
Merged review:
I recently finished reading the enthralling novel "Demure" by Hope Davis, and I was impressed by the author's ability to blend elements of romance, suspense, and fantasy seamlessly. The story takes place in Dublin, Ireland, and follows Sierra Lopez, a college student, as she enters the world of online dating in search of companionship. Sierra uses the Tender app to meet new people, and after a few swipes, she connects with Aodhan De Thuaidh, a mysterious man who is thirty minutes late for their first date.
As the story unfolds, Sierra's initial attraction to Aodhan evolves into something deeper, something more profound. She becomes increasingly suspicious of his strange behavior, yet she can't help but be drawn to him. She notices that he always wears a beanie on his head, a quirk that only adds to his enigmatic persona. Despite her doubts, Sierra continues to see Aodhan, her curiosity leading her to discover that he is a Fae, a mythical being from the world of fairies and magic. Sierra's fascination with Aodhan's true identity only deepens, and she becomes eager to learn more about his world and his past, and to share her own.
However, Sierra has a secret of her own, which she fears will drive Aodhan away. She grapples with the decision to reveal her secret to him while navigating the dangers of Aodhan's world of magic and fantasy. The plot also includes suspense as Sierra finds herself in the middle of a kidnapping, which adds a thrilling twist to the storyline. The book concludes with a cliffhanger that made me eager to discover what happens next.
At first, I found it a bit challenging to get into the plot, but as the story unfolded, I found myself fully immersed in the world of Sierra and Aodhan. The middle and end of the book are a whirlwind of excitement, filled with thrilling developments that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, and I'm sure you will be too, to see how Hope Davis continues to captivate readers with her enthralling characters and intricate plotlines.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens
As the story unfolds, Sierra's initial attraction to Aodhan evolves into something deeper, something more profound. She becomes increasingly suspicious of his strange behavior, yet she can't help but be drawn to him. She notices that he always wears a beanie on his head, a quirk that only adds to his enigmatic persona. Despite her doubts, Sierra continues to see Aodhan, her curiosity leading her to discover that he is a Fae, a mythical being from the world of fairies and magic. Sierra's fascination with Aodhan's true identity only deepens, and she becomes eager to learn more about his world and his past, and to share her own.
However, Sierra has a secret of her own, which she fears will drive Aodhan away. She grapples with the decision to reveal her secret to him while navigating the dangers of Aodhan's world of magic and fantasy. The plot also includes suspense as Sierra finds herself in the middle of a kidnapping, which adds a thrilling twist to the storyline. The book concludes with a cliffhanger that made me eager to discover what happens next.
At first, I found it a bit challenging to get into the plot, but as the story unfolded, I found myself fully immersed in the world of Sierra and Aodhan. The middle and end of the book are a whirlwind of excitement, filled with thrilling developments that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, and I'm sure you will be too, to see how Hope Davis continues to captivate readers with her enthralling characters and intricate plotlines.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens
Merged review:
I recently finished reading the enthralling novel "Demure" by Hope Davis, and I was impressed by the author's ability to blend elements of romance, suspense, and fantasy seamlessly. The story takes place in Dublin, Ireland, and follows Sierra Lopez, a college student, as she enters the world of online dating in search of companionship. Sierra uses the Tender app to meet new people, and after a few swipes, she connects with Aodhan De Thuaidh, a mysterious man who is thirty minutes late for their first date.
As the story unfolds, Sierra's initial attraction to Aodhan evolves into something deeper, something more profound. She becomes increasingly suspicious of his strange behavior, yet she can't help but be drawn to him. She notices that he always wears a beanie on his head, a quirk that only adds to his enigmatic persona. Despite her doubts, Sierra continues to see Aodhan, her curiosity leading her to discover that he is a Fae, a mythical being from the world of fairies and magic. Sierra's fascination with Aodhan's true identity only deepens, and she becomes eager to learn more about his world and his past, and to share her own.
However, Sierra has a secret of her own, which she fears will drive Aodhan away. She grapples with the decision to reveal her secret to him while navigating the dangers of Aodhan's world of magic and fantasy. The plot also includes suspense as Sierra finds herself in the middle of a kidnapping, which adds a thrilling twist to the storyline. The book concludes with a cliffhanger that made me eager to discover what happens next.
At first, I found it a bit challenging to get into the plot, but as the story unfolded, I found myself fully immersed in the world of Sierra and Aodhan. The middle and end of the book are a whirlwind of excitement, filled with thrilling developments that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, and I'm sure you will be too, to see how Hope Davis continues to captivate readers with her enthralling characters and intricate plotlines.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens
June 12, 2025
In Demure von Hope E. Davis verfolgen wir die Geschichte von Sierra und Aodhan in Irland.
Ich fand die Legenden und Sagen in Demure, insbesondere die Bezüge zu den Fae und ihren irischen Wurzeln, wirklich spannend. Die Lore ist sehr tiefgründig, und man merkt deutlich, wie viel Gedanken sich die Autorin dabei gemacht hat. Insgesamt wirkt die Geschichte sehr liebevoll und durchdacht ausgearbeitet. Es bleiben zwar noch ein paar Fragen offen, aber da es sich um den Auftakt einer Reihe handelt, gehe ich davon aus, dass sich vieles noch klären wird.
Sierra ist eine junge Frau, die aus den USA nach Irland geflüchtet ist, um Abstand von ihrer Familie zu gewinnen. In den Szenen mit ihrer Familie konnte ich ihre Emotionen gut nachempfinden – sie waren sehr greifbar und authentisch dargestellt.
Mit Aodhan hatte ich anfangs ein paar Schwierigkeiten, aber im Verlauf wurde klar, dass er nicht unfreundlich, sondern einfach ahnungslos ist. Das hat immer wieder für humorvolle Momente gesorgt. Das Lesen hat auf jeden Fall Spa�� gemacht – ich bin sowieso ein großer Fan von Irland, Legenden und Sagen.
Allerdings fand ich, dass sich manche Entwicklungen in der Handlung etwas zu schnell und teilweise nicht ganz nachvollziehbar vollzogen haben. Vor allem die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Sierra und Aodhan war für mich schwer greifbar – da hoffe ich, dass im nächsten Band noch mehr Tiefe hineinkommt.
Besonders schön fand ich die Repräsentation von Transidentitäten und chronischen Krankheiten. Gerade, dass solche Themen bei Haupt- oder wichtigen Nebenfiguren aufgegriffen werden, fand ich richtig gut und wichtig.
Der Schreibstil wirkte auf mich stellenweise etwas holprig und wenig intuitiv. Viele Sätze begannen mit „Sierra dies…“, „Sierra das…“, und es gab einige Wiederholungen. Da das Buch ins Deutsche übersetzt wurde, lässt sich schwer sagen, ob das am Original oder an der Übersetzung liegt.
Alles in allem war es aber ein solides Buch mit einer spannenden Story und sympathischen Charakteren. Ich werde den zweiten Band auf jeden Fall lesen. Für alle Fans von Sagen, Mythen und Fantasy ist das Buch auf jeden Fall eine Empfehlung wert!
Ich fand die Legenden und Sagen in Demure, insbesondere die Bezüge zu den Fae und ihren irischen Wurzeln, wirklich spannend. Die Lore ist sehr tiefgründig, und man merkt deutlich, wie viel Gedanken sich die Autorin dabei gemacht hat. Insgesamt wirkt die Geschichte sehr liebevoll und durchdacht ausgearbeitet. Es bleiben zwar noch ein paar Fragen offen, aber da es sich um den Auftakt einer Reihe handelt, gehe ich davon aus, dass sich vieles noch klären wird.
Sierra ist eine junge Frau, die aus den USA nach Irland geflüchtet ist, um Abstand von ihrer Familie zu gewinnen. In den Szenen mit ihrer Familie konnte ich ihre Emotionen gut nachempfinden – sie waren sehr greifbar und authentisch dargestellt.
Mit Aodhan hatte ich anfangs ein paar Schwierigkeiten, aber im Verlauf wurde klar, dass er nicht unfreundlich, sondern einfach ahnungslos ist. Das hat immer wieder für humorvolle Momente gesorgt. Das Lesen hat auf jeden Fall Spa�� gemacht – ich bin sowieso ein großer Fan von Irland, Legenden und Sagen.
Allerdings fand ich, dass sich manche Entwicklungen in der Handlung etwas zu schnell und teilweise nicht ganz nachvollziehbar vollzogen haben. Vor allem die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Sierra und Aodhan war für mich schwer greifbar – da hoffe ich, dass im nächsten Band noch mehr Tiefe hineinkommt.
Besonders schön fand ich die Repräsentation von Transidentitäten und chronischen Krankheiten. Gerade, dass solche Themen bei Haupt- oder wichtigen Nebenfiguren aufgegriffen werden, fand ich richtig gut und wichtig.
Der Schreibstil wirkte auf mich stellenweise etwas holprig und wenig intuitiv. Viele Sätze begannen mit „Sierra dies…“, „Sierra das…“, und es gab einige Wiederholungen. Da das Buch ins Deutsche übersetzt wurde, lässt sich schwer sagen, ob das am Original oder an der Übersetzung liegt.
Alles in allem war es aber ein solides Buch mit einer spannenden Story und sympathischen Charakteren. Ich werde den zweiten Band auf jeden Fall lesen. Für alle Fans von Sagen, Mythen und Fantasy ist das Buch auf jeden Fall eine Empfehlung wert!
April 27, 2024
"Demure is a modern-day fantasy with romance that keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you have the storyline figured out, you don't." ~nerdywordyreviews
Sierra Lopez is an American college graduate who decides to attend a one-year program on age and fragility. This program relocates her to Dublin, Ireland. Alone, in a new place, she continues her studies and works at the University library to keep her rent paid. Sierra is grateful for the change of scenery, as family problems are always on her radar and she deserves a break. She tries to make new friends by meeting people on Tinder, all of which fail miserably. Especially the last guy, Aodhan. When to her surprise, he keeps appearing in her life and gets hired on at the same library. As time passes, the hate they feel for one another turns into something else. Something warmer, until the unexpected happens. That is when reality sets in, the environments and situations change, the truths come to light and danger rears its ugly head.
This is my first read by Hope E. Davis and will not be my last. There are two parts to this story; 'Demure' and 'Bold' which will follow afterward.
The story is descriptive and showcases the emotions of the characters well. The setting starts in modern days and environments which are relatable to the reader. As the novel progresses, the fantasy world-building begins.
Demure is a New Adult book and contains some spicy love scenes. There are some dangerous situations encountered, some Fae rituals imposed and new characters introduced along the way.
I really enjoyed reading Demure and I am quite excited about the continuation of the story in book two: Bold. I want to know what happens and plan to read it right away.
The release date for Demure is set for May 7, 2024, on AMAZON.
Sierra Lopez is an American college graduate who decides to attend a one-year program on age and fragility. This program relocates her to Dublin, Ireland. Alone, in a new place, she continues her studies and works at the University library to keep her rent paid. Sierra is grateful for the change of scenery, as family problems are always on her radar and she deserves a break. She tries to make new friends by meeting people on Tinder, all of which fail miserably. Especially the last guy, Aodhan. When to her surprise, he keeps appearing in her life and gets hired on at the same library. As time passes, the hate they feel for one another turns into something else. Something warmer, until the unexpected happens. That is when reality sets in, the environments and situations change, the truths come to light and danger rears its ugly head.
This is my first read by Hope E. Davis and will not be my last. There are two parts to this story; 'Demure' and 'Bold' which will follow afterward.
The story is descriptive and showcases the emotions of the characters well. The setting starts in modern days and environments which are relatable to the reader. As the novel progresses, the fantasy world-building begins.
Demure is a New Adult book and contains some spicy love scenes. There are some dangerous situations encountered, some Fae rituals imposed and new characters introduced along the way.
I really enjoyed reading Demure and I am quite excited about the continuation of the story in book two: Bold. I want to know what happens and plan to read it right away.
The release date for Demure is set for May 7, 2024, on AMAZON.
May 17, 2024
Everyone needs to stop what they are doing and go get this book!! This is the enemies to lovers book you didn’t know were looking for!
In Demure we meet Sierra a 25 year old college student studying in Dublin Ireland. Just trying to escape her family drama half way across the world. She meets Aodhan a 25 year old (?) on tinder of all places.( I find this funny because I met my husband on tinder circa 2018). When meeting doesn’t really go as planned Sierra was fully good to get over the bad date and move on with her life. But with running into each other around every corner and forced proximity working together. Our main characters discover this unearth tension between each other. Aodhan however isn’t all that he seems. Sierra soon finds out his secrets and with now being exposed to this new fae realm. She has choices to make.
Hope E. Davis nailed these characters ! I loved the way we could see the desire between the two from the beginning.The way she makes the audience actually get to understand Sierra and her insecurities is something to note. Aodhan is your typical stand off ish bad boy who finds his his true self while looking for answers for his own problems. This is a true tail of fate colliding and I loved it !
Overall this was a super cutesy fun fantasy romance read and I 110% think Demure should be your next summer read!
P.s. I already pre ordered book two !! I’m pretty excited
In Demure we meet Sierra a 25 year old college student studying in Dublin Ireland. Just trying to escape her family drama half way across the world. She meets Aodhan a 25 year old (?) on tinder of all places.( I find this funny because I met my husband on tinder circa 2018). When meeting doesn’t really go as planned Sierra was fully good to get over the bad date and move on with her life. But with running into each other around every corner and forced proximity working together. Our main characters discover this unearth tension between each other. Aodhan however isn’t all that he seems. Sierra soon finds out his secrets and with now being exposed to this new fae realm. She has choices to make.
Hope E. Davis nailed these characters ! I loved the way we could see the desire between the two from the beginning.The way she makes the audience actually get to understand Sierra and her insecurities is something to note. Aodhan is your typical stand off ish bad boy who finds his his true self while looking for answers for his own problems. This is a true tail of fate colliding and I loved it !
Overall this was a super cutesy fun fantasy romance read and I 110% think Demure should be your next summer read!
P.s. I already pre ordered book two !! I’m pretty excited
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2024
Spice: 3
Tropes:
Dislike to Lovers
Hidden magical world
Modern fantasy
Who Did this to you?
FMC with an auto immune disease
Fae MMC
I was so excited to read Demure, everyone has said such good things about it, and they weren't wrong! I went in blind, not knowing the story and I was happily surprised that it takes place in modern day Ireland! Also, the FMC is a Latina-American, studying for her Master's in Dublin. Already, I love the mix of cultures, an educated FMC, and the issues the FMC faces.
Sierra, our beautiful FMC, feels like a real person. She's written with family drama, loneliness, pains of online dating, and an auto immune disease that makes her very self-conscience about her physical appearance. She literally could be anyone you meet on the street, and I loved that about this character!
Sierra tries online dating and meets Aodhan, which turns out to be a horrible date. He's late, he isn't apologetic, and Sierra isn't feeling it. But Sierra can't shake Aodhan. He gets a job on campus at the library with her and seems to be a bit stalkerish. Ugh. BUT I quickly came to like Aodhan! He's in Dublin trying to solve a "curse" or "mystery" on why magic is leaving his homeland. Together, can Sierra and Aodhan figure things out before it's too late?
So that cliffhanger has me ready to immediately start book 2 next! Bold, here I come.
Tropes:
Dislike to Lovers
Hidden magical world
Modern fantasy
Who Did this to you?
FMC with an auto immune disease
Fae MMC
I was so excited to read Demure, everyone has said such good things about it, and they weren't wrong! I went in blind, not knowing the story and I was happily surprised that it takes place in modern day Ireland! Also, the FMC is a Latina-American, studying for her Master's in Dublin. Already, I love the mix of cultures, an educated FMC, and the issues the FMC faces.
Sierra, our beautiful FMC, feels like a real person. She's written with family drama, loneliness, pains of online dating, and an auto immune disease that makes her very self-conscience about her physical appearance. She literally could be anyone you meet on the street, and I loved that about this character!
Sierra tries online dating and meets Aodhan, which turns out to be a horrible date. He's late, he isn't apologetic, and Sierra isn't feeling it. But Sierra can't shake Aodhan. He gets a job on campus at the library with her and seems to be a bit stalkerish. Ugh. BUT I quickly came to like Aodhan! He's in Dublin trying to solve a "curse" or "mystery" on why magic is leaving his homeland. Together, can Sierra and Aodhan figure things out before it's too late?
So that cliffhanger has me ready to immediately start book 2 next! Bold, here I come.
May 25, 2025
I recently finished reading "Demure," and I have to say, it was quite an enjoyable experience! The story follows Sierra, a 25-year-old college student in Dublin, who is trying to escape her family's drama. I could relate to her desire to break free and start fresh, especially since she meets Aodhan on Tinder. Funny enough, I met my husband on Tinder too, so I immediately connected with that aspect of the story!
Their first meeting doesn’t go as planned, but what I loved is how Sierra was ready to brush it off and move on. However, life throws them together in unexpected ways, and the forced proximity leads to some undeniable tension between them. Hope E. Davis does a fantastic job of building that chemistry from the start.
Sierra's character development is really well done. You can feel her insecurities and hopes throughout the story, making her a relatable protagonist. Aodhan, with his bad boy appeal, is intriguing but also holds some secrets that keep you guessing. As Sierra delves into this new fae realm revealed through Aodhan, she faces choices that lead to personal growth for both characters.
Overall, I appreciated the depth Davis gave to the characters and the way their relationship evolves. If you enjoy stories that blend romance with a hint of fantasy and strong character development, "Demure" is definitely worth checking out!
Their first meeting doesn’t go as planned, but what I loved is how Sierra was ready to brush it off and move on. However, life throws them together in unexpected ways, and the forced proximity leads to some undeniable tension between them. Hope E. Davis does a fantastic job of building that chemistry from the start.
Sierra's character development is really well done. You can feel her insecurities and hopes throughout the story, making her a relatable protagonist. Aodhan, with his bad boy appeal, is intriguing but also holds some secrets that keep you guessing. As Sierra delves into this new fae realm revealed through Aodhan, she faces choices that lead to personal growth for both characters.
Overall, I appreciated the depth Davis gave to the characters and the way their relationship evolves. If you enjoy stories that blend romance with a hint of fantasy and strong character development, "Demure" is definitely worth checking out!
April 25, 2024
WARNING: This does contain some spoilers!!!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and I enjoyed it, though I feel something was lacking for me.
I'm loving finding more urban fantasy books. It has recently become a favourite genre of mine and this book certainly has that academia, fantasy, urban mix that makes it feel more real life than pure fantasy.
The characters are interesting, I found that even though I didn't have a lot in common myself with the main character, I still wanted to know her story and loved reading about her.
I did find that the story went by too quickly, certainly felt rushed in parts and I would have loved more info and world building within the fae realm. It feels like this is most definitely a small part of a bigger world, and I want to know more about the world and the other courts and places of intrigue!
SPOILER: I was looking forward to a sting operation so I was a little disappointed when Aodhan suddenly was free and waltzed back into the treehouse. For a moment I thought it might be a dream or that he was somebody else glamoured to look like him so it seemed too easy for him to just be there all of a sudden.
All in all, if you love broody fae men with an accent, you'll love Aodhan. He's the perfect mix of broody Irish, with a hint of naivety that makes him adorable, (though not at first) and I adore him and Sierra. If mainly romance with a bit of fantasy plot is your thing you'll love this book, the characters are cute and it's great to see stories about people who suffer from physical ailments and how that affects a person's psyche, but overcoming it and still loving themselves.
Definitely looking forward to the next installment!
3.5⭐
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and I enjoyed it, though I feel something was lacking for me.
I'm loving finding more urban fantasy books. It has recently become a favourite genre of mine and this book certainly has that academia, fantasy, urban mix that makes it feel more real life than pure fantasy.
The characters are interesting, I found that even though I didn't have a lot in common myself with the main character, I still wanted to know her story and loved reading about her.
I did find that the story went by too quickly, certainly felt rushed in parts and I would have loved more info and world building within the fae realm. It feels like this is most definitely a small part of a bigger world, and I want to know more about the world and the other courts and places of intrigue!
SPOILER: I was looking forward to a sting operation so I was a little disappointed when Aodhan suddenly was free and waltzed back into the treehouse. For a moment I thought it might be a dream or that he was somebody else glamoured to look like him so it seemed too easy for him to just be there all of a sudden.
All in all, if you love broody fae men with an accent, you'll love Aodhan. He's the perfect mix of broody Irish, with a hint of naivety that makes him adorable, (though not at first) and I adore him and Sierra. If mainly romance with a bit of fantasy plot is your thing you'll love this book, the characters are cute and it's great to see stories about people who suffer from physical ailments and how that affects a person's psyche, but overcoming it and still loving themselves.
Definitely looking forward to the next installment!
3.5⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
If you love a mix of contemporary romance and fantasy, this may be the book series for you. The world was easy to picture and the storyline has a lot of potential.
There were some plot holes and the pacing was off in the beginning, but things really take off in the second half. I’m curious where it might go in book 2.
My favorite quote:
I knew that I would spend the rest of your life trying to convince you to see yourself the way that I see you, a demure light that deserves to shine brightly in the never-ending darkness of life.”
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎:
⋆⁺₊𝚃𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚎
⋆⁺₊𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 - 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐
⋆⁺₊𝚃𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚟𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚏𝚊𝚎
𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚟
⋆⁺₊𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢
⋆⁺₊𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚎
Grateful for the opportunity to read and review 🖤✨
If you love a mix of contemporary romance and fantasy, this may be the book series for you. The world was easy to picture and the storyline has a lot of potential.
There were some plot holes and the pacing was off in the beginning, but things really take off in the second half. I’m curious where it might go in book 2.
My favorite quote:
I knew that I would spend the rest of your life trying to convince you to see yourself the way that I see you, a demure light that deserves to shine brightly in the never-ending darkness of life.”
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎:
⋆⁺₊𝚃𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚎
⋆⁺₊𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 - 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐
⋆⁺₊𝚃𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚟𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚏𝚊𝚎
𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚟
⋆⁺₊𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢
⋆⁺₊𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚎
Grateful for the opportunity to read and review 🖤✨
May 14, 2024
[And so they were, two souls who had found their fates strangely intertwined in the tapestry of life.] ✨️
I read this book in two days and loved every minute of it.
My heart melted for Aodhan!🥹
Their relationship, the fact that he is so understanding and helps her to live and accept the flaws she sees in herself. The fact that he reminds her how perfect she is to him.
The writing makes everything more emotional and I loved the emotions I felt! Reading this book is sweet and warms my heart and soul.✨️
Thank you Hope for this, you did so well! You can be proud of you! I just can't wait any longer for the second book!🖤
I read this book in two days and loved every minute of it.
My heart melted for Aodhan!🥹
Their relationship, the fact that he is so understanding and helps her to live and accept the flaws she sees in herself. The fact that he reminds her how perfect she is to him.
The writing makes everything more emotional and I loved the emotions I felt! Reading this book is sweet and warms my heart and soul.✨️
Thank you Hope for this, you did so well! You can be proud of you! I just can't wait any longer for the second book!🖤
October 17, 2024
I loved this story a lot and I honestly can't wait to see what's to come from Hope E. Davis.
Demure is an urban fantasy partially located in Dublin. The book follows recent graduate Sierra Lopez as she moves to Dublin for a one-year master’s program and downloads Tinder. After a strange first date with Aodhan, Sierra keeps running into him around campus, leading her to suspect there's something he's not telling her.
I did have some trouble getting into the book and connecting with the characters. Luckily, the book redeemed itself and I was hooked. The magic was very interesting and the plot was mysterious enough for me to want to keep going. I wish we got to know more about Aodhan's backstory and what makes him him, but I hope we'll get that in the next book.
Overall, I think it was a very fun read and I do recommend it to fantasy lovers. It was easy to follow and the characters were unique. I'm looking forward to see how Hope E. Davis' writing will evolve in the future and how the story will end.
Demure is an urban fantasy partially located in Dublin. The book follows recent graduate Sierra Lopez as she moves to Dublin for a one-year master’s program and downloads Tinder. After a strange first date with Aodhan, Sierra keeps running into him around campus, leading her to suspect there's something he's not telling her.
I did have some trouble getting into the book and connecting with the characters. Luckily, the book redeemed itself and I was hooked. The magic was very interesting and the plot was mysterious enough for me to want to keep going. I wish we got to know more about Aodhan's backstory and what makes him him, but I hope we'll get that in the next book.
Overall, I think it was a very fun read and I do recommend it to fantasy lovers. It was easy to follow and the characters were unique. I'm looking forward to see how Hope E. Davis' writing will evolve in the future and how the story will end.
June 8, 2024
Completely missed the mark for me. A lot of inconsistencies and bad grammar/writing. It’s also incredibly offensive for someone who has psoriasis and is Hispanic — which I have/am. Not to mention the “I’m better than other women” remarks Sierra makes about herself. Like her always having perfect hair that all other women are jealous of.
But the fact that she’s not allowed to look up Twilight in the library because that will make her find out who the MMC really is, just sent me. Utterly ridiculous, using a fictional book as a reliable source.
But the fact that she’s not allowed to look up Twilight in the library because that will make her find out who the MMC really is, just sent me. Utterly ridiculous, using a fictional book as a reliable source.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2024
I love books about fae. This one set in Ireland…LOVE! Also loved that it was set between worlds…set in modern day Dublin with relatable aspects of everyday life (college, dating) but also crosses into the fae world of Sidhe.
The FMC was so relatable to me as I’ve had psoriasis since I was a child and struggled with low self confidence surrounding it. It was nice to see the representation and her own struggles.
The book has just the right amount of romance vs spice. Really sweet.
The story was fun and easy to follow and kept me hanging for more! Can’t wait to read the next book!
The FMC was so relatable to me as I’ve had psoriasis since I was a child and struggled with low self confidence surrounding it. It was nice to see the representation and her own struggles.
The book has just the right amount of romance vs spice. Really sweet.
The story was fun and easy to follow and kept me hanging for more! Can’t wait to read the next book!
December 1, 2024
This was a fun read! Started reading because it was mentioned that it had twilight elements! I enjoyed it! Our MCs were interesting. I related to Sierra at times. I also thought Aodhan was rude at the beginning but getting to know him better you get an understanding why he is the way he is.
With the plot twist we get at the end of the book I’m very intrigued to see what happens in the next book!
With the plot twist we get at the end of the book I’m very intrigued to see what happens in the next book!
July 16, 2025
I was so intrigued by Sierra and Adohan’s story. He’s such a mystery to her but there is one thing she knows for sure, he’s not human. But he has come to find her because she might be the key to saving his kingdom’s magic.
The imagery and action in this story drew me in from the get go. I wanted to know what happened next and what other secrets and lies were going to come to surface. I’ll soon be reading the second book to see how everything comes together now that Sierra is one of them.
The imagery and action in this story drew me in from the get go. I wanted to know what happened next and what other secrets and lies were going to come to surface. I’ll soon be reading the second book to see how everything comes together now that Sierra is one of them.
May 8, 2024
3.5
This was a fun read that I did enjoy! The reason it is a 3.5 is because it had a slow start that took a while to draw me in, but as soon as it hit the half way point things picked up and I really got into it towards the end. I know the second book is going to be exciting and I can’t wait to read it!
This was a fun read that I did enjoy! The reason it is a 3.5 is because it had a slow start that took a while to draw me in, but as soon as it hit the half way point things picked up and I really got into it towards the end. I know the second book is going to be exciting and I can’t wait to read it!
August 20, 2025
Demure
Sierra & Aodhan
I hadn't planned to read the full series originally since it was said that book 3 could be read as a standalone. Last minute I changed my mind and decided to go for it. I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to see how things progress with the story in book 2.
Sierra & Aodhan
I hadn't planned to read the full series originally since it was said that book 3 could be read as a standalone. Last minute I changed my mind and decided to go for it. I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to see how things progress with the story in book 2.
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