The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake

The Broken Veil #1

by Mara Rutherford

In Wisteria, the very act of innovation is forbidden. Any creation—art, music, engineering—conjures a demon from the other side. The greater the innovation, the more dangerous the demon.

This has never stopped Aurelie from inventing—but it has made it more difficult. Her inventions are small by necessity, producing demons that she is capable of dispatching alone. But she knows she’s meant for something greater, and each day has her chafing more at the boundaries of her society.

Destrier lost his parents to demons as a child, and has devoted his life to preventing more senseless murder at the hands of demons. He was young when he joined the hunters, and each year he’s grown stronger. But it’s never enough.

When a mysterious figure offers Aurelie a job she can’t refuse—an impossible, magnificent invention—her decision to accept sets off a chain of events that will alter every aspect of their world… and sparks the connection that will change both Aurelie and Des irrevocably.

With the fierce enemies-to-lovers romance of Heartless Hunter and the high-concept worldbuilding of Arcane, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake will thrill readers looking for their new cross-genre favorite.
 

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy, Dark Academia, Demons, Young Adult Fantasy

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 14, 2026

About the author

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara has lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. She is the author of YA books including Crown of Coral and Pearl, The Poison Season, A Multitude of Dreams, and A Curious Kind of Magic.

Reviews

[Val 𓍯ᥫ᭡.ִֶָ𓂃 · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Such a fun book! Mara Rutherford is an incredible writer. The plot is so intriguing and compelling. Female empowerment through and through! A world lured by creativity, but where creativity is banished. Inventions are no longer an option, not even books. Can you imagine?! If you dared to devise something new, a demon would be lurking in the next corner!

An intricate world building where you'll find the Iron Guard, who protects people from demons and, of course, different demon classes: Natia, Somnia, Verita, and Tenebra. I also loved the plot twists! Unpredictable and entertaining!

I think you'll love this book if you enjoy fantasy plots in dark academy settings accompanied by paranormal elements and filled with mystery rooted in history.

Thanks so much to Edelweiss, NetGalley, and HarperCollins for this advanced reader copy of The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake, to be published on April 14th, 2026.

Already waiting for the second book!!! 🤩

[Sarah SG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope nope nope!!! I’m sick and tired of this, Grandpa!!!!
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Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the arc! This was a wonderful concept, but it stayed a wonderful concept only. I have many critiques about the execution.

Here we have multiple instances of repetition that is non-intentional and grating to read. How many times are we gonna say the same thing with slightly different words!?

I say this as a petite woman, I’m sick and TIRED of romantasy authors constantly pointing out how eeny teeny weeny polka dot bikini their fmc is. Of course, Aurelie is so small and short and fragile and the mmc is so big and tall and brooding! Put me to fucking sleep ffs

We’ve got insta-lust! Besides wanting to bone for nearly all of the book I have no idea why the leads are attracted to each other. I felt no chemistry. The beaker was broken. They failed the class!!!!

I totally don’t despise characters that are only intelligent when the author requires it! Even though we’re told how brilliant they are, and more times than necessary!!! Sorry, they’re as dumb as a pile of dirt!

I’ve always wanted a formulaic, cartoony, big bad. 😍 I’m fucking yawning. I’m slumped over. Honesty, this entire book is formulaic, and it went limp in its restraints.

I was standing up, and I’m now stood! Unfortunately, this is yet another cookie-cutter, romantic fantasy book. I should put that romantic part in quotes though, as so many romantasy authors confuse lust with love as well as a contrived formula with tradition. Why do I even bother, dude? -2 stars

[Avery Clason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like Mara Rutherford’s other protagonists, I found Aurelie to be quite endearing and Des to be funny and quick-witted. The premise of this book was incredibly intriguing as we follow Aurelie in a world where invention and creative liberty are outlawed as their creation spawns demons (even if they’re cute like the little dragon demon Aurelie keeps as a pet).

I think this has some wonderful parallels to the anti-intellectual movement sweeping the world on a domestic and global scale with fake news, AI in art/writing, and banned/challenged books. Creativity is under attack and it felt like this book was able to harbor similar questions many of us have about our current world.

I’m very eager to see what happens in the next book as Rutherford steps further into her upper YA genre, but I think it’ll be equally ad wonderful as this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so saddened by this rating — Mara Rutherford is an auto read author for me. I have loved all of her books and given them nothing less than 4 stars (and often 5s, which is rare for me).

I loved this book at the start. It had somewhat of a dark academia vibe, with Aurelie fighting to be an inventor even if the act of inventing conjures demons. Des is essentially part of a police force hunting down and killing demons and imprisoning those who conjure them, so it definitely had a forbidden lovers feeling and was giving me vibes of Serpent and Dove.

However, as the story progressed, I hated Aurelie more and more with each chapter (which then made me annoyed with Des’s infatuation with her).

This girl. She just came off as super spoiled and selfish with her “well I want to be an inventor” attitude. You’re literally conjuring demons from another dimension every time you invent something and putting others at risk! And then a man asks her to make a portal to the demon realm — and alarm bells weren’t going off in her head?!? It was painfully obvious that (a) the mysterious man was lying to her; (b) that he was the villain; and (c) who he was but Aurelie couldn’t connect the dots in her own head until it was way too late. I think she would have come off as a more sympathetic character to me if the villain had captured her uncle from the beginning and forced her to work for him, but for a good chunk of the book she went along with him because she ~~wanted to invent~~ and he played to her ego (“you’re such a brilliant inventor” etc). The fact that she worked for him willingly for as long as she did really called her character into question for me.

Des I liked well enough. He’s a demon hunter just trying to do his job. I could understand the motivations of his character (at least professionally). But what did he see in Aurelie??? He should have just arrested her and been done with it. He was just so attracted to her and I could not for the life of me see why. The ending with him literally sacrificing HIS SOUL to save her was ridiculous.

The setting, magic system, secondary characters and the writing was all good. I really liked Daisy (well, all of Des’s friends really) and Aurelie’s professor mentor. Mara Rutherford’s books are easy to read and the world building really gives a sense of the fantasy world and situation. As I said, generally I love her books. However, I really hated the character of Aurelie which unfortunately ruined the book for me. I’m still looking forward to this author’s next book though!

[Jaylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Genevieve (GenLikesToRead) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

Cover? Gorgeous. Title? Fantastic. Description? Intriguing. Execution? Ehhh…

I am really sad that I couldn’t get into this book. It had all the infrastructure to be great but the reality is that it just wasn’t. I found it very difficult to get engaged and stay engaged. I had to force myself to pick it up. It felt like it was dragging. However, it doesn’t feel right to rate it lower than 2.5 stars. I enjoy Mara Rutherford’s prose, enjoyed the creativity of the story, and didn’t find anything offensive. Was the book rather repetitive? Unfortunately, yes. Did she love to remind you of the MMC’s HUGE stature and the FMC’s itty bitty size? Yes, and I think we’re all absolutely sick of that. But the book was fine.

I also am a bit frustrated that the book ended up being a part of a series and not a standalone. I wish that was better advertised. Unfortunately, I will not be continuing with the next book.

This is only my second book by Mara Rutherford and the first I read from them was a 5 star so I certainly plan to read more from them in the future. I just hope those books make me feel more like I did while reading A Curious Kind of Magic than while reading The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake!

[mith · Rating 3 out of 5]

oh, its a series, is it? how many more books of readers being reminded of how big des is and how utterly tiny aurelie is? good god.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Harper Collins for providing me with the aARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The land of Wisteria is cursed; any form of inventing new things summons demons. This has led to stagnant development as inventing is outlawed. Aurelie is a student who is passionate about inventing - outlawed it may be, she has made herself a hidden lab where she invents and eliminates demons that she conjures as a by product. Des of the Iron Guard, who are in charge of hunting demons and arresting inventors, is on Aurelie's trail when he notices more frequent demonic activity around all the places she goes.

While this may not be the focal point of the story, Aurelie keeps a multi-legged dragon-like demon as a pet, complete with catitude. I absolutely loved Mephisto and its scuttling around lab, I wouldn't mind one of my own! I also enjoyed Aurelie as a main character - not all her choices are good and she can be a little dislikable at times, but I do also think that it makes her a more realistic character. She has her dreams and passion and I do think she's in the right to think beyond a life where there is ever anything new. However, although she tries her best to kill any demons she summons, her actions can definitely been seen as selfish at times.

Des is her complete opposite in the sense that he is duty bound and would never stand for demon conjuring. It also makes it a rather interesting dynamic seeing as he is a demon hunter whereas Aurelie is a essentially an accidental demon summoner. They both view the situation Wisteria finds itself in in very different lights which at times had me wondering how any romantic plot could work out for them. I also really liked that the book was told in a dual POV between the two.

The magic system is interesting and I suspect there's even more to it which we won't get to see until the sequel. I will say that I felt the magic system had a fairly big loop hole; the perimeters of what counts as inventing was a little too vague. For example, if Aurelie builds a new invention, the demon is only conjured the moment her invention is completed. But at the same time, things like dreams or paintings can also conjure demons. Wouldn't this then actually mean simply having a new idea rather than giving it form should already count as inventing something new? Or equally, if painting can conjure a demon, shouldn't making blue prints for new inventions also count? Perhaps I am digging too much in the details here, but I just felt there was a bit of inconsistency around what was considered an invention. However, if you put that aside, I really did think it was an interesting and unique magic system.

Although we have a university as a setting, I wouldn't really call this dark academia - there's just too little of the school life involved to really have that academic feeling. But this is by no means a fault - as much as I like academia settings, this book doesn't need it. We do get fun professor characters such as Professor Sheldrake, but we get to see absolutely nothing of the classes. Instead, we focus more on Aurelie's explorations and what the life of the Iron Guard is like. What sets the plot rolling further is the appearance of Everard, an uncanny man who encourages Aurelie to invent something big. The plot becomes darker and stakes gradually feel higher until we end with a couple of twists that definitely have me curious for the sequel. A mild warning, there is a wee bit of spice which, while not overly graphic, did surprise me has the tone was otherwise middle ground YA rather than upper YA.

One final note - I've seen several reviews pointing out the frequent mention of Aurelie and Des' height difference. I believe it is a fairly popular trend among romantasy in particular but I have personally not read that many and thus it feels less like an overused trope to me than it might for others. Their difference in stature is mentioned a lot but I may not even have noticed had I not already seen others bring it up. To be fair, I do think that it's also plot relevant as Aurelie is often underrated based on her size and that does in a way give her a big more coverage as she doesn't want people to know what she is up to when she's alone in her lab.

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Harper Collins for the preview. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

This might be my new fav from Rutherford? I was so invested from the first chapters, and the end had me holding my breath. I'm insanely eager for the next book already, and I just had such a great time reading this book.

Aurelie is a compelling FMC. Is she naive and too trusting? Yes, but she's also just 18. Just as Des is a little rigid and idealistic. Again, he's just 19 and was raised from infancy into the Iron Guard, so the mistakes both of them make are super understandable. I loved the progression of mistrust to maybe friends to maybe more. They both had such complex motivations and conflicting loyalties, but it made for great reading.

The whole cast was great honestly. Daisy and Gareth and Jasper were great friends to Des, just as Kiara was a great friend to Aurelie. And Mephisto! Just a precious little demon bebe.
I did suspect who Everard really was, so I was excited to be proved correct there.

Seriously I'm so excited for the next book and cannot wait to see how they get out of this mess!
Highly recommended!

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel has the best atmosphere! Dark Academia, cozy cottage, hot chocolate at the cafe, Yule, inventions in progress, and demon hunting. At the beginning of the story, Aurelie Blake cares about nothing other than inventing, her uncle and last living relative, and her friend. In this world, any new innovation leads to a demon being conjured. It’s clear that we don’t really understand what these creatures are, and the political messaging commands that they be killed by the Iron Guard (demon-hunters) and that people are not allowed to invent or innovate. I’m always drawn into a story where there’s question about the truth and what we are told to believe. Aurelie is approached by a mysterious man with a request for an invention, that may open up her understanding of the world. The romance was sweet and slow, the plot was engaging. My only request is that I wanted more variety in setting. The aesthetic was so well done, that I would have liked to follow these characters everywhere and experience more of the world and the Wisteria campus. But I fully understand that this story balances a lot of elements, and the book could only be so long. I’m intrigued to see how this story continues in the next installment.

For those who love:
📜 Enemies-Allies-Lovers romance
📜 Hunter + Inventor
📜 Dark Academia atmosphere
📜 Cute and evil monsters
📜 Friend group
📜 Political intrigue & secrets

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Skybid · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review – The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Black by Mara Rutherford✨

I just finished this last night and absolutely flew through it. If you enjoy witty banter, an eerie academic setting, and aggravating cliffhangers (in the best way), this one might be for you.

Aurelie Black was orphaned as a child and raised in Wisteria at the university where her uncle serves as dean. To fill the void left by losing her parents, Aurelie dreams of becoming an inventor and spends her time secretly creating new devices. But in Wisteria, invention is forbidden—because inventions lead to the creation of demons.

When a mysterious stranger offers Aurelie the chance to build an invention that could change everything, how could she possibly turn it down… no matter how dangerous it might be?

Des is an Iron Guard, a soldier sworn to hunt down and destroy demons to protect the city. Many Iron Guards, including Des, were orphaned by demon attacks and joined to avenge their families. When Des begins to notice strange demon activity surrounding Aurelie, he can’t help but investigate.

This story has:
⚙️ nemesis-to-lovers tension
⚙️ dark academia vibes
⚙️ magic and dangerous inventions
⚙️ betrayals and twists
⚙️ “good girl”

The banter and tension reminded me of The Heartless Hunter, and the eerie academic setting added such a unique atmosphere.

I rated this ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5. The ending definitely left me eager (and a little desperate) to see where book two goes next.

Thank you to the publisher and Mara Rutherford for the opportunity to read this story early. Keep an eye out for its release on April 14th.

[hijabi.booknook (Violet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I love Mara’s writing. Every time I pick up one of her books I’m in awe. This follows Aurelie, an inventor in hiding in a world when inventions produce demons, and Des, a demon hunter. Aurelie is tasked with a project to rid the kingdom of demons and Des is suspicious that the innocent school girl has a dark secret. The banter is bantering and I loved it. I really liked all the world building and how the plot flows. All in all a great YA fantasy. I can’t wait for book 2!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always a fan of Mara’s books and this is no exception! This one revolves around Aurelie, a student with a passion for inventing. This is a problem considering inventing of any kind is illegal because it conjures demons. Does that stop her? Nope!

Aurelie is pretty sheltered and doesn’t always make the best choices, but her heart is in the right place. She and Des have a hate to love / opposites attract romance with him being an Iron Guard who kills demons and is firmly against inventing, but of course they’re drawn to each other in a way they can’t explain.

The romance is very sweet and there are some fun side characters including a cute little demon companion. The mysterious invention Aurelie is hired to build kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending broke my heart. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Sequoia Cron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read and review The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Quotes used may differ in the finished version.

"There have always been demons, Aurelie. Some are just more obvious than others."

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake is the newest upcoming release by Mara Rutherford, the author of A Curious Kind of Magic and The Poison Season. Aurelie is an inventor, hiding away in her dingy room from he prying eyes of her Uncle Leo and the Iron Guard. She resides at the University of Wisteria where she and her best friend Kiara, the groundskeeper's daughter, spend a lot of time together. Creating inventions is illegal as they spawn different demons with each creative and artistic idea, awake or asleep. The demon population is dwindling down as less and less people are taking creative liberties. Aurelie is visited by her Uncle's friend Everard, who propositions her to use her inventing abilities to help him create a demonic door, which could either lead to

In between her time figuring out the pieces of this curious and magnetic door, she meets Destrier 'Des' Whitlow, an up-and-coming guard in the Iron Guard program. Des was made an orphan when demons murdered his parents at a young age. All orphans are brought to the Iron Guard to give them shelter and to teach them how to fight demons. The Iron Guard has three rules: never hunt alone, never act on impulse, and never underestimate a demon. Des and Aurelie meet with bad first impressions, leading to Des commanded to watch over Aurelie after he sees her acting suspiciously.

"Mondays were an excellent day for inventing. After all, they were the first day of the week, and if one were to begin something new, one ought to start at the beginning."

Mara Rutherford does a great job entering her Upper-YA era. I really liked how she built Aurelie and Des's slow-burn romance. They have similar life changes, but very different upbringings. Aurelie is brought up by her Uncle Leo, the University Headmaster, after her parents perished in a carriage accident whereas Des was brought up by the Iron Guard. He was trained and taught on sword fighting and the war against the demonic presence. He doesn't understand the rich frills and secured lifestyle Aurelie has always known. They both dislike the other from the start and they have a playful way of avoiding the other, but they always end up next to each other in the end. Knowing this is the start of a duology helped me accept that their relationship would take some time to build from dislike to 'oh wait, I like this person now?' I think Mara did well with executing their growing trust and relationship.

"She knew better than anyone that progress was not a straight path; it featured all the topography of an uncharted world, and all the promise."

With that said, the pacing can be slow at times. The story did take a while to capture my attention and hold it for long periods of time. After a couple of speed bumps, I was able to enjoy the story-telling and the characters. Besides the pacing, the only other negative for me is the repetitive mentions of how big Des is or how small Aurelie is. After reading a review with the same thoughts, I could not stop seeing it. It's mentioned a lot on how tiny or huge they are and it became a very distracting and slightly frustrating reading experience.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake does remind me a little bit of The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, but for a new generation of readers. I think many will enjoy the banter between Aurelie and Des, the demons, and the secondary cast of characters. I did like the back and forth point of views between Aurelie and Des. I love that Mara included Mephisto, a dragon-like demon Aurelie spawned from an invention she made when she was younger. I really like when creatures are included as pets when they're not supposed to be kept as one.

Overall, an intriguing read that needs a little patience because the twist at the end is totally worth it.

4 stars

[bella ⊹₊⟡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book! The following review is completely my own.

The mixed feelings I have about this book resulted in a three star rating, maybe even just a little lower (but rounded up due to the Goodreads format). I like Mara Rutherford's work, so I was hoping I would like The Demonic Inventions as much as I enjoyed A Curious Kind of Magic. Unfortunately, I didn't, but the premise was so intriguing—a young woman who loves to create in a world where innovation is dangerous and illegal, and a hunter who chases down the demons that spawn from inventions makes for one of the most unique plots and worlds I've seen in recent years.

The world building and circumstances that Aurelie finds herself in seem to be a reflection of the current state of the world with AI usage and anti-intellectualism on the rise, though I'm not sure if Rutherford wrote it like that on purpose. Regardless, it made for an interesting setting, but I feel like it wasn't built up on as much as it should've been. Instead of expanding the world building or even letting readers see more than just the university Aurelie studies at, Rutherford seemed to focus more on the romance, which I had trouble believing in. There were world building crumbs and explanations where there needed to be, but overall, the world felt like it was an afterthought, pushed to the back in favor of developing the characters more.

Aurelie was a fun protagonist to follow, and I think I liked her POV chapters more than Des's. She has so much personality and feels so human with her clear goals and things she likes, inner thoughts, and emotions as her situation starts to slip out of her control. She's unapologetically herself and genuinely loves what she does, though I wish we actually saw her inventing more things throughout the book, not just the giant project she was commissioned to do. It took me some time to like Des, as he was rather standoffish towards Aurelie for a long time, though he was easy to understand once I got used to him. The side characters were also charming and fun (shout-out to Daisy!) and breathed more life into the narrative.

Aurelie and Des are good individual characters (Aurelie more so, in my opinion) but unfortunately, I just couldn't feel the romance between them. Des hated and crushed on her for the longest time—I understand where the hate came from, but not the love, and his moments of thinking about kissing and holding her felt so out of place and random. I also thought some of the other reviews were exaggerating about the constant size comparisons between Aurelie and Des, but nope, they were true. Aurelie is described as teeny-tiny and small in every Des chapter, and Des is said to be built like a brick wall and is so giant and towering that he has to squeeze through doorways in almost every Aurelie chapter. I don't mind occasional comparisons, but it became unbearable! With this being the first book in a series, I dread the possibility of there being even more reminders of their heights in the sequel(s). Aurelie written from Des's POV also felt disjointed from how she was in her POV chapters, as if Rutherford was writing her to be a certain way to suit the romantic dynamic she had in mind as opposed to the way Aurelie actually was.

Though the line-to-line writing was technically solid, I just felt like there wasn't enough activity either. The work that went into creating and writing Aurelie was good, as well as crafting the initial exposition of the world building, but like I said earlier, there didn't seem to be that much inventing. The book says what Aurelie invented and does show her inventing something right at the beginning, but other than that, there's not much. It constantly seemed like the plot was just Aurelie and Des butting heads with them dealing with their personal problems off to the side, then rinse and repeat. There wasn't nearly enough done with the anti-progress attitude that Wisteria adopted (what others thought of it, such as the general public), or the revelation that Des uncovers when he's on a mission with the Iron Swords. These details make for such a good story background that is really suitable for the way the world is right now, and it would've been great if Rutherford had decided to enhance those aspects! I think this book would've been better as a fantasy with a romantic subplot as opposed to the romantasy that it actually is, but since Rutherford likes writing romances, I can't exactly blame her for wanting to write it this way.

To sum it up, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake had a promising premise, but focusing on some aspects more than others led to it not quite living up to its potential. Though the ending was fascinating, I don't think it was enough to persuade me to await the sequel.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shoutout to Mephisto for being absolutely adorable.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake is the first book in a YA fantasy duology where creation of any kind - art, music, invention - breeds demons. The premise of this book was extremely intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me for a few different reasons. Despite the fact that creation spawns demons in this world, we barely ever address how the humanities might be impacted beyond the FMC claiming history is boring (as a history major, she's not 100% wrong, but still) and that another student who is studying history only does so because he "lacks creativity." I wish there were a bit more time devoted to the worldbuilding and what exactly counts as "creation." The protagonists bake at one point, and I feel like baking/cooking could count as creation? Especially considering babies being born counts as creation... I also think it would've been cool to learn how the world has developed without music, art, or fiction. Focusing on an FMC who is a woman in STEM is fine, but I just think it would've been interesting to explore other aspects of the worldbuilding more thoroughly.

Aurelie Blake is an inventor. Her passion is illegal, but that hasn't stopped her from pursuing her dreams of finding a purpose and changing the world...no matter the cost. Des is a member of the Iron Guard; he was orphaned by demons, and now his sole purpose in life is to hunt them down for revenge. When Aurelie is given the opportunity to create an invention that could very well secure her place in history, she takes it, but Des has been charged with watching her while her uncle is away, and he's not so sure she can be trusted. This reads as a younger YA for the most part, which isn't bad, but it was surprising considering how risqué some of the romance gets at times (fade to black, though). I would've probably enjoyed this more had a) the romance not been so over-the-top and b) the twists not been so predictable. The romance was very "hate to instalove" in the matter of a few chapters, and once we hit the actual romance phase, it felt like the plot was shoved aside in favor of kissing scenes. Some people might like that. I didn't. I guessed the plot twists fairly early on and didn't have many doubts regarding them, but I did enjoy collecting clues that proved my point. The twists are foreshadowed well...almost too well. The pacing was fine for the most part; there's a bit of action throughout that kept me entertained. The ending is more exciting, but it is fairly rushed, and it sets up for a tense sequel. I'm not sure that I'll read the sequel because I struggled to get through this one, but I do want to know what happens next, so we'll see what happens.

The biggest issue for me was the characters. As a short woman (I'm 5 feet exactly), please, for the love of all things holy, stop making half the FMCs out there petite just to make the height gap bigger. Some other reviews mentioned how repetitive the heights/sizes are in this book, but I didn't understand how bad it was until Aurelie's teeny-tininess was being mentioned every chapter, while Des was also beefy, muscular, and like, bigger than doorframes (that's how I'm picturing it, at least). To be fair, I was beefing with Aurelie pretty early on since she was hating on humanities students, and it only got worse as I realized how naive she was. One of my biggest bookish pet peeves is when characters who are supposed to be smart consistently make the dumbest decisions, and Aurelie felt like one of them. I really struggled to like her when she was overly oblivious about everything while simultaneously having a superiority complex. Again, I'm sure other people will relate to her, which is fine, but I struggled. I wanted to like Des, but he was overly grumpy and then did a 180 halfway through. I didn't mind him too much; I just thought he had more potential. The side characters were fine. I didn't have any strong feelings toward any of them. I completely misread Uncle Leo...that's my bad, y'all. If it weren't for the cast of characters, I probably would've liked this a lot more, but their personalities made this read feel 10x longer than it was.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake is the first book in a YA fantasy duology with blossoming romance, demons spawned from creativity, and the vibes of Laura E. Weymouth's Steel & Spellfire and Sophie Clark's Cruel is the Light.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.25/5


Bonus Thought (that will make sense to no one except me and literally one other person): of course I know him...I created him

[Elia · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DEMONIC INVENTIONS OF AURELIE BLAKE by Mara Rutherford is an upper Young Adult Fantasy dual POV novel set in a land where creation and invention spawns demons. It's the first in a duology. I requested this eARC because I've enjoyed everything I've ever read by this author. I really enjoyed my trip into this new world. The characters were original, flawed, yet honest, the dark academia setting totally my jam, and the enemies-to-lovers romance compelling. Before I gush on, I'll share the premise and setup.

In the village of Wisteria, there's been a curse kicked off long ago by one of two feuding royal brothers. If anyone in town creates or invents anything new and innovative, a demon is spawned. Aurelie Blake doesn't let that stop her from inventing, she's just careful to kill the demon before it can hurt anyone. Living a quiet life in her uncle's cottage after her parents died in a tragic accident, she knows that if she's caught by the Iron Guard, the police-like demon-hunters, she'll be arrested for breaking the law. Invention is part of her soul, she just has to be careful not to get caught. She has a laboratory in the university where she invents on the sly.

Des (Destrier) Whitlow was raised from infanthood by the Iron Guard after his parents were killed by demons. He's spent his entire life learning to hunt and destroy them and to arrest those guilty of conjuring and harboring them. He's great at what he does, but there's something missing from his life.

When a mysterious man offers Aurelie the opportunity to work on an invention that could change their world, she accepts the challenge. What follows is an adventure, action, romance that does, indeed change their world. Tune in and read to find out just how.

What I loved most:
- I'll start with Aurelie. She's such an original, interesting, smart, and yet flawed character. There's so much she's capable of, and I love that she's got confidence in herself and her abilities. She has her insecurities, like any person, and her vulnerable moments with Des were some of the highlights of this novel
- Des is the grumpy Iron Guard with a heart of gold. His life has only involved working to eliminate demons, and it's wonderful to see his evolution from grumpy, surly and judgy, to the supportive, protective, and open-minded foil to Aurelie.
- Kudos to the side characters in this novel. I adored Aurelie,'s best friend, Kiki who was supportive but also realistic about the dangers her friend was putting herself in. Daisy and Gareth in the Iron Guard were the found family that supported Des through his journey
- I'm so impressed by the unique and original magic system in this story. The runes, the demons, I feel like there's so much more to explore, which is why I'm glad there's another book to round out the series
- the enemies to lovers romance was a heated slow burn and when they finally get together is fire
- The descriptions and settings made this an immersive read. Such great vibes from the academic buildings, to the town of Wisteria.
- Mephisto was adorable and under my protection until further notice
- the villain of this book was revealed pretty early on, but it didn't mess with the momentum of the story. When at last his true nature is revealed, it's unsurprising but also a fantastic and fantastical moment. As all good writers do, Mara hinted at this person's identity and I was satisfied that I guessed it before the big reveal.

What didn't work:
- I'm sure this is a matter of preference, and this issue will likely be addressed in pass pages: there were a couple of places where this book got info-dumpy, especially when sharing the background of Wisteria. It may be owing to the fact that I was reading this book kind of late that I caught this small nit-picky issue.

THE DEMONIC INVENTIONS OF AURELIE BLAKE is a creative, original, and immersive read brimming with well-crafted characters, romance, a unique magic system, and a dark academia setting. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to purchase this fantastic novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins US for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

[Booksy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Every now and then, a person comes along who refuses to follow the rules, who decides that the laws don’t apply to them, that some things are worth fighting for. We call them criminals. They had a different name for those people. They called them rebels. Radicals. Revolutionaries. They broke societies, started wars. Sometimes they killed in the name of progress. Most people hated them. Very few celebrated them. But they are the ones who changed the world.”

This quote sums up this magnificent book. It isn't just Fantasy or sci-fi, its more than that. It takes you into a world which is deeply unsettling, where creation itself is treated like a sin, forcing us to imagine a world without it. We take building and inventing for granted, but what if it came at a price?

This isn’t just a story about magic or demons. It’s about fear. Fear of progress, fear of change, fear of what happens when people dare to imagine something more. Every invention in this world raises a demon, and that tension sits heavy on every page. You can feel it in the way curiosity is punished giving the rather famous quote "Curiosity killed the cat" a literal meaning, in the way brilliance is something to be hidden rather than celebrated.

Aurelie:
Aurelie is the kind of protagonist who doesn’t ask for permission to exist. She burns for knowledge, for creation, for something beyond the limits forced onto her by a society who deems women as less. And that fire makes her dangerous. Not in an obvious, destructive way, but in the quieter, more terrifying sense that she refuses to shrink herself. Inventing is what kept her going when she was faced with loneliness after she was orphaned and left in her Uncle's care. Watching her push against a world that wants to contain her was inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time because you know from the start that a world like this doesn’t let people like her go unscathed.

Des:
He feels like a wall. Controlled, rigid, unyielding, stubborn in his beliefs and haling duty above everything else. He takes it upon himself to rid of as many demons as possible who were the cause of his parents deaths. But slowly, almost painfully, you start to see the cracks. The weight he carries, the things he’s been forced to believe, the quiet conflict eating away at him.

The tension between Aurelie and Des isn’t explosive. It simmers. It lingers. It feels like two people standing on opposite sides of a line neither of them fully understands, and neither can quite walk away from. The enemies to lovers dynamic feels very fleshed out and genuine rather than forced. You will end up rooting for them and hoping to see their happily ever after (perhaps in a cottage, living a simpler life..)

Also, Mephisto, the cute little pet demon that Aurelie summoned by her first invention was a great addition. I kept hoping he would play a bigger role in the plot and hoping it will in the next installment. I simply adored him!

The pacing is slow, yes. But it’s the kind of slow that builds dread rather than boredom. You’re not just waiting for something to happen. You’re waiting for something to break.

What I loved most is how the story never lets you forget the cost of creation. It doesn’t romanticize it. It doesn’t make it easy. It asks uncomfortable questions about what we’re willing to risk for progress, and whether the world is ever truly ready for those who dare to change it.

Tropes:
● Enemies to Lovers
● Forbidden creations
● Slow burn
● Morally gray characters
● Oppressive society
● Secrets and lies
● Strong FMC
● Feminine Rage

Conclusion:
If you love quiet, atmospheric fantasy where magic comes with a cost, slow burn tension, and characters forced to choose between who they are and what the world allows them to be, this will stay with you long after the final page.

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC*

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mara Rutherford’s “The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake” marks a bold step into upper YA fantasy with a darkly imaginative, emotionally charged story that fuses steampunk aesthetics, forbidden creativity, and slow-burn romance into a world teetering on the edge of collapse. The story features a richly built setting, witty banter, and the lingering question of whether invention itself can be both a gift and a curse.

In the city of Wisteria, creativity is forbidden. Every new invention or artistic act risks spawning demons, which are creatures of chaos that threaten to unravel the fragile balance of society. Yet Aurelie Blake, a brilliant and defiant young inventor, can’t help but tinker in secret, crafting mechanical wonders in her attic workshop. Her latest creation: Mephisto, a mischievous little dragon demon who’s more adorable than dangerous. When her uncle’s mysterious associate, Everard, asks Aurelie to help him construct a demonic door, a device that could alter the fabric of their world, Aurelie is thrust into a dangerous web of secrets, science, and temptation.

Enter Destrier “Des” Whitlow, a stoic young soldier of the Iron Guard, raised to destroy demons after they took his parents’ lives. When Des catches Aurelie acting suspiciously, he’s ordered to watch her—a duty that soon spirals into something far more complicated. As their paths intertwine, Aurelie’s boundless curiosity clashes with Des’s rigid discipline, leading to a delightful enemies-to-lovers tension that evolves through witty sparring, mutual exasperation, and reluctant understanding.

Rutherford’s worldbuilding shines here. Wisteria feels both gothic and lived-in, a place where magic, science, and faith collide in eerie harmony. The idea that invention itself gives birth to demons is both fascinating and deeply symbolic, evoking modern anxieties about creativity, technology, and censorship.

That said, “The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake” isn’t without flaws. The pacing can be uneven where the first half drags a bit, especially before the plot’s central mystery takes shape, and it’s a bit tiresome with the repetitive mentions of Des’s size versus Aurelie’s “tiny” frame, which is, unfortunately, common in romantasy books. These details, while meant to heighten contrast, sometimes distract from the otherwise strong chemistry and character growth, and there is some insta-lust, which definitely doesn’t help. Still, the dual points of view keep the story dynamic, and Rutherford’s lyrical prose and keen emotional insight ensure the momentum never falters for long.

Aurelie herself is classic Rutherford. She is endearing, clever, and flawed, a heroine who questions authority and refuses to apologize for her intellect. Des, by contrast, brings humor and heart to the story with his dry wit and quiet vulnerability. Their dynamic, underscored by Rutherford’s knack for sharp dialogue, makes for some of the book’s best moments. And Mephisto, the tiny dragon-like demon, absolutely steals the show, adding warmth and levity to the otherwise shadowy tone.

Overall, “The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake” lays solid groundwork for what promises to be a thrilling duology. The final twist recontextualizes much of what came before, rewarding you with an ending that’s both surprising and deeply satisfying. Inventive, atmospheric, and thematically resonant, “The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake” is a story about the price of creation and the courage to imagine freely in a world that fears originality. Despite some pacing hiccups, it’s a beautifully written fantasy that balances romance, danger, and social commentary with skill.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

Aurelie is an inventor in a country where any new creation causes the birth of a demon. Des is a member of the order of demon hunters. When Aurelie accepts the challenge of creating a portal that will send all the demons back to where they came from, demons start following her, and Des is assigned to keep watch on her, not realizing he’s going to fall for her.

This was an interesting read that I think will appeal to fans of Dragon Age mage/templar romances, although Aurelie technically isn’t a magician herself. The concepts of the demon hunters in this series remind me a lot of the templars in Dragon Age. It will likely also interest fans of dark academia fantasy. It’s got more sexual content than is frequently in young adult romance, which is worth noting. It’s not full on erotica as it does fade to black at some point, but there is mention of contact with genitals and a lot of innuendos/longing. It’s also more kinky than a lot of YA out there. It’s some of the more mild kinks (praise kink, size kink) but there are probably a decent number of teenagers and their parents who would not want to read a book with any of that at all. Like some other readers, I did find the amount that Aurelie and Des’s size difference was emphasized to be excessive and somewhat annoying.

Another thing that keeps me from rating this book 5 stars is how stupid the characters are. I’m aware that characters in books have to make mistakes, but both of the POV characters are talking about how smart the other one is (especially Des about Aurelie) quite a lot for them to be making such stupid mistakes and yet still considered to be so smart. It even seems like Aurelie’s naivete and stupid decisions are rewarded at the end of the book, which doesn’t make any sense. The plot twist at the end of the book about the true identity of the villain was obvious to me, although it may not be to everyone.

The romance was a mixed bag for me as well. I like that this is a true enemies-to-lovers romance, not just two characters who annoy each other. It was fun, although it wasn’t exactly believable. It happened too fast for me. It didn’t seem like there was really much in-between between when they were enemies, and when they were suddenly making out. It wasn’t even supposed to be a hate make out either. They became so smitten with each other so fast.

The worldbuilding concept was really interesting, and I liked that the demons aren’t entirely non-sentient. It does make the morality of the book more complex, and Aurelie’s pet demon is really adorable.

This book ends on a cliffhanger, and seems to be book 1 of a duology. Bear that in mind when reading it if you don’t like cliffhangers.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake releases April 14 from HarperCollins Children’s Books. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins and Mara Rutherford for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

If you are a fan of romantasy and dark academia, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake needs to be on your radar! Combining the elements we love from both genres, this book starts a new duology off with a bang and is sure to leave readers needing book two.

In a world where every act of creation or invention summons a dangerous demon, being an inventor has high stakes; but Aurelie has never stopped chasing her inventing dreams. She just keeps her creations small, so she can kill the demons before they cause havoc and expose her secret work. When a mysterious man asks for her help creating something new and huge, she knows this is her chance to do something special and agrees. But when a demon hunter named Destrier starts investigating, they clash…and sparks fly. As they both grapple with their wildly different priorities and the almost inevitable attraction between them, a dark force is at work in the background; and by the time Aurelie realizes what she’s made, it may be too late.

There was a lot I loved about this book, and a few things that didn’t really work for me. My favorite part was the premise of creative acts summoning demons; I thought that was a wildly creative idea that built the bones for a great and unique story. I also loved the atmosphere and tone; the author infused the story with wonderfully magical dark-academia vibes that made me feel transported directly into the book. Though I loved the premise and the story atmosphere, I found myself struggling with the characters, especially Aurelie; she struck me as very naïve and often self-centered. It’s not abnormal for the main characters in a dark academia book to have these traits, or even to be completely unlikable; but I didn’t feel that Aurelie’s inner life was explored enough to make the more negative traits interesting. I also didn’t feel that there was enough development in the romantic relationship between Aurelie & Destrier; as two people with completely opposing life views, I felt their relationship would need more time and effort to become romantic. While the characters and relationship didn’t completely work for me, I think readers who enjoy unique FMCs who don’t fit into the normal genre box will love Aurelie, and that readers who like their romances to move a little more quickly will enjoy the main relationship as well.

Overall, I enjoyed The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake, and I will definitely be reading book two (I have to after that ending)! I would recommend this book to readers who love unique fantasy worlds, enemies to lovers, and magical dark-academia vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins for the digital arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.

[Sophia Dyer • bookishly.vintage · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Mara Rutherford had me clicking request before I even read what the book was about! The Poison Season is one of my all time favorites, so I am down to read anything she writes. Then I read the synopsis, and I was intrigued. A world with no inventions, because that creates demons?! Now THAT is a dystopian I can get behind.

However, I feel like that part of the story was so underexplored. There were mentions about how Wisteria is "stuck" but I feel like this could have been explored so much more. Instead, this book feels like a 50/50 split between romance and the "problem" the character is trying to solve.

Then I thought this would have a sequel, but then maybe a standalone, but maybe there will be a sequel?? Hard to tell, with the book not even being out yet. I feel like there will be a sequel, because there's not a "perfect" HEA and so many questions at the end of the book.

The romance is sweet, and it's something I clocked from the start. The two care about each other but don't really try to hide it, and there's no real miscommunication or third act breakup between them. They both try to protect and better each other, and I liked the motley crew they formed near the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, even if I wanted some more of the world building aspects. Rutherford has a way of pulling me into the story and creating unique characters you can't help but to root for. I am excited to read A Curious Kind of Magic next on my list, and to see what she does after this one!
Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings: violence, murder, loss of a loved one, body gore, blood, cursing, sexual content (fade to black)

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having enjoyed nearly all of the other books by Mara Rutherford that I’ve read, I was excited to get my eyes on The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake. However, this one ended up falling a bit flat for me.

Everything felt a bit lackluster. With the setup of such an intriguing world, in which the act of inventing/creating spawns a demon, one would think there would be quite a lot of demons running around. I think we got four. Five? Maybe six. It wasn’t in double digits, I can tell you that much. I know that creating has been outlawed, but I think the world's rules were a little confusing to me. From what I gathered, it’s the act of creating/inventing something new that causes the demons to spawn, but I don’t recall that that was outright stated, so doesn’t that mean that cooking anything should be an act of creation? Growing a plant? Production (no, the product idea isn’t new, but the product itself is)? A demon spawns when humans have a baby, so does that mean one spawns when animals do? You can’t draw, because that makes a picture, so how can you write anything, because that creates a new thing to read, even if it’s just a note? You probably get the picture. Maybe I’m being too particular, but in my mind, what counts and what doesn’t just doesn’t make sense. I wanted clearer rules. The idea was there, but I wasn’t convinced of the execution.

As for our main characters, if I have to read one more time about how tiny Aurelie is, or how big Des is, I think I will commit a crime. The continual repetition was unnecessary and, frankly, irritating. I promise I haven't forgotten their size difference in the three pages I’ve read since it was last mentioned. Aurelie was also irritating. For someone who’s supposed to be so smart, she was not particularly bright. It’s said that there’s a difference between book smart and street smart, and Aurelie had a bit of the first and pretty much none of the second. That’s probably why the creepy guy picked her to make the “invention” in the first place: she’s the only one dumb enough not to question him. That was kind of mean. I’m sorry.

The romance between Des and Aurelie was pretty much insta-lust, and I’m not convinced that it ever moved beyond that. Des hates her because he’s convinced she’s putting everyone in danger by inventing things (she is), but he can’t help but be unbelievably attracted to her. I do appreciate that he struggles with it for a time, but once he gives in? All bets were off. But again, beyond their attraction to each other, I firmly believe there were no other real feelings there. To quote The Swan Princess, “Is beauty all that matters to you? … What else is there?” That’s the depth I was getting from these two, though thankfully neither was offended by the other asking, “What else is there?” So maybe they are the perfect match for each other.

The other characters were interesting, but they weren’t seen a lot, and I can’t say they were particularly memorable. The Big Bad was a pretty cookie-cutter Big Bad. The plot was more focused on romance than inventing, which was disappointing. The world-building was adequate, but I had too many questions.

Everything just kind of … was, if that makes sense. The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake was fine, but I don’t think that I’ll be continuing with the series. There just wasn’t enough to convince me to read the next book.

I received an advanced copy of The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the initial concept of this story. Creating and inventing new things unintentionally calls forth demons that can wreak havoc because of a curse placed on the kingdom? Add in a strong-spirited, curious young woman who values the sciences and joy of inventing, and it has all the recipe ingredients to grab readers' attention.

Unfortunately, there are some pretty large detractions that made it harder to fully enjoy the story. First and foremost, the plot is dragged along by forcing long sections of our MC Aurelie to waffle between staying true to her inventing heart despite the danger of the new creation she's forced to work on and deciding that for once in her life others are more important than the spark of invention she craves. While it helps build Aurelie's character growth, the entire book has her wobbling between the two without fully committing to one or the other in order to add tension.

Secondly, the almost insta-romance (bordering on insta-lust) that occurs between Aurelie and Destrier. There are many, many mentions of how petite and small Aurelie is and how large and manly Des is, and this type of repetition gets old fast. There must be some other dynamics in play to interest readers into their romantic dalliance that hopes to grow into something more.

The idea that different inventions/thoughts can spawn different types of demons was interesting, but after the initial explanation, we really only get to see a select few of demons throughout the story. It would be nice to see more incidents with the Iron Guard in showcasing how destructive demons can be, especially in juxtaposition to the sweet, little Mephistos (Aurelie's demonic pet).

Overall, the ideas of a great story are here with a sequel set to continue the plot; hopefully the plot is faster-paced and more engaging than the first book.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher HarperCollins for allowing me an eARC to read and review.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll sell my soul for book two, because that cliffhanger was absolutely bonkers.

The bones of this world are cookie-cutter romantasy: spunky protagonist wants to change the world by doing something outlawed long ago for vague and suspicious reasons, so she goes against the rules and runs into a handsome guy who hates everything she stands for but finds her physically attractive and mentally appealing. I do love the idea that new inventions spawn demons - it sparks discussion on how easily history can be rewritten and used to suppress creativity and progress, and also pushes the reader to question whether they would be bold enough to try improving their world if the cost was potentially their (or others’) life.

I did like Aurelie and Des as characters, but there were a few moments I had to swallow my cringe; namely, how frequently their sizes were brought into it. Aurelie’s diminutive, adorable stature was constantly brought up - how petite she is, how fragile she looks (and how sexy Des finds that). Meanwhile, Aurelie focuses on how huge and looming Des is, and Des himself refers to his massive frame often. I grow weary of Thumbelina FMCs and Adonis MMCs. I am just as attentive to the story if the love interests are only separated by an inch or two.

I think that Aurelie is a prime example of excessive book smarts and zero street smarts. Give her a science experiment and she’ll complete it to perfection. Ask her if she checked beforehand whether said science experiment could cause a demon apocalypse…well, she was too excited to gain new knowledge for that. I still think she’s a great protagonist, but she is painfully naïve in places - and faces the well-deserved consequences for it. Because of that, I have hope she’ll be more cautious in book two, especially with what’s at stake.

All in all, I think TDIoAB is a great YA dark romantasy, and readers will be just as hungry for the sequel as I am.

[Rachel Feeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s not a lot of…inventing?

Most of the tinkering happens in the opening chapters, where Aurelie firmly establishes herself as a sleep-deprived student and happy recluse, prepared to handle little demons that might result from her quirky little inventions that are supposed to make life better. Des stomps onto the scene, an efficient demon hunter with a prickly exterior and a cloud of dour thoughts (for example, labeling having children as irrational since it also spawns demons? Yeah, that’s dark). One major theme is the push and pull between progress and security (or stagnation): “She knew better than anyone that progress was not a straight path; it featured all the topography of an uncharted world, and all the promise. And it required a person like Aurelie to brave it.”

Intriguing stuff, but discussion of personal or societal need for creation soon fades out, and the Big Conclusions are mainly Aurelie discovering that what was a bad idea was in fact a very bad idea, and Des deciding that he can think about the ethics later because he’s just really down bad for her. Expect an introspective plot, with lore reveals, clandestine coffee outings, subtle and unsubtle stalking, secrets, and blackmail.

While I was a bit underwhelmed, folks looking for a cozy/spooky romance will have fun with this mutually prickly duo, brooding atmosphere, and lingering looks.

Other things of note:
- Height diff couple
- Sidekicks who roll their eyes and get all the work done themselves
- Gareth the wholesome child (teen) recruit
- “Not my type” - boy, please, you tripped, and fell, and never looked back

Content corner: swearing, fade to black

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

[LL Garland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aurelie Blake is an inventor, but she must work in secret because invention has been outlawed in Wisteria. Every act of creation conjures a demon. When she’s approached by a shadowy figure with a risky proposition for a new invention, Aurelie lets her pride override her doubts. Unfortunately, she’s also drawn the attention of Des, a determined (and handsome) member of the Iron Guard, Wisteria’s protectors against the demons and those who conjure them.

I had to force myself to finish The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake. The narrative was heavy on the will they/won’t they, light on demons, and left the inventions all but neglected. Unfortunately, that ratio never improved. The one ‘invention’ at the center of the plot was just something Aurelie built to someone else’s specifications. I wish we’d seen more of Aurelie’s ingenuity rather than another scene between her and Des. Granted, I don’t read much romance, but this one lacked spark to me. Every time they met, the author took great pains to remind us how tiny the heroine is compared to her giant, hulking love interest. Honestly, that’s a stale trope I can do without. I wish more care had gone into making me, the reader, like these characters than trying to convince me they liked each other. Character development was sorely lacking. By the time the book ended I didn’t care what happened to them, which was fine because most of the plot was left unresolved leading into book two. I will not be taking a second trip to Wisteria.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.

[Danita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All opinions are completely my own.

I'm so conflicted about this book... I enjoyed the first 75-80% of it and considered it a pretty solid 4 star read. But as I got closer to the end, I started to get frustrated with the direction things were going. The premise of demons appearing whenever something was created was unique, and I was curious to learn more about it. But at times I ended up feeling a bit confused by it and how it all came to be. The romance had tension and I was liking it, but then it started to feel like it was just moving way too fast, with Aurelie and Des acting in ways that didn't seem to line up with what we knew of their characters previously. Honestly, I started to question what they saw in each other beyond a physical attraction. And speaking of out of character, there's so much emphasis about Aurelie being really smart, yet sometimes she was frustratingly oblivious. There's a pretty big reveal toward the end, which I had figured out long before that, and I found it hard to believe that Aurelie didn't. Meanwhile, I had other questions that I was hoping to finally see explained, but they never were. I know this is the start of a series, so I'm not surprised that it leaves off with a bit of a cliffhanger and things still left to explore, but I was left underwhelmed enough with the ending that I'm not sure if I'll continue on. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad book that I had a hard time finishing or anything like that. I guess it just didn't quite go in the direction I was hoping it would.

[Sam Rude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was compulsively readable, although some characters (cough cough Aurelie) had me shaking my head with exasperation at points, I found I could not put this book down. While Aurelie is sometimes willfully naive I do get her frustration of not only being stuck in the box of what society expects for a young woman but also stuck in a society where any kind of invention or innovation is banded due to demons. That kind of forced stagnation would likely convince a lot of people (myself included) to do something risky if it has a chance to make some real changes.

The romance between Aurelie and Des is sweet although I quickly got tired of the “she’s so tiny”/“he’s so tall” thing. And while the more romantic scenes are fade-to-black (or closed door) what’s around them is probably too explicit for the “children’s fiction” tag I’ve seen on this book. The demons aren’t scary but they do result in a fair amount of maiming and death.

Overall I don’t think you’d have a bad time with this book I certainly found it engaging and will definitely be picking up the a sequel when it comes along. Raising a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.