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Demonic Cage
THE LINE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS EVEN MORE BLURRED WHEN THE DEMON KING IS SO ENTICING.
"I should have gone with the angels..."
Lotte, a twenty-two-year-old girl addicted to prescription drugs, has battled nightmares her whole life. On the anniversary of her brother’s death, she decides not to take her meds anymore, and everything changes. The nightmares become real; angels and demons detect the scent of her special blood and begin to hunt her.
Lotte falls captive in the realm of the irresistibly attractive Demon King, Darya, who intends to use her to open the Gate of Hell. Lotte is determined to do the right thing but resisting the demon’s seduction becomes increasingly difficult. Darya’s cruel game threatens to break not only her body but also her soul.
Time is running out for her to pick a side. But which one? How can a girl, recently released from a psychiatric ward, whose decisions are overshadowed by grief, self-loathing, and an unstoppable passion for the Demon King, choose?
Adèle Dan's debut novel is a dark, spicy fantasy based on Greek mythology that addresses both the pain of unresolved trauma and the blurred lines between hell and heaven.
Already a bestseller in Hungary, this is the first book in a four-part series featuring forbidden desires, morally grey villains and wicked betrayals. It's perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Laura Thalassa, and Carissa Broadbent. The book ends on a cliffhanger and contains mature themes.
"I should have gone with the angels..."
Lotte, a twenty-two-year-old girl addicted to prescription drugs, has battled nightmares her whole life. On the anniversary of her brother’s death, she decides not to take her meds anymore, and everything changes. The nightmares become real; angels and demons detect the scent of her special blood and begin to hunt her.
Lotte falls captive in the realm of the irresistibly attractive Demon King, Darya, who intends to use her to open the Gate of Hell. Lotte is determined to do the right thing but resisting the demon’s seduction becomes increasingly difficult. Darya’s cruel game threatens to break not only her body but also her soul.
Time is running out for her to pick a side. But which one? How can a girl, recently released from a psychiatric ward, whose decisions are overshadowed by grief, self-loathing, and an unstoppable passion for the Demon King, choose?
Adèle Dan's debut novel is a dark, spicy fantasy based on Greek mythology that addresses both the pain of unresolved trauma and the blurred lines between hell and heaven.
Already a bestseller in Hungary, this is the first book in a four-part series featuring forbidden desires, morally grey villains and wicked betrayals. It's perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Laura Thalassa, and Carissa Broadbent. The book ends on a cliffhanger and contains mature themes.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
October 22, 2025
This is the first book in a new dark fantasy romance series and I gotta warn you guys it’s DARK and full of morally grey characters 👀
I was entirely absorbed while reading, the pacing is quite fast put together with an action packed world where angels and Demons collide✨ I did find sometimes the dialogues confusing and a bit cringe, but I think that’s because it was originally in another language and translated to English.
It follows Lotte, a mortal woman who has always been having terrible nightmares and hallucinations of monsters… until she discovers they are very real. She ends up taken by winged beings and discover that she has both the blood of angels and demons running through her veins. She must choose a side, but the Demon King is hard to resist… 😈
What you can expect:
🖤morally grey characters
🖤mental health rep
🖤angels VS demons
🖤enemies to lovers
🖤taken by the Demon King
🖤Greek mythology
🖤spicy
I was entirely absorbed while reading, the pacing is quite fast put together with an action packed world where angels and Demons collide✨ I did find sometimes the dialogues confusing and a bit cringe, but I think that’s because it was originally in another language and translated to English.
It follows Lotte, a mortal woman who has always been having terrible nightmares and hallucinations of monsters… until she discovers they are very real. She ends up taken by winged beings and discover that she has both the blood of angels and demons running through her veins. She must choose a side, but the Demon King is hard to resist… 😈
What you can expect:
🖤morally grey characters
🖤mental health rep
🖤angels VS demons
🖤enemies to lovers
🖤taken by the Demon King
🖤Greek mythology
🖤spicy
June 19, 2025
I read this book in Hungarian and really enjoyed it – it reignited my love for reading. I especially loved the world-building, the characters, and most of all the dark romance aspect. The second book is even more thrilling than the first. I can only recommend it – if you're looking for something new or you enjoy dark fantasy, you have to read it.
October 27, 2025
Demons vs Angels?! Yes please!
-Dark romantasy
-Enemies to lovers (kind of? Still not sure about our MMC- now that’s an enemy LOL)
-Betrayal
-Greek mythology
-Captured by the Demon King
-Spice
This story was dark, mysterious, crazy at times so much so that had me thinking what HECK is going on- there was tension and spice and to top it all off a cliffhanger that had me going, WHAT?!?!
Weaving a story about heaven vs hell, and Lotte thrown inbetween the two trying to decide which is the right side.
I flew through this in one day, I was completely captivated by the darker aspects, as well as the mental health rep throughout and what our FMC has to go through. This story was dark, so PLEASE check the warnings.
I HIGHLY recommend for any dark romance or dark romantasy lovers!
-Dark romantasy
-Enemies to lovers (kind of? Still not sure about our MMC- now that’s an enemy LOL)
-Betrayal
-Greek mythology
-Captured by the Demon King
-Spice
This story was dark, mysterious, crazy at times so much so that had me thinking what HECK is going on- there was tension and spice and to top it all off a cliffhanger that had me going, WHAT?!?!
Weaving a story about heaven vs hell, and Lotte thrown inbetween the two trying to decide which is the right side.
I flew through this in one day, I was completely captivated by the darker aspects, as well as the mental health rep throughout and what our FMC has to go through. This story was dark, so PLEASE check the warnings.
I HIGHLY recommend for any dark romance or dark romantasy lovers!
April 28, 2026
[4⭐️]
~ thank you to the nerd fam for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!!
i haven’t read many dark fantasy romances before, so i was very excited to get into this one. and i was pleasantly surprised. not because i was expecting it to be bad or anything but purely because ive not seen or heard anything about this book before. i really enjoyed our fmc lotties character development, and am looking forwards to her continued growth in the 2nd book (which yes, i of course will be reading). and darya, loved him!! he literally a demon, what more is there to say. there were some parts of the dialogue/writing that i found a little cringe, but not enough to affect my reading experience. i also learned that it was originally written in hungarian and then translated over, so that could totally be why. also that ending was so good, and a perfect way to get you to want to continue with the series. i would for sure recommend picking this book up.
~ thank you to the nerd fam for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!!
i haven’t read many dark fantasy romances before, so i was very excited to get into this one. and i was pleasantly surprised. not because i was expecting it to be bad or anything but purely because ive not seen or heard anything about this book before. i really enjoyed our fmc lotties character development, and am looking forwards to her continued growth in the 2nd book (which yes, i of course will be reading). and darya, loved him!! he literally a demon, what more is there to say. there were some parts of the dialogue/writing that i found a little cringe, but not enough to affect my reading experience. i also learned that it was originally written in hungarian and then translated over, so that could totally be why. also that ending was so good, and a perfect way to get you to want to continue with the series. i would for sure recommend picking this book up.
April 28, 2026
This book was fabulous. It had all my favorite things such as morally gray men, good versus evil,demons and angels! I love the main characters and the side characters as well. This was loosely based on Greek mythology. I loved the demon king and Lottie being 22 recovering addict how she must choose what side she wants to go with. I loved all the paranormal aspects of the book. It was so interesting such a unique storyline. I will definitely be reading more from this author if you’re into dark intense reads with paranormal features I would definitely recommend this book to you
April 27, 2026
High stakes tension meets dark romance.
The chemistry between the leads doesn’t just simmer—it burns the page down.
The plot is unpredictable and addictive. If you’re looking for a dark romance that pushes boundaries and leaves you breathless, this is it.
I’m still reeling from that ending. Truly haunting and impossible to put down.
The chemistry between the leads doesn’t just simmer—it burns the page down.
The plot is unpredictable and addictive. If you’re looking for a dark romance that pushes boundaries and leaves you breathless, this is it.
I’m still reeling from that ending. Truly haunting and impossible to put down.
November 16, 2025
Oh, to choose between being an angel or a demon.
Demonic Cage is the first book in a dark spicy enemies to lovers romantasy with angels and demons and a human girl who is torn between the two. This book was originally published in Hungary, where it became a bestseller. A much deserved title if you ask me.
The story follows 22 year old Lottie, who has developed an addiction to the medication she’s been getting most of her life once she started seeing monsters. On the anniversary of her brother’s death, she decides not to take her meds, and everything changes. Angels and demons are now able to detect her half-angel-half-demon blood and begin to hunt her. She’s taken captive by the Demon King, Darya, who plans to use her to open the Gate of Hell. Lottie is determined to defy him, but resisting her attraction and his intoxicating desire for her is difficult.
I’m a huge fan of stories with angels and demons, therefore I had a great time reading this book. The premise is interesting, with Lottie having both angel and demon blood and thus being coveted by both. I loved that she gets to choose her destiny.
What I love about the characters in this book is that there is no clear good guy or bad guy. They’re all very morally gray, but even so I enjoyed the wickedness of the demons. Especially Darya. I wasn’t sure if I could trust him or if he was just using Lottie, but goodness, did I love their interactions.
Here are some tropes!
⛓️💥 captor/captive
⚔️ enemies to lovers
🪽 angels vs demons
🏛️ Greek mythology
🌶️ spicy
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Demonic Cage is the first book in a dark spicy enemies to lovers romantasy with angels and demons and a human girl who is torn between the two. This book was originally published in Hungary, where it became a bestseller. A much deserved title if you ask me.
The story follows 22 year old Lottie, who has developed an addiction to the medication she’s been getting most of her life once she started seeing monsters. On the anniversary of her brother’s death, she decides not to take her meds, and everything changes. Angels and demons are now able to detect her half-angel-half-demon blood and begin to hunt her. She’s taken captive by the Demon King, Darya, who plans to use her to open the Gate of Hell. Lottie is determined to defy him, but resisting her attraction and his intoxicating desire for her is difficult.
I’m a huge fan of stories with angels and demons, therefore I had a great time reading this book. The premise is interesting, with Lottie having both angel and demon blood and thus being coveted by both. I loved that she gets to choose her destiny.
What I love about the characters in this book is that there is no clear good guy or bad guy. They’re all very morally gray, but even so I enjoyed the wickedness of the demons. Especially Darya. I wasn’t sure if I could trust him or if he was just using Lottie, but goodness, did I love their interactions.
Here are some tropes!
⛓️💥 captor/captive
⚔️ enemies to lovers
🪽 angels vs demons
🏛️ Greek mythology
🌶️ spicy
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
May 6, 2026
Demonic Cage
Omg Lotte is everything. I absolutely love the way Hell, Heaven and Earth were use to make this storyline happen. The way they were twist to fit with each other absolutely rock! It’s a nice change of pace and not the same storyline over and over again.
Lotte is a special human who has to decide which door to open. She is bait between Hell and Heaven. She left Earth to avoid being locked away and landed on another cage. She is so stubborn that it is frustrating, she cannot make up her mind. The Demon King is to die for !! If I was Lotte, I would have thrown myself to him long time ago. The Greek mythology reference makes the characters stand out and allowing the story to come alive. The author did a great job at allowing us to clearly be part of the story and not making it too complex with weird names one cannot pronounce or remember.
For those who are into demons, angels, Greek mythology, emotional grief, dark romance, and family loss this book is for you !!
Cannot wait for the second part :)
Omg Lotte is everything. I absolutely love the way Hell, Heaven and Earth were use to make this storyline happen. The way they were twist to fit with each other absolutely rock! It’s a nice change of pace and not the same storyline over and over again.
Lotte is a special human who has to decide which door to open. She is bait between Hell and Heaven. She left Earth to avoid being locked away and landed on another cage. She is so stubborn that it is frustrating, she cannot make up her mind. The Demon King is to die for !! If I was Lotte, I would have thrown myself to him long time ago. The Greek mythology reference makes the characters stand out and allowing the story to come alive. The author did a great job at allowing us to clearly be part of the story and not making it too complex with weird names one cannot pronounce or remember.
For those who are into demons, angels, Greek mythology, emotional grief, dark romance, and family loss this book is for you !!
Cannot wait for the second part :)
May 3, 2026
(3.5 or 3.75 🌟)
I received this book as an ARC from The Nerd Fam, thanks
Overall it's a story that I really enjoyed
The side characters, the plot, the mythology, ...
Darya, this morally gret character that even when he do bad stuff you can stop liking.I loved him 🤭
Once I started reading, I wanted more, I was so much into what was happening, that I know for sure I want to continue with book 2
But for me, the thing that made me not loved it as much as I wanted, was Lotte, the main character, I didn't connect with her at all.
I understand why she is like this, why she does what she does, I get it, but I was so annoyed with her, and her decisions.
It can, one hundred percent, be a ME thing, probably. But... I don't know, I can't figure out why I felt like that about Lotte.
Still as I said, I would love to give it another chance to book 2, I have a feeling that I'll enjoy it more, hopefully.
I received this book as an ARC from The Nerd Fam, thanks
Overall it's a story that I really enjoyed
The side characters, the plot, the mythology, ...
Darya, this morally gret character that even when he do bad stuff you can stop liking.I loved him 🤭
Once I started reading, I wanted more, I was so much into what was happening, that I know for sure I want to continue with book 2
But for me, the thing that made me not loved it as much as I wanted, was Lotte, the main character, I didn't connect with her at all.
I understand why she is like this, why she does what she does, I get it, but I was so annoyed with her, and her decisions.
It can, one hundred percent, be a ME thing, probably. But... I don't know, I can't figure out why I felt like that about Lotte.
Still as I said, I would love to give it another chance to book 2, I have a feeling that I'll enjoy it more, hopefully.
April 30, 2026
This one had such an intriguing setup, and I really wanted to connect with it. The darker angel/demon mythology and morally gray tone immediately caught my attention 😈✨
The story followed Lotte, a 22-year-old dealing with addiction, grief, and long-standing nightmares. When she stopped taking her medication on the anniversary of her brother’s death, those nightmares began to bleed into reality 💊💔 Suddenly, angels and demons were hunting her because of her rare blood, and she found herself taken into the realm of the Demon King, Darya.
Darya was definitely one of the more compelling aspects of the book—cruel, manipulative, and undeniably magnetic 🖤👑 His intention to use Lotte to open the Gate of Hell created an interesting tension, especially as Lotte struggled between doing what she believed was right and the pull she felt toward him.
I also appreciated the themes the story tried to explore. Lotte’s grief, self-loathing, and emotional turmoil added depth to her character, and there were moments where her internal conflict came through clearly 💔
However, I did find myself feeling disconnected for most of the book.
At times, the writing felt a bit awkward, and I wondered if this might be due to translation. The phrasing occasionally pulled me out of the story, which made it difficult to stay immersed. I could sense a more engaging story underneath, but I wasn’t able to fully connect with it as written.
Because of that, my attention drifted quite a bit, even though the core ideas were interesting. I kept hoping it would click for me, but it never quite did.
✨ This might work for readers who enjoy:
😈 Morally gray demon kings
🪽 Angels vs demons dynamics
🔥 Dark, slightly spicy fantasy
💔 Emotionally heavy themes (grief, trauma)
⚖️ Stories where good and evil blur together
Overall, this had a lot of elements I usually enjoy, and I can see the potential in the story and concept. While it wasn’t the right fit for me, I think readers who enjoy darker, mood-driven fantasy might have a different experience with it 🖤
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for the ARC opportunity ✨
The story followed Lotte, a 22-year-old dealing with addiction, grief, and long-standing nightmares. When she stopped taking her medication on the anniversary of her brother’s death, those nightmares began to bleed into reality 💊💔 Suddenly, angels and demons were hunting her because of her rare blood, and she found herself taken into the realm of the Demon King, Darya.
Darya was definitely one of the more compelling aspects of the book—cruel, manipulative, and undeniably magnetic 🖤👑 His intention to use Lotte to open the Gate of Hell created an interesting tension, especially as Lotte struggled between doing what she believed was right and the pull she felt toward him.
I also appreciated the themes the story tried to explore. Lotte’s grief, self-loathing, and emotional turmoil added depth to her character, and there were moments where her internal conflict came through clearly 💔
However, I did find myself feeling disconnected for most of the book.
At times, the writing felt a bit awkward, and I wondered if this might be due to translation. The phrasing occasionally pulled me out of the story, which made it difficult to stay immersed. I could sense a more engaging story underneath, but I wasn’t able to fully connect with it as written.
Because of that, my attention drifted quite a bit, even though the core ideas were interesting. I kept hoping it would click for me, but it never quite did.
✨ This might work for readers who enjoy:
😈 Morally gray demon kings
🪽 Angels vs demons dynamics
🔥 Dark, slightly spicy fantasy
💔 Emotionally heavy themes (grief, trauma)
⚖️ Stories where good and evil blur together
Overall, this had a lot of elements I usually enjoy, and I can see the potential in the story and concept. While it wasn’t the right fit for me, I think readers who enjoy darker, mood-driven fantasy might have a different experience with it 🖤
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for the ARC opportunity ✨
May 2, 2026
I LOVE it when a cliffhanger has me stunned AND happily surprised AND eager to read the next book asap, and this book delivered on that! It was dark and spicy and wicked, with a very interesting premise. There are some really heavy things in this book and Lotte goes through A LOT. I appreciated the focus on mental health. Darya, the Demon King MMC, is definitely a morally grey, hot, toxic in every way, conflicting character I’m unsure if I love or hate yet, so I will definitely be reading the next story.
Thank you to the NerdFam for the gifted book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to the NerdFam for the gifted book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 27, 2026
3 stars. This one had such an interesting premise and I was really drawn in by the darker angel/demon mythology and morally gray setup. I kept wondering, though, if some of my disconnect came from the translation. At times the sentence structure felt awkward or unnatural, and it pulled me out of the story when I wanted to be immersed. There were moments where I could feel the story I wanted to be reading underneath the phrasing, which made me think I may have connected more with it in its original language. Still, the concept was compelling enough that I’m curious about the series.
May 5, 2026
While I can see why others enjoyed this book, it wasn’t for me. I felt super disconnected to the story and characters and honestly felt confused at times. I know this is a translated book so maybe some of the disconnect was due to this! The book had an interesting plot and a fun array of creatures but sadly just didn’t hit for me. Thanks to The Nerd Fam for my copy!
April 29, 2026
This was a pretty good book. It started a little slow, but then took right off. I loved the war between the angels and demons. Her blood being the key. This was dark and spicy, a page turner for sure. Some of the translation was a little off, but not enough to deter me. I really liked this one.
April 20, 2026
Angels, demons, enemies to lovers and spice!! What more could you want?!
I really enjoyed this. Looking forward to book two once it’s translated
I really enjoyed this. Looking forward to book two once it’s translated
October 24, 2025
*gifted*
I’m obsessed with this book and I need more😭!! It was very captivating, it triggered so many emotions, frustrations, and moments of contemplation.
Lotte is put in a hard position, she must choose between the angels and demons, but it’s not so simple and both sides have a strong pull on her.
What I enjoyed the most was Lotte’s transformation, from someone who depended on medication to function she became a fighter and a survivor. Even though she still struggles and well is not the most reliable in actions😄 she definitely became stronger.
The love interest in this book, Darya, the demon king, is obviously toxic and Lotte sees this, but as much as she hates him she still desires him. I liked the“ I hate him. I hate him. I hate him” moments 😅 I could feel her hatred and her pull towards him at the same time!
The end of the book had me 🫣😬😱😨😮💨🫠 I need the second one so much!!
I think this book is also a great read for this season due to the darker atmosphere with demons and the action taking place in their world.
The story is so spicy, full of tension, and desire, and impossible to put down! I loooved it and I recommend it if spicy dark fantasy with angels and demons is your thing!🌶️🖤😈
Thank you to MTMC Tours and the authors for the review copy! All thoughts are my own.
I’m obsessed with this book and I need more😭!! It was very captivating, it triggered so many emotions, frustrations, and moments of contemplation.
Lotte is put in a hard position, she must choose between the angels and demons, but it’s not so simple and both sides have a strong pull on her.
What I enjoyed the most was Lotte’s transformation, from someone who depended on medication to function she became a fighter and a survivor. Even though she still struggles and well is not the most reliable in actions😄 she definitely became stronger.
The love interest in this book, Darya, the demon king, is obviously toxic and Lotte sees this, but as much as she hates him she still desires him. I liked the“ I hate him. I hate him. I hate him” moments 😅 I could feel her hatred and her pull towards him at the same time!
The end of the book had me 🫣😬😱😨😮💨🫠 I need the second one so much!!
I think this book is also a great read for this season due to the darker atmosphere with demons and the action taking place in their world.
The story is so spicy, full of tension, and desire, and impossible to put down! I loooved it and I recommend it if spicy dark fantasy with angels and demons is your thing!🌶️🖤😈
Thank you to MTMC Tours and the authors for the review copy! All thoughts are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2025
This one was fine. Not great, not terrible. The story itself was interesting enough with angels and demons at war, heaven and hell in constant tension, and one mortal girl caught between the two.
Once the plot picked up, it became a fast-paced and entertaining read, but the writing felt choppy at times (I suspect that’s partly due to translation since I think the original was in Hungarian). The sentence structure often felt awkward and occasionally made the story hard to follow.
The romance and spice were fun, though a bit uneven. The first spicy scene was definitely the best, and the rest were fine but didn’t add much emotional depth. The ending sets up the next book with a solid cliffhanger, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll continue.
Overall, it’s a decent dark romantasy premise with potential, but it didn’t fully come together for me.
Once the plot picked up, it became a fast-paced and entertaining read, but the writing felt choppy at times (I suspect that’s partly due to translation since I think the original was in Hungarian). The sentence structure often felt awkward and occasionally made the story hard to follow.
The romance and spice were fun, though a bit uneven. The first spicy scene was definitely the best, and the rest were fine but didn’t add much emotional depth. The ending sets up the next book with a solid cliffhanger, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll continue.
Overall, it’s a decent dark romantasy premise with potential, but it didn’t fully come together for me.
April 29, 2026
I don’t usually (and by usually I mean never) read books this dark, but the whole having to choose between angels and demons piqued my interest so I figured, why not? For the full review, check out the Goodreads link in my bio.
Main thing you need to know before picking up this book: it’s translated from its original Hungarian. This is important because I feel that not so much is the plot lost in translation, but the experience is. It took me about ten chapters before I remembered this fact, and the writing all made sense after that. A lot of descriptions and emotions are repeated. All clothing terms are basically interchangeable, and characters have upwards of five hands. They actually only have two, the scenes are just written such that they’re clutching a neck and a thigh and a knife while reaching for a chalice and you have to go back and reread and yep, they’re holding too many things at once and now they’re rising to stand, but they were already standing and if that was rough to read then you’re prepared for the experience of reading “Demonic Cage”. I spent a lot of time pulled from the story, having to go back and reread to make sure I had the story right, or tripping over clunky sentences that were ordered poorly. It wasn’t annoying so much in the ugh, grammar 🙄 sort of way as it was a bummer because full immersion into the story was impossible. The reading experience was like being in a theatre with a crying baby: you can never lose yourself in the story because there’s a constant reminder that you’re outside of it.
That being said, plot-wise it’s entirely satisfactory. It’s a dark romantasy so ye be warned there is a lot of blood and torture, both physical and mental, and the sex almost isn’t consensual. It’s both modern and ancient and deals heavily with the torment of survivor’s guilt. Dan blends Greek mythology with Christian narrative seamlessly to the point where you don’t ever question the two existing side by side.
Despite spanning four months, the story really only unfolds over the course of a single week. It’s very typical in your *weak 20-something human girl learns she’s special and is thrust into this magical world she’s wholly unprepared for and is mercilessly put through the paces of training to try and make her stronger so she can play the part of the pawn for the sexy dark ruler for his personal gain* kind of way. Instead of discovering a magical world she’s kidnapped and spirited there unconscious. Instead of brooding and morally grey, the sexy male superior is basically the devil and ancient to boot. The power imbalance is insane, and yet we’re supposed to find the pairing sexy and alluring. The interpersonal relationships are all well written, but it’s exactly this believability that has them all eliciting a grimace.
Giving this book an overall rating is difficult. The plot is all there, if not slightly derailed by the halting grammar and confusing word choice. The spice is, according to the author, only two chilis-worth, though I’m not sure I agree. None of the relationships are healthy, and that’s sort of the point, but the opening was also just chef’s kiss.
All in all, I think I’m going to have to go with a 3.5/5. This is the first book in a trilogy, and after reading it I don’t think I’ll be buying the next two, though if someone offered them to me for free I wouldn’t say no and would indeed read them. That equates to a 3.5 in my mind.
Aiding the 3.5 is the fact that the layout is highly predictable. The first book our FMC spent primarily with the demons. The second book she’ll spend primarily with the angels. The third book she’ll finally have to choose a side and her final form. At the end of the first book, you’re left rooting for one side, knowing that you secretly want the other side to win in the long run. Our FMC’s choice seems like it’s been made for her, despite her choice being played like her one single power. It’s all more than a bit predictable. Maybe there are plot twists in later books, or in the original version, but they’re noticeably lacking from this translated first book. Still, it’s not a horrible read. Thus 3.5.
Main thing you need to know before picking up this book: it’s translated from its original Hungarian. This is important because I feel that not so much is the plot lost in translation, but the experience is. It took me about ten chapters before I remembered this fact, and the writing all made sense after that. A lot of descriptions and emotions are repeated. All clothing terms are basically interchangeable, and characters have upwards of five hands. They actually only have two, the scenes are just written such that they’re clutching a neck and a thigh and a knife while reaching for a chalice and you have to go back and reread and yep, they’re holding too many things at once and now they’re rising to stand, but they were already standing and if that was rough to read then you’re prepared for the experience of reading “Demonic Cage”. I spent a lot of time pulled from the story, having to go back and reread to make sure I had the story right, or tripping over clunky sentences that were ordered poorly. It wasn’t annoying so much in the ugh, grammar 🙄 sort of way as it was a bummer because full immersion into the story was impossible. The reading experience was like being in a theatre with a crying baby: you can never lose yourself in the story because there’s a constant reminder that you’re outside of it.
That being said, plot-wise it’s entirely satisfactory. It’s a dark romantasy so ye be warned there is a lot of blood and torture, both physical and mental, and the sex almost isn’t consensual. It’s both modern and ancient and deals heavily with the torment of survivor’s guilt. Dan blends Greek mythology with Christian narrative seamlessly to the point where you don’t ever question the two existing side by side.
Despite spanning four months, the story really only unfolds over the course of a single week. It’s very typical in your *weak 20-something human girl learns she’s special and is thrust into this magical world she’s wholly unprepared for and is mercilessly put through the paces of training to try and make her stronger so she can play the part of the pawn for the sexy dark ruler for his personal gain* kind of way. Instead of discovering a magical world she’s kidnapped and spirited there unconscious. Instead of brooding and morally grey, the sexy male superior is basically the devil and ancient to boot. The power imbalance is insane, and yet we’re supposed to find the pairing sexy and alluring. The interpersonal relationships are all well written, but it’s exactly this believability that has them all eliciting a grimace.
Giving this book an overall rating is difficult. The plot is all there, if not slightly derailed by the halting grammar and confusing word choice. The spice is, according to the author, only two chilis-worth, though I’m not sure I agree. None of the relationships are healthy, and that’s sort of the point, but the opening was also just chef’s kiss.
All in all, I think I’m going to have to go with a 3.5/5. This is the first book in a trilogy, and after reading it I don’t think I’ll be buying the next two, though if someone offered them to me for free I wouldn’t say no and would indeed read them. That equates to a 3.5 in my mind.
Aiding the 3.5 is the fact that the layout is highly predictable. The first book our FMC spent primarily with the demons. The second book she’ll spend primarily with the angels. The third book she’ll finally have to choose a side and her final form. At the end of the first book, you’re left rooting for one side, knowing that you secretly want the other side to win in the long run. Our FMC’s choice seems like it’s been made for her, despite her choice being played like her one single power. It’s all more than a bit predictable. Maybe there are plot twists in later books, or in the original version, but they’re noticeably lacking from this translated first book. Still, it’s not a horrible read. Thus 3.5.
April 19, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️
Let's start by saying that this was definitely a fun, entertaining read. I enjoyed it and finished it in just 2 days. However, there were also some things that didn't fully work for me, and I want to be honest about that.
I only just realized that the original book was written in Hungarian, which might explain why some things felt a little off or different at times. I think when a book gets translated, sometimes the tone doesn't come across exactly the same way as it did in the original version.
Anyway, let's get into it a little more.
This book does have a plot and it is following a storyline, but at the same time, I kept finding myself wondering, "What's the point?" while reading. The beginning of the book introduces some plot, but it also feels a little chaotic. Then, for a big part of the middle section, it feels like there isn't much plot at all, until towards the end, when it suddenly picks back up again.
A lot of the middle part seemed to revolve mainly around the sexual tension between Lotte and Darya. And honestly, that was entertaining for sure, but as a reader, I didn't always understand where the story was actually going.
The world-building was also very thin, almost close to non-existent. Since the angels and demons both have their own worlds, I think this could have been explored in a lot more depth.
Also, we only really get tiny glimpses of the angels, and not enough to really see them as good or the demons as bad. Normally, you would automatically think angels = good and demons = bad, but I definitely feel like there's more to the story than that. While I would've loved more background and development for both sides, the vagueness and mystery did make me want to keep reading. Especially with that ending. The cliffhanger was really good and definitely made me want to continue with the series when the second book comes out.
When it comes to Lotte, there is definitely some character development. She slowly starts healing from her inner demons and self-hatred, although it is a very slow process. Still, I would be interested to see how that develops in the next books.
Darya is definitely a morally grey, slightly scary, but very interesting character. I love that he is literally a demon and actually acts like one, while still being gentle with Lotte.
The side characters were also quite fun and a little... unhinged, maybe lol. But I do think that adds to the mystery around all of them and makes you curious about their stories. Towards the end of the book, we finally get a little more insight into some of them, which I really liked. I definitely would've loved even more of that.
Lastly, I do think it's important and good that mental health is represented in books too. A lot of people struggle with mental illness, addiction, and their own inner demons, so it's nice to see fictional characters dealing with those things as well.
The only thing that felt a little off to me was the way medication was connected to addiction and painted in a more negative light. I do understand that medication can become addictive and harmful in some cases, but that isn't always true.
As someone who struggles with anxiety and panic attacks myself, I take medication that helps me function better, and in that case, medication is a positive thing, not a negative one. So I do think it's important to remember that medication is not always the bad guy.
Overall, I had fun reading this. Maybe not the best book ever, but if you love spicy dark romantasy with morally grey characters, you'll probably devour this one very quickly.
Let's start by saying that this was definitely a fun, entertaining read. I enjoyed it and finished it in just 2 days. However, there were also some things that didn't fully work for me, and I want to be honest about that.
I only just realized that the original book was written in Hungarian, which might explain why some things felt a little off or different at times. I think when a book gets translated, sometimes the tone doesn't come across exactly the same way as it did in the original version.
Anyway, let's get into it a little more.
This book does have a plot and it is following a storyline, but at the same time, I kept finding myself wondering, "What's the point?" while reading. The beginning of the book introduces some plot, but it also feels a little chaotic. Then, for a big part of the middle section, it feels like there isn't much plot at all, until towards the end, when it suddenly picks back up again.
A lot of the middle part seemed to revolve mainly around the sexual tension between Lotte and Darya. And honestly, that was entertaining for sure, but as a reader, I didn't always understand where the story was actually going.
The world-building was also very thin, almost close to non-existent. Since the angels and demons both have their own worlds, I think this could have been explored in a lot more depth.
Also, we only really get tiny glimpses of the angels, and not enough to really see them as good or the demons as bad. Normally, you would automatically think angels = good and demons = bad, but I definitely feel like there's more to the story than that. While I would've loved more background and development for both sides, the vagueness and mystery did make me want to keep reading. Especially with that ending. The cliffhanger was really good and definitely made me want to continue with the series when the second book comes out.
When it comes to Lotte, there is definitely some character development. She slowly starts healing from her inner demons and self-hatred, although it is a very slow process. Still, I would be interested to see how that develops in the next books.
Darya is definitely a morally grey, slightly scary, but very interesting character. I love that he is literally a demon and actually acts like one, while still being gentle with Lotte.
The side characters were also quite fun and a little... unhinged, maybe lol. But I do think that adds to the mystery around all of them and makes you curious about their stories. Towards the end of the book, we finally get a little more insight into some of them, which I really liked. I definitely would've loved even more of that.
Lastly, I do think it's important and good that mental health is represented in books too. A lot of people struggle with mental illness, addiction, and their own inner demons, so it's nice to see fictional characters dealing with those things as well.
The only thing that felt a little off to me was the way medication was connected to addiction and painted in a more negative light. I do understand that medication can become addictive and harmful in some cases, but that isn't always true.
As someone who struggles with anxiety and panic attacks myself, I take medication that helps me function better, and in that case, medication is a positive thing, not a negative one. So I do think it's important to remember that medication is not always the bad guy.
Overall, I had fun reading this. Maybe not the best book ever, but if you love spicy dark romantasy with morally grey characters, you'll probably devour this one very quickly.
May 3, 2026
This book is a dark wild ride. There are themes of addiction, power dynamics, and mental health. I would encourage you to check the trigger warnings before reading.
The themes are dark. Essentially Lotte has been plagued by nightmares her whole life and is taking a strong medication to help control her hallucinations. At the start she has decided to stop taking her medication, which results in her seeing this world of angels and demons and being captured by the demons. She learns she is of both worlds and holds the key to their salvation or destruction.
In large bold letters on the trigger warnings page we are told that this story contains an unreliable narrator. I've mostly experienced this in psychological thrillers, and it was uncovered at the end. It is a different reading experience going into this knowing that the narrator is unreliable. I'm not sure that it helps though. You will not know what's going on the entire time. Once you think you have a guess, the bottom falls out and the direction changes. It will keep you guessing. I found the unpredictability of it very different from anything I have ever read. I'm not sure I would want to read a lot of books like this, but I enjoyed it for its uniqueness.
I don’t know what addiction is like, I had a 10 year addiction to nicotine and probably a still unhealthy addiction to caffeine, but I do not know what it's like to deal with addiction, or to take a prescribed medication and then go through with drawls after stopping cold turkey. Lotte isn't given a chance to breath after being taken off her pills and going through withdrawals. She is overwhelmed by this new world and then forced into making decisions that will determine whether good or evil reigns. Then she has to deal with being given an alternative to the pills, which she happily takes, but then has to deal with the results of her choices.
In additional to all of that, it seems like all the important information needed to help her make these decisions is intentionally being kept from her, by everyone on every side. Everyone has all of these shady secrets, and no one seems truly on her side. BUT is that just the unreliable narrator? I have no idea! I need the second book so I can figure out the puzzle, because I truly have no idea. I felt like I was on speed every time I was in her head. Lotte does seem to also have these epiphanies that come out of nowhere. She will be spiraling in grief and then have this clear revelation. I would have liked to see her work through that a little bit more.
I just don’t know how anyone can be expected to make the right decision in this situation. And then no one helps her properly. I ended the story just as confused as I started but I had a lot of questions.
This book really does read like a thriller. If you’re a fan of an unreliable narrator you’ll love this. I still don’t know which parts are unreliable. 🤣 This story does not follow a traditional fantasy storyline, so if you're looking for something different with dark subtext this is definitely worth checking out!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.
The themes are dark. Essentially Lotte has been plagued by nightmares her whole life and is taking a strong medication to help control her hallucinations. At the start she has decided to stop taking her medication, which results in her seeing this world of angels and demons and being captured by the demons. She learns she is of both worlds and holds the key to their salvation or destruction.
In large bold letters on the trigger warnings page we are told that this story contains an unreliable narrator. I've mostly experienced this in psychological thrillers, and it was uncovered at the end. It is a different reading experience going into this knowing that the narrator is unreliable. I'm not sure that it helps though. You will not know what's going on the entire time. Once you think you have a guess, the bottom falls out and the direction changes. It will keep you guessing. I found the unpredictability of it very different from anything I have ever read. I'm not sure I would want to read a lot of books like this, but I enjoyed it for its uniqueness.
I don’t know what addiction is like, I had a 10 year addiction to nicotine and probably a still unhealthy addiction to caffeine, but I do not know what it's like to deal with addiction, or to take a prescribed medication and then go through with drawls after stopping cold turkey. Lotte isn't given a chance to breath after being taken off her pills and going through withdrawals. She is overwhelmed by this new world and then forced into making decisions that will determine whether good or evil reigns. Then she has to deal with being given an alternative to the pills, which she happily takes, but then has to deal with the results of her choices.
In additional to all of that, it seems like all the important information needed to help her make these decisions is intentionally being kept from her, by everyone on every side. Everyone has all of these shady secrets, and no one seems truly on her side. BUT is that just the unreliable narrator? I have no idea! I need the second book so I can figure out the puzzle, because I truly have no idea. I felt like I was on speed every time I was in her head. Lotte does seem to also have these epiphanies that come out of nowhere. She will be spiraling in grief and then have this clear revelation. I would have liked to see her work through that a little bit more.
I just don’t know how anyone can be expected to make the right decision in this situation. And then no one helps her properly. I ended the story just as confused as I started but I had a lot of questions.
This book really does read like a thriller. If you’re a fan of an unreliable narrator you’ll love this. I still don’t know which parts are unreliable. 🤣 This story does not follow a traditional fantasy storyline, so if you're looking for something different with dark subtext this is definitely worth checking out!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.
April 28, 2026
Demons, angels, and one hell of an unreliable narrator! Demonic Cage follows Lotte, a girl who has been on heavy antidepressants and antipsychotics for essentially her whole life due to hallucinating monsters that attack her and hunt her in the night. Except, when she wakes up with scratches and marks on her body from fighting off the monsters, no one believes they weren’t self inflicted. When she goes cold turkey off her medicine for two days her entire life changes: angels kidnap her, the Demon King kidnaps her back, and suddenly everything that she was told were hallucinations are actually the truth.
I liked Lotte as a main character. Her dependence on her medication and her desperation to get it back was so so real and raw and such a good description of what it feels like to just want to feel normal again. It was worded a little like addiction to her medication, but as someone who is on an SSRI I understand why she’s so afraid to be off them. She’s reckless, stubborn, and definitely irresponsible but all of those attributes made her so interesting to follow along with. Also, who wouldn’t be difficult when they’re faced with the reality of demons and angels? I think her mental heath struggles and inner battle with what she was perceiving were incredibly well written.
Darya on the other hand… I didn’t love him! I admit it! The minute he promised he wouldn’t lock her up, then proceeded to lock her up (semantics technically since she COULD leave but nonetheless) made me dislike him. I think he was a well written Demon King since, after all, you aren’t meant to love everything about a demon. However, I didn’t feel the chemistry between them as much as I wanted to apart from the insta-lust that was described.
I liked the story, but the plot was a little difficult at times for me to follow. It almost didn’t seem like there was a plot for a good chunk in the middle since it was entirely focused on Lotte and Darya’s tension. Instead, I felt like I got some whiplash trying to understand why the story kept bouncing around. At the end, however, it did get back on track.
I loved the descriptions of the side characters and how unique each personality was! I could really differentiate every character in my head and feel their own motivations and opinions. My favorite part is the descriptions of everyone and their own talents. Like what do you MEAN if you look into Sylla’s eyes she will amplify your every dark desire until you go mad? That’s SUCH a cool concept! Or how Léthé, a murderous mermaid, spied on the seas for the demons.
Overall, I really liked the characters except for Darya. I would’ve liked to see more of the story and a little less of their relationship since it took up so much of the book. I think it was wonderfully written and I love the portrayal of darker elements like Lotte’s mental health struggles. If you are into morally grey men, religious undertones, and unreliable narrators I think you will like this one.
Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam for an eARC of this book!
I liked Lotte as a main character. Her dependence on her medication and her desperation to get it back was so so real and raw and such a good description of what it feels like to just want to feel normal again. It was worded a little like addiction to her medication, but as someone who is on an SSRI I understand why she’s so afraid to be off them. She’s reckless, stubborn, and definitely irresponsible but all of those attributes made her so interesting to follow along with. Also, who wouldn’t be difficult when they’re faced with the reality of demons and angels? I think her mental heath struggles and inner battle with what she was perceiving were incredibly well written.
Darya on the other hand… I didn’t love him! I admit it! The minute he promised he wouldn’t lock her up, then proceeded to lock her up (semantics technically since she COULD leave but nonetheless) made me dislike him. I think he was a well written Demon King since, after all, you aren’t meant to love everything about a demon. However, I didn’t feel the chemistry between them as much as I wanted to apart from the insta-lust that was described.
I liked the story, but the plot was a little difficult at times for me to follow. It almost didn’t seem like there was a plot for a good chunk in the middle since it was entirely focused on Lotte and Darya’s tension. Instead, I felt like I got some whiplash trying to understand why the story kept bouncing around. At the end, however, it did get back on track.
I loved the descriptions of the side characters and how unique each personality was! I could really differentiate every character in my head and feel their own motivations and opinions. My favorite part is the descriptions of everyone and their own talents. Like what do you MEAN if you look into Sylla’s eyes she will amplify your every dark desire until you go mad? That’s SUCH a cool concept! Or how Léthé, a murderous mermaid, spied on the seas for the demons.
Overall, I really liked the characters except for Darya. I would’ve liked to see more of the story and a little less of their relationship since it took up so much of the book. I think it was wonderfully written and I love the portrayal of darker elements like Lotte’s mental health struggles. If you are into morally grey men, religious undertones, and unreliable narrators I think you will like this one.
Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam for an eARC of this book!
April 28, 2026
Demonic Cage by Adèle Dan
Yeah… I went into this thinking “angels vs demons, fun little romantasy moment” and instead got emotionally dragged through a dark, chaotic, morally grey battlefield where NO ONE is safe—including my sanity.
First off, this book is DARK. Like actually dark. Not just aesthetic “ooh spooky vibes”—I’m talking addiction, trauma, manipulation, and characters who constantly blur the line between right and wrong. So definitely check trigger warnings before diving in.
Lotte is not your typical FMC, and I kind of loved that. She’s messy, unpredictable, struggling with addiction, and trying to make sense of a reality that’s literally falling apart around her. Finding out she has both angel and demon blood? Yeah… things spiral FAST. Watching her try to figure out where she belongs—and if she even can belong anywhere—was chaotic and compelling in the best way.
And the characters?? Morally grey across the board. No clean heroes here. Darya especially stood out to me—the tension, the dynamic, the constant push and pull?? I was locked in. And don’t even get me started on the Demon King… because now we’re stuck in that “do I hate you or am I obsessed with you?” dilemma 😈
The worldbuilding pulls from Greek mythology but twists it into something darker and more brutal. Angels vs demons isn’t just a backdrop—it’s messy, political, and dangerous, and Lotte being stuck in the middle of it all raises the stakes even higher.
The pacing is quick, almost chaotic at times, which honestly fits the tone of the story. There were a few moments where the dialogue felt a bit off, but knowing it’s translated, it didn’t take away from the overall experience for me.
And the tension?? The enemies-to-lovers setup is VERY much there… but in a “this might actually ruin her life” kind of way. Which, let’s be real, makes it even better.
Also… THE CLIFFHANGER?? I just sat there like “excuse me???” because I need answers immediately.
Overall: dark, addictive, chaotic, and full of morally grey characters you probably shouldn’t love—but will anyway. If you’re into demon kings, angel drama, messy heroines, and stories that don’t hold your hand… you’re going to eat this up.
Yeah… I went into this thinking “angels vs demons, fun little romantasy moment” and instead got emotionally dragged through a dark, chaotic, morally grey battlefield where NO ONE is safe—including my sanity.
First off, this book is DARK. Like actually dark. Not just aesthetic “ooh spooky vibes”—I’m talking addiction, trauma, manipulation, and characters who constantly blur the line between right and wrong. So definitely check trigger warnings before diving in.
Lotte is not your typical FMC, and I kind of loved that. She’s messy, unpredictable, struggling with addiction, and trying to make sense of a reality that’s literally falling apart around her. Finding out she has both angel and demon blood? Yeah… things spiral FAST. Watching her try to figure out where she belongs—and if she even can belong anywhere—was chaotic and compelling in the best way.
And the characters?? Morally grey across the board. No clean heroes here. Darya especially stood out to me—the tension, the dynamic, the constant push and pull?? I was locked in. And don’t even get me started on the Demon King… because now we’re stuck in that “do I hate you or am I obsessed with you?” dilemma 😈
The worldbuilding pulls from Greek mythology but twists it into something darker and more brutal. Angels vs demons isn’t just a backdrop—it’s messy, political, and dangerous, and Lotte being stuck in the middle of it all raises the stakes even higher.
The pacing is quick, almost chaotic at times, which honestly fits the tone of the story. There were a few moments where the dialogue felt a bit off, but knowing it’s translated, it didn’t take away from the overall experience for me.
And the tension?? The enemies-to-lovers setup is VERY much there… but in a “this might actually ruin her life” kind of way. Which, let’s be real, makes it even better.
Also… THE CLIFFHANGER?? I just sat there like “excuse me???” because I need answers immediately.
Overall: dark, addictive, chaotic, and full of morally grey characters you probably shouldn’t love—but will anyway. If you’re into demon kings, angel drama, messy heroines, and stories that don’t hold your hand… you’re going to eat this up.
November 10, 2025
Thank you to the author for the gifted paperback copy. Opinions are my own.
This book is a treat for paranormal romance lovers!
22 yr old Lotte has been on medication for most of her life after she started seeing monsters, and has now developed an addiction. On the anniversary of her brother's death she decides not to take her meds, and without them, angels and demons are able to detect her special half-angel-half-demon blood. This puts her in the special position of being able to choose what she becomes, and both factions want to claim her. The race is seemingly won by the Demon King, Darya, who takes Lotte captive and intends to train her and use her to open the Gates of Hell, thus turning her into a demon. Lotte is hellbent on defying him, but can she when her attraction to the Demon King and his desire for her is so intoxicating?
Lotte's addiction problems make her quite the unpredictable protagonist with an interesting inner dialogue as she struggles with what she thinks is right and what she craves. The world building is rooted in Greek myth but the overall feel is an original, cutthroat world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, and no one is completely innocent. This first book has focused much more on the demons, and I love how diverse and extreme their personalities are. Among them, Darya shines as an alluring love interest draped in red flags. He's definitely no prince charming but I do so enjoy his protectiveness of Lotte. Their tension is pure enemies to lovers and the spice was SO GOOD!
The story builds up to a high stakes, action filled finale that sets the scene for the next book. I'm very much looking forward to learning more about the angels next, and most importantly, to see the extents of Darya's scheming at play. Book 1 was great but I have the feeling the best is yet to come!
✨ Here are some tropes to look forward to:
- captor x captive
- enemies to lovers
- demons vs angels
- Greek mythology
- SPICY
Fun fact: this book was originally published in Hungary and it is a best seller there!
This book is a treat for paranormal romance lovers!
22 yr old Lotte has been on medication for most of her life after she started seeing monsters, and has now developed an addiction. On the anniversary of her brother's death she decides not to take her meds, and without them, angels and demons are able to detect her special half-angel-half-demon blood. This puts her in the special position of being able to choose what she becomes, and both factions want to claim her. The race is seemingly won by the Demon King, Darya, who takes Lotte captive and intends to train her and use her to open the Gates of Hell, thus turning her into a demon. Lotte is hellbent on defying him, but can she when her attraction to the Demon King and his desire for her is so intoxicating?
Lotte's addiction problems make her quite the unpredictable protagonist with an interesting inner dialogue as she struggles with what she thinks is right and what she craves. The world building is rooted in Greek myth but the overall feel is an original, cutthroat world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, and no one is completely innocent. This first book has focused much more on the demons, and I love how diverse and extreme their personalities are. Among them, Darya shines as an alluring love interest draped in red flags. He's definitely no prince charming but I do so enjoy his protectiveness of Lotte. Their tension is pure enemies to lovers and the spice was SO GOOD!
The story builds up to a high stakes, action filled finale that sets the scene for the next book. I'm very much looking forward to learning more about the angels next, and most importantly, to see the extents of Darya's scheming at play. Book 1 was great but I have the feeling the best is yet to come!
✨ Here are some tropes to look forward to:
- captor x captive
- enemies to lovers
- demons vs angels
- Greek mythology
- SPICY
Fun fact: this book was originally published in Hungary and it is a best seller there!
May 1, 2026
This isn’t the kind of book I usually pick up—dark, intense, and a little unsettling—but the whole caught between angels and demons premise got me curious enough to step out of my comfort zone.
Lotte has spent her life dealing with nightmares that feel a bit too real… and it turns out they are. Once she’s pulled into a hidden world ruled by celestial and infernal forces, everything shifts. She’s no longer just a witness to the conflict—she’s tied to both sides in a way that makes her impossible to ignore. And then there’s the Demon King, who isn’t exactly easy to resist, even when he probably should be.
What kept me reading was how quickly everything moves. The story doesn’t linger—it throws you straight into the conflict and keeps pushing forward. The mix of mythological elements with a heaven-versus-hell dynamic works well, giving the world a slightly surreal, almost oppressive atmosphere.
That said, the writing takes a bit of adjustment. Since it’s translated, some scenes feel slightly off in rhythm—repetitions, phrasing, or moments where you pause just to reorient yourself. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did make it harder to fully sink into the story at times.
The romance leans into darker territory. There’s a clear imbalance of power, and the dynamic is more tension-driven than emotionally grounded. It works in terms of intrigue, though I found myself wishing for a bit more depth behind the connection.
Overall, it feels like a story with a strong idea at its core. It doesn’t completely hit every mark, but it’s engaging enough to keep you turning pages—and curious about where it might go next.
Tropes:
🖤 angels vs demons
🖤 hidden identity / dual nature
🖤 enemies to lovers
🖤 morally grey (very grey) MMC
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 chosen one energy
🖤 dark romance
🖤 trauma / mental health themes
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for the ARC — all thoughts are my own.
Lotte has spent her life dealing with nightmares that feel a bit too real… and it turns out they are. Once she’s pulled into a hidden world ruled by celestial and infernal forces, everything shifts. She’s no longer just a witness to the conflict—she’s tied to both sides in a way that makes her impossible to ignore. And then there’s the Demon King, who isn’t exactly easy to resist, even when he probably should be.
What kept me reading was how quickly everything moves. The story doesn’t linger—it throws you straight into the conflict and keeps pushing forward. The mix of mythological elements with a heaven-versus-hell dynamic works well, giving the world a slightly surreal, almost oppressive atmosphere.
That said, the writing takes a bit of adjustment. Since it’s translated, some scenes feel slightly off in rhythm—repetitions, phrasing, or moments where you pause just to reorient yourself. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did make it harder to fully sink into the story at times.
The romance leans into darker territory. There’s a clear imbalance of power, and the dynamic is more tension-driven than emotionally grounded. It works in terms of intrigue, though I found myself wishing for a bit more depth behind the connection.
Overall, it feels like a story with a strong idea at its core. It doesn’t completely hit every mark, but it’s engaging enough to keep you turning pages—and curious about where it might go next.
Tropes:
🖤 angels vs demons
🖤 hidden identity / dual nature
🖤 enemies to lovers
🖤 morally grey (very grey) MMC
🖤 forced proximity
🖤 chosen one energy
🖤 dark romance
🖤 trauma / mental health themes
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for the ARC — all thoughts are my own.
May 4, 2026
Thank you to the Nerdfam for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I’m loving the story and the concept. Our FMC has both demon and angel blood and has been medicated her whole life because of her nightmares. At 22, she stops taking the medication, and it allows both demons and angels to find her. She willingly chooses to go with the demon king and begins to learn about their world, angels and demons, her role in their war, and ultimately a lot about herself.
It is a compelling and reflective story. The FMC is forced to navigate the line between good and evil, but what even is good and what is bad? The story does a great job of showing that nothing is black and white and that every choice comes with consequences.
This book was originally written in Hungarian, and honestly, I really wish I could read it in the original language. The sentence structure sometimes feels a bit unnatural, which pulled me out of the story at times.
That said, the story itself is genuinely great. The mental health representation is something I really appreciated, and the world building is incredibly strong. If there is one thing this author truly excels at, it is setting a scene. The descriptions of both places and people are vivid and immersive. The world feels unique, and it often feels like I am right there.
And the tension and conflicting thoughts, feelings, and dynamic between our FMC and MMC, the demon king, are so good. The buildup is especially well done and truly enjoyable.
As a Swede, I was pleasantly surprised by the bits of Swedish included. Since the FMC is originally from Sweden, seeing Swedish names, words, and places was a really nice bonus for me.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, and to be honest I do not always love that. But this time I do. It is a delicious cliffhanger, and I want to pick up the next book immediately and follow the FMC’s journey through right and wrong, angels and demons.
I’m loving the story and the concept. Our FMC has both demon and angel blood and has been medicated her whole life because of her nightmares. At 22, she stops taking the medication, and it allows both demons and angels to find her. She willingly chooses to go with the demon king and begins to learn about their world, angels and demons, her role in their war, and ultimately a lot about herself.
It is a compelling and reflective story. The FMC is forced to navigate the line between good and evil, but what even is good and what is bad? The story does a great job of showing that nothing is black and white and that every choice comes with consequences.
This book was originally written in Hungarian, and honestly, I really wish I could read it in the original language. The sentence structure sometimes feels a bit unnatural, which pulled me out of the story at times.
That said, the story itself is genuinely great. The mental health representation is something I really appreciated, and the world building is incredibly strong. If there is one thing this author truly excels at, it is setting a scene. The descriptions of both places and people are vivid and immersive. The world feels unique, and it often feels like I am right there.
And the tension and conflicting thoughts, feelings, and dynamic between our FMC and MMC, the demon king, are so good. The buildup is especially well done and truly enjoyable.
As a Swede, I was pleasantly surprised by the bits of Swedish included. Since the FMC is originally from Sweden, seeing Swedish names, words, and places was a really nice bonus for me.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, and to be honest I do not always love that. But this time I do. It is a delicious cliffhanger, and I want to pick up the next book immediately and follow the FMC’s journey through right and wrong, angels and demons.
May 8, 2026
🖤 ARC Review ~ Advanced Reader Copy recieved from The Nerd Fam 🖤
If I could, I would give this book a 4.5 star rating - but since thats not possible, its feel right to give it 5 full stars 🖤
Demonic Cage had me hooked for pretty much the whole book. It starts a little bit slow but does pick up. The spiciness really starts about halfway through and then we get some good, hefty doses of spice! The MMC is morally black, but sometimes feels more grey. He had me feeling every which way, loving and hating him.
The author handles concepts of drug addiction and mental health very, very well and I appreciated it very much. She even had me crying at the very end of Chapter 13.
There were plot twists I absolutely did not expect and a cliff hanger of an ending. I am very eager for the second book in the series to be translated.
I want to note that there are one or two mistranslations but I was able to figure out what she meant. This series was originally written in I believe Hungarian (i could be wrong), but it is not an English original. This is one of my first reads in a long time by an author that required translating to English and I absolutely loved it! I didnt mind the very few errors.
That being said, the one thing I struggled with was that sometimes the spicy scenes felt a little bit abusive. One scene in particular I would categorize as being a domestic violence situation - if the MMC was human. However, I still very much enjoyed the rest of the book a lot! It is this reason that I would have taken a half of a star - the romanticizing of DV. I am curious to see how this continues to play out though in the rest of the series, as I know sometimes authors are building a scene in order to address it in later books.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of spicy books, dealing with demons, angels, mental health and morally Blackish-grey(?) MMCs 🖤
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book! #demoniccage #thenerdfam
If I could, I would give this book a 4.5 star rating - but since thats not possible, its feel right to give it 5 full stars 🖤
Demonic Cage had me hooked for pretty much the whole book. It starts a little bit slow but does pick up. The spiciness really starts about halfway through and then we get some good, hefty doses of spice! The MMC is morally black, but sometimes feels more grey. He had me feeling every which way, loving and hating him.
The author handles concepts of drug addiction and mental health very, very well and I appreciated it very much. She even had me crying at the very end of Chapter 13.
There were plot twists I absolutely did not expect and a cliff hanger of an ending. I am very eager for the second book in the series to be translated.
I want to note that there are one or two mistranslations but I was able to figure out what she meant. This series was originally written in I believe Hungarian (i could be wrong), but it is not an English original. This is one of my first reads in a long time by an author that required translating to English and I absolutely loved it! I didnt mind the very few errors.
That being said, the one thing I struggled with was that sometimes the spicy scenes felt a little bit abusive. One scene in particular I would categorize as being a domestic violence situation - if the MMC was human. However, I still very much enjoyed the rest of the book a lot! It is this reason that I would have taken a half of a star - the romanticizing of DV. I am curious to see how this continues to play out though in the rest of the series, as I know sometimes authors are building a scene in order to address it in later books.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of spicy books, dealing with demons, angels, mental health and morally Blackish-grey(?) MMCs 🖤
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book! #demoniccage #thenerdfam
October 7, 2025
This was a tricky one for me. Entertaining, absolutely! But there were a few things that bothered me a little. The story follows Lotte, a young woman struggling with grief and mental health issues. It’s dark, fast-paced, and dips into mythology and forbidden temptation.
I had mixed feelings about the execution. On one hand, it’s a really fun read with just enough dark romance to keep things tense without scaring me off. On the other hand, the world-building felt a little thin, and the mental health representation made me ... uneasy. I was genuinely surprised to learn the author has a psychology background because the book’s treatment of medication reads oddly; like equating prescription mental health medication use with addiction, which can be a pretty harmful stereotype. As someone who takes medication myself, that portrayal didn’t sit right. Therapy, however, was shown in a positive light, which I did appreciate.
What worked best for me was Lotte herself. She’s not an easy heroine to pin down, but I liked that she wasn’t swooning over the love interest. In fact, she didn’t even seem to like him much, which made perfect sense given the setup. It’s not the kind of romance that tries to convince you it’s healthy or good; and that honesty actually made it more believable.
I’m not completely sold yet, but the story had enough intrigue to keep me reading, and I can see this series finding its audience among readers who enjoy morally gray characters, darker romance, and an interesting hell vs heaven conflict.
Thanks so much to the author and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
I had mixed feelings about the execution. On one hand, it’s a really fun read with just enough dark romance to keep things tense without scaring me off. On the other hand, the world-building felt a little thin, and the mental health representation made me ... uneasy. I was genuinely surprised to learn the author has a psychology background because the book’s treatment of medication reads oddly; like equating prescription mental health medication use with addiction, which can be a pretty harmful stereotype. As someone who takes medication myself, that portrayal didn’t sit right. Therapy, however, was shown in a positive light, which I did appreciate.
What worked best for me was Lotte herself. She’s not an easy heroine to pin down, but I liked that she wasn’t swooning over the love interest. In fact, she didn’t even seem to like him much, which made perfect sense given the setup. It’s not the kind of romance that tries to convince you it’s healthy or good; and that honesty actually made it more believable.
I’m not completely sold yet, but the story had enough intrigue to keep me reading, and I can see this series finding its audience among readers who enjoy morally gray characters, darker romance, and an interesting hell vs heaven conflict.
Thanks so much to the author and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
April 27, 2026
A very dark fantasy romance, make sure to check your triggers and if you like a dark fantasy check this one out!
You follow the FMC, who’s spent her life being medicated because something was “wrong” with her and she would have visions and see things that couldn’t be explained. Struggling with the guilt of the death of her younger brother, she deals with a lot of self inflicted hate and has very little support from the people around her. When one day she decides to stop taking her meds, the monsters she’s always seen come back, only this time she seems to be able to communicate with and understand them and interact with them. She’s whisked away from her world and taken to their realm by their demon king and forced to train in order to battle a demon and earn the right to stay there. With both an attraction to this demon and battling with being good or accepting her darker side, she must decide if she wants to dive into this life fully or go back to a prison of her own making with her drugs in the human realm.
This book was full of lots of both dark elements in the sense of monsters but also women dealing with lots of dark thoughts and coping with mental illness that many struggle with and made her relatable in how much she struggled with guilt. I enjoyed seeing her open up to creatures she maybe couldn’t trust but at least somewhat understood her and tried to show she didn’t need her meds and could stand on her own. I also enjoyed the tension between her and a demon king she shouldn’t be attracted to. Overall I enjoyed this book, my rating 4/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You follow the FMC, who’s spent her life being medicated because something was “wrong” with her and she would have visions and see things that couldn’t be explained. Struggling with the guilt of the death of her younger brother, she deals with a lot of self inflicted hate and has very little support from the people around her. When one day she decides to stop taking her meds, the monsters she’s always seen come back, only this time she seems to be able to communicate with and understand them and interact with them. She’s whisked away from her world and taken to their realm by their demon king and forced to train in order to battle a demon and earn the right to stay there. With both an attraction to this demon and battling with being good or accepting her darker side, she must decide if she wants to dive into this life fully or go back to a prison of her own making with her drugs in the human realm.
This book was full of lots of both dark elements in the sense of monsters but also women dealing with lots of dark thoughts and coping with mental illness that many struggle with and made her relatable in how much she struggled with guilt. I enjoyed seeing her open up to creatures she maybe couldn’t trust but at least somewhat understood her and tried to show she didn’t need her meds and could stand on her own. I also enjoyed the tension between her and a demon king she shouldn’t be attracted to. Overall I enjoyed this book, my rating 4/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
May 5, 2026
I just finished Demonic Cage and I absolutely loved it!! I was completely hooked and flew through it in just two days. It’s a fast paced read, but still delivers rich world building and well developed characters that made it easy to feel fully immersed. Adèle Dan has created such a unique, lore filled world, and I can’t wait to read more from this new dark romantasy series.
Our FMC, Lotte, is 22 years old and has struggled with her mental health and seeing monsters since childhood. After being medicated for most of her life, she decides to stop for a few days and that’s when everything changes. She meets a mysterious, handsome stranger in a cemetery who takes her to another realm, revealing a war between angels and demons. Lotte soon learns she may be the key to unlocking heaven or hell on Earth, and must choose a side while still battling her own internal struggles.
The MMC, Darya, is morally black and completely irresistible. I loved how obsessed he is with Lotte. He’d destroy anyone who dares to touch her. At the same time, he pushes her to confront her inner demons and recognize her own strength and power.
Lotte’s character growth throughout the story was incredible; watching her process her grief and begin to let go of the guilt surrounding her brother’s death was especially moving.
The ending was action packed and left me desperate for more. I seriously can’t wait for book two! If you love dark romantasy, a morally black MMC, delicious banter and spice, angels vs. demons, and enemies to lovers, this is definitely worth adding to your TBR!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Our FMC, Lotte, is 22 years old and has struggled with her mental health and seeing monsters since childhood. After being medicated for most of her life, she decides to stop for a few days and that’s when everything changes. She meets a mysterious, handsome stranger in a cemetery who takes her to another realm, revealing a war between angels and demons. Lotte soon learns she may be the key to unlocking heaven or hell on Earth, and must choose a side while still battling her own internal struggles.
The MMC, Darya, is morally black and completely irresistible. I loved how obsessed he is with Lotte. He’d destroy anyone who dares to touch her. At the same time, he pushes her to confront her inner demons and recognize her own strength and power.
Lotte’s character growth throughout the story was incredible; watching her process her grief and begin to let go of the guilt surrounding her brother’s death was especially moving.
The ending was action packed and left me desperate for more. I seriously can’t wait for book two! If you love dark romantasy, a morally black MMC, delicious banter and spice, angels vs. demons, and enemies to lovers, this is definitely worth adding to your TBR!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2026
"I can tell you one thing Lotte and I promise as much, I will never lie to you"
" Why am I here?"" because I need you."
"You'll alwaysbe my Champion, Lotte"
" There's no point in looking perfect in an imperfect world"
I'm happy to say, the one thing me and Lotte have in common in our craving for the villain and our insane amount of confusion throughout the book.
The book starts in a psychiatric ward. The main character (Lotte) is seeing monsters(demons). The fact is unknown if it's real or in her head had me reading on. On the same day as visiting her psychiatrist she meets two of the main MMCs Two polar oposites, the king of demons and an angel. Which is where it starts to get interesting.
Throughout the book the world building is interesting. It's hard but easy to grasp at the same time. I love how the world played out in my head but it's hard for me to describe.
The MMCs in this book... Well, let's just say they're very hot. I can't describe it any other way. Darya, the demon king has SILVER HAIR. I love good ol' silver hair. Lavian, the angel is also a very handsom.
Lotte's character arc in this book is great with Lotte dealing with alot of grief and guilt surrounding her brothers death and then learning how to deal with her internal struggles.
The ending was jam packed with action and alot of ties cut and made. And the plot twist was so good! It left lots of room for the second book which I'll definitely be getting.
And for all you out there who love spice 🌶, you'll be getting a good amount of it.
I do have to say though, you shouldn't ignore the trigger warnings. The book mentions topics like addiction alot.
" Why am I here?"" because I need you."
"You'll alwaysbe my Champion, Lotte"
" There's no point in looking perfect in an imperfect world"
I'm happy to say, the one thing me and Lotte have in common in our craving for the villain and our insane amount of confusion throughout the book.
The book starts in a psychiatric ward. The main character (Lotte) is seeing monsters(demons). The fact is unknown if it's real or in her head had me reading on. On the same day as visiting her psychiatrist she meets two of the main MMCs Two polar oposites, the king of demons and an angel. Which is where it starts to get interesting.
Throughout the book the world building is interesting. It's hard but easy to grasp at the same time. I love how the world played out in my head but it's hard for me to describe.
The MMCs in this book... Well, let's just say they're very hot. I can't describe it any other way. Darya, the demon king has SILVER HAIR. I love good ol' silver hair. Lavian, the angel is also a very handsom.
Lotte's character arc in this book is great with Lotte dealing with alot of grief and guilt surrounding her brothers death and then learning how to deal with her internal struggles.
The ending was jam packed with action and alot of ties cut and made. And the plot twist was so good! It left lots of room for the second book which I'll definitely be getting.
And for all you out there who love spice 🌶, you'll be getting a good amount of it.
I do have to say though, you shouldn't ignore the trigger warnings. The book mentions topics like addiction alot.
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