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Cruel Fates #1
Once upon a Demon's Heart: Cruel Fates Duet, Book 1
This is no fairytale; it's the yearning and guilt of two burdened hearts that will leave you breathless.
Alira, a devoted demigod knight, has found herself trapped in the throes of a brutal curse—a time loop in which the demon kingdom's Blood Knight kills her every time. She is haunted by the attack she led on the innocent village of Thornhall, and her guilt consumes her from the inside out. After the twentieth time loop, she has finally had enough. Something has to change, lest she die at the Blood Knight's hand for the rest of time. A choice she hopes she won't regret—one to end the war between demigods and demons. Alira is shocked when she realizes that she's marrying the very knight who has slain her so many times.
A daughter of Venus and a duke of demons. Their love is both cursed and destined—a marriage to save the fragility of their kingdoms.
Kalel is as cruel as they come. A devourer who survives on the gilded blood of demigods. He wants to hate her as much as he did when Thornhall fell, but he finds himself warring with his heart over his emotions for her. Together, they unravel the truths of Faultore, that perhaps not everything is as it seems. The gods may be pulling more strings than they should.
It's not a question of what love can conquer; it is a matter of what they are prepared to demolish in the path of it.
Narrated in duet style.
Alira, a devoted demigod knight, has found herself trapped in the throes of a brutal curse—a time loop in which the demon kingdom's Blood Knight kills her every time. She is haunted by the attack she led on the innocent village of Thornhall, and her guilt consumes her from the inside out. After the twentieth time loop, she has finally had enough. Something has to change, lest she die at the Blood Knight's hand for the rest of time. A choice she hopes she won't regret—one to end the war between demigods and demons. Alira is shocked when she realizes that she's marrying the very knight who has slain her so many times.
A daughter of Venus and a duke of demons. Their love is both cursed and destined—a marriage to save the fragility of their kingdoms.
Kalel is as cruel as they come. A devourer who survives on the gilded blood of demigods. He wants to hate her as much as he did when Thornhall fell, but he finds himself warring with his heart over his emotions for her. Together, they unravel the truths of Faultore, that perhaps not everything is as it seems. The gods may be pulling more strings than they should.
It's not a question of what love can conquer; it is a matter of what they are prepared to demolish in the path of it.
Narrated in duet style.
Audible Audio
First published July 28, 2025
2077 people are currently reading
21267 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Moronova
14 books6,825 followersNew York Times, USA Today, and #1 International bestselling author K. M. Moronova has enjoyed telling dreary stories as far as she can remember. She adores reading and writing dark-themed, romantic books with plot twists and emotional turns. Often, she is found drying flowers in her study or drinking tea while relaxing in her garden. She loves spending time with her partner, exploring the forest, and envisioning more devastating stories to tell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,206 reviews
October 11, 2025
Foremost, thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC. I am a big fan of Leave Me Behind and The Fabric of Our Souls, and I’ll always be one of the first to buy a work by KM Moronova.
Which is exactly why I feel terrible that I have to rate this so low.
Edited to add: I did end up DNFing this book.
The premise of this book is so unique. A demon kills a demi-god in 20 time loops, until finally in the 21st she instead marries him. That is so intriguing and I was so excited to jump into it. I do wish that there would have been more focus on the time loops at the start, as this really sets up the relationship between the two MCs, sets up the FMC’s motives, and is the background to the entire story. I felt like I got told it happened and then had to build the enemy relationship myself. I might have developed a much deeper connection to the characters and their relationship development if I had gotten more of a look into the catalyst. Since there wasn’t, I struggled to fully comprehend their anger and trauma with each other, didn’t feel any depth to their union, and couldn’t bring myself to anticipate redemption.
I think this book suffers from telling and not showing. Unfortunately, there was a complete lack of world building and very little character development. We are given small snippets of their lore, but it’s often thrown in at random moments and I wouldn’t really count that as world building. I don’t know what their world looks like, there was not enough depth to the war, and very little information about the characters’ pasts. What we did know seemed to be very convenient and underdeveloped, and so I was not able to form any connection. There is such a rich lore here and the ideas are so interesting, but it just needs to be explored a little more.
As well, the enemies-to-lovers trope was rushed and also underdeveloped. It relied on ‘heat’ to bridge a gap between two characters that had a long, dark history. After years of war and death, I am not sold on their relationship developing overnight, in a tent, after the MMC goes into his ‘first heat’. It happened way too fast and conveniently and I cannot fathom it. There is too much history there for it to be so rushed and lacking.
Overall, this was a very short book that could have truly benefited from a few extra chapters of world building and backstory. The pacing was very quick and it jumped from scene to scene abruptly—I felt as though one sentence I was one place, and without any lead-up, I was in a whole new scene the very next line. It seemed rushed and only gave surface-level information, as thought it were a draft that hadn’t been finalised. There was not enough backstory on the setting or the characters, and it relied too heavily on lust to build a relationship. The writing structure was incoherent; it needed to be refined a little more sense-wise (such as the earring breaking the silence of the room, despite her wearing a helmet). I hate to rate this so low, but if there had been more devotion to building the world and its characters, I could have loved this book.
I already have the Dark Forces duet on preorder and I am such a big believer in KM Moronova’s writing abilities. I think this had great bones, but it just needed some more time, chapters and depth.
Which is exactly why I feel terrible that I have to rate this so low.
Edited to add: I did end up DNFing this book.
The premise of this book is so unique. A demon kills a demi-god in 20 time loops, until finally in the 21st she instead marries him. That is so intriguing and I was so excited to jump into it. I do wish that there would have been more focus on the time loops at the start, as this really sets up the relationship between the two MCs, sets up the FMC’s motives, and is the background to the entire story. I felt like I got told it happened and then had to build the enemy relationship myself. I might have developed a much deeper connection to the characters and their relationship development if I had gotten more of a look into the catalyst. Since there wasn’t, I struggled to fully comprehend their anger and trauma with each other, didn’t feel any depth to their union, and couldn’t bring myself to anticipate redemption.
I think this book suffers from telling and not showing. Unfortunately, there was a complete lack of world building and very little character development. We are given small snippets of their lore, but it’s often thrown in at random moments and I wouldn’t really count that as world building. I don’t know what their world looks like, there was not enough depth to the war, and very little information about the characters’ pasts. What we did know seemed to be very convenient and underdeveloped, and so I was not able to form any connection. There is such a rich lore here and the ideas are so interesting, but it just needs to be explored a little more.
As well, the enemies-to-lovers trope was rushed and also underdeveloped. It relied on ‘heat’ to bridge a gap between two characters that had a long, dark history. After years of war and death, I am not sold on their relationship developing overnight, in a tent, after the MMC goes into his ‘first heat’. It happened way too fast and conveniently and I cannot fathom it. There is too much history there for it to be so rushed and lacking.
Overall, this was a very short book that could have truly benefited from a few extra chapters of world building and backstory. The pacing was very quick and it jumped from scene to scene abruptly—I felt as though one sentence I was one place, and without any lead-up, I was in a whole new scene the very next line. It seemed rushed and only gave surface-level information, as thought it were a draft that hadn’t been finalised. There was not enough backstory on the setting or the characters, and it relied too heavily on lust to build a relationship. The writing structure was incoherent; it needed to be refined a little more sense-wise (such as the earring breaking the silence of the room, despite her wearing a helmet). I hate to rate this so low, but if there had been more devotion to building the world and its characters, I could have loved this book.
I already have the Dark Forces duet on preorder and I am such a big believer in KM Moronova’s writing abilities. I think this had great bones, but it just needed some more time, chapters and depth.
December 2, 2025
3 ⭐️ I really enjoy K.M. Moronova's book and addictive writing style and while I really loved the premise of this, and found the time loop curse super interesting there were a few things that let this down for me.
One of the main things was that I really don't like how quick her characters do the deed. I like to have more of a build up (preferably an agonising slow burn) but the last three books I have read of her's the MC's are fully getting it on around the 30% mark or even sooner. Another thing I found frustrating was how complicit and agreeable our FMC was whenever the MMC was being incredibly mean to her/brutalizing her, like please stick up for yourself girl!!! You'll let him take out all his ruthless anger on you because you feel guilty or whatever and then COMFORT him when he shows signs of feeling a tiny bit bad for his actions????? NOOOO. But with that being said, I did enjoy this story and definitely want to read the next one, I just want to see some growth from the FMC and for her to stop being a dormat.
One of the main things was that I really don't like how quick her characters do the deed. I like to have more of a build up (preferably an agonising slow burn) but the last three books I have read of her's the MC's are fully getting it on around the 30% mark or even sooner. Another thing I found frustrating was how complicit and agreeable our FMC was whenever the MMC was being incredibly mean to her/brutalizing her, like please stick up for yourself girl!!! You'll let him take out all his ruthless anger on you because you feel guilty or whatever and then COMFORT him when he shows signs of feeling a tiny bit bad for his actions????? NOOOO. But with that being said, I did enjoy this story and definitely want to read the next one, I just want to see some growth from the FMC and for her to stop being a dormat.
October 15, 2025
It’s knotting season.
Easy read 100/10 audio (duet). I received an advanced copy from podium and HIGHLY recommend doing the audio for this book.
Easy read 100/10 audio (duet). I received an advanced copy from podium and HIGHLY recommend doing the audio for this book.
August 1, 2025
I love K. M. Moronova’s books—they’re gripping and intense, and you never know what to expect! This one was no exception.
It’s a dark romantasy featuring Alira, a demigod knight and daughter of Venus, and Kalel, a demon who survives on the gilded blood of demigods. The plot is incredibly intriguing and unique. Demigods and demons are at war, and in order to stop it, Alira agrees to marry a demon.
I absolutely loved the dark and melancholic atmosphere of the book! It beautifully weaves together Roman gods, demigods, demons, dragons, and even wolves. My heart ached for the characters’ pasts.
The chemistry between the characters is pure fire! Kalel tries to hate Alira, but he can’t resist the pull toward her. The blood-drinking scenes were incredibly hot, and the smut? As always, K nailed it.
The beginning of the book is wrapped in secrets and mysteries, but the deeper you go, the clearer everything becomes. I was blown away when everything finally came together at the end! That ending completely surprised me, and it made me love Kalel even more. I’m beyond excited for book two!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓dark romantasy
✓arranged marriage
✓enemies to lovers
✓knights & kingdoms
✓demons & demigod
✓knotting
My aesthetic on Instagram
______
Pre-read: Yay! I got the ARC! Let's go!
Huge thanks to K. M. Moronova and her team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
It’s a dark romantasy featuring Alira, a demigod knight and daughter of Venus, and Kalel, a demon who survives on the gilded blood of demigods. The plot is incredibly intriguing and unique. Demigods and demons are at war, and in order to stop it, Alira agrees to marry a demon.
I absolutely loved the dark and melancholic atmosphere of the book! It beautifully weaves together Roman gods, demigods, demons, dragons, and even wolves. My heart ached for the characters’ pasts.
The chemistry between the characters is pure fire! Kalel tries to hate Alira, but he can’t resist the pull toward her. The blood-drinking scenes were incredibly hot, and the smut? As always, K nailed it.
The beginning of the book is wrapped in secrets and mysteries, but the deeper you go, the clearer everything becomes. I was blown away when everything finally came together at the end! That ending completely surprised me, and it made me love Kalel even more. I’m beyond excited for book two!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓dark romantasy
✓arranged marriage
✓enemies to lovers
✓knights & kingdoms
✓demons & demigod
✓knotting
My aesthetic on Instagram
______
Pre-read: Yay! I got the ARC! Let's go!
Huge thanks to K. M. Moronova and her team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
Well at least she’s consistent so there’s that.
That’s the nicest thing I can say rn.
｡✩⁺˚♪º pre listen ｡✩⁺˚♪º
Yes, I know the last book I read from this author was a disaster 😭 but hear me out, this one’s a different genre, the cover is cute, and I believe in second chances (sometimes).
Manifesting it doesn’t traumatize me again… I’ll keep y’all posted 😵💫
That’s the nicest thing I can say rn.
｡✩⁺˚♪º pre listen ｡✩⁺˚♪º
Yes, I know the last book I read from this author was a disaster 😭 but hear me out, this one’s a different genre, the cover is cute, and I believe in second chances (sometimes).
Manifesting it doesn’t traumatize me again… I’ll keep y’all posted 😵💫
October 29, 2025
This book reminder me a lot of the Married to Magic series. It was interesting but nothing stood out to whoo me. Will be interesting to see were book 2 will take us.
Read
November 24, 2025✦ ✦ ✧ ✧ ✧
𝟐 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
⊹ ࣪ ˖ read - 17.20.25
can somebody please remove the word “rut” from ms. moronova’s vocabulary, please and thank you.
⊹ first person
⊹ dark romance
⊹ non/dub con
⊹ enemies to lovers???
⊹ gods and demons
⊹ morally grey mmc
⊹ forced proximity
hello? has he not killed just as many people? why are we letting the men off the hook while the women get sold away to make babies? no fucking thanks.
then, we have the mmc, kalel, who is slightly more complex, but at the same time, not. he’s also dealing with trauma, but he partially takes it out on her. i understand that it’s advertised as dark romance, but no way in hell is this romance. it’s two people who have a bond because of shared trauma and *hint* it’s not healthy at all. he also knots her without permission and i'm like HELL no. i don't want no baby demons running around this place.
that's... not hot. barf.
“i hate her so much, is that why i want to rut in her so badly?”
rut? seriously? he sounds like a fucking pig.
“i don’t understand my own feelings. no one has ever taught me how.”
well buckle up buttercup, you’re an immortal being, not a 5 year old.
“my children will know you as their mother, they will feed from your breasts and fall asleep to your songs.”
errrrrrr... *throws kindle across the room*
:¨ ·.· ¨:⠀
``· . ୨ৎ
-------------------------
⭑𓂃⊹ ࣪ ˖ preread
i could seriously eat this cover.
buddy read with my bsf ishy <3
𝟐 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
⊹ ࣪ ˖ read - 17.20.25
can somebody please remove the word “rut” from ms. moronova’s vocabulary, please and thank you.
⭑𓂃⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰i had fairly high expectations going into this one, and let’s just say those expectations weren’t met. this book is pure smut. did i enjoy it slightly? yes. was it a guilty pleasure? yes. was it well written? no way in hell. the characters are all over the place and inconsistent, which is just the worst, especially in romantasy. the extra star is for the concept, which i found interesting.
⭑𓂃⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬⊹ dual pov
⊹ first person
⊹ dark romance
⊹ non/dub con
⊹ enemies to lovers???
⊹ gods and demons
⊹ morally grey mmc
⊹ forced proximity
⭑𓂃⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬where to even start… the main character, alira is a demigod knight betrothed to a demon to prevent war, but most importantly, it sets up the trope enemies to lovers PERFECTLY. now, if you know me, then you know that i adore badass fmcs with my whole heart, so i assumed that because she was a knight, she’d be a badass. boy was i wrong. throughout the whole book she’s portrayed as this knight who can slay demons, but i just don’t see it. this book is basically her letting the big bad demon abuse her mentally and physically because she feels bad for killing people.
hello? has he not killed just as many people? why are we letting the men off the hook while the women get sold away to make babies? no fucking thanks.
then, we have the mmc, kalel, who is slightly more complex, but at the same time, not. he’s also dealing with trauma, but he partially takes it out on her. i understand that it’s advertised as dark romance, but no way in hell is this romance. it’s two people who have a bond because of shared trauma and *hint* it’s not healthy at all. he also knots her without permission and i'm like HELL no. i don't want no baby demons running around this place.
⭑𓂃⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠/𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭THIS is where it makes up for itself partially. the plot is what intrigued me coming into this book, but the execution was just not there. the writing was sloppy, which i’ll expand on in some of the quotes below. it was also fairly slow and uneventful other than kinky blood-sucking demon scent rutting smut. yes, you heard me right. there were also many elements of this book that deserve more recognition. for example, SHES IN A TIME LAPSE!! after about 50% of the book, this stops coming up, which was beyond frustrating.
⭑𓂃⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬“you know, you really are such a pretty little thing for being so vile. far more broken and ignorant than i thought you’d be. tell me, have you heard of me?”
that's... not hot. barf.
“i hate her so much, is that why i want to rut in her so badly?”
rut? seriously? he sounds like a fucking pig.
“i don’t understand my own feelings. no one has ever taught me how.”
well buckle up buttercup, you’re an immortal being, not a 5 year old.
“my children will know you as their mother, they will feed from your breasts and fall asleep to your songs.”
errrrrrr... *throws kindle across the room*
🎶 - 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 -
00:39 ━━━━●───── 06:10
⇆ -----◁ ❚❚ ▷ ----- ↻
ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮
:¨ ·.· ¨:⠀
``· . ୨ৎ
-------------------------
⭑𓂃⊹ ࣪ ˖ preread
i could seriously eat this cover.
buddy read with my bsf ishy <3
December 18, 2025
⤿ 🫀ⵌ┆
1.5 stars
︵ spoiler free review
ⵌ┆tropes ୭࣪
#enemiestolovers? #forcedproximity #demonsxdemigod #dragons #metduringchildhood #duelpovs
ⵌ┆thoughts ୭
This book has so much potential it literally pains me to see how miserably it failed to be at least a 4 star
RANT INCOMING !!
Before we start, a little thanks to my bsf kat for suffering through this book with me! I’m a little concerned about how you enjoyed the sex scenes, but then I remembered that you’re kat and that’s normal for you <3
Okay so the reason why this book had so much potential was because of the world lore and plot. We have a war between demigods and demons and the only way to resolve it is an arranged marriage between a demigod and demon. That’s where our fmc comes in, a trained demigod knight who killed hundreds of demons agrees to marry the general of the demon army… AND YOU CAN NOT TELL ME THAT DOES NOT SOUND INTERESTING. Just by hearing the plot you’re probably expecting pure hatred, then yelling at each other for killing the other's kind, jealousy without meaning to be jealous. The type of tension that has you screaming and giggling.
NOPE.
Instead we get this: "I hate her so much, is that why i want to rut in her so badly?”
…
I think the quote says enough.
This book was written horribly everything was everywhere and it was so confusing AND WHY WAS IT CONFUSING THE CONCEPT WASN’T COMPLICATED. It wasn’t even high fantasy. It’s truly amazing how one can make a book so hard to comprehend when the concept is so simple.
This was 99% smut and 1% actual story. And even the sex scenes weren’t enjoyable. It was more of sexual assault. Thank goodness I decided not to listen to the audiobook.
ⵌ┆characters ୭ ࣪
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀𓍢ִ໋🌹 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐚 ˎˊ˗ So when you think of a knight who is the daughter of the goddess of beauty and killed hundreds of demons You probably expect a badass fmc which I would be so down for but nah, we get a fmc who happily lets the mmc assault her. Great. Absolutely amazing.
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀𓍢ִ໋🥀 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐥 ˎˊ˗ Zade Meadows 2.0 but with anger issues and he treats her like a dog. At least Zade Meadows left roses for her everyday. Only time I’ll take his side
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
ⵌ┆Overall ୭࣪
Would not recommend this book only time I will is to give it to my cousin to traumatize her (mehruby if you’re seeing this I swear you’ll love this book)
★ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ rtc
⤿ I was desperately looking for words to describe this book. Then my girl Aanz said it perfectly: HOLY WATTPAD
︵ spoiler free review
ⵌ┆tropes ୭࣪
#enemiestolovers? #forcedproximity #demonsxdemigod #dragons #metduringchildhood #duelpovs
ⵌ┆thoughts ୭
This book has so much potential it literally pains me to see how miserably it failed to be at least a 4 star
RANT INCOMING !!
Before we start, a little thanks to my bsf kat for suffering through this book with me! I’m a little concerned about how you enjoyed the sex scenes, but then I remembered that you’re kat and that’s normal for you <3
Okay so the reason why this book had so much potential was because of the world lore and plot. We have a war between demigods and demons and the only way to resolve it is an arranged marriage between a demigod and demon. That’s where our fmc comes in, a trained demigod knight who killed hundreds of demons agrees to marry the general of the demon army… AND YOU CAN NOT TELL ME THAT DOES NOT SOUND INTERESTING. Just by hearing the plot you’re probably expecting pure hatred, then yelling at each other for killing the other's kind, jealousy without meaning to be jealous. The type of tension that has you screaming and giggling.
NOPE.
Instead we get this: "I hate her so much, is that why i want to rut in her so badly?”
…
I think the quote says enough.
This book was written horribly everything was everywhere and it was so confusing AND WHY WAS IT CONFUSING THE CONCEPT WASN’T COMPLICATED. It wasn’t even high fantasy. It’s truly amazing how one can make a book so hard to comprehend when the concept is so simple.
This was 99% smut and 1% actual story. And even the sex scenes weren’t enjoyable. It was more of sexual assault. Thank goodness I decided not to listen to the audiobook.
ⵌ┆characters ୭ ࣪
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀𓍢ִ໋🌹 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐫𝐚 ˎˊ˗ So when you think of a knight who is the daughter of the goddess of beauty and killed hundreds of demons You probably expect a badass fmc which I would be so down for but nah, we get a fmc who happily lets the mmc assault her. Great. Absolutely amazing.
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀𓍢ִ໋🥀 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐥 ˎˊ˗ Zade Meadows 2.0 but with anger issues and he treats her like a dog. At least Zade Meadows left roses for her everyday. Only time I’ll take his side
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
ⵌ┆Overall ୭࣪
Would not recommend this book only time I will is to give it to my cousin to traumatize her (mehruby if you’re seeing this I swear you’ll love this book)
★ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ rtc
⤿ I was desperately looking for words to describe this book. Then my girl Aanz said it perfectly: HOLY WATTPAD
August 5, 2025
Honestly, it’s my fault for learning how to read.
July 30, 2025
wow. wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW.
I didn’t know what to expect going into this but by chapter 6, I knew it would rip my heart up and that I would welcome it.
*check trigger warnings, this is a dark romantasy*
the yearning and pining? exactly what I hope for.
and to have so much yearning and pining and it NOT be a slow burn? beautifully executed.
I’ll add more thoughts once I can get my head back together but KM Morovona’s writing was sensational.
I really am contemplating re-reading this because I devoured it so quick, I feel like I need to savor it and read it again.
This had gods, demi-gods, demons and a war that's been going on for years and years.
The FMC is a demi-god and the gods have abandoned them - and the MMC is a demon.
She is stuck in a cursed time loop and has been killed by the same knight 20 times in a row... and oh yeah, NOW SHE IS TO BE HIS BRIDE.
This gave me feelings / vibes from "A forbidden Alchemy" and "Court of Ravens" and those are 2 books I absolutely loved and it was fun to have those feelings again.
full spoiler free review: https://www.tiktok.com/@suegainz/vide...
I didn’t know what to expect going into this but by chapter 6, I knew it would rip my heart up and that I would welcome it.
*check trigger warnings, this is a dark romantasy*
the yearning and pining? exactly what I hope for.
and to have so much yearning and pining and it NOT be a slow burn? beautifully executed.
I’ll add more thoughts once I can get my head back together but KM Morovona’s writing was sensational.
I really am contemplating re-reading this because I devoured it so quick, I feel like I need to savor it and read it again.
This had gods, demi-gods, demons and a war that's been going on for years and years.
The FMC is a demi-god and the gods have abandoned them - and the MMC is a demon.
She is stuck in a cursed time loop and has been killed by the same knight 20 times in a row... and oh yeah, NOW SHE IS TO BE HIS BRIDE.
This gave me feelings / vibes from "A forbidden Alchemy" and "Court of Ravens" and those are 2 books I absolutely loved and it was fun to have those feelings again.
full spoiler free review: https://www.tiktok.com/@suegainz/vide...
September 3, 2025
3⭐️
якщо поєднати «наречену» гейзелвуд та «відблиск» кеннеді, додати більше фентезійної складової - вийде «одного разу» 😁
від нареченої тут шлюб за домовленістю заради поєднання двох видів та припинення війни між ними. плюс усі ці моменти омегаверсу у вигляді тічки, вузла, міток. і цього я точно не очікувала, бо тут у нас напівбогиня та демон-пожирач, який живе завдяки крові напівбогів. і пожирає він не тільки її кров, if you know what i mean 😈
вовки тут теж присутні, але вони в цій вакханалії участі не беруть 😝
а від відблиску тут сюжет, де більшу частину книги гг йдуть з армією демона до їхнього королівства 😅
до фентезійної складової в мене поки що найбільше питань. тут стільки усього намішано: напівбоги, боги, демони, дракони, люто-вовки, магія, енергія душі, часові петлі. і усе це відчувається радше як декорації, бо хто буде все це прописувати та розкривати 🤷♀️ авторка, схоже, не ставила за мету занурюватись у ці питання.
гг теж не вразили. аліра вийшла дивною напівбогинею-лицаркою. вона у стількох битвах брала участь, а за всю книгу від її відваги один пшик. більшість часу вона виступає в ролі жертовного ягня, котре погодилось на все заради припинення війни між напівбогами та демонами.
калел - типовий грізний демон, який зробить усе заради помсти та перемоги свого виду. його ставлення до аліри чисто ненависть-любов, бо в один момент він жорстокий, холодний до неї і не виносить бачити її через минулі вчинки, а в інший момент першим же хвилюється, рятує, захищає та турбується про неї. чисто і батіг, і пряник застосовує. маленький маніпулятор 🌚
хімія гг трималась в основному на циклах «спеки» в обох. не вистачило плавного розвитку їхніх стосунків, бо за замовчуванням їх тягне один до одного і все відбувається різко, як перемикач холодно/жарко. але так можна сказати про усю книгу. вона невеликого обсягу, ніби насичена на події, але частина розділів виглядає вирваними шматками, без цілісної оповіді ☹️
із позитивного книга швидко і легко читається. сподобалась арка з іграми та втручанням богів, тема прокляття та часових петель. цього хотілось би трохи більше.
плюс мені все ж таки цікаво дізнатись хоч якісь пояснення головних моментів у наступній книзі. наприклад, хто насправді аліра, бо про її особливість говорять не просто так. або теорія походження демонів, яка лежить на поверхні, хочу побачити її підтвердження 🤓
якщо поєднати «наречену» гейзелвуд та «відблиск» кеннеді, додати більше фентезійної складової - вийде «одного разу» 😁
від нареченої тут шлюб за домовленістю заради поєднання двох видів та припинення війни між ними. плюс усі ці моменти омегаверсу у вигляді тічки, вузла, міток. і цього я точно не очікувала, бо тут у нас напівбогиня та демон-пожирач, який живе завдяки крові напівбогів. і пожирає він не тільки її кров, if you know what i mean 😈
вовки тут теж присутні, але вони в цій вакханалії участі не беруть 😝
а від відблиску тут сюжет, де більшу частину книги гг йдуть з армією демона до їхнього королівства 😅
до фентезійної складової в мене поки що найбільше питань. тут стільки усього намішано: напівбоги, боги, демони, дракони, люто-вовки, магія, енергія душі, часові петлі. і усе це відчувається радше як декорації, бо хто буде все це прописувати та розкривати 🤷♀️ авторка, схоже, не ставила за мету занурюватись у ці питання.
гг теж не вразили. аліра вийшла дивною напівбогинею-лицаркою. вона у стількох битвах брала участь, а за всю книгу від її відваги один пшик. більшість часу вона виступає в ролі жертовного ягня, котре погодилось на все заради припинення війни між напівбогами та демонами.
калел - типовий грізний демон, який зробить усе заради помсти та перемоги свого виду. його ставлення до аліри чисто ненависть-любов, бо в один момент він жорстокий, холодний до неї і не виносить бачити її через минулі вчинки, а в інший момент першим же хвилюється, рятує, захищає та турбується про неї. чисто і батіг, і пряник застосовує. маленький маніпулятор 🌚
хімія гг трималась в основному на циклах «спеки» в обох. не вистачило плавного розвитку їхніх стосунків, бо за замовчуванням їх тягне один до одного і все відбувається різко, як перемикач холодно/жарко. але так можна сказати про усю книгу. вона невеликого обсягу, ніби насичена на події, але частина розділів виглядає вирваними шматками, без цілісної оповіді ☹️
із позитивного книга швидко і легко читається. сподобалась арка з іграми та втручанням богів, тема прокляття та часових петель. цього хотілось би трохи більше.
плюс мені все ж таки цікаво дізнатись хоч якісь пояснення головних моментів у наступній книзі. наприклад, хто насправді аліра, бо про її особливість говорять не просто так. або теорія походження демонів, яка лежить на поверхні, хочу побачити її підтвердження 🤓
August 3, 2025
I have never hated a MMC more… this guy was legitimately the WORST. And the only way I’ll be reading the second book is if he suffers in it:)
Okay let’s get a bit more detailed, if you’re expecting a typical enemies to lovers trope, find a different book. Kalel is legitimately abusive to the FMC and we’re just supposed to be okay with it because he occasionally looks guilty??? What the heck. Even when he’s feeling sorry it’s only because he feels guilty for wanting the FMC not because HES EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY ABUSING HER.
On that note, the FMC has the back bone of a limp noodle and just constantly takes everything because she feels guilty for war crimes even though the MMC has committed the same amount, if not more? Also she thinks she’s falling in love with him in the most sickening Stockholm syndrome trope that makes absolutely no sense. She forgives him instantly for anything he ever does even though this guy is like I said, THE WORST.
So, if you enjoy an angst filled book with absolutely NO groveling and a MMC that has absolutely no redeeming qualities, this one’s for you👍🏼
Okay let’s get a bit more detailed, if you’re expecting a typical enemies to lovers trope, find a different book. Kalel is legitimately abusive to the FMC and we’re just supposed to be okay with it because he occasionally looks guilty??? What the heck. Even when he’s feeling sorry it’s only because he feels guilty for wanting the FMC not because HES EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY ABUSING HER.
On that note, the FMC has the back bone of a limp noodle and just constantly takes everything because she feels guilty for war crimes even though the MMC has committed the same amount, if not more? Also she thinks she’s falling in love with him in the most sickening Stockholm syndrome trope that makes absolutely no sense. She forgives him instantly for anything he ever does even though this guy is like I said, THE WORST.
So, if you enjoy an angst filled book with absolutely NO groveling and a MMC that has absolutely no redeeming qualities, this one’s for you👍🏼
July 31, 2025
I want to start this review by saying that I’ve read K.M.’s other books and loved them. I was so excited when I got the email that I was selected to receive an eARC. The blurb for the book sounded so interesting and just up my alley.
Cue to me receiving said ARC and it was only 250something pages on my kindle. I wondered if there was a mix up and I somehow didn’t get the whole book, as she had emailed all ARC readers after they were sent that there were some issues with downloads.
That was not the case. Okay, so I should be able to finish this pretty quickly, given its length. Ugh, no. I started reading it and I just couldn’t get into it. And it was a struggle to pick back up. I did power through because I felt I owed the author an honest review by reading the entire book.
There was absolutely no chemistry between the two main characters. I feel like the convenient ‘heat’ scenes were just tossed in there to make us feel like there was. There was no build up to it whatsoever. And there was just so many of them tossed in. I feel like they were placed as a way to breakup scenes besides using the page break.
Speaking of breaking up scenes and using page breaks… there were way too many of those. Every time I saw one, it’s where I wanted more backstory, more information on the lore of this world. The book felt like a mishmash of so many ideas and they just didn’t fit together.
This feels like this is a rough draft that has the potential to be an absolutely EPIC romantasy. I would love to see the book start with the time loops and then get to #21 where they get married. I would like to see less page breaks and more world building.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Cue to me receiving said ARC and it was only 250something pages on my kindle. I wondered if there was a mix up and I somehow didn’t get the whole book, as she had emailed all ARC readers after they were sent that there were some issues with downloads.
That was not the case. Okay, so I should be able to finish this pretty quickly, given its length. Ugh, no. I started reading it and I just couldn’t get into it. And it was a struggle to pick back up. I did power through because I felt I owed the author an honest review by reading the entire book.
There was absolutely no chemistry between the two main characters. I feel like the convenient ‘heat’ scenes were just tossed in there to make us feel like there was. There was no build up to it whatsoever. And there was just so many of them tossed in. I feel like they were placed as a way to breakup scenes besides using the page break.
Speaking of breaking up scenes and using page breaks… there were way too many of those. Every time I saw one, it’s where I wanted more backstory, more information on the lore of this world. The book felt like a mishmash of so many ideas and they just didn’t fit together.
This feels like this is a rough draft that has the potential to be an absolutely EPIC romantasy. I would love to see the book start with the time loops and then get to #21 where they get married. I would like to see less page breaks and more world building.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2025
I’m kind of confused on the hype around this. I think the time loops and the intervention of the gods is cool and a unique part of this book, but the world is hardly explored.
This is instalust and even though they hate each other, they never really do. It’s pretty physical from the very beginning. Alira’s “heat” and needing to be relieved of that was kind of a dumb aspect of the book to me.
The part of this book that intrigued me was the mmc’s upbringing, trauma, and connection to the god of the underworld. I found the parts we did learn about the gods and the world-building really interesting but there wasn’t nearly enough. It didn’t feel explored enough to me.
If you want a book with little action and plot but a lot of spice from the very beginning then this is for you but it wasn’t for me.
This is instalust and even though they hate each other, they never really do. It’s pretty physical from the very beginning. Alira’s “heat” and needing to be relieved of that was kind of a dumb aspect of the book to me.
The part of this book that intrigued me was the mmc’s upbringing, trauma, and connection to the god of the underworld. I found the parts we did learn about the gods and the world-building really interesting but there wasn’t nearly enough. It didn’t feel explored enough to me.
If you want a book with little action and plot but a lot of spice from the very beginning then this is for you but it wasn’t for me.
August 31, 2025
Моя остання прочитана книга літом❤️🔥
Було дуже цікаво читати, хоча я багато чого не зрозуміла
Думаю в наступних частинах буде зрозуміліше
Я шось думала що вона одиночна але ні, тому дуже цікаво що буде далі😍
Було дуже цікаво читати, хоча я багато чого не зрозуміла
Думаю в наступних частинах буде зрозуміліше
Я шось думала що вона одиночна але ні, тому дуже цікаво що буде далі😍
August 6, 2025
IM FINALLY FREE!!! 🧚🏼♀️🧚🏼♀️🧚🏼♀️
August 11, 2025
I found the demons and demi-gods interesting in this story. I do think it would have helped to have 100 more pages for the lack of world building. I like the characters. I did find it odd for demons to purr and have knots lol I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.
December 7, 2025
⭐ 4.75 Stars | 🌶️ 3.5 Peppers
I devoured this book in a single day and I have absolutely zero shame about it. When I say it CAPTIVATED me? Enthralled me?? I mean I was fully feral, up until 2am and then wanted to read right when waking up invested 😭🔥. The whole concept of demi-gods and demons/mortals fighting?? I am so here for it. It felt fresh and unique in a way I genuinely haven’t read before. And then you throw in an arranged marriage?? Say less. I’m already buckled in.
The yearning, the hatred, the guilt, the sorrow, everything was just chef’s kiss. I swear I could feel some of the characters’ pain in my chest. Nothing pulls me in like believable emotional agony, and whew… this book served it on a silver platter. The betrayals?? Didn’t expect them. Didn’t see them coming. Loved every single one. And the way it portrayed the anguish of kids trying to understand why adults can be so cruel? That hit harder than I expected. Maybe it’s because I’m a full-grown adult who still looks around at this world like… seriously?? Why are older people so filled with hatred sometimes?? This book captured that confusion and heartache so beautifully.
You do need to be okay with some taboo elements (knotting, heats, etc.), but the content warnings at the beginning are clear and honest, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
All in all: I am obsessed. And I CANNOT waiiiittttt for book two. Like why did I do this to myself by reading it eight months before the sequel? Who let me?? 😭���
I devoured this book in a single day and I have absolutely zero shame about it. When I say it CAPTIVATED me? Enthralled me?? I mean I was fully feral, up until 2am and then wanted to read right when waking up invested 😭🔥. The whole concept of demi-gods and demons/mortals fighting?? I am so here for it. It felt fresh and unique in a way I genuinely haven’t read before. And then you throw in an arranged marriage?? Say less. I’m already buckled in.
The yearning, the hatred, the guilt, the sorrow, everything was just chef’s kiss. I swear I could feel some of the characters’ pain in my chest. Nothing pulls me in like believable emotional agony, and whew… this book served it on a silver platter. The betrayals?? Didn’t expect them. Didn’t see them coming. Loved every single one. And the way it portrayed the anguish of kids trying to understand why adults can be so cruel? That hit harder than I expected. Maybe it’s because I’m a full-grown adult who still looks around at this world like… seriously?? Why are older people so filled with hatred sometimes?? This book captured that confusion and heartache so beautifully.
You do need to be okay with some taboo elements (knotting, heats, etc.), but the content warnings at the beginning are clear and honest, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
All in all: I am obsessed. And I CANNOT waiiiittttt for book two. Like why did I do this to myself by reading it eight months before the sequel? Who let me?? 😭���
December 26, 2025
Read in 24 hours — well, Moronova clearly knows what she’s doing 🙉
And the story is a VERY good example of enemies to lovers 🥵🥵
Even though her military romances are her strong suit, I actually really enjoyed this romantasy attempt!
The worldbuilding is fairly simple and the focus is mostly on the characters, but the FMC drowning in guilt, surrendering to every circumstance and punishment, while the MMC pulls her even deeper into that swamp…
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨🫠
And the story is a VERY good example of enemies to lovers 🥵🥵
Even though her military romances are her strong suit, I actually really enjoyed this romantasy attempt!
The worldbuilding is fairly simple and the focus is mostly on the characters, but the FMC drowning in guilt, surrendering to every circumstance and punishment, while the MMC pulls her even deeper into that swamp…
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨🫠
August 15, 2025
Thoroughly surprised with this and eagerly awaiting book 2!! A demi-god knight stuck in a time loop takes matters into her own hands to try and break the curse but it means offering herself as a bride to a demon. AHHHHH THE TENSION AND ANGST!!! Such a unique and page turning story from the start that it was so easy to plough through it+ was also a short read (250 pages)!!! ALSO THERE IS KNOTTING?! HEHEHEHEHE
4.25⭐️ 3🌶️
4.25⭐️ 3🌶️
July 28, 2025
“I wish it wasn’t you, little godling.”
Obsessed with this book, plot, story everything. Have you ever heard the string theory? That’s them it feels like. I cannot wait for book two. I need more Kalel STAT!!
Thank you to the author and team for choosing me as one of the arc readers. Can’t wait for all my book besties to read this story <3333
Obsessed with this book, plot, story everything. Have you ever heard the string theory? That’s them it feels like. I cannot wait for book two. I need more Kalel STAT!!
Thank you to the author and team for choosing me as one of the arc readers. Can’t wait for all my book besties to read this story <3333
August 9, 2025
I’m so intrigued on where this one is going… THE CLIFFY!!!
I love K.M Moronova’s writing so much. She has such a way with words so I’ll reach anything she writes. This isn’t my favorite by her but I’m still wanting book 2 to complete this story!!
3.5
I love K.M Moronova’s writing so much. She has such a way with words so I’ll reach anything she writes. This isn’t my favorite by her but I’m still wanting book 2 to complete this story!!
3.5
July 28, 2025
First I just want to say a HUGE thank you to K. M. for giving me the honor of being an ARC reader for this book. This was my first ARC and K. M. is one of my favorite authors, so this was a special experience. 🫶
Now on to the review....
There are things I really liked about this book and there are things I don't like about this book.
I really enjoy the magic system and the Greek mythology references with the gods. I also really like how both Kalel & Alira are consumed by grief and guilt for the things they've done. I like the more emotional glances we get into Kalel, but I feel like Alira is always crying 😂 (girl get it together 💀).
Some of the writing felt rushed and a little sloppy. I specifically tabbed 2 pages (back to back) in this book where Alira seems to take off the same white nightgown twice (somehow?!)...
I wish there was a little more action or higher stakes? I'm not sure honestly but I feel like more pages would have helped me to pinpoint exactly what's working for this book and what isn't working for this book.
I personally don't think a romantasy about demigods and demons at war with time loops, lots of spice (no seriously I wasn't expecting it to be this spicy 🥵🌶️), knøtting, & enemies to lovers works very well with only 250 pages without feeling rushed and too fast paced.
It's okay. 🤷♀️ Im intriqued about book 2.
Also I'm pretty sure I saw a reference in here to The Fabric of Our Souls 🤭
Now on to the review....
There are things I really liked about this book and there are things I don't like about this book.
I really enjoy the magic system and the Greek mythology references with the gods. I also really like how both Kalel & Alira are consumed by grief and guilt for the things they've done. I like the more emotional glances we get into Kalel, but I feel like Alira is always crying 😂 (girl get it together 💀).
Some of the writing felt rushed and a little sloppy. I specifically tabbed 2 pages (back to back) in this book where Alira seems to take off the same white nightgown twice (somehow?!)...
I wish there was a little more action or higher stakes? I'm not sure honestly but I feel like more pages would have helped me to pinpoint exactly what's working for this book and what isn't working for this book.
I personally don't think a romantasy about demigods and demons at war with time loops, lots of spice (no seriously I wasn't expecting it to be this spicy 🥵🌶️), knøtting, & enemies to lovers works very well with only 250 pages without feeling rushed and too fast paced.
It's okay. 🤷♀️ Im intriqued about book 2.
Also I'm pretty sure I saw a reference in here to The Fabric of Our Souls 🤭
August 2, 2025
2⭐️ 2🌶
Oh no, I'm honestly heartbroken... this book was a total letdown 🥲. It felt rushed, weirdly paced, and the main characters had zero chemistry ❌️
Half the plot takes place on horseback or in a tent...
At one point, he starts purring to soothe her, I’m sorry, is he a cat??
And then... she gets cramps like period cramps but the cramps somehow make both of them horny. What am I even reading?? 🫣
Their relationship is just... baffling. He bites her, acts like a jerk, and she just rolls with it because she thinks she deserves it? Then suddenly he’s nice again? Make it make sense pls 😅.
And can we talk about the sudden breeding kink explosion? 🫣 No, thanks!
That said — it’s super easy to read and follow. But maybe... skip it anyway 🤷🏼♀️
Oh no, I'm honestly heartbroken... this book was a total letdown 🥲. It felt rushed, weirdly paced, and the main characters had zero chemistry ❌️
Half the plot takes place on horseback or in a tent...
At one point, he starts purring to soothe her, I’m sorry, is he a cat??
And then... she gets cramps like period cramps but the cramps somehow make both of them horny. What am I even reading?? 🫣
Their relationship is just... baffling. He bites her, acts like a jerk, and she just rolls with it because she thinks she deserves it? Then suddenly he’s nice again? Make it make sense pls 😅.
And can we talk about the sudden breeding kink explosion? 🫣 No, thanks!
That said — it’s super easy to read and follow. But maybe... skip it anyway 🤷🏼♀️
September 2, 2025
i devoured this and in return it shattered my heart
August 4, 2025
i would simply let this demon kill me 22 times just so i can see his beautiful face again 🧎🏻♀️
this is a romantasy book, demons and demigods, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, war, yearning, blood thirsty, marking, scenting, knotting, hate fuck, dark secrets, betrayal, duo pov, book one in duet 🩸
alira is cursed with dying by the hands of the god of the underworld, kalel. every time she dies her week restarts again until kalel kills her once again. she relives that one week of violence over and over until she had enough and decided to flee. she didn’t get very far when she stumbles upon a lone demon in the forest. when she realizes that running away won’t change her fate, she offers herself up to marriage with the enemy. she never thought it would be the demon that taunts her, has killed her 22 times, and one she is quite familiar with.
idk why but every time i read k.m.’s books i just want to sob 😭 and i certainly did for this. i was not expecting that ending to book one to go the way it did tbh omg 🤯 WHAT DO YOU MEAN KALEL ??!!
i absolutely LOVED the tension between alira and kalel 🥹 they met when they were just children and ever since then, their lives just went downhill and fast. i don’t want to dive into this too much because you’ll find out when you read, but let’s just say i’m shook to the core 🫨 they are two souls just fighting their own selves and hoping for a better future. they had so many tension filled moments as well as sweet and hateful ones. my heart aches for them 🫀
the ending to this book just only has me even more anxious and intrigued at the same time for book two 💥💳 i need to know what kalel is going to do … about several things actually 🥴
the king ??? yeah no … kalel got to do something about him. if kalel could rip out someone’s heart for trying to alira on their wedding day without batting an eye, i just wonder what he’ll do about the king 😮💨
the war ??? omg i’m so nervous 😬 i’m so scared to see how alira will react
alira herself ??? i feel like there’s going to be so much about her 👀 everyone she meets is suspect because what is all the secrecy and small hints to who she really is 😳
i fear the next book will actually ruin me for anything else and i’m here for it 🫡
🌶️🌶️
this is a romantasy book, demons and demigods, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, war, yearning, blood thirsty, marking, scenting, knotting, hate fuck, dark secrets, betrayal, duo pov, book one in duet 🩸
alira is cursed with dying by the hands of the god of the underworld, kalel. every time she dies her week restarts again until kalel kills her once again. she relives that one week of violence over and over until she had enough and decided to flee. she didn’t get very far when she stumbles upon a lone demon in the forest. when she realizes that running away won’t change her fate, she offers herself up to marriage with the enemy. she never thought it would be the demon that taunts her, has killed her 22 times, and one she is quite familiar with.
idk why but every time i read k.m.’s books i just want to sob 😭 and i certainly did for this. i was not expecting that ending to book one to go the way it did tbh omg 🤯 WHAT DO YOU MEAN KALEL ??!!
i absolutely LOVED the tension between alira and kalel 🥹 they met when they were just children and ever since then, their lives just went downhill and fast. i don’t want to dive into this too much because you’ll find out when you read, but let’s just say i’m shook to the core 🫨 they are two souls just fighting their own selves and hoping for a better future. they had so many tension filled moments as well as sweet and hateful ones. my heart aches for them 🫀
the ending to this book just only has me even more anxious and intrigued at the same time for book two 💥💳 i need to know what kalel is going to do … about several things actually 🥴
the king ??? yeah no … kalel got to do something about him. if kalel could rip out someone’s heart for trying to alira on their wedding day without batting an eye, i just wonder what he’ll do about the king 😮💨
the war ??? omg i’m so nervous 😬 i’m so scared to see how alira will react
alira herself ??? i feel like there’s going to be so much about her 👀 everyone she meets is suspect because what is all the secrecy and small hints to who she really is 😳
i fear the next book will actually ruin me for anything else and i’m here for it 🫡
🌶️🌶️
November 17, 2025
4.5 I devoured this book in one sitting!The originality of the world and magic system felt like nothing I’ve read before. It was so fun to unlock new parts of the world every few chapters. I’m a sucker for a good back story! I have a few questions that I’m looking forward to getting answered in the next book!
July 27, 2025
4.5 gilded stars ✨
“𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅.”
Once Upon a Demon’s Heart is the heartbreaking and unconventional love story of Alira and Kalel. While Alira is a demigod, Kalel is a demon who’s unalived her in 20 time loops. Determined to try something different, Alira opts to marry him to save the demigods and what comes next is enemies to lovers at its finest.
Once Upon a Demon’s Heart is ethereal, enchanting, dark, heartbreaking, romantic, and everything I hoped it'd be. It breathes new life into the romantasy genre and was so unlike anything I've read before in the best of ways.
I adore Kalel and Alira 🥹 I love that K writes characters who are so deeply flawed and entirely deserving of love. Kalel and Alira’s story is haunting and gut-wrenching and I was rooting for them at every twist and turn. I was living for the will they/won’t they, the revelations, the way they hated how they truly felt for each other, and the spice … *clutches pearls* 👀😮💨
This is my fourth book by K (you may have heard me rave about The Fabric of Our Souls and A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope) and Once Upon a Demon’s Heart did NOT disappoint. K’s words are every bit as enchanting as the art she creates for her stories.
If you need me, I’ll be weeping and curled into a ball until book 2 arrives 🥲 Thank you so much to K for the ARC! OUADH publishes 7/31!
𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🖤 dark romantasy
⚜️ enemies to lovers
🗡️demons and demigods
🖤 blood-sucking MMC
⚜️ arranged marriage
🗡️ knights
*check trigger warnings
“𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅.”
Once Upon a Demon’s Heart is the heartbreaking and unconventional love story of Alira and Kalel. While Alira is a demigod, Kalel is a demon who’s unalived her in 20 time loops. Determined to try something different, Alira opts to marry him to save the demigods and what comes next is enemies to lovers at its finest.
Once Upon a Demon’s Heart is ethereal, enchanting, dark, heartbreaking, romantic, and everything I hoped it'd be. It breathes new life into the romantasy genre and was so unlike anything I've read before in the best of ways.
I adore Kalel and Alira 🥹 I love that K writes characters who are so deeply flawed and entirely deserving of love. Kalel and Alira’s story is haunting and gut-wrenching and I was rooting for them at every twist and turn. I was living for the will they/won’t they, the revelations, the way they hated how they truly felt for each other, and the spice … *clutches pearls* 👀😮💨
This is my fourth book by K (you may have heard me rave about The Fabric of Our Souls and A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope) and Once Upon a Demon’s Heart did NOT disappoint. K’s words are every bit as enchanting as the art she creates for her stories.
If you need me, I’ll be weeping and curled into a ball until book 2 arrives 🥲 Thank you so much to K for the ARC! OUADH publishes 7/31!
𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🖤 dark romantasy
⚜️ enemies to lovers
🗡️demons and demigods
🖤 blood-sucking MMC
⚜️ arranged marriage
🗡️ knights
*check trigger warnings
November 26, 2025
demigod x demon romance
I’ve read two of this authors other books and really enjoyed them so jumped to read her latest romantasy.
page count comes in at just under 300 pages and after reading Direbound - it was a relief. I fear I’m only built for a few super long books a year.
I’ve read two of this authors other books and really enjoyed them so jumped to read her latest romantasy.
page count comes in at just under 300 pages and after reading Direbound - it was a relief. I fear I’m only built for a few super long books a year.
November 4, 2025
Oh. My. God.
It's been a while since I've read a good enemies to lovers romantasy.
I loved that Kalel didn't forgive her instantly just because he was attracted to her.
I also love how kind, responsibale and forgiving Alira is. I loved that she wasn't just an angry FMC who thought every action can be excused because you wanted ro help your kingdom.
can't wait for the next book.
It's been a while since I've read a good enemies to lovers romantasy.
I loved that Kalel didn't forgive her instantly just because he was attracted to her.
I also love how kind, responsibale and forgiving Alira is. I loved that she wasn't just an angry FMC who thought every action can be excused because you wanted ro help your kingdom.
can't wait for the next book.
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