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Devil Inside
A man who’s back from the dead meets a woman who’s from somewhere even worse in Clay McLeod Chapman’s new horrormance about love, possession, and just a little murder.
After a traumatic accident that almost cost Jordan his life, he’s finally starting to feel normal again. Well, maybe not normal. Everything tastes like ash, and when he looks at the people around him, their faces start to melt. At least he’s not dead, right? His friends are doing their best to get him back on his feet, maybe find someone to talk to, perhaps even find someone to take his mind off his last failed relationship.
Then he meets Lilith. The two share an instant connection but after a wild and passionate night together, she ghosts him. Jordan searches the city for Lilith, desperate to see her again. But when a woman claiming to be Lilith shows up, wearing a different face but knowing intimate details about Jordan, he worries he’s losing his grip on reality. As he grows closer to this mysterious woman, he discovers that happily ever afters sometimes come at a cost. How far will Lilith take him, and how much darkness will he embrace to find love?
After a traumatic accident that almost cost Jordan his life, he’s finally starting to feel normal again. Well, maybe not normal. Everything tastes like ash, and when he looks at the people around him, their faces start to melt. At least he’s not dead, right? His friends are doing their best to get him back on his feet, maybe find someone to talk to, perhaps even find someone to take his mind off his last failed relationship.
Then he meets Lilith. The two share an instant connection but after a wild and passionate night together, she ghosts him. Jordan searches the city for Lilith, desperate to see her again. But when a woman claiming to be Lilith shows up, wearing a different face but knowing intimate details about Jordan, he worries he’s losing his grip on reality. As he grows closer to this mysterious woman, he discovers that happily ever afters sometimes come at a cost. How far will Lilith take him, and how much darkness will he embrace to find love?
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2026
About the author
Clay McLeod Chapman
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t say this often and I don’t say it lightly, but I absolutely hated this book.
An entire month has gone by since I fished it, and I’m still struggling to put all of my big feelings about Devil Inside into words. This book has spent that time festering in the back of my brain. If I hadn’t gotten this as an ARC, I wouldn’t review it at all; I’d do my best to forget about it completely, move on with my life, and pretend I never read it. I think I’d be happier that way.
Unfortunately I DID get it as an ARC, so here I go.
I’ll start with my main problem, the thing that left a bad taste in my mouth that still lingers weeks later: this book is completely unwilling to engage with the fact that its main character is a rapist. He’s repeatedly having intercourse with the body of someone who is, at the time, possessed by a demon. TO BE CLEAR - before the horror police come out - I don’t have a problem with bad things happening in fiction, particularly horror! My critique is not that this shouldn’t have happened. A story can feature a character doing evil, terrible things, and that’s perfectly fine as long as the text understands what it’s portraying and is willing to grapple with it. (Has anyone seen Obsession?)
So I was reading this, curious to see how it would eventually be addressed or come to a head. It takes a LONG time to even acknowledge it - I think the 70 or 80% mark? - and when it happened I was absolutely flabbergasted by the decision this author made. In one easy breezy scene, the main character tells this woman what he’s been doing with her body while it’s possessed, and she tells him she DOESN’T CARE. No questions, not even a “did you use a condom?” And she gives him permission (!) to keep doing it (!) erasing any and all culpability. This was the most disgustingly “written by a man” thing I have ever read in my life. I’m genuinely perplexed by this: what is the point of writing about a topic you are so clearly terrified of engaging with? Why write something HORRIFYING, in a HORROR book, then hand-wave it away and refuse to allow it to be the focus of the horror?
The themes and character beats that this book does try to hit - instead of engaging with that very obvious one - are milquetoast at best. It’s trying to have a theme, sure: love and possession and surrender of the self, but it’s all very flimsy and unaffecting. The main character, on the other hand, goes on this really fun journey where he’s constantly angsting and brooding about how dark and tormented he is, but always in weirdly nonspecific ways (if only there was something really dark and terrible that the book was willing to admit he’s doing…!) And then… well, I won’t spoil the end, but suffice to say I was rolling my eyes. Just dark and angsty for the sake of darkness and angst, with no logic, no thematic relevance, and no proper setup.
Aside from my distaste for the characters and themes, I also found the horror elements corny and the writing unpleasantly choppy, meandering, and repetitive. The book is prone to interjecting random scenes of demons doing horrifying things, which at first seemed like they might somehow connect, be relevant, or build up to something, but of course they don’t. They’re just more edginess for the sake of being edgy.
Also - unrelated to anything - I think it was a cowardly decision to write a romance allegedly about a formless, genderless entity and then make her a lady 90% of the time. Just so we know, this character isn’t GAY, or anything. Why would we use that premise to explore gender and physicality and the changeability of attraction? That would be too close to having a meaningful theme.
Normally I try to wrap up reviews with something positive, but I have nothing nice to say. Sorry.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
An entire month has gone by since I fished it, and I’m still struggling to put all of my big feelings about Devil Inside into words. This book has spent that time festering in the back of my brain. If I hadn’t gotten this as an ARC, I wouldn’t review it at all; I’d do my best to forget about it completely, move on with my life, and pretend I never read it. I think I’d be happier that way.
Unfortunately I DID get it as an ARC, so here I go.
I’ll start with my main problem, the thing that left a bad taste in my mouth that still lingers weeks later: this book is completely unwilling to engage with the fact that its main character is a rapist. He’s repeatedly having intercourse with the body of someone who is, at the time, possessed by a demon. TO BE CLEAR - before the horror police come out - I don’t have a problem with bad things happening in fiction, particularly horror! My critique is not that this shouldn’t have happened. A story can feature a character doing evil, terrible things, and that’s perfectly fine as long as the text understands what it’s portraying and is willing to grapple with it. (Has anyone seen Obsession?)
So I was reading this, curious to see how it would eventually be addressed or come to a head. It takes a LONG time to even acknowledge it - I think the 70 or 80% mark? - and when it happened I was absolutely flabbergasted by the decision this author made. In one easy breezy scene, the main character tells this woman what he’s been doing with her body while it’s possessed, and she tells him she DOESN’T CARE. No questions, not even a “did you use a condom?” And she gives him permission (!) to keep doing it (!) erasing any and all culpability. This was the most disgustingly “written by a man” thing I have ever read in my life. I’m genuinely perplexed by this: what is the point of writing about a topic you are so clearly terrified of engaging with? Why write something HORRIFYING, in a HORROR book, then hand-wave it away and refuse to allow it to be the focus of the horror?
The themes and character beats that this book does try to hit - instead of engaging with that very obvious one - are milquetoast at best. It’s trying to have a theme, sure: love and possession and surrender of the self, but it’s all very flimsy and unaffecting. The main character, on the other hand, goes on this really fun journey where he’s constantly angsting and brooding about how dark and tormented he is, but always in weirdly nonspecific ways (if only there was something really dark and terrible that the book was willing to admit he’s doing…!) And then… well, I won’t spoil the end, but suffice to say I was rolling my eyes. Just dark and angsty for the sake of darkness and angst, with no logic, no thematic relevance, and no proper setup.
Aside from my distaste for the characters and themes, I also found the horror elements corny and the writing unpleasantly choppy, meandering, and repetitive. The book is prone to interjecting random scenes of demons doing horrifying things, which at first seemed like they might somehow connect, be relevant, or build up to something, but of course they don’t. They’re just more edginess for the sake of being edgy.
Also - unrelated to anything - I think it was a cowardly decision to write a romance allegedly about a formless, genderless entity and then make her a lady 90% of the time. Just so we know, this character isn’t GAY, or anything. Why would we use that premise to explore gender and physicality and the changeability of attraction? That would be too close to having a meaningful theme.
Normally I try to wrap up reviews with something positive, but I have nothing nice to say. Sorry.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2026
“Devil Inside” by Clay McLeod Chapman is the first horrormance novel I’ve ever read. This was a unique way to tell a story that blends what happens when horror and romance flirt with an evil twist.
Before I dive into my horror book review, here are the trigger warnings I found while reading:
- Depression
- Religion
- Drugs
- Dementia
- Violence against children
- Self-harm
- Violence against animals (birds)
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, I’m glad Chapman started this novel with a quick heads up on what kind of book this is, with it being dubbed a “horrormance.” Now, to be honest, I personally hate romance books. I’ve never enjoyed them, and even though I’ve read barely a few over the past 30+ years, they just don’t do anything for me. I find them incredibly boring, and obviously not for me, as an avid horror reader.
However, I went into this with an open mind, and I’m glad I did. Even before I read this horrormance novel, I finally got to meet Chapman at a book signing event (Summer Of Horrors 2026 - Carry Me to Your Bookshelf Tour), and he told me that even if I don’t read romance, this is still a horror book through and through. He was right, because this was executed well.
The killer prologue set the tone for all the evil that awaited. I loved the intro to Lilith as it felt very raw, real, and, of course, evil. This was such an awesome and unique way to introduce a demon. Speaking of which, all the great and creepy demonic possessions here were fantastic. I loved learning what goes through the mind of a demon when they finally enter their victim.
I also loved the brilliant storytelling of Jordan, what he’s been through, going through, and everything involving Lilith once their paths cross. Don’t worry, as there are no spoilers here, but between what they endure and the hilarious and creepy chapter names, this was a lot of fun to read. The chapter names were hilarious at times, since they coincided with what each chapter was about, especially the demonic and wild ones.
While I understand Chapman wanted to do a horrormance right, at times I felt it skewed a bit too much toward the romance side. At times, the story got too heavy on dialogue, with not much horror happening. Some parts dragged on around the halfway mark, as I felt the second half started to fizzle out a bit. It just needed more things to happen, and obviously, more horror.
The several horror situations and events that transpired in the first half were fantastic, bloody, and evil. It just needed more of that to balance things out in the second half. Once I reached the 80% mark, everything started to come together nicely, leading to a good, satisfying ending. It was pretty interesting, and yes, for those of you who love smut with an evil twist, you’ll enjoy these final chapters with all sorts of it. It was wild and intense, and it ended in a very devilish way.
I give “Devil Inside” by Clay McLeod Chapman a 4-Star rating out of 5. This was my first horrormance novel where I felt it was done right for the most part. It needed just a bit more horror for it to truly knock it out of the park, but it delivered when it mattered most. The demonic possessions here shine, and if you ever wanted to read what it would be like for a demon to actually fall in love with a lost soul trying to find himself in a world of disappointment, this one is for you. It’s a refreshingly one-of-a-kind novel where you’ll get the best of both worlds, and even though I wanted more demonic terror, this was still one hell of a ride.
Let me in.
Before I dive into my horror book review, here are the trigger warnings I found while reading:
- Depression
- Religion
- Drugs
- Dementia
- Violence against children
- Self-harm
- Violence against animals (birds)
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, I’m glad Chapman started this novel with a quick heads up on what kind of book this is, with it being dubbed a “horrormance.” Now, to be honest, I personally hate romance books. I’ve never enjoyed them, and even though I’ve read barely a few over the past 30+ years, they just don’t do anything for me. I find them incredibly boring, and obviously not for me, as an avid horror reader.
However, I went into this with an open mind, and I’m glad I did. Even before I read this horrormance novel, I finally got to meet Chapman at a book signing event (Summer Of Horrors 2026 - Carry Me to Your Bookshelf Tour), and he told me that even if I don’t read romance, this is still a horror book through and through. He was right, because this was executed well.
The killer prologue set the tone for all the evil that awaited. I loved the intro to Lilith as it felt very raw, real, and, of course, evil. This was such an awesome and unique way to introduce a demon. Speaking of which, all the great and creepy demonic possessions here were fantastic. I loved learning what goes through the mind of a demon when they finally enter their victim.
I also loved the brilliant storytelling of Jordan, what he’s been through, going through, and everything involving Lilith once their paths cross. Don’t worry, as there are no spoilers here, but between what they endure and the hilarious and creepy chapter names, this was a lot of fun to read. The chapter names were hilarious at times, since they coincided with what each chapter was about, especially the demonic and wild ones.
While I understand Chapman wanted to do a horrormance right, at times I felt it skewed a bit too much toward the romance side. At times, the story got too heavy on dialogue, with not much horror happening. Some parts dragged on around the halfway mark, as I felt the second half started to fizzle out a bit. It just needed more things to happen, and obviously, more horror.
The several horror situations and events that transpired in the first half were fantastic, bloody, and evil. It just needed more of that to balance things out in the second half. Once I reached the 80% mark, everything started to come together nicely, leading to a good, satisfying ending. It was pretty interesting, and yes, for those of you who love smut with an evil twist, you’ll enjoy these final chapters with all sorts of it. It was wild and intense, and it ended in a very devilish way.
I give “Devil Inside” by Clay McLeod Chapman a 4-Star rating out of 5. This was my first horrormance novel where I felt it was done right for the most part. It needed just a bit more horror for it to truly knock it out of the park, but it delivered when it mattered most. The demonic possessions here shine, and if you ever wanted to read what it would be like for a demon to actually fall in love with a lost soul trying to find himself in a world of disappointment, this one is for you. It’s a refreshingly one-of-a-kind novel where you’ll get the best of both worlds, and even though I wanted more demonic terror, this was still one hell of a ride.
Let me in.
Currently Reading
August 8, 2026horror is for lovers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I adore Clay and I LOVE horromance, so when this was announced, I was freaking out. Thankfully, I am a member of The Hive and could read this immediately when it dropped on NetGalley. I dropped everything to pick it up, AND IT DELIVERED!
Jordan is back from death after a traumatic accident, and meets Lilith, who is from... well, far away. After a passionate night, Lilith ghosts Jordan but he can't stop thinking about her. She made him feel alive again. Jordan feels like his grip on reality is failing when he starts to notice strange things in the people around him. When he encounters Lilith, and she has no recollection of him whatsoever, then subsequently encounters a different woman who claims to be Lilith, his reality really starts to warp. But he cannot stop his focus on Lilith, and she on him. How far would you go to be with the one you love?
I have to tell you, this book is pretty dark. If you're like "oh, a romance with some horror elements"--flip it. It's a horror that revolves around a romance. Clay is a masterful horror writer and it is evident in this book. We explore the lines of love, obsession and even possession. Is love a form of possession? Someone takes up residence in your heart, mind, soul and you feel empty without them. I love the depiction of literal demonic possession here, comparing different bodies/souls to different wines. We also touch upon healing after a great traumatic experience. There’s a lot that this entertaining story leaves you pondering and thinking on when it comes to love and relationships. This one will stick with me. No hesitation in rating this 5 stars! I am SO GLAD that Clay decided to write a horromance!
Thank you to MIRA Books, HTP Books, and The Hive for the early ARC! Book releases 8/11/26. (I kind of love that I got to read it in February, the month of love.)
Jordan is back from death after a traumatic accident, and meets Lilith, who is from... well, far away. After a passionate night, Lilith ghosts Jordan but he can't stop thinking about her. She made him feel alive again. Jordan feels like his grip on reality is failing when he starts to notice strange things in the people around him. When he encounters Lilith, and she has no recollection of him whatsoever, then subsequently encounters a different woman who claims to be Lilith, his reality really starts to warp. But he cannot stop his focus on Lilith, and she on him. How far would you go to be with the one you love?
I have to tell you, this book is pretty dark. If you're like "oh, a romance with some horror elements"--flip it. It's a horror that revolves around a romance. Clay is a masterful horror writer and it is evident in this book. We explore the lines of love, obsession and even possession. Is love a form of possession? Someone takes up residence in your heart, mind, soul and you feel empty without them. I love the depiction of literal demonic possession here, comparing different bodies/souls to different wines. We also touch upon healing after a great traumatic experience. There’s a lot that this entertaining story leaves you pondering and thinking on when it comes to love and relationships. This one will stick with me. No hesitation in rating this 5 stars! I am SO GLAD that Clay decided to write a horromance!
Thank you to MIRA Books, HTP Books, and The Hive for the early ARC! Book releases 8/11/26. (I kind of love that I got to read it in February, the month of love.)
August 13, 2026
"I haven't slept. Not since I started seeing demons wherever I go."
I needed an adjustment period of a few chapters to catch onto who was alive, who was dead, who was inside whom, and who was just having a blast at a nightclub or the farmer's market.
This book is not what I think of as a romance: no meet cute, no hearts and flowers, no witty best pals playing secret matchmaker. The sex scenes, at least, were not too cringey - no turbid throbbings or velvety folds.
I'm kind of at a loss to describe the novel further. It was a strange and unusual experience. Literary horror fans should lick it up like spilled blood.
Thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for sharing.
I needed an adjustment period of a few chapters to catch onto who was alive, who was dead, who was inside whom, and who was just having a blast at a nightclub or the farmer's market.
This book is not what I think of as a romance: no meet cute, no hearts and flowers, no witty best pals playing secret matchmaker. The sex scenes, at least, were not too cringey - no turbid throbbings or velvety folds.
I'm kind of at a loss to describe the novel further. It was a strange and unusual experience. Literary horror fans should lick it up like spilled blood.
Thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for sharing.
Did Not Finish
May 27, 2026“I’ll swallow your soul”
DNF @ 70 pages.
I love horror. I love romance. I love horror-romance. Sadly, this one just didn’t connect for me.
I've read just about everything Clay has released. From short stories, to novellas, to novels, and even graphic novels. I have read and loved them all. It guts me to say this but this was confusing and did nothing for me. I wasn't even entertained. It was me reading and reading the same pages over because I felt as if I was missing something.
I've tried. Oh, satan! How I've tried to read this. Alas, it's just not for me.
DNF @ 70 pages.
I love horror. I love romance. I love horror-romance. Sadly, this one just didn’t connect for me.
I've read just about everything Clay has released. From short stories, to novellas, to novels, and even graphic novels. I have read and loved them all. It guts me to say this but this was confusing and did nothing for me. I wasn't even entertained. It was me reading and reading the same pages over because I felt as if I was missing something.
I've tried. Oh, satan! How I've tried to read this. Alas, it's just not for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the June 2026 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2026/07... (link live 7/9/26 at 7am central)
Three Words The Describe This Book: Horroromance, existentially terrifying, possession/obsession
Love is messy— literally. But it is.
Horror first, romance second. Both excellent. But romance fans, beware, this is Horror with a very good romance. The only thing keeping this from 5 stars is that there were some details that were either missing or introduced and then not returned to.
But that is a minor quibble. This is a VERY fun read and a great example of how the Horroromance genre could be a thing. It is NOT paranormal romance (which many are and that is romance first).
Let's explore that more. Both are genres that appeal to the emotions. Neither works if you cannot feel the fear and the love. Check on both. The terror is full body. It begins uneasy and tricks you into thinking is is going to be quirky only, but NO, this is full out existential terror by the end. Jordan was dead for 2.5 mins after his accident. We know this from the start. But he came back. And that allows him to be able to see the demons in our midst.
Intersting….okay but then as the romance heats up so does the information behind Jordan’s place in this world. We see into more of the demons and their power and what it means about human nature, and more. Existential terror.
But also, the romance. It is a satisfying romance, it honors the story beats that are required while introducing it’s own unique characters and frame. We get both sides of the romances parties POV. Jordan as he deals with healing reentering the able bodied world— one that is changing quickly as he was a bike messenger in 2002 and now it is 2003 and phones and the internet are expanding and bike messengers are going the way of dinosaurs. That was also a nice touch for frame and to increase unease.
When Jordan meet Lilith, she was perfect for him. But as we know from the start— Lilith is a demon. Not human and she has her own relationship scars— just different kind of relationship— she committed to a body that kept her trapped for years (read you will see). We follow Lilith as she jumps from body to body as people touch each other— tasting their souls and comparing them to wines (nice touch) . We watch her deal with her issues and see how the two compromise to have the love relationships that works best for them. There are bumps but they are very believable even considering the fast that she is a demon.
That was vague but I don’t want to give away the chills and love. The Swoons and Screams-- I will work that into the review. Also the title is great— literal yes, but then it surprises you how deep it goes. Their happily ever after is also there but it a horror one too.
I loved a few themes, plot points here. First, love is a kind of obsession or is it a possession. The possession stuff in general was used to perfection in the romance parts here. Dubious consent was an obvious one-- If Lilith is possessing the bodies Jordan is having sex with-- is that consent. Chapman explores this through the narrative and it was well done. But also, Jordan is so obsessed with Lilith and she with him that it feels like possession. Chapman explores this through a ramping up of the horror angles here. But also when you are in love-- it becomes an obsession. That line is very thin.
Another theme-- the darkness inside all humans. Even if it is small. But often it is not. It is hidden, and demons exploit it to possess people.
The idea that demons are out there possessing people all the time even if for a moment. Terrifying and felt with your whole body as a reader.
The best readalike is Spread Me by Gailey. If you liked that you will like this. My Sister the Serial Killer fans would love this as well. After you read this one, you will see it too.
Hellhound Heart by Barker. And many stories by Eric LaRocca work as well because they are often focused on an obsessive love relationship.
Three Words The Describe This Book: Horroromance, existentially terrifying, possession/obsession
Love is messy— literally. But it is.
Horror first, romance second. Both excellent. But romance fans, beware, this is Horror with a very good romance. The only thing keeping this from 5 stars is that there were some details that were either missing or introduced and then not returned to.
But that is a minor quibble. This is a VERY fun read and a great example of how the Horroromance genre could be a thing. It is NOT paranormal romance (which many are and that is romance first).
Let's explore that more. Both are genres that appeal to the emotions. Neither works if you cannot feel the fear and the love. Check on both. The terror is full body. It begins uneasy and tricks you into thinking is is going to be quirky only, but NO, this is full out existential terror by the end. Jordan was dead for 2.5 mins after his accident. We know this from the start. But he came back. And that allows him to be able to see the demons in our midst.
Intersting….okay but then as the romance heats up so does the information behind Jordan’s place in this world. We see into more of the demons and their power and what it means about human nature, and more. Existential terror.
But also, the romance. It is a satisfying romance, it honors the story beats that are required while introducing it’s own unique characters and frame. We get both sides of the romances parties POV. Jordan as he deals with healing reentering the able bodied world— one that is changing quickly as he was a bike messenger in 2002 and now it is 2003 and phones and the internet are expanding and bike messengers are going the way of dinosaurs. That was also a nice touch for frame and to increase unease.
When Jordan meet Lilith, she was perfect for him. But as we know from the start— Lilith is a demon. Not human and she has her own relationship scars— just different kind of relationship— she committed to a body that kept her trapped for years (read you will see). We follow Lilith as she jumps from body to body as people touch each other— tasting their souls and comparing them to wines (nice touch) . We watch her deal with her issues and see how the two compromise to have the love relationships that works best for them. There are bumps but they are very believable even considering the fast that she is a demon.
That was vague but I don’t want to give away the chills and love. The Swoons and Screams-- I will work that into the review. Also the title is great— literal yes, but then it surprises you how deep it goes. Their happily ever after is also there but it a horror one too.
I loved a few themes, plot points here. First, love is a kind of obsession or is it a possession. The possession stuff in general was used to perfection in the romance parts here. Dubious consent was an obvious one-- If Lilith is possessing the bodies Jordan is having sex with-- is that consent. Chapman explores this through the narrative and it was well done. But also, Jordan is so obsessed with Lilith and she with him that it feels like possession. Chapman explores this through a ramping up of the horror angles here. But also when you are in love-- it becomes an obsession. That line is very thin.
Another theme-- the darkness inside all humans. Even if it is small. But often it is not. It is hidden, and demons exploit it to possess people.
The idea that demons are out there possessing people all the time even if for a moment. Terrifying and felt with your whole body as a reader.
The best readalike is Spread Me by Gailey. If you liked that you will like this. My Sister the Serial Killer fans would love this as well. After you read this one, you will see it too.
Hellhound Heart by Barker. And many stories by Eric LaRocca work as well because they are often focused on an obsessive love relationship.
February 18, 2026
As soon as this was available to request on NetGalley, I requested! I have loved every book I’ve read by Clay, but I was nervous diving into horrormance because I didn’t know what to expect. Would it be horror with some spicy scenes? Dark romance? So many questions.
That said, IT. WAS. PERFECT. There were parts written so beautifully I questioned whether or not Clay secretly writes romance all the time! And not corny romance. Romance that makes you FEEL something. The constant comparison between love and possession was *chef’s kiss* There are dark elements and it’s definitely horror, but it’s so much more than that. If you love horror, read it. If you love love (and all its dark and twisted and messy glory) read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Hive for allowing me to read the ARC!
That said, IT. WAS. PERFECT. There were parts written so beautifully I questioned whether or not Clay secretly writes romance all the time! And not corny romance. Romance that makes you FEEL something. The constant comparison between love and possession was *chef’s kiss* There are dark elements and it’s definitely horror, but it’s so much more than that. If you love horror, read it. If you love love (and all its dark and twisted and messy glory) read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Hive for allowing me to read the ARC!
August 11, 2026
Oh Clay, you demon you!! Spicy, scary and down right dark, Clay McLeod Chapman has written one hell of a possession story. This is some of his most beautiful prose yet. The metaphors, the imagery, just stunning! I immediately fell in love with our MC Jordan. He was haunted and broken the night he met Lilith, and little did he know just how demonic she was. This is definitely a dark romance, and Clay gave us all the beauty and desperation of a new love. His words embrace you as you dive deeper into this strange but beautiful relationship between two different beings. This is no mere possession, this is a merging of souls. Give me more of this horrormance please!
July 28, 2026
Are you a fan of horror?
Are you a fan of romance?
Are you a fan of demons riding people like skin suits planting little seeds of sin and somehow catching feelings along the way?
𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯... 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 (𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧?) 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤.
Devil Inside is such an entertaining read!
It's wildly bingeable, with short, staccato sentences that fuel a chaotic, entertaining-as-hell story.
We follow Jordan, a man who returns from the dead after a traumatic accident, struggling to find his new normal until he meets Lilith- a wild, mysterious woman with many faces.
I absolutely loved Clay's take on demons.
On one hand, you get all the gloriously campy possession tropes: levitating off the bed, bodies bending into impossible shapes, speaking in tongues...
On the other, demons slip in and out of human hosts like commuters changing trains, wearing people like skin suits. It's creepy, funny, and feels surprisingly fresh.
First and foremost, this is horror.
It's unsettling, genuinely chilling, and filled with dark side stories that linger.
But it's also... weirdly sexy. Weirdly romantic. In the most delightfully messed-up way.
Because is possessing someone's heart really all that different from possessing their soul?
𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯... 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 (𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧?) 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤.
Devil Inside is such an entertaining read!
It's wildly bingeable, with short, staccato sentences that fuel a chaotic, entertaining-as-hell story.
We follow Jordan, a man who returns from the dead after a traumatic accident, struggling to find his new normal until he meets Lilith- a wild, mysterious woman with many faces.
I absolutely loved Clay's take on demons.
On one hand, you get all the gloriously campy possession tropes: levitating off the bed, bodies bending into impossible shapes, speaking in tongues...
On the other, demons slip in and out of human hosts like commuters changing trains, wearing people like skin suits. It's creepy, funny, and feels surprisingly fresh.
First and foremost, this is horror.
It's unsettling, genuinely chilling, and filled with dark side stories that linger.
But it's also... weirdly sexy. Weirdly romantic. In the most delightfully messed-up way.
Because is possessing someone's heart really all that different from possessing their soul?
May 6, 2026
😈🖤 Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman 🖤😈
This one didn’t click for me.
🩸 What to Expect
• Horrormance
• Possession
• Mysterious woman
• Psychological unraveling
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
📝 Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
This one didn’t click for me.
🩸 What to Expect
• Horrormance
• Possession
• Mysterious woman
• Psychological unraveling
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
📝 Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
August 17, 2026
The nitty-gritty: Horror and romance combine in some interesting ways in Devil Inside, a dark but oddly sweet demonic possession tale.
In his latest horror novel, Clay McLeod Chapman takes the idea of demonic possession and turns it into a love story, and while that might sound crazy, I have to say it really worked for me. Devil Inside is also very restrained for the author (his last few books have been off the charts bonkers!), which is probably another reason I enjoyed it so much.
Jordan is a bike courier, braving the city traffic to pick up and deliver packages as quickly as possible. He’s had his fair share of bike related injuries over the years, but his latest is by far the worst. After running a red light in order to to get to a delivery on time, Jordan is hit by a car and ends up in a coma. When he wakes up in the hospital, he’s told he was official dead for two minutes.
Fast forward a year, and Jordan has recovered from his ordeal, at least physically. Mentally, he’s not so sure. He feels empty inside, and he’s having weird nightmares. One evening at a bar, he meets a mysterious woman named Lilith and there’s an instant attraction between the two. There’s something about Lilith that draws him in, and before long Jordan realizes he’s become obsessed.
But Lilith isn’t an ordinary woman, and she wants something from Jordan he’s not willing to give her.
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to tell you that Lilith is a demon, and in order to exist on the mortal plane, she must inhabit a human body. Part of the fun of this story is watching Lilith jump from person to person, which gets confusing when Jordan tries to find her, since she can’t stay in any one body for too long. I think one of the points Chapman is making is that it shouldn’t matter what a person looks like on the outside—it’s what’s inside that’s important. The fact that the woman Jordan thinks is Lilith is only a “vessel” is a concept that takes him a while to come to terms with.
Although there really isn’t much of a plot to Devil Inside other than what I’ve already talked about, the very strange relationship between Jordan and Lilith was the main draw for me. Yes, the story is horrific at times. Lilith is possessing people without their knowledge (although supposedly she whispers in their mind “let me in” before jumping in), taking over their bodies and minds, and doing whatever the hell she wants to before leaving. There are also a few chapters with random characters who seem to be possessed (whether by Lilith or another demon, it isn’t clear). Some of these turn extremely violent, and while I liked these extra bits of horror, I didn’t quite see how they fit into the rest of the story.
The main attraction is the very dark love story between the two main characters. Both are nicely developed and their personalities seem to complement each other. Lilith compares each vessel she enters to a different type of wine, and I thought that was a clever way of summing up a person’s essence. She’s also evil in the sense that she doesn’t care for the people she inhabits, she only wants to have a good time. Jordan is more of a tortured soul, permanently changed by his accident, and Lilith seems to fill a hole inside him. Their odd relationship is a constant thread throughout the story, and all the other elements revolve around it.
Lots of reviewers are talking about the lack of consent (or very dubious consent) in the story. Jordan makes a point of insisting that Lilith not possess him, so at least he’s aware of her antics (although you’ll have to read the book to see if Lilith sticks to her promise). One of the more shocking elements happens to Cara, the woman Lilith is possessing when she first meets Jordan. She and Jordan have sex, and you can see where this is going. Honestly, it didn’t bother me too much. This is horror, after all, and non consensual sex falls under the category of “horror” for sure. But it's something to be aware of, and obviously many readers will react differently than I did.
Despite the darker themes, the story has some very sweet, romantic moments, which I was not expecting. I really wanted their relationship to work out, although I couldn’t figure out how they could stay together long term. Luckily, Chapman did, and I thought the ending was absolutely perfect. Devil Inside won’t be for everyone, but Clay McLeod Chapman fans will no doubt love it.
Big thanks to Kaye Publicity and the publisher for providing a review copy. Above quote was taken from an uncorrected proof and may differ in the final version of the book.
In his latest horror novel, Clay McLeod Chapman takes the idea of demonic possession and turns it into a love story, and while that might sound crazy, I have to say it really worked for me. Devil Inside is also very restrained for the author (his last few books have been off the charts bonkers!), which is probably another reason I enjoyed it so much.
Jordan is a bike courier, braving the city traffic to pick up and deliver packages as quickly as possible. He’s had his fair share of bike related injuries over the years, but his latest is by far the worst. After running a red light in order to to get to a delivery on time, Jordan is hit by a car and ends up in a coma. When he wakes up in the hospital, he’s told he was official dead for two minutes.
Fast forward a year, and Jordan has recovered from his ordeal, at least physically. Mentally, he’s not so sure. He feels empty inside, and he’s having weird nightmares. One evening at a bar, he meets a mysterious woman named Lilith and there’s an instant attraction between the two. There’s something about Lilith that draws him in, and before long Jordan realizes he’s become obsessed.
But Lilith isn’t an ordinary woman, and she wants something from Jordan he’s not willing to give her.
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to tell you that Lilith is a demon, and in order to exist on the mortal plane, she must inhabit a human body. Part of the fun of this story is watching Lilith jump from person to person, which gets confusing when Jordan tries to find her, since she can’t stay in any one body for too long. I think one of the points Chapman is making is that it shouldn’t matter what a person looks like on the outside—it’s what’s inside that’s important. The fact that the woman Jordan thinks is Lilith is only a “vessel” is a concept that takes him a while to come to terms with.
Although there really isn’t much of a plot to Devil Inside other than what I’ve already talked about, the very strange relationship between Jordan and Lilith was the main draw for me. Yes, the story is horrific at times. Lilith is possessing people without their knowledge (although supposedly she whispers in their mind “let me in” before jumping in), taking over their bodies and minds, and doing whatever the hell she wants to before leaving. There are also a few chapters with random characters who seem to be possessed (whether by Lilith or another demon, it isn’t clear). Some of these turn extremely violent, and while I liked these extra bits of horror, I didn’t quite see how they fit into the rest of the story.
The main attraction is the very dark love story between the two main characters. Both are nicely developed and their personalities seem to complement each other. Lilith compares each vessel she enters to a different type of wine, and I thought that was a clever way of summing up a person’s essence. She’s also evil in the sense that she doesn’t care for the people she inhabits, she only wants to have a good time. Jordan is more of a tortured soul, permanently changed by his accident, and Lilith seems to fill a hole inside him. Their odd relationship is a constant thread throughout the story, and all the other elements revolve around it.
Lots of reviewers are talking about the lack of consent (or very dubious consent) in the story. Jordan makes a point of insisting that Lilith not possess him, so at least he’s aware of her antics (although you’ll have to read the book to see if Lilith sticks to her promise). One of the more shocking elements happens to Cara, the woman Lilith is possessing when she first meets Jordan. She and Jordan have sex, and you can see where this is going. Honestly, it didn’t bother me too much. This is horror, after all, and non consensual sex falls under the category of “horror” for sure. But it's something to be aware of, and obviously many readers will react differently than I did.
Despite the darker themes, the story has some very sweet, romantic moments, which I was not expecting. I really wanted their relationship to work out, although I couldn’t figure out how they could stay together long term. Luckily, Chapman did, and I thought the ending was absolutely perfect. Devil Inside won’t be for everyone, but Clay McLeod Chapman fans will no doubt love it.
Big thanks to Kaye Publicity and the publisher for providing a review copy. Above quote was taken from an uncorrected proof and may differ in the final version of the book.
August 18, 2026
First thing first ... Can we please start with THAT COVER?
Because I'm not even going to pretend otherwise: I requested this book because of the cover. Purple and green are some of my favorite colors and the second I saw it I basically went, "Yep. I need that."
So... Five stars for the cover alone.
Unfortunately, the story itself didn't work quite as well for me.
And that's particularly disappointing because the premise sounded DELICIOUS.
Jordan is an adrenaline junkie who works as a bike courier and prides himself on making deliveries ridiculously fast. After accepting a particularly tight delivery and betting his friends that he can make it on time, things go horribly wrong when he collides with a car and nearly dies.
He survives, but afterward something is... off.
Following several days in a coma, Jordan becomes increasingly withdrawn. He feels almost dead inside, everything around him seems different, and he begins seeing disturbing things in the people around him.
And then he meets Lilith.
Their connection is immediate, strange, intense, and very physical, but Lilith is anything but an ordinary woman. When she disappears and seemingly returns wearing an entirely different face, Jordan's already complicated reality becomes even more chaotic.
On paper?
SIGN. ME. UP!!!! Me & my other 6 personalities too!
In execution, though, I had such a difficult time connecting with the story.
Whenever Jordan and Lilith were together, I usually became interested again. Their encounters brought back some of the intensity and weirdness that initially attracted me to the premise. But whenever they separated and went back to their individual stories, I felt that intensity disappear.
This happened several times, and eventually it started feeling like the characters were going around in circles. The story would pull me back in, lose me again, pull me back in... and repeat.
Unfortunately, that made this surprisingly difficult for me to finish. I usually fly through books when I'm invested, but this one took me several days because I kept putting it down. I wanted to love it, the concept is wonderfully weird, dark and intriguing, but I just never developed the connection with the characters or story that I needed.
There ARE things here that I enjoyed, particularly Jordan and Lilith's stranger moments together, and I can easily imagine this working much better for readers who connect with the writing style and its particular brand of chaos.
For me, though, this ended up being one of those unfortunate cases of loving the premise much more than the execution.
Story: ⭐⭐⭐
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Look, nobody said I couldn't have a separate rating system.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
Because I'm not even going to pretend otherwise: I requested this book because of the cover. Purple and green are some of my favorite colors and the second I saw it I basically went, "Yep. I need that."
So... Five stars for the cover alone.
Unfortunately, the story itself didn't work quite as well for me.
And that's particularly disappointing because the premise sounded DELICIOUS.
Jordan is an adrenaline junkie who works as a bike courier and prides himself on making deliveries ridiculously fast. After accepting a particularly tight delivery and betting his friends that he can make it on time, things go horribly wrong when he collides with a car and nearly dies.
He survives, but afterward something is... off.
Following several days in a coma, Jordan becomes increasingly withdrawn. He feels almost dead inside, everything around him seems different, and he begins seeing disturbing things in the people around him.
And then he meets Lilith.
Their connection is immediate, strange, intense, and very physical, but Lilith is anything but an ordinary woman. When she disappears and seemingly returns wearing an entirely different face, Jordan's already complicated reality becomes even more chaotic.
On paper?
SIGN. ME. UP!!!! Me & my other 6 personalities too!
In execution, though, I had such a difficult time connecting with the story.
Whenever Jordan and Lilith were together, I usually became interested again. Their encounters brought back some of the intensity and weirdness that initially attracted me to the premise. But whenever they separated and went back to their individual stories, I felt that intensity disappear.
This happened several times, and eventually it started feeling like the characters were going around in circles. The story would pull me back in, lose me again, pull me back in... and repeat.
Unfortunately, that made this surprisingly difficult for me to finish. I usually fly through books when I'm invested, but this one took me several days because I kept putting it down. I wanted to love it, the concept is wonderfully weird, dark and intriguing, but I just never developed the connection with the characters or story that I needed.
There ARE things here that I enjoyed, particularly Jordan and Lilith's stranger moments together, and I can easily imagine this working much better for readers who connect with the writing style and its particular brand of chaos.
For me, though, this ended up being one of those unfortunate cases of loving the premise much more than the execution.
Story: ⭐⭐⭐
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Look, nobody said I couldn't have a separate rating system.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
Did Not Finish
July 9, 2026Sadly, as fantastic as Clay McLeod Chapman’s writing is, I have to tap out at 50%.
I really struggled with this decision because I don’t enjoy DNFing books, especially by an author I genuinely love. But this has nothing to do with the author or the quality of the writing.
I’ve just never been a romance reader. I figured if anyone could sell me on the genre, it would be Clay McLeod Chapman writing a horror romance… but alas, romance just isn’t for me.
His writing absolutely kept me coming back, but the romance elements also had me dreading picking it back up. So, I’m going to put this one down and grab one of his other books instead. 😂
I really struggled with this decision because I don’t enjoy DNFing books, especially by an author I genuinely love. But this has nothing to do with the author or the quality of the writing.
I’ve just never been a romance reader. I figured if anyone could sell me on the genre, it would be Clay McLeod Chapman writing a horror romance… but alas, romance just isn’t for me.
His writing absolutely kept me coming back, but the romance elements also had me dreading picking it back up. So, I’m going to put this one down and grab one of his other books instead. 😂
August 19, 2026
After a bike accident where Jordan was dead for a few minutes, he's out of the hospital and healing, trying to reintegrate back into society, when he meets Lilith, and they hit it off immediately. The only problem is, the next time he sees Lilith, she's wearing a different face/body. Turns out Lilith is a demon possessing different hosts which makes their relationship a little .. complicated (lol). I loved the writing here, it was just buzzing with frenetic energy, lots of punk rock vibes. The depictions of possession are super interesting too -- just passing through humans with a simple touch. A fun and unique read!
August 16, 2026
this is ***HORROR*** romance, folks!! your squeamishness is the entire point 👍
August 4, 2026
1.5⭐️
And honestly, that’s being generous.
Oof. This was a struggle to get through. The writing felt incredibly choppy and all over the place. Not because it was complex, but because it lacked any real flow, making it hard to stay engaged.
The premise had so much promise, which makes it even more disappointing that it ultimately fell so flat. I kept waiting for it to come together, but it never really did. By the end, I was just relieved to be finished.
And honestly, that’s being generous.
Oof. This was a struggle to get through. The writing felt incredibly choppy and all over the place. Not because it was complex, but because it lacked any real flow, making it hard to stay engaged.
The premise had so much promise, which makes it even more disappointing that it ultimately fell so flat. I kept waiting for it to come together, but it never really did. By the end, I was just relieved to be finished.
April 13, 2026
5⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy that you provided me with!!
Horror writers should dip into the romance genre more often. Horror and romance can intertwine beautifully because they both consume you so much. My favorite quote from this book was “Love is possession. We invite them in. Let them take over”
This reminds me a bit of those early 2000s emo love stories where one of the characters needs someone to save them, but in a corny way where it’s someone out of the ‘norm’ that they fall in love with. I crave those stories for the nostalgia. I also enjoyed how there was a lot of metaphors between Jordan being stuck in a coma and him being possessed by demons.
Horror writers should dip into the romance genre more often. Horror and romance can intertwine beautifully because they both consume you so much. My favorite quote from this book was “Love is possession. We invite them in. Let them take over”
This reminds me a bit of those early 2000s emo love stories where one of the characters needs someone to save them, but in a corny way where it’s someone out of the ‘norm’ that they fall in love with. I crave those stories for the nostalgia. I also enjoyed how there was a lot of metaphors between Jordan being stuck in a coma and him being possessed by demons.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Books by
Clay McLeod Chapman
have become must-reads for me, but a romance novel wrapped up the cloak of a horror novel made the decision even easier. Entering
Devil Inside
with open expectations and was extremely thrilled with the blend of horror, possession, obsession, greed, and toxic devotion that somehow worked so seamlessly. Devil Inside is yet another smash-hit from one of the great horror writers today.
After a traumatic accident that almost cost Jordan his life, he’s finally starting to feel normal again. Well, maybe not normal. Everything tastes like ash, and when he looks at the people around him, their faces start to melt. At least he’s not dead, right? His friends are doing their best to get him back on his feet, maybe find someone to talk to, perhaps even find someone to take his mind off his last failed relationship.
Then he meets Lilith. The two share an instant connection but after a wild and passionate night together, she ghosts him. Jordan searches the city for Lilith, desperate to see her again. But when a woman claiming to be Lilith shows up, wearing a different face but knowing intimate details about Jordan, he worries he’s losing his grip on reality. As he grows closer to this mysterious woman, he discovers that happily ever afters sometimes come at a cost. How far will Lilith take him, and how much darkness will he embrace to find love?
Yes, Devil Inside is a mixture of horror and romance, but the latter definitely takes center stage, which was much appreciated and worked so well. Chapman understandably leans hard into the horror and unsettling side of things, creating a feverish atmosphere that really never let up. He somehow finds to weave in the sense of crawling dread even in the quieter moments.
The horror was main reason for reading this story, but it was surprising how effective Chapman made the romance aspect of the story. The relationship between our characters isn't sweet or comforting, but truly messy and emotionally raw. This felt less like your traditional romance novel and more realistically like to damaged humans spiraling towards each other, making the story feel even more compelling. The chemistry is intense from the outset and Chapman did an amazing job allowing us to understand why Jordan connotes to chase Lilith even when every instinct is saying run away.
I am always looking for a book that keeps me on my feet, not just a straightforward horror story. Chapman takes his amazing ability to craft a thrilling and engaging novel and creates a unique story that had me frightening and feeling emotional at the same time. It's a brutal horror, yet someone how a little sexy.
In the simplest terms Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman had me hooked into the chaos from the beginning. This novel is creepy, emotional, weirdly romantic, and full of the unsettling horror that I have come to expect from Chapman. Devil Inside is a brutal, sexy, nightmare of a horror that is impossible to look away from. Once again, Chapman has proven himself as one of the great horror authors writing books these days.
Devil Inside hits bookstores everywhere on August 11, 2026 from MIRA Books. The audiobook is available at Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Devil Inside from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
After a traumatic accident that almost cost Jordan his life, he’s finally starting to feel normal again. Well, maybe not normal. Everything tastes like ash, and when he looks at the people around him, their faces start to melt. At least he’s not dead, right? His friends are doing their best to get him back on his feet, maybe find someone to talk to, perhaps even find someone to take his mind off his last failed relationship.
Then he meets Lilith. The two share an instant connection but after a wild and passionate night together, she ghosts him. Jordan searches the city for Lilith, desperate to see her again. But when a woman claiming to be Lilith shows up, wearing a different face but knowing intimate details about Jordan, he worries he’s losing his grip on reality. As he grows closer to this mysterious woman, he discovers that happily ever afters sometimes come at a cost. How far will Lilith take him, and how much darkness will he embrace to find love?
Yes, Devil Inside is a mixture of horror and romance, but the latter definitely takes center stage, which was much appreciated and worked so well. Chapman understandably leans hard into the horror and unsettling side of things, creating a feverish atmosphere that really never let up. He somehow finds to weave in the sense of crawling dread even in the quieter moments.
The horror was main reason for reading this story, but it was surprising how effective Chapman made the romance aspect of the story. The relationship between our characters isn't sweet or comforting, but truly messy and emotionally raw. This felt less like your traditional romance novel and more realistically like to damaged humans spiraling towards each other, making the story feel even more compelling. The chemistry is intense from the outset and Chapman did an amazing job allowing us to understand why Jordan connotes to chase Lilith even when every instinct is saying run away.
I am always looking for a book that keeps me on my feet, not just a straightforward horror story. Chapman takes his amazing ability to craft a thrilling and engaging novel and creates a unique story that had me frightening and feeling emotional at the same time. It's a brutal horror, yet someone how a little sexy.
In the simplest terms Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman had me hooked into the chaos from the beginning. This novel is creepy, emotional, weirdly romantic, and full of the unsettling horror that I have come to expect from Chapman. Devil Inside is a brutal, sexy, nightmare of a horror that is impossible to look away from. Once again, Chapman has proven himself as one of the great horror authors writing books these days.
Devil Inside hits bookstores everywhere on August 11, 2026 from MIRA Books. The audiobook is available at Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Devil Inside from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
August 11, 2026
This review can also be found on my blog: https://smittenforfiction.ca/2026/08/...
Netgalley has this classified as a Mystery/Thriller romance and in my opinion that's going to attract the wrong readers. This is a horror story written with the structure of a romance novel.
Click Here for Content Warnings (may contain spoilers)
Three Words That Describe This Book: Romance, Demon, Obsession
Book Blurb (Description): "A man who's back from the dead meets a woman who's from somewhere even worse in Clay McLeod Chapman's new horrormance about love, possession, and just a little murder."
Appeal Factors
Read Alikes
Netgalley has this classified as a Mystery/Thriller romance and in my opinion that's going to attract the wrong readers. This is a horror story written with the structure of a romance novel.
Click Here for Content Warnings (may contain spoilers)
Three Words That Describe This Book: Romance, Demon, Obsession
Book Blurb (Description): "A man who's back from the dead meets a woman who's from somewhere even worse in Clay McLeod Chapman's new horrormance about love, possession, and just a little murder."
› After enjoying Wake Up and Open Your Eyes I was excited to receive a digital advance copy of Clay McLeod Chapman's newest novel, Devil Inside. For a long time I thought I didn't like romance books, but I'm realizing I like romance when it's not the main plot point. I like romance mixed with horror. Add a little humour, and that's stacked up to be a good time. At the beginning of the book there is a "Note on Horrormance" and it says "Horror and romance are two sides of the same coin: they're visceral and propulsive and terrifying and beautiful. One amplifies the other and the HEA (happily ever after) for a love story doesn't mean there isn't room for some brutal and scare moments." I couldn't agree more.
Here's a video of Clay talking about Devil Inside.
› First Line Prologue: "Let me tell you about the day I died."
› Jordan is a bicycle delivery person that works for a company called Hell on Wheels.
"Let me in...It begins with a whisper."
Lilith is a demon wandering Earth, compelling people to do bad things.
Jordan returns from the dead and undergoes a long recovery with physical therapy. He feels like he's lost a piece of himself, and doesn't know if he'll ever want to ride again. There's a darkness within him now. When Jordan and Lilith meet they fall hard for each other and this leads to very bad things happening to many people.
› These characters are so interesting and unique. Some of the scenes are super creepy, but we also get steamy romance and laugh out loud moments. I love McLeod Chapman's writing style and I like how it's thought-provoking. There is a discussion here to be had about consent and we must remember that Lilith is not a good, she's a demon. Jordan and Lilith do are very bad things and consent isn't considered. They also influence the darkness in people who make more bad decisions. These characters aren't kind people and you're probably going to find them unlikeable. Personally, I don't mind reading from the perspective of unlikeable characters. I was engaged from beginning to end. Some of my most favourite authors are the people who write in a way that they assume the audience is smart and they're going to be recognizing clues. Clay McLeod Chapman writes his scenes in a way that he wants the reader to meet him halfway and have some things figured out.
Appeal Factors
Storyline: character-driven, issue-oriented, unconventional
Pace: fast
Tone: angsty, dramatic, thought-provoking, dark, sinister, creepy/scary, disturbing, gruesome
Humour: dark humour
Writing Style: conversational, gritty
Character: brooding, complex, flawed, unlikeable, well-developed, multiple points of view
Read Alikes
The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White
The Lavender Blade by E. L. Deards
Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton
Devil Inside is an evocative, creepy, gritty, gruesome, funny, and steamy, story about obsession, demons, and romance. I highly recommend this one to readers who like their horror mixed with a little humour and a bunch of toxic romance who like unlikeable characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 17, 2026
Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman is a horrormance about a man who falls in love with a demon.
Horrormance is a new category that blends horror and romance. Devil Inside has more romance than I was expecting. Since the romance is with a body swapping demon, this is not a surface level romance. It is about finding a deeper love beneath the mortal coil. The horror comes from the fact that Lilith is a demon who finds this human tasty, and she is not the only one.
The love story is sinisterly sweet. Jordan has recently had a near death experience that left him feeling hollow. He occasionally sees people's flesh melting from their faces. Lilith is cursed to live as a demon after rejecting Adam in the Garden of Eden. She has spent centuries searching for something that will make her feel again. Jordan has something special, a taste and essence she wants to experience again.
Their love starts with a one night stand that leaves them both wanting more. Lilith has to learn boundaries. She can't keep going inside other people's minds and bodies without asking first. Jordan has to learn how to love the demon underneath the flesh.
There is one very spicy scene that I would give two and a half tamales. It is spicy but also disturbing. I have read two disturbing and spicy scenes this year, Devil Inside and Headlights by CJ Leede. Both made me feel the spice and the disturbed.
Chapman also has a lot of fun with love song lyrics. He will sneak them into the story and I'll find myself thinking, why did my brain just go to a George Michael song or INXS? It became a fun game trying to spot the song lyrics Chapman turns slightly creepy.
The pacing and plotting could have been better. The book reads quickly because of the short, staccato sentences, but for too long I felt like I was a floating head with nothing tangible to see, just thoughts. I have read Chapman before, and this is something he does, but some of the scenes, especially at the beginning, went on too long without giving me something to hold onto.
The A plot is the love story, and I think Chapman did a great job with it and had a lot of fun. The B plot involves the other demons, and it takes a long time for that story to become important. That is where most of the horror comes from, and Chapman can absolutely deliver horror. He may have delivered it too well because I wanted to see more of it. We only get glimpses throughout the story, and it takes until about 85% for that plot to really factor in. That was just too long for me.
The book does save itself with a great ending. The ending gives you both the feels and the chills. It knocked my rating up a half point.
Devil Inside is a messed up love story that could only come from a mind like Clay McLeod Chapman's.
I feel like the plot will appeal more to romance readers than horror readers. I would say the book is about 70% romance and 30% horror. There is enough of both that fans of either genre will have favorite scenes, and some of those favorite scenes might even be the same ones.
For fans of spicy scenes, there is one, but Chapman adds some seriously disturbing body horror to it.
The story reminded me a little of Supernatural Season 4 when Sam dates a demon for an arc. This story is much more interested in love than lust.
This book was a little mixed for me, but I will still lightly recommend Devil Inside. I like Chapman and his writing. Of the four books I've read from him, every story has been different, and I really appreciate that as a reader.
Horrormance is a new category that blends horror and romance. Devil Inside has more romance than I was expecting. Since the romance is with a body swapping demon, this is not a surface level romance. It is about finding a deeper love beneath the mortal coil. The horror comes from the fact that Lilith is a demon who finds this human tasty, and she is not the only one.
The love story is sinisterly sweet. Jordan has recently had a near death experience that left him feeling hollow. He occasionally sees people's flesh melting from their faces. Lilith is cursed to live as a demon after rejecting Adam in the Garden of Eden. She has spent centuries searching for something that will make her feel again. Jordan has something special, a taste and essence she wants to experience again.
Their love starts with a one night stand that leaves them both wanting more. Lilith has to learn boundaries. She can't keep going inside other people's minds and bodies without asking first. Jordan has to learn how to love the demon underneath the flesh.
There is one very spicy scene that I would give two and a half tamales. It is spicy but also disturbing. I have read two disturbing and spicy scenes this year, Devil Inside and Headlights by CJ Leede. Both made me feel the spice and the disturbed.
Chapman also has a lot of fun with love song lyrics. He will sneak them into the story and I'll find myself thinking, why did my brain just go to a George Michael song or INXS? It became a fun game trying to spot the song lyrics Chapman turns slightly creepy.
The pacing and plotting could have been better. The book reads quickly because of the short, staccato sentences, but for too long I felt like I was a floating head with nothing tangible to see, just thoughts. I have read Chapman before, and this is something he does, but some of the scenes, especially at the beginning, went on too long without giving me something to hold onto.
The A plot is the love story, and I think Chapman did a great job with it and had a lot of fun. The B plot involves the other demons, and it takes a long time for that story to become important. That is where most of the horror comes from, and Chapman can absolutely deliver horror. He may have delivered it too well because I wanted to see more of it. We only get glimpses throughout the story, and it takes until about 85% for that plot to really factor in. That was just too long for me.
The book does save itself with a great ending. The ending gives you both the feels and the chills. It knocked my rating up a half point.
Devil Inside is a messed up love story that could only come from a mind like Clay McLeod Chapman's.
I feel like the plot will appeal more to romance readers than horror readers. I would say the book is about 70% romance and 30% horror. There is enough of both that fans of either genre will have favorite scenes, and some of those favorite scenes might even be the same ones.
For fans of spicy scenes, there is one, but Chapman adds some seriously disturbing body horror to it.
The story reminded me a little of Supernatural Season 4 when Sam dates a demon for an arc. This story is much more interested in love than lust.
This book was a little mixed for me, but I will still lightly recommend Devil Inside. I like Chapman and his writing. Of the four books I've read from him, every story has been different, and I really appreciate that as a reader.
August 15, 2026
THE DEVIL INSIDE by Clay McLeod Chapman (horromance)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Audio& Physical
🔥😈😈🔥
"Let me in."
Possession, Obsession, Consumption
The audiobook with the dual narration of Soneela Nankani and Tim Page is perfection with the exact balance of sexy (wow), panic inducing and scary tones this story demands.
This story seduced me with it setting: 2003, mosh pits, music, museum, movie, all the things you would do when starting a relationship, but, you know with a demon. A sexy as hell demon, I was instantly obsessed with "Lilith".
The writing is sensory-inducing, the horror is subtle until it's not, it was like being hit with cold water and it was needed but then I chased the burn. The push and pull of emotions, the balance is a killer combination.
I'm used to Clay's writing causing visceral reactions; he's a master at it. Turns out (blush) he's able to channel that into to some downright hot scenes! And many deeper themes including the real intimacy of showing the real you to someone and opening up to the real them. 💞
Definitely recommend, like do not miss!!
Quick note on my comfort level, with romance. I was raised on Johanna Lindsey's novels, in my youth probably read about 50 of them, I'm used to every cliché of the virginal girl and the forbidden love scenario possible. No judgment if that's your thing. This is ain't that. Nor is it straight up raunchy porn, it's layered, suggestive, tender and brilliant.
🔥😈😈🔥
"Let me in."
Possession, Obsession, Consumption
The audiobook with the dual narration of Soneela Nankani and Tim Page is perfection with the exact balance of sexy (wow), panic inducing and scary tones this story demands.
This story seduced me with it setting: 2003, mosh pits, music, museum, movie, all the things you would do when starting a relationship, but, you know with a demon. A sexy as hell demon, I was instantly obsessed with "Lilith".
The writing is sensory-inducing, the horror is subtle until it's not, it was like being hit with cold water and it was needed but then I chased the burn. The push and pull of emotions, the balance is a killer combination.
I'm used to Clay's writing causing visceral reactions; he's a master at it. Turns out (blush) he's able to channel that into to some downright hot scenes! And many deeper themes including the real intimacy of showing the real you to someone and opening up to the real them. 💞
Definitely recommend, like do not miss!!
Quick note on my comfort level, with romance. I was raised on Johanna Lindsey's novels, in my youth probably read about 50 of them, I'm used to every cliché of the virginal girl and the forbidden love scenario possible. No judgment if that's your thing. This is ain't that. Nor is it straight up raunchy porn, it's layered, suggestive, tender and brilliant.
August 1, 2026
3.5/5
My takeaway? In general I think that love is a form of possession. However, on another level we’re dealing with actual demonic possession in this book, as in demons can inhabit humans and live as them.
The main female character, Lilith, a demon, passes into host bodies via touch. The main male character, Jordan, suffers a traumatic event that possibly makes him more suceptible to Lilith and drives a bit of obsession in them both.
I did go into this book blind. I’d read the description months before reading the ebook, so I had no clue about the storyline by the time I read the book (which is my preference). I liked the book well enough at face value, but as I spent time thinking about it, I started to feel a bit put off at how cavalierly possession and sex were treated in this story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy of Devil Inside.
My takeaway? In general I think that love is a form of possession. However, on another level we’re dealing with actual demonic possession in this book, as in demons can inhabit humans and live as them.
The main female character, Lilith, a demon, passes into host bodies via touch. The main male character, Jordan, suffers a traumatic event that possibly makes him more suceptible to Lilith and drives a bit of obsession in them both.
I did go into this book blind. I’d read the description months before reading the ebook, so I had no clue about the storyline by the time I read the book (which is my preference). I liked the book well enough at face value, but as I spent time thinking about it, I started to feel a bit put off at how cavalierly possession and sex were treated in this story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy of Devil Inside.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
August 20, 2026This review is difficult to write because I like Clay McLeod Chapman so much as writer and person (I follow him online.) His book “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes” was a solid 4 star read for me.
Many thanks to the publisher for a physical ARC of this book. Unfortunately, I’m DNFing it at 50%.
Initially, the book pulled me in with the first chapter. I enjoyed reading about Jordan and his escapades as a bike courier. I ride my bike multiple times during the week and Chapman’s descriptions of dodging traffic, loving the feel of wind on one’s face & the love of pedaling was spot on.
However, when the novel pivots to chapter two, from the perspective of Lillith, it becomes choppy like a staccato piece of music. I couldn’t understand what was happening and I was unable to picture anything in my head. At times, the sentences were 3-4 words long that felt like a laundry list of to-do items. I wanted more description and to understand what the demon was doing. I couldn’t picture who the character was, what they were doing, nor what was happening.
I never felt connected to the characters. I also didn’t care about the romance or relationship between Jordan & Lillith. Once the characters began to play “hide and seek-what body are you in now” in the museum; I put it down. As a horror reader, I found it silly. Romance readers who are attempting to cross over into horrormance will be incredibly frustrated over the lack of romance and connection between the two characters.
Since I did not finish reading the book; I won’t give it a star rating.
Many thanks to the publisher for a physical ARC of this book. Unfortunately, I’m DNFing it at 50%.
Initially, the book pulled me in with the first chapter. I enjoyed reading about Jordan and his escapades as a bike courier. I ride my bike multiple times during the week and Chapman’s descriptions of dodging traffic, loving the feel of wind on one’s face & the love of pedaling was spot on.
However, when the novel pivots to chapter two, from the perspective of Lillith, it becomes choppy like a staccato piece of music. I couldn’t understand what was happening and I was unable to picture anything in my head. At times, the sentences were 3-4 words long that felt like a laundry list of to-do items. I wanted more description and to understand what the demon was doing. I couldn’t picture who the character was, what they were doing, nor what was happening.
I never felt connected to the characters. I also didn’t care about the romance or relationship between Jordan & Lillith. Once the characters began to play “hide and seek-what body are you in now” in the museum; I put it down. As a horror reader, I found it silly. Romance readers who are attempting to cross over into horrormance will be incredibly frustrated over the lack of romance and connection between the two characters.
Since I did not finish reading the book; I won’t give it a star rating.
August 3, 2026
Oof. I was really looking forward to this one, so I’m very disappointed that it missed the mark for me. It just didn’t pull me in. I felt like I kept having to reread pages because I was zoning out or just having no idea what was going on. I hated the characters and did not at all care what happened to them. I do enjoy other books by Clay McLeod Chapman, so I don’t know why this one didn’t hit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this arc.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this arc.
August 17, 2026
How would you feel if your soul mate was a demon? And not just ANY demon... Lilith? Legion? Would you embrace it? Or would you run for the hills and hope they can't find you ever again? This was a wild ride and I can't help but wonder... would being possessed really be that bad? 😂
August 13, 2026
I still love you, Clay. This was just not my vibe.
August 9, 2026
DNF at 13% because both the narrators just were not for me.
I tried to keep going, told myself I’ll get used to it and will stop noticing. But I feel like I need to start over from the beginning bc I’ve been too distracted by the female narrator over exaggerating every single ‘sh’ sound to tell if I even I like the story so far.
I’m big sad! This might be great as an eyeball read but this audio isn’t for me.
I tried to keep going, told myself I’ll get used to it and will stop noticing. But I feel like I need to start over from the beginning bc I’ve been too distracted by the female narrator over exaggerating every single ‘sh’ sound to tell if I even I like the story so far.
I’m big sad! This might be great as an eyeball read but this audio isn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is for everyone who feels too much, everywhere, everything, all at once. And also probably for everyone who watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer and thought, “yeah, I’d like that very much”.
Jordan is a courier, and a fast one at that. He’s reckless with his life in a way that I can’t relate, but it makes him good at his job, so go off I guess. After a delivery gone very wrong and a wee stint of being very dead, Jordan is, a year later, no longer reckless. After his friends, who are not my favorite, drag him out to a club, he meets Lilith, a very hot, badass demon, who is arguably very out of Jordan’s league. The rest of the novel is their horrormance.
I have never read anything like this before, and now I’m going to be yearning and searching for my next horrormance. We get both perspectives, Jordan’s and Lilith’s: Jordan’s being much more, “boy meets girl, boy misses girl, boy realizes she’s a demon, does boy care that much?” and poor Lilith, being an infernal demon who now has to learn what self-doubt is (not fair, sorry Lilith, boys suck.) The story read like poetry. The more their lives intertwined, the moodier and more atmospheric the diction became. Especially as they both became more obsessive, there were chapters where Lilith felt frantic and I held my breath reading through her spirals. I found myself rooting for them, in whatever capacity they could be together; and especially invested in knowing how they were going to be together.
Jordan was definitely in the book, but I’m going to talk about my demon-girly Lilith because she stole the show. Poor, poor, poor Lilith. There’s something very unfair about a demon having self-doubt, because if even demons aren’t safe, what hope is there for the rest of us? Lilith is a strong, independent demon who meets Jordan and then goes through it: Does he like me? Does he want me as much as I want him? Reading her go through the motions as a demon, and still somehow be respectful (of course she is, she’s a queen) was genuinely a delight. Her points of view were so very rich and deep too; we as readers could tell she was going through it, she was feeling everything, all the time.
Okay I lied, I’ll talk about Jordan: Jordan was an interesting character, and reading about his nervousness and inability to move on after a near death experience, hit home with me. What worked about Lilith and Jordan is that they both felt very raw and real. Jordan desperately wanted to get back to his old life, and everyone around him wanted that too, but subconsciously, he knew he wasn’t the same person. Trauma changes you; you’re shaped differently afterward, and when the people around you can’t accept that, it makes accepting it yourself even harder. Lilith accepts Jordan, and that’s what makes their love story so believable and all-encompassing; finding someone who makes you feel settled, who accepts you, even if they’re a demon, that’s special.
Something else I want to note that was very cool: every time Lilith possessed someone, she described them like wine. I will now be only thinking about people’s personalities in whether or not I would drink them.
I’ve talked a lot about the romance, because overall I am a hopeless romantic and I love yearning; but the horror in this novel was doing work. It felt intimate, like uncanny valley, where paranoia gets under your skin and rots you inside out; it was actually rather suffocating. This is a horrormance: The diction used to describe intimate, romantic scenes could be compared viscerally to the grossest parts of the human body. There was no fluff, and the tension of Jordan going through the motions of courting a demon, while simultaneously being chased by a demon, kept me turning the page to see how the hell this possible train wreck was going to net out.
This was my first Clay McLeod Chapman novel and it will certainly not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed “Devil Inside”, it felt like sitting outside on a crisp fall day, listening to sad music, and yearning for nostalgia I’ll never have. So, how does one share a life with a demon? Great question, and you’ll have to read this book to find the answers.
Big thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jordan is a courier, and a fast one at that. He’s reckless with his life in a way that I can’t relate, but it makes him good at his job, so go off I guess. After a delivery gone very wrong and a wee stint of being very dead, Jordan is, a year later, no longer reckless. After his friends, who are not my favorite, drag him out to a club, he meets Lilith, a very hot, badass demon, who is arguably very out of Jordan’s league. The rest of the novel is their horrormance.
I have never read anything like this before, and now I’m going to be yearning and searching for my next horrormance. We get both perspectives, Jordan’s and Lilith’s: Jordan’s being much more, “boy meets girl, boy misses girl, boy realizes she’s a demon, does boy care that much?” and poor Lilith, being an infernal demon who now has to learn what self-doubt is (not fair, sorry Lilith, boys suck.) The story read like poetry. The more their lives intertwined, the moodier and more atmospheric the diction became. Especially as they both became more obsessive, there were chapters where Lilith felt frantic and I held my breath reading through her spirals. I found myself rooting for them, in whatever capacity they could be together; and especially invested in knowing how they were going to be together.
Jordan was definitely in the book, but I’m going to talk about my demon-girly Lilith because she stole the show. Poor, poor, poor Lilith. There’s something very unfair about a demon having self-doubt, because if even demons aren’t safe, what hope is there for the rest of us? Lilith is a strong, independent demon who meets Jordan and then goes through it: Does he like me? Does he want me as much as I want him? Reading her go through the motions as a demon, and still somehow be respectful (of course she is, she’s a queen) was genuinely a delight. Her points of view were so very rich and deep too; we as readers could tell she was going through it, she was feeling everything, all the time.
Okay I lied, I’ll talk about Jordan: Jordan was an interesting character, and reading about his nervousness and inability to move on after a near death experience, hit home with me. What worked about Lilith and Jordan is that they both felt very raw and real. Jordan desperately wanted to get back to his old life, and everyone around him wanted that too, but subconsciously, he knew he wasn’t the same person. Trauma changes you; you’re shaped differently afterward, and when the people around you can’t accept that, it makes accepting it yourself even harder. Lilith accepts Jordan, and that’s what makes their love story so believable and all-encompassing; finding someone who makes you feel settled, who accepts you, even if they’re a demon, that’s special.
Something else I want to note that was very cool: every time Lilith possessed someone, she described them like wine. I will now be only thinking about people’s personalities in whether or not I would drink them.
I’ve talked a lot about the romance, because overall I am a hopeless romantic and I love yearning; but the horror in this novel was doing work. It felt intimate, like uncanny valley, where paranoia gets under your skin and rots you inside out; it was actually rather suffocating. This is a horrormance: The diction used to describe intimate, romantic scenes could be compared viscerally to the grossest parts of the human body. There was no fluff, and the tension of Jordan going through the motions of courting a demon, while simultaneously being chased by a demon, kept me turning the page to see how the hell this possible train wreck was going to net out.
This was my first Clay McLeod Chapman novel and it will certainly not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed “Devil Inside”, it felt like sitting outside on a crisp fall day, listening to sad music, and yearning for nostalgia I’ll never have. So, how does one share a life with a demon? Great question, and you’ll have to read this book to find the answers.
Big thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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