The Demon Star

by Jesse Aragon

Gods rule this planet. Demons stalk its canyons while Kings beg for mercy. Can three mere humans rewrite its destiny?

The otherworldly religious conflict of Dune, the cosmic strangeness of Gideon the Ninth, and the heart-pounding action of Red Rising converge in this horror-tinged epic science fantasy debut.

Ysira Naktis was a human sacrifice, marked for death. Unlike the thousands ‘harvested’ each year, though, she did the unthinkable. She survived—and what she brought back with her could change the fate of worlds.

When Ysira’s estranged son is chosen to become the vessel of a god-killing demon, she is faced with a choice: allow him to harness cosmic power at an unspeakable cost, or doom millions to save him. She finds an unlikely ally in Brother Jacen Kheris, once a gifted exorcist, now a guilt-ridden addict, desperate for purpose.

From a demon-haunted canyon to a starbound satellite, they must battle their way through cultists, aliens, and the gods themselves. The truths they unearth are deeper and more sinister than anything they could have imagined.

In this cinematic thrill ride, Jesse Aragon plunges us into a world as intricate and inventive as it is brutal.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Adult, Fiction, Queer, Science Fiction Fantasy

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

space fantasy author

THE DEMON STAR (2026)

Reviews

[Jesse Aragon]

This is my debut novel! As ARCs start to make their way out into the world, I’m stopping by to provide some context and content warnings before I dip out of this space forever!

✨ The Demon Star is a science fantasy/space opera novel. In style and content, it’s closer to epic fantasy than science fiction.

👿 I wrote TDS for an adult audience. CWs below the cut.

🪱 For more information, news, artwork, and memes if you’re into that, you can visit my website, or see the pinned post on my author Instagram!

Happy reading 🙂

CWs (extremely mild spoilers):



This book contains graphic violence, gore, and strong horror elements. There are detailed on-page depictions of human experimentation, torture, cannibalism, child death, and animal death.

The story takes place in a repressive theocratic society, and deals extensively with the implications of that--namely, indoctrination, abuse, cultural erasure/forced assimilation, and depression with a heavy existential component.

One POV character deals with severe mental illness, self harm, and alcoholism. Suicide is discussed, with one brief on-page depiction.

A major character, who is a child, struggles with internalized ableism. He is the target of ableist language throughout the novel, including on-page emotional abuse by a parent.

The use of SFF elements like telepathy and possession may prove triggering for readers sensitive to issues of bodily autonomy and consent. Sexual abuse is referenced, but not depicted on-page. One POV character's backstory involves teenage pregnancy and childbirth.

Both POV characters are queer, as are many supporting characters. This is considered normal in TDS's setting. None of the abuse depicted is rooted in homophobia, transphobia, or misogyny.

While the book does include a romantic subplot, this is not a primary focus. There is mild, brief on-page sexual content.

These characters are intentionally written as morally ambiguous. I do not personally agree with all their actions/opinions/beliefs.

[Sara Omer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with compelling and merciless morally gray characters I rooted for, The Demon Star made me feel a sense of wonder I haven't experienced since reading Dune for the first time. For fans of desert worlds, mothers who will elevate their children to godhood to survive and thrive, and worms (Aragon's are much smaller, but just as terrifying). But with tortured, alcoholic, catholic-inspired psychic priests! Demonic possession!?? Apocalyptic reapings organized by alien overlords! Horrors beyond comprehension! This one sex scene that actually killed me (and then resuscitated me)!

My official blurb: Aragorn’s science-fantasy epic infected me with wonder and creeping dread. The Demon Star is a testament to how desperation turns the power-starved into monsters, and in a brutal world oppressed by alien gods, I would bow at Ysira and Jacen’s feet.

[Nicholas Perez]

LET'S GO!!!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checking in at 40%. Stars may change (go up), not likely to go down.

Aragon is a master at setting and action. A lot is packed into the first 200 pages. Ramps up the viscera (literal viscera) and the (necessary, not gratuitous) violence. What I would really have liked more of is the initial layup. We have a very brief encounter with a villain that kind of kicks off the main plot. The motivations and interactions there go by so fast it's a bit opaque. As other revelations do come later, so might this, so I reserve a final judgment.

The two protagonists are compelling, with intriguing pasts. There's more than a little element of a class reunion going on: nearly everyone in the story has a painful and interconnected past that gradually comes to light. (I am trying to be vague to avoid spoilerizing).

I am blown away by the scope and scale of the world building, intrigued by the originality of the fantasy-science, and thrilled to see this book finally nearly out in the wild.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. This post will be updated.

Update: book finished.

Five stars for some seriously bold choices that suspend traditional heroics... I loved the ending, and its choice of narrator.There is a revolution and an epic battle that doesn't shy away from sacrifice. There are some deep questions asked here, and I appreciate the non didactic no easy answers aspect. More than a bit of Dune in some of this, which isn't a bad thing. My biggest point of critique is I would have liked a little more internality that was felt and shown, rather than told. That might be a personal taste thing; to do more would have lengthened the narrative and perhaps slowed down the action. I did find everyone believably flawed and very human. Or well, human-ish ) There is plenty of room for a sequel here, and a lot of questions raised by the ending (although it's a satisfying conclusion, in its own way.) This is not a traditional heroic journey... And that's what I love about it the most.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to even begin to review this BOOK!? It’s been 24hours since I finished and I’m still slack-jawed with wonder, with devastation, and that kind of buzzing excitement that happens when you’re really reminded why you LOVE to read. The Demon Star is a brilliant amalgamation of epic fantasy, space opera, and horror, melding all together into a story that is so immersive and finely-wrought I found myself essentially addicted to this book from the first chapter. Aragorn’s delivers compelling and INCREDIBLY nuanced characters I couldn’t help but ache for even as they slipped, tumbled, or catapulted themselves toward the shadier side of the morally gray spectrum. This saga features intense family relationships, religious trauma and dogma, addiction, evil alien overlords, demons, telepathy, violence galore, and even some cats! I really cannot emphasize enough how hard I plan to recommend this book to anyone who will listen. It has achieved “One of Bookseller Sarah’s ULTIMATE recs” and I cannot wait to see a final copy of it on my shelf!

[Rukman Ragas]

Jacen's hair is that white because the universe was trying tell y'all something

[Leah Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that this is a debut novel is kind of insane. 5 stars and will now be picking up everything she writes. ❤️‍🔥🩸🏜️

I loved every second of this book. It was gruesome, jaw dropping, and incredibly well-written. I can tell you with a definitive fact that this is absolutely going to blow up when it releases to the public.

The Demon Star is set in a desert world ruled by gods and also, somehow, terrorized by demons?? The Church in this book has to carry out human sacrifices through a thing called the harvest to please the gods. A lot of times, the sacrifices are identified when healing those overtaken by demons. In the first instance, it is a family member of one being healed.

The story kicks off with us meeting our main character, an exorcist priest with a severe drinking problem. Then we quickly meet a woman who survived being chosen as one of the sacrifices. Throughout the book they come to trust and rely on one other to discover the truth of the gods and demons ultimately leading to fueling the flames of rebellion.

Anyone can read this, no matter your experience with the sci-fi/fantasy genre; because it is meant to be easy to read. I feel like you don’t see that often anymore. This book was the perfect amount of pacing, world-building, and plot. Ya’ll know I am a sucker for world building and I felt so connected to the desert lands almost immediately. Which anyone that knows me also knows I would never in a million years go near a hot ass desert. It reminded me a ton of Dune (movies because I haven’t read those yet) or setting of Aladdin.

I HIGHLY recommend you pick this one up when it hits the market in July 2026.

[Ricky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really solid debut! The world and Mythos is so rich and developed, which kept me quite engrossed. Could be the makings of a very solid Sci-Fi horror saga, if that’s where the author intends for it to go. Really great cosmic horror as well.

I also really appreciate the main set of characters developments, everyone changes A LOT which can be rare for sweeping epics like this. If Dune, FromSoft games (Elden ring, dark souls), and Lovecraft had a baby!

My only minor gripe is I feel the character of Nines is underdeveloped, we just don’t spend enough time with her, but I can see that changing in a potential sequel.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique crafted blend of science fiction and fantasy from Jesse Argon. This debut novel is full of complex characters and relationships. The central conflict takes place in a world where demons choose human hosts and must be exorcised by those born with telepathic abilities. The world building is unique while still feeling familiar. Definitely check this one out when it releases in July.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really solid mix of sci-fi and fantasy, and the world building is easily the standout.

There’s a lot going on at the start with the magic system, history, and a fairly big cast, but I never felt lost. I actually really appreciated how the author kept naturally reminding you of key details through dialogue and character interactions, instead of just info-dumping everything at the beginning and moving on. It made it easy to stay immersed without needing to flip back and double check things.

By around 16%, everything felt very clear. I understood the plot, what the characters were working towards, how they were all connected, and why they were part of this journey. The world itself has depth, with its own hierarchy and history, but it never felt overly complicated or bogged down in heavy political intrigue.

The characters were another highlight. There’s a culturally diverse cast with really distinct appearances and beautiful, unique names, and I loved that there’s also fluidity in identity and sexuality woven in. Everyone has a strong, clear personality, so it’s easy to see where they fit in the bigger picture.

My only real issue was the pacing. It did feel a bit long in places, and I found myself checking my Kindle percentage a few times. Some sections could have been tightened to keep things moving.

I can see this doing really well on BookTok once it’s out, especially for readers who love detailed fantasy with a sci-fi edge. Definitely one to keep on your radar and add to your TBR.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that The Demon Star is a really solid debut novel. The premise is really what drew me to the book, I liked the take on gods and demons. The writing was also really well done.

I do think there were a few pacing issues particularly in part two. There was a chunk of chapters where we only read from one character’s perspective and to me it felt like that choice really slowed things down.

Overall, I think that this is a great book and highly recommend it.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this as an ARC

[Jason Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely great sci-fi and fantasy novel. Great world building and amazing characters. Amazing action and immersive world. Will definitely do a re-read soon.

[Anna Makowska · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best read of 2026 so far, but I expect to come back on release day in 3 months and this verdict will still stand. How can a debut be so good? I'm stunned.

This is a lengthy epic sci-fi, but there's no bloat or filler. The plot is propulsive from the beginning to the end and the tension holds steadily all the way through. There's a ton of worldbuilding, but it's never pointlessly infodumped, it's always served at a time it's relevant, natural, and the reader's curiosity about that aspect is already piqued. The book is dark and brutal, but never veers into cheap shock value, trauma porn or over-the-top gore (even though a few scenes made me flinch). It also doesn't cowardly shy away from its merciless path.

Too often authors set up impossible stakes and then deus ex machina them away to make the story more pleasant and palatable. Not here! This book joins my hall of fame with The Poppy War and Iron Widow as "yes, the author did, in fact, go there". Bravo! Every time I was wondering will the characters be pushed to their limits, they were... and beyond too. On the other hand, the narrative avoids cheap melodrama for the sake of being a tearjerker.

That's also another commendable feature - the prose here is sleek and efficient. It doesn't stop to overexplain, bang the reader over the head, or look over the shoulder to ask "did you get it?" No, it assumes the reader did get it and moves on. The pacing doesn't halt to a standstill to let the characters brood, mope, or have a moment of comfort. They're barely allowed a breather, as it should be when unspeakable dangers loom over their heads. So often the characters are reminded there's no time to grieve or deliberate, they have to act, go on despite pain, exhaustion and damage (physical or emotional).

It masterfully avoided all the pitfalls that make my eyes roll. There's no extended exposition before the plot starts, no stopping the plot to insert random romantic trope scenes, no cheesy villain monologues, no characters being slow on the uptake what's going on... No, they get it, but the questions are "do we have what it takes" and "can we pay the price". And the answers are not simple.

I don't know whether the author was inspired by Warhammer 40K, but some worldbuilding elements really reminded me of it, including extradimensional gods/demons, technologically advanced aliens, warp travel, psykers, and a procedure analogous to crafting a servitor. Who knows, knows.

There's definitely more Dune, Star Wars and WH40K here than "hard" sci-fi. Actually the one thing that gave me the biggest pause was how is it scientifically possible to have a planet of the size of Mercury orbit a planet of the size of Saturn and also have its own 2 moons? It's very rare that "moonmoons" won't crash into either of the planets or be stolen away by the bigger gravity field or be yeeted into space. Especially after some certain... destabilizing event at the climax. Magic, I guess. Oh, and how for half the year the sun isn't blocked by the huge planet? Well, anyway, I'm not an astronomer, I'm a fantasy reader, so I'm used to physically impossible worlds anyway.

Now the best part: the characters! It makes me want to cry someone published a book with exactly my type of "unlikeable" characters!

The type of female character I love the most: badass stoic warrior who gives no damn, thinks end justifies the means, is selfish and ambitious, but also would do anything to protect those she cares about, is morally grey, but fights against an evil bigger and worse than herself. Ysira is exactly that kind of person. Add her body dysmorphia, gender envy and likely asexual spectrum into the mix, and it couldn't be a more my type of fmc in a book. Her complicated relationship with motherhood is done so well, she wants the best for her child, but what is "the best" in this cruel world?

The type of male character I love the most: everyone thinks he's pathetic (including himself), is a disgrace/black sheep/outcast, but actually has great potential if allowed to develop innate talent, and is more of a clever, cunning or charming type than strong or commanding. Jacen is exactly that type. He's intelligent, persuasive and a strong telepath, but crippled with self-doubt, crisis of faith and drowning in alcoholism.

There is some form of three-way relationship between Ysira, Jacen and Seth, but think more A Game of Thrones than romantasy. It's not supposed to be sexy, maybe even the opposite. There's a few stolen kisses, one fade to black scene, and one very brief open door scene, but it feels more for emphasis how these characters are struggling to find any humanity in this cruel, broken world.

As for side characters, there's also 2 badass lesbians, different from one another, but both great characters: Saraida and Hesaya, and despite monumental death toll in this book, they did survive, albeit not exactly unscathed.

I also loved the dark humour.

If you like:
🌟 epic sci-fi / fantasy
🌟 high stakes plot that doesn't relent
🌟 messy, morally grey characters
🌟 dark themes
🌟 Dune, Star Wars or Warhammer 40K
This is a must read.

Thank you Netgalley and DAW for the ARC!

[Maya Darjani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come

[Anodyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long ago, a demon-possessed ruler shattered the land in defiance of the gods. Those gods ostensibly saved their people, raising Zivora from the ashes; however they demand continuing sacrifice for that protection. Telepathy is less a gift than a death sentence – weak telepaths are fodder for the Harvesting, the gods’ punishment for a rebellion centuries past, while stronger telepaths are taken into the Church of the Black Sun, where their pasts are erased and they serve as exorcists, the front line against demon infestation. The native Zal population and their demon-centred beliefs are suppressed by the church, with even their language proscribed. When a chance event reveals that the gods are not what they seem, it sparks a series of events that could bring freedom or endanger everything.

The book is multi-POV with two primary narrators. Jacen, a powerful exorcist in service to the Church; a despairing alcoholic struggling with faith after the execution of his last novitiate as a traitor, newly entrusted with another. Ysira, meanwhile, has done the unthinkable and survived the Harvesting, returning heavily pregnant and host to a demon which grants her limitless regenerative powers; after the birth of her son, she’s spent more than a decade in the lower city, serving as a mercenary venturing into the forbidden canyons of the dead to assist a mysterious healer. Without specific spoilers, there’s an additional PoV twist in the final few chapters that serves as an excellent insight into the scope of changes wrought over the course of the novel, which I really loved.

The story hinges on Neri; Ysira’s son by the power-hungry heir to the throne. Eleven years old, he’s disabled and a weak telepath, charged by his father to make himself useful by bonding to the demon of the Canyon and thus harness the power to challenge the gods themselves. There’s also Seth, Neri’s uncle, whose care for Neri sets Ysira and later Jacen on a collision course with destiny; in a cast full of characters with doubts, plots and dubious morality, he’s fairly refreshing in being straightforward and steadfast. Overall, the cast are a wonderful mix of complex characters who, even when they’re the protagonists, you’re not always strictly rooting for.

The pacing feels pretty steady – it’s not breakneck, but things are continuously moving and building towards new heights and objectives. The atmosphere is generally tense, driven by high stakes, but not to the extent that it felt fatiguing. Genre-wise, it strikes an effective blend; with an ostensibly fantasy start, there’s a big kickstart into sci-fi once things get going, and the nature of the gods and the powers on show are likely to appeal to horror fans.

The worldbuilding, likewise, feels just right; it’s not sparse, but equally it doesn’t delve too far towards minutiae. In this, the story benefits from having characters who aren’t necessarily in the know about everything. There is a wider world beyond Zivora, and it’s acknowledged in a way that makes it clear the whole world isn’t limited to one city-state, but the action and depth is pretty tightly controlled to what’s actually necessary to the plot.

The story does have queer representation and polyamory. While society is culturally oppressive there’s no homophobia; instead, the major obstacle is church-enforced celibacy. I am not typically a fan of added romance, and it’s certainly not a major part of the book, but I do legitimately think it benefits the story and character development in this case. So much of the major characters lies in their self-imposed isolation and shutting out of others, and it’s a very profound weakness for them that we see start to break down in part because of this, alongside their non-romantic relationships with others. Admittedly, I will never be sad to see a closed polyamorous triad, and I did really appreciate that the strongest, pre-existing relationship exists between two men rather than this being shoehorned in.
I am also ecstatic to read a debut that is so ambitious in scope and manages to cram in so much action but also manages an incredibly satisfying sense of closure. The door is certainly open to further works in universe (and I would certainly be interested in reading further), but equally it doesn’t feel like half of the threads raised were actually for the obligatory sequel, leaving the book itself feeling unsatisfying; everything wraps up beautifully, while leaving the perfect amount of world-state instability to look ahead.

Overall, I profoundly enjoyed this book; it’s unique, ambitious in scope and incredibly well put together. I would recommend it for anyone looking for an epic science fantasy without the need to delve into a long series, and that strikes a good balance between a fairly intense driving plot while still investing in a complex and fascinating cast of characters. I am incredibly interested in seeing where Aragon goes next!

[Jess (bettertobebookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always said I wanted more five star ARCs. I was not prepared for this one.

This story consumed me and split me open the way the Scar split the world of Celes Lor.

The Demon Star is genre-bending science fantasy that drops you into its world, trusts you to keep up, and never slows down to catch you up.

And I loved it for that. I have been feeling burnt out on books that explain everything up front, so this felt especially refreshing. With this story, you are immediately thrown into the church as Jacen takes on his new novitiate, Nines, and they perform an exorcism. It does not world dump. Instead, you learn the world and its history through Jacen and Ysira's POVs and what they are actively experiencing. It felt refreshing to read something that actually lets you figure it out as you go.

I tend to predict storylines early or think too far ahead. While there were some familiar structural threads, the way something like Dune feels familiar without being derivative, this still kept me fully engaged. I was not trying to solve anything. I was not reading ahead in my head. I was just present, which almost never happens for me.

The characters are one of the strongest parts of this book. They are flawed, layered, and constantly dealing with difficult choices. Some of those choices are not even likeable (I'm looking at you, Ged, Ysira, and Jacen 👀), but you understand exactly why they are making them.

I was especially invested in Ysira and Neri. As a mother and son separated by her choices, everything between them feels complicated, restrained, and honestly a little devastating. Ysira was easily my favorite. Flawed, self-aware in some moments and completely blind to her own hubris in others, that tension makes her feel real. She feels emotionally stunted, not just as a mother but as a woman, which makes perfect sense given what she went through with the Harvest. Neri is still just a boy trying to find his place while carrying something no one fully understands.

What stood out most is that these characters are not really growing in a traditional sense. They are surviving. Making choices in the moment and only understanding themselves after the fact, not becoming better versions of themselves, just more aware of the damage. It feels less like a character arc and more like watching people live with the consequences of who they already are. Characters like Jacen and Ysira only have clarity in retrospect, and by then there is not much they can do about it, so they stuff it down and keep going.

And then there are the other characters, Ogden, Seth, Nines. It is remarkable how distinct Aragon has made each one to the point I feel emotionally attached to all of them.

The world is brutal, oppressive, and deeply tied to religion, which adds another layer of tension to everything happening. The magic system feels grounded and tangible in a way that makes the world even more immersive.

The portrayal of religion in this world is genuinely good, even while leaning into some cliches. Even the fanatics who know pieces of the truth believe they are protecting their people. The horror is not in the evil of the believers but in how completely a system of control can be mistaken for something sacred. As someone who has navigated religious trauma and the loss of a faith I was raised in, I identified deeply with Jacen's initial desperate desire to keep believing when everything in you is saying no. Aragon handles it with a complexity.

The genre shift was one of the most interesting parts. It starts grounded in fantasy, then expands into something that leans more science fantasy with horror elements. I felt that shift most through Ysira and Neri. It threw me off at first and I was not sure how I felt about it, but once it clicked I was locked in. The story lost me slightly in the stretch between the reveal and the Shrouded City, but stick with it. The last third will help integrate everything and it hits hard. Just when you think you understand the world, it expands.

This is the best science fantasy I have read in a long time and the best ARC I have picked up so far. It reminded me of why I fell in love with fantasy as a teenager, reading authors like Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind, that same immersion.

Jesse Aragon is an auto-buy author for me now. I already want ten more books.

This is for readers who like genre-blending fantasy with horror and sci-fi elements, immersive and expanding worldbuilding, complex and flawed characters, and writing that trusts the reader. This book is violent and graphic in places, so if gore is not for you, go in prepared. It may not work as well if you prefer highly accessible prose, purely action-driven stories, romance-forward plots, or clearly explained worldbuilding from the start. And if the shift in world lore throws you off once Neri and Ysira learn the truth, stick with it. The last third will make it worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the eARC.

[Dr. Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌑 Brutal world, survival at any cost
🧠 Telepaths and aliens
🕷️ Heavy horror elements (and actual spiders)
💀 No real heroes
⛪ Religion as control system
🌠 Exceptional worldbuilding
⚡ Relentlessly paced

📚 Shelf Placement:
Gritty Worlds, Growing Heart

💭 Personal Reflections

While I can't say I like the people in The Demon Star, I will say the plot and world building will propel you through quickly.

Aragon builds Zivora from the canyon floor up, and it feels lived-in and internally consistent in a way debut novels rarely manage. The world runs on two parallel power systems: a Church that ranks humans by telepathic ability, and a monarchy that does the same thing with martial skill. Everyone's goal is power of one sort or another. The question is who and what our dear characters are willing to sacrifice to get it.

The marketing comparison to Gideon the Ninth didn't land for me. What Gideon does, maybe better than almost anything in recent SFF I've read, is make you feel the tenderness underneath all that brutality found in the world building. You understand what's at stake because you've watched people become real to each other in the spaces between the violence.

The Demon Star's plot and pacing is so relentless (and sometimes exhausting) that our characters don't have the time to grow and change much. The three POV characters each have a compelling premise... Ysira, the survivor who kept the world at a distance so long she forgot how to let it back in. Jacen, the addict whose faith in the church collapses and is replaced rather than deconstructed. Seth, the moral anchor watching everyone he loves make choices he can't follow.

The world they are in is so brutally hostile and aggressive there is never much breathing room for them to grow or change. Demon Star puts character arc in the backseat to focus on plot. I will say that Aragon manages to make her characters mostly likeable despite their questionable decisions which allows you to engage in the plot to the end. That said, I didn't feel attached to them by the end as much as I would have wanted to.

🌈 Representation

The world is built around distinct ethnic groups with different histories, appearances, and relationships to power, and it reads as intentionally diverse rather than cosmetic.

POV characters are queer and bisexuality reads as unremarkable in this world. It doesn't factor into plot but it doesn't need to.

Ableism is present throughout the story, intentionally so. One character has both an asthma-like illness and a clubbed foot and is "less than" because of it. We hear his internalized ableism throughout but it never improves or shifts unfortunately (still ashamed to get help walking, etc).

🔍 Tropes & Power Lens

This is a violent, patriarchal, and misogynistic world that caters to masculinity, power and control. Female characters are masculine coded; femininity is not present and any version of mothering is only loosely alluded to and way off page.

Systems in the book exploit individuals to gain greater influence and power. There is a hint of investigating this idea and what we are willing to sacrifice for power, but the dilemma and ethics aren't given as much page time as I would have enjoyed, which is a shame because the bones of something genuinely interesting are there.

⚠️ Content Warnings

Content warnings are non-exhaustive and reflect what stood out to me as a reader.

Graphic violence and gore, body horror, child endangerment, emotional abuse, addiction and substance use, ableist language and violence, threat of sexual violence against a minor.

⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to DAW Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[LongSunMalrubius · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Light spoilers from marketing about the book)

Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for providing the e-arc! For full disclosure, I am an Astra Publishing House influencer.

3.5/5 stars (rounding up to 4 for Goodreads).

This book has had the biggest marketing push for a debut author I have read in a while. It’s been compared to Sun Eater, Red Rising, you name it. Going in, I was expecting something closer to Sun Eater and the book is third person, multiple PoV (instead of first person PoV). It is also action packed, and full of twists and turns, yet I wouldn’t say it’s close to Red Rising either.

I was a little disappointed with the “big reveals” of this story. What you think of when you hear “alien gods take people every year” is pretty much exactly what you get. Aragon does have one two original ideas on how to execute that, but I felt the setting was much more mundane than I had expected. Part of this was the prose- while the book does have some great prose, a lot of the sci fi horror stuff was described in a plain way I felt undercut the strangeness and otherworldliness of what the book was trying to show me.

I have some complicated thoughts on the main romance. It was pitched as a m-m-f romance before the book’s release, but to put it bluntly, I was not convinced by it and think it would be much more realistic if the two men ended up fighting over the attention of the woman. The woman had chemistry with only one of the men, so I don’t think it’s a big leap to guess at which one she would end up with. Perhaps avoiding a love triangle was the point, but if so, it did not come across to me on the page as intentionally doing that.

Aragon handles religion in quite an interesting way- after setting up the most obvious fake Catholic Church of all time, she actually presents faith, structure, and preaching as something that can be good, or at least positive in certain circumstances. She does seem to have an extremely negative view of clerical celibacy, which frustrated me as she had several things in the world she could have used to justify it. So often in modern fiction, celibacy is treated as an obstacle for lovers to overcome, not a practical rule with good reasons behind it despite multiple religions on Earth having it over millennia. You don’t have to buy the Catholic Church’s reasoning for it to justify it in your fantasy world.

I have tried to express the up and down feelings I had while reading this book. I had some insanely high hopes going in. And while I’m more mixed than I thought, there’s one place where this book absolutely shines- the action sequences. Aragon can write a fight scene as good as any modern author, and she does, often, and with great aplomb. They are quite varied, from quick, brutal, hand to hand combat to large scale battles.

The other thing I have to praise this book for is being a very quick read. It’s much shorter than many of the modern tomes present in fantasy/sci fi. And while I do love a 400,000 word epic, a shorter length was the right call for the type of story Aragon was trying to tell.

It’s hard to judge an author from just one book, but I will be curious to read the next one she writes. It may be that she just isn’t for me, but I do want to read another book or two from her and see how she grows and develops as an author.

[Delta Caelum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

This book was absolutely DIABOLICAL, and whatever was wrong with these characters, I loved every second of it.

What do you want, Ysira?
Worship.

(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I jokingly said it was like Dune x a midlife crisis where instead of divorcing your metaphorical wife, you accidentally sign up to kill a God. That is to say the characters make a series of morally questionable choices that are equal parts hypnotising and horrifying AND YET feel entirely justified when they rationalise it to themselves so persuasively. I found myself unable to look away, or WORSE, wanting the characters to go through with it. I fear I have been so thoroughly brainwashed by these characters and their delusions that I couldn't help rooting for them. :)

"I'm afraid he's just brilliant enough to convince himself of any insane thing he wants to believe."

An absolute highlight of the book (other than the characters which are going to be fan favs I know it - Ysira they can't make me hate you) are the moments when the author subverts familiar tropes in the most shocking ways. This could have easily been a hero's journey if it was told from a different POV by a different author, but OH MY GOD that is not what this is - cue me staring at the ceiling and spiralling after reading that ENDING. It was like watching a train crash in slow motion, except I realised too late I was still on this train...FUUUU LET ME OFF!! (jk i am so ready for whatever the author writes next)



Basically you either die a gifted kid or live long enough to crash out in your 30s (and I am here for it)

The sheer amount of dread the author is capable of weaving through the story while I am trying to live it up with the characters and what *I thought* were reasonably well-adjusted decisions given the situation is WILD. The worldbuilding makes this story feel alive with history and the prose is incredibly well-paced thanks to the author's style which conveys a lot of information in a very short amount of words, so although it is a chonky book, the pages absolutely flew by.

Suffice to say this is the kind of world where the only possible saviour is one forged from pain and suffering. Power is a double-edged blade, and I mean that literally and painfully...

In sum, THIS BOOK GOT ME IN A CHOKEHOLD AND I FEAR I WILL NOT BE FORGETTING IT ANYTIME SOON

RIP Neri... you can be a literal god, and still your parents will embarass you by arguing in front of your friends (read: worshippers).

ALSO when the author mentioned ""spiders"", let it be known I was not prepared for """"spiders"""" LOL

~Thank you to the author and netgalley for the chance to read and review.

[thereadingox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set on a barren planet, very much alien compared to Earth, we are thrust into a brutal world subjugated by god-like creatures who rule over a society controlled by a monolithic religious order of telepathic clergy. Our cast of misfits includes a drunk priest, a loyal knight, and a murderous outlaw who all share a deeply connected past. What unfolds is a sci-fantasy rollercoaster of prophecy, revelation, and revolution that tests the age-old question of whether the ends justify the means. This debut novel from author Jesse Aragon is dark, emotional, and fantastical in all the best ways. Fans of Dune and the Sun Eater series will be right at home, and while not a direct influence, as a massive Stargate fan, this book hit in all the right ways.

What I really enjoyed about this book is how cleverly the author layered theology, morality, themes of self-worth, and sacrifice while expertly world-building a unique and fresh approach to the genre. It is always difficult to blend harder sci-fi with fantasy elements, often going too far in one direction over the other. This book is very subtle and devilishly good at offering unique takes on both, including weaving occult/demonic powers into the world's mechanics, from society to superstition and more. This book does a great job of testing the reader's love of a character against the very difficult and often morally grey choices they must make in order to protect the ones they love or advance the goals of their group's vision for the future.

I also appreciated that the author is not afraid to show the scale of destruction or the cost of life that is necessary for the protagonists to achieve their ends. I think the book carefully skirts the line between characters who must make measured and painful decisions and characters who are capricious or carelessly destructive, admirably. We also get a great mix of relationships, from a love triangle to various parent-child struggles to mentor-mentee dynamics. There is a lot to love in the character/relationship work being done here.

This is a supremely impressive debut novel from a new voice in the sci-fantasy space. Whether this ends up being a standalone novel or a series, this is a must-read for fans of the genre or anyone who is looking for something unique and refreshing. In addition to fans of the aforementioned Dune and Sun Eater series, fans of Swan’s The Empire of the Wolf and Abercrombie’s The Devils will feel right at home with this book. Thank you to the author and DAW for the eARC.

[Jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received from NetGalley.

This book blew me away and soared beyond all my expectations, and I sincerely hope it becomes the next big thing. A captivating mix of cosmic horror, morally gray characters, and religious control, The Demon Star left me with a glorious sense of wonder and a tinge of existential dread. The character arcs are fascinating to watch unfold, and with each terrible decision they make, you also understand exactly why they made that decision. Was it justified? Did it make things worse? Would I have done things any differently? Aragon expertly poses these ideas in such a way that the reader can't help but ask them.

Fun Story Elements
● Exorcisms
● Controlling religious system
● Giant spiders
● Telepaths
● Aliens
● Sacrifices
● Ambiguous morality
● Queer rep
● Vast world

The choice of narrator for the last few chapters was genius. Having that character describe their new reality left me wondering if the world was any better off at the end of the book than it was at the beginning. Did they manage to make things better, or did the people that set out to change the world become just as bad as the very enemy they gave up so much to destroy? These are the morally gray characters that I was craving!

Where the novel falls a little short is in the characters' relationships. The plot moves so quickly and is so action-packed that the characters rarely have time to sit and interact with one another. There's a lot of inner conflict, which I appreciate, but I still felt a bit blindsided by the formation of the relationship between a certain pair of characters. They don't seem to fit together at all, and are trauma-bonded if anything, but maybe that was the point. They don't fit and are clinging to each other for some semblance of stability because they've been at each other's side through so much. Still, some lead-up to the development of this relationship and the reasoning behind it would have been preferred, though it would definitely be at the cost of slowing down the pacing.

Lastly, if you're sensitive to body horror, tread carefully! I'm a bit squeamish and usually steer clear of body horror, but the scenes including it were so well-written and I was so invested in the plot that I was able to power through it.

[Marjorie Beaugad · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 ARC REVIEW : THE DEMON STAR by Jesse Aragon

“What is a god?”

🙏 All along The Demon Star, author Jesse Aragon invites the readers to consider what makes a god and what makes it worthy of worship. This quest for an answer is conducted through the eyes of Brother Jacen Kheris, a priest drowning his crisis of faith in liquor, and Ysira, who instead of becoming a Knight of the Church was left for dead after being offered as a sacrifice.

🪐 Over these fast paced chapters of prime sci-fantasy, our two main characters are pushed by circumstances to work together to rescue a child, uncover the truth of the gods the planet worships and face the personal struggles they were trying to escape.

“No—to lie to a telepath required only the capacity to lie to oneself. It was the purview of the audacious, the delusional, the infatuated... the faithful. The ones desperate enough to have no other choice.”

👽 The book opens right in the thick of things with Jacen performing an exorcism and never slows down, in fact it goes through a big inflection point about a quarter of the way in and the story gets to places I never expected it to. If you’re not one for the well known tropes and prefer something different, something that will surprise you, this book is definitely for you!

🌟 With all that said I greatly enjoyed it, putting it at a 4.25/5 stars. This is very personal but I would have loved to spend a bit more time getting to know secondary characters and exploring the unique world Jesse Aragon built, as well as more time letting the horror elements set in. Who knows, maybe the author has a sequel in mind that will answer my prayers ? I have faith 😉

“Faith was a leap in the dark, the chasm between mystery and truth, and such a leap required resolve. Faith was the will to do even the unspeakable—for the sake of a dream, for the promise of peace, for the shadow of a hope of a better future.”

Read if you enjoy :
❔️ Morally gray MCs
⚖️ Dilemma
🏃‍♂️ Fast pace
🩸 Horror, gore elements


This advanced review copy was given to me by the author in exchange for an unbiased review. I could not have asked for a better first ARC, thank you so much Jesse!!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from DAW via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date July 28th, 2026.

I was intrigued by the high space opera premise of this novel, and I thought I'd give it a try. In The Demon Star, Ysira's planet is ruled by gods that expect a human tithe every decade, and years ago, she barely survived being the sacrifice. When she discovers a chance to topple the gods, she seizes it, but the key to victory may be using her estranged child...

As someone who viciously panned the last few books I read that took inspiration from Dune, I have to say this one is good, actually. On Ysira's world, the survivors of a centuries-ago apocalypse are subjected to the most brutal and obvious imperialism: the routine harvest of people with psychic abilities. While their overlords have starfaring technology, the main characters use swords and flint arrowheads, which makes any resistance effectively futile. The primary plot is the slow reveal of the gods' nature, which is particularly brutal from the perspective of the other main character, the bitter, disillusioned priest Jacen. The Dune comparisons are obvious here—the colonized desert planet, the powerful overlords, the young messiah—but The Demon Star is the book I wish Dune was. Who cares about the teen ingenue, I want to hear more about the messiah's mother, who is prepared to sacrifice her only child, however reluctantly, for the revolution. It adds extra piquancy that Neri is only eleven. Old enough to make his own choices, but painfully young to be subsumed utterly into being the messiah.

A bleak sci-fi debut meditating on ruthlessness, fanaticism, and sacrifice. While it ran a bit heavier to action scenes than I prefer, I admired the relentless flow of violence forcing the inevitable conclusion. However, most of the questions raised in this book are already answered by the end, and I'm not sure what's left for the inevitable sequels except for chasing the sunk cost fallacy through an ocean of blood. Difficult to pull off, although Shelley Parker Chan's He Who Drowned the World managed it. We shall see.

[Sheila Jenné · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book works on so many levels.

Superficially, it's fast-paced, high octane, full of oppression and violent confrontation--the kind of book you would probably enjoy if you liked The Expanse.

But it also goes a bit deeper, with themes of religion, ethical dilemmas, and revenge. The characters are well developed, even side characters I didn't think would be very important. I related most to Jacen, the alcoholic priest who lost his faith a long time ago but hasn't lost his desire to believe. The other main character is Ysira, the mother who gave up her son and is now willing to use him as a tool. The book simultaneously puts you in their heads so that you empathize with them, and also shows exactly how they end up sometimes doing terrible things. There are no easy answers given, no heroes you can unreservedly support.

And on a political level, it handles colonialism in a way that, true to the comps, reminds me of Dune....except that here, the viewpoint is exclusively that of the colonized. It's their battle that matters, not the perspective of the people oppressing them. So while it has many things in common with Dune--a desert planet, unique spirituality, selectively bred heirs to an empire--I wouldn't quite equate them, politically. It's completely free of the chosen one, special white boy narrative that I found so annoying in Dune. Here there are no heroes, just ordinary people struggling to free themselves by whatever means they can lay their hands on.

Read it for an engrossing read that, despite its length, you'll probably plow through fast. But after you set it aside, you may be thinking of some of those themes for a long time.

Trigger warnings: honestly it's hard to think of triggers that *aren't* in this book. There is a particularly large amount of body horror, more than I would usually read at all. I read it anyway because I trusted this author to give these moments the weight they deserve rather than throwing them around gratuitously, which I felt she succeeded at. But if you're a sensitive reader, handle it with caution.

[DeLeonsLiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me by storm. As an avid Empire of the Vampire fan, this novel slots right into my wheelhouse. 

Morally ambiguous characters mixed with an impossible mission to end the reign of godlike creatures that care little for the wellbeing of ‘lessers’. 

The story centers around the POV of 2 different people. One, Jacen, a telepathic priest, and a drunk, trying to forget an emotionally destructive event that derailed his once high ranking position in the church. The other, Ysira, an estranged mother to a child that could save the world, and a survivor of the ‘Harvest’, from which nobody has ever come back from. 

Both Ysira and Jacen have to deal with their own debilitating mental crises at the weight of the newly found revelation that the gods aren’t what they’d been led to believe. 

Along the way, impossible decisions will be made. To save the world at the cost of millions of lives or desperately try to find an alternative solution that may not exist. 

Jesse Aragon has struck gold with her debut novel. If you’re a fan of Jay Kristoff then The Demon Star is a MUST read. There are bits of Gabriel De Leon from Empire of the Vampire in both Jacen and Ysira and as an avid fan of that trilogy I was engulfed by this story. 

Jesse does an amazing job describing the pain in these characters that I could feel in my gut. I found myself rooting, against the odds, that they find the peace they’re all looking for. And despite the grim situation that permeates this story, Jesse still finds brief respites to warm the heart. Small moments where the characters can take a breath and reflect or take in the comfort of found family or shared burdens. 

The Demon Star is a novel that keeps you entertained straight from the start. It’s a story that will rip your heart out, tear it up and throw it into the abyss. Filled with twists and turns, shocking revelations, visceral crimes against humanity and an emotional ending that leaves you questioning.

[Max I Like Fantasy Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Demon Star is a Sci-Fantasy with threads of body and cosmic horror. For me it seems most influenced by Dune and being a sci- fantasy release from DAW it easy to see why people would draw comparisons to The Sun Eater. Personally I think Sun Eater and The Demon Star are very different books, but it is so interesting how you can have two books draw inspiration from the same place and wind up so different.


In the society depicted in this book, you have the six gods. And they are real beings. And as their price for the people’s salvation, they extract a mean price. Complete observance of their rules, including the harvest. Our main priest, is also an exorcist - as this world ruled by real gods is also terrorized by real demons- who after a traumatic experience with a mentee has lost his way to alcoholism. We then meet Ysira, a woman who survived and escaped harvesting. And we follow these two as they travel down a path that pulls back the veil on their whole world, society and religion.

This book asks us many questions. What happens when an institutional pillar of society goes away? What lines are you willing to cross to secure a better future? What cost is worth paying? This books examines the cycles of power- is the new order of things better than the thing it replaced?

The biggest question the book ponders is, what is a god? What makes a thing a god? And the book asks you this question several times through out the story and each time you are set up to answer that question differently, which I just thought was so cool.

Ultimately, this book is phenomenal. It has deep and complex characters, moral conundrums, demonic possession. Civilization level mysteries, twists, turns, zigs, zags, philosophical questions you can spend time grappling with. I think you will find something here for you no matter what kind of reader you are.

Do yourself a favor and get this book now.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare books that feels less like a story and more like an experience you survive and from the very first chapter you realize it will be a five star read.

The Demon Star is everything a Grimdark story should be, its brutal, dark and everyones morality is questionable. Aragon throws the reader into a world of blood-soaked rituals, indifferent gods, and something vast and unknowable pressing in from the edges of reality. And somehow, instead of being overwhelming, it becomes completely absorbing.

Do not misunderstand me, this book is dense and there is no gentle onboarding, no neat explanations and there are times when the book leans heavily into lore or introspection so be prepared. The characters are not easy to love, and I think that’s 100% intentional. Character moral ambiguity is what aides the story and makes it plausible.

The worldbuilding is absolutely next-level. Everything feels ancient, layered, and intentional, like you’re only seeing the surface of something much deeper. It’s bleak, cosmic, and quietly horrifying in a way that sticks with you. The way religion, power, and fear are intertwined is chilling in the best way.

What really sets this book apart for me is the tone. It leans fully into cosmic horror without losing emotional depth. There’s this constant sense that something enormous and uncaring is just out of sight and that humanity is caught in the middle of forces it can’t hope to understand.

Overall, The Demon Star is a bold, immersive, and unapologetically dark debut that gives you morally gray characters, cosmic horror vibes, dense worldbuilding, and refuses to hold your hand. But its is also brilliant!

If you love stories that are ambitious, immersive, and a little bit terrifying, The Demon Star absolutely delivers.

[Sarah Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a world where you get to stay yourself for long. The Demon Star runs on control and the slow erosion of identity. That pressure shows up everywhere, in a world shaped by fear, sacrifice, and power, where every choice carries weight. The story weaves in elements of possession and external influence in a way that ties directly into questions of autonomy and control, constantly pushing on who gets to decide what you are and what it costs to take that power back. Nothing here is simple, and no one is purely good, which makes the entire story feel tense and unpredictable.

There’s also a deeper layer running through all of this around faith, power, and truth. Systems built on sacrifice and belief are constantly being questioned, and the line between gods and something far more dangerous starts to blur. That uncertainty adds a quiet tension underneath everything, as characters begin to confront what they’ve been taught versus what they’re starting to see for themselves.

The characters are messy, complicated, and fully committed to their own motivations, even when those motivations clash. The relationships carry just as much weight as the larger conflict, adding layers of loyalty, betrayal, and survival that keep everything grounded. Underneath it all is a story about autonomy and resistance, about identity, oppression, and the cost of pushing back against something bigger than you. And the scope here is huge. The way this is set up leaves endless directions for where the story can go next (consider me invested), which is a seriously impressive feat for a debut author.

Thank you to NetGalley, DAW, and Jesse Aragon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bruno Petterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts off very strong, immediately drawing the reader in. The worldbuilding is one of its greatest strengths, rich and well-balanced, offering detail without becoming overly expository while still maintaining a sense of mystery. The characters are also compelling early on, particularly in how their internal conflicts and past traumas shape their choices.

Another highlight is the development of relationships throughout the story. The interactions between the protagonists and their companions, especially the younger characters, add emotional depth and help sustain engagement. The twists are well executed as well, keeping the narrative engaging and giving the story momentum.

That said, the book loses some structural control as it progresses. The alternating points of view could be more balanced, as one protagonist tends to disappear for long stretches, which disrupts the narrative flow and makes it harder to reconnect with their storyline. This imbalance also affects the overall pacing. The pacing becomes a more noticeable issue in the second half. The story leans more heavily into action and large-scale events, but this shift comes at the expense of character and relationship development. As a result, the final portion feels rushed, with several ideas not given enough time to fully develop.

Overall, The Demon Star is an engaging read, with strong worldbuilding, interesting characters, and effective twists. While it struggles with pacing and structural balance, it still shows clear potential and is likely to appeal to readers who value immersive settings and dynamic storytelling.

[C. Kuster · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first sentence, The Demon Star gripped me and would not let me go. Right away, readers are thrust into the vivid, dark, and terrifying world of Zivora, where aliens rule as gods and demand frequent human sacrifices to be placated.

The Demon Star has one of the richest casts of characters I’ve read in recent memory. Standouts for me are Jacen, a disgraced priest, and Ysira, a sacrifice survivor who would do anything to not feel powerless again. These two are so raw and complex that they jump off the page. They are flawed, messy, and yet the future of the world has fallen on their less-than-capable shoulders. The way they handle this is questionable at the best of times, and that was SO REFRESHING to read. I am a massive fan of characters who mimic reality. I don’t want a perfect hero, and none of these people are perfect heroes. They are equal parts relatable and frustrating, stubborn and capable of change. They fight with the tools they’re given, and those tools are often ill-suited to the job (and at one point also a literal human pancreas.) I both wanted them to succeed and also feared what it would mean if they did. That tension made it easy to turn the page.

There are no half-explored themes here. The Demon Star explores colonialism, religion, morality, and the lengths to which we’re willing to go to escape deeply entrenched systemic oppression.

This is an easy recommendation from me, but do be aware there are some CWs to be aware of, namely body horror, violence, and alcoholism.

I sincerely hope we get more from this world in the future!