Demons are known to be cheeky and Sylvie is exactly that. She loves the finer things in life. Good wine, good food, and a good time.
While she's harvesting sin in the human realm, she crosses paths with a cute angel.
Angel Teresa knows better than to get involved with demons but her competitive nature stops her from walking away.
The challenge? Influence humans.
It's a fun game. So fun, neither realise they've forgotten to guard their hearts. **** A Demon's Cocktail With Sambuca is a sapphic urban fantasy romance set in the Forked Tail Restaurant series. It's a cozy light-hearted story about demons and angels who love food.
I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
I've had The Forked Tail restaurant series on my wishlist for a while and when the author announced she was re-publishing the series I was excited for the chance to read and review A Demon's Cocktail with Sambuca. This was such a fun read. I don't often pick up books with demons and angels as they don't often appeal to me, but this one was a fun twist on the topic of angels and demons. I liked reading about the way they harvested sins and virtues from humans and also the way they are both celestial beings and both manipulate humans for their own gain and aren't that different from each other.
This story follows Sylvie and Theresa. Sylvie is a demon while Theresa is an angel, they have known each other for a while and decide to start a competition. While competing they grow closer. It was fun to read about the food and drinks they tried. The whole thing with sin and virtues being added to food and drinks was interesting. I liked reading about these two, they were fun to read about and I liked seeing their relationship deepening. I would've liked a bit more, to have a bit more depth to their romance and seeing it develop a bit more after they get together. The epilogue was great with how it gave a glimpse of their future. And I look forward to the rest of the series.
Both characters could be quite manipulative to the humans around them and they are treated as pawns sometimes, which didn't always sit well with me, but it more felt like how aliens are just different from humans with how the angels and demons needed that sin and virtue and this was just how they worked. Still it sometimes made me feel bad for the humans.
To summarize: This was a fun read. It follows demon Sylvie and angel Theresa as they strike up a competition and fall in love in the process. I liked seeing these two fall in love, but would've liked to see a bit more after they get together. I liked the unique take on demons and angels with how they harvested sin and virtues and how they could consume these on their own or in food and drinks. The food and drink descriptions were fun to read. I also thought it was interesting how similar angels and demons are as they are both quite manipulative. I did feel bad for the humans sometimes with how they got treated by the angels and demons, but it also felt like the angels and demons were just very different in nature than humans. Interesting and fun start to this series and I look forward to the next one.
Short, sweet, and delightfully Sapphic, this cozy fantasy delivers exactly what it promises: a demon and an angel falling in love, one shared drink at a time.
The romance between Sylvie and Teresa is gentle rather than spicy, making this a comforting, low-stakes read that still feels warm and satisfying. I especially loved how their bond is rooted in a shared love of food and drink, which gave their relationship a charming, intimate feel.
The concept of harvesting human emotions was another standout. Overall, this was a lovely, bite sized fantasy that left me smiling and very eager to return to this universe for more.
I’ll have an Angel & Demon, please. Shaken, not stirred.
The below is soooo true even IRL: ‘Virtue tastes better when it has resisted the temptation of sin’
I’ve read many books, nay, many series by this author yet I’ve NEVER laughed so hard while reading all of those put together as I did by the middle of the second chapter of this one. The attitudes, the banter, the competition, the drinking, the flirting, etc. Well played.
Some sage & sexy advice from our sin-gatherer: Your entrance matters.
Fave line: ‘If only he knew what actual angels got up too, he wouldn’t be using it as an endearment.’
Food for thought: Are angels & demons that much different from humans? All three, envy what other people own and/or have achieved, lust after others, get jealous when someone moves in on our “territory”, and are “gluttons for punishment”. Unfortunately, there are humans who feed off auras similar to the other two; worse, since they do so to take advantage of others.
As usual, the author gets me thirsty – thinking of making myself a Dirty Mary made with Faith while I await the next in series – ‘A Demon Chef’s Recipe For Fried Chicken’.
It was funny, slightly spicy, and intriguing, and set the stage for the next book in the series perfectly. I was thoroughly entertained and want to know more now about Sylvie, the demon, and Teresa, the angel, and their (culinary) adventures throughout London, Hell - and maybe Heaven as well, later on in the series? -, and possibly the world.
I already ordered the next book in the series, I even did that before I quite finished this entertaining novelette.
If you wish Good Omens had more interpersonal relationship parts - of both the spicy and the non-spicy variety - for Aziraphale and Crowley, and perhaps that those two where female instead, then you should definitely give this series a shot.
A Demon's Cocktail with Sambuca is a standalone novella in the Forked Tail Restaurant series by Ariana Jade. In this urban fantasy, opposites attract when an angel and a demon play games that evolve into something more. This novella is a flirty, sexy, and romantic one-night-to-forever love story that is both sweet and mildly spicy. I appreciate how the narrative emphasizes clear communication between mature main characters, despite them referring to themselves as young. Jade offers a different perspective on angels and demons, portraying them as beasts who feast on humanity's sins and virtues. The characters are likable, and the banter is highly entertaining. I enjoyed this quick, fun read. #HEA #epilogue #celestialbeings #angels #demons #sins #virtues #onenighttoforever #London #clearcommunication #foodanddrink I received this free ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
4.5/5 – sapphic, demon, angel, novella, urban fantasy. Really fun quick read! I loved the setting and wanted to see more of it (excited for the upcoming Forked Tail Restaurant book). I’m a sucker for demon romances, and pairing one with an angel made for such a fun dynamic. Definitely looking forward to more.
A spicy novelette featuring an angel and a demon who begin to catch feelings for one another.
Demonic Sylvie and angelic Teresa shouldn't be hanging out. But it's so darn fun to compete against one another and see who can draw out more sins or virtues from humans at local establishments. As their game continues, the stakes get higher and higher until the two women fear that it isn't possible to untangle their lives any longer.
I've been a fan of Jade's work in the past and needed a book with a green cover for a reading challenge I'm participating in, so I figured I'd give this one a go. It wasn't anything terribly special, but it was a short read that made for a good time.
The idea of demons feasting on people's emotions isn't very original. However, I thought it was neat that the angels of this world also feed on emotions, though they feast on humanity's virtues rather than their sins.
The friendly rivalry that Sylvie and Teresa have going was a fun endeavor to watch. Each round has slightly different rules and restrictions, but long story short, they try to one-up each other when it comes to harvesting emotions from humans.
This story does a great job at breaking stereotypes and addressing common prejudices. Who says demons and angels can't be friends, or that an angel can't indulge in a bit of sin every once in a while? It also goes to show that things aren't always as they first appear, and that one shouldn't always do what they are told by society.
The spice escalated a tad quickly for me, but that's to be expected in a spicy novelette. I did really enjoy how Sylvie and Teresa found quality lovers for the first time in their lives with one another.
This prequel also introduces us to the main character of the main series, Lana, who is a chef at the Forked Tail Restaurant. We didn't learn too much about her, but we did learn a ton about the world she lives in and the sin-filled food that she serves.
Overall, "A Demon's Cocktail with Sambuca" was a short, spicy introduction into the world of "The Forked Tail Restaurant" series. The demon x angel romance contained with this novelette was super sweet. I found myself intrigued by this world in which demons and angels alike thrive on harvesting human emotions and consuming them. I've definitely gained enough interest into this world to want to continue this series, so I suppose I'll see what Lana is up to at some point in the near future!
Sylvie is a demon, stirring up sin in people to harvest and devour. When she’s out one night at her favorite bar, an angel walks in and makes her a deal – the two of them will compete by dredging up emotions in a human target, and the winner gets to decide their prizes. But what happens when the one thing they don't expect is to actually fall for each other? After all, the two of them couldn’t be more different…
This felt like a punchline to a joke. An angel and a demon walk into a bar… yeah. This was short and sweet. I loved the competition between the two of them as they attempted to harvest sin and faith from their marks. I really liked the glimpse we got of this world, I just kind of wish we got more of it, especially seeing the way they harvested their food – I just wanted more of it. I like the idea that angels and demons have their own bars and restaurants, and the way they have cocktails and food laced with sin or virtue was such a unique idea. I liked the relationship between the two of them, and the spice between them was nice – not too long, not too graphic, but just enough for this short story. Great, quick sapphic romance.
A Demon’s Cocktail with Sambuca by Ariana Jade is set in the world of The Forked Tail Restaurant. The book will be enhanced by knowing the rules of this fictional world, but is a standalone nonetheless. The eponymous demon is Sylvie and she is a fun, happy-go-lucky character with a definite worldview. Her opposite is Teresa, an angel with a more rigid outlook on life. The two dance around each other, with one needing to make a change. Their meetings are in restaurants, which is where they met, so they can find their type of food. The two characters appear in the Forked Tail books, so it was entertaining getting some backstory. I received a free Advance Readers Copy of the book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
DNF at 8% - not rating this book with stars as I did not get more than 10% in.
The main love interests are just mean. There is a cruelty to them which is tied to their need to create emotions so they can harvest and consume them. They do not care about their "food" at all. Both Angel and Demon manipulate the humans around them to get the results they want.
Rule number one of writing "save the cat" before introducing the self-interest/narcissistic actions of the characters. Let us know why we should like the characters before introducing us to their faults.
Where I stopped being interested in the characters: "I remember you encouraging a woman to go all stalker on her ex once." (demon) "Yes, but she didn't take the bait and her faith was *delicious*." (angel) - 6% mark
Actually 4.5 stars, but I'll round to the even number.
I'm sure there are others like me, flashing back to the long, long friendship between Crowley and Aziraphale in 'Good Omens'. As in that story, we're shown that angels and demons can get along great, but this time there's more than just friendship involved.
As with the other stories I've read by this author, the characters are what make this book sing. The story is too short to hope for full character development, but the broad outline is there, along with a scattering of details to let us fill in the rest (I loved their different takes on wine, for example.) I can definitely imagine both Sylvie and Teresa being appalled at the thought that their side might conquer all in the final battle.
This was such a fun novella! I loved both our main characters Sylvie and Teresa, I thought they had so much fun banter, plenty of nice moments together, and such a sweet yet sexy kind of romance. I was throughly entertained by the competitions between them and just the overall adventure they went on. It was fun seeing them explore the differences between Angels and Demons, I liked that they were both open about experiencing those things. I really enjoyed the romance between them too, it was just the right amount of sweet and passionate. I’m very satisfied with the ending of this story too and I can’t help but picture the other kinds of adventures these two will go on. They really did make for such a nice pair, I love them! Thank you to the author for my complimentary copy.
”Who knew an angel and a demon would pair so well?”
4 stars. This was so much fun with just a little bit spice. It’s set in the same world as the Forked Tail Restaurant series that I loved so it’s wonderful being back in this world. Sylvie is a Demon, Teresa is an Angel and I really liked both of them. The flirting banter between them was a lot of fun and Sylvie especially is such a minx. Love her. They had great chemistry together. This was a quick and entertaining read and I cannot wait for book two. I really enjoy this world a lot.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is about an angel and a demon, both female, discovering each other and exploring each others world and the emotions each of them harvest from us lowly humans. It is not hard at all to imagine them being among us and taking advantage or our emotions or even provoking them. I will admit I did not like the story till I reached over halfway through it. However the whole premise of it does appeal, because we as humans definitely are quite self absorbed and easily manipulated and most of us are quite unobservant. It is interesting to speculate how they would react to a very observant human or how they would avoid one.
In this lighthearted romance, our traditional concepts of angels and demons are throw into the void and the brand new idea that neither are pure good or evil makes great sense. A hot and steamy love story between the sexy demon and reserved angel makes me smile and forget my real life troubles for a few endorphins filled bliss. I received this copy and ARC reader and I am so happy that I got the chance to read it early!
This is a reworking of one of the spin off Forked Tail series books. And it’s much better than the original. Sylvie a demon and Teresa an angel decide to bet each other who can harvest the most of their chosen auras. Sins for Sylvie and virtues for Teresa. The world has been expanded to include hell and more background to the angels and demons is now included. I look forward to the revamped Forked Tail series.
A sweet tale of a blossoming romance between an angel and a demon. This was actually a “foodie” romance. I was intrigued by the idea that sins and virtues had flavors just like spices. The growing competition between Sylvie and Theresa was amusing. The whole premise of the lifestyles of demons and angels gave the story a unique twist that I found very entertaining. It was a very good quick read.
This was a cute romance! In this series, angels and demons aren't so different - cultivating either vices or virtues in the humans around them to sate their appetites. Sylvie, an Envy demon, likes to spend her Saturday nights at a bar where her beautiful visage tends to inspire jealousy in the women and lust in the men. Teresa, an angel, is often there as well, but cultivating virtues like kindness instead. The two start engaging in a bit of playful competition, but, as they grow closer, a bit of romance seems to be kindled. Both are a bit forlorn at the thought of the competition ending, but a relationship between an angel and demon can't work...can it?
This was an enjoyable romantic read with an interesting take on angels and demons. The characters are appealing, but the food and drinks may leave you a bit hungry.
A sweet but sometimes spicy story about an angel named Teresa and a demon named Sylvie. During a friendly competition, they find themselves drawn to one another. The idea of adding sin to food and virtue to drink is interesting, and one I'd love to try! Can't wait for the series to be ready.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This urban fantasy romance doesn’t go deep because it does what it intends to do. The story gives us a quickly read light-hearted good time with some banter and ending with a happily-ever-after. If you need a quick pick me up, then this easy romance is for you.
“Thank you, Vampari Press, for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.”
Really cute story about how opposites attract and how having preconceived notions of other people could really have you missing out on someone awesome. This is a light and feel good story, which is what I needed to read in these stressful times.
Demon Sylvie and Angel Teresa compete to see who is better at influencing humans in order to harvest their emotions. As the stakes are raised between them, competition turns into flirtation, and then maybe something more. While demons and angels an unlikely match, Sylvie and Teresa find they have much in common. Can a relationship between these two last?
A cute side story in the Forked Tail Restaurant series. In this world, demons aren’t inherently evil creatures, and angels aren’t necessarily good and perfect. They can influence humans to certain reactions and harvest either sins or virtues. Both Sylvie and Teresa have restless and adventurous natures so they work together well. I liked how they both were willing to try the other’s food/drink made with emotions, and how they ended up teaming up to harvest more emotions.
Very pleasant read 😊 very descriptive with the food and drink which was amazing. The spice is elegantly worded and kept tasteful. Few editing issues in spots but overall a good read.
This was a cute short sapphic PNR between an angel and a demon, with some interesting worldbuilding elements (angels and demons as respective virtue and sin eaters), and some adorable banter between two leads.
I think the only reason I didn't rate it higher is because it was short enough that I didn't feel like I got a chance to really know the characters, and I'm not walking away from it feeling like I absolutely need to keep going with the series. But as fun, short, romantic candyfloss goes, it still hit the spot nicely.
Teresa and Sylvie are adorable, both together and on their own. I'm actually really curious to learn more about this world as a whole, too, since the demons and angels are a bit different than in anything else I've read before. Plus, a divine bar and a demonic restaurant? I'm all in on them both!
Super cute. Celestials harvest virtue and sin then imbibe in cocktails or savor via food. I loved the creativity of it. An angel and a demon’s relationship begins as a competition for who can harvest their sustenance, virtue or sin, faster with the loser paying. Darling and clever.