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The Wretched Divine #1
The Wretched Divine
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26Aurelie Chantelune was born to serve. Raised as a knight in a kingdom ravaged by demons, she's spent her life honing her blade, driven by the memory of the monsters who tore her family apart and by the knowledge that she's one of the few who can stop them.
If Aurelie can claim her first kill, she'll inherit a legacy passed down through the Chantelune a soulbond with Yuriel, an angel whose power is vital to her kingdom's survival. But when those she loves begin turning into the very monsters she's sworn to destroy, Aurelie is forced to seek help from the last place she ever imagined. Desperate, she forges a second and far more dangerous bond with Severin, a demon she can hardly trust, but who claims to know how to end the war for good.
With their lives and fates entwined, Aurelie, Yuriel, and Severin must team up to hunt down a cure capable of turning demons back into humans. But the more they learn about one another and the deeper their relationships grow, the more Aurelie begins to question the war and her place in it. With both of her bonded on opposing sides, she'll have to make a continue to stand with the angels, or risk everything by trusting a demon.
If Aurelie can claim her first kill, she'll inherit a legacy passed down through the Chantelune a soulbond with Yuriel, an angel whose power is vital to her kingdom's survival. But when those she loves begin turning into the very monsters she's sworn to destroy, Aurelie is forced to seek help from the last place she ever imagined. Desperate, she forges a second and far more dangerous bond with Severin, a demon she can hardly trust, but who claims to know how to end the war for good.
With their lives and fates entwined, Aurelie, Yuriel, and Severin must team up to hunt down a cure capable of turning demons back into humans. But the more they learn about one another and the deeper their relationships grow, the more Aurelie begins to question the war and her place in it. With both of her bonded on opposing sides, she'll have to make a continue to stand with the angels, or risk everything by trusting a demon.
512 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 22, 2026
43 people are currently reading
32363 people want to read
About the author
Adalyn Grace
11 books10.5k followersAdalyn Grace is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, International, and Indiebound bestselling author of Belladonna and the All the Stars and Teeth duology.
Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent several years working in live theatre and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.
Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her two dorky dogs.
Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent several years working in live theatre and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.
Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her two dorky dogs.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Want to Read
October 2, 2024She said its like a more mature version of daughter of smoke and bone and The infernal devices but set in a world like the stormlight archives!! I AM SCREAMING BECAUSE BRANDON SANDERSON SUPREMACY EVERYONE!
Read
April 29, 2026Hello and goodbye! Before this book launches and I must hide from Goodreads again, I wanted to share where you can find signed and exclusive editions.
In the US: (all bold text should be clickable)
The B&N Limited Angel edition:
- Signed
- A stunning designed red case printed straight onto the hardcover
- Gilded edges
- A deleted chapter
- Alternate jacket coloring with golden x on the cover
- Red designed angel wing endpages
This limited signed edition is exclusive to B&N
The Standard Demon Edition:
- A beautiful red case design printed straight onto the hardcover
- Red metallic edges
- Gold angel wing endpages
- Red X on jacket
Signed editions of this version can be pre ordered through my local indie, Mysterious Galaxy. All pre orders will be signed. If you'd like personalization, please include how you'd like it personalized in the order notes at checkout.
In the UK:
Signed Waterstones Exclusive:
- Signed
- Very limited and nearly sold out
- Alternative gold dust jacket colorway
- Deleted Chapter
- Fiery edges
- Beautiful red hardcover case design (matches US)
- angel wing endpages
We also have the beautiful silver standard edition. Some indies should also be getting signed editions of this version. I will share information as it comes.
This is my favorite book yet, and I'm so so excited to share it with you! If you like big, epic fantasy worlds, plot driven stories that still have a ton of romance, angels, demons (including a demon bard), knights, a medieval inspired fantasy world, and a boatload of magic, TWD might be the book for you! I really hope you love it as much as I do.
In the US: (all bold text should be clickable)
The B&N Limited Angel edition:
- Signed
- A stunning designed red case printed straight onto the hardcover
- Gilded edges
- A deleted chapter
- Alternate jacket coloring with golden x on the cover
- Red designed angel wing endpages
This limited signed edition is exclusive to B&N
The Standard Demon Edition:
- A beautiful red case design printed straight onto the hardcover
- Red metallic edges
- Gold angel wing endpages
- Red X on jacket
Signed editions of this version can be pre ordered through my local indie, Mysterious Galaxy. All pre orders will be signed. If you'd like personalization, please include how you'd like it personalized in the order notes at checkout.
In the UK:
Signed Waterstones Exclusive:
- Signed
- Very limited and nearly sold out
- Alternative gold dust jacket colorway
- Deleted Chapter
- Fiery edges
- Beautiful red hardcover case design (matches US)
- angel wing endpages
We also have the beautiful silver standard edition. Some indies should also be getting signed editions of this version. I will share information as it comes.
This is my favorite book yet, and I'm so so excited to share it with you! If you like big, epic fantasy worlds, plot driven stories that still have a ton of romance, angels, demons (including a demon bard), knights, a medieval inspired fantasy world, and a boatload of magic, TWD might be the book for you! I really hope you love it as much as I do.
Want to Read
February 10, 2026Angels, demons, AND Renaissance-inspired?
Yes. Without a doubt, yes.
Update: Adalyn Grace just posted the first character art on Instagram and I am IN LOVE.
Update 2: We've got a release date (just before my birthday!!) and an epic description.
Update 3: We have a cover!
Yes. Without a doubt, yes.
Update: Adalyn Grace just posted the first character art on Instagram and I am IN LOVE.
Update 2: We've got a release date (just before my birthday!!) and an epic description.
Update 3: We have a cover!
Want to Read
February 12, 2026so sat for this release.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
dnfed at 30%
i couldn't care less if I tried
unfortunately, this book doesn't have interesting enough politics or narration for me to care. it's meant to be new adult i think? the only time it feels like new adult instead of YA is for the yuri chapters. the demon and aurelie chapters are very reminiscent of a really boring prototype of bantery enemies to lovers we're seeing these days. a lot of themes we begin with also feel very ya and the chemistry between the demon and aurelie is very middling. aurelia feels not much different from a staple fantasy fmc and her decisions are very impulsive and not interesting enough to hold my attention. she doesn't really have a unique characteristic so I didn't care much about her.
the one who I did care about, was yuri. the angel character is ironically the most interesting character in the book. he's got a set up and arc that feels very unique and mature. a sort of character that doesn't feel box-ed or boring. his pov kept me up from dnfing a lot sooner. he brings a fresh and interesting pov into the book and the world as an angel navigating humans and I'm sure his interactions with demons at the later part (if we ever get them) will be just as nice.
ultimately, I need my fantasy books perfect in setting their vibe from page 1 and building on it, so this wasn't for me as I don't think it blew my mind with unique ideas. i wish everything was as interesting as yuri but well, I'll never find out even if it is.
edit: okay I skimmed the middle part and then got to the ending and LOLLLL this might be one of those fantasy books that is insanely good in the last 50-100 pages. what a ride. I wish the beginning wasn't that slow but yeah whatever. I don't regret dnfing but OOOF that was some intense last 50 pages. and the ending???????? i wish i cared cause it's actually peak 😭😭😭😭😭 WHY COULDN'T I ENJOY THIS BOOK UGHHHHH
(and why was the yaoi serving so much)
thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc
i couldn't care less if I tried
unfortunately, this book doesn't have interesting enough politics or narration for me to care. it's meant to be new adult i think? the only time it feels like new adult instead of YA is for the yuri chapters. the demon and aurelie chapters are very reminiscent of a really boring prototype of bantery enemies to lovers we're seeing these days. a lot of themes we begin with also feel very ya and the chemistry between the demon and aurelie is very middling. aurelia feels not much different from a staple fantasy fmc and her decisions are very impulsive and not interesting enough to hold my attention. she doesn't really have a unique characteristic so I didn't care much about her.
the one who I did care about, was yuri. the angel character is ironically the most interesting character in the book. he's got a set up and arc that feels very unique and mature. a sort of character that doesn't feel box-ed or boring. his pov kept me up from dnfing a lot sooner. he brings a fresh and interesting pov into the book and the world as an angel navigating humans and I'm sure his interactions with demons at the later part (if we ever get them) will be just as nice.
ultimately, I need my fantasy books perfect in setting their vibe from page 1 and building on it, so this wasn't for me as I don't think it blew my mind with unique ideas. i wish everything was as interesting as yuri but well, I'll never find out even if it is.
edit: okay I skimmed the middle part and then got to the ending and LOLLLL this might be one of those fantasy books that is insanely good in the last 50-100 pages. what a ride. I wish the beginning wasn't that slow but yeah whatever. I don't regret dnfing but OOOF that was some intense last 50 pages. and the ending???????? i wish i cared cause it's actually peak 😭😭😭😭😭 WHY COULDN'T I ENJOY THIS BOOK UGHHHHH
(and why was the yaoi serving so much)
thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc
May 5, 2026
I’m going to be thinking about this book for a while , how am I supposed to move on ??. Easily a 6 star read with the most amazing world building and characters you want to slap and cheer for !! Aurelie is this crazy awesome knight who I just adore and I do not envy the choices she has to make. Surrounded by two very sexy guys , one demon .. one angel. I normally have very strong leanings towards the bad guys , but my angel , Yuriel , gave some strong vibes I was having a hard time saying no to. Severin is everything fun and wicked I love in my demon boys. Who knew the dynamic that would get me was grumpy angel and sunshine demon !!! Totally here for it !! Oh yah and there is a kingdom in peril and her dad got changed into a demon and she has to save him. Honestly this whole plot was riveting and I loved the story as it unfurled. That ending ended me. I’m gonna cry having to wait for book two and will just console myself by buying all the special editions.
Want to Read
October 1, 2024IS THIS A NEW ADALYN GRACE BOOK!!!!!!
- Will I eat this book up? Yes
- Will I fall in love with the mmc? Probably
- Will the writing be amazing? Uh duh it's by Adalyn Grace!
- Will I eat this book up? Yes
- Will I fall in love with the mmc? Probably
- Will the writing be amazing? Uh duh it's by Adalyn Grace!
Want to Read
October 2, 2024a love triangle with a vengeful demon, battle hardened angel, and a human knight (which are all hot) who is thrust into the middle of an ancient war??? a Renaissance-inspired magical world?? an adult romantasy written by the queen Adalyn Grace herself?? i am sat. they are trying to kick me out of B&N because it doesn’t release until 2026, but I am simply too seated. ✨
Want to Read
October 1, 202499.99% of why i want to read this book is because of lotusbubble’s artwork of it
Want to Read
February 11, 2026Coming out September 22
remind-me-once-out
February 15, 2026oh?
Want to Read
October 6, 2024after the disappointment that was Belladonna, I'm kind of scared to get my hopes up, but this sounds too good to pass 😂
March 8, 2026
This is easily going to be one of the big books of the year. Completely addictive from start to finish—I devoured every chapter. And the ending? Absolute chef’s kiss.
lost-interest
May 26, 2025An adult book by Adalyn Grace, which is described to be a mix of 'Daughter of Smoke & Bone', 'The Infernal Devices' AND 'The Stromlight Archive'?
Do you hear me screaming, crying and fangirling? No, of course not. Because I'm announcing this thorugh a post. 😅
Do you hear me screaming, crying and fangirling? No, of course not. Because I'm announcing this thorugh a post. 😅
March 8, 2026
I was really confused by the plot and world building here. I ended up just having to DNF because I was so lost in the sauce. It is a medieval world where humans are bonded to angels fighting demons, but that’s about all the explanation you are given, and it just gets more confusing from there. Then there’s this weird 3 way bond between an angel, human, and demon. I was like ???? I guess someone who is really into angel and demon mythology would love this. The author had such a witty and creative voice in her Belladonna series. This reads too serious and tortured. It just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.25 stars
You guys are going to eat Severin up.
The beginning of this one really impressed me in particular. You can tell Adalyn upped her game; she manages to convey this new sprawling kingdom and its multi-faceted worldbuilding to us beautifully and w/o feeling info-dumpy while getting the story rolling. And when Yuri and Severin really step in I started GRINNING- their opposing personalities make for such hilarious banter!
Now, I gotta be honest. I was told this wasn't a romantasy... but the entire middle portion of the book felt very much romantasy to me! Yes, there was a fantasy plot driving the middle but the tone and focus shifted to a lot of sexual tension for quite a while and you know what- it's not a bad thing, I love romantic fantasy too! I just wasn't expecting it when I heard this was a fantasy forward book and I think the marketing is doing it a disservice when the romance felt quite in balance with the plot actually. There is spice, but it doesn't start overwhelming the story- though I could have done with a little less focus on lust in the middle.
The romance winds back down for the last hundred or so pages as shit hits the fan. There was a twist that is pretty easy to guess, but then another that I didn't anticipate until it was revealed that had me SQUEALING and so desperate for book two already since it left the series feeling like it just opened up more!
Definitely try this one of you like royalty, demons and angels, love triangles, irreverent bards(!!), strained bromance and magical bonds. Also Kronk from the Emperor's New Groove is in the acknowledgements and that's very important too.
You guys are going to eat Severin up.
The beginning of this one really impressed me in particular. You can tell Adalyn upped her game; she manages to convey this new sprawling kingdom and its multi-faceted worldbuilding to us beautifully and w/o feeling info-dumpy while getting the story rolling. And when Yuri and Severin really step in I started GRINNING- their opposing personalities make for such hilarious banter!
Now, I gotta be honest. I was told this wasn't a romantasy... but the entire middle portion of the book felt very much romantasy to me! Yes, there was a fantasy plot driving the middle but the tone and focus shifted to a lot of sexual tension for quite a while and you know what- it's not a bad thing, I love romantic fantasy too! I just wasn't expecting it when I heard this was a fantasy forward book and I think the marketing is doing it a disservice when the romance felt quite in balance with the plot actually. There is spice, but it doesn't start overwhelming the story- though I could have done with a little less focus on lust in the middle.
The romance winds back down for the last hundred or so pages as shit hits the fan. There was a twist that is pretty easy to guess, but then another that I didn't anticipate until it was revealed that had me SQUEALING and so desperate for book two already since it left the series feeling like it just opened up more!
Definitely try this one of you like royalty, demons and angels, love triangles, irreverent bards(!!), strained bromance and magical bonds. Also Kronk from the Emperor's New Groove is in the acknowledgements and that's very important too.
March 30, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ omg this book finally cured my fantasy reading slump!!!!!! at first i wasn’t sure if i was gonna like the story bc it started kinda slow but at some point everything started clicking and i just knew it was gonna be a new favorite. i loved the characters and their relationships so much and i have soooo many expectations for how the trio is gonna interact in the sequel after that ending 👀 overall i loved everything, it just wasn’t 5 stars bc of the slower start and bc every single character annoyed me at some point (but i swear i ended up loving them all!!!)
Read
October 2, 2024an adult fantasy romance about demons and angels… I’M SO SEATED
Want to Read
October 21, 2025they mentioned....infernal devices?? and why am i only hearing about this now? 😔
April 30, 2026
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK
Read
April 23, 2026RTC closer to publication
April 9, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ wow!!! From the very first chapter Adalyn had be hooked! This follows Aurelie - knight whose mission in life is to bond with an angel to save her kingdom! BUT WAIT- not only does she bond with an angel but also with a demon!! This story was incredibly fast paced and kept me wondering where the story was going. It follows four point of views and I loved being inside various characters heads! Defff recommend!!!
Want to Read
February 10, 2026High Fantasy world like Brandon Sanderson & Robin Hobb AND a romance?! SOLD! Requesting immediately because I need this ASAP!
Want to Read
February 12, 2026posting the synopsis and fanart without even a cover is a CRIME I want this book in my hands rn Adalyn Grace please I beg you 🤲🏼😩
Want to Read
December 14, 2024can’t wait for this one
May 3, 2026
Just WOW I did not see any of the plot twists coming! I am utterly in shock and beyond excited for the rest of the series and where it will go.
Unique Magic system and World! A demon who has sound magic, other demons with shadow magic, lust magic & more… angels who protect humans and bond with one family line in each kingdom to slay demons… a human soldier who’s torn between the evil and the good, fuelled by revenge and dare I say enters a maybe love triangle.
I adored the writing throughout this, it is so beautifully written and such an easy read. A masterpiece.
Unique Magic system and World! A demon who has sound magic, other demons with shadow magic, lust magic & more… angels who protect humans and bond with one family line in each kingdom to slay demons… a human soldier who’s torn between the evil and the good, fuelled by revenge and dare I say enters a maybe love triangle.
I adored the writing throughout this, it is so beautifully written and such an easy read. A masterpiece.
Want to Read
March 24, 2026😇🔥 The Wretched Divine 🔥😈
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🪽 What to Expect
• Angels and demons
• Knight FMC
• Soul bond magic
• Demon ally
• War torn kingdom
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
📝 Thank you to Macmillan | Feiwel and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🪽 What to Expect
• Angels and demons
• Knight FMC
• Soul bond magic
• Demon ally
• War torn kingdom
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
📝 Thank you to Macmillan | Feiwel and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Want to Read
February 10, 2026WE HAVE A COVER OH MY GODDDD
Want to Read
March 17, 2026adding this just so i can keep looking at the cover. the artist had bills to pay for sure
Read
March 25, 2026Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews