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Devour Me #1
Devour Me
From New York Times bestselling author Emily Rath comes a dark, spicy MMF paranormal romance series set on a New England island about the entangled fates of a witch, wraith, and mortal...
Dáinn the Devourer has spent the last two hundred years of his undead life reluctantly bonded to a dark witch, doing her dirtiest work. Devouring corrupt souls may not be satisfying for a wraith, but it keeps him fed.
Sent on a job to Burr Island, Dáinn is forced by his mistress to devour the soul of a powerful rival witch, Jasper Prescott. Dáinn is busy devouring the witch when he’s interrupted by a human. With one word, this human does what no being has ever done…she takes his breath away.
Forced to stop feeding, Dáinn is shattered as the soul he was devouring slips back inside the dying witch. Who is this human? And what dark magic must she possess to stop a wraith? The more Dáinn learns about Birdie Rhodes, hapless historian and sometimes shop girl, the more determined he is to become part of her world.
Sweet Birdie works for the witch Dáinn was ordered to devour. Now Jasper Prescott is on the hunt too. For answers. As a powerful witch, with a coven at his command, Jasper will stop at nothing to find out what magical mischief is happening on his island. Why is a wraith haunting his tea shop? Which fellow witch wants him dead? And who the hell is Birdie Rhodes?
Dáinn, Jasper, and Birdie become entangled in a magical love affair which could lead to their ruin.
Tropes
Shadow daddyUnrequited instaloveAge gapWhy Choose/PolyamoryMMFDysfunctional throupleLurking is my love languageGrumpy witch x grumpy demon x sunshine humanNo one gets to kill you but meThe cat is not a cat
Dáinn the Devourer has spent the last two hundred years of his undead life reluctantly bonded to a dark witch, doing her dirtiest work. Devouring corrupt souls may not be satisfying for a wraith, but it keeps him fed.
Sent on a job to Burr Island, Dáinn is forced by his mistress to devour the soul of a powerful rival witch, Jasper Prescott. Dáinn is busy devouring the witch when he’s interrupted by a human. With one word, this human does what no being has ever done…she takes his breath away.
Forced to stop feeding, Dáinn is shattered as the soul he was devouring slips back inside the dying witch. Who is this human? And what dark magic must she possess to stop a wraith? The more Dáinn learns about Birdie Rhodes, hapless historian and sometimes shop girl, the more determined he is to become part of her world.
Sweet Birdie works for the witch Dáinn was ordered to devour. Now Jasper Prescott is on the hunt too. For answers. As a powerful witch, with a coven at his command, Jasper will stop at nothing to find out what magical mischief is happening on his island. Why is a wraith haunting his tea shop? Which fellow witch wants him dead? And who the hell is Birdie Rhodes?
Dáinn, Jasper, and Birdie become entangled in a magical love affair which could lead to their ruin.
Tropes
Shadow daddyUnrequited instaloveAge gapWhy Choose/PolyamoryMMFDysfunctional throupleLurking is my love languageGrumpy witch x grumpy demon x sunshine humanNo one gets to kill you but meThe cat is not a cat
528 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Emily Rath
20 books12k followersEmily Rath is a USA Today and international bestselling author whose chart-topping, sex-positive, queer-inclusive fantasy and romance novels include the Second Sons Regency romances, the Tuonela Duet fantasy novels, and the ‘why choose’ Jacksonville Rays Hockey Romances. A former university professor, she holds PhDs in Political Science and Peace Studies. Emily lives with her husband, son, and cats in the Pacific Northwest. She can be found online at EmilyRathBooks.com, on Instagram @emilyrathauthor and on TikTok @emilyrathbooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 894 reviews
July 20, 2026
Devour Me isn’t quite what I was expecting, but it was still a classic, Emily Rath good time! I’m thinking 3.5 ⭐️s!
From the synopsis, I was expecting a dark academia paranormal romance and all that comes with it. In reality, although Devour Me has some darker themes (brief mentions of parental and religious abuse), this actually felt pretty light thematically! We have a grad student trying to hold onto her summer internship, a grumpy witch, and the gold retriever wraith who wants to eat both of their souls (but in a sweet, puppy-love way). Honestly, the vibes reminded me of a campy supernatural show, which makes the Charmed callouts make sense 🖤
Birdie feels like a classic Emily Rath protagonist. Although she sometimes doubts herself, she puts in the work to move past her trauma and takes no nonsense from the other characters.
Jasper is the leader of his coven of witches, and honestly this man is just trying to survive all the responsibilities that have been dumped on him his whole life. He is moody, but you get a good sense of how protective he is.
Dáinn is the cinnamon roll portent of evil who brings it all together. I honestly love him so much, and I wish more of the 500+ pages in this book were dedicated to him. I want to give him a hug and a cup of tea and tell him he’s special 🥹🥹🥹
I did have a good time with this story, but it still feels a little underdeveloped for how long it was. I’m assuming this will be a duology/trilogy, but it felt very drawn out knowing that there wasn’t going to be a resolution at the end. For over 500 pages, the whole story takes place in a single week. The author did warn at the beginning of the book that there is a lot of insta-love in this book, but it felt a little insta-plotty too. Is that a thing? I’m making it a thing. The plot was definitely there, I just wanted Birdie to have more time to develop a relationship with magic as a whole, as well as the other coven members instead of rushing through the buildup to make room for the romance.
I’m definitely interested to see how this series will continue after that cliffhanger, though 👀
••••••••••••••••
Massive thanks to Avon for the ARC! The cover is gorgeous so I’m hopeful 🤞🏻🖤
From the synopsis, I was expecting a dark academia paranormal romance and all that comes with it. In reality, although Devour Me has some darker themes (brief mentions of parental and religious abuse), this actually felt pretty light thematically! We have a grad student trying to hold onto her summer internship, a grumpy witch, and the gold retriever wraith who wants to eat both of their souls (but in a sweet, puppy-love way). Honestly, the vibes reminded me of a campy supernatural show, which makes the Charmed callouts make sense 🖤
Birdie feels like a classic Emily Rath protagonist. Although she sometimes doubts herself, she puts in the work to move past her trauma and takes no nonsense from the other characters.
Jasper is the leader of his coven of witches, and honestly this man is just trying to survive all the responsibilities that have been dumped on him his whole life. He is moody, but you get a good sense of how protective he is.
Dáinn is the cinnamon roll portent of evil who brings it all together. I honestly love him so much, and I wish more of the 500+ pages in this book were dedicated to him. I want to give him a hug and a cup of tea and tell him he’s special 🥹🥹🥹
I did have a good time with this story, but it still feels a little underdeveloped for how long it was. I’m assuming this will be a duology/trilogy, but it felt very drawn out knowing that there wasn’t going to be a resolution at the end. For over 500 pages, the whole story takes place in a single week. The author did warn at the beginning of the book that there is a lot of insta-love in this book, but it felt a little insta-plotty too. Is that a thing? I’m making it a thing. The plot was definitely there, I just wanted Birdie to have more time to develop a relationship with magic as a whole, as well as the other coven members instead of rushing through the buildup to make room for the romance.
I’m definitely interested to see how this series will continue after that cliffhanger, though 👀
••••••••••••••••
Massive thanks to Avon for the ARC! The cover is gorgeous so I’m hopeful 🤞🏻🖤
August 4, 2026
”It doesn’t matter that nothing beats beneath my palm. You have a heart, and it is ours.”
my thoughts on this are all over the place, i really found the page length to be extremely unnecessary. i’m a huge fan of witches, so i loved that side of the story.. i just wish there was more depth to everything.
i’ll never deny a poly moment, but Jasper, Birdie and Dáinn had no build up to their relationships. it was all instant in every way you could imagine, which didn’t make sense to me at all. Dáinn is undoubtedly the best character out of the three, his struggles being a wraith made me warm up to him a lot more. he was also a whimpering, begging mess and i LOVE that about him.
i could see why Jasper and Dáinn would be more drawn to each other, but the same can’t be said for Birdie and Dáinn. i also felt like there was so much useless information given that dragged the pacing, only to not even give the answers that i actually wanted. i wouldn’t be against reading the next book, but i was a bit annoyed with how abruptly it ended. so.. there’s that.
⇰ thanks to NetGalley, the author, Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
my thoughts on this are all over the place, i really found the page length to be extremely unnecessary. i’m a huge fan of witches, so i loved that side of the story.. i just wish there was more depth to everything.
i’ll never deny a poly moment, but Jasper, Birdie and Dáinn had no build up to their relationships. it was all instant in every way you could imagine, which didn’t make sense to me at all. Dáinn is undoubtedly the best character out of the three, his struggles being a wraith made me warm up to him a lot more. he was also a whimpering, begging mess and i LOVE that about him.
i could see why Jasper and Dáinn would be more drawn to each other, but the same can’t be said for Birdie and Dáinn. i also felt like there was so much useless information given that dragged the pacing, only to not even give the answers that i actually wanted. i wouldn’t be against reading the next book, but i was a bit annoyed with how abruptly it ended. so.. there’s that.
⇰ thanks to NetGalley, the author, Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF at 77%.
If you don’t like campy romance, insta love, and smut that feels like it just pops up because the author wants it there, this probably won't be for you. I actually like camp (I gave Ice Planet Barbarians four stars!), but this felt like "camp" was just an excuse for inconsistent character motivations and messy execution.
The writing style was exhausting. There are too many useless details that should have been edited out, and the characters constantly repeat the same information to each other. I felt like I read every scene four times. The plot was there, but the pacing was too slow.
The insta-love was so unnecessary. I expected the wraith to love the leads at first sight based on the description, but Jasper and Birdie also have zero build-up. As soon as they meet, they are all over each other, and Phoebe (Jasper’s NIECE and Birdie's friend) immediately gives them her blessing to hook up. Why was that even necessary?
In 264 pages (that’s 50% of the book), there was plenty of time to give the romance some depth beyond whatever is happening here, but nope. Even the dirty talk and smut felt awkward. And if you’re wondering how the wraith joins the Why Choose fun, he just helps himself to a body from the morgue. I’m still not sure how I feel about that.
The only time I felt a spark of interest was around the 40% mark when the wraith, Dainn, gets his new body and finally starts interacting with people. I actually thought, "Finally, we’re getting somewhere". But while his interactions were somewhat entertaining, it wasn't enough to save this for me.
There was potential here, but I’m just not a fan of the execution. I think this needed more focus on character building.
I did peek at the last chapter to see what happens, only to find it ends on a cliffhanger. I can safely say I won't be back for the sequel.
Tropes: Age gap (24/42/immortal) | Why Choose | Insta-love
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: When I first read the blurb, I thought this was the weirdest thing ever, but I also knew I had to read it. So, here I am, diving into a Why Choose between a witch, a wraith, and a mortal. I have no idea what to expect, but I really hope I like it!!
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
If you don’t like campy romance, insta love, and smut that feels like it just pops up because the author wants it there, this probably won't be for you. I actually like camp (I gave Ice Planet Barbarians four stars!), but this felt like "camp" was just an excuse for inconsistent character motivations and messy execution.
The writing style was exhausting. There are too many useless details that should have been edited out, and the characters constantly repeat the same information to each other. I felt like I read every scene four times. The plot was there, but the pacing was too slow.
The insta-love was so unnecessary. I expected the wraith to love the leads at first sight based on the description, but Jasper and Birdie also have zero build-up. As soon as they meet, they are all over each other, and Phoebe (Jasper’s NIECE and Birdie's friend) immediately gives them her blessing to hook up. Why was that even necessary?
In 264 pages (that’s 50% of the book), there was plenty of time to give the romance some depth beyond whatever is happening here, but nope. Even the dirty talk and smut felt awkward. And if you’re wondering how the wraith joins the Why Choose fun, he just helps himself to a body from the morgue. I’m still not sure how I feel about that.
The only time I felt a spark of interest was around the 40% mark when the wraith, Dainn, gets his new body and finally starts interacting with people. I actually thought, "Finally, we’re getting somewhere". But while his interactions were somewhat entertaining, it wasn't enough to save this for me.
There was potential here, but I’m just not a fan of the execution. I think this needed more focus on character building.
I did peek at the last chapter to see what happens, only to find it ends on a cliffhanger. I can safely say I won't be back for the sequel.
Tropes: Age gap (24/42/immortal) | Why Choose | Insta-love
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: When I first read the blurb, I thought this was the weirdest thing ever, but I also knew I had to read it. So, here I am, diving into a Why Choose between a witch, a wraith, and a mortal. I have no idea what to expect, but I really hope I like it!!
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
August 6, 2026
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Should I categorise this as: >i>wants to re-read in the future? 👀
Kinda curious about this one... Can't wait to pick it up soon.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Should I categorise this as: >i>wants to re-read in the future? 👀
Kinda curious about this one... Can't wait to pick it up soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars, rounded down for Goodreads
I needed to process this one before sharing all my thoughts.
I love the world we're in here and the characters really ground their ways into my heard, but DANG did the plot drag. I feel like for the amount of plot we truly got, this did not need to be over 500 pages. Also, there appears to be a plot hold towards the end which as me side-eyeing, but here we are and there it was (potentially, it was also a twist in the cliffhanger, so I guess I'll see in book two how it's explained).
Devour Me was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, but it fell a tad flat for me. I wish we had gotten more plot. And don't get me started on that last smut scene; did I want those two to finally have their moment? Yes, yes I did. Did it make sense with the timing and the plot at that point in time? No, it absolutely did not. I couldn't even enjoy it because like....there's no time for anything right now! What are you doing!
Anyhow, we'll see how book two goes, but I'm leaving Devour Me a tad disappointed. :/
I needed to process this one before sharing all my thoughts.
I love the world we're in here and the characters really ground their ways into my heard, but DANG did the plot drag. I feel like for the amount of plot we truly got, this did not need to be over 500 pages. Also, there appears to be a plot hold towards the end which as me side-eyeing, but here we are and there it was (potentially, it was also a twist in the cliffhanger, so I guess I'll see in book two how it's explained).
Devour Me was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, but it fell a tad flat for me. I wish we had gotten more plot. And don't get me started on that last smut scene; did I want those two to finally have their moment? Yes, yes I did. Did it make sense with the timing and the plot at that point in time? No, it absolutely did not. I couldn't even enjoy it because like....there's no time for anything right now! What are you doing!
Anyhow, we'll see how book two goes, but I'm leaving Devour Me a tad disappointed. :/
July 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This book just wasn't for me.
I can absolutely see why it has found its audience, but I never fully clicked with the story or the characters.
The strongest part for me was the magic. I loved the paranormal atmosphere, and the bits we got about the magic system were genuinely interesting. I just wish there had been a lot more of it. It felt like the story spent far more time on the relationships than exploring the world, which was the part I actually wanted to learn more about.
The romance also didn't work for me. The possessiveness of some of the characters was just too much, and because the relationships developed so quickly, I never became invested in the throuple. I needed more time watching these characters build trust before buying into the emotional connection.
The pacing didn't help either. There were long stretches where it felt like the plot wasn't moving forward, and I found myself waiting for the story to reach the bigger magical conflict. When those moments finally arrived, they were some of my favorite parts—but they came far too late.
I don't think this is a bad book. It simply prioritized different things than I was hoping for. If you're here for a chaotic paranormal romance with a heavy focus on the relationships, you'll probably enjoy it much more than I did.
July 19, 2026
Devour Me made my 2000s kid heart SO happy. The magic, humor & paranormal elements are super nostalgic. It gave me the same vibes as when I’d binge Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch & Buffy after school as a kid.
🎁 ARC gifted to me by Avon Books
🗓️ pub date: August 4, 2026
What to expect:
🖤 Why choose (MMF) paranormal romance
🖤 1st person, multi POV
🖤 Witch x human x wraith
🖤 Age gap
🖤 Insta lust
📖 Book 1 in series
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️.5
I love Emily Rath's Jacksonville Rays hockey romance series, so I was super excited to dive into this series (especially because I'm a paranormal romance girly). I flew through this book; this was the perfect Summerween read.
Emily Rath's marketing definitely set me up with the right expectations going into this book. It's said to have "the dark, campy humor of True Blood and the magic & whimsy of Charmed," which I definitely agree with. If you go into this book expecting vibes similar to those early 2000s shows, I think you'll also have a great time. I'd very much consider this a vibes read, so I can see readers feeling either way about it.
Devour Me is very much a character-driven story, but that's not to say Emily Rath doesn't do a good job at setting the stage and building this magic system. It didn't feel like this was a romance with a backdrop of paranormal elements—she really wove them together, and I like that our FMC is a history nerd so it's believable that she'd ask these types of questions, be curious about uncovering certain information, and/or already know certain information.
One of things I love most about Emily Rath's writing is her books are written in 1st person, multi POV and the POVs truly feel like different personalities. Sometimes with 1st books (in my opinion), it can feel like the non-dialogue/internal thoughts are similar across characters and only the spoken dialogue is differentiated (not the case with Emily's writing). I love that these three main characters truly stand on their own, and I love all of their personalities. Obviously, I have a sweet spot for Dáinn.
The romance in this book was just fun as hell. I love insta love and lust (outside of an enemies-to-lovers situation), and Emily Rath loves to write it. I know that's not going to do it for every reader, but I love that the characters can own up to their attraction to one another right away. The banter between our male main characters is some of my favorite. I cackled out loud multiple times.
Now, as a spicy romance reader do I think this was a very spicy book? No. HOWEVER, for the average reader that doesn't read taboo or polyamorous romances, I can see this being a very spicy read. I'd say the spice scenes are few, but the ones that are in here are creative.
Main reasons I ultimately didn't rate this the full 5-star rating comes down to some repetitiveness, some moments with characters feeling a bit inconsistent with their behaviors/feelings, and Birdie's best friend's character/character development. As I noted, this is book 1 in a series, so I'm curious to see how Emily Rath will approach book 2.
🎁 ARC gifted to me by Avon Books
🗓️ pub date: August 4, 2026
What to expect:
🖤 Why choose (MMF) paranormal romance
🖤 1st person, multi POV
🖤 Witch x human x wraith
🖤 Age gap
🖤 Insta lust
📖 Book 1 in series
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️.5
I love Emily Rath's Jacksonville Rays hockey romance series, so I was super excited to dive into this series (especially because I'm a paranormal romance girly). I flew through this book; this was the perfect Summerween read.
Emily Rath's marketing definitely set me up with the right expectations going into this book. It's said to have "the dark, campy humor of True Blood and the magic & whimsy of Charmed," which I definitely agree with. If you go into this book expecting vibes similar to those early 2000s shows, I think you'll also have a great time. I'd very much consider this a vibes read, so I can see readers feeling either way about it.
Devour Me is very much a character-driven story, but that's not to say Emily Rath doesn't do a good job at setting the stage and building this magic system. It didn't feel like this was a romance with a backdrop of paranormal elements—she really wove them together, and I like that our FMC is a history nerd so it's believable that she'd ask these types of questions, be curious about uncovering certain information, and/or already know certain information.
One of things I love most about Emily Rath's writing is her books are written in 1st person, multi POV and the POVs truly feel like different personalities. Sometimes with 1st books (in my opinion), it can feel like the non-dialogue/internal thoughts are similar across characters and only the spoken dialogue is differentiated (not the case with Emily's writing). I love that these three main characters truly stand on their own, and I love all of their personalities. Obviously, I have a sweet spot for Dáinn.
The romance in this book was just fun as hell. I love insta love and lust (outside of an enemies-to-lovers situation), and Emily Rath loves to write it. I know that's not going to do it for every reader, but I love that the characters can own up to their attraction to one another right away. The banter between our male main characters is some of my favorite. I cackled out loud multiple times.
Now, as a spicy romance reader do I think this was a very spicy book? No. HOWEVER, for the average reader that doesn't read taboo or polyamorous romances, I can see this being a very spicy read. I'd say the spice scenes are few, but the ones that are in here are creative.
Main reasons I ultimately didn't rate this the full 5-star rating comes down to some repetitiveness, some moments with characters feeling a bit inconsistent with their behaviors/feelings, and Birdie's best friend's character/character development. As I noted, this is book 1 in a series, so I'm curious to see how Emily Rath will approach book 2.
June 15, 2026
I love me an Emily read always, and this one is no exception. All the characters are so wonderfully quirky and lovable it makes for such a fun read. You have sweet shy Birdie, grumpy Jasper the Witch, and equally bumbly and terrifying Dainn the Wraith. The island and characters will charm you and make you fall in love instantly. A++ for plot/world building, Emily’s writing always keeps you completely engaged and invested in the story and characters. And the romantic tension is top tier in classic Emily fashion.
This is definitely a different vibe than her hockey romances, but trust me you will not be disappointed. I don’t usually read paranormal romance so I was a bit skeptical going in but I was instantly hooked. I love a why choose, and this one has the fun element of magical beings involved which adds a little extra spice to the dynamic. Other fun tropes include: age gap, shadow daddy, unrequited instalove, and my personal favorite- the cat is not a cat.
My only gripe is that sometimes things became a bit repetitive, and felt too explainy. For instance, the amount of times Howe was mentioned to look like Milo Thatch was too many. I really appreciated it the first time because it gave me a perfect visual, then I lost count at mention #4 and felt it was too much. But honestly that being my only gripe means it was a good freaking read!!!
Also the massive cliffhanger will totally get you at the end, and now I’m just dying to read the next book ASAP!! Would highly recommend this read, as I would with any of Emily’s other books! Go pick it up on August 4th and you’ll DEVOUR it just like I did. *wink wink* 😉
Thank you so much to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the early copy!!
This is definitely a different vibe than her hockey romances, but trust me you will not be disappointed. I don’t usually read paranormal romance so I was a bit skeptical going in but I was instantly hooked. I love a why choose, and this one has the fun element of magical beings involved which adds a little extra spice to the dynamic. Other fun tropes include: age gap, shadow daddy, unrequited instalove, and my personal favorite- the cat is not a cat.
My only gripe is that sometimes things became a bit repetitive, and felt too explainy. For instance, the amount of times Howe was mentioned to look like Milo Thatch was too many. I really appreciated it the first time because it gave me a perfect visual, then I lost count at mention #4 and felt it was too much. But honestly that being my only gripe means it was a good freaking read!!!
Also the massive cliffhanger will totally get you at the end, and now I’m just dying to read the next book ASAP!! Would highly recommend this read, as I would with any of Emily’s other books! Go pick it up on August 4th and you’ll DEVOUR it just like I did. *wink wink* 😉
Thank you so much to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the early copy!!
August 5, 2026
This one wasn’t for me, but I can see others enjoying it!
April 4, 2026
THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!!! Like I don’t even know how to talk about how much I loved this book. The characters were amazing, the setting was incredible, the spice was spicy (and not overdone in my opinion) just everything was so good. I have never wanted to join a coven more in my life but it has to be this one haha and Dáinn, my sweet little wraith… I would do ANYTHING FOR HIM!!! And that ending! I have never needed the next book more in my life and to know we are just scratching the surface. This series will take over my life!
May 14, 2026
I AM OBSESSED.
I want both a witch and a wraith now. WHY CHOOSE
I don't usually enjoy inta-love but I may be changing my mind now,
The book started a tad slow for me but once it picked up, I could NOT put the book down!
The smut was GOOOD! I was on the edge of my seat reading. The plot was enjoyable as well! AND the cliff hanger??? I need more NOW.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!!
I want both a witch and a wraith now. WHY CHOOSE
I don't usually enjoy inta-love but I may be changing my mind now,
The book started a tad slow for me but once it picked up, I could NOT put the book down!
The smut was GOOOD! I was on the edge of my seat reading. The plot was enjoyable as well! AND the cliff hanger??? I need more NOW.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ummm…this was a silly fun time until it wasn’t.
this started off pretty good, a wraith, a male witch and a human female isnt something i have come across in a book before and i enjoy a why choose so i thought this would be a fun time.
however, the writing got really cringey and repetitive and the insta lust was just too much. i’m sorry but if my uncle was single i would not be encouraging my best friend to fuck him and be kicking my feet after finding out they kissed. girl what 💀
i didn’t find myself connecting to any of the characters. they all felt very surface level
and i didn’t feel there was any kind of character development.
i probably should have dnf’ed after about 50%. the pacing was up and down, the plot did keep me engaged initially but then things slowed down and i was waiting for the pace to pick up again but nope.
i would have liked to have seen dainn use more of his shadows tbf 👀
thank you to the publishers for the arc copy but sadly this book wasn’t for me.
this started off pretty good, a wraith, a male witch and a human female isnt something i have come across in a book before and i enjoy a why choose so i thought this would be a fun time.
however, the writing got really cringey and repetitive and the insta lust was just too much. i’m sorry but if my uncle was single i would not be encouraging my best friend to fuck him and be kicking my feet after finding out they kissed. girl what 💀
i didn’t find myself connecting to any of the characters. they all felt very surface level
and i didn’t feel there was any kind of character development.
i probably should have dnf’ed after about 50%. the pacing was up and down, the plot did keep me engaged initially but then things slowed down and i was waiting for the pace to pick up again but nope.
i would have liked to have seen dainn use more of his shadows tbf 👀
thank you to the publishers for the arc copy but sadly this book wasn’t for me.
April 21, 2026
Overall, I'd give the book 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the story, but for me personally, everything happened too quickly. I needed more buildup of the characters before so much action and chaos happened. The setting was so good, touristy island protected by a coven of witches living amongst humans, I loved all the little shops and especially Salt & Sage, I wished we got more time in the shop! I also loved the witchy, history, and supernatural vibes. Let's talk individual characters. Birdie, a broke graduate student who ended up on the island due to her best friend meddling. She was really fun to read, and I liked her character a lot, I loved that she was so smart, resilient, and took things in stride, especially learning that witches are real. Jasper, a grumpy shop keeper and leader of the Burr Island coven. Great guy, but shew, talk about mommy issues. Dainn, an immortal wraith tasked with haunting and hunting Jasper per Ludmilla's request. My favorite character, his quirks made him so charming and fun. I liked all of these characters individually, a lot actually, especially Dainn, BUT I didn't necessarily feel the chemistry. The sexual tension, sure, but the obsession with each other came on too fast. I will add that the scene in the woods was top notch. Insta-love is one of my least favorite tropes, so that's on me. The banter between the three, and sometimes Hortie, was great and I loved the friendship between Birdie and Phoebe. For any ACOTAR fans out there, Ludmilla reminded me of Amarantha mixed with Mother Gothel from Tangled. I honestly can't wait for the next book to see what happens next!
*Paranormal = witch/human/wraith = coven leader/historian/immortal
*Mystery
*Insta-lust/insta-love
*Forced proximity
*Trauma bonding
*Why choose
Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley, Emily Rath, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Chapter play by play to come once the book is published!
*Paranormal = witch/human/wraith = coven leader/historian/immortal
*Mystery
*Insta-lust/insta-love
*Forced proximity
*Trauma bonding
*Why choose
Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley, Emily Rath, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!
Chapter play by play to come once the book is published!
July 17, 2026
I don't know where to start but I will say for a 500+ page book, I still finished this in two days, which goes to show that the writing was not my issue with this. I thought the characters were hot, the spice scenes were 🔥, the plot was plotting, but it still left something missing. I think we honestly spent so much time plotting, that we didn't spend enough time having the characters spend time together.
Like, I truly have no issue with insta love/insta lust, I can get on board with it for the most part, BUT I need to truly feel like there is tension and want, rather than feeling like "oh I guess they want each other". I think ultimately, Jasper and Birdie spent little to no time getting to know each other, and therefore I was just not really swooning. Like YES, the scenes they had together? HOT, but something was missing to have me really invested in this, and I love a good why choose, but it just wasn't working here. And Dainn... I liked him as a character, but again same issue. Why does Birdie and Jasper want to claim him when we are really just not spending enough time with each other for this to make sense in my brain.
I understand this is going to be either a duology or series of some sort (which I find highly unnecessary) so maybe we are going to see their relationship grow more, but I still stand by for 500+ pages there should've been more development between them besides lust. The plot in my opinion could have been completely resolved in this installment, and it could have just been a standalone. That being said, I am still curious how the author will decide to end this story, but conflicted on whether or not I'll pick up the next installment.
Thank you to Avon for the gifted arc!
___________________________________
there is no reason this couldn't have been a standalone 🥲
longer review to come
Like, I truly have no issue with insta love/insta lust, I can get on board with it for the most part, BUT I need to truly feel like there is tension and want, rather than feeling like "oh I guess they want each other". I think ultimately, Jasper and Birdie spent little to no time getting to know each other, and therefore I was just not really swooning. Like YES, the scenes they had together? HOT, but something was missing to have me really invested in this, and I love a good why choose, but it just wasn't working here. And Dainn... I liked him as a character, but again same issue. Why does Birdie and Jasper want to claim him when we are really just not spending enough time with each other for this to make sense in my brain.
I understand this is going to be either a duology or series of some sort (which I find highly unnecessary) so maybe we are going to see their relationship grow more, but I still stand by for 500+ pages there should've been more development between them besides lust. The plot in my opinion could have been completely resolved in this installment, and it could have just been a standalone. That being said, I am still curious how the author will decide to end this story, but conflicted on whether or not I'll pick up the next installment.
Thank you to Avon for the gifted arc!
___________________________________
there is no reason this couldn't have been a standalone 🥲
longer review to come
July 26, 2026
Devour Me, book one in the Devour Me series by Emily Rath
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 stars (rounded up.)
Well, I’m still trying to decide how I feel about this book. I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it. Considering I read the whole thing without once threatening to fling my Kindle across the room, I’d call that a win. Jasper and Dáinn carried this book for me. I’d happily read another few hundred pages of either of them. Birdie, on the other hand? Whew. She spent so much time getting on my last nerve that I started rooting for literally anyone else in the room to take control.
The magic system kept me interested. It’s mostly elemental magic BUT there are witches, vampires, gargoyles and all sorts of supernatural chaos running around. There was also one specific magical being that doesn’t really play by everyone else’s rules, which I thought was a fun twist. And Ludmilla? What an absolute piece of work. She and her merry little band of awful people deserve nothing but wet socks and eternal inconvenience.
If you’re picking this up for the romance, don’t worry! Emily Rath did not come to play. There is plenty of spicy goodness tucked between all the magical mayhem, and let’s just say Jasper and Dáinn certainly helped keep the pages turning. The ending isn’t really a cliffhanger so much as someone pressing the pause button right when things are getting interesting. You could stop there. But you’re probably going to need to read the next book.
Overall, this lands at 3.5 stars for me. Great world building, two MMCs I genuinely liked, villains I loved to hate and enough spice to keep things heated and entertaining. I just wish Birdie and I had been on speaking terms for more than five minutes at a time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books (an imprint of Harper Collin’s,) for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected publish date: August 4, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 stars (rounded up.)
Well, I’m still trying to decide how I feel about this book. I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it. Considering I read the whole thing without once threatening to fling my Kindle across the room, I’d call that a win. Jasper and Dáinn carried this book for me. I’d happily read another few hundred pages of either of them. Birdie, on the other hand? Whew. She spent so much time getting on my last nerve that I started rooting for literally anyone else in the room to take control.
The magic system kept me interested. It’s mostly elemental magic BUT there are witches, vampires, gargoyles and all sorts of supernatural chaos running around. There was also one specific magical being that doesn’t really play by everyone else’s rules, which I thought was a fun twist. And Ludmilla? What an absolute piece of work. She and her merry little band of awful people deserve nothing but wet socks and eternal inconvenience.
If you’re picking this up for the romance, don’t worry! Emily Rath did not come to play. There is plenty of spicy goodness tucked between all the magical mayhem, and let’s just say Jasper and Dáinn certainly helped keep the pages turning. The ending isn’t really a cliffhanger so much as someone pressing the pause button right when things are getting interesting. You could stop there. But you’re probably going to need to read the next book.
Overall, this lands at 3.5 stars for me. Great world building, two MMCs I genuinely liked, villains I loved to hate and enough spice to keep things heated and entertaining. I just wish Birdie and I had been on speaking terms for more than five minutes at a time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books (an imprint of Harper Collin’s,) for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Expected publish date: August 4, 2026
May 9, 2026
Six Stars - No notes. I truly had the time of my life reading this book, and while I’m still reeling from the cliffhanger I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is my first Emily Rath book, and I have to say her writing style is elite. Her character development and execution - phenomenal. The way she made me fall head over heels for a wraith? Impressive.
I laughed. Boy did I laugh. I cried. I fumed. I gasped. I cannot wait for the next one.
The extended side characters were so fun, the banter and wit between the main characters was elite. The spice was just the right amount. The angst and tension was so good… the raw real emotions were felt in my core. This will be one of my top reads for 2026.
The main characters:
Dainn - a friendly and hungry Wraith who is unwilling bonded to an evil witch is forced to suck the soul of a named witch, but something unexpected happens - he’s stopped by a human. But that’s impossible…
Jasper - the High Priest of the Burr Island Coven - a small island community off the east coast of the US (think Nantucket) has way too much on his plate and has a erie feeling he’s being watched.
Birdie - Best friend to Phoebe, Jaspers niece is headed to Burr Island for a PHD research assistant assignment for the summer and gets a lot more than she bargained for, but in the best possible way.
Pickens - the Prescott cat who is decidedly not a cat
I laughed. Boy did I laugh. I cried. I fumed. I gasped. I cannot wait for the next one.
The extended side characters were so fun, the banter and wit between the main characters was elite. The spice was just the right amount. The angst and tension was so good… the raw real emotions were felt in my core. This will be one of my top reads for 2026.
The main characters:
Dainn - a friendly and hungry Wraith who is unwilling bonded to an evil witch is forced to suck the soul of a named witch, but something unexpected happens - he’s stopped by a human. But that’s impossible…
Jasper - the High Priest of the Burr Island Coven - a small island community off the east coast of the US (think Nantucket) has way too much on his plate and has a erie feeling he’s being watched.
Birdie - Best friend to Phoebe, Jaspers niece is headed to Burr Island for a PHD research assistant assignment for the summer and gets a lot more than she bargained for, but in the best possible way.
Pickens - the Prescott cat who is decidedly not a cat
April 18, 2026
✨🕯️🌙ARC REVIEW🌙🕯️✨
5/5⭐️stars
3/5🌶️spice
I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and I came into it with no previous experience with Emily Rath's books. I absolutely fell in love with this story and I am already desperate for the second book. It gives "Practical Magic" vibes with the island setting and you can definitely feel the influence from "Chamed" and "Buffy" all while undoubtedly maintaining a unique and original story.
The world building within these pages was intoxicating, I found myself thinking about the setting and the characters anytime I had to walk away from reading. Burr Island is everything it needed to be to provide the perfect atmosphere for the plot, it felt like home within the pages. The three main characters were all my favorite in their own ways. Birdie is fierce, independent, resilient, intelligent, and so witty. Jasper is an infuriatingly annoying ass in the most loyal lovable way. I would be lying if I didn't say that Dáinn was my most favorite though, he is so complex, innocent, whimsical, and sweet. The side characters all brought depth to the plot that just couldn't be replaced, Hortie is a crazy old bat, a complete spitfire and I think I can speak for almost everyone when I say #teampickles.
When I say that I was pissed at the ending, I mean it in the best possible way. The way that you want to throw your book, e reader, phone, etc... and write a letter or fight an author. That kind of irrational mad that makes you laugh and reminds you why you love reading so much. That's the kind of mad that this ending made me and now me and Emily are on a lovers to enimies to lovers storyline (currently enimies until the next book). I LOVE when a book and an author can make me feel this way! I already pre ordered my physical copy of Devour Me and I can't wait to read it again, even if the ending will make me want to throw it across the room! I am so ready for the next installment in this series, I really can't wait to see where the rest of the story leads. I know I'll be thinking about this one for a long time so hopefully we don't have to wait too long! If you love mystery, suspense, a delicious slow burn with a lot of banter and second/ third act spice, whimsy, witches, and all things paranormal then this is definitely the book for you! This one will definitely be living rent free in my head for a while!
5/5⭐️stars
3/5🌶️spice
I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and I came into it with no previous experience with Emily Rath's books. I absolutely fell in love with this story and I am already desperate for the second book. It gives "Practical Magic" vibes with the island setting and you can definitely feel the influence from "Chamed" and "Buffy" all while undoubtedly maintaining a unique and original story.
The world building within these pages was intoxicating, I found myself thinking about the setting and the characters anytime I had to walk away from reading. Burr Island is everything it needed to be to provide the perfect atmosphere for the plot, it felt like home within the pages. The three main characters were all my favorite in their own ways. Birdie is fierce, independent, resilient, intelligent, and so witty. Jasper is an infuriatingly annoying ass in the most loyal lovable way. I would be lying if I didn't say that Dáinn was my most favorite though, he is so complex, innocent, whimsical, and sweet. The side characters all brought depth to the plot that just couldn't be replaced, Hortie is a crazy old bat, a complete spitfire and I think I can speak for almost everyone when I say #teampickles.
When I say that I was pissed at the ending, I mean it in the best possible way. The way that you want to throw your book, e reader, phone, etc... and write a letter or fight an author. That kind of irrational mad that makes you laugh and reminds you why you love reading so much. That's the kind of mad that this ending made me and now me and Emily are on a lovers to enimies to lovers storyline (currently enimies until the next book). I LOVE when a book and an author can make me feel this way! I already pre ordered my physical copy of Devour Me and I can't wait to read it again, even if the ending will make me want to throw it across the room! I am so ready for the next installment in this series, I really can't wait to see where the rest of the story leads. I know I'll be thinking about this one for a long time so hopefully we don't have to wait too long! If you love mystery, suspense, a delicious slow burn with a lot of banter and second/ third act spice, whimsy, witches, and all things paranormal then this is definitely the book for you! This one will definitely be living rent free in my head for a while!
August 5, 2026
This book plus the audiobook had me grinning like an idiot, gasping every other chapter and repeatedly whispering “Emily… what are you doing to me?” Because seriously? Witches, cursed creatures, ancient magic, chaotic banter, creepy villains, an island that feels alive and characters that completely hijacked my brain? Yeah… I was doomed from page one. Birdie was such an easy FMC to root for. She’s smart, sarcastic, endlessly curious and somehow manages to keep functioning even after discovering that literally everything she thought she knew about the world was wrong. I loved that she wasn’t fearless, she was just stubborn enough to keep moving anyway.
Jasper surprised me the most. Underneath all the grumpy, bossy High Priest energy is someone carrying an incredible amount of responsibility. The more I learned about him, the more attached I became. And then there’s Dainn… excuse me while I scream into the void. That beautiful, haunted, awkward, loyal wraith completely stole the show for me. He somehow manages to be terrifying, hilarious, heartbreaking, and oddly adorable all at once. Protect him at all costs. The dynamic between Birdie, Jasper and Dainn was honestly the reason I couldn’t stop reading. The banter was top tier, the emotional moments landed and I loved watching trust slowly form between them while chaos exploded all around them. Even the side characters added so much personality. Hortie made me laugh, Phoebe deserves the biggest hug and yes… I’m absolutely Team Pickles. Duh!
The magic was another huge win. Burr Island felt cozy and mysterious at the same time and I loved how history, archaeology, folklore and witchcraft blended together without feeling overwhelming. It reminded me why paranormal fantasy is one of my favorite genres in the first place, it felt fun, magical and just a little weird in the best way. Now… was everything perfect? Not quite. The romance moved a little faster than I usually prefer. I would’ve happily taken another hundred pages of tension, longing and emotional build up before everyone became so deeply attached. There were also a couple moments where I wished certain relationships had more room to breathe before the story sprinted into the next big twist.
But honestly? None of that stopped me from inhaling this book in less than a day!
And can we please discuss that ending… WITHOUT discussing it? Because WHAT WAS THAT?! Emily really looked at all of us, smiled, dropped an emotional grenade and walked away. The final chapters had me completely locked in. Jasper finally embracing who he really is, Birdie refusing to back down no matter what and Dainn… don’t even get me started. My emotions were dragged across Burr Island and left there. The second I finished, I just stared at my Kindle like it personally owed me another chapter.
This was funny, magical, emotional, delightfully chaotic and ridiculously bingeable. If you love witches, paranormal romance, found family, mysterious islands, morally complicated characters, delicious banter and stories that end by emotionally body slamming you off a cliff… congratulations, you’ve found your next obsession.
And finally, a huge thank you to Avon / Harper Voyage and Emily Rath for the opportunity to read this eARC through NetGalley on release day. Reading this in one sitting became my personal challenge… and mission accomplished. I absolutely devoured Devour Me, which feels like the only acceptable way to read a book with this title. Thank you for the unforgettable ride and now I’ll just be over here impatiently waiting for book two.
Jasper surprised me the most. Underneath all the grumpy, bossy High Priest energy is someone carrying an incredible amount of responsibility. The more I learned about him, the more attached I became. And then there’s Dainn… excuse me while I scream into the void. That beautiful, haunted, awkward, loyal wraith completely stole the show for me. He somehow manages to be terrifying, hilarious, heartbreaking, and oddly adorable all at once. Protect him at all costs. The dynamic between Birdie, Jasper and Dainn was honestly the reason I couldn’t stop reading. The banter was top tier, the emotional moments landed and I loved watching trust slowly form between them while chaos exploded all around them. Even the side characters added so much personality. Hortie made me laugh, Phoebe deserves the biggest hug and yes… I’m absolutely Team Pickles. Duh!
The magic was another huge win. Burr Island felt cozy and mysterious at the same time and I loved how history, archaeology, folklore and witchcraft blended together without feeling overwhelming. It reminded me why paranormal fantasy is one of my favorite genres in the first place, it felt fun, magical and just a little weird in the best way. Now… was everything perfect? Not quite. The romance moved a little faster than I usually prefer. I would’ve happily taken another hundred pages of tension, longing and emotional build up before everyone became so deeply attached. There were also a couple moments where I wished certain relationships had more room to breathe before the story sprinted into the next big twist.
But honestly? None of that stopped me from inhaling this book in less than a day!
And can we please discuss that ending… WITHOUT discussing it? Because WHAT WAS THAT?! Emily really looked at all of us, smiled, dropped an emotional grenade and walked away. The final chapters had me completely locked in. Jasper finally embracing who he really is, Birdie refusing to back down no matter what and Dainn… don’t even get me started. My emotions were dragged across Burr Island and left there. The second I finished, I just stared at my Kindle like it personally owed me another chapter.
This was funny, magical, emotional, delightfully chaotic and ridiculously bingeable. If you love witches, paranormal romance, found family, mysterious islands, morally complicated characters, delicious banter and stories that end by emotionally body slamming you off a cliff… congratulations, you’ve found your next obsession.
And finally, a huge thank you to Avon / Harper Voyage and Emily Rath for the opportunity to read this eARC through NetGalley on release day. Reading this in one sitting became my personal challenge… and mission accomplished. I absolutely devoured Devour Me, which feels like the only acceptable way to read a book with this title. Thank you for the unforgettable ride and now I’ll just be over here impatiently waiting for book two.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Sometimes being found is worse than being lost.”
Emily Rath's “Devour Me,” the first in the self-titled series, is a paranormal MMF queer romance featuring a wraith, a witch, and a human who must work together to defeat an evil witch.
Forty-two-year-old Jasper Prescott is the High Priest of his witch coven on Burr Island. He owns Salt and Sage, the island's local Wiccan supply shop, which sells crystals, teas, and other mystical goods. A Scorpio, Jasper is an earth witch. His niece, Phoebe Prescott, is the last of the Prescott bloodline and the only member of the coven born without magical abilities.
Virginia "Birdie" Rhodes is a PhD candidate in the history department at Winthrop University, specializing in gender studies. When her job, housing, and fellowship are unexpectedly canceled after her professor leaves on a last-minute trip, Birdie is offered a new fellowship to work with Ezra Howe at the Beale Point archaeological site on Burr Island. Coincidentally, her best friend Phoebe also offers Birdie her position at Salt and Sage so Phoebe can travel to Germany with her boyfriend.
Dáinn, a wraith who has been bound to the witch Ludmilla Latchko for 172 years, is ordered to kill Jasper. As he begins devouring Jasper's soul, Birdie instinctively shouts, "Stop!" To Dáinn's astonishment, he is forced to obey. Wraiths are incapable of interrupting a devouring once it begins, yet Birdie's command compels him to stop immediately and retreat.
Although Birdie is a Capricorn, she is completely human. To understand what she witnessed, Jasper is forced to reveal the existence of magic, along with his true identity and powers. To keep her safe, he gives Birdie a strict set of rules:
• Follow Jasper's commands immediately and without question.
• If you see a raven on the island or near the shop, tell Jasper immediately.
• Never remove Pickle's collar.
• Don't fall in love with Jasper.
Dáinn is left deeply confused. Not only was Birdie able to stop him, but when he returns to Ludmilla, he discovers he can also lie to her by claiming he successfully killed Jasper. What follows is a clever alliance between Jasper, Dáinn, and Birdie as they work together to break Ludmilla's hold over Dáinn and put an end to her reign.
“Devour Me" is the first installment in the series and, at over five hundred pages, leaves readers with many unanswered questions about its characters and their histories. While the mystery surrounding the world is intriguing, the novel can be overly quirky at times, and the characters occasionally make baffling decisions that seem inconsistent with the limitations Rath establishes.
One recurring issue involves Jasper's invisibility. For much of the novel he is invisible, yet he drives a truck, opens doors, carries on conversations in public, while he notices ravens eavesdropping nearby. While readers understand that Jasper himself cannot be seen, the actions of vehicles, doors, and objects moving on their own would surely draw attention from anyone nearby. This inconsistency is minor but distracting enough to pull readers out of the story.
Overall, “Devour Me” offers an entertaining blend of paranormal romance, magic, and mystery with an intriguing central cast. I plan to continue the series to see where the story goes. However, for a novel marketed as an MMF romance, I expected significantly more development of the relationship between the two male leads, which feels surprisingly limited in this first installment.
Favorite quote:
"History is told by the victors... but it's remembered best by the survivors."
I received an ARC through NetGalley and Edelweiss from Avon via HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
rating: 3.5/5
BUDDY READ
Emily Rath's “Devour Me,” the first in the self-titled series, is a paranormal MMF queer romance featuring a wraith, a witch, and a human who must work together to defeat an evil witch.
Forty-two-year-old Jasper Prescott is the High Priest of his witch coven on Burr Island. He owns Salt and Sage, the island's local Wiccan supply shop, which sells crystals, teas, and other mystical goods. A Scorpio, Jasper is an earth witch. His niece, Phoebe Prescott, is the last of the Prescott bloodline and the only member of the coven born without magical abilities.
Virginia "Birdie" Rhodes is a PhD candidate in the history department at Winthrop University, specializing in gender studies. When her job, housing, and fellowship are unexpectedly canceled after her professor leaves on a last-minute trip, Birdie is offered a new fellowship to work with Ezra Howe at the Beale Point archaeological site on Burr Island. Coincidentally, her best friend Phoebe also offers Birdie her position at Salt and Sage so Phoebe can travel to Germany with her boyfriend.
Dáinn, a wraith who has been bound to the witch Ludmilla Latchko for 172 years, is ordered to kill Jasper. As he begins devouring Jasper's soul, Birdie instinctively shouts, "Stop!" To Dáinn's astonishment, he is forced to obey. Wraiths are incapable of interrupting a devouring once it begins, yet Birdie's command compels him to stop immediately and retreat.
Although Birdie is a Capricorn, she is completely human. To understand what she witnessed, Jasper is forced to reveal the existence of magic, along with his true identity and powers. To keep her safe, he gives Birdie a strict set of rules:
• Follow Jasper's commands immediately and without question.
• If you see a raven on the island or near the shop, tell Jasper immediately.
• Never remove Pickle's collar.
• Don't fall in love with Jasper.
Dáinn is left deeply confused. Not only was Birdie able to stop him, but when he returns to Ludmilla, he discovers he can also lie to her by claiming he successfully killed Jasper. What follows is a clever alliance between Jasper, Dáinn, and Birdie as they work together to break Ludmilla's hold over Dáinn and put an end to her reign.
“Devour Me" is the first installment in the series and, at over five hundred pages, leaves readers with many unanswered questions about its characters and their histories. While the mystery surrounding the world is intriguing, the novel can be overly quirky at times, and the characters occasionally make baffling decisions that seem inconsistent with the limitations Rath establishes.
One recurring issue involves Jasper's invisibility. For much of the novel he is invisible, yet he drives a truck, opens doors, carries on conversations in public, while he notices ravens eavesdropping nearby. While readers understand that Jasper himself cannot be seen, the actions of vehicles, doors, and objects moving on their own would surely draw attention from anyone nearby. This inconsistency is minor but distracting enough to pull readers out of the story.
Overall, “Devour Me” offers an entertaining blend of paranormal romance, magic, and mystery with an intriguing central cast. I plan to continue the series to see where the story goes. However, for a novel marketed as an MMF romance, I expected significantly more development of the relationship between the two male leads, which feels surprisingly limited in this first installment.
Favorite quote:
"History is told by the victors... but it's remembered best by the survivors."
I received an ARC through NetGalley and Edelweiss from Avon via HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
rating: 3.5/5
BUDDY READ
July 30, 2026
Thank you Avon for the advanced reader copy!
I was so excited when I saw Emily Rath was writing a paranormal romance with a witch, wraith, and human.
This books was so fun and sweet! It was such an adventure and I never knew what was coming next!
I loved the Lonely Hearts Club and how Dainn, Jasper, and Birdie all had baggage they were trying to work through and learn to trust each other.
The coven was great too! It felt like the perfect found family!
I of course can’t forget to mention Pickles 🐈⬛
I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Fav quotes:
My sweet witch. My clever, lonely one.
But just for tonight, I’ll give the boss what he wants. I’m too tired to stand on my feminist principles now. I am woman, hear me roar . . . tomorrow. After I’ve had my coffee.
For too long now, powerful men have presented their version of the past as fact, casually excluding any voices that don’t fit their narratives.
“Gods, you mortals are unbelievable. You take everything for granted! Having feet is a gift, Jasper. You get to take your shoes on and off every day. To you it’s nothing more than routine. To me, it’s a godsdamn miracle. This is just one wraith’s opinion, but you should try infusing a little more whimsy into your clinically boring life!”
“The haunt is over,” Dáinn replies in his rasping voice. “I know what I want, and I intend to get it. This is the hunt, Jasper. Birdie is mine. You both are.
I was so excited when I saw Emily Rath was writing a paranormal romance with a witch, wraith, and human.
This books was so fun and sweet! It was such an adventure and I never knew what was coming next!
I loved the Lonely Hearts Club and how Dainn, Jasper, and Birdie all had baggage they were trying to work through and learn to trust each other.
The coven was great too! It felt like the perfect found family!
I of course can’t forget to mention Pickles 🐈⬛
I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Fav quotes:
My sweet witch. My clever, lonely one.
But just for tonight, I’ll give the boss what he wants. I’m too tired to stand on my feminist principles now. I am woman, hear me roar . . . tomorrow. After I’ve had my coffee.
For too long now, powerful men have presented their version of the past as fact, casually excluding any voices that don’t fit their narratives.
“Gods, you mortals are unbelievable. You take everything for granted! Having feet is a gift, Jasper. You get to take your shoes on and off every day. To you it’s nothing more than routine. To me, it’s a godsdamn miracle. This is just one wraith’s opinion, but you should try infusing a little more whimsy into your clinically boring life!”
“The haunt is over,” Dáinn replies in his rasping voice. “I know what I want, and I intend to get it. This is the hunt, Jasper. Birdie is mine. You both are.
July 30, 2026
ARC Review - NetGalley
Not a bad read but it took me over 10 days to finish this book and that’s not normal for me. I was super close to DNF this book but the plot kept me going. The need to find out what Birdie is and if she has powers literally kept me going. So what does the human, wraith, and witch have in common? They are hot for each other that one spicy scene when they went to visit Baz was hot. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something a bit different. I gave this book 3 stars because it didn’t need to be this long and it ended on a cliffhanger I’m leaving with more questions than answers.
Not a bad read but it took me over 10 days to finish this book and that’s not normal for me. I was super close to DNF this book but the plot kept me going. The need to find out what Birdie is and if she has powers literally kept me going. So what does the human, wraith, and witch have in common? They are hot for each other that one spicy scene when they went to visit Baz was hot. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something a bit different. I gave this book 3 stars because it didn’t need to be this long and it ended on a cliffhanger I’m leaving with more questions than answers.
August 4, 2026
Thank you to the author, Avon, and HarperCollins for the gifted e-copy.
“She crosses to him, and I see the way his shadows reel her in, even as he wards her away with his hands. But she gently bats them down and steps in to cup his face.”
Vibes: Summer job meets the occult
I thought Emily Rath did a great job bringing the reader into the fold of the island and its inhabitants without giving an info dump. I enjoyed the interplay between the three MCs. Shadow Daddy D. doesn’t discriminate.
Tropes:
Age Gap
Why Choose
GrumpyxSunshine
Instalust
Shadow daddy
Pickles the Cat
“She crosses to him, and I see the way his shadows reel her in, even as he wards her away with his hands. But she gently bats them down and steps in to cup his face.”
Vibes: Summer job meets the occult
I thought Emily Rath did a great job bringing the reader into the fold of the island and its inhabitants without giving an info dump. I enjoyed the interplay between the three MCs. Shadow Daddy D. doesn’t discriminate.
Tropes:
Age Gap
Why Choose
GrumpyxSunshine
Instalust
Shadow daddy
Pickles the Cat
August 3, 2026
whY did no one mention this wasn’t a standalone !?!?!
July 11, 2026
I am a book seller at Barnes and Noble and received this book as an advanced reader copy.
I ate this up!
I loved the whole plot and the spicy scenes were a great bonus.
I cant wait to read more from Emily!
I ate this up!
I loved the whole plot and the spicy scenes were a great bonus.
I cant wait to read more from Emily!
June 28, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
1.5 - 2🌶️
I really love Dáinn’s humor. in all honesty I feel he was the glue to the entire story.
Birdie is amazingggg I love her so much! Jasper I don’t know, he rubbed me wrong a few times and honestly I don’t feel the connection to birdie in the way he has one with Dáinn. I also felt this was a bit too insta love for me with how it ended?
overall I enjoyed it and i’ll deff be reading book 2 🙂↕️
thank you so much Avon & Harper Voyager for this gifted earc 🩷🩷🩷
1.5 - 2🌶️
I really love Dáinn’s humor. in all honesty I feel he was the glue to the entire story.
Birdie is amazingggg I love her so much! Jasper I don’t know, he rubbed me wrong a few times and honestly I don’t feel the connection to birdie in the way he has one with Dáinn. I also felt this was a bit too insta love for me with how it ended?
overall I enjoyed it and i’ll deff be reading book 2 🙂↕️
thank you so much Avon & Harper Voyager for this gifted earc 🩷🩷🩷
July 1, 2026
Thank you Avon for the eARC!
EXCUSE ME?! THAT’S THE END?! Emily Rath, you can’t just leave me hanging like that!
I have approximately a million questions, exactly zero answers, and an overwhelming need for book two immediately because WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!
I absolutely devoured Devour Me (which feels fitting). This book had everything I wanted: dark magic, witches, ancient history woven into the story, delicious paranormal vibes, and a plot that had me flying through the pages. I couldn’t put it down.
And the spice? Oh, it was SPICY. 🌶️ But what I loved most was that it never overshadowed the story. The romance, the mystery, the magic, and the rich lore all worked together perfectly. I was completely invested in Dáinn, Jasper, and Birdie, and I already adore this trio more than is probably healthy.
Emily Rath created such a fascinating magical world, and every chapter seemed to raise the stakes while answering one question and giving me five more. By the time I reached the final page, I was staring at my Kindle wondering if there had been some sort of mistake because THERE IS NO WAY THAT’S WHERE YOU END IT.
Give me more witches. Give me more magic. Give me more history. Give me more of these characters. Honestly, just give me more Emily Rath any day.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next book while trying to recover from that ending.
EXCUSE ME?! THAT’S THE END?! Emily Rath, you can’t just leave me hanging like that!
I have approximately a million questions, exactly zero answers, and an overwhelming need for book two immediately because WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!
I absolutely devoured Devour Me (which feels fitting). This book had everything I wanted: dark magic, witches, ancient history woven into the story, delicious paranormal vibes, and a plot that had me flying through the pages. I couldn’t put it down.
And the spice? Oh, it was SPICY. 🌶️ But what I loved most was that it never overshadowed the story. The romance, the mystery, the magic, and the rich lore all worked together perfectly. I was completely invested in Dáinn, Jasper, and Birdie, and I already adore this trio more than is probably healthy.
Emily Rath created such a fascinating magical world, and every chapter seemed to raise the stakes while answering one question and giving me five more. By the time I reached the final page, I was staring at my Kindle wondering if there had been some sort of mistake because THERE IS NO WAY THAT’S WHERE YOU END IT.
Give me more witches. Give me more magic. Give me more history. Give me more of these characters. Honestly, just give me more Emily Rath any day.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next book while trying to recover from that ending.
May 21, 2026
Emily Rath Chaos Gremiln Member here (ARC Team)
I absolutely adored Devour Me by Emily Rath. This book was enchanting, funny, emotional, spooky, romantic, and honestly just such a wildly fun reading experience from beginning to end. The second I started it, I was completely hooked by the premise alone, and somehow the story only kept getting better the deeper I got into it. I truly could not put this book down.
The story follows Dainn, a reaper whose job is to literally devour souls, and he is sent to reap the soul of powerful witch leader Jasper. But before he can finish the job, everything gets interrupted by completely normal human college student Birdie, who walks in thinking Jasper is getting mugged and accidentally stops a reaper mid-devouring with a command. That moment alone completely sold me on this book because it is chaotic, hilarious, and immediately opens the door to so many questions.
And honestly, these three characters are what make this story so special. They all feel like fully realized people with their own fears, desires, flaws, and histories. Birdie was such an easy FMC to love. She is bright, determined, and trying so hard to keep her life together after losing her summer housing position. I loved how grounded she felt compared to all the supernatural chaos unfolding around her. Her moving to the island after accepting her best friend Phoebe’s offer to stay above the family shop sets everything into motion so naturally.
Then there is Jasper, who starts off grumpy, guarded, and absolutely not interested in Birdie staying there… except the chemistry between them is obvious almost immediately. Jasper carries so much weight as a witch leader and protector of the island coven, and beneath his gruff exterior there is this deeply caring, exhausted man trying to hold everything together. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic between him and Birdie was so good and gave the story so much heart.
And then there is Dainn. Honestly, I loved him. He is powerful, lonely, fascinating, and tragically bound to a witch whose personal ambitions threaten the entire coven. The more you learn about his existence as a reaper and the restrictions placed on him, the more emotional his storyline becomes. Watching him slowly connect with Birdie and Jasper was done so beautifully.
The polyamorous romance between the three of them was honestly chef’s kiss. It never felt forced or overly dramatic. Instead, it develops naturally through trust, vulnerability, attraction, and shared danger. Each relationship dynamic feels distinct and meaningful, and I loved how much emotional depth was layered into the romance alongside all the humor and spice.
The worldbuilding was also fantastic. Learning about the history of the island witches, the coven politics, Dainn’s role as a reaper, and the supernatural threats surrounding them made the world feel rich and immersive. And on top of that we get vampires, necromancers, magical island lore, an adorable cat, and so many little details that made the world feel alive.
The pacing of this book was so addictive because there is always something happening. Whether it is emotional relationship development, supernatural danger, magical discoveries, or chaotic humor, the story constantly keeps moving while still giving the characters room to breathe and grow.
And that cliffhanger ending? RUDE. Absolutely rude in the best possible way because now I desperately need book two immediately. Emily Rath managed to create a story that feels magical, sexy, funny, emotional, and deeply character driven all at once, and I loved every second of it.
Overall, Devour Me is such a fun and enchanting paranormal fantasy filled with lovable characters, incredible chemistry, rich supernatural lore, and a polyamorous romance that absolutely works. This book completely consumed me and I already cannot wait to dive back into this world.
Thank you to Emily Rath and NetGalley for access to the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely adored Devour Me by Emily Rath. This book was enchanting, funny, emotional, spooky, romantic, and honestly just such a wildly fun reading experience from beginning to end. The second I started it, I was completely hooked by the premise alone, and somehow the story only kept getting better the deeper I got into it. I truly could not put this book down.
The story follows Dainn, a reaper whose job is to literally devour souls, and he is sent to reap the soul of powerful witch leader Jasper. But before he can finish the job, everything gets interrupted by completely normal human college student Birdie, who walks in thinking Jasper is getting mugged and accidentally stops a reaper mid-devouring with a command. That moment alone completely sold me on this book because it is chaotic, hilarious, and immediately opens the door to so many questions.
And honestly, these three characters are what make this story so special. They all feel like fully realized people with their own fears, desires, flaws, and histories. Birdie was such an easy FMC to love. She is bright, determined, and trying so hard to keep her life together after losing her summer housing position. I loved how grounded she felt compared to all the supernatural chaos unfolding around her. Her moving to the island after accepting her best friend Phoebe’s offer to stay above the family shop sets everything into motion so naturally.
Then there is Jasper, who starts off grumpy, guarded, and absolutely not interested in Birdie staying there… except the chemistry between them is obvious almost immediately. Jasper carries so much weight as a witch leader and protector of the island coven, and beneath his gruff exterior there is this deeply caring, exhausted man trying to hold everything together. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic between him and Birdie was so good and gave the story so much heart.
And then there is Dainn. Honestly, I loved him. He is powerful, lonely, fascinating, and tragically bound to a witch whose personal ambitions threaten the entire coven. The more you learn about his existence as a reaper and the restrictions placed on him, the more emotional his storyline becomes. Watching him slowly connect with Birdie and Jasper was done so beautifully.
The polyamorous romance between the three of them was honestly chef’s kiss. It never felt forced or overly dramatic. Instead, it develops naturally through trust, vulnerability, attraction, and shared danger. Each relationship dynamic feels distinct and meaningful, and I loved how much emotional depth was layered into the romance alongside all the humor and spice.
The worldbuilding was also fantastic. Learning about the history of the island witches, the coven politics, Dainn’s role as a reaper, and the supernatural threats surrounding them made the world feel rich and immersive. And on top of that we get vampires, necromancers, magical island lore, an adorable cat, and so many little details that made the world feel alive.
The pacing of this book was so addictive because there is always something happening. Whether it is emotional relationship development, supernatural danger, magical discoveries, or chaotic humor, the story constantly keeps moving while still giving the characters room to breathe and grow.
And that cliffhanger ending? RUDE. Absolutely rude in the best possible way because now I desperately need book two immediately. Emily Rath managed to create a story that feels magical, sexy, funny, emotional, and deeply character driven all at once, and I loved every second of it.
Overall, Devour Me is such a fun and enchanting paranormal fantasy filled with lovable characters, incredible chemistry, rich supernatural lore, and a polyamorous romance that absolutely works. This book completely consumed me and I already cannot wait to dive back into this world.
Thank you to Emily Rath and NetGalley for access to the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 29, 2026
A why choose with a hot, grumpy witch, a historian FMC, and a tortured wraith honestly sounds like a great time.
Overall, I enjoyed the premise and concept of this story. There are also a lot of fun moments in it, and the dynamics and banter between the characters are enjoyable.
If you enjoy lots of fun sex scenes, juicy banter, and grumpy sunshine dynamics combined with a supernatural mission to save a small-town community, this is for you.
Due to the nature of the story, the romance grows over just a few days, which isn’t my personal cup of tea as someone who craves a well drawn-out slow-burn, but overall it was a good time and I’m curious to see what happens next!
Overall, I enjoyed the premise and concept of this story. There are also a lot of fun moments in it, and the dynamics and banter between the characters are enjoyable.
If you enjoy lots of fun sex scenes, juicy banter, and grumpy sunshine dynamics combined with a supernatural mission to save a small-town community, this is for you.
Due to the nature of the story, the romance grows over just a few days, which isn’t my personal cup of tea as someone who craves a well drawn-out slow-burn, but overall it was a good time and I’m curious to see what happens next!
May 22, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I am a huge Emily Rath fan. And I am also a huge fan of paranormal romance. But…. Sadly, this book just didn’t do anything for me.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was a fun read. I really liked Birdie, she was a badass and I loved her attitude and confidence and the way she literally held the throuple together. Jasper was kind of a dick. I’m still not sure what Birdie saw in him. And Dainn…. Ugh, I fucking loved that little puppy dog wraith. He was funny and his interactions with the other characters were always fun to read.
I loved the small town cozy island setting. And I loved the premise of Devour Me, a witch a mortal and a wraith fall in love… vibes.
My problem with this book is that it was 200 pages too long. I was really into the first 30ish percent and then I just felt like everything started dragging like crazy. The same conversations were happening over and over because everyone wanted to keep secrets “for the other persons own good”. I was gonna lose my mind if someone said “trust me” one more time. It was wayyyyy too instalovey for my liking (Devour Me takes place over the course of just a few days).
I didn’t feel like the characters were built up enough. They were all very surface level. I never got to the point of really caring about what happened to them. The spicy scenes were just okay. (Which is crazy, because Emily is the Queen of MMF spice!) *The dirty talk was some of the worst I have ever read. I literally cringed reading some of it*
The magical elements and world building were not given enough attention. For this to be 500+ pages, more detail should have went into the magical aspect and also the ending. The ending was SO rushed. I like the cliffhanger, but nothing happened until the last 15% of the book… and then it was just an explosion.
I will probably pick up book 2 just to find out what happens after that cliffhanger, but this one wasn’t for me.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was a fun read. I really liked Birdie, she was a badass and I loved her attitude and confidence and the way she literally held the throuple together. Jasper was kind of a dick. I’m still not sure what Birdie saw in him. And Dainn…. Ugh, I fucking loved that little puppy dog wraith. He was funny and his interactions with the other characters were always fun to read.
I loved the small town cozy island setting. And I loved the premise of Devour Me, a witch a mortal and a wraith fall in love… vibes.
My problem with this book is that it was 200 pages too long. I was really into the first 30ish percent and then I just felt like everything started dragging like crazy. The same conversations were happening over and over because everyone wanted to keep secrets “for the other persons own good”. I was gonna lose my mind if someone said “trust me” one more time. It was wayyyyy too instalovey for my liking (Devour Me takes place over the course of just a few days).
I didn’t feel like the characters were built up enough. They were all very surface level. I never got to the point of really caring about what happened to them. The spicy scenes were just okay. (Which is crazy, because Emily is the Queen of MMF spice!) *The dirty talk was some of the worst I have ever read. I literally cringed reading some of it*
The magical elements and world building were not given enough attention. For this to be 500+ pages, more detail should have went into the magical aspect and also the ending. The ending was SO rushed. I like the cliffhanger, but nothing happened until the last 15% of the book… and then it was just an explosion.
I will probably pick up book 2 just to find out what happens after that cliffhanger, but this one wasn’t for me.
August 6, 2026
This was a fun read, and it’s perfect for my Augtober mood. I bounced back and forth between my e-arc and ALC, and I really enjoyed both. I do love the narrators (Megan Wicks, Shane East, and Gregory Salinas) for the audiobook, and I found myself imagining their voices even when I was reading on my kindle.
This story is definitely insta-love, but the author warns us about that at the beginning! Normally I don’t really *love* the whole insta-love thing, but I think the heads up was good, and I was prepared for it going in. I was just ready to have fun with this wraith, witch and human and see where the story went.
Birdie (FMC), Jasper (witch MMC), and Dáinn (wraith MMC) all have their own history of being treated poorly, or overlooked, or used… or all of the above. While this creates some emotional barriers, the characters are also pretty quick to overcome them. Which worked for me in this particular book — they didn’t need to spend a lot of time fighting their connections and having miscommunications.
While we definitely had fun, spicy moments, I think we have some new adventures to look forward to with our main three! I can’t wait to see what shenanigans they get up to together once they’re (hopefully) reunited.
It also seems like we’re going to get more of Phoebe, and I’m very excited to see more of her character, and of her friendship with Birdie. I think there’s a lot more to her and her magic, and I think she’s going to come into her magic.
And of course, I can’t forget to mention Pickles. The cat who is not a cat… although I’m not sure what he is yet! But he’s still a cute little guy who doesn’t mind going around town with Birdie in a little basket. And honestly, I wish I could do that with my cats.
For some reason, I thought this was a standalone, so I was getting very confused as I was getting to the end of the book and there was so much unresolved. I was getting a little worried. But it’s ok because there’s more coming! I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Thank you to Avon for the gifted e-arc, and Avon and Libro.fm for the gifted ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are freely given.
This story is definitely insta-love, but the author warns us about that at the beginning! Normally I don’t really *love* the whole insta-love thing, but I think the heads up was good, and I was prepared for it going in. I was just ready to have fun with this wraith, witch and human and see where the story went.
Birdie (FMC), Jasper (witch MMC), and Dáinn (wraith MMC) all have their own history of being treated poorly, or overlooked, or used… or all of the above. While this creates some emotional barriers, the characters are also pretty quick to overcome them. Which worked for me in this particular book — they didn’t need to spend a lot of time fighting their connections and having miscommunications.
While we definitely had fun, spicy moments, I think we have some new adventures to look forward to with our main three! I can’t wait to see what shenanigans they get up to together once they’re (hopefully) reunited.
It also seems like we’re going to get more of Phoebe, and I’m very excited to see more of her character, and of her friendship with Birdie. I think there’s a lot more to her and her magic, and I think she’s going to come into her magic.
And of course, I can’t forget to mention Pickles. The cat who is not a cat… although I’m not sure what he is yet! But he’s still a cute little guy who doesn’t mind going around town with Birdie in a little basket. And honestly, I wish I could do that with my cats.
For some reason, I thought this was a standalone, so I was getting very confused as I was getting to the end of the book and there was so much unresolved. I was getting a little worried. But it’s ok because there’s more coming! I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Thank you to Avon for the gifted e-arc, and Avon and Libro.fm for the gifted ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are freely given.
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