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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 books12.2k 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 1,748 reviews
July 19, 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 🤞🏻🖤
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 1, 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.
August 23, 2026
birdie: "I have massive trust issues and never let anyone in."
also birdie: *lets two random guys into her pants in under a week.*
make it make sense. it took her a whole eternity to trust jasper, but dainn showed up for five seconds and she handed him the keys. yeah no.
#justicefordainn
also birdie: *lets two random guys into her pants in under a week.*
make it make sense. it took her a whole eternity to trust jasper, but dainn showed up for five seconds and she handed him the keys. yeah no.
#justicefordainn
August 28, 2026
Thank you to Harper/Avon for the ARC. 3.5 stars rounded down. Emily Rath’s books are always a good time. This one was a lot different than her other books, but enjoyable just the same. I was immediately intrigued by the plot, I mean paranormal romance is just 𝘧𝘶𝘯. The insta-love was fine to me as paranormal romance seems to be able to get away with it better, I just expected far more excitement/higher stakes from the amount of pages in this book. But it was still a cozy and entertaining read and I liked the characters even if they didn’t really make sense at times.
August 11, 2026
This book had so much promise but it absolutely does not justify its page length. 500 pages just for there to be hardly any plot progression, a cast of characters that feel one dimensional and the throuple with chemistry that feels lacking? I have to come to grips with the fact that I'm not a huge fan of Rath's writing style. My enjoyment of her historical romance series lured me into a false sense of security, but I find her contemporary voice very hokey and melodramatic. So, in addition to the weak prose, I found the dialogue in this so cheesy and unfunny. It just didn't endear me to the characters, almost every time they spoke I wanted to stuff my fingers in my ears and scream lalalalalalala to avoid the second hand embarrassment.
I went into this story knowing that it would be insta love but I don't think Emily Rath did insta love well here, the interactions between Jasper and Birdie didn't feel like undeniable connection and unexplainable but inevitable passion. It sort of just felt like Jasper was a pushy weirdo and Birdie had no spine. The concept of Birdie's whole character being a person with trust issues and in her first conversation with Jasper he says "heed me without question" and she's just going for it. Okay....well why? And then Dainn...well he's there. It's the sort of story that really lives and dies by whether you find it sexy and endearing enough to ignore the rushed nature of the relationships at the center of the narrative, but I really didn't enjoy any of the connections presented in this romance, all of their interactions left me unmoved and the intimate scenes felt so rote. Every spicy author pulling from the same three lines of porn dialogue to craft their sex scenes. I'm bored of it.
Went into this with high hopes honestly and despite my gripes, I was actually enjoying it for what it was during the first 20-30%, but I think the longer it went on the more impatient I grew with the writing. As much as I will always appreciate Rath for writing so much polyam romance, I think I have to be honest with myself and admit she's just not the writer for me.
I went into this story knowing that it would be insta love but I don't think Emily Rath did insta love well here, the interactions between Jasper and Birdie didn't feel like undeniable connection and unexplainable but inevitable passion. It sort of just felt like Jasper was a pushy weirdo and Birdie had no spine. The concept of Birdie's whole character being a person with trust issues and in her first conversation with Jasper he says "heed me without question" and she's just going for it. Okay....well why? And then Dainn...well he's there. It's the sort of story that really lives and dies by whether you find it sexy and endearing enough to ignore the rushed nature of the relationships at the center of the narrative, but I really didn't enjoy any of the connections presented in this romance, all of their interactions left me unmoved and the intimate scenes felt so rote. Every spicy author pulling from the same three lines of porn dialogue to craft their sex scenes. I'm bored of it.
Went into this with high hopes honestly and despite my gripes, I was actually enjoying it for what it was during the first 20-30%, but I think the longer it went on the more impatient I grew with the writing. As much as I will always appreciate Rath for writing so much polyam romance, I think I have to be honest with myself and admit she's just not the writer for me.
August 6, 2026
Devour Me is a ruinously enchanting romance full of magic, intrigue, and steam! The story follows a witch, a wraith, and a human who band together after an immortal witch sets her nefarious plans in motion, putting them all in danger. I loved absolutely every minute of reading this depraved and magical paranormal romance! The dynamics between the grumpy witch, charming human, and lovesick wraith were enigmatic. The three had so much chemistry, it was lovely how they fell for one another while fighting for themselves and their found family. I just adored how messy and down bad they all were for each other; it was so sweet and resulted in the perfect spice. Aside from the bewitching romance, I loved the magical plot and all the supernatural elements that ramped up to the cliffhanger. Emily Rath knows how to write an amazing start to a series and I'm so excited for the next book! I need it like I need my next breath.
What to expect:
💀MMF Romance💀
🔮Small Island Town🔮
🕯️Found Family🕯️
💀The Cat is Not a Cat💀
🔮Multi POV🔮
🕯️Shadow Daddy🕯️
💀Grumpy x Sunshine💀
~All the thanks to Avon for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
What to expect:
💀MMF Romance💀
🔮Small Island Town🔮
🕯️Found Family🕯️
💀The Cat is Not a Cat💀
🔮Multi POV🔮
🕯️Shadow Daddy🕯️
💀Grumpy x Sunshine💀
~All the thanks to Avon for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
April 19, 2026
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
3.5 out of 5 stars.
This is my second fantasy read by this author, and I’m glad to say I enjoyed this one! I really liked the world and the overall atmosphere, and it definitely kept me interested enough to keep reading.
I had a few things I wasn’t completely sold on, but overall I had a good time with it. I could honestly see myself re-reading it once the next book in the series comes out, especially since I’d probably appreciate some of the details even more the second time around.
Definitely curious to see where this series goes!
____________
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.
This is my second fantasy read by this author, and I’m glad to say I enjoyed this one! I really liked the world and the overall atmosphere, and it definitely kept me interested enough to keep reading.
I had a few things I wasn’t completely sold on, but overall I had a good time with it. I could honestly see myself re-reading it once the next book in the series comes out, especially since I’d probably appreciate some of the details even more the second time around.
Definitely curious to see where this series goes!
____________
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.
September 11, 2026
My first Emily Rath book, and I am officially intrigued!
If you aren’t a fan of insta-love, this one probably won’t hit for you. I usually struggle with it myself, but somehow it just worked for me here.
A witch, a wraith, and a human need to break the wraith’s bond, protect the coven, and figure out how Birdie (a human) is somehow able to stop a wraith. Throw in the romantic entanglement developing between the three of them, and I was completely invested.
This book pushed me slightly outside my normal comfort zone, but it did it with ease.
I listened to the audiobook, and Megan Wicks was incredible. I am an immediate fan and need to find more books narrated by her. Gregory Salinas and Shane East were also excellent. At times, the wraith voice was a bit much for me, but honestly, it completely suited the character being played.
I am ready to get back to Burr Island and see where this story goes next!
If you aren’t a fan of insta-love, this one probably won’t hit for you. I usually struggle with it myself, but somehow it just worked for me here.
A witch, a wraith, and a human need to break the wraith’s bond, protect the coven, and figure out how Birdie (a human) is somehow able to stop a wraith. Throw in the romantic entanglement developing between the three of them, and I was completely invested.
This book pushed me slightly outside my normal comfort zone, but it did it with ease.
I listened to the audiobook, and Megan Wicks was incredible. I am an immediate fan and need to find more books narrated by her. Gregory Salinas and Shane East were also excellent. At times, the wraith voice was a bit much for me, but honestly, it completely suited the character being played.
I am ready to get back to Burr Island and see where this story goes next!
August 10, 2026
oh my god that was perfect.
top tier spice, banter, pacing, plot, and characters. everything about this is exactly the vibe I crave in books. I just wish Dainn weren't blonde, but we can look past it because I've never thought a wraith was hot before now.
top tier spice, banter, pacing, plot, and characters. everything about this is exactly the vibe I crave in books. I just wish Dainn weren't blonde, but we can look past it because I've never thought a wraith was hot before now.
August 22, 2026
Grab a pen and paper… because I am about to give you the ingredients for a perfect why choose.
You’re going to need a half a cup of a hot, broody, kind of older, possessive man who is going to talk you through it.
Next you’ll need a half a cup of a deliciously pathetic man, who crawls on his knees and just wants to please you… but he’s also one of the strongest beings in the world…
Add in a pinch of magic or paranormal elements…
And one dash of a cute black cat…
And you have the perfect… why choose.
A wraith is bound to a cruel witch and she sends him to devour a powerful rival…
When an ordinary human unexpectedly interrupts the kill… the three are drawn into a dangerous alliance where forbidden desire, dark magic, and deadly secrets collide.
With danger closing in, they’ll have to decide who to trust… and who will be consumed first.
If you love Practical Magic, Charmed, Buffy, even Sabrina the Teenage Witch…
If you love a small town setting…
If you love witch vibes…
If you love a story that feels like a cozy warm hug with a dash of something… other…
If you love history, magic, the idea of a slower life, tight nit community, mystery, covens, witches, wraiths, vampires…
If you love Death Becomes Her…
90’s witch vibes…
If you love just a whimsical, magical mystical smaller but very interesting kind of life….
You are going to LOVE this book.
This book feels like a cozy hug. Every time I opened the pages I felt like I was giving the story a hug and it was hugging me back.
I love these characters.
The romance is impeccable.
The yearning is delicious.
The spice is… blush inducing.
And interestingly enough it’s both not a slow burn… but also very much a slow burn. This romance can’t be described… you’re just going to have to read it.
Also if you have any sort of religious trauma you’re working through… there’s an element of that in this story that is super duper healing.
This book really is about becoming your true self. Who you were meant to be. Unapologetically you. And learning to trust yourself and your capabilities and stick up for what you believe and who you love.
And also… the ending…
I have no words.
I thought this was a standalone. I am very happily surprised that it’s not. This world continued to grow as the story went along and I was like… how on earth are we going to wrap this up with a few chapters left.
Well... one GIGANTIC MASSIVE ENORMOUS COLOSSAL cliffhanger later…
I can confidently say… I am… desperately salivating for book two.
This book is its title.
I devoured it just as much as it devoured me.
You’re gonna wanna read this…
You’re going to need a half a cup of a hot, broody, kind of older, possessive man who is going to talk you through it.
Next you’ll need a half a cup of a deliciously pathetic man, who crawls on his knees and just wants to please you… but he’s also one of the strongest beings in the world…
Add in a pinch of magic or paranormal elements…
And one dash of a cute black cat…
And you have the perfect… why choose.
A wraith is bound to a cruel witch and she sends him to devour a powerful rival…
When an ordinary human unexpectedly interrupts the kill… the three are drawn into a dangerous alliance where forbidden desire, dark magic, and deadly secrets collide.
With danger closing in, they’ll have to decide who to trust… and who will be consumed first.
If you love Practical Magic, Charmed, Buffy, even Sabrina the Teenage Witch…
If you love a small town setting…
If you love witch vibes…
If you love a story that feels like a cozy warm hug with a dash of something… other…
If you love history, magic, the idea of a slower life, tight nit community, mystery, covens, witches, wraiths, vampires…
If you love Death Becomes Her…
90’s witch vibes…
If you love just a whimsical, magical mystical smaller but very interesting kind of life….
You are going to LOVE this book.
This book feels like a cozy hug. Every time I opened the pages I felt like I was giving the story a hug and it was hugging me back.
I love these characters.
The romance is impeccable.
The yearning is delicious.
The spice is… blush inducing.
And interestingly enough it’s both not a slow burn… but also very much a slow burn. This romance can’t be described… you’re just going to have to read it.
Also if you have any sort of religious trauma you’re working through… there’s an element of that in this story that is super duper healing.
This book really is about becoming your true self. Who you were meant to be. Unapologetically you. And learning to trust yourself and your capabilities and stick up for what you believe and who you love.
And also… the ending…
I have no words.
I thought this was a standalone. I am very happily surprised that it’s not. This world continued to grow as the story went along and I was like… how on earth are we going to wrap this up with a few chapters left.
Well... one GIGANTIC MASSIVE ENORMOUS COLOSSAL cliffhanger later…
I can confidently say… I am… desperately salivating for book two.
This book is its title.
I devoured it just as much as it devoured me.
You’re gonna wanna read this…
August 27, 2026
DNF@49% — i tried. i fucking tried. but sadly, i cant take it anymore..
i honestly wanted to love this book SO BAD.. originally picked this up as an eARC, then i wanted to dnf so badly at around 20% cuz there was just no chemistry between birdie and jasper.
silly me thought id give it another go via audio to at least when the wraith showed up?? then when i actually got to the part where dáinn showed up, i just didn't really give a shit anymore??
i'm just mad that this book had so much potential but spent the majority of the book going through every single detail that literally could've been deleted and wouldn't even change the plot a bit.. and i also felt like some of the dialogues were repeated by different characters too, like what even is the point?
⤷ thank you to netgalley, avon & harper voyager and emily rath for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. and also thank you to libro fm influencer for providing me an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
slowly catching up on my arcs! the premise sounds really good soo i'm hoping it delivers!
i honestly wanted to love this book SO BAD.. originally picked this up as an eARC, then i wanted to dnf so badly at around 20% cuz there was just no chemistry between birdie and jasper.
silly me thought id give it another go via audio to at least when the wraith showed up?? then when i actually got to the part where dáinn showed up, i just didn't really give a shit anymore??
i'm just mad that this book had so much potential but spent the majority of the book going through every single detail that literally could've been deleted and wouldn't even change the plot a bit.. and i also felt like some of the dialogues were repeated by different characters too, like what even is the point?
⤷ thank you to netgalley, avon & harper voyager and emily rath for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. and also thank you to libro fm influencer for providing me an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶
₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
slowly catching up on my arcs! the premise sounds really good soo i'm hoping it delivers!
September 1, 2026
really really wanted to like this because of how much pucking around means to me but it just fell really flat :/ and i didn’t really care much
September 15, 2026
This was my first book by Emily and while I know it isn’t her main genre, I really liked it! It was 4.5 stars for me. The only reason it wasn’t a full 5 stars was because I struggled with the insta love with all of these characters. I got comfortable with it and loved the characters and their dynamics though. I loved these characters! I have said it and I will say it again, when done well (which it was here) a grump shedding their walls and letting us see their gooey center is just so magical to me, and Jasper was no exception! He was the grumpiest of grumps. He had a hard time knowing he was in charge of his coven and his witches, but more so because he was scared something would happen to them under his watch. He didn’t like change, and he didn’t like people not following his orders. Enter Birdie. Our Birds! She was wonderful- so confident and independent and had Jasper spinning from the beginning. I loved their tension and how quickly you felt their chemistry. She pushed Jasper to the absolute edge and watching them together was delicious. But wait there’s more- we also had Dainn- the wraith who was sent to kill Jasper. He was the one the cinnamon roll/golden retriever of the group which was hilarious because he literally had to eat souls to stay alive. Until Birdie that is. The three of them together was a bit electric! I loved how much Dainn helped Birdie and Jasper get out of their own way and to go after what they want. He didn’t understand nuisances which made him that much more endearing. I thought Emily did a really good job weaving this story together. The setting of this old island with the potential to have had the first witch killings just added to the intrigue of the plot. I loved the mystery and question of what Birdie is- how was she able to do what she could do? As I mentioned I had a hard time with the insta LOVE BUT all of these characters were loyal to a fault so I was not surprised at how quickly things shifted to touch them and die vibes. That cliffhanger KILLED me, BUT I can’t wait to watch more of Jasper, Birdie and Dainn together and learn the fate of Burr island and it’s coven!
Birdie has found herself without a job and now without housing for the summer. She has no idea what she is going to do until her friend convinces her to work on a remote island for her uncle in his tea shop. She thinks she can figure it out but then she meets Phoebe’s uncle- Jasper. Wow he is handsome but also he just looks angry at the world maybe? And of course he says no she can’t work for him. But Birdie digs her feet in. She can’t take no for an answer and after some reluctance Jasper says yes. Which is how she finds herself working for this surly, handsome mystery man. He intrigues her. This town intrigues her. Everyone is so themselves. She finds herself feeling more at home than she maybe ever has. And then everything changes. She finds someone in the alley trying to HURT Jasper. She intervenes and then things get weird. Her universe and reality are shifted when Jasper comes clean- he is a witch. Not just any witch but a high priest for his coven. And Birdie has found herself in the middle of a witch fight of sorts. Jasper and his coven are trying to protect their history while someone is trying to break it out in the open. And then there is the wraith- Dainn who appears in human form now and immediately admits his feelings for both Jasper and Birdie. How is this Birdie’s reality right now? How does she feel ok with all of this? And what is this pull she feels to both Dainn and Jasper? She can’t fight her feelings anymore. And once she experiences what it is like to be theirs- she knows this is where she is meant to be. Here on Burr Island with her men. And when plans shift and disaster strikes earlier than planned, Birdie realizes she will do everything in her power to save this place and these people. Because they are her home. And no one messes with Birdie’s home.
Jasper doesn’t like change. He never has. There has been too much sorrow with the change he has experienced. And yet when his niece asks if her friend Birdie can work at his shop for the summer instead of her, Jasper wants to say yes. He knows immediately there is something different about Birdie. Which is why of course he says no. In fact she needs to leave the island to which of course she says no. Somehow she convinces him to say which is how he finds himself around her now. This woman who calls to him somehow. But he doesn’t do relationships. He honestly doesn’t really do people and yet he is somehow the high priest for his coven. He has to keep Birdie at arms length. All of that changes though when he almost gets killed. His life literally flashes before his eyes and then a miracle happens and it is surrounding Birdie. Now he wants her even more than he did before. Maybe she is supposed to be here. Maybe she needs him as much as he needs her. And the plot thickens even more when the wraith who tried to kill him comes to him with a proposal- help him out of his bond with his owner and he will provide Jasper with the tools to do it and protect Burr island. Because Jasper has known for a while that something sinister is going on around here. He just hasn’t been able to put his finger on it. Throughout all of this him and Birdie stop circling each other and collide and he knows in his soul that they are meant to be together. And he also feels something for Dainn. It’s like they are all meant to be together and this was the time they were supposed to find each other. But when their plan changes course before they were ready Jasper learns more about himself than he ever knew. Because NO ONE messes with Burr Island and NO ONE messes with Dainn and Birdie. He is going to make sure that the whole world knows that if he has to- one bad witch at a time.
I did an immersive read with this one and really enjoyed the audio! Dainn’s voice took a second to take because it is raspy since he is a wraith but kudos to that narrator for his range! I Megan Wicks always does a wonderful job, and I had not heard of the narrator for Jasper but liked his deep lilt as well. This was such a wonderful story set in a world of magic! The plot pacing was done well. The spice was BEYOND hot- I can’t wait for more of all of three of them. And the characters themselves were great. I can’t wait to read the great battle of however the big bad will go down and watch Jasper cackle in delight when it happens.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Birdie has found herself without a job and now without housing for the summer. She has no idea what she is going to do until her friend convinces her to work on a remote island for her uncle in his tea shop. She thinks she can figure it out but then she meets Phoebe’s uncle- Jasper. Wow he is handsome but also he just looks angry at the world maybe? And of course he says no she can’t work for him. But Birdie digs her feet in. She can’t take no for an answer and after some reluctance Jasper says yes. Which is how she finds herself working for this surly, handsome mystery man. He intrigues her. This town intrigues her. Everyone is so themselves. She finds herself feeling more at home than she maybe ever has. And then everything changes. She finds someone in the alley trying to HURT Jasper. She intervenes and then things get weird. Her universe and reality are shifted when Jasper comes clean- he is a witch. Not just any witch but a high priest for his coven. And Birdie has found herself in the middle of a witch fight of sorts. Jasper and his coven are trying to protect their history while someone is trying to break it out in the open. And then there is the wraith- Dainn who appears in human form now and immediately admits his feelings for both Jasper and Birdie. How is this Birdie’s reality right now? How does she feel ok with all of this? And what is this pull she feels to both Dainn and Jasper? She can’t fight her feelings anymore. And once she experiences what it is like to be theirs- she knows this is where she is meant to be. Here on Burr Island with her men. And when plans shift and disaster strikes earlier than planned, Birdie realizes she will do everything in her power to save this place and these people. Because they are her home. And no one messes with Birdie’s home.
Jasper doesn’t like change. He never has. There has been too much sorrow with the change he has experienced. And yet when his niece asks if her friend Birdie can work at his shop for the summer instead of her, Jasper wants to say yes. He knows immediately there is something different about Birdie. Which is why of course he says no. In fact she needs to leave the island to which of course she says no. Somehow she convinces him to say which is how he finds himself around her now. This woman who calls to him somehow. But he doesn’t do relationships. He honestly doesn’t really do people and yet he is somehow the high priest for his coven. He has to keep Birdie at arms length. All of that changes though when he almost gets killed. His life literally flashes before his eyes and then a miracle happens and it is surrounding Birdie. Now he wants her even more than he did before. Maybe she is supposed to be here. Maybe she needs him as much as he needs her. And the plot thickens even more when the wraith who tried to kill him comes to him with a proposal- help him out of his bond with his owner and he will provide Jasper with the tools to do it and protect Burr island. Because Jasper has known for a while that something sinister is going on around here. He just hasn’t been able to put his finger on it. Throughout all of this him and Birdie stop circling each other and collide and he knows in his soul that they are meant to be together. And he also feels something for Dainn. It’s like they are all meant to be together and this was the time they were supposed to find each other. But when their plan changes course before they were ready Jasper learns more about himself than he ever knew. Because NO ONE messes with Burr Island and NO ONE messes with Dainn and Birdie. He is going to make sure that the whole world knows that if he has to- one bad witch at a time.
I did an immersive read with this one and really enjoyed the audio! Dainn’s voice took a second to take because it is raspy since he is a wraith but kudos to that narrator for his range! I Megan Wicks always does a wonderful job, and I had not heard of the narrator for Jasper but liked his deep lilt as well. This was such a wonderful story set in a world of magic! The plot pacing was done well. The spice was BEYOND hot- I can’t wait for more of all of three of them. And the characters themselves were great. I can’t wait to read the great battle of however the big bad will go down and watch Jasper cackle in delight when it happens.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
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!
August 25, 2026
Being someone who hasn't fully dipped her feet into paranormal romance, I thought this was just... okay. The premise definitely sounded interesting, and since I'm already familiar with Emily Rath's work, I was really excited to dive into a paranormal romance from her.
That being said, since I haven't read a wide range of paranormal romances, the only rating I feel comfortable giving this is a neutral one. I thought the main characters individually were fun and interesting to read, but together, I felt their chemistry didn't always transition smoothly. There were also a handful of smaller plots that sometimes got lost within the main storyline, and there were moments where I honestly forgot what the main plot even was.
Overall, I thought the book was okay. It didn't completely win me over, but it left me interested enough to want to pick up the second book and see where the story goes.
* I want to thank Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, and Emily Rath for the ARC. In exchange for my honest review.
That being said, since I haven't read a wide range of paranormal romances, the only rating I feel comfortable giving this is a neutral one. I thought the main characters individually were fun and interesting to read, but together, I felt their chemistry didn't always transition smoothly. There were also a handful of smaller plots that sometimes got lost within the main storyline, and there were moments where I honestly forgot what the main plot even was.
Overall, I thought the book was okay. It didn't completely win me over, but it left me interested enough to want to pick up the second book and see where the story goes.
* I want to thank Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, and Emily Rath for the ARC. In exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2026
A huge thank you to @librofm and @avonbooks for the #gifted ARC and ALC.
"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘺."
I loved the premise, the magical elements, and the witty banter throughout but something about Dainn just irked me. I don't know if it was his insta love nature or his constant whining, but anytime he was added into the romance I instantly rolled my eyes. I normally love a good MMF throuple, but this just didn't hit the mark for me...
I did love the relationship between Birdie and Jasper, his protectiveness and her wit were the perfect duo. Just Dain....😒 I think I expected more of a brooding wraith, versus one that was on the more sensitive side.
🎧 I will never not picture Shane East as Peter Pan. The Vicious Lost Boys series ruined me 🤣 This was the first time I've listened to anything narrated by Megan and Gregory, I loved them both! All three narrators blended so well together and truly brought each character to life.
While this story wasn't for me, I do think this would be perfect for fans of Bride and the Zodiac Academy series!
𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
💀"no one gets to k*ll you, but me"
🐈⬛shadow daddies
💀grumpy witch x charming wraith x black cat human
🐈⬛all kinds of play 😏
"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘺."
I loved the premise, the magical elements, and the witty banter throughout but something about Dainn just irked me. I don't know if it was his insta love nature or his constant whining, but anytime he was added into the romance I instantly rolled my eyes. I normally love a good MMF throuple, but this just didn't hit the mark for me...
I did love the relationship between Birdie and Jasper, his protectiveness and her wit were the perfect duo. Just Dain....😒 I think I expected more of a brooding wraith, versus one that was on the more sensitive side.
🎧 I will never not picture Shane East as Peter Pan. The Vicious Lost Boys series ruined me 🤣 This was the first time I've listened to anything narrated by Megan and Gregory, I loved them both! All three narrators blended so well together and truly brought each character to life.
While this story wasn't for me, I do think this would be perfect for fans of Bride and the Zodiac Academy series!
𝘼𝙙𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙏𝘽𝙍 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚...
💀"no one gets to k*ll you, but me"
🐈⬛shadow daddies
💀grumpy witch x charming wraith x black cat human
🐈⬛all kinds of play 😏
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. :/
August 12, 2026
VERY CAMPY and pure vibes here. If you don't mind insta-love and diving it, then you can have fun with this!
July 15, 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.
August 8, 2026
Oh WOW y'all, that was a WILD ride! It's been a while since I've read anything like Devour Me - paranormal romance with VERY atmospheric vibes along with Emily Rath's signature banter and fantastic characters, I LOVED it all. If you love Emily's hockey books, I think you'll love these too, just take the hockey players and make them powerful supernatural beings? I swear it works!
The story takes place on a remote island and centers around a battle for magical power, between witches and other mythical creatures. History grad student Birdie accepts a research fellowship on the island as well as a summer job from her best friend's (very reluctant) uncle, Jasper. Everything seems to be going well until Birdie sees a hooded figure attacking Jasper and saves his life - but no one knows how she is able to stop him. Birdie and Jasper end up with their fates intertwined trying to save the history of the island and its mysterious habitants. Once the world building is in place, it's fast-paced and exciting and OF COURSE there's some really great spice. This book really has everything!
These CHARACTERS are SPECTACULAR! Emily always writes the most fantastic, well-developed characters and Devour Me is a perfect example of that. Birdie has struggled with feeling like she doesn't belong all her life, and she puts on a front to keep most people from getting too close. Reading about how she is able to open up to not one but two men while simultaneously becoming the only person who can save them is really empowering. Grumpy Jasper was very fun. He's also closed off and pushes people away, but Birdie immediately has some kind of hold on him and he CANNOT stay away. And then Dainn. I LOVED HIM SO MUCH. The poor guy has been through A LOT, and he's in a REALLY tough situation, but he's SO endearing. He's into both Jasper and Birdie from the start, and he's really the catalyst for their unconventional relationship. He might be dangerous for them both, but he desperately wants to make things work and he's willing to do whatever it takes for that to happen. The guy made me laugh multiple times, and I can't wait for more of him. Think golden retriever vibes but make him a soul sucking wraith? I'm so into this haha.
I knew going into this book that it ended on a massive cliffhanger, but EMILY! What WAS that?! The way I am FERAL for another book right now, I NEED to see where this goes. HIGHLY recommend reading this one so I have more people to suffer with while we wait for Devour Me 2 haha. AND it's a truly PERFECT fall/scary season read - go ahead and get this one on your TBR for October!
The story takes place on a remote island and centers around a battle for magical power, between witches and other mythical creatures. History grad student Birdie accepts a research fellowship on the island as well as a summer job from her best friend's (very reluctant) uncle, Jasper. Everything seems to be going well until Birdie sees a hooded figure attacking Jasper and saves his life - but no one knows how she is able to stop him. Birdie and Jasper end up with their fates intertwined trying to save the history of the island and its mysterious habitants. Once the world building is in place, it's fast-paced and exciting and OF COURSE there's some really great spice. This book really has everything!
These CHARACTERS are SPECTACULAR! Emily always writes the most fantastic, well-developed characters and Devour Me is a perfect example of that. Birdie has struggled with feeling like she doesn't belong all her life, and she puts on a front to keep most people from getting too close. Reading about how she is able to open up to not one but two men while simultaneously becoming the only person who can save them is really empowering. Grumpy Jasper was very fun. He's also closed off and pushes people away, but Birdie immediately has some kind of hold on him and he CANNOT stay away. And then Dainn. I LOVED HIM SO MUCH. The poor guy has been through A LOT, and he's in a REALLY tough situation, but he's SO endearing. He's into both Jasper and Birdie from the start, and he's really the catalyst for their unconventional relationship. He might be dangerous for them both, but he desperately wants to make things work and he's willing to do whatever it takes for that to happen. The guy made me laugh multiple times, and I can't wait for more of him. Think golden retriever vibes but make him a soul sucking wraith? I'm so into this haha.
I knew going into this book that it ended on a massive cliffhanger, but EMILY! What WAS that?! The way I am FERAL for another book right now, I NEED to see where this goes. HIGHLY recommend reading this one so I have more people to suffer with while we wait for Devour Me 2 haha. AND it's a truly PERFECT fall/scary season read - go ahead and get this one on your TBR for October!
August 30, 2026
5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for an advanced listening copy of this novel!
When I say that I devoured this book…
My lord…
I’ve read a couple other why choose books in the past, but I think the fantasy element really added a little something, something. The cast added all of the yearning and angst of the characters, and I loved their portrayals of the characters.
The cliffhanger at the end?! I’m ready to continue!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for an advanced listening copy of this novel!
When I say that I devoured this book…
My lord…
I’ve read a couple other why choose books in the past, but I think the fantasy element really added a little something, something. The cast added all of the yearning and angst of the characters, and I loved their portrayals of the characters.
The cliffhanger at the end?! I’m ready to continue!
August 4, 2026
Format: 📖 & 🎧
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series: Book 1 of ??
WHAT DO YOU MEAN “TO BE CONTINUED”?? Emily we need to talk 😩 Man I locked in to this book and suddenly it was over 🥺
This story made me feel all the feels. I got my monster romance fix, my praise kink fix, dom daddy fix, age gap, why choose, found family, black cat familiar, witchy magic - all the things!! I’m adding book 2 to my “Most anticipated 2027 reads” list for sure!
I loved Dainn so much. He was so innocent and loving and he just wanted a hug and a “Good boy” and a forehead kiss 🥺 I loved Birdie so much because she was so patient and understanding and open minded (and I can relate to her inner brat). And Jasper?? I don’t need to explain. (hot older MMC, praise daddy, consummate bachelor, “I’ll take care of you”, grumpy MMC aka my ideal mans)
I love it, 5 stars and I’m gonna be making all my book friends read it like I did with Half City (yes that means you, go read it 🫵🏼)
Notable tropes & themes —
🐈⬛ Age Gap romance
🕯️ Found Family
💀 Golden Retriever monster bf
🐈⬛ Grumpy Coven leader bf
🕯️ Bratty Academic FMC with religious trauma
💀 Witch Magic
🐈⬛ Black Cat familiar
🕯️ isolated New England island setting
💀 first in a series
I received the ALC for this book from the Libro.FM Advance Listening Copy program and HarperAudio Adult | Avon as an opportunity to listen and give my honest review.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series: Book 1 of ??
WHAT DO YOU MEAN “TO BE CONTINUED”?? Emily we need to talk 😩 Man I locked in to this book and suddenly it was over 🥺
This story made me feel all the feels. I got my monster romance fix, my praise kink fix, dom daddy fix, age gap, why choose, found family, black cat familiar, witchy magic - all the things!! I’m adding book 2 to my “Most anticipated 2027 reads” list for sure!
I loved Dainn so much. He was so innocent and loving and he just wanted a hug and a “Good boy” and a forehead kiss 🥺 I loved Birdie so much because she was so patient and understanding and open minded (and I can relate to her inner brat). And Jasper?? I don’t need to explain. (hot older MMC, praise daddy, consummate bachelor, “I’ll take care of you”, grumpy MMC aka my ideal mans)
I love it, 5 stars and I’m gonna be making all my book friends read it like I did with Half City (yes that means you, go read it 🫵🏼)
Notable tropes & themes —
🐈⬛ Age Gap romance
🕯️ Found Family
💀 Golden Retriever monster bf
🐈⬛ Grumpy Coven leader bf
🕯️ Bratty Academic FMC with religious trauma
💀 Witch Magic
🐈⬛ Black Cat familiar
🕯️ isolated New England island setting
💀 first in a series
I received the ALC for this book from the Libro.FM Advance Listening Copy program and HarperAudio Adult | Avon as an opportunity to listen and give my honest review.
July 18, 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.
September 3, 2026
3.75/5 stars
soo my first why choose and emily rath book👀
with this being an almost completely unchartered territory for me i went into this quite scared and simultaneously intruiged and honestly im glad that i picked this up!
the warning at the start of this book mentioning 'if you dont like insta-love then this isnt for you' should definitely be listened to btw, if you abhor insta-love then probably skip this one! i will say though, im usually not a fan of insta-love but this didnt really bother me that much??
the plot was honestly pretty fun, even if it was predicatble at times, i found that i didnt dread continuing the story at any point. i actually found it super fun and bingeable and ended up finishing it in like 48 hours! definitely one to pick up if you're looking for something that feels like its easy to digest while not being the simplest thing on earth
i loved these narrators!! all 3 pov's are narrated by a different person and every single one of them delivered so well! the female narrator is one of my favourites in general so i already knew i was in for a treat - the male narrators also delivered! honestly considering this book is over 500 pages long, the narration truly made the time fly by
thank you to netgalley and harperaudio adult for providing me with this audiobook for an honest and voluntary review!
soo my first why choose and emily rath book👀
with this being an almost completely unchartered territory for me i went into this quite scared and simultaneously intruiged and honestly im glad that i picked this up!
the warning at the start of this book mentioning 'if you dont like insta-love then this isnt for you' should definitely be listened to btw, if you abhor insta-love then probably skip this one! i will say though, im usually not a fan of insta-love but this didnt really bother me that much??
the plot was honestly pretty fun, even if it was predicatble at times, i found that i didnt dread continuing the story at any point. i actually found it super fun and bingeable and ended up finishing it in like 48 hours! definitely one to pick up if you're looking for something that feels like its easy to digest while not being the simplest thing on earth
i loved these narrators!! all 3 pov's are narrated by a different person and every single one of them delivered so well! the female narrator is one of my favourites in general so i already knew i was in for a treat - the male narrators also delivered! honestly considering this book is over 500 pages long, the narration truly made the time fly by
thank you to netgalley and harperaudio adult for providing me with this audiobook for an honest and voluntary review!
August 27, 2026
Love love love love loooooove this! I been a huge Emily Rath fan for a few years now and this was such a treat to read! It was the perfect mix of spooky, cute, and spicy!!
I really enjoyed all of the characters it felt like we had some really fun dynamics going on. This is the first book of a series so I’m sure we’ll be getting some more character development/fun situations but this was a very fun start. I also loved the whole town and all of the coven! It was to see how they all interacted together.
This book is a little chunky at over 500 pages and there are a few parts that could’ve been a little quicker but I had a very fun time and will be continuing on with this series. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun spooky why choose you can sink your teeth into.
Read if you like:
Why choose
MMF romance
Multi POV
Grumpyxsunshine
Witches and magic
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed all of the characters it felt like we had some really fun dynamics going on. This is the first book of a series so I’m sure we’ll be getting some more character development/fun situations but this was a very fun start. I also loved the whole town and all of the coven! It was to see how they all interacted together.
This book is a little chunky at over 500 pages and there are a few parts that could’ve been a little quicker but I had a very fun time and will be continuing on with this series. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun spooky why choose you can sink your teeth into.
Read if you like:
Why choose
MMF romance
Multi POV
Grumpyxsunshine
Witches and magic
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 18, 2026
I devoured this book! (pun intended)
All three mc's were so unique and I loved that we got chapters from all three pov's. It's definitely an instalove type of vibe, but I didn't mind that at all. The spice between the three was also scorching hot!
I have always been intrigued with the witch trials and it was cool to see that history intertwined with the plot. The coven in the book was wonderful and I'm rooting for them in the next book! (that cliffhanger... diabolical)
I need the next book, stat!
All three mc's were so unique and I loved that we got chapters from all three pov's. It's definitely an instalove type of vibe, but I didn't mind that at all. The spice between the three was also scorching hot!
I have always been intrigued with the witch trials and it was cool to see that history intertwined with the plot. The coven in the book was wonderful and I'm rooting for them in the next book! (that cliffhanger... diabolical)
I need the next book, stat!
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 11, 2026
Dark paranormal romance with witches, a wraith, and an isolated island setting — exactly what I needed.
What worked: Rath does a genuinely good job giving three first-person voices that actually sound distinct — not just in dialogue, but in how each character thinks and sees the world. That's rare in multi-POV books, and it's the main thing I'd praise here. The magic system doesn't feel like set dressing for the romance either — it's woven into the plot and unfolds through the FMC's curiosity as a historian, which feels natural rather than forced.
The vibe is a mix of dark humor and campy, whimsical magic, which makes the book genuinely funny at times — the banter between the two male leads was some of the best material in the book.
What didn't fully land for me: the insta-love. I'm generally not a big fan of that trope, and it's pretty pronounced here — I would've liked more time for the feelings to build rather than snapping into place so fast. There's also some pacing drag toward the end, plus a few moments where character reactions didn't quite match their established personalities. The FMC's best friend felt underdeveloped too; I wanted more of her.
That said, this is book one in a series, and it ends on enough of a hook that I'm genuinely curious to see where the author takes it in book two.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC❤️
What worked: Rath does a genuinely good job giving three first-person voices that actually sound distinct — not just in dialogue, but in how each character thinks and sees the world. That's rare in multi-POV books, and it's the main thing I'd praise here. The magic system doesn't feel like set dressing for the romance either — it's woven into the plot and unfolds through the FMC's curiosity as a historian, which feels natural rather than forced.
The vibe is a mix of dark humor and campy, whimsical magic, which makes the book genuinely funny at times — the banter between the two male leads was some of the best material in the book.
What didn't fully land for me: the insta-love. I'm generally not a big fan of that trope, and it's pretty pronounced here — I would've liked more time for the feelings to build rather than snapping into place so fast. There's also some pacing drag toward the end, plus a few moments where character reactions didn't quite match their established personalities. The FMC's best friend felt underdeveloped too; I wanted more of her.
That said, this is book one in a series, and it ends on enough of a hook that I'm genuinely curious to see where the author takes it in book two.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC❤️
August 5, 2026
This one wasn’t for me, but I can see others enjoying it!
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