Demons and Diplomacy

Ministry of Supernatural Affairs #1

by Megan Frampton

A tantalizing pact between an ordinary woman and the silver-tongued son of the Devil is all that stands between Britain—and all hell breaking loose.

1851, London. All supernatural species have emerged from hiding, a result of The Great Revelation, led by Her Majesty, the vampiric Queen Victoria, and her dhamphir consort, Prince Albert.

Cora Hastings is the British government’s Species Ombudsman, a human tasked with keeping the peace between supernatural creatures. It’s run-of-the-mill work: enforcing the newly created shifting parameters, negotiating contracts between species, and generally making certain all Londoners are treated equally.

That is, until the Devil himself decides he wants to leave his hellish home and see the results of Prince Albert’s greatest accomplishment, the Great Exhibition. His arrival could upset the uneasy peace between creatures, and worse—he’s brought his son.

The Marquis of Hell is diabolically good-looking, unnaturally perceptive, and, well, a demon. Cora navigates her sinfully seductive diplomatic assignment as best she can, until she catches wind of a secret conspiracy set to come to fruition at the opening of the Great Exhibition. This leaves her with an impossible choice: Either Cora enters an unholy alliance with the Devil’s son, or she watches as her world is torn asunder….

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Historical, Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 25, 2026

About the author

Megan Frampton's love affair with books began when her parents moved her to a remote town in New Hampshire where there was only one television station. And then the TV broke. She devoured every book of fiction in her well-read parents' library, finding special joy in Georgette Heyer and the fairy tales collected and translated by Andrew Lang. Megan majored in English literature at Barnard College and worked in the music industry for fifteen years. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband (her former intern) and her kid.

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started so well. Interesting world and plot, a great main character, and I liked the author’s writing style. Cora actually reminds me a little bit of Veronica Speedwell, very resourceful with her multifunctional cane, which I loved.

But then the romance happened.

I like slow burn. A lot. Sadly that’s not what we have here. This is also not my favorite type of romance. Everything happens too soon and with not enough built up. Which means that I, well… yes, I hated it. Shocker.

Anything Cora did or thought related to Marcellus gets a -1 because she sounded like a completely different person. There is also a dub con scene around 25% and it was so out of the blue. He forced himself on her and kissed her, but she apparently loved it? And when he pulled back, she kissed him again? I was shocked, confused and honestly a little disgusted. Why was that necessary? 😭 I know that after the fact she says it was consensual but that’s not what it looked like.

The MMC is also boring. He has a low voice, and laughs and smirks and he’s the Devil’s son. If I didn’t think about it too much he was fine, but when I did think about it he just felt one dimensional. He’s basically a glorified babysitter for his dad, the Devil, but has zero life besides that. I would have loved to know more about him but I got nothing. I guess he likes to cook? And that’s the extent of his depth. For someone who is supposed to be very evil, he’s incredibly blank. It feels like the author forgot to give him a personality.

Cora’s friends, Hannah and Lily, also felt like they were just there to supplement the romance. They only showed up at the end of the day to talk about the latest developments with Marcellus or what to wear, and then disappeared into the background once their part was done. Those were honestly the most boring scenes.

Overall, there was a lot that I liked, but a lot more that I didn’t.

Side note: I don't think I’ve ever seen an author actually use the word ‘penis’ during a smut scene. That was unexpected 😳 and also terrible. I didn’t like it 😂

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: i requested this on a whim, but i’m kinda loving it? 👀 just give me a good slow burn, please and thank you 🙏

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨😈 Demons and Diplomacy 😈✨

5 star read

Bestie really said yes to the son of the Devil 💅🏽

And he cooks for her??? Yeah… I was sold 😍
Demons need love too 😌

This was such a fun read set in a supernatural Victorian London. The worldbuilding and political setup pulled me in right away. I’m very happy this is a series. I will absolutely be continuing.

Sidenote... the Devil was truly unhinged and I loved how she basically gentle parented him 🤣

❤️‍🔥What to Expect
• Demon MMC
• Human FMC
• Forced alliance
• Political intrigue
• Supernatural London
• Victorian setting
_ _ _ _

⭐ Final Rating: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: August 25, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[EmJustReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demons and Diplomacy is a cozy, witty romance with a sprinkle of mystery.

Based on the title I had thought it would have more “spooky” themes, but it was very much romance and problem solving focused.

The story is set in London, complete with a FMC who is SERIOUS about tea, after the Great Revelation. That title is attributed to the event where the Queen revealed she is a vampire, and it was discovered that the world was full of other beings (besides only humans)

It’s a great comparison for society and demonstrates relationships and reactions that people have when around people with differences. Basically highlighting the importance of accepting “people’s” differences.

It was an easy and fun read. The FMC was very witty and had the gentle personality of an all-loving angel. There was some good banter between the FMC and the Devil’s son, and I really liked their secret trysts.

I will say the climax and ending seemed to be underwhelming, and it was all resolved very quickly. It didn’t really hurt by rating, but I wish we would’ve had more substance because we spend so much time building up to it.

Overall, this was a delightful, exaggerated commentary about tolerance for people who are different than you - and how to have diplomatic interactions.

I read this as an ARC thank you to the author and Berkley. Release date: August 25th

[Jeannine · Rating 2 out of 5]

An alternative Victorian England, where humans have become part of a society that includes fae, demons, and other supernatural beings sounds interesting. Queen Victoria is a vampire. Humans are at the bottom of the pecking order. Our main character is a woman serving as an ambassador (ombudsman) to other species and the Devil is visiting with his entourage. The FMC has chemistry with the Devil’s son, a demon, who is going to inherit his father’s role at some point. Seems like an “against all odds” set up!

The main subplot is that someone is trying to kill supernatural beings, and the FMC is teaming up with the MMc to figure out who the villain is. Humans being the weakest of the beings makes for some head-scratching, but I tried to suspend my disbelief.

Berkley cut back on historical romances and [allegedly] told authors to pivot to romantasy. This is what we get. Megan Framton is an established historical romance author writing a historical romantasy for the first time. There are shades of her old style, but the pace is off. At the end of the first act, around 25%, we have a kiss that comes out of nowhere. In a traditional historical, that might have worked, but a part of this first section is spent world-building, so the leap in the relationship between the main characters hasn’t been developed as much and the action feels abrupt and unnatural.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to Berkley/NetGalley for the ARC

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and easy read! When I read the description I knew I had to read it and was not disappointed. Normally I would want more world building with a fantasy book, but with Demons and Diplomacy I didn’t need it. I enjoyed all the characters and loved that it took place in 1850s London. The relationship between Cora and Marcellus, although a little rushed, was very cute. And I really liked the Incomplete Guide to Navigating Supernatural Species inserts in between each chapter. If you like historical fiction and romantasy, this book is perfect!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Matilda Dix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tantalizing pact between an ordinary woman and the silver‑tongued son of the Devil is all that stands between Britain—and all hell breaking loose. In 1851 London, the Great Revelation has forced supernatural species into the open under the rule of a vampiric Queen Victoria and her dhamphir consort, Prince Albert. Cora Hastings, the government’s Species Ombudsman, enforces new laws, negotiates interspecies contracts, and keeps civic order amid djinn, vampires, selkies, and demons now living in polite society. When the Devil himself decides to visit London to see Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition, he brings his dangerously attractive son, Marcellus. Cora must escort the infernal pair through the city and manage their disruptive presence while uncovering a conspiracy timed to the Exhibition’s opening. Faced with threats to the fragile peace and to Britain itself, Cora is forced into an uneasy alliance with Marcellus. As politics, paperwork, and desire collide, she must choose between duty and an unholy partnership that may be the only thing standing between order and catastrophe.

What a great start to a new series! This series will be perfect for fans of Gail Carriger and the TV show Lucifer. The setting—an alternate Victorian London still adjusting to seismic social change—offers familiar trappings (tea rituals, public exhibitions, deference to rank) reframed by supernatural politics, creating a richly textured backdrop for courtship. Some people want to go back to the old ways and Cora knows it's her job to prevent any violent plotting. Cora is a pragmatic, competent heroine whose devotion to duty and dry wit ground the story, while Marcellus provides the brooding, devoted counterpart whose demonstrations of care evolve into genuine intimacy. The romance unfolds amid witty worldbuilding and gentle satire—bureaucracy meets infernal absurdity—so readers who appreciate slow-burning attraction, period manners, and clever reimagining of historical figures will find both charm and heat here. I love that Cora lives in a boarding house with a fairy and a succubus! I had to laugh when the author detailed the super hot son of the devil...who loves to cook. The book balances cozy domestic details and grand-scale stakes, delivering emotional payoff alongside the escapist pleasures of Victorian romance with a fantastical twist.

This book is set to be published August 25, 2026. Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

https://romancelibrarian88.blogspot.c...

[Nikki (awallflowerreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cozy fantasy historical world had a ton of potential that I felt just didn’t really pay off in the execution. While I’ve loved Megan Frampton's historical romances and was excited for her foray into this new genre, I’m not sure this one worked for me. It was surprisingly boring, and the pacing didn’t help with this. In a world with all kinds of supernatural beings, there should be loads to keep me interested, but I found this leaned more into the “workplace drama” of it all.

I also just didn’t really find Cora, our protagonist and sole narrator, that interesting of a character. She was lacking some of the depth I need in a single pov romance, especially first person. While her humor was fun, and I did enjoy it, that seemed to be the crux of her personality aside from being an HR rep (and you know those vibes). Maybe if we had gotten Marcellus’s POV, I would have felt differently, and this would have felt less flat and one-dimensional in its storytelling.

Things I did like: this intriguing world and the setting of the Victorian era, the side characters, though I think this was at the detriment of the main romance. The chapter intermissions were fun and gave some more context to this expanding world. One of Cora’s best qualities is her interest in other species and her willingness to get to know all types. It did endear me to her in moments when she was being accepting and overall compassionate to those different from her. THAT truly was the star of this novel, and I appreciated this underlying message of understanding.

Although this wasn’t my fave of Frampton's, I do enjoy her writing style, and I hope that if she expands on this world, we get more of the depth of character work I’m used to seeing in her historicals. There were a ton of interesting characters that I wanted to know more about!

3/5
Thank you to the publishers for the eARC.

Alternate historical world, kind of a workplace romance, paranormal HR, dog companion, investigation, he feeds her, the devil is a spoiled debutante, great exhibition reimagined

[Andreia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This unfortunately was a massive disappointment for me. I was so looking forward to a fun lighthearted paranormal and historical romantic romp but this was so bad. The writing was supposed to be witty but instead was just very juvenile. Everything was excruciatingly spelled out for the reader, the narration constantly just covering every angle possible on a topic which was so unnatural and became so annoying. The main character's inner monologue was just insufferably rambling. All of the characters had no depth to them whatsoever and everyone just felt like a cartoon character and the romantic relationship was boring and lacking any chemistry or development. The mystery was so painfully obvious from early on, all of the sleuthing and mystery solving was boring and basic, and the climax was terribly done. There was so much promise for the worldbuilding but it was woefully underutilised. Not to mention the massively odd choice to have the very first romantic interaction between the two characters to be framed under the male character revealing he has powers of persuasion that makes people do anything he wants them to do and then immediately after telling the girl that she is going to kiss him and like it. The book then spends an inordinate amount of time bending over backwards to insist that the kiss was actually consensual. Playing with consent and deciphering of feelings can absolutely be done well and interestingly but nothing about this book facilitated that. There was an utter lack of chemistry or feeling or sensuality or logic. I do not recommend this book at all.

Arc provided by NetGalley.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read an Advanced Reader Copy of the book thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House.

What an absolutely delightful read! This one reminded me so much of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. Set in an alternative Victorian London, Cora Hastings holds the newly created job of Species Ombudsmen. Society has recently changed after the Great Revelation, in which the world learned that the supernatural creatures of myth were real. Cora's job is to keep the peace between the different species that now openly inhabit the world, and she is very good at her job. I love that we have an alternative historical setting, but one that is still finding it's footing. Yes, the supernatural creatures are out in the world, but they haven't been for long. It's fun to see a "new world" as it is, still being created.

Her tidy life takes an unexpected turn when she learns she is expected to escort the Devil and his entourage around London for a month. The Devil himself is difficult to manage (she compares him to a spoiled debutante), but the biggest issue is his incredibly attractive son, and the growing attraction Cora feels towards Marcellus.

Cora is a delightful character, and the supporting characters are just as entertaining. This book was cozy and sexy is all the right ways, and I hope to see more books set in this engaging and wondrous world.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC!

Demons and Diplomacy would best be described as a historical romance/ urban fantasy mashup. I like both of those things, so surprising no one, I enjoyed the book. Cora is a dry-witted, tea-loving heroine who finds herself stuck escorting the Devil around Victorian London for her work. And in the course of taking the Devil to pubs, art museums and various sites, she finds herself drawn to Marcellus, the Devil’s eldest son and the Marquis of Hell.

I found Cora to be a likeable lead. She’s pragmatic with a wry sense of humor and a desire to help various paranormal beings scattered throughout London (and a love of tea so profound, she carries a strainer in her cane). Marcellus is fun because he is a) a demon with a flexible set of morals and b) he respects Cora even as he enjoys teasing her. I also really enjoyed the characterization of the Devil in this one because he’s basically an overdramatic toddler. I also find the idea of Queen Victoria being a vampire kind of hilarious for reasons I can’t fully explain (but I’m here for it).

Overall, this is a fun, enjoyable read that felt like a wonderful palette cleanser after a series of dark fantasy romances. If you’re a fan of historical romance, paranormal fantasy and dry wit, I highly recommend giving this one a go.

[Lisa Vieira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel takes place in Victorian England following the “Great Revelation,” where demons, djinn, vampires, selkies, and the literal Devil now exist in polite society—and the true heroine of the story is a government employee seeking expanded departmental funding. Cora responds to supernatural chaos with policy proposals, careful species terminology, and thoughts about weekly reports, which is iconic. The worldbuilding is vivid and sometimes hilarious (Cerberus at a pub table? humbeetles??), but what makes it shine is the contrast between the assorted supernatural debacles that Cora faces and bureaucratic normalcy. Also, Satan wanting treacle tart and roller skating is not something I knew I needed, but here we are.
The romance centers on the devil’s son, Marcellus—a MMC who’s growly, devoted, and devastatingly good at acts of service. Once the story moves past an early dub-con kiss (which I did not love), the chemistry becomes scorching. There’s something so attractive about a prince of Hell who worries about her safety, feeds her like it’s a sacred ritual, and calls her “[his] revolutionary.” The commonplace elements threaded through the multi-species politics (tea cozies, strawberry jam, solid affection) make this a truly enjoyable read.
It’s messy, funny, occasionally lore-questionable (this is not strict Judeo-Christian canon), and self-aware. Between the satire of “Hell as a interdepartmental staff meeting”, the surprising impacts on women post-Revalation, and a slow, spicy romance, this book is chaotic in the best way. 4.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley for early access!

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the concept of this book. Hell as a bureaucracy, the pairing of an eminently sensible heroine with a more outrageous hero, the historical period reimagined as paranormal -- all of it ticks my boxes.

I really wanted to love the book itself too, and there were parts I really did like, but I felt like there was (necessarily) so much focus on the world-building that the character development suffered by comparison. I fully understood that Cora and Marcellus had pants feelings for each other (it was mentioned with extreme frequency!) but beyond that it was hard to tell how they developed REAL feelings for each other. Cora seems to think it's revolutionary that Marcellus cares about her pleasure, but even in an alternate historical setting, that should be the floor of what she expects from a partner. As for Marcellus, he spends so much time smirking and being smug that it's hard to tell what he might or might not be feeling.

Having said all that, I do think that the series has great potential, and I will definitely pick up whatever comes next. I generally am a big fan of Megan Frampton's books, and I love that she took a big swing here with something very different.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Kassie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4

This is such a unique genre blend… it’s part historical fiction, part mystery, part romance, and part paranormal/fantasy. I always appreciate unique stories like that, it’s such a good opportunity to create something special.

In this case, I almost feel like it was too ambitious, though. There simultaneously was a lot of world-building but also not enough, because I still had questions how all the different species and world’s interacted. The character development here was somehow clear, I understood exactly who the characters were, especially our main characters but they never clicked for me in the banter, tension, and chemistry sense.

I loved the running parallels between 1850s London and Hell, and how in some ways, Hell was nicer/better than our real world. I also really enjoyed all the different species of creatures, it wasn’t just humans and demons. There were also vampires, dhampirs, fairies, succubi, trolls, and the list goes on. I wish we would have gotten more from that part of the world-building.
All in all, a solid read that lays down a foundation for the series. I’m interested to see where this goes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Megan Frampton for allowing me to read an early copy of this book!

[Kels O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun palette cleanser. It’s historical meets fantasy romance novel.

Set in the Victorian era England, instead of an Industrial Revolution came the Great Revelation where creatures thought to be myths revealed themselves starting with Queen Victoria as a vampire. It follows Cora (our FMC) as a species ombudsman - where her primary duties involve solving inter-species conflicts that is until the Devil comes to town. The Devil, his heir Marcellus and other demons arrive in England in preparation of the Exhibition where Cora has to entertain as well as prevent any incidents to strengthen the diplomatic ties Hell and England. During the visit, there are attempts to kill the Devil so Cora and the heir pair up to prevent further incidents and who’s behind the mess.

It’s lovely, not too serious story about Marcellus and Cora slowly falling for one another. You get to explore the ‘new’ world along with them. It has some found family aspects and a dog sidekick. I enjoyed the authors writing style. The slow burn pays off. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this world.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.

[Taylor - TheTayloredPage · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's 1851 in London. After Queen Victoria reveals that she is a vampire, suddenly Creatures of all types are able to live in the open. Cora is only a human, but her even temperament and open-mindedness make her the perfect person to serve as a human-Creature liaison. She's competent and functional and not at all emotionally prepared to be paired up with the Devil's son to ensure his father's visit to the Great Exposition goes smoothly.

I loved the concept of this book! It's a fun setting and getting to explore what London would be like with all manner of odd beings was exciting and humorous. Serious, reserved Cora was a good foil for the charming and gregarious Marquis of Hell and they made for a pairing with a lot of promise, but unfortunately I felt their romance was lacking. There was very little tension building and the payoff was lackluster and disappointing. I did not feel invested in them as a romantic partnership.

I would be interested to read further books in this series, especially if they follow Cora's roommates - a fairy and a succubus.

Thank you to Berkley for the ARC of this book.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

******** ARC Review *************

3.5 stars


The gas lamps are lit, the demons have arrived and Victorian society had never looked so tempting.


There is something irresistible about wandering the gaslit streets of Victorian London, especially when demons, vampires, and ancient bargains are wandering the streets with you. Thanks to The Great Revelation under Queen Victoria they are no longer relegated to the shadows and darkness.

Honestly, what could go wrong when the Devil decides to visit London? This was such a wildly creative concept, and I loved how it blended historical romance with fantasy.

Cora was easy to root for, the banter was wickedly witty, and I laughed more than once (often to be exact). The dynamic between her and the impossibly handsome Devil’s son, Marcellus was perfection. The way they navigated the perils of the Devil visiting London was done to perfection. Add in a mystery to be solved and I was hooked.

While the pacing occasionally pulled me out of the story, the atmosphere and originality of this story kept me turning the pages.

If you love historical romance and you want to dip your toes into a fantasy world this one is for you.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining read! We start off by learning there has been a Great Revelation where humanity has learned that not only is Queen Victoria a vampire but in our world exist a number of other creatures. Our main character is tasked as a liaison between the species. Cora (our FMC) has a new task of guiding the Devil and his very handsome son, the marquis, around London at the start of the novel.

I overall had a fun time reading this book. The world is very imaginative, not only with all the different species (fairies, succubi, ogres, trolls, vampires etc.), but also with the setting of Victorian London after this Great Revelation. The characters overall were very likeable but could have been fleshed out more. I felt the romance was a bit rushed and, while I did enjoy the banter, I felt the feelings came a bit too soon. The plot moved at a good pace and I never was bored. The writing was very repetitive and the mystery was pretty standard though. I AM looking forward to the next installment as these are very fun, light-hearted reads!

3.25 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley!

[GabbyReadsRomantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was my first book by Megan Frampton, and I will definitely be continuing with the rest of the series once published. I’m always a fan of a demon x human romance, and I had a really fun time with this one. It was a light, entertaining read with relatively low stakes and, thankfully, no third-act breakup.
I would classify this more as a historical paranormal romance than a romantasy. The romance develops fairly quickly, which worked for me, though readers who prefer a slower burn may feel differently. I also enjoyed the political intrigue woven throughout the story, as it helped keep the plot moving without taking away from the romance.
One of my favorite characters was the MMC’s father, the literal devil who is unhinged but really just wants to enjoy his vacation.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
The spice level is open door. The story is told in first person from the FMC’s perspective.

[Amber Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC Reader
✨I adored this book.✨
This supernatural historical romance has a little bit of everything. You follow Cora, a human ombudsman, and Marcellus, the Marquis of Hell, as they team up as an unlikely duo to track down the culprits responsible for wreaking havoc while the devil is visiting London. This story is rich with details and banter and you can’t help but get sucked in. Megan Frampton thought of everything to create such a wonderful world. It is such an easy cozy read you can’t help but enjoy it. You will traipse around London from pubs to museums with the devil and his entourage all while someone is doing everything they can to ruin the trip. Cora is such a strong FMC and goes above and beyond to facilitate the wants of the debutant of a devil. But she can’t resist the devil’s son who is such a witty seductive MMC and you won’t be able to resist him either. All in all this is such a well written cozy read I will be adding to my recommendations list.
Thank you Megan Frampton and NetGalley.

[Nick Hanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

I had a fun time with Demons and Diplomacy! It’s a cozy mix of historical romance and urban fantasy, with demons, vampires, Victorian London, and a lot of tea. Honestly, Cora carrying a tea strainer in her cane might be one of the most British things I have ever seen.

I really liked Cora and Marcellus together. Their romance was cute, although it felt a little rushed in spots, I enjoyed their banter. The Devil being kind of dramatic and ridiculous was also really funny, and Queen Victoria as a vampire is just perfect.

I also liked the little guide entries between chapters. They added charm and a little bit of whimsy that helped me see into Cora's future life. Some things were repeated a lot for me, like the pen dabber thing or whatever it was called, but overall this was an easy, enjoyable read with cozy supernatural chaos.

Would recommend if you like historical romance, romantasy, dry humor, and demons behaving badly but politely.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This standalone gave me a lot of the same charm and relationship dynamics as Assistant to the Villain. Set in a Victorian England where Queen Victoria is a vampire and supernatural creatures revealed themselves after the Great Revelation, the story follows a plucky, pragmatic FMC as the devil arrives in London with his retinue and a very handsome heir.

There’s a bit of mystery, a slow burn romance, and open door spice, but overall this is a very cozy, low angst fantasy. The stakes never feel overwhelmingly high, so it’s more comforting than edge of your seat, which also meant it took me longer to read because I wasn’t desperately racing to see what happened next.

Still, this was such an enjoyable read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a standalone fantasy romance with cozy vibes, supernatural worldbuilding, and a strong emphasis on the romance.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

[Me, My Shelf, & I]

DNF @ 58%

This was fine. Nothing special. For as much as she mentions that he's a demon and the son of the devil and doesn't have our morals, etc etc... he could've just been an aristocrat. There wasn't enough magic that tangibly affected the world, even though the literal queen is a literal vampire and possibly more powerful than the devil himself.

There are certainly spicy scenes that are not closed door, and it definitely feels like the romance is the primary focus here. But I didn't feel connected to the characters at all and when I realized there wasn't much of a plot to be invested in, it also made me realize that I don't actually care all that much if a plot develops.

So while this wasn't for me, I don't think it's a bad book and could be perfectly servicable if you're looking for some spicy, kinda historical kinda fantasy fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know there's a trend in publishing right now to move historical romance authors over to romantasy (because romantasy is selling better at the moment). For what this is, it's a nice romance book. There are some chili pepper scenes in there that are plenty spicy. But the fantasy world and the plot outside of the spice felt a little bare. The threads got all tied up in the end, but it felt coincidental. There were supernatural creatures but those felt like window dressing. If the other characters had been human instead of fairy or succubus or demon, I don't know that I could tell you what changed. Where your reading preferences lie on the spectrum of more fantasy or more romance will probably determine how much you enjoy this. If romance is your thing, I think you'll really enjoy this one. If you want more fantasy or a more solid world, this might not be so great.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley for giving me an advanced copy.

[Jennifer Kafka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demons and Diplomacy by Megan Frampton was such a fun surprise for me. It starts off feeling like a cozy fantasy with its charming atmosphere, witty dialogue, and lovable characters, but it also brings a little spice toward the end that added just the right touch. The writing was easy to fall into, and I found myself flying through the pages without effort.

I especially loved the humor and banter throughout the story. It had a lighthearted charm that made spending time in this world really enjoyable, while still keeping me invested in the characters and where the story was headed. Overall, this was a delightful, cozy read with heart, humor, and a bit of romance mixed in perfectly.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publicity and Penguin Random House for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Alex Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a historical paranormal romance that reminded me a bit of From Whom the Belle Tolls: a smart, no-nonsense heroine meets a devil who's equally sinfully charming and actually a pretty nice guy when you get to know him. Generally, the romance relied heavily on "irresistible attraction" and common cozy tropes like he cooks for her. There's also found family trope with various magical beings. I feel I've seen tons of these kinda-gaslamp, kinda-cozy fantasy romances, they're full of cute slice of life scenes and some loose plot, but often my impression is that both the plot and the romance end up being fairly surface level and not very engaging.

I'd recommend it for fans of feelgood vibes historical romances with a paranormal / fantasy twist a la India Holton. Unfortunately, I was a bit bored.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5
I would describe Demons and Diplomacy as a cozy historical paranormal romance.
I liked the premise, especially the interspecies diplomacy and romance but it didn't really work for me. I wish the romance had built more tension and anticipation. Instead it felt like it came out of nowhere, despite the main character repeatedly telling us how hot she found the MMC. The relationship never felt particularly convincing to me, and I didn't enjoy the spicy scenes either.
The characters were enjoyable enough albeit a bit cliché.
I also wish the stakes had felt higher. There's a crisis and life-threatening events but it didn't resonate with me and I found it hard to stay invested.
That said, if you're looking for a cozy, easy paranormal romance with a historical setting, I can still see this being an enjoyable read.

[Genny · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can refer to me henceforth as “Ms. Hastings” because the son of the Devil is a witty menace with a dirty mouth, and I’d like to be who he directs his advances toward. Please and thank you!

This historical romantasy has so much charm. Set in Victorian London, we have magical world building for the Ministry of Supernatural Affairs through the interactions of the characters. Between its setting and the characters, you are fully seated from the first page.

While I got a good laugh at some of the inserts of “An Incomplete Guide to Navigating Supernatural Species…”, I’m not sure they contributed much to the actual story being told.

Overall this was a very fun, captivating read and I look forward to reading future installments!

Be sure to grab a copy when it’s released on August 25, 2026!

[Nicole Reads Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

This may appeal to readers who enjoy historical paranormal romance that lean towards cosy. I found it quite bland. The Devil comes to 1851 London for The Great Exhibition and the FMC has an office romance with his son, a demon and heir to the throne. The stakes never materialised in any major way on page (nothing felt terribly urgent or world-threatening), and despite being open door it was weirdly non-descriptive ("my lower part ached"). I expected the son of the devil to be getting up to some eye-popping shenanigans, and I know Frampton can write them I've loved her Historical Romance! Overall this just fell flat.

Thank you to Berkeley for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

This is a historical and fantastical urban fantasy where iconic historical figures are supernatural creatures and the shenanigans that come from that.

Overall, I did enjoy this, but I did expect to enjoy it a lot more.

I found the main character really annoying and I think that's the main reason this wasn't more likable for me. I found the constant and repetitive "I want to kiss him" to be so very annoying.

This was a dramatic and busy story with something always going on, but that main character really squandered this book's potential.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!