What do you think?
Rate this book
Hellbound
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26Dying is all in a day’s work for a Hell-diver like Marian—until a routine round-trip to the afterlife goes wrong—for fans of The Wren in the Holly Library and TV’s Lucifer.
Hell is empty, and all the devils are here, but nobody knows why—not even the devils themselves. Now, sadistic demons roam the earth, offering small fortunes to any mortal sucker dumb or desperate enough to die on their behalf as they retrieve artifacts from a Hell they can’t recall. Washed-up journalist Marian Meyer is one of those mortal suckers dying for a living as she fetches clues for a demonic puzzle that she doesn’t care to solve.
Riddled with debt she'll never be able to pay off and guilt over her mother's death, Marian made her first lucrative deal with a demon and never looked back. Never mind that being a Hell-diver means that she must voluntarily drown herself—or that the human body wasn’t meant to die more than once—and she’s definitely feeling it.
Unfortunately, the last time Marian went to Hell, she came back wrong. Memories of that night are missing, and she'll do anything she can to find them, including teaming up with one of her mysterious (and oddly alluring) demonic patrons, Mr. Vale. But when their tenuous alliance thrusts Marian even deeper into a world of betrayal, humans with strange powers, and demonic politics, she’ll have to decide if allying with Mr. Vale is her ticket to freedom or damnation in disguise.
One part slow-burn romance and one part acerbic wit, Hellbound is a dark contemporary fantasy romance perfect for readers who prefer their casts morally grey and the stakes sky-high.
Hell is empty, and all the devils are here, but nobody knows why—not even the devils themselves. Now, sadistic demons roam the earth, offering small fortunes to any mortal sucker dumb or desperate enough to die on their behalf as they retrieve artifacts from a Hell they can’t recall. Washed-up journalist Marian Meyer is one of those mortal suckers dying for a living as she fetches clues for a demonic puzzle that she doesn’t care to solve.
Riddled with debt she'll never be able to pay off and guilt over her mother's death, Marian made her first lucrative deal with a demon and never looked back. Never mind that being a Hell-diver means that she must voluntarily drown herself—or that the human body wasn’t meant to die more than once—and she’s definitely feeling it.
Unfortunately, the last time Marian went to Hell, she came back wrong. Memories of that night are missing, and she'll do anything she can to find them, including teaming up with one of her mysterious (and oddly alluring) demonic patrons, Mr. Vale. But when their tenuous alliance thrusts Marian even deeper into a world of betrayal, humans with strange powers, and demonic politics, she’ll have to decide if allying with Mr. Vale is her ticket to freedom or damnation in disguise.
One part slow-burn romance and one part acerbic wit, Hellbound is a dark contemporary fantasy romance perfect for readers who prefer their casts morally grey and the stakes sky-high.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Stephanie Binx
1 book9 followersStephanie Binx is a great big nerd who loves video games, horses, ghost stories, and morally gray love interests. Her mission as an author is to bring chaos and romance together in strange, dark matrimony. She lives with her son, spouse, and their two needy cats in the Pacific Northwest. If she’s not writing, then she’s probably backpacking with a loud dog, or running a dungeon with her friends in the MMO du jour.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 25, 2026
This book literally grabbed me by the shirt and refused to let go. It will forever live rent free in my head. If you're wanting hot demons, badass MC's, and a world you can easily fall into (or be dragged into), this is for you!
Official Blurb:
"Dark, twisted, and utterly addictive. Hellbound is an intoxicating story full of grit, resilience, and hellish feats. Stephanie Binx has expertly crafted a story that wraps you in its shadows and refuses to let go. With an MC who won't back down without a fight, and an infuriatingly hot demon stalking the pages, a trip to down to Hell has never been so fulfilling." - Grace Morrow, author of We Become Darkness
Official Blurb:
"Dark, twisted, and utterly addictive. Hellbound is an intoxicating story full of grit, resilience, and hellish feats. Stephanie Binx has expertly crafted a story that wraps you in its shadows and refuses to let go. With an MC who won't back down without a fight, and an infuriatingly hot demon stalking the pages, a trip to down to Hell has never been so fulfilling." - Grace Morrow, author of We Become Darkness
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly, thank you to Stephanie and Alcove Press for the ARC copy of this book. I am leaving this review for free and completely of my own thoughts and opinions.
Hellbound is a dark and gripping tale that sinks it's hooks into you and does not let go. I never quite knew where this story was going to take us and that made it an extremely compelling read because you just need to keep going to see what is going to happen next. The entire book beautifully showcases both humanities desperation and greed and also it's resillence to be good in the face of darkness and despair.
This book is a real reflection on a captalistic nightmare made real in terms of how people view these demons and the lengths some of them go to, and the things they do for them, to get themselves into a better position in life.
Stephanie does an amazing job of transporting the reader to Hell and it honestly is one of those books that would translate extremely well to live media, I spent so many of the scenes in this book thinking to myself how cool it would look in a TV show.
Marian was a joy to be in the head of through this book because she is a complex, deep character who is brought to life with her deep rooted insecurities and anxieties and also her strong will. The way her emotions were conveyed in this book were so realistic, anyone who has actually suffered with deep depression or anxiety is sure to be able to relate to some of the things Marian goes though.
Mr Vale has shot up there on my list of favourite MMC's. His dry, acerbic wit was great to read. His tender care of Marian, while understanding her boundaries and knowing when not to push was great and their back and forth banter was so fun.
The side cast of characters were all unique and interesting and seeing the slowly blossoming friendships was a nice off-set to the darker parts of the book.
Overall, this is a fantastic darker urban fantasy romance book and an extremely strong debut novel.
Hellbound is a dark and gripping tale that sinks it's hooks into you and does not let go. I never quite knew where this story was going to take us and that made it an extremely compelling read because you just need to keep going to see what is going to happen next. The entire book beautifully showcases both humanities desperation and greed and also it's resillence to be good in the face of darkness and despair.
This book is a real reflection on a captalistic nightmare made real in terms of how people view these demons and the lengths some of them go to, and the things they do for them, to get themselves into a better position in life.
Stephanie does an amazing job of transporting the reader to Hell and it honestly is one of those books that would translate extremely well to live media, I spent so many of the scenes in this book thinking to myself how cool it would look in a TV show.
Marian was a joy to be in the head of through this book because she is a complex, deep character who is brought to life with her deep rooted insecurities and anxieties and also her strong will. The way her emotions were conveyed in this book were so realistic, anyone who has actually suffered with deep depression or anxiety is sure to be able to relate to some of the things Marian goes though.
Mr Vale has shot up there on my list of favourite MMC's. His dry, acerbic wit was great to read. His tender care of Marian, while understanding her boundaries and knowing when not to push was great and their back and forth banter was so fun.
The side cast of characters were all unique and interesting and seeing the slowly blossoming friendships was a nice off-set to the darker parts of the book.
Overall, this is a fantastic darker urban fantasy romance book and an extremely strong debut novel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book speaks to my economical anxiety, which I am sure many can relate. Right from the start, we're put in Marian's shoes as she navigates a city overrun by wealthy demons, most of whom see humans as cattle. Very much like the capitalistic nightmare that is our real world. It's grim. But Marian's cynical, snarky voice had been entertaining (and oddly comforting at times). I was hopelessly entranced halfway through Chapter 1.
What I expected: urban fantasy with dark undertones + gore + high-stake, fast-paced narrative. And also, the Romance—slow, tension-charged romance. HELLBOUND delivers all that it promises. The plot is seamless; the demons and sometimes humans are unflinchingly cruel; and the chemistry between the leads are off the roof. There is a shadow daddy for all the staunch shadow-daddy enjoyers our there. Even as someone who doesn't actively seek out books with them, I am a big fan of the guy. 10/10 LI
What I didn't expect: the side characters, the angst, the in-depth character study for Marian. The book doesn't pull punches when it comes to difficult subjects or hide behind the action and thrill. It gives us all instead. The supporting cast also really grew on me. I am always hesitant to be emotionally invested in side characters, but I have no choice with these two, y'all. They are so much fun. I couldn't be more grateful for the ample of screen time for them and the critical roles they play in Marian's story.
There is a lot more in HELLBOUND to scream about, but I will refrain from giving anything else away. After this book, Binx will be an auto-read author for me. You will find me in Hell before I miss out on her future novels.
What I expected: urban fantasy with dark undertones + gore + high-stake, fast-paced narrative. And also, the Romance—slow, tension-charged romance. HELLBOUND delivers all that it promises. The plot is seamless; the demons and sometimes humans are unflinchingly cruel; and the chemistry between the leads are off the roof. There is a shadow daddy for all the staunch shadow-daddy enjoyers our there. Even as someone who doesn't actively seek out books with them, I am a big fan of the guy. 10/10 LI
What I didn't expect: the side characters, the angst, the in-depth character study for Marian. The book doesn't pull punches when it comes to difficult subjects or hide behind the action and thrill. It gives us all instead. The supporting cast also really grew on me. I am always hesitant to be emotionally invested in side characters, but I have no choice with these two, y'all. They are so much fun. I couldn't be more grateful for the ample of screen time for them and the critical roles they play in Marian's story.
There is a lot more in HELLBOUND to scream about, but I will refrain from giving anything else away. After this book, Binx will be an auto-read author for me. You will find me in Hell before I miss out on her future novels.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was super fortunate to sign up for Stephanie’s street team. I’m so glad I did because I received a digital ARC copy and you guys!!!
Without spoilers—I’ll say that my favorite thing was how well the author crafted her main character’s arc. It’s no surprise that from the beginning of the book Marian hates herself. It’s so deep and personal and raw and I rooted for her from the beginning even though she sort of self sabotages. And again, this can be found from page one—so I don’t count it as a spoiler.
The prose was so wonderful. It kept me engaged the whole time, especially when the atmosphere was dark and gritty.
I loved the side characters, especially sweet Tori wok I may have a crush on 🤭
This story was so unique and I can’t wait to hold a physical copy in my hand. If you’re looking for a moody, dark fantasy set with split settings between real world and a Hellish, second world. This is your book!!
Without spoilers—I’ll say that my favorite thing was how well the author crafted her main character’s arc. It’s no surprise that from the beginning of the book Marian hates herself. It’s so deep and personal and raw and I rooted for her from the beginning even though she sort of self sabotages. And again, this can be found from page one—so I don’t count it as a spoiler.
The prose was so wonderful. It kept me engaged the whole time, especially when the atmosphere was dark and gritty.
I loved the side characters, especially sweet Tori wok I may have a crush on 🤭
This story was so unique and I can’t wait to hold a physical copy in my hand. If you’re looking for a moody, dark fantasy set with split settings between real world and a Hellish, second world. This is your book!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews