Passion in the Pentagram: A Passing Through Cafe Prequel

by Nik Knight, Heather Caryn (Editor)

Quin Duboi never believed in love at first sight until she laid eyes on Glyma Aryti.

Closeted and set to marry a man of her mother's choosing, Quin has accepted her fate. She will tow the line; she will do her duty, like all those who came before her. For the good of the family. But when Glyma, a Succubus from Lust, appears in her office, seeking help in starting her cafe, Quin discovers that maybe there is more to life than the hollow, plastic world she has always known.

Join Quin and Glyma—along with a few familiar faces—in this prequel novella to the Passing Through Cafe, featuring forbidden desires, fated soulmates, fake fiances who love to play matchmaker, and glitter. Lots of glitter.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Demons, Queer, Paranormal, Fantasy

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2025

About the author

Nik Knight (they/them) is a born and bred Hoosier living in a top-secret location in Europe. They are a single parent to two wonderful gremlins, and they write love in all its forms.

When they aren’t busy adulting, Nik can be found in their writing nook, typing away as their fingers turn to nubs.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite parts of the other books in this series is the whole hilarious gang together. Since this was a prequel, none of the other characters were in this story and it just wasn’t as good without them. Still pretty decent though, just not as good as the other three. This book also had a flower petal vagina, so that’s neat.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

this had me giggling and kicking my feet 🥰

[avis03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

FF, Monster, PNR, 3rd Dual POV

Status: KU, Novella, Series of Interconnected Standalones, Third Act Conflict - External, Reproduction - In the Future

Quin: Daemon, Business Consultant, Closeted, Can Teleport, Smoker, Sexually Inexperienced with Women

Physical Features: Dark Red Skin, Black Dreads, Horns, Hooves, Tail, >!Two Clits!<

Glyma: Succubus, Baker, Bi, Plus Sized, Wants to Open a Café, Smoker

Physical Features: Lilac Skin, Lavender Hair, Horns, Pink Eyes, Fangs, Tail

Rep: Queer Normative, Defaults to They/Them when Pronouns are Unknown, Trans and NBi Characters, Sex Positivity, Body Positivity

Notes: Stoic x Chaotic, Fated Mates, Fake Fiancé (Lavender Relationship), Leaving a Toxic Family

Sex Notes: Breast Stimulation, "Good Girl", Pussy Eating, Shared Pleasure (Succubus Ability), Fingering

CWs: Mental and Emotional Manipulation/Abuse by a Parent, Physical Abuse by a Parent, Struggles of Having a Parent with Dementia; Themes of: Sexism, Misogyny, Classism, Speciesism, Bigotry

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn't love Nik's achillean romances so much I would say they needed to only write sapphic from now on because this was AMAZING. (Instead I'll ask that they write whatever they want for forever because it is all my favorite). Quin and Glyma were also so obviously in love throughout the Passing Through books so it was great getting to see how they got together. I always saw Quin is more stoic and unemotional, but seeing beyond that face she puts forward showed so much more and I loved her inner strength once she finally wore it proudly. And of course I loved Glym, she's so lovely, funny, and completely down bad for her girl in a way that I just love to see more than anything. It's a Knight book, so there's still angst and hurt, and things aren't easy for them, but it's so beautiful and lovely once it all works out! Also, a good amount of steam for a fairly short story. (Plus there are some incredibly fun cameos!!)

I'm also petitioning for a little short of Waryn frolicking around Europe and maybe ending up in a QPR!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful, emotional and adorable prequel with Gylma and Quin. I loved it so much. I loved getting to see how they met and fell in love and how much they had each other’s back pretty much from day 1 of meeting. I LOVEDD the character Waryn he was funny! I really liked them as a trio, they had such strong chemistry (platonically) as a friend group. And I loved how bubbly Gylma was in their first meeting causing total gay panic on Quin😂

Gylma and Quin had such wonderful chemistry themselves and so many moments that I loved , moments that I cried through or laughed a lot at. I honestly wish this was just a longer book, to see more of Quin’s journey, post getting free from her mother’s clutches. All the moments in between where her and Glylma were friends/professional acquaintances but definitely something more under the surface.

Fuck Quin’s family. They fucking suck. Ugh I want more sapphic romance from this author honestly

[Kirstine Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Quin the daemon and Glyma the succubus, two very different women from very different backgrounds, and how Glyma's dreams of opening a cafe brings them together. It's not always easy, not least because Quin's powerful and influential mother is a horrible cunt, but they get there in the end. We even find out how they came by Tad, the weird little dishwashing creature with webbed feet, and get a glimpse at Gemae, our beloved Araknis, at the very end.

Prequel to the excellent Passing Through Cafe series, and not surprisingly also excellent :)

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout the Passing Through series, Glyma and Quin - the cafe owners - are secondary characters in a committed, happy relationship but until this book we never knew how they got to where they are. This was the sweetest, steamiest, loveliest book that shows how the two met and what they had to overcome to get where they are today.

Like all of Nik's books, this one is incredibly well written, funny, fast-paced and just all around the best. I adored this story so very much!

You don't have to read the other stories in the series before reading this one although you should clearly read the whole series because each book is a gem!

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and Spicy!

Loved this prequel novella set in Nik Knight's Passing Through Cafe universe! Short, sweet, and spicy it tells the story of how the cafe's two owners met and fell in love. There were also several small nods to other characters that are part of the cafe's found family. It could be read as a standalone without issue, but I highly recommend this series. It's a wonderfully funny series full of unique characters and found family vibes. 5stars all around!

[isthisakink · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5. Listen, Waryn is everything. That’s it. That’s the whole review. The distinct lack of Waryn in the rest of the series is absolutely galling. But for real, this was fucking top tier, elite content. I laughed, I cried, I felt all of the feelings. This was one hundred percent necessary for my happiness in life. I have loved the entire series, and this highlighted every single reason why. One of my all-time favourite worlds to get lost in and it’s perfect.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nik Knight, in the book announcement: I may have fallen in love with Waryn a little bit.

Me, reading the book: I have fallen in love with Waryn

[Maggie Pasour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Glyma and Quin’s story so much! Quin’s inner and outer battle along with Glymas support really gripped me and made me cry at times. The story was so good I wanted more! Highly recommend this prequel, it gives so much insight on their relationship and how the passing through cafe came to be.

[Taylar Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Saphic Prequel
- Succubus x Demon
- Forbidden
- Fated Mates

Glyma and Quin were SO frickin sweet and hilarious!

I'm so glad we got to see their story and how the cafe really came together.
The little cameos we got from the rest of the "Passing Through" crew were just the cherry on top!