Passion in the Pentagram: A Passing Through Cafe Prequel

Passing Through Cafe #0.5

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, Queer, Fiction, Demons, 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 🥰

[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.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Romance

This book was absolutely lovely! I’ve read 2/3 of the Passing Through Cafe books that are currently out and I decided to pick up this novella before diving into book 3 and I’m so glad that I did. I loved Quin and Glyma in book 1 & 2 and I love them even more now knowing their story. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions with this book, it was funny just like the rest of the series has been but there were also moments that had me tearing up that I wasn’t expecting. This book may be short but it is so beautifully written. I loved Glyma’s joy and glittering personality in the face of all the terrible things in the world and the not so great things in her life. I love how she continued to spread joy and be her authentic self without concerning herself with what others thought of her. And I loved that she was exactly who Quin needed to start living her life. I was so sad to read about Quin’s backstory and the life she was trapped in. But I was also incredibly happy about how she seemed unable to resist the joy and freedom that Glyma was offering. Their slow growing friendship and relationship was paced wonderfully and I was obsessed with how much they both wanted one another. There were so many silly moments between them because of their attraction that they were hiding terribly which was perfectly on brand for this series. I also can’t finish this review without mentioning Waryn who was so wonderfully supportive of both Quin and Glyma and also just a hilarious character in general. I really hope we get to see more of him in this series because his friendship with Quin and Glyma was beautiful and he himself was just a fantastic character. I loved Waryn and Glyma protecting Quin near the end of the book and it was also so much fun seeing Glyma be truly protective of the woman she loves. Nik Knight has delivered a beautifully funny and emotional FF romance in less than 200 pages and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series for more wonderful writing!

[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

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little gem for Passing Through Cafe fans

I adore the series and all the characters. Glyma and Quin, the owners of the cafe, are obviously ever-present but they are an established couple when the series starts. This was a lovely way to get to know them better and see how they met.
Glyma is far more outgoing than Quin so I didn't feel as though I knew her before now. Watching her fall in love and break away from her family was particularly satisfying, especially with the very dramatic scene at the end. What an absolute delight.
Glyma was a sweetheart throughout, supporting Quin even when she isn't sure if they will ever be romantically involved. She has a good heart and I love her.
Waryn was just the best.
Glimpses of other favourites was the icing on the cake and now, we have Zef's story to inhale very soon.

[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!

[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

[Ana Horta]

I love this series!

[Jade]

3 stars

[Christina Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at all surprised that Nik Knight made me cry AGAIN. The passing through cafe is just such a wonderful series! Loved these ladies so much! another win

[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!

[ErikaWasReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Passing Through Cafe series is my comfort read, and I struggle to express how much each book means to me. At a time in my life when I was stressed and burned out, finding the first book was like sitting down with a cup of hot chocolate in front of a warm fire after battling my way through a winter snowstorm.

Quin and Glyma have always been such a grounding force in the series. A model for each new couple to look to as they build a healthy, happy relationship. So it was lovely to see how they got together.

While the cafe has always been the through line, it was wonderful, and sometimes sad, to see how the characters’ lives intersected before the cafe’s opening. The nod to Rusty and his mother was heartbreaking, while Tad was as perfectly chaotic as ever.

Waryn was also an excellent addition to the cast of characters (I hope we get a visit in future books), as he helped carry the themes of platonic love and friendship we see in the other novels.

I love that though Glyma is a confident succubus, her attraction to Quin can make her stumble over her words. And I love that while Quin is a smart, capable business demon, she is willing to admit when she needs to change and grow.

As I was looking over my highlights, I realized that beyond the love story and smexy times, it is really Nik Knight’s use of language that brings me back over and over again. The humour reminds me a lot of Terry Pratchett and how even simple passages are filled with humour and wit.

This book is perfect for fans of Discworld who also like smut, anyone who has ever battled parental expectations, people who like to laugh out loud, and fans of the Passing Through Cafe series.

[Adeselna · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Passion in the Pentagram” is a novella with a prequel for the “Passing Through Cafe” series.
Quin & Glyma are just two of the cutest most adorable characters. While the series explores a lot of deep themes, its story is about overcoming its fears. Quin needs to stand up to her family to fight for the woman she loves, and Glyma lives in fear that her dream will never be real.
Their story is just really beautiful and everthing they have to go through in order to have their happy ending is worth it! It’s adorable, steamy and their pining is just too cute.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are pure bookish crack.