Tales of Daemonium volume I

by Lucy May Smith

Before Adriana met Xander. Before their twisted love story. Before it all…

Step into a world of magic with Tales of Daemonium volume I, the anthology that unveils the dark, intricate history of the Daemonium universe. This collection of short stories written by Striga for Adriana plunges deep into the lore behind the creation, origins, and forgotten secrets of the characters in Lord of Shadow and Blood and beyond.

Here you’ll discover the mythology of the Superi, the rise of Lilith, the creation of the first Daemons, the formation of the Courts, and more untold histories.

The darkness has a history. The ancient tales hold the truth. Are you ready to hear it?

Tales of Daemonium volume I is the first anthology in the dark fantasy series, The Courts of Daemonium, and should be read after Lord of Shadow and Blood to avoid spoilers.

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2026

Reviews

[Gemma Keenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this little novella, it contains stories / tales / fabels that are mentioned in the book and its nice to hear the full stories cute little addition

[Stevie Hosler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tales of Daemonium is a series of short stories that detail the lore and origins of the Courts of Daemonium.

I loved the style of writing for this novella. It felt like I was gathered around a fire listening to a storyteller. It was cozy and beautifully narrated by the speaker, Striga.

I loved learning more about the world of this series and how it was born. Lucy did an incredible job building out the origin story of the characters and conflict from her full length novel, Lord of Shadow and Blood.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This novella was an interesting addition to the series and gave some much-needed background on several characters, particularly Lilith. I enjoyed getting a deeper look into her past and understanding some of the experiences that shaped who she became.

That said, while I understand her motivations a little better now, I still don't particularly like her or feel sorry for her. The novella added context to her actions, but it didn't change my overall opinion of her character, which honestly speaks to how strongly she was written.

I enjoyed the story and appreciated the extra insight into the world and characters, but I wouldn't say it's essential reading to understand the main series. It definitely adds depth and fills in some gaps, but readers won't be lost if they skip it.

Overall, it's a worthwhile read for fans who want to spend more time with these characters and learn more about their histories. While it didn't completely change my perspective on Lilith, it did give me a better understanding of why she is the way she is.

[Natasha Stansfield Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This novella definitely cleared up some of the grey areas for me. In my review of Lord of Shadow and Blood, I mentioned that I felt the characters’ backstories were missing, and this fills in a lot of those gaps. I only wish more of this had been woven into the first book, as I think it would have made me connect with the characters much earlier.

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about Lilith. Learning why she created her children added so much depth to her character, and I can’t help but feel she’s been misunderstood. Knowing Lucy’s writing, though, I suspect that’s completely intentional, and I’m curious to see where it leads.

If you want a better understanding of the characters and their motivations, I’d definitely recommend reading this novella before continuing with the series.

[Emily Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re obsessed Lord of Shadow & Blood like I am, then this anthology is an absolute treat 😍⚔️✨

Tales of Daemonium is a collection of short stories written by Striga for Adriana, taking readers deep into the mythology, history, and forgotten secrets of the world before the events of the main series 🖤🌙📖

Rather than moving the main plot forward, this book serves as a fascinating deep dive into the lore behind the series, expanding the universe in a way that made me appreciate the world-building even more 🕯️⚔️✨

⚠️ A quick note: Lucy explicitly recommends reading this after Lord of Shadow & Blood and I completely agree. There are major spoilers for the first book, and you’ll get so much more from these stories if you’re already familiar with the world and characters 📚👀

I loved uncovering the legends, myths, and darker corners of the story. It added so much depth to the series and answered questions I didn’t even realise I had 🖤🔥

A beautifully crafted companion that enriches the world and leaves you even more invested in what’s to come 📖🕯️✨

[Sammy Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I jumped into this book straight after reading Lord of Shadow and blood and I loved how it give us a backstory about how the Daemonuim Court was formed. This is a book of short stories written by Striga who is Adriana’s great grandmother. It’s a book full of short stories telling us all about Adrianas ancestors and how their world was created. It tells us about how Lilith became who she is and how she created all her children and why she created them. I love all the stories you hear about Lilith in books but this one is definitely my favourite one.

[Kittie Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tales of Daemonium is the lore companion I didn’t know I needed but now can’t imagine the series without.

This book gives such wonderful insight into the gods and into Lilith. For the first time you actually see the layers behind her and there were parts that made me almost feel sorry for her. The writing is so good at showing that even in a world of war and darkness no one is ever just purely good or purely evil.

What I loved most is how cohesive it makes everything feel. It fills in the backstory for all the characters and ties events from Lord of Shadow and Blood and Lady of Light and Death together beautifully. Suddenly all those little moments make even more sense.

If you’ve read the first two books, don’t skip this. It’s not just extra scenes it deepens the world, the stakes and the characters in a way that makes the whole series hit harder.

[Joanna HL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great little addition to the series. I really enjoyed this anthology and felt like it added so much more depth to the world and characters. The stories give extra backstory and context to different characters, which made everything feel richer, darker, and more layered overall. It definitely deepened the world-building for me.

It’s quite a short read, took me around an hour, but really effective, especially if you already enjoyed the first book. I would definitely recommend reading it after book one though, because there are spoilers. Overall, a really enjoyable lil' friend to the series and a nice way to get even more immersed in the world!!

[Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this anthology! It provides so much backstory and depth to the lore you begin to see in Lord and Shadow and Blood. Written by Striga for Adriana, she tells her great-granddaughter the tales of her ancestors and how their world was created. How the Gods (The Superi) were created, how Lilith became who she is, and how and why the Courts were formed. It was such a great way of adding to the lore introduced in LOSAB (which I absolutely loved) and fun that it was written by Striga, weaving history together in the form of short stories. This accompanying story to the Courts of Daemonium universe is so rich with intrigue even though these are events that have already happened. It makes you keep wondering what's going to happen next and how this lore will play into future events.

Lucy has done it again, I adore her writing style. It's so descriptive and deep, creating such a complex world but doing it in a way that it's not overwhelming or too hard to understand. She makes you feel things for even the characters you hate. She and this book are AMAZING!!!

TOD is out on February 14th!!!

[Ayesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved seeing the book Striga wrote as a guide for Adriana. It was nice to see the lore and explanations of this wonderfully dark universe.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories about the gods, their wrath and the many children of the Queen of the Intermundum (the realm between life and death).

If you like vampires, werewolves, elemental magic, and vengeance then this is the perfect taster.

This is my first encounter of Lucy’s books and my immediate thoughts were how poetically it reads- with the descriptive nature of the worlds and those within it. It’s got me really excited to read Lord Of Shadow And Blood.

Thank you for gifting me the eARC

[Bethsbooksau · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars Rounded Up

This was a super short read but absolutely welcomed! I really felt this series of short stories helped me get a better understanding of the world and HOW said world was actually set up and created. Really answered that 'why'

I also loved how it was written, like I was there being told an ancient story. I've seen others liken it to a camp fire story and I 100% agree! 🙌

Lucy writes beautifully and I think she really excels in this style too!

Also, I do low-key feel a TINY 🤏 bit bad for Lilith. Ya poor girl was abandoned and left by everybody 😅🤷‍♀️

[Beatriz Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing way to deepen the worldbuilding of the series.

I jumped into this book straight after reading Lord of Shadow and Blood, and I really enjoyed these short stories. The author’s voice is lyrical and immersive.

It deepened the worldbuilding, revealed that some characters are far more complicated than they first appeared, answered many questions... and still left me with a few 👀

An amazing read!

[Ash⚔️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think every fantasy series needs one of these short story anthologies. I think it’s so creative and endearing that we are able to gain more of a backstory about the Courts of Daemonium through stories Striga wrote for her granddaughter🥰
Highly recommend reading this if you plan on continuing to read this series!! It makes the world building feel so much larger & richer.

[Jess Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved being able to read this beautiful novella, I loved the backstory to how the courts came together and how it all started with Lilith!
I am so excited to see where this story goes next😍
I am going to miss Striga so much, I absolutely adore that woman🥺

[Coffeebooklibrary Rhea Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WRITING NEVER MISSES !! Seriously guys, I’m torn because Lilith is MOTHER. I love everything about her character but DAMN, this version of her is more viscous, more conniving and more blood thirsty than I ever could have imagined.

[Dani Lindgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories that gives deeper insight to some of the key characters of The Courts of Daemonium books. Fun, quick read that has left me wanting more and even more excited for book 2.

[Sharron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like being given a mini encyclopedia, a font of knowledge. Tales of Daemonium gives the story from the very beginning, allowing readers to fully understand the world's the gods and the history. it makes everything click into place. A short read and very enjoyable.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of Daemonium Vol. I is exactly the kind of anthology that makes a universe feel bigger, older, and infinitely more dangerous. It peels back the curtain on everything that lurks beneath the main series; the myths, the monsters, the betrayals, the ancient sins and it does it with a voice that feels both haunting and intimate.

This collection doesn’t just expand the lore; it deepens it. The rise of Lilith, the creation of the first Daemons, the fractured Courts and the origins of the Superi. Each story adds another shard of her history and together they paint a picture that’s bigger, darker, and more emotionally charged than I expected.

What makes it shine is how personal it feels. These aren’t dry historical accounts; they’re emotional, violent, seductive glimpses into the past. You can feel the echoes of these stories shaping everything that comes later.

After reading Lord of Shadow and Blood, the collection of stories really adds more depth into the whole world and Lilith as a character. I ended up feeling pity towards the character and then I remembered the events that unfolded in the Lord of Shadow and Blood...

Thank you so much to Lucy for gifting me a copy and letting me be part of her journey. Now I just need book 2!

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Lucy Smith for allowing me to read an ARC of ‘Tales of Daemonium Volume 1’.

I absolutely love this idea: using short stories to show the reader more of your world. Volume 1 gives particular insight into the character of Lilith, the formidable villain introduced in Book 1 of Lucy's Courts of Daemonium series. We learn how she came to be, the trials she faced, the children she brought into the world, and her descent into bloodthirsty rage. I'm even more terrified of her now!

It's sweet knowing that this set of stories was written by Striga. It imbues them with a more personal touch - so they feel like a fireside read - and makes the purpose of the Courts even clearer (and certainly necessary!).

A short and simple set of stories which deepens the lore of Lucy's main fantasy series, and allows us to fully appreciate her world-building. ... now onto Book 2!

[Kate Anjou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. Not just because it’s a short anthology, but because I couldn’t stop once I’d started.

I read this not long after finishing “Lord of Shadow and Blood” (also by Lucy May Smith, please see my review), the first book of “The Courts of Daemonium” series, and this is the side novella that comes after.

I was so impressed! Whilst I strongly recommend you read “LOSAB” prior to this as it directly refers to lore from that book, this is still a full fledged novella that deserves not to be skipped over (as some people are wont to do with side stories).

Written in the guise of fan favourite, Striga Amara, Adriana’s great-grandmother, with the meta perspective of it being the book she wrote and gave Adriana in “LOSAB”, it is a wonderful collection of stories that either tie in with plot points in the main novel or the mythology surrounding it. It’s a reference book with intriguing tales, world building, further character context, and fairy tale vibes. I could imagine this being adapted in the fairy tale flashback, stop motion style demonstrated in films such as, “Krampus” (2015), “Candyman” (2021), or even computer games, such as “Alice: Madness Returns” or “Resident Evil: Village”. That’s the dark magic that these tales evoke, full of ethereal mystery, wonder, and deviance.

Don’t sleep on it, enrich your “Courts of Daemonium” experience and read this book.

“Tales of Daemonium: Volume One, by Striga Amara” is out on 14th February, download only.

I read this as Lucy’s editor and ARC reader. All views are my own, unbiased, and honest.

[Amiee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect collection of stories from before the brilliant love story of Adriana and Xander, giving us more backstory and lore to the world. It reads exactly as it's meant to, a collection of stories gathered by a loving grandmother. I'm sure the more we learn about this world, the more these stories will have tidbits of information and secrets that become more and more important to Adriana.

[Milano Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now see…this is one dark anthology! I’ve read ARCs but I’ve never read one where it’s just focused on the world that the story itself will evolve into. Ngl, can’t wait to see where this one goes🫣😬