The Wretched Divine

The Wretched Divine #1

by Adalyn Grace

Aurelie Chantelune was born to serve. Raised as a knight in a kingdom ravaged by demons, she's spent her life honing her blade, driven by the memory of the monsters who tore her family apart and by the knowledge that she's one of the few who can stop them.

If Aurelie can claim her first kill, she'll inherit a legacy passed down through the Chantelune bloodline: a soulbond with Yuriel, an angel whose power is vital to her kingdom's survival. But when those she loves begin turning into the very monsters she's sworn to destroy, Aurelie is forced to seek help from the last place she ever imagined. Desperate, she forges a second and far more dangerous bond with Severin, a demon she can hardly trust, but who claims to know how to end the war for good.

With their lives and fates entwined, Aurelie, Yuriel, and Severin must team up to hunt down a cure capable of turning demons back into humans. But the more they learn about one another and the deeper their relationships grow, the more Aurelie begins to question the war and her place in it. With both of her bonded on opposing sides, she'll have to make a choice: continue to stand with the angels, or risk everything by trusting a demon.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Fantasy Romance, Demons, High Fantasy

512 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 22, 2026

About the author

Adalyn Grace is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, International, and Indiebound bestselling author of Belladonna and the All the Stars and Teeth duology.

Prior to becoming an author, Adalyn spent several years working in live theatre and studied storytelling as an intern on Nickelodeon Animation’s popular series The Legend of Korra.

Local to San Diego, Adalyn spends her non-writing days by watching too much anime, and by playing video games with her two dorky dogs.

Reviews

[Clace]

She said its like a more mature version of daughter of smoke and bone and The infernal devices but set in a world like the stormlight archives!! I AM SCREAMING BECAUSE BRANDON SANDERSON SUPREMACY EVERYONE!

[Adalyn Grace]

Hello and goodbye! Before this book launches and I must hide from Goodreads again, I wanted to share where you can find signed and exclusive editions.

In the US: (all bold text should be clickable)

The B&N Limited Angel edition:
- Signed
- A stunning designed red case printed straight onto the hardcover
- Gilded edges
- A deleted chapter
- Alternate jacket coloring with golden x on the cover
- Red designed angel wing endpages

This limited signed edition is exclusive to B&N





The Standard Demon Edition:
- A beautiful red case design printed straight onto the hardcover
- Red metallic edges
- Gold angel wing endpages
- Red X on jacket

Signed editions of this version can be pre ordered through my local indie, Mysterious Galaxy. All pre orders will be signed. If you'd like personalization, please include how you'd like it personalized in the order notes at checkout.




In the UK:

Signed Waterstones Exclusive:
- Signed
- Very limited and nearly sold out
- Alternative gold dust jacket colorway
- Deleted Chapter
- Fiery edges
- Beautiful red hardcover case design (matches US)
- angel wing endpages





We also have the beautiful silver standard edition. Some indies should also be getting signed editions of this version. I will share information as it comes.



This is my favorite book yet, and I'm so so excited to share it with you! If you like big, epic fantasy worlds, plot driven stories that still have a ton of romance, angels, demons (including a demon bard), knights, a medieval inspired fantasy world, and a boatload of magic, TWD might be the book for you! I really hope you love it as much as I do.

[Kristina]

Angels, demons, AND Renaissance-inspired?

Yes. Without a doubt, yes.

Update: Adalyn Grace just posted the first character art on Instagram and I am IN LOVE.

Update 2: We've got a release date (just before my birthday!!) and an epic description.

Update 3: We have a cover!

[Youssra (semi ia- shelving books don't mind me)]

so sat for this release.

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

dnfed at 30%

i couldn't care less if I tried

unfortunately, this book doesn't have interesting enough politics or narration for me to care. it's meant to be new adult i think? the only time it feels like new adult instead of YA is for the yuri chapters. the demon and aurelie chapters are very reminiscent of a really boring prototype of bantery enemies to lovers we're seeing these days. a lot of themes we begin with also feel very ya and the chemistry between the demon and aurelie is very middling. aurelia feels not much different from a staple fantasy fmc and her decisions are very impulsive and not interesting enough to hold my attention. she doesn't really have a unique characteristic so I didn't care much about her.

the one who I did care about, was yuri. the angel character is ironically the most interesting character in the book. he's got a set up and arc that feels very unique and mature. a sort of character that doesn't feel box-ed or boring. his pov kept me up from dnfing a lot sooner. he brings a fresh and interesting pov into the book and the world as an angel navigating humans and I'm sure his interactions with demons at the later part (if we ever get them) will be just as nice.

ultimately, I need my fantasy books perfect in setting their vibe from page 1 and building on it, so this wasn't for me as I don't think it blew my mind with unique ideas. i wish everything was as interesting as yuri but well, I'll never find out even if it is.

edit: okay I skimmed the middle part and then got to the ending and LOLLLL this might be one of those fantasy books that is insanely good in the last 50-100 pages. what a ride. I wish the beginning wasn't that slow but yeah whatever. I don't regret dnfing but OOOF that was some intense last 50 pages. and the ending???????? i wish i cared cause it's actually peak 😭😭😭😭😭 WHY COULDN'T I ENJOY THIS BOOK UGHHHHH

(and why was the yaoi serving so much)

thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to be thinking about this book for a while , how am I supposed to move on ??. Easily a 6 star read with the most amazing world building and characters you want to slap and cheer for !! Aurelie is this crazy awesome knight who I just adore and I do not envy the choices she has to make. Surrounded by two very sexy guys , one demon .. one angel. I normally have very strong leanings towards the bad guys , but my angel , Yuriel , gave some strong vibes I was having a hard time saying no to. Severin is everything fun and wicked I love in my demon boys. Who knew the dynamic that would get me was grumpy angel and sunshine demon !!! Totally here for it !! Oh yah and there is a kingdom in peril and her dad got changed into a demon and she has to save him. Honestly this whole plot was riveting and I loved the story as it unfurled. That ending ended me. I’m gonna cry having to wait for book two and will just console myself by buying all the special editions.

[avi ౨ৎ]

IS THIS A NEW ADALYN GRACE BOOK!!!!!!
- Will I eat this book up? Yes
- Will I fall in love with the mmc? Probably
- Will the writing be amazing? Uh duh it's by Adalyn Grace!

[Chasie⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪]

a love triangle with a vengeful demon, battle hardened angel, and a human knight (which are all hot) who is thrust into the middle of an ancient war??? a Renaissance-inspired magical world?? an adult romantasy written by the queen Adalyn Grace herself?? i am sat. they are trying to kick me out of B&N because it doesn’t release until 2026, but I am simply too seated. ✨

[angie]

99.99% of why i want to read this book is because of lotusbubble’s artwork of it

[Toriఌ]

Coming out September 22

[Noi (in & out)]

oh?

[Veronica ☽◯☾]

after the disappointment that was Belladonna, I'm kind of scared to get my hopes up, but this sounds too good to pass 😂

[Kalliy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily going to be one of the big books of the year. Completely addictive from start to finish—I devoured every chapter. And the ending? Absolute chef’s kiss.

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

An adult book by Adalyn Grace, which is described to be a mix of 'Daughter of Smoke & Bone', 'The Infernal Devices' AND 'The Stromlight Archive'?

Do you hear me screaming, crying and fangirling? No, of course not. Because I'm announcing this thorugh a post. 😅

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really confused by the plot and world building here. I ended up just having to DNF because I was so lost in the sauce. It is a medieval world where humans are bonded to angels fighting demons, but that’s about all the explanation you are given, and it just gets more confusing from there. Then there’s this weird 3 way bond between an angel, human, and demon. I was like ???? I guess someone who is really into angel and demon mythology would love this. The author had such a witty and creative voice in her Belladonna series. This reads too serious and tortured. It just wasn’t for me.

[Kris (bookish.bones) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

You guys are going to eat Severin up.

The beginning of this one really impressed me in particular. You can tell Adalyn upped her game; she manages to convey this new sprawling kingdom and its multi-faceted worldbuilding to us beautifully and w/o feeling info-dumpy while getting the story rolling. And when Yuri and Severin really step in I started GRINNING- their opposing personalities make for such hilarious banter!

Now, I gotta be honest. I was told this wasn't a romantasy... but the entire middle portion of the book felt very much romantasy to me! Yes, there was a fantasy plot driving the middle but the tone and focus shifted to a lot of sexual tension for quite a while and you know what- it's not a bad thing, I love romantic fantasy too! I just wasn't expecting it when I heard this was a fantasy forward book and I think the marketing is doing it a disservice when the romance felt quite in balance with the plot actually. There is spice, but it doesn't start overwhelming the story- though I could have done with a little less focus on lust in the middle.

The romance winds back down for the last hundred or so pages as shit hits the fan. There was a twist that is pretty easy to guess, but then another that I didn't anticipate until it was revealed that had me SQUEALING and so desperate for book two already since it left the series feeling like it just opened up more!

Definitely try this one of you like royalty, demons and angels, love triangles, irreverent bards(!!), strained bromance and magical bonds. Also Kronk from the Emperor's New Groove is in the acknowledgements and that's very important too.

[millena ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ omg this book finally cured my fantasy reading slump!!!!!! at first i wasn’t sure if i was gonna like the story bc it started kinda slow but at some point everything started clicking and i just knew it was gonna be a new favorite. i loved the characters and their relationships so much and i have soooo many expectations for how the trio is gonna interact in the sequel after that ending 👀 overall i loved everything, it just wasn’t 5 stars bc of the slower start and bc every single character annoyed me at some point (but i swear i ended up loving them all!!!)

[christinac_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

[elara]

an adult fantasy romance about demons and angels… I’M SO SEATED

[phideɭia]

they mentioned....infernal devices?? and why am i only hearing about this now? 😔

[Chels ❀]

RTC closer to publication

[Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Even the most wretched souls could masquerade as divine.”

4.75🌟

oh. my. god.

this was nothing short of incredible. I’ve been a fan of Adalyn Grace’s works for a while (hell, my favorite book of all time is written by her) and this just further solidifies my appreciation for her books.

The Wretched Divine is Adalyn’s debut into adult, and I think you can definitely feel that—not necessarily in spice *yet*, but in the tone and setting of the story. This book writes a little bit more somber and morose than the Belladonna series and has many more darker elements, but once you’re able to understand Belladonna and TWD are not the same writing, you’ll cruise straight through this!

I was a little bored during the first half, however, I believe this is partially because of the beginning of every fantasy novel: the pages upon pages of world building, magic systems, hierarchies, etc. because once we got to the action, I was ALL IN!

There was one particular scene that I wasn’t the biggest fan of and skimmed, but honestly? By the end of the book I’m not even against it anymore because it makes sense for that character.

Aurelie is a little bland and I would love to see some more character building in the next book so we can get deeper into the marrow of who she *is*. Now, she’s a badass, so we still like her of course!! Again, will be writing this off as the first book curse.

Aside from those minor points, this was SPECTACULAR. as stated above, this book is an entirely new beast that has many darker themes and elements but I ATE THAT UP.

Yuriel (Yuri) the angel she is bonded to was genuinely so sweet but brooding ahah? And Severin the demon she is bonded to is the comedic relief, keeping this story but tenderhearted and light in the midst of a tortured setting the book seems to carry. And Yuri’s and Severin’s banter is freaking FUNNY fight with the wall. The inn scene? Laughed my ass off.

I honestly cannot wait to see more Yuri/Aurelie/Severin action in these next books because they genuinely make the perfect trio. And the fact that Adalyn says that it’s going to be a love triangle like the Infernal Devices series… and that i SEE IT… don’t talk to me. you cannot make me choose. they must ALL be together or not at all I fear! Like I simply cannot fathom them having to be separated or having permanent bad blood. No. Don’t speak that into existence.

And at this point, I should have expected the plot twists— Adalyn is KNOWN for this— but I still found myself getting whiplash?!?! I guessed a couple of things, but somehow those things MULTIPLIED and grew and then boom… more plot twists!!

As a non-reactive reader, I was gaping and had my hand over my mouth for the last ten percent of the book, most specifically the last 5%.

I cannot wait for book two!! This is one of those times where I’m ecstatic I got a highly anticipated release as an ARC, but at the same time, I have NOBODY TO TALK TO!!! and I have to wait EVEN LONGER for book two!


anywaysssss this was incredible, add it to your tbr or I WILL find you.


thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!

[Sierraaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5⭐️

~~~
First, i would like to thank NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Adalyn Grace for the opportunity to read and review this book early. All thoughts and opinions are my own

~~~
I wanted to love this book so badly, but unfortunately i didn’t; i simply don’t think this book was for me. It wasn’t all terrible the entire time i read it, but there was a lot i did not enjoy.

For starters, i did not like the female main character, Aurelie. This entire book was just her making one poor decision after the next, and i feel like she didn’t really reflect on those choices at all, nor did she have any growth as the novel went on. Her choices left me frustrated to the point where it often took me out of the story, because i couldn’t believe a heroine would act the way Aurelie did.

I also did not like one of the two male main characters. Severin was infuriating the entire time, and it was blatantly obvious that he didn’t care about Aurelie and was only usually her for his own gain. and I know that he’s a demon, but he was presented as a “love interest” for Aurelie, but there wasn’t any romance between them either! A little bit of attraction and lust, sure, but he treated her terribly for the entire duration of the book, and it was overall annoying to read. As the book progressed, it felt as if the story was put on the back burner, and everything just became the Severin and Aurelie show— despite her being bonded to Yuri as well! For a book that says it includes romance, there was no romance in here to me, only lust.

Yuriel, the angel who is bonded to Aurelie, was the only character i actually liked. He would almost always think before he acted, and tried to consider how his choices would impact not only Aurelie but the general population of humans too. I think his character had a lot of depth, and i actually enjoyed when his point of view would pop up. His character is the main reason that i actually pushed through to finish this book; getting his backstory sprinkled throughout the present story was great.

Overall, i’m sad that i didn’t enjoy this book, but i hope someone else will! And i’m thankful to have been given the opportunity to read and review it early.

[the_bookishbee_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

•Review of advance copy received from publisher 4.5⭐️

Absolutely adored The Wretched Divine…it’s dark, addictive, and emotionally messy in the best possible way.
Going into this, I already loved the author’s Belladonna series, so I was beyond keen to absolutely devour this, and it did not disappoint. Right off the bat, the atmosphere sank its claws in and did not let go. We’ve got angels, demons and Divine Scriptures creating an insanely captivating world. It does take a bit to wrap your head around the world but just stick with it! Oh, and the soulbond magic… I loved this aspect, it felt so unique and really helps to kick the emotional stakes up a notch. 

Our FMC, Aurelie is a knight who is driven, but a little impetuous. She’s not only battling demons, but the weight of expectation. Everything seeks to remind her of what hangs in the balance should she fail to protect her kingdom from the demons. When she finds herself bonded to both an angel and demon, her sole focus is on saving those closest to her. The soulbond experience makes her plan waaay more complicated than she anticipated, but gives us the most delicious tension, banter and steamy moments!

On one hand, we have Yuriel, the worn-down, battle weary angel who is grounded, calm and safe, while on the other, there’s Severin, a dangerously tempting but completely off-limits demon. You instantly know this guy just radiates impetuously made, super bad decisions. To top off the angst between Aurelie and Severin is a sass and banter that is genuinely top tier. It adds this sharp, playful edge, which makes every interaction even more tension fuelled than ever!

My only criticism is that the story launches like a freight train…full of chaotic, unfamiliar moments that can feel disorienting at first. Once you find your footing, though, the pace becomes effortlessly smooth. The twists start to feel more natural and you’re carried to the finale in a way that feels intense and genuinely surprising, I was reeling at more than one revelation.
 
Such an addictive, emotional ride, and a seriously strong start to what looks like a VERY promising series…and my new obsession. 🥰

[jo 🏹 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ wow!!! From the very first chapter Adalyn had be hooked! This follows Aurelie - knight whose mission in life is to bond with an angel to save her kingdom! BUT WAIT- not only does she bond with an angel but also with a demon!! This story was incredibly fast paced and kept me wondering where the story was going. It follows four point of views and I loved being inside various characters heads! Defff recommend!!!

[Brandi]

High Fantasy world like Brandon Sanderson & Robin Hobb AND a romance?! SOLD! Requesting immediately because I need this ASAP!

[°❀⋆.monica ೃ࿔*:･]

posting the synopsis and fanart without even a cover is a CRIME I want this book in my hands rn Adalyn Grace please I beg you 🤲🏼😩

[yona (taylor’s version)🎀✨]

can’t wait for this one

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What am I supposed to do with my time now that I’ve finished this book?? How am I supposed to wait until it’s released to have people to talk about it with??

Consider this my getting back into reading fantasy. Though the beginning was a tad slow for me personally, it skyrocketed very quickly. It’s got all the things I wanted: knights, angels, demons, a sexy angel and a sexy demon that are bonded to the MC, plot twists, small little pixie-like creatures that the author said were inspired by Kronk from the Emperor’s New Groove (I can absolutely see it and that knowledge is golden to me) AND CLIFFHANGERS FOR DAYS. The world building was very fun, I was practically glued to the page soaking up how lush it was. Adalyn Grace’s writing was immaculate; the way the threads slowly came together to weave this tapestry of story was a delight to experience. So far my favorite fantasy read of 2026, consider me sat for a sequel.

[Kate Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just WOW I did not see any of the plot twists coming! I am utterly in shock and beyond excited for the rest of the series and where it will go.

Unique Magic system and World! A demon who has sound magic, other demons with shadow magic, lust magic & more… angels who protect humans and bond with one family line in each kingdom to slay demons… a human soldier who’s torn between the evil and the good, fuelled by revenge and dare I say enters a maybe love triangle.

I adored the writing throughout this, it is so beautifully written and such an easy read. A masterpiece.