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Firstdawn
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Expected 19 Jan 27This deluxe, first-edition trade paperback of Firstdawn will feature striking stenciled edges and beautiful interior cover art!
In this dark, sensual fantasy by New York Times bestselling author Lana Harper, a Chicago PI finds herself in a demonic realm where she must stop the forces threatening her world, with the help of two beguiling half-demons hellbent on winning her heart.
When Danica Marsden isn’t tailing cheaters or tracking missing persons, she’s grappling with a lifetime of chaos. Years of therapy haven’t helped; even the raucous barfights and one-night stands are losing their savor. Danica has learned to live with the fire inside her, along with the dreams that haunt her nights, of a celestial tree and a winged, divine woman who seems to know her.
Until the night her reality shatters.
Pursuing a target, Danica encounters a man whose face warps into something inhuman, yet familiar. Then her own reflection begins to flicker, revealing a stranger beneath her skin. Desperate for answers, she’s intercepted by two intoxicating half-demons with a taste for Shahara, stunning and lethal, and her half-brother Rhavin, a charming predator with a gentle touch. They claim Danica isn’t who she thinks she is, and that her blood ties her to an infernal empire ruled by Lilith, goddess of serpents and shadows.
Drawn to both dae’val, Danica follows them to a lush, depraved realm of feral witches, hellbeasts, and captive gods. But Danica’s true heritage is only the beginning. If she can’t unravel the secret at her core and stop the forces gathering in Lilith’s court, her world will be the next to fall.
Her only chance at salvation lies with Rhavin and Shahara, who have been vying for her love for centuries. And they won’t settle for less now.
In this dark, sensual fantasy by New York Times bestselling author Lana Harper, a Chicago PI finds herself in a demonic realm where she must stop the forces threatening her world, with the help of two beguiling half-demons hellbent on winning her heart.
When Danica Marsden isn’t tailing cheaters or tracking missing persons, she’s grappling with a lifetime of chaos. Years of therapy haven’t helped; even the raucous barfights and one-night stands are losing their savor. Danica has learned to live with the fire inside her, along with the dreams that haunt her nights, of a celestial tree and a winged, divine woman who seems to know her.
Until the night her reality shatters.
Pursuing a target, Danica encounters a man whose face warps into something inhuman, yet familiar. Then her own reflection begins to flicker, revealing a stranger beneath her skin. Desperate for answers, she’s intercepted by two intoxicating half-demons with a taste for Shahara, stunning and lethal, and her half-brother Rhavin, a charming predator with a gentle touch. They claim Danica isn’t who she thinks she is, and that her blood ties her to an infernal empire ruled by Lilith, goddess of serpents and shadows.
Drawn to both dae’val, Danica follows them to a lush, depraved realm of feral witches, hellbeasts, and captive gods. But Danica’s true heritage is only the beginning. If she can’t unravel the secret at her core and stop the forces gathering in Lilith’s court, her world will be the next to fall.
Her only chance at salvation lies with Rhavin and Shahara, who have been vying for her love for centuries. And they won’t settle for less now.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 19, 2027
About the author
Lana Harper
10 books1,757 followersLana is the New York Times bestselling author of Payback's A Witch and the forthcoming From Bad to Cursed from Berkley Books. Writing as Lana Popovic, she is also the author of YA novels Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm, Blood Countess, and Poison Priestess. Lana studied psychology and literature at Yale University, law at Boston University, and is a graduate of the Emerson College publishing and writing master's program. She was born in Serbia and lived in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania before moving to the United States, where she now lives in Chicago with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstdawn is the first installment in Lana Harper's new fantasy series, and I am absolutely here for the bi/poly rep, Lillith's realm, and Danica, who is the most badass female heroine I've read in a long time.
I don't read a lot of fantasy, because I feel like sometimes I'm not as sucked into the worlds as I want to be. But when I started to read FIRSTDAWN, I knew this one would be for me. I really loved how unique this was — we start in the modern day, and Danica finds herself sucked into this fantasy realm that exists in another dimension. It was refreshing to not start in the fantasy realm, and instead slowly have it unfold before us.
Danica is gritty, sharp around the edges, and isn't really like any other female lead I've read before. She doesn't take bullshit from anyone, and feels like a total outsider. Which you'll eventually come to learn makes a great deal of sense. I really loved the love triangle we find ourselves in once the world starts to build, and I genuinely had no idea who she would choose in the end.
I also have to say that the writing is classic Lana Harper — beautiful, poetic at times, and really lush.
I don't read a lot of fantasy, because I feel like sometimes I'm not as sucked into the worlds as I want to be. But when I started to read FIRSTDAWN, I knew this one would be for me. I really loved how unique this was — we start in the modern day, and Danica finds herself sucked into this fantasy realm that exists in another dimension. It was refreshing to not start in the fantasy realm, and instead slowly have it unfold before us.
Danica is gritty, sharp around the edges, and isn't really like any other female lead I've read before. She doesn't take bullshit from anyone, and feels like a total outsider. Which you'll eventually come to learn makes a great deal of sense. I really loved the love triangle we find ourselves in once the world starts to build, and I genuinely had no idea who she would choose in the end.
I also have to say that the writing is classic Lana Harper — beautiful, poetic at times, and really lush.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had no idea what to expect with this book and ended up being pleasantly surprised. While there is a ton of info dumping and some of the plot was hard to follow, I still found myself unable to put the book down. I really enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. I also really liked the unique lore and magic. Would love to read more from this world in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wanted to love Firstdawn more. A gritty Chicago private investigator discovers she has ties to a demonic realm, and two half-demons are determined to win her heart- an intriguing setup. It offers plenty for readers who enjoy dark fantasy and a very spicy FFM romance. For me, though, the story never quite came together.
What I liked most was Danica’s grittiness. She’s rough around the edges, carrying a lifetime of chaos and trying to live with something inside herself that she doesn’t fully understand. I appreciated having a main character with that kind of edge. Her work as a PI and the strange dreams that haunt her also give the story an interesting starting point.
The writing itself was good, but I had mixed feelings about the pacing. In some parts, I enjoyed how the story moved, but overall, I struggled to settle into its rhythm. Even with the mystery surrounding Danica’s heritage and the threats facing her world, I wasn’t as invested as I wanted to be.
One of my biggest sticking points was the naming used for the demons and their world. This is very much a personal preference, but the names and terminology didn’t click with me. Instead of helping me sink into the setting, I kept stumbling over the names and terminology.
The romance is very spicy, with Danica drawn to both Shahara and Rhavin. For readers looking for that FFM bond dynamic in a dark, sensual fantasy setting, that may be a big part of the appeal. For me, the romance didn’t hold my interest long enough to make the book fully satisfying.
Overall, I can appreciate the writing and what Harper was going for, even though this wasn’t the right book for me. I liked elements of it, especially Danica’s grit, but the pacing and world terminology kept me from getting immersed. It had a promising premise but ultimately fell short for my personal reading tastes.
What I liked most was Danica’s grittiness. She’s rough around the edges, carrying a lifetime of chaos and trying to live with something inside herself that she doesn’t fully understand. I appreciated having a main character with that kind of edge. Her work as a PI and the strange dreams that haunt her also give the story an interesting starting point.
The writing itself was good, but I had mixed feelings about the pacing. In some parts, I enjoyed how the story moved, but overall, I struggled to settle into its rhythm. Even with the mystery surrounding Danica’s heritage and the threats facing her world, I wasn’t as invested as I wanted to be.
One of my biggest sticking points was the naming used for the demons and their world. This is very much a personal preference, but the names and terminology didn’t click with me. Instead of helping me sink into the setting, I kept stumbling over the names and terminology.
The romance is very spicy, with Danica drawn to both Shahara and Rhavin. For readers looking for that FFM bond dynamic in a dark, sensual fantasy setting, that may be a big part of the appeal. For me, the romance didn’t hold my interest long enough to make the book fully satisfying.
Overall, I can appreciate the writing and what Harper was going for, even though this wasn’t the right book for me. I liked elements of it, especially Danica’s grit, but the pacing and world terminology kept me from getting immersed. It had a promising premise but ultimately fell short for my personal reading tastes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstdawn • Lana Harper
One phrase: bisexual PI meets bloodthirsty half demons 🖤🔥
Okay so we have a Chicago PI with chaos issues, weird dreams, a celestial tree, a reflection that starts acting possessed, and two hot half demons telling her she is not who she thinks she is.
Say less. I’m listening.
Danica is already giving messy, exhausted, feral heroine energy, and I love that for her. She is out here tracking cheaters, getting into bar fights, having one night stands, and apparently being tied to an infernal empire ruled by Lilith.
Then Shahara and Rhavin show up, both lethal, seductive, and absolutely not normal about her.
Obsessed.
A demonic realm with feral witches, hellbeasts, captive gods, bloodthirsty demons, bisexual chaos, poly vibes, and centuries of yearning? This sounds unhinged in exactly the way I want.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🖤 dark fantasy
🔥 bisexual FMC
🕵️ Chicago PI
😈 half demon love interests
🐍 Lilith lore
🩸 blood and desire
🌑 demonic realm
✨ hidden heritage
👀 poly vibes
⚔️ mystery and action
📚 Read this if you like:
Urban fantasy, messy heroines, demon love interests, Lilith mythology, queer romantasy, dangerous realms, hidden powers, morally questionable hotties, and “you are not who you think you are” chaos.
This sounds dark, sexy, weird, and feral. Naturally, I’m seated.
#Firstdawn #LanaHarper #UrbanFantasy #QueerRomance #BookReview
One phrase: bisexual PI meets bloodthirsty half demons 🖤🔥
Okay so we have a Chicago PI with chaos issues, weird dreams, a celestial tree, a reflection that starts acting possessed, and two hot half demons telling her she is not who she thinks she is.
Say less. I’m listening.
Danica is already giving messy, exhausted, feral heroine energy, and I love that for her. She is out here tracking cheaters, getting into bar fights, having one night stands, and apparently being tied to an infernal empire ruled by Lilith.
Then Shahara and Rhavin show up, both lethal, seductive, and absolutely not normal about her.
Obsessed.
A demonic realm with feral witches, hellbeasts, captive gods, bloodthirsty demons, bisexual chaos, poly vibes, and centuries of yearning? This sounds unhinged in exactly the way I want.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🖤 dark fantasy
🔥 bisexual FMC
🕵️ Chicago PI
😈 half demon love interests
🐍 Lilith lore
🩸 blood and desire
🌑 demonic realm
✨ hidden heritage
👀 poly vibes
⚔️ mystery and action
📚 Read this if you like:
Urban fantasy, messy heroines, demon love interests, Lilith mythology, queer romantasy, dangerous realms, hidden powers, morally questionable hotties, and “you are not who you think you are” chaos.
This sounds dark, sexy, weird, and feral. Naturally, I’m seated.
#Firstdawn #LanaHarper #UrbanFantasy #QueerRomance #BookReview
October 17, 2026
Lana Harper's prose is as lush and seductive as ever, and I will follow her anywhere, even into a demonic realm. The premise is delicious. Danica Marsden is a chaotic Chicago PI who is tired of barfights and one-night stands. She's messy, guarded, and so easy to root for. When her reality shatters, I was along for the ride. She gets dreams of a celestial tree, her reflection flickers to reveal a stranger, and two dangerously charming half-demons, Shahara and Rhavin, claim she belongs to Lilith's underworld empire.
The atmosphere is gorgeous. The dark, sensual tone suits Harper's talent for heat and banter.
I love the polyamory representation.
I'm holding back two stars because I wanted more. Some of the worldbuilding and the stakes felt like they needed more room to breathe, and with so much going on, I wanted deeper development of the central trio's dynamic. It's a promising start rather than a knockout, but I'd still happily read whatever Harper writes next.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
The atmosphere is gorgeous. The dark, sensual tone suits Harper's talent for heat and banter.
I love the polyamory representation.
I'm holding back two stars because I wanted more. Some of the worldbuilding and the stakes felt like they needed more room to breathe, and with so much going on, I wanted deeper development of the central trio's dynamic. It's a promising start rather than a knockout, but I'd still happily read whatever Harper writes next.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley and Lana Harper, for this advanced reader copy.
This story was interesting, I was intrigued by what Danica could be and how she felt a connection to both Shahara and Rhavin. I really loved watching Danica navigate in new situations and how resilient she was. I felt how alone Danica was and how that made her self-reliant. Out of both Shahara and Rhavin, I like Rhavin more. I thought he was more receptive to how to approach Danica and about what she needed.
The romance scenes were spicy and enjoyable.
I really enjoyed learning about the other world and how things were done. Riya was my favorite side character.
The story itself was good, I thought it slow at certain points, and I was definitely more focused on wanting to know what Danica was. The ending definitely helped certain things become clear, and I really enjoyed learning how things came to be.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting book, had great characters, and kept me reading!
This story was interesting, I was intrigued by what Danica could be and how she felt a connection to both Shahara and Rhavin. I really loved watching Danica navigate in new situations and how resilient she was. I felt how alone Danica was and how that made her self-reliant. Out of both Shahara and Rhavin, I like Rhavin more. I thought he was more receptive to how to approach Danica and about what she needed.
The romance scenes were spicy and enjoyable.
I really enjoyed learning about the other world and how things were done. Riya was my favorite side character.
The story itself was good, I thought it slow at certain points, and I was definitely more focused on wanting to know what Danica was. The ending definitely helped certain things become clear, and I really enjoyed learning how things came to be.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting book, had great characters, and kept me reading!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📖 ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 Stars
Firstdawn by Lana Harper 🖤🐉
🐉 Dark Romantasy • 😈 Demons • 🔥 Forbidden Magic • 🩸 Hidden Identity • 🖤 Love Triangle • ⚔️ Dangerous Realms
On paper, this book had EVERYTHING that should have been right up my alley! Unfortunately, it just didn't land the way I was hoping. 😭 With so many characters, moving pieces, and everything happening at once, I struggled to stay fully invested.
I genuinely think this might be one of those books that works better as an audiobook. 🎧 A narrator can absolutely make or break a story, and I'm really hoping they'll MAKE this one!
The potential was there, and I wanted so badly to love it. Maybe I'll give it another chance on audio because I refuse to believe something so perfectly suited to my taste just didn't work for me. 😂🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 Stars
Firstdawn by Lana Harper 🖤🐉
🐉 Dark Romantasy • 😈 Demons • 🔥 Forbidden Magic • 🩸 Hidden Identity • 🖤 Love Triangle • ⚔️ Dangerous Realms
On paper, this book had EVERYTHING that should have been right up my alley! Unfortunately, it just didn't land the way I was hoping. 😭 With so many characters, moving pieces, and everything happening at once, I struggled to stay fully invested.
I genuinely think this might be one of those books that works better as an audiobook. 🎧 A narrator can absolutely make or break a story, and I'm really hoping they'll MAKE this one!
The potential was there, and I wanted so badly to love it. Maybe I'll give it another chance on audio because I refuse to believe something so perfectly suited to my taste just didn't work for me. 😂🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was hopeful when I started this. Danica was a mystery. I like her independence and acceptance that she is different despite her aggressively anti Danica family, except her sister. She enjoys extreme temperatures or elemental situations. Very cool and not normal for the regular world.
What I didn't enjoy was the absolute chapters of info dumping mixed with sex mixed with old testament.
While mixing mythology/religion can work for people this is not one of them.
There are very well written parts of this book but it doesn't make up for the convoluted plot.
Thanks to Netgalley for ARC
What I didn't enjoy was the absolute chapters of info dumping mixed with sex mixed with old testament.
While mixing mythology/religion can work for people this is not one of them.
There are very well written parts of this book but it doesn't make up for the convoluted plot.
Thanks to Netgalley for ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, there was high potential. Then, it became difficult to imagine. The author did a good job of creating the characters and the worlds, I just couldn't imagine them. There was bisexual sex. I had to read the ending twice to try to understand what happened. The scenarios of the characters being angry and why they wanted such drastic revenge was also difficult to understand. Taking the story at face-value, and not thinking if it makes sense made it a good-enough read.
October 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing, and Lana Harper for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Firstdawn pulled me in with its dark, seductive atmosphere and intriguing blend of urban fantasy, mythology, and demonic romance.
There is a lot happening here. And unfortunately I found the mix of characters and plot confusing and hard to follow. There are some really well written aspects of the book and I love to see the bisexual representation!
2.5 stars rounded up.
Firstdawn pulled me in with its dark, seductive atmosphere and intriguing blend of urban fantasy, mythology, and demonic romance.
There is a lot happening here. And unfortunately I found the mix of characters and plot confusing and hard to follow. There are some really well written aspects of the book and I love to see the bisexual representation!
2.5 stars rounded up.
August 28, 2026
This one just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 3.5 stars
I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this book, especially because I don't read much urban fantasy but I was interested in the synopsis, and I'm glad I gave it a try! I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed Firstdawn. While the premise isn't entirely unique (character finding out they have some sort of power/supernatural/otherworldly), I enjoyed the worldbuilding and lore. The plot felt a little bit slow at times, but it was an entertaining read overall - heavy on the fantasy but a bit of mystery and action mixed in too. I knew the main character was bisexual, but I didn't realize the book also had poly rep so that was a nice bonus! Slight spoiler maybe about the relationships. A pretty fun read overall!
I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this book, especially because I don't read much urban fantasy but I was interested in the synopsis, and I'm glad I gave it a try! I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed Firstdawn. While the premise isn't entirely unique (character finding out they have some sort of power/supernatural/otherworldly), I enjoyed the worldbuilding and lore. The plot felt a little bit slow at times, but it was an entertaining read overall - heavy on the fantasy but a bit of mystery and action mixed in too. I knew the main character was bisexual, but I didn't realize the book also had poly rep so that was a nice bonus! Slight spoiler maybe about the relationships. A pretty fun read overall!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews