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Twelve Dancing Princesses #2

The Demon's Captive: A Spicy Dark Romance

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Princess Dahlia never liked being told what to do. So when she's captured by a demon lord on her way to her fiancé's palace, she really doesn't appreciate being confined to his bedchamber or the enchanted collar he locks around her neck...

But her handsome captor has wicked plans of his own, plans that involve disciplining his new feisty princess until her fiancé gives him what he wants.

Fortunately for him, Dahlia will not be easily tamed, and to her captor’s delight, she's always found more pleasure than pain in punishment.

Punishment Lord Tauren is more than happy to give...

With ballet dancing princesses, spicy discipline scenes, dungeons, magic compulsion, and a morally-black love interest who will not let his princess go, The Demon's Captive is perfect for readers who love sizzling dark romances with an enchanting fantasy twist.

This is the second standalone in the Twelve Dancing Princesses dark romance series. Each book features a different princess and can be read in any order, but it's recommended to start with The Assassin's Dancer, a spicy romance where the eldest sister is stalked by a handsome, obsessive assassin.

Be warned, this book contains many spicy scenes. Please check the triggers before reading 🖤

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2026

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Erin Fae Ryan

2 books85 followers

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5 stars
59 (37%)
4 stars
57 (35%)
3 stars
33 (20%)
2 stars
7 (4%)
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3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for Angelique.
30 reviews
June 2, 2026


The Demon’s Captive was a great follow-up to the first book in the series. One of my biggest criticisms of the previous installment was that certain aspects of the story felt underdeveloped, but I was happy to see many of those concerns addressed here. We also get subtle hints about the reasons behind the king’s behavior, although the author doesn’t spell everything out for the reader. If you pay attention to the details and read between the lines, there’s definitely more going on than meets the eye.

Dahlia was an interesting protagonist. There were moments when her spoiled and stubborn attitude genuinely frustrated me, but in a way that felt intentional and true to her character. She really does embody the role of a princess who has always been used to getting her way. That made her personal growth throughout the story all the more satisfying, as she gradually learns to face reality and make more mature choices.

I also appreciated that the romance progressed more quickly this time around, making the chemistry between the characters feel more present throughout the story. Overall, this was an enjoyable sequel that expanded the world, answered some lingering questions, and left me curious to see where the series goes next.
360 reviews
June 20, 2026
4 ⭐

This was a little darker than the first one and I have to say that since I don't enjoy the brat/dom dynamics as much, this read didn't catch me as much as it could have. I wish we could have seen more of why Tauren and Dahlia fell for each other in the first place, it felt like the focus was much more on the brattaming than their actual relationship.
Profile Image for Sandie 💖.
17 reviews
June 27, 2026
I absolutely love this series!! I’m so sad that the third hasnt been released yet 🥲. I absolutely love the beginning and how it flows nicely. There’s just one thing that doesnt quite add up, why couldn’t he have used the cannons in the past 15 years to save meave? It doesn’t make too much sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
4 reviews
June 1, 2026
ARC review

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It has a lot of spice but with enough storyline to guide you through. Together those make for a very enjoyable read. I can’t wait to see what all the other princesses get up to :)
Profile Image for Em Clayton.
3 reviews
June 4, 2026
I can say with absolute certainty that although there’s only two books so far, Demon’s Captive has claimed its spot as my favourite in the series.
It was a fantastic follow up to its predecessor.

Dahlia’s perspective is very interesting. She’s a completely different kettle of fish to Amaryllis. However, Dahlia has never had the level of responsibility that Ami had. It’s certainly presented that way when reading from Dahlia’s POV, but we see it in Book One too. The change in Blossom was also interesting. You can see that her being the ‘oldest’ has forced her to conform and adopt a presence similar to that of Amaryllis in book one. She’s clearly under a level of pressure, poor girl - she may be worried about the plans Sol has for her now as the new heir and therefore what her new role might signify. Or she may desperately want to be the protector that Amaryllis was to her and her sisters. It’s hard to tell at this stage but the answer may be simple enough.

I also love how the events of the first book are paid homage to multiple times throughout the book, including the appearance of Ami and Kasimir towards the end.
I really like that Erin hasn’t moved on from the book one characters and has made an effort to still include them and mix them with our new ones (such as Ami and Kasimir meeting/confronting Tauren). I feel that she intends to continue this as the series develops and I love that.

It broke my heart to see Dahlia get so hard done by King Sol at the start of the book. I think this is the point where she is humbled very intensely. Did she need it? Possibly, but this is not to suggest at all that she deserved what she got - which I feel was a bit of a step up to what Amaryllis got when she was engaged to Orion without her knowledge or consent. At least they got to meet initially - but this doesn’t take away from how these situations were both distressing and unkind to both girls. Erin has a really good way of making me feel worried for the princesses.

That worry was of course replaced with a level of relief when Dahlia is apprehended by Tauren. And then that was replaced by curiosity - mostly because I was wondering how their dynamic would develop. I knew the sexual tension would be off the charts and I was glad to find that I was right. But I also loved how Tauren’s lore shaped them as a couple, which I didn’t think there was any of with Amaryllis/ Kasimir - Kaz is the an assassin, was born in a whorehouse and doesn’t know who is father is. That’s about it, no exploration. There are still similarities in the stories though; Dahlia wanting to help rescue Maeve reflects a near identical drive that Amaryllis had for the trafficking victims. That theme could continue in later books, but maybe this connects Dahlia and Amaryllis only. I can’t see this being implemented into a ‘2 is better than 1’ dynamic as we’re to expect with Eden’s book.

I was quite taken with the change in pace with regard to the sexual content. It in some ways made Kasimir look quite tame! It touched on who Dahlia is as an individual and her own sexual desires which obviously pairs incredibly well with Tauren’s. It might’ve been nice to see an exploration as to why Dahlia has these sexual desires and how they manifested, but this might have opened up several routes to other themes and I can respect why Erin won’t have wanted to do that.

I absolutely loved how the story ended. I was almost grieving Maeve along with the other characters when her death was revealed, and so mournfully too. I was eagerly anticipating the truth around her, especially with Tamyrn being unable to reveal this. So for her character to be given a proper introduction, a second wind AND a chance for her and Dahlia’s relationship to exist, I was quite happy.

Two things didn’t make sense in the whole book.
Firstly, all 12 sister’s being present at Dahlia’s vow renewal. How did they get around Sol? Does Sol now know about Dahlia being married to Tauren? Does the presence of the sisters suggest that Sol approves of the marriage?
Sol redemption arc? Just kidding - I don’t think theres anyway Erin would redeem him. She’s written him to be hated and it should definitely stay that way.

Secondly, when Dahlia tells Tauren about meeting Maeve at the inn and points out she cannot speak, Tauren says that’ll be Elhearts doing. But how does he know that? At this point the reader is still under the impression that Maeve was taken, but Tauren knows otherwise. Is he feeding into his own narrative here or does this raise questions in his own mind whilst lying to Dahlia?

All in all, fantastic read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
32 reviews
June 18, 2026
The first time I saw The Demon’s Captive was on TikTok. I saw that book two in the 12-book series had just been released, and that I could request a free e-ARC, so I decided to give it a try. And honestly, it did not disappoint.
I went into this book expecting ballet to be a big focus because of the description, but I was pleasantly surprised. You don’t need any knowledge of ballet to enjoy this story.
This was a fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages. I finished it in just two sittings. It is a spicy, kinky romance that follows two main characters: one who is sassy and one who is very controlling.
The story starts with a kidnapping — she gets taken by him — and I won’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil the plot. But there were definitely some funny moments that made me laugh.
I really liked the characters, except for her dad 👀. One of my favorite parts was the dressmaker, who wanted to help her even though it could have put him in danger. The world-building was also something I enjoyed.
My only issue was that after about halfway through, the pacing felt a little too fast for me. The ending especially felt rushed, and I would have happily read another 15 pages if it meant having a more developed conclusion.
The plot twist at the end was something I didn’t expect, but I was very happy with how everything ended. I also liked that we got a happy ending.
I would have loved to see a little more character development, but at the same time, maybe the characters didn’t need to change. Their relationship dynamic was part of the story, and the dynamic between them worked for the type of romance this book was.
Overall, I gave The Demon’s Captive 4 stars, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced, spicy romances with darker themes.
Profile Image for Finger Pages.
308 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 28, 2026
This was a fun follow up to The Assassin's Dancer which was book 1 of the series. While I enjoyed The Demon's Captive, AD was still my favorite.

This series is a dark romantasy on the 12 dancing princesses though really the fairytale stops at book 1 and this is just a continuation of the story of what happens to the other sisters- which I'm not mad about.

Daliah is sassy, stubborn and spoiled, when she pushes her father too far she is sold off to a man to become his bride. Before she reaches his castle she is "kidnapped" by a demon lord, Tauren. What I like about the book is Tauren and Daliah have great chemistry when they aren't constantly talking about punishment. This book was light BDSM and at times it felt off to me- too forced. I don't understand how you show a woman you love that eating her food like a dog off the floor is a punishment or control move. I think some of that could have been flushed out more - it was a little disjointed for me going for shock that just didn't hit. And while this is a spicy book the scenes were short and not extremely descriptive so I would actually put this on the lighter side of both spicy and dark.

With that said I still absolutely love this series. It was nice to see a few of the sisters return into the storyline for Daliah's book. I also loved the side characters and Pumpkin. Daliah's antics were pretty laugh out loud at times. I finished the book in 1 day and it was the perfect palette cleanser. Eden's book is up next and it's a why choose, though honestly I'm very curious about Blossom and what her story will be.

Overall 3.75-4, I can't decide
Profile Image for Maura’s Library.
46 reviews
May 30, 2026
ARC REVIEW ✨
——————————-

First of all thank you so much Erin Fae Ryan for sending me this ARC.

This is the 2nd book in the series, which follows Dahlia a naughty girl with a big mouth who does what she wants and what she wants only.

Personally i could connect less to her as to Amaryllis which is the sister from book one. For me personally the attitude Dahlia has was at first not my thing. But the more the book went along i got to like the fire she had.

As for Tauren i really really liked him as an MMC , the possessiveness and the dominance YESSSSSS 🙌🏼

The story doesn’t really follow the 12 dancing princesses no more, which honestly i don’t mind. I love how we follow Dahlia onto her own adventures and see what her fathers up to with her next after she pulled a move at Blossoms birthday party. Lets just say he wasn’t pleased at all.

Also the spice level in this book is honestly everything i need!!

After a good 30% of the book we get a plot line which honestly kept me wondering with questions which i love. And i love how there was also much action and how the FMC’s in these books become so BADASS!!!

If you want a quick spicy romance read with a plot line that will keep you entertained this is it.

I CANT!!! WAIT!! For the next book the be released. Honestly this is becoming one of my fav book series in a WHILE! I highly recommend! Well done Erin, ps: u better send me that next book ASAP.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Profile Image for shyandlonelywriter.
106 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 30, 2026
ARC REVIEW


The story follows a princess rushing into an arranged marriage and a demon lord seeking vengeance against her groom. Dahlia is far from your typical shy princess—she is the exact opposite. In fact, her fiery personality is the precise reason her father arranged the marriage. However, while traveling to her future husband's palace, she is abducted. Dahlia finds herself trapped in a fortress full of demons, face-to-face with her captor: the demon lord, Tauren.

Dahlia is a wonderfully sassy heroine, and I loved that she never backs down. She speaks her mind without fear of the consequences. Tauren is the ultimate possessive, arrogant, and overprotective alpha, willing to go to any lengths to keep his princess safe. In contrast, Claren is an incredibly sweet demon. It was an unexpected twist for a demonic character but highly refreshing.
This book was utterly captivating. The tension and chemistry between Dahlia and Tauren crackle from the very beginning. Their dynamic is incredibly intense, and the descriptions are very vivid 🔥 This is definitely a read intended for mature audiences 🔞 The pacing makes it an unputdownable page-turner, and I particularly loved the twist and turns in the final chapters 🤫

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kaylee.
21 reviews
May 28, 2026
Thank you to Erin Fae Ryan for the ARC of The Demon’s Captive, which is the 2nd book of the 12 Dancing Princess’ series and follow up to The Assassin’s Dancer.

This book was a lot more spicier than the first, the scenes are short and not very descriptive, which I don’t mind, but also quite repetitive.
It contained mostly light bdsm in the spicier scenes, both Dahlia and Tauren are very intense characters. They don’t really open up to each other much and it felt like Tauren was just trying to embarrass and humiliate Dahlia whenever he could.

Also, you don’t make the woman you “love” sit on all fours, naked nonetheless, and make her eat her dinner like a dog. That didn’t sit right with me and when Dahlia’s trying to make it clear she’s had enough Tauren barely listens so it can be quite infuriating at times.

The second half of the book really did it for me, I did really enjoy reading the family come back together, wholesome yet sadistic vibes.

3⭐️
Profile Image for Fay Nicole.
130 reviews4 followers
June 13, 2026
“Call me Tauren’s whore one more time, arsehole! I dare you!” she screams.’

I was a bit apprehensive going into this book, because I was worried it was going to be a bit too dark for me, but I enjoyed it so much. Dahlia is just so sarcastic and snappy. I absolutely adore her. And I loved seeing her interact with her sisters. And Pumpkin!! I also enjoyed seeing her stand up for Claren, although at first I felt like their friendship became just to use him but it blossomed into something lovely. I love a fiesty FMC and Dahlia was that all over.

Favourite character/s:
Pumpkin, Dahlia and Tamryn.

Who this is for/recommendations:
Anyone who squeals at the concept of the twelve dancing princesses with a bit of darkness and spice.

Minority/inclusion:
Minimally verbal character

Erin!!! I actually think I would read and enjoy anything that you write. This was such a fun read! Thank you so very much for the e-arc:)
Profile Image for Alba.
110 reviews2 followers
June 1, 2026
This was supposed to be an ARC review but life got in the way and the book is already published so here is my non ARC review haha

I actually liked the book. It is bingeable as was the first one (I looveeed The Assassin's Dancer) but it is far more spicy that what I'm used to. That's the main reasoning behind the 2 star rating.
It is not that I didn't like it but that there were moments when the dark romance bits were too dark for my liking. I'm not usually a dark romance reader so I'm not used to derogatory terms and "punishments" seen as something sexy or appealing, but if that's your cup of tea please read this book. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed by maybe that was just my perception.
I would recommend checking the trigger warnings just in case, though.

I can't wait for Eden's story because it sounds very... Interesting 🥵 (if you know what I mean)
Profile Image for Charlotte.
20 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 21, 2026
If I was hooked with book one of the 12 dancing princess series, book two has me bent over with my ass in the air.

The Demons Captive gives the same princessy, possessive, easy read vibes as The Assassin's Dancer, just with an added layer of darkness and fantasy. Dahlia's bold, bratty and flirty personality keeps everyone on their toes. Luckily there's a firery Demon Lord who knows exactly how to whip her into shape.

This sequel could be read as a standalone. But if like me you crave a deeper story and want to learn more about these 'gifts' the princesses have been granted in book one, you won't be disappointed.

I can't wait to see which sister 'comes' next in this Barbie's 12 dancing princess themed dark romance.

Read the trigger warnings.
Or don't, you naughty girl 😉
5 reviews
May 25, 2026
My jaw was on the FLOOR half this book because EXCUSE ME??? Erin Fae really said “let’s make this even spicier than book one” and I was just sitting there like DAMN OKAYYYYY 🌶️😭✨

I ate this UP so bad. Erin Fae really knows what she’s doing because I was OBSESSED the entire time. But honestly, I love everything she writes, so I’m not even surprised that I absolutely devoured this one too!! Read it in a day AGAIN because there was genuinely no way I was putting this down.

I loved the references to book one, seeing more of the sisters and their powers unfold, and just how addicting these books are to read. They flow so easily and before you know it you’re suddenly 300 pages deep at 2am 💀

And the spice????? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Like actually FIVE PEPPERS because EXCUSE ME??? 🥵

Literally had the best time reading this. Obviously 5 stars ⭐️☺️
Profile Image for Lucy Weeks.
47 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 29, 2026
Erm hello??? From assassin to demon I’m HOOKED 👀🔥

Book one already had me obsessed but somehow this one was even darker, spicier, and more addictive. I literally flew through it in a day because there was no way I was putting it down.

Dahlia is bold, bratty, chaotic and honestly such a fun FMC to follow. And the Demon Lord?? Possessive, dangerous, completely obsessed… exactly what I wanted 😮‍💨

I loved getting more of the sisters, their gifts, and seeing the world expand more in this book. These books are such easy reads but in the best way because once you start you suddenly realise it’s 2am and you’re 300 pages deep 💀

And the spice????? EXCUSE ME 🥵🌶️
Definitely darker than book one and I was eating it UP.

Fun, addictive, spicy fantasy romance with all the dark princess vibes ✨
Profile Image for Enora.
9 reviews
June 1, 2026
3,5 ⭐️ (ARC reading)
As a huge fan of the 12 dancing princesses, I was STOKED to receive this book. Overall it’s really good and I loved reading it !

However I just think the relationship between Tauren and Dahlia wasn’t deep enough, clearly missing a little bit of interaction. I didn’t quite see it develop enough from Dahlia’s side and the relationship becomes a little unrealistic, especially when Dahlia makes her decision about wether or not she’d like to stay to the demon’s court.

Other than that, I loved the family dynamics, the plots are good, maybe too numerous and not developed enough, but they still work !

To finish i’d like to thank the author for sending me her book, I’m very grateful for her trust and I literally cannot wait to read the rest of the series!!
Profile Image for Gracie.
238 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
May 25, 2026
ARC Review

(May contain spoilers)

This was a fairytale dream come true, with demons and sausage dogs.

I have no words how amazing this one was, book two of the twelve dancing princesses and this ate!

I loved the comedy, the drama, the heartbreak, the plot twist, the spice? Don’t get me started, *chefs kiss*

From start to finish I was hooked, just like the first book I was captivated. From the world building to the character development, it won me over plus who doesn’t love a little sausage dog side kick, with an amazing name!

Now I have Edens story to wait for plus (hopefully) 9 more after? I can’t wait!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rachael.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 25, 2026
First, big thanks to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book before it was released.

Now, i really liked the story. Normally i’m not into dark romance, but this one really had me locked in after a few chapters. At the beginning i wasn’t sure if i was into it (which is the only reason why it’s 4 and not 5 stars honestly) but i don’t regret keeping reading.
I loved how the characters are written. I got really attached to one in particular. And their stories… Beautiful.

Now i’m not the best at writing reviews, but if you like dark romance, fantasy, and some good smut… you should definitely read this book.
Profile Image for Alex.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 26, 2026
I'm only a few chapters in so far, but I'm genuinely really enjoying this book already!! The concept caught my attention immediately (as a HUGE Barbie fan) and the story hooked me way faster than I expected. As someone who honestly hasn't read much in years, that says a lot 👀

The tension and chemistry are already SO intense and I'm really intrigued by the world and characters, especially Tauren 🤭 The writing makes it very easy to keep reading, until you suddenly realize you've been losing track of time reading and hours have gone by.

If you enjoy dark romance with possessive characters, fantasy elements, tension and very 🌶️🌶️🌶️ scenes, this is definitely worth checking out! 💜
15 reviews
May 31, 2026
I read this book as an ARC expecting to have a fun read and I was indeed surprised by the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed the book beyond a fun little read.
Dahlia was a compelling main character to follow, with her attitude and humour, it was easy to like her.
Tauren as a love interest was nothing if not fun to read about. I loved the banter between the two characters and the chemistry.

The several plot twists were interesting and compelling to be invested in, rather than feel like plot for the sake of plot.
But no spoilers, the book is good enough to be read without too much prior knowledge.

I cannot wait to see Blossom’s story— I have a feeling I’ll be tuning in for it!
Profile Image for Lisa.
176 reviews
May 25, 2026
Had my best time reading it!

Princess Dahlia never liked being told what to do. When she’s captured by a demon lord she makes her disappointment heard. Which leads her to magic compulsion, spicy discipline, dungeons and a morally black love interest obsessed with her and not willing to let his princess go.

I loved to meet Amaryllis and Kasimir again, can’t wait for Eden’s story!! 🥰

Love the banter between Dahlia and Tauren, punishments too! 🔥

A dark romance full of chemistry, drama and twists!
Profile Image for Annabelle.
621 reviews910 followers
June 1, 2026
i’m not sure if i would call this book *good* per se but i have a marvellous time reading it so there’s that. i knew what i was getting into and i got what i came for.

wasn’t a huge fan of a certain part of the ending tbh. it felt toooooo perfect which to me is just boring. but i guess it was sweet.

also the dig at nonfiction readers was completely unnecessary. romance readers get mad when people rag on them for only reading romance (rightfully) but then they turn around and do the same thing to readers of other genres. don’t be a hypocrite.
Profile Image for Tracy Cress.
Author 5 books39 followers
May 31, 2026
I’m not usually a huge fan of romantasy, but a romance between a demon and a human? Count me the hell in.
I enjoyed every aspect of Dahlia and Tauren’s story. Dahlia’s fierceness was captivating, and Tauren’s love for her was beautiful to read. The spice was perfectly balanced, the pacing was excellent, and the story kept me invested from beginning to end. In summary, this was a five-star read for me.
321 reviews3 followers
June 4, 2026
brilliant sequel

Wow
So this is completely different from the first book, the spice level jumped up significantly, but at the end of the day it’s still a romance.

Lovely to see the other princesses coming back into this book, along with our favourite assassin.

And it’s lined up perfectly for a story about Blossom and the Demon who is lusting after her.

Waiting to see what comes next
1 review
June 12, 2026
ARC review

This is the first book I read in the series. It was easy to follow along the story and events without having read the first book. It was an interesting take on the twelve dancing princesses as someone who loves the movie and smut.

I didn't feel like there was too much spice taking over the series there is still a lot of plot and twists happening that kept me on my feet.

It is an enjoyable read.
1 review
May 28, 2026
I loved this book. From the first chapter I was hooked and honestly could not stop reading.
Dahlia is such fun main character. I loved her personality so much.
Tauren and Dahlia's chemistry was insane right from the start. The tension, banter, and spicy scenes was so good.
This was one of my favourite reads of the year so far.
Profile Image for Caroline Bristow.
354 reviews
June 26, 2026
🩰 I received an ARC from the author so the thoughts are my own 🩰

I loved this! The amount of spice is evened out by the plot. I really liked the idea of this series. I also have a working theory that the next book is going to have fae in it bc why mention them so much if it wasn't foreshadowing? I may be reaching, but i came up with this theory myself.
Profile Image for Amanda Roesler.
76 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2026
Hey so I’ll admit, you tell me it’s a dark retelling of my favorite Barbie movie, I’m locked in from the get go. You add in a hot demon MMC who yearns for her and there’s phenomenal spice….yeah say no more. I had the time of my life reading this and frankly my only complaint is that now I have to wait for book 3 when I just devoured these first two books in less than 24 hours
Profile Image for Tyla.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 22, 2026
Thank-you for letting me have access to this story in one of its rawest forms. This story left me thinking about it long after I had put it down.
If you’re a fan of The Dark Lords Guide To Dating, this is a book for you ❤️🖤
Profile Image for Miriam.
94 reviews
June 2, 2026
Amazing. La dinámica brat-brat tammer ha sido INCREIBLE. En el primer libro había cositas que dejaba muy poco desarrolladas, aquí si explica un poco más y da bastantes pistas si sabes pillarlas. Estoy deseando leer el libro de Edén.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews