The Demon Star

by Jesse Aragon

Gods rule this planet. Demons stalk its canyons while Kings beg for mercy. Can three mere humans rewrite its destiny?

The otherworldly religious conflict of Dune, the cosmic strangeness of Gideon the Ninth, and the heart-pounding action of Red Rising converge in this horror-tinged epic science fantasy debut.

Ysira Naktis was a human sacrifice, marked for death. Unlike the thousands ‘harvested’ each year, though, she did the unthinkable. She survived—and what she brought back with her could change the fate of worlds.

When Ysira’s estranged son is chosen to become the vessel of a god-killing demon, she is faced with a choice: allow him to harness cosmic power at an unspeakable cost, or doom millions to save him. She finds an unlikely ally in Brother Jacen Kheris, once a gifted exorcist, now a guilt-ridden addict, desperate for purpose.

From a demon-haunted canyon to a starbound satellite, they must battle their way through cultists, aliens, and the gods themselves. The truths they unearth are deeper and more sinister than anything they could have imagined.

In this cinematic thrill ride, Jesse Aragon plunges us into a world as intricate and inventive as it is brutal.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Fiction, Adult, Queer, Science Fiction Fantasy

558 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2026

About the author

space fantasy author

THE DEMON STAR (2026)

Reviews

[Jesse Aragon]

This is my debut novel! As ARCs start to make their way out into the world, I’m stopping by to provide some context and content warnings before I dip out of this space forever!

✨ The Demon Star is a science fantasy/space opera novel. In style and content, it’s closer to epic fantasy than science fiction.

👿 I wrote TDS for an adult audience. CWs below the cut.

🪱 For more information, news, artwork, and memes if you’re into that, you can visit my website, or see the pinned post on my author Instagram!

Happy reading 🙂

CWs (extremely mild spoilers):



This book contains graphic violence, gore, and strong horror elements. There are detailed on-page depictions of human experimentation, torture, cannibalism, child death, and animal death.

The story takes place in a repressive theocratic society, and deals extensively with the implications of that--namely, indoctrination, abuse, cultural erasure/forced assimilation, and depression with a heavy existential component.

One POV character deals with severe mental illness, self harm, and alcoholism. Suicide is discussed, with one brief on-page depiction.

A major character, who is a child, struggles with internalized ableism. He is the target of ableist language throughout the novel, including on-page emotional abuse by a parent.

The use of SFF elements like telepathy and possession may prove triggering for readers sensitive to issues of bodily autonomy and consent. Sexual abuse is referenced, but not depicted on-page. One POV character's backstory involves teenage pregnancy and childbirth.

Both POV characters are queer, as are many supporting characters. This is considered normal in TDS's setting. None of the abuse depicted is rooted in homophobia, transphobia, or misogyny.

While the book does include a romantic subplot, this is not a primary focus. There is mild, brief on-page sexual content.

These characters are intentionally written as morally ambiguous. I do not personally agree with all their actions/opinions/beliefs.

[Morwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the debut that will ruin you for every other debuts.

What I loved:

- I had never read this mix of fantasy, scifi, and horror before. I loved the unforgiving nature of some details.

- Everyone in the book is morally grey, at best, in the most realistic way possible.

- Lowkey unromanticised romance and it features a comfort throuple? So fresh!

- Our hero is a “cripple” and all his problems don’t magically disappear once he becomes a powerhouse

- I’d like to assign extra points to the author, as she rightfully mentioned her cat in the acknowledgments first of all.

Conclusions:

I can’t wrap my head around how this deep, unique, complex, well-built book is a debut.
I’m forever ruined.
If you are not particularly squeamish you should defo check it out!

I’ll surely add this author to my watch list!

PS: I think this is a standalone, but it could be a series. The ending leaves room to go both ways.

CHECK OUT MY IG CAROUSEL WITH GIFS



Pre-read
I've absolutely no expectations (other than high ones) and going in blind.

I'm in love with the title's font BTW. It's especially soft but confident looking in the black on white version on the inner title page 🧐

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all: brainworm demons, human sacrifices, manipulative church, manipulative gods, a throuple, telepathy, Big Bad Demons, negligent parenting, and eyeball horror. I loved every single word.

[Sidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh she's goooood. rtc

[Viv (vivianneslibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An epic science fantasy with a bit of horror. The start of this was amazing and fully pulled me into this story. I enjoyed the world building that the author was crafting as well as the dynamics between the characters.

My main problem while reading this is that I just didn’t care about our characters that much or where the story went. I was still impressed with this debut and would be interested in what else the author has to write.
3.75⭐️

[Yodamom · Rating 5 out of 5]

EPIC ! A fantasy adventure that brings back memories of the first time I read Dune, I was enthralled.This story, it’s characters, it’s villains and the world are so well written. Gods so unique and twisted, yet that’s not all they were. Everyone here is multidimensional. I really can’t tell you about the story it will ruin it. If you like a good fantasy with believable characters, lots of action and twists, read this, trust me. The ending was satisfying leaving an opening to continue
I give this 6 out of 5 stars.

[Karin (book_scent) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! RTC

[Sara Omer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with compelling and merciless morally gray characters I rooted for, The Demon Star made me feel a sense of wonder I haven't experienced since reading Dune for the first time. For fans of desert worlds, mothers who will elevate their children to godhood to survive and thrive, and worms (Aragon's are much smaller, but just as terrifying). But with tortured, alcoholic, catholic-inspired psychic priests! Demonic possession!?? Apocalyptic reapings organized by alien overlords! Horrors beyond comprehension! This one sex scene that actually killed me (and then resuscitated me)!

My official blurb: Aragorn’s science-fantasy epic infected me with wonder and creeping dread. The Demon Star is a testament to how desperation turns the power-starved into monsters, and in a brutal world oppressed by alien gods, I would bow at Ysira and Jacen’s feet.

[Gergana]

DNF:25% , 4+ hours of the audiobook

This book just wasn't for me. It's a well-written story, but I just wasn't having any fun, even after 4 hours... Everything felt... predictable. Maybe it's because I've read plenty of fantasy and sci-fi books already, but nothing in The Demon Star stood out to me:
1. The world was barely described and felt generic.
2. The characters' motivations were a bit convoluted. Especially the woman's - she was indiferent towards her son's existence for so many years and, the moment she found out he might be in danger, all of a sudden she was super protective?
3. The "religion's purpose" was also a bit strange, but I really liked the "Gods", their ominous presence and disturbing appearance.
4. The Pacing - like I said, it's not hard to guess where the whole story was going, but the pacing was so slow. I guess I missed having some sort of a "mystery" that I care about to keep me going.

The Demon Star was not for me, but I am definitely in the minority. :)

[Pernille A Prolific Page Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a debut by Jesse Aragon! If I didn't know I was going into a debut novel I wouldn't have known. The writing, plot, characters, themes, world, and subversions of the tropes kept me hooked.

The main characters are so human with relatable flaws. I'm a sucker for great characterization.
One is Brother Jacen, who is such a strong telepath his main task is exorcising demons. Yet he is disillusioned and has turned to alcohol to cope.

And the the other main character is Ysira, a mother who survives the Harvest with a demon in her head which is unheard of.

Just describing the main characters is making the story a tailormade fantasy x horror story, but suddenly your head is spinning when scifi hits you like a truck. I did not see that plot twist coming.

Prepare for a story with incredible and relatable characters, fantasy x scifi x horror tropes, found family, and societal foundational earthquakes and how different humans cope with this change!

4.25 stars

Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for providing access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Elements of horror, science fiction and fantasy blend together in The Demon Star and create a captivating tale of faith, morality and freedom. One of my most anticipated releases of the year, I was ecstatic to read an immersive and excellently-crafted novel that left me both reluctant to finish and yearning to read more.

Told mainly from dual perspectives and set on a desert planet that some may view slightly remsicient of Arrakis, The Demon Star depicts a complex world where insect-like demons with a desire for possession lurk, telepathic members of a powerful religious order seek out and exorcise them and the eldritch gods exact their control over civilization with their customary sacrifices every year.

Ysira Naktis-a human sacrifice who survived the unthinkable-and Jacen Kheris-a telepathic priest awash in addiction and searching for a purpose-are the protagonists and two of many deeply-flawed, complicated and morally gray characters whose decisions impact not only their own fates, but the very fabric of their society.

The minor characters are intriguing-particularly Ogden the physician and “Nines” the Novitiate-and it was wonderful to gain insight into their backstories and motivations.

I had so much sympathy for Neri and how his parents’ decisions coupled with his desire to prove himself upended his life forever.

The gods are absolutely horrific, completely inhuman and utterly irredeemable and the inevitable consequences of their actions were wholly deserved.

Religious trauma and themes pertaining to: power, morality, oppression, motherhood, rebellion and sacrifice are present within The Demon Star. There is also queer longing and chronic illness representation, which I especially appreciated as someone who has asthma.

Is the soul of a child worth the end of tyrany? Is the continued sacrifice of thousands worth the illusion of order?

What truly is a god?

I would recommend The Demon Star to readers who enjoy cosmic/sci-fi horror, a dark story where there are no easy choices and characters you can emphasize with and question on a moral level.

[The Reading Frog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Jesse Aragon, DAW & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
CW: Explicit | Alcohol withdrawal, BIG trigger warning for addiction/alcoholism, blood, body horror, death, detailed injury descriptions, extreme and graphic violence, gore, intoxicated/inebriated POV, mortician/medical procedures, violence
Moderate | Ableism, ableist language, burn injury description, manipulation, myiasis, suicide, vomit
Mild | Brief animal death, corpse description, fade-to-black sex scene, fantasy edibles (thorn eaters), implied predatory/pedophilic characters, (past) child abuse, (past) dubious consent involving a minor
My chosen soundtrack(s): Your World Will Fail - Les Friction | No Church In The Wild - JAY-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, THE-DREAM | Bonus soundtrack specifically for Jacen: Drinking Age - Cameron Winter

"When we destroyed the world, the gods should have condemned us to our suffering. Instead, they built for us a sacred city, where the faithful might live free of fear, hunger, sickness, pain, sorrow, and despair. In exchange for this great mercy, we must follow their commandments.
We shall renounce the worship of demons.
We shall give unto the Church a tithe of coin.
We shall offer up our secrets, in prayer and in confession.
We shall speak no tongue but the gods’.
The canyon shall belong only to the dead.
Our children shall bear a scar of consecration, in service of our holiest mandate: each year when the shadow comes, whether it demands one man or a thousand, we will provide its due."

—Andel Tamaran, Holy Father of the Church of the Black Sun, 11 A. C.

Representation
╰┈➤ Ethnic/racial diversity
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Unspecified BIPOC MC, Ysira, "light brown skin"
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Unspecified BIPOC MC, Neri, "his skin was a darker brown"
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Unspecified BIPOC MC, Seth, all Semira's are associated with darker skin
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Unspecified BIPOC MC, Ninety-nine/Nines, "dense white curls and skin so dark, it was almost blue"
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Multiple unspecified BIPOC SCs and BGCs, Hesaya, Commander Teheda, Ged, and probably more I'm forgetting
╰┈➤ Queer characters and dynamics
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Bi/Pan MMCs
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ (Past) MLM dynamic
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Poly MMF dynamic
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Implied lesbian SCs
╰┈➤ Disability
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Disabled MC, Neri, "walked with a limp from a deformed foot, and squinted from nearsightedness. He sickened easily, the desert dust made him wheeze"
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Multiple Characters are/become amputees (and use a prosthesis)


Themes
Classism, destiny vs shaping your own future, dogma, humanity, identity, "ignorance is bliss", imperialism/colonization, indoctrination, loss of civilazations/cultures/groups, (mass/mind) manipulation, morality based in religion vs morality based in the self, one's purpose in life, optics, parent-child dynamics, passive somewhat safety vs active high risk rebellion/liberation, religion/cult, religious guilt, repeating history, resilliance, responsibility, the cycle or violence.


Tropes/What to expect
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Religion/Cult
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Demons and gods
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Dual and some multi POV
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Morally ambiguous and flawed characters
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Break the believer
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Living weapon
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Dystopian desert setting
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Reluctant, jaded mentor gets saddled with a student
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Ethical dilemmas
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Exploration of humanity


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What I liked/loved
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ What immediately drew me in was the premise of The Demon Star.
Otherworldly religious conflict, political intrigue, dystopian sci-fi, rebellion, human sacrifices, gods, demons, exorcisms? Everything about it was intriguing, and I'm glad to say it very much did live up to my high expectations.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ This read is a mix of character- and plot-driven. I would describe its pace as dancing between medium and fast.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Very quotable prose. Lots of discourse on philosophical questions and ethics. I've made WAY too many annotations for this read.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Though I normally tend to be more into character-driven stories, I was absolutely awed by the worldbuilding of this book. It's so extensive, obviously well-thought-out and felt complex in a way that made me want to learn more. (Jesse Aragon, if you ever decide to write another book in this universe, it'll be an insta-buy for me).
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I also loved the environmental storytelling through infrastructure, architecture, temperature, tools and light.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ This book offers a wide variety of characters who are all interesting in their own right.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Morally grey actions, impossible, horrific choices, devotion and conviction all mix together in a highly complex portrait of these characters who can be seen as a representation of humanity.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ All of them, even the ones less significant to the plot, were layered, had their own motivations, felt real and gave me something to ruminate about.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Here is a little sneak peek of some of these characters:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ A presumed-dead, should-have-been human sacrifice, who somehow slipped through the cracks. Now forced to return to a life she's left behind.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ A young, disabled, illegitimate son craving to be "worth something", serving as a vessel for a demon god-killer and becoming an integral player in this epic tale.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ A kind, tender-hearted man picking up his somewhat retired blade, forced to make hard choices while stuck between his family, his own morality and strategic choices for the greater good.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ A fallen-from-grace, jaded, alcoholic priest desperate for purpose who reluctantly takes on a young, quiet, talented student with no memory or name.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I also need to highlight the fact that everyone in this book was aura farming 24/7, and I didn't mind it one bit. There are so many epic scenes and cold lines said by these characters.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I also love strong, unhinged and/or unpalatable women, so obviously I was extremely invested and interested in Ysira. There was one Ysira-centred chapter that was batshit crazy, which is still looping in my brain. Saying "God, she is so cool" doesn't really do justice to what was happening on those pages, but it is what I thought every 2 sentences.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The character dynamics deserve their own segment because, wow, they were complex. I'm still trying to fully digest them.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Many of the characters have a shared, sometimes messy, unresolved past that can be felt in each interaction before knowing their full history.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Some characters almost feel like a manifestation of what another character could or should have been if things had been different.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Characters/factions who feel like two sides of the same coin.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ There is one dynamic which is both mother and son, stranger to stranger, weapon to a wielder and a means to an end. These all exist at the same time, which makes them all the more interesting.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ There are some big differences in their belief systems, morality, what is deemed the priority, and whether the goal justifies the means. This sets the scene for intriguing conflicts and ethical dilemmas where you, as a reader, might feel conflicted as well.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Aragon is amazing at making you understand these characters even when disagreeing with them and/or their actions.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ There are lots of parallels and mirroring between situations and characters. Highlighting how cycles both can and/or cannot be broken and the repercussions that are defined by this distinction. Highlighting the fact that history tends to repeat itself.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Break the believer (adjacent) and living weapon trope, my beloved, you never do me wrong!
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Comparisons and/or similar media:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Disclaimer: I have not read Game of Thrones, but I have watched it, and I do feel like The Demon Star sometimes felt like a smaller-scale sci-fi/dystopian GOT. There was lots of political intrigue and a conflict that was way more complex than just winning a physical fight. There were multiple parties and elements at play, and it wasn't always clear who to root for.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Aragon also isn't afraid of killing their characters, which made me actually fear for their lives. A concept GOT watchers are definitely familiar with.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Some of the more cosmic/scifi elements and the way in which demons worked felt similar to The Host. It has that eldritch/alien, cosmic horror feel.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ The concept of "Humans are space orcs"
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ The idea that the cost of a "peaceful" society rests on the sacrifice of human life made me think of The Ones Who Walked Away From Omelas , though mind you, the society in The Demon Star is definitely NOT living in a utopia in exchange for these sacrifices.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Explores humanity on a large scale; oppression, colonialism, imperialism, ethical dilemmas, tribalism, the impact of war, religion-based governments and how peace and freedom/liberation are two very different things.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Explores humanity on a zoomed-in, personal scale; family (dynamics), belief systems, identity, addiction, purpose, shame, guilt, self-worth, morality and what that means in the context of survival and how war/tragedy/violence can detrimentally change people.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ If any of these random qoutes/concepts entice you, pick up this book: President Coin proposing a "symbolic Hunger Games", "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain", the cycle of violence, Ouroboros, "reap what you sow", Pandora's box, "In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good", the cost of winning.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Stressed me out, made me angry and made me go "EW". I had physical reactions to this read! Such a tense page-turner.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ An ending that gave me mixed feelings, yet felt like the exact ending it needed. It made me ruminate on humanity and morality. There is so much I want to talk about here, but unfortunately I can't due to spoilers. If you have read the ending and you want to yap about it, hmu!
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ What I can reveal, though, is that its ending was definitely impactful, leaving me to think about it still.


What I didn't like/felt lacklustre about
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ Once again, reading a high-fantasy or high-sci-fi read always makes me feel a bit drained until I have a grasp of the world. So this is a more genre-wide personal complaint. Luckily, it was easier to deal with once I made a graphic including the two maps and characters belonging to different factions, which is included in the book btw! But it was nice to always have it open on a second screen since I read on an e-reader. So I highly recommend doing the same.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ The third part sometimes was a bit complex to follow with the amount of moving parts and characters. As a vibe, it was great though. I probably missed some details here and there, but it didn't have a big negative impact on my reading experience.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ Okay, so this point might either be: A) a misunderstanding on my part or B) A detail only I care about. This is very spoilery when it comes to romantic dynamics between characters, so make sure to skip if you haven't fully read this book yet. It's safe to read again from the next segment, 'Conclusion/Notes'. Here we go:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I was reading this with the understanding or interpretation that Jacen is gay due to this sentence, "The time he'd kissed Hesaya and they'd both hated it" and more B-text that heavily implied his sole focused attraction to Seth, never really mentioning another person he felt this way towards. Which is why his dynamic with Ysira kind of came out of left field for me since it seemed very sudden and a bit surface-level compared to his bond with Seth.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It did make me wonder if he is indeed bi/pan and/or if his want for Ysira is fueled by his immense craving for something to believe in, devotion and dedication. Ysira being basically the mother of a god in his eyes might be the closest he can come to divinity made tangible and actually being able to touch something so godly. Which does feel in line with Jacen's personality. He tends to let religion take priority over everything else, leaving him blind to his personal convictions separate from that dogma.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I wish his dynamic with Ysira was a bit more developed and explored. Especially since I did like all the other dynamics in their polycule, though that also highlighted the lack of depth of those two all the more.


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Conclusion/Notes
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ My God, this was a lot.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I feel empty, sad, and have a bit of a headache induced by that last insanely tense third that didn't let me breathe for a second. Yet I also feel satisfied by the immense journey this book took me on, the extensive, amazing world I got to experience, and an ending that felt both fitting and made me want to stare at the wall. It makes me think about predestination and inevitability, yet also about actively fighting for and shaping a specific future and whether this distinction even really matters in the grand scheme of it all.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ There were so many complex elements at play on a political level, yet the pages still left enough room for me to develop a strong connection to all its characters. Which I'm grateful for, since they might even be way more complex.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Ysira, I'll probably never be able to form a solid opinion on you, but I do know you're an unrivalled badass. Seth, it was a joy to get to know your tender heart. Jacen, you were relatable in the most painful of ways. Nines, sometimes you felt like the only sane person through all this. And Neri, I am sorry you were made to believe you weren't worth anything.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ What a beautiful, ugly, raw and realistic exploration/portayal of humanity, ethical dilemmas, religion, the cycle of violence, Ouroboros-esque elements, and the sacrifice of morality for the presumed "greater good".

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ This was an absolutely amazing read! I recommend it to anyone who likes discourse on humanity, is a fan of dark speculative fiction, and enjoys eldritch elements. And if you want to read about disabled MCs who get to be powerful without erasing their disability, as well as strong FMCs who unapologetically crash out, you're right where you're supposed to be!


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"Some remained who still believed. They lived in hiding, always searching, waiting for the day their prayers would be answered.
They had not prayed for peace."

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆



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[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

The Demon Star is a science fantasy novel written by Jesse Aragon, published by The Broken Binding Publishing. An extremely ambitious debut full of promises, and that somehow manages to not only fulfill all of them but went a step further, delivering a story that refuses to stay in a single organized box, simultaneously threading multiple storylines with well-fleshed characters, all to firmly position Aragon as one of the debuts of the year.

A planet ruled by Gods, where people are harvested at the dim and wits of them, all to keep them happy until the next Harvest season starts; demons roam the cannons of this planet, and in them there might be the opportunity to change the established order. An opportunity that appears when Neri, a weak telepath, is sent to the Desert to be imprinted by a demon powerful enough to destroy Gods, the catalyst of change; we will be mainly following those around him, people whose decisions will shape his future and that will irremediably shatter the established order.

How those characters are shaped and developed is part of what makes Aragon's debut so memorable: not only we have an incredible opportunity to appreciate how their backstory is affecting their present, but they feel so human, flawed but still trying to defend what they believe in. I think it's particularly interesting to see the journey of Brother Jacen, not only because it's a flawless execution in many aspects, such as the struggle of an addiction and how it happened, but also to see how faith crumbles but something is built over; he's trying to do good for the world. And the best part? Most of the characters are equally compelling, each one with their own vision and their motivations to act; a marvelous cast to make this story work.

Worldbuilding is on par with the character work: it's complex, but Aragon doesn't unveil all at the start; instead, you start getting answers together with the characters, slowly developing new ideas about what's happening in this planet, about the nature of the Gods and Demons and what needs to be done. There's already a past, and religion, or more adequately named, faith, and how each character conceptualizes it plays an important role in the own story.
Aragon's writing is quite cinematic, embracing this mash-up between horror, fantasy and sci-fi that this novel is; the imagery is quite rich, the action scenes are superb portrayed, and in particular, I loved how precise is the language regarding physical/mental injuries/conditions.
The pacing is relentless, keeping you on the edge of the seat from the start, and not letting you take a breath until the end.

The Demon Star is a superb novel, a remarkable tour de force that effortlessly blurs the line between genres choosing to be an unique thing; if you are into expansive worldbuildings that are the setting of really ambitious plots, this is a book that you should totally pick (and remember to check the content warnings first). Jesse Aragon is a name to keep an eye on the future!

[Samantha (ladybug.books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting concept but it lacked enough finesse and depth to keep me interested. It’s also just not an enjoyable experience… I assume there might be a sequel so it’s not just the ending that bothers me.

I didn’t find the characters compelling. Their motivations were difficult to believe and the relationships are shallow. We’re told about their emotions but we don’t actually feel them while reading from their perspectives. I’m also just not a fan of reading about crappy people but that’s more personal preference.

The pacing of the reveals was odd. It kept giving away information too easily/quickly without enough tension or suspense to make the reveals feel earned.

This gave more Dune vibes than Gideon the Ninth and we all know what comp I was here for (not Dune).

I’m being really harsh with this initial review but I just got so sick of reading this book and I’m venting my frustration lol. (I really don’t want to give this two stars…)

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a science fantasy with some elements of horror (disgusting 😏) and this blend really worked for me.

Things I loved:
- the high stakes, making this truly epic!! Such an incredible feat for a standalone book
- The priesthood, exorcists, and parasitic demons
- Complex mother/son relationship with a chosen one type of situation (see Dune comp)
- Morally grey to dead cold heart type characters (no one is good here)
- Pacing was great!!
- The tiniest crumb of a queer romantic subplot (it was perfect)

My only complaint was that I wished the glossary was a lot more extensive because your girl forgot a few things here and there. Thank you DAW for this advanced reader copy!

[Kyle Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Holy moly. Come for the demon possession, stay for the intense world building and high stakes. What a debut novel!

[k💌 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book made me cry on a public train. do with that what you will.
the demon star is a horror-infused science fantasy set on a ruined planet ruled by parasitic gods who demand blood. aragon gives us two of the most messy, relatable, and painfully mortal characters i’ve read in a while. both ysira and jacen’s pov chapters were so compelling that i struggled to pick a favorite. ysira’s journey as a survivor and mother as well as jacen’s struggles with addiction were so resonant and human, keeping the story grounded and intimate even as the scale expanded. because i am a sucker for side characters who steal the show, i was also obsessed with nines and especially ogden. neri was also so realistic and tragic… i wanted to give him the biggest hug. the morally grey decisions they are forced to make had me screaming. a lot of the times at ysira and jacen. every major character in this book is somewhere on the grey to black spectrum, and disturbed to some level. but you can’t help but feel for them.
because of this, the relationships were… immensely screwed up. ysira loves her son, but makes about ninety terrible decisions regarding him. and there are emotions between her, jacen, and seth, but no one knows what to do with them. when i say there’s romance in this book, it’s the tiniest crumbs and at least 85% relegated to closet yearning and slight hand brushes. this definitely takes “you can’t love anyone else until you love yourself” to another level. but they try. and i love them for it.
i appreciate how flawlessly this book bridges the gap between epic fantasy, space opera, and cosmic horror. the worldbuilding is grandiose in scale but because the story is character driven, it feels so intimate. you go from demon-haunted canyons to starbound satellites, and you can feel the creeping dread on every page. aragon asks "what is a god?" and then answers it in the most visceral, terrifying way possible. the gods themselves are just sickening. i love how their presence is built up through the world and through anecdotes, especially turil. she was the scariest to me. i do wish we’d seen more of the gods just because they were so interesting! i’ve read a lot of science fantasy, but the way aragon handles religious trauma and the tyranny of faith is so incisive it actually left me staring at a wall for a good twenty minutes. i’m always sat for multilayered lore and history.
i also really loved how it stands alone while clearly having the potential for something massive (this is me begging jesse for more in this universe). the ending is satisfyingly unsatisfying, and leaves so much open for interpretation, especially with the structural change.
overall the demon star wrecked me in the best way. i feel like fans of dune, sun eater, and the locked tomb will enjoy this as much as i did. for anyone looking for eldritch gods, messy family bonds, body horror, and religious commentary, you need this on your shelf.

[Mikes Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be granted an ARC of The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon last minute. I loved this book! The fact that this is a debut still blows my mind!

Jesse Aragon has done a fantastic job at creating a world that feels real, characters that feel human that are imperfect and are driven by complex emotions and priorities. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to read this book! Family, faith, and where your loyalties lie, are all up in the air.

We follow a reluctant mother, a faithless priest, and a child that wants to prove himself worthy. Let me tell you, it’s hard to tell who’s in the right sometimes due to some of the questionable actions of these characters. I really enjoyed being immersed in this world of fantasy, grimdark, scifi, and horror all blended with perfect ease!

Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned and it’s what you do with those moments and decisions that shape you.

Thank you so much to @jva_writes @dawbooks and @astrapublishinghouse for the ARC of this spectacular debut! It comes out 7/28 (Happy Birthday to me 😂) and everyone should try it out!

[Andrew Rebillard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to DAW for the Arc!!

The Demon Star is an incredibly ambitious debut.

The book hooked me immediately and never really let go. Jesse Aragon crafts a fascinating world filled with faith, political intrigue, and difficult moral questions. I am always a sucker for stories that blur the lines between right and wrong, and this book leans heavily into that.

I also loved the influences on display. I got strong Dune, The Matrix, and even Stargate vibes throughout, all wrapped in a world that still manages to feel distinctly its own.

My biggest criticism is pacing. The first half was incredibly hard to put down, but the middle slows considerably with exposition that occasionally stalls the momentum. Because of this, some later moments did not land with quite the impact they could have. This is a very ambitious story for 400 pages, and I honestly think it may have benefited from being split into two books.

Even with those issues, I came away impressed. Aragon tackles big ideas with confidence, and the ambition on display here is undeniable.

Jesse Aragon is an author I’m excited to watch.

[Nicholas Perez]

LET'S GO!!!!

[Matt Quann · Rating 4 out of 5]

You see it in almost every review of The Demon Star: "I can't believe this is a debut novel." Frankly, I have a hard time wrapping my head around it too. Authors rarely launch into the SF&F space with such a confident, rich, and sprawling adventure as you will find between the covers of this book. What's more, Aragon seamlessly knits together a story that begins as a horror-fantasy, quickly becomes science fiction, before dovetailing into some new mix of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.

Horror science-fantasy? The jury is still out on a proper category for this novel.

Aragon introduces the reader to two lead characters, Ysira and Jacen, though there are many supporting characters who are pulled to centre stage as the novel continues on. Jacen is a psychic priest of the Black Sun (dope already, no?) who's fallen deep into the bottom of any bottle he can find following the loss of his previous apprentice. He presents our initial glimpses into the bizarre society of his planet. By comparison, Ysira is a scavenger with a mysterious past who should have died as part of the society's ritual "harvests." Somehow she's survived and may be sharing her body with a demon.

If you have any thoughts as to where a story with that setup may go, I think you'll find yourself surprised and shocked by the tale Aragon weaves. I certainly was! I enjoyed the subversion of expectation in the plot, but thought it was the characters that made the book shine. These guys have some serious foibles. By the time I was turning the final pages of the book, I wanted to shout at, slap, or shake any of the characters who survive to the end.

It's also worth noting that this book is DARK. Bodies are pulped, eldritch horrors unfold from dark crevices, and humanity sinks to some despicable lows. An aspect of doom hangs over the proceedings and leads to an ending that, to me, was deeply unsettling and on point for what had come before. It is a novel that asks what the characters are willing to sacrifice to change their world? Their humanity? Their lives? Their morals?

I get the feeling this novel will have a follow-up of some kind, but I'd be just as happy if Aragon left it here. I'm highly excited to read whatever the next thing she puts out, be it attached to The Demon Star or something entirely new. Ladies and gents, we have ourselves a bright new voice in the space. This is one to read and an author to watch!

ADDENDUM

I received this book as part of the Broken Binding's science fiction & fantasy mystery monthly subscription box. Far and away, this is the coolest looking edition I've gotten from the box.

[4.5 Stars]

[Brionna Bell-Scotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Although it’s a bit of a slow start in the beginning, once the story jumps deep into the action, it remains action packed until the very end. The world building is immense and detailed; however, it would have benefited more in giving more lore for the Source and the demons that call it home. This book is very fantasy heavy, with a very slight romantic subplot, which honestly…I’m glad it happened because I saw it coming 👀. The action is Game of Thrones-esque in that you cannot have a favorite character because it is likely they won’t live long, but the plot and politics are very Dune inspired. However, this story can stand on its own two feet with complex and diverse characters, immense world building, and a unique and interesting plot.

The key characters, Jacen, Ysira, Neri, Seth, and Nines are all complex and interesting characters that make you want to root for them as they fight their way to freedom against supposedly powerful and immortal gods. Throughout the story, they make choices that force them to essentially change who they are, while they also continue to try and keep their humanity. The ending to the story is sad but beautifully done and in my opinion, a great ending to an amazing debut story. Jesse Aragon, you have a new fan, and I look forward to seeing more from you.

Thank you Jesse Aragon, NetGalley, and DAW publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[makilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️

This one was a hard one to rate because I think the parts I really disliked were intentional decisions made by the author. I actually had a three page rant written about how much I hated the characters in this book and their decisions, but then I realized that was doing too much 😭 Everyone except Seth and Nines failed Neri and ngl, it was extremely frustrating to read. Nobody but them seemed to have an ounce of empathy, especially Ysira. Neri deserved better.

This was by no means a bad book, it was actually quite impressive for a debut, but unfortunately wasn’t an enjoyable reading experience for me. I did enjoy the first half of the book but I felt like the second half lacked the momentum of the first. Once the mystery behind the gods was revealed, the story kind of lost the tension/suspense and started to feel a little derivative. By the end, I was racing to finish it. Not because I was interested in where the story was going but because I just wanted to get to the end.

[Preacher Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Jesse Aragon's debut sci-fantasy novel was an overall positive experience, highlighted by extremely thorough and engaging worldbuilding, a captivating blend of fantasy and science-fiction elements, alongside sprinklings of cosmic horror. The overall plot was engaging, but I felt it was rushed at moments, and felt like a multi-book series that was. forced into a stand-alone volume. For many, this may be a positive, but for me, I was left wanting more fleshing out, especially of the characters. Some of the side characters felt a bit samey and difficult to differentiate as well. I recommend this for fans of Süneater, the Godeater Saga, or anyone looking for a dark mashup of sci-fi and fantasy, with some horror tossed in!

[Miles Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Telepathy, theology, and exorcisms combine to form a dark, cosmic sci-fantasy horror mashup in Jesse Aragorn’s The Demon Star.

Jacen, a depressed, drunk exorcist, Ysira, a demon-possessed mother, and Neri, a boy who is chosen to be the channel for a power that can decimate civilization, are thrust together to save the world—or destroy it. Their choices are completely their own, but all of them lead to one question. Will they destroy the gods… or serve them?

There will no doubt be a wealth of people approaching The Demon Star hot off the back of reading Sun Eater, hoping to dive into the pages and find their replacement for Hadrian Marlowe. It would be hard to blame them when so many parallels between the stories exist. The science-fantasy, space opera, and horror elements. The self-serving characters. The theological postulates. The two even share the same cover artist, Kieran Yanner, who so effortlessly seems to capture tone and subject with his compositions. In a market where comps are so important, it can be hard to shed the weight of the stories you’re so often thrown in with. So perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay to Jesse Aragorn is to say this: The Demon Star stands completely on its own, and I have no doubt it will have its own (completely deserved) fandom in due time.

Wildly inventive, deliciously twisted, and deeply philosophical, I think I will be hard pressed to find another debut this year that strikes so many story elements that I love with such fervor. Plot. Character. Action. Drama. Morality. It is all so deeply woven together.

Every character in The Demon Star is charged with faults. Jacen is a depressed addict. Ysira is a disaster mom that (literally) can’t die. Neri is hopelessly looking for approval from anyone. Every decision they make is so justified by the carefully crafted motivations Aragon weaves into their psyches. This is not a book for those who love clearly defined, happy relationships. This is a novel for people who love messy, who aren’t afraid of characters that will be toxic, even to themselves.

In the realm of space-opera, we often see series that explore the lust and greed for power across a galactic scope. Indeed, The Demon Star has a similar penchant, but the book is not spread out across lightyears. It’s honed in to the individual characters of Zivora’s dunes. You come to know exactly who they are far faster than seems likely. And the eerie part is, you actually root for them, despite the wealth of amorality that spills through the pages.

Well… not Ged. If you root for Ged… yeah. Anyway…

This isn’t a novel that is bleak, but it does cast its light towards things that are. Theocracy, the corruption of religion, the sacrifice of people to sate the appetite of gods… there is a heaviness in the pages that only one adept with the pen can create. It settles over the reader like a blanket. You cannot shed it, and yet it makes the world feel like home. You grow comfortable in it. So much so that the twists really do make you question what is going to happen next.

Indeed, the second half of this book is a barrage of constant gut-punches and haymakers, all delivered at the same time, and you are likely to feel the weight of the strikes as much as the characters do.

Combine it all with a deviously twisted system of magic/tech that weaves gods, bugs, telepathy, and exorcisms together, and prepare for a thrillride through sci-fantasy’s next big genre-blend.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some top notch world-building amongst these pages. The story is a mix of scifi and fantasy set in a desolate world ruled by uncaring Gods. Demons and telepaths take centre stage in the main conflict.

The characters, writing, and imagination put into the plot were fantastic. I wish I could’ve spent more time with the main characters as events in the story came to a head; it felt like a lot of lead up and then we almost rush through the best action. Naxal at the end was definitely a force to be reckoned with- I can’t tell if they will be benevolent or malevolent in the long run.

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more works from Jesse!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and DAW for a copy!

[Kayla McCary · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m obsessed, i’m nauseous, and i will be staring at a wall now

[Brandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for an eARC to read and review before publishing.

What. A. Debut! I will forever be grateful that I was influenced by Pierce Brown's blurb and took a chance on requesting an ARC of The Demon Star.

I didn't know what to expect when I started The Demon Star, and I love that I was open to whatever journey Jesse Aragon was about to take me on. I was intrigued by the concept of demons vs. gods and the role that humans would play in the galaxy spanning war between the two. And I was definitely not disappointed with the world and universe that Jesse has created to explore the complexity of humanity, religion, politics, and how individual character decisions can not only impact their world but the universe at large as well.

The Demon Star has a dynamic cast of characters that are layered in their desires, fears, convictions, and beliefs. Each character believes that they are truly doing what is best for their world and humanity as they know it which blurs the lines between allies and foes. And although you will find yourself drawn to specific characters, Jesse does a phenomenal job of ensuring that her villains are relatable and sympathetic.

If you are a fan of Fantasy and Science Fiction, then The Demon Star is a must read. It's my favorite SciFi read of the year, and I am BEGGING DAW to allow Jesse Aragon to continue bringing us stories set in this universe!

[Dom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

For the most part, this one didn’t work for me, but it’s not the book’s fault. I knew going into it that there was a chance it wouldn’t work because I’m very hit and miss with science-fantasy, which this is. Regardless, it sounded interesting, and plenty of it was. It did take me a little while to get into a couple of the characters though, especially the one we spend most of the first few chapters following, which led to me having a bit of a slow start.

The writing was solid, with mostly good pacing, so once I did get into it, the pages turned pretty quickly. There was plenty of action, although one character trait did sometimes feel a little overdone, meaning the stakes never really felt too high – at least where that character was involved. It’s a slight twist on a trope that I’m not really a fan of, but at least here it did have that twist, and I thought it was explained well and fit the story well.

There was a good bit of lore here, which was expanded upon throughout the story. My only real issue with that is that some of it felt a bit too convenient, most notably the introduction of gates that allowed fast travel, and led to a bit of a jumpy portion of the book.

Overall, I think it was a decent enough read, if not really for me. If you enjoy science-fantasy, then chances are you’ll have a good time with this one.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw that this book would be in my The Broken Binding subscription I was in such doubt if I would skip it. The blurb did not really do it for me and I did not expect that I would like the book. Never would I have guessed this would be a 5 star read for me.

When it arrived at my house, I re-read the blurb and decided to start this right away. I think the only reason I did not finish it in one go is because I really did not have the time for it.

I love a book where there is this theme of very devoted priests falling off of their faith. Jacen was a very flawed character but that just worked for this book. I enjoyed the story and that it was written from two different perspectives, who eventually worked towards the same goal. Gradually during the book you feel everything just going sideways. Like watching a trainwreck happening but you cannot do anything to stop it. I think the choice of the pov in the last couple of chapters just brought home that very sinking feeling of: What just happened?
I left this book with a very uncomfortable feeling and I just love that for me. Enjoyed every minute of this book.