Passion in the Pentagram: A Passing Through Cafe Standalone

Passing Through Cafe #0.5

by Nik Knight, Lynn Norris (Narrator)

Quin Duboi never believed in love at first sight... until Glyma Aryti walked into her office.

Closeted, controlled, and promised to a man her mother chose, Quin has accepted her fate. Duty over desire. Appearances over truth. It's the only future she could see... until she saw Glyma.

A Succubus from Lust with dreams of opening a cafe, Glyma doesn't just disrupt Quin's carefully ordered world. She ignites it. As forbidden attraction burns into something deeper, Quin must decide if she will follow the path chosen for her or finally claim the life she wants.

Join Quin and Glyma—along with a few familiar faces—in this sapphic prequel to the Passing Through Cafe series, featuring forbidden desires, fated soulmates, a fake fiancé who loves to play matchmaker, and glitter. Lots of glitter.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Lesbian, Queer, Paranormal, Found Family, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published December 31, 2025

About the author

Nik Knight (they/them) is a born and bred Hoosier living in a top-secret location in Europe. They are a single parent to two wonderful gremlins, and they write love in all its forms.

When they aren’t busy adulting, Nik can be found in their writing nook, typing away as their fingers turn to nubs.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn't love Nik's achillean romances so much I would say they needed to only write sapphic from now on because this was AMAZING. (Instead I'll ask that they write whatever they want for forever because it is all my favorite). Quin and Glyma were also so obviously in love throughout the Passing Through books so it was great getting to see how they got together. I always saw Quin is more stoic and unemotional, but seeing beyond that face she puts forward showed so much more and I loved her inner strength once she finally wore it proudly. And of course I loved Glym, she's so lovely, funny, and completely down bad for her girl in a way that I just love to see more than anything. It's a Knight book, so there's still angst and hurt, and things aren't easy for them, but it's so beautiful and lovely once it all works out! Also, a good amount of steam for a fairly short story. (Plus there are some incredibly fun cameos!!)

I'm also petitioning for a little short of Waryn frolicking around Europe and maybe ending up in a QPR!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite parts of the other books in this series is the whole hilarious gang together. Since this was a prequel, none of the other characters were in this story and it just wasn’t as good without them. Still pretty decent though, just not as good as the other three. This book also had a flower petal vagina, so that’s neat.

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glyma and Quin have been couple goals since book 1 and I was so excited to get their story! Glyma was a ray of glittery sunshine with a protective streak. Quin was a buttoned up determined woman who needed some chaos in her life. Their love story was sweet and filled with patient love.

Spice: 2/5

Triggers: emotional and mental abuse, physical abuse by parent, dementia and grief related to loved one with dementia, homophobia including lesbophobic slur, sexism, misogyny, classism, speciesism, bigotry, panic attack

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

this had me giggling and kicking my feet 🥰

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and Spicy!

Loved this prequel novella set in Nik Knight's Passing Through Cafe universe! Short, sweet, and spicy it tells the story of how the cafe's two owners met and fell in love. There were also several small nods to other characters that are part of the cafe's found family. It could be read as a standalone without issue, but I highly recommend this series. It's a wonderfully funny series full of unique characters and found family vibes. 5stars all around!

[isthisakink · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5. Listen, Waryn is everything. That’s it. That’s the whole review. The distinct lack of Waryn in the rest of the series is absolutely galling. But for real, this was fucking top tier, elite content. I laughed, I cried, I felt all of the feelings. This was one hundred percent necessary for my happiness in life. I have loved the entire series, and this highlighted every single reason why. One of my all-time favourite worlds to get lost in and it’s perfect.

[LauraSt · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADORABLE!

NIK! I don’t even know what to say anymore. At this point, you can do no wrong in my eyes.

Because after four books of watching Quin and Glyma being absolutely adorable together, FINALLY getting to see how their love story began?!
I WAS SO HAPPY.

And honestly, knowing how much they love each other in the present made watching them fall in love even more precious.

So we have Quin, this incredibly buttoned-up, dutiful woman who’s spent her entire life living according to everyone else’s expectations. She’s closeted, engaged to a man her mother chose, and basically trapped inside this beautiful little silver cage where everyone gets to decide what her happiness should look like.

AND THEN HERE COMES GLYMA.
Our glittery, gorgeous, absolutely wonderful succubus who takes one look at this woman and apparently decides she’s about to change her ENTIRE WORLD.
AND THANK GOODNESS SHE DID.

Because watching Glyma slowly show Quin that there’s more to life than obligations and making everyone else happy was so freaking beautiful. She wasn’t there to make Quin’s decisions for her. She simply showed her that she HAD choices, that she deserved to be loved, and that happiness didn’t have to come at the expense of who she really was.

And Quin slowly realizing that maybe she deserves a life where she gets to love who she wants, be who she wants, and actually be HAPPY?!
MY HEART.

What I especially loved was that underneath all the sweetness, both women had their own struggles. Their own vulnerabilities. Neither of them had everything figured out, and seeing them open themselves up to each other while navigating everything happening in their lives made their relationship so much more meaningful.

Also, can we appreciate how Glyma somehow managed to be this glitter-covered ray of sunshine while being SO FREAKING HOT?!
Because LISTEN.
I don’t usually read FF romance, but apparently Nik Knight has decided that I should reconsider my reading habits.

The chemistry between these two was DELICIOUS. And when things finally got heated? HELLO??? I was NOT expecting to enjoy myself quite that much, but here we are.

And YES, it’s a short novella, so naturally everything develops a little faster than it would in a full-length book. But I genuinely didn’t mind! Especially because we’ve already spent four books getting to know these women as a couple.

This felt like getting a precious little missing piece of a story I already loved.

AND WARYN?!
I ABSOLUTELY ADORED HIM.
Nik, I’m going to need a little extra story about this man because I am NOT ready to say goodbye to him.

And getting those little cameos toward the end made me ridiculously happy because we were literally witnessing the tiny beginnings of what would eventually become one of my FAVORITE FOUND FAMILIES EVER.

Knowing everything these characters will eventually go through together, how much they’ll love each other, and how this ridiculous little cafe will become home to so many people made this prequel feel even more special.
I LOVE THIS FAMILY SO MUCH.

And I think that’s what makes these books so wonderful to me. Underneath all the paranormal chaos, the humor, and the ridiculously attractive demons, Nik Knight keeps giving us stories about people finding somewhere they belong. About choosing happiness, being loved for exactly who you are, and finding people who make life a little easier simply by being in it.

And Quin and Glyma’s story captured that beautifully.
It was sweet, emotional, funny, surprisingly HOT, and exactly what I needed.
The PERFECT little late-night read.

Another beautiful addition to a series that apparently owns my entire heart.

I DONT WANT THIS SERIES TO EVER END.

READ IT. READ IT. READ IT.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Romance

This book was absolutely lovely! I’ve read 2/3 of the Passing Through Cafe books that are currently out and I decided to pick up this novella before diving into book 3 and I’m so glad that I did. I loved Quin and Glyma in book 1 & 2 and I love them even more now knowing their story. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions with this book, it was funny just like the rest of the series has been but there were also moments that had me tearing up that I wasn’t expecting. This book may be short but it is so beautifully written. I loved Glyma’s joy and glittering personality in the face of all the terrible things in the world and the not so great things in her life. I love how she continued to spread joy and be her authentic self without concerning herself with what others thought of her. And I loved that she was exactly who Quin needed to start living her life. I was so sad to read about Quin’s backstory and the life she was trapped in. But I was also incredibly happy about how she seemed unable to resist the joy and freedom that Glyma was offering. Their slow growing friendship and relationship was paced wonderfully and I was obsessed with how much they both wanted one another. There were so many silly moments between them because of their attraction that they were hiding terribly which was perfectly on brand for this series. I also can’t finish this review without mentioning Waryn who was so wonderfully supportive of both Quin and Glyma and also just a hilarious character in general. I really hope we get to see more of him in this series because his friendship with Quin and Glyma was beautiful and he himself was just a fantastic character. I loved Waryn and Glyma protecting Quin near the end of the book and it was also so much fun seeing Glyma be truly protective of the woman she loves. Nik Knight has delivered a beautifully funny and emotional FF romance in less than 200 pages and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series for more wonderful writing!

[Cas ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so tickled to see that we finally got to hear Glyma & Quin's story, considering how significant their impact is on the other stories from the Passing Through Cafe stories. If not for them, the cafe wouldn't exist! It was such a treat to find out how the cafe came to be and to get a peek into not only their sappy, sweet, gooey love story and how their relationship developed, but also to get to know them as people/monsters too. The storyline with their very different contrasting parents was such a good foil for their characters. I also really, really like the friends that were mentioned (that I don't think we've met in the other books, at least up til Rusty/Gem's story where I paused to read this one).

The audiobook was fantastic too, Lynn Norris did an excellent job.

[Brittany Michaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning!!

This is the start of one of the best found family series I've read in a while. Buckle up for the ride! *glitter cannon explosion*

[ErikaWasReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Passing Through Cafe series is my comfort read, and I struggle to express how much each book means to me. At a time in my life when I was stressed and burned out, finding the first book was like sitting down with a cup of hot chocolate in front of a warm fire after battling my way through a winter snowstorm.

Quin and Glyma have always been such a grounding force in the series. A model for each new couple to look to as they build a healthy, happy relationship. So it was lovely to see how they got together.

While the cafe has always been the through line, it was wonderful, and sometimes sad, to see how the characters’ lives intersected before the cafe’s opening. The nod to Rusty and his mother was heartbreaking, while Tad was as perfectly chaotic as ever.

Waryn was also an excellent addition to the cast of characters (I hope we get a visit in future books), as he helped carry the themes of platonic love and friendship we see in the other novels.

I love that though Glyma is a confident succubus, her attraction to Quin can make her stumble over her words. And I love that while Quin is a smart, capable business demon, she is willing to admit when she needs to change and grow.

As I was looking over my highlights, I realized that beyond the love story and smexy times, it is really Nik Knight’s use of language that brings me back over and over again. The humour reminds me a lot of Terry Pratchett and how even simple passages are filled with humour and wit.

This book is perfect for fans of Discworld who also like smut, anyone who has ever battled parental expectations, people who like to laugh out loud, and fans of the Passing Through Cafe series.

[queerromancereads ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella has me utterly bewitched with its sapphic beauty. I need more of these characters, they're living rent free in my head rn.

From the very first novel in this series I've been completely fascinated by Quin, so I've been really excited to dive into this one. I’ll admit, going in, I was a little nervous about the shorter length and whether it could live up to the others, but it turned out I needn't have worried, because this is a fantastic book.

This novella is utterly beautiful. It tells a complete and moving story that has really meaningful character development, and never once feels rushed. How has this even been achieved in such a short read? It has to be some kind of magic. Side eyes suspiciously.

I fear I've fallen madly in love with Quin (don't fight me Glyma). But, like, I challenge you not to tbh. Anyone would. Quin really went through it in this novella and I was eagerly devouring every single word. Her character arc, and the pressure to conform to familial expectation, felt really meaningfully told and made me feel all the feelings.

The intimate scenes... Oh my goodness, they are incredibly beautiful. It hits the right note between tenderness and heat, leaving you completely captivated and spellbound. There are some powerful moments in the romance story and the writing evokes some beautiful imagery. My finger became closely acquainted with the highlight button this read.

And Waryn! What a character. I love him sm.

A fantastic sapphic novella. Gimme more. Gimme more. Chomps at the bit.

[Becky Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ 1.5🌶️

This novella was cute, Glyma & Quinn are so suited it’s lovely

I actually read this after reading the first 4 in the series and it was nice to see where they got their start and how Tad came to the cafe I wish we got Warryns book he would be a fun character to read about

Fucking Quinn’s mum honestly that bitch deserved a hell of a lot more than was Glyma did, also wished we got to learn was else Glyma was besides a succubus but 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Kirstine Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Quin the daemon and Glyma the succubus, two very different women from very different backgrounds, and how Glyma's dreams of opening a cafe brings them together. It's not always easy, not least because Quin's powerful and influential mother is a horrible cunt, but they get there in the end. We even find out how they came by Tad, the weird little dishwashing creature with webbed feet, and get a glimpse at Gemae, our beloved Araknis, at the very end.

Prequel to the excellent Passing Through Cafe series, and not surprisingly also excellent :)

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nik Knight, in the book announcement: I may have fallen in love with Waryn a little bit.

Me, reading the book: I have fallen in love with Waryn

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series: Passing Through Cafe #0.5
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good

Quin Duboi never believed in love at first sight until she met Glyma Aryti. This is a problem because she is a closeted lesbian set to marry a man arranged for her by her mother. But the more time she spends with Glyma, the more she realizes how miserable she actually is and she finally decides to fight for that life.

I loved Glyma and Quin in the previous books so I was so excited to finally see how their relationship started and how it led to the Passing Through Cafe. Their story was surprisingly emotional and covered a lot of heavy topics, like coming out, parental expectations, and building a life that you want. Honestly, this wasn’t what I was expecting from their relationship, but I did really enjoy it. It made me feel like their love was strong and true because they were tackling these heavy topics together.


While I didn’t love that Quin was in an arranged relationship/engagement during this, I also really liked Waryn, who is asexual (and antisex from what I gleamed) so the arrangement worked for him too. I love how strong their friendship was and that they were honest with each other throughout this whole book. It was Waryn who keep pushing her to stand up to her mother and to be with Glyma. He was just a great friend and I was glad to see that in the end he got to achieve his dream too.

Overall this was another fantastic Passing Through Cafe story. I love that we finally got the OG couples story and that their romance was so sweet and hot! It makes me want to reread the whole series again.

TW: homomisia; mental and emotional manipulation and abuse by a parent; physical abuse (slap to the face) by a parent; parent with dementia; sexism/misogyny; classism; speciesism; bigotry;

[Reading Rommance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delight! And caused quite a few tears. Honestly, it was so, so good and such a fun addition to the Passing Through world.

While we already know the characters, we actually got to know them in this one. Glyma is delightful. She's fun and spontaneous, but also a really intelligent business woman who saved and worked to build this cafe of her dreams. Quin is so kind and caring, despite growing up around the exact opposite. She's intelligent and hard working, too. I love these two together and I wish I had hundreds more pages of their story.

I really enjoyed Quin's fiance and that storyline as well. It was done well so that it never felt like cheating. I adored Glyma's mother's storyline, too. It was precious and so sad, but gave us a glimpse into her struggles outside of the cafe and her sunshine attitude. I also LOVED seeing our friends from other books get introduced. It was so fun to see their beginnings with the cafe as well. I love how central to the story Tad is becoming also. The more books we get, the more Tad we get and honestly it's amazing.

Overall, a huge success. I would recommend this book and this series to every single person. As always, Nik made me laugh and cry and giggle and swoon.

Notes: 2/5 spice levels, demon/demon, family issues, financial differences, friends to lovers, co-workers (kind of), arranged marriage (not to each other), found family

[lmreadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the Passing Through Cafe series and I wanted to go back and read this prequel novella before reading the next book in the series and I’m so happy I did. If you’re an audiobook lover I highly recommend the audios for this series, they are brilliant and definitely add to the enjoyment for me.
Passion in the Pentagram is Quin and Glyma’s story and I loved going back and seeing how their relationship started and how the Passing Through Cafe came to be.
I loved how Quin came in and just completely through Glyma’s carefully curated life into disarray (which definitely needed to happen)! This series is fantastic at depicting the classist society and the realities of both end of the scale, whilst depicting the humour of the characters and clever storytelling.
Quin and Glyma had such strong chemistry and I loved how the universe placed them in each other path again. Glyma’s family was horrible, whilst Quin’s circumstances with her mother was both beautiful and a sad reality for many.
I loved the edition of Waryn and what he brought to their story, the experience of platonic love and representation of different sexualities. The throwback to Rusty made my heart ache and I thought the introduction of Tad was brilliant!

[avis03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

FF, Monster, PNR, 3rd Dual POV

Status: KU, Novella, Series of Interconnected Standalones, Third Act Conflict - External, Reproduction - In the Future

Quin: Daemon, Business Consultant, Closeted, Can Teleport, Smoker, Sexually Inexperienced with Women

Physical Features: Dark Red Skin, Black Dreads, Horns, Hooves, Tail, >!Two Clits!<

Glyma: Succubus, Baker, Bi, Plus Sized, Wants to Open a Café, Smoker

Physical Features: Lilac Skin, Lavender Hair, Horns, Pink Eyes, Fangs, Tail

Rep: Queer Normative, Defaults to They/Them when Pronouns are Unknown, Trans and NBi Characters, Sex Positivity, Body Positivity

Notes: Stoic x Chaotic, Fated Mates, Fake Fiancé (Lavender Relationship), Leaving a Toxic Family

Sex Notes: Breast Stimulation, "Good Girl", Pussy Eating, Shared Pleasure (Succubus Ability), Fingering

CWs: Mental and Emotional Manipulation/Abuse by a Parent, Physical Abuse by a Parent, Struggles of Having a Parent with Dementia; Themes of: Sexism, Misogyny, Classism, Speciesism, Bigotry

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful, emotional and adorable prequel with Gylma and Quin. I loved it so much. I loved getting to see how they met and fell in love and how much they had each other’s back pretty much from day 1 of meeting. I LOVEDD the character Waryn he was funny! I really liked them as a trio, they had such strong chemistry (platonically) as a friend group. And I loved how bubbly Gylma was in their first meeting causing total gay panic on Quin😂

Gylma and Quin had such wonderful chemistry themselves and so many moments that I loved , moments that I cried through or laughed a lot at. I honestly wish this was just a longer book, to see more of Quin’s journey, post getting free from her mother’s clutches. All the moments in between where her and Glylma were friends/professional acquaintances but definitely something more under the surface.

Fuck Quin’s family. They fucking suck. Ugh I want more sapphic romance from this author honestly

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little gem for Passing Through Cafe fans

I adore the series and all the characters. Glyma and Quin, the owners of the cafe, are obviously ever-present but they are an established couple when the series starts. This was a lovely way to get to know them better and see how they met.
Glyma is far more outgoing than Quin so I didn't feel as though I knew her before now. Watching her fall in love and break away from her family was particularly satisfying, especially with the very dramatic scene at the end. What an absolute delight.
Glyma was a sweetheart throughout, supporting Quin even when she isn't sure if they will ever be romantically involved. She has a good heart and I love her.
Waryn was just the best.
Glimpses of other favourites was the icing on the cake and now, we have Zef's story to inhale very soon.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout the Passing Through series, Glyma and Quin - the cafe owners - are secondary characters in a committed, happy relationship but until this book we never knew how they got to where they are. This was the sweetest, steamiest, loveliest book that shows how the two met and what they had to overcome to get where they are today.

Like all of Nik's books, this one is incredibly well written, funny, fast-paced and just all around the best. I adored this story so very much!

You don't have to read the other stories in the series before reading this one although you should clearly read the whole series because each book is a gem!

[Tigress62 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 stars - this was a really cute and spicy introduction to the series (which I have read as far as books are available already) and, besides Tad, we already get glimpses of Rusty, Gem, and Toni 🤩 Of course, I would love to know more about Glyma's ancestry, what became of Waryn (I loved his character and how supportive of Quin he was!), and how Rusty, Gem, Toni, and Zef came to work at the café. But that's perhaps material for a few short stories?

I generously decided not to mention the editing: a few missing words, the occasional mashups of succubus/incubus - and why is there mention of a "ghoul"?

[Lisa Ann D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧡💕 Sapphic September mini review

“Do you like being a good girl, Quin?” Glyma asked, and Quin narrowed her eyes.  “Fuck off,” she said with no real heat to the words.
💕

Plus-size FMC
Sapphic Rom-com
Soul Mates
Tail Flirting
Leaving Toxic Fam
Found Family
Sweet & Spicy


rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read from: 09/21/2026 - 09/21/2026


𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀.
❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗙𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
✨🌈✨

[_mykee_b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another instant favorite

This was so incredibly sweet! I didn’t realize how much I wanted Quin & Glyma’s story. But I love having this new information about our Momma bears to our little found family at The Passing Through cafe 🫶

And Nik got me with those little insights to some of the crew. The audible “awwwww” I made at my sweet baby cheer bear, Rusty being mentioned. 🥹

Can’t wait to add this one to the collection ☕️😈

[teaguebean · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐

daemon x succubus, bi x lesbian, plus size rep, found family, fake relationship, fated, coming out, no 3rd act break up

this is the first book that i'm reading of this series even though i'm learning that that is apparently not recommended. this is the story of how the owners of the passing through cafe met and became the couple goals that they are through out the rest of the series.

i need more waryn!

[Rayven Eclypse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 93/150
Spice: 90/150

We love a strong woman in business, we hate a mother who thinks money is more important than her child. Glyma is a doll, I love her energy and how she isn't shy about who she is and tries to be as respectful as possible. Quin deserves so much more than she had been given in life, and Waryn is a godsend best friend. This was an adorable, funny, and cute novella, that made me cry twice out of nowhere. And I mean, who can turn down monster vulva???

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww, this was so fun to see how Glyma and Quin came together. I love seeing strong female characters and these two are a couple of the strongest. I loved following their journey, they were clearly besotted with one another from the start. I absolutely squealed when Tad was first mentioned at Quin's mother's house and I loved the peek of Gem and Toni at the end. So much fun if you're a fan of the PTC series!

[Marty Hamrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

I loved getting to see how the Passing Through cafe came to be and the little glimpses we got of these two in the other books made this one particularly enjoyable. I loved the whole series and would highly recommend them all. I think we need an entire series of just Tad’s exploits next!!

[Krystal Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this entire series, and finally, being able to read the prequel has left me so happy! I can't wait for Nik to keep writing because the stories are phenomenal, and the flames are scorching! Devour this series!