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In Between Death and the Devil
Not yet published
Expected 2 Oct 26She’s cursed with fatal visions. He’s the Devil who offers to save her. Only they can stop their realm from plunging into soul-erasing obliteration—if Death doesn’t come for them first.
Maeve Merwood killed her family.
Desperate to atone for her crime, Maeve pledges her allegiance to the Goddess of Death. But the domain of the dead has tipped into a mysterious imbalance where more souls are being sent to the shadows than ever before. With each day that Maeve remains, the instability morphs into a more devastating threat, shredding the very fabric of the realm. Struggling for control, Maeve cuts a secret deal with Death’s shadow-wielding nemesis—the Devil.
Now, she’s trapped in a dangerous game with the master of temptation himself. Win, and balance will be restored, allowing souls their rightful journey. Lose, and she’ll erase those very souls from existence. With the fate of others in her hands yet again, Maeve must decide between trusting Death or the Devil she’s falling for.
Before it’s too late for them all.
For dark romantasy readers who love morally grey MMCs, but crave a story that challenges who the real villain is. IN BETWEEN DEATH AND THE DEVIL is an angst ridden standalone, perfect for fans of A Court of Mist and Fury, From Blood and Ash, and Hades and Persephone retellings, with reluctant allies, fated souls, and found family.
Maeve Merwood killed her family.
Desperate to atone for her crime, Maeve pledges her allegiance to the Goddess of Death. But the domain of the dead has tipped into a mysterious imbalance where more souls are being sent to the shadows than ever before. With each day that Maeve remains, the instability morphs into a more devastating threat, shredding the very fabric of the realm. Struggling for control, Maeve cuts a secret deal with Death’s shadow-wielding nemesis—the Devil.
Now, she’s trapped in a dangerous game with the master of temptation himself. Win, and balance will be restored, allowing souls their rightful journey. Lose, and she’ll erase those very souls from existence. With the fate of others in her hands yet again, Maeve must decide between trusting Death or the Devil she’s falling for.
Before it’s too late for them all.
For dark romantasy readers who love morally grey MMCs, but crave a story that challenges who the real villain is. IN BETWEEN DEATH AND THE DEVIL is an angst ridden standalone, perfect for fans of A Court of Mist and Fury, From Blood and Ash, and Hades and Persephone retellings, with reluctant allies, fated souls, and found family.
498 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 2, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly, I want to say thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this compelling novel. It has been a privilege to get to read this before it's been released.
"In Between Death and the Devil" is a dark romantasy standalone novel, centered around themes of fatal visions and a "deal with the devil", it is perfect for fans of A Court of Mist and Fury and Hades and Persephone.
The novel follows Maeve Merwood, as she enters the In Between, in hopes of repaying for her mistakes in the world of the living, but instead, is thrust into something else entirely. Which leads her to Fen, or as some call him, the Devil. What starts as a simple contract, quickly blooms into something more as both Maeve and Fen both have to navigate parts of themselves they wished to leave buried, but for the sake of the realms, both must overcome their pasts and fears and quickly. For the In Between counts on them.
"In Between Death and the Devil" is a bit of a slow start, as it really takes a few chapters for the world to develop, but later in the book, you look back and are grateful for the slow build, it really connects you further with the world as you continue to read.
The author, Sophia Dunkin-Hubby did such an outstanding job in her debut novel "In Between Death and the Devil". She really did an amazing job encapsulating the emotions of the characters and bringing them to life instead of them simply being words on a page. Especially the way she focuses in on the main character, Maeve, as she struggles to learn to move passed her grief and learns to trust and to love again, for the sake of all realms but also for herself. I do not have enough words to tell you just how in love I am with this book. It is such a refreshing and unique read versus what I have been reading lately. I absolutely loved it and could not put it down!
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby as well as NetGalley for this amazing opportunity to read this gripping, heart-pounding novel. I really loved every single word of it and I look forward to reading more of the authors work in the future!
"In Between Death and the Devil" is a dark romantasy standalone novel, centered around themes of fatal visions and a "deal with the devil", it is perfect for fans of A Court of Mist and Fury and Hades and Persephone.
The novel follows Maeve Merwood, as she enters the In Between, in hopes of repaying for her mistakes in the world of the living, but instead, is thrust into something else entirely. Which leads her to Fen, or as some call him, the Devil. What starts as a simple contract, quickly blooms into something more as both Maeve and Fen both have to navigate parts of themselves they wished to leave buried, but for the sake of the realms, both must overcome their pasts and fears and quickly. For the In Between counts on them.
"In Between Death and the Devil" is a bit of a slow start, as it really takes a few chapters for the world to develop, but later in the book, you look back and are grateful for the slow build, it really connects you further with the world as you continue to read.
The author, Sophia Dunkin-Hubby did such an outstanding job in her debut novel "In Between Death and the Devil". She really did an amazing job encapsulating the emotions of the characters and bringing them to life instead of them simply being words on a page. Especially the way she focuses in on the main character, Maeve, as she struggles to learn to move passed her grief and learns to trust and to love again, for the sake of all realms but also for herself. I do not have enough words to tell you just how in love I am with this book. It is such a refreshing and unique read versus what I have been reading lately. I absolutely loved it and could not put it down!
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby as well as NetGalley for this amazing opportunity to read this gripping, heart-pounding novel. I really loved every single word of it and I look forward to reading more of the authors work in the future!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maeve Merwood has visions of death. Its haunted her all her life. Kept her sheltered, away from the world and others- besides her family.
When tragic events befall her , she is judged and sentenced to the 'In Between'.Hoping to take this chance to right the wrongs that still haunt her, Maeve is thrust between The Goddess of Death and the Devil himself. Unsure of who to trust, Maeve must uncover the truth and help right more than just the wrongs she believes she is guilty of and help save the In Between from crumbling, along with the souls who roam there.
The title and cover of this book were initially what caught my attention. Upon looking further I found out this was a debut novel by the author, labeled as a dark romantasy stand alone, full of angst, reluctant allies, found family and fated souls, for lovers of A Court of Mist and Fury & Blood and Ash.
The world building was very well done, without being saturated in heavy description and draining dialogue. Integral details about how things worked, why things were the way they were, the system in the 'In Between' were thoroughly covered, without being confusing or boring to the reader.
The characters! Morally grey, at times not reliable, fun dialogue, well written in their individuality. We have a pansexual throuple, which is refreshing as I haven't read many books with a throuple, although romance novels generally aren't my go too.
The bedroom scenes were steamy without feeling cringe. Definitely my kind of dark sexy romance in that aspect. Took me back to my younger years..
The only nit pick, which is a personal preference more than anything, I don't like women's vaginas being called 'cunt'. It just feels derogatory to me. Its not something that would personally turn me on if someone said it to me, it would actually do the opposite and piss me off.
Overall for a debut novel, this was very well done. If this is Sophia Dunkin-Hubby's first book, I cant wait to see what else she comes out with.
Maeve Merwood has visions of death. Its haunted her all her life. Kept her sheltered, away from the world and others- besides her family.
When tragic events befall her , she is judged and sentenced to the 'In Between'.Hoping to take this chance to right the wrongs that still haunt her, Maeve is thrust between The Goddess of Death and the Devil himself. Unsure of who to trust, Maeve must uncover the truth and help right more than just the wrongs she believes she is guilty of and help save the In Between from crumbling, along with the souls who roam there.
The title and cover of this book were initially what caught my attention. Upon looking further I found out this was a debut novel by the author, labeled as a dark romantasy stand alone, full of angst, reluctant allies, found family and fated souls, for lovers of A Court of Mist and Fury & Blood and Ash.
The world building was very well done, without being saturated in heavy description and draining dialogue. Integral details about how things worked, why things were the way they were, the system in the 'In Between' were thoroughly covered, without being confusing or boring to the reader.
The characters! Morally grey, at times not reliable, fun dialogue, well written in their individuality. We have a pansexual throuple, which is refreshing as I haven't read many books with a throuple, although romance novels generally aren't my go too.
The bedroom scenes were steamy without feeling cringe. Definitely my kind of dark sexy romance in that aspect. Took me back to my younger years..
The only nit pick, which is a personal preference more than anything, I don't like women's vaginas being called 'cunt'. It just feels derogatory to me. Its not something that would personally turn me on if someone said it to me, it would actually do the opposite and piss me off.
Overall for a debut novel, this was very well done. If this is Sophia Dunkin-Hubby's first book, I cant wait to see what else she comes out with.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maeve Merwood has known she was cursed since childhood and her fears of what this meant all came bubbling to the surface the day her curse caused her family’s deaths. Seeking atonement for her crimes, Maeve gives her life in service to the Goddess of Death. The In Between is far from the paradise she was expecting, however, as she finds the realm at the verge of collapse and herself in the middle of a 100-year-old battle for power. Unsure of herself and those around her, she finds herself torn between the goddess she has vowed her life to and the devil.
In Between Death and the Devil stands apart in its world building. For creating a unique world and afterlife system, it never felt bogged down by too many descriptions or facts. Everything the reader needs comes naturally through the story. This is no small feat to accomplish in a fantasy novel, and especially in a debut novel for the author. The story weaves together snippets from different mythologies seamlessly while still making it feel original to the world.
The book falters in the strength of its characters. Side characters are not fleshed out so injuries and near-death escapes did not land the impact that was intended. Meave is a wonderful character working through an immense amount of trauma, but her main male counterpart left me lacking. This may be a personal taste thing, however, as I did not find he fit into what I expected when he was described as the morally grey MMC of a dark romantasy.
I struggled with the dialogue. The story itself felt it was set back in time, but the dialogue is casual with modern slang which pulled me out of the story at times.
Overall, it was very clear that the author had some genuinely amazing ideas for the fantasy world she wanted to create.
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for providing me with an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.
In Between Death and the Devil stands apart in its world building. For creating a unique world and afterlife system, it never felt bogged down by too many descriptions or facts. Everything the reader needs comes naturally through the story. This is no small feat to accomplish in a fantasy novel, and especially in a debut novel for the author. The story weaves together snippets from different mythologies seamlessly while still making it feel original to the world.
The book falters in the strength of its characters. Side characters are not fleshed out so injuries and near-death escapes did not land the impact that was intended. Meave is a wonderful character working through an immense amount of trauma, but her main male counterpart left me lacking. This may be a personal taste thing, however, as I did not find he fit into what I expected when he was described as the morally grey MMC of a dark romantasy.
I struggled with the dialogue. The story itself felt it was set back in time, but the dialogue is casual with modern slang which pulled me out of the story at times.
Overall, it was very clear that the author had some genuinely amazing ideas for the fantasy world she wanted to create.
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for providing me with an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book has hardcore Persephone and Hades vibes.
Not a retelling.
Just the vibes.
And I was here for it.
Maeve and Fen are such great characters. Neither of them is perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but that's exactly what makes them so interesting to read about.
The story follows Maeve, who has pledged herself to the Goddess of Death. But when things in the In Between become unbalanced, she's forced to make a deal with the Devil.
And that goes about as well as you would expect.
Glorious chaos ensues.
The world-building unfolds naturally alongside the story, which is exactly how I like it. There are no giant information dumps, just enough information at the right time that, by the end of the book, the world feels fully realized. The writing is descriptive while still being easy to read, making it really easy to get lost in the story.
The side characters were another highlight for me. They aren't there just to fill space. They show up when they need to, add to the story, and for the most part are incredibly lovable.
So with all of that, why four stars instead of five?
For me, there were a few moments that felt a little predictable.
Not everything.
There were still plenty of surprises along the way, but there were a handful of plot points that I saw coming. I know some readers enjoy that familiarity, but for me it pulled me out of the story just a little.
The good news?
This is a standalone.
No cliffhanger.
No waiting a year for the next book while questioning all of my life choices.
Highly recommended.
Not a retelling.
Just the vibes.
And I was here for it.
Maeve and Fen are such great characters. Neither of them is perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but that's exactly what makes them so interesting to read about.
The story follows Maeve, who has pledged herself to the Goddess of Death. But when things in the In Between become unbalanced, she's forced to make a deal with the Devil.
And that goes about as well as you would expect.
Glorious chaos ensues.
The world-building unfolds naturally alongside the story, which is exactly how I like it. There are no giant information dumps, just enough information at the right time that, by the end of the book, the world feels fully realized. The writing is descriptive while still being easy to read, making it really easy to get lost in the story.
The side characters were another highlight for me. They aren't there just to fill space. They show up when they need to, add to the story, and for the most part are incredibly lovable.
So with all of that, why four stars instead of five?
For me, there were a few moments that felt a little predictable.
Not everything.
There were still plenty of surprises along the way, but there were a handful of plot points that I saw coming. I know some readers enjoy that familiarity, but for me it pulled me out of the story just a little.
The good news?
This is a standalone.
No cliffhanger.
No waiting a year for the next book while questioning all of my life choices.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Sophia for the ARC copy i really enjoyed it!
This is one of the more unique takes on the underworld/life after death/after life/Hades and Persephone retellings i have ever read. I was hooked from the first chapter it was so mysterious and intriguing.
I really enjoyed the FMC, especially her personability before she enters the In Between, i found her a slightly deeper person before. In saying that her journey of forgiveness and self discovery through the In Between was beautiful. She had to face so many challenges but all of those that she had to face within herself were so moving. In the last 1/3 of the book it was a touch repetitive but it was a sweet ending.
The MMC was very interesting and i would have loved more time to explore his character the parts we got in the final third were excellent and needed but a touched rushed. The same goes for our key Villain i would have loved more backstory and insight i found them so compelling.
This book for the first 2/3 feels YA and then BOOM when the spice hits it hits. I think because of how long it was more of a closed door feel the first hit of real spice was a bit disorientating (still loved it!!) but after that the adult tones and feelings of the text all fell into place. I had a bit of trouble trying to place the time setting of the world of the living but i think the author was deliberately vague.
I really enjoyed this and would recommend to romantasy readers.
Overall 3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Enemies to lovers ✅✅✅
This is one of the more unique takes on the underworld/life after death/after life/Hades and Persephone retellings i have ever read. I was hooked from the first chapter it was so mysterious and intriguing.
I really enjoyed the FMC, especially her personability before she enters the In Between, i found her a slightly deeper person before. In saying that her journey of forgiveness and self discovery through the In Between was beautiful. She had to face so many challenges but all of those that she had to face within herself were so moving. In the last 1/3 of the book it was a touch repetitive but it was a sweet ending.
The MMC was very interesting and i would have loved more time to explore his character the parts we got in the final third were excellent and needed but a touched rushed. The same goes for our key Villain i would have loved more backstory and insight i found them so compelling.
This book for the first 2/3 feels YA and then BOOM when the spice hits it hits. I think because of how long it was more of a closed door feel the first hit of real spice was a bit disorientating (still loved it!!) but after that the adult tones and feelings of the text all fell into place. I had a bit of trouble trying to place the time setting of the world of the living but i think the author was deliberately vague.
I really enjoyed this and would recommend to romantasy readers.
Overall 3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Enemies to lovers ✅✅✅
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It is such a pleasure to read an author's debut and have so much fun while doing it.
After accidentally killing her family, Maeve wants to atone for what she has done and is sent to the In Between to judge souls in the afterlife. So yes, she literally dies and ends up in a world where souls reincarnate. When she arrives, she finds herself caught between a handsome, not-so-terrifying Devil and the goddess Death.
What I loved most about this book was the writing. It's beautiful, easy to follow, and simply a pleasure to read. We get reluctant allies, found family, some spice, and a touch of mystery. The pacing is fast, and there are so many moments where you tell yourself, "Just one more chapter," only to realize you've read ten.
There are also plenty of emotional scenes where we truly feel the characters' grief, pain, and even a little betrayal.
And finally, we have a truly morally grey MMC. He's far from perfect and carries a lot of his own issues. What I appreciated even more is that our FMC isn't trying to "fix" him. Instead, she's willing to help him while dealing with her own emotions in a surprisingly mature way.
The only thing I wanted a little more of was the mystery. I think the author could have pushed Maeve to search harder for the answers instead of revealing them quite so quickly.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read, and I genuinely hope it gets the attention it deserves in the romantasy community.
After accidentally killing her family, Maeve wants to atone for what she has done and is sent to the In Between to judge souls in the afterlife. So yes, she literally dies and ends up in a world where souls reincarnate. When she arrives, she finds herself caught between a handsome, not-so-terrifying Devil and the goddess Death.
What I loved most about this book was the writing. It's beautiful, easy to follow, and simply a pleasure to read. We get reluctant allies, found family, some spice, and a touch of mystery. The pacing is fast, and there are so many moments where you tell yourself, "Just one more chapter," only to realize you've read ten.
There are also plenty of emotional scenes where we truly feel the characters' grief, pain, and even a little betrayal.
And finally, we have a truly morally grey MMC. He's far from perfect and carries a lot of his own issues. What I appreciated even more is that our FMC isn't trying to "fix" him. Instead, she's willing to help him while dealing with her own emotions in a surprisingly mature way.
The only thing I wanted a little more of was the mystery. I think the author could have pushed Maeve to search harder for the answers instead of revealing them quite so quickly.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read, and I genuinely hope it gets the attention it deserves in the romantasy community.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maeve Merwood is haunted by guilt after the tragedy that claimed her family. Seeking redemption, she pledges herself to the goddess of death, hoping to help guide lost souls through to the afterlife. However the realm of the Dead is falling apart. Souls are disappearing into the shadows and the balance between life and death is beginning to unravel. Desperate to stop this growing catastrophe Maeve strikes a dangerous secret bargain with the devil, the sworn enemy of the godess of death that she is pledged to. Forced into an uneasy alliance she must decide who she can trust while racing to save the souls from Oblivion. As feelings begin to develop between her and the devil, the lines between hero and villain begin to blur, leaving her to question everything she believed about good, evil and redemption.
What gave me pause is that many of these elements,enemies to lovers, brooding devil,a heroin burden by guilt,are popular tropes that can either feel fresh or overly familiar depending on the execution. I think the author made these feel fresh and original. The premise of a morally gray character and the idea of a heroine caught between Death and the Devil sounds promising. The afterlife settings creates a unique world. If you enjoy dark romance, high stakes, and supernatural politics this book will give you plenty to love. I recieved this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my opinion. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3.
What gave me pause is that many of these elements,enemies to lovers, brooding devil,a heroin burden by guilt,are popular tropes that can either feel fresh or overly familiar depending on the execution. I think the author made these feel fresh and original. The premise of a morally gray character and the idea of a heroine caught between Death and the Devil sounds promising. The afterlife settings creates a unique world. If you enjoy dark romance, high stakes, and supernatural politics this book will give you plenty to love. I recieved this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my opinion. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For a first time author, this is a pretty solid read but I think it could benefit from a little bit of editing. The storyline is certainly very unique where you have everything taking place in The In Between. A lot of talk about weighing souls and determining their fate based on the lives they lived. Our characters wrestle with how they see themselves and the lives they lived and what they deserve as a result.
Some of my challenges with the story had to do with the yo-yoing that took place between the FMC and MMC. Trust is a big thing to our FMC and it comes up a lot, it turns into a repetitive cycle between the two characters to a point that it was getting a bit lengthy. We kept getting mini reveals as we went and I don't think it had the impact that it should have on the story.
Our FMC is tough to like at times. She is pretty hard on herself for most of the book and while again, I like the idea of an FMC that has shortcomings and internal struggles, this felt like it was pretty much her entire personality and you wanted her to move past it much quicker than she does.
There were some solid moments in here, fun side characters and the story progressed to a tidy conclusion that fits a standalone book. All in all, a good start for this author and I hope they continue to bring new stories to the table with non-typical settings and plots.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review of this book.
Some of my challenges with the story had to do with the yo-yoing that took place between the FMC and MMC. Trust is a big thing to our FMC and it comes up a lot, it turns into a repetitive cycle between the two characters to a point that it was getting a bit lengthy. We kept getting mini reveals as we went and I don't think it had the impact that it should have on the story.
Our FMC is tough to like at times. She is pretty hard on herself for most of the book and while again, I like the idea of an FMC that has shortcomings and internal struggles, this felt like it was pretty much her entire personality and you wanted her to move past it much quicker than she does.
There were some solid moments in here, fun side characters and the story progressed to a tidy conclusion that fits a standalone book. All in all, a good start for this author and I hope they continue to bring new stories to the table with non-typical settings and plots.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75⭐ In Between Death & the Devil is a whimsical romantasy full of gods, devils, magic, soul bonds, a bit of spice, and people occasionally being turned into salamanders. While the romance leaned towards insta-lust while my preference is slow burn, readers who enjoy faster moving chemistry and tension will enjoy the playful banter and relationship between our recently deceased FMC and underworld MMC.
A strong debut for the author, this is an eccentric world that doesn’t take itself too seriously while working in some deep life lessons and thoughtful moments that made me stop and think. There were reflections on forgiving oneself, being vulnerable, how staying in the familiar to avoid fear holds us back, lessons on addiction, and how working through our feelings rather than avoiding them is the way through.
I enjoyed the quirky world-building, political intrigue between our underworld gods and devils, and the final trials that solidified whether our FMC was ready to be the new Death. It’s perfect for those looking for a lighthearted and playful romantasy. I would love to see more from this author! Thank you NetGalley and Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for the ARC💜
A strong debut for the author, this is an eccentric world that doesn’t take itself too seriously while working in some deep life lessons and thoughtful moments that made me stop and think. There were reflections on forgiving oneself, being vulnerable, how staying in the familiar to avoid fear holds us back, lessons on addiction, and how working through our feelings rather than avoiding them is the way through.
I enjoyed the quirky world-building, political intrigue between our underworld gods and devils, and the final trials that solidified whether our FMC was ready to be the new Death. It’s perfect for those looking for a lighthearted and playful romantasy. I would love to see more from this author! Thank you NetGalley and Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for the ARC💜
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Between Death and the Devil had such a great concept - Maeve stuck atoning for her family's death by serving the Goddess of Death, only to end up cutting a deal with the Devil himself to stop the realm from unraveling, was such a fresh spin on the whole "trapped between two powers" trope. I loved slowly getting the secrets peeled back as the imbalance and the stakes came into focus, and Maeve herself was easy to root for, she's guilt-ridden but never annoying about it, likeable in that grounded, no-nonsense way that makes a story click even when the world around her is falling apart.
Where it lost me a bit was the Devil himself. I just didn't gel with him as an MMC the way I wanted to, and the romance/spice ramped up faster than I'd have liked. I'm a slow burn girl through and through, so having Maeve "falling for him" happen that quickly took me out of the moment a little, especially with all that morally-grey-villain potential sitting right there. That said, this is a solid, easy standalone that's perfect for shaking off a reading slump- quick, angsty, and doesn't overstay its welcome.
Where it lost me a bit was the Devil himself. I just didn't gel with him as an MMC the way I wanted to, and the romance/spice ramped up faster than I'd have liked. I'm a slow burn girl through and through, so having Maeve "falling for him" happen that quickly took me out of the moment a little, especially with all that morally-grey-villain potential sitting right there. That said, this is a solid, easy standalone that's perfect for shaking off a reading slump- quick, angsty, and doesn't overstay its welcome.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found this one a little difficult to get into and I wish the author had started the book after the first 2 chapters and built the relevant information into the rest of the book. This would have set a more realistic pace for the story and been a much more captivating start.
That being said, I did enjoy the rest of the read and I think it would make a great pallet cleanser for readers seeking a slower paced magic read set in a world between the living and the dead, where souls are measured and weighed and your past life determines the success of your next life.
Tropes include; enemies to lovers, fated mates, found family, trials and tests, destiny fulfilment
That being said, I did enjoy the rest of the read and I think it would make a great pallet cleanser for readers seeking a slower paced magic read set in a world between the living and the dead, where souls are measured and weighed and your past life determines the success of your next life.
Tropes include; enemies to lovers, fated mates, found family, trials and tests, destiny fulfilment
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Between Death And The Devil is an amazing read that explores morality, entwines mythology, and pulls at your hear string. I was laughing and gasping throughout this whole book. What an excellent book to debut with.
The world building was beautiful and didn't leave me feeling like it drug on for too long. I really loved the FMC and MMC and the tension between them. There are some spicy scenes in the book but it isn't a main part of the story which is a refreshing change on the romantic scene.
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for providing me and advanced reader copy. This was a great Netgalley read. These opinions are both honest and my own.
The world building was beautiful and didn't leave me feeling like it drug on for too long. I really loved the FMC and MMC and the tension between them. There are some spicy scenes in the book but it isn't a main part of the story which is a refreshing change on the romantic scene.
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for providing me and advanced reader copy. This was a great Netgalley read. These opinions are both honest and my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really surprisingly good read! The idea of death and the devil being equals and meant to be partners to keep the balance was very interesting and added to the story. Overall, besides just being a story about death and the devil, it is a lesson in trust and the weight of the decisions we make. Maeve has to learn to accept her past, let go of it, and choose to move forward and she has to open herself to trust people. The tension between her and Fen is wonderful and made the story so much better!
July 15, 2026
*received as an ARC from Net Galley
Sophia does an amazing job bringing out real emotions, especially guilt and regret, and I felt like I was right there in the In Between with the characters. I really connected with the main character because she is trying to forgive herself and let go of her past, something I think many readers can relate to. I also loved Fen. He is written in a way that makes him impossible not to be drawn to, just as you would expect from the Devil. This is a fresh take on life after death, and I think this would make an incredible audiobook.
Sophia does an amazing job bringing out real emotions, especially guilt and regret, and I felt like I was right there in the In Between with the characters. I really connected with the main character because she is trying to forgive herself and let go of her past, something I think many readers can relate to. I also loved Fen. He is written in a way that makes him impossible not to be drawn to, just as you would expect from the Devil. This is a fresh take on life after death, and I think this would make an incredible audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was definitely an interesting story and a different take on the afterlife and a Hades/Devil type persona. I enjoyed the growth of the characters. I do think some of it was a repetitive but the character herself was young so it's warranted. Lots of underlining themes of trusting yourself and forgiving yourself for mistakes you've made. This book definitely had lots of twists and turns and things you didn't see coming. I would definitely recommend reading it.
This was an ARC though NetGalley
This was an ARC though NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was so nice sinking my teeth into a fantasy standalone. We get so used to cliffhangers in the genre, I think we forgot how satisfying a once-off HEA can be.
And I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was clearly a Hades and Persephone love story without it being a retelling. The premise was fresh and intriguing.
The world building is lush without being dumped on you and the characters undergo a lot of growth.
I hope we get to see more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
And I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was clearly a Hades and Persephone love story without it being a retelling. The premise was fresh and intriguing.
The world building is lush without being dumped on you and the characters undergo a lot of growth.
I hope we get to see more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
July 28, 2026
What a fantastic surprise! NETGALLEY READ!! This book explores morality and life after death in such a good way. The writing is brilliant, the FMC is evolving and changing, learning her flaws and what she actually deserves. The found family is lovely and the plot is excellent. I love the MMC and the relationship between them, it feels so real and raw. A great book with the best concept I’ve read so far this year. This is going to be amazing.
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