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In Between Death and the Devil
She’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
Published October 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Sophia for the eARC! I really enjoyed this debut and hope it gets the attention it deserves from the romantasy community!
I liked that Maeve is not a perfect heroine and she makes quite a few mistakes. She has a lot of guilt and is constantly trying to be better and it was nice watching her grow.
I really liked their Devil and hers dynamic. There’s so much tension and uncertainty between them, because neither of them is letting the other see them completely. I loved the slow build of their relationship and slowly see them understand each other.
I also really enjoyed the side characters and the found-family aspect. I was definitely curious to see where everything would go and I'm wasnt disappointed at all! I do wish we would've seen Fens "problem" more in depth and how they deal with it together.
Definitely worth picking up if you like morally grey characters, angst, complicated relationships, salamanders and romantasy.
I liked that Maeve is not a perfect heroine and she makes quite a few mistakes. She has a lot of guilt and is constantly trying to be better and it was nice watching her grow.
I really liked their Devil and hers dynamic. There’s so much tension and uncertainty between them, because neither of them is letting the other see them completely. I loved the slow build of their relationship and slowly see them understand each other.
I also really enjoyed the side characters and the found-family aspect. I was definitely curious to see where everything would go and I'm wasnt disappointed at all! I do wish we would've seen Fens "problem" more in depth and how they deal with it together.
Definitely worth picking up if you like morally grey characters, angst, complicated relationships, salamanders and romantasy.
October 3, 2026
This one was an okay read for me. I was really intrigued by the premise and the opening had me hooked, but it ultimately lost momentum as the plot went on.
It ended up lacking that deep emotional pull to keep me fully invested. I wanted to care more about the characters and the stakes, but the development just wasn't there. The romance also felt a bit flat and hard to root for, missing the natural chemistry that makes that dynamic believable.
It’s not a bad concept by any means, but the execution didn't quite live up to its potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It ended up lacking that deep emotional pull to keep me fully invested. I wanted to care more about the characters and the stakes, but the development just wasn't there. The romance also felt a bit flat and hard to root for, missing the natural chemistry that makes that dynamic believable.
It’s not a bad concept by any means, but the execution didn't quite live up to its potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2026
Review of advance copy
Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read your creation. All thoughts and opinions are my own #netgalley
Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read your creation. All thoughts and opinions are my own #netgalley
OH MY WHERE TO START?! This was a 5-star read for me, and I was completely blown away with this debut novel for Dunkin-Hubby!
World Building- The FMC has a 'curse,' and has been highly protected and safeguarded by her family, but unfortunately one day that curse resulted in a traumatic incident with her family that she was blamed for. The prologue opens with the FMC in court for a traumatic event that resulted in the crime she committed, and is given the choice for her punishment. For punishment she made a choice of service to atone for what happened. Thus, she is sent to the In-Between for training to serve... or so she believed. She ends up making a deal with the Devil to take down Death and bring balance back to the In-Between. I loved the author's descriptions of everything; I was able to envision how her human world seemed, how the In-Between looked and operated, and how our FMC felt.
FMC (Maeve)- Gosh I FELT for Maeve. She suffered such a traumatic event and was essentially alone afterwards. She felt immense guilt, shame, loneliness, sadness, and fear. The author made such amazing efforts to describe her thoughts and feelings that my heart just broke for her. Once in the In-Between she thought she would be able to atone for her crime by serving under Death, but apparently a lot of the teachings she had received were wrong. She then made a deal with the Devil and was told about her true role in the In-Between. In that deal Maeve learned to face her trauma, guilt, and LOTS of fears head on while also learning how to let others in, communicate her needs and wants, and gain family and an amazing love.
MMC (Devil)- I also FELT for the Devil. He was fighting his own demons while trying to perform his duties as the Devil in the best ways he could. I wasn't so sure of him at the beginning, BUT throughout the development of his and Maeve's relationship I grew to love him. He faced his bad memories, his current issue, and still came through with Maeve with helping her develop into herself and take on Death.
Relationship(s) Development- From the get go I was rooting for Maeve and the Devil. While there was massive amounts of miscommunication and I was thinking "JUST TALK," but it all really tied together throughout the book. Maeve and the Devil went from being reluctant to working together to forming such a bond and love that I LOVED. The side characters and their relationships with Maeve were so important in her gaining family and friendships. I thoroughly enjoyed each character's distinct traits and mannerisms, and how they worked together.
Extra- Salamanders? Very interesting concept along with the fire network! And the SPICE was SPICE (perfection)!
Tropes:
- Enemies-to-Lovers
- Slowburn & temptation/yearning
- Reluctant allies/relationship
- Morally Gray MMC
- Shadow Daddy
- "Good Girl"
- Mental Health aspects
- Found Family
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the eARC NetGalley and Sophia Dunkin-Hubby.
4/5 stars ✨️✨️✨️✨️
5/5 salamanders 🦎𓆈🦎𓆈🦎
Content warning as found in book:
In Between Death and the Devil is a spicy fantasy romance that contains subject matter that may be difficult for some including death, ritual suicide (on and off page), fertility struggles, miscarriage, addiction, and explicit sexual situations.
What I loved about this book:
1. The plot.
After accidentally killing her family Maeve is looking to atone. Her solution: go to the In Between to become a Judge of souls. She joins the Order of Death and 7 years later gets the opportunity to perform the Ritual and go to the In Between.
In the In Between we have Death and the Devil, they are immortal beings, or are they? Not everything is as it seems. Judges work for Death and Tempters work for the Devil, they are constantly at odds with each other. The In Between is out of Balance. It is up to Maeve to fix it.
The plot was done so well, there were twists and turns that I could never have seen coming. I really devoured this book, there wasn't a boring second!
2. The character relationships.
Romantic: Maeve and the Devil definitely clicked together, their relationship didn't feel forced. Right from the start I was all for them being together. The banter was really bantering at points!
This book also featured a Pansexual throuple, something I don't see very often. I loved how supportive everyone was of each others relationships, offering advice and making bets on when things would 'progress'.
Platonic: All of the platonic relationships were done really well. In the Devils Inner Circle you could see how they all cared for each other and worried about one another.
Adversial: You could definitely semse the hate coming off Death towards some of the characters. The relationship between Talia and her exfriends was really interesting to see. Once I found out the details it was like: Oh, that makes sense now!
A couple of things I disliked:
1. One of the book twists felt very out of place, the whole book seemed to change for 2 chapters and it just did not fit in with the story.
2. Maeve's need for atonement. Yes, I know, it was a central element to the book, but the word atone probably popped up 100 times. It is not a common word. I got it the first time girl, you want to atone, great! Keep it to yourself now, it is getting repetitive.
Do I reccommend:
If you are looking for a strong a dark romantasy featuring a growing number of salamanders, a soul bond, a morally grey MMC and a bit of spice, then YES!
This was a strong debut novel, I will be keeping an eye out for any other works from this author.
follow me on insta 😊
4/5 stars ✨️✨️✨️✨️
5/5 salamanders 🦎𓆈🦎𓆈🦎
Content warning as found in book:
In Between Death and the Devil is a spicy fantasy romance that contains subject matter that may be difficult for some including death, ritual suicide (on and off page), fertility struggles, miscarriage, addiction, and explicit sexual situations.
What I loved about this book:
1. The plot.
After accidentally killing her family Maeve is looking to atone. Her solution: go to the In Between to become a Judge of souls. She joins the Order of Death and 7 years later gets the opportunity to perform the Ritual and go to the In Between.
In the In Between we have Death and the Devil, they are immortal beings, or are they? Not everything is as it seems. Judges work for Death and Tempters work for the Devil, they are constantly at odds with each other. The In Between is out of Balance. It is up to Maeve to fix it.
The plot was done so well, there were twists and turns that I could never have seen coming. I really devoured this book, there wasn't a boring second!
2. The character relationships.
Romantic: Maeve and the Devil definitely clicked together, their relationship didn't feel forced. Right from the start I was all for them being together. The banter was really bantering at points!
This book also featured a Pansexual throuple, something I don't see very often. I loved how supportive everyone was of each others relationships, offering advice and making bets on when things would 'progress'.
Platonic: All of the platonic relationships were done really well. In the Devils Inner Circle you could see how they all cared for each other and worried about one another.
Adversial: You could definitely semse the hate coming off Death towards some of the characters. The relationship between Talia and her exfriends was really interesting to see. Once I found out the details it was like: Oh, that makes sense now!
A couple of things I disliked:
1. One of the book twists felt very out of place, the whole book seemed to change for 2 chapters and it just did not fit in with the story.
2. Maeve's need for atonement. Yes, I know, it was a central element to the book, but the word atone probably popped up 100 times. It is not a common word. I got it the first time girl, you want to atone, great! Keep it to yourself now, it is getting repetitive.
Do I reccommend:
If you are looking for a strong a dark romantasy featuring a growing number of salamanders, a soul bond, a morally grey MMC and a bit of spice, then YES!
This was a strong debut novel, I will be keeping an eye out for any other works from this author.
follow me on insta 😊
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
3.5 ⭐
In Between Death and the Devil was a really interesting read, particularly because I've never come across a setting quite like this one. The story takes place largely in the "In Between", an afterlife-like realm caught between life and death, and I loved the originality of the concept. There was a constant sense of pressure surrounding the need to maintain its balance, and I was invested in finding out what would happen.
There was a large focus on the character development throughout the book, and the pacing was generally strong. The side characters were a lot of fun, with Titus being an instant favourite, every fantasy needs its playful joker character. 😂
The romance was more of a mixed bag for me. I liked the initial mystery surrounding Fen, but as his secrets and lies were revealed, I found it increasingly difficult to connect with him. Likewise, the FMC's constant struggle to trust him and her tendency to hold herself back became a little repetitive at times. I could understand why both characters behaved the way they did, but I didn't always enjoy being in the middle of it.
I also would have liked more depth to the worldbuilding and magic. The consequences of the In Between becoming unbalanced being a negative thing were mentioned, but I wanted to understand more about what was actually at stake. Her magical development also felt quite quick and easy considering how important her abilities became.
There were quite a few typos throughout my ARC, which occasionally pulled me out of the story, although hopefully these will be corrected before publication.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought its afterlife-inspired setting and central concept were genuinely unique. I was invested enough to want to see how everything came together, and I appreciated that the story was wrapped up within one book. While the romance didn't quite work for me personally, there was a lot here that I enjoyed, and I think the originality of the world is a real strength!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC! 💕
In Between Death and the Devil was a really interesting read, particularly because I've never come across a setting quite like this one. The story takes place largely in the "In Between", an afterlife-like realm caught between life and death, and I loved the originality of the concept. There was a constant sense of pressure surrounding the need to maintain its balance, and I was invested in finding out what would happen.
There was a large focus on the character development throughout the book, and the pacing was generally strong. The side characters were a lot of fun, with Titus being an instant favourite, every fantasy needs its playful joker character. 😂
The romance was more of a mixed bag for me. I liked the initial mystery surrounding Fen, but as his secrets and lies were revealed, I found it increasingly difficult to connect with him. Likewise, the FMC's constant struggle to trust him and her tendency to hold herself back became a little repetitive at times. I could understand why both characters behaved the way they did, but I didn't always enjoy being in the middle of it.
I also would have liked more depth to the worldbuilding and magic. The consequences of the In Between becoming unbalanced being a negative thing were mentioned, but I wanted to understand more about what was actually at stake. Her magical development also felt quite quick and easy considering how important her abilities became.
There were quite a few typos throughout my ARC, which occasionally pulled me out of the story, although hopefully these will be corrected before publication.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought its afterlife-inspired setting and central concept were genuinely unique. I was invested enough to want to see how everything came together, and I appreciated that the story was wrapped up within one book. While the romance didn't quite work for me personally, there was a lot here that I enjoyed, and I think the originality of the world is a real strength!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC! 💕
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really gave this book my all (75% worth).
First the Pros: I loved the idea of this book, that a soul can be tied to either Death or the Devil and serve one or the other to redeem themselves of their mortal sins. This plot really intrigued me (hence, why I continued the book for so long)
I also thought the settings gave an interesting feel to the story. Kind of Hogwart-esque, but darker.
I also thought the interactions with the side characters were so well done. I actually felt more drawn to these interactions then I did with the main characters.
Which brings me to my cons:
I was so disappointed because the premise of choosing sides between Death and the Devil was truly intriguing to me but the repetitiveness of miscommunication and delving into lies and deceit over and over again became too redundant and the plot got lost in a constant tug-o-war between the FMC and the MMC. Honestly, it felt like those moments of misunderstanding were only put into the story to drive tension and turmoil, but without much context as to why.
I wanted to feel more from our FMC and MMC, but the internal dialogue overtook their actual dialogue and so miscommunication took over and left me feeling like I was wading in the deep end, trying desperately to get to shore, but never getting there.
I also felt these conversations felt young, that the FMC who was supposed to be in her 20s acted more like a petulant child than an understanding adult. Granted she was supposed to be scorned, but it never came off that way for me.
And the MMC who is supposed to be 25, but in actuality hundreds of years old, never spoke with wisdom or understanding.
The pacing also felt off to me. Some scenes were gripping while other fell flat (and again, maybe that's why I got so far into it, but at 70%, I felt myself skipping pages and pages, just to get to a point where the plot began to take shape again, but it was very hard to find).
I thank NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read In Between Death and the Devil for an honest review.
First the Pros: I loved the idea of this book, that a soul can be tied to either Death or the Devil and serve one or the other to redeem themselves of their mortal sins. This plot really intrigued me (hence, why I continued the book for so long)
I also thought the settings gave an interesting feel to the story. Kind of Hogwart-esque, but darker.
I also thought the interactions with the side characters were so well done. I actually felt more drawn to these interactions then I did with the main characters.
Which brings me to my cons:
I was so disappointed because the premise of choosing sides between Death and the Devil was truly intriguing to me but the repetitiveness of miscommunication and delving into lies and deceit over and over again became too redundant and the plot got lost in a constant tug-o-war between the FMC and the MMC. Honestly, it felt like those moments of misunderstanding were only put into the story to drive tension and turmoil, but without much context as to why.
I wanted to feel more from our FMC and MMC, but the internal dialogue overtook their actual dialogue and so miscommunication took over and left me feeling like I was wading in the deep end, trying desperately to get to shore, but never getting there.
I also felt these conversations felt young, that the FMC who was supposed to be in her 20s acted more like a petulant child than an understanding adult. Granted she was supposed to be scorned, but it never came off that way for me.
And the MMC who is supposed to be 25, but in actuality hundreds of years old, never spoke with wisdom or understanding.
The pacing also felt off to me. Some scenes were gripping while other fell flat (and again, maybe that's why I got so far into it, but at 70%, I felt myself skipping pages and pages, just to get to a point where the plot began to take shape again, but it was very hard to find).
I thank NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read In Between Death and the Devil for an honest review.
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
Thank you NetGalley and Sophia for the eARC!
I'm so pleasantly surprised by this book, it's really profound in a very accessible way and the characters are very reel (which can sometimes make for a frustrating read but it really adds to it in the end).
The story is quite original, first of all. A reimagining of what goes on after life, with Death and The Devil working together in the In Between. So basically, when you die, your soul goes to the In Between to be weighed by Death and then to The Devil to be "healed" of the past before you go to The After to be reborn. Very well explained in the context of the book, very well used to further the plot. All of the political dealings between Death and The Devil are really interesting and not too much. It's integral to the story but not over done.
I really liked Maeve, she was a great main character for this story. The book delves into grief and dealing with death and dealing with your own mistakes and being able to move past them and keep living. And Maeve has lived this very sheltered life and then finds his guy and he betrays her and she kills her family and for then, she just loathes herself. The book really unravels all of this in a very beautiful. And she makes mistakes throughout the book which really made me connect with her.
Now, my biggest issue with the book was the love interest, The Devil. I liked him, he wasn't the worst but I do feel like he could've been dealt with better. Sadly, his short comings were talked about much later in the book and made it hard to feel he was really redeemed. I feel like there was this opportunity of yearning that wasn't well used (and it was starring me in the face during so many scenes). So yeah, he was well developped but just not in the way I needed tbh.
This is a story with trials, great lore, a good love story and a main character that feels real.
I really recommend this book, it's a great Halloween read!
I'm so pleasantly surprised by this book, it's really profound in a very accessible way and the characters are very reel (which can sometimes make for a frustrating read but it really adds to it in the end).
The story is quite original, first of all. A reimagining of what goes on after life, with Death and The Devil working together in the In Between. So basically, when you die, your soul goes to the In Between to be weighed by Death and then to The Devil to be "healed" of the past before you go to The After to be reborn. Very well explained in the context of the book, very well used to further the plot. All of the political dealings between Death and The Devil are really interesting and not too much. It's integral to the story but not over done.
I really liked Maeve, she was a great main character for this story. The book delves into grief and dealing with death and dealing with your own mistakes and being able to move past them and keep living. And Maeve has lived this very sheltered life and then finds his guy and he betrays her and she kills her family and for then, she just loathes herself. The book really unravels all of this in a very beautiful. And she makes mistakes throughout the book which really made me connect with her.
Now, my biggest issue with the book was the love interest, The Devil. I liked him, he wasn't the worst but I do feel like he could've been dealt with better. Sadly, his short comings were talked about much later in the book and made it hard to feel he was really redeemed. I feel like there was this opportunity of yearning that wasn't well used (and it was starring me in the face during so many scenes). So yeah, he was well developped but just not in the way I needed tbh.
This is a story with trials, great lore, a good love story and a main character that feels real.
I really recommend this book, it's a great Halloween read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First of all, a huge thank you to NetGalley for my very first ARC! 😍✨️ There’s something extra exciting about getting to read and review a book before its release, so this one will always be a little special to me. 🖤
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one!😅
The concept was really interesting and I genuinely liked Maeve as an FMC. Her story, her guilt, her visions, and her relationship with the world around her gave her a lot of potential, and I was curious to see where the story would take her.
The whole idea of being caught between Death and the Devil was also such a good premise, and definitely what made me want to read this book in the first place.
But somehow… I was never completely hooked.
The world is dark, which normally isn't a problem for me, but I think here it made it harder for me to really lose myself in the story. I understood the world and enjoyed discovering it, but I never had that feeling of being completely transported into it.
I also wish Death had been a little more complex. Considering her role in the story, I expected her to feel more intimidating, morally complicated, or unpredictable. Instead, she felt a little too straightforward as the antagonist for me.
And unfortunately, the romance didn't completely win me over either. I liked Maeve and the Devil together, and there were definitely moments I enjoyed, but I never became obsessed with their relationship. I was missing that tension and chemistry that makes me NEED the next interaction between two characters.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The premise is original, Maeve is an interesting FMC, and there are some really good ideas here. But despite having so many elements I normally love in a romantasy, I never reached the “I can't put this down” stage.
A good dark romantasy, just not one that completely consumed me. 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one!😅
The concept was really interesting and I genuinely liked Maeve as an FMC. Her story, her guilt, her visions, and her relationship with the world around her gave her a lot of potential, and I was curious to see where the story would take her.
The whole idea of being caught between Death and the Devil was also such a good premise, and definitely what made me want to read this book in the first place.
But somehow… I was never completely hooked.
The world is dark, which normally isn't a problem for me, but I think here it made it harder for me to really lose myself in the story. I understood the world and enjoyed discovering it, but I never had that feeling of being completely transported into it.
I also wish Death had been a little more complex. Considering her role in the story, I expected her to feel more intimidating, morally complicated, or unpredictable. Instead, she felt a little too straightforward as the antagonist for me.
And unfortunately, the romance didn't completely win me over either. I liked Maeve and the Devil together, and there were definitely moments I enjoyed, but I never became obsessed with their relationship. I was missing that tension and chemistry that makes me NEED the next interaction between two characters.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The premise is original, Maeve is an interesting FMC, and there are some really good ideas here. But despite having so many elements I normally love in a romantasy, I never reached the “I can't put this down” stage.
A good dark romantasy, just not one that completely consumed me. 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC REVIEW | In Between Death and the Devil 🖤😈
Okay but anything with the Devil in it automatically has my attention… and this book absolutely delivered. 😈🫠
I went into this expecting dark romantasy, but I was NOT prepared for the tension, obsession, angst and emotional damage this story was about to throw at me.
Maeve was everything I wanted in an FMC. Strong, complicated, haunted by her past and carrying so much beneath the surface. I was completely invested in her journey.
And then… THE DEVIL. 😈
Because apparently my weakness is a morally grey, dangerous, tempting Devil who knows exactly how to get under your skin. 🫠🔥 The chemistry, the tension and the should I trust you or are you going to ruin my life? energy had me absolutely feral.
Give me a character who is basically walking red flags wrapped in darkness and temptation and suddenly I have forgotten every single survival instinct I possess. 😂
The world-building was dark and atmospheric, with magic, curses, secrets and plenty of twists to keep me hooked. I loved the whole concept of death and the Devil, and the story kept me questioning who could actually be trusted.
And honestly… if the Devil is offering me a deal, I fear I’m signing that contract before reading the small print. 😈🫠
🖤 Dark romantasy
😈 THE DEVIL
🔥 Morally grey MMC
🫠 Dangerous temptation
💀 Death & curses
✨ Magic & secrets
🥀 Angst & emotional damage
👀 Tension for DAYS
A solid 5⭐️ from me!
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for the ARC. This one had me questioning my morals, my choices and apparently my willingness to make deals with the Devil. 😈🫠🔥
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Okay but anything with the Devil in it automatically has my attention… and this book absolutely delivered. 😈🫠
I went into this expecting dark romantasy, but I was NOT prepared for the tension, obsession, angst and emotional damage this story was about to throw at me.
Maeve was everything I wanted in an FMC. Strong, complicated, haunted by her past and carrying so much beneath the surface. I was completely invested in her journey.
And then… THE DEVIL. 😈
Because apparently my weakness is a morally grey, dangerous, tempting Devil who knows exactly how to get under your skin. 🫠🔥 The chemistry, the tension and the should I trust you or are you going to ruin my life? energy had me absolutely feral.
Give me a character who is basically walking red flags wrapped in darkness and temptation and suddenly I have forgotten every single survival instinct I possess. 😂
The world-building was dark and atmospheric, with magic, curses, secrets and plenty of twists to keep me hooked. I loved the whole concept of death and the Devil, and the story kept me questioning who could actually be trusted.
And honestly… if the Devil is offering me a deal, I fear I’m signing that contract before reading the small print. 😈🫠
🖤 Dark romantasy
😈 THE DEVIL
🔥 Morally grey MMC
🫠 Dangerous temptation
💀 Death & curses
✨ Magic & secrets
🥀 Angst & emotional damage
👀 Tension for DAYS
A solid 5⭐️ from me!
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for the ARC. This one had me questioning my morals, my choices and apparently my willingness to make deals with the Devil. 😈🫠🔥
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 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
What a superb debut! I was captivated from the first chapter to the last! Never knowing who to trust or what was going to happen! The yearning was absolutely delicious and the slow burn reluctant allies to lovers arc gave me all the tension, lingering gazes, and moments that had my heart fluttering! The world building was particularly strong. So rich and vivid, it sprung to life in my imagination! I love how ethereal and shrine-like Death’s castle is and with the perfect juxtaposition, how lush and gothic the Devil’s castle is.
In Between Death and the Devil by Sophia Dunkin-Hubby is a dark Romantasy standalone set in the In Between (the afterlife), which gives ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’ and Persephone and Hades vibes. High bars to live up to, but Sophia was certainly up for the task! I couldn’t get enough of Maeve and Fen! Both main characters are so complex, nuanced and layered. I felt like I went on a journey alongside them, watching both characters grow, slowly trust each other and themselves, sometimes faltering, and journeying back.
This novel felt nostalgic, yet very original, hitting all my Romantasy checkboxes in a new and exciting ways! I particularly loved the Death Cord and how just like music, the magic in this bond was layered.
Can’t recommend enough!
Tropes:
-Deadly Trials
-He Trains Her
-Yearning
-Slow Burn
-Reluctant Allies-to-Lovers
-Fate vs Will
-Found Family
-Shadow Daddy
-Morally gray characters
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for this advance readers copy!
In Between Death and the Devil by Sophia Dunkin-Hubby is a dark Romantasy standalone set in the In Between (the afterlife), which gives ‘A Court of Mist and Fury’ and Persephone and Hades vibes. High bars to live up to, but Sophia was certainly up for the task! I couldn’t get enough of Maeve and Fen! Both main characters are so complex, nuanced and layered. I felt like I went on a journey alongside them, watching both characters grow, slowly trust each other and themselves, sometimes faltering, and journeying back.
This novel felt nostalgic, yet very original, hitting all my Romantasy checkboxes in a new and exciting ways! I particularly loved the Death Cord and how just like music, the magic in this bond was layered.
Can’t recommend enough!
Tropes:
-Deadly Trials
-He Trains Her
-Yearning
-Slow Burn
-Reluctant Allies-to-Lovers
-Fate vs Will
-Found Family
-Shadow Daddy
-Morally gray characters
Thank you to Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for this advance readers copy!
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
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.
October 6, 2026
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book at first to be honest, but by the end, I did end up enjoying it! The premise was unlike anything I’ve read before, salamanders included, and I loved stepping into a world that felt new and unfamiliar.
The pacing, though, left me a little all over the place. Some moments had enough depth and detail to completely pull me in, while others moved so quickly that I actually flipped back to check whether I’d accidentally double tapped and skipped a page. I wanted more time for the story to develop and for those bigger moments to land. The “what was, what is, and what will be” trials also immediately reminded me of the ghosts of past, present, and future.
What I loved was Maeve and Fen’s emotional journey. Overcoming your past mistakes and learning to open your heart after betrayal and letting someone know every part of you, especially the parts you’ve decided are unlovable and seeing them not turn away is everything. That vulnerability gave the story a heart I really connected with.
Overall, this was an imaginative debut with a lot of interesting ideas. I wish the storytelling had been given a little more room to breathe, but the originality and emotional core kept me invested. I’d be curious to see what this author writes next!
ARC received by NetGalley
The pacing, though, left me a little all over the place. Some moments had enough depth and detail to completely pull me in, while others moved so quickly that I actually flipped back to check whether I’d accidentally double tapped and skipped a page. I wanted more time for the story to develop and for those bigger moments to land. The “what was, what is, and what will be” trials also immediately reminded me of the ghosts of past, present, and future.
What I loved was Maeve and Fen’s emotional journey. Overcoming your past mistakes and learning to open your heart after betrayal and letting someone know every part of you, especially the parts you’ve decided are unlovable and seeing them not turn away is everything. That vulnerability gave the story a heart I really connected with.
Overall, this was an imaginative debut with a lot of interesting ideas. I wish the storytelling had been given a little more room to breathe, but the originality and emotional core kept me invested. I’d be curious to see what this author writes next!
ARC received by NetGalley
October 8, 2026
Thank you to author Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for gifting me a copy of In Between Death and the Devil, a dark romantasy perfect for lovers of morally grey MMC’s & reluctant allies! This standalone Hades & Persephone retelling is out now from SDH Books and is available to read with Kindle Unlimited.
I will always be a sucker for a Greek mythology retelling & this book is definitely no exception! Our FMC Maeve is seeking penance after accidentally losing control of her dark magic, which resulted in the deaths of her family, as she struggles with being the source of their unfortunate demise. I was absolutely fascinated by the realm in between death and the devil plus loved how Death was portrayed as a woman! However, that did not stop me from being ever so slightly suspicious as to the intentions and mysteries of Death, whereas I just gladly accepted the Devil being a walking red flag and causing chaos. The forbidden chemistry between Maeve and the Devil continues to develop throughout the whole novel in a beautiful way and their true connection just made so much sense once it was revealed. If you love a great standalone story with atmospheric world-building, emotional tension, and lots of mystery, then this is definitely the book for you!
I will always be a sucker for a Greek mythology retelling & this book is definitely no exception! Our FMC Maeve is seeking penance after accidentally losing control of her dark magic, which resulted in the deaths of her family, as she struggles with being the source of their unfortunate demise. I was absolutely fascinated by the realm in between death and the devil plus loved how Death was portrayed as a woman! However, that did not stop me from being ever so slightly suspicious as to the intentions and mysteries of Death, whereas I just gladly accepted the Devil being a walking red flag and causing chaos. The forbidden chemistry between Maeve and the Devil continues to develop throughout the whole novel in a beautiful way and their true connection just made so much sense once it was revealed. If you love a great standalone story with atmospheric world-building, emotional tension, and lots of mystery, then this is definitely the book for you!
October 14, 2026
4.5 stars
In Between Death and the Devil by Sophia Dunkin-Hubby is such a well-written, immersive romantasy.
The world building is a standout for me — the author describes the In Between so descriptively that I could visually envision it the entire time. It feels magical, atmospheric, and fully realized.
We follow Maeve, who possesses the power to see people's deaths before they happen — with one devastating exception: her first love, Colt. After a heartbreaking betrayal and a tragedy that lands her facing death herself, Maeve is given a second chance: journey to the In Between to become a judge of souls as a way to atone.
What she doesn't expect is Fen — the Devil himself. The MMC is everything. Their bond, the slow burn, and the intense love story had me hooked.
To save the In Between and its souls, Maeve must finally acknowledge and learn to control her powers to step into her destiny as the successor for The Death. The trials she has to pass are exciting, full of adventure, intrigue, and twists I didn't see coming.
If you love romantasy with redemption, magical trials, found destiny, and a devil you can't help falling for, I highly recommend this one.
Thank you for such a magical read!
In Between Death and the Devil by Sophia Dunkin-Hubby is such a well-written, immersive romantasy.
The world building is a standout for me — the author describes the In Between so descriptively that I could visually envision it the entire time. It feels magical, atmospheric, and fully realized.
We follow Maeve, who possesses the power to see people's deaths before they happen — with one devastating exception: her first love, Colt. After a heartbreaking betrayal and a tragedy that lands her facing death herself, Maeve is given a second chance: journey to the In Between to become a judge of souls as a way to atone.
What she doesn't expect is Fen — the Devil himself. The MMC is everything. Their bond, the slow burn, and the intense love story had me hooked.
To save the In Between and its souls, Maeve must finally acknowledge and learn to control her powers to step into her destiny as the successor for The Death. The trials she has to pass are exciting, full of adventure, intrigue, and twists I didn't see coming.
If you love romantasy with redemption, magical trials, found destiny, and a devil you can't help falling for, I highly recommend this one.
Thank you for such a magical read!
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
3.75 stars rounded up. This was an interesting take on death and the devil mythology, but I wouldn't call it a Hades/Persephone story. It's an interesting take on the afterlife with an engaging plot but the side characters were fairly flat.
I liked the mythology with the orders of death and shadows, I just wanted a little bit more information. The time jumps were pretty significant so we don't learn much about Maeve until after she passes into the In Between and her relationships with the other characters are told, not shown. I think this would've been a 5 star book for me if there was more character development. Marcus, Titus, Daphne, and Bea are barely on page despite being very important to the plot. We also know almost nothing about Death, which made the ending feel a little anticlimactic. I think this book has huge potential and I really liked the pkot, I just didn't connect with any of the characters.
If you prefer your books to be more plot heavy than character-focused, you will probably really enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for the free eARC.
I liked the mythology with the orders of death and shadows, I just wanted a little bit more information. The time jumps were pretty significant so we don't learn much about Maeve until after she passes into the In Between and her relationships with the other characters are told, not shown. I think this would've been a 5 star book for me if there was more character development. Marcus, Titus, Daphne, and Bea are barely on page despite being very important to the plot. We also know almost nothing about Death, which made the ending feel a little anticlimactic. I think this book has huge potential and I really liked the pkot, I just didn't connect with any of the characters.
If you prefer your books to be more plot heavy than character-focused, you will probably really enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Sophia Dunkin-Hubby for the free eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this book. From the very first page, I was intrigued and wanted to discover more. The author’s unique interpretations of Death and the Devil were particularly captivating and gave the story a wonderfully original feel.
I found the different stories of how the characters arrived at what appeared to be separate destinations, and how they ultimately became judges and tempters, fascinating. Maeve’s journey was especially compelling. Watching her progress from what she initially wanted to what she ultimately became was perilous, emotional and filled with difficult dilemmas. She was forced to confront her deepest fears and discover what it truly took to overcome them.
I particularly enjoyed the unexpected friendships she formed with people I never imagined she would become close to. The plotting, twists and subplots kept me completely engaged and added so much depth to the story.
Novel, diverse, thought-provoking and with just the right amount of sensuality, this was a book that stayed with me long after I had finished reading it. It is easily one of the best books I have read recently.
I definitely need more from this author!
I found the different stories of how the characters arrived at what appeared to be separate destinations, and how they ultimately became judges and tempters, fascinating. Maeve’s journey was especially compelling. Watching her progress from what she initially wanted to what she ultimately became was perilous, emotional and filled with difficult dilemmas. She was forced to confront her deepest fears and discover what it truly took to overcome them.
I particularly enjoyed the unexpected friendships she formed with people I never imagined she would become close to. The plotting, twists and subplots kept me completely engaged and added so much depth to the story.
Novel, diverse, thought-provoking and with just the right amount of sensuality, this was a book that stayed with me long after I had finished reading it. It is easily one of the best books I have read recently.
I definitely need more from this author!
October 2, 2026
A Hades and Persephone retelling filled with angst 🔥
🖤Reluctant Allies
🥀Chosen One
🖤He Trains Her
🥀He Falls First
🖤Morally Gray MMC
🥀Hurt X Comfort
🖤“Good Girl”
🥀Shadow Daddy
This story had me hooked from beginning to end, reading late into the night with a book light 🤣🤣
Our FMC is sent to the In Between after crimes she committed in her human life. There, she makes a deal with the Devil to take down Death.
I loved the found family in this, and the tension and angst that our MC’s were constantly battling.
There was some miscommunication in this one, as well as lots of back and forth with our MC’s but I love the drama of those scenarios 🤣🤣 Also, both our MC’s slowly gained a better understanding of themselves individually and collectively as they worked to take down Death. So I feel this made up for that for any that don’t love a miscommunication situation.
The only thing that after finishing I wish there was more of was a better resolution with Fen’s spouse/past wife .. I don’t feel like that was delved into enough..
Spice, emotions, personal growth, found family, magic - this was such a good time!
Recommend for any romantasy lovers!
🖤Reluctant Allies
🥀Chosen One
🖤He Trains Her
🥀He Falls First
🖤Morally Gray MMC
🥀Hurt X Comfort
🖤“Good Girl”
🥀Shadow Daddy
This story had me hooked from beginning to end, reading late into the night with a book light 🤣🤣
Our FMC is sent to the In Between after crimes she committed in her human life. There, she makes a deal with the Devil to take down Death.
I loved the found family in this, and the tension and angst that our MC’s were constantly battling.
There was some miscommunication in this one, as well as lots of back and forth with our MC’s but I love the drama of those scenarios 🤣🤣 Also, both our MC’s slowly gained a better understanding of themselves individually and collectively as they worked to take down Death. So I feel this made up for that for any that don’t love a miscommunication situation.
The only thing that after finishing I wish there was more of was a better resolution with Fen’s spouse/past wife .. I don’t feel like that was delved into enough..
Spice, emotions, personal growth, found family, magic - this was such a good time!
Recommend for any romantasy lovers!
October 25, 2026
a cursed girl, the goddess of death, and the devil himself walk into a dark romantasy… and somehow nobody is who you think they are.
maeve is drowning in guilt and trying to atone the only way she knows how (pledging herself to death, as one does), but when the realm of the dead starts falling apart and she makes a deal with the devil, everything spirals. and i do mean everything.
what worked for me:
✨ the worldbuilding is incredibly well done. the domain of the dead has rules, consequences, and actual texture (no vague shadowy-realm vibes here)
✨ a pansexual throuple!!! a genuinely unique dynamic for the genre, and it’s executed so well. every connection feels earned
✨ the “who’s the real villain” question keeps you guessing
✨ morally grey love interest energy, angst, found family, reluctant allies — the full menu
for a debut, this is a seriously strong dark romantasy and an easy recommendation. if you love acotar, from blood and ash, or any hades and persephone retelling, put this on your list immediately.
thank you to netgalley and the author for the arc! all thoughts are my own.
maeve is drowning in guilt and trying to atone the only way she knows how (pledging herself to death, as one does), but when the realm of the dead starts falling apart and she makes a deal with the devil, everything spirals. and i do mean everything.
what worked for me:
✨ the worldbuilding is incredibly well done. the domain of the dead has rules, consequences, and actual texture (no vague shadowy-realm vibes here)
✨ a pansexual throuple!!! a genuinely unique dynamic for the genre, and it’s executed so well. every connection feels earned
✨ the “who’s the real villain” question keeps you guessing
✨ morally grey love interest energy, angst, found family, reluctant allies — the full menu
for a debut, this is a seriously strong dark romantasy and an easy recommendation. if you love acotar, from blood and ash, or any hades and persephone retelling, put this on your list immediately.
thank you to netgalley and the author for the arc! all thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy
In between Death and the Devil ✨💀❤️🔥
Ah! Where to start with this review…
Let me first say this - THIS WAS JUST A PERFECT FALL READ!🍂
Gloomy,rich in atmosphere,dark,full of yearning and thick tension between the characters,and with that “academia” setting this book was just the thing for me :)
Maeve, our MFC, is such a beautifully written character. She isn’t perfect and she carries so much guilt and shame that my heart aches for her 🥺
Now , for my liking,there were a few too many things left unsaid, and I would love a bit more depth in some areas.
What I do love is a kind of a found - family moment in the book and a connections between the characters.☺️✨🥹
THE DEVIL … honestly the Devil was everything I wanted and more!👀
ALL IN ALL, I liked the book🤗
It was fun and satisfying read with nice vibes,an interesting plot,and some spice.
A great book to get lost in on stormy days,under a blanket, with a cup of tea ☕️🌧️🌫️
One thing is for sure-
I’m looking forward to new books from this author 😌❤️
In between Death and the Devil ✨💀❤️🔥
Ah! Where to start with this review…
Let me first say this - THIS WAS JUST A PERFECT FALL READ!🍂
Gloomy,rich in atmosphere,dark,full of yearning and thick tension between the characters,and with that “academia” setting this book was just the thing for me :)
Maeve, our MFC, is such a beautifully written character. She isn’t perfect and she carries so much guilt and shame that my heart aches for her 🥺
Now , for my liking,there were a few too many things left unsaid, and I would love a bit more depth in some areas.
What I do love is a kind of a found - family moment in the book and a connections between the characters.☺️✨🥹
THE DEVIL … honestly the Devil was everything I wanted and more!👀
ALL IN ALL, I liked the book🤗
It was fun and satisfying read with nice vibes,an interesting plot,and some spice.
A great book to get lost in on stormy days,under a blanket, with a cup of tea ☕️🌧️🌫️
One thing is for sure-
I’m looking forward to new books from this author 😌❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this story! The premise felt really unique and intrigued me from the very beginning.
I loved our MMC - Fen (the devil) - I would've liked to dive deeper into more of his story and his past, as I found this was lacking, and left me feeling a bit disconnected from his character overall.
I also really liked our FMC - Maeve - for the most part however, she did begin to annoy me with some of the decisions she was making and some of her dialogue came across quite immature.
The constant back and forth between the Devil and Maeve, felt really repetitive and it started to irritate me.
The whole book did feel quite YA, until the spicy scenes…which might be why some of the dialogue came across a bit immature.
I enjoyed the magic system and the political intrigue, I'm also a sucker for a found family trope, it gets me every single time!
All in all, I think this was a great debut novel from Sophie and I look forward to reading their next story.
I loved our MMC - Fen (the devil) - I would've liked to dive deeper into more of his story and his past, as I found this was lacking, and left me feeling a bit disconnected from his character overall.
I also really liked our FMC - Maeve - for the most part however, she did begin to annoy me with some of the decisions she was making and some of her dialogue came across quite immature.
The constant back and forth between the Devil and Maeve, felt really repetitive and it started to irritate me.
The whole book did feel quite YA, until the spicy scenes…which might be why some of the dialogue came across a bit immature.
I enjoyed the magic system and the political intrigue, I'm also a sucker for a found family trope, it gets me every single time!
All in all, I think this was a great debut novel from Sophie and I look forward to reading their next story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Between Death and the Devil is a unique take on the underworld, featuring Maeve - an interesting FMC who has a curse and goes to the underworld to atone, Death (judger of souls) and the Devil (tempter of souls). The story concept was interesting, and the world building was well done. I particularly liked the descriptions of the underworld and the two fractions - Tempers and Judges.
I did feel that it would perhaps suit more younger readers, as I was expecting it to be a lot darker, particularly as it was described as a dark romantasy. I also wouldn't compare it to Hades x Persephone retellings - it did not give me those vibes at all, and as I was originally drawn to this novel because of this concept, it did throw me off when reading as it ended up being not at all what I expected.
Overall, it was a fun read, but I think it would benefit from being marketed slightly differently to attract its right audience. It's well-written, moves at a good pace, and has a really interesting concept and I know it will be a top read for many a reader! I really appreciate having the chance to read this one early as an ARC, despite it not being quite right for me - thank you :)
I did feel that it would perhaps suit more younger readers, as I was expecting it to be a lot darker, particularly as it was described as a dark romantasy. I also wouldn't compare it to Hades x Persephone retellings - it did not give me those vibes at all, and as I was originally drawn to this novel because of this concept, it did throw me off when reading as it ended up being not at all what I expected.
Overall, it was a fun read, but I think it would benefit from being marketed slightly differently to attract its right audience. It's well-written, moves at a good pace, and has a really interesting concept and I know it will be a top read for many a reader! I really appreciate having the chance to read this one early as an ARC, despite it not being quite right for me - thank you :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
This was definitely an intriguing read with a different take on the after life or the "in between".
It did take me a little longer than usual to get into this book and to understand the world building. The concept was something new so I did keep reading -but I did have to push through some slower parts. Maeve - our FMC - did have a wonderful character arc and journey through grief and self doubt. I found her thoughts to be moving and her perseverance commendable. Fen (the Devil) gave me mixed feelings. I didn't really find him morally grey or a villian in this story - he was more of a golden retriever with some issues. The romance between the two was very push and shove and some of it felt forced due their circumstances.
Overall - it was a good standalone fantasy that delivers on a good FMC and I did overall enjoy the book.
This was definitely an intriguing read with a different take on the after life or the "in between".
It did take me a little longer than usual to get into this book and to understand the world building. The concept was something new so I did keep reading -but I did have to push through some slower parts. Maeve - our FMC - did have a wonderful character arc and journey through grief and self doubt. I found her thoughts to be moving and her perseverance commendable. Fen (the Devil) gave me mixed feelings. I didn't really find him morally grey or a villian in this story - he was more of a golden retriever with some issues. The romance between the two was very push and shove and some of it felt forced due their circumstances.
Overall - it was a good standalone fantasy that delivers on a good FMC and I did overall enjoy the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
dnf at 46%
I'm giving this book 3 stars because I liked the world and the idea, however, I did not like the execution. The romance was the issue for me. It felt too insta-lusty, and it really needed to be toned down. If the romance was completely rewritten, I would read it.
Maeve... where do I begin? This girl really needs to sort herself out. I was sick of being reminded about 'the ache between her thighs', what felt like EVERY CHAPTER. It was too much.
My breaking point was when he said this: "Don't think I haven't forgotten about your reckless behaviour. I ought to put you over my knee and spank you for that."
I could not bring myself to read another word after that. I cringed and I had full body shivers. It came out of nowhere. If that was the sort of thing they were into, and they'd been intimate prior to him saying this, fair enough. But they hadn't. It was just weird. I couldn't do it.
I'm giving this book 3 stars because I liked the world and the idea, however, I did not like the execution. The romance was the issue for me. It felt too insta-lusty, and it really needed to be toned down. If the romance was completely rewritten, I would read it.
Maeve... where do I begin? This girl really needs to sort herself out. I was sick of being reminded about 'the ache between her thighs', what felt like EVERY CHAPTER. It was too much.
My breaking point was when he said this: "Don't think I haven't forgotten about your reckless behaviour. I ought to put you over my knee and spank you for that."
I could not bring myself to read another word after that. I cringed and I had full body shivers. It came out of nowhere. If that was the sort of thing they were into, and they'd been intimate prior to him saying this, fair enough. But they hadn't. It was just weird. I couldn't do it.
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