What do you think?
Rate this book
Studies in Demonology #2
Rogue in the Making
Studies in Book Two The blood sacrifices have brought rain to Demonside, but across the void, the Warlock College of Vinland is still storing and gathering magic, heedless of the warnings of the international magical community. The underground is full of warlocks who disagree with the college, but do they care about wizards and demons or only about snatching power?
With a foot in each world, Angus is no longer sure whom he can trust. The demons don’t trust humans, and even though he is learning more magic, he will never be one of them. He is human and only tolerated. Some demons would be happy to slit his throat. It’s only because his demon is powerful in his own right that Angus is alive.
Saka only has a year to prove that Angus’s people can change and that the magic taken will be rebalanced, but the demons want action. His affection for Angus is clouding his judgment and weakening his position in the tribe. Time is running out, and he must make a choice.
With a foot in each world, Angus is no longer sure whom he can trust. The demons don’t trust humans, and even though he is learning more magic, he will never be one of them. He is human and only tolerated. Some demons would be happy to slit his throat. It’s only because his demon is powerful in his own right that Angus is alive.
Saka only has a year to prove that Angus’s people can change and that the magic taken will be rebalanced, but the demons want action. His affection for Angus is clouding his judgment and weakening his position in the tribe. Time is running out, and he must make a choice.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2018
66 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Nichols
88 books343 followersTJ Nichols (they/them) is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Familiar Mates series. They write mostly gay fantasy and paranormal romance, but sometimes gay action/horror as Toby J. Nichols.
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
Ream: https://reamstories.com/tjnichols
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...
After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/
You can find TJ on
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TJNichols
Ream: https://reamstories.com/tjnichols
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.au...
follow me on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/tjnichols or Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tj-ni...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 29, 2018
Have you ever wondered...what happens when worlds collide?
'Rogue in the Making' is the follow up to 'Warlock in Training' and the second book in TJ Nichol's series 'Studies in Demonology' and the first thing I want to say is 'If you haven't read 'Warlock in Training' you probably should. I honestly can't say that you can't read this one without having read the first book but having read it and having read this one...I think I can safely say you'll probably find it a whole lot less confusing if you do. Both the characters and the overall story ARC carry through each book so these are not standalone stories.
I absolutely loved the first book in this series as in I devoured it like a demon (tee, hee did you see what I did there?) anyways, I loved it and the second book couldn't come out fast enough and yet, when it did and I was there with my greedy, grubby little hands I jumped in and part way into the story I just came to a screeching halt...like squealing brakes on a rain slick road screeching and honestly I'm not exactly sure why because I kept going back to the story and finally after stopping and reading a couple other books I dove back in and finished it and truthfully I loved it, this one was easily as good as the first book. I think for me it just came down to a case of right book, wrong time because I am so on board for the third and final installment in this series...hell, I was ready for the next book before the final chapter in this one. Now don't tell me that doesn't speak to a good book when it can take me from "I'm not sure I can do this." to "Sweet baby jebus can someone give me more."
We're back in the worlds of Angus and Saka. The college is still hoarding magic and creating an imbalance in both worlds. The rebels are still fighting it...or are they? Angus is becoming very unsure as to who the bad guys are and who are the good guys? or are there any? Who should he trust?
Saka is faced with acknowledging his feelings for Angus...at least to himself. Things are becoming precarious on demonside and friends are becoming foes. Nothing seems to be what it is and everything is becoming suspect to both Angus and Saka.
As Angus goes back and forth between his world and Saka's he gets answer to questions that don't quite add up and more questions arise while amidst all of this he realizes that he's also developing feelings for Terrence a friend from his days at the college. As Angus's feelings for Terrence grow people notice and the relationship becomes his weakness...a tool for those who would control Angus to wield against him.
While the relationship growth between Saka and Angus was slow it was also loaded with obstacles not the least of which was human? demon? Need I say more? I've liked the interaction between these two from the first book and while it occasionally felt slow to me there was still lots of interest to keep me reading add in the dynamics of Angus's growing feelings for Terrence and the prospect of his worlds colliding should Terrence and Saka meet, how's it even possible to not be interested? and for those who are wondering...Saka...well, he's got a tail and if you want to know more well then you'll just have to read the books, lol!
Ok, back to the books...the plot in this series is hella', hella' good. We're talking about two different worlds here but worlds that are connected and while they are in a way dependent on each other they also require a balance to be maintained but what happens when it's not? Well that's what we're finding out, it's not pretty and the possibilities are frightening because if somebody doesn't find the right solution the only question that will remain to be answered isn't who will survive? it's will anyone survive?
Whatever the reason that I struggled with this one I do know it wasn't the book and I am all in for this series...maybe, this one wasn't 5 stars for me, but 4 stars for a book that I had a bit of a struggle says a lot to me and mostly what it says is that I need to read the next book and find out what happens to Saka, Angus, Terrence, Lizzie and Wek. They've already lost some of their band of renegades...friends have died, lives have been sacrificed now what remains to be seen is 'was it worth it? or was it all in vain?' I for one want to know.
************************
A copy of 'Rogue in the Making' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
'Rogue in the Making' is the follow up to 'Warlock in Training' and the second book in TJ Nichol's series 'Studies in Demonology' and the first thing I want to say is 'If you haven't read 'Warlock in Training' you probably should. I honestly can't say that you can't read this one without having read the first book but having read it and having read this one...I think I can safely say you'll probably find it a whole lot less confusing if you do. Both the characters and the overall story ARC carry through each book so these are not standalone stories.
I absolutely loved the first book in this series as in I devoured it like a demon (tee, hee did you see what I did there?) anyways, I loved it and the second book couldn't come out fast enough and yet, when it did and I was there with my greedy, grubby little hands I jumped in and part way into the story I just came to a screeching halt...like squealing brakes on a rain slick road screeching and honestly I'm not exactly sure why because I kept going back to the story and finally after stopping and reading a couple other books I dove back in and finished it and truthfully I loved it, this one was easily as good as the first book. I think for me it just came down to a case of right book, wrong time because I am so on board for the third and final installment in this series...hell, I was ready for the next book before the final chapter in this one. Now don't tell me that doesn't speak to a good book when it can take me from "I'm not sure I can do this." to "Sweet baby jebus can someone give me more."
We're back in the worlds of Angus and Saka. The college is still hoarding magic and creating an imbalance in both worlds. The rebels are still fighting it...or are they? Angus is becoming very unsure as to who the bad guys are and who are the good guys? or are there any? Who should he trust?
Saka is faced with acknowledging his feelings for Angus...at least to himself. Things are becoming precarious on demonside and friends are becoming foes. Nothing seems to be what it is and everything is becoming suspect to both Angus and Saka.
As Angus goes back and forth between his world and Saka's he gets answer to questions that don't quite add up and more questions arise while amidst all of this he realizes that he's also developing feelings for Terrence a friend from his days at the college. As Angus's feelings for Terrence grow people notice and the relationship becomes his weakness...a tool for those who would control Angus to wield against him.
While the relationship growth between Saka and Angus was slow it was also loaded with obstacles not the least of which was human? demon? Need I say more? I've liked the interaction between these two from the first book and while it occasionally felt slow to me there was still lots of interest to keep me reading add in the dynamics of Angus's growing feelings for Terrence and the prospect of his worlds colliding should Terrence and Saka meet, how's it even possible to not be interested? and for those who are wondering...Saka...well, he's got a tail and if you want to know more well then you'll just have to read the books, lol!
Ok, back to the books...the plot in this series is hella', hella' good. We're talking about two different worlds here but worlds that are connected and while they are in a way dependent on each other they also require a balance to be maintained but what happens when it's not? Well that's what we're finding out, it's not pretty and the possibilities are frightening because if somebody doesn't find the right solution the only question that will remain to be answered isn't who will survive? it's will anyone survive?
Whatever the reason that I struggled with this one I do know it wasn't the book and I am all in for this series...maybe, this one wasn't 5 stars for me, but 4 stars for a book that I had a bit of a struggle says a lot to me and mostly what it says is that I need to read the next book and find out what happens to Saka, Angus, Terrence, Lizzie and Wek. They've already lost some of their band of renegades...friends have died, lives have been sacrificed now what remains to be seen is 'was it worth it? or was it all in vain?' I for one want to know.
************************
A copy of 'Rogue in the Making' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2022
I hadn't been sure what to think of the first book in this series, and I'm still not sure after reading the second. As before there is a lot of things that should work for me - a paranormal/fantasy with a suspense plot, a dystopian earth or earth-like planet, magic and demons.
But if someone like me who likes her books unfluffy says there is romance missing, believe me the case is serious. But I could do without the romance taking the center stage if the suspense/fantasy plot would have filled rank one in a satisfying manner. It could have worked but just as in the case of book one this story is missing some serious editing for more than the (many) spelling mistakes. The story has some serious length in the middle that had me struggling to keep my interest up. The pacing was off. Unimportant stuff was shown really detailed while then important stuff was just brushed over. The ideas are still good though and this could have been a real winner if it was straightened up a bit.
There is one minor thing though that, some readers might enjoy - it looks like the story could end up as a menage of Angus and his two boyfriends - and no, I'm not into that and had I known beforehand not sure if I had still picked it up.
But if someone like me who likes her books unfluffy says there is romance missing, believe me the case is serious. But I could do without the romance taking the center stage if the suspense/fantasy plot would have filled rank one in a satisfying manner. It could have worked but just as in the case of book one this story is missing some serious editing for more than the (many) spelling mistakes. The story has some serious length in the middle that had me struggling to keep my interest up. The pacing was off. Unimportant stuff was shown really detailed while then important stuff was just brushed over. The ideas are still good though and this could have been a real winner if it was straightened up a bit.
There is one minor thing though that, some readers might enjoy - it looks like the story could end up as a menage of Angus and his two boyfriends - and no, I'm not into that and had I known beforehand not sure if I had still picked it up.
May 24, 2018
While I’m not going to go into a whole lot of spoilers for this book, I will have to talk about several things that will be spoilers for book one, so if you haven’t read Warlock in Training yet, and still intend to, I’d advise you give this review a miss. I’m basically going to be spoiling the climax of book one in this review, so if you go further here it might make the reading experience a bit less enjoyable.
So, now that all that is handled…
Rogue in the Making opens up shortly after the end of book one. Angus’ father is dead–his blood and soul used to rebalance the magic in Demonside–and Angus himself is healing from the knife wound his father inflicted on him when he tried to kill Angus. The ritual performed at the end of the first book has also brought in the rains–for however long it will last–and the demons have agreed to give Angus and the other trainees a year to figure out a way to rebalance the magic without all-out war. But the calm does not last long as Angus soon starts to suspect that the Underground of warlocks who said they wished to bring down the college and their harmful ways are not as completely honest as they portrayed themselves. And it seems that not all demons are content to wait a year to see results. With both sides of the veil teetering on war from without and within, Angus and Saka must scramble to hold together a fragile peace all the while trying to find a way to save Demonside from drying to dust and blowing away in the wind.
There were parts of this book that I liked more than the Warlock in Training, and some that I liked less.
On the positive side, I think the author did a good job of making sure you felt the tension in this story from beginning to end. Even when things were good, you knew that it would not last. There was a constant sense of dread and impending doom that I think worked well towards making this a hard book to put down.
On the flip side of that, the way this book was structured, the movement from scene to scene–and the way it seemed to leave out some rather important, or at the very least impactful, scenes–made the narrative a bit choppy. The way the story moved from scene to scene–usually on a pov shift between Saka and Angus–had no natural flow to it. It was hard to tell how much time was lost between chapters. A lot of the times it would end with Angus in Demonside/Vinland, and the next chapter would have Angus back on the other side. Days, or even a week could have passed, but it never made it quite clear enough to the readers. Even though a lot of the times I could kinda guess that nothing important had happened in the missing time, there were some times where it felt like I missed out on things that I really should have seen for myself, instead of having related to me by other characters. There were several deaths in this book that had maybe a tenth of the impact they could have had, mostly because we don’t get to see them happen. The characters are sad that the people died…but I never was. It felt very removed and closed off, when it should have done something to me.
I did find the way the relationship(s) in this book progressed to work a bit better for me. At least by the end. I am not, and never have been, a huge fan of love-triangles. They annoy me. The whole thing with Terrance in the first book was probably one of my least favorite things about the story. Mostly because I could tell that it was bugging Saka. I’m totally cool with non-monogamous relationships, but they kinda have to be agreed on by all parties, and I could tell that Saka was not happy about Angus’ growing relationship with the other human. I think this story did at least start to move the whole love-triangle into a more palatable direction, for me at least, by the end of this book. I’m not sure what the next book will have in store but if it continues on the path it seems to be taking, I’ll be happy.
I was less happy with the way the book handled the Underground though. It all seemed a bit to cliched for my tastes. Maybe if they had spent some time going into why they would act this way, given us some clues as to what changed their outlook–or if indeed it did ever change–I would have bought their part of the story more. In fact the whole Underground aspect of this book was very underwritten. There were not many characters given more that just vague outlines, and I never got a feel for who they were, why they did what they did, how they operated, who was in charge, or what the end goal was. Much like the college they seem to be there just to push Angus more towards Saka and Demonside. I really do wish that the author had fleshed out this part of the book, because as it stands they just came off as cliched and a bit boring. Where I think they were supposed to be the antagonist of this story, I never really felt it from them. I certainly didn’t like them, but they always felt like more of a side boss, than a Big Bad. Which is unfortunate since there really wasn’t any one thing in this book to push the story to any type of climax and the story faltered near the end because of it.
This book just barely eked out a four-star rating from me. There were some real flaws in this story that almost kept me from rating it this high. But in the end…and I do mean the very end…it did manage to pull itself together enough for me to say that I did like it more than the first story. Just barely, but still. I do like this world, with its very grey morality and dark tone, but I’m kind a hoping that book three will have a bit tighter structure. It feels like all the ingredients are here to make a truly awesome story, and each entry is getting the recipe a bit closer, but it hasn’t reached perfection yet. But that doesn’t mean that what’s here isn’t worth consuming. It is still a good story, and it left me actually excited to see what will happen next.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
So, now that all that is handled…
Rogue in the Making opens up shortly after the end of book one. Angus’ father is dead–his blood and soul used to rebalance the magic in Demonside–and Angus himself is healing from the knife wound his father inflicted on him when he tried to kill Angus. The ritual performed at the end of the first book has also brought in the rains–for however long it will last–and the demons have agreed to give Angus and the other trainees a year to figure out a way to rebalance the magic without all-out war. But the calm does not last long as Angus soon starts to suspect that the Underground of warlocks who said they wished to bring down the college and their harmful ways are not as completely honest as they portrayed themselves. And it seems that not all demons are content to wait a year to see results. With both sides of the veil teetering on war from without and within, Angus and Saka must scramble to hold together a fragile peace all the while trying to find a way to save Demonside from drying to dust and blowing away in the wind.
There were parts of this book that I liked more than the Warlock in Training, and some that I liked less.
On the positive side, I think the author did a good job of making sure you felt the tension in this story from beginning to end. Even when things were good, you knew that it would not last. There was a constant sense of dread and impending doom that I think worked well towards making this a hard book to put down.
On the flip side of that, the way this book was structured, the movement from scene to scene–and the way it seemed to leave out some rather important, or at the very least impactful, scenes–made the narrative a bit choppy. The way the story moved from scene to scene–usually on a pov shift between Saka and Angus–had no natural flow to it. It was hard to tell how much time was lost between chapters. A lot of the times it would end with Angus in Demonside/Vinland, and the next chapter would have Angus back on the other side. Days, or even a week could have passed, but it never made it quite clear enough to the readers. Even though a lot of the times I could kinda guess that nothing important had happened in the missing time, there were some times where it felt like I missed out on things that I really should have seen for myself, instead of having related to me by other characters. There were several deaths in this book that had maybe a tenth of the impact they could have had, mostly because we don’t get to see them happen. The characters are sad that the people died…but I never was. It felt very removed and closed off, when it should have done something to me.
I did find the way the relationship(s) in this book progressed to work a bit better for me. At least by the end. I am not, and never have been, a huge fan of love-triangles. They annoy me. The whole thing with Terrance in the first book was probably one of my least favorite things about the story. Mostly because I could tell that it was bugging Saka. I’m totally cool with non-monogamous relationships, but they kinda have to be agreed on by all parties, and I could tell that Saka was not happy about Angus’ growing relationship with the other human. I think this story did at least start to move the whole love-triangle into a more palatable direction, for me at least, by the end of this book. I’m not sure what the next book will have in store but if it continues on the path it seems to be taking, I’ll be happy.
I was less happy with the way the book handled the Underground though. It all seemed a bit to cliched for my tastes. Maybe if they had spent some time going into why they would act this way, given us some clues as to what changed their outlook–or if indeed it did ever change–I would have bought their part of the story more. In fact the whole Underground aspect of this book was very underwritten. There were not many characters given more that just vague outlines, and I never got a feel for who they were, why they did what they did, how they operated, who was in charge, or what the end goal was. Much like the college they seem to be there just to push Angus more towards Saka and Demonside. I really do wish that the author had fleshed out this part of the book, because as it stands they just came off as cliched and a bit boring. Where I think they were supposed to be the antagonist of this story, I never really felt it from them. I certainly didn’t like them, but they always felt like more of a side boss, than a Big Bad. Which is unfortunate since there really wasn’t any one thing in this book to push the story to any type of climax and the story faltered near the end because of it.
This book just barely eked out a four-star rating from me. There were some real flaws in this story that almost kept me from rating it this high. But in the end…and I do mean the very end…it did manage to pull itself together enough for me to say that I did like it more than the first story. Just barely, but still. I do like this world, with its very grey morality and dark tone, but I’m kind a hoping that book three will have a bit tighter structure. It feels like all the ingredients are here to make a truly awesome story, and each entry is getting the recipe a bit closer, but it hasn’t reached perfection yet. But that doesn’t mean that what’s here isn’t worth consuming. It is still a good story, and it left me actually excited to see what will happen next.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
May 22, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Oh, I have been waiting for this sequel to Warlock in Training for more than a year, and I greedily grabbed it up as soon as I could. Nichols has created such a facisntating and well developed world in this series, and I couldn’t wait to escape back into it and see where the adventure would take Angus and Saka next. This book is so much more than romance, though there are those elements (albeit in a somewhat untraditional way), but it’s about right and wrong, good and evil, and the balance of power.
The characters really drive the story here and their own struggles and growth throughout it make the book come alive. Angus is in a much more solid place now, and he’s learning to play the game so that he can do the most good, both in Demonside and in Humanside. I love that he’s come into his own and not afraid to stand up for what he wants and what he believes in. He’s not perfect, of course, as he’s still growing into himself. But the things he’s learned at Saka’s side have helped him develop and he’s not going to rest on his laurels.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Oh, I have been waiting for this sequel to Warlock in Training for more than a year, and I greedily grabbed it up as soon as I could. Nichols has created such a facisntating and well developed world in this series, and I couldn’t wait to escape back into it and see where the adventure would take Angus and Saka next. This book is so much more than romance, though there are those elements (albeit in a somewhat untraditional way), but it’s about right and wrong, good and evil, and the balance of power.
The characters really drive the story here and their own struggles and growth throughout it make the book come alive. Angus is in a much more solid place now, and he’s learning to play the game so that he can do the most good, both in Demonside and in Humanside. I love that he’s come into his own and not afraid to stand up for what he wants and what he believes in. He’s not perfect, of course, as he’s still growing into himself. But the things he’s learned at Saka’s side have helped him develop and he’s not going to rest on his laurels.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
Read
July 9, 2018Soooooo goooooooood! Review to come. 💚💜🧡
June 10, 2018
Nothing much happened, despite the fact the book was fairly lengthy. The Resistance is evil too, blah blah. We are from two different worlds, blah blah. Hey surprise, let's make this a m/m/m book.
Maybe something will happen in the third one?
Maybe something will happen in the third one?
November 20, 2018
Book – Rogue in the Making (Studies in Demonology #2)
Author – T.J. Nichols
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 284
Cover – Gorgeous
POV – 3rd person, dual character POV
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Fantasy, Paranormal, Demons
Content Warning – love triangle, blood magic, sex magic, sacrifice
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
I've been waiting what feels like forever for this book to come out. Book 1 ended on a semi-cliffhanger, certainly a HFN, and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.
Again, this was a rollercoaster of emotion. The love triangle of Angus, Terrance and Saka was back with a bang that had a much greater impact, because Angus and Terrance actually spent more time together during this book, than they did in book 1. The prospect of them becoming a poly relationship in the next book is great, because I really didn't want Angus to give up on Saka.
I felt the split world dynamics much more acutely in this book, since Angus truly did spend half his time in Vinland and half his time in Demonside/Arlyxia. There was adventure on both sides and, despite how complex and well written the world building was in book 1, there was even more of it done here. The world building continued and compounded upon everything we'd learned in book 1, to add more scope and more complexity to the Demonside/Arlyxia world as well as the human/Vinland world. By explaining the situation with the other continents, such as the Mayan Empire, the world has grown bigger and more capable of carrying on such an expanding plot.
Truthfully, I was so wrapped up in the story that I didn't make my mountain of notes, like I usually do. I just marked a few notes of important things and let myself fly free to enjoy the story without interruption.
In terms of plot, this one really needs to be read as part of a series. You can't just dip into book 2 without reading book 1, first. I know there's a Previously note at the beginning, that recaps the main plot points of book 1, and there's the usual recap during the main text/storytelling as Angus recovers from the wounds inflicted at the end of book 1, but you just have to read the first sentence to know that this should be read like a series, each book flowing from one to the next without pause.
The plot picks up right where we left off, when Angus was so nearly fatally stabbed his father, at the end of book 1. I love that it doesn't waste time between those events, because every small moment in this world is important and I didn't want to miss a thing.
Like book 1, for being less than 300 pages, it reads like a 500+ page novel. There is so much intricacy to the world building and the characters that a whole lot happens in those <300 pages. Sometimes I put it down to digest, to think about what's happened, to contemplate the messes made and the mysteries to be unravelled as I let it all soak in. Sometimes I just can't help but let my eyes skim ahead and then curse myself for it and go back to the start.
I won't say anything about the plot that's too revealing. It was good to learn the truth about Jim and Angus' break-up, and it was good to see more of the Underground and what they were actually doing. It was also nice for Angus to make friends with some of the trainees in Demonside and find allies amongst the enemy. I also really loved the slight change in dynamics between Angus and Saka. It wasn't pure, blind trust or devotion anymore. Angus really grew up at the end of book 1 and we see the result of that here; he's stronger, more cautious, and he doesn't do anything blindly. He's still a little rash, but he's barely 20 and those things are totally normal for a kid his age. I liked seeing him learn and adapt his magic, to undergo his lessons with Saka and Usi, to learn the art of magic and wield it with skill. It was also interesting to see Saka and Usi finally face off, to see Miniti take a side and make a decision about Angus' fate, when she's been hesitant to rock the boat until now.
There were old and new characters alike, and they were all written with expert skill and depth.
Yes, I'm a little devastated that it took a year for book 2 to release and might take another year before I can read book 3, but I don't mind. With this book's release, I got to revisit book 1 and reexplore the world all over again. When book 3 releases, I'll get to experience another revisit to books 1 and 2, leading into book 3, so it's all for the good on my end. These are books that I'll be re-reading constantly anyway, so it's another excuse for me to buy the paperbacks and have them at the ready for the release of the next installment. As far as I'm concerned, it can go on forever and ever and I won't complain.
~
Was there anything I didn't like?
Yes, there were a few editing issues. About three, according to my notes, which is pretty amazing for an advanced copy. I also wasn't too keen on the Previously section, which was a basic bullet point list of events that happened in book 1. Maybe if it had been a 1st person recap by Angus, or some sort of Prequel dream sequence it might have worked better, but it's the first Previously section I've ever seen in a book and I didn't really see the point of it, since it picked up exactly where book 1 left. Because it can't be read as a standalone and it's advertised as part of a series, I'm not sure it was required.
But, saying that, I didn't let it reflect my rating because it's all personal opinion and it didn't affect the story or the world building at all.
~
Favourite Quotes
“It would be easier if Angus tore Saka's heart free and left it in the sand for a scarlips, but Angus would never do that.”
““I like you.”
Angus gave him a sideways glance. “It's not that hard to say 'I love you.'”
But Saka had never said those words to anyone. Angus was the first person he'd ever loved.”
Author – T.J. Nichols
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 284
Cover – Gorgeous
POV – 3rd person, dual character POV
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Fantasy, Paranormal, Demons
Content Warning – love triangle, blood magic, sex magic, sacrifice
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
I've been waiting what feels like forever for this book to come out. Book 1 ended on a semi-cliffhanger, certainly a HFN, and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.
Again, this was a rollercoaster of emotion. The love triangle of Angus, Terrance and Saka was back with a bang that had a much greater impact, because Angus and Terrance actually spent more time together during this book, than they did in book 1. The prospect of them becoming a poly relationship in the next book is great, because I really didn't want Angus to give up on Saka.
I felt the split world dynamics much more acutely in this book, since Angus truly did spend half his time in Vinland and half his time in Demonside/Arlyxia. There was adventure on both sides and, despite how complex and well written the world building was in book 1, there was even more of it done here. The world building continued and compounded upon everything we'd learned in book 1, to add more scope and more complexity to the Demonside/Arlyxia world as well as the human/Vinland world. By explaining the situation with the other continents, such as the Mayan Empire, the world has grown bigger and more capable of carrying on such an expanding plot.
Truthfully, I was so wrapped up in the story that I didn't make my mountain of notes, like I usually do. I just marked a few notes of important things and let myself fly free to enjoy the story without interruption.
In terms of plot, this one really needs to be read as part of a series. You can't just dip into book 2 without reading book 1, first. I know there's a Previously note at the beginning, that recaps the main plot points of book 1, and there's the usual recap during the main text/storytelling as Angus recovers from the wounds inflicted at the end of book 1, but you just have to read the first sentence to know that this should be read like a series, each book flowing from one to the next without pause.
The plot picks up right where we left off, when Angus was so nearly fatally stabbed his father, at the end of book 1. I love that it doesn't waste time between those events, because every small moment in this world is important and I didn't want to miss a thing.
Like book 1, for being less than 300 pages, it reads like a 500+ page novel. There is so much intricacy to the world building and the characters that a whole lot happens in those <300 pages. Sometimes I put it down to digest, to think about what's happened, to contemplate the messes made and the mysteries to be unravelled as I let it all soak in. Sometimes I just can't help but let my eyes skim ahead and then curse myself for it and go back to the start.
I won't say anything about the plot that's too revealing. It was good to learn the truth about Jim and Angus' break-up, and it was good to see more of the Underground and what they were actually doing. It was also nice for Angus to make friends with some of the trainees in Demonside and find allies amongst the enemy. I also really loved the slight change in dynamics between Angus and Saka. It wasn't pure, blind trust or devotion anymore. Angus really grew up at the end of book 1 and we see the result of that here; he's stronger, more cautious, and he doesn't do anything blindly. He's still a little rash, but he's barely 20 and those things are totally normal for a kid his age. I liked seeing him learn and adapt his magic, to undergo his lessons with Saka and Usi, to learn the art of magic and wield it with skill. It was also interesting to see Saka and Usi finally face off, to see Miniti take a side and make a decision about Angus' fate, when she's been hesitant to rock the boat until now.
There were old and new characters alike, and they were all written with expert skill and depth.
Yes, I'm a little devastated that it took a year for book 2 to release and might take another year before I can read book 3, but I don't mind. With this book's release, I got to revisit book 1 and reexplore the world all over again. When book 3 releases, I'll get to experience another revisit to books 1 and 2, leading into book 3, so it's all for the good on my end. These are books that I'll be re-reading constantly anyway, so it's another excuse for me to buy the paperbacks and have them at the ready for the release of the next installment. As far as I'm concerned, it can go on forever and ever and I won't complain.
~
Was there anything I didn't like?
Yes, there were a few editing issues. About three, according to my notes, which is pretty amazing for an advanced copy. I also wasn't too keen on the Previously section, which was a basic bullet point list of events that happened in book 1. Maybe if it had been a 1st person recap by Angus, or some sort of Prequel dream sequence it might have worked better, but it's the first Previously section I've ever seen in a book and I didn't really see the point of it, since it picked up exactly where book 1 left. Because it can't be read as a standalone and it's advertised as part of a series, I'm not sure it was required.
But, saying that, I didn't let it reflect my rating because it's all personal opinion and it didn't affect the story or the world building at all.
~
Favourite Quotes
“It would be easier if Angus tore Saka's heart free and left it in the sand for a scarlips, but Angus would never do that.”
““I like you.”
Angus gave him a sideways glance. “It's not that hard to say 'I love you.'”
But Saka had never said those words to anyone. Angus was the first person he'd ever loved.”
June 29, 2019
i personally liked the first book better then this one but this one was really good also. it was enjoyable and fast paced. the characters interesting and made me smile. it was a good story with lots of action and adventure.
February 3, 2020
As more details emerge about this story’s world where Demonside and Humanside need to be in balance to survive, the stakes increase as new dangers come out of the woodwork. The Warlock College of Vinland is as unscrupulous as ever, but the underground turns out to be less than reliable and just as power-hungry as the “official” warlocks running the College. It puts Angus right in the middle, questioning his loyalties and forcing him to look at the entire situation in a new light. He desperately wants to save both worlds, but the problem is far more complex than he assumed. And due to this complexity, I definitely recommend to read these books in order – you will have a really hard time understanding what’s going on otherwise.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 30, 2020
Great Investment
There’s trials and challenges characters face and sometimes a writer’s work is so good you go through those challenges and conquer them too. Great book! Bought book 3 I’m so grateful I have off today as it’s past 3:30 am and the cold rain reminds me of what demonside needs
There’s trials and challenges characters face and sometimes a writer’s work is so good you go through those challenges and conquer them too. Great book! Bought book 3 I’m so grateful I have off today as it’s past 3:30 am and the cold rain reminds me of what demonside needs
July 20, 2019
With Saka at his side, Angus recovers form the wound that almost killed him, while the mages teach magic to a group of young wizards, and the sacrifices provided by the underground bring beneficial rain to Demonside. On the face of it, everything seems to be great, and the alliance between people and demons against the Warlock College seems to be able to bring desired results. But when the leaders of the underground start to break the covenant rules and resort to threats to ensure full cooperation of the mages' trainees, the newly created alliance becomes a dangerous game that can turn into a war at any moment.
"Rogue in the Making" is the second truly amazing installment in the "Studies in Demonology" series written by TJ Nichols. This volume is mostly dominated by feelings, which I think is a great advantage of this novel. The more so because they don't affect only the reader and the characters, but to some extent also the events that take place here. I believe that equally important is the fact that these feelings are diverse, very well and quite broadly presented. We can find here, among others, love, desire, trust and lack of it, pain (external, internal and their perfectly depicted juxtaposition), desperation. All of this has been presented in a great way, which gives the novel depth, as well as affects the development of the characters and moves the plot forward. However, I admit that it's very hard for me to do justice to the amazing way in which TJ Nichols managed to present and use feelings in this book. That's why I encourage you to read "Rogue in the Making" and see for yourself how great it is.
I would like to write a little more about the themes of love and desire. To be honest, the way in which TJ Nichols approaches these subjects in the novel is undoubtedly original and somewhat surprising. First of all, we find here the eternal problem of love perceived as weakness or strength. What I think is interesting is that more than Angus, as we might expect, Saka is bothered by this problem, though it certainly concerns both of them. Secondly, the question "is this love or desire?" doesn't really seem to matter in "Rogue in the Making." Instead, we see a simple "I want and need" principle, which is quite enough for some characters, while the readers need to make the effort if they want to understand the relationship between Angus, Saka and Terrance. Well, as for me, at some point I restrained my curiosity, stopped thinking about it too much and I just let myself enjoy the novel and the bonds between the individual characters.
"Rogue in the Making" is a novel which plot is set in two parallel worlds, while the main character is forced to, in a way, live in between them, because he can't stay in Demonside or Humanside for good. However, it should be noted that TJ Nichols doesn't focus only on the physical "in between", but also shows this ideological and psychological one. And this fact is what I consider the greatest advantage of the novel, which perfectly illustrates the above-mentioned being in between worlds. To be honest, I think the fact that Angus is human, but to a large extent really loves Demonside is really fantastic. Nevertheless, what he does when he is forced to make a choice between people and demons, when he has to show the loyalty of one of the parties is even more amazing. To tell you the truth, TJ Nichols showed this problem in "Rogue in the Making" in a way that really made me impressed.
I think that reviewing this volume it is also worth mentioning that while the first one mainly shows us the universe and broadens our knowledge about it, "Rogue in the Making" focuses on its further building by gradually widening its horizons. First of all, the reader discovers the world and magic together with the characters, because they are not all-knowing, they experiment, gradually expand their knowledge. It is really fascinating and I think that it is thanks to such a construction of the universe and magic that we are even more interested in them. What's more, what is unknown to the characters also has a greater impact on the reader and their emotions. Therefore, in "Rogue in the Making" what holds us in suspense are not only action and feelings, but also the world building and a chance to learn more about magic. Just like in the previous volume, we are students who not only enjoy this novel but also gain knowledge.
To sum up, "Rogue in the Making" engrosses us, keeps us in suspense from the beginning to the end, fascinates us and is the reason we are even more in love with the "Studies in Demonology" series. This is a fantastic novel and a brilliant continuation of the first volume. I love it and recommend it with all my heart!
_________________________________
Angus wraca do zdrowia pod okiem Saki, grupa młodych czarodziejów uczy się magii szkolona przez magów, zaś dostarczone przez podziemie ofiary sprowadzają do kraju demonów zbawienny deszcz. Pozornie wszystko wydaje się układać jak najlepiej, a współpraca ludzi i demonów w walce przeciwko Akademii Czarowników może przynieść pożądane efekty. Kiedy jednak liderzy podziemia zaczynają łamać zasady przymierza i uciekają się do nieczystych zagrań aby zapewnić sobie współpracę wybranej grupy uczniów magów, niedawno zawarte przymierze staje się niebezpieczną grą, która w każdej chwili może przerodzić się w wojnę.
„Rogue in the Making” to druga naprawdę świetna odsłona serii „Studies in Demonology” autorstwa TJ Nichols. Tym, co dominuje w tym tomie są przede wszystkim uczucia, co uważam za ogromną zaletę tej powieści. Tym bardziej, że nie wpływają one tylko na czytelnika i bohaterów, ale w pewnym stopniu także na wydarzenia, jakie się tu rozgrywają. Równie istotne wydaje mi się także to, że wspomniane uczucia są różnorodne, bardzo dobrze i dosyć szeroko przedstawione. Znajdziemy wśród nich, między innymi miłość, pożądanie, zaufanie i jego brak, ból (zewnętrzny, wewnętrzny oraz ich perfekcyjnie zobrazowane zestawienie), desperację. Wszystko to zostało przedstawione w doskonały sposób, nadający powieści głębi, jak również wpływający na rozwój bohaterów i posuwający fabułę do przodu. Przyznaję jednak, że bardzo ciężko jest mi oddać sprawiedliwość temu, w jak świetny sposób TJ Nichols zdołała przedstawić i wykorzystać uczucia. Zachęcam Was więc do sięgnięcia po „Rogue in the Making”, aby samemu się o tym przekonać.
Trochę więcej miejsca chciałabym poświęcić tematom miłości i pożądania. Prawdę mówiąc, sposób w jaki TJ Nichols podchodzi do nich w swojej powieści jest niewątpliwie oryginalny i w pewnym stopniu zaskakujący. Po pierwsze, znajdziemy tu odwieczny problem miłości postrzeganej jako słabość lub siła. Co istotne, bardziej niż Angusa, jak moglibyśmy się tego spodziewać, problem ten dręczy Sakę, choć niewątpliwie dotyczy ich obu. Po drugie, pytanie typu „kocham czy pożądam” wydaje się nie mieć w „Rogue in the Making” większego znaczenia. Zamiast niego pojawia się proste „chcę i potrzebuję”, które w zupełności wystarcza niektórym bohaterom i sprawia, że czytelnik, jeśli chce zrozumieć w pełni łączące Angusa, Sakę i Terrance’a relacje, musi się nieźle wysilić. Cóż, ja w pewnym momencie poskromiłam swoją ciekawość, przestałam się nad tym przesadnie zastanawiać i po prostu pozwoliłam sobie cieszyć się powieścią oraz łączącymi poszczególnych bohaterów więziami.
„Rogue in the Making” jest powieścią, której fabuła osadzona została w dwóch równoległych światach, podczas gdy główny bohater jest zmuszony żyć niejako między nimi, ponieważ nie może pozostać na stałe ani po stronie demonicznej, ani też ludzkiej. Należy jednak zauważyć, że TJ Nichols nie skupia się tylko na fizycznym „pomiędzy”, ale ukazuje również to ideologiczne i psychiczne. I właśnie ten fakt uważam za największą zaletę powieści, która w doskonały sposób ukazuje to wspomniane „pomiędzy” światami. Będę szczera, fakt, że Angus jest człowiekiem, ale w dużej mierze oddał serce Demonside uważam za rzecz naprawdę fantastyczną. Niemniej jednak, jeszcze wspanialsze jest to, co robi, gdy zostaje zmuszony aby poniekąd dokonać wyboru pomiędzy ludźmi a demonami, gdy musi okazać lojalność jednej ze stron. Prawdę mówiąc, TJ Nichols ukazała ten problem w „Rogue in the Making” w sposób, który rzucił mnie na kolana.
Myślę, że recenzując ten tom warto również wspomnieć o tym, że o ile pierwszy w dużej mierze zaznajamiał nas z uniwersum oraz poszerzał naszą wiedzę na jego temat, o tyle „Rogue in the Making” skupia się na dalszej jego budowie poprzez stopniowe poszerzanie horyzontów. Czytelnik przed wszystkim odkrywa świat i magię wraz z bohaterami, ponieważ nie są oni wszystkowiedzący, eksperymentują, stopniowo poszerzają swoją własną wiedzę. To naprawdę fascynujące i uważam, że właśnie dzięki takiemu budowaniu uniwersum oraz magii jesteśmy nimi jeszcze bardziej zainteresowani. Co więcej, to co stanowi niewiadomą dla bohaterów ma również większy wpływ na czytelnika i jego emocje. Dlatego też w „Rogue in the Making” tym, co trzyma nas w napięciu są nie tylko akcja i uczucia, ale także budowa świata oraz poznawanie magii. Tak jak w poprzednim tomie, tak i w tym jesteśmy uczniami, którzy nie tylko dobrze się bawią, ale także zdobywają wiedzę.
Podsumowując, „Rogue in the Making” wciąga, trzyma w napięciu od początku do końca, fascynuje i rozkochuje nas jeszcze bardziej w serii „Studies in Demonology”. To fantastyczna powieść i genialna kontynuacja pierwszego tomu. Kocham i polecam z całego serca!
"Rogue in the Making" is the second truly amazing installment in the "Studies in Demonology" series written by TJ Nichols. This volume is mostly dominated by feelings, which I think is a great advantage of this novel. The more so because they don't affect only the reader and the characters, but to some extent also the events that take place here. I believe that equally important is the fact that these feelings are diverse, very well and quite broadly presented. We can find here, among others, love, desire, trust and lack of it, pain (external, internal and their perfectly depicted juxtaposition), desperation. All of this has been presented in a great way, which gives the novel depth, as well as affects the development of the characters and moves the plot forward. However, I admit that it's very hard for me to do justice to the amazing way in which TJ Nichols managed to present and use feelings in this book. That's why I encourage you to read "Rogue in the Making" and see for yourself how great it is.
I would like to write a little more about the themes of love and desire. To be honest, the way in which TJ Nichols approaches these subjects in the novel is undoubtedly original and somewhat surprising. First of all, we find here the eternal problem of love perceived as weakness or strength. What I think is interesting is that more than Angus, as we might expect, Saka is bothered by this problem, though it certainly concerns both of them. Secondly, the question "is this love or desire?" doesn't really seem to matter in "Rogue in the Making." Instead, we see a simple "I want and need" principle, which is quite enough for some characters, while the readers need to make the effort if they want to understand the relationship between Angus, Saka and Terrance. Well, as for me, at some point I restrained my curiosity, stopped thinking about it too much and I just let myself enjoy the novel and the bonds between the individual characters.
"Rogue in the Making" is a novel which plot is set in two parallel worlds, while the main character is forced to, in a way, live in between them, because he can't stay in Demonside or Humanside for good. However, it should be noted that TJ Nichols doesn't focus only on the physical "in between", but also shows this ideological and psychological one. And this fact is what I consider the greatest advantage of the novel, which perfectly illustrates the above-mentioned being in between worlds. To be honest, I think the fact that Angus is human, but to a large extent really loves Demonside is really fantastic. Nevertheless, what he does when he is forced to make a choice between people and demons, when he has to show the loyalty of one of the parties is even more amazing. To tell you the truth, TJ Nichols showed this problem in "Rogue in the Making" in a way that really made me impressed.
I think that reviewing this volume it is also worth mentioning that while the first one mainly shows us the universe and broadens our knowledge about it, "Rogue in the Making" focuses on its further building by gradually widening its horizons. First of all, the reader discovers the world and magic together with the characters, because they are not all-knowing, they experiment, gradually expand their knowledge. It is really fascinating and I think that it is thanks to such a construction of the universe and magic that we are even more interested in them. What's more, what is unknown to the characters also has a greater impact on the reader and their emotions. Therefore, in "Rogue in the Making" what holds us in suspense are not only action and feelings, but also the world building and a chance to learn more about magic. Just like in the previous volume, we are students who not only enjoy this novel but also gain knowledge.
To sum up, "Rogue in the Making" engrosses us, keeps us in suspense from the beginning to the end, fascinates us and is the reason we are even more in love with the "Studies in Demonology" series. This is a fantastic novel and a brilliant continuation of the first volume. I love it and recommend it with all my heart!
_________________________________
Angus wraca do zdrowia pod okiem Saki, grupa młodych czarodziejów uczy się magii szkolona przez magów, zaś dostarczone przez podziemie ofiary sprowadzają do kraju demonów zbawienny deszcz. Pozornie wszystko wydaje się układać jak najlepiej, a współpraca ludzi i demonów w walce przeciwko Akademii Czarowników może przynieść pożądane efekty. Kiedy jednak liderzy podziemia zaczynają łamać zasady przymierza i uciekają się do nieczystych zagrań aby zapewnić sobie współpracę wybranej grupy uczniów magów, niedawno zawarte przymierze staje się niebezpieczną grą, która w każdej chwili może przerodzić się w wojnę.
„Rogue in the Making” to druga naprawdę świetna odsłona serii „Studies in Demonology” autorstwa TJ Nichols. Tym, co dominuje w tym tomie są przede wszystkim uczucia, co uważam za ogromną zaletę tej powieści. Tym bardziej, że nie wpływają one tylko na czytelnika i bohaterów, ale w pewnym stopniu także na wydarzenia, jakie się tu rozgrywają. Równie istotne wydaje mi się także to, że wspomniane uczucia są różnorodne, bardzo dobrze i dosyć szeroko przedstawione. Znajdziemy wśród nich, między innymi miłość, pożądanie, zaufanie i jego brak, ból (zewnętrzny, wewnętrzny oraz ich perfekcyjnie zobrazowane zestawienie), desperację. Wszystko to zostało przedstawione w doskonały sposób, nadający powieści głębi, jak również wpływający na rozwój bohaterów i posuwający fabułę do przodu. Przyznaję jednak, że bardzo ciężko jest mi oddać sprawiedliwość temu, w jak świetny sposób TJ Nichols zdołała przedstawić i wykorzystać uczucia. Zachęcam Was więc do sięgnięcia po „Rogue in the Making”, aby samemu się o tym przekonać.
Trochę więcej miejsca chciałabym poświęcić tematom miłości i pożądania. Prawdę mówiąc, sposób w jaki TJ Nichols podchodzi do nich w swojej powieści jest niewątpliwie oryginalny i w pewnym stopniu zaskakujący. Po pierwsze, znajdziemy tu odwieczny problem miłości postrzeganej jako słabość lub siła. Co istotne, bardziej niż Angusa, jak moglibyśmy się tego spodziewać, problem ten dręczy Sakę, choć niewątpliwie dotyczy ich obu. Po drugie, pytanie typu „kocham czy pożądam” wydaje się nie mieć w „Rogue in the Making” większego znaczenia. Zamiast niego pojawia się proste „chcę i potrzebuję”, które w zupełności wystarcza niektórym bohaterom i sprawia, że czytelnik, jeśli chce zrozumieć w pełni łączące Angusa, Sakę i Terrance’a relacje, musi się nieźle wysilić. Cóż, ja w pewnym momencie poskromiłam swoją ciekawość, przestałam się nad tym przesadnie zastanawiać i po prostu pozwoliłam sobie cieszyć się powieścią oraz łączącymi poszczególnych bohaterów więziami.
„Rogue in the Making” jest powieścią, której fabuła osadzona została w dwóch równoległych światach, podczas gdy główny bohater jest zmuszony żyć niejako między nimi, ponieważ nie może pozostać na stałe ani po stronie demonicznej, ani też ludzkiej. Należy jednak zauważyć, że TJ Nichols nie skupia się tylko na fizycznym „pomiędzy”, ale ukazuje również to ideologiczne i psychiczne. I właśnie ten fakt uważam za największą zaletę powieści, która w doskonały sposób ukazuje to wspomniane „pomiędzy” światami. Będę szczera, fakt, że Angus jest człowiekiem, ale w dużej mierze oddał serce Demonside uważam za rzecz naprawdę fantastyczną. Niemniej jednak, jeszcze wspanialsze jest to, co robi, gdy zostaje zmuszony aby poniekąd dokonać wyboru pomiędzy ludźmi a demonami, gdy musi okazać lojalność jednej ze stron. Prawdę mówiąc, TJ Nichols ukazała ten problem w „Rogue in the Making” w sposób, który rzucił mnie na kolana.
Myślę, że recenzując ten tom warto również wspomnieć o tym, że o ile pierwszy w dużej mierze zaznajamiał nas z uniwersum oraz poszerzał naszą wiedzę na jego temat, o tyle „Rogue in the Making” skupia się na dalszej jego budowie poprzez stopniowe poszerzanie horyzontów. Czytelnik przed wszystkim odkrywa świat i magię wraz z bohaterami, ponieważ nie są oni wszystkowiedzący, eksperymentują, stopniowo poszerzają swoją własną wiedzę. To naprawdę fascynujące i uważam, że właśnie dzięki takiemu budowaniu uniwersum oraz magii jesteśmy nimi jeszcze bardziej zainteresowani. Co więcej, to co stanowi niewiadomą dla bohaterów ma również większy wpływ na czytelnika i jego emocje. Dlatego też w „Rogue in the Making” tym, co trzyma nas w napięciu są nie tylko akcja i uczucia, ale także budowa świata oraz poznawanie magii. Tak jak w poprzednim tomie, tak i w tym jesteśmy uczniami, którzy nie tylko dobrze się bawią, ale także zdobywają wiedzę.
Podsumowując, „Rogue in the Making” wciąga, trzyma w napięciu od początku do końca, fascynuje i rozkochuje nas jeszcze bardziej w serii „Studies in Demonology”. To fantastyczna powieść i genialna kontynuacja pierwszego tomu. Kocham i polecam z całego serca!
February 3, 2020
As more details emerge about this story’s world where Demonside and Humanside need to be in balance to survive, the stakes increase as new dangers come out of the woodwork. The Warlock College of Vinland is as unscrupulous as ever, but the underground turns out to be less than reliable and just as power-hungry as the “official” warlocks running the College. It puts Angus right in the middle, questioning his loyalties and forcing him to look at the entire situation in a new light. He desperately wants to save both worlds, but the problem is far more complex than he assumed. And due to this complexity, I definitely recommend to read these books in order – you will have a really hard time understanding what’s going on otherwise.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 27, 2019
I liked the direction this story moved things along to overall. I wasn't particularly enjoying the love triangle that was introduced in the first book, but as everything goes to hell in a hand basket in this book I liked the direction ultimately looks to be taking things with that.
I like Angus and Saka together. They're different and those differences drive them to learn more about each other. Terrance on the other hand was a little on the outs for me. As another human he didn't intrigue me as much. But his devotion to Angus and his willingness to do what is necessary slowly is winning me over.
I definitely like Demonside better. Their world and rules may be harsh, but they're not needlessly cruel. At least most of them. The idea of balance is key in the greater storyline and I enjoy the premise.
I like Angus and Saka together. They're different and those differences drive them to learn more about each other. Terrance on the other hand was a little on the outs for me. As another human he didn't intrigue me as much. But his devotion to Angus and his willingness to do what is necessary slowly is winning me over.
I definitely like Demonside better. Their world and rules may be harsh, but they're not needlessly cruel. At least most of them. The idea of balance is key in the greater storyline and I enjoy the premise.
August 22, 2020
2.5*
Clairement un tome de transition dans lequel il ne se passe pas grand chose et où l’histoire avance très peu.
Aussi, l’auteur a la curieuse manie de ne pas écrire certaines scènes pivot. Il fait un cliff en fin de chapitre, le chapitre suivant il y a un saut dans le temps et il se contente de résumer la scène censée faire suite au cliff en 2-3 phrases. C’est déroutant, ça fait retomber toute la tension et perdre tout intérêt à la scène concernée. :/
Clairement un tome de transition dans lequel il ne se passe pas grand chose et où l’histoire avance très peu.
Aussi, l’auteur a la curieuse manie de ne pas écrire certaines scènes pivot. Il fait un cliff en fin de chapitre, le chapitre suivant il y a un saut dans le temps et il se contente de résumer la scène censée faire suite au cliff en 2-3 phrases. C’est déroutant, ça fait retomber toute la tension et perdre tout intérêt à la scène concernée. :/
July 21, 2019
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided n exchange for an honest review.
After finishing this book, my nerves were jangling and I could barely sit still to write the review because I wanted to continue reading the last book in the series to see how this trilogy would end. After the events in the first book, Angus’s father kicking him out and trying to kill him, Angus is at the mercy of Demonside and the underground. Angus begins living a not secret double life. In Demonside, Angus and a few volunteer wizards work with mages to learn magic and balance. Their goal is to go back and teach Vinland and the warlocks that magic can be pulled from their own world without using demons, or at least let them know how they can help rebalance after taking magic from the demons they use. In Demonside, Angus becomes closer to Saka and their sex magic isn’t only for rebalancing. In Vinland, Angus is close to a warlock named Terrance. Terrance introduced Angus to the underground and he was never that interested in having a demon either. The underground might have started out with good intentions but in their hopes to stop the college, they have stopped caring about what happens to Demonside and they seem to be hoarding magic now, too.
The underground keeps getting worse and they hold Terrance’s safety over Angus’s head to keep him in line. Angus would rather take his chances on Demonside, but he keeps giving too much of himself while he is there. He still needs to go home and recharge,and he doesn’t want to leave Terrance to be punished. The other wizards who were training with mages are also seeing the underground for what they are. There is a camaraderie between Angus and the trainees, including his ex-boyfriend. They don’t seem to be safe in either world and I couldn’t help but root for the band of magic users. Eventually they have to strike out on their own along with Saka and another mage named Wek. There was suspense as they searched for a different tribe of demons that work with a nation other than Vinland, giving the humans and demons a place of refuge. There is loss in this book, but I loved seeing how the characters grew, especially the humans who became more aware of the world around them. Now on to the last book to relieve my nervous agitation.
After finishing this book, my nerves were jangling and I could barely sit still to write the review because I wanted to continue reading the last book in the series to see how this trilogy would end. After the events in the first book, Angus’s father kicking him out and trying to kill him, Angus is at the mercy of Demonside and the underground. Angus begins living a not secret double life. In Demonside, Angus and a few volunteer wizards work with mages to learn magic and balance. Their goal is to go back and teach Vinland and the warlocks that magic can be pulled from their own world without using demons, or at least let them know how they can help rebalance after taking magic from the demons they use. In Demonside, Angus becomes closer to Saka and their sex magic isn’t only for rebalancing. In Vinland, Angus is close to a warlock named Terrance. Terrance introduced Angus to the underground and he was never that interested in having a demon either. The underground might have started out with good intentions but in their hopes to stop the college, they have stopped caring about what happens to Demonside and they seem to be hoarding magic now, too.
The underground keeps getting worse and they hold Terrance’s safety over Angus’s head to keep him in line. Angus would rather take his chances on Demonside, but he keeps giving too much of himself while he is there. He still needs to go home and recharge,and he doesn’t want to leave Terrance to be punished. The other wizards who were training with mages are also seeing the underground for what they are. There is a camaraderie between Angus and the trainees, including his ex-boyfriend. They don’t seem to be safe in either world and I couldn’t help but root for the band of magic users. Eventually they have to strike out on their own along with Saka and another mage named Wek. There was suspense as they searched for a different tribe of demons that work with a nation other than Vinland, giving the humans and demons a place of refuge. There is loss in this book, but I loved seeing how the characters grew, especially the humans who became more aware of the world around them. Now on to the last book to relieve my nervous agitation.
April 10, 2021
Quelques jours après les évènements dramatiques de la fin du premier tome, Angus se remet de ses blessures, coincé en Démonie. Protégé par Saka, dont l’influence, sapée par Usi, commence pourtant à pâlir au sein de sa tribu, il continue sa formation et réfléchit à la suite des évènements.
Déterminés à faire éclater la vérité, Angus doit retourner à Vinland, un séjour trop prolongé en Démonie le vide de sa substance vitale. Forcé de se cacher de l’Université, la résistance lui offre une planque mais cette protection est loin d’être sans contrepartie. Et il s’aperçoit que résistance et Université poursuivent finalement des buts assez similaires.
Un marché entre Démonie et résistance envoie des magiciens en Démonie ou, appariés à un démon, ils apprennent à se servir de la magie et à rééquilibrer, restituant en Démonie ce qui est pris par Humanité. Mais les allers/retours d’Angus deviennent de plus en plus difficiles, la résistance l’obligeant à effectuer des missions périlleuses sous la menace de représailles sur Terrance, son amant humain, et son apprentissage en Démonie le met au cœur des luttes d’intrigues qui mettent en danger la vie de tous les humains et de Saka.
L’Université bouclant les informations et les frontières sur Vinland, Angus apprend toutefois que certains autres pays ont d’autres façons de gérer la magie, de façon plus pacifique et collaborative. Les Mayas semblent prometteurs et Saka tente alors d’entrer en communication avec ses homologues en Démonie, cherchant une alliance, contre l’avis de sa tribu.
La relation entre Saka et Angus est complexe. L’attirance est forte, l’alchimie présente et ils sont toujours partants pour rééquilibrer. Saka est tiraillé entre ses sentiments envers Angus et son attachement à sa tribu et à son monde. Quand à Angus, il est très attaché à Saka et l’assume totalement mais se sent seul lorsqu’il est à Vinland. La liaison qu’il a avec Terrance en Humanité lui apporte aussi énormément et un vrai attachement le lie au jeune homme, qui se retrouve en danger à cause de lui.
Bref c’est compliqué. Et quand la tribu de Saka décide de changer de plans et de cesser toute forme d’alliance avec les humains, le démon prend une décision radicale. Et la dernière machination de la résistance va forcer Angus à opter, lui aussi, pour une décision qui va changer la donne…
Le résumé du premier tome en début de roman m’a bien aidé à me remettre l’histoire en mémoire. Le concept proposé est toujours aussi intéressant, mais j’avoue m’être un peu perdue par moments dans la temporalité, ces sauts entre deux mondes et entre les points de vues d’Angus et de Saka sont parfois assez complexes. J’espère maintenant que le tome 3 ne tardera pas, j’ai hâte de savoir ce que nous réserve l’auteur …
Déterminés à faire éclater la vérité, Angus doit retourner à Vinland, un séjour trop prolongé en Démonie le vide de sa substance vitale. Forcé de se cacher de l’Université, la résistance lui offre une planque mais cette protection est loin d’être sans contrepartie. Et il s’aperçoit que résistance et Université poursuivent finalement des buts assez similaires.
Un marché entre Démonie et résistance envoie des magiciens en Démonie ou, appariés à un démon, ils apprennent à se servir de la magie et à rééquilibrer, restituant en Démonie ce qui est pris par Humanité. Mais les allers/retours d’Angus deviennent de plus en plus difficiles, la résistance l’obligeant à effectuer des missions périlleuses sous la menace de représailles sur Terrance, son amant humain, et son apprentissage en Démonie le met au cœur des luttes d’intrigues qui mettent en danger la vie de tous les humains et de Saka.
L’Université bouclant les informations et les frontières sur Vinland, Angus apprend toutefois que certains autres pays ont d’autres façons de gérer la magie, de façon plus pacifique et collaborative. Les Mayas semblent prometteurs et Saka tente alors d’entrer en communication avec ses homologues en Démonie, cherchant une alliance, contre l’avis de sa tribu.
La relation entre Saka et Angus est complexe. L’attirance est forte, l’alchimie présente et ils sont toujours partants pour rééquilibrer. Saka est tiraillé entre ses sentiments envers Angus et son attachement à sa tribu et à son monde. Quand à Angus, il est très attaché à Saka et l’assume totalement mais se sent seul lorsqu’il est à Vinland. La liaison qu’il a avec Terrance en Humanité lui apporte aussi énormément et un vrai attachement le lie au jeune homme, qui se retrouve en danger à cause de lui.
Bref c’est compliqué. Et quand la tribu de Saka décide de changer de plans et de cesser toute forme d’alliance avec les humains, le démon prend une décision radicale. Et la dernière machination de la résistance va forcer Angus à opter, lui aussi, pour une décision qui va changer la donne…
Le résumé du premier tome en début de roman m’a bien aidé à me remettre l’histoire en mémoire. Le concept proposé est toujours aussi intéressant, mais j’avoue m’être un peu perdue par moments dans la temporalité, ces sauts entre deux mondes et entre les points de vues d’Angus et de Saka sont parfois assez complexes. J’espère maintenant que le tome 3 ne tardera pas, j’ai hâte de savoir ce que nous réserve l’auteur …
May 19, 2025
M/M (/M?) paranormal series. Book 2/3.
I am conflicted about this book/series.
Ultimately it failed me because of the world building was weak.
Told from a dual POV, Angus a young college student (19 years old) and the mage demon, Saka, are now part of the resistance.
Yet the resistance is suddenly SO different.
Again the plot is full of holes that lead to a failed operation causing a rift of sorts between Saka and Angus.
All built on miscommunication and guilt that can be easily explained away if anyone bothers with communication.
Then we decent into non sensical and OTT situations with the resistance that sees Terrance used as a bargaining chip yet the bargain makes zero sense! What does the resistance gain by using barely trained or loyal students in operations? Except predictably failure? Yet they stupidly hand them a golden opportunity to escape!
More than ever the ‘unwritten rules’ are non sensical.
The tele stone is a half baked concept.
The amounts needed to rebalance seen to wildly fluctuate.
The author painted themselves into a tight corner by having a short count down on how long you can stay in demon side versus how long you need to travel to find other ‘civilization’, resulting in the biggest plot hole of this book.
The only saving grace is that Saka eventually stops fighting his feelings and there is a rare versatile scene. I wish the sex was better written because there is always that potential of something really special between Angus and Saka but it inevitably slithers away.
Terrance continues to be a third wheel and a forced arc.
I am conflicted about this book/series.
Ultimately it failed me because of the world building was weak.
Told from a dual POV, Angus a young college student (19 years old) and the mage demon, Saka, are now part of the resistance.
Yet the resistance is suddenly SO different.
Again the plot is full of holes that lead to a failed operation causing a rift of sorts between Saka and Angus.
All built on miscommunication and guilt that can be easily explained away if anyone bothers with communication.
Then we decent into non sensical and OTT situations with the resistance that sees Terrance used as a bargaining chip yet the bargain makes zero sense! What does the resistance gain by using barely trained or loyal students in operations? Except predictably failure? Yet they stupidly hand them a golden opportunity to escape!
More than ever the ‘unwritten rules’ are non sensical.
The tele stone is a half baked concept.
The amounts needed to rebalance seen to wildly fluctuate.
The author painted themselves into a tight corner by having a short count down on how long you can stay in demon side versus how long you need to travel to find other ‘civilization’, resulting in the biggest plot hole of this book.
The only saving grace is that Saka eventually stops fighting his feelings and there is a rare versatile scene. I wish the sex was better written because there is always that potential of something really special between Angus and Saka but it inevitably slithers away.
Terrance continues to be a third wheel and a forced arc.
May 22, 2018
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
I was so excited to see Angus and Saka again and I was disappointed. This story was just as in depth and thought out as the last one. This story seems to pick up just after the last book when Angus and the trainees are in demonside following Angus’ injury. This book was even more trying for these characters as they continue to try and help both worlds.
The story’s focus was still primarily on solving the problem of rebalancing the magic in Demonside and fixing the problems in Vineland but we continue to see Angus and Saka’s relationship blossom and Angus continue to grow his relationship with Terrance in the human world. Angus is torn between them both but also trying to decide how to deal with the growing doubt he has in the underground.
We got to see both Angus and Saka’s points of view throughout the story. Both were torn between the one they loved and doing what is “right” for their people. Saka continues to have push back from others in his tribe while he is trying to keep the peace and mend the rift between the two worlds. I felt the most for Angus because he seemed to be having to have so many different faces depending on who he was talking to he always seemed to have to stay on guard for one reason or another. As I see this story continue it makes me even more anxious for the next book to come out for a conclusion.
Cover art by Catt Ford is wonderful and connects well with the setting of the story.
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
I was so excited to see Angus and Saka again and I was disappointed. This story was just as in depth and thought out as the last one. This story seems to pick up just after the last book when Angus and the trainees are in demonside following Angus’ injury. This book was even more trying for these characters as they continue to try and help both worlds.
The story’s focus was still primarily on solving the problem of rebalancing the magic in Demonside and fixing the problems in Vineland but we continue to see Angus and Saka’s relationship blossom and Angus continue to grow his relationship with Terrance in the human world. Angus is torn between them both but also trying to decide how to deal with the growing doubt he has in the underground.
We got to see both Angus and Saka’s points of view throughout the story. Both were torn between the one they loved and doing what is “right” for their people. Saka continues to have push back from others in his tribe while he is trying to keep the peace and mend the rift between the two worlds. I felt the most for Angus because he seemed to be having to have so many different faces depending on who he was talking to he always seemed to have to stay on guard for one reason or another. As I see this story continue it makes me even more anxious for the next book to come out for a conclusion.
Cover art by Catt Ford is wonderful and connects well with the setting of the story.
July 9, 2022
This book feels so unbearably slow. I think it’s because the conflict remains the same throughout the series. Angus and Saka want to rebalance Demonside without a massive war. That’s a beautiful idea. But their enemy, Vinland, is aggressive and violent.
It’s something folks don’t understand about liberation movements. Non-violence doesn’t work when your enemy is actively violent. Before y’all start thinking the civil rights movement was non-violent, it wasn’t. White supremacists murdered so many people. So I get why Angus may want to be non-violent but it makes the whole book super slow because this is his only struggle. It’s the only thing he struggles with and I’m tired of reading the same thing page after page.
Vinland is bad.
But I can’t be a murderer.
But Vinland needs to be stopped.
I don’t like blood.
Blah blah blah like for real grow some ovaries and move on mate.
It’s something folks don’t understand about liberation movements. Non-violence doesn’t work when your enemy is actively violent. Before y’all start thinking the civil rights movement was non-violent, it wasn’t. White supremacists murdered so many people. So I get why Angus may want to be non-violent but it makes the whole book super slow because this is his only struggle. It’s the only thing he struggles with and I’m tired of reading the same thing page after page.
Vinland is bad.
But I can’t be a murderer.
But Vinland needs to be stopped.
I don’t like blood.
Blah blah blah like for real grow some ovaries and move on mate.
April 3, 2024
Dieser zweite Teil der Serie taucht tiefer in die Welt der Dämonen und Menschen ein und enthüllt immer mehr welche Position die Charaktere beziehen und welche Auswirkungen verschiedene Handlungen, Umstände und Standpunke haben. Der Protagonist, ein männlicher Mensch, navigiert durch diese komplexe Landschaft und entdeckt die Auswirkungen der Ausbeutung durch seine Mitmenschen. Im Laufe der Erzählung wird der Leser auf eine Reise mitgenommen, die das wahre Ausmaß dieser Ausbeutung erforscht und ihn durchgehend fesselt. Trotz des Schwerpunkts auf dem Aufbau der Welt und der gesellschaftlichen Dynamik bleibt die Gestaltung der Charaktere fesselnd, und der Schreibstil behält einen angenehmen Fluss bei, was ein angenehmes Leseerlebnis garantiert. Insgesamt knüpft dieses Buch erfolgreich an seinen Vorgänger an und verspricht eine spannende Fortsetzung der Serie.
June 12, 2019
Rogue in the Making is the second book in the Studies in Demonology series by TJ Nichols. This series just captured my attention and I am devouring these books... the world building is just so well done and I love the descriptions. And the characters just stand out to me and beg to tell me about their story. I found myself conflicted.. wishing I could read faster to find out more and not wanting to read so fast so that it never ends. It is filled with mysteries, conspiracies, betrayals, jealousy, greed, desperation, magic, love and so much heat! Whew!!! Ican not wait to get into book three.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
July 17, 2019
The second installment of the Studies In Demonology series is as engaging and thrilling as the first one,if not more so. Angus is caught in a net of corruption and betrayal, never knowing who to trust. Thankfully he can find solace with Saka and Terrence, each moment with them all the more precious considering the danger they're all in.
Rogue In The Making ads more interesting characters to the mix,more risks, more magic...more love. The story is fast paced and I've been on the edge of my seat all through the book because each page is full of surprises, mystery and overwhelming intensity of emotions.
I absolutely loved it!
Rogue In The Making ads more interesting characters to the mix,more risks, more magic...more love. The story is fast paced and I've been on the edge of my seat all through the book because each page is full of surprises, mystery and overwhelming intensity of emotions.
I absolutely loved it!
April 1, 2019
LOVED this series (of 3 books) - all 3 must be read in order and together tell the complete story and this is the 2nd book. The first 2 aren't really cliffhangers, they end that part of the book but the overall story doesn't end until the 3rd. I found the world to be intricate and well-crafted enough that it really enhanced the story without detracting or distracting too much. The MC's (there are 3 by the end of the series) were so different - perfectly imperfect for each other and not your typical MC's.
July 19, 2019
This is the 2nd book in the Studies in Demonology
We get to see more of Angus, Terrance & Saka. We see the journey that these 3 go through to be together even when they are always be threaten. They want to see some peace between the humans and demons. We see that Vinland is slowing starting to unravel and what is happening in the rest of the world. What will happen next for these characters. cant wait for the next book recommend this book do need to read in order so have a full understanding of the characters and lands
We get to see more of Angus, Terrance & Saka. We see the journey that these 3 go through to be together even when they are always be threaten. They want to see some peace between the humans and demons. We see that Vinland is slowing starting to unravel and what is happening in the rest of the world. What will happen next for these characters. cant wait for the next book recommend this book do need to read in order so have a full understanding of the characters and lands
July 20, 2020
Strong addition to this series
The second book in a trilogy is always the most difficult to get right. I thought that the shift from the underground being good, to them revealing their corruption was a bit precipitous. I would have preferred to either have a greater sense of foreshadowing, or a more gradual revelation of their true intentions.
Once again, Angus proved stronger than he believed himself to be, and certainly stronger than his enemies gave him credit for. I’m excited to see how he will shine in his next opportunity as a refugee.
The second book in a trilogy is always the most difficult to get right. I thought that the shift from the underground being good, to them revealing their corruption was a bit precipitous. I would have preferred to either have a greater sense of foreshadowing, or a more gradual revelation of their true intentions.
Once again, Angus proved stronger than he believed himself to be, and certainly stronger than his enemies gave him credit for. I’m excited to see how he will shine in his next opportunity as a refugee.
August 7, 2018
4.5*
We waited over a year for the second installment to the Studies of Demonology series and I have to say that I was NOT disappointed. My heart raced, it cried, it was set ablaze with anger, and it morned.
I can't wait to see what book #3 brings us!!!
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
We waited over a year for the second installment to the Studies of Demonology series and I have to say that I was NOT disappointed. My heart raced, it cried, it was set ablaze with anger, and it morned.
I can't wait to see what book #3 brings us!!!
You can see my full review here: Christinas-Bookshelf
November 30, 2022
I think I liked this entry a little more than the first. There were times where it became a little repetitive, but by the end of it, was invested and had to know how it ended. Can't wait to see the story completely wrapped up in the part 3.
Spoiler...
I love that it ended with the promise of a polyam relationship between Angus, Saka and Terrance. I was hoping it would go that way. It makes the most sense. So many stories will only go with one or the other. Both men are great in this instance.
Spoiler...
I love that it ended with the promise of a polyam relationship between Angus, Saka and Terrance. I was hoping it would go that way. It makes the most sense. So many stories will only go with one or the other. Both men are great in this instance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2023
Definitely fantasy
This is an interesting book and it’s definitely fantasy from TJ Nichols and more about these worlds is coming to light. I wouldn’t call this one urban fantasy as much as the first book in this series is because we spend more time in the “demon” world. Angus is forced to make some difficult decisions as all the people and forces around him are trying to pull him in different directions.
This is an interesting book and it’s definitely fantasy from TJ Nichols and more about these worlds is coming to light. I wouldn’t call this one urban fantasy as much as the first book in this series is because we spend more time in the “demon” world. Angus is forced to make some difficult decisions as all the people and forces around him are trying to pull him in different directions.
June 29, 2018
This book was absolutely amazing, it had me captivated from the moment I began reading it. I was completely drawn into this book and I loved that it had interesting twists, I didn't know what to expect and I LOVED that!
It was a wonderful follow up to book one and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
It was a wonderful follow up to book one and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
November 25, 2018
What a series. I can't wait to see how the next book goes. So many things are up in the air right now. I'm biting my nails on how it's all going to turn out. The characters are just great. They are so indepth. There is something constantly going on. It's a page turner. I'm hoping it all works out in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews