Demon's Destiny

After Dark #1

by Sarah Bailey

Rescued by a demon. An offer she can't refuse. Hell is on its way.

Walking home at night in the back streets of London was never a good idea. When her life is threatened, Ella is saved in the nick of time, only to find Lukas is a bounty hunter from Hell. Trusting the enigmatic demon with her darkest secret, Ella is inexplicably drawn to Lukas. Fighting a mutal attraction, she accepts his offer of protection, only to be dragged headlong into a word she barely knew existed. A world where demons tangle with vampires and shifters and Hell literally breaks loose.

Together they hunt down an artefact stolen from Hell. Close on their tail is the vampire mistress of London, bent on tearing apart the mystery surrounding who Ella really is. Without warning, Ella's unknown powers explode.

Can she survive the ensuing storm? Or will she lose her heart and soul in the process?

If you like tension filled, steamy supernatural romances, you'll love Demon's Destiny, the gripping first installment to the paranormal romance series, After Dark.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Demons, British Literature, Vampires

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2018

About the author

Sarah writes dark, contemporary, erotic and paranormal romances. They adore all forms of steamy romance and can always be found with a book or ten on their Kindle. They love anti-heroes, alpha males and flawed characters with a little bit of darkness lurking within. Their writing buddies nicknamed Sarah: 'The Queen of Steam' for their pulse racing sex scenes which will leave you a little hot under the collar.

Born and raised in Sussex, UK near the Ashdown Forest, they grew up climbing trees and building Lego towns with their younger brother. Sarah fell in love with novels as a teenager reading their aunt's historical regency romances. They have always loved the supernatural and exploring the darker side of romance and fantasy novels.

Sarah currently resides in the Scottish Highlands with their husband. Music is one of their biggest inspirations and they always have something on in the background whilst writing. They are an avid gamer and are often found hogging their husband's Xbox.

Reviews

[Avery Kingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

PnR about demons are not my typical go-to books, but I heard nothing but wonderful things about this book, so I knew I had to give it a chance. I'm so glad that I did. Such a fantastic, entertaining, suspenseful, romantic read.

Ella is walking down the streets of London alone one night and her life is put in danger, enter Lukas, "smoking hot" demon bounty hunter from hell. Ella has always known she's a bit different but when she's around Lukas her powers really start to manifest. What follows is an entertaining ride as these two come to grips with their feelings for each other while they work as a team to find a stolen artifact from hell.

By the end of the book I'd fallen for this couple. Great chemistry. Great dialogue.

Favorite line? "Don't shift back." That's exactly what I was thinking as the reader and then when Ella said it I MAY have went "YASSSS!!!" on an airplane full of people (causing a few side-eyes in my direction).

This was such an entertaining debut novel by Ms. Bailey that had me guessing at every turn. Can't wait to see what the rest of the series holds.

[Mikki Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely for fans of Supernatural. Great twists. The characters are adorable together.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous story

I really enjoyed this story this is my first time in reading this author's books it was fabulous I love the characters it was a lot of action mystery suspense in sexy scenes definitely don't want to miss out on this I'm looking forward to the next book I definitely recommend this book check my pulse pounding till the very end

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella knew that she was different, but that had never been a problem until now. After she is rescued by Lukas from a possible life ending run in with some demons, she must help him track down an artifact that will lead her on the road to discovering who and what she is.

Bailey does a lot of things very well in this book. From the first altercation in the alley, I was drawn into the world that she created for this series. The characters are well developed and relatable even though they are otherworldly. What sealed it for me is that Ella isn't just a victim. Even though Lukas saves her in the beginning, she doesn't just rely on him to save her. She is quick witted and uses the tools given to her to save herself.

If you are a fan of The Southern Vampire Mysteries, this will be the series for you.

[Sean McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Bailey is a wonderful author.

Paranormal romance is not a genre I would usually read, which is exactly why I added this to my "to be read" list.

So you can imagine my surprise when I slowly found myself becoming hooked to a book for which I am not the target demographic. Suddenly I needed to know where Lukas and Ellas's journey was taking them.

A brief word on the elephant in the room; I've not read a book with such...vivid word imagery when it comes to sex. Sarah has a real talent in making these scenes tasteful and urgent all at the same time. No easy feat.

I have watched a lot of supernatural movies and tv shows in my time. What really blew me away was Sarah's world building. She effortlessly makes this world feel lived in and genuine.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

[Jacob Rundle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has to be the best indie book that I have ever read. The characters, Ella and Lucas, are relatable and realistic. If I could give this book 6/5 🌟 I would. The story sucks you in and you can’t put the book down. The character development is so well done. The dialogue format flows beautifully. The world building was in there but it’s not the focal point, which is great. It’s based in London. Her scenes with Ella and Lucas together are also beautifully written.
Ella meets Lucas in a tough situation and he saves her. The rest of the story is history. The cover is well done. Ella with the blue and red eye grabs you. You will not regret buying and reading this book.
I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE.

[Heather Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bailey has written a romantic, sexy tale with a touch of darkness. The action, whether it be amorous or adventurous, doesn't quit. The cast of characters are lovely and I can't wait to read about them in the rest of the After Dark series. If you're looking for a fun escape read, I highly recommend!

[S.L. Wyllie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written paranormal romance between two passionate characters, Ella and Lukas.
This book surprised me from the very beginning with the author's concise language and ability to tell a great, and original story. There were some fantasy and supernatural elements throughout which were entwined well. I was extremely happy because too many times have I read a romance and said, wow that's cheesy, but with "Demon's Destiny" I never caught myself saying that once. I was eager to continue reading after every chapter, right down to the last page. I highly recommend it to people who enjoy paranormal romances with well-written steamy scenes, a strong plot, and relatable characters. The author built us up enough to be excited for book 2 without leaving us with the dreaded cliffhanger at the end.
Loved it!

[Paul Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book flew by. I read it over the course of two nights. It is written with energy and verve taking the reader by the hand (and other body parts) through a compelling story about a woman's awakening powers, and her whirlwind relationship with a stranger that rescues her from demons. There are erotic scenes throughout which venture close to the explicit territory, without crossing the barrier into pure filth. They fit the story and are not merely there for the reader's titillation.
The main and supporting characters have distinct personalities which is a nice touch and adds to the reader's enjoyment.
My only concern with this book was that it was over so quickly. Thankfully I have already bought the sequel, Vampire's Kiss, so I can find out what happens next.

[Fátima Carrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of twin flames.
If you thought you'd never fall for a demon, think again. Sexy and kind Lukas will make it difficult for you not to. Ella meets him one night when he saves her from being murdered. But don't think that Ella is a damsel-in-distress: far from it, Ella shows page after page how strong and fascinating she is.
Soon you'll get swept up by the steamy and beautiful love story they share.
The author made a great job with the pacing of the story and the characters. The fight scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The story is dark, sexy and haunting, and you won't be able to put it down. 5 stars, definitely. One of the best stories I've read.

[C.M. Chafin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This particular one was not my cup of tea storywise; however, as an introduction to the series still had me buy the second book. The sex scenes are written extremely well, but I couldn't vibe with the MC and the male POV inserts didn't hold as much of a purpose as I'd expect (kind of took away some of the sexy mystery even). I wasn't entirely invested in the plot because of the MC, but am looking forward to a Daisy book in book 2. I will at least say it is definitely a good buy for a page turner.

[Sammi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting paranormal romance

Hmm. Well I did enjoy this book and certain parts of it are very descriptive. Overall some things were a bit predictable, but interesting all the same. Ella feels a bit weak sauce to me as a character, but Daisy is pretty cool. Glad to see she’s the next focus.

[J A prime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I got this book free and I'm
so glad I did - I've just bought the rest of the series! If you like angels, demons ,vampires and shifters then give this a try.

[S.R. Severn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Bailey’s After Dark debut kicks off with Demon’s Destiny – the story of Lukas (a demon) and Ella Ward. I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter, having been pulled into a dangerous life-changing situation with Ella, I was taken on a journey that I’m still buzzing from.
Sarah Bailey sets the scene, pulls us into the minds of both characters in a way that is skilful, well-paced and simply natural.
I just have to mention the simmering chemistry and undeniable tension between Lukas and Ella that had me on the edge of my seat, nail biting and all. Their synergy is wonderful, their attraction is electrifying and incredibly hot…prepare for hot flushes.
Humour bounces off Lukas and Ella so well that I found myself grinning like a fool despite there being moments of danger. This leads me to add that the tone was very well-balanced. Sarah really enjoys giving the reader even doses of touching ‘aww’ moments to heart racing ‘oh my’ moments to jaw-dropping ‘what!’ moments…hence why I’m still buzzing…but no spoilers here.
The fact that this book is set in London is hugely refreshing for me. I closed my eyes and pictured exactly where the characters were without overwhelming description.
Another thing I found enjoyable was the introduction of other characters which I felt was a fantastic insight to the different supernatural communities hidden around the world. Annnd there are a couple of very likeable supporting characters that set the tone for book 2 nicely!

I will admit that this was honestly a book with a twist. Just when I thought I had it all sussed out (the classic ‘AH-HA!’ moment), Sarah Bailey fully flips the script and she does it faultlessly!
I absolutely loved this book. The concept, the characters, the excitement.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from Sarah Bailey, her voice is present, strong, completely relatable and unique. Demon’s Destiny was a complete page turner from start to finish, a pulse spiking paranormal romance that had me swooning and laughing from the get go. Lukas and Ella are truly made for each other.
Roll on book 2!!

[Corry Heppler · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, the author takes you on a supernatural romantic journey, with two oh-so-loveable characters Ella and Lukas, that will have you turning each page with anticipation, to see just what happens next to the both of them. I HIGHLY recommend this book! What are you waiting for? GO GET IT!

[Mirabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

with so many 5 star reviews I expected much more, but for me it was only an OK read. The characters were not developed enough, the story too shallow. The whole book was too short, more novella than novel. I think I’ll pass the following books.

[Samantha Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting characters and story. Beautiful cover and I'm interested to see where book 2 takes us!

[Kathey Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wickedly Delightful

I've read a few of Bailey's books and despite her proven versatility, I was still surprised by this one!

This is her fantasy series and dare I say, my favorite book of hers so far? It was creative and awesome and like candy to the imagination. The ever present element of danger always lurking, only added to the suspense of this story.

Ella was such a badass, and just kept getting badder as the book went on. I enjoyed reading about her discovering the truth of her background, which had always been kept a mystery to her. The way she comes into her true self and finds out what she's capable of, was exciting. My favorite part about her character though, is the way she'd always had a suspicion that something was different about her, yet she chose to push it aside and keep her powers at bay, because it scared her to know the truth.

All of this was of course brought on by her half-of-a-soul, demon heart-throb, Lukas. Who just happens to be her other half. Not to be outdone by Ella, he is full of surprises, too. But protecting Ella is first-most on his agenda. The way he helps her become who she's really meant to be, is probably his swoon-iest feature. Even better than his smokin' hot body and horn-y disposition. ;)

The sex scenes in this book are made hotter by the characters' supernatural capabilities and red hot chemistry. The romance was on point. The other beasts and characters in this story were imaginative. The settings were moody and cool. The storyline was intriguing.

I overall loved this book.

Good thing it's a series!

[Jackie Hovorka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character, Ella, has a lot of mystery behind her. So much so that you just really got to know who she is. In turn, it's a page turner. The story starts off when Ella is saved by a demon bounty hunter by the name of Lukas. Boy, he is hot. The way Sarah describes him makes you want to be saved by him, hands down.

The book gets interesting as it moves through their journey working together to rid our world of demons and as their steamy chemistry begins to ignite. There is a connection between the two that they try really hard to not give in to.

Bailey takes us on an adventure with not only demons but shifters and vampires. I especially loved the slow-burn romance. I would have like more internalized struggles from the two main characters. Something more that made them stand out in my mind. I felt like she did that a little more with Lukas, but still there was potential to add more guts that would make this paranormal story stand out from the rest.

All in all, it was an amazing, steamy (yes I said steamy again because it was!) read. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

[Helen Whistberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This supernatural and sultry romance starts out with our heroine, Ella, cowering in fright and having to be saved by the sexy and mysterious Lukas, not the most promising beginning for a reader who prefers a capable and independent female character. But not to worry, Ella soon starts coming into her own magnificent power and birthright in a series of revelations that explain the uncontrollable passion she and Lukas have for one another. There is some action, adventure, and mystery, but a lot of the focus is on Lukas and Ella's evolving relationship. Be aware that there are some steamy bedroom scenes and strong language. This book also introduces characters that will be the featured couple in the next in this entertaining supernatural romance series appropriately titled After Dark. A quick, fun, light read, if any book that heavily features demons and vampires can truly be called light. I think fans of TV shows like Supernatural and Lucifer will find a lot to like here.

[Yoanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 11 %. Sorry couldn't hack it. Wanted some mindless fun. Unfortunately, reading this I got progressively annoyed until I finally dropped it.
It seemed to me that every sentence started with a she or he, with her and his thrown in for flavour. Yes I'm exaggerating, but not by much.
I had issues with how the act progressed. She is walking home alone at night. And of course it is such a bright idea to go into an alley. And wait, 4 guys magically appear to do her harm. At the last moment comes our hansome hot and (insert every word you can think of for hot and sexy) hero. He then proceeds to tear apart the four guys into pieces. She, after watching some strange guy tear 4 other guys with his bare hands, decides it is a great idea to invite him home. And of course she has to remind herself that she is in shock and not to think about how she wants to jump his bones, because he is soooo hansome and hot and sexy and oh his eyes.
Sorry but no.

[Zoe Vergouwe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ it was really fast paced.
At first I didn’t know if I would like it, but the characters grew on me through the book. The plot was fun, if not a bit predictable. The spice was there. It could have been a bit more detailed with more feeling. The same could be said about the rest of the book. Because of the fast pace there was little depth in the characters.
I liked the book, but I am not going to continue reading the series. This was fun but just not enough fun to continue.

[Mischa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that the book is short and easy to read, but I was quite disappointed with the writing as a whole. Scenes jump from one another without any "connection", the story either goes too slow or way too fast, and it was hard to believe what exactly the main leads feel for one another. I will read the next books because my main issue is with the writing, and from experience, it does generally get better the more books authors write, so I will check out the series more.

[Anita Hargreaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading

This was a quick, good, paranormal, YA, sexy read. Ella from the beginning being accosted by demons who are slain by another sexy demon. Apparently Ella is not entirely human herself but she is unaware of that. Read in order but be prepared to have to invest in purchasing future copies because the book finishes up in the air.

[Tessa Hamberlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know how to feel about this book. The idea was nice, but I was so confused to what the actual point of the book was. I wasn’t overly in love with the main character or her love interest. She was a little too naive for me.

[Stephanie Orobello-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I haven’t read any paranormal romance in a while. Being a huge fan of the legends, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Laurel K. Hamilton, this book took me by surprise. The suspense. The sex 🔥. All of it 🙌🏻. So glad I’ve found this author. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and the premise sounded good. Overall is was just an alright read. Very predictable, had a little action, and some romance. Not sure I’ll continue the series, at least not right now.

[Liz Sulack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the most well written of books, but not Fifty Shades of Grey. Soooo...middle ground?

[Coco.V]

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[Jamira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Just wish the book was slowed down. Everything happened so fast.