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The Demon Equilibrium
When the demonic Horde threatens to unleash Hell on Earth, two women must summon every bit of their shared power to save the world.
Grace Carter, a “source” of magic, has spent the last nine months searching for Maggie Mulvaney, her “catalyst.” The joy of reuniting with her partner—and her lover—is thwarted by her worst fear: Maggie doesn’t remember Grace or their life together. Grace blames the Order of Saint Teresa, the centuries-old organization that trained them to be the strongest demon-hunting duo in generations. But why has the Order done this?
As Maggie and Grace begin to piece their lives back together, they discover that their memories have been masked by someone within the Order. Should the Horde succeed in their plan, those who have committed their lives to slaying worldly demons will be relegated to little more than minions as humans are completely enslaved.
Now, Grace and Maggie must sacrifice everything, possibly even their lives, as they battle to save humanity.
Grace Carter, a “source” of magic, has spent the last nine months searching for Maggie Mulvaney, her “catalyst.” The joy of reuniting with her partner—and her lover—is thwarted by her worst fear: Maggie doesn’t remember Grace or their life together. Grace blames the Order of Saint Teresa, the centuries-old organization that trained them to be the strongest demon-hunting duo in generations. But why has the Order done this?
As Maggie and Grace begin to piece their lives back together, they discover that their memories have been masked by someone within the Order. Should the Horde succeed in their plan, those who have committed their lives to slaying worldly demons will be relegated to little more than minions as humans are completely enslaved.
Now, Grace and Maggie must sacrifice everything, possibly even their lives, as they battle to save humanity.
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First published November 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 29, 2021
This was a good historic-fantasy read. With the end of the year speeding towards us, I wanted to get in a few books that have been really high on my must read list. The cover and title immediately grabbed me, and when I realized this was by Cathy Pegau, I knew I had to read this. Pegau’s name sticks in my memory since she is the author of some of the first sci-fi/futuristic sapphic books that I found to read on my Kindle. I had one of the early Kindles and it took me a few years to find any sapphic content that was not just romance, erotica, or porn pretending to be erotica. Finding Pegau’s stories was like a breath of fresh air and I remember really enjoying her book Rulebreaker. The reason I bring up my past here is because it has been almost 9 years since I have seen or read anything sapphic by Pegau. This was a good read and I’m glad to have her back.
This is actually the second book I have read, this year, that has had women and nuns fighting demons. While I actually liked the book Give Me Grace, a little more than this one, they are very different as that one is a very dark urban fantasy, whereas this book takes place in the late 1800’and early 1900’s. Besides the demon slaying, the only thing they really had in common was both mains were named Grace. Anyway, the whole demon hunting premise works for me and this was quite the gripping read.
It did take me a minute to get used to the style this book was written in. You jump between the present and the past almost every other chapter. While I hate flashbacks, this didn’t really feel like that as this was more like two storylines, flowing in concurrent order, until they came together. It ended up being more fun than I expected, since I would find myself eager to read both storylines as they were equally exciting. This time jump tactic would not have worked well in many stories, and it can’t have been easy to write like this, but Pegau made it work.
For the romance lovers out there, yes, there is a romance. The emotions felt pretty epic at times, but it was slower and lower-key romance. Due to the time period, and also one of the women considering becoming a nun, there is this major push-pull angst going on with a “should they or shouldn’t they” vibe. Their connection feels strong and I bought into an almost soul-mate kind of love, but the romance isn’t as big as I expected. What I’m trying to say is that Pegau convinced me they were meant to be together, even though the relationship was slow to ramp back up.
TLDR- This was an interesting and well written women conquering evil tale. If someone tells me demon fighting women and nuns, I’m in. While the romance sometime took a back seat to fighting demons and other things, I was impressed with how easily I believed that the two mains were meant to be together. They had this real soul-mate connection that I surprisingly was completely on board for. I would recommend this for readers that enjoy historic fantasy/paranormal books. After so many years, it is good to see Pegau back and I hope we will have more books from her in the near future.
This is actually the second book I have read, this year, that has had women and nuns fighting demons. While I actually liked the book Give Me Grace, a little more than this one, they are very different as that one is a very dark urban fantasy, whereas this book takes place in the late 1800’and early 1900’s. Besides the demon slaying, the only thing they really had in common was both mains were named Grace. Anyway, the whole demon hunting premise works for me and this was quite the gripping read.
It did take me a minute to get used to the style this book was written in. You jump between the present and the past almost every other chapter. While I hate flashbacks, this didn’t really feel like that as this was more like two storylines, flowing in concurrent order, until they came together. It ended up being more fun than I expected, since I would find myself eager to read both storylines as they were equally exciting. This time jump tactic would not have worked well in many stories, and it can’t have been easy to write like this, but Pegau made it work.
For the romance lovers out there, yes, there is a romance. The emotions felt pretty epic at times, but it was slower and lower-key romance. Due to the time period, and also one of the women considering becoming a nun, there is this major push-pull angst going on with a “should they or shouldn’t they” vibe. Their connection feels strong and I bought into an almost soul-mate kind of love, but the romance isn’t as big as I expected. What I’m trying to say is that Pegau convinced me they were meant to be together, even though the relationship was slow to ramp back up.
TLDR- This was an interesting and well written women conquering evil tale. If someone tells me demon fighting women and nuns, I’m in. While the romance sometime took a back seat to fighting demons and other things, I was impressed with how easily I believed that the two mains were meant to be together. They had this real soul-mate connection that I surprisingly was completely on board for. I would recommend this for readers that enjoy historic fantasy/paranormal books. After so many years, it is good to see Pegau back and I hope we will have more books from her in the near future.
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March 15, 2022Demon-hunting lesbians with paired magic, battling against the demon hordes and their own strict nunnery-type Order. There's exciting demon-slaying action, plots, betrayals, looming apocalypse, and a slow burn romance. All my favourite things.
The story is told in alternating current events / flashback chapters till about two thirds of the way through. The pair come together as students, develop a relationship, and are torn apart with their memories wiped. So the now story is a reunion, and rebuilding of the relationship, while the flashbacks show us the actual beginning. This didn't entirely work for me at this extent, as I felt it pulled me out of the 'now' story when it was heating up, but possibly I'm just too linear. Lovely cover.
The story is told in alternating current events / flashback chapters till about two thirds of the way through. The pair come together as students, develop a relationship, and are torn apart with their memories wiped. So the now story is a reunion, and rebuilding of the relationship, while the flashbacks show us the actual beginning. This didn't entirely work for me at this extent, as I felt it pulled me out of the 'now' story when it was heating up, but possibly I'm just too linear. Lovely cover.
November 12, 2021
Now this is an exciting book! I started reading The Demon Equilibrium by Cathy Pegau thinking I would read the story over two to three days. It didn’t take very long to realize that I wasn’t going to be able to put the book down. In fact I found myself getting quite irritated every time real life forced me to stop reading to do normal things like cook, eat, sleep, walk the dog, etc. I was hooked from the beginning to the end.
The novel takes place in 1903, but has flashbacks to the year 1897. Normally I’m not a fan of flashbacks, but these are handled very well and are needed to understand what is happening in the later time. The main characters, Grace Carter and Maggie Mulvaney belong to a religious organization that is tasked with finding and killing demons that roam the world. Grace is a magical source that has the ability to do this job with the help of her catalyst Maggie. Maggie helps her control and focus the magic she has inside. The problem is, at the beginning of the novel the two have been mysteriously “separated” from each other, and their memories have been tampered with as well. Now Grace must not only find Maggie, she also has to somehow find out who did this to them and why. On top of that, there is something big about to happen in the demon world, and Grace and Maggie may be needed to stop it.
The author definitely takes us on a wild ride from Wyoming to Long Island, New York with action, adventure, and danger at almost every step. I obviously connected with the main characters immediately, and worried about their safety through the whole book, with good reason. The plot is intriguing and will keep you guessing about who the real bad guy is until the end. I know I was totally surprised even with the little hints we are given along the way.
This is a thrilling story with lots of action, a great deal of danger, and even a heart-melting romance. As I said above, I couldn’t put this novel down, and I bet the same will happen to you.
I received an ARC from Bywater Books for an honest review.
The novel takes place in 1903, but has flashbacks to the year 1897. Normally I’m not a fan of flashbacks, but these are handled very well and are needed to understand what is happening in the later time. The main characters, Grace Carter and Maggie Mulvaney belong to a religious organization that is tasked with finding and killing demons that roam the world. Grace is a magical source that has the ability to do this job with the help of her catalyst Maggie. Maggie helps her control and focus the magic she has inside. The problem is, at the beginning of the novel the two have been mysteriously “separated” from each other, and their memories have been tampered with as well. Now Grace must not only find Maggie, she also has to somehow find out who did this to them and why. On top of that, there is something big about to happen in the demon world, and Grace and Maggie may be needed to stop it.
The author definitely takes us on a wild ride from Wyoming to Long Island, New York with action, adventure, and danger at almost every step. I obviously connected with the main characters immediately, and worried about their safety through the whole book, with good reason. The plot is intriguing and will keep you guessing about who the real bad guy is until the end. I know I was totally surprised even with the little hints we are given along the way.
This is a thrilling story with lots of action, a great deal of danger, and even a heart-melting romance. As I said above, I couldn’t put this novel down, and I bet the same will happen to you.
I received an ARC from Bywater Books for an honest review.
November 4, 2021
I just finished reading The Demon Equilibrium and my heart is still racing from the excitement of this novel. This is one of those books which will stay with me for a long, long time.
The beautifully created book jacket by Ann McMan is one of the best that I’ve seen in years. It draws you into the demon darkness which lies just beyond the cover and yet it still manages to convey a sense of hope as well.
The Demon Horde wander the earth thriving on human pain and suffering. Grace Carter and Maggie Mulvaney are a magical duo tasked with eliminating all demons they meet. Theirs is a bond of both magic and love.
Cathy Pegau displays her award winning writing brilliantly in this novel. The nonstop action sets a quick pace which builds the tension all throughout the storytelling. The plot is an artful interweaving of two timelines, five years apart. The chapters clearly identify the year and the location to keep the reader easily on point. The characters all carry a sense of mystery which pique the readers curiosity. Friend or foe? It is so hard to tell at times which helps make this a five star read. The Demon Equilibrium
is an exciting and entertaining book which is sure to please all those who crack open the spine.
I received a free advance review copy from Bywater Books and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
The beautifully created book jacket by Ann McMan is one of the best that I’ve seen in years. It draws you into the demon darkness which lies just beyond the cover and yet it still manages to convey a sense of hope as well.
The Demon Horde wander the earth thriving on human pain and suffering. Grace Carter and Maggie Mulvaney are a magical duo tasked with eliminating all demons they meet. Theirs is a bond of both magic and love.
Cathy Pegau displays her award winning writing brilliantly in this novel. The nonstop action sets a quick pace which builds the tension all throughout the storytelling. The plot is an artful interweaving of two timelines, five years apart. The chapters clearly identify the year and the location to keep the reader easily on point. The characters all carry a sense of mystery which pique the readers curiosity. Friend or foe? It is so hard to tell at times which helps make this a five star read. The Demon Equilibrium
is an exciting and entertaining book which is sure to please all those who crack open the spine.
I received a free advance review copy from Bywater Books and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
October 28, 2021
I had the pleasure of reading the summary when the author was planning this book, and I was very interested in this. It seemed full of adventure and excitement, and I was not sure it could all fit in one book. It felt like enough book to be a trilogy! Reading this finished product, I am in awe of how all those big ideas were focused into one complete book.
The story is told as a parallel tale of how the two main characters meet each other again after having their memories wiped and how they initially met and got to know each other during the six years leading up to the current story. As I was reading through, I found myself drawn to the earlier timeline when they were getting to know each other and stretching their powers.
The action is all here as in both timelines the two leads fight baddies with everything they have in them. This is also a story that is well-paced and doesn't waste its words. A particularly large piece of magic is mentioned in one of the early training scenes, and that comes to play later.
For those of you wondering about the heat level, it's not as graphic as it could be. It fits the book's premise since one of the characters was going to say religious vows of celibacy and is later "married." So up until a certain point, it's sweet kisses and hand-holding (some of that for magic reasons). When greater intimacy scenes come later, it's been earned by the character journey, but it still isn't particularly graphic.
In the end, an enjoyable, fast read that is highly recommended.
The story is told as a parallel tale of how the two main characters meet each other again after having their memories wiped and how they initially met and got to know each other during the six years leading up to the current story. As I was reading through, I found myself drawn to the earlier timeline when they were getting to know each other and stretching their powers.
The action is all here as in both timelines the two leads fight baddies with everything they have in them. This is also a story that is well-paced and doesn't waste its words. A particularly large piece of magic is mentioned in one of the early training scenes, and that comes to play later.
For those of you wondering about the heat level, it's not as graphic as it could be. It fits the book's premise since one of the characters was going to say religious vows of celibacy and is later "married." So up until a certain point, it's sweet kisses and hand-holding (some of that for magic reasons). When greater intimacy scenes come later, it's been earned by the character journey, but it still isn't particularly graphic.
In the end, an enjoyable, fast read that is highly recommended.
August 7, 2022
This was such a fun and fast paced book. I’m a notoriously slow reader as I simply fall asleep if I read for more that a little bit. But I went through this one pretty quickly. I was sort of expecting a kind of Supernatural (TV show) type of story only with, you know, lesbians, but I was nicely surprised.
The world building is very unique and different and I rather enjoyed the Catholic/Nun part of it as having an order of demon hunters.
Grace and Maggie are both kick-ass characters. They are fated, more so than the usual pairing in the order, since they were paired with other partners, but could not stop the attraction to each other- power wise and other ways. They need each other in order for their full power to work. The main glitch is that the order has erased Maggie’s memories and Grace needs her back to find out what happened. The get to know you again before Maggie starts to remember keeps this story on track as they have to trust each other even if both are not sure what’s going on.
The characters, setting early 1900’s old west and LI nunnery, fast pace, all around great story made this so entertaining. I’d definitely read a 2nd book in this world.
The world building is very unique and different and I rather enjoyed the Catholic/Nun part of it as having an order of demon hunters.
Grace and Maggie are both kick-ass characters. They are fated, more so than the usual pairing in the order, since they were paired with other partners, but could not stop the attraction to each other- power wise and other ways. They need each other in order for their full power to work. The main glitch is that the order has erased Maggie’s memories and Grace needs her back to find out what happened. The get to know you again before Maggie starts to remember keeps this story on track as they have to trust each other even if both are not sure what’s going on.
The characters, setting early 1900’s old west and LI nunnery, fast pace, all around great story made this so entertaining. I’d definitely read a 2nd book in this world.
January 26, 2022
Fair warning, this is one of those stories that leaves you with an insane book-high. From start to finish, there isn’t a single wasted page as you learn about the magical power couple that is Grace and Maggie—they fight demons, and they’re damn good at it. With chapters set in the past, when the women first met and began to develop their intense bond, to the future where that bond has been tested to the limit, you get a true sense for how deeply they care about one another. By the end, you really do believe that they can beat the impossible odds against them with faith and love that they have in each other. Whether they can or not, you’ll just have to read and find out.
Overall, this was exactly the type of Sapphic Adventure/Romance story I’ve been craving. I haven’t read Cathy Pegau’s other works, but you can sure bet that’s going to change. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future!
Overall, this was exactly the type of Sapphic Adventure/Romance story I’ve been craving. I haven’t read Cathy Pegau’s other works, but you can sure bet that’s going to change. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future!
October 30, 2021
’Cor unum, et fortissimi!’
The Demon Equilibrium by Cathy Pegau, published by Bywater Books, brought the right atmosphere for this time of year. In this historial romance set in 1903, the Demonic Horde threatens to unleash Hell on Earth and the only duo who can put a stop to it is the combined magic of source Grace Carter and her catalyst Maggie Mulvaney.
But at the beginning of the story we find out that Maggie has been missing for 9 months and Grace has been looking for her all this time. When she does find her partner, her joy is short lived as Maggie has no memory of Grace, their love or their former demon slaying days. There is no time to dwell on this when they have to stay one step ahead of the Order of Saint Teresa. The order they both belonged to is now hunting them down. They have to piece together the missing parts and survive long enough to thwart the second coming of demon lord Ammemnion. Eep!
I liked it. Cathy Pegau was a new author for me and she did a good job keeping me entertained all through the book. We alternate between present and past (usually by chapter) to find out what happened. I think it was the right format to tell this story. There were clear heroes and villains but the real baddy of the story is a bit of a mystery. It put me on the wrong foot at least. Well done!
I liked both Grace and Maggie. Grace’s love was palpable where feisty Maggie was mostly oblivious due to her personality transplant, so I really felt bad for Grace. We didn’t dwell on the husband issue for long, in fact it’s blink and you’ll miss him ;-) The trauma of what Maggie went through, plus the fact she had come to the order as a postulant kept their romance chaste for a big part of the book. But in the face or certain death, things will definitely heat up. Action, drama, demon slaying, love and magic. What’s not to love?
f/f
Themes: destined to be together, oh no, Maggie is married?! That’s a bit of a shocker for a former postulant, Sister Thomasina is a character you love to hate, who stole my memories, that spicy demon smell, Maggie’s checkered past, The Awakening, I feel you.
4 Stars
*ARC provided by the author to lezreviewbooks.com in exchange for an honest review.
The Demon Equilibrium by Cathy Pegau, published by Bywater Books, brought the right atmosphere for this time of year. In this historial romance set in 1903, the Demonic Horde threatens to unleash Hell on Earth and the only duo who can put a stop to it is the combined magic of source Grace Carter and her catalyst Maggie Mulvaney.
But at the beginning of the story we find out that Maggie has been missing for 9 months and Grace has been looking for her all this time. When she does find her partner, her joy is short lived as Maggie has no memory of Grace, their love or their former demon slaying days. There is no time to dwell on this when they have to stay one step ahead of the Order of Saint Teresa. The order they both belonged to is now hunting them down. They have to piece together the missing parts and survive long enough to thwart the second coming of demon lord Ammemnion. Eep!
I liked it. Cathy Pegau was a new author for me and she did a good job keeping me entertained all through the book. We alternate between present and past (usually by chapter) to find out what happened. I think it was the right format to tell this story. There were clear heroes and villains but the real baddy of the story is a bit of a mystery. It put me on the wrong foot at least. Well done!
I liked both Grace and Maggie. Grace’s love was palpable where feisty Maggie was mostly oblivious due to her personality transplant, so I really felt bad for Grace. We didn’t dwell on the husband issue for long, in fact it’s blink and you’ll miss him ;-) The trauma of what Maggie went through, plus the fact she had come to the order as a postulant kept their romance chaste for a big part of the book. But in the face or certain death, things will definitely heat up. Action, drama, demon slaying, love and magic. What’s not to love?
f/f
Themes: destined to be together, oh no, Maggie is married?! That’s a bit of a shocker for a former postulant, Sister Thomasina is a character you love to hate, who stole my memories, that spicy demon smell, Maggie’s checkered past, The Awakening, I feel you.
4 Stars
*ARC provided by the author to lezreviewbooks.com in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2024
I like a lot of Pegau's work, but this story really falls short of her better books. (I def. recommend the Charlotte Brody mysteries. They're kind of relentlessly straight, but they're well-plotted, well-paced, and have great characters with good development. Those books also touch on socioeconomic issues in meaningful ways.)
Sadly, all of those elements are basically missing from this. I was invested in the two main characters *just* enough to want to find out where things would end up, but I was skirting boredom most of the way there. This book is a HUGE jumble of telling instead of showing, and the result is that - at least for me - there are basically no stakes.
Take the title: at the end, we find out what it likely refers to, and there's potentially an interesting setup behind that. But we never really hear about it! Why do demons want to come into earth? No idea! Demons just want to demon, I guess. Why does this one order fight them? Because they're Good People, it seems.
(And why are they headquartered on Long Island? Why is a worldwide fight limited to a handful of people in 1-2 boroughs, plus two ancillary support folks in Colorado, despite this religious order existing for 900+ years? Your guess is as good as mine, since we never hear Pegau's.)
Other frustrations:
Sadly, all of those elements are basically missing from this. I was invested in the two main characters *just* enough to want to find out where things would end up, but I was skirting boredom most of the way there. This book is a HUGE jumble of telling instead of showing, and the result is that - at least for me - there are basically no stakes.
Take the title: at the end, we find out what it likely refers to, and there's potentially an interesting setup behind that. But we never really hear about it! Why do demons want to come into earth? No idea! Demons just want to demon, I guess. Why does this one order fight them? Because they're Good People, it seems.
(And why are they headquartered on Long Island? Why is a worldwide fight limited to a handful of people in 1-2 boroughs, plus two ancillary support folks in Colorado, despite this religious order existing for 900+ years? Your guess is as good as mine, since we never hear Pegau's.)
Other frustrations:
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December 13, 2021Heat Factor: They’re mostly too busy fighting demons (no danger banging here!)
Character Chemistry: Their magic blends perfectly
Plot: Lesbian demon hunters in the wild west, except we start the story in the middle and one has amnesia
Overall: I liked it, mainly because the setup is very very cool
When I first chatted with Cathy Pegau about her book (she Tweeted about looking for reviewers, and I jumped on that train immediately), she said that historical lesbian demon hunters aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. I guess I get it, but historical lesbian demon hunters are DEFINITELY my cup of tea (another data point for me to analyze because sometimes my smut-reading preferences mystify even me), so here we are!
If you’re like me, and historical lesbian demon hunters ARE your cup of tea, then let me tell you that the set-up for this story is very cool. Maggie and Grace are both members of the Order of St. Theresa. People—mostly women—who have certain magic abilities are recruited into the Order, whereupon they dedicate their lives to fighting demons. The way magic works is that some people are “sources” (and I think have stronger magical power) and others are “catalysts” (and help the sources channel their power), so people bond as complementary pairs (magically, but frequently also emotionally). All of which is to say: demon-fighting nuns.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
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Character Chemistry: Their magic blends perfectly
Plot: Lesbian demon hunters in the wild west, except we start the story in the middle and one has amnesia
Overall: I liked it, mainly because the setup is very very cool
When I first chatted with Cathy Pegau about her book (she Tweeted about looking for reviewers, and I jumped on that train immediately), she said that historical lesbian demon hunters aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. I guess I get it, but historical lesbian demon hunters are DEFINITELY my cup of tea (another data point for me to analyze because sometimes my smut-reading preferences mystify even me), so here we are!
If you’re like me, and historical lesbian demon hunters ARE your cup of tea, then let me tell you that the set-up for this story is very cool. Maggie and Grace are both members of the Order of St. Theresa. People—mostly women—who have certain magic abilities are recruited into the Order, whereupon they dedicate their lives to fighting demons. The way magic works is that some people are “sources” (and I think have stronger magical power) and others are “catalysts” (and help the sources channel their power), so people bond as complementary pairs (magically, but frequently also emotionally). All of which is to say: demon-fighting nuns.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
December 10, 2021
The Demon Equilibrium is a wonderful new fantasy from Cathy Pegau. She’s created an alternate timeline, historical setting where women of the Order of Saint Teresa wield magic and fight the demon horde, all unknown to the average human. The magic is a unique system where it takes two users, a source and a catalyst, who form a special bond. Grace is a powerful source and Maggie an equally matched catalyst.
The story jumps between 1903 (the present) where Grace is searching for Maggie because they’ve been separated and memories altered, and the recent past where we learn of how the pair meets and what brought them to their current situation. This method of storytelling heightens the tension and is extremely effective in grabbing and holding my interest. I needed to know what drove them apart and if their love is strong enough to move forward. The two timelines begin to merge as Grace and Maggie unravel the mysteries. It builds wonderful suspense.
The mythology is interesting and unique, but the story gets its heart from the relationship between Maggie and Grace. The pair have a strong magical bond, and it is reinforced by their love for one another. However, feelings have been altered due to the repercussions of their nearly nine months apart. Ms. Pegau pens a beautiful romance that adds value to the overall story, making the entire adventure so much more than a race against the clock. My only complaint is how quickly the story ends after the climatic scene. I wanted an epilogue or more story to let me know what happened next. Hopefully there will be a sequel story because I feel like there is so much more to know.
The Demon Equilibrium is an engrossing, well-written fantasy with a beautiful romantic heart. If you are a fan of interesting fantasy stories, I strongly urge you to give The Demon Equilibrium a read.
My Rating: A-
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Edelweiss
The story jumps between 1903 (the present) where Grace is searching for Maggie because they’ve been separated and memories altered, and the recent past where we learn of how the pair meets and what brought them to their current situation. This method of storytelling heightens the tension and is extremely effective in grabbing and holding my interest. I needed to know what drove them apart and if their love is strong enough to move forward. The two timelines begin to merge as Grace and Maggie unravel the mysteries. It builds wonderful suspense.
The mythology is interesting and unique, but the story gets its heart from the relationship between Maggie and Grace. The pair have a strong magical bond, and it is reinforced by their love for one another. However, feelings have been altered due to the repercussions of their nearly nine months apart. Ms. Pegau pens a beautiful romance that adds value to the overall story, making the entire adventure so much more than a race against the clock. My only complaint is how quickly the story ends after the climatic scene. I wanted an epilogue or more story to let me know what happened next. Hopefully there will be a sequel story because I feel like there is so much more to know.
The Demon Equilibrium is an engrossing, well-written fantasy with a beautiful romantic heart. If you are a fan of interesting fantasy stories, I strongly urge you to give The Demon Equilibrium a read.
My Rating: A-
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by Edelweiss
April 9, 2025
From the opening pages of The Demon Equilibrium we're presented with a mystery: why have the two protagonists' memories been wiped, leaving them with little knowledge of who and what they are? First we follow Grace, a gruff magic "source" who's looking for her "catalyst" Maggie. Together the two have been trained by a religious order to fight demons, yet that very same institution appears to have betrayed them. Hopping between 1897 and 1903, the rest of the novel carries us through Grace and Maggie's meeting, training together, and their eventual separation.
Classic love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer aside, I have much less experience with urban fantasy than I do other genres. Yet I was enthralled by the bond between Maggie and Grace – a love story that encompasses tragedy, heartache, action, and quippy humour, never dwelling too long on either the lighthearted or the tragic. Grace's gruff countenance contrasts with Maggie's more emotionally intelligent personality, and I never got tired of seeing the bond between the two unfold. Twice!
The Demon Equilibrium has a delightfully twisting plotline, but, for me, it's the relationship between Maggie and Grace that truly carries the story. I don't get to experience enough characters that are so lovingly and vividly rendered, and I was drawn in alongside them the whole way through. I definitely recommend giving this a read, especially if you're into queer love with plenty of demonic action.
Classic love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer aside, I have much less experience with urban fantasy than I do other genres. Yet I was enthralled by the bond between Maggie and Grace – a love story that encompasses tragedy, heartache, action, and quippy humour, never dwelling too long on either the lighthearted or the tragic. Grace's gruff countenance contrasts with Maggie's more emotionally intelligent personality, and I never got tired of seeing the bond between the two unfold. Twice!
The Demon Equilibrium has a delightfully twisting plotline, but, for me, it's the relationship between Maggie and Grace that truly carries the story. I don't get to experience enough characters that are so lovingly and vividly rendered, and I was drawn in alongside them the whole way through. I definitely recommend giving this a read, especially if you're into queer love with plenty of demonic action.
January 14, 2022
I can honestly say that I’ve never read another book anywhere close to The Demon Equilibrium by Cathy Pegau!
One of the things that I enjoy about the Bywater Books catalogue is that you’re going to get something different, and this book certainly fit that bill!
With ‘The Demon Equilibrium’, we have a historical novel, set in the Old West, populated by a religious order that hunts down and destroys demons with magic that can bind hearts together forever. Woah!
While I continuously felt that I’d missed an earlier book with these characters, and frequently said so to my partner, I had all the information needed to wonder why one woman was searching for another right off. The author had me from the second sentence! With every page, my questions grew, and I didn’t want to put the book down. Dinner? Pfft! Let them eat bread… I’m reading!
The characters shared a bond I could feel through the author’s words, and the fact that she set it in the Old West just roped me in. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist) They have to fight amnesia, demons, suspicion, demons and the Order itself to get the answers they need. Oh, and more demons.
When the final showdown comes, you won’t be able to put the book down, I’ll warn you now.
I was blessed to be offered a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to both Bywater and Cathy Pegau!
One of the things that I enjoy about the Bywater Books catalogue is that you’re going to get something different, and this book certainly fit that bill!
With ‘The Demon Equilibrium’, we have a historical novel, set in the Old West, populated by a religious order that hunts down and destroys demons with magic that can bind hearts together forever. Woah!
While I continuously felt that I’d missed an earlier book with these characters, and frequently said so to my partner, I had all the information needed to wonder why one woman was searching for another right off. The author had me from the second sentence! With every page, my questions grew, and I didn’t want to put the book down. Dinner? Pfft! Let them eat bread… I’m reading!
The characters shared a bond I could feel through the author’s words, and the fact that she set it in the Old West just roped me in. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist) They have to fight amnesia, demons, suspicion, demons and the Order itself to get the answers they need. Oh, and more demons.
When the final showdown comes, you won’t be able to put the book down, I’ll warn you now.
I was blessed to be offered a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to both Bywater and Cathy Pegau!
January 1, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It took awhile to get used to the time frame changing each chapter, but I liked how something in one time was somewhat explained in the other one, not completely but enough clues to make me think.
Both protagonists belong to an order of women who fight demons. Maggie plans to take her vows so even though she’s drawn to Grace, she won’t act on it. I only mention it because I was a little confused about whether they were all nuns, or just affiliated with them. In the end, it didn’t really matter, but it did serve to add tension to their story.
This adventure was twisty and thrilling with clues gradually revealed. I loved it as it unfolded. And the ending! Wow!
Both protagonists belong to an order of women who fight demons. Maggie plans to take her vows so even though she’s drawn to Grace, she won’t act on it. I only mention it because I was a little confused about whether they were all nuns, or just affiliated with them. In the end, it didn’t really matter, but it did serve to add tension to their story.
This adventure was twisty and thrilling with clues gradually revealed. I loved it as it unfolded. And the ending! Wow!
March 12, 2022
4.5 stars
A very entertaining story featuring two strong, stubborn and capable protagonists set on saving the world. I especially liked how the magic and the connection between Grace and Maggie were described; it was almost as if I could see them. I'm usually not much of a fan of the dual timelines, but in this book it really worked; I was invested in learning more about how Grace and Maggie had met and what had happened in the past and, at the same time, I needed to find out what was going to happen in the present timeline.
The ending was a bit abrupt, but there weren't really any loose ends left and everything was resolved satisfactorily, so there's nothing to complain about. All in all, an enjoyable, fast-paced and compelling read.
A very entertaining story featuring two strong, stubborn and capable protagonists set on saving the world. I especially liked how the magic and the connection between Grace and Maggie were described; it was almost as if I could see them. I'm usually not much of a fan of the dual timelines, but in this book it really worked; I was invested in learning more about how Grace and Maggie had met and what had happened in the past and, at the same time, I needed to find out what was going to happen in the present timeline.
The ending was a bit abrupt, but there weren't really any loose ends left and everything was resolved satisfactorily, so there's nothing to complain about. All in all, an enjoyable, fast-paced and compelling read.
November 22, 2023
4 stars. It took a little bit to get into and the way the timeline was set up a bit confusing but I enjoyed this a lot in the end. I liked the writing style, it made for a quick and addictive read once the story found its footing, the plot was really cool, and the characters of Grace and Maddie were wonderful. I liked that the romance between them was there but definitely isn’t the main focus until the very end. It gave them time to bond and fall in love all over again. The world building was interesting and there was some great action scenes in this. This was a very entertaining read and while I loved the way it ended I wouldn’t mind another book.
August 11, 2023
This was not my typical read, but the premise intrigued me and the author is a nice person I've interacted with on social media.
The world building (the magic system in particular) and the historical research are well done. There was never a point that I, a historian, felt pulled out of the narrative by an anachronistic comment or situation.
Give this book a chance, even if it is not something you'd usually read. I think you'll find your self sucked into the story.
The world building (the magic system in particular) and the historical research are well done. There was never a point that I, a historian, felt pulled out of the narrative by an anachronistic comment or situation.
Give this book a chance, even if it is not something you'd usually read. I think you'll find your self sucked into the story.
December 4, 2021
Lesbian demon hunters at the turn of the 20th century? Yes, please. This is a fast, fun, engaging historical fantasy, told in the alternating voices of super duo Grace and Maggie, who use their combined magic to fight the Demon Horde. The women are strong, likable characters, and their adventures as they piece together who's on their side and who isn't will keep you reading.
February 15, 2022
Historical fantasy romance with some classic magical elements from urban fantasy as well as some twists from somewhere else? Yes, please! The author skillfully weaves an exciting tale of demons and magical partners and higher ups who might be corrupt through an early 20th century setting. The fact that the protagonists are both women is simply part of the story's rich charm.
June 11, 2022
Excellent read!
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: established couple, unusual jobs, not a romance, out of your comfort zone, butch character; UNICORN: faith (possibly other categories)
This was a captivating and thrilling paranormal story that was told using flashbacks and the "present" in the very early 1900s. The two MCs were paired up and trained together to be a demon hunter team. The book began with their unknowingly being separated, and even worse, one had forgotten their past. Some parts were story building, while others were fast-paced action, and both were blended together to form a well-written novel.
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: established couple, unusual jobs, not a romance, out of your comfort zone, butch character; UNICORN: faith (possibly other categories)
This was a captivating and thrilling paranormal story that was told using flashbacks and the "present" in the very early 1900s. The two MCs were paired up and trained together to be a demon hunter team. The book began with their unknowingly being separated, and even worse, one had forgotten their past. Some parts were story building, while others were fast-paced action, and both were blended together to form a well-written novel.
Read
November 3, 2021Blog review Monday Nov. 8th
March 5, 2022
When this book came to my attention, I thought, nuns fighting demons to save the world? I don’t know about this one. Though after doing a little background on the book, I discovered that it’s been nominated for a Goldie. That piqued my interest. Pegau has won before, so I already knew she had talent. Her 2014 win for Deep Deception was well-deserved. Even though paranormal isn’t in my comfort zone, I was optimistic this reading adventure would be exciting. After all, it’s a Bywater book and one can’t go wrong with that. The people over there work with talented writers and produce solid stories time and time again. So, I downloaded it onto my Kindle, tapped open the first page and tumbled into one heck of a story.
As expected, Pegau is a top-notch writer with a brilliant mind for storytelling. The story world she creates for these characters is phenomenal. She pens vivid descriptions with her colorful word choices; the gritty details scratch readers’ senses, making them see and feel the 1903 Wild West as they’ve never imagined it. The action scenes move the plot along with heart-thumping quickness, keeping readers riveted page after page.
The craftsmanship of the story is also impressive. She parallels two gripping storylines from two different time periods quite cleverly. Readers are equally invested in the past and present of this narrative as she effortlessly utilizes flashbacks to alternate between 1903 and the six previous years. Each chapter is gripping and advances the story in significant and engaging ways. But when Pegau finally merges the two timelines, readers are left awe-stuck with her storytelling genius.
The writing style and tone are without a doubt captiving, but it’s the love story that really hooks the romantic spirit of the reader. Maggie is the yin to Grace’s yang. Their present is anchored by their past. They give rise and complete the other in ways that few fictional couples in this genre do. Their relationship is the North Star in this bewitching tale and the storytelling plays this out beautifully.
Final remarks...
If you are one that doesn’t normally read lesbian paranormal romance, don’t let that stop you from picking this book up. The genre may seem intimidating, but this book contains themes and tropes that are appealing to almost any lesfic fan. Readers will surely revel in its well-crafted construction and romance. This book is an unequivocal, two thumbs up.
Strengths…
Perfectly pitched and paced
Exciting
Entertaining
Well-constructed
Engrossing
As expected, Pegau is a top-notch writer with a brilliant mind for storytelling. The story world she creates for these characters is phenomenal. She pens vivid descriptions with her colorful word choices; the gritty details scratch readers’ senses, making them see and feel the 1903 Wild West as they’ve never imagined it. The action scenes move the plot along with heart-thumping quickness, keeping readers riveted page after page.
The craftsmanship of the story is also impressive. She parallels two gripping storylines from two different time periods quite cleverly. Readers are equally invested in the past and present of this narrative as she effortlessly utilizes flashbacks to alternate between 1903 and the six previous years. Each chapter is gripping and advances the story in significant and engaging ways. But when Pegau finally merges the two timelines, readers are left awe-stuck with her storytelling genius.
The writing style and tone are without a doubt captiving, but it’s the love story that really hooks the romantic spirit of the reader. Maggie is the yin to Grace’s yang. Their present is anchored by their past. They give rise and complete the other in ways that few fictional couples in this genre do. Their relationship is the North Star in this bewitching tale and the storytelling plays this out beautifully.
Final remarks...
If you are one that doesn’t normally read lesbian paranormal romance, don’t let that stop you from picking this book up. The genre may seem intimidating, but this book contains themes and tropes that are appealing to almost any lesfic fan. Readers will surely revel in its well-crafted construction and romance. This book is an unequivocal, two thumbs up.
Strengths…
Perfectly pitched and paced
Exciting
Entertaining
Well-constructed
Engrossing
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