The Duke's Demon

Starian Cycle #2

by Iris Foxglove

Devon Chastain has always been angry. He burns with it, is consumed by it, lashing out at friend and foe alike and securing his reputation as a difficult noble son for all to see. Now that his family has betrayed the crown, Devon is a mess of emotion he can’t control, and he finds himself discovered by none other than Sebastien d’Hiver, the mad duke who, rumor says, once killed his entire family and sold his soul to a demon.

He will find, soon enough, that only the last half of the rumor is true. Sebastien d’Hiver is a man given over to the dark that is all he or his demon has ever known, and it isn’t until he drags Devon to the eerie country manor he calls home that he realizes that there’s more to life than pain. Soon, all three of them, noble, traitor, and demon alike, will find in each other the light they’ve all been missing.

(Please note: This book takes place in a "biological imperative BDSM universe" in which everyone is born either a submissive or a dominant, and is compelled to satisfy those urges. It does not intend to represent real-life BDSM practices between consenting adults, and should be read only for entertainment purposes.)

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, BDSM, Romance, Demons, Paranormal, Dark

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2021

About the author

Iris Foxglove is the shared pen name of Avon Gale (she/her) and Fae Loxley (he/him). Avon and Fae met in fandom in 2019, and began writing fanfiction together in 2020 during lockdown. They eventually decided to collaborate on original fantasy fiction, and haven't looked back since.

They write queer fantasy with an emphasis on biological imperative, natural power exchange dynamics, complex worldbuilding and unforgettable characters.

You can follow Iris on twitter @irisfoxglove, or sign up for Iris' newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrhA6z

Iris also has a brand-new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/irisfoxglove

Iris' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

You can also follow the authors individually on Twitter and Facebook:

Avon Gale
Twitter: https://twitter.com/avongalewrites
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/2p8hz4fv

Fae Loxley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fae_loxley
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/mrxt2fnn

Reviews

[Rosabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I said in my last review, all the books in this series are going to be about different kinks and this one I enjoyed. 😍💜

At the beginning I was skeptical about it because Devon was not a good person in the first book, I should have known that the author would find a way for me to forgive him and I did. He starts this book as a traitor with so much anger that he garners the attention of the Duke Sebastien d'Hiver and his demon and the two of them take him to their abbey to feed on his anger.

This evolved into a relationship of course, Sebastián and the demon fed on Devon's anger and with that gone he could learn how to be and how to live and how to thrive with his duke/demon, the cause of his anger was a hurtful one and what made me understand him and forgive him, so I'm glad we got his story. Sebastián got a little bit of humanism and love from Devon, he felt "warm" with him as his demon tells him and he learned than even if he didn't have a soul he could still feel.

And Sariel? He reminded me of that little demon we all have in our shoulders, he was a very present consciousness to Bastian and they lived together in harmony, this demon is also fun as hell, pun intended. Sariel learns, feels and thinks through his host Sebastián, so if his host grows he grows. He also gave me so many fun moments like:

"No other demon does this, Host. I am the most clever. I call pets from the dark places"

Also,

-“Dev-on, you are. What are you. Many things.” Sariel
-“The word you want is a mess.” Devon
Sariel considered this, and patted Beloved on the head again. “You are a mess, Dev-on.” Sariel

He also didn't communicate very well, but when he did, he spoke beautifully:

“Host is in the place where thoughts become pictures that drift like rain.” (dreaming/sleeping)

So yeah, it was a really interesting story with lovely characters and I was smiling all the way through. 🤭❤💜

[Carol (bookish_notes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is surprisingly delightful and I loved it a lot!!! Somehow, this story is dark like I would expect a dark romance to be, and yet it’s still so SOFT at the same time. This may not have as much kink as the first book, but DEMON ROMANCES ARE APPARENTLY MY THING. I have been WAITING for a demon romance to love and this one is so fun and is delightfully a polyam romance with a demon.

Trigger warnings include mentions of abuse, mentions of murders, kidnapping, deaths, and suggestions of maybe incest and rape in an MC’s past.

Devon Chastain is the second son of Lord Chastain. After the events of book one, Devon is on the run, but his attempts to evade capture and the king’s orders of a hanging aren’t the best and he is easily discovered by Duke Sebastien d’Hiver. And the demon who rides his soul.

Sebastien takes Devon back to his home in the north. There are stories that kids tell each other of the mad Duke and all those who enter his home are never seen again. Well, there is some truth to that, and it turns out that Sebastien feeds his demon with the fear of his human prey, and then at last, their souls. Devon is a shining beacon of anger, fear, and a whole gamut of emotions that pleases the demon greatly. And a reason why the demon wants to put him under their knife.

I can’t say I really knew what to expect from this book before I started it? I didn’t have a great opinion of Devon, seeing as how he was one of the many antagonists from the first book who didn’t like Sabre. So, this is pleasant surprise to how quickly I started to fall in love with him when I started reading the story from his perspective.

This book is filled with morally grey characters and I love it!! There’s just something very satisfying about all these characters and how it’s a very quaint found family setting? Sebastien found his demon during an incredibly dark time in his life, and both of them found Devon in a similar predicament. Devon was unlikable in the first book, but I really liked how we got to see his side of the story here. A redemption of sorts.

This book isn’t kinky like the first book is. But what this book DOES have is a lot of explicit consent!!! I just really love how this was written in the text and that everyone really respects and listens to one another. But especially that even a Duke and his demon know not to touch Devon when they know he doesn’t like to be touched unexpectedly. The consent is just really nice to read. This book feels dark to me because of the characters and their pasts, but it is also so SOFT. I loved how this is a polyam with 2 doms and a sub who thinks he’s a dom. There’s a biological aspect here that comes into play that is reminiscent of A/B/O books so nobody is vers, but I think it works within the context of this story. Sebastien has so much heart and I love the way he interacts with his demon (who does have a name! and we find out what that is in the story!) and I love how they both their interests in Devon grows as time passes.

As for secondary characters, I loved Clara, the housekeeper, and her gardener husband, Joaquin! They’re so sweet together and I love how they don’t question anything that happens at the house and just act like it’s all par for the course. I think it’s great that Joaquin simply went up to a Duke who most people feared, and said that the guy’s grounds are a mess so he’s going to see to them now. And that’s how Joaquin become the gardener. I adore that Clara gets to be happy now, and runs the house without batting an eye at all the goings-on and is very no-nonsense! I just really like all her scenes with Devon and when she decides that the once Lord’s son should sit and eat with the rest of the staff because he’s the Duke’s musician now. An unexpected character I fell in love with is a hellhound pet and she is SO ADORABLE.

So, I do wonder where the story with Marius, Devon’s older brother, will end up. Marius suffered under their father all the same as Devon (if not worse for being a sub and a first son, I think). But where Devon lashed out with anger to hide his fear, Marius just sort of pushed it all away and ignored all of it. Ignored his own pain, and Devon’s. I think I would like to see him as a protagonist in a future book, and I wonder if the two brothers will ever see each other again.

I think this book could be read as a standalone if you wished. Of course, events from the first book play into this one, so maybe for maximum emotional impact!!!, read this series in order. There is an excerpt for book 3 at the end of this book, and I have no self control so of course I read it. Now, I can’t wait to see how Prince Adrien and Isiodore (the king’s closest friend and advisor) plays out. There must be a significant age gap between them seeing as how Adrien’s best friend’s (Sabre’s) father was Isiordore’s fuck buddy?? and maybe lovers in their younger years, so it’ll be interesting.

This book is THE demon romance book I’ve been wanting to read. It’s surprisingly not easy to find a demon romance with the right balance of darkness in a book? At least, from my experience. But this one definitely fits the bill and I just really loved it a lot. I can’t wait to listen to this book in audio and for the next book to come out!!

[Smutty Sully · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

I want a hellhound puppy.

[Bizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

January 2025 re-read: This wasn’t quite a 5/5 for me on re-read, but I still really enjoyed it. It felt a bit too short this time around and I think more time could have been spent building up the tension between the MCs – though I did note while reading that despite skipping almost immediately to the “comfort” part of hurt/comfort, it still felt satisfying. The biokink thing still doesn’t work for me, though.

---
Book two of The Starian Cycle. In a lot of ways, this book feels like the fantasy version of Empty Net (written by Avon Gale, one half of Iris Foxglove): One of the two MCs was a villain in the previous book and seemed irredeemable, but in this book we quickly learn he’s much more complex – and vulnerable – than he previously appeared. The theme of this book is that you can’t figure out who you really are until you’re safe. All three MCs (the two men and the demon who possesses one of them) are traumatized and lonely, and it shapes their view of themselves, what they’re capable of, and where they fit in the world. But once all three come together, they create space for each other to heal, explore, and love.

I was surprised to learn that Devon was one of the MCs in this book because The Traitor’s Mercy makes him seem completely unsympathetic, but I should have known from reading Empty Net that Avon Gale can create believable redemption arcs for seemingly awful characters. Similarly, when I started the book I figured the demon was a problem the characters would eventually have to figure out how to solve, so I was surprised (and delighted) when he became another main character. I won’t spoil his character arc, but by the end of the book, I loved him just as much as Devon and Sebastien.

I appreciated that the authors handled the characters’ trauma in a careful, non-exploitative way. All three characters have experienced significant trauma, but the book doesn’t linger over the details of what happened. Instead, the focus is on how trauma has affected each character and their path to healing. The book also encourages the reader to recognize that people don’t have to be “perfect” sympathetic victims to be worthy of our empathy and compassion.

The biokink aspect of this world still doesn’t really work for me, but at least here, it’s not a significant element of the story, and when it did play a role, it made sense for the characters and advanced their relationships.

In short, I loved everything about this book. It’s tied with Empty Net for my all-time favorite Avon Gale book and will definitely go in my re-read pile.

Ideally, this book should be read after book one because that book introduces both of these MCs and gives necessary context to Devon’s character arc, but if you get stuck on book one (I know a few people who have), I think you can still enjoy this book without having read the first one.

[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not exactly a fluffy bunny of a story, it sure wasn't as dark as it seemed it might be from the outset (still kinda dark, though). Also, I went into this book wondering how in the hell the authors were going to make me like Devon, even a little, after what he did in book 1, and well, color me surprised - they managed it.

Devon was a scared boy lashing out and wanting only to escape the hell he lived in. He made some horrendous mistakes along the way and focused his anger somewhere it didn't belong. He hated himself and felt he was not and never would be worthy of anything or anyone. His anger drew to him a demon inside a duke and I think all their stories changed a bit that day.

Sebastien has always been misunderstood, to a degree. They say he slaughtered his family. They say he is cold and evil. But while he does harbor a demon, they are not always what they seem. His demon is a curious being and lives for strong emotion. Fear. Anger. Lust. Well, the lust is new. Heh.

I definitely liked this and I'm enjoying this series!

[Moraa (vacation hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this was MUCH BETTER than book 1 which I DNF’d for the writing style. Of course the result is that I didn’t understand half the references (there are very few explicit reminders from the author) but thankfully there weren’t many references to begin with.

WHAT WORKED
✅ Chemistry between the MCs (chef’s kiss)
✅ The story starts immediately (book 1 involved far too many character intros for my taste)
✅ The writing flowed better
✅ Sariel💯

HOWEVER

What was with the random full stops in the middle of sentences?? It made the dialogue and prose feel stilted and weird.

Expect
- Biokink
- Country nobles
- Demons and possession
- Found family
- Lots of warmth😉
- Bondage
- Age gap
- Past sexual abuse (no on-page depictions)

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well what an enjoyable book. I hadn't read book one in the series. I must be daft because I hadn't even spotted this was book 2 - but I don't think it mattered. Beautifully written, different, entertaining and a page turner!

[Amur Thera · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good
+ Sariel getting Devon a pet. "For petting."
+ Sariel being all huffy, and preening at any praise
+ The fierce protectiveness and possessiveness between all three of them
+ The way they all accepted the foreign emotion of love easily between them
+ Sebastien's staff. He really had some good people working for him
+ Sariel just claiming Devon (and Sebastien)
+ Sariel and Sebastien continuously offering to murder people for Devon as a sign of affection

The neutral
o The way everything worked magic-wise was not explained fully. As this book is part of a series, it's probably to be expected, but I still would have liked to learn a bit more

The bad
- The first part of the story was harder to enjoy and didn't mesh with the rest of the book. It took me a long time to get through the first 20%, and then I could enjoy it to the fullest

Quotes
x "You're almost like a cat. A terrifying, murderous cat."
x "You're like a kitten and a toddler and somehow still terrifying."
x He was still not pleased to be pushed back behind the Host. He was petting. It was important.
x "You and Beloved. Make a small human for me."
x "No other demon does this, Host. I am the most clever. I call pets from the dark places."
x "You are a mess, Devon. But you are our mess."
x While his demon evolved to a being with a name and a fearsome, lovely appearance full of smoke and shadow... it was mostly an overlarge cat with the intelligence of a terrifyingly erudite toddler.


It took a while for me to warm up to the story, but once I did, I absolutely loved it. Sariel was adorable, and the three of them were amazing together. So possessive! I loved the hurt/comfort, and the way Sebastien just made their relationship public without a second thought. Making sure Devon knew he wasn't a dirty little secret. Yeah, I'd definitely recommend this book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

***WARNING: this review contains MILD SPOILERS for characters featured in THE TRAITOR’S MERCY and THE DUKE’S DEMON***

I honestly started off drafting this review in my head before I finished the first chapter because I knew from the beginning it was going to be the kind of book I have to tell people about, and at that point my review was really simple: it’s a heck of a good novel with a great hook that hits a ton of tropes I happen to love. The first book in the Starian Cycle was tough for me to get into because the premise is that some very bad things happen to a very good person who absolutely doesn’t deserve it, and I had to be in a certain kind of mood to partake. The Duke’s Demon, alternately, grabbed me by the lapels and YANKED me in headfirst. I never stood a chance, it drops you into the new story DURING THE CLIMAX of book one and you hit the ground running with immediate life or death motivation established for one of the main characters. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, its vaguely Gothic overlay starts us off with a similar trope as turning up lost in a thunderstorm on the steps of an ancient, foreboding castle obviously cursed by an ancient evil, while its hypnotic vampire host invites you inside and into some dry, sexy hospitality, clearly with their own nefarious purposes.

And in case THAT wasn’t enough of a hook, MONSTER F*****S, COME AND GET YOUR SOUP!!!!!

As always the authors include warnings for content, which I personally do appreciate from a “dead dove don’t eat” perspective, but what they do not warn you about is that you’ll come for the sinister sexual tension, but you’ll find yourself hooked by the queer-friendly themes that feel like being wrapped up in a big blanket. If it wasn’t literally a dark gay fantasy I’d know instinctively that the author was LGBTQ+ because of the messages they weave into the story. It’s about found family AND learning how to love others and find peace with yourself after being denied formative loving relationships. It’s about redemption AND having safe spaces to confront and begin to recover from trauma. It’s about acknowledging that hurt people hurt people but still deserve a chance to heal, AND the assurance that forgiving those who have hurt you is not required. It’s about being honest with yourself and coming to terms with who you really are AND the realization that you can be imperfect, maybe even deemed monstrous by some, and still be deserving of love and care. The Duke’s Demon radiates safeness and has (surprisingly) joined the ranks of my go-to mental health reads.

(Speaking of tropes and Gothic romance, I’m a huge fan of ghost stories and without going into detail, The Duke’s Demon is peppered with allusions to multiple ghostly events at its ominous mansion backdrop, several horrific and one or two heart-warming, that really sells the energy of the place as vibrantly supernatural. I think it’s a cliche to say things like “The city/house/country/etc. was its own character!!” but in this case the author clearly did their homework on spooky mansion lore and really impressed me with the way they maintained their setting throughout the story.)

I didn’t expect to get so emotional about this book, y’all. Believe me when I say that like The Traitor’s Mercy, the steamy scenes are just icing on the cake of a lovingly crafted fantasy world with incredible detail (we get more into magic and demon lore - of course - in this sequel, and it’s clear the author has so much still in store for us). The Duke’s Demon is less plot-heavy than its predecessor but all of the aforementioned themes manage to weave an incredibly satisfying, if somewhat shorter tale (and of course it doesn’t bear the responsibility of establishing an entire fantasy world as the first book in a series, either.) We’re also treated to some familiar faces from The Traitor’s Mercy as they relate to Devon and Sebastien’s journey, and lay the groundwork for the upcoming third novel.

With the beginning and ending of The Duke’s Demon it’s becoming clear to me that each book in this series is probably going to be very different from each other, but unless the contents squicks you, reading them in order is going to be a huge boon. You can start watching Game of Thrones at season two and probably figure out what’s going down in Westeros from exposition and context clues but it’s just not the same. In the context of the Starian Cycle, knowing Sabre de Valois’ story personally and what it is about this offscreen character that has Devon so tormented, or having being introduced to Prince Adrien as a background character before realizing there’s more going on with his character that is likely to be explored when book 3 drops, just make the entire experience fuller. The Traitor’s Mercy did a ton of heavy lifting in regards to framing the plot so The Duke’s Demon could exist in a satisfying oasis of the fantasy world that had already been established, and if you haven’t already checked out the first novel I highly recommend it (I’m about to revisit it myself, to see Devon and his twisted family again for the first time with an altered perspective.)

I’ll end this review with the titular scene-stealing demon. The relationship woven between a human character and a separate entity in their head is always tricky to execute in terms of voice, but the author did an incredible job of keeping their demon distinct from its host and establishing that these are two creatures who have been in a symbiotic relationship for a long time and are comfortable working in tandem with each other. (The fact that they both start falling in love with the same guy is just fortunate!) There were so many moments that delighted me about Sariel, who managed to be both whimsical and eerie, surreal and still sexual at the same time. There are moments when he seems like an incredibly powerful otherworldly creature and others where he’s obviously naive to what’s happening around him and learning on a curve, and in that respect he’s just as human and sometimes vulnerable as the other members of his relationship. He’s an incredibly interesting character in his own right where he could have simply been used as a plot device, a foil for the metaphoric demons both human leads carry around with them and must confront in the story. I can sense that the decisions made for Sariel’s character are yet another queer-friendly theme that falls over the reader like a warm quilt: that it can be beautiful to embrace our demons rather than expecting them to fade away at some magical point of self-actualization.

Now go read the most satisfying queer dark erotic cozy fantasy Gothic tale of the year.

[Lisa KK · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 80%. The demon was wonderful. I just couldn’t connect to the story and the other characters.

[Elle Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew. Where to start? I might have enjoyed The Duke's Demon more than the first book in this series, which I hadn't considered a possibility!

The cast of this book is somewhat narrowed down at first, focusing mainly on the demon-possessed Duke Sebastien d'Hiver and his prisoner/prey plucked from the forest, Devon Chastain. Despite an imminent threat of death, Devon and Sebastien (and his demon) find common ground among the Duke's drafty and potentially haunted estate. The setting is comfortably eerie as Devon comes to an understanding about what fuels the anger and fear inside him. And the demon is effing perfect.

I know this is only the second book of the series, but I really enjoy what the author is doing here in regards to revealing this world. Whereas the first book focuses more on the structurally concrete aspects of society, the Duke's Demon guides us into a more mystical tutorial. If you read the first book and felt like the magic was rushed or sudden (I didn't), book two will return on that investment. I'm excited for the next installment, to see more of the world unfold (especially the magical bits!), as well as the stories that take place within them.

Editing to say: I strongly recommend throwing on one of those dark academia, "waltzing with the villain realizing they were wrong" playlists on YouTube, if you enjoy music while you read. ;)

[Iris Foxglove]

This one is the story of Devon Chastain, a traitor turned fugitive who is given sanctuary of a most dubious nature by the Duke d'Hiver and his demonic entity.

Featuring:

-Is it poly if a demon is involved? (Yes)
-flawed, morally gray people finding healing
-bondage
-sexually charged fencing
-Oh No, Your Demon Gently Cradled My Soul And That's Hot?

....and possibly, a very cute hellhound puppy.

(Please be aware the biological imperative kink/natural power exchange in this story is entirely fictional and does not intent to represent IRL BDSM practices/relationships between consenting adults. CWs for brief, non-graphic references to the sexual abuse of a child by a parent.)

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So yes, I did try the next book and I’m pleased to say there were fewer errors. Still more than is acceptable and the continuity in the style of errors makes me believe this won’t stop unless there is editing. I don’t mean self editing. A paid for editing service or even a friend who knows when a sentence should stop and start would do wonders for this series. But look here, I’m giving it 4 stars because the story is creative and I enjoyed it when I wasn’t annoyed. I have to say it’s a shame that more effort isn’t put into the final product before publishing because this is actually enjoyable.

The next book isn’t out yet. There’s plenty of time to polish it up. Just saying.

[peach · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot to like in this book, but unfortunately I didn't end up enjoying it as much as I had hoped. Devon and Sebastien (and the demon) are all interesting characters and I liked getting to know their backstories and the relationship they developed, but I think the structure of the writing didn't fully work for me. Some things felt repetitive or inconsistent (like saying that it was Devon's first time going under when it appeared that it already happened once or twice), and the final conflict was handled very quickly and without much tension. It's a good redemption story and I sympathized a lot with the characters, but there was just something lacking for me.

[thosemeddlingkids]

It pains me to say it - DNF at 60%, probably shelving under "Not Right Now"

This is not working for me right now. Maybe I need to reread book 1 to get back into the Starian World or need to try switching formats to reading the ebook. Usually Foxglove is a comfort read and win for me. I'm bummed this one isn't working out.

Do I dislike the MCs? The narrator? (No) The demon? The plot? No clue what's up.

March 2023

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I really believed Devon's character redemption in this book. But whatever. I really enjoyed Sebastien and the demon and their love for Devon.

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Traitor's Mercy, and signed up for the arc via Booksprout for this one. This one continues the BDSM AU theme, which I liked, and features a demon-possessed duke falling for one of the antagonists of book one. I wasn't sure I would like a book about Devon since I loved Sabre from the first book, but the author made me care about him and I really liked this story -- unlike book one it takes place with a much smaller cast of characters, which was a nice change even if I missed everyone from book 1, and there was a nice slow build up of trust between them. There's an excerpt in the back for Book Three and I'm really looking forward to that one, it's about Adrien, the prince, who was friends with Sabre.

This book still has BDSM/kink but isn't quite as dark as the first one. Still very good writing and I would recommend it.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent choice if you're looking for:

compelling characters with more than a hint of darkness (and not just because of the demon thing)

a slowly developing emotional bond

an interesting take on BDSM

a strong, clear writing style

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh I love a demon romance!! This was so good, and I can't believe I felt for Devon and wanted him to be happy so quickly. But the author did a great job making me care about him and hope he found happiness with Sebastien and Sariel. I also continue to love the BDSM imperative as it's depicted -- it's written very naturally, and fits in seamlessly with the story without it being the focus, if that makes sense. The author clearly has a great sense of the world they're building and it comes through very confidently.

This one is also a little different from the previous book, in that there's a wayyyyy smaller cast of characters in this one. It works, though, since there's a running theme of isolation and being left alone with the ghosts of your past running through the book. I loved Clara, and I like how she and Joaquin adopted Polly by the end. I loved Devon's journey to understanding his anger, and how Sebastien and Sariel learned there was more to life than fear.

As with the first book, I appreciated the touches of humor -- the hellhound puppy! -- and loved seeing a quick glimpse of Sabre and Adrien again. All in all, I'm really impressed with this series and can't wait to see what's next.

[s · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun, I just adore the worldbuilding in this series! Who doesn't love a tortured noble, a cold hero and a demon falling in love???

[nagel__bagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely little daydream of a book. Fancy a rural retreat to a semi-haunted estate which was built to house a long-forgotten darkness? There's fencing, self-reflection and so much consent talk. I have some of the same complaints as the previous installment - overall the environmental descriptions leave a lot to be desired, especially with the Abbey playing such a large role in this book, and the sex again, is central but lacks swoon or surprise in my humble opinion. But again I was charmed and I'm probably in for the rest of the series now.

There's a great sense of play and indulgence in seeing a hate-able, villainous shit like Devon in book one get some deeper exploration and the found family treatment. While he remains surly at first, he's eventually able to let his walls down and ends up a kept man, somewhat reformed, in a LTR with a duke and his demon, who's more of a catlike other-dimensional being that consumes emotion and occasionally some bad guy souls. Really fun to have in your corner and enjoys a good scritch 'round the horns. Sariel was a standout addition, though more plot (honestly, this book is mainly a country retreat) and more pages would've suited me even more. Oh, and "my flame" is a stunning pet name. *sigh*

Again I enjoyed the slow drip worldbuilding - this book explored topics fairly far out in left field compared to the last book, which suits my taste nicely while still fleshing out the Starian world. We even see a few familiar characters show up with some minor development - the Prince, the Sun and his Sword, oh my. This was a dual(+) POV, fairly low angst with an easy HEA and no epilogue. Went down more easily than the first, sweetness anchored in darkness and so much fun. On to the next!

[Florence . · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

“I would have killed them all for you. Even the king. You are ours.”

Brief summary
Sebastian is possessed by a demon (Sariel) that feeds off anger and he kidnaps Devon to feed off his anger. Devon did something bad and Sebastian rescue him from a sure death. They end up falling in love, Sebastian, Devon and the demon inside of Sebastian.

I just loved the promise of this book, so much. I loved reading about Sebastian’s demon, I really liked how Sebastian’s demon was super importabt to the plot of the book, it was just so much fun to read about.

I loved the kink in this book. Devon thought he was a dominant and thats how he lived for years. But it turns out that he’s a submissive. I loved how his realization was shown in the book and how he was so reluctant to admit that he’s a submissive because he lived his entire life thinking he’s a dominant. Plus seeing him learn to love to submit was absolutely lovely and I enjoyed every seconds of it. Also damn was this book hot.

I really loved the entire relationship build up in this book. This book worked so well for me, I loved the story and the pacing was lovely. I was very invested in this book and it never let me go.

I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.

[the kevin (vaguely alive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of the first book, I had no idea how Devon could possibly be made sympathetic and redeemed. I was intrigued by Sebastiens appearance and conversations with Laurent as well.

Well, Devon was made sympathetic very quickly, and in a way that was very well done. I didn't see it coming at all, but they really turned him around as a character, and made him both make sense and have a path to redemption.

Sebastien and Sariel I loved learning more about. Much like the first book, the backstory and information about the pair is worked in seamlessly. I never had a moment where I felt like I was missing important information, or like I was in information overload. A deft touch.

Overall, this was as enjoyable as the first, though in a different way. The world this series is set in is expanding and getting more interesting as it goes along. The snippet of the prince at the end was an excellent hook for the next book (which lets be real, i'd read anyway)

[Pia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, dinging a star for major grammatical errors with dialogue, and this time it's frustrating enough that it hasn't been caught in the second book that it was harder to see past. If the author is self-editing, they're doing themselves a disservice. If they're *paying* for an editor, they're doing themselves a disservice. I noticed I wasn't the only one who caught the issues with the dialogue last time. Thankfully there was less of it in this novel, but I suspect that was more because of how Devon communicates, and less because the author actually learned from their errors.

I loved Devon. I really have a thing for characters who are just hateful and tangled up and upset and you know, have a ton of childhood trauma that they're just absolutely spitting over. And Sebastien was such a perfect foil to that. I really enjoyed the journey of the demon as well, and the demon's growth throughout the story was something that made this a really enjoyable and unexpected polyamorous journey. I do wonder if some people might take issue with the 'childlike' nature of the demon, but I didn't, it was obviously a non-human creature struggling to understand human culture, with its own adult drives and desires.

Once more, the side characters were really interesting. They were a little less fascinating to me this time around, I think because I was so hooked into Devon, so I cared a little less about Clara and Joaquin and the rest, even though they are very strong, enjoyable characters in their own right. There were lovely worldbuilding details in this that just complemented the world delightfully, such as the idea of kept musicians, and playing songs at solstices, and the significance of music culturally in a new world - I often feel this kind of thing is easily forgotten in fantasy worldbuilding, and it's really lovely to see it here.

Overall, looking forward to the next one in the installment (and fervently hoping it is free from some of the jarring and confusing dialogue errors I've seen in the first two books!)

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Ole Bad Boy🐺💪🍆⛲🔪 Magic

ADULT Historical Alpha Male🐺🍆⛲💪 Demon👹 Fantasy and M/M Romance with BDSM👋👋 and Paranormal Elements👻.

This is a strange book with an older Duke, Sebastien🐺💪🍆⛲🔪, harboring a bloodthirsty demon👹 inside his body since childhood, when his parents and brother were murdered💀.

The demon👹 lives on fear and anger, and can manifest itself as a creature 👹outside of Sebastien's body when it wants to. The power of the demon causes Sebastien🐺💪🍆⛲🔪 to kidnap people, mostly submissive young men. Sebastien🐺💪🍆⛲🔪 has quite a reputation in the surrounding area of this fantasy historical countryside, as people disappear into his creepy castle🏰, an old Abbey, and are never heard from again. The demon👹 likes to torture them to death in their fear, suck out their soul, and have Sebastien🐺💪🍆⛲🔪 cut them into bits.

Lord Devon, a second son, is so filled with anger, he shoots his tormentor in the back at a debauched house party that Sebastien🐺💪🍆⛲🔪 also attends. Believing he has killed 💀the man, he flees, only to be found by Sebastien,🐺💪🍆⛲🔪 while hiding , as the other men are tracking him down.

Sebastian🐺💪🍆⛲🔪 recognizes that Devon's extreme anger, against his molester father and compliant older brother, which has built up over the years, is what the demon👹 inside him Craves.
Devon is now his prisoner!

ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook from Amazon with KU.

This definitely not a book for everyone! I found myself almost returning it in the beginning, because it was somewhat confusing and definitely about evil. However, as it goes along, it seems that the mad and probably insane Sebastian🐺💪🍆⛲🔪 may yet be redeemed by Devon, somehow.....maybe not.....

M/M ADULT situations are graphically described. Apparently women are few and far between in this historical fantasy.

[Audiobook S1ut · Rating 5 out of 5]

FULL FIVE STARS. It's Beauty and the Beast, but the Beast is a duke that's possessed by a demon who feeds on fear and pain. Until the Duke meets a man that's so full of anger, he invites him to live in his home, so that his demon can have his fill and draw out the suffering he craves.

Much like the Beast from the myth, he's never secretive or apologetic about being possessed. He unapologetically explains why this angry, terrified man has been invited to stay in the luxury of his estate.

The rest of the series was good, but this is hands down the best book of them all.

I'd call this an MMM because the Duke has full autonomy from the demon. The Demon is the first one to recognize that the Duke desires this maladjusted young man, the first one to identify that they don't want to use a knife on him. The Demon wants him for something else.. Heat. Desire. Companionship.

I absolutely adored the conversations between the Demon and the Duke. They talk to each other inside the Duke's mind; the Demon is kind of like a terrifyingly astute psychopathic toddler, and the Duke was possessed with the Demon from childhood, so he doesn't know how else to live.

You don't have to read the first book in the series, but there's a lot of context you'll be missing if you skip it. I've seen many people put off by the first book; please remember that it's a fantasy, and in this fantasy world, True masochists exist. While rare, and hard to empathize with, some people in real life approach this boundary, where pain and humiliation can be transformed into pleasure, even to the extreme.

[Trefoil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a polyamory romance of three. One of the characters a demon. Two of the characters dominant and a third character that --thinks-- he is a dominant. I loved this one more than the first book! It was dark and and soft at the same time. The main characters this book focuses on appeared in the first book, Devon Chastain who is the second son of Lord Chastain, Duke Sebastian D'hiver and the demon that possesses his soul.

I'm really loving that the main characters are morally gray, this series is full of characters like these and I'm enjoying it.

Each book in this series features different main characters. The dynamic in the romance between the featured main characters in this book is quite different than the MCs in the  first book. In the first book there was quite a bit of sadism and masochism. In this book, none of the characters are masochists and the character who is a submissive doesn't like pain .

Loving this series so far and going to read book 3 which features Prince Adrien.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This series is looking to be some of the most interesting books I’ve read so far this year! I wasn’t sure how I was going to enjoy Devon and the mad Duke, but this was so dark and captivating, it’s my favorite in the series so far. Surprisingly, this book ended up being just as much about the Dukes demon as it was about Devon and Sebastien. It progressed in a way I was not expecting, but absolutely loved. Also, I enjoy the continued world building and magical lore. Book 3 here I come!

[Amf0001 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rated the first book in the series 4 + but this is a true 5 star for me. I loved the world building and the imagining what demons look like/are. I loved how we got to know the new version of Devon, fleshing him out from the villain of book 1 to the fragile hero of book 2. I loved all the main characters, and there were 3 of them.
And this book had what I missed from book 1, which was a lyricism to the writing. It's just lovely with it's use of words and imagery and well worth spending time with. I'm now galloping through book 3. This is a great world and I'm happy I've found it!

[Boyslove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure how, but book #2 is even better than the first one!

It’s so good that it made it into my all time favorites shelf.


This one isn’t about pain like the first one… which was great cause pain isn’t my thing. But the real star of this book was the demon… good lord did the author do an amazing job writing the personality of the demon… LOVED IT.

If you aren’t interested in book one but book 2 sounds like it’s your thing, I’d say that you could read it without reading book 1. But there will be some references that you’ll need to figure out that are from book 1. It won’t be perfect, but it’s worth it if the alternative is not reading the book… because this one is such a good book.

In fact, if anyone wants a recap of book one to be able to go into book 2, I’d be willing to give you a recap if you dm me.