What do you think?
Rate this book
A Time When Demons
Life as a witch isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
While it’s true that Aeres Cadogan has inherited a host of powers other young women could only dream of harnessing, these abilities come with a heavy the burden of Wicca society.
Wicca society’s got it standards set by an ancient magickal patriarchy. Arranged marriages. Even familial expectations to care for dangerous paranormal anomalies which would otherwise terrorize the mortal population.
Rebellious and head-strong Aeres has managed to avoid these aspects of her society for 19 years.
But one fateful night at the club, a magickal prank goes terribly wrong.
When a man nearly dies, Aeres is plunged into a dark new domain where betrayal and death are all too real. To get out, she must harness her abilities and set her world right once again… all while avoiding an impending marriage and facing off against one of the greatest serial killers the world has ever known.
Trigger warnings :
Death and graphic depictions of murder
Self harm and near-death (for magickal, not suicidal purposes)
Drug and alcohol use, incl. mention of GHB
Temporary non-consensual imprisonment in a small space
While it’s true that Aeres Cadogan has inherited a host of powers other young women could only dream of harnessing, these abilities come with a heavy the burden of Wicca society.
Wicca society’s got it standards set by an ancient magickal patriarchy. Arranged marriages. Even familial expectations to care for dangerous paranormal anomalies which would otherwise terrorize the mortal population.
Rebellious and head-strong Aeres has managed to avoid these aspects of her society for 19 years.
But one fateful night at the club, a magickal prank goes terribly wrong.
When a man nearly dies, Aeres is plunged into a dark new domain where betrayal and death are all too real. To get out, she must harness her abilities and set her world right once again… all while avoiding an impending marriage and facing off against one of the greatest serial killers the world has ever known.
Trigger warnings :
Death and graphic depictions of murder
Self harm and near-death (for magickal, not suicidal purposes)
Drug and alcohol use, incl. mention of GHB
Temporary non-consensual imprisonment in a small space
327 pages, Paperback
Published June 27, 2022
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Holly Rhiannon
4 books11 followersHolly Rhiannon is a Montreal-based author and literary creative whose work centers on dark fiction, fantasy, and the supernatural. After rediscovering her passion for writing upon relocating to Montreal in 2015, she became deeply involved in the literary world and dedicated herself to supporting human-driven storytelling.
As the founder and CEO of The Stygian Society, Holly focuses on publishing beautifully crafted books that prioritize literary talent and uphold the value of human creativity. Her commitment to author-centric publishing also extends to The Writing Craft Podcast, which she co-hosts with fellow author Jenna Streety, where the two explore topics related to writing, witchcraft, and the creative process.
Holly’s debut novel, A Time When Demons (2022), follows a rebellious witch navigating a rigid magickal society. Her contributions to The Stygian Collection (2023), 13 Haunted Nights (2024), and The Stygian Zine (2024–2025) further reflect her passion for dark themes, supernatural lore, and introspective storytelling. Her upcoming fantasy novel, Mortal Things (spring 2026), shifts into historical dark fiction, following a young Irish woman in 1894 whose quiet life unravels after an otherworldly encounter draws her into a conflict between superstition, power, and the boundaries separating the mortal and the unseen.
Beyond her publications, Holly has spent years supporting emerging writers. She served as Montreal’s Municipal Liaison for NaNoWriMo for three years, guiding participants through the writing process and creating educational and motivational content via her YouTube channel. After stepping down from NaNoWriMo in 2024 due to concerns about their stance on generative AI, she founded The Order of the Written Word, a community dedicated to preserving and celebrating human imagination.
As the founder and CEO of The Stygian Society, Holly focuses on publishing beautifully crafted books that prioritize literary talent and uphold the value of human creativity. Her commitment to author-centric publishing also extends to The Writing Craft Podcast, which she co-hosts with fellow author Jenna Streety, where the two explore topics related to writing, witchcraft, and the creative process.
Holly’s debut novel, A Time When Demons (2022), follows a rebellious witch navigating a rigid magickal society. Her contributions to The Stygian Collection (2023), 13 Haunted Nights (2024), and The Stygian Zine (2024–2025) further reflect her passion for dark themes, supernatural lore, and introspective storytelling. Her upcoming fantasy novel, Mortal Things (spring 2026), shifts into historical dark fiction, following a young Irish woman in 1894 whose quiet life unravels after an otherworldly encounter draws her into a conflict between superstition, power, and the boundaries separating the mortal and the unseen.
Beyond her publications, Holly has spent years supporting emerging writers. She served as Montreal’s Municipal Liaison for NaNoWriMo for three years, guiding participants through the writing process and creating educational and motivational content via her YouTube channel. After stepping down from NaNoWriMo in 2024 due to concerns about their stance on generative AI, she founded The Order of the Written Word, a community dedicated to preserving and celebrating human imagination.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 20, 2022
The Review
This was such a rich and beautiful story. The author did an incredible job of balancing world-building with thoughtful character development. The imagery and rich settings the author brought to life on the page felt alive in the reader’s mind and allowed the mythology of the author’s story to feel more natural and engaging overall. The balance didn’t stop there, however, as the author found a great harmony between the horror and fantasy elements of the mythos with the YA drama and emotional character growth that made the reader truly care for this story.
As someone who is greatly interested in different cultures, history, and true magick and Wicca society in my personal life, I was in love with the character development and mythos that the author built up in this novel. The way the magical society of Wicca reflected so many things in life, from family expectations to a more patriarchal society and the need to adapt and grow as a people so everyone feels represented, was so refreshing to see in this type of story. Aeres in particular was such a well-rounded protagonist, and the steady evolution of her character over the course of the story kept me entranced as a reader.
The Verdict
Creative, entertaining, and mesmerizing, author Holly Rhiannon’s “A Time When Demons” is a must-read occult horror and fantasy drama of 2022. The rich chemistry between these characters, along with the chilling atmosphere and shocking twists and turns in the narrative all lead to an explosive conclusion that will leave readers eager and wanting more from this incredible author.
This was such a rich and beautiful story. The author did an incredible job of balancing world-building with thoughtful character development. The imagery and rich settings the author brought to life on the page felt alive in the reader’s mind and allowed the mythology of the author’s story to feel more natural and engaging overall. The balance didn’t stop there, however, as the author found a great harmony between the horror and fantasy elements of the mythos with the YA drama and emotional character growth that made the reader truly care for this story.
As someone who is greatly interested in different cultures, history, and true magick and Wicca society in my personal life, I was in love with the character development and mythos that the author built up in this novel. The way the magical society of Wicca reflected so many things in life, from family expectations to a more patriarchal society and the need to adapt and grow as a people so everyone feels represented, was so refreshing to see in this type of story. Aeres in particular was such a well-rounded protagonist, and the steady evolution of her character over the course of the story kept me entranced as a reader.
The Verdict
Creative, entertaining, and mesmerizing, author Holly Rhiannon’s “A Time When Demons” is a must-read occult horror and fantasy drama of 2022. The rich chemistry between these characters, along with the chilling atmosphere and shocking twists and turns in the narrative all lead to an explosive conclusion that will leave readers eager and wanting more from this incredible author.
February 28, 2023
It has been a long time since I have read a novel that simply tells the story and doesn’t try to overstep its intentions. A quick read that doesn’t force anything but still places the reader within the world developed. The strongest points are its character development, and the use of simple descriptions (like buttering toast) that sound oddly poetic in the context its used, without being overbearing. Though a lot of the first half of the novel is focused on developing characters, I never found myself wondering when the “action” starts. When the murder/mystery story begins to develop further, I was just as much invested in the character’s day-to-day as I was the mystery itself. The pop culture references are very specific to the subgenre—the author either lived a similar lifestyle, or did their research, and the sign of a good author is that the reader shouldn’t be able to tell which it is. Without giving anything away, if you are into Jack the Ripper retellings, with a witchy twist, this is worth checking out.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews