Unbound by Shadows

by Avalon Griffin

Transported to another world, tempted by a dangerous passion.

Selene has never been one to make a fuss. She doesn’t mind it when the barista gets her order wrong, someone cuts her off in traffic, or she has to drop everything to mediate her family’s latest crisis. But when she goes through a portal to the matriarchal dimension of Aurelia, she discovers that being nice doesn’t always pay. Especially when she meets a demon whose smoldering gaze makes her wonder why she ever craved a life so ordinary.

Samael is a vengeance demon with a drive to punish wrongs. Kidnapped from the Underworld and brought to Aurelia as a boy, his demonic tendencies make him an outcast in a realm he can’t escape. When he becomes Selene’s guardian on a quest for a stone that could send her home, he plots to sacrifice her and steal it for himself. But as they travel together, their attraction grows. Until one day, they each must choose between finding escape and surrendering to temptation.

Unbound by Shadows is the first in a fated-mates series that blends paranormal romance and fantasy in a setting rooted in urban mythology. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Ruby Dixon, and Kresley Cole.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Audiobook

386 pages, Paperback

Published February 8, 2023

About the author

Avalon Griffin is an indie author who writes fantasy romance with unique characters, far-away settings, and a healthy dose of heat. She is the author of the novel Unbound by Shadows, and the short story, The Vampire's Library, which was published in Once Upon a Book Club's 2024 Book-Club-Mas anthology. When not writing, she can be found traveling the globe in search of kitschy roadside attractions, off-beat museums, and cryptozoology legends. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and a crew of formerly feral cats.

Reviews

[Silvy · Rating 4 out of 5]

back again with another rendition of sexy shadow demon daddy romance — and this time, he has horns.

this was so cute, guys. it made me giggle, it made me blush, and it made me sweat. all of the warm, fuzzy, tingly feelings.

i asked for this ARC immediately off the description that it was “ACOTAR meets IPB” — and it delivers (more so on the IPB than the ACOTAR, but that’s ok with me).

in this story, we meet selene, a chronic people-pleaser and caretaker to her family, boss, and whiny boyfriend. exhausted. underwhelmed by life itself. uuuuuuuuuntil she finds herself in a magical mystery land ruled by seven queens who, through occasional sightings, have unknowingly influenced all of the cryptozoological theories running rampant on earth. A BIGFOOT QUEEN? A MOTHMAN QUEEN? C’MON. i’m OBSESSED. and truly how refreshing to read about a human who is revered in a magical land instead of reviled (looking at you, every other fantasy book i’ve ever read). it feeds my leo ego to see the FMC treated as something rare and precious. 💅🏻😌

while in aurelia, she meets a demon. a sexy horned shadow demon who pets tiny kittens until they fall asleep. a prince-of-hell demon who voraciously reads erotica and hides it under his couch cushions when people come to visit. a demon of vengeance, who promises to avenge her when her shitty ex-ish boyfriend dies and shows up in the underworld. the DREAM. 🙏🏻

“what was wrong with her? she was romanticizing a creature known for evil, mainly because he was hot and smelled good.”

what a MOOD.

we get forced proximity via magical quest, man-falls-first, touch her and die, worldbuilding that’s fun and fresh (so many species of aurelians!!!!), and a story that keeps you intrigued and giggly until the very last page. there are some delicately-breadcrumbed twists to one of the core mysteries in this story, which makes it all the more fun. i love theorizing.



the first chapter is a bit wooden and slow, but i think that helps to convey the redundant, tired energy of our FMC in the context of her life gaia-side. the story takes off quickly after that, so stick it out!

i thoroughly enjoyed this, and am grateful to avalon for the opportunity to read the ARC, and anxiously awaiting + begging + hoping + pleading for more samlene content in the next book, though i am screaming at who the main characters are in that one — COWBOY DEMON. COWBOY DEMON. I REPEAT. COWBOY DEMON. wild horses could not drag me away.

TLDR, read this when it drops feb 8 for a hefty helping of big-d*ck-slinging shadow demon romance.

[vio]

Alright, here's to actually dipping my toes to underrated fantasy book. I really hope this might get at least a 4 star from me. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻
Big thanks to arcsirens, Avalon Griffin, and her publisher for providing me this beautiful arc for free in exchange for my honest review.

[Redhead Haze · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has an interesting word building, but it constantly feels like it is written for YA, while also having moments that feel NA. I liked the magical system, the ideas and the general story, but it didn't really make me feel what I was reading

[Koisty]

This cover is so pretty!

ALSO I am instantly sold because the magical dimension has the best name, but I am totally biased on this and blame a little Penguin 🐧🐧🐧

[starryeyedjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

That cover is a tad deceptive. I thought I was getting a darker fantasy novel but it's really just cozy fantasy with portal magic and a cinnamon roll demon hottie -- with massive horns! -- who just wants to find his mate and end his loneliness. I mean, there are vampires and Bigfoot and harpies, etc., but it's mostly adorable.

The next book is about the heroine's sister and a cowboy demon, so, yep, I'll be reading that one, too. :)

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by Avalon Griffin, Unbound by Shadows is one of the best contemporary paranormal romances I've read. In fact, the way this moves between realms gives all the fun of both contemporary romances AND a renaissance romances.

It also may be one of the most unique world building experiences I've been on. The layers Ms. Griffin adds to the royal courts, demon realms and otherworldy creatures had to have taken years to come up- if not... well not fair,... your brain is too creative damn you!!

We meet Selene, a woman known for putting herself last. She's been pushed around by her mother her whole life, and her love life is no different. Her rather irksome boyfriend makes her pack for him when he leaves for tour, inventory his merchandise, and all with no gratitude.

While on a hike with her sister, Selene's entire world is turned upside down. Literally.
She accidentally moves through a portal that brings her to Aurelia, a dimension with creatures from her fairytales. Selene learns she will need the help of some of these creatures if she is ever to return to her world. But, after spending some time here, with magic and powerful women, she has to wonder if she likes herself better here...

It doesn't hurt that that the demon Samael, her guide on a quest to return home, happens to be smoldering, broody and sexy as hell.
But not is all as it seems at they make their quest to return her home, and those she thought allies may be using her...

This one has it all: fated mates, vampires, mythology, monster/human love attraction. If you love all things romantasy this is a no brainer. Snatch it up!
Thank you to Blush Audiobooks for the chance to listen to this ALC, it's performed perfectly and kept me on the edge of my seat!

[Adriana | nannersreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Avalon Griffin and Sapphire Ink Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
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Yes, yes, yes! 🗣️ Fantasy romance lovers, Avalon Griffin is here to sweep you off your feet! I loved Unbound by Shadows. I blasted through this book in one sitting! And I would do it again!
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Can I put in a request to be part of a Selene/Samael sandwich? 🤚🏽 Right off the bat I fell in love with both of them, individually and together. They’ve both been through so much and still manage to be kind-hearted and caring. Will they stab you if they have to? Yes, but that’s beside the point 😂 I like that they balance each other out so well and their interactions were 🤌🏽 RIP tent.
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I don’t think I can explain how much I enjoyed the world that Avalon Griffin built here. I find the idea of a matriarchal fantasy land so fucking amazing! Even in series with strong FMCs it’s not something we see often, so I was immediately hooked. And to base the different races on cryptozoology, while still including some of the more popular fantasy races, was such a unique and refreshing twist! I. Loved It. 🙌🏽 I know the next book will focus on another couple, but I’m just glad we’ll get to revisit this world. I’ll come back for it again and again.
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Overall, I found Unbound by Shadows to be a delightful read! If fantasy romance are your bread and butter and you’ve stayed awake until 3am on a YouTube deep dive about cryptids, give Unbound by Shadows a shot! I can’t wait for everyone to visit Aurelia and fall in love like I did 🤍
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Unbound by Shadows is the first book in the upcoming Shadows of Aurelia series. It will be officially released on February 8, 2023! It is available for preorder NOW in ebook and paperback format.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Unbound by Shadows, a regular woman, Selene, falls into a fantastic world, Aurelia, where she finds the roots of many of our legends and folk tales, like the wampus cat, harpies, and Bigfoot. In her quest to return home, she has to travel across the land with a demon with sexy horns, Samael. Sam is a vengeance demon with a tender heart and a traumatic past, who's also looking to go back to his own home, the Underworld. As they travel together, their mutual attraction grows, and they begin to fall in love, but they both face some tough choices before they can be together. Fans of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries will enjoy Unbound by Shadows. It's a fun, sexy read that I could not put down!

[BlissfulBibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The sense of place, world building, and plot were spot on from the very beginning. The characters, both main and side, were engaging and fully formed. The romance was delicious and the fantasy elements were unique in a way that I rarely find these days. The overall pacing of the book was really great though I did feel that the ending was pretty rushed. I would have gladly read many many more pages if that meant the ending/resolution was more evenly paced like the rest of the book. I would love to keep reading about Selene and Samael but it looks like the next book in the series will center on Selene's sister (not mad about that I just want more of Selene and Samael's story).

All in all, I absolutely recommend this book.

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

[shelly.reads.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ This was an easy and delightful read! For anyone who enjoys the “stranger in a strange land” style of portal fantasy in their romance (think “Outlander” portal vibes)—this is for you! Our FMC Selene finds herself pulled from Nashville, Tennessee into the magical realm of Aurelia and shenanigans ensue :)

I picked this up as an ARC due to the comp of “Ice Planet Barbarians meets ACOTAR”—and it does deliver! I would say it leans more in sensibility and writing style to IPB (but set in a magical realm with diverse creatures, not an ice planet!) so fans of IPB who also enjoy Fae romance are going to enjoy this.

There were a few bumps in the execution of the plot (more tell than show at some key times, which felt hurried) but on the whole I had a wonderful time reading this, and found myself smiling a lot and sharing scenes and quotes with friends. So that’s how I landed on 4⭐️’s despite the bumps as it’s a firm entertaining recommend if this is a genre you enjoy—and I’ll be picking up book 2 when it comes out.

Ends in a HEA and book 2 appears to be an interconnected standalone.

This almost felt like a cosy fantasy romance, but for the cosy purists the stakes are probably too high! But it certainly has a warm and cosy vibe woven through.

A few quotes/moments I highlighted:

“Remember your anger, sweet one! There is nothing more powerful than a female’s fury. Feel it, use it!”

“Fear turned to anger. Anger deepened to rage. Rage grew into fury. It flowed through her veins like lava. Burning her from the inside with its intensity. She was tired of being needed. Tired of giving others her time, her expertise, her energy, her attention. Always without ever getting anything in return.”

“When the full effect of her words hit, the surge of lust nearly sent him to his knees.”

“Shame at his ineptitude washed over him, and he let out a howl of rage.”

“Will you dance?”

And there are several demon equivalents of the pride and prejudice “hand stretch” moment (IYKYK) that had me squeal-giggling! And I loved that the FMC was in her 30’s—more of this please!

Releases 8 February 2023—get on it!

[Laura Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because Ruby Dixon was identified as a comp author. This is a fun portal fantasy, but nothing like Ruby Dixon. I liked the creativity of the world. The strongest part of the story for me was the cool twist in the courtly scene after Selene arrived -- it was a great shift and really amped the excitement. The reason for my 3-star is because of the villain. The character of Zaybris kind of disappointed me, and the shift into Zaybris's point of view was a little odd. I recommend this story for people who are looking for a more adult fairy story, interested in some cool fantasy elements (who wouldn't want to go camping like Selene does!!!), and want a low-conflict traditional romance story.

I received and advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[✨ Wendy ✨]

Unbound by Shadows by Avalon Griffin

Format: Audiobook - ALC
Narrator: Aileen Bishop
Genre: Fantasy

Unbound by Shadows is a Fantasy Romance that follows a demon who was taken from the underworld and his fated mate, a human.

I ended up DNF’ing this audio. NOT because it’s bad or anything specific, other than the genre. It’s just not for me. I feel horrible even leaving THIS review however I was asked to any way, so here we are.

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Selene has spent her whole life acting as the peacemaker for those in her life - watching out for her younger siblings when their workaholic father was gone and their mother was drunk, bending over backwards to help her boyfriend with his music career, etc. With her boyfriend having just proposed that they take a "break" from each other while he goes on tour, Selene thinks she'll have a relaxing weekend to herself. That's interrupted by her sister, Cass, deciding that they needed to go on a sudden roadtrip to Rubgy, Tennessee. Selene, as usual, is unable to say no. The trip turns into more than she bargained for when she's suddenly transported to another world, Aurelia.

She's told that the only way she'll be able to go home is if she and a demon bodyguard, Samael, visit a vampire named Zaybris, and ask him for the magical stone he has that's capable of transporting her back home (Zaybris owes Thema, the queen who found Selene, a favor). What Thema doesn't tell Selene is that this plan is actually intended to help Thema find her missing sister, Queen Lilith of the Goblyns. Samael's plan is to use the stone to get himself back to the Underworld, the home he was taken from as a child. However things turn out for Thema and Samael, there are no plans to get Selene back to her own world.

As Selene and Samael travel together, they find themselves drawn to each other, and Samael realizes that Selene is his mate. But what about his plans to go back to the Underworld, a place humans only enter after they die? And what will Selene do when she finds out the truth behind Thema and Samael's plans?

Part of the premise of this world is that urban legends, stories, and myths about beings like the Loch Ness Monster, Mothman, the Jersey Devil, Bigfoot, etc. are all various sightings, in our world, of Aurelian queens. Thema is mistaken for the Wampus Cat, the Black Beast of Exmoor, and the Ozark Howler. I don't know that this information deserved a whole page at the end listing out the various queens and the urban legends/stories they're responsible for, but maybe it'll become a more prominent part of the series later on.

Although I never grew very attached to Selene and Samael as a couple, I did at least think that this was an interesting take on the whole "fated mated" thing. Samael thought Selene was the missing piece that allowed him to finally attain control over the rage that, as a vengeance demon, occasionally took him over. Selene, understandably, had concerns about this viewpoint - she'd spent her whole life denying her own interests and desires in favor of helping those in her life through their own issues, and she didn't want to be the person responsible for Samael's ability to be calm. Part of their romance involved gradually learning that they'd gained strengths from each other but weren't dependent upon each other.

A note for folks interested in the trope: this has "virgin hero." In addition to his lack of experience with sex, Samael also felt less emotionally mature than Selene, which I wasn't really wild about and which I suppose made sense considering the lack of demon parental figures in most of his life.

The last scene with Zaybris seemed a bit too quick and easy, and Selene and Samael's relationship developments near the end seemed to be missing something, but overall I liked this more than I was worried I might. The next book in the series, starring Selene's sister, isn't out yet, but I'm definitely interested in reading it. That said, I'm hoping that her reaction to Selene's decision at the end of this book won't get brushed aside as her being overly worried - if anything, I thought her reaction showed the most thought and genuine care out of everyone in the family.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

***4.5/5 Stars***

With adventure, love and deceit laced throughout the pages, I never wanted to stop listening to Unbound by Shadows!   This forced proximity, paranormal romance was so much fun!  It had multiple dimensions, a brooding demon, and a wayward human.  So if you’re looking for a new story to get devour, definitely add this one to your tbr!

A demon—a huge, fearsome creature straight from the Underworld—was trembling under her touch. Holding her body against his as if he would die without it.

Watching Selene’s resilience in a brand new world, had me cheering her on!  She felt so bogged down and controlled in her old life, so I loved that she was starting  anew.  She was smart, endearing, and it was entertaining seeing everything unfurl through her eyes while she was in the Realm of Aurelia.  But my favorite moments with Selene were when she was with Sam. I loved that she was able to find her voice, and true love too.

He felt a pull—deep and instinctual. A sudden overwhelming need to indulge her. To please and satisfy. To be the male, the only male, that could give her what she desired. It was disturbing… but undeniable.

We got this story from both of their povs, and I loved listening to all of Sam’s thoughts.  He was a shadow demon who enjoyed reading erotica, so of course I loved him right away!  He was protective, broody, deadly, and also could be oh so sweet.  While his haunting past formed him into the demon he was now, he still had growing to do too.  Right along with Selene!

“Remember your anger, sweet one! There is nothing more powerful than a female’s fury. Feel it, use it!”

With steamy kisses that go astray, perilous moments, found family, and a wonderful ending, Unbound by Shadows was a paranormal that you can get lost in.  I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did such a fabulous job making this story come alive!  She made the world completely disappear around me!  Also, I absolutely adored some of the characters we met, like Eldridge and Brunie.  They were my favorites!  They brought out sides of Sam that I was clambering to see, and there were so many memorable moments with them!  And while this story ends in a happily for now, you can tell there are still more adventures for both Sam and Selene to go on together.  I can’t wait to see what happens next!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Let me start by saying that you get a lot in this book. There are tons of tropes hit, lots of creatures, world building, deminsions, and lore to discover. All of that in one, just under 400 pages, book. It can be a lot to wrap your head around at points, and I personally think it would have benefited from being longer or even being two books instead of one.

The FMC in this book is in her 30s, and I can't say enough how much of a relief it is to see that becoming a bigger thing in fantasy. You would expect at that age to get a woman fully set in her views and knowing who she is. That's not what you get with Selene. Her family dynamic plays into this, so it is explained, but as a few other reviewers have already said, it does leave this feeling more like a YA book.

The backstory of this one definitely has darker elements, and you do get some fights to keep you on the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed Avalon's play on vampires here because I haven't seen it done quite like this before. Their deterioration and the wildness this leads to for some of them adds an interesting twist to this story, as does how they came from Gaia to Aurelia and the reasons why.

I expected the villain to be... more. Especially since we get several chapters from his perspective. But he was just a delusional, obsessed man, which I suppose plays right into the human side of him. His portion of things felt very lackluster and seemed to wrap up with too much ease after all the buildup for it, but that's all in personal preference.

Overall, I enjoyed these characters, even when they were doing things that had me like, "Are you for real right now? You thought that was a good idea?" The book, even with the darker elements it touches on, has a light and airy feel to it and definitely leans more towards cozy fantasy. Is it worth pushing past your hatred of third-person perspective to give it a try? Yes, and I'm curious to see what Avalon does with this world in the next book.

I listened to this one on audiobook, and I thought the narrator, Aileen Bishop, did a great job. Her voice transitions from character to character were smooth and made it obvious who was speaking even without the speech tags. I would happily listen to anything she narrates in the future.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, especially when a cycling race is a little more boring than expected, I like to browse through BookSirens to find new books to read. One of the books I found that way is this book. Promoted as a romance for Sarah J. Maas lovers it sounded perfect to me. I liked it even more that in this case the heroine was transported to a fantasy world, which always makes it a little easier to fantasize as a reader. I therefore enthusiastically grabbed my review-copy from BookSirens.

I needed a little time to really get into this book and that's mostly because the plot of this book feels quite thin. There is a plot but it's clear that the plot exists to make the fated mates romance possible. The focus is on the romance and it takes a little while before the characters involved in the romance really start to interact with each other. For me the plot could have been a little more complicated and a little more detailed, but the further I read the more fun I had.

What I especially liked is that this romance has the right kind of tension. It takes an awfully long time before something happens between these two characters, but the build up towards this moment really makes you long for more and when the moment finally happens it's even better because of all the waiting. I also liked that the characters communicated, about their dreams and wants and longings. Maybe not always in the right way, but at least always in the honest way.

The heroine was however my favorite part of the story. And that's mostly because she grows and learns so much during this story! She's the kind of person always catering the needs of others. Her siblings, her parents, her boyfriend. During the story she learns that it's really worth it to stand up for yourself, to protect yourself and to not be responsible for everyone else's happiness. Her family might disagree, but I prefer the person she has become in the end.

I will certainly keep an eye out for the next novella and novel in this series!

[Serpina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had just decided to stop doing ARCs and return to my existing TBR when I saw this gorgeous cover on Booksprout. The summary sounded fun and I gave it a shot. And thank goodness, I did! This book was amazing <3

It follows Selene, a regular Tennessee woman, who gets sucked into another realm, Aurelia. There she is used as bait to find the missing seventh queen of this world while thinking that she is going to meet someone who can help her back to Gaia, the human realm.
She has to travel with Samael, a Vengeance Demon, who is also from a different realm and is stuck in Aurelia because he was kidnapped as a child and cannot go back to the underworld.
Weeks of traveling, building attractions, and, in the end, betrayal and broken hearts. (Spoilers: there is a happy end for almost everyone).

I loved everything in this book. The setting, the characters, the writing, the development, and most of all, the inexperienced demon who reads smut romances in his past time.

There is no cliffhanger and the next book is focusing on a different couple.

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

[Jillian Gatchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

*30 Year Old Heroine
*He Falls First
*Unique Magic System
*Slow Burn
*Force Proximity
*Vampires, Demons, Wraths and more!
*Touch He and Die

This book was a completely unexpected, beautifully written book!

Unbound by Shadows completely wrecked me...in the best possible way. From the very first chapter, Avalon Griffin pulls you into a world where shadows have teeth, the magic is seductive, and the romance is an exquisite slow-burn that scorches by the end.

The heroine? Fierce, flawed, and impossible not to root for. The love interest? Brooding, powerful, and hiding more secrets than the shadows themselves. Their chemistry? Off the charts angsty and delicious.

You can feel the vibes of forced proximity, found family, morally gray love interest, and “touch her and die” energy. If you like books that feel like dancing with danger and kissing it anyway, this one’s for you.

I was really happy with the ending and kind of felt that I still had answers, and then found out there is a second book! I cannot wait. I would also recommend listening to the audiobook as it was so captivating! I cannot wait to see where the story continues!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has so much to love about it, but for me personally, what I loved most was that our heroine is in her 30’s, and is a parentified eldest daughter. Those are two things I really identified with, among her other traits and I felt SEEN.

In this story, Selene (our FMC) falls through a portal into a magical realm, and for the first time in her life, is suddenly free of all her obligations. But of course, all she can think about is getting back home, and so agrees to go on a quest to find a missing queen & a magical stone that can transport her back.

Along with her on this quest is Samael, a smut reading demon who is on a quest of his own to get back to his realm in the underworld. Adventure & dangers abound, not to mention the blossoming feelings between the unlikely pair.

This was a sweet & cozy romantasy with a hint of spice. I loved the characters, and this fantasy real that was so different from any other that I’ve read about.

The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read for me was that I needed more spice. But that’s a me problem, because booktok has corrupted my brain irrevocably 🤪😂

Thank you to Blush Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest & unbiased opinions.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this book!

We get to follow Selene when she falls through a portal into a new dimension. The magical land are ruled by 7 QUEENS, all different and may or may not be the reason for some of the myths on Gaia. Like Bigfoot🤫 Selene gets to know how a vampire will be able to help her home again, he posses a stone that makes it possible to travel between dimensions. Everything isn’t as it seems but she doesn’t need to go on this adventure alone. By her side she has the dark, sexy and protective demon Sam. And despite his strong feelings of vengeance, he has a soft side to him, like cradle a kitten in his hand.

I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. It has both the romance and the plot! Yes I was rooting for our main characters from the early beginning🫠 Don’t forget Eldrige and Brunie!! They deserve the world🥹 Thank you Avalon for giving me the opportunity to read this book before publication!

[Carissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 81%

The blurb and cover initially grabbed my interest, but thats where it ended for me. After starting book, I had a foreboding sense I wasn't going to finish and frankly I'm shocked I lasted as long as I did. The writing in my opinion needed more work and unfortunately felt juvenile to me. The story does go into the adult theme, but the plot I felt was all over the place. Different realms/plains, human h and demon H and then enemy vampires? The mated bond between Selene and Sam was very surface level. I think too much was going on, but it also progressed quite quickly in the beginning. This one sadly wasn't for me.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuinely wonderful read! Although it's written in third person, it felt like a 1st person read because you still get to view things from each character's perspective. Selene was a wonderful and charming character that really grew to stand up for herself and not take anything from anybody and it was beautiful to watch her develop!
Samael is my perfect book boyfriend. Demon, Possessive, Shadows, Horns, Grouchy but a total cinnamon roll inside! Getting to know him deeper as the book goes was fantastic!
Not FILLED with spice but the few scenes were great quality.
Great plot. Great world + world building. A 5 star read I'm happy to recommend!

[jen’s white noise · Rating 4 out of 5]

She's a human who got a little tired on a hike and fell into a fantasy realm. He's a demon with horns and a hot body to go with them. They get teamed up on an adventure (she thinks) but she's really just being dragged along as bait.

The world building in this story was fast and easy to understand. There are a myriad of fantasy characters that were all interesting, and the troubles they get into are exciting and detailed. This is a fantasy romance that is easy to read, and moves quickly. It does kind of read like YA but that's not a bad thing even for those of us who don't usually read YA. There is yearning and spice but not so much that it takes away from the plot. Loved the pacing of this book.

The audiobook is narrated by Aileen Bishop. Narration was so good - her different voices are consistent and her pacing was excellent. I hung on every word and she kept me engaged.

I received the ALC for this book for free and my review is voluntary.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. The world building is well done, descriptive without being so extensive and detailed that I get exhausted. A good balance between description and action and plot, with character development and growth thrown in for good measure, but no one element seems to drag the story down too much at a time (something I’ve run into in other books set almost entirely in other worlds, realms, or dimensions.)

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was a little slow, but hang in there, it gets better. I was so anxious near the end of the book! Selene was still on Earth and we didn't know what was happening with Samael! I can;t wait to see what happens in the next book.

Selene falls through a portal and ends up in another dimension led by women. All she can think of is getting back to her family. The queen of Aurelia offers to help her locate a stone that can transport her back to Gaia.

Samael is a vengeance demon who was kidnapped from the Underworld and brought to Aurelia as a boy. His appearance and demonic tendencies have made him an outcast in a land he can't escape.

He is tasked with being Selene's guardian as she travels to find the stone she needs to return home. What she doesn't know is that the queen and Samael have different plans.

But as they travel together, their attraction grows. And Samael is having second thoughts.

Thanks so much to the author and Blush Audiobooks for this ARC to review.

[Wiccan Gal · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. That's how I am going to start this one. I imagined things that I never thought about before. Ok. Very hot in spots, very erotic. Definitely gets the mind going.

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

[Jason Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was astounded at the world-building early on, giving me a clear and reliable picture of the setting. Many fantasy novels struggle with this, adding significant bits later on. The characters--both main protagonists and secondary characters--were highly engaging and kept me riveted to the page for the journey. The overall plot is excellent (which I will not divulge here). In short, it is an excellent novel. This comes from someone who does not normally read romance, and I found the writing excellent, the storyline appealing, and yes, I was rooting for the two protagonists to get together. Gotta love a slow burn. Highly recommended.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audio was everything! I couldn’t help but keep thinking about how it was a Wizard of Oz retelling and I was here for it! Selene was an amazing FMC and Samael was EVERYTHING. To me, it didn’t matter that he was a demon because his passion was undeniable. Aurelia sounds like a beautiful place and I only want to go there if I can 😂. The complexity of this book was insane and I was here for it. Don’t miss out on this book because it’s everywhere!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic Audiobook. I enjoyed the setting, the plot, and the characters.

Selene and Sam were great. Though they had an instant attraction the angst of the denial of them coming together made it better. The kind nature of Selene was another thing I enjoyed about this book. No matter who she met she was open-minded although quite nervous. (Wouldn't you be if you met a Lycan or Harpy?)

My Rating
4☆
1.5🌶

Tropes/Themes
Fated Mates
Great Quest
Lost Queen
Fun Side Characters
Found Family
Multi-Realmed Universe
Kind and Compassionate FMC
Fiery Protective MMC
Fun Twist on Mythical Creatures

[Alecia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited for a 30-something FMC. Lots of potential, but anticlimactic.