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Hierarchy of the Unseen
Demons and humans are locked in endless struggle.
This is an intrinsic fact of nature. The demons believe their salvation lies in bleeding humanity of the life-force called light, while the humans are equally determined to defend it.
Within the sprawling empire of Lu-nevet, the two sides have settled into an uneasy peace, employing less violent tactics. But this peace can only hold for so long.
The state religion of Lukeira sends devout demon hunter Mitzli deep into the borderlands to bless the victims of demonic pranks. Once they arrive, however, they find unexpected signs of violence. They team up with irreligious hunter Veleiry to investigate—and the destruction the two uncover is an ominous sign of what’s to come.
Meanwhile, shiftless demon Kor falls under the scrutiny of his vampiric commander, Mant—meaning he must actually do the work of tormenting humans, rather than taking credit from his now-ex-partner Yez. Slowly, he begins to realize that the demons’ strategy is shifting, and may be heading down a path he cannot follow.
Mitzli and Kor will have to betray their respective factions if they want to put an end to the violence before it escalates. But the two of them, both outcasts among their own kind, are the only ones who know the truth. How can they protect the world if no one will listen?
This is an intrinsic fact of nature. The demons believe their salvation lies in bleeding humanity of the life-force called light, while the humans are equally determined to defend it.
Within the sprawling empire of Lu-nevet, the two sides have settled into an uneasy peace, employing less violent tactics. But this peace can only hold for so long.
The state religion of Lukeira sends devout demon hunter Mitzli deep into the borderlands to bless the victims of demonic pranks. Once they arrive, however, they find unexpected signs of violence. They team up with irreligious hunter Veleiry to investigate—and the destruction the two uncover is an ominous sign of what’s to come.
Meanwhile, shiftless demon Kor falls under the scrutiny of his vampiric commander, Mant—meaning he must actually do the work of tormenting humans, rather than taking credit from his now-ex-partner Yez. Slowly, he begins to realize that the demons’ strategy is shifting, and may be heading down a path he cannot follow.
Mitzli and Kor will have to betray their respective factions if they want to put an end to the violence before it escalates. But the two of them, both outcasts among their own kind, are the only ones who know the truth. How can they protect the world if no one will listen?
440 pages, Paperback
Published June 21, 2023
3 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
B. Pigeon
8 books23 followersLGBTQ fantasy writer ~ 1/2 of Estraven Homosexual Literature Society
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 7, 2023
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for sending me this Ebook Arc.
Wow. It’s not easy to come up with a new fantasy world full of new lore and it feel so fresh and engaging but the author has managed just this. Two opposites forced to work together in spite of everything they believe and save the world. Mitzli and Kor made for a great comedic duo. I really hope we get some more of these characters in a sequel because I feel that there is a lot more we could see these characters doing.
If you like queer books like priory of the orange tree with a rich lore of its world then I really recommend this read
4⭐️
Wow. It’s not easy to come up with a new fantasy world full of new lore and it feel so fresh and engaging but the author has managed just this. Two opposites forced to work together in spite of everything they believe and save the world. Mitzli and Kor made for a great comedic duo. I really hope we get some more of these characters in a sequel because I feel that there is a lot more we could see these characters doing.
If you like queer books like priory of the orange tree with a rich lore of its world then I really recommend this read
4⭐️
June 20, 2023
B. Pigeon and Fell A. Marsh spin an immersive and page turning fantasy with Hierarchy of the Unseen.
I don’t even really know how to start with this book? I loved it, and I loved the dual POVs of Mitzli and Kor, and it was such a pleasure to slowly get to know the world through both of their eyes.
Mitzli is a half-vampire demon hunter who is pious (to a fault), while Kor is a high ranking demon who’s determined to do everything his way (the fun way). Caught on opposite sides of an eternal struggle between light and shadows—humans and demons—Mitzli and Kor find themselves at odds with everything they know and must work together to untangle the mess they’ve been thrown into.
I loved the world building of this so much? It was so lived in and immersive, and I loved the little bits of lore we gradually were able to find out. It was especially interesting to find the conflicting beliefs of what was True that Mitzli and the demon hunters had, versus what Kor knew as true. I also adored the casual queerness sprinkled in, from various jewelry denoting gender identity to Mitzli’s absolute shock at finding out demons were assigned genders.
I also always will revel in any opportunity I can to read about nonbinary characters in 3rd person pov because it’s so rare to see they pronouns (or neos, for that matter) used so frequently on-page, but it’s always so refreshing to me!
This was a slow read for me until it wasn’t. I took my time with the first half of the book, but then I finished the second half within a couple of days as it picked up and the stakes grew higher. There were so many fun twists, and while I predicted some of them, it was still a fun read that I was immersed in!
Huge thanks to the authors for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review! (My copy is so heavily annotated lol)
I don’t even really know how to start with this book? I loved it, and I loved the dual POVs of Mitzli and Kor, and it was such a pleasure to slowly get to know the world through both of their eyes.
Mitzli is a half-vampire demon hunter who is pious (to a fault), while Kor is a high ranking demon who’s determined to do everything his way (the fun way). Caught on opposite sides of an eternal struggle between light and shadows—humans and demons—Mitzli and Kor find themselves at odds with everything they know and must work together to untangle the mess they’ve been thrown into.
I loved the world building of this so much? It was so lived in and immersive, and I loved the little bits of lore we gradually were able to find out. It was especially interesting to find the conflicting beliefs of what was True that Mitzli and the demon hunters had, versus what Kor knew as true. I also adored the casual queerness sprinkled in, from various jewelry denoting gender identity to Mitzli’s absolute shock at finding out demons were assigned genders.
I also always will revel in any opportunity I can to read about nonbinary characters in 3rd person pov because it’s so rare to see they pronouns (or neos, for that matter) used so frequently on-page, but it’s always so refreshing to me!
This was a slow read for me until it wasn’t. I took my time with the first half of the book, but then I finished the second half within a couple of days as it picked up and the stakes grew higher. There were so many fun twists, and while I predicted some of them, it was still a fun read that I was immersed in!
Huge thanks to the authors for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review! (My copy is so heavily annotated lol)
July 1, 2023
Thank you to the authors and publisher for providing an ARC so that I can write an honest review.
Overall, this was amazing! This is a world in which demons and humans coexist in an eternal struggle. While demons seek to drain humanity of its light and humans fiercely defend it. Within the borders of the empire, a fragile peace has settled but now it hangs on the precipice and only our two main characters seem to notice that it is happening. Mitzli and Kor, both outcasts among their kind, become unlikely allies, and to prevent further violence from consuming their world, they must defy their respective factions. However, convincing others to listen and join their cause proves to be quite difficult.
One of the notable aspects of this book is its ability to balance high stakes with a cozy atmosphere. I was fully immersed in this comfortable but engaging narrative. The main characters, both charming and nuanced in different ways, contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment of the story. Moreover, the queernormative world and its genderfluidity add a refreshing and authentic dimension. The descriptive writing style also deserves special praise. The vivid descriptions and prose effortlessly transported me to the various locations within the story.
Typically, I enjoy books with a little more emotion, but this was charming and comfortable while managing to keep my rapt attention. Really wonderful story.
Overall, this was amazing! This is a world in which demons and humans coexist in an eternal struggle. While demons seek to drain humanity of its light and humans fiercely defend it. Within the borders of the empire, a fragile peace has settled but now it hangs on the precipice and only our two main characters seem to notice that it is happening. Mitzli and Kor, both outcasts among their kind, become unlikely allies, and to prevent further violence from consuming their world, they must defy their respective factions. However, convincing others to listen and join their cause proves to be quite difficult.
One of the notable aspects of this book is its ability to balance high stakes with a cozy atmosphere. I was fully immersed in this comfortable but engaging narrative. The main characters, both charming and nuanced in different ways, contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment of the story. Moreover, the queernormative world and its genderfluidity add a refreshing and authentic dimension. The descriptive writing style also deserves special praise. The vivid descriptions and prose effortlessly transported me to the various locations within the story.
Typically, I enjoy books with a little more emotion, but this was charming and comfortable while managing to keep my rapt attention. Really wonderful story.
May 27, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley & the authors for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 / 5 Stars
CW: Death, Arson, Emotional Abuse, Violence
Sometimes you come across a book, that you havent had on your radar at all, because not everyone and their mother is talking about it. And you think:
"sounds interesting, let's check it out"
And then, once you're done, you're like:
Okay... WHY ISNT EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER TALKING ABOUT IT?!
Because that's how I felt after and while reading this one.
The ending leaves me itching and scratchig my need for m o r e ! of this world and these characters. Because I still have so many unanswered questions! So much desire to read at least 200 pages more of Kor & Mitzli - even though, Kor was probably my favourit. Nothing against Mitzli, they were an interesting character as well. Just liked Kor more. I hope there is a sequel. I kind of need one.
We follow both of them on their own for a while & at one point they are going to the same place & I'm thinking, boy oh boy, it's time for their paths to cross. Just for the authors to wink and say nope, not yet. Their actual meeting was way better than I hoped and the way they worked together was just as great. You could tell they ended up forming a friendship and mutual respect somewhere along the way.
I wasnt sure if they would also end up becoming lovers , but Im kind of glad they didn't. I'm open to it if - please - there is a sequel, but it would have felt rushed in this one. Especially because of the whole Yez thing.
Worldbuilding is certainly a highlight as well. I dont tend to have high standards in that regard but somehow , it feels like this book managed to top my almost non-existent expectations as well.
This book is casually diverse. As in, yes, both MCs are queer, but no, homo- & transphobia are not part of this book. Discrimination sure, but not because your bananas are dueling with each other.
Other things this book does amazingly:
- emotional manipulation/gaslighting
- discrimination
- magic
The book & religion are also things I could talk about. As in, the demons gave me cult vibes , while the Luketai weren't really much better either. I like that we never get that confirmation on who - if any - of them are having the right idea about their gods.
Final thoughts:
The book offers many different things one can enjoy and I feel like I adored all of them.
4.5 / 5 Stars
CW: Death, Arson, Emotional Abuse, Violence
Sometimes you come across a book, that you havent had on your radar at all, because not everyone and their mother is talking about it. And you think:
"sounds interesting, let's check it out"
And then, once you're done, you're like:
Okay... WHY ISNT EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER TALKING ABOUT IT?!
Because that's how I felt after and while reading this one.
The ending leaves me itching and scratchig my need for m o r e ! of this world and these characters. Because I still have so many unanswered questions! So much desire to read at least 200 pages more of Kor & Mitzli - even though, Kor was probably my favourit. Nothing against Mitzli, they were an interesting character as well. Just liked Kor more. I hope there is a sequel. I kind of need one.
We follow both of them on their own for a while & at one point they are going to the same place & I'm thinking, boy oh boy, it's time for their paths to cross. Just for the authors to wink and say nope, not yet. Their actual meeting was way better than I hoped and the way they worked together was just as great. You could tell they ended up forming a friendship and mutual respect somewhere along the way.
I wasnt sure if they would also end up becoming lovers , but Im kind of glad they didn't. I'm open to it if - please - there is a sequel, but it would have felt rushed in this one. Especially because of the whole Yez thing.
Worldbuilding is certainly a highlight as well. I dont tend to have high standards in that regard but somehow , it feels like this book managed to top my almost non-existent expectations as well.
This book is casually diverse. As in, yes, both MCs are queer, but no, homo- & transphobia are not part of this book. Discrimination sure, but not because your bananas are dueling with each other.
Other things this book does amazingly:
- emotional manipulation/gaslighting
- discrimination
- magic
The book & religion are also things I could talk about. As in, the demons gave me cult vibes , while the Luketai weren't really much better either. I like that we never get that confirmation on who - if any - of them are having the right idea about their gods.
Final thoughts:
The book offers many different things one can enjoy and I feel like I adored all of them.
June 10, 2023
I didn’t realize that I was missing cozy, queer fantasy that maintains its coziness while still have existential, possibly apocalyptic, dread as the primary character compulsion… and then this wonderful novel came along and I realized what a lack I had in my life!
Right at the top it is important to say that it is refreshing to have fantasy where queerness is normalized and not commented on. None of the plot revolves around hate or ignorance-based trauma, and queerness is not used to set characters apart but instead as just one of many characteristics that define them.
As for the characters, they are the highlight of the story. We have two central characters that both feel distinct and real and filled with their own joys and strengths and neuroses. It is easy for odd-couple stories to go too broad, and make both characters perfect, exaggerated foils of one another, and that doesn’t happen here. The two have their own motivations and identities that change and develop and grow as the story progresses, which was great. The writing was comfortable, quickly falling into a rhythm of the chapters alternating points of view, which did help to keep things moving and give us the chance to consistently be looking at each situation from two different perspectives. The story wasn’t earth-shatteringly novel, but it explored ideas of faith and spirituality and meaning in ways that was interesting, and was built within an interesting world that felt fully-realized and full of potential. The writing and the story were both strong, but it did feel a little bit meandering in the middle. Although we do see the see the results of a moment of violence, and there are a few brief moments of violence depicted, this is definitely a cozy story, especially considering the subject matter and where different storytellers could have chosen to go with this plot (which may or may not involve the potential end of existence as both human and demon-kind know it). And sometimes in cozy, comfortable stories it is easy to fall into stretches where there really isn’t very much conflict to compel either the characters or the readers, and it is similarly lose sight of the ultimate stakes, which were actually really high but never felt that critical. I would love to go on hundreds of more pages of adventures with these two, but there has to be more actual things happening to and around them.
The novel ended in a place that is obviously designed to be continued in future novels, and that is exciting. There has been some good world and relationship building that I am excited to see explored more fully. I appreciate the comfort of the cozy/existential dread duality, but would like to cut out some of the meandering and have more actual adventures/complications, so we can feel like there is actual peril and our characters have actual emotional, intellectual, and physical skills that let them navigate those obstacles.
I want to thank the authors, the publisher EHLS, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Right at the top it is important to say that it is refreshing to have fantasy where queerness is normalized and not commented on. None of the plot revolves around hate or ignorance-based trauma, and queerness is not used to set characters apart but instead as just one of many characteristics that define them.
As for the characters, they are the highlight of the story. We have two central characters that both feel distinct and real and filled with their own joys and strengths and neuroses. It is easy for odd-couple stories to go too broad, and make both characters perfect, exaggerated foils of one another, and that doesn’t happen here. The two have their own motivations and identities that change and develop and grow as the story progresses, which was great. The writing was comfortable, quickly falling into a rhythm of the chapters alternating points of view, which did help to keep things moving and give us the chance to consistently be looking at each situation from two different perspectives. The story wasn’t earth-shatteringly novel, but it explored ideas of faith and spirituality and meaning in ways that was interesting, and was built within an interesting world that felt fully-realized and full of potential. The writing and the story were both strong, but it did feel a little bit meandering in the middle. Although we do see the see the results of a moment of violence, and there are a few brief moments of violence depicted, this is definitely a cozy story, especially considering the subject matter and where different storytellers could have chosen to go with this plot (which may or may not involve the potential end of existence as both human and demon-kind know it). And sometimes in cozy, comfortable stories it is easy to fall into stretches where there really isn’t very much conflict to compel either the characters or the readers, and it is similarly lose sight of the ultimate stakes, which were actually really high but never felt that critical. I would love to go on hundreds of more pages of adventures with these two, but there has to be more actual things happening to and around them.
The novel ended in a place that is obviously designed to be continued in future novels, and that is exciting. There has been some good world and relationship building that I am excited to see explored more fully. I appreciate the comfort of the cozy/existential dread duality, but would like to cut out some of the meandering and have more actual adventures/complications, so we can feel like there is actual peril and our characters have actual emotional, intellectual, and physical skills that let them navigate those obstacles.
I want to thank the authors, the publisher EHLS, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 21, 2023
Hierarchy of the Unseen is a page-turning tale about power, corruption, and maintaining existential peace -- though it somehow achieves a cozy fantasy feel.
We follow two characters who are outcasts in different ways. Mitzli, a half-human/half-vampire, tries to keep their demonic impulses in check while hunting demons as part of a religious order. Kor, a shapeshifter demon, has misgivings about actually killing humans rather than tormenting them for fun.
There is much to appreciate about this novel. The world building is deliberate without exposition dumps, making for an immersive and comfortable read. I thought the authors handled physical embodiments of magic in interesting ways and used the "unlikely travel companions" trope well. There was also fascinating commentary on how those who maintain social hierarchies pass down creation myths that serve their own purposes.
I struggled a bit to understand the character motivations, which detracted somewhat from my investment in the plot twists that were clearly high-stakes for the characters. I wanted some more backstory on the main characters and antagonists.
One of my favorite parts of this story was its approach to gender. It takes place in a queer-normative society without a rigid gender binary; Mitzli wears assorted jewelry to express their gender identity and is shocked to learn that demons assign gender at birth. I love that these are world-building and character details, they’re not plot points -- there are no moments of queer phobia or transphobia. Rather, understandings of queerness and gender expansiveness add layers to an already rich world.
Finally, I really liked the writing style. Some contemporary "cozy" fantasies use language that is too modern, but the empire of Lu-nevet really felt like a world unto itself -- it almost reminded me of something out of a novel by Ursula K. Le Guin or Octavia Butler.
My thanks to the authors and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.
We follow two characters who are outcasts in different ways. Mitzli, a half-human/half-vampire, tries to keep their demonic impulses in check while hunting demons as part of a religious order. Kor, a shapeshifter demon, has misgivings about actually killing humans rather than tormenting them for fun.
There is much to appreciate about this novel. The world building is deliberate without exposition dumps, making for an immersive and comfortable read. I thought the authors handled physical embodiments of magic in interesting ways and used the "unlikely travel companions" trope well. There was also fascinating commentary on how those who maintain social hierarchies pass down creation myths that serve their own purposes.
I struggled a bit to understand the character motivations, which detracted somewhat from my investment in the plot twists that were clearly high-stakes for the characters. I wanted some more backstory on the main characters and antagonists.
One of my favorite parts of this story was its approach to gender. It takes place in a queer-normative society without a rigid gender binary; Mitzli wears assorted jewelry to express their gender identity and is shocked to learn that demons assign gender at birth. I love that these are world-building and character details, they’re not plot points -- there are no moments of queer phobia or transphobia. Rather, understandings of queerness and gender expansiveness add layers to an already rich world.
Finally, I really liked the writing style. Some contemporary "cozy" fantasies use language that is too modern, but the empire of Lu-nevet really felt like a world unto itself -- it almost reminded me of something out of a novel by Ursula K. Le Guin or Octavia Butler.
My thanks to the authors and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.
January 22, 2024
A fantasy story with a tight camera and character focus -- I hesitate to call it a cozy because the stakes are remarkably high, but it's got some of those vibes. If you're looking for a very queer story of demon hunters and the church in a fantasy world vs demons, but where all isn't as it seems, it's a great read for you!
The writing style was quite skilled. It varied enough between POVs I have to assume that one author wrote Mitzli and the other wrote Kor -- my preference was for Mitzli's sections, but was well-handled on both ends.
My one criticism for it was that the metaphysical mechanisms of the world didn't feel grounded. What was in there did make sense to me, which is important as the plot required manipulation of these mechanisms, but it didn't necessarily feel like it inhered deeply to the worldbuilding. For example, Mitzli is told by Kor that souls are real, and we're reminded that the teachings of the church is that all that's inside everyone is light, nothing individual. Yet one page later, Mitzli is emotionally rocked trying to imagine what it's like for Kor to be soulless, what it means for someone to not have a soul, even though Mitzli theoretically would have believed to this point that nobody had one. There's a few cases like this; I love the concepts behind the metaphysics but it was sometimes a bit unstable.
This was however a very minor drawback! It's still quite enjoyable and I highly recommend you read for a rough edged demon with a heart of gold, and a soft nonbinary demon hunter with surprising steel in their backbone!
The writing style was quite skilled. It varied enough between POVs I have to assume that one author wrote Mitzli and the other wrote Kor -- my preference was for Mitzli's sections, but was well-handled on both ends.
My one criticism for it was that the metaphysical mechanisms of the world didn't feel grounded. What was in there did make sense to me, which is important as the plot required manipulation of these mechanisms, but it didn't necessarily feel like it inhered deeply to the worldbuilding. For example, Mitzli is told by Kor that souls are real, and we're reminded that the teachings of the church is that all that's inside everyone is light, nothing individual. Yet one page later, Mitzli is emotionally rocked trying to imagine what it's like for Kor to be soulless, what it means for someone to not have a soul, even though Mitzli theoretically would have believed to this point that nobody had one. There's a few cases like this; I love the concepts behind the metaphysics but it was sometimes a bit unstable.
This was however a very minor drawback! It's still quite enjoyable and I highly recommend you read for a rough edged demon with a heart of gold, and a soft nonbinary demon hunter with surprising steel in their backbone!
June 5, 2023
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Hierarchy of the Unseen by B. Pigeon & Fell A. Marsh in exchange for an honest review.
Mitzli is a devout demon hunter, dedicated to their craft in order to make up for being born half-vampire, half-human. Kor is a demon who doesn’t even believe in the god he serves, much less the god the human’s believe in. Kor and Mitzli effectively get handcuffed together by fate and are forced to work together, even though their personalities, beliefs, and goals are complete polar opposites to each other. But if they don’t work together, it could mean the end of life as Mitzli knows it, and the end of the life Kor has been dreaming of having for so long.
This book is incredibly interesting due to the complexity of worldbuilding and the religious politics that hold it together, as well as the captivating personalities and motivations of the characters. It takes a second to get through the first couple of chapters as you familiarize yourself with the world and the main characters, but once the big realizations start happening it really takes off, and it’s easy to keep turning the pages to learn what happens next.
I’m very excited to see how the next book explores Kor and Mitzli’s relationship further as they continue to try and save the world. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop from unwilling partners to being the only one the other can trust, and I can’t wait to (hopefully) see more of that.
Mitzli is a devout demon hunter, dedicated to their craft in order to make up for being born half-vampire, half-human. Kor is a demon who doesn’t even believe in the god he serves, much less the god the human’s believe in. Kor and Mitzli effectively get handcuffed together by fate and are forced to work together, even though their personalities, beliefs, and goals are complete polar opposites to each other. But if they don’t work together, it could mean the end of life as Mitzli knows it, and the end of the life Kor has been dreaming of having for so long.
This book is incredibly interesting due to the complexity of worldbuilding and the religious politics that hold it together, as well as the captivating personalities and motivations of the characters. It takes a second to get through the first couple of chapters as you familiarize yourself with the world and the main characters, but once the big realizations start happening it really takes off, and it’s easy to keep turning the pages to learn what happens next.
I’m very excited to see how the next book explores Kor and Mitzli’s relationship further as they continue to try and save the world. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop from unwilling partners to being the only one the other can trust, and I can’t wait to (hopefully) see more of that.
June 17, 2023
Queer fantasy for the win!
- I would like to thank the authors for the eARC -
An uneasy peace reigns between humans and demons. Mitzli is a demon hunter sent to the borderlands. But when they arrive, unexpected signs of violence disturb his plans and he has to team up with another hunter to investigate the issue, discovering dark secrets that threaten the world's balance. Meanwhile, Kor, a demon, is forced to torment humans with his ex-partner Yez and is not happy about it. Who is good and who is bad? Everything starts changing in both their minds and they will have to see things differently if they want to save the world.
I had a blast reading this book! The beginning was a bit slow to get there, worldbuilding oblige, but it wasn't too heavy. I got to know the characters at their own pace, and I really related to them quite easily. It was my first time reading a book with a 3rd person POV of a non binary character and I really enjoyed it. The way the authors dealt with the issues of gender in their world was quite intriguing and inspiring and I honestly live for queer normative worlds. Once the main plot was revealed, the story was very interesting. The pace got better and better with each chapter to the point that I couldn't stop reading. I loved both main characters - although I had a bit of a preference for Mitzli - and their dynamic was really fun to read. The twists and turns had me gasping and I loved how the characters evolved throughout the story. The writing was addictive, immersive and very pleasant to read (I don't want no one saying that "they" pronouns are confusing, they're not, you just don't want to see it). All in all, it was an amazing story and I can't wait to read more by these authors!
I highly recommend if you like fantasy adventures with dark magic, plot twists and diversity!
"It might’ve killed him, he knew—but, desperately bored as he was at the time, he’d thought death might be more interesting, or at least less painful."
TW: violence, blood, death, discrimination, murder, weapons, assault, abuse
- I would like to thank the authors for the eARC -
An uneasy peace reigns between humans and demons. Mitzli is a demon hunter sent to the borderlands. But when they arrive, unexpected signs of violence disturb his plans and he has to team up with another hunter to investigate the issue, discovering dark secrets that threaten the world's balance. Meanwhile, Kor, a demon, is forced to torment humans with his ex-partner Yez and is not happy about it. Who is good and who is bad? Everything starts changing in both their minds and they will have to see things differently if they want to save the world.
I had a blast reading this book! The beginning was a bit slow to get there, worldbuilding oblige, but it wasn't too heavy. I got to know the characters at their own pace, and I really related to them quite easily. It was my first time reading a book with a 3rd person POV of a non binary character and I really enjoyed it. The way the authors dealt with the issues of gender in their world was quite intriguing and inspiring and I honestly live for queer normative worlds. Once the main plot was revealed, the story was very interesting. The pace got better and better with each chapter to the point that I couldn't stop reading. I loved both main characters - although I had a bit of a preference for Mitzli - and their dynamic was really fun to read. The twists and turns had me gasping and I loved how the characters evolved throughout the story. The writing was addictive, immersive and very pleasant to read (I don't want no one saying that "they" pronouns are confusing, they're not, you just don't want to see it). All in all, it was an amazing story and I can't wait to read more by these authors!
I highly recommend if you like fantasy adventures with dark magic, plot twists and diversity!
"It might’ve killed him, he knew—but, desperately bored as he was at the time, he’d thought death might be more interesting, or at least less painful."
TW: violence, blood, death, discrimination, murder, weapons, assault, abuse
July 15, 2023
I had a hard time getting into this book. The world-building is great and imaginative. The scenery and characters are richly descriptive. The character development is great also, but slow paced. But it was difficult connecting with this story. I'm even late in submitting my review because of my disinterest. But I persevered.
About halfway through, the pace picked up and it became intriguing, even interesting! I'm very glad I kept reading. I see some other reviewers commenting about this, so I'm not the only one who experienced this.
If you savor reading books with highly imaginative and very descriptive writing, you'll enjoy this too. A word of caution though, the ending is a cliffhanger.
About halfway through, the pace picked up and it became intriguing, even interesting! I'm very glad I kept reading. I see some other reviewers commenting about this, so I'm not the only one who experienced this.
If you savor reading books with highly imaginative and very descriptive writing, you'll enjoy this too. A word of caution though, the ending is a cliffhanger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2023
(I received an ARC of this book and am reviewing it as per the request of the author).
Oh, my Goodness. This book was stunning. The plot twists, the worldbuilding and the descriptions were divine. There's a lovely dose of representation, a great amount of characters and a wonderful setting that builds a rich story. I do have one complaint, and that is that I read this too quickly, haha! I loved every chapter and adored navigating my way through this twisting story of darkness and light. It gets all my stars and more.
Oh, my Goodness. This book was stunning. The plot twists, the worldbuilding and the descriptions were divine. There's a lovely dose of representation, a great amount of characters and a wonderful setting that builds a rich story. I do have one complaint, and that is that I read this too quickly, haha! I loved every chapter and adored navigating my way through this twisting story of darkness and light. It gets all my stars and more.
June 19, 2023
I did not finish this book, which is a rarity for me. It just wasn’t holding my interest, although what I read was well-written and the world-building was imaginative. There wasn’t enough happening for me, and I wasn’t invested in any of the characters. I might read a shorter book from this author as it’s clear they are talented.
June 6, 2023
Good Story
This took me a little bit to get into. I had to come back to it. Once I did though, I had an easier time getting into the story. I'm glad that I read it.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
This took me a little bit to get into. I had to come back to it. Once I did though, I had an easier time getting into the story. I'm glad that I read it.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
May 10, 2023
The main character uses they/them pronouns so it be hard to get used to.
June 5, 2023
i recieved an ARC of this book!
gosh i enoyed this so much!
some minor quibbles with like pacing and stakes but such a richly realised, exciting world and an interesting central dilemma.
gosh i enoyed this so much!
some minor quibbles with like pacing and stakes but such a richly realised, exciting world and an interesting central dilemma.
September 24, 2024
Review to come
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews