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Falling for Demons #1
How Not to Court Your Human Captive
Six human women, betrayed by their own only to be rescued by the very demons they were taught to fear, find themselves trapped in a harrowing, magical city.
But the cautionary tales were wrong, and they’re quick to learn demons don’t inspire terror but temptation…
When a human’s fury meets a demon’s fire, hatred isn’t the only thing to ignite.
Stolen from her prison cell and sold to slavers, Ember’s anger is all she has left to survive the nightmarish Achreos Barrens and its demonic inhabitants. Never mind her tenderly healed wounds and cozy cottage confines, she’s still being treated like a criminal. Her warden is a hardened soldier so hateful of humans that Ember stands no chance at exoneration. Sure, there may be moments when her demon jailor’s domestic ineptitude is endearing and his presence feels startlingly like security, but neither will stop her from provoking him and his disgusting tail.
Squadron leader Severath has failed at his sole duty to protect his home. Burdened with guarding a killer and coping with the loss of an eye and horn, he’s rewarded only with the human’s ire. Judgement should be simple since she’s pled guilty, but her unbridled hostility feels like a façade. He should be fighting to reclaim his position on the guard and his solitary life rather than verbally sparring with such a menace, but he never thought his home could be so lively or that he might enjoy having a miniscule murderess torment him at every turn.
Ember and Severath soon discover the border between animosity and affection is as thin as the veil between the human and demon worlds. Confined in close quarters, the two are forced to share their truths and confront their aversions to intimacy. But falling for a demon is dangerous, especially with Ember’s pending trial and Severath’s uncertain career. Will they land safely in the arms of their fledgling love or spiral into shared loathing?
Falling for Demons is a fantasy monster romance series set in a cozy and spicy shared world by authors Laura Winter and A.K. Caggiano. Each book can be read as a standalone novel but is interconnected, following six human women and their budding romances with the demons they once feared as they settle into a monstrously magical world.
But the cautionary tales were wrong, and they’re quick to learn demons don’t inspire terror but temptation…
When a human’s fury meets a demon’s fire, hatred isn’t the only thing to ignite.
Stolen from her prison cell and sold to slavers, Ember’s anger is all she has left to survive the nightmarish Achreos Barrens and its demonic inhabitants. Never mind her tenderly healed wounds and cozy cottage confines, she’s still being treated like a criminal. Her warden is a hardened soldier so hateful of humans that Ember stands no chance at exoneration. Sure, there may be moments when her demon jailor’s domestic ineptitude is endearing and his presence feels startlingly like security, but neither will stop her from provoking him and his disgusting tail.
Squadron leader Severath has failed at his sole duty to protect his home. Burdened with guarding a killer and coping with the loss of an eye and horn, he’s rewarded only with the human’s ire. Judgement should be simple since she’s pled guilty, but her unbridled hostility feels like a façade. He should be fighting to reclaim his position on the guard and his solitary life rather than verbally sparring with such a menace, but he never thought his home could be so lively or that he might enjoy having a miniscule murderess torment him at every turn.
Ember and Severath soon discover the border between animosity and affection is as thin as the veil between the human and demon worlds. Confined in close quarters, the two are forced to share their truths and confront their aversions to intimacy. But falling for a demon is dangerous, especially with Ember’s pending trial and Severath’s uncertain career. Will they land safely in the arms of their fledgling love or spiral into shared loathing?
Falling for Demons is a fantasy monster romance series set in a cozy and spicy shared world by authors Laura Winter and A.K. Caggiano. Each book can be read as a standalone novel but is interconnected, following six human women and their budding romances with the demons they once feared as they settle into a monstrously magical world.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2025
1015 people are currently reading
2761 people want to read
About the author
A.K. Caggiano
24 books1,871 followersAshley is an indie author who likes to write silly little stories that hopefully bring readers joy. She likes cats, guacamole, feminism, and the internet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
July 25, 2025
2.5⭐️
1🌶️
A.K. Caggiano is one of my favorite authors, which is why it pains me to say: this book was not it. At all. It felt like fanfic of her own work—but not the good kind, the "wrote this at 2 a.m. and never looked back" kind.
Let’s talk about the plot, which is powered entirely by chaos, confusion, and like three functional brain cells. Ember arrives in demon-town “Heck” (yes, really) as a branded murderer—literally. She’s got a magic neck brand that screams “Hi, I kill people!” The demons rescue her and 5 (I think) prisoners, including Rosalind (myb?), and cart them back to their sexy gothic demon village.
Sev, the love interest, is like “omg 😦 you killed a guy??” and Ember eventually opens up to him and explains that she killed the man to protect a child from being assaulted because she herself had lived through that trauma. Very serious. Very valid. We’re all here nodding in support.
BUT THEN—plot twist. At the end of the book, we learn that Rosalind had already told the entire demon welcome committee immediately upon arrival exactly why Ember had done the murder. That’s right: everyone knew. The whole time. Except Sev... and us.
So riddle me this: WHY was Ember still being treated like she eats kittens for breakfast? Why the cold shoulders? The side-eyes? Why did they try to frame her later for the disappearance of some other random demon?! They knew she killed one (1) human dirtbag for very good reason. There was NO mystery. They just decided, “Wow, morally justified murder? Suspicious. Let’s make her life hell anyway.” Make it make sense.
As for the romance? Look. I love a good enemies-to-lovers slow burn. This was more like "enemies to horny in 0.3 seconds" with no emotional foundation. Ember starts off not wanting to be touched—rightfully, given her past trauma—and within a few chapters, she’s calling Sev “good boy” and radiating main character energy from a very different kind of book. The switch was not earned, not believable, and definitely not it.
Also, there are more side characters than IKEA furniture pieces, and just as hard to assemble. Too many names, not enough personality. They mostly existed to confuse me and occasionally deliver random exposition.
In the end, the whole thing felt like a lonely-girl-meets-lonely-demon story that forgot to give me anything to actually care about. The world-building? Barely there. The plot? Confusing. The romance? Insta-lust without payoff. Honestly, I was just sad. I wanted to love this, but I kept flipping pages waiting for it to get good—and then it ended.
I was curious about Laura’s book (she writes the second in the series), but honestly? After this mess, I don’t know if I can be bothered. Maybe she’ll fix the pacing. Maybe not. But right now? I’m just tired, confused, and emotionally evicted from Heck.
Still love you, A.K.—but this one’s going back on the shelf labeled “We don’t talk about her.”
1🌶️
A.K. Caggiano is one of my favorite authors, which is why it pains me to say: this book was not it. At all. It felt like fanfic of her own work—but not the good kind, the "wrote this at 2 a.m. and never looked back" kind.
Let’s talk about the plot, which is powered entirely by chaos, confusion, and like three functional brain cells. Ember arrives in demon-town “Heck” (yes, really) as a branded murderer—literally. She’s got a magic neck brand that screams “Hi, I kill people!” The demons rescue her and 5 (I think) prisoners, including Rosalind (myb?), and cart them back to their sexy gothic demon village.
Sev, the love interest, is like “omg 😦 you killed a guy??” and Ember eventually opens up to him and explains that she killed the man to protect a child from being assaulted because she herself had lived through that trauma. Very serious. Very valid. We’re all here nodding in support.
BUT THEN—plot twist. At the end of the book, we learn that Rosalind had already told the entire demon welcome committee immediately upon arrival exactly why Ember had done the murder. That’s right: everyone knew. The whole time. Except Sev... and us.
So riddle me this: WHY was Ember still being treated like she eats kittens for breakfast? Why the cold shoulders? The side-eyes? Why did they try to frame her later for the disappearance of some other random demon?! They knew she killed one (1) human dirtbag for very good reason. There was NO mystery. They just decided, “Wow, morally justified murder? Suspicious. Let’s make her life hell anyway.” Make it make sense.
As for the romance? Look. I love a good enemies-to-lovers slow burn. This was more like "enemies to horny in 0.3 seconds" with no emotional foundation. Ember starts off not wanting to be touched—rightfully, given her past trauma—and within a few chapters, she’s calling Sev “good boy” and radiating main character energy from a very different kind of book. The switch was not earned, not believable, and definitely not it.
Also, there are more side characters than IKEA furniture pieces, and just as hard to assemble. Too many names, not enough personality. They mostly existed to confuse me and occasionally deliver random exposition.
In the end, the whole thing felt like a lonely-girl-meets-lonely-demon story that forgot to give me anything to actually care about. The world-building? Barely there. The plot? Confusing. The romance? Insta-lust without payoff. Honestly, I was just sad. I wanted to love this, but I kept flipping pages waiting for it to get good—and then it ended.
I was curious about Laura’s book (she writes the second in the series), but honestly? After this mess, I don’t know if I can be bothered. Maybe she’ll fix the pacing. Maybe not. But right now? I’m just tired, confused, and emotionally evicted from Heck.
Still love you, A.K.—but this one’s going back on the shelf labeled “We don’t talk about her.”
December 31, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up
This story started off slow for me and I ALMOST put it down when the author broke the fourth wall (which is something that’s happened in other books by them and never fails to snap my immersion). But I stuck with it and the emotional payoff was satisfying. The anger and suspicions both characters face felt incredibly genuine as they processed trauma and enormous changes in circumstances. The natural progression of the relationship hit well from reluctant forced proximity and wariness of each other to a budding friendship to an endearing love. These are not one dimensional characters and because of that, I forgave some of the world building questions I’m still shoving to the back of my mind, and simply enjoyed the romance. Some humor mixed in, but mind the trigger warnings, the world itself has some darkness and the characters experience heavy themes.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both are experienced. The h was sexually assaulted as a teen and then attempted a couple of casual physical relationships after. The H had a couple of failed attempts at finding a mate.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Demon MMC x human FMC
☆ Begins with pain and danger
☆ Forced proximity
☆ Significant trauma to unpack
☆ PTSD
☆ Healing and moving forward
☆ He’s assessing her for potential threats
☆ She’s on high alert for him as a possible threat to her
☆ Angry FMC x Grumpy MMC
☆ They soften for each other
☆ Rambunctious and adorable side characters
☆ World-building leaves some gaps
☆ Slow build and burn
☆ She’s in control
☆ He has a tail
☆ Considerate and compassionate moments
☆ Low stakes, feels more intense because of their traumas
Ember (h) was stolen from a jail cell after committing a murder and taken to be sold by slavers. Luckily for her, the slavers took a wrong turn somehow and end up in demon territory, where a squadron of demons dispatch the slavers and rescue the group of women they had. Severath (H) is the leader of the squadron and severely injured during the fight. Because of that, he’s tasked with keeping Ember at his personal home to assess if she’s a danger to the demon city. Neither wants anything to do with the other and both are floundering big time with personal pain and fears.
I was taken aback at first by how angry Ember was, however as her history comes to light, it’s difficult to not be empathetic to how she emotionally managed her inner pain. Severath was more of a grump and slow to lift his suspicions of Ember, but he was also quick to be reassuring or to react with kindness, because he was a protector at heart. My heart hurt for both of them at different times and sometimes painful growth was necessary for them. I wasn’t completely invested in this couple until the softening started and I could start seeing how they’d fit together.
The introduction to the world and specifically the demons, is a little hectic and not entirely clear. I still have no clue how they don’t have a sun in the sky, even if it was an interesting concept. There’s also a concept of a soulbond that’s discussed reverently and has deep meaning to the demons, but is never fully explained. In other worlds, there might be an actual binding type ritual that occurs, here it seemed like they only had to declare that someone fit this? I may have also missed something.
The relationship development is highlighted in many small moments of trust building and vulnerability that start to occur between the characters. Steam-wise, given the trauma that was Ember’s background, it made sense for this to be slow burn. Also for the steamy decisions to be in her court. Severath was fine with getting tied up or asked to fulfill a request because that demon was down bad by that point. It never becomes full-on femdom type spice in my opinion. Even though it’s slow burn, there are also multiple explicit scenes.
The side characters are a mix of demons and the other humans who were being transported by the slavers. The demon children that Severath had been instructing on archery were my favorites, followed by his brother and one of the humans. It’s clear that some of the characters and dynamics are set ups for the rest of the series, but the focus stays primarily on Severath and Ember.
No third act breakup and the third act conflict is actually one where they’re a unit defending Ember. It also didn’t make sense and seemed like another example of a bit of chaos and confusion in this world. Still, they come through it emphatically together and with Ember no longer being assessed. The epilogue is some unknown amount of time later with them in their HEA, including a bit of an update on what each is doing in the demon city, while on their way to socialize with others. It was a sweet way to cap off the story. I do think I want to continue the series to see some of the other dynamics at play and possibly to clear up some of the questions.
This story started off slow for me and I ALMOST put it down when the author broke the fourth wall (which is something that’s happened in other books by them and never fails to snap my immersion). But I stuck with it and the emotional payoff was satisfying. The anger and suspicions both characters face felt incredibly genuine as they processed trauma and enormous changes in circumstances. The natural progression of the relationship hit well from reluctant forced proximity and wariness of each other to a budding friendship to an endearing love. These are not one dimensional characters and because of that, I forgave some of the world building questions I’m still shoving to the back of my mind, and simply enjoyed the romance. Some humor mixed in, but mind the trigger warnings, the world itself has some darkness and the characters experience heavy themes.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and both are experienced. The h was sexually assaulted as a teen and then attempted a couple of casual physical relationships after. The H had a couple of failed attempts at finding a mate.
Some tropes/themes:
☆ Demon MMC x human FMC
☆ Begins with pain and danger
☆ Forced proximity
☆ Significant trauma to unpack
☆ PTSD
☆ Healing and moving forward
☆ He’s assessing her for potential threats
☆ She’s on high alert for him as a possible threat to her
☆ Angry FMC x Grumpy MMC
☆ They soften for each other
☆ Rambunctious and adorable side characters
☆ World-building leaves some gaps
☆ Slow build and burn
☆ She’s in control
☆ He has a tail
☆ Considerate and compassionate moments
☆ Low stakes, feels more intense because of their traumas
Ember (h) was stolen from a jail cell after committing a murder and taken to be sold by slavers. Luckily for her, the slavers took a wrong turn somehow and end up in demon territory, where a squadron of demons dispatch the slavers and rescue the group of women they had. Severath (H) is the leader of the squadron and severely injured during the fight. Because of that, he’s tasked with keeping Ember at his personal home to assess if she’s a danger to the demon city. Neither wants anything to do with the other and both are floundering big time with personal pain and fears.
I was taken aback at first by how angry Ember was, however as her history comes to light, it’s difficult to not be empathetic to how she emotionally managed her inner pain. Severath was more of a grump and slow to lift his suspicions of Ember, but he was also quick to be reassuring or to react with kindness, because he was a protector at heart. My heart hurt for both of them at different times and sometimes painful growth was necessary for them. I wasn’t completely invested in this couple until the softening started and I could start seeing how they’d fit together.
The introduction to the world and specifically the demons, is a little hectic and not entirely clear. I still have no clue how they don’t have a sun in the sky, even if it was an interesting concept. There’s also a concept of a soulbond that’s discussed reverently and has deep meaning to the demons, but is never fully explained. In other worlds, there might be an actual binding type ritual that occurs, here it seemed like they only had to declare that someone fit this? I may have also missed something.
The relationship development is highlighted in many small moments of trust building and vulnerability that start to occur between the characters. Steam-wise, given the trauma that was Ember’s background, it made sense for this to be slow burn. Also for the steamy decisions to be in her court. Severath was fine with getting tied up or asked to fulfill a request because that demon was down bad by that point. It never becomes full-on femdom type spice in my opinion. Even though it’s slow burn, there are also multiple explicit scenes.
The side characters are a mix of demons and the other humans who were being transported by the slavers. The demon children that Severath had been instructing on archery were my favorites, followed by his brother and one of the humans. It’s clear that some of the characters and dynamics are set ups for the rest of the series, but the focus stays primarily on Severath and Ember.
No third act breakup and the third act conflict is actually one where they’re a unit defending Ember. It also didn’t make sense and seemed like another example of a bit of chaos and confusion in this world. Still, they come through it emphatically together and with Ember no longer being assessed. The epilogue is some unknown amount of time later with them in their HEA, including a bit of an update on what each is doing in the demon city, while on their way to socialize with others. It was a sweet way to cap off the story. I do think I want to continue the series to see some of the other dynamics at play and possibly to clear up some of the questions.
August 1, 2025
I don’t see a lot of grumpy x grumpy romances so this was a fun change of pace for me. Severath was learning to manage his new disability—loss of an eye—and the ableism that came along with it. He also was trying to cope with being a warden of a murderer in his home, which he was kinda terrible at. Ember had PTSD and coped with everything going on by using fury as a shield. Both of them had to learn to communicate, trust one another, and look past their prejudices. Their love story was tender and lovely, with lots of banter.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: child SA (past), PTSD, nightmares, abandonment, indentured servitude, enslavement, imprisonment, murder (flashbacks), blood, violence, drugging, human trafficking, anxiety attack, severe injuries, branding, ableism, body shame, bullying, weaponized judicial system, speciesism, discussion of skin color, self harm, self loathing, sexism and misogyny
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: child SA (past), PTSD, nightmares, abandonment, indentured servitude, enslavement, imprisonment, murder (flashbacks), blood, violence, drugging, human trafficking, anxiety attack, severe injuries, branding, ableism, body shame, bullying, weaponized judicial system, speciesism, discussion of skin color, self harm, self loathing, sexism and misogyny
March 3, 2026
This was an enjoyable romantasy tale. It was short and very self-contained but still had that distinctive adult fairytale feel present in Caggiano’s Villains & Virtues series. It also really delivered on the cutesy, but still a tad spicy, romance.
Six human women, captured and being transported to be sold by human slavers, find their plight taking a turn when their captors lose their way and get ambushed by demons. The demons decide to take the captives back to their home city of Achreos Barrens. Ember, our lead character, finds herself under the guard of demon squadron leader Severath. Severath, having lost an eye and a horn in the battle with the human slavers, now has to guard the most dangerous of the humans while her threat level is evaluated and he recovers from his own serious injuries.
It was a super fun tale. The bulk of the demons were cute and earnest in a Disney fairytale sort of way. We did not meet a ton of characters, because this was a very self-contained tale, but the characters we did meet were likeable and very easy to root for. The bulk of the story took place in Severath’s home where he was guarding Ember. The pair started out as enemies but soon warmed to each other as they got to know one another.
That might sound a bit dull, but it was actually really enjoyable and readable. The world seemed like a fun place, but we learned very little about it or the other human captives since Ember was separated from them after being deemed a danger. All the focus was on the cute, slow-burn romance between Ember and Severath. The romance was done well and it was so easy to get caught up in it and root for Ember and Severath as a pairing as they slowly fell in love.
I think the short length (7.5 hours in audio) worked in this book's favour. It was a self-contained romance with only a tiny subplot involving Ember being assessed as a potential danger, but I felt like the length was perfect for that type of direct romance story.
The bulk of this tale was a fun mix of cutesy and spicy romance, but we did get a bit of darkness via Ember’s backstory of her time in the human world. I felt like that added a bit of edge to the tale while still letting the “present” of the story retain that fun fairytale feel.
I spotted that this 6-book series is co-authored by A.K. Caggiano and Laura Winter, with each author writing three books. Given that, it makes sense why this opening instalment of the Falling For Demons series was such a low-key and self-contained story. I liked what we got in this fun romantasy a lot, though, so I’ll definitely try the second book written by Laura Winter. Hopefully, it is as fun as this one!
This was my fifth A.K. Caggiano book. I’ve also read the Villains & Virtues trilogy and one of the spinoff tales. I think this was my favourite book of hers so far. It was a tight romance with fun characters, and I think that is where Caggiano’s strengths lie.
Rating: 4 stars
Audio Note: This was a dual POV tale. Roxelana Waters did the Ember POV segments while Rusty Mewha did the Severath POV segments. Both did good jobs with the narration. The only negative was that bouncing between two different interpretations of the characters can be a jarring flaw of this style of dual narration.
Six human women, captured and being transported to be sold by human slavers, find their plight taking a turn when their captors lose their way and get ambushed by demons. The demons decide to take the captives back to their home city of Achreos Barrens. Ember, our lead character, finds herself under the guard of demon squadron leader Severath. Severath, having lost an eye and a horn in the battle with the human slavers, now has to guard the most dangerous of the humans while her threat level is evaluated and he recovers from his own serious injuries.
It was a super fun tale. The bulk of the demons were cute and earnest in a Disney fairytale sort of way. We did not meet a ton of characters, because this was a very self-contained tale, but the characters we did meet were likeable and very easy to root for. The bulk of the story took place in Severath’s home where he was guarding Ember. The pair started out as enemies but soon warmed to each other as they got to know one another.
That might sound a bit dull, but it was actually really enjoyable and readable. The world seemed like a fun place, but we learned very little about it or the other human captives since Ember was separated from them after being deemed a danger. All the focus was on the cute, slow-burn romance between Ember and Severath. The romance was done well and it was so easy to get caught up in it and root for Ember and Severath as a pairing as they slowly fell in love.
I think the short length (7.5 hours in audio) worked in this book's favour. It was a self-contained romance with only a tiny subplot involving Ember being assessed as a potential danger, but I felt like the length was perfect for that type of direct romance story.
The bulk of this tale was a fun mix of cutesy and spicy romance, but we did get a bit of darkness via Ember’s backstory of her time in the human world. I felt like that added a bit of edge to the tale while still letting the “present” of the story retain that fun fairytale feel.
I spotted that this 6-book series is co-authored by A.K. Caggiano and Laura Winter, with each author writing three books. Given that, it makes sense why this opening instalment of the Falling For Demons series was such a low-key and self-contained story. I liked what we got in this fun romantasy a lot, though, so I’ll definitely try the second book written by Laura Winter. Hopefully, it is as fun as this one!
This was my fifth A.K. Caggiano book. I’ve also read the Villains & Virtues trilogy and one of the spinoff tales. I think this was my favourite book of hers so far. It was a tight romance with fun characters, and I think that is where Caggiano’s strengths lie.
Rating: 4 stars
Audio Note: This was a dual POV tale. Roxelana Waters did the Ember POV segments while Rusty Mewha did the Severath POV segments. Both did good jobs with the narration. The only negative was that bouncing between two different interpretations of the characters can be a jarring flaw of this style of dual narration.
November 19, 2025
so adorable
August 5, 2025
This is one of those books that I enjoyed reading, really no complaints, but I can't really pinpoint what I liked about it. It felt very much like a nice & easy palette cleanser...a cozy little monster (demon) romance, with some slow burn spice. From the beginning, the two MCs are very distrustful of each other and through a forced arrangement, begin a slow burn romance. Ember and Severath both have some obstacles, past and present, to overcome before they even start to see each other as anything but a monster. If you like sweet and gently monsters, I think you will like Severath. There are quite a few adorable scenes with him.
I loved the Villains & Virtues trilogy by this author, and I can see some of that humor bleed through here. Overall an enjoyable read, and since there are a ton of side characters, including Severath's twin brother, I am curious to see where the rest of the series goes.
MF Romantasy
Demon / Human
Enemies To Lovers
Forced Proximity
Grumpy x Grumpy
Cute & Spicy
Slow Burn
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
I loved the Villains & Virtues trilogy by this author, and I can see some of that humor bleed through here. Overall an enjoyable read, and since there are a ton of side characters, including Severath's twin brother, I am curious to see where the rest of the series goes.
MF Romantasy
Demon / Human
Enemies To Lovers
Forced Proximity
Grumpy x Grumpy
Cute & Spicy
Slow Burn
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
lost-interest
September 17, 2025idk
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100% waiting for the audio to come out on September 1, 2025
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100% waiting for the audio to come out on September 1, 2025
October 9, 2025
The world building sucked.
I never got past the moon that shines without any stars to light it. It’s a fucking rock. A rock cannot shine on its own. I need explanations, even if the explanation is just "it's a magical bioluminescent rock". Even FMC asks the question "how does everything grow?" HOW INDEED! Also, how are humans going to survive a world without sun (vitamin D everyone?). How does everyone not FREEZE TO DEATH?
WHY DO THE STARS DISAPPEAR DURING THE "DAY" IF THERE IS NO LIGHT?!
I have so many questions for the author.
Honestly, even if I could have gotten past the shining moon, this world seemed to be a mix between our world and a fictional one. (There are goats but also fictional beasts for instance) It all reads rushed, unfinished, and unprepared to me.
FMC's story was extremely emotional, sad and upsetting, but she seems to be able to heal from her trauma with just the turn of a page. Again, unrealistic and unresearched.
I never got past the moon that shines without any stars to light it. It’s a fucking rock. A rock cannot shine on its own. I need explanations, even if the explanation is just "it's a magical bioluminescent rock". Even FMC asks the question "how does everything grow?" HOW INDEED! Also, how are humans going to survive a world without sun (vitamin D everyone?). How does everyone not FREEZE TO DEATH?
WHY DO THE STARS DISAPPEAR DURING THE "DAY" IF THERE IS NO LIGHT?!
I have so many questions for the author.
Honestly, even if I could have gotten past the shining moon, this world seemed to be a mix between our world and a fictional one. (There are goats but also fictional beasts for instance) It all reads rushed, unfinished, and unprepared to me.
FMC's story was extremely emotional, sad and upsetting, but she seems to be able to heal from her trauma with just the turn of a page. Again, unrealistic and unresearched.
July 4, 2025
**received as an arc** this was a sweet read. if you're needing a book to pull you out of a reading slump I recommend this!!
my reason behind my rating is I feel like the relationship developed too fast and too quick. Ember went from hating to be touched (rightfully) to then being super sexually charged.
only other thing was there was a lot of characters for a short book. my brain has a 5 name max capacity.
otherwise it was predictable in a sweet way
my reason behind my rating is I feel like the relationship developed too fast and too quick. Ember went from hating to be touched (rightfully) to then being super sexually charged.
only other thing was there was a lot of characters for a short book. my brain has a 5 name max capacity.
otherwise it was predictable in a sweet way
July 13, 2025
I’m heartbroken that everyone seemed to love this but me.😭
A.K. Caggiano is easily one of my favorite authors. Every book of hers that I have read has been so delightful. She is such an amazing writer, and I love recommending her books when I can.
That’s why I was shocked that I didn’t end up loving this book as well.
Nothing in this book really stood out for me. I felt like we didn’t really get a chance to get to know the characters very well. The love story felt very forced. Because I didn’t feel like I really know the characters, I didn’t understand why they were suddenly obsessed with one another. It felt very “insta-lust” and never seemed to develop past that.
I am interested to see what happens in the next book though, as I haven’t read a book by Laura Winter yet.
This book was my first ARC! Thank you so much to the authors for my copy!
A.K. Caggiano is easily one of my favorite authors. Every book of hers that I have read has been so delightful. She is such an amazing writer, and I love recommending her books when I can.
That’s why I was shocked that I didn’t end up loving this book as well.
Nothing in this book really stood out for me. I felt like we didn’t really get a chance to get to know the characters very well. The love story felt very forced. Because I didn’t feel like I really know the characters, I didn’t understand why they were suddenly obsessed with one another. It felt very “insta-lust” and never seemed to develop past that.
I am interested to see what happens in the next book though, as I haven’t read a book by Laura Winter yet.
This book was my first ARC! Thank you so much to the authors for my copy!
July 2, 2025
Important note: I got an ARC for free. And oh, oh I loved this book!
We follow Ember and Severath on their path from unwanted captive and captor to reluctantly playing house to falling in love. And. I. Am. Here. For. It!
This is a cozy monster romance with a dark undertone - and spice! Everything is so well built in this world and I cannot wait to read more of this series.
As someone who loved the Villains & Virtues trilogy this really scratched my itch. I just love the way A. K. Caggiano writes, and this is no exception.
For the love of Severath - if you think about getting this book: Do it. I dare you. You‘ll have so much fun.
We follow Ember and Severath on their path from unwanted captive and captor to reluctantly playing house to falling in love. And. I. Am. Here. For. It!
This is a cozy monster romance with a dark undertone - and spice! Everything is so well built in this world and I cannot wait to read more of this series.
As someone who loved the Villains & Virtues trilogy this really scratched my itch. I just love the way A. K. Caggiano writes, and this is no exception.
For the love of Severath - if you think about getting this book: Do it. I dare you. You‘ll have so much fun.
August 4, 2025
I enjoyed a lot about this but it felt like there was a lot of inconsistencies and I didn't really feel an emotional connection between the MCs even tho i really wanted to. I think I also struggled a bit with the overall tone of the story, some parts were serious and dark but then there was so much humor infused in other places. I'm especially confused about the third act where
Then there's the whole soul binding thing, it feels like a trope just thrown in to check it off a list instead of actually being part of the story... it's underdeveloped and unsatisfying.
I also didn't like the mention of female leads or male leads in stories, it totally ruined my immersion.
Other than that it was really enjoyable and i'm still gonna read the second one ( since thats the one I was most interested in anyway) hopefully that one ends up being more up my alley.
Then there's the whole soul binding thing, it feels like a trope just thrown in to check it off a list instead of actually being part of the story... it's underdeveloped and unsatisfying.
I also didn't like the mention of female leads or male leads in stories, it totally ruined my immersion.
Other than that it was really enjoyable and i'm still gonna read the second one ( since thats the one I was most interested in anyway) hopefully that one ends up being more up my alley.
September 17, 2025
I recently described this book to someone as the equivalent of a wet firework. It fizzled, it sizzled, and then...it never went off.
I've been trying to understand what the author was trying to get at. The characters were incredibly flimsy in their motivations and their backstories. There was no real plot here or stakes. The final third of the book is meant to build a reason that the two leads could be separated permanently, but it just feels very forced. The situation was created out of a nothing event and ultimately feels like a waste of time to read for the reader.
There were definitely parts of this book that I really enjoyed. For starters, some of the descriptions and interactions between the two main leads felt very Pride and Prejudice to me. I also thought that some of the imagery the author used was incredibly vivid for scenes of the characters expressing deep emotion. I can still see the male lead pacing outside her room in my head. It felt like two beings falling in love rather than lust, which is a rarity in this genre.
Ultimately though, the book falls flat. The characters have intense backstories that are often unexplored or are not portrayed in a way that feels realistic. Annnd I still don't really know much about the male main character, despite having read the entire book.
This book felt to me like a collection of well written scenes that didn't necessarily coalesce into a story.
2.4/5
I've been trying to understand what the author was trying to get at. The characters were incredibly flimsy in their motivations and their backstories. There was no real plot here or stakes. The final third of the book is meant to build a reason that the two leads could be separated permanently, but it just feels very forced. The situation was created out of a nothing event and ultimately feels like a waste of time to read for the reader.
There were definitely parts of this book that I really enjoyed. For starters, some of the descriptions and interactions between the two main leads felt very Pride and Prejudice to me. I also thought that some of the imagery the author used was incredibly vivid for scenes of the characters expressing deep emotion. I can still see the male lead pacing outside her room in my head. It felt like two beings falling in love rather than lust, which is a rarity in this genre.
Ultimately though, the book falls flat. The characters have intense backstories that are often unexplored or are not portrayed in a way that feels realistic. Annnd I still don't really know much about the male main character, despite having read the entire book.
This book felt to me like a collection of well written scenes that didn't necessarily coalesce into a story.
2.4/5
July 27, 2025
Cozy little monster (demon) romance. Turns out that isn’t what I want from AK. I miss her humor and her knowing the genre so well she can write a meta plot while still calling it out.
Side note: Sev having a bandage on his head the whole time was an ick for me.
Side note: Sev having a bandage on his head the whole time was an ick for me.
January 30, 2026
2.5⭐
This was okay. Well written, but it leaned toward dull. It had zero humor and went from untouchable because of trauma to touch me way too fast. I hated the nudge-nudge-wink-wink of breaking the fourth wall to say for the male lead in a romance, for the female lead in a romance, trying to keep track of everyone over 5 books, etc. Was it supposed to be funny?
This was okay. Well written, but it leaned toward dull. It had zero humor and went from untouchable because of trauma to touch me way too fast. I hated the nudge-nudge-wink-wink of breaking the fourth wall to say for the male lead in a romance, for the female lead in a romance, trying to keep track of everyone over 5 books, etc. Was it supposed to be funny?
July 13, 2025
I appreciate the opportunity to read this as an arc from the authors!!
The book was a short and easy read, and you get everything you were told you would. Lighthearted/cutesy romance (but rather explicit…😬)
I admittedly was disappointed because I feel like there was not enough world building or context. Upon reflection, it felt like a romance between two lonely characters and not really much else. There were also way too many side characters with random names that made the very little amount of plot hard to follow. Overall, cute but forgettable 🤷♀️
The book was a short and easy read, and you get everything you were told you would. Lighthearted/cutesy romance (but rather explicit…😬)
I admittedly was disappointed because I feel like there was not enough world building or context. Upon reflection, it felt like a romance between two lonely characters and not really much else. There were also way too many side characters with random names that made the very little amount of plot hard to follow. Overall, cute but forgettable 🤷♀️
July 16, 2025
If you’re after a cozy monster romance with a side of spice, look no further. AK Caggiano’s sense of humour really comes out in this book and I loved the way Ember and Severath’s relationship developed. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes. Thank you to the authors for this ARC in return for my honest opinion.
September 4, 2025
Somebody put this one back in the oven. It ain't done baking yet.
This feels like a rough draft. Lots of cute ideas, great scenes that build a stable relationship between the FMC and MMC.
Absolutely NO sticky notes in the PLOT column. It's like the author forgot there was supposed to be something going on outside of building the relationship, then at the last minute tried to cram in some much needed drama - only it happens 94% of the way through the book, and never gets a satisfying conclusion.
I do think there are some good things in here with regards to how the relationship develops though. I think for as short as this book is, the relationship grows in a natural way. Especially considering Ember's past with trauma and abuse. The way Sev is so happy to take things at her pace, and give her control over her own pleasure was really sweet.
But I feel like we could have taken another 50-75 pages to REALLY explore the world, Ember's unique predicament and what it means for her and Sev's relationship in a way that that make the story feel less half-baked.
Outside of the relationship (which is arguably the major focus in this story), the ending is very abrupt. And I'm not certain anything regarding Ember's situation is actually resolved. See, she's been branded a murderer (because she killed a disgusting human pedo for touching a young child inappropriately). So when the demons receive her, they essentially put her under house arrest at Sev's place for observation - to determine how dangerous she really is and whether or not she's safe to be in their society. Great, awesome. Let's follow that to it's logical conclusion. Right?
Nah. Why bother when we can just leave ALL of that important character building stuff open ended?
See, there's a demon that goes missing at some point in the story and Ember gets blamed for it by demonic council members who are dead set against killing her and/or banishing her or whatever, simply because she's human. The "trial" we get takes all of 4 pages, wherein nothing is decided because there's literally no proof that Ember had anything to do with the disappearance. So she gets to go back to her house-arrest situation with Sev.
Where's the missing demon? What's going to happen with Ember? The world may never know.
I'm assuming this is going to be a common thread throughout all the different stories because it seems like a pretty significant issue to not be resolved by the end of this book. But if every book follows a different female with her demon, then...?
I'm just a little bit perplexed at why this ending was left so unfinished.
Everything else was cute and sweet and sometimes funny (when we're not talking about human trafficking, sex slavery, abuse, trauma, etc). So why are we skimping on the PLOT?!
Urgh.
This feels like a rough draft. Lots of cute ideas, great scenes that build a stable relationship between the FMC and MMC.
Absolutely NO sticky notes in the PLOT column. It's like the author forgot there was supposed to be something going on outside of building the relationship, then at the last minute tried to cram in some much needed drama - only it happens 94% of the way through the book, and never gets a satisfying conclusion.
I do think there are some good things in here with regards to how the relationship develops though. I think for as short as this book is, the relationship grows in a natural way. Especially considering Ember's past with trauma and abuse. The way Sev is so happy to take things at her pace, and give her control over her own pleasure was really sweet.
But I feel like we could have taken another 50-75 pages to REALLY explore the world, Ember's unique predicament and what it means for her and Sev's relationship in a way that that make the story feel less half-baked.
Outside of the relationship (which is arguably the major focus in this story), the ending is very abrupt. And I'm not certain anything regarding Ember's situation is actually resolved. See, she's been branded a murderer (because she killed a disgusting human pedo for touching a young child inappropriately). So when the demons receive her, they essentially put her under house arrest at Sev's place for observation - to determine how dangerous she really is and whether or not she's safe to be in their society. Great, awesome. Let's follow that to it's logical conclusion. Right?
Nah. Why bother when we can just leave ALL of that important character building stuff open ended?
See, there's a demon that goes missing at some point in the story and Ember gets blamed for it by demonic council members who are dead set against killing her and/or banishing her or whatever, simply because she's human. The "trial" we get takes all of 4 pages, wherein nothing is decided because there's literally no proof that Ember had anything to do with the disappearance. So she gets to go back to her house-arrest situation with Sev.
Where's the missing demon? What's going to happen with Ember? The world may never know.
I'm assuming this is going to be a common thread throughout all the different stories because it seems like a pretty significant issue to not be resolved by the end of this book. But if every book follows a different female with her demon, then...?
I'm just a little bit perplexed at why this ending was left so unfinished.
Everything else was cute and sweet and sometimes funny (when we're not talking about human trafficking, sex slavery, abuse, trauma, etc). So why are we skimping on the PLOT?!
Urgh.
January 14, 2026
Not a fan. There’s always one line that an author uses OVER AND OVER AGAIN…and it just irked at me every time. “Their tongue clicked…” OMG…. I just couldn’t. I finished it but it was a serious struggle. The spicy scenes didn’t deliver and the characters were mid. Sev was ok. But I have a soft spot for demons/monsters/villains 🤷🏻♀️
August 25, 2025
This was a cute palate cleanser read. I think it did a decent job of showing someone with trauma while not making the book to dark. The romance was sweet and the spice was decent.
I really loved Severath as an MMC. I liked his withdrawn personality and how he kept pushing himself even when it wasn't working. How he was protective no matter what. I also adored the way he strove to make Ember comfortable by giving up his own freedoms. How willing he was to let her lead. It showed such great understanding and emotional intelligence in him and it was great.
Ember was an alright FMC? Honestly I was kind of bland towards her, I wish we saw more from her. More goals, or dreams, or just..something. She did have decently explored emotions and past experiences but in the present there just didn't feel like there was much from her. Yes she began to learn to read etc but that was at Severaths prompting, not because she sought it out. She felt very passive throughout.
If you don't mind a tail and some horns, definitely worth a read between heavier books.
I really loved Severath as an MMC. I liked his withdrawn personality and how he kept pushing himself even when it wasn't working. How he was protective no matter what. I also adored the way he strove to make Ember comfortable by giving up his own freedoms. How willing he was to let her lead. It showed such great understanding and emotional intelligence in him and it was great.
Ember was an alright FMC? Honestly I was kind of bland towards her, I wish we saw more from her. More goals, or dreams, or just..something. She did have decently explored emotions and past experiences but in the present there just didn't feel like there was much from her. Yes she began to learn to read etc but that was at Severaths prompting, not because she sought it out. She felt very passive throughout.
If you don't mind a tail and some horns, definitely worth a read between heavier books.
July 18, 2025
Where do I even start?!
Ever since I saw the first teasers for this book, I’ve been so excited. A.K. Caggiano has quickly become one of my favorite authors, and I feel incredibly lucky to have received an early copy of this book before its release.
This story has everything you could want in a monster romance: a protective, grumpy love interest paired with a sassy, traumatised grump of a heroine. She hates men and for very valid reasons. Luckily for him, he’s not a man. He has one and a half horns, a tail, red skin, and very importantly, sharper, more efficient teeth. (Which comes in handy, because his cooking makes even the best cuts of meat chewy and stale. Poor Ember is genuinely fighting for her life every time she takes a bite!) Thankfully, she’s got some serious kitchen skills, and once she’s trusted with a knife, it turns out she’s an excellent chef.
There is a touch of miscommunication between the main characters, but it’s done so well and feels so believable that even I didn’t mind it, and that says a lot, because I usually hate miscommunication tropes.
Caggiano has such a gift for weaving humor into her writing. While this book isn’t quite as comedic as some of her previous ones, I think that was a wise choice given the sensitive themes explored. I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in. This is a healing, slow-burn romance, and let me tell you, Caggiano has absolutely mastered the slow burn, even in standalones.
Now, while this book is marketed as a standalone (and yes, the central plot wraps up nicely), I personally think it’s worth reading the series in order. Book one ends with a small loose thread, nothing major, but definitely something that caught my attention. I have a feeling it might be addressed in a later installment. Of course, it’s totally fine to leave it as it is, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to know what happened. (Spoiler: I was always going to read the rest of the series anyway, hehe.)
Ever since I saw the first teasers for this book, I’ve been so excited. A.K. Caggiano has quickly become one of my favorite authors, and I feel incredibly lucky to have received an early copy of this book before its release.
This story has everything you could want in a monster romance: a protective, grumpy love interest paired with a sassy, traumatised grump of a heroine. She hates men and for very valid reasons. Luckily for him, he’s not a man. He has one and a half horns, a tail, red skin, and very importantly, sharper, more efficient teeth. (Which comes in handy, because his cooking makes even the best cuts of meat chewy and stale. Poor Ember is genuinely fighting for her life every time she takes a bite!) Thankfully, she’s got some serious kitchen skills, and once she’s trusted with a knife, it turns out she’s an excellent chef.
There is a touch of miscommunication between the main characters, but it’s done so well and feels so believable that even I didn’t mind it, and that says a lot, because I usually hate miscommunication tropes.
Caggiano has such a gift for weaving humor into her writing. While this book isn’t quite as comedic as some of her previous ones, I think that was a wise choice given the sensitive themes explored. I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in. This is a healing, slow-burn romance, and let me tell you, Caggiano has absolutely mastered the slow burn, even in standalones.
Now, while this book is marketed as a standalone (and yes, the central plot wraps up nicely), I personally think it’s worth reading the series in order. Book one ends with a small loose thread, nothing major, but definitely something that caught my attention. I have a feeling it might be addressed in a later installment. Of course, it’s totally fine to leave it as it is, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to know what happened. (Spoiler: I was always going to read the rest of the series anyway, hehe.)
August 9, 2025
“She could sink one hundred knives into his gut, and he’d thank her for every single one.”
• demon x human
• forced proximity
• dislike to friends to lovers
Severath. Ahhh, Severath. Our demon hero falls hard for Ember, the human FMC.
The story opens with a bang: Severath rescues Ember and other human women from traffickers. Ember’s life has been anything but easy. She’s a human, a scullery maid, and a convicted murderess. That last detail earns her a month long assessment under Severath’s watchful eye… in his own home.
Branded (literally) for her crime, Ember is thought to be a cold-blooded killer, but Severath learns the truth is far more complex.
While the book is cozy in tone, it doesn’t shy away from heavy themes. The banter and inner monologues of both MCs are sharp, witty, and full of personality. The slow burn romance feels authentic, given Ember’s past and Sev’s views against her conviction.
Sev is the kind of hero who protects with his whole soul. One of my all time favorite heroes! Ember is strong and overcomes her fears with Sev. This book touches very lightly on some femdom themes, which makes sense for Ember, IMO.
I really enjoyed this book and I just loveee the author’s writing style.
• demon x human
• forced proximity
• dislike to friends to lovers
Severath. Ahhh, Severath. Our demon hero falls hard for Ember, the human FMC.
The story opens with a bang: Severath rescues Ember and other human women from traffickers. Ember’s life has been anything but easy. She’s a human, a scullery maid, and a convicted murderess. That last detail earns her a month long assessment under Severath’s watchful eye… in his own home.
Branded (literally) for her crime, Ember is thought to be a cold-blooded killer, but Severath learns the truth is far more complex.
While the book is cozy in tone, it doesn’t shy away from heavy themes. The banter and inner monologues of both MCs are sharp, witty, and full of personality. The slow burn romance feels authentic, given Ember’s past and Sev’s views against her conviction.
Sev is the kind of hero who protects with his whole soul. One of my all time favorite heroes! Ember is strong and overcomes her fears with Sev. This book touches very lightly on some femdom themes, which makes sense for Ember, IMO.
I really enjoyed this book and I just loveee the author’s writing style.
July 27, 2025
3.5 ☆ / 4 🌶 (explicit open door) / third person dual pov
A quick and cozy read about two grumpies healing from their trauma as they learn to trust each other. Despite some heavy topics, it was sweet, silly and funny. I wish there had been more world-building and that the relationship hadn't progressed so quickly, but overall, I liked the journey. Sadly, not as much as Villains & Virtues (not even close), but I still had a good time.
Lazerath and Tarzul have definitely piqued my interest, and it would be nice if at least one of them got a book 👀
It can be perfectly read as a standalone, but there's a tiny little plot going on on the background that hasn’t been wrapped up yet.
A quick and cozy read about two grumpies healing from their trauma as they learn to trust each other. Despite some heavy topics, it was sweet, silly and funny. I wish there had been more world-building and that the relationship hadn't progressed so quickly, but overall, I liked the journey. Sadly, not as much as Villains & Virtues (not even close), but I still had a good time.
Lazerath and Tarzul have definitely piqued my interest, and it would be nice if at least one of them got a book 👀
It can be perfectly read as a standalone, but there's a tiny little plot going on on the background that hasn’t been wrapped up yet.
July 2, 2025
Exactly what I wanted from A.K. Caggiano!
This book gave me everything I was hoping for: a cozy, feel-good romance full of A.K. Caggiano’s signature charm. She never fails to make her characters irresistible and her settings feel like somewhere I genuinely want to escape to. I also really appreciate the representation she includes for people with disabilities — it feels authentic and thoughtful. The warmth, wit, and just-right dose of whimsy made this an absolute delight from start to finish. I can’t wait to start the book by Laura Winter that is the next one in this series!
This book gave me everything I was hoping for: a cozy, feel-good romance full of A.K. Caggiano’s signature charm. She never fails to make her characters irresistible and her settings feel like somewhere I genuinely want to escape to. I also really appreciate the representation she includes for people with disabilities — it feels authentic and thoughtful. The warmth, wit, and just-right dose of whimsy made this an absolute delight from start to finish. I can’t wait to start the book by Laura Winter that is the next one in this series!
August 29, 2025
A. K. Caggiano’s writing style irks me, and the weirdly truncated hint of plot was completely pointless. But I liked this cozy demon world, and the romance was surprisingly SUPER sweet, with two equally grumpy characters having a grump-off and reluctantly healing together. The main character is a victim of SA (pre-story, off page, not described in detail) and I thought this book did an excellent job with the way it handled past trauma, trust building, and physical and emotional intimacy.
October 31, 2025
Alright, I should have expected this to be monster f*cking because of the title, but I wasn't expecting that much spice. But also, no complaints on the quality of it. I think I love AK Caggiano. Her voice and humor is so fantastic.
September 21, 2025
A fun read. Not as good as Ice Planet Barbarians or the Clecanian series, but still a fun read. Will continue the series.
November 14, 2025
It’s not what it looks like, Your Honor! Ok, fine, it’s exactly what it looks like and I’ll be reading the rest of the series.
November 15, 2025
Why was that the most adorable monster smut ever (affectionate)
November 19, 2025
This was fine, not up to par with what I typically expect from Caggiano. Cozy, low stakes, overall enjoyable. Didn’t have as much of her classic humor. It will probably take me a while to come back to this series.
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