The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake

The Broken Veil #1

by Mara Rutherford

In Wisteria, the very act of innovation is forbidden. Any creation—art, music, engineering—conjures a demon from the other side. The greater the innovation, the more dangerous the demon.

This has never stopped Aurelie from inventing—but it has made it more difficult. Her inventions are small by necessity, producing demons that she is capable of dispatching alone. But she knows she’s meant for something greater, and each day has her chafing more at the boundaries of her society.

Destrier lost his parents to demons as a child, and has devoted his life to preventing more senseless murder at the hands of demons. He was young when he joined the hunters, and each year he’s grown stronger. But it’s never enough.

When a mysterious figure offers Aurelie a job she can’t refuse—an impossible, magnificent invention—her decision to accept sets off a chain of events that will alter every aspect of their world… and sparks the connection that will change both Aurelie and Des irrevocably.

With the fierce enemies-to-lovers romance of Heartless Hunter and the high-concept worldbuilding of Arcane, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake will thrill readers looking for their new cross-genre favorite.
 

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy, Dark Academia, Demons, Young Adult Fantasy

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 14, 2026

About the author

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara has lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. She is the author of Crown of Coral and Pearl and its sequel, Kingdom of Sea and Stone; Luminous; The Poison Season; and A Multitude of Dreams. Her next book, A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC, releases Fall '25 from Wednesday Books.

Reviews

[Val 𓍯ᥫ᭡.ִֶָ𓂃 · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Such a fun book! Mara Rutherford is an incredible writer. The plot is so intriguing and compelling. Female empowerment through and through! A world lured by creativity, but where creativity is banished. Inventions are no longer an option, not even books. Can you imagine?! If you dared to devise something new, a demon would be lurking in the next corner!

An intricate world building where you'll find the Iron Guard, who protects people from demons and, of course, different demon classes: Natia, Somnia, Verita, and Tenebra. I also loved the plot twists! Unpredictable and entertaining!

I think you'll love this book if you enjoy fantasy plots in dark academy settings accompanied by paranormal elements and filled with mystery rooted in history.

Thanks so much to Edelweiss, NetGalley, and HarperCollins for this advanced reader copy of The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake, to be published on April 14th, 2026.

Already waiting for the second book!!! 🤩

[Sarah SG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope nope nope!!! I’m sick and tired of this, Grandpa!!!!
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Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the arc! This was a wonderful concept, but it stayed a wonderful concept only. I have many critiques about the execution.

Here we have multiple instances of repetition that is non-intentional and grating to read. How many times are we gonna say the same thing with slightly different words!?

I say this as a petite woman, I’m sick and TIRED of romantasy authors constantly pointing out how eeny teeny weeny polka dot bikini their fmc is. Of course, Aurelie is so small and short and fragile and the mmc is so big and tall and brooding! Put me to fucking sleep ffs

We’ve got insta-lust! Besides wanting to bone for nearly all of the book I have no idea why the leads are attracted to each other. I felt no chemistry. The beaker was broken. They failed the class!!!!

I totally don’t despise characters that are only intelligent when the author requires it! Even though we’re told how brilliant they are, and more times than necessary!!! Sorry, they’re as dumb as a pile of dirt!

I’ve always wanted a formulaic, cartoony, big bad. 😍 I’m fucking yawning. I’m slumped over. Honesty, this entire book is formulaic, and it went limp in its restraints.

I was standing up, and I’m now stood! Unfortunately, this is yet another cookie-cutter, romantic fantasy book. I should put that romantic part in quotes though, as so many romantasy authors confuse lust with love as well as a contrived formula with tradition. Why do I even bother, dude? -2 stars

[Avery Clason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like Mara Rutherford’s other protagonists, I found Aurelie to be quite endearing and Des to be funny and quick-witted. The premise of this book was incredibly intriguing as we follow Aurelie in a world where invention and creative liberty are outlawed as their creation spawns demons (even if they’re cute like the little dragon demon Aurelie keeps as a pet).

I think this has some wonderful parallels to the anti-intellectual movement sweeping the world on a domestic and global scale with fake news, AI in art/writing, and banned/challenged books. Creativity is under attack and it felt like this book was able to harbor similar questions many of us have about our current world.

I’m very eager to see what happens in the next book as Rutherford steps further into her upper YA genre, but I think it’ll be equally ad wonderful as this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so saddened by this rating — Mara Rutherford is an auto read author for me. I have loved all of her books and given them nothing less than 4 stars (and often 5s, which is rare for me).

I loved this book at the start. It had somewhat of a dark academia vibe, with Aurelie fighting to be an inventor even if the act of inventing conjures demons. Des is essentially part of a police force hunting down and killing demons and imprisoning those who conjure them, so it definitely had a forbidden lovers feeling and was giving me vibes of Serpent and Dove.

However, as the story progressed, I hated Aurelie more and more with each chapter (which then made me annoyed with Des’s infatuation with her).

This girl. She just came off as super spoiled and selfish with her “well I want to be an inventor” attitude. You’re literally conjuring demons from another dimension every time you invent something and putting others at risk! And then a man asks her to make a portal to the demon realm — and alarm bells weren’t going off in her head?!? It was painfully obvious that (a) the mysterious man was lying to her; (b) that he was the villain; and (c) who he was but Aurelie couldn’t connect the dots in her own head until it was way too late. I think she would have come off as a more sympathetic character to me if the villain had captured her uncle from the beginning and forced her to work for him, but for a good chunk of the book she went along with him because she ~~wanted to invent~~ and he played to her ego (“you’re such a brilliant inventor” etc). The fact that she worked for him willingly for as long as she did really called her character into question for me.

Des I liked well enough. He’s a demon hunter just trying to do his job. I could understand the motivations of his character (at least professionally). But what did he see in Aurelie??? He should have just arrested her and been done with it. He was just so attracted to her and I could not for the life of me see why. The ending with him literally sacrificing HIS SOUL to save her was ridiculous.

The setting, magic system, secondary characters and the writing was all good. I really liked Daisy (well, all of Des’s friends really) and Aurelie’s professor mentor. Mara Rutherford’s books are easy to read and the world building really gives a sense of the fantasy world and situation. As I said, generally I love her books. However, I really hated the character of Aurelie which unfortunately ruined the book for me. I’m still looking forward to this author’s next book though!

[Jaylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Genevieve (GenLikesToRead) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

Cover? Gorgeous. Title? Fantastic. Description? Intriguing. Execution? Ehhh…

I am really sad that I couldn’t get into this book. It had all the infrastructure to be great but the reality is that it just wasn’t. I found it very difficult to get engaged and stay engaged. I had to force myself to pick it up. It felt like it was dragging. However, it doesn’t feel right to rate it lower than 2.5 stars. I enjoy Mara Rutherford’s prose, enjoyed the creativity of the story, and didn’t find anything offensive. Was the book rather repetitive? Unfortunately, yes. Did she love to remind you of the MMC’s HUGE stature and the FMC’s itty bitty size? Yes, and I think we’re all absolutely sick of that. But the book was fine.

I also am a bit frustrated that the book ended up being a part of a series and not a standalone. I wish that was better advertised. Unfortunately, I will not be continuing with the next book.

This is only my second book by Mara Rutherford and the first I read from them was a 5 star so I certainly plan to read more from them in the future. I just hope those books make me feel more like I did while reading A Curious Kind of Magic than while reading The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake!

[mith · Rating 3 out of 5]

oh, its a series, is it? how many more books of readers being reminded of how big des is and how utterly tiny aurelie is? good god.

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Harper Collins for the preview. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

This might be my new fav from Rutherford? I was so invested from the first chapters, and the end had me holding my breath. I'm insanely eager for the next book already, and I just had such a great time reading this book.

Aurelie is a compelling FMC. Is she naive and too trusting? Yes, but she's also just 18. Just as Des is a little rigid and idealistic. Again, he's just 19 and was raised from infancy into the Iron Guard, so the mistakes both of them make are super understandable. I loved the progression of mistrust to maybe friends to maybe more. They both had such complex motivations and conflicting loyalties, but it made for great reading.

The whole cast was great honestly. Daisy and Gareth and Jasper were great friends to Des, just as Kiara was a great friend to Aurelie. And Mephisto! Just a precious little demon bebe.
I did suspect who Everard really was, so I was excited to be proved correct there.

Seriously I'm so excited for the next book and cannot wait to see how they get out of this mess!
Highly recommended!

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel has the best atmosphere! Dark Academia, cozy cottage, hot chocolate at the cafe, Yule, inventions in progress, and demon hunting. At the beginning of the story, Aurelie Blake cares about nothing other than inventing, her uncle and last living relative, and her friend. In this world, any new innovation leads to a demon being conjured. It’s clear that we don’t really understand what these creatures are, and the political messaging commands that they be killed by the Iron Guard (demon-hunters) and that people are not allowed to invent or innovate. I’m always drawn into a story where there’s question about the truth and what we are told to believe. Aurelie is approached by a mysterious man with a request for an invention, that may open up her understanding of the world. The romance was sweet and slow, the plot was engaging. My only request is that I wanted more variety in setting. The aesthetic was so well done, that I would have liked to follow these characters everywhere and experience more of the world and the Wisteria campus. But I fully understand that this story balances a lot of elements, and the book could only be so long. I’m intrigued to see how this story continues in the next installment.

For those who love:
📜 Enemies-Allies-Lovers romance
📜 Hunter + Inventor
📜 Dark Academia atmosphere
📜 Cute and evil monsters
📜 Friend group
📜 Political intrigue & secrets

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Skybid · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review – The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Black by Mara Rutherford✨

I just finished this last night and absolutely flew through it. If you enjoy witty banter, an eerie academic setting, and aggravating cliffhangers (in the best way), this one might be for you.

Aurelie Black was orphaned as a child and raised in Wisteria at the university where her uncle serves as dean. To fill the void left by losing her parents, Aurelie dreams of becoming an inventor and spends her time secretly creating new devices. But in Wisteria, invention is forbidden—because inventions lead to the creation of demons.

When a mysterious stranger offers Aurelie the chance to build an invention that could change everything, how could she possibly turn it down… no matter how dangerous it might be?

Des is an Iron Guard, a soldier sworn to hunt down and destroy demons to protect the city. Many Iron Guards, including Des, were orphaned by demon attacks and joined to avenge their families. When Des begins to notice strange demon activity surrounding Aurelie, he can’t help but investigate.

This story has:
⚙️ nemesis-to-lovers tension
⚙️ dark academia vibes
⚙️ magic and dangerous inventions
⚙️ betrayals and twists
⚙️ “good girl”

The banter and tension reminded me of The Heartless Hunter, and the eerie academic setting added such a unique atmosphere.

I rated this ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5. The ending definitely left me eager (and a little desperate) to see where book two goes next.

Thank you to the publisher and Mara Rutherford for the opportunity to read this story early. Keep an eye out for its release on April 14th.

[hijabi.booknook (Violet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I love Mara’s writing. Every time I pick up one of her books I’m in awe. This follows Aurelie, an inventor in hiding in a world when inventions produce demons, and Des, a demon hunter. Aurelie is tasked with a project to rid the kingdom of demons and Des is suspicious that the innocent school girl has a dark secret. The banter is bantering and I loved it. I really liked all the world building and how the plot flows. All in all a great YA fantasy. I can’t wait for book 2!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always a fan of Mara’s books and this is no exception! This one revolves around Aurelie, a student with a passion for inventing. This is a problem considering inventing of any kind is illegal because it conjures demons. Does that stop her? Nope!

Aurelie is pretty sheltered and doesn’t always make the best choices, but her heart is in the right place. She and Des have a hate to love / opposites attract romance with him being an Iron Guard who kills demons and is firmly against inventing, but of course they’re drawn to each other in a way they can’t explain.

The romance is very sweet and there are some fun side characters including a cute little demon companion. The mysterious invention Aurelie is hired to build kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending broke my heart. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Sequoia Cron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read and review The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Quotes used may differ in the finished version.

"There have always been demons, Aurelie. Some are just more obvious than others."

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake is the newest upcoming release by Mara Rutherford, the author of A Curious Kind of Magic and The Poison Season. Aurelie is an inventor, hiding away in her dingy room from he prying eyes of her Uncle Leo and the Iron Guard. She resides at the University of Wisteria where she and her best friend Kiara, the groundskeeper's daughter, spend a lot of time together. Creating inventions is illegal as they spawn different demons with each creative and artistic idea, awake or asleep. The demon population is dwindling down as less and less people are taking creative liberties. Aurelie is visited by her Uncle's friend Everard, who propositions her to use her inventing abilities to help him create a demonic door, which could either lead to

In between her time figuring out the pieces of this curious and magnetic door, she meets Destrier 'Des' Whitlow, an up-and-coming guard in the Iron Guard program. Des was made an orphan when demons murdered his parents at a young age. All orphans are brought to the Iron Guard to give them shelter and to teach them how to fight demons. The Iron Guard has three rules: never hunt alone, never act on impulse, and never underestimate a demon. Des and Aurelie meet with bad first impressions, leading to Des commanded to watch over Aurelie after he sees her acting suspiciously.

"Mondays were an excellent day for inventing. After all, they were the first day of the week, and if one were to begin something new, one ought to start at the beginning."

Mara Rutherford does a great job entering her Upper-YA era. I really liked how she built Aurelie and Des's slow-burn romance. They have similar life changes, but very different upbringings. Aurelie is brought up by her Uncle Leo, the University Headmaster, after her parents perished in a carriage accident whereas Des was brought up by the Iron Guard. He was trained and taught on sword fighting and the war against the demonic presence. He doesn't understand the rich frills and secured lifestyle Aurelie has always known. They both dislike the other from the start and they have a playful way of avoiding the other, but they always end up next to each other in the end. Knowing this is the start of a duology helped me accept that their relationship would take some time to build from dislike to 'oh wait, I like this person now?' I think Mara did well with executing their growing trust and relationship.

"She knew better than anyone that progress was not a straight path; it featured all the topography of an uncharted world, and all the promise."

With that said, the pacing can be slow at times. The story did take a while to capture my attention and hold it for long periods of time. After a couple of speed bumps, I was able to enjoy the story-telling and the characters. Besides the pacing, the only other negative for me is the repetitive mentions of how big Des is or how small Aurelie is. After reading a review with the same thoughts, I could not stop seeing it. It's mentioned a lot on how tiny or huge they are and it became a very distracting and slightly frustrating reading experience.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake does remind me a little bit of The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, but for a new generation of readers. I think many will enjoy the banter between Aurelie and Des, the demons, and the secondary cast of characters. I did like the back and forth point of views between Aurelie and Des. I love that Mara included Mephisto, a dragon-like demon Aurelie spawned from an invention she made when she was younger. I really like when creatures are included as pets when they're not supposed to be kept as one.

Overall, an intriguing read that needs a little patience because the twist at the end is totally worth it.

4 stars

[bella ⊹₊⟡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book! The following review is completely my own.

The mixed feelings I have about this book resulted in a three star rating, maybe even just a little lower (but rounded up due to the Goodreads format). I like Mara Rutherford's work, so I was hoping I would like The Demonic Inventions as much as I enjoyed A Curious Kind of Magic. Unfortunately, I didn't, but the premise was so intriguing—a young woman who loves to create in a world where innovation is dangerous and illegal, and a hunter who chases down the demons that spawn from inventions makes for one of the most unique plots and worlds I've seen in recent years.

The world building and circumstances that Aurelie finds herself in seem to be a reflection of the current state of the world with AI usage and anti-intellectualism on the rise, though I'm not sure if Rutherford wrote it like that on purpose. Regardless, it made for an interesting setting, but I feel like it wasn't built up on as much as it should've been. Instead of expanding the world building or even letting readers see more than just the university Aurelie studies at, Rutherford seemed to focus more on the romance, which I had trouble believing in. There were world building crumbs and explanations where there needed to be, but overall, the world felt like it was an afterthought, pushed to the back in favor of developing the characters more.

Aurelie was a fun protagonist to follow, and I think I liked her POV chapters more than Des's. She has so much personality and feels so human with her clear goals and things she likes, inner thoughts, and emotions as her situation starts to slip out of her control. She's unapologetically herself and genuinely loves what she does, though I wish we actually saw her inventing more things throughout the book, not just the giant project she was commissioned to do. It took me some time to like Des, as he was rather standoffish towards Aurelie for a long time, though he was easy to understand once I got used to him. The side characters were also charming and fun (shout-out to Daisy!) and breathed more life into the narrative.

Aurelie and Des are good individual characters (Aurelie more so, in my opinion) but unfortunately, I just couldn't feel the romance between them. Des hated and crushed on her for the longest time—I understand where the hate came from, but not the love, and his moments of thinking about kissing and holding her felt so out of place and random. I also thought some of the other reviews were exaggerating about the constant size comparisons between Aurelie and Des, but nope, they were true. Aurelie is described as teeny-tiny and small in every Des chapter, and Des is said to be built like a brick wall and is so giant and towering that he has to squeeze through doorways in almost every Aurelie chapter. I don't mind occasional comparisons, but it became unbearable! With this being the first book in a series, I dread the possibility of there being even more reminders of their heights in the sequel(s). Aurelie written from Des's POV also felt disjointed from how she was in her POV chapters, as if Rutherford was writing her to be a certain way to suit the romantic dynamic she had in mind as opposed to the way Aurelie actually was.

Though the line-to-line writing was technically solid, I just felt like there wasn't enough activity either. The work that went into creating and writing Aurelie was good, as well as crafting the initial exposition of the world building, but like I said earlier, there didn't seem to be that much inventing. The book says what Aurelie invented and does show her inventing something right at the beginning, but other than that, there's not much. It constantly seemed like the plot was just Aurelie and Des butting heads with them dealing with their personal problems off to the side, then rinse and repeat. There wasn't nearly enough done with the anti-progress attitude that Wisteria adopted (what others thought of it, such as the general public), or the revelation that Des uncovers when he's on a mission with the Iron Swords. These details make for such a good story background that is really suitable for the way the world is right now, and it would've been great if Rutherford had decided to enhance those aspects! I think this book would've been better as a fantasy with a romantic subplot as opposed to the romantasy that it actually is, but since Rutherford likes writing romances, I can't exactly blame her for wanting to write it this way.

To sum it up, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake had a promising premise, but focusing on some aspects more than others led to it not quite living up to its potential. Though the ending was fascinating, I don't think it was enough to persuade me to await the sequel.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shoutout to Mephisto for being absolutely adorable.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake is the first book in a YA fantasy duology where creation of any kind - art, music, invention - breeds demons. The premise of this book was extremely intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me for a few different reasons. Despite the fact that creation spawns demons in this world, we barely ever address how the humanities might be impacted beyond the FMC claiming history is boring (as a history major, she's not 100% wrong, but still) and that another student who is studying history only does so because he "lacks creativity." I wish there were a bit more time devoted to the worldbuilding and what exactly counts as "creation." The protagonists bake at one point, and I feel like baking/cooking could count as creation? Especially considering babies being born counts as creation... I also think it would've been cool to learn how the world has developed without music, art, or fiction. Focusing on an FMC who is a woman in STEM is fine, but I just think it would've been interesting to explore other aspects of the worldbuilding more thoroughly.

Aurelie Blake is an inventor. Her passion is illegal, but that hasn't stopped her from pursuing her dreams of finding a purpose and changing the world...no matter the cost. Des is a member of the Iron Guard; he was orphaned by demons, and now his sole purpose in life is to hunt them down for revenge. When Aurelie is given the opportunity to create an invention that could very well secure her place in history, she takes it, but Des has been charged with watching her while her uncle is away, and he's not so sure she can be trusted. This reads as a younger YA for the most part, which isn't bad, but it was surprising considering how risqué some of the romance gets at times (fade to black, though). I would've probably enjoyed this more had a) the romance not been so over-the-top and b) the twists not been so predictable. The romance was very "hate to instalove" in the matter of a few chapters, and once we hit the actual romance phase, it felt like the plot was shoved aside in favor of kissing scenes. Some people might like that. I didn't. I guessed the plot twists fairly early on and didn't have many doubts regarding them, but I did enjoy collecting clues that proved my point. The twists are foreshadowed well...almost too well. The pacing was fine for the most part; there's a bit of action throughout that kept me entertained. The ending is more exciting, but it is fairly rushed, and it sets up for a tense sequel. I'm not sure that I'll read the sequel because I struggled to get through this one, but I do want to know what happens next, so we'll see what happens.

The biggest issue for me was the characters. As a short woman (I'm 5 feet exactly), please, for the love of all things holy, stop making half the FMCs out there petite just to make the height gap bigger. Some other reviews mentioned how repetitive the heights/sizes are in this book, but I didn't understand how bad it was until Aurelie's teeny-tininess was being mentioned every chapter, while Des was also beefy, muscular, and like, bigger than doorframes (that's how I'm picturing it, at least). To be fair, I was beefing with Aurelie pretty early on since she was hating on humanities students, and it only got worse as I realized how naive she was. One of my biggest bookish pet peeves is when characters who are supposed to be smart consistently make the dumbest decisions, and Aurelie felt like one of them. I really struggled to like her when she was overly oblivious about everything while simultaneously having a superiority complex. Again, I'm sure other people will relate to her, which is fine, but I struggled. I wanted to like Des, but he was overly grumpy and then did a 180 halfway through. I didn't mind him too much; I just thought he had more potential. The side characters were fine. I didn't have any strong feelings toward any of them. I completely misread Uncle Leo...that's my bad, y'all. If it weren't for the cast of characters, I probably would've liked this a lot more, but their personalities made this read feel 10x longer than it was.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake is the first book in a YA fantasy duology with blossoming romance, demons spawned from creativity, and the vibes of Laura E. Weymouth's Steel & Spellfire and Sophie Clark's Cruel is the Light.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.25/5


Bonus Thought (that will make sense to no one except me and literally one other person): of course I know him...I created him

[Booksy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Every now and then, a person comes along who refuses to follow the rules, who decides that the laws don’t apply to them, that some things are worth fighting for. We call them criminals. They had a different name for those people. They called them rebels. Radicals. Revolutionaries. They broke societies, started wars. Sometimes they killed in the name of progress. Most people hated them. Very few celebrated them. But they are the ones who changed the world.”

This quote sums up this magnificent book. It isn't just Fantasy or sci-fi, its more than that. It takes you into a world which is deeply unsettling, where creation itself is treated like a sin, forcing us to imagine a world without it. We take building and inventing for granted, but what if it came at a price?

This isn’t just a story about magic or demons. It’s about fear. Fear of progress, fear of change, fear of what happens when people dare to imagine something more. Every invention in this world raises a demon, and that tension sits heavy on every page. You can feel it in the way curiosity is punished giving the rather famous quote "Curiosity killed the cat" a literal meaning, in the way brilliance is something to be hidden rather than celebrated.

Aurelie:
Aurelie is the kind of protagonist who doesn’t ask for permission to exist. She burns for knowledge, for creation, for something beyond the limits forced onto her by a society who deems women as less. And that fire makes her dangerous. Not in an obvious, destructive way, but in the quieter, more terrifying sense that she refuses to shrink herself. Inventing is what kept her going when she was faced with loneliness after she was orphaned and left in her Uncle's care. Watching her push against a world that wants to contain her was inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time because you know from the start that a world like this doesn’t let people like her go unscathed.

Des:
He feels like a wall. Controlled, rigid, unyielding, stubborn in his beliefs and haling duty above everything else. He takes it upon himself to rid of as many demons as possible who were the cause of his parents deaths. But slowly, almost painfully, you start to see the cracks. The weight he carries, the things he’s been forced to believe, the quiet conflict eating away at him.

The tension between Aurelie and Des isn’t explosive. It simmers. It lingers. It feels like two people standing on opposite sides of a line neither of them fully understands, and neither can quite walk away from. The enemies to lovers dynamic feels very fleshed out and genuine rather than forced. You will end up rooting for them and hoping to see their happily ever after (perhaps in a cottage, living a simpler life..)

Also, Mephisto, the cute little pet demon that Aurelie summoned by her first invention was a great addition. I kept hoping he would play a bigger role in the plot and hoping it will in the next installment. I simply adored him!

The pacing is slow, yes. But it’s the kind of slow that builds dread rather than boredom. You’re not just waiting for something to happen. You’re waiting for something to break.

What I loved most is how the story never lets you forget the cost of creation. It doesn’t romanticize it. It doesn’t make it easy. It asks uncomfortable questions about what we’re willing to risk for progress, and whether the world is ever truly ready for those who dare to change it.

Tropes:
● Enemies to Lovers
● Forbidden creations
● Slow burn
● Morally gray characters
● Oppressive society
● Secrets and lies
● Strong FMC
● Feminine Rage

Conclusion:
If you love quiet, atmospheric fantasy where magic comes with a cost, slow burn tension, and characters forced to choose between who they are and what the world allows them to be, this will stay with you long after the final page.

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC*

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mara Rutherford’s “The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake” marks a bold step into upper YA fantasy with a darkly imaginative, emotionally charged story that fuses steampunk aesthetics, forbidden creativity, and slow-burn romance into a world teetering on the edge of collapse. The story features a richly built setting, witty banter, and the lingering question of whether invention itself can be both a gift and a curse.

In the city of Wisteria, creativity is forbidden. Every new invention or artistic act risks spawning demons, which are creatures of chaos that threaten to unravel the fragile balance of society. Yet Aurelie Blake, a brilliant and defiant young inventor, can’t help but tinker in secret, crafting mechanical wonders in her attic workshop. Her latest creation: Mephisto, a mischievous little dragon demon who’s more adorable than dangerous. When her uncle’s mysterious associate, Everard, asks Aurelie to help him construct a demonic door, a device that could alter the fabric of their world, Aurelie is thrust into a dangerous web of secrets, science, and temptation.

Enter Destrier “Des” Whitlow, a stoic young soldier of the Iron Guard, raised to destroy demons after they took his parents’ lives. When Des catches Aurelie acting suspiciously, he’s ordered to watch her—a duty that soon spirals into something far more complicated. As their paths intertwine, Aurelie’s boundless curiosity clashes with Des’s rigid discipline, leading to a delightful enemies-to-lovers tension that evolves through witty sparring, mutual exasperation, and reluctant understanding.

Rutherford’s worldbuilding shines here. Wisteria feels both gothic and lived-in, a place where magic, science, and faith collide in eerie harmony. The idea that invention itself gives birth to demons is both fascinating and deeply symbolic, evoking modern anxieties about creativity, technology, and censorship.

That said, “The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake” isn’t without flaws. The pacing can be uneven where the first half drags a bit, especially before the plot’s central mystery takes shape, and it’s a bit tiresome with the repetitive mentions of Des’s size versus Aurelie’s “tiny” frame, which is, unfortunately, common in romantasy books. These details, while meant to heighten contrast, sometimes distract from the otherwise strong chemistry and character growth, and there is some insta-lust, which definitely doesn’t help. Still, the dual points of view keep the story dynamic, and Rutherford’s lyrical prose and keen emotional insight ensure the momentum never falters for long.

Aurelie herself is classic Rutherford. She is endearing, clever, and flawed, a heroine who questions authority and refuses to apologize for her intellect. Des, by contrast, brings humor and heart to the story with his dry wit and quiet vulnerability. Their dynamic, underscored by Rutherford’s knack for sharp dialogue, makes for some of the book’s best moments. And Mephisto, the tiny dragon-like demon, absolutely steals the show, adding warmth and levity to the otherwise shadowy tone.

Overall, “The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake” lays solid groundwork for what promises to be a thrilling duology. The final twist recontextualizes much of what came before, rewarding you with an ending that’s both surprising and deeply satisfying. Inventive, atmospheric, and thematically resonant, “The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake” is a story about the price of creation and the courage to imagine freely in a world that fears originality. Despite some pacing hiccups, it’s a beautifully written fantasy that balances romance, danger, and social commentary with skill.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

Aurelie is an inventor in a country where any new creation causes the birth of a demon. Des is a member of the order of demon hunters. When Aurelie accepts the challenge of creating a portal that will send all the demons back to where they came from, demons start following her, and Des is assigned to keep watch on her, not realizing he’s going to fall for her.

This was an interesting read that I think will appeal to fans of Dragon Age mage/templar romances, although Aurelie technically isn’t a magician herself. The concepts of the demon hunters in this series remind me a lot of the templars in Dragon Age. It will likely also interest fans of dark academia fantasy. It’s got more sexual content than is frequently in young adult romance, which is worth noting. It’s not full on erotica as it does fade to black at some point, but there is mention of contact with genitals and a lot of innuendos/longing. It’s also more kinky than a lot of YA out there. It’s some of the more mild kinks (praise kink, size kink) but there are probably a decent number of teenagers and their parents who would not want to read a book with any of that at all. Like some other readers, I did find the amount that Aurelie and Des’s size difference was emphasized to be excessive and somewhat annoying.

Another thing that keeps me from rating this book 5 stars is how stupid the characters are. I’m aware that characters in books have to make mistakes, but both of the POV characters are talking about how smart the other one is (especially Des about Aurelie) quite a lot for them to be making such stupid mistakes and yet still considered to be so smart. It even seems like Aurelie’s naivete and stupid decisions are rewarded at the end of the book, which doesn’t make any sense. The plot twist at the end of the book about the true identity of the villain was obvious to me, although it may not be to everyone.

The romance was a mixed bag for me as well. I like that this is a true enemies-to-lovers romance, not just two characters who annoy each other. It was fun, although it wasn’t exactly believable. It happened too fast for me. It didn’t seem like there was really much in-between between when they were enemies, and when they were suddenly making out. It wasn’t even supposed to be a hate make out either. They became so smitten with each other so fast.

The worldbuilding concept was really interesting, and I liked that the demons aren’t entirely non-sentient. It does make the morality of the book more complex, and Aurelie’s pet demon is really adorable.

This book ends on a cliffhanger, and seems to be book 1 of a duology. Bear that in mind when reading it if you don’t like cliffhangers.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake releases April 14 from HarperCollins Children’s Books. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins and Mara Rutherford for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sophia Dyer • bookishly.vintage · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Mara Rutherford had me clicking request before I even read what the book was about! The Poison Season is one of my all time favorites, so I am down to read anything she writes. Then I read the synopsis, and I was intrigued. A world with no inventions, because that creates demons?! Now THAT is a dystopian I can get behind.

However, I feel like that part of the story was so underexplored. There were mentions about how Wisteria is "stuck" but I feel like this could have been explored so much more. Instead, this book feels like a 50/50 split between romance and the "problem" the character is trying to solve.

Then I thought this would have a sequel, but then maybe a standalone, but maybe there will be a sequel?? Hard to tell, with the book not even being out yet. I feel like there will be a sequel, because there's not a "perfect" HEA and so many questions at the end of the book.

The romance is sweet, and it's something I clocked from the start. The two care about each other but don't really try to hide it, and there's no real miscommunication or third act breakup between them. They both try to protect and better each other, and I liked the motley crew they formed near the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, even if I wanted some more of the world building aspects. Rutherford has a way of pulling me into the story and creating unique characters you can't help but to root for. I am excited to read A Curious Kind of Magic next on my list, and to see what she does after this one!
Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings: violence, murder, loss of a loved one, body gore, blood, cursing, sexual content (fade to black)

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having enjoyed nearly all of the other books by Mara Rutherford that I’ve read, I was excited to get my eyes on The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake. However, this one ended up falling a bit flat for me.

Everything felt a bit lackluster. With the setup of such an intriguing world, in which the act of inventing/creating spawns a demon, one would think there would be quite a lot of demons running around. I think we got four. Five? Maybe six. It wasn’t in double digits, I can tell you that much. I know that creating has been outlawed, but I think the world's rules were a little confusing to me. From what I gathered, it’s the act of creating/inventing something new that causes the demons to spawn, but I don’t recall that that was outright stated, so doesn’t that mean that cooking anything should be an act of creation? Growing a plant? Production (no, the product idea isn’t new, but the product itself is)? A demon spawns when humans have a baby, so does that mean one spawns when animals do? You can’t draw, because that makes a picture, so how can you write anything, because that creates a new thing to read, even if it’s just a note? You probably get the picture. Maybe I’m being too particular, but in my mind, what counts and what doesn’t just doesn’t make sense. I wanted clearer rules. The idea was there, but I wasn’t convinced of the execution.

As for our main characters, if I have to read one more time about how tiny Aurelie is, or how big Des is, I think I will commit a crime. The continual repetition was unnecessary and, frankly, irritating. I promise I haven't forgotten their size difference in the three pages I’ve read since it was last mentioned. Aurelie was also irritating. For someone who’s supposed to be so smart, she was not particularly bright. It’s said that there’s a difference between book smart and street smart, and Aurelie had a bit of the first and pretty much none of the second. That’s probably why the creepy guy picked her to make the “invention” in the first place: she’s the only one dumb enough not to question him. That was kind of mean. I’m sorry.

The romance between Des and Aurelie was pretty much insta-lust, and I’m not convinced that it ever moved beyond that. Des hates her because he’s convinced she’s putting everyone in danger by inventing things (she is), but he can’t help but be unbelievably attracted to her. I do appreciate that he struggles with it for a time, but once he gives in? All bets were off. But again, beyond their attraction to each other, I firmly believe there were no other real feelings there. To quote The Swan Princess, “Is beauty all that matters to you? … What else is there?” That’s the depth I was getting from these two, though thankfully neither was offended by the other asking, “What else is there?” So maybe they are the perfect match for each other.

The other characters were interesting, but they weren’t seen a lot, and I can’t say they were particularly memorable. The Big Bad was a pretty cookie-cutter Big Bad. The plot was more focused on romance than inventing, which was disappointing. The world-building was adequate, but I had too many questions.

Everything just kind of … was, if that makes sense. The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake was fine, but I don’t think that I’ll be continuing with the series. There just wasn’t enough to convince me to read the next book.

I received an advanced copy of The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the initial concept of this story. Creating and inventing new things unintentionally calls forth demons that can wreak havoc because of a curse placed on the kingdom? Add in a strong-spirited, curious young woman who values the sciences and joy of inventing, and it has all the recipe ingredients to grab readers' attention.

Unfortunately, there are some pretty large detractions that made it harder to fully enjoy the story. First and foremost, the plot is dragged along by forcing long sections of our MC Aurelie to waffle between staying true to her inventing heart despite the danger of the new creation she's forced to work on and deciding that for once in her life others are more important than the spark of invention she craves. While it helps build Aurelie's character growth, the entire book has her wobbling between the two without fully committing to one or the other in order to add tension.

Secondly, the almost insta-romance (bordering on insta-lust) that occurs between Aurelie and Destrier. There are many, many mentions of how petite and small Aurelie is and how large and manly Des is, and this type of repetition gets old fast. There must be some other dynamics in play to interest readers into their romantic dalliance that hopes to grow into something more.

The idea that different inventions/thoughts can spawn different types of demons was interesting, but after the initial explanation, we really only get to see a select few of demons throughout the story. It would be nice to see more incidents with the Iron Guard in showcasing how destructive demons can be, especially in juxtaposition to the sweet, little Mephistos (Aurelie's demonic pet).

Overall, the ideas of a great story are here with a sequel set to continue the plot; hopefully the plot is faster-paced and more engaging than the first book.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher HarperCollins for allowing me an eARC to read and review.

[Rachel Feeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s not a lot of…inventing?

Most of the tinkering happens in the opening chapters, where Aurelie firmly establishes herself as a sleep-deprived student and happy recluse, prepared to handle little demons that might result from her quirky little inventions that are supposed to make life better. Des stomps onto the scene, an efficient demon hunter with a prickly exterior and a cloud of dour thoughts (for example, labeling having children as irrational since it also spawns demons? Yeah, that’s dark). One major theme is the push and pull between progress and security (or stagnation): “She knew better than anyone that progress was not a straight path; it featured all the topography of an uncharted world, and all the promise. And it required a person like Aurelie to brave it.”

Intriguing stuff, but discussion of personal or societal need for creation soon fades out, and the Big Conclusions are mainly Aurelie discovering that what was a bad idea was in fact a very bad idea, and Des deciding that he can think about the ethics later because he’s just really down bad for her. Expect an introspective plot, with lore reveals, clandestine coffee outings, subtle and unsubtle stalking, secrets, and blackmail.

While I was a bit underwhelmed, folks looking for a cozy/spooky romance will have fun with this mutually prickly duo, brooding atmosphere, and lingering looks.

Other things of note:
- Height diff couple
- Sidekicks who roll their eyes and get all the work done themselves
- Gareth the wholesome child (teen) recruit
- “Not my type” - boy, please, you tripped, and fell, and never looked back

Content corner: swearing, fade to black

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

[LL Garland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aurelie Blake is an inventor, but she must work in secret because invention has been outlawed in Wisteria. Every act of creation conjures a demon. When she’s approached by a shadowy figure with a risky proposition for a new invention, Aurelie lets her pride override her doubts. Unfortunately, she’s also drawn the attention of Des, a determined (and handsome) member of the Iron Guard, Wisteria’s protectors against the demons and those who conjure them.

I had to force myself to finish The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake. The narrative was heavy on the will they/won’t they, light on demons, and left the inventions all but neglected. Unfortunately, that ratio never improved. The one ‘invention’ at the center of the plot was just something Aurelie built to someone else’s specifications. I wish we’d seen more of Aurelie’s ingenuity rather than another scene between her and Des. Granted, I don’t read much romance, but this one lacked spark to me. Every time they met, the author took great pains to remind us how tiny the heroine is compared to her giant, hulking love interest. Honestly, that’s a stale trope I can do without. I wish more care had gone into making me, the reader, like these characters than trying to convince me they liked each other. Character development was sorely lacking. By the time the book ended I didn’t care what happened to them, which was fine because most of the plot was left unresolved leading into book two. I will not be taking a second trip to Wisteria.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.

[Danita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing a free review copy of this book! All opinions are completely my own.

I'm so conflicted about this book... I enjoyed the first 75-80% of it and considered it a pretty solid 4 star read. But as I got closer to the end, I started to get frustrated with the direction things were going. The premise of demons appearing whenever something was created was unique, and I was curious to learn more about it. But at times I ended up feeling a bit confused by it and how it all came to be. The romance had tension and I was liking it, but then it started to feel like it was just moving way too fast, with Aurelie and Des acting in ways that didn't seem to line up with what we knew of their characters previously. Honestly, I started to question what they saw in each other beyond a physical attraction. And speaking of out of character, there's so much emphasis about Aurelie being really smart, yet sometimes she was frustratingly oblivious. There's a pretty big reveal toward the end, which I had figured out long before that, and I found it hard to believe that Aurelie didn't. Meanwhile, I had other questions that I was hoping to finally see explained, but they never were. I know this is the start of a series, so I'm not surprised that it leaves off with a bit of a cliffhanger and things still left to explore, but I was left underwhelmed enough with the ending that I'm not sure if I'll continue on. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad book that I had a hard time finishing or anything like that. I guess it just didn't quite go in the direction I was hoping it would.

[Sam Rude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was compulsively readable, although some characters (cough cough Aurelie) had me shaking my head with exasperation at points, I found I could not put this book down. While Aurelie is sometimes willfully naive I do get her frustration of not only being stuck in the box of what society expects for a young woman but also stuck in a society where any kind of invention or innovation is banded due to demons. That kind of forced stagnation would likely convince a lot of people (myself included) to do something risky if it has a chance to make some real changes.

The romance between Aurelie and Des is sweet although I quickly got tired of the “she’s so tiny”/“he’s so tall” thing. And while the more romantic scenes are fade-to-black (or closed door) what’s around them is probably too explicit for the “children’s fiction” tag I’ve seen on this book. The demons aren’t scary but they do result in a fair amount of maiming and death.

Overall I don’t think you’d have a bad time with this book I certainly found it engaging and will definitely be picking up the a sequel when it comes along. Raising a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[emma]

digital arc courtesy of harperteen (thank you!).

a lot of the media we currently have to read/watch that contain demons summoning the action of summoning them (either intentionally or intentionally), but never conjuring them. the arts are without a doubt foundational to our society, so it’s really incomprehensible to imagine a reality where it’s strictly banned. all of this in theory sounds extremely cool, so i HAD to read it.

however, i struggled staying engaged. i was so invested at the start with her at the university, which might be my fault for wishfully thinking this would be dark academia by proxy (i.e., we’d get glimpses of the classes, how do students avoid/handle demons because surely how is there class without innovation?). progressing further into the story, i only had more questions about the magic system and felt propelled into more obscurity. i can usually justify vagueness in fantasy when the book intends to dissect/send a message through character study or interpersonal relationships, but perhaps it would be beneficial to include some sort of demonic guide/hierarchy at the beginning so these technical questions weren’t as much of a distraction.

with that being said, i decided to DNF @ 34%. i hope this works better for other readers!

[Stephanie Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting premise… if you invent something or dream something new or bring a new life into the world a demon materializes. This is from a curse that essentially seeks to stop progress in the kingdom.

The Iron guard hunts these demons and keeps the citizens safe. They despise demons (they’ve lost parents and loved ones to the demons) and have no compassion for the people who summon them.

Aurelie, our FMC, receives a mysterious proposition from a man named Everard. He wants her to invent something that will rid the world of demons. It’s a daunting task, but Aurelie agrees to do it. Greater good and all that. Oh, did I mention that she has a pet demon? Because she does.

Unfortunately, Aurelie captures the attention of the Iron Guard, which is a bad thing because she is breaking their most sacred law…

Read this if you like:
-a FMC who can think on her feet
-a MMC who absolutely despises her… until he doesn’t
-forbidden love
-will he or won’t he…take her to prison?
-grudgingly working together
-provocative clavicle bones

This is the first book of a series and I will absolutely be reading the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for the eARC!!!

[bells · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake had me sold the moment I learned that creating anything new literally conjures demons. Like… innovation = crime. INSANE concept.

Aurelie is such a strong, compelling main character. I just know that she graduated from the University of Servington with master’s in Girlbossism and double majored in Motherological Studies. Watching her push against a world that actively punishes creativity was frustrating in the best way.

And the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers situation??? I’m living for the banter alone. Though the romance could’ve used slightly more buildup too, just to make the emotional payoff hit teeny tiny bit harder.

The pacing did feel a bit slow at times, especially in the beginning, and I wished the rules of the world were explored a little more deeply. That said, the world building is still pretty imaginative and atmospheric.

This was such a fun and chaotic read with a unique premise, I’m excited to see where the story goes next!


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Thank you to HarperCollins and Edelweiss+ for the ARC!

[Katie Scarlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this one with its unique concept so I am sorry to say I was disappointed. It’s a very slow story with really not much going on which is surprising given the blurb about demons. We get far too much on how Aurelie and Des should not be together because of the very obvious differences. There is a lot of frankly boring internal monologues from both in their respective chapters. I found myself with zero interest in their relationship and annoyed with Aurelie for making such dumb choices in the first place. The story reads very much YA so it annoyed me when it started getting far too spicy and descriptive for such an audience. It’s closed door on the sex scene but still very much descriptive in a way that it should not be given it’s listed as children’s fiction. I had to force myself to keep reading and I should have just given up. I have no interest in reading the next book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.