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Inner Demons
It’s bad enough when your brother is possessed by a demon. It’s even worse when the only person who might be able to help turns you into a toad on her doorstep and tells you to keck off. But the fact that the planet is shaped like a cube? Well, that really isn’t her problem.
Nelbow Rockfist is a dwarf on a mission. Her brother has a bad case of demonic possession and there is a shortage of exorcists. Her only hope is to convince the sorcerer Grumblechin to come out of retirement, but the once-infamous spellcaster is adamant she won’t leave the comfort of her tower for anything, least of all to meddle with demons. Failing to convince this reclusive retiree to change her mind will mean disaster for Nelbow, her brother and potentially the rest of dwarfkind.
Meanwhile, Orsnart Rogtog knows that firsts are difficult. Being the first orc ‘pryvate eye’ in a city of dwarves is tough. Avoiding the axe blows of gangsters and smugglers while trying to crack a case is tougher. Waiting until an acceptable hour to have the first drink of the day is toughest of all. But when he finds a lead on the most wanted criminal in the kingdom and has glamourous elves knocking on the door of his agency, that really is a first.
And then there’s Hell’s newest demon who’s found a unique way to corrupt souls. But in the competitive realm of demonic possessions, things aren’t working out for him, to say the least.
Nelbow Rockfist is a dwarf on a mission. Her brother has a bad case of demonic possession and there is a shortage of exorcists. Her only hope is to convince the sorcerer Grumblechin to come out of retirement, but the once-infamous spellcaster is adamant she won’t leave the comfort of her tower for anything, least of all to meddle with demons. Failing to convince this reclusive retiree to change her mind will mean disaster for Nelbow, her brother and potentially the rest of dwarfkind.
Meanwhile, Orsnart Rogtog knows that firsts are difficult. Being the first orc ‘pryvate eye’ in a city of dwarves is tough. Avoiding the axe blows of gangsters and smugglers while trying to crack a case is tougher. Waiting until an acceptable hour to have the first drink of the day is toughest of all. But when he finds a lead on the most wanted criminal in the kingdom and has glamourous elves knocking on the door of his agency, that really is a first.
And then there’s Hell’s newest demon who’s found a unique way to corrupt souls. But in the competitive realm of demonic possessions, things aren’t working out for him, to say the least.
464 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2025
18 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 6, 2026
A love letter to Terry Pratchett’s Discworld that falls foul of many of the earlier Disc’s mistakes.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
November 22, 2025
If you missed having more of Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld, you will love Stephen B. Platt’s Inner Demons set on The Qube.
Content Warnings: Violence, murder, demon possession, grief, mild body horror, death, and dark fantasy elements.
Inner Demons takes place on The Qube, a humorous and deeply Discworld-inspired world. The story follows two main POVs, one of Nelbow, a determined dwarf doing everything she can to save her brother from demonic possession. Her quest leads her to seek out the eccentric sorcerer Grumblechin, though the path of convincing her to perform an exorcism is far messier than she expects. In parallel, we follow Orsnart, an orc detective, whose investigation threads through the story with a more serious, murder-mystery tone. And then there’s Arran, the demon whose presence lingers for a while before he joins the action.
At its heart, the book explores the strength of family bonds, particularly Nelbow’s devotion to her brother and her resolve to bring him back from possession. Her compassion, persistence, and moral clarity make her an incredibly easy character to root for. Her chapters were consistently delightful, full of humor and warmth that reminded me why I love satirical fantasy. Orsnart grew on me by the end, but his early chapters felt less engaging and lacked the same charm. Once their paths intersected, the story found its stride again.
Platt’s worldbuilding and writing style clearly comes from a place of admiration for Pratchett. The humor lands well and the world is rich and vibrant. At times, though, the book feels a bit longer than necessary, and Orsnart’s less satisfying POV meanders before intersecting with Nelbow’s story. A tighter structural edit, especially in the detective sections, would have strengthened the pacing.
Zoe Harlen’s is an exceptional voice performer. Her character voices are distinct, expressive, and wonderfully suited to the world’s humor and energy. That said, the audio production could have been cleaner, as occasional background noise and breaths pull the listener out of the immersion. Stronger post-production would elevate the listening experience to match Platt's and Harlen’s talent.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, the humor hits just right, and the social critique adds a thoughtful layer. I highly recommend it for readers who miss Discworld and want a book that captures its spirit without copying it. Fans of humorous fantasy, satire, or cozy-ish adventures with medium stakes will find a lot to love here.
Inner Demons is a nostalgic, heartfelt tribute to Pratchett from an author who clearly treasures what Discworld meant to readers. It left me smiling, entertained, and wanting more. With slightly tighter pacing and cleaner audio editing, this could easily be a top-tier comedic fantasy. More importantly, it feels like only the beginning: there’s so much potential left in this world, and I’d gladly return.
I thank NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Book Title: Inner Demons
Author: Stephen B. Platt
Narrator: Zoe Harlen
Publisher: Bolinda Audio
Publishing Date: Oct 28, 2025
Rating: 4/5
#NetGalley #InnerDemons #StephenBPlatt #ZoeHarlen #BolindaAudio #TerryPratchett #Discworld
Content Warnings: Violence, murder, demon possession, grief, mild body horror, death, and dark fantasy elements.
Inner Demons takes place on The Qube, a humorous and deeply Discworld-inspired world. The story follows two main POVs, one of Nelbow, a determined dwarf doing everything she can to save her brother from demonic possession. Her quest leads her to seek out the eccentric sorcerer Grumblechin, though the path of convincing her to perform an exorcism is far messier than she expects. In parallel, we follow Orsnart, an orc detective, whose investigation threads through the story with a more serious, murder-mystery tone. And then there’s Arran, the demon whose presence lingers for a while before he joins the action.
At its heart, the book explores the strength of family bonds, particularly Nelbow’s devotion to her brother and her resolve to bring him back from possession. Her compassion, persistence, and moral clarity make her an incredibly easy character to root for. Her chapters were consistently delightful, full of humor and warmth that reminded me why I love satirical fantasy. Orsnart grew on me by the end, but his early chapters felt less engaging and lacked the same charm. Once their paths intersected, the story found its stride again.
Platt’s worldbuilding and writing style clearly comes from a place of admiration for Pratchett. The humor lands well and the world is rich and vibrant. At times, though, the book feels a bit longer than necessary, and Orsnart’s less satisfying POV meanders before intersecting with Nelbow’s story. A tighter structural edit, especially in the detective sections, would have strengthened the pacing.
Zoe Harlen’s is an exceptional voice performer. Her character voices are distinct, expressive, and wonderfully suited to the world’s humor and energy. That said, the audio production could have been cleaner, as occasional background noise and breaths pull the listener out of the immersion. Stronger post-production would elevate the listening experience to match Platt's and Harlen’s talent.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, the humor hits just right, and the social critique adds a thoughtful layer. I highly recommend it for readers who miss Discworld and want a book that captures its spirit without copying it. Fans of humorous fantasy, satire, or cozy-ish adventures with medium stakes will find a lot to love here.
Inner Demons is a nostalgic, heartfelt tribute to Pratchett from an author who clearly treasures what Discworld meant to readers. It left me smiling, entertained, and wanting more. With slightly tighter pacing and cleaner audio editing, this could easily be a top-tier comedic fantasy. More importantly, it feels like only the beginning: there’s so much potential left in this world, and I’d gladly return.
I thank NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Book Title: Inner Demons
Author: Stephen B. Platt
Narrator: Zoe Harlen
Publisher: Bolinda Audio
Publishing Date: Oct 28, 2025
Rating: 4/5
#NetGalley #InnerDemons #StephenBPlatt #ZoeHarlen #BolindaAudio #TerryPratchett #Discworld
October 20, 2025
actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
this was all sorts of crazy and fun and wild! the mishmash of concepts and fantastical creatures here makes for a whirlwind of an adventure, complete with lovable characters and endearing relationships!
i think there’s just a bit too much happening all at once. i find myself getting lost a few times while reading the book and would sometimes have to re-listen to some of the chapters to wrap my head around what’s happening.
apart from that though everything about this book just *screams* a fun and chaotically good time!!! i found myself smiling and chuckling while listening to this too — stephen b. platt is so witty!!
one last note — the audiobook is PHENOMENAL. pls give it a listen if you have the chance!
this was all sorts of crazy and fun and wild! the mishmash of concepts and fantastical creatures here makes for a whirlwind of an adventure, complete with lovable characters and endearing relationships!
i think there’s just a bit too much happening all at once. i find myself getting lost a few times while reading the book and would sometimes have to re-listen to some of the chapters to wrap my head around what’s happening.
apart from that though everything about this book just *screams* a fun and chaotically good time!!! i found myself smiling and chuckling while listening to this too — stephen b. platt is so witty!!
one last note — the audiobook is PHENOMENAL. pls give it a listen if you have the chance!
January 10, 2026
3.5
As an unabashed Discworld stan this is an oddly difficult review to write. I'm painfully ambivalent as it essentially reads like Pratchett fanfic, evoking the nostalgia of an homage, but also drawing a direct comparison to an impossibly high target. If it wants to compete with Discworld I'm afraid it never will, and I suspect the author also aspires to step out and away from the shadow of the Great and Powerful Sir Terry Pratchett.
To be more optimistic, we could identify this as a niche genre which encompasses not just comedic fantasy but also whimsical scifi à la The Hitchhiker's Guides. If we were able to define and embrace this sub-genre then we could look at all of these works (andmany a few others) as an underrepresented genre of its own. In other words, Inner Demons reminds us of Discworld not because it's derivative, but because there are so few examples of this style of fiction.
And now to try and judge the book on its own merits, I'd say it manages to capture the sort of light-hearted, jocular, tongue-in-cheek, self-aware style of humour that I'm quite fond of whilst still maintaining an engaging narrative structure. In my opinion it does get a little excessive with mythical naming of just about every place, region and entity along the journey, and in an attempt to reflect modern values it leans on the preachy moralising side at times. I too am in favour of gender liberation, equality, et al, but I don't want a sermon about it in the middle of a fantasy book - it doesn't fit the narrative flow and just feels like virtue signalling.
As an unabashed Discworld stan this is an oddly difficult review to write. I'm painfully ambivalent as it essentially reads like Pratchett fanfic, evoking the nostalgia of an homage, but also drawing a direct comparison to an impossibly high target. If it wants to compete with Discworld I'm afraid it never will, and I suspect the author also aspires to step out and away from the shadow of the Great and Powerful Sir Terry Pratchett.
To be more optimistic, we could identify this as a niche genre which encompasses not just comedic fantasy but also whimsical scifi à la The Hitchhiker's Guides. If we were able to define and embrace this sub-genre then we could look at all of these works (and
And now to try and judge the book on its own merits, I'd say it manages to capture the sort of light-hearted, jocular, tongue-in-cheek, self-aware style of humour that I'm quite fond of whilst still maintaining an engaging narrative structure. In my opinion it does get a little excessive with mythical naming of just about every place, region and entity along the journey, and in an attempt to reflect modern values it leans on the preachy moralising side at times. I too am in favour of gender liberation, equality, et al, but I don't want a sermon about it in the middle of a fantasy book - it doesn't fit the narrative flow and just feels like virtue signalling.
November 7, 2025
I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an Audio ARC.
4/5 stars
From the very beginning, this story reminded me strongly of the Discworld. Its humour and whimsy were very similar and I loved that for it. As it went on, it lost me at times and I listened to it over about 10 days with many pauses. As someone who usually binges stories, I'd say this one was a little too long for its premise which made it a drag at times.
That being said, the world was intricate and the characters were mostly well-written and complex. The plot was long winded, but the ending landed quite well for me and I finished it on a high note.
The narration was also quite good no matter the different speeds I tried.
Overall, a quite enjoyable listen. I'd recommend it to Discworld fans.
4/5 stars
From the very beginning, this story reminded me strongly of the Discworld. Its humour and whimsy were very similar and I loved that for it. As it went on, it lost me at times and I listened to it over about 10 days with many pauses. As someone who usually binges stories, I'd say this one was a little too long for its premise which made it a drag at times.
That being said, the world was intricate and the characters were mostly well-written and complex. The plot was long winded, but the ending landed quite well for me and I finished it on a high note.
The narration was also quite good no matter the different speeds I tried.
Overall, a quite enjoyable listen. I'd recommend it to Discworld fans.
December 28, 2025
This was such an excellent book! It was so well written, and it really allowed me to fall and completely escape into this world that he created. The characters have so much depth and personality, I couldn't stop reading! And I love the footnotes!
December 15, 2025
ganz ok. wenn ich kein hörbuch hätte, wäre es eher ein dnf
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September 24, 2025DNF @ page 255( 50%)
I was really excited to start Inner Demons, especially as it was my very first ARC from a local author. The book is bizarre, funny, and has a quirky style that reminded me a lot of Terry Pratchett.
The story follows dwarf heroine Nelbow Rockfist, who becomes apprentice to the sorcerer Grumblinchin in hopes of convincing him to help exorcise a demon from her brother. I really enjoyed the chapters that focused on Nelbow—her perspective carried the story for me.
The narrative also shifts to Orsnart Rogtog, an orc private eye investigating a case tied to Nelbow’s brother. Unfortunately, I found myself struggling with these chapters and had to push through them, which slowed my reading momentum.
Overall, the humor and originality were strong enough to keep me entertained for a while, but ultimately this wasn’t the right fit for me and I DNF’d about halfway through. I’ve never been much of a Terry Pratchett fan either, so I think this style just isn’t for me personally—but readers who love quirky, offbeat fantasy with lots of humour will likely enjoy it more.
I was really excited to start Inner Demons, especially as it was my very first ARC from a local author. The book is bizarre, funny, and has a quirky style that reminded me a lot of Terry Pratchett.
The story follows dwarf heroine Nelbow Rockfist, who becomes apprentice to the sorcerer Grumblinchin in hopes of convincing him to help exorcise a demon from her brother. I really enjoyed the chapters that focused on Nelbow—her perspective carried the story for me.
The narrative also shifts to Orsnart Rogtog, an orc private eye investigating a case tied to Nelbow’s brother. Unfortunately, I found myself struggling with these chapters and had to push through them, which slowed my reading momentum.
Overall, the humor and originality were strong enough to keep me entertained for a while, but ultimately this wasn’t the right fit for me and I DNF’d about halfway through. I’ve never been much of a Terry Pratchett fan either, so I think this style just isn’t for me personally—but readers who love quirky, offbeat fantasy with lots of humour will likely enjoy it more.
Read
November 15, 2025Why I read it: Local author? Check. Funny-but-serious fantasy with footnotes (the FFF)? Check. So I had to read it.
Thoughts: I have complicated feelings about this book that, honestly, I don't think I should spend the time trying to uncomplicate because life is too short, and I think in the end it just boils down to this: I wanted so badly to like it that the disappointment of it feels much sharper than I think it normally would if I had just come upon this book randomly later, rather than getting my grubby fingers on it at launch.
And why was it a disappointment? Well, to me it reads like early Discworld on steroids. I'm not super into early Discworld, but at least I can follow it and get it up for it (and by "it" I mean "my interest") to an extent, so if this was like that, then I would've been happy, I suppose. But I feel like even early Pratchett knew when to pull back a little bit, while Inner Demons goes full steam ahead into unabashed quirkiness. The serious plot of it seems too thin to support the hefty size of the novel, and frequently gets choked out by the frill and frippery of worldbuilding where every other character has an absolutely ridiculous name (and the names get worse as the cast move on to Phonos) that I found tedious to keep track of, and I'm pretty sure I've already read some of the jokes in this book in other books (the only one I can recall off the top of my head is Constable Bootcatcher thinking that inside every police officer is another police officer who wants to do all the cool cop shit, like kick down doors and arrest perps, which is almost word for word something I've just recently re-read in Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London).
Also, idk, maybe I'm just a Grinch, but none of these characters were likeable. I read the whole thing not because I was invested in specific characters' outcomes, but because I wanted to know what the point of it all was, and I'm not even sure I got that in the end. There were lots of lore drops and heavy hints at political machinations across the... well, was it across the entire Qube, or just on this one face of it? I don't remember. But there are political machinations aplenty, and also hooks for a sequel aplenty, I suppose. The road can go on to the elf kingdom/tyranny, or to the university down south, or stick with Nelbow. But I'm getting off at this stop, thank you.
Would I read more from this author: Maybe several books down the line. I did see great potential in here, so I really hope he keeps writing. Improvement is inevitable.
Would I recommend it: Yeah. Other people are likely to be more receptive to it.
Would I reread it: No.
Thoughts: I have complicated feelings about this book that, honestly, I don't think I should spend the time trying to uncomplicate because life is too short, and I think in the end it just boils down to this: I wanted so badly to like it that the disappointment of it feels much sharper than I think it normally would if I had just come upon this book randomly later, rather than getting my grubby fingers on it at launch.
And why was it a disappointment? Well, to me it reads like early Discworld on steroids. I'm not super into early Discworld, but at least I can follow it and get it up for it (and by "it" I mean "my interest") to an extent, so if this was like that, then I would've been happy, I suppose. But I feel like even early Pratchett knew when to pull back a little bit, while Inner Demons goes full steam ahead into unabashed quirkiness. The serious plot of it seems too thin to support the hefty size of the novel, and frequently gets choked out by the frill and frippery of worldbuilding where every other character has an absolutely ridiculous name (and the names get worse as the cast move on to Phonos) that I found tedious to keep track of, and I'm pretty sure I've already read some of the jokes in this book in other books (the only one I can recall off the top of my head is Constable Bootcatcher thinking that inside every police officer is another police officer who wants to do all the cool cop shit, like kick down doors and arrest perps, which is almost word for word something I've just recently re-read in Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London).
Also, idk, maybe I'm just a Grinch, but none of these characters were likeable. I read the whole thing not because I was invested in specific characters' outcomes, but because I wanted to know what the point of it all was, and I'm not even sure I got that in the end. There were lots of lore drops and heavy hints at political machinations across the... well, was it across the entire Qube, or just on this one face of it? I don't remember. But there are political machinations aplenty, and also hooks for a sequel aplenty, I suppose. The road can go on to the elf kingdom/tyranny, or to the university down south, or stick with Nelbow. But I'm getting off at this stop, thank you.
Would I read more from this author: Maybe several books down the line. I did see great potential in here, so I really hope he keeps writing. Improvement is inevitable.
Would I recommend it: Yeah. Other people are likely to be more receptive to it.
Would I reread it: No.
October 23, 2025
Well, that was one totally crazy entertaining story! Very much in the tones of Terry Pratchet style with quirky odd characters, a fast paced wild story of demons, missing halflings, a sister on a search to find a sorcerer to save her brother, and a orc private eye dumped in the middle of it all with some elves snooping around too. There were so many zany happenings that I just went hung on and went along for the ride!
I really loved Nelbow. The way she was willing to do anything to save her brother, even to hunting down the feared Grumblechin, famed for her power, and her temper. Yes, there is of course the turning of people into frogs or toads, awesome libraries of books that sometime make a run for it and have secrets to uncover, plus things like demons that cover the sin of gluten (a very niche market so far in this book) and cats that may or may not be real. Her journey really takes her places and I liked how despite wanting to save her brother, she also learned some cool stuff about her self and abilities that complicate and make the tale even wilder! I liked her point of view the best, though I also enjoyed cheering Orsnart along. Life as a private eye is really tough, especially when you are an orc! And wildness extreme ensues when those two meet up and find out that maybe they are working on the same issue! The climax and ending were peak craziness and I enjoyed listening to the whole thing and wish Nelbow the best with her adventures after the whole brother incident.
This was a zany entertaining audiobook that I had loads of fun listening to. The narrator, Zoe Harlen did a great job in bringing this cube shaped planet and all its inhabitants to life! I am glad I got the chance to listen to this and many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to do so.
I really loved Nelbow. The way she was willing to do anything to save her brother, even to hunting down the feared Grumblechin, famed for her power, and her temper. Yes, there is of course the turning of people into frogs or toads, awesome libraries of books that sometime make a run for it and have secrets to uncover, plus things like demons that cover the sin of gluten (a very niche market so far in this book) and cats that may or may not be real. Her journey really takes her places and I liked how despite wanting to save her brother, she also learned some cool stuff about her self and abilities that complicate and make the tale even wilder! I liked her point of view the best, though I also enjoyed cheering Orsnart along. Life as a private eye is really tough, especially when you are an orc! And wildness extreme ensues when those two meet up and find out that maybe they are working on the same issue! The climax and ending were peak craziness and I enjoyed listening to the whole thing and wish Nelbow the best with her adventures after the whole brother incident.
This was a zany entertaining audiobook that I had loads of fun listening to. The narrator, Zoe Harlen did a great job in bringing this cube shaped planet and all its inhabitants to life! I am glad I got the chance to listen to this and many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to do so.
October 23, 2025
Distinct over-under-tones of Terry Pratchett. Not a bad thing. It's going to be a risk venturing into territory where Pratchett reigns supreme and I am very glad I followed this author there.
Inner Demons comes at you at a cracking pace with enough wudgel-kielding nonsense, plot speed bumps and anything but relatable (ugh) characters to make this a highly entertaining fantasy read. There is a wealth of fun and original ideas around magic, kwantum (Desist, spellchecker!) and identity/gender/racial politics to keep the alert mind happy. Those equipped with soggier brains have orcs, trolls, beer, fights, skullduggery, oh and death. Did I mention demons?
Maybe not everything lands quite as well, maybe sometimes I felt the author strain to make the humour work, but there was enough zany wisecracking to keep me beguiled. There is an underlying intelligence about, or curiosity regarding all things Fysics and Filsosphy that buttresses the structure of this novel, and then the idea of gluten-free, egg, or vegetable spells that peppered the whole with silliness sprinkles that we never knew we needed.
Highly recommend and hope the author will continue this as a series because I want more!
Inner Demons comes at you at a cracking pace with enough wudgel-kielding nonsense, plot speed bumps and anything but relatable (ugh) characters to make this a highly entertaining fantasy read. There is a wealth of fun and original ideas around magic, kwantum (Desist, spellchecker!) and identity/gender/racial politics to keep the alert mind happy. Those equipped with soggier brains have orcs, trolls, beer, fights, skullduggery, oh and death. Did I mention demons?
Maybe not everything lands quite as well, maybe sometimes I felt the author strain to make the humour work, but there was enough zany wisecracking to keep me beguiled. There is an underlying intelligence about, or curiosity regarding all things Fysics and Filsosphy that buttresses the structure of this novel, and then the idea of gluten-free, egg, or vegetable spells that peppered the whole with silliness sprinkles that we never knew we needed.
Highly recommend and hope the author will continue this as a series because I want more!
November 3, 2025
A funny, clever, tongue in cheek fantasy comedy offering with vibes of traditional D&D style fantasy. Inner Demons had me giggling, smirking, snorting and saying 'I understand that reference' all throughout (I can imagine how many more references there were that related to things I don't know about - I liked the science ones especially).
The story of Nelbow and Orsnart hunting down their fugitive led us to some excellent side characters (Grumblechin is the sorcerer of my heart) and animal companions (Sim the cat was my fave but honourable mention to Tholly the ram), the world was well built and easy to understand, I loved the footnotes full of extra information, history, etc.
The quest was good fun and had a low stakes feel that built up as we went on and learned more about the different characters and how their storylines converged.
Something I found a bit annoying was the lack of chapter headers - there were clear points that signified change of POV or a new setting / jump in time but they weren't separated into proper chapters - I like having a clear spot to pause at before I put it down, but as I read an ARC, I'm unsure whether this is the case in the finished version as well.
All in all, a great, fun read and I'd absolutely read more from Stephen B Platt.
The story of Nelbow and Orsnart hunting down their fugitive led us to some excellent side characters (Grumblechin is the sorcerer of my heart) and animal companions (Sim the cat was my fave but honourable mention to Tholly the ram), the world was well built and easy to understand, I loved the footnotes full of extra information, history, etc.
The quest was good fun and had a low stakes feel that built up as we went on and learned more about the different characters and how their storylines converged.
Something I found a bit annoying was the lack of chapter headers - there were clear points that signified change of POV or a new setting / jump in time but they weren't separated into proper chapters - I like having a clear spot to pause at before I put it down, but as I read an ARC, I'm unsure whether this is the case in the finished version as well.
All in all, a great, fun read and I'd absolutely read more from Stephen B Platt.
October 5, 2025
This fantasy audiobook is so much fun. The first chapter alone is a Science teacher’s delight, and had me in fits of giggles and full belly laughs from the off. It starts with a Physics is ‘Phun’ vibe, as we are introduced to gravity, things on the ground, planets and to a special cube shaped planet.
The rest of the book is equally entertaining, with lots of dead-pan humour, some slap stick fighting, including the use of a trowel and banana as seriously offence weapons (against demons), some very painful deaths which needs investigating, a quantum cheating cat, lots of painfully good puns and wonderful misunderstandings and plays on words. At times it reminded me a bit of a mix of the humour of Terry Pratchett and a feel of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The bottom line is that this is fun. So I recommend you immediately add this audiobook to your listening wish list, and pick it up asap.
Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
The rest of the book is equally entertaining, with lots of dead-pan humour, some slap stick fighting, including the use of a trowel and banana as seriously offence weapons (against demons), some very painful deaths which needs investigating, a quantum cheating cat, lots of painfully good puns and wonderful misunderstandings and plays on words. At times it reminded me a bit of a mix of the humour of Terry Pratchett and a feel of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The bottom line is that this is fun. So I recommend you immediately add this audiobook to your listening wish list, and pick it up asap.
Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
January 20, 2026
Fun setting and plot but the writing style is not for me
I really loved the noir themes from orsnart and the more classical fantasy from nelbow, the plot it’s self is interesting and captivating
What lacks for me is I feel like some of the story beats are just missed a lot, grumblechin just he’s sidelined for had the story, the first 100ish pages feels like a separate plot altogether, every now and then it dips into a more adult theme just barely to be ripped back into a YA vibe but the biggest issue I have is the plot just jumps Beats so quickly and it leaves it feeling like there’s no big impact
Some issues I also have are personal preference with reading, no chapters just perspectives leaves it feeling like you can’t catch a breath and even then some character perspectives are so quick, like aaran was barely in the story and I feel like it was a missed opportunity. I don’t really understand the “entity” but it was a cool twist
Altogether a fun read with good ideas and vibes, goofy and camp but could have used a little fine tuning (imo)
I really loved the noir themes from orsnart and the more classical fantasy from nelbow, the plot it’s self is interesting and captivating
What lacks for me is I feel like some of the story beats are just missed a lot, grumblechin just he’s sidelined for had the story, the first 100ish pages feels like a separate plot altogether, every now and then it dips into a more adult theme just barely to be ripped back into a YA vibe but the biggest issue I have is the plot just jumps Beats so quickly and it leaves it feeling like there’s no big impact
Some issues I also have are personal preference with reading, no chapters just perspectives leaves it feeling like you can’t catch a breath and even then some character perspectives are so quick, like aaran was barely in the story and I feel like it was a missed opportunity. I don’t really understand the “entity” but it was a cool twist
Altogether a fun read with good ideas and vibes, goofy and camp but could have used a little fine tuning (imo)
October 14, 2025
Inner Demons by Stephen Platt 💫
Releases October 28th
This is definitely one to add to your TBR, i haven't had this much fun reading a book in a very long time.
If you are a fan of DnD, Baldur's Gate 3, discworld, or satirical fantasy you’ll absolutely love this one! It's a perfect mix of humour, fantasy, and mystery.
I also really want to touch on the footnotes, they were SO refreshing. I was actively searching for them on each page, I thoroughly enjoyed the humour, lore and small explanations. Everything was beautifully crafted 💫
The way Stephen writes is incredibly clever and well thought out as we followed our three protagonists: Nelbow, Orsnart and Demon on their strange six-sided planet called The Qube. The storyline and characters kept me so engrossed in their comings and goings and they each had important elements during their quests.
This was such a great read and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future releases from Stephen!
Releases October 28th
This is definitely one to add to your TBR, i haven't had this much fun reading a book in a very long time.
If you are a fan of DnD, Baldur's Gate 3, discworld, or satirical fantasy you’ll absolutely love this one! It's a perfect mix of humour, fantasy, and mystery.
I also really want to touch on the footnotes, they were SO refreshing. I was actively searching for them on each page, I thoroughly enjoyed the humour, lore and small explanations. Everything was beautifully crafted 💫
The way Stephen writes is incredibly clever and well thought out as we followed our three protagonists: Nelbow, Orsnart and Demon on their strange six-sided planet called The Qube. The storyline and characters kept me so engrossed in their comings and goings and they each had important elements during their quests.
This was such a great read and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future releases from Stephen!
November 3, 2025
*Audio ARC review* Thank you to Bolinda Audio & NetGalley for the arc!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the narration
Narrator - Zoe Harlen
I think I have found a new favourite narrator! Holy fecking balls, Zoe did such an amazing job. 10/10. She manage to capture the different personalities & accents and has incredible comedic timing. I would listen to anything if she narrates it!
Now on to the story. Inner Demons had such a hilarious, cozy fantasy vibe all the way through. Think Terry Pratchett/T. Kingfisher/Travis Baldree. We are treated to a variety of mythical creatures who all have their own cultures and prejudices. The world building has a unique element of the world being a cube. There are multiple points of view which follow their own journeys until they all converge near the end of the book.
It did feel like this book was made up multiple little side quests rather than a single focused quest. It made it easier to break up the listening of it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the narration
Narrator - Zoe Harlen
I think I have found a new favourite narrator! Holy fecking balls, Zoe did such an amazing job. 10/10. She manage to capture the different personalities & accents and has incredible comedic timing. I would listen to anything if she narrates it!
Now on to the story. Inner Demons had such a hilarious, cozy fantasy vibe all the way through. Think Terry Pratchett/T. Kingfisher/Travis Baldree. We are treated to a variety of mythical creatures who all have their own cultures and prejudices. The world building has a unique element of the world being a cube. There are multiple points of view which follow their own journeys until they all converge near the end of the book.
It did feel like this book was made up multiple little side quests rather than a single focused quest. It made it easier to break up the listening of it.
Read
October 11, 2025It’s bad enough when your brother is possessed by a demon. It’s even worse when the only person who might be able to help turns you into a toad on her doorstep and tells you to keck off. But the fact that the planet is shaped like a cube? Well, that really isn’t her problem.
Inner Demons is equally as entertaining as it is creative, and has some really fun vibes. It is filled with dead-pan humour and laughs. We follow along on an important quest with perfect pacing that keeps you wanting to read more and more. It feels like following along on a perfectly crafted DnD campaign with quirky physics, fun word play and an overall entertaining time!
Thank you to New Dawn for an ARC of Inner Demons, all opinions are my own.
Inner Demons is equally as entertaining as it is creative, and has some really fun vibes. It is filled with dead-pan humour and laughs. We follow along on an important quest with perfect pacing that keeps you wanting to read more and more. It feels like following along on a perfectly crafted DnD campaign with quirky physics, fun word play and an overall entertaining time!
Thank you to New Dawn for an ARC of Inner Demons, all opinions are my own.
November 19, 2025
A very good read; the first book I haven't been able to put down in a long while. The book is, quite honestly, funny; I didn't expect to chuckle throughout the read. It simply slips down the visual gullet - helped along by breaks in the story without paragraphs - which led to 'just one more section' which led to 'just one more section' which led to 'just one more section' and so on...
The world is interestingly built too; I think some sort of Silmarillion to flesh out the world would be delightful.
All-in-all, a good and easy read with interesting characters and intrigue. Highly recommend!
The world is interestingly built too; I think some sort of Silmarillion to flesh out the world would be delightful.
All-in-all, a good and easy read with interesting characters and intrigue. Highly recommend!
December 31, 2025
This was such a fun read, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The humour was great and the characters were very loveable. I would definitely like to read more from this fantastic cubed world.
My only criticism is it was a bit hard to tell when the perspective changed and whose perspective it was, which made it a bit jarring at times. Also the audiobook narrator did the voice amazingly but the background noises throughout were not very nice to listen to.
My only criticism is it was a bit hard to tell when the perspective changed and whose perspective it was, which made it a bit jarring at times. Also the audiobook narrator did the voice amazingly but the background noises throughout were not very nice to listen to.
January 2, 2026
3.5
A fun discworld inspired adventure with a couple of faults:
- Has the same style of humor as discworld, but lacks the substance (commentary) Terry would include.
- The humor got tiring about ~70% of the way through.
Not bad for a debut author, and it's always nice to read something by an aussie author.
A fun discworld inspired adventure with a couple of faults:
- Has the same style of humor as discworld, but lacks the substance (commentary) Terry would include.
- The humor got tiring about ~70% of the way through.
Not bad for a debut author, and it's always nice to read something by an aussie author.
October 28, 2025
This book is witty, inventive and fun! If you like Terry Pratchett then you'll love this book! I highly recommend it. It's an amazing first book by a new author and I'm looking forward to the next book from Stephen.
November 2, 2025
As a gluten free person, the concept of a demon that can only possess people who are intolerant to gluten when they've eaten gluten is DEEPLY relatable. Yeah it really is like having a demon haunt your insides.
In other news, this book was so fun! Platt hits wry humour in the style of Terry Pratchett, twisting classic fantasy tropes with a comedic lens. Having a female dwarf as a main character was great, playing with gender expectations and fantasy culture.
I'd love to see more books written in this world, the history that's hinted at is fascinating and utterly unique!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In other news, this book was so fun! Platt hits wry humour in the style of Terry Pratchett, twisting classic fantasy tropes with a comedic lens. Having a female dwarf as a main character was great, playing with gender expectations and fantasy culture.
I'd love to see more books written in this world, the history that's hinted at is fascinating and utterly unique!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2025
This book is a whimsical fantasy adventure starring a determined dwarf on a mission to save her brother from demonic possession. The story is sprinkled with humour, bursts of silliness, and a cozy vibe that makes the journey feel more like a fireside tale than a grim epic. I felt the books handling of the metaphorical addiction and trauma gave the adventure surprising depth without weighing it down. Overall an enjoyable light read that had me laughing.
January 6, 2026
3.75 stars. 0.25 deducted for my personal experience as it took me a significant chunk to get engrossed. Though I was interested in what could be possibly thrown at us next from the start.
This was a lot of fun and I'm glad I got onto reading this Christmas gift during my holiday.
This was a lot of fun and I'm glad I got onto reading this Christmas gift during my holiday.
January 17, 2026
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Witty, intriguing, nerdy references, epic adventure and great characters. This is my type of fantasy. 10/10 no notes. Please write a sequel involving Nelbows growth as a sorcerer and a quest to get the book back!
Read
October 3, 2025Exorcists are out of office, please try again later.
3⭐️
Audiobook narrator was excellent.
Arc from NetGalley
3⭐️
Audiobook narrator was excellent.
Arc from NetGalley
November 4, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
I have been SO excited for this book!! We follow a dwarf, which I thought was so cool, I have never read from the POV of a Dwarf… honestly I don’t think I have ever read a book with Dwarfs as a main/ side character!!
I loved all of the creatures in this book, I thought they were all written so well! It did take me a bit to get the hang of the writing style but I ended up eventually really liking it!!
I did think it was a lot of telling, I felt like I was being so overwhelmed with so much information that I got a bit side tracked on what actually was happening, if that makes sense??
I have heard nothing but good things about the audiobook so I might listen to the audio later next year!!
I have been SO excited for this book!! We follow a dwarf, which I thought was so cool, I have never read from the POV of a Dwarf… honestly I don’t think I have ever read a book with Dwarfs as a main/ side character!!
I loved all of the creatures in this book, I thought they were all written so well! It did take me a bit to get the hang of the writing style but I ended up eventually really liking it!!
I did think it was a lot of telling, I felt like I was being so overwhelmed with so much information that I got a bit side tracked on what actually was happening, if that makes sense??
I have heard nothing but good things about the audiobook so I might listen to the audio later next year!!
January 10, 2026
A cosy read that kept me company in the car and kitchen. Left feeling dissatisfied.
February 2, 2026
if you like the discworld books you'll enjoy this, good stuff.
February 5, 2026
Great world and a very good story. A nicely flowing book that I breezed through with many interesting twist on some classic fantasy species. Look forward to more from this author
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