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The Fate of Angels and Demons
Lilly, a priestess sent to prevent a prophecy that foretold the death of her brother, the heir to Oceanica's throne, from unfolding falls in love with the demon king that is said to be her brother’s killer—and goes even more insane than he is.
Michael, the demon king of Tendu, has long resented the royal family of Oceanica due to the part they played in his father’s downfall—little does he know, his obsession with this priestess might lead to his own.
Michael, the demon king of Tendu, has long resented the royal family of Oceanica due to the part they played in his father’s downfall—little does he know, his obsession with this priestess might lead to his own.
388 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2026
About the author
Maria Levato
4 books13 followersMaria Levato is a BIPOC woman and disabled veteran. She has written three books, The Islands of Rune (2023), Journey to Rallem (2025), and The Fate of Angels and Demons (2026). Maria also writes the Nerdology 101 blog, as seen on her website.
Outside of her writing, Maria serves the writing community in other ways. She’s the chair of the PRO Advisory Committee for the Romance Writers of America and an ambassador for the Washington, D.C. chapter of The Authors Guild.
Outside of her writing, Maria serves the writing community in other ways. She’s the chair of the PRO Advisory Committee for the Romance Writers of America and an ambassador for the Washington, D.C. chapter of The Authors Guild.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2026
ARC Review – The Fate of Angels and Demons
First, thank you for the opportunity to read this advance copy. I never take that lightly. That said, I struggled deeply with this book, and not in the way a dark fantasy intends.
To be brutally honest, the writing itself is rough. The prose lacks polish, emotional subtlety, and narrative discipline. Scenes that should feel intense or dramatic instead read juvenile and exaggerated. Dialogue often feels unnatural, repetitive, and heavy-handed, with characters explaining their emotions rather than allowing readers to experience them. At times, it genuinely felt like the story was written by someone who just discovered smut and kinks and decided to build a plot around them rather than the other way around.
The storytelling suffers heavily from unnecessary multiple points of view. Instead of enriching the narrative, the constant shifts fracture momentum and make it difficult to stay immersed. Just as a scene begins to develop tension, the perspective jumps elsewhere, diluting emotional impact and disrupting focus. Rather than feeling expansive, it feels chaotic.
Lilly, as a female main character, is particularly disappointing. She is framed as powerful, conflicted, and morally complex, yet her actions rarely align with that portrayal. Her emotional swings feel unearned, and her decisions often contradict the intelligence the story insists she possesses. Instead of depth, she reads inconsistent and impulsive.
Michael fares no better. He is clearly meant to embody the dark, morally gray antihero archetype, yet he lacks the charisma, nuance, or emotional layering that makes that trope compelling. He is not book boyfriend material. He is cruel without complexity, domineering without chemistry, and obsessive without vulnerability. There is a difference between dark romance tension and gratuitous degradation, and this leans heavily into the latter.
The book is undeniably filthy, but not in a way that enhances character development or relationship dynamics. The explicit scenes overwhelm the narrative rather than serve it. Shock value replaces intimacy, and kink replaces connection. It often reads more like indulgent fantasy than carefully crafted storytelling.
There is also a strong attempt to evoke the political fantasy romance tension of The Bridge Kingdom, but it feels derivative rather than inspired. Instead of layered intrigue and slow burn strategic romance, we get a chaotic and hypersexualized version without the structural strength that made that series work.
Ultimately, every chapter felt longer than it was. Every scene dragged. I kept waiting for depth, for growth, for cohesion, and it never came. By the end, finishing it felt less like an accomplishment and more like endurance. I do not regret being chosen to read the ARC, but I do regret the time I spent forcing myself through it.
This story may resonate with readers looking purely for explicit dark fantasy erotica, but for those hoping for strong prose, refined storytelling, and emotionally intelligent character arcs, this one falls painfully short.
First, thank you for the opportunity to read this advance copy. I never take that lightly. That said, I struggled deeply with this book, and not in the way a dark fantasy intends.
To be brutally honest, the writing itself is rough. The prose lacks polish, emotional subtlety, and narrative discipline. Scenes that should feel intense or dramatic instead read juvenile and exaggerated. Dialogue often feels unnatural, repetitive, and heavy-handed, with characters explaining their emotions rather than allowing readers to experience them. At times, it genuinely felt like the story was written by someone who just discovered smut and kinks and decided to build a plot around them rather than the other way around.
The storytelling suffers heavily from unnecessary multiple points of view. Instead of enriching the narrative, the constant shifts fracture momentum and make it difficult to stay immersed. Just as a scene begins to develop tension, the perspective jumps elsewhere, diluting emotional impact and disrupting focus. Rather than feeling expansive, it feels chaotic.
Lilly, as a female main character, is particularly disappointing. She is framed as powerful, conflicted, and morally complex, yet her actions rarely align with that portrayal. Her emotional swings feel unearned, and her decisions often contradict the intelligence the story insists she possesses. Instead of depth, she reads inconsistent and impulsive.
Michael fares no better. He is clearly meant to embody the dark, morally gray antihero archetype, yet he lacks the charisma, nuance, or emotional layering that makes that trope compelling. He is not book boyfriend material. He is cruel without complexity, domineering without chemistry, and obsessive without vulnerability. There is a difference between dark romance tension and gratuitous degradation, and this leans heavily into the latter.
The book is undeniably filthy, but not in a way that enhances character development or relationship dynamics. The explicit scenes overwhelm the narrative rather than serve it. Shock value replaces intimacy, and kink replaces connection. It often reads more like indulgent fantasy than carefully crafted storytelling.
There is also a strong attempt to evoke the political fantasy romance tension of The Bridge Kingdom, but it feels derivative rather than inspired. Instead of layered intrigue and slow burn strategic romance, we get a chaotic and hypersexualized version without the structural strength that made that series work.
Ultimately, every chapter felt longer than it was. Every scene dragged. I kept waiting for depth, for growth, for cohesion, and it never came. By the end, finishing it felt less like an accomplishment and more like endurance. I do not regret being chosen to read the ARC, but I do regret the time I spent forcing myself through it.
This story may resonate with readers looking purely for explicit dark fantasy erotica, but for those hoping for strong prose, refined storytelling, and emotionally intelligent character arcs, this one falls painfully short.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, Maria Levato, in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, thank you to Maria for trusting me with this story. It completely surprised me in the best way.
At the heart of the story is Lilly, a Priestess marked by a darkness her mother, Queen Josella, fears may make her unfit to rule. Lilly witnesses a prophecy foretelling that one day her brother, Prince Callian, and her lover, Michael, will go to war where only one will survive. That looming fate adds tension to every choice she makes and kept me on edge throughout the entire book.
The romance is intense, devoted, and obsessive in the best way. The spice is amazing, but what I appreciated most was how emotionally charged it felt. Michael doesn’t try to suppress Lilly’s darkness, he embraces it. I absolutely love how he supports her growth, her strength, and the parts of herself she has been told to hide. Watching Lilly step into her power and choose both love and herself was one of my favorite aspects of the story.
I also loved the bold relationship dynamics in this world. Queen Josella being married to two kings was refreshing and confidently written. The potential between Prince Callian, Alexandria, and Julius adds another compelling layer that I’m very interested to see developed further.
This story has high-stakes action, a prophecy that looms over every decision, political tension and betrayal, with emotionally intense romance.
There is a major betrayal that genuinely shocked me, and that cliffhanger left me needing book two immediately.
If you enjoy fantasy romance with morally complex characters, powerful heroines embracing their darker sides, and devotion that borders on obsession, this book is definitely worth picking up.
First of all, thank you to Maria for trusting me with this story. It completely surprised me in the best way.
At the heart of the story is Lilly, a Priestess marked by a darkness her mother, Queen Josella, fears may make her unfit to rule. Lilly witnesses a prophecy foretelling that one day her brother, Prince Callian, and her lover, Michael, will go to war where only one will survive. That looming fate adds tension to every choice she makes and kept me on edge throughout the entire book.
The romance is intense, devoted, and obsessive in the best way. The spice is amazing, but what I appreciated most was how emotionally charged it felt. Michael doesn’t try to suppress Lilly’s darkness, he embraces it. I absolutely love how he supports her growth, her strength, and the parts of herself she has been told to hide. Watching Lilly step into her power and choose both love and herself was one of my favorite aspects of the story.
I also loved the bold relationship dynamics in this world. Queen Josella being married to two kings was refreshing and confidently written. The potential between Prince Callian, Alexandria, and Julius adds another compelling layer that I’m very interested to see developed further.
This story has high-stakes action, a prophecy that looms over every decision, political tension and betrayal, with emotionally intense romance.
There is a major betrayal that genuinely shocked me, and that cliffhanger left me needing book two immediately.
If you enjoy fantasy romance with morally complex characters, powerful heroines embracing their darker sides, and devotion that borders on obsession, this book is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Maria Levato for trusting me with this book.
The Fate of Angels and Demons offers an ambitious blend of political fantasy, morally gray romance, and layered world-building. I genuinely enjoyed the scope of the story — the different islands, kingdoms, demonic realm, and spirit realm created an expansive backdrop that added weight to the central conflict. The magic system was intriguing and introduced organically throughout the narrative, though I would have appreciated slightly more clarity earlier on to better ground the rules of the world.
One of the boldest elements of this story is Lily’s character arc. Watching her shift from a morally devout priestess to someone far more chaotic was fascinating. However, I occasionally wished that her descent was shown more through action and tension rather than explained through internal reflection. Similarly, the multiple POVs broadened the war narrative, but at times it diluted the intimacy between Lily and Michael, who are positioned as the emotional core of the story.
Despite these critiques, I was engaged throughout and am definitely interested in continuing the series. The cliffhanger leaves many threads unresolved, and I’m particularly curious to see how the war concludes and how certain secondary relationships develop in the next installment.
Overall, a strong, compelling read with clear potential that I’m excited to see expanded in book two.
The Fate of Angels and Demons offers an ambitious blend of political fantasy, morally gray romance, and layered world-building. I genuinely enjoyed the scope of the story — the different islands, kingdoms, demonic realm, and spirit realm created an expansive backdrop that added weight to the central conflict. The magic system was intriguing and introduced organically throughout the narrative, though I would have appreciated slightly more clarity earlier on to better ground the rules of the world.
One of the boldest elements of this story is Lily’s character arc. Watching her shift from a morally devout priestess to someone far more chaotic was fascinating. However, I occasionally wished that her descent was shown more through action and tension rather than explained through internal reflection. Similarly, the multiple POVs broadened the war narrative, but at times it diluted the intimacy between Lily and Michael, who are positioned as the emotional core of the story.
Despite these critiques, I was engaged throughout and am definitely interested in continuing the series. The cliffhanger leaves many threads unresolved, and I’m particularly curious to see how the war concludes and how certain secondary relationships develop in the next installment.
Overall, a strong, compelling read with clear potential that I’m excited to see expanded in book two.
May 17, 2026
Review of Advanced Copy received from Author
This book felt like descending into a cathedral lit entirely by red candles and bad decisions. The kind of story where love isn’t soft or safe. It’s consuming. Feverish. A prophecy wrapped around two people already halfway to destruction.
Lilly was such a fascinating FMC because she starts with purpose and duty, but the deeper she falls into Michael’s world, the more unhinged and addictive their relationship becomes. And honestly? Watching her spiral alongside the demon king was deliciously chaotic. She wasn’t there to fix him. She matched his energy and then somehow made it worse. Iconic behavior.
Michael absolutely delivered as the obsessive demon king. Angry, ruthless, carrying years of resentment like a blade under his ribs… yet completely undone by one priestess. Their chemistry had this dark magnetic pull that made every interaction feel dangerous. Every scene between them crackled like a curse waiting to happen.
The atmosphere in this book deserves its own standing ovation. Gothic fantasy vibes, prophecy-driven tension, royal politics, devotion twisted into obsession, and romance that feels one step away from becoming a blood ritual. I ate it up.
If you love:
🖤 obsessive love stories
🔥 morally gray characters
👑 demon kings
🩸 “I’d burn kingdoms for you” energy
✨ dark fantasy romance with chaos and tension
…this book will absolutely own your soul for a few hours.
Maria Levato created a romance that feels beautiful, tragic, and dangerously addictive all at once.
This book felt like descending into a cathedral lit entirely by red candles and bad decisions. The kind of story where love isn’t soft or safe. It’s consuming. Feverish. A prophecy wrapped around two people already halfway to destruction.
Lilly was such a fascinating FMC because she starts with purpose and duty, but the deeper she falls into Michael’s world, the more unhinged and addictive their relationship becomes. And honestly? Watching her spiral alongside the demon king was deliciously chaotic. She wasn’t there to fix him. She matched his energy and then somehow made it worse. Iconic behavior.
Michael absolutely delivered as the obsessive demon king. Angry, ruthless, carrying years of resentment like a blade under his ribs… yet completely undone by one priestess. Their chemistry had this dark magnetic pull that made every interaction feel dangerous. Every scene between them crackled like a curse waiting to happen.
The atmosphere in this book deserves its own standing ovation. Gothic fantasy vibes, prophecy-driven tension, royal politics, devotion twisted into obsession, and romance that feels one step away from becoming a blood ritual. I ate it up.
If you love:
🖤 obsessive love stories
🔥 morally gray characters
👑 demon kings
🩸 “I’d burn kingdoms for you” energy
✨ dark fantasy romance with chaos and tension
…this book will absolutely own your soul for a few hours.
Maria Levato created a romance that feels beautiful, tragic, and dangerously addictive all at once.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It took me a few chapters to really get into this book but after Lilly and Michael's 'meeting' at Nollent I couldnt put it down. The world the author has built is fascinating with an interesting magic system. There is also an amazing amount of diversity and representation which is like a breath of fresh air and makes the characters feel so believable.
My favorite quote, because it is such a powerful statment and really puts into perspective Michaels feelings for Lilly: "My queen shouldnt have to deal with my subjects, her subjects, rising against her. They should be ready to die for her. Every one of them. Thats my expectation as the King of Tendu."
**rated 4.5/5 starts on Fable but unfortunately Goodreads does not allow half star ratings.
My favorite quote, because it is such a powerful statment and really puts into perspective Michaels feelings for Lilly: "My queen shouldnt have to deal with my subjects, her subjects, rising against her. They should be ready to die for her. Every one of them. Thats my expectation as the King of Tendu."
**rated 4.5/5 starts on Fable but unfortunately Goodreads does not allow half star ratings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky to get an ARC copy of this!!! It was so good!!!! I stayed up way too late reading it because I just couldn’t put it down!!! The plot was amazing, the characters were well developed, the spicy was spicy, can’t wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was disappointed by how quickly Lilly changes her loyalty, even though it was explained why she turned alliances, I still felt it was done too rushed.
I also felt that some parts could have been explained more, and other parts could have less explanation.
It took the whole book to be focused on a war that never really happened, so leaving it on a cliffhanger was a good thing to do. I feel bad that I didnt enjoy this book as much as I wanted too, and Im hoping that it is more of a me issue, rather than an author issue.
The positives were the relationships, as thev were wholesome and raw. The fact that in each relationship, they were most happy when together, but also capable as individuals.
I also felt that some parts could have been explained more, and other parts could have less explanation.
It took the whole book to be focused on a war that never really happened, so leaving it on a cliffhanger was a good thing to do. I feel bad that I didnt enjoy this book as much as I wanted too, and Im hoping that it is more of a me issue, rather than an author issue.
The positives were the relationships, as thev were wholesome and raw. The fact that in each relationship, they were most happy when together, but also capable as individuals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews