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Demonic Reign
Not yet published
Expected 5 Jun 26She killed to earn his approval. She may die learning why she never should have.
Once upon a time, a demon king took a human woman.
From that bloodline, Nyx was born.
Nyx is the daughter of Ashmedai, one of the demon kings, raised in a world where power is currency and weakness is a death sentence. To survive his brutal regime, she did as she was told and became a ruthless assassin, chasing the one thing that has always eluded her father’s approval.
Her greatest advantage is Wisp, a winged, chameleon-like soul creature who can vanish into thin air and speak directly into her mind. Soul creatures don’t bond with demons. They never have. But Nyx is not entirely demon, and that human thread running through her blood tipped the scales. Through Wisp, she inherits the gift of invisibility, a power that makes her one of the most dangerous hunters in the realm, and gives her an edge no other demon can claim.
But edges dull, and Nyx is about to discover how quickly.
To earn her father’s recognition, Nyx enters the Shadow Syndicate trials, an elite competition reserved for bounty hunters bound to soul creatures, and the proving ground she has spent her entire life preparing for. But surviving the trials demands more than skill. It requires ruthless strategy, and the resolve to keep moving when betrayal comes, because it always does.
Then Nyx meets Elysia.
A single encounter with the mysterious woman pulls Nyx into something far larger than any trial she ever faced. What begins as a chance encounter unravels into forbidden truths that cannot be unlearned, and revelations that shake the foundation of everything Nyx thought she understood. The origins of the world. The nature of Samael and Lilith, beings she had always believed were gods, now something far more complicated. And Nyx herself, her past, her bloodline, her purpose, pulled into a fate far larger than the life she has spent every breath trying to survive.
For the first time, Nyx begins to question everything she has ever killed for. And as loyalties fracture and secrets surface, she is forced to ask how far she will go, for power, for survival, for the validation she has spent her entire life chasing.
Demonic Reign is a dark fantasy rooted in Kabbalistic mystical lore, set in a world of unforgiving ambition and lethal deception. At its core, it is a tale of survival, loyalty, and the price of uncovering the truth when the world wants you blind.
Once upon a time, a demon king took a human woman.
From that bloodline, Nyx was born.
Nyx is the daughter of Ashmedai, one of the demon kings, raised in a world where power is currency and weakness is a death sentence. To survive his brutal regime, she did as she was told and became a ruthless assassin, chasing the one thing that has always eluded her father’s approval.
Her greatest advantage is Wisp, a winged, chameleon-like soul creature who can vanish into thin air and speak directly into her mind. Soul creatures don’t bond with demons. They never have. But Nyx is not entirely demon, and that human thread running through her blood tipped the scales. Through Wisp, she inherits the gift of invisibility, a power that makes her one of the most dangerous hunters in the realm, and gives her an edge no other demon can claim.
But edges dull, and Nyx is about to discover how quickly.
To earn her father’s recognition, Nyx enters the Shadow Syndicate trials, an elite competition reserved for bounty hunters bound to soul creatures, and the proving ground she has spent her entire life preparing for. But surviving the trials demands more than skill. It requires ruthless strategy, and the resolve to keep moving when betrayal comes, because it always does.
Then Nyx meets Elysia.
A single encounter with the mysterious woman pulls Nyx into something far larger than any trial she ever faced. What begins as a chance encounter unravels into forbidden truths that cannot be unlearned, and revelations that shake the foundation of everything Nyx thought she understood. The origins of the world. The nature of Samael and Lilith, beings she had always believed were gods, now something far more complicated. And Nyx herself, her past, her bloodline, her purpose, pulled into a fate far larger than the life she has spent every breath trying to survive.
For the first time, Nyx begins to question everything she has ever killed for. And as loyalties fracture and secrets surface, she is forced to ask how far she will go, for power, for survival, for the validation she has spent her entire life chasing.
Demonic Reign is a dark fantasy rooted in Kabbalistic mystical lore, set in a world of unforgiving ambition and lethal deception. At its core, it is a tale of survival, loyalty, and the price of uncovering the truth when the world wants you blind.
373 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 5, 2026
9 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Devorah Leah Barrocas
2 books4 followersDevorah Leah Barrocas writes dark fantasy with occult undercurrents, high-stakes trials, and morally complex characters. Her debut novel, Demonic Reign, opens a planned duology built around power, loyalty, and the cost of realizing everything you thought you knew was wrong. She shares updates, behind-the-scenes notes, and new releases on TikTok and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Did not finish
March 11, 2026Well I feel likeI am not in the mood for this one bc I just can’t get hooked and don’t really have interest to try🤷♀️
March 16, 2026
Demonic Reign was sent to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was excellent. It’s an incredible dark fantasy packed with action and adventure. The MC is Nyx, the daughter of a demon king. She has spent her whole life hoping to win his approval, and she joins the Shadow Syndicate trials to do just that. These trials reminded me of a much more brutal version of the Hunger Games. The tasks the competitors are asked to do are nearly impossible and almost always fatal. The descriptions of these violent trials were so vivid that for brief moments I almost felt like I was reading a horror novel (in the best way). Following the trials Nyx meets a woman named Elysia who opens her eyes to several hard truths, and this leads to even more adventure. Throughout the book Nyx is supported by her three best friends Mal, Kal, and Raz. The banter between the four of them was so funny and enjoyable. The author did a great job of making these characters interesting and developing strong bonds between them. Nyx also has a soul creature named Wisp, who speaks directly into Nyx’s mind and can become invisible. The numerous mythical creatures and the lore in this book made it even more fun to read. While I wouldn’t call this a romantasy, Nyx does have a lady love interest and I’m really hoping to see their relationship bloom in the second book!
This book was excellent. It’s an incredible dark fantasy packed with action and adventure. The MC is Nyx, the daughter of a demon king. She has spent her whole life hoping to win his approval, and she joins the Shadow Syndicate trials to do just that. These trials reminded me of a much more brutal version of the Hunger Games. The tasks the competitors are asked to do are nearly impossible and almost always fatal. The descriptions of these violent trials were so vivid that for brief moments I almost felt like I was reading a horror novel (in the best way). Following the trials Nyx meets a woman named Elysia who opens her eyes to several hard truths, and this leads to even more adventure. Throughout the book Nyx is supported by her three best friends Mal, Kal, and Raz. The banter between the four of them was so funny and enjoyable. The author did a great job of making these characters interesting and developing strong bonds between them. Nyx also has a soul creature named Wisp, who speaks directly into Nyx’s mind and can become invisible. The numerous mythical creatures and the lore in this book made it even more fun to read. While I wouldn’t call this a romantasy, Nyx does have a lady love interest and I’m really hoping to see their relationship bloom in the second book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a ride! This was at is roots, a beautiful story of survival and what to do when everything you once believed isn't quite what it seems.
I was immediately drawn to Nyx and her need to please and seek out the approval of her less than savory father. The trials she endures to prove herself are strenuous and full of unexpected challenges. The way the author was able to make me see these soul creatures in each trial so clearly was insane! They were all so beautifully written it hurts! And the trio of Mal, Kal and Raz gave me life. Talk about the 3 book brothers I didn't know I needed!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait to see where Nyx and Elysia go next!
I was immediately drawn to Nyx and her need to please and seek out the approval of her less than savory father. The trials she endures to prove herself are strenuous and full of unexpected challenges. The way the author was able to make me see these soul creatures in each trial so clearly was insane! They were all so beautifully written it hurts! And the trio of Mal, Kal and Raz gave me life. Talk about the 3 book brothers I didn't know I needed!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait to see where Nyx and Elysia go next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely loved this book. Nyx is such a fierce and captivating main character. An assassin navigating a dark world full of demons, danger, and complicated loyalties. From the first chapter I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.
The story is fast-paced and packed with action, but it also has great character dynamics and moments that really pull you into Nyx’s journey. I especially enjoyed the tension between different characters and the banter that helped balance the darker tone of the story.
The world-building is intriguing and the plot keeps you guessing the entire time. Just when you think you know where things are going, something shifts and pulls you deeper into the story.
And that ending definitely left me wanting more. I’m really excited to see where the series goes next and can’t wait to read the next installment.
The story is fast-paced and packed with action, but it also has great character dynamics and moments that really pull you into Nyx’s journey. I especially enjoyed the tension between different characters and the banter that helped balance the darker tone of the story.
The world-building is intriguing and the plot keeps you guessing the entire time. Just when you think you know where things are going, something shifts and pulls you deeper into the story.
And that ending definitely left me wanting more. I’m really excited to see where the series goes next and can’t wait to read the next installment.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. When I first started reading it was so nice to have a masc female main character. This being a sapphic romance captured me from the beginning. I loved that the other characters all had back stories and elements that made them all unique. I never knew what was going to happen from chapter to chapter. The author was very good at building the suspense and just when you thought you knew what was going to happen you would be surprised. I loved that you thought the first girl was going to be the love interest and then it ended up being a totally different girl. Yes you are left on a very big cliff hanger but I felt that it was stopped at a good point so the author could continue the series. I can’t wait for the author to write book 2. It leaves you wanting to know more. This book captured my heart in the best way possible.
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. When I first started reading it was so nice to have a masc female main character. This being a sapphic romance captured me from the beginning. I loved that the other characters all had back stories and elements that made them all unique. I never knew what was going to happen from chapter to chapter. The author was very good at building the suspense and just when you thought you knew what was going to happen you would be surprised. I loved that you thought the first girl was going to be the love interest and then it ended up being a totally different girl. Yes you are left on a very big cliff hanger but I felt that it was stopped at a good point so the author could continue the series. I can’t wait for the author to write book 2. It leaves you wanting to know more. This book captured my heart in the best way possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This book was amazing. The magic system feels original, intricate, and genuinely exciting, and every new reveal pulled me deeper into the story. The plot twists were wild in the best way. Every time I thought I had a sense of where things were going, the story shifted again and caught me completely off guard.
What stayed with me most was how much this book made me feel. I laughed, I stressed, I felt my heart break, and I got completely swept up in everything these characters went through. The humor lands so well, which makes the painful moments hit even harder. It feels like a full emotional experience from beginning to end.
This is one of those books that pulls you in fast and never lets the tension ease. I finished it desperate for book two.
What stayed with me most was how much this book made me feel. I laughed, I stressed, I felt my heart break, and I got completely swept up in everything these characters went through. The humor lands so well, which makes the painful moments hit even harder. It feels like a full emotional experience from beginning to end.
This is one of those books that pulls you in fast and never lets the tension ease. I finished it desperate for book two.
Review of advance copy received from Author
….Speechless…First off Nyx is a badass blade wielding assassin who I loved reading about and the story start to finish is packed with death, demons, and beings connected to you with a bond; I was so upset a quarter of the way through because of Kain’s betrayal and it was so sad to see Nadia and Alara perish; but I did love the dynamic of Nyx; Kal, Raz and Mal (who we later find out are her brother’s) and their banter. I further enjoyed getting introduced to Elysia, Elysia and Nyx have this sort of tension right off the bat and it’s so fun to see Nyx struggle with her feelings even when she found out the betrayal of Elysia and her clan. It ends on a cliffhanger that already makes me hunger for more, but I can’t wait to see what else the author Devorah will bring!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ill preface this review by mentioning that I am Old. Old enough, at least, to remember when there was no LGBT+ representation in media. Sure, I also grew up in a deeply Mormon community that limited exposure even more, but be assured that stories like this were not readily accessible almost* anywhere. Anywayyyy, THIS is the exact sort of story I craved as a young adult and teenager. I wanted the adventure and thrill packaged in protagonists that I could relate to.
Proud of and grateful to the author for writing such a fun and upbeat story. It was a joy to read.
Proud of and grateful to the author for writing such a fun and upbeat story. It was a joy to read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC proved to be a page-turner and oh my goodness, I need MORE of this world of Nyx’s! I want the second book now. The characters are amazing and there are twists in it which I appreciate. For those who enjoy books like Aurora's Angel or the Empyrean series, you will adore and absorb this book. Lots of depth, characters I love and maybe even more than one I want to disembowel. The latter shocks me because I thought I was a pacifist? Do not want to leave spoilers. Just, go and get the book when it comes out or pre-order if you can!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First I want to thank Devorah Leah Barrocas for selecting me to be an ARC Reader ! This is my honest review.
I absolutely ate this book up ! I am just now getting into sapphic dark fantasy and let me tell you I’ve been missing OUT big time . The way this book incorporates loyalty, obsession and survival. The world building was impeccable, I truly felt I was in the story . The writing was a 10/10 for me and I can’t wait to read more from Devorah Leah Barrocas.
10/10 would recommend!
I absolutely ate this book up ! I am just now getting into sapphic dark fantasy and let me tell you I’ve been missing OUT big time . The way this book incorporates loyalty, obsession and survival. The world building was impeccable, I truly felt I was in the story . The writing was a 10/10 for me and I can’t wait to read more from Devorah Leah Barrocas.
10/10 would recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received Demonic Reign as an ARC from the author. I typically like my books spicier than this (I would give it a 2/5 🔥 with 2 explicit scenes), but the world building, character development, and plot kept my attention! I devoured this book and can’t wait for the next in the series! The tension building between the FF love interests is fantastic and I hope we get much more spice between them in the second book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end! The characters are rich, relatable, and feel authentic. The plot is full of active twists and turns. I could not put it down! Between the characters, the humor, the romance, the adventure, the action, and the fantasy; this is such a rich book that I can read it over and over again! I can’t wait for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this book. The ups and downs kept me beyond intrigued on what would happen next. This book and me laughing and crying by the end. Nyx was a great character and the three friends she has had me laughing and enjoying their relationship. I can wait to understand more of the twist and turns this book gave me. Will be recommending to my dark book friends
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was amazing. I was laughing and on edge the entire time! The characters the plot. I haven’t read a book like this before and holy shit it was amazing!!! 10/10 cannot wait for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Good fantasy but I found some scenes not fully connected to the story, especially the romance, I didn't feel it fit perfectly in the spot it was in. But overall, cool idea, characters, and creatures!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews