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Fated To The Demon Lord
She stole his life.
Now he’ll steal her soul.
When Denara killed Vaelor, the Demon Lord, she believed she’d freed the world from a monster. But when his spirit rises and claims her as payment, she finds herself trapped in a brutal land of demons who would kill her on sight.
To survive, Denara must entrust her life to the demon she murdered and help him find a new body before his soul fades forever. Bound together by necessity, they must navigate a world of deadly spirits, undead armies, and relentless foes.
Vaelor’s constant proximity makes it impossible for Denara to ignore that he may be more than the bloodthirsty monster she believed. His touch brushes against her like ice and his voice lingers in her thoughts, tempting her to surrender to impulses she should resist.
As the line between captor and protector blurs, she discovers that Vaelor's fearsome reputation hides a powerful curse and devastating secrets powerful enough to destroy all they hold dear.
Denara knows better than to give her heart to a demon, but sometimes the only way to break a curse is to love the beast.
Fated to the Demon Lord is a ghostly Beauty and the Beast Retelling set in a Gothic demon world. It is one of nine books in the Fated to the Enemy series, a set of steamy romantasy standalones, brimming with epic adventure, sizzling banter, and angsty yearning between enemies who have no desire to fall in love.
Now he’ll steal her soul.
When Denara killed Vaelor, the Demon Lord, she believed she’d freed the world from a monster. But when his spirit rises and claims her as payment, she finds herself trapped in a brutal land of demons who would kill her on sight.
To survive, Denara must entrust her life to the demon she murdered and help him find a new body before his soul fades forever. Bound together by necessity, they must navigate a world of deadly spirits, undead armies, and relentless foes.
Vaelor’s constant proximity makes it impossible for Denara to ignore that he may be more than the bloodthirsty monster she believed. His touch brushes against her like ice and his voice lingers in her thoughts, tempting her to surrender to impulses she should resist.
As the line between captor and protector blurs, she discovers that Vaelor's fearsome reputation hides a powerful curse and devastating secrets powerful enough to destroy all they hold dear.
Denara knows better than to give her heart to a demon, but sometimes the only way to break a curse is to love the beast.
Fated to the Demon Lord is a ghostly Beauty and the Beast Retelling set in a Gothic demon world. It is one of nine books in the Fated to the Enemy series, a set of steamy romantasy standalones, brimming with epic adventure, sizzling banter, and angsty yearning between enemies who have no desire to fall in love.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
J. Ann Curtis
16 books241 followersJ. Ann Curtis is an award-winning author who has been making stories up in her head for as long as she can remember. Her YA Fantasy debut novel, Lies of the Haven, won best YA Fiction in the state of Nevada through the Indie Authors Project.
When she is not writing, she is reading, spending time with her husband and two amazing daughters.
To learn more about J. Ann Curtis and her writing, You can also check out her website at www.jacurtisbooks.com
When she is not writing, she is reading, spending time with her husband and two amazing daughters.
To learn more about J. Ann Curtis and her writing, You can also check out her website at www.jacurtisbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
September 10, 2026
Thanks to the author and publisher for my arc the opinions are my own.
I’m a sucker for a beauty and the beast retelling and this had enough the basic story to hit the nostalgia while being an original and interesting story on its own.
Absolutely loved that the fmc killed out mmc … who was then a ghost who at times possessed. Such an awesome and unique vibe. Overall a fast paced easy read
I’m a sucker for a beauty and the beast retelling and this had enough the basic story to hit the nostalgia while being an original and interesting story on its own.
Absolutely loved that the fmc killed out mmc … who was then a ghost who at times possessed. Such an awesome and unique vibe. Overall a fast paced easy read
Review of advance copy received from Author
I LOVE a fairytale retelling and Beauty and the Beast is my all time favourite! So this book definitely had those vibes!! But instead of a beast? He’s a ghostly demon. A demon that was killed by our FMC!
I loved the:
» Power dynamics
» Dangerous Demon is actually a softie for her
» Forced proximity
» Survival
I loved Denara’s determination to find a loved one. She went from the poor , weak and defenceless human who raised her brother to trapped as a captive in the ruthless demon army. She faced a world of danger , chaos and death. But still, she was determined to raise in the chaos and escape. She would not go down so easy. She was caring , she loved hard and she was hellbent on protecting her family. Throughout the journey I enjoyed the mystery of her life unravel. Although most was obvious I liked the pacing that the author had set..
Now onto Vaelor. He faced unimaginable pain. His life was a constant battle of power , sacrifice and death. The last thing he wanted was to be burdened by the very human that killed him. He was the definition of leader. He had strength and courage. They balanced eachother out. Her pain became his , and his became hers. I honestly loved every interaction they shared.
Even though this was written in single POV , the author somehow managed to relay Vaelor’s emotion through the pages. Which I find pretty clever!
Overall, this was a fast paced romance that was a fun read. The characters were likeable ( well , not all of them 😉)
Would I recommend? Yes! There were dark moments but also a little lightness. I would check triggers (not too heavy but heavier than I expected)
Once upon a time there was a human and a demon …. and well, you have to pick up this book to find out what happens next ….
♡ Thank you to J A Curtis for this ARC in return for an honest review
I loved the:
» Power dynamics
» Dangerous Demon is actually a softie for her
» Forced proximity
» Survival
I loved Denara’s determination to find a loved one. She went from the poor , weak and defenceless human who raised her brother to trapped as a captive in the ruthless demon army. She faced a world of danger , chaos and death. But still, she was determined to raise in the chaos and escape. She would not go down so easy. She was caring , she loved hard and she was hellbent on protecting her family. Throughout the journey I enjoyed the mystery of her life unravel. Although most was obvious I liked the pacing that the author had set..
Now onto Vaelor. He faced unimaginable pain. His life was a constant battle of power , sacrifice and death. The last thing he wanted was to be burdened by the very human that killed him. He was the definition of leader. He had strength and courage. They balanced eachother out. Her pain became his , and his became hers. I honestly loved every interaction they shared.
Even though this was written in single POV , the author somehow managed to relay Vaelor’s emotion through the pages. Which I find pretty clever!
Overall, this was a fast paced romance that was a fun read. The characters were likeable ( well , not all of them 😉)
Would I recommend? Yes! There were dark moments but also a little lightness. I would check triggers (not too heavy but heavier than I expected)
Once upon a time there was a human and a demon …. and well, you have to pick up this book to find out what happens next ….
♡ Thank you to J A Curtis for this ARC in return for an honest review
September 18, 2026
❗Disclaimer: eBook received from the author
🜲 Characters 🜲
Denara was impressive from the very beginning when she tried fighting the demon hoard. I liked the relationship between her and her brother, and when we introduced Vaelor phew, things turned up a lot. I liked the teasing between him and Denara, he was so good on teasing her, the scenes made me giggle.
⚔︎ World-Building ⚔︎
The world for humans was cruel, dangerous and so, so crazy. Humans were slaves, abused and traumatized. I liked the details offered of the world, they made you understand how messed up they were.
♡ What I liked/Disliked ♡
The story was phenomenal; I really enjoyed everything. The relationship between the MMCs, the world-building, the magic system, and how humans were slaves and oppressed. The love story was really captivating and I liked how Vaelor was teasing Denara, the flame between them started to burn so much until it just exploded! I liked the pace of the story and how things developed. Vaelor is a character that has to grow on you, because in the end he is a demon and humans are slaves, but once things start to pick up they just keep on rolling. It was a really clever story and I've enjoyed it.
🔥 Spice Level/Potential Triggers 🔥
The spice i'd put it round 4 pepper flames. The scenes are not abundant but they are quite detailed and they feel in my opinion more smutty than just erotic. Nothing that happened in the story triggered me, but there's quite the abuse happening in the story and things get bloody, so before you pick it up make sure to read the TWs.
🜲 Characters 🜲
Denara was impressive from the very beginning when she tried fighting the demon hoard. I liked the relationship between her and her brother, and when we introduced Vaelor phew, things turned up a lot. I liked the teasing between him and Denara, he was so good on teasing her, the scenes made me giggle.
⚔︎ World-Building ⚔︎
The world for humans was cruel, dangerous and so, so crazy. Humans were slaves, abused and traumatized. I liked the details offered of the world, they made you understand how messed up they were.
♡ What I liked/Disliked ♡
The story was phenomenal; I really enjoyed everything. The relationship between the MMCs, the world-building, the magic system, and how humans were slaves and oppressed. The love story was really captivating and I liked how Vaelor was teasing Denara, the flame between them started to burn so much until it just exploded! I liked the pace of the story and how things developed. Vaelor is a character that has to grow on you, because in the end he is a demon and humans are slaves, but once things start to pick up they just keep on rolling. It was a really clever story and I've enjoyed it.
🔥 Spice Level/Potential Triggers 🔥
The spice i'd put it round 4 pepper flames. The scenes are not abundant but they are quite detailed and they feel in my opinion more smutty than just erotic. Nothing that happened in the story triggered me, but there's quite the abuse happening in the story and things get bloody, so before you pick it up make sure to read the TWs.
Review of advance copy received from Author
In this story, death is not the end… it’s the beginning!
This book was honestly very good!! I really, really enjoyed the twist on this story, with the MMC being a ghost and the FMC being the one who killed him (meet cute of the year here, guys!!!). It had some Beauty and the Beast vibes, but the story was really unique.
The world-building was very complete and intricate, with several creatures, rituals, and magical beings. Everything was super well written, and I feel like I got into it super fast. I finished it in under 24h!! The writing was great, and the story had an action-packed quality that left you always on your guard, waiting for the next challenge.
The book was fast-paced, and the love story leaned more towards a fast burn. I am a slow-burn girly through and through, but I enjoyed this book all the same! I kind of wish the book was longer, honestly, because I feel like I finished it way too fast lol.
The characters were really great too. Denara, with her chaotic energy, won me over. I mean… she looked at a camp housing an army of demons and said, “Yeah, I’ll just kill everybody and escape, no biggie.” And she actually DID it! The girl was fierce. She wanted nothing more than to keep her promises to the people she loved and keep them safe, and she was going to do absolutely everything in her power to make that happen.
Vaelor was honestly my favorite character. He had a really complicated and tragic story, and he was perceived as cold and brutal when, in reality, his only goal was to make something, anything, right. He had a good heart underneath it all, and everything he did for Denara only solidified how caring, forgiving and protective he was. He was always there when she needed him, doing everything he could to keep her safe.
The ending was unexpected, and I really liked it! Denara was powerful, and with her growing power and Vaelor’s skill and strength, they managed to defeat every one of their enemies and conquer something BIG that would finally give them the safety and peace they needed to be happy.
If you enjoy darker themes and a Beauty and the Beast retelling filled with magic and a unique plot, this is the right book for you!!
This book was honestly very good!! I really, really enjoyed the twist on this story, with the MMC being a ghost and the FMC being the one who killed him (meet cute of the year here, guys!!!). It had some Beauty and the Beast vibes, but the story was really unique.
The world-building was very complete and intricate, with several creatures, rituals, and magical beings. Everything was super well written, and I feel like I got into it super fast. I finished it in under 24h!! The writing was great, and the story had an action-packed quality that left you always on your guard, waiting for the next challenge.
The book was fast-paced, and the love story leaned more towards a fast burn. I am a slow-burn girly through and through, but I enjoyed this book all the same! I kind of wish the book was longer, honestly, because I feel like I finished it way too fast lol.
The characters were really great too. Denara, with her chaotic energy, won me over. I mean… she looked at a camp housing an army of demons and said, “Yeah, I’ll just kill everybody and escape, no biggie.” And she actually DID it! The girl was fierce. She wanted nothing more than to keep her promises to the people she loved and keep them safe, and she was going to do absolutely everything in her power to make that happen.
Vaelor was honestly my favorite character. He had a really complicated and tragic story, and he was perceived as cold and brutal when, in reality, his only goal was to make something, anything, right. He had a good heart underneath it all, and everything he did for Denara only solidified how caring, forgiving and protective he was. He was always there when she needed him, doing everything he could to keep her safe.
The ending was unexpected, and I really liked it! Denara was powerful, and with her growing power and Vaelor’s skill and strength, they managed to defeat every one of their enemies and conquer something BIG that would finally give them the safety and peace they needed to be happy.
If you enjoy darker themes and a Beauty and the Beast retelling filled with magic and a unique plot, this is the right book for you!!
September 7, 2026
This book really surprised me. I did not expect to devour it as quickly as I did!! This is the second book in The Fated to the Enemy series and I am looking forward to the rest of them. This was my first book to read by J. Ann Curtis and I am looking forward to more from her.
Going into this story, I did not realize it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It was only after reading the book and going into add it as read that I found out it was a retelling. Thinking back on the book I can definitely pick up on certain vibes and found it to be quite creative for a retelling.
I really enjoyed the way the author didn’t tell the character’s backstories at the beginning of the book but dropped them in throughout the book. We get to learn about the history of each of the characters in bits and pieces and why they are they way they are throughout the story and I think it really help to build the character arcs throughout the book.
I found the world building to be unique and some of the descriptions were absolute perfection. I appreciated that there were several surprises throughout the story when it came to both Denara and Vaelor’s stories both going back in time and for the present day. I enjoyed watching the slow burn between the two of them and the spice hit just right.
I loved Denara’s persistence in finding her family and helping her loved ones and Vaelor’s tenacity in accomplishing his goals. They both went through so much and I thought the ending was so perfect. I found myself giggling at the banter, wanting to cry for them, and sitting in the edge of my seat biting my knuckles throughout the book. It was such a great mixture of emotions.
I liked that while the story focused on the main characters we had several side characters who were built into the story very deeply. Especially, Vaelor’s servants and Denara’s mother and brother.
I found this book to be a fast paced, emotional, and satisfying story. I would recommend it to anyone who likes enemies to lovers, fated mates, demon/human, and forced proximity.
Thank you to the author for the copy in advance of release. All opinions are my own.
Going into this story, I did not realize it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It was only after reading the book and going into add it as read that I found out it was a retelling. Thinking back on the book I can definitely pick up on certain vibes and found it to be quite creative for a retelling.
I really enjoyed the way the author didn’t tell the character’s backstories at the beginning of the book but dropped them in throughout the book. We get to learn about the history of each of the characters in bits and pieces and why they are they way they are throughout the story and I think it really help to build the character arcs throughout the book.
I found the world building to be unique and some of the descriptions were absolute perfection. I appreciated that there were several surprises throughout the story when it came to both Denara and Vaelor’s stories both going back in time and for the present day. I enjoyed watching the slow burn between the two of them and the spice hit just right.
I loved Denara’s persistence in finding her family and helping her loved ones and Vaelor’s tenacity in accomplishing his goals. They both went through so much and I thought the ending was so perfect. I found myself giggling at the banter, wanting to cry for them, and sitting in the edge of my seat biting my knuckles throughout the book. It was such a great mixture of emotions.
I liked that while the story focused on the main characters we had several side characters who were built into the story very deeply. Especially, Vaelor’s servants and Denara’s mother and brother.
I found this book to be a fast paced, emotional, and satisfying story. I would recommend it to anyone who likes enemies to lovers, fated mates, demon/human, and forced proximity.
Thank you to the author for the copy in advance of release. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2026
Fated to the Demon Lord is een Engelstalige hervertelling van Belle en het Beest en behoort tot de "Fated to the Enemy"-reeks. Deze reeks bestaat uit 9 losstaande boeken, geschreven door verschillende auteurs, maar wel in dezelfde vibe/thema's. Zo mag je hier binnenkort nog zeker 2 recensies verwachten uit deze reeks.
Fated to the Demon Lord gaat over Denara die demon lord Vaelor vermoordt. Dat ze na zijn dood zou toegewezen worden aan zijn geest, had ze niet zien aankomen. Vaelor moet binnen de 10 dagen een nieuw lichaam vinden, anders verdwijnt zijn geest voorgoed. Door omstandigheden kan Denara niet anders dan Vaelor te helpen in zijn zoektocht. Tijdens deze race tegen de tijd leren de twee elkaar beter kennen en ontdekken ze veel meer dan ze hadden kunnen voorzien.
📚📚📚
Ik vond het een leuk verhaal dat vlot leest, al kon ik de politieke stukjes niet altijd goed volgen. Al die moeilijke namen ook weer. 😄 Ik werd ook wel oprecht verrast door sommige plottwists, dus je blijft wel telkens benieuwd naar wat er nog komen gaat.
Wees ook gewaarschuwd: de smut is een beetje... speciaal. Mens vs geest/demon had ik nog niet eerder gelezen, dus dit was weer iets nieuws voor mij. 😂
Zeker een aanrader voor wie graag luchtige romantasy leest met een hoekje af.
Ik ontving dit e-boek als ARC (vooruitleesexemplaar) van de auteur.
Fated to the Demon Lord gaat over Denara die demon lord Vaelor vermoordt. Dat ze na zijn dood zou toegewezen worden aan zijn geest, had ze niet zien aankomen. Vaelor moet binnen de 10 dagen een nieuw lichaam vinden, anders verdwijnt zijn geest voorgoed. Door omstandigheden kan Denara niet anders dan Vaelor te helpen in zijn zoektocht. Tijdens deze race tegen de tijd leren de twee elkaar beter kennen en ontdekken ze veel meer dan ze hadden kunnen voorzien.
📚📚📚
Ik vond het een leuk verhaal dat vlot leest, al kon ik de politieke stukjes niet altijd goed volgen. Al die moeilijke namen ook weer. 😄 Ik werd ook wel oprecht verrast door sommige plottwists, dus je blijft wel telkens benieuwd naar wat er nog komen gaat.
Wees ook gewaarschuwd: de smut is een beetje... speciaal. Mens vs geest/demon had ik nog niet eerder gelezen, dus dit was weer iets nieuws voor mij. 😂
Zeker een aanrader voor wie graag luchtige romantasy leest met een hoekje af.
Ik ontving dit e-boek als ARC (vooruitleesexemplaar) van de auteur.
September 24, 2026
OMG!! Fated to the Demon Lord is a unique dark fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast with demons and curses. This is Denara and Vaelor's story, filled with unexpected paths and fated mates. Ever since the break of Demons in the lands, Denara has tried her hardest to stay alive and find her brother. When she finally got a chance to escape, her plans backfired, and the demons became something more than she thought. In comes the Demon lord Vaelor, who has his own plans, fell victim to Denara's and is stuck with her. I love how the story has some similarities to the fairytale but is also dark and filled with hidden secrets. I also love how slowly they start to trust each other, but Vaelor knows there is more to her than he thought. Their story gets more interesting when they finally understand what is going on and who they need to protect. I love how smart and powerful Denara is, but also how Vaelor will do anything to protect her. Their story will pull you in with the fearlessness and willingness of Denara and Vaelor and how they really feel for each other. I really enjoyed their story and can't wait to read more!!
I voluntarily leave my honest thoughts of this gifted advance reader copy.
I voluntarily leave my honest thoughts of this gifted advance reader copy.
August 30, 2026
Rating: 5.0 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 4.0 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fated to the Demon Lord was another fantastic read in the Fated to the Enemy series. This Beauty and the Beast retelling felt incredibly unique and captivating from start to finish. With demons, undead armies, poison, and an unexpected prophecy that ties our main characters together, I was hooked from the very beginning.
Denara is a human living in a world overrun by demons who take whatever they want whenever they want. For years, it has been just her and her younger brother, as everyone she has ever loved has abandoned her. She is resourceful, intelligent, resilient, and fiercely determined, making her an easy character to love.
Then there's Vaelor, the Demon Lord. Dark, broody, and completely unexpected, he's the perfect example of how nothing is ever quite as it seems. The more I learned about him, the more intrigued I became.
When Denara unalives him, she unknowingly alters his plans while also setting an ancient prophecy into motion, forever changing the trajectory of both their lives. What follows is a thrilling journey filled with army trials, dangerous rescue missions, shocking revelations, and plenty of twists that kept me turning the pages.
I also have to mention that this book featured one of the most unique spicy scenes I've ever read. It was unlike anything I've encountered before and added another layer of originality to an already memorable story.
I absolutely loved immersing myself in this world. If you enjoy dark romantasy, spirits and magic, unique fated-mate dynamics, emotional character journeys, and stories about overcoming grief and loss, then I highly recommend adding Fated to the Demon Lord to your TBR.
Spice: 4.0 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fated to the Demon Lord was another fantastic read in the Fated to the Enemy series. This Beauty and the Beast retelling felt incredibly unique and captivating from start to finish. With demons, undead armies, poison, and an unexpected prophecy that ties our main characters together, I was hooked from the very beginning.
Denara is a human living in a world overrun by demons who take whatever they want whenever they want. For years, it has been just her and her younger brother, as everyone she has ever loved has abandoned her. She is resourceful, intelligent, resilient, and fiercely determined, making her an easy character to love.
Then there's Vaelor, the Demon Lord. Dark, broody, and completely unexpected, he's the perfect example of how nothing is ever quite as it seems. The more I learned about him, the more intrigued I became.
When Denara unalives him, she unknowingly alters his plans while also setting an ancient prophecy into motion, forever changing the trajectory of both their lives. What follows is a thrilling journey filled with army trials, dangerous rescue missions, shocking revelations, and plenty of twists that kept me turning the pages.
I also have to mention that this book featured one of the most unique spicy scenes I've ever read. It was unlike anything I've encountered before and added another layer of originality to an already memorable story.
I absolutely loved immersing myself in this world. If you enjoy dark romantasy, spirits and magic, unique fated-mate dynamics, emotional character journeys, and stories about overcoming grief and loss, then I highly recommend adding Fated to the Demon Lord to your TBR.
September 24, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4
A dark, addictive romantasy with a delicious twist on Beauty and the Beast! 🖤
I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the dangerous world of demons, and, of course, the chemistry between Denara and Vaelor. Their complicated relationship, filled with tension, secrets, and unexpected emotions, was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story.
I especially loved the concept of falling for the very demon you're responsible for killing. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic, forced proximity, and gradual shift from distrust to something deeper made this such an entertaining read.
There were a few moments where I wished the story had slowed down a little and given certain developments more room to breathe. Nevertheless, I genuinely enjoyed the journey.
If you love dark fantasy romance, morally gray characters, curses, and a touch of gothic atmosphere, this one is worth picking up!
A dark, addictive romantasy with a delicious twist on Beauty and the Beast! 🖤
I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the dangerous world of demons, and, of course, the chemistry between Denara and Vaelor. Their complicated relationship, filled with tension, secrets, and unexpected emotions, was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story.
I especially loved the concept of falling for the very demon you're responsible for killing. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic, forced proximity, and gradual shift from distrust to something deeper made this such an entertaining read.
There were a few moments where I wished the story had slowed down a little and given certain developments more room to breathe. Nevertheless, I genuinely enjoyed the journey.
If you love dark fantasy romance, morally gray characters, curses, and a touch of gothic atmosphere, this one is worth picking up!
September 21, 2026
DNF at 45%.
I thought the story had a lot of potential. I was intrigued by the premise. MC kills off the love interest at the beginning of the book? Sign me up I thought! Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it.
Denara, the main female character is an interesting one. She has a lot of grit, which I liked. She fought back despite being imprisoned by the demons and actually managed to kill them all. However, after that very interesting beginning, her character began to fall into lots of traps and made poor decisions. She kept getting into situations whereby she needed to be saved by the main male character. I didn't see any smart actions from her side too.
There were a lot of dark themes for the worldbuilding. Humans were caught and forced into slavery and was also forced to service the demons. FMC only managed to escape by rubbing some plants that made it seem as if she had a disease. And right after that, she has lustful thoughts for the MMC. It just felt so off to me.
When reading the summary of this novel, I also did not expect it to have the theme of a slave falling for a demon who has power over her. The power dynamics in this story was very unequal. It's just something I dislike greatly.
While I understand it's an enemy-to-lovers story, I could not reconcile it with one with such dark themes, badly balanced power dynamics and insta-lust.
I thought the story had a lot of potential. I was intrigued by the premise. MC kills off the love interest at the beginning of the book? Sign me up I thought! Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it.
Denara, the main female character is an interesting one. She has a lot of grit, which I liked. She fought back despite being imprisoned by the demons and actually managed to kill them all. However, after that very interesting beginning, her character began to fall into lots of traps and made poor decisions. She kept getting into situations whereby she needed to be saved by the main male character. I didn't see any smart actions from her side too.
There were a lot of dark themes for the worldbuilding. Humans were caught and forced into slavery and was also forced to service the demons. FMC only managed to escape by rubbing some plants that made it seem as if she had a disease. And right after that, she has lustful thoughts for the MMC. It just felt so off to me.
When reading the summary of this novel, I also did not expect it to have the theme of a slave falling for a demon who has power over her. The power dynamics in this story was very unequal. It's just something I dislike greatly.
While I understand it's an enemy-to-lovers story, I could not reconcile it with one with such dark themes, badly balanced power dynamics and insta-lust.
Read
August 22, 2026ARC Review
Rating: 4.5
I went into this expecting a quick bedtime read and ended up completely glued to the pages until the very end. The pacing is effortless, and the story just pulls you right in.
It hits every single trope I love: dark gothic vibes, a fresh take on the Beauty and the Beast dynamic, ancient curses, and an enemies-to-lovers arc with genuine friction.
Denara is an absolute standout. She’s stubborn, deliciously chaotic, and unapologetically fierce. Her casual “fine, I’ll just take down the entire demon army myself” energy had me grinning, but she never feels like an untouchable trope—she’s grounded, sharp, and easy to root for.
Then there’s Vaelor. The setup where she believes she defeated the terrifying Demon Lord, only to end up soul-bound to his lingering spirit, creates such great built-in tension. Beneath the fearsome reputation lies a layered, cursed, and surprisingly vulnerable character with real depth.
Watching their dynamic shift from sheer hostility and suspicion into something earned, intense, and deeply protective was easily the highlight.
A solid 4.5 stars for great banter, top-tier chemistry, and an addictive dark fantasy atmosphere. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from J. Ann Curtis.🥰
Rating: 4.5
I went into this expecting a quick bedtime read and ended up completely glued to the pages until the very end. The pacing is effortless, and the story just pulls you right in.
It hits every single trope I love: dark gothic vibes, a fresh take on the Beauty and the Beast dynamic, ancient curses, and an enemies-to-lovers arc with genuine friction.
Denara is an absolute standout. She’s stubborn, deliciously chaotic, and unapologetically fierce. Her casual “fine, I’ll just take down the entire demon army myself” energy had me grinning, but she never feels like an untouchable trope—she’s grounded, sharp, and easy to root for.
Then there’s Vaelor. The setup where she believes she defeated the terrifying Demon Lord, only to end up soul-bound to his lingering spirit, creates such great built-in tension. Beneath the fearsome reputation lies a layered, cursed, and surprisingly vulnerable character with real depth.
Watching their dynamic shift from sheer hostility and suspicion into something earned, intense, and deeply protective was easily the highlight.
A solid 4.5 stars for great banter, top-tier chemistry, and an addictive dark fantasy atmosphere. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from J. Ann Curtis.🥰
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fated to the Demon Lord was a super unique, ghostly Beauty and the Beast romantasy retelling set in a gothic demon world.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️
Denara was such a refreshing FMC. She’s strong-willed, clever, brave, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Despite the horrors she has faced as a human in demon lands, she kept fighting.
I really enjoyed Vaelor’s character too– our tortured MMC with a cursed and traumatic past. Despite his ruthless reputation and the fact that Denora literally is the reason he’s dead/now a ghost and has to deal with all this, he’s still a big softy for her.
The book was fast-paced and very well-written. There are some actual high stakes in here and the plot keeps you hooked. The romance wasn’t a slow burn (I’d say maybe medium-to-fast burn), but the spice didn’t come until closer to the end. The spice was so well written and really took “ghostly romance” to the next level lol.
This was my first read in the Fated to the Enemy series, and I can’t wait for more!
Thank you to J. Ann Curtis for an eARC of this book! ❤️
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️
Denara was such a refreshing FMC. She’s strong-willed, clever, brave, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Despite the horrors she has faced as a human in demon lands, she kept fighting.
I really enjoyed Vaelor’s character too– our tortured MMC with a cursed and traumatic past. Despite his ruthless reputation and the fact that Denora literally is the reason he’s dead/now a ghost and has to deal with all this, he’s still a big softy for her.
The book was fast-paced and very well-written. There are some actual high stakes in here and the plot keeps you hooked. The romance wasn’t a slow burn (I’d say maybe medium-to-fast burn), but the spice didn’t come until closer to the end. The spice was so well written and really took “ghostly romance” to the next level lol.
This was my first read in the Fated to the Enemy series, and I can’t wait for more!
Thank you to J. Ann Curtis for an eARC of this book! ❤️
September 5, 2026
🎶A tale as old as time👸🏽✨
Advanced reader copy review - 4.5⭐️
This was an AMAZING read. What a clever way to write a Beauty and the Beast retelling without it being redundant.
I LOVE these kinds of romantasy books because the stakes are actually high and we are invested in the story through the author's narration of events.
I had never read a "monster" romance before and I can say that I am wonderfully surprised by how the author incorporated such paranormal details and feelings. Everything about this book was great, I never once cringed and I truly liked this FMC. I also loved that this book didn't have insta-lust which I believe is harder to turn into a real romantic relationship and feelings as we go on in the story. The character development was truly that of a fantasy and it made me like the book even more.
This was definitely a real romance and fantasy book as we had almost equal amounts of both. I definitely recommend:)
Advanced reader copy review - 4.5⭐️
This was an AMAZING read. What a clever way to write a Beauty and the Beast retelling without it being redundant.
I LOVE these kinds of romantasy books because the stakes are actually high and we are invested in the story through the author's narration of events.
I had never read a "monster" romance before and I can say that I am wonderfully surprised by how the author incorporated such paranormal details and feelings. Everything about this book was great, I never once cringed and I truly liked this FMC. I also loved that this book didn't have insta-lust which I believe is harder to turn into a real romantic relationship and feelings as we go on in the story. The character development was truly that of a fantasy and it made me like the book even more.
This was definitely a real romance and fantasy book as we had almost equal amounts of both. I definitely recommend:)
October 1, 2026
I could not put this book down! It is well-written, easy to read, and fast-paced right from the start. There wasn't a single dull moment throughout the entire story. The chemistry between the main characters was absolute magic—their connection kept me completely hooked. To top it off, everything wrapped up with a wonderfully satisfying ending. If you’re looking for an engaging read with great character dynamics and dynamic pacing, I highly recommend picking this one up!
September 20, 2026
Fated To the Demon Lord is a fast-paced, dark, enemies to lover fantasy. With undertones of a beauty and the beast retelling! This book has all the classic romantasy tropes that I love. Fated mates, gothic atmosphere, forced proximity and captor x captive trope. It scratched the itch for a paranormal romance that I was craving, but it was also refreshing with the interesting and unique plot. The best part, it's a standalone!
Denara, our FMC, is a human slave in a demon camp. She is daring, a little chaotic and a badass overall. She is determined to escape and save her brother. Therefore, she decides to poison the entire camp. Only to end up working with a demon lord in order to avoid the spirits of the dead. Vaelor, our MMC, who dies at her hands, ends up helping her escape while she in turn helps him find a new body for his fading spirit. We get to see that Vaelor is actually very complex and layered. As we learn more about his past and the politics of their world, you can't help but root for them as their connection grows.
Their forced connection is rich with tension and deliciously entertaining throughout the book. I do wish it was slightly more drawn out, simply because I love a good slow burn but still such a great read for the upcoming spooky season. I also really enjoyed the fact that this book felt more lower stakes than other fantasy romances. So, if you are needing a sensual paranormal romance with solid world building and easily bingeable, this would be for you!
Thank you to J. Ann Curtis, Elmae Publishing, and NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own!
Denara, our FMC, is a human slave in a demon camp. She is daring, a little chaotic and a badass overall. She is determined to escape and save her brother. Therefore, she decides to poison the entire camp. Only to end up working with a demon lord in order to avoid the spirits of the dead. Vaelor, our MMC, who dies at her hands, ends up helping her escape while she in turn helps him find a new body for his fading spirit. We get to see that Vaelor is actually very complex and layered. As we learn more about his past and the politics of their world, you can't help but root for them as their connection grows.
Their forced connection is rich with tension and deliciously entertaining throughout the book. I do wish it was slightly more drawn out, simply because I love a good slow burn but still such a great read for the upcoming spooky season. I also really enjoyed the fact that this book felt more lower stakes than other fantasy romances. So, if you are needing a sensual paranormal romance with solid world building and easily bingeable, this would be for you!
Thank you to J. Ann Curtis, Elmae Publishing, and NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own!
Did Not Finish
October 5, 2026Lost interest after finding out he had a dead wife
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2026
A beauty and the beast retelling... Come on... this book was so Freaking Good!!
Sexy, Seductive and keeps you hooked page after page ...... Yup 5 stars!!
Sexy, Seductive and keeps you hooked page after page ...... Yup 5 stars!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for approving this ARC request in exchange for an honest review!
Y'all better get prepared for a fast ride with this book. The plot, subplots, and relationships move quickly. Personally, the pacing and drama level feel like a step above a 'Beauty and the Beast' fan-fiction. This is one of those books I would recommend reading just as a vibe and not expect to get too deep into it. Luckily, that mentality does make this a quick read and more enjoyable too!
The FMC isn't one of my favorites for a majority of the book. A big part of that comes from this constant reminder that she is a weak human. We keep getting this idea that she's weak, defenseless, and doubts herself throughout the book until the ending. I wish I could have seen her confident more consistently throughout the whole story.
I can't help but feel that the MMC is written better than the FMC. He's got the big traumatic back story, the redemption arc for the demon image the FMC carries, and has his life literally caught in the balance of living & death. He's patient, forgiving, protective, and a quick thinker (often saving her butt).
As for the romance aspect of this book, it's borderline an insta-love story. There's an obvious quick lust attraction that turns into all-encompassing devotion. There's not a whole lot of depth to them, which makes the eventual coupling feel awkward the few times (3?) it happens. Sometimes I think the idea of mates gets used as an easy out for relationship building.
The other side characters were decent placeholders that helped move the story along. The plotline with the FMC's mother didn't really feel necessary, but I can appreciate closure. The other side plotline with finding the brother felt rushed, but hey, conflict resolution all around!
Overall, it's a decent read and decent standalone story. If you're interested in paranormal demons, fast relationships, and interesting methods of poisoning, then give this one a shot.
Y'all better get prepared for a fast ride with this book. The plot, subplots, and relationships move quickly. Personally, the pacing and drama level feel like a step above a 'Beauty and the Beast' fan-fiction. This is one of those books I would recommend reading just as a vibe and not expect to get too deep into it. Luckily, that mentality does make this a quick read and more enjoyable too!
The FMC isn't one of my favorites for a majority of the book. A big part of that comes from this constant reminder that she is a weak human. We keep getting this idea that she's weak, defenseless, and doubts herself throughout the book until the ending. I wish I could have seen her confident more consistently throughout the whole story.
I can't help but feel that the MMC is written better than the FMC. He's got the big traumatic back story, the redemption arc for the demon image the FMC carries, and has his life literally caught in the balance of living & death. He's patient, forgiving, protective, and a quick thinker (often saving her butt).
As for the romance aspect of this book, it's borderline an insta-love story. There's an obvious quick lust attraction that turns into all-encompassing devotion. There's not a whole lot of depth to them, which makes the eventual coupling feel awkward the few times (3?) it happens. Sometimes I think the idea of mates gets used as an easy out for relationship building.
The other side characters were decent placeholders that helped move the story along. The plotline with the FMC's mother didn't really feel necessary, but I can appreciate closure. The other side plotline with finding the brother felt rushed, but hey, conflict resolution all around!
Overall, it's a decent read and decent standalone story. If you're interested in paranormal demons, fast relationships, and interesting methods of poisoning, then give this one a shot.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for approving this ARC request in exchange for an honest review!
The synopsis of this book sounded absolutely marvelous. I loved the idea. However, the book just wasn't for me. I enjoyed the descriptions and world-building at times, but I had some problem with getting imersed in the story. It's a beauty and the beast retelling between a human and a demon lord, which in itself would be up my alley. I recommend the reading if you're looking for some light fantasy that still has dark themes.
The synopsis of this book sounded absolutely marvelous. I loved the idea. However, the book just wasn't for me. I enjoyed the descriptions and world-building at times, but I had some problem with getting imersed in the story. It's a beauty and the beast retelling between a human and a demon lord, which in itself would be up my alley. I recommend the reading if you're looking for some light fantasy that still has dark themes.
August 20, 2026
Fated to the Demon Lord is set in a gothic demon world with curses, undead armies, and an enemies to lovers romance that made this such an entertaining read! I especially loved the Beauty and the Beast retelling aspect and the way their relationship shifted from captor and captive into something much more complicated 🤭
Denara and Vaelor had such a fun dynamic, especially with the whole she literally killed him and now has to help him find a new body situation 😆 Their relationship had so much tension and I loved watching Denara slowly realize that Vaelor might not be the monster she thought he was.
Tropes: 😈 Demon Lord MMC ✨ Fated mates 🖤 Enemies to lovers 🥀 Beauty & the Beast retelling ⛓️ Forced proximity ⚔️ Captor/protector 🩸 Curses & dark magic
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to the author (J. Ann Curtis) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
Denara and Vaelor had such a fun dynamic, especially with the whole she literally killed him and now has to help him find a new body situation 😆 Their relationship had so much tension and I loved watching Denara slowly realize that Vaelor might not be the monster she thought he was.
Tropes: 😈 Demon Lord MMC ✨ Fated mates 🖤 Enemies to lovers 🥀 Beauty & the Beast retelling ⛓️ Forced proximity ⚔️ Captor/protector 🩸 Curses & dark magic
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Pub Date: September 8, 2026
Thank you to the author (J. Ann Curtis) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
September 3, 2026
A tale as old as time, or is it?
Review of advanced copy provided by author.
All the classic Beauty and the Beast vibes, but with demons, witches and fated mates? Sign me up! What's that you say? She kills him? Oh, I have to read this!
And so do YOU!
She's kidnapped, but not by him. He dies by her hand, but she saves him - after he was tied to an undead army as a ghost.
When I started reading, I will admit that I expected this to be all spice and no plot (aside from the obvious Beauty and the Beast retelling). But Y'ALL! The spice isn't until practically the end. The plot plotted. Denara (our FMC) is no princess. In fact, I'm pretty sure she'd qualify as a one-woman army. I mean, she . Lord Vaelor is, in fact, a lord, albeit a disgraced one. With a very traumatic past, he believes everyone around him dies. But does his past stop him from inevitably giving in to the bond that he has with Denara? No, it absolutely doesn't. I'm not surprised she ended up loving him when he says things like, or My reaction would be the same. Never let that male go, Denara!!
There is such a twist on the classic fairytale that if I hadn't of known about the retelling point before hand, I probably wouldn't have caught it. And that's what makes it amazing. It's so original, so fresh, that I read this in just a few hours, give or take a few dozen toddler tantrums. The only things I would wish for, would be for it to be longer, to expand on dialogue (especially between her and ), and to expand on the worldbuilding. I feel these parts were just a little rushed and would benefit from a more in-depth examination.
Now can we get Mira's story???
Review of advanced copy provided by author.
All the classic Beauty and the Beast vibes, but with demons, witches and fated mates? Sign me up! What's that you say? She kills him? Oh, I have to read this!
And so do YOU!
She's kidnapped, but not by him. He dies by her hand, but she saves him - after he was tied to an undead army as a ghost.
When I started reading, I will admit that I expected this to be all spice and no plot (aside from the obvious Beauty and the Beast retelling). But Y'ALL! The spice isn't until practically the end. The plot plotted. Denara (our FMC) is no princess. In fact, I'm pretty sure she'd qualify as a one-woman army. I mean, she . Lord Vaelor is, in fact, a lord, albeit a disgraced one. With a very traumatic past, he believes everyone around him dies. But does his past stop him from inevitably giving in to the bond that he has with Denara? No, it absolutely doesn't. I'm not surprised she ended up loving him when he says things like, or My reaction would be the same. Never let that male go, Denara!!
There is such a twist on the classic fairytale that if I hadn't of known about the retelling point before hand, I probably wouldn't have caught it. And that's what makes it amazing. It's so original, so fresh, that I read this in just a few hours, give or take a few dozen toddler tantrums. The only things I would wish for, would be for it to be longer, to expand on dialogue (especially between her and ), and to expand on the worldbuilding. I feel these parts were just a little rushed and would benefit from a more in-depth examination.
Now can we get Mira's story???
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fated to the Demon Lord by J. Ann Curtis
Fated to the Demon Lord was such a fun surprise for me. This was my first time reading J. Ann Curtis, and I honestly didn't expect to fly through the book as quickly as I did. The story has that addictive quality where you can pick it up intending to read a few chapters and suddenly realize you've finished the whole thing.
Denara was an absolute joy to follow. She's fearless, stubborn, impulsive, and completely willing to throw herself into situations that would probably make a more sensible person run in the opposite direction. Her attitude and determination made her incredibly entertaining, but I also liked that she wasn't written as some emotionless, invincible heroine. She has vulnerability underneath all that confidence, which made her feel much more real.
Then we have Vaelor, who is definitely not your typical romantic hero. Denara believes she's defeated a terrifying demon lord and saved everyone from a monster, only to discover that killing him wasn't exactly the end of the story. His spirit becomes connected to hers, forcing these two very unwilling people into a situation neither of them would have chosen.
That setup created some fantastic tension.
Denara has every reason to distrust Vaelor, especially considering what she's been told about him and what she believed she had accomplished. Vaelor's reputation paints him as something truly terrifying, but as Denara spends more time with him, those first impressions start falling apart. There are curses, old wounds, secrets, and a much more vulnerable man hiding behind the fearsome Demon Lord everyone knows.
I really enjoyed watching that transformation happen gradually. Their relationship doesn't suddenly jump from enemies to declarations of love. Instead, the forced connection gives them time to understand each other, challenge their assumptions, and slowly develop a level of trust neither expected. The attraction builds naturally alongside that emotional shift, and that made their eventual closeness much more satisfying.
The Beauty and the Beast influence was also a great fit for this story. I liked the idea of taking that familiar dynamic and dropping it into a much darker supernatural setting. Instead of a straightforward monster-and-maiden setup, Denara has to figure out whether the creature she thought she understood is actually the person standing beside her.
The fantasy elements added plenty to the experience as well. Demons, curses, spirits, undead armies, dangerous realms, and an overall gothic atmosphere gave the story a darker edge while still leaving plenty of room for romance and humor. There was always something happening, so the pacing kept me moving through the story rather than getting bogged down in excessive world-building.
What worked especially well for me was the combination of adventure and romance. The danger surrounding Denara and Vaelor gives their relationship extra weight because they aren't falling for each other in a safe, uncomplicated environment. Every step closer comes with consequences, and that makes their chemistry even more interesting.
I also loved the underlying theme of looking beyond the reputation someone has been given. Denara has to question everything she believed about Vaelor, while Vaelor has to let someone see the parts of himself he's kept hidden. Watching those walls come down was easily one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Overall, Fated to the Demon Lord gave me exactly the kind of escapist romantasy I was hoping for without realizing I needed it. Denara is a heroine who can absolutely hold her own, Vaelor has plenty of darkness and depth to uncover, and together they have a relationship packed with tension, reluctant trust, danger, and growing attraction.
For my first J. Ann Curtis book, this was a very enjoyable introduction. If you like gothic fantasy, supernatural romance, Beauty and the Beast retellings, dangerous heroes, strong heroines, forced proximity, and enemies slowly discovering they may have misjudged each other, this one is definitely worth checking out. And after finishing this so quickly, I'm certainly interested in seeing what else J. Ann Curtis has written.
Fated to the Demon Lord was such a fun surprise for me. This was my first time reading J. Ann Curtis, and I honestly didn't expect to fly through the book as quickly as I did. The story has that addictive quality where you can pick it up intending to read a few chapters and suddenly realize you've finished the whole thing.
Denara was an absolute joy to follow. She's fearless, stubborn, impulsive, and completely willing to throw herself into situations that would probably make a more sensible person run in the opposite direction. Her attitude and determination made her incredibly entertaining, but I also liked that she wasn't written as some emotionless, invincible heroine. She has vulnerability underneath all that confidence, which made her feel much more real.
Then we have Vaelor, who is definitely not your typical romantic hero. Denara believes she's defeated a terrifying demon lord and saved everyone from a monster, only to discover that killing him wasn't exactly the end of the story. His spirit becomes connected to hers, forcing these two very unwilling people into a situation neither of them would have chosen.
That setup created some fantastic tension.
Denara has every reason to distrust Vaelor, especially considering what she's been told about him and what she believed she had accomplished. Vaelor's reputation paints him as something truly terrifying, but as Denara spends more time with him, those first impressions start falling apart. There are curses, old wounds, secrets, and a much more vulnerable man hiding behind the fearsome Demon Lord everyone knows.
I really enjoyed watching that transformation happen gradually. Their relationship doesn't suddenly jump from enemies to declarations of love. Instead, the forced connection gives them time to understand each other, challenge their assumptions, and slowly develop a level of trust neither expected. The attraction builds naturally alongside that emotional shift, and that made their eventual closeness much more satisfying.
The Beauty and the Beast influence was also a great fit for this story. I liked the idea of taking that familiar dynamic and dropping it into a much darker supernatural setting. Instead of a straightforward monster-and-maiden setup, Denara has to figure out whether the creature she thought she understood is actually the person standing beside her.
The fantasy elements added plenty to the experience as well. Demons, curses, spirits, undead armies, dangerous realms, and an overall gothic atmosphere gave the story a darker edge while still leaving plenty of room for romance and humor. There was always something happening, so the pacing kept me moving through the story rather than getting bogged down in excessive world-building.
What worked especially well for me was the combination of adventure and romance. The danger surrounding Denara and Vaelor gives their relationship extra weight because they aren't falling for each other in a safe, uncomplicated environment. Every step closer comes with consequences, and that makes their chemistry even more interesting.
I also loved the underlying theme of looking beyond the reputation someone has been given. Denara has to question everything she believed about Vaelor, while Vaelor has to let someone see the parts of himself he's kept hidden. Watching those walls come down was easily one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Overall, Fated to the Demon Lord gave me exactly the kind of escapist romantasy I was hoping for without realizing I needed it. Denara is a heroine who can absolutely hold her own, Vaelor has plenty of darkness and depth to uncover, and together they have a relationship packed with tension, reluctant trust, danger, and growing attraction.
For my first J. Ann Curtis book, this was a very enjoyable introduction. If you like gothic fantasy, supernatural romance, Beauty and the Beast retellings, dangerous heroes, strong heroines, forced proximity, and enemies slowly discovering they may have misjudged each other, this one is definitely worth checking out. And after finishing this so quickly, I'm certainly interested in seeing what else J. Ann Curtis has written.
September 9, 2026
🖤Fantasy romance - PNR
🕯️Gothic demon world
🖤Fated mates
🕯️Enemies to lovers
🖤Forced proximity
🕯️She unalives him
🖤Captor/captive
🕯️Deadly competition
🖤Possessive ghost MMC
🕯️Actual possession
🖤Beauty and the beast vibe
🕯️Standalone
♥️♥️Thank you to J. Ann Curtis for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own♥️♥️
Denara plans to wipe out an entire demon camp to escape captivity, but before she can get far, she is captured again and handed over as payment to Lord Vaelor—a demon she previously killed, but who has since been resurrected as a spirit.
Of Spindles and Nightfall is one of my 5⭐ reads, sooo I was so happy to return to the same world in this book!🤩 this time, we explore the Kingdom of Aeria. Vaelor, a demon lord of Aeria, approaches a mercenary camp to form an alliance to reclaiming the territory of Misophae to free his people. but he is killed there by poison Denara had added to the food served to the demons.
when Vaelor is resurrected by the Spiritu Malignos army, he demands Denara as payment in exchange for allowing the Spiritu Malignos to settle in his territory...but Vaelor needs to find a new body, or he will be lost forever, so Denara becomes his temporary vessel while he searches for a new one. Denara then finds herself confined within Vaelor’s castle, not because he has imprisoned her, but because leaving would mean certain death. the vengeful spirits of the demon she once killed are wait outside, hunting her down.
I loved how fierce and determined Denara is to escape and find her younger sibling, despite knowing the dangers of venturing into demon territory. and as she and Vaelor journey in search of a new body for him, Denara gradually realizes that he isn't as terrible as his ruthless reputation implies...there is a tragic backstory behind his situation, and his plans were ruined when Denara killed him :')
although this is a standalone novel, there is no insta attraction between them. I loved their tension, and the slow burn is 🔥🔥 their romance develops at a natural pace, from mutual hatred into a bond where they would willingly die for one another🥰 and a lot happens throughout the book, yet the story never becomes confusing or difficult to follow, I had so much fun reading this! I also love how unique the Beauty and the Beast vibes are here, it feel so different from other retellings I've read. overall, this was a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read and I would love to read more stories set in this world! there are several demon territories that I think would be interesting to explore in another story✨
🕯️Gothic demon world
🖤Fated mates
🕯️Enemies to lovers
🖤Forced proximity
🕯️She unalives him
🖤Captor/captive
🕯️Deadly competition
🖤Possessive ghost MMC
🕯️Actual possession
🖤Beauty and the beast vibe
🕯️Standalone
♥️♥️Thank you to J. Ann Curtis for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own♥️♥️
Denara plans to wipe out an entire demon camp to escape captivity, but before she can get far, she is captured again and handed over as payment to Lord Vaelor—a demon she previously killed, but who has since been resurrected as a spirit.
I had killed him. Now I'd do anything to save him.
Of Spindles and Nightfall is one of my 5⭐ reads, sooo I was so happy to return to the same world in this book!🤩 this time, we explore the Kingdom of Aeria. Vaelor, a demon lord of Aeria, approaches a mercenary camp to form an alliance to reclaiming the territory of Misophae to free his people. but he is killed there by poison Denara had added to the food served to the demons.
when Vaelor is resurrected by the Spiritu Malignos army, he demands Denara as payment in exchange for allowing the Spiritu Malignos to settle in his territory...but Vaelor needs to find a new body, or he will be lost forever, so Denara becomes his temporary vessel while he searches for a new one. Denara then finds herself confined within Vaelor’s castle, not because he has imprisoned her, but because leaving would mean certain death. the vengeful spirits of the demon she once killed are wait outside, hunting her down.
Only one type of good demon existed. A dead demon.
I loved how fierce and determined Denara is to escape and find her younger sibling, despite knowing the dangers of venturing into demon territory. and as she and Vaelor journey in search of a new body for him, Denara gradually realizes that he isn't as terrible as his ruthless reputation implies...there is a tragic backstory behind his situation, and his plans were ruined when Denara killed him :')
you, Denara, have brought me to life. You may killed my body, but you've brought my soul back from the dead. You're worth every sacrifice, every scar, every cut.
although this is a standalone novel, there is no insta attraction between them. I loved their tension, and the slow burn is 🔥🔥 their romance develops at a natural pace, from mutual hatred into a bond where they would willingly die for one another🥰 and a lot happens throughout the book, yet the story never becomes confusing or difficult to follow, I had so much fun reading this! I also love how unique the Beauty and the Beast vibes are here, it feel so different from other retellings I've read. overall, this was a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read and I would love to read more stories set in this world! there are several demon territories that I think would be interesting to explore in another story✨
August 29, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for a chance to review this ARC.
3,5 stars for me, but I rounded it up to 4 stars because it has all aspects of romantasy/paranormal romance and I always rate the books within the genre.
To be honest, I was expecting steamy romance with almost no plot. I did not expect this to be so plot dedicated. It's not a bad thing; it only means that you are getting the steamy scenes much later in plot than expected. That being said, if you want instant spice, this might not be for you.
The story is quite original - our FMC Denara is taken as a slave by demons that raid human villages. In an escape attempt she poisons her captors including a demon who sought alliance with them. This is our MMC Vaelor. But do not worry, the rest of the story is him as a ghost, so we have a paranormal romance within a fantasy world. Denara is now Valeor's prisoner and has to help him find a body, he could inhabit.
Gradually, we are learning how the demon world and politics work but also about Vaelor's past. At first, Vaelor was very mean to Denara (which is understandable since she killed him) and then the attraction came and from there it was basically insta love. Yes, he smelled her blood and froze - if you read a few romantasy books, you know what that means ;-). I was kind of bored with the constant "I should note be attracted to him" from the FMCs side but this is a standard romance trope. I am a mood reader, so this might be a "me problem" because I expected this to be much steamier, but this is still a solid romantasy. I recommend it if you want a bit of plot with your romance. To be completely transparent there are spicy scenes and they are quite original as well, because Vaelor is using his incorporeal form.
The reason I give it 3,5 stars is, that even though we get a lot of plot, some things were kind of rushed. Like when Denara is talking to a person who abandoned her (trying to avoid spoilers here). I just felt it should have been a dialogue between the two. Instead, the person just spilled out all the reasons for what happened. I appreciate, that the author answered all the questions, but it felt kind of unnatural. I feel like in many instances when I was wondering what happened or why XY did that, they explained it without being prompted by anyone around them.
But that is me nitpicking. Since standalone romances are scarce, if you want a paranormal romantasy with plot, go ahead with this one!
3,5 stars for me, but I rounded it up to 4 stars because it has all aspects of romantasy/paranormal romance and I always rate the books within the genre.
To be honest, I was expecting steamy romance with almost no plot. I did not expect this to be so plot dedicated. It's not a bad thing; it only means that you are getting the steamy scenes much later in plot than expected. That being said, if you want instant spice, this might not be for you.
The story is quite original - our FMC Denara is taken as a slave by demons that raid human villages. In an escape attempt she poisons her captors including a demon who sought alliance with them. This is our MMC Vaelor. But do not worry, the rest of the story is him as a ghost, so we have a paranormal romance within a fantasy world. Denara is now Valeor's prisoner and has to help him find a body, he could inhabit.
Gradually, we are learning how the demon world and politics work but also about Vaelor's past. At first, Vaelor was very mean to Denara (which is understandable since she killed him) and then the attraction came and from there it was basically insta love. Yes, he smelled her blood and froze - if you read a few romantasy books, you know what that means ;-). I was kind of bored with the constant "I should note be attracted to him" from the FMCs side but this is a standard romance trope. I am a mood reader, so this might be a "me problem" because I expected this to be much steamier, but this is still a solid romantasy. I recommend it if you want a bit of plot with your romance. To be completely transparent there are spicy scenes and they are quite original as well, because Vaelor is using his incorporeal form.
The reason I give it 3,5 stars is, that even though we get a lot of plot, some things were kind of rushed. Like when Denara is talking to a person who abandoned her (trying to avoid spoilers here). I just felt it should have been a dialogue between the two. Instead, the person just spilled out all the reasons for what happened. I appreciate, that the author answered all the questions, but it felt kind of unnatural. I feel like in many instances when I was wondering what happened or why XY did that, they explained it without being prompted by anyone around them.
But that is me nitpicking. Since standalone romances are scarce, if you want a paranormal romantasy with plot, go ahead with this one!
September 8, 2026
“Fated To The Demon Lord” by J Ann Curtis is a tantalizing gothic dark fantasy romance between a Demon Lord named Vaelor and Denara, the Human woman who slayed him. A Beauty and the Beast retelling, it is a spooky ghost story perfect for readers searching for their Halloween spirit with their romance.
Tropes: “MINE”, possessive MMC (literally), fated mates, “dance with me”, touch her and 💀
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 - he has a tail and the wingspan to back it up.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book; Curtis excels at keeping you on your toes with a fast pace that doesn’t compromise on setting the stage and the world around you. Set in a world surrounded by monsters and villains of all sorts, we see the beauty, romance, danger, and fear existing in equal measure at any and all corners. This world creates feelings of trepidation and suspicion as you read and try to discern friend from foe and try to assume where the boundaries are. I was (once again) pleasantly surprised by the lengths these characters go to and how well Curtis does at keeping readers in the dark, unaware of the curveballs she was going to throw.
I appreciated that this retelling was subtle but notable, rather than overt and obvious in its storytelling. It incorporated several important and obvious tropes and motifs that nod to the tale, but in different capacities that felt more powerful and different from how we expect to see them. The ending, without spoiling, uses the “Tale As Old As Time” line in a way that feels both wholesome and sweet, considering the dark and devastating experiences they’ve just had. Knowing that our story had a happy ending these characters deserved really sat well with me.
“Fated To The Demon Lord” takes place in the same world 30 years before the events of “Of Spindles & Nightfall,” and they’re both standalones! I absolutely LOVED Spindles, and even though the world and system are the same, it felt entirely different, and I couldn’t get enough. It was incredible (and horrifying) to return to this dark world I loved so much. The villain MMCs are morally gray with hearts of gold in a world that’s death-defying.
“Fated To The Demon Lord” is book two in the “Fated to the Enemy” anthology romance series. I recommend reviewing the content warnings before reading.
Tropes: “MINE”, possessive MMC (literally), fated mates, “dance with me”, touch her and 💀
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 - he has a tail and the wingspan to back it up.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book; Curtis excels at keeping you on your toes with a fast pace that doesn’t compromise on setting the stage and the world around you. Set in a world surrounded by monsters and villains of all sorts, we see the beauty, romance, danger, and fear existing in equal measure at any and all corners. This world creates feelings of trepidation and suspicion as you read and try to discern friend from foe and try to assume where the boundaries are. I was (once again) pleasantly surprised by the lengths these characters go to and how well Curtis does at keeping readers in the dark, unaware of the curveballs she was going to throw.
I appreciated that this retelling was subtle but notable, rather than overt and obvious in its storytelling. It incorporated several important and obvious tropes and motifs that nod to the tale, but in different capacities that felt more powerful and different from how we expect to see them. The ending, without spoiling, uses the “Tale As Old As Time” line in a way that feels both wholesome and sweet, considering the dark and devastating experiences they’ve just had. Knowing that our story had a happy ending these characters deserved really sat well with me.
“Fated To The Demon Lord” takes place in the same world 30 years before the events of “Of Spindles & Nightfall,” and they’re both standalones! I absolutely LOVED Spindles, and even though the world and system are the same, it felt entirely different, and I couldn’t get enough. It was incredible (and horrifying) to return to this dark world I loved so much. The villain MMCs are morally gray with hearts of gold in a world that’s death-defying.
“Fated To The Demon Lord” is book two in the “Fated to the Enemy” anthology romance series. I recommend reviewing the content warnings before reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I originally requested a different book from the *Fated to the Enemy* series, but since there were more ARC openings, I got a little greedy and applied for them all. This happened to be the first one I was accepted for and I went into it with absolutely no expectations.
At first, I wasn't completely sure how I felt about it. The beginning felt very reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, with Denara being held captive in Vaelor's manor, a cursed rose, dancing, a library, and even a mention of a "tale as old as time." It was almost a little too familiar for me, and I briefly wondered if this would be a story I'd struggle to get into.
But then the story took a turn, and I became much more invested.
One of my favorite parts was discovering Denara's potential as a hedge witch. She starts out poor, weak, and seemingly defenseless, but watching her discover her abilities and grow into a powerful witch was so satisfying. Her determination to find her little brother, despite everything standing in her way, made her a character I really rooted for.
I also really enjoyed Denara and Vaelor's relationship. They both grow in strength and skill throughout the story, and I loved seeing them face the dangers of their world together. Vaelor in particular ended up being much more complicated than I initially expected, and his tragic backstory added another layer to his character.
The story is fast-paced, with short chapters that made it incredibly easy to keep reading. The romance is also more of a fast burn, which isn't usually my preference since I'm a slow-burn girl at heart, but I still found myself enjoying it.
My biggest complaint? I wanted more. I would have loved to spend more time with these characters and explore their world further.
Overall, Fated to the Demon Lord was a fun and magical Beauty and the Beast-inspired fantasy romance with a determined heroine, demons, magic, danger, and a happily-ever-after. If you're looking for a quick fantasy romance that doesn't take forever to get moving, this could be a fun one to pick up.
At first, I wasn't completely sure how I felt about it. The beginning felt very reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, with Denara being held captive in Vaelor's manor, a cursed rose, dancing, a library, and even a mention of a "tale as old as time." It was almost a little too familiar for me, and I briefly wondered if this would be a story I'd struggle to get into.
But then the story took a turn, and I became much more invested.
One of my favorite parts was discovering Denara's potential as a hedge witch. She starts out poor, weak, and seemingly defenseless, but watching her discover her abilities and grow into a powerful witch was so satisfying. Her determination to find her little brother, despite everything standing in her way, made her a character I really rooted for.
I also really enjoyed Denara and Vaelor's relationship. They both grow in strength and skill throughout the story, and I loved seeing them face the dangers of their world together. Vaelor in particular ended up being much more complicated than I initially expected, and his tragic backstory added another layer to his character.
The story is fast-paced, with short chapters that made it incredibly easy to keep reading. The romance is also more of a fast burn, which isn't usually my preference since I'm a slow-burn girl at heart, but I still found myself enjoying it.
My biggest complaint? I wanted more. I would have loved to spend more time with these characters and explore their world further.
Overall, Fated to the Demon Lord was a fun and magical Beauty and the Beast-inspired fantasy romance with a determined heroine, demons, magic, danger, and a happily-ever-after. If you're looking for a quick fantasy romance that doesn't take forever to get moving, this could be a fun one to pick up.
September 11, 2026
"Fated to the Demon Lord," is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a ghostly demon, and an orphaned girl determined to find her kidnapped brother.
Denara poisons an entire camp of demons to try to escape, but little does she know that the worst of her captors would rise as a spirit and claim her as payment to do with as he pleases. To survive, she must help him find a suitable body to in habit before his soul fades forever. Forced into close proximity with him, Denara begins to realize that maybe Vaelor isn't as monstrous as she's thought him to be.
"Sometimes the only way to break a curse, is to love the beast."
What to expect:
😈Gothic demon world
💫Beauty and the Beast retelling
😈Enemies to lovers
💫Standalone in the Fated to the Enemy series
😈Forced proximity
💫Captor/protector
😈Curses and dark magic
I *love* Beauty and the Beast retellings. So I was ready to devour this story, and was crushed when I ended up finding I was skipping words when I was reading because something just didn't click in the writing.
There's a *lot* going on, the plot is fast paced, and the premise (the demon lord who comes back as a spirit and has to find a body) was super interesting and had a ton of potential. But... it read like a play by play - the author just telling us what was happening and not giving readers a chance to really sink into the story. There was so much happening so quickly, and no time to stop and take it in or check in with the characters, see how they were feeling about everything and how the events and revelations were affecting them. The emotion was lacking, and I felt absolutely nothing for the characters overall as they felt super one dimensional and not well fleshed out, which is ultimately where the story lost me.
If you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast and love you some spirts, demons and a little spice thrown in, this may be a good book for you.
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Denara poisons an entire camp of demons to try to escape, but little does she know that the worst of her captors would rise as a spirit and claim her as payment to do with as he pleases. To survive, she must help him find a suitable body to in habit before his soul fades forever. Forced into close proximity with him, Denara begins to realize that maybe Vaelor isn't as monstrous as she's thought him to be.
"Sometimes the only way to break a curse, is to love the beast."
What to expect:
😈Gothic demon world
💫Beauty and the Beast retelling
😈Enemies to lovers
💫Standalone in the Fated to the Enemy series
😈Forced proximity
💫Captor/protector
😈Curses and dark magic
I *love* Beauty and the Beast retellings. So I was ready to devour this story, and was crushed when I ended up finding I was skipping words when I was reading because something just didn't click in the writing.
There's a *lot* going on, the plot is fast paced, and the premise (the demon lord who comes back as a spirit and has to find a body) was super interesting and had a ton of potential. But... it read like a play by play - the author just telling us what was happening and not giving readers a chance to really sink into the story. There was so much happening so quickly, and no time to stop and take it in or check in with the characters, see how they were feeling about everything and how the events and revelations were affecting them. The emotion was lacking, and I felt absolutely nothing for the characters overall as they felt super one dimensional and not well fleshed out, which is ultimately where the story lost me.
If you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast and love you some spirts, demons and a little spice thrown in, this may be a good book for you.
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 11, 2026
Advanced reader copy review:
Okay, this book was a whole ride!
I went into Fated to the Demon Lord expecting a dark fantasy romance with demons and a little spice, and honestly… it delivered. We have a Demon Lord, curses, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and two people who really should NOT be falling for each other—but of course, they do. 😏
Denara and Vaelor’s relationship was probably my favorite part. She literally killed him, and now she’s stuck dealing with him again. Talk about an awkward reunion! Their constant tension, arguing, and chemistry made their scenes so much fun to read. I especially loved watching Denara slowly realize that maybe Vaelor isn’t the monster she thought he was.
And Vaelor? Definitely the kind of fictional man that makes you question your standards. He’s dark, powerful, intimidating, and has that whole “I could destroy the world but I’d rather protect you” energy. Yes, please.
I also really enjoyed the demon world. It’s dark, creepy, mysterious, and full of things that could probably kill you at any moment—which is exactly what I want when I’m reading a romantasy.
The Beauty and the Beast vibes were also a nice touch. You’ve got the “monster” who isn’t exactly what he seems, a curse, and a woman who slowly starts seeing the person underneath all that darkness. Add some steamy scenes and plenty of tension, and you have a pretty entertaining read.
Was it perfect? No. There were moments when I wanted to shake the characters and yell, “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!” 😂 But honestly, that’s part of the fun of romance books.
Overall, this was a fun, dark, spicy romantasy that kept me entertained. If you’re into demons, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, curses, morally gray men, and a good amount of spice, definitely give this one a try.
And yes… Vaelor can stay. 😂🖤
Okay, this book was a whole ride!
I went into Fated to the Demon Lord expecting a dark fantasy romance with demons and a little spice, and honestly… it delivered. We have a Demon Lord, curses, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and two people who really should NOT be falling for each other—but of course, they do. 😏
Denara and Vaelor’s relationship was probably my favorite part. She literally killed him, and now she’s stuck dealing with him again. Talk about an awkward reunion! Their constant tension, arguing, and chemistry made their scenes so much fun to read. I especially loved watching Denara slowly realize that maybe Vaelor isn’t the monster she thought he was.
And Vaelor? Definitely the kind of fictional man that makes you question your standards. He’s dark, powerful, intimidating, and has that whole “I could destroy the world but I’d rather protect you” energy. Yes, please.
I also really enjoyed the demon world. It’s dark, creepy, mysterious, and full of things that could probably kill you at any moment—which is exactly what I want when I’m reading a romantasy.
The Beauty and the Beast vibes were also a nice touch. You’ve got the “monster” who isn’t exactly what he seems, a curse, and a woman who slowly starts seeing the person underneath all that darkness. Add some steamy scenes and plenty of tension, and you have a pretty entertaining read.
Was it perfect? No. There were moments when I wanted to shake the characters and yell, “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!” 😂 But honestly, that’s part of the fun of romance books.
Overall, this was a fun, dark, spicy romantasy that kept me entertained. If you’re into demons, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, curses, morally gray men, and a good amount of spice, definitely give this one a try.
And yes… Vaelor can stay. 😂🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Denara would do just about anything to make her way back to her little brother. So when she destroys the mercenary army that took her and sold him, she thinks she finally has a chance of finding him again. Except there was a guest amongst the army leaders, a Lord Vaelor whose spirit now demands her obedience. As they navigate a world of demons out for Denara’s blood and pain, the two must learn to trust each other. Is Vaelor the monster she believes him to be?
“Fated to the Demon Lord” by J. Ann Curtis is the second book of the “Fated to the Enemy” Collection. This collection follows different pairs of enemies as they navigate the fine line between expected hate and fated love. Inspired by “The Beauty and the Beast”, this ghost story follows Denara as she rises from her place as a kitchen slave to assist Vaelor in his search for a suitable host. Once I started this book, I had a hard time setting it down. I was sneaking chapters between all my chores. The way their relationship transforms over time would have you laughing one page, and facepalming the next. I loved seeing Denara grow into her power, even when it meant she was fighting against being tempted by Vaelor.
With heartbreaking moments and frightening demons at the corner of every page, “Fated to the Demon Lord” will have you racing to the end. For every promise there is betrayal; for every moment of trust there is a secret that threatens to unravel the peace found between them; for every failure there is a curse that fuels Vaelor’s regret. Enter the Demon Kingdom and discover Denara and Vaelor’s story. Their choices now will go on to affect their world, if only they dare to defy the rules.
“Fated to the Demon Lord” by J. Ann Curtis is the second book of the “Fated to the Enemy” Collection. This collection follows different pairs of enemies as they navigate the fine line between expected hate and fated love. Inspired by “The Beauty and the Beast”, this ghost story follows Denara as she rises from her place as a kitchen slave to assist Vaelor in his search for a suitable host. Once I started this book, I had a hard time setting it down. I was sneaking chapters between all my chores. The way their relationship transforms over time would have you laughing one page, and facepalming the next. I loved seeing Denara grow into her power, even when it meant she was fighting against being tempted by Vaelor.
With heartbreaking moments and frightening demons at the corner of every page, “Fated to the Demon Lord” will have you racing to the end. For every promise there is betrayal; for every moment of trust there is a secret that threatens to unravel the peace found between them; for every failure there is a curse that fuels Vaelor’s regret. Enter the Demon Kingdom and discover Denara and Vaelor’s story. Their choices now will go on to affect their world, if only they dare to defy the rules.
September 21, 2026
I’m always a sucker for a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, and this dark, gothic twist completely pulled me in. The idea of Denara literally killing the Demon Lord, only for Vaelor to return as a ghostly spirit tied to her, was such a creative and unexpected take on the familiar story. Denara was a character I really enjoyed following because she was fierce, stubborn, a little chaotic, and determined to do whatever it took to protect her brother and the people she loved. Vaelor took a little longer to figure out, but I really liked discovering the softer and more vulnerable side beneath his intimidating Demon Lord reputation. Their enemies to lovers relationship was probably my favorite part, especially the tension, banter, forced proximity, and gradual shift from distrust to something deeper. I also really enjoyed the gothic demon world, with its curses, spirits, magic, undead armies, and dangerous creatures, which gave the story a darker atmosphere without overwhelming the romance. The pacing was quick and kept me turning the pages, and I found this to be a very easy and addictive read. That said, I sometimes wished the romance and a few plot points had been given more time to develop, as some parts felt a little rushed for my taste. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this unique romantasy and loved how it balanced danger, emotional moments, humor, and romance. If you enjoy dark Beauty and the Beast retellings, demons, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and a heroine who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, this is definitely one to check out. Thank you to J. Ann Curtis, Elmae Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
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