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Wicked Conjuring #1
Demons at the Doorstep
Jessica has better things to do than run for her life, but that is the least of her worries. Powerful magic is being unleashed in her city, causing unnatural northern lights to coat the sky. As a Beata, a balance keeper of magic, it is Jessica’s duty to uncover the potential threat. Standing in her way is the band of witch hunters. Led by Connor Crowe and his brother Damien, the group is determined to purge all magic from reality. When mutated demons begin to rise from the shadows and witch hunters start disappearing, Jessica is threatened with her greatest challenge. She must destroy the nearly indestructible monsters and unmask the summoner, all while controlling the immense power at her fingertips. What she did not anticipate was being forced to team up with her most dangerous enemy to do it.
Demons at the Doorstep is an upper Young Adult Urban Fantasy full of demons, witty banter, magic spells, and deadly sunsets. Perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the Mortal Instruments.
Demons at the Doorstep is an upper Young Adult Urban Fantasy full of demons, witty banter, magic spells, and deadly sunsets. Perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the Mortal Instruments.
- GenresFantasy
286 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2018
About the author
Rachael Bell-Irving
4 books33 followersRachael Bell-Irving is a Canadian author creating stories for the everyday reader to escape into, with lots of magic, monsters, and mayhem to spare. When not writing she can be found day-dreaming with a cup of coffee in hand, playing video games with her partner, or causing a tornado in the kitchen as she tries out new recipes.
Dive into the Wicked Conjuring series, a grounded urban fantasy where a witch is forced to team up with a witch hunter on a globe-trotting quest uncovering a darkness lurking in the shadows and meeting a crew of other magical creatures looking for a purpose. For readers who like the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and fans of Serpent & Dove, this easy-to-read, fast-paced adventure is great for fantasy fans and readers new to the genre alike.
Dive into the Wicked Conjuring series, a grounded urban fantasy where a witch is forced to team up with a witch hunter on a globe-trotting quest uncovering a darkness lurking in the shadows and meeting a crew of other magical creatures looking for a purpose. For readers who like the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and fans of Serpent & Dove, this easy-to-read, fast-paced adventure is great for fantasy fans and readers new to the genre alike.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 19, 2020
Thank you Spotlight Tours and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Demons at the Doorstep
By: Rachael Bell-Irving
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
Admittedly, I don't read nearly as much ya fantasy as I used to, even though it's one of my favorite genres, so it was refreshing to read Demons at the Doorstep. Jessica is a witch, and Damien is a witch hunter. Some bad dangerous magic stuff happens, such as demons at every turn, and Jessica and Damien find that cooperation between them to fight this might be necessary. Enemies can become friends, or is there something more going on here? Jessica and Damien are great characters possessing intelligence, dedication, maturity and sharp wit. They are a compelling entertaining team with an excellent dynamic. The story is fast paced with lots of action from the start, and the time spent reading just flew. This is the perfect type of book for older ya readers and fans of high fantasy. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next.
Demons at the Doorstep
By: Rachael Bell-Irving
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
Admittedly, I don't read nearly as much ya fantasy as I used to, even though it's one of my favorite genres, so it was refreshing to read Demons at the Doorstep. Jessica is a witch, and Damien is a witch hunter. Some bad dangerous magic stuff happens, such as demons at every turn, and Jessica and Damien find that cooperation between them to fight this might be necessary. Enemies can become friends, or is there something more going on here? Jessica and Damien are great characters possessing intelligence, dedication, maturity and sharp wit. They are a compelling entertaining team with an excellent dynamic. The story is fast paced with lots of action from the start, and the time spent reading just flew. This is the perfect type of book for older ya readers and fans of high fantasy. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next.
June 20, 2018
4.5/5
I just love discovering new authors. It is such a wonderful thing when a book meet all your expectations. Demons at the Doorstep was a wonderful young adult fantasy book and I am very happy that it landed on my doorstep!
The first thing I feel I should point out about this book is the writing. I was about 50 pages in when I decided that regardless of what I thought of the plot I would give the book a few stars for the writing alone. Rachel Bell-Irving is no shadow of doubt a very talented writer.
Luckily, the plot was as good as the writing. Demons at the Doorstep is not some super complicated high fantasy, it is a nicely paced, easy to read fantasy written for young adults readers of all ages. This is the second book I read this month that makes me miss the books that got me into reading fantasy in the first place. There is a lot of high fantasy books around in the YA world these days and I miss some easy read beauties like this one.
The story mainly follows Jessica and Damien, She is a witch, he is a with hunter. As demons start to fuse their bodies to humans it becomes clear to Damien that he cannot take care of the situation alone and he starts to follow Jessica around hoping she knows/can find a solution to their citie's problems.
Jessica was a great main character. She was strong in every way- mind, body, power! Definitely not someone to mess around with. I liked her seriousness and her dedication to what she was born to do.
Damien was a great character too. He was hard to trust but easy to love. The friendship (even though both would deny being friends) that evolved between them was nice to read. I am very much looking forward to their friendship turning into something more on the next books.
All in all a great easy read! I only have one question: When is the next book out?! I NEED IT!
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I just love discovering new authors. It is such a wonderful thing when a book meet all your expectations. Demons at the Doorstep was a wonderful young adult fantasy book and I am very happy that it landed on my doorstep!
The first thing I feel I should point out about this book is the writing. I was about 50 pages in when I decided that regardless of what I thought of the plot I would give the book a few stars for the writing alone. Rachel Bell-Irving is no shadow of doubt a very talented writer.
Luckily, the plot was as good as the writing. Demons at the Doorstep is not some super complicated high fantasy, it is a nicely paced, easy to read fantasy written for young adults readers of all ages. This is the second book I read this month that makes me miss the books that got me into reading fantasy in the first place. There is a lot of high fantasy books around in the YA world these days and I miss some easy read beauties like this one.
The story mainly follows Jessica and Damien, She is a witch, he is a with hunter. As demons start to fuse their bodies to humans it becomes clear to Damien that he cannot take care of the situation alone and he starts to follow Jessica around hoping she knows/can find a solution to their citie's problems.
Jessica was a great main character. She was strong in every way- mind, body, power! Definitely not someone to mess around with. I liked her seriousness and her dedication to what she was born to do.
Damien was a great character too. He was hard to trust but easy to love. The friendship (even though both would deny being friends) that evolved between them was nice to read. I am very much looking forward to their friendship turning into something more on the next books.
All in all a great easy read! I only have one question: When is the next book out?! I NEED IT!
For more reviews Subscribe/Like/Follow
Blog: http://glimpsesofmybooks.blogspot.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glimpses_of_me
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
March 8, 2020
*Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of Demons at the Doorstep in exchange for an honest review* <3
I really enjoyed this one! It was a fun read with lots of humour, witty banter and a compelling magic system.
Demons at the doorstep follows Jessica who is a witch. When strange lights appear in the sky, Jessica knows something is wrong and it is her sacred duty to figure out what it is. When strange demons start appearing, she ends up having to team up with her enemy - a witch-hunter called Damien - to stop the threat.
One thing i liked about this book was the magic system. It was really original and intriguing. Lots of magic is tied to the gods and ceremonies from lots of different faiths. The system made sense and was well explained. I can't wait to see what the author does with this magic system in the other books in the series!
I also really really REALLY enjoyed the romance in this one. it was just tOO CUTE!! There was so much sexual tension and lots of witty banter between Damien and Jessica. It made me heart very happy. If you like characters like Jace from the mortal instruments you are going to LOVE Damien.
Finally, one of my favourite things about this book was how fast paced it was. At the beginning of the book we dive STRAIGHT into the action which i loved. There isn't a single slow moment in this one - it'll have you at the edge of your seat the whole time!
With Demons, Magic and Romance, this book is filled with all the things I love. it is bound to keep you hooked and reading late into the night. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the mortal instruments. Honestly just go read it! It will not disappoint you.
I can't wait to hear more from this series<3
Also go follow the author on instagram because she is so sweet and deserves all the success <3
I really enjoyed this one! It was a fun read with lots of humour, witty banter and a compelling magic system.
Demons at the doorstep follows Jessica who is a witch. When strange lights appear in the sky, Jessica knows something is wrong and it is her sacred duty to figure out what it is. When strange demons start appearing, she ends up having to team up with her enemy - a witch-hunter called Damien - to stop the threat.
One thing i liked about this book was the magic system. It was really original and intriguing. Lots of magic is tied to the gods and ceremonies from lots of different faiths. The system made sense and was well explained. I can't wait to see what the author does with this magic system in the other books in the series!
I also really really REALLY enjoyed the romance in this one. it was just tOO CUTE!! There was so much sexual tension and lots of witty banter between Damien and Jessica. It made me heart very happy. If you like characters like Jace from the mortal instruments you are going to LOVE Damien.
Finally, one of my favourite things about this book was how fast paced it was. At the beginning of the book we dive STRAIGHT into the action which i loved. There isn't a single slow moment in this one - it'll have you at the edge of your seat the whole time!
With Demons, Magic and Romance, this book is filled with all the things I love. it is bound to keep you hooked and reading late into the night. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the mortal instruments. Honestly just go read it! It will not disappoint you.
I can't wait to hear more from this series<3
Also go follow the author on instagram because she is so sweet and deserves all the success <3
April 8, 2020
Demons at the Doorstep is a great YA urban fantasy novel. I loved this book! Rachael Bell-Irving has created a wonderful world in Demons at the Doorstep, book 1 of the Wicked Conjuring series.
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Jessica is a Beata, a powerful witch tasked with keeping the magical balance in the human world. Making her job more difficult is Damien and his band of witch hunters who are determined to rid the world of magic. A dark powerful magic enters the city one night, demons start appearing from the shadows and witch hunters go missing. Jessica must destroy this evil magic but discovers that she can’t do it alone, she needs to team up with Damien to do it.
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I loved the world building and magic system in this novel. The writing is wonderfully descriptive and Bell-Irving beautifully creates magic into a world we already live in.I loved the descriptions of the magical library! This novel is set in Toronto and it was cool being able to read a book set in a Canadian city that I have visited! The plot is well paced and I quickly became attached to the characters. Jessica is strong, smart and capable. She also talks about what she struggles with and how she is working to improve. I also love Damien, who while strong, has so many different layers and still shows a wide range of emotions. I loved their interaction, banter and growth.
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If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, mythology, a bit of romance and adventure, this is the book for you! If you’ve been wanting to start reading fantasy this novel is a great place to start. It is really accessible and draws you into the story quickly.
.
Jessica is a Beata, a powerful witch tasked with keeping the magical balance in the human world. Making her job more difficult is Damien and his band of witch hunters who are determined to rid the world of magic. A dark powerful magic enters the city one night, demons start appearing from the shadows and witch hunters go missing. Jessica must destroy this evil magic but discovers that she can’t do it alone, she needs to team up with Damien to do it.
.
I loved the world building and magic system in this novel. The writing is wonderfully descriptive and Bell-Irving beautifully creates magic into a world we already live in.I loved the descriptions of the magical library! This novel is set in Toronto and it was cool being able to read a book set in a Canadian city that I have visited! The plot is well paced and I quickly became attached to the characters. Jessica is strong, smart and capable. She also talks about what she struggles with and how she is working to improve. I also love Damien, who while strong, has so many different layers and still shows a wide range of emotions. I loved their interaction, banter and growth.
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If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, mythology, a bit of romance and adventure, this is the book for you! If you’ve been wanting to start reading fantasy this novel is a great place to start. It is really accessible and draws you into the story quickly.
April 7, 2021
**POTENTIAL SPOILERS
WHEW WHAT A RIDE! This book...WOW!
I want to start off with what threw me off a little bit. I didn’t like the mc’s name, I think it was plain. I wish her name was Astra instead 😅 (but that’s just me I guess). Next, I was hoping to see and feel the tension of being enemies like at least a little back story of the witch and hunters’ encounters. They say they’re enemies but they kinda don’t act like it? For me at least, I just think that it would’ve been great and for the chemistry to be more felt if we witnessed how they actually transitioned from being enemies to friends/lovers. Alsoooo I think I need more thrill? Like something to stir up my emotions but I mean it’s only the first book so 🤷🏻♀️
With that being said, onto to what I love!
1.) The magic system
The author did a great job researching and incorporating different cultures to the magic system. It was fun to read and also learn more about different cultures, particularly about mythologies. +++ The way the author wrote about magic makes me wanna believe that everything’s real. Climate change? We don’t know her, we only magic!!!
2.) REPRESENTATION
I LOVE, I AM OBSESSED at the fact that the love interest is not another white possessive dominant alpha male! WE GET TO HAVE A GEEKY ASIAN LOVE INTEREST!!! There’s also LGBTQ represented here, and I’m looking forward (fingers crossed) that we’ll get to see more of them in the next books
3.) Settings
Okay so I enjoyed how this was set in the modern day, totally different from other books 😍
4.) The little things
I appreciate the little details that the author included. Like how Jessica felt bad when she erased the memories of her roommate and ofc, there’s more!
5.) Their banter!
Omg the humor 👏 Their banter was so so funny and witty I really enjoyed it
6.) Action packed
YES I GOT TO SEE ADVENTURES AND LOTS OF ACTION WOOOOP
Overall, I REAAAAALLY enjoyed this book and I’m so stoked to read the next one!
WHEW WHAT A RIDE! This book...WOW!
I want to start off with what threw me off a little bit. I didn’t like the mc’s name, I think it was plain. I wish her name was Astra instead 😅 (but that’s just me I guess). Next, I was hoping to see and feel the tension of being enemies like at least a little back story of the witch and hunters’ encounters. They say they’re enemies but they kinda don’t act like it? For me at least, I just think that it would’ve been great and for the chemistry to be more felt if we witnessed how they actually transitioned from being enemies to friends/lovers. Alsoooo I think I need more thrill? Like something to stir up my emotions but I mean it’s only the first book so 🤷🏻♀️
With that being said, onto to what I love!
1.) The magic system
The author did a great job researching and incorporating different cultures to the magic system. It was fun to read and also learn more about different cultures, particularly about mythologies. +++ The way the author wrote about magic makes me wanna believe that everything’s real. Climate change? We don’t know her, we only magic!!!
2.) REPRESENTATION
I LOVE, I AM OBSESSED at the fact that the love interest is not another white possessive dominant alpha male! WE GET TO HAVE A GEEKY ASIAN LOVE INTEREST!!! There’s also LGBTQ represented here, and I’m looking forward (fingers crossed) that we’ll get to see more of them in the next books
3.) Settings
Okay so I enjoyed how this was set in the modern day, totally different from other books 😍
4.) The little things
I appreciate the little details that the author included. Like how Jessica felt bad when she erased the memories of her roommate and ofc, there’s more!
5.) Their banter!
Omg the humor 👏 Their banter was so so funny and witty I really enjoyed it
6.) Action packed
YES I GOT TO SEE ADVENTURES AND LOTS OF ACTION WOOOOP
Overall, I REAAAAALLY enjoyed this book and I’m so stoked to read the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2020
4/5 stars
I really enjoyed this YA urban fantasy story filled with witches, witch hunters, action, mystery and a whole lot more!
Synopsis
After a magical occurrence, demons start to appear in Jessica's city. As a Beata and a witch, it's her job to control the magical balance. Unfortunately, the witch hunter's are also looking for who might have caused the occurrence. Witch and witch hunter will have to team up in order to stop the demons and something worse from wreaking havoc on the world.
Pacing, World Building & Points of View
I honestly read this story in one sitting! The pacing was fast and the writing style flowed really well. The world building was done well and the magical system was explained without being over informative. The main point of view was Jessica, the witch and Beata.
Characters
I easily connected with Jessica the main character and our main witch in this story. She had a strong sense of self and purpose in the world and I really liked that. She also was willing to keep an open mind, for the most part, when dealing with witch hunters. Damien, a witch hunter, was the other favorite character in this story. I loved how he was trying to keep an open mind through it all, but also remain loyal to his brother and fellow witch hunters. I really liked Jessica's interactions with Damien. The banter was witty and a bit sarcastic, so naturally I loved it! They could honestly go up a notch in chemistry and flirty banter as far as I'm concerned! The creatures and supernatural beings were interesting. I'm a sucker for a story with lots of creatures and monsters and this one was no exception. There always seemed to be something going on in the story with creatures, magic, or mystery and it kept me invested! I'm hoping to see more creatures and characters in the next book and hopefully more interaction and chemistry from Jessica and Damien.
Overall
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It made me want to pick up more urban fantasies in the future and hopefully another book by this author!
*Thank you so much to the author and Spotlight Tours for gifting me this arc. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed this YA urban fantasy story filled with witches, witch hunters, action, mystery and a whole lot more!
Synopsis
After a magical occurrence, demons start to appear in Jessica's city. As a Beata and a witch, it's her job to control the magical balance. Unfortunately, the witch hunter's are also looking for who might have caused the occurrence. Witch and witch hunter will have to team up in order to stop the demons and something worse from wreaking havoc on the world.
Pacing, World Building & Points of View
I honestly read this story in one sitting! The pacing was fast and the writing style flowed really well. The world building was done well and the magical system was explained without being over informative. The main point of view was Jessica, the witch and Beata.
Characters
I easily connected with Jessica the main character and our main witch in this story. She had a strong sense of self and purpose in the world and I really liked that. She also was willing to keep an open mind, for the most part, when dealing with witch hunters. Damien, a witch hunter, was the other favorite character in this story. I loved how he was trying to keep an open mind through it all, but also remain loyal to his brother and fellow witch hunters. I really liked Jessica's interactions with Damien. The banter was witty and a bit sarcastic, so naturally I loved it! They could honestly go up a notch in chemistry and flirty banter as far as I'm concerned! The creatures and supernatural beings were interesting. I'm a sucker for a story with lots of creatures and monsters and this one was no exception. There always seemed to be something going on in the story with creatures, magic, or mystery and it kept me invested! I'm hoping to see more creatures and characters in the next book and hopefully more interaction and chemistry from Jessica and Damien.
Overall
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It made me want to pick up more urban fantasies in the future and hopefully another book by this author!
*Thank you so much to the author and Spotlight Tours for gifting me this arc. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 5, 2023
Thank you to the author for a copy of their book in return for an honest review.
I admit that I am usually not the first person running to read an urban fantasy novel - but I really liked this book!!
The concept interested me when I read the synopsis and the story definitely held up to that. I quickly became invested in the characters - Jessica is a great character! She is incredibly strong but has her trauma and flaws that affect her. And Damien is a great character, he's got the snark and sarcasm and I really like his character arc.
I like the magical creatures that are in the story, people with different flaws and magical abilities, and I'm excited to see what happens through the rest of the series!
TW: blood, body horror, death, death of parent, toxic relationship - sibling, murder, fire/ fire injury, injury/ injury detail, gore, violence, grief, stalking
I admit that I am usually not the first person running to read an urban fantasy novel - but I really liked this book!!
The concept interested me when I read the synopsis and the story definitely held up to that. I quickly became invested in the characters - Jessica is a great character! She is incredibly strong but has her trauma and flaws that affect her. And Damien is a great character, he's got the snark and sarcasm and I really like his character arc.
I like the magical creatures that are in the story, people with different flaws and magical abilities, and I'm excited to see what happens through the rest of the series!
TW: blood, body horror, death, death of parent, toxic relationship - sibling, murder, fire/ fire injury, injury/ injury detail, gore, violence, grief, stalking
September 8, 2020
This is a great book!! I love the witty banter between Jess and Damien! It is fast paced with just enough slow down moments to give the reader time to breath before diving into the next action/ adventure scene! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy (especially with an interest in ancient history) based in modern day. I will also say if you read the original edition but have not taken the time to read this edition you are severely missing out!
May 17, 2020
What a great story with awesome fight scenes. I’m excited to learn more about the magic system in the coming books!
March 9, 2022
I finished reading Demons at the Doorstep last week and love the world that the author created! I haven't read a book about magic and witches for so long and I really enjoyed reading this urban fantasy. I loved how strong Jessica was and it was so nice to read about an independent protagonist. There was a hint (really more of a tease!) of a romance that I hope will develop more in the following books. There is so much potential for this series and I am so excited to continue reading it! I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author!
June 19, 2018
I read through this book so fast, I just couldn't put it down! It's a nice new twist on witches and witch hunters, with the added bit of throwing in demons. Also being set in Canada which just makes it that much more awesome to me. Would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new fresh young adult fantasy book!
July 25, 2021
book review//demons at the doorstep (wicked conjuring #1):
if you enjoy all things magic, demons, conjuring, mythical gods, witches and witch-hunters, dramatic fight-offs, enemies-to-lovers, look no further than demons at the doorstep. this book is the first in the wicked conjuring series by rachel bell-irving, and sets the base for so much more to come in the sequel, the lupatus stone. (the suspense at the end!!)
i received the ecopy of this book in a tour for the lupatus stone (book 2), which was arranged by @indielimelightpr on instagram.
first off, i think i didn't do justice to this book because i never feel like actually reading when i'm reading an ebook, and i rarely read ebooks, even more rarely i'm emotionally involved in one. it's just so much lesser real than a physical book. i don't know how to explain, and this is not a general opinion about ebooks, it's just how i feel, so maybe keep that in mind as you go further into this review?
it's a beautiful book, though. i really enjoyed reading it. when i finished it, i wanted to dive right into the second book, but i want to enjoy the experience to the fullest, so i'm waiting on my physical copy to arrive.
anyway, i did enjoy this one, and i loved jessica so much, and right away i knew there was so much more to damien, even if my first encounter with him into the book wasn't so pleasant, neither was his introduction. i just had this instinct that he has so much more to him.
jessica's relationship with her grandmother, nonna, was also so beautiful, so was her consideration for the humans around her and especially her roommate and friend, kirstin.
her chemistry with damien, however, felt a little unnatural and forced. it's like... it just didn't feel natural to me.
and at last, i felt like for the whole course of the book, it was just building up the base for the very last part, without the reader ever knowing it, which is ultimately setting the base for the next book. i think the second book is going to be the real deal in the plot. maybe the author intended it that way.
it was an easy read, though, with really simple language. i really enjoyed it.
if you enjoy all things magic, demons, conjuring, mythical gods, witches and witch-hunters, dramatic fight-offs, enemies-to-lovers, look no further than demons at the doorstep. this book is the first in the wicked conjuring series by rachel bell-irving, and sets the base for so much more to come in the sequel, the lupatus stone. (the suspense at the end!!)
i received the ecopy of this book in a tour for the lupatus stone (book 2), which was arranged by @indielimelightpr on instagram.
first off, i think i didn't do justice to this book because i never feel like actually reading when i'm reading an ebook, and i rarely read ebooks, even more rarely i'm emotionally involved in one. it's just so much lesser real than a physical book. i don't know how to explain, and this is not a general opinion about ebooks, it's just how i feel, so maybe keep that in mind as you go further into this review?
it's a beautiful book, though. i really enjoyed reading it. when i finished it, i wanted to dive right into the second book, but i want to enjoy the experience to the fullest, so i'm waiting on my physical copy to arrive.
anyway, i did enjoy this one, and i loved jessica so much, and right away i knew there was so much more to damien, even if my first encounter with him into the book wasn't so pleasant, neither was his introduction. i just had this instinct that he has so much more to him.
jessica's relationship with her grandmother, nonna, was also so beautiful, so was her consideration for the humans around her and especially her roommate and friend, kirstin.
her chemistry with damien, however, felt a little unnatural and forced. it's like... it just didn't feel natural to me.
and at last, i felt like for the whole course of the book, it was just building up the base for the very last part, without the reader ever knowing it, which is ultimately setting the base for the next book. i think the second book is going to be the real deal in the plot. maybe the author intended it that way.
it was an easy read, though, with really simple language. i really enjoyed it.
August 2, 2025
I was taken by surprise reading Demons at the Doorstep, because I didn’t expect so much in a shorter book, but also didn’t expect to enjoy it as much. Listen, when I hear urban fantasy, I’m hesitant. I will either really like it or absolutely hate it. Here, well by now I’m sure you can tell it was the former.
I picked it up at one of the busiest times in my life and didn’t end up finishing a single book for over a month. I was reading, but just not consistently enough to finish anything. So after that semi hiatus, it was so satisfying finishing a book I actually enjoyed.
I’ll stop yapping and get to the book itself. This book is an exploration of the classic “good and evil”, led by a fierce and resilient female protagonist. Jessica may not have been dealt the best hand in life, but she’s making the most of it with a determination that’s relatable. For fans of urban fantasy, this is the perfect read with witches, witch hunters, and just enough of a spark of romance to keep the reader wanting more.
The magic system is straightforward yet original, with unique touches that keep it from feeling repetitive or too similar to other books (that I’ve read). The romance was surprisingly my favourite part. Finally characters who fall for each other naturally, without any of that rushed "insta-love" that I’m not too fond of. Their chemistry is cute and unintentional in the best way. More of this, please!
I’m so excited to see where this series goes next. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fun escape with a strong female lead and just the right amount of magical intrigue!
Note: This book was sent to me by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I picked it up at one of the busiest times in my life and didn’t end up finishing a single book for over a month. I was reading, but just not consistently enough to finish anything. So after that semi hiatus, it was so satisfying finishing a book I actually enjoyed.
I’ll stop yapping and get to the book itself. This book is an exploration of the classic “good and evil”, led by a fierce and resilient female protagonist. Jessica may not have been dealt the best hand in life, but she’s making the most of it with a determination that’s relatable. For fans of urban fantasy, this is the perfect read with witches, witch hunters, and just enough of a spark of romance to keep the reader wanting more.
The magic system is straightforward yet original, with unique touches that keep it from feeling repetitive or too similar to other books (that I’ve read). The romance was surprisingly my favourite part. Finally characters who fall for each other naturally, without any of that rushed "insta-love" that I’m not too fond of. Their chemistry is cute and unintentional in the best way. More of this, please!
I’m so excited to see where this series goes next. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fun escape with a strong female lead and just the right amount of magical intrigue!
Note: This book was sent to me by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 2, 2020
I read this one pretty quickly, I always will love an urban fantasy with magic and a good romance! This book is reminiscent of Serpent & Dove with there being a witch and witch hunter forced to work together. The common threat for the witches and witch hunters are the demons and strange lights appearing in the Toronto skyline. The writing was another part of the book that kept me reading. Rachel is good at her craft and it shows! I enjoyed how the fighting scenes and action sequences were easy to follow.
I loved the magical aspect of the witches, it was unique in the way it worked. The characters are smart and spunky: the MC Jessica is a badass witch who doesn’t go down without a fight and Damien is the witch hunter, who realizes he may need more help with the demon problem. Their romance developed with a lot of witty banter and smouldering tension. They reminded me of Jace and Clary from the Mortal Instruments, which was a good thing in my book! There was a good balance of humor and serious scenes.
If you want a fast-paced YA urban fantasy filled with magic, romance, and demons, pick this one up!
I loved the magical aspect of the witches, it was unique in the way it worked. The characters are smart and spunky: the MC Jessica is a badass witch who doesn’t go down without a fight and Damien is the witch hunter, who realizes he may need more help with the demon problem. Their romance developed with a lot of witty banter and smouldering tension. They reminded me of Jace and Clary from the Mortal Instruments, which was a good thing in my book! There was a good balance of humor and serious scenes.
If you want a fast-paced YA urban fantasy filled with magic, romance, and demons, pick this one up!
March 28, 2021
I'm here to gush about this book. I really did love every moment, and I am super grateful that the next book comes out soon because I'm hooked!
First off, the writing style is totally my jam. Rachael gives the perfect amount of descriptors. I appreciate being given the freedom to fill in a lot of blanks myself. Plus, the dialogue is awesome. It is realistic, and the emotions are clear. I felt this story.
My favourite part, though, is the characters. Their conflict is understandable. They seem real and complicated, and they exhibit growth. Jess is prickly perfection and Damien is a nerdy girl's sassy dream. I wanted to know them. In fact, I added Damien to my list of book boyfriends.
The magic system is familiar and the mythology is fascinating. It was easy to get sucked into the story and imagine being right there in the moment.
I highly recommend this book to fans of Supernatural. The questioning of the old good vs evil expectations, along with the research portion, totally filled the gap where that show used to be.
Rachael Bell-Irving has become my latest insta-buy author.
First off, the writing style is totally my jam. Rachael gives the perfect amount of descriptors. I appreciate being given the freedom to fill in a lot of blanks myself. Plus, the dialogue is awesome. It is realistic, and the emotions are clear. I felt this story.
My favourite part, though, is the characters. Their conflict is understandable. They seem real and complicated, and they exhibit growth. Jess is prickly perfection and Damien is a nerdy girl's sassy dream. I wanted to know them. In fact, I added Damien to my list of book boyfriends.
The magic system is familiar and the mythology is fascinating. It was easy to get sucked into the story and imagine being right there in the moment.
I highly recommend this book to fans of Supernatural. The questioning of the old good vs evil expectations, along with the research portion, totally filled the gap where that show used to be.
Rachael Bell-Irving has become my latest insta-buy author.
February 22, 2021
With a writing style in my opinion similar to Sarah J. Maas (except with much quicker pacing), this magical story won me over from the beginning! The plot hooked me but the characters really drew me in and breathed life into the pages.
Jessica is a total badass witch and though she struggles with human flaws, she comes out swinging her magic far into the outfield. I feel like we got a little taste of her magic in this first one but I have a feeling a lot more power is to come.
Damien, the sexy bad boy witch hunter really had me going. He makes you love him and then question him. Can I trust him? I want to!! I know that much!
I really enjoyed the references to the Incan history and how the characters were interested in history as a general interest. I'm really looking forward to the next book and excited to meet some new characters!
Jessica is a total badass witch and though she struggles with human flaws, she comes out swinging her magic far into the outfield. I feel like we got a little taste of her magic in this first one but I have a feeling a lot more power is to come.
Damien, the sexy bad boy witch hunter really had me going. He makes you love him and then question him. Can I trust him? I want to!! I know that much!
I really enjoyed the references to the Incan history and how the characters were interested in history as a general interest. I'm really looking forward to the next book and excited to meet some new characters!
October 10, 2021
I love to discover new writers, especially Canadian ones. So I an super excited to have won copy of this book from the author. As a big YA fantasy fan I'm always looking for books with a new angle on the genre. I really liked the concept of this book. Powerful Beata witch Jessica finds herself teaming up with a surprising partner in her sworn enemy, witch hunter Damien. It's a tentative truce and pairing at best but they have bigger fish to fry. Someone is creating and unleashing demons on the city of Toronto and they need to figure out who before havoc is released on the world.
The first thing to point out is the amazing writing and style of Bell-Irving. I found the story well written with an easy flow that made me fly through the book. I also really enjoyed the magic system in the book. It was original while still drawing from the old legends and stories and from multiple different cultures. The slow burn, enemies to lovers connection between Jessica and Damien was also so well done. It wasn't forced or rushed and was totally believable. As well I am here for all the witty, sarcastic banter. I makes me happy every time.
This book was the perfect start to my paranormal October reads and I am so happy I also won book 2 - The Lupatus Stone- to dive right into. I will definitely be watching for further works from this author.
The first thing to point out is the amazing writing and style of Bell-Irving. I found the story well written with an easy flow that made me fly through the book. I also really enjoyed the magic system in the book. It was original while still drawing from the old legends and stories and from multiple different cultures. The slow burn, enemies to lovers connection between Jessica and Damien was also so well done. It wasn't forced or rushed and was totally believable. As well I am here for all the witty, sarcastic banter. I makes me happy every time.
This book was the perfect start to my paranormal October reads and I am so happy I also won book 2 - The Lupatus Stone- to dive right into. I will definitely be watching for further works from this author.
December 8, 2020
This book was gifted to be me by the author and I am so grateful!!
Demons at the Doorstep was so refreshing! I hadn't read an urban fantasy in a while so this was a nice world to dive into. The writing pulled me in from the very beginning and I couldn't stop thinking about it when I put it down. I appreciated the unique witches, the descriptions of magic, speckles of history, and the plot was so intriguing. Plus, the pacing was perfect! This was such a fun read. I'm looking forward to book two!!
Excellent debut!
Demons at the Doorstep was so refreshing! I hadn't read an urban fantasy in a while so this was a nice world to dive into. The writing pulled me in from the very beginning and I couldn't stop thinking about it when I put it down. I appreciated the unique witches, the descriptions of magic, speckles of history, and the plot was so intriguing. Plus, the pacing was perfect! This was such a fun read. I'm looking forward to book two!!
Excellent debut!
October 11, 2022
While I wasn't a fan of the romance between the two main characters, sue me romances aren't my jam, I still very much enjoyed the authors amazing descriptions of the enemies (won't spoil what they were but man did it put me in a spooky mood this lovely October). She went into some wonderfully vivid detail and it had my skin crawling in the best way.
With how she left the story, I'm very much looking forward to sinking my teeth into her next book. The world building is a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what she does. Go Rachel!
With how she left the story, I'm very much looking forward to sinking my teeth into her next book. The world building is a lot of fun and I can't wait to see what she does. Go Rachel!
May 2, 2021
I loved this book so much!! The magic system was so well thought out. This book was packed with action and adventure which kept me on my toes the entire time. The characters were everything!! I loved the relationship that develops between them and the writing is *chefs kiss*. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a fast paced, magic filled fantasy!
August 11, 2020
I loved every second!!!! If you are looking for an action packed witch & witch hunter story look no further! Demons reminded me of a modern day Serpent & Dove. Bell-Irving writes with vivid description and memorable characters that as a reader you will be rooting for the entire book.
June 8, 2021
I loved this book so much, I read it in 3 hours, after I got it. I don’t know how to explain how much I loved this book. It was so good. My friend who had gotten the book let me borrow it so I could read it and wow, it was so good. I wish I could explain in words how well this book was written.
May 14, 2020
Best urban fantasy I read in a while. Recommended!!!
May 12, 2021
Loved it as much as I did the first time around! And just noticed I read it same time in may las year!!!
June 14, 2021
I can't stop reading this book. I really enjoy it because it's in the city of Toronto and the magic and the action adventure this book add.
So good,
So good,
June 30, 2025
loved it but I'm a little sad it ended so soon.
November 13, 2018
Beeing curious of what Rachel achieved with her first book I started reading. As an old Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fan the titel soundes interesting -and I absolutly loved it. I liked the way the setting was discribed, reminding me of the travels to Canada. Also I loved the love story slowely starting but never getting cheesy. A good read for cold autumn days!
Natürlich war ich neugiering auf das erste Buch der lieben Rachel, die ich in Kanada kennegelernt hatte. Als alter Harry Potter und Der Herr der Ring Fan klang der Titel schon mal gut - tatsächlich stellte sich das Buch als fantastisch heraus. Ich verschlang es in wenigen Tagen. Die Beschreibung der Szenerie gefiel mir besonders und ich fühlte mich in meine Reisezeit nach Kanada zurückversetzt. Auch die kleine, aber umso feinere Liebesgeschichte lies mich nicht los, ohne kitschig zu werde. Tolle Lektüre für kalte Herbsttage!
Natürlich war ich neugiering auf das erste Buch der lieben Rachel, die ich in Kanada kennegelernt hatte. Als alter Harry Potter und Der Herr der Ring Fan klang der Titel schon mal gut - tatsächlich stellte sich das Buch als fantastisch heraus. Ich verschlang es in wenigen Tagen. Die Beschreibung der Szenerie gefiel mir besonders und ich fühlte mich in meine Reisezeit nach Kanada zurückversetzt. Auch die kleine, aber umso feinere Liebesgeschichte lies mich nicht los, ohne kitschig zu werde. Tolle Lektüre für kalte Herbsttage!
May 30, 2018
This is a great, quick summer read and serves as a wonderful first (hopefully of many more) release from Bell-Irving. The book was filled with humour, flirtation, and vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was on the streets of Toronto with the heroine (which could be scary at times with some of the horrifying creatures in the story). I can't wait to read the rest of the series and hear more about Jessica Williams' whirlwind of a life!
September 11, 2020
Great, light read that completely submerses you into Jessica’s witchly world! I will admit, this was my first fantasy book and I enjoyed the writing and the story very much. Loved the author’s development of setting, I think it is one of her strong suits. Can’t wait to see how the rest of the books in the series weave together. I want more Jessica and Damien!
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