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Review

4 stars

I am a mad fan of all things Demonica. Larissa Ione has created a wonderfully complex paranormal world that stretches from heaven to earth and down to the depths of Sheoul (hell). This is the third novella set in the Demonica underworld, the hell realms of Sheoul, and specifically Sheoul-gra, the dominion of Azagoth, the Grim Reaper, and those who dwell there.

Zhubaal (Z), is the second in charge to the Grim Reaper. He’s a fallen angel who sacrificed his wings in order to travel to Sheoul to search for the soul of his beloved soulmate, Laura, a fellow angel who was brutally killed before they were able to be married. Laura’s soul was trapped in Sheoul-gra until she was reincarnated 30 years ago, and Z has been searching for her ever since.

Vex is an emim – the offspring of two fallen angels, she is like a magnet for evil souls. She has made her living by selling souls on the black market, but with hell now under new management, her kind are being hunted and exterminated. Now, with five souls on board – one of which is super evil and scarily powerful – her last chance is to turn to Azagoth and offer her services to him in exchange for his help in ridding her of the souls that threaten to possess her.

Z is the one who intercepts Vex upon her entrance to Sheoul-gra, and he is stunned and elated to recognise Laura’s soul within her. It explains his freakishly strong attraction to Vex – who is Laura’s opposite in every way. But the powerful soul dwelling within her is unwilling to let go, and as Azagoth and Z search for a way to rid Vex of the evil dwelling within her, he gets to know the sexy, sarcastic female, and finds himself drawn to more than just the parts of Laura that he sees in her.

Vex has always been a loner. She doesn’t form relationships and has had to fight most of her life just to stay alive. She feels a strong connection to the intriguing Z, and though she acknowledges that she carries the soul of his long lost love inside of her – and is more than happy to explore the sexual tension zinging between them – she wants to be wanted for who she is, and not as a part of Z’s memory.

Vex had never believed in soul mates, but as her soul touched Zhubaal’s, she knew the truth.
They belonged together.

I love these characters! Z’s innate ‘goodness’ is a wonderful contradiction to his role in Sheoul-gra and the sassy feistiness of Vex. She’s a sarcastic badass who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and together they have an electric chemistry. But can they find happiness together? Will Vex always feel like second best? And can Z move on from the past and learn to love Vex as she is?

I really enjoyed this short read. Of course I love being back in the Demonica world with lots of action and a chance to check in on some of the characters from previous books in the series (most notably Azagoth, Lilliana and Revenant). And as always I love the laugh-out-loud banter and insults that makes this series a favourite.

“Fallen angels are traitorous scum who weren’t meant to breed. They and their emim offspring deserve to be slaughtered.”
What a tool. If Zhubaal were anywhere but here, he’d lob a ball of acid fire at Ricky Bobby’s haloed head. “You know I’m a fallen angel, right?” He gestured to himself. “I mean, I’m standing right here.”

Z and Vex’s story played out beautifully, with great chemistry, a nice amount of emotion, some hot as hell sexy times, and a sweet romance.

“Touch my soul, Vex.” Stopping in front of her, he took one of her hands and pressed it over his heart. “On my honor, it’s you I want. Only you.”

Absolutely fantastic, I loved it – 4 stars.

For more information about the Demonica series – including series reading order – please check out our Demonica / Lords of Deliverance Series page.