If you’re after a monster romance that’s surprisingly sweet, steamy, and a little bit different, this one’s for you! Irdu is an adorable, touch-starved incubus with major cinnamon roll energy - expect lots of doting and nervous tail-fiddling from our blue-skinned hero. Autumn, a resourceful and lonely heroine, isn’t shy about what (or who) she wants. Their chemistry is off the charts from the jump, but what makes this story shine is how, through vulnerability and care, insta-lust gradually becomes genuine love. Fans of wholesome monster romance, unconventional love stories, gentle femdom, and spicy-but-tender reads will have a blast.

Who May Not Like This Book:

If you prefer a slow burn, or need a hefty plot with a long relationship build-up, you might find this one rushes things. Some found the novella length left the character development and emotional pay-off a bit short - Autumn’s puzzle-solving prowess can feel like a miracle fix. Others thought the “forbidden love” aspect leaned too sad or didn’t allow for enough happy moments, while a few just didn’t click with the pacing or found the storyline a bit bonkers by the end. If you aren’t into monster or paranormal romance, or want heavy angst, this may not be your match.

A cinnamon roll incubus, a strong heroine, and high heat combine for a surprisingly wholesome monster romance - short, spicy, and sweet, with a generous dose of feels.

About:

'Demon Lover' by Heather Guerre is a spicy romance novel that delves into the emotional relationship between a demon named Irdu and a human named Autumn. The book combines fascinating mythology, great writing, and an amazing plot to create a modern retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice with a monster twist. The story is captivating, with a blend of romance, history, and supernatural elements that keep the readers engaged from start to finish.

Autumn's journey of discovering Irdu's demon life and past, along with her quick understanding of ancient texts and magic, leads to a high-stakes quest to save him. Despite the novella length, the book manages to create intense chemistry between the characters, incorporating consent, humor, and poignant moments, making it a delightful and engaging read for fans of supernatural romance.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with the incubus embodying a soft, endearing nature and the female protagonist demonstrating strength and empathy in their bond.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is compelling, combining steamy scenes with emotional depth, making it accessible and enjoyable even within a limited page count.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around an incubus and a human's unexpected connection, highlighting themes of vulnerability and love that develop in a context of initial lust and physicality.

Setting:

The story is set in a contemporary world with heavy supernatural elements, particularly revolving around dreams.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, characteristic of a novella, which some readers found led to a lack of depth in certain story elements.

He appeared as an ordinary man—human colored, and without horns, fangs, or claws—laying with her in a cabana on a tropical beach. Gauzy white curtains fluttered in the breeze. The sound of the waves s...

Notes:

The book features an incubus, a demon known for feeding off sexual energy.

The story starts with sexual encounters but evolves into a deeper emotional connection.

Both main characters reveal their vulnerabilities as they fall in love.

It includes elements of Akkadian and Sumerian history, adding depth to the plot.

The male lead, Irdu, is portrayed as a sweet and gentle character, contrary to typical demon depictions.

Consent is a major theme throughout the narrative, emphasizing healthy relationships.

The book is a relatively short read, approximately 186 pages long.

The female lead helps the male lead navigate his cursed existence as a demon.

Some readers found the emotional story surprisingly tender despite the initial premise.

The writing blends humor with romance, creating a charming reading experience.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of emotional distress, slavery, and the complexities of a non-traditional relationship dynamic.

Has Romance?

The romance between the characters is significant and deeply developed throughout the book.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

Autumn wasn't supposed to know that the incubus who visits her dreams every night is real.

When she wakes up in the middle of the night to find a demon in her bed, she surprises them both by inviting him to stay. What starts as an arrangement of convenience soon turns into something much deeper.

But loving a demon comes at a steep price. An incubus is bound in service to the Underworld, and the only way for Autumn to free him is to pay with her soul. The deeper she falls in love, the closer she comes to damnation.

With the Underworld in turmoil and the fate of their love on the line, they may have a chance to be together-or lose each other forever.

April 2020

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193 pages

Ratings (24)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (7)
Liked It (5)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (4)

Reader Stats (71):

Read It (22)
Want To Read (30)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (17)

1 comment(s)

czanel840

Liked It

1 year

I found this really enjoyable and engaging. I'm quite impressed that Guerre wrote an incubus story with impeccable sexual consent. (Autumn does make some questionable choices where she withholds information from Irdu, but it's not quite directly a sexual consent issue). I liked both characters a lot, and as always, she centers the woman's pleasure -- without neglecting the man's -- and writes the sex in a way that doesn't squick me, which is rare in mf romance. I felt like there were some plot holes and improbable leaps of logic in some of the supernatural aspects of the plot when Autumn starts trying to rescue Irdu, but as a romance I found this pleasant and successful.

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Demon Lover

Heather Guerre

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