Title: A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch
Author: Sarah Hawley
Series: Glimmer Falls #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, Demons, Romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023
I absolutely adored A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, there was something about the story that had me from the first moment, and made me fall for the characters. And, although I liked A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch, I didn’t love it quite so much. I might have still really enjoyed this paranormal romance, but it definitely wasn’t quite as good as the first book in the Glimmer Falls series. Not that that has stopped me from buying A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire. An enjoyable story, and one that I may reread, but not one of my favourites either.
One of the parts of this story that I really loved was the redemption arc of Astaroth of the Nine. I mean, he was an absolutely fantastic villain in A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, but somehow, he made an even better hero. Particularly as there wasn’t all that much “heroic” about him. I mean, even though he’s falling in love and starting to turn to the “good” side of this story, his first instinct is still absolutely to just destroy everyone and everything in his way. Really, he felt a little bit like the inside voice we all have that is a little bit less than kind, and a whole lot chaotic.
Calladia, like Astaroth, wasn’t your typical “hero” type character. I mean, I related to her a lot and found her absolutely adorable, but, again, her first instinct is violence and mayhem. I also love that she is tough, strong and has this constant need to fight. It’s a somewhat neurotic tendency to respond to abuse in a very aggressive manner. Which, again, felt a little bit like the Inside Voice that is constantly needling me to make horrible choices that end in chaos. Plus, I just wish I was as good of a fighter / brawler as Calladia. Yet, partnering these two grey heroes together works perfectly. And, more than anything, I love that it’s the not-so-pure influence of Astaroth which finally lets Calladia take control of her abusive relationships and finally walk away.
As much as I enjoyed the chaos and insanity that was Calladia and Astaroth on an adventure, I really liked how they tried to restructure the whole of demon culture. There is an extra layer of world building within this story that wasn’t in A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, and I really liked getting to know more of these nuanced factors. Plus, there’s the way that in becoming more like the mortals, Astaroth is able to figure out how to become less stagnated. I also love how it is those of us who live the shortest lives that are the most passionate, a great reminder to live each day as full as possible.
| <- A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon | A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire -> |
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