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This was a light read, just surprising enough to keep me going, with lovely writing and clever insights about the nature of consent and connection. The relationship between the two main characters was moving and lovely, and the ending not what I expected... which is rare enough in a romance novella!

I quite enjoyed the fact that everything turned out to be just a step away from what it seemed. The demons were a fun an original concept; the villains shifted just at the last moment, to make me wonder if they were going to be the real antagonists; the nature of the story and the stakes kept moving, in a way that felt intriguing rather than confusing.

If I wanted this to be even better, I might wish for more distinctive voices for the characters; as the POV shifts between the two protagonists every 3-4 pages or so, and their narrative styles are quite similar, it can become a little confusing at times. Also, the beginning is a tad abrupt, and could feel contrived; it feels like the main reason for the hero's dad to 'give' him a pet demon is mostly to set the plot in motion, rather than something that would flow organically from what we know of the characters. But don't let that put you off; motivations are gradually appear to be more complex than they seemed, and while very abrupt beginnings aren't my preferred style, it's fine when the story and immersion start in earnest soon after. I had a lot of fun, in the end!