Author: Leigh Miller
Series: Crescent Coven Series Book #1
Category: Paranormal Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
'Demon's Bride' was as wholesome as a filthy paranormal romance between a witch and a demon king could get. Allie and Eren were a good match in personality and temperament. They both had a playful side to them and Eren enjoyed indulging her any time he could. Their relationship was only complicated because Allie made it so with her insecurities.
The human realm and the realm of demons are connected by a marriage bargain that keeps humans safe. Every so often a witch is chosen, someone strong and resilient, to marry a demon and keep their world thriving, if only so they do not go back to the dark old ways of human possessions and sacrifice for survival.
Unfortunately, magic is failing in the demon realm, and despite the previous witch and demon matching, something is wrong. Allie never thought she would be picked, her magic isn't strong, but fate had other ideas. The minute Eren, king of the demons, sets foot through the portal, he knows she is his in every way possible.
"My mate. My bride. The one the Goddess has sent me."
Allie is kind and determined to fulfill her side of the bargain. She has all the confidence in the world that she will solve the troubles that threaten both realms, however, that confidence does not extend to herself or her self-worth. Her low self-esteem coupled with high stakes in the event of failure has her questioning everything, including Eren's claims of love.
Eren knew Allie was his mate the first time he sensed her, and wanted her with everything in him. The demon king's responsibilities cloud his time with her, and though he has no problem accepting fate and destiny, Allie isn't as convinced their feelings are manipulated by their mate bond.
"I would choose you in this realm or the human realm or any of the rest. I would choose you always, you beautiful, sweet, unearthly creature. Mates or not, Goddess-blessed or not, there could never be a life in which I did not know you as my own."
The world-building is pretty limited but the lack of details isn't too big of a detriment since the whole story takes place within a couple of weeks. Though I never doubted the character's bond, there wasn't much depth to their feelings beyond being thrilled to belong to each other and copious amounts of sex. Not that I would ever complain about the amount of spice in any book review!
"Hunt her. Fuck her. Claim her. Allie wants to play. We'll play.
I wish there had been more interaction with other demons in the realm to develop more connections to the world. Eren is the demon king, I would have assumed there would have been more for Allie to do than hole up in a library day in and day out. The lack of secondary characters was a little jarring.
I'll settle on calling Demon's Bride a cute paranormal happily-ever-after romance. It was an easy drama-free, low-stakes read and there is certainly a time and place for that type of story in anyone's TBR pile.
Tropes and Themes: Magic, Demons, Paranormal, Fantasy, Insta-love, Prey Kink, Breeding Kink, Fantasy Romance, Fated Mates, Monster, Arranged Marriage.
Blurb
The Witch
This must be a mistake. There’s no way the Goddess chose me to be a demon’s bride.
I barely have any magick, and certainly not enough to repair the bargain between witches and demons that’s kept both our realms stable for centuries.
But Eren is…nothing like I expected. Something about him calls to me. Tempts me. And he looks at me like no one else ever has, like I’m strong and worthy. Like he wants to keep me, cherish me…and sink those wicked, wicked fangs of his into me.
The Demon
Allison Hawthorn is mine. My fate. My bride. My mate.
Mine to keep.
The magick that witches have brought to the demon realm for centuries is failing, and as High King, it’s my responsibility to see it repaired. I just never expected…Allie. My soul recognizes her immediately, and in a life stained by grief, I’ve ached for her before I ever met her.
Now that she’s here I’ll do anything to protect her, even as the fast-failing bargain threatens both of our realms, and will separate us forever if we can’t figure out a way to renew the magick.
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