A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley

Title: A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch

Series: Glimmer Falls

Author: Sarah Hawley

Narrator: Helen Laser

Release Date: November 28, 2023

Publisher: print, Berkley Romance; audio, PRH Audio

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal

Source: audio, Audible

TW: graphic sexual content, violence, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, gaslighting, fire/fire injury, sexual harassment, body shaming, classism

Synopsis

Calladia Cunnington curses the day she met Astaroth the demon, but when he shows up memoryless, why does she find him so helpless . . . and sort of hot?

Calladia Cunnington knows she's rough around the edges, despite being the heir to one of small-town Glimmer Falls' founding witch families. While her gym obsession is a great outlet for her anxieties and anger, her hot temper still gets the best of her and manifests in bar brawls. When Calladia saves someone from a demon attack one night, though, she's happy to put her magic and rage to good use . . . until she realizes the man she saved is none other than Astaroth, the ruthless demon who orchestrated a soul bargain on her best friend.

Astaroth is a legendary soul bargainer and one of the nine members of the demon high council--except he can't remember any of this. Suffering from amnesia after being banished to the mortal plane, Astaroth doesn't know why a demon named Moloch is after him, nor why the muscular, angry, hot-in-a-terrifying-way witch who saved him hates him so much.

Unable to leave anyone in such a vulnerable state--even the most despicable demon--Calladia grudgingly decides to help him. (Besides, punching an amnesiac would be in poor taste.) The two set out on an uneasy road trip to find the witch who might be able to restore Astaroth's memory so they can learn how to defeat Moloch. Calladia vows that once Astaroth is cured, she'll kick his ass, but the more time she spends with the snarky yet utterly charming demon, the more she realizes she likes this new, improved Astaroth . . . and maybe she doesn't want him to recover his memories, after all.

Thoughts

As delightfully whimsical and steamy as the first book! I knew I would enjoy it given my love for the initial story, but I didn’t expect to love Calladia and Astaroth’s tale even more than Oz and Mariel’s. Considering his actions in the first book, I was ready to dislike Astaroth.

However, his redemption arc was surprisingly endearing. I appreciated seeing a more vulnerable side to both Calladia and Astaroth, who are generally standoffish and emotionally guarded. Their chemistry was undeniably addictive! The romance was captivating, and I loved that Astaroth’s initial attraction to Calladia was due to her strength.

Their interactions were immensely humorous and their chemistry was intensely passionate. A special mention goes to Astaroth’s mother, Lilith, whose hilarious antics made her a standout even as a secondary character.

The narration by Helen Laser added an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. Her ability to bring out the distinct personalities of each character, especially the snarky yet charming Astaroth and the fiery Calladia, made the audiobook a delight to listen to. The pacing was perfect, and the emotional depth she brought to the characters' more vulnerable moments was truly commendable.

One of the aspects I loved most about this book was the growth of the characters. Calladia, who starts off as a rough-around-the-edges, gym-obsessed witch with a hot temper, evolves beautifully throughout the story. Her journey from anger and mistrust to understanding and love was both believable and heartwarming. Similarly, seeing Astaroth transition from a ruthless soul bargainer to someone who is capable of love and vulnerability was incredibly satisfying.

Another highlight was the humor sprinkled throughout the narrative. The witty banter between Calladia and Astaroth kept me smiling, and there were several laugh-out-loud moments that I thoroughly enjoyed. The comedic timing was spot-on and added a light-hearted touch to the more intense scenes.

The plot itself was engaging and well-paced. The road trip aspect of the story provided plenty of opportunities for the characters to bond and for the readers to see different facets of their personalities. The constant threat of danger from Moloch kept the tension high, and the resolution was both surprising and satisfying.

In conclusion, "A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch" exceeded all my expectations. It was a perfect blend of romance, humor, and action, with well-developed characters and an engaging plot. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first book or is a fan of contemporary paranormal romance. I can't wait to see what Sarah Hawley has in store for us next in the Glimmer Falls series!