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emmabussolotta's review against another edition
3.0
3.5*
It was okay. I liked the first half a lot, but the magic system didn't work for me. I think it would have been stronger as simply a romance.
It was okay. I liked the first half a lot, but the magic system didn't work for me. I think it would have been stronger as simply a romance.
gonturans's review against another edition
3.0
this one is very weird to rate so soon after finishing h.g. parry's the shadow histories, because that book goes SO DEEP into the historical context while still keeping the fantastic at the forefront. as a romance, though, i enjoyed it! i wish there were more paranormal historicals that were written with competency. was it weird to ignore the role of slavery with a protag who is literally like... an investor? like bro i know you made a deal with the devil and that made you not give a shit about anyone else but uh, you have also been doing this since you were 15. let's have this book address the abolition movement, maybe??
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
Blue Ribbon Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Original Review Link
Leopold Bailey was born a saddler’s son, but his intelligence, determination and ruthlessness have made him the Demon of the Exchange. But the lords, who are impressed by his business sense, still shun Leo for his “common” blood. So Leo does the most logical thing and marries the daughter of an impoverished baron. But quiet, ladylike Anne Hartfield isn’t a woman whom Leo can simply marry and forget. She makes him yearn for more than money or power – she makes him want to win her love. There’s just one problem…
Leo and his fellow Hellraisers have sold their souls to the devil in exchange for power. Leo doesn’t want to give up his power to see the future, not when he can use the magic to ruin those who would look down on him and not when he can use his wealth to give Anne everything she deserves. Leo’s determined to keep his pact with the devil a secret from his wife, but there are others who seek to help the Hellraisers, and they won’t let Anne stay in the dark for long. It’s only a matter of time before Leo will have to choose between unimaginable power and the bride who has stolen his heart.
The stakes that author Zoë Archer set in her first HELLRAISERS book, DEVIL’S KISS, are raised in DEMON’S BRIDE. The effect of the Hellraisers’ pact with the devil is spreading across London, which means DEMON’S BRIDE is packed with adrenaline-filled scenes.
At the heart of the story, however, are Leo and Anne. Of all the Hellraisers’ bargains, Leo’s is the one that I understand the most. He’s brilliant and hard working, but society seems to spit on him more often than not. Making a pact with the devil was obviously not the best idea Leo’s ever had, but Ms. Archer made his motives – and Leo himself – sympathetic. Anne, in turn, is a very different heroine from Zora, the heroine of DEVIL’S KISS. Anne is a gently bred young lady who doesn’t really believe in the devil or demons, and thus seems ill-equipped to handle a high-stakes battle of good versus evil. But Anne rises to the challenge, showing so much courage, love and strength that you can’t help but admire her.
The action in DEMON’S BRIDE is plentiful, and some of the twists and turns that Ms. Archer delivers managed to shock me. There was actually a scene that had me yelling “Noooooo!” at the book. And I definitely finished DEMON’S BRIDE with a number of questions, which isn’t a bad thing, except for the fact that I have to wait for the third HELLRAISERS book to see if my questions will be answered.
As I’ve said above, DEMON’S BRIDE is the second HELLRAISERS book, but for those who haven’t read the delightful DEVIL’S KISS, Ms. Archer provides enough information in DEMON’S BRIDE that readers new to the series can easily follow along, though the small, but significant, parts Whit and Zora play will definitely make you want to read DEVIL’S KISS. That being said, for the best reading experience, the series should be read in order. The influence the devil’s “gifts” has had on the Hellraisers is definitely more marked in DEMON’S BRIDE and thus the danger the men are in is made all the more clear.
I finished DEMON’S BRIDE with mixed emotions, and I won’t spoil the book by revealing why. However, I will say that Leo and Anne are two strong, endearing protagonists that readers will fall for and their romance was incredibly satisfying. Like its predecessor in the HELLRAISERS series, DEMON’S BRIDE is a unique, engaging read. Now, when can I get my hands on SINNER’S HEART?
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies.
Original Review Link
Leopold Bailey was born a saddler’s son, but his intelligence, determination and ruthlessness have made him the Demon of the Exchange. But the lords, who are impressed by his business sense, still shun Leo for his “common” blood. So Leo does the most logical thing and marries the daughter of an impoverished baron. But quiet, ladylike Anne Hartfield isn’t a woman whom Leo can simply marry and forget. She makes him yearn for more than money or power – she makes him want to win her love. There’s just one problem…
Leo and his fellow Hellraisers have sold their souls to the devil in exchange for power. Leo doesn’t want to give up his power to see the future, not when he can use the magic to ruin those who would look down on him and not when he can use his wealth to give Anne everything she deserves. Leo’s determined to keep his pact with the devil a secret from his wife, but there are others who seek to help the Hellraisers, and they won’t let Anne stay in the dark for long. It’s only a matter of time before Leo will have to choose between unimaginable power and the bride who has stolen his heart.
The stakes that author Zoë Archer set in her first HELLRAISERS book, DEVIL’S KISS, are raised in DEMON’S BRIDE. The effect of the Hellraisers’ pact with the devil is spreading across London, which means DEMON’S BRIDE is packed with adrenaline-filled scenes.
At the heart of the story, however, are Leo and Anne. Of all the Hellraisers’ bargains, Leo’s is the one that I understand the most. He’s brilliant and hard working, but society seems to spit on him more often than not. Making a pact with the devil was obviously not the best idea Leo’s ever had, but Ms. Archer made his motives – and Leo himself – sympathetic. Anne, in turn, is a very different heroine from Zora, the heroine of DEVIL’S KISS. Anne is a gently bred young lady who doesn’t really believe in the devil or demons, and thus seems ill-equipped to handle a high-stakes battle of good versus evil. But Anne rises to the challenge, showing so much courage, love and strength that you can’t help but admire her.
The action in DEMON’S BRIDE is plentiful, and some of the twists and turns that Ms. Archer delivers managed to shock me. There was actually a scene that had me yelling “Noooooo!” at the book. And I definitely finished DEMON’S BRIDE with a number of questions, which isn’t a bad thing, except for the fact that I have to wait for the third HELLRAISERS book to see if my questions will be answered.
As I’ve said above, DEMON’S BRIDE is the second HELLRAISERS book, but for those who haven’t read the delightful DEVIL’S KISS, Ms. Archer provides enough information in DEMON’S BRIDE that readers new to the series can easily follow along, though the small, but significant, parts Whit and Zora play will definitely make you want to read DEVIL’S KISS. That being said, for the best reading experience, the series should be read in order. The influence the devil’s “gifts” has had on the Hellraisers is definitely more marked in DEMON’S BRIDE and thus the danger the men are in is made all the more clear.
I finished DEMON’S BRIDE with mixed emotions, and I won’t spoil the book by revealing why. However, I will say that Leo and Anne are two strong, endearing protagonists that readers will fall for and their romance was incredibly satisfying. Like its predecessor in the HELLRAISERS series, DEMON’S BRIDE is a unique, engaging read. Now, when can I get my hands on SINNER’S HEART?
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies.
amullen03's review against another edition
4.0
So I though this was a great story. I loved how the characters and their relationships we developed. Everything unfolded nicely and didn't feel rushed.
The downside was I felt the book was to long. A lot of things were repeated many times. The story takes place over a week or two and felt like it was longer than that. Could have cut around 50 pages and still had a good story.
Probably going to read the other books in the series.
The downside was I felt the book was to long. A lot of things were repeated many times. The story takes place over a week or two and felt like it was longer than that. Could have cut around 50 pages and still had a good story.
Probably going to read the other books in the series.
beth_dawkins's review against another edition
3.0
Anne, an impoverished Barron’s daughter married a stranger, Leopold Bailey. She knows he has secrets, and is more than a little intimated by her new handsome husband. Like the other Hellraisers Leo was given a gift, the gift of prophesy, by the devil. Born as a saddler’s son, he has become the Demon of the Exchange. He topples men’s fortunes and stacks his own. With his gift he has acquired much, even a wife among the peers of London’s elite. With her by his side more doors will open for him, and nothing can stop him, until he ends up in love with her.
This is the second book in the Hellraisers series. This one could be read as a standalone. The first book is about a different couple, but also holds the story of how the Hellraisers were given gifts by the devil. Demon’s Bride is a lot like the first, it felt like it followed the same formula. There are some differences in the ending, but not enough to set it apart.
Like with the first novel it does an excellent job of putting the reader into the time period. I even think the heroine felt more realistic than the first. She is a lady of her time and has more of an excuse to deal with the issues in her marriage. She did marry a man for convenience, and knew it might be rocky. She really has very little to complain about—other than that pact he made with the devil. Their falling in love is steamy, and those steamy scenes are done very well. The first half of the book is them falling for one another, and his mounting insecurities.
The main problem for me was that I felt as if I had read this book before. It was so like the first one that I could predict each step Leo and Ann went through. The action scenes, like the romantic scenes are done well, but there is a serious lack of tension in them. The ending should have been exciting, but it felt far too predictable for me. There is a little twist that reminds the readers that nothing is truly safe, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to feel much more for the ending than what I did.
I would like to read the next one, just because so far it looks like it might be a little different than the first two. I am hoping it isn’t the same plot. I will say that the characters in the second book are better than the first, but the tension they build together does not carry through to the end. I never felt like our main couple was really in danger, nor did I believe they really thought they were in any danger. I really want there to be more to it.
This is the second book in the Hellraisers series. This one could be read as a standalone. The first book is about a different couple, but also holds the story of how the Hellraisers were given gifts by the devil. Demon’s Bride is a lot like the first, it felt like it followed the same formula. There are some differences in the ending, but not enough to set it apart.
Like with the first novel it does an excellent job of putting the reader into the time period. I even think the heroine felt more realistic than the first. She is a lady of her time and has more of an excuse to deal with the issues in her marriage. She did marry a man for convenience, and knew it might be rocky. She really has very little to complain about—other than that pact he made with the devil. Their falling in love is steamy, and those steamy scenes are done very well. The first half of the book is them falling for one another, and his mounting insecurities.
The main problem for me was that I felt as if I had read this book before. It was so like the first one that I could predict each step Leo and Ann went through. The action scenes, like the romantic scenes are done well, but there is a serious lack of tension in them. The ending should have been exciting, but it felt far too predictable for me. There is a little twist that reminds the readers that nothing is truly safe, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to feel much more for the ending than what I did.
I would like to read the next one, just because so far it looks like it might be a little different than the first two. I am hoping it isn’t the same plot. I will say that the characters in the second book are better than the first, but the tension they build together does not carry through to the end. I never felt like our main couple was really in danger, nor did I believe they really thought they were in any danger. I really want there to be more to it.
amullen03's review
4.0
So I though this was a great story. I loved how the characters and their relationships we developed. Everything unfolded nicely and didn't feel rushed.
The downside was I felt the book was to long. A lot of things were repeated many times. The story takes place over a week or two and felt like it was longer than that. Could have cut around 50 pages and still had a good story.
Probably going to read the other books in the series.
The downside was I felt the book was to long. A lot of things were repeated many times. The story takes place over a week or two and felt like it was longer than that. Could have cut around 50 pages and still had a good story.
Probably going to read the other books in the series.
avoraciousreader68's review
2.0
*Book source ~ ARC. My review is voluntary and honest.
Leo Bailey was born to a saddle maker, but he has bigger plans for himself. Even though the aristocracy turns down their collective nose at a commoner that doesn’t stop Leo from making money hand-over-fist in an effort to buy his way into the elite crowd. Once he’s obscenely rich all he needs to do his buy himself a titled wife. The Honorable Anne Hartfield, the daughter of an impoverished baron, is who he chooses. He rushes the marriage and afterwards, as he gets to know her better, he falls in love. But how will she react when she finds out, in order to make even more money, he made a deal with the devil?
This book started out with such promise. A man who has an uncanny money sense, making a fortune in the Market, who along with his Hellraiser friends, decides to make a deal with the devil in order to make even more money who falls in love with the woman he buys to be his wife. Their love story alongside his ego-driven plans make for an interesting tale. However, it drags on in parts, Leo is mostly unlikeable, and the paranormal stuff that should have been fascinating and exciting, falls flat. Overall, a disappointing read.
Leo Bailey was born to a saddle maker, but he has bigger plans for himself. Even though the aristocracy turns down their collective nose at a commoner that doesn’t stop Leo from making money hand-over-fist in an effort to buy his way into the elite crowd. Once he’s obscenely rich all he needs to do his buy himself a titled wife. The Honorable Anne Hartfield, the daughter of an impoverished baron, is who he chooses. He rushes the marriage and afterwards, as he gets to know her better, he falls in love. But how will she react when she finds out, in order to make even more money, he made a deal with the devil?
This book started out with such promise. A man who has an uncanny money sense, making a fortune in the Market, who along with his Hellraiser friends, decides to make a deal with the devil in order to make even more money who falls in love with the woman he buys to be his wife. Their love story alongside his ego-driven plans make for an interesting tale. However, it drags on in parts, Leo is mostly unlikeable, and the paranormal stuff that should have been fascinating and exciting, falls flat. Overall, a disappointing read.
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