Kayla Edwards
City of Gods and Monsters (House of Devils, #1)
Loren Calla, an ordinary human in a city teeming with vampires, werewolves, witches, and other supernatural threats, must ally herself with Darien Cassel—the ruthless leader of the Darkslayers—to rescue her friend and survive Angelthene’s deadly underbelly. As their hunt unearths a corrupt secret that could tear their world apart, a slow-burning, dangerous romance ignites that forces Loren to discover what lengths love can drive someone to go.
Tropes & Themes
About This Book
In the supernatural city of Angelthene, Loren Calla, an ordinary human, finds her life upended when she narrowly escapes an abduction attempt by Darkslayers—supernatural bounty hunters with the Sight, a magical ability to track a person's aura. In her place, her friend Sabrine is taken, and the abductors demand Loren's life for her friend's safe return. Desperate, Loren forms an uneasy alliance with Darien Cassel, the leader of the Seven Devils, the most feared Darkslaying circle in the city. Darien, a hellseher with the Sight, specializes in tracking down demons and criminals, and despite Loren's initial reluctance, he becomes her best chance at finding Sabrine alive.
As Loren and Darien delve deeper into Angelthene's corrupt underbelly, they uncover a dark secret that threatens to unravel their world. Their search intensifies as more women disappear, some turning up dead, leading them to confront the city's most dangerous elements. Amidst the peril, a slow-burning, dangerous romance ignites between Loren and Darien, forcing Loren to discover the lengths love can drive someone to go. The novel explores themes of morality, the value of mortality, and the complexities of romantic love and self-esteem, all set against a dark, intense, and suspenseful backdrop.
What Readers Say
Many readers praise the book's immersive world-building and engaging plot twists. Fans appreciate the slow-burn romance and character development between Loren and Darien. Some readers find the protagonist's emotional reactions and decisions frustrating and unrealistic. The writing quality is noted as engaging, though some readers find the pacing uneven. Content warnings include graphic violence, drug abuse, suicide, torture, murder, and loss of life.
