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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I love the chemistry between the shy Robin and the stubborn demon Zylas. It also sheds a different light on a character (demon) that we may have only have negative thoughts about which I love!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
https://celebrityreaders.com/2020/11/11/taming-demons-for-beginners-by-annette-marie/
4.5 stars — Somehow I just knew I was going to love Robin. A meek book nerd who perseveres? YES PLEASE! Honestly, the whole book was fascinating to me, and I loved seeing a different side of this universe. I also kind of love that our main heroines in both these series are fairly uninformed about the world, and without any inherent great power…it’s who they are inside that makes a difference.
Let’s talk about Cris Dukehart for a second. I could tell from the first sentence that I was listening to someone else and not Tori. It was the slightest change, barely noticeable, but it was all Robin. I don’t understand how she does that! She was awesome as always. It was so cool to hear the demon language from her. My only complaint is that occasionally I didn’t know it was Zylas speaking and not one of the other men (like Darius). Not often though.
Like I said above, Robin is my kind of girl. I felt for her with her grief, and the uncomfortable circumstances of her living with her Uncle trying to get her inheritance. I know not everyone will get it, but I TOTALLY felt her need to bolster herself to confront him…I was proud of the times she was able to put herself out there, because it’s so anathema to her. I adored her “bleeding heart”, and the way her uninformed view on demonica really showcased how awful contracts could be. She was just cute, and determined, and kind, and brave.
Zylas was FASCINATING to me. Because he was SOOOOO alien, and he really is a blood thirsty murderer. I loved that Ms. Marie didn’t tone that down, didn’t make him super different from other demons. He was still scary as shit. You could really tell that the little differences he started showing was because of the relationship he ended up developing with Robin. It was a one of a kind circumstance. And he’s not just all fuzzy rainbows because of her — it’s very subtle, with lots of room for growth. The two of them, and their hilarious bickering at times, made this book for me. I was just freaking delighted by the strange relationship they developed.
I can’t wait to see how this is going to change things in this universe — both in this series and in Spellbound. And can I just say that I’m loving Darius more and more? LOVED getting to see more of him, Girard, and Alistair — especially in action!!
Yeah. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel jumping into a different head, but I’m just as in love. I think Ms. Marie has made a fan for life.
4.5 stars — Somehow I just knew I was going to love Robin. A meek book nerd who perseveres? YES PLEASE! Honestly, the whole book was fascinating to me, and I loved seeing a different side of this universe. I also kind of love that our main heroines in both these series are fairly uninformed about the world, and without any inherent great power…it’s who they are inside that makes a difference.
Let’s talk about Cris Dukehart for a second. I could tell from the first sentence that I was listening to someone else and not Tori. It was the slightest change, barely noticeable, but it was all Robin. I don’t understand how she does that! She was awesome as always. It was so cool to hear the demon language from her. My only complaint is that occasionally I didn’t know it was Zylas speaking and not one of the other men (like Darius). Not often though.
Like I said above, Robin is my kind of girl. I felt for her with her grief, and the uncomfortable circumstances of her living with her Uncle trying to get her inheritance. I know not everyone will get it, but I TOTALLY felt her need to bolster herself to confront him…I was proud of the times she was able to put herself out there, because it’s so anathema to her. I adored her “bleeding heart”, and the way her uninformed view on demonica really showcased how awful contracts could be. She was just cute, and determined, and kind, and brave.
Zylas was FASCINATING to me. Because he was SOOOOO alien, and he really is a blood thirsty murderer. I loved that Ms. Marie didn’t tone that down, didn’t make him super different from other demons. He was still scary as shit. You could really tell that the little differences he started showing was because of the relationship he ended up developing with Robin. It was a one of a kind circumstance. And he’s not just all fuzzy rainbows because of her — it’s very subtle, with lots of room for growth. The two of them, and their hilarious bickering at times, made this book for me. I was just freaking delighted by the strange relationship they developed.
I can’t wait to see how this is going to change things in this universe — both in this series and in Spellbound. And can I just say that I’m loving Darius more and more? LOVED getting to see more of him, Girard, and Alistair — especially in action!!
Yeah. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel jumping into a different head, but I’m just as in love. I think Ms. Marie has made a fan for life.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Demons aren't really my thing. And that's either the biggest or the second-biggest factor in my review of this book. The bigger one is that I came here because I have become a fan of Annette Marie's The Guild Codex: Spellbound series, which started with [b:Three Mages and a Margarita|39676313|Three Mages and a Margarita (The Guild Codex Spellbound, #1)|Annette Marie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533628669l/39676313._SY75_.jpg|61271822]. In reading those books, I've become a big fan of the Crow & Hammer guild. And my biggest complaint about this book is that it doesn't have enough Crow & Hammer in it.
Given how the book ends,.
The characters seem real and interesting enough. Our main character's backstory doesn't connect to me as well as the main character's in the Spellbound series, but I found Tori's backstory so easy to connect to in some ways that it's a difficult bar to reach.
If reading stories about demons is right up your alley, definitely read this book… for me (who isn't normally into that type of story), I enjoyed it, but not as much as I had expected.
Given how the book ends,
Spoiler
I am willing to give the second book a try, in hopes that there will be more interaction with the C&H guild and its membersThe characters seem real and interesting enough. Our main character's backstory doesn't connect to me as well as the main character's in the Spellbound series, but I found Tori's backstory so easy to connect to in some ways that it's a difficult bar to reach.
If reading stories about demons is right up your alley, definitely read this book… for me (who isn't normally into that type of story), I enjoyed it, but not as much as I had expected.
Oh, wow, it's been a while since I read an Annette Marie novel! I've missed The Guild Codex world for sure after Demon Magic and a Martini, and I'm excited to dive into Taming Demons for Beginners.
This book follows a new character who appears later in The Guild Codex: Spellbound series. Although it can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the first series up through the fourth because (at the very least) before starting Taming Demons for Beginners because they connect.
This series follows Robin Page, and like Tori, she gets thrown into the Mythic World. Only Robin finds herself bound to a demon unwillingly (in exchange for baked goods!); despite growing up in the world, she's always learned to stay away. But she's a trooper, and she dives into the world headfirst.
I enjoy reading from Robin's POV - she's stubborn, curious and makes terrible decisions sometimes. But at the core, she's a person who wants to do the right thing. Robin is full of quips and has a passion for baking - let's say it's best not to read the book hungry and leave it at that. Even the demon she's bound to is full of sass! It made the book more enjoyable because I don't do too well with books focusing on world-building. (That's a me thing, though.)
We get a more in-depth look into a class of Mythics (rare? I don't remember). I'm sure there's bound to be more information about Demonica in future books of the series. It's fascinating, and I want more. Plus demons! Please don't be concerned about me - I like demons in my books.
Taming Demons for Beginners is a first in a new series set in The Guild Codex world.
This book follows a new character who appears later in The Guild Codex: Spellbound series. Although it can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the first series up through the fourth because (at the very least) before starting Taming Demons for Beginners because they connect.
This series follows Robin Page, and like Tori, she gets thrown into the Mythic World. Only Robin finds herself bound to a demon unwillingly (in exchange for baked goods!); despite growing up in the world, she's always learned to stay away. But she's a trooper, and she dives into the world headfirst.
Annette Marie's humorous and witty writing style with sass in the first series is also in the spin-off.
I enjoy reading from Robin's POV - she's stubborn, curious and makes terrible decisions sometimes. But at the core, she's a person who wants to do the right thing. Robin is full of quips and has a passion for baking - let's say it's best not to read the book hungry and leave it at that. Even the demon she's bound to is full of sass! It made the book more enjoyable because I don't do too well with books focusing on world-building. (That's a me thing, though.)
Taming Demons for Beginners continues building The Guild Codex world from the first series.
We get a more in-depth look into a class of Mythics (rare? I don't remember). I'm sure there's bound to be more information about Demonica in future books of the series. It's fascinating, and I want more. Plus demons! Please don't be concerned about me - I like demons in my books.
I highly enjoyed reading this book it was different from anything I have ever read before and I think I need to go back and read the connected series to this so I will understand things better by the time I read the sequel. I really liked the characters as well especially Robin and Zylas the dynamic between them it makes for an interesting story. I like Robin for her will and her determination and how she is willing to do nearly anything to get something back that belonged to her mother. I really liked the plot it started out with Robin living with her good for nothing family and just going through grief after her parents died she then meets the demon who is named Zylas and things go downhill from there. So overall I really enjoyed reading this book and will continue the series for sure.
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Been a hot sec since I could commit to a fantasy book but I devoured this. Might have to read the whole series