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bookcheshirecat's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
“I want you to be free more than I want to become human. I can only have one, and I’m choosing you.”
➽ The Diablo's Curse is set in the same universe as The Wicked Bargain, but can definitely be read as a standalone. Dami was one of my favorite characters from The Wicked Bargain, but you don't need to read it beforehand, as this book explains Dami's background and situation well. They thought they'd escaped being a demon, but aren't fully human either. In order to become 100% human, Dami has to cancel every deal they ever made. The problem? His last deal is with Silas, whose family is cursed to die, so the deal is the only thing standing between him and certain death. Dami has to help him recover the mysterious treasure that started the curse, as Silas will only cancel the deal once the curse is broken. I liked the mystery and treasure hunting. I feel like compared to The Wicked Bargain, this book had a more focused story.
➽ Dami and Silas aren't thrilled to be working together but stuck on a dangerous island, they have to rely on each other. I liked their dynamic, especially the tension between them. Dami tries to excuse the deal they made with Silas, even though they know that demon deals always have a catch. Silas was grateful to be alive despite the curse ... before he found out that it meant dying constantly and being resurrected. They curse Dami for making them suffer but have no choice but to work with them. Silas is convinced that Dami is just a selfish demon who doesn't care about what happens to others. However, the more time they spend together, the more Silas starts to question his judgment. The banter and snarking between them was great! Later on, they also worked together with a young girl called Marisol and I loved their little trio. Marisol was great, I'd love for her to get her own book, as I felt like her storyline ended a bit too abruptly.
➽ I loved how the story talked about humanity and forgiveness. Dami tries not to dwell on it, but they know they have to manipulate others for their deals. They hate being a demon and would do anything to avoid becoming one permanently again. Dami's a great, complex, morally grey character! They've caused suffering in the past but were always imprisoned themselves. El Diablo groomed them to become a demon and since their mother gave them up for a deal, they didn't know anything else. I liked the discussion about being forgiven for past transgressions and what it means to be human. I really enjoyed the ending that Dami got, it definitely felt fitting for their character!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Sexism
novella42's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Grief
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