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4.64 AVERAGE
4.64 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found this book on BookTok and everyone raved about how amazing it was. I will say, it kept my attention the full 700+ pages. I will also say that I feel the book could have been in 500 pages. Now.. I am a smut loving girly, but I feel like often times it was used as a filler. I wish the juicy parts of the story lasted a bit longer. I feel like the author would introduce an issue and then it would be solved by the next chapter or so. I wish I was left longing a bit more. Overall, I enjoyed this read and got through these pages in less than a week.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
Love in the Shadows: A Haunting Tale of Redemption and Desire
Elle Kayson delivers a darkly seductive romance in Demon’s Dream, a story that pulls you into the gritty world of danger, sacrifice, and unlikely love. This is a tale of two broken yet resilient souls—Demon Montana and Dream Castle—whose collision is as explosive as it is transformative.
Demon is an anti-hero in every sense of the word. Hardened by a life filled with bloodshed and betrayal, he lives by his rules: no caring, no attachment, no love. Yet, Dream shatters the very foundation of those rules. Her strength, intelligence, and vulnerability weave a spell over him that even his dark heart cannot resist. Through Demon’s perspective, readers experience his torment, his desire, and his slow, unwilling surrender to the woman who dares to see the man behind the monster.
Dream Castle is a force to be reckoned with. As the “fixer” of her family, she is fiercely independent, resourceful, and unafraid to confront the darkness in Demon. Her initial wariness transforms into a magnetic connection, revealing a depth of emotional vulnerability that feels raw and real. The power dynamic between her and Demon is beautifully complex—equal parts tension, chemistry, and mutual redemption.
Kayson’s writing style is evocative, immersing readers in a world filled with high stakes, passion, and layers of psychological nuance. The dual POVs allow us to see the story through both characters’ eyes, creating an intimate understanding of their thoughts, fears, and desires. The relationship unfolds against a backdrop of danger and intrigue, making the romance feel even more intense and hard-won.
What stands out most is the emotional evolution of Demon and Dream. Their love story is not just about physical attraction but about healing, trust, and finding humanity in the unlikeliest of places. Demon’s transformation from a cold, unfeeling “monster” to a man capable of love is handled with care, while Dream’s ability to soften and strengthen him without losing herself is inspiring. This book covers a lot of heavy topics and I was very intrigued to the growth of the characters and to also see Smoke and Dayana’s story unfold.
The book is as brutal as it is tender, with scenes of raw violence juxtaposed with moments of quiet intimacy. Readers who enjoy dark romances with morally gray characters and intense emotional depth will find Demon’s Dream utterly captivating.
Elle Kayson crafts a gripping tale of redemption and love that will haunt your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page. Demon’s Dream is not just a romance—it’s a journey through darkness, pain, and the healing power of love. A must-read for fans of dark, gritty, and emotionally charged stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Gun violence, Sexual assault
Minor: Pedophilia, Trafficking, Death of parent
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I tend to judge books by their cover but I’m glad I was able to look past it and read this book. It was a thrilling ride from start to finish. I laughed, I got teary-eyed, I swooned— I really enjoyed this book. I love the characters in this book, they felt so real and had their flaws which made you appreciate them even more. The spice balanced out the story/plot. It wasn’t overwhelming at all. At first I didn’t think Smoke was too bad but that MF crazier than Demon (but I love both them light brights). I love how Dream really softened Demon and loved him despite his flaws. Fuck Darius Castle, Fuck Jordan & Talton Middleton, Fuck Paul & Keith and everyone else who did them dirty. They got what they deserved. Ate those 750 pages up and wanted more.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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:
No
Like omg I wish I could more than 5 stars !!!! For the past two days i haven’t slept bc this lady had me hooked on her book from page one 🙃! Let’s start with Demon and Dream, lawddddd they had my ass itching constantly. Like okkkkk we get it you wanna fight the mean and scary man to prove you bad but girlllllll gone take them pants off and go to work 🤣! Demon was basically a tootsie pop (hard to soft) and his story had me watery like I was cutting onions 😩. Then Smoke and Dayana, Dayana got done so dirty by her and Dream’s daddy like she was way too calm the whole time bc I woulda be burning shit down. Smoke was annoying me bc babyyyyyyyy you can do bothhh keep a promise and find a new love. I could go on and on but you get the damn point I hope that I love this damn book so much! While Demon’s Dream is a thickkkkkk mama, Elle Kayson is an amazing story teller and I absolutely love that for her & me bc now I’m hooked 🤭. So better late than never, go read this and lose sleep like me 🤸🏾♀️✨🥰
From the first page this booked had me!!! Between Dayana and Dream being stubborn and Demon and Smoke being able to handle their smart mouths!! So much that went on, but had me interested the WHOLE time!! The spicy was perfect!! I did not want it to end!!!
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I do not read Mafia Romances. I have not read Urban Fiction much. But I saw a fellow bookstagrammer give the most excited review about this book and I figured reading a sample page on the Zon could not hurt.
That sample page turned into 4 pages and an immediate click to download (It is on KU). Those 4 pages were enough to have me quit the book I was already reading and dive eyes and emotions first into Demon's Dream.
Now this book will not be for everyone. It is about a violent man, with a deeply disturbing and violent life and childhood, who has to drag and crawl his way forward to find a life he can truly cherish. Reading this is hard on the soul, mainly because you know this is real life for children out in the real world. For me though, between the immersive writing, the growth, and those toe-curling moments, it was worth the tears this book made me shed.
There is a LOT OF SPICE. Those scenes are intense. In the book, issues get worked out that way so be warned it is HOT n HEAVY physically and emotionally.
This book was a lot. But I feel changed by it, which is always an amazing thing to be able to say about a book. Reading this made me feel that maybe I have not enjoyed the books I said I did, because I could not sleep, I did not want to put this one down, I took it everywhere with me, and I have not done that in a while with a book.
At close to 800 pages this is a thickums, but you never get bored and the story is so enthralling, and keeps growing along with the characters, you just never want to stop reading.
Loved it. Shocked myself by how much I loved it. I feel SHOOK. And I will be reading more from this author.
That sample page turned into 4 pages and an immediate click to download (It is on KU). Those 4 pages were enough to have me quit the book I was already reading and dive eyes and emotions first into Demon's Dream.
Now this book will not be for everyone. It is about a violent man, with a deeply disturbing and violent life and childhood, who has to drag and crawl his way forward to find a life he can truly cherish. Reading this is hard on the soul, mainly because you know this is real life for children out in the real world. For me though, between the immersive writing, the growth, and those toe-curling moments, it was worth the tears this book made me shed.
There is a LOT OF SPICE. Those scenes are intense. In the book, issues get worked out that way so be warned it is HOT n HEAVY physically and emotionally.
This book was a lot. But I feel changed by it, which is always an amazing thing to be able to say about a book. Reading this made me feel that maybe I have not enjoyed the books I said I did, because I could not sleep, I did not want to put this one down, I took it everywhere with me, and I have not done that in a while with a book.
At close to 800 pages this is a thickums, but you never get bored and the story is so enthralling, and keeps growing along with the characters, you just never want to stop reading.
Loved it. Shocked myself by how much I loved it. I feel SHOOK. And I will be reading more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence
This book was long, yes but worth every single page!
Every single character had me in a chokehold!
I was hooked from page 1… I love how the multiple POV! Reading from every main character POV was refreshing. It gave a different vibe and I’m all for it!
The emotions were a roll coaster reading this book.
The spice
Every single character had me in a chokehold!
I was hooked from page 1… I love how the multiple POV! Reading from every main character POV was refreshing. It gave a different vibe and I’m all for it!
The emotions were a roll coaster reading this book.
The spice
fast-paced
This book was 786 pages ,109 chapters of everything! Demon is my #1, and Smoke is #1.5... This plot was plotting, the drama was dramatic, and the spice was spicy!!!!