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A review by youshouldreadthisif
The First and Last Demon by Hiyodori
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I am not exaggerating when I say this is probably (definitely) the most original, unconventional take on fantasy romance I’ve ever read.
The cover drew me in. (HELLO, just LOOK at it 🤩)
The tense mystery of the first chapter hooked me.
I stayed for the incredible world-building and the slow piecing together of what happened to Char, Vesper, and the abandoned, warped city they’re trapped in.
This is a really character-driven story about 2 people who have suffered terribly (truly, what we learn about their “service” is DARK) in their thousand-plus year role as Jace’s national defense. They’re pissed (Vesper - who is an excellent demon, by the way) and dissociating (Char). They’ve got issues and lots of them. And when Char wakes up, she only remembers fragments of their history, which makes their über slow build romance both appropriate and for a delicious use of hate-to-love.
I’m so impressed by compelling this story is given the minimal cast and setting: a clearly established fantasy world (that I’m eager to explore in Hiyodori’s other books) though the characters never leave the empty city; tension and crackling dialogue between Char and Vesper, who are the only 2 characters for a good chunk of the book.
Ugh, it’s just so COOL!
The only reason I rated this one 4.25 stars (I liked it) instead of 4.5 (I really liked it) is because, despite the big reveal, I felt that the end was somewhat unsatisfying, like all that built-up tension didn’t result in enough catharsis for me.
The cover drew me in. (HELLO, just LOOK at it 🤩)
The tense mystery of the first chapter hooked me.
I stayed for the incredible world-building and the slow piecing together of what happened to Char, Vesper, and the abandoned, warped city they’re trapped in.
This is a really character-driven story about 2 people who have suffered terribly (truly, what we learn about their “service” is DARK) in their thousand-plus year role as Jace’s national defense. They’re pissed (Vesper - who is an excellent demon, by the way) and dissociating (Char). They’ve got issues and lots of them. And when Char wakes up, she only remembers fragments of their history, which makes their über slow build romance both appropriate and for a delicious use of hate-to-love.
I’m so impressed by compelling this story is given the minimal cast and setting: a clearly established fantasy world (that I’m eager to explore in Hiyodori’s other books) though the characters never leave the empty city; tension and crackling dialogue between Char and Vesper, who are the only 2 characters for a good chunk of the book.
Ugh, it’s just so COOL!
The only reason I rated this one 4.25 stars (I liked it) instead of 4.5 (I really liked it) is because, despite the big reveal, I felt that the end was somewhat unsatisfying, like all that built-up tension didn’t result in enough catharsis for me.