I read my first MN Bennet book earlier this year, and he is absolutely on my auto-buy list. I don’t know if I’ll be buying this one in physical copy or not – the image while gorgeous might be a bit much for my 5-year-old. But I adore his writing so much!

About the Book

Apprentice mage Wally spends his days cataloging rare artifacts and dreaming about finally mastering his magics and living the adventures he’s always desired. Bez, a once mighty devil who craves the freedom of the outside world again, despises his confinement inside a powerful object. His only company now comes from the mages working within the archives he’s stored. Among them, the most annoying of them all, an anxious and considerate Walter.

When the archive is attacked, Wally and Bez each seize the opportunity to achieve their dreams—and inadvertently create a magical link between them. With so many lives lost in this assault on the mage headquarters, Wally’s connection to a dangerous devil makes him a threat and a target, forcing the pair on the run. Wally sees Bez as a sadistic devil, and Bez finds every word out of the mage’s mouth grating. Even so, they’ll have to work together to unravel the true threat in the city or they won’t live long enough to enjoy the lives they’ve both desperately wanted.

My Thoughts

MN Bennet is absolutely my favorite indie author, and it’s a close race between him and the traditional author I’ve long considered my favorite.

Bennet’s character development is beautiful. He writes a variety of characters well, and gives them depth, flaws, and real humanity – even when they’re not human. In this story, the main characters Wally and Bez start out hating each other, until they peel back the layers and learn they’re not that different after all. Enemies to lovers is a popular trope in the romance genre, and I didn’t think it was my thing. But this book and another one I read earlier this year have convinced me I was wrong. There’s something about that line between hate and passion that is nice.

I’m not big on the spice, but I love Bennet’s writing and storytelling so much I was willing to experience the spicy bits. I prefer closed-door, but not necessarily those books/movies where it’s like sex hasn’t been invented or something. This just edges the side of too spicy, but not too bad. In case you’re a prude like me. If you enjoy love triangles, there is one for a while. But if you hate them, it’s resolved at some point.

The twists and turns are classic Bennet style, another thing I love about his writing. And the dialogue/banter is witty and delightfully sarcastic, as well as sexy. I have a type, which my husband can attest to (he literally gets asked for computer advice at stores) and Wally is so incredibly nerdy cute. Bennet has written three books at this point, and his main characters have similarities but don’t feel like different flavors of the same person. Each one has their own fresh, delightful personality. He does, however, love the grumpy/sunshine trope, and let’s be honest, a lot of us are all here for that one, too. I really enjoyed the mental health representation in this one, too. Wally absolutely has anxiety, and possibly ADHD. I have both, and recognize the brain that doesn’t stop. Even at the most inopportune times sometimes. I feel ya, Wally, I feel ya.

I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me on this tour. I love being able to tell people about books and authors I adore.

Who’s It For?

If you love spicy, monster romances run to pick this book up. If you love a good magical, political intrigue and don’t mind the spice, definitely grab a copy. If you really enjoy well-written characters, great stories, and great fantasy stories, check out this and all the other MN Bennet books!

Content Warnings: I very much enjoy when authors include content warnings to let you know what might be offensive to you. These are the ones that this author has included: foul language, graphic violence and gore, blood, bullying, torture both mental and physical, murder (some brutal), open door, descriptive sex scenes between adults, depression and anxiety, and gaslighting.

Question of the Day

What’s your favorite magic or demon/devil story?

About the Author

MN Bennet is a high school teacher, writer, and reader. He lives in the Midwest, still adjusting to the cold after being born and raised in the South.

He enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy stories with huge worlds (sometimes too big), loveable romances (with so much angst and banter), and Happily Ever Afters (once he’s dragged his characters through some emotional turmoil).

When he’s not balancing classes, writing, or reading, he can be found binge-watching anime or replaying Dragon Age II for the millionth time.

This is his third book. See my review for his first book “Crescentville Haunting” and “Three Meant to Be.”

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