Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

4 stars.
Tales of a deadly devotion is a direct sequel to Tales of a Monstrous Heart. It starts immediately after the cliffhanger we were left on. To me Monstrous Heart was more of a dark academia/fantasy whereas I feel this is more dark fantasy rather than academia.
We are mainly reading from Kat's P.O.V. however, there are chapters that we see from Alma's P.O.V. which is interesting and gives us a little more development to the creature lore and magic system created.
The world-building continues in this sequel, fleshing out a bit more, however, at times I do feel as though its forced. So, we get additions to canon in the format of new creatures and magic, making a complex and richer world. The way that they are introduced to us with new terminology and new words of the language created, feels more tell than show. We get new information as an afterthought which makes it feel as though not only do we not have a clue what is going on but neither does Kat. There isn't enough description of how the magic system works, it just seems to appear out of nowhere. I will say the second half seems to be more well rounded. That is the only problem I have with this book and honestly, it might be just me as it's been a while since I read Monstrous Heart.
I did love the tension between Kat and Emrys and the constant interruptions make for a comedic element.
The development of the side characters, in particular, Thean and Alma. Also, the UST between these two is *chef's kiss*.
All in all, I did enjoy this. I will mention I'm in a bit of a reading slump at the moment so I'll need to reread this at some point and I have pre-ordered the Goldsboro edition so take that how you will.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this in advance.

Tales of a Deadly Devotion picks up exactly where Delaney's previous books leaves us. You absolutely need to have read Tales of a Monstrous Heart, these are not standalones! For us who loved the first book, the story continues as many things have been revealed BUT threats for all Kat and Emrys know and love are still very much real and so the suspensful plot does it's plotting and new characters are thrown into the mix, allowing for character development and immersing us into the world, the lore, the curses, the mystery, all with a whimsical sprinkle of suspence and magic.

Delaney's writing is very lyrical and she does a great job and fleshing out people and the world, I particularly enjoy the dark academia/ gothic vibes, I found it very original. The romance between Kat and Emrys develops in a very satisfying way and there are other storylines we follow which made me even more interested and invested in reading what happens next. Female friendship and found family are masterfully delivered.

Sorry to say, but there is another cliffhanger, so when you're done you can come and join the rest of us here, waiting impatiently for the next instalment. A great story and a very satisfying read, I think if you loved her previous book, you will not be disappointed. A huge thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

After re-reading book one, and now finishing this one, I'm not really sure where I sit with this series. There are parts of it I love, but the more I read, the less I seem to be able to pin point what, exactly, the plot is and through that, where the story is going. I just feel like the series as a whole needed another round of editing to make it a little clearer in parts. But that being said, there was still so much I enjoyed, so let's start with the good.

Alma! We finally got her POV and I won't lie, but I found her infinitely more interesting than Kat. She's got this internal anger that always seems to leave her on the edge, something that is completely understandable when you realise what happened to her as a child. She will do anything to protect those she loves, especially Kat, the person who has never left her, even knowing all of her scars both physical and mental, but that does mean she puts herself in danger more than she should. She almost feels like her life is worth less for some reason, and I just found myself really connecting with her emotionally, and desperately wanting more of her chapters.

Kat stays a very similar character from book one, which meant there wasn't really any character growth, and because of that she just felt a little flat for me. Her whole character seemed to focus around Emrys, how she wanted to protect him, how she loved him, and while I get that this is a romance, a little development outside of that would be nice. There were a few reveals relating to her character and history, one that I guessed in the first book, but they didn't hit emotionally the way I would have expected them too. They seemed there for the shock value more than anything. We do get to meet a new character in this one, Gideon, Emrys' half brother, and we get more Thean who we met in the first book. Thean quickly became a favourite character of mine, not just for their snark and inherent danger, but because of how the manage to rile up Alma at every turn.

It's obvious to us as outsiders that there are feelings, feelings that go deeper than simple attraction. Thean's ability to be wherever Alma needs them to be, their willingness to help Emrys and Kat even though it might be going against their mistress's wishes. I would absolutely love to get their pov in the next book because firstly, I need them to explain some of their decisions in this book (that ending), but also because I feel their romance with Alma would hit that much more knowing just how much they care about her. This became the romance of the book for me with Kat and Emrys taking a backseat, even though their romance plays a heavier part in the book. If I had one issue with both of the romances though it was how easily they would flit from mortal peril to sexy time. There is a time and a place guys, and sometimes I felt they became ruled more by their hormones than sense.

I'm still not 100% sure what the plot of this series is meant to be? Like Delaney kept throwing in these big plot points, twists and reveals etc and I just found myself getting more and more confused. This could absolutely be a me thing, but I'm really not sure where the story is supposed to be going. I understand it's a romantasy, so heavy on the romance, but it's so plot heavy as well that I feel I should have a better understanding of where it's going? I also felt that, while prosaic, Delaney's writing became a little bit repetitive and nonsensical in places. I get wanting flowery and lush writing, but at some points it just felt like she was putting words in to made it sound prettier, without it making that much sense?

But, despite my issues I will probably be picking up the third book. I'm intrigued to see what actually happens with the plot, but more than that this book ended up a horrific cliffhanger, leaving my fave in peril and I need to know that they end up ok.

Yess!! This was such an epic sequel which I just devoured!

This book drops you in pretty much straight after the fallout at the end of book 1, and the plot does not let up throughout, you get so much more world building… which was expertly done. More lore, more curses, more creatures and more from our beautiful side characters too and more mysteries!

This book had more of a creepier gothic tone than the previous for me and I LOVED IT!

This book delves a lot deeper into kat and Alma’s backstory, which opens up an emotional rollercoaster! I loved the additional chapters from Alma’s POV, their friendship in this is stunning and I also loved getting an insight into Alma’s world and her budding relationship!

You also get more insight into our tortured MMC after the first book leaves you on such a cliffhanger. You find out just who he is and so does he. His fight with his darker side was so well done and heart wrenching in places. I love emrys so much, his character is so intriguing and I’m sure we’ve just scratched the surface. His and kats relationship through this book blooms and there is a lot of tension and yearning that I craved!

The plot is opening and building into so much more and ends on an unexpected and mind altering cliffhanger that has left me with so many questions and eagerly awaiting book 3!!

4.25 stars - arc review. This was the perfect sequel to Tales I loved the magical aspects in this and the romance it was so good everyone interrupting them was hilarious. Also an unexpected romance between two other characters had me hooked. I’m excited to see where it goes in the next book especially after the ending.

My girl Alma, I actually love her and really enjoyed having more of a focus on her story as well especially her pov’s and her connection to Kat. Delaney really knows how to throw an incredible group of people together who despite their differences find common ground and work together the found family is perfect. I would like to preface that your blood pressure may go through the roof by the end because the stress she put me in was top tier, I will be waiting eagerly for the next book.

I did find myself getting a bit confused at the beginning so I recommend reading a recap before starting this one or rereading the first book for the best reading experience.

This series continues to blow my mind. The writing remains just as good as in the first book - which is anything short of incredible and reminds me of the classic Emily Brontë, Jane Austen. The dark academia gothic vibes are impeccable.

“Tales of a Deadly Devotion” delivers an atmospheric return to the beautifully dark world of curses, monsters, and forbidden magic. Picking up right where book one left off, it doesn’t miss a beat, plunging us back into the action and emotion of Blackthorn Manor.

This installment leans more into character development, especially through the dual POVs of Kat and Alma. Alma’s journey, riddled with pain and vulnerability, is particularly moving, while Kat continues to shine with her resilience and cleverness. The romance remains a slow burn, rich in tension and yearning, without ever feeling rushed. And yes, Emrys and Kat continue to be a swoon-worthy pair, even if their moments are constantly interrupted.

The found family dynamic is as strong as ever, and the sentient house is a standout character in its own right. With expanded lore, deeper emotional stakes, and a stronger focus on the magical world’s history, this sequel feels more grounded and immersive. The gothic tone is intensified in the best ways, and the cliffhanger? Absolutely brutal, in a good way.

Some polish is still needed, including minor editing issues and a few rough scene transitions, but overall, Deadly Devotion is a gripping continuation of a dark and magical series. Fans of gothic academia, forbidden magic, and aching slow-burn romances will be eagerly counting the days to book three.

I was left on the edge of a cliff after finishing Tales of a Monstrous Heart. Luckily, this book picks back up right from where we left off. We are thrown full pelt into more gothic fantasy, action, mystery, and I think a lot more development in characters. This is one of my top reads of the year (as Tales of a Monstrous Heart was last year), and I cannot wait to dive back in with the third instalment.

The stakes are much higher in this book, and I adored coming home to Kat and Emrys. My favourite development in this book was the introduction of Alma's POV. I was glued to the page every single time I heard her voice. Learning more about her and her traumatising past made her a much more compelling character to me, and honestly, even more relatable.

This book ends on a cliffhanger that leads you gasping and begging for the next instalment, so if you're not someone who works well with not knowing what happens next this might not be the book for you (until the next one comes out!).

Wow what can I say Jennifer has done it again, I absolutely love this series. Book one was one of my favourite reads last year and when I saw Tales of a Deadly Devotion on NetGalley I had to apply for the Arc.
Book two started off right where we left off in book one. This book is packed with action and tension keeping you hooked and on the edge of your seat.
The romance is perfect, Kat and Emerys are soul mates who are willing to burn the world for each other, they accept every part of each other and keep each other grounded.
We find out more about their past as well as the past of the side characters and how everyone came to meet.
I love the found family element of this series, the world building and the magic system.
This is one of my all time favourite series and if you haven’t already you need to read it!!!

Thank you NetGalley, Orion publishing group and Jennifer Delaney for sending me a copy of this Arc.

3.5 stars rounded up

Dark, mysterious, and a little bit spicy, this sequel is even more devastating than the initial story with so many heartbreaking and jaw dropping secrets coming to light...

Everyone is trying to come to grips with the chaos that concluded Tales of a Monstrous Heart, but unfortunately evil waits for no one. Montagor's madness drives him on a brutal hunt for power, the Rebellion enslaves the powerless through ancient blood magic, and things are falling apart quickly.

I found it harder to become fully invested as the two POVs felt like two separate stories. I want to know more about Alma and her background (especially after that insane cliffhanger ending!!) but those sections didn't always fit nicely into the narrative. I also felt like Kat wasn't characterized as strongly which was a shame. I loved how snarky and clever and defiant she was in book one, and this book had her (and Alma) acting as a damsel in distress more often than not.

There wasn't a huge amount resolved here, but the lore and bigger picture are much clearer now. I love how the childhood tales are almost serving as a guide for Kat. It makes every snippet at the start of each chapter so much more meaningful, as you never know which text will be important to the plot.

I am totally hooked on the story as a whole, and I cannot wait for the next installment. There are so many questions to be answered, and now that all the forces are in motion, I feel like the dramatic ending is perfectly set up. I just hope they all get a happy ending as they've been through so much!

Tales of a Deadly Devotion is full of action, the uncovering of mysteries, deep character development, and a decadent sprinkling of spice that keeps things exciting.

This gothic fantasy romance starts off slow, but that’s part of its charm. It simmers with tension before building into an all-out explosion of events that had me absolutely gripped.

I love the way the prose is written. It’s beautifully layered, with an almost lyrical depth and a touch of magic woven through every sentence. It really pulled me in and made me feel part of the world.

The side characters get more development in this one, which is something I always love to see. It gives the story more heart and complexity and made me even more invested.

The love and relationships within are on point. They are raw, believable, and filled with emotion.

There was a point where I nearly DNF’d, but I’m so glad I didn’t because it truly ramps up and delivers in a big way.

Thank you so much for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 we knew it would be another 5 stars - are you kidding? ARC Review for TOADD by the incredible Jennifer! (Love you!) 💙🥹

I’m honestly screaming. As an OG Tales fan since day one, I knew this book would ruin me in the best possible way - and it delivered.

I am constantly in awe of Jennifer's writing. She doesn’t just write gothic romantasy - she resurrects it. Builds it. Breathes life into it with pain, beauty, and power. My ultimate GR author.. period. 👏🏻

Tales of a Deadly Devotion is *everything*. The stakes are higher than ever, the emotions more gutting, and the magic darker, deeper, and dangerously addictive. Fairfax Manor is falling. The old protections are crumbling. And Katherine? She is being forged into something new - something terrifying and brilliant. Her journey from student to survivor is nothing short of breathtaking. And Alma? DON’T get me started on Alma. Her loyalty, her rage, the beast within — I wanted to annotate & highlight every single line she’s in.

This book had me flipping pages like a madwoman. The secrets, demons, cursed texts, and rising darkness - it all builds into a storm of soul-shattering moments that left me reeling. The friendship between Kat and Alma, the echoes of the past colliding with the terror of what’s coming… It’s so well-crafted, so intense, and SO unforgettable.

Jennifer Delaney has written her best book yet. I feel so honored to have received this ARC and to witness the evolution of this series from the very beginning. If you thought you were ready… you’re not.

But go ahead. Pre-order the book!!
The darkness is waiting. 🖤

Tales of a Deadly Devotion is a masterpiece in gorgeous gothic fantasy with romance, magic, rebellion, legends, monsters and curses. It picks up beautifully from book one and I could not put it down!!

I adored how the book delved into more of the side characters, who I absolutely love and you learn about their secrets, backstories and their magic. Alma, Thean and William continue to be some of my all time favourite characters who I cannot wait to know more about. The friendships, found family and the sentient house and some of the things I absolutely love about this book.

Kat’s character is one of my favourites, she is strong and determined, a clever character who is resilient. The dual pov between Kat and Alma was perfect, and I loved getting to delve into each character.

“Maybe I see imprints of my story within the pages of yours”

The world building continues in Tales 2, learning more about the history of the Fey, the humans, the monsters, lore and legends of their world and how they all fit into it. The writing is this book is just perfect, the way the character’s stories have been woven, the compendiums are explored and the world has been opened up is just delightful.

I’ll keep this review short and sweet until the book is released in August, but it is perfection, it absolutely delivered and Jennifer’s writing is magic!!

The first book Tales of a Monstrous Heart was one of my top reads last year and I was so excited when I saw that Tales of a Deadly Devotion was up on Netgalley.
I was lucky enough to get sent a sampler chapter from the author and that just left me wanting the rest!!
This book jumps straight back into the shocking ending of the first book.
It follows Kat, Emrys and friends as they race against time to stop and prevent a catastrophic event that would destroy everything they love and hold dear.
I loved seeing Kat and Emrys relationship blossoming even more in this book. There relationship isn’t forced and it just comes across so nicely. I like that it’s also not the main part of the story.
I’m also a huge fan of the side characters William and Thean. They are just really likeable side characters who you want to know more about.
I truly love Alma’s chapters in this book and I like that we are getting a small glimpse into her horrifying past. I like that she is slowly trying to become herself in this book but she continues to struggle with her past trauma. She’s selfless and willing to hurt for her friends. Alma’s pain comes across so well in this book, with the additional chapters and it truly sparks so many emotions as a reader. It’s one of those PoV chapters that you needed but didn’t realise how much.
Kat’s and Alma’s relationship is so beautiful and I love how it comes across between the pair especially how fiercely loyal they are to each other.
Once again the world building is fantastic and so creative, I felt that it truly pulled me and just gets better with each book.
I absolutely love the authors writing style and find it very easy to follow. The ways it’s wrote truly captivates my attention and leaves me wanting more.
The plot is one of those that is constantly moving and I love it. There’s plenty of action and drama. Kat and Emrys face so many challenges and threats against their friends and family that you really feel for them.
There’s so many mixed emotions from this book, one moment you’re happy and the next your emotions take on that of a rollercoaster.
This book does end on a major cliffhanger but it’s perfectly set up for the next book.
I could honestly have done with more, I just love this magically dark fantasy world.
Overall I definitely recommend this book and series, it’s just an amazing and you won’t regret it!!

Massive thank you to Gollancz and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Where gothic academia and magic meet we find Tales of a Deadly Devotion leading its readers back into Blackthorn Manor where curses, dark monsters, ancient texts, and forbidden magic reign supreme. Picking up right from the cliffhanger ending of book one we follow along Kat, Emrys, Alma, Thean, Gideon, and William as they battle against a dangerous long ancient darkness.

I screamed so loud when I received this arc as it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and as expected I loved and devoured every second of this dark gothic magical academia world and it’s characters. The found family aspect that I adored so much in book one is again present and took my admiration to a new level. For I had already thought I loved all these characters so greatly but book two absolutely solidified my obsessions with each and every single one of them as I found this installment to be very character driven focused. This particularly rang true for sassy and mysterious Thean, as well as resiliently fearless Alma as we get to see more of these two characters and hear some of their own backstories. Now the romances (yes that’s right, I used plural because there is more than one this time around) continue to be delicious with all the banter, angst, yearning, and tension that make for truly swoon worthy slow burns. The magic, legends, world building, and lore are also much more prominently featured here than in the previous installment which I I anticipate being a larger focus for book three. And yes this installment also does end on a cliffhanger, leaving me again desperate for more of this immersive and magical academic world that Delaney has created. If you are a lover of books filled with forbidden magic, ancient lore, curses, dangerous monsters, gothic dark academia vibes set in a magically sentient manor, brooding and mysterious characters, slow burn romances with all the hand flexes and stolen glances, and an amazing found family then you need to read this series immediately.

Tales of a Deadly Devotion comes out August 28th, 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Gollancz for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“This series is just stunning!”
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.
Tales of a Monstrous Heart was one of my favourite books of last year, and the sequel lives up to my expectations! The characters are all well rounded, flawed and growing, the world building is getting bigger and the plot is just exploding with drama and foreshadowing. I predict the third will be a powerhouse of fantastic writing and gut wrenching action. I can't wait.

Pick up this series immediately! You won't be disappointed.

💙TALES OF A DEADLY DEVOTION💙

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I had the absolute pleasure of being one of the first to return to Blackthorn Manor and what a wild ride it was!

Tales of a Deadly Devotion is the deliciously angsty, action-packed sequel to Tales of a Monstrous Heart, the gothic romantasy of my dreams!

If you love forbidden romance, ENDLESS yearning, the sweetest found family, a sentient manor hell-bent on causing chaos, and beautiful, heartbreaking female friendships - girls that would go to the ends of the earth (and further) for one another - then I implore you to read these books!!

The Tales series has carved out a massive piece of my heart and will now reside in its place forever and ever. This sequel was everything I needed and more! For every answer I got in this book, I have 5 more questions!! The Easter eggs??? Jen is absolutely brilliant - I have no idea how she remembers all this stuff! I absolutely embodied Sherlock while reading TOADD🕵🏼‍♀️

These characters are everything to me and they feel so much more full in TOADD - especially Alma! The introduction of Alma’s POV has changed everything and I’m here for it. She quickly became such an intriguing character and I am VERY curious to see what lies ahead for Alma in Tales 3. Thean Page wreaks havoc as per, and looks even better doing it in Alma’s POV. We also got some NEW CHARACTERS who I’m excited for everyone to meet! Gideon, I love you.

Release day is slowly creeping closer and I’m so excited to see this book flooding my feed! Tales of A Monstrous Heart’s paperback is coming out so soon as well, and she’s just as gorgeously foiled as the hardback - I hope she finds her way into the hands of some new loving readers!! I never have enough people to yap about these books with!!

Thank you to @jenniferdelaneyauthor for being amazing and writing the series of my heart (and for laughing at my Tales memes). I would read your grocery lists. Also big thanks to @gollancz for letting me back into Blackthorn Manor early - I am FERAL for this series!

Sadly I had to DNF this at chapter 10.

The first book was fantastic and a fabulous new gothic fantasy in a world filled with fantasy romance. This felt like a lot of words and not much plot or reason. I’m so gutted as I had high hopes for it but it just wasn’t hitting like the first book did.

I don’t know if it was just because it’s been so long since I read Monstrous and maybe if you read them back to back it would be a different reading experience

3* DNF at 27%
Im so sorry, I wanted to like this so much, I wanted to love it. I just didn't.

I loved the first book when it was released last year, I gave it 5*s and it held such a special place for me, I got the goldsboro edition plus a standard signed edition both in prime position on my display. I reread it last week in preparation for the sequel, I did the first ten chapters on audible but switched to kindle as I didn't gel with the narator and it set me off on the wrong foot. Rereading it I kept getting stuck on lots of issues with repeated themes and phrasing, a lot of telling vs showing. I really hoped going into the second book that the writing style may have developed some since the first book but I was disappointed to find it hadn't. I decided to stick it out and skim read for the jist of the plot but quickly lost all interest. Again, I'm so so sorry Jennifer. X