What an amazing sequel to an already amazing serie!
This book managed to make me cry from the first few pages, that’s quite a feat!
I loved having chapters written from Alma’s perspective, she bring a very different voice to this story and we get to know her more intimately. Her love for Kat is so fierce, and her backstory so much more complex than previously thought. I loved how Kat’s POV was handled at the beginning of the book, it’s brilliant storytelling.

I instantly fell in love with Gideon whilst my love for Thean only grew deeper, and I’m glad we got to see more in depths backstory and personality for their characters. I only wish we got to hear more about William (hopefully in book 3?), but for now I’m happy with every scene he’s in, and how everyone cares for him.
I thought this book to be more mature and gruesome in its description of gore and brutally, which I personally enjoy.

Alma’s transformation were very graphic at times for example, which really make us appreciate how bone deep those changes truly are. I would have loved to have more chapters from Alma’s POV, especially in the middle of the book, but the ending more than makes up for it.

Alongside Alma, it’s truly Kat who shone in this book with an amazing character development, she finally decided to take action and stopped being silent. She’s finally ready to fight back and stop cowering, and it’s amazing to see.

Overall, I loved this book and how everything starts to click into place plot-wise, and I loved learning more about everyone. Book 3 can’t come fast enough with how this one ended! I’m so invested in their story, I don’t know how I’ll manage to wait for the next installment. I’ll be recommending this book to everyone who likes high stakes fantasy and fierce love stories.

as fey fight a losing war against the storm of mortal conquest, fairfax manor - once a sanctuary forged by the first witches of blackthorn - lies in ruins. and no one is safe.

katherine woodrow has survived the institute of magic and crossed the divided lands of elysior to train under the legendary lord emrys blackthorn. but heartbreak and near-death weren’t part of the plan.

magic always demands a price - one alma would’ve given her life to spare kat from. but the shadows haven’t let go yet. and alma won’t let her go either. with beasts stirring beneath her skin and secrets from her past rising to the surface, she’ll do whatever it takes to save her friend.

time’s running out. more demons are slipping from the cursed texts mortals failed to protect. the world is tilting back into darkness. and something ancient is awakening…

i can’t lie, i really struggled with this one - which was a shocker considering how much i loved book one 🥹 the writing just didn’t hit the same this time around. as much as i adored the side characters like william and alma before, i didn’t feel that same connection here, and it made the story drag a little for me.

that said, kat and alma’s relationship still had so much heart, and emrys… don’t get me started 🤭 i honestly just wish there were more moments between him and kat. after everything they’ve been through, they deserved more space on the page together.

the premise was solid and picked up right where we left off, but sadly, this one just wasn’t for me.

Ok first of all, I am annoyed at myself that it took me so long to read this book. I’ve been so busy I’ve only been able to read a few chapters here and there over the past 2 weeks but today, I made sure to sit and READ and oh.my.god. I am so glad I did.
Gideon…love this dude. So funny. Brilliant one liners had me cracking up, could just so relate to his absolutely no bullshit approach to everything. Want him to be my new best friend.
Kat and Emrys’ relationship and the way it developed throughout the book was brilliant. I was SCREAMING for them to be left alone as poor things kept getting interrupted but thank god. They finally got their time.
Alma….oh Alma. Poor, poor thing. Hers and Thean’s chemistry was super hot but that ending. My heart!!
Left on a mega cliff hanger which will obviously keep everyone wanting to read the next book. Well done ms, Delaney….well done indeed.

A phenomenal continuation of a story that has had me in a chokehold since the cliffhanger at the end of book one!
This book throws you straight back into the action, as we continue to follow Kat, Emrys and co while they race against the clock to prevent cataclysmic events that could destroy everything they know and love.

Jennifer's writing is immersive, emotional, thought provoking and she has a beautiful way of writing characters that are impossible not to fall in love with. The addition of Alma's chapters are a highlight for me as they showcase some complex emotions as we get a closer look into her past.

Thean continues to be an absolute delight! I adore them!

I am so excited for the next part of this story and after that ending I hope we don't have a long wait!

If slow burn romance, tension, gothic vibes, love, betrayal, sacrifice, found family and a sentient house (that is fast becoming one of my favourite characters) is your thing definitely add this to your TBR!

Thank you Jennifer, Orion and Gollancz and NetGallery for providing me early access to this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Okay, wow. This book completely pulled me in and didn’t let go. Tales of a Deadly Devotion is everything I wanted in a sequel—darker, more intense, and somehow even more magical than the first.

The gothic vibes are immaculate—crumbling mansions, eerie forests, secrets hiding in candlelit hallways… and that slow-burn romance? So good. I was totally hooked on the tension between the characters. It’s the kind of love story that aches a little, in the best way.

What I really loved is how emotionally deep this one goes. There’s love, betrayal, sacrifice, and moments that made me pause and just feel. Jennifer Delaney has a way of writing that makes the world feel so real, like you could step right into it (if you’re brave enough to risk the curses and ghosts, of course).

If you’re into romantic fantasy with gothic mystery, swoony tension, and a heroine who’s figuring herself out while the world falls apart around her—this book is for you.

5/5 – Loved every twisty, spooky, romantic second. Ready for book three like... yesterday.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

As dark and enchanting as the first. Tales of a Deadly Devotion drew me in as it continued where the first book left off. The battles of Kat and Emrys carried on only more deadly and challenging than before. Threats to their lives and that of their friends and family became far more intense and that cliffhanger left me reeling with shock. Jennifer Delaney’s writing style was stunning and gothic as well as easy to follow which made it that much more enjoyable. This series deserves a lot more recognition.

I couldn’t wait to dive back into this world of monsters and curses after the cliffhanger finish to book one. It didn’t disappoint, picking up more or less where the first one finished.

There’s a lot more revealed about the characters back stories in this and we have the added point of view from Alma as the chapters flip back and forth between her and Kat. Alma’s pain, both physically and mentally is done well, creating real anguish for her character.

The romance continues in a beautiful way that doesn’t feel forced or rushed. The friendships and found family vibes also continue, with the house fast becoming a favourite character in its own right.

Once again we see the story ending on a cliffhanger that has me looking forward to book three. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for this beautifully monstrous and gothic tale to continue.

What an incredible addition to the Tales trilogy. I am OBSESSED. No. I'm FERAL for this series!

We dive back into the world of fae, demons, mortals and madness once more, stepping beyond the walls of Blackthorn Manor. The crimes of the past are being revealed and the dark has come to claim its debt.

Tales of a Deadly Devotion is a dark, gripping narrative filled with mystery and action as our heroes race against the forces of the Dark and the Rebellion, desperate to keep either from destroying Elysior.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for granting me early access in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t wait to dive back into Delaney’s supremely gothic world again. Deadly Devotion plunges you back into the unique and magical world of vengeful foes, fire wielding, dark magic, cursed tomes, sentient grumbly houses, pernickety familiars and moody romance. I could keep my list going but I should try and keep it succinct!
Deadly Devotion opens a page turn and a few days after the final events and fallout of the previous book, things are tense, but the storyline gets moving straight away.
I absolutely adored the exploration of Kat’s heritage throughout this book, the power and strength she draws from her familial line brings a lot of emotion into this tale. Alma too has a similarly emotional time, while she doesn’t make as much progress as Kat does - although I’m sure there’s more to come from Alma, her repeated confrontations, be it mental or physical, with her past trauma are really admirable and a great insight into her characters history.
Delaney maintains the dark and moody aesthetic that Tales of a Monstrous Heart thrives off of, yet woven through were bright bursts of friendship and a steady creaking open into the wider world of this tales magic system, setting and storyline.
Once again I have been left in disarray by a cliff hanger and will be waiting impatiently for number 3!

My last note would be, that the book does still need a wee tidy up, there’s quite a bit of spelling and grammatical errors and a few scenes/moments that jump too soon/don’t feel very smooth, but publication is still a few months off so I think tightening up is still possible! Despite this, I did still really enjoy this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orion and Gollancz for providing me with a digital reading copy.

Tales of a Deadly Devotion was my top 1 for most anticipated release of 2025 and let me tell you, Jennifer has killed it again! We are thrown straight back into this lush and fantastic world Jennifer has created and the plot starts after the finale on Tales of a Monstrous Heart!

We have so much uncovering about each character backstory that we had the opportunity to delve into deep and also the history of this world and the legends and forbidden compendiums! It was almost magical seeing it all come to play and to focus on the characters. Devotion is definintely a bit more character plot driven versus Tales and I think it was a very good approach to show how versatile and complex this trilogy can be! We also have dual POV between Kat and Alma and they both have such different voices: I love Kat’s, she’s courageous and very clever and I enjoy her chapters the most! And then we have Alma’s who has a heavy voice and struggles daily with her traumas and how to find herself. Then we have more characters from the previous book that came forward in Devotions and made the plot so much better and compelling - yes, looking at you Gideon boy! Emrys is still my very favourite boy tho!

One of the things I adored the most on book 1 and it carried along to this book, is Jennifer’s writing. Sometimes when I’m reading I can connect with a lot of things - from characters to specific situations and even writing - and Jennifer’s writing feels like it was a love letter to my soul! I am not a very visual reader but I can see little glimpses of expressions and touches and I just love how Jennifer describes the situations and makes me feel like I’m actually there and I can see Thean’s smirk, Emrys’ gentle touches, Gideon’s bright blue eyes…! I swear every time Kat and Emrys were having a moment my heart went all giddy and happy - also, William ugh, go get yourself busy with your plants and leave them alone!

I really struggle with sequel reviews as I always try to avoid giving spoilers so here’s my advice: if you enjoyed Tales, get ready to enjoy Devotion as much! It has a beautiful cliffhanger and I cannot wait for the finale of this Trilogy - we have so much to uncover and all the subplots to close! I am ready!

#adpr Many many thanks to the publisher (and author) for this exciting arc! All opinions are my own!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A million stars for my favourites 😍 Being back with Kat, Emrys and the crew (including Blackthorn Manor) was so fantastic. Things seem bleak at first, and after that cliffhanger at the end of book one I expected no less. Having the extra POV chapters added more to the story - and god I didn't know I could love Alma even more but I do. Her and Kat's friendship is just as - maybe even MORE - important than any romantic endeavours in the book too, and is such a fantastic representation of loyal, undying female friendship. As always, the writing is fantastic and the story captivating. So many secrets come to light, and more mysteries present themselves. I'm genuinely going to be insufferable waiting for book three, especially after another highly intense cliffhanger (Jen, please expect me in your DMs) 😅 This series is a must read for anyone who loves the idea of Jane Eyre meets Howl's Moving Castle, but make it gothic and dark and gloomy.

I absolutely loved being back in this world. The interesting magic system, plot, and brilliant characters made the book so difficult to put down. I adored the angst and sarcasm between a few of the main characters, felt all the emotions as history came to light & once again, was left wanting more of Jennifer’s story telling!