Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley and Eve Devearoux for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for a review!

Wallflowers and Demons: Ashwood was a darkly gothic, atmospheric read that definitely delivered on its gothic fantasy romance promise. The setting and tone felt immersive, with an eerie quality that pulled me in right away. I also appreciated that the author doesn’t shy away from difficult themes—readers should check trigger warnings beforehand, but nothing felt gratuitous beyond those listed.

That said, I did struggle with some noticeable gaps and plot holes in the story. Several times I found myself rereading sections, thinking I had missed something, only to realize that the content simply wasn’t there. This was distracting, but I’m hopeful it can be smoothed out before final publication.

On the other hand, the erotic scenes were exceptionally well written—some of the best I’ve read in the genre—and they truly kept me engaged. Those moments showed the strength of the author’s prose and gave the story its heartbeat. I’m especially excited to continue on to the second book and learn more about Wexmoore.

I couldn’t help but picture the demon Dorian as Tim Curry in Legend—a vivid and delightful visual that made his character even more enjoyable!

Overall, despite its rough edges, this was an evocative, sensual gothic fantasy romance, and I’m eager to see where the series goes next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5

This book was a hot mess. I really hope that the copy I received was not the final because oh my gawd did this need so much editing. There were words missing, extra words, wrong words. Sometimes whose POV it was was written wrong. Things were happening that made no sense, and within a single scene the characters would be doing something one way, then all of a sudden they're doing it a completely different way. There are numerous random time skips and so many random plots going on that half the time you just have to roll with it and not question WTF is going on. Considering the absurd length of the trigger warnings, which I definitely did not read, I really expected this book to be insane with dark and triggering happenings. It was laughably not.

It might sound like I hated this book (to be fair I did not really like it) but the idea behind it was an interesting one with so many creative things going on. The problem is that it was presented more as random ideas vomited on page rather than any actual cohesion. Like, I liked the idea of Dorian having this demonic side to him that he struggles to control, but how it happened to him was quite a bit ridiculous. Only made worse with how it then spread to others. And these others become murderous giants? I mean....come on. Then there's this whatever the fuck it was going on with Dorian's mother. Seriously. What was the point of that whole thing. Just to include a depraved chapter that literally made everybody uncomfortable?

I still don't understand why Katherine was sent to England when she's a princess of another country. She speaks of having to make a good impression of the prince, but literally nothing comes of that. Katherine meets Dorian when she's at a ball with her best friend. She's immediately drawn to him so she follows him around the place until she witnesses something she shouldn't have. Dorian's demon side takes over and attacks her, and somehow that means they have to marry to save her honor. I don't know. Dorian plans to send her away as soon as he can but his demon side craves her more than he can control and he's starting to want her too. As for Katherine, she seems determined to make this marriage work with him and refuses to be a pretty wallflower. It's not long before she's confronted with everything that Dorian has been facing this whole time and she will fight beside him whether he likes it or not. The fights here were vicious, brutal, and deadly. The best kind.

This book does not want for action, there is always something going on. Despite that, at some point everything just started to feel tedious. The smexy parts were hot, even though they were the worst offenders of things being one way in one sentence and then completely different the next. There is a sort of love triangle going on, but it's completely one sided. So it was kind of annoying when this dude told Katherine that he would never hold another in his heart. Dramatic much? And I don't even know if they really even got control over this whole situation aside from killing all the monsters at the end. Wasn't the cause spreading thru the land?

So yeah. This book had a great idea going on but it failed executing it.

Best part about this book? The little picture that some books have on every new chapter page. This one has to be one of my absolute favorites. It looks 3D was just really cool.

First off, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Buuuuut…. This was atrocious. The amount of typos and grammar issues was actually ridiculous. It was like reading a regency romance book that was written by someone who has never read a single book in the genre. If you want to write r€pe fantasies and horror, Do it! But please get an editor and try for at least a semblance of a plot?

3 ⭐
3 🌶️

Wallflowers and Demons had the dark gothic vibes and creative spark I love—but don’t go in expecting romance. This one leans hard into erotica, with little emotional payoff I craved. I felt it was a spin off of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, where the MC is in turmoil between his 2 sides. This was the intriguing part of the story. The monsters, the secrets and the drama were creative as well.

Still, Eve Devearoux’s world-building earns points for originality. It was dark with dozens of trigger warnings to follow.

A Chinese princess meets demon duke in regency England? A Beauty and the Beast retelling?? Dark gothic romance??? Count me in!

Katherine is absolutely stellar. She's sharp, fierce, and refuses to play the helpless damsel even when faced with literal demons. I loved watching her navigate both British high society and supernatural horrors with equal sass.

And Dorian? *Chef's kiss* This man is everything I want in a morally gray love interest. He's tortured without being whiny, dangerous without being abusive, and that internal struggle between his human and demonic sides had me completely hooked. The way he tries to protect Katherine while battling his own nature? Absolutely delicious. I found myself rooting for him even when he made questionable choices.

The gothic atmosphere is where this book really shines. Ashwood Manor feels genuinely menacing, and the horror elements creep up on you perfectly. When things get gory in the second half, it's genuinely unsettling in the best possible way.

My one complaint? The story rushes through some key emotional beats. The romance needed more breathing room to feel authentic.
Also, heads up: while this did not affect my review in any way, this is marketed as erotica but it's more medium spice level. Perfectly steamy for the story and well done, just don't expect anything too scandalous.

A regency erotic tale filled with monsters, murder, and gore.

Princess Katherine Xu is forced to marry Dorian Storm after a scandal. The rest of the world doesn’t know Dorian’s secret — that he is part demon — but Katherine saw his monstrous side and didn’t turn into a damsel in distress, she fought back. Together, they must hide Dorian’s truth while they are under investigation or find a cure before they are caught.

I love the concept of a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling with stabby princesses, gore, smut, and dark brooding men, but the execution in this book is lacking.

It feels like major scenes were cut out and never replaced, so there are holes in the story that don’t explain the characters’ actions or feelings. Without those major scenes, the chemistry between Katherine and Dorian is nonexistent or severely forced until the last 10% of the book.

And the way Katherine flip-flops between being a warrior princess with confidence to spare and a damsel in distress is so confusing because it does not make sense throughout the book. I’m not saying a character can’t contradict itself like this because that’s a part of being human, but it happens without cause and almost instantly. During a conversation with Dorian, Katherine has thoughts that are in the negative, filled with fear and anxiety, then in the next paragraph she becomes hopeful and filled with wonder, and nobody said or did anything to cause the change. This book had me confused 60% of the time.

I do like some aspects of the book. I love characters like William that keep things light and humorous. I think the action is great and love the gory details. I also really loved the scene where Katherine and Dorian are sharing a drink and a cigar. That is one of the very few scenes that show some chemistry between the two characters, and it was most appreciated.

I will not be continuing the series, but I will recommend it to anyone who likes “Beauty and the Beast” retellings, books in the ton era, and a book with mild spice.

Our introduction to Lord Valerius, the Duke, is nothing short of chilling. He is not merely arrogant; he is haunted, volatile, and deeply scarred, his arrogance a shield for profound inner turmoil. This Duke is a force of nature, compelling in his brokenness, and utterly captivating in his dangerous allure.
Nonetheless, our heroine, far from a wilting wallflower, stands as a formidable force against his darkness. She has an unyielding spirit and a keen perceptiveness that sees straight through his carefully constructed façade. She refuses to be intimidated or easily swayed, demonstrating an unflinching honesty that promises to challenge the Duke at every turn.
This story is a masterclass in dark, gothic romance in which the tortured, arrogant hero whose darkness is matched only by the strength and defiance of the heroine who dares to challenge him.
I highly recommend this book to readers who crave intense emotional stakes, complex characters, and a love story that defies convention and burns brightly against a backdrop of shadows.

I normally don't read dark romance like this book but this one caught my eye when I saw it on NetGalley. I won't even lie about that. It ended up being better than I had originally intended, which is more than fine with me.

I liked Katherine more than I thought I would. She reminds me a lot of the FMC from [book:Under the Oak Tree, Vol. 1|199346768] if I'm being honest here. I feel like there is more to Katherine than meets the eye. I was disappointed when I realized the second book in this series is not a direct sequel.

I wanted more from this couple but I suppose I can be pleased with what we got. I'm sure they will be in book 2 as well since the MMC is the duke from the next town over. I'll be requesting that title as well when it becomes available for request on NetGalley.

I just wish there was more smut in this one! I was hoping for more too after reading all the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. I was nervous about it since some of the trigger warnings at the beginning were triggers for me personally.

It wasn't as bad as I was thinking, which is a great thing, obviously. I was happy to see how quickly I got through this book and am hoping the sequel will be just as easy of a read for me. I'm not holding my breath, however.

I'd recommend this book if you're looking for a good dark romance novel. I'd also recommend this book if you enjoyed the Bridgerton series but want something darker. The demon aspect was interesting and I wish we got more backstory on that. That's my only gripe, honestly.

ARC Review – Wallflowers and Demons: Ashwood

🖤👑💀🕯️🩸🌹📜🗝️🦇🔥📖
“A demon duke, a haunted manor, and enough spice to raise the dead—yes, please.”
🖤👑💀🕯️🩸🌹📜🗝️🦇🔥📖

Imagine Bridgerton wandered into a haunted house, tripped over a demon duke, and decided to stay for the night. That’s this book—equal parts swoon, shriek, and “oh no, I’m into this.”

Katherine? Regal with a rebellious streak. Dorian Storm? The monster your mother warned you about—and now you want him to ruin you. Gothic vibes, filthy tension, and just enough gore to make you side-eye the dark corner of your room.

If you like your romance morally gray and your horror in silk gloves, grab this one and let it bite you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5 spice)

Hell is ravenous, Princess. It will devour you, as I will devour you."

Eve Devearoux’s Wallflowers and Demons is a deliciously dark, genre-bending tale that seamlessly fuses regency romance with gothic horror, all wrapped in a seductive, slow-burning atmosphere of dread and desire. Bold, visceral, and unapologetically twisted, this novel offers a fresh and fearless take on historical fantasy.

Set within the candlelit corridors of Ashwood Manor, the story introduces us to a Chinese princess navigating the brutal social labyrinth of British high society—a premise that immediately feels daring and original. Enter Dorian: a brooding, dangerously magnetic duke whose secrets are far from earthly. Think Bridgerton meets Penny Dreadful, but with sharper fangs and darker shadows.

From the first page, Devearoux commands attention with writing that is fast-paced yet richly atmospheric. The regency setting is exquisitely drawn—opulent but never stifling—and the horror elements escalate masterfully. What begins as a simmering tension builds into grotesque, visceral horror in the second half, revealing a talent for pacing and tone that keeps the reader off balance in the best way.

The romance is just as intense. The intimate scenes are bold, dark, and emotionally charged—perfectly in step with the novel’s demonic undercurrents. While not for the faint of heart, they never overshadow the narrative’s emotional stakes or its central mystery.

Katherine, the female protagonist, is a standout—elegant yet fiercely resilient, a woman who refuses to be diminished by the horrors surrounding her. And Dorian? A masterclass in morally gray allure. Dangerous, enigmatic, and infuriatingly captivating, he’s a character who invites both lust and loathing—often in the same breath.

If there's one minor critique, it's that the pacing occasionally gallops ahead of itself. A few scenes could benefit from more narrative breathing room to fully land their emotional and plot-driven weight. That said, the momentum rarely falters for long, and the story’s intensity is a driving force throughout.

In short, Wallflowers and Demons is a gothic triumph—visceral, seductive, and brimming with originality. A must-read for fans of dark romance, supernatural intrigue, and unapologetically bold storytelling.

4.5 stars

“Hell is ravenous, Princess. It will devour you, as I will devour you.”

Dark, seductive, Wallflowers and Demons is a gothic feast of regency romance, demonic horror, and unrelenting tension. Eve Devearoux pulls no punches in this unique mashup, giving us a world where elegance and evil coexist in the candlelit halls of Ashwood.

From the first chapter, I was drawn into this world. A Chinese princess thrust into the claws of British high society? Its like an episode of Bridgerton. lol A brooding, terrifyingly magnetic duke with a secret that’s very not-of-this-world? YES PLEASE. This book is fast-paced, visceral, and rich in its regency atmosphere, yet it never feels stuffy or overly formal it’s bloody and bold in the best ways.

The horror elements hit harder in the second half, and the way Devearoux shifts from a slow-burn dread to grotesque reveals is genuinely impressive. And the smut.... Let’s just say it doesn’t waste time and is absolutely on brand for this type of monster romance dark, intense, and not for the faint of heart (or the morally rigid). Still, it never overshadows the core plot or the emotional undertones.

Katherine is such a standout FMC graceful yet resilient, never a damsel despite the odds stacked against her. And Dorian.....Whew. He’s dangerous, morally murky, and wholly unapologetic. I wanted to slap him and kiss him, sometimes in the same scene.

If I had one small critique, it's that the pacing occasionally ran ahead of itself there were a few times where I had to flip back and reorient myself. Some plot threads felt like they could’ve used just a bit more room to breathe. But honestly? That didn’t stop me from devouring this book like hellfire.

MONSTER HORROR ROMANCE - Sign me up anytime. This was so good, and the monster was so, so, so swoon worthy. The dialogue is great, which is a hard sell point for me usually.

She went to visit a friend and ended up married to a man known as a demon? The scandal practically wrote itself — and I couldn’t look away.

👹Review:
Reading this book felt like the perfect escape — dark, fast-paced, and deliciously addictive. It gave me major Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde vibes, except in this version, both sides of the monster want her.

Princess Katherine only meant to visit a friend, but one scandal later, she’s suddenly married off to Dorian — a man feared and whispered about. She’s terrified of him at first… but also undeniably drawn in. And let me just say, the chemistry between these two? Fire.

The pacing moves quickly, but it still gives a solid look into how Katherine and Dorian evolve as a couple, especially since Dorian can barely keep his demons under control around her. I loved Katherine’s boldness and Dorian’s protective side — their dynamic felt intense, messy in the best way, and so well-woven into the action-packed plot.

The mystery of Ashwood kept me turning pages, and the twist at the end? Totally caught me off guard. And yes, the monster spice was chef’s kiss — that dirty-mouthed demon did not come to play.

Tropes you’ll love:
• Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde dynamic
• Protective MMC
• Feisty FMC
• Marriage of convenience

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 — Monster spice with bite 👀
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Huge thanks to @NetGalley and Eve Devearoux for the ARC!

A shadowy castle, a cursed Duke, and a fearless Chinese princess who walks straight into the dark. Katherine Xu was meant to be a bride but finds herself tangled in secrets, science, and something monstrous beneath Ashwood Harbour. Dorian is no fairytale prince he’s a man with blood on his hands and danger in his bed. Gothic, gripping, and gloriously spicy this is dark romance at its finest.

This book is dark, seductive, and romantic. This story is set in the 1800’s, and while I’ve read similar books in the past, this one takes the cake. The writing, how each character speaks, the descriptions - perfectly done - it really sets the tone and puts you in that era mentally.

There is a lengthy list of content warnings at the beginning of the book, and I recommend taking the time to read through them throughly.

I absolutely loved the FMC. I think she was a well done character who shows elegance and grace, without being frail and weak. She carried her weight throughout the story, as well as the weight of others, and she was enjoyable to follow along with. The MMC I ended up loving too, although many times I wanted to throttle him. He’s a morally grey - and at times morally black - character, and honestly quite unlovable from the start. He’s pretty cold and standoff-ish, and it’s easy to dislike him. But hey, we ignore the red flags, right?

This book is marked as an erotica horror romance, and while the smut was *chefs kiss*, it didn’t take away from the plot and gave you just enough to get the idea and then some without it completely taking over, which I enjoyed. It didn’t feel super heavy on the horror aspect, but I also read horror as a palate cleanser so I think I’m a bit biased lol. It’s not horror like “omg this is terrifying, what is that??” it’s more like lots of gore, an unsettling vibe, with hints of psychological thriller - at least how I viewed it. But once again, don’t take my word for it because I read horror for fun.

I didn’t have many issues with this book - if at all - save for the few moments I was confused about how we got from point A to point B, but I circled back to reread those bits to piece it together myself. That has no effect on my rating as it was a “me” issue. I’m giving this book a 4/5 star rating because while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I didn’t absolutely love it. And that’s okay! I’m glad I read it, and will still definitely recommend it to people. I’ll most likely read the next book because I do want to see how it all wraps up in the end!

Unfortunately, this book is not for me. I didn’t mind the parts of the story that required the trigger warnings but I couldn’t connect with the characters. Parts of the story felt choppy and the change in point of view was a bit abrupt at times. Overall I wasn’t immediately interested as I began reading and therefore wasn’t very invested in the rest of the story.

This book is complicated to review. I enjoyed the story as well as the MMC and FMC themselves; however, there were a lot of distractions, which made me have to rate it a bit lower.

First, I think this book still needs a couple of passes at editing. There were many grammar mistakes, typos, repeated sentences, etc.. It felt like it missed a review stage before being published.

Second, the writing itself was pretty choppy. I kept having to go back to ensure I didn’t miss something. Scenes transitioned quickly and messily. At least once, there was a significant scene change within a single paragraph. Points of View were also sometimes inconsistent within a scene while still under a specific individual's POV.

I would consider it a spicy monster romance; I loved those parts! However, I question the number of trigger warnings the book had. I expected it to be WAY worse, but maybe that says more about me as a reader than the book itself. I’ve read other novels that felt much more intense with questionable content.

I thought the plot was exciting, and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how things would turn out. I certainly didn’t guess the ending, and that’s always fun to me.

Overall, I wonder if the release was a bit rushed. With a little more work on the writing and transitions within the story, as well as some good editing, it could be a real treat!

I am curious about what happens next…

Weird and wonderful. A mixture of supernatural horror and historical fiction blended into a murder mystery. With each turn of the page you real don't know what you are going to get, and yes, some bits are a bit hot too! It took a bit of getting into a it is very different, but well worth persevering with.

Thank you Eve Devearoux for allowing me to have a copy of, these opinions are my own!!!

Ok… come for the dark sinister monsterish vibes and the epic plot… then stay for the hot unhinged filthy mouthed demon brut that loves you in the only evil way he knows how… or come for the hot demon monster filth and stay for the dark sinister monsterish vibes and epic plot… either way… you’re going to come.

It’s like Bridgerton but dark and gloomy and full of horror and gore but also a filthy mouthed demon sex god.

I loved every second! The story was great! The writing was immersive and fun! And the filth was a scary good time!

#demons #monsters #horror #gore #demonsmut #notyouraverageduke #loveconquersall

Okay... that was an experience.
I’ll be honest: when I saw the trigger warning list spanning almost eight pages, I considered backing out. That’s a lot. I was apprehensive. But, having heard some buzz about Eve Devearoux and being curious about the mix of gothic Regency + monsters + totally unhinged smut, I decided to go with the flow... and, surprisingly, I got hooked.
The synopsis already warns you that it’s Jane Austen, but feral—and yeah, that’s exactly what it is. Don’t go into this expecting logical plotting or classic structure. It’s drama, horror, lust, blood, and moans, all blended like a cursed potion served at midnight in a damp castle. And oddly enough, it works.
Katherine is a strong heroine, but the real standout for me was Duke Dorian Storm. He’s much more than the typical “dark and brooding” archetype—he’s chaos in human form, layered with suffering, violence, and vulnerability. Their interactions have genuine tension, and the writing manages to be both poetic and visceral. There were moments I read with my eyes wide, fingers hovering over the pause button. But there are also unexpectedly emotional moments of connection.
Now, I won’t lie: there were times when the story took me out of the mood. The ultra dark tone and grotesque twists can be overwhelming for anyone not into these extremes. Some parts lean into the absurd, requiring total surrender. I went along with it, but it’s not a book for everyone. Still, I admired the audacity of it.
In the end, Wallflowers and Demons is exactly what it promises: a wild, sensual, and sinister tale of love, desire, monsters (literally and metaphorically). I did enjoy it, despite the initial shock with the content warnings and the sometimes too much tone.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing the ARC. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Eve’s future works—because if anyone knows how to write romantic chaos with style, it’s her.