I really loved this story. It was short but filled with enough information to tell the whole story. I fell in love with the characters. Such a fun read!

I haven't read the series this novella is a part of, but it sounds like it is set after the events in the books. I could easily read this without the background, and didn't feel lost in the information.

I was hooked from the first sentence.

Absolutely loved the banter, especially when the Devil says "If you dig a grave for me, I'll gladly lie there forever".

The only thing I didn't enjoy was the last 10 or so pages, describing a sensation as being flayed raw wasn't quite for me.

This was just an enjoyable read for me.

I haven't read the trilogy that came before this, and it does work as a standalone, albeit one that you need to focus a little bit on at first, because the worldbuilding does assume you understand what is going on and what the magical terms mean. After reading this, I am desperate to carve some time to push them to the top of my TBR because I want to dive deep into this world.

Mr Devil is a delightful character, all he wants is to sit, drink tea, and read his books. He isn't evil, he's just doing his job and trying to protect all the mortals while he's at it. I adored him and the found family he's built around him, the three Shades, the corridors, the humans and angels, he was brilliant.

Beatrice was a worthy partner, able to go toe to toe with him. She was passionate and so focused on trying to understand the why. It was a beautiful portrayal of grief, her way of coping, trying to understand, to pull the Why apart because if she could understand then maybe the pain won't hurt so bad. It won't work of course but its a very human reaction.

For only a hundred odd pages, there was a decent amount of plot and character development in this, yes things moved at a speedy pace, but by and large I was fine with it.

Fun to read novella based on a trilogy that I have never read, though it can be read as a standalone. I was a little confused on a couple of things relating to the world, but didn't have too much trouble getting an idea of the location/characters. I'm a sucker for a romance and this one was an absolute delight! Beatrice and the Devil were a fun relationship to read about and she surely gave him a run for his money.

Beatrice's grief is sadly something that many of us can relate to so it was nice to see her get something positive out of it all in the end. Overall, this is a solid 4 star novella for me and just right in length.

What a great, short book.
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I am so happy I had the opportunity to.
Right from the start I enjoyed the writing style and sense of humor (sarcastic/dry) that conveyed so well through the book.
Now, it is a shorter book and the second part of a series, but this could absolutely be read as a standalone as well. The story dives right in from chapter 1 and after 100 or so pages, you will have a story you can’t wait to read what happens next and characters that you want to know more about, and also see where their story leads.

Sirius and his love for tea was also just a really fun unique addition to the story as well 💟

I enjoyed my time with these characters and found them all to be very likeable! I found myself wanting Beatrice and The Devil's relationship had a bit more time to grow and feel more fleshed out. With the time they had though I really enjoyed their dynamic and the changes they had on each other. I appreciated that even though this was a novella, I could fully understand the world and the gods present. Overall an enjoyable read, I personally was not a fan of this flavor of smut but that was just my own personal preferences!

What's not to love about this novella? There's a smut reading, passionate, tea connoisseur devil who wants to be more than the monster everyone calls him out to be and Beatrice who is grieving a significant loss and looking for answers anywhere she can when their paths cross and their story begins. This book was well written and I will say I haven't read the series it comes from but because of this novella I am adding the entire trilogy onto my tbr. 4/5
#NetGalley

Slight spoiler with a quote and quick personal thoughts below.

"I'm not speaking to the Devil of Tarderan," Beatrice said. "I'm asking Lucian to join me for a cup of tea." Oof this line gave me an automatic hand on my heart with emotion. She sees past the title he's been branded with and who he is with her and who he wants to be but also accepts him at his most vulnerable moment.

This is a novella set in the world of the All That Matters series, and it's a standalone, but it would help to read the rest of the series.

The storytelling here is immersive and beautiful, with the devil meeting his match in Beatrice. I loved the clever banter and the spice was fun, too.

A year after Red Reckoning, the Devil is still working to keep certain knowledge on the Gods hidden from humanity. His efforts bring him into contact with bookshop owner Beatrice, who refuses to give up on her investigation to understand the events of the main series. What begins as an undercover seduction in order to sabotage Beatrice's work quickly turns into something more.

This novella was so much fun, and I'm honestly angry that we didn't get a full length book for the Devil and Beatrice. Steeped in Shadows is surprisingly cosy considering the comparatively epic scope of the main All That Matters trilogy, and it works so well for this glimpse into the Devil's interactions in the human realm. And don't worry - despite the overall cosiness, the spice certainly comes through when it's time. Beatrice is an excellent match for the Devil and I wish that I could see more of them together, particularly in the long-term plan for these two that the author hints at as the book comes to a close.

This novella can easily be read as a standalone piece, it requires a bit of additional focus at times but there's more than enough summary of prior events scattered throughout the story which will easily catch readers up on what they missed. I'm excited to see what Mirai Amell gifts us with next.

This was a really cute, short romance read. The love story was perfect but I feel like the rest of the book didn't really have a plot except for their love story.
Overall I hope there is a second book and would like to read more about how they make their love work.

The moment I saw ‘tea’ mentioned, I was already sold. Thankfully, ‘Steeped in Shadows’, delivers much more than just a cozy setting.
This story is a delightful blend of sweet, sometimes sad (yeah, brace for some angsty moments), and seriously charming. You've got the Devil himself meeting a bookstore owner who just can't resist, and honestly, who can blame her?

The setting is absolutely lovely and cozy, making it the perfect escape. What I really appreciated is how natural and easy the relationship development feels. There’s no cheap drama or reliance on those tired old romance tropes. Instead, you get great banter, witty teasing, and just the right amount of spice.

It's a very short read, but the world-building is surprisingly rich, it manages to feel like a vast world in a tiny package. I hadn't read anything else by the author, so I read this as a standalone story, probably it helps if you have more knowledge?, but it catches you up quickly.

Many, many thanks to Mirai Amell, Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.

Has the devil met his match? Absolutely and she holds nothing back. He may hold the title of the the Devil, but does she truly know who he is? "To me, you are Lucian. That's enough information", but is it? The banter between Sirius, and reason had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. "Remember me, Fear Me. And don't deceive the Devil of Tarderan again." "You were beautiful before...but now you are spectacular." This novella makes me want to read more of thos world. Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC for an honest review.

Steeped in Shadows is a dark, atmospheric fantasy that blends celestial politics, mythic stakes, and intimate human grief into a gripping narrative. The novel’s premise, questioning who torments the Devil himself, sets the tone for a story filled with moral ambiguity and haunting emotional depth. The aftermath of a world shaken by divine conflict feels tangible, and the human bookshop owner's quest adds a grounded, relatable thread that anchors the cosmic drama. While the pacing occasionally lingers, the character dynamics, especially the Devil’s fraught tug-of-war between duty and vulnerability, are compelling and layered. Overall, it’s a rich, moody read that rewards patience and leaves you eager for more.

This is such a fun novella. After the war, the devil is concerned now about what comes next and if he can handle both the throne and his hearts desires.

If the novella is this good, I can't wait to get into the rest of the series! Not necessary to have read the other books, but definitely helps. I pushed the others to the top of my list for Christmas break.

"Steeped in Shadows" was such a fun, cozy little read that finally gives the Devil his own story in the All That Matters world. You don’t have to have read the trilogy to enjoy it, but it definitely adds some extra depth if you have.

The story starts when the Devil meets Beatrice, a clever and determined bookshop owner. What begins as him trying to keep her in check quickly turns into something more, with slow-burn tension, witty banter, and just the right amount of heat.

The Devil is endlessly charming—tea-loving, book-obsessed, and definitely not the monster everyone thinks he is (honestly he sounds like a pretty decent "catch" to me). Beatrice is his perfect match: smart, passionate, and dealing with grief in a really human way. Even though it’s a short read, being a novella, it’s packed with emotion, character growth, and enough world-building to make it feel full. I loved it and left wanting more of these two and the world they live in.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mirai Amell, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gods, mortals and fae - a fave combination! 3.5⭐️ rounded up that I think will eventually become 4 stars if I get round to reading the trilogy that this novella comes from.

So I didn’t realize this was a novella from the end of a trilogy series and that makes so much more sense as there was just so much assumed knowledge that for the first 25% of the book I wasn’t entirely feeling it but decided as it was super short book I’ll just see how it goes.

Loved the devil and am definitely wanting to know more of his back story and his found family work.

It was a fun and easy read and as I said, I’m sure if reading after the trilogy it would be a solid 4 star book!

Thank you Mirai Amell, Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC REVIEW: Steeped in Shadows: All That Matters Novella by Mirai Amell 📚☕️

This was a short novella that I breezed through incredibly quickly. The banter between the characters felt genuine and never crossed into cheesy, which made their interactions really enjoyable to read.

The story follows a bookshop owner whose brother dies under mysterious circumstances. While grieving his loss, she begins searching for answers, only to find herself uncovering truths the Devil would much rather keep buried. Beatrice’s loss at the beginning of the book immediately sets the tone for her character, and you truly ache alongside her as she processes her grief and determination to uncover the truth.

The world building was solid. While I could tell I was missing some deeper context from the rest of the series, there was still enough detail for me to fully imagine the world and feel grounded in it. I especially loved the detail that the Devil is a connoisseur of tea. It added such a unique and charming layer to his character.

I would absolutely add the rest of the trilogy to my TBR. I’d love to continue reading about these characters and see how their relationship develops over time.

Thank you ever so kindly to Mirai Amell, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.