While the argument has been made for a number of villains to ascend to the coveted spot of Supreme Evil, notably Everild the Necromancer, Scorlisha Baneblade of the Mounted Beasts, The Plague Bringer Norasthmus, and Dave from Next Door Who Insists on Doing Yard Work at Dawn...

As soon as I saw this, I knew I was in for a ride, and oh boy was I right. This book was an absolute DELIGHT from start to finish. I didn't want to put it down, hell I hated having to put it down. As soon as it was over, I picked up book two and stayed up all night reading book two. I don't think I've had this much fun reading a book since high school. This book is heavy on the rom-com feels, it's chock-full of fun, and the fantasy elements are actually fantastical in a way that doesn't feel overdone. Something about this makes me feel like I'm reading a Dungeons and Dragons campaign in the best way possible.

Damien is one of the most enjoyable male main characters that I have come across in a book lately. I absolutely adore how deadpan and just irrationally irritated by everything he tends to be, not to mention how determined he is to uphold the fact he is "son of Zagadoth the Tempestuous, Demonic Lord of the Infernal Plane". Something about him feels like he's an angsty emo kid who is in his "it was never a phase mom, it's a life style" era, and maybe that's why I gravitate to him. Paired against Amma who is so sweet, fun, and just purely good? Damien is so insistent on the fact that he is most definitely evil and can do nothing but bad things in this world and he will go as far as justifying any good deeds he does with some sort of evil twist. It's absolutely hilarious, and what can I say? I love him, your honor.

This is a true slow burn, which is something I feel is hard to come by. Usually, a book is labeled as a slow burn but the romance hits early book. Not here. You start to get the hints of the feelings that Amma has for Damien while Damien starts working through the fact that maybe he's not so evil after all... then gets hit with the fact he likes her too. The chemistry between the two of them is absolutely phenomenal from the jump. And the tension? God. I could go on for ages, but I'm going to stop myself because I want you, casual review reader, to go read this book and just see for yourself.

I binge-read the entire trilogy of books so trying to keep the events of books 1, 2, and 3 separate is a little challenging. But what I can give you are some of my favorite and absolutely unhinged notes from the first book that show you how much I loved reading this:

- "Dave from Next Door Who Insists on Doing Yard Work at Dawn" the real villain here honestly. Fuck Dave.
- Zagadoth the Tempestuous, Demonic Lord of the Infernal Plane -- Hes a dads' dad kind of guy and i love that for him but why am i reading everything he says read in robin wiliam's genie voice?
- Are these chapter titles Fall Out Boy song titles? (THE ROAD TO THE ABYSS ISN’T PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS OR REALLY ANYTHING, PAVEMENT HASN’T BEEN INVENTED YET)
- "“And we just got a new, dragon-shaped gravy boat, but it’s never been used, so it should make a lovely collection vessel for the blood from the virgin you’ve brought to sacrifice.” -- I SNORTED I ACTUALLY SNORTED. DRAGON SHAPED GRAVY BOAT PLEASE.
- 23% into this book and you're breaking out the GOOD GIRL. DAMIEN WHAT THE HELL???ALREADY???? (i love him your honor)
- 79% *DJ Khaled voice* ANOTHER ONE.... Damien said good girl again. That is all.