I seriously love a good PNR read and it has been a while since I’ve considered an angels and demon one. I can say that Darkest Heart definitely took the cake as my favorite angel/demon book. And this was a first time read for Juliette Cross, and I’m a fan. I know that this is part of a series (or something, not exactly sure) and as usual, I haven’t read the first one yet nor do I know how many books we can expect in this series. But I’m also curious to know if the next book will be about Anya and Dommiel, I’m kind of hoping so. I haven’t read a PNR series where it was all standalones, so I’ll definitely be begging for more Dommiel and Anya.

One thing is for certain, Dommiel has easily become one of my favorite heroes or maybe anti-heroes? The demon that you’ll absolutely fall in love with. Plus, his darker side is downright alluring and sexy!

Besides the amazing job that Juliette did with the world-building, Anya and Dommiel had such great character development. And you’ll be completely captivated by their story the entire time. I loved that they both weren’t a tell-all from the beginning, as the story unfolds, their layers peel away and they’re both opening up more to each other. With Dommiel being a high demon, he definitely surprised me the most with his caring and softer side towards Anya and the few that he’s loyal to. I loved his fierce protectiveness towards her.

And Anya, not only being an angel but a warrior as well. Teaming up with a demon on a mission of sort to find Uriel, an archangel, was the last thing she wanted, but something she needed. She despises demons and there’s nothing about Dommiel that appeals to her until she finally meets him face to face. I loved how snarky and confident he got with her. You can tell that pleasing the ladies isn’t an issue for him. It’s exciting and intriguing to see these two dance around their feelings, the chemistry is so strong and you’ll be wanting them to give in from the very beginning. They’re just absolutely hot together, steaminess for days, people. Don’t you even worry about THAT.

Darkest Heart has definitely been added to my #RSFave list and I’ll be looking out for the next book in this series! Plus, there are quite a few side characters that I’m dying to know the story of. Juliette, you’ve gained a new fan, please don’t make us wait forever!

Oops, I joined this series after it had already started without realizing it. That being said, I feel like I caught up quickly and didn’t miss too much in this dystopian angel/demon action romp.

This story takes place in a world where angels and demons are out in the open and warring with one another. Humans are largely cannon fodder and get caught in the middle of these large scale battles. Anya is a battle angel with a much softer heart than her fellow soldiers. Somewhere along the way, she found herself infected by a small amount evil demon mojo. If she doesn’t find and rescue Uriel, a kidnapped big wig in the angel brigade, she’ll eventually become enslaved to a demon.

Funny thing, to avoid getting enslaved by a demon, she finds herself making a deal with a very shady demon. Dom is a demon who has been essentially shunned by both sides. He’s been living his life with his own moral compass, which just so happens to put him at odds with almost everyone. These two have a sizzling attraction, but there are mountains of baggage holding them away from one another. Watching them get drawn closer and closer what great to watch while they battle their way through the bad guys. As an intro to the world (for me) this was engaging but darker than I typically read.

Darkest heart is the first book of this series also my first book read by this author. I enjoyed this book it was interesting and kept my attention until the very end. Can't wait to read more books by Juliette Cross.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
I’m a bit of a sucker when it comes to PNR and angels and demons, and this book not only delivered that but also my other secret love- post apocalyptic romance! This book is full of adventure, suspense, anarchy, action and best of all romance!
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The story revolves around our demon hero and angel heroine- the epitome of star crossed lovers. The heroine is on a mission to save her soul and needs the help of an archangel. For the right price our hero will do anything as a demon mercenary for hire. However when on their mission together sparks fly and the demon is brought to his knees by an innocent angel.
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The world building was so spot on 👌🏻 and the romance was 🔥🔥🔥. I loved reading how our angel heroine became a little more “human” and the road of redemption for the hero was amazing! He had lived through and seen it all and to somehow start seeing things a different way as well as start to feel- well it gave me all the feels! Loved this book and can’t wait for the next in the series.

The first part of this book was a big information dump, it took a bit to even get into the story. I felt like I was playing catch up the whole time. This book links to The Vessel Trilogy & The Deepest Well but I had no clue and I haven't read those books. 

I don't really think you have to read those books before you start this one but I think that some of the answers I have would be in those books. I like the characters and I always enjoy a good PNR book but this one was just hard to get into. It never really felt like its own book to me. This is my first book by this author and I would check out her other stuff even though this one was iffy for me.

DNF at 44%. First off, let me just say, it's me not the book.

The angels and demons have started waging war on each other and the humans are caught in the cross-fire. Anya is an angel who has become disillusioned with the angels and their disregard for human life, she's been bitten by a demon prince and has very little time before she becomes his thrall.

Dommiel is a demon who has grown sick of the violence and the war, when a favour is called in he can't refuse, but soon the unthinkable happens, the demon and the angel have feelings for one another.

Let me be 100% honest, the reason I did not finish the book was because what I really wanted was an urban fantasy type arc where Anya and Dommiel love from afar but but do nothing for at least three or four books. When the plot veered towards instant resolution my interest waned. I wanted snark and unrequited love and angst but what I got was more instalove.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Gah!! This story was sexy and romantic. I loved the forbidden.demon/angel angle and never wanted this story to end
it to end!

In Darkest Heart, Juliette Cross created an atmospheric world and populated it with brooding heroes and badass heroines. There’s so much to love and then she threw in classic literary quotes and references which made me glow in happiness.

Dommiel is a demon who despite his arguments otherwise cares about more than himself. When he’s asked by a friend to help someone he finds he may have gotten himself into more than her bargained for. Because even though he’s been branded a traitor by his own kind, is he really willing to aid the other side?

Anya is a warrior angel living on borrowed time. Bitten by a demon prince and infected with his essence, she must find the Archangel Uriel to have the poison removed before it’s too late. She could never have guessed she’d be working with one whose kind is the reason she’s in her current predicament in order to get out of it.

Ms. Cross created a post-apocalyptic world where the animosity between angels and demons is palpable as well as the apathy they each seem to feel towards humans. I could almost feel and smell the air on the gritty streets, in the crowded club, and in the snow-laden countryside. And then there were the characters. Dommiel is dark and brooding, attempting to maintain a facade of selfishness and self-indulgence. He didn’t believe in love after the betrayal he’d suffered but Anya made him hope. Anya, despite being a warrior, had a heart of gold, always caring for those most affected by the war between Heaven and Hell…the children. That these two were so drawn to one another seemed wrong but was so right. And their shared love of classic literature only added to my adoration of them.

The romance developed organically – which was a feat considering they were opposites in many ways. Their love blossomed between suspense and action as they worked at finding Uriel. Darkest Heart was exciting and hard to put down. This was an excellent start to a new series. There are characters I hope to see again and this is a world I look forward to spending more time in.

This forbidden love story is a fascinating and thrilling apocalyptic read that involves the war between heaven and hell and everything in between. Anya and Dommiel are two strong, entrancing characters that easily draw readers into their intriguing story, especially since love between an angel and a demon is a very unlikely relationship. The romance part of this story is sweet, yet rousing as it is full of steamy, zinging chemistry and fiery passion while the relationship has not only that major obstacle to be overcome but quite a few others and since both characters aren’t even remotely thinking of a relationship, but the chemistry keeps pulling drawing them together, letting the feelings sneak up on them.

The plot is fast paced and flows smoothly throughout the book, keeping readers glued to the pages with lots of excitement and danger as they face dangerous adversaries throughout their treacherous quest to find and free the archangel that can stop the ark poison that is corrupting Anya’s body and soul. There is lots of exhilarating battles and surprising twists that keeps readers glued to the pages and the author brings it all too vivid life so the readers can easily picture each and every scene as it happens.

Dominion is an apocalyptic world where heaven and hell are at war and the angels and demons fight among the humans and together with the fascinating characters gives readers an exciting experience as they become caught up in the story. I was completely caught up in Darkest Heart from the very beginning and found the world very intriguing with some fascinating unique elements to add that something extra to the story as well as the characters. I was especially fascinated by Dommiel as he is dangerous and sexy with some unique attributes, so I am looking forward to future books in this series.

Dommiel is one sexy bada$$ Demon with a capital D! I haven't read a demon this good...well, maybe never. I love that he is perfectly imperfect physically. It's genius to create a demonic character this sexy and evil and heroic with his physicality that only enhances his allure. He is magnificent! (Made my lady parts ache.) And Anya as his counterpart angel is a truly wonderful character. I love her sensitivity and valor and determination. These two sizzle together in the best way. Even though angels and demons are not supposed to mix romantically Anya cannot resist his magnetism. A very sexy couple!
The nuances in this story are incredible and a testament to this fabulous author and her creativity in character development and storytelling. This is an exciting thrill ride into the world of demons, angels, witches, otherworldly creatures, abominations and humans thrown into chaos by the Great War that split apart the fabric between the worlds. It's everything I love in a great read whether it's a paranormal or not. There's an entertaining, dangerous, engrossing storyline, a hero and heroine that are beyond compare, a steamy forbidden love story and a terrific ending promising more stories in this fantastic series. Five stars all the way!

3.5 Sexy Demon with an Eye Patch and Mechanical Hand Stars.

He was once an Angel but fell from grace and is now known as demon. She is an Angel Warrior and the protector of orphans and lost children. Only in the apocalypse could love find a way.
The upside of the apocalypse? No bills. Downside? Nothing was open. I’d kill for a Big Mac right about now.

Dommiel might be a demon but he isn’t all bad and it looks like he might be switching sides. He seems to have some friends on both sides of the battle and since the apocalypse began, the lines between good and evil seem to be blurring a little. Temptation is well, tempting, you know.

Anya is the good girl and warrior angel but she has a little problem. Seems she was bitten by a Demon and if she can’t find the Archangel Uriel, she is doomed to have a demon take possession of her. When you’re going to play with Demons, you will need one on your side to help along the way.

Darkest Heart is a spin-off to the Vessel Trilogy by Juliette Cross. I have never read the Vessel Trilogy and while I could tell that many of these characters had been involved with one another in another book series, I didn’t think it really affected my overall enjoyment of this book, it stood alone well.

This is definitely more PNR than UF, in that there isn’t a lot of time before the characters started ‘noticing’ the hotness of the other. I thought it might take a little longer since Anya is an angel and Dommiel is still a demon and a little on the bad boy side of life. Opposites do tend to attract and before you know it, both are having a difficult time denying their attractions to the other.
Maybe she’d somehow captured what part of my soul remained and kept it in her pocket so that every time she drew near I yearned to get closer, needing to reunite with that part of myself she’d stolen from me.

The search for Uriel is a dangerous one, since he has gotten himself in a heap of trouble and they must go into the pits of hell, so to speak, to get him back.

Darkest Heart has a few things going for it. There is some sizzle happening between Anya and Dommiel, of course. There is also the world with danger around every corner and the struggle between the humans, Angels and Demons. This is not a safe place to be a mere mortal anymore. I liked that because of the ability of both Angels and Demons to shift, we got a pretty good range of locales without any of that pesky travel time.

The only thing I wished I got more info on, was why heaven and hell are fighting on earth. I’m sure that is in the Vessel series and I could get a lot more backstory if/when I read those. I appreciate that Juliette didn’t rehash the events of all the prior books but I was curious to find out more of how this world ended up in the state it did.

I’m very much hoping the next book in the series involves Uriel and a certain demonic Witch. I think that would be a lot of fun.

3.5 stars

Anya is an angel on a mission to save the missing archangel Uriel and if that means she has to pair up with the demon Dommiel, a very unlikely ally, then she's willing to take that risk. The journey to find Uriel is fraught with danger but Anya is on a deadline and she knows that failing to find him quickly will have devastating consequences.

I didn't realise when I requested Darkest Heart that this is a spin off from Juliette Cross' Vessel Trilogy and to be honest there were times, particularly at the beginning of the story, that I was a little lost in this world. I think if I'd already read the previous trilogy I would have found this story much easier to get into but as it stands I still have a lot of questions about how angels and demons ended up using earth as a battleground. I got a bit lost when it came to the different groups of fighters and who was fighting for which side. This did get easier in the second half but it made the first half of the book lag a bit while I tried to figure things out so I definitely think people who are familiar with the earlier books will appreciate this one more. Having said that I did enjoy the story enough that I want to go back and read the earlier series and I'm definitely hoping that we're going to get a book about Uriel soon!

Anya and Dommiel are total opposites which isn't surprising when you consider one is an angel and the other is a demon. Anya was a little too innocent for my tastes but she was a very skilled warrior in her own rights and I liked that she was willing to accept her own feelings quite quickly, we didn't have a pages of her doubting herself and Dommiel and instead she was focused on making things work. Dommiel is a reluctant ally at first, once an angel he was stripped of his wings when he fell and became a demon and he now seems to play both sides off against each other. I wish we'd been given more information about his background and what happened to make him fall, he seemed to believe he was betrayed by his brother but I'm still a little hazy on why that is or how it all happened. He may be a demon but Dommiel has his own moral code and there are lines he isn't willing to cross, make no mistake he admits he's done terrible things, but he's not an all out evil character and I think we probably would have seen some of his struggle in previous books.

This is paranormal romance so the attraction between Anya and Dommiel is pretty instant but as far as relationship building goes they did take a little time to act on it. I enjoyed spending time with them both the banter between them was fun and there was a nice amount of flirting as things started to heat up. I'm definitely interested to see where this series goes, especially if we're going to get a book about Uriel, but I think I'll try to read the Vessel Trilogy and the connected novel, The Deepest Well, before I continue reading. Hopefully that will give me a better understanding of the world and help me avoid the sense of confusion I felt reading this one.

Favorite Quote:
“You’re the original light, Anya. Brighter than them all.”

I picked this book to read and review because not only was this the first book in a new series, but Juliette Cross is a new to me author. This series is labeled PNR, but there isn’t a shifter or vampire in sight. This series features angels and demons and their war with each other. The hero, (anti-hero really) is a demon who has been marked as a traitor to his kind. The heroine is an angel who is desperate to find a missing archangel in hopes that he will save her life. They are brought together by a mutual ally and their desire for each other is apparent from the moment they meet.

I found the world building of this series fascinating. Angels and demons set amid a post apocalyptic world full of sin and desire and war and death. Anya and Dom travel across the world looking for clues about Uriel’s whereabouts. The line between good and evil is blurred and even the demons running fight clubs and singing in hard rock bands can be allies, while hard nosed angels leading an army to defeat demons show their true colors in their disregard for human life.

Anya and Dom quickly form a bond and their relationship is suuuupa sexy. Super, super sexy. I love it when the bad, bad boy falls for the good girl. But while I did enjoy their love story quite a bit, I think my favorite part of this story was the atmosphere and world-building. It was so dark and gritty. I absolutely can not wait to find out what comes next. I have a feeling this will be one of those series that just gets better and better as the series evolves.

Darkest Heart quickly became one of my favorite reads of 2018!!

Time is running out for Anya. She was an angel bitten by a demon prince and his venom was slowly but surely working its way to her heart. Once it did, she'd be a slave to the demon and no longer in control of herself. She's desperate to find the archangel Uriel because as far as she knows he's the only one who can save her. However, Uriel has proven difficult to locate and she needs help to navigate among the mortal and immortal world to find him. Dommiel, archangel-turned-high demon, has been summoned by a blood bond to help Anya recover Uriel. Together, they must battle witches, furies, soul eaters, and other high demons to not only survive, but to right the wrongs and injustices these beings have plagued Earth with.

I would like to say that it was the world building and plot that really got my juices going, but while they were both spectacular, that wasn't what pushed this onto my favorite reads list. This tale was very much character-driven and these characters were more than worthy to tell a story about.

Anya was an angel warrior who's calling was the orphaned children of Earth. She worked alongside her fellow angels to drive warmongering demons back to where they came from. She didn't get personal and she didn't fraternize with anyone. She got along well with other angels but she knew nothing of personal pleasure or satisfaction. She also had a distorted view on other beings on a whole and grouped Dommiel under the 'unworthy' label. But everyone should know not to judge a book by its cover. Dommiel may have been an archangel cast out and made into a high demon, but at his core, after luxuriating in his new 'evildom', he was still one hell of an angel. He was kind and caring and honorable and his hard was HUGE!! This demon was truly worthy of redemption.

Tasting her might've been a mistake, because that lone demon who preferred to follow his own path could only see one now. The one that led to her. Always to her.

Something about this angel pulled at Dommiel and no matter how hard he tried to fight it, he could only last so long against the irresistible. I loved the way the author captured not only the chemistry but the inevitability of this couple. Their love transcended everything and virtually seeped from the pages. Adding in the heartache, betrayals, camaraderie, true friendships and alliances, along with the intense and amazingly detailed fight scenes, this was a story I'm so glad I didn't miss. Teaming fantasy with paranormal romance, Juliette Cross created a world full of must-read characters and I can't wait to see what's next!

********2.5 Stars********

I think this book had a lot of potential, but fail short in so many areas. My two many issues are:

1. The World building was lacking. I felt we were thrown into a world at war with no reason why. This lead me to not be able to connect to the characters or care about their actions. It felt like this was just a regular romance novel with some paranormal elements thrown in, but with no real purpose to the story line or the characters.

2. The insta-love just didn't work for me. I'll admit i'm not a fan of the insta-love trope, but I can usually overlook it, but not here. I think the lack of character development just didn't endure me to the two leads and didn't buy there instant love. I just felt it was all about sex and not about building a real relationship and I need something other then sex in a couple.

As I was unable to really connect to this world or characters I will not be reading the next book in the series.

The world is a devastated place. Angels and Demons are at war, and the humans are caught in the middle.

Dommiel was once the high demon who ruled New Orleans. Now he is a mercenary using his powers as he sees fit. An old friend has called in a favour. This could get very dangerous.

Anya is an angel and a warrior in her own right, but she has a secret that could destroy her. It could make her do unspeakable things. There is one archangel who can help her, but he is in trouble himself. She needs help to find him, but can she trust a demon.

A very exciting story set in a scary world. Fantastic characters that you can't help falling in love with. The action will pull you in from the very first page until the last.

Great fun.

Publisher's Description:

Anya—a stoic, blue-winged angelic warrior—was bitten by a demon prince in battle, and now she has precious little time to find a cure for his deadly venom. But the only archangel with the power to stop the dark poison from corrupting her body and soul is missing. She’ll have to trust her guide, the outcast high demon Dommiel, who is as handsome as he is dangerous if she has any hope.

An outcast of his own kind, high demon Dommiel stays under cover while the war between angels and demons rages on. When the only person who ever showed him kindness asks for his help, he has no choice but to try to save the angel. Venturing back into the dens he has avoided for so long, Anya makes him want and feel things he never thought possible.

But Dommiel knows there is no way an angel can ever love a demon…

Each book in the Dominion series is STANDALONE:
* The Deepest Well
* Darkest Heart

My Thoughts:

Juliette Cross has again began anew series with an interesting premise and unique storyline.

Angela and Demons no less. How will this story of protagonists end?
It is a uniquely drawn out read and a page turner to be certain. Even though it is not my normal read it held my interest and had me engrossed to the point of not being able to put it down.

I have read one series by this author prior to this book and actually enjoyed the books even though I am more of a historical romance fan.
I gave this book 4 of 5 sstars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.75 of 5.0 flames. This is a tale of conflict rather than passion.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book to read for review. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Ahh, What did I think? I think I need a cigarette and a demon! I loved this book! Author Juliette Cross has some mad writing skills. Darkest Heart had me from the start, I loved Dommiel and the way he says baby!!! Swoon!!! I love the quoting of Hamlet, Shakespeare and Coleridge. The music references were spot on. The story filled me with euphoria. I can't wait for book #2 of Dominion.

I give Darkest Heart 5 stars for its perfection.
I would recommend this book to Paranormal Romance Fans.

When you've read this story you probably need some time to recover. It is... wow. This is a spin-off of another series (which I hadn't read), but it is perfectly readable without the other books. We meet Dommiel, previous archangel, turned high demon, who is an outcast on both sides. On earth, a battle between good and evil is wiping out a lot of humans. Anya, angel and previously protector of orphaned children, is currently a warrior who fights demons. She was bitten by a dark prince, Simian, and his venom is slowly taking root in her body. When the venom reaches her heart, she will be controlled by the dark prince. In order to stop this process, she needs archangel Uriel to help her. However, he has gone missing. Genevieve calls in her blood bond with Dommiel, to have him help Anya find Uriel. A demon and an angel on a mission together...
However, Anya finds out that the world isn't totally black and white (good and evil) as she has always thought. Dommiel is the example of blurring the lines. He may look and talk like an almighty demon, but his actions show that there is so much more than meets the eye. Of course, he is still not teddy bear, but Anya isn't a little wallflower either. Together they find that Anya is the light to his dark and Dommiel is the personification of being alive and not only doing your job.
The story is packed with action, suspense, loyalty, humour, betrayal, drama and heartbreaking stories. To top it off, the growing love between Anya and Dommiel is wonderful. So, five out of five stars from me and I will look for the other series of Juliette Cross as well. Thank you Netgalley for providing the arc.

you guys, i haven't read any prior books in this series, but i feel like darkest heart might be the pinnacle. dommiel and anya are so freaking swoonworthy. he's a high demon who has turned on his kind. he helps humans and angels and roams the earth alone except for his familiar, a raven named puck. his lair is awash in literature, and he quotes shakespeare and coleridge.

when his blood vow is called upon by genevieve, he is paired with the angel, anya. anya is desperate to find the archangel uriel, because she believes only he can save her from the poisonous bite she received from simian, a devil prince.

there is a lot of mythology. i liked it, but more than anything i loved the love story between dommiel and anya. they are made for each other. his dark complements her light. his irreverence brightens her devotion. his love is perfect for hers.

they shouldn't work together as well as they do. their story should end in tragedy, and it very nearly does. but then they get the best happy ending. and it's so delightful. i am still swooning from it.

**darkest heart will publish on august 20, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.