This is the 3rd book in the Hellbent series that I've read and I was not disappointed. Aurora Ascher has such a unique and wonderful writing style and it has made reading each of her books a blast! The plot and characters were amazing. I'm so glad that we finally got Meph's book. I love his and Iris relationship. So far, this is my favorite book in the series!

✨𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆✨

They can run from their demons . . .

The jokester of the demon brothers, Meph wears his grin like armor and uses humor as a mask.

But they can’t hide forever . . .

Bitter and haunted by her traumatic past, Iris Donovan isn’t keen on welcoming demons into her life—even if they’re her sister’s friends.

To conquer this monster . . . they must tame it together.

With the return of a deadly enemy, the pain they’ve been suppressing is exposed, and Meph and Iris can no longer deny their feelings. Before Meph is swallowed by his darkness, Iris must overcome her fears and embrace that terrible part of him . . .

Or lose him forever.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Demon with Benefits is the third installment in the Hell Bent series by Aurora Ascher. I’ve been wanting to dive into this series for quite some time, and finally, I’ve done it with this book. I appreciated that I didn’t need to read the first two books to understand the plot, which is a huge plus. The chemistry between Meph and Iris was incredible, and I relished every moment of their interactions, especially their witty banter. The supernatural and paranormal elements of this story captivated me, reminding me of how much I enjoy immersing myself in such tales. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is so unhinged and off the wall, but I loved it. Spicy level is relatively high. Meph, our MMC, is what you’d hope for in a demon: he protects her, he defends her, and he makes her beg. It’s a tattooed MMC crossed with a FMC full of attitude. Say less 🤷🏼‍♀️

The tone is lighthearted and steamy 🥵

Check it out if you’re interested in:
😈 demon x witch
😈 FWB
😈 enemies to lovers
😈 beauty and the beast vibes
😈 dark romcom
😈 paranormal / monster

🍕 “The man looked sexy eating cold pizza, for god’s sake.”
✨ “But now that you’ve used me to get out of whatever awkward situation you’re in, you owe me. And a demon always collects his debts.”
🙏🏻 “I’m going to make you pay for all that ‘say please’ crap.”

I havent read any others in the series, but this reads fine as a stand alone book! I loved it. It was funny and steamy and everything you want for a romance book with demons. Meph was by far my favorite character. I'd definitely recommend this one for sure!!

This is the 3rd book in the Hell Bent series. I read the 1st book and now the 3rd but have to go back and read the 2nd book. I'm reading them out of order and that's ok. It read well as a standalone book.

In this series mephistopheles/Meph, Belial, Mist, Ash/Asmodeus, and Raum consider themselves brothers and help each other escape hell. They are all demons but want to be good and not evil anymore. So they escaped Hell and came to Earth to live regular lives but some of them have some really big issues because of the horrible lives they've led.

Meph's demon was tortured and enslaved by Valefor for hundreds of years. He did horrible things for the demon Valefor while he was in Hell, which is why he had a sigil tattooed on his skin to keep him from shifting into his demon half again. Meph's demon is like a separate entity because he split the two personalities in his mind so he wouldn't have to remember all the horrible things it did while it was in charge.

Iris is a human who's twin sister Lily is the mate to one of the demons, Mist who escaped hell with the other demons. She has been antagonistic to Meph mostly because she finds him so attractive and that bothers her. When she tells Meph to leave her alone and stop flirting with her, he does just that but then she realizes that she misses the banter they had. So she apologizes only to find Meph right up in her space letting her know that if she doesn't back off, he's going to act on the lust he feels for her. Although he didn't put it in such pretty words. *Snicker*

Once these two finally give in to their lust for one another, they think they can keep things casual but feelings start to develop on Meph's part. For two people who have a hard time with feelings and emotional baggage, this brings a problem in between them for a time. But when Iris finds herself in danger, it's Meph and his demon half that she finds a safe place with surprisingly.

Who knew that demons could be so sweet and romantic as well as deadly and primal at the same time. Whoa, when Meph's demon is released, he's scary even to higher level demons. This series is so good and has me drooling over demons! I need more demons in my life and I never thought I would say those words. Ha!

Disclosure: I was given an E-ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a really fun story. I love the setup- bad boy demon butts heads with sassy witch until they realize they should just... The bad boy with a heart of gold is a character I fall for EVERY time and Meph is no different. His squishy, artsy, interior makes me just so happy and when he finally starts sharing that I just want to SQUEAL!!! And when his TRUE inner demon makes itself known... well I just fell harder.

Iris has her hang-ups. Watching her growth was very satisfying. But I also really liked that through her growth she does not entirely change from the snarky sass she is from the beginning, but layers are added and healing is felt.

The banter between these two was really fun. Meph is such a great character and he really brings Iris’ character to life and complements her well.

The conflict with the big bad was GREAT! I found it to be very exciting reading!

I found the beginning of the book to be a bit slower pace but it picked up for me about 40% of the way in. Not a bad thing, but a touch slower than I would prefer. I was surprised a bit by some of the additional POVs in the book (felt a touch random) but understood their importance in moving the story.

I’m really enjoying this series and looking forward to the next book!

I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. My opinions are my own. Thank you!

4⭐️ 3🌶️

This is officially my favorite book in the series!

Aurora has done something that not many authors are able to do, which is make me like a character I previously disliked. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Iris’ book after she continuously rubbed me the wrong way in the previous book. But I was pleasantly surprised!

I loved the growth Iris experienced. She will always be a prickly baddie. But I love that she realized her prejudice against the demons and was able to be more open minded. Although I don’t know how she resisted Meph for as long as she did.

I absolutely loved that Meph the giant, tattoo covered, red eyed demon was so unserious most of the time. Except for when it came to Iris, his brothers, and his art. He had me cracking up throughout the book. But my heart also broke for his hidden insecurities.

Iris and Meph had so much in common and handed their trauma in completely different ways. But it also made them perfect for each other. Between the two of them there is nothing they can’t accomplish. Their chemistry and spice was incredible! I feel like Aurora really kicked it up a notch with the spice in this one.

Thank you to Aurora and Kensington for this ARC.

I picked this book up first, even knowing It was the third book in a series. I really love this book. I’m gonna go back and read the rest even though it is part of a series, I feel like you can pick this up, get the back stories of the side characters and still be able to really enjoy Meph and Iris.

Getting to know these two characters and watching them grow into their love story was really sweet. A demon and a witch sound like a very unlikely couple however, Iris really comes to understand him, after being taught to not interact with demons, and love both sides of him. I really love the symbolic message within the story.

"You make me a better person. I've never laughed so much in my life as when I'm with you. You might think you're some dark, demented beast, but to me, you're a ray of goddamn sunshine."

I was lucky enough to not only read but also listen to the audiobook. The narrator, Kirsten Leigh, did a fantastic job portraying the characters.

The relationship between Meph and Iris is full of tension, banter, and chemistry, which made for a fun, steamy read. Iris hated to love Meph.

They have both been through so much trauma. It's truly a story of healing with a fresh start for both of them!

I loved the fact that Meph wanted a motherly figure and therefore spent so much time with Jacqui. Their relationship was full of mutual caring and shared interest in art. I also appreciated that Meph has no control when it comes to speaking his mind.

My favorite part will forever be the relationship the brothers share. They care so deeply about each other but struggle to show their emotions properly.

Review of Demon with Benefits (Hell Bent #3)

I absolutely loved this book! Meph and Iris were such a fun pair. Meph makes the perfect book boyfriend with his charm, heat, and that irresistible morally grey vibe. The chemistry between them was steamy in all the right ways, but the story also had surprising emotional depth, plenty of humor, and fast-paced storytelling that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The dialogue was sharp, the spice hit just right, and the pacing never lagged. I adored the chaotic cast of side characters (give me more of them, please), but honestly? The real star of the show was the adorable hellhound puppy. I was obsessed.

This is the third book in the Hell Bent series of interconnected standalones, and while this was my first one, it definitely won’t be my last. Sexy demons, witches, humor, spice, what’s not to love?

Huge thanks to Hambright PR for the gifted ARC. I highly recommend this one to fans of fun, fast-paced paranormal romance!

firstly would like to thank netgalley and the author for letting me have an early arc of this book.

I didnt know what I was gonna get with this third book but by god it took me on a journey ill say that.

the emotional rollercoaster you go on during the book does hurt your heart but by the end your heart is mended and happy.

Iris and Meph are perfect for eachothter and i truly did love this book and what we went on with them in this journey.

Thank you to Kensington Books, Hambright PR, and Netgalley for the eARC!

3.5 stars!

First off, I had so much fun reading this one! It hooked me in from the start! I loved the pacing of this book, I was always entertained!

I also loved Iris & Meph's banter and I thought the chemistry between them was amazing. I loved Meph's sense of humor. I really enjoyed watching their relationship progress further than a 'no strings attached' relationship. I really feel like they are the perfect pair & completed each other. & the spice was spicy!!!

Definitely recommend if you're looking for a spicy paranormal romance with lots of amazing banter & humor!

Demon with Benefits was unhinged, supernatural romance perfection and I was here for every chaotic, steamy, wildly entertaining second of it.

From the moment Meph and Iris met, the tension between them was electric. Not a slow burn… this was pure, heated, all-consuming crave-you-in-every-way kind of chemistry. The banter, the pull, the undeniable obsession? Here for it all!

But what really made this story stand out to me was the emotional depth beneath all the spice and supernatural chaos. There’s a moment… without giving too much away, where trust becomes everything. And the way that trust is earned, not forced, was powerful. You feel the shift. It’s that rare kind of vulnerability that leads to something real: the beginning of self-acceptance, mutual respect, and realizing maybe just maybe they’re both worthy of the love they never thought they could have.

This book delivered on everything: high heat, emotional grit, supernatural drama, and a romance that felt both wildly intense and deeply satisfying. If you’re into obsessive demon vibes, fierce heroines, and a romance that burns as hot as hell… then this book needs to be on your radar.

I’m already itching for more from this world!

Thank you to both hambright pr and Aurora Ascher for the arc!

This book was pretty good overall. I would like to preface when requesting this arc I was unaware that it was book 3 in the series and I read it as if it were a standalone. I would say I was able to get the general gist of the story pretty fast however some of the larger plot points I missed due to not reading the first 2 books. The story was really engaging and definitely has potential for extending the series. It is definitely a unique take for a urban fantasy book and I would 100% recommend this book for fans of crescent city.

4 ⭐
3.5 🌶

Summary
Blood-born witch Iris Donovan has good reason to not like demons: her parents were murdered by one. So as her sister’s circle of friends has now expanded to include her demon boyfriend and a group of brothers who broke out of Hell, Iris is even more bitter than her normal acidic self. Meph is the jokester brother of the group, and he uses the sunshiny side of his personality to hide the darkest, most violent and degraded parts of himself. The demon gets on Iris’ last nerve, and she isn’t interested in drilling down on why that is, exactly. She’d rather keep the lot of them at arm’s length, especially Meph.

That would be great, if only the witch and the demon weren’t also irritatingly attracted to each other and if only their chemistry weren’t obvious from space (roughly). Since they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other, they eventually agree to be friends with benefits. Just as that arrangement might be on the verge of something more, they both run headlong into the one demon responsible for each of their most painful memories. Their bond is newly formed and still evolving, so will it be strong enough for them to fight back this evil for good?

My thoughts
Because the book drops you right into the lives of this group from the first page, I was concerned initially that maybe I should have read the first two books in the Hell Bent series before tackling this one. Fortunately, I felt like I got my legs under me enough to sit back and enjoy the ride by the 15%-20% mark: about the time that the relationship between the MMC and FMC got beyond just insulting each other every time they were in the same room.

While the FWB situation was entertaining on the page—humor, spice, snark—it wasn’t until they had to face the Big Bad, and the way Iris was the impetus, that I felt like I could see Iris and Meph as a couple outside the bedroom, like they had a vibe between them that wasn’t just physical. I felt like I was finally getting a glimpse behind the curtain as to what made these two tick and why they could have a feasible, lasting connection. (Here, again, is where I thought maybe I was missing some background from the first two books.) From that point on, I was fully invested and rooting for a witch-demon HEA.

Bottom line
I really enjoyed the writing! The MC’s voices were distinct, and the storyline was easy to follow. I never felt lost, even the times I wondered if I was missing background from the earlier books. If you’re new to the series, like me, but think the premise sounds intriguing, I’d go ahead and give it a shot.

— A

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Aurora Ascher for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, and Goodreads

Ooooooh boy I loved this book. Let’s be real, I love this whole series. It’s dynamic and all of the relationships are woven through the main plot so well. The writing isn’t always perfect but it never takes away from the storyline.

Meph had my attention from the very beginning. I know masking with comedy intimately and I knew there had to be more to his story. Same with Iris. She’s prickly and rude but it’s clear it’s out of self-preservation. Dig a little deeper and both of them have depth beyond what you see on the surface.

Tropes include: <i>Grumpy/Sunshine, Black Cat/Golden Retriever, Paranormal Romance, Enemies to Lovers</i>

This was a book that stayed with me even when I wasn’t physically reading it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it or talking about it. The plot throughout the series had me in a chokehold. This book in particular had me laughing and fanning myself when things got spicy. So SO good.

The Basics:
Demon 😈 // Witch ✨
1st Person Dual POV
Standalone, but #3 in the “Hell Bent” series
HEA 🖤 + epilogue
CW: violence
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for the ARC 🤍

Demon with Benefits might just be my favorite in the series now. Meph and Iris are SO HOT together and I loved every second of them. Not only because of their insane chemistry, but because of how hard won their relationship was. They very much had some stuff to work through and getting there with them was so heartfelt and emotional.
I’ve loved Meph from book one, so finally getting to see his soft, slightly damaged side underneath his sarcastic, tough guy armor made me appreciate all his chaos even more.
Learning more about Iris and her spark made her character make so much more sense and her growth was so remarkable.
Each installment in this series is always so much fun to read, but also full of tender, real moments, especially between these demon brothers I’ve come to love so much.
Thank you so much to Aurora and Kensington for sending me an early copy of this one, and for allowing me a place on her team!
Publication date 7/29/25

TBH I was really nervous about this book because I didn't like Iris at all! I obviously should have had more faith in Aurora Ascher, because she's making me eat my words.

The first half of this book was focused on Iris and Meph's internal struggles. They both need to work through their inner demons (ha, see what I did there?) so their parallel growth is nice. It doesn't hurt that heir physical relationship is pretty explosive - I'd say this book has more smut in it than both of the previous ones combined. The second half of the book focuses on them as a couple, and is the climax - the fight with the boss/villain. Without giving anything away, it's quite satisfying and ties up multiple loose threads.

I really enjoy the way the author incorporates all the characters we already know and love (Jacqui and Dan, Eva and Ash, Lily and Mist, Raum, Bel), while slowly introducing new characters. I also like that each book tackles one couple with their own issues while also addressing the overall problem of the series (the demons being runaways from hell).

Another great book in the series - can't wait for more!

Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

1 star because I dnf’d it. I just couldn’t get into it. The premise was what made me want to read but it just fell flat for me.

This book is everything I crave-sharp banter, grief-hiding demons, and steam that hits hard. Iris is done with demons after a messy past, and Meph… well, he’s the jokester demon with tattoos, sarcasm, and scars deeper than his smile. When they’re forced into each other’s orbit, the tension? Off the charts. “We’re not falling for each other, right?” Yeah. Spoiler: they totally do.

It’s enemies-to-lovers taken up all the way, with bonus found-family feels from the demon crew. Spicy, emotional, funny, and chaotic in the best possible way.