These demons really know the key to my heart. I am absolutely loving the Hell Bent series! The banter and camaraderie are top tier and I think Iris and Meth might be my new favorite couple. From the tumultuous way that their relationship began, to the internal battles that they faced to understand that they were worthy and deserving of love in every capacity, their relationship just really hit home in a special way. I think their story had such a great message for anyone who struggles with understanding their worth and was told in such a way that the message could apply to an untold number of situations. It also didn't hurt that the spice might as well have been an inferno. This has definitely become a comfort series for me and I am buying the books as they release so that I can read them again and again. I am very excited to see which couple is up next!
The narrator did an amazing job with bringing the characters to life and I really appreciated her performance, especially with the inflections. The only complaint that I had was that her portrayal of Iris did not include her Irish accent and I did have a bit of trouble reconciling Iris's character because of it. There were some lines that specifically stated that her Irish brogue was coming through much stronger than normal when she was upset, but the narrator voiced everything with an American accent.

Ugh I love this series so much!!!! This book sucked me right in!! So far this is my favorite of the series! It's spicy, it's dark, it's fun! It's everything I want in a book. 10/10 recommend to anybody!!

This was the best one yet! I loved Meph and Iris so much and they made such a great pair. There was charm, spice, humor, and obstacles for the characters to overcome. The story was fun and engaging!!

ALC Review:

This narrator did such an amazing job with this book. The voice range is outstanding. This story was amazingly highlighted by the narrator and they truly did justice to this book

this is a series one can slip into comfortably. even though i hadnt read the previous two books, the fantasy world was easily understandable, helped in part by its real-world setting and focus on the romantic couple. i liked that there were established couples that added additional context and helped make the world feel fleshed out. i liked that the book also gave us sprinkles of character development for other characters outside the main couple as well, and jackie and meph’s friendship was a special treat.

as for the main couple of this book, i thought they were fun. the smutty scenes had elements of fun and humour, which made them less intense and more interesting by supporting character development. i’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope in any form but its cousin, the “commitment-phobe realises they’re in love and spirals because of it” trope, will never not be funny me. and, overall, the communication is pretty good - the two characters have their secrets from one another but everyone is entitled to those and, honestly, they were the only intriguing part of the plot. and those who love the “big bad monster turns into a teddy bear around their love interest” will love this book.

i did read the audiobook and the narrator was very good, though some of the british/irish slang (bloke, arse, etc) sounded odd and disjointed in the north american accent. but overall, this was a fun read and a good palate cleanser between all the horror books ive been reading. thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advance listener copy of this book.

Yes yes yes!!! I’m absolutely in love with this series and demon with benefits did not disappoint. I loved that this had a different vibe than the first 2 books with them having a bit of angry tension before their relationship absolutely exploded. I also love seeing our favorite prior couple make cameos and make my heart happy. Absolutely obsessed and will never stop loving this series! Also the narrator is incredible at bringing this world and the characters to life! Love!!!

These books are my guilty pleasure 🙈 I truly enjoyed this one though and it’s by far my favorite of the series to this point! The others were super outlandish at times and while this one followed that theme, I appreciated the extra depth that was added to it.

Chef's kiss. Iris and Meph are adorable, and finally diving into mephs trama was so intriguing. When I got the approval for this audiobook I thought they were interconnected standalones but I still read the first two beforehand. And I really think reading the in order is important. I loved so many of interconnected personal plot lines glad Jackie came back(best mom). I officially love this series ever book is so addictive.

I wanted to love this book because it sounded so fun but I really struggled and dnf'd at almost 60%. I had not read the first two but since this is an interconnected stand alone, it was okay. The author put enough details about the previous books that I felt I had no trouble understanding what was going on. I also listened to this book as an ARC from Netgalley and the narrator wasn't my favorite. But I think it was more the writing style than anything that was the issue. And the storyline just didn't grab me. It was a lot of graphic sex and not a lot of plot. I prefer my spice to have some kind of story with it. But any plot came from side characters, not the main ones, so I gave up on the book.

I enjoy this series quite a bit. 😁 Definitely read them in order. These aren't stand alones.
I have been enjoying learning more about the worlds of hell and heaven and earth. Quite a bit of lore and world building!!

This book includes:
Hellhound puppy
Badass witch
Tattoos and piercings 😏
Revenge
Blunt / always joking MMC
Friends w/ benefits turned "fuck, I caught feelings"

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Iris is still haunted by the past -- with demons having killed her parents, it's no wonder she doesn't like them. But her sister is dating one, and so Iris is willing to put up with them (this group specifically, not all demons. Let's not get it twisted). And there's something about Meph that she seems to be drawn towards. Meph is the jokester out of all off his brothers, using humor to hide his feelings, but he can't seem to keep those feelings at bay whenever Iris is around -- she might be coarse and a little vicious, but it calls to that inner darkness that he keeps locked away. But when an enemy of their past resurfaces, the two of them will have to face their own inner demons and embrace the darkness together... and for one of them, that darkness is a lot more terrible than not. Will she be able to help him tame the monster? Or will she allow fear to stand in the way?

From enemies to friends with benefits, the two of them were like two damaged peas in a messed up pod. I loved the way their casual relationship quickly shifts into something more as they continue to see each other. I mean, they were barely even friends... okay that hit it right on the nose, didn't it? This book had some serious Beauty and the Beast vibes, especially when we get to see that demon Meph has been hiding beneath his skin and I was living for it. I can honestly say I would take this book and divide it in half because the plot drastically shifts once the villain of this book makes an appearance. But I will admit, I loved both halves of it. Their casual relationship and the way they are with one another felt like there was always something more between them, and then the way the two of them gravitate towards each other was sweet. The spice was hot hot hot, and I couldn't get enough of these two. And then they bring in little Faust and I was in love with that adorable pup. (I want a baby hellhound!) I have been loving this series from the first book, and I honestly can't wait for the next installment. The writing is fantastic, the characters are great, the spice is spicy, and the audiobooks have all been well produced and voiced. I would definitely recommend this series for anyone who wants that HEA with some great spice, a dash of action, and a whole lot of demon.

Demon with Benefits is a chaotic, sizzling joyride through lust, baggage, and unexpectedly tender moments—all with a demonic twist. This third installment in the Hell Bent series absolutely stands on its own, though there’s clearly a rich, messy backstory that longtime readers will appreciate more deeply. Still, even without the context of the previous books, Meph and Iris completely stole the show.

Iris is the kind of heroine you root for instantly: guarded, fierce, and unwilling to be dragged into emotional territory. Meph, meanwhile, is equal parts charm and emotional armor, cracking jokes to avoid showing just how deeply he feels. Their “friends with benefits” arrangement starts with snark and spice, but watching them unravel around each other emotionally was the real hook. Beneath all the heat, this book has heart—and quite a lot of it.

The chemistry was off the charts. But what made it sing was the slow erosion of their emotional walls, how intimacy started to creep in through the cracks. Meph’s surprising vulnerability and Iris’s slow, cautious softening made the shift from lust to love feel genuine, not rushed.

The supporting characters are delightfully unhinged—quirky, morally ambiguous, and brimming with chaotic energy. I’d happily read spin-offs about any of them.

The writing is sharp, laced with humor and longing. The banter flows easily, the pacing never falters, and the steamy scenes are well-placed and meaningful, not just there for shock value. It’s a book that knows how to have fun without skimping on character depth.

For readers who like:
-Found family with fangs and claws
-Morally grey love interests
-Enemies-to-lovers

Final Verdict
Demon with Benefits is exactly what you’d hope for in a paranormal romance: sexy, smart, slightly unhinged, and full of heart. Come for the demons and steam, stay for the reluctant emotional vulnerability and that adorable hellhound. If this is book three, I’m absolutely going back for the rest of the ride.

Grateful to NetGalley, RBmedia and Aurora Ascher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite one of the series so far!

First off, I really liked the narrator! She did an excellent job with her snippets of an Irish accent. I enjoy her voice and would definitely recommend this audiobook to friends!

I was excited to see how Iris got over her hatred of Demons in this book. It did not disappoint! Meph and Iris were pining so hard! When Meph point blank told her his feelings, I melted for him!!

There was a lot of character development and growth in this book between the two! Having them come together in the end to defeat *redacted* was so well done! I am truly enjoying this fun monster series and look forward to the next book!

I loved this audiobook! The narrator did a fantastic job acting out each character. She really made it easy to distinguish between all the brothers and coven members, and her acting of emotions was spot on!

The story itself was fun. I liked the friends with benefits aspect and Meph’s hidden passion for art/relationship with Jackie. Every bit of this book led into huge character arcs, and the spicy scenes were also written very well!

Thank you to RBMedia for an early copy!

Aurora Ascher does it again. This series just keeps on getting better and better and while it wraps up the story of this book nicely, knowing who and what the next book is about you can see the threads that can be pulled in the later stories. I love how each of these books so far has touched on a different art form and that the main character is invested into. The first art is music, the second it is mentioned that Lily is into making clothing, and in this book our MMC is into 3D art and sculpting. I feel like this give the characters even more depth and something that the audience can connect to. When it comes to the book itself while I still an not 100% on board with how the book is narrated and the POV switches, I am getting more used to it with each book and I like the fact that we get to see inside everyone's heads and not just the one character. The journey these characters go though is amazing and the author really does a good job at showing the growth of the characters. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

This was by far my favorite of the series so far!! I’m not sure how this author got me to go from hardly liking the first book to being feral for more!! I absolutely love this narrator. She does a truly amazing job of voicing all of these characters her narration skills really bring this to life.!! This was my favorite couple. I absolutely adore this MMC he is hilarious and extremely hot. The spice in this one was top notch. I honestly can’t wait to see where the rest of these go. Thank you to NetGalley for my audio arc this is my honest review.

It’s FRIDAY! Another day, Another Review

Demon with Benefits (re-release dropped July 29th)
By @aurora.ascher.author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn’t realize this was #3 in a series when requesting the audio on NetGalley. It may be part of a series, but it’s definitely capable of being a stand-alone and now I have to go back and read/listen to the others because this one rocked my world with the rom-com spice.
I couldn’t love Iris & Meph more. The cutest HEA and “I love you”s are in this book. Kirsten has taken up residence as my 2nd favorite Narrator. Loved her enthusiasm and voices for the characters. I cackled more times than I can count.
There’s found family, golden retriever and grumpy sunshine vibes galore here. The banter = top notch.

Thank you @netgalley for this ALC. Thank you @aurora.ascher.author for the cozy HEA after a few minor freak out vibes from me in your DMs.
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#alc #arc #arcreview #books #bookish #bookreview #netgalley #demonwithbenefits #booksbooksbooks #booksta

I had so much fun listening to this book!
I’ve really enjoyed the whole series—even though I didn’t read them in order. You totally can read them as standalones, but if you’re someone who likes things in order, it definitely helps with understanding some of the backstory.

I was all in for the enemies-to-lovers vibes between Meph and Iris. Two emotionally constipated people, both dragging around their own pain and trauma, absolutely not looking for a relationship… and yet, BAM—tension, chemistry, and all the hotness you could ask for.

One of my favorite things across all three books is how the supporting characters really shine. They’re quirky, fun, and their interactions just add so much flavor to the story. They make the main characters feel more real and relatable, and I love how Aurora weaves that all together. Honestly, this series deserves way more hype—it’s guaranteed to lift your mood.

Also, shoutout to the narrator! Kirsten Leigh nailed it. Her performance brought the story to life and made it even more fun to listen to.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

ARC provided by Netgalley. Courtesy of RBmedia | Recorded Books

Blood witch Iris Donovan has known loss at the hand of a demon, but when her twin sister Lily falls in love with a demon, Iris must accept him and his demon friends in order to have a relationship with her sister, even if it means lying to her witch friends. The more time she spends with them, the more she realizes that she might have been wrong to judge them so harshly – well most of them. The demon Meth, who in his human form is a pierced and tattooed bad boy and doesn’t seem to take anything seriously. And to her complete mortification – Iris is turned on by him. But she reminds herself that she has sworn off bad boys, too bad she doesn’t listen to herself. Things get hot and heavy between the, but when feelings get in the way and a mutual enemy threatens them – Iris will have to find her own power to save the demon she has come to love.

For hundreds of years Meth was basically a slave to demon master, but when he was finally freed by his brothers, he made sure that he could never be used that way again. He has deep scars that he hides behind his carefree, party boy attitude, but the pain is there and of late has made physical contact virtually impossible, so he secretly uses his art as a way to escape the pain – until he meets Iris. What starts as a no strings attached booty call, turns into something deeper, something that Iris isn’t ready to accept. But when they part and Meth is taken by their mutual enemy – will she figure out what happened in time, or will he be lost again?

OMG - I LOVED THIS BOOK! The narrator was wonderful, and her voices and cadence were spot on! As to the story, I absolutely adored Iris and Meth as a couple – she is snarky, and he is a smart-mouth and together they set the pages on fire! This book has enemies to lovers, old friends, a hellhound puppy, scorching hot love scenes, secrets, a common enemy, surprises and finally a heartwarming HEA. If you like the enemies to lovers trope with a healthy helping of smoking hot love scenes – this is the book for you! This is the third book in the series, and this book picks up shortly after the end of the previous book, and I think it could be read as a standalone title with no problems – but, if you have time, I highly recommend reading all the books in the series – you won’t regret it.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

This book? Pure chaos—and I say that lovingly. Demon with Benefits is like getting tossed into a spicy paranormal romcom where your situationship just happens to be a demon with daddy issues and questionable morals (but like, in a hot way??).

Our heroine? Obsessed. She’s confident, sassy, and not afraid to throw hands (verbally and magically). The demon love interest? So morally gray he’s practically a charcoal sketch. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the banter?? It gave enemies-to-situationship-to-maybe lovers energy, and I ate it up.

The world-building is lowkey wild—in a fun, “wait did that just happen?” kind of way. There’s action, tension, and some truly unhinged side characters that deserve their own spin-offs. Some pacing dips here and there, and a few moments leaned a bit heavy into the drama for drama’s sake—but overall, it gave exactly what I signed up for: chaotic, spicy, supernatural fun with main character vibes all around.

The audiobook narration kept it fresh and full of personality. Seriously, the delivery made some scenes hit harder (or funnier) than they probably read on the page. Loved it.

✨ ARC Review – Thank you to the publisher, author Aurora Ascher, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy! ✨