Damn this book blew me away, it was unexpected in the very best way. It draws you right in and doesn't let go.
Cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series! I know this one will be living rent free in my mind for a while.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for ruining me like this lol

Kassidy Coursey wrote this well and left me wanting more, as this was a strong opening chapter to the Sins of the Maker series. it had that demon elements that I was hoping for and enjoyed from this type of book. It was a unique concept and worked with the world that was going on. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. I was engaged with the world and characters and how it was used in to tell the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh this was good!
Absolutely loved the concept, the sins being their own person, loved all the characters (except Envy, but maybe he’ll get his redemption arc.) it just felt refreshing and new when it comes to a fantasy read.
Highly highly recommend.

It showed so much emotion when it came to dealing with grief, it really captured how it can make you feel and do things.

Very excited to see where this goes.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

5, if not more stars from me! This was a captivating fantasy that makes deep connections between Saer and his siblings, who represent the 7 deadly sins. Each character, each sin, was developed so well and their personalities were easy to connect with and relate to. The journey of relationships and interactions Saer developed with humans, battling his own feelings of forbidden love vs. duty, and his progressive growth throughout the book had me a in a hold the entire time. And the world building? It was so done so well; I could envision myself there and in the moment. A real great story that left me in deep thought and fascination, I cannot wait to read the next one!

Honest review is a true 4 star.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy of Fallen's First.

This story is told through the third-person POV of Saer, our MMC. The author gives a list of trigger warnings and sets the spice at a 3 out of 5, but the actual spice level felt like a 1.5-2 out of 5. We are given a few on page scenes but the first time around has the most description to it and still stays fairly tame. This book does have dark themes and 100% could be potentially triggering to anyone who has dealt with narcissism, gaslighting, abuse disguised as love, and just toxicity in general.

I have not had any problems with trigger warnings before, as someone who has gone through some of that in real life. I almost had to stop this book. The levels of abuse that Lucifer dished out to his sins was very on-point to real life. I was really wanting to see the relationship grow between Pride and Lust, so I made myself push through the first 30% or so and was rewarded once all the sins were able to start interacting with humans. Seeing these characters pick up different aspects of humanity and what it means to feel was very enjoyable. The banter between Pride and Lust had me.

I held my breath through the turning point in this story and felt for poor Saer. I am interested to see how Book 2 will go and who will join Saer on his journey. How will things end for the fallen's First?

4.5/5

What a ride this was. I picked this book because the synopsis didn’t sound like anything I had read before, and I am so glad I did. While I’ve always loved fantasy and mythology, it had been a while since I last dove into a story rooted in the world of heaven and hell. As the title suggests, this book centers around Lucifer, the infamous fallen angel, and how he begins to build his army and shape Hell into the dark kingdom we know it as.

The story opens with the creation of Pride, Lucifer’s First and most cherished creation. The sins are introduced as his children, though there is a strange tension in the dynamic between father and master. There are seven sins, seven siblings, each crafted with their own purpose. They begin to shape Hell into something unforgiving and relentless, but are soon sent to the surface to find what their Maker requires to sustain his power.

Although the book is written in third person, we follow Saer — Pride — throughout the story. When Lust, the Second, is created, she makes immediate eye contact with Saer. They both instantly recognize a connection that goes beyond loyalty, which is complicated in a world where they are taught to love no one but their master.

The sibling hierarchy is rigid. As the First, Saer has power over all the others. The Second can control everyone except Saer, and so on. Each of them has a true name, which gives others complete control over them. Since Saer witnessed each sibling’s creation, he knows them all. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the true name trope, and this book reminded me just how powerful it can be when done right. The balance of power, the rules, and the subtle threats make the internal politics of Hell as intense as any battlefield.

While the premise is already fascinating, what really makes this book stand out are the characters. In the beginning, each of the daemonaeica is defined almost entirely by the sin they embody. But as time passes and they begin to observe humanity more closely, they begin to change. They grow, they question, they evolve. And as the author so eloquently puts it, Saer (the poor bastard) has seen it all.

The character development is intense and I definitely was not prepared for how attached I would get. This story blends so many themes effortlessly: romance, found family, coming of age, oppression, tragedy, plotting, torture, banter, and so much more. The plot is rich, but this is a character-driven story at its core.

This is the first book in a series. While I would not call the ending a cliffhanger exactly, it definitely leaves you hanging just enough to crave the next installment.

If you’re intrigued by the concept, I strongly recommend giving this a closer look!


Thank you to Kassidy Coursey, Shadow Spark Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

⚠️⚠️This isn't just a book, it's a glorified instruction manual on how to lose your mind one page at a time.
❤️❤️❤️❤️

Characters 🎭
The characters aren't just characters; they're emotional terrorists who will steal your sleep and make you question all of your life choices.
Plot 🤯
It's a rollercoaster ride with a seatbelt made of cobwebs and despair. Don't expect a smooth journey; this book is a glorified instruction manual on how to lose your mind one page at a time.
Experience 😭
Reading this book is like being lured into a dark alley with the promise of a light-hearted romance, only to realize it's a high-stakes, emotional torment. You'll finish it with your soul in a tattered, tear-stained heap.
Final Thoughts 😅
If you enjoy feeling every single human emotion at once and think crying in a fetal position is a good way to spend a Saturday night, this is the book for you. Your therapist will thank me later.

This book is a fascinating journey that covers love, loyalty, creation, abuse and so much more. I struggle to accurately describe how carefully and well written it is.
The book is deliberate and thick, kind of slow but not in its pacing, which is very good and keeps you reading.
The portrayal of the characters and careful thought of their characteristics, traits and quirks is so, so well done.

I thorough enjoyed this book, and I am looking forward to reading more from the author

No cause I literally bawled my eyes out.

Fallen's First follows the demon Saer (Pride, the First of the seven sins of Hell), from his creation by Lucifer, to his exploration of love, family and the mortal world. The problem is, after him, Neyu (Lust, the Second sin) was created - and they instantly fall in love against their Maker's will.

I have NEVER seen such beauty in toxicity and angst in my LIFE. Even just the opening when Saer is creates is so haunting in his utter devotion to Lucifer despite his reservations, and the yearning??? Both Saer and Neyu yearn so much and the angst was so DOWN BAD (compliment) I cried.

The depiction of the 7 sins too?? I love how each demon (each sin) was so well embodied and so subtle yet crafted. Like when Saer was being prideful it HURT because you really understand his pride and reluctance to let it go. Similar to Envy and the rest it's so relatable and devastating at the same time.

Found family AHHH (the 7 demons are actual family 😭🥹🫶) Like this book literally tore me in two. Although I have to admit, I found the first part more interesting because we learn about mortals along with Saer, however, the second part was much more family-focused which I LOVED but also dealt with more devastation for Saer for which I CANTTTT

I need the sequel immediately because that teaser broke me. Like I just want them to be happy is that too much to ask for????????

Another day, another ARC that I’m so thankful I have the chance to read.

Fallen’s First by Kassidy Coursey was a very unexpected, well-written refreshing read for me. It takes on a more original (or at least less mainstream path) compared to all the romantasy, fantasy that’s out there since the last two years or so. Why? Well, it’s narrated in third person, and the focus is in Saer, the main character… The main MALE character! How dare she?! Honestly, I didn’t realize how much I needed a different kind of writing until now. Because of that, the start was slow because I had to “adapt”, but after a few chapters it became unputdownable.

This is on a darker side of fantasy. Strong emotions, betrayals, revenge... Expect lots of emotional damage, and because it's a series not a happy ending (yet?). You’ve been warned. The plot moves fast-ish, and the characters too. You get to know the devil himself and his creations, the sins incarnated. Lucifer fills the villain role perfectly. I haven’t hated an antagonist that much in a long time. Oh, he’s that villainy villain that makes you doubt that maaaaybe he’s the good guy, but of course he’s not! HE IS THE DEVIL! We're so naive sometimes. On the other side, Saer… My proud boy, Saer… completely got me in ALL the feels. He yearns, he struggles, he tries, he grows… All his evolution through the book had me rooting so hard for him. Honorable mention to the twins, Greed and Glutton, because of their fun energy; they actually made me laugh. Am I expecting a book for them? Well, I’m not going to lie.

On the spice 🌶️ side of things, there’s a bit, enough to check the box, but I would not rate it as a spicy book. If you only care for smut, this is not the book. The whole romance is more a subplot in this story, and a very emotional one too.

In summary, a solid mix of dark, emotional, and surprisingly entertaining fantasy that I would totally recommend to add to your TBR.

Personally, I can't wait to see where my boy Saer goes, he deserves the best 🖤