Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Demon's Bargain

I adored Lenora as a lead and she was the perfect balance for Ramanu. They made an adorable couple and I loved Ramanu's devotion to helping Lenora recover her family's amulet.

A fun and yet comedically dark romp of a story where my only complaint was wishing it could have been longer. I could have spent twice as much time with these characters. However, it was a nice concise story with no time wasted and still felt fully completed.

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kbairbooks's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Easy five stars. I love Katee Robert, I love this series (who am I kidding I love all of her books), I love monster romance. This was everything I love in one tiny book. It was fun, funny, sexy, romantic… just so freaking good. I loved it AND I read it in the perfect time because the next book in this series comes out next week! Wooo!

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olivialandryxo's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’ve completed my holy trinity of Katee Robert ships—Persephone/Hades, Tink/Hook, and now Lenora/Ramanu. WHEN I SAY I ADORE THEM!!!

Seriously though, this book is a DELIGHT. From their very first interaction, Lenora and Ramanu are such an entertaining (and spicy 👀) duo, and the more I read, the more feral I became. I love everything about them, as characters and as a couple. Their dynamic is basically “you’re a menace”/“I’m your menace,” which is 1000% the best ship dynamic and thus makes them completely, undeniably iconic. I don’t make the rules. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Some of my favorite (early, spoiler-free) moments:
1. “‘If you fuck with me, I will kill you.’
‘You’ll try. It will be fun.’”
2. “‘If you touch me again, I’m going to take it as an invitation.’
‘I just attacked you.’
‘Baby, that’s practically foreplay.’”
3. “‘I’m not going to fuck you.’
‘Keep telling yourself that.’”
I’m cackling just thinking about these!! And yes, they are like this for the entire book. ;))

My one (1) qualm with this book is that I would’ve liked to see more between the last chapter and the epilogue. I understand why the time jump is there and I absolutely love the epilogue as it is, but like… I just want more of my ship. I can’t help it.

Current ranking of the Deal With a Demon series:

The Demon’s Bargain (calling it now - this will stay in the #1 spot)
The Kraken’s Sacrifice
The Dragon’s Bride

Current ranking of the Peculiar Tastes series:

The Demon’s Bargain (calling it now - this will also stay in this #1 spot)
The Death God’s Sacrifice (but the gap between the two books is. a lot.)

Representation:

two bi/pansexual protagonists (unlabeled, but both attracted to multiple genders)
nonbinary protagonist that uses they/them (their gender isn’t specifically labeled; I’m using “nonbinary” as an umbrella term)
nonbinary side character of color that uses they/them
sapphic side characters + couples (only one is on-page; both minor)

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awildnauer's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

3.5

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wilybooklover's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

3.5

A little bit rushed and insta-lovey, but this was a cute little monster romance addition from Katee Robert! Loved the emphasis on consent. For once we get a pegging scene shown on page and not just mentioned in conversation!

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hannibanani29's review

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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finnickdeservedbetter's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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tostita's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

This may sound like an odd criticism, but I felt like there was too much explanation of what the characters were thinking at every. single. moment. I think I would have preferred to infer the characters’ feelings from their words and deeds on occasion rather than listening to constant internal monologues. It also felt like the main characters spent a lot of time waiting around for other stuff to happen (which they filled with sex) when I really wanted the main plot to move along faster. Still, it was action-packed and inventive and definitely worth reading.

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