Review: Desiring a Demon by Missy Jane (Archangels #2)

Desiring a Demon (Archangels #2)
Missy Jane
Published: April 28, 2015 (Entangled)
Purchase: Amazon
Review Source: Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for and honest review

Reviewed by: Amy

Rating (out of 5): 3 stars

Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it may reference events from the first book in the series.

Raphael and his brother angels have been protecting humans and fighting against evil and demons for centuries. So he acknowledges the irony of having a half-demon living in his house with him. Astaroth Sinclair lived life as a normal human until she hit puberty and her demon side started coming to the surface. Ever since then life has been difficult for her. She can barely hold onto a job once co-workers start fighting with her; it’s her inherent demon side making itself known. So when extremely easy-on-the-eyes Raphael offers to let her stay with him, she can’t turn down the offer of safety and security he represents (plus did I mention easy on the eyes?).

Raphael can’t help being attracted to Asta. He’s conflicted for obvious reasons. As Asta’s demon side makes its presence known more and more regularly he’ll have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

First off, let me start with the elephant (or should I say demon?) in the room: Astaroth?! Really? Her name alone makes me sympathetic for her right off the bat. Even more so after doing a little Wikipedia search and finding out that Astaroth was male and a Crowned Prince of Hell. Yes, the article goes on to state that he is named after a goddess, and I understand that it is within an author’s creative right to name their characters whatever they wish, and sometimes even play with gender, but I feel like maybe there was a kinder version that could have been used here. Even shortening the name to Asta does little to make everything better.

So moving on from Astaroth’s name, Desiring a Demon for me was a pretty middle of the road read. It didn’t really surprise me and didn’t wow me with any twists. It’s a basic story of good vs. evil and which side you choose to be on when everything is said and done.

I think the thing I liked the most about the story was Asta’s struggle with her demon side. It’s been happening for most of her life, but when the story starts we see that she’s starting to go through another phase that challenges her humanity. Will she eventually give in to the dark side? It’s a question she asks herself, it’s a question that Raphael and his brothers are wondering as well. I kept reading to find out what would happen next with her new developing powers.

There was a lot of potential for this aspect of the story to be what brought it up in my eyes, but things just kind of petered out. The tension Asta’s presence causes between the brothers is very apparent, but nothing really happens to showcase more of their familial relationship, which is something I would have loved to read about. Also, there wasn’t really a big moment where Asta had to make that final decision between good and evil. She always knew who she was at heart so there wasn’t a question of which side she would choose, just a struggle.

I think Desiring a Demon would be a perfect book to read if you’re in between books or in a book funk and don’t know what to pick up next.

Sexual content: graphic sex