Kara Macris

Principality-in-training Thomas is quickly torn between his lineage fighting demons and the reality that not everything is black and white. Add into this teenage angst and first love and the book is fraught on many levels.
There were points at which I was afraid it would descend into heavy-handed metaphor and I was surprised by how well it addressed grey areas in life, religion, and mental illness. I also very much appreciated that the main character being gay was treated the exact same as a show more teen hetero romance. It's nice to see representation that isn't the center of the entire story.
In addition to the story, I also enjoyed the world-building. This book can stand on its own but I'd love to see more from the universe even if it's about different characters.
*I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.* show less

Thank you to the author and LibraryThing for a free copy in return for my honest review.

There were ample trigger warnings at the beginning of the book; some people may be turned off by them.

I must admit this book pleasantly surprised me. I started reading with a certain expectation and came out with a different perspective, which I think was the point. Just when you think you have an idea of what is going on, there are twists that keep you guessing. The story focuses on Thomas, who then show more meets Elijah, and the adventure begins. The idea of demons, exorcisms, and the relative good inherent in people (i.e. what IS the line between good and bad/right and wrong?) are current themes throughout, as is Thomas' struggle with his emotions and his compassion. The twists the plot takes will definitely keep you turning pages and I really liked the unique point of views presented here. show less

I didn't love this book. It wasn't absolutely terrible, but I had some issues with it. For one, I'm pretty sure Thomas and Elijah are supposed to be eighteen, but they are written more like the typical 16-year-old age of most YA fantasy books. Additionally, there is a relationship that started sometime in middle school, I think, although the timeline is a little unclear to me. The portions describing that relationship, however, don't feel like they are describing elementary and middle show more schoolers even though, ostensibly, they are. I also felt that the ending was abrupt and didn't actually wrap up many of the problems of the world. Throughout the book, the need for balance is constantly cited, but there isn't really a discussion of how to achieve that in the end. The reveal of who the bad guy actually is is both a) not particularly surprising and b) strangely rushed as if the author got tired of writing and just wanted to end the book.

In sum, while I appreciate an LGBTQ+ book and the found family threads, I thought it was clumsily written and could do with some severe editing. The pacing and characterization were my biggest issues, but I also just didn't find it all that compelling to read. show less

4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed the book. I loved the concepts and how they were presented with the Principality, demons and the arch angels. I appreciated the fast pacing of the book. As well as the build of two great characters, Thomas and Elijah, and their relationship. I was captivated by Thomas’ internal struggle and the storytelling. Where Demons Reside was an engaging, thought provoking read and definitely left a positive impression on me.