Rule one: Don’t look at the demon.When I arrived at my uncle’s house, I expected my relatives to be like me—outcast sorcerers who don’t practice magic. I was right about the sorcery, but wrong about everything else.Rule two: Don’t listen to the demon.My uncle chose a far deadlier power. He calls creatures of darkness into our world, binds them into service contracts, and sells them to the highest … and sells them to the highest bidder. And I’m supposed to act like I don’t know how illegal and dangerous it is.
Rule three: Don’t talk to the demon.
All I had to do was keep my nose out of it. Pretend I didn’t find the summoning circle in the basement. Pretend I didn’t notice the shadowy being trapped inside it. Pretend I didn’t break the rules.
But I did, and now it’s too late.
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From the author of The Guild Codex: Spellbound comes a new series that will plunge an unprepared young woman into the darkest magic of the mythic world.
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THE GUILD CODEX: DEMONIZED
Taming Demons for Beginners (#1)
Slaying Monsters for the Feeble (#2)
more
I FLEW through this book. It was so delightfully entertaining and not at all what I expected. I can’t wait to delve further into this series—I’m bound to fall even more in love.
Wow, this was a great read. This held my attention and kept me up way to late to finish this, cause I couldn’t go to bed with 25% left & not knowing what was going to happen! This is a spin-off from an other series by this author, but can be read as a stand-alone, I wasn’t lost at all since I didn’t read the other series yet (but I will definitely go & read that series next, while waiting for book 2 to come out). Robin was an interesting character, that I found I can relate with (since I’m a non-confrontational type of person). Now, my favorite character, Zylas- the demon, holy cow, he was crazy great. Great potential for book-boyfriend material, depending on the direction this takes in book 2. (after writing this review, then reading the other 4 books out so far that this splits from, I’m not sure how romance will play into the story -if at all, the other after 4 books it’s barely a romance) I liked that he was an unpredictable wild card to the story, but he was really there for Robin in spite of the “contract”. But yet you can kind of read between the lines to see where this might progress between them. It definitely feels like a very slow burn type of relationship. I can’t wait to get my eyes on book 2
My new favorite series!! These books have amazing characters, laugh out loud scenes, one sexy demon, and great world-building that you don’t want to miss. After the death of her parents, all Robin wants is her inheritance so that she can move out of her uncle’s house. But she soon has bigger issues when she accidentally binds herself to the demon that was locked in the basement. Now she’s on the run with a cocky, hard-headed demon that doesn’t know the meaning of personal space and only protects her in exchange for baked goods. She’ll have to pick up the family business of demon summoning, learn how to use her long-denied powers, and send the annoying demon back to his world before the enemy steals him away for their own nefarious reasons.
This story is simply addicting!
Started off reading the sample because Facebook suggested it to me, and here I am already finished with it the same day.
I love the characters in this story. Robin seems like a weak, meek, pushover with no backbone from the very start. She is the type of heroine everyone loves to hate. But as the story progresses and problems and mysteries present themselves, we see her grow more into an independent person with so much potential. By the time the cliffhanger comes into play, you can’t help but root for her. Then there is Zylas. Usually every male protagonist is the biggest, baddest, strongest of them all, and it sort of is the same for Zylas. But compared to other crazy, cracked out demons in the story, physically, Zylas is more like Captain America next to the Hulk. But as the saying goes, ‘Never judge a book by it’s cover’. This demon is packed with plenty surprises.
Seriously, this book is worth reading! It is a fun read with plenty of action to keep your eyes glued to the pages! And it will keep you wanting more after the last word.
4.5
Book source ~ Kindle Unlimited
Robin Page lost her parents to a tragic accident and now she lives with an uncle and others who seem to hate her. All she wants is her inheritance so she can move on with her life. But her uncle is stonewalling her. Robin has no idea why. So she starts snooping. And that’s when she discovers the demon in the summoning circle down in the library. Things get real interesting after that.
Since I love the connected series, The Guild Codex: Spellbound, so much I had to check out this new series. And I am not disappointed. Robin is a weird combination of scaredy cat and plucky nerd. The demon is vastly intriguing. And there’s so much about demons that I haven’t yet seen in the other series, so there’s new ground to cover in a world I already love. The two series mesh together very well. I love the characters, the world, and the storyline so much I already read book 2 (review upcoming). Fans of smart and sassy urban fantasy should really enjoy this one.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
This book is fantastic!! Our FMC is a a shy one that has kept away from magic which is why it is so hard when she has to move in with her Uncles family only to discover they do use magic. Trying to get along until she gets her inheritance she explores the house. She gets the surprise of her life when she finds the library. Inside is a summoning circle with a demon inside though no one can see it. An avid reader she decides to hang out there anyways which leads to a weird relationship with the demon that will change her life as she k does it as the story unfolds. A fantastic urban fantasy book that is a must read for fans of the genre. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
OK, straight up, this was an amazing book. I don’t have any negative comments, which is really rare for me.
I loved the concept, and the characters are fantastic. I really enjoyed having a female lead who doesn’t have a ton of awesome powers and abilities. Robin isn’t remotely heroic in the typical sense, but she’s heroic in a way anyone could be. She’s kind, brave, and intelligent, and she has flaws like the rest of us. I’m eager to watch her develop and come into her own through the series.
Zylas is a bit of an enigma. I was left not knowing if demons are simply misunderstood, or if he’s developing a conscience and feelings, or if we’re simply being led to incorrect conclusions like authors like to do. Whichever it is, I like him, and I look forward to finding out out how their relationship progresses.
I eagerly anticipate future installments of The Guild Codex: Demonized and have already pre-ordered book 2 so I can read it the moment it’s out. By the time you read this, I’ll likely have already read it. If you like reading, then pick up Taming Demons for Beginners, it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed.
To start, I have to say I was SO EXCITED about this book from the blurb that I kept adding it to my Amazon list. Like three times. Amazon was all, lady, you already saved this one. Calm down. I was not disappointed! I’m new to this author, but I’ll be fixing that pretty quickly!
Robin’s situation hits you right in the feels from the beginning, and seeing her grow and change throughout the story is so nice. I’m still not a fan of her cousin Amalia, and time will tell in regard to their relationship. The backstory of her maternal line is also a great hook! Zylas the demon… oh my. He’s great. Their relationship is unique and interesting and I can’t wait for the next installment. This world is rich and interesting and fun to read!
Recommend!
Utterly fantastic! A wildly entertaining thrill ride! I absolutely loved it and the characters… I have fallen in love with this new sexy demon. He’s dangerous, daring, rude, outrageous yet protective, loyal and a whole lot of fun. I can’t wait to read more from this series and discover more about Robin and Zylas!
So fun!
I really didn’t know how I was going to feel about this new book. It turned out to be quite awesome. Very confused about how I feel about some of the characters. Love them all but some still haven’t earned my trust. The excitement that went on put me on the edge of my seat. I was so happy to finally see her look changing for the best. I’m very excited about moving on to the next book now.
Annette Marie has been on my TBR list for well over a year. I was so thankful to finally get my hands on one of her books after being taunted by rave reviews all of the place. The hype isn’t wrong, Taming Demons for Beginners was everything I’d hoped for and more.
I love the flow of the book, Robins anxiety & frustrations are easy to relate to. It was so easy to be engulfed into her story while we follower journey in navigating a world she never thought she’d be apart of. I love her weak, unknowing start. There is no instant badass in this story, thank goodness. I look forward to watching her character arc grow over the coming books. The relationship between her and the demon is quirky yet terrifying.
This is a typical urban fantasy, where there are some aspects of the story that are kind of hand waved or set so the plot can move forward to keep things simple. I.E. Easy, fun read.
Two things that bothered me but I’m thinking probably shouldn’t have were 1. how did her parents die. She is only 20, and her commentary made it feel like it was normal car accident death but the lack of reason makes me wonder if there was foul play, especially if her uncle knew they had what he wanted. I went back thinking I missed it, but idk, if someone knows this help me out ha. 2. Why was her uncle the executor over the will? I realize this is a must for the whole story to happen, but her parents knew what they had, and it is noted they are smart people, so wouldn’t they have put fail safes for something like this? Maybe this will be answered in future books, but I kept circling back to why they weren’t answered while I read.
This story is fantastic. It has action, suspense, drama, mystery and humor. It draws you in and keeps you glued to your seat until you reach the end. It is extremely well written and the characters are beautifully developed. I loved Robin and Zylas’s banter back and forth. They will make you laugh because their personalities are so amazing. The support characters are fantastic and add a wonderful addition to the story. Both Robin and Zylas are stubborn to the core but have a fantastic relationship with each other. It is one must read of a story.
Demon with a sweet tooth – deliciously sinful combo
I was curious to read something interesting involving demons but boy oh boy was this amazing.
The characters were so well rounded – you truly care what happens to them. The tiny angel like girl Robin and the ultimate bad boy – actual demon Zaylas.
Their gradual trust and banter right in the smack of all the action, blood and gore was something to behold. I giggled and more than once was worried how they would get out of their predicament. Everything and everyone is against this unlikely duo but so much fun.
Zaylas’s sarcasm was as delicious as he is. Ultimate fighter with a sweet tooth who knew?
I am on my next book in the series- can’t wait!
Annette Marie is the proverbial pot of gold: an author who consistently delivers high quality well written, well edited, grammatically correct, original, entertaining stories. She invites you into her worlds and you never want to leave.
Every time I finish one of her books, my first thought is to read it again, to savor the characters, their development, and their relationships. The relationships developed in her books, both friendships and romantic, develop gradually, revealing layers and connections that strengthen over time. She creates people, not tropes.
Her plots are strong, complex, and keep you riveted. The worlds she creates are internally consistent and vividly imagined.
I realize this is a generic sort of review, but I plan to leave it for all her books. From the Red Winter series (mythic Japan); to the Steel & Stones series, including Piper and Ash, and the Lyre and Clio books; and the Guild Codex series, now including the Robin Piper demon-training: I have yet to find anything less than pure enjoyment, and great respect for her talent.
Not a huge fan of the main character, Robin, at first. I thought she was pretty weak and wondered how her personality would fit this story. I just like stronger heroines. That aside, the story was engrossing, unusual, and fun to read. The further into the story I got, the more I ended up liking Robin and watching her grow and evolve. Zylas is a cool character and the side story with Amalie is intriguing. I loved the connection to the Crow and Hammer characters, especially Darius King. I don’t mind at all that this was a bit of a cliff hanger. I adored the Guild Codex and am so looking forward to Robin, Zylas, and Amalie interacting with that world. You can read this series first, but do yourself a favor and pick up the Guild Codex series by Annette Marie. It will give you the back story of some of the characters who pop up here and it’s a wonderful series. Annette Marie is now one of my favorite authors. I don’t care what the book synopsis is, I’ll buy anything she writes. She’s that good.
This is my first book by the author, it was amazing, Robin and Zylas story was so good. Now I know I will have to read the previous series. The world built here is phenomenal, the characters are perfect, all the magic, demons, action and angst thrown with mystery is a good mix for a great read. This book is mostly about Robin and demon magic. When she finds the world of magic everything changes. She meets a demon and now her life is forever changed.
Danger Binge Reading Guaranteed!
I am amazed at Annette Marie’s ability to create the most complex characters that you can visualise and emotionally connect with immediately, The stunning book covers also help and should be up for an award on their own. Fantastic world and past history building draws you straight into this book and hold you from page one. yes its another one of those – once you start reading you wont be able to put it down at all not, really it should come with a health warning especially as more books in the series come out – Danger Binge Reading Guaranteed, with side effects of being grouchy if any one disturbs your reading, sleep deprivation and lack of concentration on anything else happening in the world until you have finished this book/series.
You cant help feeling for Robin, she is like a mouse with a Lions heart. We have seen her grow in confidence during this book and I am sure we will see her roar in future books.
Zylas – No one does Demons the way Anette Marie does – Mysterious, dangerous and unpredictable with a sprinkle of vulnerability which is why he is so adorable and lovable. I have a feeling he will steel a lot of fans hears as the books continue.
Crow and Hammer – Yes we have some continuity from the world we all love and I think we will see more of the other characters we have come to love along the way plus perhaps get to know some o the others that have been in the background in the other series.
Although this book is in the same world as the Spellbound series and Robin was introduced in the last book it can be read alone, but once read please go back and read Three Mages and a Margarita plus the rest of that series as it will give you some context going forward.
I loved everything else about this book and just couldn’t put it down, fantastically written with stunning and captivating characters. A must read for so many reasons. I am sure you will love this book as much as I did!!!!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.
If anyone is looking for me, I am safely tucked away inside the mythic world. Learning all about illegal demon summoning, escaping from rogue mythics trying to kill me, oh, and befriending a demon. Maybe. Sorta. No, wait. That would be Robin, the main character in Taming Demons for Beginners.
In all seriousness though, I do feel like I am right there with Robin in the mythic world. The one thing that I have always been passionate about where it concerns Annette Marie’s books is how she is able to fold the reader into the worlds that she creates. She does this flawlessly. Her worlds are so immersive and the mythic world inside this book and her other series set in this same world, The Guild Codex: Spellbound, is no exception. I have read all of her books countless times simply because her world-building is so phenomenal that these worlds feel like home to me. They are full of rich details, complex magic systems, and elaborate history.
When Annette Marie announced that she was going to publish a sister series set in the same world as The Guild Codex: Spellbound, well, let’s just say that I was floored. The Spellbound series has already captured my heart and I couldn’t even fathom walking deeper into this magical world that has already captured so much of my heart. I knew that it was going to be incredible, and I was right.
We do get to delve into this world a little deeper and see a side of magic that we haven’t seen too much of yet in the Spellbound series. As the title of this books suggests, we get an introductory course in demon summoning. I rather liked that Annette Marie chose to show us this side of the mythic world through a brand new series with brand new characters. We have seen a tiny bit of Demonica while reading about Tori and her mages in the Spellbound series, but this book goes so much deeper. I truly love how seamlessly this series is syncing up with the Spellbound series and where the last book left off. Annette Marie is so skilled in details and bringing everything together in her stories. I expect that the final books of both this series and the Spellbound series will be so very epic.
I immediately loved the characters in this book. It’s like Robin and I have been friends our entire lives. She truly spoke to me and I connected with her instantly. Annette Marie’s writing is so full of emotion that it is easy to place yourself in the characters’ shoes. I really felt for Robin and all the struggles and sadness that she was facing as the story begins. Zylas is truly an interesting character. He is very mysterious and I can’t wait to see more of him develop throughout the series. I don’t want to give anything away so I will keep it brief.
While there wasn’t a romantic angle in this book, there was some definite chemistry. I was cracking up at the end of the book when Darius is listening to Robin and Zylas argue and snap at each other like an old married couple. It was delightful! The two of them have formed an alliance of sorts and I can’t wait to see where it leads them. I know that many people will be speculating if there will be a demon love interest in this series, and part of me wonders the same thing. It is hard to tell at this point if I’m being honest. There is something there, but I can’t yet speculate on exactly what form it will take. Though if there will be a demon love interest then I am so on board for that! Just saying.
The plot of this book is excellent. It is executed flawlessly and I loved every moment. The story certainly pulls the reader in and captures their attention. I couldn’t pull myself away, which isn’t anything new for an Annette Marie book. I am always at her mercy. 😉 Though I wouldn’t have it any other way. There are twists in the story that I definitely didn’t see coming, which I always appreciate in a good book. The pacing and flow were perfect and I loved the way that everything matches up perfectly with the Spellbound series at the end of the book.
Overall, this is another jaw-dropping slam-dunk story from Annette Marie. I am so thrilled for the remaining books in this series and I can’t wait to read the next installment in the Spellbound series to see both series coming together to create one epic tale. I’ve said it before in my reviews for her books, but Annette Marie’s books are so magical. No other author’s books consume my mind like hers do. I am such a fangirl and Annette Marie’s fairy-dusted stories are my kryptonite. I highly recommend this fast-paced urban fantasy story as well as all of her previous books. Her recipe for urban fantasy is my absolute favorite and her stories always hit the spot. I need book two in this series, like yesterday.
First…that cover! I mean, it that alone isn’t enough to draw you in; it’s beautiful and mysterious!
Annette has done it again. Occassionally I have a difficult time enjoying a spinoff series, but this book doesn’t fall into that category. You do not have to read the guild codex to understand this world, and if you have the info is reintroduced in a way that isn’t repetitive.
Robin is so true to herself, and the series of events that leads to her becoming a contractor are hilarious and believable in the best sort of way. I am looking forward to seeing her grow in her new role.
Amalia is a strong supporting character, and I love reading the relationship development between her and Robin. I really like that Robin has gained a strong ally in her cousin.
And Zylas….who knew a demon could be so fun lol In all seriousness, Robin lucked out with him, and I feel that they will learn a lot from each other and form a bond that most will not be willing to accept, but will not be able to tear down. Together they make a formidable team.
I was also happy to see Tori and the guys make a brief appearance!
As always, I am anxiously awaiting book 2!