Leisure Reading

Romantasy Fake Relationship

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon

by Sarah Hawley

Mariel Spark knows not to trust a demon, especially one that wants her soul, but what’s a witch to do when he won’t leave her side—and she kind of doesn’t want him to?

Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon—one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain.

Ozroth the Ruthless is a legend among demons. Powerful and merciless, he drives hard bargains to collect mortal souls. But his reputation has suffered ever since a bargain went awry—if he can strike a bargain with Mariel, he will earn back his deadly reputation. Ozroth can’t leave Mariel’s side until they complete a bargain, which she refuses to do (turns out some humans are attached to their souls).

But the witch is funny. And curvy. And disgustingly yet endearingly cheerful. Becoming awkward roommates quickly escalates when Mariel, terrified to confess the inadvertent summoning to her mother, blurts out that she’s dating Ozroth. As Ozroth and Mariel struggle with their opposing goals and maintaining a fake relationship, real attraction blooms between them. But Ozroth has a limited amount of time to strike the deal, and if Mariel gives up her soul, she’ll lose all her emotions—including love—which will only spell disaster for them both.*

Reviewed by Alex Boris - Social Sciences Librarian

Mariel has always struggled with magic and the pressure her mother puts on her to be "the most powerful witch" of the family. But Mariel wants none of that. She wants to tend to her plants, bake what she wants, and find her happiness. Then, she accidentally summons a demon, Ozroth the Ruthless, which sets in motion a series of events that show Mariel her true power as a person, not just a witch.

This story was cute and spicy slow burn. Mariel is a curious person who would blurt out questions and Oz was the perfect calm balance to her scattered thoughts. I enjoyed how each character grew throughout the book, and you could tell when they both started feeling confident in their thoughts and feelings. There were both interpersonal and internal struggles each was fighting, helping the other along the way. Even the supporting characters had depth, which I assume will be explored in other titles set in the same world. 

What I loved about this book was it completes one storyline without forcing you to read a second title if you did not want. You can get your happily ever after without reading the second book in the series, which I enjoyed much more than a long drawn-out conflict. While I love a good epic fantasy, this was a nice breather from the usual heavy world-building stories I typically read. 

This title is a sweet, bouncy, quick read full of heart and romance. And it's a perfect title to add some light magic to your October vibe. If you like stories with a cute bubbly character falling in love with a tough guy on the outside but melts at the sight of his love, this is the perfect book for you.  I recommend this title to anyone who wants a taste of the supernatural with a lot of heart and a pinch of spice. 

You can find this book in the Pendergrass Library Leisure Reading Collection. Check it out and let us know what you think of the book! Make sure to tag your responses on social media with #utksharedshelf so we can see what you think! 

* Book Description and image provided by Goodreads