Taming Demons for Beginners by Annette Marie

Taming Demons for Beginners (Guild Codex Universe, #5) (The Guild Codex: Demonized, #1)

by Annette Marie

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 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.

Reviewed by zooloo1983 on

4 of 5 stars

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Robyn’s life has been turned upside down, everything she knew 6 months ago is no more. She has lost her parents, she lives with her uncle, he won’t sort out her inheritance and he summons demons illegally. Wait what?! Right!

Robyn has spent her life avoiding magic under the guise of her parents, if she stays away from it, then it will stay away from her. However, both these worlds collide when she is forced to move in with her Uncle Jack. She discovers a library she isn’t allowed in and she is hunting for her mum’s grimoires which he has kindly hidden. In this library, however, there is a summoning circle and enticing dark swirls inside. Obviously, everyone knows to STEP AWAY from it, I mean has she not watched Constantine or Supernatural. Instead, she bakes cookies and throws them into the circle, only to have one thrown back at her and hit in the face – Sorry did have to chuckle at that bit!

Slowly but surely she builds a rapport with the demon, who we come to know, and care for, as Zylas and under a sneak attack from her step-cousin she becomes Zylas’ summoner under duress. When this happens it is meant to be done legally with a binding contract and you give up your soul. However, what they have done is illegal and what is exchanged is not her soul. I loved all these little quips because it made things so much more pure and innocent, as Robyn really is, she has no idea of this world and she has no clue to what she actually possess with this contract.

I love the interaction between Zylas and Robin, they have no clue about each other, their world and Zylas well he has no care for personal space which makes things at times a little bit flustered. Aside from this, there is SO MUCH ACTION! After an explosive escape from the house, we are never-ending with the action, you have lies, deceit, death and a lot of running for your life, it is just fab!

I really enjoyed this, it had for me remnants of Shadowhunters and Zylas the main demon reminded me of Nightcrawler from X-Men, so from the start a whole win-win situation. I loved the flow of Taming Demons for Beginners and it was completely action-packed. I was riveted to the pages in front of me. I am invested in Zylas and Robin’s story and where it might go and I love that you are made to care and potentially *swoon* over a demon, especially as demons generally want to kill you. Thankfully the 2nd book is out now plus there are other books that add to this world! I need to read them now!

If you love YA books with an added demon then this is for you. I am looking forward to discovering the rest of the world that is mapped out already. Who knew how much fun it could be having an illegal demon

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 5 November, 2019: Finished reading
  • 5 November, 2019: Reviewed