Demon With Benefits

Demon With Benefits was another enjoyable addition to Aurora Ascher’s Hell Bent series. Meph has always been one of the more entertaining demons, with his crude humor, constant teasing, and complete lack of interest in commitment. I loved finally getting to know him better and discovering there was much more to his character than his carefree attitude suggested.

Meph and Iris have great chemistry from the beginning. Neither wants a serious relationship, so their friends-with-benefits arrangement seems perfect. I enjoyed their banter, flirting, and the way Meph constantly pushed Iris’s buttons. What made their relationship interesting was watching them gradually develop feelings neither was particularly interested in admitting.

I especially appreciated getting to see Meph’s more vulnerable side. Beneath his confidence and humor, he’s dealing with insecurities, emotional struggles, and a darker part of himself he’s spent years trying to control. His passion for art was one of my favorite details because it showed a more personal side of him that he rarely lets others see.

Iris was another heroine I enjoyed. She’s stubborn, independent, sharp-tongued, and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself. Her past relationship has made her cautious about trusting someone again, which explains her reluctance to acknowledge her growing feelings for Meph. I liked that even when she was frightened or outmatched, she continued looking for ways to help herself rather than waiting to be rescued.

The supporting characters and found-family relationships were another highlight. I loved seeing Ash, Eva, Mist, Lily, Raum, Belial, and the rest of the group again. Their humor, loyalty, and constant interference in one another’s lives continue to make this supernatural world entertaining.

The larger storyline involving Meph’s past and the darker side of his nature added some interesting conflict. However, I would have liked more development surrounding those events. The story spends quite a bit of time on the physical relationship before the supernatural conflict becomes more prominent, and the resolution felt a little rushed considering the buildup.

That was my biggest issue with this book. While I enjoyed the romance and character development, I would have preferred a little less emphasis on the spice and more time exploring the plot, Meph’s struggles, and the supernatural world. The intimate scenes are frequent and explicit, which earns this one five peppers, but I felt a better balance would have made the overall story stronger.

Would I recommend Demon With Benefits? Absolutely! If you enjoy paranormal romance, demons, witches, friends-with-benefits-to-lovers, morally gray characters, found family, humor, and plenty of spice, this is worth reading. I would recommend starting with My Funny Demon Valentine rather than jumping straight into Meph’s story, since the ongoing storyline and established relationships are an important part of the series.

My Final Verdict: A fun, spicy, and surprisingly emotional romance with entertaining characters and great chemistry. I loved discovering Meph’s more vulnerable side, Iris’s independence, and their developing relationship. However, I would have preferred more depth in the supernatural storyline, fewer intimate scenes, and a more developed resolution. I really enjoyed this one, but it didn’t quite reach the five-star level of the previous books for me.

Final Rating: ⭐ 4/5 Stars | 🌶️ 5/5 Peppers

— Sassy