I really loved The Wicked Bargain last year so I was super excited for The Diablo’s Curse. I loved this as well. Dami is such a great character. I had a great time with the story. Already went out and grabbed a copy. Definitely a fan of this author!

4.75 stars

This is the best book I've read in 2024 so far, absolutely fantastic! There are so many elements that make it great, including both LGBTQ+ representation, POC main characters, demonios (demons), curses, and a hunt for pirate treasure. I loved the pacing of this, the third person narration, and the flashbacks of Demi's past. Please check this one out!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the copy.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This book is about Dami, who is a demon, and all they want is to live their rest of their life experiencing everything that humans do. For the first time ever they can taste food, experience human contact, and just live like a human but only for a limited time. Unless they’re able to undo all the deals that they have made, once they complete that they will be fully human and live their life like they have always wanted too, but will they be able to make their dreams come true.

Dami was an interesting character, I loved that you got to see everything about this character throughout the book. You will come to understand why they want to be free, why they became a deal-making demon and how they will do anything to make sure that they get the life they want. Even if that means that they will have to help out Silas (someone he made a deal with but finds out later that this might not be as easy as they thought). I found Dami humor to be perfect for this book, I loved that they complained about things but at the same time they would be like, but I know I can’t do this or wear this because of this… reminded me of myself or my kids at times. I loved the banter between Silas and Dami even though at times I wanted to yell at the both of them for being dumb and not seeing what was really going on lol, but I think that is what makes a great book. I thought the slow burn between Silas and Dami was done perfect, I loved that the start they really were just in it for a way to remove the deal and still get what they both wanted but as the time went on you really get to see how the two of them become more important to each other.

I didn’t know that this was a sequel to The Wicked Bargain, and I didn’t read that book before this one and I didn’t find myself lost or confused. This author does an amazing job with making the characters and the plot easy to understand and something fun and at the same time bring a genderfluid character to the book world that everyone will love.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to review this book.

The Diablo's Curse is an amazing stand-alone novel, but it's also a perfect follow-up to The Wicked Bargain. Dami has finally found their freedom, but there's a cost. They have to break all their bargains in order to keep their humanity. Most people would be glad to be free of a deal taking away their souls unless it's preventing their death. Dami has one bargain to end, and it takes them on the adventure of a lifetime.

I received an ARC of this from NetGalley for my honest review. Truthfully, I’d rate it a 4.5 but since I can’t do half ratings, it’s 4.

I really loved this book, until the end. The end wasn’t bad by any means, but it just fell a little flat for me. They went through so much and then everything is just wrapped up nicely and done. I’m not sure what I would have liked to see differently, maybe just something a little more to it.

That being said, I absolutely loved the three characters. I loved their relationships together and their interactions. This was such a good book and I will definitely check out more by this author.

Dami is a demon who has been able to experience humanity for the first time and now has a limited amount of time before they turn fully back into a demon. In order to remain human, permanently, they have to undo all of the deals they made. Silas' family is cursed to die for stealing pirate treasure and the deal he made with Dami means he can't die, or at least, stay dead. The deal with Silas is the last one Dami has to end in order to be human forever. But Dami and Silas have to make one more deal first.

The Wicked Bargain was one of my favorite books I read last year so I was very excited to read this. This is also the second book by Gabe Cole Novoa that I absolutely loved this year, Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix being the first. I am a huge fan of angst with a happy ending and this is definitely that.

Dami and Silas' progression from reluctant allies to friends to love interests was also fun to read about. I was a little thrown off by the introduction of Marisol so far in to the book, but it worked well and Marisol was a great addition. Her and Dami's friendship was sweet and I liked that they were able to be so relatable for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins (rounded down)
Quick Reasons: lgbtq+, diverse read; uniquely captivating world building; intriguing magic system; mystery, suspense, romance; happily for now ending; SO MUCH SNARK!

HUGE thanks to Gabe Cole Novoa, Random House Books, and Netgalley for the title! My review is voluntarily written and in no way impacted or altered by the gesture.

This was SUCH a fun, diverse, humorous read! There's demons, there's magic, there's romance, there's comedy, there's adventure and destruction and despair and coming of age and SO MANY gasp-worthy moments! I could keep going, this book SERIOUSLY has pretty much everything in it, but then you'd be stuck here for the rest of forever and I don't really think you want that (and I don't want to be stuck here writing this forever...because then would YOU really be stuck here, if I never stop writing? I digress...)

The characters are believable, equal parts morally grey human and questionably not mortal. I laughed out loud more times than I think I have at a book in quite a while. These characters ripped at my veins, crawled into my heart's deepest pockets, and came to life within my mind (which for someone with Aphantasia is saying A LOT). The story was filled with adventure, red herrings, mystery and intrigue. There were some admittedly "easy to spot" twists throughout, but Gabe Cole Novoa took an idea and made it wholly their own with this book. If I had to describe this relating it to other things, I'd say it is Indiana Jones meets Supernatural...with maybe some Jungle Cruise in there for good measure.

I DEFINITELY recommend this to lovers of paranormal RomComs, characters who flit the line between morally human and obviously not mortal, and those seeking to broaden their shelves with more diverse / #ownvoices reads this year. The characters will ensnare you, the story will thrill you, and the ending will leave you cheering (I know I for sure did). Are you ready to break the curse, Penguins? Or will you fall victim to the island, yourselves?

I really like how this book explored identity. They had a fun journey trying to break the curse and I had a good time. I would like to know what happened with Marisol though.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Gabe Cole Novoa has done it again! Every book they have written has been top tier and this one is up there too!

This book is historically set fantasy adventure filled with so much heart, sarcasm, danger, and beautiful LGBTQ+ rep. The three MCs were all queer in one way or another.

We had Dami, a genderfluid demonio, Silas, a bisexual human guy who is suffering from a family curse, and a sweet trans girl named Marisol who is looking to stay alive to live her truth.

I devoured this book and I can't wait to read more by Novoa in the future!

3.75/5 stars !

a fantasy book with demons, trans, poc & queer characters? sign me up. starting this book i was hesitant, i had been excited to start it but it seemed a little slow to me initially. however once i got into it, and really got into the characters, i enjoyed it thoroughly. i loved that we got to see insights for each of the three characters the story followed, because that made you connect to them even more. and i am very glad that there was happy ending for them. very enjoyable book.

thank you to netgalley for giving me this arc!!

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Random House Children's, Random House Books for Young Readers for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Dami is a demon who wants to cancel every deal they've ever made in order to become human again and to tether their soul to earth. Only Silas is standing in their way. Silas is cursed to die young and his deal with Dami is the only one keeping him alive. In order to save both of them, Dami and Silas have to work together in order to break the curse on Silas' family...before they die as well.

I loved reading The wicked bargain and when I knew about this book I rushed to request it and I was so glad I didi. Dami is one of my favourite character ever. They are funny and stubborn, sarcastic and brilliant and I totally loved their relationship with the cute and brave Silas. The world created by Gabe Cole Novoa, with demons and deals and curses is so intriguing and I loved their writing style and characterization. You can't not love these characters and follow their journey, without being involved and hope for the best. I loved every single page of this book!

-- Very peak historical fantasy + adventure quest for treasure, where finding the treasure has life altering implications (not monetary) for the MCs

-- Three queer MCs! Including one trans and one genderfluid MC!

-- The wholesome-est friendship hugs and a bicker-y enemies to lovers romance <3

I loved this book so much okay, it was such a warm read 😭

TWs - death and violence (but not too high stakes, since one of the MCs literally cannot stay dead)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and @turnthepagetours for an advanced copy!

Dami is a demon who is determined to cancel every deal made so he can be human again. He has only one left to do before that happens. Silas is 16 years old and cursed to die young. Dami is doing a countermeasure to keep Silas alive in spite of the family curse. Dami and Silas teamed up with shipwrecked 16-year-old Mexican trans girl Marisol to journey to find Captain Kidd’s famous lost treasure. They think it might break the curse. Will it?

The author has written a fast paced story. The adventures are challenging in the novel. There is an island that comes to life and becomes the villain in the story which I enjoyed. There are so many different aspects of this story to enjoy. It’s a story for everyone to read.

Delightful!
A really fun book! A story about Dami , who is a demonio, as a result of a deal that their mother made. The life of a demonio is the only life they’ve ever known. They dislike being a demonio and wish to be a human. They get involved in the life of Silas, who has had a curse placed on him and they end up on an adventure together. The story was well written and had some interesting characters. It is a fun story and I would highly recommend it!! Happy reading!

This story is a thrilling blend of dark magic and deep emotional journeys. Dami, a demon yearning for humanity, and Silas, cursed to die young, make for an unforgettable duo. Their quest to break a deadly curse is not just an adventure but a profound exploration of identity and redemption. The rich Latinx lore adds a unique depth, and exploring gender fluidity through Dami's character is refreshing and impactful. The book masterfully balances humor, heartache, and suspense, delighting every page. As a standalone sequel, it welcomed me without prior knowledge, making the experience all the more enjoyable. This novel is a true gem in YA fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The Diablo's Curse follows Dami, a demon who wants to cancel every deal they've made in order to turn fully human, as they must team up with cursed teen Silas to break Silas' curse and thereby end Dami's final deal.

Dami was such a fun character to read about in The Wicked Bargain, so much so that it felt like coming home to pick up a new book from their perspective. And the POVs of the new characters, Silas and Marisol, were a treat too. I loved the treasure hunt centered plot, the dynamics of all three of our main characters working together, and in particular how vivid and snappy the descriptions were. It was easy to settle back into this world, but all of it still felt new and fresh and intriguing.

It's only been a year since The Wicked Bargain, and it is amazing how much Novoa has grown as a writer in that time. Between these two books and Most Ardently, they've quickly become an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to see what else they have on the horizon!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4/5 Stars

This book is fun. Going in, I think I was expecting something a bit more moody and dark but The Diablo's Curse was a wild ride of an adventure novel that really leans into the treasure hunting premise. The characters have solid banter throughout the book that keeps the scenes moving. The variety of threats the characters face keep the action going without it getting repetitive. And it's really refreshing to have a genderfluid protagonist, as that representation isn't really that common.

Where the book falls a bit flat for me is Dami's backstory. The parts of it we do learn about are incredibly interesting but by the end of the book, I found that it just wasn't given enough attention for them to feel fully connected to the narrative. It also made the resolution to their story feel a bit too deus ex machina. It also felt a bit disjointed to have all of these dark and scary elements of their backstory alongside the comedic ways their powers are used in the main narrative. There could have been a bit better of a balance.

However, it was nice to read a book that really felt like a YA book, and not just a New Adult book being forced into the YA category. The characters feel like real teens and act like teens. So, while it is not a perfect book, it has enough going for it that I feel really comfortable recommending it to teen patrons.

I wanted to get this read before release, but life just wouldn’t allow. So let’s start there. I still wanted to provide feedback before it gets archived. Novoa has crafted a beautiful follow up to Wicked Bargain. The world they have created for these characters is mysterious and rich. The characters they create are always layered and engaging. I am enjoying this story immensely. Novoa’s writing is at such a high level and incredibly approachable. It reads like silk. I am eager to finish!

In Gabe Cole Novoa's follow up to The Wicked Bargain, demonio Dami is trying their best to become human. But their quest is stalled by a stubborn boy named Silas who can't stay dead. Working together they set out to break the curse on Silas before Dami is stuck as a demonio forever.

This queer historical fantasy includes an enemies-to-lovers story that is fully believable, coupled with a narrative about accepting oneself. It is a fun and engaging tale, with a few twists that you can see coming if you look close enough.