I would like to thank NetGalley, Water Sign Books, and the author for the free ARC.

The Fall that Saved Us is a queer romantasy that follows a demon and a nephilim on their journey to find a way to be together despite the impossibility.

I absolutely love forbidden romance & enemies to lovers trope so this was a must read for me, especially after seeing the beautiful cover (I’m a sucker for a pretty cover). I also enjoyed the family troubles we get from the main character - that touch of realness in a fantasy always make me more invested into the character.

Personally, I enjoyed reading this novel but I wouldn’t say I loved it. I would have liked Avitue’s POV sprinkled in, and I do wish there was more history & depth given for the two worlds the main characters come from. All in all I guess I wish a little more world building was thrown in.

3.5/5 overall rating
2.5 spice rating

"The Fall That Saved Us" by @tamarajeree
4/5 📖

Thank you to @netgalley and @water_sign_books for an ARC of this book!

I keep saying slowburn romance isn't my thing, but I keep reading books that have that slowburn hitting just right! Cassiel and Avitue had me wanting to know more about both of their stories! This book was the perfect setup for book two, so I can't wait to read book 2 and see what happens to Cassiel and Avitue after going through obstacles, learning how to leave environments that aren't safe or emotionally well for you, and trying to get answers from the gods.

📚 Forbidden Romance
📚 Enemies to Lovers
📚 Angels, Demons, Witches
📚 Saphic Romance
📚 Slowburn Romance
📚.Paranormal Romance

Thank you, Netgalley, Water Sign Books, and Xpresso Book tours for this ebook Arc. In return for an honest review.

Spice level: 3.5/5

A Succubus and a Nephilim fall in love plus this cover all I needed to know to jump in!

I was immediately drawn into this world. The writing flows well, and Cassiel is easily likable. The banter and spice between Avitue and Cassiel was steamy and had good chemistry; the flirty banter was well written. I am a sucker for a forbidden enemies to lovers romance. Ana is the friend everyone needs, and the way she treats others is contagious. Zuriel, on the other hand, I can't tell if I like her or not.

I understand that both Zuriel and Cassiel are both recovering from trauma, and each person deals with it there on the way. That being said, I still feel Zuriel was so contradictory with her sister. I think the way that Jerée deals with the healing of trauma and consent within this was really well done. I also would like to point out that the authors note was a great and much appreciated addition.

I felt like I wanted more of the fantasy plot line it needed a little more balance in the story. Around the 30% mark, the pacing dropped for me and turned into more slice a life. Which was immersive and sweet, but with high stakes Cassiel and Avitue are dealing with, I was antsy to see what was going to happen. From 65% on the plot, I picked up and left me wanting more history, background, and action. I hope the next installment of this series can give this to me.

There were a few things that stood out to me immediately when I started this book. The first being that Tamara Jerée's writing is stunningly beautiful, able to capture a haunting yet cozy vibe. Although that was not able to cover the repetitive and dull nature of the actual story. It felt as if I were reading the same scenes and paragraphs over and over. In my opinion, I think this book could have been a lot shorter. But beyond that critique, it was a solid book.

This was such a beautifully written story.

Cassiel is a nephilem, small percentage angel. She has grown up in a strict environment as a demon hunter. She finally breaks off to pursue her idea of what life should be and encounters a demon while on her own journey.

I loved that Cassiel was a bookshop owner and loves to read.
The demon she meets was an interesting character and was a perfect match to help Cassiel on her journey of self-discovery.

My favorite character was Ana and I would have loved to have seen more of her, although she was always there when Cassiel needed her most.
Although they're all (watered down) angels, Cassiel's family sounded like a lot to deal with. I wasn't expecting a lot of the rituals that they were forced to adhere to.

If anyone has trigger warnings they should be aware that scarification and cutting are mentioned. There is also brief mention of an eating disorder.

I received an ARC of this book and all opinions are my own

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy, for an honest review.
Technically, the pace was not homogeneous and it made me lose my focus. Started fast, then stretched for pages, I needed to pause and start again each time.
There are triggers, as they are stated beforehand, but they did not hit me as hard, and I am grateful for that.
I enjoyed the thoughts and struggles of Nephilim, as well as the side characters’ shining moments. Also thanks for not giving a cliffhanger for the sake of shaking me as a reader..

*Title: The Fall That Saved Us

*Release date: 9/5/23, read: 8/18/23

*Author: Tamara Jerée -debut

*Book cover: Love it! Kind of reminds me of Nalini Singh's Archangel's Light cover

*Format: kindle

*Page Count: 326

*POV: h Cassiel

*Setting: Illinois (Cass's hometown) and New Haven Books (her bookstore)

*Genre: PNR, Adult Fiction, Sapphic Romance

*Tropes:
✅angels
✅demons
✅ enemies to lovers
✅ book lover/bookstore owner
✅ witches
✅succubus

Look out for:
⚠️ self-harm, child abuse, eating disorder

*Synopsis:
Cassiel is the weakest among a family Nephilim (humans touched by archangels). She left the world of demon hunting to live the uneventful life of a human bookseller. But her mother's strict teachings and punishments still haunt her new life.

Avitue is a fallen angel/succubus sent to take out the weakest link in Cassiel’s family for slaying a duke of Hell. But she is surprised to find a kindred spirit in Cassiel, a Nephilim deemed fallen by her own family’s standards.

They refuse to participant in eternal war between Heaven and Hell and trust each other with secrets that can destroy them.

*Review: Cassiel's mother Gabriel really did a number on her and her sister Zuriel. She punished and shamed them into her strict sense of angelic devotion. Meeting Avitue was a true blessing for Cass, as it gave her the freedom to be herself without judgment.

*Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

*Spice level- 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thanks to NetGalley and Water Sign Books for this ARC❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Water Sign Books, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good cover is huge, and this one is absolutely stunning. I was immediately drawn to this story based solely on that. Finding out that it was a sapphic romance between a Nephilim and a Succubus? I'm in. That said, the summary presented this as more of a fantasy with a touch of romance, when I felt that it was more of a romance with a touch of fantasy.

While reading, I couldn't help yearning this to dig a little deeper. Had there been a deeper dive into Cassiel's past, the family business, the budding war, or maybe even a glimpse at Avitue's POV, I think this would've been a more enjoyable story. It was okay, but it just did not deliver everything I was hoping it would. I would probably pick up book two just to find out if the plot further develops.

Cassiel, a retired demon hunter, has found a place where she can finally be free and normal. She is a Nephilim which are humans with angel blood. After leaving an abusive home life she established a bookstore where she could recover and find herself. That suddenly becomes uprooted when a demon starts to haunt her. But is the demon there to harm her? Will Cassiel finally find her strength after being known as the weakest of the Nephilim? Will she overcome her trauma that still has a tight hold on her?

Avitue, a succubus with golden eyes, is sent to harm Cassiel as punishment for the Nephilim killing a Duke of Hell. Will she start to waver in her mission when seeing Cassiel’s kind heart? Will Cassiel and Avitue decide to join the eternal fight between heaven and hell? Or will they decide not to get involved despite the repercussions?

“The Fall That Saved Us” by Tamara Jeree is a sweet Queer book about angels and demons and finding love in others and within themselves. I gave the book a 3 out 5 because I liked it but didn’t love it. The story felt a little disconnected and nothing really kept me in the story when I was reading it and the romance was a bit rushed. I think I would have liked it better if it was in Avitue’s POV instead of Cassiel’s. I did like Cassiel’s backstory with trauma though. Despite all that, the book has a lot of potential. I do love the cover so much.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this arc for my honest review.

The concept was very interesting and the cover art is what immediately drew me into this story. I just wish it was longer to bring out and truly flesh out the characters more. I felt like it was pretty surface level on the characters but hopefully the next book will bring out more of their personality and have an overall arc and development to them.

I love angel/demon romance and was intrigued by the premise, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped. Cassiel breaking free from her family's strict upbringing and becoming comfortable with her body and sexuality was handled well. The spicy scenes were also decent. However, the romance was too rushed for my taste, and I wish it had been developed more. The dialogue was very juvenile at times and made the characters sound like teenagers, which took me out of the story. Overall, it was okay, but I don't know if I will continue the series.

I absolutely looooved Cassiel and Avitues story so much. My only complaint was the flow. It felt like here and there I was missing something. The paragraphs didn't always flow well.

I want to thank NetGalley, Water Sign Books, and Tamara Jerée for this advance readers copy in exchange for a honest review.

This book was an enigma of a story. I feel like the summary presented it as a lot more fantasy and high stakes than it actually was. This story should have been presented as more a romance novel with a sprinkle of fantasy (unless the second book is more fantasy heavy). I definitely think this is more of a paranormal romance and does not fall into the fantasy category.

This novel follows Cassiel, a nephilim, she is descended from Heaven’s angels. She grew up in an extremely abusive home and decides to leave her family and safety to try to make it out in the human world and find true happiness. She owns her own little book shop and lives in the apartment above. She struggles everyday to break the habit of always following her mother’s rules. She constantly feels that she is lost and unworthy, that is until she meets Avitue. Avitue who is a fallen angel turned succubus, she is sent on a mission to avenge a fallen demon and Cassiel is her target. Forced together through refusing to follow the rules and guidelines set out by Heaven and Hell, they learn to love and break free.

I really enjoyed this book towards about 20% in, the first part of it was very disjointed and a bit confusing until Avitue enters the story. I felt like Avitue and Cassiel’s love was almost fate by the Heavens and that is why they fell so quickly for one another. I loved the family abuse aspect and escaping that life and trying to make your own. I think on a level that her mother is relatable for a lot of women especially. I really really enjoyed Cassiel and Avitue’s respective journeys and their journey as a couple. The spice was real good as well and I felt it was we written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Water Sign Books for this opportunity to read rare and review this arc which is available September 5,2023!

This is a queer romantasy with Nephilim aka human with a direct line to the angels and a succubus. Cassiel is a Nephilim who abandoned her family’s demon hunting business to be a bookseller. Avitue is a succubus out for revenge on Cass’s family for killing a Duke of hell.

It was an okay read. I liked it but it was a read once and done kinda deal. The writing was good. Pacing was steady. Characters well fleshed out.

This book is a very interesting gender-bent and diverse own voices retelling of sorts of different angelical lore from religious texts, and I think to its core, it tells a very thought-provoking story. This book has a lot of potential to be great. However, I found it quite clunky and, at times, juvenile in its writing style, which really took me out of the world/plot/and characters.

⤷‧₊˚3.5⭑
“no one’s ever said my name this way, with so much focused attention, with all their breath.”

when i realized that the book with THE prettiest cover is Sapphic, i had to read it immediately!

i really enjoyed it, i liked their relationship and their development, but i wish the characters and story could have had more depth and made the book a little longer as a result. i love thick fantasy books because there you have more space to build your story better.

i’m still looking forward to part two and can't wait for the release day! :)

I loved the concept; but wish there was more exploration of their respective realms. I thought the portrayal of character growth and breaking free of traumatic childhood ties was done well.

A surprisingly heart-warming story about escaping from an abusive household and finding your balance and your freedom, set against the backdrop of an eternal war between angels and demons.

It's beautifully written, and I liked the characters and found their dynamics interesting. The protagonist's character arc is particularly well-done, but the rest of the cast also has its moments. I also quite enjoyed the author's take on the part-angelic, demon-hunting Nephilim and their relationship with the angels.

However, the novel has some pacing issues: it starts out very strong, but sags towards the middle before sticking the landing with the ending. The progression of the love story is also very fast (they're willing to die for each other after just a few meetings), which I felt was to its detriment.

Overall, though, it's a very solid debut, and I recommend checking it out if the premise appeals to you!

A list of content warnings is included at the beginning of the book, which I really appreciated, as the story deals with some heavy themes and sensitive subject matters.