This was OK. The storyline keeps drawing me in. I want to know more about the demons. I liked this one better than the first one but not as much as mists, but it was close.

*I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.*

I thoroughly enjoyed this volume! The characters were well-developed, the storyline was engaging, and the inclusion of multiple perspectives added depth. I appreciate the substantial cast of supporting characters, which enhanced the overall experience. I look forward to the next installment of the series!

Loved it! I loved the characters, the spice was so good, and the story is fun and engaging. I love how big the cast of side characters is and that we get multiple POVs

One of my favorite things about this particular title is that nothing is "insta-love" for them. They both teeter around this hate/attraction build up for months and it was so satisfying to see them finally give into it. When it finally happened, I went, "finally!" until they slowly started to go from FWB to real feelings. I knew shit was going to hit the fan but... I really like how it all worked out.

Seeing Meph continually indulge his artistic desires with Jacqui (Eva's mom) was so freaking adorable. He literally built a hellgate from his room to his workspace thinking no one was aware, but they all just played dumb. I was happy that he was constantly supported from behind and got his grand reveal at the end. -chefs kiss- He also seemed to mature at the same rate of his art projects which amused me but was an interesting juxtaposition.

For Iris, I started off this volume internally yelling at her to get her shit together but ended being happy with her growth as a character. Meph and Iris were similar in the sense that they both were constantly dogging on themselves. When Iris finally had her realization that she needed to change things AND THEN stepped up to the plate to save her man and confess, so good. I do wish we got a little more insight into what will happen next between her and the coven but I saw that Suyin gets her own story.

The side characters were also interesting but not overwhelming to the plot. They had their time to shine in the first two books and it was nice to see Meph and Iris go on their own journey and solve their issues without too much outside influence. It felt more organic that way.

We also got to see more of Jacqui and Dan this volume and while I still dislike him, I'm grateful that Meph surprisingly gave her some sound advice that she acted on.

Overall, I'm continually enjoyed this volume of the series and am anxiously awaiting more. I'm not too excited for Suyin's story but am glad Raum's is next. I'm really curious if Bel will get his own book or if he'll just continue to brood. I'd love to see him meet someone whom he can connect with and drop all his anger.

I can´t really put my finger on it but there is something enticing about this series. It´s fun and exciting, has demons, humans, nephilims and angels. Each book follows one of the demonbrothers search for love and their place in the world. It´s quite spicy and I have to say that It´s getting a bit too wierd for me.

I liked the previous two books better, that´s why this one is rated three stars and the others four stars. It´s a bit repetitive and even if I like Meph he is too much of a chauvinist for me to understand what attracts Iris. However I do enjoy reading these books and I will definitely read the following two as well and recommend them to anyone who loves spicy romantasy.

This is the third book in this series that I have read and I just keep on enjoying every second of this journey!!!!
This is a story of two broken souls who can't stand one another but can't deny their attraction so they decide to enter into a "demon with benefits" arrangement to try and get along for the sake of their friends and ultimately end up not only falling for one another but healing each other as well.
I love that we get to see our past book main characters and see how their HEA's are going and I love how at times this book is serious but at other it is side splitting hilarious.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

Meph wears humor like armor, Iris uses her pain like a knife, but both of them are broken at a sould deep level. But together, they have a chance of healing each other.

This is the first book in the series were I didn't really care for the FMC. Iris is a tough badass, but she can also be quite cruel; while I understand that it's her way of protecting herself, I've never been a fan of the "driving them away" method. Meph, however, I adored. We just get teeny, tiny pieces of his trauma, and those breadcrumbs are what kept me going. I especially loved the interactions between him and Eva's mother, and watching him grow through art.

This book took me awhile to get into, partially due to my dislike of Iris at the beginning, but once I was in, I was hooked. I will definitely be continuing the series, I can't wait to see the rest of the demons find their chance at happiness.

In the third book in the Hell Bent series, Aurora has done it AGAIN!!!

Told in third person multi-POV.

This time we have Meph and Iris Donovan. Iris is adjusting to her twin finding her soul mate, or as she knows Mist as — her boyfriend. He has a group of friends that put her on edge.

Meph is all things banter, angst, and definitely not a commitment type of guy. But watching him, and his decorated self, fall for Iris is everything I love and crave in my books.

Tropes: Demons, Found Family, Banter, Strong FMC, FWB, Monster Romance, Hate to Love, anxiety rep

While I did enjoy parts of it, I just never felt completely hooked. The chemistry between Meph and Iris was great: the banter, the tension, and their whole enemies-with-benefits dynamic kept things interesting. But for some reason, I didn’t feel as emotionally invested as I wanted to be.
Iris’s anger made sense given her past, and Meph’s hidden depth was a nice surprise, but I think I just struggled to connect with them fully. Some parts of the book felt a bit slow, and while the romance was fun, I wasn’t as obsessed with it as I was expecting. That said, the family moments were really sweet, and the spicy scenes? Definitely a bonus.

Overall, it was a solid read, just not my favourite in the series.

This is a spicy enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance with a Beauty and the Beast twist. I loved the first book by Aurora Ascher and this second book doesn't disappoint. If you don't like spicy, just skip those parts but the story writing is amazing! Highly recommend!

Demon with Benefits is a compelling blend of paranormal romance, humor, and emotional depth that Focuses on the jokester demon Meph and the fiercely independent witch Iris, the story delves into the complexities of their individual traumas and the unexpected connection that forms between them.
Ascher masterfully crafts two characters grappling with their inner demons (pun intended!). Meph, the outwardly lighthearted demon, hides a deep-seated darkness beneath his humor, making him instantly relatable. Iris, with her guarded heart and sharp tongue, is equally compelling. Her past trauma has left her wary of relationships, creating a fascinating push-and-pull dynamic with Meph.
The chemistry between Meph and Iris is electric. Ascher expertly balances the playful banter and simmering attraction with genuine emotional vulnerability. The "enemies-to-lovers" trope is well-executed, fueled by their shared vulnerabilities and the undeniable connection they try so hard to deny.
Beyond the romance, the story explores themes of overcoming trauma, embracing self-acceptance, and the importance of finding strength in vulnerability. The threat of a returning enemy adds a layer of suspense and forces Meph and Iris to confront their pasts and choose whether to fight for their future together.
Overall, this book is a highly enjoyable read for fans of paranormal romance, especially those who appreciate a healthy dose of humor and emotionally resonant characters.

Wow! The dark vibe and energy that the story radiates is addictive. The characters are easy to love with each of their personality traits and emotional hang ups. I would definitely classify this book as YA but I was still completely enamored and satisfied. Aurora Ascher did a great job bringing intense storylines to a depth of deep existential thought. It's really good in my opinion!

A witch who can't stand demons finds herself falling for the happy go lucky demon who has wormed his way under her skin. Iris has been deeply traumatized after seeing her parents be murdered by demons and has hated them ever since. Yet she's trying to get along with them better after her twin sister started dating a demon... the only demon she has an actual problem with is Meph, tattooed ,pierced up, and absolutely hot charming guy who is constantly joking. Iris can see past the jokester attitude and the calls him out on it... and Meph, who has always hidden behind his jokes and smile finds himself thrown. Meph hates human touch yet fell for Iris the moment he met her, yet for some reason she can't stand him. Despite how much they get under each other's skin, they can't deny the physical attraction they have for one another and decide to give in and become friend's with benefits. Meph isn't looking for a serious relationship and Iris is sick of always dating the worst guys, so why not enter into an easy no strings attached friends-with-benefits situation right? Too bad things only get out of hand as Meph's past drags him back to hell just as he is beginning to realize that he is in fact in love with Iris... and Iris has to open her heart up and face the difficulties she's been haunted by all her life if she wants to get her demon back. This is the third book in the amazing paranormal romance series and I also loved this one. The romance is so well done and both Meph and Iris are dealing with their own difficulties but grow and become better together. It's just such a well done romance and the character growth was great. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!!

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Although not as entertaining as the earlier books, Demon with Benefits still captures the humor and heart of the series. Ascher makes you invested in the characters.

I started reading this expecting something completely different and hating the simplistic writing style. BUT ended up loving it! The characters are unique and although Iris is a complete bitch and Meph is an idiot, they were both lovely. In fact all the demons are. I’ll definitely be checking out other book in the series.

This third installment was just as enjoyable as the second one! I was really interested as to how our new main characters would grapple with their chemistry and was pleasantly surprised. I'm a sucker for a no-strings attached romance, only for our main characters to fall for each other later on. The tension and heated gazes between the characters had me constantly kicking my feet up in the air and squealing the whole way through the book. I can't say too much else without spoiling certain parts of the story, but I would highly recommend this read for any lover of all things paranormal romance with dashes of witty humor.

This series just gets better and better. The character development is incredible, and I love that it's earned and Ascher's characters don't just change on a dime without the necessary growth. Meph deserves everything and more! And I love how much we see of characters from other books in the series. Peeking in to see how they're doing is so fun and adds something really special to this series.

I requested this in a moment of… I honestly don’t know, but somehow I missed that this is book 3, and also that is essentially pure romance with a bit of fantasy thrown in for kicks. It was alright, and I understand the story just fine without having read books 1 and 2, but… I can’t say that I ever really cared about the characters, and I don’t think I would have even if I had read the first volumes. There’s not a whole lot of depth here, and much (nearly all, now that I think about it) of the conflict came from poor communication between different characters.

Also, Meph was a caricature of Bad Boyness. And sweatpants and sneakers as formalwear is just… I don’t care how expensive your limited edition Nikes (child labour, look it up and watch a documentary, they’re evil) are. You wanna wear them to a formal party, then by all means, but don’t present it as equivalent to a suit and don’t expect me to be impressed.

3 stars because it’s not the author’s fault I wasn’t paying attention when I requested the ARC.