My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/DAW for an eARC of this book to read and review.

This book was heartbreaking. It had everything that I thought I would love.

Kick-@ss Asian heroines? Check!

Who have super-powers? Check!

Demon cupcakes? Check!

Big Bad that our heroines have to stop in order to save the world? Check!

Then WHY didn't this book grab me? Why isn't it ringing my bells? Why does it make me sad?

I didn't like the f-bombs. The first scene, we have two f-bombs back-to-back. Completely not necessary. The MC is 26, but acts more like she's sixteen, which made the bad language confusing. GORGEOUS cover, but not YA, it's NA.

MC ONLY eats Lucky Charms cereal, without the purple marshmallows, for the last six years or so. Not possible, unless her superpower is being able to eat a non-nutritious diet and not die or be hospitalized due to malnutrition. Though the scene where she eats the cheese stuffed fig is unintentionally funny/sad, because IT WAS THE BEST THING SHE EVER ATE!!! Which makes sense, if her body is so starved for nutrients and all she's had to eat is a sugary breakfast cereal.

The MC's younger sister is a HORRIBLE B-WORD. Like seriously, I know she's Been Through Stuff, but really? Sneaking into the alcohol cabinet and getting drunk in public, being a complete BRAT to her older sister who is trying to support both of them, not going to school and being RUDE to her sister? I hate it. And also, if the MC doesn't drink, WHY KEEP THE LIQUOR CABINET IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?!? Just get RID of it, one less thing to worry about!

Any WHY was everyone trying to get the MC to change? She was HAPPY the way she was and with her job. I didn't really see any evidence that she was lying to herself about that. Yet EVERYone was SO concerned and trying to change her life FOR her. That's not healthy either! If she is in an unhealthy relationship and she has heard you out about it, trying to force the issue isn't going to help her. She needs to get there on her own.

And the love interest just came out of NOwhere. He was a coworker she really didn't like or get along much with. They rotated who bought the groceries, and he would never go for his turn, because his science in the basement was more important. I would be angry too. I would then also put a lock on the fridge that he didn't have the key/combo to. He doesn't want to go get the food? He doesn't get to eat the food others get. PULL YOUR OWN DAM WEIGHT SCIENCE GUY!!!

So anyway, our MC is having an emotional melt-down, her dress gets torn, wet and see-through. He comes in and tries to warm her up with his jacket. All of a sudden, she experiences LUST for him. A man she doesn't get along with. Who shirks his duties, because he's special. That is where I stopped. I can see HOW being emotionally vulnerable and in a state of non-dress can make one think things that they wouldn't normally think, but it just went from action/adventure/horrible home & family life to ROMANCE!!!!

It just wasn't coming all together for me; it didn't grab me. DNF at 31%. A close friend of mine really liked it, so it's not the book. I just don't think this is a good book for me at this time. 2 stars. I was going to go with three stars, but three stars equals "liked it" and I didn't. Two stars is "it's ok", which this was. I didn't hate it and I really loved that we had two heroines who are POC. I think that was handled very well. The rest of it, not so much. Not poorly written, but not for me.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher on netgalley.

the conceit is fun and for the most part the characters are enjoyable and true to themselves. there was a point about a fourth in where I was really enjoying it and slightly surprised by that fact. but as it continued it felt as if the main character, evie, had no real flaws. everytime there was any kind of conflict or opposition she just solved it with what felt like zero fuss. basically at no point was I concerned about the fate of any of them. it never felt like they were in actual danger and I just wish there had been a little more suspense. but overall it was quite fun with some unexpected steamy sex.