Book Review: Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong

Book reviews

17 Sept

Stephanie Chong- Where Demons Fear to Tread Format- ebook Source- Netgalley review copy Synopsis: Fledging guardian angel and yoga teacher Serena St. Clair dares enter Devil's Paradise nightclub on a mission—to retrieve the wayward Hollywood "It Boy" she's assigned to protect. But she's ambushed by the club's owner, arch demon Julian Ascher. The most powerful demonic entity in Los Angeles, Julian is handsome as sin, a master of temptation who loves nothing more than corrupting pleasure–seeking humans. He won't release the lost soul Serena is supposed to guard. Unless she accepts his dangerous wager…After the disastrous way his human life ended, Julian vowed that no woman would get the better of him again. Yet this sexy–sweet angel, smelling of fresh ocean air and happiness, triggers centuries–old feelings. Now, their high–stakes game of seduction, where angels fall from grace and where demons fear to tread, will lead them either to an eternity in hell.or a deliciously hot heaven.Review: The moment archangel Serena steps into the Devil’s Paradise nightclub and encounters the archdemon Julian she knows she is in trouble. There is a surge of lust and chemistry between them despite their polarised lifestyles. Serena has never experienced love, only being an angel for less than a year; she is still learning the ropes when she is assigned celebrity bad boy Nick. Julian has not experienced love for a long time with his humanity slowly deteriorating over the past 2 centuries of his demon existence. Nick becomes wrapped up in Julian’s nightclub lifestyle and Serena struggles to keep him above the water. Julian manipulates Serena into accompanying him to Las Vegas for a week and their forced time together softens their feelings for each other. They face the very real problem of being together intimately as Serena could become a fallen angel and end up in the pits of hell.I was intrigued by the synopsis of the story even though it was predictable that Julian would turn from bad to good because of his love for Serena. However, when I started to read this story I was really not sure that I would like it. Serena, although consistent with her angel demeanour is very naïve and innocent but she also seemed to be quite helpless and I was frustrated that she just went along with Julian’s manipulating tactics- I just wanted to her get angry with him rather than let him get away with it. Julian, I did not find appealing in the least. Of course he is the good-looking bad boy and playing the manipulative demon role, but in terms of his relationship with Serena, he was really quite controlling and I saw little potential in him initially. He did grow on me eventually, but I still feel like Serena was manipulated into falling for him- only for him to fall for her too and it all to work out okay. The ending was a little rushed but it opened up storylines for the sequel.I did enjoy this story in the end, but I found the characters frustrating, slightly shallow and the ending was predictable. I probably wouldn’t read the sequel.