A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon by Hannah Reynolds

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✦ BLURB ✦

As a scholarship student at the magical Lyceum, Naomi would rather focus on deciphering ancient scrolls than dating. Especially since the only boys asking her out are less interested in a night in Naomi’s company than an introduction to her influential aunt.

So Naomi devises an excuse to turn down her persistent suitors: She claims to be betrothed to a demon.

Her story works perfectly. Until she arrives home one night and finds the demon Daziel lounging in her rooms, insisting he’s her betrothed. Naomi knows he’s lying—after all, the betrothal was never real—but the gorgeous and infuriating demon is surprisingly resistant to her banishing spells. And with his penchant for baking and home décor, it’s not so bad having him around.

Besides, she has other worries—like the ancient scroll she’s trying to translate, and the way the city’s magic has become suddenly unstable. But the more Naomi learns about the scroll, and the more she gets to know Daziel, the more it seems like she might be at the center of something bigger than she could have imagined.

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✶ PRE-READING ✶

Honestly? Making up a fake demon fiancee to avoid dates sounds like something I'd do. The blurb sounds like a light, maybe-cosy fantasy with some magical mishaps attached - perfect for a cosy winter's evening.

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✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought... So cute. Daziel wants so badly to fit in, and watching him make friends with Naomi's circles was a lot of fun. There's the usual problem that could have been avoided easily with some talking, but I was expecting that.

It surprised me by... I hadn't realised how much of this is based on Jewish folklore and customs. The demons and magic system are new, but a lot of the small details - names, groups - are from that culture. It made for an interesting read.

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✦ MUSIC PAIRING ✦

Because sometimes, the heart of a story plays out like a song.

Featured Song:

“Honey and Glass” – Peyton
Soft, sweet, but with a sparkle — perfect for a demon who bakes and a scholar who did not sign up for this.

Vibe Album:

“Wilder Mind” – Mumford & Sons
For the blend of gentle magic, academic longing, and emotional undercurrent.

Artist Recommendation:

Hozier
Because: mythology-adjacent vibes, sultry demon energy, and dramatic magical tension. You cannot go wrong.

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🎨 Vibe Check

• Colour Palette: Honey gold, parchment ivory, demon-red accents, midnight blue study-room shadows

• Soundtrack: Soft magical ambience + lo-fi study beats + unexpected warm percussion

• Season: Late autumn - candles, libraries, chilly walks, warm kitchens

• Mood: “I swear this is not a romance… okay FINE maybe it is.”

• Scent: Spiced pastries + old books + a faint whiff of brimstone but in a homely way

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📚 For Fans Of

Book: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (cosy academic fantasy + prickly scholar)
TV/Movie: Good Omens (demon + soft domesticity + larger cosmic stakes)

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

🔮 TAROT PULL — The Lovers (Wizards Tarot)

In this deck, The Lovers stand wreathed in twin flames - his a warm, golden blaze; hers a cooler, blue-white fire - reaching toward each other beneath a glowing pentacle suspended overhead. It’s a card of choice, yes, but also of alignment: two forces meeting in the middle, willing to risk the burn because the connection is worth it.

For Practical Guide to Dating a Demon, it fits beautifully: that mix of spark, danger, attraction, and “wait, are we really doing this?” chemistry. The card hints at the book’s core tension - choosing someone who upends your life in ways that are both terrifying and exhilarating, and learning how to stand side by side without losing your own flame.