Book Review: A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch

If you left Sarah Hawley’s A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon wanting to punch Astaroth of the Nine in the face, then be prepared to fall head over heels in love as the bargaining demon takes center stage in the follow up, A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch, alongside the tough-yet-endearing Calladia.

The book picks up shortly after the events of Witch’s Guide. Astaroth arrives back on the mortal plane, with no idea how he got there or why, and definitely no idea why this witch named Calladia is so mad at him. For her part, Calladia can’t tell if Astaroth is messing with her — he did just try to steal her best friend’s soul after all — or if he genuinely can’t remember what happened, but her better nature takes over, and the two set out on a journey to try and restore his memory and figure out why another demon is in hot pursuit. 

Everything I loved about Witch’s Guide is doubled down on here. Like Mariel, Calladia struggles with an overbearing mother, but unlike Mariel, Calladia’s mother doesn’t exactly come from a place of love and good intentions, and it clearly has a profound effect on Calladia. It doesn’t define her entirely, but like any insecurity it subconsciously permeates many parts of her life. I love when a character is allowed to be messy like this, and to feel the effects of their upbringing, or their environment, or society around them and not just dismiss it all in the name of “confidence” or “strength.” There is strength in acknowledging the uglier parts of life too.

As for Astaroth, it’s a lot simpler: I’m just a girl who loves a redemption arc. Having him start from a place where he cannot even remember the parts of himself most in need of redemption, and having to work his way towards that is brilliant, because it forces him to really reckon with it at each step along  the way. It also removes enough of the initial objections Calladia would rightfully have about him, so that the two can see their way to a sweet, steamy romance while on a quest to save the mortal plane. 

A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch hits shelves on November 28. Special thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the advance copy for review purposes.