Base Instincts, by Larissa Ione (A Demonica Novel)
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (September 14, 2015)
Page Count: approx. 150
Genre: Gay (M/M) Paranormal/Erotica; M/F and M/M/F

Rating: 4 out of 5

* I was given an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. *

If you’re looking for a short and sexy read, then look no further! This novel goes from smoldering to outright burning hot, and I was torn between flipping pages and fanning myself!

As a Seminus demon, Raze’s life literally depends on having sex with females. The problem is that he doesn’t desire females, and it’s physically impossible for him to be with males. Thankfully, he and his best friend, Fayle, have an arrangement that keeps him alive… if lonely. He finds some solace in his work as a medic at Thirst, a vampire club known for its rough clientele. But his carefully structured world turns upside down when he meets a mysterious male who makes him want what he can never have.

Slake is an assassin used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is Raze. But he also wants to earn back the soul he sold when he was a much different demon. All he has to do is capture a runaway succubus named Fayle and hand her over to her family. What he doesn’t count on is being caught himself by a web of lies—and his attraction to Raze.

Raze and Slake must navigate a dangerous world to be together. But as Fayle’s jealousy of their relationship turns deadly, they find themselves embroiled in a battle not only for their love, but their lives and souls.

I’m a sucker for plots like this, where some outside source is preventing the two lovers from being together. Mmh, lovely, lovely angst!

Fayle and Raze’s relationship is a great point of conflict. It actually reads as a textbook abusive relationship to me, as Fayle keeps guilting Raze into staying with her, and denying him sex (which he literally cannot live without) when she’s angry with him. And every time she hurts him, he finds a reason to forgive her.

Thankfully Slake is able to show Raze what it’s like to be loved and taken care of. And I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t go into Slake’s background too much, but his character was fantastic and very well done I thought! I definitely didn’t see the plot twist coming with him.

Even though everything is working against them, Slake and Raze refuse to give up, and slowly their mutual attraction turns to something more.

The only downside was that the end felt very rushed. The plot and the action were fantastic, but everything was wrapped up in the end a bit too neatly and quickly. I felt a bit cheated, to be honest, because the rest of the book had been so detailed and character-driven.

Larissa has created an intricate world of demons and other paranormal beings with her Demonica universe, and Base Instincts does an amazing job of exploring the mythology alongside the characters. I’ve never read any of the other books in the series, but I didn’t feel lost at all with this book.

Super enjoyable, and you should absolutely check it out! I’m going to add the entire Demonica series to my TBR list, but especially Revenant, since his character cameos here and was delightful!

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