4.3 (14 ratings)

Awakening the Demon: A Cozy Fantasy Spicy Monster Romance (Demons of the Rift Book 1)

Name: Awakening the Demon: A Cozy Fantasy Spicy Monster Romance (Demons of the Rift Book 1)
Rating: 4.3 (14 reviews)
Author: Evelyn Embers
ISBN: B0GMB2CW46

by Evelyn Embers

demons

About this book

I fell down a hole and landed in a demon’s garden bed. Literally.

I’m a botanist, not a dimension-hopper. But when the ground swallows me whole, I wake up in a cave with Rylik—a towering, horned demon with claws that could shred me and a…knitting hobby?

He’s not the monster the stories warned me about. He’s a grumpy, touch-starved hermit who weaves blankets, desperately wants to grow a garden in the dark, and looks at me like I’m the sun itself.

I should be terrified. I should be trying to find a way home. Instead, I’m teaching him about irrigation, wearing his shirts, and realizing that his "protective" growls make my knees weak. But we aren't alone in the Demon Realm. The Demon King is watching, and he doesn't like unregistered humans.

Now Rylik has to choose: his safe, solitary life, or the messy, dangerous, undeniable love growing between us.

Awakening the Demon is a cozy, high-heat monster romance featuring:

A possessive, cinnamon roll hero who weaves A capable, smart heroine Size difference & praise Forced proximity in a cozy cave No pregnancy & No third-act breakup! Guaranteed HEA!

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B0GMB2CW46

Reader Reviews

4 Stars

May 8, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review — Awakening the Demon by Evelyn Embers Okay but why was this lowkey the coziest monster romance I’ve read in a minute?? We’ve got a botanist FMC accidentally falling into the demon realm (literally) and landing in the care of Rylik… a big, scary-looking demon who is actually just a grumpy, touch-starved cinnamon roll who KNITS??? I’m sorry??? I was sold immediately. Rylik is THAT MMC. Protective, soft where it counts, a little growly, and completely gone for her. The way he...

Cozy High-Heat Monster Romance with Mature Characters and Incredible Character-Driven Steam

April 24, 2026

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5 rounded up) Cozy cave setting. A 38-year-old botanist. A centuries-old demon who actually communicates. Awakening the Demon surprised me in all the best ways — and I was thrilled to snag an ARC! I’d never read Evelyn Embers before, and this fantastic story committed me to reading the rest of the series and checking out her other work. The premise hooked me immediately: a brilliant botanist tumbles into a demon’s cozy cave home. Forced proximity quickly ignites into some of...

Dark Demon Romance!

April 24, 2026

Awakening the Demon by Evelyn Embers delivers a dark and seductive paranormal romance that is packed with desire, supernatural intrigue, and danger. In this book we follow along side the FMC as she navigates her new reality of having fallen into the demon world where she meets the demon MMC. One of the biggest things I fell in love with while reading this novel is the instant connection between Audrey and Rylik. While their romance might have burned host and fast, it was balanced out by the...

Audrey and Rylik

April 24, 2026

Freelance botanist Audrey is on a solo assignment to investigate unsubstantiated claims of a never before seen glowing plant specimen in a remote, difficult to access area. After hiking out to the spot, setting up her camp, and awaiting nightfall, she’s in the midst of a methodical search grid when she spots the barely there luminescence. As she carefully photographs and delicately excises a small specimen, she falls through a massive hole below the plant, and loses consciousness when a giant,...

Finding love while exploring!!??

April 25, 2026

I received an ARC from Ms. Embers.... I devoured this book!!! I was completely 🔒 after seeing how Audrey was determined to find a new discovery 😔...I just knew would more than she bargained for.🫣🫣 Her discovery Awakened something in Rylik , the kind red Demon that just wanted to farm...Well, plowing is definitely What they did!!!💋🥵😊😈 )