4.5 (659 ratings)

The Shadows That Listen (Angel Ruin, 1)

Name: The Shadows That Listen (Angel Ruin, 1)
Rating: 4.5 (659 reviews)
Author: Louisa Carmody
ISBN: 0316604909

by Louisa Carmody

demons

About this book

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An unputdownable dystopian romantasy with a delicious slow burn romance, from debut author Louisa Carmody. Perfect for fans of Crescent City and Shadowhunters.

It's been five years since the world was brought to its knees by an immortal war. Daemons crawled from the depths of hell and the sky bled gold as the angels arrived. Humanity thought it was saved, but the angels did not come to protect us.

Amara is a human warrior working for the Angel Intelligence Agency. She spends her days searching for those who don't make it home after curfew. But when her boyfriend Jeremy goes missing, she decides to venture into the shadows to bring him back. Even if it means death.

Nathaniel is an archangel tasked with leading the destruction of humanity, for which he cares little. He doesn't have time to protect little humans running around in the dark, especially those who stab him in the stomach.

But Nathaniel and Amara will soon realise they share a foe, one that lurks in the shadows and stalks them from the skies. She might long to kill him, but Amara knows that having an angel at her side is the only way to find the man she loves. The shadows lengthen. They listen. Who will survive the night?

See why readers are obsessed with The Shadows That Listen:

"The slow burn will they won't they romance was torture." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I refused to go to sleep because I couldn't stop reading!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"This book got me out of a reading slump, I read it in two days and can't stop thinking about it." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: 0316604909

Reader Reviews

Not a single complaint!

April 13, 2025

I read a lot. Too much probably. This is one of the best reads of the year so far for me. I was hesitant because I'm not crazy about angel stories, but man did I love this story. The relationships here don't feel like plot devices. They all feel real and you feel personally invested in the characters. Non stop action, perfect banter, steamy tension. The lore and world building is crazy! Some of the big reveals I definitely saw coming but I wasn't mad about it. I still wanted to read it and feel...

Dystopian War Between Angels and Demons on Earth

April 26, 2025

I found this book because of TikTok. I saw a random video with the author looking over her reviews, and they were all very positive. This was quite a surprising adventure. FMC thought the love of her life was gone forever taken by a demon in the dead of night when he was out past curfew. Everyone told her he was gone, but she went on into the unknown to find him. She was trained to battle these demons and protect the people. An angel helps her discover the truth. I hope there will be more from...

Stayed up way too late, lost sleep, didn't care, the plot is that good!

December 14, 2025

Tropes: Enemies to reluctant allies; Slow burn tension; Forced proximity; Post‑apocalyptic world; Angels vs. daemons war; Missing‑lover rescue quest; Grumpy x sassy dynamic; Hidden‑identity twist; High‑stakes partnership Vibe: Intense, fast‑paced, and addictive; Dark, war‑torn world with rich lore; Sharp banter and electric tension; Emotional, character‑driven stakes; Mystery‑heavy, action‑packed, and immersive I tore through this book in under two days! stayed up way too late, lost sleep, and...

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK.

June 1, 2025

If I could give this more than 5 stars I absolutely would. Holy crap, it was SO good. It’s the kind of story you know you’re always wanting to read about angels and demons but, it hasn’t necessarily been written yet so you wait and wait for it.. only to read it, and be blown away. I can’t believe more people aren’t gushing about this story, I can’t get enough of it and I cannot wait to read the second book. (Begs on her knees for the second book). I’m so impressed by Louisa Carmody, and this...

Good premise but needs work

November 4, 2025

The story has potential but the writing isn’t great. For example, in one instance she says she’d do anything to have a sword and then when she does have it (a page later), she doesn’t know how to use it. A decent amount of repetition (lots of head tilting, chin lifting, etc). Lots of over explanation instead of trusting the reader to remember something mentioned in the previous pages/chapter. I think with a good editor, this book could be stellar. )