A practical guide to dating a demon / Hannah Reynolds.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A student finds herself accidentally betrothed to a demon--and investigating his connection to the magical irregularities plaguing her city--in this cozy, whimsical YA romantasy, perfect for readers of Legends & Lattes .

"Devilishly delightful, Hannah Reynolds weaves a rich tapestry of a world filled with complex magical systems, archaeological mysteries and a fake-dating story for the ages. Naomi and Daziel are captivating together, every witty and clever exchange dancing off the page." --C.B. Lee, New York Times bestselling author of Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe

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.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 10 Up--Reynolds's (Summer Nights and Meteories) latest novel blends Jewish culture and mythology with a supernatural, fake-relationship romance. Naomi attends school in Talum, where strange weather patterns begin to cause worry and unrest. Naomi is concerned but has problems of her own, with multiple suitors drawn to the status of her diplomat aunt. Attempting to deter them, she fabricates a betrothal with a demon. The story is effective--until she suddenly finds a real demon in her room. Despite all her attempts to banish Daziel, he remains and wears her down until they strike a deal, allowing him to stay. As time goes on, they settle into a familiar rhythm, with Daziel integrating into her social circle and school life. Meanwhile, Naomi immerses herself in deciphering ancient scrolls with her classmates. Connections emerge as the unnatural occurrences increase and Naomi's relationship with Daziel progresses into something more. They soon find themselves facing implications and circumstances that go far beyond Talum. This story offers a good dose of humor, charm, and themes of discrimination, as well as a likable protagonist who is given both autonomy and a relationship. The unresolved ending hints at a sequel, leaving readers wanting. VERDICT With its charming supernatural relationship in a fantasy academia setting, blended with humor, and the adventure and intensity of end-of-the-world stakes, this will appeal to fans of Harry Potter.--Christine Juedes

Booklist Review

Deterring suitors by claiming betrothal to an imaginary demon is all fun and games until it turns out the demon is very real and very resistant to banishment. As one of the star pupils working to decrypt a totally unknown ancient language, Naomi has better things to attend to than Daziel, her demonic accidental fiancé. However, somewhere between the endearing way Daziel takes to human affects and the help he offers Naomi's studies, romantic interest begins to stir between the two--until the fate of the world becomes involved and things get complicated. This deeply Jewish stab at romantasy offers fascinating world building with a competent, competitive heroine who falls in love with a sweet, powerful demon as she stumbles into a quest to save the world from supernatural environmental disaster. With a conversational narrative style that never gets particularly dark despite personal betrayal and rising stakes and a main character who brings quite a bit of common sense to the table, Reynolds' step into the fantastical is a welcome breath of fresh air in this popular genre. Notably, there is no need to hand-wave a multi-century age gap in this PG romance; Daziel is Naomi's age. With fast pacing and a plot that stands its ground alongside the romance, this is a well-rounded must-read for fantasy and romance lovers alike.

Kirkus Book Review

A fake demon fiancé becomes inconveniently real when a scholarship student's romantic dodge backfires spectacularly. Eighteen-year-old Naomi bat Yardena, who presents white and Jewish, wants nothing more than to study cryptography at the prestigious Lyceum. But persistent suitors seeking access through her to her influential aunt inspire Naomi to tell an elaborate lie about being engaged to a demon. The ruse backfires when bronze-skinned Daziel, an actual demon, materializes in her dorm, insisting that their betrothal is real. As Naomi grapples with her spell-resistant supernatural lodger--who brings her croissants and uses his powers to improve her living space--the natural magic around the nation of Ena-Cinnai becomes dangerously unpredictable. Daziel's domestic charm masks a hidden agenda, which might have something to do with the destabilizing disasters and the ancient scrolls Naomi is deciphering. The magic system is intertwined with letterform spellcasting and primordial beasts that govern natural forces. Naomi emerges as a pragmatic, driven hero, while Daziel's initial deception gives way to genuine vulnerability. Their romance showcases genuine affection built on shared experiences, support, and easy banter. The secondary cast members, including Naomi's cryptography cohort and dorm-mates, serve their narrative functions well, although some figures lack the depth their important roles warrant. Although the pacing occasionally stumbles under multiple subplots, the central mystery provides satisfying stakes beyond the romance. Jewish cultural and religious elements throughout the worldbuilding enrich the book. A cozy fantasy that intertwines academic intrigue, magical peril, and slow-burn supernatural romance.(Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.