Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: The Demon’s in the Details
AUTHOR: Meghan Maslow
NARRATOR: Greg Boudreaux
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 6 hours and 38 minutes
RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2021
BLURB:
The Demon’s in the Detail
Can a sexy demon really spin straw into gold?
Poe Dupin, raven shifter and thief extraordinaire, is in trouble with a capital ‘T.’ Not only did he get his wing caught in the cookie jar during his latest heist, but his loser stepdad, the alpha, seems determined to run their roost into the ground. And Baltimore is many things, but forgiving is not on the list.
When his stepdad puts the roost in peril, Poe sees no choice but to bargain with Charm City’s only demon, Tommy Tittoti. Rumors are that Tommy eats the souls of those foolish enough to try. Three strikes and you’re out. But really, Poe wasn’t using his soul anyway. And if it saves his roost? Worth it.
Tommy isn’t what Poe expects. Demon – huge, horned, hairy, and scary, right? Nope. Blond, gorgeous, with a bubble butt, and a lilting drawl that beckons Poe to come play. Total hookup-app fantasy material. Even if he is a murder twink.
Poe’s no angel, but Tommy…well he’s more devil than demon. Yet, Poe just can’t seem to keep his feathers out of the fire. As one bargain turns into two, and then a third tragedy strikes the ravens, Poe finds himself falling for a guy who may very literally be the death of him. Or maybe the flames will burn them both.
The Demon’s in the Details is a fast-paced roller coaster of a romance with a guaranteed HEA and lots of steam. Shenanigans include: a gold object that is definitely not a ring, a best friend who’s trigger-happy, and a demon who’s got a few surprises up his, uh, sleeve.
Previously published in the Fables Retold Anthology. Around 60,000 words. No new content has been added.
REVIEW:
The Demon’s in the Details is a wholly absorbing spin on the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin. Meghan Maslow remakes the story of an otherworldly creature (perhaps fairy, maybe the devil, definitely demonic) with great power and wicked intent into a contemporary, paranormal romance. Poe represents the Miller’s daughter, caught in a desperate plight brought on by the impossible predicaments caused by his stepfather. Rumpelstiltskin (called Tom Tit Tot in England), aka Tommy Tittoti (get it?), takes advantage of the plight to his benefit through very carefully worded bargains.
There’s something about the Rumpelstiltskin tale that calls to me. Maybe it’s the lawyer in me, but the examination of the bargains, looking for the loopholes in the language, and anticipating the no doubt unexpected outcome that results, is simply addictive. As they say, the devil’s demon’s in the details, and the details are fascinating indeed.
Tommy’s also fascinating. In Ms. Maslow’s retelling, she makes him morally ambiguous yet consistently honest with Poe, going against his inherent demonic nature, often at significant cost. Poe, for his part, is a raven shifter (lots of clever Edgar Allen Poe references here) who puts everyone’s welfare above his own. This is what drives him to ask for bargain after bargain from Tommy. The push-pull between these two creates a dynamic, unpredictable relationship that is difficult to look away from. But you won’t want to anyway because they fit together so well. The sex is off the charts hot as hell. Apropos for our demon. There’s also action, scheming, and a whole lot of mischief, including a little suspense for good measure.
Greg Boudreaux provides even more depth to this story in the way he embodies the characters. I loved his southern accent for Tommy. It’s a faithful execution that conveys complex emotions beneath a seeming innocent simplicity. Admittedly, Ms. Maslow’s depiction of Tommy as smooth as silk, a southern gentleman delivering cutesy “sugar” pet names, seems incongruous with his character. However, I suppose him being from the South makes sense, given he is a demon from the depths of hell.
Mr. Boudreaux’s narration has an easy, accessible smoothness and fluidity to it that embodies Tommy perfectly. His portrayal of Poe is equally skilled and impactful. Overall, Mr. Boudreaux displays his remarkable skill in vocalizing the words on the page with proper inflections and plenty of emotion. What I love most about Mr. Boudreaux is that he knows how to tell a story. His vocal performance is effortless and easy to fall into, just like listening to someone reading you a Grimm fairytale by the fire.
I highly recommend this fun, engaging, often funny, and subtly romantic story. It’s an absorbing, enjoyable way to spend a few hours wrapped up in Mr. Boudreaux’s euphonious tones.
RATING: 
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