Demons and Diplomacy
Author: Megan Frampton
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: A
What I’m Talking About:
In the mid-1800s, London experienced The Great Revelation, an event which introduced humankind to the supernatural beings who live among them, including their vampiric ruler, Queen Victoria. A few short years later, Cora finds herself a job as the Species Ombudsman, a human who works to keep the peace between all of the newly emerged supernatural beings. After only seven months on the job, she is highly regarded and trusted to deal with any kerfuffle. Which is why she’s going to be the Devil’s liaison as he visits London to take in the sights and visit the opening of the Great Exhibition. Her contact for all things is the Devil’s eldest, Marcellus, the Marquis of Hell, who is just about the most handsome being Cora has ever met.
Demons and Diplomacy is such a fun read. There is humor, romance, adventure, and heart. I love how Cora and Marcellus are so much the same despite coming from different places with different morality codes and expectations. They can still be their unique selves, different from one another, but support each other. Frampton exquisitely expresses their mutual desire, longing, and need. I love how they can want, but also remain calm to get the job done.
The story is filled with witty jokes, silly humor, and double entendres. For example, Cora has a cane which has many useful tools like a tea strainer and pen. Or the interludes between chapters, taken from “An Incomplete Guide to Navigating Supernatural Species in the Post-Revelation World.” Or Cora’s first kiss with Marcellus, “But this kiss was far beyond anything I’d experienced before (my apologies, Fred the greengrocer; you were good but not demon-kiss good).” [Chapter Six]
The humor is delicious, but I also appreciate the life lessons found in the excerpts from the Incomplete Guide to Navigating Supernatural Species. There are solid rules and advice for being a good human. I love that Cora embraces differences in cultures, species, and ways of thinking, which is why she’s so good at her job. It’s also such a great headspace to live in with all of the real world crap going on right now.
Demons and Diplomacy is one of my favorite reads so far this year. Cora is a lovely human with delightful friends who care about her despite being different species. Marcellus and Cora fall hard for one another, and through compromise and mutual support, they make it work. I cannot wait to read more in this world!
My Rating: A Loved It
Jen
About the Book:
A tantalizing pact between an ordinary woman and the silver-tongued son of the Devil is all that stands between Britain—and all hell breaking loose.
1851, London. All supernatural species have emerged from hiding, a result of The Great Revelation, led by Her Majesty, the vampiric Queen Victoria, and her dhamphir consort, Prince Albert.
Cora Hastings is the British government’s Species Ombudsman, a human tasked with keeping the peace between supernatural creatures. It’s run-of-the-mill work: enforcing the newly created shifting parameters, negotiating contracts between species, and generally making certain all Londoners are treated equally.
That is, until the Devil himself decides he wants to leave his hellish home and see the results of Prince Albert’s greatest accomplishment, the Great Exhibition. His arrival could upset the uneasy peace between creatures, and worse—he’s brought his son.
The Marquis of Hell is diabolically good-looking, unnaturally perceptive, and, well, a demon. Cora navigates her sinfully seductive diplomatic assignment as best she can, until she catches wind of a secret conspiracy set to come to fruition at the opening of the Great Exhibition. This leaves her with an impossible choice: Either Cora enters an unholy alliance with the Devil’s son, or she watches as her world is torn asunder….
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Publisher: Berkley
Series: Ministry of Supernatural Affairs #1
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (352 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Publisher / NetGalley