THE DEMONIC INVENTIONS OF AURELIE BLAKE

Demons conjured by original creations plague the kingdom of Wisteria.

Even a dream can unleash a demon. Eighteen-year-old Aurelie Blake knows her secret inventions, which ease her loneliness, are risky, but she believes they’re worth the reward: progress for society. When Mr. Everard, a stranger, arrives at the university where Aurelie lives with her uncle, who’s the dean, he offers her a lucrative but dangerous proposal: He wants her to build something that’s “near impossible” but would create a world in which “invention is welcomed, not feared.” Mr. Everard’s presence draws the attention of the Iron Guard, a demon-hunting military force, and soon Aurelie is caught in their sights as well. Des Whitlow, a stoic Iron Guard member, is assigned to follow her. At first, Des and Aurelie clash, their personalities and appearances seemingly at odds: He’s a towering soldier, gray-eyed with “ridiculous muscles” and skin that’s tanned from time in the sun; she’s doll-like—so small her feet dangle in midair when she sits in chairs—pale-skinned, green-eyed, and bookish. Rutherford repeatedly emphasizes their physical contrast. As they’re forced together, Aurelie and Des discover shared histories of loss and isolation that draw them closer. The initially slow pacing lingers on the pair’s mutual irritation before their relationship turns romantic. Still, the book features a cast of engaging main and supporting characters who are worth rooting for. The open ending clearly sets the stage for the duology closer.

A well-characterized fantasy that’s best suited to patient readers.