The Demon's Daughter by Paula Altenburg
A demon-hunting dystopian cowboy romance? Uh, yes , please!

Well, this was a pleasant little surprise and such an unusual setting, making it unlike anything I've read before. I'm really glad I picked it up.

The story follows Hunter, a demon slayer, and Airie, a half demon, in a new world set 350 years past our own, on a planet now scoured by demon winds, our buildings, cities, and, well, everything buried under mountains of sand. The setting and style couldn't have been more interesting if it tried. Add to that the cowboy-like clothing and a population reverted back to a much simpler way of life in the now arid and harsh environment, and I was sold from the get go. I mean, who can resists a sexy demon hunter in a leather duster? Not me, that's for sure.

The writing style and story development was very easy to find a rhythm with, even though the POV shifts between more than just the two love interests, which is something a little different from a lot of PNRs. It gave the story-telling a well-rounded feel, one I enjoyed immensely.

Our heroine, Airie, was another Rapunzel-esque character with an incredibly sheltered upbringing. I seem to be on a bit of a run of those at the moment. It makes her seem naive in some respects, but her strength is undeniable. And watching her growth is, of course, part of the fun.

Hunter was a deliciously layered character, too; the reluctant hero. His life is nomadic, drifting and without a base other than Freetown where his friend—someone he saved from Demons many years ago—runs a saloon. It's also where Mamna, a priestess, manages to track him down to offer him a proposal: Bring her a troublesome thief down off the mountain, and receive a handsome reward. One suspiciously overgenerous for the task.

The best thing about THE DEMON'S DAUGHTER for me was, by far, the wordbuilding. Even overshadowing the romance. Normally, I might say that was a problem in a romance novel—even a genre romance—but in this instance, for a first-in-series, it was absolutely necessary as the setting was so unique.

Because of that concentration on set up, however, the romance lacked a tiny bit of punch. Only a tiny bit, mind. A couple more intimate scenes would have done the trick to solve it. A few more happy fun times. But overall, the romance was enjoyable and sweet, and the addition of Scratch was a real bonus. He was so cute for a character that doesn't speak!.

Would I recommend? Yes, absolutely, and I'll definitely read the next one.

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.