The Book of Azrael
A mortal woman is pulled into deadly divine conflict and a dangerous connection with an immortal enemy in Amber V. Nicole's mythologically rich dark fantasy romance.
Read our full reviewAt a glance
Pages618
First published2022
SettingMulti-realm fantasy world, ancient and contemporary
AudienceAdult
ISBN1496758048
Readers who finished it
Be one of the first readers to answer.
Read it? Was it right for you?
The Book of Azrael
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for: Romantasy readers who want their central love story embedded in genuine epic fantasy stakes — multiple realms, centuries of mythology, and a morally complex shapeshifter heroine — and who are happy to commit to a long, slow-burn series with an active BookTok community behind it.
Worth it? Skip it? Read the full verdict →Ask LuvemBooks
Was this helpful?
The Book of Azrael is an epic fantasy romance following Dianna — a shapeshifter who surrendered her humanity a millennium ago to save her sister — and Samkiel, the World Ender and God King hiding from his own crown, as their collision across multiple realms ignites a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story of genuine cosmic stakes. Endorsed by major romance authors including Brynne Weaver and Raven Kennedy, it is the ideal next read for fans already at home in large-scale romantasy series who want morally complex characters and expansive world-building. Readers who prefer tightly contained stories or a faster romantic payoff should know the 600-plus page investment is front-loaded with mythology and world-building before the central relationship reaches full ignition.
- Is it worth reading?
- For readers already invested in the romantasy genre — particularly those who have worked through comparably large series by authors like Sarah J. Maas or Kerri Maniscalco — The Book of Azrael is a compelling next title. Its BookTok-driven ascent is backed by substantive praise from fellow authors: Raven Kennedy calls it 'a wicked ride from beginning to heart shattering end,' and Hannah Nicole Maehrer highlights Dianna as a 'morally corrupt heroine who you can't help but root for.' The key caveat is scale — at 600-plus pages with a complex multi-realm mythology, it rewards patient readers far more than those looking for a quick romantic payoff.
- Similar books
- Readers drawn to The Book of Azrael's blend of morally complex characters, slow-burn romance, and high-stakes fantasy world-building will find strong matches among the curated titles below. The Throne of Broken Gods by Amber V. Nicole is the direct sequel and the natural next step. When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker and One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig both deliver the morally gray leads and dark fantasy atmosphere that define the Gods and Monsters series. Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber shares the mythology-inflected romantasy tone, while The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab explores a similarly centuries-spanning bargain with a monstrous power at its core.
- Who should read this?
- The Book of Azrael is designed for readers who want their romantasy to carry genuine emotional and worldly stakes — not a light fling with a fantasy backdrop, but a full-scale epic in which the central relationship is intertwined with the fate of multiple realms. It is a natural fit for fans already at home with large romantasy series, particularly those who enjoy comparably ambitious works by Sarah J. Maas, Jasmine Mas, Penn Cole, or Kerri Maniscalco. Its BookTok origins also mean it arrives with a ready-made reader community — an active social dimension that suits its scope. Readers who prefer tightly contained plots or faster romantic payoffs are likely to find the 600-plus page build demanding.
- About Amber V. Nicole
- Amber V. Nicole is an international and USA Today bestselling author of dark fantasy novels, including the Gods and Monsters series. She incorporates elements of horror into her writing and has a fondness for morally gray characters. When not writing, she enjoys playing video games and obsessing over anime.
- Why is this book trending?
- The Book of Azrael and its sequel The Throne of Broken Gods are dominating BookTok right now, with fans posting about the Gods and Monsters series non-stop heading into Fall 2026. The series' BookTok momentum is nothing new — it was a viral phenomenon on the platform long before traditional publishing took notice, building an international readership organically and propelling the series to a Kensington trade edition. The current surge reflects that sustained community energy, and a deluxe edition gives newcomers a well-timed entry point.
- How does this compare to The Throne of Broken Gods?
- The Book of Azrael is the foundational entry in the Gods and Monsters series — it establishes Dianna's backstory, Samkiel's mythology, the inter-realm politics, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic that the series is built on. The Throne of Broken Gods, the second volume, is also reviewed on LuvemBooks and builds directly on the world and character arcs established here. Readers are strongly advised to begin with The Book of Azrael before moving to the sequel.
- What order should I read the series?
- Start with The Book of Azrael, which establishes Dianna, Samkiel, the Gods War mythology, and the multi-realm world that the series inhabits. From there, The Throne of Broken Gods is the direct sequel and the second entry in the Gods and Monsters series. The series has grown to span multiple volumes, with the first book's world-of-mouth success driving its ongoing expansion.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
About Amber V. Nicole
Why is this book trending?
How does this compare to The Throne of Broken Gods?
What order should I read the series?
Summarize this book
The Book of Azrael is the first entry in Amber V. Nicole's Gods and Monsters series, built around two figures at opposite ends of a cosmic power structure. Dianna, a shapeshifter bound by a thousand-year-old bargain to the entity Kaden, is sent to recover an ancient celestial relic — the Book of Azrael — rumored to hold the secret to killing Samkiel, the World Ender, whose death would unravel every realm tied to his life force. Samkiel, living incognito as 'Liam' after withdrawing from his crown in the wake of the Gods War, is pulled back into the open when those he loves come under threat, placing him directly in Dianna's path. The result is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers epic spanning multiple realms, a millennium of backstory, and a mythology of gods, monsters, and inter-realm politics.
Follow up
Is this part of a series?
Is it more romance or fantasy?
What is Dianna's backstory?
Synthesized from verified book data & published reviews · How we review
Press Enter to ask. Answers come from our editorial Q&A — start typing to see related questions.
Editorial Review
The Book of Azrael is the first novel in Amber V. Nicole's Gods and Monsters series, following Dianna — a villainous shapeshifter who bargained away her humanity a thousand years ago to save her sister — and Samkiel, the World Ender and God King who has hidden from his crown since a devastating Gods War.…
Read the Full ReviewFrom our readers
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet
Read it? Be the first to say what you thought.
Books like The Book of Azrael
Curated picks for readers who enjoyed The Book of Azrael, with our reasoning for each match.
If you liked The Book of Azrael
