Demon with Benefits

This year I have been loving the reprint of Aurora Ascher‘s Hell Bent series. A couple weeks ago, the third in the series, Demon with Benefits, got its rerelease. I was so excited for this one ever since the first book, and guys, this was my favorite one yet!

Meph is the fun-loving, happy demon brother, but Iris can’t stand him. Even after she says some particularly hurtful things to him, neither can deny the physical chemistry simmering between them. So, enemies or not, they embark on a no-strings-attached sexual relationship. Of course they won’t catch feelings. And of course, despite previous events, no one’s currently in danger anymore. But when crisis does come knocking, Iris may be the only one who can save Meph from himself.

What I Liked:

• Sizzling chemistry between enemies. Okay, enemies may be too harsh a word, but Iris seriously hates Meph. For his part, Meph is just a happy jokester who likes to flirt. But despite Iris’s obvious dislike, neither she nor Meph can ignore their mutual attraction. So they pursue a friends (enemies?) with benefits relationship, and it is hot! This is one of the steamier books I’ve read!
• Panic attacks over love. Look, demons don’t really do emotions. That’s how it was with Ash, and that’s how it was with Mist. Meph goes into this sexual relationship knowing about human emotions, but he still doesn’t expect to feel them for Iris himself. Or for the intensity of that new feeling!
• Meph’s two sides… literally! In his human form, Meph is such a fun, silly guy, but he has a hidden dark side that comes out in his art. What is this trauma he’s been covering up? Later, we get to meet his demon form, terrifying and destructive and oh so hungry. But can Meph ever come to terms with his two opposing sides?
• Demon with Benefits has a longer timeline, which works in its favor! The first two books felt too rushed for me. Here though, Meph and Iris have already known each other for months when the book starts. Then the plot spans several weeks. It makes the feelings seem much more believable and real. The relationships all feel more legitimate because of the extra time for them to develop.
• Some setup for Raum and Sunshine’s story! Breaking with general romance convention, the Hell Bent books don’t just focus on the two main characters’ POVs; we also get chapters focusing on other characters. In Demon with Benefits, some of those extra chapters set up the couple in the next book. Demon brother Raum and new character Sunshine haven’t quite met yet, but already there’s some basis for their relationship to begin.

Audiobook:

As with the rest of the series, Kirsten Leigh narrates Demon with Benefits. And like before, she does a phenomenal job. She captures Iris’s prickly personality, as well as her Irish accent that comes out when she gets stressed. And this narrator is amazing at doing the guys’ voices. Meph sounds like such a bro! Haha. I loved this audiobook and plan to continue the rest of this series with Kirsten Leigh’s narration.

Final Thoughts

So far, each book in the Hell Bent series has been better than the last. Demon with Benefits is my favorite one yet! I love how fun this whole book was, with characters who have big personality, but I also love the darker sides as well. Meph and Iris are the best couple.

I’m so excited to continue this series. Raum and Sunshine get their love story in Guardian Demon, republishing on September 30th. Then Murmur and Suyin’s book, Beauty and the Demon, comes out next March. And later in 2026, Belial will get his long-awaited, brand new happily ever after. I’ll be reading all of these as soon as they’re out!

Special thanks to Kensington, RBmedia, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy Demon with Benefits here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Demon with Benefits by Aurora Ascher
Series	Hell Bent (#3)
Audiobook Narrator	Kirsten Leigh
Audience	Adult
Genre	Paranormal Romance
Setting	Montreal
Number of Pages	400
Format I Read	Audiobook & Ebook (NetGalley ARCs)
Original Publication Date	July 29, 2025
Publisher	Kensington

Official Summary

A hot-headed witch plus a lovable bad-boy demon equals a scorching and hilarious enemies-to-lovers tale from the instant New York Times bestselling author of Sanctuary of the Shadow and My Funny Demon Valentine. Fans of Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Brynne Weaver, and Kimberly Lemming will be enchanted by this latest installment in the spicy paranormal Hell Bent series about demon brothers, curses, and loving even the darkest parts of ourselves.


DELUXE LIMITED EDITION featuring stenciled edges, full color inside covers, designed chapter headers, foil cover, and bonus content! Only available for a limited time and while supplies last.

They can run from their demons . . .

The jokester of the demon brothers, Meph wears his grin like armor and uses humor as a mask. But lately, his composure has been slipping, especially around her. Iris. The blue-haired witch with a vicious temperament. Something about her soothes the darkness within him . . . but he’s not looking for a savior. There’s no such thing for someone like him.

But they can’t hide forever . . .

Bitter and haunted by her traumatic past, Iris Donovan isn’t keen on welcoming demons into her life—even if they’re her sister’s friends. Especially not teasing, tattooed, Meph, with his red eyes and devilish smile. After a toxic relationship, she’s sworn off commitment, and she’s not looking for another Mr. Damaged. Yet she can’t stop craving what she shouldn’t want.

To conquer this monster . . . they must tame it together.

With the return of a deadly enemy, the pain they’ve been suppressing is exposed, and Meph and Iris can no longer deny their feelings. Before Meph is swallowed by his darkness, Iris must overcome her fears and embrace that terrible part of him . . .

Or lose him forever.