Early Reader Review: The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake by Mara Rutherford

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake by Mara Rutherford 

Series: The Broken Veil #1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date:  April 14, 2026

 

Format: Hardback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

In Wisteria, the very act of innovation is forbidden. Any creation—art, music, engineering—conjures a demon from the other side. The greater the innovation, the more dangerous the demon.

This has never stopped Aurelie from inventing—but it has made it more difficult. Her inventions are small by necessity, producing demons that she is capable of dispatching alone. But she knows she’s meant for something greater, and each day has her chafing more at the boundaries of her society.

Destrier lost his parents to demons as a child, and has devoted his life to preventing more senseless murder at the hands of demons. He was young when he joined the hunters, and each year he’s grown stronger. But it’s never enough.

When a mysterious figure offers Aurelie a job she can’t refuse—an impossible, magnificent invention—her decision to accept sets off a chain of events that will alter every aspect of their world… and sparks the connection that will change both Aurelie and Des irrevocably.

With the fierce enemies-to-lovers romance of Heartless Hunter and the high-concept worldbuilding of Arcane, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake will thrill readers looking for their new cross-genre favorite.

Review: 

I really enjoyed the central concept of this book, this idea that innovation literally summons demons is such a fresh and intriguing take on magic. It creates immediate tension and every creative and unique thing might kill you or others. 

Aurelie is a fascinating protagonist. Her restraint, keeping her inventions small enough to survive the consequences, adds a layer of quiet rebellion that I appreciated. Destrier, on the other hand, is shaped by loss and duty, and his internal conflict around Aurelie and her inventions is one of the more interesting character dynamics in the book. 

Their relationship leans heavily into the enemies-to-lovers trope, though to me it felt more driven by lust than emotional development. I wanted a bit more growth out of both of them. Given how different their worldviews are, I was honestly a bit surprised that their connection progressed as much as it did. That said, the tension between them does add to the story’s momentum.

This book really worked for me in terms of atmosphere. It has strong dark academia elements, which I always enjoy, and the dual POV structure helped keep the pacing engaging. The mysterious figure and his demon companion always kept you guessing. Although I had a sense early on of what the reveal was likely going to be, it didn’t take away from the satisfaction of that revelation in the end.

The plot itself moves at a solid pace, with plenty of dramatic moments to keep things interesting. I didn’t realize going in that this was the first in a series, so the ending left me a little disappointed in that sense, but it still felt like a worthwhile and enjoyable read overall.

All that said, I found myself wanting more depth in the worldbuilding, especially when it came to the Princes and the origins of this demon/magic system. The foundation is compelling, but parts of the history felt a bit too open-ended for my taste and I really wanted more there.

If you’re into dark academia vibes, morally complex characters, and a touch of romance mixed with fantasy, this is one to check out.