Hello, everyone! Today I’ve got a review of the audiobook for The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil by MN Bennet. I’ve had an eARC of this book since last year. So, I jumped on the opportunity to borrow the audio from my library because I’ve been needing to read it. Did it live up to how much I enjoyed Bennet’s other work? Read on to find out! 🙂

Apprentice mage Wally spends his days cataloging rare artifacts and dreaming about finally mastering his magics and living the adventures he’s always desired. Bez, a once mighty devil who craves the freedom of the outside world again, despises his confinement inside a powerful object. His only company now comes from the mages working within the archives he’s stored. Among them, the most annoying of them all, an anxious and considerate Walter.

When the archive is attacked, Wally and Bez each seize the opportunity to achieve their dreams—and inadvertently create a magical link between them. With so many lives lost in this assault on the mage headquarters, Wally’s connection to a dangerous devil makes him a threat and a target, forcing the pair on the run. Wally sees Bez as a sadistic devil, and Bez finds every word out of the mage’s mouth grating. Even so, they’ll have to work together to unravel the true threat in the city or they won’t live long enough to enjoy the lives they’ve both desperately wanted.

***Thank you to the author for providing a digital copy of The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil. My review, however, comes from my experience with the finished audiobook and includes my honest thoughts about my listening experience.***

The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil was a really exciting start to this paranormal MM romance series. There was a lot going on in this story, with both the relationship and all the magical shenanigans. The pace didn’t let up at all, and I never wanted to stop listening to it. I can safely say that I was never bored with this one. The plot was interesting to me because I love a good political conspiracy. Throw in a magical coup attempt, and I am hooked. Although, some of the reveals did feel like they came out of nowhere, and there were a few times I had trouble following what was happening. I did like how it all played out in the end, though. So, the few issues I had with the plot didn’t significantly damper my enjoyment of the story.

The one place The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil didn’t excel for me was in its world-building. That’s not to say that the setting wasn’t fascinating. I definitely found it interesting, but I just wanted more from it. I never got a great sense of the larger world and exactly how the events from this book fit into it. There were other dimensions and different magical jurisdictions that I wanted to learn more about. The main characters and their story also felt adjacent to the larger political story. They were mostly pawns in the larger plot, which meant the reader only got glimpses of the important stuff going on behind the scenes.

The real draw of The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil is definitely the enemies to lovers relationship. Wally and Bez had a severe case of opposites attract. I adored their slow burn, humorous romance. Wally pretty much irritated Bez into loving him. lol. Wally was nerdy, intensely neurotic, and totally adorkable. Bez, on the other hand, was delightfully chaotic with a bit of a ruthless streak. The two of them complemented each other so well. Their layers peeled back as the story unfolded, and both of them were much more than meets the eye. I loved getting to know them and seeing them come together.

I cannot heap enough praise on the audiobook of The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil. The narrator, Simon Dornet, did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life. He gave them such distinct voices that made each of their personalities shine. His narration was always clear, and I had no trouble keeping up with his telling of the story even though I listened at my usual 2X speed.

Overall, The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil was a good paranormal MM romance with lovable characters and an exciting plot. Wally and Bez had a hilarious antagonistic dynamic that worked so well. I wanted a bit more from the world-building, but I’m hopeful that future installments of the series will deliver more details. In general, I just had a fun time with this one. The narrator brought these characters to life in a way that made me feel for them. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Therefore, I rate The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil 4 out of 5 stars.

There you have it! My long overdue review of The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil. Have you read it? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments! Be sure to also check out my reviews of Bennet’s other work, including Crescentville Haunting and Three Meant to Be.