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A Damsel and a Demigod by Annette Marie Narrator: Nelson Hobbs
Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound #0.5
on February 9, 2019
Genres: Mythology, Novella, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Length: 2 hours and 29 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Purchase Links: Amazon*Libro*Kobo*Chirp*Audiobooks.com*B&N
Goodreads
Only one thing matters to Kai: getting the job done, and doing it better than anyone else.
But when a beautiful thief crashes his security gig, claiming she's trying to protect the valuable artifact he's guarding, all his careful plans go up in flames. He doesn't believe a word she says - until the item is stolen right out from under them.
Recovering the artifact before the real thief can unleash its ancient magic requires insider knowledge - information the mysterious trespasser possesses. Teaming up with a stranger isn't Kai's idea of smart, but he'll need all the help he can get to take on a notorious rogue and arcane power from the time of the gods.
©2020 Annette Marie (P)2020 Tantor
Also in this series: Three Mages and a Margarita, Dark Arts and a Daiquiri, Two Witches and a Whiskey, Three Mages and a Margarita, Dark Arts and a Daiquiri, Two Witches and a Whiskey
A Damsel and a Demigod is a novella in The Guild Codex: Spellbound series by Annette Marie and narrated by Nelson Hobbs.
I joined the 2026 Read-Along and I’m having a blast diving into The Guild Codex universe! While this is technically a prequel, I wouldn’t suggest starting with it. To get the best experience, follow Annette’s recommended reading order and slot this one right between Two Witches and a Whiskey and Demon Magic and a Martini.
This story serves as a deep dive into the past, taking place three years prior to the start of the series. It’s set in the days before Tori joined our favorite group of mages and before we ever stepped foot in the Crow and Hammer guild.
In this installment, we get to witness the first meeting between Izzy and Kai. While it feels like the groundwork for a potential romance is being laid, I found myself a bit indifferent toward Izzy and am not entirely sold on their chemistry just yet. I’m curious to see how it develops! On the other hand, the action was as sharp as ever, and I loved the deep dive into mythology. Seeing Kai in full ‘badass mode’ was definitely a highlight for me.
Audio: The novella is narrated by Nelson Hobbs, and while it was my first time hearing his work, I have mixed feelings about the performance. While he voiced Kai well and kept the story moving at a good pace, his other character voices didn’t quite land for me. Ultimately, I think the audio took away from my enjoyment of the story; I suspect I would have connected with the book much more if I had read it instead.
Overall, A Damsel and a Demigod was an action-packed addition to the series that provided great mythological lore, even if the primary character dynamic didn’t quite click for me.
Rated: 3 Stars
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!
About Annette Marie
Annette Marie is the best-selling author of The Guild Codex, an expansive collection of interwoven urban fantasy series ranging from thrilling adventure to hilarious hijinks to heartrending romance. Her other works include YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter.
Her first love is fantasy, while fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2026 Audiobook Challenge
- 2026 Beat the Backlist Challenge
- 2026 COYER Out To Lunch Again
- 2026 Library Love Challenge
- 2026 Read-Along Annette Marie
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I agree with you that this prequel should definitely be done after a few books in. It was fun to know Kai, but then go back and fill in this little adventure.
Thanks for visiting!
I agree with your thoughts on this one for sure. It was good, but I was a little bit so-so on the relationship part. Great review!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2026/02/06/bookish-travel-january-2026/
Thanks for stopping by and checking out the review, Lisa! I’m glad we’re on the same page. I really enjoyed the mythology, action, and magic, but the romance just didn’t quite click for me either. It was great to see Kai in action, though! I’m interested to see how everything unfolds as the series continues.
Wait… who is Izzy? I don’t remember.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t recognize her! I’m still not 100% sure where she fits in, though I suspect she might appear in one of the other series in this universe or maybe in a book we haven’t read in the Spellbound series. If anyone in the read-along knows the scoop, please let us know!
I really liked getting some Kai POV.
Getting Kai’s perspective was definitely a highlight for me! Thanks for the visit and for checking out my latest review. Happy Reading!