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Hellbound Guilds & Other Misdirections by Annette Marie, Rob Jacobsen Narrator: Iggy Toma
Series: The Guild Codex: Warped #2
Published by Tantor Audio on September 14, 2021
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Length: 8 hours and 12 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Purchase Links: Amazon*Libro*Kobo*Audiobooks.com*B&N
Goodreads
Agent Kit Morris. Has a nice ring, doesn't it? It's a big step up from "wanted criminal" or "that weird con-artist guy with weirder psychic powers", both of which recently applied to me. But my promotion to MagiPol agent comes with a few drawbacks.
First, supremely talented and effortlessly gorgeous Agent Lienna Shen won't agree to a dinner date with me. Second, my new assignment has pitted me against a guild with very bad taste in pets. Third, those pets are demons, and those demons want to kill me.
My psychic magic is great for conning people. It doesn't do jack shit against hellish orcs. If I screw this up, my dinner date will be with a demon - and I'll be the dinner. Even better, I kind of suspect this supposedly straightforward assignment is actually the tip of an unholy iceberg of power-hungry malefactors bent on destroying all law and order in the city.
I should probably mention that last part to my boss.
©2021 Annette Marie (P)2021 Tantor
I’m thrilled to be participating in the 2026 Guild Codex World Read-Along, following the official author reading order! This event is hosted by the wonderful Books of My Heart.
It’s been a fantastic journey through the universe so far—check out my full review for the latest installment below:
Hellbound Guilds & Other Misdirections is book two in the The Guild Codex: Warped by Annette Marie
I could really see how Hellbound Guilds & Other Misdirections aligns with the recent events in Demon Magic and a Martini and Taming Demons for Beginners. It reinforces why reading the Guild Codex universe in chronological order, rather than as four separate series, is such a rewarding experience.
Kit Morris has come a long way from his criminal past, but his journey to becoming an MPD agent has hit a snag. Relegated to administrative work after failing his exams, Kit is restless. However, when the stakes become personal—with Agent Leanna Chen’s future at the precinct on the line—he leaves the desk behind. To keep his partner close, he’ll have to help her take down the mastermind behind the Grand Grimoire Guild.
Kit is finally evolving. He hasn’t lost his ‘I’m all that’ vibe—that swagger is still front and center—but he’s finally trading in his self-serving habits for a more thoughtful and respectful role within the MPD. It’s refreshing to see him embrace the “bigger picture” instead of just using the badge as a get-out-of-jail-free card.
It’s also great to see Kit adapting to his new life and gaining a deeper understanding of his abilities. While I’m still not fully sold on the Warped series as a whole, I am enjoying seeing the world through the MPD’s lens which offers a refreshing alternative to the typical Guild perspective, and Kit himself remains a likable enough lead.
One reason this series hasn’t resonated with me as much as the others is the romance. While Kit and Lienna clearly share a mutual crush, I’m feeling zero tension between them. The romantic beats often feel forced into high-stakes situations—stopping for a lingering gaze or a blush right in the middle of the action—which makes the subplot feel perfunctory rather than organic. Every time they lean in, I find myself cringing and wishing we could just get back to the plot.
Audio: The first-person narration is expertly handled by Chris Toma, who embodies Kit’s snarky, nonchalant attitude. Toma brings a great deal of versatility to the performance, authentically shifting his voice for a diverse cast of characters and delivering a nuanced, emotive reading when the plot demands it.
To sum it up: While the romance still has some catching up to do, the unique MPD perspective makes this an enjoyable ride. I’m definitely sticking with the chronological reading order—it makes the whole world feel much more cohesive.
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.
About Rob Jacobsen
Rob is a Canadian writer, actor, and director, who has been in a few TV shows you might watch, had a few films in festivals you might have attended, and authored some stories you might have come across. He’s hoping to accomplish plenty more by the time he inevitably dies surrounded by cats while watching reruns of Mr. Robot. Currently, he is the Creative Director of Cave Puppet Films, as well as the co-author of the upcoming Guild Codex: Warped book series with Annette Marie.
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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Nice review. I also enjoyed the overlap with this one and liked it better than the first in this series. I am so glad Anne has us reading them in chronological order.
I’ve found the chronological sequence to be quite rewarding. I appreciate you taking the time to visit the blog and read my review.