Half City

De: Kate Golden

Narrado por: Taylor Harvey, Teddy Hamilton

Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper.

Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.

She also happens to be a demon hunter.

Ever since her father's murder, she's been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider . . . until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she'll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.

But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about, not if the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv's father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, all while trying to ace her classes, avoid falling for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?

Yes!

One of my new favorite if not favorite reads ever! So excited for the next in this series.

I really enjoyed this one!

Story
A demon hunter and a demon? Why yes, please 😮💨🔥 This book was so bingable and had everything I wanted when looking for a romantasy with a dark academia ambiance.

One of the things that stood out to me about this book was the writing style. It's easy to get into and follow, which made it a fun read. I know that some readers might find it a bit slow at times, but trust me when I say that it's worth it. The author has a way of dropping subtle hints and clues throughout the story, which kept me on the edge of my seat.

The main character, Viv, is someone I really loved reading about. At times, I found it difficult to understand her motivations and actions, but as the story progressed, I loved how she grew and developed as a character. her awareness of her own flaws and mistakes made her all the more relatable.

Reid is a brooding and secretive character, and I found myself eager to know what was going on in his head. Did I mention that Reid is a professor at the academy? 👀 We gotta love the student x professor trope, no? Besides the romance, I do have to say that I really enjoyed the plot even though it felt like I already read it somewhere else, as well as the way the friend group came together and worked to solve all the strange things happening at the academy.

The chemistry between the two and the way both of them have their character development in a way that I personally loved.

This was a fun read! The romance + tension + emotions are where this author shines and because of that I’m slightly disappointed the romance wasn’t a stronger plot point BUT it’s the first book in a series so hopefully we’ll get a bit more of that magic in book 2!

Audiobook
Taylor Harvey delivers a moving performance that emphasizes the emotions of each piece with precision and care. She speaks clearly and with a passionate sincerity that fully immerses the listener from the first moment. Her ability to project the emotional truth brings the author’s intentions vividly to life. Each shift in tone feels purposeful, allowing the listener to experience the depth, tenderness, and heartbreak woven throughout the collection. Teddy Hamilton‘s camoe made me think that MMC is definitely not the one that we all think is!
A compelling and reflective read that quickly draws you in.

YASS! So Good!

5 stars ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️

Where do I even start?! I devoured this book! Loved the storyline, the FMC was great in my opinion! Badass, funny, real, and has some daddy drama.

Keeping this spoiler free, the feel of this book is similar to ‘Vampire Academy’ with teacher x student pining/relationship. There are so many layers to this book.

Secrets and hidden identities.

1st person POV

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Demon x demon hunter
Teacher x student
Buffy meets Forth Wing vibes
Dark Academia Urban Fantasy


I haven’t wanted book two of a series so bad in a long time. I definitely did not want this book to end.

Not a duet

The book itself is great. The story was great. But it was advertised as a “duet” when it is not. Teddy Hamilton is only in three chapters total, voicing one singular character- while Taylor does every single other chapter and all the other voices herself. Her male voices… are not great. I imagined every male she voiced as a small child or another woman, not a 21 year old male, which made it hard to follow at times. Hopefully the next book can be recorded as an actual duet. If not, I’ll be reading physically.

Top Read of 2026 - 5 stars

This is a must read for 2026. Well written, fierce FMC, and a demon that will steal your soul. Couldn’t stop listening! Highly recommend as your next read!