Taming Demons for Beginners

Guild Codex: Demonized Series, Book 1

By: Annette Marie

Narrated by: Cris Dukehart

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Rule one: Don't look at the demon.

When I arrived at my uncle's house, I expected my relatives to be like me - outcast sorcerers who don't practice magic. I was right about the sorcery, but wrong about everything else. 

Rule two: Don't listen to the demon.

My uncle chose a far deadlier power. He calls creatures of darkness into our world, binds them into service contracts, and sells them to the highest bidder. And I'm supposed to act like I don't know how illegal and dangerous it is. 

Rule three: Don't talk to the demon.

All I had to do was keep my nose out of it. Pretend I didn't find the summoning circle in the basement. Pretend I didn't notice the shadowy being trapped inside it. Pretend I didn't break the rules. But I did, and now it's too late. 

Make sure to check out the companion series, The Guild Codex: Spellbound, available now, and The Guild Codex: Warped, coauthored by Rob Jacobsen.

©2019 Annette Marie (P)2019 Tantor

Not my cup of tea

Got as far as chapter 16 before i had to call it a day. Can't stand the helpless heroine routine and the stupid teenager walking into a bad neighbourhood all hapless and the "save me!" routine.... Having fainting fits because someone shouts at you...... Like i said, not my cup of tea

Simply Fun!

Although she has several series, I have only been reading The Guild Codex series by Annette Marie. I must say the woman knows how to write a good fun adventure.

Young Adult Urban Fantasy in a normal world with a twist. This story stars a new character and unfolds the events that led to her entering the Crow and Hammer's guild hall at the end of Demon Magic and a Martini. From this point onward, I see and interesting weaving beginning.

This volume reads well as a swift introduction to the World and can be read independently. However, I Highly recommend going to the beginning found in Three Mages and a Margarita: Guild Codex: Spellbound, Vol 1 as soon as possible afterward :-) I am eating this series up like a delectable buffet of homemade cookies.

Wonderful

I think I may like this series even more than the Spellbound books! Annette Marie has a way of writing endearing female leads that you find yourself rooting for. I don't understand the reviewers that found Robin too naive or helpless - that was part of her charm! I was only too happy to follow this character with real flaws, and watch her slowly start to grow into herself. And I very much enjoyed the developing relationship between her and the demon. The back and forth between the two was extremely entertaining.
Marie's writing is witty and fun and fast-paced, and includes the perfect amount of emotional drama and just a tease of simmering romantic tension. To top it off, the narrator was fantastic. Five stars all around, and I don't give that lightly!

It’s ok

The main character is a little bit annoying but overall it’s a good story a bit slow in the beginning but it picks up later on.

Wow!

I’m not sure I can put into words just how freaking awesome this story was! Haha. This was not what I had been expecting. Robin this sweet, tiny slip of a girl is a total bad mamajama!! The innocence she brings to the table makes you instantly like her. Her family, if that’s what you could call these despicable people are horrible to her, try to give her to a demon but something back fires... and the demon is now bound to her. Yet, he’s a wild card she’s not really ready for.

The battle with herself, the demon and the outside world really is a lot to take on. Her game of cat and mouse almost ends up with her being taken over. Her demon however, earns his money where he can. The biggest hurdle is to keep the secret she’s carrying around just that, a secret. She’s now part of the Crow And Hammer which means... not only is her secret in jeopardy so is someone else’s.

I can’t wait for more of this series!

Love it!

So...I have read all of the Spellbound series up to this point and figured I would give this offshoot a try. We met Robin in "Demon Magic and a Martini" , so let's see what she is all about. After only a few chapters, I could not put it down. Robin is SO different that Tori! She is shy and introvert and would rather have her head inside of a book (I can relate!). While she may hate confrontations and has to work herself to try to stand her ground, you can tell there is strength under there somewhere.
So how does a shy, non-confrontational bookworm become a demon contractor? Well, that's the story now, isn't it!

And Zylas? I love this demon and his snarky attitude! And I truly enjoy the voice that narrator gave him. Makes it very easy to picture him in your head!

I like how this series is now mingled with Spellbound. You get to see how situations are viewed from different angles

Nice job !

Enjoyable

I love Annette Marie's writing style. Her words flow, not too many, not too little, words not repeated. She is my favorite Urban Fantasy Writer.

This book delves more into the demon world. It matches up with her other series, The Guild Codex.

The reading and voices are well done.

I'm glade to be able to clean my house while listening, and sit down with the kindle and pick up where I left off.

If you like Urban Fantasy, I highly recommend reading Annette Marie. (Already have a co-worker addicted to her books.)

I’d kill for cookies too

An excellent start of a series featuring magic, demons, and a cookie baking introvert. It’s a good thing I bought all the book 1s for these related series at the same time, otherwise I’d never have moved past the original. I found Three Mages and a Margarita, book 1 in the Guild Codex: Spellbound series, to be
too high school boy focused and its MC Tori too immature and hotheaded.

This series’ MC Robin may be younger, but she has a moral center that’s wise beyond her years. The story was more focused on UF than young lust, which I appreciated. And the slapstick, physical comedy was toned down as well. Robin, a petite, spectacled bookworm has greater depth than Tori. Even better, the demon Ryel (Sp?) is nicely complicated and menacing.

This series remains in the shallow end of the YA pool and has only cozy-level violence. I liked this series better than Guild Codex: Spellbound (although even that original series improves after the first - and this MC Robin gets introduced in book 4 of the Spellbound series).

I liked the Guild Codex: Warped spinoff even better for its stronger humor and adult content
(still YA, but with some GDs and mid-level swearing). I wait for a sale but am happy to buy these books for easy popcorn listens.

Random and mild criticisms:
🙄Robin is a sweet young nerd who grows by reading and knowledge, which is refreshing until I look at the cover art and see her being sold to the listeners wearing a crop top and Daisy dukes. Ick.
🙄I’d like to see the author move past her signature MC move; all the MCs in these series are orphans or had bad parents. How about some positive parent-family relationships?

Different but just as awesome!

4.5 stars — Somehow I just knew I was going to love Robin. A meek book nerd who perseveres? YES PLEASE! Honestly, the whole book was fascinating to me, and I loved seeing a different side of this universe. I also kind of love that our main heroines in both these series are fairly uninformed about the world, and without any inherent great power…it’s who they are inside that makes a difference.

Let’s talk about Cris Dukehart for a second. I could tell from the first sentence that I was listening to someone else and not Tori. It was the slightest change, barely noticeable, but it was all Robin. I don’t understand how she does that! She was awesome as always. It was so cool to hear the demon language from her. My only complaint is that occasionally I didn’t know it was Zylas speaking and not one of the other men (like Darius). Not often though.

Like I said above, Robin is my kind of girl. I felt for her with her grief, and the uncomfortable circumstances of her living with her Uncle trying to get her inheritance. I know not everyone will get it, but I TOTALLY felt her need to bolster herself to confront him…I was proud of the times she was able to put herself out there, because it’s so anathema to her. I adored her “bleeding heart”, and the way her uninformed view on demonica really showcased how awful contracts could be. She was just cute, and determined, and kind, and brave.

Zylas was FASCINATING to me. Because he was SOOOOO alien, and he really is a blood thirsty murderer. I loved that Ms. Marie didn’t tone that down, didn’t make him super different from other demons. He was still scary as *beep*. You could really tell that the little differences he started showing was because of the relationship he ended up developing with Robin. It was a one of a kind circumstance. And he’s not just all fuzzy rainbows because of her — it’s very subtle, with lots of room for growth. The two of them, and their hilarious bickering at times, made this book for me. I was just freaking delighted by the strange relationship they developed.

I can’t wait to see how this is going to change things in this universe — both in this series and in Spellbound. And can I just say that I’m loving Darius more and more? LOVED getting to see more of him, Girard, and Alistair — especially in action!!

Yeah. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel jumping into a different head, but I’m just as in love. I think Ms. Marie has made a fan for life.

I didn't like it

I really enjoy the Spellbound series, but I couldn't get into this one. I won't be getting the next book in this series. As always, Cris Dukehart did a great job as narrator.

Taming Demons for Beginner's

Found this book full of the same sadness as she has lost everything when her parents died and her Uncle is making sure he takes the rest. Her kindness wins the day! Full of fun as she stumbles to find who she is.

Sexy demon and a nerdy heroine.

I really love this series by Annette Marie, fae and Demons have always been my favourite genre. Whilst there's no fae in this, there is magic in several forms. The storyline is very engaging right from the very start, it gets straight into the action. The characters are interesting and very well written, the way they rub off on each other is a whole new level of entertaining. Zylas is so perfectly written that you won't be able to help but fall in love with him, and Robin is a perfect main character. Her shy awkward personality is something alot of us can relate to, her imperfections make her feel more believable. The world is described well enough, and the lore is perfectly balanced. This is my favourite Annette Marie series, one of the most emotional and compelling stories I've read several times.

I loved it!

Loved the characters and how its interwoven with the guild codex books bring on next!!!

Got cheated

My fault, I thought Chris Dukehart was a guy and so the protagonist is also a guy POV but was disappointed. So much melodrama and the main character is weak.

Not my favourite AM

I found this FL way too spoiled and whiney. She did not come across as naive but as stupid pushover who instead of developing into a more confident person when given the opportunity became even more childish and petulant. Why can´t we have female leads which are not stupidly impulsive and instead have some which think before they act and for heaven´s sake ones who ask the right question when they can- I hope most of us are not like this! She is all me, me, me! The storyline is great, writing excellent as always from AM, especially since she clearly wants me to hate the lead. I hope she gets eaten in the next book in series, although I will never know as I will not bother getting that one.
As to narration, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Cris Dukehart voice, it can grate on my nerves on some days, it is not very soothing with those pitch changes here and there when upset or forceful in any way. She does a great job of both males/females otherwise.

👍🏾 great

Great 👍🏾 book writer has some great story telling has some great storytelling skills. I feel really at ease with narrators voice. enjoyed all the Finch books 📚 just as much.

so good I couldn't stop

this isn't even my genre! I got caught hooked by the cookie contract (so many unexpected laughs) and wound up buying the whole guild codex series. Cris brings the characters to life. I'm so glad I impulse bought the first book, I had to much fun with these characters.

Excellent

Omg this book... what can I say to express how AMAZING!!!! it is. The world we know and love from the guild cortex but from a brand new perspective.... new character to love and hate... its funny, exciting, and enthralling. With kickass characters and hatable slime balls.. the story line fits in with what is happening in guild cortex perfectly het leaves plenty of room for it not to be intertwined completely... I absolutely love robin the mc.. absolutely brilliant I can’t wait for the next one.

a neat side story

an interesting way to explore the demonica and arcana type mythics while giving a MC in a simulare situation as Tori

early on par with the main series but far less of an underdog story. while the MC may have a "runt" of a demon its stil a demon and this body strong.