City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edwards Summary

City of Gods and Monsters by Kayla Edwards is an urban fantasy romance set in Angelthene, a city populated by supernatural creatures like vampires, werewolves, witches, and demons. The story follows Loren, a human girl with a mysterious past, and Darien, a ruthless Darkslayer bounty hunter, as they uncover why powerful forces are hunting her. Their journey reveals Loren's connection to a magical well that could either save or destroy the entire city.

Kayla Edwards is the author of the House of Devils series, which includes City of Gods and Monsters, City of Souls and Sinners, City of Lies and Legends, and City of Smoke and Brimstone. She began writing City of Gods and Monsters while in high school, making the characters and world deeply personal to her. Edwards also wrote the upper-YA romantasy novel Dreams of Ice and Iron and engages with readers through her Facebook group "Dare's Devils".

City of Gods and Monsters is ideal for readers who enjoy dark urban fantasy romance with supernatural elements and morally complex characters. Fans of gritty, monster-filled worlds similar to Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout will appreciate Kayla Edwards' blend of action, romance, and magic. The book appeals to readers who love found family dynamics, enemies-to-lovers tropes, and high-stakes plots involving magical systems and dangerous creatures.

City of Gods and Monsters is worth reading if you enjoy immersive world-building with diverse supernatural creatures and slow-burn romance. Kayla Edwards creates a richly detailed city where humans struggle to survive among immortal beings, blending mystery, action, and emotional depth. The book features complex characters, unexpected plot twists, and a gripping storyline that explores themes of sacrifice, power, and identity, making it a compelling start to the House of Devils series.

The main characters in City of Gods and Monsters are Loren Calla, a human girl abandoned at a temple as a child with mysterious origins, and Darien, a deadly Darkslayer and member of the Seven Devils who initially takes a job to find her. Supporting characters include Dallas, Loren's adoptive witch sister; Sabrine, Loren's best friend who gets transformed into a vampire; and Randal, Darien's abusive father who runs the city and seeks to control the magical Arcanum Well.

The Arcanum Well in City of Gods and Monsters is a powerful magical artifact that can cure diseases, grant immense power, and perform extraordinary feats. Randal believes Loren is the key to unlocking this well, which explains why multiple parties are hunting her throughout the story. The well's destruction threatens to obliterate the entire city of Angelthene, and the story reveals that part of the well's magic actually resides within Loren herself.

Darkslayers in City of Gods and Monsters are supernatural bounty hunters with the ability to track people through their aura. These powerful beings take jobs to locate individuals, often without asking questions about their targets. Darien is a member of the elite Darkslaying group called the Seven Devils and works as an underground demon-slaying fighter, making him one of the most dangerous characters in Angelthene.

City of Gods and Monsters ends with Darien sacrificing himself to protect Loren from the Arcanum Well's explosion that destroys Angelthene. Loren discovers she possesses magic from the well within herself and uses this power to bring Darien back to life. She then restores the entire city and resurrects those killed in the blast, finally reuniting with Darien and meeting her father, who had hired Darien to protect her from the beginning.

The romance in City of Gods and Monsters features a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Loren and Darien that builds through mutual trust and vulnerability. Their relationship faces obstacles including Darien's dangerous lifestyle, his abusive father, and external threats that put Loren at risk. The couple experiences dates, forced separations, emotional breakups, and ultimately declares their love before facing life-or-death situations together, creating an emotionally intense romantic arc.

City of Gods and Monsters features a diverse array of supernatural beings including vampires, werewolves, witches (veneficae), warlocks, and hellsehers who can track people through auras. The city of Angelthene is infested with demons lurking in underground systems and sewers. Humans exist as vulnerable prey among these immortal creatures, lacking magic or superhuman strength to defend themselves, which makes Loren's survival as a human particularly remarkable.

The Tricking in City of Gods and Monsters is a magical disease affecting magic users throughout the city of Angelthene. Witches like Dallas use staves to channel their magic in an effort to prevent this condition. The disease represents one of the many threats facing supernatural beings in Kayla Edwards' world, adding complexity to the challenges characters face beyond the demon infestations and political conflicts.

Sabrine, Loren's best friend in City of Gods and Monsters, is kidnapped along with other women who resemble Loren and nearly dies. Tanner, a vampire, finds her in critical condition and transforms her into a vampire to save her life. While Tanner faces consequences for his decision, the friend group celebrates Sabrine's survival, though her transformation permanently changes her nature and adds complexity to their relationships.