Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Demon Riding Shotgun by L.R. Braden is a gritty urban fantasy that follows the life-or-death struggle of Gin, a young woman who shares her body with a demon named Aisha. Set in a society where magic users are tightly monitored and feared, we're with Gin in her under-the-radar approach to survival, where being spotted might equal death. But when she steps in to rescue a teenage girl being attacked, her cover is blown, and she is thrust into the heart of a dangerous world of magical politics, revenge, and power struggles. As Gin and Aisha navigate threats from law enforcement, magical enforcers, and criminal syndicates, their uneasy partnership becomes both their greatest asset and gravest vulnerability. The line between symbiosis and self-destruction grows thinner as their enemies close in, and Gin must decide whether to run, fight, or fully embrace the power she has always feared.

Author L.R. Braden lets readers get to know a character very quickly. I immediately bonded with Gin thanks to the emotionally complex narrative that weaves action, tension, and moral ambiguity into everything she does because of Aisha. The magic and psychology blend into something that's conceptually plausible. The relationship between Gin and her demon Aisha became the most powerful tension in the story for me, as the inner threats to their sanity overtake the outer threats of oppression and capture. What results is a fresh, intense, and psychologically layered read that shows off dual-identity dynamics at their best and most complex. The confidence in the way the story is told meant that I never felt lost or confused about who was who. When you add Braden's rich world-building and vividly depicted magical systems, this is a novel that immerses readers in a believable and dangerous urban fantasy setting. Overall, I'd certainly recommend Demon Riding Shotgun to fans of compelling fantasy and lively, lovable characters.