Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Devoured by Darkness by R.L. Perez is the second book in the Timecaster Chronicles. Desi’s life changed forever when she went back in time. Now she’s hunting demons together with trusted allies and has found love with Oliver who’s away fighting in the Philippine-American War. As if that didn’t keep her busy enough, she soon discovers that El Diablo has re-emerged and lurks in the background of the warzone. With Elena and Guillermo at her side, she races to Oliver’s side with a dire warning, only to discover a shocking secret that could change everything between them. A new mission sends her undercover with the charming Bay, a practitioner of dark magic. The increasing threat from El Diablo forces Desi to make a decision that could save those she loves but it could mean turning to dark magic and losing them forever.

Demon hunting comes to life with a historical backdrop and a time-traveling adventure. Desi’s life has drastically changed but she has found a place for herself in the past. The demon-hunting elements are an important part of the setting with vivid details that depict the struggle and pain that comes with the job. R.L. Perez doesn’t shy away from capturing the grim aesthetic of demon hunting. The war also delivers conflict between her and Oliver as tension over his role as a soldier and her outside perspective create drama in the story. The two have had a bond between them since they met but the complications only grow as they’re faced with a new obstacle keeping them apart. Their dynamic is rooted in undeniable chemistry and a vulnerability with each other that makes you want things to work out between them. Desi’s relationships are an important part of her life.

The war and the threat from El Diablo create a desperation that drives her to a crossroads between light and dark magic. This allows Perez to explore the struggle through the different characters in Desi’s life such as Elena and Guillermo pushing the boundaries of light magic, Bay, who’s fully immersed in darker magic, and Oliver’s struggle to understand what’s right under the weight of his duty as a soldier and to the Council. Perez succeeds in exploring this concept through the complicated struggles each of these characters faces. Venture into a world of demons, magic, and time travel as Devoured by Darkness takes you back to the past and into the heart of war with romance, drama, and a fight between light and dark magic.