Devil of Dublin Duet by BB Easton Review
Melissa’s Rating: 5 stars
On Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Publication Date: 9/22/22 & 8/29/24
Page Count: 588
HEA: Not yet. Ends on an epic cliffhanger.
Version: Audible audiobooks (Narrated by Elizabeth Klett, Eric Nolan, Odette O’Beirne, and Laurence Killen)
Includes Devil of Dublin & The Devil Himself
“Is fíor bhur ngrá. Tugaim mobheannacht daoibh,” ~ Saoirse
Translation: “Yer love is true. You have my blessing.”
Reading this felt like being punched in the gut—torn apart and then pieced back together in the most beautiful way. It's one of the most unique, heart-wrenching, and epically beautiful love stories I've ever come across, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. The story weaves together elements of soulmates, Irish folklore, Bratva and Irish Mafia influences, with a hint of magic, all tied up in a dark, intense bow of tragic backstories and heavy emotional triggers.
Devil of Dublin introduces us to Darby and Kellen, two souls brought together by fate as children and bonded by a spiritual being. Despite their tragic and troubled childhoods tearing them apart, they eventually find their way back to each other. However, when they reunite, Darby is unaware of the man Kellen has become. Known as the spawn of the Devil himself, Kellen has buried his past and become a ghost, now working under the Irish Brotherhood, a dangerous organized crime syndicate.
“Ya know what they say about the Devil. Once upon a time, he was God’s most beautiful angel.”
Kellen’s obsession with Darby and his relentless need to protect her sets them on the run after one brutal event triggers a dangerous chase. This is where the story intensifies, plunging into a darker and more gripping plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Kellen’s love for Darby is unparalleled—despite being tormented by his own demons, his heart beats solely for her.
“I was no longer human or demon or even fucking breathing. I was simply hers—mind, body, and cursed black soul.”
I absolutely love this story. Eric Nolan, as the narrator, brought Kellen's character to life in a way that captivated me. His beautiful dialect is something I could listen to all day. Devil of Dublin wraps up with a beautiful HEA, and while it was never intended to have a sequel, BB returned with The Devil Himself, delivering a grand plot that both gutted me and brought me to tears.
While Devil of Dublin can be read as a standalone, leaving you satisfied with Kellen and Darby’s story, you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice if you don’t follow up with The Devil Himself. These books must be read in order, and trust me—it was epic and so much more!
In The Devil Himself, we’re introduced to Clover and Damien, but can we take a moment to talk about chapter one?! I was completely caught off guard and nowhere near prepared for what BB had in store. I couldn’t believe it! A word of advice—do NOT read or listen to chapter one in public!
“You don’t have to fight anymore, darlin’. Neither of us does.”…“ ’Cause “I’m comin’ with ya, angel. Ya understand? I’m not lettin’ you go. I’ll never fuckin’ let go.”
OH MY HEART.
Alright, back to Clover and Damien. Dare I say, I loved these two even more! A big part of that was the phenomenal performance by the narrators. Eric Nolan and Odette O’Beirne were absolute perfection. Their voices were hypnotic, and I was completely swept away by their performance. While book one was performed in dual narration style, book two was performed in duet style. I highly recommend the audiobooks for this duet—I honestly can’t rave about them enough!
The Devil Himself carries a darker, more dangerous tone, set against the hostile backdrop of Ireland in the midst of a war as the Russian Bratva attempts to seize control by any means necessary. If you’re new to dark romance, I strongly recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in, as this story delves deep into intense themes.
The past intertwines with the present as the story unravels, and despite the darkness, it reveals one of the most beautiful love stories—soulmates determined to find each other in every lifetime. Their fated bond, sparked by a touch of folklore magic, pulled at my heartstrings. I couldn’t help but get emotional over how beautiful this concept was. I have no other word for it—just absolutely beautiful.
Clover and Damien began on opposite sides of the war, but their forced proximity and struggle for survival brought them together. As their identities slowly unfolded, everything started falling into place. The parallels between Darby and Kellen’s story and Clover and Damien’s kept me completely captivated from start to finish. I found myself teary-eyed so many times, and the phrase “this is so beautiful” echoed in my mind, and out of my mouth, countless times.
So if you are wondering if a story can be dark, intense, and yet so beautiful and touching, the answer is undoubtedly YES! This duet will surely make my top reads of 2024 list and I am once again smitten with BB Easton’s storytelling.
“What if crazy was just a word that meant something inside of you hurt really, really badly? What if the only crazy thing about any of us was the lengths we had to go to cope with the pain?”
**The photos used in my edits are not owned by me. My edits are solely for personal use and are not intended for distribution or sales. All credit for the original images goes to their respective owners.