'Choosing Evil' by Kristina Rienzi - Book Review

One word - SEDUCTIVE.


One of the best things I loved about ‘Choosing Evil’ was the tone. I loved how you could feel a dark cloud hanging over Seraphina, but just at the edge - the sun could break through the clouds at any moment. The imagery of hope for the future her decision would create left you wanting to read more just for her sake of knowing what happens to her. This book was full of mystery and a beautiful slow burn romance. When I read books I often connect them to film, so for me this felt like a Lifetime film but with demons. (Not a bad thing.) I rooted for Seraphina and I ached for the tragedies she had been dealt, but I loved her resilience in the face of it. Her strength and self-awareness was what gave her character such depth.


Rienzi’s use of language was so vivid and visceral to the world building and characters of this book.  You could feel the tension between demons and humans and the environment created from living side by side in a modern setting with fear, distrust, and even hate. The fact that this distrust was based from Satan’s fall and the fallen angels made for a believable origin story and how these two factions govern themselves in this world together and apart.


What ‘Choosing Evil’ does a beautiful job of is drawing on the parallels between good and evil. A demon could love and a human could teeter on the edge of what would be considered true darkness. Though Serafina and Damon’s relationship wasn’t the sole focus of the book, you got to see who they were as individuals equal parts together and alone. Damon, though a demon, he had the most humanity choosing to channel his darkness into helping humans as a cop, getting rid of the bad guys in the world, and his want to be what is considered good made him all the more commendable and "trustworthy". And his love for Seraphina – for a demon not capable of love he sure LOVED her.


It’s a slippery slope the temptation in this story whether to be really good or very bad. That’s what makes it so good. Though it had its slow, dramatic moments, it definitely makes up for it in it's intrigue. Seraphina’s aforementioned rage was a good supernatural device to this effect creating that momentum and intrigue into the main mystery of the story and the following books. The ending definitely left me wanting for more and the outcome of Seraphina’s journey and her love story with Damon in a demonic supernatural world. I recommend others go along for the ride as well.

I give 'Choosing Evil': ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 Stars