Disclaimer: I requested this ARC and am leaving my review voluntarily 

Demonic Appetites: A Short Story Collection by E.N. Laurier contains four interconnected erotic tales. The stories are The King and the Demon, The Necklace and the Shapeshifter, The Toy and The Shut-In, and The Swordsman and the Curse. Each story follows a different human and demon pair. It was a dark, sweet, and spicy read. (Like dark chocolate with chili-flakes in it.) 

While writing this review I was listening to my go to playlist. And I found it quiet ironic that the first two songs were "Arcade" by Duncan Laurence ft. FLETCHER and "I Caught Fire" by the Used. They felt oddly fitting for the mental state this book left me in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

I think my favorite stories were The Necklace and the Shapeshifter and The Swordsman and the Curse. I loved these stories because of their tropes and spicy scenes. (The spicy scene in The Swordsman and the Curse was my favorite. For reasons I'm keeping to myself.) Anyway, speaking of tropes I believe each story had its own tropes with some overlap. Some examples: friends to enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and size difference. These are just my favorites that popped up in my mind when I think of this collection. I know there's more I'm forgetting. 

However, the tropes and spice in my opinion are not what makes this a good book. The author E.N. Laurier created such an interesting world and interesting lovable characters. Including a disabled/chronically ill character who was both sexy and powerful. I want more of those. However, i think my favorite character was Prince Gabreel because hes so soft and sweet (he deserves a hug and a cookie). Prince Sym was a close second because (with love) he's a little shit, but I'm mad at him (and I'm petty, I'll get over it). Anyway all of the characters are interesting. Not just their personalities but also how they look. 

Specifically, the demons. Despite the cover of the book being red, these are not your typical red devils. They are beautiful shades of purple. E.N. Laurier does an amazing job of describing everything. Even the way the demons take care of their hair around their horns. Which in my opinion more authors need to include (for the fan artists and thirsty readers). Prince Adhemar's hair description had me obsessed. I wish I was better at drawing people. 

Finally I want to talk about the lore. The world E.N. Laurier created is so interesting. I want to know more about it. We get different bits and pieces from each story, but I'm greedy and I want more. More from both the human and demon sides. I would love to read a full length novel that takes place in this world. The castles, the creatures, the culture it was all so interesting. I love when erotic novels drop hints about the world between the smut. I always get so excited about lore. 

Overall, Demonic Appetites: A Short Story Collection was a fun, dark and spicy read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm excited to see what E.N. Laurier writes in the future. Honestly he has inspired me and got me hyped for world building again.