The Book of Azrael

Amber Nicole published The Book of Azrael, the first installment in her dark fantasy series Gods & Monsters, in 2022. Nicole’s debut novel features morally gray characters and complex world building; its title references Azrael, the angel of death in Islamic tradition, reflecting the novel’s deep engagement with mortality, power, and destiny. Set in a world ruled by gods, monsters, and ancient magic, The Book of Azrael follows the tortured alliance between Dianna, a powerful immortal bound by her love for her sister, and Liam, a fallen demigod burdened by his dark past. The narrative delves into themes of grief, loyalty, identity, and the delicate balance between love and destruction. The Book of Azrael sets the stage for a series that challenges the boundaries of morality and explores the enduring cost of power.

This guide refers to the 2022 Rose & Star e-book edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of graphic violence, death, death by suicide, suicidal ideation, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual violence, sexual content, and cursing.

Plot Summary

A thousand years before the events of The Book of Azrael, a war erupted among the gods of Rashearim (the realm of the gods) and their immortal creations, the celestials. Angered by the decision of the king of the gods, Unir, to name his half-celestial son, Samkiel, as heir, the rebel gods launched a coup. They allied with Ig’Morruthens, monstrous immortal beings from the Netherworld (Otherworld), to strengthen their forces. In the ensuing chaos, the rebel gods killed Unir while he tried to protect Samkiel. Enraged, Samkiel wielded the Oblivion blade—a legendary weapon capable of annihilating any being, even gods, such that they cannot reach the afterlife—and destroyed the rebels. Consumed by grief and fury, he drove the blade into Rashearim, fracturing the planet. He later reassembled its shattered remains.

Unir’s death sealed off the realms from one another, including the Netherworld (home to monsters) and Etherworld (home to mortals). Samkiel’s life became tied to this seal, rendering him immortal. Debris from Rashearim fell onto Etherworld (Onuna), triggering a deadly plague that killed Dianna Martinez’s family and almost claimed her sister, Gabriella (“Gabby”). A vampire named Drake saved the sisters and brought them to Kaden, an Ig’Morruthen. Kaden transformed both girls into Ig’Morruthens, binding Dianna to him in eternal servitude. As Kaden’s second-in-command, Dianna became the feared “Bloodthirsty Queen,” wielding immense power, including immortality, shape-shifting, fire manipulation, and the ability to read memories through blood.

As the novel opens, Kaden is seeking the mythical Book of Azrael, believed to hold the key to unsealing the Netherworld. He unites stranded Otherworlder factions—vampires, werewolves, witches, and others—on Onuna. Dianna carries out numerous missions to aid his quest, but her loyalty to Kaden is shaken when he orders her to kill Drake, her closest friend and the vampire prince. Reluctantly, she obeys, though she later reveals that she faked Drake’s death.

Kaden’s pursuit of the book leads Dianna, Tobias (a necromancer Ig’Morruthen), and Alistair (an Ig’Morruthen capable of breaking minds and controlling others) to a desert library. There, Dianna encounters Zekiel, a member of the legendary Hand of Samkiel, a group of celestial guardians of the Etherworld and Netherworld. Zekiel’s appearance confirms that The Hand and Samkiel are more than myths. Kaden subdues Zekiel, but Zekiel escapes and dies by suicide. His death unleashes a flash of blue light that reaches Rashearim, alerting Samkiel, now living under the name Liam, to a new threat.

Liam, consumed by grief and guilt over the destruction of Rashearim and the death of his father, has been living in self-imposed isolation but reluctantly travels to Onuna after Zekiel’s death. Reuniting with some surviving Hand members—Logan, Neverra, and Vincent—he struggles to adapt to the modern world. During a council meeting, Dianna infiltrates their ranks, setting the building on fire as a distraction while she searches for information on the Book of Azrael. Liam confronts her, and despite her use of a forsaken blade—one of the few weapons capable of harming celestials—she fails to kill him. After an intense battle, Liam captures her.

Imprisoned and tortured by The Hand, Dianna reflects on her recent actions. She recalls sending Gabby to a safe house to protect her, causing tension between the sisters. Kaden assigned Dianna to distract The Hand while Tobias and Alistair searched for the book, though she secretly planned to kill Liam using the forsaken blade.

Despite claiming that they will not rescue Dianna, Tobias and Alistair ambush her convoy and free her. Alistair forces Dianna to drink Logan’s blood to extract memories about the book, but when Logan’s thoughts reveal only his love for Neverra, Alistair intends to kill him. Moved by Logan’s memories, Dianna kills Alistair instead. Tobias escapes, and Dianna transports the injured Logan to safety, using him as leverage to negotiate a deal with Liam. In exchange for Gabby’s protection, Dianna offers to help kill Kaden and retrieve the book. Liam reluctantly agrees, sealing their pact with a blood contract, leaving scars on both hands.

Liam locks Dianna up again and goes to retrieve Gabby. During the rescue, shades—smoke-like creatures from the Netherworld—attack. Dianna senses Gabby’s distress and breaks free to save her sister, defeating the shades and their conjurer.

As Liam and Dianna work together, they seek help from Dianna’s old contacts, who betray her and attempt to return her to Kaden. Liam intervenes, saving her. Meanwhile, Liam struggles with grief-fueled nightmares that result in destructive outbursts of his power. Dianna offers him a listening ear, and the two form a tentative friendship.

Dianna introduces Liam to her allies, Drake and Ethan (the vampire king), who warn Liam against becoming attached to her. Their next lead takes them to Camilla, a witch with critical information about the book and a grudge against Dianna. Camilla reveals the information through a kiss with Liam but traps them as Santiago, another witch, and an army of Irvikuva—Ig’Morruthen monsters created by Kaden—attack.

Liam saves Dianna from the Irvikuva, though her wounds heal slowly due to their shared Ig’Morruthen blood. They continue their quest, guided by Ava, Azrael’s daughter, and her celestial bodyguard, Geraldo. They discover the Book of Azrael in a crypt, but Tobias appears, revealing himself as Haldnunen, one of the four legendary Ig’Morruthen Kings of Yejedin (the one-time rulers of the Ig’Morruthen). Tobias unleashes an army of the dead, including Ava and Geraldo, to seize the book. He captures Dianna and threatens her life, demanding the book in exchange. Despite Dianna’s willingness to sacrifice herself, Liam saves her and relinquishes the book to Tobias.

As they resume their search for the book, Liam and Dianna consult the last living fate, who prophesizes Liam’s death and the world’s descent into chaos. The grim prediction deepens their bond, which culminates in a kiss. However, their fragile connection shatters when Kaden broadcasts a global message. Revealing Drake’s betrayal, Kaden shows Gabby and Neverra as captives. In a shocking display, he kills Gabby on live television. The scars from Dianna and Liam’s blood pact vanish, signaling the deal’s dissolution. Overwhelmed by grief and rage, Dianna transforms into her monstrous form, unleashing a fiery storm that marks the beginning of catastrophic events.