A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch Summary, Characters and Themes

A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley is a charming, sexy paranormal rom-com that blends sharp wit, emotional depth, and plenty of magical mischief. 

It follows a disgraced demon and a hot-tempered witch thrown together by fate—and forced to navigate trust, redemption, and their unexpected chemistry. With a cast of quirky characters, snarky banter, and heartfelt moments, the book explores themes of identity, healing, and choosing your own path. It’s perfect for fans of cozy magic with a side of spicy romance, and those who love watching enemies turn into reluctant allies… then lovers.

Summary

A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch centers around Astaroth, a high-ranking demon on the Infernal Council, and Calladia, a powerful and prickly witch with a big heart and a lot of anger issues. 

When Astaroth loses a magical wager to his rival, Moloch, he’s exiled to Earth, stripped of his power, and left with no memory of who he is. His fall from grace is tied to a failed soul-bargain involving another demon, Ozroth, and a witch named Mariel (Calladia’s best friend), which Moloch uses to publicly disgrace him.

Calladia, who once loathed Astaroth for his role in that fiasco, finds herself saving his life when she sees him attacked by a shadowy figure—Moloch, still scheming in the background. She reluctantly brings the now-amnesiac Astaroth home to recover. He remembers nothing of his past, but retains instincts and magical fragments that hint at who he once was. 

Initially guarded and suspicious, Calladia starts to see a new side of the once-feared demon: confused, sarcastic, and oddly endearing.

As they search for the truth about his memory loss, Calladia takes Astaroth to a healer, who reveals the amnesia is magical and complex. The pair are drawn deeper into the mystery of Astaroth’s exile and Moloch’s real motives. They enlist Mariel and Ozroth, who are wary but agree to help. 

Meanwhile, Astaroth starts to find peace—and maybe even joy—in the small-town weirdness of Glimmer Falls, a haven for magical beings.

The bond between Astaroth and Calladia deepens as they confront external threats and internal scars. Calladia opens up about her troubled relationship with her controlling mother—the town’s mayor—and the emotional armor she’s had to build. 

Astaroth begins having visions during a magical ritual and learns the explosive secret behind Moloch’s betrayal: Astaroth is half-human, a fact that could undermine demon political power if revealed.

The revelation leaves Astaroth reeling. Grappling with his identity and purpose, he nearly walks away from the fight, but Calladia pulls him back, encouraging him to redefine who he wants to be. 

Their romantic tension finally boils over, leading to a passionate and emotional connection that forces both of them to face their fears.

As Moloch makes a power play, sending more demons to Earth and threatening Glimmer Falls, Astaroth and the team prepare for war. They track down a magical grimoire to undo the spell affecting him, decode its secrets, and set a trap during the town’s Autumn Festival. 

Astaroth fakes betrayal to get close to Moloch and, with Mariel’s help, exposes Moloch’s crimes to the Infernal Council using a magical recording mirror.

The gambit works. Moloch is defeated and banished, and Astaroth is offered reinstatement and power—but he declines. 

He chooses to stay on Earth, having found meaning, community, and love with Calladia. 

Meanwhile, Calladia confronts her mother and claims her independence, finally stepping out of her family’s shadow.

In the final chapters, the couple settles into a new rhythm—awkward, sweet, and full of snark. Astaroth hilariously fumbles through human hobbies like cooking and gardening, while Calladia lovingly teases him. 

Their journey ends not in a grand victory, but in a quiet, hopeful moment: walking hand in hand into a future they’ve chosen together, on their own terms.

This magical romance delivers a satisfying mix of heart, heat, and humor, proving that even demons can find redemption—and witches can fall in love without losing themselves.

Characters

Astaroth

Astaroth, a demon of the High Council, is initially portrayed as a powerful, sarcastic figure with a high status in the demon realm. However, after a failed wager and a confrontation with Moloch, he loses his position and is banished to Earth.

Stripped of his memories due to a spell cast by Moloch, Astaroth must adapt to a human world that he does not remember. He is forced to re-evaluate everything about his identity.

As the story progresses, Astaroth transitions from a proud and arrogant demon to a more vulnerable, self-reflective being. His journey is a search for redemption, understanding his true origins, and grappling with the trauma of his past.

He evolves emotionally as he develops a close relationship with Calladia and ultimately chooses to remain on Earth, finding a new sense of purpose and love.

Calladia

Calladia is a powerful, independent witch with a strong personality. She is introduced as a friend of Mariel and someone who has a complicated history with Astaroth, shaped by his past actions.

Initially, she is wary and distrustful of Astaroth, especially because of his demon status, but her feelings become more complex as they spend time together. Calladia harbors deep emotional scars from her past, particularly in relation to her strained relationship with her mother, the mayor of Glimmer Falls.

Throughout the novel, Calladia grows as a character by confronting her past traumas and fears of intimacy. Her relationship with Astaroth evolves from mutual antagonism to deep emotional and physical connection, culminating in a romantic partnership.

Her personal growth is reflected in her willingness to open up to Astaroth and accept love despite her fears of repeating past mistakes.

Moloch

Moloch is the primary antagonist of the story, representing the darker, manipulative forces within the demon realm. He is power-hungry and seeks to reshape the demon realm into an authoritarian regime, using his knowledge of magic and politics to manipulate others.

Moloch’s rivalry with Astaroth is central to the plot, as he uses a spell to erase Astaroth’s memories and banish him to Earth. Moloch is a cunning and ruthless figure who plays on the vulnerabilities of others, including Astaroth, whom he taunts and threatens throughout the story.

His primary motivation is power, and he will go to great lengths to maintain control, even at the cost of betraying allies and causing chaos. Ultimately, Moloch’s downfall comes when Astaroth exposes his crimes, revealing his true nature to the High Council and banishing him from power.

Mariel

Mariel is a key supporting character in the story, particularly as she helps her friend Calladia navigate the challenges they face with Astaroth and Moloch. She is a strong and resilient witch who has a complicated past with both Astaroth and the demon realm.

As the story unfolds, she becomes an ally to Astaroth, despite their past conflicts. Mariel helps decode magical texts and aids in the battle against Moloch’s forces.

Her role as a trusted friend and resourceful witch makes her an important part of the group, although her emotional connection to Astaroth and Calladia isn’t as deep as some of the other relationships in the story. Nevertheless, her loyalty to her friends and her involvement in their shared struggle makes her an essential character.

Ozroth

Ozroth, a former protégé of Astaroth, is another pivotal character in the story. His initial involvement with Mariel and the failed soul bargain with Astaroth sets the stage for much of the conflict.

Although Ozroth is not as prominent a figure as Astaroth or Calladia, he plays an important role in the narrative as the individual who bridges the gap between the demons and witches. His relationship with Astaroth is complex, shaped by the betrayal and the consequences of their shared history.

Ozroth’s actions often reveal his loyalty to both Mariel and Astaroth, and he serves as an important link in the group’s fight against Moloch.

The Mayor

The mayor, who also happens to be Calladia’s estranged mother, represents authority and control. Their relationship is fraught with tension and emotional manipulation, particularly in the way the mayor uses Calladia’s past mistakes to undermine her.

Calladia’s interactions with her mother serve as a major source of her personal conflict. The mayor’s cold, calculating nature acts as a mirror to Calladia’s emotional struggles.

While not a primary antagonist, the mayor plays an important role in Calladia’s personal growth and her journey to set boundaries and establish self-worth. Her character challenges Calladia to confront her past, leading to a cathartic and defining moment for Calladia when she finally stands up to her mother.

Themes

Identity, Transformation, and Self-Discovery

Throughout A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch, the theme of identity and transformation is a cornerstone of the narrative, particularly through the character of Astaroth. As a demon who is banished to Earth with no memory of his past, Astaroth’s journey is about rediscovering who he is and reconciling his demon nature with his evolving understanding of humanity.

This theme delves deeply into the struggles of memory loss and the rediscovery of self, exploring how a person—or in this case, a demon—can change when they are forced to confront their flaws and misdeeds, particularly in the face of a new environment. The novel emphasizes how one’s past doesn’t necessarily define their future, and that personal growth and change are possible even when the path to it is unclear.

Astaroth’s struggle with his identity is echoed by other characters as they too deal with the complexities of their past actions and what they want to become, especially in a world that sees them as different.

The Emotional and Psychological Consequences of Family Dynamics

Another complex theme explored in the book is the impact of family dynamics, particularly the psychological and emotional toll of strained or toxic relationships. This theme is central to the characters of Calladia and Astaroth, who both have deeply complicated relationships with their mothers.

Calladia’s fraught relationship with her mother, the mayor of Glimmer Falls, is one of emotional manipulation and unresolved conflict. The novel delves into the way family can both shape and distort one’s sense of self, with Calladia’s journey being about setting boundaries and learning to stand up for herself in the face of familial pressure.

On the other hand, Astaroth’s relationship with his mother, Lilith, becomes a key part of his rediscovery of self and his ultimate rejection of his demonic lineage’s expectations. Both characters face the struggle of reconciling the negative aspects of their family relationships with their desire to forge healthier, more self-defined futures.

The theme of family pressure and its influence on identity is pervasive, showing the intricate ties between personal liberation and the ability to break free from destructive familial influences.

The Moral Ambiguity of Redemption and Forgiveness

The novel also grapples with the theme of redemption, particularly the complexity of forgiveness and whether individuals can truly change. Astaroth, who starts as a character with a past full of betrayal and moral ambiguity, finds himself on a journey of redemption that is neither straightforward nor entirely clear-cut.

His attempts to make amends for his past wrongs, particularly in relation to his involvement in the demon realm’s politics and his actions toward others, present a nuanced view of redemption. It isn’t just about saying sorry or achieving absolution, but about demonstrating a consistent change in behavior and thinking.

This theme is explored not just through Astaroth, but also through other characters like Calladia, who must come to terms with her own past decisions and how they’ve shaped her present. The tension between deserving forgiveness and actually earning it is a complex moral quandary that the characters must navigate.

Ultimately, the novel suggests that redemption is a continuous, ongoing process rather than a singular, climactic event.

The Tension Between Duty and Personal Desire in the Quest for Power

In A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch, the battle for power—whether political, magical, or personal—is portrayed as a deep internal struggle between duty and personal desire. The political intrigue involving Moloch’s desire to reshape the demon realm reveals how power can be a corrupting influence, pushing characters to make choices that conflict with their personal desires and values.

Astaroth’s own struggles with power are central to this theme; though he is offered the chance to return to his position of influence on the High Council, he ultimately rejects the offer, choosing to remain on Earth with Calladia and build a life rooted in personal connections rather than political ambition.

This internal conflict is mirrored in Calladia’s story, as she grapples with her own role in Glimmer Falls and her strained relationship with her mother, who represents the political and familial pressures that try to dictate her actions.

The theme of power in the story isn’t just about external battles, but the internal wars characters face when they choose between following duty and pursuing their desires for happiness and fulfillment.

The Intersection of Romance, Trust, and Emotional Vulnerability in the Face of Adversity

Romantic relationships in A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch are not simply about attraction but about emotional vulnerability and the trust required to navigate difficult circumstances. Astaroth and Calladia’s relationship evolves not just through flirtation and passion, but through mutual support in times of crisis.

As Astaroth struggles with his fragmented memories and identity, Calladia becomes his anchor, and their growing bond allows them both to confront their inner fears and past traumas. Their romance is not just about love but about trust—learning to trust oneself and each other despite the challenges they face.

This theme is explored against the backdrop of adversity, with both characters having to confront their own demons (literally and figuratively) and decide whether they can be open and vulnerable in a world that has often hurt them.

Their relationship becomes a symbol of resilience and the power of emotional connection to heal old wounds and forge new paths.

The Power of Community and Found Family in Overcoming Isolation and Adversity

Finally, A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch emphasizes the strength found in community and the concept of “found family.” For both Astaroth and Calladia, their personal journeys are intertwined with the support of others, whether it’s Calladia’s close-knit group of friends and fellow witches, or Astaroth’s eventual embrace of human life and his new place in Glimmer Falls.

The novel suggests that no one is truly an island, and that personal growth and healing are often facilitated by the connections we make with others. Astaroth’s transformation is not just about his internal struggle, but about how the people around him—Mariel, Oz, Calladia, and even the townspeople of Glimmer Falls—help shape who he becomes.

The theme of found family is crucial, as it highlights how healing from isolation and emotional scars can only truly happen when one is supported by those who care, showing that family is not always defined by blood, but by the bonds we choose to form.

This theme presents a powerful message about the importance of connection in overcoming personal adversity.