Those who signed up to be ARC readers for The Step and the Walk, Book Two in The Darkening Gate, will get a copy of the demon art made by Juhai Hai in the form of a printed art card. It’s a present for signing up, not an incentive to review, as reviews are not required, only requested.

Anyway, who are these demons?

The purple woman on the left is B–. Andresh will not reveal her true name in his journal, so he calls her B– until he renames her when he forms a pact. Her new name is Isabelle.

Her domayne is Hidden Thinges,

Amongst Paupers, Amongst Kinges.

—The Book of Simoneth

Isabelle’s power lies in secrets and all things hidden. She can see the truth that you’re hiding from yourself. She can see, though not all the time, strands of the future as it will come to pass. You cannot surprise her, because a surprise is a secret, and she already knows what you’ll do. She is a helpful demon to contract with, but she is very, very dangerous.

The man on the right, who looks like an angel, is A–. Once again, Andresh will not reveal his true name to protect the reader of his journal, but it is revealed in Book One of The Darkening Gate, The Name and the Key. A–is a formidable adversary. He thrives on the fear and suffering of others. He is doomed to reside in mirrors, always looking at the world outside, but never able to fully participate in it, which causes him anguish and creates in him a desire to punish others.

He appears as a beautiful angel to all who sees him. But the truth of the matter is, he is Fallen and now a demon.

Angel Fallen, Angel Fell.

down from Heaven, now in Hell.

—The Book of Simoneth

While there are other demons in the trilogy–another one in Book Two, and a particularly frightening one in Book Three–these two are the major players when it comes to all things demonic.

Juhai Hai, who I’ve worked with before on multiple pieces of art for my books, did this art to commemorate the publication of Book Two. The Step and the Walk releases October 13, 2026, from Oliver Heber Books.