Caffeinated Reviewer

Narrated by the author & Katya Gruhala, Dueling Shoulder Angels by Ben Schenkman is the second fantasy novel in the Devil You Know series. Nick sold his soul to the devil, got the girl and saved the day. But complications arise when God’s team tries to recruit him. Another delightful, hilarious, suspenseful and thought-provoking story awaits you.

Selling his soul to the Devil was the best decision that Nick ever made.

He got the girl, saved the day, and settled in for a comfortable career at Devil Co. That means it’s the perfect time for God to have other plans for him–and guess who shows up to try and poach Nick for Their organization? Why have one complicated job working for a personified deity, when you can have two?

Caught between worlds, and moonlighting for the “good guys,” Nick learns his deal with Lucifer might not be what it seems. Uncovering a scheme to take advantage of the Devil himself rocks Nick to his core, and makes him question everything. The line between good and evil gets blurrier by the day, and Nick doesn’t know which shoulder angel to trust.

His partner Amy, a witch growing into powers of her own, warns him of the danger he faces, but can’t stop Nick from running headlong into it. Can Nick save himself, or will Amy need to make an ally of a former foe to save him from a fate worse than decaf?

While the author does a great job of bringing the listener up to speed, I recommend listening to this series in the order of its release. This is a light, funny fantasy series where heaven and hell are run like a corporation with offices downtown.

The narrative is split between Nick and his girlfriend Amy, a witch. She is the sounding board for Nick as he tries to meet the Devil’s demand and listens to what the salesman for the man upstairs offers. He also seeks counsel from a priest.

Nick faces genuine conflict, especially when he questions the deal Lu (Lucifer, aka the devil) wants him to close on. The story offered a blend of cozy moments, action and, to my surprise, a renewed friendship with Rob. Nick is a genuinely good guy, and even as an agent of Lucifer, he still has a strong moral code. The relationship between him and Amy is one of respect. It was nice to see adults behaving like adults.

The author does a wonderful job exploring heaven and hell with some familiar tropes, but he also puts his own touches on it. We’ve got themes of redemption, change and respect. God (Leslie) is gender-fluid (they/them) and I loved it. Everything isn’t black and white when looking at the pros and cons of heaven and hell. While the story offers a light, fast-paced fantasy with some comedic moments, it also touches on thought-provoking ideas.

Both the author and Katya Gruhala did a great job of capturing the tone, voices and personalities of the characters. I highly recommend listening.

If you are looking for light, funny, fantasy, you’ll want to grab Dueling Shoulder Angels and the Devil You Know series.

Amazon* | Audible

About Ben Schenkman

Ben Schenkman likes many things in life: his 20-pound Maine coon cat, his family, his coffee, and his eclectic hobbies—not necessarily in that order. Ben also likes to play devil’s advocate in his urban fantasy books by exploring the gray areas of good and evil with questions like, “Does the end really justify the means? Or is it all simply black and white?” Ben leaves these questions lingering in the ether to challenge readers’ conventional thinking and delve into the complexities of moral dilemmas. As a native of Connecticut, Ben draws inspiration from his upbringing and college years in New Haven, where his novels take place. When he wants to escape being a writer, he’s a massive foodie who goes on gastronomic adventures, an overachiever who collects degrees in Theater, Nuclear Engineering, and an MBA, or the manager/performer of the fire dance troupe, HVBRIS—you know, the basics. No big deal.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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