I never know what to say in these reviews. I've written down bullet points and will write them out in complete sentences one by one, so bear with me if this sounds a bit "stream-of-consciousnessy". As a first book, dragon * demon is a solid foundation to what comes next. The characters are well-defined and convincing. They aren't introduced too quickly, and the book gives time for the readers to get to know each one of them. The only point of potential improvement here is the confusion when it comes to kobolds. Kobolds refer to a large group of various mythical creatures, so it might be better to add more descriptions.
My favorite character is Elioxus. The twist in their character background enhances the story and enriches the worldbuilding, and their complex relationship with Brysen's party is compelling and adds more depth to the antagonist (Brysen). Speaking of worldbuilding, the idea that the demon lord is a champion for the oppressed is a fascinating subversion, and this can invite a lot of nuances in later parts of the story.
The best part of the story is, in my opinion, the Anson house raid. The action, tension, and atmosphere are all on point. The writing conveys what it set out to convey. It acts as a suitable climax.
I just wish that the "time travel ability" played a part in that sequence, because currently, it felt like the ability vanished in the latter half of the story. This is probably intended to act as a setup for later volumes, but judging this volume on its own, it feels like a Chekhov's gun that never went off.
One last point I think could be improved is that at some points, the descriptions seem repetitive, which means that after describing the character's action, the intention of the action is repeated, even though it is obvious from the context. The redundancy is distracting at times.
Overall, this is a strong start to an emotional story that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Props to the author for writing this, and I am sure that this series has a lot of potential.