Showing posts with label Lily Mayne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lily Mayne. Show all posts
The Rules of Royalty, Undeserved, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Whispers in the Dark
August 21, 2024
Hello and Happy Wednesday. I hope your week is off to a great start!
I'm sharing four books I read and quite enjoyed and maybe you'll find something here to read too!
The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich
Contemporary LGBT Romance, forced proximity, royals, dual pov
Jamie Johnson has never been the centre of attention, and he’s perfectly okay with that. His entire world unravels as a hidden truth emerges: he's the heir to the throne of Mitanor, a sun-drenched southern European country, and the press is ready to expose this secret to the world. An invitation to spend the summer in his father's palace arrives, giving Jamie a chance to get to know the man he never thought he’d meet.
Meanwhile, in a northern European kingdom known for its cold climate and stoic royals, Erik Von Rosenborg, the spare prince, grapples with the upcoming marriage of his golden-boy elder brother. With the country’s spotlight trained on his family more than ever, Erik feels sidelined and tightly controlled. So when he receives an offer to tutor the newly found American prince in the ways of royalty, he accepts without hesitation.
At a magnificent summer palace, Erik guides Jamie through the intricacies of royal etiquette, politics, and history. What neither prince anticipates is the connection that sparks between them—one that challenges both of their futures. Now each must make a choice: follow their hearts, or the time-honored royal path where crown and country reigns supreme, no matter the personal cost.
Rating - 
I definitely got The Princess Diaries vibes from this story and found it easy to become enamored with the lead characters — Jamie, the young man who discovered he was a prince on his 17th birthday, and Erik, the prince tasked with teaching him the ins and outs of being a royal.
I liked the easy chemistry between the characters and how their friendship grew into something more intimate and meaningful. It's a clean romance with sweet queer representation and the royal families who accept, praise, support and love them.
I definitely got The Princess Diaries vibes from this story and found it easy to become enamored with the lead characters — Jamie, the young man who discovered he was a prince on his 17th birthday, and Erik, the prince tasked with teaching him the ins and outs of being a royal.
I liked the easy chemistry between the characters and how their friendship grew into something more intimate and meaningful. It's a clean romance with sweet queer representation and the royal families who accept, praise, support and love them.
Undeserved by Ari Reavis
Contemporary Romance, instalust, descriptive heat, dual pov
Undeserved.
That’s what Bryce feels his one night with Maya is. But he knows it’s all he can allow himself to have with her because of the vow he’s made. No love, no feelings, no relationships, no commitments. Never again. Those promises work perfectly fine until he meets Maya, and realizes he’s unable to get her off of his mind, or stop wanting her in his bed.
Maya doesn’t want anything to do with love; something she’s only ever known to come with conditions and judgment. So it’s easy for her to agree to Bryce’s rules of not letting feelings get involved. But she can’t help what being around him does to her, or the way he has her wondering if broken rules are worth the cost.
A positive pregnancy test is something neither of them expects. It changes everything, and yet their apprehensions remain the same. His walls are too high to climb. She’s fighting to keep her walls from crumbling down. Throw a baby into the mix and things can get…interesting.
Rating - 1/2
I got why Bryce was hesitant to fall in love again. Being left at the altar without an explanation would drive the knife pretty deep into anyone's heart. But I loved how irresistible Maya was to him. The more distance he wanted to put between them, the tighter he held onto her. She had her own baggage, but I was impressed with how wholly she devoted herself to their relationship. I swear, Ari Reavis has such a way with describing the emotions her characters go through and I couldn't help but feel everything. I was frustrated and intrigued and delighted and if you're someone who loves the way angst pulls at your heart, you'll enjoy this book too.
1/2I got why Bryce was hesitant to fall in love again. Being left at the altar without an explanation would drive the knife pretty deep into anyone's heart. But I loved how irresistible Maya was to him. The more distance he wanted to put between them, the tighter he held onto her. She had her own baggage, but I was impressed with how wholly she devoted herself to their relationship. I swear, Ari Reavis has such a way with describing the emotions her characters go through and I couldn't help but feel everything. I was frustrated and intrigued and delighted and if you're someone who loves the way angst pulls at your heart, you'll enjoy this book too.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Fantasy Romance, enemies to lovers, vaguely descriptive heat, singular pov
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.
At least, he’s not a beast all the time.
As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.
Rating -
I read and loved the Crescent City series and figured it was about time to find out where all the hype began. A few years ago I was gifted the entire hardcover set of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and thought it was about time I started it.
Did I read the same book as everyone else?
With over two million ratings on Goodreads and many of them five stars, I expected the same greatness I found with Crescent City. I expected to fall deeply in love with the world, the characters, and everything in between.
Not so much.
I was bored for most of this book. I think I'm just tired of these tropes. You know the ones, where the girl is basically plucked from obscurity and yet she's the greatest thing to behold since the creation of sliced bread. She can do no evil and the ones she actually wronged are the ones bending over backward to apologize, make her feel better, be accommodating to her whims.
Over it.
So Feyre's family had descended into poverty due to her father's poor decisions. They would all starve if she hadn't figured out how to hunt. When she intentionally kills a fae wolf, she happily skins it and parcels out the meat. When Tamlin comes for her, she can only hope her family will survive without her. And when she enters the faerie lands, she quickly finds that nothing is as blissful as it seems.
I definitely got the Beauty and the Beast vibes from this story and I wish that I could have read other perspectives, especially when most of the secrets were revealed. This ended on a great note so I'm not sure if I'll be continuing the series, but never say never.
I read and loved the Crescent City series and figured it was about time to find out where all the hype began. A few years ago I was gifted the entire hardcover set of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and thought it was about time I started it.
Did I read the same book as everyone else?
With over two million ratings on Goodreads and many of them five stars, I expected the same greatness I found with Crescent City. I expected to fall deeply in love with the world, the characters, and everything in between.
Not so much.
I was bored for most of this book. I think I'm just tired of these tropes. You know the ones, where the girl is basically plucked from obscurity and yet she's the greatest thing to behold since the creation of sliced bread. She can do no evil and the ones she actually wronged are the ones bending over backward to apologize, make her feel better, be accommodating to her whims.
Over it.
So Feyre's family had descended into poverty due to her father's poor decisions. They would all starve if she hadn't figured out how to hunt. When she intentionally kills a fae wolf, she happily skins it and parcels out the meat. When Tamlin comes for her, she can only hope her family will survive without her. And when she enters the faerie lands, she quickly finds that nothing is as blissful as it seems.
I definitely got the Beauty and the Beast vibes from this story and I wish that I could have read other perspectives, especially when most of the secrets were revealed. This ended on a great note so I'm not sure if I'll be continuing the series, but never say never.
Whispers in the Dark by Nikole Knight & Lily Mayne
Paranormal Monster Romance, instalove, single pov, filthy heat
At twenty-four, Cody has already lost hope of having a life of his own. All his time is spent playing nurse to a dying, spiteful step-father and maid to his bully half-brother. His only escapes are playing his favorite online fantasy game, Black Oasis, and talking to the strange, unearthly presence under his bed that may or may not actually exist.
But everything changes when his nightly visitor, who introduces himself as Nor, starts talking back.
As their connection deepens, Nor invites Cody into the surreal world existing just beyond his nightmares, filled with haughty demons, passion-killing pet bugs named Gef, and a dark landscape that is oddly familiar. With his sweet but monstrous companion by his side, Cody might finally gain the life of freedom and adventure that he’s always wanted.
Rating -
Cody had a rough home life, with no hope for escape on the horizon. He found out the man who hated him all his life is not really his father. His mother is apathetic. And his big brother is a perverted psycho who lives to torture him daily. And then something goes bump in the night, under his bed, and a life Cody couldn't have even hoped for is right there for the taking.
He only had to dream.
I loved that Nor was a nightmare demon and how protective he was over his sweet Cody. There isn't much substance in this story, not like I'm used to from Lily Mayne, but if you love sweet and spicy monster romance, you'll enjoy this book.
Cody had a rough home life, with no hope for escape on the horizon. He found out the man who hated him all his life is not really his father. His mother is apathetic. And his big brother is a perverted psycho who lives to torture him daily. And then something goes bump in the night, under his bed, and a life Cody couldn't have even hoped for is right there for the taking.
He only had to dream.
I loved that Nor was a nightmare demon and how protective he was over his sweet Cody. There isn't much substance in this story, not like I'm used to from Lily Mayne, but if you love sweet and spicy monster romance, you'll enjoy this book.
Warning: These stories contain explicit sexual content and are not suitable for young readers. The introduction for each short story contains content and spoiler warnings specific to that story. Main content warnings include explicit sexual content, non-human genitalia, mentions of death, injury and violence, restraint and mentions of past trauma, but please check the warnings specific to each short story.
A Collection of Monstrous Short Stories by Lily Mayne
My Rating - ★★★★★
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Trope - various (all mated couples aside from the novella, Ruke, which involved instalove)
POV - Primarily single 1st person
Heat - absolutely filthy
Format - ebook from Amazon
Length - 462 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Trope - various (all mated couples aside from the novella, Ruke, which involved instalove)
POV - Primarily single 1st person
Heat - absolutely filthy
Format - ebook from Amazon
Length - 462 pages
Catch up with the original monster-human couple, Danny and Wyn, in their Wastes-style adventures; witness Moth and Wyn’s blossoming and potentially concerning friendship; find out all the new ways Edin has been frustrating Hunter (lovingly) since their story ended; and join Lor and Jugs in welcoming a new furry addition to their monster-world family.
Want to find out more about Wyn’s ex Orlith? In this collection, you can take a peek at some very old letters between the two telyths, read Orlith’s historic (pre-Danny) attempts to seduce our favourite grumpy Soul Eater, and meet his uptight and righteous older sibling.
Ruke (A Monstrous Novella)
In the brand new novella Ruke, human Jamie finally finds the one being he can trust after a lifetime of loneliness…
I was born the night monsters rose on earth. I’m a true child of the new world. I’ve never met a single other soul except for my dad, who decided to keep us out here in the Wastes when he escaped with me from the hospital that catastrophic night.
But now Dad’s gone, and I’m alone. Completely alone. I don’t trust humans—not raiders, not the military, not all the people living in those big dirty coastal cities—so I find the most remote spot I can to settle down and live out the rest of my life on my own, just like my dad always taught me was safest.
But I’m not on my own out here. Something is here with me—someone is leaving me strange gifts by my campfire every night. And suddenly, I realise that I don’t want to be alone anymore. I don’t want them to go.
When he finally shows himself to me, I realise that my mystery companion out here isn’t human.
And that suits me just fine.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon (FREE with KU)
My Two Cents
Where do I even start?
I've fallen for all of the couples introduced so far in this series and it was wonderful to get another chance to bask in their greatness.
I also love how adorable the author is. Her humor in these little snippets had me giggling.
Seeing the softer, more vulnerable sides to the monsters, the sides they usually only show their mates, is always special and each little story gave me that bit more to tip me from in love to absolute adoration. I cannot get enough of these creatures and being introduced to a new one, Ruke, was an unexpected treat. I'm not the only one who'd love for him to be able to bond with our beasties, am I?
This was an excellent collection to tide me over until I get my hands on the next monstrous book. I'm still pretty excited though!
The Author
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
Find out more at lily-mayne.com
He felt like a gift. A treasure.
I wanted to show him off to the entire fiefdom, to show them how lucky we were that out of the many, many people in his world—five billion of them—it had been Jugs who'd stumbled through the void to come here. But at the same time, I wanted to keep him hidden away, safe from the council and any others who wouldn't understand.
Just him and me, in our own new little world that we had forged with pieces of the different places we came from.
I wanted to show him off to the entire fiefdom, to show them how lucky we were that out of the many, many people in his world—five billion of them—it had been Jugs who'd stumbled through the void to come here. But at the same time, I wanted to keep him hidden away, safe from the council and any others who wouldn't understand.
Just him and me, in our own new little world that we had forged with pieces of the different places we came from.
Lor by Lily Mayne
Standalone - Monstrous #7
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / instalove / apocalypse
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - absolutely filthy
Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 619 pages
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / instalove / apocalypse
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - absolutely filthy
Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 619 pages
My role as Moric—ruler of a small and prosperous fiefdom in a quiet corner of the world—has always been painfully dull and stifling.
Until a beautiful, otherworldly creature with pink skin and a mane of golden hair falls through a strange void that has appeared in my guestroom.
And I am instantly captivated by him.
I have never seen anything like him. I have no idea where he came from, and what else is through that unsettling void—another world filled with soft-skinned, defenceless creatures like him? No tails, no horns, no claws, no sharp teeth. Tiny clothing, rounded ears, bright blue eyes. He is fascinating. And I want to keep him.
But I have no idea how my citizens and councillors will react to his presence—to the knowledge that a whole other world exists, and there is a portal to it in my guestroom. As much as I try to keep him my secret, the truth starts to slip out.
And those in my fiefdom who cling desperately onto power do their best to tear us apart. To take him from me.
I won’t let them.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
My Two Cents
My Rating - ★★★★★
A himbo from Earth falls into a void and lands at the feet of monsters. He's scared, they're scared, and there's a language barrier. It didn't take them long to figure things out and turn an awkward meet-cute into something beautiful. Jugs was an absolute sweetheart and Lor was no slouch.
I really enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at the monster world. Learning about all of the monsters, how they interact, the politics that are way too similar to real life, how they live... it gave me all that I thought I could want from this series.
So the monsters we've met and their human mates are in the monster world. I'm so excited to see how all of these people act when they're together.
How is it possible that this series just keeps getting better and better? I'm already in love with the world-buiding, the connections between the characters (both monsters and humans alike), and everything in between. This author captures the bonds these people share so beautifully and I can't get enough!
Here's some fantastic fanart!!
The Author
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
Find out more at lily-mayne.com
The man he'd been before—the young soldier Luke Buckley,
who'd already been all alone in the world—was gone.
He was only Seraph now.
The monster the military had made him.
who'd already been all alone in the world—was gone.
He was only Seraph now.
The monster the military had made him.
Seraph by Lily Mayne
My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #6
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / apocalypse
POV - Primarily single 1st person
Heat - Absolutely filthy
Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 462 pages
Standalone - Monstrous #6
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / apocalypse
POV - Primarily single 1st person
Heat - Absolutely filthy
Source - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 462 pages
Previous books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke * Gloam * Moth
I’ve already mentally prepared myself to kill the screaming, murderous monster in the cage outside our camp.
I’m used to it. It’s what I do here. Kill monsters and other people. And this monster, Seraph, is particularly unstable—has been since the moment he arrived from Collector Mary’s monster menagerie to the west, where the military stashed him away.
He’s in pain. I can see it. But he’s not a mindless beast. Not like some of the others think.
When I start guarding him in his cage every night, I begin to see the person beneath the agony that tortures his every waking moment. I begin to see who Seraph could have been if he hadn’t been twisted into this monstrous creature.
I realise that I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to kill him, even for his own sake, but it doesn’t matter anyway. He’s already dying, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Not even when new visitors at our raider camp bring with them secrets about Seraph. Secrets the military has tried to hide.
Secrets that reveal the true extent of the horror he’s been put through.
And now… Now, I will kill anyone who tries to hurt him again.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
My Two Cents
Have tissues and a strong fan ready because Seraph and Lilac were so heartbreaking and explicitly filthy together!
For years, Lilac had isolated himself within the walls of the raider camp. He was the go-to killer of monsters, although his job was getting kinda redundant with all the monsters moving in. He hadn't learned to get close to anyone, though he did consider Rig and Ghost friends. And then Seraph made an appearance and everything changed.
I had an inkling of Seraph's background and I was very sad to realize that I was right. However, I fell in love with the way this author created his story. The pain of his new journey as a monster touched my heart so deeply. The humanity she infused his character with made me smile SO HARD. And what ended up growing, slowly but surely between Seraph and Lilac, was illustrated so beautifully that I'm not sure if I'll ever be the same after witnessing it.
Can I just say... the scenes between Seraph and the other monsters... so freaking sweet. I already loved them, but the tenderness, patience and understanding they showed Seraph made me love them all so much more. I can't wait to see what is next for these monsters and their human mates. Heading to the monster world sounds like it's going to be a trip!
Some gorgeous fanart:
The Author
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
Find out more at lily-mayne.com
Yeah, I was attracted to Moth,
even though he was an assh*le most of the time and in love with a raider.
And I was pretty sure that he was attracted to me too, even just a little.
I was also pretty sure that he hated it.
even though he was an assh*le most of the time and in love with a raider.
And I was pretty sure that he was attracted to me too, even just a little.
I was also pretty sure that he hated it.
Moth by Lily Mayne
My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #5
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / forced proximity / apocalypse
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - filthy
Source - borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 451 pages
Standalone - Monstrous #5
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / forced proximity / apocalypse
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - filthy
Source - borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 451 pages
Previous books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke * Gloam
When I—along with my best friend and his big purple monster boyfriend—come across a fortress-like raider camp while journeying across the monster-infested Wastes, we stop to deliver a message.
Somehow, that simple pit stop turns into a seemingly impossible quest to get this camp’s missing leader out of the prison where he’s being held and forced to fight monsters and other humans. And I know exactly where it is, because I’ve been there.
Problem is, I’m making this journey with the prickliest and most arrogant guy I’ve ever met, who seems to immediately hate me on sight. Oh, and he’s also half monster. So there’s that. And he’s in love with a raider who definitely does not love him back, and he seems determined to take it out on me. So there’s also that.
But I’m not going to rise to his childish insults and barbed words. I’m not.
I’m also going to try very hard to ignore how mindnumbingly beautiful he is, even when he’s scowling at me.
But the longer we’re out here together, the more I learn about my prickly half monster companion Moth. I realise there’s a reason he’s so closed off and angry. There’s a reason he hates everyone.
There are secrets he’s been keeping, and when I find out what they are, I want to do everything in my power to help him—even though he’s telling me he can’t be helped.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
My Two Cents
Wow! I was begging for Charlie's book.
I was yearning for Moth's book.
Getting these two together blew my f*cking mind!!
So here's the gist:
- a virgin hero (not telling who it is)
- the sighting of new monsters—some friendly and some not so much
- Moth is a badass with a sword
- a visit with all of our favorite characters (I'm looking at you, Wyn and Danny, Edin and Hunter, Aury and Ghost, Gloam and Rig)
- hot sex. Can't have a monster book in this series without incredibly hot and imaginative sex
- deeper insight on the Wastes, the raider network, and the cramped cities the survivors inhabit.
Okay, so the mysterious Moth is half-monster and that comes with its own baggage. That is a story you have to bust this book open to discover. Know that his story is tragic and I want to fight some fictional people on his behalf.
Full of insecurities and vulnerabilities, Moth puts on a good show. He's untouchable, he's tough, and he's fine all by himself. Except it's all a lie and Charlie seems to be the only one who sees it.
Charlie finds himself extremely attracted to this beautiful male. Once they're bound to travel together to find the elusive raider camp leader, Cat, things between them were destined to change.
At least it was obvious to me.
I loved the way the relationship developed between these characters. It had an almost enemies-to-lovers vibe and I enjoyed every moment in which Charlie got Moth to melt. I don't even want to tell you any more about it because I'm afraid of spoiling it all and I really want you to find out for yourself.
And here's some fanart for this book:
The Author
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com
It made me forever grateful that he wanted to be with me, because the thought of him falling prey to anyone who would take advantage of his gentle nature made me want to murder things.
All the things.
All the things.
────── ♔ ──────
Wyn by Lily Mayne
My Rating - ★★★★★
Monstrous #3.5
Release - October 1, 2021
Genre/Trope - Paranormal MM Romance / epilogue
POV - Primarily Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 157 pages
Monstrous #3.5
Release - October 1, 2021
Genre/Trope - Paranormal MM Romance / epilogue
POV - Primarily Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 157 pages
I am a monster.
A ghoul. A demon. The bogeyman. I have been called all of them. Most creatures fear me, but humans are repulsed by me. They are terrified of me. They have created legends about me, ever since they became aware of my existence when the tear between our worlds grew and we—the monsters from their nightmares—flooded through in our droves.
There is only one human who isn’t afraid of me. The only one who matters. And I will destroy anyone who tries to hurt him or take him from me. Danny is mine.
For the first time in my unfathomably long life, I know what it means to want another so much that the thought of losing him threatens to ruin me. I will do anything to keep Danny with me for as long as I can have him—for as long as he is willing to stay by the side of an ancient, scarred creature with a voice so inhuman it has sent some mad.
For some reason, Danny loves my voice. For some reason, Danny loves me. And when we both decide that his natural human life is nowhere near enough time for us to have together, we go on a journey between worlds to the one place where we can do what it takes for us to be together forever.
My Two Cents
If I didn't already absolutely love Danny and Wyn, I would now. How adorable are these two? The love between them is surreal and I couldn't be happier for what they accomplished by the end of this story.
I'm not even going to get into what happened here. Just know that the love game is very strong within Wyn and Danny is still head over heels for his favorite monster.
I learned a bit about monster society, the beauty to be found beyond the tear, and that happy endings for these human/monster partnerships are truly possible.
If you've already fallen for these two, READ THIS BOOK!
And some more fanart:
The Author
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com
"You're not my weakness," I mumbled shakily against his mouth.
"You make me better."
"You make me better."
────── ♔ ──────
Gloam by Lily Mayne
My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #4
Release - December 3, 2021
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / forced proximity
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 413 pages
Standalone - Monstrous #4
Release - December 3, 2021
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / forced proximity
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 413 pages
When a strange woman shows up outside our camp in the Wastes with monsters chained up to her RV, it feels like I’m the only one who actually wants to help them.
That big, grey-skinned monster with the cage on his head and the chain hanging from his back—something is telling me I need to help him. I need to free him. But I have absolutely no idea how I’m supposed to do that, especially when he can’t even talk to me to tell me how.
Collector Mary is finally leaving our camp to head back to her monster menagerie, so I do the only thing I can think of to help him. I go with her.
Now, this big beastie and I are traveling companions for the foreseeable future. Now I just have to think of a way to get that cage off his head, which seems like an impossible task. But I’m not giving up. He has no one else, and when I start to discover who he is beneath the cage, my motivation to free him becomes far more than just a desire to help.
This is so dangerous. The military is lurking. Vicious monsters are lurking. And when Mary turns out to be even worse than we could have ever imagined, my desperate bid to save this monster turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to die out here.
I don’t know how it happened, but this became my favorite book of the series. While I still very much love Wyn and Edin and Aury… Gloam and Adam are in a league of their own. It could be due to the purity of their hearts, the utter lengths they would go to for each other, how they just fit… Honestly, it was a mix of things that made them the most glorious couple in the monster-verse.
Gloam was beholden to a terrible woman (I’m looking at you, Mary, you truly despicable woman) for reasons unknown. Rig was determined to free him, despite the misgivings of others in his camp. This young man, who was completely terrified of being “out there”, thought nothing of leaving his relatively safe life behind to help Gloam. He knew this monster was in trouble and he was just the person to fix things for him. And what grew between them, slowly but surely, became something truly beautiful.
Word of warning: this book was probably the filthiest of the bunch. It was definitely not safe to read around people. I gasped and choked quite a bit. I loved every minute of it!!
In the end, I’ve got so many questions and I hope things become much clearer in the books to come.
➤ What is up with Seraph? Dude has many eyes… I don’t know how I’m going to be able to humanize him. I won’t lie, it’s been easy to see the attraction with the monsters so far, despite them having black tipped fingers and turning into mist, being purple with horns, or having wings and birdlike feet (and being able to transform into a true monster). But for a rabid monster with a ton of eyes… I can’t see it… yet.
➤ So it seems like Edin was rolling up on the camp? Good thing or bad?
➤ Will Mary’s journals have viable information that can help Seraph? Otherwise, how are he and Lilac going to get their HEA? Yes, I’m already shipping them!
➤ Speaking of Lilac, did something happen to him to turn him into a silent killer? He seems to have deep emotions so I’m curious to see his backstory in his story to come.
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com
That big, grey-skinned monster with the cage on his head and the chain hanging from his back—something is telling me I need to help him. I need to free him. But I have absolutely no idea how I’m supposed to do that, especially when he can’t even talk to me to tell me how.
Collector Mary is finally leaving our camp to head back to her monster menagerie, so I do the only thing I can think of to help him. I go with her.
Now, this big beastie and I are traveling companions for the foreseeable future. Now I just have to think of a way to get that cage off his head, which seems like an impossible task. But I’m not giving up. He has no one else, and when I start to discover who he is beneath the cage, my motivation to free him becomes far more than just a desire to help.
This is so dangerous. The military is lurking. Vicious monsters are lurking. And when Mary turns out to be even worse than we could have ever imagined, my desperate bid to save this monster turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to die out here.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
>
My Two Cents
I don’t know how it happened, but this became my favorite book of the series. While I still very much love Wyn and Edin and Aury… Gloam and Adam are in a league of their own. It could be due to the purity of their hearts, the utter lengths they would go to for each other, how they just fit… Honestly, it was a mix of things that made them the most glorious couple in the monster-verse.
You are very brave, Adam.
Gloam was beholden to a terrible woman (I’m looking at you, Mary, you truly despicable woman) for reasons unknown. Rig was determined to free him, despite the misgivings of others in his camp. This young man, who was completely terrified of being “out there”, thought nothing of leaving his relatively safe life behind to help Gloam. He knew this monster was in trouble and he was just the person to fix things for him. And what grew between them, slowly but surely, became something truly beautiful.
Word of warning: this book was probably the filthiest of the bunch. It was definitely not safe to read around people. I gasped and choked quite a bit. I loved every minute of it!!
In the end, I’ve got so many questions and I hope things become much clearer in the books to come.
➤ What is up with Seraph? Dude has many eyes… I don’t know how I’m going to be able to humanize him. I won’t lie, it’s been easy to see the attraction with the monsters so far, despite them having black tipped fingers and turning into mist, being purple with horns, or having wings and birdlike feet (and being able to transform into a true monster). But for a rabid monster with a ton of eyes… I can’t see it… yet.
➤ So it seems like Edin was rolling up on the camp? Good thing or bad?
➤ Will Mary’s journals have viable information that can help Seraph? Otherwise, how are he and Lilac going to get their HEA? Yes, I’m already shipping them!
➤ Speaking of Lilac, did something happen to him to turn him into a silent killer? He seems to have deep emotions so I’m curious to see his backstory in his story to come.
The Author
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com
One's face broke into a huge, beautiful grin, and I knew that was it.
I was utterly smitten.
Totally, one hundred percent gone for this strange, winged monster with creepy black eyes
and ghostly, green-tinged skin.
I was utterly smitten.
Totally, one hundred percent gone for this strange, winged monster with creepy black eyes
and ghostly, green-tinged skin.
────── ♔ ──────
The Rycke by Lily Mayne
My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #3
Release - August 9, 2021
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / apocalypse
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 317 pages
Standalone - Monstrous #3
Release - August 9, 2021
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / apocalypse
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 317 pages
Other books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin
Life as a raider in the Wastes, where monsters roam and the military lurks, is as easy as it sounds.
I’ve been out here for a long time, and the fear that courses through my blood every time I have to step outside our camp walls to scavenge never fades. No matter how many monsters you face—and have to run for your life from—it doesn’t ever get easier.
But when I come across a bound and injured monster in an abandoned military base, I can’t leave him behind. His presence in our camp is causing tension, but I can’t bring myself to care when I get to see a different side to him—when he starts to show me who he is, beneath the pain and lingering trauma.
But despite his gentle nature, I soon discover why others are so desperate to own him. Why the military, and now this stranger lurking outside our camp, want to put him back in chains and take him away from me.
There’s something hiding under his skin. Something that threatens to upend my entire life, the one I’ve spent my years carefully protecting out here.
There’s a reason why all other monsters fear him.
After learning bits and pieces about the rycke, I wasn’t sure how this creature could be captured in a way that would engender feelings of romance. I don’t even know why I doubted his author because she’s delivered everything I could possibly hope for with every book.
Meeting Aury was such a unique experience. Here was this monster, who was supposed to be the one beast that was feared by all other monsters, and he was the kindest, most gentlest soul of them all. The author did such a beautiful job of capturing his vulnerability, even after he had just committed a horrific act. Gosh, Aury crying grabbed me in my freaking soul!
Gage was such a sweetheart. As a real pushover, he didn’t really come into his own until he met Aury. I’m really digging all of these men in this apocalyptic world full on monster-loving the hell out of their new world!
With ‘The Rycke’, we get our first real glimpse of what life is like for humans living in the Wastes. It’s certainly not pretty and I found it downright terrifying. I don’t know how I would survive in similar circumstances and can’t help but marvel at the bravery of these characters.
While I’m not sure what happens next in this series, I do recognize that there are a few people who I need to see again. What happened to the guy Hunter met in the pit? Whatever happened to his best friend Charlie? And will we be finding Rig again?
I must not forget to share the fanart I fell in love with for this book:
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
I’ve been out here for a long time, and the fear that courses through my blood every time I have to step outside our camp walls to scavenge never fades. No matter how many monsters you face—and have to run for your life from—it doesn’t ever get easier.
But when I come across a bound and injured monster in an abandoned military base, I can’t leave him behind. His presence in our camp is causing tension, but I can’t bring myself to care when I get to see a different side to him—when he starts to show me who he is, beneath the pain and lingering trauma.
But despite his gentle nature, I soon discover why others are so desperate to own him. Why the military, and now this stranger lurking outside our camp, want to put him back in chains and take him away from me.
There’s something hiding under his skin. Something that threatens to upend my entire life, the one I’ve spent my years carefully protecting out here.
There’s a reason why all other monsters fear him.
Find The Rycke here: Goodreads * Amazon
My Two Cents
After learning bits and pieces about the rycke, I wasn’t sure how this creature could be captured in a way that would engender feelings of romance. I don’t even know why I doubted his author because she’s delivered everything I could possibly hope for with every book.
Meeting Aury was such a unique experience. Here was this monster, who was supposed to be the one beast that was feared by all other monsters, and he was the kindest, most gentlest soul of them all. The author did such a beautiful job of capturing his vulnerability, even after he had just committed a horrific act. Gosh, Aury crying grabbed me in my freaking soul!
Gage was such a sweetheart. As a real pushover, he didn’t really come into his own until he met Aury. I’m really digging all of these men in this apocalyptic world full on monster-loving the hell out of their new world!
I didn't care what he could become.
I didn't see that monstrous face when I looked at Aury.
This was my sweet, gentle, kind monster.
He was still my Aury.
I didn't see that monstrous face when I looked at Aury.
This was my sweet, gentle, kind monster.
He was still my Aury.
With ‘The Rycke’, we get our first real glimpse of what life is like for humans living in the Wastes. It’s certainly not pretty and I found it downright terrifying. I don’t know how I would survive in similar circumstances and can’t help but marvel at the bravery of these characters.
While I’m not sure what happens next in this series, I do recognize that there are a few people who I need to see again. What happened to the guy Hunter met in the pit? Whatever happened to his best friend Charlie? And will we be finding Rig again?
I must not forget to share the fanart I fell in love with for this book:
Aury by Femkeneri
Everyone I've met (or will meet) by grandmechantlapin
Aury by Femkeneri
Everyone I've met (or will meet) by grandmechantlapin
The Author
Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.
She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.
She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.
Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com
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