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jenelleandersen's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Fucking what. This book needs editing bad.
melissareads7997's review against another edition
5.0
Books about covens and magical communities are hit or miss. Playing with monsters really hit the nail on the head. I enjoyed my time in the world Amelia Hutchins created. Lucian is a wonderfully flawed leading man and Lena is a strong woman and powerful witch. The story takes the reader through twists and turns, and just when you think you’ve got things figured out, there is another twist! Looking forward to book 2.
adelie_wants_books_and_snacks's review against another edition
1.0
Nope. Not for me. I only listened to the book because Aiden Snow is one of my favourite narrators. His voice is amazing but man the hero is soooooo unlikable. And I know it says it in the description but yikes. Not for me.
aclawlor's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't know how I felt about this originally. I struggled at first to fully immerse myself in the characters, but Amelia perfectly introduces them and draws you into Lena's world. Her story isn't for the light hearted but it's worth every moment.
inuyama's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
bfranny's review against another edition
2.0
I saw this recommended several times on BookTok.
And with Witches and Demons, I thought I’d like it.
But it’s kinda boring.
Listened to the Audiobook
And with Witches and Demons, I thought I’d like it.
But it’s kinda boring.
Listened to the Audiobook
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
Huh. Not sure what to say about Playing with Monsters right now. Like it was okay.. but that's about it? Nothing really fascinated me or kept me engaged.. other than the ending?!? Hm..
So in this, you will meet Magdalena and Lucian. After reading this, I can clearly state that I liked Mag (yeah, her name is a mouthful so she has a nickname from me now). As for Lucian, ehh, I'm honestly still on the fence with this guy. At some parts, he was pretty mysterious and others had me thinking what the eff is going on here? Plus the sexual tension between these two good be extremely good and addicting. While other times they annoyed the living shit out of me. There was no in-between this time around. It was one or the other.
Other than that, I'll admit that I got bored around the halfway mark. Nothing was really happening or keeping me intrigued. Heck, even that one scene was a shock but then I got bored all over again. Not sure what the next book is this chronicles will give me but I guess I just need to suck it up and continue on with this series.
So in this, you will meet Magdalena and Lucian. After reading this, I can clearly state that I liked Mag (yeah, her name is a mouthful so she has a nickname from me now). As for Lucian, ehh, I'm honestly still on the fence with this guy. At some parts, he was pretty mysterious and others had me thinking what the eff is going on here? Plus the sexual tension between these two good be extremely good and addicting. While other times they annoyed the living shit out of me. There was no in-between this time around. It was one or the other.
Other than that, I'll admit that I got bored around the halfway mark. Nothing was really happening or keeping me intrigued. Heck, even that one scene was a shock but then I got bored all over again. Not sure what the next book is this chronicles will give me but I guess I just need to suck it up and continue on with this series.
divapitbull's review against another edition
5.0
Playing with Monsters was unanticipated. I did not for one minute expect it to be as enjoyable as it was! I am enjoying the Destiny series by the same author but did not appreciate being forced down the rabbit holes of 2 spin off series in order to be able to read and understand what I believe is the final book in the Destiny series. The first spin off A Demon’s Dark Embrace – first in The Elite Guards series was underwhelming. At the time I bumped it up to 3 stars because I thought part of the problem might have been my shitty attitude. Turns out is wasn’t. I went into PWM with an equally shitty attitude that the first 17% did not do much to dispel.
The story is told with alternating points of view and the very beginning seemed to be filled with tedious monologues. Lucian’s made him sound like an over the top villain of the “I vant to suck your blood” variety (no, he is not a vampire). And then in the first encounter between Lucian and the heroine Magdalena (Lena to her friends) he is asking her things like “Are you as innocent as you look, or is that just an act for all the boys who want to plant their seed this year” and “Is the boy in line to pluck your petals”. OK I get we’re gearing up for a fertility festival – but really – Dude – did you just talk like that with a straight face? And then Lena starts explaining to him that she isn’t a virgin – which A. always something I work into the first 5 minutes of a conversation with a stranger and B. May as well be, so I definitely wouldn’t mention it. (And what IS the fixation with virgin heroines or just as abysmal that pseudo virgins – I tried it once and it was “fine” so fine I never did it again. WTF?).
So…wasn’t looking good for me, then BAM the story took off and what a fun ride! Sure there were a lot of side characters engaging in petty, selfish, jealous, childish behavior – but in a good way – like Jerry Springer when he had to have Steve the bouncer drag people off stage. Lurid but so entertaining!! It may be possible to read PWM without having read The Destiny or The Elite Guards series – but I wouldn’t recommend it. There is sooooo much backstory and world building pertinent to really getting everything out of this story that it almost wouldn’t be worth it.
Lena a young witch, part of the hidden covens that did not join the Guild; is getting ready for The Awakening – the ceremony that will unlock her powers. She’s also the…. fated mate? of Lucian the dark, villainous, not a good man hero – who really is not a bad man since he’s trying to stop the ending of worlds and coming of chaos. It’s not clear what Lucian is. He’s known to be Lucifer’s Right-Hand Man – but he really isn’t and he doesn’t seem to be a demon, definitely not Fae and not a warlock – jury’s still out. He is pretty bossy and controlling in the boudoir and likes his pleasure sprinkled with pain – but not cringy pain. Lucian and Lena are brought together by reincarnation, the Harvest festival putting Lena’s libido into overdrive and pure sexual chemistry. And they can be pretty hot together if not over the top. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of relationship development and I don’t get their interest in each other with their clothes on. Come to think of – so far they have no interest in each other with their clothes on.
The story moved along at a fast pace. Towards the end Ristan and the Fae and Destiny characters make an appearance which is fun and further entangles the plots. It seems a given that events transpiring in PWM are going to be mentioned in the next/last Destiny book. Alden is even left behind with Lena’s coven to provide “support” and intelligence. The story ends on a cliffhanger. Lucian has had to do something to protect Lena that she is going to be seriously pissed off about when she figures out what he did. I am totally on board for book 2!
The story is told with alternating points of view and the very beginning seemed to be filled with tedious monologues. Lucian’s made him sound like an over the top villain of the “I vant to suck your blood” variety (no, he is not a vampire). And then in the first encounter between Lucian and the heroine Magdalena (Lena to her friends) he is asking her things like “Are you as innocent as you look, or is that just an act for all the boys who want to plant their seed this year” and “Is the boy in line to pluck your petals”. OK I get we’re gearing up for a fertility festival – but really – Dude – did you just talk like that with a straight face? And then Lena starts explaining to him that she isn’t a virgin – which A. always something I work into the first 5 minutes of a conversation with a stranger and B. May as well be, so I definitely wouldn’t mention it. (And what IS the fixation with virgin heroines or just as abysmal that pseudo virgins – I tried it once and it was “fine” so fine I never did it again. WTF?).
So…wasn’t looking good for me, then BAM the story took off and what a fun ride! Sure there were a lot of side characters engaging in petty, selfish, jealous, childish behavior – but in a good way – like Jerry Springer when he had to have Steve the bouncer drag people off stage. Lurid but so entertaining!! It may be possible to read PWM without having read The Destiny or The Elite Guards series – but I wouldn’t recommend it. There is sooooo much backstory and world building pertinent to really getting everything out of this story that it almost wouldn’t be worth it.
Lena a young witch, part of the hidden covens that did not join the Guild; is getting ready for The Awakening – the ceremony that will unlock her powers. She’s also the…. fated mate? of Lucian the dark, villainous, not a good man hero – who really is not a bad man since he’s trying to stop the ending of worlds and coming of chaos. It’s not clear what Lucian is. He’s known to be Lucifer’s Right-Hand Man – but he really isn’t and he doesn’t seem to be a demon, definitely not Fae and not a warlock – jury’s still out. He is pretty bossy and controlling in the boudoir and likes his pleasure sprinkled with pain – but not cringy pain. Lucian and Lena are brought together by reincarnation, the Harvest festival putting Lena’s libido into overdrive and pure sexual chemistry. And they can be pretty hot together if not over the top. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of relationship development and I don’t get their interest in each other with their clothes on. Come to think of – so far they have no interest in each other with their clothes on.
The story moved along at a fast pace. Towards the end Ristan and the Fae and Destiny characters make an appearance which is fun and further entangles the plots. It seems a given that events transpiring in PWM are going to be mentioned in the next/last Destiny book. Alden is even left behind with Lena’s coven to provide “support” and intelligence. The story ends on a cliffhanger. Lucian has had to do something to protect Lena that she is going to be seriously pissed off about when she figures out what he did. I am totally on board for book 2!