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A review by divapitbull
Playing with Monsters by Amelia Hutchins
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!