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torilovesheas's reviews
646 reviews
Cheap Heat by Lily Mayne
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I just love this series. It’s bonkers (monster WWE), has a plethora of underrepresented monsters to read about, and is just idiots in love to the nth degree. So. Basically catnip, Tori’s version!
Dan is a dullahan. Oh yeah, baby he can remove his HEAD. Which his neighbor Rafe, a ghoul is intrigued by, despite his hatred of Dan. I….I too would be intrigued by auto fellation via removable head so really who’s to blame Rafey-Boy? Not I!
The vibe of each book has been different for each installment of the series (fluffy low angst in book 1, angsty mutual pining in book 2, and now horny enemies to lovers in this book!) and it’s kept it fresh and kept it fun! I really loved Dan and Rafe. Mostly because a grumpy ass and a big himbo dork is perfect for shenanigans and miscommunication and stumbling into love with eyeballs squished closed in denial. Dan is just kind of a big glueless ding song LOL he’s not intentionally a bad neighbor. Dude just likes to have a good time and unfortunately, a good time disturbs Rafe’s peace. But neighbors with benefits is here to save the day! Because….these two are super hot for each other. (And the whole sharing of a pumpkin head uhhhhhh toy was HOT).
Mostly what I loved though is that Rafe’s walls have to come down gradually and it really takes Dan working to prove that he’s not who Rafe has always thought him to be to get our grumpy ghoul to let Rafe in. It’s sweet, it’s funny, and it comes with a terrifying sub plot featuring Frank and Beans that was equal parts horrifying and hysterical.
I will say, I felt these 500 pages and because it’s such a slow burn, the first half did really drag because there wasn’t a ton of movement on the romance front. There wasn’t a ton of movement on any front really until 40% or so. But Lily has a way of writing slice of life-y scenes in a way that I don’t mind the length like I would in say, a non-monster contemporary. It was felt a lot more than in Holt/Taylor of Seb/Larkin though and it definitely felt like some things were filler instead of really contributing to the plot. Just a small thing that bugged me!
What a fun time! Thank you Lily for an ARC! I can’t wait to return to this world with our grumpy ghoul wrestler and his royal fae arch nemesis.
Dan is a dullahan. Oh yeah, baby he can remove his HEAD. Which his neighbor Rafe, a ghoul is intrigued by, despite his hatred of Dan. I….I too would be intrigued by auto fellation via removable head so really who’s to blame Rafey-Boy? Not I!
The vibe of each book has been different for each installment of the series (fluffy low angst in book 1, angsty mutual pining in book 2, and now horny enemies to lovers in this book!) and it’s kept it fresh and kept it fun! I really loved Dan and Rafe. Mostly because a grumpy ass and a big himbo dork is perfect for shenanigans and miscommunication and stumbling into love with eyeballs squished closed in denial. Dan is just kind of a big glueless ding song LOL he’s not intentionally a bad neighbor. Dude just likes to have a good time and unfortunately, a good time disturbs Rafe’s peace. But neighbors with benefits is here to save the day! Because….these two are super hot for each other. (And the whole sharing of a pumpkin head uhhhhhh toy was HOT).
Mostly what I loved though is that Rafe’s walls have to come down gradually and it really takes Dan working to prove that he’s not who Rafe has always thought him to be to get our grumpy ghoul to let Rafe in. It’s sweet, it’s funny, and it comes with a terrifying sub plot featuring Frank and Beans that was equal parts horrifying and hysterical.
I will say, I felt these 500 pages and because it’s such a slow burn, the first half did really drag because there wasn’t a ton of movement on the romance front. There wasn’t a ton of movement on any front really until 40% or so. But Lily has a way of writing slice of life-y scenes in a way that I don’t mind the length like I would in say, a non-monster contemporary. It was felt a lot more than in Holt/Taylor of Seb/Larkin though and it definitely felt like some things were filler instead of really contributing to the plot. Just a small thing that bugged me!
What a fun time! Thank you Lily for an ARC! I can’t wait to return to this world with our grumpy ghoul wrestler and his royal fae arch nemesis.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I. Loved. This. Book. Ruby Dixon just does it for me every time. And with such a unique fantasy concept + a minatour hero + a tall, fat FMC with glasses, I devoured this.
I don’t have to have intricate worldbuilding to enjoy a book. If anything, intricacy without purpose hurts my head. But Ruby managed to deliver a unique, interesting fantasy world with gods and ruined cities and power struggles for magical objects AND a feudal political system (which I don’t see enough of!). Digging for magical artifacts in tunnels made my breath hitch a few times because being deep inside the earth horrifies me, but the idea of a guild dedicated to diving for these coveted magical artifacts was so COOL. And I love that we get the realization from our FMC that they’re uh…robbing graves and what all that entails.
Aspeth is the kind of FMC I love. She’s got great intentions but no real clue how to accomplish her goals except to just do it. She’s probably going to struggle (and does with the guild school training) but damned if she doesn’t try her best. Which means marrying Hawk. Which means a complicated relationship with her new husband/teacher. Which means navigating an inconvenient attraction to her convenient husband. Win some, lose some.
But Hawk and Aspeth are so FUN together. Horny, as only Ruby can give us, and emotionally complicated, which I feel is a Ruby specialty. It’s absolutely opposites attract because Aspeth flies by the seat of her pants and hopes for the best and it drives her very careful husband up the WALL. I lived.
Hawk may not be my favorite Ruby MMC because I’m used to a bit more feral dedication from her fellas. But Aspeth and her menagerie of equally oddball friends and schoolmates and the fascinating artifact hunting made up for his suspicious nature. And…y’know a feral moon struck rut can never be wrong in my book.
Thanks to Berkeley for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I don’t have to have intricate worldbuilding to enjoy a book. If anything, intricacy without purpose hurts my head. But Ruby managed to deliver a unique, interesting fantasy world with gods and ruined cities and power struggles for magical objects AND a feudal political system (which I don’t see enough of!). Digging for magical artifacts in tunnels made my breath hitch a few times because being deep inside the earth horrifies me, but the idea of a guild dedicated to diving for these coveted magical artifacts was so COOL. And I love that we get the realization from our FMC that they’re uh…robbing graves and what all that entails.
Aspeth is the kind of FMC I love. She’s got great intentions but no real clue how to accomplish her goals except to just do it. She’s probably going to struggle (and does with the guild school training) but damned if she doesn’t try her best. Which means marrying Hawk. Which means a complicated relationship with her new husband/teacher. Which means navigating an inconvenient attraction to her convenient husband. Win some, lose some.
But Hawk and Aspeth are so FUN together. Horny, as only Ruby can give us, and emotionally complicated, which I feel is a Ruby specialty. It’s absolutely opposites attract because Aspeth flies by the seat of her pants and hopes for the best and it drives her very careful husband up the WALL. I lived.
Hawk may not be my favorite Ruby MMC because I’m used to a bit more feral dedication from her fellas. But Aspeth and her menagerie of equally oddball friends and schoolmates and the fascinating artifact hunting made up for his suspicious nature. And…y’know a feral moon struck rut can never be wrong in my book.
Thanks to Berkeley for an ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent and Classism
Double Apex by Josie Juniper
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
I was incredibly excited for this book because the cover is stunning and an enemies to lovers sports romance sounded like just what I needed. But I…DNF’d this book at about 50% after the FMC physically attacked the MMC by hitting, kicking, slapping, and scratching him and when he accidentally slaps her leg because she’s, in her own words, “thrashing so much”, she proceeds to throw his childhood abuse (and his sister’s) at the hands of his uncle in his face and accuses him of being just like his uncle. Like…here’s the quote: “You asshole, is this how you are?” Suddenly I see a place to twist the knife. “Go ahead and hit me, like your uncle hit you and your sister. Are you just like him?”
This wasn’t cute. It wasn’t funny. It wasn’t girl boss. It was horrifying to read in a book in 2024 that thought this was appropriate. I love unlikable FMC’s. Love them. But Phaedra was MEAN and she was abusive and I was deeply bothered by this entire scene. She’s mean to her friends. She’s mean to the MMC for literally no reason. And even that I maybe could have pushed through and finished. But physical violence is my line in the sand and I’m appalled this was pushed through by an editing team.
This wasn’t cute. It wasn’t funny. It wasn’t girl boss. It was horrifying to read in a book in 2024 that thought this was appropriate. I love unlikable FMC’s. Love them. But Phaedra was MEAN and she was abusive and I was deeply bothered by this entire scene. She’s mean to her friends. She’s mean to the MMC for literally no reason. And even that I maybe could have pushed through and finished. But physical violence is my line in the sand and I’m appalled this was pushed through by an editing team.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
Clean Finish by Lily Mayne
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't think it's a secret that I love two things: bonkers romance concepts and Lily Mayne's monster books. So Lily Mayne's monster romance wrestling series is like catnip, Tori style.
Before I even talk about the nuclear level pining in this book (Seb is down bad yall), I just want to reiterate that this series is FUN. The wrestling personas, the friendship between the wrestlers, the unique monsters that pop up are all such a breath of fresh air. It works. So well. If you're going to do bonkers, LEAN IN TO IT. And Lily does!
But Larkin and Sebastian stole my heart and kinda stomped on it a bit and then smushed it back together. This *is* low angst, in that it's two people in a sex lesson situationship that only have their feelings as an obstacle. But they PINE so hard for each other I couldn't help but be a bit emo about it. I always say my criteria for whether or not I enjoy a book is if the couple make sense together despite or because of their differences. And these two do. Seb needs Larkin's levity and silliness and Larkin needs Seb's grounding and support. I mean, clearly the sex is hawt but the emotional aspect is even better. Take a look at those quotes!
And I LOVE that Lily addresses the age gap in a way I don't see too often. Yes Larkin is an adult at 23. But Seb is very aware that he has more life experience and that Larkin
*could* be influenced into a relationship he doesn't want with an older man if Seb plays things wrong. And it's very important to Seb that he doesn't do that. Consent on consent on consent, baby. I appreciate that Lily really dove into "yes this is consensual but I also hold power due to my age and I'm not going to take advantage of that". It has to be what Larkin wants or Seb doesn't want it.
I'm obsessed with this series. I'm obsessed with Seb's pining. I'm obsessed with Larkin's terrible assistant skills. 10/10. Highly recommend and cannot wait for the next book (with a dullahan MC!!!)
Thank you to Lily for an ARC. I love this bonkers series so much.
Before I even talk about the nuclear level pining in this book (Seb is down bad yall), I just want to reiterate that this series is FUN. The wrestling personas, the friendship between the wrestlers, the unique monsters that pop up are all such a breath of fresh air. It works. So well. If you're going to do bonkers, LEAN IN TO IT. And Lily does!
But Larkin and Sebastian stole my heart and kinda stomped on it a bit and then smushed it back together. This *is* low angst, in that it's two people in a sex lesson situationship that only have their feelings as an obstacle. But they PINE so hard for each other I couldn't help but be a bit emo about it. I always say my criteria for whether or not I enjoy a book is if the couple make sense together despite or because of their differences. And these two do. Seb needs Larkin's levity and silliness and Larkin needs Seb's grounding and support. I mean, clearly the sex is hawt but the emotional aspect is even better. Take a look at those quotes!
And I LOVE that Lily addresses the age gap in a way I don't see too often. Yes Larkin is an adult at 23. But Seb is very aware that he has more life experience and that Larkin
*could* be influenced into a relationship he doesn't want with an older man if Seb plays things wrong. And it's very important to Seb that he doesn't do that. Consent on consent on consent, baby. I appreciate that Lily really dove into "yes this is consensual but I also hold power due to my age and I'm not going to take advantage of that". It has to be what Larkin wants or Seb doesn't want it.
I'm obsessed with this series. I'm obsessed with Seb's pining. I'm obsessed with Larkin's terrible assistant skills. 10/10. Highly recommend and cannot wait for the next book (with a dullahan MC!!!)
Thank you to Lily for an ARC. I love this bonkers series so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
A Jingle Bell Mingle by Sierra Simone, Julie Murphy
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I actually didn’t intend to post about this book until closer to release day (9/24!) but I cried for a good chunk of this book and felt very seen. So. Let’s get into it.
Yes this book is hysterical at times. And yes there’s a perfect amount of levity to break up the heavy topics. But mostly, this book is about learning to love after tremendous loss and opening up to the possibility of there being more than enough room for someone else. Isaac and Sunny are professionals at running away. Isaac with his reclusiveness and Sunny with her big, loud sunshine personality. So if you squish them into a snowy Gilded Age mansion during the holidays after a wedding one night stand, it’s probably going to get messy very quick.
And it does. They’re friends first and foremost (which I loved!) and the fall into love kind of happens before they even know it. (Although I argue we as the audience see it happening first in real time which is phenom writing). The sex? Hot! The old lady group chat? A delight! Teddy Ray finally proposing to his shark of a girlfriend? Obsessed.
But jfc the grief is done so beautifully. I won’t spoil the resolution of the Christmas Notch Miracle legend our MCs are looking into. But it made me cry stupid tears so. Do with that what you will heh.
But while these two are falling in love, they’re also realizing that grief doesn’t stop for anybody. But….neither does life. Or love. Or second chances. Or friendship. Isaac and Sunny have to learn to let each other in, but it’s more about them taking the risk and the bravery involved in taking a chance.
Lois Tonkins talked about “Growing Around Grief” in her 1996 article. Where grief doesn’t go away or shrink but life grows around it. Sunny and Isaac amidst capri sun binge sessions and sustainably caught lobster cat food grow around it. And I want to hug Julie and Simone for this book and these characters.
So sad this series is over. But what a way for it to go out.
Also the found p*rn family in this continues to be delightful and heart warming. 10/10.
Thank you to Avon and HCP for an arc copy! All thoughts are my own!
Yes this book is hysterical at times. And yes there’s a perfect amount of levity to break up the heavy topics. But mostly, this book is about learning to love after tremendous loss and opening up to the possibility of there being more than enough room for someone else. Isaac and Sunny are professionals at running away. Isaac with his reclusiveness and Sunny with her big, loud sunshine personality. So if you squish them into a snowy Gilded Age mansion during the holidays after a wedding one night stand, it’s probably going to get messy very quick.
And it does. They’re friends first and foremost (which I loved!) and the fall into love kind of happens before they even know it. (Although I argue we as the audience see it happening first in real time which is phenom writing). The sex? Hot! The old lady group chat? A delight! Teddy Ray finally proposing to his shark of a girlfriend? Obsessed.
But jfc the grief is done so beautifully. I won’t spoil the resolution of the Christmas Notch Miracle legend our MCs are looking into. But it made me cry stupid tears so. Do with that what you will heh.
But while these two are falling in love, they’re also realizing that grief doesn’t stop for anybody. But….neither does life. Or love. Or second chances. Or friendship. Isaac and Sunny have to learn to let each other in, but it’s more about them taking the risk and the bravery involved in taking a chance.
Lois Tonkins talked about “Growing Around Grief” in her 1996 article. Where grief doesn’t go away or shrink but life grows around it. Sunny and Isaac amidst capri sun binge sessions and sustainably caught lobster cat food grow around it. And I want to hug Julie and Simone for this book and these characters.
So sad this series is over. But what a way for it to go out.
Also the found p*rn family in this continues to be delightful and heart warming. 10/10.
Thank you to Avon and HCP for an arc copy! All thoughts are my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
What. A. Delight. The Scully + Mulder inspired romance of my dreams with a sprinkling of a Buzzfeed Unsolved-esque web show AND two sweethearts falling in love. Mallory Marlowe, the woman you are.
LAOC was just…FUN. Like Hayden and Hallie are running around chasing Bigfoot and looking for ghosts while having to oops share the single hotel bed while trying to keep hands and mouths off each other (unsuccessfully to my delight). BUT THEN Mallory hit me with a one two punch and threw in a toxic ex that verbally and emotionally abused Hallie and Hayden’s grief and difficult relationship with his mom following the death of his father to ALS. Which sounds so heavy but Mallory wrote about it in such a touching way that it doesn’t make the story feel *heavy*. It just grounds our MCs and makes this feel real and wonderfully relatable without taking away the fun of them chasing down the paranormal. I teared up reading about Hallie’s experience with her ex boyfriend because…been there, done that, bought the low self esteem and need for therapy t-shirt. (Also thanks Mallory for not making Hallie be the bigger person LOL I too would want my ex to suffer).
And like let’s kudos Hayden for being like “yeah some of these conspiracies are just super racist and harmful and I do my best to debunk them and stick to the fun cryptid stuff”. Man of my podcast listening dreams. He’s so sweet and a consent KING. If enthusiastic consent is your cup of reading tea, Hayden is your man. And if you wanted Scully and Mulder to kiss but didn’t want to read about FBI agents, these two ding dongs are perfect for your True Believer and Real Skeptic loving heart.
It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s real and so lovely. 5/5 stars.
Thanks to Berkeley for an advanced reader copy!
LAOC was just…FUN. Like Hayden and Hallie are running around chasing Bigfoot and looking for ghosts while having to oops share the single hotel bed while trying to keep hands and mouths off each other (unsuccessfully to my delight). BUT THEN Mallory hit me with a one two punch and threw in a toxic ex that verbally and emotionally abused Hallie and Hayden’s grief and difficult relationship with his mom following the death of his father to ALS. Which sounds so heavy but Mallory wrote about it in such a touching way that it doesn’t make the story feel *heavy*. It just grounds our MCs and makes this feel real and wonderfully relatable without taking away the fun of them chasing down the paranormal. I teared up reading about Hallie’s experience with her ex boyfriend because…been there, done that, bought the low self esteem and need for therapy t-shirt. (Also thanks Mallory for not making Hallie be the bigger person LOL I too would want my ex to suffer).
And like let’s kudos Hayden for being like “yeah some of these conspiracies are just super racist and harmful and I do my best to debunk them and stick to the fun cryptid stuff”. Man of my podcast listening dreams. He’s so sweet and a consent KING. If enthusiastic consent is your cup of reading tea, Hayden is your man. And if you wanted Scully and Mulder to kiss but didn’t want to read about FBI agents, these two ding dongs are perfect for your True Believer and Real Skeptic loving heart.
It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s real and so lovely. 5/5 stars.
Thanks to Berkeley for an advanced reader copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Jen Deluca’s RenFaire series is one of my favorites so I was HYPE for this one! A haunted Florida beach town, a paranormal mystery to solve, and a hunky coffee shop owner that texts his residential ghost roommate? Sounded perfectly up my alley!
But this fell short for me on the romance aspect and, for the first half of the book, on the plot aspect. I don’t mind a slow burn but for the first 50% there was next to no movement on the romance end. And while the bits and pieces we did get of the plot involving Cassie’s mysterious ghost and Nick’s weird, unexplained behavior were unique and interesting, there just wasn’t enough of it.
It was cute and a lighthearted summer read, but not my favorite. But the town and its residents were so charming, I wouldn’t mind giving the next in the series a shot!
Thank you to Berkley for an arc!
But this fell short for me on the romance aspect and, for the first half of the book, on the plot aspect. I don’t mind a slow burn but for the first 50% there was next to no movement on the romance end. And while the bits and pieces we did get of the plot involving Cassie’s mysterious ghost and Nick’s weird, unexplained behavior were unique and interesting, there just wasn’t enough of it.
It was cute and a lighthearted summer read, but not my favorite. But the town and its residents were so charming, I wouldn’t mind giving the next in the series a shot!
Thank you to Berkley for an arc!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Infertility
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
If you know me, you know this isn’t my typical fare but I read Beth Revis’ Across the Universe series in high school and when I saw this audio ARC on NG I obviously had to request it. And what a freaking ride. A FUN ride. A HEISTY ride. With a delightful dash of romance.
Listen I’m not the most brilliant when it comes to figuring out heist plots but I sorta kinda guessed who was double crossing who or who had ulterior motives. But what made this so fun is that, besides a solid post apocalyptic sci fi “the climate is fucked” world set up, it’s *funny*. Ada is so dry and witty and her banter with the rescue crew had me in stitches. She needles Ryan to no end (and he loves it).
Solid sci-fi is tough to do but the intricacies of this setting are almost warnings of what we could be in the future. Ruined earth that, while not uninhabitable, has become insufficient to support humans and resulted in multiple “earth” colonies on other planets. We talk about poverty, the morality of choice and what it means to have the luxury to choose certain paths, and the debate on who the good guys really are. Is it the government or the rebels? Probably neither and that complex morality exploration was A. timely and B. an interesting backdrop for two space cadets (affectionate) playing an insta attraction game of cat and mouse.
No HEA for now because this is only book 1 in a trilogy but I’m EXCITED to see what happens to Ada and Ryan in the next book!
Listen I’m not the most brilliant when it comes to figuring out heist plots but I sorta kinda guessed who was double crossing who or who had ulterior motives. But what made this so fun is that, besides a solid post apocalyptic sci fi “the climate is fucked” world set up, it’s *funny*. Ada is so dry and witty and her banter with the rescue crew had me in stitches. She needles Ryan to no end (and he loves it).
Solid sci-fi is tough to do but the intricacies of this setting are almost warnings of what we could be in the future. Ruined earth that, while not uninhabitable, has become insufficient to support humans and resulted in multiple “earth” colonies on other planets. We talk about poverty, the morality of choice and what it means to have the luxury to choose certain paths, and the debate on who the good guys really are. Is it the government or the rebels? Probably neither and that complex morality exploration was A. timely and B. an interesting backdrop for two space cadets (affectionate) playing an insta attraction game of cat and mouse.
No HEA for now because this is only book 1 in a trilogy but I’m EXCITED to see what happens to Ada and Ryan in the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Death of parent
Where We Ended by Ashley Munoz
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’ve been anticipating this book since Ashley started teasing it and I’m supremely sad that it’s over but what a ride it has been!
For the most part, I loved this book. Natty and Silas have been teased for three books and I knew it was going to be an angst fest extraordinaire. And they DELIVERED on that front. It’s heartbreaking to see them try to protect each other by inevitably making choices that hurt themselves in the process. But Munoz doesn’t inject angst for angsts sake which I loved! We still have plenty of angsty moments but there’s never a doubt that Silas and Natty are *it* for each other. Silas is so broody and intense and Natty is, for all her sunshine attitude, ready to bend their story to her will and I was living.
Something I’ve loved about this series is that it’s not as much focused on the club politics as it is the romance (which is my struggle with most MC romances). But even though there’s more violence and darkness in this one, it’s majority flashback scenes that highlight it and that really gives us time to spend with our MCs in the present while they navigate complicated emotions, complicated history, and whether or not they can move forward as they are. It was just angsty enough for me (a literal cry baby) without feeling like I was being sucker punched over and over. Seeing all the side plots come full circle was lovely and I enjoyed seeing everyone get their happy ending. Including check ins with the previous books’ MCs! Did I wish things hadn’t been wrapped up so easily? Sure! Especially for a villain as terrible as Fable has been made out to be.
But…and this is a very minor spoiler but I’m warning you now. I have a caveat and it’s killing me to not be able to love this book in its entirety because this one thing bothered me so bad that I couldn’t fully love this story or give it a glowing rating. Natty is sexually assaulted in this book by Silas’ brother who she has always considered a friend but has honestly always been terrible and creepily obsessed with Natty. I didn’t need to see him forgiven and I really didn’t need to see Natty and Silas name their child after him. It gave me a full body reaction when I read it and has bothered me enough that I changed my knee jerk initial “I LOVED THIS” reaction to a “why was this necessary” reaction. I’m all for villain redemption but I don’t need a sexual assaulter redemption like…ever. And I’m sad this was part of the story because otherwise I loved the book. But whew. That was a hard pill for me to try and swallow.
For the most part, I loved this book. Natty and Silas have been teased for three books and I knew it was going to be an angst fest extraordinaire. And they DELIVERED on that front. It’s heartbreaking to see them try to protect each other by inevitably making choices that hurt themselves in the process. But Munoz doesn’t inject angst for angsts sake which I loved! We still have plenty of angsty moments but there’s never a doubt that Silas and Natty are *it* for each other. Silas is so broody and intense and Natty is, for all her sunshine attitude, ready to bend their story to her will and I was living.
Something I’ve loved about this series is that it’s not as much focused on the club politics as it is the romance (which is my struggle with most MC romances). But even though there’s more violence and darkness in this one, it’s majority flashback scenes that highlight it and that really gives us time to spend with our MCs in the present while they navigate complicated emotions, complicated history, and whether or not they can move forward as they are. It was just angsty enough for me (a literal cry baby) without feeling like I was being sucker punched over and over. Seeing all the side plots come full circle was lovely and I enjoyed seeing everyone get their happy ending. Including check ins with the previous books’ MCs! Did I wish things hadn’t been wrapped up so easily? Sure! Especially for a villain as terrible as Fable has been made out to be.
But…and this is a very minor spoiler but I’m warning you now. I have a caveat and it’s killing me to not be able to love this book in its entirety because this one thing bothered me so bad that I couldn’t fully love this story or give it a glowing rating. Natty is sexually assaulted in this book by Silas’ brother who she has always considered a friend but has honestly always been terrible and creepily obsessed with Natty. I didn’t need to see him forgiven and I really didn’t need to see Natty and Silas name their child after him. It gave me a full body reaction when I read it and has bothered me enough that I changed my knee jerk initial “I LOVED THIS” reaction to a “why was this necessary” reaction. I’m all for villain redemption but I don’t need a sexual assaulter redemption like…ever. And I’m sad this was part of the story because otherwise I loved the book. But whew. That was a hard pill for me to try and swallow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Terminal illness
Impromptu Match by Lily Mayne
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I absolutely adore Lily Mayne’s Monstrous Series so I ran circles when I got an arc for this baby. I mean secret underground monster wrestling + sad corporate worker existential crisis is the time I’m here for.
And it’s a SPICY time. It’s a two dorks in love time. It’s a me trying to create future pairings for all the wrestlers in my head time. Seb + Larkin forever and I stand by that. (Iykyk).
Taylor is burnt out from over a decade of boring himself into the “World’s Most Average Corporate Worker” box. And I mean, if anything is going to cure a post office birthday breakdown, it’s a drunken night of general menacing with a hot, mysterious cosplayer that runs a cosplay wrestling ring right? Poor Taylor. He thinks this is just a group of LARPers doing some weird wrestling role play until he figures out there’s actually an entire world of supernatural shenanigans we humans aren’t privy to. But he’s so boring! So normal! Holt, the hot building owner-emotion feeding monster-wrestling league manager, could never want a cubicle square like him!
Except Holt does. Oh he does. These two are fulfilling some very specific kinks (dad! sneaker! kink!) and watching wrestling a la monster WWE and falling in love along the way. The dream, tbh. But they’re so sweet together. If you’re here for an angsty time, this ain’t it. It’s perfectly sweet, delightfully funny (I LOVE A GOOD BALL JOKE OKAY), and spicy enough to singe your eyelashes. Plus there’s a big dash of “I don’t have to be some huge adventurous dare devil. My person likes me as I am and helps bring out the parts of me I shoved aside to blend.” If only corporate drudgery could land us all hot monster partners.
And like….70 ⭐️ added because Cora the Pomeranian stole the show 😌
P.S. Double Docker Shocker delivered.
P.P.S Lemon Cake is the worst cake, confirmed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content