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Shades of Sin #3
Gula
Selene cares about three things in life:
Her prestigious position as Lieutenant of the Guard that very few of the elite at Court feel she deserves.
Her beloved sister and niece, humiliating reminders of her humble origins.
Her penchant for rare and expensive dining—a status symbol and marker of the success she’s attained.
Austin only cares about one thing in life:
Music.
Except Austin’s rockstar dreams never came true, and the bottom of the bottle isn’t giving him the answers he’s searching for.
But maybe, just maybe, a prickly Shade with a secret wild side will.
Gula is the third book in the Shades of Sin series, featuring humans and their not-quite-so-human partners. For readers 18+
Her prestigious position as Lieutenant of the Guard that very few of the elite at Court feel she deserves.
Her beloved sister and niece, humiliating reminders of her humble origins.
Her penchant for rare and expensive dining—a status symbol and marker of the success she’s attained.
Austin only cares about one thing in life:
Music.
Except Austin’s rockstar dreams never came true, and the bottom of the bottle isn’t giving him the answers he’s searching for.
But maybe, just maybe, a prickly Shade with a secret wild side will.
Gula is the third book in the Shades of Sin series, featuring humans and their not-quite-so-human partners. For readers 18+
299 pages, ebook
First published September 30, 2023
271 people are currently reading
1581 people want to read
About the author
Colette Rhodes
36 books1,797 followersColette Rhodes is a paranormal romance author from New Zealand. She loves to write about love in all its forms, and adores imperfect heroes and heroines who find perfection in each other. You’ll often find her trying to justify her degree by including ancient history and mythological influences in her work.
If she’s not writing, then you’re almost certain to find her reading—ideally with a cup of tea in hand and a scented candle burning to match the mood.
Keep up with Colette here:
Website: coletterhodes.com
Instagram: @coletterhodes_author
If she’s not writing, then you’re almost certain to find her reading—ideally with a cup of tea in hand and a scented candle burning to match the mood.
Keep up with Colette here:
Website: coletterhodes.com
Instagram: @coletterhodes_author
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
January 5, 2025
3 ⭐️ A fun addition to the series
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ monster romance
✨ he’s a failed musician and human
✨ she’s a lieutenant in the Shade royal guard
✨ black cat x golden retriever
✨ forced proximity
✨ denial of feelings
✨ slow burn
✨ possessive FMC
✨ obsessed MMC
✨ 3/5 🌶️
✨ consent king
✨ court drama
✨ third act breakup (it’s not bad)
✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
(This is an audiobook review)
As always, the narrators did an amazing job. The story is interesting and fun, and I found the role reversal quite sexy. I thought him being human and her being the monster would be a total turn off, but Colette Rhodes did a great job with their dynamic.
I liked that both MCs went through a lot of growth. Austin cleans his act up, finds himself, and discovers a new purpose in life. While Selene learns to ignore the naysayers and realizes her worth. 🫶 I also like that their individual growth coincided with their romantic development. It was sweet how they brought out the best in each other.
Luxuria is still my favorite book in the series, but this was entertaining to listen to.
-
Shades of Sin Series + Ratings:
1. Luxuria: 5 ⭐️
2. Superbia: 3 ⭐️
3. Gula: 3 ⭐️
3.5. Tristitia: 4 ⭐️
4. Avaritia: 4 ⭐️
5. Invidia: 3.5 ⭐️
6. Ira: 3 ⭐️
7. Acedia: 4 ⭐️
-
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ monster romance
✨ he’s a failed musician and human
✨ she’s a lieutenant in the Shade royal guard
✨ black cat x golden retriever
✨ forced proximity
✨ denial of feelings
✨ slow burn
✨ possessive FMC
✨ obsessed MMC
✨ 3/5 🌶️
✨ consent king
✨ court drama
✨ third act breakup (it’s not bad)
✨ HEA
My Thoughts:
(This is an audiobook review)
As always, the narrators did an amazing job. The story is interesting and fun, and I found the role reversal quite sexy. I thought him being human and her being the monster would be a total turn off, but Colette Rhodes did a great job with their dynamic.
I liked that both MCs went through a lot of growth. Austin cleans his act up, finds himself, and discovers a new purpose in life. While Selene learns to ignore the naysayers and realizes her worth. 🫶 I also like that their individual growth coincided with their romantic development. It was sweet how they brought out the best in each other.
Luxuria is still my favorite book in the series, but this was entertaining to listen to.
-
Shades of Sin Series + Ratings:
1. Luxuria: 5 ⭐️
2. Superbia: 3 ⭐️
3. Gula: 3 ⭐️
3.5. Tristitia: 4 ⭐️
4. Avaritia: 4 ⭐️
5. Invidia: 3.5 ⭐️
6. Ira: 3 ⭐️
7. Acedia: 4 ⭐️
-
October 8, 2023
3.75-4 ⭐️.
I love this author and I love this series. That will be all.
- Monster FMC/ Human MMC
- Black cat/ Golden retriever
- Slow burn
- Cozy read
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️ with a consent king 🙌
I love this author and I love this series. That will be all.
- Monster FMC/ Human MMC
- Black cat/ Golden retriever
- Slow burn
- Cozy read
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️ with a consent king 🙌
December 3, 2023
The Shades of Sin series continues to be just an enjoyable ride for me. This author ticks so many boxes of what I love to read and I don't know why I put off reading Austin (H) and Selene's (h) story for so long. This is a strangers to friends to lovers romance with an emphasis on two souls who put on an outward persona, while struggling on the inside regarding their place in the world.
For Austin, he's a talented musician whose success never panned out and he gets pigeonholed as a pretty face. Selene is a powerful Shade who's high ranking in the Guard, but because she comes from a poor region and non-powerful family, she's constantly looked down upon by courtiers and some of the other Guard. Austin stumbles into the shadow realm while drunk and feeling sorry for his circumstances and Selene is the Shade who's assigned to be his intro to the world and guard. There is a concern that because of Austin being semi-famous, that the Hunters will want him back and/or try to murder him. Forced proximity and bonding leads to a nicely built relationship and love. Written in first person, dual POV. Tiny-ish ow drama in the sense that H is the first male former Hunter so other female Shades are very interested (he's not), tiny-ish om drama when a Shade who formerly rejects h expresses interest (she's no longer interested), and neither are virgins (some limited history given).
I felt for both Austin and Selene and wanted to hug them, although Selene wouldn't have liked that at all. She's very much the stoic and competence fueled badass character, while Austin is sunny and artistic and wants to touch everything. I loved seeing them figure the other out and try to work out how their relationship could happen. Best of all though, more of this world gets visited because Selene isn't tied to the court. She has an apartment in the only city in the realm, that had a fun vibe. She's also from a rural area that they visit for a festival. The steam does happen before feelings are exposed and there is a question mark over whether they'd be allowed to have a genuine relationship that hovers over their interactions. So there's also a slightly hidden aspect to their time together, beyond just the guard/protectee relationship. The spiciness was unique since this is the first female monster in the series and also included some toy play. There's a small amount of breeding kink too.
Of course, prior characters make appearances, as well as some of the characters yet to get their romances. One of the lady Shades who attend an event to show Austin off was hilarious (she's a teenage Shade) and I can't wait to see her in a future book (because I'm assuming her mysterious brother is a future hero). The mated couples were adorable though and the non-mated former Hunters were still working out what they were doing, with a couple of hints I felt at those future pairings. Selene's sister and niece were also fun and lovable characters.
This is a lower stakes read esp compared to the other books, with a cozier feel to it. It gave more of an idea of some of the non-court world and just focused on this slowly developed romance, along with the growth of our main characters. I really liked the grand gesture and climax of the book and the epilogue was adorable. I can't wait for the next one in the series, whoever it'll be!
For Austin, he's a talented musician whose success never panned out and he gets pigeonholed as a pretty face. Selene is a powerful Shade who's high ranking in the Guard, but because she comes from a poor region and non-powerful family, she's constantly looked down upon by courtiers and some of the other Guard. Austin stumbles into the shadow realm while drunk and feeling sorry for his circumstances and Selene is the Shade who's assigned to be his intro to the world and guard. There is a concern that because of Austin being semi-famous, that the Hunters will want him back and/or try to murder him. Forced proximity and bonding leads to a nicely built relationship and love. Written in first person, dual POV. Tiny-ish ow drama in the sense that H is the first male former Hunter so other female Shades are very interested (he's not), tiny-ish om drama when a Shade who formerly rejects h expresses interest (she's no longer interested), and neither are virgins (some limited history given).
I felt for both Austin and Selene and wanted to hug them, although Selene wouldn't have liked that at all. She's very much the stoic and competence fueled badass character, while Austin is sunny and artistic and wants to touch everything. I loved seeing them figure the other out and try to work out how their relationship could happen. Best of all though, more of this world gets visited because Selene isn't tied to the court. She has an apartment in the only city in the realm, that had a fun vibe. She's also from a rural area that they visit for a festival. The steam does happen before feelings are exposed and there is a question mark over whether they'd be allowed to have a genuine relationship that hovers over their interactions. So there's also a slightly hidden aspect to their time together, beyond just the guard/protectee relationship. The spiciness was unique since this is the first female monster in the series and also included some toy play. There's a small amount of breeding kink too.
Of course, prior characters make appearances, as well as some of the characters yet to get their romances. One of the lady Shades who attend an event to show Austin off was hilarious (she's a teenage Shade) and I can't wait to see her in a future book (because I'm assuming her mysterious brother is a future hero). The mated couples were adorable though and the non-mated former Hunters were still working out what they were doing, with a couple of hints I felt at those future pairings. Selene's sister and niece were also fun and lovable characters.
This is a lower stakes read esp compared to the other books, with a cozier feel to it. It gave more of an idea of some of the non-court world and just focused on this slowly developed romance, along with the growth of our main characters. I really liked the grand gesture and climax of the book and the epilogue was adorable. I can't wait for the next one in the series, whoever it'll be!
October 3, 2023
I’m sad I didn’t like this book as much as I wished I did. I appreciated the reverse roles from a typical monster romance. In this one, the FMC was the not so human, dominant one while the MMC was the human needing protection. It was refreshing as the past two books in the series felt very similar to one another (although I still loved them both). Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. Their chemistry was lacklustre, Austin’s character came off as obnoxious at times, and it overall just felt very slow.
I think it was trying to be a slowburn but somehow their romance took me aback. For a slowburn to be done well there needs to be tension and chemistry between the characters. This did not have that which made the romance seem to come out of left field. Everything was left wanting, even the spice was bland.
I already know the “silly” characters are not my thing most of the time because they often come off immature and unpleasant. Sadly, this was the case for Austin. Especially in the beginning and the end. I love comic relief as much as the next person but there are times when a character needs to be serious and he wasn’t at any time. Even when confessing his love it was a bit silly and ungenuine.
This was greatly character driven. So the characters needed to step up to keep me engaged and as I said, they simply did not. It took be 3 days to read 270 pages. There was nothing terrible about this book, it just wasn’t for me which led it to feel very boring and tedious to read.
I think it was trying to be a slowburn but somehow their romance took me aback. For a slowburn to be done well there needs to be tension and chemistry between the characters. This did not have that which made the romance seem to come out of left field. Everything was left wanting, even the spice was bland.
I already know the “silly” characters are not my thing most of the time because they often come off immature and unpleasant. Sadly, this was the case for Austin. Especially in the beginning and the end. I love comic relief as much as the next person but there are times when a character needs to be serious and he wasn’t at any time. Even when confessing his love it was a bit silly and ungenuine.
This was greatly character driven. So the characters needed to step up to keep me engaged and as I said, they simply did not. It took be 3 days to read 270 pages. There was nothing terrible about this book, it just wasn’t for me which led it to feel very boring and tedious to read.
October 7, 2023
SUBMISSIVE MEN>>>
MAIN CHARACTER NAMES AND AGES
Selene (29) | Austin Thibaut (?)
FEATURES
∘ monster fmc x human mmc
∘ annoyed / annoying
∘ (his) bodyguard
∘ musician mmc
REVIEW
So, I’ll admit, I have never read a monster romance where the man is the human, and after reading this, I’m on the search for more.
Overall, I was disappointed with this installment of the series. I loved Selene, I loved Austin, and I even loved them together. I just didn’t see their love develop. It seemed like they were both uninterested, and then all of a sudden, they were lusting after the other, thinking how ready they were to spend their lives together.
If the build-up was more gradual, I’d have enjoyed it more. That being said, it already felt slow-paced, so I’m not sure more filler would’ve worked.
Despite my issues with the pacing, I loved the world-building and the main (and secondary) characters. Colette Rhodes is an expert at creating a rich and well-thoughtout universe.
OW/OM DRAMA none — others are interested in them, but they’re only interested in each other
CHEATING none
THIRD ACT BREAKUP yes
ENDING HEA — six months later epilogue
POV dual / first person
SPICE LEVEL 4 / 5
RATING 3.5 / 5
MAIN CHARACTER NAMES AND AGES
Selene (29) | Austin Thibaut (?)
FEATURES
∘ monster fmc x human mmc
∘ annoyed / annoying
∘ (his) bodyguard
∘ musician mmc
REVIEW
So, I’ll admit, I have never read a monster romance where the man is the human, and after reading this, I’m on the search for more.
Overall, I was disappointed with this installment of the series. I loved Selene, I loved Austin, and I even loved them together. I just didn’t see their love develop. It seemed like they were both uninterested, and then all of a sudden, they were lusting after the other, thinking how ready they were to spend their lives together.
If the build-up was more gradual, I’d have enjoyed it more. That being said, it already felt slow-paced, so I’m not sure more filler would’ve worked.
Despite my issues with the pacing, I loved the world-building and the main (and secondary) characters. Colette Rhodes is an expert at creating a rich and well-thoughtout universe.
OW/OM DRAMA none — others are interested in them, but they’re only interested in each other
CHEATING none
THIRD ACT BREAKUP yes
ENDING HEA — six months later epilogue
POV dual / first person
SPICE LEVEL 4 / 5
RATING 3.5 / 5
October 8, 2023
hombre HUMANO extrovertido (golden retriever) con tendencias sumisas y mujer MONSTRUO introvertida (black cat) dominante?? lets GOOOOOOO
December 27, 2025
5 Star Read
🖤 Austin is a whole damn vibe! Probably one of my favorite MMCs because of how unintentionally funny he is. I loved how low angst this book was while also giving us a lot more world building. I enjoyed “leaving” the court and getting a feel for the regular shades… they seemed a lot more fun!
🖤 Austin is a whole damn vibe! Probably one of my favorite MMCs because of how unintentionally funny he is. I loved how low angst this book was while also giving us a lot more world building. I enjoyed “leaving” the court and getting a feel for the regular shades… they seemed a lot more fun!
October 8, 2023
3.5 stars.
I love this world. But this story didn't hit me in the feels. I liked Austin and Selene, but I didn't feel anything reading about them. Too bad. Hopefully, the next book is more my style.
I love this world. But this story didn't hit me in the feels. I liked Austin and Selene, but I didn't feel anything reading about them. Too bad. Hopefully, the next book is more my style.
November 8, 2023
The love story of Austin and Selene was very different from the books that preceded it. For one, the ex-hunter who never hunted was male. Secondly, there was no instalust or instant connection of any kind. Their meet-cute WAS NOT very cute at all and Austin had a bad impression to make up for. And third, the heat didn't exist for MOST of this story.
These differences allowed the characters to develop a unique relationship. Selene was very set in her ways, living a regimented, sheltered life, with no real companionship or feeling of belonging. And Austin was very mellow, easy to like, and could fit in anywhere. They were very different from each other, but at their core, the author illustrated that they had more in common than either of them realized.
I loved how they drew out the best of each other. Austin got Selene to open up more, to share her true self with him and she inspired him to take life and himself more seriously. It was wonderful to watch how things between them grew out of trust and friendship and became exactly what both of them needed.
I'm enjoying the heck out of learning more about Shades and the hunters that love them. I'm really excited to continue this series!!
Find more here: Gula
These differences allowed the characters to develop a unique relationship. Selene was very set in her ways, living a regimented, sheltered life, with no real companionship or feeling of belonging. And Austin was very mellow, easy to like, and could fit in anywhere. They were very different from each other, but at their core, the author illustrated that they had more in common than either of them realized.
I loved how they drew out the best of each other. Austin got Selene to open up more, to share her true self with him and she inspired him to take life and himself more seriously. It was wonderful to watch how things between them grew out of trust and friendship and became exactly what both of them needed.
I'm enjoying the heck out of learning more about Shades and the hunters that love them. I'm really excited to continue this series!!
Find more here: Gula
August 9, 2025
4.5 stars
Austin was so ridiculous and I loved him. I have a thing for impulsive himbos apparently. He and Selene balanced each other well and were both determined to have other people see how valuable their partner was. She was blunt and grumpy but compassionate. They were such a sweet couple.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: classism, inebriation, mentions of violence and death, estranged parent child relationship, mentions of toxic parent, poverty, depression
Austin was so ridiculous and I loved him. I have a thing for impulsive himbos apparently. He and Selene balanced each other well and were both determined to have other people see how valuable their partner was. She was blunt and grumpy but compassionate. They were such a sweet couple.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: classism, inebriation, mentions of violence and death, estranged parent child relationship, mentions of toxic parent, poverty, depression
September 8, 2025
Audio:
4.5 stars for Rachel Leblang
4.5 stars for Will Throne
Book: 3.5-4 stars
Now a male (human) ex hunter and a Shade! That was another great addition and I can’t wait to read Verity’s book!
4.5 stars for Rachel Leblang
4.5 stars for Will Throne
Book: 3.5-4 stars
Now a male (human) ex hunter and a Shade! That was another great addition and I can’t wait to read Verity’s book!
October 7, 2023
🐈⬛black cat gf x 🦮golden retriever bf
😈possessive gf x 😈obsessed bf
🧿 no owd/omd other people want our pretty couple but they only have eyes for each other 👀
💔 third act break-up normally i hate those but they needed some time apart and he made the best grand gesture 🙌🏼
👨👩👧 epilogue 6 months later with her being 🤰🏼 and him being stay at home dad!!!!!!! 🥺
actual picture of AUSTIN AND SELENE;;;;;
Austin was in a particularly bad mood when he went to Shadow Realm. he was drunk and asking for orgies🤭 it wasn't what he wanted and i loved that he had to convince Selene about it 😌
i loved the change in dynamics in this book. Selene was the protector and the caretaker while Austin was the fragile one 😋 sometimes she was overwhelming with her demands in order to protect him but Austin was loving it so it worked for them 🤭
🥺And I couldn’t think of a single reason outside of the sexual chemistry we shared why she’d want to keep me.
💔 That desire to promise Austin the world, knowing I couldn’t give it to him. Knowing there were others who could.
they both had insecurities about themselves. she was afraid her status wasn't enough and he thought he had nothing to offer her🥺 it took Selene a while to accept that they can be together and Austin kept fighting for her 💪🏼
“Does he need to be here? It’s clear he’s developed an unhealthy attachment to you.”
“That is clear,” I agreed.
Austin was obsessed with her, he was okay with following her around wherever she goes 🤭🤭
"Bed," Selene ordered the moment I stepped into the room.
“What?”
“You smell needy.”
“I am. Super needy. Let’s go.”
he is the consent king 👑 Selene was skittish so he asked for everything and was submissive to her demands. I WAS HERE FOR ITTTTTT 🤭
some extra quotes because WHY NOT 👹
And I definitely needed some kind of career. Something to show Selene that I was marriage material. Mating material. All of the above.
🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
“I don’t need Selene to guard me, I need her to be obsessed with me. Like I’m obsessed with her. I doubt she’ll reach that level, but I’m forever hopeful. Did you like the song, darling?” I added casually, as if she hadn’t broken up with me then avoided me all week.
💖💖💖💖💖💖
❤️🔥 HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!!!!!! overachieving plot is getting more interesting and i can't wait for reading about the other girls 👀👀
||\😏
|| ((>
||< \
MUST PROTECT AUSTIN AT ALL COSTS
😈possessive gf x 😈obsessed bf
🧿 no owd/omd other people want our pretty couple but they only have eyes for each other 👀
💔 third act break-up normally i hate those but they needed some time apart and he made the best grand gesture 🙌🏼
👨👩👧 epilogue 6 months later with her being 🤰🏼 and him being stay at home dad!!!!!!! 🥺
actual picture of AUSTIN AND SELENE;;;;;
Austin was in a particularly bad mood when he went to Shadow Realm. he was drunk and asking for orgies🤭 it wasn't what he wanted and i loved that he had to convince Selene about it 😌
i loved the change in dynamics in this book. Selene was the protector and the caretaker while Austin was the fragile one 😋 sometimes she was overwhelming with her demands in order to protect him but Austin was loving it so it worked for them 🤭
🥺And I couldn’t think of a single reason outside of the sexual chemistry we shared why she’d want to keep me.
💔 That desire to promise Austin the world, knowing I couldn’t give it to him. Knowing there were others who could.
they both had insecurities about themselves. she was afraid her status wasn't enough and he thought he had nothing to offer her🥺 it took Selene a while to accept that they can be together and Austin kept fighting for her 💪🏼
“Does he need to be here? It’s clear he’s developed an unhealthy attachment to you.”
“That is clear,” I agreed.
Austin was obsessed with her, he was okay with following her around wherever she goes 🤭🤭
"Bed," Selene ordered the moment I stepped into the room.
“What?”
“You smell needy.”
“I am. Super needy. Let’s go.”
he is the consent king 👑 Selene was skittish so he asked for everything and was submissive to her demands. I WAS HERE FOR ITTTTTT 🤭
some extra quotes because WHY NOT 👹
And I definitely needed some kind of career. Something to show Selene that I was marriage material. Mating material. All of the above.
🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
“I don’t need Selene to guard me, I need her to be obsessed with me. Like I’m obsessed with her. I doubt she’ll reach that level, but I’m forever hopeful. Did you like the song, darling?” I added casually, as if she hadn’t broken up with me then avoided me all week.
💖💖💖💖💖💖
❤️🔥 HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!!!!!! overachieving plot is getting more interesting and i can't wait for reading about the other girls 👀👀
||\😏
|| ((>
||< \
MUST PROTECT AUSTIN AT ALL COSTS
October 5, 2023
3rd book in the standalone series and all of them 5🌟! So you can guess how much I love and enjoy this series.
Austin was so different from usual heroes. Mischievous, charming, talented, outwardly shallow but secretly vulnerable and with a soft core.
I loved how grumpy Selene was to Austin’s attention loving persona. And I loved loved how protective and caring she was with him.
Can’t wait to read more from this series.
—reverse grumpy.
—forbidden romance.
—warrior heroine x former rockstar hero.
—funny, deep, KU and standalone.
Austin was so different from usual heroes. Mischievous, charming, talented, outwardly shallow but secretly vulnerable and with a soft core.
I loved how grumpy Selene was to Austin’s attention loving persona. And I loved loved how protective and caring she was with him.
Can’t wait to read more from this series.
—reverse grumpy.
—forbidden romance.
—warrior heroine x former rockstar hero.
—funny, deep, KU and standalone.
March 12, 2024
5 stars. Lately. I feel like I just live for any books by this author (that aren’t RH). I love her writing SO MUCH! This came out months ago, but I put off reading because I knew I had to space out my enjoyment, and now I’m going to have the worst book hangover!! 😭
I loved this story from beginning to end. I listened to the audiobook and it was 🤌 perfection.
Totally safe, some OM/OW drama but neither are interested, no virgins.
I loved this story from beginning to end. I listened to the audiobook and it was 🤌 perfection.
Totally safe, some OM/OW drama but neither are interested, no virgins.
August 7, 2024
2★ stars.
My love for the reverse grumpy x sunshine trope is neverending. I can count in one hand how many books of this trope I've read, it's not saying much. A book carrying this trope could never go wrong; it would always have free access to my heart, no matter what the story is about. So I'm still a little bit salty over the storyline having so many blackholes that I couldn't enjoy my favorite trope in play.
୨⎯⚕️ 🌠🎶🌙⎯୧ Finishing the last book in this series was a big surprise for me. I didn't expect to come this far with a series I picked up on impulse, not knowing what the context was. It was even more unexpected because I hated the first book, that was a piece of work to get through but I flew through the second and the last book. It's not so confusing anymore why this series would be high-rated. There isn't much to say about the plot, the books are mostly character-driven. In fact, Gula felt less erotic and more emotional than the previous books, I liked it better this way.
Sypnosis: Austin lived his life free of the duties and obligations of the hunter community to pursue his musical talents. Now he is a thriving musician who has lost his drive. A show gone bad and a drunken night's mistake has him packing and stumbling in the shadow realm on an adventure to rediscover his calling. Being tossed under the watch of the captain of guard's second in command by royal decree was not part of his plans; the attractive female warrior wasn't pleased to be on babysitting duty either. Her powerful presence and balant disinterest intrigued him more than he'd like to admit. As a hunter in the shadow realm he was expected to find a partner but that didn't stop him from mooning over his new bodyguard.
Tropes:
• Reverse grumpy sunshine
• Bodyguard romance
• Possessive protector dominant FMC
• Obsessed fluffball MMC
• Friendship
• Differences in social status
• Slow burn
• Mates by choice
• Wrong person right time
• You deserve better
♫ Just my type by The Vamps
╰┈➤ Selene
-Who wouldn't want to see a woman being the dominant partner in a relationship for a change? I thought that was a great freaking trope. There's only so much alpha male stuff you can read before you get bored and crave for a change in scenario. Selene was grumpy and cold in a sophisticated way and didn't like to wear her heart on her sleeves, so when characters such as her rip their own hearts out of their chests to drop it at their lovers' feet, it is significantly meaningful and equally touching.
-Selene always had to struggle because of her social status; she worked hard to prove her worth and clawed her way up the ranks among the royal guards with her own efforts. She was determined to well play the king's direct orders to watch over the first male hunter in their realm even though she was confused why she would be assigned to watch over the strange man who barely knew his way around weapons and made it very clear in his drunken stupor that he was here for the orgies. I was super confused as well but I guess it's another 'Allerick needs to be dethorned for being too busy making eyes at Ophelia to maintain the kingdom' sign; honestly, who let him be the king?!
-At first, it was adorable the way Selene had no idea what to do with the strange hunter guy who smiles too much, talks too much and can get himself killed if left alone for too long but the non-stop coddling turned awkward at some point; it horrifically felt like she was mothering him. You wouldn't have guessed she was dealing with a 30-something guy but a 5 year old kid.
I loved the easy friendship between them while he kept trying to get a rise out of her and she tried to hide her attraction to him, thinking it'd be unfair to deprive him of the company of eager ladies from pretigious families. I couldn't help hating the rich pricks at the court for looking down on Selene because she came from poverty. Her family is amazing by the way. I love her niece Oriana so much, she's a bundle of delight, that kid could smell out relationship crisis better than any adult could ever. It did things to my heart to see Selene, a powerful warrior, cooking for her lover and melting like ice cream in summer in front of the people she loves.
╰┈➤ Austin
-God! I hated being in his head, he makes me wish there wasn't a dual perspective. He was so freaking embarrassing; I'm sure he didn't know what he was doing half the time. It was like his mind was still stuck in his teenage immaturity. Considering the previous protagonists of this series, Ophelia and Astrid came to the shadow realm under critical reasons, one to uphold a peace treaty through arranged marriage and another because she was exiled for betraying her own people; in this huge hot political mess we've been seeing for two books straight, Austin's reasons for ending up in the shadow realm felt dumb as hell. Who marches into a monster kingdom they know nothing about, drunk and foolish, in hopes of fucking the creative block out of them?
He was embarrassingly loud about his intentions of joining as many orgies as possible and obviously Selene was there when he was dead-drunk, rolling on the ground blubbering nonsense.
-He went out of his way to annoy Selene, he gave off the impression of a kid at the supermarket throwing tantrums over some toys his mother refused to buy or maybe doing something he thinks is cool and looking at his mother for approval. When they said sunshine character, I didn't realize we'd be getting his kind of sunshine character—the kind that makes you uncomfortable. He didn't show romantic interest in Selene until he learned how the hunters were making contributions to the shadow realm by getting sexually involved with shades and letting them feed off of their sexual energy. Suddenly, he realized he was in love and would do anything to get in her pants. Almost 70% of the book was somewhat okay but after that, it turned into a shitshow. Both their stupidity and insecurites reaching it's peak, breaking up for no reason, being hit by a metaphorical brick and realizing it was a bad idea. Selene suddenly turning from rags to riches and denying all of those cause apparently love was enough, like it's the freaking disney and so on.
Spice rating: ✯✯½
I was kind of curious about the smut revelation this time around. In the previous book, we were introduced to male shade love interests and all the ways sex with them works. It got me wondering: what of a female shade? We finally got a female shade and her human lover and no, the 'lasts over 20 minutes' orgasm is as much of a problem here. It's not like they were having any real sex because female shades are very fertile when they are with a hunter male; it's not much of an issue if they are with the males of their own kind, and there's no such thing as 'using protection' in their world, so things were mostly one-sided oral because the sharp teeth are another problem to consider. Austin was super worried as he never tried oral with anyone, but he took the challenge too seriously. I swear if I heard him say she tasted like strawberry champgne one more time. Selene owning a dildo that they both thought looked a lot like Austin's was pretty freaking horrible but that was put to work in their non-sex routine too. They didn't get together until the end of the book, after they decided they wanted to have the mating bond and eventually have kids.
More quotes:
“What are you doing to me?”
“I could ask you the same question,” “You’re addictive. I hope I’m addictive for you, too.”
“How do I feel about it? It hardly matters.”
“Your feelings are the only ones that matter to me.”
“I’m not your wife.”
“Then hurry up and marry me,”
୨⎯⚕️ 🌠🎶🌙⎯୧ [1/11/23]
“Who cares? Happiness can be whatever you want it to be.”
My love for the reverse grumpy x sunshine trope is neverending. I can count in one hand how many books of this trope I've read, it's not saying much. A book carrying this trope could never go wrong; it would always have free access to my heart, no matter what the story is about. So I'm still a little bit salty over the storyline having so many blackholes that I couldn't enjoy my favorite trope in play.
୨⎯⚕️ 🌠🎶🌙⎯୧ Finishing the last book in this series was a big surprise for me. I didn't expect to come this far with a series I picked up on impulse, not knowing what the context was. It was even more unexpected because I hated the first book, that was a piece of work to get through but I flew through the second and the last book. It's not so confusing anymore why this series would be high-rated. There isn't much to say about the plot, the books are mostly character-driven. In fact, Gula felt less erotic and more emotional than the previous books, I liked it better this way.
Sypnosis: Austin lived his life free of the duties and obligations of the hunter community to pursue his musical talents. Now he is a thriving musician who has lost his drive. A show gone bad and a drunken night's mistake has him packing and stumbling in the shadow realm on an adventure to rediscover his calling. Being tossed under the watch of the captain of guard's second in command by royal decree was not part of his plans; the attractive female warrior wasn't pleased to be on babysitting duty either. Her powerful presence and balant disinterest intrigued him more than he'd like to admit. As a hunter in the shadow realm he was expected to find a partner but that didn't stop him from mooning over his new bodyguard.
Tropes:
• Reverse grumpy sunshine
• Bodyguard romance
• Possessive protector dominant FMC
• Obsessed fluffball MMC
• Friendship
• Differences in social status
• Slow burn
• Mates by choice
• Wrong person right time
• You deserve better
♫ Just my type by The Vamps
╰┈➤ Selene
➴ The only threat he posed was to my sanity.
➴ I always admired anyone who could adeptly navigate delicate social situations.
➴ You are a most aggravating creature, did you know that? Not because you’re ridiculous, but because you act as though you’re ridiculous, which is far worse.
➴ There was that clawing sensation in my throat again. That desire to promise Austin the world, knowing I couldn’t give it to him. Knowing there were others who could.
-Who wouldn't want to see a woman being the dominant partner in a relationship for a change? I thought that was a great freaking trope. There's only so much alpha male stuff you can read before you get bored and crave for a change in scenario. Selene was grumpy and cold in a sophisticated way and didn't like to wear her heart on her sleeves, so when characters such as her rip their own hearts out of their chests to drop it at their lovers' feet, it is significantly meaningful and equally touching.
-Selene always had to struggle because of her social status; she worked hard to prove her worth and clawed her way up the ranks among the royal guards with her own efforts. She was determined to well play the king's direct orders to watch over the first male hunter in their realm even though she was confused why she would be assigned to watch over the strange man who barely knew his way around weapons and made it very clear in his drunken stupor that he was here for the orgies. I was super confused as well but I guess it's another 'Allerick needs to be dethorned for being too busy making eyes at Ophelia to maintain the kingdom' sign; honestly, who let him be the king?!
-At first, it was adorable the way Selene had no idea what to do with the strange hunter guy who smiles too much, talks too much and can get himself killed if left alone for too long but the non-stop coddling turned awkward at some point; it horrifically felt like she was mothering him. You wouldn't have guessed she was dealing with a 30-something guy but a 5 year old kid.
I loved the easy friendship between them while he kept trying to get a rise out of her and she tried to hide her attraction to him, thinking it'd be unfair to deprive him of the company of eager ladies from pretigious families. I couldn't help hating the rich pricks at the court for looking down on Selene because she came from poverty. Her family is amazing by the way. I love her niece Oriana so much, she's a bundle of delight, that kid could smell out relationship crisis better than any adult could ever. It did things to my heart to see Selene, a powerful warrior, cooking for her lover and melting like ice cream in summer in front of the people she loves.
╰┈➤ Austin
➴ No one ever wanted to look beyond the surface level idea they had of me, a not-insignificant part of my brain worried there was nothing beneath that surface worth looking at.
➴ Life was too short not to try out being leashed and crawling around the floor at the whim of a female who could murder me in her sleep.
➴ The way you look, smell, talk, act, exist—nothing about you is fair, Selene.
➴ She’s hard to read. Sometimes I think she really likes me, other times I’m pretty sure she’s really annoyed with me.
➴ I didn’t care what the court thought about Selene. It’d be nice if they could see her through my eyes, but ultimately I wanted Selene to see herself through my eyes.
➴ You can ask me to leave you alone, that’s completely your right, but you can’t ask me to give up hope, Selene. That’s mine, and I’m not willing to part with it.
-God! I hated being in his head, he makes me wish there wasn't a dual perspective. He was so freaking embarrassing; I'm sure he didn't know what he was doing half the time. It was like his mind was still stuck in his teenage immaturity. Considering the previous protagonists of this series, Ophelia and Astrid came to the shadow realm under critical reasons, one to uphold a peace treaty through arranged marriage and another because she was exiled for betraying her own people; in this huge hot political mess we've been seeing for two books straight, Austin's reasons for ending up in the shadow realm felt dumb as hell. Who marches into a monster kingdom they know nothing about, drunk and foolish, in hopes of fucking the creative block out of them?
He was embarrassingly loud about his intentions of joining as many orgies as possible and obviously Selene was there when he was dead-drunk, rolling on the ground blubbering nonsense.
-He went out of his way to annoy Selene, he gave off the impression of a kid at the supermarket throwing tantrums over some toys his mother refused to buy or maybe doing something he thinks is cool and looking at his mother for approval. When they said sunshine character, I didn't realize we'd be getting his kind of sunshine character—the kind that makes you uncomfortable. He didn't show romantic interest in Selene until he learned how the hunters were making contributions to the shadow realm by getting sexually involved with shades and letting them feed off of their sexual energy. Suddenly, he realized he was in love and would do anything to get in her pants. Almost 70% of the book was somewhat okay but after that, it turned into a shitshow. Both their stupidity and insecurites reaching it's peak, breaking up for no reason, being hit by a metaphorical brick and realizing it was a bad idea. Selene suddenly turning from rags to riches and denying all of those cause apparently love was enough, like it's the freaking disney and so on.
Spice rating: ✯✯½
I was kind of curious about the smut revelation this time around. In the previous book, we were introduced to male shade love interests and all the ways sex with them works. It got me wondering: what of a female shade? We finally got a female shade and her human lover and no, the 'lasts over 20 minutes' orgasm is as much of a problem here. It's not like they were having any real sex because female shades are very fertile when they are with a hunter male; it's not much of an issue if they are with the males of their own kind, and there's no such thing as 'using protection' in their world, so things were mostly one-sided oral because the sharp teeth are another problem to consider. Austin was super worried as he never tried oral with anyone, but he took the challenge too seriously. I swear if I heard him say she tasted like strawberry champgne one more time. Selene owning a dildo that they both thought looked a lot like Austin's was pretty freaking horrible but that was put to work in their non-sex routine too. They didn't get together until the end of the book, after they decided they wanted to have the mating bond and eventually have kids.
More quotes:
“What are you doing to me?”
“I could ask you the same question,” “You’re addictive. I hope I’m addictive for you, too.”
“How do I feel about it? It hardly matters.”
“Your feelings are the only ones that matter to me.”
“I’m not your wife.”
“Then hurry up and marry me,”
୨⎯⚕️ 🌠🎶🌙⎯୧ [1/11/23]
May 29, 2024
5 stars
I DID NOT EXPECT THIS TO BE MY FAVOURITE OF THE SERIES SO FAR???
Austin is a “moderately famous” musician (despite being born a Hunter), and on a drunken whim goes to the shadow realm to fuck a few squid monsters.
Selene is a very accomplished Lieutenant of the Guard in the shadow realm (*not* a squid monster) and finds herself babysitting Austin who is, as she discovers, alarmingly fragile.
I LOVED this — it was hilarious, horny and very sweet. Austin was kind of a manic pixie girl and Selene found him exasperating (a reversal of the protective grumpy/ damsel sunshine trope), but they were *so* good together. Their connection had a lot of depth, and I liked how they could see through each other’s protective outer layers and insecurities.
I also found so many parts laugh-out-loud funny. The narrators had excellent comedic timing in their performances. It’s on Kindle Unlimited and definitely worth the audiobook upgrade.
I DID NOT EXPECT THIS TO BE MY FAVOURITE OF THE SERIES SO FAR???
Austin is a “moderately famous” musician (despite being born a Hunter), and on a drunken whim goes to the shadow realm to fuck a few squid monsters.
Selene is a very accomplished Lieutenant of the Guard in the shadow realm (*not* a squid monster) and finds herself babysitting Austin who is, as she discovers, alarmingly fragile.
I LOVED this — it was hilarious, horny and very sweet. Austin was kind of a manic pixie girl and Selene found him exasperating (a reversal of the protective grumpy/ damsel sunshine trope), but they were *so* good together. Their connection had a lot of depth, and I liked how they could see through each other’s protective outer layers and insecurities.
I also found so many parts laugh-out-loud funny. The narrators had excellent comedic timing in their performances. It’s on Kindle Unlimited and definitely worth the audiobook upgrade.
May 22, 2024
2.5 stars
I enjoyed the previous books a lot, but this one wasn’t as captivating and took a while for me to get through. I just didn’t really feel any chemistry between Selene and Austin, which made their slow burn romance pretty excruciating. I did like how they supported each other though (sometimes in a roundabout way) and all the consent/focus on her pleasure once things got going. There wasn’t much to the plot besides them getting to know each other and worrying that they each weren’t enough for the other. The story could have been quite a bit shorter. I’m not sure if I’m going to continue on with the series.
I enjoyed the previous books a lot, but this one wasn’t as captivating and took a while for me to get through. I just didn’t really feel any chemistry between Selene and Austin, which made their slow burn romance pretty excruciating. I did like how they supported each other though (sometimes in a roundabout way) and all the consent/focus on her pleasure once things got going. There wasn’t much to the plot besides them getting to know each other and worrying that they each weren’t enough for the other. The story could have been quite a bit shorter. I’m not sure if I’m going to continue on with the series.
July 13, 2024
Gula by Colette Rhodes
Selene, a Lieutenant of the Guard, is driven by her prestigious position, her family, and her taste for rare and expensive dining. Austin, whose rockstar dreams have failed, is lost in a haze of alcohol and unanswered questions. When their paths cross, Selene's secret wild side might be the key to Austin's redemption. Gula, the third book in the Shades of Sin series, explores the unlikely bond between humans and their not-quite-human partners.
Okay, so "Gula" by Colette Rhodes is hands down my favorite in the Shades of Sin series so far! Selene, our fierce Lieutenant of the Guard, is living the high life with her prestigious job, loving family, and a taste for the finer things in life. Meanwhile, Austin is a bit of a hot mess—his rockstar dreams have crumbled, and he's drowning his sorrows in booze and unanswered questions.
There’s a flurry of concern that since Austin’s semi-famous, the Hunters might either want him back or try to take him out. This means Selene has to stick close to him, which leads to some awesome forced proximity and bonding. Their constant time together turns into a beautifully built relationship and love. Plus, we find out Austin comes from a pretty well-known Hunter family, and his grandpa isn’t thrilled about letting him go because of his own reputation.
They both feel a connection from the start, but Selene, being her stubborn self, pushes Austin to meet other Shades. She keeps saying he’s the first-ever male human to be part of their world and needs someone who matches his status. Idiot, right? But I love her anyway! She’s this aloof, competent badass, while Austin is all smiles and has a knack for getting into trouble.
One of my favorite things about this book is getting to explore more of the Shadow Realm. Selene grew up in a rough part of the world and now lives away from the palace for her own peace and solitude. The descriptions of the Shadow Realm were so vivid (despite everything being grayscale) and intriguing, from the bustling markets to the serene, hidden corners that Selene calls home. Her background gave her a unique perspective and made her an even more compelling character. Despite her success, she still feels like an outsider among the guards, but she doesn’t let it bother her… too much. I loved seeing her navigate through her past struggles while embracing her present.
Another thing I LOVED was the spice. In the first two books, we had male monsters and human females. This time, we get to dive into how female Shades' anatomy works. It’s not much different, but honestly, I wouldn’t mind if mine were like that! Despite the smut being one-sided until the end (Austin, my man, we love you and your services), I never got bored with it. It was almost hotter than the first two books. When we finally got to do some actual baby-making (which was a big deal since female Shades stopped taking birth control eons ago), I FREAKING LOVED IT! I love knotting as much as the next girl, but man, Selene’s got that gripping strength 9000.
The first two books were not bad at all, I have enjoyed my experiences thus far with this series but again, this one was just so unique and I loved it thoroughly.
Mood/Vibes Rating: 5 ⭐
CAWPILE Rating: 7.29
Selene, a Lieutenant of the Guard, is driven by her prestigious position, her family, and her taste for rare and expensive dining. Austin, whose rockstar dreams have failed, is lost in a haze of alcohol and unanswered questions. When their paths cross, Selene's secret wild side might be the key to Austin's redemption. Gula, the third book in the Shades of Sin series, explores the unlikely bond between humans and their not-quite-human partners.
“You arrived here and almost immediately touched a poisonous plant.”
I laughed again. “I didn’t know it was poisonous. I am aware that knives have pointy bits, make ouchies on fingers if touchy.”
Okay, so "Gula" by Colette Rhodes is hands down my favorite in the Shades of Sin series so far! Selene, our fierce Lieutenant of the Guard, is living the high life with her prestigious job, loving family, and a taste for the finer things in life. Meanwhile, Austin is a bit of a hot mess—his rockstar dreams have crumbled, and he's drowning his sorrows in booze and unanswered questions.
There’s a flurry of concern that since Austin’s semi-famous, the Hunters might either want him back or try to take him out. This means Selene has to stick close to him, which leads to some awesome forced proximity and bonding. Their constant time together turns into a beautifully built relationship and love. Plus, we find out Austin comes from a pretty well-known Hunter family, and his grandpa isn’t thrilled about letting him go because of his own reputation.
They both feel a connection from the start, but Selene, being her stubborn self, pushes Austin to meet other Shades. She keeps saying he’s the first-ever male human to be part of their world and needs someone who matches his status. Idiot, right? But I love her anyway! She’s this aloof, competent badass, while Austin is all smiles and has a knack for getting into trouble.
One of my favorite things about this book is getting to explore more of the Shadow Realm. Selene grew up in a rough part of the world and now lives away from the palace for her own peace and solitude. The descriptions of the Shadow Realm were so vivid (despite everything being grayscale) and intriguing, from the bustling markets to the serene, hidden corners that Selene calls home. Her background gave her a unique perspective and made her an even more compelling character. Despite her success, she still feels like an outsider among the guards, but she doesn’t let it bother her… too much. I loved seeing her navigate through her past struggles while embracing her present.
Another thing I LOVED was the spice. In the first two books, we had male monsters and human females. This time, we get to dive into how female Shades' anatomy works. It’s not much different, but honestly, I wouldn’t mind if mine were like that! Despite the smut being one-sided until the end (Austin, my man, we love you and your services), I never got bored with it. It was almost hotter than the first two books. When we finally got to do some actual baby-making (which was a big deal since female Shades stopped taking birth control eons ago), I FREAKING LOVED IT! I love knotting as much as the next girl, but man, Selene’s got that gripping strength 9000.
The first two books were not bad at all, I have enjoyed my experiences thus far with this series but again, this one was just so unique and I loved it thoroughly.
Mood/Vibes Rating: 5 ⭐
CAWPILE Rating: 7.29
December 28, 2025
3.5⭐️
Austin is a struggling musician who tumbles into the shadow realm and stumbles into Selene. She’s a no-nonsense lieutenant of the guard who struggles with internal insecurities. Theres good communication (how refreshing!) and they come together like moths to a flame. The emotional payoff builds as does the heat 😏 I like that we got more world building, culture and an insight into everyday society, not just royal court. Austin & Selene are simply wonderful together and I really enjoyed their story.
Austin is a struggling musician who tumbles into the shadow realm and stumbles into Selene. She’s a no-nonsense lieutenant of the guard who struggles with internal insecurities. Theres good communication (how refreshing!) and they come together like moths to a flame. The emotional payoff builds as does the heat 😏 I like that we got more world building, culture and an insight into everyday society, not just royal court. Austin & Selene are simply wonderful together and I really enjoyed their story.
October 4, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ I love this series. And I seem to love each new installment more. This was so so sweet. Definitely more character than plot driven, but I’m definitely here for that. Austin was such a breath of fresh air character. The whole thing was just achingly adorable. I didn’t stop smiling the whole read.
October 14, 2023
I wanna rock everyone’s shit that was rude to Selene. She’s an absolute angel and needs to be treated as such. Austin is so sweet I love him so much. The chain around her horns really had me going “awwww” 🥺. This had me kicking my feet in the air it was too cute. I’m obsessed with this series.
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 ⭐️
October 10, 2023
My monster romance days are long behind me
October 31, 2023
I enjoyed this read but I felt like it lacked urgency / tension building up to the ending and as I was reading the third act break up moment it felt lackluster and the other main issue teased throughout was resolved quickly.
I felt like the chemistry was good and I enjoyed the characters and the expanded look I got to see into the shade realm, their food and culture especially.
I also liked the set up for the next book, I didn’t realize until now that this would be a 6 book series.
2.5/5 🌶️ (how I rate spice written in my bio).
I felt like the chemistry was good and I enjoyed the characters and the expanded look I got to see into the shade realm, their food and culture especially.
I also liked the set up for the next book, I didn’t realize until now that this would be a 6 book series.
2.5/5 🌶️ (how I rate spice written in my bio).
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February 17, 2024
4 ⭐️ Female Shade x Male ex-Hunter!!
This book was better than book #2, imo. I loved, loved, loved book #1 -Ophelia's book- but Astrid x Soren's felt a lot less... emotional if that makes sense.
Here we see Austin, a disgraced musician with family ties to the Hunters, but who's never been interested in anything they stand for. When he comes home one drunken night to his crummy apartment and gets a phone call from a Hunter as he's contemplating his unfulfilling, he makes a rash decision that changes the course of his life forever.
When we saw Austin for the first time at the end of book 2, I was intrigued, but this really surpassed my expectations. I think I was so disillusioned with Superbia that this felt like exactly what I didn't know I needed out of this series. The change in dynamics now that we have a Shade FMC and a Hunter MMC was amazing. Also, I loved that Astrid and Selene have the badass female character level in common, but Astrid could never truly overpower Soren in the Shadow Realm, but Selene is always so mindful and aware of her strength and physical attributes that could easily kill Austin. She was guarded and trauma-driven, and Austin was honestly perfect for her. Top golden retriever energy, which she needed in her life desperately.
This was a lot more of a slow-burn than Luxuria (Shades of Sin #1) was, but I kind of liked that they were friends first, even if it made Selene wary after Austin started to show interest in her.
I really want to see where this series goes next, and what will happen after the "bomb" they'd planned to drop at the end of this book goes off in the Human Realm.
🌶🌶.5 / 5 - This is mostly slow-burn, and very focused on female pleasure once it gets there (mostly in the last 45% of the book).
This book was better than book #2, imo. I loved, loved, loved book #1 -Ophelia's book- but Astrid x Soren's felt a lot less... emotional if that makes sense.
Here we see Austin, a disgraced musician with family ties to the Hunters, but who's never been interested in anything they stand for. When he comes home one drunken night to his crummy apartment and gets a phone call from a Hunter as he's contemplating his unfulfilling, he makes a rash decision that changes the course of his life forever.
When we saw Austin for the first time at the end of book 2, I was intrigued, but this really surpassed my expectations. I think I was so disillusioned with Superbia that this felt like exactly what I didn't know I needed out of this series. The change in dynamics now that we have a Shade FMC and a Hunter MMC was amazing. Also, I loved that Astrid and Selene have the badass female character level in common, but Astrid could never truly overpower Soren in the Shadow Realm, but Selene is always so mindful and aware of her strength and physical attributes that could easily kill Austin. She was guarded and trauma-driven, and Austin was honestly perfect for her. Top golden retriever energy, which she needed in her life desperately.
This was a lot more of a slow-burn than Luxuria (Shades of Sin #1) was, but I kind of liked that they were friends first, even if it made Selene wary after Austin started to show interest in her.
I really want to see where this series goes next, and what will happen after the "bomb" they'd planned to drop at the end of this book goes off in the Human Realm.
🌶🌶.5 / 5 - This is mostly slow-burn, and very focused on female pleasure once it gets there (mostly in the last 45% of the book).
September 28, 2023
IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY EVERY TIME I READ A BOOK FROM THIS SERIES!!!! This time in Gula we get monster FMC and human MMC pairing. We get to find out how smex works with the other gender. Which to be honest was quite interesting. Both, Selene and Austin, don't truly know where they fall within the human realm or within the Shadow realm. Austin feels lost in the human realm so makes the decision to leave and go to the Shadow realm. Selene, while she is part of the court's Guard, isn't from a wealthy family. Now that Austin has shown interest in her, it makes her feel like she's not enough.
The characters from the previous 2 books are quick to embrace Austin and Selene, individually and as a couple. I think their support was what helped them feel like they belonged. Selene, herself, found out some information of her lineage that changed her perspective on where she truly belong. Something that she had no problem rejecting so that she could live out her life as she wanted, with Austin by her side.
❀•◦𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔+𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔◦•❀
• angsty romance
• artist/celebrity romance
• light breeding kink
• fantasy romance
• forbidden romance
• forced proximity
• frenemies to lovers
• golden retriever x black cat
• he falls first
• monster romance
• opposites attract
• reverse grumpy x sunshine
October 25, 2025
Ok this was a 2 ⭐️ from me!
I was disappointed compared to the first two in the series and here’s why -
Firstly, if you’re from England, the thought of the X factor and some washed up boy band fame academy type dude calling his fans Austinstors and calling himself a “rock star” is literally ten types of cringe.
It instantly gave me the ick because I could literally picture the character as attractive. It wasn’t sexy it was just CRINGE! maybe my fellow British girls would understand? It’s all very stage school embarrassment school of rock type “pick me” type stuff 😭😭😭😭
I feel like no one under the age of 80 calls anyone a “rock star” anymore or maybe that’s just me I don’t know?!
I did like Selene’s character and found her insecurities and self deprecation relatable. I’m sure most female readers could relate to those feelings of inadequacy from time to time and I do feel like the author did a good job with that.
When I tried to get over the “rock star” narrative, Austin kept calling her “darling” and all I could think of is some camp dude in a grey leggings like a genie in the bottle type situation??
I don’t know where I’m going with this.
Also the spice was weird 😂
End of rant
Higher hopes for book 4!
I was disappointed compared to the first two in the series and here’s why -
Firstly, if you’re from England, the thought of the X factor and some washed up boy band fame academy type dude calling his fans Austinstors and calling himself a “rock star” is literally ten types of cringe.
It instantly gave me the ick because I could literally picture the character as attractive. It wasn’t sexy it was just CRINGE! maybe my fellow British girls would understand? It’s all very stage school embarrassment school of rock type “pick me” type stuff 😭😭😭😭
I feel like no one under the age of 80 calls anyone a “rock star” anymore or maybe that’s just me I don’t know?!
I did like Selene’s character and found her insecurities and self deprecation relatable. I’m sure most female readers could relate to those feelings of inadequacy from time to time and I do feel like the author did a good job with that.
When I tried to get over the “rock star” narrative, Austin kept calling her “darling” and all I could think of is some camp dude in a grey leggings like a genie in the bottle type situation??
I don’t know where I’m going with this.
Also the spice was weird 😂
End of rant
Higher hopes for book 4!
June 14, 2024
Honestly enjoyed it. Didn't think I would like it very much and just one of those standalones you push through in a series, but actually found myself loving Austin?? He was so precious and the way he adored Selene was adorable. Also learning more about Selene and the depth to her character was so endearing.
Who would've thought I'd be experiencing heartwarming moments reading a smutty monster romance? And yet, it happened. The heart was warmed.
Who would've thought I'd be experiencing heartwarming moments reading a smutty monster romance? And yet, it happened. The heart was warmed.
January 3, 2026
This I honestly liked a lot less than the other two. The fact that she couldn’t do a lot of things was annoying to me, and he kinda seemed like a weak and whinny guy, which is icky. It was a cool concept to see a different kind of pairing, and the rich/ poor dynamic was super interesting, but I think Austin just wasn’t my kinda guy (and Selene was constantly worrying about how weak he was, which honestly got annoying.
September 26, 2023
This book was hilarious and had me giggling, snorting, and guffawing at times.
I loved the unique take on a monster FMC with a human MMC. Thoroughly enjoyed the special attention given to anatomy differences (but not as much as our MMC did 😘)
The love interests had everything working against them, and yet they couldn’t be more suited for each other.
Both the MMC and FMC embarked on their individual journeys of self-discovery, while still keeping their public masks in place. Watching them finding out who the other person was underneath those masks, while also delving deep to figure out who they were themselves, just hit me in my feels. The moments when they felt SEEN, and just getting each other, were perfect 🤩😍🥰.
I loved seeing different parts of the realm outside of the Court, and meeting such a wide variety of characters from diverse social standings.
The cast of supporting characters kept me engaged in the whole series and looking forward to the books to come even while still enjoying the current one.
I recommend this if you’re looking for lots of laughs, creative spice, and getting hit right in the feels.
I loved the unique take on a monster FMC with a human MMC. Thoroughly enjoyed the special attention given to anatomy differences (but not as much as our MMC did 😘)
The love interests had everything working against them, and yet they couldn’t be more suited for each other.
Both the MMC and FMC embarked on their individual journeys of self-discovery, while still keeping their public masks in place. Watching them finding out who the other person was underneath those masks, while also delving deep to figure out who they were themselves, just hit me in my feels. The moments when they felt SEEN, and just getting each other, were perfect 🤩😍🥰.
I loved seeing different parts of the realm outside of the Court, and meeting such a wide variety of characters from diverse social standings.
The cast of supporting characters kept me engaged in the whole series and looking forward to the books to come even while still enjoying the current one.
I recommend this if you’re looking for lots of laughs, creative spice, and getting hit right in the feels.
September 27, 2023
I liked this couple the least out of all three of them so far, but they’re still so cute to read about! Definitely got golden retriever/black cat vibes.
I think for me it just was a bit too long before they got to the real good spicy stuff and then there wasn’t a lot of it and the breeding aspect felt a bit rushed where I would’ve preferred it being there throughout the whole book instead of like the final couple chapters.
There aren’t a lot of reads out there where the female is the monster (as far as I have read) so that definitely was an aspect I was really excited about. Although since the monster was the female, there were some other logistics to think about which made the earlier spicy scenes less my thing.
Still a great read and I’d definitely recommend but I prefer the first two books.
I think for me it just was a bit too long before they got to the real good spicy stuff and then there wasn’t a lot of it and the breeding aspect felt a bit rushed where I would’ve preferred it being there throughout the whole book instead of like the final couple chapters.
There aren’t a lot of reads out there where the female is the monster (as far as I have read) so that definitely was an aspect I was really excited about. Although since the monster was the female, there were some other logistics to think about which made the earlier spicy scenes less my thing.
Still a great read and I’d definitely recommend but I prefer the first two books.
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