The Gargoyle's Captive

A Deal With a Demon #3

by Katee Robert

Grace is a monster hunter who went into her demon deal with eyes wide open. Years ago, her mother made the same choice and was never seen again, and the answers Grace seeks can only be found in the demon realm. She doesn’t care that she’s auctioned off to a gargoyle. She doesn’t plan to stay with him longer than strictly necessary. Unfortunately, she didn’t read the small print of her contract. Every time she tries to escape, Bram catches her and brings her back…to his bed. Where things get heated very quickly in unexpected ways. Grace doesn’t mean to give in, to stop fighting. But the moment she does, she starts to forget what brought her to this place and what her goals are. After a life starved of pleasure, she’s all willing to let Bram seduce her again and again… At least until the past comes calling.

Author's Note: For all tropes, tags, and CWs, please check the author website.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Monster Romance, Monsters, Paranormal, Smut, Paranormal Romance

185 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2023

About the author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of spicy romance. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over two million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

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Reviews

[Tia]

DNF @ 30%

Well…the 100+ likes on this review are feeling kinda awkward right now 🧍🏻‍♀️ I don’t really know why it got so many likes in the first place, but thanks I guess 😭

Anywho, I’m DNFing because this series just went down hill for me after the first one. I loved The Dragon’s Bride. 5 stars all round. However, the releases since then have all been just meh. I think I gave the others 3.5 but they should’ve been 3, if not lower.

This wasn’t terribly written, none of Katee’s books are, but this is just missing a spark for me 🤷🏻‍♀️ I won’t be continuing with the other books in the series unfortunately, but it was nice whilst it lasted!

Original review
I will read every. single. book. in this series

[toointofiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only reason I'm here is to find answers about my mother, and I won't discover those by bouncing on a gargoyle's cock.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Spice Meter: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️


⚠️Trigger Warning: Questionable Role Playing, Dubious Consent, Grief, Depression, Suicidal Tendencies, Overtly Sexual Content⚠️

❗This review contains some spoilers❗


Well, here it is!! The last of the ridiculous monster smut series I've been obsessed with for the past week or so, for now at least. That was quite the thrill ride, I had a ton of fun reading all of the books, and I genuinely can't wait to read the next ones. There's this grand plot that was built up throughout the books that will evidently unfold in Azazel and Eve's book, and it has me all excited and anxious to read it. Who knew I would be this invested in the menial plot of a filthy smut book? 😂😂 Besides, the plot of this particular book, while feeling a bit repetitive and rushed, was actually pretty interesting. I did feel slightly frustrated with reading the same things over and over, book after book, not to mention the extremely predictable plot twists that the characters should've figured out on their own within the first thirty pages. However, as I've said before, the plot is not the reason I choose this series, so I was able to move past it.

Moreover, the main characters of this book should seriously consider intensive therapy (one of them actually does, but there's no telling if they go through with it) because their respective traumas and the way they connect with one another really fucked them up, understandably so. Grace is a headstrong and skilled monster hunter in the human realm, dedicated to helping people, including monsters, and only killing monsters that have hurt or killed other humans. She's likable, as protagonists so often are, and slightly self-destructive, but other than her backstory and occupation there isn't much else separating her from the other female protagonists of this series. Admittedly, she does have a little more character depth than some of the others, however, it can be argued that it is primarily because of her trauma, which not all previous characters had. Her family died one by one, either from disease, their extremely dangerous occupation, or questionable choices. In addition, Bram (awesome name for a gargoyle, by the way) is an almost entirely anatomically correct gargoyle, other than the long white hair, right down to his stone-like skin, and the unwanted and rumoured-to-be-cursed ruler of his kingdom. His backstory is parallel with Grace's as both are the last remaining members of their families carrying the pain of their tragedies. Bram lost his entire family in a devastating, targeted massacre from which he only survived by running away and hiding. Unlike Grace, though, Bram's trauma is more severe. He appears to be struggling with depression, and survivor's guilt, and on more than one occasion, had suicidal thoughts. It is safe to say that he has a lot more character depth than the other monstrous romantic interests, even Thane (the Kraken) whose husband was killed by a dragon.

Furthermore, I found their romance to be slightly more questionable than expected in a series like this. Bram and Grace made a questionable, non-consensual bargain with each other after Grace was caught trying to escape back to the demon bargainer territory, in order to find out what happened to her mother. She was stuck in a web, about to be devoured by a giant spider, when Bram showed up to save her on condition that she would...have sex with him whenever she got caught escaping...Yeah, that's fucked up. 🚩🚩 She may have reluctantly agreed in order to save her life, but she soon immediately started...enjoying the chase. It became a kind of roleplay between them. What makes this only slightly weirder is that once the sex began, it was Grace who took full control of the situation, and I mean full control. Basically, she was dom and Bram was sub, which doesn't quite add up with him chasing and capturing her. Once again, I didn't really complain much about that, I live for the absurdity of this series. However, the most important piece of information in this entire book (maybe the whole world), is that Bram's penis (and I'm assuming all gargoyles are included here) is not only quite long and possibly stone-like (hard or soft), but it also has...ridges. Evidently, these ridges played a vital role in Grace's multiple orgasms and my entertainment. 👀👀 If there's one thing to love about monster romance, it is the freedom to give your monsters as many penises, in any size or shape as you want, and I think that's beautiful.


So, is it a yay or a nay on this series?

[Warda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. This was underwhelming. It’s sparking no joy. Not the same joy as The Dragon’s Bride did.

Nothing has compared to that book in this series.

[Kaleigh Basso · Rating 4 out of 5]

The question is not, “Was this good?” or, “Were the characters developed well?” or, “Does the plot flow nicely?” Because the answer would be “ehh, kinda”

The question *is* “did this make me horny?”
To which the answer is yes.

4 stars.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

She set him on fire 🧍‍♀️ I mean, he goaded her into it but... she set him on fire and then roasted marshmallows on his burning body. Then she shoved the marshmallows into his face until he choked on them and reprimanded him for making her burn him.



None of this was really in a hot way to me. Mainly because Bram felt like a dog that just kept getting kicked and thrown into puddles. And... you know... set on fire.

I walked away feeling really...just shitty with this one. Bram was so damaged and hurt and it felt like at every turn everyone just kept shitting on him. His people were trying to help Grace escape, they hated him so much. And the reason they hated him...is because his whole family was murdered in front of him...



Grace never really sticks up for him when she sees people being shitty to Bram either; she just kind of...agrees and then gets mad at him for not sticking up for himself. Then we have the bargainer demons who actually seem pretty sympathetic to everyone else's hardships but with Bram they sort of left him out to dry on this one. Old Rammy boy actually basically told him that he was so weak that he wasn't a real threat to anyone because he's a pathetic little worm.



My boy was out here fighting for his life in an arena that wanted him to jump off the nearest rooftop. It felt a lot like seeing someone who's really depressed and going through it but everyone around them thinks of them as the debbie downer so they just don't invite them to stuff and ask them why they can't be happy... Just real hard-hitting comments about how depression is perceived in seemingly "fine" people lol.

Bram is also a naturally submissive person in the bedroom which was about the only part of this book I actually enjoyed. But because of that I almost felt MORE protective of him. He really needed someone to fight for him and in the end...I just didn't really see Grace doing that.

*The stars are definitely for the cover. Whoever is making these is so freaking talented.*

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHERE IS THE EPILOGUE I NEED SO MUCH MORE OF THEM

[Sammie Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

MAN, the reason I started this entire series was because of looking forward to this book and it was just a meh, first base hit for me. Liked it, didn’t love it, and none of it really spoke to me. I wanted more from Bram and Grace and all of the other stuff took up so much of the story yet said so little. I didn’t like Grace at all and I didn’t see the appeal for Bram to love her, let alone like her. I think I’m done with KR for a little while, or maybe I’ll go back and read a favorite, Your Dad Will Do. All in all, this was the biggest miss of the series so far.

[Karla Martínez · Rating 3 out of 5]

LAS ESCENAS SPICY DE ESTE LIBRO!!!!!!
por siempre amaré a una mujer dominante y a un hombre sumiso <3.

[Savannah Cieslak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read! This definitely read more like her other books than the previous installment in this series. I loved both MC’s! Their dynamic was very cool to read. The FMC was the dom in the relationship and I haven’t read many books like that. I definitely think that these characters were great for each other. Their fears and beliefs were explained so well and they were able to communicate that with each other better than the previous MC’s. I can’t wait to continue with this series!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

[Tati Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I like gargoyles now.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely devour every Katee Robert book I have read and this was no exception; especially when you throw in some fem dom scenes. With that being said, this was not my favorite in the series and I feel like the plot was too fast-paced for my liking. I was invested in Bram and Grace completely but the pace and ending were both abrupt; I needed more.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an absolute ✨slut✨ for gargoyles

Here’s the thing though, Grace is supposed to be this badass monster hunter and tbh her skills kind of fell flat for me. Like what do you mean you escape and within 10 minutes get caught in a spider web?? Bffr haha. I still love her though don’t worry.

Now, her dominance in the bedroom? Had me GASPING. Bram is a good boy and the biggest sweetheart. I love him. He must be protected at all costs.

[deborah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I never thought I would say this about a Katee Robert book but holy SHIT I hated the main character! Grace is one of the most insufferable, self-righteous, one-dimensional characters I've ever read. Bram was kinda boring in that stoic "I have such a wounded past and I suffer for it" way, but at least with him there was legitimate reason. Grace just didn't have a personality beyond grappling with her "family legacy" (yawn) and not for one second did I buy the chemistry between her and Bram. It kept being emphasized that he felt something for her from the start, but it was just a rehashed "She's not like other girls" trope, only this time it was "She's not like other humans".

Also, I like weird stuff (I mean, I'm on book 3 of a monster erotica series) but that marshmallow scene?! Babe, that was just embarrassing. For anyone who hasn't read it, that scene isn't a sexual scene, it's a scene where Grace LIGHTS BRAM ON FIRE because he's a gargoyle and can't burn, and then they both proceed to sit there while Grace fuckin' cooks a marshmallow on him. 😭😭 It was supposed to be a deep moment, but it was one of the most laughable and unserious moments in the history of erotic novels.

And I'm getting miffed at Katee fumbling the monster stuff. If you're gonna write the monster erotica genre then COMMIT to it! Book 2 was disappointing because she absolutely did not use having a kraken as a main character to her advantage, and now she write a gargoyle who's spiciest trait is his stony skin and, predictably, his big dick. Like, there is literally a conversation Grace and Bram have about the possibility of getting spicy while flying, and yet the only place they ever do is the bathtub and bed.

Okay, and don't even get me started on how long it took the two of these absolute BUFFOONS to put the pieces together about what happened to their families. I saw this coming from the very beginning and the fact that they had to spell it out to each other to realize it made me want to rip a phonebook in half. 😐😐😐

SO underwhelming. I have convinced four other people to read Katee's "Dark Olympus" series, and stand by the fact that I think it's good (great, at times!) but I genuinely don't think I can see myself recommending this one beyond book 1...I mean, unless roasting marshmallows on the body of your burning stone lover is your thing? No judgement.

[Emmaline Savidge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just so deeply want to like Katee’s books because they seem like such a nice person and I really love how queer normative their worlds are but a lot of them just don’t work for me. I think that Katee’s sex scenes are very well done but the relationship buildup just isn’t there. I know this is a novella so it’s shorter, but Sierra Simone is able to accomplish a believable relationship in her erotica focused novellas. Part of the problem for me is that with the seven year demon contracts Katee has built in the perfect relationship development device, time jumps. However, she doesn’t take advantage of them. I’m sorry but there’s no way I’ll believe in a relationship between two people who have known each other for like a month and spent most of it being weirdly antagonistic. This book especially got on my nerves because there were obvious plot things we could have done like Bram helping with the hunt for her mom or Grace being a girlboss and helping run the kingdom. This book might not have been a hit but I’m gonna keep trying Katee’s books cause there are fun parts and I’m rooting for one that I love. The next book in this series is sapphic so I’m crossing my fingers that I love it.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars

Coming from the last book, I couldn't believe that these characters both had an interesting backstory AND chemistry. So much more fun to read, the power plays and the reveal at the end was insane (even if I knew it was coming by nature of the book).

To clarify a little: this is a 4 star book, in the space of this type of book. it is actually a genuine 4 star? no for sure not, but for what this book (type) is? it wasn’t bad!one of the better ones I’ve read chemistry/plot wise with what it had to offer.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Bram and Grace have 100 fans, I am one. If they have one fan, it's me. If Bram and Grace have zero fans, I am dead.

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a toxic love story but I really liked how authentic it felt. People who go through abuse as children or any kind of trauma have a tendency to be self destructive, and that includes within relationships. Grace was fierce, violent, lonely, and desperate for answers. She had her moments of kindness, but tended to push people away. Bram was utterly alone, depressed, and going through the motions. Grace shocked him out of that and he pushed her to face uncomfortable truths. I wish we had more time to see the resolution of their issues and the happy sunshiny moments, but we get enough to understand the bumpy road they head off together on.

Spice: 5/5

Triggers: dubcon, suicidal ideation, violence, burning, discussion of murder of family members, mention of beheading, discussion of child abuse, brief threat of giant spider attack, grief

[lobelyys · Rating 2 out of 5]

i finished 600 paged books in 2 to 3 days, while this book took me a week. and all because i couldn’t stand the female main character, and i hate this troupe, where the female is in the wrong, the male tells her to get lost, and then goes after her. like no bitch, you’re in the wrong, act like the adult you are and beg for forgiveness… but that’s just my personal red flag

anyway this was the worst book in all the series, hopefully the next ones are better

p.s. i just remembered what THE scene reminded me of. it was dinner & diatribes by hozier, so i must thank this book for reminding me of this masterpiece

[Peach Fuzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya know, I'm not mad at this

[book bruin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I’ve been so intrigued by Grace and was really looking forward to her story. Sadly, the book was just OK. Grace and Bram had the greatest potential for a deep connection because of their histories, but I didn’t feel like either character was truly developed. Things shifted so rapidly between them - toxic behavior and then love. I did like that they recognized the brokenness in each other though and there were some very tender moments between them as a result. The writing itself was a bit repetitive and readers will see the “twist” coming from a mile away. The abrupt ending (no epilogue!) left me unsatisfied and Azazel’s story is the only thing keeping me from abandoning this series.

CW’s from author: elements of suicidal ideation (referenced briefly), murder, blood, giant spiders, dubious consent (agreement given under duress), violent familial death (historical, off-page), abuse (by parents, off-page, historical), violence, blood magic

[Regan Y. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawd do I love me some monster romance! This is just my series and I’ll be so sad when it’s over!

[Zimmy W · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one look at me, I don't know what to do until the next book in this series comes out.

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Type: Standalone Book 3 from A Deal with a Demon series
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:




Grace Jaeger made a deal with a demon in determination to find answers that plagued her since her mum disappeared. But desperation drove her into another special deal with the gargoyle leader, Bram, that could dangerously risk her heart.



I enjoyed the overall story despite it being predictable with an abrupt ending. I loved how the characters suffered from their past decisions and found comfort in the connection. Both Grace and Bram were not what I expected them to be, and I loved them for it. The sexy scenes were hot, especially with the light D/s dynamic thrown into them.

I don’t know how she manages to collar me with so few words, but I feel like she has her hand wrapped around my throat.

The Gargoyle’s Captive is the story tenacity and redemption. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a short but satisfying monster romance.





🦇⚜️🦇. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC . . .🦇⚜️🦇



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[DancingMarshmallow · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 75%. 1.5 stars.

I enjoyed pretty much nothing about this. Both the hero and heroine were cruel to each other and physically and emotionally violent in ways I wasn’t expecting. Is it a full dark romance? Idk but I found this book just unpleasant to read and the characters just nasty people: which I wasn’t expecting at all given that this is monsterotica.

I kept reading this out of sheer stubbornness, but once I reached the scene where the heroine roasts marshmallows on the hero’s burning body, I just had to nope outta there. (To be fair, the author did mention this scene in the content warnings, but nothing can truly prepare you for something so bizarre).

I’m skipping the rest of this series: even if the others are better, this book soured me on the author for a long while.

[&#x1f338; Tana &#x1f338; · Rating 2 out of 5]

03/04/2023

2023 reads book 30

These books just seem to go downhill every time I read the next one. Yet they're so short that I just power through, and now I know I will read the next one because I'm a completionist and when I read the next one the series will be finished.

The big bad in this book was very obvious from the beginning, so building up to the reveal when both of them realize what is going on was just tedious. Which is saying a lot because the book is not even 200 pages. I had looked forward to Bram's story, only to find him very boring and weak. Let's hope the succubus/incubus world lives up to my expectations...

[buket · Rating 4 out of 5]

best one in the series but the ending was so abrupt🤨 it's a hfn i guess because there's no epilogue and i can't say i'm %100 sure she'll stay with him after 7 years

[briana ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one is for all the girlies who had a crush on goliath from disney's gargoyles.

[Katie (spellboundbooks_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever looked up at a building with gargoyles on it and thought … man I wanna f*ck one of those… if so then this is the book for you 🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is a pretty quick read - sitting at about 190 pages. But Bram and Grace were at each other’s throats from the beginning. I was hooked mainly to see what the secret her mother was hiding was and for that gargoyle smut … don’t knock it until you try it.

The “if I catch you I’ll fuck you” vibes were STRONG and I was here for it. This trope is like the unsung hero of a monster romance because I fall for it EVERY TIME.

The end kinda fell off for me though. Like what do you mean we get 3 chapters of a singular smut scene but the ending was just cut short to like half a chapter??? I needed more. I wanted a little epilogue, an update, SOMETHING.

This is a pretty entertaining series though since it’s a bunch of monsters combined. So I do recommend- although nothing has beat the first book of the series because that was PERFECT.

[Teela (bookdragontee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't care if this is a terrible idea. I don't care if this man is a godawful match for me. I certainly don't care that he makes me act in a way that's in direct counterpart to my goals. Terrifying though it may be, when I'm with him, I feel less alone. When we go toe to toe, there's no room for the old grief that has plagued my steps, for the worry about a future in which all I can see is yet more loneliness, followed by an early death... Guilt threatens to sink its claws into me at the thought, but I don't have to let it. At least not tonight.

The Gargoyle's Captive, the latest installment in Katee Robert's A Deal With a Demon series, is the perfect balance of angst, catharsis, and delicious heat. It was fun to see Grace again - especially after all of the unknowns that Court of the Vampire Queen left us with (and the mention of Mina and her men has me hankering for another rearead... I miss Wolf). But I think what I appreciated most of all were these additional nuances we got to her character, just so many layers of inner conflict as she grapples with a sort of identity crisis regarding what she was made to be vs. what she wants to be. And Bram is very much the same. These two are cracked mirrors of each other, and I loved those moments of kindred intimacy and emotional connection between them.

The twist near the end was clear from the start, but knowing it was coming didn't make it hurt less. But as with all of the books in this series, its resolved fairly quickly and we conclude with a sense of hope for the future in spite of all the hard work that lies ahead... but at least our couple doesn't have to face that alone. They have each other, and I will never get tired of that particular story.

From a spice perspective, it's Katee Robert, so of course I enjoyed it. I loved that we got a bit of role reversal where the D/s dynamics are concerned. And getting to dive into the motivations and psychological/emotional impacts of Bram choosing to be submissive and Grace being the dominant in their sexual relationship and how liberating that was for both of them, especially given their individual situations... basically, I'm obsessed. I love how Katee doesn't just normalize kink, she portrays it in a such a healthy, meaningful way.

TL;DR: another great entry. I love this series and am very eager for the next one!

P.S. Ramanu remains an absolute scene thief, I adore them.
P.P.S. I am LIVING for all of the additional layers we're getting to Azazel. I need his and Eve's book ASAP!

[winnie ₊ ⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

four stars! ʚïɞ

honestly this was a blast lmao this series is pretty fun, it’s unique and quick to read and entertaining.

i really loved bram’s character, he was literally like a lil emo gargoyle ruler and i really felt for him and his issues. he definitely experienced a lot of trauma in his life and he really struggled with dealing with that, and i love how grace basically confronted him about it and supported him to realize he couldn’t keep going on the way he had been.

they were pretty cute together and worked well with one another, and while they were pretty instalovey, i still really enjoyed their relationship. the spice was hot, although i feel like this one was a bit more plot based. i liked the plot until the little twist at the end, bc i could tell it was coming miles away and it felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped for me. but that’s about it lol

overall this was a really fun read and i really enjoyed my time reading this! this series really is a blast and i can’t wait to continue on with it!