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Urban Magick & Folklore #4
Mother of Monsters
Once upon a time Beowulf defeated the bloodthirsty Vampire Grendel in the worst possible way … he captured her heart.
Grendel has mixed feelings about this. Beowulf is as brave and self-sacrificing as he is arrogant and stubborn. She fears his idealism will be his undoing, and maybe hers as well.
After freeing enslaved Ember miners, Beowulf and Grendel are escorting the former captives on a desperate dash to safety, traveling deeper into Beowulf’s homeland, where Vampires are staked on sight. Unknown to Grendel or even Beowulf, greater dangers than slave traders or Vampire hunters wait for them. Dangers neither of then can begin to imagine.
A new human king is rising, with dreams of empire. A Fae King sees a great game afoot and won’t be denied a play. Meanwhile, the trickster God Coyote has motives of his own.
Grendel and Beowulf will have choices to make. Choices larger than the life and unlife of a Vampire hunter and a Vampire … Choices that will affect mortals and gods, living and dead.
Grendel has mixed feelings about this. Beowulf is as brave and self-sacrificing as he is arrogant and stubborn. She fears his idealism will be his undoing, and maybe hers as well.
After freeing enslaved Ember miners, Beowulf and Grendel are escorting the former captives on a desperate dash to safety, traveling deeper into Beowulf’s homeland, where Vampires are staked on sight. Unknown to Grendel or even Beowulf, greater dangers than slave traders or Vampire hunters wait for them. Dangers neither of then can begin to imagine.
A new human king is rising, with dreams of empire. A Fae King sees a great game afoot and won’t be denied a play. Meanwhile, the trickster God Coyote has motives of his own.
Grendel and Beowulf will have choices to make. Choices larger than the life and unlife of a Vampire hunter and a Vampire … Choices that will affect mortals and gods, living and dead.
- GenresFantasyFairy Tales
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2023
22 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
C. Gockel
67 books572 followersC. Gockel got her start writing fanfiction, and she is not ashamed! Much. She received emails, messages and reviews from her fans telling her she should 'do this professionally'. She didn't; because she is a coward and life as a digital designer, copywriter and coder is more dependable. But in the end, her husband's nagging wore her down: "You could be the next '50 Shades of Gray' and I could retire!" Unfortunately, the author isn't much for writing smut. She is sad about this; she'd love for her husband to be able to retire and just work for her so she could nag him.
At the moment, Ms. Gockel is working on the next installment of her Archangel Project series.
Ms. Gockel loves to hear from readers. She can be reached by email at: cgockel.publishing at gmail.com
Her Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/CGockelWrites
At the moment, Ms. Gockel is working on the next installment of her Archangel Project series.
Ms. Gockel loves to hear from readers. She can be reached by email at: cgockel.publishing at gmail.com
Her Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/CGockelWrites
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 2, 2023
I really loved how this story portrayed: life and death, young and old, Idealist and realistic, love and hate, along with human and vampire. This story also showed how a religious cult called the Order can brainwash so many. Also, how one man can try to take over the world. In a lot of ways, it shows how easy it is to be sucked into the downward spiral.
But the story is not that dark, I love how Bayo and Grendel become closer and want to take care of each other. They worked together to save the miners and now they have to deal with the results. Bayo has brought people back from death but at what cost? Are they really happy to be brought back? Grendel has very strong feelings for her family and she promises that she will return to them. Bayo needs to go to his brother because he feels that his brother is the one to fix the conflicts between magical and non-magical. How they will resolve this is what keeps you reading.
My favorite parts are when Grendel is talking to Mop. That little potato shaped dog. I love Grendel’s sense of humor especially when she is dealing with the Fae. It was fun to watch how Bayo and Grendel are connected and are both the same and different from the story of Beowulf and Grendel.
The ending blew me away and I am really excited to find out how things turn out, especially between Bayo and Grendel. I love how Ms. Gockel blends the old fairy tales and legends into something that shows where we are in our world at this time.
But the story is not that dark, I love how Bayo and Grendel become closer and want to take care of each other. They worked together to save the miners and now they have to deal with the results. Bayo has brought people back from death but at what cost? Are they really happy to be brought back? Grendel has very strong feelings for her family and she promises that she will return to them. Bayo needs to go to his brother because he feels that his brother is the one to fix the conflicts between magical and non-magical. How they will resolve this is what keeps you reading.
My favorite parts are when Grendel is talking to Mop. That little potato shaped dog. I love Grendel’s sense of humor especially when she is dealing with the Fae. It was fun to watch how Bayo and Grendel are connected and are both the same and different from the story of Beowulf and Grendel.
The ending blew me away and I am really excited to find out how things turn out, especially between Bayo and Grendel. I love how Ms. Gockel blends the old fairy tales and legends into something that shows where we are in our world at this time.
July 9, 2024
The saga continues!
Book after book, as the story builds, I find myself loving the characters more and more! I'm eager to read the next book to see what happens!
Book after book, as the story builds, I find myself loving the characters more and more! I'm eager to read the next book to see what happens!
December 21, 2024
Another great addition to an amazing series. I loved the plot, the characters, the pacing, the scene building everything was just exactly how it needed to be. The author is very talented
January 5, 2026
Mother of Monsters..
just the right amount of suspense mixed with the humanity that lurks within our souls. whether magical or common as labelled in this book the characters reflect the struggles between experience and youth, idealism and the pursuit of power. great series.
just the right amount of suspense mixed with the humanity that lurks within our souls. whether magical or common as labelled in this book the characters reflect the struggles between experience and youth, idealism and the pursuit of power. great series.
December 8, 2025
The story of Grendel and Beowulf continues.
Vampire and vampire hunter as a loving couple, who would have thought. Watching each other's backs, they help those in need. But is their love strong enough when it comes to their families?
Another story by C. Gockel, exciting, thrilling and scary on the one hand, loyal, loving and appreciative on the other.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
Vampire and vampire hunter as a loving couple, who would have thought. Watching each other's backs, they help those in need. But is their love strong enough when it comes to their families?
Another story by C. Gockel, exciting, thrilling and scary on the one hand, loyal, loving and appreciative on the other.
I'm looking forward to the next book.
April 22, 2023
I have loved this series and Mother of Monsters did not disappoint. C. Gockel spins an exciting tale weaving fairytale creatures and references to modern-day issues together with compelling characters and plenty of action. Bayo and Grendel have been through SO much and their trials and tribulations continue in this installment. My only complaint is that I have to wait for the conclusion to their story in Monsters & Empire. I have no doubt it will be worth the wait. Well done!!
July 15, 2023
it can't wait for the next book
C.Gockel has moved to my top of my favorite author list. I stayed up late to finish the 3 rd and started Mother ofvMonsters last night. I just finished it. Excellent and well developed characters and world. Great story with unexpected twists
Please finish the next!
C.Gockel has moved to my top of my favorite author list. I stayed up late to finish the 3 rd and started Mother ofvMonsters last night. I just finished it. Excellent and well developed characters and world. Great story with unexpected twists
Please finish the next!
April 26, 2023
I got an arc copy, and it was as a wonderful read I couldn't put down. Gockle has a wonderful mixture of adventure and character moments that make for a great story.
Read
May 14, 2023Amazing read
Absolutely love love this series. Grendel is amazing. The story line has me eagerly awaiting the next Installment. A must read. So glad I found this.
Absolutely love love this series. Grendel is amazing. The story line has me eagerly awaiting the next Installment. A must read. So glad I found this.
June 1, 2023
Magical
Another inventive and fun read. The weaving of folklore into the plot is ingenius. I thoroughly enjoy her books. Waiting for the next!
Another inventive and fun read. The weaving of folklore into the plot is ingenius. I thoroughly enjoy her books. Waiting for the next!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews