Monstrous

by Harper A. Brooks

The dark voices aren’t real, they say.
They tell me it’s all in my head.
But the monsters want to play, you see.
So they’ll come for me in my bed.

I’m still haunted by the monsters of my past.

And they remember me, too…

All I want is to feel normal. But the pills that numb the pain end up stripping me of who I am until I’m left feeling hollow.

When I stop taking them, I can see clearly again, and after so much darkness and tragedy, I’ve found myself.

Then come the voices…

Monsters.

Three of them.

Dark shadowy things that I thought only dwelled in my nightmares—they’re real. And they’ve been waiting for me to come home.

They want to open my mind to things I can hardly imagine, in my life and in the bedroom. But I’m scared. I’ve been running from my fears for years, and now these monsters want to claim me as theirs.

They promise me protection from a far more dangerous threat, an evil that tried to take my life before and wants to finish the job.

Am I losing my mind?

Can this really be happening?

I have a bad feeling that no matter what I do, I’m going to be devoured in the end.

**Monstrous is an ultra steamy paranormal romance novella. This standalone is meant for those who like to embrace the things that go bump in the night instead of running from them.**

Genres: Paranormal, Monsters, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Dark, Fantasy, Demons

Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2022

About the author

Harper A. Brooks may be a Jersey girl at heart, but now she likes to hideout in the mountains of Virginia with bigfoot and all his little woodland friends. Even though classic authors have always filled her bookshelves, she finds her writing muse drawn to the dark, magical, and romantic. When she isn’t creating entire worlds with sexy shifters or legendary love stories, you can find her either with a good cup of coffee in hand or at home snuggling with her furry, four-legged son, Sammy.


RONE Award Winner
USA Today Bestselling Author
Amazon International Bestselling Author

Reviews

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like I had barely started this book when I was crossing the finish line. A little background to get the story going, harem introduced, sex happens quickly, drama/conflict and the end lol. I think the timing just takes me by surprise because I really flew through the book. I do think there’s a decent amount of actual plot and an interesting storyline. Essentially the heroines skills at drawing summoned a demon seven years ago and her grief over the years has (in a roundabout way) turned her fiancé into that demon, now he’s dangerous-much like an angry spirit. Luckily her skills have also brought to life her guardian angels, only they are nightmare demons and basically sent for her pleasure. It’s wild, crazy and a quick ass read. This is something I’d definitely be interested in seeing built upon. While the concept of turning drawings into reality are not new, the combination along with demons, nightmares, shadows and more make the story much more interesting.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked for the cover. It was alright but felt like there wasn't much beneath the surface. One woman grieving, three monsters and the darkness. Soft humanoid monsters, Zane, Arc and Vexx trying to protect. I did like the drawings and how they came into being.

[Adrienne McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all monsters are evil. In this book, the main character is at a difficult point in her life. However, when she opens herself to her protective monsters she is able to change and grow. At the core of it, this book is about personal growth by a trial by fire.

[Victoria Roy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book that Amazon insisted I read. So I read it. Its a really short book which is fine. but things are very insta in it which is irritating for me who likes a story.
Pacing was off for a bit. The beginning was fleshed out and dragged out and then it was like the author realized she wanted to get to the point so it sorta jumped.
It was an interesting concept. The guys were a little bland for me. They all kind of meshed. The whole book wrapped up fairly quickly after the initial 32%. I just felt like it was missing something and was super rushed so I got super bored.

[Kade Gulluscio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to start with this one.
1) I love the cover-art.
2) The storyline was unique. I've read other monster reverse-harem books, but never with this type of storyline / powers / type of monsters.
3) This was definitely an insta-love, super fast type of book. To be quite honest, it started off really slow for me in the first few chapters, then it suddenly picks up and gets interesting, and then bam it's over. It IS a short book, so I expected a quick read, but it really felt like as soon as i got into it, it was over. If there is eventually another book in the series, I'd definitely read it. I'm curious to hear more about the guys' backstories.

I'm going to include a few spoilers to give you an idea about what they are, etc.

I LOVE the idea that these men / monsters are nightmares. I can't say i've ever seen that idea in any other RH book I've read. They're each a certain type of nightmare which is intriguing. FMC also has some powers where she can literally draw her craft. She draws these "nightmares" an dthey come to be into her life.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest trend in the sub Paranormal genre has been Monster Romance and I'm loving it. Monstrous is a standalone Monster reverse harem featuring three nightmares and a main female character who is recovering from trauma and being treated for mental illness.


Marianna's mental health issues have been leaving her in a fog and impeding her art. After a traumatic event ten years ago she's not been herself but is now is willing to try to live her life again. Mari is fragile, she's not the type to face things but she grows a lot in this with the help of three monsters.


So the monsters are three nightmare shadow creatures, Vexx, Zane, and Arc. The three are there for nothing but protecting and sexing up Mari. The connection happens really fast and doesn't feel that deep but something is there they care for Mari and open her up to the strength she has inside.


Harper Brooks is a new to me author so I might have to adjust a little to her writing. I felt the story was good but it didn't suck me in. I have a few questions about how things came about, I would've liked a better explanation about Mari, about the guys. Not to mention, the villain confused me a little, I needed a better understanding of what exactly happened. I will admit that the story got a higher rating from me because the last 3 chapters totally grabbed my attention. A couple of plot twist that was so surprising, a whole lot of action, and a HEA made the story a little bit better. Monstrous was a unique and quick read with super steam and protective monsters.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the gruesome murder of her boyfriend Walker ten years prior, Marianna has kept herself comfortably numbed with medication to make herself forget that night and the monsters who have haunted her since. On the eve of the ten year memorial for Walker, Mari forgoes her medication and learns that the monsters she’s been running from are not a figment of her imagination as she thought—they’re very real and they want her.

Overall I really enjoyed Monstrous and thought it was really well written. My only complaint was that the pacing was pretty rushed. I would have loved for this to have been a longer novella and for Marianna’s connection to the monsters be flushed out a bit more instead of the crash course we got. Other than that it was great!

[Naurarwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

After tragedy strikes Marianna's life a decade earlier where a monster killed her fiance, she's left with voices in her head that only pills can stop, but it's also draining all of her artistic ability. When one day she decides enough is enough and goes cold turkey, but it isn't long till the voices are the back and she calls forth the darkness.

And with the voices come three shadowy monsters, but what if they aren't really the bad guys, what if they are the ones who want to protect her.

I absolutely loved Mari and her guys, yes the love was pretty much insta-love but all three of them are so protective of her even if some of them don't even like humans.

It was a good little read, and one I really enjoyed.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Monster romance is definitely up my street. Marianna has to be medicated to just live after the murder of her boyfriend but it leaves her numb to everything. Including her art work. When she dumps her pills her life changes and 3 monsters Zane, Vexx and Arc turn up. Bringing plenty of steamy scenarios with them. Monstrous is a shorter road but it's still jam packed with fast paced action and plot twists. I really enjoyed reading this. It's a great read

[Mona Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monstrous

This book is amazing, it will definitely pull on your heart strings and make you think. Mari has been struggling ever since she lost the love of life and has been struggling with everything. She has just been going through the motions, and on the anniversary of his death, everything changes. The story is gripping and will draw you in.
You will definitely feel for her, and before you know it... you are at the end. It's emotional and amazing.

[Cheryl Sedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet Mari in this book and see her as she stops taking her medication. We see her go through a few twists as she starts to see monsters and shadows again. With some steamy moments after we get to meet Arc, Vexx and Zane.
This is a standalone read so you get your happy ending by the end of the book. And boy its definitely a wicked hot ending.

[Noemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good!

I've been into monsters romance in the last period, and I couldn't wait for this to be released.

Mari has been taking medicines to help her mental health for years, until one day she forgets them and she realizes that the monsters she had always seen are real and they want her. Zane, Vexx and Arc had waited for her and can't wait now to make her theirs.

It's a standalone novel, not too long, and I think that affected some of the storyline as some aspects left me a little bit confused, but I liked the overall story arc

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short and spicy read, perfect for those who want their monster romance fix.

There’s enough story, steam and character development to keep you entertained throughout. Some parts were a little quick for me but it was a novella so it makes sense. I enjoyed the world that this author created and I think it does leave it open for some spinoffs.

I enjoyed the relationship between the FMC any MMCs, I love that they helped her embrace herself and encouraged her to be strong. A sweet monster romance read.

[Angela Denny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great short story. The FMC is amazing and the monsters are sexy. Some seriously steamy scenes in this book. Mari always believed she was responsible for her fiance's death. Little did she know that she is the one the Darkness really wants. She must trust in herself and her three sexy monsters to survive what's happening in her life.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is so dark and so addictive! A stand-alone paranormal romance where we meet Mari who realises that monsters are real and things do go bump in the night. A fab fast paced read that draws you in completely and makes you jump with its twists and turns. It’s steamy and thrilling and a great quick read!

[The House Wife's Secret Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really was excited about this book. I love monster reverse harem novels and to add to it that it is a fast burn this should have been awesome. But for the reasons below it just wasn't.

1. Fast-paced plot, no resolution with mom (now that she should believe her daughter)
2. Novella style where everything happens too fast
3. Too much time spent on our dead lover (you understand why later) but for the amount of time spent on him there should have been more time spent on our monsters or other resolutions or learning about her light and power.

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok having just finished it, it was not very satisfying because it was insanely fast, the relationship, the story, the whole thing was just warp speed all the way. Little to no time for developing a connection to the characters. I don't even know if you can call this a fast burn because tbh I don't really think there was a burn. The concept was so so promising and I loved the authors dedication which is why I feel a little bad leaving this review. I am sure there are some people who love super fast romance or just want a quick story, if so this is for you.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monstrous: A Monster Romance Novella
By Harper A. Brooks

It’s been ten years since I watched my boyfriend have the life sucked out of him by a shadowy demon that I am told, over and over again, didn’t happen. The pills take away the pain, but they also block my ability to free my mind to draw what I see. The monstrous voices come in the night, rob me of sleep. During the day I feel eyes watching me but no one is there. How can I get past this fear of something coming for me, if no one will listen? Believe me? And now, there is going to be a memorial service for Walker. I can’t face it. My Mom is my biggest supporter, she calls to check on me all the time. She keeps telling me the pills are what’s helping me, the doctors seem to think my mind isn’t running on the right track and I could slip off into my nightmare world anytime. What do I want? I want to lose myself in my art, to pick up a pencil and draw something that is real, something that I can see.
Mom’s call with an offer to come visit me, to help me get past this time is the last thing I want right now. I’ve had enough of people and pills. I stopped her from coming. The pills are gone. It’s over. I’m going to fix myself. Without the pills, my mind will be free to draw. I can get lost in my art, become normal again.
But then the voices call to me, they’re alluring, promising to protect me from the Darkness that took Walker. I can feel their hands on me, all over my body and I finally give in to their touch. Part of me relishes their warmth, their love making. My mind is opening, I can see them beautiful monsters in humanoid form drifting in on the shadows. The need to put down on paper what I see is also there again. The three demon lovers, Darkness, Fear and Hopelessness, they say I belong to them. They tell me they can protect me, but I have to open my world to them. And I just invited them in.
Something is out there coming for Marianne. Why her? What really happened to Walker in that alley ten years ago? Marianne is special, her artistic gift may not be such a gift after all. This novella may be short on pages but it’s long on suspense, mystery, nightmarish visions and twists. While demons they may be, Mari is theirs to love, and protect, which they do with extreme vigor. But will the four of them together be enough to stop what is coming? Be forewarned, nightmares exist in Mari’s world, and there is nothing shy about the amount of love making happening here. I felt a bit like I stepped into an alternate universe, were terror reigns, love abounds, and the world of art is more than simply lines on a page.

[Book Life With Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monstrous: A Monster Romance Novella by Harper A. Brooks was a quick and delicious monstrous treat full of sexy monsters that definitely know how to please and pamper their beloved. Brooks definitely knows how to weave a tale so riveting and unique that it pulls you right in till the end, taking you on a trip through the unthinkable.

Marianna, our broken and lost FMC, is a bank teller that has spent the last ten years of her life shattered, trying to move on from a night that totally destroyed her life—and possibly the thin hold she had on her sanity. Struggling to retain any normalcy after losing her boyfriend that fateful night, she’s lost in a world of madness, drowning in PTSD and prescriptions due to mental diagnosis’ to try and explain the trauma she experienced. Because when your seemingly normal life is suddenly destroyed in seconds by something that can’t really be explained it leaves you questioning everything you’ve ever known…Including your sanity.

However, as the story unfolds, we realize that Mari isn’t as crazy as she believes and in reality has touched the dark side of nightmares and monsters through her ability to paint/draw. But luckily for her, not all things that go bump in the night are bad…some just want to provide protection, pleasure and safety.

Overall if you’re a fan of sexy passionate monsters and shadows that lurk in the darkness, then this one is for you! This story will take you on a quick journey into the darkness all the while pulling at your heart strings as Mari learns to look beyond the pain and trauma to find happinesses and love.

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but really good story.

Marianna “Mari” has hit a wall! Well that wall has her surrounded and she can’t find a way over it!
Ten years ago she lost the love of her life! Ripped away from her, murdered! She’s never really recovered from losing him. But she needs to take back her life, and throwing away her medication seems like the way forward. But once the nights draw in, things seem to appear and make her wonder if coming off her medication was the right thing to do….

Her dream takes her away from her reality, the dreams about the three faceless men who command her body seem so lifelike, they whisper to her, they entice her, they beg her to call to them…..

So is this reality? Is it a product of her coming off her medication? It’s not all fun and orgasms though! They frighten her with their demands, and they may appear to look human, but looking closer Mari discover their true identities. They are monsters!

Fear, Hopelessness and Darkness have been protecting Mari for a long time, and by some miracle they are able to finally be with her. They are going to give her protection and pleasure, but she belongs to them, and they will go to any lengths to secure her and her promise to be with them forever!!

I liked the premise of this book. It takes you on a sensual journey. They are quite a few naughty scenes. Some of it felt a little too much, and if it was a little longer then the scenes wouldn’t have seemed so many.

So if you like chill with your dark romance pick this one up.


🦋

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monstrous is a stand-alone paranormal romance novella by Harper A. Brooks. Meet Mari, short for Marianna. She’s hurting. She lost her fiancee to a twisted darkness that attacked them in a dark alley. Now, she’s still struggling with his loss even after ten years have passed. No one believes her when she told them what happened that night. She was medicated to help her get through the trauma, but she’s tired of the pills now. Is she ready for what’s to come?
Monstrous, for me, is an okay novel. It has a slow start that takes a while to really gain any steam. The author gives me a few hours of Mari’s life before things really fall into chaos. I have questions that I wanted answered first. Granted the questions do get answered, but the answers aren’t really satisfactory. I think that if there had been a prologue instead with the incident happening and then fast-forwarding ten years the book might have been more engaging.
When it comes to the steamy aspect, you get a couple of good scenes that are down right spicy. But when it comes to the actual romance development...it’s non-existent. It’s fast-paced without really being fast-paced. Some moments in the story move quickly, while in other places it doesn’t. This book is really a mixed bag.
I’m rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. It really wasn’t what I was expecting, and ended up leaving me a bit disappointed. A bit more attention to the storyline and developing it would have really made an engaging story.

[BiblioKalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monstrous is a Novella-length, standalone, dark/paranormal, RH romance with some serious angst, some serious steam, and lots of LOVE! This is a quick read, with a fast paced plot that would send any reader on a rollercoaster of emotion! I will caution - this is a DARK romance and has some triggering themes, such as the death of a romantic partner, stalking, and mental health struggles. Please check all TW's/CW's prior to reading! But! With that said, if you love romances with paranormal, spectral or demonic themes then these darker topics and moments in the book are really well done and add a lot to the plot I feel! I absolutely loved the female MC, and it was really enjoyable to read about her overcoming her own personal struggles, as well as fight for the men she loved! And speaking of the men - OOF, they are so spicy and added so much goooood steam to the story. The sexy scenes and smutty bits are really well done, plenty juicy in detail, and the 'group' activities are everything you could want in an RH. The only critique I had was that the story did feel little rushed and too fast for the length of this novel - there is just so much to the plot and lot of story to be had here, and it felt like a lot to fit in. Perhaps if some of the extra plot details were removed, or the story was lengthened with a bit more pacing up to the stories climactic end, then it would work perfectly!

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 *

Let me preface this review by saying I read the novella while I was tired, and it may have clouded my judgement. However, I really did not enjoy this book. It promised to be everything I love, a reverse harem monster romance with a very similar plot to one of my favorite books by another author. Yet, the book was short and often made no sense. The romance was not believable at all, the steamy scenes had no build-up and were rushed. The exposition and plot was poorly written, and jumped around, often skipping proper explanation. I often felt like I had no clue what was going on, not because I was tired, but because there would be no description of characters or places, or even actual conversations between characters, and when I did get that it was not written well. The word choices felt juvenile, and that isn't something I normally pick up on or care about. The fact that this was a short novella was the only reason I pushed through and finished it. Also, the characters magic and powers were never explained. Like, how the heck does the character have the power? It made no sense. It's just supposed to be a natural talent, yet millions of people have that same talent but don't have that power. Hard to explain without spoiling, and I would say you'll understand if you read it, but I don't recommend this book. Pick up Monsters Under My Bed by M. J. Marstens instead. Almost the same premise, but SO MUCH BETTER.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of "MONSTROUS"
What a unique, interesting, intriguing, intense steamy Reverse Paranormal Romance, monsters, heartache, twists that make a very addicting read.
Marianna lost her fiance Walker 10yrs ago he was murdered in a dark alley by something monstrous she's had to self medicate just to get through the nightmares but they make her feel numb to everything concluding her art.
Mari decides on 10th anniversary of Walker's death to throw away her pills that's when everything changes for her she start hearing voices seeing shadows again then she feels them Vexx, Arc & Zane the mobsters want to protect her the other one is the one that murdered Walker she has powers she didn't know about but that's what drew the monsters to her.
I definitely recommend to get this interesting on the edge of your seat story following Mari into a world very unknown to her with her protectors Zane, Vexx & Arc its a must read you don't want to miss I hope there's more to come in this world.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting and unique read. It kept me engaged and intrigued from the start. When Mari was eighteen, she and her fiancé cut through an ally while on a walk when shadows seeped out of the darkness and devoured him. The police deemed her an unreliable witness claiming a monster, a demon killed him. She fell into a spiral of depression, not leaving bed for days, not eating. After months of depression, breakdowns, hallucinations, and voices in her head, she was finally put on medication. Now ten years later and on the anniversary of his death, the pills still keep the voices at bay, but she's still numb and struggling. Finally tired of the numbness and inability to create her art, she resolves to finally help herself and dumps them down the drain. But then the voices and shadows come back and it's more than she ever imagined. I found this to be a fascinating, exciting, and suspenseful read. I really enjoyed it. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I would read more. 5 stars.

[Lene Blackthorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A relatively easy-to-read standalone novella that follows Marianna, a young woman who lost her fiancé ten years ago by means that brings her nightmares. Her mental health isn't the best, so she is taking (not exactly regularly lately) pills to cope with her anxiety and instability - but they also suppress her artistic abilities. Her drawings are, however, very powerful, more than she realizes - and when it comes to the realization, it might be already too late to avoid a disaster.
This book is a RH PNR with some steam and three "monsters" in the harem, who are portrayed as nightmares with positive qualities when it comes to the heroine, devoted to her and determine to protect her. Her mom's behavior and reactions are also a bit surprising, but after all an understanding and open-minded parent in this situation is a big plus. For a relaxing read this book is a good choice for PNR fans who like the male part of the harem a little more on the demonic side.

[AHCuteArt · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF (did not finish). What made the book unfinishable in your opinion?
Sigh… I really wanted to like this book because I like shadow monster love interests. However, this book was a little too silly for even my taste. I made it to about the 75% mark into the book when I completely lost interest. The world building was lacking in my opinion. The female lead character is born special and can conjure nightmare creatures. She summons a pure evil nightmare creature that wants to hunt her down, as well as her three monster lovers. I put down the book when in saving her mother from the villain she must believe in herself. It was a bit too fairy tale/ Disney cliché for me. It also the wrong theme for a reverse harem erotic romance. I gave it an average rating because I didn't care enough to make it to the end even though I tried. If you can get past the cringe factor this one isn't a bad romance, it just wasn't for me.

[DMCechak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mari may have finally cracked up. She just can’t tell if the shadows she sees, and has been since her fiancé was brutally murdered 10 years ago, are from her medication or her mind.

Harper A. Brooks has given us a devastatingly emotional story of monsters who entrap the mind, and then the heart.

The component of this book that really clicked for me was that it almost feels like this could really happen. Grief has such a strong emotional pull, along with survivor’s guilt, that an artistic mind like Mari’s could feel the pain to a level that her reality could change.

Fortunately, Brooks provides a deep connection for her monsters to allow Mari to explore feelings she never realized she had. Intense longing, steamy desires, love, and an ultimate level of bravery, are just a few we see in Monstrous.

[XxLaVampiresaAlexisxX · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the tragic loss of her fiancé, Mari struggled with her mental health. For 10 years, she carried the guilt and pain of losing him. This caused her to lose all creativity after she went on meds. On the eve of the 10th anniversary of his death, she decided that enough was enough and stopped her meds. What she didn't expect was the hallucinations and "demons" were not a figment of her imagination, but also her protectors.

This was such a wonderful story. Very quick and easy to read. This is my first book by Harper A. Brooks. I really love her writing style. This also hit me in the feels. As someone who deals with mental health issues, I felt this was so realistic and full of raw emotions. Not to add, monster romances have become my new favorite jam lately and this hit the spot. I'm definitely going to check out more of Harper's books!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced book from start to finish. The FMC...I just feel so badly for her. Her backstory is so tragic and it's honestly one of my biggest fears in life. I know without a shadow of a doubt I'd feel and act similarly to her. However, it's not just your typical depression...we also meet our FMC's men pretty quick. We are pretty uncertain of their intentions and then there's this other ambiguous being that's clearly bad to the bone. Our FMC finally makes a life change and BOOM! Mens' intentions revealed and HOO BOY ARE THEY EVERY GIRL'S DREAM COME TO LIFE! Cue action, adventure, spice, and a lot of excitement! Very interesting read for a novella.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy of this book and I'm reviewing it voluntarily.