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Soren
Monsters are nasty, but humans are worse.
I've spent the last few years wandering what is left of the United States with a monster at my side.
Roman's ginormous. Cat-like, covered head to toe in black scales, and definitely not from this world.
I just didn't think the small, kind of cute, monster house cat that I rescued would grow to be the size of a horse.
But I couldn't have asked for a better traveling companion.
She keeps me safe against the other monsters, and most humans are too scared of her to get near us.
Too bad they will never know the worst thing she would do to them is lick them to death.
Now, if we could just find a home away from the monsters that want to eat me and the humans who want to kill her.
Merrick
Humans took everything from me.
My mate. My child. My home.
When human technology tore holes in our reality, it killed our world and devastated the human population on their side.
Now, we need a new home, and the only one available is the one that took everything with its greed.
But to survive, we must find a way to work with humans.
Even if they want to kill us.
But I never thought I would meet him out here in the wilds.
The human who would bring me peace.
This is the debut novel of Miranda Page. It is the first in a post-apocalyptic fantasy series where human men fall in love with the sweet monsters who need them.
Warning. This is a m/m love story containing explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. Sexual contact 18+.
Monsters are nasty, but humans are worse.
I've spent the last few years wandering what is left of the United States with a monster at my side.
Roman's ginormous. Cat-like, covered head to toe in black scales, and definitely not from this world.
I just didn't think the small, kind of cute, monster house cat that I rescued would grow to be the size of a horse.
But I couldn't have asked for a better traveling companion.
She keeps me safe against the other monsters, and most humans are too scared of her to get near us.
Too bad they will never know the worst thing she would do to them is lick them to death.
Now, if we could just find a home away from the monsters that want to eat me and the humans who want to kill her.
Merrick
Humans took everything from me.
My mate. My child. My home.
When human technology tore holes in our reality, it killed our world and devastated the human population on their side.
Now, we need a new home, and the only one available is the one that took everything with its greed.
But to survive, we must find a way to work with humans.
Even if they want to kill us.
But I never thought I would meet him out here in the wilds.
The human who would bring me peace.
This is the debut novel of Miranda Page. It is the first in a post-apocalyptic fantasy series where human men fall in love with the sweet monsters who need them.
Warning. This is a m/m love story containing explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. Sexual contact 18+.
441 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2024
116 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 88 reviews
January 14, 2025
DNF @ 41%
I can't in good conscience continue to read this book, not because it's terrible (it's not) but because it's plagiarized almost entirely from Lily Mayne's Monstrous series.
Plagiarism: stealing and passing off the ideas or words of another as one's own; presenting as new and original an idea derived from an existing source.
Mind you, the author didn't copy & paste outright. However, every single idea is Mayne's:
- tears in the earth leading to another dimension, causing monsters to flood the human world
- chaos and destruction
- corrupt military in charge
- city-states where people are controlled
- raiders roaming over a wasteland that used to be America, looting abandoned homes, malls, and stores
- survival of the fittest, with monsters attacking humans and vice versa
- humans with ad hoc weapons, since guns have been taken by the military
- scavenging for supplies, particularly food and water
The story begins as Soren (that name sounds familiar, no?) with his monster pet (a scaly, cat-like creature that doesn't look like Chuck but might as well be) stumbles across a big, broad, handsome monster with a tail and horns (hello, Edin!).
The monster, Merrick, is kind and befriends Soren despite Soren's resistance (hello, Hunter Jr!). The two find a human child (that part is new) and trek to a monster/human city that's safe for all (seems very much like the end of Lor to me).
Here's the thing: Writing about monsters isn't off-limits. No one owns the concept of monsters or monsters on earth or monster/human romance. Eryn Hawk's Veiled City series is about humans and monsters, but it's nothing like Mayne's books and stands on its own merits.
This book, however, is fully derivative. The author didn't come up with a single original idea.
Miranda Page's writing style isn't nearly as polished or nuanced as Lily Mayne's, but tbh, I could see myself enjoying this story. If Mayne's Monstrous world didn't exist, this book would probably be a 3/3.5 read for me, but I cannot support an author who steals another author's ideas to this degree.
Hundreds of shifter, vampire, alien MM romance books have been published, and, yeah, some of the concepts overlap to an extent, but the books are still original in their own right. This one is not.
ETA: As LionElle commented below, as soon as they finished the Monstrous series, Goodreads recommended this book. That's what really chafes. This author didn't pilfer any ol' series that no one has read. Oh, no, they picked one of the best series ever written in this genre (that's not even finished yet!) and decided to capitalize on Mayne's much deserved success.
And to add a cherry to that shit sundae, Page also decided on the same title as Grae Bryan's popular Soren (Vampire's Mate 2), which came out some 15 months ago.
The fucking nerve.
I can't in good conscience continue to read this book, not because it's terrible (it's not) but because it's plagiarized almost entirely from Lily Mayne's Monstrous series.
Plagiarism: stealing and passing off the ideas or words of another as one's own; presenting as new and original an idea derived from an existing source.
Mind you, the author didn't copy & paste outright. However, every single idea is Mayne's:
- tears in the earth leading to another dimension, causing monsters to flood the human world
- chaos and destruction
- corrupt military in charge
- city-states where people are controlled
- raiders roaming over a wasteland that used to be America, looting abandoned homes, malls, and stores
- survival of the fittest, with monsters attacking humans and vice versa
- humans with ad hoc weapons, since guns have been taken by the military
- scavenging for supplies, particularly food and water
The story begins as Soren (that name sounds familiar, no?) with his monster pet (a scaly, cat-like creature that doesn't look like Chuck but might as well be) stumbles across a big, broad, handsome monster with a tail and horns (hello, Edin!).
The monster, Merrick, is kind and befriends Soren despite Soren's resistance (hello, Hunter Jr!). The two find a human child (that part is new) and trek to a monster/human city that's safe for all (seems very much like the end of Lor to me).
Here's the thing: Writing about monsters isn't off-limits. No one owns the concept of monsters or monsters on earth or monster/human romance. Eryn Hawk's Veiled City series is about humans and monsters, but it's nothing like Mayne's books and stands on its own merits.
This book, however, is fully derivative. The author didn't come up with a single original idea.
Miranda Page's writing style isn't nearly as polished or nuanced as Lily Mayne's, but tbh, I could see myself enjoying this story. If Mayne's Monstrous world didn't exist, this book would probably be a 3/3.5 read for me, but I cannot support an author who steals another author's ideas to this degree.
Hundreds of shifter, vampire, alien MM romance books have been published, and, yeah, some of the concepts overlap to an extent, but the books are still original in their own right. This one is not.
ETA: As LionElle commented below, as soon as they finished the Monstrous series, Goodreads recommended this book. That's what really chafes. This author didn't pilfer any ol' series that no one has read. Oh, no, they picked one of the best series ever written in this genre (that's not even finished yet!) and decided to capitalize on Mayne's much deserved success.
And to add a cherry to that shit sundae, Page also decided on the same title as Grae Bryan's popular Soren (Vampire's Mate 2), which came out some 15 months ago.
The fucking nerve.
Read
January 6, 2024Unrated due to plagiarism
Upon further thinking and discussion this book is clearly a plagiarism of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series. While the words aren’t stolen the ideas are.
Original rating 3.5/5 ⭐
What a way to star the year off with a new MM monster debut. I really liked this book and for a debut it was pretty great (hence the rounding to 4⭐)
I loved all the characters in the book and the world building. I liked the post apocalyptic setting and the monsters, the brutality of the world and the overarching plot.
The romance was slow burn for most of the book and I liked the relationship progression. The smut was great for the most part, but did feel a bit awkward in some places.
What I didn't like was the pacing. The first 60% of the book was pretty great and if it had continued in that pacing the book would be a real 5⭐. After the 60% things got rushed a lot, from the action, to the relationship, to the information overload. It felt like the author didn't have patience and wanted to shows us everything at once.
I couldn't help but compare this book to Lily Mayne Monstrous series. Some monsters felt incredibly similar to her writing. While is not necessarily a bad thing, I just wish for more imagination.
The book kind of ends on a cliffhanger. The couple is a HFN and the cliffhanger is setting the stage for the overarching plot and the next monster coupling. I will definitely continue to series and would recommend.
Upon further thinking and discussion this book is clearly a plagiarism of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series. While the words aren’t stolen the ideas are.
Original rating 3.5/5 ⭐
What a way to star the year off with a new MM monster debut. I really liked this book and for a debut it was pretty great (hence the rounding to 4⭐)
I loved all the characters in the book and the world building. I liked the post apocalyptic setting and the monsters, the brutality of the world and the overarching plot.
The romance was slow burn for most of the book and I liked the relationship progression. The smut was great for the most part, but did feel a bit awkward in some places.
What I didn't like was the pacing. The first 60% of the book was pretty great and if it had continued in that pacing the book would be a real 5⭐. After the 60% things got rushed a lot, from the action, to the relationship, to the information overload. It felt like the author didn't have patience and wanted to shows us everything at once.
I couldn't help but compare this book to Lily Mayne Monstrous series. Some monsters felt incredibly similar to her writing. While is not necessarily a bad thing, I just wish for more imagination.
The book kind of ends on a cliffhanger. The couple is a HFN and the cliffhanger is setting the stage for the overarching plot and the next monster coupling. I will definitely continue to series and would recommend.
January 14, 2024
Ok so here we go. I actually had to create a good reads account just to write this review. I am not a fan of GoodReads as I feel like this is a site to bully authors. But I also feel like people aren't giving this author a fair shake. If this book had been MF instead of MM. No one would be saying these things.
Let's break them down.
Post-apocalyptic world. That's the whole reason I picked it up. I like seeing the grittiness of human survival. Miranda Page gave that. You see the character right from the beginning struggling to find food. He has ratty clothing. You can't plagiarize a post-apocalyptic world trope.
Monster invasion.- I actually loved how she did this. Monsters aren't invading. they are trying to survive. Humans wretched their world. Humans blew a hole in it. Where are the monsters going to go. Of course to our world. They want to survive just like humans. You can't plagiarize a monster invasion trope.
HUGE HUMANIOD MONSTERS- Like it hasn't been done a thousand times and I still love it every time. I love seeing how authors come up with new monsters. New backgrounds. Let's start with Merrick. I loved him. He wasn't a caveman. He was very polite. I liked that. When described. A huge red-scaled monster humanoid. I thought he was a reptile. So when his genitalia was revied I was fine with it. Most all reptiles have internal genitalia. You can't plagiarize internal genitalia. It's been done so many times. The only difference is that right now it's almost always done in MF books.
Arya- What a great monster. She is so cool. Yes, she turned into a giant creature. She also described scales growing out of her skin. Wings and tail tearing through her flesh. It is described that she pretty much tears through her humanoid skin. I pictured a dragon with a unicorn horn. She uses her own life force to save the city. That was amazing. Gorry and great. Everything you would want in a top fantasy novel.
The lesser monsters- Roman- I want one. I love her. She was a fantastic ice breaker and comedy relief. She added something special to the story.
Humans. - Soren. He was kind he was kind of hot and cold for me. But I also understood that. dude has been surviving on his own for years. Does he trust the monster who just told him he was coming along no matter what he said. Plus Roman does trust him. I love Roman.
Emily- I wasn't sure about Emily. I normally don't like kids in my books. But this one it worked. Would Soren have gone to the monster city with Merrick if Emily wasn't in trouble? I don't think so. I think Emily was what he needed to move in that direction.
Peter- I need more Peter. I feel like there is just something with that man.
To the people who are saying that this book wasn't edited. Well, there is a dedicated ABOUT THE EDITOR PAGE. Pretty sure it was edited. If there are mistakes in the copies I would like to point out that a JKR book just sold for a horrible amount of money because there was a misprint in it. Misprints happen. This book was very well written and edited. I don't remember a single mistake.
Now let's move on to is this book is plagiarised. No. I don't think so. I have read repeatedly the Lily Mayne books. None are like this. Yes, there are similarities. but that doesn't mean it's plagiarized. There are similarities between Lily Mayne's book to several MF authors of MF monster romance. I actually love that there are similarities because then when someone reads one of the authors more people are going to want to pick up the others work. If people like or love Lily Mayne you will most likely like or love Miranda Page. If you like or love Miranda Page you will most likely like or love Lily Mayne. This is how it works in the publishing world. When you submit your work to publishers they ask you who would like your book. You have to compare it to other authors' works. This is normal and looked for.
Why I didn't give it five stars? Because like most new authors Miranda Page did have pacing issues. I felt that it lagged in some spots. It could have been better. Was this an amazing debut novel. YES. It was. The details were there. Show verse tell. Was on point. I was in that world. Till the very last Page. Miranda Page. Great job. Please don't listen to the trolls. You did great. I will be purchasing Brir.
Let's break them down.
Post-apocalyptic world. That's the whole reason I picked it up. I like seeing the grittiness of human survival. Miranda Page gave that. You see the character right from the beginning struggling to find food. He has ratty clothing. You can't plagiarize a post-apocalyptic world trope.
Monster invasion.- I actually loved how she did this. Monsters aren't invading. they are trying to survive. Humans wretched their world. Humans blew a hole in it. Where are the monsters going to go. Of course to our world. They want to survive just like humans. You can't plagiarize a monster invasion trope.
HUGE HUMANIOD MONSTERS- Like it hasn't been done a thousand times and I still love it every time. I love seeing how authors come up with new monsters. New backgrounds. Let's start with Merrick. I loved him. He wasn't a caveman. He was very polite. I liked that. When described. A huge red-scaled monster humanoid. I thought he was a reptile. So when his genitalia was revied I was fine with it. Most all reptiles have internal genitalia. You can't plagiarize internal genitalia. It's been done so many times. The only difference is that right now it's almost always done in MF books.
Arya- What a great monster. She is so cool. Yes, she turned into a giant creature. She also described scales growing out of her skin. Wings and tail tearing through her flesh. It is described that she pretty much tears through her humanoid skin. I pictured a dragon with a unicorn horn. She uses her own life force to save the city. That was amazing. Gorry and great. Everything you would want in a top fantasy novel.
The lesser monsters- Roman- I want one. I love her. She was a fantastic ice breaker and comedy relief. She added something special to the story.
Humans. - Soren. He was kind he was kind of hot and cold for me. But I also understood that. dude has been surviving on his own for years. Does he trust the monster who just told him he was coming along no matter what he said. Plus Roman does trust him. I love Roman.
Emily- I wasn't sure about Emily. I normally don't like kids in my books. But this one it worked. Would Soren have gone to the monster city with Merrick if Emily wasn't in trouble? I don't think so. I think Emily was what he needed to move in that direction.
Peter- I need more Peter. I feel like there is just something with that man.
To the people who are saying that this book wasn't edited. Well, there is a dedicated ABOUT THE EDITOR PAGE. Pretty sure it was edited. If there are mistakes in the copies I would like to point out that a JKR book just sold for a horrible amount of money because there was a misprint in it. Misprints happen. This book was very well written and edited. I don't remember a single mistake.
Now let's move on to is this book is plagiarised. No. I don't think so. I have read repeatedly the Lily Mayne books. None are like this. Yes, there are similarities. but that doesn't mean it's plagiarized. There are similarities between Lily Mayne's book to several MF authors of MF monster romance. I actually love that there are similarities because then when someone reads one of the authors more people are going to want to pick up the others work. If people like or love Lily Mayne you will most likely like or love Miranda Page. If you like or love Miranda Page you will most likely like or love Lily Mayne. This is how it works in the publishing world. When you submit your work to publishers they ask you who would like your book. You have to compare it to other authors' works. This is normal and looked for.
Why I didn't give it five stars? Because like most new authors Miranda Page did have pacing issues. I felt that it lagged in some spots. It could have been better. Was this an amazing debut novel. YES. It was. The details were there. Show verse tell. Was on point. I was in that world. Till the very last Page. Miranda Page. Great job. Please don't listen to the trolls. You did great. I will be purchasing Brir.
April 5, 2024
I literally got 87% in and could no longer be arsed to continue. I really need to remind myself of the sunken cost fallacy much more often...
Because honestly. It's fine that it's basically a fanfic of Lily Mayne's Monstrous series, whatever, there is nothing original on this earth, I know, but... did the author literally never read ANY of the manuscript after writing the first draft? Did NO ONE so much as skim through the things that had been written before they hit "send to Amazon"? Because the sheer number of basic continuity errors suggest that this thing was written and then IMMEDIATELY published, no beta, no edits, no nothing. This also exacerbates the "tell, don't show" tendencies by making some of the things that are told, on top of never being actually shown or demonstrated through characterization or action, make NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.
I mean really, I thought there would be some kind of evil turn around with one of the main MCs because his characterization was SO GODDAMN SHALLOW AND PAPER THIN that it had to be a twist or SOMETHING setup... but no.
...Unless that was a serious plot twist that happened somehow in the last 13%, but somehow I doubt it.
The sad part is that it could have been great. With a couple rounds of editing and rewriting, this could really be something. Monsters are great. Monster romance and fun monster bits are great. (but seriously when even THAT seemed a direct copy of Wyn from Soul Eater my eyes began to roll) That was probably why I trucked on so long, just desperately hoping it would somehow get better... but no.
Indeed it just got worse.
Give me my hours back, ugh.
Because honestly. It's fine that it's basically a fanfic of Lily Mayne's Monstrous series, whatever, there is nothing original on this earth, I know, but... did the author literally never read ANY of the manuscript after writing the first draft? Did NO ONE so much as skim through the things that had been written before they hit "send to Amazon"? Because the sheer number of basic continuity errors suggest that this thing was written and then IMMEDIATELY published, no beta, no edits, no nothing. This also exacerbates the "tell, don't show" tendencies by making some of the things that are told, on top of never being actually shown or demonstrated through characterization or action, make NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.
I mean really, I thought there would be some kind of evil turn around with one of the main MCs because his characterization was SO GODDAMN SHALLOW AND PAPER THIN that it had to be a twist or SOMETHING setup... but no.
...Unless that was a serious plot twist that happened somehow in the last 13%, but somehow I doubt it.
The sad part is that it could have been great. With a couple rounds of editing and rewriting, this could really be something. Monsters are great. Monster romance and fun monster bits are great. (but seriously when even THAT seemed a direct copy of Wyn from Soul Eater my eyes began to roll) That was probably why I trucked on so long, just desperately hoping it would somehow get better... but no.
Indeed it just got worse.
Give me my hours back, ugh.
February 14, 2024
I just kept being like, “everything in this feels like Lily Mayne fanfic.” (I was vaguely willing to give post-apocalyptic benefit of the doubt until we hit the point where the monster anatomy in certain scenes was absolutely identical. Come on.)
Also, Jesus Christ did this need an editor. You have scenes where the main character’s name is spelled wrong, glaring grammatical errors, and continuity issues that made me nuts. (Spoiler alert: if you chop off a monster’s tail, it cannot then try to stab you with it in subsequent fight scene.) There are constant tense switches. The writing is just… bad.
I seriously should have just DNF’ed this. Skip it for a plethora of reasons.
Also, Jesus Christ did this need an editor. You have scenes where the main character’s name is spelled wrong, glaring grammatical errors, and continuity issues that made me nuts. (Spoiler alert: if you chop off a monster’s tail, it cannot then try to stab you with it in subsequent fight scene.) There are constant tense switches. The writing is just… bad.
I seriously should have just DNF’ed this. Skip it for a plethora of reasons.
January 13, 2025
dnf @ 31%. sorry in advance for the harsh review, but nobody told me this was plagiarism.
my first blacklisted author of the year!!🎊😭 we do NOT support thieves here.
Copied the entire concept of Lily Mayne's Monstrous series - and nothing tops Mayne's writing. I'm offended on her behalf. There was no recognition given to Mayne for her brilliant ideas of what a monster-human world would look like. No mentions in the acknowledgments that she based the WHOLE story on Mayne's works.
This is like the Temu version of Soul Eater and Edin. Unethically manufactured, distrubuted, and let's not forget - a cheap, knock-off brand of a highly successful creator's work.
It was actually painful reading this poor imitation of her series, knowing what a masterpiece Mayne's Monstrous collection is in comparison.
That aside, the writing dragged. Genuinely had to force myself to keep going after the prologue. The chemistry felt extremely forced, and Page overexplained the same things constantly. Even the grump x sunshine dynamic felt fake. She tried so hard to make them seem interesting that her MAIN CHARACTERS came off as one-dimensional. Could've easily been a 150-page novel if she deleted every paragraph that described her character's thoughts about every move they made.
Is this her first time writing, ever?? Boring, grammatical errors, insufferable MC, you name it. Props to her ghost writers and editors for sitting through the whole thing - though it feels like they skimmed as well.
2 1/2 hours of my life I'll never get back. If you're making fan-fiction, label it as such. Don't pretend these are unique ideas 😭 . Post it on ao3 or keep it in the drafts if you're not going to give credit where it's due.
I think I'm more upset than I might've otherwise been because I just read one of Mayne's books a few days ago, and I'm still thinking about it. I know how good this story could be - because Mayne's done it already before. #dannyxwyn©️
#justiceforlilymayne
my first blacklisted author of the year!!🎊😭 we do NOT support thieves here.
Copied the entire concept of Lily Mayne's Monstrous series - and nothing tops Mayne's writing. I'm offended on her behalf. There was no recognition given to Mayne for her brilliant ideas of what a monster-human world would look like. No mentions in the acknowledgments that she based the WHOLE story on Mayne's works.
This is like the Temu version of Soul Eater and Edin. Unethically manufactured, distrubuted, and let's not forget - a cheap, knock-off brand of a highly successful creator's work.
It was actually painful reading this poor imitation of her series, knowing what a masterpiece Mayne's Monstrous collection is in comparison.
That aside, the writing dragged. Genuinely had to force myself to keep going after the prologue. The chemistry felt extremely forced, and Page overexplained the same things constantly. Even the grump x sunshine dynamic felt fake. She tried so hard to make them seem interesting that her MAIN CHARACTERS came off as one-dimensional. Could've easily been a 150-page novel if she deleted every paragraph that described her character's thoughts about every move they made.
Is this her first time writing, ever?? Boring, grammatical errors, insufferable MC, you name it. Props to her ghost writers and editors for sitting through the whole thing - though it feels like they skimmed as well.
2 1/2 hours of my life I'll never get back. If you're making fan-fiction, label it as such. Don't pretend these are unique ideas 😭 . Post it on ao3 or keep it in the drafts if you're not going to give credit where it's due.
I think I'm more upset than I might've otherwise been because I just read one of Mayne's books a few days ago, and I'm still thinking about it. I know how good this story could be - because Mayne's done it already before. #dannyxwyn©️
#justiceforlilymayne
October 13, 2024
Soren by Miranda Page is a beautifully crafted novel that takes readers on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery and resilience. From the very first page, Miranda Page’s eloquent writing style and vivid descriptions draw you into Soren’s world, making it impossible to put the book down.
Soren, is a deeply relatable character whose struggles and triumphs resonate with the reader. The author explores themes of identity, love, and personal growth, weaving them seamlessly into the narrative. The emotional depth and authenticity of the characters make their experiences feel incredibly real and impactful.
One of the standout aspects of this novel is its ability to balance heart-wrenching moments with uplifting and hopeful ones. The story is not just about overcoming obstacles but also about finding beauty and strength in the journey itself. The author’s storytelling is both poignant and inspiring, leaving readers with a sense of hope and a renewed appreciation for the complexities of life.
The world-building in Soren is exceptional, immersing readers in a richly detailed dystopian society that feels both familiar and unsettling. The author’s depiction of this world is vivid and thought-provoking, highlighting the stark contrasts between the military regime, the ‘monsters’ and the humans who are trying to survive. The dystopian setting serves as a powerful backdrop for the characters’ struggles and growth, adding layers of tension and urgency to the narrative.
The relationship between Merrick and Soren is one of the novel’s most compelling aspects. Their bond is complex and multifaceted, evolving from Soren’s initial mistrust to deep mutual respect and affection. The author beautifully portrays their interactions, capturing the nuances of their developing relationship and the ways in which they support and challenge each other. This dynamic adds emotional depth to the story, making their journey together all the more engaging and heartfelt. The addition of Roman and Emily add further avenues of exploring found families and loyalty.
Soren is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and emotionally rich story. Miranda Page has truly outdone herself with this novel, delivering a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
I can’t wait for book two, Brir, to be released.
Highly Recommended!
Soren, is a deeply relatable character whose struggles and triumphs resonate with the reader. The author explores themes of identity, love, and personal growth, weaving them seamlessly into the narrative. The emotional depth and authenticity of the characters make their experiences feel incredibly real and impactful.
One of the standout aspects of this novel is its ability to balance heart-wrenching moments with uplifting and hopeful ones. The story is not just about overcoming obstacles but also about finding beauty and strength in the journey itself. The author’s storytelling is both poignant and inspiring, leaving readers with a sense of hope and a renewed appreciation for the complexities of life.
The world-building in Soren is exceptional, immersing readers in a richly detailed dystopian society that feels both familiar and unsettling. The author’s depiction of this world is vivid and thought-provoking, highlighting the stark contrasts between the military regime, the ‘monsters’ and the humans who are trying to survive. The dystopian setting serves as a powerful backdrop for the characters’ struggles and growth, adding layers of tension and urgency to the narrative.
The relationship between Merrick and Soren is one of the novel’s most compelling aspects. Their bond is complex and multifaceted, evolving from Soren’s initial mistrust to deep mutual respect and affection. The author beautifully portrays their interactions, capturing the nuances of their developing relationship and the ways in which they support and challenge each other. This dynamic adds emotional depth to the story, making their journey together all the more engaging and heartfelt. The addition of Roman and Emily add further avenues of exploring found families and loyalty.
Soren is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and emotionally rich story. Miranda Page has truly outdone herself with this novel, delivering a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
I can’t wait for book two, Brir, to be released.
Highly Recommended!
December 28, 2025
Low rating due to plagiarism.
Most of the plot ideas were taken from Lily Mayne's Monsterous series. What a disappointment.
Most of the plot ideas were taken from Lily Mayne's Monsterous series. What a disappointment.
January 14, 2024
DNF - Mediocre writing (then instead of than) and, as other reviews say, most likely stealing Lily Mayne's work.
April 11, 2024
This is gonna be messy, because honestly, I don't know how I feel about this book. There were a few things I like and enjoyed, but others not so much.
Cons:
× I'm begging indie authors to stop listing their editors. It's embarrassing when your books are filled with numerous, noticeable errors. So many that the author themselves should have been able to catch them if they just re-read through it. If you paid to have your book "edited", get your money back.
× I don't know why but the last 20% just seemed to fall apart for me. There was mundane things happening for a number of chapters, then all of the sudden we had whiplash and it was like too much was happening at once.
× Authors not knowing how injuries or recovery works. If someone has just started walking without needing assistance after recovering from a life threatening injury, they are not fit to to spar or wield weapons or try hand to hand combat.
× So much repetition. The best example was Arya and how she was described concerning what kind of monster she was. Like, I did not need to hear that four different times told the same exact same way.
× How did none of our characters connect the dots and realize the military is experimenting on people?? Soren's all like "they're up to something sinister", but it never dawns on him or anyone else exactly what's happening. It makes everyone look stupid (they also never learn or find out about it).
× Body anatomy/sex is ripped from Lily Mayne's book. While I can see other similarities, I feel this was the only thing actually plagiarized from her books.
× For someone who couldn't stand to lose their mate, Merrick had a funny habit of vanishing when his mate was abruptly in danger, only to return AFTER things start hitting the fan.
× Merrick claiming all his grief over losing his previously mate and child just (magically) vanished the moment he saw Soren. That's not how grief works, no matter how long you've been grieving. It would have been more realistic if he struggled with realizing Soren was his new mate while trying to cope with losing and letting go of his former one.
Pros:
- Cover is gorgeous.
- Another indie author who knows that sex between two men needs lubricant.
- The first half of the book was decent and kept me reading.
I really wanted to like this. It sounded right up my alley, but the execution and all the grammatical errors just bogged it down for me.
Cons:
× I'm begging indie authors to stop listing their editors. It's embarrassing when your books are filled with numerous, noticeable errors. So many that the author themselves should have been able to catch them if they just re-read through it. If you paid to have your book "edited", get your money back.
× I don't know why but the last 20% just seemed to fall apart for me. There was mundane things happening for a number of chapters, then all of the sudden we had whiplash and it was like too much was happening at once.
× Authors not knowing how injuries or recovery works. If someone has just started walking without needing assistance after recovering from a life threatening injury, they are not fit to to spar or wield weapons or try hand to hand combat.
× So much repetition. The best example was Arya and how she was described concerning what kind of monster she was. Like, I did not need to hear that four different times told the same exact same way.
× How did none of our characters connect the dots and realize the military is experimenting on people?? Soren's all like "they're up to something sinister", but it never dawns on him or anyone else exactly what's happening. It makes everyone look stupid (they also never learn or find out about it).
× Body anatomy/sex is ripped from Lily Mayne's book. While I can see other similarities, I feel this was the only thing actually plagiarized from her books.
× For someone who couldn't stand to lose their mate, Merrick had a funny habit of vanishing when his mate was abruptly in danger, only to return AFTER things start hitting the fan.
× Merrick claiming all his grief over losing his previously mate and child just (magically) vanished the moment he saw Soren. That's not how grief works, no matter how long you've been grieving. It would have been more realistic if he struggled with realizing Soren was his new mate while trying to cope with losing and letting go of his former one.
Pros:
- Cover is gorgeous.
- Another indie author who knows that sex between two men needs lubricant.
- The first half of the book was decent and kept me reading.
I really wanted to like this. It sounded right up my alley, but the execution and all the grammatical errors just bogged it down for me.
January 7, 2024
DNF after getting about halfway through.
It sounded promising, but turned out like a poorly done fanfic of Lily Mayne. The writing didn't flow smoothly, the characters were weakly constructed, there was no tension (despite taking place in monster infested wastes), and the monster character was almost a blank space. All he did was try to protect the human for a reason that wasn't explained. He blew hot and cold for reasons that were never explained, smiled a lot and was just generally a savior type with no substance. Then they got together and like, ok? There was literally no reason given except hotness and protection maybe, so the romance was barely there as well. NO TENSION.
This story was aimless. I guess they found some supplies and the girl and maybe fought off a monster or hid once or something but it felt like NOTHING HAPPENED. I never connected in any way to either of the characters. It was weird, every feeling or thought the human had was spelled out, but instead of making me care about him it was just felt like aimless writing. One second he's relieved, then he's aroused, then he's tired, then scared, and I didn't care AT ALL. About the pet, which was supposed to be cute I guess, about the girl, about anything. I wanted to like this and stuck it out for far longer then I would have. And if I had to read about "tight pants" indicating arousal one more time.
This author is not for me.
It sounded promising, but turned out like a poorly done fanfic of Lily Mayne. The writing didn't flow smoothly, the characters were weakly constructed, there was no tension (despite taking place in monster infested wastes), and the monster character was almost a blank space. All he did was try to protect the human for a reason that wasn't explained. He blew hot and cold for reasons that were never explained, smiled a lot and was just generally a savior type with no substance. Then they got together and like, ok? There was literally no reason given except hotness and protection maybe, so the romance was barely there as well. NO TENSION.
This story was aimless. I guess they found some supplies and the girl and maybe fought off a monster or hid once or something but it felt like NOTHING HAPPENED. I never connected in any way to either of the characters. It was weird, every feeling or thought the human had was spelled out, but instead of making me care about him it was just felt like aimless writing. One second he's relieved, then he's aroused, then he's tired, then scared, and I didn't care AT ALL. About the pet, which was supposed to be cute I guess, about the girl, about anything. I wanted to like this and stuck it out for far longer then I would have. And if I had to read about "tight pants" indicating arousal one more time.
This author is not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 20, 2024They say the ideas from this book are heavily borrowed from Lily Maine's series. I can see the resemblance. I have read 3 of her books myself. Hmmm, that's sad. I kind of liked it. Well, I am unrating it and will forget about this author.
----- Original review -----
** 3.25 stars **
The book started strong with decent world building and likable MCs. I didn't mind insta connection. Despite that it still felt like there was a build up and getting to know one another. There was a fair amount of action and fighting scenes as well as steam. Warning: on page assault on one of the MCs that gets interrupted.
The second part of the book felt rushed. The amount of editing errors increased and the world building became clunky. It read as if the author started putting all their ideas without elaborating on any of them. It felt rushed. Plus the last intimate scene with hints of D/s dynamic didn't fit in with the couple's overall relationship. I don't know why the author wrote it that way.
The story is told from a single POV with the last chapter told from the other MC's POV. I hoped for more from Merrick. I mean he is the monster from another world and he only gets one chapter! There was a bit of miscommunication that was a tad annoying.
The book despite these irksome issues was good and kept me interested till the end. I am looking forward to reading the second one when it comes out. I hope the editing is better next time.
----- Original review -----
** 3.25 stars **
The book started strong with decent world building and likable MCs. I didn't mind insta connection. Despite that it still felt like there was a build up and getting to know one another. There was a fair amount of action and fighting scenes as well as steam. Warning: on page assault on one of the MCs that gets interrupted.
The second part of the book felt rushed. The amount of editing errors increased and the world building became clunky. It read as if the author started putting all their ideas without elaborating on any of them. It felt rushed. Plus the last intimate scene with hints of D/s dynamic didn't fit in with the couple's overall relationship. I don't know why the author wrote it that way.
The story is told from a single POV with the last chapter told from the other MC's POV. I hoped for more from Merrick. I mean he is the monster from another world and he only gets one chapter! There was a bit of miscommunication that was a tad annoying.
The book despite these irksome issues was good and kept me interested till the end. I am looking forward to reading the second one when it comes out. I hope the editing is better next time.
February 29, 2024
Yeah, so this has to be straight up stolen from Lily Mayne's Monstrous series. I can't think of any other explanation. The similarities are ridiculous. Even the structure of the book itself is very similar, let alone the story, characters, and world. It's not verbatim copied word for word, but the ideas are. It wouldn't be hard to generate this story with just a few days of effort using an AI model simply by feeding it Lily Mayne's book and asking for a variant of that. Maybe that's what the author did, who knows.
The most surprising thing... it's not even that good? There are so many errors, and I refuse to believe this was edited with any serious effort. A single pass from a competent editor for technical issues, or review from beta readers should have caught a lot of it. Or even better, use an AI model to spell and grammar check? Anything really.
Added to that is the fact that the author seems to be digging in with their bullshit plagiarism, suppressing questions about it and ignoring all the feedback. Yeah, no, I'm done. I don't tolerate that kind of shit, especially when it's ripping off such a large work like Monstrous. Lily Mayne doesn't deserve to have her hard work taken by someone who can't even bother to polish the work they stole.
What a shitshow. This author is a permanent DNR for me now. They should feel ashamed. Such a waste of effort and energy all around. Bye plagiarist 👋
The most surprising thing... it's not even that good? There are so many errors, and I refuse to believe this was edited with any serious effort. A single pass from a competent editor for technical issues, or review from beta readers should have caught a lot of it. Or even better, use an AI model to spell and grammar check? Anything really.
Added to that is the fact that the author seems to be digging in with their bullshit plagiarism, suppressing questions about it and ignoring all the feedback. Yeah, no, I'm done. I don't tolerate that kind of shit, especially when it's ripping off such a large work like Monstrous. Lily Mayne doesn't deserve to have her hard work taken by someone who can't even bother to polish the work they stole.
What a shitshow. This author is a permanent DNR for me now. They should feel ashamed. Such a waste of effort and energy all around. Bye plagiarist 👋
February 14, 2024
UPDATE: And she is deleting comments asking about this and blocking users on social media. Beware of shady, plagiarizing author with no accountability!
0/0 stars! STOLEN WORK! When I heard the premise, it obviously reminded me of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series aka the best apocalyptic monster series ever written. However, several ARC readers who have read Monstrous rated it highly, so I wanted to give it a chance. Absolutely not! This is clearly plagiarized and badly on top of it. I don’t ever condone plagiarism but if you have stories as amazing as Monstrous to copy, I would expect the end product to not be trash. There were over a dozen grammatical errors in the first 20 pages and it read like a middle schoolers dream journal and not a book. I am disgusted by the plagiarism and let down by the poor quality of the content. Will fully be boycotting this author and if she has any decency she will pull this product and apologize to Lily Mayne!
0/0 stars! STOLEN WORK! When I heard the premise, it obviously reminded me of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series aka the best apocalyptic monster series ever written. However, several ARC readers who have read Monstrous rated it highly, so I wanted to give it a chance. Absolutely not! This is clearly plagiarized and badly on top of it. I don’t ever condone plagiarism but if you have stories as amazing as Monstrous to copy, I would expect the end product to not be trash. There were over a dozen grammatical errors in the first 20 pages and it read like a middle schoolers dream journal and not a book. I am disgusted by the plagiarism and let down by the poor quality of the content. Will fully be boycotting this author and if she has any decency she will pull this product and apologize to Lily Mayne!
March 19, 2024
This book wanted to be something and ended up being nothing. It’s full of typos, its lacks cohesive storytelling, and it ends on a cliffhanger yet is a standalone story. The pacing is all over the place, moving way too fast in some ways and dragging in others. No one explains anything to Soren and he’s just totally cool to be sidelined.
I honestly couldn’t care less about Emily as a character. She pulled focus away from the main characters and ultimately we never got answers on what happened to her. Also apparently Soren is a monster hybrid now but is that covered or explained? Nope.
It’s giving Lily Mayne’s “Monstrous” without the humor and understandable plot and I’m way more disappointed than I should be.
I honestly couldn’t care less about Emily as a character. She pulled focus away from the main characters and ultimately we never got answers on what happened to her. Also apparently Soren is a monster hybrid now but is that covered or explained? Nope.
It’s giving Lily Mayne’s “Monstrous” without the humor and understandable plot and I’m way more disappointed than I should be.
February 29, 2024
Read but it’s a poor ripoff of Lily Mayne
This is just a super blatant ripoff off of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series, as many others have pointed out. It was almost amazing how much the author took from Mayne’s series.
This is just a super blatant ripoff off of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series, as many others have pointed out. It was almost amazing how much the author took from Mayne’s series.
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January 7, 2024I want to start by saying that I loved the book and thought it was fantastic until I realized that this author took ideas, characters, and the plot from Lily Mayne's Monstrous series. The similarities between both series is uncanny. I was reading and trying to figure out why some of the things seemed so familiar. Well, that's because it was. I'm angry and very disappointed. I wish I wouldn't have read it. No rating because of plagiarism. It should be removed.
April 12, 2024
Very familiar feeling book, nothing new to the genre. Pacing was off at times. The characters were rather generic. There is a dedicated editor page, if I was an author I wouldn’t use them. The editing was horrible. Not typos, not misprints, pure editing mistakes. Tense shifts, misnames, continuity errors. A lot of them. The cover art was pretty, if a little busy.
January 14, 2024
Nao é ruim, mas também nao é bom.
November 2, 2024
I did not finish the whole book so I will not be writing a review. I stopped reading when I felt there was just too many similarities to another popular MM monster romance book I couldn't ignore.
January 5, 2024
3.5 stars
Pretty good, but seems to borrow heavily from Lily Mayne's Monstrous series.
Pretty good, but seems to borrow heavily from Lily Mayne's Monstrous series.
February 11, 2024
first 5 star of the year!!
This was so good! So so good! The world build was amazing amazing. The detail of just how the land was the detail of how the people were and reacted chefs kiss!! The emotions that this book brought made you feel and fall in love with the characters. I loved every single minute of it. The writing was phenomenal like I felt like I was really a part of this world. The Smexy times the details that went with it were hawt! The side characters from the monsters to the humans, at least the good guys you felt for them, and you feared all the others both human and monster. The love love how this was a fated mate but it wasn’t rushed. It didn’t go slow, but it wasn’t rushed, especially since this was from the human point of view going forward, I would’ve loved to know what Merrick was feeling what his thoughts were about, soaring in the world that he was living in so now that he’s in the story hopefully the next bookwill get to hear from both of them. And I hope that was not the end of them because now I’m wrapped up in them and I don’t wanna leave them and I don’t think that’s the end of their story. Sidenote, to anyone who reads this it is a cliffhanger, but a sweet cliffhanger that definitely makes you want to get the next book I know I will be
This was so good! So so good! The world build was amazing amazing. The detail of just how the land was the detail of how the people were and reacted chefs kiss!! The emotions that this book brought made you feel and fall in love with the characters. I loved every single minute of it. The writing was phenomenal like I felt like I was really a part of this world. The Smexy times the details that went with it were hawt! The side characters from the monsters to the humans, at least the good guys you felt for them, and you feared all the others both human and monster. The love love how this was a fated mate but it wasn’t rushed. It didn’t go slow, but it wasn’t rushed, especially since this was from the human point of view going forward, I would’ve loved to know what Merrick was feeling what his thoughts were about, soaring in the world that he was living in so now that he’s in the story hopefully the next bookwill get to hear from both of them. And I hope that was not the end of them because now I’m wrapped up in them and I don’t wanna leave them and I don’t think that’s the end of their story. Sidenote, to anyone who reads this it is a cliffhanger, but a sweet cliffhanger that definitely makes you want to get the next book I know I will be
January 8, 2024
I wanted to give this a 5* rating but brought it down due do a couple of personal niggles.
It dragged a bit here an there and I did not enjoy when the child was added to the plot that much. I know there's something about the tattooed numbers and we will probably understand more about it on the next books but I tend not to like children in my books too much. Just a personal preference and I do read some and enjoy them, it's just I'd rather not have them.
The other issue, and this has already been mentioned in a few reviews, is that some bits reminded me too much of another popular book out there. But there's only so many plots to justify how monsters can come to earth and if they come from another planet, they then become aliens and not really monsters anymore, so tears on the planet does make sense. But even though I am mentioning it, this did not make me enjoy the book less. Overall a solid good read and I intend to continue the series.
It dragged a bit here an there and I did not enjoy when the child was added to the plot that much. I know there's something about the tattooed numbers and we will probably understand more about it on the next books but I tend not to like children in my books too much. Just a personal preference and I do read some and enjoy them, it's just I'd rather not have them.
The other issue, and this has already been mentioned in a few reviews, is that some bits reminded me too much of another popular book out there. But there's only so many plots to justify how monsters can come to earth and if they come from another planet, they then become aliens and not really monsters anymore, so tears on the planet does make sense. But even though I am mentioning it, this did not make me enjoy the book less. Overall a solid good read and I intend to continue the series.
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April 30, 2024Awww está bonit...
¿Cómo que no es autoconclusivo?
¿Cómo que no es autoconclusivo?
January 31, 2024
Mr wap.
Ms Miranda Page you did this!!! This was sooooooooooooo good girl!!!! This is the best monster gay romance I’ve read and I read a lot.. this blows Lily Mayne monster series out the park and I thought that was a good read!!! Loved the world building and that it wasn’t just purely sex…… omg this book was amazing .
Ms Miranda Page you did this!!! This was sooooooooooooo good girl!!!! This is the best monster gay romance I’ve read and I read a lot.. this blows Lily Mayne monster series out the park and I thought that was a good read!!! Loved the world building and that it wasn’t just purely sex…… omg this book was amazing .
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January 8, 2024I wanted to read this but after reading the blurb, I think the ideas are stolen from Lily Mayne and now I don't want to read it and be disappointed
January 6, 2024
I just can't believe that this is a debut novel! This is better than some books I've read from established authors. The general setting reminds me strongly of Monstrous Series though, only with its own twist and turns. Behaviour, descriptors and mannerisms reminded me of Lily Mayne's Edin, Hunter, Wyn and Danny. Soren reminded me of a more Danny version of Hunter (cranky sweetheart), while Merrick was an Edin look-alike with an outside personality vibe of Wyn, and Aryn could be a distant relative with some other DNA thrown into of Wyn. I cannot tell as to the extent as I'm not someone in the know about what accounts for being original these days and I suppose there must be a cap to things people have never read before. There are only so many possibilities probably without being not totally out there. For another species to come to earth there are only so many - alien spaceship, parallel universe, hollow earth, science experimentation. So I get it that there are some similarities. What would have been nice is if the general story would not follow so similarly. One could go with the military is disbanded and only rebels rule. Or Earth had to be evacuated not the other plane.
Still, it captured me and transported me right into that world and made me even tear up at points. I loved Merrick from the start, he is just lovely and strong and doesn't see a need in flashing his power to make himself feel strong or more like a man, he just simply is. That being said, he seemed to change a bit towards the end and upon naming what they had as a stable relationship. Suddenly he felt a bit more dominant and as though he would fill the shoes of the "male" in the relationship. As an example, I understand that he has already lost people he was very close to and it nearly destroyed him, but he seemed to forget that Soren has survived on his own in the wilds since he was 17 years old.
Soren was a bit of an enigma for me at times. Was he the competent survivor or a damsel looking for a knight? He seemed to switch mentally at times.
What I'm not sure about is how the child incident at the end was handled. *sigh
I'm interested to see where Miranda Page is going to take this story. Will she introduce new couples or stick with Soren and Merrick for the whole or part of the series.
Still, it captured me and transported me right into that world and made me even tear up at points. I loved Merrick from the start, he is just lovely and strong and doesn't see a need in flashing his power to make himself feel strong or more like a man, he just simply is. That being said, he seemed to change a bit towards the end and upon naming what they had as a stable relationship. Suddenly he felt a bit more dominant and as though he would fill the shoes of the "male" in the relationship. As an example, I understand that he has already lost people he was very close to and it nearly destroyed him, but he seemed to forget that Soren has survived on his own in the wilds since he was 17 years old.
Soren was a bit of an enigma for me at times. Was he the competent survivor or a damsel looking for a knight? He seemed to switch mentally at times.
What I'm not sure about is how the child incident at the end was handled. *sigh
I'm interested to see where Miranda Page is going to take this story. Will she introduce new couples or stick with Soren and Merrick for the whole or part of the series.
June 21, 2024
Has something potential
Overall, it's a decent idea. Draws heavily from popular tropes but does it in a way that is at least somewhat unique. The problem I have with it comes from the writing.
“I would…”
“I saw…”
“I sat….”
I get that this is a story written purely in first-person but holy swipes it is annoying. It's almost as if the MC is listing off items from a grocery list. It would have been nice to get a feel for everything and have it shown to readers instead of a general description and some vague yadda yadda. The MC was bored, I was bored, it was just not a good time all round.
Overall, it's a decent idea. Draws heavily from popular tropes but does it in a way that is at least somewhat unique. The problem I have with it comes from the writing.
“I would…”
“I saw…”
“I sat….”
I get that this is a story written purely in first-person but holy swipes it is annoying. It's almost as if the MC is listing off items from a grocery list. It would have been nice to get a feel for everything and have it shown to readers instead of a general description and some vague yadda yadda. The MC was bored, I was bored, it was just not a good time all round.
February 22, 2024
DNF. Not original enough to capture my interest as it feels too much like Lily Mayne's monstrous series. I was really looking forward to this too which was a bummer.
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