Dying was supposed to be a once in a lifetime event.
And yet, after falling off an overpass onto a mafia boss’ car, not only am I still alive—I’m a demigod in a world where myths are reality and monsters are hot.
My unlikely hero is the Minoan Bull, a fierce Minotaur hated by many. Embers ignite between us, leading to an unforgettable night and a pact to never see each other again.
The Fates have different plans.
Enemies lurk in the shadows, forcing the two of us into a labyrinth of deception, hate, and revenge. The only way out is by breaking walls, especially the ones around our hearts.
This novella has the following:
Plus sized MMC Demigods, monsters, and gods SPICE Second night stand? M/M monster romance and SO much more Kings & Monsters is a MM monster mafia romance. It is the fourth book in the Three Fates Mafia Series and can be read as a standalone.
First of all a big thank you to Clio Evans for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Clio never misses. That's for sure.
One moment I started this, and before I knew it it was over.
I honestly thought we were quite far into the story line with this world, almost everyone had their happily ever after. But Clio once again surprised me and now I neeeed to know what happens next.
I'm so, so extremely happy that Ryan got his happily ever after. I know he hurt a lot of souls, but I always felt like he was immensely misunderstood. I'm glad he found Grim. They're perfect for each other.
Even though this is book 4, it can be read as a stand-alone. I read this too long ago to do a proper review but this shit was fuck hot. Clio Evans is a master at monster fucking and this Minotaur, Demigod pairing was 🥵🥵🥵🥵 The insta-love was a bit too much for me but they’re fated mates and it was a short novella so I got over it.
The dedication page made me laugh and I knew instantly I’d love this book.
“Cock” was used 180 times in this book. Do with that what you will. Cock, cock, cock. (183)”
Tropes - paranormal, mafia, darkish, fated mates, size difference, sex club one night stand, they shower together
Representation - MM, plus size MMC
Like all the books that I read by Clio Evans, this was a fun, short and smutty read 😮💨 this time with the Minoan Bull, Ryan (MMC) and Grim (MMC)
Death follows Grim wherever he goes and he can't escape it while Ryan is trying to fit into this new life as one of the heads of the three fates mafia. Fate (obviously) has pulled them together and they are inexplicably drawn to each other
While navigating that, there is also the issue of the OG demigods being... assholes, namely Theseus. When shit hits the fan, the MCs and the rest of the three fates mafia need to figure out what to do while also protecting their mates
Scale: ⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite ⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut 🌶 - no point 🌶🌶 - mediocre at best 🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot 🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List
King and Monsters was a kinky and filthy low angst read about a demigod and a minotaur. While definitely high steam Clio was able to throw in quite the action packed plot. Grim and Ryan were....well listen y'all just have to read it.
“I’m going to hunt you,” he whispered. “And then I’m going to claim you.”
A fast paced, high steam, low angst read featuring a demigod and minotaur finding their happy ever after and then some. It was a pretty quick and fun read that involved some interesting twists and turns as well.
This was my first book by this author and despite it being the fourth in the series it wasn’t too difficult to follow along. It can be read as a standalone but I do think reading the prior books would make the read even more enjoyable!!!
Look I don't know what it says about me that this is my favorite in this series so far but it cannot be good. If I thought the last one could have used more smut this one made up for it threefold. I am going to reiterate that this is absolutely filthy monster smut and not for the faint of heart, although I do appreciate that it doesn't take itself too seriously.
Just going to leave the dedication here for you:
"Cock" was used 180 times in this book. Do with that what you will. Cock, cock, cock. (183)
This was sooooo good!!!! In typical Clio fashion, there’s spice in the first chapter and it is spicing!!! But there’s more to this book than the shmex!!! I was so intrigued by the story and it kept me invested! Definitely recommend!!
Kings and Monsters is the fourth instalment in the Three Fates Mafia series although it can also be read as a standalone. It's a fast-paced spicy monster romance with a M/M. As it has barely 200 pages, it feels like a novella and can be easily read within a day.
The review might contain spoilers.
PLOT Unlike with Killers and Monsters, the fourth book has actually a plot. Granted, it isn't a very large one but there's a plot. ;) Grim and Ryan meet in a sex club where they engage in each other before parting ways. In the following six months, Grim moves from job to job, from place to place, as death follows him. He has finally enough when the decapitated head of his boss starts to speak, so he flees the scene but gets pursued by machine monsters that force him over a cliff where he lands on Ryan's car, causing a massive accident. Ryan knows right away that Grim is a demi-god and despite his urge to kill him, he takes him away from the scene and flees to his apartment with the unconscious Grim. Due to sexual tension, they both decide that they will fuck one night before Grim will leave as he doesn't want to be a demi-god and just wants a peaceful life. The following morning, Grim gets assaulted by Theseus and the Chimera after leaving Ryan's mansion and gets kidnapped to act as bait for Ryan as it is revealed that they are fated mates. The following chapters are just about them finding each other again and finding a way to be together. Here, Grim also gets his memories back, which sparks their revenge on Theseus as he is behind everything.
WORLD-BUILDING & MAGIC As it is still set in the same world as Killers and Monsters, it plays in Moirai, a fictional city in California. Time-wise, it's roughly a year after the second instalment as Serena's twins are born and can breathe fire (so I would say that they are around 6 months old and she was in the 1st trimester in her epilogue). The book still incorporates mafia elements but they are more subdued and play only a role when it comes to taking revenge on Theseus. There's still no actual magic but Grim has powers granted by his godly father, Hades, which are magical enough. In addition, there's the introduction of the actual Labyrinth of the Minoan Bull myth. The Labyrinth exists outside of time and space as its own thing, so days within it can either be hours/weeks/months or years on the outside (or vice versa). It has a mind of its own as well.
CHARACTERS In comparison, the cast is very small in Kings and Monsters as the book follows Grim and Ryan on their journey to become a couple (and to take revenge). Of course, there are mentions of characters that have been met in the previous books (e.g., Ian/Serena/Luca, Cerberus & their mate, Percy & Madeline, Theseus and Orpheus) but they play very small side roles. Grim is the son of Hades and is rather pragmatic and still surprisingly optimistic despite his past. Still, he's rather sardonic from time to time and fed up with the bizarre things happening around him (in the first chapters). He's described as tall (over 6 feet), broad-shouldered and with a soft stomach, so he might be on the plus-size spectrum. While there's fan art within the book, I still found it difficult to tell if he's really plus-size or not. Ryan is the Minoan Bull and can shapeshift between his true bull form and his human form. True to him being a bull: he can be stubborn. He's also a worrier (about his place within the Three Fates mafia, about his employees considering him a good boss, ...) and has a horrible memory for names. For a monster, he feels very human and more fleshed out than Ian.
ROMANCE Due to the "fated mates" trope, their romance is also insta-lust and insta-love. Unlike the Serena/Luca/Ian relationship, I found Grim's and Ryan's relationship by far healthier and better developed. They talk with each other and take each other's concerns seriously. There's no obsession, blackmail or grooming/paedophilia in their relationship. Of course, there's an age gap but Grim is an adult (in his 30s), so the power balance isn't too one-sided.
For the sex, I would also give it 4 🌶️ as it is very graphic and the book opens with a sex scene (oral and anal sex). Overall, the two constantly fuck (for hours) and there's sex in pretty much every chapter. If you are into it: large, golden bull cock, pierced penis, oral and anal sex, choking & breath play, nipple play & nipple pumps, BDSM, Dom/Sub (both are switches), mating bites, actual monster sex (as in Ryan being in his bull form), collaring, leashing, paddling, breeding kink, consensual degradation, sensory deprivation (blindfolds), restraints (handcuffs), gags and muzzles, rimming & edging, primal hunting/play, size differences. (I likely forgot something but let's just say that the sex is very spicy.)
TW & CW Please, head the trigger warnings and content warnings that the author lists at the beginning of the book. In addition, I would add the following for TWs:
decapitation, multiple murders, general violence, multiple death of main character, attempted murder, trafficking and child slavery (Grim gets sold as a child to Theseus as his foster father blames him for a death), grooming (Theseus grooms Grim into an assassin), death of family (mother, grandparents, aunt & uncle, cousin), foster care, captivity and kidnapping (on page and past), drugging, memory/mind manipulation, ...
As for the sexual content warnings: bull cock, pierced penis, oral and anal sex, choking & breath play, nipple play & nipple pumps, BDSM, Dom/Sub, mating bites, actual monster sex, collaring, leashing, paddling, breeding kink, consensual degradation, sensory deprivation (blindfolds), restraints (handcuffs), gags and muzzles, rimming & edging, primal hunting/play, size differences, impact play, begging, flogging, frotting, large amount of cum, ...
Please check other reviews for more or additional trigger warnings and content warnings as these are the ones that I just mentioned in my journal entries on Storygraph.
TL;DR Short, fast-paced monster romance with a focus on graphic and explicit sex scenes with an M/M pairing and the "fated mates" trope. Both MMCs are burley cinnamon rolls with murderous tendencies who have a surprisingly healthy relationship with each other (especially for a mafia setting). Based on the Minoan Bull myth but with a HEA for the bull.
Little Bull and Little King are forever in my top nicknames category now because EXCUSE ME. Also the titles of some of these chapters, like "It's Raining Men", yes please, haha!!
"Being a monster fucker was ingrained into me because my cock hardened at the sight of him. Same, same.
This was a much-anticipated read for me for April and I was not disappointed. Clio has done it again!
This is book four in the Three Fates Mafia series, which features the Minoan Bull and the Human/Demi-God MM relationship dynamic. This was god tier (hehehe) and Clio should be super proud. I cannot wait to have my physical trophy copy in my hands.
The rep of a BB MMC has me giddy and the relationship just between these two was chef's kiss.
What you'll find: - Plus Sized MMC - Demigods/Gods/Monsters - Mafia (Three Fates) - One/Second Night stand - Shifters in the sense that he can shift from human to bull - THE CUTEST NICKNAMES EVER - kinks, lots of them - on page death and revival - betrayal
“You’re an eager little monster fucker, aren’t you?” he whispered. “Open wide.”
This book was a wild ride and I loved every damn second of it. I read this book first but I’ll be reading the rest of the series for sure. This is a magic realism world with gods and monsters and magic all around but the main focus is this demigods/monster magus that runs the city. I loved the premise and the tension the mafia politics gave.
Ryan the Minotaur meets Grim the demigod when Ryan literally falls to his death and crashes into Ryan’s car lol. If that’s not a meet cute I dont know what is. The spice in this started hot and fast and didn’t stop for the entire book 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵.
This book has 💥MM Monster x Demigod 💥pierced peen 💥BDSM with breath play, chains and spanking 💥Primal chasing 🫠🫠🫠 💥Fates mates 💥Spicy scenes in human AND monster form 💥Tender intimate moments 💥 memory loss 💥yours for the night turned “never leave”
And probably more but I’m still panting from the relentless spice 🫠🥵💥 like at wine point Ryan changes to his Minotaur form while INSIDE Grim!!! 💦😮💨
Another incredible tale by Clio Evans, with plenty of smut, mafia drama, romance, monsters, and enough plot to move it all along.
We first saw Ryan, the Minoan Bull, when he was released from his prison in Thieves and Monsters, only to return and have us hate him in Queens and Monsters. Now it’s time for Ryan to explain his side of things, tell us how he’s not a good guy (he’s really not) but somehow convince us that he’s worthy of love just like anyone else.
Insert Grim. A man followed by death, filled with trauma, and the luck of any great demigod. The perfect match for a temperamental bull that has more notches on his belt for murder than he does for lovers.
Turns out neither are hidden peaches, nor the demons they believe themselves to be.
I picked this up without reading the previous books and I did feel a little confused on the world building.
Grim had a one night stand with the Minoan Bull, the creature of greek mythology from the Labyrinth but he does not remember much. Ryan the bull, is able to be human because of a transformation spell but he longs to be accepted in his real form. He is a newly elected leader of the Three Fates Mafia and has hardly began his role before Grim falls onto his car, killing his driver.
Grim has a few weird months of people dying around him and being told he is a demigod then being chased by huge half flesh and half mechanical wolves. It was obvious who his father was.
Discovering a new demigod complicates things for the mafia so Ryan takes Grim back to his estate while lust overcomes them again and he hunts him.
This had potential because of the unique spin on mafia with greek mythology. It was mostly erotica as there was too many steamy scenes at the beginning and the plot elements come after the 50% mark. There was more focus on the greek mythology rather than mafia. Ryan was very mafia boss like other than having the position and men working for him.
Both heroes have kinks they enjoy and they bond with each other over switching, degradation and more. It was interesting how both heroes were open to being dominant and submissive while my impression was that Ryan would be the dominant. it felt like both were embracing their masculine and femanine sides. They have nicknames for each other like "little king" and "little bull" (this one felt strange to me because Ryan is much bigger in size than Ghim).
You are never disappointed with a Clio Evans book. I say this every book I rate of theirs and that is because it is true. I have yet to come across a book that I don’t enjoy overall. They are kinky but not too kinky. They are spicy but not to the point that it is too much they contain enough story to make it that you are reading just smut. In this you have one of the MMC that was a villain in a previous book finding their fated mate and becoming part of the mafia. This whole world is just amazing. It is so interesting to see the take on the mythology and how we adapt the stories we grew up watching and hearing change and become love stories….all this to say they aren’t accurate obviously I just like seeing the random facts and if its a creature or story I never heard to guess what is the similarity and how they will be changed.
I apologize I got side tracked this is an MM and size difference and kinky with is very delicious. It is a stand-alone but I would highly recommend reading them in order or you would miss so many little things and backstory for the story line unfolding the way it does.
Holy crap! Started steamy right off the bat and I loved every minute of it! Grim and Ryan are absolutely everything. I love the fact that Grim openly states he would would have worshiped Ryan back then. These two together just feels so amazing! Ugh and when Ryan called Grim, “Little King,” I absolutely can’t get enjoy of the little nickname. The dynamic between the both of them is perfection and I flew though this book just wanting more and more. Ryan gives off the vibes of, touch him and you die! That makes me just love him even moreee! Its really hot to see them both be very dominant. You can just tell by how Ryan talks that life hasn’t been kind to him and all i want is for him to be happy and with Grim! This series honestly just keeps getting better and better and I want more.
Kings & Monsters of the Three Fates Mafia Series by Clio Evans most definitely HAS.IT.ALL!!
I L🖤VE, L🩶VE Grim & Ryan together - from their one-night stand, to their next unsexy meet-cute on the freeway, to the country estate hunt, to the Labyrinth, to them revealing their feelings, to all their time together...yes please! 🥰 Another interesting, beautiful, so very §ëxƴ, cärnällƴ dëlïcïöus & creative gift from the always amazing Clio Evans.
I enjoyed this book so much! The concept is so interesting and the way details are revealed throughout the story was incredible. Ryan and Grim have great chemistry, all of the feels and plenty of heated scenes.
Honestly it's almost to heavy on the spice, but I kind of loved that and seemed fitting to the relationship developing. Along with their connection, the dynamic between Grim and Ryan is so much fun. I adored all seeing their romance develop, they just fit so well together.
There is underlying plot which was fascinating, even without having read previous in the series I loved the world building. Lots of twists and turns too, which made for a great adventure and action too.
Overall it's a fast paced entertaining read with so much to love, Grim & Ryan get their happy ending which is rather suited to them 💛
I absolutely LOVED this book! Ryan and Grim were everything I could have hoped for and so much more. This book was full of spicy, sweet, dark, and so many more moments. The chemistry that Grim and Ryan have was off the charts. I feel hard for these two, I just love them so much, and them even more together. And I have to say…I can’t wait for Theseus to get what he deserves grrrr. There is just so much to love about this next iteration in the Three Fates Mafia series. The dynamic and soul deep connection that Ryan and Grim shared was beautiful and sexy as heck. I don’t want to spoil anything, but just know, this book is fantastic!
It was a good book. It was fast paced and short with lots of spice. However, the spice was probably the only great quality to it. I actually enjoyed our characters a lot too. The story was inconsistent to me though. I don’t know if it was because I read this as a stand alone or if it was from the miscommunication that didn’t need to be there. Arguably, characters with miscommunication are an integral part of a snort romance story, but it took me out considering the characters were fully grown ass people.
The memory plot-line made me feel like there was no other way to put the story together. It undid the entirety of the beginning and made it feel like “meh, guess that’s it.”
Read this if you like: ✦ Monster Romance ✦ Forbidden Love ✦ Mafia Romance ✦ One-Night-Stand ✦ M/M Romance ✦ Fated Mates
┈ OVERVIEW ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ Emojis: 🐂💀🌆🗡🏍 Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Overall:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Format: eBook POV: Dual 👬 Would I Recommend? 👍 Read Again? 👎 Setting: Moirai (Fictional City) Hero: Ryan Hero: Grim H/h virgin? No First kiss💋: 2% First time they sleep together: 2% First time they say "I Love You": 84% (mentions of love before this though) OW/OM Drama? No H/h cheat? No Time apart? No Did I cry? No Ending: HEA 🥰 Standalone/Series? Yes to both Epilogue? Yes
3,3⭐️ Me ha dado criaturas, monstruos, semidioses, mitología, humor, violencia, bdsm, porta plus size (y no, no el Minotauro) y mucha diversión Y ES CORTO Y AUNQUE FORME PARTE DE UNA SAGA SE PEIDE LEER COMO STAND-ALONE!
Lo he disfrutado mucho, no me esperaba mitología y semidioses por lo que me ha sorprendido aún más (Hades 🤍) y con eso este libro ya me tiene ganada, es que el minotauro es EL MINOTAURO. Me lo leido la tarde del domingo tranquila después de haber salido el sábado y es lo que no sabía que quería pero necesitaba para acabar l semana.
I know the minotaur wouldn't have hooves at the end of human arms, but trying to picture a bull head and horns with human hands is freaking me out. Regardless, I liked this book well enough. The plot is ok, I kind of wish there was more there, but also like ?? I mostly read it because it was short and I was already three books into the series. There were some typos and stuff I noticed in this book, and it wrapped up so quickly that it felt like I blinked and the book was over. However, if there are more in this series, I'll probably read them because why not.
Kings & Monsters is the new book in the Three Fates Mafias series, in which demigods and monsters from Greek mythology meet in a contemporary city full of magic and run a mafia peacefully together (just kidding, hahah).
The protagonists are the Minoan Bull, Ryan (5 ⭐️ choice of name), and the demigod who is literally thrown at him, Grim (you have one guess to find out who daddy dearest is).
Grim and Ryan are very charismatic. You're going to want to cuddle poor baby Ryan. Grim is a bit sardonic, he's a bit fed up with the bizarre things happening around him, and a bit surprised to enjoy Minotaur 🍆.
They find out someone is messing up with them and need to find who is the culprit. And, along the way, the two practice a lot dirty and kinky sex, just the way we like it.
This series mixes monsters that you'll want to cuddle with 🥹, demigods full of trauma lol, cute romance, Greek mythology, depravity and mafia.
The MM monster romance is her latest in her Three Fates Mafia series and I can’t wait for the SE and character cards!
So what did I like about this book? I’m a total sucker for morally gray men. It’s even better when two of them have the hots for each other. 🥵 I love a mythology theme but the monster getting the boy? Come ON!
Not only did this further the overall plot and I got guest appearances from my fav previous couples, but there was a thrilling plot just for these two. A great way to continue the series.
“We have enemies to defeat…But I think a hot shower and you f*cking me would be a great precursor to crushing them.”
This book was like non-stop action or revelations and I was here for it. Not to mention the spice was HOT. I love a good switch dynamic in MM romance. Clio’s spice is always off the charts and I enjoyed the storyline of this book. Grim & Ryan were so cute, I liked Clio’s twist on the Minoan bull.
A good addition to the series. Not my favorite but it does a good job. I think the characters were decently fleshed out. Grim and Ryan’s dynamic was adorable. The story moved at a good pace. I do believe it fell apart at the end a bit…maybe because how Val’s tie in didn’t make sense as it seemed obvious Grim should have asked for her to be completely free but all in all I’m not mad. Also spicy in a way that only Clio does.
Okay, this was so good. Absolutely filthy. Nonstop spice. Incredible sex scenes, so wonderfully written. Felt very “gay man’s gay”. Big hairy hunks. The plot was actually interesting and for a book with so much sex it does a good job of laying out a rich world and background. Would absolutely recommend!
I believe Grim and Ryan are my absolute favorite. Something about their vulnerability and sadness just absolutely called to me. So alike with mostly the same traumas, even though their stories are vastly different.
These two were just so sweet, even in their delusions of it being temporary. My heart broke for both of them.
Been waiting for this book so long almost read it all in one sitting it was so good but I had to stop when it got to 2am hahah. As always Miss Clio is great at what she does this book is beuitful and amazing
“You’re underestimating my @ppetite for m0nster c○€k,” he whispered." Another great addition to the Three Fates Mafia. Check the trigger warnings. This M/M monster tale. And it is amazing! I was happy to read Ryan's story, and Grim is his perfect mate.
Definitely the book with the most angst of the series. Unfortunately, with the short page length, the angst overshadowed everything else. Still not a bad read, I just wish there had been a better balance.