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Arranged Monster Mates #15
Wed to the Basilisk
No one touches my bride. No one but me.I am the last basilisk on Alia Terra. As I roam my lands, loneliness muddles my mind and pumps violence into my veins until I don’t recognize myself. Soon I’ll become a feral beast – unless I mate.
The matchmaking temple is the only way a creature like me, scaly, fanged, and with lethal eyes, can marry. Soon, I have a match. My temple bride is everything I dream sweet, resolute, her delicious scent calming my rage with the first inhale.
It seems like it will work out until a human male barges in the temple, grabbing my bride so hard she cries out, and tries to drag her away. My fury burns too hot to control. I unleash my lethal sight, killing him on the spot.
My bride is terrified, cringing away from me. Will she ever trust me again after this?
The Temple, a matchmaking service for monsters, shifters, and aliens, is open for service.
Arranged Monster Mates is a series of novellas written by your favorite paranormal and sci-fi romance Eden Ember, Layla Fae, and Cara Wylde.
Each of these steamy stories has it a possessive male, a heroine ready to sacrifice herself to the beast, plenty of spice, and a happily ever after to curl your toes!
The matchmaking temple is the only way a creature like me, scaly, fanged, and with lethal eyes, can marry. Soon, I have a match. My temple bride is everything I dream sweet, resolute, her delicious scent calming my rage with the first inhale.
It seems like it will work out until a human male barges in the temple, grabbing my bride so hard she cries out, and tries to drag her away. My fury burns too hot to control. I unleash my lethal sight, killing him on the spot.
My bride is terrified, cringing away from me. Will she ever trust me again after this?
The Temple, a matchmaking service for monsters, shifters, and aliens, is open for service.
Arranged Monster Mates is a series of novellas written by your favorite paranormal and sci-fi romance Eden Ember, Layla Fae, and Cara Wylde.
Each of these steamy stories has it a possessive male, a heroine ready to sacrifice herself to the beast, plenty of spice, and a happily ever after to curl your toes!
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2024
321 people are currently reading
902 people want to read
About the author
Layla Fae
42 books1,905 followersSign up for my newsletter: here.
Layla Fae writes steamy monster romance of many varieties. Fluffy or dark, with TWs ranging from flavored monster essence used as food to blood play and dark taboo romance, she explores the fantasy of monster love from various angles.
She is not an author for the faint of heart.
Layla Fae writes steamy monster romance of many varieties. Fluffy or dark, with TWs ranging from flavored monster essence used as food to blood play and dark taboo romance, she explores the fantasy of monster love from various angles.
She is not an author for the faint of heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
April 24, 2024
In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes.
Voss, is the last of his species, And in fear of going completely insane without no mate .. At this point boss is desperate and goes to the matchmaking temple to get help in finding his mate
Only thing is he is Super self-conscious due to the fact that most Species had trouble looking at him directly
Alina, was running from her so-called Psychopath Ex…… Liam hurt her, over and over, for months. She was supposed to marry him in a week, but he was forcing her to do so. Getting matched through the temple was her only hope of escaping him.
Between what her ex-fiancé has did to her and then to make matters worse he manages to get into the matchmaking temple too try to steal her away from her new husband, Voss Has been left with no choice but to brutally kill the human for touching his mate……And now she has left somewhat traumatized and suffers from PTDS symptoms
So, Alina’s biggest concern was she going to jump out of the frying pan into the fire with her new husband
I would like to touch on the subject of warning bells for anyone who might have Potential triggers: abusive ex, verbal and physical abuse (from the ex)
🌶🌶🌶🌶I’m not going to lie this is a very spicy read, but I feel like There was a lesson to be learned in this story….. That you should never judge a book by its cover…… the MMC he might not have had the looks, like a male model due to the fact that he had deadly eyes and reptiles’ skin…… BUT Voss had a heart of gold in my personal opinion…. he was very tender, caring and Very patient with Alina ❤️❤️❤️
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April 15, 2024Many thanks to all the wonderful Readers who read the Arranged Monster Mates books <3 I love you guys!
September 21, 2024
monstruos con dos pollas 🥵🔛🔝
April 30, 2024
I was surprised how good this one was
January 23, 2025
Serious spoilers below, honestly it’s kind of a rant.
I love Layla’s work and I’ve really enjoyed her take on the arranged marriage series. But this fell flat for me and honestly, the only reason is Alia.
So let’s start with Alia, she has some serious trauma because of her ex-Liam who is an abusive prick. Who absolutely deserved to die! Liam was an absolute piece of trash who needed to be pushed off a cliff.
I got her worries at the start as frustrating as it was. Her new husband kills her old fiancé (Liam) which is understandable BUT that was because he was hurting her, by physically putting his hands on her. The new fiancé (Liam) killed her old husband (David) because he wanted to marry Alia. Obviously, the only way to do it was to kill David🙄. So I get it that she was nervous about falling into old patterns but she chose to marry Voss knowing he is a monster so he could protect her from Liam.
Voss, his species is dying and he is a ticking time bomb because he needs a mate to calm him. He is lonely and wants a mate that he can love and protect.
Voss deserves so much better… I said what I said🙅♀️ Voss did nothing but prove to Alia that he was a good mate who respected her boundaries. He provided whatever she wanted and protected her from any threat. He was honestly so patient and cute.🫶
“Shhh, my sweet,” I hissed, my voice falling into the low, soothing cadence of the mating call. “You’re safe. I have you. Everything will be all right. I have you now. I’ll always protect you.”
Alia made me so angry, she kept saying she trusted Voss only to change her mind two pages later. Then to throw it back in his face because she wanted him to act badly, so she could validate her feelings without taking into consideration how it was affecting Voss. He definitely had the patience of a saint because Alia drove me to insanity.
I think what annoyed me the most was how much it kept happening after they mated. I interpreted that as her acceptance of the relationship and wanting to work with Voss at being happy instead of blaming him for something he hadn’t done.
So she tells him she wants to have sex with him when he says we should stop so I can respect your boundaries. So tell me why the fuck does she ask for sex and enjoys it. BUT THEN FOR NO REASON, SHE'S LIKE WHOOPS YOU SHOULD LEAVE… BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO NICE AND IT PROBABLY MEANT A LOT TO YOU THAT WE MADE LOVE!!!!
Make it make sense, then we were going around in circles. The same thing happening repeatedly is just the definition of insanity and honestly, I could feel myself going insane because this was killing me.🤦♀️
She wants him to do something bad because she wants to be right about it, like why?😐
I honestly don’t understand her logic. Seven pages after sending him away after their first time. YES, 7 PAGES!!! She randomly says “Can we go to bed? I want you.” This bitch was honestly giving me whiplash. 😤
Voss deserved so much better and I will die on this hill!!! He’d bring himself down so much like he didn’t deserve her and she didn’t say anything back. Relationships are a two-way street and Voss wasn’t receiving the same care he was giving Alina. I still was not rooting for her at like 57%. She is the worst MFC I’ve read so far. 🤦♀️
I finally think that she’s finally getting there and then you get this “I was afraid you’d hurt me in that basement and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s irrational and I know I’m wrong.”
He has treated her like a queen and here we are back to this again. She keeps saying she trusts him but then she thinks and says things like this. She clearly doesn’t trust him. I can understand healing isn’t linear but this just isn’t making sense.
“So she didn’t trust me. She locked the door again, just like she did in the beginning. It felt like we were back to square one, and suddenly, I was terrified she would leave me.” Poor Voss 😭
A few pages later she says this “It struck me then. How much I already trusted him.”
No lovely, no you don’t and I’m exhausted of reading about the same cycle of…
I trust him.
No, I don’t.
He’s going to do something bad.
Why isn’t he doing something bad?
I want him to do something bad so I’m right.
Okay, I trust him again.
The struggle to finish this was real😶
I received this as a free Arc and this will never affect my reviews. I’m too passionate about the books I read to lie. This wasn’t my favourite book by Layla. My favourite in the Wed to Monsters series, by far was Wed to the Lich. I also really loved Jacked by her….now that was a fun ride. 🤣
My point is this book didn’t do it for me and this is only my opinion. You may love it and I hope you do. Anyway until next time 🫶✌️
I love Layla’s work and I’ve really enjoyed her take on the arranged marriage series. But this fell flat for me and honestly, the only reason is Alia.
So let’s start with Alia, she has some serious trauma because of her ex-Liam who is an abusive prick. Who absolutely deserved to die! Liam was an absolute piece of trash who needed to be pushed off a cliff.
I got her worries at the start as frustrating as it was. Her new husband kills her old fiancé (Liam) which is understandable BUT that was because he was hurting her, by physically putting his hands on her. The new fiancé (Liam) killed her old husband (David) because he wanted to marry Alia. Obviously, the only way to do it was to kill David🙄. So I get it that she was nervous about falling into old patterns but she chose to marry Voss knowing he is a monster so he could protect her from Liam.
Voss, his species is dying and he is a ticking time bomb because he needs a mate to calm him. He is lonely and wants a mate that he can love and protect.
Voss deserves so much better… I said what I said🙅♀️ Voss did nothing but prove to Alia that he was a good mate who respected her boundaries. He provided whatever she wanted and protected her from any threat. He was honestly so patient and cute.🫶
“Shhh, my sweet,” I hissed, my voice falling into the low, soothing cadence of the mating call. “You’re safe. I have you. Everything will be all right. I have you now. I’ll always protect you.”
Alia made me so angry, she kept saying she trusted Voss only to change her mind two pages later. Then to throw it back in his face because she wanted him to act badly, so she could validate her feelings without taking into consideration how it was affecting Voss. He definitely had the patience of a saint because Alia drove me to insanity.
I think what annoyed me the most was how much it kept happening after they mated. I interpreted that as her acceptance of the relationship and wanting to work with Voss at being happy instead of blaming him for something he hadn’t done.
So she tells him she wants to have sex with him when he says we should stop so I can respect your boundaries. So tell me why the fuck does she ask for sex and enjoys it. BUT THEN FOR NO REASON, SHE'S LIKE WHOOPS YOU SHOULD LEAVE… BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO NICE AND IT PROBABLY MEANT A LOT TO YOU THAT WE MADE LOVE!!!!
Make it make sense, then we were going around in circles. The same thing happening repeatedly is just the definition of insanity and honestly, I could feel myself going insane because this was killing me.🤦♀️
She wants him to do something bad because she wants to be right about it, like why?😐
I honestly don’t understand her logic. Seven pages after sending him away after their first time. YES, 7 PAGES!!! She randomly says “Can we go to bed? I want you.” This bitch was honestly giving me whiplash. 😤
Voss deserved so much better and I will die on this hill!!! He’d bring himself down so much like he didn’t deserve her and she didn’t say anything back. Relationships are a two-way street and Voss wasn’t receiving the same care he was giving Alina. I still was not rooting for her at like 57%. She is the worst MFC I’ve read so far. 🤦♀️
I finally think that she’s finally getting there and then you get this “I was afraid you’d hurt me in that basement and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s irrational and I know I’m wrong.”
He has treated her like a queen and here we are back to this again. She keeps saying she trusts him but then she thinks and says things like this. She clearly doesn’t trust him. I can understand healing isn’t linear but this just isn’t making sense.
“So she didn’t trust me. She locked the door again, just like she did in the beginning. It felt like we were back to square one, and suddenly, I was terrified she would leave me.” Poor Voss 😭
A few pages later she says this “It struck me then. How much I already trusted him.”
No lovely, no you don’t and I’m exhausted of reading about the same cycle of…
I trust him.
No, I don’t.
He’s going to do something bad.
Why isn’t he doing something bad?
I want him to do something bad so I’m right.
Okay, I trust him again.
The struggle to finish this was real😶
I received this as a free Arc and this will never affect my reviews. I’m too passionate about the books I read to lie. This wasn’t my favourite book by Layla. My favourite in the Wed to Monsters series, by far was Wed to the Lich. I also really loved Jacked by her….now that was a fun ride. 🤣
My point is this book didn’t do it for me and this is only my opinion. You may love it and I hope you do. Anyway until next time 🫶✌️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2024
Daddy Voss will always hold a special place in my heart !!
So I waited until this series was basically over to start these books. I love a big combined series such as this and it brings joy to my little heart when I can find it completed.I’ve been rocking with Layla for a while now. Especially when she has Orcs with special pistacho flavored love that fills buckets and requires a mop.
So when I started this book even though it was more realistic and not as over the top and giddy as that series this was spicy. There are even hemipenes for extra fun and he even had a little spikey spike that hit the fun button.
But onto the great parts or the meat 🥩🌭 and potatoes 🥔!!
Our FMC Alina is on the run 🏃♀️ as many would be in her position. She is in a not so great arranged marriage not of her choosing and she needs a hero. Does she expect her hero to he almost 7 foot tall, covered in spikes, scales and have what is known as the “death eyes” of course not. But if there is anything we’ve learned from these monster/alien romances the hero you need doesn’t always have a cape.
The hero you need also isn’t always the good guy but he can be the good guy for you.
Voss is just that guy known as the bad guy but he’s a total teddy bear for his woman and he will stop at nothing to save her. Even if he’s got to whip out his entire arsenal to make her smile.
I loved this book from the writing to the cute warnings at the front and the author’s note at the end.
But as always the part that freaking slayed me !!
Gods, ssalamiya,” he murmured into my palm, the scales on his outer thighs pressing into the soft skin of my inner ones. “I waited so long for this. And now I am afraid.”
I blinked up at him in confusion. His face twisted in pain, and he nuzzled into my palm.
“Afraid of what?” I whispered, the candle-lit darkness making me reluctant to speak up.
“That I don’t deserve you,” he answered, his golden eyes flashing open and staring into mine with anguish and hope. “I don’t, I know I don’t. But I’ll have you anyway, because you’re here and you’re mine, and I could never let you go. I’ll spend all my life making it up to you.”
I received a copy from the lovely author and this is my honest review.
So I waited until this series was basically over to start these books. I love a big combined series such as this and it brings joy to my little heart when I can find it completed.I’ve been rocking with Layla for a while now. Especially when she has Orcs with special pistacho flavored love that fills buckets and requires a mop.
So when I started this book even though it was more realistic and not as over the top and giddy as that series this was spicy. There are even hemipenes for extra fun and he even had a little spikey spike that hit the fun button.
But onto the great parts or the meat 🥩🌭 and potatoes 🥔!!
Our FMC Alina is on the run 🏃♀️ as many would be in her position. She is in a not so great arranged marriage not of her choosing and she needs a hero. Does she expect her hero to he almost 7 foot tall, covered in spikes, scales and have what is known as the “death eyes” of course not. But if there is anything we’ve learned from these monster/alien romances the hero you need doesn’t always have a cape.
The hero you need also isn’t always the good guy but he can be the good guy for you.
Voss is just that guy known as the bad guy but he’s a total teddy bear for his woman and he will stop at nothing to save her. Even if he’s got to whip out his entire arsenal to make her smile.
I loved this book from the writing to the cute warnings at the front and the author’s note at the end.
But as always the part that freaking slayed me !!
Gods, ssalamiya,” he murmured into my palm, the scales on his outer thighs pressing into the soft skin of my inner ones. “I waited so long for this. And now I am afraid.”
I blinked up at him in confusion. His face twisted in pain, and he nuzzled into my palm.
“Afraid of what?” I whispered, the candle-lit darkness making me reluctant to speak up.
“That I don’t deserve you,” he answered, his golden eyes flashing open and staring into mine with anguish and hope. “I don’t, I know I don’t. But I’ll have you anyway, because you’re here and you’re mine, and I could never let you go. I’ll spend all my life making it up to you.”
I received a copy from the lovely author and this is my honest review.
March 16, 2025
Did I ever hate this series? Well I can't remember saying that. I'm a new person now 😳😳💦🍆🍆🐍🐍
August 20, 2025
Люблю цю серію про монстрів. Нічого не можу вдіяти 😊 історії завжди дивакуваті звісно, але такі милі🥰
March 2, 2025
Trying to understand
I personally don’t understand her trauma, and I don’t understand only because I thought she didn’t have a choice. The guy she was running from forced himself in her life and had her running for safety. She keeps saying she can’t trust herself to trust her husband because of the guy she fled from. Her husband was so patient and gentle and understanding. I really enjoyed that about him.
I personally don’t understand her trauma, and I don’t understand only because I thought she didn’t have a choice. The guy she was running from forced himself in her life and had her running for safety. She keeps saying she can’t trust herself to trust her husband because of the guy she fled from. Her husband was so patient and gentle and understanding. I really enjoyed that about him.
April 17, 2024
I was gifted an Advanced Readers Copy of Wed to the Basilisk by the author Layla Fae.
This is book 15 in the Arranged Monster Mates series and the last book written by Layla for this series.
Alina was abused and tormented by her ex. She was given the opportunity to escape him for a better life by marrying a monster. So of course she took that chance. She has lots of trauma that she needed to work through and unfortunately she had a hard time trusting Voss.
Voss is the last of his kind. He chose to marry a bride instead of laying down and dying alone. He is compassionate, protective and caring. He does what is necessary to protect and care for his new bride. He just wants her love and acceptance.
The two will see some hard times in their marriage but in the end, things work out.
TW- Past abuse from ex, death, murder, trauma.
Book releases on April 24, 2024.
This is book 15 in the Arranged Monster Mates series and the last book written by Layla for this series.
Alina was abused and tormented by her ex. She was given the opportunity to escape him for a better life by marrying a monster. So of course she took that chance. She has lots of trauma that she needed to work through and unfortunately she had a hard time trusting Voss.
Voss is the last of his kind. He chose to marry a bride instead of laying down and dying alone. He is compassionate, protective and caring. He does what is necessary to protect and care for his new bride. He just wants her love and acceptance.
The two will see some hard times in their marriage but in the end, things work out.
TW- Past abuse from ex, death, murder, trauma.
Book releases on April 24, 2024.
June 1, 2025
8/10
Дуже гарна історія про само��ність, надію та зцілення душевних ран. Вона одночасно і cozy, і smut.
Останній з василісків, для якого людська наречена - останній шанс впоратись з його гнівом і перестати прагнути вбивати всіх, хто ��аближається до нього. Та жінка, настільки зламала колишнім нареченим, що не може довіряти навіть тому, хто готовий віддати своє життя заради неї.
Мені дуже сподобалось - і те, як найстрашніший з монстрів читав книжку про те, як допомоги своїй партнерці пережити травму, і те, як він тримався на поважній відстані від неї, хоча це буквально зводило його з розуму, і те, як дівчина, яка зв’язала себе узами шлюбу лише тому, що це було найменшим із зол, дивилась у смертоносні очі свого чоловіка і бачила там лише любов і турботу.
Це було дуже добре😌🤍
Дуже гарна історія про само��ність, надію та зцілення душевних ран. Вона одночасно і cozy, і smut.
Останній з василісків, для якого людська наречена - останній шанс впоратись з його гнівом і перестати прагнути вбивати всіх, хто ��аближається до нього. Та жінка, настільки зламала колишнім нареченим, що не може довіряти навіть тому, хто готовий віддати своє життя заради неї.
Мені дуже сподобалось - і те, як найстрашніший з монстрів читав книжку про те, як допомоги своїй партнерці пережити травму, і те, як він тримався на поважній відстані від неї, хоча це буквально зводило його з розуму, і те, як дівчина, яка зв’язала себе узами шлюбу лише тому, що це було найменшим із зол, дивилась у смертоносні очі свого чоловіка і бачила там лише любов і турботу.
Це було дуже добре😌🤍
June 17, 2024
4 stars.
Voss is such a sweet monster…who likes to chase. And I’m so here for it.
The FMC wasn’t my favorite though.
Her fears and reactions probably made her cptsd more realistic…but I’ve always preferred a bloodthirsty FMC, instead of the scared by all violence kind.
Voss is such a sweet monster…who likes to chase. And I’m so here for it.
The FMC wasn’t my favorite though.
Her fears and reactions probably made her cptsd more realistic…but I’ve always preferred a bloodthirsty FMC, instead of the scared by all violence kind.
April 9, 2025
⭐️ 4/5 🌶 3/5
This book was a whole-ass rollercoaster of emotional damage, sexual tension, monster spice, and tragic pasts. It gave me a sweet, lonely, and deadly basilisk MMC (Voss) who just wants to be loved, and a traumatized FMC (Alina) who’s been through hell and back. 😭
Voss? My poor, sweet, misunderstood basilisk baby. He’s dangerous AF, can literally kill with eye contact, but deep down he’s just a lonely guy who wants a mate and someone to love. The scene where he sleeps outside her locked bedroom door like a heartbroken puppy? Kill me now. My heart couldn’t take it. And then when they finally, finally get to the mating part… oh dear lord, the man’s packing double. That’s right, he’s got two dicks and knows exactly what to do with them. We’re talking double penetration and forest fucking levels of spice. I’m still recovering. 🥵🔥
But here’s why I knocked a star off—Alina. I get it, I do, her trauma was real and valid, and the parallels between Liam and Voss weren’t lost on me. But the back-and-forth, the fear-reset every damn time something happened, it wore me out. I was rooting for them, but she made me wanna scream into a pillow a few times. 😫🫠
That said, the ending gave me everything I needed. Healing, babies, rich basilisk husband with land and diamonds, and a whole ass little family with deadly eye babies—three of them— running around like adorable murder muffins. That’s one satisfying happily ever after. ✨️💚
🐍 MF monster romance
🐍 Arranged marriage
🐍 Fated mates
🐍 Virgin FMC
🐍 Possessive MMC
🐍 Hurt/comfort
🐍 Touch her and die (literally) 💀
🐍 Breeding (with pregnancies and babies)
🐍 Low-angst, sweet, hot and steamy
🐍 HEA
🐍 Epilogues
This book was a whole-ass rollercoaster of emotional damage, sexual tension, monster spice, and tragic pasts. It gave me a sweet, lonely, and deadly basilisk MMC (Voss) who just wants to be loved, and a traumatized FMC (Alina) who’s been through hell and back. 😭
Voss? My poor, sweet, misunderstood basilisk baby. He’s dangerous AF, can literally kill with eye contact, but deep down he’s just a lonely guy who wants a mate and someone to love. The scene where he sleeps outside her locked bedroom door like a heartbroken puppy? Kill me now. My heart couldn’t take it. And then when they finally, finally get to the mating part… oh dear lord, the man’s packing double. That’s right, he’s got two dicks and knows exactly what to do with them. We’re talking double penetration and forest fucking levels of spice. I’m still recovering. 🥵🔥
But here’s why I knocked a star off—Alina. I get it, I do, her trauma was real and valid, and the parallels between Liam and Voss weren’t lost on me. But the back-and-forth, the fear-reset every damn time something happened, it wore me out. I was rooting for them, but she made me wanna scream into a pillow a few times. 😫🫠
That said, the ending gave me everything I needed. Healing, babies, rich basilisk husband with land and diamonds, and a whole ass little family with deadly eye babies—three of them— running around like adorable murder muffins. That’s one satisfying happily ever after. ✨️💚
🐍 MF monster romance
🐍 Arranged marriage
🐍 Fated mates
🐍 Virgin FMC
🐍 Possessive MMC
🐍 Hurt/comfort
🐍 Touch her and die (literally) 💀
🐍 Breeding (with pregnancies and babies)
🐍 Low-angst, sweet, hot and steamy
🐍 HEA
🐍 Epilogues
July 28, 2025
Every now and again, I thoroughly enjoy a sweet and tender love story. I have to say that monsters may be perceived as cruel, grotesque and petrifying creatures by some, but behind the chilling exterior, there is a tender soul, which craves respect, devotion and most of all, love. Having read another book in the Arranged Monster Mates universe, which I bloody loved to bits, I knew I wanted more of that heart - warming romance.
Voss was incredibly well crafted character. As the last of his kind, he has almost lost hope that there ever would be a partner for him. When a proper match has been made for him, he finally has a shred of hope for potential happiness. That man was a gem - kind, patient, devoted, attuned to his partner's needs and not to mention, incredibly sweet towards his wife - Alina. Now, Alina has had some rather unpleasant experience, so to an extent I did understand her hesitancy and reaction to Voss. However, I had zero appreciation for her treatment of that man. She marries Voss in an attempt to escape an abusive ex, but when the ex is no longer a threat, she regards her husband as the villain. Yes, she did work through it and she changed her attitude towards Voss, of course thanks to the MMC's commitment to make his new wife happy, but somehow I felt like she was just not good enough for him.
When the FMC finally gave into her feelings, the chemistry between these two was sizzling. Von is a passionate man, one who cherishes, loves and protects his family. Despite my irritation with the main heroine, the story was lovely and Voss definitely stole my heart here.
Voss was incredibly well crafted character. As the last of his kind, he has almost lost hope that there ever would be a partner for him. When a proper match has been made for him, he finally has a shred of hope for potential happiness. That man was a gem - kind, patient, devoted, attuned to his partner's needs and not to mention, incredibly sweet towards his wife - Alina. Now, Alina has had some rather unpleasant experience, so to an extent I did understand her hesitancy and reaction to Voss. However, I had zero appreciation for her treatment of that man. She marries Voss in an attempt to escape an abusive ex, but when the ex is no longer a threat, she regards her husband as the villain. Yes, she did work through it and she changed her attitude towards Voss, of course thanks to the MMC's commitment to make his new wife happy, but somehow I felt like she was just not good enough for him.
When the FMC finally gave into her feelings, the chemistry between these two was sizzling. Von is a passionate man, one who cherishes, loves and protects his family. Despite my irritation with the main heroine, the story was lovely and Voss definitely stole my heart here.
April 17, 2024
Thank you to the author for an ARC copy!
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes: Touch her and ☠️, Breeding, Primal kink, double 🍆🍆
Layla Fae has done it again! This was my favorite of hers by far. She is a great writer and her stories are pure escapism. I always find myself going back to her if I need a palette cleanser or a fun time.
What I liked:
The author knows how to create the setting/world and flesh out the characters in such a short amount of time. Though I love some good spice, she always balances it well with awesome story building that gives substance to the couples romance.
Voss was by far my fav MMC she has done. He was sweet and so determined to win the love of our FMC.
Alina was a great FMC. She had a lot of trauma to work through, but when she finally surrendered to Voss it gave me all the warm fuzzies. It made me so happy to see her finally feel safe and cherished.
There was a little bit of a slow burn going on and it made it so much more satisfying when the couple got together! The spice was immaculate 😊
What I didn’t like:
Considering that this was a five star read, the only thing I have to say is that I wish there was more! This story could have been double its size and I wouldn’t have gotten enough of these two!
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes: Touch her and ☠️, Breeding, Primal kink, double 🍆🍆
Layla Fae has done it again! This was my favorite of hers by far. She is a great writer and her stories are pure escapism. I always find myself going back to her if I need a palette cleanser or a fun time.
What I liked:
The author knows how to create the setting/world and flesh out the characters in such a short amount of time. Though I love some good spice, she always balances it well with awesome story building that gives substance to the couples romance.
Voss was by far my fav MMC she has done. He was sweet and so determined to win the love of our FMC.
Alina was a great FMC. She had a lot of trauma to work through, but when she finally surrendered to Voss it gave me all the warm fuzzies. It made me so happy to see her finally feel safe and cherished.
There was a little bit of a slow burn going on and it made it so much more satisfying when the couple got together! The spice was immaculate 😊
What I didn’t like:
Considering that this was a five star read, the only thing I have to say is that I wish there was more! This story could have been double its size and I wouldn’t have gotten enough of these two!
April 18, 2024
This was my first ever ARC and I want to thank Layla for blessing me with this opportunity!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
I'd like to mention that it took me 3 days to start this book because I was literally too excited to read it. Anyways, obviously, the book was great. I am a big fan of Layla and she has never disappointed me so far with any of her books that I've read. The spice was delicious. It wasn't that often or kinky for me but it was just delicious to read, you know?
I absolutely loved Voss. The way he cared for her and chastised himself whenever he made her afraid was too precious to read. And although it was heart wrenching to see him get dejected, there is also a different charm to feeling sad for a character. This book really was perfect in that sense because it made me feel without scarring me.
I loved Alina as well. Her actions were definitely frustrating at some points but she knew that too and did her best to change the way she felt and reacted. I love characters who act like adults.
Although I am sad that this was Layla's last book in this collaboration, I am excited to see what her future projects are going to be like!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
I'd like to mention that it took me 3 days to start this book because I was literally too excited to read it. Anyways, obviously, the book was great. I am a big fan of Layla and she has never disappointed me so far with any of her books that I've read. The spice was delicious. It wasn't that often or kinky for me but it was just delicious to read, you know?
I absolutely loved Voss. The way he cared for her and chastised himself whenever he made her afraid was too precious to read. And although it was heart wrenching to see him get dejected, there is also a different charm to feeling sad for a character. This book really was perfect in that sense because it made me feel without scarring me.
I loved Alina as well. Her actions were definitely frustrating at some points but she knew that too and did her best to change the way she felt and reacted. I love characters who act like adults.
Although I am sad that this was Layla's last book in this collaboration, I am excited to see what her future projects are going to be like!
January 6, 2025
As much as I loved the other books in this series by the same author, this one fell flat. I could see what she wanted to do with Alina's trauma and growth, but it just felt all over the place. She was rejecting him, then wanted him in her bed, then wanted to be with him, back to rejecting. It was just a bit too much of her changing her mind to really engage with the story.
October 28, 2024
We're back in Alia Terra with another arranged marriage between a monster and human couple. This time around, we have Voss, the last basilisk in Alia Terra, who is doomed to morph into a rage-filled killing machine if he doesn't find his mate. His last hope is to submit his blood to the Temple, which, to his surprise and relief, finds him a match in a young human woman named Alina. Unlike other humans, Alina seems unafraid to look Voss in the eyes (basilisks' eyes can kill, although they have a protective membrane that makes their gazes safe), and he hopes that this is a sign they can have a loving marriage.
Unfortunately, not long after their marriage, Alina is violently grabbed by Liam, the man who'd planned to force her to marry him and who she'd desperately wanted to get away from. Voss kills him in an instant with his gaze, prompting a terrified Alina to wonder if she's ended up with someone just as violent and horrible as Liam.
Voss realizes he's going to have to earn Alina's trust, which may be especially difficult considering how naturally protective basilisks are of their mates.
This was decent enough, although I didn't enjoy it as much as the author's Wed to the Lich. I don't know if it's true or if it just felt that way, but it seemed like the sex scenes were more frequent, and apparently I can handle "shadow tentacles" better than "two penises normally hidden in a 'cock pocket.'"
Anyhoo, I thought this book handled Alina's efforts to deal with her trauma slightly more believably, although there were still moments when I found myself thinking "wow, that was fast." She had moments of backsliding, though, that I appreciated.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Unfortunately, not long after their marriage, Alina is violently grabbed by Liam, the man who'd planned to force her to marry him and who she'd desperately wanted to get away from. Voss kills him in an instant with his gaze, prompting a terrified Alina to wonder if she's ended up with someone just as violent and horrible as Liam.
Voss realizes he's going to have to earn Alina's trust, which may be especially difficult considering how naturally protective basilisks are of their mates.
This was decent enough, although I didn't enjoy it as much as the author's Wed to the Lich. I don't know if it's true or if it just felt that way, but it seemed like the sex scenes were more frequent, and apparently I can handle "shadow tentacles" better than "two penises normally hidden in a 'cock pocket.'"
Anyhoo, I thought this book handled Alina's efforts to deal with her trauma slightly more believably, although there were still moments when I found myself thinking "wow, that was fast." She had moments of backsliding, though, that I appreciated.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
April 22, 2024
Voss (H), the last basilisk of his kind, known for his terrifying presence and uncontrollable rage, needs a mate to calm his inner beast, but most everyone tends to avoid him due to his terrifying presence. Alina (h), a woman who is on the run from Liam, a dangerous man who killed her fiancé and plans to force her into marriage, sees marrying a monster as her only escape. At the temple, Alina is initially fearful but relieved that Voss isn't Liam. Voss, in turn, is captivated by Alina's scent, which instantly soothes his anger. But their fragile trust is soon shattered when Liam shows up and Alina witnesses Voss's terrifying, destructive ability. Despite his instinctual desire to claim her, Voss respects Alina’s boundaries, vowing never to force her into anything and is determined to regain Alina's trust while keeping his rage in check. Alina, scarred by her past with Liam, struggles to trust anyone but eventually starts to see Voss's protective and gentle nature towards her. Voss learns to control his rage while Alina discovers that Voss is not like Liam and begins to heal from her past trauma, eventually opening to the possibility of a meaningful connection. Hot and steamy monster romance with lots of angst, trauma, fear, and learning to trust as Voss and Alina navigate their evolving relationship.
April 21, 2024
One of the sweetest romances I've read, it has everything in 200 pages; you can find a complete story that hooks you from the first moment. Voss is the last of his kind and almost drives himself to the brink of madness until the marriage temple arranges a marriage with a human for him, which brings back his hopes of having a partner again. It's a slow burn, I loved how Alina overcomes her traumas with Voss' help; he's extremely patient and, above all, understanding with her, he's a real cinnamon roll. He makes her understand that she deserves all the good things in life and that she's not damaged.
Voss gives his life for Alina; he's so protective that I'm fascinated by how he shields her. It's my first time reading about a monster romance involving a Basilisk, which is closely tied to my list of favorite monsters; I can say I loved it, and it didn't disappoint me at all. Especially the smut in this story is over the top! Layla has always been one of my preferred authors, and with this story, she didn't disappoint me at all; I loved it from beginning to end. Both characters learn to love each other, and Voss earns Alina's trust by showing his love for her daily. I enjoy this series of Arranged Monster Mates; I'll start reading about the different couples and monsters available.
April 18, 2024
Ive read a few of the stories in the arranged monster mate series. This was one of my favorites.
Both characters previously experienced trauma and a large part of this story centered around that and how they both healed.
I loved how patient and kind Voss was. He knew Alina was his and waited for Alina to feel comfortable.
Alina doesn't have much, if any, trust for others but even less for herself. Alina spends most of her beginning time with Voss "waiting for the other show to drop".
The speed that the story played out was well done. It didn't feel rushed and I liked seeing the sort of day to day work these two put in toward each other and their relationship.
Also this is fiction and definitely not for anyone under 18. It's not overly spicy, kind of a slow burn and monster character body parts.
Overall I really enjoyed it and am sad this was the last book contribution from the talented Layla Fae
Both characters previously experienced trauma and a large part of this story centered around that and how they both healed.
I loved how patient and kind Voss was. He knew Alina was his and waited for Alina to feel comfortable.
Alina doesn't have much, if any, trust for others but even less for herself. Alina spends most of her beginning time with Voss "waiting for the other show to drop".
The speed that the story played out was well done. It didn't feel rushed and I liked seeing the sort of day to day work these two put in toward each other and their relationship.
Also this is fiction and definitely not for anyone under 18. It's not overly spicy, kind of a slow burn and monster character body parts.
Overall I really enjoyed it and am sad this was the last book contribution from the talented Layla Fae
April 16, 2024
I got choosen as an arc reader, for that I first want to thank you Layla.
The story:
Voss is the last basilisk and in need for a mate to not go on a killing spree and get killed. He is patient and sweet and gentle even though he is also a predator. No one stays in his way between him and his mate. I loved him for his protectiveness but also how willing he was to go out of his way for his mate.
Alina comes from a abusive forced relationship and should marry soon her abusive fiancé. That’s why she went to the temple to be matched with a monster. I loved that she at some point faced her demons.
I devoured the book.
I loved it has dual PoV what I always prefer.
It’s a fast burn as all the books in the series. So not too much drama but you still can see/read how the human and the monster will find their way together and overcome their differences and own problems to get their happily ever after. ❤️
The story:
Voss is the last basilisk and in need for a mate to not go on a killing spree and get killed. He is patient and sweet and gentle even though he is also a predator. No one stays in his way between him and his mate. I loved him for his protectiveness but also how willing he was to go out of his way for his mate.
Alina comes from a abusive forced relationship and should marry soon her abusive fiancé. That’s why she went to the temple to be matched with a monster. I loved that she at some point faced her demons.
I devoured the book.
I loved it has dual PoV what I always prefer.
It’s a fast burn as all the books in the series. So not too much drama but you still can see/read how the human and the monster will find their way together and overcome their differences and own problems to get their happily ever after. ❤️
April 18, 2024
❌Slight spoilers❌
I was given an ARC to review and it did not disappoint.
Voss comes across as an angry male that is practically going mad, but turns out to be the sweetest, most patient male, especially given his species! This has ‘Touch her and 💀’ vibes and of course there is a little past trauma that our FMC has to get through. But once the spice gets going? Hot damn, you’re not going to want to put this down. I read this at every opportunity I had until I finished and I just wanted more of these two.
I’m sad to see that this is Layla’s last contribution to this series. I have loved every one of her Arranged Monster Mates but I can’t wait to see what is coming next!
Thank you to Layla for gifting me a copy of this!
I was given an ARC to review and it did not disappoint.
Voss comes across as an angry male that is practically going mad, but turns out to be the sweetest, most patient male, especially given his species! This has ‘Touch her and 💀’ vibes and of course there is a little past trauma that our FMC has to get through. But once the spice gets going? Hot damn, you’re not going to want to put this down. I read this at every opportunity I had until I finished and I just wanted more of these two.
I’m sad to see that this is Layla’s last contribution to this series. I have loved every one of her Arranged Monster Mates but I can’t wait to see what is coming next!
Thank you to Layla for gifting me a copy of this!
April 19, 2024
He's the last of his race,a cinnamon roll with feral instints on the verge of madness.As last hope he goes to the temple for a bride.
She's on the run from an abusive stalker,traumatized and fearing violence.
Their path is full of fears and insecurities but also hope ,resilience and love.
Layla Fae weaved a fantastic tale,with good plot and world building and, special mention, for the characters and their interactions are detailed and often complex giving depht to the story.
Highly recomend!
She's on the run from an abusive stalker,traumatized and fearing violence.
Their path is full of fears and insecurities but also hope ,resilience and love.
Layla Fae weaved a fantastic tale,with good plot and world building and, special mention, for the characters and their interactions are detailed and often complex giving depht to the story.
Highly recomend!
May 27, 2024
If Layla fae writes it I’m gonna read it. She is the master of cozy monster romance. There is spice and really good plot every time for such short novellas. (Also loved the throw back to all of her other monsters she has written in this series 🫶🏽)
June 5, 2025
8/10, це було дуже мило і гаряче іхіхі, мої булочки 🤧🥰
May 7, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
✅TW’s
Voss signs up to get an arranged wife. He is a basilisk who needs a mate. Alina, trying to run away from her ex, signs up to be married.
I love these books. I can’t wait for each release. I love the setup and the spice is always so good. I loved this book. Layla did so good with it. I couldn’t put it down.
Tropes:
-arranged marriage
-monster x human
-protective MMC
-fated mates
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
✅TW’s
Voss signs up to get an arranged wife. He is a basilisk who needs a mate. Alina, trying to run away from her ex, signs up to be married.
I love these books. I can’t wait for each release. I love the setup and the spice is always so good. I loved this book. Layla did so good with it. I couldn’t put it down.
Tropes:
-arranged marriage
-monster x human
-protective MMC
-fated mates
April 18, 2024
This was received as a ARC from the author.
Minor spoilers.
This is a dual POV book of Voss and Alina. This book gives everything and more of a loving obsessed MMC who would do anything for his mate to the well executed tropes.
Don't we all just love a good spicy chase scene in the jungle?
I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one sitting. Thank you to the author for this amazing last work in the series from them.
Minor spoilers.
This is a dual POV book of Voss and Alina. This book gives everything and more of a loving obsessed MMC who would do anything for his mate to the well executed tropes.
Don't we all just love a good spicy chase scene in the jungle?
I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one sitting. Thank you to the author for this amazing last work in the series from them.
April 17, 2024
My first ARC and I'm glad it was by one of my fav monster romance writers.
This was cute and yet INCREDIBLY filthy 🥵 and now I want a basilisk mate.
Voss is very much perfect boyfriend/ hubby material and Alina manages not to be so annoying which happens to too many fmcs.
If you know Fae's work then you know she doesn't miss and if you are wondering if to read this then I highly suggest you do.
This was cute and yet INCREDIBLY filthy 🥵 and now I want a basilisk mate.
Voss is very much perfect boyfriend/ hubby material and Alina manages not to be so annoying which happens to too many fmcs.
If you know Fae's work then you know she doesn't miss and if you are wondering if to read this then I highly suggest you do.
February 7, 2025
Still have a fear of snakes despite all the snake man romances I’ve read 😭
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