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Monstrous Whims #1
The Whims of Gods
A Howl’s Moving Castle-inspired Science Fantasy M/M Monster Romance set in a post-apocalyptic world with giant monsters.
Helios has a knack for survival. All he has ever known is the world after the Rise. He’s the product of a ruthless new era. Humanity has been brought down by the old gods that walk the Earth once again. But on the day he’s about to be sold into slavery after being captured with a group of nomads, survival comes in the form of a mutant. His savior, Griffin, agrees to take him on board his vessel, the Beetle. The Beetle is a never-before-seen six-legged machine inhabited by a bad-tempered AI.
Helios, seduced by the prospect of doing more than just surviving, will do everything in his power to hold on to this new life. And if staying on the Beetle means spending time with the Devil of the Wastes, so be it.
THE WHIMS OF GODS is a gay science fantasy romance for mature readers (18+)
Trigger warning: Non-human genitalia, sexual abuse (not explicit), violence, blood, and strong language.
Helios has a knack for survival. All he has ever known is the world after the Rise. He’s the product of a ruthless new era. Humanity has been brought down by the old gods that walk the Earth once again. But on the day he’s about to be sold into slavery after being captured with a group of nomads, survival comes in the form of a mutant. His savior, Griffin, agrees to take him on board his vessel, the Beetle. The Beetle is a never-before-seen six-legged machine inhabited by a bad-tempered AI.
Helios, seduced by the prospect of doing more than just surviving, will do everything in his power to hold on to this new life. And if staying on the Beetle means spending time with the Devil of the Wastes, so be it.
THE WHIMS OF GODS is a gay science fantasy romance for mature readers (18+)
Trigger warning: Non-human genitalia, sexual abuse (not explicit), violence, blood, and strong language.
180 pages, ebook
First published February 17, 2024
157 people are currently reading
1892 people want to read
About the author
Mell R. Bright
12 books170 followersMell R. Bright is a book fiend who lives in the French countryside, where life is all about bees and old castles. She spends her days writing science fiction and fantasy books, and her nights writing queer romances.
Follow her on Instagram at @mellrbright to know the latest book news or check out her Patreon page.
Follow her on Instagram at @mellrbright to know the latest book news or check out her Patreon page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
December 16, 2024
I had a good time with this one even if I didn’t like it as
much as I thought I would. It definitely floats in the realm of the “Monstrous” series by Lily Mayne but I think it has enough things setting it apart. The writing wasn’t bad but it wasn’t fantastic either, it just sits in the middle. I liked both Helios’ and Griffin’s personalities, definitely giving off a bit of Danny and Wyn vibes. The only thing that really set this story off course was the world building. I just wanted more of it!! I feel like In order to establish a world like this where ‘old gods’ have woken up and have taken over, you really need a lot more descriptions, flashbacks, hints of stories, detailed terrains (like ‘what has the world become’) if that makes sense. It just felt a little lacking. But the concept was very interesting and I’ll probably give the second book a shot.
much as I thought I would. It definitely floats in the realm of the “Monstrous” series by Lily Mayne but I think it has enough things setting it apart. The writing wasn’t bad but it wasn’t fantastic either, it just sits in the middle. I liked both Helios’ and Griffin’s personalities, definitely giving off a bit of Danny and Wyn vibes. The only thing that really set this story off course was the world building. I just wanted more of it!! I feel like In order to establish a world like this where ‘old gods’ have woken up and have taken over, you really need a lot more descriptions, flashbacks, hints of stories, detailed terrains (like ‘what has the world become’) if that makes sense. It just felt a little lacking. But the concept was very interesting and I’ll probably give the second book a shot.
September 10, 2025
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssss queeeeeeeeeen, give the main character 🍆TWO COCKS🍆 and then make the sex scenes ✨OVERWHELMINGLY MID✨
5 stars for the idea, and the cover.
2 stars for LITERALLY EVERYTHING ELSE. This book was actually insufferable?
The writing is dreadful, yes it may be a "it's just not for me but maybe it's for you" moment, but it buffed the ridges of my brain until it became smooth....
It's just so terribly amateur and it doesn't feel like a single sentence in the whole book is over 10 words long.
The world descriptions, and just scene descriptions in general are criminally underwhelming.
"he fucked me to the moon"
"the ground is textured to avoid slipping" - uhhhh okay? Who asked? and how are you aware it's for non-slip reasons?
"I walk for hours, until the sun is high in the sky." backed up by "I walk for hours even as night falls" - Not sure if this was trying to be like... funny or something? but why? on the same page?
"We are making out surrounded by dead bodies on a battlefield" - MAKING OUT?🤮🤮🤮 it's giving............ ✨12 year olds having their first kiss ew bro✨ also wtf is this dialogue.
"Generous spurts of semen explode inside his mouth"
and the ALL TIME BIGGEST ICK OF THIS BOOK YOU ASK???
Our mc is a reader.... and not just a simple off the shoulder comment... NAY NAY...
He's cringe af about it.
NUFFIN WORSE than a book that's not well written with the cringey addition of an MC saying shit like "I love books. books are everything" and scenes where he mentions "I pick a science fiction book, a fantasy, and a contemporary fiction book" and then he's taking about a gay werewolf smut, and a shifter smut, and showing smut to the god and if he'll get horny over it, tffffffff, and it's just all so cringeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I can't fkn deal with it 💀💀💀
In summary:
Post apoc vibes done pretty badly imo, Wyn from TEMU as an MC, and the word "butthole" in a sex scene is never necessary.
5 stars for the idea, and the cover.
2 stars for LITERALLY EVERYTHING ELSE. This book was actually insufferable?
The writing is dreadful, yes it may be a "it's just not for me but maybe it's for you" moment, but it buffed the ridges of my brain until it became smooth....
It's just so terribly amateur and it doesn't feel like a single sentence in the whole book is over 10 words long.
The world descriptions, and just scene descriptions in general are criminally underwhelming.
"he fucked me to the moon"
"the ground is textured to avoid slipping" - uhhhh okay? Who asked? and how are you aware it's for non-slip reasons?
"I walk for hours, until the sun is high in the sky." backed up by "I walk for hours even as night falls" - Not sure if this was trying to be like... funny or something? but why? on the same page?
"We are making out surrounded by dead bodies on a battlefield" - MAKING OUT?🤮🤮🤮 it's giving............ ✨12 year olds having their first kiss ew bro✨ also wtf is this dialogue.
"Generous spurts of semen explode inside his mouth"
and the ALL TIME BIGGEST ICK OF THIS BOOK YOU ASK???
Our mc is a reader.... and not just a simple off the shoulder comment... NAY NAY...
He's cringe af about it.
NUFFIN WORSE than a book that's not well written with the cringey addition of an MC saying shit like "I love books. books are everything" and scenes where he mentions "I pick a science fiction book, a fantasy, and a contemporary fiction book" and then he's taking about a gay werewolf smut, and a shifter smut, and showing smut to the god and if he'll get horny over it, tffffffff, and it's just all so cringeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. I can't fkn deal with it 💀💀💀
In summary:
Post apoc vibes done pretty badly imo, Wyn from TEMU as an MC, and the word "butthole" in a sex scene is never necessary.
July 23, 2024
This book was lovely. Thanks again to Kati for finding this gem.
I don't think you can write a review of it without making a comparison to Lily Mayne's Monstrous Series. I've only read the first two books of this series, so thankfully I don't have too much of it in the back of my mind. Nevertheless, the thought of a comparison is unfortunately inevitable.
HOWEVER, this one is really different. All the possible similarities aside, this book definitely has its own style. I'm almost afraid you can't write anything further about a dystopian Earth where monsters reign supreme without drawing a comparison to Lily Mayne.
I don't mean the comparison in a negative way. As I said, this is different. I love the concept of the old gods. I don't want to go into it in detail, I think you just have to blindly enjoy it. Just this much, at the beginning when one of the gods is mentioned, I briefly thought Mell R. Bright was taking the piss. I must confess I was on the verge of putting the book down angrily. But I forced myself to read on and it only took me a few pages to understand and forgive the author. And then I found the concept really funny and overall really wonderful.
I know, a bit cryptic, but this is one of those books where you just can't go into detail.
As for the romance in this first installment, hmmmm really good. Interesting characters. Helios and Griffin are very nicely portrayed and fit perfectly into this world.
Griffin drops his head on my shoulder, his horn grazing my cheek. “I hope you know, Helios, that I would die for you,” he says quietly. 🫠🖤🫠
A nice touch with Beetle too, very funny.
There is action and you wander around to get supplies, there are various deaths and abuse in the past, so not for the faint hearted.
And of course the romance gets a wonderful spice too.
I even created a shelf for non-human dicks especially for this book, it just had to be, it was just too nice ... erm hot ...
I pump my dick faster, and the sound of friction can now be heard over the voices on the TV. Griffin is as still as a statue, but his eyes are on me. He’s too composed, and that annoys me. I drop my pants on the floor and spread my legs. Opening my mouth, I suck on my middle finger long and deep, then I guide that finger to my butthole, moaning as I gently start fingering myself. Nice and slow. It’s been a while.
The fact that Griffin is watching me do it is exhilarating. I never knew I would enjoy someone watching me like this. 🤤🌶️🤤
And if you want more, you'll have to read it for yourself.
I don't think you can write a review of it without making a comparison to Lily Mayne's Monstrous Series. I've only read the first two books of this series, so thankfully I don't have too much of it in the back of my mind. Nevertheless, the thought of a comparison is unfortunately inevitable.
HOWEVER, this one is really different. All the possible similarities aside, this book definitely has its own style. I'm almost afraid you can't write anything further about a dystopian Earth where monsters reign supreme without drawing a comparison to Lily Mayne.
I don't mean the comparison in a negative way. As I said, this is different. I love the concept of the old gods. I don't want to go into it in detail, I think you just have to blindly enjoy it. Just this much, at the beginning when one of the gods is mentioned, I briefly thought Mell R. Bright was taking the piss. I must confess I was on the verge of putting the book down angrily. But I forced myself to read on and it only took me a few pages to understand and forgive the author. And then I found the concept really funny and overall really wonderful.
I know, a bit cryptic, but this is one of those books where you just can't go into detail.
As for the romance in this first installment, hmmmm really good. Interesting characters. Helios and Griffin are very nicely portrayed and fit perfectly into this world.
Griffin drops his head on my shoulder, his horn grazing my cheek. “I hope you know, Helios, that I would die for you,” he says quietly. 🫠🖤🫠
A nice touch with Beetle too, very funny.
There is action and you wander around to get supplies, there are various deaths and abuse in the past, so not for the faint hearted.
And of course the romance gets a wonderful spice too.
I even created a shelf for non-human dicks especially for this book, it just had to be, it was just too nice ... erm hot ...
I pump my dick faster, and the sound of friction can now be heard over the voices on the TV. Griffin is as still as a statue, but his eyes are on me. He’s too composed, and that annoys me. I drop my pants on the floor and spread my legs. Opening my mouth, I suck on my middle finger long and deep, then I guide that finger to my butthole, moaning as I gently start fingering myself. Nice and slow. It’s been a while.
The fact that Griffin is watching me do it is exhilarating. I never knew I would enjoy someone watching me like this. 🤤🌶️🤤
And if you want more, you'll have to read it for yourself.
December 31, 2024
* ☘︎ :･ﾟTOP 5 READ 2024 :･ﾟ☘︎ *
4.5***** stars
I FREAKING LOVED THIS!! Highly recommended!
Reading this novella was such a breath of fresh air I can’t wait to dive into the next one right away.
First I want to praise the cover —isn’t it just beautiful??
And secondly I want to praise the author’s captivating writing style. There wasn’t a dull moment on this adventurous journey. I’m def reading her other series too.
Ms Bright did fantastic with the world building. Although this book is on the shorter side I could imagine vividly this post apocalyptic world after The Rise of the gods. This book is filled with precarious situations, devastating moments and survival but also hot nights and happiness.
I loved every minute of it.
I loved Helios. I loved the Beetle. And I loved Griffin and the mystery of his origins. And I loved their love story, or as Beet was calling it, this weird mating dance humans do.
side note: This is not some crazy monster porn. The “monsters” in these books are humans with monstrous mutations from lab experiments. The animals on the covers do not represent the mutations but stand for something important in the stories.
************
Monstrous Whims Series
Book 1 - The Whims of Gods - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - The Whims of Hate - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - The Whims of Love - tbd
*these books follow different couples but I strongly recommend reading them in order
4.5***** stars
I FREAKING LOVED THIS!! Highly recommended!
Reading this novella was such a breath of fresh air I can’t wait to dive into the next one right away.
First I want to praise the cover —isn’t it just beautiful??
And secondly I want to praise the author’s captivating writing style. There wasn’t a dull moment on this adventurous journey. I’m def reading her other series too.
Ms Bright did fantastic with the world building. Although this book is on the shorter side I could imagine vividly this post apocalyptic world after The Rise of the gods. This book is filled with precarious situations, devastating moments and survival but also hot nights and happiness.
I loved every minute of it.
I loved Helios. I loved the Beetle. And I loved Griffin and the mystery of his origins. And I loved their love story, or as Beet was calling it, this weird mating dance humans do.
“Okay, Helios. I’ll give you what you want,” he says. “But let me warn you that if you start running now, I’ll hunt you down and devour you anyway. This is on you.”
side note: This is not some crazy monster porn. The “monsters” in these books are humans with monstrous mutations from lab experiments. The animals on the covers do not represent the mutations but stand for something important in the stories.
************
Monstrous Whims Series
Book 1 - The Whims of Gods - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - The Whims of Hate - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - The Whims of Love - tbd
*these books follow different couples but I strongly recommend reading them in order
June 19, 2024
*3.5* A blend of sci-fi and post-apocalyptic gay/bi romance, inspired by Howl's Moving Castle. The story follows Helios, a survivor in a world ravaged by the return of old gods.
Captured and facing a grim fate as a slave, Helios' life takes an unexpected turn when he's rescued by Griffin, a mysterious mutant know as the Devil of the Wastes. Griffin's vessel, the Beetle, is an astonishing 6-legged machine with a surly AI. I loved Beetle.
The situation with Oliver, from Helios’ past was heartbreaking. so the story missed a few points in terms of communication.
The intimacy was there, but certainly wasn't a main focus. The story was decent, but lacked that deeper emotional pull.
I couldn't help but to compare this to Wyn and Danny in Soul Eater by Lily Mayne. Which was a much better story in terms of intimacy, heart and vulnerable characters.
Captured and facing a grim fate as a slave, Helios' life takes an unexpected turn when he's rescued by Griffin, a mysterious mutant know as the Devil of the Wastes. Griffin's vessel, the Beetle, is an astonishing 6-legged machine with a surly AI. I loved Beetle.
“I’ve never witnessed such a stupid mating dance,” she continues.
The situation with Oliver, from Helios’ past was heartbreaking. so the story missed a few points in terms of communication.
The intimacy was there, but certainly wasn't a main focus. The story was decent, but lacked that deeper emotional pull.
I couldn't help but to compare this to Wyn and Danny in Soul Eater by Lily Mayne. Which was a much better story in terms of intimacy, heart and vulnerable characters.
August 17, 2025
Right, I’m going to get it out of the way right off the bat and then not bother addressing it again cause it’s an unavoidable comp. This book draws a lot of thematic similarities from Lily Maynes Monstrous series and considering how beloved that series is in the Monster Romance circles I don’t think there would be many people going into this story without drawing that association.
However, I still think that this has a lot to offer as its own piece of work as well and there are enough differences that you aren’t thinking it all the time.
Helios is a travelling wanderer in a dystopian future where the world has fallen, following the awakening of the Old Gods. After being rescued from Slavers, Helios crosses paths with the Griffin, the human/monster hybrid with a heart of gold and I am sure you can all imagine where it goes from there.
I think that this book was very ambitious to tackle in a novella and could easily have been developed into a full-length novel which would have allowed more breathing room in the story and the relationship to develop into something a bit richer and with more depth.
I thought that Helios and Griffin had some sweet chemistry, and I enjoyed what we got of them together, but honestly the spicy scenes kind of fell a bit flat for me. Considering we are dealing with monster romances with all sorts of sexy surprises possible, the whole endeavour felt surprisingly vanilla lol.
I'll pick up the second book because I am deeply intrigued as to how they could possibly redeem Oliver, especially in novella form and I love me some 'enemies to lovers'
However, I still think that this has a lot to offer as its own piece of work as well and there are enough differences that you aren’t thinking it all the time.
Helios is a travelling wanderer in a dystopian future where the world has fallen, following the awakening of the Old Gods. After being rescued from Slavers, Helios crosses paths with the Griffin, the human/monster hybrid with a heart of gold and I am sure you can all imagine where it goes from there.
I think that this book was very ambitious to tackle in a novella and could easily have been developed into a full-length novel which would have allowed more breathing room in the story and the relationship to develop into something a bit richer and with more depth.
I thought that Helios and Griffin had some sweet chemistry, and I enjoyed what we got of them together, but honestly the spicy scenes kind of fell a bit flat for me. Considering we are dealing with monster romances with all sorts of sexy surprises possible, the whole endeavour felt surprisingly vanilla lol.
I'll pick up the second book because I am deeply intrigued as to how they could possibly redeem Oliver, especially in novella form and I love me some 'enemies to lovers'
June 3, 2024
very interesting concept, but the book needed more depth, more development between the two mmcs. the sex scenes felt rushed and obligatory, rather than sensual or sexy. i mean really, how are you gonna give me a man with TWO COCKS and be lowkey bland about it!?!? smh😔😔 i loved imagining the beetle and the AI was chef’s kiss. this has all the elements of an exciting, post apocalyptic adventure/romance, but fell short for me. i’ll still read book 2 tho bc i love a villain!!😩
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book so much! It felt similar to Lily Mayne's Monstrous series, with elements of Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeves, yet still felt original too. I also loved how it incorporated mythological beings from around the world.
Helios and Griffin were adorable together and fell fast, yet the pacing still felt good because it is a shorter book and the action is pretty much non-stop. Helios is so unlucky but I loved the added tension that came from his mishaps, and we also get to meet Jude (from book 2).
I loved the world building and I especially enjoyed the actual format of the story. Every chapter is preceeded by an extract from an article, a journal, or a transcription of a recording from various points between the Rise and the present day, and it gave so much background information without bogging down the actual story itself or relying on overly long flashbacks which I'm never a fan of. It was a really different approach to what I normally read but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much to Annie for the book rec because I may never have found these books otherwise!
Helios and Griffin were adorable together and fell fast, yet the pacing still felt good because it is a shorter book and the action is pretty much non-stop. Helios is so unlucky but I loved the added tension that came from his mishaps, and we also get to meet Jude (from book 2).
I loved the world building and I especially enjoyed the actual format of the story. Every chapter is preceeded by an extract from an article, a journal, or a transcription of a recording from various points between the Rise and the present day, and it gave so much background information without bogging down the actual story itself or relying on overly long flashbacks which I'm never a fan of. It was a really different approach to what I normally read but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much to Annie for the book rec because I may never have found these books otherwise!
May 13, 2025
I came for the monster romance with a pretty cover, I stayed for the world building. I really liked the way Bright included some journal entries/blogs/articles by random people in the story to help provide background information on the world without adding too much bulk to the story. The characters were easy to like and root for with just the right balance of bad-assery and cuteness.
December 18, 2024
4.5
Gay Howls moving castle if Howl had two dicks.
Fantastic give me more ❤️❤️
This is a mm dystopian sci-fi monster romance. It’s very short and worth the read!!
This book took me by surprise partly because I had no idea it existed until today. I was a little disappointed Nobody told me about this series but it just came out this year so that makes sense. I love all of the main characters here
Oliver is awful in this installment and I know book 2 is supposed to be his love story👀 so he’s gonna need a lot of character development which i love
Fans of monstrous series would like this
Gay Howls moving castle if Howl had two dicks.
Fantastic give me more ❤️❤️
This is a mm dystopian sci-fi monster romance. It’s very short and worth the read!!
This book took me by surprise partly because I had no idea it existed until today. I was a little disappointed Nobody told me about this series but it just came out this year so that makes sense. I love all of the main characters here
Oliver is awful in this installment and I know book 2 is supposed to be his love story👀 so he’s gonna need a lot of character development which i love
Fans of monstrous series would like this
February 8, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐s - EVERYONE PAUSE!! We need to give this book more attention immediately - it’s so good (I don’t make the rules) 😌
I was googling for books with a similar vibe to Soul Eater by Lily Mayne, and I stumbled across this little gem. I’m so glad I did because this book is everything ! The world-building is incredible, and I honestly love all the characters. It even has inspiration from Howl’s Moving Castle. Like, do I really need to say more?
Of course, I do because I just can’t keep my mouth shut 😂
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚ The World-Building ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
This is set in a post-apocalyptic world after the rise of the gods. Humans don’t stand a chance against them, so they’ve learned to live around them instead. There’s no government, no army - just survival of the fittest. If you’re weak, other people will take you out for supplies, that is, if the gods don’t get you first and make you their next snack.
Not going to lie, I was a bit confused at first with what was going on. But at the start of each chapter, there’s a news article, interview, or book transcript that explains the backstory since the gods awoke. I thought these bits were super cool, and I quickly picked up on every detail and ate it up.
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚ The Plot ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
We follow Helios’s POV. He’s been alone since he was a teenager, surviving in the desert after his mum passed away. Then, he gets kidnapped along with some other people by a group trying to sell them into slavery. Enter Griffin, a mutant who rescues everyone. Helios thinks his best shot at survival is to stick with Griffin for as long as he can, and to his surprise, Griffin lets him stay on his ship, a vessel called the Beetle, with an AI assistant named Beet (my fave character, honestly).
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚ The Characters ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
📖Helios
I love him! Growing up alone has made him tough - he does what he needs to survive, and it shows. He’s witty, bold, and doesn’t hesitate to make the first move on Griffin. This guy knows what he wants, and he doesn’t back down until he gets it. And he did 😏
🐲Griffin
I love him too!! He’s powerful and strong but not at all arrogant. In fact, he’s shy and kind, keeping to himself most of the time. But once you’re his - there’s no going back. I love my possessive king!
🪲Beet
I’m not even ashamed to say an AI assistant is my favourite character because Beet is everything. My Alexa at home doesn’t even listen to me! Beet is intelligent, sassy, and funny. Sometimes I forgot she’s AI because she’s such a mother hen.
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚ Their Relationship ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
Helios and Griffin’s relationship is super sweet, and their attraction grows quickly, which makes sense since the book is only 190 pages. The only reason I didn’t give this book a full 5 stars is that I wish it were longer so we could see their relationship develop more. It feels a bit surface level right now, but other than that, everything else is perfect!
Overall, I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to dive into the next one - a villain redemption arc, I heard? Say less!
꘎♡━━━━━♡꘎
[Pre-read] - OMFG, I'M SHAKING WITH EXCITMENT!! HOWL's MOVING CASTLE X SOUL EATER VIBES - yeah, please take my money 💸💸💸
I was googling for books with a similar vibe to Soul Eater by Lily Mayne, and I stumbled across this little gem. I’m so glad I did because this book is everything ! The world-building is incredible, and I honestly love all the characters. It even has inspiration from Howl’s Moving Castle. Like, do I really need to say more?
Of course, I do because I just can’t keep my mouth shut 😂
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚ The World-Building ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
This is set in a post-apocalyptic world after the rise of the gods. Humans don’t stand a chance against them, so they’ve learned to live around them instead. There’s no government, no army - just survival of the fittest. If you’re weak, other people will take you out for supplies, that is, if the gods don’t get you first and make you their next snack.
Not going to lie, I was a bit confused at first with what was going on. But at the start of each chapter, there’s a news article, interview, or book transcript that explains the backstory since the gods awoke. I thought these bits were super cool, and I quickly picked up on every detail and ate it up.
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚ The Plot ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
We follow Helios’s POV. He’s been alone since he was a teenager, surviving in the desert after his mum passed away. Then, he gets kidnapped along with some other people by a group trying to sell them into slavery. Enter Griffin, a mutant who rescues everyone. Helios thinks his best shot at survival is to stick with Griffin for as long as he can, and to his surprise, Griffin lets him stay on his ship, a vessel called the Beetle, with an AI assistant named Beet (my fave character, honestly).
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚ The Characters ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
📖Helios
I love him! Growing up alone has made him tough - he does what he needs to survive, and it shows. He’s witty, bold, and doesn’t hesitate to make the first move on Griffin. This guy knows what he wants, and he doesn’t back down until he gets it. And he did 😏
🐲Griffin
I love him too!! He’s powerful and strong but not at all arrogant. In fact, he’s shy and kind, keeping to himself most of the time. But once you’re his - there’s no going back. I love my possessive king!
🪲Beet
I’m not even ashamed to say an AI assistant is my favourite character because Beet is everything. My Alexa at home doesn’t even listen to me! Beet is intelligent, sassy, and funny. Sometimes I forgot she’s AI because she’s such a mother hen.
ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚ Their Relationship ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ
Helios and Griffin’s relationship is super sweet, and their attraction grows quickly, which makes sense since the book is only 190 pages. The only reason I didn’t give this book a full 5 stars is that I wish it were longer so we could see their relationship develop more. It feels a bit surface level right now, but other than that, everything else is perfect!
Overall, I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to dive into the next one - a villain redemption arc, I heard? Say less!
꘎♡━━━━━♡꘎
[Pre-read] - OMFG, I'M SHAKING WITH EXCITMENT!! HOWL's MOVING CASTLE X SOUL EATER VIBES - yeah, please take my money 💸💸💸
September 16, 2024
Yess, I won't mention that book series with monsters roaming the wasteland of the US and finding love with humans, because we all know which one I'm talking about. BUT. If you loved that series, you'll love this book. We also get only one pov, but I didn't miss the second. Helios is tough on the outside but quite sensitive on the inside and I appreciated how sweet and horny he was for Griffin. The Moving Castle theme was also amazing (it's my fav Ghibli film, so I am NOT complaining). I loved Griffin with all my heart, he is gentle and caring but possessive af.
I can't wait to learn more about Jude, that man will cut a b*tch and I'm all for his ruthlessness.
I can't wait to learn more about Jude, that man will cut a b*tch and I'm all for his ruthlessness.
October 6, 2024
This was so fun and surprisingly so sweet?! I was expecting darker vibes but OMG Griffin and Helios had me smiling so big they were adorable together.
This reminded me a lot of Lily Mayne’s monstrous series in the best ways. It is post-apocalyptic and monsters have started roaming the earth - but while in Lily’s series the monsters are very fuckable, in this one they are definitely NOT. They are legit scary AF.
After the monsters appeared, humans made some hybrid creatures by combining in small amounts of monster DNA into human DNA. Griffin is one of these hybrids. Griffin meets Helios when he saves him from some slave traders and Helios is like obviously I'm sticking with you.
This was a short book but it had everything - tender romance, some spicy scenes, the BEST side character ever - Beet!, great character development (we got back stories for both MCs that really helped us understand who they are), really intriguing plot that kept me invested the whole time, and great world building.
I am so excited to jump into the next book, as well as more from this author. I am sooooo intrigued by Oliver's redemption story. He was downright terrible but also I'm a sucker for broken characters sooo... 👀
This reminded me a lot of Lily Mayne’s monstrous series in the best ways. It is post-apocalyptic and monsters have started roaming the earth - but while in Lily’s series the monsters are very fuckable, in this one they are definitely NOT. They are legit scary AF.
After the monsters appeared, humans made some hybrid creatures by combining in small amounts of monster DNA into human DNA. Griffin is one of these hybrids. Griffin meets Helios when he saves him from some slave traders and Helios is like obviously I'm sticking with you.
This was a short book but it had everything - tender romance, some spicy scenes, the BEST side character ever - Beet!, great character development (we got back stories for both MCs that really helped us understand who they are), really intriguing plot that kept me invested the whole time, and great world building.
I am so excited to jump into the next book, as well as more from this author. I am sooooo intrigued by Oliver's redemption story. He was downright terrible but also I'm a sucker for broken characters sooo... 👀
June 2, 2024
A unique & amazing story!
Well that was one fast read! I admit to staying up way late just to finish this book. I don’t often read science fantasy but I’m fascinated by how this one was told. Perfect length, world building is so good I can just imagine everything in my mind while reading, side characters, though not a lot were well fleshed out too. Helios and Griffin were so cool and fierce in their own ways, love them both!
Thanks to Kati and her lovely review for putting this on my radar! I see more Mell R Bright books in my future Tbr. Borrowed book 2 thru KU just now, and excited to read Oliver’s story next!
Well that was one fast read! I admit to staying up way late just to finish this book. I don’t often read science fantasy but I’m fascinated by how this one was told. Perfect length, world building is so good I can just imagine everything in my mind while reading, side characters, though not a lot were well fleshed out too. Helios and Griffin were so cool and fierce in their own ways, love them both!
Thanks to Kati and her lovely review for putting this on my radar! I see more Mell R Bright books in my future Tbr. Borrowed book 2 thru KU just now, and excited to read Oliver’s story next!
January 13, 2025
Not gonna lie, this had me hooked from the start. The writing style really worked for me, the post apocalyptic world and monster legends feels unique and exciting*. I love that it doesn’t cower from the dark themes while not shifting from the genre. I was actually EXCITED to get back to my book, and that doesn’t always happen. I will now be binging all of this authors books…
*Sure, you could say it’s similar to Monstrous but that’s only because it’s post apocalyptic and monsters… otherwise it’s not the same. It felt completely different. Also, I love post apocalyptic and monsters sooooo the more the merrier. I’ve also realize I hate political dystopian and I LOVE post apocalyptic- so send me recs please 😂
😈M/M MONSTER ROMANCE
🔥POST-APOCALYPTIC DYSTOPIA
🗡️SURVIVAL IN THE WASTELANDS
😈GIANT MONSTERS / OLD GODS
🔥GENE EDITING AND MUTATIONS
🗡️HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE INSPIRED SASSY AI
😈TOUCH HIM AND DIE
🔥MONSTER C.CKS
*Sure, you could say it’s similar to Monstrous but that’s only because it’s post apocalyptic and monsters… otherwise it’s not the same. It felt completely different. Also, I love post apocalyptic and monsters sooooo the more the merrier. I’ve also realize I hate political dystopian and I LOVE post apocalyptic- so send me recs please 😂
😈M/M MONSTER ROMANCE
🔥POST-APOCALYPTIC DYSTOPIA
🗡️SURVIVAL IN THE WASTELANDS
😈GIANT MONSTERS / OLD GODS
🔥GENE EDITING AND MUTATIONS
🗡️HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE INSPIRED SASSY AI
😈TOUCH HIM AND DIE
🔥MONSTER C.CKS
January 1, 2025
might be me, not the book
i couldn’t get into it at all
i couldn’t get into it at all
July 12, 2024
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this story of monsters, mutants and humans in a post-apocalyptic USA.
I do wish there had been more development in Helios and Griffin's relationship. It was light and surprisingly sweet, but there could have been more communication and sharing. Maybe if we had some of Griffin's POV it would have helped. The Beetle's surly AI Beet offers plenty of snark and some insight into Griffin.
The story was fast-paced and the world interesting. The excerpts from journals, books and other media at the start of each chapter was an effective way of learning about the Rise of the monsters and the aftermath without an info dump.
I'll be jumping right to the next one and hope there will be a bit more tension in that relationship.
I enjoyed this story of monsters, mutants and humans in a post-apocalyptic USA.
I do wish there had been more development in Helios and Griffin's relationship. It was light and surprisingly sweet, but there could have been more communication and sharing. Maybe if we had some of Griffin's POV it would have helped. The Beetle's surly AI Beet offers plenty of snark and some insight into Griffin.
The story was fast-paced and the world interesting. The excerpts from journals, books and other media at the start of each chapter was an effective way of learning about the Rise of the monsters and the aftermath without an info dump.
I'll be jumping right to the next one and hope there will be a bit more tension in that relationship.
November 18, 2024
Ok, this may be on me. I just don’t like novellas. I’m a paperback size queen. Give me a full book!
THE PREMISE: a human hitches a ride with The Devil of the Wastes on a giant Howl’s Moving Castle style AI beetle.
TROPES & VIBES:
- MM monster romance
- Really cool world building. I liked the snippets at the start of the chapter
- Post-apocalyptic future setting
- *I will always find you*
- I had a fun time. The second book looks like a slay tbh
3.5⭐️ 2-2.5🌶️
THE PREMISE: a human hitches a ride with The Devil of the Wastes on a giant Howl’s Moving Castle style AI beetle.
TROPES & VIBES:
- MM monster romance
- Really cool world building. I liked the snippets at the start of the chapter
- Post-apocalyptic future setting
- *I will always find you*
- I had a fun time. The second book looks like a slay tbh
3.5⭐️ 2-2.5🌶️
September 2, 2024
Very enjoyable, I went in not expecting much because this is not a genre I normally like. I was pleasantly surprised. The MCs Helios and Griffin were both lovely in different ways, and I loved watching them together. I also liked Beet, the AI inside the Beetle vessel. My only complaint is that I missed Griffin's POV, especially regarding his feelings toward Helios, and at what point he falls in love. I hated Oliver, the next book is about him and I'm not sure yet if he can be fully redeemed, we'll see.
October 1, 2024
tl;dr — concept is interesting but execution is clunky.
March 31, 2024
4.5 stars ✨
This is absolutely such a fun read! Can’t wait for Jude’s book!
This is absolutely such a fun read! Can’t wait for Jude’s book!
February 8, 2025
Smooches for that one person who recommended this to me on reddit. My first ever take on MM science fantasy romance and man, did it have the crackiest crack inside. Loved it! I swear i read Howl's Moving Castle mentioned in the blurb and i was SOLD at the spot. If you love HMC but make it gay and dystopian then this one's for you.
“I hope you know, Helios, that I would die for you,” {swoooooons}
Helios was such an admirable character, suffering and always surviving and Griffin, that ruthless Devil of the Wastes that he stuck himself with for survival was the sweetest and adorablest monster/mutant out there (oh, and brownie points to his two aubergines😏). Agh! They were both such cutie patooties i can't with them. And Beet, you're my favorite AI from today onwards. Fuck chatgpt and deepseek we only stan Beet in this house!
Now i do hope the next one's of Jude bcs if that bub doesn't survive, idts i will too
“I hope you know, Helios, that I would die for you,” {swoooooons}
Helios was such an admirable character, suffering and always surviving and Griffin, that ruthless Devil of the Wastes that he stuck himself with for survival was the sweetest and adorablest monster/mutant out there (oh, and brownie points to his two aubergines😏). Agh! They were both such cutie patooties i can't with them. And Beet, you're my favorite AI from today onwards. Fuck chatgpt and deepseek we only stan Beet in this house!
Now i do hope the next one's of Jude bcs if that bub doesn't survive, idts i will too
November 11, 2024
I gotta say I didn’t know what to expect with this one but I had so much fun! The world building is really cool, the characters are interesting, the plot was actually much more intriguing than I had expected, inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle, AND she knew exactly the right length to make this novella without going on and on and on. There’s some similarities to the monstrous series by Lily Mayne, but it’s different enough to not feel like too much of a copy. Definitely give this a shot!
August 4, 2024
this is amazing
Post apocalyptic science fantasy—one of my favorite genres of monster romance. This is a five star read. If you like Lily Mayne, this should be your next series. For real.
Post apocalyptic science fantasy—one of my favorite genres of monster romance. This is a five star read. If you like Lily Mayne, this should be your next series. For real.
August 1, 2024
3.5 stars
I picked this up on a whim (hehe) and definitely enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.
WHAT I LIKED
- The premise. My bias towards good sci-fantasy means I often start out with low expectations but this surprised me. I liked the concept of the old gods rising from the earth though a few aspects (like WHY) were not entirely clear. I guess this is a big part of book 2.
WHAT I DISLIKED
- Not enough detail in the sex scenes. Come onnnnnn, Griffin is very... I'll just call it well endowed to avoid spoilers Can you imagine the missed opportunity??? because I had to watch it go by😭
- The writing style. A few more rounds with the editor could have helped tighten up the prose.
WHAT I’M WILLING TO FORGIVE
- The tone. I was expecting (and do tend to prefer) something a little grittier and not quite the light-hearted tone we got in this. It wasn’t a deal breaker but I definitely would have enjoyed something darker.
Overall this was a pretty solid read though I don’t think I’ll be checking out the rest of the series any time soon as I’m having way too much fun with darker books.
I picked this up on a whim (hehe) and definitely enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.
WHAT I LIKED
- The premise. My bias towards good sci-fantasy means I often start out with low expectations but this surprised me. I liked the concept of the old gods rising from the earth though a few aspects (like WHY) were not entirely clear. I guess this is a big part of book 2.
WHAT I DISLIKED
- Not enough detail in the sex scenes. Come onnnnnn, Griffin is very... I'll just call it well endowed to avoid spoilers Can you imagine the missed opportunity??? because I had to watch it go by😭
- The writing style. A few more rounds with the editor could have helped tighten up the prose.
WHAT I’M WILLING TO FORGIVE
- The tone. I was expecting (and do tend to prefer) something a little grittier and not quite the light-hearted tone we got in this. It wasn’t a deal breaker but I definitely would have enjoyed something darker.
Overall this was a pretty solid read though I don’t think I’ll be checking out the rest of the series any time soon as I’m having way too much fun with darker books.
May 26, 2024
Post-apocalyptic monster x human romance.
Would recommend if you enjoyed Soul Eater by Lily Mayne.
It was a good read but personally, I wasn't blown away by it. Neither Griffin nor Helios were all that interesting and characterization in general felt a bit shallow. The snippets at the beginning of each chapter were nice though and greatly added to the post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
Would recommend if you enjoyed Soul Eater by Lily Mayne.
It was a good read but personally, I wasn't blown away by it. Neither Griffin nor Helios were all that interesting and characterization in general felt a bit shallow. The snippets at the beginning of each chapter were nice though and greatly added to the post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
October 16, 2024
DNF @ 15%
The book cover is what brought me here. It’s beautiful. The premise was so exciting I decided to bump it up on my book queue. And then I started reading and tossed it oh so quickly.
If there is something I have zero tolerance for is a book that’s supposedly for adults, with clearly adult themes, but reads like it was written for teenagers. Nope, done. This is one of the worst things an author can do and it’s a shame.
Other cons:
The AI being sassy doesn’t work for me. Adds to the non-adult feeling.
There’s a lot of repetition. Too many times there are statements immediately followed by the same thing said a different way.
And copying a monster from Dune “as-is” is plain lazy.
I can’t understand why some people compare it to Lily Mayne’s writing. The premise, maybe. But the writing, no way.
But I would have overlooked all these, and I have with other books, if only the writing style felt adult.
The book cover is what brought me here. It’s beautiful. The premise was so exciting I decided to bump it up on my book queue. And then I started reading and tossed it oh so quickly.
If there is something I have zero tolerance for is a book that’s supposedly for adults, with clearly adult themes, but reads like it was written for teenagers. Nope, done. This is one of the worst things an author can do and it’s a shame.
Other cons:
The AI being sassy doesn’t work for me. Adds to the non-adult feeling.
There’s a lot of repetition. Too many times there are statements immediately followed by the same thing said a different way.
And copying a monster from Dune “as-is” is plain lazy.
I can’t understand why some people compare it to Lily Mayne’s writing. The premise, maybe. But the writing, no way.
But I would have overlooked all these, and I have with other books, if only the writing style felt adult.
November 23, 2024
Successful buddy read with my girl Steph! This one was so good , I adored both Helios and Griff and couldn't get enough of the AI . This had just enough "uh oh" moments to keep the story moving and I loved the way Helios and Griff got to know each other and didn't just jump right into sex. I genuinely believed in their feelings of each other.
Favorite Qoutes:
Good morning, Beet,” I add. “Good morning to you too, creature of flesh and weaknesses.”
“Hello,” I answer back with a grin of my own. Then to Beet, I say, “Good morning, Beetle Goddess of my heart.” “Oh! That one is growing on me like a tumor,” she says. “Can we keep him, Griffin?”
I’ve lived with him for two weeks now. He has fed, cared for, and trusted me. The beast lurking under his skin is not enough to deter me.
Our kiss is urgent and violent. The monster in him is demanding, and I don’t mind it one bit. I crave it after spending days pining after him, never knowing if I could even tempt him. Apparently, I do.
How do I seduce a two- hundred- pound man with horns who shares his blood with legends?
“Okay, Helios. I’ll give you what you want,” he says. “But let me warn you that if you start running now, I’ll hunt you down and devour you anyway. This is on you.”
Griffin isn’t a devil. He’s a fucking dragon.
Favorite Qoutes:
Good morning, Beet,” I add. “Good morning to you too, creature of flesh and weaknesses.”
“Hello,” I answer back with a grin of my own. Then to Beet, I say, “Good morning, Beetle Goddess of my heart.” “Oh! That one is growing on me like a tumor,” she says. “Can we keep him, Griffin?”
I’ve lived with him for two weeks now. He has fed, cared for, and trusted me. The beast lurking under his skin is not enough to deter me.
Our kiss is urgent and violent. The monster in him is demanding, and I don’t mind it one bit. I crave it after spending days pining after him, never knowing if I could even tempt him. Apparently, I do.
How do I seduce a two- hundred- pound man with horns who shares his blood with legends?
“Okay, Helios. I’ll give you what you want,” he says. “But let me warn you that if you start running now, I’ll hunt you down and devour you anyway. This is on you.”
Griffin isn’t a devil. He’s a fucking dragon.
September 15, 2024
~ ranting: 4,5 ☆
~ spice: 1 🌶
I literally found this out of nowhere, and now it's one of my favorite reads this year omg. I mean, when I read “A Howl’s Moving Castle-inspired Science Fantasy M/M Monster Romance set in a post-apocalyptic world with giant monsters.”, I knew I needed to read it immediately.
Long short story: I sat on my couch and couldn't leave until I finished the book. This kinda reassembles Soul Eater by Lily Mayne, so I was immediately hooked from the very beginning, because I love that book very much. And now I also love this book very much.
I'm not giving it 5 stars (even tho I will), because this was way too short!! I needed more moments between Helios and Griffin :(
“He takes care of my wounds in silence while I run my fingers through his thick hair and over his horns. I can't stop touching him. I wish I could crawl under his skin and let his fire warm my weary bones.”
~ spice: 1 🌶
I literally found this out of nowhere, and now it's one of my favorite reads this year omg. I mean, when I read “A Howl’s Moving Castle-inspired Science Fantasy M/M Monster Romance set in a post-apocalyptic world with giant monsters.”, I knew I needed to read it immediately.
Long short story: I sat on my couch and couldn't leave until I finished the book. This kinda reassembles Soul Eater by Lily Mayne, so I was immediately hooked from the very beginning, because I love that book very much. And now I also love this book very much.
I'm not giving it 5 stars (even tho I will), because this was way too short!! I needed more moments between Helios and Griffin :(
“He takes care of my wounds in silence while I run my fingers through his thick hair and over his horns. I can't stop touching him. I wish I could crawl under his skin and let his fire warm my weary bones.”
May 4, 2024
Excellent!!
This was a really interesting take on a post apocalyptic M/M romance! I ended up telling my husband about it, and anytime I tell my hubs about the books I’m reading it’s a 5 star for sure!
This will appeal to Lily Mayne fans in the setting, the monster romance, and the survival but that’s really where the similarities end. I’m hesitant to write more because I don’t want to give too much away!
The Whims of Hate (Monstrous Whims Book 2) is releasing on May 7, so we don’t have long to wait to continue the series! I HIGHLY recommend you pick this up!
TW: human trafficking, past SA (MC was still a minor by our standards), non-human genitalia, blood, violence, death
This was a really interesting take on a post apocalyptic M/M romance! I ended up telling my husband about it, and anytime I tell my hubs about the books I’m reading it’s a 5 star for sure!
This will appeal to Lily Mayne fans in the setting, the monster romance, and the survival but that’s really where the similarities end. I’m hesitant to write more because I don’t want to give too much away!
The Whims of Hate (Monstrous Whims Book 2) is releasing on May 7, so we don’t have long to wait to continue the series! I HIGHLY recommend you pick this up!
TW: human trafficking, past SA (MC was still a minor by our standards), non-human genitalia, blood, violence, death
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