Creatures that Breathe

by M.L. Chambers

When prey ensnares predator, everyone burns

Burdened with power ...

He is known only as the Spymaster. A male with no name, no face, certainly no conscience. He thrives in the shadows as the realm’s foremost secret stealer. Emotion is something he discarded years ago, making him one of the most clear-eyed, ruthless, and least known members of the Kingsguard - a band of deadly warriors cursed to crave revenge.

Charged with survival …

A lesser creature on the brink of extinction, Leni’s dealt with onerous males her entire life, sold by her father, betrothed to a depraved prince, forsaken by the king. Now, with an enemy hot on her tail, she seeks the only immortal capable of protecting her, not knowing how intensely she’ll be drawn to the steely spymaster.

Neither can resist the desire searing between them, but every second spent together edges them closer to a fate far worse than death …

Featuring a tormented anti-hero, a cunning heroine, and a tangle of powerful creatures in a world where Zeus and his children are always watching, Creatures that Breathe is the first of an interconnected series with a happily ever after.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Dark Romance

412 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

M L Chambers writes contemporary romance and fantasy romance with passionate heroes, stubborn heroines, and a heavy dose of steam, pining, and danger mixed in.

A try-anything-once aficionado, she loves to include both new and obscure experiences in her stories.

When she’s not consuming books, M is skiing (alpine and water) or cuddling up with her collie and cat.

Reviews

[aadri ♥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

i really liked the premise of the book but i wish it was better written and more thoroughly edited because it definitely has potential

[Sock · Rating 3 out of 5]

*My "reviews" are for my future self only. My personal thoughts. Some things are probably only understood by me.*

Look, I finished it in a few hours. I'm not sure if it is because I liked it or because I have to study and I'm doing everything imaginable to avoid it.

I liked their devotion to each other.

How they slowly fell, from enemies to lovers. As soulmates.

I like her wits, her smartness. And her sweet teeth :']

And I love the way that I imagine he looks at her.

There were a lot of parts that I skimmed over (not completely passed, just didn't focus on), and that perhaps attests to the possibility that I'm avoiding life.

I will never find a love so strong, I'm afraid.

Oh well. I have all these books to indulge myself in.

There was the devil's tango, of course. But they were talking too much through it. And if they didn't talk, they were thinking too much.

One thing I'm surprised about is that I have a strong need to find the answers to the initial problem, the death of the king.

So I'm... interested, in reading the next books.

Btw, found from TikTok.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters at the end- the MMC was exactly what I look for in a shadow daddy. I really enjoyed the FMC’s wit and humor.

THE EDITING THOUGH. First page she misspelled true- all of the grammar mistakes and spelling mistakes really upset my reading experience. There were issues with continuity and the third act break up just didn’t make sense. I enjoyed this book, but I had to fight myself and skim to obtain that enjoyment.

[Ren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably would’ve given this book a higher rating if I knew what was happening the entire time. Especially in the beginning of this book, I think the author was trying to have an air of mystery, but it ended up reading as just really confusing. I couldn’t tell where we were, who was talking, what anyone looked like, or what anything looked like. I’m not saying the solution is to put “he said”/“she mumbled” after every line, but anything to make it more clear would help. Other than that, I liked what this story was trying to do with world building and magic systems, it was incredibly creative, I just wish it was more defined so I would know what was happening.

[Ashley]

Dnf at 53%

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading because of instagram

I didn’t finish this book, it looks like the author did one editing and sent it out.
The world be building was all over the place. When I started reading it I couldn’t image the characters or the setting. Ex: the friend would start speaking out of no where in front of main character but I have no clue what they look like or the location of the chapter.
I also hate a book that puts down men. I get sick of the same thing over and over again. The first chapter brought it up three time. Ex: “men” “if I haven’t spent my life despising males like Fritz.” “The mohawk or the misogyny?” All of these quote happen within the first chapter.

[Lel · Rating 2 out of 5]

i need authors to edit their books better than this. this was so messy. most of the times i didn't know where we were or what was happening. ik fantasy books are sometimes hard to get into but this one !!!...

[Emma Segantini · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
My brother in Christ, this was amazing!
First of all, I absolutely loved that the main character was not a trained fighter. Don’t get me wrong, I love myself a good assassin or a badass female fighter, but it felt so refreshing for once to actually read about someone who is not so complacent with violence. Her wits and sharp retorts made up for it, and then some more.
I liked Cross very much, too. At first I was afraid to find just another copy of a “shadow daddy” - as book tok likes to say - but he was such an original and loving antihero that I couldn’t help but love him.
I found the plot and the use of myths and mythical creatures very original and captivating, in a world full of books that are basically the same concept, just described with different words.
In short, it had everything I like in other books, but without making me feel like I was reading the same thing over and over.

Onto the reason on why I didn’t give it full five stars: the first hundred or so pages were messy. I am so very grateful that confusion doesn’t deter me, but I understand why I saw reviews of people who DNF’d at 20%. I am glad that I gave the book a little more time to capture me, but at the same time I think that the first part of the book is crucial to assure the reader’s attention, and this book lack on it a little.

I would advise to anyone who find the synopsis to be intriguing to push through, because I promise it’s worth it.
At last, I found the prose to be well articulated and fluid, even tho english is not my first language, so I might be not the best to determine it.

I will surely read more of the series, if I am given the occasion, and same goes for the author 🫶🏼.

[andréa ;༊ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love greek mythology inspired books and i think this one has a pretty solid foundation in terms of characters and story, however there are some plot holes that left me real confused and the world building felt a little lacking. The editing though definitely wins enemy #1. Idk who did the author the disservice of publishing this with no editing whatsoever but they should be in jail because this could have been an easy 5 stars if it didnt feel so rushed and messy. and it makes me SO upset to see wasted potential. The first chapter alone was all over the place i literally had no idea what was going on and i was really close to dnfing so early on but i’m really glad i pushed through. With that being said, if the author ever decides to rewrite and republish (i’m hoping), i will definitely reread.

[Sannelis Postma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning is sometimes a bit cofusing but later in the book you get all the answers. Besides that I really liked the use of Greek mythology to give a backstory.

[Cee · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 18%/ 5 chapters in

This is so frustrating because the basic story has potential and the writing style mostly works for me... if it wasn't so confusing. Like, one second we were in a... room? tent? and then BAM it is a week later and she's manipulated him into a fighting ring... somehow. I get that's why she wanted his name, but how did everyone in the arena then know HE was Cross????

I need more background and for things to be more fleshed out. I get that we aren't being told the 'plan' because ~~mystery~~ but I need something to stand on. Why him in particular and not another of the Blackguard? Who is she? Do mortals know about the supernatural? Beeecause some of the pickpocket kids had pointy ears sooooo???? Also, the setting: I have no idea what time period we are in. I'm assuming modern because of the mafia mentions, but some description of the locations besides mentions of the weather would be nice. Like are there skyscrapers? Are we in a city or a remote village?

But the vibe is right. I think I like the characters and where the story might be going. I just wish it wasn't so confusing and fast. I kept going back in forth on DNFing or not because I was semi-enjoying it, but with every page my confusion grew. I had to stop before I hated it.

[Catherine Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful read!

This book was not what I anticipated, and it took some unexpected turns and I loved every one! This is the perfect book for you if you're a fan of fated mates and Greek mythology. I can't wait for the next one :)

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vibes read

This was an ok read if I didn't want to use logic. It was like the author assumed I would know what she was thinking, scenes were difficult to play out in my head. I did like the use "good girl" in non sexual scenes. But I feel this could've been a lot more than it was...I wish it was more.

[isha · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was sooo confusing also the reason why he turned her over only to come riding on a white horse to save her wasn't really explained...

[Chloe Mai · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the premise of this book but it was written weirdly and incoherently. Finished the book and unsure what the characters are supposed to look like.

[Kiki]

dnf @ 1%

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF-I won't say the book is bad, it's just a little too chaotic right off the bat and hard to get into personally. I was excited about Olympian gods being involved, but it just didn't take off like I expected it to.

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Wouldn't it be just like the Gods to send me heaven on a platter and force me to kill her"

— 3 stars ✰

Was this a literary masterpiece: No
Did I enjoy it: Yes somewhat
Would I recommend it: If you're down to enjoy the book just for the flirting and vibes vs plot then I do think you'd enjoy it
Would I reread it: Probably not
Spice: 1/5 🌶️ Overall rating: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book overall wasn't bad but it didn't read smoothly and included some grammatical errors that were hard to overlook as well as having a confusing writing style. The world building was very surface level and the plot felt like a rollercoaster ride that derailed a few times and got lost on the way. I wish whoever edited this book stubs their toe(jk with love) because this book definitely had potential but it was rough trying to dive in.
The two main characters were also not truly explored and it felt like by the end of the book we still didn't know very much about them. I liked the idea of the fmc and mmc but I do wish we had gotten to see more of their development and depth that we barely skimmed the surface of.

💛"there's nothing, absolutely nothing like the feeling of a male capable of destroying you watching you with a glint of terror in his eyes"

💛"You're dangerous. You can pretend you're not, but you'll be the end of me"

[zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

found this off a reddit review, and i can't say im disappointed or satisfied.

thoughts:
- what the hell is the difference between a kingsguard, the blackguard, queensguard, and all those other ones (and what is the SIGNIFICANCE??!!) I have to say i spent the first 2 to 3 chapters wondering why i picked this book up in the first place because i was entirely convinced i missed a few books describing what the hell everything was. their world itself was just so hard to get into.

- the amount of spelling errors was insane, its been a while ive seen someone mess up "they're their and there", ngl i really thought i misread and re-read the sentence at least 4 times before processing it was a spelling mistake (of course, all people make mistakes so i forgive you for this ive done it too)

- the execution of people forgetting:it seemed atlas and some of the others def didn't forget him (although mentioned) but never during leni and cross's get back together??

- leni annoyed me a bit: felt she was a bit self absorbed and not that logical as she made herself to be, i didnt like her. go away ms blue hair, that pink coat is ugly asf if you're stalking someone don't do it in bright pink please.

- cross i wholeheartedly love, aside from the fact that he fell in love with leni.

- hated the ending
- first during the chapter before leni decided she was in love, in cross's POV,

“the rush comes strong and fast.
Hard.
Lights shatter.
Someone screams.
The entire bakery fills with black.
Leni laughs.
Happiness sinks cold metal between my ribs.”

what? so first: he lets go of the grip he had on his POWER, which is.....what exactly? the forgetting? the strength? i honestly thought it referred to the tats, but apparently...not? WHAT RUSH? RUSH OF WHAT? POWER? WHAT POWER? what......?
why do the lights shatter, why does no one notice. what??
who screams? why are they screaming? why does no one hear? what???
why is happiness COLD METAL? why is it COLD? is it supposed to be sinks the cold metal, or am i going mental or just plain dumb.... what????
then suddenly BAM they're in love again. what????? WHAT??????

i have more to say but i forgot: i should really highlight but i read too fast and im online and im lazy so i guess not (if i rememebr which is highly....unlikely, maybe ill update this)

2.8*

[Mu · Rating 1 out of 5]

The reason the book is a 1 is probably no fault of anything except the fact it is utterly impossible to decipher.

I love the premise. Badass spymaster with a you touch her you die trope? Love it. Spunky girl w/ blue hair, pronouns, lots of tattoos, and a mysterious past? Love it.
A modern urban Greek mythology world? Really cool!
A murder mystery of an important King? I'm intrigued.

It's just too bad I literally could not figure out this book. I already suffer from poor reading comprehension. It felt like the entire time, the book expects you know things that it never reveals? Plot that seem to go nowhere, relationships that don't get developed, and backstory that's not properly explained.

Spoiler alert not spoiler, they fall in love. I sure as hell could not tell you when that happened. One minute I'm trying to figure out what the plot is and the next minute they're in love.

This isn't even covering all of the grammatical and just poor editing errors that show up in the book. No no, those just make it worse and more illegible. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who had trouble figuring out what was happening in this book because the reviews are full of people who are struggling too.

I want to like this book. I just can't take another headache.

[Veevee · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the atmosphere and romance of this novel, it still fell short in a number of categories, namely, the world building (but the plot lost its way a few times and the writing also needed some help).

This isn't our world, but it isn't a standard fantasy world either, which means that world building is really really key for readers to feel immersed. Unfortunately, the author decided to go the less is less route and just hoped we would figure it out... which didn't totally work. While I generally got the gist of things, there was a lot that was just totally unexplained and generally frustrating. I wanted to understand, there was so much potential here, but the author really needed another good few edits before that potential could be reached.

Will I read more by this author? Potentially, I am interested to see if they can grow and develop into their style a bit more.

P.S. I did enjoy the twist at the climax. Others might have spotted it earlier, but I didn't figure it out until it was happening, which is what made this book not a total dud.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just wrapped up "Creatures That Breathe" by M.L. Chambers, and it was a fantastic ride! This book breathes fresh life into some classic fantasy tropes. The world-building is rich and immersive, with every page introducing you to unique creatures and stunning landscapes that feel almost tangible.
The story revolves around an unlikely hero—a regular person suddenly thrust into a world of magic and danger. It's a fresh take on the "chosen one" and "coming-of-age" tropes. From the loyal sidekick to the enigmatic mentor, the characters are well-drawn and engaging.
What I loved most was how Chambers subverts the usual "good vs. evil" narrative, adding layers of moral complexity that keep you guessing. The beautiful writing and character development keep you hooked even when the plot slows down.
If you enjoy a blend of classic fantasy elements with thoughtful twists, "Creatures That Breathe" is a must-read. It’s a magical journey that’s both familiar and refreshingly new.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alexa, Play „Girl, so confusing“ by Charli XCX and Lorde.

No, but really. Did I like this book? I don’t know. I finished it, which is why it is getting 2 stars from me. How I finished it you ask? I don’t know. The chemistry between the main characters is alright. No quarrel here. But jeez. The worldbuilding. Confusion level 100. Apparently there are Greek deities and creatures in this world, somehow existing in the modern day. How? No idea. It’s not explained. Listen, I love a Greek Mythology setting but it needs to be properly set up. This was definitely not. Also throughout the first half of the book, I didn’t even get where exactly we were. First it was a market, then some underground fighting ring, all very confusing and not very visually told. If this was a storytelling device, please do better. I might read book 2 out of curiosity but in total this deserves a lot more editing rounds before going live.

[Rue · Rating 2 out of 5]

i never really leave reviews but my god the editing in this book was non existent. Usually a few mistakes do not bother me but it was on every single page.

I really didn't like the "male" thing and found it unnecessary. It didn't make sense to me at all. Also the multiple negative comments on bigger bodies were not needed at all.

The world building is all over the place. It's really hard to tell where they are and what it looks like. Also this story would have been so much better if there weren't guns? I personally feel like it takes away from the fantasy element but that's just me. This book has so much potential but it should not have been published yet. It reads like a very rough rough draft

[Avelynia Kersh · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 30%
I’m torn because the book has great potential but there is just too much going on that isn’t even clear. There’s Russian mafia and Greek mythology and curses and a goddess that is running away from her abusive? Husband/boyfriend/fiance? & she goes through all the trouble and jumping through unnecessary hoops to get to Cross who is part of the group but the group is split right now and then she gets to him and of all things she just needs him to take her virginity? Like what??? Even just writing that was confusing but that’s how it read. .. confusing as hell. I love the characters and think there’s good things going on but it’s just too much too all over the place.

[Samantha Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a little bit slow at the beginning but it picked up and I couldn’t get enough of it! I loved all the different elements that are present in the book! I just didn’t want the book to end and I’m kinda sad that Cross and Leni’s story has come to an end.

I absolutely love Leni and also Cross and Atlas was in my good graces by the end of the book IYKYK! But I just couldn’t get enough of the twists and turns that happen in this book!

I am excited for the next book in the series to come out next month! I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on it to read it! This is a definite must read and you won’t regret it!

[Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5

"Happiness will picnic on my grave"

OMG!!!
I Was not prepared for this rollercoaster of a book.

I love how the main characters are depicted from the start. Cross the Shadow Daddy & Leni the Pyro (literally).

It's really entertaining reading Leni's character come alive/light up around Cross, who is an immortal blackguard (formerly known as the Kingsguard), the infamous spymaster that lives in the shadows & literally steals the light from wherever he goes, making Leni an anomaly and his favourite shade of blue. The way Cross's character development is shown is actually very touching especially when he says "She remembers me" I was a mush. I love how their characters develop from untrusting creatures to lovebirds. The story has a lot of twists and turns, I did not see the plot twist coming, like I wasn't even in the same continent as the plot twist 😅.

There is a very strong underground theme of found family that runs parallel to the main story that I loved. There are a few steamy chapters, but in comparison for me the spice level is low.

Creatures that Breathe is book 1 of 7 of the Vengeance and Vows series, the base of which is the King Kadmos's murder mystery & the curse that followed after the king fell. Though you don't need to be well versed in the Greek Mythology & the author has provided a detailed glossary of all the characters referred at the end of the book it's still a plus if you read the glossary before or know a little about the mythology referenced, cause that actually adds to the whole story experience.

Though it took me a while to get into the book, I kept getting lost in the narration cause there is a continuity gap between the chapters which makes the story a little difficult to follow, but once you get a hang of the author's writing format it's actually a really good read. And the whole murder mystery angle has me hooked to the series.

[Couchpotato · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I loved the premise, the characters, the chemistry. But I just couldn’t understand what was going on. Like the scenes would change but I wouldn’t even know until wayyy later. One moment the characters are in an alley and then the next they are in a room and I wouldn’t even realise this fact until someone says something about it after 4 pages. Stuff would be happening and I would have no clue. IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING AND EVEN THOUGH I LIKED EVERYTHING ELSE I HAD TO DNF IT. SUCH A WASTE

[lys · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down. I had really high hopes for this book when I started reading it. Spelling and grammatical errors made it hard to read at times. The world building isn't quite there. it almost seems like there's too much trying to be introduced, but nothing is really going on. I did, however, love Cross and his character. His unrelenting devotion is amazing. I didn't really understand bringing her final secret into play in the last, like 50 pages, when it could've been explored more. I feel like this book went through one more round of editing it would fair better.

[Wendi Woolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Gem

I usually go for books that have a lot of great reviews, and somehow stumbled on this one (that currently only has a couple hundred) and took a chance- it was really great!! Honestly a perfect read!! A Romantasy book that didn’t require flash cards to understand and get into. It was lighthearted while not being fluffy, and sexy with a great storyline - great balance! Loved the characters, loved how it developed and loved the end!! I would totally recommend this one to friends