Devourer of Men

Devourer #1

by Nikki St. Crowe

I have few friends and fewer allies. What I do have on the island of Everland is a lot of people who want me gone. So when the Crocodile and Captain Hook reappear in my life, I am in no mood. And worse, they’re unknowingly endangering themselves by asking for me by a name I long considered dead.

Now, not only do I have to save myself, I have to save the two men who I swore I would murder with my bare hands if I ever set eyes on them again considering they abandoned me.

Unfortunately for me, Roc and Hook have other plans, and when I find myself caught between them, I have to make a decision: risk my heart or risk my life?

Devourer of Men is a dark MMF romantasy fairytale retelling. Characters have been aged up for this darker, grittier version. For a full list of content warnings, please visit the author's website.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Romance, Romance, Why Choose, Audiobook, Retellings, Dark

236 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2024

About the author

Nikki St. Crowe is a USA Today and No. 1 Amazon Bestselling Author specializing in dark, spicy romantasy where the villain gets the girl and the girl gets the power.

Nikki considers the start of her professional career to be in the 4th grade when she placed 2nd in a Young Author’s Competition. Back then she crafted stories about magical mansions and lost treasure. She’s since ditched the treasure hunts, but she'll never give up on the magical mansions (or the morally grey men who inhabit them).

These days, when Nikki isn’t writing or daydreaming about villains, she can either be found in the woods or at home with her husband and daughter.


For information on new releases, sign up for Nikki’s newsletter, The Forbidden Garden: https://nikkistcrowe.myflodesk.com/th...

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished in one sitting because it was soooo fun. I am legit in love with Roc 😍😍

I devoured this. Such a fun quick read. I really just wanted more. And the last sentence… STFU

Highlight
“You get six words. More. Harder. Stop. Slower. God. Fuck. Now stop being difficult and let me take care of you. All right?”

“He rolls his eyes at me. Bloody hell he has the fucking best eye roll. So sexy and rolly.”


- Captain Hook/ Crocodile/ Wendy Darling
- MMF
- Hate to Love
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this was my first Nikki St. Crowe! I am very intrigued. This book grabbed me by the throat right from the jump and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Roc and Hook are hunting down Wendy Darling and while it is clear they are enemies, their attraction shines through in their scenes. It doesn't help that Roc is a major flirt. Haha! His innuendos and slide long glances had me hot under the collar right along with Hook.

They end up teaming up to find Wendy and there are quite a few revelations when they do. There are also questions about if they can all get along, and I don't think those are quite answered yet, as this ends in a cliffhanger. I will be eagerly awaiting what comes next.

I was swept away by the duet style performance of Robert Hatchet, Shane East, and Stella Hunter. It really made for some immersive listening. I highly recommend you consume it that way.

4.5 Stars
3 on the spice scale

*Thank you to Must Love Audio and the author for an ALC of this title.*

[Sober Decay · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was okayyyyy

have I waited for this love story since Book 3? YES. Was it worth it? KIND OF. Hook is a terrible character with zero appeal. He’s whiny and just unlovable.
and a CLIFFHANGER!? Really!? I’ll be back, but only because I love Roc. XD

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Everything is a game, Captain The soon you pick your game piece, the quicker you can win."

They lost her a long time ago.
She thinks she was abandoned.
They want to find her.
But can Roc and Hook work together to find their Wendy Darling?
And what happens if they find her?
Or when?

"I am the wayward man and the Crocodile is the button. And oh how I desire to push it."

I legit cannot believe I am going to write this and me last year wouldn't believe it either but I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. "The Never King" was one of the first books I read when I got back into reading and it consumed me as a whole and it is incredible to me to be able to write this ARC review so thank you Nikki St. Crowe!!
I cannot recommend this universe enough and "Devourer of Men" is another part to add to the amazing Sundae that Nikki St. Crowe has built for us ✨✨

"Oh, Captain. You should know by now, crocodiles are very hard to catch."

Ok people - the title is definitely on purpose because I was DEVOURING and GETTING DEVOURED by this book in the best of ways!!
I legit missed this world so much! This world of dark peter pan retellings that legit only Nikki St. Crowe can write for me - love love love it!!
The dynamics in this book were so addicting to read - everything is there!
The tension, the banter, the spice, the mystery, the history!
We get put in this relationship between Roc and Hook and I got so invested within the first %2 I swear to you right here and now!
Roc and Hook have been looking for Wendy Darling for a long time - their dynamics being enemies is hilarious and SO HOT honestly! It was hooked me (legit no pun intended) from the very beginning! ADDICTING!
And then you add Wendy to the mix and we have a messed up (in the best way) dark retelling that I could not put down for the life of me!

"Make me, Captain. I can think of one very fun way for you to shut me up."

The playlist is definitely giving dark retelling vibes and I loved making it so much! ✨

(Link - https://spotify.link/wZNx3GkzvJb )

🎵 "Black Sea" - Natasha Blume
🎵 "DARKSIDE" - Neoni
🎵 "Playground" - Bea Miller
🎵 "Rain" - grandson, Jessie Reyez
🎵 "Like A God" - Lia Marie Johnson
🎵 "I Feel You" - Depeche Mode
🎵 "Too Sweet" - Hozier
🎵 "Smoke - Remix" - BOBI ANDONOV, Son Lux
🎵 "Drugs" - Falling In Reverse
🎵 "bury a friend" - Billie Eilish
🎵 "Fake Fiction" - Picturesque
🎵 "Killer In The Mirror" - Set It Off
🎵 "Hate Me" - Nico Collins
🎵 "Killer Inside of Me" - Willyecho
🎵 "Harder To Breathe" - Letdown.
🎵 "Bleed" - Connor Kauffman
🎵 "Kiss It Better - Remix" - Rihanna, R3hab
🎵 "Pain" - Jake Daniels
🎵 "I Want It All (Slowed Down)" - Cameron Grey
🎵 "Parasite Eve" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎵 "Devour" - Disturbed
🎵 "More" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎵 "Love Bites (So Do I)" - Halestorm
🎵 "I Feel Like I'm Drowning" - Two Feet
🎵 "Desire" - MEG MYERS
🎵 "The Hunter" - Sam Tinnesz
🎵 "Once Upon a Dream" - Lana Del Rey
🎵 "You Broke Me First" - Conor Maynard
🎵 "Castle - The Huntsman: Winter's War Version" - Halsey
🎵 "Welcome to Wonderland" - Scarlett Rose
🎵 "Whisper" - Evanescence
🎵 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa
🎵 "Love into a weapon" - Madalen Duke
🎵 "Dangerous Woman" - Ariana Grande
🎵 "Looking At Me" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎵 "Fairytale (Violin)" - Dramatic Violin
🎵 "I Was Made For Lovin' You (Orchestral Version)" - YUNGBLUD, Dominic Lewis
🎵 "Still Don't Know My Name" - Labrinth
🎵 "Feeling Good" - Muse
🎵 "Stay" - Ari Abdul
🎵 "Skeletons" - New Years Day
🎵 "idontwannabeyouanymore" - Billie Eilish
🎵 "As They Bloom" - Unlike Pluto
🎵 "Shadows" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎵 "Not Afraid Anymore" - Halsey
🎵 "I Will Not Bow" - Breaking Benjamin
🎵 "Burn It All Down" - Corvyx
🎵 "Monster" - Lady Gaga
🎵 "Bones" - MOD SUN
🎵 "I Miss the Misery" - Halestorm

And don't worry because Nikki St. Crowe knows how to write spice…

"Open your fucking mouth, Captain."

"Don't go easy on her, Captain."

"You get six words. More. Harder. Stop. Slower. God. Fuck."

🪝 Tropes 🪝

🐊 Paranormal Romance
🐊 MMF/Why Choose Romance
🐊 Fairytale Retelling
🐊 Enemies to Lovers
🐊 Second Chance Romance

Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/C60rg67O2...

[Nikki Reinhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I could have totally done without Wendy. Hook and Roc are the stars. We can just stick Wendy in a corner and forget about her.

[lia ♡ (hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

can't even give you a proper review of this bc my thoughts are so consumed with ao3 arcane fics #sorrynotsorry

—

okay, i'm back to do this properly (🤡), so here's what you need to know about this book;

• insta love (BOOOO)
• gay people (YIPPEE)
• inner monologue with no flow (BOOOO)
• evil witches but even more evil mc (YIPPEE)
• rushed story development despite being the 5th book in an interconnected series (booo 😔)
• THROUPLE (WOOOOHOOOO YIPPEEE)

and yes, i understand why this is insta love/second chance... unfortunately, i still don't care. it did not work. i've been put in a reading slump, and it feels like being shoved into an iron maiden. send help and your best slump-ending reading recs, PLEASE.

[booksshesloved · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally yes! I wanted no needed more Croc and Hook and Nikki did not disappoint!!!
Ate it up no crumbs!
The ending?! Excuse me!! I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t say anymore but you need to read!

[dani · Rating 1 out of 5]

no plot, no chemistry, no tension, no build up. you can tell the author just wanted to write smut & call it a day bc this is probably the worst book i have ever read and so so fucking cringy dear god

[Shaz ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two had absolutely no business being this hot 🥵

[Milica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐ ngl, i sort of expected more from this? it started really well, the chemistry between roc and captain was *chef's kiss*🤌🏼 had me giggling and kicking my feet in the air🤣 but it all went downhill as soon as wendy's chapters started... couldn't help rolling my eyes whenever it was her pov 🙄
and i was kinda disappointed by the end, bc i didn't get nearly enough captain and roc, and that was the sole reason i actually read this 💀

[Camryn O'Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devourer of Men?!?!?!?! More Like Devourer of ME!!!! (I want to be devoured by the crocodile so bad its comical). "You get six words" actually deserves a thousand ⭐️ on its own. I 100% expected Nikki to deliver a story that had me sucking in from the beginning and she absolutely did. I went into this book not knowing it was a series so imagine the way i threw my kindle at the cliffhanger! Cant wait to see where the story will go now that the gangs all back together! Loved being back in this world. The tension and angst between all three characters when they literally just wanted each other so bad🥵🥵🥵🥵. And all of the Wendy and James Lore... CHEFS KISS! Super fun, quick and spicy MMF dark romance and If you haven't read the lost boys I HIGHLY recommend that. Strap in besties because we’re going back to Neverland to see Daddy Pan and Vane 🎊!

https://instagram.com/p/C69QojcggYs/

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thruple of all time. The smell of nuts has me drooling these days.

[Taryn Tubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

IM SO HAPPY TO BE BACK IN THIS SMUTTY SENSATION OF A WORLD!!! Captain Hook, Croc & Wendy Darling???? say less honestly

[Mysti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I'm pretty disappointed. I've waited patiently for Roc & Hook action, unfortunately, there's very little of it. Mostly teasing.

Plus, I was so bored with the story. It just didn't inspire me to keep reading. At around the 50% mark, I was skimming hoping to get to sex. When they do, stupid Wendy Darling is there to join in. Blah.

I do sooooo love Roc. I'm not sure if I'll keep reading the series.

[bookishninaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I WAS INDEED DEVOURED. YOU CAN’T END A BOOK LIKE THAT!!!! That was so fucking cruel!!! I loved ittt.
I didn’t finish the entire vicious lost boys series but i was so intrigued about this one that i jumped right into it and it was so good what the fuck? That was spectacular give me 14 of these.

I know it’s MMF but ditch the fucking girl because the boys stole the show. They were amazing got me kicking my feet and giggling FR FR. Roc and Hook..ughhhh.. they’re so hot. Love me an enemies to lovers MM with a lot of tension. I mean he literally ripped his hand off and then they were working towards a common goal? CHEFS KISS! This was just what i needed. The fan art made me do it and i have no regrets. Got me squeezing my thighs and stuff. When it’s going to be my turn? The way Hook is so soft and bratty. And Roc is so dark and witty, and be calls him “My captain” FUCK ME SIDEWAYS. I WANNA JOIN THEM TOO.

I really didn’t expect a plot but the drama was so dramatic and i was so invested? Where is book 2? Because this can’t be just it!!! Currently very flustered in the best way possible. I was very touched (physically) i need me a handsome captain and a sexy beast and all my life problems would be solved.

[tane'a · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s so good to be back in this universe!
once i knew nikki was writing a book expanding on Hook and Roc’s relationship, i was SEATED🙂‍↕️ and they were going to be back with wendy😩

this was so hot, so fun, specifically “you get six words” LORD HAVE MECRY, ROC, THE MAN THAT YOU ARE, that scene is embedded in my brain

and oh my goodness, i already have the next book on my radar because that cliff hanger?? nikki you’re wild for that😭

thank you to mustloveaudio for the ALC🤍

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending!!

[Ashley Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this in about 2 days! It was so easy to binge through and the narrators for the ALC were amazing.

This was a twist on a Peter Pan retelling where Captain Hook and the Crocodile teamed up together, even though they hated each other, to find Wendy Darling.

The MM scenes in this were good, and the E2L held lots of tension.

This was a really fun audiobook to listen to, the spice was good and the world building/magic was really dang cool. Cannot wait to read more about this series.

[Clara Levi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yo Nikki, you really care about the lore in the midst of all that smut.

[ritika · Rating 1 out of 5]

well, ahem, they fucked. AND IT WASNT SATISFYING ENOUGH. fuckers had more tension when they weren’t fucking.

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was one of my anticipated reads for this year and I am so disappointed that I didn't enjoy it as much as I was expecting to. I was so excited to come back to this world and be back with these characters. I would recommend reading the Vicious Lost Boys series first before reading this series. Reading Vicious Lost Boys first can help with understanding the backstory of the characters in this book better. The beginning of the book did take me awhile to get into and by the middle part of the story, I found myself bored and I was just reading to finish it and find out what happens in the end instead of actually enjoying the story. Even though there were action points in the plot, in the end, I feel like nothing really happened. I thought that the story was really rushed, especially the ending and the relationship between the characters. I felt that the relationship between the characters was rushed and superficial. Even though Roc and Hook have a history of being enemies in the Never King series, I wish we could have seen that history in this book also. It felt like this book was trying to play off Roc and Hook's relationship as having feelings for each other the whole time but I wish I could have seen them being enemies first and then realizing their feelings go deeper and watching them explore those feelings and maybe even battling those feelings a little bit. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and that could also be the issue why I wasn't a fan of the relationship. I wasn't a fan of how this ended at all. It felt rushed and it all felt too easy for Roc to be Wendy and Hook's savior in the end. I wish that it would have taken longer for Roc and Hook to find out Wendy is missing and that Roc would have found out differently because the way he found out was too easy and simple. The Never King series always had me on the edge of my seat and after finishing a book I would have the feeling that I need the next book in the series right away and would be anxiously anticipating the release. The start of this series didn't make me feel that way which makes me sad because that is the feeling I was expecting to leave this book with.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This gave me everything I didn’t know I needed.

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ate this quick little book up omg, if you've read the Vicious Lost Boys series this is a spin-off with Hook, Crocodile, and Wendy Darling. The characters were so intriguing I was eating up every little interaction with Rock and Hook. They were hot and their chemistry was insane. I loved that there was a plot to this book and the characters were going towards something. The spice was spicing, the instant attraction worked and the two mc's were perfect for each other. I didn't get enough of Wendy Darling so I'm not sure exactly how she fits into the 2 mmcs but I'm interested to see all of them together in the next book. This book is short so I wish it was a bit longer just to get more character development but it was still a good read.

Read if you like:
- MMF romances
- Retellings
- Dark romance
- Spicy books

[Kaity✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! Nikki did not disappoint in the slightest. Of course I never doubted her anyway but the BANTER and the TENSION 🫠🫠🫠

She already has me biting at the chomp for the next one with that cliffhanger.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio reread: mmmm hmmmm that book on audio was DAMN GOOOOOOD. 10/10 recommend. I love Roc & James together…you’re telling me get a true enemies to lovers?!?!? I am so happy. This man literally is the reason why the other has a hook but then he’s on his KNEES giving him that Gluck Gluck 3000. I’m sweating 🔥🔥🔥

_______
This book ATE (just like Roc hahahahh 😉)

This story was addicting, dark & mysterious, & coochie-dripping good. I seriously LOVED IT.

James & Roc were perfect. I am so happy to finally be reading their story & being back in this world. I was so hyped to find out more about Wendy Darling’s history & it did not disappoint in the slightest. The way this has built up through her previous series to now was so freaking well done, I neeeeeed more. The ending had me like🫣🫢😧

Can’t wait for the next book 🫶🫶🫶

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

[Sasquatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Triggers:
Fantasy violence / murder / gore
Smoking
Cannibalism / vampirism
Alcoholism


Scenes:
Kissing
Rough foreplay
Oral (he receives)
MM sex
MF sex
MMF sex

Notes:

Captain Hook is kind of needy and whiny. I thought he would be more cool, calm, and collected. Nope. That's Crocodile.

Roc is my favorite and I need to know everything about him.

I don't feel like Wendy is tacked onto this MM romance just because. She has very, very little involvement with Roc and Hook in this. It's more about the guys getting together.

Looks like this also ends on a cliff hanger. Honestly I wish she had just made the book longer.

[Laurens.Little.Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sad I used an Audible credit for this 🥲

[Trevor Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The two pillars of literature are Nikki St. Crowe and K.A. Applegate and no one can convince me otherwise

[Ellie Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not the story I necessarily expected but I LOVED IT!

This is a wonderful continuation of where everything was left off in the Vicious Lost Boys series.

Hook and Roc are everything and their characters just made me want to giggle out loud with glee!!

The book follows Hook and Roc on their journey to find their Darling, it has unexpected twists, good spice, and just overall is a feel good read for all the dark romance girlies!!

[Ninon's library · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐️
Aussi addictif que la saga des cruels garçons perdus.
J’adore voir Crochet et le Crocodile évoluer🫣
Et ce petit trio MMF, ça chaaaaage🤭

L’intrigue est captivante et les pages défilent à toute vitesse

Hâte de la suite 🐊