Monday's Child is Fair of Face Cara Martinez's life at Helix Tech has been an endless procession of days. For six years, she's endured the monotony of her basement office job—until one blood-soaked Monday shatters her world. Stalked through fluorescent-lit corridors by a shapeshifting creature of otherworldly beauty and dark horror, Cara is thrust into a deadly game where she's both prey and unwitting player. As she fights for her life, she uncovers sinister secrets lurking beneath Helix Tech's polished facade. But with each narrow escape and pulse-pounding encounter, she senses an undercurrent of desire beneath the monster's savage pursuit. As the line between fear and attraction blurs, Cara must confront the truth about herself and the company she thought she knew.
"You taste divine, my sweet," he purred, his thumb stroking over my skin. "I could devour you." My heartbeat thundered in my ears, but I did not break eye contact. “Let go,” I said through gritted teeth. His eyes widened in obvious delight. “Are you going to fight me, darling?” He leaned over me until I could feel his breath on my lips. “Please do. I want to feel you struggle.”
This was interesting in a couple ways, from the side-eye catching cover to the catchy plot hook that catapults the romance.
For such a short story, Adrian Blue packed a punch with this. It’s a really interesting idea for a monster romance that translated really well into the shorter page length. This would’ve probably made a delectable expanded novel, too.
It dances dangerously on the line of too much, but holds itself back more times than it goes over.
Sexual tension galore between the MCs, and primal play kink is big here.
Very, VERY intrigued to discover what the rest of the days of the week have in store…
Not as short as most of Blue's monster works, but still a quick enough read. I was at the doctor's office for a checkup, just reading this in the waiting room. Oooops, haha. (To be fair, I got called back just before it got spicy.)
It's still almost-slightly-vaguely dub-con, considering she's running away from a monster that slaughtered her coworkers. But I think the overall story speaks to the complexities of our bodies reacting in more base/primal ways in inappropriate times, such as fearing for your life while also finding the "guy" chasing you attractive. I didn't really mind it in this case. Skoll's verbal threats early on are more a taunt to make her run than they are expressing intent to actually hurt her. The smutty bits were consensual but you have to take into account the chasing and such for a full scope of things.
I like dark themes, but I'm not a dark romance girlie. I have yet to see/hear about one where the MMC isn't initially (or continuously) abusive towards the FMC and I don't understand why anyone likes that. I'm not saying that people can't enjoy it, but I don't personally understand the appeal or how that helps readers with trauma. I grew up reading my fair share of Rurouni Kenshin fics where Kenshin was still Battousai and was ordered to kidnap Kaoru or something, so I can technically read and enjoy like, a "kidnapper" romance. But there's a lot of context to that sort of storyline that makes a difference for me, and when the MMC hurts the FMC, I'm out.
In any case, I love how much of Blue's work moves away from conventional monsters with overall normal features, and she doesn't shy away from the potentially weird or gross. You can often be like, "I would never want a bunch of spiders/X object/Y body part in me, but hey, the vibes are hot here."
Walking into a soul-sucking job to find the halls drenched in blood and bodies strewn around is ... a little jarring. Having something monstrous stalk you as you attempt to escape? Maybe even more jarring.
Yeah, Cara has a bit of a rough morning. She's not thrilled to be returning to her monotonous cubicle job and stepping off the elevator to find blood, bodies, and something OTHER on her floor is just the cherry on the Monday Sundae. Unfortunately for her, the monster who caused all this carnage is playing a game of cat and mouse with her. It wants her to run so it can chase.
Except...while it likes the chase, it turns out there's a lot more to what's going on than Cara knows. The monster doesn't want to hurt her and her employers might be involved in things that she knew nothing about. Dangerous things. Things involving the monster chasing her.
A little danger, some corporate evilness, a monster who knows what he wants, and a lady who has her eyes opened to a whole new world. *thumbs up*
There must be something wrong with me to love Skoll so much. Cara walks into work to find the office soaked in blood with the bodies of her coworkers strewn about. Skoll chases her, loving her fire and desire to fight him. During the chase Cara learns that her employer was hiding dark secrets that make them just as much of a monster as the creature hunting her. There are no hearts and flowers and romance here, but if you like dark and morbid and unhinged then this is for you. Don’t lie, the idea of the monster hating everyone but you, it’s queen, has appeal.
Highly recommend as long as you can put your humanity aside for a moment. Which, let’s be real, us dark romance lovers have no problem with.
I still remember the first book of Adrian that I came across, I couldn't believe what I was reading and how much into it I was. If you love a good Monster romance, and I'm talking about real Monsters with weird shapes and ugly, then I invite you to jump into Adrian Blue's worlds, you won't want to escape those creepy eyes and terrifying creatures by the end of the day, happy reading!
As usual amore imaginative tale from this author. My favorite part was the chase. It was a scene that had me "biting my nails". I love that Cara was a fighter. She certainly gave him a run for his money. Skoll was creepy and sexy at the same time. When it was all said and done he was just sexy.
Monday: A Dark Monster Romance (The Days of the Week book 1) by Adrian Blue
This is the first book I have read by Adrian Blue , and I love it. I love a good Monster Romance. I can't wait to read her other books.. She is a fantastic author. Great storytelling and great characters. A 5 star read for sure.
This was such a good read! Short, but not too short! Loved the chasing and the broody, twisted vibes. A FMC who wasn’t afraid to try and fight back. A horrifyingly sexy beast. Spicy time with a barbed d!ck too. Only one spicy scene, but well worth it and the whole short story was great! Def reading book 2 in the series soon!
I did laugh at the ending, of course he is a king of some sort and now she will be queen. Had to have a big HEA haha
Also, I am currently watching The Witcher and I couldn’t help but imagine the monster in his human form as Geralt (Henry Cavill). And he kept that sexy voice even as a monster. 😩🔥
Adrian come to the front of the class cause why do I now want to be ravished my a monster!!!! I will devour every book you write. 10/10 I love the way your mind works.
I enjoyed this reference to the Norse being Skoll. It’s about time he got to have a little more fun. This story had a twist that I didn’t fully expect, but it added to the story nicely. I’m looking forward to continuing with the other days of the week.
This was so good I had to make popcorn! Then the barbs hardened and I choked on my popcorn and for a second I thought I would leave my cats motherless but I live to say that I loved this little book! 🐺☀️
Quick little story. It has suspense, horror and spice. Like a little palate cleanser between books. I liked it. I will definitely look into the author's other books and stories.
Horror and smut , that’s what you get with this book and if you don’t like that I would suggest not reading it. If that’s your thing then I’d say go for it ! It’s dark , spicy with a HEA for some ;) .
3.5 stars. Not bad but super short, so there wasn’t time to form a plot. The characters were basic but fun I guess. I did like the idea that they’re fated mates and she’s the queen of some dark realm. Not very spicy, also it’s very gory.
Love Adrian Blue so much. This story not disappoint. A delicious little horror that leaves you wanting more but also satisfied. Can’t wait to meet Tuesday. ;)
Eh it’s was very choppy, normally her stories even when super short like this, have an amazing plot and flow so well but this one honestly felt extremely rushed and was just off.
Not rating since I don’t want to mess with their numbers but the book just wasn’t for me. Tried to read a few of these more hardcore monster romances and I’m just not into it.