Fortress

A Monster by Any Other Name #4

by Laura Rye, Bailey R. Hansen

How far do you have to run to be truly safe?

The Agency of Supernatural Control built Freak Camp. They imprisoned Tobias when he was five years old. They let him walk out with Jake—but now they want him back.

Jake and Tobias have come a long way as partners, both in hunting and in the tender, fragile connection growing between them. As they journey across the country, each stop brings them closer—but the past is a harder monster to fight.

Tobias’s trauma demands care and patience. It's something Jake is determined to navigate their boundaries with respect, no matter how slow the fire of their relationship burns.

When the ASC reappears hot on their trail, it threatens everything they’ve built. If they can’t stand together against their enemy, they won’t be able to stop the fall.

FORTRESS is the fourth book in the A MONSTER BY ANY OTHER NAMES series, an m/m paranormal romance. Readers are recommended to start with either book 1, FREAK CAMP, or book 2, FEAR. Please take note that FORTRESS includes references to past sexual and physical abuse, torture, and neglect of children. This series is the slowest of burns, but each book comes with a happy for now / happily ever after.

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2024

About the author

Laura Rye grew up in the bustling cosmopolitan city of Houston, Texas. After falling in love with the mountains and the sea and every single tree in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Portland, Oregon.

She graduated from the University of Evansville with a BFA in Creative Writing and now does the boring writing by day and the fun kind at night.

FREAK CAMP is her debut book and has occupied her heart and head for the last decade. She is so, so excited to be bringing it now to a wider audience.

Reviews

[Rina Pride · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dos 4 livros dessa série, eu acho que esse foi o menos empolgante. Acho que está demorando muito para revelar a origem de Tobias, acho que já poderia ter começado isso nesse livro 4 ao invés de só suposições. Sinceramente, já está enrolando e isso é meio frustrante. Se eu chegar em 2025 vou querer terminar a história e espero que revele logo de onde Tobias veio.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I was so excited for this book and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint! I finished this in one day and can’t wait to read more! I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to hug a fictional character as much as I’ve wanted to hug Tobias. I can’t wait for the next book to see how Jake and Tobias story continues. Loved it!
-Morgan

[Jai · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Fortress was surprisingly better than Freedom. The scope of this world is increasing with some additional POVs and a thematic quality is emerging in this book. The commentary on the mortality of America when it comes to treating people with humanity is very interesting. I never realized this series was a commentary on 911.. it's really impressive.

[coco's reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how long this series will run for, but I'm beginning to find it a tad stale. This fourth installment didn't have much of an impact on me, and I can see myself having forgotten the majority of what happened in three months. I still love seeing how complex a character Tobias is, especially now that he's comfortable enough in the "real" world to express his personality on a regular basis. I was glad to learn a smidge more about why perhaps Tobias was sent to Freak Camp and his supernatural status never identified. We also got to see a role reversal in that toward the conclusion, Jake found himself helpless and Tobias to be the one overseeing both a hunt and Jake's safety, as well as his own, which forced Jake to come to terms with yet another aspect of Tobias's trauma. And of course Roger—adored seeing his changing relationship with Tobias!

But on the whole, Fortress didn't have as tight of a story arc nor was as compelling as the books before. We got some setbacks and moments of tension (the possible sighting of Leon's truck, the hospital incident), but I couldn't determine what the end goal was with either the plot slowly, slowly unfolding off-scene, or the relationship between Jake and Tobias. Maybe the latter element was a bit of a let-down because I'm finding Jake to be too much of a character type; he's got depth and complexities, I just wish they were pushed to the surface more. The chapters from Alice about the goings-on with the ASC were too few and far between, so I don't feel like the Director is as big of a threat as I should.

I still plan to continue with the series, but I really hope we get more development in the overarching conflicts (the romance + whatever's happening with the unidentified supernaturals in camp).

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's still a great series, but it felt like only half a book (tbh I can't tell if it is because the storyline felt less climactic or just because I wanted to keep reading more!)

I loved seeing how Toby got more confident, but I definitely wish there were more main story action. We got to see a lot of side quests but didn't really get anywhere with the ASC chase, answers about Toby, or the past coming back.

I'm definitely excited for the next (and sadly last) book! It is killing me to have all my questions answered!

[MariaR · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say it, but this book felt like pulling teeth. I almost DNFed but made myself finish it. This trauma circle they are in is a complete misery to read. The plot is also blurry, the cases they take are not the focus of the book, they are just wandering around. Hopefully, the last book of the series will make a difference, because the excitement this series caused at the beginning is long gone.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite series did it again. I love a good hurt/comfort and this series does it so well. The character growth feels so real and seeing our past out across the whole series instead of being rushed into one book feels so satisfying. Even 4 books in, it still feels that there's so much more to the story that I need.

[Richy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this series. It's like I personally know Jake and Toby and have been part of their growth together. What a great book, in an already fantastic series. I'm really, really looking forward what is to come in this series, and I'm ready for more emotional turbulence (though not too much, please! These boys deserve peace!!)

[Lucas Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book of the series that I didn't finish in one go, but not because I didn't want to, but because I just couldn't let myself finish and be without Jake and Toby.

Thank you Laura and Bailey for creating my favourite romance ever ❤️

[Connie Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frustrating ending

I have enjoyed the mystery of these characters in a paranormal future kind of similar to Buffy the Bampire slayer but find the cliff hangers at the end of each book frustrating as there isn't always another book ready for.me to read.

[.Tea]

End of august: it’s almost timeee!!

If this series has no fans I’m dead

[pastsimple]

Why is has yo be so long. Make it short

[olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

[Tara Batt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love them

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binged the series in just a few days and I cannot wait for the next one. Yes the hurt is a bit tough to get through but its real and its gritty and it makes the comfort all that much more worth it.

[Tuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tobias’s growth was beautiful to read about. Him and Jake deserve all the joy. Very excited for the final book in the series!

[Gabriella Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a RIDE!! If starts with a much better trip to Roger’s and their budding fam relationship made my heart happy. Jake and Toby were so cute in this book!! I think there is an interesting plot developing with the Dixons and Jake/toby. This is gonna add and external adversary bc for a long time it’s been Toby fighting with himself. Love my boys and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them 🫶🏼🫶🏼