Malice

Soul Chasers #1

by Mia Monroe

His undead ex is hellbent on dragging him to a premature afterlife. It’s my job to save him without getting us both killed.

Aster

I’m dead.

Or at least I was.

Until I got the opportunity to return to the life I was abruptly torn away from. It’s a no-brainer as far as I’m concerned. I’m not done living yet.

The catch? Become a Soul Chaser. Hunt down the Horrors, deadly souls that escaped The Below and return them to the depths where they belong.

My first assignment comes all too quickly, and I’m thrown into a dangerous world where a man’s life is in my inexperienced hands. The Horror attached to Hudson Davis is particularly nasty with a vendetta that even death didn’t resolve.

Hudson is terrified, rightfully so, and if I’m honest so am I, but there’s too much on the line for me to back out now. Not just my continued journey in the Above, but the chance at something that eluded me my first go round at life—love.

To save Hudson, I have to face Malice head on and not get myself killed. Again. If I’m successful, maybe the tormented and guarded man I’m quickly falling for can see how real our connection is and I can make the most of my second chance at life.

Malice is book one in Soul Chasers, an MM paranormal romance with dark themes, mid-level relationship angst, and spice. In Malice, you can expect a traumatized writer afraid of trusting anyone new, a newbie Soul Chaser recently returned to life (with just a few strings attached), a cast of dead and undead characters, two opposites forced together against a malicious entity, the steamiest revenge, and a love that overcomes all odds.

The majority of this book takes places in a contemporary setting.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Romance, Ghosts, Forced Proximity, Dark Romance, Magic

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2025

Reviews

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎. 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚝, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚠."

Malice by Mia Monroe is the first book in her new Soul Chasers series, and is an MM paranormal romance with dark themes, mid-level relationship angst, and a touch of spice.

This is Hudson and Aster's story and it's a sweet and entertaining read, humorous at times, with some fabulous side characters, and surprisingly cute given the subject matter!

What To Expect

🖤MM PNR
🖤Dark themes
🖤Brought together by tragedy
🖤Forced proximity
🖤Cute vibes
🖤Great side characters
🖤Spicy times
🖤HEA

4 stars

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re trapped in this house together, with something terrible threatening our safety, and yet somehow, there’s nowhere I’d rather be.

Like 3.5-4 tbh

I felt like the romance was the weakest part but I LOVED the premise, the characters (Hudson was kind of boring to me but everyone else was a gem), and the ending.

This is such a cool world. So Aster dies suddenly and because he meets the prerequisites he’s able to become a Soul Chaser. This gives him a second chance at life but he has to hunt down malevolent spirits and drag their asses back to the Below. It looks like each book will follow a different Soul Chaser but I feel like this romance would’ve worked better as a same couple series.. I mean Aster and Hudson trauma bond over a few weeks and then are all ILY and get Soul Married which is 100% permanent like it cannot be broken unless Aster dies again.

It was just too insta for me. I was down with the instalust but the feelings made literally no sense to me. It just fell back on fate and “we were made for each other” and it didn’t click for me.

Anyway the rest was super fun and I’ll probably read the next book.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Ghosties stories are my auto click. Reviewing soon.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was alright. I was more invested in the plot than the romance though. I wasn’t really sold on them as a couple. Sure, separately I liked both of them. There was nothing wrong with either MC though I liked Aster a little more. But their romance was super lackluster. I didn’t long for their HEA but I normally do with characters. Also the dirty talk was super cringy to me. Wasn’t a fan of this particular dirty talk.

I was going to give this 4 stars but the fact that Aster told Hudson he loved him twice and Hudson never said it back either time took off a whole star for me. Even in the epilogue that’s two years later, Aster tells Hudson he loves him and he never says it back. Even though they have a soul bond, literally bonded for all eternity.

Not sure if I’m going to read the next one. I’m curious about Wilder because he seems so stoic and mysterious but he made a few comments that made me think he’s a bit of a manwhore and I’m just so over those.

NO CHEATING
OM DRAMA (Hudson’s dead ex comes back to haunt him after trying to kill him and he wants to get Hudson away from Aster. No true drama with that but he’s relentless)
NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF MC OFF PAGE
DEATH OF MC (off page but he’s brought back to the living as a soul chaser)
HEA (but no I love you from Hudson which ruined it)

[Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎. 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚝, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙, 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚎'𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚗𝚘𝚠."

This was a very sweet romance considering the crazy situation Hudson and Aster found themselves in. This wasn't a love at first sight situation, as Hudson was pretty leery of Aster when he arrived on his doorstep out of the blue. I mean, I don't blame the man one bit. He's spent the last almost two years trying to hide from his stalker of an ex who has done nothing but make his life miserable. Hudson was basically housebound and in the end not even that could save him from his ex's wrath.

Aster is recently back from the dead as a newly minted Soul Chaser. It's his job to find escapees from the underworld and bring them back where they belong. There are some perks of the job, such as coming back to the land of the living and close to immortality, but it's also extremely dangerous. And of course the first Horror aka escaped spirit Aster is tasked with is a doozy.

This book was an interesting series opener and also included some fun side characters as well. I enjoyed meeting Crash and Wilder and I hope that we get to see more of them in the future. As a spirit himself, I don't know if Crash will ever have his own partner but I can still hope. Wilder, a seasoned chaser, is not too keen on finding himself attached to another, so I'm also hopeful we get to see him change his mind. Who doesn't love a grump finding love?

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes death is just the beginning..

When Aster looses his life before his time, he is given a second chance by becoming a soul chaser. Those who are tasked to return the bad sports back to the afterlife, the catch is they are harder to kill. He is taked to return the entity hunting Hudson. These two men both have been wronged in the past, so find it hard to trust what they are feeling when they spend time with the other. It is a fun balance of the mystical with real-world applications, where hey this actually could be reality. Mia did a beautiful job in intertwining this world to make you really believe this is a possibility.
Was nice to see the characters both learn to trust before things become to real. Along with a great supporting cast of both the alive and unlike. Will pull you in wanting more from this universe.

[Christina Sturgill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Aster and Hudson

[Lyndsay TC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four and a half fantastic stars for this new paranormal romance! Aster and Hudson were some of the sweetest men I've ever read. Both were looking for something lasting and found it in each other. I love the idea of a Soul Chaser and what they represent. I loved all the house ghosts and the guide Aster picked up along the way. A great start to this series.

[Bryoni Jayde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5⭐️
Emotion: 1.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I received an ARC of Malice in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read, low angst with moderate spice. The story was original and I like the concept of Soul Chasers. The story started strong but I did find myself zoning out occasionally.

At times I felt there wasn’t a lot of emotion between Aster & Hudson. Mainly when one was being hurt, it felt very clinical - like let’s take 5, have a think and read about how we deal with the Horror while it has Hudson pinned to the ceiling. Give me emotion, fight, give me all the unfiltered rage and get your man off the damn ceiling.

Loved the side character Crash, I was probably more invested in him than Aster & Hudson.

Overall I enjoyed Malice, but I don’t think it’s a series I’ll be champing at the bit to continue.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Afterlife like nothing we have seen or heard of before, to the best of my knowledge at least! A dead man who doesn't want to stay dead, a charming writer who has had a horrendous couple of years, a man who must have led a charmed life, a cute as anything dog, a brilliantly witty spirit guide, some curious and kindly Victorian ghosts oh and a wiccan sister. All this and more is what you will find in Mia Monroe's Malice.

Wondering how it all fits together? It is a little like a puzzle. We start at the outside, we are outside, looking in and learning, along with Aster and then along with Hudson, our two principal characters. First Aster who dies and then, on learning that he has died, is almost immediately offered a second chance. He can become a Soul Chaser back on earth. It won't be easy but it is an option he chooses to take. When the spirit Crash nominates himself as Aster's guide we find plenty of warm humour coming to the story, along with some wonderfully reflective moments about life and death and life after death. Crash is a brilliant partner to Aster in terms of the afterlife aspects of the story.

In life on the other hand there is still Aster's cute as anything little dog, and then there is Hudson along with his sister Joss. Hudson begins the story waking up in hospital, having narrowly avoided being murdered by his stalker-ex. The ex, is assured is now dead. Indeed, Chester is dead but being a particularly nasty character no sooner is he dead than he finds his way back, as a Horror. He comes back to haunt, and with the intention of, keeping Hudson. If Aster has anything to say about it, and any role to play in what comes next, he will not succeed. It is Aster who has to succeed and, together with Hudson he could have a chance.

This is an outstanding story. I was completely hooked. Reading it at bedtime despite chiding myself that it could bring on nightmares - it doesn't. The paranormal is very strong throughout but it is tempered by the blossoming romance, the cute as anything dog, the wonderful Crash and of course the curious, friendly ghosts. The storyline is very tight and flows wonderfully, nothing is rushed and everything, every aspect, given its place. Mia Monroe has clearly done some research into the paranormal but by giving it her own interpretation we don't feel overwhelmed by it. This is, after all, a romance at heart and og, what a beautiful romance it is too.

Malice is absolutely without doubt the next book you need to read!

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great first book in the new series from Mia Monroe. I love the idea of a soul chaser, not something I've heard described like that before and it opens this whole world up that Mia has created.
Aster's unfortunate death means he has the chance to come back to life but only as a soul chaser, going after the Horrors (bad souls) that have escaped the below and putting them back where they belong. His first time out has him going after a horrible person who attempted a murder suicide with the man he had been stalking for eighteen months.
Hudson survived but is now dealing with the aftermath. Some cracked ribs and bruising from the strangulation but more so with nightmares, flashbacks and he could swear he can feel something or someone in his house. It's a weird way to meet someone, have them say they're there to help with your problem, after it's happened but Aster soon becomes a life saver.
These two men clearly have not had good luck with past relationships, both only wanting to love and be loved. Unfortunately, it takes an awful event and a Horror to bring them together. It's a fast paced romance considering the amount of time they know each other but it's one of those that develops quickly in an intense situation and may or may not have help from some friendly house ghost and a little thing called fate.
Mia's writing of the Horror is quite intense and very easy to fall into the tension and fear that Hudson experiences along with the nerves that Aster experiences whilst trying to deal with his very first Horror. We also have a good cast of secondary characters. Crash is entertaining in his friendliness and willingness to help, along with the joy he gets from playing with Ollie, Aster's dog. There is also Hudson's sister, who knows far more than he ever thought, and those from Below who basically become Aster's workmates. I can't decide if I want more from Aster and Hudson, or to get to know another Soul Chaser.
An entertaining read and great start to a new series. I'm looking forward to book two!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[ShelfLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This is a great book and start to a series from Mia. I read the novella that she gave out via her email newsletter, and was instantly intrigued. The short story was a great way to get readers interested in this new series.

I was hooked from the beginning, and didn’t want to put it down. The MCs are sweet and caring, like actually good people. And the supporting characters are great additions. I love Crash (and hope to see him again in book 2). And Hudson’s sister adds to the story as well. Farnsworth, Wilder, Abigail, and even little Otto. They all just rounded out the story perfectly. I would actually be happy reading a trilogy of just these MCs. But I do look forward to getting Wilder’s and more of the Chaser’s stories and HEAs.

This is more plot focused, but the connection that Aster and Hudson share is very emotional, strong, and deep. Even among all the chaos, they find time to truly see how they’re meant to be together. I loved their communication, and how tender and gentle they are with each other. The romance is very high and swoony. The heat level is low to medium, but it’s realistic considering what’s going on. It’s also not overly detailed, which I think fits with the tone of this couple’s book.

There is a lot of action in this book, and not much day-to-day filler or many details surrounding that. It’s written really well. I don’t think I caught any typos. I’ve come to expect a high level of writing from Mia, and I wasn’t disappointed. There was only one continuity issue, which is toward the end of the action with the horror. It made the scene confusing, but it didn’t ruin anything, just took me out of the story a bit to try and decipher how certain things happened.

I’m excited about this series!

[Chloe (ChloeInBooksland)]

I was initially intrigued by Malice. The premise held promise—the Soul Chasers, the concept of Horrors, and the underlying worldbuilding were all compelling and fresh. I genuinely enjoyed how the story began and found myself particularly interested in Aster, who I felt was the more grounded of the two main characters.

However, my excitement diminished as the narrative progressed. While I generally appreciate fated love tropes, this execution felt underdeveloped. The relationship leaned heavily into insta-love, which, combined with the return of an abusive ex as a supernatural threat, felt rushed and emotionally unearned. A slower burn would have better suited both the plot and the emotional stakes.

Hudson’s arc, in particular, was difficult to stay invested in. While I could rationalize his behavior to an extent, many of his decisions veered into implausibly reckless territory—evoking the kind of frustration typically reserved for horror movie characters making all the wrong choices. Unfortunately, this distanced me from the romance entirely; towards the end, I realized I wouldn’t have been emotionally affected if something happened to him.

Dialogue was another weak point. Certain lines pulled me out of the story due to their awkwardness or unintentional humor.

Learning that Book 2 will follow a different couple was disappointing too. I believe this couple’s story needed more time to develop organically—perhaps even extending into the second volume, where the soul bond could have been more convincingly explored.

In conclusion, Malice is an enjoyable series opener with a strong foundation in concept and a few standout elements, but its rushed romance and uneven character development kept it from reaching its full potential.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

- paranormal
- forced proximity

This is the first in a new series, with some great world building and some really intriguing characters I hope to see more of in future books. Aster is the Soul Chaser of the series title, newly minted after dying prematurely and being brought back to bring errant souls to justice. Hudson has had a very tough time with his jerk of an ex Chester almost succeeding in ending Hudson's life along with his own, and it seems in death he wants to continue his abusive ways and won't leave Hudson alone. Aster is tasked with bringing Chester to justice, but he won't go easily.

Hudson is understandably wary of Aster, but is open to getting help with what's going on in the house he loves. The connection between the two isn't instant, but it is fast which is understandable with everything going on. It might also be an element of fate, too which I don't mind. Aster is given a very tough case for his first time out as a Soul Chaster but has help in the form of his spirit guide, Hudson's sister Joss and a fellow grumpy soul chaser. I liked the story, I liked the world building and I liked both Hudson and Aster. Their relationship develops quickly but it never felt rushed, it felt right for the two of them and I loved how supportive they were of each other. It felt equal.

There's a lot to like here for the first in a series, it really sets the scene for future books and I'm looking forward to more in this world and series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I loved this book! It's a little different from some of Mia Monroe's other books, but if you liked them, you would likely enjoy this one as well. Be sure to read the TW because there is some pretty heavy background stuff that could be upsetting but is vital to the story.

Hudson has run from a terrible relationship and is now being haunted. Aster is there to send Hudson's ex back to hell, where he belongs. But, as we get to see, Hudson is a catch, and his ex doesn't want to go. Unfortunately, Aster is new to his role and is learning on the job. Needless to say, there were some bumps along the road, but despite that, these two felt an instant connection. They are both sensitive and uncertain about themselves and each other, especially given that they've only known each other for such a short time.

Setting aside the paranormal aspect, both Hudson and Aster are relatable. They've both been through some stuff, and that makes them both warry about finding love, especially as quickly as these two do.

As some of the other reviewers have mentioned, the side characters are great as well. Crash offers a bit of levity when it's needed and Hudson's sister is the badass sister anyone would want.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this one. I love all of Mia's books and I'm excited to see what else comes out of this series.

[Daryn Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malice ARC Review:

Hudson and Aster 💙

After suddenly dying, Aster is given a few choices in the afterlife, one being that he gets to return to life if he agrees to accept the job of becoming a Soul Chaser. Thankfully, he does just that and his first assignment is to capture the new Horror that escaped to torment Hudson, making their paths cross and tangle together. Hudson returns home after a horrifying brush with death himself where he was attacked and nearly killed by his ex boyfriend. While he begins to attempt to heal from his wounds, he starts to feel unsettled, quickly his fears ramp up as strange things begin to happen in his home. This begins their journey!

I had so much fun with this story! Aster and Hudson were so dang sweet with each other. The world building of this new series was fun and expansive in a way that never felt like an information dump, but told in an entertaining way that was woven seamlessly through the story. I just loved all the characters that appeared in this book! Each one was written with their own unique voice and made the journey special.

I'm looking forward to where this series will go and who it will follow, Malice was a joy to read!

4.25/5🌟

[Amanda Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malice by Mia Monroe is a gripping blend of the supernatural and the real world, offering a unique twist on second chances.

Aster's life is cut short before his time, but death isn't the end for him. Instead, he's given a new purpose as a soul chaser, tasked with hunting down rogue spirits who refuse to move on. His latest mission? Protect Hudson from a vengeful entity that refuses to let him go. Both men have been burned by their pasts, making trust a difficult thing, yet as they spend time together, their connection deepens.

Mia Monroe does a fantastic job of weaving the mystical into everyday reality, making the idea of soul chasers feel entirely plausible. The story balances action, romance, and emotional depth, with Aster and Hudson’s growing relationship serving as the heart of it all. Watching them learn to trust before their feelings become undeniable was both frustrating and rewarding in the best way.

The supporting cast—both alive and undead—adds richness to the world, making it feel immersive and leaving you wanting more from this universe. If you love paranormal romance with heart, action, and a touch of the unexpected, this book is a must-read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I’ve seen several reviews say this book has a slow start. It didn’t read like that to me. To be fair, the romance aspect doesn’t start until almost the 50% mark, but there’s tons of other things happening in the first half. There is a good amount of world building, but it’s built in to the story. I never felt like I was reading a giant fact dump or that I was being given a bunch of irrelevant information

I absolutely loved Aster, and I think a big part of that was how real he felt. He was tossed into this new life or death job with basically no training. And he uses every resource at his disposal to make sure he doesn’t fail while trying to be the guy that Hudson needed. Hudson has been through hell, but is still surprisingly strong and willing to trust again, which I found amazing

Overall, this was a great start to what is looking to be another fantastic series from Monroe. It has spice, action, some hurt/comfort, plus a dash of comic relief, particularly from Crash. I’m looking forward to the next book already!

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aster, waking up in the afterlife, discovers he is a Soul Chaser. His new job… hunting down deadly souls called Horrors (ghosts, spirits, poltergeists). Hudson barely survived when his stalker tried to kill him then killed himself. Hudson thought his ordeal was over but it was just beginning.

The book started slowly. It seemed the author was packing the beginning with info pertinent to the new series. I do understand the importance of this, though I didn’t really get into the book until about a third of the way through.

I like the world the author created. The concept of basically waiting rooms for dead souls was different. I liked how Aster was thrown in to the deep end with just an instruction manual. His “job” was a totally new concept for me. I really liked Crash and hope to see more of him.

Hudson’s horror was particularly nasty. The author did a great job of making him creepier as the book progressed.

Overall I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to learning more about the cast of characters that were introduced in this book.

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a unique twist to the afterlife, heaven/hell, and demon hunting and it worked out really good. I loved it from beginning to end, all of the characters held my attention, and the world building was intriguing.
Aster and Hudson meet in a very unconventional way but doesn't stop the sparks from flying. Unfortunately Hudson's ex is refusing to let him go even now that he is dead, escaping from "Hell" to continue to stalk Hudson. Aster now has to find a way to save Hudson from this horror while dealing with his developing feelings for Hudson and learning his new job on the go. Good thing he found some "friends" to help guide him which I definitely want to more of.
This book captured by attention from page one and never let go. The action, suspense, and creepy paranormal moments are perfectly balanced with humor, sweet moments, healing, and steam. The relationship between Aster and Hudson kinda develops quickly but doesn't feel rushed or forced; the pace is set perfectly for them considering their situation.
I can't wait for the next book to learn more about this new intriguing world and characters of Mia Monroe.

[Dhatri Pandya]

*Overall Book Rating: 5 / 5

*Tropes:
-MM Romance
-Dark Paranormal Romance
-Forced Proximity
-Hurt/Comfort
-Revenge Romance

*Spiciness: 3 / 5

Malice was my first book by Mia Monroe and my very first Paranormal Romance book. I didn’t know what to expect going into this book but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the story. Mia has done a great job at not only at weaving this paranormal story and writing all the amazing characters but also at explaining all the terms in a very understanding way. I absolutely loved both the main characters - Aster and Hudson. I was happy and proud of Hudson’s character when he faced his fears and didn’t back way from a fight. It was really sweet of Aster to protect, understand, be honest and be patient with Hudson while he was healing. I also loved Crash’s character too who was witty, resourceful and caring. I enjoyed reading this book so much that I can’t wait for the second book in the series to come out and definitely recommend this book if you like reading paranormal romance books.

[tobifun.pp · Rating 4 out of 5]

rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice: 🌶️🌶️
darkness: 🖤🖤
feelings: 😭🥰😱😡☠️🥵😍🫠

Malice is the first book in the new Soul Chasers series by Mia Monroe. After a freak accident, Aster wakes up in a strange environment. Slowly, he is made aware that he is dead. Because his death was not his fault and he was an upstanding person with a cute dog in his life, he is given the opportunity to return to the world of the living and recapture escaped evil souls from the underworld as a Soul Chaser.

The book begins with the setting of the world and the rules that apply there. It takes a while to get to the romantic part. I find Aster and Hudson very endearing and their love story is really sweet, but for me, the book comes alive mainly through its exciting ghost story and the many quirky side characters that are introduced in this first instalment. I see so much potential here for more stories, which I will definitely be reading.

[Heather Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

This story is a fun read with a quirky take on the supernatural world. Soul Chasers.

A few folks are given the job of bringing escaped souls back to the underworld. Aster’s barely wrapped his head around the fact that he’s now a Soul Chaser before his first assignment comes through. And it’s a doozy.

Hudson thinks his problems are finally over until he learns ghosts are real.

These two make a great couple and the one good thing about this Horror terrorizing him…it brings Aster and Hudson together. You always get a glimpse at characters we’ll get to meet in future stories.

Just be prepared to buy a dog by the end - you know - just in case it’s all true! (iykyk)

[Sharon L · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I can’t promise you that I’ll be the man of your dreams, but I can promise there’s no malice in me."

This is book 1 in a new series, Soul Chasers, by Mia Monroe. If you are a newsletter subscriber there was a download to a short story prequel for this series. After reading that, I knew I was going to love this new series. If you get a chance to read Dread you definitely should check it out.

Oh my goodness, that book cover is everything!!!

This story was definitely original. It was fast paced with lots of action while still bringing some heat. Starting with page one I was glued to my Kindle not wanting to put it down until I found out what happened.

I prefer the books I read to be focused on the plot and this one hit the spot.

This was a fairly quick read at 260 pages and I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malice is the first book in new series Soul Chasers and I wasn't disappointed. Aster, the newly appointed Soul Chaser, has been brought back to life to bring rogue souls to justice after his own premature death. His first case involves Hudson, who has been haunted by his abusive ex, Chester, even after death. Chester’s spirit continues tormenting Hudson, and Aster is tasked with bringing him to justice. Though Hudson is initially wary of Aster, he’s open to help with the troubling situation in his home. Their connection grows quickly, though naturally, and with the help of Aster's spirit guide, Hudson's sister Joss, and another Soul Chaser, the two navigate the challenges of the case. The story features strong world-building, a quick but believable relationship between Aster and Hudson, and a supportive, equal partnership that develops throughout the book.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new series. It’s paranormal, which I love, and I look forward to the fated mates, world building, soul-chasing saga that will unfold. Aster has an untimely death and instead of staying dead he’s given a chance to resume life, but only as a soul chaser who hunts down souls who’ve escaped their punishments from “below.” Unfortunately his first assignment is a doozy, but his attraction to his “client” is a bonus. Hudson has had the most toxic of stalker exes. So much so that even a grisly death cannot vanquish his desires. Despite being wary of Aster’s intentions at first, Hudson seeks his help just in time. But, it will take everything they’ve both got to send this soul back to the hell he belongs in. They get some help along the way from the spirits that inhabit Hudson’s home, his sister, a fellow soul chaser and a benign spirit who befriends Aster, plus Aster’s boss who watches over him. Both men have been wary and somewhat unlucky, an understatement for Hudson, in the love department but do find their HEA after banishing the evil trying to pull them apart. Looking forward to seeing who finds their soulmate next, hoping it’s a certain grumpy, centuries old soul chaser named Wilder 😉.

[Demetra Roussakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. If you have read Dread you know a bit about soul chasers and how they become one. The story starts with Aster waking up confused and not understanding what happened. When he meets Farsnworth, who tells him what happened and the reason he is there, he accepts the position. His first job is helping someone who had an abusive ex who has been stalking him for two years. When he meets Hudson for the first time, he feels the attraction, it knows he cannot do anything at that time. The story starts from there with how Aster learns on the job of how to get rid of the horror that is terrorizing Hudson. I love the world building with heat and chemistry between them. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I do love the idea of soul chasers, given a second chance at life after an untimely death on the condition they work to bring back escaped souls. I liked Aster and felt sorry for him being thrown in at the deep end so to speak with such an evil soul to capture. I liked Hudson, the traumatised author who was stalked and attacked by his ex, only to be haunted by him after his suicide. I enjoyed the side characters, especially Crash. Somehow this great world, plot and characters completely failed to mesh together for me. The story felt overly wordy in places, I didn't really feel the connection between Aster and Hud even though the never really stopped talking about it. For me, this was as soulless as the Horror they were trying to catch

[Mandy Tunstill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Wow.... .. Malice by Mia Monroe is book one in a new series Soul Chasers and I absolutely loved it was hooked from the start when Aster is given a second chance at life as a Soul Chaser after is sudden death he takes it he has to hunt down horrors and drag them back to the below is first case is the horror that's haunting Hudson and it was is ex who was stalking him and then tried to kill him doesn't want to let him go but with Aster help and other friendly ghosts in is house and not forgetting Crash who's Aster's guide work together to get the horror back to the below
Love Aster & Hudson together both was looking for something beautiful and they find it in each other recommend so much.

[Brooke Greathouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off really good and I was hooked from like the first page. But a lot of it was just annoying and way too sappy! A lot of the sap was over the top and somewhat cringy and corny! Nobody talks to each other like that! If I went to my husband and said “I love you so much, above the stars and the moon and the sea’ I’d move Heaven and earth to spend the rest of my days with you!” He would have me committed!

Also I didn’t like that Hudson never told Aster he loved him. Once he said he was “in love” with him. But every time Aster said he loved him, Hudson never said it back!

Based on the writing and cringe, I don’t think I’m going to continue with the series. Unless Crash gets his own book!