Sins Of The Stone

by Morella Moon

Ramuz

Ramuz has always lived in the shadows, finding solace in observing humans from afar. An outcast among his own kind and feared by the very beings he admires, Ramuz leads a lonely existence—until his eyes fall on Ursulette, mocked and harassed by the people in her village. As he watches over her, drawn to her perseverance and quiet strength, he feels a connection he never thought possible. When creatures invade the village with the intent to destroy it, Ramuz rescues Ursulette, whisking her away from the burning ruins to his hidden sanctuary—a risk that may cost him his life.

Ursulette

Ursulette has always felt like an outsider, yet despite yearning for a connection she’s learned to survive in isolation. When a raid of demons devastates her village, she awakens in the arms of a mysterious gargoyle—the very creature she should fear. Yet there’s something different about Ramuz. Unlike the creatures who destroyed her home, he shows her kindness, intelligence, and a deep, abiding affection. Ursulette faces the realization that her heart is falling for a creature she has been taught to fear.

As they return to her ruined village, they must confront the harsh reality that their love is forbidden—a love that could lead to their execution. Amidst the trauma of their pasts and the danger of their present, can they defy a world determined to keep them apart, or will their love cost them their lives?

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

Morella Moon was born in the shadows, emerging from a cauldron of blood and bile after an ancient ritual was performed. From her crypt, she weaves tales of love and darkness, crafting each story like a delicate spell. Occasionally, she emerges to devour a book or two, feeding her insatiable hunger for magical tales. Beware—her stories may just enchant you long after the final page is turned.

Reviews

[Chasing Silhouettes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giggles and gasps

This book gives off Gentle Giant / Beauty and the Beast Vibes. But it isn't a children's book....

Forbidden Romance . Fantasy . Romantasy . Secret Protector . Damsel in Distress . Monster/creature Romance . Morally Grey MMC . Voyeurism .

Ursulette was the "strange girl" of her village. She was an orphan, on the curvy side, who drew odd looks, as she was quiet and kept mostly to herself. Like Belle from Beauty and the Beast, she loved books. But there were those in her village, men, who bullied her.

Ramuz, the only one of his kind, a gargoyle, was drawn to her. He found a kinship with her through their shared aloneness. He watched over her like a protector... well, more than just that...

Though an unlikely, forbidden pair and through circumstances that forced them into close proximity, they eased into a companionship of sorts. However, that bond was put to the test when her village was ravaged brutally by other creatures. Though she survived, thanks to her Ramuz, now they were even more so outcast with both of their lives in imminent danger.

A taboo and steamy fairytale-ish story, mixed with a little humor and charming banter. A quick novella to evoke giggles and gasps.

4🌟 eARC

[Alexandra Tisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC READER REVIEW!!

Look. You know what you’re getting into based on the cover alone: Gargoyle smut. But where most monster romances jump straight into things, this one was a very satisfying slow burn. That’s not to discredit the way the book kicks off by sending you straight into the action of the cruel environment it takes place in. The love story between the two MCs was explored in a loving, tentative way that allowed the affection and trust to grow between them, and made you really root for them to be together. The spice was done well, and balanced with the rest of the story in a way that didn’t completely overpower the plot, but rather added to the storyline. It definitely gives “Beauty and the Beast” but was still different, dark and gruesome in ways that made it feel fresh and new.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A romance between a human and a gargoyle. Both are lonely and find solace together.
Plenty of smut, plenty of violence, and all neatly wrapped up.

[Horromantasy Book Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-Star Monster Romance You Can’t Miss! 🔥

‼️SPOILER ALERT‼️

This book? Worth every bit of my 5 stars. I’m new to this style of monster romance, but after this? I’m hooked. The spice came in hot 🥵🌶️ and early - and while this was plot driven, the heat was definitely there 🥵.

The MMC? Oof! The perfect blend of dreamy cinnamon roll + “Touch her and you die” energy. Forbidden romance? ☑️Beastly but soft for her? ☑️ The Belle & the Beast (post-falling-for-her) vibes had me swooooooning 🖤

The characters? Some you love, some you hate - like Omar. His fate? Undeserved but understood. And Ursulette at the end?! 🤭Savage! she is my queen 👸

And as a plus-size reader, I loved seeing a curvy FMC take the lead - strong, shy, and powerful. We love to see it and I need more👏

📖 Releasing March 25, 2025! Are you adding this to your TBR?!

🖤 Read this if one of your guilty pleasures consists of: 🖤
✔️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
✔️ Touch her & you die energy
✔️ Early & balanced spice 🌶️
✔️ He falls first (and hard)
✔️ Dual POV
✔️ Forbidden love
✔️ Plus-size & shy FMC
✔️ Some dark vibes (but not too dark)

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ursulette seems different to her fellow villagers, but to Ramuz she’s perfect.

Ursulette ain’t to damsel in distress. She does do a decent job sticking up for herself.
But everyone kowtowing to Omar is entirely baffling.

I have it a 3 mostly for my inability to understand how they were found and the whole omar thing.

I’d also like to know how many times the world “nibbled” was used.

All in all a decent read.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity tot to ARC read this title.

[angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly such a solid and beautiful story. Beauty and the beast vibes with a bit of 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Such a fun read, and I really enjoyed it!

[Sun Young Peony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars? Pfft. This book broke the scale! I'd rate it higher if the system let me. Maybe invent a new star! Maam, Sins Of The Stone is officially a 10 in my heart!

I'm not even sure how to write this review without spoiling everything! All I can say is.... Ramuz is a character you NEED to know. This yummy Gargoyle "monster" dude is definitely going on my Hear Me Out list.

- Romantic slow burn that will slowly kill you while waiting for them to confess to each other.
- Monster (Gargoyle) x Human
- 3rd person
- F/M
- No cheating (Yey!)
- Consensual
- Touch her or die
- Loyal to "his human"
- ❤️ HEA ❤️

My reading experience with this book:

1. As an official monster/demon x human romance lover, I'm so PROUD of how Morella Moon portrays Ramuz as an ideal MMC character that most women dream of. This character has the qualities women will find desirable. He's respectful and he knows how to boost Ursulette's self-confidence. I'm so in love with the way he lifts her through her ups and downs. Why is he so damn sweet? OMG! I wish Ramuz existed in the real world! I'd be happily married now for sure!

2. These characters stole my heart. I fell for Ramuz and Ursulette's love story so easily. Call me crazy but they made me so happy. I mean, my whole day was filled with smiles. At work, during lunch and on my way home. Loved their cozy talks. So comforting!

3. I love Ursulette's character for being a brave girl. She's strong and doesn't need anyone's help. I love her independence. And she's a book lover too. I loved the part where she introduced books to Ramuz.

4. Finding a monster romance in third person is like finding a unicorn these days! Really! I mean...I can deal with first person, but third is my fave! I love that this is written in my preferred POV. Thank you so much, Morella!

5. The spicy scenes are hot. And what makes them even better is how gentle Ramuz (MMC) is with his human, even without dirty talk.

I'm planning to buy a paperback of this story as a gift for a friend in the future. I'm sure she'll be proud to read it in public with Ramuz and Ursulette on the cover. The illustration is gorgeous! ❤️

---------------------
NOTE: This is my personal opinion about the book. My goal is to share my experience, not to change anyone's perspective.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morella Moon’s Sins of the Stone is the kind of spicy, soft-hearted, fairytale-adjacent novella that had me giggling, gasping, and straight-up grinning like an idiot in public. It’s short, sweet, steamy, and everything I didn’t know I needed in a gargoyle x human romance.

Ursulette is the classic misunderstood outcast. She’s curvy, quiet, a bookworm who keeps to herself (yes, she’s giving Belle-from-Beauty-and-the-Beast vibes), and she’s been bullied by the men in her village her whole life. Enter Ramuz. A literal gargoyle. The only one of his kind. Stoic, watchful, gentle… and so down bad for this girl that it physically pained him to look away.

Their connection? Instant kinship through shared loneliness. Their romance? A forbidden slow burn full of charming banter, comforting conversations, and seriously hot tension. The voyeurism? Chef’s kiss. The steam? SO good. (And I love that Ramuz is respectful and tender without needing to lean on constant dirty talk.)

I don’t usually see a lot of monster romances written in third person these days, so finding this gem felt like stumbling across a unicorn. And the writing? Gorgeous and emotional. Ramuz wanting to learn her name just to “add it to his vocabulary”? I was literally kicking my feet and giggling like a teenager.

Ursulette is brave, independent, and completely relatable, especially if you’ve ever been the “weird girl” who turned to books for comfort. And the moment she introduces books to Ramuz? My heart.

This story isn’t just spicy, it’s got heart. It touches on grief, isolation, body image, and the found family trope in a way that feels genuine and validating. And let’s not forget: the smut is wild, adorable, and just the right amount of dark to scratch that adult fantasy itch.

If you love monster romances, strong but soft-hearted heroines, and MMCs who are fiercely protective yet incredibly respectful, Sins of the Stone is 1000% for you. I’m obsessed. I’d marry Ramuz in a heartbeat.

[jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤arc review!!!🖤
4/5 ⭐️

He was never ferocious enough to be one of them, but never normal enough to join the humans. He was caught between two worlds and an outcast in both. Until he saw her.

I’m back on my monster lover shit and I am HERE FOR IT!! If there’s one thing I love more than the underdog/outcast character, it’s when two of them meet and f-…..all in love……. (and fuck!!!!)

I’ve never read a gargoyle romance before but it was so much fun omg. And you know I love an FMC that loves books (Passenger Princess was one of my 2024 faves for that reason).

Reading about Ramuz’s isolation and desire to join the humans and their social ways made my heart clench. And then his comments on the stone gargoyles?? 😭

He wanted to grant her the privacy she deserved, yet a suffocating force kept his eyes locked on her. The gods themselves could not tear his gaze away.

I’m sorry but voyeurism is gonna do it for me every time 🤭 and when he wants to know her name so he can “add it to his vocabulary”? cut to me giggling and kicking my feet while I read 💕

And Ursulette is after my own book loving, nervous rambling heart 💗 god these two are so cute, I love a man who is so down bad for his girl that he’s a mess when she’s around.

Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go reread chapter 16 🤭🤭

[Sorcha Wilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Beauty and the Beast ran away with a morally grey gargoyle and decided to get spicy in a hidden lair, this novella would be the result — and I mean that in the best way.

This is a forbidden-love, slow-burn monster romance with a surprisingly emotional core. The world is cruel, the stakes are harsh, and yet the tenderness between the leads makes it feel warm and intimate.

Ursulette is the quiet, curvy, bookish outcast of her village — soft, gentle, and deeply relatable without ever being weak.
Ramuz is the brooding stone guardian watching from the shadows — a lonely, protective, tender giant who sees her worth long before she sees it in herself.

When everything literally burns, he saves her… and everything changes. Their relationship unfolds beautifully:
🖤 affection first
🖤 trust second
🖤 steam third

It's a short read, but it packs emotion. The forbidden tension, the vulnerability, the carved-from-stone devotion — it all hit in that “aching loneliness meets desperate hope” way monster romances do so well.

Yes, the cover tells you exactly what kind of romance this is. Yes, there’s gargoyle heat. But what kept me here was the heart. This isn’t just spice; it’s intimacy, protection, and a love that grows in the shadows despite the world wanting to crush it.

📚 Come for the gargoyle smut.
Stay for the tenderness, longing, and love that refuses to die.

[Lamia · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This beautiful love story is everything I wanted from a monster romance. The very lovable and relatable FMC Ursulette is no damsel and her protective shadow MMC Ramuz understands and respects that. There is an actual slow-burn romance here. The plot was enjoyable and the smut was steamy, wild and adorable all at the same time. This story made me laugh out loud, sad and cheer for the lovely couple. The worldbuilding was great, and I enjoyed the attention to detail that helped set the scenes and describe the characters in full. The few side characters were fully fleshed out and really added to the story. I just loved everything about this book. The representation and the reality of being a plus-sized woman seen as an outsider by others and how it affects navigating relationships. How important the small circle of found family can be after loss. It also has the perfect amount of darkness for adult fantasy. If you are looking for a spicy and sweet monster romance with well-written smut, this is for you.

💎Forbidden love
💜Plus sized FMC
💎He falls first
💜Childfree HEA
💎Dual POV
💜Touch her and die
💎Outcast FMC
💜Protective MMC

Thank you Morella Moon for an eARC of your amazing debut novel. All opinions are honest and my own.

[Nicole Minken · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆, 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎.”

• ᴅᴀʀᴋ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
• 𝟹ʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴘᴏᴠ
• ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
• ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ & ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀsᴛ ᴠɪʙᴇs
• ɢᴀʀɢᴏʏʟᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
• ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄ
• ᴠᴏʏᴇᴜʀɪsᴍ
• sᴛ@ʟᴋɪɴɢ
• ʜᴇᴀ

Even though there's stressful events in the book, it still has that cozy romance vibe that I love in the Monster Romance books I read.
It definitely has a Beauty and the Beast feel to it, except he's super sweet.
The size difference absolutely got me!! I mean he's a massive Gargoyle.
It doesn't take long for there to be spice in the book, but between them it's kinda slow burn.
The FMC is also a spicy romance reader, which I love!
All in all I loved it! If you're looking for a sweet cozy romance surrounded by darker events but still has a happy ending, I'd say this is for you.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a copy of this book from the Author and am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.

I wish I could have seen more of this world—a world where the earth is overrun by demons who are growing more bold by the day. I think it's so interesting, and I wish I had more of it. Even with that, I love Ramuz, he is so sweet and wholesome. He is genuinely so loving to Ursulette and I love that. I feel like in most monster romances, especially with a gargoyle, they are so much more gruff and cold. I love that he isn't, he is warm and comforting and always ensures that Ursulette is safe and comfortable. I also love Ursulette, she is so strong, even if it does not seem to be physically. The amount of shit she deals with and gets through. I just love her.

🌙Monster Romance
🌙Fantasy World
🌙He Falls First
🌙Threat of Death
🌙Dual POV
🌙Gargoyle MMC
🌙Child Free HEA

[Kamiye · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*

The cover alone lets you know what you are reading—Monster Romance. I mean...If you know, you know. Remember to read the trigger warning before jumping into this book.

This was very well-written. There is a plot! And that is what makes it even better. Ursulette is alone, Ramuz is alone and the only Gargoyle around. Ursulette is Human, Ramuz is not. Along the way, they found each other, and care for each other.

The characters are very cute and endearing. The villains are 100% villains and the author is that good, you can truly hate them for the duration of the book. HEA obviously but with a twist just before the end, it had me panicking before finishing the book.

/!\ There is loads of spice so be mindful of what you can handle before picking this one up.

Please note: I received an e-copy of this book from the author, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Michelle-Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little gem really took me by surprise! I was already expecting a nice, spicy monster smut novella, but what I wasn't expecting was the beautiful attention to detail, a nice bit of gore, and to completely fall for the main characters. I even gushed at the happy ever after at the end, and I'm not usually a fan of an HEA! I could really identify with the FMC, being an outcast for being seen as "different," hated on for being a big, beautiful, curvy woman. This book definitely had Beauty and the Beast vibes, especially with her love of books and I can't help but feel like the author absolutely based this character on 3/4 of her monster smut loving readers 🤣 brilliant read, can't wait for more of Morella's work!x

[Elizabeth Blacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few monster romances before but none where the MMC is a gargoyle. When I received this as an ARC I was intrigued and excited to get started.

And boy, Morella Moon did not disappoint. If you are looking for a cozy, historical, spicy monster romance than this is for you. If you are looking for and MMC that is obsessed and worships his woman then this book is for you. If your looking for a bookish FMC that decides to go after what she wants rather than hide from the taboo, then this is definitely for you. 😊

[Jo Älskar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first monster (creature?) romance, and it was a great intro to the genre. Ramuz is an absolute sweetheart: kind, lovable and unique, and the whole concept of what he is, it's chef’s kiss. But I won't spoil it.

And, Omar. He was the worst. Bravo to the author for making me despise him so much.

The slow burn felt real and heartfelt, and I was invested in Ursulette's journey. My only complaint is that I wish it was a bit longer because I was having a great time.

[Reena · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤ARC REVIEW🖤

This is the first gargoyle romance I’ve ever read, but I’ve enjoyed monster romance for a while. Character wise, I found Ursulette to be easy to relate to. I adore the dynamic between Ursulette and Ramuz and love how they balance each other out. Their support for each other really warmed my heart. There are dark elements to this book, but I find that they add more depth to the story and characters overall. All opinions are my own!

Notable Tropes
🖤 plus size FMC
🖤 touch her and die
🖤 cinnamon roll hero
🖤 childfree HEA

[Chante Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursulette is an outcast in her village, enduring loneliness and harassment. Meanwhile, Ramuz, a gargoyle and the last of his kind, has been watching her from the shadows for quite some time, also feeling isolated.

This book is absolutely delightful! Ramuz is irresistibly sweet and endearing, and his naivety about humans only makes him more compelling.

It’s a fast-paced read filled with demons, monsters, and humans—a slow burn that is truly enjoyable.

[Finley K. James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, let's get into this, shall we? First off, I have to admit to NOT being much of a "monster lover" lover. It just never has been my genre of choice. But I gave it a chance, and I am so glad I did.

I LOVED Ursulette. Genuinely. She was tough and intelligent, and an absolute delight to read about. Ramuz was just as wonderful to get to know. The journey to get to end-game was AMAZING, and I loved every second of it.

Totally recommend to any- and everyone.

[Alisha Pascual · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was actually pretty good. I have never read a romantasy book of a gargoyle before. And I must say, some of the details were very interesting. But overall the book very much so captured my attention and would love to read more stories similar and by Morella Moon.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[BestieJais_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every minute of reading this book!! The connection between the main characters is exhilarating and so different than other stories out there! I was stressing out at the end but loved how everything came together and concluded! I wish there was more back story on our Gargoyle MC but hopefully *fingers crossed* this will somehow turn into a series because I love him 😍

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - A cozy and unique monster romance about a gargoyle! Their slow-burn romance builds perfectly, with every touch and heated exchange adding layers to their relationship. The tension is palpable, it was sweet and spicy and a pleasure to read. I cannot wait to see what's next from Morella Moon!

[Weena Bernabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow just wow. 🤯

This was very unique for me in every way but I loved it all. My first Gargoyle romance and I couldn’t be happier. The slow burn was all worth it at the end. I liked how everything was building it up and then boom! lol it was very sweet and freaking wild and the smut was steamy and perfect.

I cannot wait to read more from Morella ❤️😍

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so freaking much! I ate it up and I'll never spit it out. The mmc is mine to keep. He was so sweet and caring and super protective. I love how he talked sense into our girl. The fmc was so shy and drawn into herself until he came along. I love how she came into her full self in the end.

[marisflo2024 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. The world development was interesting and I wanted to get to know more about it. The MMC was sweet and I’m curious about his backstory. The FMC navigated a lot of loss and bullying. Their relationship was a slow burn and really sweet. This was a fun quick read . This was a debut novel and’m looking forward to reading more books from Morella Moon. Thank you for the eARC!

[Jessica - Whisper Willow Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about a sweet gargoyle and a self-conscious human was interspersed with hot spice. Ramuz will capture your heart and heat your blood. If monster romance is your thing, give this a shot when it comes out on 3/25/25.

[Emily Maw · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:
Ramuz and Ursulette give me similar vibes to Belle and Beast but more adult. This story had romance, intrigue, world building, fantasy, books and so much more. I read this in a couple hours. Looking forward to reading more of Morelle’s books.

[Nnekka Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sins of the stone is a dual POV monster romance. We start off with some light stalking and our gargoyle falls first. Our plus size FMC is just trying to make it on her own. Went outside forces try to break them apart. This book does end in an HEA.

[Georgina Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I found this slow to start with the second I got past that half way point I could not put it down. The world building was excellent, I just wish there was a few less time skips and a bit more domestic life. Loved the premise, loved the story just wish there was more.