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Monster Hotel #1
The Guest with Claws: Monster Hotel, Book 1
I've never met him before . . . so why do I feel as if I've known him all my life?
Scoring a job at the exclusive and secretive Hotel Castle Verna is exactly what I need to pay off my debt and avoid a punishment I might not survive. The guests are a little eccentric, but they are great tippers. All I have to do is ignore the strange sights, smells, and sounds coming from the guest rooms, and I can remain gainfully employed. Simple, right?
Except there's one guest at the hotel who's always watching me with his mismatched black and white eyes. Half his face is covered with a black mask, and his stare sets my skin on fire. I don't know him . . . and yet I feel known with every stolen glance.
Strange happenings are going on at the hotel, and each day, I fall deeper into a world I never knew existed. And the guest who's watching me? He isn't who I thought he was . . . but then again, neither am I.
Contains mature themes.
Scoring a job at the exclusive and secretive Hotel Castle Verna is exactly what I need to pay off my debt and avoid a punishment I might not survive. The guests are a little eccentric, but they are great tippers. All I have to do is ignore the strange sights, smells, and sounds coming from the guest rooms, and I can remain gainfully employed. Simple, right?
Except there's one guest at the hotel who's always watching me with his mismatched black and white eyes. Half his face is covered with a black mask, and his stare sets my skin on fire. I don't know him . . . and yet I feel known with every stolen glance.
Strange happenings are going on at the hotel, and each day, I fall deeper into a world I never knew existed. And the guest who's watching me? He isn't who I thought he was . . . but then again, neither am I.
Contains mature themes.
Audible Audio
Published February 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
March 18, 2023
Ice planet barbarians have made paranormal romance authors too bold with their descriptions of weird appendages. Take this book: 'The shaft itself bore lengthwise strips of thin skin, almost like the undulating flaps of a squid, which moved slowly as if testing their freedom.' Everybody's SO creative!
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March 15, 2023DNF’d at 60%.
I won’t rate this one, so there’s not too much to say. I came for the monster hotel—which was awesome, I will say—but what ultimately made me put this book down for literally weeks was a combination of issues for me.
The weird/stilted chemistry between the two characters. The very odd world-building that this hotel story did not need.
And because it’s a romance: The fact that I could NOT get a lock on what the male love interest looked like?? The descriptions were so vague and bizarre that I was just seeing this dude as a patchwork calico cat of body parts…. Which was not sexy, obviously, so the romance was suffering for that too.
I recommend to alien/monster romance readers. But readers who like the hotel setting hook? BEWARE. (That’s not what this story is about at all.)
I won’t rate this one, so there’s not too much to say. I came for the monster hotel—which was awesome, I will say—but what ultimately made me put this book down for literally weeks was a combination of issues for me.
The weird/stilted chemistry between the two characters. The very odd world-building that this hotel story did not need.
And because it’s a romance: The fact that I could NOT get a lock on what the male love interest looked like?? The descriptions were so vague and bizarre that I was just seeing this dude as a patchwork calico cat of body parts…. Which was not sexy, obviously, so the romance was suffering for that too.
I recommend to alien/monster romance readers. But readers who like the hotel setting hook? BEWARE. (That’s not what this story is about at all.)
March 4, 2023
So very boring! Zero chemistry between the leads and way too much info dumping without any attempt at making it seem more than "here's another half page paragraph about stuff every five pages" 😑
Also did not vibe with the semi-apocalyptic setting at all...
Also did not vibe with the semi-apocalyptic setting at all...
March 13, 2023
I'm still trying to process what the hell this is that I just read, because... it's A Lot.
It's like going to get froyo, and someone puts every contrasting topping that doesn't work together on their treat. Not like a fun maverick topping that works surprisingly well when you try it, but...literally every single topping while you're trying to figure out what that gummy muck even tastes like all together.
And then put in an out of the blue John Wick framework to it.
This whole piece is a hot mess and just flat out bizarre, with major plot elements that deflate the second you even breathe on them.
I get it. This was an attempt at something epic, to mash together things the author obviously enjoys: secret aliens, dystopian setting, John Wick and the whole Hotel concept, Omegaverse (het ABO nightmare type), fated mates, SUPER SPESHUL fated mates, a dumb as dirt heroine that people find precious even though she's a nearing 40 year old with 8 year old personality(ewewew) who is The Most Special Woman In The Universe, noir detective vibes, REINCARNAAAAATION, a weird almost Bridgerton Tonesque veer at the end, and...god, I'm sure I'm missing at least a couple more in my morning fog as I'm still processing this.
I'm not even going to get into the awful naming scheme or hotel name. Hotel Castle Verna?
Really?
The painfully obvious, ham-fisted inspirations of all the disparate parts of this piece were really wild to see mashed into what is essentially a lump of playdoh. With a lot of editing, pruning, and more drafts to polish the fuck out of this and keep making it less obvious where all of the inspirations came from and give it a unique voice and clear vision—MAYBE this could have worked? But I'm not sold on it. I'm pretty sure it would still be a hot fucking mess.
So before I start blow-by-blow just ripping into this, I'm cutting myself off. This was Bad, and not in that fun way that makes it amazing in the end. I'm sure surface level readers will be fine with it, but if you do more than hover and flit over a story, you're likely going to struggle with this too, because it takes nothing for large portions of it to start unraveling.
It's like going to get froyo, and someone puts every contrasting topping that doesn't work together on their treat. Not like a fun maverick topping that works surprisingly well when you try it, but...literally every single topping while you're trying to figure out what that gummy muck even tastes like all together.
And then put in an out of the blue John Wick framework to it.
This whole piece is a hot mess and just flat out bizarre, with major plot elements that deflate the second you even breathe on them.
I get it. This was an attempt at something epic, to mash together things the author obviously enjoys: secret aliens, dystopian setting, John Wick and the whole Hotel concept, Omegaverse (het ABO nightmare type), fated mates, SUPER SPESHUL fated mates, a dumb as dirt heroine that people find precious even though she's a nearing 40 year old with 8 year old personality(ewewew) who is The Most Special Woman In The Universe, noir detective vibes, REINCARNAAAAATION, a weird almost Bridgerton Tonesque veer at the end, and...god, I'm sure I'm missing at least a couple more in my morning fog as I'm still processing this.
I'm not even going to get into the awful naming scheme or hotel name. Hotel Castle Verna?
Really?
The painfully obvious, ham-fisted inspirations of all the disparate parts of this piece were really wild to see mashed into what is essentially a lump of playdoh. With a lot of editing, pruning, and more drafts to polish the fuck out of this and keep making it less obvious where all of the inspirations came from and give it a unique voice and clear vision—MAYBE this could have worked? But I'm not sold on it. I'm pretty sure it would still be a hot fucking mess.
So before I start blow-by-blow just ripping into this, I'm cutting myself off. This was Bad, and not in that fun way that makes it amazing in the end. I'm sure surface level readers will be fine with it, but if you do more than hover and flit over a story, you're likely going to struggle with this too, because it takes nothing for large portions of it to start unraveling.
June 30, 2023
Had me at monster hotel - I'm actually really easy to bribe💰 this actually would have been a 3 but that cover is gorgeous.
August 14, 2023
I was honestly ready to give this 5 stars for the first 25% before it started to steadily go down hill. DNFed at 80%. Seriously, 5 chapters in I went on Amazon to pre-order the next book in the series. 10 chapters in I went back and cancelled it.
SPOILERS:
Started out as a funky, gothic, semi-post apocalyptic take on the omegaverse. I was excited to find out about the different monsters at the hotel and enjoyed the bit of mystery..... but no. They're just more of the exact same "fated magical alien mates" as always. The cringes came hard and fast after that. We left the interesting hotel for an empty house and a shit-ton of expositional explanations that kept getting more and more convoluted. They're not just reincarnated mates (seriously), they're a rare, extra-special type of fated mates. Oh, scratch that, they're actually the magical, cosmic key to the ongoing blah blah blah. Honestly, we've all heard that exact same thing a MILLION times at this point and it all kind of fades into one long, boring, formula. It's like she got sick of writing it half way through so just copy and pasted from old books.
Also, can anyone explain to me the point of the bad alien race kidnapping them to "milk" them if BY DEFINITION the "essence" only works if you're fucking at the time you consume it??? I kept waiting for the unnecessarily complicated explanation but we didn't even get that. Just an eye-rollingly obvious plot hole.
1.5 rounded up to 2 because it was good for 15 minutes.
SPOILERS:
Started out as a funky, gothic, semi-post apocalyptic take on the omegaverse. I was excited to find out about the different monsters at the hotel and enjoyed the bit of mystery..... but no. They're just more of the exact same "fated magical alien mates" as always. The cringes came hard and fast after that. We left the interesting hotel for an empty house and a shit-ton of expositional explanations that kept getting more and more convoluted. They're not just reincarnated mates (seriously), they're a rare, extra-special type of fated mates. Oh, scratch that, they're actually the magical, cosmic key to the ongoing blah blah blah. Honestly, we've all heard that exact same thing a MILLION times at this point and it all kind of fades into one long, boring, formula. It's like she got sick of writing it half way through so just copy and pasted from old books.
Also, can anyone explain to me the point of the bad alien race kidnapping them to "milk" them if BY DEFINITION the "essence" only works if you're fucking at the time you consume it??? I kept waiting for the unnecessarily complicated explanation but we didn't even get that. Just an eye-rollingly obvious plot hole.
1.5 rounded up to 2 because it was good for 15 minutes.
June 26, 2025
Alien John Wick at the hotel for assassins!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😟🙁☺️🤓
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Nessa - she had an interview for a job she really needed at an exclusive place called Hotel Castle Verna. She was nervous, sweating and had her borrowed heels glued together. The job is the best paying job in the city, but she knew someone who had died before their interview. So, she was posing as that woman, since she had the same first name and all. She had a ton of debt from hospital bills and still had chronic pain. She was on the verge of being homeless since the powers at be around the world fell. She knew she would be sent outside the walls of what was once Chicago, to the debtor prison labor camps if she didn’t get this job.
The Hero: Lanis - he had a penchant to obsess which made him good at his job. His obsessions usually had a death sentence which he was responsible for carrying out. He immediately became obsessed with the new human employed at the hotel. He was a 400-year-old Malice whose people came from a far away galaxy a long time ago. He has one clawed hand, is half covered in the skin of his enemies, and he is never without a mask over the lower half of his face. He is a killer for hire that had been ostracized by his clan. He had promised himself he would never be responsible for another person after the last time didn’t work out well. He only takes lives now.
The Story: Nessa got the job for an entry level position in guest services at the hotel. Which meant she would have to deliver things to guest rooms. One of the rules was that if she worked at the hotel, she lived there and had to get permission to leave. Another rule was that she would be terminated if she looked into any of the guest's packages. The whole air of the place was secretive and formal. Nessa found out that her belongings were already at the hotel and that she had been hired the moment she walked into the hotel.
The hotel is well described, especially the lobby which sounded very baroque. There is also an eclectic mix of unconventional characters and creatures. As Nessa worked, she began to feel that every guest has something a little off about them. Some have big teeth, some seem to make things disappear and others had terrible smells coming from their rooms. Lanis begins to stalk Nessa as soon as she arrives at the hotel, though he is protective of her. He wanted to make sure she was safe. All the guests at the hotel were part of the Malice assassin network.
The setup absolutely glimmers with eerie elegance and emotional depth. Ella Maven constructed a richly layered dystopian-gothic world with high stakes, strange rules, and a heroine who’s equal parts desperate and brave. Let’s unpack some of what’s working brilliantly—and tease out a few elements that are possible in the story.
🌒 Tension & Atmosphere
The baroque grandeur of Hotel Castle Verna layered over Nessa’s desperate, scrappy circumstances creates a tension that’s both visual and visceral. Her chronic pain, stolen identity, and looming debtor prison give her a fragile dignity that’s easy to root for. The mystery of her immediate hire and the guests’ sinister peculiarities heighten that trapped-in-a-gilded-cage sensation. Chilling and captivating.
🩸The Hero: Lanis
Lanis is brutal, otherworldly, and wildly compelling. That obsession trait, especially when paired with his vow to never care again, makes him dangerously magnetic. His clawed hand half-covered in enemy skin? That’s pure, macabre poetry. You’re laying down serious Byronic vibes. The internal conflict is there—he wants to watch over Nessa but can’t (or won’t) admit why. That push-pull could be the emotional fulcrum of the story.
🌀Their Dynamic
This could easily become the kind of relationship that plays with control, distrust, and reluctant intimacy. Their chemistry has the potential to smolder quietly, especially if Nessa proves more resilient or unpredictable than Lanis expects. I loved to see Nessa slowly realize that Lanis isn’t the only monster—but he might be the only one on her side. There is also some uncertain recognition between them that hinted at something more going on.
The one thing I really didn’t like about this story was also something that was central to the story so though I didn’t like it, I don’t know how it could have been any different. However, I have never understood why romance authors are so fond of the “scarred Hero” trope. I don’t mind Heroes that are scarred on the inside, but I just don’t get why authors seem to love having Heroes that are disfigured by scars in some way, and this Hero had so much more than just scars. I like the way the disfigurement doesn’t matter to the heroine, but really who wants to imagine a Hero who is horribly deformed in some way? I like a handsome Hero. Though I did really like the originality of this story.
This audiobook was narrated from multiple perspectives, done in dual narration by Sofia Willingham and Brandon Utah. Sofia Willingham isn’t one of my favorites, there is something about her voice or tempo I just don’t really like, though her voice is soft and not bad. Brandon Utah has a fairly deep, gravelly voice which I liked.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😟🙁☺️🤓
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Nessa - she had an interview for a job she really needed at an exclusive place called Hotel Castle Verna. She was nervous, sweating and had her borrowed heels glued together. The job is the best paying job in the city, but she knew someone who had died before their interview. So, she was posing as that woman, since she had the same first name and all. She had a ton of debt from hospital bills and still had chronic pain. She was on the verge of being homeless since the powers at be around the world fell. She knew she would be sent outside the walls of what was once Chicago, to the debtor prison labor camps if she didn’t get this job.
The Hero: Lanis - he had a penchant to obsess which made him good at his job. His obsessions usually had a death sentence which he was responsible for carrying out. He immediately became obsessed with the new human employed at the hotel. He was a 400-year-old Malice whose people came from a far away galaxy a long time ago. He has one clawed hand, is half covered in the skin of his enemies, and he is never without a mask over the lower half of his face. He is a killer for hire that had been ostracized by his clan. He had promised himself he would never be responsible for another person after the last time didn’t work out well. He only takes lives now.
The Story: Nessa got the job for an entry level position in guest services at the hotel. Which meant she would have to deliver things to guest rooms. One of the rules was that if she worked at the hotel, she lived there and had to get permission to leave. Another rule was that she would be terminated if she looked into any of the guest's packages. The whole air of the place was secretive and formal. Nessa found out that her belongings were already at the hotel and that she had been hired the moment she walked into the hotel.
The hotel is well described, especially the lobby which sounded very baroque. There is also an eclectic mix of unconventional characters and creatures. As Nessa worked, she began to feel that every guest has something a little off about them. Some have big teeth, some seem to make things disappear and others had terrible smells coming from their rooms. Lanis begins to stalk Nessa as soon as she arrives at the hotel, though he is protective of her. He wanted to make sure she was safe. All the guests at the hotel were part of the Malice assassin network.
The setup absolutely glimmers with eerie elegance and emotional depth. Ella Maven constructed a richly layered dystopian-gothic world with high stakes, strange rules, and a heroine who’s equal parts desperate and brave. Let’s unpack some of what’s working brilliantly—and tease out a few elements that are possible in the story.
🌒 Tension & Atmosphere
The baroque grandeur of Hotel Castle Verna layered over Nessa’s desperate, scrappy circumstances creates a tension that’s both visual and visceral. Her chronic pain, stolen identity, and looming debtor prison give her a fragile dignity that’s easy to root for. The mystery of her immediate hire and the guests’ sinister peculiarities heighten that trapped-in-a-gilded-cage sensation. Chilling and captivating.
🩸The Hero: Lanis
Lanis is brutal, otherworldly, and wildly compelling. That obsession trait, especially when paired with his vow to never care again, makes him dangerously magnetic. His clawed hand half-covered in enemy skin? That’s pure, macabre poetry. You’re laying down serious Byronic vibes. The internal conflict is there—he wants to watch over Nessa but can’t (or won’t) admit why. That push-pull could be the emotional fulcrum of the story.
🌀Their Dynamic
This could easily become the kind of relationship that plays with control, distrust, and reluctant intimacy. Their chemistry has the potential to smolder quietly, especially if Nessa proves more resilient or unpredictable than Lanis expects. I loved to see Nessa slowly realize that Lanis isn’t the only monster—but he might be the only one on her side. There is also some uncertain recognition between them that hinted at something more going on.
The one thing I really didn’t like about this story was also something that was central to the story so though I didn’t like it, I don’t know how it could have been any different. However, I have never understood why romance authors are so fond of the “scarred Hero” trope. I don’t mind Heroes that are scarred on the inside, but I just don’t get why authors seem to love having Heroes that are disfigured by scars in some way, and this Hero had so much more than just scars. I like the way the disfigurement doesn’t matter to the heroine, but really who wants to imagine a Hero who is horribly deformed in some way? I like a handsome Hero. Though I did really like the originality of this story.
This audiobook was narrated from multiple perspectives, done in dual narration by Sofia Willingham and Brandon Utah. Sofia Willingham isn’t one of my favorites, there is something about her voice or tempo I just don’t really like, though her voice is soft and not bad. Brandon Utah has a fairly deep, gravelly voice which I liked.
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March 17, 2023
Quick(ish) Review
Reminded me of John Wick, but with monsters of the non-human kind, I was digging the first half of the story when the second half went even weirder. I didn’t hate it but it was definitely uneven. I’d give g to e next book a chance though because I can ride with some weirdness…at least for a little while.
Reminded me of John Wick, but with monsters of the non-human kind, I was digging the first half of the story when the second half went even weirder. I didn’t hate it but it was definitely uneven. I’d give g to e next book a chance though because I can ride with some weirdness…at least for a little while.
August 5, 2025
It’s like a three star, except that I really like the monster hotel idea. But like some of the things were just me, but it’s four hours because I like that idea and I like the male character in the next book. I don’t think he actually had to lose a hand, I think that’s a bit ridiculous. Why couldn’t he just move her but whatever it’s fine. That’s kind of a spoiler, but kinda not because the cover literally has him missing a hand so like you know what I mean.
Also, this was an audiobook
Oh yeah also the part were like they had to take Nessa to like the like old council of like purebred people, I thought that was very twilight-esk , I don’t know why I haven’t read twilight in a hot minute, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I was just like I think I’ve seen this before.
Oh yeah also the whole part about them being like faded mates or whatever, plus the reincarnation was like really weird to get my, like to wrap my head around. It was very weird and like I understood it but like I still doubt the love factor you know what I mean like does he love her or does he love the old her or does he only love her because she is her and not her if that makes sense
I’m voice typing this so I’m not gonna correct it for spelling and grammar because I’m lazy
Also, this was an audiobook
Oh yeah also the part were like they had to take Nessa to like the like old council of like purebred people, I thought that was very twilight-esk , I don’t know why I haven’t read twilight in a hot minute, so correct me if I’m wrong, but I was just like I think I’ve seen this before.
Oh yeah also the whole part about them being like faded mates or whatever, plus the reincarnation was like really weird to get my, like to wrap my head around. It was very weird and like I understood it but like I still doubt the love factor you know what I mean like does he love her or does he love the old her or does he only love her because she is her and not her if that makes sense
I’m voice typing this so I’m not gonna correct it for spelling and grammar because I’m lazy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2025
Stumbled across this audiobook in my library's catalog, so I picked it up on a whim. It was an absolute mess. I feel like the author tried to cram every idea she had in it. It felt very disjointed and confusing. It also didn't explain the world structure until the half way point and it felt like I just didn't know what was happening. Once the world was set up, it was fucking disgusting and gross. Super special women go into heat that can only be cured by a special dick 🤢🤢 It was legit gross. I got the ick several times. MMC was gross too, "you'll be craving my cock". 🤮🤮🤮
I would never have finished this audiobook if I hadn't been on a very long road trip. This book was gross. I do not recommend at all.
I would never have finished this audiobook if I hadn't been on a very long road trip. This book was gross. I do not recommend at all.
Read
February 28, 2023Yeah, this was too weird for me.
March 22, 2023
i was insulted by how poorly constructed and written this book is. is it john wick fanfic? ok, but if so, why? the assassin hotel serves simply as a reason for them to meet but it seems like it could have been probably a place that didn’t need so much explaining if the main couple are literally fated mates meeting again in her reincarnation? the world building was uninteresting, heavy handed, and seemingly never ending. we were still learning about the societal structure of these alien species who’ve been living on earth for some time till the very last page. and is it a deom or demo match? idk, they were used interchangeably. does the stupid species name Malice have its own pluralization rule so it should be Malice’s, which is never used in english? i’m not sure but that’s what maven gives us. and honestly what does the mmc even look like? how did his battlefield surgery of reattaching ANOTHER SPECIES’ skin and even arm successfully take?
March 7, 2023
DNF
So I am gonna say this is the last Ella Maven book for me. There is so much wrong with this that I can’t even begin. We have 238 pages and still some how she manages to rush everything. The stuff that does get page time isn’t even relatively important. We have an alternative reality I guess …. Dystopian lifestyle but I have no idea what is happening. The naivety of the 35 year old main character is alarming to where I genuinely would be considered that sexual nature for her would be taking advantage of someone who is at needs. I was more skeeved out by everything than I was turned on. This is the absolutely last book I will try by Maven. Her writing style is not for me. Her characters make me feel like a predator with their childlike nature.
Nothing made me comfortable. I got 60% into this book before I said eff this.
So I am gonna say this is the last Ella Maven book for me. There is so much wrong with this that I can’t even begin. We have 238 pages and still some how she manages to rush everything. The stuff that does get page time isn’t even relatively important. We have an alternative reality I guess …. Dystopian lifestyle but I have no idea what is happening. The naivety of the 35 year old main character is alarming to where I genuinely would be considered that sexual nature for her would be taking advantage of someone who is at needs. I was more skeeved out by everything than I was turned on. This is the absolutely last book I will try by Maven. Her writing style is not for me. Her characters make me feel like a predator with their childlike nature.
Nothing made me comfortable. I got 60% into this book before I said eff this.
June 9, 2023
My Selling Pitch:
Do you want the most basic brain rot of an alien smut story that is super plotholey but kinda compulsively readable?
Pre-reading:
When I tell you this book has been living rent-free in my brain, Reels ads are on another level, dude. Like I love the cover. I love it. It’s not even drawn that well, but something about the colors just does it for me. Also, probably the titties. I don’t know what it’s about. I don’t care. It’s probably gonna be awful. It’s on Kindle Unlimited, but I am kind of in a book slump right now and this is the only thing I can think about reading.
Thick of it:
Oh yeah, I mean who doesn’t just have a pet raven named Gary?
I don’t think I had a post-apocalyptic hotel on the bingo board for this book, but go off. I love that she’s not even trying to explain it. She really said I don’t know who bombed the world, but the world’s bombed. Go with it.
Either the artist who did the cover doesn’t know what a sheath dress is or the author doesn’t, but this is like the second book I’ve read this year when they’re trying to describe a sexy outfit and they’re like she’s in a sheath. Ain’t nobody seeing titties in a sheath dress.
Is coffee creamer her weakness in that she likes her coffee with a lot of cream or that she’s lactose intolerant?
I hate when people call themselves fluffy. You’re not a cat.
Does the company taking her belongings make any sense? Absolutely not. Do I really care? No.
Oh Edward Cullen, absolutely not.
What is it with the romance girlies and the growly men? Men don’t really growl. Like I’ve never heard a grown man do that.
Oh, now he’s dragging her, cool.
Oh, this book is trash. I’m gonna read it.
Oh, he’s an alien. Of course he is, silly me.
He works for the MAN. (No one makes jokes about this and that is a crime.)
They really said the aliens have to fuck humans to save the planet.
How…how did they milk them? I’m so afraid of the answer to that question. Not like prostate- I’ll go. I’ll see myself out. (But like no, I nailed it. That is exactly what they meant.)
So he’s got a spicy hand, got it.
You can’t have proper hair care for all the girlies with one shampoo.
Why is there a cat stuffed animal in the sex scene?
Dear Christe, what am I reading? (I’m gonna stop correcting what voice texting auto-corrects all these religious exclamations to because sometimes they turn out even funnier. Adds a little spice.)
Wait, so does he have like a chastity belt cock cage on? What is going on? (It’s the way I scold myself like no, Sam, you pervert. That would never happen, but no, that is exactly what happens.)
It’s so interesting to me when books take the time to point out aesthetic lighting during an action sequence. They’re like draw this for fanart, please.
Post-apocalyptic but Netflix still exists-gotcha.
Definitely not have skin transplants work, but you know
This is kinda non-con, besties.
There are quite a few typos in this book.
Someday some intrepid stalker is going to go through my book history and see all these weird highlights from the books I read ironically and be like what on earth is this girl into?
I just-how does this exist? Why? How did people come up with this? Why is this a thing? Why is it so repeated? If it’s so popular, why don’t I get it?
I hate alternative anatomy.
Oh, I got some qualms with this dirty talk Absolutely not. Women don’t exist for men. Done with this sentiment. Stop trying to make this appealing. It will never be appealing to me.
I was born for snacks and snark, not alien cock, so sorry.
If he’s in a cock cage for centuries though like shit should be falling off. The urine alone. Like he would REEK.
Post-reading:
This is brain rot. If you’re a Kindle Unlimited girlie who just wants to read the most bonkers smut that she can get her filthy, little hands on…you’ll probably find this tame lol. The CoHo girlies would simply pass away.
It is not good. I cannot emphasize that enough. It is compulsively readable. The plot makes no sense. The characters, super stock. The dirty talk and smut, mediocre. Homeboy’s in a cock cage for centuries. Shit should be falling off. But girly pops, when I tell you I read this so fast. I’m not proud of that. I just love to cringe spectate, and if that’s your vibe too… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but I’ve read worse. Not much worse, but still have read worse.
(Also someone let me know if the cover also gave you the impression that she was like running a Victorian bed and breakfast and a monster just shows up at her door as a guest. I didn’t really peg it as an alien story.)
Who should read this:
Good god, no one
Cringe spectators
Alien smut girly pops
Do I want to reread this:
No
Similar books:
* A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne-monster smut, alternative anatomy
Unhinged Summary:
Nessa gets a job at a super exclusive hotel because it's a post-apocalyptic world but affordable health care is still a myth, so girly pop is up to her eyeballs in debt from trying to manage period cramps. She makes some friends and captures the attention of some hottie E.T. assassin because she reminds him of his dead ex-girlfriend. What’s a boy? to do? Stalk her, obviously. She’s working a hotel party and a mean guest being mean because he's a meanie so he has to mean, snatches her necklace. She starts cramping immediately, so she's like, peace. Bedtime for me. Emphasis on bedtime because alien boy is ready and waiting. He’s like hey babes, I know we haven’t had a real conversation, but those cramps are because you need to get fucked. Ride my fingers. She's like bet. They find out she’s not a human. She’s actually a creature called a Deo. Which means she’s like really sweaty but it’s like sexy sweat and call him thirsty because alien boy wants to drink her up. Sex sweat (guys, please let me call it sex sweat) is the new Gatorade for the little green men and makes them super strong and powerful, which is great because they’re fighting this other alien species because plot. So alien pussy killer is like forget customer service, you’re about to go into dick service. He wants to take her to the alien council where she can get assigned some alien prince so her life‘s purpose can now be getting fucked. Literally. For some reason, girly pop is like oh my god, I have to pay my rent at my old apartment that I don’t use anymore because I live at the hotel. So they go and get attacked by the other alien species on the way because what else would they do? So now they have to go hide out at a safe house. While they’re there, Nessa’s like hmm, I don’t know if I want to fuck strangers. Maybe I should fuck the alien I know, rather than the alien I don’t. And he’s like that’s great babes, but my dick’s in a box. Like it’s literally in a box. It’s in a chastity cage and it’s been in there for centuries and somehow I don’t REEK or have a UTI. And she’s like OMG bummer, but like what if I wave my magic necklace over it? And he’s like oh my god, that worked but what about my dead girlfriend? And she’s like babes, I am your dead girlfriend, just like reincarnated probably. And he’s like oh my god you’re so sexy, but what about the fact that I’m not a prince? And she’s like oh my god, my bad. I threw my necklace across the room. Guess I’m gonna start cramping, and the only solution will be for you to fuck me. And he’s like damn, you’re right. So basically they’re in love. Now that they’re a couple there’s definitely no need for them to go to the council, but he’s like well, we told them we were coming and you know I may be an assassin, but canceling plans last minute is way too far. So they go and it’s definitely not a trap. They get there and the council’s like so we know you said you’re in love, but like do you know he’s poor? And she’s like yeah he’s poor, but he’s also hung like an alien, so I’m cool with it. And they’re like cool, cool, cool so we’ll definitely let you go, we just want you to play dress up first. She’s like oh my god, I’m really not like other girls like I don’t like makeup or dresses, but sure ET’s gonna think I’m so hot. And oh my God it’s a trap? Quelle surprise. But assassin boy just slaughters their way out, and then they go back to the hotel. Yep, the end.
Do you want the most basic brain rot of an alien smut story that is super plotholey but kinda compulsively readable?
Pre-reading:
When I tell you this book has been living rent-free in my brain, Reels ads are on another level, dude. Like I love the cover. I love it. It’s not even drawn that well, but something about the colors just does it for me. Also, probably the titties. I don’t know what it’s about. I don’t care. It’s probably gonna be awful. It’s on Kindle Unlimited, but I am kind of in a book slump right now and this is the only thing I can think about reading.
Thick of it:
Oh yeah, I mean who doesn’t just have a pet raven named Gary?
I don’t think I had a post-apocalyptic hotel on the bingo board for this book, but go off. I love that she’s not even trying to explain it. She really said I don’t know who bombed the world, but the world’s bombed. Go with it.
Either the artist who did the cover doesn’t know what a sheath dress is or the author doesn’t, but this is like the second book I’ve read this year when they’re trying to describe a sexy outfit and they’re like she’s in a sheath. Ain’t nobody seeing titties in a sheath dress.
Is coffee creamer her weakness in that she likes her coffee with a lot of cream or that she’s lactose intolerant?
I hate when people call themselves fluffy. You’re not a cat.
Does the company taking her belongings make any sense? Absolutely not. Do I really care? No.
Oh Edward Cullen, absolutely not.
What is it with the romance girlies and the growly men? Men don’t really growl. Like I’ve never heard a grown man do that.
Oh, now he’s dragging her, cool.
Oh, this book is trash. I’m gonna read it.
Oh, he’s an alien. Of course he is, silly me.
He works for the MAN. (No one makes jokes about this and that is a crime.)
They really said the aliens have to fuck humans to save the planet.
How…how did they milk them? I’m so afraid of the answer to that question. Not like prostate- I’ll go. I’ll see myself out. (But like no, I nailed it. That is exactly what they meant.)
So he’s got a spicy hand, got it.
You can’t have proper hair care for all the girlies with one shampoo.
Why is there a cat stuffed animal in the sex scene?
Dear Christe, what am I reading? (I’m gonna stop correcting what voice texting auto-corrects all these religious exclamations to because sometimes they turn out even funnier. Adds a little spice.)
Wait, so does he have like a chastity belt cock cage on? What is going on? (It’s the way I scold myself like no, Sam, you pervert. That would never happen, but no, that is exactly what happens.)
It’s so interesting to me when books take the time to point out aesthetic lighting during an action sequence. They’re like draw this for fanart, please.
Post-apocalyptic but Netflix still exists-gotcha.
Definitely not have skin transplants work, but you know
This is kinda non-con, besties.
There are quite a few typos in this book.
Someday some intrepid stalker is going to go through my book history and see all these weird highlights from the books I read ironically and be like what on earth is this girl into?
I just-how does this exist? Why? How did people come up with this? Why is this a thing? Why is it so repeated? If it’s so popular, why don’t I get it?
I hate alternative anatomy.
Oh, I got some qualms with this dirty talk Absolutely not. Women don’t exist for men. Done with this sentiment. Stop trying to make this appealing. It will never be appealing to me.
I was born for snacks and snark, not alien cock, so sorry.
If he’s in a cock cage for centuries though like shit should be falling off. The urine alone. Like he would REEK.
Post-reading:
This is brain rot. If you’re a Kindle Unlimited girlie who just wants to read the most bonkers smut that she can get her filthy, little hands on…you’ll probably find this tame lol. The CoHo girlies would simply pass away.
It is not good. I cannot emphasize that enough. It is compulsively readable. The plot makes no sense. The characters, super stock. The dirty talk and smut, mediocre. Homeboy’s in a cock cage for centuries. Shit should be falling off. But girly pops, when I tell you I read this so fast. I’m not proud of that. I just love to cringe spectate, and if that’s your vibe too… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but I’ve read worse. Not much worse, but still have read worse.
(Also someone let me know if the cover also gave you the impression that she was like running a Victorian bed and breakfast and a monster just shows up at her door as a guest. I didn’t really peg it as an alien story.)
Who should read this:
Good god, no one
Cringe spectators
Alien smut girly pops
Do I want to reread this:
No
Similar books:
* A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne-monster smut, alternative anatomy
Unhinged Summary:
Nessa gets a job at a super exclusive hotel because it's a post-apocalyptic world but affordable health care is still a myth, so girly pop is up to her eyeballs in debt from trying to manage period cramps. She makes some friends and captures the attention of some hottie E.T. assassin because she reminds him of his dead ex-girlfriend. What’s a boy? to do? Stalk her, obviously. She’s working a hotel party and a mean guest being mean because he's a meanie so he has to mean, snatches her necklace. She starts cramping immediately, so she's like, peace. Bedtime for me. Emphasis on bedtime because alien boy is ready and waiting. He’s like hey babes, I know we haven’t had a real conversation, but those cramps are because you need to get fucked. Ride my fingers. She's like bet. They find out she’s not a human. She’s actually a creature called a Deo. Which means she’s like really sweaty but it’s like sexy sweat and call him thirsty because alien boy wants to drink her up. Sex sweat (guys, please let me call it sex sweat) is the new Gatorade for the little green men and makes them super strong and powerful, which is great because they’re fighting this other alien species because plot. So alien pussy killer is like forget customer service, you’re about to go into dick service. He wants to take her to the alien council where she can get assigned some alien prince so her life‘s purpose can now be getting fucked. Literally. For some reason, girly pop is like oh my god, I have to pay my rent at my old apartment that I don’t use anymore because I live at the hotel. So they go and get attacked by the other alien species on the way because what else would they do? So now they have to go hide out at a safe house. While they’re there, Nessa’s like hmm, I don’t know if I want to fuck strangers. Maybe I should fuck the alien I know, rather than the alien I don’t. And he’s like that’s great babes, but my dick’s in a box. Like it’s literally in a box. It’s in a chastity cage and it’s been in there for centuries and somehow I don’t REEK or have a UTI. And she’s like OMG bummer, but like what if I wave my magic necklace over it? And he’s like oh my god, that worked but what about my dead girlfriend? And she’s like babes, I am your dead girlfriend, just like reincarnated probably. And he’s like oh my god you’re so sexy, but what about the fact that I’m not a prince? And she’s like oh my god, my bad. I threw my necklace across the room. Guess I’m gonna start cramping, and the only solution will be for you to fuck me. And he’s like damn, you’re right. So basically they’re in love. Now that they’re a couple there’s definitely no need for them to go to the council, but he’s like well, we told them we were coming and you know I may be an assassin, but canceling plans last minute is way too far. So they go and it’s definitely not a trap. They get there and the council’s like so we know you said you’re in love, but like do you know he’s poor? And she’s like yeah he’s poor, but he’s also hung like an alien, so I’m cool with it. And they’re like cool, cool, cool so we’ll definitely let you go, we just want you to play dress up first. She’s like oh my god, I’m really not like other girls like I don’t like makeup or dresses, but sure ET’s gonna think I’m so hot. And oh my God it’s a trap? Quelle surprise. But assassin boy just slaughters their way out, and then they go back to the hotel. Yep, the end.
March 13, 2023
Written in first person by ELLA MAVEN, "The Guest With Claws" is the first book in the MONSTER HOTEL series and switches back and forth between the two main character's perspectives; Malice Lanis "the Flayed and Banished" and his human deo Nessa Black.
Thousands of years ago, clans of Malice lived in another galaxy and were constantly at war with the Moxic. The Malice sought a new home and discovered Earth. In doing so, they discovered that some humans, whom they titled "deos," possessed an essence that strengthened their Malice powers. Because of the deos, the Malice protected Earth and it's inhabitant humans. Their enemies, the Moxic, learned that if they can capture a deo, they could control the Malice. Guardians were assigned to protect deos until they came of age, and they had to hide the deos who had not yet reached their maturity. Deos live three lives through reincarnation. Only when the deo matures in her third life can Malice use and benefit from her essence.
The enemy known as the Moxic are powerful. Some are mindless monsters who carry out their orders until they are dead, while others are clever war strategists, and the most dangerous are those who change their forms into flying and deadly beasts. When the Moxic began their first attacks on Earth, the only reason humanity didn’t fall was because of the Malice. Without their deos, the Malice are still strong, but with them, they are even stronger. With the deos in the hands of the Moxic, the Malice are powerless. And the Moxic not only want to control Malice, they also want Earth’s resources, which happen to be its human inhabitants.
Malice are physically diverse based on thousand-year-old interspecies breeding in their former galaxy. Only the Malice royal families who made up the Court had remained pure-blood Malice. Those with the most non-human characteristics can change form temporarily but it takes a lot of energy. The Council and the Court ruled together in a balance of power that kept both honest. Court members were made up of three pure families—the Ans, the Oses, and the Ils. Malice went by one name, and the last syllable determined what clan they were from. The Council members were former members of the Royal families who had to renounce their family loyalty and were voted in by the Malice population. They also worked with the human Regular party on a top-secret level. By Malice law, only members of the three royal Malice families can mate with deos.
Earth had changed since the war brought by the Moxic. The attacks started in Europe, then Asia, then hit America. No one knew who bombed the cities and vital centers of power. The finger pointing of blame among the world’s leaders only led to more fighting. Countries fell, cities burned, and everyone suffered. Campaigning on better living conditions, the Regulars party soared to power in America. No more democracy. But their conditions came at a high price—regulations and rations ruled their lives. The justice system gave way to bribery and no due process. If a person couldn't afford their debts, they'd be sent to work and likely die in the dangerous factories or the hard laboring farm fields.
With a large medical debt looming over her, Nessa Black was hired at Hotel Castle Verna, a hotel for the members of the Malice Assassin Network, in the city of Baxint, formerly known as Chicago. At thirty-five-year-old, she always wanted to be a veterinarian and had a habit of saving animals and taking in strays. She also happened to be a deo in her fourth life. The stone necklace that her parents left her hid her scent and kept her heat in check. She apparently sacrificed herself in her third life for her guardian.
Lanis was a four-hundred-year-old Malice, half-covered in the skin of his enemies, ostracized by his clan, and a killer-for-hire. He was punished for falling in love with his deo, then failing to protect her, by having his dick locked in a chastity cage that only his deo could unlock.
They finally have sex in chapter 14 at the 72% mark, after Nessa unlocked the cage around his cock. It was then he finally accepted that she was his deo. Between her heat and their history, he could no longer deny his bodily instincts. But for fuck's sake... 72%?! Why do these authors make us wait so goddamn long for the raunch? And this wasn't exactly a short book either. Anyway, I digress. Turned out they were a fated match; The rare Deom pair. Verified when his cock burs hooked inside of her and a knot at the base of his cock swelled and locked them together. Awe, how sweet.
Anyway, this review is already four times longer than I intended, so I am going to leave it here. Even though there was A LOT I didn't cover. Overall, I'm conflicted about the book. It was too long, too confusing, and we waited forever for them to fuck. I thought this was going to be about monsters and was excited for a new story, but it's just another alien novel. Only its backstory is way too convoluted and complicated. I wound up with a headache trying to figure out the little nuances. The author spent too much time making the reincarnation of the deo a shock and awe moment when it was easy for the reader to put those pieces together on their own. Overall, I give it a 3.4 out of 5 stars, simply because it's different. Honestly, I felt like I wasted too much energy, time and brain power on one book.
Thousands of years ago, clans of Malice lived in another galaxy and were constantly at war with the Moxic. The Malice sought a new home and discovered Earth. In doing so, they discovered that some humans, whom they titled "deos," possessed an essence that strengthened their Malice powers. Because of the deos, the Malice protected Earth and it's inhabitant humans. Their enemies, the Moxic, learned that if they can capture a deo, they could control the Malice. Guardians were assigned to protect deos until they came of age, and they had to hide the deos who had not yet reached their maturity. Deos live three lives through reincarnation. Only when the deo matures in her third life can Malice use and benefit from her essence.
The enemy known as the Moxic are powerful. Some are mindless monsters who carry out their orders until they are dead, while others are clever war strategists, and the most dangerous are those who change their forms into flying and deadly beasts. When the Moxic began their first attacks on Earth, the only reason humanity didn’t fall was because of the Malice. Without their deos, the Malice are still strong, but with them, they are even stronger. With the deos in the hands of the Moxic, the Malice are powerless. And the Moxic not only want to control Malice, they also want Earth’s resources, which happen to be its human inhabitants.
Malice are physically diverse based on thousand-year-old interspecies breeding in their former galaxy. Only the Malice royal families who made up the Court had remained pure-blood Malice. Those with the most non-human characteristics can change form temporarily but it takes a lot of energy. The Council and the Court ruled together in a balance of power that kept both honest. Court members were made up of three pure families—the Ans, the Oses, and the Ils. Malice went by one name, and the last syllable determined what clan they were from. The Council members were former members of the Royal families who had to renounce their family loyalty and were voted in by the Malice population. They also worked with the human Regular party on a top-secret level. By Malice law, only members of the three royal Malice families can mate with deos.
Earth had changed since the war brought by the Moxic. The attacks started in Europe, then Asia, then hit America. No one knew who bombed the cities and vital centers of power. The finger pointing of blame among the world’s leaders only led to more fighting. Countries fell, cities burned, and everyone suffered. Campaigning on better living conditions, the Regulars party soared to power in America. No more democracy. But their conditions came at a high price—regulations and rations ruled their lives. The justice system gave way to bribery and no due process. If a person couldn't afford their debts, they'd be sent to work and likely die in the dangerous factories or the hard laboring farm fields.
With a large medical debt looming over her, Nessa Black was hired at Hotel Castle Verna, a hotel for the members of the Malice Assassin Network, in the city of Baxint, formerly known as Chicago. At thirty-five-year-old, she always wanted to be a veterinarian and had a habit of saving animals and taking in strays. She also happened to be a deo in her fourth life. The stone necklace that her parents left her hid her scent and kept her heat in check. She apparently sacrificed herself in her third life for her guardian.
Lanis was a four-hundred-year-old Malice, half-covered in the skin of his enemies, ostracized by his clan, and a killer-for-hire. He was punished for falling in love with his deo, then failing to protect her, by having his dick locked in a chastity cage that only his deo could unlock.
They finally have sex in chapter 14 at the 72% mark, after Nessa unlocked the cage around his cock. It was then he finally accepted that she was his deo. Between her heat and their history, he could no longer deny his bodily instincts. But for fuck's sake... 72%?! Why do these authors make us wait so goddamn long for the raunch? And this wasn't exactly a short book either. Anyway, I digress. Turned out they were a fated match; The rare Deom pair. Verified when his cock burs hooked inside of her and a knot at the base of his cock swelled and locked them together. Awe, how sweet.
Anyway, this review is already four times longer than I intended, so I am going to leave it here. Even though there was A LOT I didn't cover. Overall, I'm conflicted about the book. It was too long, too confusing, and we waited forever for them to fuck. I thought this was going to be about monsters and was excited for a new story, but it's just another alien novel. Only its backstory is way too convoluted and complicated. I wound up with a headache trying to figure out the little nuances. The author spent too much time making the reincarnation of the deo a shock and awe moment when it was easy for the reader to put those pieces together on their own. Overall, I give it a 3.4 out of 5 stars, simply because it's different. Honestly, I felt like I wasted too much energy, time and brain power on one book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2023
“You think I don’t hear your moans in my ears like a song? I can still taste the flood of your pussy in my mouth. It only took one time—one fucking time—with my tongue on you, and I already know just how to get you to gush. Everything from your scent to your voice to your laughter, to your penchant to caring for stupid creatures makes me want to spear you with my cock until you can’t say anything but my name.”
Nessa is in debt and desperate to avoid being caught and imprisoned by debt collectors, so she goes to the infamous Hotel Castle Verna. It’s shrouded in mystery and not much is known about it except that it’s exclusive. Getting the job, she begins to notice odd things here and there while making deliveries to the guests (rule 3: never ever look inside said deliveries). She constantly feels like she’s being watched.
And she is. Unknown to her, she has attracted the attention of the guest in room 654. He stalks, watches, and ensures her safety and well-being. It’s quite cute.
I don’t want to go further into the plot because going in blind and learning what’s going on along with Nessa was an exhilarating reading experience. I had no idea where this book was going to go and was along for the ride. What a ride that was! The plot was unique and exceeded any expectations I may have had going in. The writing was atmospheric and did such a great job at giving us readers that mysterious aesthetic. I loved Nessa and her selfless attitude. She loves animals, making friends, and helping others when she can. Lanis is the perfect brooding, grumpy stalker that is so far gone for Nessa. He is drawn to her immediately but never plans to act on it. But then something happens that changes everything and he will do anything to keep her safe and happy.
TWs: kidnapping and attempted murder to the FMC (not done by MMC)
What to expect:
Unique monster/alien MC with an equally unique peen
Knotting
Scales
Going into heat
Plus size FMC
Size difference
Split tongue
Touch of dirty talk
Assassins
Fated mates
Dystopian(ish) Earth setting
“Touch her or even look at her and I’ll gut you”
Dash of Phantom of the Opera vibes
5⭐️ 4🔥
Nessa is in debt and desperate to avoid being caught and imprisoned by debt collectors, so she goes to the infamous Hotel Castle Verna. It’s shrouded in mystery and not much is known about it except that it’s exclusive. Getting the job, she begins to notice odd things here and there while making deliveries to the guests (rule 3: never ever look inside said deliveries). She constantly feels like she’s being watched.
And she is. Unknown to her, she has attracted the attention of the guest in room 654. He stalks, watches, and ensures her safety and well-being. It’s quite cute.
I don’t want to go further into the plot because going in blind and learning what’s going on along with Nessa was an exhilarating reading experience. I had no idea where this book was going to go and was along for the ride. What a ride that was! The plot was unique and exceeded any expectations I may have had going in. The writing was atmospheric and did such a great job at giving us readers that mysterious aesthetic. I loved Nessa and her selfless attitude. She loves animals, making friends, and helping others when she can. Lanis is the perfect brooding, grumpy stalker that is so far gone for Nessa. He is drawn to her immediately but never plans to act on it. But then something happens that changes everything and he will do anything to keep her safe and happy.
TWs: kidnapping and attempted murder to the FMC (not done by MMC)
What to expect:
Unique monster/alien MC with an equally unique peen
Knotting
Scales
Going into heat
Plus size FMC
Size difference
Split tongue
Touch of dirty talk
Assassins
Fated mates
Dystopian(ish) Earth setting
“Touch her or even look at her and I’ll gut you”
Dash of Phantom of the Opera vibes
5⭐️ 4🔥
February 27, 2023
5 Stars
February 23, 2023
*𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴.*
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒔
𝒃𝒚 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝑴𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖/𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
This is the first book in a new series by Ella Maven. I was super blessed to have her send me an ARC for this so I could share my thoughts with you all!
I'm so excited for this series, it really has great potential to continue as a unique new series! This was a very well-rounded full-circle story with world building and very unique characters and plot.
The MCs are very unique characters within a unique world. And even the spiciness was unique! The FMC, Nessa, has some social anxiety and has dealt with chronic pain most of her life. She gets a job at a strange fancy hotel and discovers there's more to the pain.
She's super sweet, super curvy, and extremely caring. She also has a silvery "essence" and goes into a Heat that can only be assuaged by some in-depth loving from her mate.
Our hero Lanis has Frankenstein vibes, a dark past, and a heart worth healing. He doesn't think he deserves happiness again, or to have love. Nessa offers it to him and won't take no for an answer and he becomes a total simp for her!
You get a bit of everything with this one. Open-door, spicy, mating heat, monstrous-scarred hero, reincarnation (the kind I actually like, where the character is still their own person, not just a past person), "touch her and I'll kill you" vibes, and a curvy luscious heroine who's sweet, loves animals and falls fast for her outcast of a protector.
There's some drama, danger, and emotion all mixed in with a raw passionate romance between Lanis and Nessa. Love the names. Love the characters. Love this new series!
𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:
•𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦
🔥🔥🔥🔥/𝟓
•𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡
❤❤❤❤/𝟓
•𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡
😆😆/𝟓
•𝐂𝐫𝐲
-/𝟓
"𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰. 𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸! 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴. 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭! 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘵 @𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺_𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘱𝘵_𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.
𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳: 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺."
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒔
𝒃𝒚 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝑴𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖/𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
This is the first book in a new series by Ella Maven. I was super blessed to have her send me an ARC for this so I could share my thoughts with you all!
I'm so excited for this series, it really has great potential to continue as a unique new series! This was a very well-rounded full-circle story with world building and very unique characters and plot.
The MCs are very unique characters within a unique world. And even the spiciness was unique! The FMC, Nessa, has some social anxiety and has dealt with chronic pain most of her life. She gets a job at a strange fancy hotel and discovers there's more to the pain.
She's super sweet, super curvy, and extremely caring. She also has a silvery "essence" and goes into a Heat that can only be assuaged by some in-depth loving from her mate.
Our hero Lanis has Frankenstein vibes, a dark past, and a heart worth healing. He doesn't think he deserves happiness again, or to have love. Nessa offers it to him and won't take no for an answer and he becomes a total simp for her!
You get a bit of everything with this one. Open-door, spicy, mating heat, monstrous-scarred hero, reincarnation (the kind I actually like, where the character is still their own person, not just a past person), "touch her and I'll kill you" vibes, and a curvy luscious heroine who's sweet, loves animals and falls fast for her outcast of a protector.
There's some drama, danger, and emotion all mixed in with a raw passionate romance between Lanis and Nessa. Love the names. Love the characters. Love this new series!
𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:
•𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦
🔥🔥🔥🔥/𝟓
•𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡
❤❤❤❤/𝟓
•𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡
😆😆/𝟓
•𝐂𝐫𝐲
-/𝟓
"𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰. 𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸! 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴. 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭! 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘵 @𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺_𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘱𝘵_𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.
𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳: 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺."
July 1, 2025
Okay, listen. I wanted to love this book. I was ready for claws, chaos, and maybe some scandalous snuggling. And to be fair, it started off strong—like, claws-out and plot-thickening strong. I was invested. The vibe was mysterious, the setup was juicy, and I was strapping in for a wild ride.
But somewhere around the halfway point, it was like the author got a phone call, looked at the manuscript, and said, “You know what? We’re done here.”
What could’ve been a really unique, fleshed-out (or furred-out?) story with high stakes and complex character arcs kind of turned into a sprint to the finish line. Plot threads? Loosely tied. Emotional development? More like emotional whiplash. And don’t get me started on how fast the ending wrapped up—blink and you’ll miss it.
Was it the worst thing I’ve read? Not by a long shot. There’s still some charm, a few good zingers, and hey, claws are always a bonus. But it definitely left me wishing the second half had gotten the same love as the first.
Good idea, decent execution, just needed a little more time in the creative oven. 🐾
But somewhere around the halfway point, it was like the author got a phone call, looked at the manuscript, and said, “You know what? We’re done here.”
What could’ve been a really unique, fleshed-out (or furred-out?) story with high stakes and complex character arcs kind of turned into a sprint to the finish line. Plot threads? Loosely tied. Emotional development? More like emotional whiplash. And don’t get me started on how fast the ending wrapped up—blink and you’ll miss it.
Was it the worst thing I’ve read? Not by a long shot. There’s still some charm, a few good zingers, and hey, claws are always a bonus. But it definitely left me wishing the second half had gotten the same love as the first.
Good idea, decent execution, just needed a little more time in the creative oven. 🐾
March 1, 2023
A short, bad summary would be a fated mates, John Wick, reincarnated heat+knot omega romance.
The book looses a star because of mainly editing mistakes. I'm not just talking about words missing, but details such as she looses her parents and works to pay her hospital bills, only towards the end for it to be mentioned she actually lost her parents at age 12, so who was looking after her? The attacks happened around the world (of course minus Africa and Australia being mentioned) so they should basically be in this post apocalyptic world, but then again mid way bingeing of Netflix is mentioned yet she basically lived in a hovel. How's she bingeing Netflix in a post apocalyptic world where seemingly for anyone low class, you are scrambling not to be in so much debt you end up in a work/slavery camp?
Then, as a whole, her character is not a mature 35 year old. She comes off in her interactions as very, not necessarily naïve, but by having child like innocence as not having experienced certain things, but when it counted when it came to her having conversations with Lanis, she then was that 35 year old.
I somewhat got confused with the whole Malice, Moxic and even as to how the hotel barrier worked.
The story is actually slow paced-ish/was loosing my interest until about chapter 10 where it basically picks up speed until the end. The ending is basically open ended, we await for the new characters in book 2 and hopefully more from Nessa+Lanis as well.
The book looses a star because of mainly editing mistakes. I'm not just talking about words missing, but details such as she looses her parents and works to pay her hospital bills, only towards the end for it to be mentioned she actually lost her parents at age 12, so who was looking after her? The attacks happened around the world (of course minus Africa and Australia being mentioned) so they should basically be in this post apocalyptic world, but then again mid way bingeing of Netflix is mentioned yet she basically lived in a hovel. How's she bingeing Netflix in a post apocalyptic world where seemingly for anyone low class, you are scrambling not to be in so much debt you end up in a work/slavery camp?
Then, as a whole, her character is not a mature 35 year old. She comes off in her interactions as very, not necessarily naïve, but by having child like innocence as not having experienced certain things, but when it counted when it came to her having conversations with Lanis, she then was that 35 year old.
I somewhat got confused with the whole Malice, Moxic and even as to how the hotel barrier worked.
The story is actually slow paced-ish/was loosing my interest until about chapter 10 where it basically picks up speed until the end. The ending is basically open ended, we await for the new characters in book 2 and hopefully more from Nessa+Lanis as well.
July 17, 2024
I think this started off strong but at about 40% in the story started to fall apart. New characters and rushed world building contributed to this feeling while reading. This did not feel like a standalone at all, but instead an off-shoot of a different series that you had to read prior in order to understand what the hell was happening.
This is definitely a blend of fantasy/PNR but it doesn’t have enough world building to really classify it as fantasy. History and characters were explained on the fly as the story progressed, causing a lot of confusion and rushed explanations. Without world building prior, it’s hard to understand the significance of certain actions and words.
That being said, the premise is great, it just needs world building before we jump into the story. Starting off, one thinks it’s going to be a paranormal rom com but it VERY quickly devolves into fantasy and almost becomes an entirely different story.
This is definitely a blend of fantasy/PNR but it doesn’t have enough world building to really classify it as fantasy. History and characters were explained on the fly as the story progressed, causing a lot of confusion and rushed explanations. Without world building prior, it’s hard to understand the significance of certain actions and words.
That being said, the premise is great, it just needs world building before we jump into the story. Starting off, one thinks it’s going to be a paranormal rom com but it VERY quickly devolves into fantasy and almost becomes an entirely different story.
February 23, 2023
So good! I loved it! It's been awhile since I've read a book by this author but wow! This was so good! I loved the JW vibes to it! And Lanis was hot despite his physical appearances! I enjoyed the characters and thought this was well written. I read it within 24 hours as I was hooked from the first page! I love Nessa and Lanis' chemistry and how he was so protective of her! The way he was with Nessa was so swoonworthy! I enjoyed this new world this author has created and I can't wait until the next book!
I definitely recommend!
I definitely recommend!
June 23, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
this was a great setup for a new series! ella really put her authussy into this book and i love her for it.
lanis and nessa were too cute! i’m glad nessa wasn’t portrayed as someone who can’t stand up for herself, and ofc i was loving lanis’ “touch her and die” vibes.
i loved the overall idea of the hotel, but i wish we stayed at the hotel a bit longer.
this was a great setup for a new series! ella really put her authussy into this book and i love her for it.
lanis and nessa were too cute! i’m glad nessa wasn’t portrayed as someone who can’t stand up for herself, and ofc i was loving lanis’ “touch her and die” vibes.
i loved the overall idea of the hotel, but i wish we stayed at the hotel a bit longer.
October 31, 2025
Different
Its like the Wick stories. Alien assassins in a hotel that's supposed to be neutral ground. And working there has a lot of rules. If you break them, terminated means dead not fired.
It also has a lot of weird spicy scenes. Just beware on that part. Some of them weirded me out a little bit.
Other than that part, A decent story.
Its like the Wick stories. Alien assassins in a hotel that's supposed to be neutral ground. And working there has a lot of rules. If you break them, terminated means dead not fired.
It also has a lot of weird spicy scenes. Just beware on that part. Some of them weirded me out a little bit.
Other than that part, A decent story.
February 27, 2023
3.5 stars
The plot is original, the characters are unique. The idea of the hotel is interesting. There are a few plot holes that I’m hoping the next books in the series cover.
The only reason it’s not a 4 star rating is the book needs another look through with an editor. The mistakes made some sentences hard to understand.
The plot is original, the characters are unique. The idea of the hotel is interesting. There are a few plot holes that I’m hoping the next books in the series cover.
The only reason it’s not a 4 star rating is the book needs another look through with an editor. The mistakes made some sentences hard to understand.
Read
March 5, 2023dnf 67%
estava até legal, eu jurava que ia sentar e terminar de ler de uma vez só, mas aí a protagonista resolveu ser burra. completamente burra. não tem nem outra coisa pra dizer. e burra de um jeito que quem escreveu até tentou fazer encaixar com a personagem, mas pra mim não colou
estava até legal, eu jurava que ia sentar e terminar de ler de uma vez só, mas aí a protagonista resolveu ser burra. completamente burra. não tem nem outra coisa pra dizer. e burra de um jeito que quem escreveu até tentou fazer encaixar com a personagem, mas pra mim não colou
March 14, 2023
4.5 stars. Cool plot line & spice. Fated mates, reincarnation, & a bit of dystopia. Enjoyed it thoroughly
did-not-finish
April 1, 2023First DNF of 2023.
This book is just so boring and has too many passages where you're just told too much information at once.
I also couldn't connect with the main character, which made this book drag even more.
I was bamboozled by the initial hype around this book.
This book is just so boring and has too many passages where you're just told too much information at once.
I also couldn't connect with the main character, which made this book drag even more.
I was bamboozled by the initial hype around this book.
Read
May 27, 2023DNF at 15%… I just could not get into this one.
July 25, 2024
Loves this book
Very much love this book some grammar errors but nothing serious would put in my top 3 favorite books. Will read the second one
Very much love this book some grammar errors but nothing serious would put in my top 3 favorite books. Will read the second one
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