Misfit Monsters

Pack of Outcasts #1

by Eva Chase

Three delinquent monsters with fearsome powers. One girl made of pure sunshine. Can she save this team of misfits?

My past? Let's just pretend it never happened. All I want is to spread enough joy to make up for the pain I've caused.

So it'd be nice if my unexplainable powers would stop going haywire.

When I start blitzing my fellow monsters as well as mortals, the authorities of the supernatural world give me a final chance to avoid banishment.

I’ve got to join three monstrous criminals on a dangerous mission no one wants to take. Strange creatures are attacking innocent humans, and we have to stop their rampage.

It’s up to me, a frigid winter fae, a brutal basilisk shifter, and a chaotic kitsune to figure out what’s gone wrong—and fix it. Which would be a lot easier if my teammates didn’t see me as a ditzy pipsqueak.

And if they weren’t so distractingly, deliciously handsome.

Um, don’t tell them I said that part.

I’m sure my cheerful optimism will win them over so we can get home in one piece. That is, as long as I don’t blow us all up along the way...

*Misfit Monsters is the first book in a new urban fantasy trilogy from bestselling author Eva Chase. If you love a sunshine-y heroine, hot dangerous monsters who'll soften only for her, and plenty of laughs, action, and steam, dive right in!*

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Why Choose, Monsters, Romance, Magic, Fae

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2025

About the author

Eva Chase lives in Canada with her family. She loves stories both swoony and supernatural, and strong women and the men who appreciate them. You can visit her online at www.evachase.com.

Reviews

[Jessica VanWieringen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not you, it’s me. Honestly this time. It’s a cute book and honestly different than what I’ve read which is refreshing but just wasn’t me. I got a bit bored and the FMC just being naive (which is a major part of the plot and who she is) is just hard for me to read.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Won’t say this book was bad cause it wasn’t; it was sweet and the sunny FMC comes off as naive but not a doormat.

However, the story felt very amateurish and reliant on tropes that don’t have the development behind them to land right,

The FMC comes off as a super positive preschool teacher that was home schooled in a remote commune of hippies. Which surprisingly worked till they tried to make her seem sexually experienced.

Out of no where it’s like “I want everyone to feel joy and happiness then… oh look a penis, let me hop on that”… then back to the previous program.

It’s like watching a cutesy kids cartoon then splicing in a sex scene from Game of thrones. Then back to the family friendly show. It’s jarring, not sexy.

Also the stakes are laughably low.

But I do love the world building that develops as you read. Instead of being crammed into the beginning,

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

When getting a book from this author, I always know it's gonna be a fun read! This book absolutely didn't disappoint. That's mainly because Peri, the main character in this story, is insanely endearing and easy to like and root for. You just feel that she means well and simply wants people to be happy. I also liked how we got to see her influence on the guys. They each have their own issues and challenges and it's clear that Peri changes their lives for the better. On top of that there is a nice plot forcing the characters to grow and learn. And, we've only just started! I already can't wait for the next book!

[jlreadstoperpetuity · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 & 🍵 𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
So you’ve got three total delinquent monsters.. they’re wild, dangerous, and not exactly winning hearts.. and one girl who is literal pure sunshine walking into their lives. Her backstory is a mystery and she kinda just wants to do good, but her powers keep going haywire. Nobody trusts her, and she definitely can’t trust herself. Now she’s got one last shot to prove she’s not the danger everyone fears by joining this monster squad on a dangerous mission to stop even worse creatures terrorizing people.

This was such a fun mess of chaos and heart. The monsters are fierce and weird, the main girl is soft but fierce too, and her inner dialogue had me giggling out loud. It’s like found family with claws and chaos, where the team dynamics are hilarious but also deeply emotional. You feel every cringe moment, every tiny victory, and rooting for this ragtag squad is the best kind of ride.

🦹 Delinquent monsters with claws and chaos
☀ One girl whose powers go off whenever
🤝 Found family energy
🚨 Supernatural mission with high stakes
💥 Emotional and chaotic fun

[Lilithya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I expected and it kept me really entertained which I didn't expect at all.

The premise was well done and I liked the protagonist and the setting as well as the romances.

But this wasn't original or special compared to other reverse harems series. But I'll see where this goes and continue with the series.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one revolves around Periwinkle, a sweet cinnamon roll of a FMC who is sent to a sort of correctional/reform school for monsters who can’t control their powers. She’s a bit naive but knows when to stand up for things too. She is the absolute sweetest and has the kindest heart!
‌
I love that everyone has unique and….yeah, some are painful pasts lol, Peri included. And now she has four very different personalities to juggle -
Mirage, a sweet kitsune shifter who is a jokester, trickster, and seems very jovial
Raze, a very very grumpy basilisk and my personal favorite character so far! Gentle giant alert here
Hail, a stern ice fae, who is honestly a dick through the whole book lol, so I'm still unsure about him lol
Jonah, a human sorcerer who is also their teacher and overseeing the mission that the schoolmaster sends them on
‌
I appreciate that it took time for relationships and those early bonds to start, that things just didn’t jump right into things. Raze is definitely my favorite of the four, I just love him. He and Mirage are definitely the grumpy and sunshine men for Peri lol

Thoughts behind this cut that are more spoiler-y in nature.
Sometimes I felt like this was reading....younger? than it should be? I can't tell how old some of these characters are, and then throwing them into a reform school doesn't help. Are they 18? 800? LOL. It sounds like these supernatural beings just POP out into the human world, but I'm unsure.

I assume that this is at least a trilogy, and there is a bit of a cliffhanger for some major changes in their relationship at the end of this one, so that should be interesting to see how it all plays out! I really hope that Hail has a personality check b/c I honestly found him to be an asshole for about the whole book, so I do hope he gets some sense knocked into him in the second book.

The main thing I could have done without is the mean popular pretty girls at school schtick. I just feel like that has been played out and done, and there are better things that we can have as a conflict than the mean girls. I'm reading about that in another why choose romance right now and it's just not my cup of tea at all.
‌
I received a book for an instagram tour. My thoughts are my own.

[Yoder · Rating 1 out of 5]

Misfit Monsters is definitely not a book for everyone.

The story here is rather inconsequential and boring. Most of the time I can pick out what the author was going for, but in the case of Misfit Monsters I really think this book was some kind of means to an end. Perhaps the author felt the need to give this hum drum backstory before the story proper can begin or be told in some future book.

The characters are all very one-note and lack any complexity. Then the female main character Perry is absolutely insufferable. Periwinkle is her name and for some that has powers involving emotions she lacks any reasonableness with regards to emotions. The her naivete is so bad that you really have to wonder if she is just that dumb.

Finally, the biggest issue for me was the spice. Now I enjoy spice in my books. In Misfit Monsters though… The naivete of the main character combined with the school framing, then the fact that the writing sounds very YA. The spice in this book just gave me the ick.

Even without the ick factor, I could not recommend this book.

[Jenny P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. The supernatural race created for this book is semi-unique. I love how sweet and positive the MC is despite having such a traumatic background. She still wants to believe the best of everyone. None of the guys really interests me all that much. I'm a bit curious about the aloof Hail since he changes a lot over the course of the book, but none of them really stand out. They do work for Peri, though.
My only complaint is that MC is supposed to be a little on the thick/chunk side, but the cover is very much not that. Sure, it doesn't really matter to the content of the book, but it still feels weird to me to label a character one way, but present them differently visually. That is very much not a "cream puff".

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: Misfit Monsters (Pack of Outcasts #1)

Set in the shadowkind universe, we meet Periwinkle and follow her journey as she navigates a monster reform school, her painful past, and the different emotions
surrounding her.

Tropes:
✨Monster reform school
✨Sweet but dangerous FMC
✨Morally grey MMCs
✨Grumpy/sunshine
✨Teacher/student
✨Touch her & 💀
✨Forced proximity
✨Bond marks

Peri is an absolute delight and I loved exploring the relationships she develops with the scholarly sorcerer, mischievous kitsune, fearsome basilisk, and colder than ice winter fae.

These dangerous men have been hurt in the past and grapple with their feelings and draw towards Peri. But this reluctant and colorful crew must work together to address the emerging threat to the shadowkind.

In Misfit Monsters, Eva crafts a thrilling story and immersive world. This first installment of a new why choose urban fantasy trilogy features monsters with unique powers and characters you can’t help but love! I can’t wait to see what awaits them in the next book.

So grateful to the author for the review copy opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have gotten used to the fact it always takes me a little while to fully grasp this authors storyline and worldbuilding before I’m truly immersed in the story. “Misfit Monsters” was the same, but once I got a better feel for the characters and the worldbuilding, I really started to love this first book. It deals with learning about destructive powers, but also learning to trust others and heal from past trauma. All written in a respectful and realistic way.

The sunshine/grump trope isn’t always my cup of tea, but the complexity behind these characters attitude truly works for me. I also love the originality in powers, and how good and bad are definitely not black or white. The Academy background is still mostly background to me, although the mean girls are solidly present. The characters feel like high school students on one hand, but also more mature on another. I am really looking forward to see them grow into the people they have the potential to become.

For a moment I thought this first book would end on a ‘happy for now’ moment, and then our fmc’s power went haywire. Now I can’t wait to see what book two will bring!

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

while I like the characters the school punishes the wrong people

While I like the characters the school punishes the wrong people with threats of banishment…. The bullies gloss should have been expelled immediately- this school is terrible.

Gloss is attacking her and destroying her room and the people in charge think that banishing rainbow is the right move…

Terrible decision making - gloss should immediately be banished and they should be helping periwinkle —-

Will read the next one:…but wow.

[Andrea Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this storey although i didnt like the bullying that initially took place.

I loved the storey once Peri, Johah, Hail, Mirage & Raze left on their mission. This is where the magic happens and the realptionships build!

wonderful world building and some great twists and turns along the way

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Peri. She is happiness and sunshine and absolutely needed in this world.

I can't decide if Raze or Mirage are my favorites yet, but there's still opportunities for Jonah and Hail to come through.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️- DNF at 75% … I just didn’t connect with anyone or the writing style.

[Dierdra Willingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new awesome addition to the shadowkind world. This new series features Peri (a girl with a hilarious inner monologue and the epitome of sunshine). A why-choose dynamic with a fresh set of shadowkind that only adds to the complexity of this universe. I enjoyed every word!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray of sunshine personified (yet somehow also a shadow being) gets sent to a school to learn how to control her seemingly uncontrollable powers. After a few accidental flares too many, she and three other students similarly struggling with fitting in get roped into traveling with the resident young sorcerer to find what is causing some unexplained attacks and disappearances.

Peri is sweet and misunderstood and housing some really strong abilities and harsh trauma in her tiny colorful self. But her sunshine personality is the perfect influence on each of her team members. She’s sunshine; they’re all varying forms of grumpy/broody (except for Mirage, sweet goofball of a fox boy hiding pain behind a smile). I’ll for sure be reading further!

[°˖✧˚lindsay˚✧˖° · Rating 1 out of 5]

Periwinkle sucks.
Her gullibility was genuinely painful.
It could’ve been dialed down 80%, and the instances still would’ve been effective ‘bullying.’

At the amount and level she withstood and accepted, I’m not convinced that she isn’t just plain stupid.

People’s reactions to her were ridiculous, but I don’t blame them for finding her strange.
Understanding people’s innermost emotions and expressing them aloud obviously isn’t going well, so why does she keep doing it?!

Why doesn’t anyone just go out on a limb, assume ignorance instead of malice, and tell her, “Hey, people don’t like that!”

??? After the first time it blew up in her face, it was just painful to witness again and again.

It’s all very childish.

Everything Mirage says, I hate.
It’s too silly.
Everything most people say is something no one would ever reasonably utter.

The relationships unfold in a way a teenager might imagine they would.

She doesn’t even really understand what sex is or why it feels good, so accumulating a roster is a pretty icky thing for such an innocent mind to accomplish.

It had two stars until the ending, which demoted it to one, because I can’t give it zero.

Corny, childish, whole buncha nothin.
I’m disappointed, but with this author recently, I’m unfortunately not surprised.

[Jack-Jack · Rating 1 out of 5]

TL;DR: Messy academy romance with zero worldbuilding, sad and flat characters. An intrusive and inconsistent FMC, cardboard MMCs, and a plot that drifts without purpose. A chaotic mash of YA clichés with no emotional payoff, no logic, and enough nonsense to qualify as a group therapy session.

Yeah, bye.



I kept pushing through because the FMC’s concept was new to me, but it quickly became grating, almost childish, with this YA-teen behaviour that felt oddly infantilized.

I think I missed the memo warning us that this was supposed to be an academy romance to integrate misfits into society. It had all the usual tropes, but…everything felt random.

The supposed academy setting leans on familiar clichés where teachers are either incompetent or antagonistic (teachers who suck at their jobs and threaten students instead of guiding them), and creating tension without purpose. Everything feels oddly directionless, and that lack of grounding seeps into the narrative rhythm.

It’s strange because the whole premise revolves around a pushover FMC whose entire self-imposed mission is to make people happy and content, yet nearly everyone is miserable. Instead of offering a sense of contrast, it only highlights how intrusive and inconsistent her actions are. Maybe that’s the point, but the way she keeps meddling, throwing comments everywhere, and inserting herself into people’s lives just didn’t make sense. She’s supposed to be decades old and have had connections with others before, so she should know that people don’t like strangers barging into their personal business. Even the book acknowledges how unwelcome her interference is.

The weirdest part is that I kept picturing her as this willowy, gloomy “Debbie Downer” type, even though she’s described as a bright, magical being with vibrant hair and high spirits. She felt dark and detached, like a sad ghost trying to force happiness onto others. That duality could’ve been interesting if it matched the writing, but here it just made her characterization feel fragmented, making the overly emotional focus of the story very very heavy and tiresome.

The whole “pushing people to open up so they’ll be happy” plot was exhausting, because that’s not how people work. The MMCs barely register, I didn’t feel anything for them, and the romance never develops the emotional depth it aims for. The spice was medium and short in some parts, thankfully, because more would’ve just made it worse.

For a story that revolves around teenage feelings (which makes no sense, because they’re supposed to be very old), trauma, and consent, it all felt surprisingly shallow, like one long, awkward group therapy session for traumatized monsters.

There’s also a mystery element: the FMC gets upset when no one’s happy or when she remembers her past trauma (that one that she never wants to talk about and glooms over the whole plot). It tries to give the vibe that trauma unravels slowly, but it doesn’t land right. When these feelings overwhelm her, she releases an amazing amount of power because she’s special, but nobody ever investigates what she is, or why, not even a logical call to a supervisor or some ancient knowledge source, nothing. The teachers actually get upset and threaten her to banish her. How incompetent is that? Also, who’s actually in charge or how's the institution supposed to function?? Who are these people???

The same goes for the MMCs, one of them is portrayed as dangerously unstable, yet instead of exploring his character or giving him meaningful support, proper help or pairing him with someone from his own species to see if they can guide him, the academy simply isolates and ostracizes him. It’s absurd writing, honestly one of the stupidest things I’ve ever read.

So, overall, everything that could’ve been complex and intriguing was so disjointed and poorly integrated that it never landed, it felt too detached. The FMC comes off more like a “white lotus” type, but with good intentions and a terrible execution.

Honestly, this book should’ve focused on her learning to control her powers first, then built up to the romance later. A bit of worldbuilding wouldn’t have hurt either.

Because really, the whole premise falls flat amid awful, miserable characters, incompetent teachers, zero logical investigation, and a total lack of depth. Do they have cellphones? Do the students use technology? The teachers surely do. Are they poor, rich, does this apply? How can they materialize clothes out of their shadow form yet are somehow incapable of altering their human appearance? Who else exists in this world? Are there other beings? How do families work? Why so many plotholes? So many questions! none answered.

Also, it’s baffling that one of the MMCs is described as a powerful sorcerer, yet no one ever considers creating magical charms or illusions to help the misfits appear more human. Given how much emphasis the academy places on avoiding supernatural exposure, and that the whole premise is that they need to learn to control their powers so the supernatural world isn’t threatened, How come nobody thinks to use magic for something that basic?

See what I mean with plotholes? Because even this whole “integration into society” thing sinks under so many inconsistencies. It’s not even the only part that makes no sense, the whole world feels half-baked and unfinished, like it needed way more work before release.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Periwinkle is a sunshine of a "monster" who only wants to make people happy, and hides some serious trauma under her sunshine personality. Raze pushes everyone away in fear that he's going to hurt someone. Mirage uses jokes and pranks to cover his hurt. Hail is aloof and shows a different face to the world of what he feels inside. Jonah is the human sorcerer who's supposed to get them to work together as a team, while trying to keep them from killing each other, or showing their true forms to humans.

This team is chaotic and messy. And it makes each one of the main characters relatable. How many of us hide what we don't want others to see? Who use unhealthy coping mechanisms to just make it through the day to day? The only one I disliked was Hail, and that was only through part of the book. He hasn't quite redeemed himself. Yet.

The plot for this book is everything I hoped it would be. Peri is so new to the world at large, and has so much to learn at the beginning of the book. Seeing her get bullied by her classmates was honestly heartbreaking, and in some spots, hard for me to read because of how naive she is, that she doesn't realize they're making fun of her. I just wanted to wrap her in a blanket and hug her to keep her safe during some of those scenes. Seeing her wanting to embrace her powers, to learn, and to just BE better, was so validating. When she loves, it's with her whole heart, and she just cares SO MUCH about everyone around her, to the detriment of herself.

The cliffhanger to this book has me so excited to read the next installment, and I can't wait to see what happens to the group next! I know what I'm hoping the eventual outcome is, and I'm so excited to see if I'm correct!

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

[TheHazeyLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll start off by saying if you’re into slow burn paranormal romances with misfit found family vibes, grumpy/sunshine trope, and an academy setting then I totally recommend this book because even though I didn’t really love it I can definitely see someone else enjoying it a lot. With that being said I thought it was okay? I’ve read other books by Eva Chase and this just fell far out of where I know I’ve liked her writing.

Our main character Periwinkle (Peri) enters seemingly to know very little about herself, where she came from, or how the real world works. In the beginning she references being around for several decades so it’s safe to assume she’s 20s-30s or more, but still acts like a naive Pollyanna with childlike optimism. I get having a heroine with ultimate sunshine energy all the time, but it’s difficult to empathize with a character who seems to only have one not. Along that same vein, the guys were also childish and emotional underdeveloped apart from possible the only human in the harem. I could’ve also really done without the mean girl clique minor storyline because aren’t these monsters supposed to be grown and now in their teens? So confusing.

The plot stays pretty fast especially as you enter the second half which I appreciated, but mostly because o was waiting for more interesting things to happen. With all that being said I’m still tempted to read the next one after that cliffhanger? Idk I like the archetypes each of the men fulfill and getting more backstory I think will flush out their personalities. All in all an okay read, but if this is your first time reading Eva Chase I suggest staying with a different series that’s finished.

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

[LeMiliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is written voluntarily after listening to the audio version of this book.

Perriwinckle's Last Chance
Having listened to and enjoyed the previous series Eva wrote featuring Shadowkind, I was delighted to see that there is a new series featuring new characters as well as some familiar ones.

At the start of this book, we meet the sweet and delightful Periwinkle, also known as Peri, a shadowkind who never means to harm anyone but unwittingly does so, as she's unable to control her powers entirely. After one such episode, she finds herself caught by Jonah, a sorcerer and taken to a Monsters Reform School where shadowkind are hopefully taught to live undetected in the mortal realm.

Peri is struggling with her powerful but dangerous magic that runs through her veins and is happy to be given the chance to gain more control. Still, at the school, she manages to hurt shadowkind and is given one last chance to prove her control and usefulness in the Mortal Realm. Peri, along with Raze, a Basilik, Mieage, a Fox Shifter of sorts and Hail, a Winter Fae, have to work with Jonah the human sorcerer to determine just what is going on, and why some unusual Shadowkind are behaving oddly.

Will they be able to prove to the staff and, most importantly, Rolick, the founder of the school, that they are redeemable and escape the banishment that hangs over their heads?

Eva Chase has again cleverly woven a thrilling story featuring some intriguing Misfit Monsters, and I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

The narration is wonderfully provided by the talented Vanessa Moyen and Aiden Snow

[Merilu Keenum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva Chase builds a beautiful PNR with engaging characters who struggle to fit themselves and their magical abilities into the mortal world. Peri wears her emotions, but fails to control them which causes her so many problems! Her forced placement in reform school allows her to spread happiness, but jealousy and disdain meets every effort.

Peri’s outbursts of power put her in danger of being banished to the shadows where she’ll starve for others’ emotions. Raze, Mirage, and Hail have their own control issues that land them in the same predicament. The demon who founded the school teams them up with Jonah who’s a mortal sorcerer: their mission is to investigate strange stories of odd events.

I love Peri’s outlook on life and her perseverance even though she’s suffered captivity in the hands of a cruel sorcerer. Raze is a huge basilisk, but he’s attracted to her from the first moment they met. He’s tender and such a great partner. Mirage is a fox shifter with a penchant for acrobatic behavior and rhyming. Hail is a grouchy winter fae, but he’s much deeper than he appears.

Their mission strengthens the chemistry between them and there’s a few steamy scenes that hint at more in the future. There’s intrigue, suspense, and danger which kept me on the edge of my seat! The humor, the sense of belonging, and the courage of Peri and the team is hopeful and inspiring! I loved their interactions and how they learn to appreciate each other’s unique personalities. I can’t wait for the next book to see if Jonah and Hail can add to her harem!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
.

[Joseline Pineda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Periwinkle-unknown species, can sense other peoples’ emotions,hair glows colors with her mood,when she has negative emotions they burst out into darkness ,positive emotions also bursts out in light
Hail-Ice fae,ice powers,douchebag to everyone,arrogant
Raze-basilisk,need to hunt,can kill with his eyes,mean to people since she’s scared he’ll hurt them
Mirage-fox shifter,funny guy who uses humor as a coping mechanism,was tortured, uses illusions
Jonah-human but has sorcery powers,professor in academy,parents killed and was raised by shadowkind

Peri senses other peoples’ emotions and just wants everyone to be happy. She tries to reassure people but they take it the wrong way and thinks she’s a naive know it all. Also doesn’t have the beast social cues and assumes other people think the same way she does and want to help others which they take advantage of. She was kidnapped and tortured for years and certain things give her flashbacks of him and that cause her powers to hurt others unintentionally. In this books she sleeps with two of the guys and even has a threesome with them. She also makes out with another but read his emotions that something was off,from his pov he only wanted to fuck her to prove he could and that she wasn’t special. She also acknowledges her feelings for the fourth guy and so does he but nothing happens. They kill the bad guy buy still haven’t solved the main issue by the end.




the cliffhanger: She also is so happy that the team succeed and that they finally got along that she accidentally bonds them.

[Spinneretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

An unfortunate incident leads to Peri being taken to an academy dedicated to reforming misbehaving Shadowkind creatures.
She never meant to hurt anyone, but her powers are definitely misbehaving, and that’s what leads her to being given just one last chance, where she and three other Shadowkind on their last chance, are sent to investigate reports of odd Shadowkind behaviour.
Peri, along with Basilik Raze, fox shifter Mirage, and winter fae Hail, have to work with the human sorcerer Jonah to determine just what is going on, and why the Shadowkind are acting so odd.
It’s a dangerous situation, one that brings up bad memories for Peri, and when her emotions get involved, things become very risky for her.

This is the first in a new Shadowkind series from Eva Chase, but it is set in the same world as some of her other books, and features a few recognizable characters from those books.
Much like those that came before, we find a set of “monsters” who aren’t nearly as monstrous as their abilities may normally suggest. In fact, Peri’s empathic abilities are quick to show that many of the Shadowkind are feeling far from monstrous!
It’s an enjoyable read, with a couple of steamy scenes, and a few ships which have yet to set sail.
The world is an intriguing one, and I have a belief that it will only get darker as the story progresses.
If you’re a fan of RH fantasy, and of Eva’s other works, then you will more than likely enjoy this book too.

[Ashley Van Durmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Urban Fantasy Romance that happens to be a Monster Why Choose with Sweet But Dangerous Heroine, Monster Reform School, Teacher x Student, Grumpy x Sunshine, Bond Marks, Touch Her and 💀, Forced Proximity and so much more this one is for you!

Misfit Monsters is Book 1 in the new Pack of Outcasts trilogy from Eva Chase. You are going to fall in love with Periwinkle’s sunny disposition and the grumpy men that surround her.

Peri feeds off the emotions of others and when she feeds too much her control slips and it tends to hurt others even when she doesn’t mean to. When she is taken in after an outburst, she is given the choice to go to school to learn control or back to the darkness and she eagerly wants to control herself.

But as she is picked on by other kids and the past keeps coming back to haunt her, she keeps slipping and is given one more chance. But she must team up with Raze - our grumpy basilisk shifter, Hail - our grumpy winter fae, Mirage - our free spirited fox shifter and Jonah - the human sorcerer than can reel them all them.

Peri tends to put her foot in her mouth because she can read people’s emotions so easily but it doesn’t take long for Raze, Hail, Mirage and Jonah to be drawn to her light. Though they seem to have worked out their differences, Peri does something that they might not be able to turn back from and I can’t wait to see what happens next with this group!

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

[Cece · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story brings a fresh and emotionally resonant twist to paranormal romance. The idea of magic being fueled by feelings was a standout element for me. It added depth to the worldbuilding and opened up intriguing possibilities for character growth and conflict.

The FMC was a genuine sweetheart, and her kindness anchored the story with heart. At times, her sweetness felt a little overwhelming, but I appreciated how her emotional openness contrasted with the darker, chaotic elements around her. She’s the kind of character readers want to protect.

While I didn’t connect with most of the MMCs, the “professor” was a clear exception—his presence added complexity and a grounded energy that I really enjoyed. I’d love to see more of that layered characterization in future installments.

The “Why Choose” dynamic was a definite highlight. It’s a trope I always gravitate toward, and this book leaned into it with playful chemistry and emotional stakes. I’m still undecided about continuing the series, but the unique magic system and potential for deeper character arcs make it a real possibility.

Overall, Misfit Monsters has a strong foundation and a lot of heart. I’m grateful to have read it and excited to see how the series evolves. Thank you for crafting a story that blends emotional vulnerability with magical intrigue.

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

[Kricketland · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ Monster Reform School
✔️ Grumpy / Sunshine
✔️ Sweet but Dangerous heroine
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Touch Her & 💀
✔️ Bond Marks
✔️ Teacher / Student

Misfit Monsters is a fantastic start to the Pack of Outcasts series. I loved Periwinkle (Peri) and her quirky nature. She wanted to spread light and happiness to those around her to make up for her dark, mysterious past. However, she has issues controlling her powers, which puts her in a monster reform school and makes her feel out of her element.

Raze is a loner basilisk shifter who dislikes letting anyone close to him. Mirage, the trickster fox shifter, is always up for pranks and making people laugh. Hail is a grumpy Winter fae who struggles with controlling his magic when things catch him off guard. And finally, Jonah, a sorcerer/teacher at the academy, is tasked with enforcing control over students occasionally and has been put in charge of this band of misfits on assignment.

Misfit Monsters has all the elements I enjoy in an urban fantasy romance: fascinating characters, an intriguing storyline, and budding relationships with the main characters that leave me wondering how their story will evolve. I think Misfit Monsters is worthy of a re-read, making it a candidate for my 5 / 5 star rating.

[Amanda Bernardino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva Chase brought us back to the Shadowblood world with another great story. There’s world and plot building without dragging the story down. Quite the opposite is true, the plot building pulls the reader in and them there. The characters are well written and believable. Normally the grumpy/sunshine trope gets a bit silly for me to stay engaged but in this case the sunshine has depths and layers that made me love the character and the grumpy is mostly about surviving and dealing with personal trauma. They all have their own unique set of abilities/powers and personality traits and have to learn how to work together.

We also get to see a come back of others characters in this world that I personally loved reading about. This author is a master of giving her stories a sense of continuity that I particularly enjoy. However if you didn’t read the previous ones you can still go ahead and read this book, follow the plot and go back to the previous ones if you wish to.

There’s a cliffhanger in the end and I am really looking forward for the second book to see how this set of misfits will grow and where Eva Chase is going to take us next.

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

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review:

Absolutely loved this!! Peri is such a sweetheart and an amazing character. She’s so full of light that when you’re reading you can’t help but feel happy when it gets to her povs. There are times when her “darker” sides peek through but the way she always tries to make up for it with light and happiness is incredible.

The men in her harem are a mix of wonderful personalities and some not so wonderful in the beginning but by the end of the book I just admit I couldn’t pick who I loved more. Are there still moments where I want to throttle one or more of them yes of course there are because it wouldn’t be a good story without some mixed emotions.

The way Eva has written these characters and the story line really draws you in from the very first chapter and holds you in until the last sentence which by the way can someone say CLIFFHANGER!!!

I cannot wait until the next book to get some much needed answers amd to get more of the tender and joy filled moments with peri and her guys future and present company included.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes:
Bubbly fmc
Rh
First book in a series
Grumpy/sunshine
Forced proximity
Powers
Powerful fmc
Teacher/student
Touch her and die
Bond marks

[FloofyMooseReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misfit Monsters is the first book in the Pack of Outcasts, an urban fantasy/paranormal romance series. This takes place in the author’s Shadowblood series, but can be read on its own. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the author for my eArc.

Tropes and themes include:
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Who did this to you?
✨Supernatural reform academy
✨Forced proximity
✨Teacher/students
✨Why choose (mfmmm)
✨Touch her and die

Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Nicknames: Cream Puff, Rainbow, Glowbug

The Lovely: While I enjoyed the FMC immensely, I particularly loved getting to see the development of the MMCs and their relationships with the FMC and each other. They are all so very different and have their own backstories that contribute to their current behaviors.

The Mundane: I found the first half of the book to feel slower than I expected and sometimes felt a bit repetitive.

Recommendation: This was a cute, sometimes funny, start of a new series, and much lighter than the last series from this author. It appears books two and three in this series are expected to be released yet this year (2025). If you like a softly romantic urban fantasy with grumpy x sunshine to the extreme, I think you’d like this book.