What do you think?
Rate this book
Monsters of Brimrey Island #2
Tied to Hell
The devil offered me a deal. Now he regrets it.
Picture me—the loser. Twenty-five, stuck at home with my older sister, a job that pays pennies, and sickening amounts of medical debt. Sounds like fun? Enter the reason for all of the above: the chronic pain I’ve been suffering from for almost a decade and that I will never get rid of.
Now picture him—the demon whispering in my ear.
I get one wish, he says. Anything.
In exchange, he gets my body for just ten hours a day. For just seven weeks.
Pretty sweet deal, right? And it’s obvious what I’m going to ask for.
Well, that’s what he thought.
He couldn’t imagine there’s something that haunts me more than my pain. Something I would give anything to fix.
So now he’s stuck with me, suffering and trying to convince me to change my wish, but there’s nothing that could make me give up what I asked for. Not even that purring, sultry voice that tells me we could be doing something other than fight for control.
Tied to Hell is an MM monster romance with a trans love interest, lots of banter, angst, and spice. Though best enjoyed after the first book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series, it can be read as a standalone and has a HEA. Check out the rest of the series for more queer characters finding love in this small town on a haunted island.
Picture me—the loser. Twenty-five, stuck at home with my older sister, a job that pays pennies, and sickening amounts of medical debt. Sounds like fun? Enter the reason for all of the above: the chronic pain I’ve been suffering from for almost a decade and that I will never get rid of.
Now picture him—the demon whispering in my ear.
I get one wish, he says. Anything.
In exchange, he gets my body for just ten hours a day. For just seven weeks.
Pretty sweet deal, right? And it’s obvious what I’m going to ask for.
Well, that’s what he thought.
He couldn’t imagine there’s something that haunts me more than my pain. Something I would give anything to fix.
So now he’s stuck with me, suffering and trying to convince me to change my wish, but there’s nothing that could make me give up what I asked for. Not even that purring, sultry voice that tells me we could be doing something other than fight for control.
Tied to Hell is an MM monster romance with a trans love interest, lots of banter, angst, and spice. Though best enjoyed after the first book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series, it can be read as a standalone and has a HEA. Check out the rest of the series for more queer characters finding love in this small town on a haunted island.
- GenresDisability
400 pages, Unknown Binding
Published June 27, 2025
4 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Vee Debras
3 books11 followersVee Debras (they/them) grew up in an isolated, creaky-floored house in the mountains. They spent their childhood staring at a dark corner of their tiny room, terrified that the demon lurking there would try to possess them.
In an unexpected turn of events, they became a queer monster romance writer.
Vee is obsessed with love and community, so of course hurt/comfort is their favorite flavor of story—life will hurt you, but the people who love you have your back.
When not going tap tap tap on their keyboard, you can find Vee enjoying a horror movie or the latest seasonal anime. Or maybe gazing out to sea while listening to Hozier (and crying about it, probably).
Join their newsletter at veedebras.com to be kept up to date with news, discounts, the writing process, and more. You'll also receive a free novelette featuring a nonbinary main character and a biblically accurate angel.
In an unexpected turn of events, they became a queer monster romance writer.
Vee is obsessed with love and community, so of course hurt/comfort is their favorite flavor of story—life will hurt you, but the people who love you have your back.
When not going tap tap tap on their keyboard, you can find Vee enjoying a horror movie or the latest seasonal anime. Or maybe gazing out to sea while listening to Hozier (and crying about it, probably).
Join their newsletter at veedebras.com to be kept up to date with news, discounts, the writing process, and more. You'll also receive a free novelette featuring a nonbinary main character and a biblically accurate angel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 20, 2025
Well, that made me cry. A lot. Highly unusual.
Especially since it's family stuff, which usually I am just not into.
Excellent book. More monster-fucking, angst, grumpy asshole-y snark, sibling comedy hour, and more TAIL PLAY.
If you give a creature a tail, it's gotta do something. This was a busy tail.
I'll come back and do a long ass rave ARC review on release day!
Thanks so much to the author, Vee Debras, for giving me an eARC. My opinions are my own.
Especially since it's family stuff, which usually I am just not into.
Excellent book. More monster-fucking, angst, grumpy asshole-y snark, sibling comedy hour, and more TAIL PLAY.
If you give a creature a tail, it's gotta do something. This was a busy tail.
I'll come back and do a long ass rave ARC review on release day!
Thanks so much to the author, Vee Debras, for giving me an eARC. My opinions are my own.
September 4, 2025
Did I cry while reading this book? Yes. Yes, I did. As a disabled person, I’m always looking for stories with disabled main characters that experience the gambit of emotions. Dusk was dealing with the fear of being a burden and fear of not being good enough to be a romantic partner. It’s so hard to live in a world where value is attached to only certain kinds of contributions to relationships and Dusk donned a mask of the empathetic sweet disabled person when in public. I liked that he was still grumpy with people he trusted. Also, the medical PTSD was very accurate. Rae and him had a very complicated relationship with the whole possession and all that. Rae was snarky and playful, but also devious. They both found a way to be there for each other in their codependent way and it was sweet in the end.
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: A trans person misgendering themself, ableism (both external and internalized), discussions about drug addiction and overdose, graphic sex, mentions of past sexual assault (not to or by the main couple), mentions of past bullying and murder, suicide jokes and suicidal ideation, tampering with meds (done by the love interest), transphobia, and violence against a pregnant minor person that leads to a miscarriage, panic attacks, mentions of hospitalization
Spice: 3/5
Triggers: A trans person misgendering themself, ableism (both external and internalized), discussions about drug addiction and overdose, graphic sex, mentions of past sexual assault (not to or by the main couple), mentions of past bullying and murder, suicide jokes and suicidal ideation, tampering with meds (done by the love interest), transphobia, and violence against a pregnant minor person that leads to a miscarriage, panic attacks, mentions of hospitalization
June 21, 2025
4.5*
Tied to Hell follows Dusk, who suffers from chronic illness and loss of mobility due to an accident in his teens, and Rae, a demon offering a deal. Their banter was fun to read, even when they constantly managed to avoid the topic of emotions, rather showing than talking about it. I want, more than once, to shake Dusk and yell at him to talk to the people around him instead of thinking the worst, all the time. While this character trait is infuriating, it also was written quite well and fits Dusk's worries and whole character.
There's also the friendship with Ness, accelerating Dusk's anxiety and abandonment issues even more, and his sister Juniper. Especially the sibling bond was so real, between bantering and annoying each other constantly, to letting everything drop to help your sibling when in need. It felt real.
And of course the spice scenes. Those were quite unique, which I very much enjoyed. Debras came up with enticing ideas to have scenes, both with a demon and sharing the same body.
I definitely want to read the first book in this series as well (Tied in Hell can be absolutely read as a standalone though!) and look forward to more in the series.
I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy but I'm freely leaving this review. All opinions are my own.
Tied to Hell follows Dusk, who suffers from chronic illness and loss of mobility due to an accident in his teens, and Rae, a demon offering a deal. Their banter was fun to read, even when they constantly managed to avoid the topic of emotions, rather showing than talking about it. I want, more than once, to shake Dusk and yell at him to talk to the people around him instead of thinking the worst, all the time. While this character trait is infuriating, it also was written quite well and fits Dusk's worries and whole character.
There's also the friendship with Ness, accelerating Dusk's anxiety and abandonment issues even more, and his sister Juniper. Especially the sibling bond was so real, between bantering and annoying each other constantly, to letting everything drop to help your sibling when in need. It felt real.
And of course the spice scenes. Those were quite unique, which I very much enjoyed. Debras came up with enticing ideas to have scenes, both with a demon and sharing the same body.
I definitely want to read the first book in this series as well (Tied in Hell can be absolutely read as a standalone though!) and look forward to more in the series.
I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy but I'm freely leaving this review. All opinions are my own.
June 27, 2025
When I first heard about Tied to Hell, I was convinced I wouldn’t enjoy the book since I’m not particularly into selfcest. Well, jokes on me I guess. I should’ve known I was doomed the moment I met Dusk in Tied to the Waves and he became my babygirl.
The best place to start would be Dusk. Of course it’s Dusk. His narration style was so beautiful in a sarcastic-nihilistic-still-somehow-optimistic way I can’t possibly begin to describe. I found myself nodding to his thoughts more often than not, and the amount of times we actually made the same comment or joke is so high it’s actually embarrassing. I love Dusk. What else can I say? I love the way he sees life. He’s content with his life. He’s happy and feels fulfilled with his uneventful monotonous life. And I love that for him. I’m jealous even.
You see, I was one of those ‘gifted children’. I was told I was meant to achieve great things all my life because I was so smart because I was so talented. So I dreamt big, and then those big dreams shattered one after the other. I was stuck, jobless, penniless, living with my parents, and seeing everyone move forward and leave me behind. There’s a Taylor Swift song about this but that’s not the point I’m trying to make.
Dusk’s whole life changed after his accident but he never wished to die because of that. I remember reading that part and wondering how he did it, how he could still have the will to carry on living after such a thing. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the expression ‘aurea mediocritas’. It’s an expression used in literature and philosophy that refers to finding fulfillment by being in the middle. I never got it because I was taught that being in the middle meant being a failure, and I wasn’t allowed to fail at any cost. But I get it now when I see Dusk. His life is nothing to write home about and, to some, it would seem like he’s a loser. But he likes his life, he’s satisfied with living a mediocre existence, and I can’t highlight enough how much I think mediocrity has a positive meaning.
Of course, Rae didn’t get this at first. But he fell in love with Dusk’s life, just as much as I did. I’m not going to say he’d be willing to burn the whole world for Dusk because I know Rae wouldn’t like me using that expression, but he’d be willing to suffer for Dusk’s sake, and that’s one of the most beautiful love gestures I can think of. Rae chose many times to be in pain to give Dusk a few moment of reprieve, because even though Dusk’s chronic pain would never go away, it didn’t mean every second of his life had to be defined by it. Taking Dusk’s pain away for a few seconds so he could sit down without wincing, or a few minutes so he could breathe, or a few hours so he could sleep without the pain waking him up in the middle of the night, Rae’s love is just selfless like that. After all, Rae knew he could hold his pain, so why not holding Dusk’s as well? There’s no need for Dusk to suffer when Rae could suffer for both of them. That’s Rae loving Dusk, destructive but pure and beautiful.
And I can’t mention Rae without talking about his gut-wrenching backstory. I knew it was going to make me tear up, and it didn’t disappoint. The way Rae’s dysphoria was portrayed when he was a human is one of the best things I’ve read lately. It’s not pretty or melancholic, it’s violent, raw, ugly. Rae’s dysphoria makes him want to hurt others -and himself in the process. It’s a reality of the trans experience we never want to discuss because it’s not pretty, so I’m glad Vee had the guts to write Rae the way they did. Pain doesn’t turn us into good people, it just hurts us. Rae wasn’t a good person (this doesn’t mean he was a bad person), he simply was in pain, and I can’t help but wonder how many trans people throughout history suffered without even understanding the source of their pain and did terrible things in an attempt to make it stop. I wonder how many of them were taken advantage of just like Rae, and if they ever got the happy endings they deserved, not because they were good, but because it wasn’t their fault.
There are so many aspects of the book I wish I could write about, but there’s not enough space for that, so let me talk about the love story real quick. Rae and Dusk are made for one another. I love the way they’re constantly trying to out-brat each other in a way that shows they found someone to match their freak. I was anxious about the sexual scenes since the ones in Tied to the Waves triggered me a little bit, but I can say I loved every single one in Tied to Hell. I wasn’t expecting a kink fest, but these bitches are kinkier than they think and I’m here for it. Honestly, I’ve read books sold as kinky less kinky than these two motherfuckers. Great experience, I’d totally recommend.
And last but not least, Jonah. If you haven’t read Tied to Heaven, I don’t know what you’re waiting for because it’s one of the greatest books ever written. Am I biased because the book is about a non-binary individual (who happens to be a swiftie) with religious trauma? Maybe, but I don’t care. The thing is that I was exhilarated to see Jonah again. He was so cute and I’m so happy things with his angel are going well. I need more Jonah in my life.
Finally, I just want to say I loved this book. It made me laugh. It made me cry (I’m looking at you, chapter 39 when the truth about Dusk’s uncle is revealed and Dusk reveals to his family that he feels he’s a burden and they will abandon him eventually because he doesn’t deserve to have them in his life). But, arguably the most important thing, it made me feel empty once I finished it.
The best place to start would be Dusk. Of course it’s Dusk. His narration style was so beautiful in a sarcastic-nihilistic-still-somehow-optimistic way I can’t possibly begin to describe. I found myself nodding to his thoughts more often than not, and the amount of times we actually made the same comment or joke is so high it’s actually embarrassing. I love Dusk. What else can I say? I love the way he sees life. He’s content with his life. He’s happy and feels fulfilled with his uneventful monotonous life. And I love that for him. I’m jealous even.
You see, I was one of those ‘gifted children’. I was told I was meant to achieve great things all my life because I was so smart because I was so talented. So I dreamt big, and then those big dreams shattered one after the other. I was stuck, jobless, penniless, living with my parents, and seeing everyone move forward and leave me behind. There’s a Taylor Swift song about this but that’s not the point I’m trying to make.
Dusk’s whole life changed after his accident but he never wished to die because of that. I remember reading that part and wondering how he did it, how he could still have the will to carry on living after such a thing. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the expression ‘aurea mediocritas’. It’s an expression used in literature and philosophy that refers to finding fulfillment by being in the middle. I never got it because I was taught that being in the middle meant being a failure, and I wasn’t allowed to fail at any cost. But I get it now when I see Dusk. His life is nothing to write home about and, to some, it would seem like he’s a loser. But he likes his life, he’s satisfied with living a mediocre existence, and I can’t highlight enough how much I think mediocrity has a positive meaning.
Of course, Rae didn’t get this at first. But he fell in love with Dusk’s life, just as much as I did. I’m not going to say he’d be willing to burn the whole world for Dusk because I know Rae wouldn’t like me using that expression, but he’d be willing to suffer for Dusk’s sake, and that’s one of the most beautiful love gestures I can think of. Rae chose many times to be in pain to give Dusk a few moment of reprieve, because even though Dusk’s chronic pain would never go away, it didn’t mean every second of his life had to be defined by it. Taking Dusk’s pain away for a few seconds so he could sit down without wincing, or a few minutes so he could breathe, or a few hours so he could sleep without the pain waking him up in the middle of the night, Rae’s love is just selfless like that. After all, Rae knew he could hold his pain, so why not holding Dusk’s as well? There’s no need for Dusk to suffer when Rae could suffer for both of them. That’s Rae loving Dusk, destructive but pure and beautiful.
And I can’t mention Rae without talking about his gut-wrenching backstory. I knew it was going to make me tear up, and it didn’t disappoint. The way Rae’s dysphoria was portrayed when he was a human is one of the best things I’ve read lately. It’s not pretty or melancholic, it’s violent, raw, ugly. Rae’s dysphoria makes him want to hurt others -and himself in the process. It’s a reality of the trans experience we never want to discuss because it’s not pretty, so I’m glad Vee had the guts to write Rae the way they did. Pain doesn’t turn us into good people, it just hurts us. Rae wasn’t a good person (this doesn’t mean he was a bad person), he simply was in pain, and I can’t help but wonder how many trans people throughout history suffered without even understanding the source of their pain and did terrible things in an attempt to make it stop. I wonder how many of them were taken advantage of just like Rae, and if they ever got the happy endings they deserved, not because they were good, but because it wasn’t their fault.
There are so many aspects of the book I wish I could write about, but there’s not enough space for that, so let me talk about the love story real quick. Rae and Dusk are made for one another. I love the way they’re constantly trying to out-brat each other in a way that shows they found someone to match their freak. I was anxious about the sexual scenes since the ones in Tied to the Waves triggered me a little bit, but I can say I loved every single one in Tied to Hell. I wasn’t expecting a kink fest, but these bitches are kinkier than they think and I’m here for it. Honestly, I’ve read books sold as kinky less kinky than these two motherfuckers. Great experience, I’d totally recommend.
And last but not least, Jonah. If you haven’t read Tied to Heaven, I don’t know what you’re waiting for because it’s one of the greatest books ever written. Am I biased because the book is about a non-binary individual (who happens to be a swiftie) with religious trauma? Maybe, but I don’t care. The thing is that I was exhilarated to see Jonah again. He was so cute and I’m so happy things with his angel are going well. I need more Jonah in my life.
Finally, I just want to say I loved this book. It made me laugh. It made me cry (I’m looking at you, chapter 39 when the truth about Dusk’s uncle is revealed and Dusk reveals to his family that he feels he’s a burden and they will abandon him eventually because he doesn’t deserve to have them in his life). But, arguably the most important thing, it made me feel empty once I finished it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
Delightful, heartfelt and exciting.
This one is for the monster romance lovers who enjoy a story dripping with many many things, including sarcasm and a healthy dose of angst.
By the guitar scene, Rae and Dusk had me in a chokehold, and from the very start I was head over heels for Juniper.
The spice was delicious, the narration snarky and sarcastic, and the love interest is perhaps the cutest sweetest character, or vying for that spot alongside Juniper and Echo, anyway.
I will certainly be reading more of this author’s collection!
Saying I devoured this book would be an understatement.
** I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy. I leave this review freely and all opinions are my own **
This one is for the monster romance lovers who enjoy a story dripping with many many things, including sarcasm and a healthy dose of angst.
By the guitar scene, Rae and Dusk had me in a chokehold, and from the very start I was head over heels for Juniper.
The spice was delicious, the narration snarky and sarcastic, and the love interest is perhaps the cutest sweetest character, or vying for that spot alongside Juniper and Echo, anyway.
I will certainly be reading more of this author’s collection!
Saying I devoured this book would be an understatement.
** I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy. I leave this review freely and all opinions are my own **
July 6, 2025
Vee Debras does a fantastic job of writing characters that are hard to love, but you still want to root for them.
This isn't your typical romance. You've got two characters with extremely tough pasts. The way their romance grows feels like a natural development for who these two are.
I can't wait to read more from Vee. I love the world building they've done, the friendships/found family we get to follow, and the love stories that are hard won.
This isn't your typical romance. You've got two characters with extremely tough pasts. The way their romance grows feels like a natural development for who these two are.
I can't wait to read more from Vee. I love the world building they've done, the friendships/found family we get to follow, and the love stories that are hard won.
June 24, 2025
Tied to Hell is the second book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series. Though best enjoyed after the first book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series, it can be read as a standalone. This is the story of Dusk who suffers chronic pain and Rae a demon willing to make a deal. This was such a great story. It made me cry several times but it also made me smile. I loved the tail play also. I loved all the characters and the snark between them. I would definitely recommend this book and series.
June 27, 2025
I was so eager for this second book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series and it absolutely did not disappoint. Debras is fast becoming a favourite when it comes to depicting the messiness of humans in realistic situations and all wrapped up in a delightful monster-y world. In Tied to Hell we meet Dusk, best friend to Ness from Book 1 and the demon that takes a shine to him and makes a deal to possess his body for half the day for seven weeks in exchange for a favour.
This book utilises many romance tropes but also manages to colour outside the lines in really interesting and complex ways. In particular, I appreciate how much Debras’ spotlights what we would recognize as “unlikeable” characters and yet forces the reader to really sit with their situations. Dealing with chronic pain that is a result of an accident he was in as a teenager, Dusk is abrasive, angry, oozing sarcasm and carrying a lot of undealt with guilt about needing help and support. He is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a content character and despite all of this, I found myself rooting for his well being. It was an up close and personal look into the life of someone who is always in pain, and who has been masking his fear of being left behind and his guilt at holding everyone in his life back (in his mind), with indifference and pithy comebacks.
Dusk’s love story is also far from conventional, and especially for fans of the first book, Rae is the polar opposite of Echo. The demon matches Dusk’s sarcasm, pushes every single one of his buttons, is at times reckless with his body and, on the surface, seems like the worst possible match for Dusk. And yet, Debras makes this love story work. There is a devotion and an intimacy that the author explores, particularly through the device of possession and body sharing, that really gives this book an edge and while challenging in some ways, one I deeply enjoyed reading. I also really loved the way Rae’s journey with his transness and, in general, how the theme of bodies was explored in this book and it is one I will be mulling over for a long time. As someone who does not experience body dysphoria or disability/chronic pain, I am grateful for books like this that require me to sit with these characters and their realities.
I also really loved how the love story in this novel was not just between Dusk and Rae, but also between Dusk and his family, his friends, and perhaps most importantly, his love story with himself. There are some beautifully tender scenes where Dusk has to lay down these massive weights he has been carrying and understand that his loved ones do not see him as a burden and find joy in supporting him. These scenes were so poignant and hurt in all the best ways.
I highly recommend this book for folks who enjoy being challenged by characters, and who like to root for the ones the world likes to label as difficult. Their stories matter and their realities deserve to be main narratives. Congratulations to Vee Debras on another 5-star read!
CWs: chronic pain; external and internalized ableism; descriptions of a car accident (in the past); mentions of drug use and drug overdose (in the past); mentions of past SA (of a side character); mentions of past bullying; some gallows humour that includes mentions of suicide; transphobia; violence against a pregnant person, leading to a miscarriage; tampering of medication (by the love interest).
CNs: This is the second book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series featuring an Achillean romance between a trans demon and a human who experiences chronic pain and walks with a crutch. Vee Debras also has a free novella, Tied to Heaven, available with a newsletter signup, that is not entirely necessary to read this book, but would make some of the events of Tied to Hell more enjoyable. I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
This book utilises many romance tropes but also manages to colour outside the lines in really interesting and complex ways. In particular, I appreciate how much Debras’ spotlights what we would recognize as “unlikeable” characters and yet forces the reader to really sit with their situations. Dealing with chronic pain that is a result of an accident he was in as a teenager, Dusk is abrasive, angry, oozing sarcasm and carrying a lot of undealt with guilt about needing help and support. He is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a content character and despite all of this, I found myself rooting for his well being. It was an up close and personal look into the life of someone who is always in pain, and who has been masking his fear of being left behind and his guilt at holding everyone in his life back (in his mind), with indifference and pithy comebacks.
Dusk’s love story is also far from conventional, and especially for fans of the first book, Rae is the polar opposite of Echo. The demon matches Dusk’s sarcasm, pushes every single one of his buttons, is at times reckless with his body and, on the surface, seems like the worst possible match for Dusk. And yet, Debras makes this love story work. There is a devotion and an intimacy that the author explores, particularly through the device of possession and body sharing, that really gives this book an edge and while challenging in some ways, one I deeply enjoyed reading. I also really loved the way Rae’s journey with his transness and, in general, how the theme of bodies was explored in this book and it is one I will be mulling over for a long time. As someone who does not experience body dysphoria or disability/chronic pain, I am grateful for books like this that require me to sit with these characters and their realities.
I also really loved how the love story in this novel was not just between Dusk and Rae, but also between Dusk and his family, his friends, and perhaps most importantly, his love story with himself. There are some beautifully tender scenes where Dusk has to lay down these massive weights he has been carrying and understand that his loved ones do not see him as a burden and find joy in supporting him. These scenes were so poignant and hurt in all the best ways.
I highly recommend this book for folks who enjoy being challenged by characters, and who like to root for the ones the world likes to label as difficult. Their stories matter and their realities deserve to be main narratives. Congratulations to Vee Debras on another 5-star read!
CWs: chronic pain; external and internalized ableism; descriptions of a car accident (in the past); mentions of drug use and drug overdose (in the past); mentions of past SA (of a side character); mentions of past bullying; some gallows humour that includes mentions of suicide; transphobia; violence against a pregnant person, leading to a miscarriage; tampering of medication (by the love interest).
CNs: This is the second book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series featuring an Achillean romance between a trans demon and a human who experiences chronic pain and walks with a crutch. Vee Debras also has a free novella, Tied to Heaven, available with a newsletter signup, that is not entirely necessary to read this book, but would make some of the events of Tied to Hell more enjoyable. I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
July 10, 2025
Tied to Hell is the second book in Vee Debras's Monsters of Brimrey Island series. Although it could be read as a standalone, I think it would be best enjoyed after reading Tied to the Waves. Here's what you can expect from Dusk and Rae:
❤️ MM monster romance
❤️ First person single point of view
❤️ Guaranteed happily ever after
❤️ Open door spice
❤️ Transmasc main character
❤️ Demon and human
❤️ Lots of banter and angst
❤️ Chronic pain representation
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note that this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
Okay, this book blew me away! I loved everything about it, including the ending. It's a bit unconventional, but it completely makes sense for the characters. The storyline took lots of twists and turns I wasn't expecting, but Vee did an incredible job at weaving together a story filled with love, spice, heartbreak, trauma, and healing. The author also does a great job at world-building, which is so important in paranormal or monster romances. It's really cool how all authors can have their individual takes on the "traditional" monsters (such as demons in this case), but it's important their world is built clearly along with it. Rae is such a different demon than any I've read before, and for the majority of the book, he remains an elusive character despite the fact he's sharing a body with Dusk.
And speaking of Dusk, his character growth was sensational. After an accident left him disabled at 17, eight years later he relies on his mom and sister Juniper and feels like he's taking from them and giving nothing in return. His chronic pain representation was so raw and gritty with no sugarcoating, I really appreciated it. We go through a few different flare-ups with him, which isn't something that's always represented in this space. And it's important to note that his relationship with Rae doesn't magically cure his chronic pain. You'll have to read the book, but I like how it was addressed and ultimately concluded. His sister Juniper is an amazing character, and I'll be counting the days down until we get her book. Although this book was quite angsty, we get lots of healing. Dusk's journey was emotional, as was his relationship with Rae. I enjoyed seeing Ness and Dusk work on their relationship, and I love this blended family they're creating. The spice, similarly to the first book, was page-melting!
This was such a cool monster romance, and I'm thrilled to see what Vee has in store for us next!
❤️ MM monster romance
❤️ First person single point of view
❤️ Guaranteed happily ever after
❤️ Open door spice
❤️ Transmasc main character
❤️ Demon and human
❤️ Lots of banter and angst
❤️ Chronic pain representation
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note that this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
Okay, this book blew me away! I loved everything about it, including the ending. It's a bit unconventional, but it completely makes sense for the characters. The storyline took lots of twists and turns I wasn't expecting, but Vee did an incredible job at weaving together a story filled with love, spice, heartbreak, trauma, and healing. The author also does a great job at world-building, which is so important in paranormal or monster romances. It's really cool how all authors can have their individual takes on the "traditional" monsters (such as demons in this case), but it's important their world is built clearly along with it. Rae is such a different demon than any I've read before, and for the majority of the book, he remains an elusive character despite the fact he's sharing a body with Dusk.
And speaking of Dusk, his character growth was sensational. After an accident left him disabled at 17, eight years later he relies on his mom and sister Juniper and feels like he's taking from them and giving nothing in return. His chronic pain representation was so raw and gritty with no sugarcoating, I really appreciated it. We go through a few different flare-ups with him, which isn't something that's always represented in this space. And it's important to note that his relationship with Rae doesn't magically cure his chronic pain. You'll have to read the book, but I like how it was addressed and ultimately concluded. His sister Juniper is an amazing character, and I'll be counting the days down until we get her book. Although this book was quite angsty, we get lots of healing. Dusk's journey was emotional, as was his relationship with Rae. I enjoyed seeing Ness and Dusk work on their relationship, and I love this blended family they're creating. The spice, similarly to the first book, was page-melting!
This was such a cool monster romance, and I'm thrilled to see what Vee has in store for us next!
June 28, 2025
I kindly received a free arc copy and this is my review.
In short: You may come for the monster sex but you will stay for the very well written characters with deeply layered emotions.
First of all: this is the second book to the series Monsters of Brimrey Island (and hopefully many more will follow) and you can certainly read it without having read the first book (Debras has also written a short story set in this world that you get if you subscribe to their newsletter). I would still recommend to read the books in the release order.
This book is about Dusk's story. He, an employ in a small store in his mid-twenties, had nearly 10 years ago an accident which left him with reduced mobility and instead with highly increased medical debts and worse with chronic pain. He lives together with his older sister Juniper that has returned to the island to help him managing the day-to-day life. One day a demon approaches Dusk offering him a deal. He will fulfil one of Dusk's whishes only requesting to possess Dusk's body for 10 hours daily over the span of seven weeks. That much to the general setting of this book.
Vee Debras confirmed in this book what I already thought after I had finished the first book. They are absolutely fantastic at conveying emotions. Not one thought or dialog felt constructed, every emotion was from the perspective of the person perfectly understandable and relatable.
We get a very detailed and close look at what the life of a disabled person with chronic pain looks like. Already for this insight I highly recommend this book. Dusk is in his explanations and memories very honest, without any sugar coating. We see how pain affects his life, how the fear of flare-ups caused by straining his body has an impact on what he wants and allows himself to do. The choice of pain treatment is also an important point. And next pain mobility is his next and big concern. Straining muscles while sitting in a not perfectly ideal position will mean that he will pay for it the next day. Mentally there is also a lot going on. He feels guilty depending heavily on his family and also is scared to lose those that he loves the most. And as if this all wouldn't be enough the society pities his condition but at the same time expects from him to still be mostly functional.
Always a nice, attentive guy that doesn't complain. So that no one does have to feel uncomfortable. And Dusk has learned how to put this mask on. Outside of his work he pretends that sarcasm is his main form of communication. If you enjoy good banter you have picked up the right book. The banter between him and Juniper or him and Rae (the demon) is very entertaining.
Debras has promised us angst and angst we get. Things are never as easy as one expects and hopes. Emotionally it's going to be a rollercoaster. They will us also give a lot of healing. I think this book is about love, unconditional love. And unconditional love is something Dusk's family (by blood and by choice) has to spare.
And the spice? Debras is very obviously highly creative and let us be honest, Rae is stupidly hot (I just say tail *clears throat*), what also goes for Dusk, even if he needs a bit of persuasion to believe it.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first one of the series (which doesn't happen often tbh) and I certainly will immediately grab whatever Vee Debras will write as next.
In short: You may come for the monster sex but you will stay for the very well written characters with deeply layered emotions.
First of all: this is the second book to the series Monsters of Brimrey Island (and hopefully many more will follow) and you can certainly read it without having read the first book (Debras has also written a short story set in this world that you get if you subscribe to their newsletter). I would still recommend to read the books in the release order.
This book is about Dusk's story. He, an employ in a small store in his mid-twenties, had nearly 10 years ago an accident which left him with reduced mobility and instead with highly increased medical debts and worse with chronic pain. He lives together with his older sister Juniper that has returned to the island to help him managing the day-to-day life. One day a demon approaches Dusk offering him a deal. He will fulfil one of Dusk's whishes only requesting to possess Dusk's body for 10 hours daily over the span of seven weeks. That much to the general setting of this book.
Vee Debras confirmed in this book what I already thought after I had finished the first book. They are absolutely fantastic at conveying emotions. Not one thought or dialog felt constructed, every emotion was from the perspective of the person perfectly understandable and relatable.
We get a very detailed and close look at what the life of a disabled person with chronic pain looks like. Already for this insight I highly recommend this book. Dusk is in his explanations and memories very honest, without any sugar coating. We see how pain affects his life, how the fear of flare-ups caused by straining his body has an impact on what he wants and allows himself to do. The choice of pain treatment is also an important point. And next pain mobility is his next and big concern. Straining muscles while sitting in a not perfectly ideal position will mean that he will pay for it the next day. Mentally there is also a lot going on. He feels guilty depending heavily on his family and also is scared to lose those that he loves the most. And as if this all wouldn't be enough the society pities his condition but at the same time expects from him to still be mostly functional.
Always a nice, attentive guy that doesn't complain. So that no one does have to feel uncomfortable. And Dusk has learned how to put this mask on. Outside of his work he pretends that sarcasm is his main form of communication. If you enjoy good banter you have picked up the right book. The banter between him and Juniper or him and Rae (the demon) is very entertaining.
Debras has promised us angst and angst we get. Things are never as easy as one expects and hopes. Emotionally it's going to be a rollercoaster. They will us also give a lot of healing. I think this book is about love, unconditional love. And unconditional love is something Dusk's family (by blood and by choice) has to spare.
And the spice? Debras is very obviously highly creative and let us be honest, Rae is stupidly hot (I just say tail *clears throat*), what also goes for Dusk, even if he needs a bit of persuasion to believe it.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first one of the series (which doesn't happen often tbh) and I certainly will immediately grab whatever Vee Debras will write as next.
July 9, 2025
Thank you to Vee for the ARC!
I enjoyed this installment in the series just as much as the last one. Vee does a great job of creating characters with strong narrative voices, which is something I appreciate (and find necessary) for first-person perspectives.
Character relationships were again a strong point for the book— Dusk and Juniper’s sibling relationship feels very authentic, as does their functionally dysfunctional found family they’ve created with Ness (and some new additions towards the end!). Even Dusk and Rae bantering from the get-go felt natural, given how those two are as people.
Dusk, a lot like Ness, was one of those characters you just want to reach through the screen to shake some sense into. I was glad to see his progression through various feelings about himself and his disability, and especially glad to see a resolution that involved him accepting that his loved ones *wanted* to help him rather than being obligated to.
I once again loved the portrayal of the various trans characters, but to focus on Rae— I felt like I could really relate to his experience with his gender, to the delicate, sometimes blasé, but ultimately self identity-important way you make your gender *yours.* Though it wasn’t a focal point, per se, I feel like it really encapsulated his overall attitudes towards, well, everything.
I did find myself wishing that we saw more of Dusk and Rae’s “good” moments to balance out the times where they were at odds— we leaned so heavily into Dusk’s self-hatred spirals and times where Rae would refuse to engage that I sometimes wanted a bit more substance to all of the in-between conversations they were having to build up their relationship. Even so, I will say that the emotional climax towards the end where they finally lay everything on the table had an EXCELLENT payoff (when I tell you that Rae’s confession nearly had me weeping…). I absolutely flew through reading that section, and the way they resolved that climatic moment felt imperfect in a way that was perfect for these two characters.
And, of course, I would be remiss not to mention that Vee once again wrote some of the best, steamiest sex scenes I’ve read (seriously, they’re really good at it). Dusk and Rae are nasty in the best kind of way.
Again, a very solid, enjoyable read from Vee with a great balance of fun and emotional moments. Can’t wait to see what comes next from the Brimrey universe!
I enjoyed this installment in the series just as much as the last one. Vee does a great job of creating characters with strong narrative voices, which is something I appreciate (and find necessary) for first-person perspectives.
Character relationships were again a strong point for the book— Dusk and Juniper’s sibling relationship feels very authentic, as does their functionally dysfunctional found family they’ve created with Ness (and some new additions towards the end!). Even Dusk and Rae bantering from the get-go felt natural, given how those two are as people.
Dusk, a lot like Ness, was one of those characters you just want to reach through the screen to shake some sense into. I was glad to see his progression through various feelings about himself and his disability, and especially glad to see a resolution that involved him accepting that his loved ones *wanted* to help him rather than being obligated to.
I once again loved the portrayal of the various trans characters, but to focus on Rae— I felt like I could really relate to his experience with his gender, to the delicate, sometimes blasé, but ultimately self identity-important way you make your gender *yours.* Though it wasn’t a focal point, per se, I feel like it really encapsulated his overall attitudes towards, well, everything.
I did find myself wishing that we saw more of Dusk and Rae’s “good” moments to balance out the times where they were at odds— we leaned so heavily into Dusk’s self-hatred spirals and times where Rae would refuse to engage that I sometimes wanted a bit more substance to all of the in-between conversations they were having to build up their relationship. Even so, I will say that the emotional climax towards the end where they finally lay everything on the table had an EXCELLENT payoff (when I tell you that Rae’s confession nearly had me weeping…). I absolutely flew through reading that section, and the way they resolved that climatic moment felt imperfect in a way that was perfect for these two characters.
And, of course, I would be remiss not to mention that Vee once again wrote some of the best, steamiest sex scenes I’ve read (seriously, they’re really good at it). Dusk and Rae are nasty in the best kind of way.
Again, a very solid, enjoyable read from Vee with a great balance of fun and emotional moments. Can’t wait to see what comes next from the Brimrey universe!
September 22, 2025
Came for the monster smut, left with feelings...
I have not read the first book in the series, but I felt everything you need to understand this book is contained in this book.
> RE: Monster sex. Good monster sex, less kinky than I expected (hoped?) going in, but makes sense given the characters involved. I do think this book does a good job of depicting a sexual relationship's interplay with other aspects of the relationship.
> Dusk and Rae have lovely banter, if you're into bitchy, depressed men with mid-to-low self esteem.
> It felt like a divergence from the usual "demon with ulterior motive seduces main character" trope, wherein the demon pretends to be attracted to the main character as part of their schemes, and later accidentally falls for them. Although Rae did have an ulterior motive for striking the deal in the first place, his seduction of Dusk did not seem to.
> Although I'm not yet physically disabled, Dusk's feelings about burdening others are still relatable, in regards to my mental health. And his self-deprecating thoughts. Sometimes I thought, "Yeah dude, I've had the exact same sequence of thoughts".
> I found the book to be specific to this cultural moment in the ways that the characters talk and act. It pushes against the broader societal reluctance to take seriously the way young people today act and interact, and the reluctance to accept value in fictional stories that take place here and now (or, in a here-and-now-adjacent world).
> As a trans person, I just like how trans people were done (?) in this book. I found Rae's gender feelings very compelling. I absolutely loved the descriptions of his feelings about men. I liked Dusk's visceral reactions. The grand reveal(s) of the truth of Rae's situation was sickening (in a good way). Devastating in both a trans way and a human way.
> Personally, I never found myself doubting the, let's say, moral quality (whether good or bad) of Rae's character. There weren't really moments where I wondered, is he a good guy or a bad guy? Don't know if it was intended to be unclear or not. ("Good" and "bad" used here for lack of better words.) YMMV
> I would love to read more on Dusk's process of un-learning how his ex made him feel about his body. Is anyone writing fanfic?
I have not read the first book in the series, but I felt everything you need to understand this book is contained in this book.
> RE: Monster sex. Good monster sex, less kinky than I expected (hoped?) going in, but makes sense given the characters involved. I do think this book does a good job of depicting a sexual relationship's interplay with other aspects of the relationship.
> Dusk and Rae have lovely banter, if you're into bitchy, depressed men with mid-to-low self esteem.
> It felt like a divergence from the usual "demon with ulterior motive seduces main character" trope, wherein the demon pretends to be attracted to the main character as part of their schemes, and later accidentally falls for them. Although Rae did have an ulterior motive for striking the deal in the first place, his seduction of Dusk did not seem to.
> Although I'm not yet physically disabled, Dusk's feelings about burdening others are still relatable, in regards to my mental health. And his self-deprecating thoughts. Sometimes I thought, "Yeah dude, I've had the exact same sequence of thoughts".
> I found the book to be specific to this cultural moment in the ways that the characters talk and act. It pushes against the broader societal reluctance to take seriously the way young people today act and interact, and the reluctance to accept value in fictional stories that take place here and now (or, in a here-and-now-adjacent world).
> As a trans person, I just like how trans people were done (?) in this book. I found Rae's gender feelings very compelling. I absolutely loved the descriptions of his feelings about men. I liked Dusk's visceral reactions. The grand reveal(s) of the truth of Rae's situation was sickening (in a good way). Devastating in both a trans way and a human way.
> Personally, I never found myself doubting the, let's say, moral quality (whether good or bad) of Rae's character. There weren't really moments where I wondered, is he a good guy or a bad guy? Don't know if it was intended to be unclear or not. ("Good" and "bad" used here for lack of better words.) YMMV
> I would love to read more on Dusk's process of un-learning how his ex made him feel about his body. Is anyone writing fanfic?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2025
Stunningly beautiful in all its pain and anguish
If you've read Tied To The Waves, you've met Dusk but you couldn't possibly have any inkling of what to expect from his story. Full of physical pain, mental anguish, self-loathing, anger simultaneously pushing people away while being an outward people-pleaser, our Dusk keeps everything walled up inside him while he struggles to get through every day without his body giving up on him.
Vee once again doesn't shy away from the hard truths. Their no holds barred depiction of living with chronic pain gave me, a fit and healthy person, an understanding of just how debilitating it must actually be to cope with everyday tasks, and how even lying in bed can be just as difficult as moving about.
I won't give anything away about Dusk and his demon, but Vee used their own unique voice to create an original and highly effective take on possession that allowed us see more of both characters than they bargained for.
I was completely absorbed in every page, every line, every word of this remarkable love story. It is, of course, a fantasy but I believed in it. It felt real and possible and true. Heart-rending but ultimately uplifting, it is a study of how small but also how big our lives are. We are not just ourselves but how we affect and interact with others. Our loved ones are part of us and make our lives richer, as we make their lives richer too.
The characters from the free prequel, Tied To Heaven, appear here, as do Ness and and my sweet Echo, with Dusk's sister June a mainstay throughout and the book is all the better for their participation.
This series is thought-provoking, riveting, and impossible to forget and Vee should be required reading.
If you've read Tied To The Waves, you've met Dusk but you couldn't possibly have any inkling of what to expect from his story. Full of physical pain, mental anguish, self-loathing, anger simultaneously pushing people away while being an outward people-pleaser, our Dusk keeps everything walled up inside him while he struggles to get through every day without his body giving up on him.
Vee once again doesn't shy away from the hard truths. Their no holds barred depiction of living with chronic pain gave me, a fit and healthy person, an understanding of just how debilitating it must actually be to cope with everyday tasks, and how even lying in bed can be just as difficult as moving about.
I won't give anything away about Dusk and his demon, but Vee used their own unique voice to create an original and highly effective take on possession that allowed us see more of both characters than they bargained for.
I was completely absorbed in every page, every line, every word of this remarkable love story. It is, of course, a fantasy but I believed in it. It felt real and possible and true. Heart-rending but ultimately uplifting, it is a study of how small but also how big our lives are. We are not just ourselves but how we affect and interact with others. Our loved ones are part of us and make our lives richer, as we make their lives richer too.
The characters from the free prequel, Tied To Heaven, appear here, as do Ness and and my sweet Echo, with Dusk's sister June a mainstay throughout and the book is all the better for their participation.
This series is thought-provoking, riveting, and impossible to forget and Vee should be required reading.
June 27, 2025
Gritty and complex
This book was just *chef kisses* - so good! Vee Debras is definitely an author to watch. All three books of theirs in this series have been spectacular with great writing and emotional depth.
Characters: Single POV through Dusk, a man with chronic pain and depression who was introduced in the previous book. He is interesting and complex but Rae the demon steals the show! I don't love single POV but it works for this to leave Rae shrouded in mystery. Vee still made his character real and compelling through Dusk's eyes.
Rae is as gritty and seductive as Echo was genuine and sweet. Dusk is as morose as Ness, if not more so, in a different way. The contrast and similarities between the two books/relationships is interesting and complementary
Spice: slow build, medium spice. Smaller top with physical disability; larger sassy dominant power bottom. There are only a few sex scenes and only two of them that felt super detailed and hot to me. But the dynamic is still scorching.
Trigger/content warning related to spice: I've read quite a few books with trans characters and this is only the second I've come across where they enjoy front hole penetration. If this type of sex is a trigger, I recommend skipping the sex scenes or the whole book. Take care
Overall: exactly what I've come to expect from this burgeoning author. Highly recommend!
** This is an ARC review
This book was just *chef kisses* - so good! Vee Debras is definitely an author to watch. All three books of theirs in this series have been spectacular with great writing and emotional depth.
Characters: Single POV through Dusk, a man with chronic pain and depression who was introduced in the previous book. He is interesting and complex but Rae the demon steals the show! I don't love single POV but it works for this to leave Rae shrouded in mystery. Vee still made his character real and compelling through Dusk's eyes.
Rae is as gritty and seductive as Echo was genuine and sweet. Dusk is as morose as Ness, if not more so, in a different way. The contrast and similarities between the two books/relationships is interesting and complementary
Spice: slow build, medium spice. Smaller top with physical disability; larger sassy dominant power bottom. There are only a few sex scenes and only two of them that felt super detailed and hot to me. But the dynamic is still scorching.
Trigger/content warning related to spice: I've read quite a few books with trans characters and this is only the second I've come across where they enjoy front hole penetration. If this type of sex is a trigger, I recommend skipping the sex scenes or the whole book. Take care
Overall: exactly what I've come to expect from this burgeoning author. Highly recommend!
** This is an ARC review
June 26, 2025
This is one of the first books in a long time that has made me immediately want to start over and read it again from the beginning. The twist near the end was well done and made me immediately rethink a chunk of the story.
I adore Rae and Dusk's banter and the spiteful ways they snipe at each other in the beginning of the story and how it slowly morphs to more trust and care as their relationship deepens. There was some miscommunication between them and between Dusk and his family, but it was realistic and well-earned rather than being forced for drama.
This book has some of the best, most realistic descriptions of what it's like to live with disability I've ever seen. The way I FELT Dusk's relief at simply being able to relax from the constant tension of pain and finally get some sleep almost brought me to tears... Chef's kiss.
This book does what Fantasy and Sci-fi are meant to do; it takes a fantastical setting and uses it to explore stories that reveal our shared humanity. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, but especially to anyone who has a disability and wants to actually see their stories reflected in media.
I laughed, I cried, I felt truly SEEN while reading this book and I can't recommend it highly enough.
*ARC review, all opinions are my own.
I adore Rae and Dusk's banter and the spiteful ways they snipe at each other in the beginning of the story and how it slowly morphs to more trust and care as their relationship deepens. There was some miscommunication between them and between Dusk and his family, but it was realistic and well-earned rather than being forced for drama.
This book has some of the best, most realistic descriptions of what it's like to live with disability I've ever seen. The way I FELT Dusk's relief at simply being able to relax from the constant tension of pain and finally get some sleep almost brought me to tears... Chef's kiss.
This book does what Fantasy and Sci-fi are meant to do; it takes a fantastical setting and uses it to explore stories that reveal our shared humanity. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, but especially to anyone who has a disability and wants to actually see their stories reflected in media.
I laughed, I cried, I felt truly SEEN while reading this book and I can't recommend it highly enough.
*ARC review, all opinions are my own.
June 25, 2025
This is an incredible book, and so well written.
Dusk’s physical reality is brutal. Vee Debras describes his experiences with harsh honesty, without exaggeration, and with a kind of dignity - despite the fact that so much of his life involves indignities.
Here’s the thing. I despise artificial, manufactured trauma (traumatic events, trauma responses, etc.). Those are the books I regret reading. The last thing I need in a stressful life is a freaking book giving me nightmares. Nevertheless, some of the best books I’ve ever read have some elements of trauma. I think Tied to Hell by Vee Debras is one of them.
I guess what defines “good” trauma (that is, worth reading) is when it’s real (ok yeah, it’s fiction; maybe fantasy, speculative, mystical or mythical beings, etc.). But the story is real, the characters’ experiences are real; the trauma is integral.
Tied to Hell is also one of the rare books that made me laugh out loud, and did so during an otherwise shitty day. (Ness, romance novel… IYKYK.)
I look forward to Vee Debra’s’ next book.
Dusk’s physical reality is brutal. Vee Debras describes his experiences with harsh honesty, without exaggeration, and with a kind of dignity - despite the fact that so much of his life involves indignities.
Here’s the thing. I despise artificial, manufactured trauma (traumatic events, trauma responses, etc.). Those are the books I regret reading. The last thing I need in a stressful life is a freaking book giving me nightmares. Nevertheless, some of the best books I’ve ever read have some elements of trauma. I think Tied to Hell by Vee Debras is one of them.
I guess what defines “good” trauma (that is, worth reading) is when it’s real (ok yeah, it’s fiction; maybe fantasy, speculative, mystical or mythical beings, etc.). But the story is real, the characters’ experiences are real; the trauma is integral.
Tied to Hell is also one of the rare books that made me laugh out loud, and did so during an otherwise shitty day. (Ness, romance novel… IYKYK.)
I look forward to Vee Debra’s’ next book.
June 27, 2025
Wow, Vee Debras really knows how to express the emotions and fears of a chronically ill/chronic pain sufferer. They absolutely gutted me a couple times with how it felt like the pulled Dusk’s feelings right out of my brain.
This book was absolutely unique. I’ve never read a book with this type of monster situation. It was intriguing the entire way through and had me hoping and guessing for certain twists. Vee didn’t disappoint but they also didn’t do what I expected. Which made this book refreshing and special. I can’t really say what, without burying it under a spoiler tag. But you should definitely read it!
Honorable mention to the ✨tail✨ it was a MC all on its own.
I admit that I felt a little confused during parts of this book. I hadn’t read the previous book, but I still managed. It just seemed like some situations were talked around, so I was never quite sure if I understood the source of issues.
I adore Juniper and hope she gets her own story one today too! I wish I was a sibling as great as her.
I finished reading this over 24 hours ago and I’m still struggling to explain my feelings about this book. Just know I LOVED it!!!
Also, the tidbit at the end? Dying for the next book now!
I’m gonna go cry & listen to Hozier now. Kisses!
This book was absolutely unique. I’ve never read a book with this type of monster situation. It was intriguing the entire way through and had me hoping and guessing for certain twists. Vee didn’t disappoint but they also didn’t do what I expected. Which made this book refreshing and special. I can’t really say what, without burying it under a spoiler tag. But you should definitely read it!
Honorable mention to the ✨tail✨ it was a MC all on its own.
I admit that I felt a little confused during parts of this book. I hadn’t read the previous book, but I still managed. It just seemed like some situations were talked around, so I was never quite sure if I understood the source of issues.
I adore Juniper and hope she gets her own story one today too! I wish I was a sibling as great as her.
I finished reading this over 24 hours ago and I’m still struggling to explain my feelings about this book. Just know I LOVED it!!!
Also, the tidbit at the end? Dying for the next book now!
I’m gonna go cry & listen to Hozier now. Kisses!
June 27, 2025
Such a brilliant read. I think what really made this storyline so good was the brilliant banter between Rae and Dusk. The "relationship" development between them was just so interesting, amusing and oh so spicy! Plenty of emotional moments too as Dusk has so much anxiety and so many issues to deal with and overcome! Compelling read, loved it.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
June 27, 2025
Dusk and Rae's journey was an emotional rollercoaster. Dusk's life was a perpetual grind of chronic pain and depression, his journey was a fantastic look at how we see ourselves isn't necessarily how others view us. He was so sure that he was a burden to his loved ones but they didn't see it that way. I really enjoyed watching his story, it's a great addition to the series.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
June 29, 2025
I thought this story was wonderfully unique. It gets repetitive reading the same cliches over and over. But that was definitely not a problem with this book! I love that there was representation for chronic illness and who doesn’t love an LGBTQ+ romance?
October 17, 2025
i cried 5 times while reading this book. highly recommend.
July 25, 2025
Alright so when did you say it was my turn to be possessed?? Cause I'm free whenever and I want my own Rae thanks xxx
God I loved Dusk's story more than I though was possible (and I already did loved him to death in Tied to the Waves), he's the funniest narrator ever and I found myself laughing aloud multiple times (and crying and then laughing again). If someone can make a demon regret a deal, that's our boy! And don't get me started on said demon cause I could go on and on forever about how much I adored him from the very beginning. He does some questionable stuff at first sure but I mean he's a demon what did you expect?? And the more I learnt about him, the more I felt in love 🥺
Also shoutout to the sibling dynamic with June cause it was pure gold, and seeing Ness and Echo through Dusk's eyes *cheff kiss*. I honestly can't get enought of these characters and they feel like actual people—like old friends.
Vee has a way of making the most special stories and bring their characters to life. It's amazing, the way they choose the perfect word at the perfect moment to make you feel so! many! emotions! Everyone feels so complex, so real, so alive and coherent. I can't wait to read their future books cause it seems like everything they write is definitely a 5⭐ read for me <3
God I loved Dusk's story more than I though was possible (and I already did loved him to death in Tied to the Waves), he's the funniest narrator ever and I found myself laughing aloud multiple times (and crying and then laughing again). If someone can make a demon regret a deal, that's our boy! And don't get me started on said demon cause I could go on and on forever about how much I adored him from the very beginning. He does some questionable stuff at first sure but I mean he's a demon what did you expect?? And the more I learnt about him, the more I felt in love 🥺
Also shoutout to the sibling dynamic with June cause it was pure gold, and seeing Ness and Echo through Dusk's eyes *cheff kiss*. I honestly can't get enought of these characters and they feel like actual people—like old friends.
Vee has a way of making the most special stories and bring their characters to life. It's amazing, the way they choose the perfect word at the perfect moment to make you feel so! many! emotions! Everyone feels so complex, so real, so alive and coherent. I can't wait to read their future books cause it seems like everything they write is definitely a 5⭐ read for me <3
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews