Bound by Hearts & Stone: Tales from the Obsidian Mountains

by Lauren Sanatra

In the kingdom of Talero, Evolette has always been alone, surviving in a world that offers her little kindness. But when a run-in with a royal guard leads to her arrest and certain death, fate intervenes. A raid by gargoyles, ancient enemies of humankind, rips through the kingdom, changing everything.

Caught in the chaos, Evolette is trapped in her prison cart, surrounded by flames and destruction. In the midst of the turmoil, Jet, a gargoyle, is drawn to her. Defying his own kind, he makes the dangerous choice to save her, taking her to the Obsidian Mountains, the home of the gargoyles.

Now in a land where humans are enemies, Evolette can’t ignore the undeniable pull she feels toward Jet and his world. As they grow closer, she begins to feel something she’s never known before—belonging.

Though Jet vows to keep her safe, danger still lurks in every corner. Evolette must decide if she can trust her heart and whether the bond she shares with Jet can survive the forces determined to tear them apart.


“Bound by Hearts & Stone” is a gripping tale of forbidden love, unexpected alliances, and the fight for survival in a world where enemies can become protectors and love can conquer all.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Monsters, Forced Proximity, Monster Romance, Audiobook

434 pages, Paperback

Published May 27, 2025

Reviews

[Mikky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like this are dangerous.
They make me believe that love and true yearning actually exist in real life 🥲

This was amazing! It was everything I wanted it to be. It was fluffy with an undercurrent of danger. The care and respect both main characters show each other is chef's kiss.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved listening to this on audiobook !! Forbidden Gargoyle romance with that overprotective vibe, sign me up !! The tension and heat between Jet & Evolette was delicious and I totally devoured this read. I love the strong, silent, broody, overprotectiveness that Jet was giving off that had Evolette falling and it was everything !! This story was really sweet in the best way in a he was going to protect her against every possible hurt and you made you really want to root for their love. I found this such an easy read to enjoy and love. The found family in this was truly enjoyable and I cant wait to read more about each of these fantastic monsters !!!

[Avrial || Bookish.and.blissful · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished thoughts ~

I truest loved this! It is like IPB but make it gargoyles, and I loved that.

Full review to come.

[JensBookishWays]

I couldn’t get into this book. This unfortunately is a DNF at 37%.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Details
Title: Bound by Hearts & Stone
Series: Tales from the Obsidian Mountains
# in series: 1
Author: Lauren Sanatra (She/Her)
Genre: Monster Romantasy
Tropes/Keywords: Caretaking, Feminine-Rage, Forced-Proximity, Golden Retriever MMC Horns, Imprisoned FMC, Protective MMC, Wings
Pages: 436
Main Characters: FMC: Evolette MMC: Jet
POV: Dual 1st person

My Thoughts
Steam: Open door
Spice: 🌶🌶/5
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Review:
This was a fun intro to a new to me Romantasy series. I really felt for the FMC and her struggles, and loved how she got to find a new strength in herself. Our MMC was so sweet and only wanted what would be best for her, whether that means they stayed together or not.

**ALC provided by the author. All thoughts are my own**

Audiobook Details
Narrator(s): Claudia Rivera Tinsley, James Cassidy
Narration Type: Dual narration
Length: 12:52
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Review:
Great narration by both narrators. The main characters and all side characters had individual voices, I was easily able to tell the voices apart.

CW Down Below
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CW: From the book: This story contains content that may be distressing to some readers, including explicit language, graphic v!0lence, m*rder, body mutilation, and discussions of SA

Pregnancy?: No. However, mentions that they would not be able to conceive

Babies/Children?: No

Hashtags: #MonsterRomance #MonsterRomantasy #GargoyleRomance

[Bookishbeach · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
Bound by Hearts and Stone by Lauren Sanatra
Release Date: May 27th, 2025

It’s 2:49 a.m., and I am utterly enchanted. I couldn’t rest until I shared my love for this book while Evolette and Jet are still alive in my heart—and absolutely haunting my thoughts.

Reading Bound by Hearts and Stone feels like being wrapped in the coziest blanket while rain taps at the window and your favorite warm drink is cradled in your hands. It’s comfort and magic, tension and tenderness—an irresistible blend of cozy Romantasy and edge-of-your-seat action, wrapped in a slow burn that simmers and satisfies.

Jet, our MMC, is everything. Protective, respectful, powerful, and loyal with golden retriever energy and a “touch her and perish” attitude that melts your heart rather than chills your bones. The way he sees Evolette? Reverent. Romantic. Real.

Evolette’s journey is just as powerful. Thrust into a new world, navigating the unknown, and discovering a found family she didn’t know she needed—her arc is layered and compelling. I found myself rooting for her at every turn.

The side characters? Onyx and Malone absolutely deserve their own stories. I’m obsessed.

And the chemistry between Evolette and Jet? It's raw, vulnerable, and deeply intimate. Their connection doesn’t just burn—it lingers.

If you’re into lush storytelling, heartfelt romance, and characters who feel like home, this one belongs at the top of your TBR.

Tropes & Themes:
* Forbidden Love
* Golden Retriever MMC
* Found Family
* Stranger in a Strange Land
* Tastefully Done Monster Romance
* Forced Proximity
* Dual POV

I adored this story—and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with it too.

[Nicole H. ✨️nicoledreamsofbooks✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Monster Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
56/125📚

“When there’s no one left to fight back, when no one’s there to speak the truth, it’s easy to rewrite history.”

I haven't read a monster romance in a hot minute and this was soooo good. The world building was made so easy by Lauren that I didn’t have to think too much on it. Evolette is a fierce, relatable heroine and I loved her relationship with Jet - I think what docked a star for me was the amount if times he promises her he will protect her...and then doesn't.

Thank you @laurensanatra.author for the ARC!

You'll love this if you like...
✨️Gargoyles
✨️Found family
💀Touch her and die
✨️Forced proximity
✨️Fated mates
✨️Monster romance

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this a 3.5 stars ( Goodreads get with the times )
If you are up for a monster romance this is for you . it is definitely a slow burn which I love ! I just wish there was a bit more detailed plot and background stores for both the characters . I did really enjoy the story though

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love cozy fantasy and monster romances that are both sweet and spicy, I highly recommend giving Bound by Hearts and Stone a listen!

The banter, chemistry and tension between Evolette and Jet is utter perfection! & I have definitely added Jet to my list of forever book boyfriends. He is so sweet and kind to Evolette, but willing to cut anyone who looks at her the wrong way. *swoon*

Thank you so much Lauren for gifting me a listening copy! I loved this so much!

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- monster romance
- human + gargoyle
- size difference
- forbidden romance
- forced proximity
- touch her and ☠️
- found family
- mate bonds

TW: on page recollection of sexual assualt told by FM (ch 6)

[Kelly||sketchbooksandsoftbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good and fun SOUP.

Review soon

[Dario Pacheco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread Review:

For sure enjoyed the second time around. A tale of finding love in the most unlikely of places. A spicy cozy monster romance that will work its way into your heart. Narrators are amazing and the best way to expiernce this book in my opinion ❤️

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Initial Thoughts
This cover is beautiful and I loved the sound of this! Gargolye romance, count me in! I did realise quite quickly that I was not overly a fan of the male narrator and I think I may have enjoyed this more if I eyeballed it.
Plot
This plot is great, its not drawn out and I loved the elements of danger that Evolette finds herself stuck in throughout! Poor human, gargoyles aren’t kind. BUT her growth is so strong and empowering and I loved that for her, showing them she’s not just a “poor little human.”
Characters
Jett is the perfect cinnamon roll mmc! He cares for her, notices the small things and that just filled my heart with love. Evolette finally experiencing some kind of life, also made me smile. Her wonder at the smallest things.
Recommend
If you enjoy monster romance then you might well enjoy this one.
Narrating
I think personally for me, the narrating just didn’t work. It took me so long to get though because I wasn’t compelled to pick it up. The voices just didn’t call to me.
Overall Wrap up
Please remember that I reviewed this on the audiobook so while I’ll struggled, it may have been different if I eyeballed it because I generally enjoyed the pace and plot of this. But my gosh was they bonking like rabbits towards the end!
Stars & Spice – 3 stars and 3.5 chilli’s.

Book Information – Bound By Hearts And Stone by Lauren Sanatra.

Narrators – Narrated by James Cassidy and Claudia Rivera Tinsley

Genre – Gargoyle romance.

Length of audiobook – 12 hours and 52 minutes – which is 436 pages.

Tropes –
Found family.
Chosen mates.
Gargolye x human.
He falls first.
Slow burn.

Available on Kindle Unlimited – This is available on kindle unlimited.

Available Formats – Available on kindle, audiobook and paperback.

Publishing Information – The audiobook was published on 25th February 2026.

Format in Which I Read – I earballed this one A.K.A audiobook.

Where my copy come From – The author.

POVs – Dual POV – Evolette and Jett.

Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – This is written on a single timeline.

1st or 3rd Person – This is written in first person.

HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – This ends in a HEA.

Series or Standalone – This is a standalone.

Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.

[Claressa Hallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evolette, imprisoned after killing a guard in self-defense, is rescued during a gargoyle raid by Jet. Leaving danger in her own land, Evolette finds herself surrounded by a new threat in the Obsidian Mountains from the gargoyles that view humans as the enemy. Finding solace in Jet's home, and among his friends, Evolette finally feels like she may be home. Can Evolette survive the dangers she encounters to hold on to the love she's found?

This book is a love story between two people that have survived insurmountable trauma. Despite the scars of the past, this unlikely couple finds love. I found it truly beautiful that both Evolette and Jet must learn to trust each other, but also learn their own self-worth. Neither finds themselves worthy of love, but the journey they take to find each other was enjoyable to watch play out.

There was a good deal of second-guessing and misunderstanding throughout. Both trying to give the other space to figure out feelings when, in reality, they both felt the same way. I liked the siblings that Jet was friends with and how they readily embraced Evolette.

Jet was my favorite character. I loved how from the beginning of their relationship he paid attention to the little things - when she passed the bakery and had a childhood memory of a certain cookie, when her eye caught a dress she liked, when she said she liked snow tulips - the little details built a strong MMC. Learning his backstory made this characteristic of his even more meaningful.

The world building was really well done. The backstory of the characters and the overall character development was also very strong.

I recommend for anyone looking for a spicy monster romance. The audiobook was dual narration and performed really well.

Thank you to the author for the gifted audiobook in return for an honest review.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d love to thank the author for an audio version of this, my ear holes are extremely grateful!

First off, I would like to preface that this is for the now adult fans of the Crave series by Tracy Wolff! I have for you, your next gargoyle romance and it is perfection

Evolette (FMC) has been brought into a world she had no idea even existed and her growth throughout the story both as herself and with her friends (we love found family here!!!) is beautiful. I couldn’t stop rooting for her!

Jet (MMC) oh sweet sweet baby Jet. He’s a mix of golden retriever, yearning and protect her with his life screw everyone else deliciousness! I honestly couldn’t get enough of him either, I NEED MORE (please lol).

I don’t want to give too much away, but I do want to add that one of my favorite tropes is found family and the characters you meet on this story are so great and I can’t wait for more of each of them in the future!

What to expect:

• Found Family
• Monster Romance
• Golden Retriever MMC
• Forced Proximity
• Forbidden Love


Seriously, if you’re looking for your next awesome Romantasy read, this is a great option’

[Heathers Lit Voyage · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something really fun about stepping into a genre for the first time and being completely surprised by what you find. Bound by Hearts & Stone by was my first monster romance and it definitely won me over in ways I wasn’t expecting.

Going in, I expected a romantasy with some monster romance elements and spice, but I found so much more beneath the surface. Evolette and Jet brought a lot of emotional depth to the story, and I really appreciated that the book explored themes around mental health and the complexities of the characters in a way that felt meaningful and layered.

Jet completely understood the assignment because I am such a sucker for a protective character with a soft heart. Watching the connection between him and Evolette develop through a slower burn made those moments land even more. I also loved that the spice felt balanced. It added to the story rather than taking over the story.

This book has forbidden love, found family, belonging, danger, and cozy moments woven together with action and emotional themes. For a first monster romance experience, this was such a fun one to step into! The author generously offered me an ALC of the book, so thank you Lauren! I always appreciate a new and fun listen!

[Kiki Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

He is a gargoyle. No need for more… but! ☝🏼 here me out! He is a golden retriever with wings and horns and gray. Jet, papito lindo. Yes, yes, yes.

It’s a beautifully dark, emotional ride that gives you the perfect mix of high-stakes fantasy and deep, character-driven healing. what completely hooked me was both of them carry such intense, raw trauma. If you’re a fantasy romance fan who loves the "who did this to you?" you absolutely need to read this. 🌶️🌶️

[Off Reading Somewhere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok 3.5 ⭐️ but rounded up for GR antiquated ways.

This was an interesting read for me. The premise promised a story right up my alley. Captor/captive, trauma background, soft but strong FMC, golden retriever monster MMC. And while it did deliver all those things, there was something about the storytelling that made it difficult to finish.

I started this book, got 26% and put it down. I almost returned it to KU but it had the tiniest hook in me so I didn’t completely abandon it. But something with the pacing felt off in that first quarter. It starts pretty dark and gritty. Evolette being led to her execution in a cage by evil soldiers. Gargoyles attack, destroy everything, and just before her cell goes up in flames with her in it, she’s rescued by Jet the gargoyle and taken to his mountain home. Ok yummy. But then the story completely changes pace/direction and becomes like a small town cozy romcom. It threw me a bit, and as a serious mood reader, I wasn’t feeling a cozy romcom, I wanted the gritty monster BatB retelling. So I set it aside. But the reviews are good and that dang premise kept me intrigued so I eventually picked it back up.

It was better when I gave it another go. Maybe I was in a better mood for it. But the writing is very verbose, and many things/feelings/actions were over expressed or explained. I would have liked a bit more editing (in content not grammar) and that page space used for more action. Her time in the village. Maybe she helps him at the forge. Let us see their life together developing.

The best parts of this book were the action scenes. They’re well done and my heart was racing. But the in between scenes where Jet and Evolette are falling for each other but over analyzing their feelings? Too long and drawn out.

Still, all the characters were likable, the spice was decent, and their love story was a gooey chocolate brownie. I’m interested in the next one, Onyx’s story, though I may need to read something in between.

[Kisha Reinmiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Lauren & NerdFam for sending me this as an ARC!

I had such a fun time reading this debut romantasy! As my first read in the "monster romance" genre, I can say, I'll be back for more.

I had such a good time reading about Jet & Evolette - and enjoyed some solid chuckles with the banter between our "side-kick" friends, this book had some holes/discrepancies to work through. The story itself felt unfinished and in dire need of some growth. The book starts you out with some backstory and world building - a single chapters worth - but then it basically stops.

The story hits on the tropes we all know and enjoy over and over again however some aspects made it feel cheaper than the characters deserved...
- forced proximity - this I enjoyed as they unraveled the "why" as the relationship develops, their confessions to each other also help SOME of our knowledge of history/culture/world.
- FMC suddenly acquiring fighting skills, in the case she - after a few lessons can knock down the "best fighter of their kind" who BTW is a GARGOYLE. was a little too far fetched for me.
- this was also a situation where if it could go wrong, it did. Everyone loves drama - I eat it up - but I just felt sad for Evolette to be the crap beaten out of her every opportunity that was presented.

I know this sounds like I'm poo-pooing on this book, BUT, all the above statements aside, I blew threw this book in a day. It was an easy read with characters that were easy to fall for and a world potential to the extreme! I'd love to see a sequel about the kingdom and see see our MCs look past their little love bubble.

[Ashley Cutrona · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you for this audiobook copy!

This is a perfect example of NOT judging a book by its cover. I thought it was going to be a Dark Romantasy, but instead, ended up being super cute with a Green Flag MMC.

Also, who knew I could love a gargoyle? Jet is very protective of Evolette, but soft enough to draw baths and brush her hair. The juxtaposition of his rough exterior and warm gooey center was simply perfection! A classic Cinnamon Roll MMC, which I'm quickly learning is a favorite trope of mine!

You should read this book if you would like to support an indie author and LOVE Beauty and the Beast! Lauren definitely wrote with Beast and Belle in mind - just a misunderstood gargoyle and a human.

“Who could ever learn to love a beast?” Raises hand!

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have come to realize I’m not a cozy romance girlie.

I love the premise of a gargoyle MC and was excited to get into this monster romance with some juicy slow burn spice. However, it was a bit too cutesy for my taste, and the spice felt…tame.

I found myself getting distracted while reading and not feeling invested in the FMC and MMC. IMO it was giving cinnamon roll + golden retriever. I, personally, crave tension and stakes.

But again, a lot of this has to do with preference. If you’re looking for something cozy and cute, this one’s for you!

Lauren is a gifted writer, that I can tell from reading two of her books. We know that independent and/or self-published authors can fall into the trappings of typos, grammar errors, plot holes, etc. That’s not the case here. I feel this book as well as the previous one I reviewed could use some good editing of repetitive, overly descriptive language as well as “filler” scenes.

3.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

[Amber Franke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gargoyles and mortals intrigued me, but the internal dialogue for each character was excessive. Additionally, the plot didn’t really do it for me, I needed a deeper storyline and a few more twists. However, this is supposedly the first book in a series, so I could be convinced to read the next one to see what happens.

[Liz Alsina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just so mediocre…. If you have read any romantasy, you knew the plot of this. Add insta-love and I was immediately disinterested. I only gave it 2 stars because the intimate scenes were decent but I finished this one out of spite

[Magg · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ 1🌶️
The vibes were fun but the writing and storytelling had me wanting a bit more. So I’d say it was enjoyable but not my favorite.
I noticed that there were a lot of repeated words and phrases in the sentence structure, and Evolette and Jet both had the same voice in their pov, so at times I forgot which pov I was reading from. Some of the narrative with the lore and backstories of characters was repeated through the book too, so it felt like the repeated parts should have been cut to put more impactful parts in.
A LOT happened in this book quickly, and I wish there had been less in the plot so that there was more time to focus on characters and the romance.

TROPES
Dual POV
Damsel in Distress
Human x Gargoyle
Found Family

THE CHARACTERS
The characters fell a bit flat for me. Evolette and Jet both felt more like puppets on strings rather than realistic people (or person and gargoyle I guess?). It just felt as if the author wanted to give both MCs traumatic backstories without allowing them to influence the way that they thought and acted.
Evolette was very ready to become dependent, despite being a thief and fending for herself for years. The second night with Jet, she moved to the den to sleep near him because she couldn’t stand to sleep alone. It felt counterintuitive to her characters backstory for her to act this way and to be so clingy.
Jet has a background in fighting but he was an advisor to a king, not an army commander. He also works as a blacksmith running a family business. I would have liked to learn about how he got so good at fighting. Similarly, Maline and Onyx are said to be the best of the best at fighting - how did they get these skills? It felt like plot armor just to give Evolette a chance to train, instead of fitting their characters.

THE ROMANCE
The pacing was off at the beginning for me. It made it feel like insta-love. For Jet to be so possessive of Evolette so quickly, and for her to be so trusting within an hour of knowing him, didn’t feel realistic. For Jet to be saying “I would never let anyone hurt you, I would never let anything happen to you” after knowing her for like 24 hours? Then the day they went to the village, after being there for MAYBE 2 hours, Jet says that the people still don’t trust her yet. Obviously! They just saw her for the first time!
Overall, the love story progressed quickly even though the spice was more of a medium/slow burn. It was definitely giving insta-love for me that felt more based on proximity rather than emotional depth. Not a lot of time passed in this book from start to finish, so the love story moved really fast in my opinion.

QUOTES:

"In all the years I've known him, he's never taken a single day off from work, not once, not since you arrived. He's never brought a female to train either, not until you expressed interest. And one thing is certain, in all the years I've known him, I've never seen him look at a female the way he looks at you. Like maybe he is considering a taking a mate."

“But always remember this, in a world that tried to break you, you came out alive. You're still here. You're victorious. And if you ever forget how powerful you are, all you have to do is look at those scars and remember, it didn't break you. They didn't break you."

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I bought this book for book club. Support your authors! All opinions are my own.

Book: Bound by Hearts and Stone

Author: Lauren Sanatra

Book Series: Tales From The Obsidian Mountains Book 1

Rating: 2/5

Spice Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: Adult readers, Fantasy, Romance, Forced Proximity, Monster Romance, Gargoyle

Publication Date: May 27, 2025

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Age Relevance: 18+ (language, violence, sexual content, body mutilation, sexual assault, death, roofying)

Explanation of CWs: There are scenes of violence and death. Sexual assault is mentioned in detail and mentioned as a manner of what they might do to the main character. There is sexual content (consensual!) as well. There is body mutilation mentioned and shown. There is also a roofying scene.

If This Was a Taylor Swift Song: Ruin the Friendship

Publisher: Indie Published

Pages: 436

Synopsis: In the kingdom of Talero, Evolette has always been alone, surviving in a world that offers her little kindness. But when a run-in with a royal guard leads to her arrest and certain death, fate intervenes. A raid by gargoyles, ancient enemies of humankind, rips through the kingdom, changing everything. Caught in the chaos, Evolette is trapped in her prison cart, surrounded by flames and destruction. In the midst of the turmoil, Jet, a gargoyle, is drawn to her. Defying his own kind, he makes the dangerous choice to save her, taking her to the Obsidian Mountains, the home of the gargoyles. Now in a land where humans are enemies, Evolette can’t ignore the undeniable pull she feels toward Jet and his world. As they grow closer, she begins to feel something she’s never known before—belonging. Though Jet vows to keep her safe, danger still lurks in every corner. Evolette must decide if she can trust her heart and whether the bond she shares with Jet can survive the forces determined to tear them apart.

Review: Overall, I thought that this was a pretty good book. I liked the tension and though I really wouldn't qualify this as romanticy and my personal definition, I do think that it is a very well done romance book with fantasy elements. I liked the overall story and where it seemed to be going and I liked the World building the most about this book.

However, I didn't vibe with this book as well as I thought I would. There is a lot of lull at the beginning and the book is kind of boring compared to other fantasy romance books. There's almost no plot aside from our main male character fighting to random side characters that are trying to kill our female main character. There's not an overarching plot and there's no sense of danger throughout the book. I also thought that the female main character was very bland and lacked personality. In my opinion, you could have replaced her with a rock and got almost the same results for a female character.

Verdict: It was ok, just not for me.

[Ciara McN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Lauren Sanatra for gifting this copy of Bound by Hearts and Stone performed in Dual Style narration by James Cassidy and Claudia Rivera Tinsley 💙

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

•Brooding & Protective MMC
•Touch Her & Die vibes
•Monster & Forbidden Romance
•Slow-burn romance with plenty of yearning
•Forced Proximity
•Found family
•Bonded Mates
•Dual POV
•Clashing of species
•Tyranny & corruption in the world

Finally!!! An FMC who has been saved from a life of poverty, abuse, exploitation & starvation, is given everything that she could possibly need and want, and actually embraces her new life instead of your typical FMC who fights to return to the horrific life she came from. Lets be honest; if this were a real-life situation, we all would choose to embrace the new lifestyle without question, just like Evolette.

This story brings us through a full range of emotions from panic, distrust and horror to suspense, relief and vindication. The slow-burn forbidden romance gradually builds as the yearning increases with each chapter.

Everybody deserves to have a Jet in their life- our MMC is brooding, protective, ruthless (when it comes to Evolette), honourable and kind with wicked charm.

The narrators truly acted out each scene so that the listener is deeply immersed. They perfectly portrayed the intensity of scenes, particularly any fight and action scenes. This is my first time listening to Claudia and I will be sure to look out for more performances by her as she was a pleasure to listen to. James Cassidy is an all-time favourite narrator of mine, and never fails to perfectly portray the growly and intensely protective MMC. Neither narrator holds back when conveying the emotions felt by the characters through the scenes of torture, abduction and heartbreak and narrated the spice deliciously.

This cosy monster romance is a perfect book for between heavy & dark reads/listens.

An easy listen and I think it would be the perfect introduction to the Monster Romance Genre.

Thanks once again to Lauren for gifting the audiobook to me 💙

[Lucrezia Castello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who have experienced misery and pain are less likely to be surprised by how much others' actions can hurt the spirit.

Since she was abandoned by her parents, Evolette's life has been defined by loneliness and theft. In the Kingdom of Talerith, survival is everything, and if you pick the wrong pocket, you can only expect the worst.
It is precisely because of a small miscalculation and ensuing panic that she finds herself imprisoned in the royal dungeons.
As luck would have it, after spending some time there, a group ransacks the palace and, for whatever reason, a good samaritan frees her and takes her away.

Jet acted on impulse, driven by memories of the traumatic experiences he had endured centuries ago. His desire to protect the young girl from humans, his own kind and the world is driven by an unseen force that compels him to stay with the woman he has just rescued.
The Obsidian Mountains are no longer safe for humans, as history teaches us on both sides of the coin. But for Evolette, it is better to stay there than on the streets, without a roof over her head and without being able to feed herself.

From the moment Jet saved her from certain death, a new life began for the little human—no longer abandoned to her own devices, but welcomed by a few trusted individuals who want to help her integrate and learn about a side of the world she never had the chance to know.
But not everyone is in favour of his presence among the gargoyles, and those who are hostile will make sure to let him know, in the most brutal way possible🔥

From the very beginning, I was fascinated by the book, especially the world building and the way the author so evocatively described the points of view of our main characters.
The book tackles some very powerful themes, and Jet and Evolette must navigate them to find peace and a place where the war they suffered in the past will never be repeated...

[Plot_Twist_Momma -Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound by Hearts & Stone by Lauren Sanatra
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I went into this audiobook completely blind after receiving the audio from the author, and honestly… I’m so glad I did because this story completely surprised me in the best way.

We start with Evolette, a lonely young woman trapped in a prison wagon on her way to the king’s castle, and right away the atmosphere feels tense and dangerous. Then thunder cracks across the sky and I fully expected dragons…

But instead?

Gargoyles.

And somehow that made this story even better.

Jet absolutely stole my heart. The second he sees Evolette trapped in flames, he knows he has to save her, and from there we get this cozy, emotional, slow-burn monster romance that honestly felt like a warm blanket wrapped around a fantasy world filled with danger and history.

The Obsidian Mountains, the gargoyle world, the found family dynamics….all of it felt immersive without being overwhelming. I loved learning how gargoyles and humans once lived together before one king destroyed the peace between them.

And Jet? Ultimate golden retriever MMC energy. Protective, sweet, loyal, completely gone for Evolette from the start. The “he falls first” trope was SO good here.

What I appreciated most was that the spice never overtook the story. It was there at the right moments, but the emotional connection, trust, and relationship-building stayed the focus. The slow burn felt earned, and watching Evolette slowly find belonging and safety honestly made my heart ache in the best way.

This feels like the perfect Summerween read….. cozy fantasy romance with monster vibes, action, some gore, emotional healing, and just enough spice.

If you love:
🖤 Gargoyles
🔥 Cozy Monster Romance
💕 He Falls First
⚔️ Slow Burn
🐾 Found Family
💫 Bound Mates
🏔️ Hidden Magical Worlds

…you’ll probably devour this one like I did.

[MikeyBabyBad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a fun time reading this debut romantasy! As my first foray into the “monster romance” genre, I can confidently say—I’ll be coming back for more.

Jet and Evolette’s story was an enjoyable ride, and I especially loved the banter between the side characters, which gave me some solid laughs. That said, the book wasn’t without its flaws. There were a few noticeable plot holes and inconsistencies, and the overall story felt a bit underdeveloped. The world-building starts off strong, with a promising backstory introduced in the first chapter, but unfortunately, it doesn’t really go any further from there.

The book hits all the familiar tropes we love, though some of them could have been executed with a bit more finesse:
• Forced proximity: I actually enjoyed this element. Watching their relationship evolve while uncovering the “why” behind it worked well, and their confessions helped flesh out some of the world’s history and culture.
• FMC’s sudden combat prowess: Evolette mastering enough fighting skills to take down the strongest gargoyle warrior after just a few lessons felt a bit too unrealistic for me.
• Relentless misfortune: This was one of those “if it can go wrong, it will” scenarios. I’m all for drama—truly, I live for it—but Evolette getting beat down every chance the story got was more disheartening than engaging after a while.

Now, I know it might sound like I’m being harsh, but here’s the thing—I still flew through this book in a single day. It’s a fast-paced, easy read with characters you can’t help but root for, and a world with massive potential. I’d love to see a sequel that explores more of the kingdom and lets our main couple step outside their little love bubble.

[Alison Neffendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, this audio book was so so good. The narrators had the absolute best voices. The pacing between the chapters was perfection. I not once found myself waiting to get to the other persons point of view. This was an amazingly well done audio experience. I will definitely be listening to this book again souly because it just felt good on my ears.
The story was a complex read for me. As in the story and vibe are.. complex.. There was this really easy journey in the romance part of it. Almost no conflict at all in any way between the fmc and mmc. It just poured out of them in such an easy way that I would be like "what a cozy little romance", but then the internal emotional struggles of both were so deep, dark, and articulated, that it felt like a dark romance in those moments. The character reminded me of a storm cloud in a cupcake shop. Everything is beautiful and wonderful around her, but she is so broken and has so much healing to do. This was a great read that had me really connecting with those doom and gloom emotions, because I really relate. But that also kind of triggered me just a bit because I really felt that darkness with her. And I didn't expect that going into it. So I think this was complex for me because it was joyful and dark for me personally due to my relatability to the fmc. I can't even remember the last time that a book related to me so hard that I felt triggered. Being able to create the emotion from someone from a cute yet dark gargoyle romance earns it 5 stars alone. The quality of the audio performance was also 5 star worthy. I don't give many 5 stars.

[CrysTellsReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨🎧 Audiobook Review: Bound by Hearts and Stone ✨
By @laurensanatra
🎙️ Narrated by Claudia Rivera Tinsley as Evolette & James Cassidy as Jet

Thank you for the #gifted audio @laurensanatra! I really appreciate you reaching out and allowing me to listen to this story. 💖

This was my very first monster/gargoyle romance and honestly… I had SO much fun with this one!

Enter Evolette: a girl imprisoned by the Royal Guards in the Kingdom of Talero. I won’t spoil why she’s there, but let’s just say life has never been kind to her and she’s only been trying to survive. Evolette believes her story is about to end… until the Gargoyles attack the kingdom.

Then comes Jet. 🖤
Even though humans are considered the enemy, Jet can’t ignore the pull he feels toward Evolette. Instead of leaving her behind with the rest of the “traitor” humans, he chooses to save her.

He takes her back to the Obsidian Mountains — home of the Gargoyles — and this is where everything gets GOOD. We get:
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Forbidden love
✨ “Touch her and 💀” energy
✨ Protective monster boyfriend vibes

I absolutely ate this up.

There’s so much tension, drama, and fighting for a love that’s forbidden between humans and Gargoyles in the Obsidian Mountains. Watching them navigate all of that while trying to hold onto each other had me fully invested.

And the narrators? SO GOOD.
James Cassidy was absolutely perfect as Jet. I honestly wish we got even more of his POV, but that’s probably because I could listen to his voice forever. 😂 Claudia Rivera Tinsley also did a phenomenal job bringing Evolette to life emotionally. Going the audiobook route genuinely elevated this story for me. 🎧✨