What do you think?
Rate this book
While He Sleeps: Bloodie Desires Series
MM Dark Suspense/Romance Serial Killer Hurt-Comfort Age Gap
Elijah
When I first came to him, my nightmares were already tearing me apart.
Scenes of murder—vivid, brutal, and terrifyingly real.
Some from the news. Some that hadn’t happened yet.
Different victims. Same faceless killer.
Silas Cross was the only person who hadn’t called me crazy.
My therapist. My anchor. The one man I trusted in a world that had never been kind.
But the more I opened up, the more I craved him—the safety of his voice, the heat in his eyes—even as the visions sharpened, and something darker began to stir beneath the surface.
I didn’t know if Silas would save me from it…
Or become the very thing I feared.
Silas
When Elijah walked into my office, I saw something rare—
Raw fear. Delicious innocence touched by something darker.
My first instinct was to protect him.
Then he started telling me about the murders.
Crimes I knew too well.
And every new detail he revealed brought him closer to a truth I couldn’t afford to let him reach.
Our connection was dangerous. Our obsession, inevitable.
But if Elijah saw too much…
If he uncovered the face behind the blood…
Then I’d have no choice but to stop him.
One way or another.
Trigger
This series is rated R and not recommended for readers under 18. All books contain explicit content, scenes of violence, dub-con, past trauma, and very graphic material.
While He Sleeps is a twisted, high-heat ride through obsession, secrets, and blurred lines between predator and protector. It features a brilliant and ruthless forensic psychiatrist with a god complex, a traumatized boy with blood-stained nightmares, and a dangerous attraction that could destroy them both.
In this novel, you'll find manipulation, violence, possessive longing, and a twisted bond that refuses to break. All leading to a HEA with no cliffhangers and enough heat and heartbreak to leave you wrecked.
This standalone is part of the Bloody Desires Multi-Author series.
Elijah
When I first came to him, my nightmares were already tearing me apart.
Scenes of murder—vivid, brutal, and terrifyingly real.
Some from the news. Some that hadn’t happened yet.
Different victims. Same faceless killer.
Silas Cross was the only person who hadn’t called me crazy.
My therapist. My anchor. The one man I trusted in a world that had never been kind.
But the more I opened up, the more I craved him—the safety of his voice, the heat in his eyes—even as the visions sharpened, and something darker began to stir beneath the surface.
I didn’t know if Silas would save me from it…
Or become the very thing I feared.
Silas
When Elijah walked into my office, I saw something rare—
Raw fear. Delicious innocence touched by something darker.
My first instinct was to protect him.
Then he started telling me about the murders.
Crimes I knew too well.
And every new detail he revealed brought him closer to a truth I couldn’t afford to let him reach.
Our connection was dangerous. Our obsession, inevitable.
But if Elijah saw too much…
If he uncovered the face behind the blood…
Then I’d have no choice but to stop him.
One way or another.
Trigger
This series is rated R and not recommended for readers under 18. All books contain explicit content, scenes of violence, dub-con, past trauma, and very graphic material.
While He Sleeps is a twisted, high-heat ride through obsession, secrets, and blurred lines between predator and protector. It features a brilliant and ruthless forensic psychiatrist with a god complex, a traumatized boy with blood-stained nightmares, and a dangerous attraction that could destroy them both.
In this novel, you'll find manipulation, violence, possessive longing, and a twisted bond that refuses to break. All leading to a HEA with no cliffhangers and enough heat and heartbreak to leave you wrecked.
This standalone is part of the Bloody Desires Multi-Author series.
476 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2025
About the author
Medusa Stone
29 books77 followersMedusa Stone is a Spanish-born novelist and poet, literary award winner, blogger, and journalist in Europe.
Passionate and driven by the defense of human rights, she moved to the US in the year 2000, where she became an anti-trafficking advocate, author and fervent activist against sexual exploitation and slavery.
Through Medusa Stone's novels, she explores the misuse of BDSM as an excuse for sexual abuse, with vulnerable characters at the hands of powerful men and organizations. Much of her writing explores the dark nature of humanity; the fine line between love and lust; pain and pleasure; Master and slave.
Now a day, the author resides in Gibraltar, UK.
Passionate and driven by the defense of human rights, she moved to the US in the year 2000, where she became an anti-trafficking advocate, author and fervent activist against sexual exploitation and slavery.
Through Medusa Stone's novels, she explores the misuse of BDSM as an excuse for sexual abuse, with vulnerable characters at the hands of powerful men and organizations. Much of her writing explores the dark nature of humanity; the fine line between love and lust; pain and pleasure; Master and slave.
Now a day, the author resides in Gibraltar, UK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 16, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
format: ebook
this was honestly such a vibe and unlike anything i’ve ever read before. while i called the *twist* relatively early on, i still really enjoyed how things played out and i was fascinated when things were finally explained. the plot was lowkey kinda genius.
this gives love triangle/cheating vibes but just… give it a chance. everything happens for a reason.
i did feel kinda meh about silas throughout the entire book which is why i didn’t rate higher, but elijah and kane are my babies. i love the way they worked things out at the end. and the little found family elements it picked up along the way were so sweet. i just wish silas was a touch more likeable.
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
format: ebook
this was honestly such a vibe and unlike anything i’ve ever read before. while i called the *twist* relatively early on, i still really enjoyed how things played out and i was fascinated when things were finally explained. the plot was lowkey kinda genius.
this gives love triangle/cheating vibes but just… give it a chance. everything happens for a reason.
i did feel kinda meh about silas throughout the entire book which is why i didn’t rate higher, but elijah and kane are my babies. i love the way they worked things out at the end. and the little found family elements it picked up along the way were so sweet. i just wish silas was a touch more likeable.
May 31, 2026
DNF page 204/474.
There's no way I can put myself through anymore of this. There's 2 very large reasons.
1. Silas is a creep.
This man (27) walks into a crime scene and finds Elijah (6) crying and decides he's going to protect him forever in the prologue. I was worried at this point for obvious reaons but kept going just in case I was wrong somehow.
Anyway, Elijah moved out when he turned 18. Silas was happy because he was getting close to "acting on his desires" (not word for word so don't quote me) - Explain to me what he means by that? How long has he been fantasing about Elijah?
And I did care for Elijah. I could’ve said I loved him like a son. In fact, I might’ve even said that once or twice. But the truth is... that never felt quite right. Not when I’d spent more nights than I should admit imagining pinning him to a wall and doing things to him—very, very bad things for the most.
^ Page 37.
You shouldn't think of someone who you've known since they were a small child like that! Especially after they just turn legal age! Creep.
Also Silas stalks Elijah from time to time? And if Elijah moved out and didn't contact Silas for 2 years why? If they're supposed to be each others "person", why did they lose contact and become professional for a day? Because Elijah has been wanting to get with Silas for a while now too.
(By a day I mean Silas gives Elijah a quick talk/session before they go separate ways and hook up every time after)
2. Elijah thinking he's the "chosen one" because of his nightmares.
Yeah I'm sorry but no. It was corny the first time Elijah thought he was a prophet or predicting the future. But no. On the page I DNFd, Elijah was saying how he's the chosen one and how he's been chosen by God. No thanks. Might be others cup of tea but not mine.
The other minor reasons I DNFd?
Kane. What's the purpose of his character? He was in therapy with Silas before Silas started training him to kill like him. And he hooks up with Silas for multiple pages before Silas hooks up with Elijah! Literally after their therapy session! Then he's off trying to scare Elijah away because he wants Silas for himself?
Silas once again being a creep. He found Rafael at 17, Elijah at 6, idk how old Kane was.
I think I've said more than enough.
There's no way I can put myself through anymore of this. There's 2 very large reasons.
1. Silas is a creep.
This man (27) walks into a crime scene and finds Elijah (6) crying and decides he's going to protect him forever in the prologue. I was worried at this point for obvious reaons but kept going just in case I was wrong somehow.
Anyway, Elijah moved out when he turned 18. Silas was happy because he was getting close to "acting on his desires" (not word for word so don't quote me) - Explain to me what he means by that? How long has he been fantasing about Elijah?
And I did care for Elijah. I could’ve said I loved him like a son. In fact, I might’ve even said that once or twice. But the truth is... that never felt quite right. Not when I’d spent more nights than I should admit imagining pinning him to a wall and doing things to him—very, very bad things for the most.
^ Page 37.
You shouldn't think of someone who you've known since they were a small child like that! Especially after they just turn legal age! Creep.
Also Silas stalks Elijah from time to time? And if Elijah moved out and didn't contact Silas for 2 years why? If they're supposed to be each others "person", why did they lose contact and become professional for a day? Because Elijah has been wanting to get with Silas for a while now too.
(By a day I mean Silas gives Elijah a quick talk/session before they go separate ways and hook up every time after)
2. Elijah thinking he's the "chosen one" because of his nightmares.
Yeah I'm sorry but no. It was corny the first time Elijah thought he was a prophet or predicting the future. But no. On the page I DNFd, Elijah was saying how he's the chosen one and how he's been chosen by God. No thanks. Might be others cup of tea but not mine.
The other minor reasons I DNFd?
Kane. What's the purpose of his character? He was in therapy with Silas before Silas started training him to kill like him. And he hooks up with Silas for multiple pages before Silas hooks up with Elijah! Literally after their therapy session! Then he's off trying to scare Elijah away because he wants Silas for himself?
Silas once again being a creep. He found Rafael at 17, Elijah at 6, idk how old Kane was.
I think I've said more than enough.
October 10, 2025
The story starts with some introductions and soon we’ll understand the bigger picture.
It’s all intriguing AF!
Fasten your seatbelts, because dang it was a harsh ride!!
Silas Cross is a morally grey forensic psychiatrist. Elijah is a former patient, he has some kind of special connection with Elijah. He makes Silas soft.
Elijah suddenly left him years ago, but Silas always knew where he was. He’s obsessed with Elijah.
Kane is also Silas’s former patient, they have a completely different connection, but it is also special.
Kane is as morally grey as Silas, maybe even worse.
Together they end the scum of the earth, especially child abusers!
Elijah has vivid nightmares about murders, which drives him crazy, he needs to return to Silas.
He wants Silas to be his, he’s as obsessed with Silas as Silas is with him.
With Elijah back, Kane is furious and dangerously jealous.
‘My drug. My downfall. My goddamn undoing.’
Long story short, a lot is going on here. Things I can’t tell. The story is getting darker and darker.
Taking justice into their own hand isn’t a clean job, it’s more bloody gore.
Watch how the predator gets chased. His opponent is clever and dangerous. Even more, watch how this all enfolds.
Altogether it was a super intriguing story, it’s ingenious, dark, vicious, but has some soft moments.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I received an arc
It’s all intriguing AF!
Fasten your seatbelts, because dang it was a harsh ride!!
Silas Cross is a morally grey forensic psychiatrist. Elijah is a former patient, he has some kind of special connection with Elijah. He makes Silas soft.
Elijah suddenly left him years ago, but Silas always knew where he was. He’s obsessed with Elijah.
Kane is also Silas’s former patient, they have a completely different connection, but it is also special.
Kane is as morally grey as Silas, maybe even worse.
Together they end the scum of the earth, especially child abusers!
Elijah has vivid nightmares about murders, which drives him crazy, he needs to return to Silas.
He wants Silas to be his, he’s as obsessed with Silas as Silas is with him.
With Elijah back, Kane is furious and dangerously jealous.
‘My drug. My downfall. My goddamn undoing.’
Long story short, a lot is going on here. Things I can’t tell. The story is getting darker and darker.
Taking justice into their own hand isn’t a clean job, it’s more bloody gore.
Watch how the predator gets chased. His opponent is clever and dangerous. Even more, watch how this all enfolds.
Altogether it was a super intriguing story, it’s ingenious, dark, vicious, but has some soft moments.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I received an arc
October 6, 2025
This book was chaotic
That doesn't mean this book was bad, but for me personally, it was definitely hard to follow from time to time.
There's a lot happening, but nothing's happening at the same time. One chapter is chaotic and frantic and the next is a cozy domestic scene... And it soon becomes a pattern, although I wouldn't say that the book is predictable, because it definitely isn't.
The book is dark: there's cheating, A LOT of lies, there are gore and graphic scenes, gaslighting, manipulation, lots of bad stuff surrounding children (huge trigger warning by the way)... But it also wasn't as dark as I thought it would be. It was more... Messy? Definitely twisted. Not necessarily in a bad way, but the situations they found themselves in were sometimes handled messily by the characters, in my opinion.
And I hated the cheating. Very much so. I kind of skipped all of it so do with that as you will. But... Yeah, there's a but. You'll see.
Now: as I said, it wasn't a bad book at all. The plot was interesting in its core and I was curious about certain things that were hinted at from times to times. I was very interested in seeing how the whole murder and err... Medium (?) thing would play out! Plus, I LOVED the side cast.
And to be fair, the more I kept reading, the more this book frustrated me. But then, I was hit by the biggest plot twist in fucking history. I audibly gasped- I did! I then had A LOT of second thoughts because damn, the entire book got a whole different meaning from there, so I went back and re-read some scenes before I even had finished the story.
Yeah, I was THAT gagged. And honestly, that twist redeemed the entire book for me. And the ending? Tears in my eyes, I'm telling you.
Happy ones, for once.
I recieved a free copy of this book and this is my honest review
That doesn't mean this book was bad, but for me personally, it was definitely hard to follow from time to time.
There's a lot happening, but nothing's happening at the same time. One chapter is chaotic and frantic and the next is a cozy domestic scene... And it soon becomes a pattern, although I wouldn't say that the book is predictable, because it definitely isn't.
The book is dark: there's cheating, A LOT of lies, there are gore and graphic scenes, gaslighting, manipulation, lots of bad stuff surrounding children (huge trigger warning by the way)... But it also wasn't as dark as I thought it would be. It was more... Messy? Definitely twisted. Not necessarily in a bad way, but the situations they found themselves in were sometimes handled messily by the characters, in my opinion.
And I hated the cheating. Very much so. I kind of skipped all of it so do with that as you will. But... Yeah, there's a but. You'll see.
Now: as I said, it wasn't a bad book at all. The plot was interesting in its core and I was curious about certain things that were hinted at from times to times. I was very interested in seeing how the whole murder and err... Medium (?) thing would play out! Plus, I LOVED the side cast.
And to be fair, the more I kept reading, the more this book frustrated me. But then, I was hit by the biggest plot twist in fucking history. I audibly gasped- I did! I then had A LOT of second thoughts because damn, the entire book got a whole different meaning from there, so I went back and re-read some scenes before I even had finished the story.
Yeah, I was THAT gagged. And honestly, that twist redeemed the entire book for me. And the ending? Tears in my eyes, I'm telling you.
Happy ones, for once.
I recieved a free copy of this book and this is my honest review
July 4, 2026
☠️Elijah, my light. Kane, my darkness. And I loved them both, in ways that ruined me🖤
"I stopped because I was terrified of how much I needed him. His voice. His scent. The look in his eyes when I disappointed him. It wasn't just comfort. It was devotion. Unhealthy. Unbearable. All-consuming. I memorized everything about him without meaning to."
"My dark little muse. The spark that lit the fuse and my one fatal mistake that led to all of this."
"What the hell was wrong with me? He was a patient. A victim. The last fragile sliver of light in the blackened pit I called a soul. He was my greatest weakness. My last tether to humanity."
"Silas wasn't just a crush; he was my everything--my soulmate. And this wasn't just sex. It was undoing. It was worship."
"When Elijah ran, I stood tall. When Elijah broke, I became the monster Silas needed."
"I loved him in the marrow of my bones, in the air that kept me alive. I'd spent years carrying that love like a secret blade pressed against my own heart, and now, finally, he was about to carve it into me for real."
"With Elijah, there was light. Smiles in the dark. Tender whispers between kisses...With Kane--this. Blood, bruises, madness."
"He was chaos and fire and ruin, and still mine--always mine."
"My heart ached, split in two, both halves bleeding. Elijah, my light. Kane, my darkness. And I loved them both, in ways that ruined me."
"I love you. I love you both. I've always loved you both. Don't make me choose, baby boy...because I already did. I chose you. All of you."
Wow! What did I just read? This was a phenomenal and mind-blowing story. This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last. I usually write long reviews and detail things that happen in books, but this story has so many twists and turns and a huge plot twist that I don't want to spoil it. I will try my best not to give too much away. The author did a fantastic job handling the sensitive and traumatic issues in this story. This was a dark, heavy, traumatic, but delicious story. You could feel the pain, grief, and turmoil in all of these characters. The spice in this was spicing and amazing 🔥🔥🔥. If you read other reviews for this book, you will see many DNF due to cheating in this story. Without giving too much away, there is no cheating and please trust the process for this author and story. Read until the very last page! It all comes together and everyone gets an HEA.
This story follows Elijah and Silas. Kane is also a prominent character and we see some povs from him too. Silas is a forensic psychiatrist. He meets Elijah when he is 6 when he is rescued from his parents, who are dead from a DV situation. From there on out, he is under Silas's care. Elijah transfers from foster home to foster home and his trauma and life situation gets worse with abuse. He decides to leave therapy and Silas when he's 18 and deal with life himself. Meanwhile, Silas is treating another patient named Kane. He is violent and angry. Silas decides to give Kane an outlet and molds him into a killer. These two create a partnership and avenege kids in the system by killing their abusers. Elijah starts to have nightmares of all of these murders. He thinks something supernatural is going on. He calls Silas and gets back under his care. Feelings get messy and complicated. We learn Silas has always been obsessed with Elijah. Elijah has always had a crush on Silas. Kane is obsessed and involved with Silas as well. They continue to take out more predators while Elijah continues to have nightmares. His nightmares seem so realistic that they become clearer each time. Kane starts to get jealous and wants Elijah gone for good. Someone from Silas's life resurfaces and poses a threat to everything he has worked hard for. Will their games destroy them all? Will Elijah figure out what's really going on? Are his nightmares closer than he thinks? Who really is Kane?
I loved all of these characters so much. They each brought something different and personality wise they were so different too. My heart and soul bled for Elijah and everything this boy has endured 😭. My heart also broke for Kane. Seeing him try to love and want the same attention Elijah got killed me 😭😭. One was light and one was darkness. Silas had a god complex, was extremely intelligent, and went to the ends of the earth to protect his boys. He took possessive and protective to another level. I loved the connection between all three of them. The chemistry was intense and the spicy scenes were 🥵🥵🔥🔥🔥. There was a lot of growth for all the characters as well as healing. One of my favorite things in this story was seeing Elijah and Kane be at peace with each other and what it took to get there. Silas couldn't live without either. He needed his light and his darkness. The ending of this story and the epilogue made my dark heart happy. It wrapped up perfectly after your jaw dropped from all the bombs and plot twists 🤣. I also loved Rafael and I wish we could get a book for him! I highly recommend this story!
"I stopped because I was terrified of how much I needed him. His voice. His scent. The look in his eyes when I disappointed him. It wasn't just comfort. It was devotion. Unhealthy. Unbearable. All-consuming. I memorized everything about him without meaning to."
"My dark little muse. The spark that lit the fuse and my one fatal mistake that led to all of this."
"What the hell was wrong with me? He was a patient. A victim. The last fragile sliver of light in the blackened pit I called a soul. He was my greatest weakness. My last tether to humanity."
"Silas wasn't just a crush; he was my everything--my soulmate. And this wasn't just sex. It was undoing. It was worship."
"When Elijah ran, I stood tall. When Elijah broke, I became the monster Silas needed."
"I loved him in the marrow of my bones, in the air that kept me alive. I'd spent years carrying that love like a secret blade pressed against my own heart, and now, finally, he was about to carve it into me for real."
"With Elijah, there was light. Smiles in the dark. Tender whispers between kisses...With Kane--this. Blood, bruises, madness."
"He was chaos and fire and ruin, and still mine--always mine."
"My heart ached, split in two, both halves bleeding. Elijah, my light. Kane, my darkness. And I loved them both, in ways that ruined me."
"I love you. I love you both. I've always loved you both. Don't make me choose, baby boy...because I already did. I chose you. All of you."
Wow! What did I just read? This was a phenomenal and mind-blowing story. This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last. I usually write long reviews and detail things that happen in books, but this story has so many twists and turns and a huge plot twist that I don't want to spoil it. I will try my best not to give too much away. The author did a fantastic job handling the sensitive and traumatic issues in this story. This was a dark, heavy, traumatic, but delicious story. You could feel the pain, grief, and turmoil in all of these characters. The spice in this was spicing and amazing 🔥🔥🔥. If you read other reviews for this book, you will see many DNF due to cheating in this story. Without giving too much away, there is no cheating and please trust the process for this author and story. Read until the very last page! It all comes together and everyone gets an HEA.
This story follows Elijah and Silas. Kane is also a prominent character and we see some povs from him too. Silas is a forensic psychiatrist. He meets Elijah when he is 6 when he is rescued from his parents, who are dead from a DV situation. From there on out, he is under Silas's care. Elijah transfers from foster home to foster home and his trauma and life situation gets worse with abuse. He decides to leave therapy and Silas when he's 18 and deal with life himself. Meanwhile, Silas is treating another patient named Kane. He is violent and angry. Silas decides to give Kane an outlet and molds him into a killer. These two create a partnership and avenege kids in the system by killing their abusers. Elijah starts to have nightmares of all of these murders. He thinks something supernatural is going on. He calls Silas and gets back under his care. Feelings get messy and complicated. We learn Silas has always been obsessed with Elijah. Elijah has always had a crush on Silas. Kane is obsessed and involved with Silas as well. They continue to take out more predators while Elijah continues to have nightmares. His nightmares seem so realistic that they become clearer each time. Kane starts to get jealous and wants Elijah gone for good. Someone from Silas's life resurfaces and poses a threat to everything he has worked hard for. Will their games destroy them all? Will Elijah figure out what's really going on? Are his nightmares closer than he thinks? Who really is Kane?
I loved all of these characters so much. They each brought something different and personality wise they were so different too. My heart and soul bled for Elijah and everything this boy has endured 😭. My heart also broke for Kane. Seeing him try to love and want the same attention Elijah got killed me 😭😭. One was light and one was darkness. Silas had a god complex, was extremely intelligent, and went to the ends of the earth to protect his boys. He took possessive and protective to another level. I loved the connection between all three of them. The chemistry was intense and the spicy scenes were 🥵🥵🔥🔥🔥. There was a lot of growth for all the characters as well as healing. One of my favorite things in this story was seeing Elijah and Kane be at peace with each other and what it took to get there. Silas couldn't live without either. He needed his light and his darkness. The ending of this story and the epilogue made my dark heart happy. It wrapped up perfectly after your jaw dropped from all the bombs and plot twists 🤣. I also loved Rafael and I wish we could get a book for him! I highly recommend this story!
October 20, 2025
Oh my god, THIS BOOK!!! I have never read a book like this before. I've read many dark stories but never a story about serial killers. Truthfully it was hard to review because morally you don't want to be on a murderer's side...but this book makes it impossible to hate them!
We are first introduced to Silas who rescues a small boy on a horrific night, setting the scene for the rest of the story. Elijah was the reason for all of it
I was drawn in right away, almost endeared to Kane, I felt sorry for him throughout the book. Kane was Utterly broken. Elijah was the "Angel" of the book, he suffered a trauma as a child that broke his brain a little but not in a seeminly dark way, he just wanted to live and be happy, he was the "light". Silas was the catalyst; he was the tie that bound them all together. He straddles the line of dark and light depending on who he is dealing with. Kane bringing out the dark, Elijah bringing out the light. Silas’s love for Elijah is crazy deep, psychotic deep, Stalkery/creepy/dark deep but for some reason (in this story) it feels gooey and gushy and for some reason, real. He also seemed to love Kane although they had a different relationship. I spent most of the book wondering who Silas would ultimatley pick, wondering if they could live happily as 3...
“My heart ached, split in two, both halves bleeding. Elijah, my light. Kane, my darkness. And I loved them both, in ways that ruined me.”
The story line is crazy good; I didn't want to put the book down... It took me a bit to understand the actual motive behind the killings, I originally thought it was just to bring justice for the children impacted directly by the monsters abusing them, but it was more than that, it was about the man who made the monsters. Bringing him to justice in the best way. Add in Elijah and his visions, and Kane's jealousy, the suspense was just intense. And do I need to mention Leon?!? I would have liked to know how Rafael was introduced to Silas as one of "his boys" I suspect it was through his practice, but it was not revealed where the relationship bloomed. I can' t go into the rest without completely ruining it even though I had some spoilers in this review already. Trust me when I say... AMAZING conclusion. I was so impressed with how this book ended, I will say one of the best books I have read in a bit.
I would recommend this book to everyone....read it now!
We are first introduced to Silas who rescues a small boy on a horrific night, setting the scene for the rest of the story. Elijah was the reason for all of it
I was drawn in right away, almost endeared to Kane, I felt sorry for him throughout the book. Kane was Utterly broken. Elijah was the "Angel" of the book, he suffered a trauma as a child that broke his brain a little but not in a seeminly dark way, he just wanted to live and be happy, he was the "light". Silas was the catalyst; he was the tie that bound them all together. He straddles the line of dark and light depending on who he is dealing with. Kane bringing out the dark, Elijah bringing out the light. Silas’s love for Elijah is crazy deep, psychotic deep, Stalkery/creepy/dark deep but for some reason (in this story) it feels gooey and gushy and for some reason, real. He also seemed to love Kane although they had a different relationship. I spent most of the book wondering who Silas would ultimatley pick, wondering if they could live happily as 3...
“My heart ached, split in two, both halves bleeding. Elijah, my light. Kane, my darkness. And I loved them both, in ways that ruined me.”
The story line is crazy good; I didn't want to put the book down... It took me a bit to understand the actual motive behind the killings, I originally thought it was just to bring justice for the children impacted directly by the monsters abusing them, but it was more than that, it was about the man who made the monsters. Bringing him to justice in the best way. Add in Elijah and his visions, and Kane's jealousy, the suspense was just intense. And do I need to mention Leon?!? I would have liked to know how Rafael was introduced to Silas as one of "his boys" I suspect it was through his practice, but it was not revealed where the relationship bloomed. I can' t go into the rest without completely ruining it even though I had some spoilers in this review already. Trust me when I say... AMAZING conclusion. I was so impressed with how this book ended, I will say one of the best books I have read in a bit.
I would recommend this book to everyone....read it now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2025
4.25 stars - I wasn’t real sure what I was going to get with this story and it takes a good bit of the story for it to all really make sense. Basically, Silas is a doctor who specializes in helping child trauma victims. He is frequently called in by the police to help with their cases. But it goes so much deeper than that. On the side, he also has a side gig going where he and two others maintain a kill list to take out the abusers who continue to escape justice.
Kane is the main member who does the actual killing while Silas plays the part of clean-up, from the crime scene to the alibis. One other stays in the background and does all the leg work as they prepare for each kill by gathering evidence and mapping out behavior patterns, etc. Here is where things get a bit darker and more convoluted. Kane was a patient of Silas and one he has groomed or helped find an outlet for his anger and trauma issues. Kane is a bit of a loose cannon, and Silas seems to manage him pretty well for the most part.
That all changes when Elijah comes back into the picture. He was another of Silas’ patients whose past abuse still haunts him. He has visions/dreams of the killings and believes he has them to help catch the killer(s). He is barely functioning due to these issues and the meds don’t seem to be helping him much anymore.
Then there is the added factor of Dr. X or Dr. Xander who seems to want to help Elijah as well. But, he has a past with Silas as well. As I said, it takes a good while for the pieces to all come together. Things really start to ramp up when Kane feels threatened by Elijah taking Silas’ affections and attention. Silas is walking a tightrope between the two that he can’t seem to get off of. Kane is the dark, and Elijah is the light. I had my suspicions fairly early on, and they all play out in the end, but this is a bit of a wild ride to get there. In the end, things straighten out and a new family is formed with friends who helped Elijah along the way. This is definitely a dark and violent story, but I loved the psychological side and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
October 13, 2025
While He Sleeps is not your average dark romance, it’s brutal, messy, utterly unsettling, and yet completely addictive. This is a story where the line between saviour and monster is razor-thin, and by the time you realise which side you’re on, it’s already too late.
Elijah is tormented by violent visions, nightmares that seem all too real. When he turns to psychiatrist Silas Cross for help, what begins as therapy spirals into a dangerous obsession. Silas is brilliant, manipulative, and harbouring secrets of his own. From the start, you know their connection is unhealthy… but that doesn't stop you from wanting to see where it goes.
So chaotic at times yet completely compellling! Jumping from frenetic and violent to oddly quiet and domestic, and that shift can be a bit jarring. There's a lot happening—and yet sometimes it feels like nothing is. But in a way, that disjointedness reflects the characters themselves: fractured, unstable, and on the edge of something disastrous.
The content is heavy with graphic violence, manipulation, dubious consent, gaslighting, trauma involving children, and yes, cheating. Some scenes made me deeply uncomfortable, and I’d advise readers to check the trigger warnings carefully. It’s not an easy read by any stretch.
That said, the storytelling is masterful. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, a twist came out of nowhere that completely floored me. It made me reassess everything I’d read, and I actually went back to reread earlier scenes to catch what I’d missed. It’s rare for a book to genuinely shock me, but this one did, brilliantly.
I also really enjoyed the side characters, who brought moments of levity and warmth that helped balance the darker tones. And the ending? Completely wrecked me. Somehow, through all the madness and moral ambiguity, it still manages to deliver a proper HEA—albeit a twisted one.
This book isn’t for everyone. It’s dark, morally murky, and emotionally intense. But if you’re drawn to hurt/comfort stories with a psychological edge, and you don’t mind walking into the shadows a bit—While He Sleeps might just ruin you in the best possible way.
I received a free ARC copy and this is my honest review.
Elijah is tormented by violent visions, nightmares that seem all too real. When he turns to psychiatrist Silas Cross for help, what begins as therapy spirals into a dangerous obsession. Silas is brilliant, manipulative, and harbouring secrets of his own. From the start, you know their connection is unhealthy… but that doesn't stop you from wanting to see where it goes.
So chaotic at times yet completely compellling! Jumping from frenetic and violent to oddly quiet and domestic, and that shift can be a bit jarring. There's a lot happening—and yet sometimes it feels like nothing is. But in a way, that disjointedness reflects the characters themselves: fractured, unstable, and on the edge of something disastrous.
The content is heavy with graphic violence, manipulation, dubious consent, gaslighting, trauma involving children, and yes, cheating. Some scenes made me deeply uncomfortable, and I’d advise readers to check the trigger warnings carefully. It’s not an easy read by any stretch.
That said, the storytelling is masterful. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, a twist came out of nowhere that completely floored me. It made me reassess everything I’d read, and I actually went back to reread earlier scenes to catch what I’d missed. It’s rare for a book to genuinely shock me, but this one did, brilliantly.
I also really enjoyed the side characters, who brought moments of levity and warmth that helped balance the darker tones. And the ending? Completely wrecked me. Somehow, through all the madness and moral ambiguity, it still manages to deliver a proper HEA—albeit a twisted one.
This book isn’t for everyone. It’s dark, morally murky, and emotionally intense. But if you’re drawn to hurt/comfort stories with a psychological edge, and you don’t mind walking into the shadows a bit—While He Sleeps might just ruin you in the best possible way.
I received a free ARC copy and this is my honest review.
July 18, 2026
This book deals with extremely heavy themes so please check the trigger warnings before diving in.
Holy hell this book is dark, unhinged, twisted, and full of intrigue and mystery. This story pulled me in immediately and had my head spinning by the end. It definitely kept me on the edge, constantly thinking and after the twist at the end I had to go back over every interaction and conversation.
Elijah has a sweet innocence to him despite his very traumatic childhood. When he begins dreaming murders that are later reported in real life, he turns to the one person he shouldn’t, the one person he has feelings for and has tried to move on from. His therapist, Silas.
Silas, a forensic psychiatrist, is older, obsessive, and extremely possessive. He knows far more about Elijah than he lets on and is hiding secrets that are slowly in danger of being exposed.
Then there’s Kane, Silas’s accomplice in his hidden world, who becomes increasingly jealous of Elijah’s place in Silas’s life. He’s the chaos to Elijah’s innocence, the darkness to his light, and Silas is torn between the two. His feelings for both are toxic and messy.
The story is packed with tension, layered dynamics, and constant unease. Even when you think you’ve figured it out, it keeps shifting and every interaction takes on new meaning as the truth unravels.
If you’re into dark, disturbing, twisted romances with obsession, moral messiness, and intense chemistry, spice and tension between deeply flawed characters, this one will keep you hooked until the very end.
Holy hell this book is dark, unhinged, twisted, and full of intrigue and mystery. This story pulled me in immediately and had my head spinning by the end. It definitely kept me on the edge, constantly thinking and after the twist at the end I had to go back over every interaction and conversation.
Elijah has a sweet innocence to him despite his very traumatic childhood. When he begins dreaming murders that are later reported in real life, he turns to the one person he shouldn’t, the one person he has feelings for and has tried to move on from. His therapist, Silas.
Silas, a forensic psychiatrist, is older, obsessive, and extremely possessive. He knows far more about Elijah than he lets on and is hiding secrets that are slowly in danger of being exposed.
Then there’s Kane, Silas’s accomplice in his hidden world, who becomes increasingly jealous of Elijah’s place in Silas’s life. He’s the chaos to Elijah’s innocence, the darkness to his light, and Silas is torn between the two. His feelings for both are toxic and messy.
The story is packed with tension, layered dynamics, and constant unease. Even when you think you’ve figured it out, it keeps shifting and every interaction takes on new meaning as the truth unravels.
If you’re into dark, disturbing, twisted romances with obsession, moral messiness, and intense chemistry, spice and tension between deeply flawed characters, this one will keep you hooked until the very end.
October 18, 2025
If you love your M/M romance dark with edge-of-the-seat suspense and twists that you dont see coming, then you will love this book. Silas is a psychiatrist who specialises in child victims of ab*sers. Elijah and Kane were victims, and Silas saved them as children. Now they are in Silas' life> Silas has always felt for Elijah, and he keeps an eye on him to keep him from danger. Elijah works at an animal shelter to help keep him grounded with all the issues he has had in his life. Kane is still in Silas' life and helps him, along with Rafael, to keep an eye on people and keep a check on who is still doing things, and help save the children.
I received an arc for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a dark MM Romance keeping you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns that you dont see coming. Medusa blows you away with that twist at the end. However, this book may not be for everyone therefore, please check the author's trigger warnings before you read or purchase this book. Although this is part of the Bloodie Desires Series it is able to be read as a stand alone.
I received an arc for my voluntary honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a dark MM Romance keeping you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns that you dont see coming. Medusa blows you away with that twist at the end. However, this book may not be for everyone therefore, please check the author's trigger warnings before you read or purchase this book. Although this is part of the Bloodie Desires Series it is able to be read as a stand alone.
July 9, 2026
What the hell did I just read?!
I genuinely don't know why this book is so underrated or why it has so few reviews because it's an absolute hidden gem. If you're looking for a taboo/forbidden romance with shocking plot twists, this book deserves a spot on your TBR.
Let's talk about the characters. Elijah is mentally unstable and starts having disturbing dreams about murder, so he seeks help from his therapist, Silas—who has secretly been in love with him for years. What do you mean?! Every chapter had me completely hooked.
Yes, there's a love triangle and even cheating. I was so angry about what happened to Elijah, but by the end, everything came together in a way that made sense. The author handled the story incredibly well, and I found myself with nothing to complain about.
That ending? My jaw was on the floor. I just sat there thinking, "What the hell did I just read?"
I won't spoil anything, but if you're looking for a taboo/forbidden romance with twists you'll never see coming, this book is definitely for you.
I genuinely don't know why this book is so underrated or why it has so few reviews because it's an absolute hidden gem. If you're looking for a taboo/forbidden romance with shocking plot twists, this book deserves a spot on your TBR.
Let's talk about the characters. Elijah is mentally unstable and starts having disturbing dreams about murder, so he seeks help from his therapist, Silas—who has secretly been in love with him for years. What do you mean?! Every chapter had me completely hooked.
Yes, there's a love triangle and even cheating. I was so angry about what happened to Elijah, but by the end, everything came together in a way that made sense. The author handled the story incredibly well, and I found myself with nothing to complain about.
That ending? My jaw was on the floor. I just sat there thinking, "What the hell did I just read?"
I won't spoil anything, but if you're looking for a taboo/forbidden romance with twists you'll never see coming, this book is definitely for you.
October 15, 2025
Wow! Silas Cross is certainly an interesting therapist. He’s morally grey and crosses some lines. Ex-patient Elijah returns to Silas with wicked violent nightmares. Of course, Silas is supposed to help him through this right, but…not really, not fully. Silas has another patient who is doing his dirty work to help clear the scum of the earth. Silas has to walk the line between good and evil, helping Elijah but not too much or his secrets will be discovered. I loved the dynamics between the characters. Check the trigger warnings. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.
October 19, 2025
rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
darkness: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
feelings: 😭🥰😱🥵☠️😍🫠😡🥹
Wow! This book was a wild ride. A very dark psychological thriller with a complicated love story.
Eli is sweet and so adorable. At first, I had a problem with Silas because a manipulative psychiatrist is really hard to stomach. But then I got a glimpse behind his façade and he grew on me. My favourite, however, is Kane. I hated that he was so often pushed aside in favour of Elijah.
But that's exactly what makes a great book! I became deeply emotionally invested and experienced a whole spectrum of feelings. Have your tissues ready!
I love the ending of the book!
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
darkness: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
feelings: 😭🥰😱🥵☠️😍🫠😡🥹
Wow! This book was a wild ride. A very dark psychological thriller with a complicated love story.
Eli is sweet and so adorable. At first, I had a problem with Silas because a manipulative psychiatrist is really hard to stomach. But then I got a glimpse behind his façade and he grew on me. My favourite, however, is Kane. I hated that he was so often pushed aside in favour of Elijah.
But that's exactly what makes a great book! I became deeply emotionally invested and experienced a whole spectrum of feelings. Have your tissues ready!
I love the ending of the book!
October 14, 2025
What a Great read for me!
The dynamic between the main characters was enjoyable and intense, i truly felt like i knew each character and like i was there!
Medusa has done a great job here of creating a world of darkness and love, where the least expected of vigilantes end up being a source of light!
The relationship between elijah and silas was heart warming, and left me feeling loved and supported! it just goes to show that there can be love and kindness, even in those who see themselves as above the law!
Great read Medusa, thank you very much <3
I received an ARC
The dynamic between the main characters was enjoyable and intense, i truly felt like i knew each character and like i was there!
Medusa has done a great job here of creating a world of darkness and love, where the least expected of vigilantes end up being a source of light!
The relationship between elijah and silas was heart warming, and left me feeling loved and supported! it just goes to show that there can be love and kindness, even in those who see themselves as above the law!
Great read Medusa, thank you very much <3
I received an ARC
October 29, 2025
Silas & Eliijah Absolutely Brilliant
OH.......... WOW....... While He Sleeps by Medusa Stone is Absolutely Brilliant part of the Bloody Desires Series and it's one of my favourites could not put it down I was hooked from the start its dark, deadly full of suspense and twists you don't see coming it's a rollercoaster of a ride that keeps you at the edge of your seat from start to finish Love...... Love...... Silas and Eliijah together their relationship is heartwarming but dangerous and so possessive simply Fantastic recommend so much.
OH.......... WOW....... While He Sleeps by Medusa Stone is Absolutely Brilliant part of the Bloody Desires Series and it's one of my favourites could not put it down I was hooked from the start its dark, deadly full of suspense and twists you don't see coming it's a rollercoaster of a ride that keeps you at the edge of your seat from start to finish Love...... Love...... Silas and Eliijah together their relationship is heartwarming but dangerous and so possessive simply Fantastic recommend so much.
October 14, 2025
I loved this book!
I love dark literature and complicated, well-done plots and this one was definitely the best I've read this year.
Loved the characters! They made me laugh, cry, and feel every emotion they were feeling (even the ones I wished I would've not identified with). The plot is great and the twists and turns were so unexpected they left me shaking at times.
A true rollercoaster of emotions that keeps you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
I love dark literature and complicated, well-done plots and this one was definitely the best I've read this year.
Loved the characters! They made me laugh, cry, and feel every emotion they were feeling (even the ones I wished I would've not identified with). The plot is great and the twists and turns were so unexpected they left me shaking at times.
A true rollercoaster of emotions that keeps you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
November 16, 2025
†I love you," Silas said, the words ripped straight out of him like blood. "I love you both. I've always loved you both. Don't make me choose, baby boy... because I already did. I chose you. All of you.'
Initially I was gonna rate this a 2-3 ⭐️, however the PLOT TWIST HOLY CRAP! Didn’t see that coming from a mile away. I was like how can Silas cheat on Elijah???? But tbh after the plot twist everything made sense.
5⭐️
Initially I was gonna rate this a 2-3 ⭐️, however the PLOT TWIST HOLY CRAP! Didn’t see that coming from a mile away. I was like how can Silas cheat on Elijah???? But tbh after the plot twist everything made sense.
5⭐️
May 21, 2026
I did not see that coming
This book is a seriously twisted read. The ending will truly shock and amaze you! The obsession, the love and the twists alone the way are like nothing you could ever expect. I love a good dark romance with vengeance for good and this book truly delivers.
This book is a seriously twisted read. The ending will truly shock and amaze you! The obsession, the love and the twists alone the way are like nothing you could ever expect. I love a good dark romance with vengeance for good and this book truly delivers.
October 29, 2025
I absolutely should not have liked this book as much as I did. Someone was torturing and killing child abusers which, I know, is not a good thing… but also kind of is?
All I have to say is HOLY PLOT TWIST!
I did not see that coming. I was totally there for it. WOW.
All I have to say is HOLY PLOT TWIST!
I did not see that coming. I was totally there for it. WOW.
May 8, 2026
Cheating
Lots of cheating.
DNF
I wasted like 40 minutes when I could have been reading something good. It was not listed in the TW page. Why do authors do that?
Lots of cheating.
DNF
I wasted like 40 minutes when I could have been reading something good. It was not listed in the TW page. Why do authors do that?
June 19, 2026
Amazing book, i did not saw that coming, the plot, the twist, and the love. I must say at some point i didnt liked Silas, but when i understood, oh, he just wanted the best for Kane and Eli. This book will stay with me a long time.
October 15, 2025
This was dark, twisted, fraught with tension, chaotic in the best way, deceptive with multiple layers interconnected and surprisingly addictive.
November 14, 2025
Dnf 36%
I smelled the twist from the moment Kane was mentioned.
I smelled the twist from the moment Kane was mentioned.
Did Not Finish
June 17, 2026DNF , why is cheating not in the TW page? hello?? the story is good and im tempted to continue but i really really hate cheating so im not sure i can.
August 14, 2026
The fuck happened here 😅 To say there was an unseen plot twist would be the understatement of the century. I’m 100% sure NO ONE could have predicted that twist. Not a single reader.
August 16, 2026
You have to read till the end, it was unexpected.
August 19, 2026
Plot twist for the ages
August 5, 2026
This was a completely new author to me. I picked this up as it was part of a multi-author collaboration and I often use those to try new (to me) authors as I know they’re sticking to the rough framework of the collaboration theme.
So straight up I super enjoyed this and it had a great twist that I didn’t see coming. In fact I intend to read again now that I know in order to see if I can spot the clues.
I’m a firm believer in taking CW seriously and there were a lot with some that worried me. However, I’ve read worse psychiatrist/client manipulation - E Baileu has one that is worse given it involves kidnapping… - so this felt mild. I think the author was covering their bases. If you like darker romances then you’ll be fine IMO.
I can’t really go into much about the plot without giving away the twist, but it was clearly very well thought out and carefully written. The spice was good, balanced for the length of the book and I didn’t feel like more was needed.
Oh and Elijah’s dog gets taken by the bad guy, and don’t worry, the doggo is fine. I can read murder of super bad guys but if anything happens to the pets, well, that’s too far for me!
I’d happy recommend if you fancy a darker read that is more plot over sex focused. I’m going to look at the author’s back catalogue.
So straight up I super enjoyed this and it had a great twist that I didn’t see coming. In fact I intend to read again now that I know in order to see if I can spot the clues.
I’m a firm believer in taking CW seriously and there were a lot with some that worried me. However, I’ve read worse psychiatrist/client manipulation - E Baileu has one that is worse given it involves kidnapping… - so this felt mild. I think the author was covering their bases. If you like darker romances then you’ll be fine IMO.
I can’t really go into much about the plot without giving away the twist, but it was clearly very well thought out and carefully written. The spice was good, balanced for the length of the book and I didn’t feel like more was needed.
Oh and Elijah’s dog gets taken by the bad guy, and don’t worry, the doggo is fine. I can read murder of super bad guys but if anything happens to the pets, well, that’s too far for me!
I’d happy recommend if you fancy a darker read that is more plot over sex focused. I’m going to look at the author’s back catalogue.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews