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Monsters' Bride Market
Bought by the Revenant
I am a thing of horror.
A failed experiment, stitched from mismatched parts. I carved out our place in the wastelands of Alia Terra, yet even my own kind, perfected by my work, avoids me. Hideous and utterly alone.
Years ago, consumed by this loneliness, I sent my blood to a Marriage Temple, and to my surprise, I was matched to a maiden. What happened when she saw me sent me into a spiral of despair and grim thoughts. I vanished behind my mansion's gates, forever.
But forever is a long time to be lonely. If this is my fate, then I’ll reject my immortality and be done with it. Or I can try once more…
I visit the bride market with no hope in my soul. I bid on every woman, the highest offer, always refused. Until...
She points at me. "Sold." Our eyes meet. I don’t know why this fierce, beautiful woman lets me buy her. I pull my cloak tighter, sure she is terrified. No matter. If I can have her, I'll hide my form, never touch her.
Welcome to the bride market! Monsters bid, you choose.
This is a spin-off series to Arranged Monster Mates. We're back on Alia Terra with steamy stories told by your favorite paranormal romance Eva Brandt, Lia Frost, Cara Wylde, and Ava York.
A failed experiment, stitched from mismatched parts. I carved out our place in the wastelands of Alia Terra, yet even my own kind, perfected by my work, avoids me. Hideous and utterly alone.
Years ago, consumed by this loneliness, I sent my blood to a Marriage Temple, and to my surprise, I was matched to a maiden. What happened when she saw me sent me into a spiral of despair and grim thoughts. I vanished behind my mansion's gates, forever.
But forever is a long time to be lonely. If this is my fate, then I’ll reject my immortality and be done with it. Or I can try once more…
I visit the bride market with no hope in my soul. I bid on every woman, the highest offer, always refused. Until...
She points at me. "Sold." Our eyes meet. I don’t know why this fierce, beautiful woman lets me buy her. I pull my cloak tighter, sure she is terrified. No matter. If I can have her, I'll hide my form, never touch her.
Welcome to the bride market! Monsters bid, you choose.
This is a spin-off series to Arranged Monster Mates. We're back on Alia Terra with steamy stories told by your favorite paranormal romance Eva Brandt, Lia Frost, Cara Wylde, and Ava York.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2025
About the author
Cara Wylde
171 books723 followersCara Wylde loves to write about strong, feisty women and their hot Alphas who will do anything to make them happy. Her books are filled with romance and just a dash of mystery, suspense, and that eerie atmosphere she fell in love with reading too many gothic novels. With a master's degree in Comparative Literature, she can't help but play with tropes and themes from various genres, trying to come up with fresh perspectives on the paranormal characters her readers love so much. Vampires, shape-shifters, demons, witches... Cara will always make sure they get their own twists.
When she's not writing, Cara is reading, planning her next story, or daydreaming. Her idea of pure heaven is a day filled with nothing but her laptop, a huge coffee pot, relaxing music, and a new, exciting project.
When she's not writing, Cara is reading, planning her next story, or daydreaming. Her idea of pure heaven is a day filled with nothing but her laptop, a huge coffee pot, relaxing music, and a new, exciting project.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
October 22, 2025
Listen, I’m all for spicy scenes, primal, raw, dark, rough, you name it, I’m game. But this story didn’t need any of that. When you set the book up for a sort of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ plot, introducing the aforementioned elements feels utterly out of place and downright…wrong. You’ll understand what I mean when you’ll read about Riven’s character.
‘Bought by the Revenant’ starts as a powerful, heartbreaking, and captivating monster romance that promises a solid five-star read. For the first half, this novella delivers a sweet, character-driven story of deep, lonely connection. Unfortunately, it devolves into overused tropes and a jarring change in tone that significantly detracts from the initial magic.
The setup is perfect: Amity is a midwife on the run, pursued by three hunters from her town, who intend to sacrifice her to an ancient, vengeful god named Draug to end a devastating drought. Her crime? Saving a mother and newborn baby from death, thereby robbing the god of new souls. Fleeing her impending doom, Amity finds herself in Crosshold and is bought at a Bride Market by Riven.
Riven is the titular revenant—an ethereal soul tragically fused into a body stitched together from various dead parts. Don’t expect the book to explain to you the mechanics of his eating, sexual performance, and even procreation, you'll need to turn a blind eye to the functioning dead tissue and just slap the magic word on it and be done with. What makes Riven unforgettable, however, is his profound humanity. His past is genuinely gut-wrenching and tear-inducing. He is defined by his loneliness, awkwardness, and desperate yearning for connection. Living in a mansion like a gothic-tinged Beast, he fills his eternal existence with science and magic, constantly battling thoughts of self-disgust.
The early dynamic between Amity and Riven is the book’s undeniable strength. Back at the Bride Market, Amity is compelled to participate in the auction and Riven wins the bid. Now she’s trapped between a monster and a sacrifice, so Amity chooses Riven. What follows is a beautiful, painfully tender courtship. Riven goes to great lengths not to scare or disgust her, while Amity, in turn, is careful not to offend him. She finds joy working in his sprawling gardens and kitchen, and her smile and voice become the only connection Riven craves.
Amity slowly begins to see past the stitched monster to the kind, lonely, and desperate soul trapped within. The climax of their connection is exquisite: after Riven stitches a wound on her arm and shares his heartbreaking history, Amity looks at him and calls him a beautiful soul. Her courageous and compassionate kiss brings Riven to tears—a truly memorable moment of acceptance and emotional release. And trust me, this is the most beautiful thing in the book, the hug they had and this soul crushing kiss. What comes next was unnecessary and disturbing, perhaps because the story is too short and doesn’t offer enough space for development for Riven’s complex character. And because he was very awkward with the whole interaction and not knowing how to act around Amity’s sudden craving for him. He was also a virgin and that only enhanced the scenes to feel forced.
Where the Story Failed
Sadly, this beautiful, nuanced development is ruined by a barrage of clichés in the final act.
>>> The Cliché Save: The hunters predictably return to take Amity, and Riven predictably saves her.
>>> The Magic Fix: Riven saves her life with a blood transfusion—his "universal donor" revenant blood infuses her with magic, granting her a lifespan of over 100+ years. This sudden introduction of magic-as-cure-all feels unearned and convenient.
>>> The Unnecessary HEA & Spice: The story culminates in a clichéd "happily ever after" with a child and a synchronized death years later (her from old age, him by choice). Furthermore, the spicy scenes are surprisingly awkward and strangely written. For a character who spent centuries with anxious loneliness and a desire for delicate connection, the sexual behavior felt uncharacteristic and borderline pornographic in a way that didn't fit the established tone or Riven's personality. I believe Riven deserved something else than this, but that’s my personal choice, based on how the character was presented to us. All this felt just…wrong.
I wanted a dark, deeply emotional monster romance focused on building a respectful, real connection over time, because that’s what the book was setting us for. What I got instead were the sweet, beautiful beginnings of that story, which were then sidelined by overused tropes and uncharacteristic sexual behavior. While the first half is a stunning five-star look into the depths of loneliness and finding unexpected acceptance, the forced, abrupt, and tonally jarring ending ultimately makes this a disappointing read.
‘Bought by the Revenant’ starts as a powerful, heartbreaking, and captivating monster romance that promises a solid five-star read. For the first half, this novella delivers a sweet, character-driven story of deep, lonely connection. Unfortunately, it devolves into overused tropes and a jarring change in tone that significantly detracts from the initial magic.
The setup is perfect: Amity is a midwife on the run, pursued by three hunters from her town, who intend to sacrifice her to an ancient, vengeful god named Draug to end a devastating drought. Her crime? Saving a mother and newborn baby from death, thereby robbing the god of new souls. Fleeing her impending doom, Amity finds herself in Crosshold and is bought at a Bride Market by Riven.
Riven is the titular revenant—an ethereal soul tragically fused into a body stitched together from various dead parts. Don’t expect the book to explain to you the mechanics of his eating, sexual performance, and even procreation, you'll need to turn a blind eye to the functioning dead tissue and just slap the magic word on it and be done with. What makes Riven unforgettable, however, is his profound humanity. His past is genuinely gut-wrenching and tear-inducing. He is defined by his loneliness, awkwardness, and desperate yearning for connection. Living in a mansion like a gothic-tinged Beast, he fills his eternal existence with science and magic, constantly battling thoughts of self-disgust.
The early dynamic between Amity and Riven is the book’s undeniable strength. Back at the Bride Market, Amity is compelled to participate in the auction and Riven wins the bid. Now she’s trapped between a monster and a sacrifice, so Amity chooses Riven. What follows is a beautiful, painfully tender courtship. Riven goes to great lengths not to scare or disgust her, while Amity, in turn, is careful not to offend him. She finds joy working in his sprawling gardens and kitchen, and her smile and voice become the only connection Riven craves.
Amity slowly begins to see past the stitched monster to the kind, lonely, and desperate soul trapped within. The climax of their connection is exquisite: after Riven stitches a wound on her arm and shares his heartbreaking history, Amity looks at him and calls him a beautiful soul. Her courageous and compassionate kiss brings Riven to tears—a truly memorable moment of acceptance and emotional release. And trust me, this is the most beautiful thing in the book, the hug they had and this soul crushing kiss. What comes next was unnecessary and disturbing, perhaps because the story is too short and doesn’t offer enough space for development for Riven’s complex character. And because he was very awkward with the whole interaction and not knowing how to act around Amity’s sudden craving for him. He was also a virgin and that only enhanced the scenes to feel forced.
Where the Story Failed
Sadly, this beautiful, nuanced development is ruined by a barrage of clichés in the final act.
>>> The Cliché Save: The hunters predictably return to take Amity, and Riven predictably saves her.
>>> The Magic Fix: Riven saves her life with a blood transfusion—his "universal donor" revenant blood infuses her with magic, granting her a lifespan of over 100+ years. This sudden introduction of magic-as-cure-all feels unearned and convenient.
>>> The Unnecessary HEA & Spice: The story culminates in a clichéd "happily ever after" with a child and a synchronized death years later (her from old age, him by choice). Furthermore, the spicy scenes are surprisingly awkward and strangely written. For a character who spent centuries with anxious loneliness and a desire for delicate connection, the sexual behavior felt uncharacteristic and borderline pornographic in a way that didn't fit the established tone or Riven's personality. I believe Riven deserved something else than this, but that’s my personal choice, based on how the character was presented to us. All this felt just…wrong.
I wanted a dark, deeply emotional monster romance focused on building a respectful, real connection over time, because that’s what the book was setting us for. What I got instead were the sweet, beautiful beginnings of that story, which were then sidelined by overused tropes and uncharacteristic sexual behavior. While the first half is a stunning five-star look into the depths of loneliness and finding unexpected acceptance, the forced, abrupt, and tonally jarring ending ultimately makes this a disappointing read.
May 26, 2026
Me gusto 😊🤩
October 14, 2025
Short and sweet, nice quick read with a happy ending
September 2, 2026
This was surprisingly beautiful. I even teared up at the end. I also very much enjoyed the strong Creature/Elizabeth Lavenza (Frankenstein, 2025) vibes. I feel like this story was the author's way of giving them the HEA they deserved. So, if any of you ever watched that movie and wistfully thought, "I wish they had ended up together," this book is definitely for you.
October 4, 2025
Quick Summary:
Bought By the Revenant is the first spin off book. It an extension of the previous marriage temple books. It provides insight into the women who don't qualify for the temple and want and or need to marry a monster.
What I Liked:
The standout feature for me was the Male Main Character (MMC). He's an absolute monster in the classic, terrifying, and yet compelling Frankenstein mold. I pictured him as a scarred-up, dangerous version of the swoon-worthy Adam from the 2014 Frankenstein film—that kind of compelling duality. He’s more grizzled and scarred, maybe like the creature from Van Helsing. I appreciate that the author chose to highlight a type of monster that often gets passed over in the paranormal romance world.
I’m also still reeling from the ending. A major plot point had me seriously doubting whether I'd get the resolution I needed, and I was honestly ready to accept that the question would go unanswered. But then... the answer hit. It was shocking and utterly satisfying. I have truly no words to express how unprepared I was for that final reveal.
What I Disliked:
Laugh if you like but there just wasn't enough for me.It was phenomenal and would have liked to expound more on things. Was a little rushed at times. Everything just happened so fast...
Who I Would Recommend This To:
If you're searching for the perfect book to curl up with for Halloween—or any time you want a spooky, paranormal vibe—look no further. This story stands out thanks to its fascinating Male Main Character (MMC), who offers a refreshing change from the usual tropes. With a tone that leans grey (not quite dark, but certainly not light) and a generous amount of heat, this book expertly balances a compelling, substantial plot with plenty of spice.
DISCLOSURE:
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a review and chose to do so to share my honest perspective. All opinions are my own.
Bought By the Revenant is the first spin off book. It an extension of the previous marriage temple books. It provides insight into the women who don't qualify for the temple and want and or need to marry a monster.
What I Liked:
The standout feature for me was the Male Main Character (MMC). He's an absolute monster in the classic, terrifying, and yet compelling Frankenstein mold. I pictured him as a scarred-up, dangerous version of the swoon-worthy Adam from the 2014 Frankenstein film—that kind of compelling duality. He’s more grizzled and scarred, maybe like the creature from Van Helsing. I appreciate that the author chose to highlight a type of monster that often gets passed over in the paranormal romance world.
I’m also still reeling from the ending. A major plot point had me seriously doubting whether I'd get the resolution I needed, and I was honestly ready to accept that the question would go unanswered. But then... the answer hit. It was shocking and utterly satisfying. I have truly no words to express how unprepared I was for that final reveal.
What I Disliked:
Laugh if you like but there just wasn't enough for me.It was phenomenal and would have liked to expound more on things. Was a little rushed at times. Everything just happened so fast...
Who I Would Recommend This To:
If you're searching for the perfect book to curl up with for Halloween—or any time you want a spooky, paranormal vibe—look no further. This story stands out thanks to its fascinating Male Main Character (MMC), who offers a refreshing change from the usual tropes. With a tone that leans grey (not quite dark, but certainly not light) and a generous amount of heat, this book expertly balances a compelling, substantial plot with plenty of spice.
DISCLOSURE:
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a review and chose to do so to share my honest perspective. All opinions are my own.
January 22, 2026
6 🌟
I NEVER give out 6 stars. EVER. So this is saying something.
Who would’ve thought, that a book this short, would succeed in moving me, a cold-hearted reader, to tears. I think a part of my soul just shrivelled up and died. Such a freaking cute story of love and hope and recovery. My heart is forever broken and healed simultaneously.
I NEVER give out 6 stars. EVER. So this is saying something.
Who would’ve thought, that a book this short, would succeed in moving me, a cold-hearted reader, to tears. I think a part of my soul just shrivelled up and died. Such a freaking cute story of love and hope and recovery. My heart is forever broken and healed simultaneously.
March 23, 2026
Okay, I was loving this one, great narration, great plot and the sweetest couple, but I did NOT need that Notebook worthy ending 😐😭.
August 4, 2026
🎧 Audiobook Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️ 1.5/5 Spice
📖 Bought by the Revenant
✍️ Cara Wylde
🎧 Audiobook: Audible
🎙️ Narrated by: John Hartley & Lucy Jessica
I absolutely loved this one! Bought by the Revenant completely caught me off guard in the best way. I went in expecting a fun monster romance, but what I got was an emotional, heartfelt story that had me thinking, WTF… I was not expecting that! Riven is giving major Frankenstein meets Beauty and the Beast vibes, and his journey completely stole my heart.
Amity and Riven’s relationship was so beautifully developed, and the longing, vulnerability, and emotion between them had me hooked from start to finish. The writing was fantastic, the pacing never dragged, and every chapter kept me wanting more. And that epilogue… WOW. It was the perfect ending and left me with all the feelings.
The audiobook made the experience even better. John Hartley perfectly captured Riven’s loneliness, longing, and quiet hope, making every emotional moment hit even harder. Lucy Jessica brought warmth and strength to Amity, and together they made this story incredibly immersive.
If you love emotional monster romances with a scarred, misunderstood hero, a fierce heroine, and a romance that will absolutely tug on your heartstrings, don’t sleep on this one. It was a five-star read for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️ 1.5/5 Spice
📖 Bought by the Revenant
✍️ Cara Wylde
🎧 Audiobook: Audible
🎙️ Narrated by: John Hartley & Lucy Jessica
I absolutely loved this one! Bought by the Revenant completely caught me off guard in the best way. I went in expecting a fun monster romance, but what I got was an emotional, heartfelt story that had me thinking, WTF… I was not expecting that! Riven is giving major Frankenstein meets Beauty and the Beast vibes, and his journey completely stole my heart.
Amity and Riven’s relationship was so beautifully developed, and the longing, vulnerability, and emotion between them had me hooked from start to finish. The writing was fantastic, the pacing never dragged, and every chapter kept me wanting more. And that epilogue… WOW. It was the perfect ending and left me with all the feelings.
The audiobook made the experience even better. John Hartley perfectly captured Riven’s loneliness, longing, and quiet hope, making every emotional moment hit even harder. Lucy Jessica brought warmth and strength to Amity, and together they made this story incredibly immersive.
If you love emotional monster romances with a scarred, misunderstood hero, a fierce heroine, and a romance that will absolutely tug on your heartstrings, don’t sleep on this one. It was a five-star read for me.
August 22, 2026
another don’t ask sort of read. i had to treat myself after finishing my bachelor with brain rot
October 2, 2026
Calificación:★☆☆☆☆(1/5)
Este libro es tan larva que se quedó en gusano y no pudo ser mariposa.
Este libro es tan larva que se quedó en gusano y no pudo ser mariposa.
April 24, 2026
ESE FINAL ES DOLOROSAMENTE HERMOSO, ME ROMPIÓ EL CORAZÓN AMÉ MUCHO ESTE LIBRO, BASTA 😭💖
no tiene final triste no se preocupen pero igual deja un dolorcito
no tiene final triste no se preocupen pero igual deja un dolorcito
October 12, 2025
I loved I can’t wait for more !
June 8, 2026
This was a sweet monster book. Nice palate cleanser.
March 8, 2026
for a novella? hell yeah. we need more beauty-and-the beast-retellings, there‘s just something about an insecure man
April 17, 2026
Super short but adorable audiobook. A ton of character growth on both ends, and such a sweet loving couple. Love that the epilogue takes you through their whole life! 💕 loved it.
December 17, 2025
I loved the book right up til the ending. Would have gotten five stars for sure. Books with sad endings are not my jam at all and I wouldn’t have read this if I’d known in advance.
A single line of “he found her soul in the afterlife and they danced and loved each other for the rest of their bodiless eternities” or something would have made this so much better.
I’m so mad about how the book ends that I refuse to read any further.
A single line of “he found her soul in the afterlife and they danced and loved each other for the rest of their bodiless eternities” or something would have made this so much better.
I’m so mad about how the book ends that I refuse to read any further.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2025
WTH? Sure, some good writing. Spice? Very, very little. HEA? NO.
This is a slight twist on the Frankenstein mythos. I was expecting a bunch of hot spiciness, some drama, and a great HEA. Instead There was ONE spicy scene, a little drama, and no happy ending. It was like a slightly warmed Hallmark story for monsters.
Therw was a lot of potential here. Big, big disappointment.
Nope.
This is a slight twist on the Frankenstein mythos. I was expecting a bunch of hot spiciness, some drama, and a great HEA. Instead There was ONE spicy scene, a little drama, and no happy ending. It was like a slightly warmed Hallmark story for monsters.
Therw was a lot of potential here. Big, big disappointment.
Nope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
Gorgeous cover, okay story. Something felt missing and it was hard to put my finger on. I wasn't really engrossed in the story and once she f'ed him, I kinda lost interest.
February 22, 2026
dnf @ 12% because the choice to fill the book with ai art of the characters was made then I look up the author and their entire instagram is shitty ai videos.
no thanks 🙂↔️
no thanks 🙂↔️
October 16, 2025
OMG I wanted more!!!!!!
this was not long enough.
But it was a good story.
Amity is running for her life when she stumbled upon a bride market for monsters to find a wife. A revenant bids on her. He's her last hope... Thinking she's finally safe she let's her guard down and gets to know him... Riven.
Could she see him as anything but a monster?? Doubtful. Riven is tired of being lonely. He doesn't expect much from Amity. What he gets is everything he needs and more! She's his everything. But when she's taken from him. He'll be the monster they all fear to get her back.
this was not long enough.
But it was a good story.
Amity is running for her life when she stumbled upon a bride market for monsters to find a wife. A revenant bids on her. He's her last hope... Thinking she's finally safe she let's her guard down and gets to know him... Riven.
Could she see him as anything but a monster?? Doubtful. Riven is tired of being lonely. He doesn't expect much from Amity. What he gets is everything he needs and more! She's his everything. But when she's taken from him. He'll be the monster they all fear to get her back.
November 6, 2025
“Step aside, creature,” the man says. “That woman belongs to Draug.” “I don’t know who Draug is,” I say, my voice low and even, “but she belongs to herself, and has chosen to come with me.”
She belongs to herself.
SAY IT AGAIN FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!!
She belongs to herself.
SAY IT AGAIN FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!!
November 16, 2025
I loved this book. It was unconventional even by monster book standards Read in one sitting, regret nothing.
But gotta say.. ma’am, that ending DESTROYED me. 😭like 💯 cried and I was NOT expecting that kinda reaction. I mean wow. I’m giving it 5⭐️
But gotta say.. ma’am, that ending DESTROYED me. 😭like 💯 cried and I was NOT expecting that kinda reaction. I mean wow. I’m giving it 5⭐️
February 1, 2026
This was almost 5 stars for me, I would say a solid 4.5. I loved both of the characters so much! I wished the book was longer (only because I didn't want to end) but it did not feel too short in a way that takes away or rushes a story along.
December 28, 2025
Se me fue súper rápido el libro. Bastante entretenido y lindo
January 10, 2026
What a great quick read !!
March 22, 2026
A sweet retelling of the story Beauty and the Beast.
April 21, 2026
Oh wow
This was so much more than I expected! It’s exactly what you hope for in a short romance story and I love that it made me emotional.
The world is easy to see, the conflicts are convincing, the characters have depth, and the connection between the two main people is so sweet.
No notes, truly. I just want more. Go read it!
This was so much more than I expected! It’s exactly what you hope for in a short romance story and I love that it made me emotional.
The world is easy to see, the conflicts are convincing, the characters have depth, and the connection between the two main people is so sweet.
No notes, truly. I just want more. Go read it!
January 27, 2026
reseña pendiente
December 19, 2025
Okay I was expecting just spice and nothing else but this was actually really sweet and fun… new monster series anyone??
April 16, 2026
Dude why did this book make me ugly cry?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews