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Monstrous Cravings #1
The Thorn and the Spire
One lonely demon. One curious librarian. One tale twisted by time…
Beau’s father is missing.
The trail leads to the Spires, a casino with a dangerous reputation run by Cillian Ashmore, a demon whose ruthlessness is renowned. His father landed himself a ten-year imprisonment, but Beau offers to take his place. Yet Cillian is as cold and callous as he’s rumored to be, prepared to make Beau’s time as his personal assistant hellish.
The mysteries in the upper tiers of the Spires multiply by the day, and the further Beau explores, the more questions he has. Why sometimes the rooms are empty and other times monsters lurk within. Why Cillian seems cruel yet has the friendship and loyalty of those around him.
And the more Beau discovers, the more he learns that Cillian’s cruelty is a mask he dons, that the demon has depths he’d never dreamed of. Too easily, that loathing morphs to lust and to something intense and unforgettable.
Yet Cillian’s made himself dangerous enemies, true threats lying in wait beyond the Spires, and unbeknownst to Beau, he’s running out of time…
Beau’s father is missing.
The trail leads to the Spires, a casino with a dangerous reputation run by Cillian Ashmore, a demon whose ruthlessness is renowned. His father landed himself a ten-year imprisonment, but Beau offers to take his place. Yet Cillian is as cold and callous as he’s rumored to be, prepared to make Beau’s time as his personal assistant hellish.
The mysteries in the upper tiers of the Spires multiply by the day, and the further Beau explores, the more questions he has. Why sometimes the rooms are empty and other times monsters lurk within. Why Cillian seems cruel yet has the friendship and loyalty of those around him.
And the more Beau discovers, the more he learns that Cillian’s cruelty is a mask he dons, that the demon has depths he’d never dreamed of. Too easily, that loathing morphs to lust and to something intense and unforgettable.
Yet Cillian’s made himself dangerous enemies, true threats lying in wait beyond the Spires, and unbeknownst to Beau, he’s running out of time…
322 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2025
44 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Katherine McIntyre
85 books715 followersGeeky Queer Romance.
Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.
Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
September 22, 2025
⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️
🎶 There's something sweet and almost kind
But he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined
And now he's dear and so unsure
I wonder why I didn't see it there before 🎶
Beauty And The Beast with a paranormal twist, a mix of modern and fairytale world-building, a sexy enemies to lovers romance.
To save his father, Beau takes his place as prisoner for ‘the Beast’, demon owner of The Spires. A tale as old as time…
This retelling is very similar to the original fairytale, some scenes almost identical, but I kind of enjoyed the nostalgia of it. I also liked the paranormal aspect, the world having both humans and monsters, the found family vibes.
The spice was sexy, but also exactly what you’d expect. The beast being a dom power top, Beau a bratty size queen, lots of rough play with little prep, a chase/primal play scene. I wouldn’t have minded a bit of role reversal, or even just a soft lovemaking scene, just to switch things up a little. Or a tail? Tails are always a good time.
What I didn’t expect was Cillian having a knot. Now, that’s fun.
That shift from hate to love was too abrupt for me. It’s a pretty fast-paced read so I didn’t expect a slow burn, but I would’ve liked a bit more build-up of their relationship, more pining from Cillian, more of Beau seeing Cillian in a different light.
Still, this was a very fun retelling, and I’m very excited to see more of this series. Next up, The Little Mermaid.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Violence
- Murder
- Death of a family member
- Captive/captor
- Demon vs human
- Top/bottom
- MC w/ guiche piercing
- Sensitive horns
- CNC/primal play
- Knotting
- Bondage
- Rough play
- Edging
- Rimming
🎶 There's something sweet and almost kind
But he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined
And now he's dear and so unsure
I wonder why I didn't see it there before 🎶
Danger lingered around the man like an aura. Too bad for me I was addicted.
Beauty And The Beast with a paranormal twist, a mix of modern and fairytale world-building, a sexy enemies to lovers romance.
To save his father, Beau takes his place as prisoner for ‘the Beast’, demon owner of The Spires. A tale as old as time…
We were destined for either a love foretold by the stars themselves or absolute ruin. I still wasn’t sure which.
This retelling is very similar to the original fairytale, some scenes almost identical, but I kind of enjoyed the nostalgia of it. I also liked the paranormal aspect, the world having both humans and monsters, the found family vibes.
“Careful what you wish for. If I take you tonight, pet, I won’t be nice.” My blood scorched. “What about me made you think I wanted nice?”
The spice was sexy, but also exactly what you’d expect. The beast being a dom power top, Beau a bratty size queen, lots of rough play with little prep, a chase/primal play scene. I wouldn’t have minded a bit of role reversal, or even just a soft lovemaking scene, just to switch things up a little. Or a tail? Tails are always a good time.
What I didn’t expect was Cillian having a knot. Now, that’s fun.
How I’d gone from overwhelmed by his presence to somehow comforted by it mystified me, but the shift had been drastic and transformative.
That shift from hate to love was too abrupt for me. It’s a pretty fast-paced read so I didn’t expect a slow burn, but I would’ve liked a bit more build-up of their relationship, more pining from Cillian, more of Beau seeing Cillian in a different light.
Still, this was a very fun retelling, and I’m very excited to see more of this series. Next up, The Little Mermaid.
And even if I lived a thousand lives, I’d choose him every time.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Violence
- Murder
- Death of a family member
- Captive/captor
- Demon vs human
- Top/bottom
- MC w/ guiche piercing
- Sensitive horns
- CNC/primal play
- Knotting
- Bondage
- Rough play
- Edging
- Rimming
November 4, 2025
Wonderful, wonderful book. Beautiful story. Absolute and complete 5 stars. Everything, I love everything about this book, every single aspect. Cillian... Beau... head over heels on BOTH of them, just remarkable. I enjoyed this book so much. I was "captivated" from the very first chapter. Willingly captivated... Honestly what a joy this book was, from the fascinating world Kat created to the mesmerizing main (☝️ and side) characters we get discover. What a gift! The remarkable Beau narrated, and his POV, I was enthralled. Last but not least... the kink... the kinky scenes portrayed in this book were just phenomenal, no words, just 🔟's all over.
I am over the moon to know this amazing talented author is going to make a monstrous series, and on top of that it's a Retellings series! So so happy that I follow Kat McIntyre work ❤️. Huge huge fan!
Anyway... HOW COOL IS THE NAME "Cillian" ?? Pronounced 'Killian' but spells 'Cillian'... Hot Damn! That is a cool ass name, just saying.
Quotes that made me melt:
B:"Why is anyone in there when this exists?” I asked, not expecting an answer.
C:“People mistake city lights for the stars,” Cillian said. His words were simple, blunt, but they settled deep in my bones with a resonance I didn’t want to admit.
^ happened while they were enjoying the beautiful gardens in the Spires.
... ... ...
C:“Do you always ask this many questions?”
B:“Why do you think I became a librarian?”
^ fair ☝️
... ... ...
C:“Sit”
B:“I’m not a dog.” Why I couldn’t seem to hold my tongue around him was beyond me, but he hadn’t lashed out yet. Another mystery to add to the stack.
C:“If you were a dog, you’d be far more loyal and much less inquisitive,”
B:“Spoken like someone who’s never met a dog before,” I said, crossing my arms. “But I’m more of a cat person anyway.”
C:“Figures.”
^ An example of the hilarious banter one can expect.
... ... ...
B:“I was always the odd kid in my hometown,” I murmured, my chest tightening at the memories. Books had been my steadfast companions through it all. “Changes your perspective.”
C:“I hate to break it to you…but you’re still odd.”
B: I blinked. “Was that…a joke, Cillian Ashmore?”
He let out a bark of a laugh, as brilliant and sharp as sunlight, and cracked his door open.
C:“You won’t get another from me.”
... ... ...
B: When I’d first come to the doors of the Spires, I’d believed my life was ending, when in truth it had only just begun. I’d thought Cillian was my captor, but he’d been the one to set me free.
Seriously, what a beautiful story Kat shared with us, I'm very excited to follow this series. Fiction heals the soul. Period.
Socials | BookBub | StoryGraph | Reviews On Goodreads
I am over the moon to know this amazing talented author is going to make a monstrous series, and on top of that it's a Retellings series! So so happy that I follow Kat McIntyre work ❤️. Huge huge fan!
Anyway... HOW COOL IS THE NAME "Cillian" ?? Pronounced 'Killian' but spells 'Cillian'... Hot Damn! That is a cool ass name, just saying.
Quotes that made me melt:
B:"Why is anyone in there when this exists?” I asked, not expecting an answer.
C:“People mistake city lights for the stars,” Cillian said. His words were simple, blunt, but they settled deep in my bones with a resonance I didn’t want to admit.
^ happened while they were enjoying the beautiful gardens in the Spires.
... ... ...
C:“Do you always ask this many questions?”
B:“Why do you think I became a librarian?”
^ fair ☝️
... ... ...
C:“Sit”
B:“I’m not a dog.” Why I couldn’t seem to hold my tongue around him was beyond me, but he hadn’t lashed out yet. Another mystery to add to the stack.
C:“If you were a dog, you’d be far more loyal and much less inquisitive,”
B:“Spoken like someone who’s never met a dog before,” I said, crossing my arms. “But I’m more of a cat person anyway.”
C:“Figures.”
^ An example of the hilarious banter one can expect.
... ... ...
B:“I was always the odd kid in my hometown,” I murmured, my chest tightening at the memories. Books had been my steadfast companions through it all. “Changes your perspective.”
C:“I hate to break it to you…but you’re still odd.”
B: I blinked. “Was that…a joke, Cillian Ashmore?”
He let out a bark of a laugh, as brilliant and sharp as sunlight, and cracked his door open.
C:“You won’t get another from me.”
... ... ...
B: When I’d first come to the doors of the Spires, I’d believed my life was ending, when in truth it had only just begun. I’d thought Cillian was my captor, but he’d been the one to set me free.
Seriously, what a beautiful story Kat shared with us, I'm very excited to follow this series. Fiction heals the soul. Period.
Socials | BookBub | StoryGraph | Reviews On Goodreads
September 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
First person/1 POV
Beauty and the Beast retelling
Kink + (knotting, primal, horns)
Enemy’s to lovers
Found family
“Worth it right?” (Looking at Cillian) “Yeah, worth it.” I wasn’t talking about the gardens
I loved this take on beauty and the beast. Sometimes I don’t love retelling but this one was definitely an interesting take. Beau & Cillian have a slow start to their romance. There’s tension, mystery, and stubbornness. The spice was great as well. But altogether a very well thought retelling. Will definitely be reading more from this author
“Mere months with you was worth a decade.”
“Even if I lived a thousand lives, I’d choose him every time.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️
First person/1 POV
Beauty and the Beast retelling
Kink + (knotting, primal, horns)
Enemy’s to lovers
Found family
“Worth it right?” (Looking at Cillian) “Yeah, worth it.” I wasn’t talking about the gardens
I loved this take on beauty and the beast. Sometimes I don’t love retelling but this one was definitely an interesting take. Beau & Cillian have a slow start to their romance. There’s tension, mystery, and stubbornness. The spice was great as well. But altogether a very well thought retelling. Will definitely be reading more from this author
“Mere months with you was worth a decade.”
“Even if I lived a thousand lives, I’d choose him every time.”
November 3, 2025
Wow, what a great start to this new monster series! Plus, extra points for being a Beauty and the Beast retelling.
Beau and Cillian would have never met if it wasn't for Beau's father going missing and Beau ending up at the place he was last seen. The Spire. Casino in an actual castle, owned by Cillian, who just happens to be a demon. Beau's completely selfish when he offers to take his father's place, without even knowing why he was there, but he could never imagine what was coming his way.
Cillian is a demon of mystery, coming across as a hard, impenetrable fortress that Beau now has to work for and be confined to the spire with for ten years. But it doesn't take long for small acts to show a different side - books left on Beau's bedside table, taking their lunch in the garden instead of in the office. Little acts of kindness draw Beau's attention, making him see Cillian as a person, rather than his captor.
The found family feel here is so wonderful, giving a lighter side to the place that Beau has to live. Amelia, Charles and Theo are the main group. A witch, a human, and a werewolf. A very eclectic group but they clearly care for each other and are protective as well, especially of Cillian.
When it comes to Beau and Cillian getting closer ... Hot. Damn. Now there are some scenes on fire! Such different people but clearly made for each other in how their wants, needs and desires align. Beau is able to be open about his hidden darker wants whilst Cillian can hone in on his natural instincts to give the human exactly what he wants.
The story isn't without danger, though. Cillian has enemies who want what he has, and don't agree with how he conducts business. Actually caring about others, and not just money. Perish the thought! There are some tense moments, including kidnapping and ab on page murder but it all brings us to the HEA that both men deserve.
Fantastic writing, and I loved the scene setting. I was so easily able to imagine The Spire and places within. I highly recommend this read and am looking forward to the next in the series.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Beau and Cillian would have never met if it wasn't for Beau's father going missing and Beau ending up at the place he was last seen. The Spire. Casino in an actual castle, owned by Cillian, who just happens to be a demon. Beau's completely selfish when he offers to take his father's place, without even knowing why he was there, but he could never imagine what was coming his way.
Cillian is a demon of mystery, coming across as a hard, impenetrable fortress that Beau now has to work for and be confined to the spire with for ten years. But it doesn't take long for small acts to show a different side - books left on Beau's bedside table, taking their lunch in the garden instead of in the office. Little acts of kindness draw Beau's attention, making him see Cillian as a person, rather than his captor.
The found family feel here is so wonderful, giving a lighter side to the place that Beau has to live. Amelia, Charles and Theo are the main group. A witch, a human, and a werewolf. A very eclectic group but they clearly care for each other and are protective as well, especially of Cillian.
When it comes to Beau and Cillian getting closer ... Hot. Damn. Now there are some scenes on fire! Such different people but clearly made for each other in how their wants, needs and desires align. Beau is able to be open about his hidden darker wants whilst Cillian can hone in on his natural instincts to give the human exactly what he wants.
The story isn't without danger, though. Cillian has enemies who want what he has, and don't agree with how he conducts business. Actually caring about others, and not just money. Perish the thought! There are some tense moments, including kidnapping and ab on page murder but it all brings us to the HEA that both men deserve.
Fantastic writing, and I loved the scene setting. I was so easily able to imagine The Spire and places within. I highly recommend this read and am looking forward to the next in the series.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
December 2, 2025
4.6 stars
November 7, 2025
The Thorn And The Spire by Katherine McIntyre
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Monstrous Stars
📚 Monstrous Cravings Series - Book One
⬆️ Ebook ARC
😏 Adult MM Fantasy PNR
🥀 Twisted Fairy Tale – Beauty & The Beast Retelling
(but make it feral, filthy, and unexpectedly tender)
👀 Action, Tension & Deliciously Spice 🌶
😈 Alluring Monsters ✨️
🎰 Set in Spires Casino, on the outskirts of Peregrine City.
👉 One First-Person POV
🤨 Brooding Monster x Snarky Human 😏
💼 Stubborn Boss x Brave, Sharp-Tongued Employee 💻📚
🤝 Working Together
😏 Snark as Love Language 🤌
🧲 Opposites Attract
🔥 Enemies To Lovers
💘 Attraction At First Sight
🧲 Touch & Love-Starved
😏 Seductive Villain Energy
😡 Touch Him And 💀
🤌 Size Difference (I have such a weakness for when the big one scoops the other up... ngh)
⌛️ Age Difference 🤌
🌶 Spice Menu:
BDSM
👀 Captor/Captive • Primal • Knotting • Bondage • Rough Play • Edging • Breeding
👉 CNC
😈 Demon Tongue + Claws + Sensitive Horns
😏🗯 Dirty Talk & Queen Size Bottom w Guiche piercing
📖 Spicy Library Scene (😉😉😳)
🥵 Medium-Burn
🔥 Spice Level (Intensity, not frequency):
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
MCs:
🌹⏳️👿 Cillian Ashmore - Demon:
Black hair, golden eyes, long fangs, muscular build, broad shoulders, bright red skin and curled black horns... sin in a suit with a feral attitude.
A wealthy businessman who owns The Spires casino.
He’s always surrounded by people, yet he can’t shake the loneliness.
Protective, loyal, and surprisingly sweet... though he doesn’t show that side to just anyone. ❤️🔥
📚☕️ Beau Taylor – Human, 25yo
Blond curls, slender build. Sweet and full of heart, addicted to caffeine (who isn’t?), books and a cat lover.
Beau lives a life filled with too much solitude.
An introverted librarian with a mouthy, snarky streak, quiet most of the time, but when he speaks, it’s usually sharp, clever, and a little provocative. 😉
Self-sacrificing, he stays to repay his father’s debt to Cillian… and ends up tangled, literally and emotionally, with the sweetest and most caring "Beast" he never imagined. 💘
⚠️ Content Warnings:
⚠️ Attempt at kidnapping
⚠️ Violence & Murder (on-page)
⚠️ Loss & Betrayal
💞 Found Family / Monster Found Family 😗🤌
💪 Character Growth & Healing ❤️🩹
💯 Best Side Characters
👉 Can Be Read as a Standalone
🥰 Love The Ending
😍 HEA
Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
💬 My Thoughts:
👏 Dark, filthy, romantic, and unexpectedly soft... this book made my heart ache and my brain short-circuit in equal measure ❤️🩹🌶. Perfectly written, Katherine went full delicious with this one. It’s intense, emotional and so full of heart!
Cillian and Beau are opposites in every way, but at the same time, they fit so perfectly together. The push and pull between them is pure perfection. 🤌 Between the sparks and the softness, the trust they build feels precious.
It’s spicy. SO SPICY. I think even "hot" doesn’t come close... it��s sinfully steamy.
Beneath the claws and chaos, this story has tenderness, warmth, humor, and that classic Katherine found-family magic. I’m amazed by these incredible side characters, and already "craving" the next book! 😍
▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎
Beau:
👍I'm definitely going to read this again
😉 Thanks for reading, hope this helps you out!
I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
StoryGraph Review
BookBub Review
Reviews On Goodreads
My Socials
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Monstrous Stars
📚 Monstrous Cravings Series - Book One
⬆️ Ebook ARC
😏 Adult MM Fantasy PNR
🥀 Twisted Fairy Tale – Beauty & The Beast Retelling
(but make it feral, filthy, and unexpectedly tender)
👀 Action, Tension & Deliciously Spice 🌶
😈 Alluring Monsters ✨️
🎰 Set in Spires Casino, on the outskirts of Peregrine City.
👉 One First-Person POV
🤨 Brooding Monster x Snarky Human 😏
💼 Stubborn Boss x Brave, Sharp-Tongued Employee 💻📚
🤝 Working Together
😏 Snark as Love Language 🤌
🧲 Opposites Attract
🔥 Enemies To Lovers
💘 Attraction At First Sight
🧲 Touch & Love-Starved
😏 Seductive Villain Energy
😡 Touch Him And 💀
🤌 Size Difference (I have such a weakness for when the big one scoops the other up... ngh)
⌛️ Age Difference 🤌
🌶 Spice Menu:
BDSM
👀 Captor/Captive • Primal • Knotting • Bondage • Rough Play • Edging • Breeding
👉 CNC
😈 Demon Tongue + Claws + Sensitive Horns
😏🗯 Dirty Talk & Queen Size Bottom w Guiche piercing
📖 Spicy Library Scene (😉😉😳)
🥵 Medium-Burn
🔥 Spice Level (Intensity, not frequency):
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
MCs:
🌹⏳️👿 Cillian Ashmore - Demon:
Black hair, golden eyes, long fangs, muscular build, broad shoulders, bright red skin and curled black horns... sin in a suit with a feral attitude.
A wealthy businessman who owns The Spires casino.
He’s always surrounded by people, yet he can’t shake the loneliness.
Protective, loyal, and surprisingly sweet... though he doesn’t show that side to just anyone. ❤️🔥
📚☕️ Beau Taylor – Human, 25yo
Blond curls, slender build. Sweet and full of heart, addicted to caffeine (who isn’t?), books and a cat lover.
Beau lives a life filled with too much solitude.
An introverted librarian with a mouthy, snarky streak, quiet most of the time, but when he speaks, it’s usually sharp, clever, and a little provocative. 😉
Self-sacrificing, he stays to repay his father’s debt to Cillian… and ends up tangled, literally and emotionally, with the sweetest and most caring "Beast" he never imagined. 💘
⚠️ Content Warnings:
⚠️ Attempt at kidnapping
⚠️ Violence & Murder (on-page)
⚠️ Loss & Betrayal
💞 Found Family / Monster Found Family 😗🤌
💪 Character Growth & Healing ❤️🩹
💯 Best Side Characters
👉 Can Be Read as a Standalone
🥰 Love The Ending
😍 HEA
Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
💬 My Thoughts:
👏 Dark, filthy, romantic, and unexpectedly soft... this book made my heart ache and my brain short-circuit in equal measure ❤️🩹🌶. Perfectly written, Katherine went full delicious with this one. It’s intense, emotional and so full of heart!
Cillian and Beau are opposites in every way, but at the same time, they fit so perfectly together. The push and pull between them is pure perfection. 🤌 Between the sparks and the softness, the trust they build feels precious.
It’s spicy. SO SPICY. I think even "hot" doesn’t come close... it��s sinfully steamy.
Beneath the claws and chaos, this story has tenderness, warmth, humor, and that classic Katherine found-family magic. I’m amazed by these incredible side characters, and already "craving" the next book! 😍
▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎
Beau:
■ I shivered, suddenly feeling like prey who’d been marked.
■ Together like this, we were pure starlight, volatile and unreachable and so pristinely beautiful it made my soul ache.
👍I'm definitely going to read this again
😉 Thanks for reading, hope this helps you out!
I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
StoryGraph Review
BookBub Review
Reviews On Goodreads
My Socials
November 7, 2025
Uhhh, what a journey... Idk why it took me so long to realize this was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast... this is embarrassing hahahahha. Like... for real.
Aside from this... uff... Beau and Cillian are just... so sweet and wild together. I love them. They fit each other so perfectly it is not even funny.
The way they meet is not how you'd expect the love of your life, but at this point I think it is safe to say that the universe has a way of finding a way to bring people together, even if it is in the most unusual or the worst conditions.
Their relationship had a natural evolution, nothing felt rushed, nothing felt forced, everything came naturally. You could actually see them falling in love, you experience it with them, and it was so sweet.
Both of them are lonely, both of them have their own demons ( ha, pun intended ), but somehow they find a way to each other's hearts despite everything. Fear has no place when you find the other half of your soul.
The way they love each other is so powerful, idk, that type of love you... read about... I guess. I wish each and every one of us could find this type of love irl. It sounds nice.
•••
I have to admit that I only have one issue with this book and it is not the story, it is not the characters, the plot or anything... it is the fact that the author didn't correct some things in the book. I'm not talking about spelling error or stuff like this, no... I mean THE TIMELINE. What is going on? I swear by the time we got to the final act I didn't understand where we were time wise. I know some say time is a construct, but dang, we do need to make sure the story flows. The timeline was always in a state of contradiction ( I read the advanced readers copy so maybe in the final version of the book it had been corrected already ). I felt I should mention this since for some people this might be an issue. For me it was, but I ignored it since I loved everything else too much to let it ruin the fun for me.
•••
With that being said, this was a 4.75✨️ for me. I wish we had more time with these two. I will miss them.
Aside from this... uff... Beau and Cillian are just... so sweet and wild together. I love them. They fit each other so perfectly it is not even funny.
The way they meet is not how you'd expect the love of your life, but at this point I think it is safe to say that the universe has a way of finding a way to bring people together, even if it is in the most unusual or the worst conditions.
Their relationship had a natural evolution, nothing felt rushed, nothing felt forced, everything came naturally. You could actually see them falling in love, you experience it with them, and it was so sweet.
Both of them are lonely, both of them have their own demons ( ha, pun intended ), but somehow they find a way to each other's hearts despite everything. Fear has no place when you find the other half of your soul.
The way they love each other is so powerful, idk, that type of love you... read about... I guess. I wish each and every one of us could find this type of love irl. It sounds nice.
•••
I have to admit that I only have one issue with this book and it is not the story, it is not the characters, the plot or anything... it is the fact that the author didn't correct some things in the book. I'm not talking about spelling error or stuff like this, no... I mean THE TIMELINE. What is going on? I swear by the time we got to the final act I didn't understand where we were time wise. I know some say time is a construct, but dang, we do need to make sure the story flows. The timeline was always in a state of contradiction ( I read the advanced readers copy so maybe in the final version of the book it had been corrected already ). I felt I should mention this since for some people this might be an issue. For me it was, but I ignored it since I loved everything else too much to let it ruin the fun for me.
•••
With that being said, this was a 4.75✨️ for me. I wish we had more time with these two. I will miss them.
November 24, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up!
Okay, full disclosure, I am an absolute sucker for fairy tale retellings. Not only that, but Beauty and the Beast has been my favorite Disney movie for literal eons. So, when I stumbled across this book, I knew that me loving the sh*t out of this was very likely. And wouldn't you know? I did!
The Thorn and the Spire is my first book by this author and what an excellent introduction it was. The writing is beautiful and easy to get lost in, with world-building that is solid, but never overcomplicated. The fairy tale vibes mix effortlessly with a more modern urban fantasy feel and I was living for it right from the start. Not only that, but each and every character felt so real! I loved the found family aspect here and the little teases for who might be getting a story in this series. I spotted several well-known "villains" whose story I am dying to get my hands on!
But, of course, the stars of this book were Beau and Cillian. Oh, I loved these two. I felt so deeply for both of them. It's single POV, so we experience this story solely through Beau's eyes, which was such a wonderful journey. Though, admittedly, a selfish part of me would've loved the get into Cillian's head. Still... their romance builds beautifully and the chemistry between them is electric. Seriously.
The Thorn and the Spire is a gorgeous retelling of a well-known story, introducing us to a fascinating world that feels both magical and grounded in realism. Safe to say, I can't wait to see what's next in this series.
Okay, full disclosure, I am an absolute sucker for fairy tale retellings. Not only that, but Beauty and the Beast has been my favorite Disney movie for literal eons. So, when I stumbled across this book, I knew that me loving the sh*t out of this was very likely. And wouldn't you know? I did!
The Thorn and the Spire is my first book by this author and what an excellent introduction it was. The writing is beautiful and easy to get lost in, with world-building that is solid, but never overcomplicated. The fairy tale vibes mix effortlessly with a more modern urban fantasy feel and I was living for it right from the start. Not only that, but each and every character felt so real! I loved the found family aspect here and the little teases for who might be getting a story in this series. I spotted several well-known "villains" whose story I am dying to get my hands on!
But, of course, the stars of this book were Beau and Cillian. Oh, I loved these two. I felt so deeply for both of them. It's single POV, so we experience this story solely through Beau's eyes, which was such a wonderful journey. Though, admittedly, a selfish part of me would've loved the get into Cillian's head. Still... their romance builds beautifully and the chemistry between them is electric. Seriously.
The Thorn and the Spire is a gorgeous retelling of a well-known story, introducing us to a fascinating world that feels both magical and grounded in realism. Safe to say, I can't wait to see what's next in this series.
November 5, 2025
Oh woww, what a fabulous story this was! I was plastered to the pages!
One of the most powerful people in Peregrine City is Cillian Ashmore. Known as The Beast. He’s dangerous, powerful, intimidating, and arrogant. With his massive body, his red skin and black horns, Cillian is unmistakably a demon.
Beau’s father is kept prisoner by Cillian. To save his father from ten years in the pit, Beau offers himself in return.
Cillian accepted and made Beau his PA for the next decade. Beau can’t leave.
Cillian is powerful, yet working for this secluded creature, Beau discovers other sides of Cillian, far kinder than he could have imagined. While he seems cruel, people around him don’t act like he is.
Time passes and Beau’s hostile feelings are changing to lust and more.
Threats are trying to destroy Cillian.
You can find the most impressive creatures in this story, demon, witch, vampire, cecaelia, imp, dragon shifter, wolf shifters, and more.
The story had all the feels, with quite lovable characters and scorching moments that were breathtakingly written.
This was an amazing read! I loved everything about this story, literally everything!
It was so beautifully described, I didn’t have enough eyes, a joy to experience!
One of the most powerful people in Peregrine City is Cillian Ashmore. Known as The Beast. He’s dangerous, powerful, intimidating, and arrogant. With his massive body, his red skin and black horns, Cillian is unmistakably a demon.
Beau’s father is kept prisoner by Cillian. To save his father from ten years in the pit, Beau offers himself in return.
Cillian accepted and made Beau his PA for the next decade. Beau can’t leave.
Cillian is powerful, yet working for this secluded creature, Beau discovers other sides of Cillian, far kinder than he could have imagined. While he seems cruel, people around him don’t act like he is.
Time passes and Beau’s hostile feelings are changing to lust and more.
Threats are trying to destroy Cillian.
You can find the most impressive creatures in this story, demon, witch, vampire, cecaelia, imp, dragon shifter, wolf shifters, and more.
The story had all the feels, with quite lovable characters and scorching moments that were breathtakingly written.
This was an amazing read! I loved everything about this story, literally everything!
It was so beautifully described, I didn’t have enough eyes, a joy to experience!
October 14, 2025
The Thorn and The Spire
Monstrous Cravings Book 1
Katherine McIntyre
Beau & Cillian
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
Beauty and the Beast retelling
Knotting
Size Difference
Primal
Demon tongue
Captor/Captive
Found Families
Wow, I adored this. This retelling has elements of the natural story, but the author beautifully puts her own unique spin on this paranormal romance.
Beau, a human librarian is sent to repay a debt that his father owed, he never expected it to be indebted to a demon Casino owner and to make a deal with him, and become his servant?!
The characters in this were fantastic, such depth they each had. Beau was so self-sacrificing to save his father, not really even knowing the full truth of the situation.
Thus, we have such a great plot that kept me on my toes the whole book.
Is Cillian as bad as he is spoken about? Why is Beau's dad indebted to Cillian?
The way these two had such character development, I was in awe. I loved how the story unfolded, and boy, and that twist! I was in shock.
'He and I could never have been anything casual. We were destined for either a love foretold by the stars themselves or absolute ruin. I still wasn't sure which.'
This was a fantastic book, so well done. The world was written so well too, I could actually picture it.
“Even if I lived a thousand lives, I’d choose him every time.”
These two were a little bit of a slow burn, but once things got going, boy did it ever go lol The romance and love between these two felt real and natural.
And shoot, the spice, sheesh, these two were hot like fire lol The is just something about PNR spice that just hits every time lol
“Mere months with you was worth a decade.”
Loved how the bad guys got their due justice.
This was wonderful, a great read, great mystery and intrigue, sweet romance and great spice. Depth of plot and characters, plot twists.
It had it all
So thankful for this arc
Monstrous Cravings Book 1
Katherine McIntyre
Beau & Cillian
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
Beauty and the Beast retelling
Knotting
Size Difference
Primal
Demon tongue
Captor/Captive
Found Families
Wow, I adored this. This retelling has elements of the natural story, but the author beautifully puts her own unique spin on this paranormal romance.
Beau, a human librarian is sent to repay a debt that his father owed, he never expected it to be indebted to a demon Casino owner and to make a deal with him, and become his servant?!
The characters in this were fantastic, such depth they each had. Beau was so self-sacrificing to save his father, not really even knowing the full truth of the situation.
Thus, we have such a great plot that kept me on my toes the whole book.
Is Cillian as bad as he is spoken about? Why is Beau's dad indebted to Cillian?
The way these two had such character development, I was in awe. I loved how the story unfolded, and boy, and that twist! I was in shock.
'He and I could never have been anything casual. We were destined for either a love foretold by the stars themselves or absolute ruin. I still wasn't sure which.'
This was a fantastic book, so well done. The world was written so well too, I could actually picture it.
“Even if I lived a thousand lives, I’d choose him every time.”
These two were a little bit of a slow burn, but once things got going, boy did it ever go lol The romance and love between these two felt real and natural.
And shoot, the spice, sheesh, these two were hot like fire lol The is just something about PNR spice that just hits every time lol
“Mere months with you was worth a decade.”
Loved how the bad guys got their due justice.
This was wonderful, a great read, great mystery and intrigue, sweet romance and great spice. Depth of plot and characters, plot twists.
It had it all
So thankful for this arc
November 18, 2025
We were destined for either a love foretold by the stars themselves or absolute ruin
When Katherine McIntyre announced the Monstrous Cravings series, I was so excited. I’m a millennial who grew up on 90’s Disney movies and other fairy tales, and I just knew McIntyre would put their own unique spin on each tale, especially with the found family vibes they often write with, and I wasn’t disappointed at all.
The Thorn and The Spire is a MM retelling of Beauty and The Beast. Loved the setting, the mix of different monsters, and the safe space created for them. There’s a little bit of brief angst towards the end and it was so well written. And as always, the fun kinky scenes were 🔥🔥
When Katherine McIntyre announced the Monstrous Cravings series, I was so excited. I’m a millennial who grew up on 90’s Disney movies and other fairy tales, and I just knew McIntyre would put their own unique spin on each tale, especially with the found family vibes they often write with, and I wasn’t disappointed at all.
The Thorn and The Spire is a MM retelling of Beauty and The Beast. Loved the setting, the mix of different monsters, and the safe space created for them. There’s a little bit of brief angst towards the end and it was so well written. And as always, the fun kinky scenes were 🔥🔥
November 30, 2025
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this retelling/take of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Beau and Cillian butt heads at first, but the push-pull between them is unmistakable. I was a fan of their dynamic. Their connection is almost fate. McIntyre sets the series up beautifully. The world building is authentic, yet contemporary. The paranormal aspects are appealing. The characters you think are the bad guys are the good ones.
This is well written and fans of fairytales (with a little spin on them) will definitely enjoy. Amelia, Theo, Charles, and the other monsters/allies are excellent additions to the varied cast of characters. The found family vibes are top notch in this book.
I really enjoyed this retelling/take of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Beau and Cillian butt heads at first, but the push-pull between them is unmistakable. I was a fan of their dynamic. Their connection is almost fate. McIntyre sets the series up beautifully. The world building is authentic, yet contemporary. The paranormal aspects are appealing. The characters you think are the bad guys are the good ones.
This is well written and fans of fairytales (with a little spin on them) will definitely enjoy. Amelia, Theo, Charles, and the other monsters/allies are excellent additions to the varied cast of characters. The found family vibes are top notch in this book.
November 8, 2025
Firstly, let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
Overall, I’ve got to say I really enjoyed this sexy kinky retake of beauty and the beast. But I’ve got to say it took me awhile to get into and I nearly put it down but I know this author and I know I adore their other books so I kept going and I’m glad I did. Beau and Cillian really are attracted to one another. But can they have a future?? Overall a very good read.
Overall, I’ve got to say I really enjoyed this sexy kinky retake of beauty and the beast. But I’ve got to say it took me awhile to get into and I nearly put it down but I know this author and I know I adore their other books so I kept going and I’m glad I did. Beau and Cillian really are attracted to one another. But can they have a future?? Overall a very good read.
November 13, 2025
This is an interesting queer take on Beauty and the Beast. There was a lot to like about this story. Our grumpy - grumpy pairing was enjoyable and I liked the overall arching story plot. Plus, the cover was absolutely stunning. The story did fall flat, at times, in the realm of makign something NEW in the story, instead of mimicking too closely the original fairytale. Re-tellings often fall short in this area, so I would happily read another book by this author.
September 23, 2025
This iteration of Beauty and the Beast has gone turbo, and it is excellent. While it stays true to the Disney classic—even with some lines that die-hard fans will recognize—it packs more action and a lot of steamy, hot romance. This makes it a perfect read for those who love retellings with a spicy twist.
November 1, 2025
The Thorn and the Spire is the first book in the new Monstrous Cravings series by Katherine McIntyre. This is the story of Beau a human and Cillian a demon. This is definitely a Beauty and The Beast retelling but done in a paranormal story. I loved the characters and world building that went into this book. This story had kink, steam, tension, and a great plot that kept me guessing. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book.
received a free review copy
received a free review copy
November 24, 2025
a gay beauty and the beast retelling, i really enjoyed it.
i kind of loved cillian, i loved the community he created and how beau just fit right in.
the story got king of boring at some point honestly but overall it was a good book.
ps. i hate beau's dad.:)
i kind of loved cillian, i loved the community he created and how beau just fit right in.
the story got king of boring at some point honestly but overall it was a good book.
ps. i hate beau's dad.:)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
Sweet and Spicy.
The Thorn and the Spire is an adult fairy tale retelling, which includes everything that I've come to expect from Kat. It's full of witty banter, slow burn romance, kink and fabulous characters. This rendition of Beauty and the Beast, is set in a casino inspired world, where Cillian, a lonely demon and Beau, a dedicated librarian go head to head. Beau, whose father is imprisoned for a crime committed in the Spires casino, offers to take his father's place as Cillian's personal assistant. In doing so he immediately enters a world full of intrigue and danger.
Initially, Beau finds Cillian as cold and callous as rumoured. As he explores the mysteries of the Spires, he discovers that Cillian's cruelty is a mask. Soon the dislike between them transforms into a deep love, as Beau and Cillian come up against dangerous enemies and political threats waiting beyond the walls. As the two face the challenges awaiting them, their characters develop nicely; Cillian finds hidden depths, and Beau just gets curiouser and curiouser. He's so nosy! It's a fast paced read, with lots of twists and turns, the sex is spicy, and the relationship moves quickly from hate to love.
Despite his reputation as the "big bad demon," Killian becomes utterly sappy and devoted when it comes to Beau.
Lovely ending :
"When I’d first come to the doors of the Spires, I’d believed my life was ending, when in truth it had only just begun. I’d thought Cillian was my captor, but he’d been the one to set me free. And even if I lived a thousand lives, I’d choose him every time."
The Thorn and the Spire is an adult fairy tale retelling, which includes everything that I've come to expect from Kat. It's full of witty banter, slow burn romance, kink and fabulous characters. This rendition of Beauty and the Beast, is set in a casino inspired world, where Cillian, a lonely demon and Beau, a dedicated librarian go head to head. Beau, whose father is imprisoned for a crime committed in the Spires casino, offers to take his father's place as Cillian's personal assistant. In doing so he immediately enters a world full of intrigue and danger.
Initially, Beau finds Cillian as cold and callous as rumoured. As he explores the mysteries of the Spires, he discovers that Cillian's cruelty is a mask. Soon the dislike between them transforms into a deep love, as Beau and Cillian come up against dangerous enemies and political threats waiting beyond the walls. As the two face the challenges awaiting them, their characters develop nicely; Cillian finds hidden depths, and Beau just gets curiouser and curiouser. He's so nosy! It's a fast paced read, with lots of twists and turns, the sex is spicy, and the relationship moves quickly from hate to love.
Despite his reputation as the "big bad demon," Killian becomes utterly sappy and devoted when it comes to Beau.
Lovely ending :
"When I’d first come to the doors of the Spires, I’d believed my life was ending, when in truth it had only just begun. I’d thought Cillian was my captor, but he’d been the one to set me free. And even if I lived a thousand lives, I’d choose him every time."
September 14, 2025
✨️ARC Review✨️
What happens when one MC decides to take the punishment meant for his father and ends up as a demon’s servant? Exactly—lots of hot demon sex, plenty of kink, and one very big demon dick. 🤣
I honestly went into this book with zero expectations, just a “oh, the cover looks cool—sign me in.” And wow, it was so much better than I imagined. What really stood out to me was how Beau sacrifices himself for his father, and how much more depth the characters actually had than I expected. I was genuinely surprised at how layered the story turned out to be.
We don’t even find out until much later what Beau’s father actually did to land himself on Cillian’s hit list—and damn, what a plot twist that was. I also really enjoyed following Beau’s inner struggle: first questioning why he threw himself into the fire for his father in the first place, and second, realizing that Cillian might not be as evil as he first thought.
Seeing Beau and Cillian slowly grow closer was such a satisfying part of the story. All in all, this was a really, really good book, and I’m glad I picked it up.
What happens when one MC decides to take the punishment meant for his father and ends up as a demon’s servant? Exactly—lots of hot demon sex, plenty of kink, and one very big demon dick. 🤣
I honestly went into this book with zero expectations, just a “oh, the cover looks cool—sign me in.” And wow, it was so much better than I imagined. What really stood out to me was how Beau sacrifices himself for his father, and how much more depth the characters actually had than I expected. I was genuinely surprised at how layered the story turned out to be.
We don’t even find out until much later what Beau’s father actually did to land himself on Cillian’s hit list—and damn, what a plot twist that was. I also really enjoyed following Beau’s inner struggle: first questioning why he threw himself into the fire for his father in the first place, and second, realizing that Cillian might not be as evil as he first thought.
Seeing Beau and Cillian slowly grow closer was such a satisfying part of the story. All in all, this was a really, really good book, and I’m glad I picked it up.
October 26, 2025
'He and I could never have been anything casual. We were destined for either a love foretold by the stars themselves or absolute ruin. I still wasn't sure which.'
3.5 ✨
I'm weak for beauty & the beast themes and this book was no exception, such beautiful writing and hooked me from start to finish. The setting comes to life and I enjoyed how explained the way of the world, the human & supernatural living among each other.
Beau is lovely and I found him so relatable, in his love for books and the endless curiosity along with his struggles in the past with people. He doesn't simply fall into his role, he seeks ways out and does take the chance when able.
Yet he of course is charmed and falls in love with his beast along the way, as they slowly get to know one another. The sparks of attraction, hurt/comfort feels, love of stories, the gardens and simply sharing space together. Cillian bringing Beau into his world, the found family vibes are wonderful.
Must admit this book did feel somewhat chaotic in pacing, as time skips and felt like telling without showing in places. But I still enjoyed the story regardless and how the tale captures the beauty & the beast points in their own unique way was wonderful.
The spice when it hits is off the charts, so much chemistry and heat between Beau & Cillian. Compliment one another in every way, the heat is stunning and honestly a lot of the relationship feels shown in those areas. I do wish had highlighted more interactions between Beau & Cillian outside of the bedroom, after they started to fall.
'Together like this, we were pure starlight, volatile and unreachable and so pristinely beautiful it made my soul ache.'
There banter, the push & pull between them and conflict at the start was entertaining. I did love that they challenge each other in various ways and that stayed part of their dynamic, they just fit together perfectly.
Lots of interesting side cast too and if you're a fan of fairytale villains, it's a series to keep an eye on as got to see a few introduced here and I'm excited to see who shall get their own books. Oh and my favourites, Charles & Theo were the best! I adored them so much.
Some interesting twists towards the end too, in regards to the curse and resolution. My heart broke for Beau and Cillian, for what they've both been put through but they find one another despite those trying to keep them apart.
With plenty of help along the way from the many incredible side cast, I can't forget to mention Amelia who is kickass. Anyway the whole crew is wonderful and bring their own skills to their little family.
Overall it's an entertaining story with lovely writing, I highlighted so many quotes and a happy ending for Cillian & Beau🌹
'Every single day, I woke up and fell in love with him all over again.'
*ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review*
3.5 ✨
I'm weak for beauty & the beast themes and this book was no exception, such beautiful writing and hooked me from start to finish. The setting comes to life and I enjoyed how explained the way of the world, the human & supernatural living among each other.
Beau is lovely and I found him so relatable, in his love for books and the endless curiosity along with his struggles in the past with people. He doesn't simply fall into his role, he seeks ways out and does take the chance when able.
Yet he of course is charmed and falls in love with his beast along the way, as they slowly get to know one another. The sparks of attraction, hurt/comfort feels, love of stories, the gardens and simply sharing space together. Cillian bringing Beau into his world, the found family vibes are wonderful.
Must admit this book did feel somewhat chaotic in pacing, as time skips and felt like telling without showing in places. But I still enjoyed the story regardless and how the tale captures the beauty & the beast points in their own unique way was wonderful.
The spice when it hits is off the charts, so much chemistry and heat between Beau & Cillian. Compliment one another in every way, the heat is stunning and honestly a lot of the relationship feels shown in those areas. I do wish had highlighted more interactions between Beau & Cillian outside of the bedroom, after they started to fall.
'Together like this, we were pure starlight, volatile and unreachable and so pristinely beautiful it made my soul ache.'
There banter, the push & pull between them and conflict at the start was entertaining. I did love that they challenge each other in various ways and that stayed part of their dynamic, they just fit together perfectly.
Lots of interesting side cast too and if you're a fan of fairytale villains, it's a series to keep an eye on as got to see a few introduced here and I'm excited to see who shall get their own books. Oh and my favourites, Charles & Theo were the best! I adored them so much.
Some interesting twists towards the end too, in regards to the curse and resolution. My heart broke for Beau and Cillian, for what they've both been put through but they find one another despite those trying to keep them apart.
With plenty of help along the way from the many incredible side cast, I can't forget to mention Amelia who is kickass. Anyway the whole crew is wonderful and bring their own skills to their little family.
Overall it's an entertaining story with lovely writing, I highlighted so many quotes and a happy ending for Cillian & Beau🌹
'Every single day, I woke up and fell in love with him all over again.'
*ARC provided by Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
The Thorn and the Spire - Katherine McIntyre
5/5 ✨🌟
This is my first retelling of fairytales and books/movies when I was younger and this retelling of Beauty and the Beast was so good! Any books that Katherine has written, I’ve absolutely devoured them but I think this might be one of my favorites by her. I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with in this series.
I loved Beau and Cillian so much. I love me a good slow burn but when they finally do get together, I was here for it. The spice was so hot. If you’ve read paranormal romances, you know it’s going to make you want so much more.
The found family vibes in this world is so beautifully written. I absolutely love Charles because he does not care who is around when he says things without a filter.
When the spell was broken with Beau’s confession, I absolutely fell in love with these two so much more than I could even imagine.
I’m so glad that the two evil characters in this book get what they deserve. No spoilers there because you’ve got to read about them.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
5/5 ✨🌟
This is my first retelling of fairytales and books/movies when I was younger and this retelling of Beauty and the Beast was so good! Any books that Katherine has written, I’ve absolutely devoured them but I think this might be one of my favorites by her. I cannot wait to see what else she comes up with in this series.
I loved Beau and Cillian so much. I love me a good slow burn but when they finally do get together, I was here for it. The spice was so hot. If you’ve read paranormal romances, you know it’s going to make you want so much more.
The found family vibes in this world is so beautifully written. I absolutely love Charles because he does not care who is around when he says things without a filter.
When the spell was broken with Beau’s confession, I absolutely fell in love with these two so much more than I could even imagine.
I’m so glad that the two evil characters in this book get what they deserve. No spoilers there because you’ve got to read about them.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
November 9, 2025
The Thorn and the Spire by Katherine McIntyre
Monstrous Cravings #1
Length: 312 pages
Source: Gay Romance Reviews eARC
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
WHAT TO EXPECT
🩵 MM paranormal romance
🩵 Human x demon
🩵 Enemies to lovers
🩵 Employer x employee
🩵 Beauty and the Beast retelling
🩵 Size difference
🩵 Size queen MC
🩵 Bondage kink
🩵 Primal play
🩵 Biting/marking
🩵 Found family
AUTHOR BLURB
One lonely demon. One curious librarian. One tale twisted by time...
Beau's father is missing. The trail leads to the Spires, a casino with a dangerous reputation run by Cillian Ashmore, a demon whose ruthlessness is renowned. His father landed himself a ten-year imprisonment, but Beau offers to take his place. Yet Cillian is as cold and callous as he's rumored to be, prepared to make Beau's time as his personal assistant hellish.
The mysteries in the upper tiers of the Spires multiply by the day, and the further Beau explores, the more questions he has. Why sometimes the rooms are empty and other times monsters lurk within. Why Cillian seems cruel yet has the friendship and loyalty of those around him. And the more Beau discovers, the more he learns that Cillian's cruelty is a mask he dons, that the demon has depths he'd never dreamed of.
Too easily, that loathing morphs to lust and to something intense and unforgettable. Yet Cillian's made himself dangerous enemies, true threats lying in wait beyond the Spires. And unbeknownst to Beau, he's running out of time...
MY THOUGHTS
I've enjoyed McIntyre's other MM romances, but this is the first paranormal story I've read by her. Needless to say, it won't be my last.
I loved this book! It's a perfect blend of character development, plot, and spice. It's a fun read with criminals, suspense, and danger, but there's so much importance placed on the growth of the characters and the relationship between the MCs that none of the darker elements weigh down the flow of the story. Those aspects advance the romance so that it remains about the couple and their HEA.
While the book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it's a fresh take that's enjoyable and honors the original tale but makes its own path, with really interesting world-building that, again, advances the story rather than bogging it down. There are many overarching themes to pull out: having loyalty, showing integrity, looking beyond the exterior, not fitting in, helping others, finding your people. The found-family aspect is very well done, and the side characters are excellent. McIntyre has fleshed them out just as much as the two MCs, and their personalities contribute greatly to how much I like the book.
BOTTOM LINE
Definitely deserves a recommendation. I'm very excited to explore this new world and new series!
CONTENT WARNINGS
On-page violence, a murder (gunshot), CNC, bondage
4-1/2 ⭐
4 🌶️
–A🩷
Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews and Katherine McIntyre for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, Fable, Amazon, and Goodreads.
Monstrous Cravings #1
Length: 312 pages
Source: Gay Romance Reviews eARC
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
WHAT TO EXPECT
🩵 MM paranormal romance
🩵 Human x demon
🩵 Enemies to lovers
🩵 Employer x employee
🩵 Beauty and the Beast retelling
🩵 Size difference
🩵 Size queen MC
🩵 Bondage kink
🩵 Primal play
🩵 Biting/marking
🩵 Found family
AUTHOR BLURB
One lonely demon. One curious librarian. One tale twisted by time...
Beau's father is missing. The trail leads to the Spires, a casino with a dangerous reputation run by Cillian Ashmore, a demon whose ruthlessness is renowned. His father landed himself a ten-year imprisonment, but Beau offers to take his place. Yet Cillian is as cold and callous as he's rumored to be, prepared to make Beau's time as his personal assistant hellish.
The mysteries in the upper tiers of the Spires multiply by the day, and the further Beau explores, the more questions he has. Why sometimes the rooms are empty and other times monsters lurk within. Why Cillian seems cruel yet has the friendship and loyalty of those around him. And the more Beau discovers, the more he learns that Cillian's cruelty is a mask he dons, that the demon has depths he'd never dreamed of.
Too easily, that loathing morphs to lust and to something intense and unforgettable. Yet Cillian's made himself dangerous enemies, true threats lying in wait beyond the Spires. And unbeknownst to Beau, he's running out of time...
MY THOUGHTS
I've enjoyed McIntyre's other MM romances, but this is the first paranormal story I've read by her. Needless to say, it won't be my last.
I loved this book! It's a perfect blend of character development, plot, and spice. It's a fun read with criminals, suspense, and danger, but there's so much importance placed on the growth of the characters and the relationship between the MCs that none of the darker elements weigh down the flow of the story. Those aspects advance the romance so that it remains about the couple and their HEA.
While the book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it's a fresh take that's enjoyable and honors the original tale but makes its own path, with really interesting world-building that, again, advances the story rather than bogging it down. There are many overarching themes to pull out: having loyalty, showing integrity, looking beyond the exterior, not fitting in, helping others, finding your people. The found-family aspect is very well done, and the side characters are excellent. McIntyre has fleshed them out just as much as the two MCs, and their personalities contribute greatly to how much I like the book.
BOTTOM LINE
Definitely deserves a recommendation. I'm very excited to explore this new world and new series!
CONTENT WARNINGS
On-page violence, a murder (gunshot), CNC, bondage
4-1/2 ⭐
4 🌶️
–A🩷
Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews and Katherine McIntyre for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, Fable, Amazon, and Goodreads.
October 9, 2025
A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a boss-assistant dynamic, but make it a human and a demon in a casino castle. I was both entertained and irritated in equal measures, but landed on the enjoyable side of the equation.
Beau, a human librarian, just wants to save his father from the evil demon casino owner, Cillian Ashmore, who’s planning to imprison his father for 10 years. Making a deal with Cillian to keep Beau instead is Beau’s knee-jerk reaction, and soon Beau finds himself a captive but with free run of most of the casino, apart from that mysterious West Wing…
It took me a bit to warm up to the romance, but once I got to know the demon hero Cillian better through his actions, it started landing, and I enjoyed seeing them dance around each other, with Beau pushing boundaries and Cillian enjoying putting him back in line. Beau begins to work as Cillian’s personal assistant, raising stakes further. They develop a strong connection that eventually I believed in, and I was rooting for them to break the curse and for Beau to…get his head out of his ass, mainly. Their chemistry develops over time then explodes into quite the culmination of all the push-pull between them. There’s a possessive “he’s mine” sensibility, and I always love that dynamic.
Beau I did not like as much. Oh, he’s plucky, brave, loyal to his (deadbeat, honestly) dad. But. He makes this deal, doesn’t ask for ANY info on what his dad did—not from his dad, not from Cillian, not from anyone else—then proceeds to whine about being held captive and trying to escape/back out of his deal for the first half of the book. Like…dude, you OFFERED to be here, to stand in. This was YOUR idea. Stop being all “woe is me I am so oppressed” and suck it up. At least ask some questions. His consistently TSTL actions continue to get him in trouble and endanger others, and it was frustrating and I lost sympathy for him.
I did love him discovering the library and realizing how little exposure he’d had to the supernatural beings in his own world. Here, the real monsters are the prejudiced humans, and I usually enjoy seeing the ignorant having a mirror held up to their faces and changing to do better.
While the beats are predictable, and Beau’s bumbling around making poor decisions me kinda glad every time he got himself in trouble (apart from, y’know, his ridiculousness endangering other people too), it delivered a satisfying retelling.
CW for violent death of
HEA, fairytale retelling, human-demon partnership. NO action with other people. Cillian’s ex brings OW drama to the story, uninvited and vital to the plot. Safe for me! Recommended when you’re in the mood for supernatural take on Beauty and the Beast.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
Beau, a human librarian, just wants to save his father from the evil demon casino owner, Cillian Ashmore, who’s planning to imprison his father for 10 years. Making a deal with Cillian to keep Beau instead is Beau’s knee-jerk reaction, and soon Beau finds himself a captive but with free run of most of the casino, apart from that mysterious West Wing…
It took me a bit to warm up to the romance, but once I got to know the demon hero Cillian better through his actions, it started landing, and I enjoyed seeing them dance around each other, with Beau pushing boundaries and Cillian enjoying putting him back in line. Beau begins to work as Cillian’s personal assistant, raising stakes further. They develop a strong connection that eventually I believed in, and I was rooting for them to break the curse and for Beau to…get his head out of his ass, mainly. Their chemistry develops over time then explodes into quite the culmination of all the push-pull between them. There’s a possessive “he’s mine” sensibility, and I always love that dynamic.
Beau I did not like as much. Oh, he’s plucky, brave, loyal to his (deadbeat, honestly) dad. But. He makes this deal, doesn’t ask for ANY info on what his dad did—not from his dad, not from Cillian, not from anyone else—then proceeds to whine about being held captive and trying to escape/back out of his deal for the first half of the book. Like…dude, you OFFERED to be here, to stand in. This was YOUR idea. Stop being all “woe is me I am so oppressed” and suck it up. At least ask some questions. His consistently TSTL actions continue to get him in trouble and endanger others, and it was frustrating and I lost sympathy for him.
I did love him discovering the library and realizing how little exposure he’d had to the supernatural beings in his own world. Here, the real monsters are the prejudiced humans, and I usually enjoy seeing the ignorant having a mirror held up to their faces and changing to do better.
While the beats are predictable, and Beau’s bumbling around making poor decisions me kinda glad every time he got himself in trouble (apart from, y’know, his ridiculousness endangering other people too), it delivered a satisfying retelling.
CW for violent death of
HEA, fairytale retelling, human-demon partnership. NO action with other people. Cillian’s ex brings OW drama to the story, uninvited and vital to the plot. Safe for me! Recommended when you’re in the mood for supernatural take on Beauty and the Beast.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.
November 6, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐
The Thorn and the Spire is the first book in Katherine McIntyre’s Monstrous Cravings series. Here’s what you can expect from Beau and Cillian:
🌹 MM paranormal romance
🌹 First person single point of view
🌹 Guaranteed happily ever after
🌹 Open door spice
🌹 Beauty and the Beast retelling
🌹 Monster/human
🌹 Found family
🌹 Size difference
🌹 Primal play, CNC, and knotting
🌹 Enemies to lovers, captor/captive
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
Katherine McIntyre is returning to her roots with a paranormal romance and a retelling of her favourite fairytale and she did an incredible job. I had a great time reading this book! It was just such a refreshing read, and it had those elements of comfort from a fairytale we all know and love with a queer, modern twist. The mysterious casino setting, the secrets of the Spire, and the incredible cast of found family made for a riveting read that I didn’t want to put down. I’m such a sucker for the big, bad monster falling in love and being the ultimate softie for his special person and that definitely happened to Cillian. He seemed so cold and aloof at first, and I loved seeing him gently warm up to Beau and revealing the secrets that plagued him. This book is told entirely from Beau’s perspective, and we really get great insight into what a kind and determined man he is. What started as a prison sentence as Cillian’s personal assistant (as he selflessly offered his place instead of his father) becomes a home that Beau only vaguely realized he would’ve been missing. He found the place he truly belonged, and I absolutely loved that for him.
The spice in this book was absolutely delicious, and the pages truly melted when Beau and Cillian spent time together. Cillian’s caretaking took me (and Beau) by surprise, but it just showed the different layers that were revealed as he fell in love with Beau. I really enjoyed the supporting cast of characters - Amelia was a true badass, and Charles and his boyfriend Theo were both adorable and hilarious. This was such a fun read by Katherine, and I’m looking forward to checking out the second book in the series when it’s available to us!
I received an advanced review copy from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Thorn and the Spire is the first book in Katherine McIntyre’s Monstrous Cravings series. Here’s what you can expect from Beau and Cillian:
🌹 MM paranormal romance
🌹 First person single point of view
🌹 Guaranteed happily ever after
🌹 Open door spice
🌹 Beauty and the Beast retelling
🌹 Monster/human
🌹 Found family
🌹 Size difference
🌹 Primal play, CNC, and knotting
🌹 Enemies to lovers, captor/captive
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
Katherine McIntyre is returning to her roots with a paranormal romance and a retelling of her favourite fairytale and she did an incredible job. I had a great time reading this book! It was just such a refreshing read, and it had those elements of comfort from a fairytale we all know and love with a queer, modern twist. The mysterious casino setting, the secrets of the Spire, and the incredible cast of found family made for a riveting read that I didn’t want to put down. I’m such a sucker for the big, bad monster falling in love and being the ultimate softie for his special person and that definitely happened to Cillian. He seemed so cold and aloof at first, and I loved seeing him gently warm up to Beau and revealing the secrets that plagued him. This book is told entirely from Beau’s perspective, and we really get great insight into what a kind and determined man he is. What started as a prison sentence as Cillian’s personal assistant (as he selflessly offered his place instead of his father) becomes a home that Beau only vaguely realized he would’ve been missing. He found the place he truly belonged, and I absolutely loved that for him.
The spice in this book was absolutely delicious, and the pages truly melted when Beau and Cillian spent time together. Cillian’s caretaking took me (and Beau) by surprise, but it just showed the different layers that were revealed as he fell in love with Beau. I really enjoyed the supporting cast of characters - Amelia was a true badass, and Charles and his boyfriend Theo were both adorable and hilarious. This was such a fun read by Katherine, and I’m looking forward to checking out the second book in the series when it’s available to us!
I received an advanced review copy from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 22, 2025
Beauty and the Beast done right!
I love the work of this author, but I was apprehensive of this story because I absolutely love Beauty and the Beast. I will happily watch it on repeat all on my own, singing along and feeling all the emotions over and over again. But I watched and read it, which just gets it a bit wrong. But Katherine gets it right with just a hint of darkness to bring into a more modern setting. Our beast Cillian, cursed and broken by past love and hurt, is the shell of a demon who just wants to remain as anonymous as possible in Peregrine City. Our bel Beau is a librarian who is overlooked as a partner, and only his beauty is seen. He is beautiful inside and out, a bit odd, and craves a less conventional bedroom connection. They are darkness and light, an unlikely pair who shouldn't work, who society doesn't want to see together, and who not even the toughest of enemies can separate.
As a more modern take, Cillian has trusted people around him, human and paranormal, who make up his inner circle. They live within his space but also have a free range outside if they so choose. But Cillian is a businessman, and he has certain expectations as well as enemies lurking in the shadows to be his downfall. Beau loves most of his life, but he operates in a lone circle except for his father. But his father is missing, and he cannot be all alone in this world. With some additional help, his search takes him to the Spires, and he comes face to face with Cillian. He is willing to ensure the safe passage of this father, making himself the indentured replacement. But it is not quite what he expected, and Cillian is certainly not what he expected either.
Snarky banter turns into sexy banter, and eventually their connection explodes in one moment, and neither man can bear to let go. But sometimes we have to let them go for them to know how much we love them. The story combines Katherine's storytelling, passionate connections, and a perfect HEA. The fact that this is the beginning of a series of various paranormal beings who will be falling in love makes me so happy. Reimagined fairy tales may just be my new favorite trope, and I cannot wait for the next installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love the work of this author, but I was apprehensive of this story because I absolutely love Beauty and the Beast. I will happily watch it on repeat all on my own, singing along and feeling all the emotions over and over again. But I watched and read it, which just gets it a bit wrong. But Katherine gets it right with just a hint of darkness to bring into a more modern setting. Our beast Cillian, cursed and broken by past love and hurt, is the shell of a demon who just wants to remain as anonymous as possible in Peregrine City. Our bel Beau is a librarian who is overlooked as a partner, and only his beauty is seen. He is beautiful inside and out, a bit odd, and craves a less conventional bedroom connection. They are darkness and light, an unlikely pair who shouldn't work, who society doesn't want to see together, and who not even the toughest of enemies can separate.
As a more modern take, Cillian has trusted people around him, human and paranormal, who make up his inner circle. They live within his space but also have a free range outside if they so choose. But Cillian is a businessman, and he has certain expectations as well as enemies lurking in the shadows to be his downfall. Beau loves most of his life, but he operates in a lone circle except for his father. But his father is missing, and he cannot be all alone in this world. With some additional help, his search takes him to the Spires, and he comes face to face with Cillian. He is willing to ensure the safe passage of this father, making himself the indentured replacement. But it is not quite what he expected, and Cillian is certainly not what he expected either.
Snarky banter turns into sexy banter, and eventually their connection explodes in one moment, and neither man can bear to let go. But sometimes we have to let them go for them to know how much we love them. The story combines Katherine's storytelling, passionate connections, and a perfect HEA. The fact that this is the beginning of a series of various paranormal beings who will be falling in love makes me so happy. Reimagined fairy tales may just be my new favorite trope, and I cannot wait for the next installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 1, 2025
Firstly, I want to start off by saying I absolutely adore and love Kat's writing, she has such an excellent way with words and the characters she creates are so dynamic and just so real and relatable. When Kat announced this series, and this book in particular, I was so excited! I'm a sucker for the classic fairytale's we're all familiar with, so for her to take those and put her own spin on them, I knew they were going to be good. And I was right.
Beau is a librarian and book lover to his core, he's sassy, smart, stubborn, and gives the hulking demon he encounters a run for his money. After his dad goes missing he rushes to save the only family he has left, Cillian, the demon who sentenced his dad to exile offers him a deal. His dad's freedom for his. And that folks is where this fairytale begins!
I absolutely LOVED reading this book! Kat stayed true to the original fairytale by keeping similar themes/elements similar, while also creating her own unique version of that fairytale. It speaks to an author's talent when they can take a topic that's been done before, and make it entirely their own. And Kat certainly achieved that here.
I adored the characters, each and every one of them were fantastic and played such a crucial role not only to the plot, but also to character development and giving off that close knit community feeling. When we're first introduced to Cillian, it wouldn't seem as though he rescues monsters and enjoys walks through gardens, but after all, things aren't always what they seem. A lesson Beau learned himself during his stay at the Spires.
I loved the found family aspect that formed when all these characters came together. The uniqueness with Cillian's curse was intriguing and I liked how certain elements stayed true to the original fairytale but how it was also entirely Kat's creation as well. A really brilliant blend of something old and something new.
The pacing was great, Cillian and Beau definitely have a slow burn relationship which made sense given their circumstances. I thought the plot was intriguing and written well, and I'm really excited to seeing where else this series goes. I'm also very curious about Mal, I hope he gets his own story too.
~~~I received an early copy of this book and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.~~~
Beau is a librarian and book lover to his core, he's sassy, smart, stubborn, and gives the hulking demon he encounters a run for his money. After his dad goes missing he rushes to save the only family he has left, Cillian, the demon who sentenced his dad to exile offers him a deal. His dad's freedom for his. And that folks is where this fairytale begins!
I absolutely LOVED reading this book! Kat stayed true to the original fairytale by keeping similar themes/elements similar, while also creating her own unique version of that fairytale. It speaks to an author's talent when they can take a topic that's been done before, and make it entirely their own. And Kat certainly achieved that here.
I adored the characters, each and every one of them were fantastic and played such a crucial role not only to the plot, but also to character development and giving off that close knit community feeling. When we're first introduced to Cillian, it wouldn't seem as though he rescues monsters and enjoys walks through gardens, but after all, things aren't always what they seem. A lesson Beau learned himself during his stay at the Spires.
I loved the found family aspect that formed when all these characters came together. The uniqueness with Cillian's curse was intriguing and I liked how certain elements stayed true to the original fairytale but how it was also entirely Kat's creation as well. A really brilliant blend of something old and something new.
The pacing was great, Cillian and Beau definitely have a slow burn relationship which made sense given their circumstances. I thought the plot was intriguing and written well, and I'm really excited to seeing where else this series goes. I'm also very curious about Mal, I hope he gets his own story too.
~~~I received an early copy of this book and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.~~~
November 1, 2025
I was doing SOOO good at not requesting too many ARCs and getting overwhelmed and reading them at the very last minute..and here we are. Here's Katherine McIntyre's latest: "The Thorn and The Spire." It's a Beauty and the Beast retelling. This novel is the first in her new Monstrous Cravings series.
["One lonely demon. One curious librarian. One tale twisted by time…
Beau’s father is missing.
The trail leads to the Spires, a casino with a dangerous reputation run by Cillian Ashmore, a demon whose ruthlessness is renowned. His father landed himself a ten-year imprisonment, but Beau offers to take his place. Yet Cillian is as cold and callous as he’s rumored to be, prepared to make Beau’s time as his personal assistant hellish.
The mysteries in the upper tiers of the Spires multiply by the day, and the further Beau explores, the more questions he has. Why sometimes the rooms are empty and other times monsters lurk within. Why Cillian seems cruel yet has the friendship and loyalty of those around him.
And the more Beau discovers, the more he learns that Cillian’s cruelty is a mask he dons, that the demon has depths he’d never dreamed of. Too easily, that loathing morphs to lust and to something intense and unforgettable.
Yet Cillian’s made himself dangerous enemies, true threats lying in wait beyond the Spires, and unbeknownst to Beau, he’s running out of time…"]
This novel was fabulous. It had all of the key points in your standard Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it was still fresh. It was dark and mysterious, it was sweet and fluffy, it was spicy and sexy, it was redemption and determination.
The characters were multi-layered and complex. The plot was almost formulaic (the retelling aspect), but it wasn't cliched or too predictable. The romance itself built slowly until the chemistry exploded, and then it just kept growing and growing.
I can't wait for more!!!
Trigger Warnings: on-page violence, murder, cnc, and more.
#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#thethornandthespire #monstrouscraving #monstrouscravingsseries #katherinemcintyre #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
["One lonely demon. One curious librarian. One tale twisted by time…
Beau’s father is missing.
The trail leads to the Spires, a casino with a dangerous reputation run by Cillian Ashmore, a demon whose ruthlessness is renowned. His father landed himself a ten-year imprisonment, but Beau offers to take his place. Yet Cillian is as cold and callous as he’s rumored to be, prepared to make Beau’s time as his personal assistant hellish.
The mysteries in the upper tiers of the Spires multiply by the day, and the further Beau explores, the more questions he has. Why sometimes the rooms are empty and other times monsters lurk within. Why Cillian seems cruel yet has the friendship and loyalty of those around him.
And the more Beau discovers, the more he learns that Cillian’s cruelty is a mask he dons, that the demon has depths he’d never dreamed of. Too easily, that loathing morphs to lust and to something intense and unforgettable.
Yet Cillian’s made himself dangerous enemies, true threats lying in wait beyond the Spires, and unbeknownst to Beau, he’s running out of time…"]
This novel was fabulous. It had all of the key points in your standard Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it was still fresh. It was dark and mysterious, it was sweet and fluffy, it was spicy and sexy, it was redemption and determination.
The characters were multi-layered and complex. The plot was almost formulaic (the retelling aspect), but it wasn't cliched or too predictable. The romance itself built slowly until the chemistry exploded, and then it just kept growing and growing.
I can't wait for more!!!
Trigger Warnings: on-page violence, murder, cnc, and more.
#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#thethornandthespire #monstrouscraving #monstrouscravingsseries #katherinemcintyre #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
November 9, 2025
This new monster series is off to a fantastic start, man! The fact that it is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast adds bonus points. If Beau hadn't ended up in the location of his father's last sighting after he went missing, Cillian and Beau would never have crossed paths. The Mountain. Gambling establishment housed in a real castle, owned by the demon Cillian. Without understanding his father's purpose for being there, Beau agrees to step in, but little does he know the consequences that await him. Cillian is an enigmatic demon that appears as a solid, impenetrable castle that Beau must now serve while he is imprisoned on the spire for a decade. A different side is shown quickly by insignificant deeds, such as leaving books on Beau's bedside table or having lunch in the garden instead of the office. As Beau notices Cillian's small acts of compassion, he begins to view him as an individual, not just his captor. A bright spot in Beau's otherwise dreary living situation is the great sense of family he has discovered here. The core group consists of Amelia, Charles, and Theo. Three beasts: a witch, a man, and a werewolf. A diverse bunch, but they look out for one another and are fiercely protective, particularly of Cillian. The growing intimacy between Beau and Cillian is... steamy. Oh no. These scenes are really blazing! Despite their differences, these two were obviously meant to be together because their needs, wants, and desires are perfectly congruent. Cillian is able to tap into his primal desires to satisfy the human, while Beau is free to reveal his deeper, more secret desires. But the story isn't 100% risk-free. Those that disagree with Cillian's business practices and desire what he has are his foes. Having genuine concern for people, rather than focusing solely on financial gain. Embrace the reality! Both guys get the HEA they deserve, despite the fact that there are some scary parts, such as abduction and page murder. Great prose, and the scenario descriptions were my favorites. The Spire and its interiors came to life in my mind with ease. This is a must-read, and I can't wait for the next installment in the series. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
November 10, 2025
When Beau’s search for his missing father leads him to the Spires—a perilous casino ruled by the infamous demon Cillian Ashmore—he offers himself in exchange for his father’s freedom. Assigned as Cillian’s personal assistant, Beau expects cruelty and chaos, but what he finds is far more complex. As he navigates the Spires’ shifting, monster-haunted halls, Beau uncovers layers of mystery and contradiction: Cillian’s coldness hides unexpected loyalty, and the demon’s terrifying reputation masks a soul shaped by pain and power. What begins as resentment slowly transforms into desire—and something deeper. But danger brews beyond the Spires, and Cillian’s enemies are closing in. As time runs out, Beau must decide whether to walk away—or risk everything for a love forged in shadows and secrets.
I really enjoyed this story with the two men who were drawn together even though they were very different. The story was a rich tapestry of mystery, emotional tension, and slow-burning intimacy. I liked that Beau’s decision to take his father’s place was an act of selflessness that set the tone for the story. It introduced the theme of sacrifice—not just for family, but eventually for love. As Beau navigated the Spires, his journey became one of emotional redemption, not just for himself but for Cillian, whose own past was steeped in pain and isolation. I also liked that Cillian is running out of time, and Beau doesn’t know it. The looming threat added urgency to their connection, underscoring the theme that love is often forged in moments of crisis. It asked: what do we choose when time is slipping away? Who do we become when everything is at stake? Many emotions and feelings in this story although I did find Beau's state of confusion irritating at times. This was an MM story with mature content.
I really enjoyed this story with the two men who were drawn together even though they were very different. The story was a rich tapestry of mystery, emotional tension, and slow-burning intimacy. I liked that Beau’s decision to take his father’s place was an act of selflessness that set the tone for the story. It introduced the theme of sacrifice—not just for family, but eventually for love. As Beau navigated the Spires, his journey became one of emotional redemption, not just for himself but for Cillian, whose own past was steeped in pain and isolation. I also liked that Cillian is running out of time, and Beau doesn’t know it. The looming threat added urgency to their connection, underscoring the theme that love is often forged in moments of crisis. It asked: what do we choose when time is slipping away? Who do we become when everything is at stake? Many emotions and feelings in this story although I did find Beau's state of confusion irritating at times. This was an MM story with mature content.
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