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Monsters' Bride Market

Bought by the Revenant: Comprata dal Revenant (Mercato delle Spose per i Mostri)

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Sono una creatura del terrore.

Un esperimento fallito, cucito con pezzi disparati. Ho ritagliato il nostro posto nelle terre desolate di Alia Terra, eppure persino la mia stessa specie, perfezionata dal mio lavoro, mi evita — orrendo e completamente solo.

Anni fa, consumato da questa solitudine, inviai il mio sangue al Tempio del Matrimonio e, con mia sorpresa, una giovane donna mi fu destinata. Ma quando mi vide, ciò che accadde mi precipitò in una spirale di disperazione e pensieri cupi. Mi rinchiusi per sempre dietro i cancelli della mia villa.

Ma l’eternità è lunga da passare in solitudine. Se questo è il mio destino, allora rifiuterò la mia immortalità e la farò finita. Oppure posso provare ancora una volta…

Visito il mercato delle spose senza speranza nel cuore. Faccio un’offerta per ogni donna, la più alta — sempre rifiutata. Finché…

Lei mi indica. «Venduta.» I nostri sguardi si incontrano. Non so perché questa donna fiera e bellissima mi permetta di comprarla. Mi stringo di più nel mantello, sicuro che sia terrorizzata. Non importa. Se potrò tenerla con me, nasconderò il mio aspetto e non la toccherò mai.

Benvenuta al mercato delle spose! I mostri fanno le offerte, tu scegli.
Questa è una serie spin-off di Matrimoni Mostruosi Combinati. Siamo di nuovo su Alia Terra, con storie bollenti raccontate dalle tue autrici preferite di romance Eva Brandt, Lia Frost, Cara Wylde e Ava York.

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2025

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About the author

Cara Wylde

165 books686 followers
Cara 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.

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5 stars
1,103 (49%)
4 stars
648 (28%)
3 stars
380 (16%)
2 stars
83 (3%)
1 star
22 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
Profile Image for Rhea.
105 reviews28 followers
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.
Profile Image for Selene.
260 reviews19 followers
October 14, 2025
Short and sweet, nice quick read with a happy ending
Profile Image for April Nicole.
212 reviews6 followers
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.
Profile Image for Her Majesty.
135 reviews12 followers
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.
Profile Image for  tortured reader  ࣪ ִֶָ ⋆.
256 reviews39 followers
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
Profile Image for Katho.
27 reviews
March 8, 2026
for a novella? hell yeah. we need more beauty-and-the beast-retellings, there‘s just something about an insecure man
Profile Image for Fanofbookfire.
831 reviews5 followers
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.
74 reviews
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
478 reviews12 followers
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 entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,323 reviews33 followers
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.
Profile Image for Julia.
Author 3 books13 followers
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!!
Profile Image for Ava.
54 reviews1 follower
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⭐️

Profile Image for Eryn Jones.
22 reviews
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.
Profile Image for Diya.
98 reviews
March 22, 2026
A sweet retelling of the story Beauty and the Beast.
Profile Image for Kate Innes.
34 reviews
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!
Profile Image for Maria.
292 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2025
Okay I was expecting just spice and nothing else but this was actually really sweet and fun… new monster series anyone??
73 reviews
April 13, 2026
Wow…… All the feels

If I could give this a 100 ⭐️ I would!!!! This was a beautiful story!!! I absolutely loved it from beginning to end.

The ending was perfect. The author did a fantastic job with this book!!!!
Profile Image for LizKat.
802 reviews4 followers
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.
Profile Image for Holly Arkle.
217 reviews
April 11, 2026
I was genuinely just expecting a cheap and cheerful monster smut book, but what it actually got was a truly beautiful story about self acceptance and finding the beauty in the horror of the world around you. I also didn't expect this to make me cry but my god that ending broke my heart. I'll definitely be reading the other books in this series!
Profile Image for Caro.
132 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2026
Que no me pregunten por qué leí esto...
PD: Cara Wylde te amo 🩷
Profile Image for Irida.
12 reviews
January 5, 2026
“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.”


🌶️Spice: 3/5
💞Romance: 3.5–4/5
🧭Plot: 3/5 — worldbuilding lightly sketched but serviceable

Bought by the Revenant worked waaay better for me than I expected.

The premise is familiar and clearly laid out from the start, and while the story moves quickly, it didn’t feel emotionally hollow - I genuinely felt for the MMC. I would have liked the story to be longer!
Profile Image for Kellyythoralabatalla.
1,097 reviews40 followers
January 22, 2026
entiendo el concepto PERO creo que no me convenció. la parte no romántica me gustó más que la romántica. además, estos seres fueron peculiares, sin embargo, me gustó que al final él quisiera estar con ella para siempre.
Profile Image for delusioanal.
152 reviews5 followers
March 19, 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 🙂‍↔️
Profile Image for Laura Moylan.
1,644 reviews
October 9, 2025
Ok, now I’m not usually one for reading revenant or zombie romances unless it is by a fave author, like this one. So, I read it. Alia Terra’s monsters are so fascinating. You forget, that they are the ones that protected the humans when everything happened centuries ago to change Earth into Alia Terra. So much has been forgotten by the people, which is just sad. This has a new tangent in it. We know all about the Bride Temples, where the DNA of maidens are matched to monsters and they marry. However, there is another way for those who aren’t maiden to become brides in special circumstances. Amity is a midwife in Winterglen, where she saved a mother and child, to the disbelief of the village. They believe in Draug, who requires sacrifices. A drought hits, and worsened and there are other ‘telltale signs’ that the God is mad at them. So, in order to appease the god, the village Elder’s son, Thorne and his cronies, Elgar & Brone hunt Amity down, so that she can be returned and be sacrificed. She escapes them again, and ends up on a train that takes her to Crosshold. She tries to start over, but no one is hiring as they have enough midwives. Then to her shock, the hunting party shows up. She decides that since there is a Bride market, there for the monsters, she signs up. She is last and one of the first Revenant’s, Riven, who has almost given up all hope, buys her. Their interests align and she is grateful, even tho she fears him at first because of his looks. But, he is the lesser evil. I hate that the other Revenants treat him the way they do- that they are afraid of him because of what he looks like. It makes me angry and it made me want to smack a few of them. His servants, Nell, Fria, Tomas, & his driver, Olaf, are the only humans that don’t react negatively to him. Most of them have been with him for decades. They are amazing. I love them. The Bride auction is shocking. I love that the women have a right of refusal, and sadly, they refuse Riven, until Amity. Amity is amazingly gifted. Riven is shocked she chose him. I love how they slowly learn to adjust to life in the same home. It is a bit reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast as well as a bit of Frankenstein thrown in. lol. Of course, once things get going nicely and they are getting along, then the hunters show up. But, Riven warns them off. Amity wants to be useful, so she takes up her trade again, with shocking consequences. How Riven saves her this time is beautiful and shocking and epic. I loved this book. It was romantic in places as well as steamy. A bit scary in places and I worried a lot over Amity. But the end- wow. I can’t wait to learn more about Revenants. I hope there will be more books about them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews