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To Love a Monster

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WARRIOR. PRINCESS. SORCERESS.

Princess Aurora of Amador dreams of battlefields and freedom, not betrothals and ballroom vows. When an arranged marriage threatens to end her dreams forever, she makes a daring escape—only to be rescued by a creature long believed to be her kingdom’s greatest enemy.

As forbidden powers awaken within her, Aurora begins to uncover dangerous secrets. Her father, once a noble king, now bends to the will of her stepmother—the fae Dorova—whose beauty hides a hunger for power and control. As dark magic tightens its hold on the throne, Aurora realizes the true war was never beyond the castle walls, but within them.

In the heart of danger, trust becomes her sharpest weapon—and love her most perilous choice. For the line between enemy and protector, monster and man, is thinner than she ever imagined.

To Love a Monster is a tale of forbidden love, ancient magic, and a princess’s fight to reclaim both her freedom and her heart.

172 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 12, 2026

2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read

About the author

Jad Phillip

5 books9 followers

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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for yuvi • s.ia.
233 reviews151 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 30, 2026
It was all too underwhelming, imo. Another case of interesting premise, terrible execution.
Profile Image for Celeste.
333 reviews3 followers
December 6, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5⭐️!

I’ll be honest—by the time I finished this book, I found myself wishing it had been just a little longer. Not because the story itself lacked, but because I wanted more time with the characters and in the world. The pacing leans heavily into back-to-back action, which kept things exciting but also left me occasionally whispering, “Wait, what just happened?” before being swept into the next moment. Which I like in a book but sometimes some more filler in between action helps. And getting to know the characters on more than just a surface level makes it easier to get lost in the book.

That said, I genuinely enjoyed the book. The ending did tie up some of the questions that I had… while also giving me several new ones. I can’t help but wonder if reading the companion series—set a thousand years in the future—might help offer some clarity?

I went into this fully thinking it was a standalone. The author’s note at the end revealed that this is actually the start of a trilogy. (My commitment issues were not prepared, but here we are.) Knowing there’s more to come definitely helped with me feeling like so much was happening all at once.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced, intriguing story with a world I’m excited to explore further.
Profile Image for Haley Pearson.
16 reviews
Did not finish
January 31, 2026
I’m sorry. I had to dnf this as soon as I got to the part where she is concerned about telling him she has to go take a “water” aka “go pee”.

It’s unfortunate because the story started off interesting and then quickly devolved. The plot is very under developed and rushed.
Profile Image for Hannah Koetz.
25 reviews
February 4, 2026
Thank you so much for giving me this arc to read ahead of time!

I truly loved the story and all the characters in this book. I mean who doesn’t love princess and Fae?! And add Gargoyles into the mix?! I mean you don’t see that very often. And for a fantasy, this was such an easy and enjoyable read and it kept you coming back for more! I highly recommend for someone just getting into fantasy 💙
Profile Image for Ebony.
32 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 11, 2026
I received this arc from NetGalley. Below is my honest review and feedback.

Summary: To Love a Monster is a novel about a princess who manifests magical powers in a kingdom where any magic is punishable by death, but little does the kingdom know that a fae sits on the throne as queen and is hellbent on revenge for the slaughter of her people. Princess Aurora has to navigate keeping her stepmother from killing everyone in the kingdom, the threat of invasion from a warring group of gargoyles, terrifying prophesies, and avoiding an arranged marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather—the standards sixteen-year-old princess package.

Overall Assessment: I give this book two stars out of five. The concept was really interesting, but the execution was very poor. I assume that there is a lot of exposition, worldbuilding, and explanation that happens in Phillip’s other books, but as a stand-alone, this doesn’t work as well as it could have. The book needed to be longer to accomplish all of the things it was trying to do well.

Plot & Pacing: The plot ideas themselves were good, but the pacing felt extremely rushed and there were a lot of inconsistencies in the plot. For example, going by the synopsis on Goodreads, Princess Aurora is introduced as a warrior, but she only fights twice in the book, and one of those times she had to be rescued because three random boys saw her use magic by accident—and she’s supposed to have been professionally trained enough to want to be a knight! The ending of the story was rushed and confusing. The prophesy, which is a major part of the story and why Aurora has her powers, is not fully explained. The way the story bookends itself in the present, with the majority of the book being events that have happened fifteen or so years in the past, and revealing the characters’ identities was well executed.

Characters: The characters were very shallow and stereotypical. Even the main characters were very lacking in true personality.

Voice & Prose: Phillip’s writing style is poetic and beautiful. This was one of the strongest parts of the book. Some of the dialogue was corny and unbelievable, but the writing itself was very well done.

Worldbuilding: There’s not enough time spent on exposition and worldbuilding. Certain elements of reality, such as religion and geography, can really throw the reader off. It might be easier to craft a separate world and religion for the story.

Romance: The romance in this book doesn’t really play a major part of the plot. It’s honestly more of a subplot and makes the title of the book misleading. The romance was also rushed.There could have been more time spent giving the main characters backstory and scenes to make their romance feel more natural.

Recommendations: I recommend that this book receive an additional developmental edit. The ideas, plot and characters are not poor, just poorly executed. This book was not ready for publication at the time of reading.
Profile Image for Janalyn, the blind reviewer.
4,714 reviews143 followers
Review of advance copy
March 10, 2026
To Love A Monster by JAD Phillip, princess Aurora is being forced to marry Lord Alfred a man old enough to be her grandfather when she makes a scene at the announcement her stepmother sits there like a praying peacock while her father does her bidding. He’s nothing like the man she knew before her mom died things being what they are she decides to Dawn her ladies maids clothes and run away she gets as far as authors lake when three local men try to accost her and she gets overly emotional and all of a sudden the water attacks the men and when they start calling her a witch because of it this is when a gargoyle shows up. at first she after he causes the men to flee she thinks he’s going to kill her but after a brief staring contest he turns and takes off into the woods. It isn’t long after this that her childhood friend robin, shows up he’s the skcullery maids son and a boy that was her best friend when she would dress like a boy and play with him just like a regular child and not the child of royalty. it’s been years since they spoke but on this night after he escort her home they both learn many things not just about each other but about the castle her stepmother in many other things. Unfortunately Aurora knows there is something he’s not telling and he wants to know but Aurora has problems of her own such as having visions prophetic dreams and none of them are good. Years ago her uncle was a maj and he attacked the faye and made magic illegal. I didn’t quite understand this part because her uncle was a maj and use magic to kill all the Faye so I didn’t get the correlation between them killing the Faye and the gargoyles attacking the castle they were supposed to be guarding, now there is an explanation further in the book about one of them and it kind of makes some things clear but not everything. In any event it seems there’s more to aurora and robin the each of them thought but are they cursed or blessed faded or doomed. i’m not gonna lie I thought this was a pretty fun read and despite me saying I was confused at one point I did pick up enough to enjoy the book and although there’s a few critiques or things I would say I think those were personal ultimately I do think the author did a great job writing this book especially being a new author. #BookSirens, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Profile Image for Emily D.
220 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 23, 2026
I got this as an ARC and am leaving an honest review. There were a lot of things I liked about this book, but I found the writing left a lot to be desired.

I really liked the protagonist (since I love a fierce AND smart heroine). So often the genre has leading women who are battle ready and impulsive - but lacking intelligence. I appreciated the lead being smart, passionate for her kingdom, and a true leader. The plot was extremely interesting! I found the dynamic between the various species fascinating and the direction of the story intriguing. The characters themselves drew me in as well.

The thing holding this book back was the writing. I would have liked more SHOW not tell. The book starts with some heavy info-dumping, where the author flat out tells the reader essential information in direct sentences. I prefer when the world building and lore unfolds more slowly throughout the story, instead of being front-loaded. There were instances of character development that the author told us instead of showing us with the character's actions. We get more info-dumping through dreams later on in the story, which felt lazy.

The author overused metaphors, making many of the sentences clunky. There were spots where the writing felt rushed, like the author failed to flesh things out and was just jumping into the next plot point. This applies to the romance too. We did not see much of it building but instead, it flew right into them being in love.

I think if the author worked on improving certain aspects of his writing then this would be a much stronger book. The plot, characters, and dynamics of the world are interesting enough to be something really good - if the writing could match.
Profile Image for Twinkle.butt.reads.
378 reviews23 followers
Review of advance copy
January 7, 2026
Princesses, monsters, magic, and feelings? Yes please.

To Love a Monster is a fantasy romance that leans hard into identity, duty, and that delicious internal chaos of wanting one thing while the entire world demands another. Aurora starts off as the classic “do what’s expected” princess, but watching her grow into someone who questions her role, her power, and her heart was incredibly satisfying. Her evolution felt earned and real, not rushed or forced.

The world of Amador is rich with political intrigue and magical elements that give the story weight and texture. It’s the kind of setting where secrets lurk in every hallway and power is never as simple as it seems. You can tell a lot of care went into the world-building, and once you’re in, it’s easy to get lost there.

And let’s talk about the emotional core—Aurora and Robin. Their relationship is layered, tender, and complicated in the best way. There’s longing, conflict, and genuine emotional depth that kept me invested even when the plot slowed down.

That said, the pacing in the beginning does take its time. If you’re someone who wants instant action, the early chapters might feel a bit slow. The plot is also fairly complex, with multiple fantasy elements and backstories woven together, so this isn’t a skim-read—you’ll want to pay attention to catch all the nuances.

Overall, To Love a Monster is a rewarding read for fantasy romance lovers who enjoy strong character growth, immersive worlds, and stories about self-discovery and breaking free from oppressive expectations. A little patience goes a long way here—and it pays off.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Maria Motley-Arnold.
378 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 20, 2026
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

To Love a Monster is billed as a fantasy romance where a princess discovers she has magic in a world where it is outlawed by her father and the Fae have been hunted to near extinction. She falls in love with a gargoyle that happens to be a childhood friend (she does not discover this until almost half way through the book). I like the premise of a badass heroine with a monster/gargoyle love interest but the book never delivered. This may be because this is the first book in a planned trilogy but the prologue and epilogue both occur in the future and you don't understand how they have anything to do with the body of the story until the epilogue Even then it is not clear. The story was convoluted and seemed to jump around a bunch even with the dual narratives of Princess Aurora and Robin. Amador is a fictional place but then there were references to Europe and Asia that did not make sense. Worldbuilding seemed incomplete and choppy. I appreciated that Jad Phillip included LGTBQ characters with Prince Acton & Henry but then there was this whole scene out of nowhere when Henry is banished because their relationship was discovered where Aurora discusses how the Old Testament is different and Jesus did not pass any laws or judgement. Do not even get me started on the unnecessary amount of deaths that even defied continuity from previous scenes. This was a miss for me unfortunately.

1.75/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Emory.
12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 13, 2026
This book had a good story, but everything felt rushed. The general arc was good and I liked the characters, but the main plot points just kind of came out of no where. Spoilers ahead: An example of this was the main characters were walking down a road and then all of a sudden they kiss out of no where. There was no build up and it was barely into the story. There should be more yearning. They started kissing and I was very surprised and taken aback. We hadn't even established that the FMC liked the MMC yet. Also, don't get me started on the "making water" part. Just say that she has to pee or something.
Another thing that did not make sense to me was like the main characters went on this multiple day journey that happened so fast to just talk to someone that they already knew and had seen in at the castle. I just think that was a little underwhelming. Let the FMC discover the big bad, but don't let the villain know that they are on to them that early in the story.

Overall, the story was there, but there were some things I would change.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lumie.
664 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC.

Plot 4/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 3.75/5
Interest 3.75/5

Overall 3.75/5

-This was a short and sweet but mysterious book that was great. The setting is very much like a traditional court setting with strict rules, making things more interesting in the romantic aspect. As for the plot itself, with the forbidden magic and the secrets revealed, I had a fun time reading.

-The characters could have been more developed in my opinion but as a short book, there weren’t many pages for that. I still liked them well enough. The romance was really sweet. Childhood friends to then falling in love but that love being forbidden, I’m a sucker for that.

-The ending was where I kind of lost interest at some point. I really enjoyed the magical aspects and how they came into play for the ending. I’m not usually one to enjoy prophecies so I didn’t feel like that was necessary. But overall I enjoyed this short story and would be interesting in reading more.
Profile Image for Kristie Kieffer.
341 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 16, 2026
To Love a Monster is a darkly captivating romance that blends danger, desire, and emotional depth in all the right ways.

Jad Phillip creates tension that smolders from page one. The story is full of suspense, high stakes, and morally complex characters whose choices keep you on edge. The romance itself is intense and irresistible—the kind where attraction is as much about danger as it is about connection.

The heroine is strong and multidimensional, navigating a world that’s unpredictable and sometimes ruthless, while the hero is magnetic, layered, and compellingly flawed. Their chemistry is electric, charged with both tension and vulnerability, making their relationship feel real and high-stakes.

If you enjoy romantic suspense with dark undertones, passionate connections, and characters who are as thrilling as they are human, To Love a Monster is an unforgettable read.
1 review
December 6, 2025
I loved the story and characters of this book. Starting with the fact that it is from the same universe as the previous books from the same writer in the Jade Necklace series, still you can easily understand the story without having read the other books (which i recommend to do anyway). The characters are very relatable and their journey throughout the book unfolds into a nice adventure that is not too straining to follow. I enjoyed the fictional characters and setting but especially the background story and lore that we keep getting along the pages. The ending left me wanting more from that universe, i want to know the fates of the different people who lived to see the end (not spoiling more than that).
Profile Image for Shell.
71 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
March 1, 2026
FMC is not your typical princess nor does she want to be. Challenging her father the king for the right to choose love over politics she comes to find her wicked step queen isn't as human as she seems. MMC has secrets after reuniting as friends from their childhood, they also find love in each other with minimum to no spice. Gargoyles and Far unite to take over the kingdom but the magic from within brings about chaos and an ending that comes from right where the book started with some twists I didn't see coming. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lauren Head.
715 reviews19 followers
Review of advance copy
March 9, 2026
To Love a Monster is a dark, mesmerizing romance where danger and desire intertwine from the very first page. Jad Phillip crafts a story thick with tension, high stakes, and morally complex characters whose choices keep you constantly on edge. The heroine is fierce and multifaceted, forced to navigate a ruthless, unpredictable world, while the hero is magnetic flawed, dangerous, and impossible to resist. Their chemistry burns with electric intensity, balancing raw vulnerability with the thrill of temptation, creating a connection that feels both perilous and deeply real.
Profile Image for Michelle .
119 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy
December 17, 2025
Booksirens Arc:

I loved how it ties to The Jade Necklace and other books. I loved the couples in this book. They were written and had lots of chemistry. I also enjoy the storytelling and plot. I felt like I was there right in this book.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
30 reviews2 followers
Read
December 22, 2025
This was quite the interesting story. I liked it. Still not 100% sure what Aurora is, but I'm going to guess she's a phoenix. Robin being a gargoyle prince was also very interesting. I was impressed by that concept. I won't lie though - the ending made me sad.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Niamh Ellis.
9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 19, 2026
I enjoyed the book but felt it was a bit rushed. I would have preferred it to have been longer and with a slower pace
Profile Image for Lisa Gainers.
183 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
February 28, 2026
I like the premise of the story, I just feel like it was disjointed. The story didn't flow well for me. This may just not be for me, others may love it.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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