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Mayhem Motel
Static
The first time I laid eyes on Madison Payne, I knew he was mine.
He was such a surprising little treat to find within the walls of Mayhem Motel. Devoured by his fear, he became so malleable and submissive… for me.
I couldn’t possibly let him go.
But then he left, and I had no other choice but to find him again—by any means necessary.
And I did.
His fear consumed him once more, but he fell into me with a beauty and grace I could’ve only dreamed of.
I finally found the parallel to my shadow.
And now, we return to Mayhem. Back to where we began.
He was such a surprising little treat to find within the walls of Mayhem Motel. Devoured by his fear, he became so malleable and submissive… for me.
I couldn’t possibly let him go.
But then he left, and I had no other choice but to find him again—by any means necessary.
And I did.
His fear consumed him once more, but he fell into me with a beauty and grace I could’ve only dreamed of.
I finally found the parallel to my shadow.
And now, we return to Mayhem. Back to where we began.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2026
About the author
Marie Ann
19 books556 followersMarie Ann is a writer of the weird and unorthodox who loves spending their free time reading fanfic and bingeing their favorite shows and movies.
If you liked what you read, stalk them!㋛︎
www.authormarieann.com
If you liked what you read, stalk them!㋛︎
www.authormarieann.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
March 7, 2026
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PUT A RANDOM FKN HOOKUP WITH HIS BEST FRIEND/ROOMMATE AT 40%???? i loooooveeeed static as a character i ate up the first 30% until he started fucking around w his bestie. and after the mmc left mayhem the pacing was awful. I NEVER WRITE REVIEWS but that fkn random ass hookup with his best friend 3 TIMES made it an automatic 1 star no matter how much i loved static’s character. heed my warning besties if you don’t like spice outside the actual relationship the book is supposed to be about, BC I KNOW I DON’T
May 12, 2026
Okay… this book was hot asf 😭 like seriously, SO hot. And the watersports scenes?? I was literally gagged, speechless — it was insanely hot 😳❤️🔥
Madison is also the cutest ever, my Shayla 🥹💓 I loved him so much. And Cedrick with the clown makeup?? Hot as hell.
But honestly… Kane was my favorite character. He’s so kind, caring, and supportive. I loved him so much that at some points I was even shipping him with Madison 😭 don’t blame me, Kane is literally perfect 💓
Overall, this book was such a fun read and I really enjoyed it Cedrick and Madison my precious babies 💓😋📚
Madison is also the cutest ever, my Shayla 🥹💓 I loved him so much. And Cedrick with the clown makeup?? Hot as hell.
But honestly… Kane was my favorite character. He’s so kind, caring, and supportive. I loved him so much that at some points I was even shipping him with Madison 😭 don’t blame me, Kane is literally perfect 💓
Overall, this book was such a fun read and I really enjoyed it Cedrick and Madison my precious babies 💓😋📚
February 15, 2026
5 stars!
Stalking (to the 10th degree!$
So obsessed with him he watched him from a tree and puts a camera in his house 😝.
Calls him “treat”
Clown
Haunted house
Hide and seal
Golden showers
Boot licking
I loved Cedric and Static as one person. The two separated was icing on the cake! I loved that Madison didn’t take too long to come into his desire for Static and I liked that he was a bit dominant in certain times too. Loved this!!
Stalking (to the 10th degree!$
So obsessed with him he watched him from a tree and puts a camera in his house 😝.
Calls him “treat”
Clown
Haunted house
Hide and seal
Golden showers
Boot licking
I loved Cedric and Static as one person. The two separated was icing on the cake! I loved that Madison didn’t take too long to come into his desire for Static and I liked that he was a bit dominant in certain times too. Loved this!!
February 24, 2026
3.75 stars
Okay I really enjoyed this book but not in the way I was expecting to. I went into this thinking it was gunna be a really dark book and it actually was the complete opposite. This was so wholesome. Yes there were some wtf moments but nothing THAT insane. So yeah this isn’t the book I thought was gunna be reading but I’m not mad at all. I highly recommend this stalker romance
Okay I really enjoyed this book but not in the way I was expecting to. I went into this thinking it was gunna be a really dark book and it actually was the complete opposite. This was so wholesome. Yes there were some wtf moments but nothing THAT insane. So yeah this isn’t the book I thought was gunna be reading but I’m not mad at all. I highly recommend this stalker romance
February 15, 2026
i enjoyed every single second of this book & the watersports??? gimmie more 🤭😮💨
February 26, 2026
This was my first book with water sports, and I’m definitely not a fan, but I’m not putting any fault on the book for that because I knew it was there before I started it. This was actually a pretty good book. I found it on TikTok, and it was described as Fryboy but MM, and honestly, it matches really well.
I do feel like it could have been a little longer or maybe just reformatted and shortened in some parts while lengthening others, but I loved the characters. Cedrick is such a sweetheart outside of Static, but even the second time in Mayhem, you never really got full Static like you did the first time. You could still feel the care and attention from Cedrick peeking through, and I loved it. The characters just worked so well together. Cedrick really did an amazing job of helping Madison find his true self-worth and work through the trauma.
Also, the author did a fantastic job of making Mayhem actually seem scary. She paid really good attention to detail, so it genuinely felt nerve-racking in some scenes just from the tension and the fear.
I do feel like it could have been a little longer or maybe just reformatted and shortened in some parts while lengthening others, but I loved the characters. Cedrick is such a sweetheart outside of Static, but even the second time in Mayhem, you never really got full Static like you did the first time. You could still feel the care and attention from Cedrick peeking through, and I loved it. The characters just worked so well together. Cedrick really did an amazing job of helping Madison find his true self-worth and work through the trauma.
Also, the author did a fantastic job of making Mayhem actually seem scary. She paid really good attention to detail, so it genuinely felt nerve-racking in some scenes just from the tension and the fear.
February 18, 2026
I went into this one with high hopes. I was genuinely engaged early on, but once Madison left the Mayhem Motel, the pacing completely stumbled and never recovered.
Also, I’m just not into the whole “spoooooky haunted house” vibe. I haven’t loved Nordika Night’s Vile House series, and this felt like a knockoff version of that same aesthetic. Which is a shame, because I do have a soft spot for an obsessive sicko corrupting a tiny innocent. That trope will usually get me every time.
More importantly, I guess I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to romance. I generally don’t love when one of the MCs hooks up with someone else, though I can sometimes tolerate it if it’s a random, early-on situation, but this was Cedrick’s roommate and best friend. And not just any best friend, one Cedrick has a long sexual history with.
The first hookup already made me uncomfortable. The second one, around 40% in, completely pushed me out of the book. The whole “brat” dynamic especially gave me the ick. Can we please reserve that kind of chemistry and kink energy for the actual love interest?
I’m surprised no one mentioned this in reviews, because it was a full stop moment for me.
And as a side note, Madison’s roommate Kane is infinitely sweeter and more appealing than Cedrick. I genuinely found myself wishing they’d both end up with their roommates instead. That would’ve been a much better book.
Disappointed, because the setup had real potential, but the pacing issues and the romantic choices were not for me.
Also, I’m just not into the whole “spoooooky haunted house” vibe. I haven’t loved Nordika Night’s Vile House series, and this felt like a knockoff version of that same aesthetic. Which is a shame, because I do have a soft spot for an obsessive sicko corrupting a tiny innocent. That trope will usually get me every time.
More importantly, I guess I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to romance. I generally don’t love when one of the MCs hooks up with someone else, though I can sometimes tolerate it if it’s a random, early-on situation, but this was Cedrick’s roommate and best friend. And not just any best friend, one Cedrick has a long sexual history with.
The first hookup already made me uncomfortable. The second one, around 40% in, completely pushed me out of the book. The whole “brat” dynamic especially gave me the ick. Can we please reserve that kind of chemistry and kink energy for the actual love interest?
I’m surprised no one mentioned this in reviews, because it was a full stop moment for me.
And as a side note, Madison’s roommate Kane is infinitely sweeter and more appealing than Cedrick. I genuinely found myself wishing they’d both end up with their roommates instead. That would’ve been a much better book.
Disappointed, because the setup had real potential, but the pacing issues and the romantic choices were not for me.
July 21, 2026
This is like a nice fluff/ filler novel for dark romance readers. I really enjoyed the pacing of Madison x Cedrick's love throughout this book. The read is mostly based on patience, vulnerability and acceptance. The writing style was fluid and easy and the romance was soo adorable. The only thing i would say is there's no plot to book at all. More of a light read, really.
March 30, 2026
The start at the Mayhem Motel delivered creepy good, but after that the characters were just two cinnamon rolls and I love them.
September 6, 2026
Alrighty...on today's episode of let's shock michael......I was pleasantly surprised by this book. This book, to me, masquerades as a dark romance. I went into it with a dark romance mindset and yes...it has all the elements. Stalking....haunted house themed motel where you have to sign a waiver to stay at because of the attractions with it. DISCLAIMER: read ur triggers cuz there may have been a scene with watersports....lol (NOT MY FAVE) The chase....all the scare tactic vibes you would have with the name "Mayhem motel." What i didnt expect was to see a love bloom between Madison and Static. Static in his alter ego Stalking Madison...then Cedric (static) realizing he is starting to like/love Madison. I absolutely loved this book. Madison being broken esque due to his raising in the sophisticated rich church vibe not knowing exactly how to come out. This book just turned into everything I love.
April 12, 2026
Really loved the premise of this - love the haunted motel attraction and the stalker trope. I would've loved to learn more backstory about the main characters and the motel - I realized this is going to be a series, so I imagine more about the motel will be coming in the future books. There were a couple things that confused me, but honestly I've just learned to push that aside when I read, or else I'd drive myself crazy. Overall, it was a very quick read for me, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book - I need to see Kane find someone!
do-not-read-nop
April 4, 2026Note to Self‼️
Per other reviewers, there are few hookup scenes of one MMC with his best friend/roommate/fuckbuddy around 40% and while the main characters are already "in couple mode."
Per other reviewers, there are few hookup scenes of one MMC with his best friend/roommate/fuckbuddy around 40% and while the main characters are already "in couple mode."
August 27, 2026
Nah, pésimo. Me dormí en vivo. Cero química.
September 1, 2026
This book was 342 pages of boring. The premise seemed interesting but the plot was boring and dragged. I rushed through it just to get it over with and I should’ve DNFed but it was too late
February 23, 2026
Kane should've been the main LI. End of review.
Okay, okay, let me elaborate on the review.
The book per se is not *bad*, and neither is Cedrick's character, but God, it just feels so rushed. The "love" story is honestly rushed to the point where it sometimes gets confusing, as in, "Woah, how are they this madly in love after 10 pages?" And I get it, it's a short book and the characters are supposed to be a bit kooky and codependent, but the author managed to give Mads and Kane so much chemistry in the few pages that they have; that it feels like a shame they couldn't do that with Cedrick. Because I like the idea of the character, a lot, but he falls flat in places.
The writing style did not captivate me either. I don't mean this accusatorily at all, but it feels...AI-ish? Almost like a spicy chatbot roleplay. But honestly, that might just be me. It does pull me out sometimes because it's hard to picture the environments and what the author is trying to convey, and it feels very discombobulated. Also, the characters can read thoughts somehow and reply to them? It kept confusing me, honestly. Because a character would think something, and another would reply to the thought as if they said it out loud like it was nothing. This is mainly what triggered my "Geez, this sounds AI-ish." Even if it's not, it's still weird writing. Even a "fuck, how did he know what I was thinking?" would've pulled it together; now it feels cartoonish.
I struggled to picture scenarios by the way they were described, especially at Mayhem Motel. And maybe it was to be as disoriented to the main readers as it was for the characters, but it's not really a good idea to be unable to picture the environments in a horror-ish novel and feel the fear and confusion the character feels; I could feel the spookiness, of course. But I kept getting confused on the logistics to the point I had to reread it a couple times to picture it in my mind. Could be a personal problem, though.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The fact that around 40% of the book we get a sex scene between one of the MMCs and a prominent side character while already "in couple mode" with the other MMC threw me off. I felt like it was unnecessary and added nothing to the plot. Could've used those pages to write more story for the actual characters, but I digress.
The sex was...fine? Dunno, it felt a bit juvenile honestly and not that sensual. It was funny to see the thought process of Maddison when the golden shower scene came through, though. I don't know; I guess my sentiment for the spice is just "fine." I struggled to find the sexual chemistry between the two characters believable.
Anyways, I finished the book in less than a day, so maybe I overwhelmed my brain with piss and clowns. But honestly, as I said, the writing style threw me off quite a lot, and I don't know if I'll pick up any extra books from this author. Which is a shame because I enjoy the premise *a lot*. Hot clowns, monsters, horror, and sex? Who doesn't like that? But yeah. Dunno. Would've gotten more stars if I didn't feel like it was as rushed and the book was more...bookish and less fanficton-ish.
Okay, okay, let me elaborate on the review.
The book per se is not *bad*, and neither is Cedrick's character, but God, it just feels so rushed. The "love" story is honestly rushed to the point where it sometimes gets confusing, as in, "Woah, how are they this madly in love after 10 pages?" And I get it, it's a short book and the characters are supposed to be a bit kooky and codependent, but the author managed to give Mads and Kane so much chemistry in the few pages that they have; that it feels like a shame they couldn't do that with Cedrick. Because I like the idea of the character, a lot, but he falls flat in places.
The writing style did not captivate me either. I don't mean this accusatorily at all, but it feels...AI-ish? Almost like a spicy chatbot roleplay. But honestly, that might just be me. It does pull me out sometimes because it's hard to picture the environments and what the author is trying to convey, and it feels very discombobulated. Also, the characters can read thoughts somehow and reply to them? It kept confusing me, honestly. Because a character would think something, and another would reply to the thought as if they said it out loud like it was nothing. This is mainly what triggered my "Geez, this sounds AI-ish." Even if it's not, it's still weird writing. Even a "fuck, how did he know what I was thinking?" would've pulled it together; now it feels cartoonish.
I struggled to picture scenarios by the way they were described, especially at Mayhem Motel. And maybe it was to be as disoriented to the main readers as it was for the characters, but it's not really a good idea to be unable to picture the environments in a horror-ish novel and feel the fear and confusion the character feels; I could feel the spookiness, of course. But I kept getting confused on the logistics to the point I had to reread it a couple times to picture it in my mind. Could be a personal problem, though.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The fact that around 40% of the book we get a sex scene between one of the MMCs and a prominent side character while already "in couple mode" with the other MMC threw me off. I felt like it was unnecessary and added nothing to the plot. Could've used those pages to write more story for the actual characters, but I digress.
The sex was...fine? Dunno, it felt a bit juvenile honestly and not that sensual. It was funny to see the thought process of Maddison when the golden shower scene came through, though. I don't know; I guess my sentiment for the spice is just "fine." I struggled to find the sexual chemistry between the two characters believable.
Anyways, I finished the book in less than a day, so maybe I overwhelmed my brain with piss and clowns. But honestly, as I said, the writing style threw me off quite a lot, and I don't know if I'll pick up any extra books from this author. Which is a shame because I enjoy the premise *a lot*. Hot clowns, monsters, horror, and sex? Who doesn't like that? But yeah. Dunno. Would've gotten more stars if I didn't feel like it was as rushed and the book was more...bookish and less fanficton-ish.
August 29, 2026
Rating: 3.5⭐️
Format: 🎧
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book wasn’t bad. I liked the writing style. I think I might be in the wrong headspace after my banger binge read of the Monstrous series😩. There were moments I’m like wtf is going on here because nothing makes sense and also i’m not sure how i feel about clowns 🤡. I don’t think i’m a fan 😭
Format: 🎧
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book wasn’t bad. I liked the writing style. I think I might be in the wrong headspace after my banger binge read of the Monstrous series😩. There were moments I’m like wtf is going on here because nothing makes sense and also i’m not sure how i feel about clowns 🤡. I don’t think i’m a fan 😭
February 22, 2026
1⭐️. DNF chapter 6 out of 31 chapters + epilogue. So around ~18%
Was looking for something dark and spicy and delulu but it didn’t pulled me into it.
Didn’t like the “innocent” MMC. He is hmmmmm too much of “I know I’m lame / I’m so innocent / I didn’t know anything.”
Too much time at the horror/scary mini amusement park. Ultimately, It’s an entertainment place, so it’s not that deep but it’s also trying to show that it’s dark and dangerous. Yea I’m not buying into it.
Was looking for something dark and spicy and delulu but it didn’t pulled me into it.
Didn’t like the “innocent” MMC. He is hmmmmm too much of “I know I’m lame / I’m so innocent / I didn’t know anything.”
Too much time at the horror/scary mini amusement park. Ultimately, It’s an entertainment place, so it’s not that deep but it’s also trying to show that it’s dark and dangerous. Yea I’m not buying into it.
May 20, 2026
3.5 🌟
I love a good ol unhinged stalker 🤣 Honestly I wish this book had been longer, with more to both Madison and Static’s background story and their relationship development.
I love a good ol unhinged stalker 🤣 Honestly I wish this book had been longer, with more to both Madison and Static’s background story and their relationship development.
September 12, 2026
This was such a fun surprise! It ended up being a lot more funny and sweet than I expected, Cedrick and Madison were such an unlikely pairing but that’s what made them work so well!
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2026One of the MMC’s hooking up w his bestie still halfway through pissed me off so bad I refuse to keep going
February 21, 2026
Static by Marie Ann had me hooked from the very first page. I started with “just one more chapter” and before I knew it I was completely pulled into the story.
One of the things I loved the most was the whole atmosphere surrounding the Mayhem Motel, turned into a kind of permanent haunted attraction. Marie Ann makes the setting, the characters working there, and the sinister mood feel incredibly real and alive.
But the best part, is the relationship between Madison and Static (Cedrick). It’s strange, surreal, and very original. I have to admit that I have a pretty serious crush on Static 😅😍 and I found Madison’s evolution and personal growth really interesting to follow.
It’s an easy book to read, mostly because you just can’t put it down, and it also leaves you wanting to know more about the other characters. It’s hard to leave the Mayhem Motel behind when you reach the end.
In the end, it really feels like these two characters needed to find each other, even if it happened in the least orthodox way possible. And without spoilers, I loved that the story ends the same way it began.
------ ESP ------
Static de Marie Ann me ha tenido enganchada desde la primera página. Empecé con "solo un capítulo más” y cuando me di cuenta estaba totalmente atrapada en la historia.
Una de las cosas que más me han gustado es toda la atmósfera que envuelve al motel Mayhem convertido en una especie de atracción permanente de pasaje del terror. Marie Ann consigue que tanto el lugar, los personajes que trabajan allí y el ambiente siniestro se sientan muy reales y vivos.
Pero lo mejor, es la relación entre Madison y Static (Cedrick). Es extraña, surrealista y muy original. Admito que tengo un crush bastante serio con Static, y la evolución y crecimiento personal del personaje de Madison me ha parecido muy interesante.
Es un libro fácil de leer, sobre todo porque no lo puedes soltar, y además te deja con ganas de seguir conociendo a los demás personajes. Cuesta abandonar el motel Mayhem cuando llegas al final.
Al final sientes que estos dos personajes necesitaban encontrarse, aunque fuera de la forma menos ortodoxa posible. Y sin hacer spoilers, diré que me ha encantado que termine de la misma manera que empezó.
One of the things I loved the most was the whole atmosphere surrounding the Mayhem Motel, turned into a kind of permanent haunted attraction. Marie Ann makes the setting, the characters working there, and the sinister mood feel incredibly real and alive.
But the best part, is the relationship between Madison and Static (Cedrick). It’s strange, surreal, and very original. I have to admit that I have a pretty serious crush on Static 😅😍 and I found Madison’s evolution and personal growth really interesting to follow.
It’s an easy book to read, mostly because you just can’t put it down, and it also leaves you wanting to know more about the other characters. It’s hard to leave the Mayhem Motel behind when you reach the end.
In the end, it really feels like these two characters needed to find each other, even if it happened in the least orthodox way possible. And without spoilers, I loved that the story ends the same way it began.
------ ESP ------
Static de Marie Ann me ha tenido enganchada desde la primera página. Empecé con "solo un capítulo más” y cuando me di cuenta estaba totalmente atrapada en la historia.
Una de las cosas que más me han gustado es toda la atmósfera que envuelve al motel Mayhem convertido en una especie de atracción permanente de pasaje del terror. Marie Ann consigue que tanto el lugar, los personajes que trabajan allí y el ambiente siniestro se sientan muy reales y vivos.
Pero lo mejor, es la relación entre Madison y Static (Cedrick). Es extraña, surrealista y muy original. Admito que tengo un crush bastante serio con Static, y la evolución y crecimiento personal del personaje de Madison me ha parecido muy interesante.
Es un libro fácil de leer, sobre todo porque no lo puedes soltar, y además te deja con ganas de seguir conociendo a los demás personajes. Cuesta abandonar el motel Mayhem cuando llegas al final.
Al final sientes que estos dos personajes necesitaban encontrarse, aunque fuera de la forma menos ortodoxa posible. Y sin hacer spoilers, diré que me ha encantado que termine de la misma manera que empezó.
March 7, 2026
DNF at 20%. Who are these people?! 20% in and there’s no backstory at all. Just introducing more and more characters. I’m trying to follow as Madison is going through the motel and the descriptors are just weird to me and hard to follow. These characters feel like the author knows exactly who and what they are but didn’t bother to tell anyone else.
March 9, 2026
3 ⭐️ Not bad, not a favourite – but not a regret either.
Ok, listen up…you can’t criticise apple pie for having apples in it.
This book is extremely upfront about what it is, what it does, and which kinks it’s going to lean into. If you skip the trigger warnings and then get mad that the book contains exactly what it warned you about, that’s not a critique, that’s user error.
There’s voyeurism, stalking, degradation, fear play, consent games, and scenes that are deliberately meant to feel shame-adjacent, and feral. It’s going to be a hard no for plenty of readers. And that’s fine. The book isn’t pretending it’s fluffy or mainstream taste.
What surprised me is that this isn’t just “80% smut”. It’s more balanced than the premise suggests. The kink is loud, yes, but there’s also a real undercurrent of emotional need and psychological coping. I went in mostly for the Mayhem Motel aesthetic – the grime, the liminal roadside-hell vibe, the immersion-horror setting – and the book delivers on atmosphere, especially early on. The motel feels like a dare that got out of hand. And honestly, the waiver section was a highlight for me because it grounds the horror in bureaucracy. Nothing says “welcome to hell” like a legal document calmly listing suffocation and death.
I also liked the texting and the digital proximity thread. When the stalking element works, it really works: that itchy sense of being watched, the push-pull of disgust, curiosity, adrenaline, and shame.
Character-wise, the concept is compelling.
Madison reads like someone shaped by control: religious trauma, fear of being “wrong”, fear of desire, fear of his own body. The book plays with fear as both prison and permission – fear is what he was raised on, and fear is also what lets him step outside the rules.
Cedrick/Static is interesting because you can feel the messy and contradictory: performer as mask and truth, Mayhem as ritualised release, Cedrick as the human who can connect.
I liked a lot about this book but here's why this only lands at three stars fore me: strong ingredients, but execution hiccups.
My biggest issue is the writing style itself, especially the amount of inner monologue that keeps explaining itself. Instead of letting obsession and possessiveness emerge through behaviour and escalation, the narration repeatedly tells us what something means and announces shifts (“I’m going off-script”) rather than letting us discover them.
I kept wishing the story trusted ambiguity more at the start. Let us meet Static as an unsettling unknown first. Let us doubt. Let someone else clock the change (Kaser was right there as the perfect observer/foil, and I wish the book had used them harder to show Cedrick slipping rather than telling us. I was still hooked, but I felt like the author tried to play this safe.
The other imbalance for me was escalation: the kink keeps levelling up, while the emotional arc sometimes feels flatter in comparison. I wish the relationship beats had built with the same intention as the erotic ones. Also, Madison’s religious trauma felt a bit unevenly threaded – present, then quiet for a loooong time, then suddenly very loud again late in the book but too short to feel like proper emancipation.
Overall: I get why people will love this. If you’re here for immersive horror romance, taboo tension, fear-as-foreplay, the gritty setting, and the stalker-texting spiral, there’s plenty to devour. For me, it was entertaining and occasionally gripping, but the over-explaining dulled the sharpest edges.
Ok, listen up…you can’t criticise apple pie for having apples in it.
This book is extremely upfront about what it is, what it does, and which kinks it’s going to lean into. If you skip the trigger warnings and then get mad that the book contains exactly what it warned you about, that’s not a critique, that’s user error.
There’s voyeurism, stalking, degradation, fear play, consent games, and scenes that are deliberately meant to feel shame-adjacent, and feral. It’s going to be a hard no for plenty of readers. And that’s fine. The book isn’t pretending it’s fluffy or mainstream taste.
What surprised me is that this isn’t just “80% smut”. It’s more balanced than the premise suggests. The kink is loud, yes, but there’s also a real undercurrent of emotional need and psychological coping. I went in mostly for the Mayhem Motel aesthetic – the grime, the liminal roadside-hell vibe, the immersion-horror setting – and the book delivers on atmosphere, especially early on. The motel feels like a dare that got out of hand. And honestly, the waiver section was a highlight for me because it grounds the horror in bureaucracy. Nothing says “welcome to hell” like a legal document calmly listing suffocation and death.
I also liked the texting and the digital proximity thread. When the stalking element works, it really works: that itchy sense of being watched, the push-pull of disgust, curiosity, adrenaline, and shame.
Character-wise, the concept is compelling.
Madison reads like someone shaped by control: religious trauma, fear of being “wrong”, fear of desire, fear of his own body. The book plays with fear as both prison and permission – fear is what he was raised on, and fear is also what lets him step outside the rules.
Cedrick/Static is interesting because you can feel the messy and contradictory: performer as mask and truth, Mayhem as ritualised release, Cedrick as the human who can connect.
I liked a lot about this book but here's why this only lands at three stars fore me: strong ingredients, but execution hiccups.
My biggest issue is the writing style itself, especially the amount of inner monologue that keeps explaining itself. Instead of letting obsession and possessiveness emerge through behaviour and escalation, the narration repeatedly tells us what something means and announces shifts (“I’m going off-script”) rather than letting us discover them.
I kept wishing the story trusted ambiguity more at the start. Let us meet Static as an unsettling unknown first. Let us doubt. Let someone else clock the change (Kaser was right there as the perfect observer/foil, and I wish the book had used them harder to show Cedrick slipping rather than telling us. I was still hooked, but I felt like the author tried to play this safe.
The other imbalance for me was escalation: the kink keeps levelling up, while the emotional arc sometimes feels flatter in comparison. I wish the relationship beats had built with the same intention as the erotic ones. Also, Madison’s religious trauma felt a bit unevenly threaded – present, then quiet for a loooong time, then suddenly very loud again late in the book but too short to feel like proper emancipation.
Overall: I get why people will love this. If you’re here for immersive horror romance, taboo tension, fear-as-foreplay, the gritty setting, and the stalker-texting spiral, there’s plenty to devour. For me, it was entertaining and occasionally gripping, but the over-explaining dulled the sharpest edges.
February 14, 2026
3.5⭐️
I was eagerly awaiting this book, as it sounded really interesting and I usually enjoy everything this author writes. I did enjoy the book, but there was something missing. It feels like at first not much happened in the book, there was just a lot of inner monologue, then suddenly a lot happened and then it was already over.
Madison clearly had trauma due to his religious upbringing, but the characters' backgrounds—even though we did get some info—were still somewhat lacking. I really liked Static/Cedrick, but both MMCs remained somewhat distant to me. This book clearly focuses more on the whole Mayhem thing and the stalking etc. than on creating a connection to the characters -I didn't quite catch chemistry between them either.
I have somewhat conflicted feelings about this, but overall I liked the book and will definitely read the other books in the series.
________
”What are you doin
I miss you”
”You already know what I’m doing…”
”Doesnt mean I dont want you to tell me”
”I’m sitting here talking to you because apparently I don’t have anything better to do with my day.”
”Im that special huh”
”Apparently stalkers get special privileges.”
”Not just any stalker I hope”
”Just the good ones.”
”Im a good boy yay me”
He fits with me like the sharpest jigsaw to my fucked-up edges, and I never thought someone like that could exist.
“Tell me. Tell me what you want from me.” And in the span of ten seconds, I see it all flash before his eyes. Worry, angst, fear. Indignation and resolve, before he finally settles on something close to determination if the hard set of his mouth is anything to go by. I want to kiss it.
”I want you to take it all.”
I was eagerly awaiting this book, as it sounded really interesting and I usually enjoy everything this author writes. I did enjoy the book, but there was something missing. It feels like at first not much happened in the book, there was just a lot of inner monologue, then suddenly a lot happened and then it was already over.
Madison clearly had trauma due to his religious upbringing, but the characters' backgrounds—even though we did get some info—were still somewhat lacking. I really liked Static/Cedrick, but both MMCs remained somewhat distant to me. This book clearly focuses more on the whole Mayhem thing and the stalking etc. than on creating a connection to the characters -I didn't quite catch chemistry between them either.
I have somewhat conflicted feelings about this, but overall I liked the book and will definitely read the other books in the series.
________
”What are you doin
I miss you”
”You already know what I’m doing…”
”Doesnt mean I dont want you to tell me”
”I’m sitting here talking to you because apparently I don’t have anything better to do with my day.”
”Im that special huh”
”Apparently stalkers get special privileges.”
”Not just any stalker I hope”
”Just the good ones.”
”Im a good boy yay me”
He fits with me like the sharpest jigsaw to my fucked-up edges, and I never thought someone like that could exist.
“Tell me. Tell me what you want from me.” And in the span of ten seconds, I see it all flash before his eyes. Worry, angst, fear. Indignation and resolve, before he finally settles on something close to determination if the hard set of his mouth is anything to go by. I want to kiss it.
”I want you to take it all.”
March 13, 2026
2.5⭐️
Madison leaves home to go to a uni his parents don’t approve of, and moves in with some new roommates. Said roommates convince him to come to an insane haunted motel, where he meats the scary clown of his dreams—Static.
This book has some crazy content:
-scary stalker clown x innocent guy that loves being scared
-lots of bodily fluids (especially water sports)
-stalking
-whatever k*nk it is where people like to scare / be scared
I was really keen to read this, mostly because I’ve never read something like it! The cover is awesome, and the author tried something cool! However, it seemed like the CONCEPT the author had was locked in, but the actual plot and characterization maybe not so much.
The execution and writing quality were also a bit of a let down for me.
SO if you’re just in it for the crazy tropes and themes and want to read something with shock value? Go for it! But don’t expect to be blown away by the writing.
Madison leaves home to go to a uni his parents don’t approve of, and moves in with some new roommates. Said roommates convince him to come to an insane haunted motel, where he meats the scary clown of his dreams—Static.
This book has some crazy content:
-scary stalker clown x innocent guy that loves being scared
-lots of bodily fluids (especially water sports)
-stalking
-whatever k*nk it is where people like to scare / be scared
I was really keen to read this, mostly because I’ve never read something like it! The cover is awesome, and the author tried something cool! However, it seemed like the CONCEPT the author had was locked in, but the actual plot and characterization maybe not so much.
The execution and writing quality were also a bit of a let down for me.
SO if you’re just in it for the crazy tropes and themes and want to read something with shock value? Go for it! But don’t expect to be blown away by the writing.
August 7, 2026
Wow. Just wow. That was bad. Super, super messy.
I wanted to DNF it, but since you don't need a lot of functioning brain cells to get through it, I figured I might as well finish it.
The only good thing about this book was the writing style, which wasn't bad.
The execution, though, was really bad.
If you have hours of your life to waste, I highly recommend reading it. If you don't, do yourself a favour and skip it. 😅
I wanted to DNF it, but since you don't need a lot of functioning brain cells to get through it, I figured I might as well finish it.
The only good thing about this book was the writing style, which wasn't bad.
The execution, though, was really bad.
If you have hours of your life to waste, I highly recommend reading it. If you don't, do yourself a favour and skip it. 😅
August 27, 2026
August 2026
Kindle edition
I forgot about this one as soon as I started reading the next book on my TBR. It was small minus one roommate freak out. Mostly it was just the boys and their own demons. I didn't like the stuff with the friend, felt ambiguous on the cheating scale. The parents felt like a wasted visit, but hope they keep in touch with the butler. Would read the next one.
Kindle edition
I forgot about this one as soon as I started reading the next book on my TBR. It was small minus one roommate freak out. Mostly it was just the boys and their own demons. I didn't like the stuff with the friend, felt ambiguous on the cheating scale. The parents felt like a wasted visit, but hope they keep in touch with the butler. Would read the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2026
4.5 stars
February 14, 2026
a stalker and his little treat
Great book. I was hooked. Actually clocked into work 15 minutes late today because I was up all night reading then read all day in between patients. Couldnt get enough! Static was everything. And I thought Madison was perfect, just like Cedrick said he was. I am excited to see where this Mayhem Motel series goes from here! Also, are we getting something from Kane? I wont be upset about that one bit!
Great book. I was hooked. Actually clocked into work 15 minutes late today because I was up all night reading then read all day in between patients. Couldnt get enough! Static was everything. And I thought Madison was perfect, just like Cedrick said he was. I am excited to see where this Mayhem Motel series goes from here! Also, are we getting something from Kane? I wont be upset about that one bit!
Read
March 13, 2026DNF at 60%.
I am so incredibly tolerant, and I love so many different writing styles. Prose to clinical journalism, I love it all.
What I couldn't handle was the repetition and insistence on highlighting bodily sensations in this book. 'He felt sick to his stomach', 'his stomach roiled', 'he felt his stomach clench', 'he struggled to keep down bile',' 'he tasted vomit on the back of his tongue', 'he struggled to keep down the contents of his stomach'..
None of those are direct quotes, mind you. But after a certain point I started rolling my eyes and yelling at my Kindle: 'Yeah, I fucking get it, your tummy hurts!'
Along with many repetitions about how he couldn't catch his breath, his breath came short, he gasped, struggled to take in a full breath; so on and so forth, forever and forever.
I honestly think I would have liked this story if the author hadn't jammed these descriptions down my throat every other paragraph.
There are other ways to communicate anxiety and panic aside from describing the state of your internal organs. Idk if it was lazy or they were trying to piss me off on purpose. I loved the content but hated the way they related the story.
I am so incredibly tolerant, and I love so many different writing styles. Prose to clinical journalism, I love it all.
What I couldn't handle was the repetition and insistence on highlighting bodily sensations in this book. 'He felt sick to his stomach', 'his stomach roiled', 'he felt his stomach clench', 'he struggled to keep down bile',' 'he tasted vomit on the back of his tongue', 'he struggled to keep down the contents of his stomach'..
None of those are direct quotes, mind you. But after a certain point I started rolling my eyes and yelling at my Kindle: 'Yeah, I fucking get it, your tummy hurts!'
Along with many repetitions about how he couldn't catch his breath, his breath came short, he gasped, struggled to take in a full breath; so on and so forth, forever and forever.
I honestly think I would have liked this story if the author hadn't jammed these descriptions down my throat every other paragraph.
There are other ways to communicate anxiety and panic aside from describing the state of your internal organs. Idk if it was lazy or they were trying to piss me off on purpose. I loved the content but hated the way they related the story.
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