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Temple Of The Tentacle Priests
A filthy, funny, feel-good monster romance with too many tentacles.
Dr. Poppy Flynn, twenty-seven, is a sex psychologist with a humiliating secret: she's studied eight years of human orgasms and experienced approximately none worth remembering.
She's done blaming herself. Maybe it's the species.
So she signs up for a year in Hearthpetal, a dimension where pleasure is literally holy. Celibate tentacle priests dedicate their lives to studying, controlling, and transcending it. Poppy is here to collect data, not throw herself at the first set of suction cups that look like they could slurp her soul out through her lady portal.
Father Calder ruins that plan immediately.
He's the temple's golden heir, bound by vows of detachment and biology that's even crueler. Octopi get just one mating cycle. Full completion triggers semelparity and a death cascade.
Which is unfortunate, because Poppy is very much in the room.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Academic heroine. Forbidden love. Forced proximity. Grumpy/sunshine. Touch-starved MMC. Caretaking. Worship kink. Fated-but-doomed mates. HEA guaranteed. Octopus survival rates may vary.
CW: Plentiful explicit scenes with tentacles and other creative monster anatomy.
Dr. Poppy Flynn, twenty-seven, is a sex psychologist with a humiliating secret: she's studied eight years of human orgasms and experienced approximately none worth remembering.
She's done blaming herself. Maybe it's the species.
So she signs up for a year in Hearthpetal, a dimension where pleasure is literally holy. Celibate tentacle priests dedicate their lives to studying, controlling, and transcending it. Poppy is here to collect data, not throw herself at the first set of suction cups that look like they could slurp her soul out through her lady portal.
Father Calder ruins that plan immediately.
He's the temple's golden heir, bound by vows of detachment and biology that's even crueler. Octopi get just one mating cycle. Full completion triggers semelparity and a death cascade.
Which is unfortunate, because Poppy is very much in the room.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Academic heroine. Forbidden love. Forced proximity. Grumpy/sunshine. Touch-starved MMC. Caretaking. Worship kink. Fated-but-doomed mates. HEA guaranteed. Octopus survival rates may vary.
CW: Plentiful explicit scenes with tentacles and other creative monster anatomy.
- GenresMonster RomanceRomance
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2026
24 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Ava Wilde
5 books34 followersI write filthy, funny, feel-good monster romances and sometimes contemporary when I lower my standards back to men 🤣
Follow me on IG/TT @avawildewrites for my latest releases.
On a personal note, I choose to protect my real-life identity/privacy because I write erotica and the real world is not always kind about that. I'd like to keep my day job and my in-laws’ ability to make eye contact with me at family gatherings. So I’m represented by a digital avatar I identify with.
If this would get in the way of enjoying my books, please give them a miss with my gratitude for considering them. Otherwise, strap in. It's about to get weird, wonderful and very, very tentacle-y.
Follow me on IG/TT @avawildewrites for my latest releases.
On a personal note, I choose to protect my real-life identity/privacy because I write erotica and the real world is not always kind about that. I'd like to keep my day job and my in-laws’ ability to make eye contact with me at family gatherings. So I’m represented by a digital avatar I identify with.
If this would get in the way of enjoying my books, please give them a miss with my gratitude for considering them. Otherwise, strap in. It's about to get weird, wonderful and very, very tentacle-y.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
February 22, 2026
Arc from Netgalley
This was ridiculous in the best way and an excellent palate cleanser. We start the story with our FMC on a blind date in one of those restaurants where they keep the lights off. One thing leads to another and the date ends up blessing the foccacia with cum and leaving Dr. Poppy(fmc) unsatisfied and more ready than ever to find a solution to that problem. We follow her on her adventures of monster fuckery until she inevitably finds what she's needed in a romantic and sex partner.
This was excellent for what it was. I tried to rate by if I was in the mood to read a book like this. Unfortunately, I haven't been feeling great, so I've been worried that just going on vibes is bringing my ratings down. This is a fun read and I do 100% think that you will love this if it's something you'd normally read based on the cover, synopsis, and title.
We get:
An academic fmc
Monster sex (so much of it, no gender bias)
A very horny fmc who knows exactly what she wants
Genuinely funny writing
Science! Sex science.
Priests with tenticles who study pleasure
Dimensional travel.
Shapeshifting, magical vagina
A Priest struggling with his vows
There's also something really special about a universe made of orgasms where each one is represented by a star. I've read whole fantasy series with less world-building.
"Don't romantize my fluids." Made me choke. That's got to be a new sentence.
This was ridiculous in the best way and an excellent palate cleanser. We start the story with our FMC on a blind date in one of those restaurants where they keep the lights off. One thing leads to another and the date ends up blessing the foccacia with cum and leaving Dr. Poppy(fmc) unsatisfied and more ready than ever to find a solution to that problem. We follow her on her adventures of monster fuckery until she inevitably finds what she's needed in a romantic and sex partner.
This was excellent for what it was. I tried to rate by if I was in the mood to read a book like this. Unfortunately, I haven't been feeling great, so I've been worried that just going on vibes is bringing my ratings down. This is a fun read and I do 100% think that you will love this if it's something you'd normally read based on the cover, synopsis, and title.
We get:
An academic fmc
Monster sex (so much of it, no gender bias)
A very horny fmc who knows exactly what she wants
Genuinely funny writing
Science! Sex science.
Priests with tenticles who study pleasure
Dimensional travel.
Shapeshifting, magical vagina
A Priest struggling with his vows
There's also something really special about a universe made of orgasms where each one is represented by a star. I've read whole fantasy series with less world-building.
"Don't romantize my fluids." Made me choke. That's got to be a new sentence.
February 24, 2026
What did I just read? How am I supposed to rate this?? Should I question my sanity???
I mean, I was 100% curious about this and the entertainment level 1000, but I was also preeetty grossed out at some points? I mean.. I have an absolute fear of spiders, so the half-spider sexy scenes were not.. not great for me personally. Almost DNF'ed right then and there tbh?
I'm glad I got through because that obviously wasn't the point of the book and I still enjoyed myself afterwards. Cannot relate with Poppy because she just went in fully and wasn't scared for one second? That's crazy to me. But good for her, she got some great times out of it I think haha.
I mean, I was 100% curious about this and the entertainment level 1000, but I was also preeetty grossed out at some points? I mean.. I have an absolute fear of spiders, so the half-spider sexy scenes were not.. not great for me personally. Almost DNF'ed right then and there tbh?
I'm glad I got through because that obviously wasn't the point of the book and I still enjoyed myself afterwards. Cannot relate with Poppy because she just went in fully and wasn't scared for one second? That's crazy to me. But good for her, she got some great times out of it I think haha.
February 12, 2026
I mean how do you even give a book like this a star rating? Was it weird as hell? Yep.
Was it basically octopus porn? Yep.
Was it hilarious and ridiculous? Also yep. 😂
Some highlights for me -
‘Monsters stacked on monsters like horny lasagne’- I’m pretty sure that’s absolute peak literature.
She f**ks someone who’s half spider? 😂 like what?
Okay so the 6 fairies come back to thank her for the… pleasure she gave them. And she said she needs something inside of her… so 2 of them pull their wings in close and just dive tf in?
I’m sorry but any way I picture this is absolutely hilarious.
If the priest *cough* arrives … from his one particular tentacle… then he dies. ‘I’m watching him hold his own life in his own trembling tentacle cock’ LOL
Spoiler alert her magic vagina saves him & we get a HEA! 🤣
Was it basically octopus porn? Yep.
Was it hilarious and ridiculous? Also yep. 😂
Some highlights for me -
‘Monsters stacked on monsters like horny lasagne’- I’m pretty sure that’s absolute peak literature.
She f**ks someone who’s half spider? 😂 like what?
Okay so the 6 fairies come back to thank her for the… pleasure she gave them. And she said she needs something inside of her… so 2 of them pull their wings in close and just dive tf in?
I’m sorry but any way I picture this is absolutely hilarious.
If the priest *cough* arrives … from his one particular tentacle… then he dies. ‘I’m watching him hold his own life in his own trembling tentacle cock’ LOL
Spoiler alert her magic vagina saves him & we get a HEA! 🤣
February 22, 2026
Doctor Poppy Flynn is absolutely hilarious with a sharp personality. And exceptionally horny. This book was so fun to read and much deeper than initial expectations. Explicit content (if you couldn't tell by the cover) 😌
Father Calder is professional, strictly by the books, and on his way to becoming the High Priest within the Temple; his study with Dr. Flynn is key to his success. Failure results in death.
Poppy sees through his stoic bullshit and is determined to make him break, risking everything. Their chemistry is palpable. But she pushes too far and Calder retreats to protect all that he's worked for, stepping back from directly participating in their sessions with her, and leaving you feeling heartbreak as you know Poppy is searching for her own value.
The introduction of world building is paced perfectly where you're fed enough detail to understand the whats and whys of the situation without feeling lost. In the beginning, you're met with lightheartedness and easy going charm. But once the sex cover is lifted, you're submerged into finding out the truth the Temple is keeping hidden from researchers and test subjects.
Up against impossible odds by data supression and manipulation, love will always win. Definitely a feel good ending.
This was so on par with posts I read on Tumblr, so thank you so much for this little treat.
Father Calder is professional, strictly by the books, and on his way to becoming the High Priest within the Temple; his study with Dr. Flynn is key to his success. Failure results in death.
Poppy sees through his stoic bullshit and is determined to make him break, risking everything. Their chemistry is palpable. But she pushes too far and Calder retreats to protect all that he's worked for, stepping back from directly participating in their sessions with her, and leaving you feeling heartbreak as you know Poppy is searching for her own value.
The introduction of world building is paced perfectly where you're fed enough detail to understand the whats and whys of the situation without feeling lost. In the beginning, you're met with lightheartedness and easy going charm. But once the sex cover is lifted, you're submerged into finding out the truth the Temple is keeping hidden from researchers and test subjects.
Up against impossible odds by data supression and manipulation, love will always win. Definitely a feel good ending.
This was so on par with posts I read on Tumblr, so thank you so much for this little treat.
February 19, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to "read this with (my) whole face. With (my) eyeballs. By choice". (Once you read this and get to the author's note in the back, this will make sense).
This is exactly what you think it is, but also so much more. It is all of the crazy tentacle fun you think, plus many more species included, but also has really emotional moments with depth. There is filth and just ludicrousness that you have to just accept and not think too much about, but then also such grounded, touching moments talking about overcoming trauma, or seeing a truly inclusive and accepting society.
A quote I'm not going be able to stop thinking about -
That is HEAVY and so powerful, and admittedly not something I was expecting to come across in this book.
So now I'm just obsessed with Ava Wilde and will read all of her backlog and whatever else she writes!!
This is exactly what you think it is, but also so much more. It is all of the crazy tentacle fun you think, plus many more species included, but also has really emotional moments with depth. There is filth and just ludicrousness that you have to just accept and not think too much about, but then also such grounded, touching moments talking about overcoming trauma, or seeing a truly inclusive and accepting society.
A quote I'm not going be able to stop thinking about -
"Your dedication to doctrine is not in question. Your belief that you were protecting...is evident. But dedication without wisdom is zealotry. You have spent decades enforcing rules you believed would save others from the pain you experienced, and in doing so, you have caused incalculable harm to the very institution you sought to preserve" .
That is HEAVY and so powerful, and admittedly not something I was expecting to come across in this book.
So now I'm just obsessed with Ava Wilde and will read all of her backlog and whatever else she writes!!
February 26, 2026
*ARC from NetGalley*
This book is absolutely hilarious, super dirty in all the right ways, very well written and somehow also finds a way to bring an emotional aspect to the storyline.
I will start by saying that I am not usually one who reads monster smut, but I knew this was a quick read so I figured I would give it a go. I’m glad I did!
Wilde’s writing is so descriptive, but not overly wordy. I could easily follow what was happening in the story & had a great idea of what everything looked like in my head. I am super impressed that she wrote such a good story in 160 pages.
Do not go into this book thinking that it will be super realistic, but def pick it up if you want a good read that will only take you 2-3 hours and give you a bunch of of laughs.
This book is absolutely hilarious, super dirty in all the right ways, very well written and somehow also finds a way to bring an emotional aspect to the storyline.
I will start by saying that I am not usually one who reads monster smut, but I knew this was a quick read so I figured I would give it a go. I’m glad I did!
Wilde’s writing is so descriptive, but not overly wordy. I could easily follow what was happening in the story & had a great idea of what everything looked like in my head. I am super impressed that she wrote such a good story in 160 pages.
Do not go into this book thinking that it will be super realistic, but def pick it up if you want a good read that will only take you 2-3 hours and give you a bunch of of laughs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2026
This is a magnificent high heat romance of a strong heroine who fights for her partner’s life and his tentacles. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a sex positive book with a heroine (she’s a sex therapist on earth) who becomes a researcher on Hearthpetal, a monster dimension that needs human uteruses to reproduce.
The writing is gorgeous. I stopped a few times to read certain sentences out loud; they were funny, profane, or heartbreaking. The sex is 5 chili pepper hot.
I will follow this author on anything they write.
This is a sex positive book with a heroine (she’s a sex therapist on earth) who becomes a researcher on Hearthpetal, a monster dimension that needs human uteruses to reproduce.
The writing is gorgeous. I stopped a few times to read certain sentences out loud; they were funny, profane, or heartbreaking. The sex is 5 chili pepper hot.
I will follow this author on anything they write.
February 23, 2026
I cum in peace.
This book is refreshing and adventurous and heartfelt. It allows you to breathe in the characters without feeling that horrible burning pain that comes with tortured characters in other books. It’s oh-so-sexy fantasy scenes play out back-to-back like musical notes floating in the wind. You’ll laugh, you’ll audibly gasp and your body will get pleasantly warm. Excellent read. Dual POV and a take-charge heroin.
Spice level 5
This book is refreshing and adventurous and heartfelt. It allows you to breathe in the characters without feeling that horrible burning pain that comes with tortured characters in other books. It’s oh-so-sexy fantasy scenes play out back-to-back like musical notes floating in the wind. You’ll laugh, you’ll audibly gasp and your body will get pleasantly warm. Excellent read. Dual POV and a take-charge heroin.
Spice level 5
February 19, 2026
Unpredictable mayhem, love conquers all.
Wow! This is my first time reading this author’s work and I’m still reeling from it. In a good way. This story has a lot of everything, taboo subjects, space travel, monster lovers, and lots of chillis. I liked the spotlighting of double standards that exist between acceptable male vs female sexual behaviours and expectations. And how society subtly continues to reinforce these with shame punishments, and it’s usually the female that is forced to suffer the consequences. The story itself is fast-paced, multi-partnered love interactions, and ultimately breaking doctrine to allow love to have the final say. The technical jargon was impressive.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow! This is my first time reading this author’s work and I’m still reeling from it. In a good way. This story has a lot of everything, taboo subjects, space travel, monster lovers, and lots of chillis. I liked the spotlighting of double standards that exist between acceptable male vs female sexual behaviours and expectations. And how society subtly continues to reinforce these with shame punishments, and it’s usually the female that is forced to suffer the consequences. The story itself is fast-paced, multi-partnered love interactions, and ultimately breaking doctrine to allow love to have the final say. The technical jargon was impressive.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 13, 2026
i knew i needed a good ole monster smut to cleanse my palette, but this was so much more.
poppy is a sex psychologist who, although she's knowledgeable beyond her years, struggles to achieve true satisfaction. until she signs up to travel to Hearthpetal and present herself to be married off to one of many mouth watering monsters for a year. 😮💨
father calder changes the narrative: proposing instead that poppy comes to assist the temple of tentacle priests with their studies involving sex and arousal, along with detachment and its ability to produce purer results through studies.
their bond is electric, forbidden, and addictive. when father calder must complete the ritual for high priest and risk it all, and poppy must prove whether clinical detachment is the best method of scientific sex research.. how will they both make it out alive? 🤔
this is a 5/5 spice for me 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
deliciously hot scenes all over the place, but still beautifully written and with plot that keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat. well done ava for keeping the balance while still delivering a heartfelt book that could make anyone tingle for some tentacles 🤣🫡
poppy is a sex psychologist who, although she's knowledgeable beyond her years, struggles to achieve true satisfaction. until she signs up to travel to Hearthpetal and present herself to be married off to one of many mouth watering monsters for a year. 😮💨
father calder changes the narrative: proposing instead that poppy comes to assist the temple of tentacle priests with their studies involving sex and arousal, along with detachment and its ability to produce purer results through studies.
their bond is electric, forbidden, and addictive. when father calder must complete the ritual for high priest and risk it all, and poppy must prove whether clinical detachment is the best method of scientific sex research.. how will they both make it out alive? 🤔
this is a 5/5 spice for me 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
deliciously hot scenes all over the place, but still beautifully written and with plot that keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat. well done ava for keeping the balance while still delivering a heartfelt book that could make anyone tingle for some tentacles 🤣🫡
February 17, 2026
I loved the raw unfiltered passion I felt when I read Temple of the Tentacle Priests. I loved how unashamed and confident Poppy was and the yearning. Oh do I burn for the yearn. I would've been happy the book was longer and the delayed gratification just as torturous as it was for Poppy, but it was still perfection. The connections between the characters and the connection I felt with them was just masterfully crafted. It was a wild ride and so creative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2026
such a fun, quick, laugh-out-loud read!
and I need this on audio IMMEDIATELY.
poppy's internal monologue is begging for a narrator with comedic timing.
I adored her being a scientist, which made her dialogue/reflection unique.
I enjoyed the creativity and situations which were very novel, in a genre that's getting a bit cliche.
LOVED the cozy, lower stake settings, (no world is dying here, maybe just a priest) paired with a disproportionate amount of monster smut.
finished it in one night!
and I need this on audio IMMEDIATELY.
poppy's internal monologue is begging for a narrator with comedic timing.
I adored her being a scientist, which made her dialogue/reflection unique.
I enjoyed the creativity and situations which were very novel, in a genre that's getting a bit cliche.
LOVED the cozy, lower stake settings, (no world is dying here, maybe just a priest) paired with a disproportionate amount of monster smut.
finished it in one night!
February 16, 2026
I absolutely loved this. Monster romance done right. Going to read the first in this series next! Such a smutty good time!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc!
February 20, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is a story about Dr. Poppy Flynn, a sex psychologist who can't find what she needs among humankind. Poppy commits to spending a year in Hearthpetal, another dimension where creatures of various sorts bid on human volunteers to essentially help them with breeding. Poppy finds herself using her skillset to study the art of pleasure, but sees conflict in finding the line between personal and professional.
This was the first book I've read by this author, and I did enjoy it.
If you enjoy spicy monster romance, this will be a great, quick read.
It was definitely spicy, but I wouldn't characterize it as filthy. It reminded me of the Cambric Creek series by C.M. Nascosta, where, for me, there is a feeling of sweetness or intentionality interspersed with the spice.
I like reading about bold, strong, FMCs, and this definitely had that. The opening scene is one for the ages. Loved it, will remember it.
The world building was quite creative. I would love to see more from this world, and dive deeper into the setting.
The writing was strong, pacing was good, and characters were distinct. While, as a quicker read, it isn't what I'd call a deep dive on any particular element, it did feel deep enough for the length of read, and I felt satisfied.
I don't love when a book seems to essentially be spicy scenes strung together with thin plot, and this wasn't that for me. The plot was interesting and novel, and while it was certainly centered around fertility and pleasure, there were additional layers here to make everything more interesting.
It also feels like a timely read, with an element of the theme of speaking truth to authority, which was appreciated.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ava Wilde for providing me with an ARC of this book published February 10, 2026 so that I may provide my fair and honest review.
This is a story about Dr. Poppy Flynn, a sex psychologist who can't find what she needs among humankind. Poppy commits to spending a year in Hearthpetal, another dimension where creatures of various sorts bid on human volunteers to essentially help them with breeding. Poppy finds herself using her skillset to study the art of pleasure, but sees conflict in finding the line between personal and professional.
This was the first book I've read by this author, and I did enjoy it.
If you enjoy spicy monster romance, this will be a great, quick read.
It was definitely spicy, but I wouldn't characterize it as filthy. It reminded me of the Cambric Creek series by C.M. Nascosta, where, for me, there is a feeling of sweetness or intentionality interspersed with the spice.
I like reading about bold, strong, FMCs, and this definitely had that. The opening scene is one for the ages. Loved it, will remember it.
The world building was quite creative. I would love to see more from this world, and dive deeper into the setting.
The writing was strong, pacing was good, and characters were distinct. While, as a quicker read, it isn't what I'd call a deep dive on any particular element, it did feel deep enough for the length of read, and I felt satisfied.
I don't love when a book seems to essentially be spicy scenes strung together with thin plot, and this wasn't that for me. The plot was interesting and novel, and while it was certainly centered around fertility and pleasure, there were additional layers here to make everything more interesting.
It also feels like a timely read, with an element of the theme of speaking truth to authority, which was appreciated.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ava Wilde for providing me with an ARC of this book published February 10, 2026 so that I may provide my fair and honest review.
February 27, 2026
TLDR: stimulate your punannie and your mind
She came, she saw, she conquered. But actually.
This was exactly what I was hoping it would and so, so much more. Highly educated and super horny, our FMC is immediately likable. Is this fanfic for researchers? If so I’m so here for that incredibly niche demographic representation.
The writing is very well done. At 50% I was checking to see if Miss Wilde had other books for me afterwards. Not only were my steamy expectations met, but the plot showed up in a way I was not expecting and I was so sat for the last little bit of this book.
She came, she saw, she conquered. But actually.
This was exactly what I was hoping it would and so, so much more. Highly educated and super horny, our FMC is immediately likable. Is this fanfic for researchers? If so I’m so here for that incredibly niche demographic representation.
The writing is very well done. At 50% I was checking to see if Miss Wilde had other books for me afterwards. Not only were my steamy expectations met, but the plot showed up in a way I was not expecting and I was so sat for the last little bit of this book.
February 27, 2026
BK-X
🌶️ Spice: 5
👁 POV: 1st Person, Dual POV
✨ Vibe: Monster Romance • Cult Temple Chaos • Campy Erotica Comedy
📚 Cover: 5/5
We want to say THANK YOU to NetGalley for this ARC!
Dr. Poppy Flynn, a sex psychologist frustrated by her lack of real-life satisfaction, finds herself drawn to a bizarre monster world when human men are just not cutting it. The money may be a contributor at well. She goes up for auction, when a group temple devoted to mysterious tentacled deities present her with an offer she can't refuse. What begins as curiosity quickly spirals into chaos, strange rituals, and unexpected connections with monstrous beings. Blending humor, erotic monster romance, and mayhem this book will take you on a ride.
This was a fun and downright dirty time, hot damn. The book fully commits to its chaotic monster romance energy with wild scenarios, multiple monster species, and a magically rearranging body that makes the entire experience feel intentionally over-the-top. It doesn’t take itself seriously, which honestly adds to the fun.
Biggest caveat is the heavy repetition of certain wording (cream), which started to feel overused by the end. Still, if you go in expecting ridiculous, spicy monster chaos and a quick entertaining read, this absolutely delivers.
✅ Recommend for fans of: monster romance, campy erotica humor, cult/temple settings, chaotic spice-forward novellas
❌ Skip if you’re not into: explicit monster romance, over-the-top scenarios, or very spice-heavy plots
Spicy Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4ish, 5ish, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17 & 19
🌶️ Spice: 5
👁 POV: 1st Person, Dual POV
✨ Vibe: Monster Romance • Cult Temple Chaos • Campy Erotica Comedy
📚 Cover: 5/5
We want to say THANK YOU to NetGalley for this ARC!
Dr. Poppy Flynn, a sex psychologist frustrated by her lack of real-life satisfaction, finds herself drawn to a bizarre monster world when human men are just not cutting it. The money may be a contributor at well. She goes up for auction, when a group temple devoted to mysterious tentacled deities present her with an offer she can't refuse. What begins as curiosity quickly spirals into chaos, strange rituals, and unexpected connections with monstrous beings. Blending humor, erotic monster romance, and mayhem this book will take you on a ride.
This was a fun and downright dirty time, hot damn. The book fully commits to its chaotic monster romance energy with wild scenarios, multiple monster species, and a magically rearranging body that makes the entire experience feel intentionally over-the-top. It doesn’t take itself seriously, which honestly adds to the fun.
Biggest caveat is the heavy repetition of certain wording (cream), which started to feel overused by the end. Still, if you go in expecting ridiculous, spicy monster chaos and a quick entertaining read, this absolutely delivers.
✅ Recommend for fans of: monster romance, campy erotica humor, cult/temple settings, chaotic spice-forward novellas
❌ Skip if you’re not into: explicit monster romance, over-the-top scenarios, or very spice-heavy plots
Spicy Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4ish, 5ish, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17 & 19
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March 2, 2026
3 ⭐️ ARC review for Temple of the horny characters who need to keep their tentacles to themselves.
I know what you're thinking. Boooo! What do you mean by keeping tenticles to ourselves? Where's the fun in that? Trust and believe, little grasshopper, there's more than one tentacle, so there are definitely a lot... A LOT of tentacles are being used for NSFW shenanigans, all while calling it work. I know, I know... You just are going to have to read it.
The whole concept of this book is that there is this train that can take you to some magical land full of monsters, and where the natality is basically -7.820 and counting, or something like that. Anyway. The monsters set up a bidding to get to have human women who are willing to go through the process and basically rent their womb for a year... It's all kind of fu*ked up, but you get in the swing of things eventually.
After the whole bidding thing, that's where the book lost me. I was down to clown with this insanely horny woman who really, really just wanted to get railed by basically every single species of monster that exists in this odd realm. And then, this book said no. ma'am, how about you get into a weird as hell temple with these weirdly unfeeling but oddly obsessed with orgasms sort of octopus-people and make the whole thing a weird science experiment. I'm not kidding. That's the whole thing. She also falls in love with one of the octopus priests -she calls him Father almost the entire time, and it's kind of gross- but tbh, the love kind of came out of left field and develops in mostly timee-lapses that we don't get to see so it's all just weird, and odd, and in my opinion not very good.
But I mean, my initial assessment still stands. This was equal parts weird and horny af. If you like that, you might like this.
Tbh, I wish I'd read the book about the girl with the judgy af british cat. That sounded WAY more fun than this.
Thank you to Net Galley for this eARC!
I know what you're thinking. Boooo! What do you mean by keeping tenticles to ourselves? Where's the fun in that? Trust and believe, little grasshopper, there's more than one tentacle, so there are definitely a lot... A LOT of tentacles are being used for NSFW shenanigans, all while calling it work. I know, I know... You just are going to have to read it.
The whole concept of this book is that there is this train that can take you to some magical land full of monsters, and where the natality is basically -7.820 and counting, or something like that. Anyway. The monsters set up a bidding to get to have human women who are willing to go through the process and basically rent their womb for a year... It's all kind of fu*ked up, but you get in the swing of things eventually.
After the whole bidding thing, that's where the book lost me. I was down to clown with this insanely horny woman who really, really just wanted to get railed by basically every single species of monster that exists in this odd realm. And then, this book said no. ma'am, how about you get into a weird as hell temple with these weirdly unfeeling but oddly obsessed with orgasms sort of octopus-people and make the whole thing a weird science experiment. I'm not kidding. That's the whole thing. She also falls in love with one of the octopus priests -she calls him Father almost the entire time, and it's kind of gross- but tbh, the love kind of came out of left field and develops in mostly timee-lapses that we don't get to see so it's all just weird, and odd, and in my opinion not very good.
But I mean, my initial assessment still stands. This was equal parts weird and horny af. If you like that, you might like this.
Tbh, I wish I'd read the book about the girl with the judgy af british cat. That sounded WAY more fun than this.
Thank you to Net Galley for this eARC!
February 15, 2026
Holy tentacle priests, Batman.
The premise of this is that a sex scientist who isn't a fan of intimacy but has trouble orgasming with other people (but somehow doesn't connect the two???) finds her way to a pleasure planet. She is outrageously horny, yet instead of going with the werewolf pack or any of the other plethora of fun creatures that bid on her in an auction (she chooses who wins), she goes with the tentacle priests because they offer her a job.
Look. The premise is not what we're here for, so I'll skip all that. Is it believable? Absolutely not. Should it be? Again, absolutely not. We're all here for the same thing, and this ABSOLUTELY DELIVERS.
There is SO MUCH S3X. (not sure if I can say the word??) Like, this chick bangs everything she can and good for her honestly, but she eventually falls in love with a tentacle priest in an instalust with little real relationship building (again not what we're here for). They prove that intimacy and relationships and not starving people of connection is necessary for survival. (Not love, necessarily--connection).
OH SHE ALSO LITERALLY HAS A MAGICAL VAGINA? It can rearrange itself to fit anything. Which, wow. What a concept. OH and if the tentacle priests climax, they die. So there's that. (Don't worry, it's a HEA.)
I guess I can check sex with a spider creature off my monster list because I've been avoiding that one book and I'm pretty sure it wasn't in the trigger warnings for this one. But it's fine, it wasn't icky and I say that as a person who Can't Even with spiders.
Mild spoilers (if a list of the beings she has sex with counts as spoilers?) below:
Off the top of my head this chick had relations with:
-a guy at a restaurant (hand stuff but we're counting it)
-the fairies who prepared her for a ritual (are they like tinkerbell sized or more like hobbit sized? It seemed like they went back and forth but also that was kind of fun)
-making out with a nine tailed fox
-tentacle priest #1 (the one she loves)
-a centaur
-a spider lady
-a few more off page but I think a dragon and a unicorn?
-tentacle priest #2
-the fairies again
Anyway, this might have been hornier than the dinosaur smut I read last year, so there's that. I had a whole lot of fun with this one.
I received an advanced copy of this book for review. Thanks to Netgalley and Ava Wilde for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
The premise of this is that a sex scientist who isn't a fan of intimacy but has trouble orgasming with other people (but somehow doesn't connect the two???) finds her way to a pleasure planet. She is outrageously horny, yet instead of going with the werewolf pack or any of the other plethora of fun creatures that bid on her in an auction (she chooses who wins), she goes with the tentacle priests because they offer her a job.
Look. The premise is not what we're here for, so I'll skip all that. Is it believable? Absolutely not. Should it be? Again, absolutely not. We're all here for the same thing, and this ABSOLUTELY DELIVERS.
There is SO MUCH S3X. (not sure if I can say the word??) Like, this chick bangs everything she can and good for her honestly, but she eventually falls in love with a tentacle priest in an instalust with little real relationship building (again not what we're here for). They prove that intimacy and relationships and not starving people of connection is necessary for survival. (Not love, necessarily--connection).
OH SHE ALSO LITERALLY HAS A MAGICAL VAGINA? It can rearrange itself to fit anything. Which, wow. What a concept. OH and if the tentacle priests climax, they die. So there's that. (Don't worry, it's a HEA.)
I guess I can check sex with a spider creature off my monster list because I've been avoiding that one book and I'm pretty sure it wasn't in the trigger warnings for this one. But it's fine, it wasn't icky and I say that as a person who Can't Even with spiders.
Mild spoilers (if a list of the beings she has sex with counts as spoilers?) below:
Off the top of my head this chick had relations with:
-a guy at a restaurant (hand stuff but we're counting it)
-the fairies who prepared her for a ritual (are they like tinkerbell sized or more like hobbit sized? It seemed like they went back and forth but also that was kind of fun)
-making out with a nine tailed fox
-tentacle priest #1 (the one she loves)
-a centaur
-a spider lady
-a few more off page but I think a dragon and a unicorn?
-tentacle priest #2
-the fairies again
Anyway, this might have been hornier than the dinosaur smut I read last year, so there's that. I had a whole lot of fun with this one.
I received an advanced copy of this book for review. Thanks to Netgalley and Ava Wilde for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
February 22, 2026
3.75⭐
Much like the author mentioned at the end of the book I did in fact read this with my whole face, my eyeballs, and by choice too. Wow at that. I was expecting hot and sexy tentacle smut and while that is what was delivered there were also some other goodies dropped into the basket that I wasn't anticipating, nor did I care for them BUT hey, if it's your jam please spread it on your toast and enjoy. Everything that was described in the details was delivered, 100%, but Poppy's devotion to fcking everything she met was a bit too much, for me. I thought we were getting a nice break from that when we unexpectedly got chapters from Caulder's POV and then as soon as it switches back to Poppy she's in bed with the fae bugs again, like girl, breathe for a damn second 😂💀 I'm a one on one girlie and I'm a little frustrated that no where did it indicate that the FMC was going to railed by more than a handful (like way more than a handful) of characters before her and the MMC get their HEA but again if that's your thing then you'll really enjoy the variety of Poppy's escapades 😂
Much like the author mentioned at the end of the book I did in fact read this with my whole face, my eyeballs, and by choice too. Wow at that. I was expecting hot and sexy tentacle smut and while that is what was delivered there were also some other goodies dropped into the basket that I wasn't anticipating, nor did I care for them BUT hey, if it's your jam please spread it on your toast and enjoy. Everything that was described in the details was delivered, 100%, but Poppy's devotion to fcking everything she met was a bit too much, for me. I thought we were getting a nice break from that when we unexpectedly got chapters from Caulder's POV and then as soon as it switches back to Poppy she's in bed with the fae bugs again, like girl, breathe for a damn second 😂💀 I'm a one on one girlie and I'm a little frustrated that no where did it indicate that the FMC was going to railed by more than a handful (like way more than a handful) of characters before her and the MMC get their HEA but again if that's your thing then you'll really enjoy the variety of Poppy's escapades 😂
February 28, 2026
ARC review!
Just read it!
A books so wrong it right!
A Stong FMC whose not afraid to go after what she wants for her pleasure and then her heart!
Just read it!
A books so wrong it right!
A Stong FMC whose not afraid to go after what she wants for her pleasure and then her heart!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2026
Two feelings throughout this whole book:
1. Oh my god I love this couple, the yearning and the story
2. 😳
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review
1. Oh my god I love this couple, the yearning and the story
2. 😳
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review
February 20, 2026
This was a short, spicy read full of tentacles and fun! There was a bit of plot and a whole lot of spice, right from the first chapter. Great writing, great spice, characters were fun and entertaining. Overall a fun little monster read!
February 26, 2026
Thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the E-ARC
Okay so I’ll be honest- this is not the typical genre that I read or would have picked for myself but I figured I’d give it a shot, and I was pleasantly surprised. This book is well written with lines that made me actually chuckle out loud. Poppy is a head strong, knows what she wants kinda gal who also happens to be a doctor. Her confidence leaps off the page and draws the reader in to the story line immediately.
Reader beware: if you’re even a little bit shy about steamy subjects, know that this book dives right in with essentially the first sentence. Overall a great book that I have already recommended to my friends.
Okay so I’ll be honest- this is not the typical genre that I read or would have picked for myself but I figured I’d give it a shot, and I was pleasantly surprised. This book is well written with lines that made me actually chuckle out loud. Poppy is a head strong, knows what she wants kinda gal who also happens to be a doctor. Her confidence leaps off the page and draws the reader in to the story line immediately.
Reader beware: if you’re even a little bit shy about steamy subjects, know that this book dives right in with essentially the first sentence. Overall a great book that I have already recommended to my friends.
February 26, 2026
BK-X
5🌶️
Adult
POV: 1st Person, Dual POV
📕Cover: 5/5
This was a fun and down right dirty time! Hot damn. We have on page scenes with multiple monster species and a magically rearranging body. Legit a good time!
My biggest caveat is how much they used the word cream. I got to a point where it definitely felt overused.
•
•
•
•
•
Spicy Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4ish, 5ish, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19
5🌶️
Adult
POV: 1st Person, Dual POV
📕Cover: 5/5
This was a fun and down right dirty time! Hot damn. We have on page scenes with multiple monster species and a magically rearranging body. Legit a good time!
My biggest caveat is how much they used the word cream. I got to a point where it definitely felt overused.
•
•
•
•
•
Spicy Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4ish, 5ish, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19
February 17, 2026
This laugh-out-loud, spicy romance is a must read for 2026! I have read a far range of works but this is something that is a league of this own. After years of being a a sex psychologist, Dr. Poppy Flynn decides to to enter Hearthpetal to be basically auctioned off to a diverse group of monsters for a year. She decides to go with Father Calder who studies pleasure at the temple.
Poppy explores with any thing that gives her any sexual advances. This spicy novel is able to tie in character development, a plot line and a diverse group of lovers. This is by far the spiciest thing I have ever read. Would I recommend reading this on an airplane, train or in a public automobile, no. I would only if I could see the reaction of the people around you trying to decipher what you are reading. Poppy is a strong character who follows her heart, mind and beliefs. This is definitely a palate cleanser.
Poppy explores with any thing that gives her any sexual advances. This spicy novel is able to tie in character development, a plot line and a diverse group of lovers. This is by far the spiciest thing I have ever read. Would I recommend reading this on an airplane, train or in a public automobile, no. I would only if I could see the reaction of the people around you trying to decipher what you are reading. Poppy is a strong character who follows her heart, mind and beliefs. This is definitely a palate cleanser.
February 21, 2026
I picked this book on a whim, honestly. The blurb sounded interesting and I thought, 'why not?'.
Hoooollllyyyyy... what a fun read this was! The premise was super interesting and the range of characters really delivered. I loved the MMC and FMC and it was a unique blend of things that all came together really well.
The spicy scenes were handled well and they didn't feel repetitive.
This is a definite recommend for my monster smut loving friends and I'm definitely keeping eyes out for more work from this author!
Hoooollllyyyyy... what a fun read this was! The premise was super interesting and the range of characters really delivered. I loved the MMC and FMC and it was a unique blend of things that all came together really well.
The spicy scenes were handled well and they didn't feel repetitive.
This is a definite recommend for my monster smut loving friends and I'm definitely keeping eyes out for more work from this author!
February 25, 2026
This was the most ridiculously unhinged monster smut book ever. I applaud the author for making the brave decision to write tentacle smut mixed with centaur, dragons, and everything in between.
February 21, 2026
Within the first few chapters it was evident this is just AI slop. I finished it out of curiosity more than anything. I just don’t understand the point of using AI to write a book, the whole fun of it is the creativity?! Anyway. Disappointed Netgalley even has this an option. Would not recommend.
February 25, 2026
Enjoyed the story. MC struck me as a bit too easy going with all the different species, but maybe what I was taking as new wasn't. I enjoyed the tension and build up. And I enjoyed the ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 1, 2026
4.5⭐️
Holy pretzel! This one is spicy. Our FMC, Poppy, is a sex psychologist and also has a healthy appetite for pleasure. She gets frisky with almost every person / monster she meets. Shtupping a centaur? Sure why not. Finger painting with a bunch of faeries? Absolutely.
This is thrilling smut but also takes a unique scientific approach which was interesting and so much better than it has the right to be. The book is all about empowerment and reading was therapeutic in a way that makes it okay to have desire, to want, to explore. If you are looking for an antidote for shame, this is it.
The story resolves around a priest of pleasure and an adventurous heroine that parallel parks with different partners for “research” whilst our hero watches on. This may sound like an oxymoron but it’s actually a slow burn between Poppy and Father Calder aka Tentacle daddy Calder despite all the monster Tromboning. They silently fall for each other even though the risks of discovery are high and the consequences deadly. This book has real heart and I adored how the author effortlessly weaves humour and desire throughout. I laughed in that ugly goblin way more times than I care to count.
I was pretty much all in as soon as I read the dedication:
“For the women who found their way to tentacle romance because a creature with three hearts finally seemed proportionate to the love they had to give.”
The spice is spicing and it may be light in the plot department (as the title all but screams it should be) but the world building was surprisingly excellent. Go in to this one with an open mind and charged batteries.
🐙 Monster Romance | Forbidden Love | Extra Spicy | Kink Friendly | Grumpy x sunshine | HEA | Book 2 (but can be read as Standalone | 📖 197 pages
Thanks to Ava Wilde, NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC. Genuine thoughts and human written review as verified by my own quirky monster loving brain.
Holy pretzel! This one is spicy. Our FMC, Poppy, is a sex psychologist and also has a healthy appetite for pleasure. She gets frisky with almost every person / monster she meets. Shtupping a centaur? Sure why not. Finger painting with a bunch of faeries? Absolutely.
This is thrilling smut but also takes a unique scientific approach which was interesting and so much better than it has the right to be. The book is all about empowerment and reading was therapeutic in a way that makes it okay to have desire, to want, to explore. If you are looking for an antidote for shame, this is it.
The story resolves around a priest of pleasure and an adventurous heroine that parallel parks with different partners for “research” whilst our hero watches on. This may sound like an oxymoron but it’s actually a slow burn between Poppy and Father Calder aka Tentacle daddy Calder despite all the monster Tromboning. They silently fall for each other even though the risks of discovery are high and the consequences deadly. This book has real heart and I adored how the author effortlessly weaves humour and desire throughout. I laughed in that ugly goblin way more times than I care to count.
I was pretty much all in as soon as I read the dedication:
“For the women who found their way to tentacle romance because a creature with three hearts finally seemed proportionate to the love they had to give.”
The spice is spicing and it may be light in the plot department (as the title all but screams it should be) but the world building was surprisingly excellent. Go in to this one with an open mind and charged batteries.
🐙 Monster Romance | Forbidden Love | Extra Spicy | Kink Friendly | Grumpy x sunshine | HEA | Book 2 (but can be read as Standalone | 📖 197 pages
Thanks to Ava Wilde, NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC. Genuine thoughts and human written review as verified by my own quirky monster loving brain.
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