Esme She’s got that "burn the world down" energy that makes her the ultimate badass witch.
Chuckles, Let’s talk about the clown in the room. He is a sexy, unhinged psycho, and frankly, I’ve never wanted to join a circus more in my life.
The chemistry between them isn't just "sparks flying"—it’s a high-voltage electrical fire in a fireworks factory. Watching them navigate their "ride or die" (mostly die, for everyone else) relationship was pure, unadulterated adrenaline.
The whole story pulled me in and had me guessing and wanting more. Ahhh Kat I need more of this series ✨
If you’re looking for a sweet bedtime story, put this book down and go find a coloring book. But if you’re like me and prefer your romance with a side of arterial spray, Kat has delivered the absolute goods.
Thank you to BookSirens and Kat Bethel for this ARC
This review contains NO spoilers! And all that is said is my honest and non-biased opinion.
I am not going to give spoilers or massive details of what happens in this book. That would be silly and counterproductive!
Release date for this book was 10th Feb 2026
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow! What a great book AGAIN. The writing is impeccable, the story I loved and the plot, I wish it never ended. What another banger by Kat!
Chuckles is the 2nd in A Monsters Prey series however, you do not need to read book 1 (Echo) to read this book, as both can be read as standard alones.
If you like saucy, spicy, predator and Prey books, you will love this.
There are a lot of triggers in this book, for example:
- Blood
- Gore
- Death
- Murder
- Bodily harm
- predator/ prey
- Demons
- Sexual scenes
- Sexual talk
- Male dominance/ Manipulation
- Witches
- Death of children
- Kidnapping
and more!
Thank you again to BookSirens and Kat Bethel!
p.s please please please write more in this series!! 🙏
I'd have ranked this a little higher if there were less editing errors. I'm not usually into clowns, but this one is 😍🤩🤤🥵. This also had a decent plot.
Chuckles at its core is the story of a mother who is willing to go to hell and back to find her daughter that was stolen 5 years before. Esme is relentless in the hunt of the creature that she believes took her daughter. As a mom... I just couldn't imagine and stories like this always punch me in the gut.
This story really did a fantastic job in blurring the lines. There are times where you aren't sure who can or should be trusted. I found myself doubting who the monster really is.
While it's obvious that this book was aimed at readers who enjoy dark and paranormal romances, Bethel really managed to add suspense and depth to this story. I will also say that the romance/ smut was a little less than I was expecting after having also read echo and rot. This one is definitely more gore and in your face violent.
I don't really like clowns so that on its own already amped up my anxiety and discomfort with this story. But the atmosphere and the circumstances are so bleak and unsettling on top of that that I wasn't able to stop thinking about this story even after finishing it.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book… sits in that space where you never fully get comfortable, and honestly, I don’t think you’re supposed to. From the very beginning, there’s this heavy, almost suffocating feeling that follows you through every page. It’s dark, tense, and just off enough to keep you constantly questioning what you’re reading and who you should trust.
Esme is not an easy character to read in a detached way. Everything about her feels driven by something deeper, something unresolved, and you can feel that in how she moves through the story. There’s a sharpness to her, but also this underlying fragility that never fully goes away. She’s not just reacting to what’s happening around her, she’s carrying something with her the entire time, and it shapes every interaction in a way that makes the emotional side of the story hit harder than expected.
And then there’s Chuckles… and honestly, he’s exactly as unsettling as he sounds, if not more. There’s nothing predictable about him. One moment he feels like pure chaos, the next there’s something almost calculated beneath it, and that inconsistency is what makes him so hard to pin down. You never really know where you stand with him, and that uncertainty bleeds into every scene he’s in. It creates this constant tension that doesn’t let up, because you’re always waiting for something to shift.
The dynamic between them is where the story really leans into its darker edge. It’s not soft, it’s not safe, and it’s definitely not straightforward. There’s a push and pull that feels more like a collision than a connection, and it keeps evolving in ways that are uncomfortable but impossible to ignore. It’s one of those relationships where you’re not necessarily rooting for it in a traditional sense, but you also can’t look away from it either.
The atmosphere plays a huge role here too. There’s this lingering sense of dread woven into everything. The setting doesn’t just exist in the background, it adds to that feeling that something isn’t right, that something has been wrong for a long time. Even in quieter moments, there’s still this underlying tension that never fully disappears. It gives the story a haunting quality that sticks with you while you’re reading.
What stood out the most for me was how the emotional weight and the darker elements are constantly intertwined. Nothing feels separate. The fear, the obsession, the grief, it all blends together in a way that makes the story feel intense without needing to rely on constant action. It’s more about what’s building underneath, and that’s what keeps you locked in.
This is definitely one of those reads that leans all the way into the darker side of romance, where the lines between right and wrong, safe and dangerous, start to blur. It’s not meant to be comfortable, and it doesn’t try to be.
If you enjoy horror-leaning romance with a heavy atmosphere, morally gray characters, and dynamics that keep you slightly on edge the entire time, this one will pull you in.
As always be mindful of any trigger warnings, what I like you may not.
I received this ARC through BookSiren and in return I giveth my humble SPOILER FILLED review.
I have to yap about this book to someone, no one I know is delightfully unwell enough, so I’m gonna talk to you sweet things on GoodReads.
So, starting from the top; this is my first Kat Bethel novel and I wanted more immediately, literally jumped for joy when I saw there’s many more already out to eat.
I’ll start with the stuff that wasn’t a bop for me, and it was super easy to skate over. It was the pacing. I can only describe it as “abruptly/janky episodic”. I DO love episodic writing, it’s easier to envision things. But the janky aspect, I would describe it as “every event goes into the next” and we don’t have stuff between to breath very often. We’ll be in a fight, then practically back at the door home in the matter of two dialogue lines. It took a second to get used to; but I didn’t hate it. I did take off .5 ⭐️ just because of the initial jarring and brain training I had to do real quick.
I also didn’t like how obvious Sebastian was; but I’m also a very attentive and triggered chick. When he mentioned those kids as “sweet little things” and the lights kept flickering, I was like BITTTTTTTCH I SEE YOU. BUT I was not expecting Sebastian to be able to mimic faces OR turn out to be Chuckles’/Jack’s dad. That was fire. That was awesome.
But onto the additional POSITIVES:
1) People often bitch about toxic dark romances. “No one communicates”, “no one is adult”, “no one listens to the other person”, and the fucking dreaded third act breakup type shit. This book took those complaints and gave us sanity (as much as a monsterfucker affords). These two DO talk. They try to reason through their bullshit, they openly express what they can and can’t give; my favorite parts were the deep discussions (of which we get a few). There’s a lot of grief and helpless railing against it that was handled by Chuckles/Jack so well I fucking cried. I did end up feeling really bad for them, though. They kind of lead fake lives to try and cope with how bad of a hand they were dealt. Relatable, but they radiate desperate sadness to me. At least they’re happy together.
2) THE SEX TOOK A WHILE. It wasn’t just “oh look you’re so hot let’s BONE”; it was a mix of slow burn and the characters earning each other’s hearts. Also, if I can want to fuck Deadpool post mutation, I’m gonna fuck Chuckles. You can’t trick me. I’m stronger than that.
3) I love how UNIQUE the two “main men” were. A face changing fuckhead who steals children? Wild. He’s ICKY and I love it. So happy when he died, it was like a Hershey kiss in my tongue. And Chuckles/Ira, I loved that. An ACTUALLY crazy man with a GHOST LITTLE GIRL USING HIS BODY TO TALK? And he LISTENS? Dude that’s so cool. I was disconcerted and super interested all at once.
Tbh, I laughed a lot through this, and cried a tiny bit, and it was just a very fun, quick read. I plan to get more of Kat Bethel’s books in the future, these are right up my alley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A murderous monster clown carrying around a purple teddy bear? Say less 🤡🧸🩸
Okay... this one was *different*, and I mean that in the best way.
Esme is a Rinah witch who's spent the last five years consumed by one question: **what happened to her daughter?** Roseanna disappeared after being taken by the same monster responsible for countless missing children, and Esme has dedicated her life to hunting whatever took her. Her grief, determination, and refusal to give up made her such an easy character to root for.
Then there's Chuckles...
A monster clown who immediately screams *red flag*, talks to a purple teddy bear named Ira like she's a real person, carries her everywhere, and somehow had me kicking my feet anyway 😂 He was creepy, hilarious, possessive, protective, completely unhinged, and somehow ridiculously lovable all at once. Kat Bethel really knows how to make me question my taste in fictional men.
When the traveling circus rolls into town, Esme is convinced Chuckles is the monster she's been searching for. So she starts following him, watching him, trying to catch him... but the deeper she digs, the more you start questioning everything. Is Chuckles really the one stealing children? Or is he hunting the same monster she is?
I was INVESTED.
This wasn't just monster smut with a spooky aesthetic. It was an actual mystery that kept throwing twists at me. Every time I thought I'd figured it out, the story pulled the rug out from under me. And don't even get me started on Sebastian... all I'm saying is WHAT THE HELL.
The horror elements were so much fun too. The bloody scenes? Amazing. The creepy circus atmosphere? Loved it. The constant feeling that something wasn't adding up? Even better.
And Chuckles' obsession with Esme? Exactly the kind of fictional insanity I eat up. This man does not know the meaning of "normal." He literally kills someone who threatens her, leaves a gruesome "gift" behind, and somehow the romance just keeps getting more chaotic from there. Absolutely feral behavior.
I also loved that underneath all the blood, violence, and chaos was a genuinely emotional story about grief, motherhood, loss, and what people are willing to do for the ones they love. The ending answered the mystery in a way I honestly didn't expect, and once everything finally clicked into place, it made the entire journey worth it.
Chuckles himself completely stole the show. A murderous clown with a teddy bear should not have this much personality, yet here we are.
If you're looking for wall-to-wall spice, this probably isn't that book. The plot definitely takes center stage, and honestly? I didn't mind. The mystery was strong enough that I genuinely wanted answers just as much as I wanted the romance.
Overall, this was weird, creepy, bloody, emotional, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt. It kept me guessing, made me laugh, grossed me out in the best ways, and reminded me that Kat Bethel has a talent for creating monsters you'll somehow end up loving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
After reading Rot (4/5 stars) and Echo (5/5 stars), I was determined to see how this series tied together, even though the premise of Chuckles had me a bit nervous at first. I wasn't sure how the author was going to make me root for this situation, but I am so glad I stuck with it! Between the incredibly creepy cover art and the dark carnival vibes, this was a twisting, high-stakes ride that kept me completely invested.
Note on Content: As with the rest of this series, please read the trigger warnings. This book handles very heavy themes regarding children and trauma, and it is not for the faint of heart.
My Reactions & Emotions: • The Premise & Mystery: I went into this very skeptical about the MMC, but the way the mystery unfolded was brilliant. The author worked hard to balance the dark elements with a plot that makes sense. I found myself so sucked in that I actually got annoyed when I was interrupted! • The Lore: I loved the deeper dive into the "Rinah witches" and how they draw in supernatural forces. There is a fantastic nod to Echo that ties the world-building together perfectly and makes the series feel like a cohesive, lived-in universe. • The MMC (Chuckles): He is a fascinating, complex character with a very distinct "code" for who he targets. The dynamic between him and the FMC, Esme, is intense—he's a monster who draws the line at very specific things, and watching their relationship evolve through the chaos was gripping. • The FMC: Esme's journey is heartbreaking. Watching her hunt for the truth while navigating the trauma of her past made her an easy character to root for. Her growth into someone who continues the hunt alongside a monster was a very satisfying conclusion.
Final Thoughts: While this isn't necessarily a comfort reread for me due to the heavy subject matter, it is an undeniable 5/5 for the sheer quality of the storytelling and the emotional payoff. It’s a dark, up-and-down crazy ride that proves this author knows exactly how to subvert expectations. If you’ve been following the series, this is an essential (and intense) piece of the puzzle!
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
Do you all remember that audio of Bill Skarsgard as IT circulating around Tiktok a while ago? A certain audio that maybe left you, instead of scared, giggling or maybe putting a strand of hair behind your ear in a coquettish way? Well, then this book might indeed be for you.
Chuckles is a book about Esme Rinah, a witch who fights monsters. For the past five years, she has been hunting one monster in particular. And it's possible that she's finally caught up to him, in the form of a killer clown whom she has dubbed "Chuckles."
Overall, I liked it! This is the first ARC I've successfully finished in a LONG while. Considering I finished this book in one day, it was pretty entertaining. I connected with the FMC instantly. Some might argue that her motives for revenge are a cliché, but I ended up relating to her a little too well. Even when I found her to be a little •too• oblivious, I still liked her. I was eager to see how her story ended.
As for "Chuckles" the Clown, oh I really liked him. He's sadistic, murderous, and becomes obsessed with Esme instantly. He's also the source for a lot of gore *and* some fairly 🌶spicy🌶 scenes. His motivations are also pretty interesting. He's not precisely like IT, but I'm not complaining. Him and his brutality was precisely what I asked for while reading.
Probably the only reason this isn't a 5 star review is because of the occasional typos or grammatical errors. It's not a lot, but it's enough to be noticeable (at least to me). Highly recommend that the author has their proofreader or beta reader take another close look.
Other than that, this book was great! I'll be sure to check out their other work. Thank you for letting me read it!
Okay… this book is seriously twisted, creepy, emotional, and completely addictive. 🤡🖤
Esme Rinah has spent five relentless years searching for the creature who stole her daughter, and that desperation comes through in everything she does. Her determination to find the children and uncover the truth makes her such a compelling character to follow.
But the closer Esme gets to the answers she's been desperately searching for, the more complicated everything becomes. Friends don't necessarily feel like friends, monsters aren't always obvious, and then there's Chuckles the unsettling clown who seems determined to stay far too close to her.
The mystery surrounding him kept me guessing. Is he someone Esme should fear? Is there something more beneath that disturbing smile? Or is she getting dangerously close to the very monster she's been hunting?
I loved the atmosphere of this book. There's a constant feeling that something isn't quite right, and that uncertainty kept me turning the pages. The story does a great job of mixing darkness, suspense, obsession, mystery, and emotional stakes.
Esme's journey isn't simply about finding the children, it's about figuring out who she can trust while confronting things that challenge everything she thought she knew.
And Chuckles? Well… let's just say he is definitely memorable. 😳 The unhinged, unpredictable energy surrounding him makes every appearance feel like something could go spectacularly wrong.
If you enjoy dark romance, creepy characters, suspense, mystery, obsession, morally questionable men, and stories where you genuinely don't know who the monster is, Chuckles is definitely one to check out.
Dark, disturbing, mysterious, and impossible to look away from. Sometimes the biggest danger is the one wearing a smile. 🤡🖤
As a witch of the Rinah line, Esme has been hunting monsters most of her life. But five years ago, her daughter was snatched up by a mysterious creature that lures in children. Now that Esme has gotten closer than ever to her quarry, a deranged clown has started stalking her claiming she belongs to him. Can Esme find the monster who took her daughter in time to save her?
Esme is obsessed with saving her daughter, despite the very real likelihood that she is already dead. Her hunt for the monster has taken over her life and exhausted her. When she discovers a murderous clown at the circus, she's convinced she's found who she's looking for, but as her attempts to kill, banish, or unmake him fail, she's forced to acknowledge that he's something different. While she does reach out to other witches to try to get some help, she largely depends on herself. This, in addition to her exhaustion and obsession results in her making some risky decisions, which are a bit hard to accept given her hardened hunter persona.
Chuckles is an interesting monster. He seems to have multiple personalities and feeds off abusive men. He is intrigued and captivated by Esme's passion and violence, and he decides that she is the one for him. She isn't one to be won over easily, however, and they engage in a lot of fun and violent altercations. As Chuckles continues to pursue Esme, his own dark past comes back to haunt him.
Overall, Chuckles was an engaging horror monster romance. I loved the dangerous dynamic between the two main characters, as well as theme of the hunter becoming the hunted. This book never really lets up, leaving you on the edge of your seat and disturbed in a delicious way.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Chuckles an interesting blend of horror and dark romance, and I’m surprised I even started reading this because I’m scared of clowns!
Esme (FMC) is a mother who has for years been searching for her missing daughter after she was taken by a terrifying creature. When she arrives in a town plagued by child disappearances, she continues her search to uncover the truth. Along the way, she meets Chuckles, circus demon who begins to obsess over. I loved Esme’s determination and resilience; her grief and desperation gave the story an emotional depth that balanced the darker elements well.
Chuckles (MMC) was easily my favorite part of the book (which is interesting since I am scared of clowns). He’s chaotic, obsessive, unpredictable, and genuinely creepy, creating a constant sense of tension whenever he appeared on the page. The relationship dynamic between him and Esme was twisted, toxic, and impossible to look away from.
The atmosphere was one of the book’s strongest points. The circus setting, supernatural horror, and mystery surrounding the disappearances created a creepy vibe that pulled me in immediately. My only reason for not rating it higher is that I would have loved even more horror elements, and at times Chuckles felt a little too humanized for a creature that was supposed to be an absolute nightmare.
Overall, this was a dark, entertaining read with memorable characters, plenty of tension, and a wonderfully unhinged monster love interest. If you enjoy dark romance mixed with horror, obsession, and morally grey characters, then this one is worth checking out.
Chuckles leapt straight into the action from the first page and everything was happening so fast it took me a chapter or two to find my bearings… my god I’m glad I kept reading!
This has a fabulously eerie vibe, with a vengeful witch, a creepy clown, a possessed teddy bear, and a doting exterminator. Esme is desperately trying to protect the children in her town from a paranormal entity, after failing to save her own daughter years before. Attracting the interest of two men; sweet Sebastian the exterminator, and a killer clown she believes is involved in the childrens disappearances, complicates matters further in the most delicious ways… I’m halfway through and absolutely hooked, turns out I have a thing for delectably murderous clowns 🤡
UPDATE: Yes. Just yes to everything. This was creepy, dark, eerie, heartbreaking, violent, and gory, with lots of dark humour and lots of spice. This is a super dark take on the tale of the pied piper, so if anything to do with children is a trigger to you, please steer clear as it deals with abduction, loss, and possession. This was well written (there were some errors but I’d never let that get in the way of a good story) with great twists. I originally gave this four stars but I think I need to adjust it to five, because this was a creepy, dirty, bl00ds0aked ride and I enjoyed the h3ll out of it!
This story started off really strong IMO. The story is about a mother, Esme, whose daughter was taken five years ago and has been hunting the creature ever since. She moves to a town where children are disappearing. She believes that she will find her daughter and continues day in and day out to find her and the demon. She meets a man, Jonathan, during a street festival who she has an interest in... During the their first date, they go to a circus where strange events begin to happen... this is where she meets Chuckles. Chuckles quickly becomes obsessed with Esme and starts leaving her "gruesome" gifts to show his interest.
*** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***
While she is drawn to Chuckles, she still continues seeing Jonathan... Chuckles makes his expectations of their "connection" clear... He will destroy anyone who she sees that isn't him. I found the dark romance aspect very well done in this book, however Chuckles, throughout the story, becomes almost humanized when he is a demon/entity who is absolutely psychotic and twisted. The dynamic between Chuckles, Esme and Jonathan shifts during the climax of the book and Esme's tenacity and truth is tested.
This book is well written, characters and world are well developed, but I would have loved to see more horror elements and less humanization of Chuckles. Overall, this was entertaining and a quick read that checked a few of my favourite tropes/boxes.
Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!
Well I can say one thing if you have a thing for clowns this book is definitely for you. It was definitely a book for me. I truly enjoyed the monster that was Chuckles and the woman that Esme is. This book is a wild ride full of emotions. There are missing children, monsters, sex, death and so much more. The chemistry between Chuuckles and Esme was just perfect. I couldn't stop reading this book until it was over. I wish it hadn't ended. With every good book in this case there is a villain and boy did I root for his demise the entire time.
I absolutely loved Chuckles. I loved how dark, creepy, eccentric and just how unique he is. I enjoyed learning about him and Esme as the book went on. Its definitely a book i will read again once I have the time.
There is death, gore,and very dark themes in this book. There is a warning page at the beginning so be warned. I enjoyed every moment of it so I guess that just means im a pretty messed up person. We all are in a way but who cares.
"Chuckles" by Kat Bethel is a compelling read that masterfully blends mystery with emotional depth. The story follows a complex set of characters, each with their own hidden burdens and secrets, set against a backdrop that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Key Highlights of the Book: Intricate Character Development: Bethel excels at creating characters who feel authentic and deeply human, each grappling with their own past and present struggles. Atmospheric Storytelling: The author’s descriptive prose vividly brings the setting to life, creating a palpable sense of tension and curiosity throughout the narrative. Thematic Richness: Beyond its primary plot, the book explores profound themes such as resilience, the impact of secrets on relationships, and the search for truth. Overall, "Chuckles" is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that is sure to resonate with fans of character-driven mysteries. It is a testament to Kat Bethel's ability to weave a narrative that is both suspenseful and emotionally resonant.
Thank you to booksirens for an eARC. All opinions remain 100% genuine.
I had such a great time reading this. The plot was deeper than I was expecting, and I loved that there was such a great progression of story line, that took the main focus.
It was like a sensual Pennywise clown, but it had more layers than I was expecting and I'm not so sure why I was caught off guard by that, because I felt the same by Echo. I loved the expansion on the Pied Piper myth and the connection between the villains.
The spice was really fiery, but it didn't take over the he story line, which I was pleasantly surprised about. I was so invested in Esme's hunt for her daughter and her personal struggles and growth through the story.
The back and fourth between Chuckles and Esme and Sebastian and Esme felt like an ultra sadistic version of yearning and I was so here for it.
This was such a fun book, with some emotionally moving moments. I loved learning more about the Rinah witches and I can't wait for another book!
This was a fun witchy horror story and had a few twists that make it a good read.
Our FMC is trailing her missing daughter, fighting someone who keeps taking children from the community they move to. But she is no one ordinary, she is a witch, trained in taking out paranormal evil monsters.
Yet when she comes across a man who seems to push all the right romantic buttons for her, she can't help feeling it is too good to be true.
It doesn't help that their first date takes her to a carnival where she believes the monster who stole her daughter is residing. And Chuckles the clown, after spotting her, is intent on her being his.
But there is something a bit off about Chuckles, besides being huge, strong & slightly terrifying. Children keep disappearing yet she witnesses Chuckles being caring & patient with children, only to show up on her doorstep after killing a neighbor.
Only a Rayna witch can get to the bottom of this mess. So long as she can survive it.
Check TW/CWs. There’s a lot that might trigger some readers.
At first I thought this would be a pennywise type romance… WRONG!
I absolutely love Chuckles. Esme just compliment him with her attitude. I am so far enjoying all the Monster Prey books and if they were to become a tv series I would definitely watch. While beginning you could guess one of the bad guys, the twist to him made it a surprise. I don’t want to spoil it because it is great. But this still plays on the Folklore Horror which I absolutely love!
“It’s not every day a woman hunts me down to stab me. To what do I owe the pleasure?” His deep voice rattled something inside me that I refused to name.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I need to know what the difference between a human and a which ? Sensing auras? Reading cards? Cuz she’s a shit detective, a shit hunter and for all her efforts to shit on humans that they’re weak and susceptible she’s exactly the same and I understand the monster up against her can manipulate reality but she’s a hunting which with years of experience where she’s beat multiple types of creatures it’s just so frustrating how they keep building her up and when the tough times start she’s shit she can’t even put two and two together she’s not investigating properly she’s not prioritizing the things she keeps saying she’s prioritizing, the love interest is atleast truthful to himself and others all the clues are handed to her or explained to her but smarter people it kills me but it’s a good story 3.5
While the opening is great for a horror clown romance, it loses steam as the MMC becomes increasingly humanised as the plot progresses. Similarly, the plot opens and it’s a whirl of investigation and romance and misdirection at all sides however I was able to put the pieces together substantially quicker than our FMC so the remaining plot started to drag and become tedious with the bickering and manipulations.
As far as the relationship goes, it’s built entirely on lust with the characters not spending enough time together free from accusations to build to anything more. It had good bones but needs something more to have a solid framework built off of them.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC!
What an interesting read! As a lover of clowns, dark magic, witches & fictional serial killers this book ticked a lot of boxes for me. I liked the story (mostly), the FMC (for the most part) and how her & Chuckles ended up together in the end. The gore & the lust/spice were fun & the sensory descriptions were really good. I felt some of it started to drag and parts of it could have been replaced with the main characters getting to know each other more. A couple of grammatical errors. Overall I enjoyed it and would be interested to read more by this author. Thank you for the opportunity BookSirens & Kat Bethel 🖤🤡
This was the definition of perfect monster romance 😍. Esme is a witch on the hunt for revenge but stumbles upon Jack or Chuckles as she refers to him, and man, are they hot together! The shared trauma builds bonds that can't be broken and the fit together so blissfully dark! This is such an addictive read, one i couldn't put down. I finished this in one sitting. The authors writing was captivating, and the creativity behind the story was genuinely genius 👌 This was my first time reading Kat, and I assure you I will be reading everything she writes. I absolutely loved this book and deserve more than 5 stars. An absolute masterpiece 👏 🖤 This is a must-read for all monster romance lovers
** spoiler alert ** This is the first book of Kat Bethel’s that I’ve ever read and now I know I have to check out more of their work! I loved the setting to start with, I loved the Rinah Witch lore and the journey Esme went on with accepting the loss of her child, there was a real depth for me with the characters. Overall, Chuckles was a fun, spicy clown featuring read, it balanced spooky, spicy and emotional really well and I’d love to see more books in this world!
Check this out if you like;
🤡 Clown Monster ❤️ Monster Hunter Witch FMC 🧺 Dark/Heavy Themes 🪴Healing After Loss 🎃 HEA 👻 Kinkiness
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.** Thank you to BookSiren and Kat Bethel !!
Wow, the writing in this book is AMAZING. This book felt like an addiction I couldn't put it down lol. I love the energy that Esme gave off, it was so well written to make the reader feel what was happening. This was spicy, had gore, predator V. Prey. It was so good *Chef's Kiss*. I NEED more from this series PLEASE. lol, I loved this book so much.
Some of the triggers were : Murder, Blood, sexual content, Manipulation. and more....
This was an okay horror/romance book but it definitely didnt make me go "wow" at any point. It starts off pretty strong and has a pretty decent mix of spice and plot, but I did find myself feeling a bit meh as the story carried on. The plot got a bit repetitive at points - her questioning him about something that has happened, him denying it and then the same the next time the same thing happens (trying not to spolier!) I liked the idea of a monster romance that involved a clown but it just didn't quite do it for me in the end
I love Chuckles. He is dark and twisted but has a heart. This book had me guessing and on the edge of my seat the whole time. Honestly though I love all books by this author and it was pretty much an auto buy for me. I will continue to get her books because she has never disappointed me.
It took me longer to read this book than I wanted. Not because it was bad I just kept getting annoyed with Esme. But Chuckles…..I love him😂😂. He was funny and gave the book what it needed. I love the Rinah witches as a whole and would love more books but Esme just wasn’t it for me. But I do recommend you all to read the book. The story was great
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶🌶🌶 Dark, depraved, insane, gory, gruesome, and raunchy in all the best ways.
Kat Bethel takes us deep into the insanity where it's hard to tell truth from reality and where pain is pleasure. "Chuckles" is everything I wanted and more. I absolutely could not put this book down. Well done!