Pretty Little Death

Fated Mate Bonds #3

by Lola Glass

I gave myself to the demon king I'm fated to—temporarily, of course.
Grayson Darke is as feral as he is charming, and all he wants from me is a steady meal and a sealed mate bond.
I expect our connection to be nothing more than friends with benefits, and I can accept that.
But he's not willing to let me go.
To the rest of the city, I'm death incarnate, but to him, I'm the pretty little fae queen he's wanted for a century.
He's struggling to deal with the mess in his half of the city while claiming me in every possible way he can think of… and with every passing day, I'm beginning to realize that the issues separating us don't matter to him.
He thinks I'm his.
And I'm starting to think he might be right.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Paranormal Romance, Magic, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2026

About the author

Lola is a book lover with a *slight* romance obsession and a passion for love. Especially love between sassy women and huge, growly magical men ;)

When she's not reading or writing up a storm, she's hanging out with her husband and three kids, or baking something sugary that she *probably* shouldn't eat (but will).

A guide to her books can be found on her website. All of her series can be read entirely on their own, so there's no necessary reading order.

For a full list of her work, check out https://www.authorlolaglass.com/

Reviews

[Jo Bennesch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mejoró mucho el tema romance.
Pero igual hay relleno con el tema de los lobos que ta ni me importa y que no tenia nada que ver con los protagonistas.
Mejorcito pero lejos de los buenos de LG

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a perfect palate cleanser. I read it in a few hours. It was mainly smut and had limited depth to the characters. One thing Glass does perfectly is dangle the next characters in front of your nose so you waiting for the next book. Will I read the next book - yes for sure!!!

Is that to say this book was amazing? - ahhh it was a bit of a non plot, nothing really happened there was no conflict/resolution, no real use of magic, nothing to build up to so it was more a filler. My favourite part was the revenge on Gwen and POS. It was giving Novella 0.5 book where everything has already happened and this just follows the characters to further the overall plot. Without this book the next couldn’t have been set up.

For example, as soon as they got together the relationship aspects were solved. Then solving the issue of the vampire king the only thing we read about was paper work. Whether I was missing context on Darkes family I have no clue but it felt thrown in referencing things, whether this was to set it up or was actually referring to things idk!

There was no real depth or development for the characters. But this is an aspect I like about Glass’ books because you know what you’re getting. Her MMC and FMC are always the same type of person just in a different situation so I’m interested to read how the next one will be - will they morph into the classic characters or break the mould?

It didn’t top liv and nialls story, I don’t think it topped callum and Kats either.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES 🙌

I have been awaiting this book! This was so good!! I was anticipating this book when it was teased at the end of the last book.

I am so excited she trashed the book and rewrote Grayson the way she did!
A succubus demon (who has knot) king who’s been waiting for his mate a whole century once he discovered her!!! (Swooning) He wants to make her fall in love with him! I love a morally gray man who kidnaps and is so in love with the FMC.

Merrily (death by touch magic) fae queen.
Merrily is easily over stimulated, funny, sweet, strong, and caring. I love the fight match and her murdering someone for hurting him!

I AM ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT FOR DARIUS AND RAE’S BOOK!! 📖 going to the top of my TBR.

As always Lola’s book are fun, light hearted, and totally enjoyable quick reads.

[iremucka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tatlı küçük ölüm aka seni en güzel ben üzerimspor!

Tipik Lola Glass kitabı.. Uzun uzun yazmaya gerek yok. Görevini yerine getirdi ve ayrıldı. Peri kraliçesi olarak tipik bir ölümlü karakter okumamak önemliydi ama yeni topraklar vaadetmesini beklemiyorduk da 😍

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.4 stars.

This book isn't good.

There is endless non communication and negative motivation.

I never believed they fell in love.

It wasn't fun or hot. It was irritating and boring. I tried to speed through. Don't ask me why I didn't just DNF.

How in the world is she known as Death when she can't leave her house!?

Also, I am NOT excited for book 4. Looks like more negative motivation with a manwhore and a virgin. Ugh. Gag me.

[Lucina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was a disappointment. The sex was really good, Mer and Gray have amazing sexual chemistry and a lot of sex, but that's it. I didn't feel any emotional connection between them, so the romance was meh. Why do they love each other? I have no idea. When did they fell in love? The story wasn't really romantic and I'm so disappointed we didn't get flashbacks to their first meetings. While the book wasn't horrible it wasn't great either.

[Mire Agmar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entretenido, pero sin más.

[Diana Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grayson and Merrily’s story was a 100 years in the making. They were fated mates that only had sex in their dreams due to Merrily thinking her death magic would kill him. This is the perfect addition to the Fated Mate Bonds series, we see all of their angst, fears and wonder as they fight their mate bond, until Grayson “kidnaps” Merrily ( actually she kidnaps herself ), and they fave sex in real life versus just their dreams. The storyline was well written and brought all of the friends together in a fantastic way. I love these characters as they are so hilariously unhinged. The heat between Merrily and Darke is off the charts and 5🌶️’s hot ! I can’t wait to read S porch and Rae’s story next. 5✨’s for a perfect addition to the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Snow]

DNF @ 38%.

the H and h have known each other for a century and have had dream-sex with each other for ... just as long? idk, i didn't read the previous book, so i don't have the exact timeline.
but it means we come into the story with the feeling that things are already pretty established and they just need to get over their own personal hang-ups so they can be together.
it feels more like a sequel than its own romance novel.

nothing really happens in this book. the main focus is the romance but i have a hard time getting invested because they have so much history together already.
and yet, despite their history, there's so much talk of the hero mating with someone else if the heroine doesn't mate with him 🙄
they have spent a century having sex in their dreams and yet seem like they're still strangers. it makes for a very weird and completely unrelatable dynamic. not my kind of romance.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pretty Little Death Fated Mate Bonds #3 by Lola Glass

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book, and it did not disappoint! Grayson and Merrily’s story was a century in the making, and their journey as fated mates who believed they couldn’t be together kept me completely hooked. The storyline was beautifully written and brought the entire fae family and friends together in such a fantastic and satisfying way.

What I love most about this series is how hilariously unhinged the characters are, it makes every moment entertaining and full of surprises. This book was a perfect blend of romance, humour, and fae magic.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves a passionate, witty paranormal romance with a close-knit, quirky cast.

[EternallyPaperbound · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super 3.5

I enjoyed this book a lot. I liked Grayson a lot, he was patient, but taking none of Mer’s excuses.
Mer was so great with all the demon dealings, so understanding and I thought they were a gorgeous couple. I loved seeing them being the best out of each other. Such good fun! Bring on Dare’s book!

[netty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Least favorite of this series so far. The other two were a throwback to her earlier books where I liked the characters and pacing and connection. Once again, this book was all about the bedroom, and if you wanted to jump into the series on this book you would have no chance: nothing is explained, no world building, and really, I felt like the hero and heroine didn’t even really care about or get to know each other- despite him insisting she tell him a bunch of her favorite things. I was looking forward to this book because of her magic and their long connection but it fell so flat. No tension, no respect—ugh. Disappointment. I want to be excited for Dare and Rae but based on this book, it won’t be great. Bummer

[Steffany Camacho · Rating 4 out of 5]

another great edition

Dare and Grey are besties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was a great third book, the revenge they got on Jonah and Gwen was chefs kiss. I hope to see more of it in Dares book.

[Bruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book with this title, a demon love interest and a neurodivergent coded fmc could never disappoint me

[Megha · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤 Pretty Little Death — Lola Glass

🌙 Tropes
Fated mates
Centuries-long obsession
Obsessive hero
Enemies-to-lovers-ish / reluctant mates
Touch as comfort
High-spice romance
Knotting
Dream intimacy
Demon King × Fae Queen
Incubus hero
Fae heroine
Shadow magic
He has been feeding from her dreams for year


🖤 Full Summary Major Spoilers

Merrily Fall is a powerful fae queen known as the Queen of Death.
Despite being incredibly powerful, her own magic makes everyday life extremely difficult. She suffers from constant overstimulation: sounds, textures, movement, emotions and other sensations can become overwhelming. At times, she can barely function.
The price of her magic means she has very little peace.
There is, however, one person whose presence can completely quiet it:
Grayson Darke.
The Demon King.
And that's a problem.
Grayson is an incubus and the Demon King.
For approximately a century, he has been obsessively drawn to Merrily.
Their connection began through dreams. Because he is an incubus, Grayson can enter people's dreams and feed on emotions.
Merrily became his preferred source.
Grayson has been obsessed with her for around a century.
Merrily, however, has deliberately kept him at a distance.
Merrily knew something was happening between them long before she was willing to admit it.
The problem wasn't that she didn't want Grayson.
She did.
The problem was what accepting him would mean.
Merrily knows that fated mates can completely change one another's lives. She has seen what mate bonds have done to people around her, and she is terrified of losing control over her own life.
More importantly, she knows that Grayson's touch does something extraordinary to her.
His magic silences the overwhelming effects of her own magic.
When he touches her, the constant noise inside her disappears.
For someone who has spent centuries living with that torment, his touch is almost addictive.
Merrily realizes that if she accepts him completely, she may become dependent on him simply to feel normal.
So she hides the truth.
For roughly a century, Grayson thinks his obsession with her is simply unexplained attraction.
Then Callum, one of Merrily's fae friends, discovers enough about fate bonds through his own experience and give Grayson answers.
Grayson spends months investigating the bond.
Eventually, he realizes the truth.
Merrily is his mate.
And he is furious that she kept it from him.
Eventually, Grayson decides that waiting for Merrily to willingly come to him isn't working.
He intends to abduct her.
Merrily gets advance warning that Grayson intends to take her.
Instead of waiting for him to do it, she decides to go to his mansion herself.
She arrives carrying a small bag, accompanied by her best friend Darius.
Unfortunately, merely entering the Demon King's enormous mansion overwhelms her.
Her magic begins spiraling out of control.
She can barely walk.
Then Grayson finds her.
He picks her up and carries her.
The instant his skin touches hers, everything changes.
Her nausea disappears.
The imaginary sensation of bugs crawling over her skin disappears.
The noise and overwhelm disappear.
For the first time, Merrily experiences complete peace.
It terrifies her almost as much as it comforts her.
Grayson takes her to his private apartment.
And he refuses to simply let her leave.
Grayson tells Merrily that she is staying with him.
Merrily argues.
She reminds him that her side of the supernatural city has enough power to destroy his side if things escalate into war.
Grayson knows this.
He doesn't care.
She's his mate.
And after waiting a century, he's not prepared to simply let her walk away.
However, Merrily makes it very clear that she will not accept being controlled.
Their relationship becomes a constant battle between:
Grayson's possessiveness
and
Merrily's independence.
Their relationship had previously existed primarily through dreams.
Now they're physically together.
This changes everything.
Grayson discovers that he can touch Merrily without harming her because of their mate bond.
His shadows also recognize her.
They begin naturally crawling over her skin and staying attached to her.
The shadows help ease the effects of her magic.
The more time they spend together, the more comfortable Merrily becomes around him.
And Grayson discovers that being around his mate feels completely different from anything he's experienced before.
He doesn't simply desire her.
He needs her.
One of the things that starts breaking down Merrily's resistance is how different Grayson is from the terrifying Demon King she imagined.
He cooks for her.
He makes pancakes.
He pays attention to what foods she can tolerate.
He learns what textures bother her.
He learns how to make her comfortable.
His shadows constantly help her.
He doesn't just want sex.
He wants her around.
And Merrily gradually realizes that the terrifying demon king she's spent a century fantasizing about is also capable of being surprisingly gentle with her.
A major part of Merrily's hesitation comes from her relationship with Darius, her closest friend.
Darius is essentially her emotional support system.
He understands how difficult her magic is and knows how to help her when she becomes overwhelmed.
Merrily worries that accepting Grayson completely means abandoning Darius.
Grayson initially becomes jealous of how important Darius is to her.
But he gradually understands that Darius isn't a romantic rival.
He's family.
Darius also has his own mate problem.
He is attracted to Rae, but Rae doesn't believe she wants him.
Darius is convinced that she doesn't want him and becomes increasingly miserable about it.
Merrily tries to help them without completely interfering.
This subplot also becomes important because Grayson realizes that Merrily's relationships with her friends are part of who she is.
He can't simply take her away from everyone.
Grayson isn't only dealing with Merrily.
He's also the Demon King, and his political position is constantly challenged.
People can challenge his claim to the throne.
He regularly fights challengers.
Meanwhile, the supernatural political situation is chaotic.
The vampire kingdom is also unstable, and Grayson has been involved in trying to determine who should rule the vampires.
His family and friends are also dealing with their own supernatural problems.
Merrily gradually becomes involved in his world.
Eventually, someone challenges Grayson.
Merrily refuses to sit quietly and allow her mate to fight alone.
She announces publicly that anyone who wants to challenge Grayson's throne will have to go through her.
She enters the fighting arena as the Queen of Death.
This is one of the moments where Grayson realizes just how fiercely protective his mate is.
He doesn't want Merrily fighting his battles.
She essentially tells him:
You're my mate. Your battles are my battles.
Merrily wins.
And in doing so, she publicly establishes herself as Grayson's mate and protector.
Their relationship continues changing.
The biggest difference is that Merrily stops thinking of Grayson as someone who is merely helping her control her magic.
She starts wanting him.
Not simply his magic.
Grayson himself.
Their bond becomes stronger.
Merrily begins spending more of her life in his home and integrating her belongings into his apartment.
Eventually, she realizes she doesn't actually want to return to the isolated life she had before.
She wants a life with him.
The biggest turning point comes when Merrily agrees to seal their mate bond.
Grayson has wanted this from the beginning.
For him, sealing the bond means finally knowing that Merrily has chosen him.
For Merrily, it's much more frightening.
She knows that sealing the bond will make their connection permanent.
But she finally decides that the benefits of having Grayson in her life outweigh her fear of losing independence.
She chooses him willingly.
They seal the bond.
And the relationship changes dramatically.
Once the bond is sealed, Grayson becomes even more connected to Merrily.
He can feel her emotions.
She can feel his.
They can communicate mentally.
His shadows cling to her even more strongly.
And the physical connection between them becomes significantly more intense.
Grayson also becomes much more protective.
However, the relationship isn't suddenly perfect.
They still have to learn how to balance:
Grayson's responsibilities as Demon King
Merrily's responsibilities as Fae Queen
their friends and families
their separate homes
their supernatural political obligations
their need for each other
One of Grayson's biggest lessons is realizing that being Merrily's mate doesn't mean he gets to isolate her.
Merrily needs Darius.
She needs Liv.
She needs Callum, Kat and the rest of her found family.
And they need her.
Grayson gradually accepts that.
He even begins interacting with her friends and family instead of treating them purely as obstacles to getting time alone with his mate.
The group eventually becomes something resembling one large, chaotic supernatural family.
After the initial chaos, Merrily and Grayson develop a routine.
Grayson works during the day.
Merrily works and spends time with her friends.
They spend their mornings and evenings together.
Grayson makes sure he doesn't work late unnecessarily because he knows Merrily needs him.
They continue exploring their sexual relationship and gradually become comfortable enough to attempt knotting, something particularly significant because Grayson is a demon and Merrily is fae.
Their physical relationship becomes an extension of the emotional bond they've built.
Eventually, the vampire political crisis is finally resolved.
Grayson comes home early.
Instead of allowing Merrily to make plans with everyone else, he surprises her.
He has arranged a two-week honeymoon at the Honeymoon Hotel.
He has even spoken to her assistants and arranged for her work to be handled.
His goal is simple:
He wants uninterrupted time with his mate.
Just the two of them.
Merrily is initially surprised because she hadn't planned for it, but she quickly realizes how much effort Grayson has put into making it happen.
They head off together.
The book ends with Merrily and Grayson happily mated and committed to one another.Merrily no longer sees Grayson as someone who is taking her freedom away.
She sees him as the person who makes her feel safe, understood and at peace.
Grayson finally has the woman he has been obsessed with for a century—and, more importantly, he has her because she chooses him.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I would say this read the others before this one although it isn’t necessary. Grayson sexy as all get out waited for his mate for a whole century but he wants her to make her fall in love with him just as much as he is in love with her and when he kidnaps her in hopes of showing her how much he loves her. Merrily a fae queen (death by touch magic) but easily simulated, she is funny, sweet, strong, cares deeply for those she loves and being with her fated mate in her dreams out of fear of killing him with her magic until her mate kidnaps her. The moment he kidnaps her things change drastically for the two of them he feels he doesn’t care if he dies loving her but they will be together but where are they headed, will her magic hurt him, can they be together, and will they find the chance to have their own happiness somewhere along the way?

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book, and it was definitely spicy and fun! Mer has been fighting her mate bond for so long, I'm glad she finally gave love a chance.

[Christy Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book (so far) of best Lola Glass series

Loved this book. Grayson and Merrily were great together and loved watching Merrily be able to relax and enjoy life. I’ve read most of this author’s books, and they’re usually fun, very light, quick reads, but very little depth. I got annoyed with some previous series because every female protagonist had the same voice and way of speaking. Not so with this series! I’ve loved the first 3 books. Still fun and light, but the characters have depth and their own unique personalities. Highly recommend giving it a read. This book was my favorite of the series so far, but I’m really looking forward to Darius’s story!

[Samantha Franquiz · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring af

[Serena Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

’Estás en mis pulmones, en mi mente, en mi alma. Has estado ahí durante cien años.’




•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.



Pretty Little Death - Lola Glass serie Fated Mate Bonds libro 3

Argumento:

Me entregué al rey demonio con quien estoy destinada , temporalmente, claro.

Grayson Darke es tan salvaje como encantador, y lo único que quiere de mí es una comida constante y un vínculo de pareja sellado.

Espero que nuestra relación no sea más que una de amigos con derecho a roce, y puedo aceptarlo.

Pero él no está dispuesto a dejarme ir.

Para el resto de la ciudad, soy la muerte encarnada, pero para él, soy la linda reina de las hadas que ha deseado durante un siglo.

Lucha por lidiar con el caos en su parte de la ciudad mientras me reclama de todas las maneras posibles... y con cada día que pasa, empiezo a darme cuenta de que los problemas que nos separan no le importan.

Cree que soy suya.

Y empiezo a pensar que tal vez tenga razón.


Mi humilde opinión:

Romance paranormal, fantasía, parejas destinadas, proximidad forzada, de enemigos a amantes.

La reina de las hadas Merrily con el poder de la muerte descubrió hace un siglo que el rey de los demonios Greyson Darke era su alma gemela. Tras enterarse después de todo ese tiempo, él envía a secuestrarla pero Merri se adelanta y entrega por su cuenta con un plan en mente. Sin embargo conocer la razón por la que el demonio quiere reclamarla lo hace ver con nuevos ojos no solo a él sino a todo el distrito de las sombras.

Me gustó que Merri tomara la decisión de enfrentar a Grey, que se le adelantara, estaba emocionada por como se desarrollarían las cosas pero… en su primer encuentro no llegaban a nada, comenzaron con las vueltas y a poner obstáculos. Si ella se sentía atraída por él y sabia que era su pareja, su alma gemela, que era el único que podía mejor su vida por qué no le daba una chance? Por qué el juego de lo deseo pero lo alejo? Digo que no lo quiero como pareja pero me pongo celosa si tiene otra potencial pareja? Al final ni ella sabía lo que quería!

La cosa que me ponía de los nervios es que no podían tener una charla sincera y lógica sin entrar en discusiones tontas que no iban a ningún lado?! Todo podría tener solución para los dos si se comunicaban y se ponían de acuerdo. Y si había algún antagonismo, me hubiera gustado un cruce con tensión entre los dos pero no lo hacían de un modo sexy ni divertido tampoco. Que haga querer verlos juntos desesperadamente. No me pasó eso con ellos.

En fin, al final Merri cambia de opinión, tras abrirse un poco en un algunas conversaciones los dos, ella decide tomar a Grey como compañero, aún tiene miedo pero da el paso. Esa es la protagonista que quería ver, que deje la tontería de lado y que tome acciones.

Me encantó lo que Merri hizo en el capitulo 11, fue a pelear con grey sobre el ring! Podía imaginarme toda esa escena y el beso delante de todos, fue genial!

Cuando por fin Merri y Grey están en la misma pagina todo se vuelve un poco... aburrido, como que no había nada mas interesante, solo mensajes de texto entre ellos o de ella con los otros faes, reuniones todas las parejas juntas que si bien no estuvo mal pero parecía de relleno. Como si los protagonistas no tuvieran nada mas que hacer!

En una reunión de “chicas” donde además estaban presentes sus parejas incluido Dare, mencionan a Jonah, perdón pero no puedo superar que la autora lo hiciera el villano! Cada vez que hacen mención de este personaje se siente mal. Es como si estuvieran hablando de alguien muy diferente al del primer libro. La cosa es que en ese momento que están reunidos se ponen de acuerdo en hacerles una maldad a la pareja de lobos por lo que le hicieron a Liv. Me pareció genial que la dejaran pelada a Gwen, su personaje siempre fue fiel a lo que mostró desde el comienzo, desleal y egoísta, se lo merecía. Pero no comprendí para qué vengarse de ellos tiempo después de hacer el trato con Jonah. Si Liv no quería ayudarlos cuando descubrió que la habían manipulado debería haberles dicho que no, simple. Ese juego de broma de niños fue tonto.

Me gusta la fácil conexión, la dulce y apasionada relación que tienen los personajes de esta autora, me gusta toda esa parte. Sin embargo, no me gusto que la historia de Merri y Gray se redujera a la parte sexual. Me pareció que tenían mas para dar porque eran seres interesantes, fae-demonio, sus poderes, historia de fondo pero no me dieron mas que lujuria.

Estoy cruzando los dedos por la historia de Dare y Rae, él espero mucho tiempo por su pareja destinada y se merece su final feliz también.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 Stars

"I'd tell you that I love you more than I fucking know what to do with."

This was exactly what I wanted for Mer and Graysons story. As a whole I loved it. It fit for their situation and it was a solid easy going sort of read that really set up Dare and Rae's story next. I especially loved that Mer made a big grand gesture and was literally willing to fight anyone who came for her mate. Grayson deserved that show of loyalty and devotion tbh.

As always seeing more Liv and Niall was both cute and ridiculous, while Callum and his "thinks he knows best for his family" meddling ways are always entertaining. I just adore him and how much he loves his family.

Overall though I can admit I wanted maybeeee a bit more emotional angst or depth. Considering Mer hid them being mates for a whole damn century I really wanted to explore that more from Grayson's side and how it made him feel and affected him. We did to an extent through Rae's offering her POV to Mer and Callum a bit because of how Grayson broke into Callums house for answers once Callum clued him in about fae mates. Otherwise we really didn't explore that and I felt it deserved at least a little more of a deeper dive because while we all understood why Mer, or any of the fae would hide their mate bond considering how volatile their magic can be. We hadn't yet seen one of them hide their matebond altogether the way Mer did and considering Grayson was an incubus demon who became obsessed with Mer and could only visit her dreams to feed himself. I mean, that seems like a huge problem and inconvenience to deal with suddenly despite obsessing over that person, ya know? His whole life changed and he had no idea why except thinking he was obsessed with her. And sure Mer acknowledged in her POV that she knew hiding their connection hurt him and she did feel bad despite having valid reasons and concerns for doing so. But stillll

I dunno, I always want more from books sometimes and that's just a me issue. I love Lola's writing and how gloriously easy it can be to read and simply lose yourself in. So, really, no complaints. I just felt maybe we didn't delve into the deeper issues between them a bit and I was surprised it wasn't a bit more angsty in the first half.

Plus there was the whole part where Grayson was trying to find a way to get his family out of prison, and we just never finish that storyline? Which is fine since I assume it'll wrap up in the next book with Rae considering her being like Grayson's sister so maybe she has a connection to Jasmine and Dante too. Though it wasn't mentioned that I remembered but anywayyyy I still enjoyed it.

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merrily is freaking out with her pink duffel bag in front of the huge demon mansion. I blinked quite a lot at all she has to go thru, as now we know exactly how she feels with everything she feels and how overwhelmed she is all of the time. It made me hurt for her and want to hug her. But, can’t because that would cause her more pain. The demon mansion is always drama filled. So she continues with her plan to get to Grayson. I find that her plan, is more of a goal. lol. When she gets to the stairs and sees just how many, she doesn’t know if she can do it. But, they Grayson shows up, and puts his hand on under her shirt. This causes the majority of her overwhelm, to stop. To be free for once, so since she is over his shoulder as he carries her up the stairs, she stairs at his awesome butt. lol.

They talk, although it is mostly an argument. Because she doesn’t want to go through with a full mating. She has all these ideas, and he nixes the majority. He had already been planning to kidnap her. She had found out from his bestie, the wraith, Rae. Once we understand Rae more, her powers are terrifying. Grayson is an incubus. A Demon King. I found the majority of Grayson’s and Merrily’s arguments to be somewhat funny. Finally, she gives in a bit and things get romantic, and hot and steamy. WOWZA! lol. Seeing the Fae power’s cost in each of the 4 Fae is heartbreaking.

I can’t believe what Kat talked Darius into. lol. Been there, done that. I preferred the night shift tho. Morning shift, I tended to burn myself lol. Using this job to find his mate. lol. Poor Darius. I love how Merrily and Darius talk to each other, since they are pretty much besties. I love the texts between Liv & Mer. They are funny. Mer is quite devious too. lol. I firmly believe Rae + Darius = nuclear meltdown.

Mer comes up with a plan to help Darius with all of the fights that he has daily. It is funny, devious and insane. Rae helps. I adored this book, it was hilarious. I love how protective Darius is of her and she him. lol. I can’t wait for Darius to find his mate. I squeed so much over the ending! Oh jeez, the puns! lol. I’m still giggling over them.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Pretty Little Death” by Lola Glass is a Fae x Incubus paranormal romance set in the supernatural town of Rumor, where Merrily, the Fae Queen of Fall, subverts her own kidnapping and claims her mate, the Incubus King, Grayson. It is the third book in the “Fated Mate Bonds” series of interconnected standalones.

Merrily is not the typical FMC we meet in romance lately, and I liked that. Sure, she is incredibly loyal and loving towards her family, but she's also frigid, terse, quick to cut to the chase, and is the embodiment of quiet power. She is the “Queen of Death” and her very being reflects that. Glass has taken powers and amplified them into sensations in a way that is both nightmarish and incredibly fascinating. The cost of Merrily's power is constant stimulation and pain, and when I think of what that's like, I think it has to be one of the worst experiences I can imagine. Which makes Merrily’s behavior all the more understandable.

Grayson, like all of Glass’ MMCs, has an incredible 🍑 and is entirely devoted to his mate.

“Pretty Little Death” is a scorching 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5, which isn't too much of a surprise when the MMC is an Incubus 😉. As the spiciest book in the series so far, expect Knotting 🪢, dream play, praise, and a lot of claiming.

This book is akin to a cozy romance; it's a low stakes story without major conflict, which is perfect for someone who wants a light and easy spicy read. It read at a slower pace (simply because we spent so much time in their thoughts), but I found that the spice, banter between the MCs, and the text messages with the rest of the Fae Royals kept me engaged!

We get to learn a new side of Merrily in this book and begin to get a greater understanding of Darius and the cost of his power. I'm excited for Darius and Rae's story in the next book!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

Grayson—bless his dangerously fine, demon heart—has been pining after his fated mate for a whole century. One hundred years of brooding, smoldering, and being sexy enough to make a preacher sweat. And when he finally snaps? Lord help us all, because that man decides the best way to win her love is to kidnap her. Real “if he wanted to, he would” energy.

Merrily, meanwhile, is over here being a whole fae queen with death‑by‑touch magic and a personality sweeter than Sunday tea. She’s funny, she’s strong, she loves hard, and she’s been avoiding her mate like he’s a cursed casserole—because she’s terrified her magic might kill him. And the kicker? She’s known Grayson was her mate for a hundred years and kept that secret locked up tighter than a church donation box.

But then Callum and Livy go and find their mates with zero magical side effects, and suddenly Merrily’s thinking, “Well, maybe I won’t accidentally murder the love of my life after all.”

Fast‑forward a few months: Grayson finds out Merrily is his mate and immediately goes full dramatic‑demon mode. Kidnapping plan? Activated. But Merrily is a Southern woman with a spine of steel, so instead of waiting to be snatched, she packs her bags and marches her behind straight to his mansion like, “If we’re doing this, we’re doing it on my terms.”

From the moment he gets his hands on her, everything shifts. Grayson’s ready to risk death, damnation, and probably an HOA violation to love her. Merrily wants him too—but the questions are bigger than a Charleston mansion. Will her magic hurt him? Where exactly is he dragging her off to? And is there a place in this wild world where a demon king and a lethal fae queen can carve out their own happily‑ever‑after?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Off Reading Somewhere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I’ve really enjoyed this series this far, and some reviews had me slightly worried about this one. I’ll admit it didn’t have nearly as much depth as the first two, but in a way that was sort of nice.

Glass typically does fairly low angst stories, but this one had almost none. Which isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes a tiny bit of pining and emotional depth is needed. I was slightly torn on Gray at first. He came off a little bit alphahole and demanding of Mer, and not overly concerned about what she wanted. But the more I thought about the fact she hid the bond from him for a century and how much that would feel like a betrayal, I understood him a little bit better and could relate to his frustration with Mer. He also thawed quite a bit and ended up being the classic Glass cinnamon roll.

I’ve liked Mer since book 1. Our resident “Daria” character, her magic’s impact makes her withdrawn and slightly neurodivergent, and I understood her wariness re: the mate bond. I liked them together, their chemistry felt authentic, and I liked they had a century of history but really didn’t know each other. The spice was 🥵 and any issues that came up were solved like literally right away, which was a nice change from so much miscommunication and stubbornness in this genre.

I felt like Glass could have gone a bit deeper though with this one. Merrily’s super traumatic childhood was almost glossed over, and it would have been a great bonding opportunity for her and Gray, and given us (and Gray) more depth and insight into who she is.

Their non-spice moments were the best though. Video calls while he worked late and mind-link convos while hanging with her unhinged family made me chuckle and offered a realness to their dynamic. Also the spice at the end was 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I look forward to Dare’s book as we got lots of teasers for it, and really enjoy this whole world!!

[Victoria Golby · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's all he's wanted for 100 years

Another lovely wonderful paranormal fated mates romance by Lola Glass. Lola’s stories are always so well written with humour, banter, romance and human nature (worries, insecurities, etc causing problems) and this one is no different. It's full of a mix of wonderful characters with brilliant chemistry (both main and side characters), friendships, shifters and fae royals, vampires, demons and other paranormals, characters who struggle with their powers, an obsessed MMC, heaps of humor, cheeky banter, revenge and plenty of sweet spice💖. I couldn't put down and would strongly recommend.

This romance has been developing for 100 years, but with Merrily's powers being death she's worried about hurting him. She spends her days getting revenge for mistreated women and trying not to be overwhelmed by everything, often hiding under a blanket as no one can touch her due to her powers. Grayson is the Demon king, an incubus, and while he spends his days fighting MMA style to keep the Shadow District under control, since meeting Merrily he's spent every night in her dreams.

But things are getting worse for both of them and when he kidnaps her to try to get her to accept they are fated mates the action, banter and steam just increase.

It was great to see them working with her family, Callum, Darius and Liv (and their mates) as well as Grayson's "sister" Rae, and the banter and text chats among the group are brilliant. I especially liked their revenge on Kat's sister and her mate - they're all unhinged, and will admit to it. I can't wait to read Darius and Rae's romance in the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anastey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you BookSprout and Lola Glass for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was another great addition to the series, but unfortunately it does have some flaws that keeps it from being a 5 star read.

This was a kinda fluffy book where not a lot happened to move the overall story of the series along. It didn't feel like much happened beyond the relationship.

Unfortunately there were some minor consent issues because Grayson is a bit of a control freak when it comes to Merrily.

One of the biggest issues for me was there not being a TW list at the beginning of the book. There is some really awful childhood abuse for more than once character, and it would have been nice to have some warning. Also there is a "prank" at the end that was just overly cruel. Drugging someone is never a good choice, especially when the effects will last for months. I enjoyed the book, but these two things ended up knocking off 2 stars for me.

Other than the rough bits, I really did enjoy the book. The romance was fun, and as always I really like how the magic in this world works, especially with mates. The pair for the next book was set up nicely, and I look forward to reading it. The spice was really hot, and there were lots of sweet cozy moments too. I liked the emotional growth between the two of them, and being chronically ill myself I can totally imagine how it felt for Mer to have that relief from the insane sensory overload. Being trapped in your house because your body is broken sucks so much.

Overall this was a fun quick read.

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have such a soft spot for fated mates stories, and Fated Mate Bonds completely reminded me why—it pulled me in so quickly and didn’t really let go.

From the beginning, I felt that instant tension between the characters, and I was hooked on their dynamic. I love when a bond isn’t just easy or perfect, and this one definitely wasn’t. There was this constant push and pull—moments where they felt drawn together, but also hesitant and guarded—and I found myself really invested in how that would unfold.

What I personally enjoyed most was the emotional tension. I kept wanting them to just figure it out, but at the same time, I appreciated that it wasn’t rushed. Their connection felt intense, but also complicated, which made those softer, more vulnerable moments hit a lot harder for me.

The darker tone of the story also worked really well in my opinion. It gave everything a bit more edge and made the stakes feel higher, which kept me turning the pages. I love when a romance has that slightly dangerous, unpredictable vibe, and this definitely delivered on that.

There were a few points where I found myself wishing for a bit more depth—especially when it came to certain character decisions. I wanted to sit in those moments a little longer and really understand what was driving them. But even with that, I was still fully invested in the story.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable four-star read for me. It hit that perfect balance of tension, emotion, and romance that I’m always looking for in this trope. If you’re like me and love fated mates with a darker, more emotional edge, I think you’ll have a great time with this one.

[Nelia ~ trixeyverse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anytime Lola drops a new book, my whole life hits pause. Pretty Little Death was no different, I was up until 2am because there was just no putting it down.
Book 3 in the Fated Mate Bonds Series, and honestly my favorite so far. I’ve loved them all, but Grayson… yeah, he owns a permanent corner of my heart. The man waited so long for Merrily that it hurt, and when he finally hit his limit and decided to take things into his own hands? I felt every second of it.
And the chemistry between them? Off. The. Charts. It’s not just sparks for the sake of sparks, their connection feels real, earned, and worth rooting for. You care about their relationship because it has weight, history, and emotion behind it, not just cute moments sprinkled in.
The banter is top‑tier, too. Lola just knows how to write characters you genuinely care about, the kind you don’t want to let go of. And I love that she writes couple‑focused series, because we still get to see the other pairs show up and actually matter. Her side characters are never filler; they always have purpose and personality woven into the story.
And of course, she delivers the HEA. Always.
Quick read, great chemistry, relatable characters, and a story that hits all the right notes. Lola just doesn’t miss.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, how are the couples in this series all so adorable?! I love them all, and, I swear, they get better with every book (even the ones that were featured in previous books). And Dare's book is next! I can't wait to learn more about him and Rae

This book was so good, and so much happened, but it's also surprisingly short for everything that happened in it. I read it in less than 10 interrupted hours on a Saturday, and, as much as I loved the story and characters, I'm also so sad I finished it so quickly because now I have to wait for the next one, but I don't wanna

Some good news though, Jonah and Gwen got some revenged here. I still think they deserved more than they got, but there's still at least one more book in the series, so *fingers crossed*

This is really a nice little cozy book, and I'm glad I got it when I did because I've been in a bit of a dark romance trend lately, and I really needed something that wouldn't cause me so much emotional damage, so this was perfectly timed

Oh, and don't think I didn't catch what you did with the mention of the Forbidden Mates series, Lola.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.