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Legends
Beast
Inspired by Wisconsin's most famous cryptid, the Beast of Bray Road.
A grumpy cryptid falls for his sunshine human.
I didn’t come to Wisconsin looking for a legend. I came to get out. Out of staged smiles. Out of corporate campaigns. Out of photographing happiness that felt manufactured.
I was supposed to spend two months in the woods. No clients, no deadlines, just open sky, real silence, and nothing that needed editing.
What I find instead… is Calder.
Seven feet of muscle and shadow and ancient forest stillness.
He doesn’t trust humans, but I don’t scare easily. And the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to ignore the way he looks at me. The way his body reacts when I get too close. The way mine answers.
But the forest isn’t as empty as it looks. There’s something else out there. Calder won’t name it—only follows its movement, and keeps himself between me and whatever’s slinking through the trees.
And I’m starting to understand that whatever he’s been guarding me from isn’t the only danger in these woods.
I should leave… but I don’t. Because knowing that doesn’t change anything.
I still want him.
And the worst part?
He wants me too.
Enter the Legends world, where National Parks hold secrets—and monsters steal hearts.
A grumpy cryptid falls for his sunshine human.
I didn’t come to Wisconsin looking for a legend. I came to get out. Out of staged smiles. Out of corporate campaigns. Out of photographing happiness that felt manufactured.
I was supposed to spend two months in the woods. No clients, no deadlines, just open sky, real silence, and nothing that needed editing.
What I find instead… is Calder.
Seven feet of muscle and shadow and ancient forest stillness.
He doesn’t trust humans, but I don’t scare easily. And the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to ignore the way he looks at me. The way his body reacts when I get too close. The way mine answers.
But the forest isn’t as empty as it looks. There’s something else out there. Calder won’t name it—only follows its movement, and keeps himself between me and whatever’s slinking through the trees.
And I’m starting to understand that whatever he’s been guarding me from isn’t the only danger in these woods.
I should leave… but I don’t. Because knowing that doesn’t change anything.
I still want him.
And the worst part?
He wants me too.
Enter the Legends world, where National Parks hold secrets—and monsters steal hearts.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
August 20, 2026
✨May contain spoilers✨
I have absolutely loved each one of these amazing books in the series but I think that Calder and Milo might be my favorite so far. I’ve been waiting for this story since we’ve met both characters in previous books and I was here for it.
Every page in this book was so worth it. Sometimes I read long books and I’m always hesitant because sometimes books are longer than they need to be. But not this one. I devoured each and every moment.
The whole reason of Milo coming to Bray Road has a huge significance. I’m not going to spoil this part because it’s very important but when it comes out at the end, my heart was swooning.
And I felt for Calder on so many levels. The stone around his neck when we learn the story behind it made me want to hug him. Speaking of hugs, when he got his first hug from both Milo and Mrs. Alvarez, it was everything for me.
First off, the chats were so cute between the cryptic. I loved seeing their thoughts when it came to Calder.
All the “dying” moments had me giggling. From trying to eat fruit that could possible kill him to wanting to get Calder flowers… that part was what really sucked me in because he was trying to be discrete.
The raccoons and the squirrel moments were too cute I really loved the raccoon moments more. They were all over Calder and his touches.
As usual, there is a bit of drama in this book but it doesn’t last too long. It really shows Calder’s protective nature for Milo.
I loved it when they went to see Mrs. Alvarez and her nephew. I loved the little jealousy moment.
Also, I love how Calder transition from “the human” to “Milo Hart” to “My heart”. And when Milo calls out on it and says “I call you what you are” because that had to be the cutest moment in the book.
I can’t wait for the next book. I cannot wait for Neven’s book because that’s going to be a fun time and fangs? I’m all for it!
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I have absolutely loved each one of these amazing books in the series but I think that Calder and Milo might be my favorite so far. I’ve been waiting for this story since we’ve met both characters in previous books and I was here for it.
Every page in this book was so worth it. Sometimes I read long books and I’m always hesitant because sometimes books are longer than they need to be. But not this one. I devoured each and every moment.
The whole reason of Milo coming to Bray Road has a huge significance. I’m not going to spoil this part because it’s very important but when it comes out at the end, my heart was swooning.
And I felt for Calder on so many levels. The stone around his neck when we learn the story behind it made me want to hug him. Speaking of hugs, when he got his first hug from both Milo and Mrs. Alvarez, it was everything for me.
First off, the chats were so cute between the cryptic. I loved seeing their thoughts when it came to Calder.
All the “dying” moments had me giggling. From trying to eat fruit that could possible kill him to wanting to get Calder flowers… that part was what really sucked me in because he was trying to be discrete.
The raccoons and the squirrel moments were too cute I really loved the raccoon moments more. They were all over Calder and his touches.
As usual, there is a bit of drama in this book but it doesn’t last too long. It really shows Calder’s protective nature for Milo.
I loved it when they went to see Mrs. Alvarez and her nephew. I loved the little jealousy moment.
Also, I love how Calder transition from “the human” to “Milo Hart” to “My heart”. And when Milo calls out on it and says “I call you what you are” because that had to be the cutest moment in the book.
I can’t wait for the next book. I cannot wait for Neven’s book because that’s going to be a fun time and fangs? I’m all for it!
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
September 3, 2026
Milo Hart is a Chicago photographer on the verge of burnout. A remote cabin in the Wisconsin wilderness seems like the perfect escape from his daily grind. Instead of just relaxing, a chance encounter with Calder, the Beast of Bray Road, opens up a world of new possibilities, and Milo finds himself connecting to nature in ways he never thought possible.
Beast is part of Legends, an M/M monster romance series, a set of standalone stories taking place in National Parks where cryptids and legendary creatures find love with humans.
Denver Shaw has a unique, clipped writing style that feels almost sparse because of its concise word choice. However, the descriptions were also remarkably vivid, largely because they were built in small, stacked layers. For example, I could visualize the clearing perfectly thanks to the picture painted through Calder’s observation of the forest creatures.
This really stood out to me in the dialogue, since it is often one line followed immediately by another, with nothing in between. But with the word choice and the small actions of the characters, you pick up on the tone and emotion, much like we do naturally in conversation. The banter between the two is fantastic, even if Calder did not always intend to be funny.
Milo was an absolute sweetheart, and I love that he saw a giant cryptid (who “shrinks” down to 6’7 in human form) and was like, I wanna hit that. Jokes aside, I like that we see Milo’s curious, trusting nature, so when he does encounter Calder, it makes sense that he would stay and interact rather than run away.
Calder was a fantastically grumpy forest guardian, and I love that even as he was falling for Milo, his first instinct was always to protect him, even if it was at Calder’s own expense. Shaw does a great job giving us enough backstory to understand Milo’s actions, but not so much that he stops being mysterious (cryptids do have a reputation to uphold).
Beast is a slow-burn, chosen mate romance with a first time that is definitely worth the centuries-long wait!
---
I received an advance copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
Beast is part of Legends, an M/M monster romance series, a set of standalone stories taking place in National Parks where cryptids and legendary creatures find love with humans.
Denver Shaw has a unique, clipped writing style that feels almost sparse because of its concise word choice. However, the descriptions were also remarkably vivid, largely because they were built in small, stacked layers. For example, I could visualize the clearing perfectly thanks to the picture painted through Calder’s observation of the forest creatures.
This really stood out to me in the dialogue, since it is often one line followed immediately by another, with nothing in between. But with the word choice and the small actions of the characters, you pick up on the tone and emotion, much like we do naturally in conversation. The banter between the two is fantastic, even if Calder did not always intend to be funny.
Milo was an absolute sweetheart, and I love that he saw a giant cryptid (who “shrinks” down to 6’7 in human form) and was like, I wanna hit that. Jokes aside, I like that we see Milo’s curious, trusting nature, so when he does encounter Calder, it makes sense that he would stay and interact rather than run away.
Calder was a fantastically grumpy forest guardian, and I love that even as he was falling for Milo, his first instinct was always to protect him, even if it was at Calder’s own expense. Shaw does a great job giving us enough backstory to understand Milo’s actions, but not so much that he stops being mysterious (cryptids do have a reputation to uphold).
Beast is a slow-burn, chosen mate romance with a first time that is definitely worth the centuries-long wait!
---
I received an advance copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
September 8, 2026
I quite enjoyed this book and the relationship development was well written. Calder is an isolated cryptid who lives in the forest, protecting the area, and has always avoided humans. Milo needs a break from work and rents a cabin within the forest that Calder protects. They both meet when Milo attracts the attention of a mother bear and Calder saves him and afterwards they feel drawn to one another.
Milo and Calder are quite perfect for each other and Calder is so so protective and sweet. I loved that I could feel the way they connect as they get to know each other (it’s slow burn). I also liked that this book seemed to have thought of future problems and answered a lot of questions along the way so I’m not left wondering how they can be together in future.
There are some inconsistencies and repetitiveness which makes it hard for me to reign in my disbelief at some points. Calder is a hunter and hunts for his “food” yet he befriends and protects the forest animals (doesn’t he eat them??). And during a hunting scene - Calder who has ears that can hear things zillions of miles away, fails to hear Miles? AND AND!! Miles at the start is this heartless bastard who sleeps around and now he feels hurt that Calder disappears for 3 days? Really? Pot and kettle and all that.
I was looking forward to this book because we were previously introduced to Miles as Elias’ brother in Elias’ book and I was waiting for that scene in the solstice festival to see Milo and Elias meet up and see what happened yet it was brushed over so I’m quite disappointed to have missed that part of the story. It would’ve been so interesting to see Boone and Calder realise they are “brother in laws”.
Milo and Calder are quite perfect for each other and Calder is so so protective and sweet. I loved that I could feel the way they connect as they get to know each other (it’s slow burn). I also liked that this book seemed to have thought of future problems and answered a lot of questions along the way so I’m not left wondering how they can be together in future.
There are some inconsistencies and repetitiveness which makes it hard for me to reign in my disbelief at some points. Calder is a hunter and hunts for his “food” yet he befriends and protects the forest animals (doesn’t he eat them??). And during a hunting scene - Calder who has ears that can hear things zillions of miles away, fails to hear Miles? AND AND!! Miles at the start is this heartless bastard who sleeps around and now he feels hurt that Calder disappears for 3 days? Really? Pot and kettle and all that.
I was looking forward to this book because we were previously introduced to Miles as Elias’ brother in Elias’ book and I was waiting for that scene in the solstice festival to see Milo and Elias meet up and see what happened yet it was brushed over so I’m quite disappointed to have missed that part of the story. It would’ve been so interesting to see Boone and Calder realise they are “brother in laws”.
August 22, 2026
A stubborn Cryptid meets an equally stubborn human and both end up, rethinking their lives after meeting one another, in a good way. Neither we’re looking for a relationship, but things change. You’ve heard of a “meet cute” but this was a “meet scare” lol! Which led to a mild existential crisis and more meetings, but Milo eventually decided what he wanted and that was Calder. Even if Calder was in deep denial about his feelings. I really really loved the banter between these two especially Calder because he is so literal and direct which constantly caught Milo off guard, but was equally entertaining to him as well. I personally thought it was pretty funny. Also Calder asking his crypto friends for “relationship “ was pretty funny, especially because he kept denying it, but everybody could literally see he was gone for this man. There were also several fun spicy scenes which included an outdoor scene because I mean you’re in the middle of the woods so may as well take advantage of that. I thought Milo‘s ability to mimic animal sounds was awesome and that is realistic because I had an uncle who could do that as well so that brought back some good memories. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and have been enjoying the series as a whole. If you like Cryptids, I would definitely recommend this series. This was also my first time reading anything from this author, and I look forward to reading more in the future.
Tropes: Human x Cryptid, Grumpy x Sunshine, Size Difference,
A Very Literal Wolfman, Chosen Mates, First Times,
Forest Guardian As A Nature Guide
Story 4/5
Spice 3/5
Tropes: Human x Cryptid, Grumpy x Sunshine, Size Difference,
A Very Literal Wolfman, Chosen Mates, First Times,
Forest Guardian As A Nature Guide
Story 4/5
Spice 3/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2026
This MM monster romance is perfect for spooky season. It was humorous and lighthearted with a monstrous twist full of wholesome sweetness.
Denver Shaw truly outdid herself and absolutely nailed the assignment. This genre is a little out of her normal wheelhouse, so color me impressed.
I loved the scenery she depicted. This was so much fun to read. I was giggling and kicking my feet. The characters were well written and interesting. I was so easily invested in Milo and Calder. They had me smiling like a loon. The slow-burn build-up as they formed a bond really was perfection. I loved the mystery surrounding this mythical creature and everything he stood for.
The monster group chat had me cackling as well as their raccoon sidekick.
With a satisfying ending, this was a feel-good cozy monster romance with a well-balanced sweetness and spice that left me with a happy heart.
Tropes:
MM Paranormal
Monster x Human
Shifter
Grumpy/Sunshine
Human + Cryptid
Forced proximity
Protective MMC
Size difference
Age-gap
Virgin MC
First times
Slow-burn
Dual POV
Check TW
The Legends Series is a set of standalones written by various authors. I'm so interested to see what the other monsters in this series are like and how they find their individual HEAs.
Denver Shaw truly outdid herself and absolutely nailed the assignment. This genre is a little out of her normal wheelhouse, so color me impressed.
I loved the scenery she depicted. This was so much fun to read. I was giggling and kicking my feet. The characters were well written and interesting. I was so easily invested in Milo and Calder. They had me smiling like a loon. The slow-burn build-up as they formed a bond really was perfection. I loved the mystery surrounding this mythical creature and everything he stood for.
The monster group chat had me cackling as well as their raccoon sidekick.
With a satisfying ending, this was a feel-good cozy monster romance with a well-balanced sweetness and spice that left me with a happy heart.
Tropes:
MM Paranormal
Monster x Human
Shifter
Grumpy/Sunshine
Human + Cryptid
Forced proximity
Protective MMC
Size difference
Age-gap
Virgin MC
First times
Slow-burn
Dual POV
Check TW
The Legends Series is a set of standalones written by various authors. I'm so interested to see what the other monsters in this series are like and how they find their individual HEAs.
October 9, 2026
“Do they all watch people from the trees?”
That got a reaction.
Not a dramatic one, nothing more than the faintest narrowing of those amber eyes. “No.” The answer came easily.
I folded my arms and waited...
Calder broke eye contact, his gaze drifting into the trees for a moment. Then his eyes returned to mine. “Only you have held my attention.”
I loved this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Calder and Milo. Both were smart, introspective and reflective. Opposites in ways, but paralleled in others. I love how they met; how Milo was curious and worded his questions accordingly as to get answers but not more than Calder was willing to give until they grew closer. I loved the dynamic between them, and I was very quickly emotionally invested. This story was an adventure, and I loved the journey for these two. 5 stars
That got a reaction.
Not a dramatic one, nothing more than the faintest narrowing of those amber eyes. “No.” The answer came easily.
I folded my arms and waited...
Calder broke eye contact, his gaze drifting into the trees for a moment. Then his eyes returned to mine. “Only you have held my attention.”
I loved this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Calder and Milo. Both were smart, introspective and reflective. Opposites in ways, but paralleled in others. I love how they met; how Milo was curious and worded his questions accordingly as to get answers but not more than Calder was willing to give until they grew closer. I loved the dynamic between them, and I was very quickly emotionally invested. This story was an adventure, and I loved the journey for these two. 5 stars
September 5, 2026
A stoic cryptid who’s always kept watch over the forest alone falls for a human photographer who takes the time to notice beauty in the small things. This is the sixth and final book in the multi author Legends series and also the first mm monster romance by Denver Shaw and I was really impressed. The lore and world Shaw created for Calder was so intricate and involved while still sticking to the legend of The Beast of Bray Road. The reverence that Calder has not only for the forest and its inhabitants but also for Milo was beautiful. This book was a slow burn filled with growing fondness and admiration that turns into soul changing love. And Calder’s rather blunt assessments of everything were absolutely hilarious. What a wonderful way to end this series. I received this book as an ARC but these are my honest opinions.
September 6, 2026
I absolutely adored this chonker (it's got a lot of pages!), cozy, slow burn of a book! Get ready for the ultimate grumpy cryptid-sunshine human dynamic.
Milo, a burnt-out photographer, finds an escape from life in the Wisconsin woods and then stumbles upon Calder, a massive, seven-foot-tall creature of the ancient forest. What starts as a tense encounter in the wilderness evolves into a super sweet and protective romance.
The contrast between the guarded monster and the unfazed human was such a delight to read!
If you enjoy “monster” romances with a soft, protective MC then this is for you!
Milo, a burnt-out photographer, finds an escape from life in the Wisconsin woods and then stumbles upon Calder, a massive, seven-foot-tall creature of the ancient forest. What starts as a tense encounter in the wilderness evolves into a super sweet and protective romance.
The contrast between the guarded monster and the unfazed human was such a delight to read!
If you enjoy “monster” romances with a soft, protective MC then this is for you!
September 18, 2026
Milo doesn't do commitment. He and his brother Elias grew up unattended by absent parents, raised by a nanny and a driver. When he retreats to a Wisconsin forest he is saved by the Beast of Bray Road, Calder. Calder is intelligent, serious, precisely speaking and protective. He is not a beast or monster, just an immortal other. Milo is deeply in love with him and Calder, for the first time, knows love. It's beautiful as Calder tells Milo he is changing the way Calder moves through the world. It is an opus to the forest and nature. I loved this book! I received a copy of this through BookSprout and this is my voluntary opinion.
September 17, 2026
Calder and Milo’s story was such a beautiful slow burn, with their growing fondness and admiration eventually turning into something much deeper.
I loved the Calder’s love and reverence for the forest, its inhabitants and especially Milo was beautiful. His blunt observations had me laughing more than once.
It was such a sweet, unique story and a wonderful way to end the Legends series.
I loved the Calder’s love and reverence for the forest, its inhabitants and especially Milo was beautiful. His blunt observations had me laughing more than once.
It was such a sweet, unique story and a wonderful way to end the Legends series.
September 21, 2026
Calder and Milo finding love is something that I had such a fun time experiencing.
September 11, 2026
This book is part of a multi-author series and everyone deals with a different Cryptic
This one is about the Calder, the Bray Road beast
And funny enough about Elias (MC from Bootylicious) brother
Denver Shaw never wrote MM before but that is not noticeably.
This book is a lot about listening to your environment, taking your time to relax, to get to know each other and your surroundings.
It makes you reconsider your use of time and invites you to relax.
This book is perfect for the first day of your vacation , when you need something to slow you down and helps you to get into a calmer mood
This one is about the Calder, the Bray Road beast
And funny enough about Elias (MC from Bootylicious) brother
Denver Shaw never wrote MM before but that is not noticeably.
This book is a lot about listening to your environment, taking your time to relax, to get to know each other and your surroundings.
It makes you reconsider your use of time and invites you to relax.
This book is perfect for the first day of your vacation , when you need something to slow you down and helps you to get into a calmer mood
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have to admit it took me a little while to get into the story, not because it was tedious or anything like that, but because it's a slow burn and I have no patience—I want them to get together as soon as possible! 😂 That said, the development of their relationship is very well written, and while there's minimal attraction at the beginning, it's clear the author has paid attention to this aspect.
I loved Calder and Milo together. Calder's patience is wonderful; at first, he doesn't understand what it is about Milo that attracts him, but he ends up accepting it without much trouble. The same goes for Milo; because of his family history, he doesn't believe in relationships, and Calder gradually breaks down those little walls. In the end, they're perfect for each other, and they have such adorable moments!
I like how, unlike other books, neither of them has to completely give up their lives to be together.
I felt really sorry for Fen, and I hope to read more about him in the future!
In short, it's a lighthearted, sexy, and funny read. I recommend it!
I thank the author for allowing me to read the book in advance, but my opinions are my own and mine alone.
I loved Calder and Milo together. Calder's patience is wonderful; at first, he doesn't understand what it is about Milo that attracts him, but he ends up accepting it without much trouble. The same goes for Milo; because of his family history, he doesn't believe in relationships, and Calder gradually breaks down those little walls. In the end, they're perfect for each other, and they have such adorable moments!
I like how, unlike other books, neither of them has to completely give up their lives to be together.
I felt really sorry for Fen, and I hope to read more about him in the future!
In short, it's a lighthearted, sexy, and funny read. I recommend it!
I thank the author for allowing me to read the book in advance, but my opinions are my own and mine alone.
September 6, 2026
Beast by Denver Shaw is part of the Legends series by various authors. It is the story of a watchful monster who is wary of humans, the man who truly sees him and how against all odds they fall in love. Calder is the Beast of Bray Road in the woods in Wisconsin. He has been there for 300 years watching and protecting the woods while seeing the humans come and go and all the changes they made over that time. He rarely lets himself be seen, but he did to a Ho-Chunk woman and her family over a hundred years ago and when that ended in a tragedy, he kept to himself ever since making sure everything is as it should be. He knows humans aren’t very observant so he occasionally will let parts of himself be seen, which in turn usually frightens them away. He was also part of the Monster Network that contacted each other whenever they needed to report in about their different areas and also if they needed advice. Milo Hart is a photographer in Chicago so he is observant but had tired of having to take photos over and over again until they were “perfect”. He grew up in a family with a distant mother and father and was close to his brother, Elias, until he went to college and they didn’t see each other much after that. But Milo missed his brother and had recently contacted him through texts so they were becoming closer again. Milo decided he needed a vacation and thought of Mrs. Alvarez, who had really raised him when she worked for his parents, and how they had gone camping in the Wisconsin woods and how much he had enjoyed that time so he decided that when he had a 2 month break in his calendar that was where he was going to go. The day came and when he got there, he started taking pictures of the wildlife and greatly enjoyed the peace of the forest. Then he thought he saw something by the edge of the trees and thought of The Beast of Bray Road that Mrs. Alvarez had talked about when he was young, but he wasn’t scared. Calder had been watching the human for 3 days and knew he wasn’t a threat but he also knew that he would be leaving, as all the humans did. Then he heard him echoing the sound of one of the birds and then a mother bear and her cubs came quite close to the human and he knew he had to show himself to save him, which he did. Milo was shaken up and backed away but he wasn’t afraid. He looked at his pictures and saw the weird shape and then at other pictures and saw something watching. He called Elias and then decided to leave but Calder stopped him when he sensed an intruder that could hurt him. Milo is surprised that Calder can talk and they soon start a conversation. Calder is also quite surprised that Milo isn’t afraid of him and that he listens to what is happening in the forest and notices things that other humans have never done. He doesn’t understand his attraction but stays to watch over and protect him and soon they are meeting each day and talking more, often with some snarky conversations. As time goes on the trust they feel for each other grows as does their feelings and Calder takes Milo to his cave home in the hollow and to different places in the woods. He also teaches him about what is safe and they have many conversations which eventually leads to Milo kissing him, Calder shifting to a different form, and then to some hot love scenes. When the intruder returns something happens that causes them both to realize they love each other and Milo declares he is not leaving Calder. It takes come convincing because Calder is sure that he can’t always protect Milo and he couldn’t stand it if something happened to him. But Milo assures him that they have to live for today and that what they mean to each other is real and can’t be left behind. Milo returns to Chicago for work and asks Calder to go with him, which is a brand-new experience for someone who has never left his forest. But they also know that they will return there so Calder can continue protecting what is his and they know that they will have a wonderful life together in both of their worlds. I really enjoyed this very quiet and soft story. Calder has been on his own since his beginning, protecting his forest and the wildlife within it. He didn’t have many interactions with humans and was able to hide from them except for the Ho-Chunk woman he came to like because she was also attuned to the forest and was able to see him without fear. He wasn’t sure what to do when he saw that Milo was also very observant, saw him, and didn’t run away. Milo was somewhat tired of his life in Chicago and needed time to relax and take pictures in his own way. Something called him back to Wisconsin and he was enjoying his time. When he saw Calder, he was intrigued and soon he knew Calder was someone he could trust and would keep him safe and this eventually turned into love. Calder usually turned away from humans but Milo was so different that he couldn’t help himself and it wasn’t hard for him to go from human to Milo Hart to My Heart. Mrs. Alvarez, Elias, the other monsters in the network, and Calder’s raccoon all played a big part in the story. And the intruder also left some advice that helped them see they belonged together. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories about quiet observant beasts who offer safety and protection, a man who sees the beast for who he is inside and wants him, and how they fall in love against the odds.
September 30, 2026
DISCLAIMER - I received a free advance copy of this book, but this review is 100% voluntary; I am not being compensated in any way.
Milo is a professional photographer. He, and his capable team specialize in EVENTS. They photograph big weddings, corporate stuff, you name it; these are the type of events where the image MATTERS. He has a successful nationwide business, based in Chicago. What he also has is some serious burn-out.
After a long late night editing some wedding photos, Milo pulls up an old photo from his childhood. It’s an amateur snapshot of Milo at age 7 with his older brother Elias, taken in the woods while visiting Wisconsin’s famed “up north”. They’d been taken on that camping vacation by their nanny/housekeeper Mrs. Alvarez and their driver Mr. Gutierrez. Yeah, you read that right – 2 kids went on a camping trip out of state with their staff. Mom and Dad were nowhere to be found, since they were too busy doing their own things, with whoever their respective spouses had been at the time. Nine months of the year the home situation wasn’t a big deal thanks to boarding school, and then came college. Suffice it to say that Milo learned early in life not to get attached to people, since almost everybody was going to be only temporary. The only person Milo had ever been even kind of close to was Elias, but they’d grown apart. With 7 years between them there’d not been a lot of years before Big Brother moved on to adulthood, and then it was just Elias and his camera.
After staring at that old vacation snap in the middle of the night, Milo decides it’s time for a reset. He books a 2-month stay in a remote cabin in that same northern Wisconsin woods. It’s time for Milo to at least get reacquainted with himself, and just enjoy some quality time with himself, his camera, and Mother Nature.
Calder, aka “The Beast of Bray Road” is a 7-foot cryptid who resides in the forests of northern Wisconsin. Think of him as the Cheesehead state’s version of a werewolf, only bigger and less civilized. It’s his job to care for the woods, and the creatures that reside in it. Calder has lived in this territory for centuries. He remembers what it was like before cars and paved roads, when the only people he saw were the native tribes who lived in the area and respected the land.
Since this book is part of a multi-author series of M/M romances featuring humans paired with legendary monsters/creatures from all over the place, you can pretty much figure where this is going to go. Milo will encounter Calder, both of them are intrigued and fascinated by the other, and so it goes.
For me, paranormal romances are a lot of fun so long as they still feel like the story could actually happen IRL (that is, if the creatures actually existed). From the blurb, this seemed like that kind of story to me. On top of that, I was drawn to this book because I’m a Wisconsin girl. I had never heard of the Beast of Bray Road, but the rest of the set-up was very familiar to me. I had no trouble picturing the region where the story takes place. I had a good understanding of the weather, the critters, and the local people. As far as I could tell, either the author has visited the area before or did some SERIOUS research before sitting down to write. On top of that, Milo and Calder were very also very relatable and realistic.
There was only ONE thing that kept me from absolutely LOVING this book. Milo was only renting the cabin for 2 months. That meant that unless either Milo gave up his business or Calder left his territory, there was going to be an end-date to the relationship. However, I’m willing to give benefit of the doubt as I wasn’t in a good head-space at the time and wasn’t able to stay as “go with the flow” as I usually am when doing my pleasure-reading. Also, as my focus and attention-span were for crap, I may have missed details that would have bridged that problem.
Bottom Line – 5 stars out of 5.
Milo is a professional photographer. He, and his capable team specialize in EVENTS. They photograph big weddings, corporate stuff, you name it; these are the type of events where the image MATTERS. He has a successful nationwide business, based in Chicago. What he also has is some serious burn-out.
After a long late night editing some wedding photos, Milo pulls up an old photo from his childhood. It’s an amateur snapshot of Milo at age 7 with his older brother Elias, taken in the woods while visiting Wisconsin’s famed “up north”. They’d been taken on that camping vacation by their nanny/housekeeper Mrs. Alvarez and their driver Mr. Gutierrez. Yeah, you read that right – 2 kids went on a camping trip out of state with their staff. Mom and Dad were nowhere to be found, since they were too busy doing their own things, with whoever their respective spouses had been at the time. Nine months of the year the home situation wasn’t a big deal thanks to boarding school, and then came college. Suffice it to say that Milo learned early in life not to get attached to people, since almost everybody was going to be only temporary. The only person Milo had ever been even kind of close to was Elias, but they’d grown apart. With 7 years between them there’d not been a lot of years before Big Brother moved on to adulthood, and then it was just Elias and his camera.
After staring at that old vacation snap in the middle of the night, Milo decides it’s time for a reset. He books a 2-month stay in a remote cabin in that same northern Wisconsin woods. It’s time for Milo to at least get reacquainted with himself, and just enjoy some quality time with himself, his camera, and Mother Nature.
Calder, aka “The Beast of Bray Road” is a 7-foot cryptid who resides in the forests of northern Wisconsin. Think of him as the Cheesehead state’s version of a werewolf, only bigger and less civilized. It’s his job to care for the woods, and the creatures that reside in it. Calder has lived in this territory for centuries. He remembers what it was like before cars and paved roads, when the only people he saw were the native tribes who lived in the area and respected the land.
Since this book is part of a multi-author series of M/M romances featuring humans paired with legendary monsters/creatures from all over the place, you can pretty much figure where this is going to go. Milo will encounter Calder, both of them are intrigued and fascinated by the other, and so it goes.
For me, paranormal romances are a lot of fun so long as they still feel like the story could actually happen IRL (that is, if the creatures actually existed). From the blurb, this seemed like that kind of story to me. On top of that, I was drawn to this book because I’m a Wisconsin girl. I had never heard of the Beast of Bray Road, but the rest of the set-up was very familiar to me. I had no trouble picturing the region where the story takes place. I had a good understanding of the weather, the critters, and the local people. As far as I could tell, either the author has visited the area before or did some SERIOUS research before sitting down to write. On top of that, Milo and Calder were very also very relatable and realistic.
There was only ONE thing that kept me from absolutely LOVING this book. Milo was only renting the cabin for 2 months. That meant that unless either Milo gave up his business or Calder left his territory, there was going to be an end-date to the relationship. However, I’m willing to give benefit of the doubt as I wasn’t in a good head-space at the time and wasn’t able to stay as “go with the flow” as I usually am when doing my pleasure-reading. Also, as my focus and attention-span were for crap, I may have missed details that would have bridged that problem.
Bottom Line – 5 stars out of 5.
September 11, 2026
Beast by Denver Shaw
Legends #6
Length: 451 pages
Source: GRR Tours
Publication date: Sept. 4, 2026
WHAT TO EXPECT
• Forest guardian x human
• Size/strength difference
• First times
• Sexual awakening
• Opposites attract
• Slow burn
BLURB
A grumpy cryptid falls for his sunshine human.
I didn’t come to Wisconsin looking for a legend. I came to get out. Out of staged smiles. Out of corporate campaigns. Out of photographing happiness that felt manufactured.
I was supposed to spend two months in the woods. No clients, no deadlines, just open sky, real silence, and nothing that needed editing. What I find instead… is Calder. Seven feet of muscle and shadow and ancient forest stillness. He doesn’t trust humans, but I don’t scare easily. And the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to ignore the way he looks at me. The way his body reacts when I get too close. The way mine answers.
But the forest isn’t as empty as it looks. There’s something else out there. Calder won’t name it—only follows its movement, and keeps himself between me and whatever’s slinking through the trees. And I’m starting to understand that whatever he’s been guarding me from isn’t the only danger in these woods.
I should leave… but I don’t. Because knowing that doesn’t change anything. I still want him. And the worst part? He wants me too.
MY THOUGHTS
This is a lovely slow-burn romance! The connection between Milo and Calder is beautiful. They're drawn to each other intuitively, and I love how the author handles a human falling in love with a forest creature that's hundreds of years old. The MCs are opposites in so many ways, yet their conversations throughout the book feel so easy and familiar. I love that as they get to know one another, Milo's intelligence and curiosity fuel Calder's attraction to him, and vice versa. They are both the very definition of "Smart is sexy."
The growth of both MCs is gorgeous and emotional. They've both been lonely and isolated in their own ways. They're both guarding themselves so they can't be hurt again. But they're also inevitable together, and they feel some kind of connection there long before either of them can name it. Calder's awakening is especially heartfelt, this guardian who truly never expected to find a partner, fall in love, or be wanted for all of himself. And when I tell you this guy is down bad for his human, I mean DOWN. BAD. It's ridiculously cute and romantic!
BOTTOM LINE
If you like monster lovers, I'd definitely check it out. I haven't read any of the other books in this multi-author series, but the small glimpses of side characters (including Milo's brother and another cryptid) have me adding the rest of these to my TBR.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Moments of danger, including hunters; cryptic injury and healing (on-page and descriptive but not graphic), themes of isolation and connection, explicit sexual content
–A🩷
Thanks to GRR Tours and Denver Shaw for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, and BookBub.
Legends #6
Length: 451 pages
Source: GRR Tours
Publication date: Sept. 4, 2026
WHAT TO EXPECT
• Forest guardian x human
• Size/strength difference
• First times
• Sexual awakening
• Opposites attract
• Slow burn
BLURB
A grumpy cryptid falls for his sunshine human.
I didn’t come to Wisconsin looking for a legend. I came to get out. Out of staged smiles. Out of corporate campaigns. Out of photographing happiness that felt manufactured.
I was supposed to spend two months in the woods. No clients, no deadlines, just open sky, real silence, and nothing that needed editing. What I find instead… is Calder. Seven feet of muscle and shadow and ancient forest stillness. He doesn’t trust humans, but I don’t scare easily. And the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to ignore the way he looks at me. The way his body reacts when I get too close. The way mine answers.
But the forest isn’t as empty as it looks. There’s something else out there. Calder won’t name it—only follows its movement, and keeps himself between me and whatever’s slinking through the trees. And I’m starting to understand that whatever he’s been guarding me from isn’t the only danger in these woods.
I should leave… but I don’t. Because knowing that doesn’t change anything. I still want him. And the worst part? He wants me too.
MY THOUGHTS
This is a lovely slow-burn romance! The connection between Milo and Calder is beautiful. They're drawn to each other intuitively, and I love how the author handles a human falling in love with a forest creature that's hundreds of years old. The MCs are opposites in so many ways, yet their conversations throughout the book feel so easy and familiar. I love that as they get to know one another, Milo's intelligence and curiosity fuel Calder's attraction to him, and vice versa. They are both the very definition of "Smart is sexy."
The growth of both MCs is gorgeous and emotional. They've both been lonely and isolated in their own ways. They're both guarding themselves so they can't be hurt again. But they're also inevitable together, and they feel some kind of connection there long before either of them can name it. Calder's awakening is especially heartfelt, this guardian who truly never expected to find a partner, fall in love, or be wanted for all of himself. And when I tell you this guy is down bad for his human, I mean DOWN. BAD. It's ridiculously cute and romantic!
BOTTOM LINE
If you like monster lovers, I'd definitely check it out. I haven't read any of the other books in this multi-author series, but the small glimpses of side characters (including Milo's brother and another cryptid) have me adding the rest of these to my TBR.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Moments of danger, including hunters; cryptic injury and healing (on-page and descriptive but not graphic), themes of isolation and connection, explicit sexual content
–A🩷
Thanks to GRR Tours and Denver Shaw for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, and BookBub.
September 4, 2026
***I received a complimentary advance reader copy and am leaving a voluntary review***
This story is a slow-burn, with low spice, heartfelt emotions, very descriptive and thoughtful writing, and two MMCs that do a lot of soul-searching, learn to have faith, and break old patterns to build something worth keeping.
Milo is an observant young man, with a good life, but he is cautious of risking his heart in any lasting relationships because he has seen and lived what a failed attempt looks like. But a moment of clarity makes him realize he needs to reevaluate everything he thought he knew and leads to him taking a trip to the place of his happiest childhood memory.
Calder has always been alone and prefers it that way. Or so he thinks. He has a duty and is content to watch over his slice of heaven.
So, imagine his surprise when he observes Milo in his forest and is immediately intrigued by him.
What starts out as keeping an eye out for danger quickly turns into captivation, confusing feelings and a driving need to be near him.
Both MMCs are beings of few words, but what isn't said out loud is communicated with body language, by listening and learning each other's subtle signals.
Calder is super straightforward and doesn’t really do jokes, sarcasm or unnecessary coddling. This means his honesty is the source of many a chuckle because the responses just don't fit with expected human social norms. He is very intrigued and surprised by the feelings and thoughts Milo inspires in him. And he is constantly saving Milo from reckless/dangerous decisions out in the wild.
Milo is fascinated by Calder and is happy to let him teach Milo to be a part of nature. The initial curiosity grows into interest once Milo starts communicating with Calder and getting to know him. And when the physical attraction blooms, Milo is then happy to teach Calder what it is like to be with a human.
Both MMCs have a small-knit group of family/chosen family and friends that they reach out to for advice. Especially Calder's cryptid group chat is funny because he is so serious whereas the others are more easy-going and like to tease, but also give "good" advice.
Milo has his brother and the woman who raised him, and she makes no secret of her opinions, which is also rather entertaining.
This story is a slow-burn, with low spice, heartfelt emotions, very descriptive and thoughtful writing, and two MMCs that do a lot of soul-searching, learn to have faith, and break old patterns to build something worth keeping.
Milo is an observant young man, with a good life, but he is cautious of risking his heart in any lasting relationships because he has seen and lived what a failed attempt looks like. But a moment of clarity makes him realize he needs to reevaluate everything he thought he knew and leads to him taking a trip to the place of his happiest childhood memory.
Calder has always been alone and prefers it that way. Or so he thinks. He has a duty and is content to watch over his slice of heaven.
So, imagine his surprise when he observes Milo in his forest and is immediately intrigued by him.
What starts out as keeping an eye out for danger quickly turns into captivation, confusing feelings and a driving need to be near him.
Both MMCs are beings of few words, but what isn't said out loud is communicated with body language, by listening and learning each other's subtle signals.
Calder is super straightforward and doesn’t really do jokes, sarcasm or unnecessary coddling. This means his honesty is the source of many a chuckle because the responses just don't fit with expected human social norms. He is very intrigued and surprised by the feelings and thoughts Milo inspires in him. And he is constantly saving Milo from reckless/dangerous decisions out in the wild.
Milo is fascinated by Calder and is happy to let him teach Milo to be a part of nature. The initial curiosity grows into interest once Milo starts communicating with Calder and getting to know him. And when the physical attraction blooms, Milo is then happy to teach Calder what it is like to be with a human.
Both MMCs have a small-knit group of family/chosen family and friends that they reach out to for advice. Especially Calder's cryptid group chat is funny because he is so serious whereas the others are more easy-going and like to tease, but also give "good" advice.
Milo has his brother and the woman who raised him, and she makes no secret of her opinions, which is also rather entertaining.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️ 4/5
🌶️ 3.5/5
Denver Shaw is a new-to-me author and, as someone from Wisconsin, I was super excited for a Wisconsin cryptid! Not going to lie, I’d never heard of the Beast of Bray Road before this, though it’s likely bc I grew up in the northern part of the state.
Hands down, Calder is one of my favorite oblivious, gentle giant MMCs I’ve ever read. With the way the raccoons love him, he’s basically Snow White. He and Milo have great banter and made me laugh quite a few times. The fact that Calder was alone before Milo was so heartbreaking. He didn’t even know what he was missing until he suddenly did 🥺
Milo, on the other hand, is a sweet and gentle Chicagoan who deserves the two month reset out of the city. He’s the quintessential commitment-phobe that accidentally falls for a cryptid, y’know? #justweddingphotographerthingz
All in all, I really enjoyed this read!
Thank you to GRR for the eARC!
••• Below are my critiques, which primarily revolve around the setting and did NOT play a role in determining my rating of this book •••
Honestly, my only real critiques were regarding Wisconsin itself and it’s probably just me being nitpicky. If you’re not from the area, I’m sure the issues I point out wouldn’t have pulled you from the story, but ugh it happened semi-frequently for me.
I poked around a bit, but I’m not sure if the author is from the US and if they are, I think google might’ve done them dirty on some things. ALSO: I knowwwww it’s fantasy, but the setting is in real area of Wisconsin.
The trip to the cabin starts off in early-to-mid March and Milo barely wears a jacket. The highs are maybe going to be mid 40s to low 50s Fahrenheit with lows in the 20s. There’s also too many references to mud and rain rather than snow. Yeah, there will be *some* mud and rain, but March and April are still pretty snowy.
(Also, Milo references driving from Chicago to southeastern Wisconsin as “halfway across the Midwest” and it’s about a 2 hour drive 😭)
(And Calder eventually carries Milo “back down the mountain” 😭 Wisconsin doesn’t have mountains and southeast Wisconsin is pretty flat bc of the glaciers vs. the Driftless Region on the other side of the state)
🌶️ 3.5/5
Denver Shaw is a new-to-me author and, as someone from Wisconsin, I was super excited for a Wisconsin cryptid! Not going to lie, I’d never heard of the Beast of Bray Road before this, though it’s likely bc I grew up in the northern part of the state.
Hands down, Calder is one of my favorite oblivious, gentle giant MMCs I’ve ever read. With the way the raccoons love him, he’s basically Snow White. He and Milo have great banter and made me laugh quite a few times. The fact that Calder was alone before Milo was so heartbreaking. He didn’t even know what he was missing until he suddenly did 🥺
Milo, on the other hand, is a sweet and gentle Chicagoan who deserves the two month reset out of the city. He’s the quintessential commitment-phobe that accidentally falls for a cryptid, y’know? #justweddingphotographerthingz
All in all, I really enjoyed this read!
Thank you to GRR for the eARC!
••• Below are my critiques, which primarily revolve around the setting and did NOT play a role in determining my rating of this book •••
Honestly, my only real critiques were regarding Wisconsin itself and it’s probably just me being nitpicky. If you’re not from the area, I’m sure the issues I point out wouldn’t have pulled you from the story, but ugh it happened semi-frequently for me.
I poked around a bit, but I’m not sure if the author is from the US and if they are, I think google might’ve done them dirty on some things. ALSO: I knowwwww it’s fantasy, but the setting is in real area of Wisconsin.
The trip to the cabin starts off in early-to-mid March and Milo barely wears a jacket. The highs are maybe going to be mid 40s to low 50s Fahrenheit with lows in the 20s. There’s also too many references to mud and rain rather than snow. Yeah, there will be *some* mud and rain, but March and April are still pretty snowy.
(Also, Milo references driving from Chicago to southeastern Wisconsin as “halfway across the Midwest” and it’s about a 2 hour drive 😭)
(And Calder eventually carries Milo “back down the mountain” 😭 Wisconsin doesn’t have mountains and southeast Wisconsin is pretty flat bc of the glaciers vs. the Driftless Region on the other side of the state)
Review of advance copy
Here's Denver Shaw's "Beast." It's a novel in the multi-author series, Legends ("where National Parks hold secrets—and monsters steal hearts").
["A grumpy cryptid falls for his sunshine human.
I didn’t come to Wisconsin looking for a legend. I came to get out. Out of staged smiles. Out of corporate campaigns. Out of photographing happiness that felt manufactured.
I was supposed to spend two months in the woods. No clients, no deadlines, just open sky, real silence, and nothing that needed editing.
What I find instead… is Calder.
Seven feet of muscle and shadow and ancient forest stillness.
He doesn’t trust humans, but I don’t scare easily. And the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to ignore the way he looks at me. The way his body reacts when I get too close. The way mine answers.
But the forest isn’t as empty as it looks. There’s something else out there. Calder won’t name it—only follows its movement, and keeps himself between me and whatever’s slinking through the trees.
And I’m starting to understand that whatever he’s been guarding me from isn’t the only danger in these woods.
I should leave… but I don’t. Because knowing that doesn’t change anything.
I still want him.
And the worst part?
He wants me too."]
I love how the first book ("Bootylicious") had Elias and the last book ("Beast") has Milo, and they're both brothers finding love off-the-grid with their misunderstood (and incredibly lonely) cryptids.
This was a slow burn, but the burn was soooo worth it. Watching them start trusting each other, trusting themselves, trusting their feelings. It was worth the wait, all of the soft looks and "only you"s along the way. Their story was achingly sweet. They discovered each other's world's together while slowly (and not so slowly) falling in love.
Trigger Warnings: danger, violence, non-graphic injuries, themes of isolation, and more.
#beast #denvershaw #bootilious #blade #starlight #maneater #glow #legends #legendsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
["A grumpy cryptid falls for his sunshine human.
I didn’t come to Wisconsin looking for a legend. I came to get out. Out of staged smiles. Out of corporate campaigns. Out of photographing happiness that felt manufactured.
I was supposed to spend two months in the woods. No clients, no deadlines, just open sky, real silence, and nothing that needed editing.
What I find instead… is Calder.
Seven feet of muscle and shadow and ancient forest stillness.
He doesn’t trust humans, but I don’t scare easily. And the more time I spend with him, the harder it is to ignore the way he looks at me. The way his body reacts when I get too close. The way mine answers.
But the forest isn’t as empty as it looks. There’s something else out there. Calder won’t name it—only follows its movement, and keeps himself between me and whatever’s slinking through the trees.
And I’m starting to understand that whatever he’s been guarding me from isn’t the only danger in these woods.
I should leave… but I don’t. Because knowing that doesn’t change anything.
I still want him.
And the worst part?
He wants me too."]
I love how the first book ("Bootylicious") had Elias and the last book ("Beast") has Milo, and they're both brothers finding love off-the-grid with their misunderstood (and incredibly lonely) cryptids.
This was a slow burn, but the burn was soooo worth it. Watching them start trusting each other, trusting themselves, trusting their feelings. It was worth the wait, all of the soft looks and "only you"s along the way. Their story was achingly sweet. They discovered each other's world's together while slowly (and not so slowly) falling in love.
Trigger Warnings: danger, violence, non-graphic injuries, themes of isolation, and more.
#beast #denvershaw #bootilious #blade #starlight #maneater #glow #legends #legendsseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
September 6, 2026
**********Contains Spoilers**********
I’m pretty new to Denver Shaw’s work and I’m looking forward to reading more. I enjoyed this book and thought that it was another good addition to the multi-authored Legends Series. It can be read as a standalone but why stop at just one? Milo, a human photographer has had enough of having to shoot staged photos, so he decides to take a break and spend a couple of months in the wilderness shooting nature since nothings stage, unlike when shooting people like he has spent over a decade doing, the last thing Milo was expecting was to come face to face with the cryptid known as the Beast of Bray Road, Calder. Calder knows everything about what goes on in the forest he’s called home for over two centuries and he knew as soon as Milo entered the woods, he decides to observe from a distance to see what type of human Milo is since he doesn’t trust them.
Milo intrigues him from the get go but he’s even more confused when he showed himself when Milo was in danger being mauled by a mama bear wanting to protect her cubs, he jumped out of the protected darkness of the trees to jump in front of Milo, he feels protective of him which also confuses him. Milo of course freezes as who wouldn’t but it doesn’t take him long to realise that Calder jumped in front of him and danger. I enjoyed seeing them become closer as the story progressed and learned more about each other. I especially liked how Calder taught Milo to distinguish the different sounds within the forest, especially all of its residents. I also liked seeing Calder’s chats with his Monster network friends/fellow cryptids as they made me smile. I’m looking forward to reading more from this series, as well as more books by Denver Shaw in the future. I’d recommend this book, series and author to others.
******I received a complimentary copy of this book through GRR. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******
I’m pretty new to Denver Shaw’s work and I’m looking forward to reading more. I enjoyed this book and thought that it was another good addition to the multi-authored Legends Series. It can be read as a standalone but why stop at just one? Milo, a human photographer has had enough of having to shoot staged photos, so he decides to take a break and spend a couple of months in the wilderness shooting nature since nothings stage, unlike when shooting people like he has spent over a decade doing, the last thing Milo was expecting was to come face to face with the cryptid known as the Beast of Bray Road, Calder. Calder knows everything about what goes on in the forest he’s called home for over two centuries and he knew as soon as Milo entered the woods, he decides to observe from a distance to see what type of human Milo is since he doesn’t trust them.
Milo intrigues him from the get go but he’s even more confused when he showed himself when Milo was in danger being mauled by a mama bear wanting to protect her cubs, he jumped out of the protected darkness of the trees to jump in front of Milo, he feels protective of him which also confuses him. Milo of course freezes as who wouldn’t but it doesn’t take him long to realise that Calder jumped in front of him and danger. I enjoyed seeing them become closer as the story progressed and learned more about each other. I especially liked how Calder taught Milo to distinguish the different sounds within the forest, especially all of its residents. I also liked seeing Calder’s chats with his Monster network friends/fellow cryptids as they made me smile. I’m looking forward to reading more from this series, as well as more books by Denver Shaw in the future. I’d recommend this book, series and author to others.
******I received a complimentary copy of this book through GRR. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******
September 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨I received this as an ARC from GRR Tours in exchange for my honest review✨
Yes! Yes! 1000x yes! This is exactly what we needed to close this series out!
Okay so I absolutely loved the first book in this series, it just was so good! And ever since then I have been chasing that same feeling with every book after and they just haven’t quite hit the same way. Until now! This book gave me that same high! It was absolute perfection.
The writing style was beautiful and kept me just wanting to turn the page! I needed to know more about Calder and Milo and the forest and just everything. This book is the definition of a slow and quiet love and finding your someone when you absolutely least aspect it. It was so beautifully done💕
I adored Calder. Seeing the human world through his perspective was fascinating to me. And I loved how patient he and Milo were with each other. It felt special and unique. I also loved that Calder was one of one. Hr wasn’t a legend that had been passed down through generations so hearing about all the different types of humankind he had encountered was very cool.
I have been looking forward to meeting Milo since book one and it did not disappoint. Hr was everything I wanted him to be! I do wish we would’ve had the opportunity to see Milo and Elias get together in person, and both realize they had found their love in a cryptid but I can overlook that lol
This is the longest book out of the series but it didn’t feel that way. I absolutely enjoyed every moment that we just spent alongside Calder and Milo as they learned the forest together.
I do think if you are going into this series for the first time and don’t have an interest in reading the whole series you could read book 1 & 6 back to back and have a perfectly good time with just the two.
10/10 do recommend and it has been an absolute journey to be along for the ride of the releases of this series!💕 huge shoutout to the authors and GRR!
✨I received this as an ARC from GRR Tours in exchange for my honest review✨
Yes! Yes! 1000x yes! This is exactly what we needed to close this series out!
Okay so I absolutely loved the first book in this series, it just was so good! And ever since then I have been chasing that same feeling with every book after and they just haven’t quite hit the same way. Until now! This book gave me that same high! It was absolute perfection.
The writing style was beautiful and kept me just wanting to turn the page! I needed to know more about Calder and Milo and the forest and just everything. This book is the definition of a slow and quiet love and finding your someone when you absolutely least aspect it. It was so beautifully done💕
I adored Calder. Seeing the human world through his perspective was fascinating to me. And I loved how patient he and Milo were with each other. It felt special and unique. I also loved that Calder was one of one. Hr wasn’t a legend that had been passed down through generations so hearing about all the different types of humankind he had encountered was very cool.
I have been looking forward to meeting Milo since book one and it did not disappoint. Hr was everything I wanted him to be! I do wish we would’ve had the opportunity to see Milo and Elias get together in person, and both realize they had found their love in a cryptid but I can overlook that lol
This is the longest book out of the series but it didn’t feel that way. I absolutely enjoyed every moment that we just spent alongside Calder and Milo as they learned the forest together.
I do think if you are going into this series for the first time and don’t have an interest in reading the whole series you could read book 1 & 6 back to back and have a perfectly good time with just the two.
10/10 do recommend and it has been an absolute journey to be along for the ride of the releases of this series!💕 huge shoutout to the authors and GRR!
September 21, 2026
'Beast' is a book not to be rushed, just as the beast in question, whose name is Calder, is not a creature who has ever considered rushing.
Milo, the man who, with us, meets Calder and begins to explore life from a very different perspective, is not a man who rushes. As a photographer, in spite of having lived in the city and growing up in the care of his parent's housekeeper, is a man who understands the beauty of stillness even if he doesn't fully grasp it until one encounter with Calder becomes another, then another and soon a daily occurrence.
There is a serenity in this book which not only led me to take my time, to relish every word, every moment, but also one which truly did take me away from the world around me, made me too stop, slow down, take more time to spend truly looking at our world, its wonders, its beauty and the stories it has to tell.
AS Denver Sahw tells it this story came about by accident but its telling is clearly something that is intentional. Every word, action, moment is imbued with depth of meaning, of true sincerity. Almost the entire story takes places in the forest. There is some actio, there is plenty of tension but not in the way you ight immediately imagine. Just as Calder has much to show Milo who has much to learn, and vice versa, this story has much to show and teach every reader brave enough to pick it up. Admit to yourself that a slow, beautiful love story will make a difference to you, that you do have the time and space for reading it and that if you take it slow there is no judgement, only the reward of happiness and this book will consume you.
All the answers are not explicitly written in the text but they are there in the subtext, another subtle message, another mark of Denver Shaw's remarkable ability as an author. I hope Beast will find you, that you will find it and that the love affair which results will never end.
Milo, the man who, with us, meets Calder and begins to explore life from a very different perspective, is not a man who rushes. As a photographer, in spite of having lived in the city and growing up in the care of his parent's housekeeper, is a man who understands the beauty of stillness even if he doesn't fully grasp it until one encounter with Calder becomes another, then another and soon a daily occurrence.
There is a serenity in this book which not only led me to take my time, to relish every word, every moment, but also one which truly did take me away from the world around me, made me too stop, slow down, take more time to spend truly looking at our world, its wonders, its beauty and the stories it has to tell.
AS Denver Sahw tells it this story came about by accident but its telling is clearly something that is intentional. Every word, action, moment is imbued with depth of meaning, of true sincerity. Almost the entire story takes places in the forest. There is some actio, there is plenty of tension but not in the way you ight immediately imagine. Just as Calder has much to show Milo who has much to learn, and vice versa, this story has much to show and teach every reader brave enough to pick it up. Admit to yourself that a slow, beautiful love story will make a difference to you, that you do have the time and space for reading it and that if you take it slow there is no judgement, only the reward of happiness and this book will consume you.
All the answers are not explicitly written in the text but they are there in the subtext, another subtle message, another mark of Denver Shaw's remarkable ability as an author. I hope Beast will find you, that you will find it and that the love affair which results will never end.
September 4, 2026
Another great story for the Legends series!
Milo Hart is a photographer from Chicago who needs a break. He heads to the Wisconsin woods to take some time and enjoy art that is real and enjoys his days taking nature hikes and photographing what verticals his fancy. When he has an accidental run in with a black bear and her cubs his butt is saved by the Beast of Bray Road. A creature that was supposed to be urban legend, very much standing between him and an aggravated bear.
When Calder exposes himself to protect a clumsy accident prone human from a scared hear he's surprised to find a human who doesn't run from him. After repeated exposure and a run in with an unknown cryptid in his area Calder finds himself stuck with said human until its safe for him to leave. Mutual loneliness quickly bridges the gap between human and monster and Calder and Milo dlfind themselves growing closer and closer.
What happens when the time to leave the forest nears? Can commitment phobic Milo find it in himself to let Calder close? Can Calder accept that maybe Milo wont leave and sometimes taking a risk may be worth the reward?
Beast is probably my favorite story in this series so far. There's just something about these Hart brothers that I really love. Its crazy to me how Shaw wasn't even originally part of this project, but a accidental email got them involved and we got this great story.
I cant wait to see what come next for this series and for Shaw.
Happy reading
Milo Hart is a photographer from Chicago who needs a break. He heads to the Wisconsin woods to take some time and enjoy art that is real and enjoys his days taking nature hikes and photographing what verticals his fancy. When he has an accidental run in with a black bear and her cubs his butt is saved by the Beast of Bray Road. A creature that was supposed to be urban legend, very much standing between him and an aggravated bear.
When Calder exposes himself to protect a clumsy accident prone human from a scared hear he's surprised to find a human who doesn't run from him. After repeated exposure and a run in with an unknown cryptid in his area Calder finds himself stuck with said human until its safe for him to leave. Mutual loneliness quickly bridges the gap between human and monster and Calder and Milo dlfind themselves growing closer and closer.
What happens when the time to leave the forest nears? Can commitment phobic Milo find it in himself to let Calder close? Can Calder accept that maybe Milo wont leave and sometimes taking a risk may be worth the reward?
Beast is probably my favorite story in this series so far. There's just something about these Hart brothers that I really love. Its crazy to me how Shaw wasn't even originally part of this project, but a accidental email got them involved and we got this great story.
I cant wait to see what come next for this series and for Shaw.
Happy reading
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Beast is part of the multi-author Legends series centered on cryptid/human romance. The story is set in a fictionalized version of Bray Road in Elkhorn, Wisconsin and is loosely based on the legend of the Beast of Bray Road. The story is told in first person perspective and generally alternates between Milo and Calder. This is also a story that is almost exclusively character driven, so there is only a little suspense or tension coming from outside Calder and Milo’s eventual relationship. That makes for a romance plot that is a very slow burn and an overarching story that focuses on bringing one lone wolf cryptid together with one adrift human.
Overall, I thought this was a wonderfully engaging read. The dialogue between Milo and Calder was crisp and both characters had, well, character in their speaking and thought patterns. For a story where so much is built on how the two main characters communicate, having such clearly defined voices really helped the story pop for me. If you’re looking for a very slow burn in a very character-driven story, I think you’ll find a whole lot to enjoy in Beast.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Beast is part of the multi-author Legends series centered on cryptid/human romance. The story is set in a fictionalized version of Bray Road in Elkhorn, Wisconsin and is loosely based on the legend of the Beast of Bray Road. The story is told in first person perspective and generally alternates between Milo and Calder. This is also a story that is almost exclusively character driven, so there is only a little suspense or tension coming from outside Calder and Milo’s eventual relationship. That makes for a romance plot that is a very slow burn and an overarching story that focuses on bringing one lone wolf cryptid together with one adrift human.
Overall, I thought this was a wonderfully engaging read. The dialogue between Milo and Calder was crisp and both characters had, well, character in their speaking and thought patterns. For a story where so much is built on how the two main characters communicate, having such clearly defined voices really helped the story pop for me. If you’re looking for a very slow burn in a very character-driven story, I think you’ll find a whole lot to enjoy in Beast.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
September 6, 2026
Two emotionally unavailable guys who start off with a bunch of hookups… until one of them finally asks, “So… what are we?” 👀 And the other one basically short-circuits because they’ve only ever done one-night stands and suddenly this feels WAY too real😂
Maybe it was kismet, maybe it was fate, but somehow they just kept finding their way back to each other again and again
There are some MAJOR commitment issues, especially him, until one of the mmc starts realizing or maybe just feeling that this man might actually be his mate. And when someone else comes after him? Ohhh, he does NOT hesitate to protect him
Little by little, their relationship starts turning into something so much more intimate and meaningful, and honestly… watching them slowly fall for each other was f*👑 adorable
One of my favorite things was how he would literally go talk to other shifters for advice about his situation😂 Like, “Guys… I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. HELP” It was ridiculously cute watching him try to figure out his feelings🥹💕
This was such a well written, contemporary romance with a slow building connection ; The relationship development was definitely my favorite part!
🔥 Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ 3/5
📖 Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🥹 Cuteness between them: 10/10 especially as their relationship develops!
Maybe it was kismet, maybe it was fate, but somehow they just kept finding their way back to each other again and again
There are some MAJOR commitment issues, especially him, until one of the mmc starts realizing or maybe just feeling that this man might actually be his mate. And when someone else comes after him? Ohhh, he does NOT hesitate to protect him
Little by little, their relationship starts turning into something so much more intimate and meaningful, and honestly… watching them slowly fall for each other was f*👑 adorable
One of my favorite things was how he would literally go talk to other shifters for advice about his situation😂 Like, “Guys… I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. HELP” It was ridiculously cute watching him try to figure out his feelings🥹💕
This was such a well written, contemporary romance with a slow building connection ; The relationship development was definitely my favorite part!
🔥 Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ 3/5
📖 Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🥹 Cuteness between them: 10/10 especially as their relationship develops!
September 8, 2026
What a huge heart this book has. Calder and Milo quickly became my favourite Cryptid/Human pair from this series, their relationship from start to finish is just adorable, with Calder's straightforward stoic nature the perfect balance to Milo's gentle playfulness. I didn't realise before reading it that Milo is of course referenced in Bootylicious, the book that kicked off this Legends series, so it was great to learn more about his relationship with his brother Elias. It's a gentle, slow burn, with tonnes of reverence for nature strewn throughout it, and any book that has a non-verbal animal character constantly stealing scenes is a huge win for me. It's a chonk of a book too, probably the longest in the series (?) and tbh could have done with a slightly tighter edit - there's some repetition that I found distracting - and I could not quite get my head round an centuries-hold being so dedicated to self-preservation and keeping his community hidden being totally chill about selfies, but overall if you're a fan of big, scary softboi monsters and unfazed humans this is a total win.
Also: this review, like most in-the-wild monster romances, is dedicated to anyone brave enough to use nothing but saliva and a prayer as an*l lube.
Also: this review, like most in-the-wild monster romances, is dedicated to anyone brave enough to use nothing but saliva and a prayer as an*l lube.
September 10, 2026
I absolutely love this book by Denver Shaw. It's part of a multi-author series and while I think it can be read as a stand-alone, there are some overlaps which means, I now want to read the other 5 books as well.
Milo is a man who thinks attachments just cause hurt. Unsatisfied with his life as an event photographer he remembers the woods of a childhood holiday and ends up booking himself a lone cabin.
I love how he changes his outlook, the way the author writes about the way he approaches his photography is great, you can feel you are there and see what Milo is seeing.
But there is more than just animals and trees in these woods. Calder is the guardian of it and stays hidden, always observing, never involved. When they do meet because Calder seems drawn to Milo a connection is formed which surprises both of them.
I love how Calder is explaining the forest to Milo and then how slowly his personality comes out.
It's a long book with over 400 pages and a slow burn. But the book really gets you and it's hard to put down.
While the book is basically just about the two of them, we get some glimpse into The Network with the other monsters and also about Milo's brother.
Milo is a man who thinks attachments just cause hurt. Unsatisfied with his life as an event photographer he remembers the woods of a childhood holiday and ends up booking himself a lone cabin.
I love how he changes his outlook, the way the author writes about the way he approaches his photography is great, you can feel you are there and see what Milo is seeing.
But there is more than just animals and trees in these woods. Calder is the guardian of it and stays hidden, always observing, never involved. When they do meet because Calder seems drawn to Milo a connection is formed which surprises both of them.
I love how Calder is explaining the forest to Milo and then how slowly his personality comes out.
It's a long book with over 400 pages and a slow burn. But the book really gets you and it's hard to put down.
While the book is basically just about the two of them, we get some glimpse into The Network with the other monsters and also about Milo's brother.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into Beast expecting a fun little monster romance but this book gave me so much more than I was prepared for. A seven-foot cryptid living deep in the woods, a sunshine photographer who absolutely refuses to be intimidated by him, danger lurking in the forest, and an attraction that gets harder and harder for either of them to ignore? Sign me up!
Milo was everything I wanted him to be. He has this bright energy that makes him the perfect opposite to Calder’s grumpy, guarded, intimidating presence. He doesn't look at Calder and see some terrifying monster that needs to be feared, he only sees Calder. And watching Milo slowly break through all of Calder's walls was honestly one of my favourite parts.
Calder is grumpy, protective and basically the definition of touch him and 💀. The way his protective instincts kick in whenever Milo is in danger had me absolutely melting. There’s something ridiculously satisfying about watching this enormous and intimidating creature become completely soft and devoted to the one person who manages to get under his skin.
What I especially loved was the contrast between them. Milo brings warmth into Calder's isolated existence while Calder gives Milo something he didn't even realise he was looking for. It's not just human meets monster and falls in love. Instead it's two completely different people finding a place where they actually belong together.
This book was everything I needed in a monster romance!
5⭐️
Milo was everything I wanted him to be. He has this bright energy that makes him the perfect opposite to Calder’s grumpy, guarded, intimidating presence. He doesn't look at Calder and see some terrifying monster that needs to be feared, he only sees Calder. And watching Milo slowly break through all of Calder's walls was honestly one of my favourite parts.
Calder is grumpy, protective and basically the definition of touch him and 💀. The way his protective instincts kick in whenever Milo is in danger had me absolutely melting. There’s something ridiculously satisfying about watching this enormous and intimidating creature become completely soft and devoted to the one person who manages to get under his skin.
What I especially loved was the contrast between them. Milo brings warmth into Calder's isolated existence while Calder gives Milo something he didn't even realise he was looking for. It's not just human meets monster and falls in love. Instead it's two completely different people finding a place where they actually belong together.
This book was everything I needed in a monster romance!
5⭐️
September 6, 2026
Milo and Calder meet in the forest
I love the funny way that this book came about which Denver Shaw describes in the introduction and I’m glad it happened because this is a marvelous read. I found the voices that Ms Shaw has written for Milo and Calder are so well defined that it very obvious whose chapter each one is. I usually have to be careful to check who is narrating a chapter when there are multiple narrators, but I found myself not always checking because they were so easy to tell apart.
I really enjoyed how carefully she wrote Calder so that he was not just a monster who is the butt of jokes because he didn’t know human society. He comes across as smart and careful while still adding humor to the story often because he is unintentionally funny. He also knows a lot more about humans than you would think and it’s because he is so observant.
Milo is a character that reflects a lot of us seeing the world through a lens, but he sees a lot more than even he realizes and I love the effect that Calder has on him.
The love story is gentle and sweet and this story is well worth reading and a great addition to this book series.
Here’s to misdirected emails!
I love the funny way that this book came about which Denver Shaw describes in the introduction and I’m glad it happened because this is a marvelous read. I found the voices that Ms Shaw has written for Milo and Calder are so well defined that it very obvious whose chapter each one is. I usually have to be careful to check who is narrating a chapter when there are multiple narrators, but I found myself not always checking because they were so easy to tell apart.
I really enjoyed how carefully she wrote Calder so that he was not just a monster who is the butt of jokes because he didn’t know human society. He comes across as smart and careful while still adding humor to the story often because he is unintentionally funny. He also knows a lot more about humans than you would think and it’s because he is so observant.
Milo is a character that reflects a lot of us seeing the world through a lens, but he sees a lot more than even he realizes and I love the effect that Calder has on him.
The love story is gentle and sweet and this story is well worth reading and a great addition to this book series.
Here’s to misdirected emails!
September 6, 2026
Beast is the sixth and final book in the multi-author Legends Series and it delivers. As with the other books in the series, this is a well-written book about a legendary cryptid finding a human to love. In Beast, we meet the Beast of Bray Road, Calder, and the unknowing human, Milo who falls in love with him. Milo is unsatisfied with his life as a photographer in the city so he packs up and decides to spend two months living in a cabin in the forest. He did not anticipate running into Calder, the seven foot, wolf-like forest guardian. Calder did not anticipate Milo not only not being afraid of him but also captivating his attention. Milo and Calder build their relationship through their connections to the forest as they learn about each other.
The relationship between Calder and Milo is so sweet. I enjoyed reading how they cared for each other and blended their worlds. I am interested in the teasers Shaw gave us in story for future books. I enjoyed every single book in the Legends Series, each author brought to life a unique cryptid with a distinct story. I hope there is a second series.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
The relationship between Calder and Milo is so sweet. I enjoyed reading how they cared for each other and blended their worlds. I am interested in the teasers Shaw gave us in story for future books. I enjoyed every single book in the Legends Series, each author brought to life a unique cryptid with a distinct story. I hope there is a second series.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
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