What do you think?
Jack lives his life on social media, cosplaying as the cryptid local legend. Sure, he is an actual monster, but that detail doesn’t really matter when he’s focused on trending posts. All is going well in Jack’s life until a group of hunters show up, intent on taking the famed monster’s head as a trophy.
Dimitri has been trapped by hunters for years, forced to use his abilities so their organization can track down other cryptids. When he encounters Jack, he learns that not all monsters are made the same way. Jack easily removes the threat at his doorstep, and Dimitri gains a chance at freedom.
Jack introduces Dimitri to the world and the many wonders he’s missed out on during his captivity. Dimitri follows Jack’s lead as he explores this new era. But the hunter’s organization doesn’t take their loss lightly, and they set out to reclaim Dimitri and behead Jack. These monsters will have to trust their hearts and each other if they want to put an end to this threat.
Hollow is a full-length MM dark (ish) monster romance as part of the Mayhem Manuscripts Cryptids shared world collaboration.
Dimitri has been trapped by hunters for years, forced to use his abilities so their organization can track down other cryptids. When he encounters Jack, he learns that not all monsters are made the same way. Jack easily removes the threat at his doorstep, and Dimitri gains a chance at freedom.
Jack introduces Dimitri to the world and the many wonders he’s missed out on during his captivity. Dimitri follows Jack’s lead as he explores this new era. But the hunter’s organization doesn’t take their loss lightly, and they set out to reclaim Dimitri and behead Jack. These monsters will have to trust their hearts and each other if they want to put an end to this threat.
Hollow is a full-length MM dark (ish) monster romance as part of the Mayhem Manuscripts Cryptids shared world collaboration.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2026
About the author
M.N. Bennet
14 books474 followersMN Bennet is a high school teacher, writer, and reader. He lives in the Midwest, still adjusting to the cold after being born and raised in the South.
He enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy stories with huge worlds (sometimes too big), loveable romances (with so much angst and banter), and Happily Ever Afters (once he’s dragged his characters through some emotional turmoil).
When he’s not balancing classes, writing, or reading, he can be found binge watching anime or replaying Baldur's Gate 3 for the millionth time.
He enjoys writing paranormal and fantasy stories with huge worlds (sometimes too big), loveable romances (with so much angst and banter), and Happily Ever Afters (once he’s dragged his characters through some emotional turmoil).
When he’s not balancing classes, writing, or reading, he can be found binge watching anime or replaying Baldur's Gate 3 for the millionth time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
September 20, 2026
4.5⭐️
2 monster divas with big monster d!cks what could happen😏🥵
Ohhhhh this monster romance really grew on me.
This was cute and the banter between Dimitri and Jack omgggg they became everything to me. Like two baddies in one room what could happen 😏
Jack my monster baddie hellooooooo his whole social media presence and everything was something new for me mainly in monster romance and it really made this book stand out and I loved it. His personality was so hot and it reminded me a chaotic orange cat if that makes sense.
Dimitri omggg this monster baddie I fell in love with him, when he was introduced I knew he would stand out and boy did he stand out. The whole aspect of him learning the world around him because of his capturing and etc and how he met Jack it was like he met his love of his life right away and I swear that is what it was and I loved every second of it.
The plot, the character development the little drama in between this book had a really good story to tell and the monster and monster romance aspect was hot af these MONSTER DADDIES REALLY GOT INTO ITTTTT HELLOOO.
By the end this book touched my heart.
💋❤️🔥😈 💋❤️🔥😈 💋❤️🔥😈 💋❤️🔥😈 💋❤️🔥😈 💋
FAVORITE QUOTES:
💋❤️🔥“Did you just spray my butt with whipped cream?”
“What?”
“I like my cake with a little whipped frosting.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“Oh, I’ll show you ri-dick-ulous.”
💋❤️🔥 “You are perfect to look at, with or without the pumpkin.”
“You make me not hate what’s underneath the mask.”
“Maybe one day, I will make you like what you see underneath the mask.”
💋❤️🔥“Okay, Grinch.”
“You are a Grinch, all monsters are Grinches,”
“We are isolated from the world because we are
different.”
“Speak for yourself, bitch,“I’m a Martha May all the way.”
2 monster divas with big monster d!cks what could happen😏🥵
Ohhhhh this monster romance really grew on me.
This was cute and the banter between Dimitri and Jack omgggg they became everything to me. Like two baddies in one room what could happen 😏
Jack my monster baddie hellooooooo his whole social media presence and everything was something new for me mainly in monster romance and it really made this book stand out and I loved it. His personality was so hot and it reminded me a chaotic orange cat if that makes sense.
Dimitri omggg this monster baddie I fell in love with him, when he was introduced I knew he would stand out and boy did he stand out. The whole aspect of him learning the world around him because of his capturing and etc and how he met Jack it was like he met his love of his life right away and I swear that is what it was and I loved every second of it.
The plot, the character development the little drama in between this book had a really good story to tell and the monster and monster romance aspect was hot af these MONSTER DADDIES REALLY GOT INTO ITTTTT HELLOOO.
By the end this book touched my heart.
💋❤️🔥😈 💋❤️🔥😈 💋❤️🔥😈 💋❤️🔥😈 💋❤️🔥😈 💋
FAVORITE QUOTES:
💋❤️🔥“Did you just spray my butt with whipped cream?”
“What?”
“I like my cake with a little whipped frosting.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“Oh, I’ll show you ri-dick-ulous.”
💋❤️🔥 “You are perfect to look at, with or without the pumpkin.”
“You make me not hate what’s underneath the mask.”
“Maybe one day, I will make you like what you see underneath the mask.”
💋❤️🔥“Okay, Grinch.”
“You are a Grinch, all monsters are Grinches,”
“We are isolated from the world because we are
different.”
“Speak for yourself, bitch,“I’m a Martha May all the way.”
September 22, 2026
✨May contain spoilers✨
I can say that I’m really loving this series just as much as I loved the first season. Jack and Dimitri are so perfect for one another and I was here for all their crazy selves.
From the start of the book, I just knew this was going to be a good time, especially when we meet Astaroth. This demon possessed is quite interesting. He demands his belly rubs but he will join in the torture. Yes please. I just loved him so much. He was so fun and I was here for those moments when he makes his appearance. Give him all the belly rubs pretty please.
This book hit all the spots of the Halloween vibes. From these two have two troubled pasts to be completely into one another and to just the love they had, it had me all in my feels.
I really loved how Jack was the one to teach Dimitri things in life. I really loved it when they would go out to eat. When food is involved, I’m so there because that’s my love language. I’m just a lover of when one character teaches the other character things.
I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a book with hurt/comfort vibes, sweetness galore and just all the murderous vibes. I just love how they worked well with one another. I don’t want to spoil too much but this is probably my first monster x monster book I’ve read in a hot minute and I was all over it.
I really need to read more of this author’s books because this was so freaking good!
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I can say that I’m really loving this series just as much as I loved the first season. Jack and Dimitri are so perfect for one another and I was here for all their crazy selves.
From the start of the book, I just knew this was going to be a good time, especially when we meet Astaroth. This demon possessed is quite interesting. He demands his belly rubs but he will join in the torture. Yes please. I just loved him so much. He was so fun and I was here for those moments when he makes his appearance. Give him all the belly rubs pretty please.
This book hit all the spots of the Halloween vibes. From these two have two troubled pasts to be completely into one another and to just the love they had, it had me all in my feels.
I really loved how Jack was the one to teach Dimitri things in life. I really loved it when they would go out to eat. When food is involved, I’m so there because that’s my love language. I’m just a lover of when one character teaches the other character things.
I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a book with hurt/comfort vibes, sweetness galore and just all the murderous vibes. I just love how they worked well with one another. I don’t want to spoil too much but this is probably my first monster x monster book I’ve read in a hot minute and I was all over it.
I really need to read more of this author’s books because this was so freaking good!
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Part of a multi-author series (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids), but can be read as a standalone. Paranormal. Hurt/comfort. Dual POV. Heed content warnings.
Jack is a local legend and social influencer that people believe is cosplaying as the town monster and he enjoys living in the open while being a true monster. When he rescues Dimitri, he invites him to stay in Sleepy Hollow and both monsters slowly fall into a companionship that turns romantic.
Honestly, I was surprised at how cute this story was as I was bracing for dark and instead got two immortal golden retriever monsters who are an extrovert/introvert couple and just sweetly falling in love. Of course they face danger together, take care of a faithful demon dog, and have some super spicy interactions. I enjoyed every moment they were on page together, their conversations, trust, protectiveness and the general fun they have together. This was entertaining and unique and I loved every moment.
Jack is a local legend and social influencer that people believe is cosplaying as the town monster and he enjoys living in the open while being a true monster. When he rescues Dimitri, he invites him to stay in Sleepy Hollow and both monsters slowly fall into a companionship that turns romantic.
Honestly, I was surprised at how cute this story was as I was bracing for dark and instead got two immortal golden retriever monsters who are an extrovert/introvert couple and just sweetly falling in love. Of course they face danger together, take care of a faithful demon dog, and have some super spicy interactions. I enjoyed every moment they were on page together, their conversations, trust, protectiveness and the general fun they have together. This was entertaining and unique and I loved every moment.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ | 🥺 | 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
YES!!!!! Jack and Dimitri were everything I didn’t know I needed. Just two monsters who are head over heels for one another and who occasionally slaughter, in their defense it’s totally necessary. I am the biggest chicken and this was just perfect for me especially with the banter and wittiness that MN Bennet wrote into their story. Dimitri was adorable and I thought it was hilarious that he spoke like he was from a different time ( once you read you’ll know why) and how Jack was like HEY YOU’RE WITH ME NOW but his enthusiasm was just so infectious. A thirst trappin Jack Whoa Lantern and his Deer Daddy along with their demon dogg who is preparing for world domination is a good time. Perfect read for spooky season.
YES!!!!! Jack and Dimitri were everything I didn’t know I needed. Just two monsters who are head over heels for one another and who occasionally slaughter, in their defense it’s totally necessary. I am the biggest chicken and this was just perfect for me especially with the banter and wittiness that MN Bennet wrote into their story. Dimitri was adorable and I thought it was hilarious that he spoke like he was from a different time ( once you read you’ll know why) and how Jack was like HEY YOU’RE WITH ME NOW but his enthusiasm was just so infectious. A thirst trappin Jack Whoa Lantern and his Deer Daddy along with their demon dogg who is preparing for world domination is a good time. Perfect read for spooky season.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a fantastic book! I loved the mix of personalities between the two of them. You have your sunshine pumpkin and your grumpy deer daddy, lmao, and it was such a great combination. It had the perfect mix of humor, spice, and just the right amount of angst. I’m typically not the biggest fan of third-person POV, but the way M.N. Bennet writes it makes it so easy to fully immerse myself in the story. I never struggled with keeping track of who was who, which made the whole reading experience so easy. Overall, just an amazing story, and I absolutely loved it!
August 19, 2026
I loved this lil monster romance! The banter between Dimitri and Jack was so funny and wholesome and the dirty talk?? 🤭😮💨😮💨
I love when a book has depth to it but also is light and fluffy and I think this book delivers that perfectly!
Both Dimitri and Jack have a past of not great things happening to them but they fit together perfectly! It’s so swoony ❤️
Thank you M.N. Bennet for this ARC!
I love when a book has depth to it but also is light and fluffy and I think this book delivers that perfectly!
Both Dimitri and Jack have a past of not great things happening to them but they fit together perfectly! It’s so swoony ❤️
Thank you M.N. Bennet for this ARC!
October 3, 2026
Jack Whoa Lantern aka the horseless headman aka the pumpkin wearing thirst trap king, living his best life with his demon dog Astaroth (MVP character by the way) by his side.
He's minding his own, when a bunch of human hunters turn up ready to unalive our ripped MMC, but fortunately Jack is made of something stronger than pumpkin guts and quickly dispatches said human in spectacular fashion. Their captive, a cutie patootie if ever I've seen on is fellow cryptid Dimitri who has been forced to hunt down other monsters for decades. Now free thanks to Jack, he gets a second chance to find out all that he's been missing since being taken captive.
If I had the misfortune of being held captive for decades, I can think of nobody better to reintroduce me to the pleasures of society than our very own Jack Woah Lantern. The guy is just charism personified, a genuinely good dude and a just a teeny tiny bit competitive if I do say so myself; he made sure that Dimitri's education about society was well rounded and, of course, a little bit naughty.
It's not all fun and games though folks. The hunters aren't ones to go down without a fight... or three, so be prepared to be on the tenterhooks while things get sorted. I for one would not be caught dead betting against a hellhound personally but some humans are incredibly foolish, and that's all I'll say on the matter. If you want to find out exactly what happens, you know what you'll have to do.
A fun, frisky, playful read from start to finish, I managed to finish this book in a single sitting. If you're looking for a MM Monster romance for October and spooky season you may have found the one! Be sure to check out the rest of the Mayhem Manuscript books as well which all feature a different spooky monster and are sure to tickle your fancy.
He's minding his own, when a bunch of human hunters turn up ready to unalive our ripped MMC, but fortunately Jack is made of something stronger than pumpkin guts and quickly dispatches said human in spectacular fashion. Their captive, a cutie patootie if ever I've seen on is fellow cryptid Dimitri who has been forced to hunt down other monsters for decades. Now free thanks to Jack, he gets a second chance to find out all that he's been missing since being taken captive.
If I had the misfortune of being held captive for decades, I can think of nobody better to reintroduce me to the pleasures of society than our very own Jack Woah Lantern. The guy is just charism personified, a genuinely good dude and a just a teeny tiny bit competitive if I do say so myself; he made sure that Dimitri's education about society was well rounded and, of course, a little bit naughty.
It's not all fun and games though folks. The hunters aren't ones to go down without a fight... or three, so be prepared to be on the tenterhooks while things get sorted. I for one would not be caught dead betting against a hellhound personally but some humans are incredibly foolish, and that's all I'll say on the matter. If you want to find out exactly what happens, you know what you'll have to do.
A fun, frisky, playful read from start to finish, I managed to finish this book in a single sitting. If you're looking for a MM Monster romance for October and spooky season you may have found the one! Be sure to check out the rest of the Mayhem Manuscript books as well which all feature a different spooky monster and are sure to tickle your fancy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full review to come a little closer to release, but I really enjoyed this one! The covers and some of the authors I know in love made me a little fearful that this would be a nonstop spookfest of a series but I really enjoy that the first one I picked up was this one because it was truly so sweet with a side of scare and that really worked for me.
October 3, 2026
This is book 3 of the Mayhem Manuscripts Cryptids series. In this story we meet Jack Whoa Lantern, who is the monster known as the Horseless Headsman and resides in Sleepy Hollow. Not to be confused with the Headless Horseman, different entity. Jack rescues Dimitri, who happens to be a Leshy and decides to have him stay at his home to recover. But while he’s staying there, they start to have feelings for each other, and Jack decides to pursue a relationship with Dimitri. Very fun couple because Jack is extremely extroverted and loves to talk and joke while Dimitri is quiet and introverted and prefers to hang out with his crows or read in the library. They compliment each other very well. The fact that Jack was a fan of social media and loved making content was pretty interesting and unique and it was fun to see Dimitri join in on it sometimes. And I can’t forget their demon dog overlord Astaroth who I found pretty hilarious. He proclaims to be a big bad demon which he is, but also demands his peasants take him on walkies and give him belly rubs. I enjoyed the hurt/comfort aspect of the story two between Dimitri and Jack because while they both have a painful past Dimitri has the most painful and Jack does his best to help him heal from that which is pretty sweet. Both of our MC’s are green flags all the way even when their activities are slightly questionable. There are a few dark themes here and there in the story but overall it’s pretty happy and silly, which is a nice change of pace from most Cryptid stories that you read. Overall, this was a pretty fun read, and they had a lot of silly moments between the characters, especially the dog who was probably my favorite. I would definitely recommend this, but do read the trigger warnings just to be safe. And as always, I look forward to reading more from this author.
Tropes: Leshy x Shadow Monster, Extrovert x Introvert, Demon Dog, Social Media Baddie, Size Difference, Evil Hunters,
Crow Army, “Deer Daddy”
Story 5/5
Spice 3/5
Tropes: Leshy x Shadow Monster, Extrovert x Introvert, Demon Dog, Social Media Baddie, Size Difference, Evil Hunters,
Crow Army, “Deer Daddy”
Story 5/5
Spice 3/5
Did Not Finish
October 7, 2026『•DNF•Skimmed to 70% •』
The writing style/humor isn't for me ( still not sure why I continue to try reading comedy stuff🤔) but I did enjoy these quotes!
"'Capitalism is my favorite form of anguish,' Astaroth shouted from the kitchen. Convince mortals they have all the choices in the world, then slowly strip them of every choice until all that remains is submission and obedience and a desperate yearning for a grand life they will never obtain. Glorious."
Astaroth came outside wearing a golden halo and a white robe.
"This is what you picked as your cos- tume?"
"Ah, yes,' Astaroth replied. "The mortals celebrate All Hallow's Eve by dressing as something frightening. This is the most horrific thing I could come up with."
"An angel?" Dimitri almost laughed.
"Angels aren't real." Astaroth scoffed "I'm a delusional Christian."
"The delusional ones are terrifying." Jack pointed.
"They're all delusional," Astaroth replied,
"I wouldn't say that." Jack shrugged. "Didn't the Church try to burn you at the stake?"
"Twice."
"Case in point." Astaroth grinned. "Admittedly, demons could learn a few things from the atrocities committed in the name of faith. It's almost admirable."
The writing style/humor isn't for me ( still not sure why I continue to try reading comedy stuff🤔) but I did enjoy these quotes!
"'Capitalism is my favorite form of anguish,' Astaroth shouted from the kitchen. Convince mortals they have all the choices in the world, then slowly strip them of every choice until all that remains is submission and obedience and a desperate yearning for a grand life they will never obtain. Glorious."
Astaroth came outside wearing a golden halo and a white robe.
"This is what you picked as your cos- tume?"
"Ah, yes,' Astaroth replied. "The mortals celebrate All Hallow's Eve by dressing as something frightening. This is the most horrific thing I could come up with."
"An angel?" Dimitri almost laughed.
"Angels aren't real." Astaroth scoffed "I'm a delusional Christian."
"The delusional ones are terrifying." Jack pointed.
"They're all delusional," Astaroth replied,
"I wouldn't say that." Jack shrugged. "Didn't the Church try to burn you at the stake?"
"Twice."
"Case in point." Astaroth grinned. "Admittedly, demons could learn a few things from the atrocities committed in the name of faith. It's almost admirable."
August 7, 2026
Prepare to be completely and utterly obsessed because MN Bennet just delivered one of the most deliciously unhinged, sweet, and spicy monster romance of the Season! Hollow is an absolute, top-tier masterpiece that had me laughing out loud one second, kicking my feet in pure joy the next, cheering at the bloody gore, and then swooning over these two precious monsters! If you live for a sunny, extroverted pumpkin monster posting thirst traps on social media, a traumatized grumpy deer daddy who deserved the whole world, and a demon dog sidekick, drop everything and read this immediately when it releases!
The story follows Jack, a cocky, extroverted nuckelavee (our horseless headless man legend!) Who is living his absolute best life in sleepy hollow by playing into his own cryptid local legend on social media, posting thirst traps, gaining online followers, and hitting the town for his social fix! Everything is fun and games until a group of hunters shows up, and Jack rescues Dimitri, a leshy who has been enslaved, tortured, and forced to track other cryptids by an evil hunter family for fifty whole years. Jack instantly falls head over heels for dimitri and takes him under his wing to show him all the wonders of the modern world, while sweet, introverted dimitri learns to relax, heal from his PTSD, and open his heart again. But when the hunters come back for revenge, these two powerful monsters have to protect their home and each other at all costs!
I am hopelessly in love with Jack! The social media aspect in this book was executed so hilariously well, he was captivating the internet (and me) Left and right. But beneath all that cocky confidence, the way he worshipped Dimitri and wanted to give him the absolute world had me swooning hard! Oh, my heart physically ached for dimitri! He has been through absolute hell, and watching him slowly relax, build a safe life in the forest with Jack, and navigate going out into town was so unbelievably tender. Their dynamic is the ultimate sunshine/grumpy opposites-attract perfection! Stop everything because Astaroth had main character energy!! A demon inhabiting the body of a bloodhound who demands belly rubs with a side of soul torture? Absolute comedic genius! The banter and chemistry between Jack and Dimitri were off the charts!! They had me giggling, screaming, and swooning the entire time!
The blend of sweet, cozy healing with dark, gory justice against horrible people was handled so brilliantly. The spice was hot, the comedy was unmatched, and this is a book I am 100% buying in hardback just to display like a trophy on my shelves forever! I implore you to read this spooky scary and fluffy perfection of a read when it comes out on October 7th!
Instagram: @goodgirlsbookshelf_
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok I had so much fun reading this
Did anyone else know a Leshy could have a bubble butt?
But Astaroth made me howl (get it? Lol) the "easy peazy lemons are sleazy"? Genius. Also I didn't know threatening an air fryer was something you could work into a monster book but it was perfection.
Jack and Dimitri were beautiful together. Dimitri's genuine world naivity learning about modern civilization was so funny. As someone who is autistic and can also take things literally this made me giggle so much. The banter was absolutely on point.
Absolutely adored reading this.
Did anyone else know a Leshy could have a bubble butt?
But Astaroth made me howl (get it? Lol) the "easy peazy lemons are sleazy"? Genius. Also I didn't know threatening an air fryer was something you could work into a monster book but it was perfection.
Jack and Dimitri were beautiful together. Dimitri's genuine world naivity learning about modern civilization was so funny. As someone who is autistic and can also take things literally this made me giggle so much. The banter was absolutely on point.
Absolutely adored reading this.
October 9, 2026
the demon dog was the best part of this lol
July 30, 2026
I loved this story so much! I'm a sucker for Halloween and cryptids so put them together and I'm a goner. Jack and Dimitri are so cute together and Astaroth, Jack's demon dog, absolutely steals the show. Despite some darker themes and trauma, this is mostly a lighthearted story between a couple of goofballs. I fell in love with them and I know you will too!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ | 5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of Hollow by M.N. Bennet in exchange for an honest review.
Hollow by M.N. Bennet is a full-length MM dark-ish monster romance releasing as part of the Mayhem Manuscripts: Cryptids shared world collaboration. The story follows Jack, an actual monster who lives his life on social media cosplaying as his own local cryptid legend—until a group of hunters show up looking for his head. Enter Dimitri, a cryptid who has been trapped and exploited by these same hunters for years. When Jack effortlessly dispatches the threat and frees Dimitri, it sparks an instant, electric connection. As Jack introduces Dimitri to the modern world, technology, and gadgets he missed during captivity, a ruthless hunter organization closes in, forcing these two monsters to trust their hearts and each other.
The dynamic between Jack and Dimitri is pure gold. Jack is an extroverted, chatty, joke-slinging ball of sunshine with serious "I'll protect you" energy, while Dimitri is his stoic, calm, and grounded anchor. Bennet handles the romance and monster lore with incredible grace, exploring the dark nature of both characters while highlighting a poignant theme: the true monsters are the humans who inflict horrific cruelty on nature, while these creatures retain their humanity and humility.
Bennet weaves a brilliant balance of high-stakes suspense, emotional healing, and top-tier spice. Jack helping Dimitri navigate a new era is endlessly sweet, and the story is enriched by standout supporting elements—including a special shoutout to Astaroth, the apocalypse-wishing hell hound who moonlights as a brilliant business-demon-dog.
Hollow is an absolute triumph of monster romance. If you love grumpy/sunshine pairings, high-heat chemistry, and found-family monsters fighting back against human corruption, this is an unmissable read.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of Hollow by M.N. Bennet in exchange for an honest review.
Hollow by M.N. Bennet is a full-length MM dark-ish monster romance releasing as part of the Mayhem Manuscripts: Cryptids shared world collaboration. The story follows Jack, an actual monster who lives his life on social media cosplaying as his own local cryptid legend—until a group of hunters show up looking for his head. Enter Dimitri, a cryptid who has been trapped and exploited by these same hunters for years. When Jack effortlessly dispatches the threat and frees Dimitri, it sparks an instant, electric connection. As Jack introduces Dimitri to the modern world, technology, and gadgets he missed during captivity, a ruthless hunter organization closes in, forcing these two monsters to trust their hearts and each other.
The dynamic between Jack and Dimitri is pure gold. Jack is an extroverted, chatty, joke-slinging ball of sunshine with serious "I'll protect you" energy, while Dimitri is his stoic, calm, and grounded anchor. Bennet handles the romance and monster lore with incredible grace, exploring the dark nature of both characters while highlighting a poignant theme: the true monsters are the humans who inflict horrific cruelty on nature, while these creatures retain their humanity and humility.
Bennet weaves a brilliant balance of high-stakes suspense, emotional healing, and top-tier spice. Jack helping Dimitri navigate a new era is endlessly sweet, and the story is enriched by standout supporting elements—including a special shoutout to Astaroth, the apocalypse-wishing hell hound who moonlights as a brilliant business-demon-dog.
Hollow is an absolute triumph of monster romance. If you love grumpy/sunshine pairings, high-heat chemistry, and found-family monsters fighting back against human corruption, this is an unmissable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2026
Who knew that a Horseless Headsmen could be do adorable?!? I loved the creativity that M.N. Bennet had with taking a classic character/story, and completely flipping it on its head and making something new that was entirely his own creation.
Jack might be rumored to be similar to the famous Headless Horsemen, but he is much different. For starters, he's an internet star! And he doesn't have a horse, rather, he has a demonic dog who has quite strong feelings about getting his daily walks. While he isn't the Headless Horsemen, there are nods to the classic character. Jack may not have a horse but when he uses his Shadows, the echoes of horse hooves sound around him, which I thought was a pretty cool detail to add! It is a nod to a classic tale we all are familiar with while staying true to the new character this author has created.
Now, while I love Jack, there is another character we must discuss, and that is Dimitri! Dimitri has been held captive by despicable humans for decades, but when he enters Jack's forest, his life changes in a way he could have never expected. I hate that he was forced against his will to do so many horrible things and that they wouldn't just leave him be, but it was adorable reading about how Jack was teaching him about things that existed in the modern world. Things that Dimitri had no idea existed.
I adored how these two learned and grew together, they met each other there they were at and went from there, which I thought was rather beautiful. While there is spice in this story there isn't a ton which I really appreciated. I loved "seeing" these two have their date nights, and going out to holiday festivities, it just added another layer of depth to their relationship and was honestly just a joy to read about!
All in all, another terrific book in this Multi-Author collab series, and I cannot wait to keep discovering new monsters!!
Jack might be rumored to be similar to the famous Headless Horsemen, but he is much different. For starters, he's an internet star! And he doesn't have a horse, rather, he has a demonic dog who has quite strong feelings about getting his daily walks. While he isn't the Headless Horsemen, there are nods to the classic character. Jack may not have a horse but when he uses his Shadows, the echoes of horse hooves sound around him, which I thought was a pretty cool detail to add! It is a nod to a classic tale we all are familiar with while staying true to the new character this author has created.
Now, while I love Jack, there is another character we must discuss, and that is Dimitri! Dimitri has been held captive by despicable humans for decades, but when he enters Jack's forest, his life changes in a way he could have never expected. I hate that he was forced against his will to do so many horrible things and that they wouldn't just leave him be, but it was adorable reading about how Jack was teaching him about things that existed in the modern world. Things that Dimitri had no idea existed.
I adored how these two learned and grew together, they met each other there they were at and went from there, which I thought was rather beautiful. While there is spice in this story there isn't a ton which I really appreciated. I loved "seeing" these two have their date nights, and going out to holiday festivities, it just added another layer of depth to their relationship and was honestly just a joy to read about!
All in all, another terrific book in this Multi-Author collab series, and I cannot wait to keep discovering new monsters!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an MM romance between Dimitri, a Leshy recently freed from capture and abuse and Jack, a powerful monster with shadow powers and a love for content creation
Tropes/Highlights:
-MM
-Open Door
-Slow Burn
-Hurt/Comfort
-Touch Him & Die
-Opposites Attract
-Casual Slaughter
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Monster/Monster
-HEA
Likes:
-Character descriptions
-Dates/outings
-Astraroth
-Shadow powers
-Nikolai
-Social media comments
-World building
-Leshy connection to nature
-Romantic fight
-Teasing/banter
-Sweet MCs
Neutrals/Criticisms
-I found it hard to connect with the first half of the book
Quotes
-"Maybe one day, I will make you like what you see underneath the mask"
-"I wish to busy myself. Busy myself with happiness"
-"How quickly do you believe you can undress us, sweet Jack?"
-"Jack had a way of making even simple, uneventful days better"
-"Take what is yours, I will gladly surrender it"
This book is the first book I have read from this author and I enjoyed it, but the first half of the book was a little hard for me to get through due to pacing and development. Jack and Dimitri are so sweet together and they are so different but compliment each other so well. I love the side characters, especially the animals and how entertaining their antics were. Jack is so bright with his energy and passion for his social media content and I love how he drags Dimitri into it. Dimitri is such a sweetie with an underestimated strength and calming nature. This is a nice book to settle down with for the fall season, especially if you are in the mood for some really sweet monsters with a little casual slaughter and slightly darker vibes.
Tropes/Highlights:
-MM
-Open Door
-Slow Burn
-Hurt/Comfort
-Touch Him & Die
-Opposites Attract
-Casual Slaughter
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Monster/Monster
-HEA
Likes:
-Character descriptions
-Dates/outings
-Astraroth
-Shadow powers
-Nikolai
-Social media comments
-World building
-Leshy connection to nature
-Romantic fight
-Teasing/banter
-Sweet MCs
Neutrals/Criticisms
-I found it hard to connect with the first half of the book
Quotes
-"Maybe one day, I will make you like what you see underneath the mask"
-"I wish to busy myself. Busy myself with happiness"
-"How quickly do you believe you can undress us, sweet Jack?"
-"Jack had a way of making even simple, uneventful days better"
-"Take what is yours, I will gladly surrender it"
This book is the first book I have read from this author and I enjoyed it, but the first half of the book was a little hard for me to get through due to pacing and development. Jack and Dimitri are so sweet together and they are so different but compliment each other so well. I love the side characters, especially the animals and how entertaining their antics were. Jack is so bright with his energy and passion for his social media content and I love how he drags Dimitri into it. Dimitri is such a sweetie with an underestimated strength and calming nature. This is a nice book to settle down with for the fall season, especially if you are in the mood for some really sweet monsters with a little casual slaughter and slightly darker vibes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jack and Dimitri were beyond adorable!
Hollow was such a sweet, cozy romance (aside from the casual slaughter and the demon dog). The idea of a cryptid pretending to be a cosplay content creator had me cracking up, and I absolutely loved Jack Whoa Lantern’s chat.
While Dimitri and Jack meet under sad circumstances, it was wonderful to see how sweet they are with each other as their developing friendship turns into something more. I loved the banter between Dimitri and Jack, especially when Jack was catching Dimitri up on everything he missed while in captivity. And I loved that, despite their differences, their connection felt easy from the beginning.
Astaroth (the demon dog) was absolutely hilarious. I highlighted so many of his quotes, though my favorite might just be, “easy peasy lemons are sleezy.”
Hollow was a creative mix of different legends and an absolute joy to read!
---
I received an advance copy of this book from the author at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
Hollow was such a sweet, cozy romance (aside from the casual slaughter and the demon dog). The idea of a cryptid pretending to be a cosplay content creator had me cracking up, and I absolutely loved Jack Whoa Lantern’s chat.
While Dimitri and Jack meet under sad circumstances, it was wonderful to see how sweet they are with each other as their developing friendship turns into something more. I loved the banter between Dimitri and Jack, especially when Jack was catching Dimitri up on everything he missed while in captivity. And I loved that, despite their differences, their connection felt easy from the beginning.
Astaroth (the demon dog) was absolutely hilarious. I highlighted so many of his quotes, though my favorite might just be, “easy peasy lemons are sleezy.”
Hollow was a creative mix of different legends and an absolute joy to read!
---
I received an advance copy of this book from the author at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
October 8, 2026
I received this ARC for my honest opinion. Hollow by M.N. Bennet was a read that had me sucked in. Jack and Dimitri journey is one of battles and trauma but they work through it together. Jack being someone who is seen to be a cosplay of the headless horseman but called as local legend the horseless headsman. Jack uses his social media and people think he is cosplaying. Dimitri is working for a family against his will to help round up cryptids because they want to own and harm them. Jack saves Dimitri and starts to show him what a safe life can be. Dimitri slowly starts to trust Jack and shows Jack he doesn’t have to hide his face behind his pumpkin head. They slowly fall for each other. They grow and learn with each other. They tease and bicker but in a fun way. Their relationship evolved to where they didn’t want to see each other hurt. I highly recommend reading. M.N. Bennet has great stories with great themes. I recommend reading everything he has written.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hollow is part of the multi author Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids series. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the whole series. This is the story of Jack and Dimitri who are both monsters. I loved this story with double the monsters. I loved the characters and world building that went into this book. I loved watching these two as Jack teaches Dimitri about the world he has missed. I loved the chemistry between these two. I loved the banter Jack and Dimitri share. There is some gore, murder, and mayhem but this is a monster romance after all so it should be expected. I'm looking forward to seeing what MN Bennet writes next. I'm also looking forward to the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book and series as 5 star reads.
received a free review copy
received a free review copy
October 10, 2026
This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the vibe of the book and how beautifully it all flowed. This was another interesting story in this series. I loved Jack and Dimitri, our Cryptids in this story, and Astaroth was a great addition as well. This was darkish, as expected, but it was also funny, sweet and fluffy aswell. I loved Jack and Dimitri's powers. Dimitri's captors really didn't want to let him go, but these two worked together to save themselves and mitigate the problem they were posing to their life.
I laughed, giggled and smiled a lot while reading this and I was also thoroughly entertained.
If you like your monsters sweet and sunshine-y with a grumpier counterpart then this is the book for you. Jack and Dimitri will make you laugh, swoon and give you all the feel-good vibes.
I laughed, giggled and smiled a lot while reading this and I was also thoroughly entertained.
If you like your monsters sweet and sunshine-y with a grumpier counterpart then this is the book for you. Jack and Dimitri will make you laugh, swoon and give you all the feel-good vibes.
August 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/6.
🌶️🌶️.5/5.
This was a fun read with some dark moments in the beginning.
I loved the way Jack was nervous around Dimitri when they met. They were so cute together.
I liked how fun Jack described the modern stuff to Dimitri.
Dimitri is just an easy going guy who just ends up doing everything Jack wants even though he doesn’t understand why they have to do it.
I think this was the first time I read about a character who happens to be an influencer. In this case, it worked pretty well but I discover I don’t really like it. I still loved these two tho.
Astaroth is the life of the party! 😂 he is so fun and just literal. For him, everything leads to the end of humanity and I loved every second of it.
Again, it was a fun read by a new to me author and I will check other books by MN Bennet.
* I read an arc of this book. *
🌶️🌶️.5/5.
This was a fun read with some dark moments in the beginning.
I loved the way Jack was nervous around Dimitri when they met. They were so cute together.
I liked how fun Jack described the modern stuff to Dimitri.
Dimitri is just an easy going guy who just ends up doing everything Jack wants even though he doesn’t understand why they have to do it.
I think this was the first time I read about a character who happens to be an influencer. In this case, it worked pretty well but I discover I don’t really like it. I still loved these two tho.
Astaroth is the life of the party! 😂 he is so fun and just literal. For him, everything leads to the end of humanity and I loved every second of it.
Again, it was a fun read by a new to me author and I will check other books by MN Bennet.
* I read an arc of this book. *
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hollow is book three of the Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two Series.
I absolutely love everything Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman, so this story was right up my alley. In this story we have Jack, aka the Horseless Headsman, meeting his match with Dimitri. These two were adorable together. Jack starts out as a more intense personality, but as the story progresses he becomes a bit of a softy for Dimitri. Dimitri is adorable with his lack of modern day knowledge and Jack helps him navigate his new life. I adored this story!
I absolutely love everything Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman, so this story was right up my alley. In this story we have Jack, aka the Horseless Headsman, meeting his match with Dimitri. These two were adorable together. Jack starts out as a more intense personality, but as the story progresses he becomes a bit of a softy for Dimitri. Dimitri is adorable with his lack of modern day knowledge and Jack helps him navigate his new life. I adored this story!
October 4, 2026
Hollow by MN Bennet
ARC 📖 review
MC’s: Jack & Dimitri
Overall: 4/5 ⭐️
Part dark humor and male cryptid romance, Hollow was engaging and perfectly themed for October. I really enjoyed the connection Jack and Dimitri forged. But I have to say Astraroth was hands-down my favorite character. 😈🐶
Tropes:
❤️ Monster Romance
🧡 MM Romance
💛 Sleepy Hollow Romance
💚 Protective MC’s/Touch Him and Be Unalived, horribly
Please note, I did receive this advanced copy ahead of publication; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author to review this book.
ARC 📖 review
MC’s: Jack & Dimitri
Overall: 4/5 ⭐️
Part dark humor and male cryptid romance, Hollow was engaging and perfectly themed for October. I really enjoyed the connection Jack and Dimitri forged. But I have to say Astraroth was hands-down my favorite character. 😈🐶
Tropes:
❤️ Monster Romance
🧡 MM Romance
💛 Sleepy Hollow Romance
💚 Protective MC’s/Touch Him and Be Unalived, horribly
Please note, I did receive this advanced copy ahead of publication; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author to review this book.
October 7, 2026
Dimitri is a half leshy, half human monster with antlers and is connected to nature. Jack, the "horseless headman" who controls shadow saves him. Jack wants him to stay as he enjoys the company. Jack is outgoing, an influencer and murderous. Dimitri is stately, passive, traumatized and caring. They are a perfect couple though neither realizes the other likes them as anything other than friends. The horribly disfigured Jack who wears a pumpkin mask, is beautiful in Dimitri's eyes. When they are attacked, all bets are off. I received a copy of this and this is my voluntary opinion.
October 10, 2026
I loved it!
I loved Hollow by MN Bennet. I loved Jack and Dimitri's story. I loved that Jack was an internet influencer and that he lived in Sleepy Hollow and played up on the headless horseman legend so he could walk around freely with a pumpkin covering his head. I also loved Dimitri and his connection to nature. My favorite character was the scene stealing demon dog that lives with Jack as the dog plots world domination and destruction. He was awesome!
I read this book using the Kindle unlimited app.
I loved Hollow by MN Bennet. I loved Jack and Dimitri's story. I loved that Jack was an internet influencer and that he lived in Sleepy Hollow and played up on the headless horseman legend so he could walk around freely with a pumpkin covering his head. I also loved Dimitri and his connection to nature. My favorite character was the scene stealing demon dog that lives with Jack as the dog plots world domination and destruction. He was awesome!
I read this book using the Kindle unlimited app.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was super cute and fun !! Dimitri and jack were super freaking cute and the banter between them I absolutely loved they were the perfect pair together ! Jack was Dimitri’s safe place and Dimitri was jacks they brought out the best in each other and grew so comfortable with each other so quickly and jack just wanting to show Dimitri everything he could and he was so willing to go along for the ride and do whatever jack was wanting to do!! I was just laughing and kicking my feet through this I really enjoyed it!
September 5, 2026
Incoming
Review of advance copy received from Author
Not gonna lie, Astaroth really stole the show for me. I loved his chaotic personality and the fact that he was just as happy to demand belly rubs as he was to join in on the torture.
That being said, I still really enjoyed Jack and Dimitri’s story. They were so cute together, and their banter was so much fun. Plus I loved watching Jack introduce Dimitri to the modern world.
Overall this was so fun!
That being said, I still really enjoyed Jack and Dimitri’s story. They were so cute together, and their banter was so much fun. Plus I loved watching Jack introduce Dimitri to the modern world.
Overall this was so fun!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review incoming!
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