Mortis

Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids

by Lily James

Some beasts never wanted to be monsters.
The most dangerous ones always did.

For sixty years, Kael has survived by hunting anyone foolish enough to enter Barrowfell Woods. Bound to his inner demon, every meal leaves him drowning in guilt. When he finally refuses to kill again, desperation drives him beyond the treeline and into the world of humans.

Teddy Adler has spent his life surrounded by the dead. As the mortuary technician at his family's funeral home, corpses don't scare him. Demons, apparently, don't either.

Instead of running from the seven-foot cryptid he catches eating one of his clients, Teddy offers Kael a solution neither of them expected. One that lets him feed on the dead instead of the living.

But while Teddy teaches a demon how to survive without murder, a centuries-old cult is preparing to finish what its founders started. Their leader has spent a lifetime searching for the beast his family once enslaved, and he'll burn down an entire town to drag Kael back into chains.

Mortis is a full-length MM dark (ish) monster romance with a hungry cryptid that loves to bite and a sassy human that's great at cooking. Expect black comedy vibes, a wholesome found family, cults and secret societies, and some "ethically sourced" flesh. Mortis is part of the Mayhem Manuscripts Cryptids shared world collaboration. Each book is a standalone containing themes and situations not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Genres: M M Romance, Monsters, Queer, Fantasy, Adult

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 5, 2026

About the author

Lily James is a UK-based author with a soft spot for beautiful, heart-stealing queer romance. A lover of swoony stories, she’s especially fond of tales where complicated men fall hopelessly for each other. She lives in the West Midlands with her partner and their chubby dog, Winston—who definitely has main character energy.

Reviews

[369Pages]

4.5⭐️
Teddy is a mortician in the town of Blackthorn. A sweet, bespectacled man who has the upmost respect for the dead. One night, when the funeral home alarm goes off, Teddy goes to check in on what he assumes is just a bunch of teenagers having fun in a funeral home. What he doesn’t expect is to find a giant terrifying demon eating the corpse of one of his recently embalmed customers. 😱

This book is going to give you:
-human / satyr demon romance
-mortician bf who cooks body parts for his flesh-eating cinnamon roll demon beau
-“don’t go in the woods”
-an evil worse than the cannibalistic demon
-found family vibes
-a demon with two personalities: a cinnamon roll and the monster within

I had a lot of fun reading this book! Despite some themes like cannibalism, cults, and death, which are generally very dark, this book had quite a light tone to it, and was overall pretty sweet and even funny! I enjoyed the main characters, and the side characters were great as well! The characters were definitely my favourite part of the book 🥰

Somehow Kael made eating people endearing? F*cked up but true 😅 This book definitely kept me entertained the whole time! And I’m soooo excited for what will come next from Lily in 2027! 🤩

Definitely don’t skip this book for spooky season!

[Corey]

Synopsis:
Kael has been hiding in the woods of blackthorn for 60 years. He’s the cause of missing and deceased hikers, but he’s finally had enough of killing innocent people for food. Instead, he heads into town to a find a meal that’s already dead.
Que breaking into a funeral home and the mortuary technician, Teddy, stumbling upon him mid-meal.

❤️ MM Paranormal Romance
🧡 Monster x Human
💛 Demon Cultist
💚 Found Family
💙 Size Difference
💜 Dual Personalities

Highlights:
- Kael’s morals and manners
- Eternal Husbands
- Arlo.
- Teddy’s pain kink...

Recommend?
YES! This book is cute, romantic, creepy, spicy, and funny. It’s filled with personality and will melt your heart while blood rains down the pages.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

"Mortis" by Lily James is an MM paranormal romance between a demon from hell and a human mortuary technician. It's part of the "Mayhem Manuscripts" collection and releases on October 21st.

The story follows Teddy, a mortuary technician (embalmer) as he stumbles upon his small town's cryptid legend: Kael. Kael is a satyr and a demon from hell that feeds on human flesh. However, despite his origins, he develops remorse for killing humans and decides to consume the flesh of those already deceased. While feeding on one of the local funeral home's clients, he's interrupted by Teddy.

Ratings:
Overall: 5/5 Hearts - This book took me completely by surprise. It's romantic and sweet at its core, with just a splash of creepy vibes and gore.

Spice Quantity: 3/5 Peppers - I'm estimating around 15-20% of this book is spice. It's nicely sprinkled throughout the second half.

Spice Quality: 5/5 - I'm a simp for a big size different so 5'7" Teddy with 7' Kael made me flush all over. Pair that with primal play, a biting/pain kink, blood drinking, and horn stroking???? Let's just say it made me a wee bit feral.

Plot: 5/5 -
- Storyline: First, I want to mention that the pacing was spot on. There are a lot of sweet, tender, slower moments in the story, but they never feel too slow. They're done in such a way that it actually helps to build tension and momentum and I frickin' love that. The romance elements have some hurt/comfort going on as Teddy helps Kael overcome a traumatic past and there's quite a bit of humor as this big scary monster learns to fit into human society. There's also a little bit of mystery and the drama from the main antagonist, which is introduced at the perfect time (after the reader is desperately in love with these two cinnamon rolls) and that plays into the reader's emotions wonderfully.

- Characters: Teddy and Kael are frickin' adorable. Kael has a lot of trauma in his past along with a fair bit of guilt for how he's been sustaining himself. I loved watching him come to terms with who he is and what he needs, with the help of Teddy. And Teddy is a cute character with a sassy attitude. He will 100% look adorable while making demands of a demon lord and I adore him for that. He also goes through some growth, learning to live fully and that there's more to life than work and sleep.

And the side characters. OMG. Arlo is my spirit animal and grandpa is the parental figure we all need in our lives. Lily manages to give every single one of her characters so much personality in just a handful of lines. From the MCs, to the antagonists, I felt like I instantly knew these people from the moment they were introduced.

- Writing Style: I've read some (read: ALL) of Lily's works before and I adore her style. She manages to infuse a lot of personality into every line and her words just flow together so nicely that it's impossible to put her books down.

Conclusion: This is an adorable romance at its core. There's some gore, mystery, and human-flesh eating, but the overall "vibe" is more light hearted rather than creepy. Perfect for a spooky read that you can enjoy in the dark and before bed.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

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[K]

3.5 Stars

1st person POV Dual
MM
Plot 3.5/5
Spice 1.5/5
Demon / Human
Hurt/ Comfort
"Don't go into the woods"
Cinnamon roll demon
Strict roles


This book was cute! While yes it does have some darker themes ( unaliving, human eating demon, captivity, cult activity, ect.) the overall was really cute. Teddy is such a strong good hearted man. He runs a funeral home and after a break in he goes and checks it out, he sees Kael munching down on a recent arrival. Instead of screaming like a banshee like any normal person would do he decides to adopt the demon and take him home 😂

I loved the softness laced with fierceness in which Teddy looked after Kael, while Kael fell more and more for Teddy. It was beautiful! But the one thing that made this book was the side character Arlo! That sassy man made this book so much better and I can't wait for the complete chaos and drama he is gonna cause poor Mammon. Mammon isn't going to know what hit him! 😂😂

[bookygirl]

Usually so I’m not really into gory/horror-esque romance, but it’s Lily James, so how could I resist?

From start to finish, Morris was perfection. Spooky but sweet, gory but funny, Mortis follows demon Kael, the monster who has haunted Blackthorn woods for 60 years, as he tries to overcome his requirement for human flesh by breaking into the mortuary. There he is found by Teddy, the adorable mortuary technician who is more comfortable with the dead than the living.

I never thought I’d be reading about the world’s most adorable demonic cryptid who loves wearing crocs, but here we are. While dark in some ways, Mortis was also pure sweetness. Kale and Teddy were both adorable, and Arlo might be one of my favorite side characters ever (thank goodness he is getting is own book or I might have to riot lol). The story was intriguing and complex, but the angst and suspense never over balanced the romance.

Overall another absolutely winner by Lily James. Cannot wait for Arlo’s story!!

[Emma Capella]

Mortis was a great introduction to my dive into Season 2 of The Mayhem Manuscripts!

What starts off with a truly spooky intro chapter quickly develops into a fun rom-com-balanced story. I cannot say enough about how much I love Teddy and Kael’s dynamic, and how much I already adore Arlo. I can’t wait to see more of him!

Grab a sugary Frappuccino and your Crocs for this fun and entertaining story that’s perfect for spooky season! 👻🖤

[Nic]

This book was such a great time! I absolutely loved it! Teddy and Kael (and the beast) were completely and wholey great! Teddy and his stubbornness. I was cracking up at some of his shenanigans. And let's not forget Arlo! I love a great side character. That man is just fabulous and I NEED more of him! Sweet, sweet Kael! Love when a "monster" is really just a cuddly beast. I devoured this book! 

[ashlee ❤]

Teddy + Kael

-mm monster romance
-human x cryptic
-size difference
-black comedy
-cults & demons
-found family

bahahahaha omg stopppp cause the author had a trope list that included “ethically sourced flesh, wholesome home cooking, & biting + chomping” & it’s the perfect description! lmao

[Aly]

4.5⭐️ Cute, amazing, unique, funny, sexy. Loved the plot, loved the beastie. This was such a fun and spooky read! And now I need Arlo’s book! Pleeease!

[Rachel]

I absolutely loved everything about this book. Kael the flesh eating demon, Teddy and especially Arlo & Grandad. This was such an interesting plot line. Kael and Teddy were just too cute together but also super steamy. This was swoony and funny but also had some tense moments to keep you on your toes. Can’t wait for more books in Blackthorn!

[twisted literature]

Teddy & Kael 🥰 The mortician & the demon. I adore them. Once you get past Kael’s dietary choices, what’s not to love? Meet the demon of Barrowfell woods, Kael. The 7’ tall, flesh (human flesh) eating demon trying to find a more… humane? way to obtain his meals and collect the souls due to his master, Mammon. Meet Teddy, socially awkward mortician, grandson of the owner of the local mortuary. Do you see where we are going here? Yeah? Ok. Worlds collide. Species collide? Would we consider a demon a species in this? Getting off track. Friendships form, family found, bonds are made. Teddy discovers demon horns are super sensitive (is this common?) and that demons know how to lay👏🏻it👏🏻down👏🏻 But of course things can’t always be rainbows, sunshine, and hot human/demon sex, we need drama. Kael spent 60 years in hiding and now his past is coming for him. Choices have to be made, maybe a sacrifice or twenty. Big boss demons are summoned, prices are paid, bargains are reached. We get the set up for maybe a book 2? There are definite crumbs being dropped, I can’t wait to see Arlo & Mammon’s story. There is great banter in this books between characters, hot spicy scenes, and it’s just all around a very enjoyable book.

Part of the Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids series. October 2026 will bring us the release of 13 stories from 13 amazing authors, all centered on cryptids. You don’t want to miss out on this.

This story involves some very dark themes, please check the trigger warnings. Your mental health is important.

[Elyse]

I was provided a free e-copy of the book by the author for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks, you for this!

For a book about a cannibal monster and dead bodies, this was actually cute light and cute?

Theodore “Teddy” is a mortuary technician in his family funeral home. He lives in a small-town name Blackthorn, where there is a legend about a Satyr living in the woods.

The creature in question is Kael, a demon with a beast inside of him that feed on human flesh and innocent people. Kael is not really on board with all of this and feel guilty with every victim he takes.

Looking for another solution to feed, he breaks in the funeral home and meet Teddy. Teddy is fearless and not scare at all of him. He takes him as a stray and even cook him meals, he is quite ok with the situation. The two become roommates and co-workers.

Kael was probably the cutest demon ever, he seems soft and timid and become quite smitten of his human, and the romance between him and Teddy was quite sweet, even if this was full of dark humor.

I really enjoyed this book, all the characters were fun, even the side characters, the Grandad and Arlo the adoptive brother.

I cannot wait to see what will happen to Arlo and the demon Mammon.

[Claudia Simeone]

This is the first book I have read by author Lily James and omg I loved this book. It was dark, funny, spicy, with morally grey characters that protected eachother at all costs 🫶.
Teddy and Kael were swoon worthy, I just couldn’t get over these two. MY TREASURE 🥹

Kael is bound by his inner demon and has been suffering in the woods for 60 years hunting and eating whoever enters his domain. He desperately breaks into a moratorium where he meets Teddy. Instead of being afraid Teddy decides to help him.

I loved how Teddy embraced Kael instead of trying to change him. He didn’t struggle with his morals but simply did what he needed to do to provide and protect for the demon he grew to love 💖. This little family Kael gains is honestly so adorable. These two fought for their happy ending and it was so deserved. When Teddy first cheffed it up in the kitchen 🥹. This was such a fantastic book that I just couldn’t put down, and I LOVED the ending.

Mammon and Arlo 🥹 SIGN ME UP?! 🔥

[Becky Best]

3.5⭐️ 1.5/2🌶️
Prologue was really good, quiet freaky so I was expecting the book to follow on with more of that but it was quite slow going
Kael is just adorable, the guilt he feels for what his other demon side makes him do is so sad you know he just wants to be good but he’s being pulled in two different directions
The relationship development between Kael & Teddy is so fucking sweet it hurts my teeth
The first 50% of the book not much happens other than the friendship/relationship building
Arlo is so sassy I love him
Loved the relationship between teddy & his grandad as someone who was really close with their own it was lovely to read
The complete give no fucks attitude by mammon was hilarious. The ending was very satisfying and I can not wait to read about Arlo & Mammon 😄

[Kayla Allen]

This book was absolutely fantastic and I was not able to put it down from start until finished because I was hooked. Seriously this is the third in the series that I have read and every single one has been amazing but this couple and even the side characters have me completely feral, wanting more. I absolutely loved everything about the plot everything about the characters all of the side characters were amazing and interesting and made you want to know more about them. There was comic relief mixed in with all of the emotions you feel for these characters. Seriously anything Lily James writes is freaking fantastic!

[Michaela Joyce]

Omg I absolutely loved this to pieces!!!! This was so funny and cute and ugh just perfect !!! I love teddy and Kael and even arlo!! Kael this sweet precious demon baby loved him to bits and pieces for being the demon he was he was just so innocent and sweet and so down bad for teddy and I agree with his love for crocs bc those are my favorite too!!! And teddy he was so funny just had me laughing so much throughout the book and arlo too! This was just overall an amazing book and enjoyed it soo much and can’t wait for the rest of the series!! AND…. I can’t wait to see what may be in store for Arlo and Mammon !!!!!

[Yvonne]

This is a series I really enjoy. I’m a big fan of series written by multiple authors anyway; I feel they bring out the best in one another. They set the bar high for each other, resulting in truly excellent stories. This series is no exception.

Lily James has written a fantastic story with this book. Both the main characters and the supporting cast are superb.
The dynamic works well, and the supporting characters only serve to make the story even better. It is exciting and romantic, but also very funny.

The humor provides a great balance to the emotions you experience while reading the book.

💞Thank you to the Author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC💖

[Gina]

This is a fun read that is fast-paced. I enjoyed reading this story. If looking for a monster romance that is exciting and fun this is your book.

Some beasts never wanted to be monsters.
The most dangerous ones always did.

Mortis is a full-length MM dark (ish) monster romance with a hungry cryptid that loves to bite and a sassy human that's great at cooking. Expect black comedy vibes, a wholesome found family, cults and secret societies, and some "ethically sourced" flesh. Mortis is part of the Mayhem Manuscripts Cryptids shared world collaboration. Each book is a standalone containing themes and situations not intended for readers under the age of 18.

[Niky Lamoureux]

I received a copy from the author and this is my honest review.

What a good book, from the creepy prologue to meeting Teddy and Kael and the plot, so so good!

I especially loved the characters especially Kael. He's such a sweet monster for what he went through and has to do to survive. I thought Teddy was such a sweetheart and very mature for what he had to deal with but honestly at least Kael was endearing.

I really do hope we get a book on Arlo, he was such a fun side character to read!

[Anitaloves_her_books]

I love the collaboration of authors that got together and did these 13 books. It is so fun

Teddy and Kael have quite the journey in thus book and i absolutely love them.


Only thing I had I problem it ended to doon 🫣🫶and a few grammatical errors at the end of the book. It's ok though. It didn't take away from the story.

Absolutely love it.

Can't wait to see what she comes with on Arlo and The Master🤔..

[Ash Charlotte]

Thank you so much for the digital arc copy of mortis!

I love everything that Lily James writes. She has become one of my automatic read authors.

Mortis was such an adorable book. Though there was dark themes surrounding eating humans the book felt like such an easy read.

Teddy was such a little spit fire and I adored how he fiercely stood up for Kael at every point in the book. Kaels back story was deeply sad and I’m so happy he got his HEA.

My favourite character was probably Arlo. His comedic timing was great. I cannot wait to hear more about Arlo and Mammons story!

[WickedRiverReads]

I’m only two books into this series and boy has it been a fun ride. In this gem we got cheek steaks, lazy demons, delusional cult members and the sweetest found family. I enjoyed reading this from cover to cover.

☑️ Trigger Warnings.

🧡ARC REVIEW💙

[Kit (kit.reads.romance)]

Beta read - full review to come.

[paris]

RTC ⭐

[K]

INCREDIBLE!!!! I'm so in love with Teddy and Kael😭🥹
RTC🧡

[Natalie]

Fun read, with some sad. Loved all the characters. Great story.