Hollow: A Horror Monster Romance: A Monster's Prey

Monster's Prey

by Kat Bethel

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2026

About the author

Kat Bethel writes omegaverse, paranormal romance, and fantasy romance.

Reviews

[Aaron]

Kat bethel books are an instant read for me, I love the Rinah witches and their twisted monster men and hollow was no exception, this one was darker than most and I loved the visceral horror themes. Nana’s house felt scary, it felt hopeless and isolating and dark. As a reader you really felt what Tasha was going through, her torment. I liked the Warden too, his mystery, his vibe and his ehem equipment (although I winched along with Tasha for sure!)

Features;
• Trauma
• Horror Romance elements
• haunted house vibes
• badass Nana
• abandoned suburb
• growly possessive monster
• Typical Rinah craziness

[Alina]

Love a vengeful witch and a demon that enacts her vengeance for her when she can't. One of the best ones of the series so far. I hope there is more in the future

[Emily]

Honestly I loved it.
Was a fun dark read and had some wtf parts love a book that keeps me on my toes.
It was my first read from this author and I would definitely read more !

[Sammyreadsbooks]

This whole series is utter perfection, I'm obsessed. That being said this book is probably my favorite so far storywise. I can't wait for more Rinah witches and their monsters.

[RoseLabyrinth Reviews]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️: (Note: The author provides an extensive, upfront list of content warnings right in the book, which I deeply appreciate!). Seriously, read the trigger warnings before diving in—this one goes heavy on visceral body horror, terrifying psychological concepts, violence, and dark themes. 

First Impression: I was super excited to see another installment in A Monster's Prey! I’ve had such an interesting journey with the earlier books in the series—Echo (5 stars), Rot (4 stars), Chuckles (5 stars), and Ruin (4 stars)—so I was really hoping this one would join the 5-star club! While the cover art didn't hit quite as hard for me as some of the previous entries, the premise hooked me right away. 

My Reactions & Emotions
Legitimate Skin-Crawling Horror: This book completely delivers on the monster horror label. The body horror elements and terrifying concepts had me literally curling up and cringing—in the best, most unsettling way possible. Even with the warnings, I was not fully prepared for how visceral it would feel!
Creeping Dread and a Wild Twist: The atmosphere is saturated with tension. As the clues began falling into place and I started piecing together the major twist, the sense of absolute dread was unreal. It made my stomach drop and completely amplified the psychological weight of the story.
Magnetic Character Bond: The intense connection between Tasha and Warden was easily a highlight. Even when things got profoundly dark and terrifying, the dynamic between them anchored the emotional core of the narrative. 
High-Heat Spice: The chemistry is scorching, and the explicit scenes were hot and well-crafted. That said, balancing that level of romance with such intense body horror and the unfolding reveal made my brain spin a little trying to reconcile the two tones at the same time.

Constructive Thoughts & What Would Earn 5 Stars
Clarify Lore and Origins: To reach that full 5-star mark, the worldbuilding surrounding the characters' deeper origins could use a touch more clarity. At times, the specifics felt a bit hazy amidst all the chaos, and fleshing out those background details would have made the supernatural lore hit with even greater impact.
Smooth the Romance and Twist Integration: While both the spicy romance and the horrifying reveal are great on their own, the way the high-heat elements intersected with the twist felt slightly jarring. Weaving the progression of the physical intimacy a bit more seamlessly around that psychological shocker would make the pacing feel completely bulletproof.

Ultimately, this was a skin-crawling, terrifying, and phenomenally well-written monster horror romance. If you can handle extreme body horror and dark psychological concepts, I’d definitely recommend it—even if the nightmare fuel means I won't be brave enough to reread it anytime soon!

[bookishpadawan]

🖤Horror Monster Romance
🕯️Tainting the Sunshine FMC
🖤InstaObsessed
🕯️Don’t look under the bed
🖤She sold her soul to him
🕯️He hands her the match so SHE can burn it all down

♥️♥️Thank you to Kat Bethel and Booksirens for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own♥️♥️

"You can't leave, Little Witch. You belong to me."

What could possibly be the worst supernatural experience? a monster under your bed? how about a demon forcing you to eat disgusting food? or a demon trying to kill you? or being stalked by one so badly that you end up in a psychiatric hospital? Tasha has to face all of that. and when she returns to where everything started, things can either get much worse…or maybe a little better, especially when The Warden (whom she had forgotten because of her treatment) keeps showing up to save her from monster attacks.

"You can't be Tasha.
Tasha had more strength in her pinky finger than you have in your entire soul."

This author really knows how to do horror...I love the spooky setting, and the atmosphere in this book is so eerie and creepy...from the beginning it grips you and doesn't let go🥶 Tasha's character development was absolutely beautiful and I love how protective The Warden is of her, he keeps reassuring and encouraging her, reminding her that she's strong, as a Rinah witch should be. and the fact that she was just a toddler when she managed to strike a bargain with The Warden really shows how strong a witch she is. I also love that Tasha isn't actually as helpless as she seems. she tries to banish the parasite that's been haunting her for years all on her own, without The Warden's help.

overall this was such a fascinating read and definitely feels perfect for the spooky season!🥶 now I'm even more curious about the stories of the other Rinah witches!

[Moonburst]

Tasha knows she can't trust her own mind. Plagued with hallucinations and strange wounds that the doctors think are self-inflicted, she feels like she can hardly keep going. But her mother insists that Tasha help care for her ailing grandmother, and she returns to her childhood home. She finds her grandmother dangerously unstable, and her bedroom still containing a monster filled portal protected by the dangerous Warden. As Tasha grapples with reality, she uncovers unsettling truths about her family. Is she actually succumbing to her mental illness, or was she never sick to begin with?

Tasha is no more sure of what is real than the reader is, and her lack of confidence in herself after years of being told she is crazy colors every decision she makes. Add in her loss of memories due to a cocktail of antipsychotic meds, and she isn't even sure what to believe. While she cares for her grandmother, she knows better than to trust her, as her grandmother scarily seems to change personalities without warning. The Warden gives Tasha the greatest relief from her main tormenting hallucination, but Tasha fears he may kill her on a whim or use her in some other way. He clearly has his own agenda that might not have her needs at heart. The interactions between the two are rather abrupt and aggressive, which sometimes detracted from the more romantic elements within the story.

Hollow explores gaslighting, physical horror, and loss of body autonomy in a creative way. Bethel does a good job of making the reader feel just as uncertain about reality as Tasha, which gives an interesting level of immersion and increases apprehension. Sensitive readers should exercise caution when reading.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becky L Bauer]

Wow traumatic start! This author always gives me new things too ok enjoy and nvr expect! A queen of horror and spice . A monster that follows and no one else sees or hears but you, so you sick in the head but are you? I love how we delve into the side of mental illness and how it is treated at times and also when it’s not sickness but a gift that is misunderstood and Tasha seems to fit this bill .(I write this review as I read so I give at the moment feelings). The level and feeling, detail, and description is perfect you feel the blood, you feel the disgust like it’s your own and I love it. She’s tormented by one creature her whole life but it is only afraid of the monster under her bed literally, the warden I love how you learn things as the fmc remembers them makes me giddy to keep reading and happy to watch her as she refined who she is becoming with what she knew then lost from the past talk about the medium burn oooo yes plz! Gotta say it beautiful watching a women gain her power! Especially a witch(I’m a witch tho nothing like jn books) warden is amazing! Empowering! Great love to boot and support but not degrading In a bad way just there! If you wanted a stand alone you could read this like that but I recommend reading the books before this to get the real feel and story! No t happy ever after but one of one’s own making

[Carly]

ARC Review
Hollow
A Monster’s Prey Book 5
Author: Kat Bethel
Release Date: October 2, 2026
Genre: Monster Romance
Tropes: Size Difference, Medical Abuse, Mental Health, Forced Proximity, Body Betrayal, Isolation
This is the 5th book in the Monster’s Prey series, and this one is by far my favorite. It’s one of my top books of the year. The Warden is a monster in every sense of the word. Giant, violent and other worldly. It was refreshing to read a monster as a monster and not a cinnamon roll! The relationship between the FMC and the MMC was well written, with lack of comfort, angst and confusion all rolled into a dirty spiked…romance. The writing is atmospheric and the character and setting descriptions leave nothing to the imagination. I recommend reading all the books in the series, while stand alone there are relation connections throughout.
Triggers: I don’t have any triggers and I won’t helicopter yours. Always check your triggers and be good to yourself.
I received an ARC for free from the Author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#bookstagram #readersofinstagram #ARC #indie #review

[argyle]

This is the second book I’ve read from this author and it was fantastic. It’s spooky, witchy, spicy, with some gore. Your FMC has been told her whole like (she’s 25) that she’s schizophrenic and has spent a lot of years on meds, and spent some time in an asylum. Her mother has never really been much of a mother to her and her grandmother is her main ally growing up. She gets dropped off at grandmas & grandma has some problems plus the FMC meets Warden from the void who she contacted as a small child and made a deal with. There is so much that happens and she learns a lot about herself and her family. This book is fast paced and full of action!

[Amy M]

This is probably my favorite book in this series. The horror was more upfront than the romance was, but it was a really good balance. It was very creepy in an intriguing way that made me want to know more. I was a little disappointed that we didn't get more Rinah witch interactions, but I did like the historical context of how this book fit in with the series. The twist was unexpected, especially with her mother, which made me both mad and happy because I love a good villain. Now I'm going to go consume as much rosemary as I can.

Thank you to BookSirens and Kat Bethel for the free eARC.

[Lina]

Girrrrrrrrrl!!!! I haven't read something from this author that I haven't liked. This series is starting to live rent free in my brain. Rinah witches are truly formidable ones, even with their dark, very dark indee past. They always rise above their trauma and painful past. Each book can be read as standalone but you will benefit if read all of them because the story is not only about a monster and their love interest, the real story is their family line, Rinah witches.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda Wagner]

I loved this book! This isn't typically something I would read but it's making me rethink my choices! The plot was was amazing and kept me interested throughout the whole book. I loved the characters. Ward/Hollow was definitely a dark Daddy! Tasha found herself and became such a confident fierce thing! The creepy ambiance was the perfect setting for this book and the spice was definitely there. 5 ⭐️ is definitely deserved here.

[The Literary Chimera]

Kat Bethel came out the gate swinging, and I happily succumbed to the darkness! Hollow ties into the series in unexpected ways that I love. It's an unusual twist on the monster under the bed trope with a heavy dose of dark elements. I very much enjoyed Tasha's journey and reclamation of her mind and her life. The spice is a solid three. A true delight.

[Koa]

This was truly amazing to read, I love the whole mental health aspect! The various monsters are fascinating but the best of all is the warden. Protective of what’s his and a true monster! Grandma had me freaaaaked, my imagination for her was wild. She was scary 😅 SPICE WAS GOOD! such a good story as always by this author!

[Heather Kellermann]

Please Kat Bethel get a better editor

I love this series- it's dark monster smut. This is one of my favorites (up there with Chuckles), but the author needs to either get an editor or get a better one. All the mistakes make it a little bit harder to stay in the story.

[Jenni]

Tash and Wardens story will have you hooked with depravity! Hes a monster and hes not shy about it either. Another great addition to the series, dark themes, desires and more!

[Krystal]

I love Kat Bethel's books,she is one of my go to author.
What is a go to author you ask,it's an author that I love and familiar with,and ones I want on my bookshelves.

This book is another home run,touch down,goal or superman punch,you pick one,you will be asking yourself what is going on in Kat's mind when she is writing her books?

You will be jumping in the spot you are reading the story,and saying what am I reading as the story pulls you in more and more.