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Masked Monsters #1
Don't Be Shy
Not yet published
Expected 12 Jan 27He won't bite.
Unless you want him to.
Humans and monsters aren't supposed to mix…until one night changes everything. Lights Out meets Ice Planet Barbarians in the first dark and spicy installment of the Masked Monsters series by Opal Reyne, beloved author of the Duskwalker Brides.
Unless you want him to.
Humans and monsters aren't supposed to mix…until one night changes everything. Lights Out meets Ice Planet Barbarians in the first dark and spicy installment of the Masked Monsters series by Opal Reyne, beloved author of the Duskwalker Brides.
400 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 12, 2027
About the author
Opal Reyne
40 books6,559 followersOpal Reyne is an Australian Author who has been a fan of the Adult Paranormal Romance genre from the moment she picked up a book of it - and has never looked back.
She loves everything spicy, smutty,and everything boarder-line monster loving. She started writing because of her love of the written word, and because she wanted to build a diverse world of mythological creatures, while also showing the beauty of all ethnicities of humanity. She thrives to produce a plot driven, character developing book while sprinkling in enchanting imagery.
-Duskwalker Brides a series that features a very real monster who never turns into a handsome prince.
-Witch Bound is a series of Dragon-shifter males falling for their species enemies, Witches!
-She currently has a completed series called 'A Pirate Romance duology'.
As of the 20th of June 2022, The Aedus Chronicles has been unpublished. Thank you to all the readers who enjoyed the series, and Opal may look into revising them in the future.
She loves everything spicy, smutty,and everything boarder-line monster loving. She started writing because of her love of the written word, and because she wanted to build a diverse world of mythological creatures, while also showing the beauty of all ethnicities of humanity. She thrives to produce a plot driven, character developing book while sprinkling in enchanting imagery.
-Duskwalker Brides a series that features a very real monster who never turns into a handsome prince.
-Witch Bound is a series of Dragon-shifter males falling for their species enemies, Witches!
-She currently has a completed series called 'A Pirate Romance duology'.
As of the 20th of June 2022, The Aedus Chronicles has been unpublished. Thank you to all the readers who enjoyed the series, and Opal may look into revising them in the future.
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September 4, 2026"Humans and monsters aren’t supposed to mix, until one night changes everything for Killian, our masked monster vigilante who swears he won’t bite...unless you want him to. Killian spends his nights patrolling the city’s underbelly, until he crosses paths with a human woman who snatches his attention. Curiosity turns to obsession as he begins stalking Paige, who is fully aware of the mysterious-yet-annoyingly funny masked creature watching her from the shadows. As the lines between humans and monsters blurs, Killian must decide how far he is willing to go to protect Paige without revealing his biggest secret..."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC! 🫶🏻
I screamed when I saw this ARC on NetGalley! I love Opal Reyne and her Duskwalker Brides series, so I was beyond excited for this book. 🔥
Killian and Paige were so cute together. It was feel good, spicy, funny and just so cute!
And when I saw Killian’s character art at the end of the book?? The perfect cherry on top! ❤️
It was the perfect palate cleanser. I have no cons to share about this one. I recommend it and I’m so eager for the next books in the series!
I screamed when I saw this ARC on NetGalley! I love Opal Reyne and her Duskwalker Brides series, so I was beyond excited for this book. 🔥
Killian and Paige were so cute together. It was feel good, spicy, funny and just so cute!
And when I saw Killian’s character art at the end of the book?? The perfect cherry on top! ❤️
It was the perfect palate cleanser. I have no cons to share about this one. I recommend it and I’m so eager for the next books in the series!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚊 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚟𝚒𝚊 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗. his book was marked as Read Now on NetGalley and I'm so glad that I was able to read this book at the correct time. This book may include spoilers that will be marked with (Spoiler) tag.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍:
- I liked the way how the MMC is more towards his villainess side and less towards his hero side. He isn't at a balance with what he does.
- The setting and the atmosphere of the story was nicely put. I could literally imagine everything happening in the story.
- The thrill that comes from watching people at heights was well written in this story. It gave me a nice adrenaline rush that made it feel genuine.
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
- I wished all the content warnings were included in the book description rather than in the book itself. I'm saying this because an ARC reader you know looking at the cover what book you will be reading but you will never know the extent of the content warnings.
- I felt like the arguments between Killian's team seemed too childish. It felt lower YA to me. I felt that the banter could have been written in a better way or pushed out instead of making them as conversations happening between the characters. The conversations were like something that would happen between backbenchers in school.
- I feel like the conversations between the characters in chapter one were being dragged on instead of having something actually happen. I don't mind having banter but if its too stretched out and starting in the first chapter it feels forced and feels as if that is the only thing taking the story forward. It didn't feel genuine or interesting in a way that would make readers like me continue reading. Instead what I would have wanted to read was how each character was different from each other and how their personalities shaped their conversations. Dialogue and banter like that isn't bad but if you couple it with personalities and the MMC talking about them would have been a good writing method.
- The jokes and the pop culture references in dialogues wasn't great. They should have been like mere mentions by the MMC that the other characters were talking about those things.
- Some of the character names were too booktok related. I wanted to see some variety, some variation. Why don't you make your own names? Why would those names be heavily influenced by booktok?
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍:
- I liked the way how the MMC is more towards his villainess side and less towards his hero side. He isn't at a balance with what he does.
- The setting and the atmosphere of the story was nicely put. I could literally imagine everything happening in the story.
- The thrill that comes from watching people at heights was well written in this story. It gave me a nice adrenaline rush that made it feel genuine.
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
- I wished all the content warnings were included in the book description rather than in the book itself. I'm saying this because an ARC reader you know looking at the cover what book you will be reading but you will never know the extent of the content warnings.
- I felt like the arguments between Killian's team seemed too childish. It felt lower YA to me. I felt that the banter could have been written in a better way or pushed out instead of making them as conversations happening between the characters. The conversations were like something that would happen between backbenchers in school.
- I feel like the conversations between the characters in chapter one were being dragged on instead of having something actually happen. I don't mind having banter but if its too stretched out and starting in the first chapter it feels forced and feels as if that is the only thing taking the story forward. It didn't feel genuine or interesting in a way that would make readers like me continue reading. Instead what I would have wanted to read was how each character was different from each other and how their personalities shaped their conversations. Dialogue and banter like that isn't bad but if you couple it with personalities and the MMC talking about them would have been a good writing method.
- The jokes and the pop culture references in dialogues wasn't great. They should have been like mere mentions by the MMC that the other characters were talking about those things.
- Some of the character names were too booktok related. I wanted to see some variety, some variation. Why don't you make your own names? Why would those names be heavily influenced by booktok?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A masked monster who rides a motorcycle, has a filthy mouth, and absolutely no intention of behaving himself? Well, you've got my attention.
Opal Reyne certainly knows her audience, and *Don't Be Shy* delivers plenty of the dark, unconventional romance that monster romance readers have come to expect.
I really liked the concept behind this one. Killian has that morally questionable, dangerous appeal that makes these kinds of romances so entertaining, and the chemistry between him and Paige has its moments. There's plenty of spice, dark humor, and an interesting supernatural world that has the potential to develop into a really entertaining series.
Where this one fell a little short for me was the dialogue. I enjoy good banter, especially between characters who are constantly challenging each other, but sometimes it felt a little excessive. Rather than building the relationship or moving the story forward, certain exchanges seemed to go on longer than necessary. I also wanted a little more maturity in some of the interactions.
The pacing was another issue. There were stretches where I wanted more actual story development, and then certain things seemed to resolve rather quickly. I would have preferred a better balance between the romance, the humor, and the larger supernatural storyline.
That said, I can absolutely understand why readers are enjoying this one. Killian is exactly the kind of morally gray, sarcastic character who will appeal to fans of darker paranormal romance, and the premise offers something a little different from traditional romantasy.
For me, it was an entertaining concept that didn't quite come together as strongly as I'd hoped. I wanted a little more substance behind the banter and a stronger connection to the characters.
**But if masked men, morally gray monsters, dark humor, possessive heroes, and plenty of spice are your thing, *Don't Be Shy* might be exactly the kind of deliciously unhinged romance you're looking for.**
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Opal Reyne certainly knows her audience, and *Don't Be Shy* delivers plenty of the dark, unconventional romance that monster romance readers have come to expect.
I really liked the concept behind this one. Killian has that morally questionable, dangerous appeal that makes these kinds of romances so entertaining, and the chemistry between him and Paige has its moments. There's plenty of spice, dark humor, and an interesting supernatural world that has the potential to develop into a really entertaining series.
Where this one fell a little short for me was the dialogue. I enjoy good banter, especially between characters who are constantly challenging each other, but sometimes it felt a little excessive. Rather than building the relationship or moving the story forward, certain exchanges seemed to go on longer than necessary. I also wanted a little more maturity in some of the interactions.
The pacing was another issue. There were stretches where I wanted more actual story development, and then certain things seemed to resolve rather quickly. I would have preferred a better balance between the romance, the humor, and the larger supernatural storyline.
That said, I can absolutely understand why readers are enjoying this one. Killian is exactly the kind of morally gray, sarcastic character who will appeal to fans of darker paranormal romance, and the premise offers something a little different from traditional romantasy.
For me, it was an entertaining concept that didn't quite come together as strongly as I'd hoped. I wanted a little more substance behind the banter and a stronger connection to the characters.
**But if masked men, morally gray monsters, dark humor, possessive heroes, and plenty of spice are your thing, *Don't Be Shy* might be exactly the kind of deliciously unhinged romance you're looking for.**
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Masked monsters with a wicked sense of dark humor, rides a motorcycle, and is covered in tattoos? Sign me up! I've been a huge fan of Opal's since her Duskwalker Bride series, and I knew I would eat up this book.
Killian works under the cover of night to help keep the others of his kind at bay. They all wear masks because the humans don't exactly know about the existence of Heliyons. He has been "watching" over Paige when she walks home from work past his area that he looks over, and one day when she gets snatched by another Heliyon - the people eating kind - he jumps in to save her. Well more like take out the other Heliyon, and if he saved her at the same time it would be nice. He doesn't expect her to fight back like she does, and that has him even more intrigued.
Paige has been working and going to school about to finish her degree, when her whole world turns on his axle. She is saved from a crazy masked man, by another crazy masked man who then starts to stalk her, but kind of sweetly though. What started out as something that was going to be a no strings attached hook up slowly turns into something more. However, her reaction to finding out that Killian wasn't a human with a mask kink was exactly how I would react if I was in her shoes. Freaked out at first, but then with it because who wouldn't be?
I ate up this book so fast, and loved every minute of it! I love that we are diving into a new world of monsters and getting to shake things up! I was sucked from the first page. Killian has a wicked sense of humor and I found myself laughing, kicking my feet and blushing often. As always with Opal, the spice is spicing, and the action kept me turning the pages! We got to see a sneak peak of Killian at the end of the book, and same Paige, same.
Killian works under the cover of night to help keep the others of his kind at bay. They all wear masks because the humans don't exactly know about the existence of Heliyons. He has been "watching" over Paige when she walks home from work past his area that he looks over, and one day when she gets snatched by another Heliyon - the people eating kind - he jumps in to save her. Well more like take out the other Heliyon, and if he saved her at the same time it would be nice. He doesn't expect her to fight back like she does, and that has him even more intrigued.
Paige has been working and going to school about to finish her degree, when her whole world turns on his axle. She is saved from a crazy masked man, by another crazy masked man who then starts to stalk her, but kind of sweetly though. What started out as something that was going to be a no strings attached hook up slowly turns into something more. However, her reaction to finding out that Killian wasn't a human with a mask kink was exactly how I would react if I was in her shoes. Freaked out at first, but then with it because who wouldn't be?
I ate up this book so fast, and loved every minute of it! I love that we are diving into a new world of monsters and getting to shake things up! I was sucked from the first page. Killian has a wicked sense of humor and I found myself laughing, kicking my feet and blushing often. As always with Opal, the spice is spicing, and the action kept me turning the pages! We got to see a sneak peak of Killian at the end of the book, and same Paige, same.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an intro to the series! I knew Opal wouldn’t disappoint, and Killian and Paige were delicious.
Oh lord, glowing and electric...elements added to the mix. I trust Opal to give us scorching spice, and she always does. But I also trust her to give us the romance and action to make everything fit together. This new universe, where there are monster politics with vigilantes, baddies, and rogues, was the perfect mix.
Killian was so fun and hot. He had the sarcastic bad boy routine down to a science. He made me chuckle and blush, but he was also soft and guarded. His life had been spent running and trusting no one; seeing him find his team, find Paige, trust, and love...I got a bit teary-eyed, not going to lie. He and his creepy mask can do anything, and I'll support him... like, please, he rides a bike and stalks for safety purposes...mostly.
Paige truly got me in love like I'm Killian. She was a fighter, a bitter, and a deodorant carrier? Her reluctance to fall for Killian's charms was futile, but it made for great banter. The push and pull they had was delicious, and I loved how open-minded she was to him and his quirks. Also, her relationship with Miranda and her job were highlights of her character, and I loved her even more for them.
My only setback was the pacing; by the 60% point, I felt like we were still on the 30%. And then suddenly things started happening in rapid succession; it made for a bit of a chaotic resolution. While all the questions were answered, a bit more time in between events would have made it feel like less of a rush.
I can't wait to read about the rest of the heliyons falling in love. Thank you so much, NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Opal for the chance to read this early!
Oh lord, glowing and electric...elements added to the mix. I trust Opal to give us scorching spice, and she always does. But I also trust her to give us the romance and action to make everything fit together. This new universe, where there are monster politics with vigilantes, baddies, and rogues, was the perfect mix.
Killian was so fun and hot. He had the sarcastic bad boy routine down to a science. He made me chuckle and blush, but he was also soft and guarded. His life had been spent running and trusting no one; seeing him find his team, find Paige, trust, and love...I got a bit teary-eyed, not going to lie. He and his creepy mask can do anything, and I'll support him... like, please, he rides a bike and stalks for safety purposes...mostly.
Paige truly got me in love like I'm Killian. She was a fighter, a bitter, and a deodorant carrier? Her reluctance to fall for Killian's charms was futile, but it made for great banter. The push and pull they had was delicious, and I loved how open-minded she was to him and his quirks. Also, her relationship with Miranda and her job were highlights of her character, and I loved her even more for them.
My only setback was the pacing; by the 60% point, I felt like we were still on the 30%. And then suddenly things started happening in rapid succession; it made for a bit of a chaotic resolution. While all the questions were answered, a bit more time in between events would have made it feel like less of a rush.
I can't wait to read about the rest of the heliyons falling in love. Thank you so much, NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Opal for the chance to read this early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
warning: this book may cause you to blush, giggle, kick your feet, and excessively sweat!
this was HOT! i haven’t read this author before, but goodness gracious, this book did not disappoint. the characters were well developed, the writing was beautiful, and the plot was plotting. i’m a big critic of plots, especially with books and genres i don’t read often/haven’t read before, but THIS ONE? incredible.
killian gets the award for making me giggle and kick my feet the most. he’s masked, rides a motorcycle, may be a little bit of a stalker, AND he has a good personality? yeah, i was absolutely done for. i need 17 of him right now. paige complemented him beautifully, and i may be biased, but i adore a fmc that is immune to another character’s charms/efforts. their banter was incredible, and i’m a slut for good banter.
while i did find the ending a little bit rushed, it wasn’t glaring enough to throw me off. i thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from this author!
thank you so much to netgalley and sourcebooks for the early copy!
⋆˙⟡ info ⋆˙⟡
ᰔ pages: 398
ᰔ pov: first person + dual
ᰔ position in series: 1
ᰔ release date: january 12
⋆˙⟡ tropes ⋆˙⟡
ᰔ he falls first
ᰔ masked mmc
ᰔ stalking but sexy
ᰔ monster romance
ᰔ morally grey mmc
this was HOT! i haven’t read this author before, but goodness gracious, this book did not disappoint. the characters were well developed, the writing was beautiful, and the plot was plotting. i’m a big critic of plots, especially with books and genres i don’t read often/haven’t read before, but THIS ONE? incredible.
killian gets the award for making me giggle and kick my feet the most. he’s masked, rides a motorcycle, may be a little bit of a stalker, AND he has a good personality? yeah, i was absolutely done for. i need 17 of him right now. paige complemented him beautifully, and i may be biased, but i adore a fmc that is immune to another character’s charms/efforts. their banter was incredible, and i’m a slut for good banter.
while i did find the ending a little bit rushed, it wasn’t glaring enough to throw me off. i thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from this author!
thank you so much to netgalley and sourcebooks for the early copy!
⋆˙⟡ info ⋆˙⟡
ᰔ pages: 398
ᰔ pov: first person + dual
ᰔ position in series: 1
ᰔ release date: january 12
⋆˙⟡ tropes ⋆˙⟡
ᰔ he falls first
ᰔ masked mmc
ᰔ stalking but sexy
ᰔ monster romance
ᰔ morally grey mmc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎭 Masked MMC
👹 Monster romance
🖤 Morally grey MMC
💕 He falls first
A masked, morally questionable monster man who is absolutely gone for his human girl? Well, you've got my attention.
This was such a fun, spicy and delightfully unhinged read! Killian is exactly the kind of MMC I love in my monster romances. A little dangerous, a little ridiculous, and completely smitten with a woman he's not supposed to want.
I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Killian and Paige. Their chemistry is delicious, and I loved how his dark humour and questionable approach to romance gradually give way to something genuinely sweet. There's something so endearing about a terrifying monster being utterly hopeless when it comes to the woman he adores.
I also absolutely loved the friendship between Miranda and Paige. Give me all the girlhood! There's something so lovely about seeing genuine female friendship woven into a romance, especially when it brings a little warmth and humour to an otherwise rather unhinged world.
Opal Reyne has such a knack for making the monstrous feel strangely lovable, and this was no exception. Plenty of spice, some wonderfully weird monster shenanigans and a surprising amount of heart.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
👹 Monster romance
🖤 Morally grey MMC
💕 He falls first
A masked, morally questionable monster man who is absolutely gone for his human girl? Well, you've got my attention.
This was such a fun, spicy and delightfully unhinged read! Killian is exactly the kind of MMC I love in my monster romances. A little dangerous, a little ridiculous, and completely smitten with a woman he's not supposed to want.
I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Killian and Paige. Their chemistry is delicious, and I loved how his dark humour and questionable approach to romance gradually give way to something genuinely sweet. There's something so endearing about a terrifying monster being utterly hopeless when it comes to the woman he adores.
I also absolutely loved the friendship between Miranda and Paige. Give me all the girlhood! There's something so lovely about seeing genuine female friendship woven into a romance, especially when it brings a little warmth and humour to an otherwise rather unhinged world.
Opal Reyne has such a knack for making the monstrous feel strangely lovable, and this was no exception. Plenty of spice, some wonderfully weird monster shenanigans and a surprising amount of heart.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Opal Reyne does it once again! If you loved her prior Duskwalker Brides series, you'll love this new adventure of masked man monster romances. What an introduction into this new urban modern world!
Our MMC Killian was perfect. Sarcastic, witty, possessive, OBSESSED, and a bit of dorky + terrifying all at once. He falls first and fast for our FMC Paige, and she does her best to resist his charm but their chemistry was so electric... it was captivating to read. Their banter had me actually laugh out loud a few times, I am a huge fan of dark humor. There is something so endearing about a monster weakened and brought to his knees by a human student.
Also, I'd be remised if I didn't mention that per usual of this author, the spice was written phenomenally. Her books always have an amazing formula of action, spice, and romance that have me always reading whatever she publishes. Opal Reyne, thank you for bringing these characters and this world to us, I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you also to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, I am so extremely thankful.
Our MMC Killian was perfect. Sarcastic, witty, possessive, OBSESSED, and a bit of dorky + terrifying all at once. He falls first and fast for our FMC Paige, and she does her best to resist his charm but their chemistry was so electric... it was captivating to read. Their banter had me actually laugh out loud a few times, I am a huge fan of dark humor. There is something so endearing about a monster weakened and brought to his knees by a human student.
Also, I'd be remised if I didn't mention that per usual of this author, the spice was written phenomenally. Her books always have an amazing formula of action, spice, and romance that have me always reading whatever she publishes. Opal Reyne, thank you for bringing these characters and this world to us, I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you also to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, I am so extremely thankful.
Did Not Finish
November 8, 2026I had been meaning to properly give Opal Reyne’s work a try, so I was very excited to grab this as a Netgalley read now.
There is fortunately an extensive list of trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
Our first POV character, Killian, has an incredibly strong voice and personality. Unfortunately, despite this, there is a lot of telling instead of showing in the first chapter, which continues into the second chapter, featuring our second POV character, Paige.
I enjoy monster romance, but while reading this I confirmed I prefer those that lean more into fantasy worldbuilding than the more contemporary romance featured here. The monster aspect wasn’t enough to overcome that for me, unfortunately.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.
There is fortunately an extensive list of trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.
Our first POV character, Killian, has an incredibly strong voice and personality. Unfortunately, despite this, there is a lot of telling instead of showing in the first chapter, which continues into the second chapter, featuring our second POV character, Paige.
I enjoy monster romance, but while reading this I confirmed I prefer those that lean more into fantasy worldbuilding than the more contemporary romance featured here. The monster aspect wasn’t enough to overcome that for me, unfortunately.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for my free e-ARC! It has not affected my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
5⭐️/ 4-5🌶️
*Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC, I am so grateful and appreciative. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*Check Content Warnings before reading
Opal Reyne absolutely went above and beyond with this new book because, not only did it have a mask wearing MMC, but one who did morally questionable things like…stalking the FMC, finding out personal information about her, and being unapologetic about how much he wanted her, GIRL! This was such a fun and entertaining book! Not to mention LOTS OF SPICE GALORE! WOO! HOT! A monster wearing mask MMC who was chaotic, charming, charismatic, and hilarious as hell was the perfect match to go with our FMC who was strong, resilient, sassy, just as much of dark deviant like our MMC, and more. Opal Reyne really went all out with this book to give the ultimate monster romance experience with new characters, an intriguing plot line, and having me become UTTERLY OBSESSED WITH KILLIAN!
This book had so many great aspects to it that really made me feel excited and have fun while reading. From the dark humor, and Killian’s personality of being total chaos roaming the streets at night and later following Paige obsessively to Paige being the epitome of what Killian had always fantasized about, and the underlying plot of action and danger, this was literally a story I COULD. NOT. PUT. DOWN! Opal Reyne is one of my favorite authors and she knows how to write monster romances in a way that brings together the thrill of such dark creatures, but also seeing the vulnerability in them. As much as Killian was ruthless and dangerous, getting to learn his backstory and how much of his past greatly affected him was sad to read about. Even with Paige, seeing such a strong female lead constantly trying to make ends meet and continue with her studies whilst maintaining her job had her running on fumes at times, but she was resilient. Both, Paige and Killian were lovable and interesting characters to meet and become big fans of.
The one thing I wasn’t necessarily expecting was the underlying action and danger in this book. Granted, with Killian being part of a secret team of fellow Heliyons who essentially did vigilante work, it made sense there was going to be danger along the way. I liked getting to see the action of what Killian and his teammates were up against, and even at one point how it got progressively more complicated when it started to become involve certain characters. Killian was a killing machine and my goodness that is someone you CLEARLY DON’T WANT TO MESS WITH! Killian was unhinged in every sense of the word and you get to see that in every single way in this book.
My fellow monster romance girlies, you’ll really love this book for the fun of Paige and Killian forming a connection in such a unique way especially from the way they meet to the unhinged things that occur along the way. Of course, the spice in this book was top tier and Opal didn’t disappoint with the special anatomy Killian was packing, and…lord have mercy Paige was a STRONG WOMAN because she throughly enjoyed playing out Killian’s fantasizes and discovering new things she never intended to experience in the bedroom. NONETHELESS, the spice in this book was HOT AND PHEW IT HAD ME FEELING FLUSH AND BLUSHING! I mean this when I say, if you love high spice then you’ll love reading about how Paige and Killian got to act out all their dark little deviant fantasizes with each other. Plus, there’s a glowing you know WHAT, a tail that does more than you would think, and Killian giving mind altering experiences for our girl, Paige.
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book! Perfect dark rom com vibes with the hilarious banter provided by Killian, Paige being a total baddie, and showing Killian she wasn’t a damsel in distress, in fact she was a fiery woman who continued to surprise Killian every time. I loved the action, danger, and seeing Killian and the other Heliyons introduced in this book, and showing just how lethal and deadly they were. While there was some darkness to this book, there was also the endearing moments between Killian and Paige that added that bit of sweetness to their relationship, and of course the passionate, all consuming intimacy they shared was downright HOT, SEXY, ALL KINDS OF DIRTY TALKING, and a fun way to spice things up! Paige and Killian were amazing characters and their story was the perfect one to start off this series! I’m so excited for future books, and OVER THE MOON IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK! Highly recommend reading this book!
*Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC, I am so grateful and appreciative. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*Check Content Warnings before reading
Opal Reyne absolutely went above and beyond with this new book because, not only did it have a mask wearing MMC, but one who did morally questionable things like…stalking the FMC, finding out personal information about her, and being unapologetic about how much he wanted her, GIRL! This was such a fun and entertaining book! Not to mention LOTS OF SPICE GALORE! WOO! HOT! A monster wearing mask MMC who was chaotic, charming, charismatic, and hilarious as hell was the perfect match to go with our FMC who was strong, resilient, sassy, just as much of dark deviant like our MMC, and more. Opal Reyne really went all out with this book to give the ultimate monster romance experience with new characters, an intriguing plot line, and having me become UTTERLY OBSESSED WITH KILLIAN!
This book had so many great aspects to it that really made me feel excited and have fun while reading. From the dark humor, and Killian’s personality of being total chaos roaming the streets at night and later following Paige obsessively to Paige being the epitome of what Killian had always fantasized about, and the underlying plot of action and danger, this was literally a story I COULD. NOT. PUT. DOWN! Opal Reyne is one of my favorite authors and she knows how to write monster romances in a way that brings together the thrill of such dark creatures, but also seeing the vulnerability in them. As much as Killian was ruthless and dangerous, getting to learn his backstory and how much of his past greatly affected him was sad to read about. Even with Paige, seeing such a strong female lead constantly trying to make ends meet and continue with her studies whilst maintaining her job had her running on fumes at times, but she was resilient. Both, Paige and Killian were lovable and interesting characters to meet and become big fans of.
The one thing I wasn’t necessarily expecting was the underlying action and danger in this book. Granted, with Killian being part of a secret team of fellow Heliyons who essentially did vigilante work, it made sense there was going to be danger along the way. I liked getting to see the action of what Killian and his teammates were up against, and even at one point how it got progressively more complicated when it started to become involve certain characters. Killian was a killing machine and my goodness that is someone you CLEARLY DON’T WANT TO MESS WITH! Killian was unhinged in every sense of the word and you get to see that in every single way in this book.
My fellow monster romance girlies, you’ll really love this book for the fun of Paige and Killian forming a connection in such a unique way especially from the way they meet to the unhinged things that occur along the way. Of course, the spice in this book was top tier and Opal didn’t disappoint with the special anatomy Killian was packing, and…lord have mercy Paige was a STRONG WOMAN because she throughly enjoyed playing out Killian’s fantasizes and discovering new things she never intended to experience in the bedroom. NONETHELESS, the spice in this book was HOT AND PHEW IT HAD ME FEELING FLUSH AND BLUSHING! I mean this when I say, if you love high spice then you’ll love reading about how Paige and Killian got to act out all their dark little deviant fantasizes with each other. Plus, there’s a glowing you know WHAT, a tail that does more than you would think, and Killian giving mind altering experiences for our girl, Paige.
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book! Perfect dark rom com vibes with the hilarious banter provided by Killian, Paige being a total baddie, and showing Killian she wasn’t a damsel in distress, in fact she was a fiery woman who continued to surprise Killian every time. I loved the action, danger, and seeing Killian and the other Heliyons introduced in this book, and showing just how lethal and deadly they were. While there was some darkness to this book, there was also the endearing moments between Killian and Paige that added that bit of sweetness to their relationship, and of course the passionate, all consuming intimacy they shared was downright HOT, SEXY, ALL KINDS OF DIRTY TALKING, and a fun way to spice things up! Paige and Killian were amazing characters and their story was the perfect one to start off this series! I’m so excited for future books, and OVER THE MOON IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK! Highly recommend reading this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Opal Reyne has done it again! This time, she brings us Killian and Paige in a paranormal romance filled with monsters, masks, dark humor, and plenty of spice. Paige has a fairly normal life in Sydney until her paths cross with Killian, a helíyon who belongs to a faction tasked with protecting humans from the monsters living among them.
Killian was, without a doubt, one of my favorite characters. He has that sarcastic humor, a shameless personality, and a dark side that makes him even more interesting. I loved that behind his bad-boy attitude, there's also someone guarded, distrustful, and struggling to let others get close. Watching him slowly find a place where he belongs and seeing Paige become someone important to him was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I loved Paige, too. She's strong, has a lot of attitude, and isn't easily intimidated by Killian, which leads to some hilarious exchanges between them. I liked that she has her own life, job, and personal relationships because not everything revolves around the romance. Their chemistry is fantastic, and I really enjoyed their dynamic of teasing, resistance, and attraction.
Another thing I enjoyed was the world Opal creates. The politics among monsters, the groups of vigilantes, and the dangers lurking beneath that seemingly normal world give the story much more depth. And, of course, the spicy scenes do not disappoint. Opal definitely knows what she's doing when it comes to writing romance between humans and monsters.
If I had to point out one thing, it would be the pacing. I felt some parts moved a little too slowly, and just when things finally started picking up, the resolution came a bit too quickly. Still, that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the book.
I absolutely loved this first installment in Masked Monsters. Killian and Paige won me over, and I'm already looking forward to the other helíyons' stories. I definitely want more of this world!
Killian was, without a doubt, one of my favorite characters. He has that sarcastic humor, a shameless personality, and a dark side that makes him even more interesting. I loved that behind his bad-boy attitude, there's also someone guarded, distrustful, and struggling to let others get close. Watching him slowly find a place where he belongs and seeing Paige become someone important to him was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I loved Paige, too. She's strong, has a lot of attitude, and isn't easily intimidated by Killian, which leads to some hilarious exchanges between them. I liked that she has her own life, job, and personal relationships because not everything revolves around the romance. Their chemistry is fantastic, and I really enjoyed their dynamic of teasing, resistance, and attraction.
Another thing I enjoyed was the world Opal creates. The politics among monsters, the groups of vigilantes, and the dangers lurking beneath that seemingly normal world give the story much more depth. And, of course, the spicy scenes do not disappoint. Opal definitely knows what she's doing when it comes to writing romance between humans and monsters.
If I had to point out one thing, it would be the pacing. I felt some parts moved a little too slowly, and just when things finally started picking up, the resolution came a bit too quickly. Still, that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the book.
I absolutely loved this first installment in Masked Monsters. Killian and Paige won me over, and I'm already looking forward to the other helíyons' stories. I definitely want more of this world!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you cut this book down to conversations and action, it would be maybe 100 pages. I was so bored and could not connect to any character. For every one line of dialogue, there was at least half a page of internal monologue from one of the main characters. Show don't tell is a cliché, but books like this remind you why it's so important.
The MMC was so immature and his "funny" jokes and attempts at flirting were cringe-worthy. The FMC was fine, but also didn't have much of a personality. I could tell the author was setting up the next few books of the series with the roommate and other monsters, but I didn't get enough of a feel for any of them to want to read their story.
The romance part was not great. I didn't see what drew them together. The spice was also awkward again because of all the internal monologuing. One scene was just after the FMC killed someone (in self-defense, but still) in an abandoned warehouse where she was being held hostage.
Also, what is this monster? They coevolved with humans on earth, but they seem, as a race, to have no shared culture or history. There's 2 (?) waring factions, plus some nomads unconnected to either. They also have five eyes, tails, fangs, pointed-ears, specials powers, including disrupting electronics and mind wipes, glow like a glow-stick, and can be a bunch of different colors. What?
Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC.
The MMC was so immature and his "funny" jokes and attempts at flirting were cringe-worthy. The FMC was fine, but also didn't have much of a personality. I could tell the author was setting up the next few books of the series with the roommate and other monsters, but I didn't get enough of a feel for any of them to want to read their story.
The romance part was not great. I didn't see what drew them together. The spice was also awkward again because of all the internal monologuing. One scene was just after the FMC killed someone (in self-defense, but still) in an abandoned warehouse where she was being held hostage.
Also, what is this monster? They coevolved with humans on earth, but they seem, as a race, to have no shared culture or history. There's 2 (?) waring factions, plus some nomads unconnected to either. They also have five eyes, tails, fangs, pointed-ears, specials powers, including disrupting electronics and mind wipes, glow like a glow-stick, and can be a bunch of different colors. What?
Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Don't Be Shy was such a tasty little dark rom-com, and I loved how it balanced the creepy, sexy, and genuinely silly moments with an actual story. The monster politics, vigilantes, rogues, and all the questionable characters running around made this new universe so much fun to explore. And the glowing, electric monster anatomy??? Opal, you have my attention. 👀⚡
Killian was such an entertaining MMC. Sarcastic, dangerous, ridiculously hot, and somehow still a little soft underneath all that bad-boy nonsense. His guarded personality and difficulty trusting others gave him some much-needed vulnerability beneath the creepy mask. And Paige was a fantastic match for his particular brand of chaos. She's feisty, stubborn, and not nearly as immune to his charms as she'd like to believe. Their push and pull was hilarious, their chemistry was fantastic, and the spice was 🌶️ 4/5.
Is this a healthy relationship dynamic? Absolutely not. Am I reading dark monster romance for healthy relationship dynamics? ALSO NO. 😂 I also really enjoyed the supporting cast. I'm already looking forward to the next book, especially because I have a sneaking suspicion the main characters' besties might be getting their own love story. PLEASE give me that chaos next. 🖤
Thank you to Opal Reyne, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Killian was such an entertaining MMC. Sarcastic, dangerous, ridiculously hot, and somehow still a little soft underneath all that bad-boy nonsense. His guarded personality and difficulty trusting others gave him some much-needed vulnerability beneath the creepy mask. And Paige was a fantastic match for his particular brand of chaos. She's feisty, stubborn, and not nearly as immune to his charms as she'd like to believe. Their push and pull was hilarious, their chemistry was fantastic, and the spice was 🌶️ 4/5.
Is this a healthy relationship dynamic? Absolutely not. Am I reading dark monster romance for healthy relationship dynamics? ALSO NO. 😂 I also really enjoyed the supporting cast. I'm already looking forward to the next book, especially because I have a sneaking suspicion the main characters' besties might be getting their own love story. PLEASE give me that chaos next. 🖤
Thank you to Opal Reyne, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 27, 2026
Eeeeek my monsterfucker queen has joined the world of trad with her masked monster series!!! Don’t Be Shy follows Killian, a monster who is also a masked vigilante. He’s kind of a good guy monster that hunts down bad guy monsters lol but a little more morally grey. He’s part of a group of masked monsters, but he still kind of feels like a loner. He’s crazy as hell and hilarious 😆 he just kind of does whatever the fvck he wants. In his current stake out spot, he sees a gorgeous human woman walking home at the same time every night. He’s a little obsessed with the even though he doesn’t think anything could ever really happen since he’s never going to show her his face. He decides to stalk her and falls for her even more. Paige is smart and funny, and these two have great banter. They’re so silly together. This book is super entertaining and sure to make you LOL! It’s a little more slow burn than I have seen from Opal Reyne, but the spice is still really good!! I can’t wait for more books in this series!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4⭐️ — Well, goodness gracious… THIS WAS HOT! 🔥
My first book by Opal Reyne, and what a fantastic introduction! This book had everything I could ask for: incredible chemistry, witty banter, well-developed characters, beautiful writing, and a plot that absolutely delivers.
Killian and Paige were an absolute delight. Killian was everything: sarcastic, witty, possessive, and completely, unapologetically OBSESSED. Honestly, I could eat that man up! But what made his character even more special was watching someone who had spent his entire life running and trusting no one finally find his people, learn to trust, and discover what it means to love. That journey was genuinely beautiful.
And Paige? An absolute fighter with just the right amount of attitude and bitterness. I loved her!
My only criticism is that the ending felt a little rushed, but that didn't take away from how much I enjoyed this story. Opal Reyne has definitely gained a new reader, and I already can't wait for book two!
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this ARC early!
My first book by Opal Reyne, and what a fantastic introduction! This book had everything I could ask for: incredible chemistry, witty banter, well-developed characters, beautiful writing, and a plot that absolutely delivers.
Killian and Paige were an absolute delight. Killian was everything: sarcastic, witty, possessive, and completely, unapologetically OBSESSED. Honestly, I could eat that man up! But what made his character even more special was watching someone who had spent his entire life running and trusting no one finally find his people, learn to trust, and discover what it means to love. That journey was genuinely beautiful.
And Paige? An absolute fighter with just the right amount of attitude and bitterness. I loved her!
My only criticism is that the ending felt a little rushed, but that didn't take away from how much I enjoyed this story. Opal Reyne has definitely gained a new reader, and I already can't wait for book two!
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this ARC early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to the author and to Netgalley for the ARC!
My enjoyment of the book went like this:
Chapter 1: Uh, interesting monster lore!
Chapter 2-3: Oh no... It's not gripping me? WHY the super long and preaching description of Paige's best friend??
Chapter 4 onwards: I'm HOOKED. I'm OBSESSED!
The pivotal moment they met? I "predicted" it a bit (more like it was foreshadowed), but I did NOT expect it going THAT way and how their relationship developed!
Killian was as much of a dork as promised in the marketing posts I've seen and I LOVE it! Paige and him are such a match made in heaven! Two badass dorks!
Don't even know what else to add if not that as soon as I finish writing this glowing (eheh) review I'm gonna preorder the physical copy.
And so excited for the rest of the series after how book 2 was teased in the Epilogue!
So, yeah, highly recommended read!
My enjoyment of the book went like this:
Chapter 1: Uh, interesting monster lore!
Chapter 2-3: Oh no... It's not gripping me? WHY the super long and preaching description of Paige's best friend??
Chapter 4 onwards: I'm HOOKED. I'm OBSESSED!
The pivotal moment they met? I "predicted" it a bit (more like it was foreshadowed), but I did NOT expect it going THAT way and how their relationship developed!
Killian was as much of a dork as promised in the marketing posts I've seen and I LOVE it! Paige and him are such a match made in heaven! Two badass dorks!
Don't even know what else to add if not that as soon as I finish writing this glowing (eheh) review I'm gonna preorder the physical copy.
And so excited for the rest of the series after how book 2 was teased in the Epilogue!
So, yeah, highly recommended read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc!
I really like the books I've listened to in the Duskwalker Brides series by Opal so when I saw that this book as up as a Read Now on NetGalley I was so excited I was able to get it.
Unfortunately this didn't work for me. And I think it's me and no the book. I'm trying to get out of a book slump with ebooks so I will give this another change in the future, or if there's an audiobook of this book in the future I'll give that a go.
Thank you again to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc!
I really like the books I've listened to in the Duskwalker Brides series by Opal so when I saw that this book as up as a Read Now on NetGalley I was so excited I was able to get it.
Unfortunately this didn't work for me. And I think it's me and no the book. I'm trying to get out of a book slump with ebooks so I will give this another change in the future, or if there's an audiobook of this book in the future I'll give that a go.
Thank you again to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This MMC was so incredibly dorky and cute. I was giggling and having a great time. And Killian had an axolotl!!!! He also saved her because he occasionally stalks her and normally you would think isn't stalking bad? Maybe, but he did it with good intentions, which is not a red flag in a book. I might would call this a glowing pink flag that will remind you of his 🍆.
2026 Book #138
Rating: 4.5/5
Tropes: Monster x Human Romance, Masked MMC, Obsessed MMC
Spice: 3/5 (Ch 18 21 28 32 Epi)
Romance: Yes
Plot: Yes
Pages: 400
Thank you Opal Reyne, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the e-arc.
2026 Book #138
Rating: 4.5/5
Tropes: Monster x Human Romance, Masked MMC, Obsessed MMC
Spice: 3/5 (Ch 18 21 28 32 Epi)
Romance: Yes
Plot: Yes
Pages: 400
Thank you Opal Reyne, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the e-arc.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Zbyt dobre się na tym bawiłam, nawet jeżeli często się wzdrygałam - nie mogę dać niżej ani wyżej ale zdecydowanie to ze przeczytałam ponad 100 stron w jeden dzień o czymś świadczy…
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay Opal Reyne!!! I'm hooked!!!
I have been a fan of Opal Reyne's Duskwalker series for quite sometime so when I saw this one I knew it was a must read. I did get a little nervous at the beginning because it did take me a couple chapters to really get into it but once the book got going I was all in and by the ending I was cursing the universe that the second one wasn't out yet!!! I love the Helyons and I can't wait to get more lore and see where this series goes!!
Give this book a go if you like-
Masked Monster MMC
Competent STEM FMC
Cute lite stalking
He's already obsessed
Secret Society
The intersection of romcom, monster, and dark romance
I definitely recommend reading this book when you're feeling something a little different and can't decide between dark maskd stalker and hot @ss monster
I have been a fan of Opal Reyne's Duskwalker series for quite sometime so when I saw this one I knew it was a must read. I did get a little nervous at the beginning because it did take me a couple chapters to really get into it but once the book got going I was all in and by the ending I was cursing the universe that the second one wasn't out yet!!! I love the Helyons and I can't wait to get more lore and see where this series goes!!
Give this book a go if you like-
Masked Monster MMC
Competent STEM FMC
Cute lite stalking
He's already obsessed
Secret Society
The intersection of romcom, monster, and dark romance
I definitely recommend reading this book when you're feeling something a little different and can't decide between dark maskd stalker and hot @ss monster
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews