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Darkest Dredge: A Dark Monster Romance
What starts as a research expedition to the seldom explored parts of the arctic ends up as a horrifyingly-heated encounter with an ancient mask.
Being trapped at sea on a small boat with a grumpy—and ridiculously hot—sea captain in search of the sunken city of R'lyeh has left me ostracized from the scientific community.
They think I’m insane. Maybe I am. Out in the cold dark, chasing nothing but a myth.
I’ll prove them wrong. I’ll find proof that Cthulhu’s sunken city not only exists, but that it’s bleeding something sinister into our waters and mutating sea life as we know it.
Too bad a mysterious mask, my attraction to my captain, and a bottle of rum changes everything. Now I’m up to my ovaries in tattooed tentacles and an ancient mission to mother a fallen civilization.
Who knows what ancient horrors we’ll encounter in the darkest dredges of the cosmos, where humans were never meant to venture…
*Please Note: Darkest Dredge is a stand-alone shifter/monster romance novella featuring many dark themes and horror elements that won't be suitable for all readers. Please check the book’s front matter for the full CW/TW list.
Being trapped at sea on a small boat with a grumpy—and ridiculously hot—sea captain in search of the sunken city of R'lyeh has left me ostracized from the scientific community.
They think I’m insane. Maybe I am. Out in the cold dark, chasing nothing but a myth.
I’ll prove them wrong. I’ll find proof that Cthulhu’s sunken city not only exists, but that it’s bleeding something sinister into our waters and mutating sea life as we know it.
Too bad a mysterious mask, my attraction to my captain, and a bottle of rum changes everything. Now I’m up to my ovaries in tattooed tentacles and an ancient mission to mother a fallen civilization.
Who knows what ancient horrors we’ll encounter in the darkest dredges of the cosmos, where humans were never meant to venture…
*Please Note: Darkest Dredge is a stand-alone shifter/monster romance novella featuring many dark themes and horror elements that won't be suitable for all readers. Please check the book’s front matter for the full CW/TW list.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2026
About the author
Aiden Pierce
39 books1,278 followersAiden Pierce is a writer of dark paranormal romance and erotic horror. Her love stories are on the spooky side and usually end up with the monster or the villain getting the girl. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their three fur babies. When she's not daydreaming about the characters that live in her head, she can be found curled up on the couch playing video games.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
September 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
I don't know what I was expecting but I had a fun time. I guessed what was going to happen with the mask, it was pretty obvious...
Other than that it's a short spicy fun time. I really liked the banter between Bea and Noah at the start, their chemistry was good.
I don't know what I was expecting but I had a fun time. I guessed what was going to happen with the mask, it was pretty obvious...
Other than that it's a short spicy fun time. I really liked the banter between Bea and Noah at the start, their chemistry was good.
September 24, 2026
3.5
This book didn’t take itself super seriously and the spice was hot. It was dark and dangerous with romance between two besties who needed a push to finally become a couple. I liked the mythos, but I wish there’d be more exploration of it.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: dubious consent, threat of drowning, monster attack, death of monster, asphyxiation
This book didn’t take itself super seriously and the spice was hot. It was dark and dangerous with romance between two besties who needed a push to finally become a couple. I liked the mythos, but I wish there’d be more exploration of it.
Spice: 4/5
Triggers: dubious consent, threat of drowning, monster attack, death of monster, asphyxiation
September 22, 2026
I feel like this was an Ode to Monster Lovers, and Aiden Pierce knows how to write a good time. This was just a short, fun and very spicy read that tentacle lovers will enjoy the hell out of.
Two best friends (Bea and Noah) are on an expedition to find something, ANYTHING about Cthulhu, especially since Noah's Religion is based on the Eldridge Gods (I think I am getting that right!). So not going to go into a whole lot, because its something that needs to be experienced, but I will say that I learned all sorts of things, mainly centering around Oviposition. Its just a funny, spicy story that was a blast to read, that left me WTFing a lot. Like I said, I learned some things.
"A dream. A weird, horny, fucked up dream. That's what this was."
MF Monster Lovin'
Horror Romance
Goosebumps For Adults
Short & Spicy
Best Friends To Lovers
Tentacles Fun Times
Breeding/Egg Laying
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🐙
Two best friends (Bea and Noah) are on an expedition to find something, ANYTHING about Cthulhu, especially since Noah's Religion is based on the Eldridge Gods (I think I am getting that right!). So not going to go into a whole lot, because its something that needs to be experienced, but I will say that I learned all sorts of things, mainly centering around Oviposition. Its just a funny, spicy story that was a blast to read, that left me WTFing a lot. Like I said, I learned some things.
"A dream. A weird, horny, fucked up dream. That's what this was."
MF Monster Lovin'
Horror Romance
Goosebumps For Adults
Short & Spicy
Best Friends To Lovers
Tentacles Fun Times
Breeding/Egg Laying
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🐙
September 19, 2026
3.25⭐️
Well that was something!
Noah and Beatrice are out on an expedition in the Arctic Ocean to try to find signs of Cthulhu. Even though they’re kind of close to giving up, they eventually find a strange mask. Finally, proof! Now, these two have always kind of had a thing for each other, and they decide that now is the perfect time to get a little bit freaky. Beatrice especially has a certain toy that she enjoys, and no one knows about her monster romance addiction. Everything takes a strange turn when Noah wears the mask while they have some fun in his bunk 🐙
This ~100 page novella has:
-MF romance with a monstrous twist
-we’re talking tentacles, eggs, and more
-a monster possession
-way too many “that’s what she said”s 🤣
Honestly, this book is about what I expected when I was picking it up. It’s absolutely bonkers and it’s definitely going to keep you entertained for the entire 100 pages. I wouldn’t call it particularly romantic or say it has a fantastic plot, but if you’re looking for some wild monster smut, then get on this!! 🤪
Do read the TWs because it is A LOT!
Have fun monsterf*cker friends 😛
Well that was something!
Noah and Beatrice are out on an expedition in the Arctic Ocean to try to find signs of Cthulhu. Even though they’re kind of close to giving up, they eventually find a strange mask. Finally, proof! Now, these two have always kind of had a thing for each other, and they decide that now is the perfect time to get a little bit freaky. Beatrice especially has a certain toy that she enjoys, and no one knows about her monster romance addiction. Everything takes a strange turn when Noah wears the mask while they have some fun in his bunk 🐙
This ~100 page novella has:
-MF romance with a monstrous twist
-we’re talking tentacles, eggs, and more
-a monster possession
-way too many “that’s what she said”s 🤣
Honestly, this book is about what I expected when I was picking it up. It’s absolutely bonkers and it’s definitely going to keep you entertained for the entire 100 pages. I wouldn’t call it particularly romantic or say it has a fantastic plot, but if you’re looking for some wild monster smut, then get on this!! 🤪
Do read the TWs because it is A LOT!
Have fun monsterf*cker friends 😛
September 17, 2026
"Then when you come and you pass out, I'd crawl into your bunk with you and use your body. After all, seems like such a waste after you've gone through the trouble of warming it up for me."
My seat was continuously wet, the entire time, this book, it had me FERAL!!
Two researchers set out to hunt for Cthulhu and the lost city, but get way more than what they bargained for.
Lovecraftian Cthulhu monster smut, hard smash!! Mark me down as scared and horny!
I absolutely devoured this book, could not put it down! Fast paced, hilarious, action packed and smutty af, it literally has it all!
If you want a quick read, hot man in a mask, monster dicks, tentacles, some oviposition and ✨️immaculate✨️ smut, then Darkest Dredge is the one for you!
Thank you so much to the author for an arc! All views are mine and have been left voluntarily.
My seat was continuously wet, the entire time, this book, it had me FERAL!!
Two researchers set out to hunt for Cthulhu and the lost city, but get way more than what they bargained for.
Lovecraftian Cthulhu monster smut, hard smash!! Mark me down as scared and horny!
I absolutely devoured this book, could not put it down! Fast paced, hilarious, action packed and smutty af, it literally has it all!
If you want a quick read, hot man in a mask, monster dicks, tentacles, some oviposition and ✨️immaculate✨️ smut, then Darkest Dredge is the one for you!
Thank you so much to the author for an arc! All views are mine and have been left voluntarily.
September 17, 2026
Gah! I absolutely loved this. It’s fast and spicy and extra monstrous and I cannot wait to see where Aiden takes us in this Bump in the Night series because AMAZING
* best friends to lovers
* bondage
* eldritch gods (Cthulhu in particular here)
* tentacle toys
* tentacle tentacles
* so much egg laying
* aphrodisiac fluids
We don’t do recaps or blurbs here, so what I’ll tell you is that I read this in 2 sittings. It would have been one, but work had to happen. It’s fast paced. It has SO much delicious spice that is all the flavors I love. Best friends to lovers, so the emotional foundation to support the pace is LAID. And so is Bea. So very well and often. The monster gives strong Lovecraffian vibes, but without the gore and with so many other fluids. The good kind.
Bravo, Aiden! I love this extra horror, extra monster and most of all, extra tentacle story. This might be my favorite Aiden Pierce story to date.
Thanks to Aiden for the review copy. All opinions are voluntary and honestly - and enthusiastically- given.
* best friends to lovers
* bondage
* eldritch gods (Cthulhu in particular here)
* tentacle toys
* tentacle tentacles
* so much egg laying
* aphrodisiac fluids
We don’t do recaps or blurbs here, so what I’ll tell you is that I read this in 2 sittings. It would have been one, but work had to happen. It’s fast paced. It has SO much delicious spice that is all the flavors I love. Best friends to lovers, so the emotional foundation to support the pace is LAID. And so is Bea. So very well and often. The monster gives strong Lovecraffian vibes, but without the gore and with so many other fluids. The good kind.
Bravo, Aiden! I love this extra horror, extra monster and most of all, extra tentacle story. This might be my favorite Aiden Pierce story to date.
Thanks to Aiden for the review copy. All opinions are voluntary and honestly - and enthusiastically- given.
September 22, 2026
Something is seriously wrong with me because I liked this WAY more than I probably should have.
Like… I REALLY liked it.
I also spent an absolutely insane amount of time researching some of the things in this book, and I’m not entirely sure I can mention them in a review without getting reported. Anyway, it’s a short novella that I read in one sitting.
Insanely spicy scenes that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Great main characters.
Tentacles… more tentacles.
And eggs.
Context? You’ll have to find out for yourself.
Anyway, it was absolutely worth reading, and honestly, I was genuinely surprised by how much fun I had with it.
Like… I REALLY liked it.
I also spent an absolutely insane amount of time researching some of the things in this book, and I’m not entirely sure I can mention them in a review without getting reported. Anyway, it’s a short novella that I read in one sitting.
Insanely spicy scenes that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Great main characters.
Tentacles… more tentacles.
And eggs.
Context? You’ll have to find out for yourself.
Anyway, it was absolutely worth reading, and honestly, I was genuinely surprised by how much fun I had with it.
September 17, 2026
I loved this book!!! Aiden is an automatic buy for me! She didn’t disappoint either! I loved the dynamic between Noah and Beatrice! It was steamy, hilarious, smutty, and there was action. I loved a good smutty monster romance, but I loved the action as well in this novella. It’s another 5 ⭐️ read for me!!!
September 18, 2026
“I need some bleeping popcorn for this book, girl!! It is soooo good!”
-Actual text to bestie at 5% in
Where can I get a mask like that?!
It was SO hot! Cackling, kicking my feet, and then BAM! I am now a slip’n’slide! Noah and Bea’s chemistry was off the charts and when he READ to her?! I perished!!!!
Aiden can literally write fine print for a commercial ad and I would read it.
10/10
-Actual text to bestie at 5% in
Where can I get a mask like that?!
It was SO hot! Cackling, kicking my feet, and then BAM! I am now a slip’n’slide! Noah and Bea’s chemistry was off the charts and when he READ to her?! I perished!!!!
Aiden can literally write fine print for a commercial ad and I would read it.
10/10
September 18, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and I absolutely loved it! Short, Spicy and So Delicious! Bea and captan Noah unlocked something in me that I didn’t even know I needed! Aiden is an auto buy author for me and this book literally just re-solidified that!! 👏🏾👏🏾
October 5, 2026
You ever look at Davy Jones and think …smash? This one’s for you.
September 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you Aiden Pierce for the opportunity to read Darkest Dredge early!🖤🔥
WOW, I had such a blast with this short monster romance! I recently came across Aiden and INSTANTLY fell in love with everything they’ve done!
Darkest Dredge is an insane and wild time! Lovecraftian horror, Cthulhu, and monster smut 🤭 WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR?
This book was literally written for me, I’m convinced! So descriptive, so detailed and so much character depth for such a short read!
The breeding kink I didn’t know I needed, cosmic horror goodness with tons of thalassophobia, even though I am terrified of how big and deep the ocean is and how BIG Cthulhu would be in the ocean I genuinely get such a thrill out of books like this where everything is detailed you can FEEL the goosebumps from how the thought alone makes you uncomfortable.
I can’t wait for more and am so excited to be a part of the ARC team!
Aiden Pierce, I love you!🤭🌊⛓️🖤
The smut ?? 11/10
The MMC? 83929/10
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you Aiden Pierce for the opportunity to read Darkest Dredge early!🖤🔥
WOW, I had such a blast with this short monster romance! I recently came across Aiden and INSTANTLY fell in love with everything they’ve done!
Darkest Dredge is an insane and wild time! Lovecraftian horror, Cthulhu, and monster smut 🤭 WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR?
This book was literally written for me, I’m convinced! So descriptive, so detailed and so much character depth for such a short read!
The breeding kink I didn’t know I needed, cosmic horror goodness with tons of thalassophobia, even though I am terrified of how big and deep the ocean is and how BIG Cthulhu would be in the ocean I genuinely get such a thrill out of books like this where everything is detailed you can FEEL the goosebumps from how the thought alone makes you uncomfortable.
I can’t wait for more and am so excited to be a part of the ARC team!
Aiden Pierce, I love you!🤭🌊⛓️🖤
The smut ?? 11/10
The MMC? 83929/10
October 9, 2026
3.75 stars!
Another new author for me! I picked this one up completely on a whim because I saw a post saying this was a new series meant to be "spicy Goosebumps" and as a girl who grew up reading Goosebumps books - I needed to see what this was all about. And for the most part, this delivered! I loved the setting and the fact that the characters actually had some history beforehand. The story was very short but it still felt complete and satisfying. My only complaint is that the author based this on Cthulhu lore but didn't really give you a lot of context, so if you're someone like me who doesn't know a lot about that - you might feel like you're missing something - but other than that this was a fun, quick read perfect for spooky season!
Another new author for me! I picked this one up completely on a whim because I saw a post saying this was a new series meant to be "spicy Goosebumps" and as a girl who grew up reading Goosebumps books - I needed to see what this was all about. And for the most part, this delivered! I loved the setting and the fact that the characters actually had some history beforehand. The story was very short but it still felt complete and satisfying. My only complaint is that the author based this on Cthulhu lore but didn't really give you a lot of context, so if you're someone like me who doesn't know a lot about that - you might feel like you're missing something - but other than that this was a fun, quick read perfect for spooky season!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a fricking fun monster-loving ride! Bea, a marine biologist and her long-time Cthulhu-loving sexy captain friend Noah are on a boat in the arctic in search of a hidden underwater city. They find something, something else happens, they have amazzzzzing fun with monster smut and a uniquely-shaped sex toy, something crazy happens, then even more crazy things happen, and it was just so funnnnnn! Super quick read, I read it in one sitting and kept thinking WTF with each page. I LOVED IT!
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy, this review is given voluntarily.
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy, this review is given voluntarily.
September 19, 2026
This was a fun and fast paced read that I loved from start to finish. Taking place on the open waters, Noah and Beatrice are on an expedition looking for the mythological city R’lyeh, home of the notorious deep dwelling monster Cthulhu. While they each have their own reasons to find evidence of the city, Noah and Beatrice find more they could have initially bargained for when they uncover an ancient artifact that will take there relationship to the next level.
The chemistry between the two was quite obvious and the slightly cringe Millennial humor spoke to my soul. I loved that Noah not only acknowledged Beatrices interests and takes an initiative to get into them as well, but he makes it his mission to let her know that she has nothing to be ashamed of...seriously we love a man who takes interests in our hobbies without making us feel bad about it, and if he happens to be built and and tatted at the same time.. well more power to him.
I am no stranger to reading books that take inspiration from mythology, but this is the first time I have read anything that included Lovecrafitan lore and I al 100% here for it. What I really loved about it is that the the author did not turn Cthulhu into a love sick creature, they keep him to his monstrous nature and plays on its mythology of bringing forth the destruction of humanity.
The kinks in this book really is kinking here, and our monster romance besties will be in for a wild ride in this one. I cannot wait to see what comes next for this series.
The chemistry between the two was quite obvious and the slightly cringe Millennial humor spoke to my soul. I loved that Noah not only acknowledged Beatrices interests and takes an initiative to get into them as well, but he makes it his mission to let her know that she has nothing to be ashamed of...seriously we love a man who takes interests in our hobbies without making us feel bad about it, and if he happens to be built and and tatted at the same time.. well more power to him.
I am no stranger to reading books that take inspiration from mythology, but this is the first time I have read anything that included Lovecrafitan lore and I al 100% here for it. What I really loved about it is that the the author did not turn Cthulhu into a love sick creature, they keep him to his monstrous nature and plays on its mythology of bringing forth the destruction of humanity.
The kinks in this book really is kinking here, and our monster romance besties will be in for a wild ride in this one. I cannot wait to see what comes next for this series.
September 22, 2026
This was a delicious little morsel of wild monster smut that was freakishly titillating and somewhat silly (in a good way).
This little novella is filled with suspense, sexual tension, giggles, masks, tentacles, eggs and filthy, slimy sex.
I loved every second of this wildly creative and entertaining story.
This little novella is filled with suspense, sexual tension, giggles, masks, tentacles, eggs and filthy, slimy sex.
I loved every second of this wildly creative and entertaining story.
October 1, 2026
Bea & Noah, the world’s best marine explorer duo, I loved Noah’s grumpy captain snark and Bea’s playful chaos. If you’re looking for a fishy monster romance with cosmic horror elements the darkest dredge would be a great fit.
Features;
- Bestfriends to lovers
- Cosmic horror
- Eldritch gods
- Body horror
- Ovipositor peen
- Happily ever after
- Kinky spice
- Dub con
Features;
- Bestfriends to lovers
- Cosmic horror
- Eldritch gods
- Body horror
- Ovipositor peen
- Happily ever after
- Kinky spice
- Dub con
September 17, 2026
3.5 ⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🐙 Monster shifter x human
🥚 Short and spicy
🐙 Oviposition, breeding (no pregnancy)
🥚 Cthulu/ eldridge inspired
If you're in need of a not too serious Lovecraftian monster fucker romance, then this is a great Halloween read! This was not entirely my thing but I can see why it would be other people's thing. I also learned about myself that Oviposition is not for me 😆
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🐙 Monster shifter x human
🥚 Short and spicy
🐙 Oviposition, breeding (no pregnancy)
🥚 Cthulu/ eldridge inspired
If you're in need of a not too serious Lovecraftian monster fucker romance, then this is a great Halloween read! This was not entirely my thing but I can see why it would be other people's thing. I also learned about myself that Oviposition is not for me 😆
September 26, 2026
loved the creativity
First of all, I loved these two! I loved all the little quirks and parts of them. Monster romance will never not be funny to me, but I did enjoy this. I loved that it was short and exciting to read. I can’t wait for more stories in this series!!
First of all, I loved these two! I loved all the little quirks and parts of them. Monster romance will never not be funny to me, but I did enjoy this. I loved that it was short and exciting to read. I can’t wait for more stories in this series!!
September 19, 2026
September 2026
Kindle edition
This was what would happen if monster lovers found the mask instead of Jim Carey. Friends on an exploration journey, reading monster smut and playing with toys. Mask goes on, things get weird.
Kindle edition
This was what would happen if monster lovers found the mask instead of Jim Carey. Friends on an exploration journey, reading monster smut and playing with toys. Mask goes on, things get weird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2026
4 ⭐️
This was so much fun!
This was so much fun!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2026
I loved this book! Such a fun quick read! I loved the spice and the tentacles!!! A great way to start the monster reads for fall hehehe
September 24, 2026
Oh my gosh I ATE this up. It was spooky - gave me chills, but also was spicy and full of monster f*ckery. Quick read but I was obsessed!
October 21, 2026
Not my favorite monster romance but I still had a good time!!
unsure how I feel about the eggs
unsure how I feel about the eggs
September 20, 2026
𝕬𝖓𝖞𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖉𝖊𝖊𝖒 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖍𝖞 𝖔𝖋 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊, 𝖎𝖘 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖍𝖞 𝖔𝖋 𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖊 𝖆𝖑𝖘𝖔
This definitely dug somewhere deep in my subconscious and unlocked something new in me 😅🫣
Because wow. I had so much fun reading this. Between the spice and the hilarious anecdotes I was so sat for this quick read.
I do wish we had more but I am so pumped for the next book in this installment.
Definitely not googling Cthulhu things now 🦑😅
4.5-5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🦑🦑🦑🦑4-4.5 tentacles
This definitely dug somewhere deep in my subconscious and unlocked something new in me 😅🫣
Because wow. I had so much fun reading this. Between the spice and the hilarious anecdotes I was so sat for this quick read.
I do wish we had more but I am so pumped for the next book in this installment.
Definitely not googling Cthulhu things now 🦑😅
4.5-5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🦑🦑🦑🦑4-4.5 tentacles
September 17, 2026
Fans of Cthulhu and Lovecraftian horror will love this short story. It’s monstrous, spicy, and fast paced, with sprinkles of lol humour throughout. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Ride or Dïe!
September 17, 2026
Do you love a flirty captain and his college best friend who have crushes on each other for the longest time?
Do you love tentacles? Eggs? Masks?
Well you are in the right place. This was a quick, 🔥🔥🔥, monster romance, written by Aiden Pierce? Reading it as soon as I can😤🫶🏼
Do you love tentacles? Eggs? Masks?
Well you are in the right place. This was a quick, 🔥🔥🔥, monster romance, written by Aiden Pierce? Reading it as soon as I can😤🫶🏼
October 18, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 Stars) — A short, unique, and wildly meta monster romance that serves up Cthulhu vibes and hilarious banter! 🐙💦
Okay, listen... I decided to read this for a few different reasons. I love monster smut, I love octopi and squids, and I think Cthulhu is so fucking cool. Plus, this is a novella (around 100 pages), so I figured it would just be a quick and steamy monster-fucker book. And I was right, but I also got more than I bargained for!
The Setup: 🗺️
This book follows Beatrice and Noah, who are best friends and colleagues, on an expedition to locate Cthulhu's lost city. While looking through their fish traps for dinner, they come across an ancient-looking mask.
The Vibe & Why 3 Stars: 🎭📉
This was very The Mask starring Jim Carrey meets Cthulhu, and honestly, it was a fun and dirty time. Definitely unique! I probably would have rated it higher, but the whole egg-laying thing just doesn't do it for me. Not to yuck anyone's yum—I don't judge! It just simply was not for me.
Bonus—Some Notable Quotes that I Loved: 🗣️
"Fine,” he growled. “I’ll cuff you to my bed then. That’ll make for a better punishment anyway.”
"Relevant reading material? You mean all the monster fucker books you keep stuffed under your bunk?"
"I don't get why Johnny Depp was so obsessed with this stuff. Why is the rum gone?" she said in a terrible Captain Jack Sparrow impression. "Maybe because it's gross, Johnny!"
"Oh yeah, do you also sleep with a monster fucker book in one hand and your pervy little tentacle toy in the other? I've heard of sleepwalking, but sleepfucking yourself? I don’t think so. Especially with an XL Bad Dragon Ika Tentacle toy? I don't think so.”
"Captain Visser. This thing has some heft to it. Taking up valuable storage space,” I tutted, using his exact verbiage from earlier in reference to my dildo. “You should have cleared this with me.”
"I was of the mind that all science felt like magic at one point, until the explanation was discovered."
Okay, listen... I decided to read this for a few different reasons. I love monster smut, I love octopi and squids, and I think Cthulhu is so fucking cool. Plus, this is a novella (around 100 pages), so I figured it would just be a quick and steamy monster-fucker book. And I was right, but I also got more than I bargained for!
The Setup: 🗺️
This book follows Beatrice and Noah, who are best friends and colleagues, on an expedition to locate Cthulhu's lost city. While looking through their fish traps for dinner, they come across an ancient-looking mask.
The Vibe & Why 3 Stars: 🎭📉
This was very The Mask starring Jim Carrey meets Cthulhu, and honestly, it was a fun and dirty time. Definitely unique! I probably would have rated it higher, but the whole egg-laying thing just doesn't do it for me. Not to yuck anyone's yum—I don't judge! It just simply was not for me.
Bonus—Some Notable Quotes that I Loved: 🗣️
"Fine,” he growled. “I’ll cuff you to my bed then. That’ll make for a better punishment anyway.”
"Relevant reading material? You mean all the monster fucker books you keep stuffed under your bunk?"
"I don't get why Johnny Depp was so obsessed with this stuff. Why is the rum gone?" she said in a terrible Captain Jack Sparrow impression. "Maybe because it's gross, Johnny!"
"Oh yeah, do you also sleep with a monster fucker book in one hand and your pervy little tentacle toy in the other? I've heard of sleepwalking, but sleepfucking yourself? I don’t think so. Especially with an XL Bad Dragon Ika Tentacle toy? I don't think so.”
"Captain Visser. This thing has some heft to it. Taking up valuable storage space,” I tutted, using his exact verbiage from earlier in reference to my dildo. “You should have cleared this with me.”
"I was of the mind that all science felt like magic at one point, until the explanation was discovered."
September 19, 2026
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Summary
Noah and Bea, who are obviously in love with each other but are keeping it secret for reasons that only make sense to them, are out in the middle of the ocean somewhere trying to prove Cthuhlu exists. You know what, good for them. People could really use some kind of religion these days. One night they finally manage to dredge up (ha) what appears to be a creepy mask that kinda looks vaguely like it could be Cthulhu-shaped...so let's just call it a win. They have some Kraken rum (ha) to celebrate, and with said liquid courage they finally stop being weird about everything and then they do be bangin'. It's only when Bea, like many thirsty readers out there, asks Noah to put on the mask that things go off the rails QUICKLY, and we take a hard turn straight into horror.
Vibes
This is not a book I'd recommend to...probably most of the people I speak with on a frequent basis. Not because I think they'd judge me, but because this is for a very niche horror-romance audience and I just do not think they are that. I mean I certainly am, as I found this both insane and wildly entertaining and I cringed so hard through at least half of this novella and 10/10 would do it again. I found Aiden Pierce by sheer algorithmic luck, and I'm never turning back!
Tropes
Oceanic Horror / Monster Romance
90s / Retro Vibes
Ancient Evil / Civilization Destroyer
Cthulhumanoid / Cthu-Lookalike
Dom/Sub Dynamics
Eldritch Transformation
Evil Mask
Friends to Lovers
Fuck It Moment
Glowing Eyes of Doom
Nerdy Protagonists
Night Swim Equals Death
Tentacles / Monster Appendages
First in Series Novella
First Person Dual POV
Spice Rating
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
Summary
Noah and Bea, who are obviously in love with each other but are keeping it secret for reasons that only make sense to them, are out in the middle of the ocean somewhere trying to prove Cthuhlu exists. You know what, good for them. People could really use some kind of religion these days. One night they finally manage to dredge up (ha) what appears to be a creepy mask that kinda looks vaguely like it could be Cthulhu-shaped...so let's just call it a win. They have some Kraken rum (ha) to celebrate, and with said liquid courage they finally stop being weird about everything and then they do be bangin'. It's only when Bea, like many thirsty readers out there, asks Noah to put on the mask that things go off the rails QUICKLY, and we take a hard turn straight into horror.
Vibes
This is not a book I'd recommend to...probably most of the people I speak with on a frequent basis. Not because I think they'd judge me, but because this is for a very niche horror-romance audience and I just do not think they are that. I mean I certainly am, as I found this both insane and wildly entertaining and I cringed so hard through at least half of this novella and 10/10 would do it again. I found Aiden Pierce by sheer algorithmic luck, and I'm never turning back!
Tropes
Oceanic Horror / Monster Romance
90s / Retro Vibes
Ancient Evil / Civilization Destroyer
Cthulhumanoid / Cthu-Lookalike
Dom/Sub Dynamics
Eldritch Transformation
Evil Mask
Friends to Lovers
Fuck It Moment
Glowing Eyes of Doom
Nerdy Protagonists
Night Swim Equals Death
Tentacles / Monster Appendages
First in Series Novella
First Person Dual POV
Spice Rating
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
Read
September 24, 2026ARC Review!
Aiden Pierce hit me over the head with an ancient cursed mask, a bottle of rum, and enough multi-limbed romance to make me question my life choices, my sub-genre preferences, and my evolutionary stance on seafood.
Here is why Darkest Dredge is a masterpiece of unhinged 90s-baby millennial chaos:
• The Workplace Hazard: The FMC starts out worried about being shunned by the world of science. Girl, by chapter two, you are trapped on a tiny boat in the middle of the literal ocean with a smokin' sea grump of a captain who suddenly sprouts heavily tattooed tentacles. Forget your tenure; worry about the suction cups, or don't!
• The Lovecraftian Shift: I thought Cthulhu’s sunken city of R'lyeh was supposed to be a place of primordial dread and cosmic horror. Turns out it's just a venue for a very aggressive, very steamy mating ritual. Aiden Pierce really said, "What if H.P. Lovecraft, but make it absolutely dripping with spice?"
• The Redpopulation Agenda: The plot summary promises a mission to "mother a fallen civilization." I don't know what kind of maternity leave benefits an underwater eldritch empire offers, but judging by the sheer volume of tattooed appendages involved, the onboarding process is incredibly thorough.
If you are a 90s kid who grew up on Goosebumps books but now require your monsters to have a ridiculous amount of visual appeal and direct M/F dual POV perspectives, this quick-read novella is your holy grail. My ovaries may never recover from the deepest dredges of the cosmos.
My advice: Make sure to double-check the physical label on any antique masks you find at sea before putting them on your coworkers. Or do. I'm not your boss.
Aiden Pierce hit me over the head with an ancient cursed mask, a bottle of rum, and enough multi-limbed romance to make me question my life choices, my sub-genre preferences, and my evolutionary stance on seafood.
Here is why Darkest Dredge is a masterpiece of unhinged 90s-baby millennial chaos:
• The Workplace Hazard: The FMC starts out worried about being shunned by the world of science. Girl, by chapter two, you are trapped on a tiny boat in the middle of the literal ocean with a smokin' sea grump of a captain who suddenly sprouts heavily tattooed tentacles. Forget your tenure; worry about the suction cups, or don't!
• The Lovecraftian Shift: I thought Cthulhu’s sunken city of R'lyeh was supposed to be a place of primordial dread and cosmic horror. Turns out it's just a venue for a very aggressive, very steamy mating ritual. Aiden Pierce really said, "What if H.P. Lovecraft, but make it absolutely dripping with spice?"
• The Redpopulation Agenda: The plot summary promises a mission to "mother a fallen civilization." I don't know what kind of maternity leave benefits an underwater eldritch empire offers, but judging by the sheer volume of tattooed appendages involved, the onboarding process is incredibly thorough.
If you are a 90s kid who grew up on Goosebumps books but now require your monsters to have a ridiculous amount of visual appeal and direct M/F dual POV perspectives, this quick-read novella is your holy grail. My ovaries may never recover from the deepest dredges of the cosmos.
My advice: Make sure to double-check the physical label on any antique masks you find at sea before putting them on your coworkers. Or do. I'm not your boss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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