Pure Darkness

Pure/Dark Ones #10.5

by Aja James

We are who we are…

For as long as it can remember, it has been known as the Creature. Neither he nor she, neither Pure nor Dark…a beautiful abomination to all races and Kinds. A faithful henchman of the evil Medusa, it has perpetrated dark deeds beyond redemption, even if its own hands have never directly taken a life.

We are who we’re made…

Once upon a time, the Creature was conceived in love, a True Love that endured across millennia of trials and tribulations. Its parents have never given up hope that they would one day recover their lost son. And, too, the Creature was not always as it is now. But circumstances shriveled its heart and suffocated its soul, forging a being who cares about nothing and no one—

Until now.

**WARNING: EXPLICIT DARK CONTENT INCLUDED.**

This is not a romance. But it is a story about love.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Vampires, Dark, Fantasy, Shapeshifters

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2020

About the author

https://aja-james.blog/

Best-selling author, Aja James, just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

Check out Aja's expanded distribution of the Pure/ Dark Ones series on Google, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble Books.

Visit Aja's blog or join her reader-started Addicts group to learn more:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

She loves to hear from readers. Email her at:
megami771@yahoo.com

Reviews

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT'S HARD NOT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ENTIRE BOOK. I DID MY BEST...I LOVE THIS NOVELLA SO MUCH!!!1 sososososo MUCH!!!1 😭😭😭😭😭😍😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂🥲😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰 ALL THE FEEEEELLLLSSS!!!

Check this out - I needed that!

https://aja-james.blog/2020/01/12/a-s...

How can it be over??? HOW??? I wasn't ready! I'm not ready! I want MORE!!!!!!!

There are just too many stories to anticipate in this series... but I think the Creature's might take the ultimate cake!

Damn you, Firstpella, for having the foresight to claim him!!!!

I'm starting my review officially after my second read of the beta script, but the ARC is now in my inbox so I will be reading AGAIN very shortly!!! Hopefully with my Pure/ Dark Ones Addict buds!!

Look, this is not a book you ever want to pick up if you're new to the series. START AT THE BEGINNING before you ever pick this up. There are a few books in this series that are relatively standalone: Dark Desires (#3), obviously Book 1, Pure Healing, maybe Pure Magnetism... but that's about it. Every other book builds on the book before it. They all do, but every other book even more so.

This book you have to have the context for before picking up, else you will be soooooo LOST.

If you want a VERY BRIEF synopsis and still want to try it (at your own risk, don't ding the book for it), here's my attempt:

The hero of the book is known as "the Creature" or "it." Because it's a shape shifter that can take on any humanoid form (not animal as far as I can tell), and tends to use a form that's androgynous.

But as we learn in the previous book and as we begin to suspect pretty much from Book 1, it is actually a HE.

With that out of the way, I can actually write in he pronouns...

So, the Creature (C) is a baddie. In book 1, he's THE villain the good guys are up against. And you get the sense he's one twisted MF. He doesn't directly kill but he causes plenty of destruction and deaths. So... get ready.

Book 2, , he's still being his baddie self, but you see he has an accomplice. And you see the self-loathing and sadness that give you the sense he's perhaps not as bad as he thinks he is, that there's something more to him. And then there's hints about a pair of star-crossed lovers' son and daughter, tho the son is presumed dead...

Book 3, he's absent, but it introduces a new villain who turns out to be THE villain.

Book 4, the C's back. And there's a pretty BIG CLUE about his connection to a very important someone from book 2. And the stuff that you wondered why the hell drag out in book 2 suddenly totally makes sense.

Book 5, the C encounters someone crucial to him for the first time, even tho he doesn't know (and STILL doesn't) who that person is in relation to him. He also reveals that as much as he hates, he still can't directly end a life--tho we all wish he did!!!

Book 6, the C is detestable. He did physically hurt someone - not mortal or too gruesome, but he plays an emotionally harmful game with a little girl. And lots of readers really hate him then. But the prologue is important because it hints at both his snarky humor and some very very dark things in his past that made him who he is today

Book 6.5, he plays more games...

Book 7, he's the master of manipulation, tho no truly detestable actions

Book 8, he's being his mischievous self, and a THIRD baddie, who's almost as bad or maybe even worse than THE BADDIE is revealed (tho she's been there all along)

Book 8.5, he's one of the central characters, but it's only implied

Book 9, he's pretty much not there

Book 10, he's very much there, but only implied. At the end you finally get explicit confirmation of all your conjectures about him thus far

Which brings me to this book, 10.5, it's HIS book. And now that I've summarized his appearances and how important he is throughout the series, it's a wonder I never appreciated his role and the depths and layers of his character as profoundly as I do now. No wonder AJ loves him! She's been writing about him and adding dimensions to his character all this time!

And now I LOVE HIM!!

The reason I go through this long summary is because you have to read all the books to appreciate, truly appreciate, his character development. He's one of the, if not THE, central character to this series. And AJ always says that everyone has their own POV, every story has many sides. Don't judge until you hear their side.

Sooooooo TRUE!!

You see a lot of "bad" in this character, a lot of mischief and snarky, devilish behavior. But he's never been truly EVIL to me. Not even in Book 6. Not even in the instances where he tortures one of my other fave characters. And in Book 8.5, where we all thought he's manipulating the Hero, and we hate him for it, you see his POV in this book, and you're like... DAMN....

He reminds me of Loki. He's not a black and white character. There are a few gray characters in this series. You get the redemption of another "baddie" in Book 6, . That in a way prepared me for this book. In many ways, the H of book 6 is WORSE than the C. Because he HAS killed and hurt people directly, with his bare hands, in fact. Countless people. Including his own son! And yet, people never hated the H of book 6. Not one single person thought he was irredeemable, even when he was introduced in book 3. So... why do people hate the C?

I have to think that it's bc the C is more complex, he hides himself better. He doesn't even know who he is, but his actions in so many crucial moments in this book, speak for themselves.

And I CRIED, folks. All my beta gals and me CRIED for the C!!!

So buckle up. It's a rollercoaster of an emotional ride. I LOVED EVERY SINGLE FREAKING WORD.


************************************


Inspired by PUC, I'm going to have to start accumulating potential pics of the Creature as well... tho I already know that NONE of them will do him justice!















This must be the closest to the C there is! Model Gabriel Bin!! He is sooooo PRETTY! He's definitely my creature!!!

AND THEN!!!

I find ANOTHER contender for C!! Jaco Van Den Hoven:



Dark hair and blue eyes, pretty enough to be a girl!!



Is this Binu with the glasses?? Maybe Gabriel Bin is the C, but Jaco is Binu??













And then, there's this lovely man... except the C isn't blond... but this could totally be one of his disguises!!

Danila Kovalev (even sounds like a girl's name):

[Princess under cover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: I NEED MORE CREATURE LIKE RIGHT NOW!!!! I can only drag out a decadent treat so long...

Found another great pic of him:


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And really I encourage you to read the author's explanation before you even TRY to pick this up.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This is a deeply immersive, tear-your-heart-out, make you burst out laughing kind of book. It's very involved, intricately woven into the complex fabric of the overall series.

As the author notes and as I WARN YOU ALL: this is not a romance. It doesn't have (consensual) sex. It's brutal, raw, poignant, heavy, light, filled with both PAIN and humor.

I will be thinking about this book the way I think about people in real life - it gets under your skin, you feel like you know these people, you feel like they're YOUR people, and for the MC of the book in particular, I just want to draw him into my arms and hug him for a few thousand years. Just stroke his long hair, his stupidly pretty face and tell him how beautiful he is, not only on the outside but on the inside where it counts, and that he is LOVED. That he has been brave and strong and he doesn't ever deserve to be hurt the way he's been hurt, and that I'd KILL anyone who tried to hurt him again!

And yes he's done bad things - if you haven't figured it out by now, he's one of the three main baddies of the series! But I understand. I don't excuse him. But I forgive him. As long as he understands the bad that he's done and does better going forward, he can be forgiven. He's done so much for so many people (an entire race of people!) and never got anything or expected anything for it. He's capable of so much selflessness and goodness...

AJ wrote in an email to me:

"How can the Creature be bad? He's the result of True Love. He's the father of Pure Love (Benjamin). He's capable of endless, limitless love."

I await the continuation of his story. I KNOW he will become everything he has the potential to become. Yes there is potential for darkness too. But it's his choice what he makes of his own future. And I hope he will allow those who care for him (including us devoted readers!!) to help him along the way.

ENDLESS STARS FOR THIS BOOK!!!!


I honestly don't know what to write right now... reeling from the whirlwind of the C's history and story... I have to read it a few more times to put my thoughts together... but I can tell you that it was FREAKING AMAZING!@!!!! And I defy anyone who reads this to not LOVE THE CREATURE!!!!! Gah!!

This book is so good I created THREE new shelves for it:

dark-and-deliciously-twisted and anti-hero-you-love and no-sex-no-romance-still-awesome

Have I mentioned that I love a good anti-hero? The baddie that you want so bad to be good? The one you can never really hate bc there's just something about him... something that gets under your skin, into your heart?

That's the Creature, folks. He's infiltrated every part of my heart. I LOVE HIM!!!
* The snarky humor
* The mischief
* The strength
* The courage
* The vulnerability
* The LOVE
* The sacrifice
* The perseverance
* The beauty (even tho he doesn't get it, even tho he doesn't think he is)

There's just so many layers to him... I could go on and on! He's probably someone I'd never be brave enough to date. He's just too much for me to handle - I bow to your claim of him, Firstpella! You're def a braver woman than me!

But god! How I loved reading his journey, his story, his relationships with others... He has become, hands down, one of my FAVORITE characters across ALL books that I've read! Across all GENRES!!!! He's just so special.

And people: THERE WAS NO SEX IN THIS BOOK! Not the romantic lovey dovey sort anyway. None whatsoever! And those of you who know me KNOW that I have to have my red hot lovin'... and YET! I STILL FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! That's how good it is

More later...

I think I'm over 50% through by now. This is supposed to be a novella for one of the main baddies in this PHENOMENAL paranormal-fantasy series by Aja James, The Pure/ Dark Ones. I can already tell this will be a "gazillion" star book even without the sexy times I love by this author!

(Though, AJ, can you try to squeeze something in there? pretty pretty please?? OK, never mind... just don't see how it will fit, given C's issues with it...)

Anyway, I'm starting my review in advance. First, I've been inspired to dig out some pics that hopefully do the C's true face justice even a smidgeon.

We get some hints in this book about what he was born to look like (given that he's a shapeshifter, you can never tell which face he shows is real, or if he's EVER shown his real face). But we do know that:

1) He has blue eyes (ala daddy?)



2) He's six foot six! (SWOON)!!! Also ala daddy, well and his mum is pretty tall too...

3) He has LONG, WAVY raven hair, ala mommy...





OK, this one doesn't quite fit, I just think it's hot :P

4) He's unbearably, stupidly beautiful... courtesy of both his parents



OK, Starr my little Bam Bam pal, is upping the stakes on this beauty contest, so here are some more potential C's: this one might be my fave





And this one is too blond but still so pretty...



Oh my beautiful, misunderstood, darling Creature...

Ciao for now!

[Aja James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will use review space to ramble a bit about one of my personal favorite characters in the Pure/ Dark Ones series.

The Creature, as "it" is known to itself and to its enemies (it has no friends, unfortunately), is an extremely complex, multi-faceted (literally), rather surprising anti-hero.

Its novella, this book, was written really for the most devoted followers of this series, because only YOU dear Addicts will understand the Creature's pain, trauma, evolution, and as of yet uncharted path forward. Only you will appreciate who it was, who it became and who it is today.

As I told my readers before, this book is not for the masses. Readers who don't know about this series will be completely confused if they start with this book. I can even imagine the amount of "hate" this book might get.

WARNING: EXPLICIT DARK CONTENT INCLUDED.

This is not a romance. It doesn't have a happy ending (because the story continues). It's complex and requires a good deal of thought, openness, and empathy. To put yourself in the shoes of the Creature in order to really understand it.

I've always loved characters that are multi-dimensional. Not all good, not all bad. They fascinate me. Because they are so very REAL. The Creature has done some very bad things, no doubt. There's only so much it can blame its Mistress for making it do these things, and even if it isn't "free" it still possesses some free will.

One could argue that a stronger person would choose death or heroics over just doing the things it has done. One could also argue that a weaker person could never have survived the things the Creature has been through, nor made the sacrifices and taken the risks it has. I think the readers who feel the most for the Creature, who can empathize and sympathize, are the ones who have known difficulty and pain in their lives.

I absolutely don't expect all readers to like this book, or to like the Creature. As long as it elicits a strong reaction, I already know that it's a powerful, memorable character :)

Happy reading!

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 'Forgiven but not forgoten' stars

Where to start?? Usually, if I don't like the characters, then I don't like the story either. However, I liked this book even when I still don't like the Creature. Well, a lot of my other beloved characters were present, so there's that.

Still, I have to admit that knowing his background now, I'm seeing C with different eyes. His life was (is) one giant heartbreaking agony. He suffered as much as Tal or maybe even more. Tortured heroes (anti-heroes, whatever) have always been my soft spot but in this case, I just didn't feel as much for C as I did for some others. It might be my previous hatred for him or I just already used my quota of sympathy for all the poor souls of this series. I guess no more tortured heroes for me. It seems I gave away all my love I've had to give.

But onto the more cheerful topics now. I'm not exactly a fan of these first-person POV's novellas (still prefer the narration of the full-length novels of the series) but the truth is that C is actually a very funny and amusing storyteller. His sarcastic humor is golden.

Don’t tell, but my guilty pleasure is historical romance. I inhale those things like chocolate bonbons.

Me too, C, me too! LOL And he's also obsessed with The Lord of the Rings. Looks like we have more things in common.

When he first showed interest in his son, I didn't quite know what to think of it. Is there some scheme behind this, is he planning to gain something out of it? So, I was really touched by how much he genuinely loves Benji.

He’s the only connection to the world that I have. He’s the only thing that will never be taken away from me.
Because he is my son.

I think Benji will be his salvation. C claims there's only darkness inside him but such love cannot thrive in the dark. This precious little boy will "break" him, I'm sure.

The more I reflect on this, the more I believe he’s like a child. Playing with fire. Even when he burns down the house, you’re tempted not to blame him. Because he doesn’t know better. Because he’s never been taught better.

I found these Sophia's thoughts very interesting and enlightening but I don't agree with her 100%. I think there is a part of him that knows better, he just doesn't want to acknowledge it.

And now I finally came to my favorite part. Yes, the kitten scenes! That was so utterly adorable, I almost couldn't handle it. I melted into an enchanted puddle too. Seeing his mommy finally got a chance to "embrace" her child. What a lovely sight. I can't wait for him to learn the truth. How many people love him and care for him. And, is it possible that I fell in love with Tal all over again and even more than before. That's saying a lot since I was already in love with him to the moon and back and through the whole galaxy.

“Because you are mine to protect,” he says in that low, husky voice, his words sending me staggering, even though my physical self has not moved. “I was unable to do it in the past. I did not know about…you. I know now. I will protect you, Binu. I will always protect you.”

You will have to excuse my undignified self that just melted into a puddle yet again. Just a second, to put myself back together. Oh, screw it, why bother? The next scene will melt me again anyway.

The kitten leaps onto one of the stools, then launches herself at the General’s chest. He catches her in his arms and tucks her against him as if he does this all the time, so natural is his reflex. Her purring grows louder as she licks his throat and jaw, rubbing her forehead and face wherever he has skin showing as if marking her territory.

I'm crying happy tears to see them being content at last. I believe their happiness will be challenged many times before the end but I'll cherish this bubble of their joy until it lasts.

Final thoughts - there was a lot of guessing who C's mate will be but I came to a conclusion (which is most likely false but still, that's how I feel) that C's happy end is not finding a mate but be with his family. I just don't see him being romantically involved with anyone. Considering how popular character he's become, I believe he'll certainly get his own full-length novel, however, I'm not interested in it. At least not right now. The next book better be Ramses and Eveline's, otherwise, I will go on a strike.
*************************************

As always, picture inspiration:





The ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Aja!!

[ren ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did. Bleed, that was. My blood was red like everyone else’s. I wasn’t that different. But no one saw things from my point of view.

Pure Darkness WAS BRUUUUUUTAL!. I’m pretty sure I went through the 5 stages of grief reading this book. I’m barely getting over Tal’s arc, okay? GIVE ME A BREAK AJ! 💔💔💔

I love that every character in this series is so multifaceted and so wonderfully fleshed out – even the villains and anti-heroes. The Creature is so much more than the cold and aloof front he puts on. SOOO MUCH MORE.

Despite all that he’s done, and all that he’s been made to do, it's impossible not to empathize with him. The Creature's flashbacks had me SOBBING like a baby! He’s so broken, I can't even begin to fathom the depths of his pain. The sacrifices he's made, the betrayal and abandonment he's had to face was heart-wrenching! Seeing the past through his eyes was a downright depressing experience, but ultimately they show us the good he's capable of. OK... NOT THAT IT'S SOPHIA OR DALAIR'S FAULT... but did anyone kind of resent them?? AGAIN, IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT 'cause they also have their own tragic lives and it's not like they knew about C but omggggg the way they inadvertently hurt him... 😭😭😭 And those letters to Dalair!!! AHH! I still love Sophia and Dalair though 💕

The thing about pain is that your body gets inured to it after a while. Your mind becomes numb. Same with shame.
But the soul... The soul absorbs it all.

Although the Creature believes he’s been swallowed by darkness and is beyond redemption, little does he know that THAT SPOT IS RESERVED FOR MEDUSA! All the lies that she's fed him... I really hope Medusa gets what she deserves tenfold! How does she manage to get worse with every installment…??

Beneath my breath I whisper: “Then why do I feel so ugly inside?”

Seeing the Creature at his most vulnerable, without the sarcasm and dark humor, BROKE me. The Creature’s genuineness with Benji, his awe of Tal, and the tender moments with the kitten had me BAWLING my eyes out. It was so endearing and heart-breaking at the same time! All the happiness and joy he deserved had been ROBBED from him! I can’t wait for him to fully heal and experience true and unconditional love. I can’t wait for him to be able to trust again and see how PURE he actually is. I can’t wait for him to be reunited with his parents, his son and his mate. HE DESERVES THE WORLD AND SO MUCH MORE! His journey is going to be one of the toughest but I know the HEA is going to be so damn worth it. It's all within arm's reach... I'm rooting for him!

The picture is waiting to be drawn, and you are the artist of your own destiny.

And so, I leave this review with a word of warning… this novella was dark, nasty and downright brutal. In fact, it was pure agony, so brace yourself before you pick this one up! (Read more here with what the author has to say!)

Rating: 5/5

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book... if there was any doubt about the creative genius that is Aja James... this book is proof!

Who knew that The Creature, the one person who was like an evil puppeteer, manipulating events and causing death and mayhem to my peeps... Who knew that I would have such empathy for him?

I'm in love with how in love he is with his son.

Benjamin doesn’t let me get away with anything. It’s like he sees right through me. Or into me. Like he can see straight into my black, ugly, twisted soul.

OMG and his hero worship of Tal. My sweet, broken, beautiful Tal. With me knowing he's his father and him being totally ignorant... I think it made it all the sweeter!

I don’t know why I ever thought the male less than resplendently magnificent. Yes, he has more scars than skin. Yes, he’s blind and stripped of his Gift. But he’s the fucking Tal-Telal! Lack of empathy doesn’t mean I can’t admire. That’s what people do with legends. He practically oozes confidence, strength, leadership, determination, and pure sexual maleness out of every pore. If I were an unrelated female between the age of sixteen and six hundred, I’d do him. And I don’t even like sex!

Okay, maybe not the whole 'I'd do my father bit', but I'll give him the out because he doesn't know!

And then Tal's emotional response to the son he never knew he had, but loves so deeply anyway...

“Because you are mine to protect,” he says in that low, husky voice, his words sending me staggering, even though my physical self has not moved. “I was unable to do it in the past. I did not know about…you. I know now. I will protect you, Binu. I will always protect you.”

I love The Creature's sarcasm and wit. I love how broken he is and how it drove him to make certain decisions. I wish there was a way to brutally punish every person who ever treated this male unkindly. The horrors he suffered through, the betrayals, abuses, and pains... he deserves some form of vengeance... of justice. Poor thing!

Don't even get me started on how this male connected with Dalair. His feelings were felt. Strongly. At times I didn't know whether I was supposed to laugh or cry. My heart completely broke for him... again. This dude couldn't catch a dang break!

Over the years, Dalair and I grew unbearably close. Unbearably, because I didn’t know how I was ever to survive when this fantasy ended. When I lost my only friend and brother.

and...

Since I’d been reborn as the Mistress’s Creature, I’d never met another living being who impressed me more than Dalair.

and...

Please, almighty gods that be, don’t let anything happen to my heart and my light. I needed them in my life the way I needed air. It might have started in pretense, but the feelings I felt for Dalair and Kira were more real than anything else across the entirety of my existence. They made me feel alive. They gave my life meaning. I loved them, I loved them, I loved them!

I'm not saying I'm loving The Creature, but I'm definitely feeling him. I've always liked him and wanted to know more about him and now that I do... I can see myself falling for him. I'm a sucker for broken males and they don't come in more pieces than this one. I hope the Pure Ones can get through to him (if they finally reveal his truth) and that he switches sides. F-ck Medusa!

Find my full review here

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so freaking good!!! C has been redeemed some in my eyes now and I feel so much sadness for what he has been through!! Dalair was also in this book and it showed us the love that they had for each other as brothers!! I can't wait for them both to get their happy endings!!! Another amazing book!!!

[Cécile Smits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since the other Muses have started their reviews of Pure Darkness,i decided,just this once,i will do mine,too.....
Brace yourself,all you C haters!
Brace yourself for the agony that he endured.
Brace yourself....and be prepared to change your mind!

Finally,we get to hear C’s story.
And what a story it is....
The only thing that kept me sane,that made me hold on by a thread,was the fact that he is in a good place at this moment.
I don’t know for how long,but he is with people that care,that love him.
That will be able to help him heal.

His childhood was spent in an orphanage,with children that despised him....all except one.
But when he’s forced to take desperate measures to keep her safe,when he’s forced to endure in various shapes what evil men do to him....even she turns against him.
Broken and bleeding,he leaves....and stumbles into the camp of....you know who!
Tal takes a liking to the boy,and to his surprise,Innana is kind as well.
Taking the place of Ninti at a crucial moment,puts him in the path of Medusa.
At first fooling her,making her believe he ís Ninti.
Until she sees him for what he is....

From that moment on,he is made to be her Creature.....
To be used as she sees fit.
In ways he abhors.
Until the moment she orders him to take someones place.....
Thát time,in those years,he finds a peace....
He finds a “brother”....
He finds a friend.....

This story,it breaks my heart.
Even though i KNEW he’d had a rough life,
Even though i KNEW he suffered in Medusa’s hands,

This story makes me ache...
For the boy that NEEDS love....
More than his next breath....
More than life itself.....
And he doesn’t think he deserves it.
But he gets it anyway,from the same people he thinks should hate him.

Sidenote....be aware of the force that is called Benji.
There is not a soul that can resist that sweet boy!

(Not counting that bitch,but what she deserves.....there’s a very helpful list for what she deserves!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1... )

The Pure Agony still remains with this second read,but the lighter touches dó help....
This boy,this poor boy,who needed only to be loved.
This poor boy got a life in hell instead.
Hated for just being who he was at first,to being used for what he was.
Feeling like a monster,instead of seeing his own worth,his own strenght and beauty.
Not expecting to live this long,and hating the fact that he does....
Wanting a family to call his own,not knowing that he has....
Longing for someone to just hug and cuddle,instead of being abused all the time.

The only true light of his life is Benji,his beautiful son.
The only one to see the true person,and the only one he is prepared to do anything for.
That angelic boy,that brilliant kid,how can he be his?

My hope after Pure Darkness is,that AJ gives us more....
More of where he will be in the future....
More of with whom he’ll be....
More of him receiving what he so deserves,what ís his....
A caring family.

Because he ís the son of beautiful parents,and he ís the father of a beautiful son.

[AlwaysV · Rating 5 out of 5]

My deepest gratitude to the author for the gift of the ARC. Here's my honest review.

The tortured tale of the Creature/Ere/Binu totally ripped me apart. What he went through haunted me almost as much as his Father's book, Pure Rapture did. I was agonizing trying to share my feelings. His Mistress aka Medusa aka Anunit, who was also his aunt, his mom's twin, literally created him via unspeakable means into her possession and weapon. All destructive, all horrendous deeds he instigated, was committed under her commands.

The Creature still had his personality and thoughts and feelings left, though. Even when his Mistress never stopped her punishment. At some point, I guessed it became too bad, beyond he could bear, that he had to split himself into Ere, his Other Self, who wasn't touched by pain. This part completely broke my heart. Sad Creature 💦 Sad Ere 💦

Yet this sad novella also gave me hope. All of his family had found him and was with him right now. They tried to atone for not having saved him. Some of my favorite scenes were when his mother came in her big kitty form, to purr happily around him , when he spent time with his biological son, and when his father fed him pure blood and then answered his question:

"Because you are mine to protect, . . . I was unable to do it in the past. I did not know about . . . you. I know now. I will protect you, Binu. I will protect you."

An interesting change of heart for me was that I used to vehemently dislike Creature from book 1 onward. After my third rereading, I noticed a brilliant device that I completely overlooked as well as misunderstood, the way C made up his own fairytales. Suddenly my twisted view of his life didn't make any sense. The scene Benji challenged one of his fairytales totally opened my (tightly close) eyes:

"It's a story. And it's yours. Do you want a cuckoo to live with the vile viper forever? Do you want him to suffer?"

"Maybe he deserves to suffer," I pointed out.

"Well, I don't want him to. I like the cuckoo." . . .

I don't have the strength or wits to hold my ground. "Very well," I concede defeat, "the ungainly, ugly cuckoo mates with a beautiful, tall phoenix. The end."

Poor C 💦 For millennia he was taught/tortured to see himself as an ugly monster who deserved all the pain, who had never known love, and could never think of a happy ending to his own fairy tale. Wishing with all my heart that C would keep thinking of Benji's comment. That he would find some way somehow to write a new happy fairy tale for himself. Dying to read his Finished Fair Tale..

If you haven't picked up this amazing series, please give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

We get much needed backstory information on the creature and his current condition after being captured by the group.
According to the creature Ishtar lived in an ivory castle on the "highest mountain in the grandest empire on earth." She fell fell in love with Tal, "a blacksmith's son." We know they had twins, a baby boy and girl but he doesn't know this. I can't believe that the creature didn't know that he is actually Ishtar's and Tal's son...like what? And this whole time he watched as Medusa tortured his own father.

After his capture, the creature is tied up in Rain's hair. lol He has problems with his memories, he has dark spots in his memory. The creature likes Sophia a lot and is infatuated with her. He knows that he likes to visit Mamma Bear and the little boy Benji. He dreams with a nameless orphan boy, a pure one during the times of the Great War. Ere doesn't understand or know how he was imprisoned in the hair but a part of him accepts that it must be this way. Sophia brings him food and talks to him while he is entangled in the hair. He doesn't feel well while imprisoned, so Rain takes some blood to see what ails him. He regrets not telling them what ails him because he's terrified of needles. lol This is how they found out that he was Benji's father and that he is Tal's and Isthar's son. The creature had impregnated Olivia nine years ago.
Benjamin, his son, sneaks in for visits sometimes and talks to him about his different shells and other topics. They even eat together and have father/son time. Ishtar comes to visit him as a cute little kitten without revealing who she is. Benji is a genius, quick and witty. He asked the questions that are hard for the creature to answer and the creature even loses arguments with him.
The creature was released from the hair and found himself sleeping on a bed with tiger hair on it on a little side. He is back to the personality of Ere. The door was not locked and he was able to refresh himself in the restroom. As Ere, he still likes Sophia but he knows that she only has eyes of Dalair. He's been there 3 weeks but he only remembers a few days. He has dissociative identify disorder and that's why he has time lapses. His personalities keep themselves from the creature. All he remembers from his life as Ere is when Sophia started University. He shifted back as the creature in the form of Benu and started making his way around the conclave. He ran into a little girl, Liv, and they had a little spat. He ran into Tal and he realized that they both share a lips quirk. He even thought that he'd "do" Tal and found him sexy. hahahha GROSS. Tal knew that the creature was in Benu form. Tal was the one that fed his own blood to the creature when he was ill. He can only feed on Pure blood and not human blood unlike other vampires. They asked him to stay but he warned them of his inevitable betrayal. Medusa would always be inside of him through a connection. Later, he shifted into Ere again when he was with Sophia.


Creature's past life: He recalls his past life when he was a nameless orphan boy that he sometimes dreams about. His eyes were blue when he was a little boy so a little orphan girl by the name of Ninsa (we haven't met her yet) gave him the name An-Nisi. She used to bring him food, they were friends, he 8 and her 11. She used to think that he was very beautiful although he thought that he was ugly. He thought that she was beautiful although she thought she was ugly. They were in the middle of the war of the Pure ones and the Dark ones. He was a pure born vampire and she was human. He had three more years with his friend until it was time for Ninsa to leave. A man choose her from the orphanage to marry her when she was 14. She asked for a kiss from the creature before leaving with her mysterious husband. Ninsa and An-Nisi were outside of the orphanage one day when a group of thugs wanted to ravish Ninsa and An-Nisi shapeshifted into a beautiful woman to save her and offer himself up. They raped him for four hours while he transformed into a man, a girl and a boy. Ninsa was there the whole time while he was being raped. Ninsa called him a monster, a shapeshifting demon, and told him that she hated him. She probably didn't understand that he wasn't actually enjoying it but pretended to in order to save her.

He later offered himself to be a soldier for the Pure rebels. Before doing so, he survived by shapeshifting, finding shelter and food in this way. He unknowingly saw his sister, Inanna, one day when she followed Alad, Gabriel, who was soldier in training and he called her Libbu. OMGSH! She bumped into him and introduced herself to the creature. She took him to Ninti (which is Sophia in another incarnation), the healer and the Queen in the stronghold. He was not a good warrior and he had trouble hitting or hurting anyone. He barely spoke to Inanna anymore. But he had seen the battle where she wailed at the death of Alad (Gabriel). He was attacked by a vampire but he got the better of the vampire for a moment and the vampire was about to kill him when Inanna killed the offensive vampire. Ninti (Sophia) went onto the battlefield and reinforced their soul, taking away the darkness and leaving only the light. He loved Ninti because she treated him nice; she would call him Erebu because of his now black eyes. He didn't want Ninti to heal him at the battlefield to not exhort herself. But she slept next to him at his behest. They were still at war and he was blasted with fire. When he came back to, he was with the beautiful and evil queen Ashlu. He was in the form of Queen Ninti, the Lady of Light; he fooled the beautiful queen Ashlu for a while until he couldn't hold his form anymore due to the torture. The shadow warriors were fighting along the Pure ones by the order of Lord Wind and they easily won the Dark ones. We already know that this was because Medusa made a deal with Dalair and Lord Wind helped at her behest. He was thrown out and they hung him by his nails and left him for dead. Then Medusa found the creature and bite him and saved him because she could use a shapeshifter. And that is how his new life started with Medusa. Medusa would teach him little lessons and punish him whenever he would defy her in any which way. He hated having sex but he would do it for Medusa's missions or she would just whore him out. Medusa would also make him have sex with her.

The next time that he met Sophia in one of her incarnations was when Medusa gave him the mission of usurping Camyses of Persia. He watched Camyses of Persia for a while until he took his place. She was the one that planned the prince's death in order for him to make the switch. The prince was a pretty terrible person so the creature acted like him for a while and then slowly turned into his own personality. He lived up the life as that prince but since he had turned when the prince was just a boy, he grew up (shifted) slowly a teen and then a man in close resemblance to Dalair. He started copying Dalair's look because he was very good looking, being the son of the most beautiful concubine Vashti. Dalair was also beat up and bullied for being good looking. The creature wanted to help him because he was good and he wanted to be his friend. He wanted the fantasy of having a friend and brother. Dalair was the one that taught him how to defend himself. He spent a lot of time with Dalair and Vashti, he loved them.
But it was Dalair that hurt him the most. The creature is not actually gay, he just doesn't like people and doesn't feel sexual gratification. He actually makes it VERY clear that he doesn't like males.
The creature absolutely loved Sophia as the princess. It was really hard for him to get hard to do the deed when they were just married. They only had a platonic relationship. He missed Dalair a lot. He didn't believe when informed by Medusa's spies that the princess was in love with Dalair. Medusa wanted Dalair to have sex with the princess because she needed a trigger. They broke his heart. When Daliar died, the creature went running to Dalair and he noticed that Sophia had turned completely dark and annihilated everyone but it was a self sacrificing move because she also didn't survive it; it was lucky that the creature somehow survived.

So, in end, he saved her life twice and he loved her in her past life as a brother. But the third time, he got to spend many years as her friend and platonic husband until he unknowingly betrayed her.

[Firstpella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does someone love you? Really love you, put you first, consider your wants, needs, hopes when they make decisions? Come to your defense, protect you when in trouble or dangerous situations? Do you know you matter to at least one other person living or dead who walked this Earth? I’d argue if so, YOU have the choice to be a good person or a bad person who makes sometimes good, sometimes bad choices.

Now imagine you are not loved. Never were. Never will be. And it’s because you are...you. You are tainted, you are dirty, you are empty, you are without. And no one has told you otherwise. I’d suggest you do not have the tools TO make a choice on what type of person you will be, nor the decisions you may continuously make being right or wrong, good or bad.

I do NOT read fiction to be confronted with deep truths. I read to get away from life’s challenges and I happen to gravitate to Kindle-smut (and TV/Films when I was younger) and those Bad Boy AntiHeros who are shits to most everyone but that one woman who saves their dark soul: Zsadist, Lothaire, The Scorpion, Lazuli, The Drake, Rhysand, Rochester...Spike. So when I was introduced to The Creature and all his sarcastic brilliance, how could it be anything but love at first read?

I thought his tale would at best be to find his woman, or perhaps man (though my itch is hetero) and sail off - at worst, a character only I would adore to get snuffed out when James ends her story as one of the oh well he’s a baddy, losers. But to me, he was My Sweet Creature and I would never doubt his deliciousness.

I should never doubt James. For the story of Her Creature is of a soul who was always loved. By many. But he has no idea. He has no memory past his young orphan days, at least of when this novella of epicness begins to tell his tale, of love, of family, of kindness, of hope. And his instinct is to always protect others that he loves while he puts himself in danger and is brutally - brutally - tortured. And.Fucking.Dies.Over.And.Over.Again.

😭His repeated sacrifices broke me.
😭How those he protected turned on him or didn’t know what he did.
😭That he doesn’t know he is loved. Now. Today. By his Ma, his Dad.
😭How he loves his son.

I don’t know if James will bless him with awareness...will grant him a Phoenix-mate to rise above in love. Will let him be in his OWN 6ft 6in, long dark hair, Historical-Romance-Loving skin, accepting himself and the understandable choices both good and bad, right and wrong he has made to save others. But I will hope and hold on.

Hold
Hold on
Hold on to me
'Cause I'm a little unsteady
A little unsteady
Mama, come here
Approach, appear
Daddy, I'm alone
'Cause this house don't feel like home
If you love me, don't let go
If you love me, don't let go🎵

[H.F · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 .. 10/10 .. 100/100



__ Arc provided for honest review __

Gosh I never thought I will be this late with the review, in short life happened.
So let’s begin!

First of all I really love Anti-heroes aka Dark heroes, I even have a tag dedicated to them lol
I just wish I can add more fantastic books to that tag, and this one my friends is a fantastic add.
I can forgive almost everything, just give me something vulnerable about the hero and I’m in.
So no wonder that I loved C, his sense of humor was also a pleasant surprise.



From book 2 I knew there will be some kind of heartbroken story behind Creature, so I waited while enjoying other fabulous books for C’s turn.


Secondly, I really loved how all of them handled the big discovery. Of course I didn’t expect anyone to treat Creature badly but It was endearing reading about it.

Tal was amazing! Nothing new there, I don’t know If I can love him more but I do T_T

“Why?” I push, my voice getting harder.

“Because you are mine to protect,” he says in that low, husky voice, his words sending me staggering, even though my physical self has not moved.
“I was unable to do it in the past. I did not know about…you. I know now. I will protect you, Binu. I will always protect you.”

And Ishtar as Kitty: Heartwarming




I don’t think I can write about his suffering, so many wrote beautifully about it.
It all makes me wonder how would it have been If he grow up with the loving parents he has with Innana.
Well I know then we will not have these amazing books ^^’
BTW I need to see Creature with Nana, I want to see their bonds next. It will be bittersweet.

Finally, Creature sometimes really reminded me of (Smeagol /Gollum), don’t hate me but I used to like/pity Gollum lol

___

Can't wait for Ramses and Eveline's book ~

[Debra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prch Amz 1/3/2021

Pure Darkness Aja James
Genres: Adult (not due to romantic sexual scenes but other content), Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Suspense.
5 Full, Pull Out Your Tissues! Stars 🌟✨🌟

Oh My God!
Aja James has outdone herself. She has blown my mind. AGAIN!

This story takes you from The Creatures 1st childhood memories to present day. And it will
Rip Your 💔 Out.
I knew it was going to be a fantastic read and emotional, but I didn't expect it to be to the Nth degree.

I wanted to do violence For Him! I wanted to hold him close and comfort him.
I may have cried for him. 😢
I gasped in horror many times. So much heart felt pain and torture this soul has gone through.

Be prepared to learn the UnVarnished truth and change how you feel about the Creature.
Still a child in so many ways.
Unloved and abused. Used by evil incarnate. That Bit#@!

Thank the Goddess for Benji!!

Review Shared to;
Amazon

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thanks so much to the talented author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the story of the enigmatic and beautiful creature, and it's definitely a page turner...
I couldn't put it down, the creature is a character I liked from the beginning of this magnificent series, besides he'd been mean and intriguing until now... and now I can't wait for his redemption.
He has suffered so much since he was a kid, he loved and had been rejected by all those he cared about and had been abused by a lot of people during his different lives, he doesn't have a family and Benjamin is his only happiness, at least until he finds the one and only for him and find out who he really is...
Can't wait for the next book :)

[Tahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is S.H.A.T.T.E.R.E.D!

Only Aja can pull heart strings and level the playing field! Retelling of history can be risky when repeated but the way Aja took us on journey with her storytelling, got me reading this book in one sitting. I was hooked from page 1. This story bled my heart dry. My empath senses wanted to come to the rescue!
I need more of Creature now, pretty please! My motherly instincts are demanding a happily every after for one our most tortured soul!

Let just say that I am eagerly anticipating #PureRequiem!!!!!

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my where do I start on this... 🤔🤔

When it comes to me and the Creature I never had a huge hate for him. I didn’t care for the things he did to others, but I always told myself he was just following orders. This book is an emotional roller coaster that will have you in tears and wanting to throw your phone. Or at least it did for me. The things Creature had to endure are horrible and heartbreaking. I just wanted to reach through my phone and hug this poor man.

For me I will not be spoiling anything I’m sorry I won’t have any juicy details on here, but that’s what I want to give you, it is an opportunity to read this with no hint of what caused my heart break. This book is amazing. I felt for this man so deeply and I’m coming away from this book with a whole new outlook on Creature.

I can’t begin to put into words how amazing this book and this entire series is! I love every one of the books and as always I’ll be sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next. I will say when you do read Creatures book begin with an open heart. For this man I feel deserves that.

Happy reading! 🖤🖤

[TamaraT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this insight into the Creature. His backstory is sad and heartbreaking and I did feel for him. Yet I can't ignore all the evil things that he's done. The pain he caused Dalair and Sophia and all the others throughout this series.

Does his past explain his DID and overall weirdness? Yes.
Does it connect some of my fav characters into his story? Yes very well in fact.
Does it explain why he hates Dalair so much? Kind of yeah.
Does it make me like him now? No

Despite what some have said I didn't fall in love with the character of Erebu/Binu/etc. I appreciate learning about him. I loved seeing him interact with both Benji and Tal.

But the whole time he walked arounr and interacted with others I was screaming in my head. He's the ENEMY!!!! Why would you let him roam around? I actually agreed with him when he said he'd eventually betray them.

I am curious however to see how this will continue. Now I'll have to wait a few months till the next one comes out. All in all another great book from Aja James.

[☾Sabrina♡༄ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So what if my love for them would never be even one-tenth returned? I loved them, I loved them, I loved them! It didn’t matter that they didn’t love me back.

Look, the book started off safe. He had me chuckling with his sense of humour, his childlike mischief, his playfulness, and I was lulled into a false sense of security. This will be a fun one, I thought. So stupid, Sabrina. How can it be pleasurable to read about a man without even the dignity of a name? Creature. It. Abomination. Ugly. Worthless. It makes me so uncomfortable that I don’t even know how to address him in this review.

As much as Tal and Ishtar’s story broke me, this wrecked me even more monumentally. At least Tal and Ishtar had love from their families and found mutual love in each other before their years of suffering began. He never had it, for everything that he went through.

Since his first memory, all he’s known was that he always mattered the least. Deserved the least. The least milk, the least food, the least care. The thought of him, a small child, already resigning himself to his lot in life as if of course he shouldn’t expect any more decency than what’s shown to him. Silently enduring the bitter cold and the wounds inflicted upon him as if he couldn’t feel the cold and the pain just because he survived them. How much brutality and violation he selflessly braved to protect the only person to show him kindness as a friend, and even then the first person he loved rejected him, repulsed by his sacrifice. And she’s not the last to do so.

He was conditioned to believe he wasn’t worth love and affection anyway.

It ached to be in his psyche.

Pay attention. See me. Hear me. Hold me.

“Please…” I shudder with both fear and disgust at my own weakness. Begging gets me nowhere. When had anyone ever heeded my pleas? Why don’t I ever learn?

Only the second chapter and I was already sobbing.

His interactions with Benji really tugged at my heartstrings too. So much thought put into perfecting fables to tell him, even trying to fix his hair to look presentable for Benji.

“Then why do I feel so ugly inside?”

We know that he’s beautiful, even Ninsa told him so repeatedly, but he can’t ever see it. All he sees is a despicable, disgusting monster. My eyes stung each time he fixated on how ugly he is. I noticed it from the first time he was stepping into Dark Dreams. And to know that his real body was emaciated from starvation… there’s truly been no one to look after him in all his existence.

“I was never a boy like you, Benjamin,” I answer truthfully before I can stop myself. “You’re too special for there to ever be another like you.”

He should always be happy. He should have anything and everything he wants in life.

He thought these thoughts for Benji, but that’s how I feel about him too. I hated how he talked to himself. I hated his shame. I want to shower him with all the love and affection that he was starved from. I want to protect him.

This lost boy started with so much goodness inside him. This was a person who couldn’t even stomach hurting people. It took several millennia and a few reincarnations with more and more of the Mistress’s soul into him, and even then it didn’t manage to snuff out the light inside him. Anyone else would have been completely drowned in Darkness, beyond redemption. And to think, you can trace back all his suffering and torment to each time that he cared for someone, anytime someone showed him compassion. Ninsa, Ninti… One thing led to another, his sacrifices borne out of his love and gratitude for them, until he was under the Mistress’s control. It was a tragic domino effect.

My eyes stung at the thought that all his favourite moments were brief, stolen moments as others. Never as his true self. Transforming into a child to help a crying mother, borrowing a much-deserved hug and a kiss from that child’s mother. I was so glad to see him helplessly charmed by the giant kitten.

The kitten has gotten close enough (the silent sneak!) to butt its head under my chin, rubbing its soft, furry face all over my jaw and neck, then followed that up with a full-bodied rub along my chest, ending with a swipe of its thick, curling tail across my nose, making me sneeze. I melt. I literally melt into a stupid, enchanted puddle.

I shift my arms until my sentient bindings allow me to work my hands to the front from behind my back. I suspend my fingers hesitantly above the oh-so-alluring spotted white fur. But it’s no use. I have to pet it!

But my lips still trembled each time he felt envy.

The kitten leaps onto one of the stools, then launches herself at the General’s chest. He catches her in his arms and tucks her against him as if he does this all the time, so natural is his reflex. Her purring grows louder as she licks his throat and jaw, rubbing her forehead and face wherever he has skin showing, as if marking her territory. A little stab of jealousy goes through me.

The plot twist with Dalair – I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. (Though in the previous book when Cambyses said “They’re both beautiful. Men and women. And also ugly” my neck prickled with awareness but I dismissed it cos I didn’t see how it could be possible.)

That one line.

Dalair left me.

IT WAS TOO MUCH. His letters! I felt his loneliness so acutely. His desperate pleading, knowing he thought of Dalair every day, both of them mourning his loss together.

Seven years! What did I do? Come back! I’m sorry! Whatever I did, I’m so fucking sorry! Am I too clingy? Do I talk too much? I’ll try harder at training. I’ll get better at weapons. I’ll be better, Dalair, I promise!

He went through stages of grief, bargaining with himself. I wanted to launch myself off my bed and onto the floor in bleak despair yep that’s it I’ve hit my sadness limit goodbye world. To see everything from his perspective…

In that moment that Dalair didn’t embrace him or even smile at him after a decade of leaving him behind, and when he held his face in his hands and cried, I hated Dalair. I knew Dalair’s story, and I love Dalair, but I still hated him with intensity.

This beautiful boy. All that he had to go through. The world was so unfair to him. Yet his dark sense of humour is still intact. Not surprised to know he browses Reddit too, LOL.

Oh for the love of Loki’s hairy balls! Why do Pure Ones insist on being do-gooders? Why can’t they just let me wither away and die already?

“Liv?” I ask reflexively (I tend to ramble when I’m nervous), “what kind of name is that? But I suppose it’s better than ‘Die.’” The General’s lips quirk slightly in one corner.

He’s always been introspective, interesting and intelligent. I LOVE HIM.

No matter what happens to him soon after this book, I’m glad he at least had the memory with this family in the Shield.

“Because you are mine to protect,” he says in that low, husky voice, his words sending me staggering, even though my physical self has not moved. “I was unable to do it in the past. I did not know about…you. I know now. I will protect you, Binu. I will always protect you.”

“We will never regret having you, Binu.”

(Tal! 😭 We’re so blessed with all these daddies!!)

I SWEAR HE NEEDS TO HAVE THE BEST HEA THAT CAN EVER EXIST. Otherwise, I’ll never recover.

 

Other thoughts:

After moaning about missing Valerius, I get to see more of him here than in the other books. Just look, really, because the muscle-bound gladiator is as silent and reticent as ever. I cherish it all, even if it’s just Valerius taking him to the toilet (like walking a dog. Woof. Woof.) I’m even flattered that in his morbid thoughts he’d choose to die by The Protector’s scythe. Like yeah, he slices em like butter 😏 When Rain told Benji to stay close to Valerius please I was nodding vigorously and going okay, I will! As close as possible! LOL I flutter at every mention of him I just miss him!

I slant a flirtatious glance at the Protector and bat my eyelashes. “I know you miss the show, He-man. If you dismiss your female and the kid, I can give you a private viewing.” He simply stares down at me with no change in expression, his intense green eyes drilling a hole into my forehead.

I love the big silent type 😍

We also see Alad, as indulgent as always with his Libbu.

Super curious about Olivia, wonder when we'll know more about her?

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be a short and quickie review. I won't be going in depth in this story, there are plenty of other wonderful reviews on this book that do a full depth review that I can't even begin to compete with. If you want those I recommend Princess Under the Covers, Natalie-The Biblioholic, and Starr Rivers. I just want to share my thoughts on this real fast. haha

So first, this is a very short read. You can breeze through this one very quickly. I will be honest I have had a hard time wanting to finish this series (even though I really really WANT her dragon books haha) is that I don't have much investment in these books whether its "The Creature" or Sophia books. Not that they are bad characters to have books in but both of them have a ton of books in the later half of the series that I have to push through haha Now this book is quite interesting. Its not a romance, so don't go into this one expecting one. Its more about the beginning of the Creature's journey to redemption and connecting with his family. I really enjoyed many of these scenes. I still am not invested fully, I do want to get this series completed though so I can get to the books I really want to read haha I understand why so many love these books though and I get it. I am just not strictly invested in some of these characters and more intrigued by the overall plot building for these installments.

Overall, I had a fun time with this one here and had some important elements to the story that contributed to the overall serial plot. I adore little Benjamin though. He has always been my favorite side character in the series. He just delivers charm and leaves you with a smile on your face. Highly recommend you picking this series up if you haven't picked them up yet.

[Ramona Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a reason Aja James is one of my top authors, and Pure Darkness just shows yet once again why that is. For her true fans the title even shows how genius it is and I admit it took me probably longer than it should to figure out what it actually means, rather embarrassing really.

So you would think evil is just plain basic evil, until you find out at times the actual why, and maybe, just maybe it really isn't over until the fat lady sings, at least that is what they say isn't it? Let's not for one second delude ourself into thinking that creature is a good person, not in the slightest, however he is definitely a serious victim in all of this, and how can you fault a victim for becoming who he is? It was never his fault that he got the seriously shortest end of the stick that ever existed and was played by the worst most vile being, and yes there is no hope or excuse for Medusa EVER, used, abused, tortured and tormented and the one time he finally had someone it was ripped from him yet again destroying what little he had left.

It explains so much and it also shows that deep down he is just still a child, barely older than Benjamin if you think about it and I am curious to see how it will all play out. I have my theory especially with Sophia and Ben but only time will tell and I don't think we have heard his entire story yet. Plus let's not count Medusa and her horrible hold on him out of the running yet either.

This book takes you back to some places we already visited, but from a different point of view which makes it interesting and makes you cringe in so many ways, making you wish you could scream for intereference. IF you remember the movie "neverending story" well that is how I felt pretty much, except I was not able to actually enter the story in this instance.

The author is maybe right that this is not for everyone, but for the series I think this book is well needed and for the die hard fans, and yes I am definitely amongst them, this was a much needed book. Creature has tormented us for a very long time and we NEEDED to get some understanding of him. Yes I had an inkling that there was more to the story just like I am quite certain that Medusa is just plain evil, coming from pure jealousy that she just never measured up in her mind to her sister and what her mom has done to her, but creature started off so good it hurts and then was slowly twisted through torture, and other means that I won't divulge, that he had no control over and fought as much as he could. But I see one way for him to get out of this and I know so does the author and probably some other die hard fans here. So we will see if I can be like "I KNEW IT" or if the author will outsmart me or sacrifice him like she has done with other characters ..... the suspense is going to kill me but will be worth the wait ....

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why hello my dark creature..

Ever since we were introduced to this mysterious character, I've had so many freaking questions. So I'll admit that I screamed a little inside when I saw that Pure Darkness was the creature's novella. I have been waiting for this guys and I seriously needed some answers when it came to this character.

I wasn't expecting so much emotional baggage from this. Which was a nice surprise/twist because we can clearly see how much the creature is actually hurting. Even if they try to play it off like nothing is wrong. I was also really intrigued by each and every backflash because I got to know more about Dalair, Kira, and the creature itself.

Overall, I still have loads of unanswered questions but I am so happy that I was suspicious over a certain character since day 1. I also really enjoy how Benji is just so perceptive on certain things. Boy is going to do great things when he gets older. Secretly can't wait to dive into the next book!

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tissues required. The Creatures POV, such a sad life, feelings of worthlessness and not belonging. He was filled with light, but betrayed in the worst way. I couldn’t believe when he/she put himself in harms way, left bloody and broken that the girl he was protecting so viscously turned on him. My heart went out to this beautiful creature.

How close was he to his real family, so close but so far away. Luck was so not on the creatures side, falling into the hands of the deprived, black hearted princess only to be used and abused. Surviving anyway he/she could and do life went on doing his Mistresses bidding. The reprieve came and life was good for a while as he stepped into another’s shoes. Gaining a half brother and a wife, who he loved with all his heart and soul, only to have destroyed by the same. Yet this needless pain could of been avoided, communication is the key.

I’ve seen the Creature in a new light and in my opinion he can be saved. He deserves some happiness.

[~~~Heather S.~~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Creature, I hope for Benjamin’s version of your fairytale!

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Creature... I always had a soft spot for you - was so hoping you would move to the other side. What a tortured soul - but despite his crappy dealt hand, he is not hopeless! I cannot wait to read more about him... please stay - love how he is the missing piece in a few puzzles (Tal/Ashtar, Iananna, Benji, Sophia)....

I hope something happens to make him realize Kira and Delair did/do love him... My hopes for future Creature!

[Lorrie (Clockworkbookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thus far, but I also bled for him. Also, I much prefer Benji's version. Out of the mouth of babes. Again, Benji for the win! Lol

[~V~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, i CAN.NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS STORY!!! This was soooooo good!! I will admit my reluctance to read this novella, for a couple reasons... One, i'm a romance girl so when i sit down to read something i want romance to be the main focus of what i'm reading and i knew going in, that this was going to be an 'origins' story about the Creature. Two, I hated the Creature! I did not care if he'd been wrongly treated, which in turn made him the evil person he was now today....namely because of all the rotten things he's been doing to everyone! Boy was i WRONG! I was so wrong!

His story was not your typical bullied/tortured boy who turns evil to get back at everyone. I truly thought he was intrinsically manipulative and evil, before reading this. Everything he went through was so sad and heartbreaking but he appeared to rise up and continue on, it didn't ever fully break him or turn him into something evil, at least not initially. It wasn't until stupid Medusa got her hands on him! Gah!! Everything we've been led to believe has been her wickedness orchestrating it all....him, her trapped puppet! Very similar to Enlil, she kept subjecting him to her venom, to the point that they had no choice but to do her bidding. The way she has abused him verbally and physically has him believing he is not deserving of anything else. It's so sad!!

Now, clearly after all the awful things he's done, he's no innocent but this book certainly shed a lot of light into how he became what he is and it's given hope that he will come out of this successfully, on the other side, with the help of his family and in turn be able to redeem himself!

beware spoilers, from this book, ahead...

*a couple things i want to point out...

- i did not know that Binu/Ere were not aware that they were the creature! At first, i was a bit confused when they would wake up not having any memory of things. I thought all along they were just 'disguises' that the creature wore to trick Sophia and everyone else. So the realization that he has dissociative personality disorder, which is typically brought on because of past trauma, totally makes sense!..and again makes it soooo sad because here we thought he was being the manipulative evil creature trying to trap Sophia but in actuality he was using these personalities to avoid bad memories. THAT was quite the revelation!!

- the way the creature feels towards Benjamin and how those two banter back and forth is absolutely adorable!!

- Sophia was right when she told Ere that the creature has a 'snarky, devilish, irreverent wit!' Those words describe him to a tee!! The chapter's opening fairytales, when they were coming from him, were hilarious!!

- my heart broke during a couple different exchanges between Tal and the creature...the first, when the creature found out it had been Tal's blood that had been given to him. He asked Tal why he would do that and Tal responded with "Because you are mine to protect. I was unable to do it in the past. I did not know about...you. I know now. I will protect you, Binu. I will always protect you."...heart crushing!! The second, was later when the creature tried warning them all to let him go, saying that if they kept him, he would learn everything about them and he would inevitably betray them. Tal told him that the choice to stay or leave would have to be his, that they would never take that choice from him. His response to that was "you will regret this." Tal's response to him was "No, we will never regret having you, Binu." OMG!...another sweet and heart crushing moment!! The crazy and sad part is that the creature has NO CLUE that Tal was being literal with what he was saying! The hero worship he has for Tal was also very sweet and endearing!

- I also loved when Ishtar would go with Benjamin to see the creature and she would curl up to him and give him the affection he sorely needs...what makes it even sweeter is that she's his mother and he doesn't even know it!

I am sooooo looking forward to everything playing out!!...the day he finds out Tal and Ishtar are his parents, everyone finally knowing that Benjamin is his son, him being able to get his revenge on his insanely evil aunt!!! All of it!! Including him getting a HEA!! Never in a million years did i ever think i would be saying that, but i AM!! I can't wait for him to meet the person who will finally make him feel the love he deserves!! Brava Aja James! You have successfully made me fall in love with the creature!!

*This was an ARC, generously provided by the author

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner

Would strongly recommend. Stayed up till all hours of the morning just to finish. Can't wait fuller these next installment in this intriguing series.

[Eunice Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received and Arc from author for an honest review.

Hey ya'll, so I finally got around to reading this novella, and of course I loved seeing our Pure heroes interact with a major baddie in this series. I've been a fan The Creature since the beginning of this series, so yes this is a biased review. Also is wont be much of review because I think you should read this and digest this and process it. I'll just say a few things, it so so heartbreaking, and very insightful of why the Creature is how he is, we finally get a glimpse of his past. I love characters that are not just black and white but all shades of gray. The creature sure does does have many many many shades of gray, he's complicated yet so innocent but also very mischievous.

I don't want to say to much because I don't want to spoil anything for future readers. What I can say is that if your a major Tal fan he is gonna make you fall for him so hard, if he hasn't already. He really just melts my heart actual tears came down my face in certain parts. This novella is very emotional and elicits many emotions such as compassion, empathy, sadness, some anger, and the feelings of injustice. It also HILARIOUS, well the Creature is. This was truly and emotional roller coaster read.

Overall another great Pure/Dark book, cant wait for more.

[JazzRizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creature has long been a character I needed to know more about. Up til now, he's been a major player for the "wrong team". What has been revealed, are the many "faces" to it ... and Medusa pulls his strings.

However, Benjamin exposes Creature's secret ... and we now get a glimpse into what makes Creature tick ... and it's heartbreaking. His past is one trauma after another... resulting in the fractured, self-loathing Creature he's become.

While all his past deeds can't be undone, hopefully he's able to lean more towards the light and find happiness down the line. I'm super excited to see where he goes from here, and the connections he makes with those trying to help him.

[Mar, Queen of Darkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like freaking poetry. It is heartbreaking and yet hopeful, sad yet hilarious, eloquent yet sarcastic.

I have loved the Creature from the beginning and was stoked to finally get his backstory because everyone loves the conniving, scheming evil guy, right?

.... No? Just me? Oh, okay, then. But y'all are missing out!

*spoiler to follow!*

I loved hearing the Dalair/Kira/C storyline from his POV! In Dalair's book, it never occurred to me how badly he would be hurting C by staying away, and C's pure heartbreak at his abandonment gutted me. Honestly, I was a little pissed at Dalair! But then I remembered how he felt in HIS book and instantly forgave him. It was just an impossible, tragic situation all around.
Poor Kira. Poor Dalair. Poor C. GAH!

AND YET! This book wasn't one big dump of suffering and depression. I kind of expected it to just be pages and pages of misery, but it wasn't at all. There is so much hope! I can't wait to keep reading to see what what the future holds...