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After a close encounter of the hotspot kind, Nadine’s paws are full figuring out how to feed her thirsty vampire of a brother, trying to convince the CDC she actually can be a shapeshifter infected with the lycanthropy virus, and dodging the pack of crazy women out for her blood—or her brother’s body.

She’s not sure if they want her or her brother, but she doesn’t want to find out.

Nadine knows one thing for certain: her backwater town is too small for everybody coming to pay her family of two a visit. Maybe she doesn’t have a male platypus’s venomous spurs, but she’s ready to put up a fight to protect her brother, and not even the sexy plaid-clad stranger strutting his stuff is going to lure her away from home.

Assuming she’ll be given a choice in the matter is only the first of her mistakes.

Warning: this novel contains the mythical plaidypus and other deadly puns, romance, bodies, a minimum of two Canadians, and a mandatory magical adventure to Australia.

Proceed with caution.

323 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2022

109 people are currently reading
464 people want to read

About the author

R.J. Blain

81 books1,319 followers
RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband, and obeys the commands of Tsu Dhi, the great warrior fish.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

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5 stars
731 (63%)
4 stars
241 (20%)
3 stars
141 (12%)
2 stars
23 (1%)
1 star
16 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,814 reviews30 followers
January 13, 2026
January 2026
Kindle edition

I liked the beginning, the middle got hijacked by Lucy and his wife, along with an attempt to group the main characters from the other books together. Nice to see Ernesto and his daughter again but they were a lot more subdued compared to the other book. Would've liked to see their reaction upon waking.

May 2022
Kindle edition

Damn, I really wanted to like this one. I think I might need to take a break from this author for a while. I love the series and main characters but its getting predictable. I liked Nadine and Leonard, I liked the beginning and the zombie moose Icy. I started getting bored with the new truck and the shopping spree. Nadine was a strong capable character but as much as I like Lucy, he became a pop up spoiler and smothering Nadine with protection. It felt like she’d faded into the background with the appearance of Kannika, Bailey and the other stronger characters. After Ernesto’s redemption, there was an abrupt shift as if they couldn’t be bothered to go on. I did enjoy Lucy getting hit by the stone and releasing the geese of the apocalypse. I’m still enjoying the bigger picture and will probably still pre-order the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
277 reviews
May 19, 2023
So this one is tough to rate. The first 10 chapters I’d give 4 stars. The problem is that everything after that feels like aimless conversation. There’s next to no plot progression (and the plot that was introduced in the beginning is completely scrapped), previous characters are brought back without contributing anything to the story, and the resolution to the new shoehorned-in plot doesn’t come. The entire reason all the characters end up on Australia is never addressed on page. The entire second half of the book is just an exercise in frustration.
214 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2023
I didn't finish this. I can put it on a list of books short enough to count on my fingers that was too terrible to finish. There was so much going on at all times. I knew it was going to be weird and silly - its about a lady who turns into a platypus who contracts some kind of lycanthropy - but it was chaotic. I like goofy stuff and weird stuff, but this was a mess. There are vampires, shapeshifters, zombie moose, the cdc handles supernatural creatures, the actual devil, god, a lottery win, shopping sprees, sudden internet fame from doing video announcing, murdering rapists to prevent the apocalypse, the devil's geese, the devil's wife and a LOT of detail about what people were eating. Add a romance arc. It somehow was still boring. The author fixates on a joke and just rides it to death, which would be ok if the jokes were funny. Its like someone trying to translate memes into print and just laughing too hard to get the joke out.
97 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2022
You can read this book on its own, but I wouldn't really recommend it.
Instead, I would at least re-read Hoofin' It.
The Lucy-books (e.g A Chip on Her Shoulder, Whatever for Hire and some more) have a lot of tie-ins as well.

I read every last magical romantic comedy so far and it's quiet satisfying to see all the threads and different storylines cross and entangle.

That said, something you have to get used to with many books in this series is, that the expected end is not the one that will really happen; more often than not, everybody works towards a goal and talks about it and everything, but then it ends way different. (I don't want to spoil but if you've read several books of this series, I guess you know what I'm talking about)

So for me, these books are more like talking a walk in this world, enjoying the way and everything that pops up around me instead of an adventure with a lot of tension and a goal that has to be reached.

Another thing is that there are no sex-scenes and I would be very surprised if the author would ever write one. That's not a bad thing just something to adjust your expectations to.
Profile Image for Rosemary Edgar.
4 reviews
August 15, 2022
All talk, no story

I like this book series for its mystery, suspense, action, adventure and humor. In Plaidypus, the characters talk about the story, go shopping, and go on vacation. No mystery or suspense; no action or adventure as part of the conflict; and no platypus. God and Devil powers are used offstage to resolve the main conflict. We never see the bad guys or any consequences of their actions.
Next time, please give us a story, not story talk.
Profile Image for Heather Hammond.
164 reviews3 followers
May 17, 2022
Awesome read, mate!

Loved it, as I love all her stories. Nadine and Leonard are so cute together, in a sensible grown up polite Canadian way.

Loved the cameos from other characters as well, Lucy is always a delight.

Now I have a new nickname for snakes too; danger noodles!
Profile Image for Willi.
419 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2022
Love it!

Nadine, Icy, Leonard, and so many of my other favorite characters from this series, made reading this story a joy. The characters antics made me laugh and I have no doubt I’ll be re-reading the entire series in the future.
1,949 reviews18 followers
May 12, 2022
The author's light-hearted yet serious prose was just what I needed to pick me up after a couple of really stress-filled days, and it was a fun, enthralling mental escape. I just had to read this as soon as I checked the table of contents. Why? 2 words - "zombie moose". Any reader whose imagination does not go into overdrive on reading those words either needs a significant injection of curiosity or resurrection. Thanks, Ms. Blain for a wonderful read!
Profile Image for Eden.
2,230 reviews
February 13, 2023
2023 bk 57 Again - loved the beginning of the book - Blain is so good at pulling her audience into the stories.
28 reviews
July 29, 2022
My problem with this book (despite loving all the other books by this author) is I had difficulty with the repeated claims that Platypus were a prey species. Platypus are carnivores - they are predators - not apex predators, but still predators. Other animals hunt them and kill them, but in general do not eat them - much like domestic cats in Australia. I don't know if they do this to reduce competition or just because they can. Also like most Australian natives they are nocturnal.
1,090 reviews
June 8, 2022
ok

The characters, dialogue and tone are identical to all the others in the series. The style remains firmly entrenched in long conversations with the action off screen.

I found it frustrating that Nadine and Leonard did not actually spent time together once the Australia trip happens. After Nadine stated they hadn’t spent enough time together to know if they were suitable mates suddenly because of the plaid shirt they’re mates.
2 reviews
June 10, 2022
Offensive use of sacred land

I’m angry that authors still get away with appropriating Indigenous County - I can’t believe this book features non-indigenous vampires muttering unintelligible words to purify the damage of racists to a sacred site, and it’s actually about the vampires getting their souls back? Not one mention of indigenous people - so very very wrong.
Profile Image for Amber.
1,717 reviews43 followers
May 19, 2022
{Since GR won't let me give accurate stars like (redacted) does I have to round up. This a 4.25 to 4.5 star read for me which won't reflect on GR if I round down.}
While not my favourite entry in the series, this is a very fun read. I think someone could probably manage to read it as a standalone but it's better to read in order. At the very least, I'd suggest they read Whatever for Hire first. Playing with Fire and Hoofin' It would also help, but I feel like Whatever for Hire gives a decent feel for the proper vibes, if someone doesn't want to read multiple books before starting this one at least.
One of the things I appreciate about Blain is that she isn't high angst, even when she writes traumatized characters (in other stories). An oasis in the time of covid and the ram ranch resistance tbh. But that can sometimes make denouements fizzle a little... to the unfamiliar reader. Contextually tho, I think it's generally got consistent internal logic when that happens. This is one of those stories, but it makes sense for the characters when you think about it. Really hoping they make cameos in other books btw.
Would I recommend it? Duh, of course, I always recommend this series. Would I recommend it as a gateway to the series? Not as much. I feel like if I didn't have my knowledge of the universe this story exists in, I might have found it less entertaining. It's not that she didn't provide details about existing characters or anything, I just think that when things slowed down or took a weird 90° turn it helped that I was used to it. I understood THE VIBE. I knew it would pay off. New reader might not get that.
Still, it was a fun romp I thoroughly enjoyed as a belated birthday present to myself.
64 reviews
April 1, 2024
To love, sacrifice, and life, not death.

I have again thoroughly enjoyed the storylines in this book. Plaidypus. Nadine is a pure soul. Loved the Canadian themes.
In difficult situations, she chooses to think and go where her goodness takes her.
Loved Ice, the 🫎 and how she loo her own ked after her and fed her brother with her own blood.
Lucifer and his beloved wife make an excellent couple, and their contributions to so many in this whole series have made me laugh out loud and reread the piece to my husband.
So many pieces are coming together, and the serious side is well described.
I'm looking forward to the last book and then rereading the whole series again.
I have bought the books.
Enjoy the ride, but take your time too.

1,231 reviews4 followers
May 18, 2022
Fun with an edge!

I highly recommend this hilarious book, and the fascinating series associated with it, to readers who love reading, what may seem like, a slightly irreverent Fantasy. It truly isn't tho, as you read the books, you'll see that faith in a higher spirit is essential to the stories. I particularly enjoy the way the devil character loves God and his brother Arch Angels. The longer I live, the more certain I am that God has a great sense of humor, as well as a Love for all creation.
I am so thankful Blain is still writing this series, it brightens and lightens my heart.
4 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2022
Moose and Canada Geese

I don’t know where Ms. Blain gets her plot twists from, but I sincerely hope the well never runs dry. While the story follows the theme of the series, in that the main character is hopeless at recognizing a love interest, this one is by far the best at twists and turns in the story line. It also ties up some loose ends from previous books in a way only Ms. Blain can manage, without the resolution feeling trite or like it’s an afterthought. While all her stories are funny as hell, be they dark or light humor, she always manages to explore the main characters emotions in a deeply thoughtful manner. Thank you for making reading fun again!
Profile Image for Gail.
621 reviews1 follower
May 25, 2022
Oh God I adore these books!!!!!

Nadine had a moose hit her car and it killed her brother and the moose 😲

They then hit a hotspot that's been churning out Vampires.

The moose becomes a zombie, for a while, and her brother a Vamp.

But the run is, they live near a town that sees a Vamp and kills them without a care.

So she needs to keep Mathieu 'alive'.

Things start to go pair shaped when three vampire sisters and a hunky plaid wearing wolf turn up.

Then Lucifer gets involved and all bets are off.

Along with a trip to Australia!!!

Absolute corker of a book.

PLUS we got to see my favourite Cindercorns 😁😁😁😁

I hope this series runs for ages 🙏🙏🙏👍🏻😉😁
Profile Image for M.F. Moody.
Author 15 books134 followers
May 17, 2022
RJ Blain never fails to bring the goods.

Let me state, I am an Australian. There were a LOT of things about our country that RJ Blain got spot on. We love embellishing how dangerous our country is. We do have some odd food that we adore. We also make a mean iced coffee. And I'm pretty sure that death by paddy-melon and Horses of the Apocalypse is getting off lightly for desecrating one of our oldest, most famous, and most sacred sites.
I have yet to read a book of hers I did not love. As long as RJ Blain continues to write, I will continue to buy and read her books.
195 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2022
plot an excuse to romp with old characters

Honestly, the plot in this book was somewhat thin though important to the world building. What it really does is give us some wonderful new characters while checking in with old ones and helping you better understand the world. And it does so wonderfully. If you were hoping for a book focused on a fresh romance, that part is also rather thin. The humor is crazy and on point as always if you liked it in all the other book and haven’t been getting sick of it
108 reviews
July 1, 2022
A little scattered at first, but an amazing middle and end!

This is the first Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) book that I felt had a rough start. But boy did it grow awesome quickly. And I got to spend time with several of my favorite people from the series. Including, "Satin Blabbermouth Liar McSmarty Pants" who did numerous good deeds in name of evil and punishment. Or would that be evil deeds in the name of good and redemption? You never can tell with Satan when he's recruiting a new minion.
Absolutely brilliant, chock-full of R.J. Blain's trademark humor.
Profile Image for Katherine.
5,400 reviews42 followers
September 18, 2024
Narrated by Kiera Grace. This one has a Canadian spin. The heroine and her brother are Canadians, with American-Canadian parents. She is a platypus, born to a human mother and a Shetland pony shifter father. No idea how they had a platypus child. She falls in love with a wolf too. There is a whole thing about how she was a shifter without the virus, and then contracted the lycanthropy virus, which is unusual. Then there is a whole side quest trip to Australia, and the vampires get their souls back. I didn’t try to follow, tbh.

Bought from audible.
Profile Image for Rosanne Reeve.
50 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2022
A zombie moose that loves to cuddle and a platypus shifter. Do I need to say anything else?? If you have read any other books in the series, there are some familiar (and loved) characters that show up.
A couple of loose ends from previous books get tied up in this crazy wild goose chase across Australia and Nadine is caught up in Satin..I mean Satan's shenanigans. I love this series and this book is a wonderfully, crazy, messed up, laugh out loud addition to it.
Profile Image for Lori.
804 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2022
I liked it!

This is one of those books that you need to slow down to read. It's got a lot of characters, most we've met before, and new characters that are the main story in this book. What happens here is very involved and convoluted at times, yet it manages to bring full circle previous storylines! There is a lot happening here. So take your time, slow down and totally ingest the story. It's different, but I hope you like it.
🐝✋🐺
Profile Image for Tora.
1 review
July 3, 2022
Can I be a plaidypus too??

Mmmm I've been waiting for this book for almost a year and it is everything and more. I think I actually love Nadine more than I love Bailey and Darlene. I mean, she cold clocks the Devil in the face after he hands her a diamond and says "do anything you want." *Chef's kiss*😘😘😘

Also, I'm ready for the surprise that He has for Lucy. I need to know if it is what I think it is. But if it makes Lucy cry, I will also cry.
3 reviews
May 17, 2022
I have read all this series!

I actually started this series out of order because I didn't realize it was a series. I have since read every book. I love the humor of the books. I love that there is not much sex, and the sex that is, is only alluded to. But it doesn't make the romance any less.
5 reviews
May 19, 2022
Awesome (minor spoiler)

I loved this book! I started my husband by laughing out loud within the first few chapters. I loved the callback to older characters and even hints at both what's to come and what's already happened. I'll admit, I was surprised by a few moments, especially towards the end. Also, from unfortunate personalexperience, (spoilers) BEWARE OF ALL GEESE!!!!!!
93 reviews
Read
May 30, 2022
A laugh out loud romp thru a paranormal world that only seems to be recognizable!

Brilliant creativity with enough sass to render some speechless! You may sometimes find yourself looking upside down at subjects you never realized you would ever look at in that way! Open your mind and heart and enjoy A Magical Romantic Comedy!
Profile Image for Heather T.
85 reviews3 followers
June 19, 2022
Love

I absolutely LOVE this series. Any books with Lucifer and his family are bound to be favorites. I love that justice always prevails on "f*cking a-holes" who are abusers, rapists, or animal abusers. I like that the female characters are tough and have the best men. And I love the moments when these make me laugh out loud.
Profile Image for Carol Case.
30 reviews
July 1, 2022
Messing around

I So enjoy the romantic comedies (with a body count)
If any characters were to be dodging villains in my neighborhood, I would happily invite them to lunch, cuz they could eat before going to apprehend the bad guys (or the assumed bad guys who are really good guys) to bring magical villains to their just rewards.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews

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