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Monsters Among Men #1
Cryptic Chaos
Cursed.
They all took that information like an hourglass slips a grain of sand.
I killed because I had to, not from wanting to.
My bloodlust was too great, and I stood no chance at defeating it on my own.
What happens centuries later when a group sets out to hunt me? Law enforcement that seeks my tainted soul to imprison me for my crimes.
If only they knew the isolation I lived in already from being trapped in a void.
I was only allowed out when it came time to claim my summoner.
So, how would these men fare, knowing it was them who summoned my name next?
Bloody Mary meant something different to everyone. With it being my name, I declared retribution for people to know my truths.
They all took that information like an hourglass slips a grain of sand.
I killed because I had to, not from wanting to.
My bloodlust was too great, and I stood no chance at defeating it on my own.
What happens centuries later when a group sets out to hunt me? Law enforcement that seeks my tainted soul to imprison me for my crimes.
If only they knew the isolation I lived in already from being trapped in a void.
I was only allowed out when it came time to claim my summoner.
So, how would these men fare, knowing it was them who summoned my name next?
Bloody Mary meant something different to everyone. With it being my name, I declared retribution for people to know my truths.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 16, 2021
I liked it. I liked Mary and the guys. It felt loud and dramatic. There were a couple of twists but it felt like the Scooby gang in a darker setting. Evil grandpas, rape and naive idiots summoning their deaths. M/M established relationship and sister story hi-jacking. I am curious about Lizzie and the guys she’ll have to deal with. Favourite part was Mary trying all the modern things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2021
*3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book overall. I liked Mary and the guys, though parts of their characterization didn't feel very consistent throughout the story (Kyrie in particular). The guys were all the typical tropes, and if you don't love an inexperienced FMC with very experienced men, you might be put off. I loved the parts where Mary trying and learning about the modern things; the thing with the fridge light, I'm pretty sure my brother and I did the same thing as children. There was a lot of set up for the companion novel/series in here though which kind of retracted from the focus on Mary and her story.
I enjoyed this book overall. I liked Mary and the guys, though parts of their characterization didn't feel very consistent throughout the story (Kyrie in particular). The guys were all the typical tropes, and if you don't love an inexperienced FMC with very experienced men, you might be put off. I loved the parts where Mary trying and learning about the modern things; the thing with the fridge light, I'm pretty sure my brother and I did the same thing as children. There was a lot of set up for the companion novel/series in here though which kind of retracted from the focus on Mary and her story.
February 14, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Though I’m very tired of Fmcs who end up with the short end of the stick in life. I did like this story to a certain extent. The fmc has had it rough, like the worst things possible has happened to this woman but she still manages to retain this sweet demeanor and doesn’t let it impact how she treats others. Mary was absolutely adorable and literally deserves the world, and the men for the most part are nice. In the story the men are the typical tropes we’ve seen in romance and RH; The nerd, the manwhore, the silent one. I’ll be the first to say I’m not a fan of the manwhore character trope (hate it actually) especially when the fmc is more on the innocent side....but he wasn’t the worst? We only have to see one of his booty calls and hear about one of his conquest in the beginning. So if you are a person who gets easily jealous like me on behalf of the fmc that’s all you have to worry about so far on his part. However, there is one guy I did feel to be a little wishwashy to me. Spoiler below:
There were some inconsistencies with Kyrie’s character in particular where he literally stated he’d never have a gf when he clearly was in a past relationship with Darla. It confused me because it came off as him saying he would never be in relationship. Which threw me off because it made me think he had never been in one??? Then there’s one scene where he didn’t defend the fmc against his ex and in the fmc words seemed enthralled or enchanted by her. Which was also odd because he seemed absolutely smitten with the fmc.
Yes we can assume the fmc is an unreliable narrator or whatever in this particular scene, but at the end of the day he still didn’t defend her and the fact that he was making eyes at his ex was very much upsetting. In that moment Kyrie seemed to drop several IQ levels and immediately lost his appeal to me. This scene also didn’t make sense because a few pages before he seemed to view his ex in a very negative light, and the fmc in a very positive one so why he didn’t defend the fmc is beyond me. It definitely gave me men are dumb and can’t help themselves vibes which is something I hate. Not only that we find out later he loves the fmc? If he loved the fmc why didn’t he defend her? Why was he enchanted by another female. I hope there’s an explanation.
Edit: I realized this is the end of Mary’s story and the next book will be about her sister Lizzie. So Basically we won’t ever find out why Kyrie acted like an absolute idiot. Definitely giving this points off because I feel like there was supposed to be a reason he acted like that. Also cheapens the alleged love for the fmc because if he were to see Darla again would he still make moon eyes at her? We are supposed to just believe the mate bond has made him no longer interested in her. This scene didn’t sit well for me and seemed out of character. But I mean what do I know this is a fastburn romance so maybe his feelings really did flip flop like that.
Also the smut was hot, very hot, Ashley Amy never disappoints with that. However, I’m sorry I just don’t think I’m a fan of innocent inexperienced Fmcs with very experienced men (that’s putting it politely). Especially when her inexperience seems to be heavily focused on during that aforementioned sex scene, and is one of the things that seemed to turn the men on the most. It’s a personal preference thing for me so it will not be affecting my review at all, and the men were actually very sweet to ask for her consent because they knew her past and knew the last time it happened nobody asked.
However, because of what I mentioned I couldn’t enjoy it fully. I think if it hadn’t been stressed that the men were far more experienced and how inexperience she was, I could have enjoyed it a little more. I just really didn’t like it being pointed out. I never really do and I also don’t see the appeal in the men mentioning how many women they have pleasured while with the fmc. They don’t go into detail or speak to the fmc about it but we are in their heads (POV) for most of it and they do think about it so we do have the unfortunancy of knowing.
That being said we also learn in those same povs that they’ve never been attached to any of the women they been with so there’s that. Well most of the guys at least, Kyrie is still and enigma to me. Also there’s some parts during the sex scenes that kind of had me rolling my eyes, such as the scene where the fmc has her first orgasm and she doesn’t know what it is. So you are telling me the fmc has never orgasmed before? I get she lived 500 years ago in the past and chastity and modesty was held in a different light then, but masturbation has existed since the end of time? Not to shame anyone or her but I just didn’t enjoy how played up her innocence was. Also after everything, Dexter’s cockiness (he’s the last one she has sex with) was not hot to me and literally took me out of the moment. Don’t get me wrong some of the scenes were enjoyable but the other stuff that I mentioned. Yeah it quickly doused that flame. But again I digress, I will say this is just a preference of mine so I won’t be letting this affect my review.
Other than that one scene that really upset me, I liked this book for the most part and the interesting history this author has managed to build. The blending of reality and fiction gives it and authentic feeling and a believability that made it interesting and enjoyable.
Though I’m very tired of Fmcs who end up with the short end of the stick in life. I did like this story to a certain extent. The fmc has had it rough, like the worst things possible has happened to this woman but she still manages to retain this sweet demeanor and doesn’t let it impact how she treats others. Mary was absolutely adorable and literally deserves the world, and the men for the most part are nice. In the story the men are the typical tropes we’ve seen in romance and RH; The nerd, the manwhore, the silent one. I’ll be the first to say I’m not a fan of the manwhore character trope (hate it actually) especially when the fmc is more on the innocent side....but he wasn’t the worst? We only have to see one of his booty calls and hear about one of his conquest in the beginning. So if you are a person who gets easily jealous like me on behalf of the fmc that’s all you have to worry about so far on his part. However, there is one guy I did feel to be a little wishwashy to me. Spoiler below:
There were some inconsistencies with Kyrie’s character in particular where he literally stated he’d never have a gf when he clearly was in a past relationship with Darla. It confused me because it came off as him saying he would never be in relationship. Which threw me off because it made me think he had never been in one??? Then there’s one scene where he didn’t defend the fmc against his ex and in the fmc words seemed enthralled or enchanted by her. Which was also odd because he seemed absolutely smitten with the fmc.
Yes we can assume the fmc is an unreliable narrator or whatever in this particular scene, but at the end of the day he still didn’t defend her and the fact that he was making eyes at his ex was very much upsetting. In that moment Kyrie seemed to drop several IQ levels and immediately lost his appeal to me. This scene also didn’t make sense because a few pages before he seemed to view his ex in a very negative light, and the fmc in a very positive one so why he didn’t defend the fmc is beyond me. It definitely gave me men are dumb and can’t help themselves vibes which is something I hate. Not only that we find out later he loves the fmc? If he loved the fmc why didn’t he defend her? Why was he enchanted by another female. I hope there’s an explanation.
Edit: I realized this is the end of Mary’s story and the next book will be about her sister Lizzie. So Basically we won’t ever find out why Kyrie acted like an absolute idiot. Definitely giving this points off because I feel like there was supposed to be a reason he acted like that. Also cheapens the alleged love for the fmc because if he were to see Darla again would he still make moon eyes at her? We are supposed to just believe the mate bond has made him no longer interested in her. This scene didn’t sit well for me and seemed out of character. But I mean what do I know this is a fastburn romance so maybe his feelings really did flip flop like that.
Also the smut was hot, very hot, Ashley Amy never disappoints with that. However, I’m sorry I just don’t think I’m a fan of innocent inexperienced Fmcs with very experienced men (that’s putting it politely). Especially when her inexperience seems to be heavily focused on during that aforementioned sex scene, and is one of the things that seemed to turn the men on the most. It’s a personal preference thing for me so it will not be affecting my review at all, and the men were actually very sweet to ask for her consent because they knew her past and knew the last time it happened nobody asked.
However, because of what I mentioned I couldn’t enjoy it fully. I think if it hadn’t been stressed that the men were far more experienced and how inexperience she was, I could have enjoyed it a little more. I just really didn’t like it being pointed out. I never really do and I also don’t see the appeal in the men mentioning how many women they have pleasured while with the fmc. They don’t go into detail or speak to the fmc about it but we are in their heads (POV) for most of it and they do think about it so we do have the unfortunancy of knowing.
That being said we also learn in those same povs that they’ve never been attached to any of the women they been with so there’s that. Well most of the guys at least, Kyrie is still and enigma to me. Also there’s some parts during the sex scenes that kind of had me rolling my eyes, such as the scene where the fmc has her first orgasm and she doesn’t know what it is. So you are telling me the fmc has never orgasmed before? I get she lived 500 years ago in the past and chastity and modesty was held in a different light then, but masturbation has existed since the end of time? Not to shame anyone or her but I just didn’t enjoy how played up her innocence was. Also after everything, Dexter’s cockiness (he’s the last one she has sex with) was not hot to me and literally took me out of the moment. Don’t get me wrong some of the scenes were enjoyable but the other stuff that I mentioned. Yeah it quickly doused that flame. But again I digress, I will say this is just a preference of mine so I won’t be letting this affect my review.
Other than that one scene that really upset me, I liked this book for the most part and the interesting history this author has managed to build. The blending of reality and fiction gives it and authentic feeling and a believability that made it interesting and enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2022
How bizarre
I fully completed this book, shockingly. It was like it was written by a teenage on wattpad and even they would do a better job than this. This has to be one of the worst books I've read on this app. The story was lackluster, the character development was rushed and the multiple pov did nothing but hurt the story. We barely knew much about the 4 Male protagonist or what their core character is. Mary's character was horribly developed. Instead of showing the character develop through great story telling, all the development was told through dialogue, shitty dialogue at that. Like it didn't make sense the way they were talking because a story isn't supposed to be told by only dialogue and even if you do decide to do this, it has to be in a clever way to incorporate backstory into the dialogue without the dialogue looking like a horriblemplot device.
Save your money and do buy this bullshit. Unless you like pain and suffering that is.
I fully completed this book, shockingly. It was like it was written by a teenage on wattpad and even they would do a better job than this. This has to be one of the worst books I've read on this app. The story was lackluster, the character development was rushed and the multiple pov did nothing but hurt the story. We barely knew much about the 4 Male protagonist or what their core character is. Mary's character was horribly developed. Instead of showing the character develop through great story telling, all the development was told through dialogue, shitty dialogue at that. Like it didn't make sense the way they were talking because a story isn't supposed to be told by only dialogue and even if you do decide to do this, it has to be in a clever way to incorporate backstory into the dialogue without the dialogue looking like a horriblemplot device.
Save your money and do buy this bullshit. Unless you like pain and suffering that is.
June 22, 2021
Great read!!
I saw this on one of my reader groups and I unfortunately do judge some books by the cover and this one sparked my interest. I was on a hunt for some new authors to read and I settled to read this one first. Great read and hopefully will be a series bc I'd love to follow along with the characters. Can't wait for the next one!
I saw this on one of my reader groups and I unfortunately do judge some books by the cover and this one sparked my interest. I was on a hunt for some new authors to read and I settled to read this one first. Great read and hopefully will be a series bc I'd love to follow along with the characters. Can't wait for the next one!
June 21, 2021
Good twist!
I love how Ashley’s mind can warp and change stories to be this complex and beautiful thing. Mary’s story was superb and I’m so excited for the next one! I won’t give away whose story it is because of the character’s meaning in this one.
I love how Ashley’s mind can warp and change stories to be this complex and beautiful thing. Mary’s story was superb and I’m so excited for the next one! I won’t give away whose story it is because of the character’s meaning in this one.
June 21, 2021
Amazing
I truly hate Bloody Mary. I hate the tale and I hate walking near mirrors, but Ashley Amy made me fall in love with this story. Even if you don’t like RH I truly think you should try this book.
I truly hate Bloody Mary. I hate the tale and I hate walking near mirrors, but Ashley Amy made me fall in love with this story. Even if you don’t like RH I truly think you should try this book.
June 22, 2021
Perfection 💞 loved it. Such a different story that kept me engaged every step of the way. So much happens, and I love how the next character is already set up. If you’re afraid to read because it’s Bloody Mary, don’t fret. It’s dark, but not horror. You’ll love Mary
June 23, 2021
It was a little confusing at first with all of the different characters switching back and forth.
I did, however, enjoy the book and could not put it down. It has been some time since I was able to just sit through a book and be pulled into it.
I did, however, enjoy the book and could not put it down. It has been some time since I was able to just sit through a book and be pulled into it.
June 25, 2021
Fantastic Retelling of a Legend!
This story was amazing! I couldn’t put it down! I felt so bad for all Mary went through, and am so glad she met the Alpha team. I can’t wait to see what Lizzie gets up to in the next book!
This story was amazing! I couldn’t put it down! I felt so bad for all Mary went through, and am so glad she met the Alpha team. I can’t wait to see what Lizzie gets up to in the next book!
June 22, 2021
Loved it
This is by far the best Bloody Mary retelling. I absolutely n love it! It kept me on the edge of my seat
This is by far the best Bloody Mary retelling. I absolutely n love it! It kept me on the edge of my seat
June 22, 2021
Loved it!
June 25, 2021
Adventure galore
This was an adventure from beginning to end. I love the historical bits, and the supernatural explanations! I would read again and again!
This was an adventure from beginning to end. I love the historical bits, and the supernatural explanations! I would read again and again!
December 20, 2021
Good book.
I enjoyed reading this. I like the characters and the storyline is good. The end is a bit confusing but other than that it is good.
I enjoyed reading this. I like the characters and the storyline is good. The end is a bit confusing but other than that it is good.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews