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In the Bedroom of Medusa
An ancient monster in the modern-day. A gilded castle with whispered secrets. A peculiar sapphic romance.
When Evelyn agrees to become the live-in companion of the secretive Lady Demetria Balaskas, the human finds herself falling for a creature lost to time.
IN THE BEDROOM OF MEDUSA is an erotic F/F romance novella featuring a gorgon/human relationship.
When Evelyn agrees to become the live-in companion of the secretive Lady Demetria Balaskas, the human finds herself falling for a creature lost to time.
IN THE BEDROOM OF MEDUSA is an erotic F/F romance novella featuring a gorgon/human relationship.
89 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2021
6 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Magen Cubed
29 books185 followersMagen Cubed is an Eisner-nominated writer, essayist, and occasional critic, best known for her queer monster-hunting urban fantasy/paranormal romance series SOUTHERN GOTHIC. She has appeared in the critically acclaimed TWISTED ROMANCE comics anthology from Image Comics and has bylines on the award-winning Women Write About Comics. Magen lives in Florida with her girlfriend Melissa and a little dog named Cecil.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 18, 2023
A delightful short read. I enjoyed the different way Medusa was portrayed and the acceptance between the characters.
September 12, 2021
I got this ARC and instantly devoured it in one day. There was something equally sensual, sweet, and a little emotional about this monster romance novella, in which a professional escort named Evelyn agrees to become the live-in companion for the mysterious Lady Demetria Balaskas—who always covers her face with a veil and refuses to be glimpsed directly, for reasons that become increasingly obvious as the story goes on. There's a clear romance arc in this novella, including a happy ending that resolves in a surprisingly tender (and hot!) way, and my only wish is that it had been longer, because I would've happily remained in this world with these two women for the span of an entire book. If you're on the hunt for monster romance with an f/f pairing, you can't go wrong with this story.
content notes: BDSM play, mention of past beating/abuse
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
content notes: BDSM play, mention of past beating/abuse
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 23, 2022
Content warning: snakes
Evelyn Horne is an escort met with an enigmatic new client proposition in the form of Lady Demetria Balaskas, whose presence is powerful and enigmatic, accompanied by hissing and rattling. Evelyn is invited to live on the Balaskas estate and dalliances plus feelings ensue.
What I particularly love about this novella is how much respect there is for every working person. From the maids to the secretary to Evelyn’s work as an escort itself, there is an attention and care there that I haven’t personally seen in erotic works so far. In Lady Demetria’s house, all women are women, sex work is work, and all workers are deserving of their dignity. I particularly loved the secondary relationship between Lucy and Evelyn for many of these reasons and, honestly, wouldn’t mind a spinoff that’s just their friendship.
The novella has rad slice-of-life elements taking shape as wish fulfillment for being financially and personally taken care of by a monster dommy mommy.
Oh, and the sex is very hot.
Evelyn Horne is an escort met with an enigmatic new client proposition in the form of Lady Demetria Balaskas, whose presence is powerful and enigmatic, accompanied by hissing and rattling. Evelyn is invited to live on the Balaskas estate and dalliances plus feelings ensue.
What I particularly love about this novella is how much respect there is for every working person. From the maids to the secretary to Evelyn’s work as an escort itself, there is an attention and care there that I haven’t personally seen in erotic works so far. In Lady Demetria’s house, all women are women, sex work is work, and all workers are deserving of their dignity. I particularly loved the secondary relationship between Lucy and Evelyn for many of these reasons and, honestly, wouldn’t mind a spinoff that’s just their friendship.
The novella has rad slice-of-life elements taking shape as wish fulfillment for being financially and personally taken care of by a monster dommy mommy.
Oh, and the sex is very hot.
November 19, 2022
4 stars. This was such a fascinating and sexy little novella. It definitely left me wanting more by the end. The writing was really good and I liked the way the author wrote the steamy scenes. The connection between Evelyn and Demetria was great and believable for this to be such a short read. This could’ve easily been a full length novel but for what it is I was thoroughly entertained and it is definitely worth the read.
September 11, 2021
arc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
This short monster romance story is about Evelyn who agrees to be a live in companion to the mysterious yet incredibly sexy Lady Demetria Balaskas— who just may or may not be Medusa.
I liked both of these characters! It took me a little while longer to really connect with Demetria but there’s one really emotional scene that helped me fall for her and her story too which was nice! I love a good hot mysterious milf but especially when you get to see how soft they can be too.
This wasn’t quite as steamy as I thought it would be but the few scenes were good! Love the praise in here!
Overall, this was a quick, fun retelling of Medusa set in the modern world with a wonderful sapphic and kinky twist! Check this one out if any of that appeals to you.
3/5⭐️
This short monster romance story is about Evelyn who agrees to be a live in companion to the mysterious yet incredibly sexy Lady Demetria Balaskas— who just may or may not be Medusa.
I liked both of these characters! It took me a little while longer to really connect with Demetria but there’s one really emotional scene that helped me fall for her and her story too which was nice! I love a good hot mysterious milf but especially when you get to see how soft they can be too.
This wasn’t quite as steamy as I thought it would be but the few scenes were good! Love the praise in here!
Overall, this was a quick, fun retelling of Medusa set in the modern world with a wonderful sapphic and kinky twist! Check this one out if any of that appeals to you.
3/5⭐️
December 17, 2022
A sweet erotic novella with a sex worker hired by a gorgon to be a companion. It is medium to high steam with a domme/sub dynamic, age play, praise kink, and snakes. Many many snakes.
I enjoyed this way more than I expected! I love that it's respectful of sex work, trans bodies, and sapphics. I liked the mistress/pet dynamic but I think some aspects of age play don't work for me. I wasn't into the subplot with Camille, jealousy always makes me sad :(
It's free on Smashwords right now.
I enjoyed this way more than I expected! I love that it's respectful of sex work, trans bodies, and sapphics. I liked the mistress/pet dynamic but I think some aspects of age play don't work for me. I wasn't into the subplot with Camille, jealousy always makes me sad :(
It's free on Smashwords right now.
October 12, 2021
Sex and Snakes
I loved this. It was such a short great read and I just love all the rep in this short story. It was also hot like burning and who knew Snakes could be sexy?
I loved this. It was such a short great read and I just love all the rep in this short story. It was also hot like burning and who knew Snakes could be sexy?
January 22, 2023
Really enjoyed this book, wish it had been longer!
October 6, 2021
4.5
This was so good! I loved the slow build of their romance.
Some plotting suffers as expected in an 89 page novella. But overall the romance the sexy times was just top tier.
This was so good! I loved the slow build of their romance.
Some plotting suffers as expected in an 89 page novella. But overall the romance the sexy times was just top tier.
October 7, 2021
Delightful and breezy erotic novella about a sex worker sub and her mistress who is also a gorgon.
As with any BDSM-themed erotica, submission, power, authority, and domineering are all present themes, especially since Demitria (who I spent the entire novel imagining and even mentally calling Lady Demitrescu) herself is a woman of some wealth and authority, and Evelyn herself is a working girl who holds no cards.
The characters are good. I like Demitria's kindness, it stands in lovely contrast to your usual brutish, cruel, agitated Beast type figures in this sort of book, and when she's talking to her manor staff and they all speak in turn, it makes her interesting and complicated. Evelyn, also, has a nice bit of complexity to her character. She's an escort, true, but she's so much more than that, which makes her a nice compliment to when her Mistress's few flickers of emotional need come to the surface. And Camille is a lovely character I wanted to know more about -- the overprotective assistant in the pencil skirt, hunched over an ipad, is just a superlative archetype to bring some conflict, and I relished her disruptions when they came.
There's nothing especially violent or mean in this book -- it's a quick read very enjoyable, but more than anything there's a distinct air of isolation that hovers around the Manor and the Mistress herself, as well as her waitstaff and her icy assistant Camille. Right from the opening scene, Evelyn is dominated and quickly left alone, emotionally abandoned once the lady has what she wants, and this dynamic colors the rest of the book. Emotionality, it seems, are not the Lady's strongsuit, even if she's incredibly careful to avoid breaking her toys as she plays with them.
From there it's a lovely little erotic tale; most of the conflict is internal, and characters struggle with honesty due to what is clearly long seated distress. As one would expect from a story about a medusa, gaze is a large theme throughout. Characters are ordered to be blindfolded or avert their eyes, and it circles back to the BDSM themes about power and dominance. Demitria's gaze is hidden, but if her eyes are covered, is she hiding from Evelyn, or is Evelyn hiding from her? These are the themes explored by the book, and it's largely successful at them.
I would have loved to spend more time in the Manor, learning more about the power structures, and there's miles and miles of interesting characters to explore that I wanted to see more of -- if the waitstaff are all women, tell me more about their affairs? What kind of rules do they break? -- but the resolution wraps in a way that is satisfying for all parties, even if it's a bit too abrupt for my liking. Add an arc or two to the manor staff's inner politics, flesh out some of the manor grounds, and you would be looking at an excellent romantic thriller, complete with an audacious poster that compares it to The Shape of Water. Recommended.
As with any BDSM-themed erotica, submission, power, authority, and domineering are all present themes, especially since Demitria (who I spent the entire novel imagining and even mentally calling Lady Demitrescu) herself is a woman of some wealth and authority, and Evelyn herself is a working girl who holds no cards.
The characters are good. I like Demitria's kindness, it stands in lovely contrast to your usual brutish, cruel, agitated Beast type figures in this sort of book, and when she's talking to her manor staff and they all speak in turn, it makes her interesting and complicated. Evelyn, also, has a nice bit of complexity to her character. She's an escort, true, but she's so much more than that, which makes her a nice compliment to when her Mistress's few flickers of emotional need come to the surface. And Camille is a lovely character I wanted to know more about -- the overprotective assistant in the pencil skirt, hunched over an ipad, is just a superlative archetype to bring some conflict, and I relished her disruptions when they came.
There's nothing especially violent or mean in this book -- it's a quick read very enjoyable, but more than anything there's a distinct air of isolation that hovers around the Manor and the Mistress herself, as well as her waitstaff and her icy assistant Camille. Right from the opening scene, Evelyn is dominated and quickly left alone, emotionally abandoned once the lady has what she wants, and this dynamic colors the rest of the book. Emotionality, it seems, are not the Lady's strongsuit, even if she's incredibly careful to avoid breaking her toys as she plays with them.
From there it's a lovely little erotic tale; most of the conflict is internal, and characters struggle with honesty due to what is clearly long seated distress. As one would expect from a story about a medusa, gaze is a large theme throughout. Characters are ordered to be blindfolded or avert their eyes, and it circles back to the BDSM themes about power and dominance. Demitria's gaze is hidden, but if her eyes are covered, is she hiding from Evelyn, or is Evelyn hiding from her? These are the themes explored by the book, and it's largely successful at them.
I would have loved to spend more time in the Manor, learning more about the power structures, and there's miles and miles of interesting characters to explore that I wanted to see more of -- if the waitstaff are all women, tell me more about their affairs? What kind of rules do they break? -- but the resolution wraps in a way that is satisfying for all parties, even if it's a bit too abrupt for my liking. Add an arc or two to the manor staff's inner politics, flesh out some of the manor grounds, and you would be looking at an excellent romantic thriller, complete with an audacious poster that compares it to The Shape of Water. Recommended.
October 21, 2021
This one's for the monsterlovers, a much-need FF addition to the genre. This retelling of Medusa follows an escort, Evelyn, as she's hired by the mysteriously veiled Lady Demetria as a live-in companion. Sapphic smut with titillating domme/sub play, praise kink, and blindfolds (for obvious reasons), though the spice is not the center of the book. I would have liked more focus on the relationship-building rather than the conflict between Evelyn and Lady Demetria's (not sure what her title is, lady of the house?) right-hand, Camille. Does not end on a cliffhanger, but I wouldn't say no to a sequel :D
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 29, 2021
I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Fantastic little novella. I really enjoyed it. A different twist on the Medusa mythology.
As they say don’t judge a book by it’s cover, you never know what you might find at the heart of that person.
The pacing of the story was great it kept me really invested until the end of the book. I couldn’t put it down until I had finished.
I truly want to know more about Medusa and Evelyn. I need more of them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fantastic little novella. I really enjoyed it. A different twist on the Medusa mythology.
As they say don’t judge a book by it’s cover, you never know what you might find at the heart of that person.
The pacing of the story was great it kept me really invested until the end of the book. I couldn’t put it down until I had finished.
I truly want to know more about Medusa and Evelyn. I need more of them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 25, 2025
3/5 - sapphic, novella, monster, blindfolds, snakes. Decent (and spicy) but forgettable characters. I would’ve liked to see more development of the central relationship or addressing more of Lady Demetria’s backstory. Also found it somewhat difficult to picture the Lady, but I don’t consume much gorgon-related media to be fair.
January 10, 2024
⭐️ overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 plot intensity: 📚📚
🔥 burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
💋 spice: 💋💋💋
🍬 sweetness: 🍬🍬
🩵 the feels: 🩵🩵
🤣 humour: 🤣🤣
👤 POV: 3rd person — single POV
━━ † ━━
And now I have a sudden love of blindfolds! haha
What a great novella! “In The Bedroom of Medusa” is a delicious FF monster romance featuring Evelyn, a human contracted “companion” (and the book is very positive towards sex work which is a little plus!) and Lady Demetria, a plus-sized gorgon—or Medusa, if you wanted to call her another name.
It’s steamy (filled with some consensual and playful Dom/sub & switch dynamics — Sweetheart now hits me DIFFERENTLY), intriguing and quite sweet too! The little world is well written and I would happily read more about these two.
There are LOTS of snakes…that enjoy having a taste of their “companion” and I didn’t realise that was something I NEEDED in my life, but you discover new things everyday! haha
I will also mention that this book is in 3rd person POV.
“In The Bedroom of Medusa” is on the lighter side of the trigger/content warnings and isn’t weighed down by heavy themes, but there are a few minor trigger warnings that I’ll put below as a “just in case”.
━━ † ━━
⚔️TRIGGER LIST⚔️
— Explicit FF sex scenes
— Consensual light Dom/sub dynamic
— Monstrous anatomy (snake hair: snakes are alive and move of their own accord)
— Use of blindfolds
— Impact play (light spanking)
— Ophidiophobia warning (lots of snakes mentioned)
━━ † ━━
“In The Bedroom of Medusa” is a delectable short sapphic monster romance treat! There aren’t many in the genre so I’m so happy to have found this one. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys some steamy FF spice, monstrous women who are soft and gentle but is DEFINITELY your Mistress, growing love and sprinkles of light humour/banter. 4/5 stars!
📚 plot intensity: 📚📚
🔥 burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
💋 spice: 💋💋💋
🍬 sweetness: 🍬🍬
🩵 the feels: 🩵🩵
🤣 humour: 🤣🤣
👤 POV: 3rd person — single POV
━━ † ━━
And now I have a sudden love of blindfolds! haha
What a great novella! “In The Bedroom of Medusa” is a delicious FF monster romance featuring Evelyn, a human contracted “companion” (and the book is very positive towards sex work which is a little plus!) and Lady Demetria, a plus-sized gorgon—or Medusa, if you wanted to call her another name.
It’s steamy (filled with some consensual and playful Dom/sub & switch dynamics — Sweetheart now hits me DIFFERENTLY), intriguing and quite sweet too! The little world is well written and I would happily read more about these two.
There are LOTS of snakes…that enjoy having a taste of their “companion” and I didn’t realise that was something I NEEDED in my life, but you discover new things everyday! haha
I will also mention that this book is in 3rd person POV.
“In The Bedroom of Medusa” is on the lighter side of the trigger/content warnings and isn’t weighed down by heavy themes, but there are a few minor trigger warnings that I’ll put below as a “just in case”.
━━ † ━━
⚔️TRIGGER LIST⚔️
— Explicit FF sex scenes
— Consensual light Dom/sub dynamic
— Monstrous anatomy (snake hair: snakes are alive and move of their own accord)
— Use of blindfolds
— Impact play (light spanking)
— Ophidiophobia warning (lots of snakes mentioned)
━━ † ━━
“In The Bedroom of Medusa” is a delectable short sapphic monster romance treat! There aren’t many in the genre so I’m so happy to have found this one. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys some steamy FF spice, monstrous women who are soft and gentle but is DEFINITELY your Mistress, growing love and sprinkles of light humour/banter. 4/5 stars!
September 11, 2021
I'm a huge fan of monster romances and wlw stories, so when I saw the author was offering ARCs of a sapphic Medusa romance, I jumped on it.
Admittedly, I was slightly wary, as novellas can sometimes feel like novels that are missing pieces. But this one felt like a full story. The chemistry was there immediately and the plot does not make you wait for the steamy scenes. It was impressive just how much heat was put into 70 pages. And while Demetria's non-human appendages do get involved in the sex (note: they are appendages that she controls fully, NOT separate, sentient beings) the main focus is on the very human intimacy. Enough so that those who are still only dipping their toes into monster romance (or are total beginners) shouldn't get too overwhelmed.
The kinkier side of it is also fairly low-key, more there to support the dynamic of care-taker/cared-for than for pure fetish. But I never tired of the idea of a gorgon calling someone a "good girl." And Demetria's personality as mothering was supported elsewhere in the story as well. She felt very nuanced in a way that is hard to do in under 100 pages, formal, controlled and private, but warm and affectionate at the same time. Evelyn might have suffered a bit personality wise, having not quite as many notable points, but that's to be expected when you're comparing the human to the ancient creature. I did like how she didn't feel the need to demure and insist that her new mistress not get her all the fancy things. And that the author didn't include "I work as an escort, but I still never have sex with the clients" purity culture tropes.
All in all, it's a pretty quick read. And a very satisfying one.
Admittedly, I was slightly wary, as novellas can sometimes feel like novels that are missing pieces. But this one felt like a full story. The chemistry was there immediately and the plot does not make you wait for the steamy scenes. It was impressive just how much heat was put into 70 pages. And while Demetria's non-human appendages do get involved in the sex (note: they are appendages that she controls fully, NOT separate, sentient beings) the main focus is on the very human intimacy. Enough so that those who are still only dipping their toes into monster romance (or are total beginners) shouldn't get too overwhelmed.
The kinkier side of it is also fairly low-key, more there to support the dynamic of care-taker/cared-for than for pure fetish. But I never tired of the idea of a gorgon calling someone a "good girl." And Demetria's personality as mothering was supported elsewhere in the story as well. She felt very nuanced in a way that is hard to do in under 100 pages, formal, controlled and private, but warm and affectionate at the same time. Evelyn might have suffered a bit personality wise, having not quite as many notable points, but that's to be expected when you're comparing the human to the ancient creature. I did like how she didn't feel the need to demure and insist that her new mistress not get her all the fancy things. And that the author didn't include "I work as an escort, but I still never have sex with the clients" purity culture tropes.
All in all, it's a pretty quick read. And a very satisfying one.
September 15, 2021
YouTube
This sapphic monster novella about a woman that's hired as a companion to a gorgon sounded really promising and it's few pages looked like a fun time. Sadly, I was left disappointed.
This short story follows Evelyn, an escort that gets hired by Medusa to be her companion and come live in her mansion so Medusa can spoil her in every way. Their relationship begins with a bang (literally, haha) and then it just fizzles out. Then we get to see as they interact a little bit more and get to know each other.
My main issue with this story is that it feels like it's trying to fo 2 things at once but fails to do it in a satisfying manner for me. I was expecting based on the synopsis for this book to be more steamy than it was. While there were more than 2 explicit sex scenes they felt repetitive in how they communicated with each other and what they did and in which order. With it being a monster romance, I really thought their steamy scenes were about to be veeery interesting but it wasn't really explored.
The other thing it does is try to build a relationship between them which fails to make me emotionally invested in their relationship. As they were both very closed off it didn't feel completely natural for this to read like a more hopeful hea type of story.
Overall, I enjoyed the concept but my expectations misled me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This sapphic monster novella about a woman that's hired as a companion to a gorgon sounded really promising and it's few pages looked like a fun time. Sadly, I was left disappointed.
This short story follows Evelyn, an escort that gets hired by Medusa to be her companion and come live in her mansion so Medusa can spoil her in every way. Their relationship begins with a bang (literally, haha) and then it just fizzles out. Then we get to see as they interact a little bit more and get to know each other.
My main issue with this story is that it feels like it's trying to fo 2 things at once but fails to do it in a satisfying manner for me. I was expecting based on the synopsis for this book to be more steamy than it was. While there were more than 2 explicit sex scenes they felt repetitive in how they communicated with each other and what they did and in which order. With it being a monster romance, I really thought their steamy scenes were about to be veeery interesting but it wasn't really explored.
The other thing it does is try to build a relationship between them which fails to make me emotionally invested in their relationship. As they were both very closed off it didn't feel completely natural for this to read like a more hopeful hea type of story.
Overall, I enjoyed the concept but my expectations misled me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 19, 2022
🐍 I really liked the gorgon design with scaley skin and snake hair that participated in creative ways 😏
🐍 The gentleness of the domination with a focus on praise and pleasure, while still having elements of control with spanking as punishment was soooooo fucking up my alley. But the age play/mommydom aspects weren't. Just not my kink. Still, I enjoyed the smut in this novella a lot!
🐍 Sex work being described relatively neutral-to-positive was great. It was Evelyn's job. No more, no less. It wasn't made out as a sad thing, or that she was a tragic character because of it. We even get a few scenes of her working with others and it was just really down to earth and great.
🐍 Camille as a character felt redundant. The jealousy conflict and sabotage she added to the story felt more like a net negative for the plot. I'd rather her pages be cut out and replaced with going into Demetria's insecurities and personality. We got a hint of it, but not enough. Which is something I see a lot with "mommy-esque" characters. They must be the caretakers and cannot have insecurities that take up too much room. But she does! The story makes that clear, but it's solved with one conversation and sex scene. Which eh. I wanted that to have more room to breathe.
All in all good smut, decent characters, but once again falls prey to me just struggling with getting into romances this short.
🐍 The gentleness of the domination with a focus on praise and pleasure, while still having elements of control with spanking as punishment was soooooo fucking up my alley. But the age play/mommydom aspects weren't. Just not my kink. Still, I enjoyed the smut in this novella a lot!
🐍 Sex work being described relatively neutral-to-positive was great. It was Evelyn's job. No more, no less. It wasn't made out as a sad thing, or that she was a tragic character because of it. We even get a few scenes of her working with others and it was just really down to earth and great.
🐍 Camille as a character felt redundant. The jealousy conflict and sabotage she added to the story felt more like a net negative for the plot. I'd rather her pages be cut out and replaced with going into Demetria's insecurities and personality. We got a hint of it, but not enough. Which is something I see a lot with "mommy-esque" characters. They must be the caretakers and cannot have insecurities that take up too much room. But she does! The story makes that clear, but it's solved with one conversation and sex scene. Which eh. I wanted that to have more room to breathe.
All in all good smut, decent characters, but once again falls prey to me just struggling with getting into romances this short.
September 15, 2021
I was promised Greek myth, monsters out of time, and complicated and messy F/F erotica; In the Bedroom of Medusa delivers on all accounts.
Evelyn is a companion-for-hire, and when a Lady Demetria Balaskas appears on her curated work calendar, she is consumed by curiosity: What does such a lady want with her? The lady is searching for a companion, and those looking for a spicy, erotic read don’t have to wait long for the steam to rise; Evelyn’s ‘interview’ was delightful. When Evelyn is invited back to Lady Demetria’s gilded home uptown, she meets an inclusive female staff who care for their mistress, but Evelyn is the only one who gets to experience her physical attention. Evelyn finds companionship with a maid, earns the ire of the housekeeper, and begins longing for an intimate relationship with her employer.
What makes In the Bedroom of Medusa an addictive read is not only the mouthwatering love scenes but also the depth of care given to its characters. We learn that Evelyn has few close friends and Demetria lives a life primarily of solitude. This isn’t only a love story, but a story about loneliness, of curating an inclusive community, of peeling back your layers — or in this case a veil — and being truly seen.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Evelyn is a companion-for-hire, and when a Lady Demetria Balaskas appears on her curated work calendar, she is consumed by curiosity: What does such a lady want with her? The lady is searching for a companion, and those looking for a spicy, erotic read don’t have to wait long for the steam to rise; Evelyn’s ‘interview’ was delightful. When Evelyn is invited back to Lady Demetria’s gilded home uptown, she meets an inclusive female staff who care for their mistress, but Evelyn is the only one who gets to experience her physical attention. Evelyn finds companionship with a maid, earns the ire of the housekeeper, and begins longing for an intimate relationship with her employer.
What makes In the Bedroom of Medusa an addictive read is not only the mouthwatering love scenes but also the depth of care given to its characters. We learn that Evelyn has few close friends and Demetria lives a life primarily of solitude. This isn’t only a love story, but a story about loneliness, of curating an inclusive community, of peeling back your layers — or in this case a veil — and being truly seen.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 6, 2024
CW: Graphic sexual content, reference to past abuse/beating
🌟 Sex worker romance
🌟 Monster Romance
🌟 Gorgon x Human
👭 Sapphic Romance
🌈 Queer FMC
🌈 Lesbian FMC
🌶 Biting (snakes, not humans 👀)
🌶 Stone top pleasure domme
🌶 Light BDSM
Okay, so this reeeeeally would've been perfect with a second POV. I really enjoyed the setup of the story, but I feel like I didn't get to connect with Demetria at all. Her POV would have been a great addition to the story.
The plot is your standard sex worker romance fare. She's booked as a "companion," and they end up falling in love. It's a simple recipe that always works. However, with the addition of one of our FMCs being a gorgon, it added some mystique into the mix as we only had the Medusa lore to build our assumptions off of, while waiting on Demetria's backstory.
Their domme/sub vibe was super well done, and there didn't feel like a power imbalance was at play even though Demetria was *technically* her boss. It worked naturally into their relationship and wasn't jarring to the story developing around it.
All in all, this was pretty good, yeah. I love me a sapphic romance at the best of times, but you throw a monster in, and I WILL read it. No questions asked.
I think you should read this if you're looking for a WLW monster romance that's short, doesn't have overly dark themes, and you enjoy a slow burn novella.
🌟 Sex worker romance
🌟 Monster Romance
🌟 Gorgon x Human
👭 Sapphic Romance
🌈 Queer FMC
🌈 Lesbian FMC
🌶 Biting (snakes, not humans 👀)
🌶 Stone top pleasure domme
🌶 Light BDSM
Okay, so this reeeeeally would've been perfect with a second POV. I really enjoyed the setup of the story, but I feel like I didn't get to connect with Demetria at all. Her POV would have been a great addition to the story.
The plot is your standard sex worker romance fare. She's booked as a "companion," and they end up falling in love. It's a simple recipe that always works. However, with the addition of one of our FMCs being a gorgon, it added some mystique into the mix as we only had the Medusa lore to build our assumptions off of, while waiting on Demetria's backstory.
Their domme/sub vibe was super well done, and there didn't feel like a power imbalance was at play even though Demetria was *technically* her boss. It worked naturally into their relationship and wasn't jarring to the story developing around it.
All in all, this was pretty good, yeah. I love me a sapphic romance at the best of times, but you throw a monster in, and I WILL read it. No questions asked.
I think you should read this if you're looking for a WLW monster romance that's short, doesn't have overly dark themes, and you enjoy a slow burn novella.
October 19, 2021
One thing I appreciate about our dear Witch King of Monsterfvck Island™, is you never get the story you'd expect based on other genre writers' work, and she always delivers it wrapped in lovely prose and lots of heart—this short has a lovely fairytale-adjacent quality to it. They really are one of my favorite short fiction writers, and I love all of the delicious queer content they grace us with. Sapphic with domination play and praise kink, a world full of many varieties of women awaits. Seriously, I was so delighted at all of the women included in this story as side characters. Between them and the mains, there is a lot of positive rep in here, including for "matronly" and fat women, trans women, and women of color.
Will Evelyn and Demetria trust each other and be open despite their best attempts to protect themselves with an arrangement meant to distance them? Can this be more than business?
My only minor quibble with this is an unsatisfying tie up to the personal assistant storyline. I was left confused what exactly was the motivation involved in that portion of the story, as the usual suspects did not appear to be in play.
Will Evelyn and Demetria trust each other and be open despite their best attempts to protect themselves with an arrangement meant to distance them? Can this be more than business?
My only minor quibble with this is an unsatisfying tie up to the personal assistant storyline. I was left confused what exactly was the motivation involved in that portion of the story, as the usual suspects did not appear to be in play.
September 12, 2021
It makes me so happy that monster romances are progressively becoming more popular.
We all know novellas are tricky in the sense that the plot can sometimes seem incomplete. That was not the case here. In less than a hundred pages, we got to meet Evelyn and Demetria, as well as see the development of their sweet romance. Yes, it was shorter than I expected, but that did not diminish my enjoyment in the slightest.
Although steamy, it felt as if the author focused primarily on developing their relationship rather than the smut, which was pretty low-key.
I loved Demetria as a character. In only 70 pages, you get the impression of knowing her. She is formal, gentle and immensely affectionate with every woman in the house, enhancing her motherly portrayal. Evelyn wasn't that well characterised in comparison, appearing a bit bland.
I can only say that I am thoroughly satisfied and will definitely be looking out for more by Magen.
Arc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
We all know novellas are tricky in the sense that the plot can sometimes seem incomplete. That was not the case here. In less than a hundred pages, we got to meet Evelyn and Demetria, as well as see the development of their sweet romance. Yes, it was shorter than I expected, but that did not diminish my enjoyment in the slightest.
Although steamy, it felt as if the author focused primarily on developing their relationship rather than the smut, which was pretty low-key.
I loved Demetria as a character. In only 70 pages, you get the impression of knowing her. She is formal, gentle and immensely affectionate with every woman in the house, enhancing her motherly portrayal. Evelyn wasn't that well characterised in comparison, appearing a bit bland.
I can only say that I am thoroughly satisfied and will definitely be looking out for more by Magen.
Arc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2021
In the Bedroom of Medusa
3.5/5 Stars
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was very sensual, gentle, sweet. Not very erotic, if I’m going to be honest.
It’s a f/f erotic romance, following Evelyn who is hired by Lady Demetria as a consort and companion. It follows their very quick companionship with very mild smut scenes.
I do wish this book had been longer, it was a very short and didn’t really have any substance to it, but the characters were very enjoyable and the plot was as well.
The erotica wasn’t erotica, it felt more like the care-taker and the cared-for dynamic rather than embracing the fetish genre it seems like it would be categorized in. Lady Demetria was very motherly, warm and affectionate while being closed off and professional. She characters were so well rounded for such a short story, the writing was nice as well, but it wasn’t very atmospheric.
I devoured this story – I read it twice in such a short period of time, but I wish it was longer, had more to it. It did leave me wanting a bit more each time I finished it.
3.5/5 Stars
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was very sensual, gentle, sweet. Not very erotic, if I’m going to be honest.
It’s a f/f erotic romance, following Evelyn who is hired by Lady Demetria as a consort and companion. It follows their very quick companionship with very mild smut scenes.
I do wish this book had been longer, it was a very short and didn’t really have any substance to it, but the characters were very enjoyable and the plot was as well.
The erotica wasn’t erotica, it felt more like the care-taker and the cared-for dynamic rather than embracing the fetish genre it seems like it would be categorized in. Lady Demetria was very motherly, warm and affectionate while being closed off and professional. She characters were so well rounded for such a short story, the writing was nice as well, but it wasn’t very atmospheric.
I devoured this story – I read it twice in such a short period of time, but I wish it was longer, had more to it. It did leave me wanting a bit more each time I finished it.
February 3, 2024
«The gorgon untangled herself from Evelyn and tucked her into bed, giving the human another kiss on the brow before departing. Curled on her side, Evelyn slept like the dead and dreamed that she was cradled by snakes.»
Quería ler esta novelletta como aperitivo entre outros libros máis gordos que tiña pendente, e a atopara porque a autora é microcelebridade de nicho en bluesky, e puxo toda a súa obra gratis en nadal, e como ademais era un rollo historia romántica e lesbiana con Medusa, curiosidade tiña. Pois acabei léndoo dunha tacada na cama envolta en mantas e chorando, que gustazo :')
Mira, non será a trama máis trepidante, e cunha historia tan curta o romance non vai ter tempo de calar de todo, e as escenas de sexo non foron tan innovadoras como podían ser (serpents have fangs im just sayiiing), pero estaba todo tan ben escrito, e era un concepto tan bonito, que leva a puntuaci��n máxima. Ademais seica a autora ten tamén unha saga de novelas de romance gay entre un vampiro e un cazavampiros, I Need To Read That. 🐍/🍋 score
Quería ler esta novelletta como aperitivo entre outros libros máis gordos que tiña pendente, e a atopara porque a autora é microcelebridade de nicho en bluesky, e puxo toda a súa obra gratis en nadal, e como ademais era un rollo historia romántica e lesbiana con Medusa, curiosidade tiña. Pois acabei léndoo dunha tacada na cama envolta en mantas e chorando, que gustazo :')
Mira, non será a trama máis trepidante, e cunha historia tan curta o romance non vai ter tempo de calar de todo, e as escenas de sexo non foron tan innovadoras como podían ser (serpents have fangs im just sayiiing), pero estaba todo tan ben escrito, e era un concepto tan bonito, que leva a puntuaci��n máxima. Ademais seica a autora ten tamén unha saga de novelas de romance gay entre un vampiro e un cazavampiros, I Need To Read That. 🐍/🍋 score
February 3, 2022
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this and I liked the concept, but I've seen the authors tweets a lot over the years, and I went into this kind of expecting MORE monster-fuckery. And for monster-fucker erotica, this was... kind of tame. I would have LOVED for the snakes to be MORE involved in the sex scene.
Also felt like the jealous assistant angle was boring and unnecessary. And a lot of aspects could have been expanded upon more and just felt rushed.
But, again, I liked the concept. I REALLY enjoyed the idea of this private manor with all these women working there, having little affairs with each other, feeling fully comfortable with being naked in front of each other and playing in the pool - and that they weren't all just hot young white cis femmes, but women of all shapes and sizes? That was lovely. That concept makes me feel all warm and bubbly inside. That was definitely my favourite part of this whole book.
I enjoyed this and I liked the concept, but I've seen the authors tweets a lot over the years, and I went into this kind of expecting MORE monster-fuckery. And for monster-fucker erotica, this was... kind of tame. I would have LOVED for the snakes to be MORE involved in the sex scene.
Also felt like the jealous assistant angle was boring and unnecessary. And a lot of aspects could have been expanded upon more and just felt rushed.
But, again, I liked the concept. I REALLY enjoyed the idea of this private manor with all these women working there, having little affairs with each other, feeling fully comfortable with being naked in front of each other and playing in the pool - and that they weren't all just hot young white cis femmes, but women of all shapes and sizes? That was lovely. That concept makes me feel all warm and bubbly inside. That was definitely my favourite part of this whole book.
October 31, 2021
The chemistry between Medusa and Evelyn works really well here. What bothered me was the conflict and the conflict's resolution.
October 13, 2021
Soft Monster, Frisky Story, Delightful read.
This story has a curvy, nurturing Dommy Mommy Gorgon who enjoys redheads and kinky sapphic things involving blindfolds and frankly I'm not sure what else you need to know if you want to read this story.
It's fun. It has a sense of mystery. The interactions between the characters is engaging and sensual. The kink is hot hot hot. It's super duper gay.
When I received this ARC I devoured it. This story was a great read. Loved it!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My honest opinion is this book was dope.
This story has a curvy, nurturing Dommy Mommy Gorgon who enjoys redheads and kinky sapphic things involving blindfolds and frankly I'm not sure what else you need to know if you want to read this story.
It's fun. It has a sense of mystery. The interactions between the characters is engaging and sensual. The kink is hot hot hot. It's super duper gay.
When I received this ARC I devoured it. This story was a great read. Loved it!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My honest opinion is this book was dope.
November 2, 2021
A well-sketched novella with tight focus on character. Great interplay between Evelyn and Medusa with a forceful, loving mommydom style by the latter. Staging during sex is imaginative and playful. The story does not overstay its welcome and contents itself showing the high and low points of the early stages of their relationship. Medusa's dominant personality never falters even when the two are simply having dinner or talking. Wonderful f/f relationships with fun characters and light, accessible bdsm. 10/10, would recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 19, 2022
Honestly loved this, needed a sweet and comfy cozy little something but still kept me on the edge and excited for the next page without giving me anxiety. Bless!
Stars ▷ ✨✨✨✨
Spice ▷ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV ▷ singular, third person
Reading Time ▷ Short! It's a novella, give it a go!
Rep ▷ Queer 🌈, plus or mid sized red in love interest, not entirely sure.
▷ Standalone
Creature Feature ▷👾 Medusa (retelling adjacent maybe?)
Themes/Tropes ▷FF/ monster fuckers
Triggers ▷
KU ❌
Audio ❌
Pet Names ▷ Sweetheart, sweet little thing, little dove
Stars ▷ ✨✨✨✨
Spice ▷ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV ▷ singular, third person
Reading Time ▷ Short! It's a novella, give it a go!
Rep ▷ Queer 🌈, plus or mid sized red in love interest, not entirely sure.
▷ Standalone
Creature Feature ▷👾 Medusa (retelling adjacent maybe?)
Themes/Tropes ▷FF/ monster fuckers
Triggers ▷
KU ❌
Audio ❌
Pet Names ▷ Sweetheart, sweet little thing, little dove
October 13, 2021
Oh my goodness me, where to start. Can I say that if I could give 6 stars out of 5 I totally would. I loved every minute of In the Bedroom of Medusa and it has been added straight on to my to be reread list.
The writing style was so immersive and everything was just woven together so wonderfully, plot, pacing, the setting it was all perfection. I fell in love with the characters instantly and I realised that I now need more sapphic monsters stories in my life.
I would definitely recommend!
The writing style was so immersive and everything was just woven together so wonderfully, plot, pacing, the setting it was all perfection. I fell in love with the characters instantly and I realised that I now need more sapphic monsters stories in my life.
I would definitely recommend!
February 14, 2022
A page turning Sapphic Beauty and the Beast
Loved the premise for this sweet tale. The vulnerability in the character and re-telling of one of my personal particular favorite myths that has long fascinated me. I enjoyed the mystery and page turning aspect, as well as the beautiful writing and enjoyable scenes. (I'm trying to write this without spoiling it!)
Really enjoyed it and will be reading more from the author. Thank you
Loved the premise for this sweet tale. The vulnerability in the character and re-telling of one of my personal particular favorite myths that has long fascinated me. I enjoyed the mystery and page turning aspect, as well as the beautiful writing and enjoyable scenes. (I'm trying to write this without spoiling it!)
Really enjoyed it and will be reading more from the author. Thank you
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