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Big Feels: A Monster Romance Anthology
When it comes to monster romance, size matters!
Treat yourself to an extra-large serving of steamy short romances featuring monstrous heroes with big hands, big hearts, and even bigger feels. These stories prove that the bigger they are, the harder they fall…in love.
Includes ten stellar, steamy tales of larger-than-life orcs, aliens, satyrs, yetis, forest gods, demons, and giants that find happily-ever-afters with their human mates.
From bestselling and debut authors:
“Dream Catcher” by Clarissa Bright
“XKALIG” by Ursa Dax
“The Demon King’s Prize” by Stella Frost
“The Mountain’s Mate” by Sara Ivy Hill
“Viridios” by L.A. Holloway
“Thorn’s Dove” by Carlotta Hughes
“Head in the Clouds” by Chloe Parker
“An Abominable Affair” by Maddie Syn
“A Demon, An Orc, and a Bartender” by Matilda Vega
“Insatyrble” by Ami Wright
Anthology profits will benefit an international charity dedicated to providing access to clean drinking water.
Treat yourself to an extra-large serving of steamy short romances featuring monstrous heroes with big hands, big hearts, and even bigger feels. These stories prove that the bigger they are, the harder they fall…in love.
Includes ten stellar, steamy tales of larger-than-life orcs, aliens, satyrs, yetis, forest gods, demons, and giants that find happily-ever-afters with their human mates.
From bestselling and debut authors:
“Dream Catcher” by Clarissa Bright
“XKALIG” by Ursa Dax
“The Demon King’s Prize” by Stella Frost
“The Mountain’s Mate” by Sara Ivy Hill
“Viridios” by L.A. Holloway
“Thorn’s Dove” by Carlotta Hughes
“Head in the Clouds” by Chloe Parker
“An Abominable Affair” by Maddie Syn
“A Demon, An Orc, and a Bartender” by Matilda Vega
“Insatyrble” by Ami Wright
Anthology profits will benefit an international charity dedicated to providing access to clean drinking water.
951 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2022
260 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
sampled-and-declined
February 10, 2024Mariella Taylor mode on.
Listen, I love a good Beauty & Beast story in which Beastie doesn't recover his human shape for variety, but I'm not willing to read about all the sex a menage-a-trois consisting of a demon, an orc, and a bartender with an interspecies kink are having, oookaaay?
Or about blue aliens with thick tentacles that have a predilection for sticking said thick tentacles into whatever holes they find, somehow never sticking them into the power-charging holes and ending up as Kentucky Fried Chickenalien.
Or about the size of that gentle giant's . . . mmm, performance tool.
Or whatever it is authors in this monster romance anthology that somehow was mismarketed for my B&B lovin' self are writing, I'm just going by the examples of what Kristina reads, oookaaay?
Hard (har!) pass.
/Mariella Taylor mode off.
Listen, I love a good Beauty & Beast story in which Beastie doesn't recover his human shape for variety, but I'm not willing to read about all the sex a menage-a-trois consisting of a demon, an orc, and a bartender with an interspecies kink are having, oookaaay?
Or about blue aliens with thick tentacles that have a predilection for sticking said thick tentacles into whatever holes they find, somehow never sticking them into the power-charging holes and ending up as Kentucky Fried Chickenalien.
Or about the size of that gentle giant's . . . mmm, performance tool.
Or whatever it is authors in this monster romance anthology that somehow was mismarketed for my B&B lovin' self are writing, I'm just going by the examples of what Kristina reads, oookaaay?
Hard (har!) pass.
/Mariella Taylor mode off.
June 14, 2022
**3.3/5 stars** AVERAGE RATING
Overall, it was a nice anthology. I guess I just felt like some of the stories were not as developed as they could've been. I liked most of them, but some were a bit difficult for me to read, as they didn't fit what I usually like.
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1) HEAD IN THE CLOUDS by Chloe Parker
✦ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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2) VIRIDIOS by L.A. Holloway
✦ Rating: 4/5 stars ❤️
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3) A DEMON, AN ORC, AND A BARTENDER by Matilda Vega
✦ Rating: 2/5 stars
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4) THE DEMON KING'S PRIZE by Stella Frost
✦ Rating: 4/5 stars ❤️
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5) INSATYRABLE by Ami Wright
✦ Rating: 3/5 stars
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6) THE MOUNTAIN'S MATE by Sara Ivy Hill
✦ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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7) AN ABOMINABLE AFFAIR by Maddie Syn
✦ Rating: 4.5/5 stars ❤️❤️
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8) DREAM CATCHER by Clarissa Bright
✦ Rating: 1.5/5 stars
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9) XKALIG by Ursa Dax
✦ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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10) THORN'S DOVE by Carlotta Hughes
(AN ORC MATCHED PREQUEL NOVELLA)
✦ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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Overall, it was a nice anthology. I guess I just felt like some of the stories were not as developed as they could've been. I liked most of them, but some were a bit difficult for me to read, as they didn't fit what I usually like.
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1) HEAD IN THE CLOUDS by Chloe Parker
✦ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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2) VIRIDIOS by L.A. Holloway
✦ Rating: 4/5 stars ❤️
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3) A DEMON, AN ORC, AND A BARTENDER by Matilda Vega
✦ Rating: 2/5 stars
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4) THE DEMON KING'S PRIZE by Stella Frost
✦ Rating: 4/5 stars ❤️
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5) INSATYRABLE by Ami Wright
✦ Rating: 3/5 stars
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6) THE MOUNTAIN'S MATE by Sara Ivy Hill
✦ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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7) AN ABOMINABLE AFFAIR by Maddie Syn
✦ Rating: 4.5/5 stars ❤️❤️
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8) DREAM CATCHER by Clarissa Bright
✦ Rating: 1.5/5 stars
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9) XKALIG by Ursa Dax
✦ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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10) THORN'S DOVE by Carlotta Hughes
(AN ORC MATCHED PREQUEL NOVELLA)
✦ Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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February 7, 2022
I don't normally read anthologies. In the past I found anthologies to be filled with half stories, kind of like teasers for the real stories to be published later... and since I am all about instant gratification... I just stopped reading them...
UNTIL... I found out about Big Feels. A big anthology chockful of monsters and luuuvvvv.... I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!
Y'all this anthology was so much fun. From magic honey (Chloe Parker, I will take a case please) to Orc's and Demons (Seriously HOT)... these humans and their monsters have some sweet and sexy adventures.
Also, size difference is a common theme in this book... (Sara Ivy Hill I have SO MANY QUESTIONS!!! And the visuals in my head are off the wall)
I was thrilled to read stories from favorite authors and enjoyed meeting some new to me authors! Big Feels will give you big loving (in more ways than one wink wink...) and all the swoony romance your heart desires! A fantastic anthology!
A definite recommendation for all the monster lovers out there! I enjoyed this "Big" time!
UNTIL... I found out about Big Feels. A big anthology chockful of monsters and luuuvvvv.... I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!
Y'all this anthology was so much fun. From magic honey (Chloe Parker, I will take a case please) to Orc's and Demons (Seriously HOT)... these humans and their monsters have some sweet and sexy adventures.
Also, size difference is a common theme in this book... (Sara Ivy Hill I have SO MANY QUESTIONS!!! And the visuals in my head are off the wall)
I was thrilled to read stories from favorite authors and enjoyed meeting some new to me authors! Big Feels will give you big loving (in more ways than one wink wink...) and all the swoony romance your heart desires! A fantastic anthology!
A definite recommendation for all the monster lovers out there! I enjoyed this "Big" time!
March 3, 2022
Overall Rating: 4 STARS
I really enjoyed how some authors got really creative with their monsters, it made those stories feel super fresh and new. Some of them were a bit more average but enjoyable nonetheless. If you like monster romance, I definitely think you should give some of these a read!
Head in the Clouds by Chloe Parker: 2.5 stars
Viridios by L. A. Holloway: 4 stars
A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender by Matilda Vega: 3.5 stars
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost: 4.5 stars
Insatyrable by Ami Wright: 3 stars
The Mountain's Mate by Sara Ivy Hill: 3.5 stars
An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn: 4.5 stars
Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright: 2.5 stars
Xkalig by Ursa Dax: 3.5 stars
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes: 3.5 stars
I really enjoyed how some authors got really creative with their monsters, it made those stories feel super fresh and new. Some of them were a bit more average but enjoyable nonetheless. If you like monster romance, I definitely think you should give some of these a read!
Head in the Clouds by Chloe Parker: 2.5 stars
Viridios by L. A. Holloway: 4 stars
A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender by Matilda Vega: 3.5 stars
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost: 4.5 stars
Insatyrable by Ami Wright: 3 stars
The Mountain's Mate by Sara Ivy Hill: 3.5 stars
An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn: 4.5 stars
Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright: 2.5 stars
Xkalig by Ursa Dax: 3.5 stars
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes: 3.5 stars
February 20, 2022
Excellent collection
I enjoyed each and every story in this collection. Some more than others but it has something for everyone. None of the stories are high stress and each one has a sweet happy ending. The monsters are all various degrees of large but if size difference is your thing this is very much for you.
I enjoyed each and every story in this collection. Some more than others but it has something for everyone. None of the stories are high stress and each one has a sweet happy ending. The monsters are all various degrees of large but if size difference is your thing this is very much for you.
April 18, 2022
Romance genre: Monsters; size difference
Series: anthology
Length: 951 pages
I would never have imagined how much I liked this book! For anyone who liked monster romances, this is the book for you!
Head in the clouds - Chloe Parker: Jess finds a giant vine outside her house and decides to climb it. Once she gets up there, she finds Alovir, who is a creature from another planet who lives in symbiosis with a swarm of large bees. He's not sure how on earth they will be compatible, but he knows that she is his mate.
Viridios - L. A. Holloway: Alaya is a researcher who has been investigating organisms in the forest, but she is instead found by a sentient tree-like creature who she names Viridios. He is huge and strange and absolutely adorably in love with her. They just have to figure out how to make it work. And they most certainly do!
A Demon, An Orc and a Bartender - Matilda Vega: Eileen is an owner/bartender at a bar that guards a gate from one dimension to the next. She deals with all sorts of creatures on a nightly basis, including vampires, orcs (who very much like to show off their goods), demons, and those who summon the demons. She hates the demon summoners, nasty pieces of business who find joy in hurting demons. She finds an incubus near death and decides to help him. But wait - her fated mate has found her, and he's an orc. Can they all work together?
The Demon King's Prize - Stella Frost: Lena is part of a yearly tribute to the demons, and she does not intend to die at their hands - after all, that's what her town has said happens. When she gets to the demons, she fights, but she also finds that things are not what she was led to believe. Their king, Fen, intends to keep her as his Lightbearer, if he can but trust her.
Insatyrable - Ami Wright: When a large satyr-like creature from another planet lands on Earth during Roman times to observe the life here, he sees Arria, and she sees him too, in his true form. She definitely likes what she sees.
The Mountain's Mate - Sara Ivy Hill: Maja is in serious need of money, so she takes a job stealing...something - she doesn't quite know until she gets to Patrek, who has a very strange job for her. But soon the job turns into something much more.
An Abominable Affair - Maddie Syn: Tapeesa's mother is a known yeti hunter, but she isn't a hunter like her mom, no matter how she tries. When she comes across Ghuaar, a yeti, he's not quite what she expected, and he knows he can't stay away from this human no matter what anyone else says.
Dream Catcher - Clarissa Bright: Aura has a one-night stand with Ash, who is...something. This story wasn't fully developed and didn't seem to fit the large monster vibe going on in the rest of the book. I just didn't understand what happened.
Xkalig - Ursa Dax: Xkalig is on a planet in order to observe its inhabitants, but when they see him, he has to get rid of them. He can't make himself get rid of Elodie, though, and he will do whatever it takes to understand her and make her his. (I think he might have been the sweetest of all the monsters).
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes: Thorn is an orc looking for his true mate. He is sent to Earth and meets Ruth, a hippie with aspirations of running a bed and breakfast. He just has to convince her that despite her past bad experiences with me, he is here only to make her happy.
My favorites: The Mountain's Mate; The Demon King's Prize; A Demon, An Orc and a Bartender
However, Xkalig talking to his ship was hilarious and sweet all at once, and I loved that:
(for context, he had overheard her talking to her ship when she was trying to fix it ("c'mon baby, work for me" - that kind of thing) - he didn't understand it, but he thought he'd give it a try to understand her better.)
Series: anthology
Length: 951 pages
I would never have imagined how much I liked this book! For anyone who liked monster romances, this is the book for you!
Head in the clouds - Chloe Parker: Jess finds a giant vine outside her house and decides to climb it. Once she gets up there, she finds Alovir, who is a creature from another planet who lives in symbiosis with a swarm of large bees. He's not sure how on earth they will be compatible, but he knows that she is his mate.
Viridios - L. A. Holloway: Alaya is a researcher who has been investigating organisms in the forest, but she is instead found by a sentient tree-like creature who she names Viridios. He is huge and strange and absolutely adorably in love with her. They just have to figure out how to make it work. And they most certainly do!
A Demon, An Orc and a Bartender - Matilda Vega: Eileen is an owner/bartender at a bar that guards a gate from one dimension to the next. She deals with all sorts of creatures on a nightly basis, including vampires, orcs (who very much like to show off their goods), demons, and those who summon the demons. She hates the demon summoners, nasty pieces of business who find joy in hurting demons. She finds an incubus near death and decides to help him. But wait - her fated mate has found her, and he's an orc. Can they all work together?
The Demon King's Prize - Stella Frost: Lena is part of a yearly tribute to the demons, and she does not intend to die at their hands - after all, that's what her town has said happens. When she gets to the demons, she fights, but she also finds that things are not what she was led to believe. Their king, Fen, intends to keep her as his Lightbearer, if he can but trust her.
Insatyrable - Ami Wright: When a large satyr-like creature from another planet lands on Earth during Roman times to observe the life here, he sees Arria, and she sees him too, in his true form. She definitely likes what she sees.
The Mountain's Mate - Sara Ivy Hill: Maja is in serious need of money, so she takes a job stealing...something - she doesn't quite know until she gets to Patrek, who has a very strange job for her. But soon the job turns into something much more.
An Abominable Affair - Maddie Syn: Tapeesa's mother is a known yeti hunter, but she isn't a hunter like her mom, no matter how she tries. When she comes across Ghuaar, a yeti, he's not quite what she expected, and he knows he can't stay away from this human no matter what anyone else says.
Dream Catcher - Clarissa Bright: Aura has a one-night stand with Ash, who is...something. This story wasn't fully developed and didn't seem to fit the large monster vibe going on in the rest of the book. I just didn't understand what happened.
Xkalig - Ursa Dax: Xkalig is on a planet in order to observe its inhabitants, but when they see him, he has to get rid of them. He can't make himself get rid of Elodie, though, and he will do whatever it takes to understand her and make her his. (I think he might have been the sweetest of all the monsters).
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes: Thorn is an orc looking for his true mate. He is sent to Earth and meets Ruth, a hippie with aspirations of running a bed and breakfast. He just has to convince her that despite her past bad experiences with me, he is here only to make her happy.
My favorites: The Mountain's Mate; The Demon King's Prize; A Demon, An Orc and a Bartender
However, Xkalig talking to his ship was hilarious and sweet all at once, and I loved that:
“There you are, small child. Always do as I command. Good ship.” I stared, eyes bulging, lips clamped shut.
(for context, he had overheard her talking to her ship when she was trying to fix it ("c'mon baby, work for me" - that kind of thing) - he didn't understand it, but he thought he'd give it a try to understand her better.)
June 14, 2022
Head in The Clouds by Chloe Parker; 1 star
-> so very boring. zero chemistry. zero intrigue. zero anything.
Viridios by L.A. Holloway
-> dnf after ten pages 🙈
A Demon, an Orc and a Bartender by Mathilda Vega; 2 stars
-> started off good, but then it went to a big meh pile of mehness. even smut felt like a summary of what a fully written scene would look like rather than an actual scene☹
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost; 4 stars
-> i really liked this one, especially the worldbuilding. though the love between fen and lena was a bit too insta and would greatly benefit from a longer story but the chemistry was definitely there 🤗💕
Insatyrable by Ami Wright; 2 stars
-> dunno i'm just not a fan of a mythical-looking-creature-crashes-on-earth-at-some-point-in-human-history-and-bangs-a-chick 🤷🏻♀️
im not readng the rest bc the premises have not peaked my interest...and also bc it's clear i have zero luck with this anthology 😅
-> so very boring. zero chemistry. zero intrigue. zero anything.
Viridios by L.A. Holloway
-> dnf after ten pages 🙈
A Demon, an Orc and a Bartender by Mathilda Vega; 2 stars
-> started off good, but then it went to a big meh pile of mehness. even smut felt like a summary of what a fully written scene would look like rather than an actual scene☹
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost; 4 stars
-> i really liked this one, especially the worldbuilding. though the love between fen and lena was a bit too insta and would greatly benefit from a longer story but the chemistry was definitely there 🤗💕
Insatyrable by Ami Wright; 2 stars
-> dunno i'm just not a fan of a mythical-looking-creature-crashes-on-earth-at-some-point-in-human-history-and-bangs-a-chick 🤷🏻♀️
im not readng the rest bc the premises have not peaked my interest...and also bc it's clear i have zero luck with this anthology 😅
Want to read
June 14, 2022THE DEMON KING'S PRIZE by Stella Frost - hV
AN ABOMINABLE AFFAIR by Maddie Syn - DV
AN ABOMINABLE AFFAIR by Maddie Syn - DV
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2022
Happy Valentine's Day! What a perfect release for the day of LOVE, a collaboration of stories about different people from different worlds finding the one they can be loved and love the most. The one aspect which all of these short sci-fi romances had in common was the BIG feelings and BIG.. equipment.
I thoroughly enjoyed all but one of these stories, I will not say which one because that is my personal opinion and I will not discredit the effort that was put in just because I did not find the story my cup of tea. The males are loving, sweet and protective; the females are kind, compassionate and accepting and the sex is spicy and loving in all the best ways.
These are short stories, which I believe are harder to write than longer works because so much must be included in order to not confuse or alienate new readers, while also not adding too much and ending up repetitive. Each of these stories, even from authors I am familiar with, ended with me making a list of each of the authors' other works so I can learn more about their individual worlds. I loved learning about the different worlds and the way in which love overcame the problem of the males' size - seriously one is a legitimate giant - and they came to their Happy Ever After (or HFN).I would encourage every lover of SFR to read this awesome collection and (if you haven’t already) find ten new authors whose work should not be missed.
Anthology profits are being used to benefit an international charity dedicated to providing access to clean water so even if you are unsure whether you will enjoy all of the included works, I encourage you to give it a go - no only because these stories are really enjoyable.
I was given a free ARC of this anthology and willing
I thoroughly enjoyed all but one of these stories, I will not say which one because that is my personal opinion and I will not discredit the effort that was put in just because I did not find the story my cup of tea. The males are loving, sweet and protective; the females are kind, compassionate and accepting and the sex is spicy and loving in all the best ways.
These are short stories, which I believe are harder to write than longer works because so much must be included in order to not confuse or alienate new readers, while also not adding too much and ending up repetitive. Each of these stories, even from authors I am familiar with, ended with me making a list of each of the authors' other works so I can learn more about their individual worlds. I loved learning about the different worlds and the way in which love overcame the problem of the males' size - seriously one is a legitimate giant - and they came to their Happy Ever After (or HFN).I would encourage every lover of SFR to read this awesome collection and (if you haven’t already) find ten new authors whose work should not be missed.
Anthology profits are being used to benefit an international charity dedicated to providing access to clean water so even if you are unsure whether you will enjoy all of the included works, I encourage you to give it a go - no only because these stories are really enjoyable.
I was given a free ARC of this anthology and willing
March 23, 2022
good feels and hot times
Lots of great stories in this collection! Grab it while you can.
I enjoyed the stories a lot. If you like Giants, orcas and other monsters this is the book for you!
I recommend 4 stars
~My Book Obsession Approved~
Lots of great stories in this collection! Grab it while you can.
I enjoyed the stories a lot. If you like Giants, orcas and other monsters this is the book for you!
I recommend 4 stars
~My Book Obsession Approved~
February 22, 2023
Well, that meaning was clear enough. It wanted her to eat.
"I'm not hungry," she declared stubbornly, lifting her chin and deliberately looking in the opposite direction, keeping the giant in her peripheral vision. When it moved, she snapped her attention back to it, but it merely folded its hands in its lap and looked dejected.
"What do you have to be sad about?" she demanded, stomping towards it. "You abducted me, remember?"
-L.A. Holloway
Head in the Clouds - Chloe Parker
4/5 -- Tropes:
A
Viridios - L.A. Holloway
4.5/5 -- Tropes:
This was the cutest strange story! I loved the 'habitat' he built her... and the creative spice the author managed to squeeze in there!
A Demon, An Orc, and a Bartender - Matilda Vega
5/5 -- Tropes:
I loved this one - the worldbuilding, the ridiculous set ups to power up Jol, Urgal... I was disappointed that this author has no other current works to explore!
"I would hunt you by your scent. You couldn't hide from me, little one, not even in the deepest forest. And when I found you-"
"You'd catch me," she panted, thrilled at the idea.
-Sara Ivy Hill
The Demon King's Prize - Stella Frost
5/5 -- Tropes:
That was a boat load of worldbuilding for a tiny novella! I loved the concept behind the light bringers and their role in society outside of human lands.
Insatyrable - Ami Wright
3/5 -- Tropes:
I almost... almost think there was too much sex in this. *hides* Words I rarely say. I would've liked a tiny bit more plot development outside of the shed.
"You will come back to me whenever the full moon rises over Thulo Sikhara. That will be your symbol to come to my fire, and I will keep you until the next day when the sun rises over the peak."
As I watched, her distrustful grimace turned to confusion. "That's it? What are you going to do with me when I'm here?" she pressed.
I grunted. "Enjoy your company."
-Maddie Syn
The Mountain's Mate - Sara Ivy Hill
4/5 -- Tropes:
Creativity points go to Sara Ivy Hill! I liked that Patrek got Maja's consent each time he wanted to pick her up to move her around. I definitely had a few giggly 'wtf' moments reading this one!
An Abominable Affair - Maddie Syn
4/5 -- Tropes:
This one was super sweet, but I do wish it had given us one last chapter so she could process the 'news'!
Dream Catcher - Clarissa Bright
2.5/5 -- Tropes:
I would have liked a little more 'worldbuilding' behind what the male character was, it almost read like a contemporary story. The 'monster' in this felt either underdeveloped or unexplained.
"Just don't hurt me."
It broke his stony heart. His coo unleashed, unbidden, until she quieted. Careful not to move too quickly, he eased to the floor, halving his height in hopes that it would intimidate her less, though even seated, he was still taller than her. He reached a hand toward her and beckoned. "Come, little one. You surprised me, that's all."
-Sara Ivy Hill
Xkalig - Ursa Dax
4/5 -- Tropes:
Coolest ship award goes to Xkalig! And most interesting alien anatomy.
Thorn's Dove - Carlotta Hughes
I chose to read the extended version Thorn's Dove - maps and glossaries and pronunciation guides, oh my!
May 8, 2022
This monster anthology was so deliciously sweet and spicy and BIG if you know what I mean. I loved all of the stories in this book and would highly recommend it! Unlike some anthologies or novellas, the stories in this anthology were the perfect length(pun totally intended). All the stories had good flow, characters that I couldn’t help but love, and romance that was so sweet. If you are a big fan of size difference and sweet monsters then this anthology is prefect for you!
February 14, 2022
If you love your aliens basically human-shaped, under 7ft and maybe just a slightly different colour base then this book is not for you. While they are mostly humanoid they are most defnitely not human-sized nor many of them human looking! That said this is a wonderful group of stories that I know I will read again. No spoilers but not looking at honey or oil quite in the same way again! All of these walking male mountains are entranced by their tiny humans and will happily follow wherever they may lead and each one is capped by an HEA. What more could you want.
For those that need to know the books, they are:
Head in the clouds - Chloe Parker
Viridios - L A Holloway
A Demon, An Orc and a Bartender - Matilda Vega
The Demon King's Prize - Stella Frost
Insatyrable - Ami Wright
The Mountain's Mate - Sara Ivy Hill
An Abominable Affair - Maddie Syn
Dream Catcher - Clarissa Bright
Xkalig - Ursa Dax
For those that need to know the books, they are:
Head in the clouds - Chloe Parker
Viridios - L A Holloway
A Demon, An Orc and a Bartender - Matilda Vega
The Demon King's Prize - Stella Frost
Insatyrable - Ami Wright
The Mountain's Mate - Sara Ivy Hill
An Abominable Affair - Maddie Syn
Dream Catcher - Clarissa Bright
Xkalig - Ursa Dax
May 7, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
I usually don’t read a lot of anthologies; however, I actually quite enjoyed this one.
I really liked some of the stories, others not so much. But either way, I appreciate the variety of stories included, some of which I probably would have never picked up on their own and therefore missed out on. I’ve definitely discovered some new authors for whom I’ll be keeping an eye out!
I usually don’t read a lot of anthologies; however, I actually quite enjoyed this one.
I really liked some of the stories, others not so much. But either way, I appreciate the variety of stories included, some of which I probably would have never picked up on their own and therefore missed out on. I’ve definitely discovered some new authors for whom I’ll be keeping an eye out!
February 15, 2022
This was such a fun collection of monster romances! There were only a couple of authors I've read before so it was a real delight to enjoy so many new-to-me authors' work. Steam, size differences and love abound in each story and I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed these stories. I've now got new authors to go on my one-click list ;D
February 24, 2022
Great anthology
I loved all these stories! They were all so different. I only had n issue with one because I didn't love the ending but it was still good. All had some spice, some more than others. I definitely recommend this book. I will be checking out other books by these authors.
I loved all these stories! They were all so different. I only had n issue with one because I didn't love the ending but it was still good. All had some spice, some more than others. I definitely recommend this book. I will be checking out other books by these authors.
March 26, 2022
A good read
I quite enjoyed most of the stories. I would love to have given the book 5 stars as most of the stories deserved it. 3 of the stories had glaring editing issues which is why I only gave 4 stars.
I quite enjoyed most of the stories. I would love to have given the book 5 stars as most of the stories deserved it. 3 of the stories had glaring editing issues which is why I only gave 4 stars.
September 28, 2022
the fact that this is almost 1000 pages of monsterfucking is almost as ridiculous as the stories inside it - but you know what? if i met a monster at least five times my size who is devoted to my comfort and happiness, i, too, would *instantly* fall in love with him, so valid.
February 22, 2022
I wasn't a huge fan of some of these shorts, but my goodness if they're weren't all written well. Super cute, most are extremely charming--especially given the pace. These are fast romances, but they are all surprisingly well developed and interesting! Unique concepts, and as such they were a nice distraction from a series I'm considering starting.
Some of them I adored. Probably should have started with that, but--you know. Fun collection for the monstah' lovers out there!
Some of them I adored. Probably should have started with that, but--you know. Fun collection for the monstah' lovers out there!
Read
March 20, 2022did not read all of the stories so i won't rate; but The Demon King's Prize was my fave by far!! 4 stars as far as short stories go. it felt like a full length novel 💗
February 24, 2022
All the good feels
This anthology is like a warm hug. Every story is so endearing and well written. I just want all the cinnamon roll book boyfriends in this book.
This anthology is like a warm hug. Every story is so endearing and well written. I just want all the cinnamon roll book boyfriends in this book.
March 15, 2022
so much fun!
This was EXCELLENT!!
Some were just good times. Others more heart warming. Altogether I loved it! Highly recommended for my monster lovers.
This was EXCELLENT!!
Some were just good times. Others more heart warming. Altogether I loved it! Highly recommended for my monster lovers.
March 1, 2022
Mostly an entertaining read. Some stories outstanding, some just interesting and some just plain weird.
February 20, 2022
10 beautiful stories all wrapped into one. I absolutely loved this book, and had so much fun reading through each one. Each author is phenomenal, and each each story so unique and of course, the spice is great 😊
May 23, 2022
If you like fantasy romance and M/f dimorphism, this is the anthology for you. Guaranteed HEA, some fated mates, demons, orcs, and aliens oh my. Most importantly, these are all complete stories — not prequels or teasers for other books.
March 5, 2022
Head in the Clouds by Chloe Parker - 4 stars
Farmer Jess finds a giant beanstalk in her backyard, but instead of finding treasure at the top, she finds lots of honey and a giant beekeeper named Alovir who's a total sweetheart and declares her his mate.
Viridios by L.A. Holloway - 4 stars
Researcher Alaya gets taken by a literal giant named Viridios, who wants to keep her as a pet. Until he finds out she's more sentient than he thought, after which he wants her to stay of her own free will.
A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender by Matilda Vega - 1 star
Bartender Eileen works in a bar frequented by orc Urgal, who has a total crush on her. She hates him. She then saves an incubus named Jol, who needs sexual energy to thrive. They decide to invite Urgal, but he just wants to be loved. Eileen ignores this completely and uses him while being a total asshole to him. Urgal deserved better.
Oh, and in the end Jol leaves for no particular reason, so just Eileen and Urgal are left.
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost - 4 stars
Human Lena refuses to fit in the image of perfect, obedient little girl, making the people around her think she's demon-touched. She gets sacrificed on the next shipment to the demons, where she captures the attention of the demon king Fen. Fen then shows her the 'sacrifices' aren't sacrifices at all, and they start a sweet relationship with a nice dash of revenge on the men who sent her away.
Insatyrable by Ami Wright - 3 stars
Farmer Arria finds a man - or rather, a satyr alien researcher - injured and alone. She helps him, and they figure out they want each other pretty soon. After the deed is done, Yirnas the satyr compares her to an animal (seriously, he was okay with fucking an animal?), but he retracts that again later. The rest of the story was sweet.
The Mountain's Mate by Sara Ivy Hill - 5 stars
Freelance thief Maja takes a job fit for someone of her small stature. She finds out she was hired by huge ass mountain man Patrek, who needs her to sneak into a facility while pretending to be some kind of animal. They were both really sweet to each other and they were a perfect match. Both with hearts of gold, too.
An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn - 4 stars
As the daughter of the fiercest yeti huntress in existence, Tapeesa knows no better than that yetis are dangerous. When yeti Gghaaur helps her, they form an unexpected bond and a lovely romance.
Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright - 3 stars
This story didn't fit in this anthology. Photographer Ash was human(oid), with a really big dick and some kind of dreamwalking ability that allowed him to have sex with Aura in her dreams. Not really a monster story. It also ended really abruptly after only one night.
Xkalig by Ursa Dax - 2 stars
Human Elodie strands on an uninhabited moon with her spaceship. Alien Xkalig won't let her leave anymore, and they form some kind of reluctant romance. I didn't like Elodie at all, she was a bitch most of the time. Xkalig tried really hard, and he was very cute.
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes - 4 stars
Orc prince Thorn follows his heart when fate sends him on a quest to the human realm to find his soulmate. Hippie B&B owner Ruth has no idea what to do with the huge orc that washed up on her beach, but Thorn is willing to wait until she's ready. He was really, really sweet.
Farmer Jess finds a giant beanstalk in her backyard, but instead of finding treasure at the top, she finds lots of honey and a giant beekeeper named Alovir who's a total sweetheart and declares her his mate.
Viridios by L.A. Holloway - 4 stars
Researcher Alaya gets taken by a literal giant named Viridios, who wants to keep her as a pet. Until he finds out she's more sentient than he thought, after which he wants her to stay of her own free will.
A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender by Matilda Vega - 1 star
Bartender Eileen works in a bar frequented by orc Urgal, who has a total crush on her. She hates him. She then saves an incubus named Jol, who needs sexual energy to thrive. They decide to invite Urgal, but he just wants to be loved. Eileen ignores this completely and uses him while being a total asshole to him. Urgal deserved better.
Oh, and in the end Jol leaves for no particular reason, so just Eileen and Urgal are left.
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost - 4 stars
Human Lena refuses to fit in the image of perfect, obedient little girl, making the people around her think she's demon-touched. She gets sacrificed on the next shipment to the demons, where she captures the attention of the demon king Fen. Fen then shows her the 'sacrifices' aren't sacrifices at all, and they start a sweet relationship with a nice dash of revenge on the men who sent her away.
Insatyrable by Ami Wright - 3 stars
Farmer Arria finds a man - or rather, a satyr alien researcher - injured and alone. She helps him, and they figure out they want each other pretty soon. After the deed is done, Yirnas the satyr compares her to an animal (seriously, he was okay with fucking an animal?), but he retracts that again later. The rest of the story was sweet.
The Mountain's Mate by Sara Ivy Hill - 5 stars
Freelance thief Maja takes a job fit for someone of her small stature. She finds out she was hired by huge ass mountain man Patrek, who needs her to sneak into a facility while pretending to be some kind of animal. They were both really sweet to each other and they were a perfect match. Both with hearts of gold, too.
An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn - 4 stars
As the daughter of the fiercest yeti huntress in existence, Tapeesa knows no better than that yetis are dangerous. When yeti Gghaaur helps her, they form an unexpected bond and a lovely romance.
Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright - 3 stars
This story didn't fit in this anthology. Photographer Ash was human(oid), with a really big dick and some kind of dreamwalking ability that allowed him to have sex with Aura in her dreams. Not really a monster story. It also ended really abruptly after only one night.
Xkalig by Ursa Dax - 2 stars
Human Elodie strands on an uninhabited moon with her spaceship. Alien Xkalig won't let her leave anymore, and they form some kind of reluctant romance. I didn't like Elodie at all, she was a bitch most of the time. Xkalig tried really hard, and he was very cute.
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes - 4 stars
Orc prince Thorn follows his heart when fate sends him on a quest to the human realm to find his soulmate. Hippie B&B owner Ruth has no idea what to do with the huge orc that washed up on her beach, but Thorn is willing to wait until she's ready. He was really, really sweet.
May 26, 2022
Overall I had a great time reading these collections of stories. I think that there was a lot of aliens that looked like aliens which I always adore. All the takes on size difference really made this enjoyable for me too. They all have elements of instalove or fated mates to an extent which is my bread and butter. It had a could of major stand outs which I loved but also a few misses which I detail below. No regrets in reading and recommend for anyone with monster smut preferences. I believe the anthology is no longer available, but, many of the authors have said the individual stories will be made available!
Head in the Clouds by Chloe Parker: 4 stars. I think this was a great way to start the anthology. It had some of my favorite worldbuilding with our space bee boy who was almost my favorite male lead. It just felt like a fantasy romcom meet cute to me, just a fun fairly low stakes story with a very cool ship. Bonus points for food play, I hope you like honey!
Viridios by L. A. Holloway: 4 stars I am a sucker for a scientist MC and I felt finding out about our monster love interest from this scientist pov was really great. I then also loved how he was also learning about her in a mirror sort of way through his watching and observing. I really liked the characters even if I felt the plot pacing was a bit off. Very enjoyable none the less with a ending that I felt was one of the strongest in the anthology. It would have been three stars if it wasn't for the fact that it had truly alien parts. It deserved a star all of its own.
A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender by Matilda Vega: 3 Stars. I really loved our orc biker gang prince. I thought there was some really funny parts and would probably read more books in this world. That being said I did not like our MC. I think this is mostly because the author tried so hard to make things sound badass but she ended up sounding like a jerk a good portion of the way through it. Also something felt ick about the way the author described the rough neighborhood, a caricature of poverty almost that felt like wattpad "urban" fiction. Still had fun but it felt a lot like a first draft.
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost: 1 Stars. This whole story felt gross to me lmao. I do not think that relying on female torture is a great plot device and yet it was so bland. It was just a checklist of every overdone trope of "town where men rule over women and they are seen as property". The dialogue was just so bad with everyone in this town. The demon king I sort of liked for all of like two chapters before a miscommunication trope. Also the idea of "women have inherent magical feminine powers that protect the wounded and they are meant to watch over our babies" just felt ick to me. Yes they were taken care of and treated nicely but mmm still weird. Still assigning gender roles to an extreme.
Insatyrable by Ami Wright: 2 Stars. I really loved the idea of this but it just needed some more time. It was such a fun setting in ancient times but I wish there was more done with it. I enjoyed that the FMC never wavered from what she needed to do in the day to day. She kept her priorities straight the entire time and what a queen. Our Satyr man I had a lot harder time enjoying which is mainly why this got as few stars as it did. Also the smut was so-so. I think if this world is every expanded on I would love to see more of the concept of these aliens being the inspo for mythology.
The Mountain's Mate by Sara Ivy Hill: 4 Stars. This was just such a fun read for me. I think that because it was so short that the world was a bit confusing but it was a heist/on the run story that kept you interested the whole time. I felt that both leads were pretty well fleshed out and their connection felt genuine. I definitely laughed several times. That size difference was killing me in the best way possible and I think handled really well. Hill is one of my favorite authors so I was not surprised this was just as good as her other works.
An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn: 3 Stars. I liked the set up for this story a lot and our monster boy was very lovable. I liked how infatuated they were with each other and their relationship was just so sweet I enjoyed watching it develop. Everything outside of them though fell pretty flat. I really didn't care for any of the other characters and the ending felt to abrupt. The couple ends up together but something about it just left me wanting. A lot of build up for a little what, to me, felt like an unsatisfying ending. And it had nothing to do with the pregnancy trope because that is one of my favorites.
Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright: 1 Stars. This was just a confusing mess and I have no desire to even figure out what happened. The monster love interest was constantly changing appearance and maybe age? Unclear. It seemed to be like it was meant to be tied to what he was but we are never told what that is. Just that he can be summoned to her dreams. Demon or boogeyman maybe? Who is to say, not the author that is for sure. Even the sex scenes weren't worth it because they were pretty flat.
Xkalig by Ursa Dax: 3.5 Stars this was another story that had great story building, atmosphere and actual alien looking alien. I loved everything about our alien monster boy. I can not say the same thing for our FMC. I think that she had some scenes that were very endearing and that made me be on her side, just to then become a brat once again. Not even the fun kind of brat. She was just so wishy washy and always complaining. Which granted she did have some right to complain but it was about literally everything and it made her POV eye rolling to read. Still a very fun read even if I feel like the ending was only so-so.
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes: 5 Stars. I absolutely want to go back to this world. The love story that was told just made me long for things. I think for it being a short story/novella the pacing for the plot mixed with an almost slice of life vibe was so well blended. There is not a single thing I would not do for our orc prince Thorn. No human man can ever compare and I will be angry about it to my final breath. I also greatly appreciated that the FMC was the one to make all of the first moves, there was just something refreshing about it. This alone would make the whole anthology worth it. I believe in love again thanks to them lmao
Head in the Clouds by Chloe Parker: 4 stars. I think this was a great way to start the anthology. It had some of my favorite worldbuilding with our space bee boy who was almost my favorite male lead. It just felt like a fantasy romcom meet cute to me, just a fun fairly low stakes story with a very cool ship. Bonus points for food play, I hope you like honey!
Viridios by L. A. Holloway: 4 stars I am a sucker for a scientist MC and I felt finding out about our monster love interest from this scientist pov was really great. I then also loved how he was also learning about her in a mirror sort of way through his watching and observing. I really liked the characters even if I felt the plot pacing was a bit off. Very enjoyable none the less with a ending that I felt was one of the strongest in the anthology. It would have been three stars if it wasn't for the fact that it had truly alien parts. It deserved a star all of its own.
A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender by Matilda Vega: 3 Stars. I really loved our orc biker gang prince. I thought there was some really funny parts and would probably read more books in this world. That being said I did not like our MC. I think this is mostly because the author tried so hard to make things sound badass but she ended up sounding like a jerk a good portion of the way through it. Also something felt ick about the way the author described the rough neighborhood, a caricature of poverty almost that felt like wattpad "urban" fiction. Still had fun but it felt a lot like a first draft.
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost: 1 Stars. This whole story felt gross to me lmao. I do not think that relying on female torture is a great plot device and yet it was so bland. It was just a checklist of every overdone trope of "town where men rule over women and they are seen as property". The dialogue was just so bad with everyone in this town. The demon king I sort of liked for all of like two chapters before a miscommunication trope. Also the idea of "women have inherent magical feminine powers that protect the wounded and they are meant to watch over our babies" just felt ick to me. Yes they were taken care of and treated nicely but mmm still weird. Still assigning gender roles to an extreme.
Insatyrable by Ami Wright: 2 Stars. I really loved the idea of this but it just needed some more time. It was such a fun setting in ancient times but I wish there was more done with it. I enjoyed that the FMC never wavered from what she needed to do in the day to day. She kept her priorities straight the entire time and what a queen. Our Satyr man I had a lot harder time enjoying which is mainly why this got as few stars as it did. Also the smut was so-so. I think if this world is every expanded on I would love to see more of the concept of these aliens being the inspo for mythology.
The Mountain's Mate by Sara Ivy Hill: 4 Stars. This was just such a fun read for me. I think that because it was so short that the world was a bit confusing but it was a heist/on the run story that kept you interested the whole time. I felt that both leads were pretty well fleshed out and their connection felt genuine. I definitely laughed several times. That size difference was killing me in the best way possible and I think handled really well. Hill is one of my favorite authors so I was not surprised this was just as good as her other works.
An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn: 3 Stars. I liked the set up for this story a lot and our monster boy was very lovable. I liked how infatuated they were with each other and their relationship was just so sweet I enjoyed watching it develop. Everything outside of them though fell pretty flat. I really didn't care for any of the other characters and the ending felt to abrupt. The couple ends up together but something about it just left me wanting. A lot of build up for a little what, to me, felt like an unsatisfying ending. And it had nothing to do with the pregnancy trope because that is one of my favorites.
Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright: 1 Stars. This was just a confusing mess and I have no desire to even figure out what happened. The monster love interest was constantly changing appearance and maybe age? Unclear. It seemed to be like it was meant to be tied to what he was but we are never told what that is. Just that he can be summoned to her dreams. Demon or boogeyman maybe? Who is to say, not the author that is for sure. Even the sex scenes weren't worth it because they were pretty flat.
Xkalig by Ursa Dax: 3.5 Stars this was another story that had great story building, atmosphere and actual alien looking alien. I loved everything about our alien monster boy. I can not say the same thing for our FMC. I think that she had some scenes that were very endearing and that made me be on her side, just to then become a brat once again. Not even the fun kind of brat. She was just so wishy washy and always complaining. Which granted she did have some right to complain but it was about literally everything and it made her POV eye rolling to read. Still a very fun read even if I feel like the ending was only so-so.
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes: 5 Stars. I absolutely want to go back to this world. The love story that was told just made me long for things. I think for it being a short story/novella the pacing for the plot mixed with an almost slice of life vibe was so well blended. There is not a single thing I would not do for our orc prince Thorn. No human man can ever compare and I will be angry about it to my final breath. I also greatly appreciated that the FMC was the one to make all of the first moves, there was just something refreshing about it. This alone would make the whole anthology worth it. I believe in love again thanks to them lmao
October 16, 2025
I'm proud of myself. This anthology is so thick that it took me 4 years to finish. To be fair, I took breaks between each chapter, but sometimes it felt too long and dragged on, making it difficult to read. Some of it is obviously wrapped up in a rush and underdeveloped for sure. However, when I realised there was a chance of me dnf this book, I challenged myself so hard to finish it that it became my 2025 reading goal. My determination towards that was epic. I don't think that I force myself, though. I didn't feel like that at all. I still enjoyed it, had fun with the few chapters, and am just happy to ride.
The ratings are all /5
Head in The Clouds by Chloe Parker
3 stars
I couldn't remember most of it, though I had an image that she went up a tree until it reached above the clouds, and she met some green dude there. And a lot of honey was involved. I read this chapter in 2022. God bless.
Viridios by L.A. Halloway
2 stars
Well, this one is weird to me. The fmc was so small in his point of view, and vice versa. I recall it was me being so confused and enjoying myself at the same time, but I couldn't grasp the idea of the plot. I was just reading through.
A Demon, An Orc, and A Bartender by Matilda Vega
3.5 stars
I liked that this one has an action to it. I think they rode in a car together. But honestly, I don't remember much. The rating is in my notes, and that was 2022.
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost
4 stars
I liked this one. I like anything demon. With all his scary-looking features, he was so gentle with her. He has red skin, and is utterly in love with her. It's captive and there's a castle, gargoyles, wings, and horns. Loved the atmosphere here. Read this in 2023 during class. What a fun time.
Insatyrable by Ami Wright
3.8 stars
Okay, I was reading this chapter during class, when my lecturer was lecturing. I couldn't stop reading this because he's so unique. He's hot and otherworldly. He has this goat-like head and eyes with a sculpted human body, abs, and everything. He cared for her so much. She has kids, living in the countryside and works on her farm every day. When she figured him out, she often went to the barn to bang him. God help me, because I was in the middle of class with these people around me, but I was having a blast reading this chapter. So hot.
The Mountain's Mate by Sarah Ivy Hill
3.5 stars
She was a bird for this. She was given a mission, his mission, to help him with something. I liked that this is action-packed, intense, and adorable at the same time. Through all that action, their romance blooms along with it, and I loved that he was so smitten by her. He worried so much that she might get injured during the mission, like, he was ready to save her. So good. Read this during class as well.
An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn
4 stars
I was very hooked on this. So intrigued because he's a yeti. It reminds me of Ice Planet Barbarian, and I think it's because it has that setting of surroundings, like snow and mountains, which feels familiar to me. She has a spear and lives in a cave with her mom and two brothers, then she met this yeti. Her mom is like this iconic hunter among their people, and the yetis know it. So, that's what attracts him to her. He's head over heels with her. I liked that she has strength, is independent, and capable of taking the lead when things get rough. Both of them are gems. It's like Metlak is in love with a human in IPB. I enjoyed this.
Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright
2.5 stars
This was recent to me. It's a very sex-driven plot, and I had no idea what he was. He's not human, that's for sure. But I could guess that maybe he's a dream catcher, based on the title. She had a wonderful night with a guy who's a photographer. However, he could read her mind and know exactly what to say to her. This chapter is bizarre and has plenty of horniness.
Xkalig by Ursa Dax
3.8 stars
Excellent impression on this one. He fell head over heels for her from the beginning as he set his eyes on her. What I liked most about this book is that he didn't know what love meant and learn it from her. With her, he experiences joy, how to love, being in love, caring for someone, and makes that his whole personality. His people don't know what loneliness is because they normalize being alone. Both mc and fmc learn a lot from each other, especially because they are both different creatures, and to me, that is beautiful.
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes
3.8 stars
I liked this one too. She's Irish, so stubborn as she is, she gets shit done whenever she sets her head to something. She loves Tolkien, which is a plus point for me. He's an orc and came from a whole other planet, but through this gate called Gaeta, he teleports fast into the human world. I think they're a couple made from heaven and true soulmates. Thorn and Ruth fit each other like puzzle pieces, and their love story is as beautiful as a dawn sunset. I loved that Ruth is emotionally intelligent, she's smart, and always knows what to do. Thorn is just there, being at her side, happily to help with anything, and loving her throughout the way. This one was sweet, adorable, warm, and flowery.
Overall, this anthology is a pleasant read. Awesome.
I will review the individual books.
Head in the Clouds
Viridios
The Mountain's Mate
An Abominable Affair
Thorn's Dove
The ratings are all /5
Head in The Clouds by Chloe Parker
3 stars
I couldn't remember most of it, though I had an image that she went up a tree until it reached above the clouds, and she met some green dude there. And a lot of honey was involved. I read this chapter in 2022. God bless.
Viridios by L.A. Halloway
2 stars
Well, this one is weird to me. The fmc was so small in his point of view, and vice versa. I recall it was me being so confused and enjoying myself at the same time, but I couldn't grasp the idea of the plot. I was just reading through.
A Demon, An Orc, and A Bartender by Matilda Vega
3.5 stars
I liked that this one has an action to it. I think they rode in a car together. But honestly, I don't remember much. The rating is in my notes, and that was 2022.
The Demon King's Prize by Stella Frost
4 stars
I liked this one. I like anything demon. With all his scary-looking features, he was so gentle with her. He has red skin, and is utterly in love with her. It's captive and there's a castle, gargoyles, wings, and horns. Loved the atmosphere here. Read this in 2023 during class. What a fun time.
Insatyrable by Ami Wright
3.8 stars
Okay, I was reading this chapter during class, when my lecturer was lecturing. I couldn't stop reading this because he's so unique. He's hot and otherworldly. He has this goat-like head and eyes with a sculpted human body, abs, and everything. He cared for her so much. She has kids, living in the countryside and works on her farm every day. When she figured him out, she often went to the barn to bang him. God help me, because I was in the middle of class with these people around me, but I was having a blast reading this chapter. So hot.
The Mountain's Mate by Sarah Ivy Hill
3.5 stars
She was a bird for this. She was given a mission, his mission, to help him with something. I liked that this is action-packed, intense, and adorable at the same time. Through all that action, their romance blooms along with it, and I loved that he was so smitten by her. He worried so much that she might get injured during the mission, like, he was ready to save her. So good. Read this during class as well.
An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn
4 stars
I was very hooked on this. So intrigued because he's a yeti. It reminds me of Ice Planet Barbarian, and I think it's because it has that setting of surroundings, like snow and mountains, which feels familiar to me. She has a spear and lives in a cave with her mom and two brothers, then she met this yeti. Her mom is like this iconic hunter among their people, and the yetis know it. So, that's what attracts him to her. He's head over heels with her. I liked that she has strength, is independent, and capable of taking the lead when things get rough. Both of them are gems. It's like Metlak is in love with a human in IPB. I enjoyed this.
Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright
2.5 stars
This was recent to me. It's a very sex-driven plot, and I had no idea what he was. He's not human, that's for sure. But I could guess that maybe he's a dream catcher, based on the title. She had a wonderful night with a guy who's a photographer. However, he could read her mind and know exactly what to say to her. This chapter is bizarre and has plenty of horniness.
Xkalig by Ursa Dax
3.8 stars
Excellent impression on this one. He fell head over heels for her from the beginning as he set his eyes on her. What I liked most about this book is that he didn't know what love meant and learn it from her. With her, he experiences joy, how to love, being in love, caring for someone, and makes that his whole personality. His people don't know what loneliness is because they normalize being alone. Both mc and fmc learn a lot from each other, especially because they are both different creatures, and to me, that is beautiful.
Thorn's Dove by Carlotta Hughes
3.8 stars
I liked this one too. She's Irish, so stubborn as she is, she gets shit done whenever she sets her head to something. She loves Tolkien, which is a plus point for me. He's an orc and came from a whole other planet, but through this gate called Gaeta, he teleports fast into the human world. I think they're a couple made from heaven and true soulmates. Thorn and Ruth fit each other like puzzle pieces, and their love story is as beautiful as a dawn sunset. I loved that Ruth is emotionally intelligent, she's smart, and always knows what to do. Thorn is just there, being at her side, happily to help with anything, and loving her throughout the way. This one was sweet, adorable, warm, and flowery.
Overall, this anthology is a pleasant read. Awesome.
I will review the individual books.
Head in the Clouds
Viridios
The Mountain's Mate
An Abominable Affair
Thorn's Dove
May 17, 2022
The only reason I bought this anthology was because I love author Ursa Dax. She writes the most romantic alien heroes.
I decided to try the other stories and some of them were great and some didn't work for me.
I'm going to summarize the stories below.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Head in the Clouds - Chloe Parker. Hero is a bee alien. He has antenna and is obsessed with honey. She is his fated mate. I liked it.
Viridios - L. A. Holloway. Heroine is a scientist and hero is...a very long lived alien. Basically immortal. He's a forest giant who has to learn to shrink to a human size so they can be mates. This story was surprisingly cute. He thought she was an animal. So he caught her and built her a cage and kept bringing her food and grass and trying to make her happy. Finally he gives her a mushroom so they can communicate. He didn't know it would turn her into an immortal, he was just trying to talk to her. They are in love and live happily ever after.
A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender - I really loved this story. It was funny and sexy.. Heroine runs a bar that is next to a portal. All kinds of supernaturals come in. She also rescues some people who have been summoned against their will. She is constantly being harassed by a group of orcs, The Horde of Mordor. One time the leader even pulled out his genitals and put his fluids in a shot glass on her bar. She hit his genitals with a baseball bat. What she didn't know is that is how orcs court a woman. Showing off their virility.
She is trying to save a demon who is an incubus. He is starving and he's draining her to death trying to feed himself. She goes to the bar and asks the orc to help the demon. He is desperate to be with her any way he can so he agrees to a threesome with her and the demon. He touches her and the demon uses his mouth on him, but he's not interested and only does it after the heroine asks him to and explains the incubus is starving. She is the only person he wants.
It turns out she is his mate. All those months he's been coming to the bar trying to convince her to give him a chance but she kept rejecting his advances. He knew she was his mate but wanted her to choose him. He is the Orc Prince.
They manage to trap the summoners of the incubus. Demon goes home, they live as mates as orc and princess.
Demon King's Prize - I didn't like this story. Humans go to the demons as part of a treaty. Humans think it's a death sentence but they just need their magic to protect the injured and newly born.
Insatyrable - I didn't like this story. Hero has goat feet and fur and is a satyr. He is a scientist studying planet earth. I felt like they did not have a happy ending. He continues to study earth and they agree to bang in her shed every 7 days. She has 2 kids and 2 grandmas living with her so she can't leave.
The Mountain's Mate - I liked the hero and the heroine. But the story itself was dark. Vampires called Nightborn basically use women for eating and breeding. Humans are not safe. Heroine falls in love with a Skall who is a giant alien.
An Abominable Affair - yeti and human. Humans hunt yetis. But yetis are good guys. Yeti falls in love with a human trying to feed her starving brothers and sick mom.
Dream Catcher - did not have a happy ending. He is some kind of...dream walker? We are never told. She goes back to her job and hero says to dream about him and he'll come to her anytime.
Xkalig by Ursa Dax - I liked this story a lot. Hero is very alien looking with multiple arms and claws. He decides to abandon his post (spying on humans) and instead fly off in his spaceship with the heroine.
I decided to try the other stories and some of them were great and some didn't work for me.
I'm going to summarize the stories below.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Head in the Clouds - Chloe Parker. Hero is a bee alien. He has antenna and is obsessed with honey. She is his fated mate. I liked it.
Viridios - L. A. Holloway. Heroine is a scientist and hero is...a very long lived alien. Basically immortal. He's a forest giant who has to learn to shrink to a human size so they can be mates. This story was surprisingly cute. He thought she was an animal. So he caught her and built her a cage and kept bringing her food and grass and trying to make her happy. Finally he gives her a mushroom so they can communicate. He didn't know it would turn her into an immortal, he was just trying to talk to her. They are in love and live happily ever after.
A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender - I really loved this story. It was funny and sexy.. Heroine runs a bar that is next to a portal. All kinds of supernaturals come in. She also rescues some people who have been summoned against their will. She is constantly being harassed by a group of orcs, The Horde of Mordor. One time the leader even pulled out his genitals and put his fluids in a shot glass on her bar. She hit his genitals with a baseball bat. What she didn't know is that is how orcs court a woman. Showing off their virility.
She is trying to save a demon who is an incubus. He is starving and he's draining her to death trying to feed himself. She goes to the bar and asks the orc to help the demon. He is desperate to be with her any way he can so he agrees to a threesome with her and the demon. He touches her and the demon uses his mouth on him, but he's not interested and only does it after the heroine asks him to and explains the incubus is starving. She is the only person he wants.
It turns out she is his mate. All those months he's been coming to the bar trying to convince her to give him a chance but she kept rejecting his advances. He knew she was his mate but wanted her to choose him. He is the Orc Prince.
They manage to trap the summoners of the incubus. Demon goes home, they live as mates as orc and princess.
Demon King's Prize - I didn't like this story. Humans go to the demons as part of a treaty. Humans think it's a death sentence but they just need their magic to protect the injured and newly born.
Insatyrable - I didn't like this story. Hero has goat feet and fur and is a satyr. He is a scientist studying planet earth. I felt like they did not have a happy ending. He continues to study earth and they agree to bang in her shed every 7 days. She has 2 kids and 2 grandmas living with her so she can't leave.
The Mountain's Mate - I liked the hero and the heroine. But the story itself was dark. Vampires called Nightborn basically use women for eating and breeding. Humans are not safe. Heroine falls in love with a Skall who is a giant alien.
An Abominable Affair - yeti and human. Humans hunt yetis. But yetis are good guys. Yeti falls in love with a human trying to feed her starving brothers and sick mom.
Dream Catcher - did not have a happy ending. He is some kind of...dream walker? We are never told. She goes back to her job and hero says to dream about him and he'll come to her anytime.
Xkalig by Ursa Dax - I liked this story a lot. Hero is very alien looking with multiple arms and claws. He decides to abandon his post (spying on humans) and instead fly off in his spaceship with the heroine.
February 10, 2022
💝 Big Feels is a spicy feast that will satisfy even the most demanding cravings for an otherworldly romance!
I had so much fun reading the stories from many of my favorite authors. And I got to meet some new ones, too, and loved their stories so, so much.
All the heroines are absolutely amazing - kind, accepting, brave and compassionate. And their big males are truly magnificent. I couldn’t resist all of those lovable and protective monsters with huge, huge… hearts!
Even more, the different worldbuildings were absolutely phenomenal! I loved the vast variety of creatures so, so much! And the different and unique storylines kept me glued to the pages till the very end.
All you monster lovers out there - you should definitely check it out!
This remarkable anthology is so full of love, spice and everything naughty and nice! And I loved it BIG time!
~~~
And if you're not convinced yet, here are some of my favorite quotes:
“My hungry blossom. My thief of all that is proper. Whatever shall I do with you?” - Head in the Clouds by Chloe Parker
“I have existed for eons, but I never lived before this moment.” - Viridios by L. A. Holloway
“Oh Eileen, my lovely lass, you’ve no idea the things you do to me.” - A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender by Matilda Vega
“You are not just my Lightbearer. You hold my heart in those tiny little hands.” - The Demon King’s Prize by Stella Frost
“Stars help me, Arria. You tempt me beyond belief.” - Insatyrable by Ami Wright
“I’m at your mercy, little one. Do what you will.” - The Mountain’s Mate by Sara Ivy Hill
“Do not be scared. I will not hurt you. You are mine.” - An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn
“You look so beautiful when you’re on the edge. I bet you look amazing when you let go.” - Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright
“I will give it all up, everything, for you. Because you? You are one thing I cannot give up.” - Xkalig by Ursa Dax
I had so much fun reading the stories from many of my favorite authors. And I got to meet some new ones, too, and loved their stories so, so much.
All the heroines are absolutely amazing - kind, accepting, brave and compassionate. And their big males are truly magnificent. I couldn’t resist all of those lovable and protective monsters with huge, huge… hearts!
Even more, the different worldbuildings were absolutely phenomenal! I loved the vast variety of creatures so, so much! And the different and unique storylines kept me glued to the pages till the very end.
All you monster lovers out there - you should definitely check it out!
This remarkable anthology is so full of love, spice and everything naughty and nice! And I loved it BIG time!
~~~
And if you're not convinced yet, here are some of my favorite quotes:
“My hungry blossom. My thief of all that is proper. Whatever shall I do with you?” - Head in the Clouds by Chloe Parker
“I have existed for eons, but I never lived before this moment.” - Viridios by L. A. Holloway
“Oh Eileen, my lovely lass, you’ve no idea the things you do to me.” - A Demon, an Orc, and a Bartender by Matilda Vega
“You are not just my Lightbearer. You hold my heart in those tiny little hands.” - The Demon King’s Prize by Stella Frost
“Stars help me, Arria. You tempt me beyond belief.” - Insatyrable by Ami Wright
“I’m at your mercy, little one. Do what you will.” - The Mountain’s Mate by Sara Ivy Hill
“Do not be scared. I will not hurt you. You are mine.” - An Abominable Affair by Maddie Syn
“You look so beautiful when you’re on the edge. I bet you look amazing when you let go.” - Dream Catcher by Clarissa Bright
“I will give it all up, everything, for you. Because you? You are one thing I cannot give up.” - Xkalig by Ursa Dax
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews