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Monsters & Mayhem
In Darkness and Dank
Kittisak Amarin is not a scientist—he's barely a student, but he joined his college professor's research team for an expedition into the Amazon as a last ditch effort to pass his biology course. His professor thinks they're going to discover a new species out here, but Kittisak is more worried about being eaten alive by giant mosquitoes and staying awake while the team studies test tubes of dirty water.
When he sees a fantastic amphibian creature watching over him one night, he thinks it's just a dream.
Until it comes back.
A fatal misunderstanding leaves Kittisak wounded and unable to flee once the creature has taken him prisoner. As the creature nurses him back to health and shows him the wonders of his mysterious jungle home, Kittisak has to confront his growing attraction to his enigmatic captor and his dwindling desire to escape. He begins to realize that the creature may not be the monster he appears to be...
And that even amongst darkness and dank, the sweetest romance can blossom.
In Darkness and Dank is an MM Horror Retelling of Creature from the Black Lagoon, as part of the collaboration Monsters & Mayhem: An MM Horror Collection, adapting some of your favorite classic horror stories with an MM romance twist.
When he sees a fantastic amphibian creature watching over him one night, he thinks it's just a dream.
Until it comes back.
A fatal misunderstanding leaves Kittisak wounded and unable to flee once the creature has taken him prisoner. As the creature nurses him back to health and shows him the wonders of his mysterious jungle home, Kittisak has to confront his growing attraction to his enigmatic captor and his dwindling desire to escape. He begins to realize that the creature may not be the monster he appears to be...
And that even amongst darkness and dank, the sweetest romance can blossom.
In Darkness and Dank is an MM Horror Retelling of Creature from the Black Lagoon, as part of the collaboration Monsters & Mayhem: An MM Horror Collection, adapting some of your favorite classic horror stories with an MM romance twist.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2022
117 people are currently reading
645 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
May 4, 2023
4/5 ⭐ This is ‘my cup of tea’! 🍵
It's been a wonderful surprise to have found this book ♥️ I read it without any kind of expectations so it's turned out to be a quick and exciting read. Hence, my four stars🌟 I consider that the author's writing style is a trait to keep in mind and it tells so much about the quality of the novel. I'm fond of this feature and In Darkness and Dank from KL Hiers has not disappointed me at all 😊 Besides, this trait has been merged with a perfect development of the rainforest's atmosphere which reminds me of films about Tarzan 🌴 🦍
◾ In Darkness and Dank introduces us to Kittisak, an asian-american college student who is workig as Professor Browning's assistant to help boost his grade, and Shu, a fish monstera rife who lives in the rainforest an whose biology is related with Professor Browning's research. Because of an incident in their camp, Denninger, I hate you 👿, Shu "kidnaps" Kitty in order to save his life and their joining will brings with it blooming feelings 🌺 🌹
◾ Positives:
✔️Such a moving characters 💖 I would name Browning, Bal, Hue, Hutte, Zimm and our main characters.
↳ Shu is an interesting MVP, yass!🖤 He is the perfect soulmate for Kitty 😻 and such a cutie nickname gives to him ♥️ Language barriers gave problems at first, but it was touching to read the effort with which our characters had to deal to settle to their new relationship 🥰 Besides, I don't have words to describe his genitalia 😏 I'm in shock!
↳ Kitty 🐱 is sweet, funny and utterly hot. He is open-minded and never denies his love for Shu to the point of leaving his past life back and starting over with Shu and his monster-family in the rainforest 💕 Plus, he is such a diva with a lot of hot kinks and good taste in music, yass! 💅💜
↳ Bal and Hue are remarkable 🌺🌷 and *SPOILER* the birth scene from an egg was so moving and how all of that were related with Professor Browning's research. When I read that Kitty held Hue and Shu embraced him from behind my heart skipped a beat ♥️ *SPOILER*
↳ Zimm's redemption 🤡
✔️ Quick and vibrant read💨 I was not bored reading this book, not a single moment.
◾ Negatives:
❌ It is not a horror story 👻 If you come here searching something spooky 🎃 , you'll be disappointed. This is a fact.
❌ The relationship is not a slow-build because of the lenght. The book is pretty short and it is a shame.
❌ The book ends 🥀
This book has been a great surprise ♥️ It is short but it is worth if you are searching for something sweet, charming and well written 😉
It's been a wonderful surprise to have found this book ♥️ I read it without any kind of expectations so it's turned out to be a quick and exciting read. Hence, my four stars🌟 I consider that the author's writing style is a trait to keep in mind and it tells so much about the quality of the novel. I'm fond of this feature and In Darkness and Dank from KL Hiers has not disappointed me at all 😊 Besides, this trait has been merged with a perfect development of the rainforest's atmosphere which reminds me of films about Tarzan 🌴 🦍
◾ In Darkness and Dank introduces us to Kittisak, an asian-american college student who is workig as Professor Browning's assistant to help boost his grade, and Shu, a fish monster
◾ Positives:
✔️Such a moving characters 💖 I would name Browning, Bal, Hue, Hutte, Zimm and our main characters.
↳ Shu is an interesting MVP, yass!🖤 He is the perfect soulmate for Kitty 😻 and such a cutie nickname gives to him ♥️ Language barriers gave problems at first, but it was touching to read the effort with which our characters had to deal to settle to their new relationship 🥰 Besides, I don't have words to describe his genitalia 😏 I'm in shock!
↳ Kitty 🐱 is sweet, funny and utterly hot. He is open-minded and never denies his love for Shu to the point of leaving his past life back and starting over with Shu and his monster-family in the rainforest 💕 Plus, he is such a diva with a lot of hot kinks and good taste in music, yass! 💅💜
↳ Bal and Hue are remarkable 🌺🌷 and *SPOILER* the birth scene from an egg was so moving and how all of that were related with Professor Browning's research. When I read that Kitty held Hue and Shu embraced him from behind my heart skipped a beat ♥️ *SPOILER*
↳ Zimm's redemption 🤡
✔️ Quick and vibrant read💨 I was not bored reading this book, not a single moment.
◾ Negatives:
❌ It is not a horror story 👻 If you come here searching something spooky 🎃 , you'll be disappointed. This is a fact.
❌ The relationship is not a slow-build because of the lenght. The book is pretty short and it is a shame.
❌ The book ends 🥀
This book has been a great surprise ♥️ It is short but it is worth if you are searching for something sweet, charming and well written 😉
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October 1, 2022
MM Romance
Creature From The Black Lagoon Retelling
3.5 Stars ⭐️
While this one is definitely a step up from the first book in this series, I guess I was expecting this series to be a bit more scary considering it’s supposed to be MM horror romance retellings. This fits into the campy horror category though and made me laugh much like the 1954 black and white movie did when I watched it with my dad years ago. In the movie, the creature was a true monster, kidnapping a woman who then needed to be rescued but this one portrayed the “monster” as a gentle, caring creature who just wanted to nurse his captive back to health.
Like the original, this takes place in the Amazon with some scientists looking for a specific type of bacteria with ph properties only found in certain types of water or some shit. It was a bit too science forward because I did not need to know all about the different types of water (clear, white, black, royal etc) when I was just here for the monster dick, but I digress. Our narrator Kittisak gets hurt but then rescued by the creature and taken to his underwater cave lair where he heals up quite quickly due to some magical mud and they discover they are both hot for each other.
Everyone should know by now that I read monster books for the weird appendages and this book did not disappoint! Holy shit the anatomy in this book was hot and um someone needs to make this into a vibrator because I’m jealous. LoL 😂 maybe that should be my next career move, making monster themed didlos. 🤣🤣 Anyway 🥵🥵🥵 The monster sex in this was fucking hot but they also had a real relationship learning each other’s languages, cuddling and there was so much purring and chirping. I just loved this but then in the last 20% it got a bit too cheesy for me although I guess it fit into the wacky, campy feel this book had but I really wasn’t a fan of how it ended. It was just too neat and tidy for me and I’m not sure exactly what I wanted but it didn’t feel realistic for the story. Or hell, maybe it did. Who knows.
This book reminded me of “The Bigfoot’s Mate” by Delaney Rain so anyone who loved that book will probably eat this one up. Very similar except with a humanoid amphibious creature which is probably why I’m giving it the same rating as that one.
Creature From The Black Lagoon Retelling
3.5 Stars ⭐️
While this one is definitely a step up from the first book in this series, I guess I was expecting this series to be a bit more scary considering it’s supposed to be MM horror romance retellings. This fits into the campy horror category though and made me laugh much like the 1954 black and white movie did when I watched it with my dad years ago. In the movie, the creature was a true monster, kidnapping a woman who then needed to be rescued but this one portrayed the “monster” as a gentle, caring creature who just wanted to nurse his captive back to health.
Like the original, this takes place in the Amazon with some scientists looking for a specific type of bacteria with ph properties only found in certain types of water or some shit. It was a bit too science forward because I did not need to know all about the different types of water (clear, white, black, royal etc) when I was just here for the monster dick, but I digress. Our narrator Kittisak gets hurt but then rescued by the creature and taken to his underwater cave lair where he heals up quite quickly due to some magical mud and they discover they are both hot for each other.
Everyone should know by now that I read monster books for the weird appendages and this book did not disappoint! Holy shit the anatomy in this book was hot and um someone needs to make this into a vibrator because I’m jealous. LoL 😂 maybe that should be my next career move, making monster themed didlos. 🤣🤣 Anyway 🥵🥵🥵 The monster sex in this was fucking hot but they also had a real relationship learning each other’s languages, cuddling and there was so much purring and chirping. I just loved this but then in the last 20% it got a bit too cheesy for me although I guess it fit into the wacky, campy feel this book had but I really wasn’t a fan of how it ended. It was just too neat and tidy for me and I’m not sure exactly what I wanted but it didn’t feel realistic for the story. Or hell, maybe it did. Who knows.
This book reminded me of “The Bigfoot’s Mate” by Delaney Rain so anyone who loved that book will probably eat this one up. Very similar except with a humanoid amphibious creature which is probably why I’m giving it the same rating as that one.
October 11, 2022
3,5 ⭐
I enjoyed reading this book.
Even though it's said to be an MM horror retelling, it was far from horror. It was actually very sweet!
It reminded me a bit of The Bigfoot's Mate.
Honestly, what I enjoyed the most in this book was the monster sex. 🤣 It was HOT! 🥵🥵🥵 I have read a few monster books but this one by far has the hottest scenes! 🤤
The plot was good even though I got bored a bit with the testing of water and so on. In terms of plot, I needed a bit more but as a whole, I enjoyed it so it's a win.
I enjoyed reading this book.
Even though it's said to be an MM horror retelling, it was far from horror. It was actually very sweet!
It reminded me a bit of The Bigfoot's Mate.
Honestly, what I enjoyed the most in this book was the monster sex. 🤣 It was HOT! 🥵🥵🥵 I have read a few monster books but this one by far has the hottest scenes! 🤤
The plot was good even though I got bored a bit with the testing of water and so on. In terms of plot, I needed a bit more but as a whole, I enjoyed it so it's a win.
October 11, 2022
First of all, it's so wrong to market this book in this horror series lmaoo.
Anyway, my friends here all said this book was a whole lot like The Bigfoot’s Mate - I swoooned the hell lot of it so yep, I was so excited for that. And hell yes that part definitely delivered!
I only ever love the moments they shared, I swooned the hell out of it, otherwise this book was just fine. I hate wrongly marketed book, but I’m happy I wasn’t expecting goryness (thank god for my friends) and the cuteness definitely sold so I guess a win is a win.
Shu’s character was executed just okay, exactly how others fluffy monsters I have read. Especially the sweet moments they shared felt like I’ve read it somewhere exactly the same. I would describe the moments they shared is combinations of The Last Yeti and The Bigfoot's Mate. LOL. And the third act angst was *ehem* similar to The Last Yeti’s. Tbh, for a second there, I really thought gosh, this book didn’t feel original at all. And I had no fun reading the similar parts :/
Other than that, it was so cute though. I really can’t help but smile and swoon because I’m down on my knees when it comes to big guy like Shu. Shu is the sweetest! He had the biggest heart, cutest soul and the hottest dick. Credits to the anatomy 😮💨
Anyway, fav details:
☺︎ open fruits for him
☺︎ repeated after him cutely
☺︎ sharing Pacay 😭💜😭💜😭💜 i actually wanna try that white pulpy stuff it sounds so delicious WHAT FRUIT IS THATT HELP?!!!
☺︎ licking Kitisak smeared face 😩😩😩😩
☺︎ Shu carries him
Anyway, my friends here all said this book was a whole lot like The Bigfoot’s Mate - I swoooned the hell lot of it so yep, I was so excited for that. And hell yes that part definitely delivered!
I only ever love the moments they shared, I swooned the hell out of it, otherwise this book was just fine. I hate wrongly marketed book, but I’m happy I wasn’t expecting goryness (thank god for my friends) and the cuteness definitely sold so I guess a win is a win.
Shu’s character was executed just okay, exactly how others fluffy monsters I have read. Especially the sweet moments they shared felt like I’ve read it somewhere exactly the same. I would describe the moments they shared is combinations of The Last Yeti and The Bigfoot's Mate. LOL. And the third act angst was *ehem* similar to The Last Yeti’s. Tbh, for a second there, I really thought gosh, this book didn’t feel original at all. And I had no fun reading the similar parts :/
Other than that, it was so cute though. I really can’t help but smile and swoon because I’m down on my knees when it comes to big guy like Shu. Shu is the sweetest! He had the biggest heart, cutest soul and the hottest dick. Credits to the anatomy 😮💨
Anyway, fav details:
☺︎ open fruits for him
☺︎ repeated after him cutely
☺︎ sharing Pacay 😭💜😭💜😭💜 i actually wanna try that white pulpy stuff it sounds so delicious WHAT FRUIT IS THATT HELP?!!!
☺︎ licking Kitisak smeared face 😩😩😩😩
☺︎ Shu carries him
May 14, 2023
When I first found the series on amazon I was excited for them to be horror retellings. And while I very much enjoyed the first book and now this one, it's not horror. Maybe more on the cutesy sweet Halloween kind of thing. For me this was a 3.5. I loved that sho (the lake monster) was human enough to make things more possible but was different enough to make things very interesting. The romance was on the more wholesome and sweet side and I liked the way they learned about each other. But it was lacking in the plot department, there where other things going on than the relationship altough not very much to add effect. But enjoyable nevertheless.
Didn't expect this series to be so sweet, was expecting more of a darker romance/horror.
Didn't expect this series to be so sweet, was expecting more of a darker romance/horror.
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October 18, 2022
Going in, I knew this story was not going to be dark or scary, thanks to the reviews of my mutuals. That helped me approach the story with a different frame of mind and no expectations of horror or dark romance.
I absolutely adored it. I caught myself smiling at many points in the story as Shu and Kitty's romance was so so sweet. I loved Kittisak's openness towards Shu in understanding him and his ways. He never looked at him as a monster and really with no fear.
Regarding the initial language barrier, I don't know why I found it so cute and loved how their communication became stronger as they spent more time together. Shu is the sweetest, most caring sea monster (Rife). It really gave Shape of Water vibes. They weren't only sweet together, but the sex was so hot and tender. Goodness, I love how creative K.L. Hiers was with that part of Shu's anatomy.
It was interesting to watch Kittisak build a life with Shu. I loved that they didn't have to be apart, and Kittisak was still able to keep his ties to his family.
Overall, this was a beautifully tender and sexy monster love story with amazing world-building as well. It is not dark/horror at all; if you do not go in with that expectation, you will enjoy.
I absolutely adored it. I caught myself smiling at many points in the story as Shu and Kitty's romance was so so sweet. I loved Kittisak's openness towards Shu in understanding him and his ways. He never looked at him as a monster and really with no fear.
Regarding the initial language barrier, I don't know why I found it so cute and loved how their communication became stronger as they spent more time together. Shu is the sweetest, most caring sea monster (Rife). It really gave Shape of Water vibes. They weren't only sweet together, but the sex was so hot and tender. Goodness, I love how creative K.L. Hiers was with that part of Shu's anatomy.
It was interesting to watch Kittisak build a life with Shu. I loved that they didn't have to be apart, and Kittisak was still able to keep his ties to his family.
Overall, this was a beautifully tender and sexy monster love story with amazing world-building as well. It is not dark/horror at all; if you do not go in with that expectation, you will enjoy.
October 9, 2022
OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK! Everything I read from this author is just steamy and HOT and so well written.
This is part of a multi-author collection of mm reimaginings of monster and classic stories. This one is a take on the Creature from the Black Lagoon, only a heck of a lot sexier and also, surprisingly, funnier!
I adored Kittisak and Shu, them trying to teach each other how to communicate, learning about each other's worlds, and falling for each other. I just kinda adored Shu and how sweet he was with Kittisak. Honestly, these two are just so freakin' adorable - and hot - together. I could definitely read about this world more, that's how much I enjoyed the whole story.
If you're a fan of Delaney Rain's monsters, you will enjoy this one.
This is part of a multi-author collection of mm reimaginings of monster and classic stories. This one is a take on the Creature from the Black Lagoon, only a heck of a lot sexier and also, surprisingly, funnier!
I adored Kittisak and Shu, them trying to teach each other how to communicate, learning about each other's worlds, and falling for each other. I just kinda adored Shu and how sweet he was with Kittisak. Honestly, these two are just so freakin' adorable - and hot - together. I could definitely read about this world more, that's how much I enjoyed the whole story.
If you're a fan of Delaney Rain's monsters, you will enjoy this one.
October 1, 2022
Very interesting take on the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The author was able to make me fall for Kitty and his creature, Shu.
I loved the world building and creative tale of Shu's people, and really enjoyed watching Shu and Kitty fall in love. This is a sweet, romantic story with interesting sexy times with a little mystery, and yes, violence thrown in.
I wish the author would write more about this world. I would definitely be on board with more about Shu and his interesting people.
4.5 stars rounded up
I loved the world building and creative tale of Shu's people, and really enjoyed watching Shu and Kitty fall in love. This is a sweet, romantic story with interesting sexy times with a little mystery, and yes, violence thrown in.
I wish the author would write more about this world. I would definitely be on board with more about Shu and his interesting people.
4.5 stars rounded up
October 14, 2022
Like wow...
Not gonna lie, this was so freaking good. I was sort of leery going into this, cause come on, how do you make the creature from the black lagoon romantic? Well apparently I was so wrong.
Spoilers ahead
In this lovely tale we have Kittisak, a student on the verge of failing biology who had to take a trip to the Amazon to get a good grade. While there collecting water samples, a creature was watching him and one day shows up in his tent. Kitty tries to protect the creature and gets shot, causing the monster to save him and carry him off to a cave.
We find out that the creature is named Shu. Shu is awesome and hot and has the most original wingdinger I have ever read about. This would have been a five star read just because of that.
Shu and Kitty are fated mates and on the night of the full moon, Kitty finally gets the whole 3 parts of the awesome wingdinger. Things get hairy when the awful guys shows up and something bad happens to Shu.
The only part I really wasn't happy with was the ending. I kind of wanted no one to know about these new beings, but I was glad the sisters found some manos that interested them.
Not gonna lie, this was so freaking good. I was sort of leery going into this, cause come on, how do you make the creature from the black lagoon romantic? Well apparently I was so wrong.
Spoilers ahead
In this lovely tale we have Kittisak, a student on the verge of failing biology who had to take a trip to the Amazon to get a good grade. While there collecting water samples, a creature was watching him and one day shows up in his tent. Kitty tries to protect the creature and gets shot, causing the monster to save him and carry him off to a cave.
We find out that the creature is named Shu. Shu is awesome and hot and has the most original wingdinger I have ever read about. This would have been a five star read just because of that.
Shu and Kitty are fated mates and on the night of the full moon, Kitty finally gets the whole 3 parts of the awesome wingdinger. Things get hairy when the awful guys shows up and something bad happens to Shu.
The only part I really wasn't happy with was the ending. I kind of wanted no one to know about these new beings, but I was glad the sisters found some manos that interested them.
October 8, 2022
adorable
I know some of the complaints about this series is that some of the books aren’t really horror or dark. I’ve only read two, and no, they really aren’t horror. This one in particular is so damn adorable I wanted to read more of them. I am 100% ok with this not being dark. I’ve read some of Hiers other work and they CAN do dark horror monster stories, but this isn’t one. And I’m so ok with that because these two were impossibly sweet… and let’s not forgot the sexy monster parts. This book was on fire! My only critique is that the epilogue was only four months later and everything that happened in those four months was… impossible to happen in that short amount of time, lol.
If you love monster books without the dark, definitely check this out. If you want more no-angst monster stories, Hiers 8 Days of Monstrous Pride is awesome. If you want DARK monsters with dark themes, read their 13 Days of Monster F*cking on Smashwords.
I know some of the complaints about this series is that some of the books aren’t really horror or dark. I’ve only read two, and no, they really aren’t horror. This one in particular is so damn adorable I wanted to read more of them. I am 100% ok with this not being dark. I’ve read some of Hiers other work and they CAN do dark horror monster stories, but this isn’t one. And I’m so ok with that because these two were impossibly sweet… and let’s not forgot the sexy monster parts. This book was on fire! My only critique is that the epilogue was only four months later and everything that happened in those four months was… impossible to happen in that short amount of time, lol.
If you love monster books without the dark, definitely check this out. If you want more no-angst monster stories, Hiers 8 Days of Monstrous Pride is awesome. If you want DARK monsters with dark themes, read their 13 Days of Monster F*cking on Smashwords.
October 6, 2022
Black Lagoon but romantic
This book was WAY sweeter than I was expecting.
Kitty was in the Amazon rainforest for a school project and things go terribly wrong.
Lucky for him there was a Shu to save him.
Shu is a creature of the rainforest. Kitty learns to depend on him. Their relationship development was epically sweet but also VERY sexy! That 3rd 😳
I wasn’t sure how it was all going to shake out and make it to an HEA. BUT it became a very amazing one. Loved it. To the moon and back 😍
This book was WAY sweeter than I was expecting.
Kitty was in the Amazon rainforest for a school project and things go terribly wrong.
Lucky for him there was a Shu to save him.
Shu is a creature of the rainforest. Kitty learns to depend on him. Their relationship development was epically sweet but also VERY sexy! That 3rd 😳
I wasn’t sure how it was all going to shake out and make it to an HEA. BUT it became a very amazing one. Loved it. To the moon and back 😍
June 3, 2024
“Oh, meh almae, I dreamed of the moon. It wanted me to come to it, but I told it no. I wanted here. I wanted you.” 😭
That part when Hue was born and they were under the waterfall. 🥹 if there's any fan art, I NEED!
Oh, and their lil dance party. Ugh!!! They were so heart achingly sweet. I absolutely loved Kitty and Shu.
Idk why it says horror, tho.....the only scary part was chapter 9/10. I was sobbing into my pillow.
Ps- his doodleberry splits in 3🥵
No cheating
No om
That part when Hue was born and they were under the waterfall. 🥹 if there's any fan art, I NEED!
Oh, and their lil dance party. Ugh!!! They were so heart achingly sweet. I absolutely loved Kitty and Shu.
Idk why it says horror, tho.....the only scary part was chapter 9/10. I was sobbing into my pillow.
Ps- his doodleberry splits in 3🥵
No cheating
No om
June 27, 2023
4.5 stars
This was adorable. Don't let the cover or theme fool you; there's really no darkness or horror here. Instead we have a college student with a heart of gold, and the softest most lovable "monster." Shu, our "monster", is tender and protective and thinks Kitty (the cute nickname he gives the human lead) is the best, most beautiful creature he's ever seen. It doesn't take long for Kitty to feel the same about Shu. Their romance is sweet and magical, and the sex is fiery, in large part due to Shu's unique anatomy. Most of the side characters were likeable, especially Shu's family. The villains are perhaps a bit one dimensional (though one unexpectedly finds himself on the side of good by the end), but it unfortunately fits with how humans probably would treat a newly discovered species. Which makes the overly optimistic epilogue perhaps a bit unrealistic, though I loved it. The leads deserved their happy ending, and implausible or not, they got it in a cinematic and yet intimate way. Highly recommended.
This was adorable. Don't let the cover or theme fool you; there's really no darkness or horror here. Instead we have a college student with a heart of gold, and the softest most lovable "monster." Shu, our "monster", is tender and protective and thinks Kitty (the cute nickname he gives the human lead) is the best, most beautiful creature he's ever seen. It doesn't take long for Kitty to feel the same about Shu. Their romance is sweet and magical, and the sex is fiery, in large part due to Shu's unique anatomy. Most of the side characters were likeable, especially Shu's family. The villains are perhaps a bit one dimensional (though one unexpectedly finds himself on the side of good by the end), but it unfortunately fits with how humans probably would treat a newly discovered species. Which makes the overly optimistic epilogue perhaps a bit unrealistic, though I loved it. The leads deserved their happy ending, and implausible or not, they got it in a cinematic and yet intimate way. Highly recommended.
October 9, 2022
I don't know what it is about monster romances that make language barriers seem so damn sexy to me but it's becoming a real problem🙁 Yes, bring me raw fish, honey and fruits as offerings! Look at me like I hung the moon! Make happy noises at me and touch me like I'm the most precious thing in the world😭
Ehem, anyway👀...
This was not at all what I was expecting based on the gorgeous cover and the series' premise! In fact, this was very much giving me the little mermaid mixed with some Tarzan vibes and I have to say, it really works😂😂 It was anything but scary or horrific and I couldn't bring myself to really care about that when Kitty and Shu made ME smile so much!
“Kitty make Shu smile. We swim, we dance, we eat, we caris.” Shu perked up a bit more. “If I monster, then happy to be Kitty’s monster.”
This was very cute and funny, I was not once annoyed with either Kitty or Shu! Plus, there was also some very nice steam featuring Shu's very interesting monster appendage😏🔥
My fave quote: “Where there is a will and lots of lube, there is a way.”
Ehem, anyway👀...
This was not at all what I was expecting based on the gorgeous cover and the series' premise! In fact, this was very much giving me the little mermaid mixed with some Tarzan vibes and I have to say, it really works😂😂 It was anything but scary or horrific and I couldn't bring myself to really care about that when Kitty and Shu made ME smile so much!
“Kitty make Shu smile. We swim, we dance, we eat, we caris.” Shu perked up a bit more. “If I monster, then happy to be Kitty’s monster.”
This was very cute and funny, I was not once annoyed with either Kitty or Shu! Plus, there was also some very nice steam featuring Shu's very interesting monster appendage😏🔥
My fave quote: “Where there is a will and lots of lube, there is a way.”
October 21, 2022
The beginning was a bit tough for me to read because of technical stuffs flew over my head.
The thing is I think it safe to say that a storyline with The "Monster" was actually kind and sweet is a cliche trope because I've read this types of story before but, that's fine because I'm still gonna eat it up lol.
Also there's a lack of a horror elements in this story.
The only thing that made me enjoy reading this book was two of the mcs
Shu and kitty both are pretty sweet even there's not really a depth in their character.
The plot was a meh tho could've been a lot better, there is nothing really happened in the story.
Thank you Iman for letting me rant 🤌
The thing is I think it safe to say that a storyline with The "Monster" was actually kind and sweet is a cliche trope because I've read this types of story before but, that's fine because I'm still gonna eat it up lol.
Also there's a lack of a horror elements in this story.
The only thing that made me enjoy reading this book was two of the mcs
Shu and kitty both are pretty sweet even there's not really a depth in their character.
The plot was a meh tho could've been a lot better, there is nothing really happened in the story.
Thank you Iman for letting me rant 🤌
September 26, 2022
I will say this, I really had no idea what to expect going into this book. I knew it would be good. I knew there would be monsters. But what else was I for? Well, a pretty great story is what I got.
Kittisak, Kitty, is a failing botany student in the Amazon in a last ditch effort to pass his class. What he finds in something all together different. He finds Shu, a completely unknown species of creature. I liked how they haltingly got to know one another. Shu barely speaking English made for a barrier that Kitty had to overcome. Still, lust is universal and Kitty knows what he wants. Honestly, it’s not like Kitty falls straight into bed with Shu, but he certainly doesn’t waffle back and forth very long. Shu unique anatomy leads to some very sexy scenes and I was here for it. Along the way, feelings develop and new questions arise about how long Kitty can really stay hidden in this unknown paradise.
Hiers once again amazes with the world building here. Shu’s people, the Rife, are well researched and have a history and ideology that just worked with the type of creature they were. So many little details made Shu’s Lagoon an almost immersive experience and I loved every minute. The story itself was wonderful and Kitty and Shu really connected for me. Another recommended read from KL Hiers.
Kittisak, Kitty, is a failing botany student in the Amazon in a last ditch effort to pass his class. What he finds in something all together different. He finds Shu, a completely unknown species of creature. I liked how they haltingly got to know one another. Shu barely speaking English made for a barrier that Kitty had to overcome. Still, lust is universal and Kitty knows what he wants. Honestly, it’s not like Kitty falls straight into bed with Shu, but he certainly doesn’t waffle back and forth very long. Shu unique anatomy leads to some very sexy scenes and I was here for it. Along the way, feelings develop and new questions arise about how long Kitty can really stay hidden in this unknown paradise.
Hiers once again amazes with the world building here. Shu’s people, the Rife, are well researched and have a history and ideology that just worked with the type of creature they were. So many little details made Shu’s Lagoon an almost immersive experience and I loved every minute. The story itself was wonderful and Kitty and Shu really connected for me. Another recommended read from KL Hiers.
November 22, 2023
3.5 to 4 ☆. What a light, easy, and fun book! There's no horror present, maybe a pinch of gore; instead, it explores the theme of greedy humans being the real monsters alongside beautiful, rational creatures that just want to live their lives in peace! Great writing, excellent world-building, and a compelling plot—sometimes a bit predictable but thoroughly enjoyable. And, oh, so much steam! You know, it's a rainforest, so it makes total sense, right? 😅 The scenarios were vividly described and never boring.
The humor present throughout the book is well-written and flows seamlessly. We see right at the beginning that Kittysack's specialty is his comedic take on life! And I love him for it!
Will I venture to read from this author again? Yes, very much so! Such an imaginative story with amazingly well-developed main and side characters!
The humor present throughout the book is well-written and flows seamlessly. We see right at the beginning that Kittysack's specialty is his comedic take on life! And I love him for it!
Will I venture to read from this author again? Yes, very much so! Such an imaginative story with amazingly well-developed main and side characters!
October 31, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I’m going to be blunt. This book is exactly what it claims to be — an erotic retelling of the Creature from the Black Lagoon — and it’s full of fun, adventure, and smut. Kittisak is in a bit of a crisis as his grades are about to get him kicked out of college, which would be bad. So, he signs up to help Professor Browning as a research assistant while the man treks through the rainforest. Kittisak is in charge of taking samples, recording samples, and listening attentively. It’s hot, humid, and there are bugs everywhere … but if he can get an A for his final, he might just manage to pass his class.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I’m going to be blunt. This book is exactly what it claims to be — an erotic retelling of the Creature from the Black Lagoon — and it’s full of fun, adventure, and smut. Kittisak is in a bit of a crisis as his grades are about to get him kicked out of college, which would be bad. So, he signs up to help Professor Browning as a research assistant while the man treks through the rainforest. Kittisak is in charge of taking samples, recording samples, and listening attentively. It’s hot, humid, and there are bugs everywhere … but if he can get an A for his final, he might just manage to pass his class.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
September 30, 2022
Kittisak (Kitty) and Shu’s story is a re-envisioning of the “creature from the black lagoon” premise, and I loved where it went for these two— there’s some meticulous and immersive world building, a fascinating process of relationship development (there are, it turns out, some obstacles when you don’t share a language or even a species) and plenty of moments that are sweet, thought provoking, and more. I liked learning about Shu’s people, liked seeing what would happen next as story unfolded, liked the building chemistry between Shu and Kitty, and was pretty much invested from start to finish in the narrative. Well worth a read. 4.5 stars.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Read
October 11, 2022DNF 54 %
October 3, 2022
I loved loved loved loved. In such a small book to be able to include so much of a new species, of the disgrace that humans are (nothing new here).
Shu and Kitty are simply adorable and show how all love stories should be, cudling, protection, unconditional love, friendship and concern and of course minblowing sex, weird and monstrous genitalia :).
Everything was heading towards an incredible and monstrous conclusion... but no... The last 15% of the book was too much fantasy for me, because I don't believe in humans. This being a horror and monster story, I would have accepted that Kitty chose to stay yes, but without all that perfection arrangement and that humans would ever respect a new species and build a sanctuary... noap not happening... It was too perfect fan service done wrong.
I'll save the other 75% in my Warns Blanket folder :)
Shu and Kitty are simply adorable and show how all love stories should be, cudling, protection, unconditional love, friendship and concern and of course minblowing sex, weird and monstrous genitalia :).
Everything was heading towards an incredible and monstrous conclusion... but no... The last 15% of the book was too much fantasy for me, because I don't believe in humans. This being a horror and monster story, I would have accepted that Kitty chose to stay yes, but without all that perfection arrangement and that humans would ever respect a new species and build a sanctuary... noap not happening... It was too perfect fan service done wrong.
I'll save the other 75% in my Warns Blanket folder :)
October 14, 2022
Excuse my language, but...where the f*ck is the horror?
I want the scary, twisted, dark, gorey stuff, not fluff for goodness sake. Is that too much to ask?
Stop marketing the books wrong.
I want the scary, twisted, dark, gorey stuff, not fluff for goodness sake. Is that too much to ask?
Stop marketing the books wrong.
October 17, 2022
I'm really not getting lucky with this week's book choices *sigh*
It started as a nice read, and similar to Delaney Rain's "Bigfoot's Mate", as someone's already mentioned. But I was apprehensive with the whole Amazon Rainforest setting, and unfortunately my worries were not unfunded. The language made up to be the Rife's language was so, fuck, I don't even know how to describe it. As a Brazilian reader and Portuguese speaker, the whole thing made me really mad.
Giving it three stars because it was entertaining enough, the monster genitalia was kinda awesome and the smut was hot, but the choice of setting and specially the language created could've been handled better.
The ending was also very utopic, but I'm a sucker for HEA and won't complain about that.
Also, the biggest portion of the Amazon is in Brazil, why the fuck the boat guy is Portuguese?
It started as a nice read, and similar to Delaney Rain's "Bigfoot's Mate", as someone's already mentioned. But I was apprehensive with the whole Amazon Rainforest setting, and unfortunately my worries were not unfunded. The language made up to be the Rife's language was so, fuck, I don't even know how to describe it. As a Brazilian reader and Portuguese speaker, the whole thing made me really mad.
Giving it three stars because it was entertaining enough, the monster genitalia was kinda awesome and the smut was hot, but the choice of setting and specially the language created could've been handled better.
The ending was also very utopic, but I'm a sucker for HEA and won't complain about that.
Also, the biggest portion of the Amazon is in Brazil, why the fuck the boat guy is Portuguese?
Read
March 7, 2023I was all in for the Amazon rainforest exploration and the alien dick, but the choppy lingo and back-and-forth between the MCs got tiring fast.
June 11, 2024
old post reposted
My 2024 Reading Challenge for the month of February will be Beat The Backlog work (digital and print books). I'm going to start with the Monsters & Mayhem series (a mm collection of classic horror adaptations with a romantic twist). The second book is "In Darkness and Dank" by K.L. Hiers; it's a Creature of the Black Lagoon retelling.
["Kittisak Amarin is not a scientist—he's barely a student, but he joined his college professor's research team for an expedition into the Amazon as a last ditch effort to pass his biology course. His professor thinks they're going to discover a new species out here, but Kittisak is more worried about being eaten alive by giant mosquitoes and staying awake while the team studies test tubes of dirty water.
When he sees a fantastic amphibian creature watching over him one night, he thinks it's just a dream.
Until it comes back.
A fatal misunderstanding leaves Kittisak wounded and unable to flee once the creature has taken him prisoner. As the creature nurses him back to health and shows him the wonders of his mysterious jungle home, Kittisak has to confront his growing attraction to his enigmatic captor and his dwindling desire to escape. He begins to realize that the creature may not be the monster he appears to be...
And that even amongst darkness and dank, the sweetest romance can blossom."]
Gotta be honest, I didn't know that there was a Creature of the Black Lagoon story, just the "Teacher of the Black Lagoon"...not sure what that says about me.
ANYway! This story was suuuuper cute. It was both protective and sweet and reminiscent of the Little Mermaid. There was meddling sisters and exotic fruit and a perfect paradise in which to fall in love. Add in some bad guys, some magic, and a guaranteed HEA? Yeah, yeah. ;)
Trigger Warnings: violence, guns, mild racism, and more.
#indarknessanddank #klhiers
#lightnightborn #deathsbloom #beautifuladam #heartslost #nightsmelody #hisdarkestdesires #onedge #hollowoath #adeliciousdescent #mmscrooge #monstersandmayhem #monstersandhayhemseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
My 2024 Reading Challenge for the month of February will be Beat The Backlog work (digital and print books). I'm going to start with the Monsters & Mayhem series (a mm collection of classic horror adaptations with a romantic twist). The second book is "In Darkness and Dank" by K.L. Hiers; it's a Creature of the Black Lagoon retelling.
["Kittisak Amarin is not a scientist—he's barely a student, but he joined his college professor's research team for an expedition into the Amazon as a last ditch effort to pass his biology course. His professor thinks they're going to discover a new species out here, but Kittisak is more worried about being eaten alive by giant mosquitoes and staying awake while the team studies test tubes of dirty water.
When he sees a fantastic amphibian creature watching over him one night, he thinks it's just a dream.
Until it comes back.
A fatal misunderstanding leaves Kittisak wounded and unable to flee once the creature has taken him prisoner. As the creature nurses him back to health and shows him the wonders of his mysterious jungle home, Kittisak has to confront his growing attraction to his enigmatic captor and his dwindling desire to escape. He begins to realize that the creature may not be the monster he appears to be...
And that even amongst darkness and dank, the sweetest romance can blossom."]
Gotta be honest, I didn't know that there was a Creature of the Black Lagoon story, just the "Teacher of the Black Lagoon"...not sure what that says about me.
ANYway! This story was suuuuper cute. It was both protective and sweet and reminiscent of the Little Mermaid. There was meddling sisters and exotic fruit and a perfect paradise in which to fall in love. Add in some bad guys, some magic, and a guaranteed HEA? Yeah, yeah. ;)
Trigger Warnings: violence, guns, mild racism, and more.
#indarknessanddank #klhiers
#lightnightborn #deathsbloom #beautifuladam #heartslost #nightsmelody #hisdarkestdesires #onedge #hollowoath #adeliciousdescent #mmscrooge #monstersandmayhem #monstersandhayhemseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
October 1, 2022
I'm giving this 5 Stars because I fell in love with Shu. From his first appearance to Kittisak (Kitty) and throughout this delightful "monster" romance, Shu had me. From the title alone I was thinking this was gonna be creepy, scary and oh so weird. NOPE...not scary...definitely some ignant and racist characters but that didn't take away from the overall story of discovery and wonder. Kitty was a goodhearted dude...even though his situation was dire in that environment he had a wonderful attitude and his complete trust in Shu...I was just blown away on how much I enjoyed reading this. There were some instances I LOL and other times I was so emotional I had tears. I will tell you when reality came knocking on Kitty and Shu's door, I was bummed...didn't want their bubble to pop...but I was soooooooooooo satisfied with the ending, that it was all well worth it. K.L. Hiers NEVER disappoint me with her stories...she does "monsters" well. So glad I was given an opportunity to read...I know others will enjoy this just as much as I did. 5STARS!!!!!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
October 15, 2022
The Monsters & Mayhem series has me super curious. The series is retelling classic horror stories with romantic twists, which sounds like the perfect reading material for me. In Darkness and Dank was my first read in the series, giving me a Creature from the Black Lagoon retelling.
I will start by being honest, admitting that this left me conflicted. It was a quick and easy read that had me powering through in no time, yet it left me wishing that there had been more. It was too quick, too easy, and I felt like it was a little rushed. There was so much potential for this to be a great horror romance, but it did not feel like a horror at all. Thus, my expectations and reality differed quite a bit. That is not to say it was a bad read, simply that I had wanted more from this one.
All in all, this made for enjoyable quick reading. My hope is that the other books in the series are a little closer to the horror I expected.
I will start by being honest, admitting that this left me conflicted. It was a quick and easy read that had me powering through in no time, yet it left me wishing that there had been more. It was too quick, too easy, and I felt like it was a little rushed. There was so much potential for this to be a great horror romance, but it did not feel like a horror at all. Thus, my expectations and reality differed quite a bit. That is not to say it was a bad read, simply that I had wanted more from this one.
All in all, this made for enjoyable quick reading. My hope is that the other books in the series are a little closer to the horror I expected.
October 12, 2022
The heroines of the horror movies these stories seem to be based off of were nowhere near as horny as this! I went into this expecting it to be a real horror story which is my mistake. This story was a retelling of the Creature from the Black Lagoon and it was so camp, it was funny. The most serious part of this book seemed to be the science – other than that, this seemed to be written/played completely for laughs – from Kittisak’s initial response to the creature, to how things transpired between them, to where things went in the end.
The writing was a bit simplistic (apart from the science), and mildly entertaining and I think if you are looking for something light to read, it’s pretty ideal. Just don’t go into it expecting any real horror other than the human kind!
I received an ARC from GRR.
The writing was a bit simplistic (apart from the science), and mildly entertaining and I think if you are looking for something light to read, it’s pretty ideal. Just don’t go into it expecting any real horror other than the human kind!
I received an ARC from GRR.
September 30, 2022
Prrrrp!
The world that K.L Hiers created is beautiful. I found myself wanting to go there.
I laughed, I cried, I loved this book. I learned so much about different types of water in this. I also learned that I may have a new kink haha. I am definitely a fan of monsters now that I’ve read a lot of Kl Hiers monster smut😏
This book was HOT! Like five alarm fire, hot. I want a coloring book of this couple, hot. I want to take a trip to the Amazon to see if this can be real, hot.
This book is also really funny! I found myself quite often trying to contain my laughter so I didn’t wake my baby or husband. I only cried a couple times, K.L “Kat” Hiers know exactly had to hit you right in the feels to produce tears of not only love but of anger.
The world that K.L Hiers created is beautiful. I found myself wanting to go there.
I laughed, I cried, I loved this book. I learned so much about different types of water in this. I also learned that I may have a new kink haha. I am definitely a fan of monsters now that I’ve read a lot of Kl Hiers monster smut😏
This book was HOT! Like five alarm fire, hot. I want a coloring book of this couple, hot. I want to take a trip to the Amazon to see if this can be real, hot.
This book is also really funny! I found myself quite often trying to contain my laughter so I didn’t wake my baby or husband. I only cried a couple times, K.L “Kat” Hiers know exactly had to hit you right in the feels to produce tears of not only love but of anger.
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