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Monsters & Mayhem
Lightning Born
He wakes with fire in his veins, and at first, that pain is all he knows. He is born of obsession, magic, and the storm raging above his creator’s laboratory.
They tell him that his name is Davidson, or Davy Dearest, the beloved of the doctor who brought him back to life.
He cannot speak when he wakes, but the doctor doesn’t seem to mind. Perhaps because it keeps him from saying that he doesn’t remember a life before waking up. Keeps him from saying that he doesn’t feel anything but fear for the doctor. But the doctor’s assistant, Gio, seems to understand. He’s always there to help, to reteach the things Davidson has forgotten with patience and kindness.
But if he really is Davy, love of the doctor’s life, then why is he drawn more and more to the kind, quiet Gio? As clues from Davy Dearest’s life start to pile up, the picture they paint is more grim than he could have imagined, and it sets Davidson and Gio on a dangerous path to freedom and redemption.
Lightning Born is an MM horror retelling of Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus, as part of the collaboration Monsters & Mayhem: An MM Horror Collection, adapting some of your favorite classic horror stories with an MM romance twist.
They tell him that his name is Davidson, or Davy Dearest, the beloved of the doctor who brought him back to life.
He cannot speak when he wakes, but the doctor doesn’t seem to mind. Perhaps because it keeps him from saying that he doesn’t remember a life before waking up. Keeps him from saying that he doesn’t feel anything but fear for the doctor. But the doctor’s assistant, Gio, seems to understand. He’s always there to help, to reteach the things Davidson has forgotten with patience and kindness.
But if he really is Davy, love of the doctor’s life, then why is he drawn more and more to the kind, quiet Gio? As clues from Davy Dearest’s life start to pile up, the picture they paint is more grim than he could have imagined, and it sets Davidson and Gio on a dangerous path to freedom and redemption.
Lightning Born is an MM horror retelling of Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus, as part of the collaboration Monsters & Mayhem: An MM Horror Collection, adapting some of your favorite classic horror stories with an MM romance twist.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2022
164 people are currently reading
657 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 6, 2022
1 star
I will use this disclaimer for every book of this series. This is a multi-author series all focusing on MM retellings of horror media, mostly movies. I am a massive fan of anything horror, so much that I have an entire arm and other random spots tattoed with characters and scenes from horror movies. So because of my love of anything that has to do with horror, I have seen every movie / read every story that inspired the books in this series and because of that, I will be judging the books in this series on their content, but also on how they are as an adaptation of the original content that they are based on.
I had very high expectations for this one. I absolutely adore Frankenstein, in fact, when I mentioned my horror tattoos, one of them is Frankenstein. So safe to say that I was expecting really big things from this one. But sadly, it just really didn’t work for me. I’m probably not the perfect audience for this book, since this is super light and tame and not really an horror novel, and I do prefer my horror media to be darker and creepier. But I think thats a part of where the book went wrong for me because I absolutely adore Frankenstein, so in theory, I should have atleast enjoyed a retelling of a story I already know I love.
Brief Summary
Harley wakes up in a strange place, he barely remembers who he is. A doctor that doesn’t seem very nice brought him back to life. Harley falls in love with Gio, the doctor’s assistant.
On an adaptation standpoint, I just feel like this book didn’t have enough Frankenstein elements to work for me. It had the basic premise of scientist resurecting someone, but that was it. And I felt like it wasn’t enough. I wanted more little details that makes Frankenstein what it is. The story is about so much more than just this basic premise and I feel like this retelling really missed the mark when it came to that. Of course I was really dissapointed that Harley didn’t go into murdering people, as thats a really important point. But I was mostly dissapointed by the fact that Harley didn’t seem to have any traits that would link him to the monster in Frankenstein. I was really bummed that he had a perfect look and didn’t seem to have any of the scars that came from the creating process, that just felt like such an important to not include and I didn’t really enjoy it. The retelling part of this book felt like if I just opened the cliffnotes page on Frankenstein, read the first two lines and then read an entire book about it. It just was missing too many little elements that makes Frankenstein a distinct story for me to really enjoy it. In fact, sometimes this book mostly just read like an original work instead of a retelling, due to how barebones the retelling aspects were, and that’s just not what I was looking for.
Also, I didn’t enjoy how light this book is. This is clearly marketed as an MM horror book but yet this book had no horror elements. The only darker elements it had was an abusive relationship and talks of suicide, but those aren’t typical elements associated to horror in a book, sure they can be part of horror novels, but they aren’t what makes the book a horror novel. Sure they work as themes, but I was expecting a darker tone, creepy vibes and a little violence, and I never got any of it. I was just expecting other content. Like some blood and murder would really have been nice here. In the 1931 movie adaptation of Frankenstein, at a time where violence wasn’t really shown on screen and where it was super taboo to do so, the monster takes a little kid and throws her into a lake. Nothing is really shown on screen, but he’s implicit that he killed her. That one scene, that we don’t get to see happening, is darker and gorey that any scene in this book, and thats just one hell of a missed opportunity to me.
I have often felt that many books who are labeled as darker reads are just low angst contemporary novels with a black paint coat on top, instead of actually dark books and I have never felt it more than for this book. Nothing about this book was truly dark, or scary, or creepy, or anything close to horror. This book just read like low angst contemporary book that got a couple of sentences added to try and make it a darker book, instead of actually being a dark book.
Now let me try to explain how I felt about the romance in this book. You know when you watch an horror movie and they always have this one plot point which is a cute love story between the main character (the one who survives the movie) and a random side character? And that romance is given maybe like 6 scenes and 10 minutes of screen time? And it never is developed and it’s all surface level things? And you just don’t really care about the romance because you’re only here to see the bad guy do bad things? This is exactly how I felt about this book.
No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t find it in me to care about the romance in this book, which is a shame since this is a romance novel first and foremost. The romance in this book never seemed to be important or the focus of the book. The romance was always just a background thing to the main story, so it was hard for me to develop any interest in something that the book in itself didn’t really focus on.
Honestly, so much of this book was about the Doctor and what he did to Harley, expecially about them having a very toxic relationship, that I would have much prefered if the romance was between the Doctor and Harley. That was always the main plot of the book, and it was much more of of focus than Gio and Harley, so the romance would have worked so much better for me there. And that would have made the book feel much more like an horror novel. I just didn’t like how the romance between Harley And Gio was always in the background of the book and how it never was a focus of the story.
I counted and Harley and Gio kiss a grand total of 7 times, and have one sex scene together, in this entire book (which isn’t a slow burn and they get together early into the story) and thats basically the only time they ever spend together. I just need more, way more than this in my romance novels. I’m not even sure I can count this book as a romance, due to how little romance there actually was. It was just a background plot point to the actual plot and that really didn’t work for me. Since I didn’t really enjoy the actual plot in this book, I atleast needed a super cute romance that is very important to the book to keep me engaged into the story.
It’s truly a shame that I did not enjoy this book because I absolutely adore the story of Frankenstein and an MM retelling of it sounds like all of my dreams come true. But sadly this one just didn’t deliver for me. Reading this book book felt like I was reading a typical low angst contemporary book about a guy who is in an abusive relationship trying to learn how to love again. But I was here for a horror story and a retelling of Frankenstein, so safe to say I just didn’t get what I was looking for from this book.
I will use this disclaimer for every book of this series. This is a multi-author series all focusing on MM retellings of horror media, mostly movies. I am a massive fan of anything horror, so much that I have an entire arm and other random spots tattoed with characters and scenes from horror movies. So because of my love of anything that has to do with horror, I have seen every movie / read every story that inspired the books in this series and because of that, I will be judging the books in this series on their content, but also on how they are as an adaptation of the original content that they are based on.
I had very high expectations for this one. I absolutely adore Frankenstein, in fact, when I mentioned my horror tattoos, one of them is Frankenstein. So safe to say that I was expecting really big things from this one. But sadly, it just really didn’t work for me. I’m probably not the perfect audience for this book, since this is super light and tame and not really an horror novel, and I do prefer my horror media to be darker and creepier. But I think thats a part of where the book went wrong for me because I absolutely adore Frankenstein, so in theory, I should have atleast enjoyed a retelling of a story I already know I love.
Brief Summary
Harley wakes up in a strange place, he barely remembers who he is. A doctor that doesn’t seem very nice brought him back to life. Harley falls in love with Gio, the doctor’s assistant.
On an adaptation standpoint, I just feel like this book didn’t have enough Frankenstein elements to work for me. It had the basic premise of scientist resurecting someone, but that was it. And I felt like it wasn’t enough. I wanted more little details that makes Frankenstein what it is. The story is about so much more than just this basic premise and I feel like this retelling really missed the mark when it came to that. Of course I was really dissapointed that Harley didn’t go into murdering people, as thats a really important point. But I was mostly dissapointed by the fact that Harley didn’t seem to have any traits that would link him to the monster in Frankenstein. I was really bummed that he had a perfect look and didn’t seem to have any of the scars that came from the creating process, that just felt like such an important to not include and I didn’t really enjoy it. The retelling part of this book felt like if I just opened the cliffnotes page on Frankenstein, read the first two lines and then read an entire book about it. It just was missing too many little elements that makes Frankenstein a distinct story for me to really enjoy it. In fact, sometimes this book mostly just read like an original work instead of a retelling, due to how barebones the retelling aspects were, and that’s just not what I was looking for.
Also, I didn’t enjoy how light this book is. This is clearly marketed as an MM horror book but yet this book had no horror elements. The only darker elements it had was an abusive relationship and talks of suicide, but those aren’t typical elements associated to horror in a book, sure they can be part of horror novels, but they aren’t what makes the book a horror novel. Sure they work as themes, but I was expecting a darker tone, creepy vibes and a little violence, and I never got any of it. I was just expecting other content. Like some blood and murder would really have been nice here. In the 1931 movie adaptation of Frankenstein, at a time where violence wasn’t really shown on screen and where it was super taboo to do so, the monster takes a little kid and throws her into a lake. Nothing is really shown on screen, but he’s implicit that he killed her. That one scene, that we don’t get to see happening, is darker and gorey that any scene in this book, and thats just one hell of a missed opportunity to me.
I have often felt that many books who are labeled as darker reads are just low angst contemporary novels with a black paint coat on top, instead of actually dark books and I have never felt it more than for this book. Nothing about this book was truly dark, or scary, or creepy, or anything close to horror. This book just read like low angst contemporary book that got a couple of sentences added to try and make it a darker book, instead of actually being a dark book.
Now let me try to explain how I felt about the romance in this book. You know when you watch an horror movie and they always have this one plot point which is a cute love story between the main character (the one who survives the movie) and a random side character? And that romance is given maybe like 6 scenes and 10 minutes of screen time? And it never is developed and it’s all surface level things? And you just don’t really care about the romance because you’re only here to see the bad guy do bad things? This is exactly how I felt about this book.
No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t find it in me to care about the romance in this book, which is a shame since this is a romance novel first and foremost. The romance in this book never seemed to be important or the focus of the book. The romance was always just a background thing to the main story, so it was hard for me to develop any interest in something that the book in itself didn’t really focus on.
Honestly, so much of this book was about the Doctor and what he did to Harley, expecially about them having a very toxic relationship, that I would have much prefered if the romance was between the Doctor and Harley. That was always the main plot of the book, and it was much more of of focus than Gio and Harley, so the romance would have worked so much better for me there. And that would have made the book feel much more like an horror novel. I just didn’t like how the romance between Harley And Gio was always in the background of the book and how it never was a focus of the story.
I counted and Harley and Gio kiss a grand total of 7 times, and have one sex scene together, in this entire book (which isn’t a slow burn and they get together early into the story) and thats basically the only time they ever spend together. I just need more, way more than this in my romance novels. I’m not even sure I can count this book as a romance, due to how little romance there actually was. It was just a background plot point to the actual plot and that really didn’t work for me. Since I didn’t really enjoy the actual plot in this book, I atleast needed a super cute romance that is very important to the book to keep me engaged into the story.
It’s truly a shame that I did not enjoy this book because I absolutely adore the story of Frankenstein and an MM retelling of it sounds like all of my dreams come true. But sadly this one just didn’t deliver for me. Reading this book book felt like I was reading a typical low angst contemporary book about a guy who is in an abusive relationship trying to learn how to love again. But I was here for a horror story and a retelling of Frankenstein, so safe to say I just didn’t get what I was looking for from this book.
April 19, 2023
I loved the book as I was able to make my own meanings behind certain elements. It discusses a lot about suicide, death, abuse and having a second chance at life. As the main character, Harley was brought up again from death (he's the Frankenstein in this book), and the painful way back to life, another character, Rocky was also brought back. It discusses a lot, and some where very well done in my opinion.
While I loved the friendship between Harley, Gio and Rocky, I wanted more from the romance of Harvey and Gio. Grant (the ex of Harvey but also the Doctor character) was easy to dislike I wanted to learn why he was such an ass.
But overall I loved the book and very intrigued to continue with the series.
While I loved the friendship between Harley, Gio and Rocky, I wanted more from the romance of Harvey and Gio. Grant (the ex of Harvey but also the Doctor character) was easy to dislike I wanted to learn why he was such an ass.
But overall I loved the book and very intrigued to continue with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 29, 2022
MM Romance
Frankenstein Retelling
2 Stars ⭐️
Ugh 😩 Before I rant and cry about how lackluster this book was, I need to admit that I’ve never read the original Frankenstein classic. I have seen a cartoon version, some old black and white film and a few tv episodes of “The Frankenstein Chronicles” but I won’t be commenting on whether it matches up to the original because I have no fucking idea. I spent most of my life thinking Frankenstein was the monster and had no idea it was the doctor until my husband mentioned something about it and we got in this ridiculous debate that I obviously had no business debating in the first place because I was the one who was completely wrong. 😂😂🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ This review may also have mild spoilers, who knows.
This book is 177 pages and I fell asleep 3 times attempting to read it. It has a ton of trigger warnings at the beginning, the main one being suicide. I’ve never read anything by this author before and one of the warnings says this book is darker than their usual books. I’m not sure what they normally write but I didn’t find this very dark. 🤷🏻♀️ This series has been marketed as MM monster, horror, romance retellings of classic books but I found this to be quite bland when it came to mostly everything especially the romance.
A guy wakes up in horrific pain, can’t move his limbs and has no idea where the fuck he is or who he is. The first thing he sees are the eyes of a really handsome man and despite being freaked the fuck out, he’s smitten by his soft voice and calming nature. There’s another man in the room but he gives off a creepy, mean vibe and our immobile guy is nervous at the sight of him because he’s aggressive and has cold eyes.
The beginning of this book was quite good because we are in only one POV and he’s an unreliable narrator having no idea who he is, where he’s at or why he’s in so much pain. This book had a creepy vibe happening and I liked it. However, as this book went on it became ridiculous. The romance, if you can even call it that, was one random sex scene and not a lot else like absolutely nothing else. Once this man gets some of his memories back, he is somehow more of an idiot than when he knew absolutely nothing. It reminded me of a bad slasher film when the person can escape but falls onto someone’s dick instead or in this case, goes to get a snack for the road 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ This snack ended with some really anticlimactic things happening and with me wanting to take another nap but I somehow finished this and feel like I deserve a pat on the back. A round of applause maybe?
Strangely enough I’m still looking forward to reading the rest of this series because thankfully it’s multi author and anything has to be better than this. I’m really not sure why I’m not 1 starring this but I was somehow able to finish it therefore it’s not as bad as it could be. I guess? 🤷🏻♀️
Frankenstein Retelling
2 Stars ⭐️
Ugh 😩 Before I rant and cry about how lackluster this book was, I need to admit that I’ve never read the original Frankenstein classic. I have seen a cartoon version, some old black and white film and a few tv episodes of “The Frankenstein Chronicles” but I won’t be commenting on whether it matches up to the original because I have no fucking idea. I spent most of my life thinking Frankenstein was the monster and had no idea it was the doctor until my husband mentioned something about it and we got in this ridiculous debate that I obviously had no business debating in the first place because I was the one who was completely wrong. 😂😂🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ This review may also have mild spoilers, who knows.
This book is 177 pages and I fell asleep 3 times attempting to read it. It has a ton of trigger warnings at the beginning, the main one being suicide. I’ve never read anything by this author before and one of the warnings says this book is darker than their usual books. I’m not sure what they normally write but I didn’t find this very dark. 🤷🏻♀️ This series has been marketed as MM monster, horror, romance retellings of classic books but I found this to be quite bland when it came to mostly everything especially the romance.
A guy wakes up in horrific pain, can’t move his limbs and has no idea where the fuck he is or who he is. The first thing he sees are the eyes of a really handsome man and despite being freaked the fuck out, he’s smitten by his soft voice and calming nature. There’s another man in the room but he gives off a creepy, mean vibe and our immobile guy is nervous at the sight of him because he’s aggressive and has cold eyes.
The beginning of this book was quite good because we are in only one POV and he’s an unreliable narrator having no idea who he is, where he’s at or why he’s in so much pain. This book had a creepy vibe happening and I liked it. However, as this book went on it became ridiculous. The romance, if you can even call it that, was one random sex scene and not a lot else like absolutely nothing else. Once this man gets some of his memories back, he is somehow more of an idiot than when he knew absolutely nothing. It reminded me of a bad slasher film when the person can escape but falls onto someone’s dick instead or in this case, goes to get a snack for the road 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ This snack ended with some really anticlimactic things happening and with me wanting to take another nap but I somehow finished this and feel like I deserve a pat on the back. A round of applause maybe?
Strangely enough I’m still looking forward to reading the rest of this series because thankfully it’s multi author and anything has to be better than this. I’m really not sure why I’m not 1 starring this but I was somehow able to finish it therefore it’s not as bad as it could be. I guess? 🤷🏻♀️
September 27, 2022
Dry.
Ok no it was cute . But i needed more .
Ok no it was cute . But i needed more .
September 23, 2022
So Much Potential
This is my first time reading Sam Burns; I came to this series because Lily Mayne has a forthcoming book in the series. Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be reading anything else from this author. How a retelling of Frankenstein and his monster could be sooo boring, I have no idea. Nothing happens until the end of the book and it’s over pretty quickly. We never learn more about the side characters (Rocky or Patient One) and Harvey/Davy is a bore. Not a fun kick-off to the series but I’ll continue to read since it’s a new author every week.
Signed,
Impatiently waiting for Lily’s book
This is my first time reading Sam Burns; I came to this series because Lily Mayne has a forthcoming book in the series. Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be reading anything else from this author. How a retelling of Frankenstein and his monster could be sooo boring, I have no idea. Nothing happens until the end of the book and it’s over pretty quickly. We never learn more about the side characters (Rocky or Patient One) and Harvey/Davy is a bore. Not a fun kick-off to the series but I’ll continue to read since it’s a new author every week.
Signed,
Impatiently waiting for Lily’s book
September 25, 2022
It was an interesting take on a much loved classic. I would have liked more romance and page time between Gio and Harley, AND I would have loved to know more about what made Grant tick and why he was the way he was. It's a good solid beginning to a series of monster based books. I'm definitely going to check the others out!
3.5 stars rounded up
3.5 stars rounded up
October 2, 2022
2.5
Sam Burns kind of cute with a dark-ish tone but not exactly because of the Frankenstein theme. The sex scene came too early and I don’t know how I feel about the mix of magic and science without having magic anywhere else. While the scene in the cave was too short, especially for one of the participants.
Sam Burns kind of cute with a dark-ish tone but not exactly because of the Frankenstein theme. The sex scene came too early and I don’t know how I feel about the mix of magic and science without having magic anywhere else. While the scene in the cave was too short, especially for one of the participants.
September 25, 2022
3.5 stars
September 28, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
This was a well written and intriguing Frankenstein retelling, but it was very light on the romance. What developed between Gio and our "reborn" lead was tender and sweet, but I wish we had just a bit more, both emotionally and physically. Nevertheless, I thought this was a strong story about individuals overcoming trauma and fighting for their freedom. The original story's influence was clear, while also modernized in a believable way. And with the exception of the "creator", everyone was genuinely likable.
This was a well written and intriguing Frankenstein retelling, but it was very light on the romance. What developed between Gio and our "reborn" lead was tender and sweet, but I wish we had just a bit more, both emotionally and physically. Nevertheless, I thought this was a strong story about individuals overcoming trauma and fighting for their freedom. The original story's influence was clear, while also modernized in a believable way. And with the exception of the "creator", everyone was genuinely likable.
October 14, 2024
Read September 2022
1.5 stars
This M/M Frankenstein retelling was a big disappointment. It grabbed my attention at first when Davy was brought back to life, and the parts about his recovery and relearning motor skills seemed promising. But soon, it became clear that the story was just another generic tale about domestic abuse.
Dr. Grant, the villain, is a controlling monster obsessed with perfection. He revives three people: Patient One (who serves no real purpose), Rocky, and Davy. The bulk of the plot revolves around Davy, along with the gentle Geo (the doctor’s assistant) and sweet Rocky, trying to escape the cruel Dr. Grant.
Unfortunately, none of the characters felt real. The villain is purely evil, while the heroes are all good, leaving everyone flat and two-dimensional. They lacked depth and complexity, making it hard to care about their fate.
The writing itself is mediocre (which is why I usually avoid S.B.'s books). With little excitement in the plot, I lost interest halfway through and skimmed to the end, which was as underwhelming as the rest of it.
Here's what I thought of the romance:
There's only one short, non-sexy sex scene. It felt muddled and was confusing to read. 🥴
Geo is portrayed as weak, too afraid to stand up to Dr. Grant when he’s at his most vile. It’s actually the smaller Davy who takes the lead in trying to escape the controlling villain who keeps him isolated. Despite this, both men are passive, neither of them stepping up to take down the monster in the end. Personally, I prefer at least one of the MCs to be an alpha male—strong, confident, and capable of taking charge.
Thankfully, there are different authors for each book in this Monster & Mayhem series. I will be continuing to read in hopes there'll be a book that is both well written and -
(With better romance as well!) ❤️
1.5 stars
This M/M Frankenstein retelling was a big disappointment. It grabbed my attention at first when Davy was brought back to life, and the parts about his recovery and relearning motor skills seemed promising. But soon, it became clear that the story was just another generic tale about domestic abuse.
Dr. Grant, the villain, is a controlling monster obsessed with perfection. He revives three people: Patient One (who serves no real purpose), Rocky, and Davy. The bulk of the plot revolves around Davy, along with the gentle Geo (the doctor’s assistant) and sweet Rocky, trying to escape the cruel Dr. Grant.
Unfortunately, none of the characters felt real. The villain is purely evil, while the heroes are all good, leaving everyone flat and two-dimensional. They lacked depth and complexity, making it hard to care about their fate.
The writing itself is mediocre (which is why I usually avoid S.B.'s books). With little excitement in the plot, I lost interest halfway through and skimmed to the end, which was as underwhelming as the rest of it.
Here's what I thought of the romance:
There's only one short, non-sexy sex scene. It felt muddled and was confusing to read. 🥴
Geo is portrayed as weak, too afraid to stand up to Dr. Grant when he’s at his most vile. It’s actually the smaller Davy who takes the lead in trying to escape the controlling villain who keeps him isolated. Despite this, both men are passive, neither of them stepping up to take down the monster in the end. Personally, I prefer at least one of the MCs to be an alpha male—strong, confident, and capable of taking charge.
Thankfully, there are different authors for each book in this Monster & Mayhem series. I will be continuing to read in hopes there'll be a book that is both well written and -
(With better romance as well!) ❤️
October 3, 2022
Not as creepy as I thought it would be.
Yes it has its dark moments, including an abusive relationship, but it's also an insta love romance with a sweet epilogue and a lovely secondary character.
I found the middle of the book dragging, thought that too much happened in Davidson's mind which felt repetitive to me. Therefore 3 stars.
Yes it has its dark moments, including an abusive relationship, but it's also an insta love romance with a sweet epilogue and a lovely secondary character.
I found the middle of the book dragging, thought that too much happened in Davidson's mind which felt repetitive to me. Therefore 3 stars.
October 5, 2022
2 stars
boring 🥱 hopefully the other books are much darker cause this was not at all
boring 🥱 hopefully the other books are much darker cause this was not at all
September 14, 2022
Okay I've tried Frankenstein retellings in the past and they just did not work for me, but once again Sam Burns completely pulled through! I'll start just by saying heed the trigger warnings in the beginning. This is a dark book in a lot of ways, but it's also Burns so it was surprisingly sweet in a lot of other ways. It's very much a tale of instant-love and while that doesn't always work, it worked for me here. "Davy", Gio, and even the side character/bff Rocky were all amazing and while they went through some harrowing moments, it ends in a very sweet HEA for all involved.
October 6, 2022
DNF @56%
If you go into this thinking there will be darkness, creepiness, spookiness, death, blood, violence, gore and the like, you will be thoroughly disappointed. This is not a horror book. (At least to me.)
I could go into great detail about what didn't work out for me, but I won't because I'm so disappointed right now. I had such high hopes and by the time I reached the 30% mark they plummeted to their death.
Even the romance was lackluster. I don't know how to describe this insta-love/lust or whatever it was that was shoved down my throat from the first chapters. I could say it was cute and sweet, but I didn't sign up for cute and sweet.
I also feel the need to mention there was no depth to the characters. Everyone was what they appeared to be. No complexity whatsoever. I don't know about you, but complex characters is something I expected and wanted from a retelling of Frankenstein, but unfortunately all I got was cardboard cutouts.
I skim-read to end in the hopes that something would change and both the story and romance would become more interesting or that there would be a crazy plot twist, but no. Nothing of the sort happened.
I hope the rest of the books are better than this one.
If you go into this thinking there will be darkness, creepiness, spookiness, death, blood, violence, gore and the like, you will be thoroughly disappointed. This is not a horror book. (At least to me.)
I could go into great detail about what didn't work out for me, but I won't because I'm so disappointed right now. I had such high hopes and by the time I reached the 30% mark they plummeted to their death.
Even the romance was lackluster. I don't know how to describe this insta-love/lust or whatever it was that was shoved down my throat from the first chapters. I could say it was cute and sweet, but I didn't sign up for cute and sweet.
I also feel the need to mention there was no depth to the characters. Everyone was what they appeared to be. No complexity whatsoever. I don't know about you, but complex characters is something I expected and wanted from a retelling of Frankenstein, but unfortunately all I got was cardboard cutouts.
I skim-read to end in the hopes that something would change and both the story and romance would become more interesting or that there would be a crazy plot twist, but no. Nothing of the sort happened.
I hope the rest of the books are better than this one.
November 23, 2023
It just didn’t work.
I’m too stuck on Mary’s book
for horror romance.
I’m too stuck on Mary’s book
for horror romance.
November 1, 2022
2.5 rounded down
This was not terrible? Cool concept with decent potential, but felt a little rushed and shallow.
This was not terrible? Cool concept with decent potential, but felt a little rushed and shallow.
November 7, 2022
This is a modern Frankenstein retelling and (TW) includes two characters that were brought back from the dead after suicide.
I really enjoyed this story about a guy who wakes up and doesn’t know who he is, but the doctor says he’s his husband, calls him Davy, which doesn’t feel right, and treats him like a child. In contrast, the doctor’s assistant Gio, aiding him through his recovery with physical therapy and various cognitive tests, is kind and compassionate. He also finds a friend in Rocky who prepares their meals and appears to have origins like his own. I enjoyed watching this character come into his own, realize his previous circumstances and turn his second chance at life around from the vicious cycle of his former one.
I really enjoyed this story about a guy who wakes up and doesn’t know who he is, but the doctor says he’s his husband, calls him Davy, which doesn’t feel right, and treats him like a child. In contrast, the doctor’s assistant Gio, aiding him through his recovery with physical therapy and various cognitive tests, is kind and compassionate. He also finds a friend in Rocky who prepares their meals and appears to have origins like his own. I enjoyed watching this character come into his own, realize his previous circumstances and turn his second chance at life around from the vicious cycle of his former one.
June 26, 2023
don’t be afraid…
I was a little worried about the content warnings, but they didn’t hit me as hard as I feared. I’d call this horror lite - definitely creepy with mad scientists, unexplained noises, and slowly returning memories - but not that frightening. I liked Gio and Harley as well as Rocky. There was a satisfying end as well.
I was a little worried about the content warnings, but they didn’t hit me as hard as I feared. I’d call this horror lite - definitely creepy with mad scientists, unexplained noises, and slowly returning memories - but not that frightening. I liked Gio and Harley as well as Rocky. There was a satisfying end as well.
February 6, 2025
Feb 2025
Kindle edition
Read for a group challenge week 4. On the fence with this one. I liked Davy and Roxy's friendship. Couldn't stand Grant and it left a tense past/current abuse prisoner vibe throughout. Gio seemed sweet enough, but Grant pretty much overshadowed everything.
Kindle edition
Read for a group challenge week 4. On the fence with this one. I liked Davy and Roxy's friendship. Couldn't stand Grant and it left a tense past/current abuse prisoner vibe throughout. Gio seemed sweet enough, but Grant pretty much overshadowed everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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 first book is "Lightning Born" by Sam Burns; it's a Frankenstein retelling.
["He wakes with fire in his veins, and at first, that pain is all he knows. He is born of obsession, magic, and the storm raging above his creator’s laboratory.
They tell him that his name is Davidson, or Davy Dearest, the beloved of the doctor who brought him back to life.
He cannot speak when he wakes, but the doctor doesn’t seem to mind. Perhaps because it keeps him from saying that he doesn’t remember a life before waking up. Keeps him from saying that he doesn’t feel anything but fear for the doctor. But the doctor’s assistant, Gio, seems to understand. He’s always there to help, to reteach the things Davidson has forgotten with patience and kindness.
But if he really is Davy, love of the doctor’s life, then why is he drawn more and more to the kind, quiet Gio? As clues from Davy Dearest’s life start to pile up, the picture they paint is more grim than he could have imagined, and it sets Davidson and Gio on a dangerous path to freedom and redemption."]
I’m obsessed with this story! There were so many layers and it played on so many tropes without being cliche. It talked about monsters and consent and life/death and love and memory and magic.
This alllllmost makes me want to read the original text, but I’ll just watch the Drunk History episode of Mary Shelley and call it a day. ;)
Trigger Warnings: violence, mentions of previous suicides, emotional abuse, physical abuse, attempted assault, trauma, death, and more.
#lightnightborn #samburns
#indarknessanddank #deathsbloom #beatuifuladam #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 first book is "Lightning Born" by Sam Burns; it's a Frankenstein retelling.
["He wakes with fire in his veins, and at first, that pain is all he knows. He is born of obsession, magic, and the storm raging above his creator’s laboratory.
They tell him that his name is Davidson, or Davy Dearest, the beloved of the doctor who brought him back to life.
He cannot speak when he wakes, but the doctor doesn’t seem to mind. Perhaps because it keeps him from saying that he doesn’t remember a life before waking up. Keeps him from saying that he doesn’t feel anything but fear for the doctor. But the doctor’s assistant, Gio, seems to understand. He’s always there to help, to reteach the things Davidson has forgotten with patience and kindness.
But if he really is Davy, love of the doctor’s life, then why is he drawn more and more to the kind, quiet Gio? As clues from Davy Dearest’s life start to pile up, the picture they paint is more grim than he could have imagined, and it sets Davidson and Gio on a dangerous path to freedom and redemption."]
I’m obsessed with this story! There were so many layers and it played on so many tropes without being cliche. It talked about monsters and consent and life/death and love and memory and magic.
This alllllmost makes me want to read the original text, but I’ll just watch the Drunk History episode of Mary Shelley and call it a day. ;)
Trigger Warnings: violence, mentions of previous suicides, emotional abuse, physical abuse, attempted assault, trauma, death, and more.
#lightnightborn #samburns
#indarknessanddank #deathsbloom #beatuifuladam #heartslost #nightsmelody #hisdarkestdesires #onedge #hollowoath #adeliciousdescent #mmscrooge #monstersandmayhem #monstersandhayhemseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
October 14, 2022
Lightning Born opens with the main character awakening feeling as if he's being burned from the inside out, in pain, unable to move or speak. Met first with the cold stare of one man and the warm, kind, beautiful eyes of another. Brought back to life. Told his name is Davidson, unable to remember anything and requiring the help of the prior experiment, a woman named Rocky, Davidson slowly starts to be able to walk and feed himself. The cold man, Doctor Grant, claims that "Davy Dearest" is his husband. The kind man, Gio is everything good in the world. Davidson feels warmth whenever Gio touches him during his physical therapy and there is an insta-love connection.
Grant is a possessive asshole and Davidson wants to get away (with Gio and Rocky) to have a happy new life.
This is meant to be a Frankenstein retelling. Its not that. There's not really anything of Frankenstein in it beyond a scientist bringing a few corpses back to life. The name Rocky for the prior experiment feels like a Rocky Horror Picture Show reference, for sure. Don't go in expecting it to be a gay Frankenstein. Its a completely different plot. Taking expectations out of the equation, I didn't think it was as bad as some other reviewers think it is.
There is obvious mentions of the MC and Rocky's suicides (or accidents) so like..be aware of that.
I thought the relationship between Gio and Davidson felt a little forced (I can't stand insta-love style books. Its SO unrealistic (and for that to irk me while talking about reanimated corpses, you know its a big deal for me)), and their first time being intimate is so far removed from what felt like a real interaction, I was surprised it was happening. It felt out of place in the narrative and, honestly, the book would be better with the scene removed (or replaced in a different position).
Grant is a possessive asshole and Davidson wants to get away (with Gio and Rocky) to have a happy new life.
This is meant to be a Frankenstein retelling. Its not that. There's not really anything of Frankenstein in it beyond a scientist bringing a few corpses back to life. The name Rocky for the prior experiment feels like a Rocky Horror Picture Show reference, for sure. Don't go in expecting it to be a gay Frankenstein. Its a completely different plot. Taking expectations out of the equation, I didn't think it was as bad as some other reviewers think it is.
There is obvious mentions of the MC and Rocky's suicides (or accidents) so like..be aware of that.
I thought the relationship between Gio and Davidson felt a little forced (I can't stand insta-love style books. Its SO unrealistic (and for that to irk me while talking about reanimated corpses, you know its a big deal for me)), and their first time being intimate is so far removed from what felt like a real interaction, I was surprised it was happening. It felt out of place in the narrative and, honestly, the book would be better with the scene removed (or replaced in a different position).
September 21, 2022
✨Un grand merci à l’auteure pour cet ARC et pour sa confiance.✨
C’est une réécriture MM du Monstre de Frankenstein à huis clos aussi sombre et inquiétante que l’originale avec en prime une belle romance et une HEA amplement méritée.
Deux des plus grands thèmes de l’horreur sont d’être piégé dans son propre corps, complètement vulnérable à tout ce qui vous entour, et les hommes en blouse blanche (au comportement abusif inhérent).
C’est confronté à ces deux cauchemars qu’Harley se réveille sur une table d’opération, avec la certitude qu’il ne devrait pas être en vie.
Du fait de son incapacité à se mouvoir (au début) et de son mutisme, on se retrouve plus profondément plongé dans sa psyché. C’est assez déroutant et paniquant de vivre cette expérience à travers lui. On est forcé d’aborder ce monde avec un usage limité de nos capacités physiques et des facultés mentales partielles, dues à une mémoire mutilée. C’est tout bonnement terrifiant.
Mais c’est aussi grisant de redécouvrir avec lui les choses les plus banales, de s’émerveiller de la simplicité et du beau qu’on ne remarque même plus tant on y est habitué.
Et fort heureusement, il n’est pas complètement seul dans cette situation et je dois avouer que Rocky est l’une des rares personnages secondaires féminins que j’apprécie vraiment. Elle a du cœur, du répondant, un humour parfois retorse, et de la loyauté.
Gio est doux et prévenant. Il est l’étincelle de liberté et de bonté à travers ce quotidien pesant. Il protège autant qu’il le peut la dernière "expérience" de son patron, un homme sec et mauvais faisant planer une atmosphère de tension et de crainte.
J’ai pas mal frissonné durant la quête d’identité d’Harley, devant trouver son chemin entre celle passée et celle qu’il se construit.
La fin (une HEA très satisfaisante) était pourtant douce amer sur certains aspects.
Mais j’ai beaucoup aimé ce livre, je sens que toute la série va être incroyable!♥️
C’est une réécriture MM du Monstre de Frankenstein à huis clos aussi sombre et inquiétante que l’originale avec en prime une belle romance et une HEA amplement méritée.
Deux des plus grands thèmes de l’horreur sont d’être piégé dans son propre corps, complètement vulnérable à tout ce qui vous entour, et les hommes en blouse blanche (au comportement abusif inhérent).
C’est confronté à ces deux cauchemars qu’Harley se réveille sur une table d’opération, avec la certitude qu’il ne devrait pas être en vie.
Du fait de son incapacité à se mouvoir (au début) et de son mutisme, on se retrouve plus profondément plongé dans sa psyché. C’est assez déroutant et paniquant de vivre cette expérience à travers lui. On est forcé d’aborder ce monde avec un usage limité de nos capacités physiques et des facultés mentales partielles, dues à une mémoire mutilée. C’est tout bonnement terrifiant.
Mais c’est aussi grisant de redécouvrir avec lui les choses les plus banales, de s’émerveiller de la simplicité et du beau qu’on ne remarque même plus tant on y est habitué.
Et fort heureusement, il n’est pas complètement seul dans cette situation et je dois avouer que Rocky est l’une des rares personnages secondaires féminins que j’apprécie vraiment. Elle a du cœur, du répondant, un humour parfois retorse, et de la loyauté.
Gio est doux et prévenant. Il est l’étincelle de liberté et de bonté à travers ce quotidien pesant. Il protège autant qu’il le peut la dernière "expérience" de son patron, un homme sec et mauvais faisant planer une atmosphère de tension et de crainte.
J’ai pas mal frissonné durant la quête d’identité d’Harley, devant trouver son chemin entre celle passée et celle qu’il se construit.
La fin (une HEA très satisfaisante) était pourtant douce amer sur certains aspects.
Mais j’ai beaucoup aimé ce livre, je sens que toute la série va être incroyable!♥️
September 17, 2022
***Minor Spoilers Ahead***
I had a hard time placing the story, time wise, till we reached about mid way through to it. So when it comes to fantasy I do appreciate being placed in time pretty early on so that I can start mapping the world in my head and picturing the world. So since that didn't happen early enough, I was constantly shifting scenarios in my head. The result was that I was kept "out" of the story.
I can't say that the story was "dark" as in morally dark characters that we root for their romance, but it was heavier in the way that Sam Burns really dove in here in the workings of an abusive relationship and the workings of the mind of an abuser.
I just wish that Harley, would have just packed up his fortitude and just left together with Gio and Rocky sooner and have it been his decision than Gio pretty much giving him a bag and telling him "pack up and let's go! now!". Don't get me wrong, it wasn't in any kind forceful, but Gio was seeing that things were taking a bad turn and there was no time!
Harley had reached a point that he was about to start his descent into old patterns, even with all the knowledge he had from old memories, he still was going to blow it, because somehow even knowing all he knew he was thinking about Grant "but he brought me back to life"! My dude! You were his property, nothing more than a trophy, he was you jailer and torturer! And you still think you owed him something for bringing you back to life when YOU TOOK YOUR OWN EFFING LIFE TO ESCAPE HIM?!?
Really Harley was just pissing me off!! Gio was a very bland character. Them getting together so early in the story didn't mesh well with me. Rocky ROCKED!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I had a hard time placing the story, time wise, till we reached about mid way through to it. So when it comes to fantasy I do appreciate being placed in time pretty early on so that I can start mapping the world in my head and picturing the world. So since that didn't happen early enough, I was constantly shifting scenarios in my head. The result was that I was kept "out" of the story.
I can't say that the story was "dark" as in morally dark characters that we root for their romance, but it was heavier in the way that Sam Burns really dove in here in the workings of an abusive relationship and the workings of the mind of an abuser.
I just wish that Harley, would have just packed up his fortitude and just left together with Gio and Rocky sooner and have it been his decision than Gio pretty much giving him a bag and telling him "pack up and let's go! now!". Don't get me wrong, it wasn't in any kind forceful, but Gio was seeing that things were taking a bad turn and there was no time!
Harley had reached a point that he was about to start his descent into old patterns, even with all the knowledge he had from old memories, he still was going to blow it, because somehow even knowing all he knew he was thinking about Grant "but he brought me back to life"! My dude! You were his property, nothing more than a trophy, he was you jailer and torturer! And you still think you owed him something for bringing you back to life when YOU TOOK YOUR OWN EFFING LIFE TO ESCAPE HIM?!?
Really Harley was just pissing me off!! Gio was a very bland character. Them getting together so early in the story didn't mesh well with me. Rocky ROCKED!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
November 29, 2022
I enjoyed this retelling of Frankenstein. Dr. Harrison Grant and his lab assistant Gio brought Davidson back from the dead. Although Dr. Grant calls him "Davy Dearest" and refers to him as his husband, Davidson doesn't remember much about his previous life. As more memories come to light, he becomes convinced Dr. Grant is not telling the truth. Luckily, Davidson, or Harley as he discovers he likes to be called, has Gio and Rocky to help him through. Rocky is a female who was resurrected before Harley. The book is about love - romantic love between Gio and Harley, friendship between Rocky, Harley and Gio and lastly the obsessive love Dr. Grant feels for his Davy Dearest. The book ends in a sweet HEA. I recommend this book to people who like their horror stories on the lighter side.
July 28, 2025
4/5. It wasn’t scary, so it wasn’t exactly horror genre to me, but it was good for what it was. It was something quick to read when I didn’t know what to start next, and I didn’t hate it, but what I got from it was that it’s just the bones for what could be a masterpiece if it was fully realised. Sometimes I hate collab series books for exactly this reason—they’re more often than not stunted as all fuck and very rarely do they get the time and space to be what they could be. I’m glad it was in one of my suggestion rows, but I’m sad it wasn’t the full Monty it should’ve been.
September 24, 2022
Being a retelling based on Frankenstein this story is of course born out of tragedy. Poor Davy wakes in a lab with no recollection of who he is and no memories. Given this a novella length story I was glad that Gio and Davy connected right away. Kept things a little less dark and depressing! I absolutely enjoyed Rocky too! This book is definitely for those who appreciate interesting and fresh takes on familiar horror tales!
September 27, 2022
Lightning Born is the first book in the Monster & Mayhem series. You ever have one of those moments where you wonder what you just read? This was one of those for me. Lightning Born was a unique take on Frankenstein. The story is dark but also has a sweetness to it. Loved Gio and Davy! Overall, a great addition to the series. Well written with nice pacing that kept me engaged.
October 7, 2022
Forward
Talk about tugging on your heartstrings, this book will make you feel. Even if all I felt for one character was a dark, burning anger. But…Gio and Davidson. “Kissing Gio felt right like nothing else had since I’d woken on that cold lab table with ill-fitting skin and every part of my body on fire.” Ah, these two—and Rocky, who I love most of all—are bright, shining stars. I’m so happy that they found a way to thrive, and that no one will hurt them again.
Talk about tugging on your heartstrings, this book will make you feel. Even if all I felt for one character was a dark, burning anger. But…Gio and Davidson. “Kissing Gio felt right like nothing else had since I’d woken on that cold lab table with ill-fitting skin and every part of my body on fire.” Ah, these two—and Rocky, who I love most of all—are bright, shining stars. I’m so happy that they found a way to thrive, and that no one will hurt them again.
September 23, 2022
What a great surprise this was! Definitely heed the trigger warnings (parts are dark), but it’s also a sweet insta-love HEA retelling of the classic horror story in ways I never expected but very much enjoyed. The mystery that unfolded as Davidson started to find out more about his past was engaging while the romance was just the right amount of swoon for a diehard non-instalove person like me. My first Sam Burns book, but definitely not my last.
September 25, 2022
I really wish had been longer because I so enjoyed this Frankenstein remake. The characters were wonderful, although some of them tested my patience with their inability to see the danger that was right in front of them. That aside this is a solid intro into this multi-author series. I'm looking forward to seeing what the other authors have to offer.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
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