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Daemons of San DeLain #1
Chasing Shadows
The monster: They say I am powerful. They say I am the darkness. They say I instill fear in the minds and hearts of many.
They’re right.
I am powerful. I am the darkness. I should be feared. Then I heard his cries and everything changed. Power can be tempered. There’s safety in the darkness. And the monster isn’t always the one under the bed.
Now only the heart and mind of one human interests me. He is mine. I wait, watching over him until the time is right to claim what belongs to me.
Austin: Do you believe there are monsters under the bed? I do. I don’t just believe; I know for a fact they exist. I’ve met one. Sort of. Okay, I haven’t actually seen the monster, I’ve only spoken to it.
Kind of hard to see much of anything when you’re hiding under the covers while waiting on your father to beat your ass. The monster saved me. Literally. He says I’m his, and he’s waiting for the right time to claim me.
Someone tell him to hurry the hell up.
They’re right.
I am powerful. I am the darkness. I should be feared. Then I heard his cries and everything changed. Power can be tempered. There’s safety in the darkness. And the monster isn’t always the one under the bed.
Now only the heart and mind of one human interests me. He is mine. I wait, watching over him until the time is right to claim what belongs to me.
Austin: Do you believe there are monsters under the bed? I do. I don’t just believe; I know for a fact they exist. I’ve met one. Sort of. Okay, I haven’t actually seen the monster, I’ve only spoken to it.
Kind of hard to see much of anything when you’re hiding under the covers while waiting on your father to beat your ass. The monster saved me. Literally. He says I’m his, and he’s waiting for the right time to claim me.
Someone tell him to hurry the hell up.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2022
377 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Church
61 books679 followers M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!
When not writing, she’s on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two grown children.
Member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
My Facebook: MA churh http://www.facebook.com/pages/MA-Chur...
When not writing, she’s on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two grown children.
Member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
My Facebook: MA churh http://www.facebook.com/pages/MA-Chur...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
March 15, 2025
So I picked up this book, not remembering AT ALL that I've given it a try before and silly me didn't check Goodreads... And, because I was travelling and didn't have anything else on my list, I actually read the whole damn book and guess what? I should have just stopped and found some paint to watch dry. Seriously. Reducing rating to one star because I read the whole book and it was awful.
-----orig review Sep 2022------
DNF - 38%
I will never get those 2 hours back. I picked up this one because it sounded interesting. I like the premise a lot. But it's so damn boring! And the dialog is weirdly formal. Also pretty much all telling. I'm not feeling a connection with either MC or their connection to one another. At. All.
-----orig review Sep 2022------
DNF - 38%
I will never get those 2 hours back. I picked up this one because it sounded interesting. I like the premise a lot. But it's so damn boring! And the dialog is weirdly formal. Also pretty much all telling. I'm not feeling a connection with either MC or their connection to one another. At. All.
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September 17, 2022MM Romance
Paranormal
No rating-Under 50% read
DNF @ 48%. I was going to table this for now with plans of coming back to it eventually but I’m doing myself a favor and just putting it in the fire and burning it. I just cannot with how boring this book is. This book has a interesting premise but is so fucking boring I want to die. I think I have a few times because whenever I pick this back up, time slips away from me and the next thing I know 4 hours have passed, my kindle is on the floor and I’m still in the same chapter I was 4 hours ago. On the plus side it’s been absolutely fantastic for my insomnia. Forget the sleeping pills, just try to read this baby.
The premise of this is the monster under the bed is real, has been protecting Austin from his abusive dad, bullies & life in general since he was 8 years old and has been waiting 17 years to court Austin properly. That’s not to say the monster, Kage, was attracted to Austin when he was a boy but he felt that instinct to protect him at all costs and when Austin came of age, it became clear they were mates hence why Kage has always been so overprotective and fond of him. Kage is a shadow monster and he protects Austin all these years, even leaving Austin a necklace that can summon him if Austin ever finds himself in trouble. The only rule is that Austin has never been permitted to look at Kage in his monster form.
So, fast forward 17 years and Austin is 25 and a best selling paranormal romance author? Okay sure. He may write about supernatural creatures but he knows very little except they exist and because he has always wanted to find out everything there is to know about “his monster”, he gets himself cornered in a parking lot one night by monster hunters. Austin summons his monster and for the first time Austin actually sees what his monster is capable of, only, he’s not afraid because his monster would never hurt him. Yes, I’m aware I used the phrase “his monster” a million times but I’ve read it that many times too and it is stuck in my head. 😭
Kage decides that he wants to court Austin the right way and invites him over to dinner to chat and get to know each other. But the thing is, despite Austin not dating Kage all this time, they’ve always been best friends since Kage basically lived under Austin’s bed at night and even as an adult, Austin has always been in love with his monster so the fact they were trying to take shit all slow when it’s been fucking 17 years was just so fucking boring. Kage is supposedly this evil ancient monster and I wanted him to assert his dominance over Austin by pushing him against the wall and fucking him instead of all this “I want to do this the right way” type shit. It just didn’t make much sense and was boring af.
I like the idea of this but the execution is boring and I can’t be fucked to continue this book or should I say series because the author says this will be a trilogy. 🤦🏻♀️
Paranormal
No rating-Under 50% read
DNF @ 48%. I was going to table this for now with plans of coming back to it eventually but I’m doing myself a favor and just putting it in the fire and burning it. I just cannot with how boring this book is. This book has a interesting premise but is so fucking boring I want to die. I think I have a few times because whenever I pick this back up, time slips away from me and the next thing I know 4 hours have passed, my kindle is on the floor and I’m still in the same chapter I was 4 hours ago. On the plus side it’s been absolutely fantastic for my insomnia. Forget the sleeping pills, just try to read this baby.
The premise of this is the monster under the bed is real, has been protecting Austin from his abusive dad, bullies & life in general since he was 8 years old and has been waiting 17 years to court Austin properly. That’s not to say the monster, Kage, was attracted to Austin when he was a boy but he felt that instinct to protect him at all costs and when Austin came of age, it became clear they were mates hence why Kage has always been so overprotective and fond of him. Kage is a shadow monster and he protects Austin all these years, even leaving Austin a necklace that can summon him if Austin ever finds himself in trouble. The only rule is that Austin has never been permitted to look at Kage in his monster form.
So, fast forward 17 years and Austin is 25 and a best selling paranormal romance author? Okay sure. He may write about supernatural creatures but he knows very little except they exist and because he has always wanted to find out everything there is to know about “his monster”, he gets himself cornered in a parking lot one night by monster hunters. Austin summons his monster and for the first time Austin actually sees what his monster is capable of, only, he’s not afraid because his monster would never hurt him. Yes, I’m aware I used the phrase “his monster” a million times but I’ve read it that many times too and it is stuck in my head. 😭
Kage decides that he wants to court Austin the right way and invites him over to dinner to chat and get to know each other. But the thing is, despite Austin not dating Kage all this time, they’ve always been best friends since Kage basically lived under Austin’s bed at night and even as an adult, Austin has always been in love with his monster so the fact they were trying to take shit all slow when it’s been fucking 17 years was just so fucking boring. Kage is supposedly this evil ancient monster and I wanted him to assert his dominance over Austin by pushing him against the wall and fucking him instead of all this “I want to do this the right way” type shit. It just didn’t make much sense and was boring af.
I like the idea of this but the execution is boring and I can’t be fucked to continue this book or should I say series because the author says this will be a trilogy. 🤦🏻♀️
October 6, 2022
DNF at 12%
The blurb for this one sounded pretty neat, and to be totally honest…I got this author mixed up with a different author when I started reading it. I’ve DNFd two books before by this author, and this one has pretty much the same issues I had with the other books (my reviews here and here) so …yeah.
The issues I had in this book:
• The writing is extremely choppy.
• It reads like there’s parts missing - characters make leaps that leave me confused, because they’re working on information that I don’t have to make whatever connection they’re making. I’m not talking about a logical leap to solve a mystery or something, this is mid-normal conversation about irrelevant things.
• The dialogue, oh lord. The dialogue. How is it stilted, half formal, and yet very young? The demon’s dialogue is sooo cheesy and like mall ninja levels of edge.
• Awkwardly inserted info dumps - like when Austin officially meets his demon whoever, the other dude there is like abruptly lecturing them on demon kind or something. Very weird. Unsmooth.
• Which is another issue - so much telling, no showing.
• Plus, the characters are pretty flat. I am chucking this early, so maybe they get more depth later, but based on my previous reads by this author I doubt they do and I don’t feel like sticking around to find out.
Overall, I found this not fun to read and just kind of uninteresting.
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
The blurb for this one sounded pretty neat, and to be totally honest…I got this author mixed up with a different author when I started reading it. I’ve DNFd two books before by this author, and this one has pretty much the same issues I had with the other books (my reviews here and here) so …yeah.
The issues I had in this book:
• The writing is extremely choppy.
• It reads like there’s parts missing - characters make leaps that leave me confused, because they’re working on information that I don’t have to make whatever connection they’re making. I’m not talking about a logical leap to solve a mystery or something, this is mid-normal conversation about irrelevant things.
• The dialogue, oh lord. The dialogue. How is it stilted, half formal, and yet very young? The demon’s dialogue is sooo cheesy and like mall ninja levels of edge.
• Awkwardly inserted info dumps - like when Austin officially meets his demon whoever, the other dude there is like abruptly lecturing them on demon kind or something. Very weird. Unsmooth.
• Which is another issue - so much telling, no showing.
• Plus, the characters are pretty flat. I am chucking this early, so maybe they get more depth later, but based on my previous reads by this author I doubt they do and I don’t feel like sticking around to find out.
Overall, I found this not fun to read and just kind of uninteresting.
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
September 9, 2022
Here are my reasons for the 3 stars:
- It felt like a lot of discussions explaining paranormals. Of course it needed to be explained but it seemed to go on and on.
- There was a lot of regular daily stuff that was either described in detail or summarized. It didn't assist in helping to show Austin and Kage's relationship progressing. It was just mundane.
- I didn't really feel Austin and Kage's connection. We didn't get to see their interactions before. Just told of them. So there really was no build up to their feelings for each other.
* I think this is a me not the book situation. This ends on a HFN cliffhanger. I usually dislike cliffhangers but it ended at a good spot that didn't feel abrupt. I will be reading the next to see what happens.
- It felt like a lot of discussions explaining paranormals. Of course it needed to be explained but it seemed to go on and on.
- There was a lot of regular daily stuff that was either described in detail or summarized. It didn't assist in helping to show Austin and Kage's relationship progressing. It was just mundane.
- I didn't really feel Austin and Kage's connection. We didn't get to see their interactions before. Just told of them. So there really was no build up to their feelings for each other.
* I think this is a me not the book situation. This ends on a HFN cliffhanger. I usually dislike cliffhangers but it ended at a good spot that didn't feel abrupt. I will be reading the next to see what happens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf-for-now-may-finish-later
September 5, 2022Going to DNF for now at 31%. I just am not really feeling this story. It seems strange that kage has been hovering around Austin for a majority of his life and has wanted him as a mate since he was 8… idk a bit weird.
April 14, 2024
DNF@49% (spoilers to a minimum) English is not my first language so I'll probably mess it up somewhere. Not as much as this book though, so we're good.
I'm sorry for this review, I really am, but I have to express myself as payment for the time I lost reading this bs of a book. Liking books is my superpower to a fault, and I always found something I like, a character to root for (even if it's not a MC), a nice writing style,... anything.
I don´t ask for perfection at all, but this one got me fu#$&ed up in the worst way possible, so much that I made a freaking account to vent! Art is subjective, so is personnal preferences in books, I get it, but I can't understand how this book has the rating it has (as I write this review above 4 stars!).
It reached a point reading a specific scene that I put my poor kindle on the table and left it there for weeks, like the poor thing did something to me. I haaate leaving books unfinished, but I could not keep punishing miself.
I will enumerate what drove me crazy and I will try to be as objective as possible:
- The writing was not good. It felt sloopy and made in a hurry. The scenery descriptions were so long and detailed but poorly written that they annoyed me and messed with the rhythm of the story. Authors narration style can be long-winded and still keep you hooked, I've seen it (Wolfsong is the best example baby, insert cheff kiss emoji here).
In a specific paragraph when describing Austin's home I wanted to scream to the author to stop using the same adjective non stop and to continue with the story.
- The dialogues felt forced and very unnatural. Nobody talks like the characters of the book talk to each other, and I understand the author wanted to give special importance to respect and consent in the relationship, but she was doing too much and the interactions ended up being a ball of cringe. The dialogue between both MCs when they meet for the first time made me want to crawl into a hole to scape the second hand embarrassment.
Another example, at some point the MC meets a queer character and their interaction was so choreographed and measured to be perfectly perfect (I guess the author was trying to educate the readers) that I thought someone from some HR department was monitoring the conversation. I only missed a "I respect you and your feelings as a human being" at the end. Girl! we are reading an MM romance novel!, you are preaching to the choir!, we are on the same page!, we are allies or part of the community baby! We understand the importance of pronouns!!!! During this dialogue is when I had enough of the book, I couldn't deal (if you want amazing dialogues go read Soul Eater. That author ate in her first book)
- Both MC are amazing from the very beggining. Both are emotionally mature, level headed, talk to each other with the utmost respect and got over any possible emotional baggage long ago so they are ready for each other. My father was ? My prospect boyfriend is a monster and he may have in front of me? No problem baby, got over it before it even happened
This makes impossible to have character development, why should they develope? They are already perfect and fantastic, which also makes that nothing of importance happens during the first half of the book besides the MCs meeting, I'm not joking. It also makes impossible to feel for them or relate to them (if you want character development, stuff happening and lovable characters, read Whit by Cora Rose).
Maybe the second half of the book is a roller coaster, but I don't think so and I'm not gonna find out.
- Some parts of the plot made no sense to the point of enfuriating me. This is an all time high when we are talking about supernatural romance babes! I don't consider this a spoiler, but just in case . This plot, among other things, made me feel that the story and event made were basically nonsence.
(there are many books with a plot that makes sense, so I won't give any example)
If you read this book and think is the best thing since the internet or you just liked it, you don't know how much I envy you. In my modest opinion, I did not like it and I would not recommend it. I gave some examples of books I loved during the review so you don't think I'm a unreasonable B. There are very good MM novels out there, so even if you don't like a book you read, don't let it deter you from taking another one for weeks like happened to me with this one and don't think you wasted your money, Consider it a learning experience. Good luck!
I'm sorry for this review, I really am, but I have to express myself as payment for the time I lost reading this bs of a book. Liking books is my superpower to a fault, and I always found something I like, a character to root for (even if it's not a MC), a nice writing style,... anything.
I don´t ask for perfection at all, but this one got me fu#$&ed up in the worst way possible, so much that I made a freaking account to vent! Art is subjective, so is personnal preferences in books, I get it, but I can't understand how this book has the rating it has (as I write this review above 4 stars!).
It reached a point reading a specific scene that I put my poor kindle on the table and left it there for weeks, like the poor thing did something to me. I haaate leaving books unfinished, but I could not keep punishing miself.
I will enumerate what drove me crazy and I will try to be as objective as possible:
- The writing was not good. It felt sloopy and made in a hurry. The scenery descriptions were so long and detailed but poorly written that they annoyed me and messed with the rhythm of the story. Authors narration style can be long-winded and still keep you hooked, I've seen it (Wolfsong is the best example baby, insert cheff kiss emoji here).
In a specific paragraph when describing Austin's home I wanted to scream to the author to stop using the same adjective non stop and to continue with the story.
- The dialogues felt forced and very unnatural. Nobody talks like the characters of the book talk to each other, and I understand the author wanted to give special importance to respect and consent in the relationship, but she was doing too much and the interactions ended up being a ball of cringe. The dialogue between both MCs when they meet for the first time made me want to crawl into a hole to scape the second hand embarrassment.
Another example, at some point the MC meets a queer character and their interaction was so choreographed and measured to be perfectly perfect (I guess the author was trying to educate the readers) that I thought someone from some HR department was monitoring the conversation. I only missed a "I respect you and your feelings as a human being" at the end. Girl! we are reading an MM romance novel!, you are preaching to the choir!, we are on the same page!, we are allies or part of the community baby! We understand the importance of pronouns!!!! During this dialogue is when I had enough of the book, I couldn't deal (if you want amazing dialogues go read Soul Eater. That author ate in her first book)
- Both MC are amazing from the very beggining. Both are emotionally mature, level headed, talk to each other with the utmost respect and got over any possible emotional baggage long ago so they are ready for each other. My father was ? My prospect boyfriend is a monster and he may have in front of me? No problem baby, got over it before it even happened
This makes impossible to have character development, why should they develope? They are already perfect and fantastic, which also makes that nothing of importance happens during the first half of the book besides the MCs meeting, I'm not joking. It also makes impossible to feel for them or relate to them (if you want character development, stuff happening and lovable characters, read Whit by Cora Rose).
Maybe the second half of the book is a roller coaster, but I don't think so and I'm not gonna find out.
- Some parts of the plot made no sense to the point of enfuriating me. This is an all time high when we are talking about supernatural romance babes! I don't consider this a spoiler, but just in case . This plot, among other things, made me feel that the story and event made were basically nonsence.
(there are many books with a plot that makes sense, so I won't give any example)
If you read this book and think is the best thing since the internet or you just liked it, you don't know how much I envy you. In my modest opinion, I did not like it and I would not recommend it. I gave some examples of books I loved during the review so you don't think I'm a unreasonable B. There are very good MM novels out there, so even if you don't like a book you read, don't let it deter you from taking another one for weeks like happened to me with this one and don't think you wasted your money, Consider it a learning experience. Good luck!
April 15, 2023
I hate to do it but... this is a DNF @38% I paused from reading it and felt no excitement going back. When I did, I trudged through two chapters and just... Couldn't.
I hate the characters. I hate that Austin so readily accepts everything that's happened to him. Also he's some rich boy but he didnt live a rich boy life? And he's a renowned author with movie deals but he doesn't make THAT much money? Yeah. No. Then he just happily accepts Kage's total obsession with him beyond being his protector? What the hell.
I hate Kage. His obsession makes me cringe and knowing he fell in love with a child that he'd been watching over since he was eight just gives me the ick. I know he didn't fall in love until Austin was older but still. Also, billionaire entrepreneur? Really? Obviously paranormals live long lives but why do they always flaunt their wealth?
Then there's the chemistry, or lack thereof. There is none. Zero. I have no interest in their relationship. Much like Naazi Noor, this author spends so much time describing how hot the characters are without ever really saying anything. It just makes me glad I didn't waste money on an audiobook this time.
I found the writing... okay. It started off rough for me but got negligibley better by the time I threw in the towel but honestly? Its boring. It's so dull. And others are so right about the dialog. It doesn't feel real in the slightest
I'm so disappointed by this because the cover is gorgeous, and the blurb seemed interesting, but there is really no saving this one for me. I've read books with lower star ratings that are worlds better than this. Sorry Church, but this is an L for me.
I hate the characters. I hate that Austin so readily accepts everything that's happened to him. Also he's some rich boy but he didnt live a rich boy life? And he's a renowned author with movie deals but he doesn't make THAT much money? Yeah. No. Then he just happily accepts Kage's total obsession with him beyond being his protector? What the hell.
I hate Kage. His obsession makes me cringe and knowing he fell in love with a child that he'd been watching over since he was eight just gives me the ick. I know he didn't fall in love until Austin was older but still. Also, billionaire entrepreneur? Really? Obviously paranormals live long lives but why do they always flaunt their wealth?
Then there's the chemistry, or lack thereof. There is none. Zero. I have no interest in their relationship. Much like Naazi Noor, this author spends so much time describing how hot the characters are without ever really saying anything. It just makes me glad I didn't waste money on an audiobook this time.
I found the writing... okay. It started off rough for me but got negligibley better by the time I threw in the towel but honestly? Its boring. It's so dull. And others are so right about the dialog. It doesn't feel real in the slightest
I'm so disappointed by this because the cover is gorgeous, and the blurb seemed interesting, but there is really no saving this one for me. I've read books with lower star ratings that are worlds better than this. Sorry Church, but this is an L for me.
September 1, 2022
OK, this was an excellent start to a new series from MA Church!
Kage is a shadow daemon - he is the leader of his peoples' clan and he is very powerful. He's also, quite literally, the monster under Austin's bed.
Austin is a kid when he discovers he has a monster under the bed - one that comes to protect him, watch out for him, and become best friends with as the years go on. However, as Austin grows up, best friend feelings start to change. But he's never even seen Kage!
OK I love this. When I read the blurb, I requested it right away. And I absolutely loved this. I loved getting to see a little bit of Austin as a kid, but also when Austin as an adult, and a paranormal author as well, gets thrown into the very real paranormal world, I just loved it. I loved him with Kage, and the two of them together were so great.
The main conflict comes in the form of hunters - humans who are out to stop paranormal life. However, now the humans are becoming more than that. Kage does what he can to protect his people and friends, all while trying to court and woo his mate.
This is the first book in a trilogy - and it will be continuing in the next book! It ends in a great place for Kage and Austin but there is definitely more story left to tell. I can't wait for the second book!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Kage is a shadow daemon - he is the leader of his peoples' clan and he is very powerful. He's also, quite literally, the monster under Austin's bed.
Austin is a kid when he discovers he has a monster under the bed - one that comes to protect him, watch out for him, and become best friends with as the years go on. However, as Austin grows up, best friend feelings start to change. But he's never even seen Kage!
OK I love this. When I read the blurb, I requested it right away. And I absolutely loved this. I loved getting to see a little bit of Austin as a kid, but also when Austin as an adult, and a paranormal author as well, gets thrown into the very real paranormal world, I just loved it. I loved him with Kage, and the two of them together were so great.
The main conflict comes in the form of hunters - humans who are out to stop paranormal life. However, now the humans are becoming more than that. Kage does what he can to protect his people and friends, all while trying to court and woo his mate.
This is the first book in a trilogy - and it will be continuing in the next book! It ends in a great place for Kage and Austin but there is definitely more story left to tell. I can't wait for the second book!
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 20, 2022Currently DNF @ 40%.
I loved the premise of this book and was excited to read it.
However, I’m 40% gone and honestly most of that is the two leads sitting and talking about different paranormals. It’s really dull. It would have been much more interesting if we (the main human character) learnt about the paranormal world by experiencing it.
And we’ve spent more time learning that the human is a paranormal writer and was excited about writing his books on the new found information.
Also, it bothers me that the paranormal has been celibate for 17 years whilst waiting for an 8 year old to be an adult.
Oh it amused me the human being like on the third or fourth time seeing paranormal that oh that’s the first time you’ve called me mate. Well yeah, you’ve barely seen each other 😂.
I loved the premise of this book and was excited to read it.
However, I’m 40% gone and honestly most of that is the two leads sitting and talking about different paranormals. It’s really dull. It would have been much more interesting if we (the main human character) learnt about the paranormal world by experiencing it.
And we’ve spent more time learning that the human is a paranormal writer and was excited about writing his books on the new found information.
Also, it bothers me that the paranormal has been celibate for 17 years whilst waiting for an 8 year old to be an adult.
Oh it amused me the human being like on the third or fourth time seeing paranormal that oh that’s the first time you’ve called me mate. Well yeah, you’ve barely seen each other 😂.
March 3, 2023
3/3/23 - second time around and enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Now on to book 2 that's out now!!!
*********
I'm not sure what it was about this book that captivated me, but captivate me it did, from almost the first page.
I really didn't want to put it down, and I was so happy to see at the end that it will be an ongoing series that will tie up the loose ends and unfinished business in this book.
I was also happy to see that the books will also continue to follow Kage and Austin as well as the other characters introduced, I'm especially interested in Hudson - what's the go with his assistant?? :)
Really looking forward to continuing this series!
*********
I'm not sure what it was about this book that captivated me, but captivate me it did, from almost the first page.
I really didn't want to put it down, and I was so happy to see at the end that it will be an ongoing series that will tie up the loose ends and unfinished business in this book.
I was also happy to see that the books will also continue to follow Kage and Austin as well as the other characters introduced, I'm especially interested in Hudson - what's the go with his assistant?? :)
Really looking forward to continuing this series!
October 2, 2022
2.5 stars rounded down. There were sparks of a nice idea in this book and there were even moments that were enjoyable to read. But so much of the book was awkward and even preachy. There were whole pages that were completely unnecessary to the plot and scenes that didn’t belong at all in terms of advancing the story. This book definitely felt like a debut.
Read
October 29, 2022Did not connect to the characters, was bored out of my mind, couldn't continue.
February 7, 2023
Mediocre
For transparency, I didn’t finish, I stopped in the middle of the first sex scene about 60 percent in. I never stop in the middle of sex scenes. Truly, I gave this a 3 because I like the world, I like the explanations of the paranormal aspects and so on. I even liked the story concept. What I didn’t like and just could handle was the writing behind that. First, the length, there are way way to many unnecessary descriptions of unnecessary parts of the story that simply don’t matter. Second, the dialogue wasn’t believable, it didn’t sound cohesive and not what people sound like when they talk. This book could have been better cutting out so much making it about 50-100 pages shorter. I just won’t let myself suffer through a book if I just am not into it and I wasn’t with this book. I wanted to like it but it was just dragging on to the point where I was constantly was looking at how far I was before it was done. Never mind the fact that this is only the first of more than one book about the same characters. If I am reading a book that has a cliffhanger I want to feel invested and I wasn’t at all.
For transparency, I didn’t finish, I stopped in the middle of the first sex scene about 60 percent in. I never stop in the middle of sex scenes. Truly, I gave this a 3 because I like the world, I like the explanations of the paranormal aspects and so on. I even liked the story concept. What I didn’t like and just could handle was the writing behind that. First, the length, there are way way to many unnecessary descriptions of unnecessary parts of the story that simply don’t matter. Second, the dialogue wasn’t believable, it didn’t sound cohesive and not what people sound like when they talk. This book could have been better cutting out so much making it about 50-100 pages shorter. I just won’t let myself suffer through a book if I just am not into it and I wasn’t with this book. I wanted to like it but it was just dragging on to the point where I was constantly was looking at how far I was before it was done. Never mind the fact that this is only the first of more than one book about the same characters. If I am reading a book that has a cliffhanger I want to feel invested and I wasn’t at all.
November 30, 2023
I struggle to understand the DNF hate this book gets. It may just be me, but I really enjoyed it. I mean, the premise is fulfilled from the first 10% of the book - sexy monster under the bed willing to avenge my inner child? Sign me up please!
I thought Kage and Austin had great chemistry, and the banter between them was well-balanced, witty, and pretty hot. I really appreciated the super realistic "you will sit down now and answer my questions" sequence, and don't agree with other readers that it was an info-dump style "show, don't tell". If I were suddenly thrust in a reality where monsters are real, you bet your boots I would sit down my benevolent monster and pick their brain on who is what, do's and dont's, and any other information I could get out of them.
I removed a star because I generally don't like the fated mates type of romance, and another because I think the writing could use some more polish (the curse of the first book in a series).
But overall this is quite a pleasant read.
I thought Kage and Austin had great chemistry, and the banter between them was well-balanced, witty, and pretty hot. I really appreciated the super realistic "you will sit down now and answer my questions" sequence, and don't agree with other readers that it was an info-dump style "show, don't tell". If I were suddenly thrust in a reality where monsters are real, you bet your boots I would sit down my benevolent monster and pick their brain on who is what, do's and dont's, and any other information I could get out of them.
I removed a star because I generally don't like the fated mates type of romance, and another because I think the writing could use some more polish (the curse of the first book in a series).
But overall this is quite a pleasant read.
Read
February 28, 2023Note to future self:
I don't want to read this book.
It may be awesome, but it's just not for me.
This isn't a review. This is for myself.
I simply just don't want to read this.
I use goodreads to find new books, and I don't want to spend precious time going through all the reviews for this book again when I have already done so, only to once again find out that I don't want to read it.
Because there is a great likelihood that I will "find" this book again in a year or so, when I've already forgotten that I don't want to read it, and then I will spend 30 minutes going through all the reviews, only to come to the same conclusion again.
So I place no opinion wether this book is good or not, to that I cannot attest.
It may be the greatest book ever.
I simply know that it doesn't speak to me, upon further investigation.
That doesn't mean that you wont love it, so read away to your hearts content.
Don't mind me, and my curmudgeonly ways.
I don't want to read this book.
It may be awesome, but it's just not for me.
This isn't a review. This is for myself.
I simply just don't want to read this.
I use goodreads to find new books, and I don't want to spend precious time going through all the reviews for this book again when I have already done so, only to once again find out that I don't want to read it.
Because there is a great likelihood that I will "find" this book again in a year or so, when I've already forgotten that I don't want to read it, and then I will spend 30 minutes going through all the reviews, only to come to the same conclusion again.
So I place no opinion wether this book is good or not, to that I cannot attest.
It may be the greatest book ever.
I simply know that it doesn't speak to me, upon further investigation.
That doesn't mean that you wont love it, so read away to your hearts content.
Don't mind me, and my curmudgeonly ways.
January 6, 2023
Lots of telling, not much showing.
DNF 22%
Skimmed ahead to ~50%. I expected monsterf*cking, did not find that before calling it quits. Lots of repetition, characters feel like caricatures, nothing really grabbed my attention.
Also, auto deduct 1 star for making a MC a writer and going on (and on) about writing, note taking, publishing, etc.
DNF 22%
Skimmed ahead to ~50%. I expected monsterf*cking, did not find that before calling it quits. Lots of repetition, characters feel like caricatures, nothing really grabbed my attention.
Also, auto deduct 1 star for making a MC a writer and going on (and on) about writing, note taking, publishing, etc.
October 6, 2022
This book is my kind of fairytale.
Summary - You are the 7yr old child of a widowed father, & that father is a violent alcoholic twat waffle. One night he's coming up to your room & you're terrified, but you're saved by a demon hiding under your bed. Said demon never goes away, protects you for life. You have never seen him, but then one day you do, he's smoking hot. You fall in love.
Easy read. Low stress. Hot Demon.
Recommend.
Summary - You are the 7yr old child of a widowed father, & that father is a violent alcoholic twat waffle. One night he's coming up to your room & you're terrified, but you're saved by a demon hiding under your bed. Said demon never goes away, protects you for life. You have never seen him, but then one day you do, he's smoking hot. You fall in love.
Easy read. Low stress. Hot Demon.
Recommend.
Read
June 7, 2023DNF @ 79% - I tried to push through, I really did …
March 18, 2023
Dnf 48%
This book as others have said is just boring. This is from the last page I was reading. This is mostly what the book is like.
"Running a comb through his hair, he hurried out of the bathroom. He grabbed his keys and his wallet and made a beeline to his car. Backing out of his garage, he opened the gate and pulled onto the street. Traffic was only mildly horrible going toward downtown, so he made pretty good time. The signing was being held at a locally-owned bookstore called The Book Spot. He parked in the lot at the back of the store and walked around to the front."
There was a part where they are cleaning up the kitchen and Austin puts his coffee cup in the sink and then a few paragraphs after he is sipping coffee. It's so detailed in what they are doing so things like that stand out.
I was honestly hoping I would like this book, it seems like it's interesting but I just feel so bored with it.
This book as others have said is just boring. This is from the last page I was reading. This is mostly what the book is like.
"Running a comb through his hair, he hurried out of the bathroom. He grabbed his keys and his wallet and made a beeline to his car. Backing out of his garage, he opened the gate and pulled onto the street. Traffic was only mildly horrible going toward downtown, so he made pretty good time. The signing was being held at a locally-owned bookstore called The Book Spot. He parked in the lot at the back of the store and walked around to the front."
There was a part where they are cleaning up the kitchen and Austin puts his coffee cup in the sink and then a few paragraphs after he is sipping coffee. It's so detailed in what they are doing so things like that stand out.
I was honestly hoping I would like this book, it seems like it's interesting but I just feel so bored with it.
February 17, 2023
I'm not sure the 'did-not-finish' tag applies here as I read 90% of this book and could've kept going, but it's just so ... MEH. Had an hour left before my usual bedtime and figured ... I'ma just go sleep early. So, yeah, you can say this book put me to sleep ... :D I imagine the last 10% is Austin being kidnapped by hunters, then rescued. *shrug emoji*
It's extremely boring and I don't vibe with the writing style or the characterization of Austin. I don't care enough to take the time to put my finger on the issue ... but he seems to come across as juvenile somehow? Basically, he reads like a young child at times. If it helps, I remember a part where he makes 'grabby hands' at Kage. That's weird, right? At the very least, it's an unusually childlike way to describe this particular action. I doubt it's just me.
It's extremely boring and I don't vibe with the writing style or the characterization of Austin. I don't care enough to take the time to put my finger on the issue ... but he seems to come across as juvenile somehow? Basically, he reads like a young child at times. If it helps, I remember a part where he makes 'grabby hands' at Kage. That's weird, right? At the very least, it's an unusually childlike way to describe this particular action. I doubt it's just me.
September 10, 2022
I liked the world building
World building was great, and with so many side characters, I was predicting their stories as I was reading. I was really disappointed to learn that this series is just going to follow the same main characters. Not sure I would have picked this book up to read if I'd known that.
I love series that connects plot wise and characters, but I prefer to have different MCs in each book.
Honestly, had that detail not been sprung on me at the end of the book, I probably would rate 5 stars, but as is it's incomplete to me and I don't currently plan to read the others.
World building was great, and with so many side characters, I was predicting their stories as I was reading. I was really disappointed to learn that this series is just going to follow the same main characters. Not sure I would have picked this book up to read if I'd known that.
I love series that connects plot wise and characters, but I prefer to have different MCs in each book.
Honestly, had that detail not been sprung on me at the end of the book, I probably would rate 5 stars, but as is it's incomplete to me and I don't currently plan to read the others.
October 19, 2022
STORYLINE had a lot of potential
I think the story idea has a lot of potential and I was looking forward to reading it. However, the lack of connection/bond between the two MCs was disappointing. I considered stop reading a few times because Austin connection felt forced, he was not a suitable match for Kage. On the hand, I adore Kage, and I wish I could've felt Austin's connection to him. I expected more for him after he waited 17 years for his mate to grow up, but the connection was so weak that the romantic scene was uninteresting. Overall, not too bad if you can get the feels when reading. I will give the next book a try and hope it is better
I think the story idea has a lot of potential and I was looking forward to reading it. However, the lack of connection/bond between the two MCs was disappointing. I considered stop reading a few times because Austin connection felt forced, he was not a suitable match for Kage. On the hand, I adore Kage, and I wish I could've felt Austin's connection to him. I expected more for him after he waited 17 years for his mate to grow up, but the connection was so weak that the romantic scene was uninteresting. Overall, not too bad if you can get the feels when reading. I will give the next book a try and hope it is better
August 25, 2023
1,5 stars.
I’m actually quite surprised how well-rated this book is. The premise is interesting and I actually quite enjoyed the first part, despite the darkness coming with Austin’s parental abuse. But, as soon as he and Kate get together, the book plummets. Their relationship is absolutely bland and totally un-relatable. I couldn’t connect with either of them, the inner dialogue (and proper dialogue) was extremely cheesy and predictable, as was the (quite boring) plot. The literal definition of overexplicative, the book repeats the same things over and over and is all tell no show. Extremely boring. Wouldn’t recommend.
I’m actually quite surprised how well-rated this book is. The premise is interesting and I actually quite enjoyed the first part, despite the darkness coming with Austin’s parental abuse. But, as soon as he and Kate get together, the book plummets. Their relationship is absolutely bland and totally un-relatable. I couldn’t connect with either of them, the inner dialogue (and proper dialogue) was extremely cheesy and predictable, as was the (quite boring) plot. The literal definition of overexplicative, the book repeats the same things over and over and is all tell no show. Extremely boring. Wouldn’t recommend.
September 15, 2022
Rating: 4 stars
This was a great start to a new series. I always like when an author introduces new paranormal species. I really enjoyed Kage and Austin's relationship even though it was a bit creepy that Kage basically stalked Austin since he was 8 years old. Mostly, I just had to put that out of my mind. Overall, the story was good. We didn't get a resolution of the main conflict, but I was glad to read that the author is planning on continuing with this couple. Overall, an enjoyable beginning to this series and am looking forward to the next one.
This was a great start to a new series. I always like when an author introduces new paranormal species. I really enjoyed Kage and Austin's relationship even though it was a bit creepy that Kage basically stalked Austin since he was 8 years old. Mostly, I just had to put that out of my mind. Overall, the story was good. We didn't get a resolution of the main conflict, but I was glad to read that the author is planning on continuing with this couple. Overall, an enjoyable beginning to this series and am looking forward to the next one.
Read
May 6, 2023Dnf. Not feeling it.
August 15, 2023
I enjoyed the storyline but there was far too much telling and not enough showing so I never really got immersed in the story.
October 29, 2022
I did not like it. One too many "babe", for me.
December 7, 2022
It was such a fun idea, but I felt like this book ended up being mostly small talk. I nearly DNF'd every time it was mentioned where or what they were eating.
Read
January 7, 2023Dnf 25%
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