Captive of the Night

The Mate Games: Pestilence #3

by K. Loraine, Meg Anne

Roslyn Blackthorne is dead.

I should know, I watched it happen.

My twin and I didn’t believe we’d ever meet our mate, and then she showed up in our bar and the world as we knew it changed. Fate hadn’t been kind to us. Not once. So it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that we lost her as soon as we claimed her.

I spent so much time worried about her manipulative demon, I didn’t anticipate it would be my own sordid past that killed her.

It was our fault. They should have blamed me and Remi. Instead, for the first time since Rosie turned our lives upside down, we are united:

Her vampire husband
Her hybrid hacker
Her alpha wolves

I thought I’d give anything to see those amber eyes of hers again.

I was wrong.

So wrong.

Because the moment I got my wish, it wasn’t my sugar staring back at me. It was a monster.

And now I’ll never be the same.


WARNING: The Mate Games: Pestilence is a spicy why choose series that is sure to set your…heart…on fire. If you’re not a fan of grumpy dukes with a penchant for pain, purple demons with fancy body parts, nosy hackers with boundary issues, angsty wolf shifters who like to share, sword crossing, and plenty of group activities, this one’s not for you. But if it is…welcome back to The Mate Games, we’ve been waiting for you.

Genres: Audiobook, Paranormal, Fantasy, Why Choose, Shapeshifters, Vampires, Romance

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2023

Reviews

[Lucie V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

✅ Reverse harem / Polyamorous relationship
✅ Smut
✅ Multiple POVs
✅ Characters
✅ Magic / Shifters / Vampires / Demons
✅ Pace
✅ Angst
✅(🆗) Plot
❗️❗️Minor spoilers about the cliffhanger at the end of the second book in the review


Everyone is having a rough time in this book. The men are still reeling from Rosie’s death, and poor Asher is being possessed by Pan, without anyone realizing it. We get to see a little more of Pestilence’s plan to start the Apocalypse, but this book is mostly about Rosie and her relationships with her mates.

While I enjoyed reading this book, and I loved that it was angstier than the others, the plot does not progress that much. It mostly focuses on Rosie learning to navigate her new life and trying to mend or maintain her relationships with her mates. This book is more about the characters’ interactions and relationships than the overall Apocalypse plot.

The previous book ends with a crazy cliffhanger, as Rosie is dead and Pan has taken over Asher's body. Rosie had already changed a lot since the beginning of the series, but she continues to do so in this book. She has to adapt herself to her new reality and everything that comes with it, and it’s an exercise in trust in herself and her mates and determination.

(…) You need to eat. That’s what Rosie says.”
Gavin raised a brow, the only part of his body to move beside the shallow rise and fall of his chest. “Is that so? And that makes you what? Takeaway?”
“Just consider me Aurora Springs’ only Uber Eats delivery wolf. Be sure to tip your driver.”

It was interesting to see how Remi and Ben’s reactions to Rosie’s new status as a vampire were so different. Remi focused on the fact that Rosie was still his mate, and his number one priority was to ensure her safety, health, and happiness, no matter what it would cost him. It broke my heart to see how he was hurting because of Asher, but he forced himself to remain strong for Rosie and hide his pain as best as he could.

Ben on the other hand struggled a lot, and couldn’t let go of his old trauma and prejudice. It added a lot of angst in this third book, as Rosie and Ben’s relationship was put to the test, as well as Remi and Ben’s relationship since Remi chose Rosie while Ben tried to ignore their mate bond in the face of Rosie’s new reality. He also broke my heart, because he was so confused and lost, I just wanted to hug him until he got better and realized what a huge mistake he was making.

He’d have to deal with his feelings the same way as the rest of us. By ignoring them completely.

Gavin stepped up in this thirs installment, and he earned a lot of points in my book. I was starting to warm up to him at the end of the second book, but now I like him. Not as much as the twins, but he earned his place in Rosie’s harem, and he brings a more rational vibe to the group dynamic. He’s also the one who will always be willing to maim, torture, or kill if the need arises, and I like this intensity. It balances well with Remi’s goofier vibe. Despite this more ruthless side he has, he continues to show a softer side when he is with Rosie, and it’s nice to see that The Duke of Tears can show kindness and love to his mate, even if he projects this cold and uncaring façade to the rest of the world.

While I enjoy the twist of Pan possessing Asher’s body, I am sad that we didn’t get to see Asher a lot in this book. We did see some flashbacks though, and it helped us understand him and his story a little more. There is still some mystery around him, but everything is starting to make more sense, the pieces are finally falling into place. As for Pan, well I am still not a fan of him, and I wouldn’t be sad if he just disappeared. I tried, but I just can’t like him.

Also, the fact that Pan uses the word “aubergine” when he talks about his penis is just weird. I don’t find it sexy at all, and it’s not said in a funny way either because he’s really serious about it. He even calls himself “Captain Aubergine”. That coupled with his dirty talk/insults towards Rosie makes it hard to enjoy the smutty moments with him too. I know that Rosie likes the dirty talk, but I struggle to appreciate the smut when he keeps calling her whore and slut, but that’s just me and my preferences, I am not a fan of insults in bed.

Don’t worry about me, Miss Blackthorne.”
“Donoghue,” Gavin corrected.
“Soon to be Mercer,” Remi said.
Ben sighed and looked at me. “There’ll b-be no l-living with him n-now.”

The bonds between Rosie and the guys are getting stronger with each book, and I love that in this one, there is no real animosity left between the twins and Gavin. Sure, they are not best buddies yet, and not close to it either, but they learned to cohabit and to work together to ensure Rosie’s happiness. There is still the underlying competition between them when it comes to claiming Rosie and getting in her good graces, but it’s not a toxic rivalry as it was in the second book.

“Christ on the cross, you might be worse than Kingston.”
“You know him? That guy’s pretty fucking awesome.” Remington leaned against the kitchen island as though he and Caleb were now fast friends. Little did he know, the priest had once been a fearsome being no one wanted to piss off.
“Aye, I do. He’s married to my wife.”
“But you’re married to her. So how’s that work?”
Caleb raised both brows, letting out a long-suffering sigh, and he pointedly looked at each of us in turn. “Do you not realize what situation you’re in here, Remington?” He flicked his gaze to me. “Has no one explained it to him?”

CALEB! I was so happy to see him in this book. I was anxiously waiting for him to appear as soon as they mentioned the need for a priest (and I missed his sexy, suave voice from the audiobook). I am so happy every time I get a glimpse of Sunday and her crew, it makes me want to reread her series all over again!


0.5 Promised to the Night ⭐⭐⭐
1. Deal with the Demon ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Claimed by the Shifters ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5


Previous series (The Mate Games: War)
1. Obsession ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Rejection ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
3. Possession ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Temptation ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m getting a bit bored of the series, a book too soon.



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 🙂🥰😎🥹
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Duet Narration ✨Full Cast✨

The heroine: Rosalyn Blackthorne (a.k.a. Rosie) - she ran away from the danger her husband’s family posed to her loved ones. Ran as far away as a supernatural community in Alaska. She grew up as the princess of the Blackthorne vampires, though she thought she would never turn to a vampire herself since she hadn’t turned while she was a teen. She was now in love with two shifters, a hybrid hacker, and her husband, Gavin who followed her to Alaska. She also had recently broken her deal with a demon, to whom she had given her virginity. But that was all before she died.

The Heroes: Asher Henry - he is a hacker cursed by a witch. He thinks he is dying of the curse which is shown by a tattoo slowly crawling up his arm. He is some kind of hybrid. Half human, half something else.
Bentley Mercer - an alpha wolf shifter and twin to Remington. He loves to care for Rosie. He and his brother were beholden to a demoness, because he tried and failed to kill her for murdering their parents. She wanted revenge and got it through Rosie.
Remington Mercer - twin brother to Bentley, he loves Asher as much as he loves Rosie, who is his mate as well as Ben’s.
Pandemic (a.k.a. Pan) - he is a huge purple demon, who had a deal with Rosie. He was working for his mother, Pestilence to jump start the apocalypse. He found he has the ability use Asher as a vessel, and unlike other vessels he has used, Asher didn’t die or decompose.
Gavin - he is a vampire, and Rosie’s husband. She is also his fated mate. He is a Sadist and Rosie is his submissive masochist. He originally wanted her all to himself but has opened to the fact that he shares her with Asher and the twins.

The Story: This one started with a bang, as Pan took over Asher’s body and wore him like a costume. This is the third book in the series, and I still don’t quite like the relationship between Pan and Rosie. Pan, I suppose, behaves like a demon should, but definitely not like he cares at all about Rosie. He is still following his mothers' orders, and he didn’t seem to care at all when he heard that Rosie died. The two of them can’t keep their hands off each other when they are together, but when they are not, they don’t care about each other much at all.

Like the previous two books, this one was super steamy and there were plenty of sexy scenes. I guess it just wasn’t like the reverse harem romances that I usually like. For the most part, Rosie was with each of her men separately, and I don’t mind that. However, I like it when the group becomes a family and, in this series, Rosies relationships with each of her men was so disjointed. I just like it better when the group all ends up working together. I also think that five men is a bit too many. I like three or four for a reverse harem. I think she was spreading herself way too thin and it didn’t feel like she had a real relationship with any of the guys, only sex.

This audiobook was told in multiple points of view via duet narration with a full cast of great narrators. J.F. Harding, Jacob Morgan, James Joseph, John Hartley, Stella Hunter, and Teddy Hamilton narrated it. They did a terrific job, and I love most of these narrators. Though I don’t really like the overacting (Pan and Gavin). I did love the narration of Rosie, Bentley, Asher and Remington quite a lot, I just wish Asher and the twins were more present in this story. Gavin and Pan seemed to be nearly every other chapter.

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[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

PAN!!! I AM COMING FOR YOU!!! YOU WON'T ESCAPE ME!!!!!

He's even worse in this book, which I figured would be the case since he took over Asher's body, but...I hate him almost as much as I hated Kingston from the first series.

HE HURT POOR REMI, THAT'S UNFORGIVABLE. And there was also chapter 28...yeah, he's not coming back from this, I fear.

This whole book was angst filled (much of it thanks to Pan, ahem), Rosie is back from the dead (sort of), and the guys have to learn to deal with it in their own ways.

Ben took it the hardest, I just want to send him a truckload of hugs. I'm glad he came around by the end, but even if he didn't I knew he would in the next book for sure.

I like Gavin a bit more now, but he still comes after the twins and Asher. Since there's only one more book left I doubt this will change, but we'll see.

Rosie's possessive side was funny and cute, now that she's a you know what, it'll probably come out more often.

We also got to see some special cameos, and if this is your first encounter with those characters, you need to go back to the beginning and read their story. THANK ME LATER.

My favourite cameo came in the form of a certain priest. And I know he wasn't just my favourite. Wink wink.

I love that these books are around 10 ish hours long on audio (some more, some less), but I never feel like they're long, you know? I listened to around 75% of this one today, went by in a flash.

Some of that is thanks to the narrators, who I think get better and better each time they narrate Meg & Kim's characters. Once again, they were the perfect choice.

I'm now ready for the final book, and for the apocalypse (let's be real, I'm always ready for apocalypses). I do hope our characters will manage to stop it...this time.

*Thank you to the authors for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Jess Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems our not so little aubergine demon is just getting started and Rosie isn't the only one in his clutches...

Remi, our resident comedian captivated my heart at the start of this series but throughout this entire book he shattered it. The pain he was feeling for not only everything Rosie has been enduring and the way it is affecting not just him, but his twin Ben as well is enough. Add in the fact that Asher is ripping his heart out at every other turn, and I was ready to run and get the emotional support vodka out of the freezer.

And Ben, that alpha wolf really was not vibing with the way that Rosie has.... changed but once he got on board, he was the ever-present Daddy he always is.

We can't forget Gavin, the Duke of Tears certainly delivered on his name, and I was entirely here for it. As well as the way he was able to get Ben and Remi to participate but probably not in the way you are thinking. That man really is the glue that holds everyone together, and even though he isn't necessarily kind about it he gets the job done.

Then when you think there aren't going to be any more surprises the best of all comes towards the end in the form of a sexy Irish priest...

But don't be fooled by that delicious surprise because you know that Kim and Meg can't just leave you with that. No, they have leave you with the mother of all cliffhangers in the form of Pestilence herself. If you thought War was bad, just wait.

Before I finish off what is another long review, I've got to give it to the entire cast of narrators because they went next level with not only the emotions but the spice as well. Teddy Hamilton, J.F. Harding, John Hartley, Stella Hunter, James Joseph, Jacob Morgan and even Jason Clarke took Rosie's tale to a whole other level.

With only one book left in The Mate Games: Pestilence series will Rosie and her mates be able to do what is needed to be done and what side will Pan land on?? I know I can't wait to find out!!

*ALC received from Audibly Addicted in exchange for my honest review. *

[Veronica Ticker · Rating 5 out of 5]

(audiobook) Can you imagine a book that shakes you? That pulls you under and quickly gets you out, repeatedly? That squeezes your heart before it makes you squeeze your thighs? Well, this is the book.

With this opus, we’re back on track with the apocalypse. Sure, Rosie’s relationships with her mates are still the main element of the story, but it’s now tightly connected with Pestilence’s plan to end the world. With Pan being at the center of it all. He spends the whole book manipulating or torturing Rosie’s other lovers, following his mother’s orders. But we also learn a bit more about him, his fears, his interests, his past, his family…

With the apocalypse progressing, we get more cameos from the previous series. And they aren’t just fan service.

All the participants in Rosie’s little harem have a rough time. She’s back after her death at the end of the previous book, and you can guess how she changed. Which affects mostly Ben, who has trouble accepting her as she is after his traumatic past, and Gavin, who’s in charge of teaching her the ways of her species. And with Pan possessing Asher’s body and not interested in anyone besides Rosie, Remi loses his other love, and we see that he can hide pain behind the flirty facade. After the kink fest in the previous book, we get an angst fest.

It’s still seasoned with tasty spice. The mates have finally realized that Rosie needs all of them, and it’s time to share.

Because balance is everything, we also get more gruesome moments. The plague is setting in, and the effects aren’t pretty. It’s also hanging as a threat over the characters’ head, as unlike any other illness, it can affect all species.

Since we see the other side of every character, the narrators got to play a wide range of emotions, and they did it perfectly. Bonus point to Bentley’s narrator, who was able to go from stuttering grumpy guy to growly alpha wolf, from swoony to sexy in half a millisecond. But they all did amazing. Great audio.

Quickie

- Series: The mate games: Pestilence #3 (linked to another series by the same authors, directly follows the previous book, and ends on a cliffhanger)
- Hashtags: #paranormal romance #reverse harem #werewolf #vampire #human #demon #new adult #kinks #bisexual #virgin #twins
- Triggers: various kinks, violence and death
- Main “couple”: Roslyn Blackthorne & (Remington Mercer/Bentley Mercer/Gavin Donoghue/Asher Henry)
- Hotness: 5+++/5
- Romance: 3/5
- + deliciously angsty and emotional
- – nobody cares about what’s happening, really?

[Deni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Тотална загуба на време. Във всяка глава се случваше едно и също: Роузи пие кръв от някого и го е*е. Това е. Това е цялата книга. Конфликтите между персонажите така, както възникваха, така и изчезваха. Никакво напрежение и химия. Роузи е с присъствието, чара и интелекта на надуваема кукла. Всички мъжки персонажи са същите като тези от The Mate Games: War със съвсееем малки промени, за да отбият номера авторките, че четем нещо различно. Като PumBa и Puma.



Pathetic.

Диалозите пък са пренасилени и инфантилни. Колкото до сюжета: само в последните две глави се случи нещо що годе смислено, което да го придвижи с три милиметра напред.

Ще прочета и последната, за да знам, че съм приключила с поредицата, но като цяло е изключително дилетантско изпълнение от страна на дуото.

[Jodi - JodiReadsnListens · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Audio Review**
Jaw-Dropping! Captive of the Night by K. Loraine and Meg Anne was one wild, dark PNR Why Choose romance that once again blew my mind, and demanded my attention from start to finish! These ladies never cease to amaze me with their memorable, unforgettable characters, and intricately woven plot twists, which made me gasp! Each book in this series keeps getting BETTER, darker, and steamier!

Stella Hunter, Jacob Morgan, Teddy Hamilton, J.F. Harding, James Joseph, and John Hartley continue to wow me with how well each of them truly embodies their characters. Stella is brilliant at showcasing a more feral and possessive side to the steadfast and passionate, Rosie. Jacob made me chuckle quite a bit at Remi’s quick-witted, sarcastic sense of humor but also showcased his lost love as well. Teddy was fantastic giving us a glimpse into Asher’s more vulnerable past. Plus, J.F. portrayed a more cold, but dominant side to Ben that if possible made him even more loveable. John emphasized Gavin’s possessive vampiric persona as he took care of Rosie. James was conniving and diabolical as ever as the one and only Pandemic. Scene stealer, Jason Clarke reprises a calm and deliberate, Father Caleb, and hello Latin!

Overall, I LOVED this book. If you are a fan of a PNR why choose romance with a newly made vampire queen, twin shifter wolves, a maniacal possessive demon, protective knowledge vampire husband, a lost hacker, Aurora Springs, more secrets revealed, lurking danger, working at the Tipsy Moose, securing new mate bonds, super mesmerizing steamy times, a visit from Father Caleb, and a cliffhanger ending that sets the stage for one final, epic showdown conclusion, then you will love this book!! I can’t wait for Lost to the Moon!

[Christine G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Captive of the Night certainly held me captive from the moment I started the book. Not to say I didn't enjoy the last book (cause I did), but this one was eons better!!!! So many emotions from start to finish. The witty banter and individual dialogs are perfection. What I wouldn't give to spend a day in these authors minds!!! So clever and down right hilarious at times had me laughing out loud in public (and blushing furiously at other times 🥵). That cliffy was kinda mean though.... I know everything will end up Rosie, but y'all are making me sweat!!

[Heather Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh.

Considering Asher is my number one, I am so heartbroken about everything that happens and from what we learn about his formative years, and extremely disappointed that he wasn't in this one much.

I still adore Pan. Can't help myself. I know he's doing terrible, awful things and is being a total douche canoe to everyone but Rosie, but I'm such a sucker for the bad guys turn good guys, and we all know that's where he's heading. What happens with Asher isn't technically his fault nor was it his fault, but damn. That was rough.

Poor Remi. I freaking love the trio with him, Asher, and Rosie. It's new and exciting and so freaking sexy. But of course, current events have things strained. I love him though, he reminds me of Kingston who was my favorite in the War series. I can't wait for them to get all this settled so they can all be together.

Ben broke my heart in this one, but my heart also broke for him. He is so damn lovable though, you can't stay mad.

And then there is Gavin. Hmmm. He's my #3. Again with the bad guy turned good guy.. I just. Can't. Help. Myself. 🤤 He is just so damn delicious. I couldn't be his though bc I am not here for all the pain stuff. I'm not THAT kinky 😅 but I am here for the rest of it.

It took way too long for Rosie to figure out what was going on with Asher though. Like, I understand she had a lot of other things going on at the same time, but she still should've noticed sooner; the pieces should've clicked for her much faster than they did.

I just have to say that I LIVE for the cameos. Lilith and Crombie deserve their own book FR! And to see my favorite priest again was so very exciting.

All in all, I'm seriously loving these books.

[JenniferMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been anticipating this book ever since the cliffhanger in Claimed by the Shifter! My emotions were all over the place throughout this entire book. I can’t get enough of this series, Meg Anne and K. Loraine know how to hit you with those spicy scenes and the twists and turns that will keep you coming back for more.

This cast continues to impress more and more with each installment. Stella Hunter as she brings Rosie’s wild and emotional sides in this story. Jacob Morgan is perfect at delivering Remi’s sarcasm and is the perfect comedic relief when the story hits on your emotions. J.F. Harding’s performance tugs on the heartstrings as he showcase’s Ben’s turmoil with his feelings for Rosie. Teddy Hamilton hits all the emotions as we discover more about Asher’s past. James Joseph is just so brilliant at being bad as our demon Pan you love and hate. John Hartley delivers Gavin’s commanding and possessive personality as he helps Rosie and the others throughout the story.

We also see the return some of our favorite Mate Games War characters. I hearing Noah and Kingston banter from James and J.F. and we also get to see Jason Clarke as father Caleb playing an important role in the story. Between the story and audio you are not going to want to miss the third installment of this paranormal why choose.

[Pixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third installment of The Mate Games: Pestilence regains all the magic of Deal with tge Demon.

Rosie being out of commission for a portion of the story due to her transformation gives the Mercer twins and Gavin the passage time needed to show their struggle and growth. Especially Gavin. This book is his redemption book.

The growth makes an easy transition to one of the spiciest scenes I have read in a while. I love when a single smut scene is multiple chapters and POVs. The aftercare with Ben for said scene made me melt.

Pan is still Pan, but at the detriment of Asher and Remi. There is a really powerful scene involving the three of them that was heard enough on page, but when I went back and listened to the audiobook it felt even more powerful.

There are quite a few cameos from the first series, which help lighten the somber mood of most of the book. It also leaves you clamoring for a book about a certain angel, succubus, and her sub.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

What a nosedive this narrative took. I had the same problem with the War series. It starts off really strong and I'm invested in the romance and character dynamics; and then the authors seem to realize they're writing a series about the end of the world. To catch up, characters have to go to extremes to move the plot along. The smut, which is my favorite part of the story, gets pushed to the side. And there's so much angst and drama that I end up skimming full chapters. Still, I like the characters and found some bright spots in this book. Sadly, the whole back and forth with Asher and Pan left me cold and was my least favorite aspect of the story.

[Nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner

I could not put this book down. Let me just say I love Remington, he is the Kingston of this series..... he keeps things fun with his jokes.
We finally find out exactly what Asher's other half is, and everything surrounding his situation gets more tangled. Why did his "curse" disappear? What really was it?
By the end, they find themselves in a difficult situation..... how will it be resolved?
Will they be able to stop Pestilence? Were Tom, Dick, and Harry in on everything to begin with, or are they possessed?
Getting closer to the showdown, how will it all end?

[April_ R Reads_Spice · Rating 5 out of 5]

We back up to 5 ⭐️ y’all! I loved this. I loved they whole journey, while also wanting it to be over so I knew what was going to happen! The twins. They are everything. Remi and his humor - whichever author writes his witty quips - I bow down to you, ma’am. I was laughing out loud throughout the book. Remi brings much needed lightness to dark and heavy situations.
Asher and Remi…my heart was breaking!! I still hate Pan. I am trusting the authors to make him redeemable. Or kill him. I’m good with either at this point. Daddy Gavin has really grown on me. Btw, chapters 40-43….holy hotness.

I loved all the cameos from our favorite guys from the previous Mate Games series! It’s so fun to get little glimpses of them.

I mostly listened to the audiobook and I have to say, I am very spoiled now. (I’ve listened to both the previous series and this series on audiobook.) The full cast duet should be the way all books are done! And all the narrators in this cast are amazing. It makes it even better than if I were only reading with my eyeballs.

The cliffhanger tugged on my heart. Once again, I’m putting my trust in the authors to make it all better. I’m ready for my HEA! I need the next book yesterday!!

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This picked up right where book 2 ended. More suspense continues. The banter is still funny! I can't wait to see whats next because it ends on another cliffhanger.

The duet audiobook is narrated by Stella Hunter, Teddy Hamilton, JF Harding, John Hartley, James Joseph, and Jacob Morgan. They all did an awesome job.

I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Shedevilreads Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captive of the Night by Meg Anne and K. Loraine is a why choose paranormal romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Teddy Hamilton, J.F. Harding, John Hartley, Stella Hunter, James Joseph, Jacob Morgan, and Jason Clarke. This is the third book in The Mate Games: Pestilence series.

I absolutely love the Mate Games World! Meg and Kim do an amazing job pulling me into the story. I can't help but binge in each book in one sitting. I love that we got Pan, Remi, Ben, Gavin, Rosie, Asher, and Lilith's points of views throughout the book. It really brings the story to life.

The book ended on a great cliffhanger that left me begging for more. I can't wait for the next book in the series Lost to the Moon to be released on May 22, 2023.

I absolutely love that they do a full cast of narrators for this series. It really brings the story to life. You can't help but binge the audiobook in one sitting.

I would recommend this series if you like paranormal romances, why choose romances, or fated mate's romances.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didn’t think it was possible to hate pan even more ….
ben & gavin are my babies 🤌🏽
remi made my heart melt standing up for ben this book too 😭 man’s went THROUGH it and he deserves so much better in the next book omg.
also i loved seeing the cameos from War 🥹

[Merry Jayned · Rating 4 out of 5]

much much better than the last series. don't disappoint me

[Hannah Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I didn’t love this as much as the first 2 books. It was just horrid to watch Asher being possessed by Pan and on top of that have horrific flashbacks? It was just too much. And add to that the Angst that Remi feels being cut off from Asher the whole book? How could Rosie and Remi not have realized Asher was a whole different person sooner? It just took too long.

I love Ben and his journey through this book. It would be so hard to watch someone you love turn into the creature you hate most in this world, a vampire. But, I loved when they finally come together in the woods. Good scene!

There just wasn’t enough love and light in this one for me. I hate all the degradation and BDSM. I just can’t with all of that. I get that she gets off and it and it’s consensual but it’s just not for me and I don’t enjoy reading about it.

Remi provides a good bit of comic relief but I needed more.

Darla is a great side character but I needed more.

The plot hardly advances at all in this book. It just seems so drawn out. Could have easily been written into 3 books. I’m invested enough in the characters that I want to see what happens. But it is not my fav and I won’t be revisiting it after it’s over.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4🌶

loving this series

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Ann and Kim Loraine constantly surprise me in this series. I have given up guessing what's gonna happen because I have NO CLUE! I never wanted to put this book down. They hook you in with these amazingly deep characters with huge emotions and then make you stay for the entertaining dialog & steamy goodness. The way they write these characters is so suited to each narrator they cast. It's just perfect.
I went in to this book upset about Rosie, mad at Pan (newsflash, I don't like him anymore at the end of this book), frustrated with Ben, scared for Asher and Remi, he seems to be the voice of reason at times even through all he's going through.
This entire cast is just amazing. Stella Hunter, John Hartley, Jacob Morgan, James Joseph, J.F. Harding and Teddy Hamilton are so funny & hot & every other emotion you can imagine. Fantastic actors in this story!

[Stephanie "GeekGirlReads" Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ALC REVIEW*
Demons and shifters and vamps, oh my!!! There are so many twists and turns in Captive of the Night that even my ears need a chiropractor! It picks up right after the heart stopping cliffhanger from book 2. The events that unfold throw Rosie and her relationships with her men, and their relationships with each other, into utter turmoil. Who knew Gavin would be the glue that holds them together? This girl! I said it after book two, he swooped in and stole my heart. Along with all the action, there's plenty of sexy time, and hilarious banter between the men. It's like a mini-roast whenever they're all together and I am so here for it! Speaking of Rosie's harem, I want to love Pan, but he was pretty brutal in this one towards Remi and Ben. My heart hurts over it and made me so mad at him!💔🤬 I'm sure Meg Anne and Kim Loraine will work their magic and I'll get over it. He is Captain Aubergine after all. 🍆 Not to out do themselves, there are more jaw dropping revelations and a huge cliffhanger!!! I laughed and cried so much more in this one than any of the other books. The range of emotions wore me out, but to me, THAT is the hallmark of exceptional writing. Get Captive of the Night in your ears ASAP to avoid any spoilers out there! I can't wait for the conclusion in Lost to the Moon, but I also don't want it to end! The struggle is real! 💜🖤💜

[Nyx And Novels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy read with Tayla.

Rosie is neck-deep in supernatural drama, struggling to navigate her complicated feelings towards her powerful mates while trying to survive the dark forces closing in around her. This book amps up the tension, weaving romance and danger together seamlessly, as she confronts intense threats, personal betrayal, and emotional turmoil. It's a deliciously messy mix of romance, suspense, and magic, exactly the kind of addictive chaos you can't put down.

Love, love, LOVE the cameo appearances from the War characters. The gasps I gasped, the squeals I squealed! YES, YES, 1,000 TIMES YES!

[Ves Pringle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooft: let me just say I was quite literally Captivated by this 3rd instalment of this deliciously divine dark why choose Paranormal romance by the writing geniuses: Meg Anne and K Loraine: that keeps you on the edge of your seat with its captivating storyline and brilliant characters and spicy games that will blow your mind!

This is Roslyn Blackthorne’s spicy, heart racing, pulse pounding story and features:

💜 Sassy Virgin Vampire Hybrid Heroine
💜 Grumpy Vampire Duke
💜 Purple Demon with fancy body parts
💜 Nosy hacker with boundary issues,
💜 Angsty wolf shifters who like to share,
💜 Sword crossing,
💜 Plenty of group activities,
💜 Visits from fan favourite from Mate Games #1
💜 Bird Plague
💜Spicy Throuple times
💜Quiet Alaskan town

This Series just keeps getting better, and this master cast is brilliant.

This is full of plot twists and turns that will keep you on edge and hooked right to the very end. And did I mention the banter: Meg and K do a phenomenal job of weaving together the humour, romance and suspense that is so perfectly balanced and ever so engaging as a reader/listener: I mean our beloved heroes are facing dire situations, yet the humour is ever present. The chemistry between all of these wonderful characters is electric and they continue to wow me with their outstanding performances:

Oh sugar: poor Daddy Ben my heart did break for him and Remi: JF Harding and Jacob Morgan continue to steal my heart, their performance as the heart-broken Shifter Twins was phenomenal. JF portraying the heart -broken and cold Ben was truly heart-wrenching. So too was Remi: Jacob's portrayal of the loss of Asher and Rosie, was brilliant. I'm absolutely loving his humour and banter: he had some of the funniest lines. I loved the sprinkling of the ‘'easter-eggs” through out this book by Meg & K: it was hilarious!

Continuing my massive girl crush: Stella Hunter is a Queen and continues to crush her performances. She is absolutely brilliant in her portrayal of Rosie’s more possessive and controlling side as well as the wickedly diabolical Pestilence – Stella is phenomenal, and I just adore her!

John Hartley’s performance really stole the show in this episode: The Duke of Tears was holding everyone together, and John was exceptional in his portrayal of Gavin. His portrayal of The Duke’s caring side, was beautifully balanced against his controlling, possessive Alpha/Dom side that we all love. I particularly enjoyed that banter with the Shifter twins along with what are glimpses of a more compassionate and collaborative side with Ben and Remi, he really was the glue, which made me gush: it was so sweet!

Teddy Hamilton showcases the haunted and possessed Asher brilliantly, along with the glimpses of the fiendish demonic devil himself: Pandemic! We really get to dive into Asher’s past and my heart does break for him. As much as I love Pan, I do ache for Asher: Teddy expertly balances his portrayal of the possessed Asher and possessive Pan. Just brilliant!

OK so let’s talk Cameos: there are soo many: once again we have a return of my absolute favourite from War: Noah/Thorne, with that delightful Shifter, Kingston: Ningston is the Bromance we never saw coming and never needed more: I do love them.
And talk about stealing the show: Jason Clarke’s reprises his role as Caleb and was so brilliant with his hot AsF Irish Accent…I adore JJ Cakes!

And last but by no means least: Pan, captain Aubergine himself: is my favourite. He steals the show in each chapter and scene he is in: You are not meant to fall for the bad guy, but James Joseph’s performances just makes that impossible. I especially love how the possessive Pan is totally obsessed and possessed by his feelings for Rosie. Pan is really is diabolical at times, but James Joseph’s phenomenal acting ability not to mention his smoky seductive tones are my kryptonite: This is James Joseph finest performance yet in this series:he continues to get better & better🙌🏻
Pan may be the #antihero but he’s not the real villain either as Selena says: The heart wants what it wants🤷🏼‍♀️🫠😈but also Taylor says: #ItsMeHiImTheProblemItsMe #antihero #PanIsMyFavourite 💜 James Joseph is scorching in this series and it just made me fall even harder for my favourite ma petit monstres…

Overall, "Captive of the Night - The Mate Games Pestilence" is a masterfully crafted story that will leave you breathless with all the spice and swoon, and cliffy that just might tear your heart out, but always in the best way: With the exceptional performances: All the Captivating Stars!!

[Kimberley Fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ overall
4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶 spice
4/5 👸🐺🧛‍♂️👱 characters
4/5 📕📘📗📔plot

What to expect:
✨️ Dual POV and 1st person perspective
✨️ Keeping secrets
✨️ Rh with ⚔️
✨️ Identical Twin mmcs
✨️ Paranormal romance; vamp, shifters, demons in harem. Other magical creatures in the story
✨️ Kinks: pleasure/daddy dom, sadist dom, masochist sub, mmf scenes, spanking, praise, bdsm, primal and more
✨️ Twists, turns and Cliffhangers
✨️ TW - dub con, murder, blood, trauma from familial loss

This series is my guilty pleasure! I've been a sucker for this entire franchise ever since the very first book of the original Mate Games came out. Every single book is its own masterpiece and yet somehow they manage to keep getting better and better. So now I'm done fan girling let's get down to the review.

The plot and characters:
Ok let's start with thank fu*k we found out wtf was up with Asher after the cliffhanger book two finished on. Pestilence and Pan you conniving mofos, coming after my boy Asher like that, you really done him dirty. This book delves into Ashers past and we find out exactly who and what he is thanks to Pans forced little trip down memory lane. And I really, really want to love Pan because I'm a sucker for walking red flags, but he is pretty brutal in this book. He's back with all his humour, sass and swagger to wreak havoc on all of our poor protagonists and pulls out all the stops including a casual possession in his pursuit of our girl Rosie.

Book 2 left on the cliffhanger that saw Rosie dead, presumably forever. But of course where would that leave her delicious harem of men if she stayed dead? Meanwhile Gavin is the surprising glue that keeps the gang together during Rosie's transition and I gotta say it feels damn good to see him grow and get his redemption. He helps Daddy Ben come to terms with and accept the new Rosie, directs an orgy, and just generally kicks ass.

The spice:
The spice in this series is just wow. Asher and Remi together are so bloody magnificent. And the scene where Gavin is directing Remi and Ben with Rosie 🥵 There are mmf, mf, mmmf combos, dp, Kinks galore, cum play........there is literally something for everyone here. The daddy dom aspect from Ben is balanced with the sadist dom we see in Gavin, and then we have Remi who is a switch and Asher who learns to submit. Be aware that there is dub con in this book, and the authors caution which chapter at the beginning of the book. I personally didn't find it to be standard dub con, it's more that Rosie consents to Asher who is actually possessed by Pan. Speaking of Pan.... that demon does things to me with his dirty talk and I'm here for it, and his giant purple aubergine every day of the week.

Can't wait for the final book to wrap up all these loose ends! Then into the next horsewomans books 😉

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Mate Games Greatness! Amazing Story & Listen🎧

Captive of the Night
The Mate Games: Pestilence, Book 3
By: Meg Anne, K. Loraine
Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, J.F. Harding, John Hartley, Stella Hunter, James Joseph, Jacob Morgan, Jason Clarke

Meg Anne and K. Loraine continue to blow me away with their third book in their amazing “The Mate Games: Pestilence” series and “Captive of the Night” is a very fitting title since it not only held me and my attention captive but I was all night because I could not stop listening to it, the only thing that mattered was what was going to happen next. This book picks up where the second book left off, a cliffhanger so spoiler ahead if you have not read or listened to that one yet, and if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? That book ended with Rosie’s death and this book starts with her rebirth, something none of them saw coming, not even her own brothers. The Mercer twins are having a hard time with it, Remi comes around, but it is Ben who struggles the most, but in the end he does the right thing. Another surprise is Gavin, who stepped up and took control of the situation and of Rosie, again, not in the way you have seen him, though that happens too, during some steamy scenes. And the surprises and twists and turns keep coming, Pan is still up to no good, and he has possessed one of their own, and they bring in a priest to exorcise the demon, guess who the Father was, yes, the Mate Games very own Father Caleb. He learns something, and it turns out to be a real game-changer, and while we knew something was up with Asher, we just did not know what, and now we do. The authors put these characters thru the wringer and pieces are falling in to place, and l am so looking forward to see how it all plays out. There is never a dull moment in this cleverly plotted story, it has the perfect balance of drama, angst, action, twists and turns, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance, reverse harem style. Meg Anne and K. Loraine, thank you for another amazing story and the wild and emotional rollercoaster ride. 
 
🎧📚🎧And for the amazing multi-cast narration and lineup of talent, Jacob Morgan, James Joseph, John Hartley, Teddy Hamilton and Stella Hunter, with a special appearance by Jason Clarke reprising his role as Father Caleb, continue to do an exceptional job portraying these characters and their duet performance enhances the brilliant story to another level. I love how they took their roles and made them their own, sounding believable and just as I pictured the characters to sound. They set the perfect tone for the story, capture all the character’s emotions, the drama, and project it all into their performance. These versatile voice artists are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another amazing listen. 

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mating Games: Pestilence series continues with the third book Captive of the Night and it was freaking marvelous as I knew it would be. The angst was high, and the world was turned on its head. It was great!


Roslyn Blackthorne is death but it's not what you think. One key factor that I somehow forgot is that Rosalyn is a born vampire who never changed. Rosie was human up to that point, the only one in her family, and on some level, she felt that on some level. Well now she's the same and while some things are different Rosie is still inherently herself only she's just a little more durable than before.


This situation has brought the guys' true personalities forward. Remi is a puppy who just wants to be loved but he's strong in the situation. Asher's traumatic past is revealed in snippets of his memories but apparently, he's decided to go all in with his mates and it just kills me that he's in the position he's in. Ben is dealing with his trauma by staying away but not for long. How has the world gone topsy-turvy, Gavin, freaking, Donoughe actually has feelings, and they're positive. It's obvious in the way he treats Rosie and his tolerance of her other mates. On the other hand, Pan is still an a-hole and I still don't like him. I find it hilarious that his scheming backfired and he's gone and caught "human" feelings. Pack back, huh.


Of course, there are some twisty unique developments with Rosie being more than just your average vampire, she's special. Then there are Asher's memories which reveal a whole heck of a lot that has to do with what's currently happening. Best of all was the pop culture references and they were serious about it too, so many Harry Potter to Twilight to Ghostbusters and more. I love finding these little tidbits Meg and Kim didn't stop there they also included fairytales into the bunch. There was also some crazy information about fairytales being curses and the fae are involved because of course they are. Fairytales are very much alive and well and have decided to visit Aurora Springs. Plus there were moments of humor that I crave while reading was pepper throughout the story. It was freaking awesome, the best one had to be the Heath Ledger moment and the scenes with (Sunday's) Caleb. It was crazy so of course, I loved it.


Holy cow! By the end of Captive of the Dark there were so many shocking revelations I think my heart might have stopped for a minute there. Just when things look to be getting better everything went left. Of course, readers were left with a cliffhanger that left me speculating and praying to the writer gods that Kim and Meg don't absolutely destroy me with the next book. I am beyond happy that the wait for Lost to the Moon won't be that long.

[Allison Ripley-Duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

Warning: This contains sexually explicit scenes, as well as mature and graphic content that is not suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised.

Extra Warning: This book contains a scene some readers may consider to be extremely dubious consent. The scene in question can be found in Chapter 28 and occurs between Pan and Rosie. Please protect yourself if this is content you find harmful and skip this chapter.

It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This book is not for the faint of heart. This is a spicy paranormal romance series that is sure to set your heart on fire. If you’re not a fan of grumpy dukes with a penchant for pain, purple demons with fancy body parts, nosy hackers with boundary issues, angsty wolf shifters who like to share, sword crossing, and plenty of group activities, this is not the series for you. Welcome to the Mate Games. This a sequel to the previous Mate Games series featuring Sunday and her four mates. This one features Roslyn (Rosie) Blackthorne, who is believed to be dead by everyone in her family but she faked it to escape her husband and a loveless marriage but that was only half the battle. This story is being told by her mate Ben. Roslyn Blackthorne is dead, he should know, for he watched it happen. He and his twin didn’t believe they’d ever meet their mate, and then she showed up in their bar and the world as they knew it changed. Fate hasn’t been kind to them, not once, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that they lost her as soon as they claimed her. He’s spent so much time worried about her manipulative demon, he didn’t anticipate it would be his own sordid past that killed her. It was their fault, they should have blamed him and Remi, instead, for the first time since Rosie turned their lives upside down, her vampire husband, her hybrid hacker, and her alpha wolves were all united. He thought he would give anything to see those amber eyes of hers again, he was so wrong because the moment he got his wish, it wasn’t his sugar staring back at him, it was a monster, and now he’ll never be the same. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. I can’t wait to find out what happens next and how this all comes to an end. I highly recommend to everyone.

[Nicole D · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
*ARC review*

The third book in the series served up heavy relationship building,  background stories coming forward, lots of spice, witty banter and the plot taking some big jumps forward. Thankfully, the cliffhanger from the end of the 2nd book is resolved VERY quickly in this book. Of course, this resolution creates quite a few more problems, AND ways for Rosie and her mates to come together in new ways. But this book is about 5 main characters - where the past books have been centered around Rosie, this one gives everyone equal time.

And speaking of that, all of the men in this book are going THROUGH IT, in different ways. I didn't expect it, but this is absolutely Gavin's redemption arc. I didn't dislike him before, but he really came around in this installment. He becomes the voice of reason and the one that holds all the men together as they all are dealing with their own personal stuff. He  alsoooooo ends up directing Rosie, Ben AND Remi in some group sexytimes which was....memorable to say the least. 

On the other hand, Pan was brutal in this book, and it primarily affects Asher and Remi. And as someone who found herself the MOST attached to Asher and Remi, It was honestly rough to read in some parts, I had to read ahead to make sure that things resolved, at least somewhat. Happily, the authors didn't leave me hanging, but they did throw in some twists and turns on the way. I wasn't particularly excited by the direction Asher's story is taking, it felt like a let down. I'm trying to put some faith in the authors and hope that the resolution will be worth waiting for in the next book, but I'm....nervous.

The twins had their own stuff going on. Without spoiling anything, Remi is a sad boi in this book but continues to be my favorite devoted, loving, funny wolf shifter with golden retriever energy.  Ben really struggles in this book and Rosie is MUCH more forgiving than I would have been. But, their reunion sex scene probably would have had me forgiving him too. 

Overall, this one wasn't my favorite in the series, but it brought a lot of depth to the story and I will certainly be reading the last one (the sooner the better, truly).

[Cassandra Doon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Captive of the Night
Read By: Ebook and Audio
Author: L. Loranine and Meg Anne
Genre: Reverse Harem, Dark Romance, Fantasy
Main Characters: Rosie, Ben, Remy, Pan, Asher and Gavin
Recommend: Yes
Spice: 🌶️️ 🌶️️ 🌶️️ 🌶️️ 🌶️️
Age recommendation: 18-30+ Years
My feelings:

“Fuck, petal. Where did you learn to do that?” Did I really want to know? “On second thought, just keep going.”

We all know I love anything written by this duo. This book is no exception. This was just as amazing as the rest. And soo beautifully smutty.

“Find her. Take her. Hold her down and breed her until cum is dripping from her and they all know what she let us do.”

This book follows Rosie along her journey with her harem of men. We start off where book 2 left us, Rosie dead by broken neck by the vampire who killed the whole town and the twins parents. Rosie turns into a vampire, and comes back crazed and ready to mate and mark her harem.

“Her pleasure was beautiful, but her pain would be exquisite. I bit down on her shoulder, doing nothing to protect”

Gavin takes her away from them all to keep her and them safe while she adjusts. Pan takes over Ashers body and kills random people in the town and causes some pandemics. Remy notices the difference in Asher and voices his concerns. They discover that pan is using his body, Father Caleb tries to do an exorcism on him but discovers that Asher is a demon to.

“Thor in the streets, Loki in the sheets,” Roslyn said, seeming not to realize she’d said it aloud.”

Ben struggles with his p[ast and future with Rosie, untill she is being hurt by someone else and he comes to his senses. This book finishes with One of the horsemen turning out to be the Mayor of the town.

“I’ll kill them all and take you as my prize, ma petite monstre. You’ll never be rid of me. You couldn’t leave me if you tried. Not now that you’ve marked me as your mate.”

I waited to read this till the last book came out, so I could move straight to the end without being left on another cliffhanger.
Highly recommend!

“Christ on a bike, Mary on the handlebars, and feckin’ Moses in the basket.”