Finding Her Minotaur

Obsidian City: Love and Monsters #1

by Evangeline Priest

Welcome to New York...
It figures that on my first day away from home, I’m taken by an invisible force and dragged to the secret underworld called the Minotaur’s Labyrinth. Not only do I discover that monsters and aliens exist, but I’m also about to be sold to the highest bidder.

However, I find that not all monsters are monstrous.

And one of them in particular makes it his mission to destroy anyone of them that lays a hand on me.

Finding Her Minotaur is a sweet and spicy monster romance novella set in the Obsidian Rift Universe, which is full of monsters and aliens who are obsessed with their mates.

*Please note: this story was featured in the anthology Monsters in Love vol. 1: Lost in the Labyrinth and has since been expanded.

Genres: Monster Romance, Monsters, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Novella, Fantasy, Erotica

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2022

About the author

WRITES "LOVE AT FIRST BITE" PARANORMAL ROMANCE FEATURING GROWLY ALPHA HEROES AND WOMEN STRONG ENOUGH TO TAME THEM.

Reviews

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was stuff your kindle day yesterday.... which means i downloaded a bunch of books that caught my eye and you will be getting a review on the ones that were worth mentioning lol

this book suprirsed me! i was expecting to skim read it but actually was surprised that the plot was interesting and well-developed. the main character's tone could be offputting because she was sassy in a very trite way, but if this book had slowed down and unpacked some of the scenes, it really has potential to go higher than 3 stars. but i read it like 12 hours ago and i already forgot a majority of it so it was just a fun quick time to get through.

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to like this. And I did enjoy the reading experience—even with some odd plot jumps and weird logic moments. An interesting insta-love plot involving a Taurine (Minotaur) and a human woman with very little real stakes and very quick romance.

[Honest Mabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

more like 2.75

So it moves quickly with a lot of things unanswered. The FMC just rolls with it and they never actually have any lovin’ just tons of foreplay. I won’t continue with the series

[Temika · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was ok, but it wasn’t all that good. The beginning was confusing and the way the main female character acted was unrealistic. Wouldn’t really recommend it to anyone and kind of wish I hadn’t wasted my time on it.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot itself was interesting, though I found the terminology a little confusing to jump right into in a novella. I think the romance side of this book is what disappointed me the most. I wanted more relationship building, I expected at least a little more spice then there was. I was actually shocked when I reached the end and they never on page sealed the deed...I mean there was a bit of foreplay but I still find myself disappointed.

And yes I do know it was a short story so I shouldn't be expecting the same things as I would be in a novel but I guess I expected it to be something more...

I'd give it 1.5/5 peppers, since to me the spice was nearly closed door/fade to black styled.

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. The writing was pretty immature overall. I could see eventually liking this author, but this first offering was pretty bad.

[Mary Kirkland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karis travels to New York to her boyfriend but he tells her she's too needy and wants some time apart. Left alone and without any money, she could call home but she decides not to. She helps a woman who was being assaulted by a guy and he runs away. But just moments later they are both kidnapped by an invisible force. The other woman is able to get a text to Bronn right before she is taken and he's on his way to save them.

Creatures from other planets have taken them and they are about to go on the auction block. When Bronn and his teammates infiltrate the auction, he spots Karis and knows she is his mate. Bronn and Karis have to hide from those after them and while hiding they get a lot closer. Bronn is described just like he looks on the cover and I wasn't sure what his personality would be like, but dang I love him. He'd do anything to make sure his mate is safe and well taken care of. This was a quick novella but I didn't feel like the story went by too fast or was missing anything. This was a lot of fun to read.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 reluctantly rounding up

Meh. This was an entertaining enough read for the evening. But I read it last night before bed, and this morning, writing a review, it's already fading from memory. Nothing of note stood out as worth remembering. Despite its cover and Minotaur MMC, it's not particularly spicy. And while I realize, of course, that it is a novella, it's exceptionally shallow. (Plus, it could use an editing pass to shore up the past/present tenses.)

It feels very, very much like it is part of something bigger. People are given titles, honorifics, or social standing, while world and galactic politics are referenced, and a mystery surrounding the FMC's origins is hinted at; however, none of these elements are explained or contextualized.

The MMC seems sweet, noble, and loyal, but you don't get to know him at all. You get even less of a read on the FFC. Priest gives you her circumstances, but basically nothing of her as a person.

All in all, I don't regret reading it. But I honestly won't remember I did by tomorrow. So, it's not a winner either.

[Morana Bylur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome, but short

I absolutely love the writing and the concept and characters and this story. However, I couldn't help but feel like there were gaps the whole time I was reading it. I feel like there could have been so much more detaul and scenes could have been drawn out longer- the book could easily be double its length and still not feel too long. Lots of explanations or realizations are missing to me. Why doesn't she worry or freak out about being kidnapped, or in space, or about all of the new creatures, or about some minotaur guy who decided to rescue her suddenly saying she's his mate? He just calls her his mate and she doesn't have a single thought about it and goes right to climbing all over him. I would expect her to at least have a little bit of back and forth in her head about "am i really going to fuck a minotaur right now??". Otherwise I love it, I just think it has potential to be even better!

[EJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun and interesting to explore

I first read Finding Her Minotaur by Eva Priest in the Monsters in Love anthology themed around Labyrinths. I love Priest’s sci-fi reinterpretation of the Minotaur and the Labyrinth. If like me and you are completely new to the Obsidian Rift Universe this feels like a good peak inside. I’d really like to see more.

I do admit that I felt The Falling in Love phase (following the Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes template), played out fast. The Fated Mates trope can speed that process up, but I found myself wanting more emotional evolution between the FMC and MMC. I hope and suspect Priest has more of that up her sleeve in the future.

[bookishdoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one that I can't wait to buy my physical copy of. This was a quick read, but the world building was still super solid and well done and the story was awesome. I wish I could find the second one, but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere. Regardless, I'm eagerly waiting for it to show up on her website or on kindle because yes, we got a HEA, BUT I will always be excited to read more of the characters I love so much.

[Sharon Gillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 star book 1

I took a 1/2 star off as I really would have liked a few questions answered in regards to Karie’s secondary heritage as she was described as not fully being Taurine. I was also missing what actually happened between Karis and goat boy?

I really enjoyed this installment to the Obsidian City universe but felt that it needed just a few more chapters to tie up the loose ends n the world building.

[Joni (livebythemoon7) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3/5
🌶 3/5

This novella has so much potential. I was completely surprised by the sci-fi aspect of it and still not sure what I make of the sci-fi aspects of it. It had so much going on for such a short novella that with more description could easily make 5 stars. Overall, it felt very rushed but was a good story.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

[DemetraP · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book didn't work for me. She gets kidnapped and auctioned off to aliens. The hero rescues her but they have to hide out in the labyrinth from the bad guys. The bad guys gave her a shot to stimulate "heat" so she begs the hero to have sex with her. He does.

I didn't feel any connection between them.

[Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

This was my first books by these author’s. And I’m not usually one for aliens or space. But I really enjoyed it and I think I will be scoping out more from these authors. Hopefully book 2 for this will come out. Because I’m curious, but the second book isn’t showing up.

[Maaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is such a fast paced story but I really, really enjoyed it!

Fated mates is a cool trope to begin with and when you add otherworldly aspects to it, it’s so good. I really enjoyed the action and Bronn (MMC) is a wonderful character and made me want to learn more about his kind and his world.

[Monica Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a lot of jargon and customs used that were unique to this story’s universe which made it a little hard to fully lose myself in the tale. Maybe the full novels are better but I don’t think I’ll be reading them.

Read in the Monsters in Love, Vol 1: Lost in the Labyrinth boxed set

[Samii · Rating 3 out of 5]

too fast paced

This novella felt like a story in fast forward. The whole story had a cool premise but there was absolutely no detail and too much happened in only 100 pages. This would have been better as a full length novel or a less expansive story.

[Feeme Fatale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and short

Lite spicy quick read clever story. This is my first book in the series but if it was a bit longer i think it would have made more sense some ideas where not fully flushed out which made it a little confusing. but overall a cute story

[Brooke King · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

it was okay, and then it just...ended. why did she even do what she did in the last 3 pages? based on the events of the first five pages,i expected something epic,but nothing happened.

[the.reading.sci.teacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quickie. Portal traveling between worlds. Some kind of alien slave auction. The hero we all love in the form of a minotaur. It was for good reason that this was the first book in the anthology 'Monsters in Love, Vol. 1'. Try it! It's a good intro to the monsters..... ;)

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karis and Bronn

This is a short, steamy, interesting, and well written romance. The PCs are developed and lovable. This story is the first in this series. Read and enjoy.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept. There's some errors in the writing that should probably be fixed.

[Vedece Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES!

This is my first times reading this writers work and I think I'd like to read some more of her stories!

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Mim Crenshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solo Good

This was a wonderfully written quick read with characters that I loved. I just wished the it was longer; I didn't want their story to end.

[Monique Doucet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t wait for the next book to come out so I can continue the series

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

4/5🌟 This was a delightful short novella. I
honestly enjoyed this story. The different aspects in this story is intriguing. I will be continuing this story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this was a novella but just finished I needed more but was an enjoyable read
3.5*

[Colie Hathaway · Rating 2 out of 5]

Novellathon