Scales and Song

Monster in My Bed #2

by L. Eveland

We were supposed to protect the world from monsters, not become them.

All I’ve ever wanted was to protect the people I love. That’s why I joined the military’s Elite Specimen Containment Unit.

When I learned they were experimenting on sentient monsters, however, everything changed.

Now, I have a new mission: protect a scaly winged monster named Bud and escort him to somewhere he’ll be safe from my superiors.

Yet, Bud’s so sweet and perfect, I can’t help but fall for him, even though I know it’s too dangerous for us to be together. It’ll be safer for us to go our separate ways, especially when we’re being hunted.

But I’ve only got so much willpower…

Though Scales and Song is the second book in the Monsters in my Bed series, it can be read as a standalone novel. It features a closeted and traumatized special forces soldier, the sweet cinnamon roll monster who loves him, and a HEA.

Please see the interior for content warnings.

Genres: M M Romance, Paranormal, Monsters, Fantasy, Monster Romance, Military Fiction, Romance

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2023

Reviews

[Lilly [Hiatus due to School] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book and was excited to learn that Phoenix and the monster that he rescues (and also saved him) were getting their own story! Goodness, this story was so so good. It sorta picks up from where the last book ends, but it can be read as a standalone. The author brings readers up to speed with the events that are relevant from the first book.

This was grumpy ex-soldier x Sunshine Monster. I can't get over how perfect and sweet this story is, particularly Phoenix and Bud's relationship, despite all the crazy stuff going on around them.

Bud softened and broke down the walls around Phoenix's heart and helped him conquer his own fears. I loved how their relationship flourished and grew. The protective role that Phoenix took on and his need to ensure that Bud, who has suffered for so long, is not only cared for but respected/treated well was endearing. He takes note of the little things to make sure Bud is comfortable and happy. Yes, he's a hardened soldier who has seen and dealt with so many injustices, but with Bud, he can believe that there is good left in the world.

The sex. Listen, I will never get enough of unique monster anatomies, and Bud's was pretty unique. L.Eveland is so creative with their innovations? as there were uh elements that I have never seen before. And the HEAT!! The moments of intimacy were soo sweet and spicy. I also loved how caring and attentive Phoenix was towards Bud! Checking to make sure he was okay, had his consent, and the aftercare.

I don't want to get into the specifics of the plot as it is spoiler-y but I'm excited for the next books and seriously can't wait for Axel and Chappie's stories!

Overall, if you love monster x human romances, grumpy x sunshine, POC MC, action, and scorching hot unique monster sex, this is it!

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

And then I dug a little grave in the frozen ground for the strange exotic fish that had once been a knife. File that among sentences I never thought I’d say.

This was a cool monster romance with some entertaining aspects. The first half in particular was really good. It did get pretty repetitive for a while though, which was a shame. The ending picked up again in terms of actual plot, but unfortunately I didn’t care about the overall plot or the bad guy.

“Listen here, son. Life is short. Be gay. Have all the anal you want.”



Similarities to the Monstrous series by Lily Mayne:

Cross-country roadtrip in an RV ✅
Humans infected by parasites ✅
Tendrils around the monster dong that suction onto stuff ✅
Soldier MC going AWOL ✅
Captured monsters experimented on ✅
Evil military guy ✅
Sweet monster who loses it with no control when provoked ✅
Tear between the monster realm and human world that acts as a portal for the monsters ✅
Monster who knows all the languages and has endless knowledge from ancestors ✅

I’m not saying this means anything, but that is way too many similarities with other books, so I couldn’t quite ignore it or appreciate it fully. I didn’t realize this was the same author, but they have another series that is veeery similar to Necessary Evils by Onley James. Do with that what you will.

Bud let out a small whimper of need. “W-will it fit?”

It was entertaining and I had a fairly good time reading it, but ultimately ended up being a bit ‘meh’.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Human/monster pairing
Secret military
Size difference
Intersex MC
BIPOC character
Forked tongue
Dual dongs
Mpreg universe
Cock pocket
Tail play
Mild sounding
Closeted MC
Breeding kink

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Details of graphic violence
MC held captive against will
Non-consensual medical experiments (off page, details)
Gun violence
Injured MC (minor, gunshot wound)
Explicit sexual content
Non-human genitalia
References to deployment and combat
Racist minor SCs
Explicit sexual content
Secondhand influence from marijuana
Mild sounding
Mpreg universe
MC attacked
Abducted and held captive
Unsafe sex
On-page murder

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No drama, but they stay with one of the MC’s exes for a while and there’s some bad blood there and sexual jokes.
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Monster romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: Not specified
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 277
Happy ending: Yes


Bud cocked his head. “Fooled around means… intercourse?” “Jesus, Bud,” I breathed and turned away, my face heating.

He tilted his head to the side. “Dick?” “Cock.” He still seemed confused, so I gestured vaguely between his legs. “You know. Mating organ.” “You mean you only have one penis,” he said a little cheerfully. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. That is normal for your species, I believe.”

“I ain’t homophobic,” he insisted. I sighed. “You’re Catholic. Same difference.” “I like to say I’m a recovering Catholic.”



You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This review may contain mild spoilers.

I'll start off with my favorite part of this book: Bud! He was an absolute sweetheart. I adored him and his soft, sensitive soul. Every time he teared up I loved him even more. I also enjoyed all the funky monster biology, both Bud's anatomy and his psychic abilities which were very chaotic and fun. There was a lot of great caretaking in this book that I enjoyed too, with Phoenix making sure that Bud had what he needed and helping to calm Bud down when he was stressed or overwhelmed. The way that music and songs played into their relationship was really sweet.

Unfortunately, I didn't love Phoenix as much as I loved Bud. He had an overprotective streak that I adored and I really liked how he looked out for and took care of Bud, but I didn't like that he acted like an asshole to Axel so much of the time when Axel was helping them out at the cost of his own safety and the monetary cost of destroyed property. While Phoenix's grumpy, standoffish nature made for a nice contrast to his soft and adoring feelings towards Bud, his attitude could veer a bit too much into asshole territory for me to sympathize with him at times. Thankfully he grew throughout the book and gave some much needed apologies.

Overall I enjoyed this book, I'm a sucker for monster romances and Bud really burrowed his way into my heart (I hope there's a nice heating lamp for him there). The first book in the series remains my favorite of the two, in part because it has a lot of my favorite tropes, but this one did a nice job in continuing to explore the world and I look forward to what else the series has to offer.

[mr_emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up

I definitely enjoyed the first one more. I think it had to do with me HATING Phoenix as a character. I enjoyed him in the first book but getting a look inside his head was not fun. His attitude with Axel… gave me ick and even with Bud sometimes. I understand he was on a personal growth journey or whatever and by the end he had some growth. But getting there was hard to sit through.
Still enjoying the series and can’t wait for more

[369Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️
(This book says it can be a standalone, but I definitely think reading book one is necessary to get the full context)
Phoenix helps break out a giant reptilian monster he calls Bud from the secret base he used to guard. Horrified with the conditions that the monsters were kept in, and thankful for his heroism, Phoenix is determined to get Bud to safety from the evil scientist who is trying to hunt them down.

This book has:
-monster (a scaly one) x ex army
-cool monster powers
-found family (kind of? More like reliable friends)
-wild monster anatomy (two 🍆S)
-a little action
-protective MCs

This book didn’t quite hit for me. There were too many elements that just didn’t add up. I also felt like nothing happened for like 70% of the book. I just didn’t feel invested in these characters at all, which is a shame.

I did like that we had a black MC, and some diverse characters. The monster anatomy was fun.

I do think others will enjoy this more than me, so I might still recommend it ^^

[Krys (spicy.spine.breaker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved everything about him, from his snow-white scales to his pink eyes, to the way he’d cried over that fish the first night. I loved his anxiety, and the secret smiles when he found a new song to be obsessed with. I’d loved watching him make friends with Axel, and the way he’d saved me so many times.

What I loved in one sentence: two beings from different literal worlds-one unable to fit in to regular life in his world, the other outcast by his kind because of physical traits-are brought together and see nothing but beauty in the other. THAT TYPE OF SWOONY "NO ONE ELSE SEES YOU, YOU DON'T SEE YOU, BUT I DO AND I LOVE YOU" IS MY LIFE BLOOD.

3.75 stars rounded up, because, duh.

Scales and Song is on KU! #2 in a series of standalones. I did not read book one and felt totally fine/didn't feel confused at any point... though being introduced to the Krampus, Ollie, and his mate Chris Kringle (literally. hilarious.) left me intrigued. The whole friend/monster squad overall was awesome.

MMC's
Phoenix: Human. Male he/him
Bud: Verrid. Intersex species. He/they

SUMMARY
Phoenix is back in the US after an adventure (not at all the good kind) while on a mission. He's in the military, a special forces division that is so far under wraps 'not even most gov officials know about it'. Essentially - they confine monsters they find and experiment on them. CLASSIC military weaponization MO. He is assigned as facility guard, a grunt job, because they don't so much trust him anymore. This is where he finds Bud - AKA subject One-Thirteen.
Bud is confined in a glass cell like all the other monsters. According to their file, they are responsive to sound - positive and negative. They can become peaceful, or aggressive - though their overall countenance is a peaceful one. These two connect, and Phoenix can't let it go.
Bud clearly doesn't deserve to be locked up and experimented on - in fact NONE of the monsters do. Not in our world anyways. He gets Bud out. They run away together. Bud is a cinnabun roll of adorable reptilian sweetness and Phoenix is a recovering combat veteran in need of someone loving and for the first time he is loving openly.

Repeating myself because I really mean it - Bud is freaking adorable.





One thing I had a problem with.. THE COVER. It's not a terrible cover, that's not that I mean. What I MEAN is the fact our Verrid, Bud, aka the lizard guy, is humanoid in description (of his face aside from his nose) has pretty but unusual white scales, and overall NOTHING LIKE THE COVER. This is a very personal problem and has nothing to do with the story and had no bearing on my rating... just an overall annoyance because I love that fantasy/monster character art!

[The Word Nerd Reviews Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't really add anything that hasn't been mentioned in other reviews.

I put off these books for a bit because I thought maybe they were just 'too monster'. Especially book 2 Scales and Song - I had trouble reconciling the cover image with how Bud is described in the book. On the cover he looks a lot more reptilian (in the head especially) than my mind's eye conjured up.... Yes, he's still a humanoid reptile, but (to me anyway) his facial features were a bit more human - that's how I interpreted it anyway!

I read books 1 & 2 back to back, and I NEVER do that. That's how much this story (and especially the overall series story arc) grabbed me!

If you're a fan of monster romance, such as Lily Mayne's Monstrous series, I'd HIGHLY recommend this series!

[S.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve got complicated feelings about this book. In the first instance, the premise really reminds me of the Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series: monsters coming through a tear, being imprisoned by the army and experimented on; soldier falling in love with one. That’s not a bad comparison, but it did make it hard to shake from my head whilst I was reading.

I’m in the middle of reading the first book in the series, Kissed by the Krampus, as I enjoyed reading Scale and Song enough to want to go back to the beginning. I would say if you’re wanting a bit of monster-loving, with a side order of stoic soldier boy and conspiracy theory, this could well be the book for you. The love-making scenes were frequent and hot, and the lead characters Bud and Phoenix were interesting. As a gay man of colour, Phoenix was quite well written – his concerns about telling his family, the way in which he compartmentalised things, his feelings of isolation and betrayal – were all palpable.

However, I didn’t get as much of a sense of Bud. Maybe it was me and I was missing it, but I wasn’t sure how the music thing was such a calming influence on him, and I really didn’t get his magical abilities – they felt a little vague and definitely unexplored. It felt like some of them transpired at just the right moment with little to no real explanation of them.

The mating cycle’s influence on Phoenix wasn’t fully explained for me either, and I would have liked to know just a bit more about how and why he was reacting to Bud the way he was.

The main cast of characters was interesting – obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone looking for the rest of the series – and it was obvious who else would be getting their own story. I did enjoy reading Scale and Song and would recommend it if you’re looking for something a bit different, with some kinky monster sex for good measure!7

I received an ARC from GRR.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second novel of the series Phoenix, a military guard for monsters is trying to get "Bud", an escaped monster to safety and can't help falling for him. I had not been on board with intraspecies lovemaking typically (exception Lily Mayne), but this one is quite detailed and L is enthusiastically converting me. Bud gentles Phoenix's rough sides and makes him a better man bringing out his protective instincts. Did they really manage to end the threat to the monsters? I guess we will find out in future books. L Eveland writes an entertaining book combining romance, military heroism and mythical monsters you will enjoy and leaves you wanting more. I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

And then I dug a little grave in the frozen ground for the strange exotic fish that had once been a knife. File that among sentences I never thought I’d say. — Phoenix Walker

Warnings: So, so many... Violence, Mild body horror, Kidnapping, captivity and torture (not explicit) War-related, PTSD, Animal death, Drug use, Accidental misgendering. Kinks/ Fetishes: Breeding, Light BDSM, Non-human genitalia, Temperature difference, Biting/ Marking, Knotting. Mpreg (as dirty talk only)

I highly recommend reading Christopher and Ollie's book, Kissed by the Krampus (henceforth KbtK), before reading Phoenix and Bud's. KbtK sets up the world, introduces Bud's powers and the villains. It isn't a requirement, L. Eveland gives a basic rundown of the necessary information before moving on to the new story. We also get some idea of what Bud and Phoenix were doing during KbtK, before Phoenix runs into Christopher and Ollie. That bit of framing of what is happening is useful to have. The plot is simple but effective. After escaping from the ESCU facility at the end of KbtK Phoenix wants to get Bud to Canada and leave him there before moving to Mexico to start again. The story is what happens while they are laying low, waiting for their ride to be repaired. It is getting to know each other and deciding what they really want. There is an underlying plot ongoing from the previous book, Dr Parker Grey, is back and being a nightmare. The ending is wonderful, it was a moment of catharsis in a way. Please be sure to read the warnings before reading this. The readings are accessible through the look inside on amazon just look for the eye-catchingly titled Dear Monsterfuckers page. If you look at the warnings and can accept them I do recommend this it is an enjoyable read with lovely characters.

Bud is a gorgeous soul, he's undeniably sweet and caring, with the cutest range of voices. Unlike KbtK we are in Bud's head as well as Phoenix's. It gives some interesting perspectives. Bud is highly intelligent, his species, the Verrid, have eidetic and genetic memory, I'm not going into his biology I'll leave that as a bit of a surprise. I do want to mention a couple of things. Like in KbtK there is a discussion of mpreg but in Scales and Song it is more complicated. Verrid are actually capable of breeding across species, it is limited to dirty talk. What I will say is there is a fantastic moment when Phoenix finds out that all Verrid are what humans call intersex leading to this exchange... “So… Do you… Are you… Pronouns. What should I use?”
Bud blinked, his big pink eyes focusing and unfocusing as he stared at me. “I like he or they. Anything but it. That is what Doctor Parker called me.” He looked away.
My fingers tightened into fists around the backpack straps. “You’re not an it.”. I appreciated one brilliant aspect of Bud's design, Bud is albino. His scales are snow white, in the right light they take on a rainbow sheen, not the brightly coloured that Verrid are supposed to be. His eyes are pink. But the line that gives him away as an albino is... "I heard them whispering on the other side of the waving purple grass about me, how my progenitor should have eaten me when they realized I was defective. They wished I would leave. My bright white scales stood out and I would draw predators.". I'd figured out way earlier he was an albino and found myself wondering how he had survived past infancy. He survived through the care of his progenitor and a light form of exile, okay he left himself hungry so he could stay with his colony. He left the colony and came through the rift to find a place to belong, a home. With Phoenix, he feels like he finds that home from the first time he sees him. Moreso when Phoenix gives him the nickname and the music that calms him. I adore Bud I could say more about him but I'm really trying to avoid spoilers.

Phoenix Walker is the black ops soldier that Christopher and Ollie to captive in Kissed by the Krampus. This gives us a whole other perspective on him, as is only right. Something I totally missed in KbtK is that Phoenix is black, he is described by Christopher as "He was young, too young, with a beautiful smooth face and skin a warm umber color.". Essentially I just didn't put two and two together, his race does come into play more than once. We see Phoenix's ghosts, a lot of them. He is haunted by his own religious upbringing, his actions in the past and his past relationship. Phoenix is uber-protective of Bud after failing the River Shutter and feeling like he's failed others in his life, in particular, Axel. He is our primary eyes and ears for the story, showing us the world. We are with him as his possessiveness spirals and he has to face his feelings. I really like that he is given a fetish that Bud fits right into, "I’d always had a bit of a leather fetish, but I’d always thought that’d be limited to clothing and accessories. I’d had a pair of leather gloves I bought back in the DRC. No way it’d been sustainably sourced. Hell, it was probably from poachers, but they got me through years of loneliness at the camp. It wasn’t anything in particular. Just the feel of it. Didn’t matter what it was attached to usually, but this… Knowing it wasn’t just attached to Bud, but an integral part of him…". It's an unusual choice but a good one. Like Bud he needs love, stability, and a home.

The interpersonal relationships in Sclaes and Song are interesting to me. They are much more detailed than in KbtK because there are more frequently appearing secondary characters. I mentioned Axel when talking about Phoenix, well Phoenix and Bud spend a substantial amount of time in Scales and Song staying with Axel in his cabin in the backwoods of Munsing, Michigan. Axel is a haunted soul himself even if Phoenix cannot see it, he is hiding from the government and a cult. We know Axel is getting his own book, his monster has already arrived. I'm not entirely certain what it is but it's freaking him out. Phoenix and Axel have a complicated relationship, they were together at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons. It is a painful thing to read. While Bud can sense the tension he likes Axel and gets along with him, their relationship is cute as hell and the way it works was to me at least unexpected. Alex has connections to other characters we need to know, including Charlie Cavallero, better known to readers as Chappie. Charlie and Phoenix are great together because of the relationship Chappie has with Christopher, the knowledge he has of the monsters, he is more than willing to help. Going so far as to contact Christopher and Ollie when Parker returns and giving some advice when Phoenix needs it. No two relationships are the same. It's hard to discuss.

A random dump of notes from my reading (there are a lot of them)...
• A complete list of the triggers involved; Violence (decapitation, gun-related), Mild body horror, Kidnapping, captivity and torture (not explicit) War-related, PTSD, Animal death (fish) Drug use, Accidental misgendering. Kinks/ Fetishes: Breeding, Light BDSM, Non-human genitalia, Temperature difference, Biting/ Marking, Knotting. Mpreg (referenced in dirty talk only). These all came from Dear Monsterfuckers. I want to add assisted suicide (or murder it depends on your perspective).
• I hate the cover for this, it's like Atra Luna Cover Design didn't try or simply wasn't given enough information to create a representative cover.
• The interior design work is gorgeous. The art at the start of each chapter is lovely, it is nice to see an author/designer that places the effort into digital presentation that is traditionally placed onto print editions. In this case, the header details are very well suited to the musically inclined Bud, a dandelion being blown by the wind and sheet music. It is more detailed and thought including than the snowflakes of KbtK.
• I really like the included playlist for Bud. It is just another detail that is nice to be included.
• LOUD. LOUD! PAINFULLY LOUD.
HURTS SO BAD INSIDE MY HEAD.
THE HUMAN WITH THE BEAUTIFUL SKIN AND THE CALM EYES IS BACK.|
HE WON’T TALK TO ME. WHY WON’T HE TALK TO ME?
ACHES SO BAD.
I MISS THE WAY HIS VOICE SHAKES THE WALLS OF MY CAGE, THE VIBRATIONS SOFT AND CALM AGAINST THE SCREAMING IN THE WALLS. — This is faithful to L. Eveland's original formatting and it is the first time the reader is inside Bud's head. There is just so much pain it is palpable. I love and hate it at the same time. Love because is a needed inclusion for the understanding of Bud. Hate because it is just so painful. (Bud)
• "Okay, bud. Just go easy on the leg.”
He’d called me Bud, an unbloomed flower, a thing of unrecognized, secret beauty waiting to sprout. And he was my sunshine.
“Yes,” I rasped. “Call me Bud,” — 😍 I wondered why Bud took to the name so easily. This is perfect and I love it. (Phoenix and Bud)
• He might’ve been a dangerous monster, but there was something about the way the starlight hit his scales that made him beautiful.
Beautiful like belladonna. — Bud ends up surrounded by floral references some by his own choice some not. But he likes them. (Phoenix)
• But it meant something to me, even if the intended meaning was not what I hoped. It was something. Even if I never remembered my song, I would have his stored in my heart forever. — This made me so emotional. Phoenix doesn't know the importance of this moment but the reader does. The song Phoenix sings for Bud is The Weekend's Blinding Lights. (Bud)
• “I ain’t homophobic,” he insisted.
I sighed. “You’re Catholic. Same difference.”
“I like to say I’m a recovering Catholic.” — (Charlie and Phoenix)
• Never make decisions out of desperation, Bud. Remember that. — This is one of the moments where you see some of Axel's ghosts. He can be pretty insightful. (Axel)
• My dog tags dangled, cool against my chest and Bud’s eyes darted to them, a flash of panic across his face. They represented something else for him, a reminder of the cruelty he’d endured. A time I didn’t want him thinking about. I closed a fist around them, hiding them from view for a moment before I took them off, too. — I'm including this because for me this was one of THE moments. For Phoenix removing his dog tags is crossing a line, they are extremely symbolic to him. Once he crosses that line he cannot go back. (Phoenix)
• “Favorite Star Wars movie. Go.”
I blinked. Was he serious? What kind of litmus test was that? “Uh… I’m more of a Star Trek guy.”
“Kirk or Picard?”
“Is that even a question?” I asked, making a face. “Without Kirk, there is no Star Trek.”
Hotdog lifted his hands in a slow clap. “That’s it. We’re keeping him.” — Hotdog... You are a weird creature and I like you. The Trek question is a great question for him to be asking though. The more time we spend with him the more you understand why. (Hotdog and Phoenix)
• “You know, someone once asked Johnny Cash what his idea of paradise was. He looked over at his wife and said, ‘This morning, with her, having coffee.’ Whenever I’m considering going back to Christy, that’s what I think about. She ain’t a part of my paradise. I think a fella’s got to have that picture in his head and pursue it relentlessly if he’s gonna be happy. Question you gotta ask yourself is… What’s your paradise look like?” He patted my shoulder and made for the door.
“Charlie.”
He paused, holding open the door and letting in all the cold winter air.
“What’s it look like for you?” I asked.
He gave me a lopsided grin. “Don’t know yet, but I can’t wait to find out.” — I love this idea. I love this question. I love the hope that Charlie has now in the contrast to the Charlie we left at the end of KbtK. (Charlie and Phoenix)
• Still, the caped superhero in the story reminded me of him. He was brave, and kind, and a little misunderstood, just like Phoenix. Maybe a little too predisposed toward violence and the dramatic, but he was always trying to be better for the people around him, to make the world a better place, despite his dark nature. — Na Na Na Batman. I love Bud and his pop culture references. They are just so cute, and to be honest this is actually quite accurate. (Bud)
Ollie curling up and cuddling the lizard/dragon plushy that Phoenix bought him under the heat lamp is possibly the cutest thing.
• "Holy fuck. He’s alive!” Kringle yelped.
Parker’s eyes fluttered open, the crystals embedded on his eyelids crunching loudly. The cloudy white eyes of a corpse stared back at us. He opened his mouth. Despite his lips being frozen and his teeth and tongue being dissolved into crystal, his voice rang out from his chest. “In a manner of speaking.”
“Parker,” Ollie said, sounding sad. “What have you done to yourself?” — This moment was such a shock. I appreciate the details, the emotions and the adjectives. (Christopher Kringle, Parker Gray and Ollie)
• “Last words?”
Parker glanced over at Ollie. “I’m sorry, old friend, for all that you endured because of me.”
Ollie nodded once and closed his eyes.
I pulled the trigger and put an end to Doctor Parker Grey once and for all. — Parker's assisted suicide is almost everything to me in the moment. It is moving and perfect. I appreciate the decision. And he got to apologise to Ollie for the pain and betrayal. (Phoenix and Parker)
• I appreciate that everyone has a way to contact Ollie and Christopher. They are the fastest and sometimes the only way to move between each other. Even if Phoenix and Chirispoher are supposed to be dead.
• Earl Walker, Phoenix's father, is fantastic. He made me laugh harder than expected.
• There was a light below. No, not a light… A glowing humanoid figure with the most beautiful wings I had ever seen. Delicate horns curled up from the monster’s head into a halo-like shape. The monster lifted its head to look at me. Its face was enchantingly beautiful, androgynous with full lips and expressive eyes. Two sets of arms reached up for me, and a chorus of whispers filled the darkness, the words indiscernible at first until they coalesced into one voice, scratching at my eardrums: “BE NOT AFRAID". — (Christopher, Kissed by the Kringle) At the end of the book there is a Monster Index. One of the entries is UNKNOWN— A winged, four-armed monster with telepathic abilities and a halo encountered in the Michigan base. (Scales and Song) That has to be Eros, whose mate ends up being Chappie. I think the index might just build as the series goes on. Though it would be fun if we get to meet the Easter Bunny.

In Sclaes and Song we meet the author of the newspaper articles, the one from this one and KbtK, his name is Ben 'BJ' Hammond and in L. Eveland's words "I’ve also got something in the works for Ben if he decides to stop being a brat and cooperate. Maybe he just needs a proper brat taming type monster? Who knows?" This might automatically make Ben my favourite human character in the series, I love bratty characters. Ben's newspaper articles to a degree set up the next book or add to the continuing overarching story, of Parker and his chaos. L. Eveland does confirm there is another human we are yet to meet that they want to write a book for. Meaning there should be three more (excluding Hearts and Halos), Hotdog, Ben and our unknown human. Hotdog (aka Robert) is book #4 titled Lassos and Lace and there is a Dragon involved. I'm really looking forward to it, the kinks involved are fun too. *Deep sigh* I just read Dear Monsterfuckers for Hearts and Halos, Charlie's story has body worship. No one writes that.

An eight-point buck stared straight back at me, completely still except for the small clouds of breath coming from his nose. We watched each other in silence for a long moment, the hunter and the prey. I wondered if he knew how vulnerable I was out there. Sure, I had my gun, but I was no hunter, and he wasn’t helpless. Those antlers could easily gore me, and I’d likely bleed out before anyone came looking. Prey didn’t mean helpless. — Phoenix Walker

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

A representative gif:

There is context for this but I'm choosing not to include it because why ruin the fun.

[Robin L · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry to say that the mcs in this one had no chemistry to me. I just couldn’t stick it out. I may return one day to finish it. DNF 50%.

Edit: Feb 13- I finished it and didn’t like it any better.

[Brey (lil Sebastian)]

DNF at 24%. I liked the first book well enough but could not get into this one. It almost felt like The Rycke by Lily Mayne but without all the world building. Idk just wasn’t feeling it and Phoenix was kind of a d-bag.

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoenix & Bud

This one wasn't quite as good as book one but it was still a good read. I had no problem getting into the story and really enjoyed reading it. I'm still looking forward to more books in this series.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Maitana C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to start by saying, if you haven’t read Kissed By The Krampus yet, you absolutely should. You don’t need to read it in order to read this one, but it was also a 5 star read for me and it’s a must!!

I was so incredibly excited to receive an ARC for Scales and Song, because who isn’t excited to read some breeding kink with a big cinnamon roll lizard and grumpy military toting human?

I loved this story just as much as I loved the last one. It checked all the boxes plus some I didn’t know needed to be checked. Bud is just the sweetest, he’s shy, kind, and innocent and makes you want to hug him all the time. Phoenix is definitely the definition of grumpy soldier, but the way his protective instincts come out around Bud made me swoon! The way he is so concerned and in tune with Bud’s feelings just made my teeth hurt with all the sweetness.

I would absolutely recommend this to any and everyone. A perfect monster mm book, and a great addition to the series. I can’t wait for the next one!! 5/5 ✨

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very unique and cute. I loved the trauma / healing aspects of the relationship and the attachment to music.


The spice was…. very unique and intense (in a good way).

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

...

Narrator: Lance West & Simon Dornet

[Bear_reads_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites of the series! The overarching story is so good. Bud is so freaking precious and I'm glad Phoenix finally sees it🤍

[C.Gard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

This book gave me a very (very) light Lily Mayne vibe. Bud was beyond freaking adorable and sweet, and I loved him! I think he fit well with Pheonix and smoothed out some of those rough edges. Bud was very open and kind, and I think that helped Phoenix flourish and open up. Phoenix, on the other hand, he was very tender with Bud, and I loved that. He was a pillar of strength, comfort, and protection for sweet Bud. They definitely had that balance going, and they had some very good moments....but....

The dreaded "but".... I had a hard time actually connecting with the story because I feel like it was very lacking in detail and depth. There were a lot of things that didn't actually get mentioned or explained in depth. I also feel like the action scenes were completely cut short, which honestly brought the book down. It feels like the follow-through was a bit lacking here, and that was disappointing. Not to mention that I think the relationship development could have been emphasized a bit more. This was a sweet story, but it didn't grab my attention the way I wanted it to.

Tropes include:
Human/Non-Human
Dual POV
Monster x Soldier
On the Run
Hurt/Comfort
Protective Human
Sweet Gentle Monster
Forced Proximity
Low/Medium Spice

[... · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5☆

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one caught my attention and held it from beginning to end. Maybe not a full 5 (4.5) but most of the elements and development needed. Now I have to go and read #1 then jump to #3.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

exists outside of the series, a bit of a miss and a mess

Rating: 3.25🌈

Scales and Song is the second in L Eveland’s Monsters in My Bed series and the third I’ve read so far.

It’s also the book that’s left me with the most mixed feelings about the storyline and writing of the novels of this series.

Scales and Song deals with a character outside of the original quartet of vets dealing with the aftermath of a IED explosion in Afghanistan that killed everyone but themselves in their unit.

It’s still got a traumatized soldier at its heart, but one that came from the military’s Elite Specimen Containment Unit, the one that captures , tortures , experiments on , and kills alien/nonhuman beings. Like Ollie the Krampus. That’s where the reader first encountered soldier Phoenix Walker, first as an antagonist in Kissed by the Krampus. In that book, Walker’s one of the unit sent to recapture Ollie. After he’s captured himself by Kringle and Ollie, is rescued, then undergoes a change in attitude, flipped sides and helped save Ollie and Kringle.

I’m not sure I liked him totally here in this story. Eveland presents Walker as a troubled, traumatized soldier, AWOL from his unit due to the events of the previous book.

It’s Walker’s personality that I found hard to connect to. I understand that he’s had a lot of issues to work through but his fall back to denial, anger, and frustration prohibits us from getting emotionally invested. It’s not until later, we learn that included in all the other emotional baggage Phoenix is carrying is self loathing about his sexuality, being gay. But it’s so late in the story to help us understand why he is acting so aggressively towards his friends and Bud.

So his poor treatment of his friend, who is sheltering them , of Bud, ends up being just confusing to the reader instead of an element that helps us engage with his character.

Another real issue for me here is a lack of balance in the exposition with Bud. The author gets so caught up with the exploration of Bud’s sexual organs, how they are used, especially when it comes to sex with Walker , that Bud’s natural history, the world Bud came from is left lacking. It’s troubling because Eveland starts to give us real insight into Bud’s life there. That their species are colorful creatures, with flamboyant color the needed element to attract mates. And that Bud’s lack of color made it unlikely that they would survive in their society, that finding a mate is a necessity there.

Also Eveland started to describe the life within Bud’s habitat, the predators, including a sentient one that hunts for entertainment. And that Bud’s race “eats” by photosynthesis. But has a hive existence. So we get a hodgepodge of facts about the species and nothing more? They are loyal and mate for life? Where’s all this coming from?

Does a photosensitive winged being have a less or better ability to eat given their lack of accepted pigmentation on that planet?! Bud was attacked by the ferocious carnivorous predator on their world, did something happen to them? Why have jaws at all when they use wings to eat? Questions!

But it’s always back to the sexual activity between Walker and Bud before we get any further information.

And the issues don’t stop there. They are hiding from the military, the same ones, they escaped from. That is an intense section here. And we see people from the original four show up to assist.

Chappie, who’s lost his faith. And of course, Ollie and Chris will make an appearance.

Which will bring up inconsistencies in between what Walker says happened here in that story and what we read happened in that story when he was a “temporary” guest or prisoner.

They aren’t big things like the change in Hotdog’s RL last name from one book to his, but it’s enough of a reoccurring one that I wonder why the author’s not taking care to have someone catch these errors.

And finally, the ending of poor Parker. It was swift, and the ending honestly didn’t make any sense. Crystals? It felt rushed , as though Eveland wanted to get through this part of the arc and onto the real happy end with Bud and Walker.

For me, Scales and Song (Monsters in My Bed #2) by L Eveland was a bit of a miss and a mess. It was full of promise but with all the elements, characters, and plot lines, they never felt complete and in depth. That they gelled together.

Read it if you like completing a series, but this really exists outside of our four vets and their stories.

Monsters in my Bed series:
- [x] Kissed by the Krampus #1
- [x] Scales and Song #2
- [ ] Hearts and Halos #3
- [x] Lassos and Lace #4

[Cas ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to try to keep this as spoiler-free as possible because the author asked ARC readers to but also I really feel like this is one of those books that you have to experience for yourself with fresh eyes to really appreciate it. So I’ll try to keep my gushing as vague as possible.

There are some content warnings but the author does a great job at detailing them in the front matter, so please check that if it's a concern. 💙

Grumpy human x sunshine monster.
Need I say more? Nope! Because that’s what sold me/why I signed up for the ARC. And it is *chefs kiss* the best grumpy sunshine MM pairing ever.

I absolutely adore Bud’s personality; he’s super cute, super kind, hella shy (at first), and very innocent but not in a naive way, in a way that makes you want to wrap him up in a blanket and protect him. He’s a soft, sugary sweet (not so) little cinnamon roll monster that chirps and trills and I absolutely adore him. The way that he opens up and blossoms under Phoenix’s care was both incredibly sweet and surprisingly, very believable (you know, for a monster love story lol). The pacing of his growth was really good, starting with the background that covered what we already know from the first book but from their perspectives including his very stilted, primitive thoughts under duress, to the timid and somewhat overly formal first few conversations, to by the end of the book he’s more confident and even swears a few times. Bud was easily my favorite part of the book, especially the chapters in his POV.

My second favorite part, closely following Bud as a whole, was how concerned Phoenix was with Bud’s feelings and well-being. He’s this really grumpy, untrusting dude that holds everyone at arms length to avoid getting hurt, including his family, but here he is bending over backward to make sure Bud is okay. (Spoiler marker here for vague-spoiler examples) He nearly jumps down people’s throats when they call him an “it”; he worries about his wings getting crumpled or bent, and he was worried about hurting Bud if he touched them; he worries about what he’ll eat before he learns he doesn’t; he worries if he’s getting enough rest; he fusses over his ability to listen to music at all times and his song choice; the list goes on and on. He also makes sure to affirm Bud in any way he thinks he needs to be affirmed; starting with a pronoun check-in, then he tells him he’s beautiful the way he is when Bud starts worrying about that, he affirms that he is NOT an it, he tells him what specifically he loves about Bud, he reminds him that he has agency and is allowed to say no or make choices in the bedroom, and he reassures him that kinks are normal. Phoenix has this major RBF personality but inside he’s a gooey marshmallow for his monster man and I love that, it's my favorite part of the grumpy sunshine trope and L. Eveland wrote it perfectly.

Their entire physical relationship was built on communication and consent, and I’m once again a little in awe by how much healthier and more respectful monster romance of all things is compared to literally any contemporary romance I’ve read. I give the author major props for going through the sometimes awkward or scary bits of intimacy to get to the sexy stuff. I enjoyed the unique anatomy; there were some aspects that were familiar from other monster novels and some that were either entirely new or a fun spin on familiar ones. I won’t go into detail because I want to avoid spoilers as much as possible but I will say it *is* more monstrous than even Ollie’s from the first book.

I wasn’t crazy about what happened with The Bad Guy ™ but that’s all I will say about that. I liked everything else about the direction the plot went and I really hope that we get a bonus epilogue about July 👀 at some point. 🤞

I can’t wait for the next book!! 🥰

[Cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let's start off with how pathetic and racist this Author appears to be, the original cover, the author chose to make Phoenix white. Yup. Coupled with the Native American is again, the stereotype stoner, living off grid, whose only concerns are getting high.

Sadly, this book was a huge drop from the first one. The reason being the characters are so dull, boring and they aren't consistent. The 'love' is just crap. These two are just yuk.

I'll say, I'm all for consent but fucking repeating it 1000% a chapter was so pathetic. We get it. But stop damn asking over and over and over again.

Bud was introduced as innocent, scared and submissive. 30% in and he's a fiend. Instantly in love, doesn't know about kissing but hey, knows all about sex. The 'I'm so ugly' thig was so cliche and the feminine attributes given to him pissed me off.
Phoenix was just as bad. He treats Axel like garbage. The author just kept jamming things in. Weird cock fetish. Weird fucking all around everytime he had a thought. The grossest? He has a leather fetish and admits owning a fucking pair of leather gloves he used to get off. Yeh. Imagine the other way around "I own a pair of human skin gloves I use to jack off with it cos it's hot" especially when the man he wants to fuck is a lizard.

When 62% through you finally realise...they haven't gone anywhere. They haven't done anything, besides take advantage of Axel and have sex. This book is a joke.
We couldn't even get descriptions on Kringle (cringe) or Ollie from another point of view.
Changing Hotdog to a wheelchair hacker...wow at the cliche. The stereotypes and cliches in this book are horrible.
65% through we actually get a description of Axel's work, and details...wtf 65% through?!?!?!?
And Pheonix disgustingly gives Chappie money and a thanks for helping and again, treats Axel like shit cos he's earning money off his weed, side ranger gig and part job? Like wtf telling us that info 65% through?!

When he called Bud a monster, to his face and the author didn't even make Bud react to the statement. Later, Hotsog calls Bud and monster and Pheonix gets pissed? Like keep someone constancy. Wtf?
Then later gives him anlizard plush that looks like him and describes it as an "animal" beautiful...

Chapter 27? Who the f is Christy?

The book is so dull, so rushed after that. A downward spiral. It truly gave it the 1☆ it deserved.
I mean, having a look back, Bud is nothing like book 1 to book 2. What's the real point of music besides making sure he doesnt distort reality, which is never explained. No babies. Worthless read.

[Alix Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

C’est la première fois que je suis confrontée à ce genre de situation.
J’étais vraiment contente de recevoir un ARC, j’avais apprécié le premier tome de la série, je lui avais trouvé quelques similitudes mais n’y avait pas trop prêté attention puisque le monstre était un Krampus (avec ses propres mythes et légendes).

Mais cette fois-ci il y a beaucoup trop de ressemblances avec la série Monstrous de Lily Mayne pour que je soit à l’aise.
Notamment le grossier copié-collé de Aury (de Lily Mayne) pour faire le personnage de Bud.

Les trop nombreuses scènes de déjà vu m’ont rendu inconfortable.
Je ne vais pas toutes les lister mais en voici quelques unes:

-Les personnages sont des militaires regrettant de faire partie d’une organisation véreuse qui mange leur âme petit à petit.
-Il y a une déchirure entre le monde des monstres et celui des humains par laquelle les monstres s’infiltrent.
-Bud a les souvenirs de ses ancêtres comme Aury (entre autres nombreuses choses tirées d’Aury).

Je regrette vraiment ce genre de situation où l’auteure à été "inspirée" par le travail d’un.e autre.

Et indépendamment de ça, certaines phrases m’ont assez choqué:

“I’m straight,” he insisted, holding up a hand. He put the hand down with a sigh. “Well, straight-ish. Everybody’s just a little gay, right? Even if they don’t want to admit it.”

Si vous ne trouvez rien de dérangeant, remplacer "gay" par "straight".

I was far from an expert at deepthroating, mostly because I rarely felt the urge to take on a submissive role.

Et depuis quand échanger une fellation est considéré comme réservé au rôle de soumis?

J’ai reçu un ARC pour ce livre mais j’ai sciemment repoussé la parution de ma review car je sais comment un avis négative peut impacter les ventes d’un.e auteur.e. Cependant le motif de cet avis négatif est trop important/alarmant pour que je ne la publie pas.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I going to preface my review with I think this book made me realize I'm burnt out on romances, so I definitionally feel it's coloring my experience with this book.

I picked this novel to read for the March Monster Madness and the Trans Rights Readathon. Love a good 2 for one.

The author pitching this for the readathon on tiktok is how I found this one.

Writing was fine, all the characters were wonderful and realistic. Like I feel like I knew someone "just like that" for everyone introduced.

This is a forced proximity trope which I am normally not a fan of already and the romance burn out made me feel the plot outside the romance was a bit boring. You spend most of the book TRAPPED in a cabin in the middle of no where, which felt like a bait and switch for me and going in blind on this one besides the blurb on amazon. The opening act makes you feel this is going to be a fast paced book where the couple are on the run. I was wrong.

For potential future readers: The spicy scenes don't dominate the book by any means, but they are long, like a whole chapter every time they occur. Also while this is pitched as a standalone in a connected series and there is a "review chapter" at the start of the book to fill you in on all the needed info. Read book 1 1st. It's on kindle unlimited as well there's no reason not to. I skipped it because I wasn't feeling the krampus vibe and I regret it. I just felt like I was missing so much while reading this.

All in all I found the universe and characters engaging but the plot a bit sluggish, it was fun and I would recommend to anyone who is interested in the blurb, because this book is exactly what it sells itself to be. You can't be disappointed by that.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoenix and Bud’s backstories will, each in their own way, break your heart, at least a little bit. They both know what it’s like to be isolated, alone, and to feel not-good-enough. Oh, they also both know what it feels like to be on the wrong side of a sadistic, relentless, well-funded military industrial complex with no conscience and high propensity for violence (and yes, that is a major factor in the plot). While Phoenix is human and Bud is…not, the real monsters here are the people who hunt them, and it’s definitely a source of tension and intrigue to watch their efforts, with the help of some stalwart (and often deeply, interestingly strange) friends to escape and find safety and justice along the way. As a reader it helps, I think, for both world building and character development if you’ve read the first book in the series, but the romance here, as well as most of the plot events, can stand alone. That romance is full of sweetness and care– Bud is sunshine and happiness just waiting for a chance to be himself and Phoenix is…a hot mess, but one who cares deeply for Bud and learns to let Bud, and others, care for him too. I liked them both, a lot, and I understood why Phoenix sometimes makes terrible choices, even when it hurt to watch him make them. It’s a process, Bud and Phoenix’s relationship development, but one with plenty of care and emotion and, of course, plenty of heat along the way. I look forward to seeing what happens to some of the supporting characters, now that these two have the chance for their hard-won HEA.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Jenny Saul-Avila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that requires reading the previous book. You could muddle through, but there's so much that would be tricky to understand where the characters are coming from, (literally & figuratively). I also seriously recommend reading the first book anyway, in general, because it's really good!
Now, that that's out of the way - I really enjoyed this one too! It's really, really, really kinky, (much like the previous one is) - but it's also so sweet, sometimes funny, and very suspenseful. The characters, main & side, are fantastic. The author's already said that they plan on writing more books with the side characters as the main characters, (the third book is already out), - and thank goodness. And so far as characters go, the "bad guy" is a bit complicated, not just plain evil, making for more intrigue in future books.
Phoenix is quite imperfect & sometimes a bit brusque when he shouldn't be, too careful and distant. But inside, he cares so much. Bud is too good for this world - both the fictional one & the real world, if he could exist here and now. I wanted to hug the heck out of him & give him my entire music collection.
(Side note: I don't think the cover truly captures what either character looks like, based on the written description, Bud especially. He's supposed to be white, not blue, and I think Phoenix is supposed to be a bit less pretty and more intimidating - but that last bit is hard to say, because you mostly see Phoenix through his own eyes. In the previous book, the impression given was that he's extremely good looking.)
Long review short, if you liked the first book in this series, you really ought to read this one.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even though I did not read the first in the series yet. I’m interested now to go back and give it a read too! Also looking forward to see what is in store for the other humans introduced in this book - Chappie, Hotdog, and Axel. Poor Axel sounds like he really needs someone to love and take care of him.

Phoenix is a solider tasked with guarding “monsters” at a secret test facility. He is bored out of his mind with this assignment, and the mistreatment of these creatures doesn’t sit well with him, especially one. One thirteen. He can tell that One Thirteen is in pain and is drawn to him. After a chaotic event at the test facility, Phoenix and One Thirteen, whom Phoenix has nicknames Bud, are on the run.

The best part is this book - Bud! He is the sweetest, kindest, and gentlest character! He just gets you in the feels over and over again with his caring ways. Phoenix is drawn to protect him and take care of him, even though he’s a grumpy grouch himself.

These two are wonderful together, and also super hot and steamy. Bud’s anatomy is written in amazing detail - makes for some great scenes of how their physical relationship works. It’s great stuff! Plus there is real emotion behind which intensifies everything. Really well done by the author.

This book is a great MM book as well as some good action plot moments so if you love those 2 things - read this book!

4/5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review!

[Rebecca Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walter Phoenix just wanted to protect those he cared for so first he joined the military and then he joined the special military’s Elite Specimen Containment Unit. The ESCU investigates and capture unusual specimens to protect human life. A lot of the specimens are monstrous creatures. When Phoenix was pulled to a special holding area for the ESCU, he became a night guard for some of the specimens. One Specimen fascinated him, One Thirteen. He was a white scaly winged creature who was very sensitive to noise. Only music could calm him and if he was too upset he could distort reality around him. When Phoenix was sent on a mission after another monster, he was convinced that maybe the monsters weren't really a danger. He joined Krampus and his mate to infiltrate the holding area and kill the most dangerous monster. Phoenix frees One thirteen and with his help they succeed. Phoenix is determined to take care of One Thirteen and make sure he is safe.

One Thirteen or Bud as Phoenix later names him is from an alien planet. His own people shunned him because of his white coloring and called him a disgusting freak. When Bud was captured by the ESCU, he was tortured. That is when his reality distortion ability appeared. Life on Earth is way to loud and disturbing for Bud and only music can calm him. Listening to Phoenix talk to him is a close second. Phoenix is very caring of him and tries his hardest to get them someplace safe. Bud is developing more than friendly feelings for him but Phoenix could never be interested in a freak like him.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3.5 read
This is the second book in the Monsters in My Bed series. I read the first book before Scales and Song, and while I suppose you could go straight into book two, I think it might be really confusing at times. I highly recommend reading the first book before starting this one.
I liked Scales and Song better than the first book. I think it’s because Bud was such a sweet character, and he really fit with Phoenix, inspiring his change from a repressed loner to someone who wants relationships. I really liked Phoenix except in his interactions with Axel. I felt sorry for Axel (maybe he will get a monster of his own in the future).
The story really slows down in the middle while Phoenix and Bud are stranded in Axel’s cabin and waiting for the RV to be fixed. There isn’t much happening beyond their relationship deepening. I prefer to have the relationship deepen at the same time the story continues, which is not the case here.
The last part of the book really picks up in speed and action. It starts when Phoenix and Bud take off in the RV, and it felt almost like when they take off, so does the story. The ending is HEA, and I couldn’t have asked for a better resolution of the story. Although this story was nice enough, I will have to read the blurb for the next story before I decide if I’m interested in reading more in this series. There are some really good side characters that could make for an interesting story to read.