The Exalted Guide

Monstrous Reality #2

by Hazel Jonas

The universe pushed them together, only to tear them apart...

NADIYA
For a human who just found out aliens really exist, I’d say I was doing a pretty good job of adjusting to life on the planet Eanov.

Then my new life came crashing down around me, leaving me tethered to my monster by nothing but the tingling spark I feel in my hands when he uses his magic.

I don’t know what to do or who to trust. All I have is questions—and the answers could change everything.

VENMULE
Just when I was beginning to figure out who I am, I’m plunged back into hell.

I’ve always stuck to the path set out for me—by my mentors, by Egoi society, by God—but nothing in the rule book prepared me for time to cease making sense.

The old Venmule would have coped with this life. I would have kept my head down and done what was required of me. But now, for better or worse, it’s not only my fate that rests on my shoulders.

Now, I’m inextricably linked to the most infuriating, intoxicating human in the universe, and I can’t let her go—even if she destroys me.

The Exalted Guide is a slow-burn monster romance and ends on a cliffhanger (book 2 of 3). This book contains dark themes and elements. Please see the author's website for a more detailed list of themes. 

225 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2022

About the author

Hazel Jonas lives in rural New England with her husband and a gaggle of cats. She loves to write about the creatures we’ve been told not to lust for. In late 2022, Hazel switched to writing spicy slow-burn romance.

With a background in bench chemistry and chemical manufacturing, Hazel writes part-time while working contract jobs.

She takes part in a wide variety of hobbies. Each of which depends on what direction her neurodivergent brain decides to drag her in.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisty, turny, and dark-ish with a villainous monster.

Yup, the spice increases in this book and it's primarily oral. The power imbalance between the Nadiya (FMC) and Venmule (MMC) makes the spicy scenes technically dubcon but none of them are dark enough to be considered dark romance.

“You misunderstand, Nadiya. Guilt hasn’t paralyzed me in a year and a half,” he bites out. “After this meeting, I forbid you from sitting on anything in this house that is not my face or my c**k. If I have to, I will burn every chair, stool, and ottoman that I own. If you want my help, your p***y and mouth will work to earn it.”

Venmule is all talk when it comes to Nadiya. It's part of why I adore him.

I'm dying to read the trilogy's conclusion and see Venmule (finally) let himself go. Also, I loved how much more we saw of Edric and Ascel; both are hilarious. Edric teasing Venmule had me giggling.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both our hero and heroine are having to make some big adjustments in their lives. That would be difficult enough if they were left alone, but the bad guys have other plans.

This is book two of the series, which starts right after book one. I strongly recommend reading them in order.

This is a science fiction romance story with a lot of different elements to it. There are aliens and monsters and magic all blended together into this story. The story is well written, but not always easy to follow because of all those elements. Still, I really liked the characters and am intrigued to see where things lead. Note that this book also ends on a cliffhanger. Overall, this has been a fun series so far and I look forward to seeing how it ends.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs for review purposes

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review. Nadia finds herself in services of zaim colrin a widower after the ascentent while also trying to undounded from sorbarris vahmute even though she loves him she just doent like what he is in this time line . this is interesting because everything that is happening in this story.

[Anne Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Nadiya says she wants her bond to Venmule broken, does she really? It is against the law for them to be together - but can either of them resist? His enemies seem determined to take him down - what is really going on with the moving time lines? Looking forward to the finale.

I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alex Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic instalment in the Monstrous Reality trilogy. Delightfully dark and sinful. Great character development, and storyline evolution. Would recommend. Cannot wait for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the first, and this one picked up where that one ended. Great world building. I liked the characters. Fast paced story with action and suspense. Can't wait until the next book (this ends in a cliffhanger). 4 stars.