Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
“My kind are… we abhor violence. We try not to hurt others, even if they are hurting us.”
It’s been a while since I last read or listened to this, probably right after the audiobook came out, but I still love it. I remember being surprised by how different it was from book 1 and 2, now that we got a book from a raider’s perspective. It’s less isolated, with a whole cast of interesting side characters. There’s not really a lot going on in this book plot-wise, but I adore the MCs enough for it not to matter.
“We’re not expecting this to get violent, are we?” I asked to try and put Rig at ease. He didn’t do well with violence anyway. Not that I did either, but at least my natural instinct was flight. Rig’s was freeze, which wasn’t good in the Wastes, where things tended to chase you.
Ghost is one of my favorite human characters in the Monstrous series, largely because of his struggle with anxiety. I could immediately relate to his character. I also just find him incredibly adorable and sweet. The same can definitely be said for Aury. He is an absolute sweetheart, and deserves all the good things in the universe. Let’s just say that after reading this book, you will totally understand why everyone is so damn afraid of Aury, lol. However, he is still just this adorable guy which any ol’ grandma would love to pinch the fudge outta.
Why did humans have to try and ruin and torture and hurt everything that they didn’t fully understand?
There’s not a single book in the series that didn’t make me cry, but out of the first three, this is the one that hit me hardest emotionally. It’s beautiful, it’s sweet, it’s sometimes even funny, aaand if you’re a fan of large amounts of bodily fluids, you’ll find this book hot as hell, lol.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Age gap
Anxiety rep
Hurt/comfort
Found family
Dystopian
Post-apocalyptic
Raider camp
So much bodily fluids
Cum kink
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Anxiety
PTSD
Injured MC
Graphic violence
Mentions of captivity
Mentions of torture
On-page killing (graphic)
Speciesism
Bigotry
*Most of this list can be found on the author’s website: lily-mayne.com
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Third-act breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, single POV
Genre: Fantasy/monster romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
MCs age: 26 and 700
“One of the deadliest species of monster there is.” He ground his teeth together, as though he didn’t want to admit the next part. “One feared almost universally by all others.” Anchor and I stared at him in silence, before slowly looking at each other. I think pure shock was the only thing that stopped us from bursting out laughing. Aury? One of the deadliest and most feared monsters in existence?
Loved Aury.
Him and Ghost (Gage) had such a loving relationship, them reading to each other at the start was so sweet. Their tentative way of getting closer to each other.
“”I read one of the others while I waited for you.” While he’d waited for me. Like he’d actually felt the lack of my presence. I sometimes wondered if the others even noticed when I was gone from camp. Something hot and sweet pierced me, making my body soften. I smiled at him, and saw his gaze drop to my mouth much like mine had done to his.”
Then Gage making Aury a coat that fit around his wings was so kind. Being the Rycke, Aury hasn’t had anyone be close to him as everyone runs from him, so seeing him and Gage get together was so lovely.
Aury asking to kiss Gage was such a cute moment. And I loved Aury with Gages chickens, they loved him and he seemed so happy about it!
“”Ghost.” He dragged his gaze back up to look me in the eyes, and my throat ached when I saw the intense longing I was feeling reflected back at me. “I want to… Can I kiss you?” he asked, voice shaking just a little, and my breath caught in my throat.”
Gage seeing Aurys ‘true’ form when protecting him in a different raiders camp was so heartbreaking, Aury didn’t want Gage to be scared of him or hate him - of course they figured it out
Ghost has lived out in the Wastes for eight years. He earned his elusive nickname from being able to slip in and out of places undetected, but traversing the Wastes and running from monsters isn't his idea of a good time. When him and his friend Rig are scavenging a destroyed, abandoned military base in Nebraska, they happen upon a bound and injured monster. They free him and bring him back to their raider camp to rehabilitate. Even though the monster's presence is causing tension, Ghost sees a different side to him. Although he appears gentle, there's evidently an even different side to him - one that other monsters fear, the military has tried to control, and a collector is interested in owning.
For some reason, the thought of this strange, damaged creature thinking I didn't care made my chest hurt. I wanted to tell them I did care. I wanted to tell them I hoped we could help them. I wanted them to feel better. I wanted their wings fixed.
This story is a bit different than Soul Eater and Edin because we've headed to the other side of the Wastes with the raiders! We have had a brief glimpse of the rycke in Soul Eater - Danny never understood why his military's base had captured him because he rarely moved, however, Wyn warns him that ryckes are extremely dangerous and he should steer clear of them at all costs. Cue the intrigue for the third novel in this series!
Ghost is good at what he does, but that doesn't mean he loves doing it. He's been chased by more monsters than he can count, yet, he feels if he doesn't go, his raider camp will vote him out because he won't be useful anymore. Ghost is so anxious and overanalyzes everything, and I think this is something a lot of readers can relate to. This book definitely felt different than the previous two novels, but I still enjoyed it! It did feel like it came to a quick end, and although Ghost and Aury, the rycke, get their happily ever after, it sets up the next book as they prepare to go and search for Rig.
Then the beastie turned their head to look up at Rig with big, pitch black eyes, and I got my first proper look at their face. Their dark, greenish-black hair was no longer falling over it in unwashed waves.
I exhaled a sharp, quiet puff of breath, glad my mask muffled the sound.
They were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
Compared to the previous two stories, Aury and Ghost's love felt more gentle. Perhaps it's because they had the protection of the camp. I loved how Ghost was Aury's safe space even if it seemed he was afraid of him at first. And when Ghost returned to the camp after a dangerous trip into the Wastes extremely sick, it was touching to watch Aury nurse him back to health and read to him. Their love is so special. Later in the book, we learn why the other monsters fear Aury so vehemently. We see his transformation when Ghost is threatened at a hostile raider camp. We also learn the sad history of the rycke species, and why there's only one of them and his existence has been so lonely.
Although this book didn't have as much action as the previous two, not only did we get a great lover story, it also set up the future books when we meet Rig and his fascination with the big, gray beastie that Collector Mary seems to have enslaved. We also get to meet Lilac, a borderline psychopathic protector for the camp that has a soft sport for Ghost and his lovely hens (and watching the hens accept Aury was absolutely adorable). We get to meet Moth, too, who definitely seems to have unrequited feelings for Charlie. This book was definitely critical for setting up the future stories, and I have a feeling this won't be the last we hear about missing raider camp leader Cat. Looking forward to reading the novella, Wyn, next as it's written entirely from Wyn's perspective!
I didn't care what he could become. I didn't see that monstrous face when I looked at Aury. This was my sweet, gentle, kind monster. He was still my Aury.
