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readwithaashi's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I’ll admit, this one took me a minute to adjust to given consensual non-con, degradation, and dual POV are not my preferred trio. However, I enjoyed this book far more than expected! Not only is the pacing decently balanced, the romance is enticing and the “thriller" elements caught me by surprise.
Looking over the premise, my interest was piqued and, frankly, entirely preoccupied by how monster-loving manifested via meeting your sleep paralysis demon. (I suffer from perpetual insomnia as a result of SP myself, there was intrigue.) I loved Virtues’ creativity with Acheron’s character build – dynamic and seductive, like the story. The care and concern in his relationship with Penny is effective, and factors such as consensual non-con and additional kinks are clearly communicated, softening the edge. Save for my personal tastes, the erotic moments are well executed. They very much fulfill the “protective Dom” fantasy while adopting a feminist lens. I could even forgive the heavy-handedness of the dirty talk.
Acheron’s backstory and world-building I was slow to warm up to, but I was content with the part it played in the climax. A fun, unique take on the afterlife with its own set of rules and beliefs. Had this novel been expanded in length, given more time to flesh out, I would have eaten it up, (but I hear there’s a sequel, so I might give that a try). I even found Jenna enjoyable as one of the side characters, most of whom had edge and layers. Shane, especially, was perfectly introduced. No spoilers, but his role took a delicious turn. All the kudos.
All in all, the wrap-up was quick but fairly cathartic. The ending wasn’t predictable per se. The story ended on a note one might hope for and I found that immensely satisfying. If you want to explore dark topics and supernatural romances through diverse, complex characters, give this book a chance! I look forward to reading more by Virtues in the future.
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Stalking, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Death of parent, and Murder
shaipanda's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
4.25
I ended up liking this more than I thought I would - I wasn’t sure how the plot was going to play out but was suprisingly fleshed out considering how short this is and how much of it is just smut lol - but ya great 👀 and overall enjoyed it
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Violence, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol
lotte5322's review
3.0
Graphic: War, Grief, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
zabeishumanish's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
One of the more fun and creative monster fucker books I've read. The story probably could have used one more round of editing though, just a few obvious typos and incorrect character names.
Acheron is a fascinating monster. The entire form of his body is malleable and he can change sizes and shapes on a whim.
I was a bit apprehensive of the whole sleep paralysis aspect of the book, but once I saw that being used as a kind of safe word for Penelope I was on board. The whole sleep demon system and Acheron being able to read her mind and limitations created a really nice sense of security. The creativity of this setup was fantastic and I loved that Penelope was able to have so much fun.
If the author chooses to make this into a series I would be delighted to read the rest of them. The side characters introduced in this book all have enough personality to welcome additional books.
Acheron is a fascinating monster. The entire form of his body is malleable and he can change sizes and shapes on a whim.
I was a bit apprehensive of the whole sleep paralysis aspect of the book, but once I saw that being used as a kind of safe word for Penelope I was on board. The whole sleep demon system and Acheron being able to read her mind and limitations created a really nice sense of security. The creativity of this setup was fantastic and I loved that Penelope was able to have so much fun.
If the author chooses to make this into a series I would be delighted to read the rest of them. The side characters introduced in this book all have enough personality to welcome additional books.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
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