A review by s_sheppard18
Alpha of Mortal Flesh by Ben Alderson

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I listen to Ben Alderson audiobooks at night before I go to sleep, and I have to say that this one really puts the "Dark" in "Darkmourn," enough so that I ended up not listening to it while falling asleep.

The depictions of domestic abuse were tastefully done but still a little much for a bedtime romance story.

Despite that, this book still fits well in the series and was exactly what I've come to expect and love from Alderson: boy meets monster, enemies-to-lovers, paranormal gay romance. It's tropey, it's predictable, and it's an entertaining delight.

This particular novel really hits on the question of what makes a monster? Who defines what's monstrous and why? I appreciated that overarching theme; it added some nice existential philosophy.