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A review by kp_hobbitreads
Seraph by Lily Mayne
5.0
#1 Soul Eater: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
#2 Edin: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3 The Rycke: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3.5 Wyn: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#4 Gloam: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#5 Moth: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
#6 Seraph: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
Okay, so I'm not going to lie. I was a little nervous about this one. Seraph is clearly the least human looking monster so far in the series, and I was worried that all the eyes would creep me out and keep me from enjoying this. However, I should have had more faith in Lily Mayne because this was absolutely phenomenal.
Lilac has been the protector of the raider camp for years. He's their last line of defense against all the terrors of the wastes so when Rig and Gloam show up with a caged Seraph, Lilac knows he's going to be the one to put this monster out of his misery if they can't find a way to safely set him free. As it turns out Seraph isn't just a feral animal or a mindless beast, but rather someone who has suffered greatly at the hands of the military and is in immense pain. Lilac soon finds himself willing to do whatever it takes to keep him safe, and will stand between Seraph and anyone who comes for him. Only, Seraph has to survive what the military has done to him first.
This story has everything you could want: a slow burn romance between two complex characters, found family feels, a compelling mystery, some well deserved revenge, and all the hurt/comfort your heart desires. Lilac has been such an enigma in the earlier books. He's quite and protective, but we never learn much about him, so it was wonderful to get to see this story through his perspective. And Seraph. Oh, his story just made my heart hurt. But, watching these two learn to communicate with each other as they develop first a friendship and then a romantic relationship was truly lovely. Despite all the horror that Seraph has been through, this book still managed to feel warm and hopeful which I think is quite incredible.
Three Thoughts:
1. Lilac is a little bloodthirsty, and I'm not mad about it.
2. I absolutely loved all the scenes got with all the monsters banding together to support Lilac and Seraph. It is the found family of my dreams. (Also, Wyn is even more hilarious than I thought.)
3. Seraph's reaction to learning about Moth just about made my heart burst. It was too freaking adorable for words.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I never thought I'd find myself swooning over a monster with way too many eyes, yet here we are. I honestly hope there are a dozen more books because I will read every last one of them.
content warnings: loss of parents (in the past), death due to diabetic coma (in the past, off page), mentions of sex work (in the past), references to past enslavement, trans side character was disowned by parents (off page, in the past), captivity, violence, gore, death, medical experimentation, torture, sex (on page), d/s elements
#2 Edin: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3 The Rycke: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3.5 Wyn: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#4 Gloam: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#5 Moth: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
#6 Seraph: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
Okay, so I'm not going to lie. I was a little nervous about this one. Seraph is clearly the least human looking monster so far in the series, and I was worried that all the eyes would creep me out and keep me from enjoying this. However, I should have had more faith in Lily Mayne because this was absolutely phenomenal.
Lilac has been the protector of the raider camp for years. He's their last line of defense against all the terrors of the wastes so when Rig and Gloam show up with a caged Seraph, Lilac knows he's going to be the one to put this monster out of his misery if they can't find a way to safely set him free. As it turns out Seraph isn't just a feral animal or a mindless beast, but rather someone who has suffered greatly at the hands of the military and is in immense pain. Lilac soon finds himself willing to do whatever it takes to keep him safe, and will stand between Seraph and anyone who comes for him. Only, Seraph has to survive what the military has done to him first.
This story has everything you could want: a slow burn romance between two complex characters, found family feels, a compelling mystery, some well deserved revenge, and all the hurt/comfort your heart desires. Lilac has been such an enigma in the earlier books. He's quite and protective, but we never learn much about him, so it was wonderful to get to see this story through his perspective. And Seraph. Oh, his story just made my heart hurt. But, watching these two learn to communicate with each other as they develop first a friendship and then a romantic relationship was truly lovely. Despite all the horror that Seraph has been through, this book still managed to feel warm and hopeful which I think is quite incredible.
Three Thoughts:
1. Lilac is a little bloodthirsty, and I'm not mad about it.
2. I absolutely loved all the scenes got with all the monsters banding together to support Lilac and Seraph. It is the found family of my dreams. (Also, Wyn is even more hilarious than I thought.)
3. Seraph's reaction to learning about Moth just about made my heart burst. It was too freaking adorable for words.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I never thought I'd find myself swooning over a monster with way too many eyes, yet here we are. I honestly hope there are a dozen more books because I will read every last one of them.
content warnings: loss of parents (in the past), death due to diabetic coma (in the past, off page), mentions of sex work (in the past), references to past enslavement, trans side character was disowned by parents (off page, in the past), captivity, violence, gore, death, medical experimentation, torture, sex (on page), d/s elements