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Playing with Monsters #1
Playing with Monsters
My coven has remained hidden in the shadows for centuries.
We’ve avoided the ‘real world’ altogether; hiding from monsters and other creatures we share this planet with. We found protection in the Colville National Forest, nestled in a town protected by magical barriers.
Our powers are locked by an ancient curse, one meant to protect us from being found.
Until now.
The past has a way of repeating itself. A new game is beginning. No one is safe.
He’s coming for me.
He’s hunting.
The monster we’ve run from for centuries has found us.
How far will this deadly game go?
How far will I be able to take it, or will he destroy me and everything I care about?
Will the one thing I can’t live without, be the key to destroying and undoing the past?
Or will the past destroy me before I can save the people I love from what I’ve done.
Warning:
About the hero: chances are you may not fall instantly in love with him, that’s because I don’t write men you instantly love; you grow to love them. I don’t believe in instant-love. I write flawed, raw, caveman-like assholes that eventually let you see their redeeming qualities. They are aggressive, assholes, one step above a caveman when we meet them. You may not even like him by the time you finish this book, but I promise you will love him by the end of this series.
About the heroine: There is a chance, that you might think she’s a bit naïve, or weak, but then again who starts out as a badass? Badasses are a product of growth and I am going to put her through hell, and you get to watch her come up swinging every time I knock her on her ass. That’s just how I do things. How she reacts to the set of circumstances she is put through, may not be how you as the reader, or I as the author would react to that same situation. Everyone reacts differently to circumstances and how Magdalena responds to her challenges, is how I see her as a character and as a person.
I don’t write love stories: I write fast paced, knock you on your ass, make you sit on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next books. If you’re looking for cookie cutter romance, this isn’t for you. If you can’t handle the ride, un-buckle your seatbelt and get out of the roller-coaster car now. If not, you’ve been warned. If nothing outlined above bothers you, carry on and enjoy the ride!
We’ve avoided the ‘real world’ altogether; hiding from monsters and other creatures we share this planet with. We found protection in the Colville National Forest, nestled in a town protected by magical barriers.
Our powers are locked by an ancient curse, one meant to protect us from being found.
Until now.
The past has a way of repeating itself. A new game is beginning. No one is safe.
He’s coming for me.
He’s hunting.
The monster we’ve run from for centuries has found us.
How far will this deadly game go?
How far will I be able to take it, or will he destroy me and everything I care about?
Will the one thing I can’t live without, be the key to destroying and undoing the past?
Or will the past destroy me before I can save the people I love from what I’ve done.
Warning:
About the hero: chances are you may not fall instantly in love with him, that’s because I don’t write men you instantly love; you grow to love them. I don’t believe in instant-love. I write flawed, raw, caveman-like assholes that eventually let you see their redeeming qualities. They are aggressive, assholes, one step above a caveman when we meet them. You may not even like him by the time you finish this book, but I promise you will love him by the end of this series.
About the heroine: There is a chance, that you might think she’s a bit naïve, or weak, but then again who starts out as a badass? Badasses are a product of growth and I am going to put her through hell, and you get to watch her come up swinging every time I knock her on her ass. That’s just how I do things. How she reacts to the set of circumstances she is put through, may not be how you as the reader, or I as the author would react to that same situation. Everyone reacts differently to circumstances and how Magdalena responds to her challenges, is how I see her as a character and as a person.
I don’t write love stories: I write fast paced, knock you on your ass, make you sit on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next books. If you’re looking for cookie cutter romance, this isn’t for you. If you can’t handle the ride, un-buckle your seatbelt and get out of the roller-coaster car now. If not, you’ve been warned. If nothing outlined above bothers you, carry on and enjoy the ride!
514 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2016
About the author
Amelia Hutchins
59 books12.2k followersAmelia Hutchins is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of the Monsters, The Fae Chronicles, and Nine Realm series. She is an admitted coffee addict who drinks magical potions of caffeine and turns them into magical worlds. She writes alpha-hole males and the alpha women who knock them on their arse, hard. Amelia doesn’t write romance. She writes fast-paced books that go hard against traditional standards. Sometimes a story isn’t about the romance; it’s about rising to a challenge, breaking through them like wrecking balls, and shaking up entire worlds to discover who they really are. If you’d like to check out more of her work, or just hang out in an amazing tribe of people who enjoy rough men, and sharp women, join her at Author Amelia Hutchins Group on Facebook.
Books by Amelia Hutchins along with reading order for series
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/12402...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authoramelia...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.amel...
LEGACY OF THE NINE REALMS
Flames of Chaos
Ashes of Chaos
Ruins of Chaos
Crown of Chaos
Coming Soon
Queen of Chaos 2022
King of Chaos
Reign of Chaos
THE FAE CHRONICLES
Fighting Destiny
Taunting Destiny
Escaping Destiny
Seducing Destiny
Unraveling Destiny
Embracing Destiny
Crowning Destiny
Finished Series
THE ELITE GUARDS
A Demon’s Dark Embrace
Claiming the Dragon King
The Winter Court
A Demon’s Plaything
A GUARDIAN’S DIARY
Darkest Before Dawn
Death before Dawn
Midnight Rising -TBA
MONSTERS SERIES
Playing with Monsters
Sleeping with Monsters
Becoming his Monster
Revealing the Monster
Finished Series
WICKED KNIGHTS
Oh, Holy Knight
If She’s Wicked
Book Three -TBA
MIDNIGHT COVEN BOOKS
Forever Immortal
Immortal Hexes
Midnight Coven
Finished Series
BULLETPROOF DAMSEL SERIES
Bulletproof Damsel
Coming Soon
Silverproof Damsel
Fireproof Damsel
Alpha’s Claim Standalone
WITHIN THE DARKNESS
Moon-Kissed
Book 2 TBA
THE DARKEST FAE
King of the Shadow Fae
Coming Soon
King of the Night Fae
Queen of the Stars
Fate Series
Whispers of Fate (Intro to Kahleena’s book)
If you’re following the Fae Chronicles, Elite Guards, and Monsters series, the reading order is as follows.
Fighting Destiny
Taunting Destiny
Escaping Destiny
Seducing Destiny
A Demon’s Dark Embrace
Playing with Monsters
Unraveling Destiny
Sleeping with Monsters
Claiming the Dragon King
Oh, Holy Knight
Becoming his Monster
A Demon’s Plaything
The Winter Court
If She’s Wicked
Embracing Destiny
Crowning Destiny
Revealing the Monster
Whispers of Fate
Books by Amelia Hutchins along with reading order for series
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/12402...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authoramelia...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.amel...
LEGACY OF THE NINE REALMS
Flames of Chaos
Ashes of Chaos
Ruins of Chaos
Crown of Chaos
Coming Soon
Queen of Chaos 2022
King of Chaos
Reign of Chaos
THE FAE CHRONICLES
Fighting Destiny
Taunting Destiny
Escaping Destiny
Seducing Destiny
Unraveling Destiny
Embracing Destiny
Crowning Destiny
Finished Series
THE ELITE GUARDS
A Demon’s Dark Embrace
Claiming the Dragon King
The Winter Court
A Demon’s Plaything
A GUARDIAN’S DIARY
Darkest Before Dawn
Death before Dawn
Midnight Rising -TBA
MONSTERS SERIES
Playing with Monsters
Sleeping with Monsters
Becoming his Monster
Revealing the Monster
Finished Series
WICKED KNIGHTS
Oh, Holy Knight
If She’s Wicked
Book Three -TBA
MIDNIGHT COVEN BOOKS
Forever Immortal
Immortal Hexes
Midnight Coven
Finished Series
BULLETPROOF DAMSEL SERIES
Bulletproof Damsel
Coming Soon
Silverproof Damsel
Fireproof Damsel
Alpha’s Claim Standalone
WITHIN THE DARKNESS
Moon-Kissed
Book 2 TBA
THE DARKEST FAE
King of the Shadow Fae
Coming Soon
King of the Night Fae
Queen of the Stars
Fate Series
Whispers of Fate (Intro to Kahleena’s book)
If you’re following the Fae Chronicles, Elite Guards, and Monsters series, the reading order is as follows.
Fighting Destiny
Taunting Destiny
Escaping Destiny
Seducing Destiny
A Demon’s Dark Embrace
Playing with Monsters
Unraveling Destiny
Sleeping with Monsters
Claiming the Dragon King
Oh, Holy Knight
Becoming his Monster
A Demon’s Plaything
The Winter Court
If She’s Wicked
Embracing Destiny
Crowning Destiny
Revealing the Monster
Whispers of Fate
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 984 reviews
March 18, 2019
I'm not sure I'd play with Monsters...
When I came across Playing with Monsters on Audible/Amazon for $2.19, I couldn't help myself. I had a feeling it may be rough around the edges and far from perfect, but I remembered the emotions this story brought out in me. Anger, frustration, heart-pounding tension and that elation when the fighting comes down to do or die...and you're hoping that you're in the winner's corner. Let's just say that I had no problems ignoring the imperfections and was sucked in anyway. I may not want to play with these Monsters but I sure love observing them.
The story was just as enthralling to me but I admit to not loving the narration. The female narrator sounded like a sullen teenager, angst and all. She spoke in a monotone and did not change with the characters. The male narrator, while deep and sexy, tended to drop his voice so low that if there's even a hint of background noise, it sounded like a burr and was hard to hear/understand.
I don't think the editing for the narration was up to par either. It was obvious when something had been changed as there would be jumps, tone changes and breaks.
Look, I paid $2.00 so I can't complain too much. It was still pretty great and I was enthralled from start to finish. Will I go on...I'm not sure...maybe...soonish. Depends if I get another bargain or not.
No change to my rating, I still love this story.
**********
Playing with monsters left me very, very satisfied.
I think I can safely say after reading Playing with Monster that I’m attracted to monsters. Saying that, it could be more that I’m attracted to Amelia Hutchins’s monsters. I know they’re evil, kill willy nilly and shed blood left, right and centre, but deep down these monsters just want someone to love them. Oh, they’d never admit it, fight tooth and nail against it and make the special woman in their life work bloody hard for it…even to the extent of pushing them away. But, I see their vulnerable underbellies. I see they’re fighting their attraction to protect them. I know they THINK they’re doing the right thing by pushing them away because they are a big scary beast after all. This monster is different from the others, even more, evil that what we’ve already seen BUT there was at no point in Playing with Monster that I hated him. He did get my blood boiling in anger and made me want to poke a finger in his eye but I think that’s a standard for monsters…or so I’m guessing.
I don’t know what he is. He’s obviously powerful, a know-it-all and extremely bossy, but I’m still left questioning what type of monster Lucian is. I have a suspicion, but I’m only guessing…which kind of feels a little déjà vu. Now some might think oh well, is she just rehashing a story? NO, this one is definitely different from her others. What is similar is that we have to work towards getting our answers.
To me, this is the sort of book that makes me want to own a cone of silence…to shut everyone else out. I want to be in this world fighting with the witches against the demons, seeing the Fae turn the negativity against them to positives, and watching the vampires control, enthral and suck their victims in. I get a kick out of this world. I love coming back for visits. I want to hear what’s been going on with the guild and whether humans can be protected from evil. Now that we've met these new witches will they work with or against the guild/fae/vampires? So many questions left unanswered, but I can't hold it against Amelia Hutchins because I think my brain would explode if I tried to read these stories too close together.
Lena is a witch who left her coven after multiple heartbreaking events. She’s been away for three years and while it’s been hard, it was necessary for her to have a break from her family. When she gets the call from the Elders of her coven, she accepts that it’s time to take her place within. Her return does not go exceptionally well, but she’s strong and determined to help her coven as much as possible. Now, witches are very sexual creatures and part of their tradition is to have an Awakening ceremony which definitely has a sexual part to it. Lena has returned to take part in the ceremony as it will help to awaken her powers. She’s just about to take her first steps back into that world when she meets the most attractive, intriguing and sinfully sexual…MONSTER.
Well, this monster wears a suit and looks bloody good in it. Lucian meets Lena and he knows that this witch is about to mess with his plans. See, Lucian is on a mission. I am certainly not going to explain the mission because experiencing it first-hand makes each step that much better. What I will say is that Lena’s sort of in trouble now that she’s caught the attention of Lucian.
Playing with Monster is sexy…very, very sexy. It also can at times be a little violent. There is one scene that is EXTREMELY hard to read, but it was written in a way that, with the character, you can sort of compartmentalise it. At all times I was sucked in and never felt like it dragged. I just wanted the world (real life) to bloody leave me alone so I could get this epic tale finished. My heart was beating hard at times in excitement, dread and fear. I also shed a tear a time or two when I could see that Lena hated the power Lucian had over her.
Playing with Monster was EXTREMELY good and I cannot wait to read more in this epic series.
When I came across Playing with Monsters on Audible/Amazon for $2.19, I couldn't help myself. I had a feeling it may be rough around the edges and far from perfect, but I remembered the emotions this story brought out in me. Anger, frustration, heart-pounding tension and that elation when the fighting comes down to do or die...and you're hoping that you're in the winner's corner. Let's just say that I had no problems ignoring the imperfections and was sucked in anyway. I may not want to play with these Monsters but I sure love observing them.
The story was just as enthralling to me but I admit to not loving the narration. The female narrator sounded like a sullen teenager, angst and all. She spoke in a monotone and did not change with the characters. The male narrator, while deep and sexy, tended to drop his voice so low that if there's even a hint of background noise, it sounded like a burr and was hard to hear/understand.
I don't think the editing for the narration was up to par either. It was obvious when something had been changed as there would be jumps, tone changes and breaks.
Look, I paid $2.00 so I can't complain too much. It was still pretty great and I was enthralled from start to finish. Will I go on...I'm not sure...maybe...soonish. Depends if I get another bargain or not.
No change to my rating, I still love this story.
**********
Playing with monsters left me very, very satisfied.
I think I can safely say after reading Playing with Monster that I’m attracted to monsters. Saying that, it could be more that I’m attracted to Amelia Hutchins’s monsters. I know they’re evil, kill willy nilly and shed blood left, right and centre, but deep down these monsters just want someone to love them. Oh, they’d never admit it, fight tooth and nail against it and make the special woman in their life work bloody hard for it…even to the extent of pushing them away. But, I see their vulnerable underbellies. I see they’re fighting their attraction to protect them. I know they THINK they’re doing the right thing by pushing them away because they are a big scary beast after all. This monster is different from the others, even more, evil that what we’ve already seen BUT there was at no point in Playing with Monster that I hated him. He did get my blood boiling in anger and made me want to poke a finger in his eye but I think that’s a standard for monsters…or so I’m guessing.
I don’t know what he is. He’s obviously powerful, a know-it-all and extremely bossy, but I’m still left questioning what type of monster Lucian is. I have a suspicion, but I’m only guessing…which kind of feels a little déjà vu. Now some might think oh well, is she just rehashing a story? NO, this one is definitely different from her others. What is similar is that we have to work towards getting our answers.
AND THIS IS WHAT AMELIA HUTCHINS EXCELS AT!!
To me, this is the sort of book that makes me want to own a cone of silence…to shut everyone else out. I want to be in this world fighting with the witches against the demons, seeing the Fae turn the negativity against them to positives, and watching the vampires control, enthral and suck their victims in. I get a kick out of this world. I love coming back for visits. I want to hear what’s been going on with the guild and whether humans can be protected from evil. Now that we've met these new witches will they work with or against the guild/fae/vampires? So many questions left unanswered, but I can't hold it against Amelia Hutchins because I think my brain would explode if I tried to read these stories too close together.
Lena is a witch who left her coven after multiple heartbreaking events. She’s been away for three years and while it’s been hard, it was necessary for her to have a break from her family. When she gets the call from the Elders of her coven, she accepts that it’s time to take her place within. Her return does not go exceptionally well, but she’s strong and determined to help her coven as much as possible. Now, witches are very sexual creatures and part of their tradition is to have an Awakening ceremony which definitely has a sexual part to it. Lena has returned to take part in the ceremony as it will help to awaken her powers. She’s just about to take her first steps back into that world when she meets the most attractive, intriguing and sinfully sexual…MONSTER.
Well, this monster wears a suit and looks bloody good in it. Lucian meets Lena and he knows that this witch is about to mess with his plans. See, Lucian is on a mission. I am certainly not going to explain the mission because experiencing it first-hand makes each step that much better. What I will say is that Lena’s sort of in trouble now that she’s caught the attention of Lucian.
Playing with Monster is sexy…very, very sexy. It also can at times be a little violent. There is one scene that is EXTREMELY hard to read, but it was written in a way that, with the character, you can sort of compartmentalise it. At all times I was sucked in and never felt like it dragged. I just wanted the world (real life) to bloody leave me alone so I could get this epic tale finished. My heart was beating hard at times in excitement, dread and fear. I also shed a tear a time or two when I could see that Lena hated the power Lucian had over her.
Playing with Monster was EXTREMELY good and I cannot wait to read more in this epic series.
May 11, 2017
Review posted: 29.06.2016
I like the book. I didn't love it. Hell, I was even a bit disappointed. The story was slow, yet it's worth reading. I liked, really liked Magdalena (strange name, or what?), and I could totally picture her and Cyn becoming best friends. My problem however, was with Lucian. I found him hot and sexy and well...normal? I didn't get that feeling of him being powerful, nor so dangerous as I know he is from reading The Fae Chronicles. He could never beat Ryder, who btw, is still my favorite and I think it's time for me to admit that no one will be able to beat him. I think I loved Ryder more simply because he didn't hide who he was (okay, he did, but he didn't hid how dangerous he was). He showed how powerful he was, how sexy, and wicked, dangerous and dominant. Lucian however, hides who he is. He acts civil and just appears as a rich, dangerous, normal business man. But it's all an act. I know, we all know, that Lucian is anything but normal, but that doesn't change the fact that I felt like he was :(
To be honest, I believe I was so excited and so nervous that I was bound to be let down some. When we first met Lucian in The Fae Chronicles I know I could easily fall in love with that guy simply because he reminded me of how Ryder was in the beginning. So of course I had expected a lot from Lucian, but what I didn't expect was that he would act so............not animalistic? I had expected Lucian to be a bit more...wild and frankly to be in the league with Ryder, but for me, he wasn't even close. I suppose that's a good thing right? Lol, I'm too obsessed with Ryder. Here I go talking about Ryder when it's Lucian's book :O
Anyway, I was wondering... Playing with Monsters series is it Lucian's series, or is it Lucian and Lucian's men that it is about? Will book two also be about Lucian and Magdalena or will it be about one of Lucian's men? Kinda curious about that. Specially since the ending gave me feeling Lucian's story will continue in book two. Perhaps it will be like Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh? Amelia Hutchins still knows how to write a book no matter what, and she's still one of, if not the best, author that I have had the pleasure of reading/experiencing. Amelia is brilliant at writing characters that you can relate to as I did Magdalena, and she's awesome at writing male characters that many hate to love, but cannot help but loving the anyway. Lucian is just someone you love not matter what, just as Ryder (see <-- there I go again with mentioning Ryder :O I'm crazy). I do believe however, that if Lucian shows his true side, my lady parts wouldn't survive... ;))
The story was a bit boring, and dragged out. Again; I think I expected too much. Not much happened, and Magdalena was sometimes hard to connect with because she had so strong walls around her that she didn't let anyone in, but it is understandable considering everything she's been through. And that is what I like about her, because she's just like me in the area. Keeps getting knocked down, but she still rise up and continues with life no matter what life throws at her. Oh and is Vlad getting his own book? And....I must say; I screamed. Literally SCREAMED when Ryder showed up! It was heaven!! God I miss that guy! I seriously need to re-read The Fae Chronicles yet again. I wonder if I would have loved, instead of liked this book if I hadn't met Ryder first...
Review before reading:
That's the big question, isn't it?
TEAM RYDER THOUGH! (It doesn't really have anything to do with it, (I think) but still, I thought I should let you folks know... No one beats Ryder!)
“You should have stayed hidden, sweet sister, for monsters are everywhere.”
I like the book. I didn't love it. Hell, I was even a bit disappointed. The story was slow, yet it's worth reading. I liked, really liked Magdalena (strange name, or what?), and I could totally picture her and Cyn becoming best friends. My problem however, was with Lucian. I found him hot and sexy and well...normal? I didn't get that feeling of him being powerful, nor so dangerous as I know he is from reading The Fae Chronicles. He could never beat Ryder, who btw, is still my favorite and I think it's time for me to admit that no one will be able to beat him. I think I loved Ryder more simply because he didn't hide who he was (okay, he did, but he didn't hid how dangerous he was). He showed how powerful he was, how sexy, and wicked, dangerous and dominant. Lucian however, hides who he is. He acts civil and just appears as a rich, dangerous, normal business man. But it's all an act. I know, we all know, that Lucian is anything but normal, but that doesn't change the fact that I felt like he was :(
“It wouldn’t have been fine. You wouldn’t have been fine. You sure as fuck wouldn’t have been out of your bed today. When I fuck, I own, I dominate, and I fuck without an ounce of mercy. I claim. When I finish with someone, they sure as fuck don’t walk away saying it’s fine.”
To be honest, I believe I was so excited and so nervous that I was bound to be let down some. When we first met Lucian in The Fae Chronicles I know I could easily fall in love with that guy simply because he reminded me of how Ryder was in the beginning. So of course I had expected a lot from Lucian, but what I didn't expect was that he would act so............not animalistic? I had expected Lucian to be a bit more...wild and frankly to be in the league with Ryder, but for me, he wasn't even close. I suppose that's a good thing right? Lol, I'm too obsessed with Ryder. Here I go talking about Ryder when it's Lucian's book :O
“You should run from me, sweet witch. I’m a one-way ride to the dark side, and there’s no return ticket home. Not that I’d let you go once I had you, anyway,”
Anyway, I was wondering... Playing with Monsters series is it Lucian's series, or is it Lucian and Lucian's men that it is about? Will book two also be about Lucian and Magdalena or will it be about one of Lucian's men? Kinda curious about that. Specially since the ending gave me feeling Lucian's story will continue in book two. Perhaps it will be like Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh? Amelia Hutchins still knows how to write a book no matter what, and she's still one of, if not the best, author that I have had the pleasure of reading/experiencing. Amelia is brilliant at writing characters that you can relate to as I did Magdalena, and she's awesome at writing male characters that many hate to love, but cannot help but loving the anyway. Lucian is just someone you love not matter what, just as Ryder (see <-- there I go again with mentioning Ryder :O I'm crazy). I do believe however, that if Lucian shows his true side, my lady parts wouldn't survive... ;))
“I’d rather not stand in front of the entire coven as a battered, broken example. I’m battered, but I’m never broken. You’ll figure it out without me.”
The story was a bit boring, and dragged out. Again; I think I expected too much. Not much happened, and Magdalena was sometimes hard to connect with because she had so strong walls around her that she didn't let anyone in, but it is understandable considering everything she's been through. And that is what I like about her, because she's just like me in the area. Keeps getting knocked down, but she still rise up and continues with life no matter what life throws at her. Oh and is Vlad getting his own book? And....I must say; I screamed. Literally SCREAMED when Ryder showed up! It was heaven!! God I miss that guy! I seriously need to re-read The Fae Chronicles yet again. I wonder if I would have loved, instead of liked this book if I hadn't met Ryder first...
Review before reading:
That's the big question, isn't it?
TEAM RYDER THOUGH! (It doesn't really have anything to do with it, (I think) but still, I thought I should let you folks know... No one beats Ryder!)
April 11, 2018
5 Stars!
This was just as good the second time around!! Loved it! I’m off to the next book and more yummy Lucian:)
This was just as good the second time around!! Loved it! I’m off to the next book and more yummy Lucian:)
March 16, 2020
★4.5★
Playing with Monsters is the first book in the Playing with Monsters Series. Playing with Monsters is a paranormal powerhouse with passion, romance, powerful witches, demons, and everything deliciously dark and twisted. Magdalena is finally returning home to her coven. After experiencing heartbreak, running away seemed like her only option. Now it is time for The Harvest, a mystical witch mating tradition, and Lena has come home. Lucian Blackstone, a dark and delicious devil, is a man on a mission. Falling hard for a sassy and stubborn witch was not on the menu and yet, he is drawn to Lena and she becomes everything he never knew he needed much less wanted.
🎧This was an audible.com read 🎧
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"We just went to war with our bodies, and she was ill-prepared, fucking starved for nourishment."
Playing with Monsters is the first book in the Playing with Monsters Series. Playing with Monsters is a paranormal powerhouse with passion, romance, powerful witches, demons, and everything deliciously dark and twisted. Magdalena is finally returning home to her coven. After experiencing heartbreak, running away seemed like her only option. Now it is time for The Harvest, a mystical witch mating tradition, and Lena has come home. Lucian Blackstone, a dark and delicious devil, is a man on a mission. Falling hard for a sassy and stubborn witch was not on the menu and yet, he is drawn to Lena and she becomes everything he never knew he needed much less wanted.
"You want to see what real power feels like?"Told in multiple POV, Playing with Monsters is a smoking hot blend of magic, complex characters, passion, and forbidden romance. The dynamics between Lucian and Lena are intense and the stakes are high the entire read. The writing is lyrical and truthfully, I could not turn the pages fast enough!
"She didn't do wild sex; she went to war when she fucked."Overall, Playing with Monsters will appeal to any and all paranormal romance fans. I have been a fan of Amelia Hutchins for a long time and Playing with Monsters is one series that has me completely hooked! I am looking forward to more Lena and Lucian!
🎧This was an audible.com read 🎧
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
August 5, 2018
Sorry but I did not like this book. AT ALL.
I know... I'm the unpopular opinion, but I couldn't bring myself to enjoy it.
First off, I can't stand it when the whole book has an excuse of a plot and every single thing that happens is for the sole purpose of the heroine and the main love interest hooking up.
Secondly, phrases like "I always felt his presence in the room" or "I didn't want him but my traitorous body craved his touch" are a bunch of excuses for lazy writing. Just build a realistic relationship between your characters instead of forcing Instalust down our throats.
There was zero chemistry and zero character building in this book.
I'm sick and tired that authors can't even bother with building the character of a REAL woman. A woman that likes sex and is comfortable in her own skin for a change. A woman that knows what she wants and isn't afraid to say it. Every single heroine in every single god damn book I read nowadays is either a virgin or has slept with 1 guy. That's unrealistic. Also almost every heroine likes a guy but runs around like a little lost puppy not making a move because she is afraid he will destroy her fragile little self esteem. So the author makes up a thousand excuses and situations to force the heroine in to sleeping with the guy she is actually interested in.
Let me tell you darling. The women I know in my life wouldn't wait around for a guy to make a move while making up stupid excuses. It's ok to write about a heroine that knows what she wants for a change and is not afraid to admit it. She can have sex with whomever she wants. Excuses like "I'm not this kind of girl. I'm a good girl that has slept with only one guy but now my traitorous body craves his touch" are just plain stupid. It's ok to want to sleep with a someone. It's natural for fucks shake.
All the characters, including the heroine, were one dimensional. The plot was a huge cliche. Lucian, the main love interest, was the same old alpha douchebag that stars in every formulaic book nowadays.
It's safe to say I liked nothing about this.
I know... I'm the unpopular opinion, but I couldn't bring myself to enjoy it.
First off, I can't stand it when the whole book has an excuse of a plot and every single thing that happens is for the sole purpose of the heroine and the main love interest hooking up.
Secondly, phrases like "I always felt his presence in the room" or "I didn't want him but my traitorous body craved his touch" are a bunch of excuses for lazy writing. Just build a realistic relationship between your characters instead of forcing Instalust down our throats.
There was zero chemistry and zero character building in this book.
I'm sick and tired that authors can't even bother with building the character of a REAL woman. A woman that likes sex and is comfortable in her own skin for a change. A woman that knows what she wants and isn't afraid to say it. Every single heroine in every single god damn book I read nowadays is either a virgin or has slept with 1 guy. That's unrealistic. Also almost every heroine likes a guy but runs around like a little lost puppy not making a move because she is afraid he will destroy her fragile little self esteem. So the author makes up a thousand excuses and situations to force the heroine in to sleeping with the guy she is actually interested in.
Let me tell you darling. The women I know in my life wouldn't wait around for a guy to make a move while making up stupid excuses. It's ok to write about a heroine that knows what she wants for a change and is not afraid to admit it. She can have sex with whomever she wants. Excuses like "I'm not this kind of girl. I'm a good girl that has slept with only one guy but now my traitorous body craves his touch" are just plain stupid. It's ok to want to sleep with a someone. It's natural for fucks shake.
All the characters, including the heroine, were one dimensional. The plot was a huge cliche. Lucian, the main love interest, was the same old alpha douchebag that stars in every formulaic book nowadays.
It's safe to say I liked nothing about this.
July 1, 2016
4 "clusterfuck of magic" stars
The past has a way of repeating itself. A new game is beginning.
See on this cover,
I see him LUCIAN the one you DON'T wish to cross path with, the embodiment of dark magic beyond recon, the dark you DON't wish ever to be encompassed with, the dark you turn all the lights to chase away, but it's all in vain, cause he'll come for you from within, he'll find your darkness and awake it....
Most thought I was Lucifer's right-hand man, but i was so fucking much more.
Magdalena
She's been running from who her family, from her heritage, from the events that shattered her inside - the betrayal, the disappointment, the loss. She's been hiding from her true self...
but now it's time to come home...it's nearing the Harver time, it's nearing of the Awakening, the time when she'll be able to embrace her powers...the time she's be joined again with her coven...or so she thought...
She's fighting the difference in her...she's different, she feels the darkness as a part of her but she denies it, she fights against it, blocking it and controling it...UNTIL he sets her on fire.
"You need someone who isn't afraid to give you what you need, what you crave. What you yourself are afraid to ask for. Any real man would have felt the need; I did.
Lucian Blackstone is the devil of darkness, he's her darkness, he's her nemesis that wants in, wants to take her, claim her, ravish her, destroy and shatter her by taking the last bit of light...
If I fall for him, I fear that the monster that sleeps within me will awaken, and I'm scared that if it does, I won't recognize myself anymore.
but for him it's pure carnal urge...
"Sometimes we don't care about the romance; it's the sex we are after. The feel of flesh, and the intense need to soothe the ache."
She's not used to that kind of a game...but she's determined to fight it, even though the pull of him is undeniable, almost painful to avoid and turn away from...but she must win...or otherwise the darkness will.
"You have a dark side, little witch; let it out to play."
Lucian is on his own mission, chasing the shadow of a curse cast on him tousands of years ago...when he did let "her" in, when he put his heart out and was betrayed...
He's chasing the curse of his own demise and yet he can NOT die...but she must and she will...
Every. Single. Time. that she rejoins into the new generations of witches...
He'll find her every time, and he'll do what he does best...
Until Lena crosses his path and starts to fight against his dark...by igniting his carnal desire
I needed to own her, to hear her cream my name. To feel her flesh pound against mine; continually pounding it until she was nothing more than a hot, quivering mess.
...and ache for smth more...smth he lost long time ago...
The anticipation of the final carnal explosion between Lucian and Lena was prolongued and damn hightened to the levels of self-combusting threat. It was palpable, vivid and frustrating..., the pull and the strong chemistry as well as the teasing were very well described.
BUt it was a two way cut for me, cause I both, felt anticipation and frustration but it also made me thinking that it is somehow procrastinating the storyline...the events were smoothly incorporated with the carnal yearning of the characters and the teasing sexual bits were wrapped in the layer of slow paced rhythm and that made me sigh, like a lot, cause I had a feeling that the story was dragging in certain points...
Secondly, even though, I liked the story, in the end I unfortunately, didn't love it. I felt kinda tossed over the fence with Lucian, cause for me, he wasn't DARK enough...
yes, he was kinky, he was powerful and demanding alpha but I somehow wanted him to be a bit more "evil", him being even dangerous than the Lucifer himself.
The author notes:
I don’t write love stories: I write fast paced, knock you on your ass, make you sit on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next books.
Apart from the slight "pacing" disagreement I would say this IS the "beginning of a cluster love story" the one that could ruin you and destroy you to the bits of pieces and yet you would still thrive to get it even just a tiny glimpse or taste of it...
And the last act Lucian did in the book makes a huge indication that what might follow in book 2 would be worth that glimpse, that taste...
Need more of Lucian and Lena...need more, to answer and satisfy my own curiosity, my own hunger...
so, I am waiting...impatiently.
Oh yeah, and before I go...just to make things clear...
I STILL call DIBS, mother fuckin DIBS!!!
For more info and reviews
FOLLOW GR Sirens Book Reviews
March 31, 2018
5 stars!!! I absolutely FLoved it!! Been a while since I've handed out a 5 star review... 5 months to be honest. And I've read probably upwards of 60 books since then. I admit it, I'm stingy with my 5 star ratings. But this book, it had everything I was looking for!
Angst... oh, it had the ANGST in spades! Hot sexy times... ooh, sound the alarm on that front too! A complete, jerkface asshole and a sassy, independent young woman and how they...um, clash, yeah, that's the right word. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Just an intriguingly fascinating paranormal story that I didn't even know I craved!! Read it. Love it!!
(ETA... just did a reread in prep for Sleeping With Monster's release on Monday... gah, I still love it just as much as I did the first time. )
Angst... oh, it had the ANGST in spades! Hot sexy times... ooh, sound the alarm on that front too! A complete, jerkface asshole and a sassy, independent young woman and how they...um, clash, yeah, that's the right word. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Just an intriguingly fascinating paranormal story that I didn't even know I craved!! Read it. Love it!!
(ETA... just did a reread in prep for Sleeping With Monster's release on Monday... gah, I still love it just as much as I did the first time. )
January 10, 2024
3.5 stars
September 11, 2018
#Re-read.
The first time I read this I didn’t finish🤦🏼♀️ I’d just read the fae chronicles and I think that my expectations were all off.
I decided to try reading it again, now I have the other books out of my head, and I’m so glad I did. I’m def calling my failure to finish last time my fault, as the book was actually pretty great.
**I don’t normally leave written reviews these days, as since I’ve been writing myself I generally don’t think it’s a good idea, but considering I left a review previously for this one, I wanted to update it.
The first time I read this I didn’t finish🤦🏼♀️ I’d just read the fae chronicles and I think that my expectations were all off.
I decided to try reading it again, now I have the other books out of my head, and I’m so glad I did. I’m def calling my failure to finish last time my fault, as the book was actually pretty great.
**I don’t normally leave written reviews these days, as since I’ve been writing myself I generally don’t think it’s a good idea, but considering I left a review previously for this one, I wanted to update it.
June 4, 2018
this book is a hot mess. I generally dont like pnr/uf based on witches. I should have went with my gut but I was craving a good Paranormal Romance read. unfortunately This wasnt it.
The story starts with some sort of curse enacted in medieval times going on down through the years till now where the star crossed lover H/h are doomed to be reincarnated till they get it right- or at least I think thats whats going on?
the story goes horribly awry when the heroine is raped by her demon possessed ex boyfriend. The author gave us no recovery time before we were to get on board with her feeling sexual towards the other main character. after that? I was out and frankly didn't have it in me to read on to discover what's really going on.
dnf
The story starts with some sort of curse enacted in medieval times going on down through the years till now where the star crossed lover H/h are doomed to be reincarnated till they get it right- or at least I think thats whats going on?
the story goes horribly awry when the heroine is raped by her demon possessed ex boyfriend. The author gave us no recovery time before we were to get on board with her feeling sexual towards the other main character. after that? I was out and frankly didn't have it in me to read on to discover what's really going on.
dnf
August 3, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3rd reread)
''Your wings were ready, but my heart was not''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating (between MCs)
- OW drama
- Slight OM drama
- R*pe/assault
- Violence/d*ath
- Dub con
- Humiliation/degradation
- Voyeurism
- Cliffhanger
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
As you can tell I love this series as this is my third reread. I found Amelia's books back in early 2021 and binge read everything she ever had written, besides Knox and Aria these two are my second favorite couple from Amelia.
Since I've read the books before I know everything that happens in terms of reveals, shocks, cliffhangers and endings but it was nice to go back and see the hints so early on and how many of the things Lucian would say or be said about him would reveal who he was in reality.
I won't say what he is as that is only revealed at the end of the final book (book 4). Though I would say it was pretty obvious once you know and reread passages.
We start this book with Lena who is currently living in another place away from her coven/family for over three years after she caught her ex-fiancé sleeping with another girl a week before her wedding. In the midst of all that she also found her father left her mother for that same girl’s mother and her older brother Joshua died in a bombing while he was stationed in the middle east. All these things brought on her need to be away from everyone and heal, which is unheard of since covens in this world are close to each other and stay together to heal and never separate for it so Lena's decision was odd for many.
She is back though since the awakening is happening and this will allow a group of young witches/warlocks in the coven to awaken their dormant powers.
While that is coming Lena meets the new town resident Lucian who seems to be buying things left and right, created a nightclub/sex club in their small town, the coven trusts him and are nice with him as he is said to be from another powerful coven but not everything is how it seems.
These two though have INTENSE and MASSIVE chemistry. It is undeniable and nothing they do prevents them from eventually realizing they need to be together (more so fucking but still lol).
I should mention this book has dual POV so we get to be his head sometimes but not much is revealed about what he is, but we get more of a backstory to WHY he is here and what he is truly looking for...so let’s break it down:
A long LONG time ago Lucian was granted something called The Seal to protect and make sure nobody ever got their hands on because it was dangerous, and it could ruin worlds and bring destruction.
A few centuries ago he falls in love with a young witch who loves him back but sadly she finds the seal and opens it causing the seal to find her as its host..it holds her mind and makes it dark and see/believe things that causes her to hate him and curse him, while she curses him he kills her but the curse takes into effect. The curse is two things: she will be reborn one day and have the seal within her, he will need to find her amongst the world and kill her to end it again (vicious cycle that goes on forever) and the second part he is never allowed to have children.
He tracks her down through centuries, the amount of time each time is different, and locations change but she always looks the same and each time she falls in love with him, he kills her again.
In this present timeline it's been 120 years since the last Katarina showed up and he is desperate to find it because it's the last time it will happen as the LAST reincarnation cursed herself so the next one dies and it's over for good, but the seal somehow will win.
Lena throughout the book shows signs she is the reincarnation but she also has a twin sister Kendra so it could be either. Though Kendra gets kidnapped by Lucifer because Lucifer wants Lena since Lucian and him are basically enemies, and he wants to hurt Lucian.
Now we should discuss the sex: Lena and Lucian are basically a slowish burn, as they do not have sex until the night of the awakening where Lena is NOT chosen and is deemed not worth awakening and she is distraught and goes to find him. They spend the night together. It's hot and intense but it's sadly ruined by Lucian's former fuck buddy who lets others see them through the special glass in place in the room causing Lena heartbreak and leaves.
OM drama: Lena's old fiancé is currently dating her twin sister (eww) who tells her she always loved him and she has been sleeping with him but he admits he still wants Lena, a while after she arrives he attacks her and rapes her but we find out he is possessed by a demon and begs her to KILL him to end it and you can feel his pain in trying to hold off from doing anything to her, she eventually kills him and it's just sad.
OW drama: Lucian's former fuck buddy gets ahead of herself and thinks Lucian should be with her and causes a moment of humiliation for Lena and also tries to sleep with him, but he rejects it. He does not want anyone and does not get with anyone once Lena enters his world. He admits he never makes any noise with any woman, nor does he kiss them, but he does it all with Lena.
Kendra is kidnapped by Lucifer and taken to Hell, and this causes Lucian, and we get to see a bunch of people from the Fae Chronicles show up and hell him clean up the mess that has occurred at the same time. You see Cassidy and her mother Helen (the same woman who Lena's father left her mother for) revealed before that Cassidy is his daughter making her half-sister. Helen is a bitch and a Karen if we ever had to describe her, and she was DESPERATE to have her daughter with Lucian so when it didn’t work, she somehow got with Lucifer and allowed demons into the Abbey where the coven was and locked them in causing deaths.
Lucian, desperate to save Lena from going after her sister and the other issues erases her memory and makes her believe she is Kendra all along, fixes the other coven members’ memories to show the same and other stuff to help their story.
We end the book with Lucian HATING how he had to erase her and hating having to even call her by another name but is forced to save her. He does not want to kill her, but he needs to be smart about how to approach everything, he still has not found the reincarnation.
A lot more happens but I cannot describe everything lol. All you need to know is that this is an insane world and even more insane couple. There are many more questions than answers about Lucian and his mysterious self, but you can at least eliminate who isn’t by seeing the other characters. Though the hint for me was in his little story about ancient beings and the name of his nightclub lol
''Your wings were ready, but my heart was not''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating (between MCs)
- OW drama
- Slight OM drama
- R*pe/assault
- Violence/d*ath
- Dub con
- Humiliation/degradation
- Voyeurism
- Cliffhanger
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
As you can tell I love this series as this is my third reread. I found Amelia's books back in early 2021 and binge read everything she ever had written, besides Knox and Aria these two are my second favorite couple from Amelia.
Since I've read the books before I know everything that happens in terms of reveals, shocks, cliffhangers and endings but it was nice to go back and see the hints so early on and how many of the things Lucian would say or be said about him would reveal who he was in reality.
I won't say what he is as that is only revealed at the end of the final book (book 4). Though I would say it was pretty obvious once you know and reread passages.
We start this book with Lena who is currently living in another place away from her coven/family for over three years after she caught her ex-fiancé sleeping with another girl a week before her wedding. In the midst of all that she also found her father left her mother for that same girl’s mother and her older brother Joshua died in a bombing while he was stationed in the middle east. All these things brought on her need to be away from everyone and heal, which is unheard of since covens in this world are close to each other and stay together to heal and never separate for it so Lena's decision was odd for many.
She is back though since the awakening is happening and this will allow a group of young witches/warlocks in the coven to awaken their dormant powers.
While that is coming Lena meets the new town resident Lucian who seems to be buying things left and right, created a nightclub/sex club in their small town, the coven trusts him and are nice with him as he is said to be from another powerful coven but not everything is how it seems.
These two though have INTENSE and MASSIVE chemistry. It is undeniable and nothing they do prevents them from eventually realizing they need to be together (more so fucking but still lol).
I should mention this book has dual POV so we get to be his head sometimes but not much is revealed about what he is, but we get more of a backstory to WHY he is here and what he is truly looking for...so let’s break it down:
A long LONG time ago Lucian was granted something called The Seal to protect and make sure nobody ever got their hands on because it was dangerous, and it could ruin worlds and bring destruction.
A few centuries ago he falls in love with a young witch who loves him back but sadly she finds the seal and opens it causing the seal to find her as its host..it holds her mind and makes it dark and see/believe things that causes her to hate him and curse him, while she curses him he kills her but the curse takes into effect. The curse is two things: she will be reborn one day and have the seal within her, he will need to find her amongst the world and kill her to end it again (vicious cycle that goes on forever) and the second part he is never allowed to have children.
He tracks her down through centuries, the amount of time each time is different, and locations change but she always looks the same and each time she falls in love with him, he kills her again.
In this present timeline it's been 120 years since the last Katarina showed up and he is desperate to find it because it's the last time it will happen as the LAST reincarnation cursed herself so the next one dies and it's over for good, but the seal somehow will win.
Lena throughout the book shows signs she is the reincarnation but she also has a twin sister Kendra so it could be either. Though Kendra gets kidnapped by Lucifer because Lucifer wants Lena since Lucian and him are basically enemies, and he wants to hurt Lucian.
Now we should discuss the sex: Lena and Lucian are basically a slowish burn, as they do not have sex until the night of the awakening where Lena is NOT chosen and is deemed not worth awakening and she is distraught and goes to find him. They spend the night together. It's hot and intense but it's sadly ruined by Lucian's former fuck buddy who lets others see them through the special glass in place in the room causing Lena heartbreak and leaves.
OM drama: Lena's old fiancé is currently dating her twin sister (eww) who tells her she always loved him and she has been sleeping with him but he admits he still wants Lena, a while after she arrives he attacks her and rapes her but we find out he is possessed by a demon and begs her to KILL him to end it and you can feel his pain in trying to hold off from doing anything to her, she eventually kills him and it's just sad.
OW drama: Lucian's former fuck buddy gets ahead of herself and thinks Lucian should be with her and causes a moment of humiliation for Lena and also tries to sleep with him, but he rejects it. He does not want anyone and does not get with anyone once Lena enters his world. He admits he never makes any noise with any woman, nor does he kiss them, but he does it all with Lena.
Kendra is kidnapped by Lucifer and taken to Hell, and this causes Lucian, and we get to see a bunch of people from the Fae Chronicles show up and hell him clean up the mess that has occurred at the same time. You see Cassidy and her mother Helen (the same woman who Lena's father left her mother for) revealed before that Cassidy is his daughter making her half-sister. Helen is a bitch and a Karen if we ever had to describe her, and she was DESPERATE to have her daughter with Lucian so when it didn’t work, she somehow got with Lucifer and allowed demons into the Abbey where the coven was and locked them in causing deaths.
Lucian, desperate to save Lena from going after her sister and the other issues erases her memory and makes her believe she is Kendra all along, fixes the other coven members’ memories to show the same and other stuff to help their story.
We end the book with Lucian HATING how he had to erase her and hating having to even call her by another name but is forced to save her. He does not want to kill her, but he needs to be smart about how to approach everything, he still has not found the reincarnation.
A lot more happens but I cannot describe everything lol. All you need to know is that this is an insane world and even more insane couple. There are many more questions than answers about Lucian and his mysterious self, but you can at least eliminate who isn’t by seeing the other characters. Though the hint for me was in his little story about ancient beings and the name of his nightclub lol
May 3, 2020
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“You can’t change the past; you can dwell on it, but eventually you need to let it go. Look to the future, and remember the past when you need to, but lock it down and don’t dwell on it because it is the past, and you are already in the future.”
Amelia spelled me to love her books! The worlds she created will get you spellbound and hooked to every character in it. 💗
Lena & Lucian, omg they kept me intrigued & guessing throughout the whole story..
They made me love & hate them too.. Especially Lena 😤
This one has a unique concept but nothing much happened until the last quarter of the story…
All in all this book was good and will take you out of your comfort zone 😉
“You can’t change the past; you can dwell on it, but eventually you need to let it go. Look to the future, and remember the past when you need to, but lock it down and don’t dwell on it because it is the past, and you are already in the future.”
Amelia spelled me to love her books! The worlds she created will get you spellbound and hooked to every character in it. 💗
Lena & Lucian, omg they kept me intrigued & guessing throughout the whole story..
They made me love & hate them too.. Especially Lena 😤
This one has a unique concept but nothing much happened until the last quarter of the story…
All in all this book was good and will take you out of your comfort zone 😉
May 17, 2020
Edit: There's an update in the comments.
***
How can a 500-page-ass-long book have no plot? So many things happened just for the hell of it that nothing actually happened. Not until the very end when I couldn't care less.
It's all over the place, there's no logic or unity. It's not cohesive. Really, it's like different pieces were glued together in the worst possible way.
One of those pieces is a rape scene.
Please, stop abusing rape for money. Thank f•ck there's a warning, but it doesn't excuse the bs of it. The rape might not have been used for titillation, but it's still there only for the sake of drama. It gave absolutely nothing to the plot. What was the freaking point?
It was all forgotten in 5 minutes and not even a week later the heroine was opening her legs for the hero. And you know why? Because she is "not a victim", she is "strong" and other bs like that. B•tch, please. Where are the consequences?
The hero used to call her "little witch", but after her rape she became "little warrior" and "little fighter". Are. You. F•cking. Kidding. Me.
WOMEN DO NOT NEED TO HAVE BEEN RAPED TO BECOME STRONG OR STRONGER. GTFO.
It’s also an insult to all the authors who write about rape because they actually want to say something.
And again, not nearly enoughwomen readers had a problem with this. They're a part of what’s wrong with society and rape culture. OR I'm giving them too much credit and they're just too lazy (don't care) to do some text analysis. Everything is possible.
On a personal note, it's really sad this lacked the intimacy that's usually there between two people. Almost all of their sex scenes were on display. Even their first time wasn't private. Definitely ruined the mood and made it all cheap for me.
Don't know if I'm going to read the sequels, I'll have to read the (real) honest reviews first. Maybe only if I get them as freebies as this one was (thank God).
***
How can a 500-page-ass-long book have no plot? So many things happened just for the hell of it that nothing actually happened. Not until the very end when I couldn't care less.
It's all over the place, there's no logic or unity. It's not cohesive. Really, it's like different pieces were glued together in the worst possible way.
One of those pieces is a rape scene.
Please, stop abusing rape for money. Thank f•ck there's a warning, but it doesn't excuse the bs of it. The rape might not have been used for titillation, but it's still there only for the sake of drama. It gave absolutely nothing to the plot. What was the freaking point?
It was all forgotten in 5 minutes and not even a week later the heroine was opening her legs for the hero. And you know why? Because she is "not a victim", she is "strong" and other bs like that. B•tch, please. Where are the consequences?
The hero used to call her "little witch", but after her rape she became "little warrior" and "little fighter". Are. You. F•cking. Kidding. Me.
WOMEN DO NOT NEED TO HAVE BEEN RAPED TO BECOME STRONG OR STRONGER. GTFO.
It’s also an insult to all the authors who write about rape because they actually want to say something.
And again, not nearly enough
On a personal note, it's really sad this lacked the intimacy that's usually there between two people. Almost all of their sex scenes were on display. Even their first time wasn't private. Definitely ruined the mood and made it all cheap for me.
Don't know if I'm going to read the sequels, I'll have to read the (real) honest reviews first. Maybe only if I get them as freebies as this one was (thank God).
October 7, 2018
Review with Sleeping with Monsters...no time now I have to read the second one.
March 24, 2020
I will continue with this series in the future...
I enjoyed it...def action paced book with some interesting premise & fantastic characters...
3,5stars
I enjoyed it...def action paced book with some interesting premise & fantastic characters...
3,5stars
July 27, 2021
Love Lucian and Lena
I read a few reviews And was expecting the worst. I’m glad I didn’t listen and continued reading the series. I loved reading Lucian and Lena. Can’t wait to keep on going.
Updating this review lol (man my 2020 reviews need more info).
Lena (Magdalena) is a witch. She’s been gone for three years after her brother Joshua died from an explosion in Afghanistan and catching her fiancé smexing another woman a week before their wedding. She has a twin sister, Kendra, who she shares a deep soul/body connection with. It’s rare to have twin witch sisters. She comes back to her guild because they’re about to ascend into their powers during The Awakening- a ceremony where the elders will select couples as well as unlock the powers each witch has. During this ceremony, mating will occur, and powers will increase not only to each individual witch, but the guild/coven as a whole. During the time gone, she studied botany and attended college. She needed the time away to become a stronger woman and have a keener sense of her identify.
Then she meets Lucian- who has his own powers and owns a sex club. Oh Lucian, you sexy WHATEVER YOU ARE you. Their connection is 🧨 and instant. He’s j/p and I was 👏🏻here👏🏻 for👏🏻it! Lena senses that he’s more than what he makes himself to be. There’s delicious tension and thiccccc THICKKK chemistry that is undeniable. Lucian isn’t too sold on witches. He has a past that slowly gets revealed as the book unfolds. He’s trying to get ahead of something from his past that is set to destroy, and he’s trying to stop it. In the meantime, he keeps gravitating towards Lena. What IS Lucian? We find out he’s Lucifer’s right hand man, but he’s actually more! Gah.
Although Lena isn’t a virgin, she might as well be 😬😅. She lost it and it was “fine”; sex was “fine” to her- a word that Lucian is ready to remedy and wipe out of her vocabulary ASAP. And oh does he do it spectacularly 🔥🥵. The passion between Lena and Lucian is bone deep, visceral, raw, passionate, animalistic, balls to the walls explosive. They will literally break furniture and walls when they’re in the middle of it all- that’s how 🔥👏🏻🥵😅💦it gets! Dear lord, sweet Jesus… it’s INTENSE!
Things happen, truths get unveiled, powers get shown and we end in a cliffy. I got emotional with what Lucian had to do at the end of this book in order to keep Lena safe/sane. Ugh 🥺❤️.
Looooved it!
⚠️safety squad⚠️ (spoilers)
-no cheating
-mild OMD- her ex tries talking to her; OM2 flirts with h at a party and she flirts back (H and h haven’t been together)
-mild OWD- a previous hoe of the H tries to get back with him, but he hasn’t been able to crave anyone in a while and she keeps begging 🙄 at one point, he throws her out the window because she was bugging (too bad she doesn’t end up dying ugh 😂)
-OW humiliates the h when she reveals/clears the safety glass when the H and h finally have sex at his sex club in a private room 🤬
-there’s some voyeurism that happens
-the h gets r@ped 😞 by OM. This is before h and H get together, but it was because the OM was possessed- severe consequences happen
-some dubcon scenes happen, but really, the h ends up enjoying it all 🤷🏻♀️
I read a few reviews And was expecting the worst. I’m glad I didn’t listen and continued reading the series. I loved reading Lucian and Lena. Can’t wait to keep on going.
Updating this review lol (man my 2020 reviews need more info).
Lena (Magdalena) is a witch. She’s been gone for three years after her brother Joshua died from an explosion in Afghanistan and catching her fiancé smexing another woman a week before their wedding. She has a twin sister, Kendra, who she shares a deep soul/body connection with. It’s rare to have twin witch sisters. She comes back to her guild because they’re about to ascend into their powers during The Awakening- a ceremony where the elders will select couples as well as unlock the powers each witch has. During this ceremony, mating will occur, and powers will increase not only to each individual witch, but the guild/coven as a whole. During the time gone, she studied botany and attended college. She needed the time away to become a stronger woman and have a keener sense of her identify.
Then she meets Lucian- who has his own powers and owns a sex club. Oh Lucian, you sexy WHATEVER YOU ARE you. Their connection is 🧨 and instant. He’s j/p and I was 👏🏻here👏🏻 for👏🏻it! Lena senses that he’s more than what he makes himself to be. There’s delicious tension and thiccccc THICKKK chemistry that is undeniable. Lucian isn’t too sold on witches. He has a past that slowly gets revealed as the book unfolds. He’s trying to get ahead of something from his past that is set to destroy, and he’s trying to stop it. In the meantime, he keeps gravitating towards Lena. What IS Lucian? We find out he’s Lucifer’s right hand man, but he’s actually more! Gah.
Although Lena isn’t a virgin, she might as well be 😬😅. She lost it and it was “fine”; sex was “fine” to her- a word that Lucian is ready to remedy and wipe out of her vocabulary ASAP. And oh does he do it spectacularly 🔥🥵. The passion between Lena and Lucian is bone deep, visceral, raw, passionate, animalistic, balls to the walls explosive. They will literally break furniture and walls when they’re in the middle of it all- that’s how 🔥👏🏻🥵😅💦it gets! Dear lord, sweet Jesus… it’s INTENSE!
Things happen, truths get unveiled, powers get shown and we end in a cliffy. I got emotional with what Lucian had to do at the end of this book in order to keep Lena safe/sane. Ugh 🥺❤️.
Looooved it!
⚠️safety squad⚠️ (spoilers)
-no cheating
-mild OMD- her ex tries talking to her; OM2 flirts with h at a party and she flirts back (H and h haven’t been together)
-mild OWD- a previous hoe of the H tries to get back with him, but he hasn’t been able to crave anyone in a while and she keeps begging 🙄 at one point, he throws her out the window because she was bugging (too bad she doesn’t end up dying ugh 😂)
-OW humiliates the h when she reveals/clears the safety glass when the H and h finally have sex at his sex club in a private room 🤬
-there’s some voyeurism that happens
-the h gets r@ped 😞 by OM. This is before h and H get together, but it was because the OM was possessed- severe consequences happen
-some dubcon scenes happen, but really, the h ends up enjoying it all 🤷🏻♀️
Read
October 20, 2019Nope. Can't do. The description of the book itself and the author's disclaimer turned me off even before I began. So I won't be rating it. But man! I need to learn not to get sucked in by the freebies!
December 19, 2023
This book is soooooo confusing but in a good way?! The whole plot is so unpredictable, shrouded in mystery & passionate romance that had me in a choke hold.
Story centers around Magdalena, a young witch who is hoping to gain her powers. Look, our girl Lena has been through some stuff (massive trigger warnings!). But when she comes back to her small town she stumbles kiss-first into Lucian. Mysterious something. I swear to you that the book does not reveal what he is (definitely not a witch nor a demon). Infuriating!!
To EVERYONE he is: just a wealthy benefactor financially supporting local community coven. 😇
To HER he is: death incarnate, slutty two shoes, possessive even in front of his own men, murderer (might have killed her in past life TBD), ability to mind control, pierced n*pples guy 🌶️
The whole relationship between the main characters is push-pull/cat-mouse game with undertones of Hades/Persephone dynamics. The plot has so many twists & turns with plenty of strange events it’s difficult to understand their whole relationship. But 🌶️🌶️ the spice is SPICING! Top tier smut because it was passionate and literally supernatural. It kind of reminded me of The Professional (Kresley Cole) for some reason. I was definitely blushing while reading! The mouth on Lucian 🤭🤭
“I was fucked if I wanted this girl. Me, the scariest fucking monster currently residing in this world, with some sweet little witch, one who hasn’t even been awoken to her powers? Fucking pathetic.”
This book is a trippppp and I loved it! Even as I’m writing this review I feel like I still don’t know what exactly is going on in the series….but that’s what keeps me reading so I guess that’s good…
enemies to lovers
small town fantasy
non con encounters
devils trap 👀
exhibitionism
dual pov
cliffhanger
Story centers around Magdalena, a young witch who is hoping to gain her powers. Look, our girl Lena has been through some stuff (massive trigger warnings!). But when she comes back to her small town she stumbles kiss-first into Lucian. Mysterious something. I swear to you that the book does not reveal what he is (definitely not a witch nor a demon). Infuriating!!
To EVERYONE he is: just a wealthy benefactor financially supporting local community coven. 😇
To HER he is: death incarnate, slutty two shoes, possessive even in front of his own men, murderer (might have killed her in past life TBD), ability to mind control, pierced n*pples guy 🌶️
The whole relationship between the main characters is push-pull/cat-mouse game with undertones of Hades/Persephone dynamics. The plot has so many twists & turns with plenty of strange events it’s difficult to understand their whole relationship. But 🌶️🌶️ the spice is SPICING! Top tier smut because it was passionate and literally supernatural. It kind of reminded me of The Professional (Kresley Cole) for some reason. I was definitely blushing while reading! The mouth on Lucian 🤭🤭
“I was fucked if I wanted this girl. Me, the scariest fucking monster currently residing in this world, with some sweet little witch, one who hasn’t even been awoken to her powers? Fucking pathetic.”
This book is a trippppp and I loved it! Even as I’m writing this review I feel like I still don’t know what exactly is going on in the series….but that’s what keeps me reading so I guess that’s good…
enemies to lovers
small town fantasy
non con encounters
devils trap 👀
exhibitionism
dual pov
cliffhanger
May 18, 2018
And that's a big NOPE from me.
A shallow and immature read, I'm going to have to give this series a miss.
A shallow and immature read, I'm going to have to give this series a miss.
January 22, 2019
The ginormous penis rears it's head again, it's like this author can't write a book without mentioning how massive it is. This is my fourth book from her so I'm pretty much an expert at this point.
I thought this book was Ok. It starts really strong and then fizzles out. I thought we were going to discover more in regards to the dreams and the prophesy but that didn't happen. I also felt like Lena was too understanding about the Todd demon issue and that the reason she was so understanding was because the author wanted her and Lucian to have sex without us the readers thinking it was too fast. Which I thought it was,let the girl come to reality with it first.
I already have book two waiting, can't wait to see what happens.
I thought this book was Ok. It starts really strong and then fizzles out. I thought we were going to discover more in regards to the dreams and the prophesy but that didn't happen. I also felt like Lena was too understanding about the Todd demon issue and that the reason she was so understanding was because the author wanted her and Lucian to have sex without us the readers thinking it was too fast. Which I thought it was,let the girl come to reality with it first.
I already have book two waiting, can't wait to see what happens.
August 7, 2021
I need the second book NOW!!!


Want to read
June 11, 2019🎁 FREE on iBooks today (6/11/2019)! 🎁
July 7, 2016
This book was very different than what I expected. I can honestly say when I first started the book I was not feeling Lucian and Lena. I remember Lucian from A.Hutchins' other books, but I didn't have an opinion on him. With this book I sure did. He is an a-hole and a supreme douche. A menthol eucalyptus douche - if you can imagine something so painful.
I felt as if Lena's will and purpose wasn't strong enough. She struck as being pretty self-assured and strong in character, but as soon as she meets Lucian its like her mind and her panties go up in the air.
My only way around characterizing Lena as weak-willed and run by her coochie was to tell myself Lucian is a powerful ________. I leave it blank because I really don't know what creature he is. He isn't a fairy, he's not the Devil's right hand man, and he damned sure isn't a witch (like Lena). So many secrets and no idea who knows the truth. What the reader does know is that a past witch cursed Lucian's people [Lucian himself?] and there's some kind of power that will be released into the world if Lucian doesn't kill the resurrected witch. There's more to it than that, but thems the basics.
Also, Lena herself is going through major sh*t and its called life. Her life is soooo messy. Her coven. Her family. Her relationships. Her yet to be released powers. Its all messed up. Throw in this sexually charged fog that grabs her whenever she's around Lucian and we have a huge recipe for disaster.
Honestly, I didn't get seriously invested until the middle of the book. Lucian is still not my fav character.
I will continue to read the series because I think both characters can redeem themselves. haha
.
.
.
.
CANNOT WAIT
I felt as if Lena's will and purpose wasn't strong enough. She struck as being pretty self-assured and strong in character, but as soon as she meets Lucian its like her mind and her panties go up in the air.
My only way around characterizing Lena as weak-willed and run by her coochie was to tell myself Lucian is a powerful ________. I leave it blank because I really don't know what creature he is. He isn't a fairy, he's not the Devil's right hand man, and he damned sure isn't a witch (like Lena). So many secrets and no idea who knows the truth. What the reader does know is that a past witch cursed Lucian's people [Lucian himself?] and there's some kind of power that will be released into the world if Lucian doesn't kill the resurrected witch. There's more to it than that, but thems the basics.
Also, Lena herself is going through major sh*t and its called life. Her life is soooo messy. Her coven. Her family. Her relationships. Her yet to be released powers. Its all messed up. Throw in this sexually charged fog that grabs her whenever she's around Lucian and we have a huge recipe for disaster.
Honestly, I didn't get seriously invested until the middle of the book. Lucian is still not my fav character.
I will continue to read the series because I think both characters can redeem themselves. haha
.
.
.
.
CANNOT WAIT
July 1, 2016
**** 4.5 stars****
Well I'm happy to say this one was much better than the last book. The story was really good!
I loved the story and I couldn't put this one down, I will admit that there were some moments in the beginning that it dragged a little but it didn't bother me more than that.
The only thing that bothered me was the sex, it took forever for Lucian and Lena to do it!!
The the sexual tension between Lucian and Lena was off the charts, so I just wanted them to do it already!
I guess Amelia likes to make us suffer but it was worth the wait because when they finally had sex..
Yeah it was good ;)
Like her other books there is so much going, so many questions I need answers to!
So I hope we won't have to wait long for the next book.
February 24, 2024
I'm immediately running to get popcorn and the second book. DUDE WHAT. I wasnt expecting all this drama and sex lmao. IM HOOKED!! 😭😂
also honestly I identify as blind when it comes to normal, healthy relationships. It's fine, I love him. 👨🦯
also honestly I identify as blind when it comes to normal, healthy relationships. It's fine, I love him. 👨🦯
May 19, 2020
I must say I'm thoroughly impressed with Amelia Hutchins's writing and storytelling... I have to give her her props..that she truly has a talent for writing PNR.
As I have been reading The Fae Chronicles series that this book was a spin-off of I thought maybe she would have lost her mojo and this spin-off series wouldn't be as good but I was so damn wrong in this assumption. She made this book connect with Ryder and Syn story of the Fae Chronicles series flow with ease. At first, I was a little put out at how she just added them into the story but by the end of it, it works well with the storyline she was trying to convey.
If anyone that has read any of my reviews in the past knows how I hate cliffhangers ( with an absolute passion) but even though there was a cliffhanger I didn't feel like I was being pushed off a 500 ft cliff ( if you know what I mean). I didn't feel like I was going to die without the next book, but even though I'm excited and can't wait for Lena and Lucian's story to continue I'm okay with this cliffhanger...
Now talk about characters OMG I love our hero Lucian... Yes, he is a badass in every sense of the word. He's a total alpha male that rules the world around and below him... until her. Our heroine Lena is a take-charge kinda girl and don't give a fuck what others think of her. She has a mind of her own and the powers to back it up! I love that the author gives us a kick-ass heroine!
Now for my special sauce of the song that best describes this book is:
🎶 "That's the Way Love Goes"🎶 by Janet Jackson
Overall rating:
4.85* ~ A Damn Good Read
As I have been reading The Fae Chronicles series that this book was a spin-off of I thought maybe she would have lost her mojo and this spin-off series wouldn't be as good but I was so damn wrong in this assumption. She made this book connect with Ryder and Syn story of the Fae Chronicles series flow with ease. At first, I was a little put out at how she just added them into the story but by the end of it, it works well with the storyline she was trying to convey.
If anyone that has read any of my reviews in the past knows how I hate cliffhangers ( with an absolute passion) but even though there was a cliffhanger I didn't feel like I was being pushed off a 500 ft cliff ( if you know what I mean). I didn't feel like I was going to die without the next book, but even though I'm excited and can't wait for Lena and Lucian's story to continue I'm okay with this cliffhanger...
Now talk about characters OMG I love our hero Lucian... Yes, he is a badass in every sense of the word. He's a total alpha male that rules the world around and below him... until her. Our heroine Lena is a take-charge kinda girl and don't give a fuck what others think of her. She has a mind of her own and the powers to back it up! I love that the author gives us a kick-ass heroine!
Now for my special sauce of the song that best describes this book is:
🎶 "That's the Way Love Goes"🎶 by Janet Jackson
Overall rating:
4.85* ~ A Damn Good Read
August 7, 2021
I’ll start by saying this is a new author for me. I generally avoid all books fae related (just never found one I enjoyed) so I’ve not read her Fae Chronicles.
Also (long story short) I started this without checking any reviews. I figured it was on my kindle for a reason and just got started.
So what did I think of it?
If I had to pick one word to describe it it would be SLOW. It’s painfully slow and that’s with me skimming at times.
Now it started well and I was intrigued. I liked Magdalena she was certainly an interesting character.
Lucian was hot and an asshole but I never got any kind of dangerous vibe from him.
I briefly considered continuing on with this series mainly because I like Magdalena. But after reading several reviews I’ve decided life is too short so I’m tapping out.
Shame the book wasn’t as good as the amazing cover.
Also (long story short) I started this without checking any reviews. I figured it was on my kindle for a reason and just got started.
So what did I think of it?
If I had to pick one word to describe it it would be SLOW. It’s painfully slow and that’s with me skimming at times.
Now it started well and I was intrigued. I liked Magdalena she was certainly an interesting character.
Lucian was hot and an asshole but I never got any kind of dangerous vibe from him.
I briefly considered continuing on with this series mainly because I like Magdalena. But after reading several reviews I’ve decided life is too short so I’m tapping out.
Shame the book wasn’t as good as the amazing cover.
March 15, 2023
Purchased From Amazon June 11, 2019
DNF page 108 chapter 10
Had an interesting synopsis and I am a PNR/Fantasy enthusiast.
But this one was NOT for me.
It rambles.
At 108 pages NOTHING has happened.
It was a lot like reading/watching a 'Dog Chase It's Tail'
I didn't like either of the MC's.
I hated how it was written.
It bored me to sleep.
And the writing... Ugh.
Slow paced and repetitive with unlikable mc's = DNF
Gotta Have Romance with a Kick March BR
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
TPAM March BR
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DNF page 108 chapter 10
Had an interesting synopsis and I am a PNR/Fantasy enthusiast.
But this one was NOT for me.
It rambles.
At 108 pages NOTHING has happened.
It was a lot like reading/watching a 'Dog Chase It's Tail'
I didn't like either of the MC's.
I hated how it was written.
It bored me to sleep.
And the writing... Ugh.
Slow paced and repetitive with unlikable mc's = DNF
Gotta Have Romance with a Kick March BR
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
TPAM March BR
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
June 29, 2016
Confusing and not this authors best
Unfortunately, I was so excited for this book as it seemed that it would be interesting and connected enough to the fae chronicles that I would love it. Sigh.....not so much. It seems this author has decided to get too elaborate and secretive in her story telling. And not in the good way. Just in the annoying and confusing way. This book IS loosely connected to the fae chronicles. We were introduced to Lucian in yet another spin off book from the fae chronicles...A Demons Dark Embrace. And honestly if you want to know more about Magdalena and her secrets you should read that book because it actually gives a much better explanation of her coven and her deaths than this book. It gives you a better look at Lucian too, even with the brief interaction Ristan has with him. Back to the story, it had promise but it was as if the author lost the story somewhere in the middle and just started filling pages with s#x that served absolutely no purpose. All of this authors books have that because it is the category of romance she writes but this was just ridiculous. Even Ryder and Syn didn't act like this and they have to do it to feed. In the Fae chronicles lust has a purpose and its done well, in this book its meaningless and apparently makes Magdalena lose her brain. What happened to writing strong yet vulnerable female characters Ms. Hutchins?! You did it so well and Magdalena is written to be a whiney brat who stomps around a lot and argues with everyone while pouting. She is honestly a very unlikeable character, she is immature and weak and bratty and runs away from everything. She is supposed to be home for the awakening yet she spends almost no time actually doing the activities. She just pouts a lot and has whiny inner monologue fantasies and dreams. Magdalena is obviously Katarina but she and Lucian don't know that yet even though he claims he is so powerful. It grates on the nerves that she has these dreams and she cannot remember and she gets mind controlled and altered at every other turn by Lucian when she is supposed to be powerful in her own right. She hates Lucian one minute and the next minute wants to sleep with him because she wants him so much she can't think straight(ugh not again). it ruins the story and makes me not want to read anymore if there is a second book. And Lucian, he's chasing after Magdalena all the time even though he is supposed to be saving the world yet he totally disrespects Magdalena and she is tricked into a public display of intercourse but he has no remorse or care for her feelings. Yes, the alpha hero's start out cold but they warm up, develop feelings (even when they don't want to...otherwise what is the point of writing romance). But Lucian cannot decide what he is doing and it is confusing to read. He is supposed too be tough and powerful and no one should want to "mess" with him yet, everyone does. Does he do anything about it? Nope.
It is like Ms. Hutchins has lost her story telling voice and she cannot decide if she wants this book to have a strong female character like Syn who is powerful but vulnerable but refuses to be ruled by lust...Syn tries to fight it instead of rolling over and giving in. This book is hard to understand, the conversations in this book don't make sense at times. Like Lucian puts her under compulsion to forget something and then the next chapter he is freaking out saying she shouldn't be able to resist.... Uh she didn't resist you made her forget.....so why is he thinking that. Then things seem to happen out of no where, like the fire at the house....uh what? Why are people trying to kill her and her family again? Is that explained... Nope. There is a lot that is just passed over. There is also a lot of situations, behaviors and actions of Lucian and Magdalena that are almost rip offs of Syn and Ryder. Its like she took parts of the fae chronicles and changed the names and some minor details and stuck them in this book because she couldn't come up with original material. Why bother?!
I say skip it unless you get it free. It has none of the wonderful writing and quality of the fae chronicles (they actually HAVE a story that makes sense) that made me really enjoy this author.
Unfortunately, I was so excited for this book as it seemed that it would be interesting and connected enough to the fae chronicles that I would love it. Sigh.....not so much. It seems this author has decided to get too elaborate and secretive in her story telling. And not in the good way. Just in the annoying and confusing way. This book IS loosely connected to the fae chronicles. We were introduced to Lucian in yet another spin off book from the fae chronicles...A Demons Dark Embrace. And honestly if you want to know more about Magdalena and her secrets you should read that book because it actually gives a much better explanation of her coven and her deaths than this book. It gives you a better look at Lucian too, even with the brief interaction Ristan has with him. Back to the story, it had promise but it was as if the author lost the story somewhere in the middle and just started filling pages with s#x that served absolutely no purpose. All of this authors books have that because it is the category of romance she writes but this was just ridiculous. Even Ryder and Syn didn't act like this and they have to do it to feed. In the Fae chronicles lust has a purpose and its done well, in this book its meaningless and apparently makes Magdalena lose her brain. What happened to writing strong yet vulnerable female characters Ms. Hutchins?! You did it so well and Magdalena is written to be a whiney brat who stomps around a lot and argues with everyone while pouting. She is honestly a very unlikeable character, she is immature and weak and bratty and runs away from everything. She is supposed to be home for the awakening yet she spends almost no time actually doing the activities. She just pouts a lot and has whiny inner monologue fantasies and dreams. Magdalena is obviously Katarina but she and Lucian don't know that yet even though he claims he is so powerful. It grates on the nerves that she has these dreams and she cannot remember and she gets mind controlled and altered at every other turn by Lucian when she is supposed to be powerful in her own right. She hates Lucian one minute and the next minute wants to sleep with him because she wants him so much she can't think straight(ugh not again). it ruins the story and makes me not want to read anymore if there is a second book. And Lucian, he's chasing after Magdalena all the time even though he is supposed to be saving the world yet he totally disrespects Magdalena and she is tricked into a public display of intercourse but he has no remorse or care for her feelings. Yes, the alpha hero's start out cold but they warm up, develop feelings (even when they don't want to...otherwise what is the point of writing romance). But Lucian cannot decide what he is doing and it is confusing to read. He is supposed too be tough and powerful and no one should want to "mess" with him yet, everyone does. Does he do anything about it? Nope.
It is like Ms. Hutchins has lost her story telling voice and she cannot decide if she wants this book to have a strong female character like Syn who is powerful but vulnerable but refuses to be ruled by lust...Syn tries to fight it instead of rolling over and giving in. This book is hard to understand, the conversations in this book don't make sense at times. Like Lucian puts her under compulsion to forget something and then the next chapter he is freaking out saying she shouldn't be able to resist.... Uh she didn't resist you made her forget.....so why is he thinking that. Then things seem to happen out of no where, like the fire at the house....uh what? Why are people trying to kill her and her family again? Is that explained... Nope. There is a lot that is just passed over. There is also a lot of situations, behaviors and actions of Lucian and Magdalena that are almost rip offs of Syn and Ryder. Its like she took parts of the fae chronicles and changed the names and some minor details and stuck them in this book because she couldn't come up with original material. Why bother?!
I say skip it unless you get it free. It has none of the wonderful writing and quality of the fae chronicles (they actually HAVE a story that makes sense) that made me really enjoy this author.
July 25, 2021
I liked this book a lot more than I expected! Honestly, I just started reading it as a part of the fae universe series to get to the book I actually wanted to read, but it was more than a pleasant surprise. It had fewer fae and a lot more witches but I liked the new characters a lot. Lena was fun to get to know and Lucian is so much better than he seemed from bits and pieces we got about him in previous books. I have a feeling we won't ever find out what he actually is, but that is the fun part.
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