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Hellhounds of Paradise Falls #5

How Not to Kill a Hellhound

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Sebbie
Life’s pretty good. I love my job, I feed the crows in my yard, and I have some awesome friends. Sure, I was kidnapped by a cult recently, but my friends rescued me, so no harm done. And, okay, people do tend to die around me, but I work in a hospital. That’s normal… right? Death isn’t scary anyway—it’s just another beginning. Unfortunately, most guys I date don’t see it that way. My love life has been pretty empty, but I just met someone new. He’s ridiculously cute and even likes crows. I just hope he’s not scared off when he learns about my job.

Corbin
I take great satisfaction in removing hellbound souls from the world—especially the ones who prey on the weak. With my pack and my familiar, Crow, at my side, life is steady and peaceful. At least, it was until Sebbie. The cute, bubbly man is far more than he realizes, and he’s about to turn everything upside down. There’s just one little he doesn’t know the supernatural exists… or that he’s a supernatural being. I want to help him harness his powers, but there’s a catch—if I’m not careful, Sebbie might end up killing me in the process.

Crows hold grudges; Death is actually cheerful; Corbin’s as obsessed with shiny things as his birds; The pack shows up to create chaos; Thea is determined to be Sebbie’s new bestie; Jude doesn’t get arrested (or maybe he does?); there’s torture and death (but only of really bad people); hellhounds have tails, and they know how to use them.


274 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2026

284 people are currently reading
492 people want to read

About the author

Shannon Mae

21 books438 followers

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5 stars
826 (57%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
Profile Image for Dani.
1,754 reviews360 followers
March 3, 2026
This was way fluffier than I was expecting for a book about a witch/hellhound hybrid and a reaper and I just couldn't get invested.

Sebbie and Corbin were my most anticipated couple, and honestly there wasn't much of a romance in my opinion. There were a lot of sex scenes, and there was so much repetition of the river scenario before Sebbie finally got a clue. It was more frustrating than anything because all the information was basically slapping him in the face and he's still thinking it's just a fun dream at like the 80% mark?!

Nothing really happens throughout the whole book either. By the end the reader hasn't learnt anything new about either character, there was no real character growth or development - just Sebbie realising what everyone else already knew.

*
*
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HRCYED2: New Releases
Profile Image for martina (the life of a chaotic reader).
823 reviews461 followers
March 6, 2026
well. this is embarrassing.
embarrassing for me, i mean.

i was so excited about this when i read the previous book this fall, but then i must’ve forgotten all the fucks i had to give along the way.
i couldn’t have cared less about this book. but i told myself, it’s okay, it happens, you’ll find your fucks as you read this and remember why you love this series.

guys, i’m so sorry, but i couldn’t find my fucks. i fear they’re gone forever. i don’t give a shit about the next one as well.

the book isn’t bad!!! i firmly believe im the issue here. however, it all felt really meh.
i will still read the next one, but i have zero hopes for it because i cant stand jude.
Profile Image for ⋆★taylor★⋆.
66 reviews5 followers
March 8, 2026
I had a really fun time reading all the previous books in this series, and this one is no exception! Obsessed with Sebbie & how he’s a cute giant ball of sunshine, but also Death (with a pink cloak & bedazzled staff). I don’t think (or if I did I can’t remember right now😅) I’ve read anything where one of the mmcs is a reaper or anything similar (reaper/ferryman in Sebbie’s case) so this was pretty unique for me! Also I thought Corbin’s character was cool since he is half hellhound & half witch. I love how he has a familiar too & how Crow loved Sebbie too. Looking forward to Jude & the sheriff’s book next!

“I love everything about you, Sebbie, including what’s in the box. I can promise you that nothing you can tell me will ever change that. Do you understand? Nothing. You are my mate, and I love and support you. You’re safe with me.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Justin.
104 reviews26 followers
March 5, 2026
Another installment in the series!

I'm 50/50 on this one. It felt repetitive here and there - like I read this bit before.

Loved the characters though! I wished there was a bit more romance but the story continues to get more and more interesting.
Profile Image for Saskia Veldhuis .
2,029 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 2, 2026
Unlike most of the series so far, Corbin is not only a clueless hellhound (he's part witch), and Sebbie is definitely not a human, even though he is not really aware of his reaper and ferryman sides. These combinations and afterlife descriptions were the best type of unusual. However, I found the emphasis on free will and own decisions not fitting well with Sebbie knowing nothing concrete about himself. The emphasis on him being cute and little was a bit off-putting for me personally. Otherwise, it is a good addition to an entertaining series. I'm really looking forward to the next book, finally having Jude and the sheriff together.
Thanks for the advance copy, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.
Profile Image for Sandra.
819 reviews9 followers
March 11, 2026
I can't believe that i give this one the same Rating as Volume 2, in which i didn't like Liam and Q at all. But it's just … so boring. I had so high expectations for this volume, because i was really hyped for Sebbie and Corbin. Their idea and what they are were so cool, but literally Nothing happened except Sebbie getting to know himself and what he is. But that's just it.
There is SO MUCH wasted potential with this one - this book was literally just switching between Sebbie and the other realm and some self discovery sutff. I mean, why couldn't there be new Supernatural beings, who are scared of Sebbie so Plot happens?

Also i Guess i had other expectations for the characterizations of Sebbie and Corbin - they just didn't hit my mark at all. Especially Corbin was quite the letdown. As a half hellhound - half witch thingie, I expected some cool shit - but he only did some land protecting spell and uh … Tarot. Wow... cool i Guess? very witchy myam.

So yeah wasted potential on the plot, wasted potential on the characters :/ sad. Also the mini mini mini side plot with Sheriff - which i thought "OH IS THAT A CLIFFHANGER FOR THE NEXT BOOK BCS?!" was already solved at the end of this one, also very boringly.

Oh, and the whole title? How not to kill a hellhound? Yeah no hellhound was in any form Maybe, accidentaly or on Purpose killed or got tried to be killed, which is also a let down, BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN A COOL PLOT UGH.


I still have hopes for the last Pairing, because Jude and Walrus are so funny, but... hm.
Profile Image for Abigail | mooretoread |.
187 reviews17 followers
March 9, 2026
I love this series so much! This one was not my favorite of the series- but I still loved! I just personally prefer more pining. And I think we got more of that from these characters in the first few books.

This really gave us more insight into their world and I found it to be so unique. I love how Sebbie truly was always so positive. And I loved learning more about Corbin’s background.

I adore having all the pack together again for their “scooby gang” meetings as Sebbie called them ha!

I have no doubt we are saving the best for last because I cannot wait for Jude and his Walrus!!
Profile Image for Leigh Gaskill.
855 reviews35 followers
March 9, 2026
I love this series so much and I have been waiting for this book!

Sebbie has an interesting story and Corbin is so patient and supportive throughout his journey. These two are perfect for each other!
Profile Image for natalie.
488 reviews12 followers
March 20, 2026
I feel kind of bad saying this, because I’m obviously not new to this series and I’ve never taken it too seriously before, I’ve always treated it as a kind of nonsensical escape. But this time around, it just felt too juvenile. And again, it’s not like the author is doing anything new; I knew it was going to be silly, I just didn’t vibe with it this time.

I also really wish I could rip out all the sex scenes:

“Can I suck on your cute little cock, Sebbie?”

“Do you want to hold onto my big cock while your cute little dick spurts inside of me?”

“Do you think my big dick will have more cum than your cute little cock, baby?”

The size difference thing just doesn’t do it for me, and I hate their dialogue during sex. I genuinely wish I could erase having read the above.

I also sort of wish Sebbie had been human like the rest of the gang. The grim reaper aspect is semi-interesting, but it ended up falling a bit flat. I think the only truly interesting part was Chapter 29, Aside from that, the whole setup felt repetitive with the dreams on the dock, the boat, and the constant unwillingness to remember.

At this point, I’ve realized I don’t need Shannon Mae to expand on her supernatural world-building. I actually need her to keep it simple with the himbo hellhounds imprinting on their random human, because I don’t think she’s doing anything particularly interesting with the new additions or plotpoints.
Profile Image for Betty.
567 reviews41 followers
March 6, 2026
4.5 ⭐️. I was so excited for this release and it didn’t disappoint! Another great addition to the series! You do need to read these in order - if you try to jump into this book first, you will be confused.

Sebbie ❤️ Corbin

Sebbie is a nurse with a gentle and sweet nature who also happens to be a combination of a reaper and ferryman…. Except he doesn’t realize it. Nor does he realize that Corbin is part witch and part hellhound. These two meet as part of the larger friend group and are drawn to each other.

We see Corbin support him in the most lovely way as Sebbie slowly comes to terms with his non-human sides. We see Corbin start to appear alongside him in Sebbie’s “dreams” .

There is a devoted and doting Crow, ferry trips across the river (what he thinks initially are dreams), dealing with bad souls, and lots of gentle love throughout:

- No third act breakup
- All the gentle communication. Corbin knows what Sebbie is but has to let him figure it out on his own. He’s there, just gently supporting and telling him that he loves him.
- Mates; not sure whether they’re technically ‘fated’ or not
- Spice starts around 30% and continues. Not over the top, but enough; vers, tails, and all the hugs and cuddling
Sebbies “cute little dick” lol and how much Corbin loves it.
- No OM; both out/gay
- Nickname - Little Reaper
- All the found family
- Dual POV; mated and living together

Overall, I thought this was a cute/sweet relationship driven story w some supernatural elements. It was a bit repetitive at times and it took Sebbie a bit too long to break thru his trauma and realize what was going on, but I didn’t really mind. I just love this little world.

The real reason I dropped 1/2 a star was because I felt the whole biting/mating thing was a bit glossed over. It just kind of came out of nowhere and then was over. I felt gypped. .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡.
1,571 reviews103 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 6, 2026
"𝙲𝚘𝚛𝚋𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚜, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎, 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝. 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚢. 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝙸'𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚐𝚘, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎; 𝚑𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚢𝚎𝚝."

Sebbie may be the most sunshiney, precious MC I've read in awhile. He was just so good and kind. I don't think they make people like Sebbie much anymore, at least not many I can find. Especially with the way things have been lately in the world, it was such a breath of fresh air to read about a person who had such a joyful light. And yes, I absolutely know how ironic this is considering who Sebbie turns out to be.

I wondered how Sebbie would be with Corbin's more quiet nature. Corbin isn't a hellhound we've seen who adds much to the conversation unless he actually has something of value to add. He doesn't talk to hear himself speak. Turns out that's kind of a good thing because Sebbie can talk enough for the both of them!

I just loved how sweet Corbin could be with Sebbie. It was like his mate brought out a side of him I never knew the stoic man had in him. It's true these hellhounds all tend to go soft for their mates, but Sebbie was special. Even with everything going on plot wise, which was a lot BTW, Sebbie never loses his sparkle. He never lets the evil taint him. I think that's one of the reasons why it took him so long to figure out his true self.

Now that Sebbie and Corbin have mated, that only leaves one of the original hellhound brothers left. Jude. Oh Jude. I almost feel bad for the poor sheriff. He has no idea what a whirlwind is headed his way. Then again, after the events at the end of this book, I think a man like Jude may be exactly what the broody sheriff needs.
Profile Image for Clara.
350 reviews3 followers
March 15, 2026
Just OK

This book was a real back and forth for me. Sebbie’s secrets and true nature were interesting to unravel but the actual book felt lackluster. Sebbie’s storyline was a nice change from the usual drama of the previous books and I was happy the plot with the cult wasn’t really present in this book. Sebbie is learning that he is more than what he always thought and Corbin is there to help him. They were cute as a couple and you could definitely see how they fit together but in the end I didn’t feel a strong connection to either of them.

The author has a tendency in these books to really make the humans seem completely dense. Sebbie’s revelation about hellhounds being real was the usual combo of incredulousness and quick acceptance. I really hope the next book handles the reveal differently. Sheriff Paul deserves a storyline where he isn’t portrayed as being so clueless.

The spice wasn’t my style and the flirting and dirty talk was just a bit much. I found myself mostly skimming the spicy scenes and wanting to get back to the reveal about Sebbie’s true nature.

I do really like this series and it’s great when all of the characters come together for a big family scene but I hope the next book mixes things up a bit. We haven’t had much humor like we did in book one or two and with Jude’s antics I really hope the next book is more funny and lighthearted.

Tropes: Mates, Supernatural Beings, Knotting, Dual POV, Found Family, Shifters
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Spice: 🌶️ 1/5
Relationship: MM
Profile Image for Chloe.
410 reviews37 followers
March 19, 2026
How Not to Kill a Hellhound by Shannon Mae

🧡 Half Witch/Hellhound MC
🧡 Grim Reaper/Ferryman Nurse MC
🧡 Fated Mates
🧡 Size Difference
🧡 Found Family
🔥 Dirty Talk, Biting/Marking, Knotting, Tail Play, 🍆 Size Difference, Flip Fuck, Shower BJ, Rimming

Review:
Though I did enjoy this story overall, it wasn't my favourite of the series (Toby & Dexter still hold that title for me!).

Corbin being a half witch came with a lot of possibility but unfortunately it felt a little pushed aside for Sebbie's storyline. However, I found the concept of Sebbie's dreams really interesting and thought it was very clever how the author incorporated him being a ferryman/reaper in that way.

The found family aspects of this book were great as always and I enjoyed the cameos of the MC's from the previous books.

Overall this was a fun book and a good addition to the series. Though it didn't quite live up to my expectations, I definitely enjoyed this more than the last book and I'm really looking forward to Jude and the Sheriff's story next!

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Humour: 🤭🤭.5
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺🥺

First person dual pov 👀

Content Warnings
On page: blood & gore, violence, death, murder, grief, trauma, disassociation, medical content, hospice care, sexual content
Mentioned: torture, parent death, medical negligence, kidnapping, drug use, addiction

Thank you to the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,362 reviews47 followers
March 6, 2026
This is a fated mates paranormal romance, featuring Sebbie and Corbin, and is book five in the Hellhounds of Paradise Falls series.

Sebbie thinks his life is normal, even after being kidnapped by a cult and working around death at the hospital, and he’s excited about his new crush, Corbin. But Corbin knows Sebbie is secretly supernatural and must help him control his powers before they become deadly.

I am obsessed with this series and this latest book has fanned that flame, I loved it. Sebbie and Corbin are so frigging cute together, the dynamic between them is so much fun. Sebbie’s bright, chaotic, bubbly energy balances perfectly with Corbin’s protective, slightly serious nature. There is tension, humour, plenty of sweet moments between them and the best pack found family.

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 5 in series
MM paranormal romance
Check CW
Slow burn
Fated mates
Hellhound x Human (ish)
Oblivious magical MC
Soul hunter x Grim reaper
Protector x Cinnamon roll
Size difference
Hurt / Comfort
Cult survivor
Past trauma
Repressed memories
Dates
Spicy times & dirty talk
Biting & knotting
Tail play
Carries him
Calls him little reaper
Mystery revealed
Found family
Growing pack
HEA
Profile Image for A&#x1f984;&#x1f33b;&#x1f319;.
389 reviews4 followers
March 8, 2026
Oh man. I’m so bummed. This was my most anticipated book in this series and it realllllly let me down. I felt like the Sebbie and Corbin we’ve been teased with leading up to this book felt like different people than we were given here. I really wanted to love this but yeesh, everything that happened felt so convenient and made the path for our MCs through the drama the easiest and least stressful/difficult. Things felt forced to be “agreeable” so that the storyline worked out the way the author wanted so that they didn’t have to work through anything. The stakes, which up to this point in the series, felt somewhat high, were so damn low, I already knew that regardless of how perilous things seemed everyone would be completely fine with no issues or drama whatsoever and things would be resolved almost immediately. I’m still holding out hope that Jude and Sheriff Paul’s book isn’t a let down but I’m not feeling very optimistic after this one. And even the spice in this series has felt very repetitive and didn’t keep my interest. Yeah this was a hugeee let down.
Profile Image for Taylor Jefferson.
697 reviews9 followers
Did not finish
March 16, 2026
DNF at 29%

To be honest I forgot I was reading this. I hadn't opened my kindle for a few days, so I was surprised to see this sitting at 29% on my homepage. If books are good, you don't forget you're in the middle. I've enjoyed this series, and I was looking forward to Sebbie's and Corbyn's story but it just isn't' grabbing me. Sebbie is incredibly sweet. A grim reaper who wears a pink robe and has a bedazzled staff, adorable, love it. Corbyn is kinda meh. He lacks the pizzaz of the other hellhounds. I'll come back for Jude's book but there are too many good books out there to spend time on this.
Profile Image for LittleDucky.
48 reviews
March 9, 2026
5⭐️

I very much enjoyed Sebbie and Corbin’s story. It was a softly flowing story, with very little angst. Sebbie’s story immediately drew me in. His character and origin is so interesting. Corbin’s background and character is also interesting but I feel like it was more background info. I maybe wanted a little more witchy stuff, but it wasn’t necessary because Sebbie is pretty bad ass saving everyone himself.
Profile Image for Jessica.
288 reviews3 followers
March 14, 2026
Well look at me, spending the whole day reading and finishing this book 🤭 It was really good! We got some answers from the previous book and I loved Corbin and Sebbie as a couple, they were so cute 💗 And the pack members were hilarious as always 😂
I would say though that this book didn't really have a plot per se, it was more about the relationship between Corbin and Sebbie, which I didn't mind! And this was the first time I witnessed a versatile couple in this series, that was interesting to read.
I'm beyond excited to read Jude and Sheriff Paul's book!
Profile Image for audiobook_chaos.
2,061 reviews36 followers
March 3, 2026
Brilliant

Another hit for me loved Sebbie and Corbin and I am really looking forward to Nudes and Sheriff Paul's book.
Profile Image for Elise H.
1,232 reviews6 followers
March 7, 2026
3,85⭐️

No discussion at all about what it is to be mated to a hellhound?
Profile Image for Eileen.
783 reviews30 followers
March 11, 2026
Not my fav of this series, but Sebbie and Corbin were so sweet together 🥰❤️
Profile Image for Alyssa.
1,058 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2026
This was a slog to get through for some reason. I found Sebbie more annoying in this one. Literally nothing really happened for most of the book.
Profile Image for Krys (spicy.spine.breaker).
1,101 reviews60 followers
March 11, 2026
I just really enjoy this series so much - Corbin & Sebbie …. And Crow of course 🐦‍⬛! …. Were everything I wanted them to be. So. Cute.

The appearance of a particular character #nospoilers in black made me squeal
688 reviews19 followers
March 2, 2026
How Not to Kill a Hellhound by Shannon Mae is the 5th book in her Hellhounds of Paradise Falls series. I highly recommend reading the others first as this one contains characters from the others as well as explains their relationships and how they work. Corbin Smith is part of the Smith pack of hellhounds that live in Paradise Falls. He is also part witch and his familiar is a crow named Crow so crows are always around. The pack’s job is to look for rotten souls and destroy them. Their father, Wilder, and his brothers Dexter, Liam, and Atlas have all found their mates in humans leaving him and Jude without theirs. However, from the moment he met Sebbie who was friends with their mates Josh, Toby, Quinten, and Aiden, he knew he was special, not only because he was his mate but also because he was a paranormal, too. Sebbie was all goodness and light and loved to laugh. He was a nurse working in hospice at the hospital and people always seemed to be dying around him, which may not seem strange, but it also happened outside of the hospital. He had always been alone and hated that, but he also sensed that Corbin was special to him and he kept showing him that he was in everything he did. Corbin took his time getting to know Sebbie and to woo him because he didn’t want to scare him away. The interesting thing is that Sebbie didn’t know Corbin and his brothers were hellhounds and he didn’t know that he also had special powers even though strange things kept happening. He had been kidnapped by a cult and was saved by the hellhounds, but he doesn’t remember much about what happened and how the leader was killed. He also has dreams where he is wearing a pink cloak and holding a pink staff and he takes dead people, usually ones he knows, across a river in his boat where they are joyfully reunited with family and friends. He laughs and has a wonderful time with them. The Man in Black is there a lot of the time, too. Corbin has realized what Sebbie is and is somewhat confused by him but once they start seeing each other more seriously, he also appears in the dreams and helps Sebbie take care of the rotten souls who have started showing up. Sebbie does not like this and doesn’t want to deal with them, but Corbin is there now and says he will never be alone again which comforts him and makes him like Corbin that much more. The Man in Black tells Corbin not to tell Sebbie what he is as it could cause a lot of problems and that Sebbie has to come to the realization by himself, so Corbin doesn’t say anything and is there for Sebbie whenever he needs him. They start spending more time together and have some hot love scenes where Corbin finally marks and mates with him and they are very happy and tell each other I love you. But Sebby is finally starting to come to the realization of what and who he is and what he has to do and while he doesn’t like it, he now has Corbin by his side to help him so they are ready to face the future together. I really enjoyed this book as I have all of the others. Corbin is strong, kind, and thoughtful and only wants to help Sebby and be with him so he doesn’t say anything about who he really is, just that he will never be alone and he will do whatever he needs him to do. Sebby is sweet and joyful but also rather clueless. He knows death seems to be around him but not why and takes pride in helping those crossing the river to start their next journey. It takes a while, but when he finally realizes who he is he does his job with Corbin by his side. The other hellhounds and their mates also add a lot of fun and craziness to the story and Crow is ever present. There are also some bad guys that need to be taken care of and Sebbie, with Corbin by his side, does his job. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories about paranormal beings who know the difference between good and evil, a not quite human that needs to discover who he really is, and the hellhound who loves him and will do all he can to help.
84 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 23, 2026
I was so happy to finally read Corbin and Sebbie’s story! They’ve been hinted as a couple since book one of the series thanks to Crow not being able to resist Sebbie’s company. Their love story was cute, and Corbin was super supportive of Sebbie which is just what he needed. Their sex scenes weren’t my cup of tea, I’m not really into size difference, but I can see the appeal for others and Shannon Mae did a great job at the trope. The emotional connection between Sebbie and Corbin was super strong, too. My favorite was them both secretly moving Corbin into Sebbie’s house without ever talking about it to each other.

The plot itself was mostly good. Big questions from the last book, like what Sebbie is, were answered too as well as what happened to past villains of the series. I liked how whether souls deserve to be redeemed or not was dealt with, even though one scene was tough to read (even Sebbie struggled through it). There were some elements though that felt discarded or forgotten. Like Dr. Dickhead was never mentioned again after his time with the Smith brothers so Sebbie never learned what Corbin did. Considering Corbin claimed to hate keeping things from Sebbie it seemed out of character he wouldn’t share that part when revealing he’s a hellhound and real witch (not just a Wiccan). I also wanted more of Corbin’s witch side to come into play. Besides Crow and one instance where he wiped memories (which wasn’t mentioned as an ability before in past books), it wasn’t really utilized outside of the very beginning of the book and the tarot card scenes. Just would have been cool to learn more about it since it’s been mentioned so much in other books. Corbin’s mom also kind of got dropped halfway through even though she was brought up a lot in the first half as her loss really affected Corbin. It would have been nice if maybe he heard her on the shore toward the end or there was just some more complete circle healing moment towards the end even if just talking about it with Sebbie post learning about supernatural.

Otherwise, it was a great book! I LOVED the tarot aspect of the book - especially that every card used was picked IRL by Shannon as she was writing. I use the exact deck described in the book so it was fun to see how the meanings are depicted in the imagery on the cards as it really is beautifully illustrated. Tarot is incredibly cheeky, so that part was 100% accurate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Katie M..
204 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 26, 2026
This series began as campy, romantic fun. With each book, the mythos and the storylines have gotten a little deeper and more convoluted. This is both a good and a bad thing.

From the beginning, I have been looking forward to Corbin’s story. With his half-witch/half-hellhound heritage, he is the most fascinating of the “Smith” brothers, cryptic and powerful, lurking in the background with a few hints and an air of mystery. His connection to Sebastian was no secret, and I was curious about the mystery surrounding HIM as well. So, I’ve been counting down the days until this book came out.

It wasn’t at all what I thought it would be. I’m not complaining! I actually REALLY liked it. But I was ready for another breakneck adventure filled with socially awkward heroes and helpless but endearing humans. This book has a quieter charm. This was a story of self-discovery, of finding the truth of who you are. I really appreciated the way it unfolded, where, instead of Corbin just telling Sebbie what was up, he supported and loved Seb through his personal journey to understanding his purpose. The scenes by the river were my favorite in the book. I could imagine it so clearly, and I think the author did an excellent job capturing the feeling of that place.

There were just a couple of things that kept this from being a 5 star read:
-Even more so than usual, there was no tension. Corbin and Seb were instalove with a capital i from page one (or perhaps even book one). They were so effortlessly TOGETHER that I wouldn’t even call this story a romance. It was more about Seb’s identity than falling in love.
-Outside of that secret identity, Seb didn’t have a lot of personality. There was nothing to distinguish him from, say, Aidan. He was generically sunny and good, at times quite childlike, which made the focus on his small size (and his small, ahem, 🍆) creepy. The repeated conversations about how cute and little he was gave me the ick.
-Finally, while this series is usually a rather non-denominational mix of different mythos (Christian and Greek for sure but perhaps others too 🤷🏻‍♀️), I was uncomfortable with the way this book seemed to glorify the actual devil. Lucifer, called by name: a kind-hearted, handsome, father figure and loving friend. Um— no thanks. Not okay with that. Why not Hades if (no spoilers) you’re going with the Greeks anyway?

Anyway, this one was pretty good. Can’t wait to read Jude’s story. He’s my fave!
Profile Image for Demian Grimm.
281 reviews4 followers
March 2, 2026
How Not to Kill a Hellhound is the fifth book in Shannon Mae’s Hellhounds of Paradise Falls series, and finally we get to see Corbin and Sebbie fall in love. 🥰 Although the book can be read as a standalone, it is better if you read the first four beforehand.

This book was far sweeter than I expected, considering what Sebbie is. 😊 I love how sweet and supportive Sebbie and Corbin are and how their relationship is full of that quiet devotion. Sebbie has such a loving and sunny personality, while Corbin has such a steady presence that they make a really wonderful pair. They are so good for each other. ❤️
I was really intrigued by Sebbie's "origin" story, and I loved the glimpses we got of Lucifer.

That said, I felt like this book has a slightly different feel to it compared to the rest of the series. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, I did feel that, compared to the earlier books, this one felt a bit more standalone (?). It kind of didn’t feel quite as integrated into the overall series as the others. The friendship between Toby, Josh, and Sebbie didn’t feel as vivid as it has in the previous books. It was often told rather than demonstrated, and I missed seeing more concrete moments that showed the depth of it.

The pack dynamics is also quite different from Corbin’s POV, but that is actually something I expected, considering how Corbin was always present but not very involved in the previous books. So it was interesting to see and experience the pack from his POV.

All in all, emotionally the story works great. I loved Sebbie’s growth and how Corbin is there for him every step of the way. There is humour, there is sweetness, but also moments of tension to round out the story. And the little preview that we got of Jude and the sheriff’s story makes me excited for the next book. 😊

I received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my unbiased review.

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CW: discussions of torture (torture occurs off page), discussion of past trauma, including violence and death of loved ones, cult references, violence, repressed memories, feelings of dissociation, death (not of main characters) and ongoing discussions of death and the afterlife, consensual biting, knotting, and tail play.
Profile Image for Cindaren.
453 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 26, 2026
"The area was pretty shitty, and I doubted there was any kind of neighborhood watch worrying about random cars hanging out."
This rubbed me the wrong way. Due to my finances as a single mom of two I've lived in some pretty shitty neighborhoods, and those are exactly the ones where those of us who aren't involved in criminal activity do keep our eyes on things.

I also didn't understand why no one has told Sebbie who he is. "He wouldn't believe me if I did" is such BS. Thea didn't either at first. You just keep telling them when they ask and let them get there. Withholding information removes a person's ability to make choices, limits their agency. I hate any kind of miscommunication trope. It feels so manipulative. "We could take things as slow as he needed to". Ugh I hate that line. Sebbie doesn't know how slow he needs to take things because he doesn't KNOW about the things. They're just making his choices for him. "Whichever was the case, I didn’t think Sebbie was ready to deal with talking about her." *I* didn't think. I get that the author uses all the other characters to keep this info from Sebbie also and it's not only Corbin but they're all irritating. It's such a flimsy plot device.

“You know,” I muttered, “I’m getting pretty darn sick of people being all cryptic and stuff.” Then this was the wrong book for you, my friend. “If Sebbie remembers… Does that mean he’ll have to carry out his jobs." He clearly is still carrying out his jobs, so what would change?

Aside from that major irritation, the book was okay. Bit slow though. And basically no plot other than Sebbie going back and forth in the river and will-he-won't-he remember...? There were a couple tangents that I didn't quite get, like the "dead in a ditch" thing, which quite obviously does imply foul play, which is what a lot of parents worry about, so it seems like a perfectly reasonable thing for a mother to say.

Anyway, this is the book I was most looking forward to so it was kind of a letdown, although really the first book was the best, so... This one was like playing the Original Sims. There are some cool mechanics, and some fun activities (woohoo!), but no story.
2,915 reviews3 followers
March 3, 2026
entertaining enjoyable read

Rating; 4🌈

How Not to Kill a Hellhound is the fifth book in the Hellhounds of Paradise Falls series by Shannon Mae, a fated mates paranormal/urban fantasy series set in Paradise Falls, a location where several of her interconnected series take place.

Mae’s actually working towards an overall universe storyline that encompasses all her series and characters I’m guessing, and one of the ultimate main characters has an impactful role here.

I appreciate that it was left to Sebbie , mostly, to decide when he was emotionally ready for the next step in his quest to remember everything that happened and move forward. This is 90 percent Sebbie’s journey. Who he is, the past and how those characters around him support this journey. He’s a sweet, engaging person and I loved reading his story.

It’s a good tale with many creative elements, including mythological aspects, but leaves the Hellhounds mostly removed from this even as Corbin is a major player as Sebbie’s fated mate and Hellhound. The Crow familiar is on the same level with Corbin here. Except for the many sex scenes with the emphasis on Sebbie’s appendage size being “cute”.

I ended up wanting more exposition, less sex, more exploration of their developing relationship and each person’s history as opposed to their body parts.

When things get interesting, things get misty. I did like the interpretation of Charon and the boat ride. Amazing.

And loose ends were tied up finally from Aiden’s story while setting up Jude and the Sheriff for their fated mates romance. That should be interesting!

Cover design by Morningstar Ashley

Hellhounds of Paradise Falls: (Paranormal Romance)
How to Flirt with a Hellhound #1
How to Hack a Hellhound #2
How to Tame a Hellhound #3
How to Trust a Hellhound #4
How NOT to Kill a Hellhound #5
How To Catch a Hellhound #6 - Oct 1,2026

The Revenge Playlist: A Collection of Afterlifer Revenge Stories (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls)

Linked series:

Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures (8 book series) fated mates romance set in Paradise Falls
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