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Ravenous
Those who come back from the mysterious place known as the Realm, if they come back, are changed. Some return haunted. Others with knowledge of themselves that they will not share, and the magic of the Realm at their disposal. The peculiari, as these few are called, are tolerated at best, feared at worst.
Nicodemus isn’t anything like one of the exceptional, adventurous peculiari. For the most part, he’s content to keep house for the peculiari of the Arawn Agency and rarely ventures outside of the manor they all call home. As an asterion, one of the unwanted, monstrous children of the Realm, Nicodemus is human in appearance except for the ram’s horns growing from his head, and prefers the company of those who don’t judge him. There’s just one hitch in his otherwise safe and orderly world. One awkward, inconvenient, twice-a-year problem in which Nicodemus goes into what can humiliatingly only be called a rut.
It’s a secret he keeps from the others. But this year, unable to stand the thought of spending his rut alone, he ventures out in search of company—only to run into Bel, the one person he hopes will never discover his secret. Bel is powerful enough to make even other peculiari wary and far more experienced than Nicodemus in the ways of the world. But tonight, Bel isn’t out seeking pleasure. He’s on the hunt for a true monster that has slithered from the Realm to hurt people, and he seems to think Nicodemus is especially in danger. The Realm, and this creature, are drawn to people who want, and sheltered, lonely Nicodemus, with his rut approaching, is nothing but want.
According to Bel, the best way for anyone to stay protected from the temptations of the Realm is to indulge themselves enough to make their desires manageable. Alone with Bel for the first time after Bel vows to keep him safe, Nicodemus starts to wonder what it is that he really wants, and why Bel understands the appetites of a monster so well, and if perhaps Nicodemus should follow Bel’s advice and indulge some desires of his own.
Nicodemus isn’t anything like one of the exceptional, adventurous peculiari. For the most part, he’s content to keep house for the peculiari of the Arawn Agency and rarely ventures outside of the manor they all call home. As an asterion, one of the unwanted, monstrous children of the Realm, Nicodemus is human in appearance except for the ram’s horns growing from his head, and prefers the company of those who don’t judge him. There’s just one hitch in his otherwise safe and orderly world. One awkward, inconvenient, twice-a-year problem in which Nicodemus goes into what can humiliatingly only be called a rut.
It’s a secret he keeps from the others. But this year, unable to stand the thought of spending his rut alone, he ventures out in search of company—only to run into Bel, the one person he hopes will never discover his secret. Bel is powerful enough to make even other peculiari wary and far more experienced than Nicodemus in the ways of the world. But tonight, Bel isn’t out seeking pleasure. He’s on the hunt for a true monster that has slithered from the Realm to hurt people, and he seems to think Nicodemus is especially in danger. The Realm, and this creature, are drawn to people who want, and sheltered, lonely Nicodemus, with his rut approaching, is nothing but want.
According to Bel, the best way for anyone to stay protected from the temptations of the Realm is to indulge themselves enough to make their desires manageable. Alone with Bel for the first time after Bel vows to keep him safe, Nicodemus starts to wonder what it is that he really wants, and why Bel understands the appetites of a monster so well, and if perhaps Nicodemus should follow Bel’s advice and indulge some desires of his own.
ebook
First published December 26, 2021
About the author
R. Cooper
61 books776 followersI'm a somewhat absentminded, often distracted, writer of queer romance. I'm probably most known for the Being(s) in Love series and the occasional story about witches or firefighters in love. Also known as, "Ah, yes, the one with the dragons."
Find me on social media: https://linktr.ee/thercooper
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Or just visit my website to find everything all in one place and also a few Free Reads: https://www.riscooper.com/
Find me on social media: https://linktr.ee/thercooper
Or support me on Patreon: @rcoops
Or sign up for my newsletter! It's free and it's barely one a month. :)
Or just visit my website to find everything all in one place and also a few Free Reads: https://www.riscooper.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 26, 2021
2.5 rounded down
I really wanted to love this one, and there was definitely some interesting stuff here, but ultimately it didn't quite work for me. The world-building here was interesting, if a little unclear, and I enjoyed the characters a lot, but I just sort of felt confused/like I wasn't quite on the same page as the author. This happens sometimes in books and I always have a hard time articulating exactly what the issue is, but it's almost like the author has such a clear picture of the characters and their backstory and motivations and past interactions etc that they forget we're not in their head and can't actually glean all of that information from the sparse and jumpy dialogue. Actually, I'm *just* now realizing that I had a very similar issue with one of this author's earlier books, but it's been nearly a decade since that one was written, the genre is quite different, and I've read/enjoyed so many of their books since that I only just now made that connection, so clearly this (for me) something to keep an eye on with this author. Again, it's such a shame, because there were definitely some cool concepts here and I did enjoy the characters and their dynamic, but the plot and the way things developed between them was really confusing and hard to follow because I just didn't feel like the author was really completing their thoughts/giving us enough information to really follow the threads.
I really wanted to love this one, and there was definitely some interesting stuff here, but ultimately it didn't quite work for me. The world-building here was interesting, if a little unclear, and I enjoyed the characters a lot, but I just sort of felt confused/like I wasn't quite on the same page as the author. This happens sometimes in books and I always have a hard time articulating exactly what the issue is, but it's almost like the author has such a clear picture of the characters and their backstory and motivations and past interactions etc that they forget we're not in their head and can't actually glean all of that information from the sparse and jumpy dialogue. Actually, I'm *just* now realizing that I had a very similar issue with one of this author's earlier books, but it's been nearly a decade since that one was written, the genre is quite different, and I've read/enjoyed so many of their books since that I only just now made that connection, so clearly this (for me) something to keep an eye on with this author. Again, it's such a shame, because there were definitely some cool concepts here and I did enjoy the characters and their dynamic, but the plot and the way things developed between them was really confusing and hard to follow because I just didn't feel like the author was really completing their thoughts/giving us enough information to really follow the threads.
February 27, 2022
Monster porn. With a lot of worrying and thinking around the edges. Oh but the actual rut/heat/affliction is offpage for all of that!
There's a lot of emphasis on power and dynamics and who is controlling who. Mostly confusing.
The verse has potential and was almost interesting but characters aren't introduced, or are introduced late, described at an odd time. The magic isn't explained, neither is the house/agency setup or Holt's parents despite several references to them.
On finishing the book I still don't feel I know what went on or what the point was and I'm not convinced Bel's character adds up. Things are poorly conveyed or simply not explained. Felt dropped into the verse and as though I'm supposed to already know the characters.
There's a lot of emphasis on power and dynamics and who is controlling who. Mostly confusing.
The verse has potential and was almost interesting but characters aren't introduced, or are introduced late, described at an odd time. The magic isn't explained, neither is the house/agency setup or Holt's parents despite several references to them.
On finishing the book I still don't feel I know what went on or what the point was and I'm not convinced Bel's character adds up. Things are poorly conveyed or simply not explained. Felt dropped into the verse and as though I'm supposed to already know the characters.
December 29, 2021
Some fascinating portal fantasy worldbuilding in this one, and as for the dynamic between the two leads... absolutely superb you funky little monsterfuckers. I love it.
December 30, 2021
The prose of this book is stream-of consciousness wonderful, the world is fantasy-Victorian-ish, all the characters are interesting and strange, including our point of view character, Nicodemus, and I wish I could read it again for the first time. What a treat. Only R. Cooper's Taji From Beyond the Rings is better from this author, and that is very high praise from me.
February 3, 2022
Really intriguing book that flows between the solving of a case of sorts and the desires and expectations had by Nicodemus with his upcoming rut.
Nicodemus lives a bit outside, having been born as a product of the Realm and yet never having been there himself. As an asterion he sticks out from regular society with his rams horns, but he also isn't a peculiari having never gone to the Realm that created him. Being an asterion he has a twice yearly rut that comes upon him, which is coming up. Normally he rides through it with the help of a friend, but that friend has been unavoidably delayed. When Nicodemus decides to go out to seek some relief at a bar he instead runs into one of the peculiari from his own house, as well as the case they are working on. Soon Nicodemus is caught between a monster that seeks desire and uses it to destroy and his own desire for a man who insists he is a monster.
The world that is built is truly fascinating, especially as we learn along with Nicodemus as we go. It really is a building of Nicodemus as he discovers what he wants in life, who he truly is, and what (if anything) he needs to hide. Some of this was found through his own thoughts, hazy at times with his upcoming need. Other times it was in the adrenaline of a moment as he fought for his safety and desires. And yet other times it was in contemplation of events that just happened. This combination made for a most fascinating read that came about to a slightly unexpected but very satisfying conclusion.
Nicodemus lives a bit outside, having been born as a product of the Realm and yet never having been there himself. As an asterion he sticks out from regular society with his rams horns, but he also isn't a peculiari having never gone to the Realm that created him. Being an asterion he has a twice yearly rut that comes upon him, which is coming up. Normally he rides through it with the help of a friend, but that friend has been unavoidably delayed. When Nicodemus decides to go out to seek some relief at a bar he instead runs into one of the peculiari from his own house, as well as the case they are working on. Soon Nicodemus is caught between a monster that seeks desire and uses it to destroy and his own desire for a man who insists he is a monster.
The world that is built is truly fascinating, especially as we learn along with Nicodemus as we go. It really is a building of Nicodemus as he discovers what he wants in life, who he truly is, and what (if anything) he needs to hide. Some of this was found through his own thoughts, hazy at times with his upcoming need. Other times it was in the adrenaline of a moment as he fought for his safety and desires. And yet other times it was in contemplation of events that just happened. This combination made for a most fascinating read that came about to a slightly unexpected but very satisfying conclusion.
April 29, 2022
I was confused. The dialogue makes very little sense and is hard to follow.
November 1, 2022
This is my second R. Cooper book and I think I can safely say that the writing style is simply not for me - I find the metaphors overdone and the dialogues confusing. The monsterfuck was good though.
January 11, 2022
Monster-fucking. Pining. "Soft" one is powerful, strong one has hidden softness. Pure catnip for me, and also a compelling world and structure that I'd love to see more of.
Plus, monster-fucking without racializing (that I could see), which is an issue I see way too much in this subgenre, even more recent ones.
Plus, monster-fucking without racializing (that I could see), which is an issue I see way too much in this subgenre, even more recent ones.
May 29, 2022
I've not read a lot of the author's books but my previous ratings have been all over the place; and likewise my reactions to this book. On the one hand - the two MCs are definitely fascinating (in a weird way), Nicodemus more than Bel. Their interactive dynamic can get a little myopically overwhelming at times when they are in each others' faces. I'm not too sure about the vaguely alt-historical early 20th century world setting - there's some details but not enough before whole sections of the book is taken off to the 'Other Realm' (meaning world of the fae). The M-M romance trajectory took a deep dive though when things veered off into territory - definitely not my cup of tea. In the end, I dithered over whether to round down or to round up from 2.5 stars with this book before opting for the latter.
June 20, 2022
Interesting, sweet, fantasy romance. It's a little darker than most R. Cooper books, but still has that classic gentleness that her stories always have. I enjoyed this, but I wanted more. There's kind of a lot going on for a short novella and it's not explained very well and there's a lot of characters. There's an interesting magic system and portals to another world. Maybe there will be more books in this intriguing world? Hope so.
December 27, 2021
Oh so good!
R. Cooper is one of my favorite authors and an instant buy for me. I am never disappointed in the stories. Ravenous is a great story that pulled me in. Nicodemus and Bel are explosive together. Monsters in love. I can't wait to see what comes next.
R. Cooper is one of my favorite authors and an instant buy for me. I am never disappointed in the stories. Ravenous is a great story that pulled me in. Nicodemus and Bel are explosive together. Monsters in love. I can't wait to see what comes next.
January 9, 2022
The start needed rewriting. It was confusing and repetitive. I just about gave up reading it. Then the characters finally got together and it became much better. The magic was interesting enough for a series but poorly explained.
December 26, 2021
4.5
Short, wish it was a bit longer. Also a lot of side information that makes me feel like there are more stories that are happening with the other characters, so I shall go check out the author's other books.
Short, wish it was a bit longer. Also a lot of side information that makes me feel like there are more stories that are happening with the other characters, so I shall go check out the author's other books.
December 31, 2021
This kept my attention better than some other books by this author (possibly due to having more action and danger than the Beings In Love books, for example), but it was hard to follow at times. There was also something a bit distant about the writing that kept me from fully engaging in it. I liked the idea of this world, but the execution was somewhat lacking, so I'm not sure I would read further books set in it.
January 10, 2022
Delicious.
December 26, 2021
Sweet and steamy
This was another great read from the author. It was a slow burn, that turned in full flames, gentle and fierce at the same time as the monsters in the book. Loved it.
This was another great read from the author. It was a slow burn, that turned in full flames, gentle and fierce at the same time as the monsters in the book. Loved it.
January 15, 2022
Tags: other Realm, being different, monsters, loving a monster, worldbuilding, slow to catch on that you’re in love, bruises and love bites but everyone has fun
Completely R. Cooper. Words upon words within words. I expect I’ll have to read this one again to catch all the bits I missed. The first read through was lovely and wicked.
Completely R. Cooper. Words upon words within words. I expect I’ll have to read this one again to catch all the bits I missed. The first read through was lovely and wicked.
December 22, 2021
That system of magic was so interesting, I really wish there was more of it, just to explore the possibilities. It felt very dream like.
Also, there's some sexy monster porn in there if you're into that.
Also, there's some sexy monster porn in there if you're into that.
January 20, 2022
The story had potential, but the writing really let it down. The world-building at the beginning was poorly executed to the point of confusion and I found the narrative to be clunky and choppy, making it difficult to stay immersed in the story.
January 1, 2022
Character study
This book was really about the MC, Nicodemus, understanding his own wants and his own power. It also speaks about the power of caretaking, which I really enjoyed. Lyrical in tone.
This book was really about the MC, Nicodemus, understanding his own wants and his own power. It also speaks about the power of caretaking, which I really enjoyed. Lyrical in tone.
February 4, 2023
Ravenous
By R. Cooper
Published by the author, 2021
Four stars
R. Cooper’s books, especially the “Being(s) In Love series,” tend toward the sweetly romantic. “Ravenous” is intensely romantic, with a rough eroticism that surprised me.
Nicodemus Smith (not that he believes that surname is real) is a librarian and the house manager for a community of peculiari – people who have come back from the Realm with magic (as opposed to those who have come back damaged, or not at all).
But Nicodemus isn’t normal, not by a long stretch. For one, he has horns, curled like a ram’s on either side of his head. Plus, he goes into rut twice a year, a fact that embarrasses him enormously. It is his deepest secret, and he always attempts to get all of the peculiari in his care to be out of the house during the weeks of his shame. Only Holt, the debonair aristocratic-born peculiari, knows about Nicodemus, and consents to help him – carefully, but with detachment – during his twice-annual indisposition.
Nicodemus is lonely, in spite of the fact that he loves his job and cares about the peculiari for whom he imagines himself a sort of sexless house-mother. He yearns for love, but has no expectation that he’ll ever find it. After all, he reasons, he’s some kind of monster. Not to mention nearsighted.
This time around, however, Nicodemus finds himself confronted by Lewis Belasko, known as Bel, intimidating and smart. There’s apparently a monster popping in and out of the Realm, hunting for something. People – normal human people – are turning up gruesomely dead. Bel doesn’t want to leave Nicodemus alone.
Well.
Cooper’s story is filled with marvelously vague dialogue and descriptions, expressing perfectly Nicodemus’s somewhat distracted and closed-off mind. His embarrassment at his own deficiencies has never allowed him to look outward, to explore who he is and what he really wants – or needs. Bel’s sudden attention triggers something in the meek horned librarian, and takes both men on an adventure that neither quite expected.
The idea that a good and kind person would be so caught up in self-doubt as to not see how much he matters to others is a fascinating premise for a romance. For all its melancholy, it is a startling story of self-discovery and liberation. More spicy than sweet, but delicious in any case.
By R. Cooper
Published by the author, 2021
Four stars
R. Cooper’s books, especially the “Being(s) In Love series,” tend toward the sweetly romantic. “Ravenous” is intensely romantic, with a rough eroticism that surprised me.
Nicodemus Smith (not that he believes that surname is real) is a librarian and the house manager for a community of peculiari – people who have come back from the Realm with magic (as opposed to those who have come back damaged, or not at all).
But Nicodemus isn’t normal, not by a long stretch. For one, he has horns, curled like a ram’s on either side of his head. Plus, he goes into rut twice a year, a fact that embarrasses him enormously. It is his deepest secret, and he always attempts to get all of the peculiari in his care to be out of the house during the weeks of his shame. Only Holt, the debonair aristocratic-born peculiari, knows about Nicodemus, and consents to help him – carefully, but with detachment – during his twice-annual indisposition.
Nicodemus is lonely, in spite of the fact that he loves his job and cares about the peculiari for whom he imagines himself a sort of sexless house-mother. He yearns for love, but has no expectation that he’ll ever find it. After all, he reasons, he’s some kind of monster. Not to mention nearsighted.
This time around, however, Nicodemus finds himself confronted by Lewis Belasko, known as Bel, intimidating and smart. There’s apparently a monster popping in and out of the Realm, hunting for something. People – normal human people – are turning up gruesomely dead. Bel doesn’t want to leave Nicodemus alone.
Well.
Cooper’s story is filled with marvelously vague dialogue and descriptions, expressing perfectly Nicodemus’s somewhat distracted and closed-off mind. His embarrassment at his own deficiencies has never allowed him to look outward, to explore who he is and what he really wants – or needs. Bel’s sudden attention triggers something in the meek horned librarian, and takes both men on an adventure that neither quite expected.
The idea that a good and kind person would be so caught up in self-doubt as to not see how much he matters to others is a fascinating premise for a romance. For all its melancholy, it is a startling story of self-discovery and liberation. More spicy than sweet, but delicious in any case.
January 11, 2022
This book should have been proof-read before publication, as there are several instances where the author clearly changed word-choice and train of thought half-way through but didn't delete the original. However, as jarring as that can be, I still think this book was beautifully and humorously written, and I loved the emotion that was happening between Nicodemus and Bel. We're introduced to a story with a simple premise that, honestly, brings to mind a plot to a porn scene rather than the basis for what ends up being a sweet story of unlikely love and accepting one's own desires.
Greed, hunger, desire—the Realm is built on want, and Nicodemus is about to be consumed with that same want as his affliction draws closer. With his rut so near, his partner of convience delayed, and a monster out there killing people who want, Nicodemus's uncomfortable secret dangles by a thread between him and his intimidating housemate, Bel. The last thing he wants is for Bel to learn about his semi-annual affliction, yet he may not have a choice.
Yet Bel, a self-proclaimed monster of the Realm, may have a different opinion on Nicodemus's affliction.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's cute without being overly so, and it's rough and dark without being cringe or offensive. Although Bel is portrayed as being the bad boy type, even going so far as calling himself a monster, I didn't get the feeling that he changed at all, like how some books portray a bad boy becoming soft hearted. Put plainly, it feels more like this has always been who Bel is and we're just learning about his different sides along with Nicodemus. Our afflicted MC, on the other hand, does seem to do a lot of growth over the course of the book, and I liked seeing him learn to accept those other parts of himself and grow as a character.
I recommend this to people who like:
Bad boys with soft hearts
Awkward guys
Magic
Protective, jealous lovers
Heat/rut type storyline
Greed, hunger, desire—the Realm is built on want, and Nicodemus is about to be consumed with that same want as his affliction draws closer. With his rut so near, his partner of convience delayed, and a monster out there killing people who want, Nicodemus's uncomfortable secret dangles by a thread between him and his intimidating housemate, Bel. The last thing he wants is for Bel to learn about his semi-annual affliction, yet he may not have a choice.
Yet Bel, a self-proclaimed monster of the Realm, may have a different opinion on Nicodemus's affliction.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's cute without being overly so, and it's rough and dark without being cringe or offensive. Although Bel is portrayed as being the bad boy type, even going so far as calling himself a monster, I didn't get the feeling that he changed at all, like how some books portray a bad boy becoming soft hearted. Put plainly, it feels more like this has always been who Bel is and we're just learning about his different sides along with Nicodemus. Our afflicted MC, on the other hand, does seem to do a lot of growth over the course of the book, and I liked seeing him learn to accept those other parts of himself and grow as a character.
I recommend this to people who like:
Bad boys with soft hearts
Awkward guys
Magic
Protective, jealous lovers
Heat/rut type storyline
January 23, 2022
Just a peek into a grim border between a hungry dark "other" realm and a noire reality...and the border-tinged folks fighting to keep the boundaries and find the lost. Complex horror context for this story, and yet mostly tale of two good (monster) guys matching up...hunger to feeder, carer to giver.
One of R. Cooper's shorts, which always leave me wanting more. The writing is a little loose in this tale, a little "off the cuff' approach that makes some transitions and connections hard for me to follow; in some ways this adds to a dreamlike nightmare edge. Will see how it smooths out on my re-read.
Much darker setting and tale than R. Cooper's norm. One character has regular times of being "in heat", some dominance/submission, body horror and creepy edge of apocalypse feel.
If you like the sound of Ravenous,
I also recommend R. Cooper's Taji from Beyond Rings.
Ginn Hale's Wicked Gentlemen
Adam Slayton's White Trash Warlock,(Adam Binder's Series)
T.A. Moore's Dog Days (Wolf winter series)
And I highly recommend all R. Cooper's works, which are (almost) universally lighter than this tale, and with great characters,enticing fantasy and charming non-fantasy, longing and standing up for love, and happy romantic mm endings. She has written angst and brought me to tears, but it is all her gentle lovers, fearful venturers, and fantastic beings that are among my favorites. Never disappointed.
One of R. Cooper's shorts, which always leave me wanting more. The writing is a little loose in this tale, a little "off the cuff' approach that makes some transitions and connections hard for me to follow; in some ways this adds to a dreamlike nightmare edge. Will see how it smooths out on my re-read.
Much darker setting and tale than R. Cooper's norm. One character has regular times of being "in heat", some dominance/submission, body horror and creepy edge of apocalypse feel.
If you like the sound of Ravenous,
I also recommend R. Cooper's Taji from Beyond Rings.
Ginn Hale's Wicked Gentlemen
Adam Slayton's White Trash Warlock,(Adam Binder's Series)
T.A. Moore's Dog Days (Wolf winter series)
And I highly recommend all R. Cooper's works, which are (almost) universally lighter than this tale, and with great characters,enticing fantasy and charming non-fantasy, longing and standing up for love, and happy romantic mm endings. She has written angst and brought me to tears, but it is all her gentle lovers, fearful venturers, and fantastic beings that are among my favorites. Never disappointed.
February 5, 2022
1.75 stars. I feel like this story had potential, but it just didn’t land the way it needed to. The world building was vague at best, and it felt like the author forgot we didn’t live in their head with all their knowledge about the story and characters. It could have also benefited from another read through, as there were a few extra and missing words. The characters kind of bothered me, and Bel was a little too overly mysterious to make sense to me. His motives were pretty unclear, and I wasn’t sure of him at any point of the story.
Also, the cover made me think this would have more of a roaring 20s type feel, and it did not have that at all.
Also, the cover made me think this would have more of a roaring 20s type feel, and it did not have that at all.
March 14, 2022
3.5 Stars.
I saw some reviews complaining about this being a monster…trucker book. That was not an issue for me at all. What I was a bit disappointed about, which other reviewers have pointed out before me, was that we spent the whole book building up to Nicodemus’s rut, got mere hours (if that) away from it, then jumped to some time after it’s over. That was disappointing, not to see it. This world, while a bit vague (it’s not a very long book, after all) was interesting and I loved all the characters. I’d be very interested in seeing a sequel and/or books set in the same world, and this book seemed to leave itself open for that.
I saw some reviews complaining about this being a monster…trucker book. That was not an issue for me at all. What I was a bit disappointed about, which other reviewers have pointed out before me, was that we spent the whole book building up to Nicodemus’s rut, got mere hours (if that) away from it, then jumped to some time after it’s over. That was disappointing, not to see it. This world, while a bit vague (it’s not a very long book, after all) was interesting and I loved all the characters. I’d be very interested in seeing a sequel and/or books set in the same world, and this book seemed to leave itself open for that.
September 22, 2022
What a weird book to rate. I loved it in parts (the writing can be inspired) and hated or had to muddle through the rest. For a Novella, I struggled to finish it even though I really enjoyed Bel and liked Nicodemus quite a lot. I believe the author struggles to land at a point where the world isn’t overtly explained and sufficiently mysterious while still showing enough so that the reader doesn’t feel lostor out of sorts. There is a lot of potential here and some good bones but it just needs some more work.
October 24, 2022
I feel like this could've been good, but I was just confused most of the time. I think the world and characters were just not conveyed as clearly as I would've liked. I saw another reviewer say that it was like the ideas were clear in the author's head, but they forgot the reader isn't in their head as well. I think this is an accurate description. Also, I feel like this book never went where I expected. This can be a good thing in some cases, but here it just left me more confused. I just had no idea where anything was going.
December 4, 2022
This was a novella that at least for me felt like a novel. World building and character building did not seem rushed as sometimes happens with shorter stories. I enjoyded the story and of course wished it to be longer but at the same time it felt very much complete. I'm bad at reviewing without spoilers if I try to describe the plot so I just say that I liked the way relationships between the different characters evolved. Masterfully done in such a short story where often the secondary characters seems like paper cut outs.
December 28, 2021
This was an interesting introduction to the new to me author. The nice line drawing cover drew me in. There was a good romance among a great deal of exposition. Nicodemus and Bel were attractively written characters. I enjoyed the ‘monster porn’ as one reviewer wrote. Porn never had so many words! The writer sets an atmosphere for the scenes and I especially enjoyed the ending with everyone at the fireside and the inner thoughts of Nicodemus about life, and Bel.
January 14, 2022
Interesting universe
I really enjoyed this, especially for the world building. The combination of fairy realms and more modern urban settings is one of my favorite things (though this is....Victorian? I think).
Spoilers
Using the Realm to reveal truths and natures about individuals is fun. I would love to spend more time with Nicodemus the peculiari and watch him grow into his discovery and see how terrifying he really is.
I really enjoyed this, especially for the world building. The combination of fairy realms and more modern urban settings is one of my favorite things (though this is....Victorian? I think).
Spoilers
Using the Realm to reveal truths and natures about individuals is fun. I would love to spend more time with Nicodemus the peculiari and watch him grow into his discovery and see how terrifying he really is.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews