While the previous book in the series is my favorite so far, this book ended up taking me completely by surprise. Heart pounding from nearly the first page, this book doesn't let up until the very end. With suspension of disbelief, it's a wild, entertaining, but extremely emotional read. The overall theme of monsters and what makes a monster is breathtaking in the exploration in this book. I will say, however, after you read, if you start to really think about different pieces of the plot, the book will fall apart a bit (for example: I can't tell you what the title has to do with the story, to be honest). But I rated this based on how much enjoyment I got out of reading it, rather than picking apart any potential plotholes.


Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Definitely.


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: In some ways we have characters similar to what you'd find in the other books. Rhory is the same height, build, human that Jak and Arlo are, whereas Calix is our supernatural, larger in height, muscle mass, etc. character like Marius and Faenir. I adored having the link between this book and the previous books as well: Calix is the grandson of Auriol, Arlo's sister that we met in the previous book. This book also plays around with a few moments of different POV, including starting the book with a POV we only get once, and even one from Auriol's that we also have once. I'm not certain they were needed, per se, but in terms of the monster theme, it makes sense why they were included. I found myself impressed with Rhory, our main character, despite wanting to freak out so many times reading his POV. He's unbelievably strong given everything that he goes through and when he chooses to stand up to our antagonists, it's truly pulse pounding. I will say that sometimes his relationship with Calix felt a little bit off, especially for someone who experiences the amount of abuse he does throughout the story. But at least I found myself rooting for their relationship.



PLOT: Loosely a Little Red Riding Hood retelling this time, we find out about the newest secret supernatural in this world, werewolves (not a spoiler). Rhory is taken captive by Auriol and Calix, meant to be a hostage exchange for Auriol's other grandson, Silas. Throughout this beginning it's a little bit more beauty and the beast, with Calix giving Rhory his room and the relationship between them twisting and turning and deepening as more and more surprising, shocking, and confusing secrets are revealed. Throughout this plot we find that nearly every character except for Rhory can be considered a monster in some way, which is thematically significant. As Calix and Rhory go from enemies-to-lovers, they uncover a plot that could possibly doom all the vampires of Darkmourn and it's up to them whether they're going to save 'monsters' or not. High intensity, high stakes, and high action, this book truly didn't let up until the end.



EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.


4:5/high, potentially 5:5. This book actually ended up much higher than I expected. I had several heart pounding moments, both from the themes, but also aspects that can be triggering. Not only do you have physical, emotional, and psychological abuse (already heart pounding the way it's read), but a personal trigger of mine is included (re:the amnesia/brainwash/memory wipe category). So yes, this book ended up being a higher pulse point than I thought, higher than the previous books, as well. This book puts the Dark in Darkmourn.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 


75%. I'm lowering this because it felt like there were so many loose threads left unanswered and hanging. Rhory and Calix get their HEA, though it sort of feels like the story just ends. Additionally, we have the issue with the single POV and a 'fade to black' which doesn't let us read into the aftermath as much as I'd always like. I had a few too many questions I wanted answered that felt like they didn't make sense for the story and were done only to enable to plot (re: One of the main characters isn't there at the end for some reason. Why?). Additionally, if we're expecting the strong one to ever get hurt and be vulnerable, it's not going to happen, but overall I did enjoy reading this one and I'm excited to read the final book in the series.