This one might not have the most original premise but the world building, the demons are very original. I of course have an interest in a certain appendage and let me just say I wasn’t disappointed and that too felt very original. Her mother, her father, her baby brother...even their dog, which hadn’t stopped barking, had eventually been eaten. I absolutely adored this book and everything about it and the characters. I initially read it on KU and then bought myself a kindle copy and a physical copy for my bookshelf.

I don't expect highly nuanced feminism in my monster romance, but this plot point was so stupid and misogynistic that I could not enjoy any part of the story after that. I was having a decent time for most of the book. The dynamic between Orpheus and Reia is interesting (we know he won't eat her, but he sure gets close to it), and it was fun to see which parts of The Ancient Magus' Bride the author decided to work into the story and what world-building was original. The pacing was a little slow and claustrophobic for my taste, though. And yet, for some reason, Katerina is still jealously possessive of Orpheus and reminds Reia that she's "just a replacement." Her character exists only to make Orpheus sad and to make Reia look better by comparison, and she has no consistency. Even worse, Reia has the audacity to be JEALOUS of Katerina for being Orpheus's first partner, despite knowing that Katerina is so traumatized from her experiences that she wants to kill Orpheus. She's portrayed as some slutty, greedy ex-girlfriend who abandoned poor unloved Orpheus when she's actually just a survivor of some horrific kidnapping and assault who's turned her life around with a new partner who treats her better. I just want to say—most of the novel was enjoyable. Watching Orpheus try so hard to give Reia everything she wanted was so sweet, and his petty jealousy with the other Duskwalker was adorable. He was so caring toward her, even in the moments the beast took over, and he wanted to kill her. Duskwalker Orpheus is an absolute cinnamon roll of a monster. He is both every horrible thing Reia has ever imagined him to be, but funnily enough is also one of the sweetest and the most thoughtful creatures she’s ever known, showing her more kindness than her own people ever had. In exchange for his protection and by default his prisoner, Orpheus in return just wants a companion, and the two form a strange friendship.Every decade, the lone beastly ethereal Duskwalker, Orpheus, emerges from The Void to claim a willing sacrifice to be his “Bride” in exchange for protective barriers against the rampant demons that plague the human world, consuming all in their path with unquenchable hunger. The typos, which normally I don’t notice but in this book my boredom brought these faults to the forefront, and oh boy did they bother me. Not to mention the weird insertions of current day slang/information. What would a peasant without internet know about flamingos? This is not like those boring old fantasy books from the past. This doesn't have mindnumbing world building, or multiple family units with names you can't pronounce, a confusing magic system or generic bad guys. He'd thought it was a hopeless endeavour, until he met her. She’s not afraid of him, and his insatiable desire deepens within every moment of her presence. Duskwalker Brides a series that features a very real monster who never turns into a handsome prince.

She knew she hadn’t screamed, hadn’t tried to run, hadn’t done anything but wait as her family was eaten. It had been dark which made it hard to see. Reia, I just never grew to like her. And I felt like I didn’t know her that well by the end of the book. Orpheus we learn more about, but it seemed like a lot of it was revealed by others and I wanted to know him more from his perspective. It did take a while for the plot to actually start getting really interesting, the main conflicts only appear near the end. But if you'd like to read about the daily life of a monster and his bride, I'm sure you'll love it (I sure did).

Customer reviews

OW/OM DRAMA OW — Orpheus’s first love is present in memory throughout the story, and she is a part of the third act conflict.

I don’t know what I was expecting – like I’m all for a monster and dark romance and having to control urges but this just made me laughEnter Reia. Seeing them grow together was so fun. And since I love a Beauty and the Beast story it really isn’t surprising I loved this one (she even reads him a children’s folktale of Beauty and the Beast… meta). The story was steamy (3/5), after a gradual stroking-the-flames build-up. Be prepared for some surprising dirty talk from our sweet hero and some creativity in their uniting. (You will welcome a picture of our hero’s inner workings once you read.) Also, expect some eye-orbed jealousy as other characters are introduced.