Part 2 of the mini-recommendations series of recommending different romance books that give me Halloween vibes. Today’s post is focused on monster romances. Whether you love demons or orcs or you’re looking for a kraken or a Jekyl/Hyde character, this list will have a little bit of everything for those monster romance lovers out there. Looking for a specific monster? Let me know and I can provide some recommendations!
Be sure to check out Part 1 of this series.
Book 1: Headless by Aveda Vice (released 4/29/2021)
A polyamorous (MMF) retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hallow. This is a short, spicy retelling (it’s 14 pages) to dip your toe in with Aveda Vice if you’re looking to try their work. Aveda writes a ton of monster romances, but I found this to be a good place to start (alongside Feed) to get a feel for their writing style and types of stories being told. I had so much fun with this one and cannot wait to try more of Aveda’s work this Halloween season.
Author identified content warnings include death and grief. Aveda’s website includes a listing of all kinks and content warnings for each book published for your reference.
This book is currently available as a free download on both Kindle and Kobo. Aveda’s books are available to read through Kobo Plus (an alternative to Kindle Unlimited).
Book 2: Hollow by C.M. Nascosta (released 9/5/2023)
A bind up of two Sleepy Hallow retellings from the author of Morning Glory Milking Farm. The first is a MMM romance that includes Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. The second is Katrina and the Headless Horseman from the legend itself. I love C.M.’s writing style and the way she features tenderness between what we all read monster romance for – we all know what that is. I cannot wait to try these stories.
Since this includes two stories that I haven’t yet read, I’m unable to tie the content warnings to each individual story. However, StoryGraph’s user submitted content warnings include, sexual content, sexual harrassment, misogyny and murder.
This book is available on Kindle Unlimited to subscribing users.
Book 3: Sing Me to Sleep by R.M. Virtues (released 10/31/2021)
After losing her father, Penelope is staying in her home since The Incident for the first time solo. While staying there, she finally excepts some help from a sleep paralysis demon named Acheron. And that’s all I’m going to say on this one. I heard sleep paralysis demon and knew that I needed to read this one. I have this out from Kindle Unlimited and am so excited to pick this up.
Content warnings, as identified by the author, are: consensual non-consent, humiliation/degradation, sleep paralysis, explicit and rough sex, religious imagery, depression, PTSD, past home invasion, prescription drug use, loss of a parent (historical), on-page death, violence.
While I am unsure if this book is eligible for the 23 for 23 initiative, the author is a Black Indigenous Trans man.
Book 4: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming (first released 7/22/2021)
A rom-com monster romance between a spice trader and a demon. That’s literally all I needed to know before wanting to pick this up. I’ve also somehow ended up with two special editions of this book without having read it yet. I hear literally nothing but good things about this one. I cannot wait to read this.
Content warnings for this book include: sexual content, violence, blood, gore, slavery, death, murder, injury, among many others as identified by readers.
This book also fits the criteria (BIPOC book featuring BIPOC characters) for the 23 for 23 initiative.
Book 5: Muscles & Monsters by Ashley Bennett (released 5/27/2022)
The first book in the Leviathan Fitness series finds Tegan, after a cake catastrophe, being helped by a wolf named Atlas. She ends up working out at Leviathan Fitness and it sounds like sparks fly. Unlike many of the other monster books on this list, this one feels super cozy and I cannot wait to give it a try.
This book is available on Kindle Unlimited for subscribing users.
Content warnings include: body shaming, fatphobia, eating disorder, among a few others.
Book 6: Not So Kind Regards by Clio Evans (released 8/30/2022)
So many Clio Evans monster romances are on my TBR. This one in particular is an MMF between Inferna, her office rival and his lover. This sounds like it has fated mates, BDSM and bunch other fun things you want in a monster romance. Clio has a fairly extensive list of books and I’m excited to give her a work a try.
This book is available in Kindle Unlimited for subscribing users.
Very limited list of content warnings that includes: sexual content, kidnapping, confinement, blood and murder.
What other monster romances should be on my radar this Halloween (and all year long really)?
