The Monsters Among Us series by Debbie Cassidy

Goodreads synopsis for When Monsters Lie (The Monsters Among Us, #1): 

The world went to shit the day I was born.

They say fire rained from the sky for seven days signaling the arrival of the monsters.

They say humanity fought hard to beat them.

They say the celestials saved us.

They say a lot of things.

Me? I deal in the present. In scouting for useful things and keeping my team alive outside the protective walls of our base. I might not have a fancy monster-killing blade like the Sweepers do, but I’ve avoided getting my face eaten off so far, so I call that a win.

But when my base is taken by monsters, my scout skills are the only thing standing between imminent demise and survival.

Sanctuary lies across the deadlands—monster infested territory, unmapped and uncharted even by the celestials. It’s the only route, and I have no choice but to navigate my people through it.

I’m a scout, a survivor. I got this.

Until I haven’t.

The last thing I expect is to be relying on three monsters for protection. But fate obviously has a sense of humor. Shemyaza and his scouts are intelligent, deathly, and lethal, and turns out they’re the only ones who can lead us to safety.

Only problem is, their aid comes with a hefty price.

Me.

Action, sizzle and multiple love interests for our lucky heroine in this paranormal fantasy romance.

*this is going to be a review for all five books in the series 

I devoured the first 4.5 books in a single day! I would have finished the entire series but sleep won out and I had to stop. The Monsters Among Us series was exactly what I was looking for. It starts off with a bang, has a lot of action, world building, and story development. The characters were decently fleshed out and didn't get on my nerves, AND there's a reverse harem situation happening (although I would have liked a little more from that). 

My only other complaint would be the length of the books. They're pretty short and I think the story could have benefitted from more character development (particularly with some of the secondary characters) and more time spent on exploring the world and relationships. I think Cassidy wrote something amazing, but I also think it could have been more than it was. Rue's love life is happening alongside the world ending, so a few aspects felt rushed, but it was still enjoyable to read about. 

As for the reverse harem situation... I feel like calling it that is a stretch. It's almost like she rotates between several different males as things happen to others. 😅 Rue's love life definitely isn't boring, lol. I was also a little frustrated that one of my favorites didn't really get any attention until the last book, and even then it was short and sweet. I would have preferred for the MC to have established relationships and dynamics throughout the books and not just have them tossed in seemingly on a whim. A budding bromance between some of them would have been nice also. They're all very different and don't really like to share. 

I also liked the last book, When Monsters Fight, less than the others. It didn't have the same feel to it and the story felt rushed to its inevitable conclusion. There's all this build up and then... semi-cliffhanger. I was left feeling unsatisfied with it overall, despite having an absolute blast reading the books up until then. The dystopian aspect, the world ending, monsters, demons, celestials, other worlds - there's A LOT going on in this series.

Rue is a likable MC that fights for her friends and the people she cares about. She also feels responsible for the other humans that are out there just trying to survive for another day. Despite failures and setbacks, she keeps pushing forward. She jumps from one thing to the next (and from one male to another) until the story's conclusion, so you're constantly left wondering what (or who) is coming next. 😉

Definitely not a deep or profound series, but one I enjoyed immensely and had a lot of fun with despite the issues I had surrounding the last book and the reverse harem theme. What was it you said, Sam? Brain candy? That's exactly what The Monsters Among Us series was for me. 🧠🍭 (★★★★☆)

🎧 Audiobook Challenge

 

Hello lovelies! It's been a few years since I did the Audiobook Challenge, but I think my first one was back in 2019! I can't believe how much time has passed. I've always enjoyed doing this challenge and seeing if I can beat my number from the previous year. I believe 50+ is what I went with the last time I did this challenge, but I think I'm going to drop it down to 20-30 this year to make it more manageable. 

If you would like to sign up for your very own 2025 Audiobook Challenge, please visit Caffeinated Reviewer or That’s What I’m Talking About. All of the following information comes from Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer.

Challenge Details

• Runs January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. You can join at any time.
• The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2025 than you did in 2024.
• Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)
• All genres count.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, etc. I recommend creating a shelf on Goodreads titled 2025 Audiobook Challenge. You can keep track and link the shelf.
• Grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word. You can post on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon, your blog etc. about the challenge.
• Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. The first update will be July 5, 2025, and the last update will take place on December 27, 2025. You’ll have one week to link up and share your progress and enter giveaway

Achievement Levels:

• Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
• Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
• Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15
• Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
• Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
• My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+
• Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+
• Over-Achiever (Power Listener) 75+
• The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+
• I Can’t Hear You (earbuds always in) 125-150
• Audibly Addicted (listening to all the books 24/7) 150+

Lights Out (Into Darkness, #1) by Navessa Allen🎧 Narrated by Elena Wolfe & Jacob Morgan

Synopsis (via Goodreads): The viral TikTok stalker dark romance, burning with high heat, hilarious banter, and a love story like you’ve never seen before. Can you handle the ride?

I want someone with a soul as black as night. Someone who would burn the world down for me and not lose a single minute of sleep over it.

Trauma nurse Aly Cappellucci doesn’t need any more kinks. She likes the one she’s landed on just fine. To her, nothing could top the masked men she follows online. Unless one of those men was shirtless, heavily tattooed, and waiting for her in her bedroom. She dreams about being hunted by one in particular, of him chasing her down and doing deliciously dark things to her willing body. She never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become her new reality.

I want things most people don’t, craving darkness and depravity instead of light and love.

Josh Hammond has spent his life avoiding the limelight, but his online persona is another story. At night, he posts masked thirst traps for his millions of fans to drool over, but one follower has caught his eye: Aly. After reading a comment begging him to break into her house wearing a mask, he decides to take her up on her offer.

Together, Aly and Josh live out their darkest fantasies, unaware that Aly has captured the attention of someone else. Someone with far more sinister intentions than a little light stalking. As Josh turns from predator to protector and the stakes heighten, he must ask himself how far he’s willing to go for the woman he’s obsessed with.

“I thought we could spend some quality time together as a family. You, me. Our maladjusted son who just scooted his butt across the carpet behind you.”

I genuinely enjoyed this book! The trigger warning list at the beginning had me worried (and had my husband looking at me funny for a few days after I let him listen to it), but it really wasn't that bad. Most of what's on the list is just alluded to or mentioned and not described in great detail. Honestly, Lights Out didn't even feel like a dark romance, just a regular kinky romance with some darker aspects tossed in. 

For starters, Josh is adorable and so stinking cute. I love his relationship with Fred (her cat) and the ridiculous, off-the-wall comments he makes. His humor and snark had me smiling throughout this book. He's also incredibly self-aware and owns his kinky sexuality. He knows what he likes and just wants someone to share it with. Josh is also very protective and the way he takes care of those he loves is endearing, if a little overbearing at times. It makes sense when you learn about his history and get his backstory. The way he watched Aly to make sure she was actually into it (and not just all talk and bravado on the internet) was sweet in a weird way. His intentions were good at least.

Tyler was a solid friend. Was he full of himself? Absolutely. But he had Josh's back and I can respect that.

Aly was a likeable main character as well. She's responsible, capable, and has the ability to work through her emotions rationally and without freaking out (externally). We do get some inner monologue about her questionable decisions, but I like how the author handled it. It felt believable if you can get behind a cute stalker romance. Her experience as a trauma nurse means she's seem some things most of us only hear about. I think that added to her believability as a character engaging willingly with a stalker and how she was able to "trust her gut" when making decisions. 

I also liked that the "reveal" wasn't left until the end. They're able to develop an honest relationship in addition to their kinky one. The story that revolves around them was a tad unbelievable at times (like her family ties and what ends up happening to her one night at work and after), but it does play into the overall story and helps it progress. Now I'm not saying these things are impossible, but they were very convenient for the story.

Overall, Lights Out was an immensely enjoyable read. It had me smiling from ear-to-ear and pausing the audiobook when the smut was smutting and the kids or husband were around, lol. Both narrators were phenomenal and I can't wait to listen to more books by them. Caught Up is the second book in this series, and June 10th can't come fast enough. (★★★★★)

Top Ten Tuesday [4]

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together!

This week's topic: Bookish Goals for 2025

1. Read at least one book a week (52 books for the year). I used to read hundreds of books every year, but then I had kids and they require a significant amount of time and energy. My husband also likes seeing my face and interacting with me instead of the backs of my books. 😅

2. Get my NetGalley ratio up to 85%. My NetGalley ratio has been garbage for a few years now because I see something and immediately request or accept it. I need to catch up on what I already have before taking on anything else. My plate overfloweth. 

3. Read the physical books on my TBR that are currently just shelf trophies. I am really bad about seeing a book and buying it on a whim and then never picking it up again. In my defense, they look amazing on my bookshelves and I don't want to disturb them. Honestly though... I need to make them more of a priority so I can donate the ones that I don't like and clear up some shelf space.

4. Be a more active blogger. I have missed blogging so, so much, and I want to make it more of a priority this year. I'm hoping for a minimum of two posts a week. 🤞

5. Review the books I've already read. During my blogging hiatus I read a lot of books that never got reviewed. I have them marked on my Goodreads and want to make sure I take the time to review them this year and get caught back up.

6. Read more nonfiction. I don't dislike nonfiction, but it's not my go-to whenever I pick up a new book. However, there are several that I want to read and conveniently already own, so there's no reason for me not to. I keep telling myself I'm not in the right headspace or mood for them, but now I think it's more of an excuse to skip them for something else that's "exciting" or fantastical. 

7. Finish series I've started and forgotten about. I know we've all probably done this... where we've started a series and then just forgot to finish it. Or maybe the next book wasn't out yet and then we never went back to it. I want to track down those forgotten series and finish them.

8. Prioritize my Book Club book. Some friends and I have been in a Book Club for a few months now, and I always seem to put the Book Club book on the backburner, even when it's a book I've recommended. It's like as soon as I have to read a book, I no longer want to. 

9. Keep a reading journal to help with reviews. If I don't immediately review a book after I finish reading it, all of my key points and thoughts go out the window. I want to be better about journaling and writing down my thoughts as I have them in order to write better and more specific reviews. 

10. Engage more in the book blogging community. It made me sad when I realized a lot of people I used to blog with no longer have active accounts. I want to engage more and make new friends and form new relationships with the people in the community now. (If that's you, let's be friends!)

The Expeditioners and the Treasure of Drowned Man's Canyon (The Expeditioners, #1) by S.S. Taylor, Katherine Roy (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Computers have failed, electricity is extinct, and the race to discover new lands is underway! Brilliant explorer Alexander West has just died under mysterious circumstances, but not before smuggling half of a strange map to his intrepid children—Kit the brain, M.K. the tinkerer, and Zander the brave. Why are so many government agents trying to steal the half-map? (And where is the other half?) It’s up to Alexander’s children—the Expeditioners—to get to the bottom of these questions, and fast.

I just finished reading The Expeditioners with my son and we both enjoyed it. Although, I do think he liked it more than I did. I found it hard to suspend my disbelief when three kids were taking on tasks that were wholly unbelievable at best. I wish their dad's friend had stuck around after their impromptu visit, but he didn't show back up until the end. There were very convenient solutions to all of their problems that seemed to appear out of nowhere (like a flamethrower or a boat), and the author's explanation was basically a utility vest. How did the vest work? How did the mechanics allow for the seemingly impossible to happen? I wanted to better understand the story and the world Taylor had created.

I will say that the illustrations were amazing. My son would always hop out of bed to study them more intently. They really added a whole other level to the storytelling that we both found interesting and engaging. I also liked the secret code and wish the reader had played more of a role in deciphering it. Unfortunately, it's like we're on the outside looking in and experiencing everything secondhand. I wanted to feel like I was uncovering hidden truths alongside Kit and his siblings, not as a bystander waiting for something to happen.

Three very young kids managed to travel all over the world, survive on very little food and water (if any at all), and all of the problems resolved themselves quickly and without much effort on their part. I also think the author was trying to insinuate a potential relationship between Kit (I think he was 14) and a girl that joined their group about halfway through. It felt awkward and out of place in the story, especially when his older brother also seemed interested.

Speaking of girls, both brothers drooled over a different girl later on and it was weird and uncomfortable. The sting of jealousy their friend experiences also felt out of place given their dire circumstances. Their comments about her beauty were off-putting and didn't feel natural at all.

The entire ending felt rushed and someone's death felt forced into the story instead of happening in a believable way. We were also given very little background information on the person to make their story and personal history relevant to the events that take place. It felt like the author wanted to end this book just to set up the second, and I wish more time had been spent developing the characters, world, and how everything in it worked. I shouldn't still feel confused at the end.

Overall, it's a fun story. However, it's not a series I will be continuing. My son might decide to pick up the next book on his own, but he hasn't asked about it yet. (★★★☆☆)

State of the ARC [35]

State of the ARC is a monthly meme hosted by Avalinah at Avalinah's Books and Sarah at All the Book Blog Names Are Taken! It's an opportunity for readers to catch up on their long overdue ARCs, but right now I'm using it to keep up with my upcoming ARCs instead. It helps me stay organized!

Breath of the Dragon (Breathmarked, #1) by Shannon Lee, Fonda Lee (1/7)

Lies on the Serpent's Tongue (Bittersweet in the Hollow, #2) by Kate Pearsall (1/7)

The Heart Is a Star by Megan Rogers (1/7)

The Empress (Towerfall, #1) by Kristin Cast (1/7)

A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson (1/7)

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (1/7)

The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard (1/7)

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura (1/7)

Lightfall (The Everlands Trilogy, #1) by Ed Crocker (1/14)

The Legend of Meneka (The Divine Dancers Duology, #1) by Kritika H. Rao (1/21)

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke (1/21)

The Encanto's Daughter (The Encanto's Daughter, #1) by Melissa de la Cruz (2/11)*

*Goodreads says it was originally published on 3/5/24, but I'm using the date listed on NetGalley

We Would Never by Tova Mirvis (2/11)

Cold as Hell (Haven's Rock, #3) by Kelley Armstrong (2/18)

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor (2/25)

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (3/4)

When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain (3/4)

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven (3/4)*

*Goodreads says it will be published on 2/27/25, but I'm using the date listed on NetGalley

Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen (3/18)

The Unlucky Ones (Black Harbor, #4) by Hannah Morrissey (3/25)

The Sirens by Emilia Hart (4/1)*

*Goodreads says it will be published on 2/13/25, but I'm using the date listed on NetGalley

Where Shadows Meet (Where Shadows Meet, #1) by Patrice Caldwell (4/1)

The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues, #1) by Alwyn Hamilton (4/1)

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez (4/8)

The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner (4/8)

What Comes After by Katie Bayerl (4/29)

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner (4/29)

Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer (4/29)

The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li (5/6)

All We Lost Was Everything by Sloan Harlow (5/6)

Death at a Highland Wedding (A Tip Through Time, #4) by Kelley Armstrong (5/20)