ebookreview | [ 529 ]

Run & Hide by Beatrix Hollow

Series:
Myths & Monsters #1

Genre:
Reverse Harem, Monsters, Mythology, Paranormal, Dark, Fantasy, Steamy Romance, Spicy Romance, Urban Fantasy, Horror, Fated Mates, Ghosts, Supernatural, Shifters, Why Choose, Erotica, Smut, Shapeshifters, Multiple Points of View, Trilogy

Publication Date:
September 7, 2021

Pages Numbers:
246

Read Date:
August 9th, 2023

Date Finished:
August 10th, 2023

Rating:
3.5/5

Blurb:

Monsters--shadows, gills, wings, and more. The things I fear crave me… and they’ve been here the whole time. Hiding, waiting, and wanting. Lurking, sneaking, and watching.

Traveling the country camping was supposed to be an escape from the strange and unusual that clings to my family. My family’s calling to fame terrifies me. The ghosts, the hauntings, the supernatural--I want nothing to do with it.

Too bad it wants everything to do with me.

Where did the trip first go wrong? Maybe when an old friend with dark secrets insisted on coming--a rising rock star whose fame is now putting me in the limelight.

Then there is the West Virginia local legend. A monster myth of cryptid fame. A campfire story. But there are those that believe--that are willing to do whatever it takes to capture the monster in the mountains.

Maybe even use humans as bait.

Maybe even use me.

Author Note: This is a monster romance with multiple love interests the female lead will not choose between. This is book one of a series and will be slow build, meaning not all love interests are introduced in book one.

content warnings/tropes & details: Graphic violence/gore, Violence from outside the harem, Dub-con, Gun/Knife Violence, Death/murder, Hauntings/ghosts, Paranormal possession, Kidnapping/captivity, Cults, Biting, cervical penetration, c*m inflation, abnormal anatomy, monster sex, praise k*nk, squirting, excessive male fluids

Review:

Lately, there have been several books where I have struggled to place on the rating scale. The novel's premise always sounds promising. That is until you crack open the novel, read the book, and learn that the novel either did not have much character development, the world-building was underwhelming, or the story's pace just seemed to slow any progress it should already have.

The monster genre has become a favorite especially when there is a reverse harem and a new cryptid is introduced into the genre. This time a Nøkken. The Nøkken is a different breed altogether. It is a water spirit that is known to lure people into the water using its musical talents. It is said that once you are within its grasp, it will drown you and take your soul.

Nøkken is known to imprint on their fated half and crave their attention. Unfortunately for Caspian, his mother had passed away and his father craved the attention that had been lost to her death. He finds Ava's mother and the two marry sending both Caspian and his father far from their home to the lands of Norfolk, Virginia. Here would be his new home. Here he would live, but he was not expecting to find his fated half in Ava. The connection was instantaneous for Caspian and when he set out for his career, he would become famous just for her.

Fast forward five years, Caspian has achieved fame and now it was time to claim the prize he has waited all this time for - Ava. With unwanted bandmates and a cryptid loose in the woods, Caspian will have to find a way to claim Ava before someone else does.

While I did enjoy this story and its premise, I did not care too much for Ava, the bandmates, and Mothman. I did not feel that Ava's character advances any in her development. Her whole mentality of "if you don't see it or really feel it, then it is not real". This causes all sorts of problems in her character and there were times I really wanted to slap the shit out of her.

Caspian's bandmates annoyed the shit out of me. I don't see what the problem was when Caspian decided enough was enough for him. They could have continued on with their band and just rebranded it or even found another frontman. Instead, they decided they would just tag and make problems. I never thought I would see a bunch of immature bandmates ever. I can now see why Caspian would leave.

The Mothman - I don't know what to think of him. He really doesn't seem to really fit in the story except to be the next mate for Ava's harem. He was annoying and I don't think he was really needed except maybe for the creep factor that was going for him.

And let's not go there with her aunt and mother. I am not fond of either of those two.

Caspian - what can I say about him? I loved his character. I loved that he was the first Nøkken I have been introduced to and I love that he had stayed true to Ava for all these years. He grows from the first moment we see him and even in flashbacks to the beginning. He grows in character and he does everything possible to protect Ava. Who could ever turn him down?

Final Thought:

Overall, while "Run & Hide" had a promising premise in the monster genre with a unique water spirit cryptid, I found some of the characters to be lacking in development, particularly Ava and the bandmates. Mothman didn't seem to have much purpose in the story besides being a potential mate for Ava. However, I loved Caspian's character and his loyalty to Ava, and his growth throughout the story was enjoyable to read. Despite its flaws, "Run & Hide" is still a decent addition to the reverse harem subgenre with an interesting monster twist.