Welcome Back to the Wastes!
If you loved Soul Eater, then buckle up because Edin is just as entertaining, just as spicy, and just as impossible to put down.
The Monstrous series by Lily Mayne continues to be one of my favorite monster romance series. Set twenty years after a tear between Earth and the monster world changed civilization forever, humans are now forced to survive inside military-controlled cities while the rest of the United States belongs to monsters. The setting is gritty, dangerous, and completely unique. Every book expands the world a little more, and I love learning about all the different monster races.
One of my favorite things about the series is that Lily Mayne has both a Monster Index and Human Index on her website. It is such a fun resource if you ever need to remind yourself who a character is or want to learn more about the different creatures living in the Wastes.
Meet the Couple
Hunter (MMC): A military veteran who has spent twelve years fighting monsters. He's grumpy, stubborn, fiercely loyal to his best friend Charlie, and has the physical scars to prove it. He isn't great at talking about his feelings, but underneath all that armor is someone who genuinely cares about the people he loves.
Edin (Monster MMC): A massive lavender-purple monster who wears nothing but a kilt. He's the last of his ancient race and is equal parts arrogant, bossy, compassionate, funny, and charming. His confidence and easygoing personality make him the perfect match for Hunter's constant grumpiness.
The Adventure
Hunter and Charlie's mission takes a disastrous turn, leaving Hunter stranded and Charlie captured. Hunter's rescue comes from the last person he expected, a giant monster named Edin.
Their first meeting had me laughing immediately. Hunter is literally hanging over a sinkhole convinced he's about to die when a monster casually pops his head over the edge. Hunter shouts, "Help me!" One funny conversation and one very long rusty pipe later, Edin pulls an extremely irritated Hunter to safety.
From there, the story turns into an exciting rescue mission through underground tunnels filled with monsters, raiders on the surface, and more than enough danger to keep the pages turning. The action is fast-paced, but it never overshadows the relationship developing between Hunter and Edin. ο»Ώ
What I Loved
The biggest strength of this book is the characters.
Hunter and Edin balance each other perfectly. Hunter's grumpy attitude mixed with Edin's confidence and humor creates some genuinely funny conversations. Watching Hunter slowly lower his walls while Edin patiently chips away at them made their relationship feel natural and believable.
Charlie once again steals every scene he's in. His sense of humor adds so much personality to the story, and I laughed way too hard when he called Hunter a "size queen."
The humor throughout the book is one of my favorite parts of the series. Even during tense moments, Lily Mayne knows exactly when to lighten the mood. One of my favorite callbacks is when Edin eventually admits he lied when they first met because he told Hunter he didn't want to eat him!
ο»Ώο»Ώο»Ώο»Ώο»Ώο»Ώο»ΏOf course, this wouldn't be a Lily Mayne novel without plenty of spice. The chemistry between Hunter and Edin is incredible, and the steamy scenes are every bit as hot as I was hoping for. The romance never feels like it exists just for the spice, though. Their emotional connection grows naturally alongside the physical attraction, making every romantic moment even more satisfying.
The Verdict
If you enjoy monster romances with incredible world-building, lovable characters, laugh-out-loud humor, action, and plenty of spice, Edin absolutely deserves a spot on your reading list.
I loved this book just as much as Soul Eater, and the ending left me wanting even more from this world. In fact, I started The Rycke immediately after finishing because I simply wasn't ready to leave these characters behind.
Happy reading, and remember my fellow spicy book dragons, before starting a book please check the tropes, and always check for trigger warnings. Nobody likes an unfinished book because the tropes aren't your cup of tea or having a bad reading experience because of unexpected trigger warnings.
