A Gentle Giant Who Completely Stole My Heart
Alright my fellow spicy book dragons, if you loved Rig in The Rycke, then you are going to absolutely love Gloam.
Every book in Lily Mayne's Monstrous series somehow manages to outdo the last, introducing another unforgettable monster while expanding this incredible post-apocalyptic world. By the time I finished this one, I honestly didn't think I could love another monster more than Aury.
Meet the Couple
Rig (Adam) (MMC): The Nebraska camp's handyman and resident fixer. Rig is optimistic, compassionate, fiercely loyal, and always willing to help anyone who needs it. Beneath his cheerful personality, though, he quietly struggles with feeling like he isn't enough, making him one of the most relatable characters in the series.
Gloam (MMC): One of the ancient races whose people devoted their lives to preserving knowledge. Betrayed by his own brothers before being enslaved by the Herald and eventually gifted to Collector Mary, Gloam is incredibly intelligent, gentle, compassionate, and endlessly patient despite everything he's endured.
What I Loved
Collector Mary arrives at the Nebraska camp surrounded by chained monsters, but one in particular immediately catches Rig's attention. The giant bodyguard wearing a cage over his head is unable to speak, yet Lily Mayne somehow makes readers care about him almost immediately.
The mystery surrounding Gloam pulled me in right away. Why is he chained? Why can't he speak? Why does he only answer certain questions with "I cannot answer?"
Watching Rig slowly unravel those mysteries while refusing to give up on Gloam was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their relationship starts with nothing more than handwritten notes, but it grows into one of the sweetest romances in the series.
Rig never sees Gloam as a monster that needs to be feared. He sees someone who deserves freedom, kindness, and a chance to live his own life. That determination drives the entire story, and I loved every minute of it.
Bigger Stakes, Bigger World
This book doesn't just deepen the romance, it also raises the stakes for the entire series.
The introduction of the Herald and the cult adds a chilling new threat to an already dangerous world. Without giving too much away, let's just say this group is every bit as disturbing as it sounds, and the further Rig and Gloam travel, the more dangerous their journey becomes.
There are monster attacks, daring escapes, plenty of suspense, and enough twists to keep the pages turning. Every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, Lily Mayne managed to surprise me.
The Scene That Broke My Heart
One moment in particular completely wrecked me. When Rig finally removes the cage from Gloam's head... I felt that in my soul.
After everything Gloam had been forced to endure, that small act of freedom was incredibly emotional. It perfectly captures why I love this series so much. Lily Mayne has an incredible talent for making the biggest, scariest monsters into the characters you want to protect the most.
Of course, this wouldn't be a Monstrous novel without plenty of spice, and Rig and Gloam definitely deliver. Their chemistry feels natural, their emotional connection is beautiful, and every romantic moment feels earned after everything they survive together.
The Verdict
Highly Recommended For: Fans of monster romance, gentle giant heroes, found family, emotional healing, road trip adventures, action-packed fantasy, and romances that perfectly balance humor, heart, and heat.
Gloam became another favorite in the Monstrous series for me. Rig was every bit as funny, lovable, and loyal as he was in The Rycke, but Gloam completely stole the show. His quiet strength, kindness, and heartbreaking past made him impossible not to love, and watching him slowly find freedom made every emotional moment hit that much harder.
The ending left me smiling, with friends reunited, a satisfying happily ever after, and just enough new information about Cat to make me immediately reach for the next book. But you will have to remember a certain scene in the second book Edin to understand what I mean by the end of the book.
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.
