Thank you to Katee Robert and her team for the advance reader copy of The Gargoyle’s Captive, the third story in the A Deal with a Demon series.
I am super excited to be back reviewing one of Katee’s monster romances. It is not a sub-genre I pick up too often but Katee brings such an emotional depth to these books, something you may not always expect. This is my fave instalment in A Deal with a Demon yet, Grace is our toughest heroine and Bram just needs a hug!
I am a Katee Robert review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.
Grace is a monster hunter who went into her demon deal with eyes wide open. Years ago, her mother made the same choice and was never seen again, and the answers Grace seeks can only be found in the demon realm.
She doesn’t care that she’s auctioned off to a gargoyle. She doesn’t plan to stay with him longer than strictly necessary.
Unfortunately, she didn’t read the small print of her contract.
Every time she tries to escape, she’s transported back into Bram’s tender care. He never hurts her, never punishes her, just meets her fury with an easy charm she doesn’t know how to fight.
She doesn’t mean to give in, to stop fighting. But the moment she does, she starts to forget what brought her to this place and what her goals are. After a life starved of pleasure, she’s all willing to let Bram seduce her again and again…
At least until the past comes calling.
Author’s Note: For all tropes, tags, and CWs, please check the author website.
Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
- Characters: I loved Grace! If you are a big Katee fan like me that you would have read The Court of the Vampire Queen and be very familiar with both Grace and the bargain she has struck. If you haven’t read it (well you should because it’s a bonkers hot why choose) all you really need to know is Mina and her men were in a bind and Grace took up the bargain on Mina’s behalf. Why you may ask because Grace wanted to enter the demon realm to find out answers about her mother. Grace is our most strong-willed and defiant heroine in this series, which makes sense as a trained monster hunter from a famed family. She is more than just physically capable though, I loved how she pushed Bram in a way that no one in his solitary life has before. Bram was such an interesting love interest for Grace. Katee always makes jokes online about how these books grow more emotional as she writes, and I have no doubt that shone in Bram. When we meet him he is steeped in trauma and loneliness stemming from his family curse. He needed someone like Grace, someone to help him begin to process his trauma. Not to fully move on from it, but begin to understand how he can let into dictate his whole life and what he can have out of it.
- Setting: This series is set in the demon realm, with the story kicking off with the auction as a central starting place. If you have read any of the other books in this series you will be familiar with how the world is set up, with multiple domains and a territory leader. So, The Gargoyle’s Captive is set primarily in Bram’s territory, of which he is the leader. This setting does not stand out too much and I would say the most significant part of the story is how people run from the setting, either Grace’s choices to run so she can be chased and the way the lords of the land brush off the seat of power.
- Pacing: This story just flies by, which is no surprise due to its relatively short length. One part of me enjoys the quick hit of sensuality and emotionality, and another part wants to stay in this world longer. This series is quickly becoming the perfect binge and is a great eye-opener to the world of monster romance.
- Romance: It’s Katee Robert writing monster romance of course this book is hot! It was super refreshing to read a monster romance where the woman takes charge rather than submits to being the one dominated. This book also plays with so much fun in and out of the bedroom dynamics, such as Grace running away, then being chased after by Bram. This book has a heavy tinge of sadness too, mourning permeates our characters and they both so deserve to have someone to help carry their burdens. Readers I have no doubt will grow attached to Grace and Bram, despite all the twists and turns their journey to being together will take on.
The Gargoyle’s Captive receives four out of five stars.
You can pick up the story here.
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Thank you again to Katee and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!
