My coven has remained hidden in the shadows for centuries.
We’ve avoided the ‘real world’ altogether; hiding from monsters
and other creatures we share this planet with.
We found protection in the Colville National Forest, nestled in a town protected
by magical barriers.
Our powers are locked by an ancient curse, one meant to protect us from being found.
Until now.
The past has a way of … repeating itself. A new game is beginning. No one is safe.
He’s coming for me.
He’s hunting.
The monster we’ve run from for centuries has found us.
How far will this deadly game go?
How far will I be able to take it, or will he destroy me and everything I care about?
Will the one thing I can’t live without, be the key to destroying and undoing the past?
Or will the past destroy me before I can save the people I love from what I’ve done.
Warning:
About the hero: chances are you may not fall instantly in love with him, that’s because I don’t write men you instantly love; you grow to love them. I don’t believe in instant-love. I write flawed, raw, caveman-like assholes that eventually let you see their redeeming qualities. They are aggressive, assholes, one step above a caveman when we meet them. You may not even like him by the time you finish this book, but I promise you will love him by the end of this series.
About the heroine: There is a chance, that you might think she’s a bit naïve, or weak, but then again who starts out as a badass? Badasses are a product of growth and I am going to put her through hell, and you get to watch her come up swinging every time I knock her on her ass. That’s just how I do things. How she reacts to the set of circumstances she is put through, may not be how you as the reader, or I as the author would react to that same situation. Everyone reacts differently to circumstances and how Magdalena responds to her challenges, is how I see her as a character and as a person.
I don’t write love stories: I write fast paced, knock you on your ass, make you sit on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next books. If you’re looking for cookie cutter romance, this isn’t for you. If you can’t handle the ride, un-buckle your seatbelt and get out of the roller-coaster car now. If not, you’ve been warned. If nothing outlined above bothers you, carry on and enjoy the ride!
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Loved this book! It’s a must read!
I bought both the e-book and the Audible book of Playing with Monsters. Not that I do a lot of reading, mostly listening but sometimes if I get distracted and miss something I can easily go back and read it and then continue listening to the book. I usually am not in love with the narrator’s. Maybe due to that I listen to most of my books on text to speech and I have gotten used to that sound (which BTW doesn’t bother me). Aiden Snow is the narrator. His voice is mesmerizing and I might just have to find more books that he has narrated. Hopefully, more of Amelia Hutchins books. Since, I am back to being addicted.
Playing with Monsters is the first book in this series by the same name. Even though you can read these books by series alone. I have read the first 3 books in The Fae Chronicles. Which I read in 2014. I read Playing with Monsters and understood what was happening but if you haven’t started reading any of these books you might want to go back to the beginning.
This is Lucian and Lena’s story. Lena is a witch and has a twin sister, Kendra. (the reason I mention Kendra is that she plays an important role. Is Lena good or bad? Lucian is the second hand of Lucifer, or is he? I have so many questions that I am hoping to get answered in the next book Unraveling Destiny. Yes, I am still kind of going out of order since, I have skipped 2 of the books. Seducing Destiny and A Demon’s Dark Embrace. It’s the way I roll. However, Unraveling Destiny is the next book after Playing with Monsters. Which BTW I give 4.5 stars and as soon as this review is completed I will start Unraveling Destiny.
Make sure you read the WARNING. If you have any triggers proceed with caution.
Here is the reading order so far for those that are interested. This is not a complete list but, it’s a start.
Fighting Destiny – Ryder and Synthia’s story-line Taunting Destiny Escaping Destiny Seducing Destiny
A Demon’s Dark Embrace – Ristan and Olivia
Playing with Monsters – Lucian and Lena
Unraveling Destiny – Ryder and Synthia
Sleeping with Monsters – Lucian and Lena
Playing with Monsters is book 1 in Amelia Hutchins’ Playing with Monsters Series.
(Words from the author) Read the warning before purchasing this book.
TRIGGER WARNING: This book includes scenes of graphic violence and sex does have scenes that might affect sensitive readers. Rape isn’t a joke, nor is it used for titillation in this book. If you know someone or have been a victim of rape yourself, get help. Don’t let this asshole get away with it because chances are, your attacker will do it to someone else. You’re not alone in this. Thousands of people are raped daily; there are hundreds of people who go free after attacking their victim because the victim is afraid to report or discuss the crime for a variety of reasons. No means no. If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape, get help.
This book is just proof why Amelia Hutchins in the Queen of Paranormal. Oh My Gosh!!! What can I say about this book that can honestly do it any justice. I really don’t know what I can write to make you understand just how much you MUST read this book. The story is so unique, fantastically written, with wonderful characters with light and dark lives. All of Amelia’s books will have you on the edge of your seat, but each time I read a new book of hers I am surprised again by how she is able to hook you and drag you in to the books.
My heart, oh my poor, poor, poor heart. It just breaks for both Lena and Lucian. The hard times they have to go through but always seem to come out stronger together. But the sacrifice that Lucian makes will have your screaming at him from ruining something that was pure and wonderful, but then crying and wishing he wasn’t being so selfless. FYI LUCIAN IS MINE!!!
Magdalena/Lena has never been one to follower the rules of her coven. But when the elders tell her to come home for the Awakening she never expected for her life to end up like it did, she only wanted to go through the Awakening so she could lift the curse and receive her powers.
Lucian needed to find Katarina before she came into her powers. He never expected to have feelings and attraction to a spitfire of a witch. Lucian couldn’t afford to be distracted by Lena when he was on the hunt to track and kill the only person he loved before she comes into her powers. For thousands of years he has been keeping tabs on this coven and never having trouble finding Katarina, but this time things are different.
***Embrace the monsters***
As I always say it, finding new authors gives me one of the best feelings in the world. It’s like finding a rare diamond in the sea. Well, this author is another diamond. For sure.
Reading Playing With Monsters by Amelia Hutchins was a h*ll of a ride.
I never imagine happening in a million years that monsters could be sooooo sooooo addictive.
As a fan of the PNR world, it’s not so common for me to find really good books of this genre and keep asking for more. But I did find it with Amelia’s books.
The story that is placed in a town full of witches bring us two incredible characters. And that’s when sh*t hit the fan.
Lena(as some call her) is a fiercest and caring girl, by losing people she loved, not only the ones alive but also the dead ones, she decides to start a live far from where she was born, forgetting even that you can’t run away forever. Eventually you have to face your fate. So that’s how this feisty girl finds herself back in her coven to wait for the awakening of her powers. But she didn’t predict that monsters can be everywhere. Sometimes they just like to hide in the shadows and wait to take their pray. This is where Lucian appears and brings with him the tons of skeletons hidden in his closet (literally speaking lol). A powerful, skilled and savage monster that will eat you alive if you allow him to. (I will for sure )
Try to describe their chemistry is something that maybe, I would never be able to express just with words. But I’ll try my best.
That explosion between Lucian and Lena it’s so intoxicated that you can’t run away from it. It gets under your skin, at a point where you don’t want to stop reading until you see where they can take you, until you see MORE.
It hasn’t have limits but being together it’s something that will come with a prize. A prize that will make the game turn in a different direction.
Between me trying to find out what secrets everybody try to keep at bay, and, Lucian & Lena hating to love how much they wanted to devour each other, I got more and more obsessed with this author’s writing. Imagine trying to read it in your office because reading just a few pages was not enough. And if you can find a book like that, it means you found a treasure.
I will surely recommend this book to anyone who wants to test their limits. One, who is not afraid to face monsters, just like I did.
The journey will be worth it!!!
LIttle warped & very sexual but actually had a good story line & well thought out plot & characters- I didn’t thing I’d like it at first but it drew me in & I bought both books-
I know the warning about the hero says that you might not love him….but I did…what does that say about me??! #evil!!!!
We met Lucian in the Fae Chronicles and we knew sort of what he is up to…..and this book reveals more…and all hell kicks off, literally!
Poor Mags…she didnt have a (sexual!!) chance against sexy as sin Lucian….he has her in his sights and he always gets what he wants….even if he is slightly confused why he is doing it.. .or is he?
And then…at 92% my world came crashing down…..I was like no please, please, please, please no! I actually felt the pain from Lucian.
‘With everything going wrong, she was my right. She was the softness to all of my hard edges’
No, no, nooooooo…….Im feeling a lot of hate right now and my pain is going to be strung out till the next book comes out. Im off to scour FB to find when that is….
Another hit! But im angry!
This book is edgy, and sexy and all the things a good dark romance book should be. I really enjoyed it!
I have never been into paranormal romance before I read Amelia Hutchins. I got one of her books for free on kindle. I was instantly hooked and loved them. Playing with Monsters is my top book of hers. It’s definitely worth the read. By the way, if you are not into kink and complete hotness, you will be after this read!
Love, love this book. Lucian is my favorite book boyfriend.. love the music used in this book. Gives you all the feels.
This is an amazing story extremely well written that leaves you reeling for more of Lucius and Lena. This was the book that made me discover my now favorite author Amelia Hutchins. I had previously bought this book on iBooks, but since I got the other ones in the series from Amazon, I just had to re-purchase it here too so I could have them complete series together.
A must read with fae chronicles
Obsessed!!
this is an offshoot of a larger series and is quite enjoyable and engrossing
It is NOT for the weak hearted (READ THE INTRO before you start)
but if you are not offended the entire series is outstanding
This is Next Level Dark, Sexy as All Hell, Paranormal Romance!!! There are Triggers, But You are Absolutely forewarned before you start reading… Because this book, this Series is melt the panties right off your body… Scorchingly Delicious!!!!!
I Highly Recommend this book series, You’ll be Gobsmacked and You’ll literally Need to Keep reading!!
Sleep who needs sleep, When your transported into a world You Never Knew You Needed to Experience!!!
I love this spin off series!!!!
Top level heat!
Absolutely loved this story. Lucian and Lena were fire. So much angst, emotion, drama and action. This is a read that’ll consume you. You’ll be hooked from start to finish. There’s plenty of twists and turns with quite a few surprises. The ending is one that you wouldn’t expect but you know a storms a brewing and trouble is coming.
4.5 stars. Whew…. what an intense book! I really enjoyed the angst, drama and tension. I absolutely love passionate, arrogant and controlling alpha males and this book fed my fix. I’m definitely going to read the rest of the series although the lovemaking scenes are a little more “creative” than I’m used to. Amelia Hutchins is a new author for me and so far I’m impressed.
Amelia created the perfect alpha male in Lucian. I love this series! I enjoy all her novels, but the Monsters books are my favorite. Gritty, sometimes hard to handle- but in the best way.
This is an amazing book!!! I love the characters and the unique storyline. Still trying to figure out what Lucien is… Amelia, keep it up! Your books are awesome and I can’t wait to devour more!