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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Another Amazing book!!
Playing with Monsters is such a great story! My emotions were all over the place with this one. It is written in such a way that my feelings toward one of the main characters, Lucian, were constantly changing – I like him! I hate him! He’s the bad guy! Maybe he’s the good guy! I love that the author kept me guessing throughout the story about this character. Even now that I finished the book, I do not know how to feel. Lena was a great character as well and worked perfectly with Lucian.
I stayed up way too late many nights reading this. Every time I planned on putting it down, something would happen and cause me to need to read to the next chapter. I devoured this book and so excited to get started on book 2!
I liked this book, that I received free, so much that I just had to purchase the rest of the series. Unfortunately, in Book 2, I sort of got discouraged because I got confused. Not sure if it was because of some personal issues I was facing at the time, or what, but I am taking a small break from these books, and will return to them to fully enjoy. It took me a while, but I eventually fell in love with the “villain” in this book. Lucien is something else!
How can a 500-page-ass-long book have *no* plot? So many things happened just for the hell of it that *nothing* actually happened. Not until the very end when I couldn’t care less.
It’s all over the place, there’s no logic or unity. It’s not cohesive. Really, it’s like different pieces were glued together in the worst possible way.
One of those pieces is a rape scene.
Please, stop abusing rape for money. Thank f•ck there’s a warning, but it doesn’t excuse the bs of it. The rape might not have been used for titillation, but it’s still there only for the sake of drama. It gave *absolutely nothing* to the plot. What was the freaking point?
It was all forgotten in 5 minutes and not even a week later the heroine was opening her legs for the hero. And you know why? Because she is “not a victim”, she is “strong” and other bs like that. B•tch, please. Where are the consequences?
The hero used to call her “little witch”, but after her rape she became “little warrior” and “little fighter”. Are. You. F•cking. Kidding. Me.
WOMEN DO NOT NEED TO HAVE BEEN RAPED TO BECOME STRONG OR STRONGER. GFTO.
It’s also an insult to all the authors who write about rape because they actually want to say something.
And again, not nearly enough (women) readers had a problem with this. They’re a part of what’s wrong with society and rape culture. OR I’m giving them too much credit and they’re just too lazy (don’t care) to do some text analysis. Everything is possible.
On a personal note, it’s really sad this lacked the intimacy that’s usually there between two people. Almost all of their sex scenes were on display. Even their first time wasn’t private. Definitely ruined the mood and made it all cheap for me.
Don’t know if I’m going to read the sequels, I’ll have to read the (real) honest reviews first , maybe only if I get them as freebies as this one was (thank God).
***This review was edited, but the essence is the same.***
Playing With Monsters by Amelia Hutchins was my first read by this author. PNR is my favorite genre, so I couldnt wait to dive in! I had mixed feelings for about half the story and almost did not finish. The lead character Lucien is a completely arrogant a**hole and really not likeable. The story also left me feeling confused throughout most of it, like an emotional yoyo. The story line started coming together after the halfway point and by the end I found it more to my liking. This was definitely a very dark and raw story and the scenes between Lucien and Lena were extremely steamy! Cliffhanger aside, it also felt the ending was unfinished. I’m a little up in the air on this one as a whole and plan to read the next one to get a better feel for the series!
I am truly kicking myself at how long it took me to get to this series!
When I first stumbled upon the Fae Chronicles I devoured them – seriously I read them back to back – I was in love with Ryder.
Then I purchased this series but somehow got sidetracked…
I am here now and I am happy to see everyone again!
Lucian is darkness defined. Uncaring and cruel. The fact he chooses to play nice and be something he’s not this time around definitely threw me. But I get it. He is tired of the game with Katherine and he is looking to end this once and for all.
Except there seems to be a witch of a problem throwing off his game plan.
“Distress is a state of mind, and my mind is strong enough to make it through this. I just need time to figure out how.” -Magdalena
Loved her! Leni is so emotionally scarred. She knows she isn’t properly dealing with all of the lifes “oops did I run you over, let me back up and help you out” moments. Heck, she is just stuffing that chit in a dark corner of her mind and moving on.
She once loved. Had her heart shattered. Been lied to. Lost. Humiliated. Degraded.
ENOUGH… She turned off. Shoved it all into a box and moved on. The only problem is you can only cram so much in before it starts leaking through the seams.
These two are cataclysmic together! Right from the moment, they make contact with each other they are at odds.
It seems to be a war of duty over desire. Which will be stronger?
There is a lot more happening behind the scenes than Leni realizes. She knows something is off not only with her Coven but with the Lucian and his men as well.
I devoured this in one sitting – my wrist monitor actually marked it as a two-hour siesta (I’m serious) – Each page providing another piece of the puzzle while at the same twisted the facts enough I wasn’t sure I was even crafting the same picture anymore.
I will admit I was a bit unhappy with the closing scene and have so many questions! Obviously, they will be answered as the series moves forward but I want my answers now!
And mom what’s up with you and the warlock?
There was also a couple of scenes that ripped a tear or two from my eyes and a few others that had me melting where I sat.
I am off to find out what happens next –
Oh and Helen I hope you and are meeting up with the Karma bus.
I DON’T USUALLY READ THIS TYPE PF BOOK BUT ONCE I GOT INTO IT I ENJOYED IT.
I AM HALF WAY THOUGH THE LAST IN THIS SERIES. I DON’T USUALLY READ FANTASY BUT THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY INTENSE THE CHARACTERS ARE WILD AND DANGEROUS. I DO RECOMMEND
Best series I’ve read in a while! If you like Karen Moning’s Fever series, you will LOVE this series. I read the first 3 in 3 days! Anxiously awaiting book #4!!
My first Amelia Hutchins book and I give it points for originality, I really like the seal and the reincarnations…but she loses that original story with constant sex, don’t get me wrong its steamy but come on…its not the story!! Unfortunately there are also quite a few inconsistencies like Benjamin just disappeared from the story… I enjoyed it enough, I am into the second book, but it’s just as bad if not worse!! I certainly won’t be buying the third book.
Started this book and gave up on it after 4 chapters. Did not care about the characters and the story seemed absurdly convoluted.
I thought it was an original story with good development and flow.
I can’t say enough about this series, this was my first book by Amelia and I’ve been hooked since!!!
Engaging story, 1st of 3 on s series. You want to continue to see what happens, always guessing
The best series ever!!
Just WOW,
The heroine suffered terribly though she stayed true to herself. It was a dark, enticing romance different from those I normally read, but entrancing. I had to buy the remaining books in the series as I finished the previous one!!
Damn, this book was good! I really enjoyed it. The only thing that could have made it better?….if I read the series in order. Now I’ve got about 10 books by Amelia on my TBR list!
This book was good, a bit too long but it was good.
Felt like the ending left the reader hanging