MONSTER WITHOUT MERCY by Cynthia Eden – review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 24, 2023

Anyone can be tempted…

Xavier Hollow is the king of destruction. A shifter, a vampire, a demon—every nightmare you have—all rolled into one very smoking hot package. Xavier snaps his fingers, and the world falls at his feet. His enemies tremble in fear. And the women who want him? They tremble with yearning. Life (and death) is one fabulous ride…until a certain very old curse kicks in for him. A curse that threatens to take away all of his dark power.

He needs someone good…to fall for him. STAT.

Three days. That’s how long Xavier has to tempt one Mercy Josephine. Innocent, pure, the actual descendant of an angel, she’s all the things that normally give him hives—literally. He’s allergic to good and just can’t stand it. Committing a “good” act causes Xavier physical pain. The bigger the act, the more intense his suffering. But, for Mercy, he’ll have to pretend to be someone very, very different. Someone who is—unfortunately and ever-so-disgustingly—good.

He’ll corrupt her. She’ll save him.

A simple enough task. Go to the costume ball. Charm the modern-day princess. Get her to sacrifice her soul for him. Done. He could probably bring her to the dark side with just a kiss. But then he meets Mercy and realizes that he’s not the only one looking to destroy some goodness. Other beasts are closing in, and in order to break the curse that haunts him, Xavier will have to do the one thing he never expected…protect Mercy. Beautiful, brave, and—shudder—good Mercy.

The plan won’t change.

By the time the clock strikes midnight on the third day, Mercy will be under his spell. He’ll convince her that he’s a hero, that she’s desperately in love with him. She’ll give up her soul—and her life—for him. The desire that rages between them is hotter than the fires of—well, home. Temptation is his specialty, and he can seduce her like no other.

Not like he’s going to change his mind for her. Not like…

Not like anyone can teach a monster to love. Because only the good love. And Xavier is many things, but he will never, ever be good. Not when being bad is so much fun.

Time for the world to burn. Time for an innocent to fall. And time for the monsters to reign…

••••••

REVIEW: MONSTER WITHOUT MERCY by Cynthia Eden is a contemporary, adult, paranormal, romance story line focusing supernatural power Xavier Hollow, and descendant of an angel Mercy Josephine.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Mercy and Xavier, MONSTER WITHOUT MERCY follows Xavier Hollow as he attempts to break the curse invoked by his father. Xavier has three days to take the life of Mercy Josephine but there are others racing to take her life before our story line hero. Mercy Josephine has no idea she has been targeted by the supernatural world but a fundraising auction features Mercy as the ultimate prize. What ensues is the building but struggling relationship between Mercy and Xavier, and the potential fall-out when Xavier becomes the target of a desperate man.

The relationship between Mercy and Xavier is one of immediate attraction but Xavier’s seduction threatens the life of our story line heroine, and Mercy’s love for Xavier threatens the power of the man that she loves. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense.

We are introduced to Xavier’s right hand man Micah; his brother Paxton; as well as Mercy’s father’s assistant Thomas.

MONSTER WITHOUT MERCY is a fast paced, dark fairy tale style story of betrayal, power, control and magic. The premise is enchanting and captivating; the romance is predicated upon desperation and a lie; the characters are determined and powerful, with a little bit of mania.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy