April 2, 2023

REVIEW The Gargoyle's Captive (A Deal with a Demon #3) by Katee Robert

The Gargoyle's Captive (A Deal with a Demon #3) 
by Katee Robert
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: March 28, 2023
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)
Publisher: Trinkets and Tales LLC (Self Published by Author) 

The Gargoyle’s Captive by Katee Robert, the latest installment in the ‘A Deal with a Demon’ series, is an enjoyable and steamy read (though it feels a little rushed). All of the events in the various books take place somewhat simultaneously so they can be read as standalones - this book focuses on the leader of the gargoyle territory Bram, and the human he chooses from Azazel’s auction, the former monster hunter Grace. 


“‘I’m sorry’. I smile even though my eyes are burning. ‘We keep saying that to each other, over and over, for our pains that words won’t fix.’ ‘Sometimes there’s nothing else to say.’”


Both Grace and Bram are dealing with a lot of trauma and loss. Readers get to see the events of the book from both of their perspectives, and how they connnect over the course of the book and bond over the past experiences. As one might expect from a Katee Robert book, the romance is trope heavy - some of the tropes you can expect are a monster romance, forced proximity, and a slight enemies to lovers take. There are of course, a lot of steamy scenes, and I was quite impressed by the author’s ingenuity with working Bram’s gargoyle attributes into those moments (the wings, the horns, the rock hard skin…)


Given the length of the book (slightly less than 200 pages on an e-reader), there isn’t a lot going on outside of Bram and Grace’s relationship. No new characters of particular import pop up, and there’s minimal worldbuilding. The build-up of the conflict and the reveal about Grace’s mother fell flat for me. I do appreciate the cameo from Ramanu (still my favorite character in the entire Deal with a Demon literary universe), but I was left wanting more from the book overall. 


If you want a quick monster romance book that you can finish in an afternoon, this would be a great choice for you. However if you’re looking for a longer romance tale, complete with extensive worldbuilding and in depth character development you might be better served with looking at another title on Ms. Robert’s backlist instead. I’m still invested in the series, but its not quite my favorite of all her books so I’ll be eagerly awaiting the final installments of the series, especially Azazel’s book The Demon’s Queen. Readers will be pleased to know that these books (at the time of writing this review) are available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited. 


TRIGGER WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author’s Website): Elements of Suicidal Ideation (referenced briefly), Murder, Blood, Giant Spiders, Dubious Consent (Agreement Given Under Duress), Violent Familial Death (Historical, Off-Page), Abuse (By Parents, Off-Page, Historical), Violence, Blood Magic)


About the Book

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.

About the Author


Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.


Katee Robert Author Website

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