Beatrix Hollow

Lately, there have been several books where I have struggled to place on the rating scale. The novel's premise always sounds promising. That is until you crack open the novel, read the book, and learn that the novel either did not have much character development, the world-building was underwhelming, or the story's pace just seemed to slow any progress it should already have.

The monster genre has become a favorite especially when there is a reverse harem and a new cryptid is introduced into the genre. This time a Nøkken. The Nøkken is a different breed altogether. It is a water spirit that is known to lure people into the water using its musical talents. It is said that once you are within its grasp, it will drown you and take your soul.

Nøkken is known to imprint on their fated half and crave their attention. Unfortunately for Caspian, his mother had passed away and his father craved the attention that had been lost to her death. He finds Ava's mother and the two marry sending both Caspian and his father far from their home to the lands of Norfolk, Virginia. Here would be his new home. Here he would live, but he was not expecting to find his fated half in Ava. The connection was instantaneous for Caspian and when he set out for his career, he would become famous just for her.

Fast forward five years, Caspian has achieved fame and now it was time to claim the prize he has waited all this time for - Ava. With unwanted bandmates and a cryptid loose in the woods, Caspian will have to find a way to claim Ava before someone else does.

While I did enjoy this story and its premise, I did not care too much for Ava, the bandmates, and Mothman. I did not feel that Ava's character advances any in her development. Her whole mentality of "if you don't see it or really feel it, then it is not real". This causes all sorts of problems in her character and there were times I really wanted to slap the shit out of her.

Caspian's bandmates annoyed the shit out of me. I don't see what the problem was when Caspian decided enough was enough for him. They could have continued on with their band and just rebranded it or even found another frontman. Instead, they decided they would just tag and make problems. I never thought I would see a bunch of immature bandmates ever. I can now see why Caspian would leave.

The Mothman - I don't know what to think of him. He really doesn't seem to really fit in the story except to be the next mate for Ava's harem. He was annoying and I don't think he was really needed except maybe for the creep factor that was going for him.

And let's not go there with her aunt and mother. I am not fond of either of those two.

Caspian - what can I say about him? I loved his character. I loved that he was the first Nøkken I have been introduced to and I love that he had stayed true to Ava for all these years. He grows from the first moment we see him and even in flashbacks to the beginning. He grows in character and he does everything possible to protect Ava. Who could ever turn him down?

Final Thought:
Overall, while "Run & Hide" had a promising premise in the monster genre with a unique water spirit cryptid, I found some of the characters to be lacking in development, particularly Ava and the bandmates. Mothman didn't seem to have much purpose in the story besides being a potential mate for Ava. However, I loved Caspian's character and his loyalty to Ava, and his growth throughout the story was enjoyable to read. Despite its flaws, "Run & Hide" is still a decent addition to the reverse harem subgenre with an interesting monster twist.… (mere)

A generous 3/5 stars

#1. Every character in this book is a complete idiot. Stop following the voice! It's fucking leading you deep into an abandoned mine! Are you even keeping track of where you're going?!

#2. The smut is just meh. Also, Mothman, you're cute, but if someone was drawing incredibly graphic porn of me before we'd ever met, that would be creepy, not attractive.

#3. THE BIG ONE. I immediately DNFed at about the 1/3 to 3/4 mark. (I legitimately deleted the book off my phone, so I can't look up the exact spot. You'll know it when you read it. For the non-spoiler readers, let's just say there's some dubcon that I could not even stomach reading. For the spoiler readers, some background. There's this creepy black monster-ghost thing that possesses FMC in the cave. This whole possession scene is pretty graphic and traumatizing, including the monster-ghost threatening Ava with death if she doesn't invite him in. Textbook definition of coercion. Then the monster-ghost keeps butting into Ava's thoughts with straight-up sociopathic instructions and going so far as taking over her body (and erasing her memory of it) to order the death of her boss. Needless to say, I've been reading this monster-ghost guy as the villain of the story. Then, suddenly, we get a sex scene between Ava and the monster-ghost. Let's be blunt: this scene is rape. Monster-ghost has ambushed Ava after leaving her body and manifesting next to her bed while she's sleeping. He then proceeds to tell her that she's empty and actually craves him inside her. You see where this is going. He forces himself on her, initiates anal without her permission, all until she agrees that she craves him and invites him into herself.

Let's be clear. These two have had no interaction besides the violent and coercive. There has been absolutely no indication of attraction on Ava's part, let alone any discussions about sex. I am mostly okay with some dubcon here and there, although the older I get the more difficulty I have with it. But this is not dubcon. This is a guy saying a woman must crave sex then pressing said woman into agreeing with him after it has already happened. It's not sexy. It's not okay. And it's probably the end of me reading any more of this author's writing.… (mere)

3.5/5 stars

This may be a personal problem, but I really could not get into this one. First of all, the smutty scenes were a super turn-off for me. These two have sex in the most inappropriate places at the most inappropriate times. I literally couldn't think of anything else other than "Every single person in the campground can hear you guys!" and "You've basically been told point blank that there's a murderer out to get you. Stop getting it on and leave!" Also, fucking in a shallow river right in view of all your friends and a literal video camera is not subtle and it's definitely not hot. There's a difference between exhibitionism and outright public indecency.

I also felt like the FMC basically existed to have things done to her. It was always the men dragging her around, initiating sex, etc. She has basically no self-agency. Might as well be a cardboard cutout with "Self-insert here" plastered all over it.

Also, Caspian is a dick. There, I said it.… (mere)