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The Monsters Among Us #2
When Monsters Bleed
Everything I thought I knew about my world has been shattered.
The only constant are the four Monsters keeping me and my people safe.
Nothing else is certain.
No path is clear. So what do we do?
We forge our own.
Action, sizzle and multiple love interests for our lucky heroine in this paranormal fantasy romance.
The only constant are the four Monsters keeping me and my people safe.
Nothing else is certain.
No path is clear. So what do we do?
We forge our own.
Action, sizzle and multiple love interests for our lucky heroine in this paranormal fantasy romance.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2023
448 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Cassidy
125books2,515followersDebbie Cassidy lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuits are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Obsessed with building new worlds and reading about them, she spends her spare time daydreaming and conversing with the characters in her head. She writes Urban Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy and Reverse Harem Fantasy. All her books contain plenty of action, romance and twisty plots.
Connect with Debbie via her website at , email her at [email protected] or check her out on twitter Sign up to her newsletter to grab a free short story, and stay up to date on new releases: Or join her reader group on Facebook to stay in the know:
Connect with Debbie via her website at , email her at [email protected] or check her out on twitter Sign up to her newsletter to grab a free short story, and stay up to date on new releases: Or join her reader group on Facebook to stay in the know:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
August 11, 2024
Audio - 4.5 Stars
Story - 2.5 Stars
Story - 2.5 Stars
February 16, 2024
It will be so hard to talk about When Monsters Bleed without spoiling anything. So, I’ll be vague af. Book two picks up right where book one left off. I honestly have no idea who the good guys or bad guys are. At this point I’m thinking everyone is a good guy except for one group. Of course, I’m probably wrong because this is Debbie we are talking about here. I’ve learned so much more backstory and I’m loving it. Book one the humans were on a mission to just survive the monsters and this one, they are on a mission to find something to save humanity and the celestials. Tons of fighting, a few steamy parts. The ending? Yeah� I’m starting book three right now!
February 10, 2023
HOLY MOLY!! Phew...this story is off the charts. Just give me the third book now. I am desperate to find out what happens. Shem and Rue's angsty relationship is giving me life I tell you. There is so much revealed in this book that to talk about it will give too much away. I am in love with the Watchers and my heart breaks for Bastian. Ugh. Sigh. Now I wait.
January 7, 2024
Do you ever read a book and you get literally sad because don't get to experience a certain character and certain situations in real life ? I experienced that reading this.
The MAU Series has a chokehold on my entire demeanor. If you like Dystopian books with smut thennnn run to download this. ( KU toooo! ) I've read the first 2 of this series within 24 hours. I didn't even read the synopsis on it which i think made it more enjoyable for me since i had no idea what was going to happen. ( i read the first line basically )
I'm obsessed with all the characters and the banter and the humor despite a f*cked up world. It's also really action packed and it kept me entertained throughout the entire thing. The chapters are short and i like how to book STAYYS on topic so i'm not sitting here likw why tf is this in here?
I'm so excited and i'm going to read the other two now !!!
The MAU Series has a chokehold on my entire demeanor. If you like Dystopian books with smut thennnn run to download this. ( KU toooo! ) I've read the first 2 of this series within 24 hours. I didn't even read the synopsis on it which i think made it more enjoyable for me since i had no idea what was going to happen. ( i read the first line basically )
I'm obsessed with all the characters and the banter and the humor despite a f*cked up world. It's also really action packed and it kept me entertained throughout the entire thing. The chapters are short and i like how to book STAYYS on topic so i'm not sitting here likw why tf is this in here?
I'm so excited and i'm going to read the other two now !!!
July 11, 2024
The tables have truly turned now that the Celestials have shown their true colors. I need to know more about what they’re using humans for especially now that they have Rue and her only remaining friends. Hopefully there will be a nice reunion before she finds the shard and escapes. I’m just not sure what their end goal could possibly be? I’m not sure how many guys Rue will end up with at this point either but so far I’m only confident of two but there are like other options so we’ll see! The creatures continue to be gross and disturbing so here’s hoping they can get rid of them for good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2023
I always love it when I get a new arc by Debbie Cassidy in my inbox. I know those books are entertaining and easy and quick reads. At the moment there are a lot of books about monsters going around. I think authors are collectively dealing with all the fears from their youth. But Cassidy did an amazing job with this trope in the first book, especially because she came with a really original backstory and loads of world building.
Since this book continues where the previous book ended I needed a little time to get back into everything. Especially the mythology and what's going on with the monsters and celestials is quite complicated and I didn't really have all the details memorized anymore. However, the more I read, the more details came back and before I knew it I finished this installment again and I couldn't be more excited about the next one.
In this book our heroine is mostly traveling around. This means we get to see a lot more of the world, how people survive, what kind of monsters are there and what kind of other dangers are there. At times the book therefore felt a little chaotic, but luckily there were also enough moments where the characters could breath so we could breath for a little bit too. However, this is a very action packed book with a lot of fighting.
I also enjoy how complicated the situation seems to be and how we have no idea what's really going on. We're getting glimpses of the other side of the story, but it's hard to know what's the truth and which characters we can trust. I'm really curious to get some more pieces of the puzzle in the next book, where we're finally gonna visit the city everyone is talking about! I'm really excited to discover more when it comes to that side of the story.
Since this book continues where the previous book ended I needed a little time to get back into everything. Especially the mythology and what's going on with the monsters and celestials is quite complicated and I didn't really have all the details memorized anymore. However, the more I read, the more details came back and before I knew it I finished this installment again and I couldn't be more excited about the next one.
In this book our heroine is mostly traveling around. This means we get to see a lot more of the world, how people survive, what kind of monsters are there and what kind of other dangers are there. At times the book therefore felt a little chaotic, but luckily there were also enough moments where the characters could breath so we could breath for a little bit too. However, this is a very action packed book with a lot of fighting.
I also enjoy how complicated the situation seems to be and how we have no idea what's really going on. We're getting glimpses of the other side of the story, but it's hard to know what's the truth and which characters we can trust. I'm really curious to get some more pieces of the puzzle in the next book, where we're finally gonna visit the city everyone is talking about! I'm really excited to discover more when it comes to that side of the story.
January 12, 2024
Rue is finding out everything she thought she knew was a lie. Nothing is as it seems and many secrets are coming to light. Her sassy mouth keeps getting her in trouble le and her attraction to Shem is growing. New monsters have made themselves known as they continue to find the pieces of the relic. Some nice steamy scenes and some major plot twists on this book.
February 3, 2025
2.5 stars... I really have enjoyed this world that DC has created, but a lot of this book rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like the watchers were gaslighting Rue for the first half of this book. I do not feel any connection between Shem and Rue. He's kind of jerk. Rue's acceptance of sexual touch reads like major Daddy issues to me.
April 28, 2024
✩ħ₊ 2.5 stars � � � � �
� ｡ﾟ�:When Monsters Bleed *.� .*:☆ﾟ
☾⋆⁺₊🎧✩°｡ 0:32 ──♡───── 3:47 ☾⋆⁺₊🎧✩°｡
🎶 I walked out, I said, I'm setting you free. But the monsters turned out to be just trees 🎶🎶🎶
Rue (h) has lost the majority of her people, but she still has Shem (H) by her side as she strives to reach the colony without losing any more lives, including Jamie. Throughout the story, Rue remains unaware of Jamie's survival, mourning his loss while grappling with the responsibility of leading her people to safety.
─── � ｡ﾟ�: THOUGHTS*.� .*:☆ﾟ. ───
The book continues where book one left off, and we discover that Jamie is not dead. Instead, Michael took him because he knew he meant something to Rue, and he could be used as collateral damage or a bargain. However, throughout the book, she doesn’t know he’s alive because Michael hasn’t told her anything. Instead, she mourns the loss of Jamie and realizes that she has to continue her efforts to save her people, but it’s challenging because she feels like she has lost the person who knew her the best. Still, she gets closer to Bastian and reforms this friendship that used to be strong before he distanced himself and realizes that there’s something between them.
This focused on getting to a safe location in Shem’s territory; plenty of people were lost along the way. However, somewhere, there were new monsters to tackle, and they were put in vulnerable positions where they didn’t know if they were going to survive. However, now we know more about celestial magic and how Rue takes part in it all. She ends up sacrificing herself and pretends that the monsters are with the enemy so that she can get closer to the second piece and form the MorningStar so she can give the monsters a chance. The following book will probably be about her getting closer to Michael so she can get closer to piece and get back to Shem.
When they find themselves in the colony, they end up with a new character named Gabriel, a prophet and a watcher. I can’t tell if he is also a part of the harem just because they shared a kiss or if it was just for information purposes and the fact that he was devolving. Either way, it feels like she has a small bond with him for some reason. I don’t know again if it’s because he’s a watcher, but he was the one who warned her that the piece was in the Golden City, and that’s how she knew she had to retrieve it. I will be sad now that the book will be set in the city and not with Shem.
In terms of romance, I was confused the entire time because I still didn’t know who was a part of her love circle or square; she has connections with most people, like even with Shem’s people. They have to be in close proximity to her so she can give them power, so they’re always touching her in some way. So I was like, who is actually interested in her, or are they just attracted to her because of the piece of Shem’s soul inside of her?
With Shem, she has gone all the way romantically because she needed to transfer power to him. He said it was the only way, so in that sense, all of their intimacy scenes have been because of a cause and requirement to find peace, but he is also distancing himself because he doesn’t want to feel this way about a human. After all, he told her that he couldn’t give her his heart, so he’s afraid to love her or have a genuine interest in her beyond the mission, and she always feels upset about that because she doesn’t know why she’s feeling this way about someone she used to consider a monster. He knows he will lose her because she’s going to the Golden City. He regrets that he didn’t tell her anything sooner, but of course, he’ll get her back; we still don’t know if he’s the bad guy or Michael. I’m trusting Shem because he’s been the main character thus far, but we never know.
[Bastian]
He doesn’t want to admit his feelings for Rue even though he’s clearly in love with her and has been from the start, or maybe, even for years, Rue wanted to confront him about her feelings, and she even had an open discussion, but he shut her down and was an asshole about it so she was like I don’t even know if I want to be falling for you I think that was his way of protecting himself because he knows that he’s going to die because of the serum that he was taking to bear the celestial sword. So now he’s terrified of having this connection with her because she already lost Jamie, and he doesn’t want her to lose him too; it was a bad part for him because now he was there when she left behind to go to the Golden city so his last words with her or awkward goodbye and see you later. I do like this bond. I mean, he’s always protective of her. He said it was because he promised Jamie that he would, but I think it goes beyond that he might have liked her first before Jamie, but he stepped back so that his best friend could have her, and he never made it known because he respected Jamie enough and he wasn’t sure where Rue stands so he loved her from afar.
─── � ｡ﾟ�: OVERALL *.� .*:☆ﾟ. ───
I’m interested to see where this book goes from here. It was very plot-driven again, with some weird elements of romance, but you know it worked. I’m intrigued, and my interest is here, so it’s not like I’m expecting it to decline. But I’m kind of worried because the next few books of the series always go downhill for me. We’ll see how it goes for this one.
� ｡ﾟ�:When Monsters Bleed *.� .*:☆ﾟ
☾⋆⁺₊🎧✩°｡ 0:32 ──♡───── 3:47 ☾⋆⁺₊🎧✩°｡
🎶 I walked out, I said, I'm setting you free. But the monsters turned out to be just trees 🎶🎶🎶
Rue (h) has lost the majority of her people, but she still has Shem (H) by her side as she strives to reach the colony without losing any more lives, including Jamie. Throughout the story, Rue remains unaware of Jamie's survival, mourning his loss while grappling with the responsibility of leading her people to safety.
─── � ｡ﾟ�: THOUGHTS*.� .*:☆ﾟ. ───
“Listen to me, Rue, whatever it is that Shem wants from you, it won’t be good. He’s dangerous. You don’t understand the full extent of it.�
“I understand enough. I understand that Shem and his watchers have protected my people while you murdered them.�
The book continues where book one left off, and we discover that Jamie is not dead. Instead, Michael took him because he knew he meant something to Rue, and he could be used as collateral damage or a bargain. However, throughout the book, she doesn’t know he’s alive because Michael hasn’t told her anything. Instead, she mourns the loss of Jamie and realizes that she has to continue her efforts to save her people, but it’s challenging because she feels like she has lost the person who knew her the best. Still, she gets closer to Bastian and reforms this friendship that used to be strong before he distanced himself and realizes that there’s something between them.
“We’re connected,� Shem said. “We felt your distress and Bastian confirmed you were having a nightmare.�
“In the meantime, you sleep with me or one of the other watchers.�
This focused on getting to a safe location in Shem’s territory; plenty of people were lost along the way. However, somewhere, there were new monsters to tackle, and they were put in vulnerable positions where they didn’t know if they were going to survive. However, now we know more about celestial magic and how Rue takes part in it all. She ends up sacrificing herself and pretends that the monsters are with the enemy so that she can get closer to the second piece and form the MorningStar so she can give the monsters a chance. The following book will probably be about her getting closer to Michael so she can get closer to piece and get back to Shem.
“You’ll be safer if he carries you.� Bastian kissed my temple then handed me to Shem. “Take care of her.�
“You’ll feel better in a little while,� Shem said softly. “Once we get to the colony, I’ll feed you and you’ll rest in my bed. Your energy will return.�
When they find themselves in the colony, they end up with a new character named Gabriel, a prophet and a watcher. I can’t tell if he is also a part of the harem just because they shared a kiss or if it was just for information purposes and the fact that he was devolving. Either way, it feels like she has a small bond with him for some reason. I don’t know again if it’s because he’s a watcher, but he was the one who warned her that the piece was in the Golden City, and that’s how she knew she had to retrieve it. I will be sad now that the book will be set in the city and not with Shem.
“Bپ…�
“It’s all right, Rue. I miss him, too. Always. But I promised him I’d take care of you if� I promised. For as long as I have breath.�
In terms of romance, I was confused the entire time because I still didn’t know who was a part of her love circle or square; she has connections with most people, like even with Shem’s people. They have to be in close proximity to her so she can give them power, so they’re always touching her in some way. So I was like, who is actually interested in her, or are they just attracted to her because of the piece of Shem’s soul inside of her?
With Shem, she has gone all the way romantically because she needed to transfer power to him. He said it was the only way, so in that sense, all of their intimacy scenes have been because of a cause and requirement to find peace, but he is also distancing himself because he doesn’t want to feel this way about a human. After all, he told her that he couldn’t give her his heart, so he’s afraid to love her or have a genuine interest in her beyond the mission, and she always feels upset about that because she doesn’t know why she’s feeling this way about someone she used to consider a monster. He knows he will lose her because she’s going to the Golden City. He regrets that he didn’t tell her anything sooner, but of course, he’ll get her back; we still don’t know if he’s the bad guy or Michael. I’m trusting Shem because he’s been the main character thus far, but we never know.
[Bastian]
“I can’t. If I tell her and she doesn’t feel the same, then she’ll feel obligated to fix things, to give me what she can before I’m gone.�
“And if she feels the same, then what? Don’t you think she deserves to have the chance to explore it? To experience it with you?�
He doesn’t want to admit his feelings for Rue even though he’s clearly in love with her and has been from the start, or maybe, even for years, Rue wanted to confront him about her feelings, and she even had an open discussion, but he shut her down and was an asshole about it so she was like I don’t even know if I want to be falling for you I think that was his way of protecting himself because he knows that he’s going to die because of the serum that he was taking to bear the celestial sword. So now he’s terrified of having this connection with her because she already lost Jamie, and he doesn’t want her to lose him too; it was a bad part for him because now he was there when she left behind to go to the Golden city so his last words with her or awkward goodbye and see you later. I do like this bond. I mean, he’s always protective of her. He said it was because he promised Jamie that he would, but I think it goes beyond that he might have liked her first before Jamie, but he stepped back so that his best friend could have her, and he never made it known because he respected Jamie enough and he wasn’t sure where Rue stands so he loved her from afar.
─── � ｡ﾟ�: OVERALL *.� .*:☆ﾟ. ───
I’m interested to see where this book goes from here. It was very plot-driven again, with some weird elements of romance, but you know it worked. I’m intrigued, and my interest is here, so it’s not like I’m expecting it to decline. But I’m kind of worried because the next few books of the series always go downhill for me. We’ll see how it goes for this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2023
I liked the first novel enough to try to give the second one a chance, but it is too frustrating to keep reading. The Watchers are apparently 100s if not 1000s of years old, yet somehow never know how to communicate so the Female Lead doesn't keep being put into situations from the ignorance that they facilitate by not explaining even the simplest things. The Watchers then get mad at her and make it out to be her fault every single time, always saying that she should just listen to them without explanation and she should just trust them. They treat her like a child or someone who is lesser, yet then turn around and say they care. It is just as toxic and manipulative as the other sides actions, yet they try to say that it is the other side that is evil. It would make sense if it happened once or twice, but it happens several times in the first novel and already a few times in the second novel even though I only made it part of the way through the novel. It is just constant guilt tripping and belittlement of the Female Lead. It gets old quick and while I wanted to keep reading for the concept the novel gives, it isn't worth the annoyance every few chapters. I hope someone else can enjoy the novel, but my enjoyment has died.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2023
To Survive
‘Letting her go means hope. Letting her go means trusting that she’s capable of finding her way back, and my heart and my head know that this human, this woman made to house my soul, is more than capable.�
Wow! The 2nd book in Debbie Cassidy’s The Monsters Among Us series, When Monsters Bleed, takes Rue deeper into the maze of power between the Celestials, the Dominion, the Monsters, and the Watchers.
As the holder of a fragment of Shemyaza’s soul, Rue and her Watchers must journey to find the missing shards of the Morningstar relic, hidden outside of Heaven’s realm.
As if danger isn’t found around every corner, Rue finds herself drawn to more than one being, including her closest living friend Bastian.
So much power placed in this continuing story, that the book was over before I realized it! Now the need for book 3, When Monsters Love, which should help to shed more light, celestial and otherwise, onto the truths that have been hidden from Rue, and the path she has now set herself on.
‘Letting her go means hope. Letting her go means trusting that she’s capable of finding her way back, and my heart and my head know that this human, this woman made to house my soul, is more than capable.�
Wow! The 2nd book in Debbie Cassidy’s The Monsters Among Us series, When Monsters Bleed, takes Rue deeper into the maze of power between the Celestials, the Dominion, the Monsters, and the Watchers.
As the holder of a fragment of Shemyaza’s soul, Rue and her Watchers must journey to find the missing shards of the Morningstar relic, hidden outside of Heaven’s realm.
As if danger isn’t found around every corner, Rue finds herself drawn to more than one being, including her closest living friend Bastian.
So much power placed in this continuing story, that the book was over before I realized it! Now the need for book 3, When Monsters Love, which should help to shed more light, celestial and otherwise, onto the truths that have been hidden from Rue, and the path she has now set herself on.
March 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Monsters Bleed took everything I loved about When Monsters Lie and cranked it up to a whole new level! Debbie Cassidy delivered a sequel that was intense, action-packed, and absolutely addictive. The stakes were higher, the emotions were rawer, and the chemistry? Whew. Off the charts.
Picking up where the first book left off, Rue and her Watchers are on a dangerous mission to recover the missing shards of the Morningstar relic. But nothing is ever easy in this post-apocalyptic world. The angels have purged most of the remaining survivors, leaving Rue and her people clinging to the last threads of hope. And with danger around every corner, Rue doesn’t just have to survive—she has to forge a new path.
Rue was everything I wanted her to be in this sequel—stronger, more determined, but still vulnerable enough to make me feel every moment of her journey. She’s not just fighting for her survival anymore. She’s carrying the weight of her people and the fate of a shattered world on her shoulders. And through it all, she’s navigating the growing tension between herself and the monsters who protect her.
Speaking of monsters� OMG, Shemyaza. The tension between him and Rue was scorching in the first book, but in When Monsters Bleed? It’s a slow-burn inferno just waiting to explode. Every moment between them had me holding my breath, wondering when they would finally give in to the heat simmering between them. And Bastian? His “alpha male� energy was driving me a little crazy (in the best way), but I appreciated the added complexity it brought to Rue’s emotional turmoil. The power struggle between Bastian and Shem was deliciously intense, and I loved how Shem never let Bastian’s antics rattle him. He’s so effortlessly dominant and confident, and I was HERE for it.
What I loved most about this book was how Cassidy didn’t just focus on the romance. She gave us high-stakes action, heart-pounding danger, and a world that felt alive and unforgiving. The colony’s survival depends on Rue’s ability to uncover the truths that have been hidden from her, and the journey to retrieve the Morningstar relic was filled with twists, betrayals, and moments that had my jaw on the floor.
And the emotional rollercoaster? Wow. There were moments that made me tear up, moments that had me fanning myself from the heat, and moments that left me absolutely speechless. Cassidy knows how to tug on every heartstring while keeping the tension and stakes high.
This series just keeps getting better, and I am desperate for When Monsters Love. I need to know what happens next because after that ending? I’m dying for answers. If you haven’t started this series yet, do yourself a favor and dive in now. You won’t regret it.
When Monsters Bleed took everything I loved about When Monsters Lie and cranked it up to a whole new level! Debbie Cassidy delivered a sequel that was intense, action-packed, and absolutely addictive. The stakes were higher, the emotions were rawer, and the chemistry? Whew. Off the charts.
Picking up where the first book left off, Rue and her Watchers are on a dangerous mission to recover the missing shards of the Morningstar relic. But nothing is ever easy in this post-apocalyptic world. The angels have purged most of the remaining survivors, leaving Rue and her people clinging to the last threads of hope. And with danger around every corner, Rue doesn’t just have to survive—she has to forge a new path.
Rue was everything I wanted her to be in this sequel—stronger, more determined, but still vulnerable enough to make me feel every moment of her journey. She’s not just fighting for her survival anymore. She’s carrying the weight of her people and the fate of a shattered world on her shoulders. And through it all, she’s navigating the growing tension between herself and the monsters who protect her.
Speaking of monsters� OMG, Shemyaza. The tension between him and Rue was scorching in the first book, but in When Monsters Bleed? It’s a slow-burn inferno just waiting to explode. Every moment between them had me holding my breath, wondering when they would finally give in to the heat simmering between them. And Bastian? His “alpha male� energy was driving me a little crazy (in the best way), but I appreciated the added complexity it brought to Rue’s emotional turmoil. The power struggle between Bastian and Shem was deliciously intense, and I loved how Shem never let Bastian’s antics rattle him. He’s so effortlessly dominant and confident, and I was HERE for it.
What I loved most about this book was how Cassidy didn’t just focus on the romance. She gave us high-stakes action, heart-pounding danger, and a world that felt alive and unforgiving. The colony’s survival depends on Rue’s ability to uncover the truths that have been hidden from her, and the journey to retrieve the Morningstar relic was filled with twists, betrayals, and moments that had my jaw on the floor.
And the emotional rollercoaster? Wow. There were moments that made me tear up, moments that had me fanning myself from the heat, and moments that left me absolutely speechless. Cassidy knows how to tug on every heartstring while keeping the tension and stakes high.
This series just keeps getting better, and I am desperate for When Monsters Love. I need to know what happens next because after that ending? I’m dying for answers. If you haven’t started this series yet, do yourself a favor and dive in now. You won’t regret it.
March 5, 2024
TITLE - When Monsters Bleed
AUTHOR - Debbie Cassidy
TYPE - Series; #2 of 5 in 'The Monsters Among Us"
POV - 1st Person - Multiple
GENRE - Dystopian, Romance
READ DATES - 3/4/2024 to 3/5/2024
RATINGS
Overall: 3.7/5⭐️
Characters: 3/5👀
Plot 3.5/5🧩
Pacing 4/5⌛️
World 4/5🌎
Romance 1/5💘
Spice 3.5/5🌶�
MAIN CHARACTERS - Rue, Shemyaza, Bastian,
INITIAL REACTION - Still not really sure how I feel about this series thus far. I get Shem's hang up since but his anger and asshollery toward her sucks. She clearly fucked up in the last book but, since then, most everything she's done has been with consideration to all of them. The few mistakes she's made have been due to their omitting information. They didn't explain the watcher hierarchy until she broke the chain and spoke over him. They didn't explain the consequences of opening the channel until she tried to help Kabiel.
Full review will be posted at .
AUTHOR - Debbie Cassidy
TYPE - Series; #2 of 5 in 'The Monsters Among Us"
POV - 1st Person - Multiple
GENRE - Dystopian, Romance
READ DATES - 3/4/2024 to 3/5/2024
RATINGS
Overall: 3.7/5⭐️
Characters: 3/5👀
Plot 3.5/5🧩
Pacing 4/5⌛️
World 4/5🌎
Romance 1/5💘
Spice 3.5/5🌶�
MAIN CHARACTERS - Rue, Shemyaza, Bastian,
INITIAL REACTION - Still not really sure how I feel about this series thus far. I get Shem's hang up since but his anger and asshollery toward her sucks. She clearly fucked up in the last book but, since then, most everything she's done has been with consideration to all of them. The few mistakes she's made have been due to their omitting information. They didn't explain the watcher hierarchy until she broke the chain and spoke over him. They didn't explain the consequences of opening the channel until she tried to help Kabiel.
Full review will be posted at .
February 24, 2023
When Monsters Bleed is the second book in Debbie Cassidy's The Monsters Among Us series, and let me start this off by saying - if you're not reading this series...what are you doing?! You are absolutely missing out on a ton of drama, awesomeness, and slow-burn romance. OMG!
When Monsters Bleed picks up where book one left off. Those who had managed to survive to this point? Most of them are now gone. Purged by the angels. The survivors? Few and far between. But there is still hope. The colony.
This book will grip you and keep you page-turning to the end. It's so good! The tension, the drama, the horror!! Yes! It's so good! This author keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering - what is going to happen next?! When is the burning tension between Rue and Shem finally going to ignite and turn into some hot steamy time?! LOL! Bastion does take on an annoying stance with his attempt at being "alpha male" around Rue, but I love how Shem never really allows Bastion's flexing to bother him.
There is so much to love and drool over in this book. It hits with you a range of emotions - mostly jaw drops, yowling, heat, and some tears. You get all the emotions and it's absolutely delicious. I can't wait for the next book in this series. It can't come soon enough.
5 out of 5 stars hands down.
When Monsters Bleed picks up where book one left off. Those who had managed to survive to this point? Most of them are now gone. Purged by the angels. The survivors? Few and far between. But there is still hope. The colony.
This book will grip you and keep you page-turning to the end. It's so good! The tension, the drama, the horror!! Yes! It's so good! This author keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering - what is going to happen next?! When is the burning tension between Rue and Shem finally going to ignite and turn into some hot steamy time?! LOL! Bastion does take on an annoying stance with his attempt at being "alpha male" around Rue, but I love how Shem never really allows Bastion's flexing to bother him.
There is so much to love and drool over in this book. It hits with you a range of emotions - mostly jaw drops, yowling, heat, and some tears. You get all the emotions and it's absolutely delicious. I can't wait for the next book in this series. It can't come soon enough.
5 out of 5 stars hands down.
February 27, 2023
How can a book be heartbreaking and still be so good?
We start out reliving the ending to book one. Just rip my heart out, please. It is so utterly heartbreaking. However, we see a little twist thrown in. I am very curious where this will go. I believe it will end in heartbreak, but we shall see.
Rue, good grief, I don't know how she does it. Surviving her world seems impossible. It is an utterly hopeless world. The monsters are everywhere and there is nothing to be done, but survive. Rue, Shem and his team may be able to save the world, but only time will tell.
The Watchers are there to save Rue, time and time again. Even from herself. Rue has such a big heart and she desperately want to save everyone. However, this world is not made for saving everyone. She makes a few mistakes and makes things harder, but it comes from a good place. She admits when she does something wrong and is trying to not make those mistakes again.
Loving Rue's character is easy. She is everything good in a desperate world, while still being strong, fearless and sassy.
Bastian, why? Why did you do that?
Shem, I'm still deciding if I want to throttle him or if I want to..... yeah. It is very love/hate with Shem.
Book three cannot come fast enough for me. I am dying to see what happens next!!!!
We start out reliving the ending to book one. Just rip my heart out, please. It is so utterly heartbreaking. However, we see a little twist thrown in. I am very curious where this will go. I believe it will end in heartbreak, but we shall see.
Rue, good grief, I don't know how she does it. Surviving her world seems impossible. It is an utterly hopeless world. The monsters are everywhere and there is nothing to be done, but survive. Rue, Shem and his team may be able to save the world, but only time will tell.
The Watchers are there to save Rue, time and time again. Even from herself. Rue has such a big heart and she desperately want to save everyone. However, this world is not made for saving everyone. She makes a few mistakes and makes things harder, but it comes from a good place. She admits when she does something wrong and is trying to not make those mistakes again.
Loving Rue's character is easy. She is everything good in a desperate world, while still being strong, fearless and sassy.
Bastian, why? Why did you do that?
Shem, I'm still deciding if I want to throttle him or if I want to..... yeah. It is very love/hate with Shem.
Book three cannot come fast enough for me. I am dying to see what happens next!!!!
January 23, 2024
Oh wow! This second book is filled with action and yes finally a little bit of romance. Rue, the main female character, is trying to get what is left of her people to safety and in the process is learning who she can and can’t trust. At the same time, she is learning that those who she thinks are monsters, might be something a little more and that things aren’t as they seem.
This book opens up a lot of different possibilities about who Rue is and what she has inside of her. She is a key to helping find missing pieces of a lost relic and potentially helping make the world right again in the process.
In regards to the romance part, it isn’t the main focus. There is definitely some angst between her and a few characters and you now have at least one to-the-point scene. I feel like it is still developing though, but because of all the cool action and concepts, it doesn’t feel like a slow burn either. It just works.
This book/series has really interesting concepts. There are Celestials who are obviously supposed to be Angels, but the real question is what are they doing on Earth? Are they really following the Makers plan? I will say though that no specific religion is named in this book and it doesn’t get too technical. It really focuses on the fantasy aspect of it and the world and character development.
So far now, after reading the second book, I definitely like this and will continue. I also will definitely recommend.
This book opens up a lot of different possibilities about who Rue is and what she has inside of her. She is a key to helping find missing pieces of a lost relic and potentially helping make the world right again in the process.
In regards to the romance part, it isn’t the main focus. There is definitely some angst between her and a few characters and you now have at least one to-the-point scene. I feel like it is still developing though, but because of all the cool action and concepts, it doesn’t feel like a slow burn either. It just works.
This book/series has really interesting concepts. There are Celestials who are obviously supposed to be Angels, but the real question is what are they doing on Earth? Are they really following the Makers plan? I will say though that no specific religion is named in this book and it doesn’t get too technical. It really focuses on the fantasy aspect of it and the world and character development.
So far now, after reading the second book, I definitely like this and will continue. I also will definitely recommend.
February 2, 2023
My heart ached for the only man who had understood me better then I understood myself. The man who'd stood by me no matter what, who'd loved me even when I'd been too frightened to love him back.
I was both thrilled and scared to start "When Monsters Bleed", because I was really looking forward to the next part in this series, and equally scared it would once again leave me behind with a very bad cliffhanger... But I'll be honest: she toned it down a little this time ;-)
"When Monsters Bleed" is an awesome addition to the "Monsters Among Us" series. I loved the worldbuilding, the new characters that are being introduced, all the action and suspense, and how all answers just come with more new questions! In this series, this author once again does what she's so good at: leave readers guessing about the relationships Rue will ultimately end up with. I love the guessing, and the constant wondering what this new character's connection to Rue will be. The slow build is fascinating to see, and I can't wait to find out more about her connections to all the different men she met already, and might meet in the future.
There is so much more to discover in this series, and I absolutely can't wait for the next book!
I was both thrilled and scared to start "When Monsters Bleed", because I was really looking forward to the next part in this series, and equally scared it would once again leave me behind with a very bad cliffhanger... But I'll be honest: she toned it down a little this time ;-)
"When Monsters Bleed" is an awesome addition to the "Monsters Among Us" series. I loved the worldbuilding, the new characters that are being introduced, all the action and suspense, and how all answers just come with more new questions! In this series, this author once again does what she's so good at: leave readers guessing about the relationships Rue will ultimately end up with. I love the guessing, and the constant wondering what this new character's connection to Rue will be. The slow build is fascinating to see, and I can't wait to find out more about her connections to all the different men she met already, and might meet in the future.
There is so much more to discover in this series, and I absolutely can't wait for the next book!
March 18, 2023
Starting where the first book ended, this book explodes with action and just keeps going. It’s loaded! This one also includes more worldly views as they travel to their next destination, their safe haven. Meaning we get to meet more creatures and hear about other dangers as well as learn how people are surviving. We also get to learn what Rue, Shem, and the others under his immediate command have to face next in order to collect the necessary shard pieces. Uncertainty is still up in the air as to who to truly trust. We know a lot of one side and have seen glimpses of the other, but I’m sure there are still secrets yet to be revealed � and whether there are any nefarious purposes hidden…well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Though I truly hope Shem and his friends are the true good guys, it seems there’s still much to unfold. There’s also a lot going on behind the scenes in the golden city and with only a few slight peeks in this book, I can’t wait for the next installment when Rue visits the city and hopefully will gain more knowledge of Michael and his goal. Yet, will she be able to evade the truth with enough lies to keep her safe and will she find her way back to Shem and the others? Only time will tell and I can’t wait to find out.
May 23, 2023
This book picks up exactly after book one. I still think it needs longer to linger on the big ole twist that happened, but Rue doesn’t have time for that. It never truly hits as hard as it should because she just keeps on keeping on, and without that moment to reflect and breakdown it lacks the punch it could have delivered. It’s still got that hint of angst and heartbreak, but not to the point of complete devastation.
There are more viewpoints added into this book, (two of which I very much think we could do without) that add to the overall world building but not so much to the immediate plot. You can tell they will be relevant in the future, they just aren’t now. I do think that any twist will be destroyed though, seeing as how we have this information already. It could have truth bombed us in later books and blown minds if it was kept hidden.
There are more awesome monsters and blood and gore in here, and our group is definitely being thinned. Again it’s pretty much nonstop action, but without ever feeling repetitive or pointless. And I still have no idea exactly who’s going to end up in her harem.
There are a lot of questions raised in this book, hopefully the next one starts giving us some answers.
There are more viewpoints added into this book, (two of which I very much think we could do without) that add to the overall world building but not so much to the immediate plot. You can tell they will be relevant in the future, they just aren’t now. I do think that any twist will be destroyed though, seeing as how we have this information already. It could have truth bombed us in later books and blown minds if it was kept hidden.
There are more awesome monsters and blood and gore in here, and our group is definitely being thinned. Again it’s pretty much nonstop action, but without ever feeling repetitive or pointless. And I still have no idea exactly who’s going to end up in her harem.
There are a lot of questions raised in this book, hopefully the next one starts giving us some answers.
February 28, 2024
Compulsive read...
A gripping tale continues with monsters becoming more than allies, secrets revealed, and love pushed aside because tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
Rue, dealing with death of Jaime, feels guilty that she has feelings for Bastion, but admitting it didn't go the way she expected. Rue and Shem's relationship is growing and evolving, but again, they aren't admitting to anything.
A plan is in place to find the missing relic pieces. They set off to find the first piece. Facing monsters, celestials, and unknown territory all the way.
Bastion stays behind and uncovers a plot.
So much intrigue and mystery and so many unknowables. Jumping from so many POV, you find yourself unable to determine who is plotting what. The story flows and reads quickly. Hitting the finish line only to realise you need more.
Addictive, unpredictable, and unputdownable story
Tropes:
Monsters. Slow burn romance. Post apocalyptic. Survival. Celestial beings. Found family. Forced Proximity. Smexy time for healing.
Quotes:
“You, little human, are a pain in my ass.� He leaned in. “I think I’ll have to return the favor sometime soon.�
Shem leans in so his lips are close to my ear. “Tell her how you feel. Tell her before it’s too late.�
A gripping tale continues with monsters becoming more than allies, secrets revealed, and love pushed aside because tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
Rue, dealing with death of Jaime, feels guilty that she has feelings for Bastion, but admitting it didn't go the way she expected. Rue and Shem's relationship is growing and evolving, but again, they aren't admitting to anything.
A plan is in place to find the missing relic pieces. They set off to find the first piece. Facing monsters, celestials, and unknown territory all the way.
Bastion stays behind and uncovers a plot.
So much intrigue and mystery and so many unknowables. Jumping from so many POV, you find yourself unable to determine who is plotting what. The story flows and reads quickly. Hitting the finish line only to realise you need more.
Addictive, unpredictable, and unputdownable story
Tropes:
Monsters. Slow burn romance. Post apocalyptic. Survival. Celestial beings. Found family. Forced Proximity. Smexy time for healing.
Quotes:
“You, little human, are a pain in my ass.� He leaned in. “I think I’ll have to return the favor sometime soon.�
Shem leans in so his lips are close to my ear. “Tell her how you feel. Tell her before it’s too late.�
February 14, 2023
This is book 2 and continues where book 1 left us, which was one h3ll of a cliffhanger!
We follow Rue and the watchers as they try to find safety and also locate and find the relics so that order can be restored. They have to fight against so many different creatures and also avoid the celestrials that seem determined to find them, there's no slowing down for anyone.
The world building in this book continues to be amazing, just as expected with a DC book, you are totally pulled into the story and all the characters. I couldn't put the book down once I had started as it is action packed from beginning to end.
We find out so much stuff about all the different creatures that live in the areas, and Rue finds out that not everything they were told whilst on the bases is true. We also get a few snippets from inside the Golden City.
Rue is struggling to deal with her feelings for Shem and Bastian, both are giving off some mixed messages. I still have no idea who Rue may end up with as there are a few more potential contenders in the mix, which makes reading far more interesting!
We have so much more to find out and I can't wait for the next book after this cliffhanger.
We follow Rue and the watchers as they try to find safety and also locate and find the relics so that order can be restored. They have to fight against so many different creatures and also avoid the celestrials that seem determined to find them, there's no slowing down for anyone.
The world building in this book continues to be amazing, just as expected with a DC book, you are totally pulled into the story and all the characters. I couldn't put the book down once I had started as it is action packed from beginning to end.
We find out so much stuff about all the different creatures that live in the areas, and Rue finds out that not everything they were told whilst on the bases is true. We also get a few snippets from inside the Golden City.
Rue is struggling to deal with her feelings for Shem and Bastian, both are giving off some mixed messages. I still have no idea who Rue may end up with as there are a few more potential contenders in the mix, which makes reading far more interesting!
We have so much more to find out and I can't wait for the next book after this cliffhanger.
February 27, 2023
With everything happening around Rue, she can wonder if there is a single truth in what she knows, as the more she learns, the larger the web of lies she is entangled in spreads. It seems that everyone is hiding something, and it becomes difficult to choose whom to trust. Shem and the watchers have definitely their own agendas, yet on the other side they are protecting humanity as promised. What the issue with the Dominion is remains a secret, and Michael... the things with him are getting complicated.
Lost of wild emotions ranging from betrayal and grief to trust, friendship, lust, and even love, leave a stamp on the story, driving it in a turbulent was fast forward. The plot develops at breakneck speed, twists and turns all the time, throwing one bomb after another at the reader. There is no time to rest or even breathe, I was glued to the book from page one. The story also has a darker side, violence and death and some graphical scenes showing the gory details, but it fits the general atmosphere and the world setup, being after apocalypse and with humanity at the point of extinction. Great read, looking forward to the next one.
Lost of wild emotions ranging from betrayal and grief to trust, friendship, lust, and even love, leave a stamp on the story, driving it in a turbulent was fast forward. The plot develops at breakneck speed, twists and turns all the time, throwing one bomb after another at the reader. There is no time to rest or even breathe, I was glued to the book from page one. The story also has a darker side, violence and death and some graphical scenes showing the gory details, but it fits the general atmosphere and the world setup, being after apocalypse and with humanity at the point of extinction. Great read, looking forward to the next one.
January 24, 2023
Wow what a ride, Rue, the watchers and humans (Those that’s left) make it back to base. They’ve lost a lot of people along the way, Rue is slowly giving the watchers back their purpose and losing her heart in the process. When they’re not fighting to stay alive Shem, Bast and Rue are fighting their emotions. Shem and Rue give into their attraction in a steamy way but it’s tainted as it was forced. Kabiel, oh my sweet dark monster, he sweeps in seducing Rue with with his desperation and hint of danger. I can’t wait to see where it leads with these two. Will Bast get his head out of his butt and admit his feelings for Rue? And how will Shem handle all those vying for his Rue? What happens next as Rue heads on the next part alone, will Shem and the rest of the watchers devolve further without her near? Can Bast and Penemue stop the insurrection in time? How does Michael play into this? He too seems to be changing and his confusing attraction to Rue is mystifying but I secretly hope he falls for her too. So many answers needed, I can’t wait for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2024
Enjoyable second instalment
I loved this second instalment of the series. Based have been attacked and people have either split up or are dead. Rue is with the guardians and now she has a part of Shem's soul inside her, they are linked. There is an attraction between them that they both keep denying. She is still grieving over Jamie's death and feels ashamed she has any sort of attraction to Shem. She is needed to help save them all. They just need to find the pieces of the relic. Rue is only just learning about the other species and her role in them all being freed.
They finally reach the colony of which Shem is in charge of. He explains that Rue is his and is here to help everyone once the relic is complete, but some don't agree with him and want Rue to trade with the Celestials.
They know where one piece of the relic is But the other piece is in the home of the Celestials. Rue will have to lie in order to get there so she can find the missing relic piece. Hot read.
I loved this second instalment of the series. Based have been attacked and people have either split up or are dead. Rue is with the guardians and now she has a part of Shem's soul inside her, they are linked. There is an attraction between them that they both keep denying. She is still grieving over Jamie's death and feels ashamed she has any sort of attraction to Shem. She is needed to help save them all. They just need to find the pieces of the relic. Rue is only just learning about the other species and her role in them all being freed.
They finally reach the colony of which Shem is in charge of. He explains that Rue is his and is here to help everyone once the relic is complete, but some don't agree with him and want Rue to trade with the Celestials.
They know where one piece of the relic is But the other piece is in the home of the Celestials. Rue will have to lie in order to get there so she can find the missing relic piece. Hot read.
March 8, 2025
This book is fast-paced, action and plot heavy, lots of fighting and combat keeps you turning pages. Shortly after reading I described this as a series of D&D combat sessions. There is also a lot of lore which helps make this feel like there's more world building going on and increases the stakes. Some of this information is somewhat dumped onto the heroine to set up how she has an important quest to do and a mission to complete. This book starts to have sexual content (unlike book 1), though it is still unclear who/ how many lovers the main character will end up with. I found this book to be interesting and I am eating the series like popcorn!
After reading some reviews I see some people complain that Shem is a jerk to Rue and that the watchers overall withhold too much information from her and therefore they are the reason that she gets into trouble. I agree with others that the writing is very attention-grabbing and that there are interesting concepts throughout this series.
Review written months later
After reading some reviews I see some people complain that Shem is a jerk to Rue and that the watchers overall withhold too much information from her and therefore they are the reason that she gets into trouble. I agree with others that the writing is very attention-grabbing and that there are interesting concepts throughout this series.
Review written months later
February 22, 2023
I now know that every time I read something from Debbie Cassidy I get hooked right away. And this book hooked me right in after a few lines. Other than the amazing writing, the intriguing storyline, and the characters, especially how strong the FMC is, always drag me along the characters' journeys, like I'm alongside them.
Let's start by saying that if you thought this book will give you answers. Ahah. The joke is on you. For an almost answer you get ten more questions. But something good happens... steamy scenes! And I'm all here for it. Rue gives in to here passion, but her feelings are complicated because more than one watcher/monster was able to infiltrate her heart. But the slow burn with her and the her guys is really teasing my patience. I can't wait to see who'll end up with her. A few sexy scenes are not enough.
I'm also curious to see how Rue grows more and become even stronger. I want to see her HEA.
Let's start by saying that if you thought this book will give you answers. Ahah. The joke is on you. For an almost answer you get ten more questions. But something good happens... steamy scenes! And I'm all here for it. Rue gives in to here passion, but her feelings are complicated because more than one watcher/monster was able to infiltrate her heart. But the slow burn with her and the her guys is really teasing my patience. I can't wait to see who'll end up with her. A few sexy scenes are not enough.
I'm also curious to see how Rue grows more and become even stronger. I want to see her HEA.
February 27, 2023
Rue is finding out about how maybe the Monster's aren't the real Monsters that she's always been raised to believe. She also finds out that maybe the "Holy" ones aren't as innocent as she was lead to believe either. As the truth comes out, Rue is desperately trying to protect those she loves, those she is coming to care about and also to find the missing pieces of a ancient weapon to send all the true Monsters back to where they came from.
But there is a confusion that Rue faces for how could she trust a Monster? Why couldn't she trust the Angels? But now she has to leave what is becoming her new family and into the belly of the beast to find one of the missing pieces of the weapon that Shem has been searching for forever.
I can't wait to read the next installment of this series as so many lies are being exposed, and the challenges that Rue is going to face are all in the wind. But it is going to be one step at a time, and I absolutely LOVE it!
But there is a confusion that Rue faces for how could she trust a Monster? Why couldn't she trust the Angels? But now she has to leave what is becoming her new family and into the belly of the beast to find one of the missing pieces of the weapon that Shem has been searching for forever.
I can't wait to read the next installment of this series as so many lies are being exposed, and the challenges that Rue is going to face are all in the wind. But it is going to be one step at a time, and I absolutely LOVE it!
March 6, 2023
Wow! Still loving the story!
Everything Rue has been taught has been a lie. The story starts off where book one’s cliffhanger hit us in the feels. All that is left of Rue’s friends is Bastian and he is starting to pull away because of his health. Rue and their small party find more survivors and plan on grinding all of the pieces of the relic in order to give Shem and his guardians more power to rid the world of the monsters.
This is a very slow burn. I can’t tell if it is gonna be a why choose or not and I am loving all of the tension. I do wish that now that we are in book 2 it would have been a bit more clear on who the love interest was gonna be but I have a feeling book 3 won’t disappoint.
We see more of the guardians and how they interact with humans and we learn more of why they are devolving.
I cannot say how upset I am at how fast I read this book because now I have to wait for book 3. I am waiting, very impatiently, but waiting for the next book!
Everything Rue has been taught has been a lie. The story starts off where book one’s cliffhanger hit us in the feels. All that is left of Rue’s friends is Bastian and he is starting to pull away because of his health. Rue and their small party find more survivors and plan on grinding all of the pieces of the relic in order to give Shem and his guardians more power to rid the world of the monsters.
This is a very slow burn. I can’t tell if it is gonna be a why choose or not and I am loving all of the tension. I do wish that now that we are in book 2 it would have been a bit more clear on who the love interest was gonna be but I have a feeling book 3 won’t disappoint.
We see more of the guardians and how they interact with humans and we learn more of why they are devolving.
I cannot say how upset I am at how fast I read this book because now I have to wait for book 3. I am waiting, very impatiently, but waiting for the next book!
December 24, 2022
Gah the Shem scenes are smokin! This series is like combining post-apocalyptic awesomeness and the hot sexy monster vibes that seem to be in right now - absolutely the most perfect perfection! I love the creature descriptions too! We get action, HOT AF scenes, a few answers with a ton more questions and so much more packed into these pages! Rue has to be one of my all time favorite FMCs and the way she stands up for herself and others really makes me invested - I love her dynamic with the watchers and the way she steps up time and time again not just for the humans but for the watchers too. A must read for monster steam fans, post apocalyptic fans, and anyone wanting an escape into a book because this author delivers it all in this one!
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