Clio does it again. All their books are similar but different. This one was just chefs kiss a combo of contemporary and mythological. You have one that of the MMC that was instalove and one who was resistant and one who was an alphahole about it. The FMC was resistant though not very. I’d have love to see more of the sub/dom dynamics since Clio is a master kinky writer. Maybe in the other books of the series. ( )

Thieves and Monsters: Three Fates Mafia Series
by Clio Evans and Opal Fairchild
178 pages
Currently on Kindle Unlimited, in the US.
5/5 stars

Genre:
Romance, Fantasy, Erotica, Paranormal, Greek Mythos, Fated Mates,

Possible Trigger Warnings:
Death, murder, blood, kidnapping, theft, BDSM, bondage, fully shift sex, no condom sex, mate marking, choking, size difference, mm, mmmw, monsters, anal, breath play, knife play, guns, breeding, dom/sub, collaring, wolf, shifting, degradation, praise kink, graphic violence, graphic sex, knotting, mm, mmmw, oral, double penetration, triple penetration, voyeurism,

THIS IS A ARC REVIEW, and may have spoilers.

When I tell you, that I fell in love with Damon, Minos, Aaecus and Ashley the moment each were introduced, I am in no way joking. Clio and Opal have a way of making you become each character from the start. I was attached and wanted to know what would happen next.

Damon, Minos, and Aaecus are three monsters, that were cursed to become Cerberus. I have seen lots of takes on the Hades mythos, and each one touches on Cerberus, but I have not seen (if there are some PLEASE SHARE) any where the story is about them. Not just about how they came to be, but who and what they are today, and what they are capable of becoming tomorrow.

Damon, and Minos, over the years have become partners, lovers, mates. They have marked each other, and loved each other in ways that no one else has or could. Until...

There is always that until.. But, it is all about how you take the story from there. Clio and Opal wrap you inside of Ashley, a art thief who has been tasked to steal from Damon, Minos, and Aaecus. While she hates monsters, she works in their world and knows about them. This story does not tell us why she hates monsters, but I hope one day that there will be a tale about why this is. Because I have a feeling, her backstory, will be a page turner.

This tale to me, is first and foremost a tale of fated mates. A tale of three men, three monsters, who were never whole as they were missing a piece. They were missing Ashley. And, even though she did not realize it, she was missing them. Add in the background of the three monsters, being Mafia leaders for the Three Fates, and being cursed to be Cerberus when in their fully shifted monster form.. Y’all, it is a wild ride, and one that I think people will not only enjoy, but will devour with the same gusto that Minos does of Ashley.

Clio and Opal do a outstanding job, with consent, with on going consent and check ins. You don’t always see consent, despicably on going, when BDSM in put into media. As someone who is in the BDSM community, I LOVE when consent, boundaries, safe words, safe gestures, etc are not only used but talked about. Talking about these things in real life, and in media do NOT take away from the spicy, or the energy of the scene. If anything, it adds to it.

There is a moment in chapter 10, I believe, when Aaecus asks Ashley, “Do you want me?”. That moment, of asking for consent, be vulnerable, was a moment I will not forget. If this strong, evil, blood thirsty monster, could be so soft and open.. Fuck, then we all can. We can all ask, get that consent, get on going consent, talk about wants and needs, talk about boundaries. Moments like this in media, can remind us, how hot, how pussy dripping and cock hardening, consent can get us.

When Damon, who just hated Ashley from the moment she was in their presence, broke. When he allowed himself to be open to the connection that the four of them had. It was hot. When Damon growled that that he and Minos could hear Ashley’s screams of pleasure. It was electric. Clio and Opal know how to be erotic without always being explicit. Which do not get me wrong here, I am all for explicit.

At one point, when Minos and Aaecus were tending to Ashley, Damon asked to speak with her alone. Again, getting consent. Not just from Minos and Aaecus, but also from Ashley. And Minos and Aaecus also waited for consent from Ashley before they left her alone with Damon. Consent is hot, and these two know how to write it.

Damon while alone with Ashley, ended up telling her how they came to be cursed, and connected in the way that they were. When he shared that backstory. When he apologized for how he had treated her. It pulled on your heart strings. It reminded you that even evil dark brooding dominate monsters can be soft and change, learn from their mistakes. It is something that you do not always see in this genre. But, when you do, and it is does right, it makes the book one of those tales that you will not only reread, but will want to share,

Yea, that is hot male on male sex. Yes, there is bondage. Yes, there is three men on Ashley. But, this tale is not just spice and kink, and that is wonderfully hot. When you can weave kink, sex, and mating into a mafia fated mate love story. Y’all, I down.

- Destynnee ( )