Golden (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids) by B. Ripley

Nathan returns home, but his memories of his past are confused and disjointed, especially surrounding his adopted brother Rook. But as his fear of Rook builds so does attraction, and for some reason Nathan can't make himself leave.


From the blurb:

Some things are meant to be forgotten.

Coming back to the family farm to bury my estranged parents was supposed to be an easy task. I anticipated a funeral, settling their estate and putting the farm up for sale.

I didn’t expect him.

Rook is an anomaly that I can’t place in my past, despite knowing he should be there. My memories are hazy and the more I try to find answers to the questions in my mind, the worse it gets. My nights are tainted by dreams of feathers and claws, blood and teeth. Glowing eyes haunt me from the shadows and the longer I linger in this house, the more I think I’m losing my mind.

The more I start to wonder why I can’t leave.

Rook has a hold on me that I can’t explain and it grows stronger by the day. I am tied to him even though I don’t believe he is as human as he says he is. I need him as much as I need the answers he has inside his head to the questions I have about my past.

He scares me, but he comforts me.

He haunts me, but he is my safe place.

I should have let him stay forgotten, because remembering him will be my downfall.

Golden is a full-length MM dark monster romance as part of the Mayhem Manuscripts Cryptids shared world collaboration.


SNik's review:

Part of a multi-author series (Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids), but can be read as a standalone. Paranormal horror. Dual POV. Heed content warnings. 

Nathan returns home after the unexpected death of his parents only to find an adopted brother he doesn’t remember growing up with. There’s something frightening about Rook, but also Nathan can’t seem to leave him behind. 

This story definitely had the dark and sense of dread that much of this series has embraced. As a reader you will be immediately drawn into a confusing set of memories from Nathan and a seemingly earnest and innocent behaving Rook so the truth is unclear. I did like the progression of the story and how Nathan and Rook are meant to be together and the last part of the book was the most riveting part. It ended up being steamy with some fated mate vibes but I did wish Nathan and Rook got to know each other better beyond those pulls. Definitely entertaining, with a peek at their future, I would have loved to see what happened to Gage and Vaunt, but overall I enjoyed this read.


Golden is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle+ Subscription