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Gargoyles, a book-loving heroine, hilarious forest nymphs, a devoted hero, and a little Beauty and the Beast magic. What’s not to love?
Lately, I’ve been having the hardest time getting into anything that isn’t contemporary romance.
Don’t get me wrong. I love all kinds of romance. But sometimes my reading brain decides it only wants one thing, and nothing else seems to hold my attention.
Then I saw The Gargoyle and the Executioner’s Daughter by Olivia T. Turner.
And I had two immediate thoughts.
One, it’s Olivia T. Turner. I love her books and her writing. So… a must-read.
Two, GARGOYLES!
Obviously, I had to read it.
And I’m so glad I did because I couldn’t put this one down!
A Gargoyle Who Just Won’t Die
First of all, can we talk about Ravena?
I absolutely adored her!
She’s obsessed with books, has some pretty entertaining thoughts about being the executioner’s daughter, and finds herself in the most ridiculous situation.
They’re trying to execute this gargoyle, and nothing works. No matter what they come up with, he just refuses to die.
And then there’s Ravena, who decides to kiss him while he’s turned to stone.
Because why not, right?
Except that kiss changes everything when they discover they’re mates.
I love a good fated-mates romance, and this was such a cute way to bring them together.
Tharion, Our Gargoyle Hero
Now, we have to talk about Tharion.
Because as much as I loved Ravena, Tharion completely won me over.
He’s a genuinely good man who believes in justice and wants to do what’s right. And I really appreciated that about him.
What I found especially sweet was how much he wanted to make things right with Ravena’s father, the executioner.
Considering everything that’s happened, it would be easy for him to hold a grudge. But that’s not who Tharion is.
He cares about doing the right thing, even when the situation is complicated.
And then there’s the way he reacts to finding his mate.
Oh my gosh. He’s so grateful!
There’s something incredibly endearing about a big, intimidating gargoyle who is just happy to have found the woman meant for him.
I have such a soft spot for heroes who treasure their heroines, and Tharion definitely falls into that category.
He’s proof that sometimes the biggest, scariest-looking heroes have the sweetest hearts.
Then There Are the Forest Nymphs!
Oh my gosh. THE FOREST NYMPHS!
They deserve their own moment in this review.
It’s the way they talk that gets me.
They’re so direct and matter-of-fact, especially when it comes to intercourse. There’s no embarrassment, no awkwardness, and absolutely no attempt to make anything sound romantic.
And the names they use for their body parts? I was cracking up!
Seriously, the way one of the forest nymphs speaks is practically worth reading the entire book for.
I love when an author creates side characters who can steal a scene, and Olivia T. Turner definitely delivered with these guys.
A Little Beauty and the Beast Magic
Another thing I loved about this story was how much it reminded me of Beauty and the Beast. (Which is a top fave for me.)
There’s this cute little village, a heroine who loves books, and a gargoyle who’s considered a beast.
Sound familiar?
I’ve always loved the idea of a romance where everyone else sees a monster, but the heroine sees something more.
And knowing what a good man Tharion is makes that connection even sweeter.
Olivia T. Turner gives us that familiar fairy-tale feeling with her own twist of humor, instalove magic, and, of course, spice.
Because if you’ve read Olivia T. Turner before, you know she delivers on that!
My Millennial Gargoyle Obsession
Okay, I have to confess something.
I’ve had an obsession with gargoyles for as long as I can remember.
And I’m pretty sure I know exactly where it started.
The Gargoyles cartoon.
If you’re a millennial who grew up watching that show, you probably understand.
I loved it growing up, and you know what? I still watch it from time to time.
Some things are just too nostalgic to leave behind.
There’s something about those stone creatures coming to life, their protective personalities, and the whole misunderstood-monster thing that has always appealed to me.
So when I saw that Olivia T. Turner had written a gargoyle romance, I was willing to venture outside my current contemporary-romance comfort zone.
Sometimes you just have to follow the gargoyles.
Welcome to Moonbell Hollow
Something else worth mentioning is that The Gargoyle and the Executioner’s Daughter (affiliate) is actually the first book in Moonbell Hollow (affiliate), a multi-author monster romance series.
The series takes place in a cozy, magical village where monsters find their happily ever after, and each book can be read as a standalone.
And I have to say, after reading Tharion and Ravena’s story, I’m definitely intrigued!
The series features different monster heroes, including an ogre, a dragon, a werewolf, an orc, and a devil, with stories written by authors including Ava Ross, Honey Phillips, Rochelle Paige, Veronika Kane, and Michele Mills.
I love the idea of different authors bringing their own romance styles to the same cozy fantasy setting.
And the fact that they’re standalones makes it easy to pick up whichever story catches your attention.
Though I’m still hoping Olivia T. Turner gives us more gargoyles someday!
Why I’m Recommending This One
Sometimes you pick up a book because you’re in the mood for something specific. Other times, a story surprises you by being exactly what you needed.
This was one of those books.
I wasn’t looking for a complicated fantasy world or some huge adventure. I just wanted to get lost in a good romance, and this one had me hooked from the beginning.
Tharion’s sweet, devoted personality, Ravena’s charm, and the wonderfully ridiculous humor made this such an enjoyable escape.
Add in a little fairy-tale magic and Olivia T. Turner’s signature spice, and I was one happy reader.
It’s exactly the kind of lighthearted romance I didn’t realize I was craving.
Olivia, can we please have more gargoyles?
Because I would absolutely read them!
Have You Read It?
If you love fated mates, misunderstood monster heroes, book-loving heroines, devoted heroes, and hilarious side characters, you might want to add The Gargoyle and the Executioner’s Daughter by Olivia T. Turner (affiliate) to your reading list.
And now I’m curious.
Did anyone else grow up watching Gargoyles? Or is that just my millennial nostalgia showing?
And have you read any of the other Moonbell Hollow books? I’d love to know which ones you’ve enjoyed!
Until next time, happy reading!
E.C. Snow
From My Nightstand is where I share the romance books I’ve been reading, the characters I’ve fallen for, and the stories that make me remember why I love this genre so much. Just one romance reader talking books with other romance readers.
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E.C. Snow
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