This was something else but also nothing new at the same time. A friend convinced me to do a weekend readalong of this book and figured why the hell not. Surprisingly, with a book blurb like that, I expected more risqué scenes compared to what we got. I feel it's the heathen in me saying that.

There was so much smut and not much real plot. I was honestly hoping to see more about this monster race but find myself sorely disappointed that what greeted us was very much the same human problems of corrupt politics and whatever that comes with it. I guess I was hoping for something more unique. As it is, we don't actually get a whole lot about this monster race. A little less spice and more plot would have been appreciated but this is erotica so you get what you're looking for I suppose.

Real rating 4 but bumped to 4.5 because of the Noctisoma

Let me be honest. Before even starting this, I didn't expect much due to one thing I confirmed in the middle of reading this book. I am not fond of the dark academia setting. Let's also add that I'm especially not fond of teacher/student tropes. Plus, age gaps are a mixed bag for me so all that stacks up but I'm not going to take away the fact that I was entertained anyway.

It was the Noctisoma that kept me reading. There's something about body horror that draws such morbid fascination for me. I'm honestly ambivalent at the reasoning of how such a grotesque parasite was kept secret by some secret organization but also understand how it could be kept under the radar for so long. Reminds me of the Nazino Island, aka Cannibal Island, that happened in 1933 but was only exposed in 1988 after Siberian government declassified hidden records to the public.

I hope I don't get flack for saying this but a lot of the times, I felt like I was reading a soap opera. Tortured twins, hidden children, affairs left and right, betrayals across generations, plot twists and then some. Life of the rich and famous I suppose.

I didn't much care for the romance and that's a personal thing. As I said, not much fan of the teacher/student trope.