MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of Soul Eater

Soul Eater

by Lily Mayne

🌶️🌶️mild·Monstrous #1
4.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.2 on Goodreads (26,909)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

Available on Kindle Unlimited
find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

A gripping M/M monster romance where an ancient soul-eating creature falls hard for a soft-hearted soldier. The contrast between brutal post-apocalyptic survival and achingly tender intimacy makes this an addictive, emotional ride.

Synopsis

M/M Fantasy Romance. Twenty years ago, monsters rose on earth and began a new age of civilization. One where humans live in military-controlled, cramped and dirty cities along the coasts, and the majority of the United States is known as the Wastes. A lawless, desolate and dangerous place, teeming with monsters that have claimed the land for their own. Including Wyn the Soul Eater. He appears every three years, making his way across the country and slaughtering humans randomly, sucking them dry until they’re nothing but husks. I’ve only been in the military for six months, but now I’m part of a unit tasked with trying to stop and capture him. And when I’m the only soldier out of hundreds that the Soul Eater leaves alive, I realise that… something about me has intrigued him. But what is it? What could a twenty-three year old guy from the south, with no one and nothing in the world, have possibly done to capture the attention of a death monster with horns, blackened fingertips and a face hidden in the dark depths of his hood? Soul Eater is the debut novel of Lily Mayne. It is the first in a planned post-apocalyptic fantasy series featuring monsters and human men falling in love. This m/m love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. It also contains scenes of violence, but don’t worry—they get their happy ending.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Danny is a soldier in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Wyn is an ancient monster called the Soul Eater who kills hundreds of soldiers—but leaves Danny alive. What follows is one of the most tender, devastating slow burns in MM monster romance. Wyn is terrifying and impossibly gentle with Danny. The torture scenes hit hard, the devotion hits harder. Start here and clear your schedule because you will devour this series.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.22 ★ (26.9k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

329 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2021

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Paranormal Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/M

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Michael Lesley

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
monster romancecaptive romanceforbidden loveimmortal/mortal romancesurvival romancetouch her and diehurt/comfort
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

intenseromanticdarkadventurousangstyswoonyatmosphericemotional

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

immersiveemotionaldarkrawbrooding

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

forbidden desirepage turner

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

monster MMCimmortal/ancientbeast / monster MMCsecretly softgrumpy protector

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

grumpy sunshinehe falls firstonly soft for themferal devotionhurt/comfortcaptor/captiveprotective love interest

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

fantasy / supernatural intimacyintense / passionatepossessive / claiming styletender / sweet explicit

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

size difference focuspossessive/protectivetouch starvationgrowling / possessive soundsbody worshipscent kinkmine declarations

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

monstrous anatomymonster romance elementsbonding/claiming/markingpossessivesize differencerough/aggressive intimacy
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (9)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
graphic violencetorturePTSDdeathviolencedeath of loved onecaptivitygriefpanic attacks
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

post-apocalypticparanormal

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

forest / wildernessmilitary campwar front / rebellion

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

monsters

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

gayMC 20-30

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

feral brain activatedbook hangoverobsessedthe angst deliveredromantic fulfillment

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

cozy eveningrainy weekendvacationbedtimewinter night by the fire

Monstrous

Soul Eater

#1 Soul Eater

Edin

#2 Edin

The Rycke

#3 The Rycke

Moth

#5 Moth

A Monstrous Christmas in Camp

#6.5 A Monstrous Christmas in Camp

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.329
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2021
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.22 ★ (26.9k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Monstrous #1
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about Soul Eater

Similar Books

Cover of A Soul to KeepKU

A Soul to Keep

Duskwalker Brides, #1

Opal Reyne

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
monster romancecaptive romanceforced proximity
Cover of Wolfsong

Wolfsong

Green Creek, #1

T.J. Klune

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
fated matessecret relationshiphurt/comfort
Cover of PestilenceKU

Pestilence

The Four Horsemen, #1

Laura Thalassa

🌶️🌶️·first person
enemies to loverscaptive romanceforced proximity
Cover of Unbroken BondsKU

Unbroken Bonds

The Bonds that Tie, #6

J. Bree

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·multi-POV·✓
fated matesreverse harem / why choosefound family
Cover of Blood & SteelKU

Blood & Steel

The Legends of Thezmarr, #1

Helen Scheuerer

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
forbidden loveenemies to loverstraining partners to lovers
Cover of The Wolf KingKU

The Wolf King

The Wolf King, #1

Lauren Palphreyman

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
enemies to loversforced proximitycaptive romance
Cover of Her Soul to Take (Souls Trilogy, #1)KU

Her Soul to Take (Souls Trilogy, #1)

Souls Trilogy, #1

Harley Laroux

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
dark romancemonster romanceforced proximity
Cover of Tragic BondsKU

Tragic Bonds

The Bonds that Tie, #5

J. Bree

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·multi-POV·✓
fated matesreverse harem / why choosefound family