David's Reviews > Arenas & Monsters

Dominic Ashen returns with the fifth book in the series (including an unmissable, highly erotic, and amusing novella). A new book from Mr. Ashen is a cause for celebration and his readers will be pleased to know that this new one sits admirably alongside his earlier successes. Books one and two of the main series are told from David's perspective. The third book took a new angle, telling the story from his partner Khazak's perspective. Arenas and Monsters is the second part of Khazak's story.

While the story happily takes twists and turns you might not expect, the author's strengths remain strong and growing. The characters are real, living and breathing, and full of life. The more we know David and Khazak and their friends, the more loveable they are. The humor, the charm, the pacing, the plotting, the world-building, and the sex scenes (and romance) are all impeccable. I'd love to dive into a discussion of the second half of the novel when it hits some meaty beats, but I think I'll let you discover what happens there on your own.

If you are interested in maybe starting to read this series, I can tell you, that as a reader five books into it, you're going to love it. I am a huge fan of gay orc/human romance erotica literature. I've read everything I can find in that subgenre and Dominic Ashen's take on it is the best that there is. There just isn't anything that tops this series. It's a marvelous (and continuing adventure) that I cannot wait to see where Mr. Ashen takes David and Khazak next.