CORRUPTION
Once a proud demon of the night sky who carried nightmares to humans, Tenrael has spent decades in captivity as the star attraction of a traveling carnival. He exists in miserable servitude to men who plunk down ten dollars to fulfill their dark desires.
Charles Grimes is half human, half… something else. For fifteen years he’s worked for the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs, ridding the country of dangerous monsters. When his boss sends him to Kansas to chase a rumor about a captive demon, Charles figures it’s just another assignment. Until he meets Tenrael.
CLAY WHITE
Someone—or something—is murdering young men in San Francisco. Clay White has been fired from the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs, but he’s determined to track down the killer. When he comes across a vampire named Marek, Clay assumes he’s caught the perp. But the encounter with Marek turns out to be more complicated than Clay expected, and it forces him to deal with his own troubled past and murky psyche. As Clay discovers, sometimes the truth doesn't come easy—and the monsters are not who we expect.
CREATURE
Alone in a cell and lacking memories of his past, John has no idea who—or what—he is.
Alone on the streets of 1950s Los Angeles, Harry has far too many memories of his painful past and feels simply resignation in facing his empty future.
When Harry is given a chance to achieve his only dream—to become an agent with the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs—all he has to do is prove his worth. Yet nothing has ever come easy for him. Now he must offer himself and John as bait, enticing a man who wants to conquer death. But first he and John must learn what distinguishes a monster from a man—and what a monster truly wants.
Listening Length: 7 hours and 39 minutes
Narrator: Joel Leslie
Overall rating: 4 hearts
‘The Bureau’ novellas deliver paranormal MM romances with a bit of a dark edge. The novellas have an overarching theme of acceptance and overcoming differences through love.
I would have enjoyed this collection regardless, but the excellent audiobook narration by Joel Leslie took it up a level. If you’re looking for an MM paranormal audiobook, I’d definitely recommend ‘The Bureau: Volume 1’!
Corruption - 4 Hearts
Tenrael, the demon who flew across the skies bringing nightmares, has spent decades enslaved, humiliated, and degraded.
My heart broke for Tenrael. Readers get a clear picture of the abuse he’s subjected to on a daily basis, and it definitely isn’t pretty.
There was nothing demonic about him. He was just broken. Tenrael yearned for only one thing - an end to his living nightmare.
Charles Grimes is half-human and works for the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs. He’s sent to deal with rumors of a captive demon, but instead finds himself entranced.
This isn’t a sweet love story. Both men are messed up, and there’s a huge power imbalance. Their relationship is just a bit twisted, built on dubious circumstances.
But there’s no doubt that Charles and Tenrael were meant for each other. Tenrael finds a reason to give up the freedom he so craved, and Charles has a reason to break his complacency.
Overall, this was a really good beginning to the series. It’s dark and just a tad haunting, but with enough romance to believe that Tenrael and Charles are on their way to a happy ever after.
Clay White - 2 Hearts
After making a huge mistake, Clay was fired from the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs. But despite having no official role, he’s determined to find out who - or what - is going on a murdering spree in San Francisco.
His investigation brings him to Marek - an alluring vampire that Clay’s convinced is the culprit. But Marek turns all assumptions Clay had about vampires on their head.
Marek is self-assured and exudes sensuality. He’s also on the lookout for the murderer as well. Similar to book 1, the “beast” of the story was the more fascinating of the characters.
The feel of book 2 is different from ‘Corruption’. It’s set in modern times, and the focus isn’t on the relationship. I’d say Clay and Marek’s relationship plays second fiddle to the mystery plot for much of the book.
I wanted more of the romance. It’s clear that the two feel something for each other beyond sexual attraction, but it I didn’t feel like it was explored as much as it needed to be.
The murder mystery was entertaining, though I did have some unanswered questions by the end.
Overall, this novella just didn’t capture my imagination as I’d hoped it would.
Creature - 4 Hearts
Tortured and imprisoned, John doesn’t know who he is or where he comes from. He only knows that he isn’t human, and that he longs for a life outside of his prison walls.
When down-on-his-luck Harry is presented with a chance to join the Bureau, he grudgingly takes on the task though he wants nothing to do with John.
John captured my heart right from the start. His heart may not beat, but he yearns for some semblance of a normal life. And he refuses to let his captors break him completely.
I could empathize with Harry too, though I wasn’t happy with how he initially treated John. But it didn’t take Harry long at all to begin treating John like he would another person, and not just as a thing.
The respect that Harry gives John becomes the basis of their relationship. John feels care and warmth for the first time in his memory, and Harry slowly learns that the “creature” is more human than the people who forced the two together.
For a short read, there was a fair bit of angst and poignancy. But it’s worth it, just to see John and Harry build each other up. They’re just so clearly meant for each other.
The mystery angle was engaging and added suspense, but the real star of ‘Creature’ is the romance between two broken men who make each other whole.
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