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Katherine M Guttman
April 14, 2026
Big Horns, Big Chemistry, Big Fun
Oh, my stars. Mr. Wardell, you fabulous & filthy man! Full disclosure: I am a huge M.A. Wardell fan and have recommended his books to friends, family, and total strangers. When I saw a physical copy of one of his novels in a bookstore, I clapped my hands and squealed like I had something to do with the situation. What I’m saying is, I was predisposed to be into this monster romance before I read it. And, like all of M.A. Wardell’s books, this story is filled with interesting characters with complex inner lives struggling to find their place and their best selves in an often confusing world.
The fact that 90% of these characters are mythical creatures is both not the point and totally the point.
Jamie Torres is a human toiling in the mailroom at Labyrinth Solutions. He’s trying to climb the corporate ladder, working alongside orcs named Greg who work in IT and ogres named Phil who are accountants. You know, normal office stuff in a normal city. Crownpoint is a city with a Community Outreach Initiative - a collaboration of monsters and humans in the schools, neighborhoods, and boardrooms, “A little chaotic, always interesting, and exactly the kind of collaboration that makes [Jamie] excited to show up every day.” An unexpected temporary promotion has him in the Executive wing, where he struggles with his career ambitions, imposter syndrome, and a heavy crush on the charismatic CEO - Magnus Trainor. Magnus, the titular minotaur, is also struggling. He has created his…