4.3 (1,923 ratings)

The Nightmare's Kiss: a Monster Romance (Monster Research Facility Book 1)

Name: The Nightmare's Kiss: a Monster Romance (Monster Research Facility Book 1)
Rating: 4.3 (1923 reviews)
Author: Skyla Gray
ISBN: B0CG556QBL

by Skyla Gray

demons

About this book

Mara Vance once believed her psychology degree was a dead end, but a new position at a clandestine research facility changes everything. Her assignment? Subject X-13, a terrifying, shifting shadow creature known as The Nightmare. While her superiors demand she treat him as a lab specimen, Mara senses a profound, dangerous intelligence lurking beneath his claws and sharp teeth.

As the lines between her professional duty and her forbidden desires blur, Mara finds herself trapped in a web of twisted, nightly fantasies involving the very monster she is meant to study. This slow-burn paranormal romance expertly weaves psychological suspense with dark, atmospheric tension, challenging the boundaries between what is human and what is monstrous.

When the gaslighting from her past life collides with the oppressive reality of the facility, Mara must decide if she is brave enough to defy her employers. She faces a harrowing choice: abandon the creature to his cruel fate or risk everything to set him free. Perfect for fans of demon romance who crave high stakes and complex, evolving connections, this story explores the thin, fragile line between a nightmare and a dream. Will she trust the beast, or will her own fears destroy them both?

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B0CG556QBL

Reader Reviews

Rescue the Monster

April 1, 2025

Mara has returned to her hometown, where thy think she will pick up her relationship with her ex, Ethan. Mara has no desire to rekindle their relationship, but Ethan does work at a facility that Mara is interested in. Ethan works at the “facility”, a place shrouded in mystery and security. Curious about the facility, Mara does some research and manages to get a job inside the mysterious place. Her job is to study a mysterious subject made of some sort of dark matter. Before long, she realizes...

Very interesting

January 15, 2026

Enjoyed this story. Two complex characters, slowly discovering each other as they fight for freedom from the oppression brought on from being \" other \". Mara is still recovering from a gaslighting boyfriend and the Nightmare has been in captivity for decades because he is someone's definition of a monster. Somewhat gory response to reform, but overall, hopeful. )

this was everything

June 11, 2025

“𝔇𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪𝔰,” ℑ 𝔴𝔥𝔦𝔰𝔭𝔢𝔯, “𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔭𝔬𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔣𝔲𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔨.” uhhh, monster research facility? kinky, scary, nightmare? sign me up, i’m sold! this book was so much fun, it was scary, funny, sweet and raw. for such a short book, the pacing and execution were perfect. also, the feminine rage in this was delicious! dismantling the patriarchy one monster romance at a time. i loved the mental health rep and trauma healing mara experienced, and i’m so happy she got...

this was everything

June 11, 2025

](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_avp?ie=UTF8&nodeId=G8UYX7LALQC8V9KA) “𝔇𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪𝔰,” ℑ 𝔴𝔥𝔦𝔰𝔭𝔢𝔯, “𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔭𝔬𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔣𝔲𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔨.” uhhh, monster research facility? kinky, scary, nightmare? sign me up, i’m sold! this book was so much fun, it was scary, funny, sweet and raw. for such a short book, the pacing and execution were perfect. also, the feminine rage in this was delicious! dismantling the patriarchy one monster...

Nightmares and Frustration

May 24, 2024

I give it 3.5 stars. Beware! There be spoilers ahead! I liked the Nightmare but did not like Mara. Here is my rant about her. She was naive and foolish. How did not listening to the stimuli give her an unbiased and accurate assessment to the subjects reaction? It doesn't. Become she don't know what it's reacting to. She did not test if her dreams were real when her subject's moniker was \"Nightmare\". Hint hint. She believed that a military operation would let a monsterous test subject go if...