Reviewed by Jen
TITLE: Playing with Fire
SERIES: Wayward Sons
AUTHOR: L. Eveland
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 427 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2025
BLURB:
Some monsters hunt in darkness. Others play with fire.
I’ve always known what I am—a monster who uses flame to deliver justice, who gets off on breaking pretty things. Leo Astrada is everything I shouldn’t want: a brilliant programmer with an innocent soul and forbidden desires that match my own.
For two years, I’ve kept him close but untouched, telling myself that friendship was enough. But when someone nearly burns him alive in his own home, all my careful control goes up in smoke.
As we hunt his mysterious attacker through the dark corners of rural Ohio, I can’t ignore how perfectly Leo breaks under my hands, how desperately he needs the pain only I can give him. Every cry, every surrender, every bruise makes him more mine.
But this arsonist isn’t just another target to eliminate. They know my secrets—every kill, every trophy, every fire I’ve ever set. And they’re determined to make Leo burn for the sin of loving a monster like me.
Sometimes the most dangerous flames are the ones you invite in.
REVIEW:
This has been a pretty solid series for me. It’s a bit crazy, a bit over the top, but I’ve really enjoyed it overall and actually loved the craziness and intricate web involved. This installment is about Xavier, one of the triplets, who we have come to know through the course of this series. He is one of the trickier characters with his own set of issues and particular brand of meting out justice. His specialty is fire, so much so that it is almost an extension of who he is.
Leo is someone we have known for a while as well. He is the resident hacker/programmer who has been a bit under the radar in the grand scheme of things. He and Xavier have been dancing around for a bit, but when things heat up (literally and physically) and Leo seems to be in the crosshairs, Xavier’s protective nature takes over and he essentially makes his move.
As the two work together to solve the mystery of who seems to be using Xavier’s craft against him and the family, their relationship blossoms. Turns out they have much more in common that previously thought and they fit each other perfectly.
The rest of the family is pulled in to the fold as things escalate to the final showdown. It seems that Algerone and the triplets have made something of a peace as this all plays out and they seem to be on a much better path going forward which, given everything that occurred and is revealed, seems like a good thing at this point. There is a lot of history with this family and more questions are answered with each installment. Looks like we have one more to come with Misha’s story, and I’m looking forward to seeing him find some happiness and see how everything is wrapped up.
RATING: 
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