Gods and Monsters (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798230758891)

In the fog-shrouded streets of San Francisco, an unusual romance blooms between River, a gifted baker whose treats can heal broken hearts, and Pamela, a mysterious waitress with an impossible secret. But their love is threatened by Gabriel, a breathtakingly beautiful stranger whose crystal jewelry lures the city's vampires to their doom. As River follows Gabriel through the midnight streets, he begins to uncover a hidden world that has existed alongside our own since the Gold Rush days.

When a series of mysterious deaths rocks the Castro district, the city is gripped by fear. Bodies are found drained of blood, bearing strange marks that defy explanation. River's quest to understand these deaths leads him to discover an underground network of immortal beings, ancient Greek gods working as delivery men, and primal forces that have shaped the city since its founding. At the heart of it all is Thanatos, the God of Death himself, who runs a peculiar blood delivery service for San Francisco's vampire population.

After Pamela vanishes following a fateful encounter with Gabriel, River must navigate this dangerous new reality where nothing is as it seems. His journey will take him from the redwood-shadowed hills of Marin to the neon-lit streets of the Tenderloin, from underground morgues to forgotten tunnels beneath the city. With only his faithful crow Huck and the ghost of his uncle Ryo to guide him, River must confront shocking truths about love, mortality, and the thin line between predator and prey.

Weaving together Greek mythology, San Francisco history, and supernatural romance, "Gods and Monsters" is a haunting tale of eternal love, devastating choices, and the price of immortality. E.E. King crafts a rich tapestry where magic and reality intertwine, where the past never truly dies, and where even monsters can dream of redemption. Through River's eyes, we discover a San Francisco where fog conceals more than just the morning sun, and where love might be the most dangerous force of all.

This sweeping urban fantasy explores what it means to be human in a world where humanity itself may be optional, where ancient gods run pawn shops, and where the difference between monster and hero often depends on which side of the story you're telling. It's a tale of impossible choices, undying love, and the eternal question of whether we are defined by our nature or our choices.