Listeriosis by Free Mints is a gripping, visceral exploration of obsession, monstrosity, and the blurred lines between love and horror. As the second installment in the Hounding Prey series, this dark MM horror tale deepens the psychological tension established in its predecessor while introducing a disturbingly seductive third-party dynamic that raises the stakes for its protagonists. Equal parts unsettling and addictive, the story grips you with its unflinching portrayal of desire as something that can both consume and liberate.

At the heart of the novel is Loukas Asbjorn, a character teetering on the precipice of self-loathing and self-acceptance. His struggle with his hunger for flesh—particularly his morbid obsession with his former friend, Hide—is handled with nuance, making him simultaneously sympathetic and terrifying. Loukas’ internal monologue is laced with regret, longing, and a growing acceptance of his true nature, and Free Mints’ writing captures his descent with lyrical horror. Loukas isn’t just a villain or a victim—he’s a tragic figure whose need to be wanted, no matter how grotesque, resonates on a deeply emotional level.

Hide, the beast-kin whose past wounds—both emotional and physical—have yet to heal, is equally compelling. His guarded nature and reluctance to embrace vulnerability feel authentic, especially given his complex relationship with Loukas. Hide’s inner conflict as he tries to suppress his feelings for Loukas while battling the magnetic pull of their bond is written with care, making his journey one of the most human elements in an otherwise monstrous tale.

Enter Xander—the catalyst for Loukas' transformation and a character who oozes danger and allure in equal measure. Xander is a masterful addition to the narrative, embodying both temptation and destruction. His obsession with Loukas’ true form—his hunger, his predatory instincts—is a dark mirror to Loukas' own desires. The dynamic between them is charged with dread and eroticism, creating a love triangle steeped in blood and betrayal. The moments when Xander and Loukas share the page pulse with tension, their interactions a twisted dance between control and surrender.

The horror elements in Listeriosis are unapologetically grotesque and vivid. Free Mints leans into body horror and psychological unease, making the reader feel the weight of every bloody encounter. The descriptions are unsettling without feeling gratuitous, emphasizing the raw, animalistic hunger that defines Loukas’ monstrous side. The "devouring" metaphor is layered not only in the literal sense but emotionally—Loukas’ hunger is just as much about intimacy as it is about destruction.

Despite the novel’s brilliance in exploring obsession and monstrosity, there are moments where the pacing falters. The narrative occasionally lingers too long on introspection, especially in scenes where characters ruminate over their relationships rather than pushing the plot forward. However, these moments of reflection do deepen the emotional stakes, even if they slow the action.

At 4 stars, Listeriosis is a haunting and provocative sequel that dares to ask: how far will we go to be loved for who—or what—we truly are? Free Mints masterfully blends horror, romance, and tragedy into a story that is as disturbing as it is mesmerizing. This book is perfect for readers who appreciate morally gray characters, intense emotional stakes, and dark, obsessive love stories. But be warned—once you’ve stepped into Loukas and Hide’s world, you may never leave unscathed.

Definitely a good read, I even bought it to gift to a friend and they enjoyed it as well, I would recommend this to anyone but be mindful of the themes and trigger warnings

This is my first delve into dark romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were a few scenes where I felt a bit ill but I suppose that's typical of the genre. All the characters are terrible people but I found myself connecting to and caring about them.
I really recommend reading the first book before this one as it gives more context to the world and the relationships between characters.
Something to be aware of: heed the content warnings, this story contains graphic gore and sexual content.

Review posted to Goodreads and Amazon:

Listeriosis is a deliberately unsettling read that's outside the scope of my usual genres. I found the novel challenging with its dark, provocative story. The vivid depictions of gore and violence are striking and unapologetic, making it clear that the author aims to evoke discomfort—and succeeds. The relationships between Loukas, Hide, and Xander are complex and filled with tension, exploring themes of obsession, identity, and the darker sides of love. While it’s not a genre I usually enjoy, the psychological depth and bold storytelling left an impression. Fans of dark, boundary-pushing fiction will find a lot to unpack here.

2.5/5
I was given the opportunity to read as an ARC on NetGalley for an honest review!
This sequel in the series is honestly much better in all ways than the first. The prose is significantly better and the characters are more fleshed out (haha). Still not quite up my alley but remarkably better than the first installment. I'm surprised by how some scenes in this left me unsettled or a bit sick but this is a new genre for me so I would suppose that'd be normal. Not sure if this is a dark romance, just seems like horror to me. If read as horror it's better than reading as a dark romance. Xander and Loukas confuse me but a lot of this book confuses me, less than the first yes, but still a lot of scenes are unclear as to what is happening.
Need to know how Hide wears flip flops with hooves? Or better yet how the feet/hooves work in general. Need more context into Hide's biology. ALSO the way Hide/book in general speaks about women still grosses me out severely. I feel as though it is overdone and does it even need to be done in the first place?
Overall I don't think I'm built for this!

“His happiness was a privilege he never deserved, and he was okay with that.”

“Listeriosis,” by Free Mints

I don’t even know where to begin with this book and this series. It was completely bizarre and grotesque and completely unhinged. Even with it being so deep in body horror and unlike anything I’ve ever read before I did like the book a lot. I was quite attached to Loukas, even though he did bad things he wanted to be good. All the characters were unhinged, and it was completely insane. This was a very niche book, and I would say readers need to read the trigger warnings before reading it because I don’t think this book is for everyone, but it was so good. 4 out of 5 stars, the only thing I really didn’t like was how short it was :(

-M/M
-Self Harm
-Demons, Beast People
-Multi POV

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

Unfortunately, I did not read the first book; I skipped over the "Book 2" notation. In spite of not having read the book, I was able to follow the story, even though I read at a slower pace than usual. This was a different kind of read for me. The character and their relationships propelled me forward to find out what was going to happen next. I will just say that I enjoyed this gory horror story. I will be doubling back to read the first book.

I absolutely loved this book! At first, I was a bit confused since I didn’t realize it was the second in a series, but it became much easier to follow as I kept reading. I have to say, this book delivers exactly what it promises! The vivid, gory details and dark romance are captivating. Without a doubt, I’d rate it a solid 5/5.
Mints surely did a great job and I can't wait for more

I think that readers would most benefit from reading the first book in the series before this one but that is on me. I do think this wouldn't be considered a standalone. Throughout the first portion of the book I was a little confused as to what was happening but I do believe that the first book would have given or provided more context.

This book is considered a type of horror book and I will say, there were some scenes that seemed gory and gross at times. I enjoyed seeing the inner thoughts of the MC and how he did things throughout the book.

I think I would have benefited more from reading the first book I hadn't realized it was a second book. But it was still easy to follow along and I feel like I hadn't missed anything. I don't often read horror but I was intrigued by this book and it defiantly makes you feel something. The characters are raw and interesting which kept me engaged and I think the pacing we good as it kept you going. If you are looking for horror and some spicy this is for you and it has a good combination of the two. It just wasn't for me

Okay- hadn’t read extreme horror in some time BUT I do have a different ‘grading system’ when it comes to these. First, thank you for the ARC! This is my honest review;

I do think readers will benefit most from reading the first book in the series (that’s on me!) but from what I’ve gathered, there does seem to be a lot of personality build up there. I found myself a bit lost there at the beginning or just not really liking the MC (don’t think I’m supposed to though?)

As far as extreme horror goes, I’d say this is pretty good and different within the genre! It most def felt gross at times (which is a good thing imo when doing extreme horror lol) but I just couldn’t quite get into it. I put this on me not reading the first one and maybe it not being my style. But that’s why I give it 4- I can clearly see how someone into extreme horror would legit enjoy this series though!