Monsters Within
Have you ever lost yourself in a fantasy world you created?
That’s how I’ve survived the years alone in a reality where humans cower in fear of supernatural creatures hiding behind the veil.
All I’ve ever had is my pen, my notebook, and the world I created to make it through the days as a ward of the state, suffering at the hands of the real villains of the world...Humans.
The pages of my notebook hold five sinful, feared monsters. Ones that I certainly shouldn’t be pining over since they aren’t even real.
I question my grip on reality when real life and fantasy collide as my words suddenly come to life. Out of the pages climb each of the beautifully twisted monsters I created with my ink.
Magical factions fight for control over me and my monsters, claiming I have the potential to topple empires with my power to create.
Dark Imaginarium Academy claims to want to help me learn about my new powers. The Headmistress says they can protect me, but I’m not so sure about that.
The one thing I am sure about? I’ll destroy the world if they try to take my monsters from me.
Because my creations aren’t just monsters—they’re my soulmates.
***
Monsters Within is book one in The Creatures We Crave series, which is set within the shared universe of Dark Imaginarium Academy. All series can be read independently, but characters have crossovers and it is highly encouraged to read all within the universe to understand the world in its entirety.
DARK IMAGINARIUM ACADEMY FEATURES CHARACTERS THAT ARE ALL 18+. THIS IS NOT A HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY SETTING AND THE CONTENTS ARE INTENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES.
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R.L. Caulder
In the shifting shadows of fantasy and paranormal romance, R.L. Caulder has made a quiet kind of noise—one that echoes through darkened corridors, forgotten realms, and the haunted corners of the heart. Her stories aren't just read—they’re experienced, like stepping into a dream where the monsters are beautiful, and the heroes are broken in all the right ways.
Caulder began her journey not with a publishing deal or a polished plan, but with a question: What if the villain wasn’t the villain at all? From that seed grew a library of richly imagined series like Blood Oath, The Monsters We Crave, and The Wicked Monsters—books that blur the line between danger and desire. Her characters wrestle with power, pain, and passion, often in worlds teetering on the edge of ruin. But for all their fangs and fury, it’s the emotional undercurrents—the betrayals, the longing, the bonds forged in fire—that leave a lasting mark.
The Creatures We Crave
The Creatures We Crave consists of three books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
