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The Monstrous Kind
An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, set in a Regency England about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters—perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrows and Anatomy: A Love Story.
Merrick Darling’s life as daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex is better than most. Unlike the commoners, she is immune to the toxic fog that encroached on England generations earlier. She will never become a Phantom—one of the monstrous creatures that stalk her province’s borders—and as long as the fires burn to hold them back, her safety is ensured. She wants for nothing, yet she will never inherit her family’s Manor. She must marry smartly or live at the kindness of her elder sister, Essie.
Everything is turned on its head, though, when Merrick’s father dies suddenly. Torn from her New London society life of ball gowns and parties, Merrick must travel back to her childhood home, the Darling estate of Norland House, and what she finds there is bewildering. Once strong and capable, Essie is withdrawn and frightened—and with good cause. A recent string of attacks along the province’s borders has turned their formerly bucolic countryside into a terrifying and unpredictable landscape. The fog is closing in and the fires aren’t holding, which makes Merrick and Essie vulnerable in more ways than one. Because the Phantoms are far from the only monsters in Merrick’s world, and the other eleven Manor Lords are always watching for weakness.
Revealing her and her sister’s current state to the rest of the Manors is out of the question, but when Essie goes missing, it’s clear that Merrick needs help. Only, who can she trust when everyone seems to be scheming, and when all she holds true feels like it’s slipping right out of her grasp?
Merrick Darling’s life as daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex is better than most. Unlike the commoners, she is immune to the toxic fog that encroached on England generations earlier. She will never become a Phantom—one of the monstrous creatures that stalk her province’s borders—and as long as the fires burn to hold them back, her safety is ensured. She wants for nothing, yet she will never inherit her family’s Manor. She must marry smartly or live at the kindness of her elder sister, Essie.
Everything is turned on its head, though, when Merrick’s father dies suddenly. Torn from her New London society life of ball gowns and parties, Merrick must travel back to her childhood home, the Darling estate of Norland House, and what she finds there is bewildering. Once strong and capable, Essie is withdrawn and frightened—and with good cause. A recent string of attacks along the province’s borders has turned their formerly bucolic countryside into a terrifying and unpredictable landscape. The fog is closing in and the fires aren’t holding, which makes Merrick and Essie vulnerable in more ways than one. Because the Phantoms are far from the only monsters in Merrick’s world, and the other eleven Manor Lords are always watching for weakness.
Revealing her and her sister’s current state to the rest of the Manors is out of the question, but when Essie goes missing, it’s clear that Merrick needs help. Only, who can she trust when everyone seems to be scheming, and when all she holds true feels like it’s slipping right out of her grasp?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2024
About the author
Lydia Gregovic
2 books86 followersLydia Gregovic is a Brooklyn-based author and editor, whose identity is rooted in the Texas gulf and along the coastline of Montenegro. She currently lives in New York with her complete collection of the works of Jane Austen and several half-dead plants. The Monstrous Kind is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
August 26, 2024
Power, I am learning, dulls the lines of good and evil until they are nothing but a blur. Power is good; it is evil. It only depends on whose hands it falls into: yours, or someone else’s, whether you are reaching for it or trying to tear it down. And one can never have enough.
rating: 3.75★
moody, atmospheric, gothic. pride and prejudice and zombies with some hints of one dark window, bridgerton, and maybe a touch of succession.
this was a solid debut book for me. i was very intrigued by the world when it opened with a list of the manor families, aka the elite class that rule over their respective territories in The Smoke. the mist and its "phantoms" - people who became infected by it and thus transformed into zombie-esque creatures - were thoroughly eerie and creepy. while still YA subtle horror, this would be a great mood read for spooky season.
i personally enjoy slower-paced historical fantasy, esp when we get some snippets of the ongoings of the period, but when the mystery plot picked up more that definitely kept me reading. i was fascinated by characters like cressida, who i was constantly second-guessing and i enjoyed the class-society intricacies. i also appreciated the theme of classism and elitism.
i personally haven't read jane austen in years so i can't speak to the retelling aspect, but i would say this definitely leans more into fantasy than fantasy romance. romance is firmly subplot and while courting/marriage is an important part, that's mostly bc of women *needing* it in those days. both killian and ames had their moments though.
some things that could've been improved for me: a bit too many similes ("like"), i wanted more of the phantoms. i also wanted more of the different manor families after the guide intrigued me.
i was very intrigued by how it ended and think the next book has a lot of promise. i also hope the romance gets a bit more focus.
TLDR: read this if you want a gothic moody mystery in a regency setting with just a touch of romance.
“Power … the Manors flash it like a coin, make you crave it, but it is a lie. The only gifts my father’s title ever bought me were resentment, hatred, and pain.” He hesitates. “I wish only for you to be free, in this and all things.”
an honest arc review ♡
__________________________
♡･ﾟ:* preread *:･ﾟ♡
new arc, yay!
rating: 3.75★
moody, atmospheric, gothic. pride and prejudice and zombies with some hints of one dark window, bridgerton, and maybe a touch of succession.
this was a solid debut book for me. i was very intrigued by the world when it opened with a list of the manor families, aka the elite class that rule over their respective territories in The Smoke. the mist and its "phantoms" - people who became infected by it and thus transformed into zombie-esque creatures - were thoroughly eerie and creepy. while still YA subtle horror, this would be a great mood read for spooky season.
i personally enjoy slower-paced historical fantasy, esp when we get some snippets of the ongoings of the period, but when the mystery plot picked up more that definitely kept me reading. i was fascinated by characters like cressida, who i was constantly second-guessing and i enjoyed the class-society intricacies. i also appreciated the theme of classism and elitism.
i personally haven't read jane austen in years so i can't speak to the retelling aspect, but i would say this definitely leans more into fantasy than fantasy romance. romance is firmly subplot and while courting/marriage is an important part, that's mostly bc of women *needing* it in those days. both killian and ames had their moments though.
some things that could've been improved for me: a bit too many similes ("like"), i wanted more of the phantoms. i also wanted more of the different manor families after the guide intrigued me.
i was very intrigued by how it ended and think the next book has a lot of promise. i also hope the romance gets a bit more focus.
TLDR: read this if you want a gothic moody mystery in a regency setting with just a touch of romance.
“Power … the Manors flash it like a coin, make you crave it, but it is a lie. The only gifts my father’s title ever bought me were resentment, hatred, and pain.” He hesitates. “I wish only for you to be free, in this and all things.”
an honest arc review ♡
__________________________
♡･ﾟ:* preread *:･ﾟ♡
new arc, yay!
October 5, 2024
4 Stars!
An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, set in a Regency England about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters—perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrows and Anatomy: A Love Story.
I love this blurb! I hope this book will be as good as it sounds.
An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, set in a Regency England about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters—perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrows and Anatomy: A Love Story.
I love this blurb! I hope this book will be as good as it sounds.
February 13, 2024
The Monstrous Kind ARCs are going to start making their way into the world soon, which means it's about time for me to step back and let this book take on a life of its own! TMK is my first child, one that is the product of many late nights and early mornings, false starts and re-attempts. And while, like the book she is a part of, Merrick is not a perfect protagonist, I hope you enjoy hearing her story as much as I have enjoyed telling it. To anyone who gives their time to this book--thank you, sincerely. And welcome to Norland House <3.
October 9, 2024
Lydia Gregovic's debut novel "The Monstrous Kind" is, essentially, Bridgerton with zombies, although that description is a bit reductive and fails to take into account the strange beauty of the novel.
Gregovic clearly loves, and is heavily inspired by, the works of Jane Austen. As an unabashed Austen fan myself, I have a great respect for what Gregovic is doing. To be fair, other authors have done this before; most notably, Seth Grahame-Smith's 2009 parody novel "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", which was exactly what it sounds like.
I loved Graham-Smith's novel for what it was, but it must be noted that Gregovic is doing something very different in "The Monstrous Kind".
Through fascinating and well-constructed world-building, Gregovic has created a completely unique genre piece that is a mash-up of two genres (Victorian romance and zombie apocalypse) that is done so seamlessly as to almost create its own genre.
The plot---like most Austen-esque plots---is a bit complicated to explain in depth. Like most Austen novels, it involves the relationship between sisters, a love story, and a not-so-subtle castigation of Victorian high society.
The horror backdrop: the novel is set over a hundred years after what can only be assumed is a global event (any contact with the outside world no longer exists, so it's unknown what is happening elsewhere) called the Turning, in which an oppressive fog surrounded the British Isles. Inhabitants managed to push back the fog with giant bonfires and continuously-burning lanterns that surround what is left of the country. That was just the beginning.
For some unfortunate inhabitants, the fog "infected" them by turning them into violent zombies that survivors call "Phantoms". A small percentage of the population appear to be immune to the effects of the fog. These select few immune families created the 12 houses which rule the country. Together, they have created a new government called the Council, housed in New London, built from the literal ashes of old London. They are responsible for the well-being and protection of the surviving inhabitants of the country.
Gregovic took a big risk in creating this genre mash-up, but it ultimately yields rewards. This is a fun, fascinating young adult novel that has the potential to be a series.
Gregovic clearly loves, and is heavily inspired by, the works of Jane Austen. As an unabashed Austen fan myself, I have a great respect for what Gregovic is doing. To be fair, other authors have done this before; most notably, Seth Grahame-Smith's 2009 parody novel "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", which was exactly what it sounds like.
I loved Graham-Smith's novel for what it was, but it must be noted that Gregovic is doing something very different in "The Monstrous Kind".
Through fascinating and well-constructed world-building, Gregovic has created a completely unique genre piece that is a mash-up of two genres (Victorian romance and zombie apocalypse) that is done so seamlessly as to almost create its own genre.
The plot---like most Austen-esque plots---is a bit complicated to explain in depth. Like most Austen novels, it involves the relationship between sisters, a love story, and a not-so-subtle castigation of Victorian high society.
The horror backdrop: the novel is set over a hundred years after what can only be assumed is a global event (any contact with the outside world no longer exists, so it's unknown what is happening elsewhere) called the Turning, in which an oppressive fog surrounded the British Isles. Inhabitants managed to push back the fog with giant bonfires and continuously-burning lanterns that surround what is left of the country. That was just the beginning.
For some unfortunate inhabitants, the fog "infected" them by turning them into violent zombies that survivors call "Phantoms". A small percentage of the population appear to be immune to the effects of the fog. These select few immune families created the 12 houses which rule the country. Together, they have created a new government called the Council, housed in New London, built from the literal ashes of old London. They are responsible for the well-being and protection of the surviving inhabitants of the country.
Gregovic took a big risk in creating this genre mash-up, but it ultimately yields rewards. This is a fun, fascinating young adult novel that has the potential to be a series.
October 24, 2024
Secrets so tea they need to dump them in the river
An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters
An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters
August 15, 2024
3⭐️ || TikTok ||
If you're looking for a romantasy, this is not it. There is almost no romance in this book and basically none for the first 50%. I was disappointed.
I probably would have liked this more if it hadn't been marketed as a romantasy.
I read the whole book because I was interested enough in the mystery to find out if my guesses were correct (they were). It’s YA level predictable, which is fine bc it’s a ya book.
I think some ppl will really enjoy this, but I just couldn’t get excited about it. I felt like it tried really hard to have all the vibes and atmosphere with descriptive prose but instead felt overwritten.
The stakes didn’t feel high enough, the romance was not at all appealing, the fmc is pretty boring, and I was bored.
I do think the story itself was pretty cool, but execution fell flat.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
If you're looking for a romantasy, this is not it. There is almost no romance in this book and basically none for the first 50%. I was disappointed.
I probably would have liked this more if it hadn't been marketed as a romantasy.
I read the whole book because I was interested enough in the mystery to find out if my guesses were correct (they were). It’s YA level predictable, which is fine bc it’s a ya book.
I think some ppl will really enjoy this, but I just couldn’t get excited about it. I felt like it tried really hard to have all the vibes and atmosphere with descriptive prose but instead felt overwritten.
The stakes didn’t feel high enough, the romance was not at all appealing, the fmc is pretty boring, and I was bored.
I do think the story itself was pretty cool, but execution fell flat.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
January 24, 2024
Enter Norland House if you dare… From its first page, THE MONSTROUS KIND beguiled me, seizing hold of my imagination with its eerie landscapes and fog shrouded manor. Gregovic’s world-building is decadent and nightmarish. I was consumed by this book!
September 26, 2024
No spice Dark Romantic Fantasy. Yes it’s Gothic, Haunting, and Atmospheric. Mysterious, Tense, and absolutely Captivating. This is the perfect book for spooky season.
# The Monstrous Kind
# 9/23/2024 ~ 9/26/2024
# 4.5 / 5.0
# The Monstrous Kind
# 9/23/2024 ~ 9/26/2024
# 4.5 / 5.0
July 20, 2024
Unfortunately me and this book are not getting along and so, at 55% in I’m going to have to do something I absolutely hate doing or else I may find myself in a slump.
Yeah that’s right…it’s time to DNF.
I absolutely hate dnfing books, even more so when they are arcs I was lucky enough to receive because it always feels so unfair to review them without finishing, especially in cases like this when I feel they have so much potential to get better. But when you’ve reached the point of feeling dread every time you pick the book up, sometimes you just have to admit it’s a lost cause.
First of all, I can’t really speak to how well this book achieves the retelling aspect it was going for because I’m embarrassingly behind when it comes to reading classics. I can however say that this does do a good job of creating that regency feel, and when that was combined with the gothic gloomy feel of the setting it created a great atmosphere.
But a great atmosphere cant always save you, and in this case, that and the cool take on zombies (phantoms as they’re called here) wasn’t enough to outweigh the negatives.
The first thing I noticed was the abundance of similes and metaphors. Like this and as that - usually figurative language is not the kind of thing I take notice of but the fact that I was constantly picking up on like five instances per page should clue you in as to how overbearing it is.
The other thing that appeared right away were grammatical errors. I’m sure this will be fixed by the time this is published, and they didn’t hinder my rating any but they were still a headache to read sometimes. The smaller stuff like their7s on the first page instead of theirs wasn’t that big of a deal despite the weird random seven insert but this-
"A bargain you were plenty happy to make when you felt it was in your favor, if you'd care to remember," Killian continues, inside the barracks." And the Red Duke and Duchess have requested that we not speak about the Archdaughter until the public has been alerted-you know that.”
-that took me several minutes to decode.
My biggest issue with this was, by far, the pacing. The first half DRAGS and the main character essentially reads like a side character in her own story. At first it was working to create the mysteries in the manor and they were what kept me a bit engaged, but having the main character be like huh that’s mysterious and that being almost the extent of the plot for the first half got old fast; and because of that no amount of mystery could prevent my boredom.
Another thing that I was finding annoying was how some scenes that could have been impactful constantly felt like they failed to reach their potential. It always felt like they could have been expanded; they would end right after the action happened and instead of seeing the moments where the action was dying down it would just flash to the next scene which was the day after when everything had calmed down. To me the transition just felt too abrupt and the scene felt cut too short. It would have been nice to see how characters acted after disappearances, attacks, etc. because I feel like it could have helped build the anxious tension. In the end we just get told what happened directly after instead of shown which was disappointing.
Overall, I 100% want to give this a try again in the future because it has the potential to really go somewhere interesting but I can feel the dread sink in every time I think about picking this up and the slump threatening to creep up on me so it’s sadly gonna be a DNF for now.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
~🄾🅅🄴🅁🄰🄻🄻 🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: ★ ★ ✰ ✰ ✰.5~
Yeah that’s right…it’s time to DNF.
I absolutely hate dnfing books, even more so when they are arcs I was lucky enough to receive because it always feels so unfair to review them without finishing, especially in cases like this when I feel they have so much potential to get better. But when you’ve reached the point of feeling dread every time you pick the book up, sometimes you just have to admit it’s a lost cause.
First of all, I can’t really speak to how well this book achieves the retelling aspect it was going for because I’m embarrassingly behind when it comes to reading classics. I can however say that this does do a good job of creating that regency feel, and when that was combined with the gothic gloomy feel of the setting it created a great atmosphere.
But a great atmosphere cant always save you, and in this case, that and the cool take on zombies (phantoms as they’re called here) wasn’t enough to outweigh the negatives.
The first thing I noticed was the abundance of similes and metaphors. Like this and as that - usually figurative language is not the kind of thing I take notice of but the fact that I was constantly picking up on like five instances per page should clue you in as to how overbearing it is.
The other thing that appeared right away were grammatical errors. I’m sure this will be fixed by the time this is published, and they didn’t hinder my rating any but they were still a headache to read sometimes. The smaller stuff like their7s on the first page instead of theirs wasn’t that big of a deal despite the weird random seven insert but this-
"A bargain you were plenty happy to make when you felt it was in your favor, if you'd care to remember," Killian continues, inside the barracks." And the Red Duke and Duchess have requested that we not speak about the Archdaughter until the public has been alerted-you know that.”
-that took me several minutes to decode.
My biggest issue with this was, by far, the pacing. The first half DRAGS and the main character essentially reads like a side character in her own story. At first it was working to create the mysteries in the manor and they were what kept me a bit engaged, but having the main character be like huh that’s mysterious and that being almost the extent of the plot for the first half got old fast; and because of that no amount of mystery could prevent my boredom.
Another thing that I was finding annoying was how some scenes that could have been impactful constantly felt like they failed to reach their potential. It always felt like they could have been expanded; they would end right after the action happened and instead of seeing the moments where the action was dying down it would just flash to the next scene which was the day after when everything had calmed down. To me the transition just felt too abrupt and the scene felt cut too short. It would have been nice to see how characters acted after disappearances, attacks, etc. because I feel like it could have helped build the anxious tension. In the end we just get told what happened directly after instead of shown which was disappointing.
Overall, I 100% want to give this a try again in the future because it has the potential to really go somewhere interesting but I can feel the dread sink in every time I think about picking this up and the slump threatening to creep up on me so it’s sadly gonna be a DNF for now.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
~🄾🅅🄴🅁🄰🄻🄻 🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: ★ ★ ✰ ✰ ✰.5~
July 25, 2024
This is so unique! It’s based on Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”, but it veers off into its own territory right from the beginning. A mist has begun to take over England, only held at bay through strategically placed lanterns, which sentries patrol nightly.
Merrick Darling is on her way back to her Manor upon learning of her father’s death. Only the Manorborn are immune to the mist’s effects—everyone else is transformed into Phantoms, killing machines driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh.
Something’s wrong with Darling Manor. Who can be trusted? Can Merrick figure out who is a true ally in time to save the estate?
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press. I am writing this review voluntarily.
Merrick Darling is on her way back to her Manor upon learning of her father’s death. Only the Manorborn are immune to the mist’s effects—everyone else is transformed into Phantoms, killing machines driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh.
Something’s wrong with Darling Manor. Who can be trusted? Can Merrick figure out who is a true ally in time to save the estate?
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press. I am writing this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2024
There’s slow burn, and then there’s just a book that never catches light.
The Monstrous Kind doesn’t lack for atmosphere or aesthetics, believe me. It also doesn’t lack a sense of romance or chemistry between characters. The dialogue is actually the best part of the novel, which is nice when dialogue tends to be a problem in some other gothic fantasy novels.
None of these positives can make up for the host of negatives that this novel is composed of, however. From its slow, predictable, and writ beginning that failed to engage me, to the absolute cookie-cutter trope-ish characters, to the painfully apparent foreshadowing and false leads, and scenes that were obviously filler and could have easily been cut to help the dreadful pacing of the story, this book just never took off. I can honestly say I didn’t even become halfway interested in how the story might end until almost 60% of the way through, and by then I had already guessed how everything went together. I just wanted to see how they were going to assemble it all at the end.
Even there I was disappointed.
I can’t recommend this book. I just think it’s a lackluster example of gothic fantasy in a world where there are thousands of gothic fantasies that outshine it by far.
The Monstrous Kind doesn’t lack for atmosphere or aesthetics, believe me. It also doesn’t lack a sense of romance or chemistry between characters. The dialogue is actually the best part of the novel, which is nice when dialogue tends to be a problem in some other gothic fantasy novels.
None of these positives can make up for the host of negatives that this novel is composed of, however. From its slow, predictable, and writ beginning that failed to engage me, to the absolute cookie-cutter trope-ish characters, to the painfully apparent foreshadowing and false leads, and scenes that were obviously filler and could have easily been cut to help the dreadful pacing of the story, this book just never took off. I can honestly say I didn’t even become halfway interested in how the story might end until almost 60% of the way through, and by then I had already guessed how everything went together. I just wanted to see how they were going to assemble it all at the end.
Even there I was disappointed.
I can’t recommend this book. I just think it’s a lackluster example of gothic fantasy in a world where there are thousands of gothic fantasies that outshine it by far.
July 23, 2024
4.5 stars, rounded up | Oh y’all are gonna eat this UP when it comes out.
This was such a great read! I adored the complex characters and the constant twists and turns that the plot took. I was worried it was going to feel rushed, but I thought the pacing was really well done. Overall, I really enjoyed it, and am already looking forward to any sequels! I’ll write a more detailed review closer to the pub date dw 🤞
This was such a great read! I adored the complex characters and the constant twists and turns that the plot took. I was worried it was going to feel rushed, but I thought the pacing was really well done. Overall, I really enjoyed it, and am already looking forward to any sequels! I’ll write a more detailed review closer to the pub date dw 🤞
December 26, 2024
okay so. this wasn't necessarily bad but it was hella frustrating 😭 almost half of the book could honestly be cut if the fmc isn't this gullible and dumb, and we barely get a glimpse of the other houses or noble families that were painstakingly being explained at the very start, which is, again, frustrsting. this has so much potential to be expanded, but alas, i think this is just a standalone
Read
September 28, 2024I think I'm the problem...honestly...like this book sounded perfect...but guys...my girlbossery can only get me so far
DNF 61%
DNF 61%
October 11, 2024
No action, no tension, just yapping.
July 2, 2024
thanks to NetGalley for the eARC
⭐️=2.5 (edited) | 😘=2.5 | 🤬=3.25 | ⚔️=4 | 14+
summary: Sense and Sensibility inspired (but NOT a retelling); gothic Regency England girl’s father dies and her stupid cousin and his wife don’t give her her inheritance and also she has a mysterious sister and also there’s a ghost/monster hunter and also
thoughts: a retelling of this sort requires two reviews (lest I feel dishonest). here is my review as a regular, non-Sense and Sensiblity-associated novel:
- I liked the vibes, but this was quite predictable, especially the last twist, which made for a slightly frustrating reading experience. the world building was fun, however slightly unnecessary (there’s, like, twelve big families it bothers explaining with an infographic at the beginning even though only like four are relevant to the plot). overall, it’s okay? there’s some fun angst between Merrick and Killian.
picky review as a Sense and Sensibility retelling:
- this is arguably, maybe, slightly inspired by S&S, but absolutely not a retelling!! a retelling implies (imo) at least some semblance of integrity to original characterization and theme of the overall work (both of these being more important than plot), and A Monstrous Kind did not do that! Merrick is sort of outspoken, but cares too much about social conventions to be considered a true interpretation of Marianne. and Elinor!! what was that!! Sense and Sensibility is about sisterhood, about finding and holding on to family despite differences!! it’s about siblings!!!!! and this, like… butchered it. its most basic, bare bones premise (sisters’ father dies and those to whom his property was left do not provide the sisters with what they deserve to inherit) is sort of Sense and Sensibility, but the rest is absolutely not. like I don’t even care about plot, I just care about character and theme. whatever.
keeping all this in mind, I’ve averaged the star rating. 3.5 overall, I guess.
edit; I just talked with someone about this book and it's pissing me off!!!!
lowering all the way to 2.5 because I just remembered something about Elinor's arc and it's so bad!!!!!
also (thinking about this more) having Colonel Brandon as a teenage boy truly does not work! Brandon has to be older and wiser––like, that's just his character–-and honestly I think that S&S is difficult to YA-ify for that exact reason. this just can't exist alongside Sense and Sensibility when it has butchered so many of its characters and themes (the two most important things in an adaptation/retelling/"inspired by"––more important than plot).
this is actually making me mad lol
⭐️=2.5 (edited) | 😘=2.5 | 🤬=3.25 | ⚔️=4 | 14+
summary: Sense and Sensibility inspired (but NOT a retelling); gothic Regency England girl’s father dies and her stupid cousin and his wife don’t give her her inheritance and also she has a mysterious sister and also there’s a ghost/monster hunter and also
thoughts: a retelling of this sort requires two reviews (lest I feel dishonest). here is my review as a regular, non-Sense and Sensiblity-associated novel:
- I liked the vibes, but this was quite predictable, especially the last twist, which made for a slightly frustrating reading experience. the world building was fun, however slightly unnecessary (there’s, like, twelve big families it bothers explaining with an infographic at the beginning even though only like four are relevant to the plot). overall, it’s okay? there’s some fun angst between Merrick and Killian.
picky review as a Sense and Sensibility retelling:
- this is arguably, maybe, slightly inspired by S&S, but absolutely not a retelling!! a retelling implies (imo) at least some semblance of integrity to original characterization and theme of the overall work (both of these being more important than plot), and A Monstrous Kind did not do that! Merrick is sort of outspoken, but cares too much about social conventions to be considered a true interpretation of Marianne. and Elinor!! what was that!! Sense and Sensibility is about sisterhood, about finding and holding on to family despite differences!! it’s about siblings!!!!! and this, like… butchered it. its most basic, bare bones premise (sisters’ father dies and those to whom his property was left do not provide the sisters with what they deserve to inherit) is sort of Sense and Sensibility, but the rest is absolutely not. like I don’t even care about plot, I just care about character and theme. whatever.
keeping all this in mind, I’ve averaged the star rating. 3.5 overall, I guess.
edit; I just talked with someone about this book and it's pissing me off!!!!
lowering all the way to 2.5 because I just remembered something about Elinor's arc and it's so bad!!!!!
also (thinking about this more) having Colonel Brandon as a teenage boy truly does not work! Brandon has to be older and wiser––like, that's just his character–-and honestly I think that S&S is difficult to YA-ify for that exact reason. this just can't exist alongside Sense and Sensibility when it has butchered so many of its characters and themes (the two most important things in an adaptation/retelling/"inspired by"––more important than plot).
this is actually making me mad lol
September 16, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Gothic style romantasy may be my new favorite style of book.
I loved this book from start to finish. It was captivating, riveting, and a mystery that begged to be solved.
The characters were beautiful, and I fell in love with the way that Merrick’a brain worked. The way this world unraveled and unspooled (quickly) was such a haunting and must read story.
Gothic style romantasy may be my new favorite style of book.
I loved this book from start to finish. It was captivating, riveting, and a mystery that begged to be solved.
The characters were beautiful, and I fell in love with the way that Merrick’a brain worked. The way this world unraveled and unspooled (quickly) was such a haunting and must read story.
July 14, 2024
Thank you to Random House Children’s publisher and NetGalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🤬 only a few curse words (infrequent)
😘 no spice
“An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, set in Regency era England about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters—perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrows and Anatomy: A Love Story.” Book description via Penguin Random house (This description alone hooked me!)
Atmospheric is definitely the best way to describe this book! It was so easy to visualize the world it was set it. I think fans of Pride Prejudice and Zombies will like this A LOT!
This is one of my favorite fantasy novels I’ve read in awhile for many reasons:. One being the main character felt REAL she made mistakes, she didn’t have it all figured out, she had to learn from past experiences. This to me was a stark contrast to some of the heroines I’m used to reading about who get thrown into the fray and figure it all out. I felt like I resonated with Merrick and her personality! And the other being that it wasn’t a very deep and complicated world to understand. I was able to stay focused on the story without feeling like I got lost in the world building.
As for the similarities between this and Austen work well, it’s been a while since I’ve read Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. So, I can’t vouch for how inspired it was by that. However, I will say it’s not a retelling it’s got a modern essence to it, but in a good way (think Bridgerton).
The only thing that I will say is, it’s not really a romanasty in the traditional sense. The romance was a subplot that intertwined in a few spots throughout the book, but it’s not the at the forefront. At the beginning I was disappointed by this discovery, but the mystery in this book kept me inthralled!!
Once I got half way through the book it was hard to put down!! I will say it takes you on a twisty journey!! I wasn’t able to catch a few of the plot twist and the ones I did I felt like the author wanted me to hence the ya genre.
Overall, this is a light and engaging ya mystery/fantasy with a dash of love and a whole of lot of suspense!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🤬 only a few curse words (infrequent)
😘 no spice
“An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, set in Regency era England about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters—perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrows and Anatomy: A Love Story.” Book description via Penguin Random house (This description alone hooked me!)
Atmospheric is definitely the best way to describe this book! It was so easy to visualize the world it was set it. I think fans of Pride Prejudice and Zombies will like this A LOT!
This is one of my favorite fantasy novels I’ve read in awhile for many reasons:. One being the main character felt REAL she made mistakes, she didn’t have it all figured out, she had to learn from past experiences. This to me was a stark contrast to some of the heroines I’m used to reading about who get thrown into the fray and figure it all out. I felt like I resonated with Merrick and her personality! And the other being that it wasn’t a very deep and complicated world to understand. I was able to stay focused on the story without feeling like I got lost in the world building.
As for the similarities between this and Austen work well, it’s been a while since I’ve read Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. So, I can’t vouch for how inspired it was by that. However, I will say it’s not a retelling it’s got a modern essence to it, but in a good way (think Bridgerton).
The only thing that I will say is, it’s not really a romanasty in the traditional sense. The romance was a subplot that intertwined in a few spots throughout the book, but it’s not the at the forefront. At the beginning I was disappointed by this discovery, but the mystery in this book kept me inthralled!!
Once I got half way through the book it was hard to put down!! I will say it takes you on a twisty journey!! I wasn’t able to catch a few of the plot twist and the ones I did I felt like the author wanted me to hence the ya genre.
Overall, this is a light and engaging ya mystery/fantasy with a dash of love and a whole of lot of suspense!!
July 31, 2024
4.5⭐️
Anyone looking for gothic vibes, subplot romance, scheming, & political intrigue? Yes? Ok go read ‘The Monstrous Kind’ now!
I truly believe if you set out to write a gothic tale you need to have very flowery writing. I think Lydia Gregovic does an absolute fantastic job at it. For a debut book, this was well done. I think maybe the pacing could have been a tiny bit better but nothing that took away from the enjoyment of the book.
Heads down I think subplot romances always work the best. This book did just the right amount and I loved it! Be warned if you are thinking this book is a romance book, it is not.
The storyline did a great job of keeping you immersed. I’ll I could think about was how much I wanted to read it! I guessed a few of the plot twist but was pleasantly surprised by one of them! I love when a book catches me off guard.
I thought the England world with fantasy elements was set up great. I wasn’t confused and didn’t feel like there was info dumping. I would like to see more of the whole political system tho!
Overall a very satisfying book that I cannot wait to get a physical copy of!
Thank you NetGalley & Random House Children’s for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Anyone looking for gothic vibes, subplot romance, scheming, & political intrigue? Yes? Ok go read ‘The Monstrous Kind’ now!
I truly believe if you set out to write a gothic tale you need to have very flowery writing. I think Lydia Gregovic does an absolute fantastic job at it. For a debut book, this was well done. I think maybe the pacing could have been a tiny bit better but nothing that took away from the enjoyment of the book.
Heads down I think subplot romances always work the best. This book did just the right amount and I loved it! Be warned if you are thinking this book is a romance book, it is not.
The storyline did a great job of keeping you immersed. I’ll I could think about was how much I wanted to read it! I guessed a few of the plot twist but was pleasantly surprised by one of them! I love when a book catches me off guard.
I thought the England world with fantasy elements was set up great. I wasn’t confused and didn’t feel like there was info dumping. I would like to see more of the whole political system tho!
Overall a very satisfying book that I cannot wait to get a physical copy of!
Thank you NetGalley & Random House Children’s for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2024
Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted ARC.
I’LL READ THE SEQUEL.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I was sucked in by an amazing cover and an interesting synopsis. And I liked it! I loved the combination of my favorite regency time period with some fantasy/paranormal aspects. The phantoms were creepy and brought in that haunted atmosphere well.
Merrick was a FMC I slowly learned to love. I liked that she had strong loyalty and was brave and kind. I wish some of the romantic aspects had been built out a little better. With so much focus on other pieces of the plot the romance got lost in the shuffle and was a tad predictable rather than swoony. BUT I do genuinely think this will be remedied in how book two has been set-up.
The politicking and betrayals were a great enigma and if you’re a fan of purple prose, this is definitely one to try out. I enjoyed it enough that I have plans to see this through and know where the next book is going.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Historical Paranormal Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
- Content Warnings: loss of a parent, murder, blood/gore depiction, creature attacks
I’LL READ THE SEQUEL.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I was sucked in by an amazing cover and an interesting synopsis. And I liked it! I loved the combination of my favorite regency time period with some fantasy/paranormal aspects. The phantoms were creepy and brought in that haunted atmosphere well.
Merrick was a FMC I slowly learned to love. I liked that she had strong loyalty and was brave and kind. I wish some of the romantic aspects had been built out a little better. With so much focus on other pieces of the plot the romance got lost in the shuffle and was a tad predictable rather than swoony. BUT I do genuinely think this will be remedied in how book two has been set-up.
The politicking and betrayals were a great enigma and if you’re a fan of purple prose, this is definitely one to try out. I enjoyed it enough that I have plans to see this through and know where the next book is going.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Historical Paranormal Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
- Content Warnings: loss of a parent, murder, blood/gore depiction, creature attacks
September 16, 2024
Read this because the audiobook was immediately available at the library… and there were simply too. many. metaphors. I appreciate the “atmospheric” thing the author was going for but it was overwritten to the point of feeling affected. The romance also fell flat and the main character felt indecisive and immature. Maybe that’s because it’s a YA novel?
2 ⭐️ for one of the plot twists surprising me and for the overall spooky mansion vibe which is delightful this time of year.
2 ⭐️ for one of the plot twists surprising me and for the overall spooky mansion vibe which is delightful this time of year.
September 10, 2024
A SOLID DEBUT
If you are looking for a Jane Austen retelling that doesn't feel too on the nose and is perfect for fall...this is it. Welcome to Morland House...where the only thing that lies between a legacy and total ruin is the two sisters that reside there.
I really don't enjoy Austen retellings. Often times they feel way too predictable in plot and it's not hard to see where the story is heading to. That is not the case with The Monstrous Kind. This is a story about monstrous creatures who rise out of the mists held off by torchlight, and the manor Lords who are in charge of protecting the lands in case of breach.
I found the plot and characters be very engaging while still feeling faintly reminiscent of the classic characters we love such as Marianne, Willoughby, Brandon and Eleanor. The story takes steps away from the classic and that is where the fun and mystery begins. I loved the will they wont they romance that is not center stage in the plot (not a romantasy) but gave me enough pining to feel realistic in the storyline. There is one scene that specifically comes to find that feels very original and well done. GIMME MORE OF THIS.
The author has this really gorgeous prose that was only elevated by the audio narration and immersed me within the setting from start to finish. There were some reveals that took me by surprise and was overall a solid debut!
**While this has a horror "vibe" I would not call this one overly graphic and scary. Its got all the spooky vibes but you're still going to be able to sleep at night.
I really hope we get a sequel because I am already a big fan of this debut author and can't wait to see what she writes in the future! Perfect YA book for fall with content to match. Really enjoyed it!
If you are looking for a Jane Austen retelling that doesn't feel too on the nose and is perfect for fall...this is it. Welcome to Morland House...where the only thing that lies between a legacy and total ruin is the two sisters that reside there.
I really don't enjoy Austen retellings. Often times they feel way too predictable in plot and it's not hard to see where the story is heading to. That is not the case with The Monstrous Kind. This is a story about monstrous creatures who rise out of the mists held off by torchlight, and the manor Lords who are in charge of protecting the lands in case of breach.
I found the plot and characters be very engaging while still feeling faintly reminiscent of the classic characters we love such as Marianne, Willoughby, Brandon and Eleanor. The story takes steps away from the classic and that is where the fun and mystery begins. I loved the will they wont they romance that is not center stage in the plot (not a romantasy) but gave me enough pining to feel realistic in the storyline. There is one scene that specifically comes to find that feels very original and well done. GIMME MORE OF THIS.
The author has this really gorgeous prose that was only elevated by the audio narration and immersed me within the setting from start to finish. There were some reveals that took me by surprise and was overall a solid debut!
**While this has a horror "vibe" I would not call this one overly graphic and scary. Its got all the spooky vibes but you're still going to be able to sleep at night.
I really hope we get a sequel because I am already a big fan of this debut author and can't wait to see what she writes in the future! Perfect YA book for fall with content to match. Really enjoyed it!
June 7, 2024
WOW
Not going to lie (and you can probably tell by how long it took me to finish this book) the beginning was a struggle bus for me.
This author is comparable to Olivie Blake, in the sense that everything mentioned, comes with a paragraph or two of explanation, deep dive, internal monologue, etc. Olivie Blake is not my favorite author so that took me a few chapters to get into the vibe of, but I was NOT giving up on this book because the author is too sweet and this is my first ARC. So I kept pushing through.
AND THEN THE MID POINT OF THE BOOK COMES, SHIT HITS THE FAN, AND I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!!!
The characters in the book grow from boring and dull to some of the deepest, most interesting figures I’ve ever read about in any regency-era or thriller / paranormal novel ever. I quickly fell in love and out of love multiple times in this book.
The internal monologue ,despite a lot, is all needed. To skip a paragraph because you want to get to the action, is missing vital information on the setting, reasoning to the characters future actions, and in general, BEAUTIFUL WRITING!!!
The way Olivie Blake’s endless dialogue puts me to sleep, Lydia’s wakes me up. I finished the last half of this book in the span of 3 hours and stared at the wall afterwards because I am begging for a book two NOW!!!
I will obviously share a more detailed summary on plot points and characters once the book is out!! But I’m serious, this book is a 2024 must-read!
Not going to lie (and you can probably tell by how long it took me to finish this book) the beginning was a struggle bus for me.
This author is comparable to Olivie Blake, in the sense that everything mentioned, comes with a paragraph or two of explanation, deep dive, internal monologue, etc. Olivie Blake is not my favorite author so that took me a few chapters to get into the vibe of, but I was NOT giving up on this book because the author is too sweet and this is my first ARC. So I kept pushing through.
AND THEN THE MID POINT OF THE BOOK COMES, SHIT HITS THE FAN, AND I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!!!
The characters in the book grow from boring and dull to some of the deepest, most interesting figures I’ve ever read about in any regency-era or thriller / paranormal novel ever. I quickly fell in love and out of love multiple times in this book.
The internal monologue ,despite a lot, is all needed. To skip a paragraph because you want to get to the action, is missing vital information on the setting, reasoning to the characters future actions, and in general, BEAUTIFUL WRITING!!!
The way Olivie Blake’s endless dialogue puts me to sleep, Lydia’s wakes me up. I finished the last half of this book in the span of 3 hours and stared at the wall afterwards because I am begging for a book two NOW!!!
I will obviously share a more detailed summary on plot points and characters once the book is out!! But I’m serious, this book is a 2024 must-read!
December 27, 2024
This book started with a promising premise but quickly fell flat. Merrick Darling is initially portrayed as a strong, capable woman, but by the end, she morphs into a character who becomes entirely dependent on a man for survival, undermining her earlier development. The plot feels disjointed, with the first half building an intriguing world and mystery, only for the second half to lose focus. The drastic shift in character and tone made the book frustrating and disappointing, especially for those looking for a strong, empowered female lead.
January 5, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded down
Age rating: 13+
There are only two reasons that this book didn’t get a whole-hearted five-star rating:
1. The conclusion wasn’t super satisfying. I felt as if the “epilogue” was basically just a hastily-written chapter to wrap things up, vaguely. When I turned the page to find only the acknowledgements left, I was a bit bummed.
2. The second issue goes hand-in-hand with the first, and it is this: I wish, so very much, that this book had been a series rather than a standalone. This world has so much potential that it seems such a waste to only wander through it for such a short time. Everything would have tied up nicely, as well, if more books had been added.
Now that those things are covered, I can get on to the many positives that made The Monstrous Kind so delightful.
I ATE IT UP. The sisters in this tale are practical opposites, one being a “weapon”, the other a “jewel”, as proclaimed by their father. Now, the idea of following the latter sibling about for nigh on four hundred pages seems a bit of a bore at first, but I wouldn’t have it any other way after getting to know Merrick so intimately. It seems like every second of her page time is spent defining and refining her role into one of absolute, forward-moving growth.
Killian, too, is an intriguing character with much mystery surrounding his persona; the more we find out about him, the more questions we have. However, he is one of those rare characters that only seems more attractive as his mistakes and flaws are slowly unveiled. And the chemistry between these two? Seriously, it’s to die for. I can greatly respect a romance that is plot-enhancing and not a distraction; this is one of them.
Don’t even get me started on the vibes. A perfect winter or fall read, with ghostly, nasty creatures called Phantasms that dwell within a pervasive fog, lurking in the shadows, a constant threat to anyone who dares to venture within. A mixture of ghosts and zombies, their constantly-threatening presence makes for a delectable edge that will haunt you at every corner.
A large part of this story is spent dancing around conversations with potential allies or enemies, covering or uncovering secrets, trying to find out who to trust. The amount of political intrigue found here is the perfect amount to add to this story, rather than encumber it. You won’t be overwhelmed by names of places or lords, but you will find yourself prickling with the type of suspicion that only time spent around politicians brings.
There are so many more things I could add, but it’s one in the morning. If you’ve read this far, well, surely you can at least TRY to read the actual book. This is a read worthy of your time; I really can’t believe more people haven’t uncovered this gem. Get your hands on it before the hype hits.
Happy reading!
Age rating: 13+
There are only two reasons that this book didn’t get a whole-hearted five-star rating:
1. The conclusion wasn’t super satisfying. I felt as if the “epilogue” was basically just a hastily-written chapter to wrap things up, vaguely. When I turned the page to find only the acknowledgements left, I was a bit bummed.
2. The second issue goes hand-in-hand with the first, and it is this: I wish, so very much, that this book had been a series rather than a standalone. This world has so much potential that it seems such a waste to only wander through it for such a short time. Everything would have tied up nicely, as well, if more books had been added.
Now that those things are covered, I can get on to the many positives that made The Monstrous Kind so delightful.
I ATE IT UP. The sisters in this tale are practical opposites, one being a “weapon”, the other a “jewel”, as proclaimed by their father. Now, the idea of following the latter sibling about for nigh on four hundred pages seems a bit of a bore at first, but I wouldn’t have it any other way after getting to know Merrick so intimately. It seems like every second of her page time is spent defining and refining her role into one of absolute, forward-moving growth.
Killian, too, is an intriguing character with much mystery surrounding his persona; the more we find out about him, the more questions we have. However, he is one of those rare characters that only seems more attractive as his mistakes and flaws are slowly unveiled. And the chemistry between these two? Seriously, it’s to die for. I can greatly respect a romance that is plot-enhancing and not a distraction; this is one of them.
Don’t even get me started on the vibes. A perfect winter or fall read, with ghostly, nasty creatures called Phantasms that dwell within a pervasive fog, lurking in the shadows, a constant threat to anyone who dares to venture within. A mixture of ghosts and zombies, their constantly-threatening presence makes for a delectable edge that will haunt you at every corner.
A large part of this story is spent dancing around conversations with potential allies or enemies, covering or uncovering secrets, trying to find out who to trust. The amount of political intrigue found here is the perfect amount to add to this story, rather than encumber it. You won’t be overwhelmed by names of places or lords, but you will find yourself prickling with the type of suspicion that only time spent around politicians brings.
There are so many more things I could add, but it’s one in the morning. If you’ve read this far, well, surely you can at least TRY to read the actual book. This is a read worthy of your time; I really can’t believe more people haven’t uncovered this gem. Get your hands on it before the hype hits.
Happy reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2024
Thank you PRH audio for my free LC!
That was a satisfying debut, I have been loving some debuts lately with their unique take on fantasy. This one here is said to be a retelling of Sense and Sensibility, however I really loved how the author chose to add an element of mystery and spook to it. While giving us the foundation of S&S , the author managed to launch off from there and take a different route to navigate the story quite convincingly. I liked that it kept me guessing instead of being predictable because it’s a retelling, the characters too-while we see the similarities they aren’t really true to the OG’s. However it works well for this plot, I think I enjoyed this aspect a lot more than I thought I would.
There is romance, although it isn’t forefront it was enough for me to root for them. Although I certainly wished there was a little more scope for the characters to grow closer to each other, however I liked how the first book ended with a hopeful anticipation. My only qualm is that the goth element felt very underutilized , while the world itself felt fascinating it wasn’t enough for me to completely understand the machinations of it. I wanted to see more phantoms, more face off’s with them. A little more spook factor would have been wonderful addition to this book but I liked it enough to continue the series.
The audiobook was great with the narrator bringing in the atmospheric vibe with the narration that made me enjoy it more.
That was a satisfying debut, I have been loving some debuts lately with their unique take on fantasy. This one here is said to be a retelling of Sense and Sensibility, however I really loved how the author chose to add an element of mystery and spook to it. While giving us the foundation of S&S , the author managed to launch off from there and take a different route to navigate the story quite convincingly. I liked that it kept me guessing instead of being predictable because it’s a retelling, the characters too-while we see the similarities they aren’t really true to the OG’s. However it works well for this plot, I think I enjoyed this aspect a lot more than I thought I would.
There is romance, although it isn’t forefront it was enough for me to root for them. Although I certainly wished there was a little more scope for the characters to grow closer to each other, however I liked how the first book ended with a hopeful anticipation. My only qualm is that the goth element felt very underutilized , while the world itself felt fascinating it wasn’t enough for me to completely understand the machinations of it. I wanted to see more phantoms, more face off’s with them. A little more spook factor would have been wonderful addition to this book but I liked it enough to continue the series.
The audiobook was great with the narrator bringing in the atmospheric vibe with the narration that made me enjoy it more.
September 20, 2024
Merrick Darling is the daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex. As a child of one of the manors, she is immune to the fog that encroached on England generations prior. As long as the fires along the perimeter of the property continue to burn, she will be safe from the dangerous Phantoms that stalk the fog. Told by her father that she will never inherit the manor, Merrick heads to New London in order to marry well, so she will not be dependent on her father or sister Essie.
When Merrick’s father suddenly dies, she returns to her childhood home of Norland House. Upon her return she is horrified by what she finds. Essie is frightened and withdrawn. There have been breaches along the province’s borders. The fog is closing in and the fires aren’t holding. The monsters are closing in and the eleven other Manor Lords are honed in on the weakness within Darling Manor.
Something is wrong. Who can be trusted? Can Merrick save the estate and uncover the secrets of Norland House?
Read if you like:
- gothic undertones
- regency setting
- romance subplot
This was a great read to kick off the ‘ber months. The Monstrous Kind has gorgeous, gothic regency vibes. The manor is eerie and lends itself to the overall haunting atmosphere of the underlying story; deadly monsters prowl the perimeter while only a few are immune to the fog that contains them.
I enjoyed Merrick’s character, she is flawed, but determined and resourceful. The plot moved relatively quickly and I loved the twists and turns that the story ventured down. The prose is beautiful and ethereal. I am grateful that the romance was not the main plot point, as the fantasy aspects and world building were truly able to shine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for a free digital copy of this book. This is my honest review. Publication date: September 3, 2024.
When Merrick’s father suddenly dies, she returns to her childhood home of Norland House. Upon her return she is horrified by what she finds. Essie is frightened and withdrawn. There have been breaches along the province’s borders. The fog is closing in and the fires aren’t holding. The monsters are closing in and the eleven other Manor Lords are honed in on the weakness within Darling Manor.
Something is wrong. Who can be trusted? Can Merrick save the estate and uncover the secrets of Norland House?
Read if you like:
- gothic undertones
- regency setting
- romance subplot
This was a great read to kick off the ‘ber months. The Monstrous Kind has gorgeous, gothic regency vibes. The manor is eerie and lends itself to the overall haunting atmosphere of the underlying story; deadly monsters prowl the perimeter while only a few are immune to the fog that contains them.
I enjoyed Merrick’s character, she is flawed, but determined and resourceful. The plot moved relatively quickly and I loved the twists and turns that the story ventured down. The prose is beautiful and ethereal. I am grateful that the romance was not the main plot point, as the fantasy aspects and world building were truly able to shine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for a free digital copy of this book. This is my honest review. Publication date: September 3, 2024.
September 18, 2024
4.5 stars
I was lucky enough to get the audio for this book on the day it released. (Library for the win.) As soon as it downloaded, I dropped everything and binged it. I have absolutely no regrets. I ADORED THIS BOOK.
It’s a very loose retelling of Sense and Sensibility, but set it in an atmospheric world with spirits that are monstrous. Throw in some fog, a villain, and a subtle but perfect romance, and you have a book that is captivating. It’s gothic with just a touch of gruesomeness that is part of the world.
This is how you do a classic book retelling. I was searching for elements of the original throughout the entire book and I found plenty, but it was also unique and had some great twists. Then there was the ending!! That ending was everything I could want. It surprised me in the best of ways.
There were points I was shaking my head at Merrick in disbelief of her choices. Then I remembered who she was based on (Marianne) and how she was raised, and it all made sense.
Also, the romance! It was worth reading for the romance alone. There were a couple of scenes that were just delightful.
I highly recommend this if you love spooky, atmospheric reads.
The audio is fantastic.
This book contains scattered strong profanity and has kissing.
I was lucky enough to get the audio for this book on the day it released. (Library for the win.) As soon as it downloaded, I dropped everything and binged it. I have absolutely no regrets. I ADORED THIS BOOK.
It’s a very loose retelling of Sense and Sensibility, but set it in an atmospheric world with spirits that are monstrous. Throw in some fog, a villain, and a subtle but perfect romance, and you have a book that is captivating. It’s gothic with just a touch of gruesomeness that is part of the world.
This is how you do a classic book retelling. I was searching for elements of the original throughout the entire book and I found plenty, but it was also unique and had some great twists. Then there was the ending!! That ending was everything I could want. It surprised me in the best of ways.
There were points I was shaking my head at Merrick in disbelief of her choices. Then I remembered who she was based on (Marianne) and how she was raised, and it all made sense.
Also, the romance! It was worth reading for the romance alone. There were a couple of scenes that were just delightful.
I highly recommend this if you love spooky, atmospheric reads.
The audio is fantastic.
This book contains scattered strong profanity and has kissing.
Shelved as 'gave-up-on'
June 25, 2024I have to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance at reading this book.
I made it through 50% of this book and said, no more. I love Sense and Sensibility, but I think having Marianne as the focus of this story, ,or the 'story' of this story in general was confusing, meandering, and just ... rough.
There was just so much boring dribble happening, no real agency. The Marianne character ran off to the city to find a husband of good fortune, leaving the Eleanor sister with her father. Father dies, his title passes to the Eleanor sister, other sister is upset. There are 'invisible fences' so to speak that are blocking the ghouls from coming through (lanterns) and there seems to be breaches in them. You have the Col Brandon character, who seems to have a past / secret, but he is reluctant to tell it Then, the Eleanor sister goes missing.
I just feel a lot of things are happening with no real flow or build into WHY these things are happening. I like seeing characters build relationships, build / rebuild their lives, and there just was none of that happening.
It's a shame that I was really excited for this book for me to not get through it. Due to not finishing the book I am refusing to rate it out of respect to the author.
I made it through 50% of this book and said, no more. I love Sense and Sensibility, but I think having Marianne as the focus of this story, ,or the 'story' of this story in general was confusing, meandering, and just ... rough.
There was just so much boring dribble happening, no real agency. The Marianne character ran off to the city to find a husband of good fortune, leaving the Eleanor sister with her father. Father dies, his title passes to the Eleanor sister, other sister is upset. There are 'invisible fences' so to speak that are blocking the ghouls from coming through (lanterns) and there seems to be breaches in them. You have the Col Brandon character, who seems to have a past / secret, but he is reluctant to tell it Then, the Eleanor sister goes missing.
I just feel a lot of things are happening with no real flow or build into WHY these things are happening. I like seeing characters build relationships, build / rebuild their lives, and there just was none of that happening.
It's a shame that I was really excited for this book for me to not get through it. Due to not finishing the book I am refusing to rate it out of respect to the author.
May 26, 2024
Incredible twist on Sense and Sensibility! Very similar to the vibes of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies but with the YA modern twist of mysterious illness and all these interesting mysteries and such! The twists were incredible and there were a couple I didn't see coming, which I loved a lot. Overall, very excited for this to come out!
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