Set in Washington, DC, in the 1920s, “The Monsters We Defy” is a force of nature. Clara must steal a ring from the wealthiest woman in DC. It sounds simple enough, but she’s going to need help. So Clara sets out to do just that with her motley crew, but not everything is what they seem.

I enjoyed everything about this book. The characters were well-developed, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting their backstories. I enjoyed watching Clara interact with her team members and grow into who she is supposed to be. Obviously, given the time period, racism and police brutality plays a role. It was interesting navigating through these “obstacles” (for lack of a better word) with them.

This story is rich in history and fantastical elements, making it difficult to put this book down. The writing is phenomenal, and I’m honestly waiting for this to become a movie or a TV series. While I love that I was able to read this, this book seems like it would be a lot of fun to listen to. With action, romance, mystery and suspense, this story is full of vivid imagery, and I’m excited for whatever comes next for Leslye Penelope.

Sometimes you pick up a book and from the first few pages you just know its gonna be a banger and Leslye certainly did not disappoint with Monsters We Defy.
I was hooked by the premise of a supernatural heist and Penelope does such a good job of bringing the 1920's alive. I particularly enjoyed the mix of famous black people that was thrown in. I also loved the character work in this novel, Penelope does such a great job at telling Clara's and the others stories

"Uncle Nazareth, in the bible, God made man out of the clay of the earth. You ever heard about spirits making their own bodies that way, so they could leave Over There and come live here?"

Clara can commune with the dead, which is both a blessing and a curse. And, now it's been tasked to her to figure out who's turning the local folk into mindless zombies. Is the culprit she seeks human, or something much more evil?

Penelope's novel features a fantastical, and fascinating plot, with well-timed dabs of humor. I loved her wonderful characters. Here's hoping the author turns this one into a series.

One of my favorite books of the year.

This was a really good suspenseful read! Knowing what the MC had to endure and that fact it incorporated found family...and magic?!?! 👏🏼👏🏼🥰 will do a reread of this in the new year

Very interesting story! I found it to be a little slow at times but overall I did like the book. Intriguing characters, plot and great time period choice. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Loved this book! I've continuously described it as a cozy heist. The way the author could make me care so much about the characters in such a short amount of time was great. It doesn't say there will be a sequel, but if there was, I'd definitely check it out.

The Monsters We Defy was a superb historical fiction novel. There was action, there was suspense, humor, and more all centered around a Black woman who commutes with the dead. This book was giving me life when I was reading it and far exceeded my expectations. I didn't want to put it down. Leslye Penelope did such a great job and I look forward to reading more by her.

This seemed like a straightforward treasure hunt at first but The Monsters We Defy ended up being an intricate mystery story with a fun magical layer. It was a fun story of ghosts and magic without a creep factor.
'"I love spooky stories and it was interesting to see the spirit world being presented in a way that caused awe instead of fear. Don’t get me wrong, the enigmas could do terrible things, they were very dangerous and scary in their own way but it wasn’t heart-pounding fear, it was more existential fear.

I loved how the true enemy kept changing. Every time the characters seemed to have a handle on what was happening and who they were facing, everything got upended and they were sent in a new direction. It made the final battle that much more intense and exciting.

Between the soulful characters and the masterful plot I think just about anyone will enjoy Penelope’s latest offering." (see link for full review)

This was a truly amazing story. I can't stop thinking about it; I'm struggling to even articulate everything that was done here. Penelope truly transports the reader into black prohibition Washington, D. C. and into the lives of the leads. This is 3 parts fantasy, 2 parts mystery, with a sweet splash of romance and it is just....perfect. We follow Clara and her team of cursed/blessed recruits as they try to stop a war in the spirit world from bleeding over into our world. Their mission is hindered at every turn as they grapple with missing information and the ulterior motives of those directing them. If you are in the mood for a character-driven mystery with a high-dose of ghosts and spirits, this is exactly what you need.

**Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for the eARC**

Penelope creates a rich and vibrant world in this genre defying novel. In a vivid 1920s Washington, Clara Johnson speaks to ghosts and carries a doubly terrible curse. Fighting a growing unrest that threatens the community she has protected for so long, she brings together an unexpected crew of people looking to change their fate. At times heart-meltingly romantic, at other times suspenseful and bone chilling, Penelope creates a story that is uniquely her own.

A captivating mix of fantasy, historical fiction and heist novel. Great characters and a compelling story. Definitely recommend and I look forward to reading more from the author.

4.5/5

I loved how the secondary characters' backstories were told in their own chapters, separate from the through story and main character's POV. They helped reveal the characters' personalities without requiring a dialogue or info dump.

This book set in Washington D.C. during the 1920s was a great read. Clara sees spirits, or what she calls Engimas. I loved the way that the supernatural aspects were handled in this story. It reminded me a bit of the graphic novel series BitterRoot. Unique, beautifully told story with rich vibrant characters and setting, and the action and adventure will make you not want to put this book down once you start. This is an author to watch for in the future.

Clara can speak to spirits and she is indebted permanently. But when folks in the community start going missing, the spirit she is tied to comes to her with a deal - an opportunity to free herself and potentially find the missing folks, Clara is loathe to refuse, but the consequences are unknown, both for herself and the team she must enlist to complete the impossible task.

I really enjoyed this. I loved the setting, the crew, and this iteration of the deal with the devil. The tie in with this story and 1920s D.C. was fun to read about and created a really diverse picture of what was goingnonnwithin the Black community at the time. And then the layered supernatural was a nice added dimension.

The mini-stories about each of the crew members and what brought them to their current situation worked to heighten the pay off at the end of the story. The romance was a cute add-on. But throughout the throughline in the story is really how Clara's perception of herself and what she deserves changes over the course of the story. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Orbit Books and Leslye Penelope for the gifted copy and partnering with B2Weird

The author's note at the end of the book has me amazed at how much of the story (given it's definitely a fantasy novel) is based on true stories. Leslye Penelope has gives the reader a look at African American's lives at a time that most of us white folk (myself included) have little context for. Set in Washington, DC, 1925 at a time of race riots, segregation, and many alive having heard their direct parents stories of time spent as slaves; The Monsters We Defy takes pieces of real history, a true setting, and the disturbing discrimination of the times (much of which is sadly still happening today), throws in a fantasy element; and then takes us on a ride!

Our leading girl's narrative feels so authentic and true. I could feel and hear the distinctly African American culture woven into this book by Penelope at times. Both in the plot, magic, history, setting, and language. As a white Canadian girl I often don't have a good grasp on the difference in tone, slang, etc. that comes with other cultures and POC's communities. I am so grateful to Penelope to allow me some time in this world to experience (if even only a little bit), not only the horrors of segregation and obvious racism, the streets of Washington with our characters (all of whom are African American) battling the forces of evil. Be that in the elemental spirits, the dead 'Over There', or the oppressive and stifling reality of living in white America in 1925. Penelope does this in such a way that it doesn't feel like she is blaming those alive today for the transgressions of the past (for which I am personally grateful); and she adds in a fantasy element that obviously stems from African culture. I loved the way everything was interwoven; but if I stepped back I could see where the fiction and truth collided.

I'm always excited to read Author's Notes as often events or characters are based in truth; and those books are always better. The Monsters We Defy is definitely on the list of excellent books showcasing a fantasy twist, but still rooted in our world, entrenched with our own societal problems. While it's not labelled as 'book 1' I think there is a lot more to happen with these characters and in this timeline. I really hope Penelope plans to carry on and we get to learn more about the coveted ring that dominates the plot, more about how our characters get on without their Charms and Tricks to help (or hinder) them, and a lot more about our leading girl's budding romance with a sexy musician. This is a world that while cruel and mean is not only interesting; but historically pertinent. I was glad to read The Monsters We Defy for both the real and fictional narratives.

If you like YA fantasy that is quick, magical, a touch romantic, and overall gritty then you should definitely pick up The Monsters We Defy.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope is an immersive novel with elements of magical realism, historical fiction, and has a heist storyline! It’s loosely based on Clara Johnson, a Black woman who shot a police officer during the race riots of 1919. Penelope fashions Clara into a clairvoyant, born with the ability to communicate with beings on the other side.

The magic system features spirits called Enigmas. They can be troublemakers, casting out Tricks or Charms at their whim. I thought this was a cool way to show the duality of magic; there’s no freely given gifts from the Enigmas. If you accept a Charm (often something that entices others around you or makes you more successful), there’s often a side effect of the charm, aka the Trick. Tricks sometimes render the Charm useless to the asker, because the asker must be very c are full about the wording. This is a well-known caveat to many fantasy and mythology readers, and I loved how our author wove this into their novel.

These Enigmas are often involved with (or are themselves) the local gangsters. Clara has to team up with some Charmed humans to try to steal a ring from one of these gangsters, and the journey is a wild ride.

The writing was fast paced and adventurous. I was so pulled into the atmosphere set in this novel. There’s such beautifully descriptive imagery! The characters keep you invested and I was anxious to see how it all ended. We even get some light romance! If you’re looking for a supernatural but non-creepy read for October, this is a great choice.

Thanks @orbitbooks_us for the review copy!

I'm always down for a bad-ass female main character! Add in communicating with the dead? Sign me up! I loved learning about African American folk magic and learning about history at the same time. I wish more books had such realistic and compelling characters. You fall in love a little bit with all of the characters. You see the good and the bad with each of the characters and it brought life to the story. It was so incredibly well-done.

I did really enjoy the fact that there is a down side...a "trick" to being able to use the spirits to do your bidding. I feel like there should be more consequences shown for using magic and I was pleasantly surprised to read about that in a historical fantasy heist book.

The heist/action-scenes were so well written in it's imagery it made it so easy to be able to see what was going on and to keep up with each scene. It was so fun! If you want a fun read where there are dire consequences to all your actions and magic, while also having a historical setting to learn about this is the read for you! I cannot recommend this enough! Come and join the mystery of 1920's Washington DC!

I love it when books have a mix of genres. The Monsters We Defy is such a great mix of historical fiction and fantasy. Set in the 1920s in Washington DC, some characters and events in the book were actually inspired by real life. I’m not at all familiar with what happened in DC around this time, and while a fictional book isn’t the best source, learning about it was still really cool!

Clara Johnson has the ability to talk to spirits and must pull off a heist to save her community. The task? Steal a powerful ring from the wealthiest woman in the District. Clara assembles a ragtag crew of a jazz musician who can hypnotize with his music, an actor who can change his appearance, a war veteran who can alter memories, and her roommate with a circus background. I loved the characters’ interactions with each other and I love how each of their motivations felt real to me. While their abilities may be incredible, there is also a trick attached to it – consequences that have impacted each character deeply.

I love heist stories and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that was the biggest pull this book had on me. As far as pacing goes, I think my expectations were quite different. I was looking for something a bit more fast paced but while the novel slowed in parts, I still liked it. There’s African American folk magic, mystery, found family, history, deals with spirits, clairvoyants, ghosts, and a heartwarming romance that make this book an enjoyable ride.

Thanks to the team at Orbit for sending me an eARC for review! All opinions are my own.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

A historical and magical masterpiece. This is the story of Clara and how she uses her special abilities to save herself and others. Clara gains family and friends. You will fall in love with the characters and identity with them as well. An amazing book, you won't be disappointed.

Clara Johnson, ornery as a red hornet, born at the crossroads with a caul and left able to see through the veil and speak with ghosts. 1920s. Heists, ghosts, and the young black Clara who makes dangerous deals with enigmas. It was gonna be impossible not to love The Monsters We Defy. The Voice/prose: as ornery as Clara Johnson herself with a twang southern charm like the grandmother who raised Clara and still sticks around after her death.
Plot: With heist stories you need a collection of characters each as intriguing as the main character and organizer. When they have unique (especially supernatural gifts) it's hard to make readers believe the cast can do the impossible and then create a moment where all is lost and the cast has reached the limits of their supernatural abilities. This was handled very well with obvious hints as to the limits of these abilities and future twist; all without spoiling the game.
Characters: I won't lie I got teary for Jessie Lee's story, and I was all about Clara's reluctant alliance/love affair. Zelda though shined so bright and will be an easy favorite side character who deserves a spin off novela if you ask me. I had so much fun with this story and you must read it this spooky season!
Thank you
netgalley for the advanced copy!

**Plot**: Simple and straightforward but fun
**Characters**: Interesting and varied
**Setting**: Well realized, I loved the setting
**Magic**: Simple but fantastic with visible prices/outcomes

**CW:** Police Brutality's, Racism, Parental Abandonment, Abuse, Classism

**Thoughts**:

Clara is a young black woman living in 1920's Washington. In a moment of desperation when she was younger she asked a boon from a powerful spirit to save herself from prison. Now she has to help those who come to her asking for help. However she stumbles upon a conspiracy, people are loosing their will to do seemingly anything. They become almost walking zombies. The spirit Clara works for/with, the Empress, asks her to retrieve a ring stating that it's causing this disease in people. From there she begins to gather up a group of people, some with their own gifts/prices to clear and others just wanting to help.

This book is just fun, Clara and all her compatriots were interesting and varied. I loved Israel, our romantic interest and foil to Clara. Aristotle as well stole my heart. These are characters that feel real and tangible, with sad stories that also hit deeply. The gimmick of the magic in this world is the idea of give and take. People can ask boons, called Charms, from the spirits of the world. In return there is always a Trick placed on the person. For example, the ability to erase memories for a short time is given but the person who loves you most will forget you. Naturally that means that most of the characters that we meet have a sad and deeply moving story, and I think our author did a fantastic job of balancing those heavy backgrounds with fun and optimistic characters. They were people doing the best with what they had.

The mystery itself isn't the most mind blowing, you're not going to get a twisty and over the top story here but there are moments of greatness and really you're reading for the characters and their interactions. The setting is beautifully done, I felt the city around Clara and I loved getting the historical details of the era. I think the only thing that really pulled this down was just the very standard shape of the story, which isn't bad, but for me in the moment just didn't hit.

Go into this expecting a good time, something light and fun and you'll have a blast. I'll definitely try to pick up more from this author as this sets up well for a sequel.
3 creepy rings out of 5

Review posted to Amazon (under review by amazon)