This was a really interesting read. What if our depression was a physical manifestation? I really enjoyed the way this book was presented and made me think.

Just when you think dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction has run its course and all the new stuff out there is a combination of recycled ideas or the bones of classics of yesteryear being picked clean, something new pops up. At first glance much of the content of The Monsters in our Shadows is nothing new, but the repackaging is exceptionally clever with Edward J Cembal delivering a very original take on the dying embers of humanity.

The story is told in the third person by a man called Anthem, who is the Exilist for Atlas, which could be the last surviving town on the planet. The action takes place around a century from what is called “the great consumption” when most of humanity is overrun and killed by demons. These creatures, known as ‘Shivers’, play a significant role in the story and the author does a great job of providing hints and tip-bits on their origins as the story moves along. The Elitist has a very unique job, he is responsible for removing the people from Atlas who have a demon affliction.

This is where things get very clever: each Shiver has a personal and very unique connection to a person and could manifest itself at any point. Those who are afflicted are followed by their demon, which will eventually (this takes a long time) kill them and eat them. Initially the creature is barely visible at all, but when feeding time approaches then the monster gets closer and closer no longer lurking in the shadows. I am not going to say exactly what the Elitist does, but it is his role to help the afflicted in the very final stages as the Shiver is about to pounce.

The Shivers are only one facet in what was a very quirky and original book, as we quickly find out that there are also demons who are not tethered to individuals and the story is built around a conspiracy which takes Anthem beyond Atlas in the dangerous Deadlands where nothing is rumoured to survive. To keep the Shivers at bay the dwindling population take doses of a medicine called ‘Felix’ however, supplies are running low and the ‘Architect’ (leader of the town) has a dangerous plan to acquire more with Anthem being sucked into his scheming orbit.

I loved the mythology structured around the Shivers: in Atlas it was against the law to even acknowledge their existence and to be tethered to one of these beasts was almost shameful. Why were some afflicted and others not? This was a fascinating question, much of which is explored in a novel which was a clever balance of post-apocalyptic thriller and supernatural horror novel.

Anthem is a very sympathetic and downtrodden main character who does not see himself as a hero, but at the same time carries the burden of secrets of what the Elitist actually does and the lies the job entails. It is a job nobody wants and because of it Anthem is shunned by his fellow townspeople. In the background is his young daughter Melody, with his worst nightmare being her becoming tethered to a Shiver. This was an unnerving concept which was incredibly well described, lurking in the background could be any number of Shivers edging closer as their time to feed approaches.

Once the initial concepts were put in place the story makes a welcome jump beyond the walls of Atlas, with some clever twists, welcoming new characters and some outstanding action sequences. A further great strength of The Monsters in our Shadows was the quite simply outstanding ending, which beautifully blended action, the primal power of the Shivers and a slither of hope for humanity. There was much to enjoy in this clever novel which takes lots of familiar ideas, puts them in a food blended and the result is something which is refreshingly new. Which is more than can be said for the characters in the book, who exist on cereal bars of processed insects!

I LOVED this book, we have already purchased it for our library and it continues to be a hit. The way the story is told leaves you wanting more.

In Atlas, people live in a town behind a wall, protected from the dangerous wasteland the world has become. But inside the wall Atlas has two kinds of people. The Afflicted and the Unafflicted. The Afflicted, people who are followed by monsters in their shadows biding their time, waiting and waiting until the day they can feed…and if they are left to feed within the wall, they will consume everyone.
That is where Anthem comes in. Anthem, is an Exilist, and expert in peacefully getting the Afflicted outside of the wall with their monsters and keeping the people safe. But Anthem feels there must be a better way and there must be more to know about these monster that lurk in the shadows. And Anthem must find out because he has a shadow of his own, and if he wants to protect those he loves, he must find out before his shadow consumes him.

I really enjoyed this concept. The Monster in Our Shadows, took the idea of our mental illness becoming tangible monsters and threw it into a post-apocalyptic world and flew. Anthem felt very real. Driven but flawed, he wanted to do what was best to protect those he loved. He was at times naïve and at times he was brave and others he was strong and sometimes he was weak and wanted to give up.
I think this story was well written and creative and lot of fun despite the literal depressing subjects. It starts off a little slow, showing you the small bubble of world that Anthem lives in and how it works and I just was rooting for Anthem to save everyone the whole time. I think there are a couple pretty predictable parts, certain people I had a good idea of where there story would go and the bad guy was exactly the person I thought he was even at the end and the ending made me feel good.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants a little dystopia in their horror and to anyone who wants a book that looks at mental illness in new and creative way. I had a good and thoughtful time.
Please pick this up.

The Monsters in our Shadows by Edward J Cembal is a raw post-apocalyptic novel that will have readers on the edge of their seat. The book premise is unique and intriguing and captures the attention of readers from the very first page. It is a human vs monster story with high stakes.

The writing style is intense and immersive, leaving readers feeling equally hopeless and hopeful at the same time. The author has done an excellent job in creating a world that is both vivid and bleak, where the remnants of humans co-exist with terrifying creatures known as Shivers. The contrast between the two is stark and makes for a captivating read.

The protagonist, Anthem, is a compelling character, struggling with his fate and the weight of his responsibilities as an Exilist, tasked with trapping and banishing the Shivers. His inner turmoil and growth throughout the book offer readers a glimpse into what it means to be human in a world where humanity is being eaten alive.

It is a story of humanity's resilience in a world where hope seems like a distant dream. The book also raises thought-provoking questions about our relationship with the environment and what it means to be human. Overall, it's an excellent read for fans of post-apocalyptic stories and those who enjoy character-driven narratives.

I could have sworn I'd already given feedback on this one. This book drew me in immediately, and I enjoyed it overall. However, it had become overly heavy-handed with its metaphor and message, dipping into the realm of cheesiness. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

Dystopian horror with a unique concept. Overall a good read but everything felt a bit rushed at the end and I feel like parts of the story could have been developed a bit more.
If you enjoy dystopian horror, worth a read.

This book was not really able to keep much of my attention. I was not a huge fan of the main character and I found myself not caring much about the storyline. I do not think it was a bad book, I just do not think this book wa for me.

Unfortunately not for me. There were many tropes I simply do not enjoy and find harmful, and I think the entire book has enough story to be a novella maybe. Despite the action scenes it fell flat in a way that kept me wondering when will things start happening finally? Fortunately it got better as I went and managed to keep my attention enough to finish it.

Read this if you like: Scary monsters, dystopian landscapes, powerful allegories.
A gripping tale of loss, fear, and the demons that lurk in the corner of our eye.

A unique dystopian tale of horror. I won’t go into the premise details, as so many others have mentioned them in their reviews, and the synopsis on the book is spot on.

This was horrifying, interesting, and I definitely wanted a bit more because it had the potential to be incredible! Each chapter seemed like it held a twist or surprise or kept me guessing. I think the characters could’ve been a bit more detailed and wished they had stayed out of tropes we’ve seen in other redemptive stories.

I’d definitely be interested in reading a sequel or prequel to this book!

Thank you to the author & NetGalley for a copy!

When I say I never knew what was coming next in this book, I mean it. It was a whirlwind in every chapter. Anytime you think you know what direction it's going something comes out of left field and switches things up. The characters and setting were so well developed and the notion of monsters forming from the darkness and haunting you until they devour is so unsettling. It's a true horror story that is equal parts unsettling, exciting, and redemptive. It left me wanting a sequel because I am not ready to let these characters go. I loved this book and I think it is a perfect book for any horror fan!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

I'm so thankful to have received digital access to The Monsters in our Shadows by Edward J. Cembal, leading up to its publication date of April 12, 2023. I thought this piece of literary fiction, translated at that, was so well done and I can't wait to run to my feed to see what my fellow readers think of this work of art. I am so thankful to NetGalley for the additional bookish love.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The city of Atlas is the last patch of Civilization. Anthem is an Exilist—the man sent to remove Shivers from the city once they threaten to overtake their hosts. It’s not easy being the city’s reaper while dealing with a looming Shiver of his own…
Unique and exciting, though I think it could have used some editing down by ~50 pages.

The Monsters in Our Shadows by Edward Cembal is an interesting take on the dystopian horror story. Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. It had a really intriguing premise, and I know there's a metaphor here about mental health conditions.... but it just missed the mark. The story itself felt like it could've easily been a novella instead. The characters were incredibly flat and unremarkable. So yeah, I couldn't enjoy this one.

I love horror and I love dystopian fiction and Edward Cembal has combined these worlds effortlessly. His style of writing is haunting and engaging and the pace of this book never lets up. One of my favorite books of 2023 so far.

I think this book just wasn’t what I expected/it wasn’t for me. I didn’t find it very scary but I think think it was creepy. I ended up DNFing so I don’t know how it ended. Mostly just boring to me but others might enjoy!

I found The Monsters in our Shadows and found myself really hooked right away. It was the perfect mix of creepy horror and dystopian that I really want and find myself looking for in these types of books. I found a lot of parallels to this and the real life world we live in today. I loved the main characters resilience and drive, never giving up and persevering when things become difficult. This book will keep you up at night wondering what's hiding in the shadow.

The city of Atlas still stands after most of humanity has been wiped out. Nightmarish creatures called shivers attach to their hosts, and unfortunately, there is no way to cure them. So, the host has to wait until the shiver has decided it’s time to feed. It may be days, weeks, or months, but anyone is susceptible. Anthem is an exilist. It is his job to ease the pathway of the host and provide them with as much comfort for their consumption as possible. He is essentially a reaper. But Anthem has his own shiver stalking him, and a new exilist is about to step in. He decides now is the best time to go out into the deadlands and try to find a cure or at least some answers.
I chose to read this book because I thought it had a unique premise and I don’t read enough horror novels. The horror sections in the book are fantastic. They are creepy, suspenseful, and sometimes a little gory. I found myself getting goosebumps on several occasions. But I don’t think the horror aspect of the novel made it stand out.
The spectrum of emotions and circumstances the characters experience concerning the shivers reminds me of someone dealing with chronic illness or mental health. There is shame, helplessness, sorrow, hopelessness, anger, confusion, and so much more. The shivers felt like depression haunting you or various diseases that you can’t seem to overcome. I thought this aspect of the novel was fantastic. It was unique and original while being subtle and well-executed.
To top it all off, there is a ton of twists and turns throughout the whole book. I found I would start getting a smidgen bored, and then suddenly, there would be some big twist, and I was hooked again. There are lots of exciting and differing characters too.
Thank you to Netgalley and Edward J Cembal for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Please, please, please... go read this book right now.
What a disturbing and unsettling story.
I confess I wouldn't know what genre to classify it in, because it has a bit of dystopian, paranormal and horror, borderline gore. But the important thing is that it is wonderful and I highly recommend it.
It is a fascinating concept that I will not say much about in case you consider it a spoiler, but that involves mental illness. I highly recommend reading this with absolutely no idea about the plot, so you can have that shock factor.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.