I am sad to say that I didn’t enjoy this as much as I would have liked. I don’t know what it was. I never got truly sucked into the book. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I will say that I felt a little disconnected from it. I don’t know if it was the narrator, because I did like his voice. I’m a sucker for Black British actors and narrators, and he did a very good job with all the accents, be it posh English, Caribbean, working class Londoner, Irish, you name it. But despite that, the book just felt dry.

I did like the concept of Rayleigh’s father being the actual Bogey Man, and his heritage as a “monster”. Yes, it does have some aspects that bring to mind Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson but with a different spin. And I loved the ethnic diversity. Rayleigh is a young black boy Londoner whose paternal family hails from Jamaica. I loved the notes about family and heritage, but I feel like for the book being about Rayleigh’s relationship to his father, he doesn’t play a very large part. And Rayleigh’s mother is hardly in the book at all. What I did like was the strong bond between Rayleigh and his uncle. I love how his uncle calls him “Nephew Mine.” I also enjoy some of the side characters, such as Bloody Mary (and I like what the author did with her). There are some trolls, one of which likes to cook. The big bad character had a nice sinister, almost spooky edge. And there were a couple of interesting twists in the story.

But I was just underwhelmed. I just wanted something deep and to be more drawn into the story. It was a bit of a slog to listen to, and the end, when it comes, sort of arrived out of nowhere, with a pretty big cliffhanger. I really liked the pieces of this book, it just came together in a way that was disappointing. That said, I will definitely continue to read this series because I do like the characters and the concept.

Though no fault of this book, I just could not get into it. I am in *another* reading slump and this one just couldn't hook me enough to keep going.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters is the first book in an engaging and well written middle-grade UF series by Ciannon Smart. Released 8th Aug 2023 by HarperCollins on their Children's imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in all formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

It's always exciting and fun to find a new series and voice in UF, especially one which is kid-friendly. This intro has a cool and tough (but generally good) protagonist, who happens to be a demi-monster (his dad's Bogey Mann (yes, that one)). His backstory is well written and fleshed out, and if teachers reading the story can imagine how challenging he could be in a classroom, the kids reading will find a relatable, believable outsider hero, and grand adventure.

It's also nice that Rayleigh's background, and much of the lore, are from the Caribbean. Representation is so important, and having a well written story with a main character who isn't white shows kids of color that they -can- be the main character, and exposes caucasian kids to a wider circle of cultures and lived experiences. The book manages to tread the line without being preachy or obvious; it's nice to see what I hope is a sea change coming for literature and entertainment media.

One note about the spelling and editing. The story is set in urban London (UK), but most of the spellings and vernacular are AmEnglish. It's noticeable and clearly an intentional editorial decision.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours, 55 minutes and is capably narrated by Jake Fairbrother. He has a crisp, very well modulated, classically trained voice and handles the various accents very well.

Four stars. It's a good book. A well written and an exciting fantasy romp, after a slightly slow background start; the fate of many series first intros. It would make an excellent public or school library acquisition, for gift giving, and home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Rayleigh Mann is a wonderful addition to any elementary school or middle school library's fantasy section. The premise is new and intriguing -- it's pretty easy to get students interested in a story where the lead is the child of the Bogey Man. The author's voice captures you quickly and pulls you in. I can't wait for the rest of the series to be published!

The story started out a little slow and was quite long and wordy. As an adult reader I struggled with the length and I know my 10 year old niece wouldn't be able to get through this one. I did like some of the stuff with the monsters and Rayleigh is an interesting character.

Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters
Rating: 3.5
Thank you HarperCollins for providing an e-copy through NetGalley

Synopsis: Rayleigh Mann is a troublemaker, breaking things, disrupting teachers, and getting into detentions constantly. On Halloween, he decides to meet up with some classmates to get some candy and prank the neighborhood, but the night doesn’t go as planned. For starters, what Rayleigh thought were costumes turn out to be very, very real, and monsters walk the streets of London. Not only that, but the monsters seem to be after him! After sprinting home and watching a battle in his own living room, a monster named Thelonius reveals that the folklore stories his Nana tells are all true, and that he is Rayleigh’s uncle. Thelonius brings Rayleigh to Below-London, a place where monsters thrive and produce the energy needed for Above-London to survive, showing him the start of his new life and grow into his monster heritage. For Rayleigh’s father is the Bogey Man, the leader of the monsters, and the scariest of them all. But he is missing, and it is up to Rayleigh to find the father he never knew. And, while his tricks got him into trouble as a human, being a troublemaker as a monster just might help him navigate this new and dangerous world straight out of a storybook’s adventures…and nightmares.

What I Liked: Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters is a delightfully fun adventure of monsters, secrets, and spectacular hijinks. We watch as Rayleigh learns to accept himself as a monster, solving riddles and trials with his own trickery, cunning, and mischief. The story showcases Caribbean folklore and monsterology and integrates them into the world building, which is simplistic yet fascinating as readers get to meet various shapeshifters, creatures, horrors, and beasts in Below-London. The writing is action-packed and humorous, with Rayleigh navigating the new world with skepticism, middle-school sass, and a sharp eye. The side characters are colorful and supportive. Rayleigh Mann and his family are Black.

What I Didn’t Like: The pacing is not the greatest. It can be really slow or blindingly fast depending on the chapter or scene. Dialogue tends to be slow and has lots of exposition, while action is quick and immediate. This can lead to some scenes dragging on/having much to be excited about, and then the good parts zipping by too quickly. It was hard to get through the novel many times. Also, readers won’t really know who Rayleigh is until ⅓ into the story. At the beginning, which goes by very quickly, readers are told through his inner thoughts that Rayleigh is a troublemaker - but we never actually see this happen, so his arc of accepting the monster within himself doesn’t hit as hard as it could. Rayleigh and his same-aged companions also tend to have jarring dialogue/thoughts, as they use words or phrases that seem too old for them - they sound like adults, taking the readers out of the story.

Review Date: November 29, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun middle grade book. I really liked that idea of monsters actually being the good guys and that monsters are a reflection of humans. The story did start out a little slow, but once it picked up the story line progressed at a great pace. I want to learn more about the world below as it seems like a very interesting and fun place. I was getting a lot of Monsters Inc. vibes from this book and it will be a perfect spooky season read.

It took me a little while to get into this book. Much like the Harry Potter series, the initial chapters set in the real world are somewhat tedious and the first introduction to the fantasy alternative world feels a bit rushed and confused. But once the reader arrives in Under-London proper, the story kicks into high gear and does a great job of balancing plot development, world building, & characters that are interesting without being overly trop-ish. Plus the pun game is fun as heck, even if it does pretty obviously telegraph current and future villains. I look forward to reading more of this series!

This is my first contact with the books of this author but I'm already a fan.
Creative world-building and concept. A mirror world under London with a magical society where Rayleigh discovers more about himself and his family of monsters and what monsters are meant to do.
Hits all the marks for me with a large cast of interesting characters, secrets, mystery, a world to uncover, trials and riddles, shapeshifters, and different magical creatures. This first book has a lot of action and establishes a solid world and adventure for a new series. Looking forward to reading more. I love Marley and also the fairy in the bulb.
Fans of School for Good and Evil and Amari and the Night Brothers.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this eARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

This is a delightful middle-grade novel set in a world where all the monsters from stories exist. It's lowkey like Monsters Inc., where the monsters produce clean energy by scaring and other monstery things with the world above BUT this power also powers the world above. Rayleigh's life turns upside down when he turns 12 and discovers he has monster ancestry. He goes below to face trials and essentially what is monster puberty...all while searching for his missing dad (the supreme leader of monsters) and learning more about himself and his monster side. There's a found family with a troll, a shadow, literally Bloody Mary, and then Rayleigh's friend Marley.

I enjoyed this from the monster world to the trials and ultimately the end and what it leaves open for more books in the series. It was a cleverly crafted world, and it's also hilarious with humor.

This was too cute and such a fun and engaging read! I love stories like this and was so pleasantly surprised to be given the opportunity to read it.

I received a free e-arc from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins!

4.5 stars

I hadn't read Ciannon Smart's work before this book, and now they've become an auto-buy for me. This world was so unique and felt so advanced in its development that I would've been satisfied to just walk the streets of Below-London. Instead, Smart shows us just how many secrets are lying in plain sight and it made for a fun, inclusive, and approachable middle-grade romp.

The only reason this wasn't a 5 star for me was some slight instances where the prose required a second or third read for me to understand the exact visual. However, that won't stop me from reaching for the next installment.

#RayleighMannintheCompanyofMonsters #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel.

Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for the eARC, these opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this book. Rayleigh is on his way to meet his friends for Halloween but when the don't show he finds himself bothered by a girl who claims to have tied them up and when they are attacked by monsters, Rayleigh is taken to an underground world full of monsters and adventure. But with his father, the Bogey Man, missing can he find him before this magical world crumbles? A fast paced adventure, full of fun, mythical lore, and monsters! Rayleigh was a likable character with heart! Can't wait to read it again!

Ciannon Smart knocked it out the park with Rayleigh Mann in the Company of Monsters. The story telling was chef's kiss. The plot was beyond amazing it took you on a ride that I wasn't fully prepared for.

I’m a fan of this author as I’ve read her previous series Witches Steeped in Gold. I can now say that she hits it out of the part. I have not been disappointed with l any of her books. This one in particular was a fun ready that put me in mind of Amari and the Night Brothers. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and am looking forward to the next installment, I think I may actually read this one again with my 9 year old son.

tl;dr
Magical adventures that spark the imagination anchor a story about learning to embrace one's self in a very VERY fun read.

About
A prankster and a troublemaker, Rayleigh has always felt a little out of place. But on Halloween night, he's whisked away to an underground world full of magic and monsters. There he discovers that he's the son of the Bogey Mann himself, and that a new life of magic awaits him. Only problem is, his father has gone missing, and the magical world might fall apart unless Rayleigh can get him back.

Thoughts
What a fun book! Amidst all the scares and self-reflection, there is an exciting and joy-filled adventure about discovering magic in the world and embracing one's self. The narrative about learning to embrace one's identity, and also how we get to choose who we become, will resonate with any kid whose felt like they don't fit in. I'm sure I could have used this back then. Rayleigh's wonder as each new piece of magic he discovers was palpable, and there is a stunning amount of world building. Sentient apartments, weather witches, flight, and trials for kids to prove themselves. Ugh, it has all the things, and I love it. There was also a vast array of world mythology in it, with Bloody Mary instantly claiming top spot as my favorite character. I think my only frustration is Rayleigh's as well - I hate when adults won't be honest with kids. Please picture me yelling at the book "Hey, just tell him already!" I think Rayleigh would agree.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

10, 10, 10s across the board. This book kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. This is Rayleigh's story. He's discovered a huge secret about his father's side of the family and the world's view of monsters is all skewed. Thank you for the diversity within this book.

Ms. Smart takes her time with the introduction to the world below as well as gives us insight into each character. Simply excellent and amazing. This is one of the best first in the series you will ever read. Fans of the Rick Riordan style books as well as Harry Potter will love this world.