A deliciously eerie, mysterious, and romantic gothic novel! Living in a town long plagued by superstition and fear, librarian Rosa Edwards is determined to dispel the stories of vampires and other fearsome myths and legends that run rampant through her town, through knowledge and logic. Rosa wants to be a secretary and leave her small town and explore the world. But her dreams and finances do not exactly line up. So, until those dreams become a reality, she works at her father’s library. One late evening, after delivering some books to a patron, Rosa has an accident with her bicycle. Unsure of where she is in the dense fog, a man appears offering to help her, then disappears into the swirling mists. Sir James Morgan is desperate to try and find a cure for the disease that is killing his mother and himself. Coming to England to take care of his mother in the old family manor is not something he wanted to do. James knows that rumors abound about he and his family and none of them are good. How can he explain to people that he is not vampire and has not been going around killing sheep in the middle of the night? The towns people are determined to blame the slain livestock on somebody, and Sir James Morgan and his “vampiric” lifestyle are the perfect scapegoat. When accusations and betrayal fall on Rosa and James’ doorstep, they must work together to find justice before they themselves lose their lives. It was so exciting to read of true-life characters showing up in this latest novel from Michelle Griep! Part Dracula, part Beauty and the Beast, readers will be swept away to 1800’s England and to a time when superstition ruled the land and love ruled the heart. I thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the ARC of this book. I am not required to give a positive opinion. All opinions within this review are my own.

What a fun novel! I love that Michelle Griep tends to delve into the mystery and shadows of the past. She takes the spots that everyone else leaves behind and hits them hard. Who knew about this disease? And even more who knew the name? I mean, I'm a nurse and while I knew you could have this reaction to the sun I definitely didn't know the name!

Also, who still believes in vampires? They were quite the scary thought and most thought them real or at least something to fear. I so enjoyed this novel. I had to take breaks while reading because my husband was away which cut down my reading time. But I'll tell you it was worth staying up late to read.

I loved how brave and fearless Rosa was. Well, she had fear but she wouldn't let it dictate life to her. She knows her own mind and she's not about to let other people try to tell her what she wants, thinks, or should do.

Literary nerd here. I loved the addition of Bram Stoker in this novel!

Our hero is a reclusive man. He doesn't trust people. He's been burned in the past. Add in his mother suffering from a strange sickness and being mad plus dying. Oh, and she's from Transylvania.

I loved the novel. It read fast. The characters reached out and grabbed you and wouldn't let you go. You're going to be lost in this one until you're done reading and then you're going to wish for more.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

England, 1890

James Morgan is trying to find a cure for his mother who is dying of a blood disorder, but he has run out of time, the doctor has no other options for James and his mother.

Rosa works at her father’s library and this is where she meets James who is reading materials to try to help cure his mother's ailment but she doesn’t know this until later. I really liked her spunk which she had in spades. I really liked her characterization.

It is rumored that James who has property in Transylvania that he is a vampire, but he has the same ailment that his mother does and can’t be in direct sunlight.

I really liked Man of Shadow and Mist, it’s not my normal reading fare but when I see Michelle Griep’s name I know that it will be enjoyable! The romance between James and Rosa was cute and her relationship with her family was at times vexing but it was nice to see the love that they had for her.

My gratitude to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing. All opinions expressed are mine and honest.

4.5 ⭐️

This book was so atmospheric & moody! It was the perfect accompaniment to today’s blustering storm.

The Gothic intrigue is strong right from the get-go & carries through the entire story. Despite having never been to Whitby, I fell in love with the location as a child & always enjoy getting to return there through fiction. Plus, there’s a fun Bram Stoker & Dracula cameo, but it isn’t too spooky or creepy. Instead, the story reminded me of Jane Eyre, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and Jaime Jo Wright’s books.

James & Rosa were lovely — the mysterious baronet & the bookish librarian. The way their stories intertwined & the progression of their relationship were beautifully done. And I loved the hint of the “fake relationship” trope.

With heart-stirring faith themes, Griep paints a poignant picture of true love and friendship while learning to trust amid the hurts & harms of superstition and gossip.


*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

A tale gripping with both historical interest and misgivings in superstition of the days, as well as adventure and romance. You definitely will not want to miss this latest release by Michelle, she definitely has a way to bring out the real monsters of the story and make it all seem so believable.
I want to thank the author and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in turn for my honest opinion. This review is entirely my own.

Michelle Griep has a wonderful take on my old favorite tried and true horror/gothic stories. I love this series!
Her take on real life medical issues that when observed by uneducated and superstitious townsfolk can result in the horrendous treatment of a suffering human being.
Rosa Edwards works in her father's library renting books, watching over rare editions and helping sell her mother's tinctures and cures. It is her mission to help educate people and share her love of reading with those who can't afford books. It hurts her spirit to see the superstitions ignited by the ignorance in the village.
Sir James Morgan has returned to his Yorkshire property to oversee the care of his terribly ill mother. He is on a quest to find a cure for her. Nasty rumors born of the superstitious nature of villagers and jealousy of those who know better, spark hatred toward the man. James is accused of being a vampire who is feeding on the livestock in the area. A monster to be rid of.
Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Michelle Griep for my advanced reader's copy of this excellent read. This is my own unsolicited opinion about it. I absolutely love how the author has taken a known and terrible medical condition and explained how easily it could be mistaken for a monstrous superstitious fantastical creature. In my opinion this is a great twist on a gothic story. And a sweet romance too!

Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep, a clever telling of the root of a classic. I enjoyed it and felt it was worth the read, some of the character development felt a tad off but overall a good book.

This story started with such fun intrigue and mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author displayed the settings and characters. The Vampire sickness was fascinating as well. I like a certain pace to the stories I read and noticed that, while this one seemed to be fast-paced in the first half, it slowed down considerably after the middle.

If you're in the mood for a fun, slightly edgy historical romance with a pinch of danger and a drop of blood, Man of Shadow and Mist is the book for you.

Michelle Griep is an extraordinary writer! I am a huge fan of her writing and books like Man of Shadow and Mist make me like it all the more. She writes with a fervor that is so infectious it comes through her characters and gives them life. Though this is a gothic novel there is an undercurrent of hope that permeates the story. Without giving away too much of the story, This book is about a man who has given up on his fellow man and life in general until he meets a librarian. The librarian, Rosa, is kind, effervescent, and compassionate. Just the opposite of the Baron, Sir James Morgan, who is rumored to be a vampire and wants nothing to do with anyone. Rosa ia determined to stamp out ignorance and prove there are no vampires. The best way to do this is to get to know the man. I love how Michelle infuses her stories with her religious beliefs. There is a quote in the book that I love, "It is a mystery why some live life seemingly untouched by troubles while others can barely lift their heads beneath the weight o' their sorrows. Not everything can be explained- nor should it be- else we would be like God, and that was Eve's downfall, was it not? Wanting to be like Him?" I loved this book and could not put it down until I was completely finished. Then I was sad to see it end. This is definitely a book to recommend to all my friends.

I would like to thank Barbour Fiction and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book but it in no way influenced my review.

I really enjoyed this gothic, Beauty and Beast-like story! Rosa is the daughter of the local subscription library owner. Sir James is shrouded in mystery, sweeping in from his castle in Transylvania to care for his ailing mother.

Learning about the stigma attached to Sir James' medical condition was fascinating, and Rosa's staunch devotion to him through it all is so sweet!

This book was definitely melodramatic (as I believe the author intended!) and pulled in many little facets of history and folklore to create this gothic novel that even Catherine Moreland would have delighted in!

I received an arc of this book via #netgalley , but all enthusiastic opinions are my own!

I did not want to put this read down!
Travel back in time to England. A land of rain, fog, and mist. A time where medical knowledge was much more limited.
I loved the romance throughout the story. The highs and lows. The heartache and joys.
Griep has given us another spectacular story!

Michelle Griep delivers an atmospheric tale with "Man of Shadow and Mist", the second installment of her Of Monsters and Men series. As in "Lost in Darkness", the unique plot is a blend of fact and fiction.

As a resident of Whitby, England (charming historical nugget, that), lovely librarian Rosa Edwards attempts to educate an ignorant populace, as knowledge IS power, yet her efforts are frequently dismissed. Human nature being what it is, what one does not understand he may fear, or worse. The "worse" comes into play here. Therefore, the blame for a rash of gruesome sheep deaths is attributed to a vampire. The identity of the actual culprit came as a total surprise, which is a GOOD thing.

Michelle Griep creates well-developed characters, be they good or bad. Even in the face of much adversity, Sir James Morgan retains his strong faith. When Rosa says “I had no idea you were a man of such deep faith”, James replies “Faith in God, yes. It is His creatures who do not inspire my confidence.” Albin Mallow has an unexpected epiphany. The author Bram Stoker also appears. Her research into the disease porphyria, a disease I'd never heard of, actually enables this compelling story.

As there are roughly 80 years between the novels that inspired this book and the first, both stand alone. I love gothic romance done well, and Michelle Griep absolutely delivers. I hope she pens more installments of this absorbing series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC of this wonderful work.

The Beauty and the Beast vibes are strong with this one...

I know what you're thinking, but hear me out: a girl who loves books and reading (and even works in a library, and her name is Rosa), a guy who lives in a castle/dark manor house, a village with superstitious people, a mob with pitchforks, a villain who incites the mob, a horse named Belle, the teme of redemption. I might have forgotten other references.

There's the vampire connection, of course. James comes from Transylvania to care for his mom who suffers from a mysterious disease. He's been researching and trying to find a cure for a long time, without success. Fresh out of the ship, he helps Rosa from a bike fall, and their lives are entwined from then on.
Having Bram Stoker as a secondary character is genius.

The setting is utterly Gothic, which I love, and the story is bewitching—couldn't put it down!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I have read Michelle Griep’s Blackfriars Lane series, but this will be my first in her Of Monsters and Men series.

It is 1890 and the setting is England. Subscription librarian Rosa Edwards is attempting to educate the poor and remove the use of gossip and superstition. However, the mysterious Sir James Morgan has returned to his manor home, and many are calling him a vampire.

Sir James just wants to cure his mother from a deadly disease. He hadn’t intended to start a relationship with a stubborn but alluring librarian.

This is not a retelling of Bran Stoker’s Dracula. Instead, readers actually receive a brief meeting of the Irish novelist as he uses Rosa’s library for research. I found more parallels with Beauty and the Beast, the insistent suitor, the almost oblivious father, and the ignorant mob.

The writing was spectacular as I expected from Michelle Griep. Readers will feel that they are amidst the villagers, will feel the stigma of the superstitious. However, I found that those same feelings made it unbearable for me. I couldn’t stand Rosa’s parents, and their “all about appearances” attitude. I would have thought another librarian like Mr. Edwards would be better educated, more in tune with his daughter. I find that the majority of the 1800 novels have this mentality of parents being ignorant and the children are the teachers. I cannot wonder if this is truly how the time was, or if it is the author’s prerogative to enhance their own stories.

Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.

Had I read Bram Stoker's classic, Dracula, I'm sure I would have noticed many more parallels and references in Man of Shadow and Mist. However, I leave those kinds of gothic horror tales to others (despite the fact that Dracula is an epistolary tale, one of my favorite styles!).

Michelle Griep's Man of Shadow and Mist is not, as I feared, a retelling of Dracula. Instead, it is a gothic love story inspired by aspects of Stoker's tale--including the suspicion of vampirism.

There's an English girl and a baronet from Transylvania. But there's also a subscription library in addition to a grand but dreary manor. Man of Shadow and Mist is a story about the danger of superstitions and assumptions, and the power of love and loyalty. There's surprising redemption and an unexpected ending.

Even if you don't like vampire tales, this might be a book you'll enjoy. Man of Shadow and Mist is reminiscent of both George MacDonald and Joanna Davidson Politano.

There are many vampire origin stories that range from the shockingly sinful to the utterly ridiculous. But Michelle Griep's interpretation of Dracula story's origin through the eyes of the 'real man' who inspired Bram Stoker's tale is just brilliant. Griep's way of forming a story and including Bram Stoker is creative without being kitschy--which is no easy feat. After reading this and her other book in the "Of Monsters and Men" series, I was inspired to go back and read Dracula and Frankenstein to see how Griep's storytelling fit into the classical works written over a hundred years ago and discovered a new love for these tales.

If the opening endorsements from the many, many stellar writers in the beginning aren't enough to convince you to start this series then let this humble reader toss her opinion out there as well. Read this. Not for a casual weekend at the beach, but for a hauntingly romantic tale that will bring you in and keep you until you read through the last sentence on the last page and stick with you long after you put it down.

MAN OF SHADOW AND MIST is another exceptional novel by MICHELLE GRIEP that I guarantee you will not be able to put down. The story takes place in Whitby, England, in the late nineteenth century, with Sir James Morgan returning to the bleak Morgrave Manor where his mother lies dying of a horrific disease which may well be his fate in the future. He has never had a close relationship with his mother but is willing to try anything to save her life. James has a deep faith in God but none at all in the church members and people in general who look upon him and his family as vampires. He is satisfied to live in solitude until he meets the beautiful and compassionate librarian, Rosa Edwards, whose aim in life is to educate the people of Whitby who are so caught up in superstition.
The book has all the darkness of a Gothic novel, but we see how the Lord brings light and hope into the story, and how He comes through for Rosa, protecting her from harm. ….
I do not want to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you, but this book has everything that makes up an exciting and inspirational read - unforgettable characters, a passionate love story, a spurned suitor, wrongful accusation, violence, and very strange happenings, all enveloped in a strong Christian message.
I cannot recommend Man of Shadow and Mist strongly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Well - I did it. I grabbed the book because I love Michelle Griep’s book. Then I realized it might be “scary”. I had to convince myself it would not be scary and I finished the book. I am not one for gothic tales.

That being said - I loved the story. Very creative and well done. I enjoy learning new things when I read so I did learn something new. (No spoilers).

I highly recommend and now I am going to search for the first book in the series.

I just reviewed Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep. #ManofShadowandMist #NetGalley

Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep is an excellent historical fiction that is the second is a fabulous series: Of Monsters and Men.

I really enjoyed Lost in Darkness, so of course I wanted to read this one. Both can easily be stand alone novels fyi.

This book is a wonderful Gothic Victorian era novel set in England (Yorkshire) towards the end of the 19th century. Its literary inspiration and tie-in is Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

The way the author was able to weave in themes, quotes, concepts, and even the author himself, into the narrative of the book was pulled off quite nicely.

I enjoyed both of the main characters, Rosa and James and I really enjoyed their relationship, their moral compasses, growth, and how the story ended.

There was mystery, obstacles, love, loss, superstition, and a thread of faith and promise that was beautiful. The theological aspects and lessons were beautifully placed and really spoke to me. It was truly wonderful.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Barbour Fiction for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/1/23.

Set in North Yorkshire, England in the 1890s amidst legends and superstitions about vampires, Michelle Griep has given us a gothic romance that also includes madness and persecution. Meticulously researched, as usual, this tale brings that era to life. Men of Shadows and Mist gives us interesting characters and a great storyline filled with suspense, coupled with themes of faith woven throughout. A great read.

Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for my copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.