2.5/5.0

I really did want to like this book. It had the makings of a great read - an atmospheric London, witches & magic, queen love. But it missed the mark for me.

The whole thing felt quite rushed and the integration of Christopher Wren just felt pretty random. I found there was little to no explanation behind the magic system and how these "otherworldly babies" come to be.

A disappointing read.

Thank you to Netgalley and author Lina Rather for a copy of this arc.

Lina Rather has got this delicious talent for creating magical, eerie worlds in so few pages, with stories that leave you wanting more but also feeling fully satisfied. I was hooked from the beginning and I loved the ending. The prose is strong and I enjoyed the main character’s honesty and cruelty and tenderness and smarts and how all of these qualities made her feel so real.

This was so different from Our Lady of Endless Worlds but at the same time, they both feel really in sync with each other. I’m excited to see where Rather goes from here, because I’m along for the ride.

An atmospheric book of olde London, monsters and queer love. World building was great and an enjoyable interweaving of fantasy elements and fear of witches/witch burning. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

What a strange little novella! Set in the 1600’s, we follow Sarah, an apprentice midwife with a secret: she was born with a tail, one of many children born with unusual attributes. She’s a member of a guild of midwives who are in touch with the realm of the mysterious, a realm that they believe is responsible for all of the monstrous births around London. In a series of events with world-shattering consequences, Sarah must make a choice: do what she’s been told, or remake the world to be a better fit for herself.

Rather’s world was well-crafted and had the right amount of spookiness. There was an uneasiness that permeated every scene, and it worked well with Sarah’s uneasiness about her place and purpose. The queer elements were integrated beautifully, and although this story is set in the 1600’s, there was no hate or violence towards the queer characters. Were they out? No, not really. But they have a thriving community that we get to see Sarah discover. Her scenes with Margaret were some of the best in the book.

Overall, this was an excellent novella!

A great novella! I would have liked more of this story!
Read if you like atmospheric London, monsters, women working and in relationships.

I just reviewed A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather. #NetGalley

SPOILERS: I'll say 2.5 stars. The book had everything on paper -- fine prose, lesbians, the classic premise of weird mutant babies, a rather original premise - but everything felt at one remove. Sarah was probably the most compelling and complex character, but when it came to the side characters, The Good characters were Good, the Bad Characters were Bad for the most part, the ending was predictable and the motives were never a surprise. I suppose I was looking for a bit more complexity in the side characters like Dr Wren.

And while I liked the idea of the planetary alignments, I wanted some actual stories about the inhabitants of the Other World and a glimpse of how it functioned (or didn't), the mechanics of it (or lack thereof), the sense of it (or otherwise), the colour and taste.

That's the issue I have with a lot of horror, although strangely never with fantasy: it feels like many authors do the Poe/Lovecraft/King thing of just grafting something onto reality and call it a day. "Hey, look, random eldritch chaos dimension next door... because... uh... plot reasons! Don't think about it! It's Totally Scary (TM), we promise!" It's like the horror version of 'It was all a dream'. Totally breaks the suspension of disbelief for me.

“a season of monstrous conceptions” is a novella set in an odd london. accused of being a witch after her husband’s death, sarah is in an apprenticeship as a midwife. when a baby is born with otherworldly “monstrous” attributes, she must fight to save not only the mothers, but the children as well.

this novella is very atmospheric; you feel as if you are in the room with the midwives and mothers. the magic is explained a little too loosely for my preferences, but the end was satisfying for the most part. i also adore the queer main character. a wonderful, darkly fun read.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather, a fun quick read. Rather takes us on a journey to the side of the wonders and monsters and you can never tell where you will wind up.

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather is a stunning historical fantasy novel set in 17th-century London. The book tells the story of Sarah Davis, a woman with an uncanny nature who hides her true self from the world. Sarah becomes a midwife's apprentice to a member of the illegal Worshipful Company of Midwives, hoping to start a new life in London. However, strange and unnatural babies are being born in the city, causing fear and suspicion to spread.

When Lady Wren hires Sarah to see her through her pregnancy, Sarah's life takes a turn she never expected. She becomes a favorite of Lady Wren's husband, the famous architect Lord Christopher Wren, who is obsessed with the uncanny. Sarah finds herself caught in a web of magic and intrigue as those who seek to use her power for their own purposes threaten to destroy the world.

The novel is beautifully written, with lush descriptions of 17th-century London and vivid depictions of the uncanny babies. The characters are complex and nuanced, with Sarah being a particularly compelling protagonist. She is strong-willed and determined, but also vulnerable and unsure of herself at times. The relationships between the characters are also well-developed, with a sense of tension and betrayal permeating the story.

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions is a captivating and thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is a masterful blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror, with a strong feminist message woven throughout. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good supernatural tale set in a richly detailed historical world.