A Season of Monstrous Conceptions is a well-rounded story that combines the best of queer historical fiction with surprising horror elements. While a tad predictable at times, it still manages to pull the reader in, in anticipation of the next development. The characters are interesting and likable, and the world around them quite compelling.

An immersive historical fantasy novella, A Season of Monstrous Conceptions is my first time reading Lina Rather’s work – and it won’t be the last.

Recently arrived from the countryside, Mrs. Davis is working as a midwife’s apprentice. The conditions are poor, but as a working class woman widowed in suspicious circumstances, Sarah knows this is her last shot at freedom. Midwifery comes easily to Sarah, which may be explained by her extrasensory abilities.

Born with a rabbit’s tail, Sarah has something of the witch in her, an ability to reach for power from the Other Place. This power makes her an excellent apprentice and an object of jealousy, for there are other uncanny midwives practicing in London, but none with Sarah’s natural affinity for power.

There have always been mysteries in the birthing room, but the last several months have seen a rise in strange births. Uncanny babies are being born by the dozen, each with monstrous features like gills, fur, razor-sharp teeth, and more. Many of these babies are killed before they can eke out a life, but those that survive are like Sarah. They can draw on the power of the Other Place…and they can feel that something great and terrible is coming.

Drawn into the world of Christopher Wren, an esteemed man of science whose wife will soon give birth, Sarah isn’t sure who to trust. The other midwives belittle her and use her in turn, while Wren praises her intelligence and power. When Sarah senses that his unborn child will itself be uncanny, she’s torn. Is he an ally in her quest to help these strange children, or will the age-old wisdom that men do not belong in midwifery prove true?

With a keen eye for detail, Rather crafts an immersive story of a rather unordinary working class life in 17th century London, England. From the stink of an overcrowded city to the joyful abandon of illicit nightlife, to the fascinating and terrifying power of the Other Place, it all comes alive in Rather’s hands. Her depiction of queerness at the time is also praise-worthy: the intimacy and security that lovers find in one another is balanced with the very real threat of discovery. Sarah’s blossoming affection for Margaret, another uncanny woman, is bittersweet and realistic.

The parts of this novella that I enjoyed the most focus on the actual practice of midwifery (with a hint of magic). At the time, midwifery was an important craft that fell under the sole purview of women. The tinctures, salves, and teas used in 17th century pre- and post-natal care are fascinating! As much as I enjoy reading about fine ladies, I would love to see more working class protagonists in historical fantasy.

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions is beautifully written and skillfully executed, evocative and intriguingly creepy. It’s a great selection for autumn night. Highly recommended.

Compelling and atmospheric - a fantasy novella with teeth! This sapphic imagining of London just after the witch trials that swept England and Ireland, and right on the cusp of enlightenment, pits superstition and science against one another perfectly for such a tumultuous time. So well done and marvelously fleshed out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

Lina Rather’s historical fantasy novella, A Season of Monstrous Conceptions, tells the deliciously creepy story of a midwife’s apprentice who has witnessed a spate of births to strange children with startling animal features. The protagonist, Sarah Davis, is unsettled by these monstrous children and the city’s escalating fear, for she is not exactly normal herself and already feels like her reputation hangs by a thread. Nevertheless, Sarah takes a risk when she crosses paths with a man who might be able to help her get to the bottom of this uncanny mystery. Set in an alternate 17th-century London, Rather’s novella is superbly written and exquisitely atmospheric. My only complaint was that a full length novel would have done more justice to this tale of eldritch horror.

Thank you to Tordotcom and NetGalley for the galleys!

I probably should have expected A Season of Monstrous Conceptions to be fleshy. It’s a book about midwives in late 17th century London, ten years after the Great Fire and the Great Plague, and if I had stopped to think about it I could probably have anticipated that the narrative would feature quite a lot of bodies, particularly pregnant bodies and bodies in childbirth. Which, to be clear, it does, but that still somehow took me by surprise. Ultimately, this novella is just as much about ideas as it is about bodies, but the trick with these ideas, and with humans, is their embodiment.

This is not quite the historical London that readers may be familiar with from the history of our world (or other historical fantasy novels, particularly Neal Stephenson’s Quicksilver and Marie Brennan’s In Ashes Lie). Some supernatural calamity has caused increasing numbers of children to be born strange for the past two decades, with midwives such as apprentice Sarah Davis and her teacher Mistress June at the forefront of the growing uncanny wave: the midwives are quite literally the first to witness these monstrous children’s births. Sarah herself is one of the oldest surviving strange children—she had a tail that was cut off, and she was more or less forced to leave her village and make a new life in London after her husband died under suspicious circumstances.

Sarah can access the power of what the midwives call the Other Place, but not with any conscious control. The Other Place is a source of magic, its own physical realm with its own denizens, where the monstrosities terrifying the people of England are the norm. After a chance encounter with the pregnant Lady Faith Wren, wife of Sir Christopher Wren, Sarah and Mistress June find themselves employed for the remainder of her pregnancy, giving Christopher ample time to pump Sarah for her knowledge of the Other Place. His theory is that the two worlds’ geography has gone out of joint, and that the growing wave of power that everyone can sense coming will offer the opportunity to realign both worlds: if whoever takes the opportunity has the power and the knowledge to use it properly, they could potentially impose their own vision on that future reconstruction.

In some ways this story about gender, power, and queer and reproductive rights is right in line with Rather’s previous novellas about an order of renegade Catholic nuns in space, but the historical fantasy setting contains some stark differences from science fiction set in the future: obviously, 17th century London was not a bastion of women’s rights, and some forms of queer sexuality carried the death penalty. It is little wonder that the midwives want Sarah not to use the power of the Other Place to set the world to rights, but to bring about some kind of revolution—perhaps even one that would make it possible for women to form a legally recognized guild.

I wish that the book’s exploration of 17th century restrictions on women didn’t feel so topical. While the questions of reproductive freedom, queer liberation, and women’s agency and independence in a patriarchal society permeate the story in a way that seems to be speaking directly to the present moment, the subtler restrictions on Sarah and her choices are also relevant and poignant. “She had not known she wanted this so badly—someone to see her potential, and also to understand that she could never reach it, and what a sadness that was”, the narrative says at one point, recognizing that most opportunities are barred to her because of gender or class or both, not ability.

That desire for simple recognition leads Sarah to a crossroads. A wary loner by circumstance rather than nature, she is torn between two worlds in more ways than one. She balances her precarious new life in London and her unhappy history in her village; her clandestine working partnership with Christopher Wren and her uneasy membership in the unrecognized midwives’ guild. The midwives don’t like her and also wish to use her connection to the Other Place for their own gains, while she is torn between the Other Place and our world. She also attempts to establish herself as a respectable widow with a respectable profession, despite her desire for the company of other queer people on the edges of society, including her perhaps-love interest Margaret, who cross-dresses and hides her short horns under a headscarf. While the narrative is not complicated, and it’s not overly long even for a novella, there’s a lot going on thematically beneath its relatively straightforward plot.

The novella is anchored in the fleshiness of bodies, but the monstrous conceptions of the title aren’t just the monstrous children like Sarah and Margaret. Ultimately, conception does not only produce children. There are other monstrous concepts stalking Sarah through London, keeping her friends and colleagues and clients hemmed in, and it is those ideas that are the real monsters in the novella—and outside it as well.

Uncanny babies are being born in 17th century London and an assistant midwife with uncanniness herself is trying to get to the bottom of the mystery of why there are suddenly so many children being born different and survive herself in a world where she is constantly othered.

I really enjoyed this novella. The description of London and the lives and relationships of the characters was intriguing and immersive. I do wish the more fantastical elements had been fleshed out and explored more. But I'll be thinking about the end for a while!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the e-arc!

In the meticulously crafted world of "A Season of Monstrous Conceptions", Lina Rather transports readers to 17th-century London, a time when the known scientific boundaries were being fervently challenged. The city stands as a cauldron of both intrigue and mysticism, with tales of monstrous births and devilish encounters whispered in hushed tones in every alley.

Our protagonist, Sarah Davis, isn't just another face in the crowd. As a budding midwife's apprentice, she embodies the spirit of a burgeoning feminist era, challenging societal norms and seeking her autonomy in a world where women are often relegated to the shadows. Yet, as Rather masterfully reveals, Sarah’s ambitions aren't just about her profession. She wrestles with her past, her burgeoning magical abilities, and an internal turmoil that often walks a fine line between dark desires and the greater good.

The novel's historical backdrop is intriguing; a period when fundamental theories of gravity were yet to be understood and conception remained an enigma. Overlay this with the ethereal realm of the Other World, the source of Sarah's arcane powers, and you have a tapestry that's both rich in detail and expansive in scope.

While "A Season of Monstrous Conceptions" may be presented as a novella, it doesn’t feel constrained. Yes, one could argue that diving deeper into this vivid world would be a literary treat, but Rather has presented a narrative that, in its current form, is both concise and compelling.

Conclusively, this is a testament to Rather's narrative prowess and her ability to conjure a world that is as engaging as it is evocative. I wholeheartedly recommend adding "A Season of Monstrous Conceptions" to your reading list; its potent blend of history and fantasy deserves a stellar 4-star rating.

Interesting story. I currently prefer my fantasy short and fast-paced, so this was what I wanted. But I still felt like the book could’ve used a few more words, not to add more plot, but to deepen the characters and make the setting richer. Even as it was, the blend of mundane and fantastical was seamless and the mid-17th century setting felt genuine. Childbirth is seldom (never?) a topic in fantasy, so this is a welcome addition.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- a thrilling story about otherworldly magic, strange babies being born, and a midwife intent on living for herself. with sapphic characters, cunning villains, and a cult of magic, this story captivated me and held me in a chokehold as i read. Sarah is a great protagonist, remaining stoic at moments, but then showing what she desires as you follow her journey. a good story all around.

- trigger warnings: childbirth, stillbirth, death, consensual sex scene, blood

I loved the witchy-midwife vibes, though overall it was less horror than I wanted it to be.

The cosmic-horror aspect also wasn't very lovecraftian - more generally otherworldly. Not bad, but not as adveritzed.

I loved the midwife aspects, as well as the plot around the unnatural babies, even though it was also heartbreaking.

This was a novella, and I think the book would have benefitted from a bit more length. I wanted more exposition on the witchy midwifes, on the unnatural-vibes in general, and a bit more characterization for pretty much all of the side characters.

The romantic subplot was nice, but too secondary and rushed for me to truly be invested in it.

Overall great and short historical fantasy read that I enjoyed, even if not in the way I thought it would end up being.

Glorious! I adored SISTERS OF THE VAST BLACK so expected good of A SEASON OF MONSTROUS CONCEPTIONS (Release October 31) and was gratifyingly rewarded--superbly so. This historically-founded Sapphic Paranormal tale is super out-of-this-world (figuratively AND literally). The characters are perfectly drawn; the plot is irresistible; and always, always, running just below the surface is the constant high-strung tension and threat of danger, both as women in the Medieval era, and especially as being women of magical power. Constantly is the perception that at any moment, the hue and cry of "Witch!" "Monster!" "Hellspawn!" could arise, and mob violence and ultimately execution, would follow. Very tense and suspenseful, inducing of Paranoia, but so worthwhile a read!!

This was really good overall I really liked the magical world building and the victorian setting. However it was only a three star because I did not fall in love with the book, nothing was particularly wrong to me just the pace slowed down too much by chapter 8 and it became hard for me to fully be in grossed again. I feel like this is a great starter book and I can see a lot of creative potential in the author. I recommend if you are interested in fantastical historical fiction with a bit of a darker tone to it.

A delightful quick read, perhaps too quick. I love Sarah & some other female characters, though we don't see a lot of them. This story is strange, queer, feminist, & a bit romantic. It's not scary, but I didn't expect it to be. Overall it's a lovely novella

Gosh, to spend five minutes in Lina Rather's head would be an absolute trip! How does she come up with this stuff? Never stop, please never stop. I loved the Space Nuns series, and was so excited to jump into this one- a midwife in the 1600s who has to deliver some... unnatural, shall we say, babies. Full disclosure, I have always been wildly fascinated with genetics and the making of a human being. It's wild to me that cells can multiply and bam, whole person. Only sometimes it doesn't go right, because of course it doesn't. But in this case, it isn't just your random genetic misstep at play. It's... something more sinister.

And Sarah is a midwife who happens to know all too well about these mysterious babies, for she was one herself. She's an apprentice at the moment, but she's hoping to be the best at baby birthin' so she can eventually start her own... midwifery practice? Is that a thing? Idk, she wants elite folks to call for her specifically for their pre-hospital birth era needs, basically. As we all know, the hoitier, toitier sort will pay more for a midwife they think is worthy.

But in order to do that, she has to A) keep her own mysteriousness a secret; B) keep her whole past on the downlow; and C) deliver some babies who are actually, you know, breathing. That last one is harder than it sounds, when you combine seventeenth century infant mortality rates and bad magic. It's an adventure for sure, and I am always impressed by how the author has us caring for these characters so deeply in a mere hundred-or-so pages. But she does, and I did. So between very complex characters and an infinitely entertaining story, I was hooked. I think my only complaint is that I wanted more.

Bottom Line: Lina Rather legit has the coolest book ideas ever: space nuns, wonky old-timey babies... frankly, I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!

A lush and atmospheric snack of a book. This is a neatly contained story of monsters and (wo)men, and which are truly which. Sarah is an outwardly stoic yet soft hearted heroine, my favorite kind. Lina Rather brings her to life and into her own humanity with a simple yet intriguing plot.

This had the potential to be a much larger, grander book but its succinct (almost perfunctory) story was delightful nonetheless.

Tbh I dont really have a lot of thoughts on this Novella. It was very middle of the road for me. Personally for me, for a novella it was a bit too much plot and not quite enough vibes.

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions
by Lina Rather
Novella Horror Occult
NetGalley ARC
Publication Date: October 31, 2023
Tor Publishing
Ages:16+

Babies are being born and they are not normal. Some have eyes to see in the dark, or more than one set, webbed fingers and toes, horns, and other abnormalities. Sarah Davis was born with a difference, but as an infant, her grandmother cut it away, but her differentness didn't leave her and when she needed to start her life anew she became a midwife's apprentice, where that specialness within her is more of a gift when it comes to delivering newborns.

But what started as a few over past years, have turned into multiple children being born different every day and with more drastic abnormalities. Christopher Wren claims he knows how to fix it; with Sara's help.


While this story started out interesting, it quickly fizzled out and I had to force myself to read. There was little action and it and the interesting babies were all revealed in the first twenty pages, and those following hundred and some pages left seemed to ramble on to the point where I felt they were doubling with every page I read and it would never let me finish.

Thankfully I found the end of the story and it was a disappointment. Maybe if the author wrote an additional hundred pages so they could have spent more time with descriptions and mystery it wouldn't have felt like a chore to read.

1 Star

In so many ways, I wish this was more than just a novella. I truly think we were jipped on a full novel that could have been well flushed out and well rounded to give us a better understanding of what was going on. I give this a full 4 stars because I was drawn into the world and the story which unfolded in Lina Rather's tale but I also feel as though it was too much in too short a literary piece.
Our main character Sarah is a midwife's apprentice and is one of the strange who has entered the world and survived. Though there are some, they are becoming more and more common. I love the supernatural elements and all the things which could have been done with this story. I think Sarah and her love interest only get a bit of a whirlwind nod.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy of this novella in exchange for my honest review. I would love to have given it 5* and think it was working it's way there.

The author created a good sense of time and place, a real atmosphere for the story. You never get a full explanation as to what is going on and why, yet it doesn't feel like much is missing. Perhaps if this was more than a novella there would be fewer questions.

The premise of A Season of Monstrous Conceptions appealed to me, but the book simply isn't substantial enough to fill the promise of its premise. It has wonderful elements: a setting in 17th Century London; a bisexual apprentice midwife wife with unclearly defined otherworldly powers; Christopher Wren and the rebuilding of London after the great fire; and those monstrous conceptions of the title—babies with too many eyes, too much hair, scales, tails, the wrong number of limbs.

At 160 pages, this book moved quickly, too quickly, with not nearly enough detail. Readers were told all those elements were there, but never allowed to sink into them sufficiently to feel as if they were experiencing them. I left it feeling as if I'd read a preliminary sketch that was never fully realized as the novel it might have been. I makes for a fun evening's reading, but doesn't have the kind of riches that call for rereading.

I received a free electronic review topic of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.