Member Reviews
Wow, I’m kicking myself for not reading this sooner. It’s so beautifully written. I felt spellbound from the very beginning. The gothic vibes are immaculate and the mysterious nature of the storyline kept me on the edge of my seat. If you are a fan of Ava Reid and Erin Craig, this will be a perfect selection for you. It’s eerie and scenic and it’s so good. I read about half of it in one sitting which is a testament to how I addicted I am.
In other words, read the book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC!
I was really excited for this book just based on the blurb alone. The book is atmospheric, with a nice blend of mystery and fantasy. The overall plotline was intriguing, however it was a too slow-paced and I struggled to get through it.
this was a fun book! unfortunately a little too slow for me... I appreciated the jane austenesque additions to the novel (i love a good regency touch) but i feel like I didn't really connect to it :( i think i have to give it another shot though!!
5 Stars
STOP GIMME GIMME GIMME MORE. THAT ENDING?!!!!!! GAHHHHHH I SHALL NEVER SURVIVEEEEEEE. LIKE I NEED THERE TO BE ANOTHER BOOK MORE THAN I NEED AIRRRRRR.
This book is everything my gothic loving regency obsessed self needed. First we had Pride & Prejudice and Zombies. But that merely paved the road for A Monstrous Kind to RUNNNNNN. And now I’m finding out the author has another book and IF WE DONT GET MORE OF MERICK AND KILLIAN I SHALL LIGHT MY OWN ESTATE ON FIRE.
Anyhoo I have zero chill around this book and am obsessed and want everyone to read it right meow.
The Monstrous Kind is a supernatural mystery, which encompasses a story about sisters and social manners in Regency England. Twelve families make up the ruling class due to their immunity to the deadly fog surrounding the country. Commoners will be killed by the fog or turned into monsters. Merrick Darling, daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex, is off in New London looking for a husband, but returns home when her father dies. On her way home she is saved by sentry Killian Brandon, when she is attacked by a fog-infected monster. She arrives home to find the Manor’s perimeter being breached and her sister Essie preparing to become Lord of the Manor. The other Lords, sensing their family’s weaknesses, are jockeying to take them over, and the Monsters are looming. Killian and Merrick form an alliance t
Bridgerton with zombies? Also reminded me of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. I adored the complex characters and the constant twists and turns that the plot took.
Overall a very satisfying book that I cannot wait to get a physical copy of!
I liked the overall idea of the plot. The mist that turns people into Phantoms who are driven by a hunger for human flesh was a cool idea and I liked the mystery surrounding the Darlings and who might want them gone.
I thought the Phantoms didn't get enough page time and also weren't well explained. I wanted a deeper dive into what was going on and more people turning. This could have been creepier and I would have loved to see it a bit darker.
The romance is more of a love triangle, though I think it's easy to see where things will end up and I think we could have done without it. It also made the story read younger and less interesting to me.
There were highlights for sure, including one twist I didn't expect and a fairly even pace. This is a fun book to read in autumn with a spooky setting.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy.
I couldnt get into this book. I'm really not in the bridgerton and zombie vibes. I really tried to get into this because I wanted to reread it for the sppky vibes for october but I had to DNF
This was just okay. I honestly don't remember a lot from it. The atmosphere was cool, but the characters were lacking in depth and emotion. Overall kind of disappointing, It wasn't bad, and i know lots of people who would love this. The gothic aspects of it were definitely its strongest feature.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher of this book for this eARC.
As a Jane Austen enthusiast, anything that claims to be in the same vein is an instant To-Read for me. And this was creepy! I only wish that we spent more time with the other sister.
This was not my cup of tea. From the beginning the prose put me off and there wasn't anything interesting enough to redeem it enough for me to continue reading. I wasn't a fan of the main character. This book was just not for me.
I started this book with high expectations but unfortunately it did not pull me in. The writing was flowery and descriptive but it was too slow paced for me. Soi I reluctantly had to not finish the book. Thank you for the opportunity and all the best to the author.
This book is a retelling of Austen’s *Sense and Sensibility*, but it takes a unique approach with several changes that make it feel quite different from the original. One of the standout features is the introduction of monstrous creatures that rise from the mist, avoiding torchlight and fire, with manor lords responsible for protecting the lands from these breaches. At the heart of the story are two sisters, grieving the loss of their father and trying to ensure they don’t lose their manor to other lords.
While the plot starts off a bit slow, it becomes clear that this is more of a character-driven story. I really enjoyed getting to know Merrick better as the story unfolded, and I appreciated her strength and growth as a character. Though the romance is present, it’s not the central focus, which I liked. Instead, the book delves into themes of sisterhood, mystery, and loss. The political intrigue was another highlight for me, adding layers to the story and deepening the sense of mystery about who was plotting with whom and for what reasons. I’m excited to see how these elements develop in the next book.
Merrick’s character was particularly well done. She’s strong, but also flawed, and I found her relatable. She’s self-aware enough to recognize when she’s being childish or overreacting, which made her feel more real. There were moments where I found myself thinking, “Why are you doing this alone?” but her combination of intelligence and youthful impulsiveness felt right for her character.
Although some are calling this book a gothic horror, I didn’t quite see it that way. There are definitely spooky elements and eerie vibes, but nothing that screamed horror or gothic to me. You’ll still be able to sleep at night—though you might stay up late because you can’t put the book down until you reach the end.
I’m eager to see if this debut author will write a second book and what other stories she’ll bring to the table in the future!
I loved Merrick as a character and the atmosphere was just so rich and off putting at the same time. There's so much to love about an austen retelling, especially a dark one and I think Lydia Gregovic really nailed it.
I really wanted to get into this but I just couldn't. I tried multiple time to pick this up and I just wasn't vibing with it. Most likely it is a me problem and not the book. Will try again in the future to give this a go!
I love, love, love The Monstrous Kind! A beautiful, atmospheric retelling of Sense & Sensibility?? Yes, please!
In this debut novel by Lydia Gregovic we follow Merrick Darling. She is the daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex and is spending her days in New London enjoying her high society life. Until her father dies. As daughter of the Manor Lord, Merrick has immunity to a toxic fog that has slowly been taking over England. The duty of the Manor Lord is to protect their people from the fog -- but upon Merrick's return, she discovers the preventive measures being taken are no longer enough to withhold the toxic fog and it is rapidly encroaching upon their province.
The haunting atmosphere was fabulous and the romance in this novel was spectacular. I will definitely be picking up this author's future works.
Merrick Darling is a lord’s daughter, called back home after her father’s death. The deceased Lord’s duty to his people was to protect them from a mist slowly creeping over the lands, filled with horrible monsters ready to kill. Estelle, Merrick’s sister, remained at home and expected to take over the Manor and the duties of their father. On the night of a ball to celebrate the life of the deceased Lord, the monsters come out from the mist and take Estelle. Merrick is forced to face the chilling realities of the mist and her family, while protecting the estate from neighboring lords and secrets disguised by love.
I fell in love with Merrick’s character. She is quick and smart but does acknowledge mistakes and learns from them. I wish the monsters played a larger role in the story, but it does show that the ones closest are the real monsters we should fear. This story is gothic, moody, and unbelievably atmospheric. Lydia Gregovic’s debut novel pulls you in and wraps around you, not letting go, just as the mist. I am very excited for what Lydia has to show us in the future!
I did not realize until nearing the end that this story was a retelling of Sense and Sensibility (I have not read that), so the experience I had with this story was completely new and refreshing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely loved the characters, plot, and world. I mean anytime I see regency era I am all in! Plus I loved the haunting vibes. This was my first book from the author and I definitely plan to read more from Lydia!
As someone who is a romance girly, I think this was a nice retelling but I wish there was more of a balance when it came to the mystery and romance elements. I think the pacing was a bit too slow for my taste but I can see the potential in this being a series.
I have been on a moody, gothic, and atmospheric kick lately and The Monstrous Kind did not disappoint!! I would've loved a bit more romance, but ultimately, the regency setting and mystery kept me hooked and locked in!!