Haunting and atmospheric, The Monstrous Kind is a clever twist on Austen’s Sense and Sensibility!

Merrick is the perfect flawed MC and the epitome of Marianne. She’s headstrong and flighty, but also fierce and determined. I loved the tension and angst between her and Brandon. The plot was extremely creative and I enjoyed learning about the different Manors and Lords. The lyrical prose also gave the story an almost ethereal quality. It was like watching a dream unfold with the perfect amount of mystery and romantic intrigue.

If you loved Pride and Prejudice with Zombies and/or One Dark Window, this story is absolutely for you! The ending was fairly open ended, so I’m hoping for more stories set in this otherworldly England.

Thank you to Netgalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED The Monstrous Kind! Lydia is a fantastic writer, and she created the most amazing gothic setting. This is such a fun twist on a classic story.

WOW0w, The Monstrous Kind was so fun to read! This book had everything including a Regency setting, a zombie-producing fog, mysterious deaths, a love triangle, and twists and reveals to boot! It was incredibly atmospheric and fast-paced, and some of the writing/metaphors were especially evocative and top-notch. The only thing I may have hesitated about was a sense of lack of depth to the characters, relationships, and/or world-building that prevented me from really connecting to them at a deeper level. I look forward to Author Lydia's Gregovic future works!!

5 Stars

The Monstrous Kind reads like Stephen King’s The Mist meets Bridgerton with a little bit of the house politics of Gideon the Ninth. A bit of a tricky 5 stars from me.

First, let me say, the writing is flawless. The author clearly has a lot of skill and she showcases it well in the glittering decadence of the setting, juxtaposed against the creeping horror of the mist. I loved watching all the quiet, unspoken politics wielded by an iron fist in a lace glove, the subtle social maneuverings that drive the plot.

I did have a bit of trouble getting into the book, especially in the first 1/3. I felt like the main character’s focus was a little scattered. The mystery was SO compelling to me that when the MC would distracted from it by the subplot, I found myself missing the forward propulsion of the main plot. That said, I can’t deduct any stars for it. The writing is SO good and the characters vibrant and distinct, I’m 100% sure those same elements that didn’t appeal to me will be absolute catnip to a lot of readers, especially voracious readers of the Romantasy genre.

Overall, a really solid showing, especially for a debut. Eager to see what this author does next.

The Monstrous Kind
by Lydia Gregovic
Pub Date: Sep 03 2024

Merrick Darling’s life as daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex is better than most. Unlike the commoners, she is immune to the toxic fog that encroached on England generations earlier. She will never become a Phantom—one of the monstrous creatures that stalk her province’s borders—and as long as the fires burn to hold them back, her safety is ensured. She wants for nothing, yet she will never inherit her family’s Manor. She must marry smartly or live at the kindness of her elder sister, Essie.

Everything is turned on its head, though, when Merrick’s father dies suddenly. Torn from her New London society life of ball gowns and parties, Merrick must travel back to her childhood home, the Darling estate of Norland House, and what she finds there is bewildering. Once strong and capable, Essie is withdrawn and frightened—and with good cause. A recent string of attacks along the province’s borders has turned their formerly bucolic countryside into a terrifying and unpredictable landscape. The fog is closing in and the fires aren’t holding, which makes Merrick and Essie vulnerable in more ways than one. Because the Phantoms are far from the only monsters in Merrick’s world, and the other eleven Manor Lords are always watching for weakness.

Revealing her and her sister’s current state to the rest of the Manors is out of the question, but when Essie goes missing, it’s clear that Merrick needs help. Only, who can she trust when everyone seems to be scheming, and when all she holds true feels like it’s slipping right out of her grasp?

Sense and Sensibility with Phantoms (ghost zombies)?! Sign me up. This was a solid read. Not as scary as I was hoping (since it was compared to House of Salt and Sorrow), but it was a fun read. While most things were predictable, there were some twists that I wasn't expecting.

I was disappointed in the lacking romance considering it was labeled Romantasy. Also, there was a lot more tell than show for the plot. But overall really well done. Especially for a debut novel (what?!).

This had a great mystery and I really hope there is book 2.

"The Monstrous Kind" was a quick and easy read that kept my attention the entire way through. I guessed most of the plot twists well ahead of time, but I really enjoyed Merrick as a main character. The life that had been carved out for her, the power thrust onto her, and the search for truth all felt so vivid and real through her. I do wish that the book was slightly more spooky, despite there being plenty of atmosphere in the story. The "Sense and Sensibility" comps make complete sense with the story, but they take nothing away from the many changes that Gregovic manages to make entirely her own.

I don’t think this books is for me. I didn’t get too far into it before DNFing. It felt overwritten, and I guess I just don’t vibe with the regency era.

“In the end, it is death that calls me home again.”
What an opening line. This really just consumed me from the start. The Monstrous Kind has the gothic regency vibes that I loved about Belladonna, with a hauntingly beautiful prose similar to Allison Saft and Ava Reid. This isn’t a cozy fantasy by any means, but it was cozy to me with its eerie manor setting and a plot focused on mystery and secrets. The concept of a deadly mist and killer phantoms intrigued me from the first chapter. I loved that fantasy element that boosted the spooky atmosphere even higher and made for some action packed fighting scenes.
In the midst of all the dark secrets, there’s a really sweet romance that warmed my heart. He supported her fighting and protecting herself, and offered her freedom from all the political chaos. Not to mention he has heterochromia eyes, scars, and a mysterious yet tragic backstory. The yearning and tension was everything, I couldn’t get enough of him.
There were so many plot twists that I lost count, and absolutely no one is who they seem. It’s no surprise that this was 5 stars for me. I knew from the first chapter I was gonna be in love with this world and these characters and this book. It wrapped up nicely, leaving me with a smile on my face. However, I wouldn’t be opposed to a sequel set in the same world. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

The Monstrous Kind is a gothic, mysterious romantasy that hooks the reader from the first page.

I had a great time with this one. It was haunting, romantic, and very entertaining. It had me guessing and smirking with its stunningly atmospheric prose and beautiful scenes. I was able to guess many of the big reveals at the end, but I still had a fun time with the mystery. This story had so many fun elements, and I cannot wait to read more of Lydia’s work.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!

Lydia Gregovic's debur novel has an intricate world-building, suspenseful plot, and compelling characters. Set in a dystopian England plagued by toxic fog and monstrous creatures known as Phantoms, the story follows Merrick Darling, a young woman who must confront her family's secrets and the darkness lurking in her own heart. Merrick's life takes a dramatic turn when her father dies unexpectedly, forcing her to return to her childhood home, Norland House. There, she discovers that her once-strong sister, Essie, has become withdrawn and fearful. As attacks on the province's borders intensify, Merrick and Essie find themselves trapped in a world of danger and uncertainty. The novel's strength lies in its atmospheric setting. Gregovic paints a vivid picture of a world where the toxic fog has transformed the landscape into a terrifying and unpredictable place. The Phantoms, with their grotesque forms and deadly venom, pose a constant threat to the inhabitants. However, as Merrick delves deeper into the secrets of her family and the other Manor Lords, she realizes that the true monsters may not be the ones lurking in the fog.
Merrick is a complex and relatable protagonist. Her journey from a sheltered and privileged existence to a world of danger and intrigue is both compelling and heartbreaking. She grapples with her own prejudices and fears, and her determination to protect her sister drives her to make difficult choices. Gregovic's writing is both lyrical and suspenseful. She deftly weaves together elements of fantasy, horror, and mystery, creating a story that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. Overall, I highly recommend this book for fans of dystopian fiction, fantasy, and suspense.

I was interested right from the title and cover. Then add in the romantasy and monsters and I was hooked.

Right from the first page, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down. I loved everything about this.

The world-building was fantastic, and it had the perfect gothic feel.

This was the author’s first book, and it was fantastic. You could tell, that she put a lot of time, effort and thought into this! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

it was a dark and twisted tale, filled with angst and paired with chilly & mysterious atmosphere. I love the writing style and how each character personalities were portrayed, especially Killian (he is such a dear must be protected at all cost). I also love Merrick as a lead, also Estella and Ames and actually everything about this book!

This was such a good book! I really love this author so I was so excited to get to read this book. The plot was so good I could not put it down until I finished! The characters were unique and I loved the journey and turmoil they went through. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.