This story was a little too slow for me. I really liked the concept and storyline. It was just missing something for me to completely suck me into the story.

I recommend this for someone who likes Jane Austin retellings, gothic regency, and mystery. I would not consider this a romance or a romantasy even though there are romantic elements.

*I received a free ARC from the publisher; the review is my own.*

4.5 stars (see Notes)

First things first: There had better be a sequel, and I'm ready for it.

If that doesn't give you a fairly good idea of my thoughts after finishing this book, then I suppose you can keep reading to find out more.

I've noticed a trend in the books I've chosen lately: genre mashups. This one was described as Sense & Sensibility+House of Salt & Sorrows<+Anatomy: A Love Story, and I'm happy to say that I've enjoyed all three of those books. There's another book I would add in here, but I'm having difficulty recalling the title at the moment. Regardless, I could pick out the threads of inspiration or similarity from each of those books, but The Monstrous Kind was still very much its own book with characters and a plot unique to itself rather than borrowed from other works. I really enjoyed it and could have easily finished it more quickly, but I was out of town and busy last week.

The relationship between sisters Merrick (17) and Essie (no age given, but probably 18-19) is . . . hard to describe. Somehow, it's a relationship of loyalty and betrayal, love and resentment, and dependency and separation. They would do anything for each other, but they might hate themselves for it. That said, Merrick was my favorite of the two sisters, and the book was told through her perspective. I appreciated that she recognized her flaws and fialings along with her capabilities and strength of character. She was very real in that way, and it made it easy to relate to her.

I don't want to say too much about other characters and risk giving anything away, so I will leave it at this: Certain characters proved themselves to me when I believed they would not. And I liked Killian Brandon (probably 19-20).

This book was written in a way that it pulled me into the world and allowed me to very successfully visualize the setting, the events, and the people. I . . . felt the book, if that makes any sense. (I suppose that's why it's described as "atmospheric.") Descriptions were plentiful but not overbearing, adding richness and clarity rather than distracting from the characters and the plot. Although the use of similes and metaphors was particularly frequent, I couldn't pinpoint any that I would have removed. Honestly, they all fit exactly where they were placed and made me see, feel, or understand things in a way that justified their usage.

Returning to my first statement: This book does need a sequel. Although it does not end on a cliffhanger, it does leave a lot unfinished. If and when a second book is written, I will absolutely read it.

Note: Very little swearing but a handful of f words (would have been a solid 5 stars without those). Violence.

Merrick Darling is the daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex. As a child of one of the manors, she is immune to the fog that encroached on England generations prior. As long as the fires along the perimeter of the property continue to burn, she will be safe from the dangerous Phantoms that stalk the fog. Told by her father that she will never inherit the manor, Merrick heads to New London in order to marry well, so she will not be dependent on her father or sister Essie.

When Merrick’s father suddenly dies, she returns to her childhood home of Norland House. Upon her return she is horrified by what she finds. Essie is frightened and withdrawn. There have been breaches along the province’s borders. The fog is closing in and the fires aren’t holding. The monsters are closing in and the eleven other Manor Lords are honed in on the weakness within Darling Manor.

Something is wrong. Who can be trusted? Can Merrick save the estate and uncover the secrets of Norland House?

Read if you like:
- gothic undertones
- regency setting
- romance subplot

This was a great read to kick off the ‘ber months. The Monstrous Kind has gorgeous, gothic regency vibes. The manor is eerie and lends itself to the overall haunting atmosphere of the underlying story; deadly monsters prowl the perimeter while only a few are immune to the fog that contains them.

I enjoyed Merrick’s character, she is flawed, but determined and resourceful. The plot moved relatively quickly and I loved the twists and turns that the story ventured down. The prose is beautiful and ethereal. I am grateful that the romance was not the main plot point, as the fantasy aspects and world building were truly able to shine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Delacorte Press for a free digital copy of this book. This is my honest review. Publication date: September 3, 2024.

I just happened across The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic but am I glad I did. I loved everything about this one. It is dark and mysterious and there are weird happenings and deaths occurring...all right up my alley.

Merrick Darling is the daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex and unlike the commoners, she is immune to the toxic fox that covered England generations earlier. Because of that, she will never become a Phantom, a creature that stalks her province's borders, as long as the fires burn to hold them back. Unfortunately for Merrick, the one thing she was hoping for, will never come to pass, she will never inherit her family's manor...it will all go to her sister Essie which means she needs to marry well. Having come to face that fact, Merrick left the manor and threw herself into society life.

Because of the way she left, there were hard feelings between Merrick and Essie, but when Merrick's father suddenly dies, Merrick has to come home and what she finds isn't what she expected. Essie isn't the strong and capable person she used to be, instead, she is withdrawn and frightened. There have been a number of attacks along the borders and the fog is closing in, which makes Merrick and Essie vulnerable. Not only because the Phantoms are out there but also because the other Manor Lords are looking for a weakness.

When Essie goes missing, Merrick doesn't know who to trust and she knows that there's something she's missing...she just has to keep digging. The question is, should she trust her family, the guard, or the boy who says he wants to marry her? Or none of them at all?

I thought Gregovic did a great job of tying this story together. Admittedly, I didn't truly figure out what was up until later on as things were being revealed although on the love interest front I wasn't fooled. That said, I thought the fog and phantom aspect of this along with the whole immunity plot line was interesting and brought it all together. With the way this book ended, there is absolutely an opportunity to lead into another book - I'm just saying - so if there's a continuation of what happens next for these characters, I'm here for it.

If you're looking for a new YA Fantasy to pick up, consider grabbing this one, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I requested this novel from NetGalley because of the beautiful cover and titles – House of Salt and Sorrow (so much gothic atmosphere) and Anatomy: A Love Story (one of my favorite female MCs).

This novel doesn’t claim to be gothic horror, but the atmosphere is pretty similar. It’s classified as a romantasy, but I don’t think it really falls into that category either as there’s very little romance – which I didn’t mind at all. I haven’t read Sense and Sensibility, so I can’t speak to how closely it follows that story.

Let’s talk about the surprising characterization, which the author clearly has a talent for. As Merrick is insensitive and selfish at times, I didn’t particularly care for her. In fact, none of the characters really spoke to me and seemed kind of bland. Until they weren’t. Soooo many hidden motives and political scheming, which made the characters infinitely more interesting. It’s hard to trust any of them, as Merrick learns the hard way in some cases.

With the phantoms in the fog breaking through the boundaries and killing more people, stakes are high. When Essie goes missing, Merrick also has to deal with the other eleven Manor Lords who are more like vultures waiting for a fresh kill. Showing any kind of weakness to them can be a tragic mistake bundled with a lifetime of regret.

Although this is a standalone (I think), the ending leaves potential for a sequel. This is the author’s debut novel, and I’ll be looking out for her next book. Recommended for fans of regency mystery, unpredictable characters, and political machinations.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bridgeton meets Blood & Ash Series

A girl travels home to go to her father's funeral and get the family estate in order. Her older sister is to take the head chair of the family when she suddenly goes missing. This while their world being hunted by "Phantoms". It wasn't clear what these were but it sounds like a mix of zombie and vampire. The MC must find out where her sister went, why certain family affairs are failing, and the truth behind many many things.

This was a fun read. The author builds up tension during this book, but there is never any spice, maybe a kiss or two. There are so many twists and turns, it was fun to figure out and decipher everything. The reason I took a star off is I can't stand drawn out endings and this could have been so much more enjoyable if the ending was cleaned up a lot.

No spice. No romance.

Merrick Darling is immune to the toxic fog in England, so she will never transform into a monster. She is a daughter of the Manor Lord of Sussex, safe yet unable to inherit the manor. She must marry well or live with her elder sister Essie. When their father dies, Merrick can no longer enjoy New London society and must return to Norland House. Essie is withdrawn and frightened of the attacks on the borders. The fog is starting to close in, meaning the monsters are more likely to arrive. The other eleven Manor Lords watch for weakness, so revealing this is out of the question. When Essie goes missing, Merrick needs help. But who can she trust?

If Regency London was transported to a gloomy post-apocalyptic kind of zombie world, this is that world. The twelve great Manor Lords are descended from the original people able to push back the fog and the people eating monsters it contained. Rather than a bite being the contagion vector, it's the fog itself, and the Manorborn family descendants are the only ones able to be in the fog without turning. This adds tension for Merrick, because there have been more breaches in Sussex, villagers resenting her family and a dire need for more people to patrol the fog borders. The world of Manor Lords involves jockeying for power and social standing, and for a long time Merrick thought her only value was to secure a good marriage. Even in the short time she was away in New London, more and more secrets had accumulated in her absence.

There's a lot of world building in the first third of the book, and the inherent mistrust that Essie has rubs off on Merrick. The system is rigged, and she has a more moral code than most around her. That makes it harder for her to tolerate the apparent coldness of her cousin and cousin in law, the plight of the villagers without protection, and even the secrets in her family. She's drawn to the guard that helps her investigate, as well as the neighboring heir. In a world run on secrecy, subterfuge and privilege, revealing the truth is dangerous. I sympathized with her grief and tangled emotions, and the end was a fascinating and fitting end to the story.

I loved this book from start to finish. It was captivating, riveting, and a mystery that begged to be solved.

The characters were beautiful, and I fell in love with the way that Merrick’a brain worked.

This was a delightful paranormal romantasy read that takes place in new Regency England. I was immediately transported into the haunting narrative as Merrick Darling returns home after her father's sudden death and thrown into mysteriousness of the phantom breaches of the Darling Manor and the disappearance of her sister shortly after. This debut novel had lots of twists and turns that were fueled by secrets and lies with some romance thrown in along the way.

If you're a fan of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, paranormal romance, and young adult, this would be a great book to add to your TBR!

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy! ❤

An atmospheric and gothic tale that had me captivated from the very beginning.

Lydia Gregovic wove an amazing and unique tale that drew me in from the very beginning.

I have absolutely no criticism for this one! I loved every moment of it, and need everyone to read it immediately.

The characters were met with such depth and were complex, yet not too much as to make them feel unrelatable to the reader.

This is the typenof book I see myself returning to for many rereads!

Thank you to Lydia Gregovic, the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is definitely a gothic book with a enemy that feels similar to zombies but they are called phantoms. The sisters are both the heirs to their manor which is the highest class of the land. This is not set in our timeline very different class system but love that women have power.
This book was a a little slow to start but then the plots and twist took me on a crazy ride. Very gothic, very elite, very tricky.
The romance between Merrick and Killian was slow burn. Since he’s hiding something and she’s just uncovering the huge plot left behind from her father. They work close together to find out the truth and you know that forced proximity!

The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic is a moody, atmospheric Regency fantasy with a gothic twist. It follows Merrick Darling, a young woman returning to her family manor after her father’s death, only to discover a sinister mist that turns people into phantoms. The story balances mystery, eerie worldbuilding, and a subtle romance subplot, though it leans more into fantasy and suspense. Merrick’s quiet journey of self-discovery in this strange world, combined with the suspenseful atmosphere, makes for an engaging read.

While the book presents itself as a reimagining of Sense and Sensibility, the sister relationship and romance aren’t as developed as one might expect. That said, the mist, manor families, and phantoms create a fascinating backdrop that builds tension and intrigue. If you enjoy slow-burn historical fantasy with gothic vibes and a touch of romance, this one is worth checking out—especially for fans of moody mysteries set in Regency England.

Book Review: The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic

♥️🩶The Monstrous Kind is a Gothic Regency YA fantasy that follows two sisters navigating family tension and mysterious dangers in their old manor. The story unfolds from the perspective of Merrick, a soft-spoken and naive young woman returning from the London marriage mart after her father’s untimely death. As she grapples with her place in a world that dismissed her, a menacing mist surrounds the manor, turning the unlucky into terrifying zombie-like phantoms. 🩶♥️

What really stood out for me was Merrick’s quiet journey of self-discovery. I loved how Gregovic portrayed her growth, giving us a heroine who finds strength not through brash action, but through inner resolve. The lush descriptions and eerie atmosphere drew me in and painted a vivid, mysterious world that felt both haunting and beautiful.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yesssss. The perfect book for spooky season.

The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic is a YA gothic fantasy novel that is supposed to be a retelling of Sense and Sensibility. 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?

This book is monstrously good and dark, and works perfectly for a spooky season read. Fans of House of Salt and Sorrow and Anatomy: A Love Story will devour this whole!

Okay I am going to admit something but I have never read Pride and Prejudice. So keep that in mind while reading my review, since this book is loosely based off of that book.

This book was perfect to read during the spooky season. It had a gothic feeling and was very atmospheric. The zombies were definitely creepy.
I think that I've seen this book marketed as a romantasy. I have to say that I disagree with that. This book felt way more fantasy focused and the romance was more of a subplot. This works well for me because that is my preference, but it could be misleading to those wanting to read this book.
The central mystery of the book was really fun to unravel and try to guess. The writing in this book is fantastic. There was so much world building, character development, and a cohesive plot. I can not believe that this is the debut novel by this author. I will definitely be recommending this book to others, and will be reading what comes next from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is probably somewhere between a 3 to 4, but rounding up because the ending surprised me in a great way. The Monstrous Kind is a regency YA fantasy where two sisters navigate a strained relationship in their old Manor, surrounded by a menacing mist that transforms the unlucky into zombie-like phantoms. It is told from the perspective of naive Merrick, who returns from the London marriage mart after their father’s untimely death, where she must reconcile her father’s dismissal of her as an heir and contend with the circling vultures of other Manor-born Lords.

I appreciate Gregovic’s focus on a softer, more meek character finding her personal strength and how she builds the mysterious atmosphere with lush description. As a debut, it has its hang-ups: simile-ladden to a fault and clunky worldbuilding in its exposition. Gregovic can write a beautiful sentence, but a metaphor every line really killed the pacing and made the descriptions harder to appreciate. Oftentimes, less is more. That said, the ending was unexpectedly great and really punched up the themes, taking it from a somewhat predictable plot line to a tale on the corrupting force of power and what we sacrifice to get it.

I look forward to her future works and think they’ll probably align with those interested in the gothic mystery/softer MCs of Ava Reid, fantasy with historical influence of Alison Saft, and other gothic fantasy/regency works.

This story was a fun mix of Sense and Sensibility and P&P and zombies! I really enjoyed the darker Sussex, with the phantoms and the Graylands. The descriptive writing was beautiful and even with it being a darker themed book the words felt lyrical! Would highly recommend!

"An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, set in a Regency England about two sisters fighting to hold on to their manor while deadly monsters prowl along its perimeters—perfect for fans of House of Salt and Sorrows and Anatomy: A Love Story."

I mean with a tagline like that how can anyone say no! Merrick Darling's life is thrown into chaos as she receives news of her father's death. She quickly returns home to Norland House only to be met with an icy welcome from her older sister, Essie, and her cousin and his wife who seem to be quite settled in the home. Of course not all is as it appears, secrets seem to ooze from the very walls. Merrick, as a Manorborn, is immune to the toxic fog that encroaches further and further into England. Unlike the commoners, she will never become a Phantom—one of the monstrous creatures that stalk her province’s borders. After her sister's disappearance Merrick must face some hard truths and confront society's expectations. If you liked Anatomy then this is definitely a book for you. Very similar writing styles. This book is well written and serves up ambiance by the ton. This is a book that feels almost like a movie in your mind, you can see it come to life. I personally found it to be a little too much description not enough forward momentum with the plot. It made me feel out of step with Merrick as her story progressed. Although it is marketed as a romance, it is more like a hint, a flirtation if you will. This book is a great choice as we near Fall. A perfect choice for a gray, foggy day to read as you bury yourself in blankets.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

I liked the premise of this book set in Regency England...original, spooky, kind of Gothic...also included great atmospheric world-building. There are also some false herrings thrown in to muddy the waters between the "good guys" and the villains...some surprised me, some I saw coming.

There were parts of the book that dragged a little for me...not a lot going on. And I must admit to some frustration and disappointment with how the main character Merrick handled some of the situations she found herself in. I found her waffling a bit much between a strong, brave heroine and a meek doormat.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and thought it was very well done from a debut author. I'll look forward to more from her.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for providing the free early arc of The Monstrous Kind for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This was such a fun read. I would describe it as a YA paranormal fantasy with a little touch of romance. Merrick Darling returns home after the death of her father, the head of one the most powerful families in Britain. The land has a mysterious fog that turns people into flesh eating monsters, and Merrick is thrown into a world of deception and danger.

I enjoyed the beautiful writing that bordered on poetry, the pace of the story, the character development and the endless twists and turns. So glad I found this book! It was the perfect rear going into the Fall season.

Thank you Random House Children's Publisher and Netgalley for this arc.