This was Bridgerton smashed into the movie set The Mist with zombies. I would not say at all that this is based on Sense and Sensibility. I honestly almost DNF'd this book, it drug on so. There were spots of excitement but not enough to really reward the reader for sticking to such a dry story. The ending of this book was surprising and had me screaming at the characters because of the unexpected twist in the story. When I say the end, I am talking about the last 100 pages of a 300 page book.

I enjoy myself a good regency romance every now and again but this book didn’t do it for me. I feel that with some tweaking it could be really good. I would not run to get book 2 if there is one but I would read it at some point just to find out how the budding love story between Merrick and Killian develops.

Thank you Netgalley, Delacorte Press, and Lydia Gregovic for this e-ARC. The opinions posted in this review are given voluntarily and uncoerced .

'A line of iron lampposts extends along the cliff edge for as far as I can see in either direction, fires burning steadily in the lanterns that hang from each of their boughs, blazing against the approaching night. Beyond that lies the fog....The Graylands. That's what we call then-the mist-choked, uninhabitable swaths of our nation, the Smoke....'

This young adult fantasy has the very real feel of a murder mystery, horror, and historical fantasy all wrapped up into one story. The 'Monstrous Kind' tags itself as the fantasy version of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. I most certain can agree with that assessment but at the same time I would say I very much got the same feelings I did when I read both Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Stephen King's The Mist.

Over one hundred years ago the mist came and changed the face of England forever. London was burned to the ground in an effort to kill the creatures that came with the mist. Out of the ashes, New London was built and society learned to move on only with new rules and responsibilities. The Darling family of Sussex, through many generations, have been charged with the responsibility of keeping at bay those things that go bump in the night. Also known as 'Manorborn', the Darling's have some type of genetic immunity to the beings that reside in the mist.

Merrick and Estelle Darling both trained under their father's tutelage, learning how to maintain the lanterns and kill the zombie like monsters. Merrick had always assumed that her father would name her as the next Lord of Norland House; she assumed wrong. That title ultimately was bestowed on Estelle. In response, Merrick did the only thing she could, she moved to New London in the hopes of making a good match in marriage. This was what society expected of her. Unfortunately, shortly after her mother's death in a tragic carriage accident her father passed away. Estelle called Merrick home.

Upon her return to Norland House, Merrick discovers that everything is not as it seems. The reasons given for her father's death doesn't make sense, her sister is acting out of character, something or someone has been messing with the perimeter of her families land, extinguishing the lanterns and allowing the creatures to attack the residents. The mist is quickly encroaching closer and closer to the manor.

The reading age for 'The Monstrous Kind' is on point. Very little romance. I would rate the story PG-13 for the horror factor alone. I found the pace of the story to be medium until about 50% and then things really began to pick up. Merrick and Estelle are not completely lovable characters. They are both flawed and understandably so. Merrick is angry because she was passed over for the Lordship and Estelle is bitter due to all the responsibilities left on her shoulders. I found Killian Brandon to be a most lovable and ideal character. He is mysterious as well as heroic, he is described as having scars but those only add to his mystic.

Gregovic is releasing this story just in time for the Halloween spooky season and I certainly can see this being a holiday favorite.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

it was a struggle to finish this book, even though I was initially very excited by the concept of a gothic jane austen retelling. i wasn't a big fan of the the writing style, sometimes it felt a little forced and overwritten to me. the plot was bogged down with too much exposition and lacked the spark needed to engage me. while this book may appeal to some readers, it wasn't for me.

Merrick left her home four months ago to find a suitor, and suddenly receives word that her father has passed away. He was a protector of people from the Phantoms in the mist, and now he’s gone.

Merrick returns home where she learns her cousin and his wife are there, along with her sister, her sister looks exhausted, learns there have been multiple breaches of Phantoms coming through the mist and wonders why her sister never told her any of this.

Time goes by, and Merrick’s sister starts saying someone is watching her and following her. Merrick thinks it’s just stress, until, one evening, her sister disappears and appears to have been taken. Now Merrick has to find her sister, and find out who did this and why, and what they want.

This is definitely an eerie and spooky tale. Now, this is marked as a romantasy and inspired by Sense and Sensibility. I LOVE Sense and Sensibility. And I was excited to read this one, but this book is definitely not a romantasy and is very loosely inspired by Sense and Sensibility. It’s like it took small parts, like the love triangle, and put into this book, and that’s really it. Which is fine, it’s its own book then.

This is a very descriptive story. So a bit slow-going. There were moments that were a bit long with Merrick explaining the Manor Lords, their lands, and their world. Although, I did love learning about the world, and it was perfectly placed in the book that I didn’t feel info dumped.

I loved the spooky and eeriness of it. I think what I enjoyed most was WHO ON EARTH TO TRUST. Everyone was so sus in this book. It kept me on my toes wondering if we could trust this person, oh wait, maybe this one. And it was made worse by the fact that Merrick just seemed to accept what everyone said. She never seemed to stop and think about that person if they were legit or not. Except for poor Killian. He’s the only she didn’t trust from the get-go. It really kept me thinking throughout the book and I love that for a mystery.

Merrick drove me a little insane. She’s very full of herself and lets you know it. Someone in the book said “when she looks at the world, it’s a mirror and she only sees herself”. That to me was a perfect description of her, because it’s true. It’s sad, but I think it was to help us to see the growth she goes through in this book, because she really needed it! I don’t think the growth happened 😂 She was still rather dumb and naive by the end of the book and still allowed herself to be so easily manipulated to the point that it was rather pathetic. I will say she is a kind person and cares at times, but needs to reel in that hot temper of hers 😅 and stop making stupid decisions. Girl could not get herself together or make up her mind!

The romance was sadly not believable. They barely knew each other and were not around each other enough to make it believable. It just kind of happened and I was like alright I guess 😅

Overall, I think if you want to read an eerie gothic fantasy with a mystery, you’ll enjoy this! I wish there was more romance in it. Being coined as inspired by Sense and Sensibility, well, I expect more swoony romance than I got. I still really enjoyed the world and the mystery, and the story itself is very good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted e-ARC to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A perfect read for spooky season. This subtle ya horror has Bridgerton vibes set in a gothic atmosphere.

This was truly a unique read for me. I loved the phantoms, though I could’ve used more of them. It was refreshing for the romance to take a bit of a backseat and for the fantasy elements to shine more in this book as I’ve read a lot of Romantasy lately. This book has a lot of promise and I’m excited to see where book two goes!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book as a whole. Seeing the FMC grow throughout the book was fun. The atmosphere of the smoke and what it does to people that go into it was fascinating to me. I loved the romance between Merrick and Killian. Would have loved more!!

This book had coming of age, mystery, romance, deceit, determination, atmosphere….definitely a fall, spooky season vibe.

The Monstrous Kind is a young adult fantasy novel about a seventeen-year-old girl trying to survive in an alternate England plagued by both monsters and the plotting of the elite class.

Merrick is enjoying the social “season” with family friends in New London when she’s called home because her father has died. Her older sister Essie is their father’s heir, and with his death, the title and power will be transferred to her. But only a series of sentries and lanterns hold back the mist that contains deadly phantoms, and the fail-safes around Merrick’s lands are failing. When Essie goes missing, Merrick teams up with the scarred and mysterious sentry Killian to try to find out who took Essie and why the phantoms keep slipping past their security.

The Monstrous Kind had a nice pace and enough mystery and action to keep me interested. I thought the monsters and dystopian aspect of the plot were intriguing, and although I did figure out some of the secrets before Merrick did, I still look forward to finding out more about this world if there is a sequel. I liked Merrick as a character but felt like she needed rescuing more and more as the book went on. She started off as a good shot and the bolder of the two sisters, but by the end, she seemed a little more like a “damsel in distress,” easily fooled and manipulated by others.

As for the writing, the author relied too heavily on similes and metaphors, with almost every page containing one or two. The opening two paragraphs contain four similes right off the bat, and the book has nearly nine hundred uses of the word “like” (yes, I did a word count), most of which were used as part of a simile. I hope if there is a sequel that the author relies on these less, as they bog down the book in unnecessary detail.

Overall, The Monstrous Kind is an enjoyable YA fantasy with some exciting action and a small romantic subplot.

"An atmospheric, haunting, romantasy inspired by Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, set in Regency era 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.

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?"

Oh, a new twist on my favorite genre, Regency Magic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a bit of a rough time getting into this one. The plot and premise is fascinating, the world building was beautiful. But the tone and voice are overly floral and flouncy and made it hard to really dig into. I also didn’t really have any deep love or caring for any of the main characters. Their relationships all felt a bit surface level and forced. The very steampunk feel also may be perfect for someone else but isn’t my personal favorite. However the super unique plot, the idea of the most and the Phantoms, was enough for me to say I did enjoy reading this book and, while I may not pick up any more if this is the start of a series, I am glad I read it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Childrens', and Ms. Gregovic for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I was enjoying this book up to about 50, 55%, then I started to skim. It's definitely a slow build and there is a lot of political and world-building detail going on, which might have affected my attention span. Perhaps it was the fact that nothing seemed to be happening other than Merrick bumbling around. It IS young adult and Merrick definitely feels very teenaged (I believe she is 17), with all the miscommunications and jumping to conclusions and rash, impulsive decision-making inherent to the age. I agree with other reviewers that I would not have labeled this a "romantasy." The romance factor was minimal. "Gothic" is fair enough but frankly I would have liked the spooky atmosphere ramped up a bit and pushed squarely into horror - the action bits with the zombies, I mean, the phantoms, were my favorite parts. Characterization is a lot of fun here too - pretty much everyone is a bad guy, so to speak, to some extent.

I enjoyed the book but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had actually been a romantasy, as advertised, or if the romance had been cut out altogether and it had been a strictly fantasy/horror mashup.

This book was moody, atmospheric, Gothic, historical fantasy with zombies! I love pride and prejudice so I'm a little bias but this one has all the spooky vibes with it! For a debut this book is great! I loved the political climate with the different manor houses which are like lords for different territories that try to keep the 'Smoke' at bay. Humans that are touched by the 'smoke' turn into zombies. This part reminds me a little of the movie the mist. The smoke made this book so creepy and atmospheric! I loved it! I enjoyed the historical feel and aspects of the regular life for that time period! The mystery was great I had fun just going for the ride. The classism and elitism theme was done well. Especially with Cressida! The romance was fun but more of a subplot. I love me some Killian! I hope the next book goes more into the 'phantom' zombie things and what's happening with that. Cannot wait for the next book!

Spoiler free review here: So going into this, I have not read Sense & Sensibility so I had a different experience than some with knowledge going into it although now I will go and read that to make further connections.

There is a lot of world building and details. Some are going to love that and others won’t and that is okay— but felt it important to mention here because it can feel slow for some to get into, but I believe the build up is worth it.

I really enjoyed this work and even continued to read it while I was at an outdoor concert/event because I didn’t want to put it down.

I look forward to seeing what else this author will release.

Also it would be amiss for me to not mention how STUNNING & hauntingly beautiful the cover art is and how well it complimented this story.

This will be a great Halloween time read for many of you, so enjoy.

I see potential in this author, but I’m too much of a jane austen (and sisterhood!) purist to enjoy this. I could see how others might, I feel that a ya regency gothic monster story is pretty enticing regardless, so maybe still check it out!

I made it halfway through this before skimming the latter half. I liked the setting and the premise but I kept going back and forth between really liking it and being bored. It seemed to take forever to get to the halfway mark. I think this could really work for the right audience, I just, for whatever reason, lost interest in it.

I enjoyed reading this book even though the start few chapters were a little slow. I only say that because there was so much information at once about what type of enemies they were dealing with and how long. But once I got past those chapters the book was enjoyable and I definitely wanted to figure out who the real villain was! I will say I was not expecting the twist the author threw near the end of the book when she revealed the info. And than the ending with the note like that at the end, I wanted more and what Killian had planned! I do so hope it that is not all, I want to know the outcome to that!

Thank you Random House Children's for a chance of reading this book, I enjoyed it very much!

***ARC received from Delacore Press and NetGalley, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

The Monstrous Kind is the debut novel from Lydia Gregovix an atmospheric fantasy romance inspired by Sense and Sensibility. I’m going to be perfectly honest, not only have I never read Sense and Sensibility (one day) I really had completely forgotten what this book was going to be about. But sometimes those types of experiences end up being a good read and this was a delightful read.

For a main heroine I did like Merrick, raised to be both strong but pretty with no chance of ever being heir she turns to being pretty. A pretty face that never really seems to fit in with society finding a match. She is a good mix of strength and vulnerability and I really did like her as a lead. She is tough if a little foolish at time and overly trusting in others. But for a girl trying to find a match to just survive it does make a lot of sense, especially after the rapid movement of things going on around her who has to switch from surviving through a sensible match to surviving to keep living. She is clearly meant to be young and inexperienced in the game compared to Cressida and her sister. Speaking of Cressida I wasn’t really sure what I would think of her at the beginning but its clear she is not there to usurp the sisters and despite her harsh edges she knows how to play the game of manor politics making her a fun comparison to the more inexperienced Merrick. The two women play well off of each other and I liked their dynamics.

For a male lead Brandon is in it enough to keep you interested, building up the relationship with Merrick but enough to step back and let the ladies take the lead. Although I found I wished for him to be in it more. Sometimes the secondary characters started to feel like they were a little too one dimensional even though there are hints at them being more. I do wish that they had explored the dynamics of the manor families more from the bit you get at the end it was really interesting. Its also the only time they all seem to interact with each other and I wish there had been more woven through the book.

The book is very well written and the pacing is done well, it never feels like it is rushing to cram things in at the end. Taking its time to explain things to a satisfying conclusion. It is a little slow at the beginning as it explores and explains the worst, building up the story but it does pick up relatively quickly moving fast as it explores the twists and turns of a fantasy set Regency era. I think one of my biggest issues was for a book that was both romance and bits of fantasy I wish it had played up the fantasy more. The Phantoms of a chance to be really frightening creatures, but we only really get glimpses of them. For all the threat the fog happens to be it doesn’t get explored enough throughout the book leaving the final climax to fall a little short as the tension with the Phantoms just wasn’t built up enough for me. And because the romance is more background and subtle, still lovely though, it just leaves room for the fantasy element to shine and unfortunately it doesn’t. Yes, I understand what the theme of the book was getting at and why it was more background, as was the romance, I just wanted more of the Phantoms, more of the action to see Merrick shine.

In the end The Monstrous Kind is a strong debut novel with fun characters and if the author ever feels like returning to revisit Merrick I would be along for the journey.

I absolutely love this debut novel from Lydia and cannot wait to see what is to come. This gothic fantasy twist on Sense and Sensibility is incredible.

Nothing is at it seems....

We follow Merrick Darling as she returns to her home for her father's funeral where we get our first understanding of the mist and the deadly phantoms that surround all habited areas. The first bit of the book is a bit slow as we get some backstory and world building but by the middle of the book I was hooked and could not put it down. There were so many times I thought I knew what was going to happen and who was bad and then the twist would happen and prove me wrong.

I cannot wait to see where the story goes in the next book and cannot wait in hopes we get more of Merrick and Killian together.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lydia Gregovic's The Monstrous Kind is a captivating journey into a world shrouded in mystery and danger, delivering on its promise of an atmospheric Gothic fantasy that will leave readers spellbound. From the very first page, you're enveloped in a sinister mist teeming with phantoms, held at bay only by the flickering flames of hope – and strategically placed fires. This eerie setting isn't just window dressing; it's a character in its own right, adding layers of tension and intrigue to every scene.

At the heart of this misty realm is Merrick, our protagonist who initially might seem like just another privileged Manor Lord's daughter. But don't let first impressions fool you – Merrick is a delightful surprise, a character who grows and evolves with each chapter. Her journey from a seemingly shallow socialite to a determined and inquisitive young woman is both believable and engaging. As she peels back the layers of family secrets and uncovers the truth her sister has been desperately trying to protect her from, we see Merrick's strength, resilience, and intelligence shine through.

The relationship between Merrick and her sister, Essie, forms the emotional core of the story. It's a beautifully complex dynamic – Essie, trying to protect Merrick while struggling to maintain their family's Manor, and Merrick, initially out of her depth but driven by a fierce love for her sister and an unquenchable thirst for the truth. This sisterly bond and rivalry, with all its tensions and tenderness, add a touching human element to the supernatural intrigue swirling around them.

While the pacing starts slow as Gregovic carefully constructs her world and introduces her characters, patience is rewarded as the story unfolds. The mystery surrounding Essie's disappearance is like a thread that, once pulled, unravels a tapestry of secrets extending far beyond their Manor to encompass all the Manor lords. The revelations are shocking, each twist and turn more unexpected than the last, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
The epilogue strikes a delicate balance between ambiguity and hope, leaving readers satisfied yet intrigued – a perfect setup for potential sequels while still providing a sense of closure to this chapter of Merrick's story.

The Monstrous Kind is a must-read for fans of YA Gothic Fantasy who crave atmospheric world-building, complex characters, and mysteries that linger long after the last page is turned. Gregovic has crafted a tale as haunting as the phantoms lurking in the mist, yet as warm and inviting as the fires that keep them at bay.

Thank you, Delacorte Press and NetGalley, for my free E-book for review.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC of this novel.

This was a 4.5 star read for me but since I can’t give half stars I m rounding up to 5 stars since it was worth so much more then just 4 and the issues I had were some editing issues that could very well be fixed when the actual book comes out since ARCs aren’t the finalized version when it comes to editing.

This book was a wild ride of a read from start to finish. The end left me trying to flip for more pages because I didn’t want the story to be over. I hope that this author plans to write a sequel because there is so much more I want to know and read about the world she has created. I would describe it as a YA gothic romantasy with Pride Prejudice and Zombies vibes. Every time I thought I figured something out there would be another twist. Who is the bad guy - who is the good guy - who knows!

The romance in this book isn’t the main part of the story but you will find you have the guy you are rooting for and then one you want to fall off a cliff. Part of the reason I hope for a sequel is because I want to see more of the romance between the Merrick and the guy at the end who will remain unnamed because spoilers.

This is an interesting and different take on the YA dystopian world has ended troupe that I think another who enjoys gothic fantasy books will really enjoy.

I didn't like this book. It was difficult to follow at times and I didn't find myself invested in the story. The premise was interesting and I do love Jane Austen. but the execution didn't work for me.