I probably shouldn't admit this but I never read "Sense & Sensibility" so any inspiration, allusion or connection to that story was lost on me when reading "The Monstrous Kind". With that being said, I thought the concept was interesting and unique. The first quarter or so was definitely intriguing with the mysterious fog, magical immunity within the lords' bloodlines and zombie-like monsters set against the backdrop of regency England. Watching a socialite focused on securing a match try to solve the mysteries plaguing her realm was exciting. The worldbuilding was engaging and easy to follow.

However, the story started to lose itself. The book started off with a rundown of the 12 manors who rule, but most of them didn't even come into play so it felt like a lot of unnecessary worldbuilding. The Phantoms, which have been threatening the lands for over a century, weren't that present within the story overall. A lot of the scenes just end and the story picks up a few hours/days later without really following through. It made the flow of the narrative feel disjointed and jumpy. And lastly, Merrick was a hard FMC to like because of all the hasty and naive decisions she made throughout the story.

While the plot was predictable overall, it didn't take away from my enjoyment. As a young adult novel, it worked. This would be a decent choice if you're looking for an easy gothic historical read!

I was looking for something to bridge my bridgerton withdraw and still have a fantasy element to it. I was not expecting a mystery as well! This book is one I will be purchasing for my shelves and looking forward to the next. I will definitely be recommending this one to friends.

Wonderfully written and really draws you in. I can see people that loved series like the selection and luxe really enjoying this as an adult. The slow burn throughout is enjoyable as well.

This was a lot of fun and very interesting.. it had the morbid gothic setting with the creepy evil borders and the competing lords. I loved the sister dynamic and the plot twist for them. I also really like both Ames and Killian they are fun characters and Killian is more unique than the typical romance interest we see. Overall i. Am excited to see how the story continues and what will happen next now that the big secret is out and that everyone is back with their families.

4.5⭐️

Anyone looking for gothic vibes, subplot romance, scheming, & political intrigue? Yes? Ok go read ‘The Monstrous Kind’ now!

I truly believe if you set out to write a gothic tale you need to have very flowery writing. I think Lydia Gregovic does an absolute fantastic job at it. For a debut book, this was well done. I think maybe the pacing could have been a tiny bit better but nothing that took away from the enjoyment of the book.

Heads down I think subplot romances always work the best. This book did just the right amount and I loved it! Be warned if you are thinking this book is a romance book, it is not.

The storyline did a great job of keeping you immersed. I’ll I could think about was how much I wanted to read it! I guessed a few of the plot twist but was pleasantly surprised by one of them! I love when a book catches me off guard.

I thought the England world with fantasy elements was set up great. I wasn’t confused and didn’t feel like there was info dumping. I would like to see more of the whole political system tho!

Overall a very satisfying book that I cannot wait to get a physical copy of!

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Children’s for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a really interesting mix of gothic and regency mystery. It was a bit slow in pacing but overall was really good.

While the presence of this book is incredible, I found that the writing style just wasn't for me. That doesn't mean it was bad at all, as I think this book is actually extremely well written! It's just my personal preference.

I thought this book was well written and I enjoyed the more scary/creepy aspect of it. I personally didn’t enjoy the political side of it when it started really going on about the manors and vessels. Towards the end I was ready for it to be over. I did like the unexpected twist at the end.

4/5 Stars

This book isn’t for everyone, but if it’s for you then it’s FOR YOU. In other words, there may be some who won’t enjoy this novel, but those who do will love it to the end of the earth and back. This story is a blend between Jane Austen novels, One Dark Window and zombies (yes, zombies though in this setting they’re called “phantoms”).

I won’t go in depth on my summary of the story as I believe it is better to go in blind and simply experience the storytelling that is The Monstrous Kind. I will, however, comment on the characters as I found that to be the most interesting aspect of all.

Sometimes in period retelling or even period originals, the personalities of characters fall flat. Not only do the characters all fall into the same archetypes, but I just really struggle to care about them. Fortunately, that was not the case in this novel. Nearly immediately I was drawn into Merrick’s (our FMC) world. Not only was I interested in who she would choose but in the outcome for her future as well. In fact, I cared about every character from Merrick’s sister, to her guard, to her stern mother figure in Cressida, I wanted to learn more about every character.

Not only does this author develop dimensional characters, Gregovic threads an interesting plot into a stunning world. The magic system, while not explicitly explained, was breathtaking in the sense that I would go from intrigued to overwhelmed alongside the characters. Furthermore, Gregovic utilizes beautiful language throughout this novel to illustrate every image. My one concern/possible complaint was that at times the language was too heavy. As a whole, however, I greatly enjoyed this read.

I would classify this novel as YA, with minimal spice (but such wonderful tension!). I would highly recommend to fans of One Dark Window, A Study in Drowning, and Jane Austen novels.

I love a good Sense and Sensibility retelling! It also had A Study in Drowning vibes. I enjoyed it very much. Monstrous Kind was a little slow to start but about 25-30% of the way in picked up and from there it was amazing and difficult to put down.

I was just drawn into this story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. I was so disappointed to turn the last page and I immediately wanted more. I can’t wait to see what's next from this author.

After the death of her father, Merrick is summoned to her home, Norland House. Upon arrival she finds her sister in a state unlike herself and unexpected guests as well. Alongside that, there are holes in the borders, allowing phantoms to come in, and the fires are not doing well to hold them back. When the world seems untrustworthy and against her, will Merrick be able to save Norland house and find a husband?

This was a fun read, I enjoyed it quite a bit. There were a few times Merrick annoyed me with the way she reacted to certain situations and people and the choices she made, but given her age, I suppose some of them make sense. Despite that though I still found myself shaking my head at her.

I’m glad she managed to evolve a bit at the end. She stayed pretty strong throughout the story though, I liked how well she knew how to use her weapons against the phantoms. Regardless of her decisions too, she was pretty smart and it was interesting reading along as she unraveled different truths.

If you enjoy a good story with a bit of action, discovery, monsters and a decent bit of romance, I recommend giving this book a chance!

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the chance to read an arc of this atmospheric read.

This was a fun dark fantasy/paranormal read. The relationship between the sisters is just so heartwarming and I just loved reading about them and their dynamics. As a mainly horror reader, this was quite an interesting take on monsters and I just have to say I truly liked it. It was cool, atmospheric and felt like a fever dream. Highly recommend!

This is so unique! It’s based on Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”, but it veers off into its own territory right from the beginning. A mist has begun to take over England, only held at bay through strategically placed lanterns, which sentries patrol nightly.

Merrick Darling is on her way back to her Manor upon learning of her father’s death. Only the Manorborn are immune to the mist’s effects—everyone else is transformed into Phantoms, killing machines driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh.

Something’s wrong with Darling Manor. Who can be trusted? Can Merrick figure out who is a true ally in time to save the estate?

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press. I am writing this review voluntarily.

This book was a bit of a slow start but once it hit about 30% it definitely picked up and I couldn't put it down. I loved the writing style, the descriptive language the author used was beautiful and made envisioning the scenes so much easier for me.

I love mystery books and this book was the perfect mixture of mystery and gothic fantasy. Between the setting of a creepy manor with a transforming mist surrounding it, to the monstrous Phantoms that cause terror.

Though I thought the end was bouncing a bit all over the place at times, I felt it all came together in the end. I loved Merrick, seeing her come back home and realizing not everything was as it seemed and trying to find the truth and navigating politics along the way.

Romantic and magical, this book was everything I was looking for in a romantasy. I highly recommend this for those looking for magic and romance and suspense.

If Jane Austen wrote Game of Thrones, it would be The Monstrous Kind by Lydia Gregovic. The beginning drive into Sussex for Merrick felt set to the original music for American Horror Story: Coven. The middle is filled with complex political intrigue, sibling rivalry, parental pressure, classism, corruption of power, inbreeding disguised as "good breeding...." It had everything, and I want more.
This book is marketed as a YA, but it does not feel YA from the complicated, political structure to the elevated language. This book truly felt like an adult Romantasy missing the spice. The ages of the characters are a little ambiguous, but since Merrick's choices are marriage or marriage, it is a little confusing why this would be seen as YA when that's not a modern, relatable teen dilemma. The ending was also trying to do a bit too much at once, but I'll forgive the last 4% when the first 96% was a wild ride I was thrilled to be on. I would happily read everything else in this universe.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House Children's Delacorte Press for this impressive ARC!

"The Monstrous Kind" by Lydia Gregovic is a spellbinding blend of gothic horror and regency romance that reimagines Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" in a world teeming with peril. The atmospheric tension of the toxic fog and lurking Phantoms beautifully contrasts with the societal constraints and pressures faced by Merrick and Essie Darling. This book is a dark, twisty delight that captures the struggle for survival in a crumbling world, all while navigating complex family dynamics and societal intrigue. Gregovic's vivid writing brings the eerie setting and nuanced characters to life, making this a must-read for fans of romantasy and gothic tales. If you love your regency dramas with a side of monsters and a dash of suspense, "The Monstrous Kind" is the perfect addition to your bookshelf.

I think this book will have an audience that will LOVE it; unfortunately, I am not part of that audience. I think that marketing this as a retelling/taking inspiration from other books might not have been the best idea. While the themes may be somewhat similar, it was not strong enough for me to see any sort of association without knowing what it was marketed like. This doesn't really work out for the author because then readers go in with an anticipation of something and getting something completely different.

I found it really hard to get into the story because I just couldn't bring myself to feel connect to our MC. The pacing also felt a bit off at times where it was definitely dragging but didn't need to. Ultimately, I think this book has a good amount of potential but it's not for me (and that's okay!).

I wanted to love this, I really did. But I did not love it.

I adore Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, but this book is only very very loosely "inspired" by it. Very loosely. The plot is somewhat like a more original Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but without the original brilliance of the parts of P&P that survived the alteration.

The Monstrous Kind is very slow moving. The narrator, Merrick, is a complete idiot who does too much eavesdropping. (She is nothing like the intelligent but impetuous Marianne.) Her house, family, servants, people are all always in grave danger, but she keeps leaving her weapon behind. She several times makes rash decisions that she is lucky to survive. Her sister is even more unlikable and doesn't even have a fun romance to make her more interesting.

The attraction between Merrick and Killian is very predictable, and too argumentative to mirror Marianne and Colonel Brandon. The carrying on with polite society and manners while danger literally creeps up to you just didn't work for me. (I wanted it to!)

So overall, a disappointment. I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.

I absolutely loved this gothic fantasy! I was on the edge of my seat and still every twist and turn and betrayal had me reeling! What a great debut, I can’t wait to read more from this author!