I will preface this review to say that horror isn’t my favorite genre, but I still felt like I gave it its fair chance. I made it through 35% before I stopped trying to force it.

This book was unreadable. The formatting of the ARC was incredibly distracting to follow what was happening — especially when alternating between Ricardo’s lived experience and Perihan’s manuscript. The mystery surrounding Perihan’s death was eerie but also confusing and not in the “I wonder what’s going to happen”: more like confusing in the “what is actually happening. The butterflies throughout the story I think were intended to be foreshadowing but instead came across as again, confusing. I won’t be reading this book when it is published.

I hate writing negative reviews, but after over 40% of this book, I decided to give up on it. The writing style was super clunky and felt YA and almost like it was written by AI at some points. There was a lot of repetition of describing words instead of giving us something to imagine. I cared about none of the characters, and the dialogue and even some of their actions did not feel like the way humans actually interact. This book is portrayed as a horror, but getting to halfway through and feeling no sense of suspense or creepiness was super disappointing. There was no intrigue to the story so nothing made me care about the plot, The diary entry sections and the flashbacks felt misplaced, and I'm not a fan of that plot device unless it's done really well because it feels like a cop-out and doesn't give the reader an opportunity to figure out the mysteries by themself. Overall it was disappointing and I could not bring myself to finish reading.

This was a tale of gothic horror and magical realism that uses it's creepy villa setting very well. It is slower paced (which is not a problem for gothic fiction) but the pacing felt uneven at times. This is a debut and gothic horror can be difficult to pace and balance. I felt like the main character was well developed, but the other characters were not as much. Although the diary is supposed to give us a glimpse into Perihan's life, it does feel a little stilted. It reads more like someone trying to imitate a diary (which I guess the author literally is) than actual diary entries.

I did think the setting was incredibly well done and you really get the feeling of a creepy empty villa. The inclusion of the butterflies was slightly heavy handed but I thought it was good overall. There is some dark humor and the last 20% of the book really packs a punch.

For a debut it's solid, and I would love to see what this author does in the future.

Loved the concept and vibes of this book. Turkish grandmother who has been living in Milano most of her life, leaves her creepy Italian villa with secrets and a suddenly dead garden to her grandson. I didn’t think butterflies could be morbid and gothic, yet here we are. The plot is like nothing I’ve read before.

Why then 3 stars? The writing style is clunky. The best analogy I can compare to is like the plot is a gothic victorian house but the writing style is a modern office building. It made it hard to stay in the story. And the plot pace doesn’t pick up until the last 30% of the book.

I do hope our author keeps writing because this is still a good tale even while reading like a debut, and maybe with more novels skill will grow to match the writing style to the story.

Their Monstrous Hearts is a masterfully eerie and unsettling tale that blends gothic horror, family secrets, and magical realism into a narrative that is as captivating as it is chilling. From the moment Riccardo, a struggling author, inherits his late grandmother Perihan’s villa in Milan, readers are drawn into a slow-burn mystery that evolves into something far darker than expected.

The story is enriched by Perihan’s diary, which Riccardo finds within the villa. Through her words, we are transported into a world that is at once beautiful and grotesque, as we learn about her past in early 20th-century Turkey and the haunting secrets she harbored. The butterfly collection—an innocent enough symbol—takes on a sinister significance, embodying the fragile line between beauty and terror. The creatures themselves seem to mirror the horrors lurking beneath the surface of Perihan’s life.

Turhan’s writing is mesmerizing, luring readers into a story that is part mystery, part horror, and part surreal exploration of family, obsession, and desire. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, with every page building tension, from Riccardo’s unsettling arrival at the villa to the mounting dread as he uncovers more about his grandmother’s life. The intricate weave of horror and magical realism creates a story that stays with you long after you turn the final page.

The mix of slow-burn suspense and visceral, mind-bending reveals makes this book a truly unique reading experience. The author’s ability to create tension and unease, especially through vivid descriptions and complex character dynamics, is extraordinary. The relationships in the story—particularly the tension between Riccardo and his grandmother’s memory—add layers of emotional depth to the supernatural horror.

Fans of gothic horror with an intellectual twist will find Their Monstrous Hearts a compelling, atmospheric journey that lingers in the mind. Turhan has crafted a truly haunting narrative that transcends typical genre conventions, delivering a story full of surprises and unsettling truths. Highly recommended for those who enjoy beautifully written, thought-provoking horror with a dash of the supernatural.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book. I will always be forever grateful.
This book for sure was one that left me sitting in awe of how engrossing this novel is. This book is a haunting tale of what people are willing to do to defy the limitations of life and death. And the monstrous beings they become..
I honestly wasn’t too sure what to make of this book before I decided to type in but it for sure was really engrossing, haunting and just all around a total mind f***. And I loved every minute of it.
It’s for sure an old trope that kind of has been done over and over again. The trope of being a down on their luck person has a stranger visit them about a family members passing and has them returned home to deal with what was left behind. And when they return things began to slowly unveiled themselves in a dark and twisted manner. Overall engaging,haunting and shocking.
For sure would recommend to those looking for a tale that will leave you gasping.

What made this book an unpleasant read for me was that I found the writing to be quite poor. I realize there are some readers who don't mind that so much as long as they're getting a good story, and this book DOES have a good story, so if the sentence-level stuff doesn't ruin the overall tale for you, you might enjoy this a lot more than I did.

I'm not sure I can explain what I found engaging about the story told here without spoiling things, but suffice it to say I found it held unique and interesting ideas. And I appreciated how the author chose to end the story.

As far as the writing - I found it to be very juvenile, but then learned that this is the author's first English language novel, and so that may explain some of it. Either his grasp of writing in this language isn't as good, or what his typical readers value in their writing differs from what I do. Beyond a few story inconsistencies, characters acting in ways that human interaction does not actually occur, and an extremely unlikable main character (albeit for a potentially good reason), my biggest issues were these:

Instead of "show, don't tell", the author chooses to do both. He does a good job setting an ominous yet captivating scene, but then outright tells readers, "It made for an ominous yet captivating scene". Speaking of captivating, the word appears 48 times in this book, sometimes in consecutive sentences. Beauty or beautiful is used 80 times, mysterious/mystery 40 times, scent 39, delicate 38, intrigued/intriguing 28, eerie 28, fragrance 28, vibrant 23, enchanting/enchanted 21, enigmatic 18, allure/alluring 16, and ethereal 15. Despite doing a decent job imparting these ideas in his story, he will repeatedly explain to us how captivating and alluring the enchanting enigmatic mysterious fragrance was, invoking a vibrant and ethereal beauty. A lot.

Because my main issue was with the execution, I feel like the intriguing premise here would come across much better as a movie from a streaming service or something. Alas, this book was not for me. But if story trumps writing in your reading, it might still be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Yigit Turhan’s Their Monstrous Hearts is a gothic gem that would make a stunning stop-motion film for adults in the vein of Tim Burton’s work. Riccardo’s eerie inheritance—a crumbling Milanese villa and ominous butterfly collection—sets the stage for a haunting tale of family secrets and creative desperation.

The decaying estate, mysterious greenhouse, and unsettling characters are ripe for Burton-esque visuals, with intricate designs and dark whimsy amplifying the novel’s themes of ambition and legacy. Perihan’s cryptic diary and her enigmatic circle of friends would translate beautifully into a visually layered, emotionally resonant narrative.

Though the story’s pacing can meander, its atmospheric tension and poignant conclusion ensure it leaves an impression. As a stop-motion film, Their Monstrous Hearts would captivate viewers with its macabre beauty and haunting depth.

Their Monstrous Hearts had its moments, but it ultimately left me feeling mixed. The book started strong and ended well, but the middle really dragged, making it hard to stay fully engaged throughout.

One of the standout aspects was the diary elements, which added an entertaining layer to the narrative. They kept me intrigued, especially as the mystery around the butterflies unfolded. However, while the story hooked me enough to want to uncover the truth, the pacing was uneven. This seems to be a trend lately—books with great beginnings that lose momentum midway before rushing to wrap things up.

The biggest issue for me was the lack of proper buildup to the ending. The conclusion felt disconnected from the earlier parts of the book, like the foundation wasn’t fully laid for the payoff. It left me wanting more cohesion and depth to tie everything together.

Overall, Their Monstrous Hearts was okay. There were intriguing elements and moments of strong storytelling, but the pacing and structural issues held it back from being truly memorable.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

After receiving news about his grandmother’s death Riccardo returns to Italy to claim his inheritance of her villa. Down on his luck the 20 year old wannabe writer finds a mysterious manuscript addressed to him from his late grandmother telling a magical tale of monsters, beauty, butterflies, and the secret to eternal life. As more mysteries about Riccardo finds maybe the story is true, but is it too late for his twisted fate at the end of this. Imaginative and unique this story kept you propelled to the shocking conclusion. A big thanks to @htp_hive @htpbooks . 4⭐️.

First few chapters I thought I was not going to make it to the end of this book. Language felt too embellished. I was telling myself that not every noun requires an adjective, not every verb requires an adverb. But I'm glad that I made it through those pages to find the gem hidden inside this book (or Mexican rainforests... or greenhouse of a Milanese villa).

Riccardo was facing writer's block and he was on his last pennies when a random dude brought him the news of his grandmother's passing. Now Riccardo had an option: either lose his agent and become a literary failure or go to Milan to take over Perihan's villa as last living relative. He chose the latter to find himself in the middle of a story that could be classified as fantasy but very much real one.

Butterflies did not get this much limelight since they showed up on the cover of Silence of the Lambs. While they always signified life and transformation, this time they went above and beyond (anything more would be spoiler). Until last pages I kept this hope that maybe things would get better but nope, life continued on in a different manner

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan is a mixed third and first person multi-POV horror set mostly in Milan, Italy. Riccardo is a short fiction author struggling to write his debut novel after already receiving his advance from a publisher. When a stranger reports that his grandmother, Perihan, has passed away and Riccardo has inherited everything, including her home in Milan, he uses the chance to finally get inspiration for his novel. What waits for him is a book that could either be the key to his writer’s block or his demise.

The atmosphere here is a very steady build into the creepy and the use of butterflies really enhances this. While butterflies are often seen as a good omen and one of transformation, they are more monstrous here. My mother viewed butterflies as an omen of death due to a childhood trauma and this felt like something she would have come up with, which made the whole concept really click for me. I loved how it was monarchs that got the most attention because they are resilient creatures and they pair well with the meaning of Perihan’s name: ‘Queen of the Fairies.’

Through Perihan's diary, we get a glimpse into an early twentieth century Turkish Muslim household and the viewpoints of a child on the customs around her. There are mentions of how it was viewed to be unfortunate to have multiple daughters and no sons as well as the use of Arabic for prayer, a language that Perihan did not understand so she didn't feel as connected to her family's faith. Perihan’s father locked up her mother in their house forever after an incident caused by a young Perihan, highlighting how much power men had at the time. I did get the sense that Perihan found Islam to be stifling, particularly around modesty rules, and she seemed to have almost entirely turned away from it by the time she was married.

The majority of the book is Riccardo reading Perihan's diary, creating a sort of book-ception as the fantastical only grows stronger and the creeping dread sets in. Riccardo can't really decide if it's an autobiography or a work of fiction or both and this only highlights how little he actually knows about his own grandmother and how hard it would be to believe that some of this could happen in real life. As a work of metafiction, it fits the theme of truth being stranger than fiction and boy would this be strange if it had actually happened.

Content warning for sexism, sexual assault, domestic abuse, and child abuse

I would recommend this to fans of atmospheric horror that leans towards metafiction and those looking for a horror that explores the obsession with youth and eternal life

4.5⭐️

Enter Riccardo, a young writer currently down on his luck, with a severe case of writer’s block. When Riccardo’s grandmother (Perihan) dies, he finds out he has inherited her estate and famed butterfly collection. He departs on a trip to Italy to his childhood home and his newfound adventure in hopes it will help his writing standstill. Little does he realize that it will be a very mysterious adventure full of unexpected surprises!

This story is a traditional horror with a very slow burn. The story builds and keeps you interested throughout. As you approach the end, it really builds you up and gets you excited to the point where you can not put the book down! There are many twists and turns, an enjoyable love interest and a very cool background story. I highly recommend this unique book with its epic ending!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this free ARC book in exchange for my candid review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Their Monstrous Hearts.

I was pleased my request was approved because the premise definitely caught my eye.

Sadly, this didn't hit the mark entirely for me, and let me tell you why:

I liked the premise, I was curious about Perihan and her relationship with Riccardo, but the writing style wasn't for me.

The writing was almost YA-ish but maybe because Riccardo is so young and immature.

It didn't help that Riccardo is a dull, uninspiring main character. Or maybe he's supposed to be.

I'm not a fan of narratives where there's info dumping via a journal or manuscript.

Nothing happens, at least not to Riccardo, but perhaps that's the point. Nothing happens to him because he's a nobody.

Also, I wouldn't categorize this as horror, more like magical realism and fantasy. Or I feel like this because I don't scare easily.

I did like the ending, at first, I wasn't a fan of Perihan, she's cold, cruel and callous, but by the end, I admire her resiliency and her calculating manner.

The narrative is less a horror story and more a story of identity and reinvention, of living your life however you want and make it to be.

liked the author's note at the end and her love for her grandmother and their shared love of horror movies. What a wonderful bond to have with one another!

Stories often teach us that monsters are usually scary looking and ugly. But monsters can wear many faces. Even attractive ones! That was one of my favorite themes in Their Monstrous Hearts. I was excited about this book the moment I first saw this cover and after reading it, I just hope that I’ll get to read more of Yigit Turhan’s stories.

Their Monstrous Hearts is the kind of book I enjoy rereading because knowing the ending changes all the little details along the way. I also loved the story within a story within a story, Perihan’s diary was such a great storytelling tool.

Riccardo is young, poor and struggling with his writing. After finding out his grandmother Perihan has died suddenly, he reluctantly travels to Milan to stay at her house. Her butterfly collection, her diary, all of it leads him down an unexpected path.

Perihan was such a colorful, memorable character. I’m part Turkish so reading about her life in Turkey and her journey towards her life in Italy was particularly interesting. I’m a stickler for categorization so I’d say this book is more of a literary fiction with horror vibes and it will appeal the most to readers who enjoy that combo! For me it was a chef’s kiss of storytelling.

A huge thank you to HTP, Mira and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a breathtaking exploration of love, identity, and the complexities of human emotion, wrapped in beautifully crafted prose that captivates from the very first page. The richly developed characters are a tapestry of flaws and virtues, making them relatable and compelling as they navigate their inner struggles and confront societal expectations. Turhan masterfully blends elements of fantasy with profound emotional truths, creating a world where the monstrous and the mundane coexist in a delicate balance. The protagonist’s poignant journey of self-discovery resonates deeply, inviting readers to empathize with their fears and desires while embracing themes of acceptance and belonging. Moments of dark humor and unexpected tenderness pepper the narrative, enriching the experience and ensuring it lingers long after the last page is turned. In a literary landscape often dominated by formulaic plots, "Their Monstrous Hearts" stands out as a bold and original work that encourages readers to find beauty in the chaos of life, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a story that is as thought-provoking as it is enchanting.

Wow, wow, wow! I devoured this book in a little over a day and preordered it before I even finished reading it. How do I describe how surprised I was by this one?

We follow Riccardo, a young man down on his luck without any options to pull him out of his dark trajectory. That is until out of the blue, he is presented with the inheritance of his late grandmothers villa in Milan by a strange man. Without any other options, he travels to Milan and upon arrival notices the villa isn’t quite as magical as he once remembered. Following the funeral of his grandmother, he finds a manuscript written for him. In secrecy, he reads through the manuscript and slowly starts to uncover the dark secrets written within the pages and crevices of his grandmothers life. The staff is at unease, the villa is filled with skin crawling eeriness, and Riccardo is discovering that he may not be out of the woods of his bleak future just yet…or ever.

This isn’t your typical horror story; this was a major slow burn, but the payoff is so worth the wait. The writing of this gothic tale hooked me from the beginning. The pages were crawling with atmosphere and claustrophobia as we unraveled Perihan’s dark and twisted secrets. This was a tale of a powerful woman’s determination to hold onto the life she created for herself. Full of desire and greed, Perihan literally stopped at nothing to garner a life full of wonder, using the beauty of such delicate creatures (butterflies) to magnify the darkness the lies beyond the beauty of life. I was HOLLERING by the end of this. With about 60 pages left, I was wondering how this story would wrap up with so many questions still left unanswered. And then you’re gut punched with the reveal, left to somehow pick up the pieces of your exploded mind. The way the author weaved this tale through horror and magical realism was such a unique experience. This was a trip and I cannot wait to get my hands on the beautiful physical copy upon release. Highly, highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book so much...but i will never ever look at a butterfly the same again! This was the perfect slow burn horror story and I couldn't get enough of it. By the time you get to end of the book, you'll be asking yourself "how far will I go to preserve my dreams?"

Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan is a fantastic slow-burn horror story. Riccardo is a young writer experiencing severe writer’s block and facing eviction from his home. A strange man arrives bearing news that his grandmother Perihan has died and asks Riccardo to accompany him back to Milan for the funeral. Riccardo learns that he has inherited his grandmother’s villa there, along with her rare butterfly collection. He decides to go, but when he arrives he finds the villa is in disrepair, Perihan’s staff and friends continually whisper and sneak about, and something is very off about the greenhouse. Riccardo discovers a book written by Perihan entitled, “For Riccardo,” and begins to read it. He hopes it will hold the key to what happened to her, but then thinks it will help him write his book.

This is an incredibly unsettling book, and I say that with the utmost respect. The author’s descriptions of the animals/creatures are gorgeous and grotesque. I loved the juxtaposition of Riccardo’s character vs. that of Perihan. The whole book just felt so rich in every aspect. I devoured it. And do we even need to mention that gorgeous cover?!

Overall, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars! It held my interest from beginning to end. It is a slow burn of a book and guaranteed to reward you if you stick with it! There is pure terror towards the end of this book and you can’t look away from it. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via Net Galley. All opinions are my own.