3.5 ✨The story begins with a captivating image: Perihan's villa suddenly blanketed in monarch butterflies. Ricardo, her grandson and a struggling writer, is summoned home by Maurizio with the news of Perihan's death. Despite their years of estrangement, she leaves everything to Ricardo. Upon his return, he discovers an unfinished manuscript hidden in the villa. As he reads, he learns that Perihan believed she had encountered an angel, a celestial being who grants the power of rebirth through butterflies and tears. The manuscript reveals how Perihan used this newfound power to save people. This gift, however, brings its own moral and existential dilemmas. The tension escalates as Ricardo realizes the household is searching for the manuscript. Will Ricardo find the chance to write the book he dreams of? How far will Perihan go to attain eternity?

I received this book as an ARC. I had never read a horror story before as I typically read fantasy and thrillers. I enjoyed the storyline but found some of the characters and their commentary a bit cheesy/superfluous

I loved reading this book! I ate through it in one sitting! This book hooks you and does not let you go until the very end, but it still lingers on the mind!

"Their Monstrous Hearts" is a mesmerizing debut gothic novel that intricately blends horror, supernatural elements, magical realism, and a touch of romance. The story follows Riccardo, a struggling writer who inherits his grandmother Perihan's eerie villa in Milan, complete with her famous butterfly collection. As Riccardo delves deeper into the estate's secrets, he finds Perihan's diary, which may hold the key to understanding her mysterious death.

Turhan's talent with words shines throughout the novel, crafting a darkly evocative and suspenseful atmosphere. The intricate details of the villa and the butterflies add to the haunting beauty of the narrative. The novel explores themes of grief, fear, and transformation, capturing readers with its profound quotes and vivid imagery.

4.5 stars

“Beauty had a threshold, and beyond it, it became a captivating terror.”

This story has everything.
✔️Horror
✔️Supernatural
✔️Magical Realism
✔️Romance (M/M, just a sprinkle)

I had such a fun time reading this ARC that I quite literally devoured it in about a 4-5 hour sitting. It hits all the right notes for a fun, super suspenseful gothic horror.

The tiniest half-point was docked solely because the writing outside of grandma’s memoirs and the horror/suspense bits was a little… cringy, for lack of a better word. Certain characters, particularly Barbara, speak in a way wholly unnatural to almost any human being—“Yet, on the eve of Elettra’s sixtieth birthday, a calamity struck.” No mention is made of this being done on purpose for dramatic effect, or it could be easily forgiven. Characters seem to suffer such chronic flashbacks, it’s a wonder they’re able to get anything done. And certain statements would be repeated right after they were already stated. But all of this is tiny griping I swear, and could even be completely fixed with some minor edits.

In every other aspect of this book, I was almost literally stricken dumb with this author’s talent with words. Here are just a few of the choicest quotes imho:

“For in the face of fear, the true test of our character lies not in succumbing to it but in finding the strength to overcome and emerge transformed on the other side.”

“Grief, like a soundproof room, drowns out all other noises of life, trapping you in a seemingly inescapable space.”

”Sudden deaths, he realized, left behind a trail of intimate details, exposing the hidden aspects of one's private life. The history of our digital explorations, the remnants of unfinished conversations, the accumulation of unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink, the presence of worn socks strewn about—all told a tale of the person we were when no one was watching.”

I seriously can't wait for this one to come out next year! Thank you to NetGalley and HTP for allowing me to read and review this excellent ARC!