This book... I have read and reread the first 3% of this book so many times, I still don't know what is going on

Edward J. Cembal’s The Monsters in Our Shadows is an exceptional blend of horror and dystopia. The story masterfully explores the complexity of inner demons, trauma, and the human psyche. The pacing is perfect, keeping you hooked from beginning to end. The whole book is tense, full of action and dives into moral ambiguity, making readers question the thin line between good and evil. A brilliant read for anyone who loves dark, unsettling and thought-provoking storytelling. Highly recommended!

The Monsters in Our Shadows is a gripping, graphic, and gory dystopian horror that satisfies all horror promises. Set within the last remaining city, Atlas, surrounded by an enormous wall protective against the deadly world beyond, the story follows Anthem, an Exilist whose grim task is to dispose of people cursed with the Shiver, a monstrous entity devouring its host and spreading terror. Anthem's own personal struggle, hiding his own Shiver in the midst of trying to protect his daughter, really adds an emotional element to the quick and unpredictable plot.

Add twisted, unnerving characters—the old woman whose mouth was wired to be in a continual smile, for instance—and it's one incredibly unsettling atmosphere, à la classic villain Blog. Unfortunately, as dark and hopeless it was, the concept of actually being in such a setting—and tension—to the very end, kept me reading. If anything, I wish there was even more of this haunting world.

This is the Giver for a new generation. I am writing this review after just finishing The Monsters in Our Shadows a moment ago, and I am in tears. What a beautiful story of perseverance, grief, fear, shame, and finding the strength to move on. This is a perfect allegory for the struggle of depression, told through a dystopian tale about Shivers- monsters that quite literally follow their prey like shadows. Anthem, our troubled 'Exilist", is in charge of removing the Shivers and their still living prey from his town. The catch is- he has his own Shiver, and he wants to find a way out.

The pacing of the story is perfect. I worried that it would fall into classic dystopian novel cliches, but I was so pleasantly surprised. I found myself wanting to hurry through the chapters because I was so worried for and invested in the main characters, but at the same time knew that I would miss them when the book was over. The world building sets itself up well for a sequel, but also gives us a satisfying ending that truly made my heart soar. Anthem, Zoey, Melody and Sal are warriors in a fight against hopelessness, against nihilism, and will make you realize how truly worth living life is. The most beautiful stories could be right around the corner if you just take the next step.

If you are a fan of The Giver, the Babadook, A24 films, and fast paced literature, I cannot recommend this enough. This is an instant classic for me with so much reread potential. I cannot wait to see what the author does next (I hope something else in Anthem's world- Zoey's tale, maybe?).
I requested and received this as an ARC and am under zero obligation to review!

I just couldnt get too into this book. It was too similar for me in the idea of Maze Runner and the monsters, the untouchables. It was a good and fun read all in all. The story behind the monsters being our true fears and what we come to end up with, is a true way to get you to start thinking.

4 stars - I really enjoyed this book

Imagine… walled up city, dystopian times, people afflicted with monsters (Shivers) that live in their shadows and feed on their hosts.
Anthem, the city’s Exilist.. His job is to remove those who reached the end of their lives and their monsters outside the city walls. At the same time, afflicted with his own Shiver, Anthem is trying to find a cure and save his little girl and others from the horrible monsters.

This story was action packed, made me feel quite tense in places. The pacing was great. We had moments that felt nice and fast intertwined with slower ones that allowed us to take a breath and rest from all the action for a bit. Loved that. I think it made this story well balanced.

Characters were well written. You couldn’t help but root for them and feel their pain.

The story is full of metaphors, suggestions of depression, sadness, grief and others. Could be quite sad and emotional in places.

For a debut book I have nothing but praise. Not quite 5 stars though. I felt like something was missing, but if you asked… I wouldn’t be able to tell you what..

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to finish this novel in time with all of the personal stuff I have going on, however I got over halfway through and would like to give feedback based off of what I was able to read.
I loved this book, I was hooked from the start and I can’t wait till I am able to finish it! Everything from the suspense to the characters was amazing. I loved the amount of detail put into the scenes, and overall I found this novel to be well written.

This was such a unique concept and I honestly enjoyed every minute. It was super fast paced and we were thrown directly into the action. I also loved the characters and I was really invested in how everything would work out. I look forward to more from this author in the future!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Monsters in Our Shadows by Edward J. Cembal is a dark, thought-provoking novel that seamlessly blends psychological horror with elements of fantasy. Cembal creates a haunting atmosphere where personal demons, both literal and metaphorical, lurk beneath the surface, making it a gripping exploration of human fear and inner turmoil.

The book’s greatest strength lies in its rich character development. Each character feels deeply human, their struggles relatable, and their emotional journeys compelling. The "monsters" in the story are both terrifying and symbolic, representing not only external threats but also the darker sides of the characters’ psyches. This clever balance between real-world fears and supernatural horrors keeps the reader engaged throughout.

Cembal’s world-building is atmospheric and immersive, pulling you into a gritty, eerie setting where danger feels ever-present. While the pacing can sometimes slow, particularly in the middle of the book, the tension and intrigue are strong enough to keep you hooked until the end.

Overall, The Monsters in Our Shadows is a well-crafted horror novel that delivers both chills and thoughtful reflections on the human condition. While not perfect, it’s a captivating read that will leave you pondering the nature of fear long after you’ve finished. A must for fans of dark, introspective horror.

Book review 📚
The Monster In Our Shadows by Edward J Cembal
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh I actually have no words for this book. It’s literally a book that none of us want to read, but we all need to. I have never read something like this in my life. I can’t stop thinking about it. If there is an Edward Cembal AA club can someone give me information? K’ thanks!

I am actually struggling to process the words to describe this book in an effective way. All I can actually tell you is IT’S AMAZING. I’m honestly blown away. It haunts me. The horror aspect was spot on, clearly. This is a blend of psychological tension, dark fantasy and horror.

The thing I remember most about this book is the ability to deeply explore the human emotions. Focusing on the inner darkness. The twists are so unpredictable and the stakes just keep rising the further in you get.

A MUST READ! But approach with caution – that’s my only warning.

Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the ARC.

The metaphor of the Shivers being the physical manifestation of your depression/mental illness is very on the nose here, but I like the Eldritch horror aspect of it. The characters feel underdeveloped, and the worldbuilding seems so small. I wouldn't mind one if the other was better done. Specifically, characters like Rib are dropped with little answers, and others like Zoey will suddenly show up out of nowhere to provide all the answers. It's a little unsatisfying, but not bad overall.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6852735904

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/14c8f919-2b4e-4bbf-a57e-a610de4038d8

Check out this review of The Monsters in our Shadows on Fable. https://fable.co/review/ebd7c504-4800-4d8e-8561-dddbb96523c7/share

4.25/5

The Monsters In Our Shadows by Edward J. Cembal is a refreshingly unique dystopian horror novel that grabs your attention with its eerie world-building and sinister premise. The story centers around Anthem, a compelling protagonist on a haunting quest to rid the people of Atlas from the terrifying monsters known as Shivers. These creatures seem to plague the town, feeding off its inhabitants’ fears and weaknesses, creating an atmosphere of palpable dread.

While the beginning may feel like a slow burn, it serves to methodically build tension, introducing readers to the intricacies of Atlas and the emotional depth of its people. But once the story hits its stride, particularly in the latter half, it becomes nearly impossible to put down. Cembal's writing grows more gripping as Anthem's journey intensifies, pulling you deeper into the horrors lurking in both the shadows and the minds of the characters.

Cembal's debut novel shines with its creative vision and originality. His portrayal of fear as something both tangible and metaphorical adds depth to the dystopian landscape, making it stand out in the genre. The slow burn pacing ultimately pays off, culminating in an ending that feels both satisfying and open-ended, hinting at the potential for a follow-up novel to expand on the story.

This is an impressive first novel from a Canadian author who clearly has a knack for dark, atmospheric storytelling. Fans of dystopian fiction and horror alike will find much to love in The Monsters In Our Shadows. I, for one, hope we get more from the world of Atlas and its monstrous inhabitants.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

Shivers are a unique take on monsters, difficult to describe like individual boogeymen that attach themselves to their victims and haunt them , feeding off their fear and dread until they physically devour them, Anthem, one of the few surviving humans, has the unhappy task of exiling those who attract a Shiver to them. But Anthem also has a Shiver, and soon it will force him to seek answers outside the walls of safety where he has helped to place many others. I found this to be a bit of a slow burn horror even if the imagery was invocative and entertaining, it took a great deal for anything to happen with long spans of inner thought between. Heavy on the describe gore and darkly entertaining but ponderous and troublesome to get through. Good horror, though.

End of the world horror book with all the emotions, sign me up! This book was so good!! It had all the right vibes for surfing in a post apocalyptic world and doing the jobs that no one else ever wants to do.
I finished this book in less than 48hrs, incredible read!!

This book was very interesting, not quite like anything I've read before. It gave me "The Mist" by Stephen King vibes. Unknown monsters lurking in the darkness. Perfect for Spooky season!

Edward J Cembal’s *The monster in our Shadows* is a masterful blend of dystopian horror and existential exploration, offering a gripping and unsettling vision of humanity's endgame. Set in a decaying, gothic-inspired city teetering on the edge of oblivion, this bone-chilling novel introduces us to Anthem, a haunted and tormented hero tasked with humanity’s last, desperate defense against the Shivers—monstrous, insatiable entities that feed on human life and terrorize their hosts until they consume them completely.

What makes *The monsters in our shadows *so compelling is the depth and complexity of its world-building. The city, with its crumbling architecture and relentless sense of decay, feels like a character in itself—a place where hope is scarce, and survival is a daily ritual. The city’s last remaining inhabitants cling to life through a fragile practice of exile, in which these terrifying Shivers are captured and banished beyond the city’s walls. But as the novel opens, this system is failing, and the boundaries between safety and annihilation are quickly eroding.

Anthem, the titular Exilist, is the novel’s dark and troubled protagonist. Tasked with capturing and exiling the very creatures that prey upon humanity, Anthem is himself infected with a Shiver, a ticking time bomb of monstrous hunger that threatens to consume him. This internal battle—between the part of Anthem that strives to protect what remains of humanity and the dark, voracious force that lurks within him—is at the core of the novel's tension. As the city’s last defense falters, Anthem’s struggle with his own Shiver escalates, pushing him to venture beyond the city walls in search of a remedy.

Cembal’s pacing is relentless, balancing heart-pounding action with moments of deep, introspective horror. The Shivers themselves are nightmarish creations—eldritch and grotesque, representing not just physical danger but psychological torment. Anthem’s journey beyond the walls feels like a descent into a surreal, apocalyptic landscape, where new horrors await at every turn. Each revelation brings more dread, building toward a climax that leaves readers questioning the very nature of survival and humanity's place in this dying world.

What elevates *The monsters in our shadows *beyond a standard horror narrative is its thematic depth. Cembal explores the monsters within us, not just the Shivers that prey on the last vestiges of humankind but the darker impulses and hungers that reside in every human heart. Anthem’s internal conflict—his battle to suppress his own Shiver while trying to save what’s left of humanity—creates a powerful metaphor for the struggle between light and dark, hope and despair.

With its vivid, gothic atmosphere, horrifying creatures, and deeply flawed protagonist, *The monsters in our shadows *is a novel that will grip readers from start to finish. Its exploration of the boundaries of humanity and what we’re willing to sacrifice for survival makes it as thought-provoking as it is terrifying. As Anthem's journey unfolds, readers are left with a haunting question: How far would we go to save ourselves from the monsters, when those monsters may already be inside us?

With a major motion picture adaptation in development, *The monsters in our shadows* is poised to reach a wider audience, but the novel itself stands as a singular work of dystopian horror—an unforgettable exploration of fear, survival, and the darkness that lies within.

Ever thought about what would happen if shadows could eat you alive? No? Me either, until I started reading this book. This was such a great dystopian horror novel about these creepy, bloodthirsty shadow monsters called Shivers.

The author paints such a enchantingly grim, sad world that had me sucked in for the entire ride. The beginning was paced a little on the slow side, but I enjoyed the melancholy that it created. By the time we get to the last 10% of the book, the pace was zooming by and so many things happened that my head was spinning. I do wish that the ending would have been a bit more drawn out and detailed in all honesty, because I felt some whiplash from the pace change.

Overall, it was a wonderfully-done horror with the perfect amount of creepiness, body horror, and mystery to keep me on the edge of my seat. I find myself thinking back to this book often, so that's a sign of a great book for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.

Edward J. Cembal's The Monsters in Our Shadows is a dark, dystopian horror that explores the bleak, nightmarish remnants of humanity on the edge of extinction. While the novel offers a chilling atmosphere and a unique take on eldritch creatures known as Shivers, its pacing and character depth leave some room for improvement, resulting in a solid but uneven read.

Set in a decaying, gothic city on the brink of collapse, the story follows Anthem, an Exilist tasked with capturing and banishing Shivers—horrific, parasitic creatures that feed on their human hosts. Humanity has been reduced to desperate survival, and the ritual of exile, once their only hope, is beginning to fail. Anthem himself carries the weight of his own Shiver, whose growing hunger threatens to overtake him. As the city reaches a breaking point, Anthem is forced to venture beyond its walls in search of a solution to humanity's existential crisis.

Cembal excels in world-building, and the setting is one of the novel’s most striking features. The crumbling city, with its gothic architecture and pervasive sense of doom, creates an oppressive atmosphere that mirrors the internal struggles of its characters. The Shivers themselves are unsettling, nightmarish creatures, and the novel's horror is rooted in the existential dread they bring. The world Cembal constructs is bleak and unforgiving, and the imagery of a society clinging to life amid the ever-present threat of annihilation is genuinely eerie.

Anthem, the central character, is intriguing but somewhat underdeveloped. His internal struggle with his own Shiver adds tension, but his emotional arc feels somewhat flat. While the novel hints at his psychological turmoil, the exploration of his character remains surface-level. Readers are given glimpses of his past and the burden he carries, but there isn’t enough emotional depth to fully connect with him. Anthem’s journey beyond the city’s walls should feel like a personal reckoning, but instead, it often comes across as simply a necessary plot development.

The pacing of the novel is uneven. The opening chapters effectively set the stage for the story’s dystopian horror, but the middle section drags, with long stretches where the tension could have been heightened. The action sequences, when they do occur, are thrilling, but there are moments where the narrative loses momentum. The exploration of the eldritch horrors and the decaying city could have been more tightly woven into the story to maintain a sense of urgency throughout.

One of the novel’s key strengths lies in its exploration of the Shivers as metaphors for humanity’s inner demons and self-destructive tendencies. The "monsters in our shadows" represent both literal and figurative horrors, and Cembal does a good job of blurring the lines between external threats and internal struggles. The novel touches on themes of guilt, fear, and survival, raising interesting questions about what it means to face the darkness within. However, these themes, while present, could have been more deeply explored to give the story greater emotional resonance.

The climax and resolution offer some compelling twists, but the buildup to these moments could have been stronger. The novel’s final act delivers on its promise of high-stakes horror and existential dread, but by that point, some readers may feel that the emotional connection to Anthem’s journey has been lost.

Final Thoughts:
The Monsters in Our Shadows is an atmospheric and chilling dystopian horror that excels in world-building and unsettling imagery. Edward J. Cembal creates a bleak, gothic world overrun by nightmarish creatures, and the novel’s existential themes of inner demons and survival add layers to the horror. However, the uneven pacing and lack of deeper character development hold it back from reaching its full potential. A solid 3-star read, perfect for fans of dark, dystopian tales who appreciate atmospheric storytelling, but with room for more emotional depth and tension.

A post apocalyptic horror exploring a dystopian view of the future of earth after a chilling epidemic wipes out most of humanity.

This was a very different read for me but I really enjoyed it, and it made a refreshing change from my usual crime fiction books. The story follows Anthem, an exilist, whose job it is to exile afflicted members of the last known community on earth and rid the community of their ‘shivers’ or monsters to protect the unafflicted. Soon Anthem finds himself called upon by the town’s Architect and sent out into the Deadlands to try and find a more permanent resolution. As time starts to run out, Anthem discovers that what the residents have been told about life outside their walls isn’t all as it seems.

The story kept me enthralled and had lots of interesting developments and characters. I did find on occasion it was a little slow and the chapters could have been slightly faster paced for my tastes, but overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

A dystopian horror ,the world as we know it is almost extinct,.A race against time against the shivers through the dark lands where even more horrors and monsters await. An enjoyable gory read .