Filled with all the humor and heart that define the entire series, Strange New World is a delightful addition to the Dr. Greta Helsing stories. I have adored these books since I discovered them last year, and this one was no exception; I will be buying myself a copy when it publishes to join the rest of the series on my bookshelf!

After the closing events of Grave Importance, Heaven and Hell have signed an accord to work together, which is proving inconvenient as angels and demons are allergic to each other. The solution they land on is to send one of each on a cross-country trip together with a doctor who can study the allergy to figure out how to work around it. Of course, there’s no better monster doctor than Dr. Greta Helsing. But the stakes are far higher than managing a surly demon and a painfully sincere angel; someone is once again attacking supernaturals, and Greta will need to help crack the case.

My favorite thing about these books is the way the author balances gentle humor with truly heartwarming story lines and moments; and of course the characters. She has this magical ability to make the reader care about every single one of her characters, which is extraordinary in books with such large casts; I’ve read books with multiple characters before where I struggled to remember who was who, but no matter how many characters Vivian Shaw introduces, I’ve never once had that issue with the Greta Helsing books. When she brings in a character, you automatically love them, and the (sometimes shockingly high) stakes of her stories feel so much more personal because you care so much about the characters. I am so sad that this will seemingly be the last Greta Helsing book; I would happily read a 40 book series about these characters. I’m hopeful there will potentially be some more novellas in the future like Bitter Waters. Until then, these books will remain on my “frequent reread” list.

I would recommend Strange New World and the entire Dr. Greta Helsing series to fans of the Addams family, as well as to readers who love urban fantasy, supernatural characters navigating the modern world, humorous stories with a lot of heart, and found family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for the arc! All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for this ARC.

4.5 stars

Since I first picked up the Greta Van Helsing series, I've been quite heavily invested in Vivian Shaw's work. This series made me realize how much I love supernatural doctors, and see authors unfold a whole new universe that has yet to be explored in fantasy. I was charmed by how much care Shaw put into designing the medical care needed for supernatural beings and grew to love the world the more I read about it.

It's such a shame that the Greta Van Helsing novels are nigh impossible to find in a bookstore as I feel many cozy fantasy readers would greatly enjoy this world. I know it has a bit more plot going for it than a normal cozy read does, however Shaw's world building feels like a nice warm hug. To me it comes off as low stakes despite the fact that there is a lot of world ending plot points occurring in the background. Shaw does a wonderful balance of introducing the reader to the world, whilst also introducing the other side's POV to give a few tiny morsels about the bigger problem yet to come. Shaw is meticulous in her writing, and switches from the more mundane side of things to the apocalyptic flawlessly in one self contained novel.

Compared to most other books in the Greta Van Helsing universe, Strange New World feels like it takes more time to get off the ground. Which I am not complaining about. It just took me way longer to connect the dots on what could be the big upset. Considering how Grave Importance ended, it's a tough act to follow in the next installment. So in that regards, it feels like the stakes are much lower which led to me feeling more comforted by the events that followed. I also read Bitter Waters before diving into this ARC, having felt that it would be included in the plot point. Don't worry--it is succinctly summarized and altogether an optional read! However any Shaw fan will go out their way anyways to read it.

My only major gripe for Strange New World would be the focus on Demons and Angels again. Personally, I get more enjoyment out of reading about other supernatural creatures and their ailments, and Grave Importance's focus on mummy doctoring was more preferable. The main focus in Strange New World was primarily on medical technology and how it affected Angels, which scratched that itch a little but not as well as the previous novel did. I would like to see Shaw take on more of the lesser developed supernatural entities in fantasy works. There are plenty of works out there that focus on vampires, demons, and angels... what about the rest of them?

If you've read any of Shaw's other works, you already know what's in store for you. Shaw is consistent in her work, but it's not so predictable. I had a tough time figuring out what the turning point would be. When I did come upon the turning point, I was thrilled to have connected the dots though I wished I had more to go on, like as in Grave Importance. In Strange New World, the other side felt a little disconnected as we kept bouncing between several perspectives that I did not realize were interconnected until about the 80% mark or so. The focus was more on the inner workings of heaven and hell, which is something we haven't had as much time to explore in the previous Greta Van Helsing novels.

This may be why I primarily feel this novel is much lower stakes as the main portion of it does fall on creating a research trip to diagnose the effects demons and angels have on one another in a neutral plane of existence. Unfortunately this point felt quite trivial as the reader is already aware of how they can exist based on the first chapter of the book. Shaw did get me all worked up to see a bus trip with a demon and angel in forced proximity, and I still would like to read a short story or novella that explores this notion hopefully in the near future.

Nevertheless, Strange New World is perfect for fans of the Greta Van Helsing universe, and I highly encourage other readers to just pick up Strange Practice anyways as you're all missing out.

A great conclusion to what's been a wonderful series. Vivian Shaw delivers one last punch for us to examine the repercussions of the series to date, and to close the door behind her on this series in the best way possible.

With the Accords now in place, Heaven and Hell must find a way to prove collaboration is possible even as the clinical evidence points to the opposite. In a bid to stick to the letter of the agreement, it's been decided that an angel and a demon will be sent to Earth on a joint research trip, and who better to run the whole shebang than everyone's favorite physician. But when a series of mysterious attacks begin to happen, things are starting to look extremely dire for this expedition.

One of the best bits of book news I got in the last year was that Vivian Shaw was returning to this world one last time, and now that the book is finally here she proves my joy was well founded. Let's talk about why I liked this book.

So quick background, Dr. Greta Helsing, descendant of THAT Helsing, is a modern day physician who tends to the needs of the monstrous sections of the population. This is very much a series that leans heavily into what was previously fantasy of manners but would probably now be called cozy fantasy, where we have Greta and her supporting cast of creatures straight out of classic horror literature. The big shoutouts go to characters from classic vampire literature you probably havent read, neither have I, but Vivian Shaw does a wonderful job of imbuing these characters with that old school, aristocratic feel while very much updating them in some ways to fit the demands of modern society.

That being said, this is very much a book written years after what was previously a completed trilogy, one that ended in as explosive and earth shattering a scale as possible, so how could she top that? The easy answer is without bothering to try. Instead, we get what feels to me almost like the perfect bookend to the series, one that plays with the ramifications of the penultimate book, the repercussions of those events on the world, the characters, everything. Exactly as I mentioned in my review of Sword of Kaigen a couple months ago, it's refreshing reading a story that takes time to examine what happens AFTER the big finale while still telling a great story itself.

And that's exactly what happens in this book. Couched around it's own subplot of terrorist attacks on supernatural entities, we have an examination of what the trilogy finale means. How have Heaven and Hell, demons and angels changed in the face of those startling events? Not just as a society, but as an individual? How should Earth be handled? Were the Accords a hopeful dream, a ticking time bomb or the start of a glorious new age in infernocelestial relations? It dominates the book, which is fine by me because that's what I wanted to read most.

At the same time, the book gives nods and pays homage to the rest of the series. We get subtle inclusions that hark back to events in the first and second books, to the recent novella, and in those cases as well the consequences are examined.

And it does all of this in a relatively short page count. I read this book in two sittings, both because of the engagement and because of the rapidity with which things are dealt with. Being on the smaller scale of events, Greta is tangential to many of the goings on in this book, and because of that both the major plots of the book feeling almost shrunken, as she really only plays a minor but key part in those events. It can lead to the book feeling a bit strangely paced, but I think that's a me thing - I tend to read books where characters are major players in major events, so to read from this type of perspective is very different and unusual for me, but is something that seems more and more common these days, especially in genres like cozy fantasy, where the MC reads almost more like just one of an ensemble cast as opposed to someone we spend the vast majority of time with.

And then we have the ending. I love the way Vivian Shaw brings this to a close, I love the passage she uses to wrap it up in the epilogue and I wish I could quote it but it's such a perfect fit to this series I couldn't help mentioning it. It both firmly shuts the door but leaves a tiny bit of light seeping through, or maybe that's just me hoping and projecting at this point. But hey, I wished when the trilogy was done that it wasnt the end and here I am talking about the 4th book in the series, so who is to say this is the last we've seen of Dr. Helsing?

NOTE: YT link goes public on 12th April, 2025

Vivian Shaw has a fun writing style and I enjoyed some of the other novels in this series. Strange New World didn’t appeal to me in the same way. Couldn’t get into it. I’m not a huge fan of the more bureaucratic take on the after life. If that is your thing you’ll probably enjoy this story.

this is a good book! I like the way this book was written, and how the science fiction world in this book was so interesting!! i think it was good! I liked the bits of humor, and how this book made me think!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!

I found the Greta Helsing series last year and flew through the three books and novella, genuinely loving the world and characters Shaw created. Helsing being an extremely competent heroine was also a HUGE sell of this series for me. When I found out there was going to be a fourth book, I was ecstatic. Then I was approved for an ARC! \o/

The story begins hot on the heels of the end of book three, so it's definitely not one you can just jump into, but my God, it's lovely to see these characters back in action.

In London, the demon tasked with transporting Greta safely between work and home and checking the essograph readouts for Hell, Harlach, is shot with a dart and becomes violently ill. Meanwhile, his heavenly counterpart, Haliel, is also shot but transports himself back to Heaven in time for treatment. As Greta tries to treat Harlach, it becomes clear he needs to return to Hell for advanced treatment and Greta contacts Faust and Fastitocalon.

Meanwhile, after the Accords were signed at the end of Grave Importance, both Heaven and Hell are sending respective envoys to see just how well demons and angels can be in each others presence before going into anaphylactic shock. Greta and Varney are roped into their American tour with the assistance of an American university, however familiar trouble follows them at their very first stop.

I don't know if this is the start of a new subseries within this series --I very much hope it is because I just enjoy this world SO much-- but I was enthralled the entire time. I can't wait to see where Shaw takes these characters next!

This is one of my all-time favorite series I have read, and this book is no exception. This fun and quirky urban fantasy with down-to-earth characters and out-of-this-world conflicts is such a delight to read, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book as much as the other three in this series.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but if you loved the other novels in the Dr. Greta Helsing novels you’ll love this one as well. Dealing with the issues felt with the literal apocalypse in the last novel, we follow our main cast - with a few new characters - as they try to navigate the consequences of those actions. I loved the insight into Heaven and Hell’s politics, and how the different styles of operation affect those living in both of those realms. I also just loved how Greta and Varney now being married and their interactions with each other were so cute and domestic, I love them both so much.

I know this says it’s the conclusion to this series, but in all honesty this book felt like it could have set up for further books in the future, and I desperately hope that is the case. I thought the last book was the end (and that this series was actually a trilogy) and so I hope that I’ll have a similar happy surprise sometime in the future.

(There was also some chemistry between two unexpected characters that - if this series does continue - I need to see resolved in some way. And the fallout of that, because it would blow the politics of Heaven and Hell apart, which would be an absolute delight to read. I won’t spoil it with who, but I refuse to believe they don’t have something between them.)

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Orbit for providing this e-ARC.

I wish I had been able to sample a portion of this book before requesting it, as the cover and blurb seemed neat, but the writing style is not working with my brain. The concept is really neat though, and I do think this is a wonderful read, I am just not the reader for it.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide honest feedback. I received a free eARC.

I love the world that Vivian Saw has created here in the Dr. Greta Helsing series with it's supernatural beings and found family aspect. In this last installment we see previously know characters and are introduced to new ones too, like the nosferatu. I wish there have been more of Ruthven in this book, he is one if my favorite characters. The conflict this time is with the unexpected attacks to both angels and demons and they need to find the source of it. Greta travels to NY with an angel and demon to conduct some research to find other beings attacked there too. With the help of Heaven and Hell they found the root of the attacks. One thing that made this book a bit hard to read was that there where a lot of different pov's we had to follow within the same chapters and that's something I don't particularly like. It was a very nice conclusion to the series and I will miss this characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

This Greta Van Helsing series is such a good one that I don't want it to end! I'm so sad this is the last one. The Good Omens vibe with the angels and demons was absolutely delightful. I couldn't have asked for a better series conclusion.

This is a series that’s only gotten better with each book - I’m sorry to see it end! Even four books in, the world building continues to be fun and witty, as well as the characters we see introduced. If you’re looking for Good Omens esque vibes with a mystery thrown in, you’ll enjoy this.

The Accords between Heaven and Hell are shaky. No one expected the angels and demons to be so allergic to one another.

I expected the concluding volume in the story of Dr. Greta Helsing to be a road trip through America. It isn’t. Instead there is an opening with an attack on the angel and demon surface monitors (think Good Omens) in London and a similar attack on a vampire in New York. The angel is not seriously affected but the demon is not so lucky. This creates problems in Hell and points to things not being right in Heaven.

The reason Greta Helsing ends up in New York with two very young assistants in the form of a baby angel and a goth demon is almost superfluous to the main plot which rapidly becomes complicated and fraught. There is a lot of action, a lot of danger, and some very fine emotional moments ending a a satisfying conclusion. This is the second book recently where I had to say goodbye to a favorite character but still felt like I was leaving them in a good place.

I enjoyed this more then I expected I would. I appreciated the humor and sarcasm. I enjoyed the addition of new characters to the story but not as much as I liked the original crew. I looked at these books as nice fun easy reads that are very entertaining. With that said this book had way more substance and detail to the story and I did appreciate. The story line adding the angels and demons did add more depth and intrigue to the mystery. I am sad to hear that this is the final book to this series because I do think this is the nest one I have read. But you might as well end on a high and that is what I feel the author has done here.

Strange New World is a welcome return to the world of Dr. Greta Helsing. Though quieter than the previous book (how can you be louder than the apocalypse?), the book brims with political intrigue on the terrestrial and infernocelestial planes. Which I normally dont like in books, but the down-to-earth approach to the running of Hell and the hands-off approach to Heaven kept me glued to my chair . That and the mystery of 'what' was happening and 'who' was really behind it made me finish the book in just under two days.

I love Greta, Varney, and Fass, and the wonderful additions of the angels and demons that filled out the cast. I especially felt for Raphael. I love this cast and this world so much and it was an ABSOLUTE JOY to read and ARC from one of my favorite worlds.

Vivian Shaw has written a fine conclusion to her amiable fantasy series featuring doctor to the mythical and monstrous, Greta van Helsingborg. The series has built to this conclusion, as Heaven and Hell have been driven by circumstance to work closely together, although that is often uncomfortable and sometimes unwanted. I think He’ll. As portrayed, is charming but utterly bereft of its traditional menace. It is a bit too mundane for me. And while monsters feature, they are less a presence than in earlier volumes, although the New York Nosferatu are entertaining. Still, I read straight through and enjoyed seeing familiar characters again. One notes that no flights from the UK fly into LaGuardia.

I absolutely LOVED this!!! What a fantasy way to finish off such an enchanting and exciting series I LOVED the new characters and enjoyed the way some characters are allergic to one another. What a wonderful analogy for real life blue and red folks. And I especially loved how they tried to find a way to work together. I wish we all could do that!

Thank you Orbit for allowing me this arc, as this made my Greta/Varney loving heart so happy!!!

This one didn’t quite do it for me. It felt like a repeat of the first book with some *Good Omens* vibes mixed in, but it didn’t bring enough new elements to keep me engaged. Even with the change in setting and the introduction of Gabriel, it still felt repetitive. The pacing was a bit too slow for my taste, though I did really enjoy Adariel and Orlax.

I have complicated feelings about this, the purportedly final novel in the Dr. Greta Helsing series. I'm a longtime fan, and really loved the recent novella, Bitter Waters, because it spent so much time with the many characters I loved.

Strange New World sounded like it would be about Greta and company, and maybe there'd be a magical bus tour with new friends along the way, but it was really more about the infernocelestial conflict between Heaven and Hell, and in particular about the Accords' impact on angels. Which was interesting, but not what the blurb implied and thus not what I was expecting.

There were things I really liked about Strange New World. It was fun to see Greta and Varney travel together. I liked the glimpses we got of Ruthven's visit to the Voivode. Fastitocalon and Faust made a great mystery-solving team. I enjoyed the angels and demons, like Cold War spies, finding more common ground with each other than they sometimes did with their superiors. The New York nosferatu underworld was a delight. There were also some excellent plot seeds I hoped would come to fruition about the need for a more engaged guardian in London and cross-continental vampire colony relationships.

Ultimately, the book's centering of metaphysical themes and storylines about angels didn't work as well for me as its plottier predecessors. I honestly would have been happier with a book twice as long that spent more time with the familiar main characters, gave greater depth to the New York vampire mafia storyline, and maybe even involved some road tripping. As with all Vivian Shaw's books, though, it's well-written, thoughtful, and engaging, and if it's not the book I had hoped for, that's a reader problem, not an author problem. I'll cross my fingers for a surprise novel or novella to come, but if this really is the close of the series, I think it was done well.

Firstly, thank you very much Orbit and NetGalley for the e-ARC copy, in exchange for my honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated books being released this year and my gods it did not disappoint!

From the moment I opened the book I was hooked. It was such a strong opening and omg Good Omen fans. Boy, does this little book have something for YOU. I'm screaming I could not have asked for a better finale to the series. I'm just euphoric over how good this was. Thank you Vivian Shaw for this magnificent book series with all of its wonderful cast and your beautiful writing and THAT ENDING. I was weeping!

📚ARC REVIEW 📚

What to expect:

📚 Humourous and eccentric characters
📚 interesting plot with some unexpected twists
📚 Science fiction and fantasy theme wrapped into one
📚 chapters that run fluidly into each other
📚 It's an enjoyable read with some funky events

My opinion:

📚 I love the theme and seeing good and evil trying to work together
📚 I laughed at how the two forces had allergic reactions to each other
📚 The plot kept ke interested and intrigued and enjoyed how easily it was to follow along with
📚 Story structure was well written, and the theme was well thought out

My rating

✨️✨️✨️✨️

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