A great novella! I would have liked more of this story!
Read if you like atmospheric London, monsters, women working and in relationships.

I just reviewed A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather. #NetGalley

SPOILERS: I'll say 2.5 stars. The book had everything on paper -- fine prose, lesbians, the classic premise of weird mutant babies, a rather original premise - but everything felt at one remove. Sarah was probably the most compelling and complex character, but when it came to the side characters, The Good characters were Good, the Bad Characters were Bad for the most part, the ending was predictable and the motives were never a surprise. I suppose I was looking for a bit more complexity in the side characters like Dr Wren.

And while I liked the idea of the planetary alignments, I wanted some actual stories about the inhabitants of the Other World and a glimpse of how it functioned (or didn't), the mechanics of it (or lack thereof), the sense of it (or otherwise), the colour and taste.

That's the issue I have with a lot of horror, although strangely never with fantasy: it feels like many authors do the Poe/Lovecraft/King thing of just grafting something onto reality and call it a day. "Hey, look, random eldritch chaos dimension next door... because... uh... plot reasons! Don't think about it! It's Totally Scary (TM), we promise!" It's like the horror version of 'It was all a dream'. Totally breaks the suspension of disbelief for me.

“a season of monstrous conceptions” is a novella set in an odd london. accused of being a witch after her husband’s death, sarah is in an apprenticeship as a midwife. when a baby is born with otherworldly “monstrous” attributes, she must fight to save not only the mothers, but the children as well.

this novella is very atmospheric; you feel as if you are in the room with the midwives and mothers. the magic is explained a little too loosely for my preferences, but the end was satisfying for the most part. i also adore the queer main character. a wonderful, darkly fun read.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather, a fun quick read. Rather takes us on a journey to the side of the wonders and monsters and you can never tell where you will wind up.

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather is a stunning historical fantasy novel set in 17th-century London. The book tells the story of Sarah Davis, a woman with an uncanny nature who hides her true self from the world. Sarah becomes a midwife's apprentice to a member of the illegal Worshipful Company of Midwives, hoping to start a new life in London. However, strange and unnatural babies are being born in the city, causing fear and suspicion to spread.

When Lady Wren hires Sarah to see her through her pregnancy, Sarah's life takes a turn she never expected. She becomes a favorite of Lady Wren's husband, the famous architect Lord Christopher Wren, who is obsessed with the uncanny. Sarah finds herself caught in a web of magic and intrigue as those who seek to use her power for their own purposes threaten to destroy the world.

The novel is beautifully written, with lush descriptions of 17th-century London and vivid depictions of the uncanny babies. The characters are complex and nuanced, with Sarah being a particularly compelling protagonist. She is strong-willed and determined, but also vulnerable and unsure of herself at times. The relationships between the characters are also well-developed, with a sense of tension and betrayal permeating the story.

A Season of Monstrous Conceptions is a captivating and thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is a masterful blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and horror, with a strong feminist message woven throughout. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good supernatural tale set in a richly detailed historical world.