Monster is a book with both good and bad aspects. The good- it is a unique story that moves quickly with characters that will interest you and a plot that will keep you on your toes. The bad- the characters are not fully developed and at times feel flat, and I realize this is an ARC, but there were a lot of grammatical errors that distracted me when reading.

I would read more by this author though because there is a lot of potential in this story.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Monster was a pretty interesting book. At first, I thought this was an introduction to a series, but now I feel like it might be a standalone book. In it, you will meet Rory and Lorelei. Rory is studying to become a doctor and dabbles in grave robbery (of sorts) as a nighttime hobby. Lorelei is basically on the run and is just trying to make a living for both her and Molly. So, it's pretty fair to assume that both of their lives will change for the better (ish) when they finally meet one another.

This book gives you rivalry, romance, death, found family, and betrayal. With how it ended, I was hoping to get the true reveal of who was behind all the murders. Mostly because I have no idea if we are going to get another book or not. I mean, they are traveling to a new place with most of the found family/medical students from Rory's class. So, in a weird way, I'm thinking I'm going to get another book but again, who knows?

Anyways, I definitely enjoyed the romance that brewed between Rory and Lorelei. They both had a horrible past, current troubles, and needed a way to heal. They found one another and truly loved them for themselves. It didn't matter to Rory that Lorelei was deemed a monster because of how she looked. She was beautiful inside and out to him.

In the end, I'm happy that I found the time to finally dive into this book. I'll have to check out another book written by Brynn in the near future.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley but found it very hard to read as it was unclear if there were formatting issues, editing issues, or both. I made an effort to read the book when it was published to see how these issues had been resolved. Quite frankly, they hadn’t. The book has some words written as they are said, not how they’re spelled which is fine, but in conjunction with poor punctuation and grammar for the narrative portions, the book feels unreadable at times. It’s dual POV but this is not clearly indicated half the time when the narrative voice shifts which made this book even harder to read. Oddly, there were large chunks that worked but then would be quickly ruined by the ongoing grammar/editing/narration issues. I feel like the book synopsis had more depth than the book accomplished. I’m disappointed as it’s a fascinating concept that wasn’t executed to its full potential. I will not be reading the rest of this series. Honestly, I would have DNF’d this book if I hadn’t received the ARC.

Dark and despair. This book is filled with both. Lorelei is a burn victim in Victorian upper class society. As you may be aware this time frame, and especially the well off prioritized appearances in young ladies along with manners and good breeding above their intellectual capabilities and thus many burn and disfigurement victims are hidden away as a shame to the family , as monsters. There are some true and fascinating facts about the history of plastic surgery within the story that made it a grime but interesting read. Over all it holds together very well and it rather intense in many respects with well thought out characters.

The name of this one is what drew my attention but Lorelei is anything but a monster. Monster being what she’s medically labeled after a fire burns half her face and neck. Rory is firstly a dr, or nearly, at the end of his training and highly recommended but he’s also a grave digger/body snatcher to pay for his rent and tuition. When Lorelei goes against the priests word and seeks medical help for another orphan, their worlds collide, fast, hard and both their worlds will be turned upside down for the better. Rory will do anything for her, and she him, add in a rich and kind mentor, an ugly priest and an horrendous ex and this is one hell of a story

A unique story that was both gothic and macabre that will keep you hooked. The story and the chemistry between the characters was wonderful!

This title is definitely macabre and odd. It is intriguing from start to finish, with interesting main characters.

From the first chapter you really get a feel for the almost Gothic nature of the writing style and past settings.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit, especially the romantic relationship between Rory and Lorelei. It was very cute. There was also an overall Jack the Ripper vibe which I was very about.

After a fire damages her face and neck, Lorelai finds herself at an orphanage caring for another girl, whose factory job has caused the beginning of Phossie Jaw. She goes to plead for help from a doctor and meets medical student Rory, who moonlights as a "resurrection man," meaning he steals corpses for medical study. While he seeks ways to help her and not get caught stealing bodies, a serial killer is striking closer and closer to home.
This book is awesome. I'm a history nerd, and I loved all these true historical details: resurrection men, factory labor risks, the treatment of the disfigured, bells on case of accidental burial, Gaelic folklore, treatment of the Irish, a serial killer reminiscent of Jack the Ripper, plastic surgery, Dr. Mutter, etc -- and even a case of Sudden Cevant Syndrome. This book reminds me of Man of Shadow & Mist by Michelle Griep. Love the characters and their relationships. Only two issues: some details are a little TMI for a YA book, and typos. This is an #ARC from #NetGalley, but it will require a lot of editing. Apostrophes and commas everywhere, plus other issues. Can't wait to read the next one!

riveting book, i couldn't put it down!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the review copy.

What i enjoyed about this book: the relationship. It was quick, but it was respectful and kind. I also loved Lorelei’s bond with Molly and the Mutters. The legend of the cailleach was also very interesting and i was happy to learn that Dr Mutter was the real dr who invented plastic surgery. The book was brief but i felt as though the reader got a good sense of most of the characters

Now on to the bad: my biggest issue with this book was all the grammatical errors - using apostrophes to denote plurals (wrong) and NOT using them for possessive, switching characters accidentally, by which I mean mixing up names, etc, or using bread instead of bred or mom instead of mum and general misspellings. I’m sure a good editor can clean those up very easily. But “recovering from a bender”…did people used to say that in the late 1800s?? Okay google says its from 1846 which i definitely would not have guessed so my mistake. Far too many italics for my liking but author’s choice.

I wish i had experienced more of lorelei’s life before her banishment. I didnt get a sense of her family at all. The book was so short it definitely couldve benefited from this. Then we could have seen the true sense of her betrayal with her dad choosing Jones and the abuse she suffered.

Rebecca’s character was only minorly fleshed out. We didnt see any of her struggles as the only female Black medical student at all, Rory was the only one who told us. But while i was reading i thought: When did Lorelei begin to like becca after she had one encounter with her and she was jealous the whole time?

Also no real sense of Philadelphia and Lorelei got rid of Annie real quick. Annie just disappeared.

So spring hill jack, i thought, was another name for jack the ripper and it’s not. But there’s someone in folklore called spring HEEL jack. I cant tell if the author is making a play on the legend by creating her own character after him or if she’s adding in the legend. Probably the former and that’s a nice plot addition.

How does the reverend know about lorelei’s past and how does she know who roxbury is??

All in all the book was entertaining and so was the happy ending. I’d read more but the author needs to write more, i think, so she can fill in those setting and character holes. I was VERY shocked to learn this was not her first book.

3.9/5 rounded up to 4/5.
Monster by Brynn Chapman is a captivating historical novel that combines elements of fairy tales and horror, set in 1850s Philadelphia. The story explores the lives of individuals labeled as "Monsters" due to disfigurements caused by fire, and delves into the world of body snatchers and the emerging field of anatomy.

One of the strengths of the book lies in its realistic and likable characters, each with their own motivations and reactions that are understandable and relatable. The dual perspectives of Rory, a Resurrection Man, and Lorelei, a young woman who fakes her own death to escape her confined existence, provide a balanced and engaging narrative. The dynamic between Rory and Lorelei is well-developed, offering a satisfying contrast that complements their individual journeys.

The author's use of language and the incorporation of Celtic mythology add depth and richness to the story, creating an atmospheric and immersive reading experience. The concept of exploring the intersection between fairy tales and horror within a historical setting is intriguing and adds an element of suspense to the narrative.

However, the instant love between Lorelei and Rory feels forced and out of place, given the circumstances and their respective characterizations. The pacing of the story can also be a bit uneven, with moments that lack momentum. Additionally, the frequent use of flashbacks throughout the book can be distracting and disrupt the flow of the narrative. At times, it may be challenging to distinguish whose point of view is being presented.

Overall, Monster is an intriguing and imaginative novel that successfully combines historical elements with fairy tale and horror themes. The realistic and likable characters, as well as the author's skillful use of language, contribute to an engaging reading experience. Despite some pacing and narrative structure issues, the book offers an interesting and unique take on its chosen genre.

This was fascinating story! The plot was interesting and fresh, and the writing style was very fluid and easy to get into! The characters were all well fleshed out and I enjoyed learning about this subject.

3.5 stars

I thought this was a standalone novel, but the ending is very open and concludes with a "to be continued," so I'll be on the lookout for a sequel. In reality, I think this book could have been wrapped up in one, but I liked both Rory (28) and Lorelei (likely mid-20s) and would be interested in reading more about them. Their relationship has a bit of insta-love, but it didn't really bother me because they seemed inevitable anyway. It was all very sweet and tender, and I loved how gentle Rory was with all of Lorelei's insecurities and scars, both physical and emotional.

Despite being rather squeamish about medical procedures, I found the Mutter Flap to be quite interesting and ended up reading some more about it outside of this book. Fascinating and life changing! Resurrection men were something I had previously encountered in Dana Schwartz's Anatomy duology. I really enjoy books that incorporate real subjects.

Aside from the medical and romantic aspects of Monster, it's also got a serial killer, which is the main aspect that leaves the ending open and carries the characters on to the next stage of their lives. I'm not sure it felt like the natural course for them to follow, but I suppose it makes sense considering the final note Rory received.

This book had the potential for 4 stars, but at this point, it's not quite there. I recognize that what I read was an uncorrected ARC, however, so I hope that the final published work went through some significant editing and polishing. In addition to grammar, punctuation, and usage, it struggles with consistency in details as well as overall readability. I enjoy dual perspective books so that I can see into the heads of both narrators; however, it needs to be clear whose head we're in at the time. Monster is written in the first person from both Rory and Lorelei's perspectives, but most of the time the narration switched between them without telling who was speaking. Usually this happened at a chapter or page break, though the final chapter switched between them without even that much separation--I'm not even sure exactly where Lorelei stopped speaking and Rory began, and I went over the passage a few times to make sure I hadn't assumed the initial narrator incorrectly. As I said, though, hopefully these issues were resolved prior to final publication.

Note: Some non-graphic descriptions of corpses and medical procedures, mentions of past rape.

Though not my typical type of read, I took a chance on this book based on the blurb and wasn't disappointed. This is a historical romance with a lot of medical intrigue and drama and almost red out like a soap opera. Filled with suspense and high stakes, Lorelai's story is engaging and intriguing and will grasp you in until the very end.

Overall, I enjoyed the characters, setting, and plot of this story. Both Rory and Lorelai are likable, realistic characters with understandable motivations and reactions. There was a bit of insta-love between the two, but it made some sense considering the trauma they've both endured. My biggest issue with this book was that it took me forever to get through, despite being fairly short. Usually this means that the pacing didn't work for me.

Not normally my typical read but the blurbs caught my attention. The authors writing holds your attention to the very end as we go down the horrific historical path of some of our worst fears.

This isn't normally my kind of book, but it was too intriguing to pass up. I wasn't disappointed. The creepy vibes and stalker vibes--delicious. I really enjoyed this.

Lorelai escaped a dangerous situation in Ireland, one that left her scarred after a fire. Lorelai landed in Philadelphia and found an orphanage to take her in while she works in a matchstick factory. An orphan that Lorelai cares for, Molly is suffering from Phossy Jaw and Lorelai takes it upon herself to find help. Help comes in the form of Rory Henry, a student under Dr. Mutter. Rory can help Molly and recognizes a kindred spirit in Lorelai. Lorelai and Rory quickly become enamored with one another. However, Rory's means to pull in extra money as a resurrection man along with the sway that the orphanage Reverend has over Lorelai and a murderer on the loose, their way out of 1850's Philadelphia is not an easy task.

Monster is an exciting historical romance with plenty of suspense, Irish folklore, medical drama, and the realities of the immigrant experience. From the beginning, I was engaged in Lorelai's story of escape. The writing expertly pulled together all the different strands into an exciting story that firmly grasped the setting and characters. Lorelai and Molly's story is endearing as they band together to survive the orphanage and the terrible working conditions at the match factory. Rory's story enlightens early medical care and teaching practices with how students learned anatomy. I also learned about Dr. Mutter, the father of plastic surgery, and his ingenious way of helping those who were labelled monsters by society. I enjoyed the added folklore of the Cailleach and what she meant to Rory and Lorelai. The romance, although quick, was heartfelt and genuine. With a promise to be continued, I can't wait to see what Lorelai and Rory will face in the next book.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Author Brynn Chapman!
I really liked this book! I gave it closer to 3.8 stars, but they don't have that type of rating here. I enjoyed the relationship and building of the romance. between Rory and Lorelei. It gave stalking Jack the Ripper vibes which I loved. It was surgical so it that is an issue for you just be careful. Overall a fun ride.