The Monsters We Defy isn’t a bad book. It’s just…fine. Perfectly fine.

I made it to 35% – 15% further than my usual cut-off point – because I really wanted to like it. And because there’s nothing actually *wrong* with it. It’s just…fine? Although there were a few small surprises, for the most part the story was very predictable, and utilised a lot of tropes I’ve seen before, and the love interest practically had a banner over his head announcing that he was, in fact, the love interest, the magic system was extremely simple, and I just…didn’t really care? I don’t mind that the plot took a little while to get moving – Penelope utilised that time well to introduce us to our main characters and make us care about them – but there just wasn’t anything holding my attention.

I felt like I knew exactly how the story would go, even if I didn’t know the exact specifics, and there was nothing that made me want to stick around and see how it would unfold. You need some really unique hook, when you have a story where a reader can pretty confidently predict the ending (or thinks they can); or else you need especially lovely prose, or some stand-out kind of writing style or format. And I didn’t find any of that here.

I’m sure a lot of other people are going to enjoy it, and I can see why - I can see this being a kind of comfort-food-fun-read, and if you love heist stories, this is your bread and butter right here - but I don’t have time for books that I feel completely neutral about. It’s ‘this is so cool!’ or nothing, and The Monsters We Defy just didn’t grab me that way. Alas.

I devoured this book, to the detriment of eating meals at appropriate times. :) It was both light and serious, bringing ideas of identity and purpose to the forefront of a fairy tale world. I'll pick up anything else the author writes and heartily recommend it.

I loved this concept, and was very excited to read this book. I really enjoyed reading Leslye Penelope's work and I really enjoyed the Earthsinger Chronicles. The Monsters We Defy had what I enjoyed about the previous books and was a really strong story. The characters were great and I was invested in getting to know them.

“You know, you never told me your story,” he said. “What story?” “How it was you got hooked up with The Empress in the first place.” Israel’s dark eyes were cautious, as if he wasn’t sure if this was a topic that should be broached. “She got me out of jail.” “That’s not a story.” Laughter glittered in his eyes."

Clara Johnson, a woman able to commune with spirits, notices that something strange is going on in her community. When a spirit offers Clara a deal to save her people, and gain her freedom back from the debt she owes this spirit, she must assemble an unlikely team and complete a heist to save everyone, and herself.

The writing hooked me from the first sentence and stayed consistently engrossing! I thoroughly enjoyed it throughout and never got bored. The pacing was great. There was also a great plot and characters. i had to know what was going on in this community and with all these spirits and I wanted the best for all of the characters. I also loved that spirits were characters too. The spirit of Clara’s grandmother was one of my favorite characters. She loved Clara so much and really protected her. I also enjoyed the mention of a few important people from The Harlem Renaissance. I never read historical fiction, but I loved the atmosphere of this novel and the time period brought so much to the story.

There were a couple of things I would’ve liked to have seen though. I wish there had been more character development for some of the characters, specifically Aristotle and Jesse Lee. They didn’t have as much personality as everyone else. And the only other problem I had was that we spent almost 80% of the novel not knowing what Clara’s special gift from a spirit was because she said it was so shameful that she couldn’t speak of it and would never use it again. But, when we finally found out what it was, I was disappointed because it was so simple. I was thinking “she hates her gift so much, so it must be something that’s a big deal, like necromancy”, but it was something that’s pretty common in fantasy books. So I thought that reveal was a little lackluster.

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I feel like there’s potential for a sequel, so I’m hoping! I’ll definitely be reading more by Leslye Penelope. Anyone who enjoys historical fantasy, heists, and spirits who may or may not be trustworthy should check this out!

Thank you Redhook Books and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

TW: police brutality, colorism, parental abandonment, mention of miscarriage

The Monsters We Defy is one of those books that is so hard to put down. Clara, the main character, is such an interesting and smart person. The storyline is just the right amount of historical fiction. paranormal/fantasy, and heist. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books with a group of misfits, a little folklore/fantasy, and a daring and mysterious heist, similar to Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows.

This book was absolutely amazing to read.
We're following Clara Johnson as she gathers a group of people endebted to spiritual creatures called Enigmas. Their goal is to steal a ring that is being used to kidnap lower class black folk from around D.C. and in return, their debts will be released.

The story kept escalating in the greatest way and I kept getting more invested as things got more dangerous for these amazing and lovable characters. (Jesse Lee was my favorite)

I think one of the hardest things to do in writing is to give backstory. And I loved how the author took a step back from the main plot to give a brief chapter of a character's history. It was able to really benefit from the author's storytelling vs. feeling like a tangent or a lecture.

And the twist in the climax!!!!
I genuinely had chills while I read it.

All in all, one of my favorite reads of the year.

This was one of those "good for you, not for me" books, unfortunately. That being said, I do think this is a case of personal preference, and if the synopsis sounds appealing it might be a good book for you. This story follows a young woman, Clara, as she navigates her life as a Black woman in 1925 New York with the ability to see and communicate with ghosts and other spirits. It's a heist story, it has an "assembling the team" energy, there were people with powers, it was unapologetically Black, and it had a great setting. If you liked Libba Bray's "The Diviners" it has a very similar feel.

That being said, I was never drawn in. I don't know if it was the writing, the pace, or what, but despite everything that the book had to offer I did not find it engaging. This is a scenario where I'm going to see what the author comes out with in the future, but chalk this up as not the book for me.

This is a delightful, fun-filled romp of a speculative fiction novel inspired by history (figures and events) that kept me turning pages to see how our heroine and her band of misfits were going to solve the mystery and save the day. Short-tempered, feisty Clara Johnson was born with a caul at the crossroads making her a “gifted child” who can see and commune with spirits. She is often pestered by desperate souls on the other side to convey messages to loved ones, sought by mischievous enigmas offering charms and tricks, or haunted by evil and/or vengeful spirits. She’s (somewhat) learned to control her mouth/anger and calm herself with the help of her deceased paternal grandmother, Mama Octavia, who now randomly appears or when summoned to provide advice and guidance.

Set in the early 1920s-era Washington, DC, Clara is pulled into action when people become “Afflicted” – seemingly in a zombified state wandering aimlessly about before ultimately disappearing. When Clara’s friend, a young co-worker disappears, she stumbles across what initially seems like a rivalry between bootlegging gangs; however, it doesn’t take long to realize otherworldly forces are afoot. Do-Gooder Clara then assembles a team of enchanted individuals - those in desperate situations who bargained with trickster Enigmas, powerful entities who grant “charms,” to guarantee the heart’s desires of the victim (freedom, fame, love, etc) only for them to live to regret the the consequences of the “trick” – a heavy cost usually in the form a terrible or painful loss. I really enjoyed the backstories of Clara’s friends that detailed their origin stories and the set of circumstances in their life’s journeys that led to the desperation that led to them seeking the charm and the clever way the Enigmas tricked them. It brings to mind the expression/warning, “Be careful what you ask for, you may just get it.”

Of course, the best laid plans don’t always go as planned – especially when battling centuries old spirits who wrote the book of tricks – and the fun is reading how Clara and crew gather clues, maneuver around roadblocks, and figure out how to fight otherworldly forces to save their friends and themselves. The novel is peppered with (Black) folklore, American and African history and realism, and parallels current events in today’s headlines.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to review!

'The Monsters We Defy' is perfect for fans of Eden Royce, Alex Jennings, and Nalo Hopkinson. It's fantasy infused with Black Southern lore, a dynamic protagonist, an #ownvoices narrative, and it had a darker "Princess and the Frog" vibe as well. It's an immersive reading experience, and people who love the history of figures like Marie Laveau will also love this book. There are haints, spirits, magic and other legends filling the pages, which readers will race through (even Cinderella!).

Born at a crossroads Clara Johnson sees spirits. She's a spitfire of black woman who sees too much, has to fight to hold her tongue and might fight in the street if she needs to. She uses her gift to help bring the lost stories of her people to light. Her best friend Zelda lives with her and tries to encourage her to misbehave a little bit is an albino thief. When people start going missing from her neighborhood Clara finds herself working with an unlikely bunch to try to find out where the missing are and what's happening to them. I make a reference to the show Leverage because it kind of feels like it. There's a crew put together to fix a problem, everyone has a specific skill and they put that skill to work to solve the problem. This book hooks you from the first page and never lets go. I enjoyed meeting the characters learning about them, hearing the stories of the spirits and I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story a great deal.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Redhook books for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

“Never make a deal with shadows at night, especially ones that know your name.”

TMWD is a heady mix of 1920s historical fantasy & African folklore, filled with myths and magic familiar and strange.

I loved reading about jumbies, about wax candle altars and seeing into the Over There. About witch doctors and ‘the work’ about the frauds and those born with the sight.

The story follows Clara Mae, a reluctant meddler, born with a caul, at a crossroad of all places. No wonder she can peer through the veil separating our world from Over There. Clara’s trying to do her best at work as a pool typist, keep her head down and find her unwelcome roommate, Zelda somewhere else to live.

Of course, Clara, made a deal with the powerful enigma, The Empress, which left her a conduit between the Over There and here, she can’t turn anyone down who asks for help, and watching desperate people get their Charm and forget about the Trick, that warps it all, fills her with bitterness and regret. But that’s life.

Or is it?

A mysterious shake up in the other world causes The Empress to make another deal with Clara, steal a ring from a famous singer and wife to the bootlegger who runs the city and no more Trick, she’s free.

Low risk, high reward, right?

Oh, if only things were that easy!

I really enjoyed this story! I love how the time period and the places were like a character of their own. I was completely swept away and I’m in awe of Penelope research and writing skills that submerged me in Clara’s fascinatingly supernatural life.

The main cast of characters, and their backstories brought me to tears and I was absolutely rooting for them to be free of their Tricks from the start and hoping that at the end of all of this they’d be happy and free.

Aside from being a story of a heist, this books delves into some heavy themes and offers up sharp class critique. It’s nice to read something that has an underlying moral and gives you something to ruminate on.

Definitely recommended reading, especially for those who like mysteries, supernatural drama and found family vibes! This would be such a good book for a book club/ buddy read!

I’m so in love with this book and it’s universe and all of it’s characters! I thoroughly enjoyed the story as well as the author’s way of weaving elements of real Black spirituality and history into this whimsical work of fiction. I plan on recommending The Monsters We Defy to anyone who will listen and cannot wait to see more from this author!

Where do I start with this book...it was so beautifully done. The characters were fleshed-out, the story was attention-grabbing, and the themes discussed were important. I absolutely loved it. It's a good mix of historical fiction and magical realism/fantasy. The social justice themes are well done, and unfortunately still relevant today. The diversity was great and didn't feel forced or done at the last minute.

Clara Johnson talks to spirits, a gift that saved her during her darkest moments in a Washington D. C. jail. Now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So, when the Empress, the powerful spirit who holds her debt, offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, a desperate Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District. This is a really fun historical fantasy , and I would recommend it to anyone . Well written, the characters were fleshed out and the plot was not boring and predictable. So 4 out of 5 for me .

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This was an excellent book, definitely one of the best I’ve read all year. ‘The Monsters We Defy’ is the story of Clara Johnson, a young woman who can see Spirits, and who has made a deal with an Enigma, basically a demon. Together with others who have made deals for whatever their reasons may be, she is forced into carrying out a dangerous heist. Well written, moving, and incredibly timely, this book definitely kept my attention and I loved the different ideas and themes. I recommend this book for anyone interested in fantasy, or anyone interested in a book that is just darn good.

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope was a really fun ride through prohibition era New York. This story had vibes of Oceans 11 meets the Rat Pack meets X-men. While a lot of individual elements of this story feel familiar, when put together the story is quite unique and special.

One thing that stood out is the representation with BIPOC/LGBT/Diverse characters was high, but this didn’t feel like it was done to push an agenda, or feel forced. In fact, the historical research done makes these characters, in this setting, feel natural.

TMWD is listed at the moment as straight up historical fantasy – it is, but I also think it would be appropriate for the Young Adult reader, without the typical young adult feel. The story has action, humor at times, and suspense without going really dark. The ending was satisfying. If you like historical fantasy, or super powers, check out TMWD.

I was gifted an advanced copy of this book by Redhook Books and NetGallery. This review is purely my own thoughts.

Title: The Monsters We Defy

Author: Leslye Penelope

Publisher: Redhook

Rating: 5 Stars

I received a free ebook download from Net Galley.


Premise: In 1920s Washington, D.C., poor Black people are going missing, and a group of (mostly) 20-something adults with connections to the paranormal investigate.


Things I Loved:

1. Everything. This is an amazing story. The characters are complicated, the research was well-done, everything is so well-described and fleshed out and immersive. Seriously. It's so good.


Things I Did Not Love:

...

I mean, the format of my ebook was a little odd? It said it clocked in at almost 800 pages, but every "page" I turned counted for three pages, so there's something weird going on there. But really that's it. It's such a fantastic book that I'd have to get nitpicky to find something.


Who It's Good For:

Fans of Libba Bray's The Diviners series, historical fiction enthusiasts, paranormal fiction lovers, anyone looking for good BIPOC representation by a BIPOC author.

This book was given to me as an ARC from Netgalley for free, and my review is totally voluntary.
Penelope gives us Clara Johnson who has a special power, she can talk to spirits. She ends up indebted to the spirit world, and has to steal a magical ring from the richest woman in D.C.. For the Empress of the spirit world no less. (Good grief, poor Clara)

Penelope takes us on a magical journey through time with her characters, dabbling in Historical Fiction, mixed with Magic.

This book was amazingly enjoyable to read, I was sort of sad that it had to end.

This is the works of what makes "Fantasy" so great.

A book that can truly make you just want to be part of it. Make you want to be on the outside looking in.

That is what Penelope has given us.

Will absolutely be getting this to add to my hardcover collection of AA Authors.

"The Emancipation Proclamation freed our bodies, the end of the Civil War liberated us from bondage, but it's up to us to free our minds. Part of that freedom includes finally participating in the ideals of this country, ensuring they apply to us: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope follows Clara Johnson, a young black woman who has special powers: she can talk to spirits! This gift saved her while she spent time in a Washington DC jail in the early 1920s. Clara is indebted to the spirit world - namely the Empress who holds her debt - and gives her an opportunity at freedom by stealing a magical ring from the richest woman in DC.

It felt like a bunch of Super Heroes coming together to share in their powers. The unique powers the characters in the book have are pretty cool - and the way the relationships unfold in order to fulfill their shared destiny is outstanding. I loved reading this book even more as the story went on - I'd argue and say that the ending could possibly be the best part.

"God made us all in four parts: soul, body, spirit, and destiny. The soul is the divine spark, every creature She created has one. The body is the soul's home, the animated clay some might say. The spirit is the independent essence - if the soul is the part of you that's connected to God, the spirit is the part of you that's all your own. And finally, the destiny - God's expectation. While everything that breaths and eats and shits gets the first three, the last is only for humans."

Although this was a work of fiction - there were a lot of profound truths sprinkled throughout. It felt like finding out how truly magical our day-to-day lives can be. I found myself constantly "highlighting" passages on my Kindle! It was a lot of fun getting to know these characters -

I felt as though this book was really exploiting the flaws of modern-day Christianity through explanation of Ethiopian hoodoo and the use of biblical names like Nazareth & Israel ... versus "Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John." I also appreciated the thought of God being a woman and the alternative practices - references to witchcraft, spirits, etc. It was really cool to see it all come together. I really enjoyed the setting as well, and learning about the world around them from their perspectives and being of color in the early 1920s in America.

I would recommend this book to anyone who dabbles in fantasy, appreciates historical fiction, or enjoys magic/witch craft. This is a really fun book, and I would love to snag a copy when it hits the shelves.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I will be recommending this book to friends FOR SURE. :)

A wonderful novel that creatively combines historical fiction and fantasy, The Monsters We Defy describes the adventures of Clara Johnson, a resident of Washington, DC, in 1925. Although her work as a secretary at Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s Journal of Negro History keeps a roof over her head, Clara spends much of her time helping people who have problems with the spirit world, which she calls “Over There.” Her gift of Second Sight allows her to interact with diverse entities such as the powerful Enigmas, the chaotic and mysterious Grays, and ghosts like her sharp-tongued grandmother, Mama Octavia. Clara begins to realize people in her neighborhood are going missing, and her investigation takes her deep into the twin worlds of Washington, DC’s Prohibition-Era nightlife and “Over There.”
Likes: the characters are amazing. Aristotle, who can take on any physical form, and Zelda, a young Black albino woman with a past in the circus and light fingers, were two of my favorites, but they’re all memorable. Penelope incorporates enormous amounts of research without the book ever feeling bogged down by exposition; I really appreciated the sources listed in the Author’s Note, as I love digging into the history behind historical fiction. The magic system is detailed, believable, fresh and different! And the cameos by various luminaries of the times will be extra fun for anyone familiar with Black history in the 1920s and the Harlem Renaissance.
Dislikes: I wish there were a few more of the character backstories sprinkled in, not because I think any were missing but because I enjoyed the different narrative voice Penelope used in these sections and selfishly would have loved to read a few more (looking at you, Henry!). They read almost like folklore or tall tales and were a fun way to learn about how each character came to be a part of the story. Other than that I have no quibbles! I really hope that there will be a sequel.
FYI: There are a few scenes of physical violence. Violence against and discrimination against Black people is a major theme of this book, and it refers to real instances of police brutality, rioting, murder, and attempted murder.

This review will be posted on the publication date (8/9/2022) on my Instagram book account (@whatlizisreadingnow) and on my blog (www.lizhelfrich.com).