🦇🔎 OK, this is completely on me, but I thought the description of ‘Sherlock meets Dracula’ would be more of a metaphor than anything else, I expected it would have VIBES like that, but wow was I surprised when I realised is very much literal and the description had just gone completely over my head. To be honest, I had a few moments at the beginning where I thought it might close in on fanfic territory (although it would be a very good one!), but very quickly settled into a story all of its own and I really enjoyed the ride!

Strange Beasts is a delightfully dark gothic mystery that really delivers—monsters, secret societies, and gruesome murders galore! The atmosphere is *chef’s kiss*, and the characters have a snarky charm that keeps the pages turning. I won’t lie, the pacing wobbles a tiny bit in the middle and it almost lost me for a second, but the overall vibe is so immersive that you’ll forgive it. I really loved the characters and their chemistry and found myself super invested in their story (There may have been some giggles and kicking of feet)

When I tried to recommend this to someone, as a ‘gothic, horror murder mystery historical fiction thriller queer romance fantasy novel’…I realised I have absolutely no idea what genre this is…but I don’t care, I love it. Who doesn’t love a book the destroys genre boundaries?

Outside of genre, the story doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but it does put a really fun, eerie, femme-centric spin on a familiar formula. If you’re in the mood for gothic thrills with just enough bite, this one’s well worth your time. Personally I think this one will shine extra bright as an audiobook and I practically ran to get the audio pre-ordered 💀📜

A big thank you to the author, Netgalley and Bindery Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Are you interested in stories about government organizations dedicated to investigating supernatural phenomena? Are you curious what a partnership between the daughter of Mina and Jonathan Harker from Bram Stoker's DRACULA and the daughter of Professor Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes series would look like? Did you like the idea of the bookish researcher (with an academic and personal interest in the occult, like NINTH HOUSE) taking to the field like in the Emily Wilde books? The possibility of a quasi-religious/political group being behind horrific beastly attacks like in THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF? The scheming to trap a potential werewolf at the opera like in GABRIEL KNIGHT: THE BEAST WITHIN? Do you appreciate queer representation in the books you read, with a gentle romance arc that takes a backseat to the adventurous and mysterious plot? Do you like your feminist rage to have actual, literal bite?

If you said yes to any of the above, then do I have a treat for you!

In 1903, Sam and Hel are agents of the London Field Office of The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. Ostensibly, the group hunts dangerous monsters of the paranormal variety. Our two heroines are sent to Paris to look into a spree of brutal murders thought to have been committed by some kind of Capital B Beast. Their investigation takes them to illicit salons, the catacombs, the opera, and many other places besides.

The two women must learn to trust one another, which does not come easy. Sam is used to keeping her ability as a channel secret, as most people believe this means she will inevitably fall under the sway of monsters and is therefore a danger herself. Conversely, everyone knows the identity of Hel's father, but what they don't know is that by making the choice to free herself from his influence, she guaranteed that he will always target people she gets close to.

Some minor complaints: 1) I didn't always follow the characters' lines of reasoning with some of the conclusions they made, and 2) it seems like this book tried to be and do a little too much. There's Sam channeling, false visions, a hidden rage, Jakob Van Helsing (son of Abraham) foiling her wherever she goes in a bid to save her from her own inexorable descent into monstrousness, the men in the Royal Society discounting the abilities of the women, personal agency, the question of monster versus victim, alchemy, religious and political motivations, the potential for Moriarty to be manipulating their investigation, covert ciphers, messages sent via bees...all on top the of the basic premise of uncovering who is responsible for the murders and stopping them.

(And one extremely niggling issue: I understand that "wills o'the wisp" is probably the proper plural form of the term, but it still sounds off enough to kick me from the immersion in the story, and it is a term that gets used SO. MUCH.)

Even with being a bit extra, this is a 4.75 star book for me. I really liked the characters, the early twentieth century Paris setting, the paranormal elements, and the investigation into the Beast killings. It was a lot of fun, and I wasn't bored for even a moment. It does leave the door open for another adventure to come. I will be keeping an eye on this author, and this publisher, for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Inky Phoenix Press for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Some books you read the description and know you will love them - almost everything about this book is right up my alley. We've got daughters of literary characters, magic and monsters, feminine strength and rage, addressing systems of power, a mystery, sapphics, and as a bonus, the phantom of the Paris Opera.

I love the way this is set up, weaving together contemporaneous novels into one world at the turn of the century, trying to figure everything out. Hel and Sam are perfect characters in this too, having to take in so many changing expectations and decide for themselves who they are in the shifting world.

The reveal of the mystery is well-done, with layers peeling back as more and more clues are discovered, mixing alchemy, folklore, and monsters of both human and inhuman making. There are a couple twists I guessed, but they were both interesting to see play out as well as set in a backdrop of so many other twists that it all still felt whirlwind and exciting.

My only qualm is how much French is in this; Sam doesn't speak French, so it is intended to be foreign and only vaguely understood, but in most of the cases, if you don't know French, you have no hope of knowing what was just said or implied, and often even the tone, if it's supposed to be cutting or sympathetic. It's not an example of language inclusion done well. Thankfully, while there's enough to be very noticeable, it's ultimately not intrinsic to the plot or enjoyment of the book as a whole.

Strange Beasts piqued my interest from the first chapters with a unique world filled with monsters and lore. And after finishing it, I can confirm that this was my favourite part with the perfectly atmospheric setting of 20th century Paris. On the other hand, I found the rest of the book to be a bit bland.

The characters were very cliché, and while I liked them, they also all lacked depth. The sapphic romance was one of the selling points of this book for me, and I found it very lacking. There was barely any chemistry, no banter, no pining.

The twists and turns were good, but I still guessed most of them quickly. The multi-layered reveal at the end was also good, but, again, it was also quite messy and confusing. The pace was uneven, slowed down by repetitions, and I lost interest several times.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This novel stars Sam Harker (daughter of Mina and Jonathan, of Dracula fame), a researcher for a society that fights abnormal monsters. When they are called to Paris to deal with some mysterious deaths, Sam gets herself put on the case, even though it means working with Hel Moriarty (daughter of Moriarty of Sherlock Holmes fame). This was a fun read, though the flowery language seemed to get in the way of the plot, and the killer was easily guessed.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an arc of this book. This book was a decent read through once. It was slow paced at time to where it was losing me a little bit towards the middle, but picked up again at the end with the reveal. I do like how they threw some monsters of lore throughout the story like grindylows, rusalkas, and carcohls. The mystery was interesting and it does lead on for the possibility of another adventure with the two fmcs, however I wish that they would have kept it more of a partnership/friendship instead of trying to rush a romance in at the end which just seemed kind of awkward. If there is a book 2 I will definitely look into it!

Thanks to NetGalley & Bindery Books for providing me an e-ARC!

**4.5 stars** This book is the perfect embodiment of what a fall, historical fantasy, gothic novel should be–everything from the setting, magic system, and our main characters. Read this during a cold autumn day.

Set in 20th century Paris, a researcher of the Royal Society of Abnormal Phenomena, Samantha (Sam) Harker, the daughter of Dracula’s killer, reluctantly works with Dr. Helena (Hel) Moriarty, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes’ archnemesis, to catch the city’s mysterious beast. During their extensive search, an attraction brews between our two leads in hopes to defeat the monstrosity together.

I was surprised to read that this is Morris’ debut novel! I was thoroughly impressed. Her prose is exceptional. So poetic, eloquent–it reminded me of Olivie Blake’s writing. It fits with the time period as it’s so atmospheric. There were some beautiful descriptions that they tied in so well with the gothic themes of this book. Readers of S.T. Gibson especially, would really enjoy this!

Our two main characters could not be more different but they fall for each other in a tasteful slow burn romance. It was honestly a joy to read. I did dock half a star solely because I guessed the killer so early on and the misdirections didn’t do much to deter from my hypothesis. Regardless, the ending was still a satisfying read.

I’m super excited to see what Susan J. Morris writes next!

I absolutely loved this book. This is a 1903 female Supernatural and I am here for it. Everything was amazing and I was hooked from the first chapter. I would like to highlight several things I loved about this story:

- The two main female characters and their differences. I love the feminine and masculine contrast between them. I love the skilled, novice dynamic. I love the "act first" versus "think first" approach they had. It made them perfect team and it was very enjoyable to read.
- The character development of Sam - She really grown thought the story. I love seeing this in the books. It was well done and very logical without Sam losing her own personality and quirks.
- The crime was complex and tangled. It kept me guessing and (no surprise here) I didn't guess until almost the end, who was the culprit.
- The references: this book contained a lot of references to real and fictional world. Some were more obvious than others, but I love the easter eggs.
- The ending: the case is closed and there is a time for another case.... YES PLEASE!

I want to know more about Sam & Hel adventures and their relationship. This was very enjoyable book full of adventure and action.

Okay, you guys, this was, like, such an absolute joy to read! I mean, who doesn’t love a gothic mystery with, like, a dash of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes vibes? It’s the perfect combo! Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty are, like, the ultimate dynamic duo, hunting down a super creepy beast in turn-of-the-century Paris. The tension between them? So intense! Their slow-burn romance had me, like, swooning the whole time! 💕

Morris totally nailed the atmospheric vibes, and I was, like, completely sucked into this dark, magical world where women are, like, totally reclaiming their power! It’s got all the gothic goodness you want—think alchemy, underground societies, and some serious monster-hunting action!

Honestly, I devoured this book because I couldn’t put it down! If you’re into historical mysteries with a sprinkle of the supernatural, this one’s a must-read! I can totally see this becoming a series! Ugh, so good! Seriously, you guys have to check it out! 🎉✨

ARC Book Review!

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris

5 / 5⭐️

Thank you @netgalley for this Advanced Reader copy! Strange Beasts comes out October 15.2024.

This was my last (as of right now) ARC for 2024 and PHEW!! This book was a whirlwind and such a good ARC to end this years season on! The pace was incredible, the characters were complex and I was kept guessing right to the end.

I don't often give out 5 ⭐️ because for me they need to be a book I am utterly obsessed with to get that rating but this book easily got a 5 ⭐️ from me. I will be singing its praises and recommending it to everyone I know for the foreseeable future!


This book is for you if you like :

LGBTQ rep
Historical mystery
Paranormal

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A good historical slice of fiction that had enough intrigue to keep me captivated. I liked the premise and characters but felt like something was overall missing from the story. Maybe the plot should have had more stakes or complexity. 3 stars

thank you to netgalley & bindery books for a copy of the ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review!

let’s say what we’re all thinking, okay? one, two, three… THIS WAS SO CREATIVE!! if anyone had told me i would ever, at any point in my life, be reading a sherlock holmes x dracula crossover & immensely enjoying myself i would not have believed them (mostly because i really, really didn’t like ‘dracula’ when i read it. i know, i know, i’m shocked as an english literature major myself). no, but seriously, how fun and intriguing a concept is that, meshing together two of the most well-known worlds in the literacy word? how could i resist? besides!! this is a sapphic romance between the daughters of jonathan harker (sam) & moriarty (hel), who could ask for more? and, this was just perfect for the start of fall, the vibes were exquisite!! it was well-written (i loved being inside sam’s head, honestly. her voice was so neatly done. also, i too would love to borrow her perfume and smell like a library myself) and the mystery was throughly enjoyable, and this is being said as someone who usually shies away from mystery / thriller novels because they tend to bore me!

but, if i have to be honest, what really enamoured me about this book were sam & hel. frankly, if i could’ve had a whole book just focused on them, sans the murders & the mystery, i would’ve jumped at the chance because their interactions were the highlight of every chapter (in my opinion! as i’ve said, i’m not the biggest sleuth fan out there, and this a me issue, not a reflection on the book in the least). this was a lot of fun and i’m hoping everyone else enjoys it as much as i have because it’s a killer read!

The book did not grip me and I struggled to read it. I wanted to love it but it just didn’t hit. This could have been due to the life circumstances while I was reading it but I couldn’t get through it and dnf at 55%

perfect for spooky season!! i loved this so much <3
the characters were so well developed and the world was so interesting! highly recommend!

Thank you to Susan J. Morris, Bindery Books, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for a honest review-- all opinions are my own.

Strange Beasts is a really thrilling read that is filled with suspense, new takes on classic literary characters, and all set in a mysterious and constantly changing game of cat and mouse in Paris. This book has elements of fantasy intertwined with mystery. The main characters in this book are all so interesting and we get to see multiple sides to each one, which I really enjoyed. This book was a perfect gothic fantasy book that drew me in from the very beginning. I really liked the motivations and musings from the main character as well as others we get to see through the main character's eyes. The story presents us with a couple of different mysteries that are explored throughout the story(and hopefully a sequel). I just thought that this book was really enjoyable! It's the perfect book for readers who are looking for a good case-solving mystery book that has fantasy elements. The pacing for this book was good too, I never felt rushed nor were there any parts that moved too slow. A very good atmospheric read overall. Perfect for the Fall season.

I was surprised to find that this was my least favorite out of what I have read from Bindery Publishing. I think I was expecting more of a thriller or horror story based on the cover alone which caused the transition into the story to be a little hard. I will say I think fans of Divine Rivals will eat this book up! Definitely would suggest this book to those individuals however I didn't find this book to align completely with my tastes.

Strange Beasts was the perfect mix of mystery and the supernatural with a *very* slow burn romance. This one will be getting a permanent spot on my bookshelf!

Thank you for the opportunity of an eARC and I am leaving this review willingly.

I honestly really liked this book. It was really fun to read and I loved the main characters and how they interacted with each other. The only thing that I didn't really like about it was the pacing and how the plot unfolded. It felt kind of choppy how they got from one place to another with little explanation as to how they got there or why they went there. Certain aspects of the story I felt weren't explained that well and I didn't really get how they fit into the main plot of the story but other than that I didn't have any problems with it and would probably recommend it. Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for an E-arc copy of this book!

[2.5] i definitely loved the overall vibes of this book, and i think i chose the perfect time to read it (rainy weather, start of autumn, etc.). the whole idea of sam working in this society was giving me 'tortured poets department' energy which really intrigued me, so i was a little disappointed not much of the story takes part in those offices / bases. further to that, i found the plot would jump from one place to another quite abruptly, and this came across like the author had exhausted all scenes in this place, so we would just find an excuse to go somewhere else. similarly, i thought the romance almost seemed to spring out of nowehere and could have been woven into the story better - i think both of these things could have been improved if the events in this book were spread over 1.5 or 2. that said, i did enjoy the mystery element to the plot (even if i was confused most of the time), and think some people would really love this.

thank you to netgalley and bindery books for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book well enough- the idea of a Sherlock Holmes/Dracula crossover novel is a great premise. The pacing was quite good, making reading a breeze. I did find that the twists and turns of the plot toward the end actually had me getting less and less interested in the outcome, which was unusual for me. I think it mostly stems from feeling no real connection to the characters. I think, perhaps, if more of an effort was made at the beginning of the novel to connect the read with the characters, allow us to feel like we had a stake in the outcome, it would have remained interesting throughout. Overall an easy read with an engaging plot.