
Member Reviews

Where There Be Monsters is a futuristic fantasy adventure with lots of cool monsters and great characters. Glory is strong, intelligent, and knows what she wants. The world-building was outstanding and unique. At the beginning, there is so much to remember about the world and everything going on that it was a tad confusing. Great story overall and a fabulous cover.

This is a steampunk-ish fantasy adventure set in a fascinating world—or worlds, I should say. Glory Brown is clever and curious and restless for adventure. Full of moxie, a term in the story for a type of magic only kids possess, she can travel without the threat of winding up as monster meat. But because her parents are cautious, she's never traveled too far from home, especially alone. Of course, things go awry (she's accidentally cursed), and her moxie begins to attract monsters instead of repelling them. So she takes off with a new friend to try to break the curse, telling no one except her a family friend, a chill person-sized weasel-type monsterfolk.
I liked Glory a lot as a character. I can relate to her impatience, her intellectual chutzpah, and her mazy-headedness, even though I am a grown-ass adult! The other characters are mostly fleshed out well.
Two weak points to the book: First, while the world-building is pretty great, some of the spatiality is confusing. The steampunk elements to this book lend it a scientific flair, and how the world "works" can be confusing sometimes. This is especially noticeable in juxtaposition with the tone of the book, which is very much younger middle grade. (The tone is also a bit too "teachery" for my liking; hopefully all those "shoulds" and "musts" won't turn off kids just trying to read something fun.) Secondly, and probably the biggest drawback: the exposition and dialogue are quite clunky at times. The world is complex, after all, and explaining it isn't an easy task. But I wish they'd made some edits to be more fluid and natural. (James Ponti is a MG author who does this very well overall, though granted his worlds aren't as complex.)
Anyway, started as a solid 4 for me and fell to a 3 because of these issues. Still a good book and I'm hoping for more of this world and author in the future.

This was so cute! I loved everything about this book! I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This took me a little while to finish because I wasn't immediately sucked into a world that I didn't want to leave. It built over time to tell the story of Glory, whose family runs an inn in which the monsters pass through but that's at the cusp of a place called the Seam and where Glory wants to practice the magic of her mother, an ability called Moxie that is given to kids.
What becomes the first in a fantasy middle grade series includes pictures and reports of specific creatures which adds a fun element similar to [book:Impossible Creatures|205977739] but it lacks *something* to make it stand out that I can't quite put my finger on, however the world-building will continue to be a major player in the series.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in Exchange for an honest review.
Where there Be Monsters by Alby C. Williams was a phenomenal Middle Grade fantasy/adventure work. This novel is a perfect mix of magic, monsters and mischief. Glory the protagonist was a relatable character who takes us on quite the adventure where we see her learn to stand up for what is right. The world building in this book is outstanding placing the reader in a futuristic society that feels remarkable like our current world. Additionally the magic system is well thought out and seems a natural aspect in the story.

This book is an incredible MG addition that is beginning to fill the gap where representation is needed. I cannot wait for more books from the author. Please don't make us wait too long!!!

I truly loved this book! It's been a while since I read a MG fantasy where the worldbuilding felt so very fresh and different, but Where There Be Monsters made it look just not possible, but easy. The sense of the interconnected worlds rotating around each other gave an almost science fantasy feel to the entire story, but the tone and whimsy are entirely that of my favorite fantasy novels. The real magic here lies in the details of the worlds Glory and Marcus stumble into and explore, but also Williams's willingness to clearly paint the flaws in the existing system, creating a universe as unfortunately flawed as our own.
Glory is a perfect protagonist, though she's far from perfect herself - instead, she's one of the most thought-out, adventurous, relatable, flawed, funny, and real main characters I've read this year. Everything about her relationships with the other characters in the book is superb, with all the nuance, stubbornness, and variety you'd expect from a real person. Her voice shines through every page and makes this story entirely her own, and I loved discovering the story alongside her.
I am so very glad this is the first book in a series, because I can't wait to explore the Outersphere more and discover the remarkable alongside Glory and Marcus. Five very well-deserved stars!

Glory Brown helps her parents run an inn at the edge of the known world and dreams of being just like her mom, a fearless explorer and junior parliament. Because she lives in a multiverse (??) where kids are often used as messengers and explorers because their childhood magic, moxie, acts as a natural monster repellent, making them perfect for the job. Only, Glory's mom isn't sure she's ready to go to the school quite yet. And then Glory's chance to prove herself arrives in the form of Marcus, a lost and scared Magpie (class from the Parliamentarium), and so Glory sets off to help Marcus make it home, since her mom is traveling. But then Marcus gets her cursed. And then they end up uncovering a massive government conspiracy. And also everything else that can go wrong does go wrong.
This is a cute middle grade novel. It was often a little heavy handed, but ultimately, it was good. I also liked the ADHD rep, even though I hated that they called it mazy-headedness. It was a really cool world that Williams built. I loved the creativity. This would be great for an elementary school classroom.

Where There Be Monsters is a magical story about standing up for what is right and learning how to deal with the challenges within the world. I adored Glory throughout the book and appreciated the growth she underwent. Everything about her internal journey felt extremely natural, and I wish I had read this as a child. Seeing how Glory tackled issues imperfectly, but corrected when needed, would have helped me develop my compassion as a kid.
This book has amazing world-building, which takes place in a futuristic society that still feels comparable to our current world. I love the monsterfolk, especially Penrose, and how they add to the magical world. The images we get of the monsters/monsterfolk throughout the story are a wonderful addition. The magic system, including Moxie, was extremely unique, and I felt that it was explained fairly well.
The antagonist of the book, I thought, had a lot of depth, and the more we learned about them, the more I felt for them, but it didn't make their actions correct. I love how aspects were dealt with throughout the novel, and much of it aided in Glory's character growth. I do wish Marcus felt a little more fleshed out. Sometimes he felt like he was just there, other times he was starting to give me what I hoped for from him. He did grow on me by the end, but I did not feel as attached to him as I did to some of the other characters, such as Grandpa Ike.
The book seemed to be set up to be a series, and I hope so! I want to watch Glory continue to grow and explore the world. This is perfect for people who are looking for:
-BIPOC rep (Main character and many more)
-Neurodivergent MC
-LGBTQIA+ side characters
-Strong family bonds
-Unique magical worlds
-Kids who make mistakes and learn from them
-Realistic antagonist
Final rating: 4.5
Thank you, NetGalley, Roaring Brook Press, and Macmillan, for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for the ARC! Glory Brown and the Light Inn is a total standout—imaginative, adventurous, and packed with heart. Glory is the kind of bold, curious heroine you instantly root for, and the world-building is rich with wonder and danger. The Moxie concept is magical and fresh, and the balance of mystery, monsters, and meaningful stakes is so well done. A wildly fun debut that deserves a place alongside Amari and The Marvellers.

A great adventure awaits middle grade students who want to experience travel among celestial locations in a fantasy world that is suddenly and inexplicably at risk of invasion by monsters. The main character, Glory Brown, is a spunky 11 year old who is really, really wanting to start exploring and serving her society just like her mother. Her mother, grandfather, and father, who don’t quite agree, are strong adult figures who guide and love her, helping her become her best self (a happy change from too many fantasy middle grade books I’ve read recently). The other key characters are thoughtfully developed, with clear motives driving their actions and interactions with Glory and each other.
The beginning of the book was rather confusing with an excessive amount of terminology unique to this novel. This slowed my pace of reading because they are not intuitively connected to English; I think it would make the text too difficult for young readers who would otherwise enjoy the story. Once I became more familiar with so many different words, the pace and my interest increased.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this middle grade novel.

Thank you to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
More than 1000 years into the future, humans have expanded into the universe and have settled planets in the Outersphere. These planets have varying amounts of magic flowing through them. These planets also have Monsterfolk, some living amicably with the humans and some not so amicable. Glory Brown, age eleven, wants to be a Spherinaut, like her famous mother. When a mysterious boy suddenly shows up at her family’s inn, Glory wants to help and they travel between worlds. All is not what most people believe and it is up to Glory and Marcus to help set things right.
There is a lot of world-building in the beginning, and I mean A LOT!! It probably would have been better for me to read it as a physical book versus an e-book so that I could flip back and forth when they travelled between worlds. Glory refers to herself as “mazey-headed” to describe her neurodivergence – she thinks about thinks differently and can be impulsive. Once the plot really took off, I enjoyed it more. I would still recommend it for grades 4 and up. 3.5 stars
#WhereThereBeMonsters #NetGalley

This was different than what i usually read but was really good . If you haven’t all ready please go read you will not be disappointed

This is a sci-fi fantasy mash-up where there is magic, and we have travelled to other planets. Earth, despite being 1,000 years in the future, is still racist. Glory wants to be just like her mother, but her mother has kept her back. When another kid shows up, she runs away to help him and also gets his curse. They just want to help make the universe better!
It is a rip-roaring adventure that I had to stop and think about a lot to follow. The world-building was gradual, and sometimes I did not understand it well enough to fully understand the story without some re-reading. I worry about my students also becoming confused, but their young brains are significantly more flexible than mine!
I think this is a great addition to libraries that serve middle schoolers. I think that for my students it is not the best fit, not because it isn't great, but many of my kiddos are working their way up top larger chapter books. I hope that this will be popular with middle schoolers though, because I want to read more of this series!
Thank you to Net Galley, Roaring Book Press, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Where There Be Monsters is a sweet middle-grade fantasy adventure featuring Glory Brown, a neurodivergent eleven-year-old who's long dreamed of following in her mother's footsteps only to realize just how dangerous, even unfair, the world is. The setting offers a cozy steam-punkish vibe both in Glory's homeworld as well as in the Parliamentarium, a school for children to learn about the Outersphere and how to embrace their strengths and knowledge.
There is clearly a lot of love, passion and thought that went into the world-building and the magic system. The book features wonderful characters and creative creatures that are wonderfully illustrated across the pages. The story itself has just the right balance of action with emotional growth. Adults are just as active and impactful in this book as the young heroine and her friend. The children aren't the sole drivers, but of course, play the most important roles still.
Throughout the plot, the book takes important pauses to instill important lessons such as empathy, understanding and learning when to let go. I also admire how neurodivergence was handled, allowing the readers to not only relate but hopefully learn techniques to help them be productive and stay focused.
While the magic system and the world building are great, I can't help but wonder if younger readers especially might end confused. I found myself flipping back and forth trying to connect the dots at times. It could be because there are several threads going on at once that sometimes their resolution feel a bit rushed. It's a little odd because I can't say there aren't enough descriptions. If anything, towards the beginning, I felt we may be getting too much lore dump at once.
The other thing I'm not so sure about is the relationship between Marcus and Gloria. While I understand the conflicts between them were supposed to be used to show that they're still children but also as a way to teach young readers important life lessons, at the end of the day it left me feeling puzzled. Gloria appears very self-centered when it comes to their friendship that it's hard to feel for her. Between constantly blaming him for his curse, when she herself was cursed despite him trying to stop her, to her jealousy but still screaming that he's her friend.
Still I really adored the universe and found it very creative and fun. I would love to see what the author comes up with next and I'm definitely considering a copy for my niece.

Williams has serious skills when it comes to world building! I love this new land where monsters, monsterfolk, and adventurers exist. With a beautifully strong willed neurodivergent main character and her new friend the excitement is constant and the danger levels intense.

Glory is 11 and lives in a universe where travelling to another planet is as easy as walking through a doorway IF you are able to avoid the monsters that are roaming the worlds. Lucky for her she has plenty of Moxie, which monsters avoid. All she wants to do is travel and explore, but her Mom, who is an explorer herself, tells her she is too young and not ready yet. When her Mom is away and a boy shows up at the Inn needing help Glory sets off on an adventure that ends up being way more than she expected.
First, I thought the world building in this book was pretty inventive and incredible. The explanations behind the magic and the monsters and how everything was tied together was very well thought out and flowed very well with the story. The characters were realistic and relatable and were very far from perfect. I loved how Glory's ADHD is expressed as being Mazyheaded and how it shows how schedules and activity make it better AND how her thought process helps her come to some pretty amazing conclusions.
Honestly, I thought this was a pretty great book. My only criticism, and this is minor, is that there were a few times that I had to go back and read a part again to make sure that I understood some of the technical parts behind the magic. I think this will be a wonderful book for kids.

4.5 stars
This was a lot of fun! It has a rich magical world that you get thrust into. Our female MC is neurodivergent and is someone you end up really caring about. The stakes seem real for the plot, but appropriate for a middle grade reader. I think for some readers looking for a more hard magic system, they might be left wanting more explanations, but I think the rest of the series could just dive deeper. It works as a great intro book to this world.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.

Such a fun, magical read with inclusivity! Glory is a fantastic main character, full of curiosity and spunk. The world building may be a little difficult for younger middle grade readers to follow but perfect for older readers. As a homeschooling mom, it’s important for me to choose books with diverse representation and in that regard, this book can spark impactful conversations with children about neurodivergence and racism (and the historical meaning behind the Green Book). I’m excited to see what adventures Glory has in the next book!

*4.25 Stars*
I really liked this one. The main character was layered and the magic system was complex and enthralling. I really got enjoyed the plot and was carried by it from beginning to end. I also liked the side characters and really loved the world. I'm looking forward to reading the next book. I really want to see what will happen next with these characters. Such a good debut!