Williams has created an intricate world, filled with numerous hidden treasures for the attentive reader. Readers with a background in African American history will have an even richer experience.

Oh, I loved this one and think it will be a great book for your middle grade adventure/fantasy readers! It seems like it would be a “stay up way too late with a flashlight and a book under your covers” kind of read.

Glory Brown is 11, very ready for a life bigger than the quiet calm life on her world. She comes from a family of Spherinauts and wants to live up to her mother's reknowned reputation. She is what they call 'mazy-headed(a term used to describe her neurodivergence) and filled with curiosity that seems to never be fully satiated. (Side note: I adore that her neurodivergent brain is a strength in this story—not something to overcome, but something that connects her to her mother and helps her navigate wild, magical terrain.)

The world is so fun and so fresh—kids have Moxie (a kind of magic that only they can use), there’s a monster-filled place called the Seam, and the dream job is to be a Spherinaut (a kind of explorer who documents the Outersphere). Glory’s got explorer blood in her, and when a mysterious boy named Marcus shows up on a mission from the Parliamentarium (Spherinaut school = YES), she doesn’t hesitate—she grabs her books and jumps right into the adventure.

This has found family vibes, a boarding school twist, monsters (but not too scary), secret missions, and magic with rules that make sense. It’s full of those great middle grade tropes I love: the kid who doesn’t quite fit in, the mysterious legacy, the grown-up who’s not telling you everything, the adventure that’s bigger than it first seems.

The audiobook is fantastic—great pacing and voice work, easy to follow even with all the unique terminology and world building. Definitely worth grabbing in audio if your kids (or you) are audiobook lovers. It would be a great car listen on trips!

Quick note for families: there’s a brief mention of folks using various pronouns. It’s literally one line, not a central theme, but just a heads-up for those who like to preview.

I really liked the world building in this story. Glory Brown lives in the Seam, at the Light Inn. Which has been in the Brown family for generations as a sanctuary for travelers of the Seam. The Inn is important and provides a much needed public service but Glory yearns for more. She ultimately finds the adventure she is seeking when Marcus enters her life through a hedge.

This has magic, monsters, smart kids and supportive adults. Sometimes in middle grade novels it feels like parents are creatively removed from the action. I know this is so the kid can carry the story but it often leaves the adults absent or in some cases negligent. I liked that this story managed to focus on the kids but also included the parents actively supporting the kids. I don't want to spoil the story but I truly enjoyed how this played out. I think the basic premise of children having Moxie helped to support this adult involved structure. I'm an adult so my preferences don't matter in this genre. I'm just sharing what I liked.

Though this story is written at a middle grade level, I think it would appeal to grade schoolers as well. This is also a good book for parents to read with or to grade school age children who may not yet have the skills to read this on their own yet. Parents, teachers, and librarians build a love of reading in children by introducing kids to books they can all love.

This is delightfully narrated by Tyla Collier. Tyla has a rich and melodic voice which enhances this story beautifully. This is a perfect audiobook for immersion reading. The narration truly adds to the experience of this novel and I highly recommend consuming this on audio.

Thank you to Alby C. Williams, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

Middle grade adventure story with magic, monsters and neurodiversity.

Glory is excited to follow in her mom’s footsteps to fight off monsters and protect the world but eager to get started right now! Which gets her into some trouble and fun.

I enjoyed how Glory thought and experienced the world and how that differed from what other people experienced and how that created conflict and also connection. Also the adults aren’t useless which !!! Yay!

I think as this continues I will enjoy the story even more it did seem to have a lot going on at times and hopefully we can circle back in the next book.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an alc

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!

The narration was excellent, and I preferred the audio to the book because it helped me follow better.

Thank you to Net Galley, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

We Were the Monsters was a fun and exciting story about friendship, bravery, and learning what it really means to be a “monster.” It had just the right mix of adventure and heart a great read for middle schoolers!

*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!

📖 Bookish Thoughts:
This was such a fun middle grade magical adventure! Eleven-year-old me would’ve been obsessed. Glory is spunky, determined, and maybe too curious for her own good! 🤣 She had such a sweet, kind-hearted nature and a really innocent way of seeing the world.

I especially appreciated the rep of Marcus having two moms. It felt natural and important without ever being a “thing.”

This story was the perfect mix of whimsy, fun, and adventure. A great listen for younger readers—or nostalgic older ones like me! And the audiobook was fantastic—I really enjoyed the narrator!

🖤 Read if you love:
• Magical realism
• Secret missions
• Interdimensional travel
• Strong family bonds
• Found family vibes
• Kids saving the world

⭐️ Book Rating: 4.5
🎧 Audiobook Rating: 4.5

Thank you to NetGalley, Roaring Brook Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy and ARC. All thoughts are my own.

In this science fiction/fantasy tale, Glory, who has grown up at their family’s safe, cozy inn, stumbles upon a strange boy, Marcus, who has lost his way. He is on a top secret mission that takes him between worlds, and Glory wants more than anything to escape her mundane setting and go out on an adventure with him. She also wants to learn how to use her special powers, which she hopes will happen if she leaves home. This book is reminiscent of Amari and the Night Brothers, but is a solid choice all on its own. Highly recommended for middle grade readers.

Thank you @NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for the LARC. I see a hit for Alby C. Williams. This is the first book in the Outersphere series and it was so much fun to listen to.The fantasy world is filled with dangerous monsters and even dangerous humans who want to run the world their way. Glory has one dream, she wants to be just like her mom, a Magpie. Her plans are thrown off when Marcas shows up with an important message. Glory and Marcus must save her mom and maybe their home. A must read for all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alby C. Williams, and @Macmillan.Audio for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

The audiobook was excellent. The narrator Tyla Collier brought this story to life. She is such a great narrator as Glory. I would listen to more of her audiobooks in the future.

3 stars

I am disappointed with this one. I thought it was going to be my next favorite middle-grade new series. I enjoyed the magic systems and characters. I was lost on the different types of monsters and how moxie is used. This book has so much potential. It would have benefited from some world-building and descriptions. It was hard to see where the characters went next without describing it in detail. Those are my opinions. I would love to see what other books Alby C. Williams comes out with next.

Where There Be Monsters by Abby C. Williams is an imaginative, heartfelt adventure full of magic, monsters, and meaning.

We follow Glory, a curious and kind-hearted girl who longs for more than the quiet life at her family’s inn in the Seam—a stretch of land filled with strange creatures. She dreams of becoming a Spherinaut like her mother and using her Moxie, a special kind of magic only kids have.

When Marcus, a mysterious boy on a mission for the Parliamentarium, arrives, Glory finally gets her chance. Her journey through the Outersphere is thrilling, emotional, and full of surprises. I especially loved the reference to the Green Book, the STEAM elements, and the way the story explores big feelings, identity, and the importance of both found and biological family.

The friendship between Glory and Marcus felt authentic and grounded in trust and mutual growth. I can absolutely see this turning into a fantastic series—and I can’t wait to see where it goes next!

Where There Be Monsters by Alby C. Williams is a middle-grade fantasy adventure that takes readers on a journey through a creatively imagined world. The story follows eleven-year-old Glory Brown, who longs for adventure beyond her family's inn and dreams of becoming a Spherinaut. When Glory encounters a mysterious boy on a secret mission, she gets her chance to explore a world filled with monsters, magic, and mysteries.

Williams crafts a rich and imaginative setting, blending elements of fantasy and science in a way that will captivate young readers. The book explores themes of courage, curiosity, and the importance of finding your place in the world.

The audiobook edition features narration by Tyla Collier, who brings the characters and their adventures to life. Collier's performance captures Glory's spirit and the wonder of the world around her, enhancing the listening experience and making it a great choice for those who enjoy immersive storytelling.

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
"Where There Be Monsters" by Alby C. Williams is a great book for young readers. It's a fantastic introduction to the fantasy/magic world, and I feel it's very age-appropriate for middle schoolers and even elementary schoolers who read at a middle school level. The representation of a young Black girl doing magic is strong, and I love it. For this to be Alby C. Williams' debut fantasy novel, with adventures filled with monsters, magic, mysteries, and mischief, she did an amazing job! I will definitely allow my daughter to listen to the audiobook and read the book.

The audiobook is great, and the narrator, Tyla Collier, did a great job telling the story and bringing it to life! She was easy to listen to and understand. Listened at 2x speed.

Glory Brown is desperate for adventure far from her family’s quaint, quiet life at The Light Inn. Generations of Browns have been stewards of this humble hotel, which acts as a sanctuary in the stretch of monster-filled land called the Seam. But Glory wants nothing more than to learn how to use her Moxie, a special magic only kids have, and to train to become a Spherinaut like her mother, exploring and documenting the perilous depths of the Outersphere.

When a mysterious boy named Marcus appears one day on a top-secret mission for the Parliamentarium – the school for aspiring Spherinauts – Glory packs up her beloved books and sets off on a once-in-a-lifetime journey that will shuttle her across time and space…and reveal new dangers lurking in the worlds beyond the Seam.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
•middle school
•black fantasy
•magical

Thank you, NetGalley, and MacmillanAudio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.