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.