was expecting sapphic detectives investigating a mystery murder but it was anything but that..... the book fell flat for me, it had a great premise and great ideas but it just didn't work.
the worldbuilding is quite poor.... i don't understand what magical monsters exist, what's the attitude towards them and what the society helena and samantha work for actually does??
the characters also seemed one-dimensional and flat. why is van helsing the villain?? plus i almost forgot there's supposed to be a romance? the chemistry between hel and sam in practically non-existent.
the crime itself was probably the strongest plot point but around the 50% mark i wanted to dnf the book and pushed myself to continue even though i didn't feel any connection with the characters or story.

I was utterly captivated by this book! Who can resist a romantic mystery set in the 1900s featuring mystical creatures and a Sherlock Holmes-esque atmosphere? It honestly had everything. The writing was excellent, and the story was both beautiful and unsettling, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The plot was solid and well-crafted, but the writing truly stood out. The challenges women agents face in a society that typically views them as workers, wives, or mistresses—and rarely as influential or authoritative figures—added a compelling frustration to Sam and Hel’sHel'sney. I also appreciated the various monsters encountered throughout their adventure.

The story unfolds gradually, and by the end, the characters begin to understand their feelings for each other. This might not be the best fit if you are for a book with more romance than plot. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

Samantha Harker and Helena Moriarty are sent to investigate a strange series of murders in 1903 Paris.
Yes, they are the daughters of Mina and Jonathan Harker from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes's nemesis. Yes, I loved that.
What I loved even more is how the real life history and daily life from early XX century gets intertwined with fantasy elements (even referencing the Beast of Gévaudan, which sent me down a rabbit hole a couple of years ago, and the Phantom of the Opera).

The plot is quite intricate, full of twists which you may or may not see coming – I definitely didn't. The characters are strong and quite well defined, it's easy to love them. I found myself reading very little in fear of having to let Sam and Hel go, but that means I am soo ready for the sequel. And the romance, oh god, I loved it! Being quite a fan of slow burn, I was sooo happy to not have them declare their love by the first half of the book. I can't wait to see more.

Another thing I really liked were the descriptions, whether it was of the ambience and the setting or the physical ones. They are done in such a clever and vivid way, you can really see the scene as if you were there.

To sum up, I really enjoyed this book and I was so surprised to find out it's a debut novel. I will be definitely reading the next books in the series and I cant't wait to follow Sam and Hel!

(little note: I went down another rabbit hole about strange things that happened in European history and I would LOVE to know what Sam and Hel think about the dancing plagues.)

I really enjoyed this book! It had mystery, adventure, suspense. And monsters! The story line was great and it had really good character development. I loved Hel and Sam’s relationship and hope it will be explored more in another book. Man, I hope there is another book!

The first 70% or so is pure slog. Sam is genuinely irritating as a protagonist because there's nothing anchored about her; she acts as an eye into the world without much quality to make it her own. Her power is an interesting aspect to explore, but it only came up when the plot needed it, and not much else was elaborated on. In fact, I think this could really benefit from a more concrete backstories. It reads like a second installment in a series and I'm not sure I vibed with it. Sam's chemistry with Hel is also very fleeting, with Sam's feelings flip-flopping all the time and Hel not being a fully realized character in the first place. The last arc of the book did pick up, the twist was okay, and I had a relatively good time with way it was handled.

It was a story I was not expecting. The writing style was great. I really loved it. Truly. It was worth the read. Would definitely read it again.
10/10

Dracula is one of my favourite classic novels, so the blurb for Strange Beasts by Sarah J. Morris immediately appealed. The novel is a compelling dive into a fantastical extension of the Dracula universe, featuring a fresh and intriguing protagonist, Sam Harker, the daughter of Mina and Jonathan Harker, and detective Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of the formidable enemy for the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. This book blends gothic horror and fantasy with an atmospheric narrative that pulls readers into a world filled with dark magic, monstrous creatures, and hidden secrets.

One of the standout elements is Sam Harker herself. As Jonathan and Mina Harker's daughter, she inherits not just her parents’ legacies but also a set of unusual powers. Her character is well-developed and relatable, balancing vulnerability and strength as she navigates the dangers surrounding her. Morris explores Sam's internal and external struggles, making her a captivating and dynamic heroine alongside her partner.

The setting of the Paris catacombs adds a wonderfully eerie backdrop to the story and enhances the novel's gothic atmosphere. The catacombs, with their claustrophobic passages and haunting history, serve as the perfect stage for the unfolding supernatural occurrences.

Another highlight is the inclusion of monsters and fantastical elements. Morris doesn't shy away from exploring the macabre, creating a sense of tension and suspense. The creatures that inhabit this world touch on myth and legend, contributing to the novel's historic allure.

Van Helsing’s son Jakob was another appealing addition, albeit in a deuteragonist role. The conflict between Sam Harker and Jakob Van Helsing added another layer of complexity and excitement to the story. However, I would’ve liked to see more of Jakob.

Strange Beasts is a well-written and thoroughly engaging novel. Morris's prose is tidy and immersive, perfectly capturing the gothic tone. The atmosphere she creates is thick with tension and foreboding, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in this darkly enchanting world.

In conclusion, Strange Beasts by Sarah J. Morris is an intriguing read for gothic horror and fantasy fans. Its strong connection to the Dracula legacy, compelling characters, and richly atmospheric setting make it an enjoyable addition to the genre. I hope to see a sequel.

I LOVED THIS!!!!!

Sherlock x Dracula x Feminine Pursuits series

It was a perfect balance of Sherlock-style supernatural murder mystery with historical details and fun characters taking you on a perfectly-paced adventure. I loved how I couldn't guess a lot of the twists and I really hope it gets a sequel because there is SO much more to be done with these characters and the universe, especially the hints to Helena's past and parentage.

Ancient beast , mythical tales and combine that with the offspring of Van Helsing , Professor Moriarty, Jonathan and Mina Harker made this feel fresh with its new characters but giving a sense of comfort.

It was beautiful written and I could picture each monster, area and imagine smells described. I enjoyed we was set in Paris for most of the book instead of London. Which isn't a problem but for the type of book Strange Beasts is , it makes a change.

If your looking for a LGBT romance then this isn't the book for you. I feel like if there was a book 2 (which I hope ) there could be some massive character development. Sam and Hel are our main characters and even though there was a moment which come up once at the very end of the book , it was honestly unexpected and I didn't feel any short of slow burn. Sam blushed around men and had a very attractive man illude her thoughts but she never had this with Hel. I could sense Hel cared for her but I wasn't getting the feels of her pining after Sam. So for me this fell very flat and some of the reviews I read made me go back through some chapters to understand if I missed something but I feel like I didn't. Slow burns are my favourite books but this wouldn't make it to my slow burn list.

However it is an amazing Fantasy / PG Horror and I loved the duo. I could she a second book of stollen glances , lust and embracing moments. Obviously filled with monsters , magic and research.

The front cover of this book is so stunning. I find myself keep going back looking at it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Author for an arc copy.

Really liked this book! It wasn’t as sapphic as I had hoped it would be. But a good story with interesting female leads. Sam and Helena were a good match. I haven’t read Dracula or Sherlock Holmes so I probably missed a lot of references but i didn’t feel like i was missing anything. Definitely recommend for people who like paranormal type stories.

Continuing my excellent luck with NetGalley ARC Reviews - Strange Beasts is just completely WOW. Honestly its a bit annoying that its far easier to criticize books in words, but trying to express how great this book is is very difficult. I'm going to have to get on Tik-Tok or some BS just to gush and compliment Morris on this masterpiece.

About the only thing I can think of that could potentially be a probably is if you're simply not looking for this genre! Strange Beasts is a sort of Victorian Urban Fantasy, its set in that kind of 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' type universes where literary character are all real - for example the MC is the daughter of Dracula's Mina Harker, her partner Hel is Moriarty's daughter. Now this sort of thing can always fail on execution, but Morris pulls it off. I think because the story would be strong without everyone being a walking literary reference, but the added detail gives the story a lot of flavour.

And flavour this story has - Mein Gott - the pacing is just immaculate. I was saying to a IRL book friend that its odd to read a novel without some part or element that drags a wee bit, or feels like you have to read that section to get through the whole book - Strange Beasts never had me bored, or disinterested. Not only was there an adequate variety of action, it felt like each scene was carefully crafted to perfection.

I am beyond overjoyed to have had the opportunity to read this, and doubly so that this (should) have a sequel. I normally hate sequel-bait but the threads of the future story and the current tensions are carefully interwoven to not create and sense of disappointment but rather anticipation. (not to mention the relationship dynamics, what I really like with Strange Beasts is the relationships feel human, despite the supernatural backdrop and strike the perfect balance of being intriguing and titillating without distracting from the main plot and/or being melodramatically perfect - this doesn't feel like an attention seeking romantasy to me)

Suppose now I have to wait for the sequel :( Thanks so much Netgalley for giving me access to this book and thanks a TONNE to Morris for penning this spectacular piece - I'm looking forward to the movie!

Thank You Susan Morris, Bindery Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
I rate this book a solid 3.5 / 5
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Synopsis
In this fresh-yet-familiar gothic tale―part historical fantasy, part puzzle-box mystery―the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes collide in a thrilling exploration of feminine power.

At the dawn of the twentieth century in Paris, Samantha Harker, daughter of Dracula’s killer, works as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. But no one realizes how abnormal she is. Sam is a channel into the minds of monsters: a power that could help her solve the gruesome deaths plaguing turn-of-the-century Paris―or have her thrown into an asylum.

Sam finds herself assigned to a case with Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of the criminal mastermind and famed nemesis of Sherlock Holmes and a notorious detective whom no one wants to work with on account of her previous partners’ mysterious murders. Ranging from the elite clubs of Paris to the dark underbelly of the catacombs, their investigation sweeps them into a race to stop a beast from its killing rampage, as Hel and Sam are pitted against men, monsters, and even each other. But beneath their tenuous trust, an unmistakable attraction brews. Is trusting Hel the key to solving the murder, or is Sam yet another pawn in Hel’s game?
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The synopsis describes the plot well and I enjoyed the read. The sub 400 pages felt good and not bloated. Knowing Montmartre reasonably well and having spent many hours of my life stood in queues for the catacombs it was nice to hear these names in the story rather than the usual Paris departments and landmarks. In the time-zone of the book, the cheeky little gift shop at the end of the Catacombs (The best part of the attraction to be honest) was not mentioned 😊

Going in to the book I was apprehensive about the mention “thrilling exploration of feminine power.” But thankfully we got a normal woman with a love of her revolver and a mastery of Raising her eyebrows. With the mention of Dracula, Van Helsing and Moriarty, I was also thinking we might get some very Sherlock Holmes sleuthing, this was not the case and we ended up with a more Magnum PI type of investigation. This is not a dig at the book but not sure why it was really necessary to have big well known names and then not go full Sherlock (Just an observation)
The 2 main ladies Hel and Sam were likeable enough and they got us through the plot nicely. Both ladies were involved in Romantic undercurrent stories but it stayed low key which I am grateful for as I am not a fan of Romance, I prefer Monsters and battles which is why I picked this book.

Some French was used regularly throughout the book. I think having the translation would be nice no matter how trivial the phrases used. I couldn’t help but think I was missing out on something when French was written.

I believe this is the authors first novel. I would happily read the next book as I presume there is a part 2 with the way this book ended.

I read this courtesy Net Galley. Harker, van Helsing, Moriarty—as soon as I began reading this historical fantasy and recognized these names, I was intrigued and then sucked into this story and world. Samantha (Sam) Harker, the daughter of Jonathan and Mina, does research for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena, but she yearns to be a field agent. She also has a secret: she can talk to the monsters the Society hunts—but admitting to that could result in her being one of the hunted. She gets her chance to be an investigator when she teams up with Helena Moriarty, daughter of the infamous James Moriarty, but since Hel’s previous partners have all died under odd circumstances, Sam knows there’s a reason to be wary. Then there’s Jakob van Helsing—the son of Abraham—who also works for the Society, and he doesn’t seem to be on their side (or at least on Sam’s side). For that matter, what’s going on at the Society? There are mysteries upon mysteries, secrets upon secrets. This book was a fun, absorbing read.
#StrangeBeasts #NetGalley #HistoricalFiction #Fantasy #Dracula #SherlockHolmes

This is such a beautiful gothic tale, full of twists and turns! It is pitched as being Sherlock Holmes meets Dracula, and that holds true for this story. Every chapter kept me wondering and wanting more. I absolutely cannot wait for the second book, and more of Sam and Hel!

Read if you love:
•Gothic tales
•Mysteries
•Paranormal
•Slow burn sapphic romance
•Feminine rage

This was such a fun book! With Sherlock Holmes-like sleuthing and hints of the supernatural filling the pages, Strange Beasts was a perfect mix of mystery and magic.
I always love murder mysteries set in the 1900’s but what particularly stood out to me in this novel were our two main characters. I love that authors are giving readers more well-written, strong female detectives. And the slow-burn romance between Hel and Sam was wonderfully done. It was great to read such a good sapphic romance during pride month.
If you are a fan of gothic novels or TV shows like Penny Dreadful where characters from Victorian ghost stories come to life, this book is for you.

STRANGE BEASTS by Susan J. Morris

‘It takes a monster to hunt a monster’

In this dark, gothic, murder-mystery story, Professor Helena Moriarty and Samantha Harker must work together to catch the beast that’s murdering men in early 20th century Paris, while secrets from both their pasts push them into a game of clues, pawns and betrayals. If you enjoy dimly lit alleyways, catacombs and tea parlors intertwined with mythical creatures, Strange Beasts is the book for you.

When I first picked up this book, I was under the impression that it was a standalone. At the 60% mark, I was sad that I’d never get to see these characters again, since I’d fallen in love with them and felt like the story had so much more to explore. However, at the end, I happily found out that it was in fact the first instalment in a series (whether it’s a duology or longer, I don’t know yet). What I mean to say by this is that Strange Beasts was so good that it made me, someone who absolutely prefers standalones, want a sequel. And if you’re wondering about a cliffhanger: the mystery plot in this book is resolved by the end, while the overarching plot will continue in the next one (think Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries -type of ending).

The plot, brimming with plot-twist as more suspects appear, has an evident feminist undertone: Hel and Sam constantly struggle against society’s expectations for them as women, not only in terms of looks, but especially for their ability to hunt down the beast of Paris. Sam and Hel are two women hunting monsters in a society that strives to make monsters out of all women.

Hel and Sam were perfect foils for each other –the latter bubbly and soft, the former aloof and secretive. Sam especially reminded me of Cassandra of Troy, cursed (or blessed) with clairvoyance, yet dismissed or punished by men for her knowledge. While the sapphic romance elements were few (I’m sure these will be expanded in the next book), it was lovely to see their friendship develop as they both started to put their trust in each other.

Strange Beast was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I will be (im)patiently waiting for the sequel.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

@librisinetenebris (Instagram)

(3.5 ⭐️)

Since halfway through the book i knew the rating I was going to give this novel and it all boiled down to 1 thing: the relationships between the characters (all of them) did not feel real to me at all. And I think it’s because the characters didn’t feel wholly there, as if the author didn’t care to flesh them out. Other than that, I had a good time.

This caught me so off guard, it was intriguing with a dark mystery involving beasts and gruesome murders. This is set in the olden days with characters such as Moriarity and van helsing who work for a supernatural hunters type guild investigating abnormal situations. This story kept me on my toes, I didnt quite guess why this was all happening but who was behind it was a little predictable, this doesnt take away from the adventure of the plot though.

Fast paced, eerie atmosphere, monsters and a murder mystery with a little romance. This book has it all.
I can't wait for more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bindery Books for an eARC of Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris. I loved this novel; it perfectly blended historical fiction with a sci-fi/fantasy twist. The chemistry written between the two protagonists, Dr. Moriarty and Sam Harker, was expertly developed and was the reason to plough through the story. The odd couple dynamic worked tremendously in a mystery/thriller setting where Dr. Moriarty and Sam are partners trying to solve an apparent werewolf murder case. I recommend this novel for anyone looking for a terrific mystery and who loves historical fiction.