STRANGE BEASTS by @susanjmorris is a retelling of sorts featuring creature features and intrigue and positively dripping with feminism.

Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @bindery_books for the e-ARC of this title. This one came out in December and is currently out on shelves!

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Samantha Harker, daughter of Mina and Jonathan Harker of DRACULA slaying fame, is attempting to make a name for herself at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena where she works as a monster researcher. As bodies mutilated by monsters start to pile up, Sam knows that her secret, the fact that she can channel the minds of monsters, could help her solve the case so she volunteers for field work. She is assigned as partner to Helena Moriarty, daughter of Sherlock Holmes' rival, whose past partners have died mysteriously before solving their cases. Will Sam survive this case and solve the mystery before it is too late?

I loved the whimsy, the intrigue and the atmosphere of this book. I liked the banter back and forth between Sam and Helena and certainly loved the discussions of monsters and lore. That being said, I also found this to be pretty long for what it was. If you like nostalgia, fantastic beasts, retellings of sorts all wrapped up in an early 20th century setting you should check this one out.

My favourite element was definitely the world building; this was incredibly well planned out, and I loved the band of characters too. Super excited to read more from this author!!

This was wonderful! I loved the writing style, the characters, the world-building…everything about it was top-notch. I will definitely be recommending this book!

An excellent debut novel. I loved Morris' work and look forward to more. The reinvention of Holmes, the blending of gothic horror was riveting. The pacing should be more consistent, but I'm sure Morris will figure it out eventually.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This steampunk fantasy provided a new and fun twist on classical literature, with the tales of Sherlock Holmes and Dracula being the main inspirations (a little Phantom of the Opera thrown in there too!). We follow the daughter of Mina and Jonathan Harker as she teams up with the daughter of the infamous James Moriarity to solve a supernatural crime case.

I enjoyed the central mystery of the book most of all. I cannot say much without spoiling, but the intersection of human monsters and supernatural monsters was an intriguing one. I also enjoyed the setting of early 20th century France. I truly don't think this story would have been enjoyable elsewhere, especially when considering the scenes at the opera!

Unfortunately, the chemistry between the two leads was very lacking for me. I did not see an attraction there at all, which was disappointing, because this book was marketed as very sapphic. I wish there was more romantic tension between them and hope that if there are future installments with these characters that there is a more palpable romantic relationship between them.

This book was such a page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed this book in its entirety. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to be immersed in dark and mysterious elements in a fantasy novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Bindery Books for an early-access copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting take on the daughters of two famous literary characters; Moriarty and Harker (the killer of Dracula). What if both of them worked as detectives in the supernatural department of the London police?
It’s a twisty, mysterious romp through the streets (and underbelly) of Paris, with a nice dose of the paranormal to boot.
I liked the setting; the world feels immersive and believable and I felt like I really got to know Helena and Sam. The twists were unpredictable but largely plausible (although I have to admit, it lost me a bit with the giant snail).
The romantic element of the storyline was also believable and built naturally, which I appreciated.

I would say there’s a bit of a disconnect between the fact that it’s based in London/Paris with English characters, but using Americanisms like “barnyard” and “slacks”. It’s probably not noticeable to American readers but jarring for an English one.

There were also several errors in the French that’s included, which I found annoying as a French speaker. Although, I did have an advance review copy and these may have been corrected before publication. “Ceil” misspelling for “ciel”, misspelling “quell” for “quelle”, misspelling “saoul” for “soûl”, “lou” instead of “the” (or “le”)

Overall, I did enjoy it, but I found some of the supernatural elements lacked believability and felt a bit out of nowhere.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advance review copy of this book. All opinions my own.

I ended up not finishing this book
There was nothing particularly wrong with it I just never wanted to pick it up and it ended up putting me in a reading slump
I think this cover and especially the new cover is so eye catching
I’d probably revisit this as an audio book but it’s just not working for me in kindle format

Thanks to NetGalley and Bindery Books for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was not my typical genre but I loved it all the same. Very great world building and excellent writing. I connected with the mood of the book and could the change in the characters as they navigated this adventure. I highly recommend if you're looking for a darker broody vibe of mystery and a twist on classic characters. Will keep an eye out for future releases from this author!

i just really couldn't get into this - felt like fanfiction taking itself too seriously and didn't do enough to establish character or build the magic system.

This was an interesting take on the family of very high class detectives. The turns with the monsters and the dark scenery make for a very atmospheric read.

Very atmospheric and engaging. Like a gothic (or extra gothic) Sherlock Holmes. I would be very interested in reading any future works by this author.

Prepare for me to gush about this book. I love Victorian novels and to be honest, I was doubtful about the collision of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, but it was delightful. While the novel is not a "light" one, I appreciated the romance, the fun details, and the somewhat familiar characters. This felt like a comparison that actually worked. I enjoyed every moment of this book and it did not feel contrived or like putting a new hat on the same old story. Bravo!

Hearing that this book was dracula mixed with Holmes, I knew this book would be a winner for me. I was immediately intrigued by the premise and the gorgeous and disturbing cover. While it took some time to get into the story itself, I'm glad I gave it a shot because I was soon after lost in the gothic setting and the mysterious cast of characters. It took a dark turn I didn't expect but loved and I was unable to put it down.

This was a really fun historical mystery. I loved all the literary connections and the plot pulled me in right away. It was a little slow at times, but I liked both of the main characters and their relationship. It doesn't absolutely need a sequel, but I definitely wouldn't mind reading more stories in this universe.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is an extraordinary, imaginative adventure that will captivate readers from start to finish. The world-building is unique and richly detailed, blending elements of fantasy and mythology with modern storytelling. The characters are vibrant and multi-dimensional, making their journeys both compelling and deeply emotional. Morris’s writing is both lyrical and accessible, with an engaging plot that keeps you hooked until the very last page. The twists and turns are expertly crafted, making this a must-read for fans of immersive, original fiction. An easy 5 stars for this unforgettable tale!

Strange Beasts by Susan is a delightful combination of mystery and mystical that drew me in with its macabre cover and kept me hooked with its splendid characters. I will be recommending this title in our local library and nominating it for our store's book club pick this October.

Thank You NetGalley for this book!

If you love Sherlock Holmes and a Slow Burn Romance this book is definitely for you!

I loved getting to know Sam and Hels throughout this book and seeing their relationship develop. This book kept me on my toes and Susan Morris was in her element!

Who'd have thought that pairing the daughters of Mina and Johnathan Harker and Dr James Moriarty would be such a win but here we are this book was such a joy from start to finish. I could have done with slightly more of the Sapphic romance but that is very much personal preference and does not take away from the rest of the story in the least, I am just a sucker for a bit of enemies to lovers romance thrown in to pretty much everything!

I love the setting of a dark Victorian era fantasy/horror. The homage paid to literary characters this story was inspired from provided a nice touch. The story and character development was interesting, the FMC made the story with their dynamics and chemistry. This a fast-paced and enjoyable debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.