This was a really fun book that I enjoyed! I especially adored the character dynamics and backstories of the two female protagonists—studious Samantha Harker and monster-hunter Dr. Helena Moriarty. Their identities cleverly nod to iconic literary figures (yes, Harker from Dracula and Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes), skillfully weaving these familiar characters into something fresh and unique. The story was darker and more intense than I anticipated, but if you’re a fan of macabre, gothic tales, you’re in for a treat. Many thanks to Bindery Books (via NetGalley) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

‘Strange Beasts’ is an engrossing gothic puzzler which exquisitely weaves in elements of historical fantasy. The story is set in early twentieth-century Paris and it centers on Samantha Harker who works for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena and who happens to be the daughter of the man who killed Dracula. unknown to those around her, Sam has a talent that few – perhaps any – people possess; she can, quite literally, pick the brains of monsters which many would envy and this talent may assist her in the solving of the murder riddles that have stamped Paris or lead her to rot in a mad house.

I received the ebook as an Arc from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley!!

There are a few things that will get my attention - paranormal mysteries, creating a new, unique story using already established, well known lore, and anything associated with Sherlock Holmes. This book has all of that with an atmospheric setting. In this book we have 2 young women, both with a well-known family member, being pulled together into a partnership to solve a mystery. There is an element of opposites attract and a budding love story has our FMCs race through the city of Paris. This was such a fun read and look forward to future works by this author.

Overall, I’m giving it a 4

I'm going to be really honest, I just grabbed this book because I LOVED the cover and the premise sounded amazing, I was so pleasantly surprised with how beautifully written this book was. From the fantastical settings to the character development, it was all amazing.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris from Bindery Books via NetGalley. It is currently available to the public.

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is a fantastical mystery involving the daughters of Jonathan and Mina Harker from Dracula and Dr. Moriarty of Sherlock Holmes. They belong to an organization that investigates strange happenings. When a case of interest to both of them comes up, they reluctantly team up to solve it. You see, Dr. Helena Moriarty has a bad track record of dead partners. Plenty of adventure and supernatural thrills in this story. I really liked the mash-up of these worlds. There was also some very interesting magic and science involved. An engaging read with some devilish twists.

What is this brilliant little debut? Is it Historical Fiction? Yes. Is it Mystery? Yes. Is it Fantasy? Yes. Is it Comedy? Well, yes. Is there a bit of Horror? Yes! Is there even a bit of Romance? Hmmmm, kind of? Yes!

I’m going to be following Susan J. Morris closely from hereon in ( I promise I’m not only saying that because she’s named one of her cats after She-Ra Princess of Power!).

‘Strange Beasts’ demands that you pass through the decontamination chamber of each of those genres, and then surrender all disbelief before cracking its spine. Once you've done that, get the first few chapters over you - like dunking your shoulders under straightaway if the sea’s cold - and when you surface, you’ll be wholly engrossed by, and given over to, Sam and Hel’s escapades.

Having just finished ‘Lucy Undying’ by Kiersten White, I hopped, skipped, and jumped into another Stoker-inspired narrative. Throw in a bit of Conan-Doyle and some rampaging monsters, and I was fairly drooling over this.

One reason for the book’s triumph is Morris’s talent for writing tinglingly alive scenescapes (just look at that swoon-worthy cover art – it perfectly captures her world). There are backdrops in ‘Strange Beasts’ so striking that they bristle. In fact, I kind of wish I could claim that I’d dreamt up the settings in a dream of my own (or, in some places, a nightmare – those catacombs!).

I finished the novel a week or so ago and have been mulling over its review ever since (because I have one niggle with it). But I’ve been surprised at how much time I’ve spent thinking about it afterwards, and at how lucid my memories of certain events are, as well as how vivid the figures of Sam and Hel remain. Going back and glancing over other readers’ responses sparks a pleasure at remembered scenes, and it pleases me to say that ‘Strange Beasts’ has that energy and that grit to linger and dwell.

My qualm with the book is that, much as I want it to be Sapphic, much as I want the characters to be queer, much as I want ‘Strange Beasts’ to state a position on or reflect experience of LGBTQIA matters, we simply can’t qualify it as Lesbian solely on the strength of a single kiss that could be constrained as devoid of romance, given the circumstances under which it happens. I see all these reviewers adding tags like Queer, Sapphic, Lesbian, and LGBT, and I wish, I wish, I wish, that ‘Strange Beasts’ was that; that it incorporated and developed a meaningful Sapphic aspect. But it just doesn’t. I hope that a series with these two characters (as Morris has said that Sam and Hel will find their way into another book soon!) will see that element fostered in their maturing narrative. There was scant time spent with Sam and Hel alone, allowing them to interact on any significant emotional level, so if there’s more of that to come, I’ll be thrilled to read the follow-up.

Overall, I’m delighted to rate ‘Strange Beasts’ highly, and I was hugely entertained whizzing round turn-of-the-century Paris with two dynamic, frankly, swashbuckling, young women.

Big, big thanks to Bindery Books for a very last-minute ARC approval. I’m excited to see what other new titles they release through Inky Phoenix Press imprint!

if youre going to read any book make sure it is this one! so good, the writing! the characters! this author is so talented and care about these characters so much.

a must read.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a sucker for a retelling with strong female characters, so this one had me hooked. While not exactly a retelling, it is a really great continuation of some classic tales. I loved how Sam and Hel are descendants of some really well known mystery/horror characters, and I really liked the way that Morris tied their family histories into the story. The characters feel original and clever, while still honoring the stories from which they are derived. These two women are truly fantastic, and I was rooting for them from the start. The story itself is well plotted, and while I did predict the twist, I did not do so until near the reveal, so that's always appreciated. The setting is magnificent. As a francophile, I really loved the time spent in Gilded Age Paris. It was a lovely tour of the city of lights by way of a mystery to solve and some supernatural evil to defeat. Morris seamlessly paints a picture of women fighting for their own power in a world run by men, but she disguises that message in a really fun romp through Paris to fight baddies. I was here for it!

Thanks to NetGalley, Bindery Books and Susan J. Morris for an ARC of Strange Beasts! An homage to Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and all of the classic tales of things that go bump in the night. I loved getting to know Sam and Hel in this dark and atmospheric gothic tale with a feminist twist. I can't resist a good murder mystery with supernatural elements.

I devoured (pun only partially intended) this book in just a couple of sittings! STRANGE BEASTS is all you could want in an autumnal YA book: monsters, badass heroines, and a series crossover you never knew you needed. I might be out of the loop. but I never would have thought of pairing DRACULA and SHERLOCK HOLMES even though the parallels are fairly obvious if you think about them. But put them in a YA detective story? Hot dog! I was surprised to find this was Morris' debut because it's such a compelling read with great story beats and twists. I have already recommended it to a few library kiddos and I know they will love it as much as I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest and late review.

4.5 stars and one of my favorite books of the year!

Strange Beasts was such a fun murder mystery! I've found that I really like murder mysteries that are also genre blends and this fit that perfectly! Sherlock Holmes vibes! Monsters! YEARNING! This book had it all. I literally ate up the crumbs Susan J. Morris gave me for the romance, and if she writes a sequel in this world I'll be tuning in. I thought the murder was also very creative, and the lush atmosphere of 1900s Paris was perfect. Just so so so good, I want to reread it immediately.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris #ninetyeighthbookof2024 #arc #draculaadjacent #sherlockholmesadjacent #inlovewiththecover

CW: death, murder, mythical creatures, gore and violence, old time insane asylums

The daughters of Jonathan and Mina Harker (Dracula) and Dr. Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes) pairing up to solve supernatural crime involving werewolves? In 19th century Paris? Yes please.

Sam and Hel are both really great characters. They’re both fully written with realized backstories and complicated histories and motivations. Often one half of a duo is more fleshed out but these characters had equal weight, despite Sam being the primary narrator. Their interaction with each other was very enjoyable.

Was this written especially for me? Probably. I enjoyed following Sam and Hel on their adventures, learning a little bit of French along the way, and now I need to plan a trip to Paris. The cover is spectacular.

Thank you to @bindery_books and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Available now, pub date was 10/15/24)

For fans of historical mysteries laced with fantasy will find much to love in the plot twists, the rich setting, and the formidable heroines at the center of Strange Beasts. Samantha’s journey is not just about tracking a monster; it's about navigating a world where women like her and Helena carve out their own spaces in a male-dominated society. This book is a tribute to all women who dare to step into the unknown in pursuit of their truths.

On the day Samantha Harker’s grandfather disappeared, a set of numbers was broadcasted from his radiotelegraph, and she has ruminated on their meaning for a decade. In hopes of finding answers, she became a researcher at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomenon. When those numbers show up in a newspaper photo of graffiti at a gruesome crime scene in Paris, Sam is desperate to investigate and finagles permission from the Society director. However, the case has already been assigned to Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of the notorious Professor Moriarty—murderer of the great Sherlock Holmes and a criminal mastermind who bends the world to his whim from the shadows. As a channel, Sam receives visions and uses her ability to convince Hel of her usefulness, and they set off to hunt an elusive beast ripping apart men of the Parisian elite.

Though a brilliant chemist and field agent, Hel’s background and aloofness cause wariness, and the death of all three of her partners makes her persona non grata within the Society. However, they cannot prove foul play nor argue with her results. Instead, they adopt a “keep your enemies close” policy and ask Sam to spy on Hel. Hel is well aware of her reputation as a dangerous loner and uses the leeway it provides for her own personal mission.

As the hunt takes them from boudoirs to the catacombs, the mystery entangles them in a web of simmering resentments, machinations, and the monsters of men. Sam is also being hunted by her childhood friend, Jakob Van Helsing, who has sworn to put her down if he thinks she’s channeling. However, Sam has been channeling constantly to find the beast and clues about her grandfather, and to avoid Jakob’s suspicions and solve the mystery, Sam needs her partnership with Hel. However, Hel’s frequent solo excursions and secrets make it hard to trust her. . . something Sam may regret doing.

Strange Beasts is an engaging paranormal gothic mystery following a plucky researcher with a feared ability and her enigmatic and secretive new partner. The world building is pretty straightforward, but solid. It’s an alternate universe where popular Victorian characters’ stories are real and it uses interesting monsters and mythology. The writing style is compelling and the pacing generally fluid, despite hitting thematic beats a bit too frequently. Morris adeptly balances the descriptive, sometimes poetic language used to create the atmosphere and the world with the sleuthing, action, and ghastliness of the crimes and Sam’s visions.

From a young age, the danger of being a channel was drummed into Sam. Visions are believed to come from monsters and that the connection influences a channel to do terrible things. Mina Harker was pregnant when she was under Dracula’s thrall, so Sam’s parents and Abraham Van Helsing believe Sam is more susceptible to evil. However, Sam is in as much danger from hunters as she is the senders of her visions, so she hides her ability for fear of being cast into an asylum or killed. Hunters see channels as barely better than monsters, and Van Helsing hammered into his son this belief, his uncompromising black and white view of monsters, and the responsibility of keeping Sam safe from her power to avoid needing to commit or kill her. Now, Sam’s former friend dogs her heels, but Jakob’s disdain and angry interference contains echoes of their closeness and deeply buried worry about the danger from Hel, monsters, and Sam’s power.

Despite their differences, Hel and Sam are a well-matched pair with a good rapport. Though Sam is more open and trusting, both women hide pieces of themselves and inhabit the assumptions of others to misdirect those who seek to dictate their lives. They are equally intelligent, and their disparate strengths complement each other. Sam’s visions provide several leads, but Hel is there to pull Sam back when she goes too deep, counter Sam’s naïveté, keep a cool head, and teach Sam the ugly truths of being a hunter. Sam has a very Holmesian bearing, sometimes outpacing Hel, and her encyclopedic knowledge, quick thinking, and intuition compensate for lack of experience. Hel is bold, confident, and exceedingly capable, and underneath her aloof demeanor is a deep wound and vulnerability. Surviving being a Moriarty keeps her constantly on edge, unable to trust and isolated. She is secretive and intense about the case in a way that Sam questions, but Sam chooses to believe in the woman, not the beliefs of others. She trusts Hel and refuses to spy on her, despite being frustrated and hurt that Hel doesn’t reciprocate.

The mechanics of the mystery are fascinating. The beast’s modis operandi and its aftermath are horrible, the clues often obtuse, and the resolution unexpected, although the villain is not. The high stakes, time constraints, and Hel’s evasiveness create solid tension. The social commentary revolves around the harm of hierarchical power and the devaluation of woman—their repression, the hypocritical scrutiny that exists concurrently with invisibility, and external and acquired patriarchal prejudices. These motifs appear often, as they are intrinsic to the case and the characters’ experiences, but they aren’t overwhelmingly on the nose. Though the Society allows female agents, Hel and Sam are still subjected to patriarchal infantilization (especially Sam) and the double standards of how men and women’s sexuality, intelligence, and ambitions are treated.

As for the romance, it’s less slow burn, more someone picked up a briquette from a dead fire and dropped it in my lap with a ribbon attached that said “Ta-da! Romance!” My skepticism arises from the portrayal of Sam’s romantic interest in some of the men versus with Hel. Morris is skilled at showing instead of telling, and in this instance, it works against her. When Sam engages the men, she blushes prettily, while quickly being beguiled by Darcy eyes or smooth voices “making her feel things.” In her second meeting with one of them, she admits being besotted. Yet, there is nothing like this for Hel. No brushing of hands, no subtle looks that spark a reaction in Sam, no seeming awareness of Hel on a more intimate level. I would say that Sam is blind to her own and Hel’s non-platonic affections because Hel is a woman, if not for Sam’s non-reaction to The Kiss. Towards the end, Sam suddenly has an epiphany that Hel cares for her because Hel rescues her and wants to protect her. Then she boldly kisses Hel out of the blue, with no apparent emotions attached to this same sex kiss, implying Sam has no issues/hesitation in seeing Hel as a romantic partner. It feels like I’m being told Sam is attracted to Hel, rather than seeing it. It can be argued that Sam’s focus on equal partnership is somehow romantic in nature, but to me, it’s a reach. Hel’s behavior is also easily interpreted as friendship and protectiveness of her naïve charge. The only unambiguous indication of Hel’s romantic interest is a few lines from the men Sam is attracted to telling Sam this information. I have no problem with very slow burns or multiple romantic options so long as the MC conveys interest in all of them. It feels like the story suddenly remembered it’s not a heterosexual pairing. Had I not been primed for a sapphic relationship, I would have seen Hel’s actions as those of a long-suffering friend who has seen her girl fall for every charming, slick man that smiles at her; they definitely give, “oh they really *are* just roommates” vibes.

Strange Beasts is a thoroughly enjoyable and harrowing adventure. It’s sprinkled with riddles, loose ends, and questions, so I hope there will be more books in their journey.

Supernatural murder mystery, gaslamp gothic setting, the daughter of Johnathan Harker and the daughter of Professor James Moriarty teaming up. Yes yes yes and yes please. This book was a little outside of my usual reads, but if this is what gaslamp fantasy is then I will take them all please. The atmosphere in this book is lush and the world building is beautifully done. It was so easy to be pulled in and never come back up for air, so much so I read this book in one day because I could not put it down. I love how tangible the catacombs, the city, and the asylum all felt. The characters I think were brilliant, both in the choice of who they were but also in the way that they developed and interacted with one another. Sam was a fun character , at first I was a little put off by her naivety but it became clear that it was really part of her charm. Her inner dialogs were a great and It really made her character relatable and feel genuine. Hel took me a little longer to pin down but in the end I loved her and I absolutely love the two of them paired up and fighting supernatural evil! I will say that in the end I think my love for Van Helsing took a little bit of a hit. I loved the murder mystery plot and really found myself surprised and some of the twists and turns that the investigation took. A lot of that for me was that the writing was able to keep me so much in the moment of the book that I didn't find myself wandering in thought trying to figure it out. This was an absolutely delightful read and I cannot wait to see what is next from Morris.

The idea for this is brilliant!
Every page there were new twists and turns I was not expecting.
The fantasy steampunk vibe was immaculate!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inky Phoenix Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was easily one of my favorite reads of 2024. I loved the layered characters, intricate world-building, and the exploration of women’s roles, especially intelligent or gifted women.

Though there were some predictable moments and a touch of handholding, the story’s unfolding details kept me intrigued. I echo the sentiment of a few other reviewers that some untranslated French may be challenging for some readers, but it didn’t detract for me. I hope to see more of Sam and Hel’s world in the future.

“In a world filled with mysteries and monsters, Sam was a hunter. ”
Here are reasons to read the Fantasy book:

Sherlock & Dracula - Taking place in a world that includes the characters of both Sherlock and Dracula
Generations - we follow the daughters of Mina Harker and Dr Moriarty
Society - as they work for a Society of Abnormal Phenomena
Werewolf - they travel to Paris to investigate a werewolf who has been killing wealthy men

This is the second book I have read from this past month’s releases from Bindery Press. It was probably my favorite book of the month. The characters were fun and the story moves fast. There are puzzles and villains and some of it takes place in the Paris Catacombs. If you like classic literature and a good easter egg, OR if you just like a fantamystery (that’s fantasy and mystery together), then give this book a try!

I tried so had to enjoy this book but I had to throw in the towel at 50%. The story wasn’t holding my attention, it felt like a chore to read and at times it gave fan fiction vibes. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind fan fiction at all but I just couldn’t look past it. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. Thank you NetGally and the publishers for the ARC for my honest review.

This book was such a fun read. Having the main characters connected to both Dracula and Sherlock Holmes gave me the background I needed to be invested right away. I thought the character development and their connection were very well done and I enjoyed watching them grow throughout the story. The mystery was super interesting and well done. I was able to partly figure it out but there were still surprises along the way. Having the magical elements as a part of our regular world works really well. I assume this will be the first in a series and I would happily continue to read about these characters.