This book had a lot of really compelling elements that never felt fully realized. I felt the Paris setting was a good choice but the story was never able to really make me feel like we were in Paris. Same for the characters- could have been really great if we were given even the slightest bit of substance to hold onto. This felt very plot heavy with lots of running around and very few character moments. I was disappointed in the supposed sapphic relationship. I think the seeds for a great story were there but that it just missed the growing season to leave us with a stunted version of what it could have been.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I liked this, but not as much as I hoped I would. There was something about the writing that didn't quite click for me from the first page, and that made it hard to really immerse myself in the story. I adore the premise, though, and I think other readers will enjoy this more than I did. I do think the gothic/mystery vibes were really well done, and I will definitely check out whatever Susan J. Morris writes in the future.

Thank you to Bindery Books and Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun supernatural mystery!

I thought it'd be much darker, but that's okay. I needed something a lot less heavy to balance out my usual dark fantasies. It also reads more YA than adult, so take that in mind before diving into the novel.

I loved how the author basically wrote a fanfic with the adult children of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes characters that we know and love. She really managed to make it her own while also immersing readers into a world full of supernatural creatures that live among humans. The historical period this is set in (early 1900s) was also a really neat touch that gave more depth to the story, so it didn't feel like the usual urban fantasy.

The mystery was pretty easy to figure out and the romance felt sort of random, but I won't hate too much. Like I said, this was more of a lighthearted read, so my expectations weren't super high.

Here's hoping there's a follow-up, maybe?? I fell in love with Sam and Dr. Moriarty and would love to read another installment, especially with the big and little twists near the end.

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this arc.

I love the concept and the pitch. Maybe Sherlock Holmes style mysteries are not for me because I struggled with the pacing. It felt painfully slow in parts and I wished the romance was a bit stronger. Just more flirting.
I do think the vibes are immaculate.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a good read and I am thankful I got to read an arc! Dark academia vibes are almost ALWAYS a win for me, and this definitely falls into that category.

A fresh new take mixing the buddy cop genre, paranormal romance, and Victorian pastiche. For readers looking for plot-heavy romance mysteries, especially those who enjoy Sherlock Holmes, Dracula or both.

Strange Beasts was a monster filled romp filled with strong female characters. In other words, right up my alley. This definitely delivered on the darkly atmospheric hype. I liked how well the familiar tales of characters like Moriarty, Dracula, and Van Helsing were spun in new ways. I do wish we had learned more about Sam’s mysterious grandfather but maybe that will be explored more in later books. I also wish the relationships between characters had been explored a bit more. I think there could have been a little more tension between Sam and Hel and the history behind Van Helsing and Sam could have been explored further too. Overall a fun historical mystery read though.
Thanks to Bindery and NetGalley for the ARC!

I flew through Strange Beasts so quickly that you would think that the beast itself was chasing me.

Hypnotizingly atmospheric, this book toes the line between darkness of humor perfectly. I find it hard to find books that are right up my alley but Susan J. Morris' Strange Beasts is one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I mean, a sapphic combination of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes? Sign me up!

We follow the grimly determined Samantha Harker, a researcher at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena in London during the 20th century. And she is hiding a massive secret, one that can upend her life as she knows it. In this world of magic, monsters, and alchemy, we navigate the dangers of being different as Sam dares to go out of her comfort zone. Along with Hel, who is a mysterious enigma just begging to be solved, the readers are taken for a grisly ride.

This book was everything I hoped for it to be and more. It kept me on my toes the entire time and immersed me in a strange and new world. It makes use of different fantastical elements seamlessly that it feels like you've always known that world existed. The same sentiment can be applied to the characters who feel so human and tangible that I just wanted to reach out and give them a big hug (or a big warning). You never stop rooting for Sam and Hel and their motivations. They have their distinct differences and yet they still have that thread that connects them, which is always an intriguing concept to explore.

To anyone with a soft spot for macabre gothic stories, keep an eye out for Strange Beasts because it is definitely something worth your time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for providing me with an E-ARC of the book!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an aRC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I gotta be honest.... I thought this was a YA and also that it was POC, specifically with Black girls. I guess I never got a good look at the cover. I didn't even realize the women were on it until I looked it up myself. It's hard to see what they look like with the little netgalley widget. Regardless, I did enjoy this book after I looked up more about it and understood who I was reading about. The characters and the plot were very interesting and I did enjoy Sam and Hel as characters. I'm a litle confused by the Plot Twist at the end??? Like... what??? And I'm also a little sad that tis is apparently going to be a series. I'd hoped it was a stand alone but I will read the next installment.

I thought this was a book with really great ideas, but I didn’t love the execution. The premise of Mina and Jonathan Harker’s daughter partnering with Professor Moriarty’s daughter to solve supernatural crimes? Top notch. But I never fell in the love with the characters. I never felt the chemistry between them. I ended up respecting what the author tried to do without really enjoying it fully.

In this book, we find our characters in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Paris. Samantha is the daughter of Dracula's killer, working at the Royal Society of the Study of Abnormal Phenomena alongside members of the Van Helsing and Moriarty families. These literary worlds come together when Samantha begins working on a case with Dr. Helena Moriarty that takes them to elite Parisian clubs to the tunnels and catacombs beneath the city while trying to stop a Beast on a killing spree. The relationship between Hel and Sam is tenuous, as Hel's previous partners on cases have mysteriously all perished. Can they trust each other and become friends along the way? Is there room for more?

I loved the moodiness and worldbuilding in this story. I was fully immersed in the story and had a tough time putting it down! The twists and turns were exciting and propulsive. The relationships between characters were well-written. The ending left me wanting more and hoping for a sequel!

This was such an enjoyable book: the Paris setting, the brilliant daughters of characters from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes working together, all the lush and lovely historical details. It's the perfect gothic story to lose yourself in on a gloomy autumn day.

Samantha Harker works as a researcher for the Royal Society of the Study of Abnormal Phenomena, while hiding her ability as a channel into the minds of monsters. She jumps at the chance to be assigned to a field case with Dr. Helena Moriarity, even though none of her previous partners have survived their case investigations. Their investigation ranges from the Catacombs of Paris to the opera, barely evading tragic outcomes and struggling with both their doubts in trusting each other and an underlying slow-burn attraction.

I loved the historic details of this story, the chemistry between the characters and the development of their working relationship. It's fast-paced and will keep you guessing until the end. If you are looking for a spooky season read, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you so much to Bindery Books and Netgalley for this book!

Such unique historical fiction with likable characters that so easy to fall in love with! I enjoyed every bit of it!

The daughter of a villain and the daughter of two heroes team up to solve a series of grizzly murders in Paris. This book had me right from the beginning. I really liked the pacing and the characters, and I wanted to know where it was all going. The story felt like it unfolded quite naturally. Nothing felt forced. I will say the writing felt a bit YA, but it didn’t bother me.

Overall, I really liked the book. Good story, interesting characters. The daughter of two heroes from legend and the daughter of a notorious villain team up to try to solve murders in Paris. I will say it read more like a YA book not necessarily in terms of content but through the writing. That might just be because it’s a debut novel. I also didn’t find the reveal of the villain to be all that surprising. I guess it probably about a third of the way through but at that point was kind of thinking it would be too obvious. It was still enjoyable to see it all unfold, and there were some moments that surprised me. The ending leaves it open for a sequel which I would definitely read.


SLIGHT SPOILER

My biggest issue with this book is that it actually classifies itself as a queer/lesbian story because it takes away from the drama towards the end! There’s a moment of doubt/confusion/“was everything I know a lie?” and I feel like by knowing it’s a queer love story, the moment has less gravity. Don’t guarantee me romance in the description if you’re going to try to make me doubt it in the book because I just won’t.

DNF at 30%. The description of this book sounded very interesting, but the book itself felt kind of cookie cutter to me. I felt like I’d read it before, I think incorporating well known characters without an element of whimsy was the problem for me.

A queer, gothic murder mystery featuring the daughter of *Dracula’s* Jonathan and Mina Harker working alongside the daughter of *Sherlock’s* Professor Moriarty? I was sold.

When Samantha Harker, a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena, sees a clue only her disappeared grandfather could have left behind at a crime scene, she convinces her boss to let her step out of the library and into the field. The catch? She’s partnered with the notorious Dr. Helena Moriarty—who, in addition to being the daughter of one of the world’s most dangerous criminals, has never had a partner survive working a case with her. Sam knows both she and Hel have secrets to keep, but as they head to Paris and start their investigation, Sam has to decide how much she can trust Hel if she wants to solve the mystery and make it out alive.
❤️ What I loved: This book was everything I wanted it to be—an adventurous mystery full of creepy, gothic settings and monstrous characters. I thought this was such a fun and unique way to bring together some classic characters and stories. Though it was a smaller side plot, watching Sam and Hel’s relationship develop throughout the story was surprisingly sweet. The only thing the book left me wanting was more!
I highly recommend this book to fans of paranormal and gothic mystery. I would love to see more adventures of Sam and Hel, so I hope Susan J. Morris considers turning this into a series!

**Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4.5-5)**

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Susan J. Morris, and Bindery Books, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

I absolutely loved this! I was a little concerned when some classic characters were name-dropped, worried that the book would rely on them too much but it absolutely wasn’t the case. It just added to the vibe and overall atmosphere. You absolutely do not need to have read any classics to enjoy this book but there’s little Easter eggs, if you have. The way the Sam and Hel’s backstories tie in beautifully with the literature of the time was just so fun.

This is a Victorian era fantasy, set in Paris, with underground societies, monsters, alchemy and murder! One of my favourite films is Moulin Rouge and I felt like I was living in that world of decadence and despair.

I really loved Sam, our underestimated FMC but the real star, for me, was Hel. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud at her quips. Can’t wait for more!

I'm torn, the setup is fantastic with this historical fiction retelling mashup of classics, th slow-burn sapphic story, and the amazing characters. Yet, on the other hand, it just felt slow. I put this story down several times just to take a break from rereading whole pages sometimes. The writing overall is strong but there are frequent sections that could benefit from a closer copy edit.

I think I may get a copy of this for my shelf and attempt to read it again.