Sam belongs in a library doing research, yet she finds herself in the field with an agent who is notorious for having assistants killed in the field. Will Sam be able to survive Hel?

This was such a cozy yet gothic story about two women trying to solve a case with cool and interesting monsters. The slow burn also slow burned for me, I loved the plot as much as the romance, which is exactly what I look for in any kind of fantasy romance. I hope this continues as a series, I'd love to be a part of more of their adventures

Rating: 4.5 stars

This was such an engaging and enthralling read. The novel has an atmospheric setting, taking place in the streets of Paris in the 1900s when women were frowned upon for taking on engaging or "dangerous" roles. The gothic atmosphere and the almost forbidden aspect of not only their professions but also their soft and budding romance added to the intrigue.

"Strange Beasts" stands out from other historical fiction novels. It didn't feel repetitive, nor was it too complicated to read and understand (as many mystery-related historical fiction novels can be).

This book is worth picking up.

Thank you to the publisher Bindery Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will say that I was loving this book at first. The setting and the vibes were what I was expecting and I loved it. The Main characters were interesting and I liked that there was a little intrigue. Also the premise, mystery with the children of moriarty and Mina harker and make it gay, sounded so good. So nothing awful happened, i started to find the characters annoying, Hel being secretive and sam being annoyed but also keeping things back really grated on me. There was also absolutely no chemistry between them, i was expecting some banter, or some tension, or flirtation but there’s nothing nearly halfway in. Also the story started falling flat, it set everything up well and then it just fell off, I got bored and I just didn’t want to pick it back up. I have waited for the motivation to come back for 2 days and i’m still not feeling it, and if I try to push through I will slump. Maybe it’s not the right style for me or maybe just not the right time

Strange Beasts is a beautiful gothic mystery twist on classic horror tales with the lightest touch of sapphic slow-burn romance. As someone who doesn't gravitate towards mystery, this book had me engaged from the start. The nods to Dracula and Sherlock Holmes were interesting without alienating readers less familiar with those stories. I greatly enjoyed the evolution of Sam and Hel's relationship, particularly the banter between the two. The main mystery following the Beast had some interesting twists and turns, though I found myself more interested in Professor Moriarty and Hel's complicated family ties.
Hoping for a sequel to see both Sam and Hel's relationship progress and to further explore the Moriarty line.

The book is intriguing, mysterious and it has so many secrets and layers. But there is more than mystery and secrets. The characters are really good but each of them go through all kind of emotions. The investigation is spot on and loved the setting of Royal Society and Paris. As soon as secrets come out and mystery unveils, they must stop the killer. A monster who is on a quest to eradicate powerful men. I liked the bond between Hel and Sam. The characters of Dracula meets the characters inspired by Sherlock holmes’s This is a gothic fantasy. Go for it, if you like strong female leads, mystery, secrets and characters from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes.

Thanks to the publisher and Author

This atmospheric Gothic mystery is spooky, moody, and beautifully written, immersing readers in the eerie catacombs of early 20th-century Paris. While the compelling story could have used more character development, I loved the author’s writing style and will definitely explore more of their work.

I am DESPERATE for this to have a sequel holy shit. Everything is perfect, the worldbuilding, the romance, the mystery, the atmosphere, the warm heart of it all. I actually genuinely forgot I was reading a retelling of several stories because the text itself is so rich and immersive. Fantastic, 10 stars, plz write a million of these.

I want to start off by saying that It was the cover for me with this book. I had no idea what i was getting myself into with this book. I know after getting into this book. I now know this won’t be the last book that I read from this author. This book did take me a little long to finish. I didn’t want this book to end or miss anything. I really enjoyed the world and the characters this author created. Omg I felt like I was there with Sam and Hel. Running around trying to figure out this beast thing. This book had me a couple of times where I thought I knew where this book was going. Nope what the heck in the twists and turns. Hel character had me wanting to scream at her couple of times. I loved Sam and how strong and wanting to find out about her grandfather. I enjoyed the channeling about Sam. Like I said earlier I loved this book and the characters. Highly recommend this book. There is a little love interest but I wont be spoiling it for future readers. This book does come out October 15, 2024 My reviews will be up everywhere. Thank you the author and netgalley for the opportunity to read such amazing book.

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris is an unforgettable historical fantasy with a bit of magic and mystery.
I was completely immersed in this clever story which was executed brilliantly with some nerve-jittering suspense.
The rapid pace kept me turning the pages. Gripping and compelling I couldn’t put it down.

Thank You NetGalley and Bindery Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A gender bent, sapphic, Sherlock Holmes and Dracula retelling with gothic and vibes and a moody atmosphere. This book helped clear my massive reading slump! It got me into the mood for all my Halloween themed stories. I cannot suggest this book enough if you're looking for action, romance, and moody vibes!

2.5/5
I was generously given the ability to read an ARC! Here is my honest review lol. I was immediately hooked by the premise.. Dracula, Sherlock, queer?! Sounds like a dream come true to me. The first I'll say third of the book is written wonderfully but then it seems to lose its charm? The writing style changes abruptly from very Stoker era to totally modern which threw me off horribly. I was hoping that this would become a new favourite of mine but it just wasn't really for me I suppose. The characters felt a bit bland to me and the slow burn isn't even just slow burn it doesn't necessarily even happen. The pair didn't have the chemistry I was hoping for in the slightest.
I feel as though this could've been fantastic if done a bit differently. The girl power-ness doesn't sit well with me when it's still at the core pleasing men to get by. Finding "female rage" in the last portion just left a bitter taste in my mouth. Female rage and girl power can be handled far better than this.
For a mystery this was almost Scooby Doo-ish to me as it was glaringly obvious who the culprit is. There were curveballs but those curveballs never made any sense anyhow.
I definitely feel like people who aren't expecting an overly queer or classic feel would love this! I'm unsure who this niche would be for but I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something new.
I am interested to see if these characters will get their time to shine again later on because I think there's a lot of potential here if done differently.
Also Mina was girlboss in Dracula I feel like that was completely ignored here I am sorry. Mischaracterization of Mina Harker upsets me.

Strange Beasts written by Susan J. Morris is everything you want for this season. Gothic, historical, 20th century France, monster hunting, slow burn romance, sapphic, shall I go on? From the first page, we are instantly transported to a society of monster hunters located in London. We meet Samatha Harker, daughter of Dracula’s killer, who is desperate to become a field agent in order to solve the mystery of the disappearance of her grandfather. After some convincing and an unlikely partnership with Lady M, or Helena aka Hel Moriarty (whose father is said to have killed Sherlock Holmes), she gets to take her secrets out into the field and away from the protective walls of the library. Morris’s writing is so vivid and immersive; I struggled to put it down. In the world of Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and Van Helsing, two women set out to solve a mysterious string of murders in the heart of Paris. Through an unexpected bond, secrets, a series of plot twists and turns through the catacombs of Paris, and beautifully written prose takes its readers on a monster hunting adventure of the ages. A resounding 5 stars!

A very good surprise! The summary left me a little skeptical about the character of Samantha Harker (I often have trouble with "children of..." especially when it comes to classic works), but I ultimately really enjoyed my reading. Samantha is an endearing character, and her relationship with Hel is very fun to follow. They totally drew me into the story. I don't know if a sequel is planned, but if so, I'll be a reader!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Susan Morris for the ARC of Strange Beasts. I am thrilled to share my thoughts on this captivating debut!

Morris masterfully delivers a gothic, historical fantasy that blends elements of classic horror with the thrilling intrigue of a detective story. Set in the atmospheric streets and catacombs of 1903 Paris, the novel follows two fascinating heroines, Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty, as they investigate a gruesome series of murders. Samantha and Helena are an unlikely duo brought together by their shared expertise in the paranormal.

From the first page, I was drawn into the chemistry between Sam and Hel, as well as the tension between trust and suspicion. Their slow-burn relationship adds a satisfying layer to the already gripping plot, balancing out the grisly murder mystery with emotional depth.

The author puts together elements of classic literature, folklore, and feminist themes, all while crafting a plot filled with twists and turns. The feminist undertones, especially the depiction of the two women grappling with a patriarchal society, make this novel even more engaging. Morris doesn’t shy away from exploring darker, macabre aspects of both history and myth, giving the novel an edge that kept me hooked.

For fans of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, this novel offers plenty of nods to these iconic tales, while providing something fresh and unique.

Overall, Strange Beasts is an exhilarating blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and detective mystery, with strong queer representation and a compelling cast of characters. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gothic adventure that delves into the monstrous both within and without.

I can’t wait to see what Susan Morris does next and am eagerly hoping for a sequel!

Rating: 4 stars

Once again, thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Susan Morris for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you love your books gothic and filled to the brim with monsters and folklore then this is one to read. Two female detectives navigate grisly murders across Paris, uncovering shady organisations as they follow a trail of clues.
The setting for this story was beautifully decribed and the characters were really intriguing from the beginning. I enjoyed seeing Samantha Harker grow beyond her legacy as the daughter of Dracula's killer, into her own woman with teeth and claws. Dr Moriarty, her enigmatic partner, was a delight to follow as she wrestled with her own demons.
I would love to give the story a solid 4 stars but I feel it suffered a little from 'saggy middle' with pacing slowing before the big pay-off.
A fun and enjoyable take on the gothic monster genre.

I enjoyed this paranormal mystery fill with monsters and compelling characters (Helena and Sam). Set in Paris, the author did a wonderful job of bringing this paranormal mystery to life on the pages and I found myself thinking of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes as I read. It's a unique story with plenty to enjoy.

Really wish I'd liked this one, but there were so many things I struggled to get my head around; there didn't feel like there was any world building, which made it difficult to follow the story, I wasn't sure I liked the characters, and I just didn't feel like I was drawn in.

Set in Paris in the early 1900's Samantha Harker, the daughter of infamous killer of Dracula, is a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study for Abnormal Phenomena. No one realizes that she is just as abnormal as the creatures she studies. Samantha is able to channel the minds of monsters. She joins up with Helena Morarity, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes arch rival, to stop a dangerous killer that is on the loose. Hel and Sam must fight men and monsters to solve the murder. They also begin to grow closer to each other as they begin to develop the beginnings of trust in their partnership.

I had a very good time with this book. The mystery was very fun and exciting. I really loved both Sam and Hel as characters. They worked really well tougher and had very snappy banter. There isn't a ton of romance in the book but I liked where it was leading. I do hope this will become a series because the world and characters are so fun. I would jump at the chance to read more of their adventures and hopefully get a little more of their romance. I am looking forward to doing an audio reread of this book soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, that cover is FIRE, and the concept is cool as hell. Ladies (the descendants of famous literary characters) hunting monsters in Paris in the dawn of the 20th century? YES, PLEASE.

The story lags at times, but the concept and characters are so enjoyable, it doesn't effect the read too much. Sam and Hel team up to hunt "The Beast" who is killing wealthy men. Along the way, they encounter lots of supernatural creatures, bossy men, and a new partnership that seems destined for danger.

The book really rests on the combo of Sam and Hel and they complement each other perfectly (I loved that Sam had some real skills to bring to the table as the "new girl.") Watching their partnership develop was delightful. A compelling run of events in the catacombs under the city is a highlight of the book in which you feel how high the stakes are.

The Beast hunt again gets a bit drawn out and there are a bit too many red herrings, but these are small quibbles. Overall, this was a fun crime-fighting team. Next time, I'd prefer the crime to be fleshed out a bit more. The bad guy was a little too easy to pick out in advance!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

In 1900s London, The Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena tracks down monsters and magic in an attempt to keep the world safe. Samantha Harker is a researcher there. She is the daughter of Mina (Wilomena) and Jonathan Harker of Dracula fame. Although amazing at her job, she wants so badly to be in the field. A string of beastly murders in Paris is her chance to show her boss what she can do as well as maybe answer a lingering question about her own family. Here we meet Hel Moriarty, the daughter of the infamous Professor Moriarty- Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis. Sam will be Hel’s partner- that is, if she can stay alive long enough to be considered a partner and keep her own secret from everyone watching her too closely. As Sam tries her best to prove her worth, Hel is trying to escape the clutches of her father who is continuously manipulating whatever and whoever he can to get her back into the family clutches.

These two battle all kids of monsters, the threat of Van Helsing’s son (Jakob) trying to steal their thunder, and a Moriarty chess game so complicated that Sam isn’t quite sure how she’s wrapped up in it until the very end.

This debut novel is EPIC. It brings the new generation of your favorite classic heroes and villains front and center. It expertly highlights the misogyny of the times, the complexities of family history, and the bravery needed to forge your own path. Waiting for the next one is going to be torture. @susanjmorris I need more Sam and Hel!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the perfect October read- pub date is 10/15/24. Don’t sleep on this one!!! Thank you soooo much @netgalley and @bindery_books for this #advancedreaderscopy - it’s spectacular.

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