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Monster: A Tale of Murder, Madness and Plastic Surgery
MONSTER. The word evokes images of fairy tales and horror. But once, in 1850 Philadelphia, it was actually the term commonly used in physician’s case notes for the victims of fire.
Conflagrations were common in this period—clothing, especially women’s lace, was highly flammable. Once the flesh was destroyed, there was no cure. These unfortunate souls lived out their lives as MONSTERS, secluded away by family. Once burned flesh gives way to contractures, disfigurements to rival even Bram Stoker’s imagination were born. And the hearts of the people inside the shell perished.
Lorelei is one such MONSTER. Born to a wealthy family, disfigured by fire, she fake’s her own death, leaving the world she knows behind—because in her mind…freedom, even if it is a workhouse, is preferable than the life of a shut-in, a burden on her family's name.
!850’s Philadelphia is an epi-center of medicine. Rival medical schools search in desperation for bodies—cadavers to teach the art and science of anatomy to their medical students. Corpses become so rare, a new profession evolves. Resurrection Men, or body snatchers, dig up the graves of the newly decreased for high pay.
Rory Henry is one of the Resurrection Men. A Scots-Irish Immigrant, he has fought his way off the streets, and into medical school by whatever means necessary. He is not above digging up corpses—he cuts them by day, and searches them out by night.
These two lives intersect in an explosion of personality-Rory is designated as Lorelei’s surgeon. Entrusted with performing the new operation called, The Mutter Flap. Once he sees her face, will the unrequited love die, or ignite?
People are disappearing. Someone has discovered that murder is far more lucrative than grave robbing. And many of the bodies are from Lorelei’s workhouse. Will she be next?
Conflagrations were common in this period—clothing, especially women’s lace, was highly flammable. Once the flesh was destroyed, there was no cure. These unfortunate souls lived out their lives as MONSTERS, secluded away by family. Once burned flesh gives way to contractures, disfigurements to rival even Bram Stoker’s imagination were born. And the hearts of the people inside the shell perished.
Lorelei is one such MONSTER. Born to a wealthy family, disfigured by fire, she fake’s her own death, leaving the world she knows behind—because in her mind…freedom, even if it is a workhouse, is preferable than the life of a shut-in, a burden on her family's name.
!850’s Philadelphia is an epi-center of medicine. Rival medical schools search in desperation for bodies—cadavers to teach the art and science of anatomy to their medical students. Corpses become so rare, a new profession evolves. Resurrection Men, or body snatchers, dig up the graves of the newly decreased for high pay.
Rory Henry is one of the Resurrection Men. A Scots-Irish Immigrant, he has fought his way off the streets, and into medical school by whatever means necessary. He is not above digging up corpses—he cuts them by day, and searches them out by night.
These two lives intersect in an explosion of personality-Rory is designated as Lorelei’s surgeon. Entrusted with performing the new operation called, The Mutter Flap. Once he sees her face, will the unrequited love die, or ignite?
People are disappearing. Someone has discovered that murder is far more lucrative than grave robbing. And many of the bodies are from Lorelei’s workhouse. Will she be next?
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2023
11 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Brynn Chapman
20 books505 followersBorn and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. If her ancestry tree is true, she is a descendent of the House of Stuart.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 2, 2024
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Monster was a pretty interesting book. At first, I thought this was an introduction to a series, but now I feel like it might be a standalone book. In it, you will meet Rory and Lorelei. Rory is studying to become a doctor and dabbles in grave robbery (of sorts) as a nighttime hobby. Lorelei is basically on the run and is just trying to make a living for both her and Molly. So, it's pretty fair to assume that both of their lives will change for the better (ish) when they finally meet one another.
This book gives you rivalry, romance, death, found family, and betrayal. With how it ended, I was hoping to get the true reveal of who was behind all the murders. Mostly because I have no idea if we are going to get another book or not. I mean, they are traveling to a new place with most of the found family/medical students from Rory's class. So, in a weird way, I'm thinking I'm going to get another book but again, who knows?
Anyways, I definitely enjoyed the romance that brewed between Rory and Lorelei. They both had a horrible past, current troubles, and needed a way to heal. They found one another and truly loved them for themselves. It didn't matter to Rory that Lorelei was deemed a monster because of how she looked. She was beautiful inside and out to him.
In the end, I'm happy that I found the time to finally dive into this book. I'll have to check out another book written by Brynn in the near future.
Monster was a pretty interesting book. At first, I thought this was an introduction to a series, but now I feel like it might be a standalone book. In it, you will meet Rory and Lorelei. Rory is studying to become a doctor and dabbles in grave robbery (of sorts) as a nighttime hobby. Lorelei is basically on the run and is just trying to make a living for both her and Molly. So, it's pretty fair to assume that both of their lives will change for the better (ish) when they finally meet one another.
This book gives you rivalry, romance, death, found family, and betrayal. With how it ended, I was hoping to get the true reveal of who was behind all the murders. Mostly because I have no idea if we are going to get another book or not. I mean, they are traveling to a new place with most of the found family/medical students from Rory's class. So, in a weird way, I'm thinking I'm going to get another book but again, who knows?
Anyways, I definitely enjoyed the romance that brewed between Rory and Lorelei. They both had a horrible past, current troubles, and needed a way to heal. They found one another and truly loved them for themselves. It didn't matter to Rory that Lorelei was deemed a monster because of how she looked. She was beautiful inside and out to him.
In the end, I'm happy that I found the time to finally dive into this book. I'll have to check out another book written by Brynn in the near future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2023
To view on Rainy Day's Books, Video Games and Other Writings: https://rainyday.blog/2023/04/15/book...
Rating: 3 stars
Monster is an interesting story that I found myself eager to find out what happens next. Told back and forth from the perspectives of Rory and Lorelei, this book is a story about two people with somewhat similar backgrounds/circumstances who come together unexpectedly when Lorelei asks for Rory’s help as her sister Molly is very sick. What starts as a doctor patient relationship quickly turns into much more as Rory and Lorelei discover their feelings for each other while there’s a killer on the loose in Philadelphia who’s killing people and Rory starts receiving notes that people close to him are next.
What I enjoyed when reading this book was reading the story from both Rory and Lorelei’s perspectives. I especially enjoyed reading Rory’s chapters because of getting to see him when he’s at work as a doctor. I also loved his chapters because of getting to meet his friends (in particular, I enjoyed his friendships with Charlie and Becca) along with hearing about his experiences as one of the Resurrection Men. His chapters really caught my attention because I found his story interesting and wanted to learn more about him. It was also interesting because I felt like I was hearing a lot of technical terms that doctors use and also felt like I could hear his Scots-Irish accent when he engaged in conversation throughout the book. What I enjoyed about Lorelei’s chapters is learning more about her background and how she came to be in Philadelphia. What you learn about Lorelei while reading her chapters is that she is a victim of burning so severe that her face is disfigured and that she has a terrible past that she would rather forget. Overall when reading this book, the story is told from the perspectives of two interesting characters with a difficult past who are doing the best they can to overcome the odds stacked against them.
What I also enjoyed about Monster was the romance that developed between Rory and Lorelei. Though at times I felt like their feelings for each other came too quickly, I felt like overall they were a good couple that balanced each other out. Rory out of the both of them would make rash decisions based on his feelings while Lorelei was the more reserved/guarded one who thought her decisions through. So whenever anything happened in the story, I felt like Lorelei was the one who was able to help Rory get through them. Not to say Rory never did the same for Lorelei, but I feel like Lorelei was able to hold her own overall better out of the both of them. I also liked that they loved each other despite each of their circumstances and what happened throughout the book. Especially that Rory cared about Lorelei despite her disfigurement as there were people in the story who cared too much and were doing what they could to tear their relationship apart.
There are some aspects of their relationship, however, that I did have some criticism for. I felt like their relationship developed into romance way too quickly for starters. As much as I love the dynamic of their relationship, I definitely felt like their relationship was an instant attraction even though I feel like neither of them needed that in the story. From the moment they met, I felt like they were instantly interested in each other which was why that scene in the carriage happened. And I wasn’t too fond of it just because I didn’t feel like it fit either of their characters with Rory talking about his swearing off of lasses and Lorelei’s dark past that you find out about as the story goes on. So seeing them both instantly interested in each other despite what we learn I find hard to believe as I didn’t feel like it fit each of their characters. I also found it hard to believe how quickly their feelings for each other developed into love and how quickly they were willing to tell each other about their pasts. I get that this story is told from a different time period so romance might’ve been different then, but with how guarded both these characters were around people they didn’t trust, I had a difficult time believing they would open up to each other so quickly.
Another criticism of Monster I have that resulted in me giving this book a three-star rating was the plot of the story. I found the plot overall interesting, but I felt at times like there was too much happening in the story at once. In the beginning, it didn’t seem like too much was going on and the story’s pacing was great. But as Lorelei and Rory’s relationship continued to grow, I felt like more and more things started to happen in their lives. Some examples that come to mind for me that I feel like I can share without spoiling the story too much include when Rory is going digging up bodies and a creature he heard about from his childhood in stories starts making an appearance at his group’s digging sites and he finds out the truth about this creature, the murders that happen of women including someone Rory and his friends know, and Lorelei being given the opportunity to get surgery to change her disfigurement. While I definitely feel like all of these things happening in the story is interesting plot-wise, I feel like when they happen disturbed the overall pacing in the book for me that it started off with. I also feel like some of the moments I mentioned happened way too quickly in the book, making the build-up to finding out how things went disappointing. While I enjoyed these moments in the plot because I found them interesting, I also felt like they were rushed through and not given as much detail as they deserved.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Monster. It was an interesting read for me with unique characters and romance thrown in that while developed too quickly for my liking, I found myself still rooting for it. And while the overall plot in this book didn’t match the pacing of the story and could’ve used more writing to flesh things out, I was still interested in seeing where things went in the story. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a fast-paced read that’s filled with romance, murder, and a story set in a time period different from our own.
I received a digital copy of this book through the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review.
Rating: 3 stars
Monster is an interesting story that I found myself eager to find out what happens next. Told back and forth from the perspectives of Rory and Lorelei, this book is a story about two people with somewhat similar backgrounds/circumstances who come together unexpectedly when Lorelei asks for Rory’s help as her sister Molly is very sick. What starts as a doctor patient relationship quickly turns into much more as Rory and Lorelei discover their feelings for each other while there’s a killer on the loose in Philadelphia who’s killing people and Rory starts receiving notes that people close to him are next.
What I enjoyed when reading this book was reading the story from both Rory and Lorelei’s perspectives. I especially enjoyed reading Rory’s chapters because of getting to see him when he’s at work as a doctor. I also loved his chapters because of getting to meet his friends (in particular, I enjoyed his friendships with Charlie and Becca) along with hearing about his experiences as one of the Resurrection Men. His chapters really caught my attention because I found his story interesting and wanted to learn more about him. It was also interesting because I felt like I was hearing a lot of technical terms that doctors use and also felt like I could hear his Scots-Irish accent when he engaged in conversation throughout the book. What I enjoyed about Lorelei’s chapters is learning more about her background and how she came to be in Philadelphia. What you learn about Lorelei while reading her chapters is that she is a victim of burning so severe that her face is disfigured and that she has a terrible past that she would rather forget. Overall when reading this book, the story is told from the perspectives of two interesting characters with a difficult past who are doing the best they can to overcome the odds stacked against them.
What I also enjoyed about Monster was the romance that developed between Rory and Lorelei. Though at times I felt like their feelings for each other came too quickly, I felt like overall they were a good couple that balanced each other out. Rory out of the both of them would make rash decisions based on his feelings while Lorelei was the more reserved/guarded one who thought her decisions through. So whenever anything happened in the story, I felt like Lorelei was the one who was able to help Rory get through them. Not to say Rory never did the same for Lorelei, but I feel like Lorelei was able to hold her own overall better out of the both of them. I also liked that they loved each other despite each of their circumstances and what happened throughout the book. Especially that Rory cared about Lorelei despite her disfigurement as there were people in the story who cared too much and were doing what they could to tear their relationship apart.
There are some aspects of their relationship, however, that I did have some criticism for. I felt like their relationship developed into romance way too quickly for starters. As much as I love the dynamic of their relationship, I definitely felt like their relationship was an instant attraction even though I feel like neither of them needed that in the story. From the moment they met, I felt like they were instantly interested in each other which was why that scene in the carriage happened. And I wasn’t too fond of it just because I didn’t feel like it fit either of their characters with Rory talking about his swearing off of lasses and Lorelei’s dark past that you find out about as the story goes on. So seeing them both instantly interested in each other despite what we learn I find hard to believe as I didn’t feel like it fit each of their characters. I also found it hard to believe how quickly their feelings for each other developed into love and how quickly they were willing to tell each other about their pasts. I get that this story is told from a different time period so romance might’ve been different then, but with how guarded both these characters were around people they didn’t trust, I had a difficult time believing they would open up to each other so quickly.
Another criticism of Monster I have that resulted in me giving this book a three-star rating was the plot of the story. I found the plot overall interesting, but I felt at times like there was too much happening in the story at once. In the beginning, it didn’t seem like too much was going on and the story’s pacing was great. But as Lorelei and Rory’s relationship continued to grow, I felt like more and more things started to happen in their lives. Some examples that come to mind for me that I feel like I can share without spoiling the story too much include when Rory is going digging up bodies and a creature he heard about from his childhood in stories starts making an appearance at his group’s digging sites and he finds out the truth about this creature, the murders that happen of women including someone Rory and his friends know, and Lorelei being given the opportunity to get surgery to change her disfigurement. While I definitely feel like all of these things happening in the story is interesting plot-wise, I feel like when they happen disturbed the overall pacing in the book for me that it started off with. I also feel like some of the moments I mentioned happened way too quickly in the book, making the build-up to finding out how things went disappointing. While I enjoyed these moments in the plot because I found them interesting, I also felt like they were rushed through and not given as much detail as they deserved.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Monster. It was an interesting read for me with unique characters and romance thrown in that while developed too quickly for my liking, I found myself still rooting for it. And while the overall plot in this book didn’t match the pacing of the story and could’ve used more writing to flesh things out, I was still interested in seeing where things went in the story. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a fast-paced read that’s filled with romance, murder, and a story set in a time period different from our own.
I received a digital copy of this book through the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review.
July 5, 2023
**RECEIVED A FREE ARC**
What i enjoyed about this book: the relationship. It was quick, but it was respectful and kind. I also loved Lorelei’s bond with Molly and the Mutters. The legend of the cailleach was also very interesting and i was happy to learn that Dr Mutter was the real dr who invented plastic surgery. The book was brief but i felt as though the reader got a good sense of most of the characters
Now on to the bad: my biggest issue with this book was all the grammatical errors - using apostrophes to denote plurals (wrong) and NOT using them for possessive, switching characters accidentally, by which I mean mixing up names, etc, or using bread instead of bred or mom instead of mum and general misspellings. I’m sure a good editor can clean those up very easily. But “recovering from a bender”…did people used to say that in the late 1800s?? Okay google says its from 1846 which i definitely would not have guessed so my mistake. Far too many italics for my liking but author’s choice.
I wish i had experienced more of lorelei’s life before her banishment. I didnt get a sense of her family at all. The book was so short it definitely couldve benefited from this. Then we could have seen the true sense of her betrayal with her dad choosing Jones and the abuse she suffered.
Rebecca’s character was only minorly fleshed out. We didnt see any of her struggles as the only female Black medical student at all, Rory was the only one who told us. But while i was reading i thought: When did Lorelei begin to like becca after she had one encounter with her and she was jealous the whole time?
Also no real sense of Philadelphia and Lorelei got rid of Annie real quick. Annie just disappeared.
So spring hill jack, i thought, was another name for jack the ripper and it’s not. But there’s someone in folklore called spring HEEL jack. I cant tell if the author is making a play on the legend by creating her own character after him or if she’s adding in the legend. Probably the former and that’s a nice plot addition.
How does the reverend know about lorelei’s past and how does she know who roxbury is??
All in all the book was entertaining and so was the happy ending. I’d read more but the author needs to write more, i think, so she can fill in those setting and character holes. I was VERY shocked to learn this was not her first book.
What i enjoyed about this book: the relationship. It was quick, but it was respectful and kind. I also loved Lorelei’s bond with Molly and the Mutters. The legend of the cailleach was also very interesting and i was happy to learn that Dr Mutter was the real dr who invented plastic surgery. The book was brief but i felt as though the reader got a good sense of most of the characters
Now on to the bad: my biggest issue with this book was all the grammatical errors - using apostrophes to denote plurals (wrong) and NOT using them for possessive, switching characters accidentally, by which I mean mixing up names, etc, or using bread instead of bred or mom instead of mum and general misspellings. I’m sure a good editor can clean those up very easily. But “recovering from a bender”…did people used to say that in the late 1800s?? Okay google says its from 1846 which i definitely would not have guessed so my mistake. Far too many italics for my liking but author’s choice.
I wish i had experienced more of lorelei’s life before her banishment. I didnt get a sense of her family at all. The book was so short it definitely couldve benefited from this. Then we could have seen the true sense of her betrayal with her dad choosing Jones and the abuse she suffered.
Rebecca’s character was only minorly fleshed out. We didnt see any of her struggles as the only female Black medical student at all, Rory was the only one who told us. But while i was reading i thought: When did Lorelei begin to like becca after she had one encounter with her and she was jealous the whole time?
Also no real sense of Philadelphia and Lorelei got rid of Annie real quick. Annie just disappeared.
So spring hill jack, i thought, was another name for jack the ripper and it’s not. But there’s someone in folklore called spring HEEL jack. I cant tell if the author is making a play on the legend by creating her own character after him or if she’s adding in the legend. Probably the former and that’s a nice plot addition.
How does the reverend know about lorelei’s past and how does she know who roxbury is??
All in all the book was entertaining and so was the happy ending. I’d read more but the author needs to write more, i think, so she can fill in those setting and character holes. I was VERY shocked to learn this was not her first book.
April 20, 2023
Lorelai escaped a dangerous situation in Ireland, one that left her scarred after a fire. Lorelai landed in Philadelphia and found an orphanage to take her in while she works in a matchstick factory. An orphan that Lorelai cares for, Molly is suffering from Phossy Jaw and Lorelai takes it upon herself to find help. Help comes in the form of Rory Henry, a student under Dr. Mutter. Rory is able to help Molly and recognizes a kindred spirit in Lorelai. Lorelai and Rory quickly become enamored with one another. However, Rory's means to pull in extra money as a resurrection man along with the sway that the orphanage Reverend has over Lorelai and a murderer on the loose, their way out of 1850's Philadelphia is not an easy task.
Monster is an exciting historical romance with plenty of suspense, Irish folklore, medical drama and the realities of the immigrant experience. From the beginning, I was engaged in Lorelai's story of escape. The writing expertly pulled together all of the different strands into an exciting story that firmly grasped the setting and characters. Lorelai and Molly's story is endearing as they band together to survive the orphanage and the terrible working conditions at the match factory. Rory's story enlightens early medical care and teaching practices with how students learned anatomy. I also learned about the Dr. Mutter, the father of plastic surgery and his ingenious way of helping those who were labelled monsters by society. I enjoyed the added folklore of the Cailleach and what she meant to Rory and Lorelai. The romance, although quick was heartfelt and genuine. With a promise to be continued, I can't wait to see what Lorelai and Rory will face in the next book.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Monster is an exciting historical romance with plenty of suspense, Irish folklore, medical drama and the realities of the immigrant experience. From the beginning, I was engaged in Lorelai's story of escape. The writing expertly pulled together all of the different strands into an exciting story that firmly grasped the setting and characters. Lorelai and Molly's story is endearing as they band together to survive the orphanage and the terrible working conditions at the match factory. Rory's story enlightens early medical care and teaching practices with how students learned anatomy. I also learned about the Dr. Mutter, the father of plastic surgery and his ingenious way of helping those who were labelled monsters by society. I enjoyed the added folklore of the Cailleach and what she meant to Rory and Lorelai. The romance, although quick was heartfelt and genuine. With a promise to be continued, I can't wait to see what Lorelai and Rory will face in the next book.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
October 31, 2023
"Monster" by Brynn Chapman is a captivating historical fiction, horror mystery that skillfully transports readers to 1850s Philadelphia. The author's meticulous research vividly portrays the gritty, crime-ridden atmosphere of the time, reminiscent of London's challenges. Lorelei, labeled a "monster" due to disfigurement from a fire, escapes her restrictive family to face a harsh world. The narrative unfolds with dark undertones, introducing a complex plot involving resurrection men, medical advancements, and societal rejection.
Chapman weaves various subplots seamlessly, from the haunting presence of a Gaelic hag to a Jack the Ripper-esque serial killer. The multi-culturalism and diversity of characters contribute to the richness of the story. As with any excellent historical fiction, the novel explores the complexities of the era, blending horror, mystery, and romance.
The main character, Lorelei, is a compelling and well-developed protagonist with a complex background. The romance between Lorelei and Rory, a resurrection man turned surgeon, adds a layer of depth to the narrative. The mystery plotline, centered around disappearing individuals and a lucrative murder scheme, keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
"Monster" stands out as a gripping and atmospheric read, offering Stalking Jack the Ripper vibes for fans of dark and gritty novels. The portrayal of the term "monster" in the medical context during that period adds a unique historical dimension to the story. Brynn Chapman masterfully crafts a tale that warrants a five-star recommendation, leaving readers eager for a sequel.
April 16, 2023
I love the Celtic mythology in this book! I always like when author’s incorporate their own mythology as this author did. Engaging Chapter 1 for the reader. I liked the descriptions that the writer had for the story. Also I love the start with 1842 being the before, I love historical stories and reading about them! The book really opens in the first chapter as we meet Charlie and McTavish while they are robbing the graves of the dead. This a truth that happened in a lot of history and countries as people needed bodies for science at the times and people weren’t so obliging. And then they find a girl who was buried alive, named Elizabeth. They rescue her from the grave. And the story is told from different points of view at times, which can be a little confusing to the reader to go between pov’s. I do like the sweet romance between Rory and also Lorelai. It is a great story overall. There is a lot of surgery in this book and I like reading about that so I was immediately entranced by the realistic details on that. There is some tragic things that do happen in the book, but there is a happy ending for now😉
June 10, 2024
I received a free ARC from NetGalley but found it very hard to read as it was unclear if there were formatting issues, editing issues, or both. I made an effort to read the book when it was published to see how these issues had been resolved. Quite frankly, they hadn’t. The book has some words written as they are said, not how they’re spelled which is fine, but in conjunction with poor punctuation and grammar for the narrative portions, the book feels unreadable at times. It’s dual POV but this is not clearly indicated half the time when the narrative voice shifts which made this book even harder to read. Oddly, there were large chunks that worked but then would be quickly ruined by the ongoing grammar/editing/narration issues. I feel like the book synopsis had more depth than the book accomplished. I’m disappointed as it’s a fascinating concept that wasn’t executed to its full potential. I will not be reading the rest of this series. Honestly, I would have DNF’d this book if I hadn’t received the ARC.
April 18, 2023
MONSTER isn't exactly what I expected it to be, but I ended up liking it by the final page. The author has a deft way with words, which captured my attention within the first few pages of the first chapter. I enjoyed the historical backdrop, which reminded me of Frankenstein.
However, I didn't care for the back-and-forth point-of-view narratives between Lorelei and Rory. Switching points of view, like the overuse of flashbacks, is usually negative in my book because it's distracting and often frustrating. Yes, I am nitpicking; I am aware of it.
As previously said, I ended up enjoying MONSTER. Despite a few shortcomings, the book was a pleasure to read. ╌★★★½✰
However, I didn't care for the back-and-forth point-of-view narratives between Lorelei and Rory. Switching points of view, like the overuse of flashbacks, is usually negative in my book because it's distracting and often frustrating. Yes, I am nitpicking; I am aware of it.
As previously said, I ended up enjoying MONSTER. Despite a few shortcomings, the book was a pleasure to read. ╌★★★½✰
September 28, 2023
The name of this one is what drew my attention but Lorelei is anything but a monster. Monster being what she’s medically labeled after a fire burns half her face and neck. Rory is firstly a dr, or nearly, at the end of his training and highly recommended but he’s also a grave digger/body snatcher to pay for his rent and tuition. When Lorelei goes against the priests word and seeks medical help for another orphan, their worlds collide, fast, hard and both their worlds will be turned upside down for the better. Rory will do anything for her, and she him, add in a rich and kind mentor, an ugly priest and an horrendous ex and this is one hell of a story
April 27, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next installment. This book has everything. Romance, disfigurement, abuse, plastic surgery, grave robbing, serial killers, loss, trauma, friendship... I can honestly say there is never a dull moment. It was very interesting to learn about the history of the time and I loved the notes at the end sharing more detailed information. Overall this is a lovely quick read with exciting plot points.
July 22, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.9/5 rounded up to 4/5.
Monster by Brynn Chapman is a captivating historical novel that combines elements of fairy tales and horror, set in 1850s Philadelphia. The story explores the lives of individuals labeled as "Monsters" due to disfigurements caused by fire, and delves into the world of body snatchers and the emerging field of anatomy.
One of the strengths of the book lies in its realistic and likable characters, each with their own motivations and reactions that are understandable and relatable. The dual perspectives of Rory, a Resurrection Man, and Lorelei, a young woman who fakes her own death to escape her confined existence, provide a balanced and engaging narrative. The dynamic between Rory and Lorelei is well-developed, offering a satisfying contrast that complements their individual journeys.
The author's use of language and the incorporation of Celtic mythology add depth and richness to the story, creating an atmospheric and immersive reading experience. The concept of exploring the intersection between fairy tales and horror within a historical setting is intriguing and adds an element of suspense to the narrative.
However, the instant love between Lorelei and Rory feels forced and out of place, given the circumstances and their respective characterizations. The pacing of the story can also be a bit uneven, with moments that lack momentum. Additionally, the frequent use of flashbacks throughout the book can be distracting and disrupt the flow of the narrative. At times, it may be challenging to distinguish whose point of view is being presented.
Overall, Monster is an intriguing and imaginative novel that successfully combines historical elements with fairy tale and horror themes. The realistic and likable characters, as well as the author's skillful use of language, contribute to an engaging reading experience. Despite some pacing and narrative structure issues, the book offers an interesting and unique take on its chosen genre.
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3.9/5 rounded up to 4/5.
Monster by Brynn Chapman is a captivating historical novel that combines elements of fairy tales and horror, set in 1850s Philadelphia. The story explores the lives of individuals labeled as "Monsters" due to disfigurements caused by fire, and delves into the world of body snatchers and the emerging field of anatomy.
One of the strengths of the book lies in its realistic and likable characters, each with their own motivations and reactions that are understandable and relatable. The dual perspectives of Rory, a Resurrection Man, and Lorelei, a young woman who fakes her own death to escape her confined existence, provide a balanced and engaging narrative. The dynamic between Rory and Lorelei is well-developed, offering a satisfying contrast that complements their individual journeys.
The author's use of language and the incorporation of Celtic mythology add depth and richness to the story, creating an atmospheric and immersive reading experience. The concept of exploring the intersection between fairy tales and horror within a historical setting is intriguing and adds an element of suspense to the narrative.
However, the instant love between Lorelei and Rory feels forced and out of place, given the circumstances and their respective characterizations. The pacing of the story can also be a bit uneven, with moments that lack momentum. Additionally, the frequent use of flashbacks throughout the book can be distracting and disrupt the flow of the narrative. At times, it may be challenging to distinguish whose point of view is being presented.
Overall, Monster is an intriguing and imaginative novel that successfully combines historical elements with fairy tale and horror themes. The realistic and likable characters, as well as the author's skillful use of language, contribute to an engaging reading experience. Despite some pacing and narrative structure issues, the book offers an interesting and unique take on its chosen genre.
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