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Through the Monster-Glass
If you found out you were something very different than what you thought, what would you do?
On the night of the annual charity Goblin Ball, professional archivist Romy Ussher runs into a mysterious man from her past. Enoch Crowe is a global businessman and playboy; when she met him years before with her late husband, there was a frisson of attraction but he made her uneasy. Now Crowe seems hell-bent on a closer relationship, and Romy finds herself drawn into a supernatural web where nothing is as it appears – including her.
Trying to escape Crowe’s clutches, she accepts a job at a remote college. But the door to the otherworld is open, and things keep coming through looking for her. When Crowe offers his help, is it a trap? Chasing down clues going back to ancient Egypt, Romy tries to understand her heritage while keeping her sanity...and humanity.
Through the Monster-glass is the first book in the Chaos Roads Trilogy. Follow Romy’s journey to make sense of past, present and future while a malevolent being deep in the shadows orchestrates a conspiracy spanning multiple worlds and dimensions.
On the night of the annual charity Goblin Ball, professional archivist Romy Ussher runs into a mysterious man from her past. Enoch Crowe is a global businessman and playboy; when she met him years before with her late husband, there was a frisson of attraction but he made her uneasy. Now Crowe seems hell-bent on a closer relationship, and Romy finds herself drawn into a supernatural web where nothing is as it appears – including her.
Trying to escape Crowe’s clutches, she accepts a job at a remote college. But the door to the otherworld is open, and things keep coming through looking for her. When Crowe offers his help, is it a trap? Chasing down clues going back to ancient Egypt, Romy tries to understand her heritage while keeping her sanity...and humanity.
Through the Monster-glass is the first book in the Chaos Roads Trilogy. Follow Romy’s journey to make sense of past, present and future while a malevolent being deep in the shadows orchestrates a conspiracy spanning multiple worlds and dimensions.
- GenresFantasy
609 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2023
About the author
Erica Jurus
6 books9 followers Erica Jurus spent her childhood wishing she could explore every exit on the Ontario highways her father drove for family vacations. Each of those curving ramps represented the romance and adventure of the unknown. They eventually provided the inspiration for her urban fantasy/sci-fi Roads trilogy.
Her writing invites readers to imagine that there might be more to our world than meets the eye – mysterious, thrilling, dangerous, and so much more fun.
Erica began writing short stories as a child, heavily influenced by television series like The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, where ordinary situations evolved into the bizarre and inexplicable. In high school one of her stories, about the aftermath of a nuclear war, was wildly unlikely but so inventive that the teacher read it to the entire class.
Her career path took her down a different road, diverging as much as her fantasy byways: a university degree in ecology, several years working as a pharmacy technician, freelance graphic designer, copy writer and web administrator in a counselling office at a local college. Work helped pay for the many travel adventures she and her husband embarked on, eventually travelling to six continents and twenty-four countries together.
She is also a professional speaker, photographer, foodie, golfer, Titanic buff and tea aficionado.
All of these varied experiences have found their way, along with interests in archaeology, history and ancient manuscripts, into her novels, providing rich material for her to extrapolate the real world into realms of the imagination.
Erica is thrilled to have launched the epic finale to her Chaos Roads trilogy, "Out of Time", at Niagara Falls Comic Con at the end of May, 2025. She had a blast meeting all kinds of visitors, from curious children to enthusiastic readers to fantastic cosplayers, and thanks everyone who bought copies of her novels to take home and dive into.
Erica has a fun Instagram feed, www.instagram.com/ejroads/ with all the latest news and insights. Visit her website, ericajurus.ca, for information about writing and upcoming books and publication dates, events and appearances. She invites you to leave comments, sign up for her free monthly newsletter (opt-in form on the site), or email her directly at roads@ericajurus.ca. Her blog, Roads Guide to the Galaxy, explores all things related to the literary world.
Her writing invites readers to imagine that there might be more to our world than meets the eye – mysterious, thrilling, dangerous, and so much more fun.
Erica began writing short stories as a child, heavily influenced by television series like The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, where ordinary situations evolved into the bizarre and inexplicable. In high school one of her stories, about the aftermath of a nuclear war, was wildly unlikely but so inventive that the teacher read it to the entire class.
Her career path took her down a different road, diverging as much as her fantasy byways: a university degree in ecology, several years working as a pharmacy technician, freelance graphic designer, copy writer and web administrator in a counselling office at a local college. Work helped pay for the many travel adventures she and her husband embarked on, eventually travelling to six continents and twenty-four countries together.
She is also a professional speaker, photographer, foodie, golfer, Titanic buff and tea aficionado.
All of these varied experiences have found their way, along with interests in archaeology, history and ancient manuscripts, into her novels, providing rich material for her to extrapolate the real world into realms of the imagination.
Erica is thrilled to have launched the epic finale to her Chaos Roads trilogy, "Out of Time", at Niagara Falls Comic Con at the end of May, 2025. She had a blast meeting all kinds of visitors, from curious children to enthusiastic readers to fantastic cosplayers, and thanks everyone who bought copies of her novels to take home and dive into.
Erica has a fun Instagram feed, www.instagram.com/ejroads/ with all the latest news and insights. Visit her website, ericajurus.ca, for information about writing and upcoming books and publication dates, events and appearances. She invites you to leave comments, sign up for her free monthly newsletter (opt-in form on the site), or email her directly at roads@ericajurus.ca. Her blog, Roads Guide to the Galaxy, explores all things related to the literary world.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 18, 2026
When Nothing You Are Feels Certain Anymore
This story hooked me with its slow, unsettling pull. I loved how Romy’s ordinary life quietly unravels into something strange, dangerous, and deeply personal. The mystery around her identity, the eerie attraction to Crowe, and the creeping supernatural tension kept me turning pages. It’s layered, atmospheric, and leaves you questioning what’s human, what’s monstrous, and where the line really lies. A strong, intriguing start to a trilogy that promises much darker things ahead.
This story hooked me with its slow, unsettling pull. I loved how Romy’s ordinary life quietly unravels into something strange, dangerous, and deeply personal. The mystery around her identity, the eerie attraction to Crowe, and the creeping supernatural tension kept me turning pages. It’s layered, atmospheric, and leaves you questioning what’s human, what’s monstrous, and where the line really lies. A strong, intriguing start to a trilogy that promises much darker things ahead.
April 17, 2026
Some books pull you in with action. Others do it with mystery. Through the Monster-Glass does it with a slow, unsettling sense that something isn’t quite right and then steadily proves you correct.
What begins as a chance reunion at a glamorous event the Goblin Ball quickly spirals into something far stranger. Romy Ussher, a professional archivist who seems grounded in logic and history, is forced to confront the possibility that her entire identity might not be what she believes. And that’s really the core of this book: identity unraveling under pressure.
The dynamic between Romy and Enoch Crowe is one of the most compelling parts of the story. Crowe isn’t a straightforward villain, which makes him far more interesting and more dangerous. He’s charming, persistent, and just unsettling enough to keep you constantly questioning his motives. Every interaction between them feels layered, like there’s always something unspoken lingering beneath the surface. You’re never quite sure whether he’s pulling Romy deeper into danger or offering the only way out of it.
The world-building is where this book really stretches its wings. It doesn’t dump everything on you at once instead, it reveals itself in fragments. There are hints of other dimensions, ancient histories, and hidden forces at play, all tied together with references that reach as far back as ancient Egypt. It creates this sense that the story is part of something much bigger, even when you don’t fully understand it yet. And oddly, that confusion works in its favor it mirrors Romy’s own experience of trying to piece together a reality that keeps shifting under her feet.
The pacing leans more toward gradual discovery than high-speed plot. There are moments where things feel deliberately slow, but not empty. It’s more about tension than action the kind where you feel like something is watching from just beyond the page. When the supernatural elements do break through, they feel invasive, almost intrusive, as if they don’t belong in Romy’s world… but are forcing their way in anyway.
Romy herself is a strong anchor for the story. She’s intelligent, cautious, and emotionally believable. Her reactions don’t feel exaggerated; instead, they reflect someone trying to stay rational in a situation that refuses to make sense. Watching her struggle to hold onto her sanity and her humanity adds real weight to the unfolding mystery.
One of the more interesting aspects of the book is how it blends genres. It’s part urban fantasy, part psychological mystery, and at times even feels like a slow-burn thriller. That mix won’t work for everyone. Some readers might want clearer answers or a more defined structure earlier on. This book is comfortable leaving you in the dark for a while, and that can either be intriguing or frustrating depending on your reading style.
By the end, it’s clear this is only the beginning of a much larger story. Not everything is resolved, and that feels intentional. It sets up the rest of the trilogy without making this installment feel incomplete, more like opening a door than closing one.
Overall, Through the Monster-Glass is a thoughtful, eerie, and layered introduction to a series that seems to have a lot more hidden beneath the surface. It’s not about instant payoff, it’s about atmosphere, questions, and the slow realization that reality might be far more complicated than it appears.
What begins as a chance reunion at a glamorous event the Goblin Ball quickly spirals into something far stranger. Romy Ussher, a professional archivist who seems grounded in logic and history, is forced to confront the possibility that her entire identity might not be what she believes. And that’s really the core of this book: identity unraveling under pressure.
The dynamic between Romy and Enoch Crowe is one of the most compelling parts of the story. Crowe isn’t a straightforward villain, which makes him far more interesting and more dangerous. He’s charming, persistent, and just unsettling enough to keep you constantly questioning his motives. Every interaction between them feels layered, like there’s always something unspoken lingering beneath the surface. You’re never quite sure whether he’s pulling Romy deeper into danger or offering the only way out of it.
The world-building is where this book really stretches its wings. It doesn’t dump everything on you at once instead, it reveals itself in fragments. There are hints of other dimensions, ancient histories, and hidden forces at play, all tied together with references that reach as far back as ancient Egypt. It creates this sense that the story is part of something much bigger, even when you don’t fully understand it yet. And oddly, that confusion works in its favor it mirrors Romy’s own experience of trying to piece together a reality that keeps shifting under her feet.
The pacing leans more toward gradual discovery than high-speed plot. There are moments where things feel deliberately slow, but not empty. It’s more about tension than action the kind where you feel like something is watching from just beyond the page. When the supernatural elements do break through, they feel invasive, almost intrusive, as if they don’t belong in Romy’s world… but are forcing their way in anyway.
Romy herself is a strong anchor for the story. She’s intelligent, cautious, and emotionally believable. Her reactions don’t feel exaggerated; instead, they reflect someone trying to stay rational in a situation that refuses to make sense. Watching her struggle to hold onto her sanity and her humanity adds real weight to the unfolding mystery.
One of the more interesting aspects of the book is how it blends genres. It’s part urban fantasy, part psychological mystery, and at times even feels like a slow-burn thriller. That mix won’t work for everyone. Some readers might want clearer answers or a more defined structure earlier on. This book is comfortable leaving you in the dark for a while, and that can either be intriguing or frustrating depending on your reading style.
By the end, it’s clear this is only the beginning of a much larger story. Not everything is resolved, and that feels intentional. It sets up the rest of the trilogy without making this installment feel incomplete, more like opening a door than closing one.
Overall, Through the Monster-Glass is a thoughtful, eerie, and layered introduction to a series that seems to have a lot more hidden beneath the surface. It’s not about instant payoff, it’s about atmosphere, questions, and the slow realization that reality might be far more complicated than it appears.
July 19, 2023
I'm not usually drawn to sci-fi/fantasy books or movies but when I started reading Through the Monster Glass, I was immediately captivated and fell in love with Romy and all the other characters. I loved it!
I can't wait for the next installment in the Chaos Roads Trilogy. This is such a grapping and well-written book. A real page-turner!
I can't wait for the next installment in the Chaos Roads Trilogy. This is such a grapping and well-written book. A real page-turner!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews