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Snakes in the Class
Professor Gormley Grimn didn’t choose the Gorgon life—the Gorgon life chose her…sort of. When she was cursed by the jealous fiancée of her study partner, Gormley fled, leaving those she loved behind to become a professor of chemistry at Manster College. It’s a safely secluded life, devoid of sex--until she falls into a lusty affair with Dean Ormr Snaakemon—half smooth-skinned man, half smooth-scaled snake, one hundred percent hottie. Life as a cursed Gorgon finally doesn’t seem so bad. Gormley’s a lover, not a killer.
When the local Purity League vows to stamp out all monsters, she’s pushed to a decision. Should she and her students stick with her no-killing principles, or join forces with the anti-Purity League Knobbers—a group of demigods, including the woman who cursed her? When all you need is love and a college education, does anything make fighting worth it?
Snakes in the Class is a monster romance novel featuring steamy snakes and a touching HEA. It is the first book in the Monster College Chronicles series.
When the local Purity League vows to stamp out all monsters, she’s pushed to a decision. Should she and her students stick with her no-killing principles, or join forces with the anti-Purity League Knobbers—a group of demigods, including the woman who cursed her? When all you need is love and a college education, does anything make fighting worth it?
Snakes in the Class is a monster romance novel featuring steamy snakes and a touching HEA. It is the first book in the Monster College Chronicles series.
263 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2023
6 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Haustein
7 books22 followersI'm a chemist and a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Good-hearted female scientists are my protagonists. I live in the small, quiet town of Pella, Iowa, known for its Dutch roots. I love to blog about chemicals and equality. Is sugar toxic? Do you really need dryer sheets? Will global warming make you have to urinate more? Check it out here
https://catherinehaustein.com/
https://catherinehaustein.com/
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November 16, 2025This is a monster romance featuring steamy snakes!
Cursed, as a Gorgon, by a jealous fiancée of her study partner, Professor Gromley Grimm flees to become a chemistry professor at Manster College.
Gromley falls into a lusty affair with the half male half snake Dean. Things aren’t all bad until the local Purity League shows up vowing to eradicate all monsters!
Gromley and her students are forced to make a decision.
The cover of this book immediately drew my attention it’s adorable! I really wanted to love the story but it didn’t have the pull I was hoping for. The story and writing seemed all over the place and adhd like (begin and suddenly end) which made reading feel choppy.
I definitely think the book has promise but it wasn’t quite there for me. I’m a huge Medusa fan so I was absolutely loved the premise of the Gorgon character but I didn’t necessarily love Professor Grimm (to be fair I didn’t dislike her either) and felt the same for all of the characters.
It was a quick read and the first in the Monster College Chronicles series.
Thank you to the author, Catherine Haustein, Publisher City Owl Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Cursed, as a Gorgon, by a jealous fiancée of her study partner, Professor Gromley Grimm flees to become a chemistry professor at Manster College.
Gromley falls into a lusty affair with the half male half snake Dean. Things aren’t all bad until the local Purity League shows up vowing to eradicate all monsters!
Gromley and her students are forced to make a decision.
The cover of this book immediately drew my attention it’s adorable! I really wanted to love the story but it didn’t have the pull I was hoping for. The story and writing seemed all over the place and adhd like (begin and suddenly end) which made reading feel choppy.
I definitely think the book has promise but it wasn’t quite there for me. I’m a huge Medusa fan so I was absolutely loved the premise of the Gorgon character but I didn’t necessarily love Professor Grimm (to be fair I didn’t dislike her either) and felt the same for all of the characters.
It was a quick read and the first in the Monster College Chronicles series.
Thank you to the author, Catherine Haustein, Publisher City Owl Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily.
August 24, 2023
ARC review from NetGalley.
Book follows Dr. Grimn, gorgon-turned chemistry professor at Manster University, who navigates coming to terms with being cursed into a gorgon while also mentoring women in the same predicament all the while sorting out her past and present love life.
The plot as a whole is very intriguing, encouraging women to find who they are and love themselves but admitting it’s not an easy road. It explores common issues women face and tackles how to approach them.
The issues come with the delivery. The story was very choppy. As I read details were presented at times that I thought was out of place or unnecessary. While the story had the underlying message of a woman out in the world finding herself, the FMC went back and forth a lot to one extreme to the other which made me feel like she never truly found herself or knew what the lesson should be but did not actually learn/implement it.
Book follows Dr. Grimn, gorgon-turned chemistry professor at Manster University, who navigates coming to terms with being cursed into a gorgon while also mentoring women in the same predicament all the while sorting out her past and present love life.
The plot as a whole is very intriguing, encouraging women to find who they are and love themselves but admitting it’s not an easy road. It explores common issues women face and tackles how to approach them.
The issues come with the delivery. The story was very choppy. As I read details were presented at times that I thought was out of place or unnecessary. While the story had the underlying message of a woman out in the world finding herself, the FMC went back and forth a lot to one extreme to the other which made me feel like she never truly found herself or knew what the lesson should be but did not actually learn/implement it.
August 30, 2023
Snakes in the Class is the first installment in a new paranormal/urban fantasy series by Catherine Haustein, called Monster College Chronicles.
The name of the series and the cutesy cover gave me the idea I was going to read a cozy, cute supernatural novel with stereotypical characters, a handsome love interest and maybe a secret to uncover or enemy to fight. Instead we get a story that's - when you focus primarily on the message - intelligent and a bit philosophical. Haustein reaffirms the many issues women (still) face in society, certainly if we're different on top of that. She also touches on themes like self-awareness and self-acceptance. Sure, the environment is supernatural, but besides a spoiled goddess, a scary, power-hungry Uni president, and a bunch of racists (speciests?) the characters aren't that stereotypical. This was definitely a point in favour of the author.
The story revolves around professor Gormley Grimn. Gormley used to be Helen, a PhD- student in chemistry, who one day loses the life she envisions when she's cursed to become a gorgon by a jealous, misogynistic demi-goddess. She still gets her degree, marries and becomes a mom. Despite her partner fully embracing her otherness, scared-of-her-snakes-Helen leaves hubby and baby son behind and creates a new life as Gormley Grimn, a monster Professor in Chemistry, teaching other monsters how to hide while still being a productive member of society.
Gormley's profession, and earlier studies, are a constant in the novel. Meaning that you'll encounter plenty chemistry. Any author then runs the risk turning such information into a [Course subject 101] in the middle of storytelling, but Haustein has actually masterfully integrated it. No textbook page thumped in somewhere, but every single tidbit is part of the story. Whether in thoughts, actions or discussions - and understandable to boot. It makes Gormley as a Professor of Chemistry, as well as her students in action, believable. And that's pretty much where my positive attitude towards this novel, and the MC in particular, ends.
The story was, in essence, decently written (not taking the ridiculous names into account) on the descriptive and thematic front, though plot wise true fantasy and paranormal fans will be left out in the cold. Arctic cold. There's a relatively original take on myths and supernatural characters of legend to create the monsters in the book, but... connecting to any of them was no mean feat. I especially had an enormous amount of trouble connecting to the main character. It's almost as if I'm not being made part of the story, watching from afar. I don't feel emotions, quite possibly because it seems as though our main female character doesn't.
For starters, the romance part of the story isn't grabbing me. At all. Sure, you could argue that the fact her lover Ormr Snaakemon (seriously?) is snake from the waist down - and that fact is used descriptively in the sex scenes - doesn't help. But I might have completely shipped a Gormley-Snaakemon coupling, had this sudden love-story not come out of left field, with one of those typical "Love forever in a week" kind of things. Worse: nothing really exciting or scary happens in the novel for them to bond over to make that instant deep love even remotely believable.
Then there is the sudden *expected* tension when a member of the Purity League, an anti-monster political party and organisation, keeps coming back to the college, and Gormley is eventually "shown how bad it can be" (is she though?) during a League rally. This made me think "Ooooh, it's finally getting somewhere! Plot! Action!" And then it didn't. Go somewhere.
The existence and sudden rise of the league is never explained and the people following it all seem blithering idjits. And that whole story suddenly fizzles out as well! It basically felt like a thought up vehicle, a 'coat rack' for Gormley to hang her change in self-awareness on - though once again we don't really see, nor feel, a true struggle, before that outcome. She goes from A to Z, doing a 180, just because.
That the main character does that more often throughout the book, and we rarely get to hear her thoughts, feel the pain of her emotions (particularly when we read of her past) becomes painfully clear - yes, pun intended - when we get a flashback to her past and to the part where Helen, now Gormley, leaves her family behind... and then for the author to switch back to Gormley now...
As a reader you expect a tumultuous inner life, an utter sadness to grab her during the 'now', after she just relived that past in her mind. But no, in the 'now' we don't see her hanging onto one more thought of her abandoned family. Instead she's more concerned with Snaakemon (but also not), and what is behind his cloaca scales. An emotional struggle, particularly concerning her decision to leave her baby behind, should be a humongous part of her current hated identity as a monster. We don't get one.
One evening, talking about snake monogamy, she comes clear to Snaakemon about having abandoned the man she loved, and her own baby, without a word of explanation to them. You expect very intense, deeply emotional prose. Or at least a teary-eyed character. We get: "I left someone already". And there endeth that segment. Whaaaat?
What's worse: at one point in the story she is literally confronted with her past of 20yrs back, and as a reader you still get almost nothing. Oh, wait, I lie. You do get something. You get a FMC who let's herself get walked all-over when it comes to Past I, and who - concerning Past II - has a flash of jealousy, a whiff of anger and a sprinkling of worry (I personally would have utterly freaked out hearing that the reason I abandoned my child didn't exist), all in the space of minutes. Aaaand, then she happily forgets ALL of it, water under the bridge, let's fully commit to my snake man, because... well, we needed a happy end I guess.
I think Haustein has a talent for creation, but this book needed so much more to be truly palatable. We needed Gormley's inner world, to feel her self hatred, her fears about racism/speciesm and the struggle to live in society as a monster, her loathing of misogyny - particularly the internalised one - as well as her likes, her joy, her love. We also need understanding about her choices, but these two things are linked.
Plus, it would be nice when an author let's two people fall in love as fast as I can snap my fingers, to make the romance more than an intellectual understanding of "snake+snake=logical match. I also think it is a missed opportunity not to use the themes of self-awareness, misogyny, racism and (self) acceptance as obstacles, or misunderstood obstacles, in the romance. It's something for the characters to go through and grow through.
Particularly when the FMC and the MMC have known each other for years as colleagues, and the female was never interested at all (on the contrary), readers need *something*. Whether it is 'bonding through shared misery or action, or a more thematic approach doesn't much matter. But we need to connect to them as people, and then as a couple. None of these things were done, making the 'Love within X days' extra incomprehensible and cringe.
It saddens me to say this is not where the critique ends, as I'm missing the majority of world building as well. Where do the monsters come from? How did they come into existence? Are they evolved from humans, or existed pre-humanity? Where do they live? Are they of earth, live on earth or in other universes? What are their cultures, their powers? Is Manster the only monster college in existence? Do governments know about them? I could go on endlessly! In the book the gorgons and trolls get a bit of explanation in the form of their professional designations, their looks and - when it comes to the trolls - a tiny bit of culture (bling + party + free with their love). But you can't speak of World Building.
I appreciate the thematic content, but as a paranormal romance / fantasy romance Snakes in the Class falls completely flat. The romance is badly, almost clinically done, and the only fantasy/ paranormal bit about it, is the fact we have some myths, fairytales and legends running around. I've picked up here and there that Haustein is a great author. If so, you unfortunately won't see much proof of that in this book.
Two stars for the themes and the decent descriptive writing.
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley/Booksprout and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The name of the series and the cutesy cover gave me the idea I was going to read a cozy, cute supernatural novel with stereotypical characters, a handsome love interest and maybe a secret to uncover or enemy to fight. Instead we get a story that's - when you focus primarily on the message - intelligent and a bit philosophical. Haustein reaffirms the many issues women (still) face in society, certainly if we're different on top of that. She also touches on themes like self-awareness and self-acceptance. Sure, the environment is supernatural, but besides a spoiled goddess, a scary, power-hungry Uni president, and a bunch of racists (speciests?) the characters aren't that stereotypical. This was definitely a point in favour of the author.
The story revolves around professor Gormley Grimn. Gormley used to be Helen, a PhD- student in chemistry, who one day loses the life she envisions when she's cursed to become a gorgon by a jealous, misogynistic demi-goddess. She still gets her degree, marries and becomes a mom. Despite her partner fully embracing her otherness, scared-of-her-snakes-Helen leaves hubby and baby son behind and creates a new life as Gormley Grimn, a monster Professor in Chemistry, teaching other monsters how to hide while still being a productive member of society.
Gormley's profession, and earlier studies, are a constant in the novel. Meaning that you'll encounter plenty chemistry. Any author then runs the risk turning such information into a [Course subject 101] in the middle of storytelling, but Haustein has actually masterfully integrated it. No textbook page thumped in somewhere, but every single tidbit is part of the story. Whether in thoughts, actions or discussions - and understandable to boot. It makes Gormley as a Professor of Chemistry, as well as her students in action, believable. And that's pretty much where my positive attitude towards this novel, and the MC in particular, ends.
The story was, in essence, decently written (not taking the ridiculous names into account) on the descriptive and thematic front, though plot wise true fantasy and paranormal fans will be left out in the cold. Arctic cold. There's a relatively original take on myths and supernatural characters of legend to create the monsters in the book, but... connecting to any of them was no mean feat. I especially had an enormous amount of trouble connecting to the main character. It's almost as if I'm not being made part of the story, watching from afar. I don't feel emotions, quite possibly because it seems as though our main female character doesn't.
For starters, the romance part of the story isn't grabbing me. At all. Sure, you could argue that the fact her lover Ormr Snaakemon (seriously?) is snake from the waist down - and that fact is used descriptively in the sex scenes - doesn't help. But I might have completely shipped a Gormley-Snaakemon coupling, had this sudden love-story not come out of left field, with one of those typical "Love forever in a week" kind of things. Worse: nothing really exciting or scary happens in the novel for them to bond over to make that instant deep love even remotely believable.
Then there is the sudden *expected* tension when a member of the Purity League, an anti-monster political party and organisation, keeps coming back to the college, and Gormley is eventually "shown how bad it can be" (is she though?) during a League rally. This made me think "Ooooh, it's finally getting somewhere! Plot! Action!" And then it didn't. Go somewhere.
The existence and sudden rise of the league is never explained and the people following it all seem blithering idjits. And that whole story suddenly fizzles out as well! It basically felt like a thought up vehicle, a 'coat rack' for Gormley to hang her change in self-awareness on - though once again we don't really see, nor feel, a true struggle, before that outcome. She goes from A to Z, doing a 180, just because.
That the main character does that more often throughout the book, and we rarely get to hear her thoughts, feel the pain of her emotions (particularly when we read of her past) becomes painfully clear - yes, pun intended - when we get a flashback to her past and to the part where Helen, now Gormley, leaves her family behind... and then for the author to switch back to Gormley now...
As a reader you expect a tumultuous inner life, an utter sadness to grab her during the 'now', after she just relived that past in her mind. But no, in the 'now' we don't see her hanging onto one more thought of her abandoned family. Instead she's more concerned with Snaakemon (but also not), and what is behind his cloaca scales. An emotional struggle, particularly concerning her decision to leave her baby behind, should be a humongous part of her current hated identity as a monster. We don't get one.
One evening, talking about snake monogamy, she comes clear to Snaakemon about having abandoned the man she loved, and her own baby, without a word of explanation to them. You expect very intense, deeply emotional prose. Or at least a teary-eyed character. We get: "I left someone already". And there endeth that segment. Whaaaat?
What's worse: at one point in the story she is literally confronted with her past of 20yrs back, and as a reader you still get almost nothing. Oh, wait, I lie. You do get something. You get a FMC who let's herself get walked all-over when it comes to Past I, and who - concerning Past II - has a flash of jealousy, a whiff of anger and a sprinkling of worry (I personally would have utterly freaked out hearing that the reason I abandoned my child didn't exist), all in the space of minutes. Aaaand, then she happily forgets ALL of it, water under the bridge, let's fully commit to my snake man, because... well, we needed a happy end I guess.
I think Haustein has a talent for creation, but this book needed so much more to be truly palatable. We needed Gormley's inner world, to feel her self hatred, her fears about racism/speciesm and the struggle to live in society as a monster, her loathing of misogyny - particularly the internalised one - as well as her likes, her joy, her love. We also need understanding about her choices, but these two things are linked.
Plus, it would be nice when an author let's two people fall in love as fast as I can snap my fingers, to make the romance more than an intellectual understanding of "snake+snake=logical match. I also think it is a missed opportunity not to use the themes of self-awareness, misogyny, racism and (self) acceptance as obstacles, or misunderstood obstacles, in the romance. It's something for the characters to go through and grow through.
Particularly when the FMC and the MMC have known each other for years as colleagues, and the female was never interested at all (on the contrary), readers need *something*. Whether it is 'bonding through shared misery or action, or a more thematic approach doesn't much matter. But we need to connect to them as people, and then as a couple. None of these things were done, making the 'Love within X days' extra incomprehensible and cringe.
It saddens me to say this is not where the critique ends, as I'm missing the majority of world building as well. Where do the monsters come from? How did they come into existence? Are they evolved from humans, or existed pre-humanity? Where do they live? Are they of earth, live on earth or in other universes? What are their cultures, their powers? Is Manster the only monster college in existence? Do governments know about them? I could go on endlessly! In the book the gorgons and trolls get a bit of explanation in the form of their professional designations, their looks and - when it comes to the trolls - a tiny bit of culture (bling + party + free with their love). But you can't speak of World Building.
I appreciate the thematic content, but as a paranormal romance / fantasy romance Snakes in the Class falls completely flat. The romance is badly, almost clinically done, and the only fantasy/ paranormal bit about it, is the fact we have some myths, fairytales and legends running around. I've picked up here and there that Haustein is a great author. If so, you unfortunately won't see much proof of that in this book.
Two stars for the themes and the decent descriptive writing.
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley/Booksprout and am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 29, 2023
There’s so many observations and themes the author includes in this book that I loved having reaffirmed, and I wanted to love the book itself, but sadly I didn’t love it. The FMC (Gormley Grimn) - wow what a dreadful name - is a challenge to connect with and to care for as she makes some truly bizarre decisions. First she abandons her husband and infant “for their safety”, and but for a detailed flashback early on in the novel, it’s just sort of yada-yada’d away as no big deal. Then in the process of hooking up with Ormr Snaakemon (good grief another astonishingly bad name), the Dean of Students where she’s working as a professor some 20 years later, and after basically getting him to show her his reptilian sex organs, she casually drops that she “left someone behind”. That’s it, that’s all she says.
Finally there’s a scene in which she invites - in front of her six gorgon students - a man from the Purity League to “spank” the paranormal out of her. It’s beyond strange.
The world building here is also lacking. At the halfway point we still don’t understand the Purity League’s motivations beyond hating anyone or anything out of the ordinary.
The book is also riddled with typos, omitted words, and malapropisms such as when Percy chooses a song and it’s called “Starving Like A Wolf” vs. the Duran Duran song “Hungry Like the Wolf”, and the absolute butchery of the lyrics to Rick James’ classic “Superfreak”; nitpicking to be sure, but these are things easily verifiable with a google search,
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Finally there’s a scene in which she invites - in front of her six gorgon students - a man from the Purity League to “spank” the paranormal out of her. It’s beyond strange.
The world building here is also lacking. At the halfway point we still don’t understand the Purity League’s motivations beyond hating anyone or anything out of the ordinary.
The book is also riddled with typos, omitted words, and malapropisms such as when Percy chooses a song and it’s called “Starving Like A Wolf” vs. the Duran Duran song “Hungry Like the Wolf”, and the absolute butchery of the lyrics to Rick James’ classic “Superfreak”; nitpicking to be sure, but these are things easily verifiable with a google search,
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2023
First off, thank you for NetGalley for providing me this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a solid 3.5 stars, for me. Dr. Grimn (formerly Helen) is a Chemistry professor at Manster College, and also a Gorgon. After becoming curses by a jealous Minnie, she leaves behind her old life to start anew. Here she falls in love with Dean Snaakemon and works on accepting herself as a monster.
The story was new and could have been great. The reason for lower stars is because it felt very choppy. On the same page, she went back to tell her ex-husband she can control her Gorgon powers and keep them safe, then a few lines later she is back in bed with Snaakemon. The transitions for things was rough but the story overall was good. I wish more time was spent with developing Dr. Grimn's identity and how she transitioned from self-hate to self-love. All in all an enjoyable read that could be better.
This book was a solid 3.5 stars, for me. Dr. Grimn (formerly Helen) is a Chemistry professor at Manster College, and also a Gorgon. After becoming curses by a jealous Minnie, she leaves behind her old life to start anew. Here she falls in love with Dean Snaakemon and works on accepting herself as a monster.
The story was new and could have been great. The reason for lower stars is because it felt very choppy. On the same page, she went back to tell her ex-husband she can control her Gorgon powers and keep them safe, then a few lines later she is back in bed with Snaakemon. The transitions for things was rough but the story overall was good. I wish more time was spent with developing Dr. Grimn's identity and how she transitioned from self-hate to self-love. All in all an enjoyable read that could be better.
August 18, 2023
Gormley Grimn was cursed by the jealous fiancee of her study partner to become a gorgon. She fled to become a professor at the magical Manster College. She falls in love with Dean Ormr, a half-man/half-snake. But the local humans wanedt to stamp out monsters and she's undecided about what to do....
A fun story about mythical monsters/humans falling in love. I enjoy the romance a lot. It's steamy and swoony. Great chemistry between the leads.
Thanks to the publisher for the arc.
A fun story about mythical monsters/humans falling in love. I enjoy the romance a lot. It's steamy and swoony. Great chemistry between the leads.
Thanks to the publisher for the arc.
October 29, 2025
I received a free copy of this publication for the purpose of review.
Professor Gormley Grimn doesn't love her new life as a gorgon, and it's certainly not what she would have chosen for herself. She takes solace in the fact that she can at least continue her work as an educator until that, too, is threatened by an anti-monster group called The Purity League. Gormley has tried to live her life peacefully, but now that life is being threatened by humans with a vendetta she has to choose what's most important to her.
I was really drawn in by the amazing cover art, which I really love. I tried to find out who the artist was so I can find more of their art, but they don't seem to be listed anywhere that I found (I would love if someone is able to point me in their direction). The premise was also intriguing. Monster college? I'm in. Sexy snake man? Tell me more. Unfortunately I just didn't feel like this book delivered.
The biggest issue I had overall was the writing. It felt incredibly blocky and stilted. This is something I struggle with as well in my writing, but the whole book felt very sterile. Most of the prose is choppy, with one example from the first chapter that reads "She wasn't having it. She wipes her hands on her apron. I swear her hair expanded." The entire book reads like this and it was absolutely a struggle to get through. The dialogue is similarly difficult to read. None of the dialogue sounds remotely realistic, like actual people talking to each other. I can't recall any of the dialogue that sold me on the emotion that was supposed to be behind what was being said. I'm being told the characters are angry, spitting mad, but it reads like a day at the park in 1710.
I could likely forgive the writing for good characters, I've done it before, but there just wasn't much for me to like about anyone we meet in this book. It's definitely partially because of the writing, but what the characters do doesn't drive much empathy either. The FMC in particular feels like she's supposed to be relatable, a window into the unique struggles of monsters, and we just don't get it. There's a particular event told through a flashback for the FMC that just saps any small amount of goodwill I may have had for her. It feels like it's supposed to be this big emotional reveal, but the FMC doesn't really seem to care, so why should I? This supposedly life changing event gets hand-waved away and downplayed multiple times before the end of the book so I have no idea why it was even included. There's so much good character storytelling potential here that just gets brushed off and forgotten in service of nothing.
For a romance, I also wasn't sold on the romance of it. Again definitely hampered by my view of the writing, but I didn't find the FMC and MMC's relationship at all believable or interesting. It's kind of hard to believe that a romance where one partner is snake from the waist down could be dull but it doesn't land for me. There's an element of insta-love between them, which is so weird because they've supposedly been colleagues for years with zero chemistry (pun only somewhat intended) only to have this sudden adhesion for no reason. I just couldn't buy in.
A minor nitpick that I've also seen mentioned in some other reviews is that the names in this book are truly awful. Some of the names are just kind of trite sounding because of the alliteration, like Cambert Comstock, but some of them are just flat out unpalatable like the FMC's Gormley Grimn (the 'n' is silent, the book tells us) and the MMC's Ormr Snaakemon. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I can't fathom the pronunciation guide someone would need to make it through some of these.
I truly wanted to like this book. I feel like I'm probably the ideal audience in a lot of ways. I love urban fantasy, I love monster romances, I love super smart FMCs with a chip on their shoulder, but this just wasn't it for me. Regardless, I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review a copy from NetGalley.
Professor Gormley Grimn doesn't love her new life as a gorgon, and it's certainly not what she would have chosen for herself. She takes solace in the fact that she can at least continue her work as an educator until that, too, is threatened by an anti-monster group called The Purity League. Gormley has tried to live her life peacefully, but now that life is being threatened by humans with a vendetta she has to choose what's most important to her.
I was really drawn in by the amazing cover art, which I really love. I tried to find out who the artist was so I can find more of their art, but they don't seem to be listed anywhere that I found (I would love if someone is able to point me in their direction). The premise was also intriguing. Monster college? I'm in. Sexy snake man? Tell me more. Unfortunately I just didn't feel like this book delivered.
The biggest issue I had overall was the writing. It felt incredibly blocky and stilted. This is something I struggle with as well in my writing, but the whole book felt very sterile. Most of the prose is choppy, with one example from the first chapter that reads "She wasn't having it. She wipes her hands on her apron. I swear her hair expanded." The entire book reads like this and it was absolutely a struggle to get through. The dialogue is similarly difficult to read. None of the dialogue sounds remotely realistic, like actual people talking to each other. I can't recall any of the dialogue that sold me on the emotion that was supposed to be behind what was being said. I'm being told the characters are angry, spitting mad, but it reads like a day at the park in 1710.
I could likely forgive the writing for good characters, I've done it before, but there just wasn't much for me to like about anyone we meet in this book. It's definitely partially because of the writing, but what the characters do doesn't drive much empathy either. The FMC in particular feels like she's supposed to be relatable, a window into the unique struggles of monsters, and we just don't get it. There's a particular event told through a flashback for the FMC that just saps any small amount of goodwill I may have had for her. It feels like it's supposed to be this big emotional reveal, but the FMC doesn't really seem to care, so why should I? This supposedly life changing event gets hand-waved away and downplayed multiple times before the end of the book so I have no idea why it was even included. There's so much good character storytelling potential here that just gets brushed off and forgotten in service of nothing.
For a romance, I also wasn't sold on the romance of it. Again definitely hampered by my view of the writing, but I didn't find the FMC and MMC's relationship at all believable or interesting. It's kind of hard to believe that a romance where one partner is snake from the waist down could be dull but it doesn't land for me. There's an element of insta-love between them, which is so weird because they've supposedly been colleagues for years with zero chemistry (pun only somewhat intended) only to have this sudden adhesion for no reason. I just couldn't buy in.
A minor nitpick that I've also seen mentioned in some other reviews is that the names in this book are truly awful. Some of the names are just kind of trite sounding because of the alliteration, like Cambert Comstock, but some of them are just flat out unpalatable like the FMC's Gormley Grimn (the 'n' is silent, the book tells us) and the MMC's Ormr Snaakemon. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I can't fathom the pronunciation guide someone would need to make it through some of these.
I truly wanted to like this book. I feel like I'm probably the ideal audience in a lot of ways. I love urban fantasy, I love monster romances, I love super smart FMCs with a chip on their shoulder, but this just wasn't it for me. Regardless, I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review a copy from NetGalley.
August 28, 2023
Thank you to Catherine Haustein, City Owl Press, and Netgalley for the ARC to review.
Chemistry Professor Gormley Grimn (the n is silent) wasn't always a gorgon. She didn't even always go by the name Gormley Grimn. In a past life, she was one of the first and only human women vying for an advanced degree in chemistry. Now it's her job to teach science to young humanoid monster organisms and to keep them and the outside world safe from each other. All while Manster University is underfunded and her lab is falling apart. Fortuitously she is presented with an opportunity for funding for repairs and new equipment only to find that this opportunity would require her to work with the demigoddess who cursed her - changing her into a gorgon. As Gromley explores what these changes in her life could and would mean for not only her future but those of her students we learn about her past, and join her on a journey to the discovery of new love.
For me, this book was a solid 2.75/5 stars. 1/5 steam (would have been a 2 but a lot of the descriptions around intimate moments were so intertwined with scientific musings it sterilized the situations for me). Overall I think I'd give the 2nd book in the series a chance hoping that some of my misgivings are addressed in book two and are just "haven't gotten to answering them yet because the story will reveal them later" things.
Things I enjoyed about the book:
- The world that Catherine Haustein is building for the Monster College Chronicles is an interesting puritanical/misogynistic parallel to our own. Which includes interesting character delineations and references to well-known international mythology and folklore.
- Discussions about different types of misogyny and it not just being a men vs women issue but also a weapon female characters use against each other.
Things I didn't love:
- Longish detour explanation into Gormley's life before she became a Professor. Would have preferred it to be sprinkled in as it felt like it took away from the current action and truncated the action part of the book to the later 30%.
- What was supposed to hit at quippy banter didn't resonate with me like I felt it should have.
Chemistry Professor Gormley Grimn (the n is silent) wasn't always a gorgon. She didn't even always go by the name Gormley Grimn. In a past life, she was one of the first and only human women vying for an advanced degree in chemistry. Now it's her job to teach science to young humanoid monster organisms and to keep them and the outside world safe from each other. All while Manster University is underfunded and her lab is falling apart. Fortuitously she is presented with an opportunity for funding for repairs and new equipment only to find that this opportunity would require her to work with the demigoddess who cursed her - changing her into a gorgon. As Gromley explores what these changes in her life could and would mean for not only her future but those of her students we learn about her past, and join her on a journey to the discovery of new love.
For me, this book was a solid 2.75/5 stars. 1/5 steam (would have been a 2 but a lot of the descriptions around intimate moments were so intertwined with scientific musings it sterilized the situations for me). Overall I think I'd give the 2nd book in the series a chance hoping that some of my misgivings are addressed in book two and are just "haven't gotten to answering them yet because the story will reveal them later" things.
Things I enjoyed about the book:
- The world that Catherine Haustein is building for the Monster College Chronicles is an interesting puritanical/misogynistic parallel to our own. Which includes interesting character delineations and references to well-known international mythology and folklore.
- Discussions about different types of misogyny and it not just being a men vs women issue but also a weapon female characters use against each other.
Things I didn't love:
- Longish detour explanation into Gormley's life before she became a Professor. Would have preferred it to be sprinkled in as it felt like it took away from the current action and truncated the action part of the book to the later 30%.
- What was supposed to hit at quippy banter didn't resonate with me like I felt it should have.
August 30, 2023
DNF
So I had high expectations coming into this book, when I read the description it appealed to me because it seemed like it would be an Ali Hazelwood-type monster romance. I was gravely disappointed.
The story also felt very choppy with flashback scenes that feel disjointed from the actual plot that we focus on. The dialogue, though it showed an attempt at trying to be witty, also felt stale and uncomfortable.
There were a lot of weirdly forced sexual references. Even as a person who enjoys a good smutty story, it felt forced, unrealistic, and, in some cases, slimy. For instance all her interactions with the ML, Dr. Ormr Snaakemon (don’t even get me started on the names in this book), felt unnervingly sexual, like she keeps ogling his pelvis thinking about his double snake penis.
There were also just a lot of weird discrepancies, from a weird use of creative license involving Roman mythology to a caved in ceiling that gets ignored once it’s served it’s purpose, which made the writing seem lazy and the reading experience unenjoyable.
At the end of the day the writing style and overall cringiness of both the plot and the dialogue left me unable to finish this book.
So I had high expectations coming into this book, when I read the description it appealed to me because it seemed like it would be an Ali Hazelwood-type monster romance. I was gravely disappointed.
The story also felt very choppy with flashback scenes that feel disjointed from the actual plot that we focus on. The dialogue, though it showed an attempt at trying to be witty, also felt stale and uncomfortable.
There were a lot of weirdly forced sexual references. Even as a person who enjoys a good smutty story, it felt forced, unrealistic, and, in some cases, slimy. For instance all her interactions with the ML, Dr. Ormr Snaakemon (don’t even get me started on the names in this book), felt unnervingly sexual, like she keeps ogling his pelvis thinking about his double snake penis.
There were also just a lot of weird discrepancies, from a weird use of creative license involving Roman mythology to a caved in ceiling that gets ignored once it’s served it’s purpose, which made the writing seem lazy and the reading experience unenjoyable.
At the end of the day the writing style and overall cringiness of both the plot and the dialogue left me unable to finish this book.
September 9, 2023
"Snakes in the Class" takes readers on Helen Gormley's journey from a graduate student to a gorgon and a professor at a Monster-only college in an alternative reality where supernatural beings coexist with humans.
FMC starts as a graduate student, unaware of the supernatural world among us. A curse transforms her into a gorgon, setting her on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.
The story delves into identity, societal coexistence, and Helen's unique challenges. The world is richly built, featuring vampires, werewolves, witches, and more, making for a diverse and engaging cast.
Helen's role as a professor at a Monster-only college adds depth to the narrative, exploring the intricacies of teaching and learning in this supernatural society.
"Snakes in the Class" is a fantastical journey of self-discovery and resilience in a world where ordinary and extraordinary blur. Whether you love fantasy or urban fantasy, this novel offers an enchanting and entertaining read, captivating readers with Helen Gormley's transformative odyssey.
FMC starts as a graduate student, unaware of the supernatural world among us. A curse transforms her into a gorgon, setting her on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.
The story delves into identity, societal coexistence, and Helen's unique challenges. The world is richly built, featuring vampires, werewolves, witches, and more, making for a diverse and engaging cast.
Helen's role as a professor at a Monster-only college adds depth to the narrative, exploring the intricacies of teaching and learning in this supernatural society.
"Snakes in the Class" is a fantastical journey of self-discovery and resilience in a world where ordinary and extraordinary blur. Whether you love fantasy or urban fantasy, this novel offers an enchanting and entertaining read, captivating readers with Helen Gormley's transformative odyssey.
August 27, 2023
I believed it was ordinary monster romance book. But I was so wrong. I haven't read such book before.
First of all, monsters. Yes, they are lived among human. But it's not a happy place for them to live. Monster still a monster (that's what people think). But if you try to know them better, there are human after all.
The transformation of Gormley. So unfairly. Just imagine that one day you became a gorgon or something else. How to live, what to to? And a lot of other questions.
This book is truly write to us. Because Gormley ask a reasonable questions about half human, half snake partner. Does he have....? How.....? And you will get a good one answer.
All these human/monster environment was new, was fresh, was interesting. It was more human related than monsters. It was new experience and I glad I read this book.
First of all, monsters. Yes, they are lived among human. But it's not a happy place for them to live. Monster still a monster (that's what people think). But if you try to know them better, there are human after all.
The transformation of Gormley. So unfairly. Just imagine that one day you became a gorgon or something else. How to live, what to to? And a lot of other questions.
This book is truly write to us. Because Gormley ask a reasonable questions about half human, half snake partner. Does he have....? How.....? And you will get a good one answer.
All these human/monster environment was new, was fresh, was interesting. It was more human related than monsters. It was new experience and I glad I read this book.
August 29, 2023
Snakes in the Class by Catherine Haustein is the first book in the Monster College Chronicles.
This was an intriguing monster romance, and can be read a couple ways in my opinion. You can read it for surface entertainment as I did or you can pay attention to the deeper elements of the plot for social issues and how our 'monsters' dealt with them.
While this is not a fluffy monster romance it certainly isn't dark like some. I did have some issues with the past/present switches and had to backtrack a couple times but other than that nothing of note to take me out of the story.
I'm beyond enjoying the angst of teen/young adult romance so if the next book focuses on more of the staff I'll more than likely try it.
Thank-you to City Owl Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was an intriguing monster romance, and can be read a couple ways in my opinion. You can read it for surface entertainment as I did or you can pay attention to the deeper elements of the plot for social issues and how our 'monsters' dealt with them.
While this is not a fluffy monster romance it certainly isn't dark like some. I did have some issues with the past/present switches and had to backtrack a couple times but other than that nothing of note to take me out of the story.
I'm beyond enjoying the angst of teen/young adult romance so if the next book focuses on more of the staff I'll more than likely try it.
Thank-you to City Owl Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2023
I was not the right audience for this book. The fun cartoon cover and the blurb had me expecting something a lot more light-hearted than what I got. This book has good messages at its heart; to honor what makes you unique, and that misogyny hurts. However. They’re presented in such a heavy-handed way that I was never able to sink into the story. I was also missing the emotions from and in this book. Even the steamy scenes were so clinical. I didn’t feel a connection between the characters; I didn’t feel a connection for the characters. And the toilet humor was not my thing either. I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
April 28, 2024
This was such a fun quirky book. I loved the monster element and the fresh spin on gorgons and the lore surrounding them. I really liked Gormley and I loved that she grew into herself by the end of the book. There were a few things that i was disappointed in such as the lack of world building, situations that weren't flushed out or explained. The names of the characters were interesting if not a tiny bit ridiculous. The sudden situations that are neatly resolved without a whole lot of fan fair. Given that this is a monster romcom though I don't think that it ruined the over all story for me. There were a few things that i did enjoy, i liked the idea of the lesser god mountains, the small bits of chemistry in the book, and as a reptile store owner i was happy to see that the information on the snakes was done well. I liked the insight into gorgons and them having different snakes. Over all this was a fun little book.
September 3, 2023
I could never really get into this hot mess of a book. Dr. Grimn, gorgon-turned chemistry professor at Manster University, really those are the names, trying to come to terms with her new reality. She was just a human until she was turned into a gorgon. The storyline never really got traction for me, I didn't care about the characters, it was just not particularly compelling. Never read anything by Catherine Haustein before, but might try again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 4, 2023
I really wanted to love this book but I just didn't - the writing felt disjointed, I struggled with the world building and by about 20% I started to thoroughly dislike our chemistry professor FMC, Gormley Grimn (!). I wasn't much taken with any of the characters to be honest, and this won't be a series that I will be pursuing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 23, 2023
Such a great book! I thought it was going to be a retelling of Medusa in the real world, but it's a total spin off. It's a funny story but it's also a story about self acceptance. The most accurate way to describe this book, for me, would be: ''What would you do if one day a semi goddess curses you... and you become the new Medusa?'' I would love to read the following books (please, tell me you're already on it!).
September 6, 2023
the story of a young woman who is cursed into becoming a gorgon
in this paranormal and human universe, gorgons are made, not born
an intriguing exploration of who and what makes one truly a monster, and raises questions about living side by side, hidden or hunted
intense reflections, humor, steamy stuff and drama
in this paranormal and human universe, gorgons are made, not born
an intriguing exploration of who and what makes one truly a monster, and raises questions about living side by side, hidden or hunted
intense reflections, humor, steamy stuff and drama
October 11, 2023
I loved this book! It started out with an air of Wednesday or Miss Peregine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Soon, though, we learn Gormley’s backstory, the consequences of which then play out against her relationship with Ormr and the politics of being a monster. Fun book to read and I’m looking forward to more!
October 25, 2023
DNF
I thought this was going to be a great book by the description, and I just could not follow it at all. It was very choppy and the flashback scenes felt like they were thrown in sometimes. Wish I was able to enjoy it more, and the book has high potential but I am not the target audience for this book.
I thought this was going to be a great book by the description, and I just could not follow it at all. It was very choppy and the flashback scenes felt like they were thrown in sometimes. Wish I was able to enjoy it more, and the book has high potential but I am not the target audience for this book.
February 27, 2025
I really thought from the cover and description that I was going to love this one, and I absolutely did! Can't wait to read more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2025
Well written interesting monster love story? I feel as though it’s a bit all over the place yet it’s a cute story nonetheless. The FMC was nice. I enjoyed the science of it all.
September 3, 2023
When I read the premise of the book, it sounded good and when I got the eGalley, I couldn’t wait to start reading it.
Dr. Gormley Grimn a chemistry professor that was cursed by a jealous girlfriend, works for a Monster university, Manstar as she trying to live a life as a Gorgon.
The story doesn’t flow well. We go back and forth in time and some parts I just skipped. In the end I couldn’t finish this book. Sorry, this wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thanks to NetGalle, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dr. Gormley Grimn a chemistry professor that was cursed by a jealous girlfriend, works for a Monster university, Manstar as she trying to live a life as a Gorgon.
The story doesn’t flow well. We go back and forth in time and some parts I just skipped. In the end I couldn’t finish this book. Sorry, this wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thanks to NetGalle, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 10, 2023
It was a new experience for me to read an extraordinary book like this. However, I'm gonna give a chance to the 2nd one of the series.
- Though I was so excited to read this, first few chapters were hard to understand. Don't know whether it's because of the writing or the story or something else!
- I didn't understand what exactly Gormley saw in Ormr except his snaky sex organs to be in love with him in such a short period of time!! They didn't even have any chemistry! There were only a few pages in the whole book where they actually communicated and that too felt so dull. It would have been better to make Charles the MMC. At least they had better chemistry and I liked him more. I felt the emotion in their relationship which I didn't with Ormr.
- After reading 27 chapters filled with hatred, I liked the last chapter holding some peace in it. Hope the 2nd book will be a little more peaceful!
I received a free eARC of the book in exchange of an honest review.
- Though I was so excited to read this, first few chapters were hard to understand. Don't know whether it's because of the writing or the story or something else!
- I didn't understand what exactly Gormley saw in Ormr except his snaky sex organs to be in love with him in such a short period of time!! They didn't even have any chemistry! There were only a few pages in the whole book where they actually communicated and that too felt so dull. It would have been better to make Charles the MMC. At least they had better chemistry and I liked him more. I felt the emotion in their relationship which I didn't with Ormr.
- After reading 27 chapters filled with hatred, I liked the last chapter holding some peace in it. Hope the 2nd book will be a little more peaceful!
I received a free eARC of the book in exchange of an honest review.
October 10, 2023
This is book one of the Monster College Chronicles series and the main character is Professor Gromley Grimn (the ‘n’ is silent as we are repeatedly told) and how her life was changed forever, when the jealous fiancée of her flirty chemistry study partner, decided she didn’t like what was happening and cursed her to be a gorgon, a monster that no man would be able to look at without possible death resulting. The flirty student and his fiancée were demigods and didn’t seem to care who they ended up affecting! Thankfully, the gorgon powers are somewhat watered down, and most of the time she causes accidents to people rather than anything more serious whenever someone pisses her off. Whilst a student for her PhD and having just been cursed as well as the only female in her class, she did manage to kill one of her professors and has felt guilt for that ever since. Her course was almost over, but there was no way she could stick around with snakes poking out of her head, having lost all of her lovely strawberry coloured hair. She is now a professor of chemistry at Manster College, just outside of the small human town of Eerily, which arrived much later than the college which had been built in 1816 in a deserted part of the land. A load of flyers stuck in their college mailboxes annoys the staff, coming from a local Purity League, who want monsters out and not to be allowed to mix with humans at all.
Gromley’s flatmate Charles became involved with her after her study partner Jupe and his fiancée Minnie caused her so much grief and they were even married for a while. She was cursed to supposedly be alone, but thankfully Charles had experience of a relationship with a werewolf and was studying to be a pharmacist, so helped her to try and find ways to lose her snakeheads initially, not that it seemed to work with much success. Now all the professors are being asked to try and integrate their monster students with the human world, against the face of the Purity League and now an anti-Purity League Knobbers, who are a group of demigods out in opposition of the humans and their demands. One of them is even the demigod who cursed her and refused to even consider removing the curse, when it was her own flirty fiancé who was at fault! Gromley has also been an anti-violence type of person and after inadvertently causing the death of her professor, she has stuck to the no killing principle. After an attack soon after having passed her thesis, she has to leave her life and those she loves behind, changing her name and taking up the post at Manster College. A phone interview with Dean Snaakemon got her the job and now years later, she is finding an attraction growing between them.
Dr Gromley is stuck at the college, unable to return to her former world or life, especially after the mercenary brother of Jupe tried to take her. Some twenty years later, Dr Ormr Snaakemon wants their snakes to meet. He is humanoid in his upper body, but a snake with a tail from his waist down, leading her to have lots of questions! Why she is suddenly attracted to him after being around him for two decades, is kinda unclear, but about time she started living. The woman who cursed her comes back into her life and is behind a special project the head of the college, the Grim Reaper himself, insists she has her female gorgon students undertake and it is something she has no control over! A shock arrival of a seemingly human chemistry student looking to apply to the school, also has reminders of her past love, from her previous life and ends up closing up some of her questions and regrets from that time. She soon finds love is possible in her half snake like form, if she allows herself to be open to it. Town issues with the Purity League and the newer anti-Purity Knobbers brings about a few surprises about who is really involved in each group and what they are seeking. College life certainly comes with some highs and lows, especially when the head and the board of the school are even bigger monsters than their students. Even Dr Snaakemon has a blast from the past, before he can put aside everything to be with Gromley. Looks like there will be lots to come in the series, with a reaper, half man half snake, trolls, ghosts, gorgons and so many more supernatural beings as both student and staff in the aptly named Manster College. I received an ARC copy of this book form BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Gromley’s flatmate Charles became involved with her after her study partner Jupe and his fiancée Minnie caused her so much grief and they were even married for a while. She was cursed to supposedly be alone, but thankfully Charles had experience of a relationship with a werewolf and was studying to be a pharmacist, so helped her to try and find ways to lose her snakeheads initially, not that it seemed to work with much success. Now all the professors are being asked to try and integrate their monster students with the human world, against the face of the Purity League and now an anti-Purity League Knobbers, who are a group of demigods out in opposition of the humans and their demands. One of them is even the demigod who cursed her and refused to even consider removing the curse, when it was her own flirty fiancé who was at fault! Gromley has also been an anti-violence type of person and after inadvertently causing the death of her professor, she has stuck to the no killing principle. After an attack soon after having passed her thesis, she has to leave her life and those she loves behind, changing her name and taking up the post at Manster College. A phone interview with Dean Snaakemon got her the job and now years later, she is finding an attraction growing between them.
Dr Gromley is stuck at the college, unable to return to her former world or life, especially after the mercenary brother of Jupe tried to take her. Some twenty years later, Dr Ormr Snaakemon wants their snakes to meet. He is humanoid in his upper body, but a snake with a tail from his waist down, leading her to have lots of questions! Why she is suddenly attracted to him after being around him for two decades, is kinda unclear, but about time she started living. The woman who cursed her comes back into her life and is behind a special project the head of the college, the Grim Reaper himself, insists she has her female gorgon students undertake and it is something she has no control over! A shock arrival of a seemingly human chemistry student looking to apply to the school, also has reminders of her past love, from her previous life and ends up closing up some of her questions and regrets from that time. She soon finds love is possible in her half snake like form, if she allows herself to be open to it. Town issues with the Purity League and the newer anti-Purity Knobbers brings about a few surprises about who is really involved in each group and what they are seeking. College life certainly comes with some highs and lows, especially when the head and the board of the school are even bigger monsters than their students. Even Dr Snaakemon has a blast from the past, before he can put aside everything to be with Gromley. Looks like there will be lots to come in the series, with a reaper, half man half snake, trolls, ghosts, gorgons and so many more supernatural beings as both student and staff in the aptly named Manster College. I received an ARC copy of this book form BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
September 5, 2023
Let This Book Ssslither Into Your Library...
Snakes in the Class is a a page-turner, with academic elements (specifically of the scientific variety). There's a few chapters in the beginning that go deep into our beloved Professors back story, and at first I thought it was unnecessary, but as the story goes on, it becomes necessary. And it is so worth it. It helps build her up, and build up how she grows and can help her fellow gorgons.
The romance has wonderful chemistry that also factors into how she helps herself grow, because she is able to accept herself more by accepting someone who is even more different than herself. Ormr is snake-like, but not snake-like in her way. If she can accept him, surely she must be able to accept herself. They are a wonderful pairing.
The backgrounds for the main characters are well thought out, and deep, but they're not complicated. Honestly for Gormley, you could even say that her background is complex, but it is not hard to follow. Those chapters in the beginning are well worth the backtrack in time.
This is definitely a book best suited for 18 and up, and not just for the romance, but honestly just to be able to follow it. This is a page turner of an academic fantasy with redemptive traits for basically every character involved. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. It wasn't my cup of tea with how it read like a young adult novel at some points and an adult novel at others, both with romance and substance, but it is not a bad book. Some parts of the story did not flow very well, and felt a bit choppy, and I had to do some re-reading to figure out what exactly was going on, but that also had to do with the fluctuation mentioned above.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Snakes in the Class is a a page-turner, with academic elements (specifically of the scientific variety). There's a few chapters in the beginning that go deep into our beloved Professors back story, and at first I thought it was unnecessary, but as the story goes on, it becomes necessary. And it is so worth it. It helps build her up, and build up how she grows and can help her fellow gorgons.
The romance has wonderful chemistry that also factors into how she helps herself grow, because she is able to accept herself more by accepting someone who is even more different than herself. Ormr is snake-like, but not snake-like in her way. If she can accept him, surely she must be able to accept herself. They are a wonderful pairing.
The backgrounds for the main characters are well thought out, and deep, but they're not complicated. Honestly for Gormley, you could even say that her background is complex, but it is not hard to follow. Those chapters in the beginning are well worth the backtrack in time.
This is definitely a book best suited for 18 and up, and not just for the romance, but honestly just to be able to follow it. This is a page turner of an academic fantasy with redemptive traits for basically every character involved. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. It wasn't my cup of tea with how it read like a young adult novel at some points and an adult novel at others, both with romance and substance, but it is not a bad book. Some parts of the story did not flow very well, and felt a bit choppy, and I had to do some re-reading to figure out what exactly was going on, but that also had to do with the fluctuation mentioned above.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 9, 2023
This was such an awesome book I was not sure if I was gonna like it at first but the way the author has written this I truly did enjoy reading it I am so glad I did as this was a page turner and needing to know what was gonna happen I would recommend getting this book and reading it
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