What do you think?
Rate this book
Chronicles of Cain #8
Monster Squad: Chronicles of Cain, Book 8
Uneasy alliances
Cain is now doing the unthinkable—he's working for the fae.
Gaia has an eldritch problem, and Cain is tasked with stopping it before it gets out of control. To do that, he'll have to make an uneasy alliance with a human black-ops organization called Aegis. Run by the US government, Aegis has the personnel and resources to stop an eldritch invasion in its tracks. The problem is, Aegis has been taking a short-term approach, blowing up eldritch wormholes as they form on Gaia rather than cutting them off at the source.
Cain knows that this game of whack-a-mole is a losing proposition. The best solution is to invade the wormholes after they form and steal the power sources so the eldritch can't create wormholes anymore.
These power sources aren't just batteries, they're the sentient ethereal remains of Ekhsis called Enlightened. The Enlightened are trapped within crystal wombs called crystalae. Cain hopes that by liberating them, he's not only shutting down eldritch wormholes for good but also rescuing godlike beings who lived when Ekhsis was flourishing.
But Aegis has other plans, and their disagreements with Cain threaten to shatter their fragile alliance. To make matters worse, the fae are embroiled in an interdimensional civil war. If Cain can't keep Aegis under control, then the eldritch will overrun their defenses and infest Gaia Prime.
Cain will stop at nothing to save Prime because if he doesn't, then he'll never be able to enjoy another frosty mangorita.
And that's the worst thing that could ever happen.
Cain is now doing the unthinkable—he's working for the fae.
Gaia has an eldritch problem, and Cain is tasked with stopping it before it gets out of control. To do that, he'll have to make an uneasy alliance with a human black-ops organization called Aegis. Run by the US government, Aegis has the personnel and resources to stop an eldritch invasion in its tracks. The problem is, Aegis has been taking a short-term approach, blowing up eldritch wormholes as they form on Gaia rather than cutting them off at the source.
Cain knows that this game of whack-a-mole is a losing proposition. The best solution is to invade the wormholes after they form and steal the power sources so the eldritch can't create wormholes anymore.
These power sources aren't just batteries, they're the sentient ethereal remains of Ekhsis called Enlightened. The Enlightened are trapped within crystal wombs called crystalae. Cain hopes that by liberating them, he's not only shutting down eldritch wormholes for good but also rescuing godlike beings who lived when Ekhsis was flourishing.
But Aegis has other plans, and their disagreements with Cain threaten to shatter their fragile alliance. To make matters worse, the fae are embroiled in an interdimensional civil war. If Cain can't keep Aegis under control, then the eldritch will overrun their defenses and infest Gaia Prime.
Cain will stop at nothing to save Prime because if he doesn't, then he'll never be able to enjoy another frosty mangorita.
And that's the worst thing that could ever happen.
Audible Audio
Published October 24, 2022
60 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
John Corwin
81 books559 followersJohn Corwin is the bestselling author of the Overworld Chronicles.
He enjoys long walks on the beach and is a firm believer in puppies and kittens.
After years of getting into trouble thanks to his overactive imagination, John abandoned his male modeling career to write books.
He resides in Atlanta.
He enjoys long walks on the beach and is a firm believer in puppies and kittens.
After years of getting into trouble thanks to his overactive imagination, John abandoned his male modeling career to write books.
He resides in Atlanta.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 3, 2022
Corwin does it again
Our anti-hero, Cain strikes us a tenuous bargain with a government agency to keep earth safe. When everything goes to crap, as he knew it would, he has to make it right and someone has to pay. Another great story from Corwin.
Our anti-hero, Cain strikes us a tenuous bargain with a government agency to keep earth safe. When everything goes to crap, as he knew it would, he has to make it right and someone has to pay. Another great story from Corwin.
October 29, 2022
Another great book in the Chronicles of Cain series. I thought book 7 was my favorite in the series, but then I read book 8 and can’t decide between them. Looking forward to more in the series. Go, Monster Squad, Go!
October 30, 2022
Yes!
Cain's story takes a turn in new directions, wow! what a roller coaster ride! Waiting impatiently for the next bok!
Cain's story takes a turn in new directions, wow! what a roller coaster ride! Waiting impatiently for the next bok!
October 26, 2022
Excellent!
This whole series has been wonderful reading. Even with an assassin Who doesn't hesitate to take people out. The evolution of the characters has been creative and involving.
This whole series has been wonderful reading. Even with an assassin Who doesn't hesitate to take people out. The evolution of the characters has been creative and involving.
October 10, 2022
This is another terrific addition to the Chronicles of Cain. There has been no let down in any of the books in this series and Monster Squad is no exception. The name 'Monster Squad' depicts the team that Cain has helping him to combat a quickly escalating eldritch invasion of earth. The squad truly contains monsters, including Hannah and Fred, and others I won't name to avoid spoilers. Cain is working for the Fae and is tenuously allied with Aegis, the ultra-secret human organization created to protect humankind from the eldritch. But the Fae are completely occupied by a civil war and can't spare any help and Aegis has it's own agenda that may or may not match up with Cain's. In this story we get a healthy dose of favorite characters and a quirky mix of new ones. If you like fast-paced and wildly imaginative fantasy and story-telling with terrific characters, both the good and the bad; pick up this story! Better yet, start with 'To Kill a Unicorn', grab a frosty mangorita, and settle down to read this fantastic series from the start!
October 16, 2022
No shortage of surprises
So, it took eight books to get to know Cain. He’s blunt, doesn’t really want to like children, great at thinking outside the box and he’s a target. Cain is an introverted problem solver with unresolved commitment issues. I’ve enjoyed this series.
So, it took eight books to get to know Cain. He’s blunt, doesn’t really want to like children, great at thinking outside the box and he’s a target. Cain is an introverted problem solver with unresolved commitment issues. I’ve enjoyed this series.
October 8, 2022
Another amazing Cain Adventure
Monster Squad is such a great book! New enemies and new allies set a slightly different tone to the story as Cain is thrust into the middle of a super natural black ops thriller. Loved it!
Monster Squad is such a great book! New enemies and new allies set a slightly different tone to the story as Cain is thrust into the middle of a super natural black ops thriller. Loved it!
December 30, 2022
I bet there’s hardly a woman alive that doesn’t want to adopt Fred. Adorable and awesome; who could ask for more? Cabbage, a human/fae teenager can open a portal to anyplace she can visualize. Hannah, Medusa (sans her brown suited eunuchs) and Cain make up the rest of the squad.
Hannah develops a disconcerting reaction to portal travel.
Layla is off gallivanting with Bacchus and doesn't participate. Aura assists but doesn’t accompany the squad.
Cain discovers that the eldritch have found a way to rapidly open wormholes from Beta to Gaia Prime. A military organization called Aegis has access to satellite surveillance which allows them to pinpoint any new wormholes. Cain realizes that Aegis simply blowing up the wormholes isn’t solving the problem. He determines that crystalae are enabling wormholes to be rapidly created so the crystalae need to be seized. An uneasy alliance is agreed upon.
There’s back stabbing and subterfuge aplenty by Aegis that Cain and the squad have to overcome. Lots of action and more than a few evil characters to hate. The good guys win the battle but the war goes on.
Hannah develops a disconcerting reaction to portal travel.
Layla is off gallivanting with Bacchus and doesn't participate. Aura assists but doesn’t accompany the squad.
Cain discovers that the eldritch have found a way to rapidly open wormholes from Beta to Gaia Prime. A military organization called Aegis has access to satellite surveillance which allows them to pinpoint any new wormholes. Cain realizes that Aegis simply blowing up the wormholes isn’t solving the problem. He determines that crystalae are enabling wormholes to be rapidly created so the crystalae need to be seized. An uneasy alliance is agreed upon.
There’s back stabbing and subterfuge aplenty by Aegis that Cain and the squad have to overcome. Lots of action and more than a few evil characters to hate. The good guys win the battle but the war goes on.
January 30, 2026
Rank B
Personal Tags: Urban Fantasy, FR, PR, GP, Fae, Military
I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would at 4-star. One thing I continue to really appreciate about this series is how each installment leans into a different subgenre in each volume, and this one clearly takes on a more military vibe. The squad-based action and execution gave the story a different energy while still feeling very much like Chronicles of Cain. It helped keep the series feeling fresh this far in. I also really liked how Corwin continues to use real-world events as part of the backdrop. Adding in the Russian invasion of Ukraine made it more grounded with the supernatural elements, which was a fun tie-in to current events. Cain himself feels more comfortable in his role here, especially when dealing with coordinated combat and larger-scale threats. I enjoyed that some prior enemy groups got some light shone on them, and we were able to see what they were up to. All in all the action is tight, the pacing stays strong, and the story never overstays its welcome. Overall, this was another solid entry that shows the series can keep evolving while still delivering what I’ve come to enjoy.
Personal Tags: Urban Fantasy, FR, PR, GP, Fae, Military
I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would at 4-star. One thing I continue to really appreciate about this series is how each installment leans into a different subgenre in each volume, and this one clearly takes on a more military vibe. The squad-based action and execution gave the story a different energy while still feeling very much like Chronicles of Cain. It helped keep the series feeling fresh this far in. I also really liked how Corwin continues to use real-world events as part of the backdrop. Adding in the Russian invasion of Ukraine made it more grounded with the supernatural elements, which was a fun tie-in to current events. Cain himself feels more comfortable in his role here, especially when dealing with coordinated combat and larger-scale threats. I enjoyed that some prior enemy groups got some light shone on them, and we were able to see what they were up to. All in all the action is tight, the pacing stays strong, and the story never overstays its welcome. Overall, this was another solid entry that shows the series can keep evolving while still delivering what I’ve come to enjoy.
December 7, 2022
A great book with a couple of problems.
I will start by saying that this is the best of the series so far. However there were 2 problems that I feel I need to speak of.
1. The shocking lack of Donkey Kicks. For 2 books now no not one. Whenever a donkey kick happens my brain releases a burst of endorphins making this world a better place. So 2 books with none, ( read in Fred's creepy inside voice) sadness.
2. The inevitable, predictable, betrayal. We all knew it was coming. The foreshadowing was there. I like to think that we also understood the precipitating reason. But Cain was not just caught flat footed, he seemed genuinely surprised. I get that he was in a rage during the event, but it was coming and he should have had a plan. I actually had to put the book down for a bit. That said it was only a few pages that induced the grinding of teeth.
Overall great book. Good flow of action. Good character progression. And a hint of what is on the way. Tom out
I will start by saying that this is the best of the series so far. However there were 2 problems that I feel I need to speak of.
1. The shocking lack of Donkey Kicks. For 2 books now no not one. Whenever a donkey kick happens my brain releases a burst of endorphins making this world a better place. So 2 books with none, ( read in Fred's creepy inside voice) sadness.
2. The inevitable, predictable, betrayal. We all knew it was coming. The foreshadowing was there. I like to think that we also understood the precipitating reason. But Cain was not just caught flat footed, he seemed genuinely surprised. I get that he was in a rage during the event, but it was coming and he should have had a plan. I actually had to put the book down for a bit. That said it was only a few pages that induced the grinding of teeth.
Overall great book. Good flow of action. Good character progression. And a hint of what is on the way. Tom out
January 14, 2023
I am absolutely obsessed with this entertaining and inclusive (🏳️🌈) eight book series. Even better that I was able to read them all on Kindle unlimited. I was a little skeptical at first when I realized they were trying to combine fairies, Cthulhu mythos, werewolves, vampires, witches, etc. BUT I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!
I devoured this whole series in a couple of weeks so have been able to enjoy the story arc and character development. My only complaint is that the books are a little on shorter side (I want more Cain!).
No spoilers but if you like an ex-assassin who’s secretly a softy, kids with powers, or good eldritch monsters you won’t be disappointed.
I devoured this whole series in a couple of weeks so have been able to enjoy the story arc and character development. My only complaint is that the books are a little on shorter side (I want more Cain!).
No spoilers but if you like an ex-assassin who’s secretly a softy, kids with powers, or good eldritch monsters you won’t be disappointed.
November 21, 2023
I Cain’t deal with this silly antihero
An antihero needs to be likable or entertaining. Han is likable. So are Harry Dresden, Malcolm Reynolds and Harry Bosch. Jane Cobb, Hal Jordan, and Deadpool are entertaining. Cain is just a jerk who advances the plot by making silly decisions and letting his emotions drag him around by the nose.
An interesting universe can compensate only so much for this useless nonmasculine jerk of a protagonist. I should have stopped reading 2 books ago when I was still somewhat enjoying myself.
An antihero needs to be likable or entertaining. Han is likable. So are Harry Dresden, Malcolm Reynolds and Harry Bosch. Jane Cobb, Hal Jordan, and Deadpool are entertaining. Cain is just a jerk who advances the plot by making silly decisions and letting his emotions drag him around by the nose.
An interesting universe can compensate only so much for this useless nonmasculine jerk of a protagonist. I should have stopped reading 2 books ago when I was still somewhat enjoying myself.
June 1, 2024
It just gets wilder
Okay, I'm invested in the series, but at this point I have to day that it's getting a little too much new. The writing is still good, but given the events of this book in the series, I have to wonder how much more outlandish this is going to get.
I think this and a couple of other series that went past five books see convincing me that any continual series that just keeps building in itself can't help but become outlandish. It's a lot like Supernatural Wars the fifth or sixth season, they just begin to again the credibility a little too much.
Okay, I'm invested in the series, but at this point I have to day that it's getting a little too much new. The writing is still good, but given the events of this book in the series, I have to wonder how much more outlandish this is going to get.
I think this and a couple of other series that went past five books see convincing me that any continual series that just keeps building in itself can't help but become outlandish. It's a lot like Supernatural Wars the fifth or sixth season, they just begin to again the credibility a little too much.
March 11, 2023
Absolutely fantastic. Probably one of my favorites in this series. More emotional than the others but made for such a better story. I loved the monster squad and what they represent especially for Cain...FAMILY!!! Love the eggs dropped on Dresdin..
I hate reviews that give away too much of the story so all I'm going to say is karma is a dish well served here.
I hate reviews that give away too much of the story so all I'm going to say is karma is a dish well served here.
April 13, 2023
Again I am a sucker for kids and a happy ending. I will never tire of the shenanigans and the rotating cast of beloved characters. Also the pickle Rick reference was gold. Just a silly lovely story to keep you happy and determined.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2022
Awesome
Wow… just wow. One of the best Cain books yet. It's great to see things working out for Cain… he deserves it.
Wow… just wow. One of the best Cain books yet. It's great to see things working out for Cain… he deserves it.
April 7, 2023
This one was fun. I enjoyed it and found myself playing things I'd missed back so I didn't miss it.
December 17, 2023
The books keep getting better
I love the chronicles of Cain. It’s easy to get lost in them. This book was the funniest by far. Pickle Rickkkk!
I love the chronicles of Cain. It’s easy to get lost in them. This book was the funniest by far. Pickle Rickkkk!
January 30, 2024
I absolutely love the last line of this book!
October 16, 2025
Excellent
Lots of action and intrigue.
The story Mr foreign weaves is just incredible
Very interesting and well written.
Great job
Lots of action and intrigue.
The story Mr foreign weaves is just incredible
Very interesting and well written.
Great job
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews