(Mostly) Human Resources

Entity Case Files #1

by Grace Viall

Amongst mountains as old as time, the jackalopes and ghouls are the least of your worries.

Working in Human Resources was not what Alexys had in mind when she joined Entity, the company who categorise and manage the monsters and cryptids of the world. But after her dad was killed as a Warden in the Appalachian Mountains, she was filled with noble ideas of carrying on his legacy... from behind the safety of a desk.

But when one of her new Wardens, Elliot, goes missing, her chances of promotion go missing too. Determined to find him safe and sound, she marches off into the mountains to find him herself.

Because Elliot had been talking about sightings of a highly dangerous and never-recorded monster, The Hollow Walker, and she's promised herself that no Warden will ever die on her watch.

Meanwhile Nic, Director of Research and Cataloging, is not one to ignore the words 'never-recorded'. With Alexys, his work nemesis, leading the charge into the mountains, he's not going to let her have all the fun. If he can be the youngest Entity employee to discover a new monster, his name will go down in the annals of cryptozoology... and if it means spending some extra time with Alexys then he's not one to argue.

But Alexys and Nic are about to discover why the Appalachian Mountains are the last place you want to find yourself after dark.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Paranormal, Mystery, Witches, Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Having been raised on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains by a pair of bookworms, Grace Viall can usually be found in a randomly selected state park or forest gathering inspiration for her monster-filled fantasy projects. Grace is currently living in Maryland (US) with her husband and two dogs and is an avid reader and book hoarder. She grew up with a grandfather who loved to spin stories around campfires, and that love of storytelling has stayed with her as she pursues her career as an author. Grace’s hope is to give a new life to old stories but with her own special twist.

Reviews

[Sophie ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mix of horror and romance I didn't know I needed.

This story was so easy to get into. The pacing is fast, the world-building is interesting, and I loved learning about Entity and the monsters.

Alexys and Nic have the best dynamic. Their rivals-to-lovers was done so well. He’s a total know it all and she spent most of the time just being annoyed by everything he said, which made for some top tier banter. Her personality might not be for everyone, but I had the best time with her.

Also... is there something wrong with me?? Because the second Silas showed up, I was immediately wondering if he was a potential love interest. Even with what happened at the end, I’m still thinking maybe…

The horror side of this was the biggest surprise. I didn’t even realize it was going to be gory, but it balanced out the romance so well. I’m already so excited for the next one.

4.5 rounded up because why not

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: I’m finally starting this ARC and this better be as good as it sounds! 🥺

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Rina | Worldsbetweenpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the arc Aria | Head of Zeus!

„Maybe we aren't supposed to know the secrets or mysteries of the earth, Some things aren't meant to be tagged, studied, and contained.“

🌲workplace rivals
🪾dangerous creatures
🌲Appalachian folklore
🪾forced proximity
🌲rescue hiking trip

What I liked:
- The worldbuilding and the idea of a corporation being tasked with investigating sightings of mystical creatures. The creatures are classified according to different standards and the Human Resources Department is responsible for leading and approving missions carried out by Wardens, who handle the fieldwork across designated areas. There’s also a research and cataloging department, as well as the Reapers, who deal with the most dangerous creatures.
- The setting was right up my alley! A hike through the Appalachian Mountains, full of folkloric creatures, with stories from old witches, strange whistlings in the woods and more than one creepy sighting.

What I didn’t like:
- The ending makes it seem like this book is not a standalone, because a major plot line wasn’t concluded. I know that how a book is marketed is not necessarily the author’s fault, so I won’t consider it in my rating, but I’m not at all a fan of finding out at the end of a book that it isn’t a standalone.
- Despite having lost her father and being a stickler for rules, the protagonist sometimes makes questionably naive and foolish choices. Who, in her position and with her knowledge, would venture alone into creature-haunted woods? She has no plan, no sense of direction, and no real understanding of her surroundings. It felt unrealistic to me that the character would behave that way. In general she behaves a bit headless in a lot of situations.

✍🏻 Writing style: 4/5
👥 Characters: 4/5
🌍 Worldbuilding: 4/5
📝 Story & Plot: 3,75/5
✨ Vibes: 4/5

•Is this my go-to genre? yes
•Will I buy a physical copy? yes
•Will I read more books by the author? yes

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖]

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ⊹₊

pre-read : i've been really intrigued about this book ever since i saw the author talking about it on threads. literally ran to netgalley to put in a request once it was up 🏃🏻‍♀️💨

[Kat]

Ok, so imagine if Supernatural was dedicated specifically to Appalachia, AND was also a romcom. That’s basically (Mostly) Human Resources.

I have absolutely no idea how to review this book, because what I just read felt like such a rough/early product, even for an ARC. I’ll be really curious to flip through a finished copy and see how much it changes.

Looking at the largest possible picture, I did enjoy this! I really liked the overall story, the spooky lore and horror elements, and the Appalachian setting. If you squint, this is a great book.

The problem lies in basically all of the details. The grammar and sentence structure are… creative. The characterization is frustratingly inconsistent for both main characters, and they’re constantly making stupid decisions that make no sense for supposed professionals. The dialogue is also often very awkward, stilted, and juvenile. Because of that, the romance REALLY didn’t work for me; in fact, I’d say I actively disliked it. Alexys’s antagonism toward Nic feels incredibly arbitrary and childish, like it was shoehorned in just to check the “rivals” box, and their (minor) relationship development feels primarily based in attraction, not any real emotional connection or depth.

Also be warned: this is not a standalone! It doesn’t exactly leave on a cliffhanger, but it leaves a lot of threads hanging and is definitely not intended to be satisfying as a self-contained story. I’m intrigued about the direction the plot is going, so I’ll probably read the sequel in spite of my mixed feelings about this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[rose ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“of course, dyre. i wouldn’t want you to have to learn how to interact with other humans.”
“see, this is what i admire most about you, keane. your consideration for others.”

an HR professional and her professional rival must learn to work together if they want to survive what haunts the appalachian mountains after dark.

when her newest warden goes missing in pursuit of a never-recorded monster, alexys is forced to leave her cozy office behind to track him down, nightmares be damned. she didn’t count on nic, director of research and cataloguing, inviting himself along on her rescue mission. alexys might have joined entity to carry on her father’s legacy, but she planned on doing that from the safety of her desk. hiking through the woods of west virginia with an annoying (and annoyingly cute) know-it-all as her only backup? definitely not in her plan—but nic’s encyclopedic knowledge of cryptids might just come in handy, and it turns out his company isn’t so bad either.

not a perfect debut, but an incredibly fun one. (mostly) human resources calls to mind the x-files episodes that mulder and scully spend traipsing through the woods in pursuit of some cryptid or cult. alexys and nic’s dynamic, too, feels strongly inspired mulder and scully. scrap the ever-changing alien storyline and substitute an ever-so-slightly suspicious organization that manages the world’s cryptids (as long as you can afford their fees, of course), and that’s the vibe of (M)HR: what if the x-files was an entire company instead of two weirdos in the FBI’s basement, and two weirdos still ended up investigating rumors of cryptids in small, isolated communities?

there are a few things that kept (M)HR from being a 5-star read for me. i wish the tension between alexys and nic was a little more… well, tense. their relationship is certainly more of a slow burn than most recent books manage (which i always appreciate), but their chemistry was hit or miss for me (particularly at the beginning). the mulder x scully comp is what first prompted me to pick up this book, so i did feel a little let down in that regard—although their banter later made up for it. (and to be fair, pretty much every ship falls short of MSR for me. they are the OTP.)

i also felt like the middle was stronger than the beginning or ending. the reader is dropped into the story quite abruptly, and then the end of alexys and nic’s time in the field escalates very rapidly when i would have liked to explore that part more (specifically some of the choices alexys makes).

that said, i had a great time. a fast-paced adventure, appalachian folklore, monsters, an opposites attract slow burn—what’s not to love? i didn’t want to put it down and i want book 2 right now. it’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for something both a little creepy and a little cozy.

“there are always two sides to a story: the monster and the victim.”

i received an ARC from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

rating: 4.0/5.0 stars

“maybe we aren’t supposed to know the secrets of mysteries of the earth. some things aren’t meant to be tagged, studied, and contained.”

[Ariel Pattee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Office romance but put them in the appalachian mountain with some creepy folklore creatures. It’s kind of rivals to lovers but it’s more like she finds him attractive, but he is a know-it-all, so she gets easily annoyed with him. She’s also internally fighting off her attraction to him, and he likes the negative attention so he purposely does things that annoy her.

I really vibed with the writing style. I also loved the characters, they felt very real. Their banter was really fun, but I also felt the FMC could be a little too mean sometimes! But he liked it ;)

The pacing felt really slow at first, at about 40% I finally felt like the plot was happening and was confused as to how everything was going to wrap up in the next 60% of the book. Then I realized this is the first book in a series where we are still going to follow our main characters and their journey continues in book 2. There are a lot of things that don’t get wrapped up in the end because of this, but there is a lot of set up for a 2nd book, which is good.

I am definitely interested in reading book 2 when it releases, I’ll have to do a reread of this one though! I am definitely interested in reading more from Grace Viall again in the future, this was a fantastic debut. We need more romance/horror blends out there!

TW: arachnophobia

[Jamie Loves Books]

I absolutely loved this book and was completely blown away when I realized, halfway through, that this was a debut novel. That kind of discovery mid-read is such a rare and exciting feeling, and it just made me appreciate everything about it even more.

The whole premise hooked me right away. Following our main characters as part of a company that hunts down cryptids and monsters was such a fresh and fun concept. The world building was vivid and immersive, and the descriptions of the creatures were detailed enough that I could picture everything clearly. It pulled me in from the very first pages and never let go.

The characters were genuinely loveable, which can be hard to pull off in a duo dynamic. The banter between the two leads was so much fun to read, but what really stood out to me was that it never crossed the line into being mean spirited or demeaning. There was always this underlying layer of respect between them, even when they were getting on each other's nerves. That balance is really hard to get right, and the author nailed it. It felt real and grounded in a way that made me care about both of them so much.

The pacing was also really well done. I never once found myself waiting for a scene to be over or losing interest. Every chapter kept me engaged and wanting to read just one more page. For a debut, this was impressively polished from start to finish, and I will absolutely be watching this author going forward.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader copy. This review is entirely my own.

[Beth England · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a fast-paced, gripping and easy read - this one is for you!! I read this in 24hrs, and was utterly hooked. It was a classic case of ‘‘just one more chapter”.

Alexys works in Human Resources at Entity, a company that categorises and manages the world’s cryptids. When one of the Wardens in her area goes missing, she works with Nic (a colleague from the research team) to try to find him.

This book was a combination of urban fantasy, horror, folklore and romance. The setting of the Appalachian Mountains was beautiful, and the author described everything so flawlessly. The scenery, the monsters, the folklore, everything was really easy to understand and immerse into. I really felt like I was there with the characters.

I really loved Alexys as a character. She’s determined and brave, and incredibly selfless. Nic as well really grew on me as the book progressed. Their relationship development was really lovely to read. It gives rivals-to-lovers and forced proximity vibes, and I their banter was brilliant. .

I have so many unanswered questions and I really hope a sequel is in the works?! Overall this book was a delight to read, and I had such an enjoyable time. I can’t wait to read more of this authors works in the future.

[Teagan King · Rating 5 out of 5]

My editorial review:

Cozy, and with just the right amount of adventure and romance, (Mostly) Human Resources deserves to be read with a hot cup of a tea and a snug blanket. Viall has crafted an original world ripe with magic, thrills, and dangerous creatures around every corner. I didn’t want the book to end!”

-Teagan Olivia King, author of SPIT BACK THE BONES

[Jess Stadler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Grace Viall for the e-ARC!

This book came across my radar unexpectedly… and I’m so glad that it did! The premise sounded like something I hadn’t read before. Grave Viall was raised on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains, and after reading more about her, I knew this was bound to be filled with horror goodies. This was a very fun debut from Viall! I liked the writing style.

It’s a mix of horror, humor, and a dash of romance. Viall sets the scene pretty quickly, cluing readers in on the potential romance to come just from the office encounters alone. It’s a bit of a slow burn in the romance department, but I don’t mind because what drew me to this story were the monsters and tales of the Appalachian Mountains. The Jackalopes were SCARY… I was sweating when they made an appearance. I wanted more, if I’m being honest! But that’s not an issue with the book at all. It’s a me issue because I’ve been in a very horror-esque reading mood lately.

The banter between Alexys and Nic is fun, but I found Alexys was kinda mean sometimes!? It made for enjoyable tension between the two of them, but sometimes I was rolling my eyes like girl.. please!!!?

I finished this wanting a second book! I surely hope that a sequel is in the cards. I feel like right as it was ramping up and bigger things were about to evolve for the characters, it came to an end. I have a lot of unanswered questions! Fantasy, folklore, and mystery all wrapped into one.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burn girlies (me) and The X Files girlies (soon to be me) rise!!

This was a great debut. You can tell Grace Viall put everything into this book and it’s evident in the plot and the characters she crafted here.

At a time where very simplistic and matter of fact writing seems to be dominating publishing it’s lovely to be able to sit down and read thoughtful and colourful prose and a plot you can bite your teeth into.

This is the first book in what I assume will be a series so there’s a few loose threads by the time we finish up this book but I didn’t mind that.

The romance. I love a good slowburn and I actually applaud Viall for taking her time with these characters because they needed it in order to come together naturally. I loved the banter and I adored how it didn’t feel overdone or annoying. There’s no sex in this book but it didn’t need it, these characters are only getting to know each other so it would have felt odd if there was any.

The negatives. I did think there was a pacing issue, solely due to the fact that there seemed to be a pattern of the two main characters coming together and then leaving and going off to do their own thing and when they weren’t together it would go on for several chapters before they met back up again. I do think that the romance is a subplot, maybe that will change in the next books but for this I would say it’s a strong paranormal book with a romance subplot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove press for the arc. All opinions are my own

[James]

I'll be honest, the title got me on this one. I'm obsessed.

[Lowri Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Can’t Never Could" but Grace Viall did. This book was both a cozy read and a book I couldn’t put down. I read most of it over two days and if I wasn’t busy I probably would have read it in one! Cute romance? Check. Monsters? Check. High stakes? Check. I think I’ve discovered a new favourite theme in a book and it’s romance alongside trying to uncover some sort of mystery. The story follows Alexys from HR trying to recover one of her missing wardens and Nic, the know it all researcher who inserts himself into the equation (no one except Alexys is complaining 😉). While the story starts off a little slow it picks up fairly quickly and ends up being full of risk, suspense and action towards the end. I did not want to put it down. My only criticism is that the first book isn’t even out yet and now I am DYING for book 2!! If I make a deal with Silas can I get that now too??

Final Rating : 4 stars - the only thing that stops it from being 5 stars for me is that the start was a little slow for me, and the end went from 100 to 0 fairly quickly. I feel as if the end could have benefited from being a little longer but at least it is set up well for book 2! I can’t wait to have some questions answered and watch Alexys and Nic reveal what they have been hiding from eachother!

[Sabrina]

WHY THE FRACK DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO READ THIS BOOK

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice level: 🌶️

Tropes: Paranormal workplace romcom, urban fantasy, forced proximity, found family, grumpy x grumpy (maybe), second chance/he comes back to life

Just finished and I'm so giddy for how it ended. This book was the ultimate fantasy with an extended slow burn. I enjoyed most that it resolved the current case and advanced their relationship, while still leaving it on a cliffhanger for future cases AND more of the slow burn. Also, I loved how every chapter intro gave small tidbits that were actually meaningful and explained certain things, like it's reveal on the Entity departments rivalry which totally made me laugh out loud.

Alexys and Nic both work for the Entity, this monster managing type of organization. Their roles are in HR and research, respectively. They work together, but all of the departments think they're the most important and that mentality makes them rivals. When one of Alexys' team members go missing, she and Nic (who inserts himself on the mission for selfish reasons) go on the quest to bring him home. They are put through the ringer - encounters all kinds of creatures and amidst the secrets and lies they start to see some good in each other. I honestly thought that was impossible because their rivalry waa palpable. I spent the whole first half of the book wondering how/if they'd ever really soften for each other. Nic's backstory is still a bit of a mystery, but what we do know makes you curious. Alexys' backstory is laid bare early on in the book, and it explains every bit of her resolve. You laugh, hope, root for them, and can't wait to see what happens next. I couldn't put it down the final 100 pages.

If you enjoyed Throne in the Dark in the Villains & Virtues series by A.K. Caggiano, and The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, this book is for you.

*Note: Received this eARC through Netgalley.

[Courtney Dziadul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I met Grace at YALLFest. She gave me a bookmark about the book, and I knew it was something I’d need to read! (Also she was so kind! Which automatically makes me more likely to read a book.)

I mean, a southern Appalachian mountain light romance with a bit of horror? I’m sold. This concept was SO unique, and for that, I’m grateful. Books tend to all sound similar, but the creativity in both the story building and the monsters was so good in this.

I will say that there was a point mid-book where I was struggling to dig in to it. But that didn’t last long.

I can’t wait for the next one so I can get answers to the literal list of questions I have.

[Kenzie Leckie ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kindly sent a physical arc of this book by the publishers but all opinions are my own.

Wow! What a debut! This was fab, such a great mix of horror and genre. There was enough moments of buildup between Nic and Alexys where them falling for each other is gradual and doesn’t happen out of the blue like some books which made me love this that much more.

Every single introduction to different monsters was so eerie, spooky and creepy. It was truly haunting the way they were written and just makes you feel like you’re being watched while reading.

Does it end on a slight cliffhanger? Yeah but that makes me look forward to what Viall has in store next!

[Demeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Supernatural meets Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies. I’m a sucker for paranormal stories in and around Appalachia and this one delivered. It’s setting up a wonderfully gory and creepy world of monsters and critters (and some ancient entities). The corporate take on the whole monster hunting concept was nicely done and mighty accurate if I say so myself. The romance was slowly building throughout the book and still in its early tentative steps with glimpses of the characters’ complicated backstories and family dynamics. I think the strongest part of this book was the creepy elements, the monster encounters and the descriptions of them. The writing threw me off a bit in some occasions, but nevertheless it was an enjoyable story and I’m looking forward for the next installments

[Dione (RickEveScrolls) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

this book was SO much fun. It reminded me of early seasons of Supernatural with the whole “investigating creepy things in the woods” vibe, and I could absolutely see why people compare it to The X-Files. The concept of a corporate office dedicated to investigating supernatural creatures and cryptids is something I absolutely love.

The basic premise is office-rival coworkers being forced to work together in the deadly Appalachian forest to find their missing colleague. The problem? That forest also happens to be the last known location of an unclassified cryptid called the Hollow Walker, which could probably kill them simply by crossing its path. But honestly, the real question becomes whether they’ll survive the forest without strangling each other first lol.

And truly, this book had everything: humour, ridiculous banter, creepy mysteries, and cryptids the creatures (which immediately made me think of John Winchester’s monster journal from Supernatural). And I loveee that.

Alexys and Nic’s dynamic, from work nemesis to pathetic lovers was genuinely one of my favourite parts because it really did not feel like they were ever going to like each other at first. Alexys is hardworking, caring, haunted , and determined to live up to her father’s legacy without failing at her job. Meanwhile, Nic is basically a walking encyclopedia who gets so consumed by cryptid research that he barely notices anything else around him. He has a habit of rambling endlessly about his work, and whenever he crosses paths with Alexys, he knows how much he irritates her and seems to enjoy it both intentionally and unintentionally. Watching them bicker like children while constantly clashing over decisions was hilarious because their personalities are so opposite. But the slow transition from bickering and banter into flirting and teasing??? I was GIDDYY. They were genuinely so cute. Both of them trying to rationalise their growing feelings with things like maybe I’m just dehydrated or concussed from staying in the forest for too long had me laughing so much. Their chemistry developed so naturally, and I’m really excited to see how their relationship continues to grow in future books.

I know a lot of people, myself included — were curious about the horror-to-romance balance, and personally, I thought it worked really well. This is very clearly book one in a trilogy, so the story takes its time building the world, the lore, the relationships, and the larger mystery. Which also means… you absolutely do not get all the answers in this book. Yes, I was suffering. BUT even with all the unanswered questions, I was completely hooked and fully invested in finding out more. I already know I’ll be rereading this before book two releases.

The horror and paranormal aspects were genuinely so interesting. The folklore and cryptids felt eerie, mysterious, and fascinating, and there were definitely scenes where I caught myself holding my breath alongside the characters. The book did such a good job capturing the terror of encountering these creatures face-to-face. I also loved learning more about the world itself, from the bureaucracy and hierarchy of the company to the rules surrounding both the cryptids and the people investigating them. One thing I especially loved was seeing Alexys and Nic, who are mostly office workers and researchers — being thrown directly into the field and realising that no amount of researching and planning can truly prepare you for seeing these creatures in real life. The difference between textbook knowledge and reality becomes very clear to them. There’s also still so much left unknown, but in a way that feels intentionally mysterious rather than frustratingly incomplete. Very on brand for Appalachian horror- things left in the unknown lol.

I also really loved the excerpts placed before each chapter, whether they were pages from the company handbook or quotes from folklore within the world itself. They added so much depth to the worldbuilding and always made me curious about how they would connect back to the story later. The pacing is definitely slower in the beginning since the first 20% leans heavily into the corporate office setting and character dynamics, but once the story fully enters the Appalachian forest, that’s when things got spooky. And after the Hollow Walker appears, everything becomes so surreal and terrifying that the story genuinely starts to feel like a fever dream. The intensity skyrockets so quickly after that point, one danger after another with barely any time to breathe.

I really enjoyed Grace’s writing style overall. She writes character conversations and banter incredibly well, and the descriptive writing surrounding the lore and cryptids was genuinely immersive. I’m already looking forward to getting a finished copy so I can fully tab and annotate this book properly because wow, I had such a good time with it.


Also, one request for the publishers: it would be SO cool if the books included drawings or sketches of the cryptids as they’re introduced. That would honestly elevate the reading experience even more. (I saw them for the pr boxes and I thought they were soo cool)

Thank you for the e-arc Netgalley copy Aria & Aries!

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.

This was not quite what I expected.  I thought it would be a light and fluffy rom-com, an enemies-to-lovers romance between two employees of a monster tracking company.  But it's not.  Instead, this was a somewhat (but not always) fluffy horror novel featuring two employees of a monster tracking company who are attracted to each other and go from enemies to friends, there's no romance, and no plot lines are resolved, because this is (apparently? I guess?) the start of a series.  I did not realize this was going to be a series.    I was annoyed that almost all of the storylines in here remain unresolved.  I was startled by the radical change in tone in chapter 45, where the book transforms from harebrained to blood-soaked, with little warning.  And I was really really irritated by how annoying the female main character, Alexys, is.  

Two stars, because I hated it a lot, but it was also mildly entertaining.  I wish I had enjoyed it more.  It's unlikely that I'll read the sequel, if a sequel appears (but never say never!)  

I borrowed this on a whim from NetGalley because I wanted something light and different, and I started reading it immediately (despite all the other books lined up on my list with earlier publication dates).  It was exactly the sort of quick escapist read that I wanted, at first.  I enjoyed my time (mostly, at first), and I liked the writing, but I have a LOT of issues with the characters and their behavior  (just picture Frank Constanza on Festivus at this point - that's me):

1.  I'm a big fan of the "oh no one bed" scenario, but there has to be a good REASON for it.  Bullying your way onto your (female) coworker's hotel reservation, without her knowledge, and insisting that it's just fine for you to take the other bed in her room, despite the other perfectly good EMPTY room just down the hall that was borrowed by your other (missing) coworker IS NOT A GOOD REASON.  
2.  These folks work for a monster investigation company, and supposedly they gather the bulk of their information by talking to locals, and yet every time a  local tries to sit down and feed them information, they do not listen, they do not record it or take  notes, they act annoyed at the interruption and leave as soon as possible.  WHAT IS MORE ANNOYING THAN PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT LISTEN??
3. These folks are (supposedly!!) professional monster hunters, they know better than to go haring off into the woods alone, and yet ... that's exactly what they each do.  Alone.  Idiotically.  Several times. 
4. Alexys is chasing after an employee who has disobeyed her direct orders - why would calling for help be career suicide and ruin her father's legacy???   Seems to me that NOT calling for  help when help is needed is career suicide.  (And if she's so concerned about her performance reflecting on her father's legacy, why doesn't she ever do any research on her subjects, plan properly, or even read a memo?)

There were more stupid things after that, but at that point I was fed up.  I kept reading, but I huffed and harrumphed the whole time.  I'm afraid I started to hate Alexys for being such a dum-dum.  When she announced that "plants are boring," this became a hate read for me.  I have no idea how Nic managed to put up with her.  (The most unbelievable part of this book is when Nic muses that Alexys deserved better than him.)

Questions that remain unanswered: 
* What happened to Elliot?  What killed him?
* Who / what is Silas, and what does he want?  
* What's the deal with Granny Witch Opal, was she good or evil?
* What's the deal with the Hollow Walker?
* When does Alexys find out that Nic took the Dreamweaver from her, so her nightmares are over, and where did Alexys first pick that thing up?  Why didn't Nic ever tell her?
* Who called Entity's Post-Encounter Concealment team?
* Did Alexys ever get her purse & wallet back from the Jackalopes?

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(Mostly) Human Resources is a clever blend of horror and romance. As someone who reads many different genres, but settles mostly on horror, I found the the mix of genres quite refreshing. I love horror, but I also will admit I do enjoy a good enemies to lovers trope.

The story follows workplace rivals, Alexys and Nic, on a journey through the Appalachian mountains tracking both an unidentified cryptid and a lost coworker. As someone whose main genre is horror, I found the book suspenseful but not overly gory or terrifying, which is okay with me. However, for people less familiar with horror, the book may land as scarier or more graphic to them.

I found the book to be a good palate cleanser between some books I've read recently with heavier themes and it was enjoyable. I found myself wanting to pick it back up and finish it. For a debut, it is an ambitious endeavor and mash-up of genres you don't see together often, and for the most part, I felt was done well. I would absolutely pick up the second book to continue the story.

However, there were some issues that kept me from giving this a higher rating. I did feel that given the premise the world-building could've been so much more rich and was lacking some depth. I think it would've been nice to have given more background to the formation of Entity, although it's possible that is planned for a sequel. Also, although I enjoy horror I don't know too much about cryptids, and I think giving more background to the mention cryptids would be helpful. I found myself on the cryptid wikipedia page quite a few times to understand more about these creatures, as most mentioned were real cryptids.

Furthermore, I felt that the characters lacked depth as well, seeming more like caricatures or vehicles for delivery of tropes rather than fleshed out individuals. From the jump, it felt like Alexys was the typical stubborn FMC and Nic was the dashing know it all who swoops in to save the day. There wasn't a lot of background or substance to their rivalry beyond from what I could ascertain beyond them just being annoyed with each others' disposition. I also saw a lot of people describe this novel as a slow burn, but I'd actually, quite honestly, describe it as the opposite. I felt there were pacing issues, going from them hating each other, which as I said earlier I can't really figure out why, to falling in love in the space of a few days. I get they were trauma bonded but it just seemed, in spite of the premise of the novel, unrealistic. I found the lack of depth of the characters and the speed at which their feelings towards each other the two most difficult pills to swallow.

I also saw some lower ratings discussing the ending and unanswered threads and/or questions, which I did want to address. I personally felt that, despite this being a planned series, things were wrapped up well. While some things were not explicitly revealed, I felt that the implication was very clear. Spoilers ahead!
First, I saw someone discuss that they didn't know who or what Silas was, but I felt it was very clear from the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter that he is absolutely the Gray Man discussed and that the rituals being completed were to keep him away. I also think it's pretty clear that Elliot was killed by the cult in order to appease the Marrow Witch to keep Silas away, which clearly did not work. In terms of Opal, I think she's more of a neutral party that does things for her own means, but is not necessarily associated with the cult.

With all of that said, I also think that it was a fast paced and enjoyable read. I also feel that with time and polishing this could become a great series and one that pushes the boundaries of genres, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Fay Pretty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Alexys wants to follow her late fathers’ footsteps, from the safety of a desk in Human Resources that is, unlike his career as a Warden. A type of field agent that investigated supernatural issues and a job that eventually got him killed. However, when forced into the field for an evaluation of her staff, one she needs to ace to get a promotion, she finds her Warden missing and an area under her jurisdiction with more secrets than answers. Forced to work with her work nemesis Nic, the pair will need to venture deep into the wilderness to find the truth.

There is so much to love about (Mostly) Human Resources. The premise and setting felt reminiscent of some of my favourite TV Shows, including some nostalgic nods to the X-Files. Plus, the idea of a modern-day cooperation charging to hunt the supernatural with it’s very own HR department felt very ‘Lockwood and Co/The Lumineers’ but for adults with some well-placed workplace jargon that all added a layer of realism to supernatural hunting. From a typical office to the folklore filled horrors of The Appalachian Mountains, the setting was vivid and atmospheric, adding poetically to the overarching plot.

The plot and characters, however, I did struggle with at times. The book is fast paced and there is a lot pushing you forward around the central mystery of the missing Warden but there were so many threads and sub plots, it got confusing and at times, illogical, when reading character’s motives and then subsequent choices. Nic and Alexys kept both commenting on the other being ‘rule followers’ and judging the other for those choices and yet it seemed easy for them to continually abandon the rules for their needs and not reflect on such.

They also both have a myriad of motives to be out on their forced proximity mission, half of which they want to keep secret from the other but then they seemed to again forget the threads of why they are there when convenient to the plot (…the ending?). I feel this was partly in a bid to make sure the characters were layered and complex, and I liked they had so many motivations, but it wasn’t cohesive in how it came together.

I did love the nods to Nic’s British background, as a Brit myself I often see the ‘hot English MMC’ trope, which is hardly ever believable (apart from the fact these men seem to have all fled to the USA) but also because they are normally all cliché tea drinkers (not that tea isn’t a beautiful drink). Instead, I enjoyed Nic’s mentions of D of E (a staple school experience) and only a small mention of his accent.

Being a Brit didn’t convince me on the romance though, they spent 65% of the book genuinely upsetting each other so much that I sometimes found them so unlikeable, when Alexys wanted to throw something at Nic, I can confirm, so did I. I particularly found how patronising Nic could be as a colleague particularly frustrating. This could be a seen of great writing but maybe, it’s the pansexual in me that then struggled to believe that they actually found each other attractive with all the fighting going on. I can understand under the circumstances a friendship being built but the last 30% I felt progressed too quickly after they’re shared work history.

For a debut, it’s a solid start, one that I can completely see developing well in Book 2. It’s obvious that the author can bring a setting alive and I would love to return to the various mythical creatures, folklore and characters in the Mountains. Despite frustrating choices, and a question make over the word romance, our MMC and FMC had spirit and I’m intrigued into what happens next.

Thank you to Netgalley, Head of Zeus and Grace Viall for the eARC of (Mostly) Human Resources.

[Mocha Beanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 5 star read for me! Even despite a lot of the technical issues because it's an ARC, I will be thinking about this book for a very long time.

First, can we get some commotion for the cover. The artist who did this cover ate down. Chef's Kiss.

Viall did such an extraordinary job laying the foundation at the start of the novel. I was able to get to know who Alexys was and how she ended up where she did. This book is a more character driven where the character's decisions move the story very rapidly. I've seen critiques that the character decisions in this novel seemed very unrealistic and frustrating. I would have to disagree. I think if the main characters did things differently, we wouldn't have the story that we do. I value very much flawed characters and Alexys and Nic did not make the best decisions, but it did not happen at the expense of the story if that makes sense.

For the romance, I loved it! Other critiques mention that there isn't any romance because they didn't "end up" together, but throughout the book, it's very evident that Alexys and Nic fell for each other. I thought that Viall did an amazing job with the transition from work-nemesis to lovers even if we haven't got to the actual lovers part because there will be a sequel (there better be a sequel). Often times there will be claims that it's enemies to lovers, but there hate just replaces the love and it instantly becomes insta love. Viall made sure there were a period where we could see that transition very clearly. It doesn't become insta love at all and I appreciate that. Some may argue that this could be insta love because they end up falling for each other over a couple of days, which I can understand, but the pacing helps it seem a little longer. They were trauma bonded after all and I feel like their romance will be explored much more deeply when they're not in danger constantly. I know, also, that Alexys is the main character but man did I want more POVS of Nic during the transition.

Speaking of Nic, I loved him. If this was to become a movie or show, I would love to have Tom Holland as Nic. That was who I was imagining the entire time, I was having a very good time reading Nic.

Now for the main plot, I love horror. I love how Viall depicted the "main creature" (trying to be spoiler free here). I could see the world very clearly with the Company Entity and the wardens, and everything. It all made sense and it was a very exciting setting and idea. That being said, I wish there were more...reference to the cultures that these folklore and myth creatures came from. I tilted my head when the mention of a Wendigo popped up in reference to nightmares? I'm not a specialist on Native American, specifically Algonquian myths and legends, but I don't think Wendigos have anything to do with nightmares? I would try to change any culturally insensitive terminology to something different or at least pay tribute to that culture's beliefs.

Lastly, there were quite a few technical mistakes with the formatting and continuity. I know this is an ARC though, so I'm hoping those things will be addressed before it's published in August.

Overall 5 stars cause it was such a fun read, it made me want to write my own story, AND I will be thinking about the story and cover for a long time.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’ve ever wondered what The Office would look like if HR handled cryptids instead of paperwork, then “(Mostly) Human Resources” by Grace Viall is basically that but with way more monsters, blood, and chaotic coworkers.

The premise alone is so fun and weirdly fresh: there’s this secret corporation (Entity) that tracks, manages, and suppresses cryptids across the U.S., and yes, they have an HR department. Enter Alexys, who very much signed up for the desk job version of this life after her dad died in the field. She just wants her promotion and to stay safe. Unfortunately, life said absolutely not.

When one of her wardens goes missing in the Appalachian Mountains, she’s forced out into the field, and even worse, she gets stuck with Nic, her annoyingly smug (and annoyingly attractive) workplace rival from the research department. He’s obsessed with finding an extremely dangerous cryptid called the Hollow Walker, and she’s just trying to survive the assignment. Naturally, chaos ensues.

The vibes here are so good. It’s giving The X-Files but make it corporate, with a mix of urban fantasy, horror, folklore, and a dash of rom-com energy. The Appalachian setting is super atmospheric; the woods feel alive in a “maybe we should not be here” kind of way. And the cryptids? Honestly terrifying. I will never look at jackalopes the same again.

The investigation aspect is really engaging too. There’s a missing person case, multiple creatures lurking around, and eventually even a cult situation thrown into the mix (because why not make things worse). It keeps the stakes high and the story moving, especially once things really pick up.

Now let’s talk about Alexys and Nic—because they are the book. Their dynamic is very much combative coworkers → forced proximity → slow burn tension. They argue constantly, keep secrets from each other (even when they really shouldn’t), and somehow that turns into some genuinely great banter. The chemistry takes a little time to click, but once it does, it’s fun. Messy, but fun.

That said, the relationship can feel a bit inconsistent at times. They go from genuinely irritating each other to suddenly having emotional moments, and the transition isn’t always smooth. Also, the whole “keeping important secrets while in mortal danger” thing? Yeah, that gets frustrating.

Plot-wise, it’s fast-paced and super engaging, but there’s a lot going on. Multiple subplots, character motivations, cryptid lore; it can get a little overwhelming or slightly messy in places. The beginning can feel a bit abrupt, and the ending wraps things up pretty quickly after a super intense climax. You might be left wanting just a bit more breathing room (and answers).

Overall, this book is just a really fun time. It’s one of those “just one more chapter” reads with a cool concept, creepy monsters, and characters who feel chaotic but real. Plus, it sets up a sequel, and I’m honestly very down to go back into this world. If you like cryptids, workplace rivals, slow burn tension, and spooky woods with bad vibes, this is absolutely worth picking up.

[Alicia (weird.reads.books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything about this book appealed to me. I was initially drawn in by the playful title and a premise that promised a workplace romance urban fantasy mixed with Appalachian folk horror. A company whose sole job is to manage worldwide monsters and cryptids? Sign me up. Unfortunately, while the concept was brilliant, the execution fell flat.

On a positive note, the world-building is incredibly fun. I loved the concept of Entity and how the author created a corporate environment complete with department hierarchies and clever employee handbook snippets at the start of each chapter. The adventure into the Appalachian mountains to track down a missing employee was genuinely unique, and the horror elements were easily my favorite part of the book. The dread of monsters lurking around every corner was genuinely exciting, and getting to see lesser-known myths and hauntings come to life kept me engaged.

However, as a corporate professional myself, my logical brain simply refused to shut off during the workplace segments. While urban fantasy and romcoms require a healthy suspension of disbelief, the role of HR in this story felt entirely unbelievable. Our protagonist, Alexys, is introduced as a star employee who knows the rules inside and out and yet she never actually enforces them. For a character’s deviation from their ethics to feel profound, the ground rules need to be established early on. Instead, Alexys just seemed bad at her job.

The most glaring example of this was when her colleague (in a different department) and rival, Nic, secretly added himself to her hotel booking, forcing them into a separate beds, same room situation. Excuse me, what? For an esteemed HR manager to not immediately remediate a massive, unauthorized corporate travel violation—even if the hotel was at capacity—felt like a flimsy, forced excuse to check off the one-room trope.

Because of this, the romance felt like it went from zero to one hundred. Alexys and Nic supposedly can’t stand each other, yet during an unauthorized recon mission, they fall in love at a jarringly fast pace. While their petty bickering had its cute moments, the insta-love felt misplaced against the high-stakes horror backdrop.

Between the rushed romance and a focused creature-hunt mystery format, the pacing felt off. There were also just too many logic gaps to overlook. This included a moment where the main characters are strictly told by a medical professional not to sleep after sustaining concussions, only to immediately fall asleep anyway.

Perhaps I am just a bit too critical to fully embrace this book's non-serious tone. While this first installment leaves plenty of intentional, unanswered questions for the rest of the series, I don't see myself continuing past book one.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Crooked Lane, for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

first off i thought this was suchhhh a fun & cute premise. as someone who works in HR and who loves cryptids, do you know how pumped i was for this book?? i will say that the plot here is very unique and different from most romance / fantasies, and i thought there was a lot of potential and hope that this world is fleshed out in the following books. i loved the monsters and the glimpses of the world we saw, though!! i just want more.

because, unfortunately, this book fell flat for me :( the worldbuilding was mildly confusing: for example, i thought Entity would be a more secret-type organization, but it seems like cryptids are generally commonplace in this world? (i think? maybe i missed something, but i was constantly questioning this throughout the book). unfortunately, what bugged me most was our cast of characters and the decisions they made.

Alexys is an HR worker who is described as loving her cozy office work and hating, even fearing, fieldwork, due to the trauma of how her father lost his life in the field. but, bad news for her, she has to go out to the field for an in-person performance review, where her warden goes missing and she has no choice but to locate him.

you'd think she'd want to utilize all her resources!! like, when Nic shows up (albeit against her wishes), she ditches him to go find her warden by herself. in the woods. with no training. surrounded by potential monsters. as an HR worker, you'd think she would use Nic's expertise and then call in for additional backup, but instead is super stubborn about it and makes countless careless mistakes? she also seems to know nothing about monsters when she her job is to assign cryptid cases to her Wardens on the daily, so you would think she'd pick something up. it just felt like her character was set up one way, and then disregarded for the plot.

the romance between Alexys & Nic was also meh, for me. alllllll they did was bicker for what felt like 3/4ths of the book, and as someone who does love a good bantering between love interests, i still did not feel any chemistry between these two. it felt childish and went on too long for the situation they were in. the ending was a bit abrupt (Alexys' sudden career change? when she didn't even do a good job out there besides survive? yikes) and i still have sooo many questions, which leads me to believe this will be a series due to how it "wrapped" up.

3/5 stars

[Theresa Derwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mostly Human Resources
Grace Viall
Head of Zeus books
6th Aug 2026

‘Let me get this straight. You want to ask a homicidal ghost for directions?’
This novel is one hundred percent for me and I bet, lots of readers out there.
It’s like a treasure trove of monsters, mayhem and mystery. A sort of lovechild of Scooby Doo, Mallory Marlowe/Jo Segura, Ali Hazelwood and ‘The Office’. I kid you not!
HR manager Alexys works for Entity; a corporation that investigates cryptid sightings and deals with them if necessary.
Whilst the wardens do the ‘boots on the ground’ stuff, they’re managed by ‘HR’ – Alexys - who have weekly check ins with them. Alexys and other HR staff liaise with the research department and its Head, the annoyingly smug and annoyingly attractive Nic Dyre. In every management meeting he and Alexys fight like cat and dog.
Her main friend in Nic’s team is Zach, who is helping her with her own little issue. For years she has been plagued by nightmares and possibly premonitions.
When she gets a ‘message’ telling her one of her wardens is dead, then he actually misses check in, she hurtles off on an unauthorised mission to Mercy Hill in the Appalachians to find her missing warden, Elliot.
Unfortunately for Alexys, her nemesis Nic swiftly follows, desperate to find an elusive cryptid he’s obsessed with.
Of course there’s all sorts of shenanigans and mischief Alexys gets up to. But worst of all is the fact she’s been followed by Nic – with his insufferable encyclopaedic knowledge and his tousled hair, grey eyes and ... biceps!
So much back story and ongoing story arc plus world building occurs in this book as the two leads clash, bicker, hunt for Elliot and encounter a whole variety of cryptids.
And just like a jackalope, this is a hybrid sort of novel. Part adventure, part X Files, part horror, part romance and definitely lots of comedy.
It ends with a nice narrative hook with the first story arc completed and a hint of romance. There are also very poignant moments, such as the child they encounter in the woods and Alexys’s own complicated relationship with her deceased father.
Given this is book one of The Entity series we can expect more of the snappy dialogue and slow burn romance. I’d love to see Zach of the purple hair get his shining moment.
I adored everything about this genre bending book and want much, much more from Grace Viall.

[Sol✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Grace Viall, Aria & Aries Publishing, and Netgalley for access to this advanced reader's copy of (Mostly) Human Resources. This is my honest and unbiased review.

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"Panic seized him, choking the air from his lungs. An arm reached out--moss and bone and decaying flesh. He screamed, and only the forest answered."

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(Mostly) Human Resources weaves Appalachian folklore, horror, and romance into a story that is deeply human, even when there are only monsters as far as the eye can see. I grew up in the forest of Southern Appalachia, and the folklore I was raised with is deeply important to me. (Mostly) Human Resources is one of very few stories that do the lore and its people justice. I immediately felt at home among the haints and jackalopes and witches and horrifying things that move in the woods when no person should be awake. (Mostly) Human Resources is genuinely unnerving but surprisingly tender, weaving a story of fear, responsibility, guilt, and all of the things that drive humanity into doing monstrous things.

I loved the characters in this story. Alexys, who just wants to make her late father proud and care for the wardens under her care, was incredibly relatable. She's an anxious person but a perfectionist and willing to do whatever it takes to prove to herself that she can. But she's also headstrong and makes increasingly disastrous mistakes. Nic, the researcher who boldly follows her into the hellish Appalachian landscape, is extremely lovable even when he's prickly. He's a serious researcher through and through--a proper British gentleman--but he's also quick-witted and, frankly, hilarious. They naturally fall into each other despite their constant bickering, and I am so excited to watch their relationship blossom in the following books.

Grace has created something very special here. The book answers the question of if cryptids truly do exist, who the hell is preventing them from wiping humans from existence? There being an agency that works to monitor cryptids and eliminate threats? Makes perfect sense to someone who grew up running in the woods and praying to whoever was listening that it never fall silent. If you love a good, spine-tingling horror with a heavy dose of banter and a sprinkle of romance, this is the book for you. I know I can't wait for the next two books in the series!

Happy reading! And remember, NEVER go out in the forest at night.

[Beckie · Rating 3 out of 5]

—Thank you netgalley for the arc—
This was an enjoyable and easy going read for a debut book, I’m looking forward to the subsequent books and how they unfold. 3.5 stars.

Elements I enjoyed was the general storyline of monsters/creatures but how it followed a HR employees pov as opposed to a wardens. The quote from the handbooks and journals at the beginning of every chapter was a nice touch. Some of my favourite tropes being included like forced proximity, slow burn, “take me instead” and hidden agenda. The potential storylines that will continue with the spider, Silas, the Hollow Walker, Alexys’ new position as warden and her romance with Nic will draw me back for book 2.

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SPOILERS AHEAD !!!
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I feel like the twist at the end where Alexys is now being forced to become a warden as her HR role will be obsolete wasn’t enough of an ending. Alexys finding out Nic had deceived her was what I was hoping would be revealed. I am aware this is only book 1 of a series but I just felt a bit disappointed with the ending. There were many opportunities for Alexys to discover the truth and each one I was waiting for it to happen. When she stayed at his house she could of awoke and discovered his bag and contents. His phone could of made a noise and she saw his messages from his ex about the spider and potential discovery. When she had her debrief with her boss the boss could have said she already spoke with Nic and discovered his true reason for going. Her boss could of said they listened to Elliot’s phone records and discovered Nic knew about the Hollow Walker and encouraged him to find more, this would of then made Alexys spiral as the whole time she was blaming Elliot’s death on herself. I’m sure these avenues will be explored in book 2 but I was just hoping more would have happened at the end than just her job changing. I also felt like the kiss, that eventually happened after the build up, was brief and lackluster.

Obviously a lot of editorial mistakes but I didn’t account for that in my rating as it’s an arc, I’ll pass those comments onto the publisher.

Overall there’s great potential for this author and she has interesting ideas, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Larissa Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final rating: 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Grace Viall for an ARC of (Mostly) Human Resources in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I knew that I was going to enjoy MRH right off the bat because I instantly vibed with Viall's writing style. I thought the banter between the characters was fun, internal monologue thoughts would make me laugh out loud at times, and the plot was easily digestible.

MRH follows Alexys and Nic, both employees at the corporation Entity that deals with, in part, hunting and researching the various monsters throughout the States. Alexys works in the human resources department, but Nic works in the coveted (at least to Alexys) research department. When Alexys is scheduled to meet one of her employees in the field right after she has a nightmare (read: premonition) that he is going to die, things start taking a dramatic turn for the worse. Much to Alexys's chagrin, Nic interesting himself into her case makes things even more difficult. However, as the two attempt to track down her wayward employee, trying to catch up to him before any premonitions come to be, the two find themselves catching feelings.

Amid their trek through some truly haunted woods, facing down various types of monsters, Alexys and Nic fight to give into the attraction between them.

I am always a sucker for characters who despise, or act like they despise, the other, and Alexys and Nic sure had fun antagonizing the other.

For Alexys, I love how she jumped into danger with really not a second thought for her own safety. She was willing to do whatever she had to in order to protect those around her. Even when her stubbornness ended up being a detriment, she pushed through and wouldn't let it slow her down.

Nic's character growth wasn't as outward as his counterpart, but by the end of their ill-fated adventure through the woods, Nic showed that he was also willing to do whatever needed to be done to keep Alexys safe.

I definitely went into this book not realizing that it was part or a larger series. I kept wondering when the tension between the characters would finally break, and when some of Nic's decisions would come back to bite him. Viall left a lot of plot open to work with as Alexys and Nic's story progresses.

As a note: this isn't a cozy, cute romance. There are monsters, and horror and evil, especially in the back half of the book.

(Mostly) Human resources releases June 9 2026.