(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 Cataloguing, 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, Paranormal, Romance, Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy Romance

320 pages, Paperback

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

[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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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?

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

4.5

I genuinely didn’t know what to expect going into this book, and I was impressed! It’s corporate office rivals being forced to work together to survive in a deadly forest to find their missing colleague before they cross paths with an unclassified cryptid called the Hollow Walker who could kill them or will they end up strangling each other before anything. 🙂‍↔️

this had so much humour, silly bantering and mysterious creatures that I loved reading this!! I highly recommend people picking this up, because Nic & Alexys were soo darn cute for me 😫.

I was really curious about how the romance and horror would be balanced in this, and I think the book handled both incredibly well. It definitely reads as the first installment in a trilogy, meaning it takes its time building relationships, dynamics, lore, and the overall foundation for the larger story. Which also means… you absolutely will not get all your answers in this book alone 😝🙃🫠. (I’m laughing and crying at the same time .dw. 🥲) As painful as it was to finish with so many unanswered questions, I still genuinely enjoyed the experience and don’t regret it at all. In fact, I already know I’ll be rereading this before book 2 comes out for sureee.

Alexys and Nic’s dynamic; from work nemesis to pathetic lovers, was so well done because they truly did not start off romantically interested in each other. Alexys spends most of the book irritated with Nic and constantly on the verge of strangling him because of his know-it-all personality, while Nic is so consumed by his fascination with cryptids and mysteries that he barely notices anything beyond them. And whenever he crossed paths with Alexys, he knew how much he got under her skin and seemed to enjoy annoying her both intentionally and unintentionally 👀😆. Watching their banter and bickering slowly evolve into flirting and teasing felt so natural and smooth that even I was panicking alongside Alexys every time Nic said something flirtatious😮‍💨. Their conversations and bickering were genuinely hilarious, so silly and so entertaining to read. And seeing both of their character developments unfold made me even more excited for the future books.

The horror elements mixed with folklore and cryptids were done really well too. The creatures felt genuinely eerie and unsettling, and there were definitely moments where I caught myself holding my breath. I loved learning more about the world — from the cryptids themselves to the bureaucracy, hierarchy, and rules surrounding the company. The monsters introduced here had so much lore and intrigue behind them that I became completely hooked on wanting to know more. I loved seeing these office workers suddenly thrown into the field and forced to realise that no amount of research can truly prepare you for seeing these entities face-to-face. There’s still so much left unknown, but in a way that feels intentionally mysterious rather than unsatisfying. Felt very on brand for Appalachian area you know?

I also really loved the handbook excerpts and quotes added before each chapter. They added so much to the worldbuilding and made the story feel even more immersive. The pacing was slower at the beginning for me since the first 20% leaned heavily into the corporate office setting, but once the story moved into the field. That’s when it really became my favourite. And after the Hollow Walker was introduced… everything started feeling like a fever dream. The atmosphere became so intense, surreal, and terrifying so quickly, like the story had suddenly shifted into slow motion after getting hit over the head kinda way.

I loved her writing style and storytelling will definitely read all her future works <3.

I desperately need book 2 immediately please. ♡

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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a breath of fresh air! A completely new setting which I haven’t read before, tied in with a slow burn office romance and some high stakes monster hunting. A wonderful ARC that pulled me in with the cover and kept me with the setting and characters.

This has a slow start but honestly I didn’t feel like it was any slower than most books set in the real world with something strange going on. I did find it a little hard to follow to begin with as I didn’t know just how close it was to the real world, although once I had clocked that I was speeding through.

I LOVED the world, as well as Alexys and Nic’s jobs, I found the story line so interesting it kept me gripped the whole way through. I loved the side characters and the fact we had more going on than just the romance elements that were shining through. I would have maybe liked to know a little more about Alexys job before everything started happening but I understand the need to keep this one short.

I found the adventure and high stakes incredibly engaging, the monsters genuinely sounded awful but that’s what kept me coming back to it. I was so worried for Alexys and Nic, I didn’t want to imagine them coming into contact with the Hollow Walker after meeting the Jackalopes!!
I honestly don’t know much about the Appalachian Mountains being British but if these myths/monsters are real then I don’t think they’ll be seeing me any time soon.

I was a little sad to find out it wasn’t a standalone and was hoping that maybe the second book would be about Natalie instead but I understand the want to further follow these wonderful characters. I would have liked to see the ending being a little longer, having gone from high stakes seemingly to nothing very quickly at the end with maybe a little bit more development of the romance in that end section.

That said, I can’t wait to read the next!!

[Clara (bookish_clara) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

I had so much fun reading this book, it is totally out of my comfort zone but it was just what I needed and once i started I couldn't put it down! Straight from the start the opening chapters had me instantly intrigued and I loved the main character Alexys she was such a down to earth character that I couldn't help but warm to her. Workplace romance, monster hunting road trip and forced proximity, where neither of the main characters are actually monster hunters only added to the enjoyment. I loved every single thing about this book and the added dual pov helped to understand both the main characters Alexys and Nic perfectly.

This book is a mix of so many genres and as someone who doesn't read anything horror wise I absolutely loved how they all totally worked. There's urban fantasy, folklore and a really beautiful start to a slow burn romance all set within the atmospheric Appalachian Mountains. The monsters were written so well and there were moments that left me in chills as the author did an amazing job at describing everything so flawlessly that it was all so clear and easy to understand and came together perfectly. Even though the plot moved at a fast pace it never felt like anything was left behind whether that was the development, characters or storytelling it was written in such a fulfilling way.

My favourite thing though has to be the banter between Alexys and Nic. The tension, the snappy one liners between them was so much fun and it was such a joy to see their relationship slowly develop. I am really hoping there's a sequel to come as it ended with one of the best lines ever.

This was just such a fun and enjoyable read and I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s as if Spotify queued up “Carry On My Wayward Son”…

“(Mostly) Human Resources” tackles the usually unseen group behind the field team of Wardens chasing local legends and cryptids trying to keep them in line but when Alexys starts having dreams that one of them is dead she breaks protocol to do some digging of her own paired with her least favorite person who just happens to be her boss. Will they find Elliott in time or will whatever hunts in the mountains get to them first?

I loved this!

It feels very early Supernatural with the humor , bickering and creatures of the night and I had so much fun with it! There’s a lot of great lore and a feeling of being enveloped in this world to the point that I looked up of the author was actually from the area because so much of it felt like where my family is originally from which is everything you want in a story like this. The legends, terrain and the locals were so well done that I was surprised when I realized I was close to the end and would be leaving the world so soon.

The characters were great as mentioned above there was great banter in this enemies to maybe more back and forth between Nic and Alexys who just enjoy getting on each other’s nerves. Despite their butting heads, they do work together well and I am curious to see how their professional and personal relationship develops as the series continues because I cannot imagine that ending isn’t going to lead to some sort of consequence. There’s a great and well paced larger villain that creeps up nicely and I look forward to seeing what new haunts and may show up in future books as that arc continues.

Such a fun read I am almost sad I did it all in one day but that’s a testament to the writer and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review**

[ghostlypeach_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

👻 book 1/? ongoing urban fantasy seriee
🍑 slow burn romance
👻 dual POVs
🍑 forced proximity
👻 rivals to lovers
🍑 workplace romance
👻 cryptids, ghosts and monsters
🍑 Appalachian folklore

Firstly a huge thank you to Shannon HEAD OF ZEUS for sourcing this proof for me 🙏

~𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀~
Y'all I devoured this book. I'm not kidding, as soon as it arrived I dropped everything and began to read and my goodness. I couldn't put it down and didn't shut up about wanting to go back to it whenever I was busy. My friends can vouch. They've got the voice notes to prove it 🙂‍↕️

This book was such a refreshing ride with a mix of horror, romance, folklore and humour. It gave early seasons of Supernatural vibes and I ate it up 🤩

The writing was so good y'all. The way the Hollow Walker (the main cryptid) and other supernatural beings were described along with the environment of the Applachian Mountains was perfect. I found myself so immersed and freaked out numerous times (to the point where I was holding my breath!)

The romance was also fire omg. I love FMC Alexys and her backstory but also Nic and his personality. When together, the banter was so funny and so full of tension I just gahhh (insert book biting here).

I love a slow burn workplace romance and this was done so well. It's sprinkled throughout the story from the get go and develops so naturally it was just 🥹

Also the world was so interesting? I loved the blend of folklore and the author's creative liberties. Everything worked together so well and has laid out a fantastic foundation for the series.

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹, a brilliant debut that hit so hard. I'm gutted I devoured it so quickly because I feel like I'm still reading it! One I'll absolutely be rereading especially given that ending 👀

Releasing August 6th!

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Grace Viall and Aria & Aries for an eARC of this book on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book felt like a cosy fantasy but with monsters. That might sound strange but there was something comforting about the book, despite the gruesome depictions and creepy monsters. I felt like I was with a good friend with Alexys. She works in HR for Entity, a company who manages cryptids and monster. She’s a perfectionist, obsessed with coffee, eager to please and rule-abiding to a fault. Enter Nic, the head of research and cataloguing who is highly intelligent, smug and makes it his personal duty to annoy Alexys.

When one of Alexy’s Wardens goes missing, she and Nic end up journeying through the Appalachian mountains together (much to Alexy’s dismay). What could possibly go wrong?! This is a classic case of work nemeses who can’t stand each other, who start to become something more, even if neither of them are quite ready to accept it. There’s plenty of tension and it’s a slowwwww burn.

I loved the setting in the Appalachian mountains, and enjoyed seeing the rich folklore come to life. I would have been happy to see even more of the area, and I hope we can get that in book 2. I also loved meeting all the cryptids and monsters - black dogs, jackalopes, haints and of course, the hollow walker, alongside some mysterious humans too…

And on to that Alexy’s strange nightmares and we have a proper mystery on our hands! The excerpts at the beginning of each chapter (from Entity handbooks, a grimoire and private journals), we learn about the creatures, the company, and perhaps a little bit of magic too.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read which I would highly recommend. I will absolutely be reading book 2.

[Makayla Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane/Alcove, and Grace Viall for an arc of (Mostly) Human Resources!

This workplace nemesis to stuck in the woods allies to potential lovers is the spooky fantasy you’ve been looking for! Alexys works in human resources for Entity, a company that deals with cryptids and monsters. When one of her wardens goes missing in the Appalachian mountains after mentioning a cryptid called the Hollow Walker, Alexys is determined to save her warden and her career by diving deep into an investigation, following in the footsteps of the mysterious disappearance of her warden. But what she didn’t account for was her workplace nemesis, Nic, following her into the creepy and most definitely haunted Appalachian mountains, who has his own open research on the Hollow Walker and all but chomps at the opportunity. Alexys is relentless and headstrong, paired with Nic, who is determined and a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. Their banter leaps off the page with sizzling heat, and the more the pair traverse this deadly terrain filled with all sorts of different cryptids, the more you can’t help but root for them. The author does an amazing job of creating this eerie and heart-pounding atmosphere that keeps the reader turning the page, and the build-up to the Hollow Walker, the cult, and the twist at the end had my heart leaping out of my chest. The author creates this plotline thread throughout the entire story that slowly unravels itself to the reader in such a brilliant and gripping manner, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

If you love creepy, folklore settings, paired with ancient cryptid lore, workplace drama in a new light, and nemesis to lovers, you’ll love this book!

[CWilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Friends, I have mixed feelings about this book - none of which prevent me from recommending it as a well-written, interesting read with novel concepts.

The ideal of a Human Resources department that manages those who monitor and investigate supernatural beings and occurrences is a very different take, and one that many who have survived the corporate world can readily relate to. I was ecstatic at this fresh take.

The minutia and world of existing in a corporate space take center stage right off the rip. We see our competent and stalwart FMC (Alexys) being bulldozed by the smarmy, self-aggrandizing MMC (Nic) in the office. He appears to talk down to and belittle her and her position in a manner thinly wrapped by a veneer of friendly cooperation. What frankly, pissed me off, is that I didn't feel like there was an adequate moment where the MMC was brought to task on his behavior towards her and made (in my opinion) substantial atonement. Additionally, I felt like it wrapped in an exceedingly unsatisfying manner.

I'm hoping that the author picks it up with a second book that helps make some of these things alright, but, in the meantime, my feminist heart and justice sensitivity were RAGING in my chest for Alexys, while the ends of the story remained flapping in the wind. Please, Grace, please come back and avenge our Alexys. Let Nic have a full-on, public self-flagellation and redemption arc like I know he can! For everyone who survived in a corporate space, can we just let Nic eat shit for even one solid moment for all of the times he personally and intentionally made Alexys' work life Difficult?

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 
~
"And like the pair of idiots they were, they set off after the most gruesome beast in District 13."
~
WHAT TO EXPECT:
* Cryptids & ghosts
* Missing cryptid hunter employee
* Bickering coworker romance
* Cultists
~
SUMMARY & THOUGHTS:
Alexys Keane works for Entity, a cryptid-hunting company, in their HR department, looking after the wardens who are in the field. She absolutely does not like Nic Dyre who runs the Research & Cataloguing department--they've been butting heads since she first started.

Alexys is set to perform her in-field evaluation for her warden Elliot when he goes missing after receiving research he'd gotten from Nic. She's about to go in search of him when Elliot shows up, knowing that Elliot has bitten off more than he can chew--he's gone after the Hollow Walker, a creature no one (alive) has seen in 9 years.

They have to physically and mentally battle past a lonely haint, killer Jackalopes, a suspicious witch, a cult, the Hollow Walker itself, and other unknown entities to find what's happened to Elliot. Trauma bonding along the way may just lead to romance between the office nemeses.

I absolutely loved this book -- the world it ventured into from the corporate structure around cryptid hunting to the cryptids themselves was fascinating. Then, the characters' backstories left them complex and I wanted more of them and what happens next. The whole world was masterfully imagined and blended horror, paranormal, and romance in just the right way.

[Josh Talbot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for this ARC.

I was very intrigued when I heard the premise for this book, and I will stand by saying that people who are fans of authors such as C.K.McDonell would find this to their taste. I struggled however that it never seemed to fully breach into its potential.

A pleasing storyline, with a powerful female protagonist and a male romantic interest, yet it never seemed to find its flow. The premise is brilliant, Human Resources and such departments are so linked into our everyday life, that you can find a link into your environment, and, potentially, even imagine people you know involved in this world. However, it never went far enough…for me! I was looking forward to the more comedic elements, how these departments would link into the world of monsters and hunting them down, yet we never got that. I felt like we didn’t even fully get to appreciate the workplace and the company that Alexys worked for, as it was never fleshed out.

Long winded, but I think those last few words summarise my feelings for this book. I adored the premise, and will be looking forward to reading the rest. Yet none of it seemed fleshed out enough for me. I wanted more world building and character work, the dark comedic elements to contrast to the thrill and the higher stakes later on. The ending I felt disappointed by, that was when the author did feel like they were finally finding their flow, and it suddenly dialled down incredibly quickly and was over.

3 stars because I love everything that it could be, and I’m desperate to see it achieve that!

[Mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my GOD what a ride I had with this one!!! It was literally everything I was salivating at the mouth for, with a surprising amount of horror, actually! I wasn't expecting the romance to take as much of a backseat, but the slow burn allowed room for the very entertaining plot, setting, and worldbuilding so I did not mind at ALL!

Things I loved:
🌲 Appalachia setting!!! I've been there and seen the creepiness many times myself, and let me just say, this was given justice
🌲 The Hollow Walker was sooooo cool, my lord
🌲 Silas terrified me enough to force me to put the book down at times (in fact, the only reason I EVER put the book down was that I was a scaredy cat at times)
🌲 Nic Dyer!!! Ugh, what a nerdy, researchy cutey. Especially in the wake of Ryan Gosling in Project Hail Mary, he was perfect. It was almost giving Spencer Reid but maybe with a little more Clark Kent.
🌲 Alexys was enough of a relatable, corporate girlie mess that I loved her
🌲 Slow burn done well! Just enough to keep you craving more
🌲 All the creatures! I loved the Haints, the Jackalopes, the everything!! I need more in Book 2!

I think this one will be big. Definitely will be thinking about it and recommending it to everyone who asks. Just keep in mind it's not a standalone, so not everything is wrapped up, but I knew that going into it so I loved the ending.

Thank you so much to the publisher and author for allowing me to be a part of the street team! Despite my involvement, all opinions are my own.

[Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

•• Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC.••

Monster hunting, cryptids, and the Appalachian mountains. Yes please!! There were moments where the horror movie instinct kicked in hard, you know the ones, where you are actively screaming at the characters to stop and they absolutely will not listen. The warnings are there, you see it coming, and still. Honestly that kind of tension is part of the fun.

Entity was created to protect humanity from an ever growing monster population, and Alexys has spent her career in HR trying to honor her father's legacy. Her warden Elliot disappears and her nightmares start feeling like premonitions, she goes out to find him herself. What follows is a series of events that land her alongside Nic Dyre, Director of Research, who has his own agenda involving undiscovered creatures. He knows far more than he lets on and is equal parts insufferable and handsome about it. Together they have to navigate the woods, the creatures, and their rivalry.

The Appalachian lore was so well done, and as someone who has heard about it but never really dived in, this was a great entry point. The monsters, the horror, and the gore all delivered, and the banter between Alexys and Nic was genuinely fun to read. There is also that one plot twist that had me going back to reread because I was completely blindsided. The romance is a slow burn still building, feelings are very much present, and that ending made it clear there is a lot more in store for Alexys.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Equal parts spine-tingling and sweet, (Mostly) Human Resources should absolutely be on your Halloween TBR. Especially if you yourself work a desk job - I read most of this at my HR-adjacent position, which made for an immersive experience. (It also made me very grateful I’m wrangling a bunch of 30-something-year-old men rather than actual monsters.)

I actually loved this book way more than I was expecting to. The Appalachian Mountains are the obvious setting choice for a cryptid-centric tale, and the characters are hilarious but real. Alexys is basically me (rule-following, anxious insomniac who loves to banter with her crush), and I adore her. I’m so excited to see how she handles her career change!

Nic? What a man. Book-smart and street…well, slightly-less-intelligent. That scene in the Hollow Walker’s cave? Heartbreaking. He’s definitely worth breaking the no-dating-your-coworkers rule.

Minor character shoutout: Waylan. He’d better come back later, because if I don’t see my roly-poly-loving ghost son again, I’m going to HR.

And I’m just going to say it: I liked Elliot, but we all know none of this would have happened if he listened to instructions and didn’t go haring off into a cryptid-infested Appalachia with a conspiracy board and a prayer, right? Self-preservation instincts, my guy, come on.

Spooky vibes, witty banter, and mysterious monsters…I can’t wait for book two.

[Aileaudye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a genuine 4-star read for me — and honestly, a bit of a surprise favorite.

From the start, the concept hooked me. It gave me strong Supernatural vibes, especially with that “Bobby”-like dynamic, but reimagined in a more structured, almost corporate way — like a fully legalized, start-up-style version of paranormal hunting. It’s a really fun and effective twist on a familiar idea.

The relationships between the characters also stood out to me. There’s a clear katabasis-like dynamic in how they interact and evolve together, which adds depth without slowing down the story. Their connections feel purposeful and tied to the narrative rather than just decorative.

The worldbuilding is another strong point. The folklore is dense and layered, which gives real weight to the story and makes the universe feel rich and lived-in without becoming overwhelming.

Pacing-wise, the book does a great job of keeping the tension going. I was consistently engaged, and the story never really lost its momentum.

It blends several elements really well — folkloric fantasy, investigation, and a slow-burn romance that, interestingly, doesn’t fully resolve by the end of the book. I actually appreciated that choice, as it leaves room for growth and development in future installments.

Overall, this was a standout read for me — a true favorite that kept me hooked from beginning to end, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to what comes next.