(Mostly) Human Resources

Entity Case Files #1

by Grace Viall

A debut slow-burn work-nemesis romance set in a world where cryptids and monsters are a part of life . . . and someone has to do the paperwork.

Working in human resources was not what Alexys had in mind when she joined Entity, the private company that categorizes and manages the world’s cryptids. But after her dad was killed on the job as a Warden in the Appalachian Mountains, she was filled with noble ideas of carrying on his legacy . . . from the safety of a desk. Alexys dreams of climbing the corporate ladder while managing the Appalachian Wardens and sparring with Nic, the frustrating (and annoyingly attractive) Director of Research and Cataloguing.

When one of Alexys’ new Wardens goes missing after inquiring about a mysterious and highly dangerous monster, her chances of promotion disappear along with him. Determined to save her career—and to shield the Warden’s family from the trauma she experienced after losing her father on the job—she marches off into the monster-infested wilderness to find him herself.

Meanwhile, Nic, with ambitions of becoming the youngest Entity employee to discover a new monster, follows Alexys on her hunt. But the work nemeses are about to discover why the Appalachian Mountains are the last place you want to find yourself after dark. Among mountains older than bones, the jackalopes and ghouls are the least of their worries . . .

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

344 pages, Kindle Edition

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 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ (slump era)]

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ⊹₊

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!

[The Morbid Mama ☠︎︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy SHIT. This book scratched every single itch I try to scratch in a book. The characters were perfection, the story was FANTASTIC, and the abundance of cryptids? TOP. NOTCH. Chapter 37 quite literally had me on the edge of my seat so badly my CHILD almost knocked me off the couch 😭 But nothing compares to the creepishly realistic imagery that Grace filled my head with when describing The Hollow Walker 😱 it gave me so much anxiety, but luckily the chemistry between Alexys and Nic combatted that real quick 🙂‍↔️ Oh and did I mention there are whiskey loving Jackalopes? 🤣

I was lucky enough to do a buddy read with this one and we had so much fun sending our dream casting picks back and forth! 🥰 We definitely have to do that again soon!

Lastly, HUGE thank you to Crooked Lane for my arc of this one! The minute I read that description, I KNEW that book would be made for me!! 😍

[lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this book and ended up reading it in around six hours because I simply couldn't put it down.

One of my favourite things about this book was the setting. The mysterious, atmospheric backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains was so cool and genuinely creepy at times, which worked perfectly for me as I've always been slightly terrified of them. The setting felt both fascinating and unsettling, adding so much tension to the story.

I also loved the concept of the story. A monster hunting agency is already such a fun idea, but making Alexys work in HR so perfect and unique. The mix of workplace drama and very real monster dangers was *chefs kiss*.

The relationship between Nic and Alexys was another huge highlight. Their banter had me giggling throughout, and I loved watching them grow from work nemeses into genuine friends. The romance was handled perfectly, it never took over the story and instead felt like a delicious little sprinkle on top. I love a slow burn, so now I desperately need book two because I am absolutely not done with these characters yet.

What really kept me hooked was the way the tone constantly surprised me. It felt fun, witty, and entertaining, and then suddenly something dark and genuinely scary would happen. Several moments completely shocked me in the best possible way and kept me desperate to know what would happen next.

Overall, this was an addictive, atmospheric read with fantastic character dynamics, great humour, and some wonderfully dark twists. I had an amazing time with it and can't wait to continue the series.

[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.”

[Danielle Strona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Alexys works in Human Resources, and while it’s not what she always imagined, she’s now joined the Entity who manage monster and cryptids. Alexys’ dad was unfortunately killed while working for the same company, but Alexys wanted to carry on his legacy… but from behind her desk, where she is safe. That is until her Warden, Elliot, goes missing, and she is determined to find him and goes to the mountains for herself. Alexys’ nemesis, Nic, who is the director of Research and Cataloging, ends up following her to the mountains after Alexy ditches him, and they are forced to work together to try and find both Elliot and the Hollow Walker. But the longer they spend together, the closer they become.


I loved the world-building in this book! The author was so descriptive that you feel like you can picture the monsters they are facing and the world she created. The mountains had such a spooky vibe, and I loved it. I also loved the fact that their job is finding these monsters and taking care of them.

I loved Alexys’ character! She was a badass, and I loved to see how her character delved throughout the book. When we first met her, she was shy and scared. But as the story progressed, you could see her coming into who she is as a person, and doing anything she can to save the people she cares about. I also loved the banter between Alexys and Nic!! They were so cute, and I couldn’t stop laughing at their banter.

Overall, I highly enjoyed the book and would recommend it!

[bee ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this!

the beginning of this was super promising, but quickly became uninteresting and kind of annoying.
this left me with a lot of questions, where did all these supernatural beings come from? have they always been on earth? how does living alongside them effect everyday life? there seemed to be no worldbuilding around any of this and i really wished there was.
also alexys was incredibly irritating, i know her and nic don’t get along but some of her actions towards him were so unwarranted especially under some instances, i just found her to be annoying. however nic was pretty likeable and i did enjoy his banter. but the two of them constantly bickering i found tiresome, mixed in with the romantic feelings just felt super odd!
the pacing felt slow in between and lost my interest.

[Mischa (misch_is_bookish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of this book had me hooked immediately. Appalachian folklore? Say lesssssss! I was so excited to dive into this world and all of its creepy creatures.

Unfortunately, while it started out really strong, it lost me somewhere along the way. I wanted so much more from the world-building. I was hoping to learn more about how these creatures interact with and influence the world around them and honestly, I just wanted to encounter more of them! Instead, the pacing felt slow, with a lot of telling rather than showing. There was so much talking and introspection that it started to drag in places.

I also never really connected with the characters. Alexys annoyed me more often than not, and the fact that she knew so little about her own job frustrated the heck out of me. I feel like I knew more about what not to do than she did in her own line of work. I liked Nic more, but his selfishness and lack of growth is jarring! He had a ton of potential so I'm hoping book 2 will see him being less of an ass. Their romance also didn't work for me. It felt like they went from dislike to all consuming love in the span of a few days, and I just couldn't buy into it.

That said, there are soooo many interesting plot points that I want to see play out that was set up herr. This book very much felt like it was laying the groundwork for book two, and because of that, I definitely plan to continue the series as I have QUESTIONS. I'm hoping the next book grows the world, answers some of my questions, and delivers a more fleshed out world and characters.

Overall, it was still a fun, easy read with a cool af premise, even if the execution didn't quite live up to it for me!

[Ariel · 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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not going to lie… I’m confused by the ending. Is this not a standalone? I have so many questions and so many plot points I need sewn up!

In all honesty, I put this off for a little while because I wasn’t 100% sure if the genre switch would be my cup of tea, but I had SUCH a fun time. The middle third of this book was so incredibly strong, I couldn’t put it down. Chapter after chapter of interesting story, crazy cryptid characters, and twists I only kinda saw coming.

The premise of this book is so unique, which I have been NEEDING after so many similar books back to back. Alexys works for Entity, a company that hunts monsters that stem from folklore or people seeing them but are not confirmed by science (cryptids). She’s in the HR department and when her Warden Elliot goes on an unsanctioned mission to find the “Hollow Walker” deep in the Appalachian Mountains, she goes after him… with a little help from Nic, head of the research and cataloging department. They encounter countless creatures/monsters/cryptids while searching for Elliot, and the bulk of the book is that search in the woods. Their time in the wilderness with the monsters was so intriguing, I couldn’t stop reading.

My main issue with the book: [redacted for spoilers] Now I feel like a conspiracy theorist because there’s so much left unsaid with this ending!

All in all, this was so incredibly fun, their little quips were a fun reprieve from the intensity of the monsters. If there’s another book, I need quite a few things wrapped up, but I loved it other than those few things!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[Bethany (is booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked:

-Appalachian folklore and location. It’s a hugely underused location, and those mountains are OLD. The supernatural and Appalachia together is an absolute chefs kiss blend.
-fast paced story, we immediately get thrown in to Alexys’ corporate day to day life.
- Monsters and myth
- Decent Campy fun vs horror balance

What I didn’t:
The writing style lends itself to very ‘telling
And not showing story telling’ , which to me feels very dry and it’s hard for me to connect with story and characters. I also feel the characters other than the side characters actually, didn’t feel as distinctive as they should have.
This was an overreaching issue for me. This won’t be a problem with some readers, I just want my world lived in and to feel for the characters.
When monster inhabit the world I want to know how that affects everyone, normal people and ones that hunt them. Do you see them walking home? Or is it a rare event? Either way, I want to know. I can’t say it hit the mark there either. It seems the Entity is secretive…I just don’t know how that really makes sense.

After about 25-27% the book really picked up for me and I started to really enjoy the mystery element. But the pacing is clunky. I honestly I liked the book but it feels like it could have used a few more rounds of editing and fleshing out some character development.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press/ Alcove for the ARC in exchange for a review!

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

(e-ARC provided by NetGalley) / (3,5 stars)

this book was promising and thrilling on so many different layers, starting with the blurb to actually having many of my expectations fulfilled by finishing it.
i loved the setting. having the appalachian mountains and it’s folktales in the story‘s center and adding this edgy corporation that’s taking care of the real business hit something deep in my soul. my inner supernatural fanboy screamed more than once.
all the monsters had me fascinated & scared at the same time and the descriptive writing in this hit the nail on it‘s head every single time.

i did like alexys & nic and the romance plot included in this, though i have to mention that their behaviour and choices took me out countless times. i never actually understood what their work rivalry was about, besides nic being annoying from time to time.
although what really bothered me about these two was ALL THE THING LEFT UNSAID. all the unnecessary secrets and decisions to not share specific information drove me crazy.

in the end, the book did drag itself from time to time but the scenes built up were actually worth the wait. i‘m thrilled to see if there‘s any further intention behind the rather open end or if it‘s just intended to end open!

[maddie's reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Alcove and NetGalley for the arc!

Rtc

[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

[VeroniCanRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ ARC Review -

⛰️For Fans of:
- coworker romance
- adventure romance
- monster hunting
- Appalachia monsters
- slow burn romance
- work nemesis
- wilderness adventure

✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Alexys works in HR, but for a company called Entity that catalogues and “manages” monsters. One of her wardens, Elliot, goes missing in the Appalachias after telling her about the possibility of finding an uncatalogued monster and now she’s determined to find him so she won’t lose her job. Too bad Nic, Entity’s Director of Research adn Cataloging, is now looking for both the monster and Alexys. There’s monsters, romance, cozy vibes, and horror vibes, all in one book.

This book was the perfect blend of adventure and romance.

It was filled with great conversation, great world building, character backstory, and a great romance buildup. I loved how it could go from scary to nostalgic to romantic and back to creepy adventures so fluidly!

I also loved that each chapter started with a different rule, article, interview, etc. that gave context to the chapter, the monster hunting, and shifted what it meant to be a monster or be human. It provided great world building without having to awkwardly place it into the character’s conversations.

With an ending like this one, I genuinely can’t wait to read the next book. It left me so excited for the next adventure!

🖤 Thank you to author Grace Viall and publisher Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader copy (ARC) via NetGalley.
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

📚 Book: (Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall
📅 Release Date: August 4, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5

[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.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

When I saw the cover of this book I KNEW I had to read it! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read it before its release date.

As a HUGE Supernatural fan I was so excited for the folklore and different monsters in the Appalachian Mountains in this book and I wanted more of it.
Every time I was getting the lore or seeing the monsters I was IN IT and couldn’t stop reading!

I really could have just done without the romance (and I do love a good romance) but to me it didn’t do anything for the story and I would have much rather had more details about Entity and the different monsters and lore that came with them.

Will I read the next book in the series? Yes I will! But I will hoping for a bit more horror, monsters and gore.

[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!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Alexys and Nic, workplace rivals from Human Resources and Research and Cataloging respectively, are thrown together on a search for a missing coworker - Elliot, one of Alexys’ new wardens. And when you work for Entity, the company who categorizes and manages the monsters and cryptids of the world, it won’t be an ordinary work trip.

WELL WELL WELL. ANOTHER DEBUT THAT KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF. Are we even surprised at this point? Because I’m not. I came across this one on NetGalley randomly…which WHAT LUCK. Because, I don’t often blind request books on NetGalley anymore, but BOY am I glad I did this time around. On the onset, I knew that this was the first book in a planned trilogy. So, I was expecting some cliffhangers, but man I wasn’t prepared to have more questions than answers upon finishing! This world and story have SO much potential. In some ways, it sort of reminded me of the Vampire Diaries. Like, in the first season it’s just vampires, werewolves, and witches, but given the magical town and it’s deep history…it goes so much deeper and there was so just much room and freedom for MORE. This story is like this. Grace has set up a lot for the books to come and truthfully I can’t wait.

Also, what even IS this genre? Because more please. Another serving. Grace masterfully weaves together horror and romance. I am not kidding. I vacillated between kicking my feet and giggling AND biting my nails and being…quite terrified. I wasn’t scared enough that I couldn’t sleep, but just scared enough to absolutely BINGE this book on the edge of my seat. So so masterful. And Alexys and Nic’s relationship and banter really did me in!! They were both so funny and I had the best time. I cannot wait to see where things go with their relationship in the next two books.

Read if you like workplace rivals, slow burn romance (LIKE SLOW), forced proxomity, banter and sass (omg SO MUCH SASS), an Appalachian mountain range setting, a little dash of horror, monsters, cryptids, ghosts, witches…and the like. Also? Read if you like discovering debut authors! I would definitely recommend this book to readers and lovers of Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe - this will scratch the same itch, but spook you a little more!

[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

[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.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGallery and the publishers for providing me with an ARC!

I read this book in a single sitting it was just that good. At first, I kept reading because I was intrigued, but the more I read, the more I hung on every word. It was not what I expected in the least. I thought it was going to be mostly lighthearted, with quirky humor and a generic adventure I would get bored of halfway through. This book was absolutely NOT that.

I found the pacing to be consistently engaging, the balance between humor and seriousness excellent, and I haven’t come this close to crying during the climax of a story in so long. I was holding my breath, asking myself how this could possibly resolve itself. The darker elements of this book were so interesting and unexpected, but I LOVED it (granted I never read summaries as I like to go in completely blind 🫣). Dare I say the final stretch even gave me the same vibes as Supernatural in the best way? Usually, I have a hard time with the endings of books because I find authors often struggle to wrap everything up without making it feel rushed, or the characters start losing some of their personality and everything comes to an awkward halt. With this book, I couldn’t stop turning the pages, desperate to know what would happen next.

The last line? It left me smiling like a fool. I am absolutely recommending this book to all my friends, and to say I hope it becomes the next sensation is an understatement.

[Kels O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. X-files meets Supernatural meets a slow of slow burns.

Our FMC Alexys is essentially a middle manager of monster hunters. She doesn’t do field work, due to her own reasons and stays safely at her desk. She assigned to the Appalachian area and this year she has to do employee yearly reviews in person. That is until one of her warden (monster hunters) goes missing on an unauthorized hunt and her office nemesis and lead researcher Nic (our MMC) crashes her rescue mission.

Together they encounter a wide range of monsters from a purse eating bunny to a sad ghost boy. It was fast paced and the world building and monster descriptions are well written and engaging. The reason I took a couple stars off is frankly the FMC is annoying. She hates the MMC because he’s a “know it all” and likes to lecture about all the knowledge he has. She ditches him at one point and runs off into the mountains woefully unprepared. When he wants to work with her she pitches a fit for no reason other than she thinks she doesn’t need help (she needs a lot of it).

There is quite a bit left unresolved in terms of the monsters as well as the relationship between our main characters. The cryptid and revenge aspects of the story/world MIGHT be enough for me to continue the series.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.