Monster, Monarch, Maiden

by Rae Carson

A sweeping stand-alone fantasy from award-winning and bestselling master of the genre, Rae Carson. After she loses everything, Bria will do whatever it takes to survive—even pledge herself to a secretive young man on a perilous quest. Breathtaking adventure and swoon-worthy romance for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Ava Reid, and Rebecca Ross.

Bria Angarsold isn’t supposed to be a hero. She’s just a mountain girl. A mountain girl with a near useless Gift, living an idyllic life with her sister and her parents, running the family’s thriving inn. But then the raiders come, and Bria’s family is destroyed.

One of the last survivors of the raid, Bria isn’t sure she’ll live to see where the captors are taking her. Until the caravan crosses paths with a mysterious traveler and Bria’s luck changes again.

With no family or home to return to, Bria swears her life to this moody, secretive young man. Titus has been chosen to complete a perilous quest—one that will make Bria question everything she’s ever believed, from the magic that weaves through their world to the very gods themselves. As the journey unfolds, Bria realizes she has something—someone—new to believe in. She’d follow Titus to the Edge of the World, sworn oath or not, even if neither of them stands a chance at returning from it.

But Bria Angarsold is a survivor. She isn’t useless, and neither is her Gift. And this is her story.

Shadow and Bone meets Divine Rivals for an exhilarating journey and a slow-burn romance from the author of the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic, Romantasy, Audiobook, Teen

480 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2026

About the author

Rae Carson was born in 1973 in California and now lives in Arizona. She developed an enthusiasm for storytelling in her earliest childhood. She studied social sciences and worked in various industries after graduating from university before she realized her dream and became a writer. The Girl of Fire and Thorns was her debut novel.

In her own words, she "write[s] books about teens who must do brave things. [Her] books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. [She] especially love[s] to write about questions [she doesn't] know the answers to."

Has also published as Rae Carson Finlay.

Reviews

[Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller]

If anyone was going to write a wholesome, organic romantacy, it’s Rae Carson. I’ve long admired her approach to love stories and her character profiles in general because they always feel more realistic. More relatable. Where the romantic bonds are formed based on way more than just physical attraction and plot convenience.

Even so, I wish the fantasy elements in the book had been stronger. They provided the backbone objective to the story and some fun moments involving personal magical “talents,” but for the majority of the book, I forgot I was reading a fantasy. The elements were definitely a bit more subtle than I usually prefer. What’s more, a lot of the richer world-building components took place “off-screen.” There’s only so much page count, and this was a romance-first story. I think had the intent been to make it a fantasy-forward tale, all of those cool elements would’ve been featured instead of getting pushed to the periphery in favor of relationship development… and I probably would’ve liked it more. The ending felt a little rushed (regarding the fantasy plot points, not the romance, which was perfectly paced), which made the rest of the book feel too drawn-out in retrospect (because omgsh we spent a lot of time trudging through the snow), which is why I think I finished it feeling a bit dissatisfied. This is definitely an instance of the book being a wonderful representation of its genre, but me not being the intended audience.

I need to rant about romantasy in general for a minute and then explain why I liked this one better than most I’ve read. Do you ever find it ridiculous how signs of attraction between characters are written in at the absolute stupidest times? Like during life or death situations where the last thing you’d be thinking about is how hot the other person is, especially in the WAY those scenes are written where time seems to slow down, the danger subsides for a minute, and we get a couple of pages describing in detail the other person’s physique. These moments irritate me to no end because they are so obviously pushing a plot agenda, and they effectively steal away all tension and sense of danger from the scene.

What’s cool is that Carson’s books never have any of the things that irritate me about how romances are often written. The relationships are always slowly developed, based on mutual respect and gradually increasing regard for one another that comes from going through difficult things together and consistently showing up for one another. So good. I give that aspect of the story a solid A+.

I know this review is weird. I’m not a romantasy fan who is trying to fairly evaluate a romantasy book. But I AM a big Rae Carson fan and have read and will continue to read anything she comes out with. And if like me you like love stories that feel more organic and wholesome, she’s a great recommend. For the record, this romantasy contains zero spice and is a perfectly lovely little love story.

I’d like to thank HarperAudio Children’s, Rae Carson, and Netgalley for the chance to listen to and review an early audiobook copy of this book!

Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Jen, Karen, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, Elizabeth, Bee, Poochtee, Kinsey, Alysa, Derek, Kelly, Grace, Carmen, Leticia, and Leah! <3

Find me on Booktube at: The Obsessive Bookseller

Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com

Other books you might like:

[Chel (chel.chapters)]

Monster Monarch Maiden is the definition of a slow-burn romantasy. There’s no spice, the pacing is gentle, and the story takes its time, but the payoff is absolutely worth it.

I fell in love with the world-building, the characters, and every adventure along the way. If you enjoy character-driven fantasy and don’t mind taking the scenic route to the romance, this one deserves a spot on your list.

[Selene]

Thanks to the author publisher and narrator’s for my alc and arc. I thoroughly enjoy immersion reading and think this will always be my preferred method.

This ya stand alone is phenomenal. It has strong Skyrim vibes , relatable characters and an mmc who is an excellent conversationalist. It’s dark gritty, deals with grief trauma and death but in a way that highlights how that makes life even more worth living. Really enjoyed the angsty slow burn between the leads. The magic system is really unique and I enjoyed the idea of fatiguing from it.

The narrator did an excellent job and really added to the story, she does a really good male voice.

[Amy]

Rae Carson continues to earn her place on my list of favorite authors. I loved it.
This fills a hole for YA fantasy with adventure and romance but not explicit content. I loved the story, world, and the main character was a giant breath of fresh air. It's also a standalone! I will reach for this as a recommendation to a lot of readers. Give it to your Hermione types.

[Malin]

This was an ARC; thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio and Greenwillow Books. My opinions are my own. This book is on sale now.

Bria Angarsold is an innkeeper's daughter (she mentions this at seven different points in the story, in case you were likely to forget) who was kidnapped by raiders, along with her sister and several other people who were at her family's inn at the time. Bria is one of the last surviving captives when the raiders' caravan is attacked by a mysterious young man. Seriously injured, but patched up by her rescuer, Bria knows that she won't survive in the wilderness by herself. Her sister is dead, and her family's inn was burned by the raiders. She has no home to return to, so she swears herself to the service of Titus, her brooding companion, vowing to help him on his dangerous journey.

It's obvious that Titus comes from wealth, from the expensive boots he wears to the impressive war horse he rides. He is on a perilous quest, assigned by the gods themselves, chased by assassins, and while he is initially reluctant to have Bria accompany him, her magical gift (which she had always seen as rather useless) proves to be a valuable aid in the challenges they face along the way.

As far as I can tell, this is a standalone fantasy novel by Rae Carson, and I was granted ARCs of both the audiobook and e-book versions of the story. I have to admit, I was glad when I got the e-book version, as I didn't entirely like the way Bailey Carr was narrating the story. So being able to read the story with my eyeballs was preferable.

In this fantasy world, everyone is born with a magical gift of some sort. There are powerful and impressive gifts, like healing, shapeshifting or being able to take control over and manipulate everyone around you, but also small, seemingly harmless gifts like being able to change the colour of your nails, lighting small fires, or making things cold (Bria's gift). In a family of innkeepers, being able to make sure the food stays cold is very useful, but out in the world, kidnapped by raiders, it feels rather useless to her. As it turns out, once she starts experimenting with Titus' encouragement, her freezing powers can be a powerful weapon. It also makes her a lot more resistant to cold than most others, which is great when they have to traverse an icy lake to get into a cave to retrieve an object necessary for the quest.

Bria is resilient, pragmatic, and tries very hard not to dwell on the miseries she's gone through. She mourns her sister and her home, but tries to stay focused on Titus and his god-given quest to give her life a new purpose. He needs to retrieve several magical items in order to call down a dragon on a specific date, which will take him to where he needs to be in order to represent the goddess who selected him in a trial to determine who will become a new god. Each god in this world's pantheon has a chosen representative, and some are a lot more murderous than others, determined to take out their competitors before the divine trial. So Titus and Bria have to get to a specific destination on a specific date, or Titus fails. They also have to dodge assassins and various supernatural obstacles on the way.

It is obvious that any romance between them is doomed before it begins, as Titus is not only betrothed to someone (it's not a love match), but is also possibly going to become a new god if he survives long enough to summon the dragon and complete his quest. He is never going to be able to settle down and live a quiet life with a former innkeeper's daughter who might have a promising future as an ice merchant. Nevertheless, Bria can't help but fall for the handsome, stubborn and brave Titus, and he seems to return her feelings.

"Breathtaking adventure and swoon-worthy romance for fans of Sarah J. Maas" is one of the promises in the official blurb, and while I can absolutely vouch for the adventure part of that statement, anyone who is expecting romantasy along the lines of ACOTAR or any of Sarah J. Maas' other books will be deeply disappointed. This is a fantasy quest with two interesting young protagonists, but the romantic subplot is extremely secondary, possibly even tertiary, and it is mostly longing glances and wistful sighs, all extremely chaste. Anyone expecting a steamy romantasy is going to be very disappointed by this. Stop it with the false advertising, publishers!

Standalone fantasy is rare these days, so I hope this isn't the start of a series. I wouldn't mind reading more books set in this world, though, which proved to be fascinating as it was revealed through Bria and Titus' journey.

[Desirae]

I am going to start with the one thing I absolutely cannot understand about Monster, Monarch, Maiden: that title. I’m sorry, but I just don’t like it. And then there is the cover, which looks like it was pulled straight off the shelf of a grocery store paperback rack in 1982. It has that wonderfully dated fantasy-romance energy that makes me want to laugh before I even open the book. Fortunately, everything inside the cover is so much better than the cover itself.

Because I absolutely loved this book.

Rae Carson has created a world that feels incredibly rich and layered, the kind of world that gets better the longer you spend inside it. It reminded me of fine wine in the sense that there are layers upon layers to discover, and Carson doesn't dump all of that information on the reader at once. Instead, the history, politics, magic, religion, cultures, and mythology unfold naturally as Bria and Titus travel. The result is a world that feels lived-in rather than constructed solely to serve the plot.

And the plot itself completely hooked me.

Bria Angarsold is an innkeeper's daughter living with her family in a remote, mountainous region. She has a magical Gift that she has always considered practically useless: she can freeze things. Then raiders descend on her home, destroying her family and leaving Bria captured and completely without a future. Her circumstances change when she crosses paths with Titus, a mysterious young man on a dangerous quest. Titus rescues her, and with nowhere else to go, Bria swears herself to him.

What follows is essentially a massive journey across an astonishingly varied world, filled with danger, secrets, magic, political intrigue, monsters, ancient history, and revelations about the gods and the nature of the Gifts. Titus has been chosen for a quest of enormous importance, but the wonderful thing about this story is that Bria refuses to become merely a footnote in his destiny.

In fact, that is one of my favorite things about her character.

Bria is curious, stubborn, intelligent, observant, funny, and far more capable than she initially believes. She isn't the stereotypical fantasy heroine who suddenly discovers she is secretly the most powerful person in the world. Her strength develops through experience, resilience, and an increasing understanding of herself and her Gift. Watching her journey from someone who thinks she is essentially powerless into someone who understands exactly what she is capable of was one of the most satisfying parts of the book.

And then there is Titus.

Titus is secretive, brooding, frustrating, complicated, and absolutely fascinating. He initially feels like the sort of character who would prefer to answer every question with a meaningful stare and walk dramatically into the wilderness. Naturally, Bria is having none of that. Their dynamic is fantastic because she keeps pushing him, questioning him, and refusing to let him hide behind his secrets.

Their relationship develops slowly, and I loved that. The chemistry between them sizzles, but it doesn't feel rushed or artificially manufactured. They begin as reluctant companions, gradually become allies and friends, and eventually something much deeper begins to emerge. There is an intimacy in the way they learn to trust each other that I found far more compelling than an instant romance would have been.

The supporting characters also add so much texture to the story. From the people they encounter during their travels to those connected to the larger political and magical conflicts, Carson gives the world a sense of enormous depth. Even the smaller interactions contribute to the feeling that there is a much larger world continuing beyond the edges of the page.

What really surprised me, though, was just how completely riveted I was. This is a journey fantasy, and there are long stretches where Bria and Titus are simply traveling, learning about each other, encountering new places, and slowly uncovering the truth. Normally, that kind of pacing can lose me. Here, I didn't care. I wanted to be on that road with them. I wanted to see what was around the next corner. I wanted to understand Titus. I wanted Bria to understand herself. I wanted to know where this entire strange, beautiful world was going.

I was hooked from the first page to the last.

And now I am slightly depressed.

Because this is a standalone.

I know that is technically a good thing. We get a complete story. We don't have to wait two years for another installment or suffer through a cliffhanger. But selfishly, I want more. I want more Bria. More Titus. More of this world. More magic, more history, more places, more adventures, and, frankly, more of their chemistry.

So yes, the title is unfortunate. The cover looks like it belongs next to a stack of dusty grocery-store paperbacks from 1982. But the actual book inside it? Absolutely gorgeous.

Monster, Monarch, Maiden is immersive, character-driven fantasy with a fascinating world, a compelling quest, wonderful character journeys, and a romance that takes its time and lets the chemistry build naturally. I loved the journey, I loved the characters, and I loved getting lost in this world.

I just wish I wasn't already mourning the fact that I have to leave it.

[Ashley Wendt]

I had to sit with this one for a little while and parse through some of my feelings before I could really decide what I thought about it. Monster, Monarch, Maiden is very much a journey…literally, since a large portion of the book follows Bria and Titus as they travel, but also in a very “trust the process” kind of way.

I really enjoyed Rae Carson’s writing. It made it incredibly easy to keep turning the pages. I loved the slow burn romance and appreciated how age appropriate the romance felt for the characters. Bria and Titus were both extremely likable, and watching their partnership, trust, and feelings for one another slowly grow was actually one of my favorite parts of the book.

I thought the worldbuilding and magic system were interesting and easy to follow. Normally, I think I would have wanted a little more depth from each, but given that this is a standalone, what we got still felt like enough.

There is a point toward the end, though, where I definitely went, “Huh…that’s it?!” There had been quite a bit of buildup surrounding a certain event, and I expected us to see more of it…or at least get a glimpse of what happened.

And then I finished the book and had to sit with that feeling for a bit.

Would seeing that event have actually made the book better? Did I really need to know exactly what happened? Would it have changed how I felt about the story?

After thinking about it, I realized the answer was no. Because that really wasn’t what this book was about. It wasn’t the journey Carson was taking us on, nor was it ever truly the goal of the story.

At its heart, this is a character driven story about grief, self discovery, and learning to recognize and honor what is actually important in life. It’s also very much about the everyday person…the “little guy”…being seen, understanding their own worth, and realizing the potential they may not have recognized in themselves.

There were still a few eye roll moments for me, and one twist that I found pretty obvious. But after sitting with the book as a whole, those were easy enough for me to overlook. The ending was actually really wonderful and gave the story a satisfying, thoughtful wrap-up that worked perfectly for a standalone YA romantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Greenwillow Books for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lucia]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

[cora lee]

this book really surprised me! it had everything I look for in a good fantasy, interesting setting, good backstory, interesting and unique world, I am impressed!

⭐4.5⭐

[Chayenne Powers]

I wanted it to be longer & slower; I couldn't put it down.

[Carina Olsen]

This book started off pretty great for me. I found the story to be exciting and I liked the characters a lot. But then I started having some issues. And I just could not ignore them. And so this book ends up being a three star for me. I have too many thoughts to share about it. Some not so positive, but some good things too.

As there were parts of this book that I loved. Then there were parts that I did not. Even so, there was nothing about this book that I hated. Which is always positive. And so, three stars, as it ended up being in the middle for me. I so wish it had been more. But the book was simply just not enough for me, I'm sorry to say.

I'm going to start my review by writing down all the things that I liked about this book, before I share the things I didn't. The book is told from the point of view of seventeen-year-old Bria. She and her family owns an inn in the mountains, having worked at it their whole lives. But this book begins with Bria being a prisoner. For three weeks she has been stuck in a small cage. This is the part I liked most about this book, honestly. The beginning. It was dark and depressing and just so good. It was so sad too. As it begins with Bria being almost dead, stuck in a cart next to her sister, who was dead. Bria does not think she will live much longer. Until a stranger shows up on the road. And somehow ends up killing all of the enslavers and rescuing Bria. Though the rest of the prisoners died, as their enslavers would not let anyone go free.

And so our story begins. With Bria being days away from her home, stuck in the middle of the mountains. And her deciding that she needs to stay close to the person who rescued her. A boy named Titus. It takes forever before we finally learns that he is just eighteen-years-old. But he did not seem much older either, once Bria got to know him. He did try to leave her behind, but she caught up quick. As she did not think she could survive on her own, having been without food for so long. He agreed to help her get to others.

One of the parts that I really liked about this book were the horses. Titus had a great one. And Bria ended up with a cute one she named Apple. I liked how they took care of them. I liked the beginning of this book the most. When it was just Titus and Bria for a long time. He is on a very secret quest. And Bria is unsure if she should go back home, as she saw her dad die and is sure her mom is dead too and the inn burned down. And so she ends up going with Titus further up the mountain to join him on his dangerous mission.

That was a part that confused me a bit, to be honest. How she decided to be his shield maiden. To swear to protect him and to anything for him. They were a bit too young for that, I thought. But I guess it was a way for them to stay together. What I liked most about the beginning of the book was how it was just the two of them. And how there were monsters in the mountains. I liked the mistwraiths. Wish there had been more of them, to be honest. We get to see an ice cat too. Which I fount to be pretty exciting to read about.

I'm already writing too much about this book. And yet not nearly enough about the actual story. It is about Bria and Titus being on an adventure, of sorts, because he was visited by a god. It was a little weird. And so they have to travel all over this world. And from the moment they left the mountains, it got a bit boring. I did not care much for all the travelling. Or the people they met, honestly. I liked the sea creature, though it was over too soon. And was a bit depressing too. They were both pretty much always filthy. Shudders.

I'm trying to think of what else to say that I liked about this book. I did like reading about Bria and Titus. I liked their story. But I had so many issues with it too. Oh. But I never hated this book, so a three star fits best. Though it could have been lower, to be honest. But the beginning of the book was a four star. Then it just went down. I really liked the ending of this book, though. That was more exciting and sad and just done really well. I liked how it ended and how slow it was. But it needed more pages at the end as well.

My biggest issue with this book was the writing. I simply could not stand it. I did not fully hate it, of course, but I did not like it one bit. I had hoped that I would grow to ignore it, at least, but no. Every time I picked the book up again, I wanted to put it back down because I got so annoyed at the way it was written. Sigh. But the story was enought to get me to continue reading. But yes. The writing. It was not for me. It was highly annoying. Unsure how to describe it. Felt more like telling, not showing. And I never got used to it.

Because of that, I had issues connecting to the characters. I liked them a whole bunch. But I did not love them. I did not swoon over the romance, that was not really there. As it took over four hundred pages for them to kiss. Yeah. And all we got were two kisses, written badly. It hurt my heart. I wanted the swoony romance. But it was just not there. Only Bria telling us she likes him. And her thinking he loves her back, because someone told her so. And she can see all his thoughts on his face. Yeah. Yet no real chemistry.

The whole point of the book is that Bria ends up becoming the shield maiden of Titus. And gods, I disliked that name so very much. I cannot help it. It annoyed me every time it came up. Which was often. And him being her liege. Just, yeah. The words were just not for me. It seemed silly. There was an argument in the middle of the book. Were Titus walked away for a moment, without saying anything. And Bria overacted so much, saying he was cruel to her. I did not get it. It became such a big deal and it just felt weird to me.

I also have to mention the world this book is set in. There is too little information about everything. Sure, the book tries to give us small moments of details. But it was not enough. There were two moons, with so weird names. There was a whole bunch of gods, doing nothing, I suppose. There were magical creatures that were evil. I loved those. But there was too little of them. Sigh. I wanted more danger. One sentence near the end of the book bothered me the most. Those juicy tears. Just. What even is that. It took me out.

What bothered me the most, I think, was that there was no map in this book. I do not get it. Because Bria and Titus travels for weeks and weeks in this story. Going all over their world. And there definitely should have been a map, as all the travelling drove me crazy. Ack. I also wish the cover had been done better. Aw. It's not that awful, but I do not like it. Wishing there had been pretty chapter artwork. Okay, so. This book could have been so gorgeous looking. Makes me sad that the publisher did not make a better effort.

While writing about this story, I was reminded about one part that made no sense to me. Why Bria's inn got raided. It was never really explained. And not why she was stuck for three weeks in the mountains, going in circles while captured. It was a loose thread. Bothered me. I really liked the plot about Titus and the ice cat. But it was not done well enough at all. There was too little about it. I wanted so much more. Sigh. It was an excellent part of the story, though, I just wish there had been more focus, more details.

I'm unsure what this book is. The summary keeps calling it a romance. But it's very much a young adult story, at least. And very little romance. Fully a fantasy story, though. But I only liked the first part of it. The rest grew too boring and too slow. I wanted more monsters. I wanted more romance. I just feel a little bit disappointed with this book. I wanted it to be more. I did enjoy it. And I am glad that I read it. But wishing that I loved Monster, Monarch, Maiden more. But I will always read books by Rae. And you should too.

Editing my review to add another part, as I suddenly remembered that I completely forgot to mention the magic part of this story. Every person gets a magic gift when they are old enough, usually early teens, I suppose. The gifts are so many and so different. They are mostly kept secret from others. Bria is able to make things freezing cold. and Titus has two royal gifts, which I thought was awesome. I liked Bria's gift too. And learning more about what gifts others had too. Wish there was more of it. A favorite part of mine.

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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2026...

[kat]

Something I can't stand about YA fantasy novels is when the FMC is described to be strong and intelligent but you don't actually see any evidence of it. This book does not do that thankfully. Bria is exactly as smart and resourceful and empathetic as described. Absolutely loved that she did not have to be rescued constantly and could hold her own and was actually a main character in her own story.

I got a bit concerned with the slow burn as I didn't see it developing quickly enough, but in the end, it was a very sweet and natural friends to lovers path which I loved.

I will say the authors other series (girl of fire and thorns) is still my favorite, but this was a lovely little standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC as always!

[Robin (Bridge Four)]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 Hearts

Rae Carson is one of those authors I have loved over the years, that not nearly enough readers have experienced yet. She does young adult so well, with strong smart heroines, great interesting and original plots, and romances that feel real instead of insta love or lust mistaken for love. Monster Monarch Maiden is a standalone YA fantasy that may have a chosen one trope but the main character is not the chosen one for a change.

Bria Angarsold, the single PoV for the story, came from a small village where she ran an inn with her parents and sister. When we first meet Bria, she is locked in a cage after being stolen from her small village by raiders. Stuck with almost no hope, she has to stare at her sister's corpse as they travel to the mine where she will be imprisoned. That is until a stranger sees the slaver caravan and ends up changing the coarse of Bria's life forever.

Titus is grumpy, barely uses any words and doesn't seem to want any company on whatever the quest is he is on. But Bria is a girl from the highlands and knows what it is going to take to survive and potentially get home. She'll need someone to help protect her while she heals; she needs him. Bria is smart, resourceful and seemed to understand people. For so long, she believed her gift was useless. Titus is able to see the true potential of it and of Bria. As they travel together, watching each others' backs something akin to friendship and then to love starts to blossom.

I think one of the best things about this story was that even though they were traveling for much of the journey, I was never board as there was a new discovery or danger around every corner. Titus takes a little time to warm up to, but I understood why he was so standoffish in the beginning of the story. Bria was so easy to like. She was just a simple country girl whose life was ripped apart trying to get back to see if she could salvage anything from her home. She had just lost so much, but she was determined to move forward and help the stranger she just met in any way she could.

Monster Monarch Maiden is a story full of lore, gods, monsters and a very cool premise. There were so many moments in this book I enjoyed. The smart plot for why so many raiding parties were coming through and why all the tension between cities. Along with the greater quest that Titus was in a hurry to complete. All of it wove together well. My one and only complaint is that having a single PoV limited how much the reader could experience towards the end of the story as some key things happened off page when Bria wasn't there. It is a small complaint and I remain extremely happy with the conclusion to the story.

If you haven't read Rae Carson before, this is a great intro since it is stand alone and you can see if you enjoy her style. She is one of the few YA authors I continue to read.

Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None

Bailey Carr has a lot of books under her belt, however I have only listened to one other short story narrated by her. She has a strong voice and carries the single PoV narration well, capturing the age and heart of the Bria. She had good character separation as I always knew who was talking. She did the male voices well but didn't seem to have a deep register to draw on to capture Titus as I imagined him. I liked how well she did with some of the words that made this seem a little nordic or reminiscent of vikings. There were some fun words to play around with. Overall a solid and enjoyable performance from Carr.

Listen to a clip: HERE 

[Brittney Tyler]

Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Date: 9/8/26 – 9/14/26

Over a decade ago, I discovered BookTube, (It was right after my father passed away and we couldn’t afford real TV anymore and streaming wasn’t a big thing yet (wouldn’t have been able to afford that either), and I was looking for a free way to get TV-like entertainment and realized that I could use Youtube for that (I could even tailor it to my special interests😊!!!)) and one of the very first book series I remember being raved about was Rae Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns. I read it back then and really enjoyed it, but for whatever reason never picked up or read any of her other books. Flash forward, I get recommended her newest release, Monster, Monarch, Maiden on Goodreads and decide its time to rediscover her. (This is before I lock myself down for TBR takedown.)

This book starts with a young Mountain girl named Bria Angarsold who has been captured by raiders after her family’s inn is attacked. Her sister, Anja, has already succumbed to their captivity and it looks like Bria will too when the raiders’ caravan meets a lone traveler on the road. At first this seems like a chance encounter until later that night when the caravan is attacked, and Bria is rescued. This is how she meets Titus, a quiet boy with the heart of a hero who is on a secretive quest that over time, she learns may just save their world. With no one and nothing to go back to that Bria knows of, she swears herself to her rescuer and goes on the mission of a lifetime, discovering she and the Gift she was given by the Gods (everyone gets at least one!!) may be far stronger and capable than she ever believed.

My favorite thing about this book was the characters. Both Bria and Titus are capable; they received basic survival training from their parents as they both grew up in semi-hostile environments, but they aren’t overly so and that was really refreshing as the whole 17-year-old being super overpowered is fun, but it gets a little overdone at times. The development of their friendship and eventual relationship as this is a romantic fantasy, although a very clean one (they don’t go beyond kissing.), is well paced and balanced, and the other characters we meet along the way are also interesting, although we spend the vast majority of the book with just our two main characters as they traverse the world on their quest. Overall, their character arcs are just extremely well done; you can see that this isn’t Carson’s first rodeo.

I also really liked the world-building and especially how she structured it, slowly revealing it over the course of the narrative so it didn’t bog everything down and the world-building was interesting on top of that. If you like ancient forgotten history and exploring how its rediscovery would change the world, then you will like this book as it does explore that to a certain extent. We also dip our toes into explorations of being “chosen” and how that can affect the individual for good or ill and the intersections between that and godhood that exist in this narrative. I wish she had pushed it further, but I understand she was waylaid by the parameters of the age group that she chose to aim for, although I stand by the fact that if she had pushed, her target audience could have handled it.

That brings me to my final point, and the reason why I deducted a ½ star. I think this story deserved a duology instead of a standalone, especially if one book was Bria’s and the other was Titus’s. I enjoyed Bria’s story, her arc was wonderful and engaging and we got glimpses of Titus’s arc alongside hers, but it would have been nice to get a book that chronicles his journey after they leave each other until his return. Firstly, it would have fleshed out a lot of ideas that she was dipping her toes into here in Bria’s story, rounding them out and making them feel complete, especially Titus’s personal struggles with being “chosen.” I just thought he was as interesting as Bria and wished we could have delved into him a little more. To be honest, I thought this world and characters were interesting and wanted more. 4.5 stars!!!!

[Heather M Jones-Lancto]

Recommendation: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 - (Out of 5 🌕)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult, Fiction
Length: 480 Pages
Pace: Fast
Moods: Easy to Read, Page Turner, Entertaining, Wonderful Characters
Release Date: August 25, 2026

Monster, Monarch, and Maiden is an amazing stand alone story that captured my attention from the first page. For me, Rae Carson has never failed to build unique stories with lovable characters that capture and win my heart with their strength of character, mind and body. This story was no different, if anything it exceeds any story I have ever written by her.

Synopsis:

Bria Angarsold loves her family and the life they have built around their inn. Unfortunately, she and her sister find themselves in a difficult situation when raiders come through their small town and take them captive. It appears she has no way out when a mysterious young man single handedly takes down Bria's captures and rescues her from the cage she has been held prisoner. Finding herself in the middle of no where with no food or gear to weather the cold temperatures and coming snowstorms, Bria offers her services as guide to the man who is her dark and mysterious hero.

Titus isn't much of a talker, but that is alright because Bria talks enough for the both of them. He is hesitant to make her his travel companion but before long she proves herself to be more than capable. Titus is on an important but mysterious quest. As he draws closer and closer to his end goal, he begins to realize that Bria has come to mean more to him than he ever meant her to. Where he is headed she cannot go. He has to decide if his mission means more than the relationship and feelings he has developed for Bria.

What I Loved:
Bria: Bria is what I would consider the perfect character. The empathy that she feels for others makes her an endearing. Throughout the entire book she is eager to do for others. She knows her weaknesses but is also aware of her strengths and what those strengths bring to the mission.

Titus' Mission: Without giving away spoilers, Titus' backstory and mission are unique. He can come across and broody and difficult but as the story builds and you learn more about his history, he becomes more relatable and endearing.

Gods and Monsters: The mythology built within some fantasy stories can make the storyline drag. Carson has developed a simple but complex mythos that wasn't difficult to grasp and is easy to remember throughout the book.

Stand Alone Story: Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good fantasy series but sometimes it can be difficult waiting for the next installment and then trying to recall where the story left off. I did not feel short changed in any way with this stand along fantasy. Carson gave me everything I would want and need in a good fantasy book.

The courage, intelligence and strength Bria showed throughout the book added to her ability to thrive. From the start of the book she showed a desire to survive whatever life brought her way an continued to build on her strength of character with each new hurdle she encountered. I found the story to be an incredibly satisfying read from start to finish.

[Shannon]

Thank you to @NetGalley, Rae Carson, Greenwillow Books, and @HarperCollins for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I listened to the audiobook edition of Monster, Monarch, Maiden, narrated by Bailey Carr, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

One of my favorite things about this story was Bria. She's curious, persistent, and asks question after question after question. What could have easily become annoying instead became one of her most endearing qualities. Bria wants to understand the world around her, and she isn't willing to simply accept what she's told. Her curiosity drives both the plot and her personal growth.

The dynamic between Bria and Titus was easily my favorite part of the book. Titus acts like every question is a burden, yet somehow he keeps answering them anyway. He may be grumpy, guarded, and secretive, but he continually indulges Bria's curiosity. Their banter felt natural, and watching their relationship grow from reluctant traveling companions into something built on trust, loyalty, and affection made the slow-burn romance incredibly satisfying.

I also appreciated how Rae Carson flips the traditional chosen one narrative. While Titus is the one chosen for the quest, this is ultimately Bria's story. Watching her discover her own strength and the true potential of her Gift was one of the most rewarding parts of the book.

One thing that really stood out to me was Bria's mother and the lessons she left behind. In a world where revealing your Gift can reveal too much about who you are, she believes that some things shouldn't be freely given away. She never talks about her own Gift, and she never rushes to explain Bria's. Instead, she allows Bria to discover those truths for herself. Looking back, that felt less like withholding information and more like teaching Bria that identity, power, and self-knowledge have value.

And honestly, by the end of the story, I started to think Bria has a second Gift: survival. Again and again, she's faced with unimaginable loss, danger, and impossible odds, yet she refuses to quit. She adapts, endures, and keeps moving forward. Her resilience became just as powerful to me as her magic.

The story combines an epic journey, political intrigue, divine influence, and questions about faith, destiny, and power. The adventure takes Bria and Titus across icy mountains, deserts, mines, and ancient cities, creating a world that felt vast and immersive.

Bailey Carr's narration was fantastic. She perfectly captured Bria's determination, humor, vulnerability, and endless curiosity. Her performance elevated the audiobook and made the interactions between Bria and Titus even more enjoyable.

Overall, Monster, Monarch, Maiden is a compelling YA fantasy with a resilient heroine, a grumpy hero with a soft heart, an engaging slow-burn romance, and a refreshing twist on the chosen one trope.

[Lauren]

Electronic ARC provided by Edelweiss.

Monster, Monarch, Maiden is a fantastic standalone fantasy from Rae Carson, featuring an entire new--and intriguing--magical world. Bria is an innkeeper's daughter who has spent her entire life in the mountains with her loving family. This is all abruptly ended when her inn is raided and Bria and her sister, along with multiple other locals, are captured by the mysterious invaders. As the book opens Bria has been manacled in a cage for days as the raiders travel to their next location. The prisoners haven't been fed, their injuries are untreated, and many of them are dead or close to it. As far as Bria knows her parents are dead, her inn is burned, her sister has just died, and she is likely next. Of course that's just when we meet our second main character, the mysterious Titus. Titus is quiet, moody, and obviously on a secret quest of some sort, but he is also Bria's only chance of survival in the mountains. She swears herself to his service, and follows him on a quest that will expand her views of the world in new and terrifying ways.

In Bria's world every person has at least one magical "gift" supposedly given to them by the gods. There are a variety of gifts that can range from barely useful to so powerful that they can control nations. As an innkeeper's daughter Bria knows quite a bit about the surrounding nations and their politics, but now things are becoming increasingly tense and Bria knows that it somehow relates to Titus' quest.

Bria is a great main character. She is intelligent and quick to learn, but she is not a superhero. All of her strengths make total sense given her background. She is a good conversationalist and listener because of growing up in an inn. She is protective and loyal because of her loving family. She is not a once in a lifetime magical talent or a warrior maiden or a hidden princess, but just a teenage girl who is thrown into events well beyond her experience and rises to the challenges. She makes an interesting viewpoint character since from most perspectives she is not the main character of this adventure, which ends up being part of the point.

There is of course also a well done romance between Bria and Titus (not a spoiler really since it's clear very early on that that's where the narrative will go), but the romance never overshadows the plot and is always handled well and in a way that plays to the strengths of both characters. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys strong YA fantasy, especially those who are fans of Kristin Cashore's Graceling books.

[Ali]

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Children’s | Greenwillow Books for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I’m really grateful to find these awesome stand-alone fantasy books through NetGalley because I had not heard about this one - and Monster, Monarch, Maiden deserves to be talked about! This is an excellent YA fantasy complete with quests, monsters, gods, and magic. This is so good - I wish it were a series!
Monster, Monarch, Maiden follows Bria, an Innkeeper’s daughter who is abducted, enslaved, and nearly murdered. She is rescued by a roaming mystery; Titus is a man who speaks little, ignores questions, and has no intention of traveling further with Bria. He has his own quest and only happened upon her captors by chance. But Bria needs him so she can get home and is eventually able to prove her usefulness. She pledges to accompany Titus on his journey. Together they face monsters, assassins, zealots, as their quest becomes more dangerous and more crucial for them to complete.
Narration: Excellent narration. Bailey Carr is able to successfully embody numerous characters, emotions, and clearly convey the differences in the voices. It was always clear who was speaking, the cadence is smooth, and pacing is great.
Story: I love that this story follow Bria. No spoilers from me - but I’ll just say that there is a lot of ‘off-the-page’ story that readers don’t get because Bria isn’t present. But I like that; I like that she is our focus and this story stays true to her journey and perspective. I also appreciate all of the other women characters. It feels more authentic - that there would be characters who pass in and out of the story with various levels of depth to the relationships. This story is as much about community and collaboration as it is a questing story. There is also a character who reminds me a great deal of Cinna from The Hunger Games (IYKYK) and that’s high praise. Great characters, creative story-telling, fun magic system, serious consequences for failure. It all kept me invested.
Audiobook Flow: This was a really enjoyable listen. It flows really well and doesn’t have any distracting background noises or pauses.
Recommendation: 5 stars. I love a stand-alone book because sometimes keeping track of a series is tedious. But I loved this story so much I wish we got a bit more. Maybe there could be a book 2?
TW: mention of sexual assault, enslavement, death, family member loss, murder plots, conspiracy, generational trauma

[Karolina Books]

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Greenwillow Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Monster, Monarch, Maiden by Rae Carson will be released on August 25, 2026.

I closed this book with a full heart and immediately wanted to tell everyone to put it on their TBR. Rae Carson created a fantasy world that felt magical, dangerous and impossible to leave. Between the monsters, the Gifts and all the political tension, there was always something happening that kept me turning the pages.

Bria completely stole the show for me. She isn’t the loudest or strongest person in the room, but she’s incredibly brave, clever and refuses to give up even when everything is working against her. I loved watching her grow throughout the story. And Titus? Let’s just say I understood why Bria kept asking him a million questions. The poor guy tried so hard to be mysterious… and I was over here like, “Sir, I think you’re fooling exactly zero people.” Their conversations were some of my favorite moments and I really enjoyed seeing strangers slowly become trusted companions.

The romance is definitely a slow burn, but it’s the kind that makes every little moment feel meaningful. It never rushed and the relationship grew naturally through trust, shared challenges and quiet moments together. I found myself smiling way more than I expected.

The magic system was one of my favorite parts. Learning about the different Gifts and how they shaped the world was fascinating and the monsters were genuinely unique instead of feeling like creatures I’ve already seen in every fantasy book. The world building was detailed without becoming overwhelming, which made it easy to stay immersed.

If I had one tiny complaint, it would be that I wished we had at least a few chapters from Titus’s point of view. I would have loved to know what was going on inside his head during some of those moments. Also, I figured out one of the bigger reveals earlier than I expected, but honestly, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment because the journey itself was so entertaining.

This was a heartfelt fantasy filled with adventure, wonderful characters, rich world building and a romance that made me cheer for every small step forward. If you enjoy quests, mythology, political intrigue, monsters and sweet slow burn romance, I think you’ll have a great time with this one, add it to your TBR.

[Kayla]

I finished this story with tears in my eyes and an ache in my heart. It was that good.

Bria is a force to be reckoned with. She is strong, kind, resilient, resourceful, and very talkative. She is an innkeeper's daughter, after all. Bria becomes the hero's sidekick through chance, but this was Bria's story, not the hero's, and it was everything.

The story opened with Bria in peril and I was struck by how much I was immediately invested in the story and these characters. The pacing was excellent and kept me on my toes, excited to see what happened next. The world building was stellar; I found the mythology easy to understand and fascinating. I also really appreciated that Bria's menstrual cycle was mentioned during the long journey because I like my fantasy with a side of realism.

Titus and Bria's journey was treacherous but Bria was never a damsel in distress. She helped Titus just as much as he helped her and their partnership was largely equal.

The romance was perfect. It was a true slow burn filled with longing and swoon worthy moments. I loved watching Bria and Titus get to know each other and go from strangers to reluctant allies to friends to two people in love who can't be together while the world needs them apart. The attraction between them was gradual and was based on an emotional bond rather than lust. I believed in their love story. It was beautiful.

The only thing I was missing was Titus's POV. I would have loved to see what he was thinking as he was falling in love with Bria. But this was Bria's story, not Titus's, and I understand that his POV would have absolutely taken away from that.

I honestly loved this story so much. It was exactly what I needed to read right now, and I'm so glad I found it. Will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Spice Level: 0/5 🌶️ - a few kisses

I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda]

3.25-3.5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨ ( rounded to 4)
NetGalley / audiobook 🎧
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc via audiobook.
Overall I enjoyed this story, I find it very refreshing to read a standalone fantasy. I do love a series but sometimes it is nice to have a standalone. This was a slow -burn romance, no spice , the story takes it time but worth it in the end. The world building and characters were well written and I enjoyed the adventure we followed along the way. If you liked more character driven stories this one could be for you. This is a compelling YA fantasy with a resilient heroine, a grumpy hero with a soft heart, an engaging slow-burn romance, and a refreshing twist on the chosen one trope.
I did like how Tristan the MMC is the “chosen one” but it’s felt more of Mia’s the FMC story to me. I liked Mia’s curiosity , and even though Tristan comes off as grumpy, broody - as he acts as even ONE question is a burden to him he keeps answering her questions. I enjoyed their banter.
The story combines an epic journey, political intrigue, divine influence, and questions about : faith, destiny, and power. Their adventure takes Titus and Bria across icy mountains, deserts, mines, and ancient cities, creating a world that felt vast and immersive.
I enjoyed the narrator, I felt she captured Bria’s character perfectly, as well as the other characters. I highly recommend the audiobook. I did feel like Tristan felt like he was 200 years older than Bria. If I was younger I might have enjoyed this more, as I know I am not the “targeted” demographic. It brought me back to early 2000s feeling I had when reading. But as I do have years of experience in fantasy now I did have a feeling of “ I have read this before..” and maybe has been done better . This wasn’t trying to re-invent the wheel , but I still think it was a solid read. I do think a series would be fun as well.

Rating 3.25-3.5 ⭐️ ( rounded to 4)

[MadaLin Dawn]

MONSTERS, MONARCHS AND MAIDENS OH MY!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Monster, Monarch, Maiden by Rae Carson
YA- no spice

This was such a fun fantasy read, and I’m giving it a solid 4 stars! ✨

First of all, I absolutely loved Bria. She has such a big heart and a wonderful “well, we’ll figure it out” attitude that made her so easy to root for. She’s brave, compassionate, and determined!

And then there’s Titus. 👀 I loved how mysterious he was, but what really won me over was his compassion. He has that mysterious fantasy-boy thing going on, but there’s so much heart underneath it. Basically… I was invested. 😂

The romance was probably my biggest almost. I liked Bria and Titus together, but I wanted MORE. The slow burn was a little too slow for me. I needed more yearning, more tension, more pining, more “JUST KISS ALREADY!” moments. 😂 I spent a truly unreasonable amount of this book screaming internally at these two.

I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding. It reminded me a lot of Rae Carson’s The Girl of Fire and Thorns world, (which I loved because that triology is still one of my FAVES). The Gifts were especially interesting, and I would have loved to see the mythology explored a little more deeply. There was so much potential there that I wanted to dig into!

One thing I really appreciated, though, was the ending. It felt thoughtful and lingering rather than rushed, and I loved getting to sit with where everything ultimately landed. It gave the story a satisfying sense of closure.

Overall, Monster, Monarch, Maiden gave me a world I enjoyed, characters I cared about, a mysterious and compassionate love interest, and a romance that had me practically yelling at the pages. 😂 I just wish the romance had been a little more yearny and that we had gotten a bit more exploration of the mythology.

Also I had a Audio Arc of this provided by Netgalley and I LOVED the audio, but its narrated by Bailey Carr so of course it's good!!!

A solid 4-star fantasy read for me! ✨📚

[Erin Arkin]

I want to state right upfront: setting Monster, Monarch, Maiden down at the halfway point is purely a case of "right book, wrong time" for me. The story itself is fascinating, and I fully intend to return and finish it down the road when I’m in the right headspace.

Rae Carson crafts a compelling premise centered around Bria Angarsold, a mountain girl living a quiet life with a seemingly minor Gift. Her world is violently shattered when raiders destroy her home and family, throwing her into captivity. What Bria goes through to kick off her character arc is brutal, harrowing, and definitely not for the faint of heart. I was deeply invested in her character from the moment I met her; her resilience in the face of tragedy makes her an immediate standout hero.

Her trajectory changes when her captors cross paths with Titus, a secretive traveler on a high-stakes quest to the Edge of the World. Bria ends up swearing her life to him, setting off a classic travel-quest journey through a rich world filled with subtle magic and complex lore.

The worldbuilding is strong, and the foundation Rae Carson lays has me genuinely curious about where things are heading. I already have a few theories about the larger mysteries surrounding Titus’s quest, the magic system, and how Bria’s Gift will ultimately come into play.

However, around the 50% mark, the pacing hit a bit of a slow burn mid-journey stretch. The momentum dragged just enough for me to feel that itch to pivot to something else on my TBR list. It wasn't a flaw in the writing so much as my own reading mood calling for a faster-paced shift right now.

I’m stepping away for now, but I’m leaving my bookmark right where it is. I fully expect to pick this back up in the future to see how Bria’s story unfolds and whether my predictions hold up!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Maya]

I went into this story extremely biased. I read Carson's Fire and Thorns series in middle school, and it really fostered my love of reading, so I had high expectations for this story. Needless to say, it was amazing.

The book starts off a bit rough, with our FMC Bria, as well as her sister and others who had been captured, being carted away by slavers. People have already died or been killed, so everything appears to be bleak and hopeless, until Titus comes along. He's meant to be mysterious, but I think it's pretty easy to pick up on his true identity. Bria knows there's something off about him, but her observational skills are pretty on point, and she makes it a habit to talk to Titus as much as she can. It was just a matter of time for her to piece everything together, and it didn't take long at all. There were just so many hints (if you could call them that) just screaming right at you. So, despite his attempts at being secretive, he absolutely failed.

One of the main aspects of this story is that people have been given Gifts by the gods. It's a conversation that generally doesn’t take place and isn’t openly discussed, and if you ask, you're met with shock because it's meant to be private. I really enjoyed this because, as the book progressed, you learn more about Gifts and how many there are, to the point that it's hard to keep track. Titus has very rare, unique Gifts (obviously), and Bria has one that I wouldn’t have imagined for her, and yet it works to her advantage. The magic and monsters were extremely interesting, and I was thankful when Bria and Titus would talk about them more in depth, because depending on the monster, they only reveal themselves in specific conditions.

I genuinely think if you like unique magic, monarch political intrigue, quests, and a budding romance, then you should definitely give this book a try!

[ᴄᴀᴛ]

5☆ | this is a standalone..💔 I want more, like so bad. This book was really well written and the ending tied everything up well so there isn't really anything that could be added to this world without it feeling unnecessary and ruining it, but I truly do wish this was a series or something, I loved the world, writing and the characters so much.

I really loved Bria and Titus, even when the two of them first met, I liked how they interacted with each other and how their relationship grew throughout the book.
Bria is such a likeable character, and I immediately loved her. And Titus took a little longer to like but I quickly understood and loved him too.
The romance in this book is also very clearly a slow burn, you can see them growing closer but I'd say that the romance starts at a perfect point in the book, and if anything I was wanting a little more of it near the end.

Another thing I enjoyed was the magic, there are some people who's gifts are practically useless and some people who have incredibly useful gifts. I loved seeing Bria's gift being used throughout the book and Titus's gift was so interesting to me and I loved seeing them.
And the concept of fatiguing from using too much of your own magic was nice because I feel like we don't see that all too often in books?

I also really love Bailey Carr's narrating, I've listened to multiple audiobooks that she's narrated and just love her performance every time. And she's one of those narrators who can do a guys voice really well too.

This book is a bit lengthy, but I liked the pacing of the story and the slow-burn was nice too.
All the different scenery and side characters we saw also just made the story more likeable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Jessica]

This is probably terrible of me, but I have a really hard time writing positive reviews. It’s not that I don’t have anything nice to say (I do! I promise!), it’s more about the fact that I have a harder time properly articulating my enjoyment versus my critiques.

I have no critiques for Monster, Monarch, Maiden, so if this review is shorter than my usual, there ya go. This book was so good. I had no idea I wanted to read a book about the side character, but wow, I now need more immediately. I loved every moment of this story. The world-building was complex in its simplicity. The characters were wonderfully done. The romance was honestly adorable. The quest plot line was great and held all of my interest. The pace, while a bit meandering, never felt too fast or too slow. AND! It’s a standalone, so there was a very satisfying conclusion and no waiting for the next book. Tears of joy. This has now become one of my YA gold standards. All the stars. Heapings (spellcheck is telling me that’s not a word, and it’s probably right that I’m not using it correctly, but let me live my life).

When I say that this is a book about the side character, I mean just that. In most any other story, Titus would have been the main character. He’s the one on a magic quest. He’s the one with connections. He’s the one who’s driving their journey. However, this book is in Bria’s POV, a random person Titus saves from slavers. Bria just ends up along for the ride, and it was so. Much. Fun. It was not at all what I expected, but perfect in its unexpectedness. I honestly didn’t think it was going to work, but by the end, I adored Bria (and Titus), and I don’t know if I would have liked the book as much had it been told from anyone else’s POV.

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. Did I explain a single thing? Nope, probably not. Monster, Monarch, Maiden was so good I’m speechless.

I received an advanced copy of Monster, Monarch, Maiden from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angi]

This was such a fun novel, and I don't think I've ever read something that centers the *sidekick* so completely, in such a way that her story is truly the most important one while the hero goes off , doing . It's summarized brilliantly within the novel itself, when the protagonist states "I'm not a complication in his story; he's a complication in mine." It absolutely reads as a full, complete, and compelling novel in its own right, and all the emotional weight is centered around the main (sidekick) character, who in older novels would be given a strictly supporting role.

It has a kick-ass female protagonist, a slow-burn, compelling romance (spice level = kissing). It also has an immersive world, fun magical system, and a compelling villain. I love the layers of complication, such as when attempts to help one person actually harm them, and some recipients of generosity are foundational-helpful, while others turn out to be toxic. I also really enjoyed the occasional insights into life and society in general, such as the title-adjacent quote "The three of us sat there, pondering monsters, monarchs, and men" that make you pause the book for a moment to muse. I was almost disappointed when I realized it's a standalone novel; I'd love to spend more time with this character and this world.

-----
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review expressing my personal opinions.

[Kayla Christian]

Thank you to HarperAudio Children’s and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy.

I absolutely loved this book! From the very first chapter, I was completely drawn into the story and found myself looking for every opportunity to keep listening. Rae Carson has crafted a wonderfully immersive YA fantasy that is full of adventure, heart, and magic. There was always a new discovery, challenge, or twist that kept me engaged and eager to find out what would happen next.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was how beautifully written it was. Carson’s storytelling made the world feel vivid and alive, and I genuinely felt like I was traveling alongside the characters on their quest.

Bria and Titus completely stole my heart. They were complex, relatable, and incredibly easy to root for. The romance was such a sweet, slow burn that developed naturally over the course of the story. Rather than overshadowing the adventure, it complemented it perfectly.

By the end of the book, I was holding back tears and I wasn’t ready for the story to end. It’s one of those books that leaves you wishing you could spend just a little more time with the characters. I would absolutely love to read more of their story. A POV from Titus would be great!

[Rachel Feeck]

Ooh yes, this is the quest I’ve been craving. Not sure if the cover design is an intentional throwback to YA fantasy of the 2000s, but the story is right at home with hidden gems of the time, with an unlikely traveling duo who face magical beasts, battle against the elements, grow little gifts into big power, and slowly reveal secrets along the way. Bria is delightfully observant and forthright, not always sure of herself yet unafraid to probe the tight-lipped Titus who has more secrets and stubbornness than common sense, and it’s endearing, tragic, fun to see her learn about the world and her place in it. I enjoyed the mountain wilds, the casual introduction of magical abilities, the illustrations of how one can mess up with the best intentions, and the slow-building romance.

While all content is appropriate for teen readers, be advised that Bria, Titus, and many others they meet have not had an easy life, which this book confronts head on. In the opening chapter Bria is held captive in torturous conditions, and death is a not infrequent companion.

Recommend for fans of Brightly Woven, Graceling, and Even the Darkest Stars.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

[ChronicallyYou]

Thank you HarperAudio and Greenwillow Books for the gifted ALC :)

This was a good fantasy, but I don't know that it'll stick with me long term.

There really wasn't anything wrong with it. Bria was an easy FMC to root for, and I liked that she wasn't some overpowered chosen one, but an innkeeper's daughter who could talk to anyone (as is stated MULTIPLE times throughout). Instead of relying solely on her gift, she mostly relied on her resourcefulness...AS AN INNKEEPER'S DAUGHTER. I enjoyed the slow-burn romance with Titus, but his narration made him sound at least 800 years older than Bria. Ignoring the voice acting, their romance was sweet and it developed naturally alongside the adventure.

That said, I spent most of the book feeling like I'd read this story before. The mysterious, broody MMC who doesn't like to talk with a world changing quest, and his trusty companions travel across kingdoms...it worked, but it didn't feel particularly unique. I kept waiting for something that would make this stand out, and that never really came.

I listened to the audiobook, and Bailey Carr did a great job bringing Bria to life.