The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing

by Marshall J. Moore

A mad scientist's apprentice, a witch's cat, and a vampire's wife walk into a haunted mansion...

Humor meets horror in this heartwarming tale of friendship, solidarity, and stolen body parts.

As the laboratory assistant to the brilliant but demanding Doctor, Igor spends his nights robbing graves, stitching together body parts, and ensuring that his master doesn’t electrocute himself (too badly). It’s thankless work, but Igor knows it’ll all be worth it once they finally succeed in the Doctor’s all-encompassing quest to create new life from dead flesh. 

When a mob of peasants wielding torches and pitchforks drives them out of town (again), Igor and the Doctor relocate to the isolated Ravenwald Manor to resume their experiments. But Igor and the Doctor are not the only ones seeking refuge within the walls of Ravenwald. The manor is already home to a vampiric Count and his highly dissatisfied bride, Cornelia—and an enigmatic witch and her feline familiar, Grimalkin, intend to use it as the site of a magical ritual.

At Igor’s suggestion, the three pairs come to an uneasy agreement to cohabitate in Ravenwald, lest they attract the suspicion of the nearby village. In the wake of this truce, Igor, Cornelia, and Grimalkin soon begin to realize that they might have more common with one another than their respective masters. When the trio discovers that they've been unwitting participants in a horrible plan to destroy the world as they know it, they must work together to stop their masters from bringing on armageddon... and stop the increasingly suspicious villagers from reaching for their pitchforks and torches. 

Igor, Grim, and Cornelia must unite to cast off the chains of their masters and embrace life on their own terms in the hilarious, heartwarming, and just-spooky-enough The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Humor, Paranormal, Vampires, Witches

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 22, 2026

About the author

Marshall J. Moore is a writer, filmmaker, and martial artist who was born and raised on Kwajalein, a tiny Pacific island. He has trained a professional mercenary in unarmed combat, once sold a thousand dollars' worth of teapots to Jackie Chan, and on one occasion was tracked down by a bounty hunter for owing $300 in overdue fees to the Los Angeles Public Library.

He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Megan and their two cats.

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚡ The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing ⚡

I loved this entire set of characters! This book was filled with dark humor, friendship, redemption, hope and found family. And the epilogue 😍😍😍

5 Star read!

✨ What to Expect
• Found family
• Villain employers 👀
• Gothic manor setting
• Dark humor
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
📝 Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love it when publishers sends us accesses to arcs they think we’ll love! It’s so thoughtful. Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!
4.25✨

This novel was so good I just want to pick up everything the author ever wrote.
This story follows Igor, a doctor’s servant, as he opens his eyes to the mistreatment he’s been suffering from for years.
Needing shelter, unlikely characters all end up in the same house. Three of these characters are servants to their master ; and that’s who we follow closely. Igor has been servant to the mad scientist for decades, Cornelia to the count for centuries, and Grim the cat to the evil witch for a while as well.

We follow our three characters as they become friends & help each other find their worth & self esteem. The found family was truly the most precious aspect. It was so well written, I only wanted the best for our three protagonists. I loved how protective they grew of each other and I loved seeing them grow through their friendship. Igor was the character that had the most development and I was happy to see him become the best version of himself.

The pacing was good and I appreciated that the villains were real villains. The dilemmas the characters faced were relatable. I’m not a fan of horror but this type of horror is fine with me, it was mostly about the body parts so if you struggle with that - please check the trigger warnings.

I recommend this read, especially if you love stories in which the characters realize they deserve better & if you love truly precious found family.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing
By Marshall J. Moore
I loved this book so much! I plan to buy this for my friends and family for birthdays and Christmas. It is a smart, clever, silly, yet heartwarming book! The characters include a doctor similar to Frankenstein and his assistant Igor. A vampire couples and the husband is the one with power over the wife and makes her get the meals every night for the last several decades. Then there is an evil witch and her poor cat familiar, who she works constantly.
They all end up in this mansion and have an agreement to not harm each other. They each have their own evil projects to work on. Slowly, the cat, the vampire wife, and Igor come up with a plan to get rid of their evil half.
This is such a fun book. Lots of twists, turns, great plot and characters! This was amazing! It's one of the top books I've read this year!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this wonderful book!

[Rebecca]

Thanks to Bantam & Netgalley for access to this ARC

[Stephanie]

I had to regretfully DNF my ARC of this one because my stomach is just too weak for the gruesome details involved in Igor’s graverobbing and surgery, but it really was regretful because the writing itself was so clever and funny and engaging. I think so many readers are going to love it! And I honestly really admired it and enjoyed the humor so much that I wanted to note it here anyway, because it is such a YMMV situation. Anyone with a strong stomach will have a fabulous time with this story!

[lorenzodulac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I’ve read in a good minute. It was funny, heartwarming, a very new and improved cozy fantasy that even without all these huge stakes, still has a plot that makes sense and characters so unique you’ll have to love them.
The humor in this book was top tier. I actually laughed out loud in certain instances. I had to highlight the funniest bits, you know, in case I’m having a bad day, to cheer up. I wouldn’t say this humor is for everybody, it’s certainly for me though, it’s dark and it hits you unexpectedly, I don’t know it’s just amusing. Even just the way the people/creatures in this book expressed themselves, like the way they talked itself was funny.
But I will say, this book isn’t all laughs. Igor (I guess we could say he’s our main character, alongside others) realizing he’s being mistreated, the way we solve that, I’d say that’s a point the book becomes a bit more sad, more thought provoking. There’s also Cornelia and her situation. But overall, I’ll just say I laughed a lot. All the creatures, including but not limited to vampires and talking cat familiars! Against all odds, I loved Grim, the cat. Such a fun addition that in my opinion even elevated the book. Who knew I had it in me!
The writing also flowed so smoothly, it was fast, the chapters are short, this is one of those books you could read in one sitting if you wanted to. I didn’t get the chance to because life happens, but it still read super quickly. I feel so grateful to have been gifted this ARC, it’s becoming a favorite of mine, and I can tell because I already want to reread it.
The found family aspect was also impeccable, relatable even. Grave robbing and stitching bodies back together aside. Wouldn’t want you to get the wrong idea. The friendship. The uniqueness of the characters. Do you know how difficult it is these days to read a cozy fantasy and not fall asleep in the middle of it because everything reads exactly the same as the previous one you’ve read? Pretty difficult. I really want to commend the author for actually writing something different, at least to me, because I’ve never read anything like this before. I don’t know what was put into this book but I adored it.
Overall, as I said, I enjoyed this book immensely and my final rating is a 4.5⭐️ I can’t recommend it enough!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review (and many others) plus essays and booklists are now available on my blog!

On the run from yet another peasant mob after their latest attempt to create new life from corpse parts, Doctor and his faithful assistant Igor end up in the isolated Ravenwald Manor, only to find out that they are not alone there. Increasingly disillusioned with the Doctor's quest, Igor befriends Grimalkin, a witch's familiar, and Cornelia, the bride of a vampiric Count. Feeling accepted for the first time, Igor begins to realize his own value, and the three work together to prevent the destruction they have helped bring on.

This was very sweet, just not particularly standout for me. Igor, Grim, and Cornelia are all very charming characters, and each of them have had their sense of self-value torn down by their respective masters in some way. I know we love to say that you have to find value in yourself before others can find value in you, but I think in some cases it does take someone extending that love and respect for you first for you to truly see your self-worth. The short chapters were also nice since I was reading this during my first few days of classes and really had to consume it in crumbs between running all over the place. Spare was also an absolute delight and I smiled whenever they were on page.

Unfortunately, I generally need a little more bite to get fully invested in characters. In this book, the henchmen are all pretty pure of heart and all of the villains/masters are pretty straightforwardly bad people, and I could have used some more complexity and moral greyness. Cozy books don't really do it for me, but I keep reading them because I'm chasing the few books that manage the perfect balance of humor/warmth and angst (Hench, Kaiju Preservation Society, and any of Becky Chambers' books are some examples that get it perfectly). I liked this well-enough when I was reading it, but ultimately I wasn't that connected to the characters and I don't think it will stick with me.

If you love cozy fantasy, I think this you'll enjoy this a lot! For my fellow sadists, I fear this probably won't scratch the itch.

Thank you to Marshall J. Moore and Bantam for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing
Author: Marshall J. Moore
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Bantam, for sending me an ARC. This one took me by surprise. I really enjoyed it and found myself being very quickly swept up into the story. There was just something about the found family, the world, and the overall writing that quickly pulled me in and made me want to keep reading.


Igor has spent years working as the laboratory assistant to a brilliant but demanding mad scientist. His job involves robbing graves, collecting body parts, assisting with questionable experiments, and trying to keep his master from accidentally killing himself. When angry villagers once again chase them out of town, Igor and the Doctor seek refuge at the isolated Ravenwald Manor. Unfortunately, the manor is already occupied. A vampire Count and his unhappy wife, Cornelia, are living there, while an enigmatic witch and her cat familiar, Grimalkin, have arrived with plans of their own. Rather than risk attracting the attention of the nearby villagers, the three unlikely pairs agree to share the manor and keep their activities hidden. As Igor, Cornelia, and Grimalkin spend more time together, they discover that they have far more in common than they realized, especially when it comes to their dissatisfaction with the masters they serve. Their uneasy friendship takes a much more serious turn when they uncover a terrible plan that could destroy the world. Now the three must work together to stop their masters, protect themselves from the increasingly suspicious villagers, and figure out what it means to live life on their own terms. Filled with gothic humor, friendship, found family, and just enough horror to keep things spooky, the story follows three unlikely henchpeople as they discover that sometimes the best way to deal with an evil boss is to unionize.

I really enjoyed this book and found myself being very quickly swept up into the story. There was just something about the found family, the world, and the overall writing that pulled me in almost immediately and made me want to keep reading. I went into this expecting something fun and a little quirky, and I definitely got that, but I also found myself becoming much more invested in these characters than I expected. There is a warmth underneath everything that made this such an enjoyable read.
This is cozy fantasy, and it is the type of cozy fantasy that I really enjoy. We follow a group of people who find themselves brought together because of their bosses. Their bosses have all done them wrong in one way or another, and they are all just trying to hold everything together while figuring out what comes next. What I really loved is that none of them simply accept that this is how their lives have to be. Instead of allowing their horrible bosses to completely ruin their lives, they begin to realize that they have each other. From there, they slowly start creating a family and a place in the world that actually belongs to them.
The found family aspect was probably my favorite part of the entire story. These characters are so different from one another, yet they fit together in a way that feels completely natural. They are not immediately best friends, and their relationships take time to develop. Watching that happen made it feel much more genuine. They begin by simply trying to coexist, but little by little, they start looking out for one another. They become people who can rely on each other, and that friendship eventually turns into something that feels much deeper.
There is also something incredibly satisfying about watching characters who have spent so much time being treated as though they are only useful because of what they can do for someone else finally realize that they deserve more. They are not just henchpeople, assistants, wives, or familiars. They are individuals with their own wants, needs, talents, and dreams. I loved watching them slowly figure that out for themselves.
The world also added a lot to the cozy feeling of the story. There is a wonderful gothic quality to it, with mad scientists, vampires, witches, haunted spaces, villagers with pitchforks, and all sorts of wonderfully strange situations. It should feel darker than it does, yet there is so much humor and warmth woven into everything that it never becomes too heavy. The combination of spooky and comforting worked really well for me.
This is not always an easy ride for the characters. They have plenty of problems to deal with, and there are moments when things become genuinely dangerous. Even with all of that, the story maintains this underlying feeling that these characters are going to find their way through it together. That is what made it so comforting for me. It is the kind of situation that makes you want to wrap the characters up in a warm blanket, give them something hot to drink, and tell them that everything is going to be okay.
Overall, this was just a really fun and heartwarming read. I loved the humor, the gothic setting, the characters, and especially the found family at the center of it all. It has that perfect combination of quirky, spooky, funny, and sweet that made it very easy for me to fall into. It is not always an easy ride, but it is a good one, and sometimes that is exactly what I want from a cozy fantasy.

This book comes out on September 22, 2026.

[Melissa Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving this as an ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This was a phenomenal storyline it had me laughing with the banter and crying at times with the bullying this was a heartfelt story! I love Igor and his whole personality he is caring and always thinking of others!! This has redemption, found family and banter!! Absolutely loved the last few chapters where he found himself and finally sticks up for himself and his friends!! Thank you to Penguin Random House and to Author Marshall J. Moore!! Absolutely phenomenal story!!

“Quirky and hilarious but also deep and heartfelt, The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing is an unforgettable and fantastic story about being human. I loved it!”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.”

[Jules (Real Life Kenma) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.


Oh. My. God.
Literally what can I say? This book was everything I hoped it would be and more!
The Henchperson’s Guide To Unionizing is at its core a story of found family, and the power of friendship.

The book itself does an excellent job on balancing the time given to characterization and actual plot. Even for the minor characters I felt like I knew them. As for the major players? Incredible. I could feel the care put into creating each one, and it absolutely payed off.
The characters are likable, and I loved watching them change and grow.

I found this to be the perfectly paced read. While on the slower side, I think that relaxed pace allowed for the fleshing out of the characters, as well as keeping the overall novel in Cozy territory rather than stressful.

The writing itself was very easy to read. The descriptions were vivid, and detailed without being excessive. I really felt like I was watching a movie unfold in my minds eye.

Overall an absolutely delightful read, and one I would recommend to anyone who wants a good found family story.

[aforestofbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I get the emails from NetGalley offering me an arc of a book, I take a quick glimpse and usually delete it because I just know the book isn’t for me and I’d rather read and review a book I know I’ll like. The title and premise for this book immediately sucked me in and I’m so happy I didn’t delete this email lol

If you’re looking for friendship, found family, a band of misfits being mistreated by their employers, a little bit of romance, a cat, and a little one-eyed creature friend, then this book will not disappoint you.

The writing style was very easy to read. And if not for work and distractions I would have finished this in a week. I loved the narrative style and Igor as a main character was perfect.

The underlying themes in this book on abuse and the way people are treated because of how they look or their disabilities or their life choices or other things they can’t control or have a say in made this book such a heartwarming but also sad read. It’s a very accurate depiction of our world in every sense, and I think for most readers would he very relatable.

The plot was engaging and interesting, and I don’t think I was ever bored reading a chapter. Tbh this would make a great animated series or movie.

The ending was a bit quintessential. It reminded me of how a lot of middle grade books end, a little too perfect and on the nose with presenting the message the author is trying to get across. But it was overall cute and left you feeling a bit more hopeful in this dark world we live in.

If you’re looking for a cozier, but still fantastical/halloween-y themed read for this fall, I’d highly recommend this book!

[Em ☽✦ღ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this one almost completely blind after getting an email recommendation from Random House, and it honestly ended up being one of the biggest surprises I’ve read all year. I’d convinced myself this was going to be a light, silly comedy, and while it absolutely has plenty of laugh out loud moments, what I wasn’t expecting was just how much HEART this book has. Underneath all the wonderfully ridiculous gothic monster chaos is a genuinely touching story about found family, and learning that the people who truly see you are worth fighting for.

Igor completely stole my heart from the very beginning. Watching him slowly realise that he deserves more than being overlooked by the Doctor was such a satisfying journey. His friendship with Cornelia and Grimalkin quickly became my favourite part of the entire book. They’re such an unlikely trio, but every conversation, every moment of support, and every step they took towards trusting one another just made me love them more and more. And I have to give an honourable mention to Spare (my BABY!!!), who absolutely stole every scene he appeared in.

I also loved the setting. Throwing together a mad scientist, a vampire Count and his long suffering wife, a witch, and her feline familiar inside one gloriously creepy manor is such a fun premise, and Marshall J. Moore absolutely runs with it. There are haunted mansion vibes, villagers with pitchforks, stitched together monsters, magical rituals, and just enough spooky atmosphere to make it feel perfect without ever becoming too dark.

What really surprised me was how thoughtfully the story explores acceptance and prejudice. Through Igor, Cornelia, Grimalkin, and the other “henchpeople,” it asks who really gets to be called a monster, and whether the people pulling the strings deserve the loyalty they’re so quick to demand. It manages to tackle some genuinely meaningful themes while still keeping the story warm, funny, and endlessly entertaining.

By the end, I was smiling from ear to ear. This is one of those books that leaves you feeling hopeful. If you’re looking for a fantasy that blends classic horror monsters with humour, found family, a wonderfully eccentric cast, and a huge amount of heart, I cannot recommend this enough.

Thank you so much to Marshall J. Moore, Random House, and NetGalley for the eARC. It was an absolute joy to read.

[Emma De Vos Tidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a wonderfully whimsical and happy book, and I had an absolute joy reading it. First off, the characters were all fantastic, especially Igor, our main character, who I found myself rooting for the entire time. His kind heart really shines through, and I loved all of the creatures and people he meets along the way. Cornelia was another favorite of mine, though that might just be because I will always have a soft spot for vampires.

On paper, this story seems like it has a lot going on, with three different types of magic and fantasy elements, each with their own problems and climaxes, but the author does a fantastic job weaving everything together. There was never a point where I found the story confusing or convoluted, which honestly felt like an impressive feat.

And the writing itself was fantastic. The descriptions of the setting and characters were already vivid and lovely, but I especially appreciated how well the author conveyed the right emotion and tone for each scene. It helps that this book isn’t meant to take itself too seriously, and there were definitely comedic moments that had me chuckling, but the writing still felt poetic and had all the gravitas it needed during the more emotional scenes.

My only real qualm was the pacing, although I’m not sure most readers would agree with me on this one. I tend to love books that are quite slow, with plenty of worldbuilding between plot points so I can fully immerse myself in the setting, and this did feel a little rushed at times, especially toward the end. But honestly, that might just be because I wanted more time in the manor with Igor, Cornelia, and Grim.

All in all, this was a wonderfully cozy and whimsical read, and I’m so glad I had the chance to read it. A huge thanks to Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley for the chance to review this book in advance of its release.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We have failed to see the monsters in our own midst, instead casting blame and doubt upon the outsider.”

4.75⭐️

Charming, witty, and spooky in the coziest way possible, The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing is the perfect lighthearted read for Halloween, Summerween, or anytime you’re feeling a little devilish.

I’m a union girl, so the title immediately caught my attention, but it was the story and the writing that kept me hooked. This book is genuinely sweet, with a found family of weird little oddballs that are impossible not to root for. It’s cozy, queer, and delightfully weird, balancing humor with a heartfelt message about community, solidarity, and embracing what makes you different.

Weirdly, I kept picturing the whole thing as an animated movie while I was reading, and it fit perfectly. I could absolutely see this becoming a cozy cult classic.

I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a funny, sweet story about friendship, accepting yourself, and maybe doing a little collective organizing along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelsey Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hunchback, a vampire and a familiar walk into a bar… 😂💀

Okay sorry, I had to start the review off with the proper vibes because this book was equally hilarious and endearing!! I knew when I read the blurb that it was going to be right up my alley but oh my goodness I just loved The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing ❤️

We have Igor, a hunchback whose entire life has been dedicated to his master’s Great Work (Dr. Frankenstein type stuff); Cordelia, vampire who’s sire just so happens to be her husband and also an insufferable Count; and Grim, a witch’s cat familiar who’d rather sass her master than help her cause.

Of course they’re fast friends once they realize they all have one thing in common: they’re undervalued, underpaid and misunderstood by their masters.

These characters have my heart 🥹 I laughed SO hard and simultaneously wanted to wrap them all up in a hug!! This was my kind of cozy fall book if you can believe it or not - a girl needs some action and creepy creatures okay?? 😂

Perfect for fans of Assistant to the Villain (minus the romance)! Thank you so much to Bantam Book for gifting me an advanced copy! ❤️

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bantam, Netgalley and Dan D at Penguin random house for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is perfect for fall/Halloween. It's cozy, the stakes aren't too high and the ending is satisfying. I loved all of our characters and their side plots. I absolutely loved Igor and his development through the book. it wasn't like a switch flipped one morning and he was changed, we get to watch him build confidence as the story goes on. I would gratefully read another book with these characters in it.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and fascinating premise! The henchperson’s of famous horror villains getting their time to shine and tell their sides of the story? Loved it! This tale did take a bit to get going but then something magical happened and I fell in love with the characters. Their relationships and found family vibes really stole the show.

So if you’re a fan of classic horror novels and enjoy cheeky nods sprinkled throughout you will enjoy this story. However, it truly is a cozy horror so be warned this does contain vast amounts of bodies being dissected and all manner of horror framed in a lighthearted and non serious light. It takes a unique audience to appreciate it but if this sounds like your cup of tea you won’t regret giving it a shot!

My rating: 4 stars

What I liked:

The found family vibes! This honestly was my favorite part of the entire book. The interactions and the way they slowly grew to trust, care, and look out for each other was so heartwarming. Extremely well done.

The nods to the classics! The three main henchperson’s are clearly all based on classic horror novels and it was so fun to imagine this was their side of the story. We even had an Edgar Allan Poe reference!

The characters! I loved so many of these characters but I have to say Grim, Igor, and Spare stood above the rest. Absolutely adored them.

What I didn’t like:

The pacing. Unfortunately this book started out a bit slow, had a great middle, and then sped through the ending.

The ending. It’s an odd premise to start out with and I was fully on board with the quirky humor. However, it got a bit too weird for me at the end and my rating dipped.

Thank you to Ballantine for the ARC. It was such an interesting read! All thoughts and opinions are my own and this is my voluntary review.

[sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75/5)

Thank you to the Marshall J. Moore, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

*The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing* was such a fun surprise. I picked it up expecting a quirky, humorous fantasy, but I ended up getting so much more. It's clever, heartfelt, laugh-out-loud funny, and full of lovable characters that I couldn't help but root for from beginning to end.

Before I even started reading, I have to mention the cover because it immediately caught my eye. It's bold, vibrant, and impossible to miss on a shelf. It honestly reminded me of the new *Dungeon Crawler Carl* hardback editions, and I mean that as a huge compliment. It has that same eye-catching, colorful design that instantly makes you want to know what's inside.

The premise alone had me hooked. A laboratory assistant to a mad scientist, a vampire count and his frustrated wife, and a witch with her feline familiar all living together under one roof sounds like complete chaos—and it absolutely is in the best possible way. The story leans into classic gothic horror tropes while giving them a fresh, humorous twist that feels both familiar and original.

One of my favorite parts of the novel was its cast of characters. Igor quickly became my favorite. He's kind, loyal, hardworking, and constantly cleaning up everyone else's messes, making him incredibly easy to relate to. Watching him slowly realize that he deserves more than simply serving his demanding master was one of the most satisfying character arcs in the book. Cornelia and Grimalkin were equally wonderful, and I loved how the friendships between the three developed naturally throughout the story. Their growing trust and teamwork became the emotional heart of the novel, balancing the comedy with genuine warmth.

The humor landed really well for me. There were plenty of moments that genuinely made me laugh, especially the witty dialogue and the absurd situations the characters found themselves in. At the same time, the story never relied solely on jokes. Beneath all the humor is a thoughtful exploration of power, exploitation, friendship, and standing up for yourself. The themes of workers' rights, found family, and learning your own worth were woven into the story without ever feeling heavy-handed.

The world itself was also a lot of fun. It combines familiar gothic monsters and horror imagery with a surprisingly cozy atmosphere. Mad science experiments, magical rituals, suspicious villagers with torches and pitchforks, vampires, witches, and monsters all somehow come together into a story that feels adventurous, charming, and surprisingly wholesome. It manages to poke fun at classic horror while still celebrating everything that makes those stories so iconic.

The pacing kept me engaged throughout, with a great balance of quieter character moments and bigger, high-stakes scenes as the plot built toward its conclusion. While there were a couple of moments where I wished certain scenes had a little more depth, they never took away from my overall enjoyment. The ending felt satisfying, hopeful, and perfectly suited to the journey these characters had been on.

Overall, *The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing* is an incredibly entertaining fantasy that blends gothic horror, comedy, heart, and social commentary into something wonderfully unique. If you enjoy quirky fantasy, classic monster stories with a modern twist, lovable found-family dynamics, and plenty of laughs alongside genuine emotional moments, this is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Four Stars

I've heard of cosy fantasy, but never cosy horror. The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing reimagines several classics forced together under one roof with both hilarious and heartwarming results.

When Igor and his "master"–a Frankenstein-coded mad scientist–are once again forced from their home by an angry mob, they take up residence in Ravenwald Manor. Which, unfortunately, is already home to two vampires, The Count and his wife Cornelia, and very quickly the unhappy foursome are joined by a local witch and her familiar, Grim. Despite their obvious issues with one another, they decide to live together to remain undetected and further their individual goals.

The story does a clever thing and focuses on the three companions and their struggles with the reality of serving (in different ways) iconic baddies. Igor is the primary character who longs for recognition and respect from the Doctor. Despite doing much of the work to create life and manage what seems like every aspect of the mad scientist's life, Igor is frequently belittled and looked down upon. Grim the familiar is stuck doing relentless work in service to the witch and her dark, eldritch lord out of fear of being turned from cat (which she quite likes being) back into whatever horror she once was in another realm. Cornelia, to me, is the saddest. Turned by her husband and compelled to do his bidding, she is trapped in what clearly is an abusive marriage.

Many aspects of the story verge on twee, but it is well managed. If you are particularly fond of dark plots, this might be one to skip. However, Moore creates a morbid world and presents it in a way that feels bright and fun, despite the incredible amount of body desecration. While the plot includes world-ending stakes, the focus remains on the emotional arcs. Friendship, self-acceptance, and loyalty are significant threads that wind their way through all three characters. At times, the stakes feel a bit too simplistic, but ultimately this is a feel-good read.

I did absolutely love Cornelia's story and thought it was one of the most poignant. Despite her circumstances, she uses her role as the primary hunter of her marriage to act as an "Angel of Mercy", killing men who abuse their position and power. Her pain feels very real and is relatable in a lot of ways to anyone who has suffered similar trauma. Her story also has a lovely sapphic romance component, which I thought was a nice touch.

This book surprised me in many ways. I expected a workplace fantasy/horror, and it delivered. I did not expect as much of the "feel good" vibe, and while I have a visceral reaction to things which are too neatly and too cleanly tied up, I did actually really have fun with this story. It is clever, funny, light-hearted, and still has a creepy factor in its tone. Personally, I would have liked the conflict to feel a little less obvious, but I can also really appreciate what the author was going for.

Thank you, NetGalley & Ballentine, for letting me read this ARC! The opinions expressed here are my own.

[The Sapphic Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC! ***

It took getting to about 25% of the book for me to start getting invested. That's when the relationships start forming. Before that, it's just Igor being bossed around and taken for granted by the Doctor, which I totally get is important to the premise, but I just wasn't really interested in him at first. I didn't particularly care about the witch and the cat at first, either. The vampires caught my attention more, but really, it's when Igor goes out to run errands for the first time in town that the good stuff starts.

I really, really like Cornelia (the vampire henchperson). Being a protector of the innocent by feeding on abusers instead of on just anyone is exactly what I'd do if I had to drink blood to survive. Her arc is about gaining her independence and learning it's okay to seek her own path and happiness. I appreciate her sapphic romantic interest, Laura, for wanting Cornelia to find her own footing before moving in with her. And while their little twist wasn't unexpected, it was a delight to read.

Grimaulkin (the henchcat) grew on me. I like cats with their attitudes (like Princess Donut from Dungeon Crawler Carl), and her struggle with disliking her original body and desperately wanting to keep her cat form tugs at the heartstrings in a very trans-adjascent way.

Igor is ace/aro, and I love that so much. His arc is mostly about realizing how badly he's been treated by the Doctor when he finally has friends who treat him well by contrast. This is made even more clear to him when he creates his own construct that he treats as a person, whereas the Doctor only sees tools he can use.

This is a very queer friendly book. It's refreshing to have a cast where romance isn't the central tie between them. I love that the henchpeople develop platonic relationships with each other, and if there's romance, it's with an external party. They're a family. I also really appreciate that each of the henches has their own unique struggle and that they find support and love with each other. It's so wholesome and good.

At its core, this book examines the idea of what a monster is and subverts it. It isn't what something or someone looks like on the outside that makes them good or bad; it's the choices they make, the way they treat other people, and what they do with the power they have that determines that. The theme is perfectly illustrated by the protagonists being what we'd typically call "monsters." Some of them, like the Count, the Doctor, and Mag, are actually monstrous. Conversely, there are people like Igor, Spare, Cornelia, Grim, and Laura, who appear monstrous but try their best to be good. There are people like the villagers who are quick to stereotype and treat "monsters" accordingly, but there are also exceptions, like Ruth. All people are capable of both bad and good.

It's a quick, fun read with a quirky, lovable cast that'll warm your heart. While it does deal with prejudice, it is a very queer friendly world, and it deals with its themes in light, accessible ways.

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second Frankenstein retelling novel for this season is quite different from the previous one. Although they're both told by/about sidekicks rather than the doctor or his creation, this one is from the point of view of the misshapen laboratory assistant, Igor. And that is only one of the quixotic differences from the original and its many successors.

The set up is swift, with a pitchforks-and-torches mob advancing on the derelict castle while the doctor is in the final stages of his latest attempt to reanimate a cobbled-together corpse. Thanks to Igor’s forethought and recognition of inevitability involving the trajectory local villagers' suspicions, the pair escapes the castle with most of their laboratory equipment and supplies, abandoning their shocked but immobile experiment. They set up a new workshop in a distant region where the doctor has some claim on a long-deserted manor house with a suitable tower, not too close to a town but not too distant from a cemetery where fresh – relatively fresh – parts can be had for their next experiment.

Igor is a convincing and sympathetic character. The doctor is as much of a jerk as you might expect, but Igor tries to make the best of things. His commitment to his unremunerated job is one of his endearing qualities. He might be almost the perfect employee, willing to turn his hand to any number of grizzly tasks and swallow any number of degrading insults from his master. Kind of like Wormtongue is treated by Saruman, but with a much worse clothing allowance.

But sooner or later, every worm must turn. And it appears Igor is about to turn chief cook and bottle washer for a collection of unwanted housemates in the new abode. One consolation is that there are now other minions at hand, also being insulted by, respectively, their master or mistress. For the first time in as long as he can remember, Igor isn’t alone with his servitude. And in companionship comes common purpose, even, eventually, solidarity.

The writing is competent, the voice of Igor flawless. The story unfolds at a clipping, but totally cohesive pace, with excellent characterization and goals that are easy to identify with, no mean feet considering they involve not only Igor and the doctor but a cat that is not a cat and a vampire with yearnings for a life beyond drinking blood. And … Something Else.

You might think that this sets up a horrifying paranormal tale, but it’s actually a fascinating character study that explores consent and servitude, bullying and respect, ethical dilemmas and the choice to do good in a world where so many around you are bad.

I was sorry when this one came to a close. Even though the wrap-up itself was satisfying, I just liked these characters and wanted to spend more time with them. It's a story with a lot of heart, even disregarding those examples in the spare parts crypt.

#TheHenchpersonsGuidetoUnionizing #NetGalley #Horror #SFF #humorous #cat #Igor #Frankenstein #sidekicks #vampires #demons #witches #werewolf #paranormal #cemetery #castle #lightning #HeartsInJars #brains

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
supervillain office politics 🤝 workplace comedy 🤝 "maybe the real evil was the lack of employee benefits"
okay but...who looked at the world of superheroes and villains and thought:
"you know what these henchpeople really need? a union."
because honestly??? that's hilarious and somehow...it actually works.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what i loved was THE PREMISE.
it's such a clever twist on the superhero genre.
instead of following the chosen one, the billionaire hero, or the mastermind villain...we're following the people doing all the thankless work in the background and honestly?
i think they deserved their moment.
the satire is sharp, funny and surprisingly relatable because at the end of the day...whether your boss is an evil overlord or just your average middle manager...bad management is still bad management.
the humor really landed for me.
it's full of workplace jokes, ridiculous villain antics and conversations that made me stop and think,
"...you know what? they actually have a point."
there were several moments that genuinely made me laugh.
i also appreciated that beneath all the comedy, the book has something to say.
it's about workers being valued, standing up for themselves and questioning systems that have always been accepted simply because "that's how things are."
it never felt preachy.
it just used humor to explore those ideas and i thought that balance worked really well.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
BUT, i do think some of the jokes worked better than others.
the humor is very specific and if the workplace satire doesn't click for you, parts of the book might not land quite as well.
i also would've liked a little more character development.
the premise is so strong that i occasionally wanted to spend more time getting to know the people behind all the jokes and while i enjoyed the pacing overall, there were a few sections in the middle where i felt the story lingered on certain bits a little longer than necessary.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
overall this was such a fun, refreshing take on the superhero genre.
it's witty, creative, and full of the kind of humor that had me wondering why no one thought of this sooner.
sometimes the people in the background have the most interesting stories...and this book proves exactly that.
so if you like superhero satire, workplace comedies, ensemble casts, clever social commentary and books that don't take themselves too seriously...i think you'll have a great time with this one.

My final thoughts;
i came for the supervillain office politics...
i stayed because apparently even evil masterminds should probably be offering paid time off and decent health insurance. 🦹‍♀️💼😂

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was invited to read this book by the publisher (my thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam for granting me access to this marvelous ARC). I was immediately attracted to the title but when I read the first sentence I knew I was in for an incredible read.

First, the book’s dedication caught my attention - “For the unappreciated, the overlooked, and the unsung. I see you.” And then I met Igor, the assistant to the crazy scientist, and I saw Marty Feldman in his role as Igor in Young Frankenstein bringing the “Abby Normal” brain to Gene Wilder. Indeed Igor was so unappreciated! This all goes by way of saying this book is funny but clever in telling a story about all of us who come to work, do our best, make the boss look good but would like to be seen once in a while.

We meet Igor working with the flippant, egotistical and narcissistic scientist (the Doctor) he stays with because he corrected Igor’s lisp. As an angry crowd of peasants and local people armed with pitchforks and torches surround the castle where the scientist is soon to animate a creature pieced together from corpses, Igor’s quick thinking and numerous experiences of quick escapes, he packs up and takes his master away from the now burning building. Forced to leave at the moment of creation, Igor and his master scurry to Ravenwald Manor which they find occupied by Grimkin, an “enigmatic witch’s (Auntie Mag) familiar,” and Cornelia, “a deeply dissatisfied vampire bride” to the Count. The Doctor soon takes over the Manor and starts to bully and boss everyone - but he joined by the Count and Auntie Mags who are equally unkind. As Igor befriends these two, he starts to realize that his master’s behavior as well as the masters of his new friends are up to no good in addition to being terrible bosses. With snarky humor, “paranormal mischief and cozy horror” the book focuses on “the sidekicks” of horror stories like Frankenstein being reprised in the book (though not the James Whale 1931 movie version). These characters are fine representations of the every persons of work.

I loved Igor. He’s so relatable and his frustrations are realistic - albeit in a unique way. As he journeys to self awareness you can identify with his frustrations- at some point we all get horrible bosses or maybe not so nice ones and you just want Igor to appreciated. If you’ve ever felt under appreciated at work, spend some time with Igor and his friends.

I had so many good moments reading this book. It’s got an emotional range - snark, sweetness, funniness and tenderness - that captures you. And I loved the writing. It’s got a nice pace, good descriptions and fine character development. These are some of the reasons I gave this book five stars. But most of all this was a great book to take you away from the grimness of our current world.

[Robert Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Romantasy has been all the rage another fantasy subgenre has been sneaking into the charts - Cosy Fantasy. Cosy Fantasy is often defined as “low stakes and peaceful”, they involve found family and monsters who are just misunderstood. But even within this subgenre there is a spectrum. There are often stakes, sometimes world-ending ones, there can be violence and there are plenty of dangerous monsters along with the friendly ones. Some of the authors playing in this space include John Wiswell, Travis Baldree and TJ Klune. Marshall J Moore has written in this mode before and now delivers a dark by cosy standalone The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing.

The main character of The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing is Igor. Igor has been the assistant to the Doctor for many years, helping to him to complete the “Great Work” . This involves creating the perfect human out of body parts extracted from nearby cemeteries and bringing that creation to life using electricity drawn from the lightning. When the book opens, Igor and the Doctor are once again being driven out of their home by a local mob of townsfolk wielding torches and pitchforks before they can finish their experiments. The pair wind up at Ravenwald Manor, home of the Doctor’s ancestors, one of whom is the Count, an ancient vampire who still lives there with his wife Cornelia. Also taking refuge in the house is Mag, a witch who is determined to open a portal to a hell-like dimension with the help of her cat familiar Grimalkin.

As the title suggests, the plot revolves around Igor, Cornelia and Grimalkin slowly developing a friendship and realising there is more to life than being a henchperson. In doing so they start to incur the wrath of their masters and also find the stakes getting higher.

The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing is built quite deliberately on some very well established tropes. The mad Dr Frankenstein-like scientist and his misshapen offsider, vampire lore, alchemy, rampaging villagers with pitchforks and torches, witchcraft and eldritch creatures with tentacles. The likely familiarity of readers with these tropes allows Marshall to play with them but also play down some of the gruesome details and horror that is inherent in their original use.

In the end, The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing is a found family story and also, as the name suggests, builds on the power of the collective. A henchperson on their own may not be able to fight the system but together, possibly they have some power. It is cosy fantasy with a slightly dark edge and for the growing number of fans of this subgenre it will definitely scratch an itch.

[Nina van der Kooij · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley & Bantam for the ARC!

This was advertised as cozy horror, a combination of genres that often seems contradictory. This book I'd describe as a cozy book, not really horror. It uses tropes and elements popular primarily in horror, but it is not scary or anything. That said, I really enjoyed this book and its creative approach to these familiar tropes.

This is a single POV book told by Igor. Igor is the hunchbacked, disabled assistant to the Doctor who is trying to complete the Great Work to create new, perfect life by stitching together parts from a corpse. Essentially, he is Frankenstein only the doctor takes a lot longer to complete his work. Also, Igor actually does most of the work. He really is underappreciated and underpaid as an assistant (at the start he doesn't get paid at all). He is also the one who consistently saves the doctor whenever they're being run out of a town by angry townspeople (they're not wrong).

When they're run out again, they flee to the doctor's childhood home of Ravenswals manor. Unfortunately, they're not the only villains seeking refuge here. There's a witch called auntie Mag who serves a demonic master and is trying to summon him into their world, which would end the world. She's being helped by Grimalkin, a cat familiar who would much rather just remain a cat than go along with Mag's demon plans. Like Igor, Grimalkin does most of the work and she's not exactly appreciated for it. The last pair residing in the manor is the Count (a vampire) and his bride Cornelia. Cornelia is pretty much done with him, but as she was turned into a vampire by him, she's bound to obey his commands. She also does all of the work, hunting both people and animals to drink their blood, while the Count mainly just stays in his coffin.

While the three bosses initially don't like or trust each other, Igor suggests the manor is big enough to share and they should try to get along. But as they start living together, Igor befriends both Cornelia and Grimalkin and they realize they're all three in a pretty shitty situation with a very demanding boss who doesn't appreciate them at all. And so they decide to help each other out.

This story focuses primarily on friendship, and I thought the growing bonds between these three were very sweet and interesting to read about, and I liked seeing them help each other out in the very difficult situations with their bosses. Igor was a charming character and I really liked seeing his sense of self worth grow as he realized he was actually doing all of the work for the doctor and is far smarter than the doctor gives him credit for.

There's a side sapphic romance which I thought was cute. It wasn't really the main focus, but I found it very sweet of Igor that he goes out of his way to help make this happen for his friend.

Would recommend it to fans of cozy stories with spooky elements, but not necessarily to horror fans. This would be a great read for Halloween.

[Nannette Demmler · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Ballantine/Bantam via Netgalley for an honest review.

This is such a fun and at times , humorous story that I really enjoyed reading. The characters were all great and were easily relatable. The story may have dragged a bit at times, but the themes and dilemmas the characters encountered are very recognizable to modern readers. This story has a lot of heart and you will find yourself rooting for the ‘monsters’.

Igor is the sole narrator of this story and I really enjoyed spending time with him. He shows tremendous growth throughout the book and it was great watching him stand up to his Master, the Doctor. Some of the descriptions of his work might make some people a bit squeamish, but you can tell that he takes pride in his work. I also adored how his friendships with Grim and Cornelia grew. It felt very organic and not at all rushed. His love for them by the end of the story was very evident in all of the decisions he made.

I adored both Grim, who is a talking cat, and Cornelia. They were both delightful and really encouraged each other. They too had issues with their superiors and struggled with standing up to them. Grim was my favorite of the three, I just loved her observations about what was going on and her dry sense of humor. Cornelia was also a fun character to watch grow over the course of the book. There were a couple of other characters that really added to the story, Spare and Laura. Laura is a love interest for Cornelia, and she was a great character. I did figure out her secret pretty early in the story, but loved the big reveal of it. Spare was just adorable and very sweet.

The story does have a very cozy feel to it, but it also deals with a lot of darker themes. It had the feel of an office comedy at times, as the Henches toil away at their Masters work, but that actually worked quite well. The world building was based on many different horror novels, like Frankenstein and Dracula, which gave the world a very familiar feel. The themes of needing to be appreciated, friendship, what it means to be a human or a monster were all well done. The beginning was a bit on the slow side and it took awhile for me to get into the story, but once you get sucked in it is quite enjoyable.

If you enjoy cozy stories of any kind, especially those with a found family, and lots of great characters, this is one you want to make sure gets on your list.

https://elnadesbookchat.com

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Ballantine, Netgalley and Marshall J. Moore for a copy of the eARC.

This book is for people who enjoyed the recent Frankenstein movie by del Toro. It's also up the alley for any gamers who enjoyed Graveyard Keeper. I loved both the movie and the game so this was definitely a hit for me. Some descriptions may be a tad bit gory for people. However, if you can stomach Frankenstein, then I think you will be fine.

We have 3 main Henchperson's - Igor, Grimalkin, and Cornelia. Igor works with the doctor who is trying to create a being out of different body parts which Igor supplies. Grimalkin is the "cat" familiar of the witch Mag. She is tasked to help the witch with her summons. Lastly, we have Cornelia, who is the bride of the vampire count. She has been bound to him for centuries and cannot deny his demands. The three of them, along with their "bosses" meet at Ravenwald Manor due to certain mishaps. The three slowly find out that they are under abuse and slowly unite to the one goal of getting rid of their masters' hold over them.

Though the book has quite some gore, it was also filled with hilarious moments. I am often not one who can stomach much gore (like those seen in SAW movies), but this book didn't bother me too much. I am not sure if it is because they are working on corpses, and not actual human beings. Also, all three of the henchperson seem to have a good moral compass, which makes it even more enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who has been under workplace stress. Perhaps it will give them a better perspective of their life.

I cannot stress how much this book made me smile. I LOVED Igor, Grimalkin, and Cornelia. Their friendship was one of the best things to read. All of them having rude, disrespectful masters definitely helped their friendship bond. It reminds me of a workplace where coworkers bond much faster if they all have something to say about management. I was also pleasantly surprised that there was a romance side plot. I was expecting hilarity and chaos, but the romance definitely was a nice touch.

✔ Workers learning to stand up for themselves
✔ Fantasy/Otherworldly characters
✔ Rude, disrespectful bosses & how to fight them
✔ Romance side plot
✔ Comedy and chaos
✔ Amazing friendship bonds

[Steve "Soup" Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ARC for The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing by Marshall J. Moore. I would like to thank Ballantine Books for providing me with this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is an amalgamation and spoof of many classic horror characters and tropes. I would categorize it under the umbrella of humorous fantasy. Our protagonist is Igor—the same hunchbacked assistant who comes to mind when you think of Dr. Frankenstein—who forms an unlikely alliance with a group of misfit monsters who are all disgruntled with the way their masters treat them.

One of Igor's companions is a talking cat. Well, she looks like a cat and desperately wants to be a cat, but she is actually a tentacled familiar in cat form who is unappreciated by the witch she serves. The third member of Igor's trio is a female vampire who is fed up with the male vampire who turned her and continues to control her.

The monsters in the book do exactly what you would expect them to do. The vampires drink blood, the witch casts spells, and Igor's unnamed master attempts to animate a corpse made up of a myriad of human body parts. This aspect of the story is fairly predictable, and many of the actions and outcomes are predictable as well.

There is also one plot hole that stood out to me. All of our characters live together in an abandoned mansion, and upon moving in, they sign a magical contract that prevents the residents from harming one another and requires them to intervene if one of their housemates is being harmed. The contract is established as an important part of the setup, but it is never really addressed again and appears to be broken repeatedly throughout the book. I found this particularly noticeable because the rules of the contract should have had a significant impact on several of the events that take place later in the story.

Even so, I still enjoyed the story. It made me feel good to root for the underdogs, and I had plenty of laughs along the way. We are also introduced to several other creatures throughout the book, and they add some great moments to the story.

The main question this book attempts to answer is: Who are the true monsters?

I will be recommending this book to readers who enjoy a good laugh while reading and to lovers of cozy fantasy.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.75

A fun and clever blend of fantasy, workplace satire, and dark humor.

The book’s biggest strength is easily its premise. Taking the usually expendable henchpeople of fantasy and placing them in a world of workplace complaints, unfair treatment, and union organizing is a clever and entertaining twist on familiar genre conventions. The story gets plenty of mileage out of applying everyday workplace frustrations to a world filled with evil overlords, monsters, and genuinely dangerous jobs. The contrast makes for some genuinely funny moments. Beneath the humor, there’s also a thoughtful message about solidarity, dignity, and learning to recognize your own value. The characters are generally easy to root for, and the found-family dynamic adds a welcome sense of warmth to the story.

Where the book was less successful for me was in its execution. The satire occasionally feels a little too heavy-handed, with some of its themes and messages being explained rather than allowed to emerge naturally through the story. The pacing is uneven as well, and there are moments when the narrative seems more interested in emphasizing its point than advancing the plot. Although I enjoyed the characters overall, some of the supporting cast felt more like extensions of the book’s themes and comedic bits than fully developed characters. I also found myself wishing the fantasy setting had been explored more, as the world-building sometimes feels secondary to the workplace satire.

Despite those shortcomings, The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing is an entertaining and original spin on fantasy, with plenty of humor, heart, and personality. It may not completely reinvent the genre, but its central concept is distinctive enough to make it memorable. The combination of familiar fantasy tropes, workplace comedy, and social commentary makes for a refreshing change of pace.

Overall, The Henchperson’s Guide to Unionizing is an enjoyable read that puts a creative spin on familiar fantasy conventions, even if some aspects of the execution don’t land quite as well as others. It’s a solid choice for readers who enjoy humorous fantasy, workplace satire, and stories with a little more heart beneath the jokes.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something so satisfying about stories that shift the spotlight away from the "important" people and ask us to care about everyone else. The Henchperson's Guide to Unionizing does exactly that, creating a witty and heartfelt fantasy that proves the people working behind the scenes often have the most interesting stories to tell.

At its core, this novel isn't really about monsters or villains it's about the people whose labor is taken for granted. The characters spend so much of their lives believing their worth is measured only by what they can do for someone else. Watching them slowly discover that they deserve respect, fair treatment, and the freedom to make choices for themselves is what makes this story so rewarding.

One of my favorite aspects was the way Marshall J. Moore explored the idea of community. Change doesn't happen because one person suddenly becomes fearless it happens because people realize they don't have to face impossible situations alone. The friendships that develop throughout the novel become just as important as the larger conflict, creating a wonderful sense of found family among characters who have spent their lives feeling invisible.

The humor is sharp and playful, but it never takes away from the emotional core of the story. The comedy makes the heavier moments hit even harder, allowing themes of burnout, exploitation, identity, and self-worth to emerge naturally. It asks meaningful questions about loyalty, tradition, and whether we should continue accepting systems simply because "that's the way they've always been."

I also appreciated how the novel reminds us that everyone has value, regardless of their title or status. The heroes aren't the loudest or the strongest they're ordinary people who learn that their voices matter. Their courage comes from standing together rather than standing above everyone else, and I found that message both uplifting and incredibly relevant.

If you enjoy character-driven fantasy with quirky humor, gothic atmosphere, and stories where compassion is just as powerful as courage, I highly recommend picking this one up.