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Monster: Tales of Isarine
Become a WITCH. Become a MONSTER.
Set upon the futuristic backdrop of the Ubrelian Empire, Guardian AVL is a Fledgling of WITCH Squadron, studying under his mentor, HRA. However, on a Branching Mission like any other, he encounters none other than the Col–[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]–roying his life as he knows it. Now without a Squadron, he must navig–
[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]
–scape the Fate as written by the Great Witch Cynder W–[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]–ust escape the cruel grasps of Ubrelia’s Violence before it’s too late for them both.
When at last she arrives at the crossroads of destiny, will she embrace her Fate, or defy it?
MONSTER is a story with multi-faceted characters and rich, deep lore. It’s a story about the selfish non-consent of self-sacrifice, the impossib–[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]–n the name of love, and the role of a soldier’s obedience in being complicit within a machine of war. It’s a story abou–[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]–estion at its What does it mean to be a Monster?
Set upon the futuristic backdrop of the Ubrelian Empire, Guardian AVL is a Fledgling of WITCH Squadron, studying under his mentor, HRA. However, on a Branching Mission like any other, he encounters none other than the Col–[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]–roying his life as he knows it. Now without a Squadron, he must navig–
[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]
–scape the Fate as written by the Great Witch Cynder W–[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]–ust escape the cruel grasps of Ubrelia’s Violence before it’s too late for them both.
When at last she arrives at the crossroads of destiny, will she embrace her Fate, or defy it?
MONSTER is a story with multi-faceted characters and rich, deep lore. It’s a story about the selfish non-consent of self-sacrifice, the impossib–[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]–n the name of love, and the role of a soldier’s obedience in being complicit within a machine of war. It’s a story abou–[N-GRAM CORRUPTED]–estion at its What does it mean to be a Monster?
- GenresFantasy
692 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 27, 2026
It took me a few tries to get started, but after a few chapters, I found myself deeply charmed and enraptured in equal parts by the worldbuilding, mystery, and characters.
I don't think my information processing capacity is quite as developed as KKS', or for that matter, the author's, so it is going to take me a few more passes and a lot more cross referencing notes before I can fully fill in the [corrupted n-gram] and start to wrap my mind around what is clearly a deeply fleshed out and detailed world. The heavy usage of abbreviations, codenames, and point-of-view changes were a little jarring, and took me some getting used to.
Nevertheless, once I started getting the hang of the structure and developed a better sense of the characters I found myself richly rewarded with a tapestry exploring what makes us humans -- or monsters. What drives us to obedience, and to rebellion? What are we willing to sacrifice, for love or for duty? And why the heck is Geora so badass?
Thanks, set, for writing such a captivating story! I explore more of your Isarine and of your writing!
I don't think my information processing capacity is quite as developed as KKS', or for that matter, the author's, so it is going to take me a few more passes and a lot more cross referencing notes before I can fully fill in the [corrupted n-gram] and start to wrap my mind around what is clearly a deeply fleshed out and detailed world. The heavy usage of abbreviations, codenames, and point-of-view changes were a little jarring, and took me some getting used to.
Nevertheless, once I started getting the hang of the structure and developed a better sense of the characters I found myself richly rewarded with a tapestry exploring what makes us humans -- or monsters. What drives us to obedience, and to rebellion? What are we willing to sacrifice, for love or for duty? And why the heck is Geora so badass?
Thanks, set, for writing such a captivating story! I explore more of your Isarine and of your writing!
August 1, 2026
"your value isn't based on your utility to serve someone else's purpose. You have intrinsic value in just existing. Don't forget that." Best quote from a book ever that for some reason resonated with me so hard that it felt like Sophie herself looked into my brain and said 'you need this right now.'
What an exhilarating tale of love, friendship, found family, and sticking it to a corrupt government. I think we all could use a little more of this in our lives these days.
PS Justice for my baby NVS 🫶 I will love you forever my favorite yapper!!
What an exhilarating tale of love, friendship, found family, and sticking it to a corrupt government. I think we all could use a little more of this in our lives these days.
PS Justice for my baby NVS 🫶 I will love you forever my favorite yapper!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Monster: Tales of Isarine can be described as experimental in its design, but nonetheless easy to pick up and read despite the high page count. Chapters usually switch between self-introspection and combat missions, with some epistolary elements (text logs, information articles) interspersed to provide additional lore and world-building. It is a story of rebellion and discovering long-lost secrets.
(Thank you to the author and Booksirens for the free review copy of this book.)
Perhaps the most standout part of this book is its visual presentation, which differs depending on whether you have an eBook or a physical copy. The graphic design in the physical version is simply immaculate, capturing the essence of science fiction on every page. Some of this can also be said of the eBook version, but not as pronounced due to technical limitations. The different formatting of the radio chatter and mission introduction “screens” made for a unique reading experience.
A more divisive aspect for me was the characters, though this may be more a byproduct of the book’s themes rather than bad writing. Few characters have any defining characteristics besides their plot relevance, almost being “faceless” in a way that promotes their roles as puppets who willingly (and sometimes unwillingly) serve their dystopian empire. Another reason I might not have connected with most of the characters is that they share the same laid-back mannerisms of a YA protagonist. (Nothing wrong with YA, there’s just a certain style of it that I’m not fond of and wasn’t expecting.)
Monster was a good experience for me, mainly because of how different it presented itself from other novels. Definitely one of the better indie books out there when it comes to visual style, and the story has a great message in “seek your truth and fight for it.”
(Thank you to the author and Booksirens for the free review copy of this book.)
Perhaps the most standout part of this book is its visual presentation, which differs depending on whether you have an eBook or a physical copy. The graphic design in the physical version is simply immaculate, capturing the essence of science fiction on every page. Some of this can also be said of the eBook version, but not as pronounced due to technical limitations. The different formatting of the radio chatter and mission introduction “screens” made for a unique reading experience.
A more divisive aspect for me was the characters, though this may be more a byproduct of the book’s themes rather than bad writing. Few characters have any defining characteristics besides their plot relevance, almost being “faceless” in a way that promotes their roles as puppets who willingly (and sometimes unwillingly) serve their dystopian empire. Another reason I might not have connected with most of the characters is that they share the same laid-back mannerisms of a YA protagonist. (Nothing wrong with YA, there’s just a certain style of it that I’m not fond of and wasn’t expecting.)
Monster was a good experience for me, mainly because of how different it presented itself from other novels. Definitely one of the better indie books out there when it comes to visual style, and the story has a great message in “seek your truth and fight for it.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Monster is a book that's so hard to describe, but so worth experiencing. It's got frantic fight scenes and deep introspection. It's told in dialogue, records, and letters. It's about heroes versus monsters in a world where heroes are monsters and monsters can be heroes. I loved the high-energy pacing contrasted against the detailed, layered themes of Monster. It tricks you into thinking it's a sci-fi action bonanza before hitting you with the crazy emotional twists that make the plot so absorbing.
Even if the format is unexpected or you're not a fan of the genres it falls into, I would urge you to give it a try, because it's a story that exceeds its labels. There is so much thought put into every element of the plot, every character's motivations, every piece of lore, to the point where I've read this three times and still think there's more to find on a fourth read. The dialogue is clever and funny, and it makes the characters that much more fun to read about. Even without knowing everything there is to know about the background lore and worldbuilding that makes this a Isarine story, the ending is still satisfying, because at the root of it all, this story is about the hearts and choices of the people who make this world what it is.
Even if the format is unexpected or you're not a fan of the genres it falls into, I would urge you to give it a try, because it's a story that exceeds its labels. There is so much thought put into every element of the plot, every character's motivations, every piece of lore, to the point where I've read this three times and still think there's more to find on a fourth read. The dialogue is clever and funny, and it makes the characters that much more fun to read about. Even without knowing everything there is to know about the background lore and worldbuilding that makes this a Isarine story, the ending is still satisfying, because at the root of it all, this story is about the hearts and choices of the people who make this world what it is.
Review of advance copy received from Author
i liked this one a lot!
my favorite part about this book were the characters. i appreciate when authors write characters that are not perfect but rather flawed human beings with layers and nuance. i like when they feel alive and have a will of their own. S.E.T. did a great job delivering that.
GEO definitely left the biggest impression on me, her diaries had so much personality and i loved reading them! Avelyn resonated with me the most though. i enjoyed watching how both of these characters ended up developing from start to finish. the dialogues were SO much fun too!
the themes and messages felt thought-provoking and i think there is something to take away from them if you want to. the lore about the witches was interesting and kind of crazy at times(i thought the footnotes were great).
despite me not being a fan of like sci-fi military settings, it did not stop me from enjoying this story. i got to read the version that comes with some very stunning visuals, which definitely improved the reading experience for me.
anyway, if you value character-driven stories i would absolutely recommend this one.
my favorite part about this book were the characters. i appreciate when authors write characters that are not perfect but rather flawed human beings with layers and nuance. i like when they feel alive and have a will of their own. S.E.T. did a great job delivering that.
GEO definitely left the biggest impression on me, her diaries had so much personality and i loved reading them! Avelyn resonated with me the most though. i enjoyed watching how both of these characters ended up developing from start to finish. the dialogues were SO much fun too!
the themes and messages felt thought-provoking and i think there is something to take away from them if you want to. the lore about the witches was interesting and kind of crazy at times(i thought the footnotes were great).
despite me not being a fan of like sci-fi military settings, it did not stop me from enjoying this story. i got to read the version that comes with some very stunning visuals, which definitely improved the reading experience for me.
anyway, if you value character-driven stories i would absolutely recommend this one.
Review of advance copy
I'll be honest, the first couple chapters did not grip me tightly on this one - but I'm the kind of guy who will end up being a huge fan of a TV show and then, when recommending it to you, say "Okay so listen, the first 3 episodes aren't really going to grab you until you've got a little more context from later in the season…" so I gave it a few more chapters and I am SO glad I did. The unreliable narration, the way that the author uses "corrupted data" to keep pacing in the story tight while dropping exposition and occasionally some foreshadowing? Masterful storytelling. Every page had me eager to devour the next. My only regret is hearing that there's more stories set in this world and that I haven't already read them!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full disclosure: I am friends with the author and helped them edit the book (my name is in there and everything!) so I'm not even going to attempt write a typical, unbiased review.
S.E.T. is not afraid to take risks with their writing and Monster is no exception. It's different in structure from anything I've ever read, which made the whole thing interesting and exciting. There's a ton of action, lots of lovable characters (NVS is my boy), and a beautiful story.
Monster is a really fun book and I think it'd be an especially good pickup if you're in the mood for something different from the norm. Also, the physical version is definitely the one to get as it has cool art!
S.E.T. is not afraid to take risks with their writing and Monster is no exception. It's different in structure from anything I've ever read, which made the whole thing interesting and exciting. There's a ton of action, lots of lovable characters (NVS is my boy), and a beautiful story.
Monster is a really fun book and I think it'd be an especially good pickup if you're in the mood for something different from the norm. Also, the physical version is definitely the one to get as it has cool art!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The author effortlessly layers elements of modern realism, sci-fi and fantasy with the military type chatter throughout the whole book, anchoring the reader in the world she's created. Her verbal architechture leaves nothing to the imagination offering the reader clear visuals of the monstrosities the characters are facing as well as the world they live in. Falling in love with the characters is easy, and stays that way making you want to pick up the next book, and the one after that.
Review of advance copy
A masterclass in mythic worldbuilding! Monster Tales of Isarine beautifully weaves together Bronze Age Mesopotamian history and ancient lore. The prose is lyrical and immersive, making the gods and myths feel incredibly tangible. If you love deep world histories and epic storytelling like Hades x Persephone, this is a must-read
Review of advance copy
Thank you for making this book exist.
I definitely didn't ever imagine that I'd be remotely interested in reading a book like this. I'm so glad I did. In fact, I read it twice before leaving this review, because I felt like I missed so much info the first time and wanted to give it my fairest opinion.
The story was fascinating. I loved the combination of sci-fi elements gently interwoven with fantasy; it worked so well as a concept, and it left me wanting more background on the witches and the history surrounding them.
The chapters switch between different POVs; it provides some 1st person perspectives here and there from different characters, as well as occasional 'data logs' and mainly 3rd person perspective 'mission' chapters, which are what give us insight into character-driven decision making and plot points. Collectively, it provides a well-rounded view of the intricacies of the world itself, both of Ubrelia and the far more dangerous surface world. The characters were really well-crafted; every thought, decision, and interaction was carefully considered, even with the limit of how expressive the dialogue could be. I still felt emotion and conviction in their interactions, as well as the pressures of war that they experienced.
The missions chapters are fast-paced and action packed. The swiftness of the dialogue really lends itself to how quick-thinking everyone has to be in the situation they are in, as it's difference between life and death.
I loved the book's formatting. Using a chat-like system for how they communicate while completing missions or redacting information, almost as if we ourselves are snooping where we shouldn't be, really added to the sci-fi element of the story. I imagine that this will be an even better experience in print, but I really liked it in ebook format.
I know I will be diving into the other books based on the world of Isarine, purely because of how immersive this book was.
Please write more books with these weird and wonderful premises. You took a wonderful risk.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I definitely didn't ever imagine that I'd be remotely interested in reading a book like this. I'm so glad I did. In fact, I read it twice before leaving this review, because I felt like I missed so much info the first time and wanted to give it my fairest opinion.
The story was fascinating. I loved the combination of sci-fi elements gently interwoven with fantasy; it worked so well as a concept, and it left me wanting more background on the witches and the history surrounding them.
The chapters switch between different POVs; it provides some 1st person perspectives here and there from different characters, as well as occasional 'data logs' and mainly 3rd person perspective 'mission' chapters, which are what give us insight into character-driven decision making and plot points. Collectively, it provides a well-rounded view of the intricacies of the world itself, both of Ubrelia and the far more dangerous surface world. The characters were really well-crafted; every thought, decision, and interaction was carefully considered, even with the limit of how expressive the dialogue could be. I still felt emotion and conviction in their interactions, as well as the pressures of war that they experienced.
The missions chapters are fast-paced and action packed. The swiftness of the dialogue really lends itself to how quick-thinking everyone has to be in the situation they are in, as it's difference between life and death.
I loved the book's formatting. Using a chat-like system for how they communicate while completing missions or redacting information, almost as if we ourselves are snooping where we shouldn't be, really added to the sci-fi element of the story. I imagine that this will be an even better experience in print, but I really liked it in ebook format.
I know I will be diving into the other books based on the world of Isarine, purely because of how immersive this book was.
Please write more books with these weird and wonderful premises. You took a wonderful risk.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ok so i received an advanced copy of MONSTER from the author, and holy heck what a book! don't be deceived by the freaky cover and weird sci-fi aesthetic, this is definitely a fantasy book at heart. it's about witches and love and friendship and what it means to be complicit in a machine of war (ok the last part went a bit off the rails but you know, it is what it is).
MONSTER is such an interesting book. it does so much. it has such fascinating themes. it's got some of the craziest action i've ever read, some of the wildest lore i've ever heard of, and some of the funniest and most lovable characters in all of Isarine. and it is a CHONKER. Goodreads is forcing me to leave this review on the Kindle version, but the print version is definitely the way to go. the raw aesthetic of the physical book is insane, and it has some incredible graphics for every chapter.
also the ending. oh my god, the ending. UGH.
insane.
this is the most insane book i've ever held in my hands, and i'm so grateful to the author for making it happen. it's so, so cool and it's definitely given me a lot of respect for S.E.T. for just going apeshit and doing whatever tf they want and making a crazy book unlike anything i've ever seen.
do i wish they had spend the last few months writing bw4 or gc2 instead of this? sure. but you know, beggars can't be choosers.
DISCLAIMER: this review may exhibit some slight bias because i received this advanced copy of the book from the author herself (because i am the author)
MONSTER is such an interesting book. it does so much. it has such fascinating themes. it's got some of the craziest action i've ever read, some of the wildest lore i've ever heard of, and some of the funniest and most lovable characters in all of Isarine. and it is a CHONKER. Goodreads is forcing me to leave this review on the Kindle version, but the print version is definitely the way to go. the raw aesthetic of the physical book is insane, and it has some incredible graphics for every chapter.
also the ending. oh my god, the ending. UGH.
insane.
this is the most insane book i've ever held in my hands, and i'm so grateful to the author for making it happen. it's so, so cool and it's definitely given me a lot of respect for S.E.T. for just going apeshit and doing whatever tf they want and making a crazy book unlike anything i've ever seen.
do i wish they had spend the last few months writing bw4 or gc2 instead of this? sure. but you know, beggars can't be choosers.
DISCLAIMER: this review may exhibit some slight bias because i received this advanced copy of the book from the author herself (because i am the author)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews