Monstrous

by Cora Raven

In 1840s Victorian England, botanist Camellia Reed accepts a position as research assistant to the reclusive Dr. Nicholas Ambrose, a brilliant but haunted doctor studying memory loss through dangerous plant experimentation.
Desperate to recover her own missing memories after a mysterious collapse left her with gaps in her past, Camellia is drawn to both the doctor’s groundbreaking research and the man himself.
Ambrose House harbors dark secrets though: a plant servant named Hawthorne, a greenhouse filled with specimens that glow in the darkness, and the ghost of the doctor’s late wife whose presence fills every room.
But Camellia has her own secrets, never removing the green velvet ribbon around her throat. What does it hide?

Frankenstein meets The Girl With the Green Ribbon in this gothic romance steeped in botanical horror, forbidden science, and the monstrous lengths we go for the ones we love.

Genres: Gothic

Paperback

Expected publication July 23, 2026

Reviews

[Sasha Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monstrous is a combination of Poor Things, Hazelthorn and the dynamics of The Addams Family. The character named Hawthorne reminds me of Lurch from the Adam's family. Which only furthered my affection for him as the story progressed. This is a story about discovery, love and dedication at the heart of it. The execution is flawless and the writing style hooked me from its beginning with its beautiful almost poetic rhythm. The mystery keeps you reading desperate for more just as a certain something... The foreshadowing is beautifully woven into the architecture of the stories muscles. I think lovers of gothic literature need to pick this up. And will leave with a new god-tier read of the year!

“The human body is such an optimistic arrangement, considering how easily it comes apart, and how quickly it begins to rot. You have three minutes, perhaps, before the brain begins to fail without oxygen. Five, if fortune is feeling generous…”

There's not a huge cast of characters in this story. But, their ambiguity, their personality and complexities bring them to life across the page. While the author of the novel isn't very versed in keeping plants alive the study and work of Ambrose and M. feels conclusive and compelling. I would read the entirety of their research! You get to peak into their notes but I would gladly have read more and wish to see the illustrations bloom across the page.

Well, done 5 stars! Ambiance, setting, twists, character arcs, and conclusion come together with prestigious clarity. This is a masterclass of novel writing!

[Hennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book with really high expectations, and somehow it still exceeded them. Cora Raven's writing is absolutely beautiful, haunting, emotional, and impossible to put down. The mystery had me completely hooked, and I loved the mix of gothic horror, forbidden science, and creepy botanical elements. The botanical aspect was one of my favourite parts. I loved all the plants featured throughout the story, and I had so much fun looking them up as I read. (I do want most of those plants!) It made the world feel even more immersive. The creepy "ghost" haunting Camellia was also so well done and added the perfect eerie atmosphere.

I was constantly trying to piece everything together alongside Camellia, especially with her memory loss and all the unanswered questions surrounding her. But the author was always a few steps ahead of me and somehow I always missed! Dr. Ambrose was such an intriguing character. He kept so many secrets that I never knew what to expect from him, and watching everything slowly unravel was incredibly satisfying. And that plot twist? I was genuinely left gasping. It all came together so perfectly.

This book was haunting, heartbreaking, thrilling, and beautifully written from beginning to end. Cora Raven has officially earned my loyalty. I can't wait to read more from her.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books entertain you, and some completely pull you into their world. This one did the latter.

I was hooked from the very first chapter and honestly loved every second of it. The blend of gothic romance, botanical horror, and eerie mystery was so unique, and it all came together beautifully.

The writing is absolutely stunning. Every description felt so rich and vivid that I could picture every room, every garden, and every unsettling discovery. The atmosphere was one of my favorite parts of the book—it was haunting, lush, and beautifully creepy without ever losing its sense of wonder.

I also adored the romance. It was emotional, beautifully developed, and perfectly balanced with the darker elements of the story. I became so invested in the characters, especially Camellia. And Hawthorne? He completely stole the show for me. He was such a fascinating, unforgettable character, and I couldn't get enough of him.

One of the biggest strengths of this book was how it handled its mysteries. The story is layered with secrets, and every reveal felt earned. Nothing was there simply for shock value. As each twist unfolded, everything clicked into place in such a satisfying way that it made me appreciate the story even more.

This is one of those books that completely immerses you. Between the gorgeous writing, unforgettable characters, haunting atmosphere, compelling romance, and beautifully executed twists, I never wanted it to end.

If you love gothic fiction with a fresh twist, atmospheric settings, unforgettable characters, and stories that are equal parts beautiful and unsettling, I can't recommend this one enough.

Thank you Cora Raven for the eARC copy of this fantastic book.

[Jenni Killin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Monstrous is a gothic romance inspired by Frankenstein and The Girl With The Green Ribbon. We follow Camellia, a woman who doesn't remember her past, a she discovers a job opening for Dr Ambrose, a brilliant yet controversial scientist who plans to restore memory loss through the grading of poisonous plants.

This was such an intriguing story! I love the concept of a main character experiencing dark intrusive thoughts, and we get that throughout the whole book. The romance in this is amazing, it is the kind of love I crave for myself. The storytelling and the way everything is written is beautiful, it almost reads poetically. You do get a bit of academia and botanical studies in there, which I am a big fan of. The plot twist blew my mind, I loved it.

I recommend this to anyone who wants a dark, gothic tale, loves a good romance, and those who like the wider side of fiction, like me.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one day, one sitting. This was absolutely perfect. I love me a little gothic tale where you are questioning your own morals and sanity. Cora does these types of stories so well.

There was mystery, romance, and longing, along with scientists who are just so dedicated to their craft and research. I also thought the pacing was great. When you are reading a standalone, it's expected that things will move pretty quickly, but I thought this moved along just enough while still having enough detail to make us feel that eeriness.

I loved every second of it, kind of sad there wasn't more. Cora is an auto-read author for me.

[Alyssa Markland · Rating 5 out of 5]

So lucky and thankful to have received another ARC from the author.
This was another horrifically beautiful story from Cora. Frankenstein meets Girl with the Green Ribbon with a grotesque yet gorgeous botanical twist. The perfect gothic romance,but more than just that, I loved everything about this book. I was hooked from the beginning and can never seem to figure out the final twists in Cora’s books. Every book Cora writes carves a special place into my heart and I’m forever grateful to have found this author.

[talesfromamothersnook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal haunting and poetically daunting this gothic horror will linger deep in the fabric of your bone marrow twisting like vibes deep into your core. Beautifully written Frankenstein retelling with a divine twist everyone needs immediately in their life. I was hooked from the first page till the very last. Highly recommend. This authors writing is stunning. It's a love story... but the horrors.... perfection.

[Jynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌱 the story was haunting, painful, scary, and tragically beautiful. This is Poe meets Flanagan with Shelly as their guide. I cannot say enough about this story. I read it as fast as my hands would allow and I'm so so thankful to have been given a chance to ARC for this story.

Understand you'll need tissues, but you'll also never know a love greater than the one that defies death 🥀
Incredible read

[Amma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another triumph from Cora Raven! I thoroughly enjoyed all the botanical horror and questionable ethics. The found family in this is just so cosy and the twist is once again mind blowing.
By far my favourite of theirs!
For all you Frankenstein lovers out there this is not one to miss.



**received an ARC from the author

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an arc, I knew when I saw the blurb I had to read it, in this Frankenstein meets The Girl with the Green ribbon botanical horror story I was captivated and entranced by the story, the characters were so easy to love and relate to. There were times I cried, this book was everything I imagined and more, it was gorgeously done and I would recommend 10/10 🤌🏻