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Uncanny Kingdom Universe
Myth Management
BATTLE THE MONSTERS ~ SAVE THE WORLD ~ FILE THE PAPERWORK.
For hundreds of years, the noble British bureaucracy of Myth Management has maintained the delicate balance between the human and mythological worlds – a thin tweed line between civilisation and chaos.
Today, Emily Peasbridge—lanky, bookish and accident-prone—begins her academy internship at their HQ; a sprawling building wedged between dimensions. Here she must administrate creatures of myth and legend, match wits with ancient gods, and battle institutionalised sexism.
But when an old enemy rises and mythical creatures begin infiltrating the human realm, it’s up to the academy's newest recruits to help them face their greatest challenge. So, keep calm, stiffen those upper lips, and put the kettle on, because you’re about to witness... mything in action!
- GenresEbooks
254 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2019
39 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 28, 2019
Imagine all those myths you learned about in school (or like me, in my free time) were real and were handled by a secret branch of the British government called Myth Management. It’s Emily Peasbridge’s new reality and she’s one of the newest interns at their headquarters. Her first day is a crash course in how to oversee gods, mythological creatures and legends, all using the latest technology. Her learning curve is steep, but she’s got her roommate, Izzy, to keep her laughing as well as Rudy, the intern’s right-hand man (or should I call him dog-man?), to ease her into her new reality. Every day is a new day to learn something new but when an old enemy of Myth Management attacks, chaos ensues. Emily will see people she cares about die and Greek myths come to life. Can she summon her inner strength to defeat a Greek god or has fear and grief paralyzed her?
Holy mother of tweed, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. From the very first page, I was hooked. Emily is part Hermoine, part Buffy and part Thirteenth Doctor (from Doctor Who). The plot moves at a wickedly fast pace and I liked how it flowed.
There’s an insane amount of action which is described brilliantly. As you read, you can sense the influence of Harry Potter but let me be very clear, this is a very different universe. The myths are portrayed realistically and with great amounts of British humor. The meeting between Santa and Jesus had me in stitches.
The characters in Myth Management leap from the page, jumping on your chest for attention. The narration felt so real, my imagination went wild. Emily is a bookish young woman trying to stand out among outgoing, flamboyant people. She has plenty of flaws but in reality, it’s these flaws that make her so irresistible to root for. What astounded me the most was that Emily is so honestly written, you would’ve thought the author was female. Little things, like wardrobe, catching trains and even knowing what young women fantasize about most, all brilliantly described by a male author.
If you’re looking for a riveting Urban Fantasy with a British flair, pick up Myth Management today. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this will be a series and there will be a sequel. Highly recommend!
Favorite Character/Quote: Emily. From the first paragraph, I knew she and I were going on a rollicking adventure. Her wit, intelligence and knack for bumping into things made her all the more endearing to me. But it’s her inner strength which makes her an outstanding heroine.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Holy mother of tweed, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. From the very first page, I was hooked. Emily is part Hermoine, part Buffy and part Thirteenth Doctor (from Doctor Who). The plot moves at a wickedly fast pace and I liked how it flowed.
There’s an insane amount of action which is described brilliantly. As you read, you can sense the influence of Harry Potter but let me be very clear, this is a very different universe. The myths are portrayed realistically and with great amounts of British humor. The meeting between Santa and Jesus had me in stitches.
The characters in Myth Management leap from the page, jumping on your chest for attention. The narration felt so real, my imagination went wild. Emily is a bookish young woman trying to stand out among outgoing, flamboyant people. She has plenty of flaws but in reality, it’s these flaws that make her so irresistible to root for. What astounded me the most was that Emily is so honestly written, you would’ve thought the author was female. Little things, like wardrobe, catching trains and even knowing what young women fantasize about most, all brilliantly described by a male author.
If you’re looking for a riveting Urban Fantasy with a British flair, pick up Myth Management today. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this will be a series and there will be a sequel. Highly recommend!
Favorite Character/Quote: Emily. From the first paragraph, I knew she and I were going on a rollicking adventure. Her wit, intelligence and knack for bumping into things made her all the more endearing to me. But it’s her inner strength which makes her an outstanding heroine.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
April 19, 2020
I think this will appeal to a younger audience. It had a sort of Harry Potter fan faction vibe to it but I don't mean that in a negative way and it was definitely it's own original story. The Bureau, and Academy and the classes were fun and I enjoyed Emily and her roommate Isabella but the story and characters felt very surface which is why I think its appeal would be greater with a younger audience. It was refreshingly free of romance and angst for an YA paranormal academy novel.
November 10, 2019
I received this book as an ARC, (fair warning) in return for an honest review. (I presume they want me to be honest. I will try my best to be) Since the ratings system on goodreads is different than that on amazon. (2 stars being "it was ok" and 3 stars being "I liked it" and 4 being "I really liked it". I think I'll have to end up on 3 personally though I'm still giving it a 4 cause I think it would probably be at least 4 for people who like these sorta books. There might be some bias in that cause usually when I rate on goodreads I do it purely based on my personal tastes to remember what I thought in case of a reread, and no review goes with it.) Anyways, enough of me ranting...
I've never read an "academy" book, unless you count Harry Potter I guess as A kid, but I know it's kinda a genre unto it's own. Anyways, this means I can safely say that it's the best academy book I've ever read. :P
In all seriousness though, this book is pretty good. I can't say I love it, but I like it. It was enjoyable and amusing and kinda zaney. So A quick run through with not too many spoilers. A young girl gets the opportunity for the job of a lifetime, to see the other side and another world. To work for Myth Management. She enters a training program (this is kinda different than what I presume most academy books do, unlike 16 year old protagonists in school, this is a 19 year old in a job training program) living in the agency dorm rooms, training with other recruits and hoping to excel and nab one of the coveted positions as a an academy intern. Obviously hijinks ensue!!!
The protagonist is pretty cool, she feels a bit young to me, but that might just be because I don't really remember that well how it was being 19, and even then I didn't really relate to my peers anyways. So that one is probably on me. She is kinda nitpicky, or maybe we should say fastidious. Seeing as I'm obsessive about details I honestly just found this satisfying.
The book has a bunch of side characters to round out the cast of course , plucky roommate, doormroom nanny, token douchebag recruit, and the eminently charming Professor Champ. All these make for a decently well rounded cast though I wish they'd been fleshed out a bit more. Professor Champ is by far my favorite and reminds me a lot of the Middleman in the so aptly named TV show Middleman (it's obscure and weird and there's probably only 30 other people who loved it) which I found really endearing. He reminds me even more so in the Comic strips related to the series. (Yes, turns out this series was originally based on a few short comic strips, they are delightful and well worth a read. Go on the internet right now and read them. Though you should be warned, whereas this book has a slight Young Adult/New Adult feel. The comics are very much retro pulp. I REALLY enjoyed them! More than the book itself)
The series if often humorous and speckled with both pop culture references and of ancient mythology. The World building is in many ways unique and interesting, though the mechanics through which Myth and Gods are shaped will be familiar to many readers. So the uniqueness comes mostly from how these concepts are managed in the book.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, cause I had heard this genre was full of teenage angst but you don't really get that here. Which is nice. The characters felt fresh and vibrant, Often surprisingly insightful and mature, but also sometimes somewhat surprisingly young, though definitely not not not like sullen hormonal time bombs. Which was a great relief to me. I presume this is again, cause it's not your typical academy book, and has slightly older protagonists. So yeah, the verdict all in all. Would definitely recommend. Academy books are still not my thing I think, so It didn't blow my mind or anything, but was thoroughly enjoyable and fun. I'm pretty sure if you're into Academy style books, this one is fresh and different and one you HAVE to try. If you are looking for grim UF this isn't for you, but if you want lighthearted and fun you should give this a go.
Oh, I almost forgot. It might also interest readers to know that this series is actually part of a larger universe by other authors called the Uncanny Kingdom. I've read some of those books as well and found them enjoyable so check it out.
I've never read an "academy" book, unless you count Harry Potter I guess as A kid, but I know it's kinda a genre unto it's own. Anyways, this means I can safely say that it's the best academy book I've ever read. :P
In all seriousness though, this book is pretty good. I can't say I love it, but I like it. It was enjoyable and amusing and kinda zaney. So A quick run through with not too many spoilers. A young girl gets the opportunity for the job of a lifetime, to see the other side and another world. To work for Myth Management. She enters a training program (this is kinda different than what I presume most academy books do, unlike 16 year old protagonists in school, this is a 19 year old in a job training program) living in the agency dorm rooms, training with other recruits and hoping to excel and nab one of the coveted positions as a an academy intern. Obviously hijinks ensue!!!
The protagonist is pretty cool, she feels a bit young to me, but that might just be because I don't really remember that well how it was being 19, and even then I didn't really relate to my peers anyways. So that one is probably on me. She is kinda nitpicky, or maybe we should say fastidious. Seeing as I'm obsessive about details I honestly just found this satisfying.
The book has a bunch of side characters to round out the cast of course , plucky roommate, doormroom nanny, token douchebag recruit, and the eminently charming Professor Champ. All these make for a decently well rounded cast though I wish they'd been fleshed out a bit more. Professor Champ is by far my favorite and reminds me a lot of the Middleman in the so aptly named TV show Middleman (it's obscure and weird and there's probably only 30 other people who loved it) which I found really endearing. He reminds me even more so in the Comic strips related to the series. (Yes, turns out this series was originally based on a few short comic strips, they are delightful and well worth a read. Go on the internet right now and read them. Though you should be warned, whereas this book has a slight Young Adult/New Adult feel. The comics are very much retro pulp. I REALLY enjoyed them! More than the book itself)
The series if often humorous and speckled with both pop culture references and of ancient mythology. The World building is in many ways unique and interesting, though the mechanics through which Myth and Gods are shaped will be familiar to many readers. So the uniqueness comes mostly from how these concepts are managed in the book.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, cause I had heard this genre was full of teenage angst but you don't really get that here. Which is nice. The characters felt fresh and vibrant, Often surprisingly insightful and mature, but also sometimes somewhat surprisingly young, though definitely not not not like sullen hormonal time bombs. Which was a great relief to me. I presume this is again, cause it's not your typical academy book, and has slightly older protagonists. So yeah, the verdict all in all. Would definitely recommend. Academy books are still not my thing I think, so It didn't blow my mind or anything, but was thoroughly enjoyable and fun. I'm pretty sure if you're into Academy style books, this one is fresh and different and one you HAVE to try. If you are looking for grim UF this isn't for you, but if you want lighthearted and fun you should give this a go.
Oh, I almost forgot. It might also interest readers to know that this series is actually part of a larger universe by other authors called the Uncanny Kingdom. I've read some of those books as well and found them enjoyable so check it out.
November 4, 2019
I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a decent, solid book that I finished in four-ish hours. I put off doing things at home between runs (for my job) just to finish the last fifty pages. I needed to know how it ended. I wouldn’t have been able to focus if I hadn’t.
Emily is a decent protagonist. Her clumsiness isn’t cute. It’s downright destructive at times, and I like that. I hate when clumsiness is used to make the character ‘quirky’. Clumsiness sucks and results in so much pain (I’ve currently got a bump on my head from an embarrassing experience I’m glad no one saw at work this past weekend). She’s also brave when it matters without it seeming out of character for her. She’s a good, loyal friend with a good sense of humor (though she loses points for laughing at puns).
Izzy and Rudy are fun, especially Rudy. He’s got such a sad story but is always chipper and makes the interns feel warm and cozy. I wish he’d been my dorm monitor at college.
The way different mythologies, legends, myths, fairy tales, etc. are handled is really unique, and I loved when everything was explained. I’m a sucker for this kind of stuff, and I like that everything exists together. I also love how this fact is managed by a relatively small group of humans, sort of like Men In Black but without aliens and the awesome weapons.
The overall story isn’t bad. I thought it was going to be a bit more dramatic than it was, but this also reads like an introduction to Emily’s adventures working with Myth Management, so I’m okay with that. The plot wraps up nicely, though what happens in this book will have repercussions in future novels.
There were a couple of times, though, that this book made me wince. I don’t mind what messages it was trying to convey, but the way they were handled dates this novel. Those hashtags are going to look ridiculous in a few years (well, they do now, but it’ll be worse in the future). Luckily, this doesn’t happen too often, but they shouldn’t be in the novel at all. It makes Emily seem like she’s twelve instead of an adult, and at those times I wanted to push her down a flight of stairs. Therefore, the book only gets four stars instead of five.
I really liked this book despite the few hiccups. I want to explore more of this world, and eagerly await more adventures about Emily and her friends.
This was a decent, solid book that I finished in four-ish hours. I put off doing things at home between runs (for my job) just to finish the last fifty pages. I needed to know how it ended. I wouldn’t have been able to focus if I hadn’t.
Emily is a decent protagonist. Her clumsiness isn’t cute. It’s downright destructive at times, and I like that. I hate when clumsiness is used to make the character ‘quirky’. Clumsiness sucks and results in so much pain (I’ve currently got a bump on my head from an embarrassing experience I’m glad no one saw at work this past weekend). She’s also brave when it matters without it seeming out of character for her. She’s a good, loyal friend with a good sense of humor (though she loses points for laughing at puns).
Izzy and Rudy are fun, especially Rudy. He’s got such a sad story but is always chipper and makes the interns feel warm and cozy. I wish he’d been my dorm monitor at college.
The way different mythologies, legends, myths, fairy tales, etc. are handled is really unique, and I loved when everything was explained. I’m a sucker for this kind of stuff, and I like that everything exists together. I also love how this fact is managed by a relatively small group of humans, sort of like Men In Black but without aliens and the awesome weapons.
The overall story isn’t bad. I thought it was going to be a bit more dramatic than it was, but this also reads like an introduction to Emily’s adventures working with Myth Management, so I’m okay with that. The plot wraps up nicely, though what happens in this book will have repercussions in future novels.
There were a couple of times, though, that this book made me wince. I don’t mind what messages it was trying to convey, but the way they were handled dates this novel. Those hashtags are going to look ridiculous in a few years (well, they do now, but it’ll be worse in the future). Luckily, this doesn’t happen too often, but they shouldn’t be in the novel at all. It makes Emily seem like she’s twelve instead of an adult, and at those times I wanted to push her down a flight of stairs. Therefore, the book only gets four stars instead of five.
I really liked this book despite the few hiccups. I want to explore more of this world, and eagerly await more adventures about Emily and her friends.
January 16, 2020
A new author enters the Uncanny Kingdom and does so in style!
I have read and adored every one of the books that David and Matt have written set in the Uncanny Kingdom. Every single character that they create is so real, whether they are good or evil (or somewhere in between - yes, you, Kirklander!), whether they are a member of any one of the weird and wonderful species sprung fully formed from their warped minds, monsters from a different dimension, angels or demons, wizards or foxes, or just plain old humans who are suddenly confronted with all things Uncanny.
When i heard that a new author was entering the fray, I have to admit I was worried for my beloved Kingdom but I should have known better. David and Matt obviously care about their Kingdom, their characters, and their loyal readers, and have chosen well. Alex Musson has written a stunning Uncanny debut novel and I was blown away by how much I loved it.
David and Matt have written strong male leads but the majority of their novels feature fierce, feisty, furious, filthy-mouthed females. I find it quite spooky how they inhabit the minds of their leading ladies (despite being mere men themselves!) because these women are definitely females, not approximations of women from a male point of view. You just have to read their books to understand my reasoning. Alex has created another of these fabulous women in Emily, and Izzy is also wonderful.
Myth Management is another dimension of the Uncanny Kingdom, so to speak, with all new characters, references to some old friends, and, of course, myths made real. The characters immediately caught my imagination, the world-building is excellent, the level of detail throughout the book is amazing and the action is fast and furious, The first chapter is a mad dash through London and I was completely gripped from the first page. I fell in love with the world of Myth Management and am hooked for life, or as long as Alex keeps writing about it.
I have read and adored every one of the books that David and Matt have written set in the Uncanny Kingdom. Every single character that they create is so real, whether they are good or evil (or somewhere in between - yes, you, Kirklander!), whether they are a member of any one of the weird and wonderful species sprung fully formed from their warped minds, monsters from a different dimension, angels or demons, wizards or foxes, or just plain old humans who are suddenly confronted with all things Uncanny.
When i heard that a new author was entering the fray, I have to admit I was worried for my beloved Kingdom but I should have known better. David and Matt obviously care about their Kingdom, their characters, and their loyal readers, and have chosen well. Alex Musson has written a stunning Uncanny debut novel and I was blown away by how much I loved it.
David and Matt have written strong male leads but the majority of their novels feature fierce, feisty, furious, filthy-mouthed females. I find it quite spooky how they inhabit the minds of their leading ladies (despite being mere men themselves!) because these women are definitely females, not approximations of women from a male point of view. You just have to read their books to understand my reasoning. Alex has created another of these fabulous women in Emily, and Izzy is also wonderful.
Myth Management is another dimension of the Uncanny Kingdom, so to speak, with all new characters, references to some old friends, and, of course, myths made real. The characters immediately caught my imagination, the world-building is excellent, the level of detail throughout the book is amazing and the action is fast and furious, The first chapter is a mad dash through London and I was completely gripped from the first page. I fell in love with the world of Myth Management and am hooked for life, or as long as Alex keeps writing about it.
December 26, 2019
Greek myths in London and “the noble British bureaucracy of Myth Management” which maintains the delicate balance between the human and mythological worlds? I’m so there. I never even knew about the popular comic strip created by Alex Musson but his Myth Management book is quite simply superb. Well written, with a great plot, a perfect cast from Emily Peasbridge (and not just because the description of her, “lanky, bookish and accident-prone”, was me for ages) on down. Also perfect world-building. A wonderful contribution to the Uncanny Universe. And, crucially, total fun. Exactly what I look for and easily worth five stars.
July 9, 2020
'older' Young Adult. Interesting story and character development. Could be a pretty interesting series based on the god/mythos system they set up. Thankfully the book was free of the typical teenage romance / love triangle, angsty brooding, and rebellion. It was a fun light read and I'd certainly be interested to read a 2nd in this series.
November 30, 2019
For a series that started as a comic, this was really not bad. However the mythology is definitely overly weighted toward European classics. And it's definitely aimed at a UK readership. Hopefully future volumes will redress this and make it more global.
February 3, 2020
A new series of adventure in the world of myths. Action packed rollercoaster ride of fun with some wit and hilarity. You will laugh and you will cry. Wonderful and imaginative characters you get attached to. Can't wait to see what is going on in the next book.
August 31, 2020
Fun unique read
This was my first foray into the uncanny kingdom as well as this author. It is an intelligent but fun glimpse into the bureaucracy of humans managing mythological creatures and gods from the viewpoint of a new intern as chaos ensues.
This was my first foray into the uncanny kingdom as well as this author. It is an intelligent but fun glimpse into the bureaucracy of humans managing mythological creatures and gods from the viewpoint of a new intern as chaos ensues.
December 7, 2019
Nothing exciting here. I didn’t even care enough about the characters to finish, which is incredibly rare for me.
February 29, 2020
An entertaining read with some great mythical creatures. A little bizarre at times but in a good way. I would recommend it
January 31, 2022
That was...PHENOMENAL! I absolutely loved the characters and the premise of the story! I really hope there are more books like this!
July 3, 2021
Fast paced mythological mayhem
This isn't your mom's cozy romance. Dionysus isn't the fun loving uncle you thought you knew. Let's just say that you don't want him watching the kids. So don't expect a slow moving plot. The wonderfully developed characters show you the myth management system. You can't help but have an appreciation for a creative storyline. And there isn't just one battle that's over too soon. There are a number of great scrimmages leading to an epic
save-the-world conclusion. Can hardly wait for the sequel!
This isn't your mom's cozy romance. Dionysus isn't the fun loving uncle you thought you knew. Let's just say that you don't want him watching the kids. So don't expect a slow moving plot. The wonderfully developed characters show you the myth management system. You can't help but have an appreciation for a creative storyline. And there isn't just one battle that's over too soon. There are a number of great scrimmages leading to an epic
save-the-world conclusion. Can hardly wait for the sequel!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews