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Monster Midwife
Alanna Rhee believes that all mothers deserve to deliver safely, even the monsters of the world. As a human enslaved to the fairies of Aerin, she made a pact with the king when she was just a child. She signed in blood. After studying midwifery, and for ten years attending to the most dangerous births of other magical creatures -earning wealth and prestige for the kingdom- she would win her freedom.
With three years left to serve, multiple fairy kingdoms are on the brink of war. Queen Esmera of the Westlands is hated, feared, and called a 'classless woman'. Worse still, she carries a child with no father, conceived from a deal with an 'Old God'. Not knowing what deformities the baby may show, only the most experienced midwife in the land will do. But Alanna has other things on her Prince Killian's interest in her has increased to a dangerous level, and the castle's other slaves are justifiably bitter of her privilege. Even worse, her only friend Hasan is a Muslim stable hand, and he is starving rather than betray his faith by eating the leftover pig bits in the stew; pork is what the humans are being served three meals a day.
Alanna is trusted by all. She is asked to attend to Esmera. She is also asked not to intervene in the difficult birth, and by her inaction, to cause death. Alanna must decide if even her freedom is worth the horror of allowing a woman to die in her most vulnerable moment.
With three years left to serve, multiple fairy kingdoms are on the brink of war. Queen Esmera of the Westlands is hated, feared, and called a 'classless woman'. Worse still, she carries a child with no father, conceived from a deal with an 'Old God'. Not knowing what deformities the baby may show, only the most experienced midwife in the land will do. But Alanna has other things on her Prince Killian's interest in her has increased to a dangerous level, and the castle's other slaves are justifiably bitter of her privilege. Even worse, her only friend Hasan is a Muslim stable hand, and he is starving rather than betray his faith by eating the leftover pig bits in the stew; pork is what the humans are being served three meals a day.
Alanna is trusted by all. She is asked to attend to Esmera. She is also asked not to intervene in the difficult birth, and by her inaction, to cause death. Alanna must decide if even her freedom is worth the horror of allowing a woman to die in her most vulnerable moment.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2021
2 people are currently reading
3223 people want to read
About the author
Lumen Reese
16 books137 followersWriter of science fiction, fantasy, horror and contemporary fiction from Michigan.
I think a story should be entertaining, but should handle social and class issues in order to be an accurate portrayal of our world. I value honest resolution over shock-value, and happy endings wherever possible, especially for my LGBT characters. None of my books will ever use artificial intelligence, because AI is theft. You can find me on Instagram @ZoominLumen
Or follow me on Goodreads for announcements.
The Crocus Trilogy will continue in 2026 with Book Three: Heroine Death March.
And the Honoré Sloane series will continue in 2026 with: TWO SPARROWS FOR A PENNY.
Also coming in 2026: RED RIVER; a southern-gothic horror.
I think a story should be entertaining, but should handle social and class issues in order to be an accurate portrayal of our world. I value honest resolution over shock-value, and happy endings wherever possible, especially for my LGBT characters. None of my books will ever use artificial intelligence, because AI is theft. You can find me on Instagram @ZoominLumen
Or follow me on Goodreads for announcements.
The Crocus Trilogy will continue in 2026 with Book Three: Heroine Death March.
And the Honoré Sloane series will continue in 2026 with: TWO SPARROWS FOR A PENNY.
Also coming in 2026: RED RIVER; a southern-gothic horror.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 6, 2021
I received a gifted copy of this book to read inexchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Lovebookstours.
Monster Midwife is a unique fantasy story highlighting the rights of females in relation to reproduction.
I loved how the author wove this into the story in such a brilliant way.
Alanna, although human, lives in the land of fae. Humans are treated as slaves there and Alanna is the midwife of all kinds of monstrous beings. Alanna has to work in this position for ten years and only then will she have warned her freedom. Alanna desperately wants her freedom - faced with a difficult decision she makes her choice. But is it the right one?
I loved this book and found it quite unique and different from any fae books I've read so far.
I also wanted to learn more of Hassan who is a great friend to Alanna which grows into something more.
I do feel this book was cut short with directions it could have gone in, however I do feel this could possibly become a series of books (keeping my fingers crossed).
Monster Midwife is a unique fantasy story highlighting the rights of females in relation to reproduction.
I loved how the author wove this into the story in such a brilliant way.
Alanna, although human, lives in the land of fae. Humans are treated as slaves there and Alanna is the midwife of all kinds of monstrous beings. Alanna has to work in this position for ten years and only then will she have warned her freedom. Alanna desperately wants her freedom - faced with a difficult decision she makes her choice. But is it the right one?
I loved this book and found it quite unique and different from any fae books I've read so far.
I also wanted to learn more of Hassan who is a great friend to Alanna which grows into something more.
I do feel this book was cut short with directions it could have gone in, however I do feel this could possibly become a series of books (keeping my fingers crossed).
October 31, 2021
A big thanks to Lumen Reese, the author, who asked us to read and review her book. Monster Midwife was released on Oct 30th and you can order it here.
Monster Midwife is very different than the first book we read of hers, The Trial of the Lovebird Butcher. In this one, Alanna is a human slave in the fairy realm, tasked with helping mothers with their births. She becomes renowned for helping monsters with births and the opening chapters of this book have her traversing the Labyrinth to birth the Minotaur’s baby. By the end of the book, Alanna has run away, causing a war, and births the child of an Old God.
I sped through this book. I love a fey realm story. I love the dichotomy of their beauty masking their terribleness and Lumen nailed that. This book also has a lot of court intrigue and politics between the different fey kingdoms, so if that’s your sort of thing, then pick this book up!
Initially, this book reminded me, tone and story-wise, of Sarah J. Maas’ Court of Thorns and Roses. A handsome fey prince with ugliness inside, a kingdom that isn’t what it seems. The midwifery was the strongest part of this book, with the court intrigue and the romance between Alanna and Hasan being secondary. I wanted to see more of the connection growing between the two of them or more history to have them be as connected as they are. This book didn’t feel long at all, so I definitely wanted more!
It also feels like Lumen has set herself up for a potential series. There are some loose threads at the end that we don’t get tied up: what happened to the monster mothers and babies that Alanna birthed and then disappeared into the court’s system and how with the Old God Baby manifest itself and will Alanna come to regret helping birth it? I WANT TO KNOW!
Lumen Reese’s deeper jaunt into fantasy was lovely! I want to read more out of that incredible mind! -Ford
CW: starvation, slavery, graphic deliveries, birthing, and mentions of abortion.
Monster Midwife is very different than the first book we read of hers, The Trial of the Lovebird Butcher. In this one, Alanna is a human slave in the fairy realm, tasked with helping mothers with their births. She becomes renowned for helping monsters with births and the opening chapters of this book have her traversing the Labyrinth to birth the Minotaur’s baby. By the end of the book, Alanna has run away, causing a war, and births the child of an Old God.
I sped through this book. I love a fey realm story. I love the dichotomy of their beauty masking their terribleness and Lumen nailed that. This book also has a lot of court intrigue and politics between the different fey kingdoms, so if that’s your sort of thing, then pick this book up!
Initially, this book reminded me, tone and story-wise, of Sarah J. Maas’ Court of Thorns and Roses. A handsome fey prince with ugliness inside, a kingdom that isn’t what it seems. The midwifery was the strongest part of this book, with the court intrigue and the romance between Alanna and Hasan being secondary. I wanted to see more of the connection growing between the two of them or more history to have them be as connected as they are. This book didn’t feel long at all, so I definitely wanted more!
It also feels like Lumen has set herself up for a potential series. There are some loose threads at the end that we don’t get tied up: what happened to the monster mothers and babies that Alanna birthed and then disappeared into the court’s system and how with the Old God Baby manifest itself and will Alanna come to regret helping birth it? I WANT TO KNOW!
Lumen Reese’s deeper jaunt into fantasy was lovely! I want to read more out of that incredible mind! -Ford
CW: starvation, slavery, graphic deliveries, birthing, and mentions of abortion.
November 3, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Kelly Lacey of Love Books Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I liked the sound of this book when I read the blurb, but it exceeded my expectations in both style and content – I absolutely loved it!
There is a love story here and a battle between, not so much good and evil, as compassionate and wilfully indifferent or ignorant. But the main focus is firmly on Alanna and her choices as a midwife, a slave, a woman, and I couldn’t put the book down.
I have discovered that I could read detailed accounts of monster/supernatural pregnancies, labours and births all day every day and never get tired of them – something I was not previously aware of in myself! This story combines all of the intimacy, struggle and courage of real-life birth stories with wonderfully imagined fantasy worldbuilding to fantastic effect.
There are some strong, powerful female characters here, that I really enjoyed reading, along with a couple of very different male characters, who I confess I was a lot less interested in. Alanna’s first person narrative gives an intimate insight into her thoughts, feelings and motivations and she is a compelling and engaging main character – honest about her faults and weaknesses, and always striving to do right and castigating herself for mistakes while trying hard to learn from them and let them go.
I’ve seen this book compared to Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses and I can see why, in terms of the general plot and setting, but honestly I think this book is better! I stopped after the first book in the ACOTAR series – I just wasn’t interested in reading about the characters or world any further – whereas I would devour any sequels to Monster Midwife gleefully. I would love to know more about the intricacies of supernatural midwifery and how Alanna’s life develops with the changes that had occurred by the end of this story (I don’t imagine we’d get many glimpses into the lives of any of the babies delivered, as Alanna admits they hold no interest to her once her role is over… a realistic little detail that really brought her to life for me). And I felt the balance between the fae and human elements – a difficult one to get right – was very well-handled by Lumen Reese here.
If you like your fantasy novels to have a little intrigue and a little romance, lots of moral dilemmas and a load of beautifully realistic character/worldbuilding detail then you should definitely try Monster Midwife. Fingers crossed for more Alanna from me, but in the meantime I look forward to reading anything Lumen Reese comes out with next.
'Maybe I am too hard on myself; maybe I am not weak, just lost. I never knew my mother or my father, I have been rejected by the humans and by the fairies since I was a child, my only teachings being medical, the only moral tenant of my Self being that I do no harm, save the mothers, save the babies. It’s all I’m trained for. Everything else, every other situation I am figuring out as I go, like a fawn learning to walk; every dilemma frightening to my core with its newness. And my emotions are so hard to process in the moment that the only way I know whether I have done right or wrong is by whether I am kept up the next night, too haunted to sleep. And of course I don’t want to sleep lately, anyway.'
– Lumen Reese, Monster Midwife
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
I liked the sound of this book when I read the blurb, but it exceeded my expectations in both style and content – I absolutely loved it!
There is a love story here and a battle between, not so much good and evil, as compassionate and wilfully indifferent or ignorant. But the main focus is firmly on Alanna and her choices as a midwife, a slave, a woman, and I couldn’t put the book down.
I have discovered that I could read detailed accounts of monster/supernatural pregnancies, labours and births all day every day and never get tired of them – something I was not previously aware of in myself! This story combines all of the intimacy, struggle and courage of real-life birth stories with wonderfully imagined fantasy worldbuilding to fantastic effect.
There are some strong, powerful female characters here, that I really enjoyed reading, along with a couple of very different male characters, who I confess I was a lot less interested in. Alanna’s first person narrative gives an intimate insight into her thoughts, feelings and motivations and she is a compelling and engaging main character – honest about her faults and weaknesses, and always striving to do right and castigating herself for mistakes while trying hard to learn from them and let them go.
I’ve seen this book compared to Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses and I can see why, in terms of the general plot and setting, but honestly I think this book is better! I stopped after the first book in the ACOTAR series – I just wasn’t interested in reading about the characters or world any further – whereas I would devour any sequels to Monster Midwife gleefully. I would love to know more about the intricacies of supernatural midwifery and how Alanna’s life develops with the changes that had occurred by the end of this story (I don’t imagine we’d get many glimpses into the lives of any of the babies delivered, as Alanna admits they hold no interest to her once her role is over… a realistic little detail that really brought her to life for me). And I felt the balance between the fae and human elements – a difficult one to get right – was very well-handled by Lumen Reese here.
If you like your fantasy novels to have a little intrigue and a little romance, lots of moral dilemmas and a load of beautifully realistic character/worldbuilding detail then you should definitely try Monster Midwife. Fingers crossed for more Alanna from me, but in the meantime I look forward to reading anything Lumen Reese comes out with next.
'Maybe I am too hard on myself; maybe I am not weak, just lost. I never knew my mother or my father, I have been rejected by the humans and by the fairies since I was a child, my only teachings being medical, the only moral tenant of my Self being that I do no harm, save the mothers, save the babies. It’s all I’m trained for. Everything else, every other situation I am figuring out as I go, like a fawn learning to walk; every dilemma frightening to my core with its newness. And my emotions are so hard to process in the moment that the only way I know whether I have done right or wrong is by whether I am kept up the next night, too haunted to sleep. And of course I don’t want to sleep lately, anyway.'
– Lumen Reese, Monster Midwife
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
September 18, 2021
Disclaimer: I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked:
-Alanna. The main character is believable in her dedication to helping those in need, and she holds onto her ideals despite several trials she faces along the way. She is a woman who unapologetically puts other women first, even at risk to herself and her own freedom. She was brave when necessary, and always smart and pragmatic when approaching a situation. I never felt she was too brave, or too cool, or too smart to be realistic.
-Plot. The story starts off with a bang, drawing you in immediately and holding your attention. It slows down for a short time, but things are always happening in the background to move the story forward and develop the characters. Things never felt like they happened just to move the story forward, reaching a natural conclusion without feeling contrived.
-Worldbuilding. The world Monster Midwife takes place in feels very realistic with fantasy elements thrown in. It never feels like it's too far out there, and the magic meshes with the mundane perfectly. Even readers with little experience in magical settings won't get lost, and those with more experience will still find something new to interest them.
-Writing. The writing style is 1st person present tense, and it really helps to draw the reader into the story. I felt like I was being immersed in the world, that I was experiencing things through Alanna's eyes as she did. I read this book in one sitting, unable to put it down.
What I disliked:
-Killian's characterization seemed a little overdone to me. I liked him well enough in the beginning, but felt the shift in his attitude and actions was too sudden to be realistic. It maybe could have been a little less abrupt, showing more of his thoughts and feelings that made him the way he was.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. The story, characters, and writing all work perfectly together to craft this tale. The themes are prominent but not to the point you feel like you're being hit over the head or being lectured. This is the third book by Lumen Reese I've read, and I've yet to be disappointed. 5.0
What I liked:
-Alanna. The main character is believable in her dedication to helping those in need, and she holds onto her ideals despite several trials she faces along the way. She is a woman who unapologetically puts other women first, even at risk to herself and her own freedom. She was brave when necessary, and always smart and pragmatic when approaching a situation. I never felt she was too brave, or too cool, or too smart to be realistic.
-Plot. The story starts off with a bang, drawing you in immediately and holding your attention. It slows down for a short time, but things are always happening in the background to move the story forward and develop the characters. Things never felt like they happened just to move the story forward, reaching a natural conclusion without feeling contrived.
-Worldbuilding. The world Monster Midwife takes place in feels very realistic with fantasy elements thrown in. It never feels like it's too far out there, and the magic meshes with the mundane perfectly. Even readers with little experience in magical settings won't get lost, and those with more experience will still find something new to interest them.
-Writing. The writing style is 1st person present tense, and it really helps to draw the reader into the story. I felt like I was being immersed in the world, that I was experiencing things through Alanna's eyes as she did. I read this book in one sitting, unable to put it down.
What I disliked:
-Killian's characterization seemed a little overdone to me. I liked him well enough in the beginning, but felt the shift in his attitude and actions was too sudden to be realistic. It maybe could have been a little less abrupt, showing more of his thoughts and feelings that made him the way he was.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. The story, characters, and writing all work perfectly together to craft this tale. The themes are prominent but not to the point you feel like you're being hit over the head or being lectured. This is the third book by Lumen Reese I've read, and I've yet to be disappointed. 5.0
November 1, 2021
✍BOOK TOUR REVIEW ✍
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The story of this wasn't what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it in fact it was probably much better than the story I thought it would be. I loved the writing style and will definitely be checking out more of Lumens books.
Alannah is a really likeable character who only cares about the mothers she helps no matter that means. I found myself really rooting for Alannah and being invested in her quest for freedom. It had some great twists with those you thought would be good weren't and those I expected to be baddies where good! If you like fantasy/stories involving fae I would definitely recommend giving this a read!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The story of this wasn't what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it in fact it was probably much better than the story I thought it would be. I loved the writing style and will definitely be checking out more of Lumens books.
Alannah is a really likeable character who only cares about the mothers she helps no matter that means. I found myself really rooting for Alannah and being invested in her quest for freedom. It had some great twists with those you thought would be good weren't and those I expected to be baddies where good! If you like fantasy/stories involving fae I would definitely recommend giving this a read!
November 1, 2021
I really throughly enjoyed this book. It was very direct in its approach to women and their reproductive rights, as well as highlighting the ups and downs of pregnancy and labour. It did so in a very clinical manner, where it showed the realities (though of course extreme given the setting etc) and steered away from gratuitousness. It was a compelling story with a slow, episodic style narrative that was very digestible and flourished with a cute romance. It is certainly a book I would recommend and as a short stand alone is an excellent read to get you out of a slump!
November 29, 2021
Actually a 4.5/5 but I rated it up as I did honestly love this.
Didn't know what to expect from this story considering how vague the plot synopsis is and honestly that worked so well for me.
Monster Midwife is very set in the original idea that fairies are very non human and should never be trusted and will honestly make your life a living nightmare. Which is such an amazing contrast and much needed change in this kind of genre.
The world building in this is excellent and a great gateway for those who are unsure of fantasy/fairy tales genres.
Alanna is honestly a great believable female character- her decisions and actions make sense and I love her to bits.
Also the whole midwifery angle is a very new concept in the world of fiction and the author did not hold back on how actual pregnancy's and giving birth is. Painful, stressful and brutal.
I warn you there is a fair bit of gore as the author puts painstaking detail into each birth and the almost seeming brutal actions that Alanna has to take in order to make sure that both mother and child in each scenario are safe and alive at the end of the process.
Very much not for those who are a bit squeamish.
My only issue was two things:
1) The ending felt a little rushed and not as elaborated compared to the rest of the novel. I kind of feel like it needed maybe a few more chapters to just help with the flow.
2) Going into spoilers now- the sub plot with Prince Killian and the murder of his father, along with his obsessive love of Alanna, I mean I had worked out fairly early on that Killian was the one who actually murdered his father, however the way Alanna finally learns the truth- didn't feel as organic as it really should have been.
Honestly I wish that sub plot had a bit more worked into it as Alanna learns more about how the fairy kingdoms control their human slaves, learning what Killian is really like deep down, and how much he has messed up her life.
But saying that those are my only nitpicks.
Honestly if Lumen Reese does another book I'm there for it.
This is absolutely worth you giving it a read.
Didn't know what to expect from this story considering how vague the plot synopsis is and honestly that worked so well for me.
Monster Midwife is very set in the original idea that fairies are very non human and should never be trusted and will honestly make your life a living nightmare. Which is such an amazing contrast and much needed change in this kind of genre.
The world building in this is excellent and a great gateway for those who are unsure of fantasy/fairy tales genres.
Alanna is honestly a great believable female character- her decisions and actions make sense and I love her to bits.
Also the whole midwifery angle is a very new concept in the world of fiction and the author did not hold back on how actual pregnancy's and giving birth is. Painful, stressful and brutal.
I warn you there is a fair bit of gore as the author puts painstaking detail into each birth and the almost seeming brutal actions that Alanna has to take in order to make sure that both mother and child in each scenario are safe and alive at the end of the process.
Very much not for those who are a bit squeamish.
My only issue was two things:
1) The ending felt a little rushed and not as elaborated compared to the rest of the novel. I kind of feel like it needed maybe a few more chapters to just help with the flow.
2) Going into spoilers now- the sub plot with Prince Killian and the murder of his father, along with his obsessive love of Alanna, I mean I had worked out fairly early on that Killian was the one who actually murdered his father, however the way Alanna finally learns the truth- didn't feel as organic as it really should have been.
Honestly I wish that sub plot had a bit more worked into it as Alanna learns more about how the fairy kingdoms control their human slaves, learning what Killian is really like deep down, and how much he has messed up her life.
But saying that those are my only nitpicks.
Honestly if Lumen Reese does another book I'm there for it.
This is absolutely worth you giving it a read.
November 5, 2021
It's a fantasy book where Alanna, a human, lives in the land of fairy where humans are treated as a slave. Alanna is a midwife who delivers the child of different creatures. She delivers both in the human form and creature form. Alanna had contracted for 10 years to serve the kingdom of Aerin and after that she'll get her freedom. Prince of the kingdom adores her so much but still she consider herself as their slave. In the palace another human slave was Hasan who believes that he's muslim and he's a good friend to Alanna. Alanna is a good woman and at any cost wants her freedom. But something happened and she took some brave decision.
I liked the book. Quite an enjoyable read. I loved the way Alanna took risk for the love of her life. Another great thing I liked about the book is the way author respected Islam and Hasan's faith to his religion. Hasan never knew of his religion. Someone told him that muslims don't eat pork and he doesn't eat that. He starves but doesn't eat pork. There were some adventure in this book and twists which will change your perspective towards the characters. But I loved Alanna's character so much.
I was gifted a digital copy of this book. Thank you so much for this.
I liked the book. Quite an enjoyable read. I loved the way Alanna took risk for the love of her life. Another great thing I liked about the book is the way author respected Islam and Hasan's faith to his religion. Hasan never knew of his religion. Someone told him that muslims don't eat pork and he doesn't eat that. He starves but doesn't eat pork. There were some adventure in this book and twists which will change your perspective towards the characters. But I loved Alanna's character so much.
I was gifted a digital copy of this book. Thank you so much for this.
November 4, 2021
Thank you Love Book Tours and Lumen Reese for letting me a part of the book tour for Monster Midwife!
I never thought I’d read a book like this, the idea is pretty different. I mean who writes about a midwife for monsters (we have two of our favourite Greek ones featured here) and how she got to that place! Who even thought about monsters needing a midwife! Or faerie’s needing one! It’s one of those random things that no one would ever look into, but Lumen Reese did.
So besides a fairly interesting premise, Lumem Reese also teased us with common fantasy tropes without giving in to them; reader, this is the first time no one has hooked up in an inn that only had one room available for the night. We had a faerie prince who turned out to not be who we thought he would be; but that was honestly such a good thing. The whole unequal balance of power in a relationship but they are meant to be trope is sometimes really uncomfortable and Reese does a good job of highlighting that!
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and I don’t think it’ll be the last.
I never thought I’d read a book like this, the idea is pretty different. I mean who writes about a midwife for monsters (we have two of our favourite Greek ones featured here) and how she got to that place! Who even thought about monsters needing a midwife! Or faerie’s needing one! It’s one of those random things that no one would ever look into, but Lumen Reese did.
So besides a fairly interesting premise, Lumem Reese also teased us with common fantasy tropes without giving in to them; reader, this is the first time no one has hooked up in an inn that only had one room available for the night. We had a faerie prince who turned out to not be who we thought he would be; but that was honestly such a good thing. The whole unequal balance of power in a relationship but they are meant to be trope is sometimes really uncomfortable and Reese does a good job of highlighting that!
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and I don’t think it’ll be the last.
November 18, 2021
At first I wasn't a fan of the first person narrative, but it grew on me. I liked the strong female lead and following her choices, like "...save the mothers, save the babies...", no matter how hard or right or wrong they may seem to some. I like when a character sticks to/fights for their beliefs. I found the various moral dilemmas throughout the plot interesting, and appreciated how the author touched on the good and bad sides of pregnancy and labor. However, I have to admit, due to a personal situation, this subject matter was a little hard and emotional for me. So, heads up on that.
Thanks to love books tours and the author for a gifted copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to love books tours and the author for a gifted copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2021
I was really excited to jump into this book. The cover of Monster Midwife is very eye catching and made me really want to pick it up. Right from the beginning we jumped straight into some action which had me quite confused at what the heck was going on.
I loved the mentions of the Minotaur and the labyrinth because I adore Greek Mythology and was ecstatic that this was part of the story.
The writing in this story is very descriptive and can be quite gory due to our main character being a Midwife and helping women give birth. The author does not hide away from the descriptions at all.
Alanna is an amazing main character. She cares so much about other people and will do anything to keep them safe. She puts women first even though she is a slave. Depending on the birthing scenario she may lie to the prince, king and queen about what happened.
This world is a very dark one. Fairy’s rule many kingdoms and humans are slaves who can be commanded to do things against their will. At the start of this story I thought it was going to be a sweet love story but things turned dark quite quickly. Right away the prince is using the unbalance of power between himself and Alanna to his advantage. I did find this a little weird because his change was very sudden. At the start he was very kind and caring. Then all of a sudden he became very problematic and demanding.
The world is very fascinating and I loved being in it and can’t wait to see more from this author.
I loved the mentions of the Minotaur and the labyrinth because I adore Greek Mythology and was ecstatic that this was part of the story.
The writing in this story is very descriptive and can be quite gory due to our main character being a Midwife and helping women give birth. The author does not hide away from the descriptions at all.
Alanna is an amazing main character. She cares so much about other people and will do anything to keep them safe. She puts women first even though she is a slave. Depending on the birthing scenario she may lie to the prince, king and queen about what happened.
This world is a very dark one. Fairy’s rule many kingdoms and humans are slaves who can be commanded to do things against their will. At the start of this story I thought it was going to be a sweet love story but things turned dark quite quickly. Right away the prince is using the unbalance of power between himself and Alanna to his advantage. I did find this a little weird because his change was very sudden. At the start he was very kind and caring. Then all of a sudden he became very problematic and demanding.
The world is very fascinating and I loved being in it and can’t wait to see more from this author.
November 2, 2021
Thanks @lovebooktours for my copy 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very much enjoyed this book! We love a book with a strong female lead who puts the rights and needs of other women first, honestly love Alanna what a babe 💖😂
The plot and pace is pretty fast, the first chapter draws you in instantly and although it does slow down slightly for a while there’s enough going on to keep you interested. I ended up reading it all in one go because I needed to know how it would end!
The world building isn’t as thorough as other fantasy books I’ve read but was still enough to paint the picture and immerse you in the story. I actually felt like it was the perfect amount for me because I didn’t get confused/bored with all the little details. Definitely recommend this for anyone who loves a quick fantasy read!
Also how cute is the cover?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very much enjoyed this book! We love a book with a strong female lead who puts the rights and needs of other women first, honestly love Alanna what a babe 💖😂
The plot and pace is pretty fast, the first chapter draws you in instantly and although it does slow down slightly for a while there’s enough going on to keep you interested. I ended up reading it all in one go because I needed to know how it would end!
The world building isn’t as thorough as other fantasy books I’ve read but was still enough to paint the picture and immerse you in the story. I actually felt like it was the perfect amount for me because I didn’t get confused/bored with all the little details. Definitely recommend this for anyone who loves a quick fantasy read!
Also how cute is the cover?
September 28, 2021
My favorite book by this author so far. Strong female characters, original plot, overall very exciting read.
November 16, 2021
Monster Midwife is a modern day fairy tale with a twist.
We follow Alanna, a human midwife enslaved to Fairy royals within the Fae world of Aerin that the author has created. The plot was really original and what made me sign up for the book tour.
We experience Alanna’s life in first person, shunned by her fellow human slaves for being the Prince’s favourite, and belittled by the Fairies who see all humans as beneath them, simply labourers and consorts to do their bidding. As the story develops we grow to understand Alanna’s frustrations of being enslaved and her confusion of what to do and where to go when she earns her freedom, with a little love triangle thrown in for good measure.
I really enjoyed the beginning and end of Monster Midwife, especially the midwifery sections as readers get to experience a very lifelike delivery of a mini-monster being born, however, I feel parts of the narrative lacked development and could’ve been built upon more. The story needed a few additional chapters worth of character background and interaction to really give us a true sense of the story, it was hard to feel any emotion towards any character other than Alanna as not enough background history / dialogue etc was given to them.
If you’re looking for a light hearted read with an easily imaginable Fae world, a very likeable female protagonist and a sprinkling of romance, add Monster Midwife to your TBR list 🖤
We follow Alanna, a human midwife enslaved to Fairy royals within the Fae world of Aerin that the author has created. The plot was really original and what made me sign up for the book tour.
We experience Alanna’s life in first person, shunned by her fellow human slaves for being the Prince’s favourite, and belittled by the Fairies who see all humans as beneath them, simply labourers and consorts to do their bidding. As the story develops we grow to understand Alanna’s frustrations of being enslaved and her confusion of what to do and where to go when she earns her freedom, with a little love triangle thrown in for good measure.
I really enjoyed the beginning and end of Monster Midwife, especially the midwifery sections as readers get to experience a very lifelike delivery of a mini-monster being born, however, I feel parts of the narrative lacked development and could’ve been built upon more. The story needed a few additional chapters worth of character background and interaction to really give us a true sense of the story, it was hard to feel any emotion towards any character other than Alanna as not enough background history / dialogue etc was given to them.
If you’re looking for a light hearted read with an easily imaginable Fae world, a very likeable female protagonist and a sprinkling of romance, add Monster Midwife to your TBR list 🖤
December 12, 2022
What a super interesting and different book! Now you all know that I LOVE me some monsters, but this is so different to what we have read before that it is a MUST READ for everybody!
I’ve never even thought of monster midwifery being a thing - but never say never.
This book has all of the tropes and characters and monsters that we all love and know so well - fairies, sirens, even a Prince Charming, and the one thing that links them all? Alana Rhee the Human midwife!
There are some dark moments here, especially when describing child birth, which made me go eeeeeee - but it just adds to the charm of this book.
However, this isn’t your typical fantasy fun book - this has important themes running through like class, slavery, otherness, and politics. So this caters to most readers out there.
I highly recommend this book to every reader out there, just something exciting to sink your teeth into.
I’ve never even thought of monster midwifery being a thing - but never say never.
This book has all of the tropes and characters and monsters that we all love and know so well - fairies, sirens, even a Prince Charming, and the one thing that links them all? Alana Rhee the Human midwife!
There are some dark moments here, especially when describing child birth, which made me go eeeeeee - but it just adds to the charm of this book.
However, this isn’t your typical fantasy fun book - this has important themes running through like class, slavery, otherness, and politics. So this caters to most readers out there.
I highly recommend this book to every reader out there, just something exciting to sink your teeth into.
November 16, 2021
Monster Midwife is a unique fantasy. The cover caught my attention, and the blurb had me intrigued. Monster Midwife follows Alanna, a human slave in the fairy world. Her job is to help monsters give birth for ten years and then only she can get her freedom.
I really enjoyed this book. I found it different from other books I’ve read set in the fairy realm. The detail Lumen Reese has put into this book is extensive. There are very detailed accounts of these supernatural pregnancies and births. I loved Alanna’s character and Reese’s writing style.
There’s a bit of intrigue and some romance which made this book thoroughly enjoyable. I found the plot interesting, and the detailed world-building was excellent.
This is my first book by Lumen Reese and I’m looking forward to reading more!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed this book. I found it different from other books I’ve read set in the fairy realm. The detail Lumen Reese has put into this book is extensive. There are very detailed accounts of these supernatural pregnancies and births. I loved Alanna’s character and Reese’s writing style.
There’s a bit of intrigue and some romance which made this book thoroughly enjoyable. I found the plot interesting, and the detailed world-building was excellent.
This is my first book by Lumen Reese and I’m looking forward to reading more!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The concept for this book was so cool! Alanna is such an incredible female lead. Her dedication to midwifery and protecting women and babies, even if they are not human, made for a strong and compelling motive for her actions. The moments where she was assisting with births and speaking with mothers shone as the high points in the narrative. It made for some very emotional moments and some unique horror elements.
What was lacking for me was the romantic subplot. I had a hard time buying the insta-love vibes, and I feel that the love interest was not fleshed out quite enough to make me invested in his relationship with Alanna.
The concept for this book was so cool! Alanna is such an incredible female lead. Her dedication to midwifery and protecting women and babies, even if they are not human, made for a strong and compelling motive for her actions. The moments where she was assisting with births and speaking with mothers shone as the high points in the narrative. It made for some very emotional moments and some unique horror elements.
What was lacking for me was the romantic subplot. I had a hard time buying the insta-love vibes, and I feel that the love interest was not fleshed out quite enough to make me invested in his relationship with Alanna.
November 23, 2021
I decided to read Monster Midwife because the title and cover caught my eye. I was incredibly impressed with what I found inside the pages of this novel though. This is a unique fantasy that surprised me!
The idea of this book is really intriguing. Monsters giving birth, a Monster midwife…something I never would have thought of. And it was written in such a compelling way that I had trouble setting the book down.
I really love the world building and the characters. The themes are very prominent, and the writing is excellent. I’d definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to Love Books Group for the review copy and opportunity to review on the tour. All opinions are my own.
The idea of this book is really intriguing. Monsters giving birth, a Monster midwife…something I never would have thought of. And it was written in such a compelling way that I had trouble setting the book down.
I really love the world building and the characters. The themes are very prominent, and the writing is excellent. I’d definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to Love Books Group for the review copy and opportunity to review on the tour. All opinions are my own.
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July 27, 2023(I received this book from the author in a giveaway hosted by goodreads.)
Monster Midwife reminds me of the old-school YA fantasy books by Tamora Pierce or Patricia McKillip that I loved as a child, but with the main character a mature and thoughtful woman. I think the story shined when Alanna was in her element: that is, midwifing and advocating for her patients, even in the most difficult, tragic, and/or frightening circumstances. Her dedication to and respect for her patients was very admirable. I also enjoyed the romantic subplot. There was a real tenderness between Alanna and .
Monster Midwife reminds me of the old-school YA fantasy books by Tamora Pierce or Patricia McKillip that I loved as a child, but with the main character a mature and thoughtful woman. I think the story shined when Alanna was in her element: that is, midwifing and advocating for her patients, even in the most difficult, tragic, and/or frightening circumstances. Her dedication to and respect for her patients was very admirable. I also enjoyed the romantic subplot. There was a real tenderness between Alanna and .
November 19, 2021
I really enjoy it and found it interesting. The way that the author wrote the story is impressive. I think the story was too short and hopefully she will continue it. The different situations that the character experience and the biggest decision she made will affect her freedom. And I wonder what decision would I have taken if I was in her position? It is a great fantasy book. I enjoyed the different perspective of the world of fae. And I wonder what will continue to happen in their journey. Thanks
May 24, 2022
3.5
When I saw Monster Midwife, I had to pick it up. You see, my mom is a midwife. And while that doesn’t make me an expert by association or anything, it does mean that I grew up surrounded by midwifery, pregnancy, and birthing. So, I was curious how it would play out among the supernaturals.
Having finished it now, I find that I have very middle of the road feelings about the book. On one hand, I really like Alanna. I liked her dedication to women and children. I liked the complexity of her situation—a slave, more privileged than most, and painfully aware of it, but still a slave. I liked the romantic interest and I thought the writing readable and the story engaging.
On the other hand, I found the prince’s shift in demeanor too dramatic. Sure, abusers are often charismatic, but I feel like Alanna was too smart to have missed the signs for so long if he was truly so vile underneath. And…I’m not even sure how to phrase this second point (especially without spoilers)…while I liked Alanna and it was nice to see the commoner (socially less than a commoner, actually, a slave) get to be center stage, instead of the royals, Queen Esmera and her story feels like it would have been the more interesting one. Alanna helped Esmere facilitate the delivery of her god’s child, sure. But Esmere went and sought out a god, made a deal to birth a societally changing demi-god. She showed agency, determination and grit. It feels odd to focus on Alanna and her comparatively small drama when that big one is sitting IN THE BACKGROUND.
Despite that, I enjoyed Monster Midwife and would happily read more of Reese’s writing.
When I saw Monster Midwife, I had to pick it up. You see, my mom is a midwife. And while that doesn’t make me an expert by association or anything, it does mean that I grew up surrounded by midwifery, pregnancy, and birthing. So, I was curious how it would play out among the supernaturals.
Having finished it now, I find that I have very middle of the road feelings about the book. On one hand, I really like Alanna. I liked her dedication to women and children. I liked the complexity of her situation—a slave, more privileged than most, and painfully aware of it, but still a slave. I liked the romantic interest and I thought the writing readable and the story engaging.
On the other hand, I found the prince’s shift in demeanor too dramatic. Sure, abusers are often charismatic, but I feel like Alanna was too smart to have missed the signs for so long if he was truly so vile underneath. And…I’m not even sure how to phrase this second point (especially without spoilers)…while I liked Alanna and it was nice to see the commoner (socially less than a commoner, actually, a slave) get to be center stage, instead of the royals, Queen Esmera and her story feels like it would have been the more interesting one. Alanna helped Esmere facilitate the delivery of her god’s child, sure. But Esmere went and sought out a god, made a deal to birth a societally changing demi-god. She showed agency, determination and grit. It feels odd to focus on Alanna and her comparatively small drama when that big one is sitting IN THE BACKGROUND.
Despite that, I enjoyed Monster Midwife and would happily read more of Reese’s writing.
August 20, 2023
This is unique fantasy story and I liked the concept.
Alanna Rhee is a human midwife to fairy kingdoms. Here in fae lands humans are treated as slaves. She helps to safely deliver the babies be it any creature. A bond with the fae king to work 10 years in this position entitles her freedom.
This book was well paced, incredibly written. I enjoyed the different take on fantasy. The author has talked about life birth and all the pain, struggles in a wonderful manner in this great world building. This book has range of emotions expressed, supernatural midwifery, strong and realistic characters, little romance which makes it intriguing. I enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend it.
Alanna Rhee is a human midwife to fairy kingdoms. Here in fae lands humans are treated as slaves. She helps to safely deliver the babies be it any creature. A bond with the fae king to work 10 years in this position entitles her freedom.
This book was well paced, incredibly written. I enjoyed the different take on fantasy. The author has talked about life birth and all the pain, struggles in a wonderful manner in this great world building. This book has range of emotions expressed, supernatural midwifery, strong and realistic characters, little romance which makes it intriguing. I enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend it.
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