Club Monstrosity

Monstrosity #1

by Jesse Petersen

Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong?

Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting.

Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies—the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe—maybe—if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Vampires, Humor, Horror

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2013

About the author

A Facebook application once told Jesse Petersen that she'd only survive a day in a zombie outbreak, but she doesn't believe that. For one, she's a good shot and two, she has an aversion to bodily fluids, so she'd never go digging around in zombie goo. Until the zombie apocalypse, she lives in the Tucson with her husband and two cats and writes snarky urban fantasy about monsters and zombies. Find out more about the author at www.jessepetersen.net.

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A copy of Club Monstrosity was provided to me by Pocket Star/Edelweiss for review purposes.

In the basement of the Holy Heart church a group of individuals meet for Monstofelldosis (MFD) Anonymous meetings. These meetings are basically the most dysfunctional support group, as all of these eclectic individuals are monsters. Real. Life. Monsters. Natalie is one of Frankenstein’s creations, Alec is a werewolf, Kai is a mummy, and, well, you get the picture. Their support groups leader is Bob, otherwise known as the Blob, and when he turns up missing they all join together to find out what happened to one of their own. When it's discovered that he died in the same way he died in the books and movies they realize their covers are blown and they have no idea who they're coming for next.

I loved the highly original idea behind this one, a group of monsters struggling to live among humans? Each of the monsters/characters had their own leading role and they were all entertaining in their own way. A total count of eight monsters made appearances and it'll be fun to see new monster additions in future installments of this series. Club Monstrosity has humor, a mystery and even a bit of romance. This was a fun, light-hearted read that was an entertaining start to a new series.

[Clare dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg!! Is it appropriate to start a review that way? Oh anyone who reads mine knows I don't give a fuck! see I even spelled the word "fuck" in a review for people to read!
I don't care:) Oh an annoying emoticon ...my pleasure is waning. So before I completely get off track I want to say I loved this book! I'm totally crushing on all of it! Even while arguing with my man, the allure of Doctor Who, & in general not being excited by ANYTHING I've read in weeks. This was awesome. So awesome in fact I'm angry that the next one isn't out yet.
Oh,in my excitement I forgot to mention I was kindly given an ARC copy of this for an honest review.
What is there to say? Awesome Awesome Awesomeness! It has all the classic horror character's, a 12 step program (having been in one,nicely portrayed & honestly most of the humans (if you want to be nice,they aren't so I'm not going to bother) were more "monstrous" than ANY horror flick I'd ever seen. The one's that weren't had more awful tales than Hitler.
All that is besides the point. The author Jesse Peterson combined humor,pain,self-consciousness, classic horror (accurately) even Lovecraft was featured! This chick did her homework.
The humanizing of certain classic monsters like the blob, the invisable man, was original.Even my slight critisisms don't merit much attention. The only one that was a bit confusing was when the point of view switched from Natalie's to Alec's. When the switch of pov occurred it threw me for a moment. However what is a momentary pause in the midst of all the fun I had reading this book. It was truly a entertaining read. I can't wait for the next one.
Join the club... Read "Club Monstrosity " as soon as you can get your hands on it.

[AH · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - If you are in the mood for a funny book, this is it.

Club Monstrosity is a hilarious read! Imagine all of your favorite B movie monsters in a monster support group – Monstofellodosis Anonymous. They meet weekly in a church basement and all they want to do is fit into society and live quiet, peaceful lives. But all is not well in their world. Ellis the invisible man has been beaten to death and Bob the Blob has missed a meeting. Turns out, someone has been stalking and killing the monsters and they are dying terrible, horrible deaths – just like in the monster’s story.

I loved how the monsters were portrayed. Natalie is conflicted about her monster status. It’s not like she chose to be a Frankenstein creation, that’s just how she is. She will remind anyone who is listening that Frankenstein was the doctor, not the monster. Alec the alpha werewolf is constantly shaving because of his excess hair problem. And Kai as a mummy must constantly moisturize because mummies have very dry skin.

This book is so much fun to read. If you are in the mood for something light and funny, but not too terribly scary, then this is the book for you. It’s laugh out loud funny and the characters are quite colorful. One character is even green! The author takes every monster stereotype and amplifies that character’s personality traits. The dialogue and banter between the characters is very entertaining. There’s even a little monster romance.

Club Monstrosity was a hoot! I can’t wait for the next book in the series – The Monsters in Your Neighborhood coming out July 29, 2013.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Pocket Star for a review copy of this book.

Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars: A short but satisfying read with all the old time favorite monsters.
Natalie tip toes into the Monster meeting, late again. She attends a weekly meeting for monsters. Her counterparts include: Dracula, a werewolf, mummy, swamp monster, Jekyl and Hyde, the Invisible Man, The Blob, and Natalie who is one of Frankenstein's monsters. For years, the monsters have hidden from humans to protect themselves. These days, they have earned a bit of peace since the treaty was signed with the Van Helsings. Each of the monsters is trying to come to terms with their monstrous sides and live as normal of a life as possible. Everything is about to be derailed when two of their group members turn up murdered. Is it coincidence that the dead monsters died just like they did in their books?
What I Liked:
*What a fun and clever idea to have all the favorite and well known monsters attending a support group. I especially liked that the monsters were all trying to escape their horrific pasts and live a peaceful, simple life. They are tired of being persecuted and labeled freaks just because they are different. Who wouldn't feel the same if in their places? Another book that yet again reminds us to be tolerant.
*I liked that this book moves at a rapid pace. It is considered a novella and it is perfect when you want to breeze through a book in one sitting. Unlike a novella, I felt that I got a full story in this short read.
*I liked all the monsters, but I was surprised to find that Jekyl and Hyde were my favorite. The deviant, miscreant Hyde provides some memorable and laughable lines that were highly entertaining. I hope that his character returns in the next installment. Alec was also a surprise as well. He is the werewolf who at first meeting comes off as being a slacker and not overly intelligent, but don't let that fool you. Alec has a lot of hidden talents, and he is smart and kind.
And The Not So Much:
*The romance was a tiny bit lacking. I wanted a bit more heat and more development between Alec and Natalie. At least it isn't insta love, and there are no love triangles. I am hopeful that in the next book there will be more.
*I was disappointed that a couple of the more interesting and lesser known monsters were removed immediately from the picture. I don't know much about the Blob and he would have been an interesting character. The Invisible Man sounded like he was also an entertaining trouble maker.
*The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, nothing too troubling as the murder mystery is resolved, but there is a big loose thread left over to follow up in the next book.
*Linda, the swamp monster, was the only character that I felt was annoying. She is prone to drama and histrionics and really didn't do anything for the group.

Club Monstrosity is an entertaining, quick read. Who doesn't like reading about all the old time favorite monsters? I enjoyed the support group and getting to know the monsters. I appreciated the murder mystery and I enjoyed the fledgling romance.
I loved that I picked this up and read it in one sitting. If you are looking for something light and fast, grab this one.
Favorite Quotations:
"He closed the magazine. "Hope you don't mind, I took the sex quiz since you hadn't. Turns out, I'm kind of a whore, but good to my friends. Accurate."
"Alec gave that smooth, lady-killer smile that melted the panties off co-eds at clubs regularly."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I begin, I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a Netgalley advanced copy of this kooky little book which certainly doesn't hide its intentions to provide pure and unadulterated comedic entertainment. It's quite cheekily successful at it too, if I may say so myself! This book will be available on April 29, 2013.

The basic premise behind Club Monstrosity is the question, What if all the monsters and paranormal creatures that have ever been featured in our favorite books and movies are actually real and living in secret amongst us? Our protagonist Natalie is one such monster -- a Frankenstein's Monster, in fact -- living in New York City. Twice a week, she gets together with other monsters in her Monstofelldosis Anonymous support group in a church basement to talk about all the difficulties faced by your average everyday misunderstood monster, just trying to make it in the big city.


Within their little circle are characters like Dracula AKA Drake the vampire, Kai the Egyptian princess mummy, Alec the fun-loving werewolf, Dr. Jekyll and his brother/other self Mr. Hyde, and Linda the swamp creature. Perhaps unsurprisingly, meeting topics typically revolve around trying to blend in as normal people and not freak out the populace -- that is until one day when their usual group leader Bob the Blob goes missing and Ellis the Invisible Man turns up dead, killed by an angry mob in the same way his character meets his end in the H. G. Wells classic. Suddenly, Natalie and the other monsters find themselves hunted, targeted by a killer bent on taking out their kind by using their own "stories" against them.

Books like these are my go-to for a fun-filled, laugh-inducing read. They may fall short on character development and descriptions (for example, this one seems particularly fond of using the adjective "stupid" a lot) but they make up for that with action and humor. Right from the start, the book boldly plays up the monster tropes and references with plenty of pop culture jokes, often putting the characters in deliciously ironic situations. Natalie the Frankenstein's monster, for example, works at the city morgue as an autopsy assistant. I mean, that's pretty awesome and just the right amount of twisted at the same time.

Whether it's fairy tale re-tellings or in this case providing a satirical take on our beloved literary and movie monsters, I always enjoy it when I see authors attempting different and imaginative spins on classic concepts. All in all, this was a funny and entertaining murder mystery starring a motley crew of eccentric characters, with even a romance thrown in for those who enjoy a cute little love story. Recommended for paranormal fiction fans who are looking to take a break with something fun, easy and light-hearted.

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: April 29, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Pocket Star
Author’s Website: http://www.jessepetersen.net/
My Source for This Book: Edelweiss
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Monstrosity Series
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Chaste
Pet Peeves: No Smexin’
Favorite Tropes: Physically Imperfect or Scarred (Heroine), Secret Identity

Though certainly not what I would call a traditional romance, this lighthearted tale of a group of misfit monsters was fresh and entertaining. Of course, I wish there’d been a little more focus on the romance, especially since there seemed to be a promising bit of chemistry between two of the characters, but even without any steam, I really enjoyed it.

A very lighthearted, easy read, and a series that I will definitely be keeping an eye on.


3.5/5 Stars

[Donald Armfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petersen has created a monster. All those old school monster, black and white cliques come together in a group in a basement to discuss there hidden progress. When one of there own are offed they must work together or become the hunted.

This has to be Petersen's breakthrough novel. a sequel on the horizon and great dialogue with all the monsters. Frankenstein's monster, swamp dweller, Dracula, werewolf, the blob and a few more a must read cult pop culture for the 21st century.

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My English review


I really enjoyed the "Living with the dead" series by Jesse Petersen, so I immediately wanted to get into this new one when I discovered its existence. I must say that the summary also really intrigued me. Why is that? I admit that I only had to read " Frankenstein’s creations " , "Dracula" and "Hyde" ... What an explosive mix would you say? And it is exactly that! I was very surprised to see so many famous people in the same novel, and I was curious to see how they were all able to interact. And I can say that Jesse has managed to write a really nice book.

Natalie is one of the many creations by Frankenstein, but does not really accept her condition as "zombie", a word she hates. She wants more and she would love to live like other people and not have to worry about her condition as "monster." However, she must be very careful not to reveal herself to humans and therefore she must constantly hide her scars. As she tries to improve her existence, she is part of a small group of people, monsters like her, trying to adapt in the world. They often do some sessions to talk about their concerns and their desires. We meet many other characters like Alex the werewolf who must constantly shave himself as he has fur everywhere; Linda, the woman with green scales who is the most emotional of all the group; and Jekyll and Hyde, I do not think I need to present them. They are perfect, like the characters we know from the books and movies; Drake, the new name of Dracula who is determined to do as he pleases; Kai, the resurrected mummy and even Van Helsing. Convinced? I really enjoyed the presence of these highly colored characters. They are very different but always here to support each other. But when the president of their club, Bob disappears and when the invisible man is found dead, panic sets in, causing the concern of all. But our characters are far from giving up and are determined to understand what's happening and to find out who is behind it.

All the characters are interesting to explore and I must say that there is only one who has irritated me a little and it's Linda. She is a sensitive young woman who cries at every opportunity and would do anything to solve the problems by themselves. We would love to occasionally shake her so she realizes that life is not perfect. Unlike her, the other characters are very dynamic. Of course, we can only love our true main character, Natalie. This is a young woman who easily hides her emotions and she is strong and courageous as well as very sensitive. We would be able to help her to have her dream life but it is impossible. She will team up with the exasperating and also very charming Alec, in their investigations. They are together a very nice duo and we wondered how their relationship was going to change because I have to say they are very talented for denying their feelings. But their association will allow them to understand the workings of the disappearances and to bring a complicity they never suspected. Kai is for me the most complex character in the novel. Indeed, it is easy to hate her at the beginning of the story by her attitude so arrogant and haughty, but we realize through the chapters that she is much more than that and she only waits for the right moment to reveal herself.

It was a very good first novel for a series that I will follow now. The plot is really well built and I was surprised by several points throughout the story. If you want to discover or rediscover the legendary characters we know, I recommend this book.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in the Monstrosity funny chicklit/urban fantasy series revolving around a group of monsters just trying to survive.

My Take
At last! Petersen gives us the monsters' side of things. And it's too funny. I love it! I love getting the perspective on the daily issues monsters face. I love how Petersen melds the concept of the AA meeting with our idea of monsters. They're just regular people concerned about their jobs, being mugged, and obsessing about their appearances.

Using The Story as a grounding for the murders is enough to make me want to crack the books, just to see how the monsters! are destroyed. To steel myself for another death...eek! For Grimes' mention of how that classic story about the Invisible Man ends, is sounding prophetic. When another of their group is found, it freaks 'em all out.

"...authors of books and directors of movies got their lives so consistently wrong...

Wait a minute, their support group is meeting in a church. And Dracula is one of their group???

LOL, I do like Alec. Underneath that jokey exterior, beats a heart of gold. Even if he does leave clumps of hair in the sink!

Club Monstrosity isn't deep nor is there a lot of tension. It's a fun and light read that distracts from regular life---sure made me rethink my whining about having to shave my legs!

Petersen manages to make monsters all too human and show us that anyone can be a monster. It's all in the way you act and treat people.

The Story
It's a bad start for their meeting and for once they'll have to pull together. But it gets worse when Natalie gets to work and discovers who the first body of the night is. Then the second.

Alec is worried enough...and desperate enough to scare Natalie's roommate off. Linda is doing her usual—-crying her eyes out and whining. And Dracula comes with a possible out.

The Characters
Natalie Gray, a a Frankenstein's monster, works at the morgue and attends her Monstofelldosis Anonymous meetings at Holy Heart church. Whitney is her barely tolerable roommate.

Bob the Blob is the group's facilitator. Kai, the mummy; Linda, the swamp dweller, a whiny, crying thing; Drake, er, Dracula, who is too theatrical for everyone else's patience; Dr. Henry Jekyll---who keeps bringing that Mr. Edward Hyde with him---but is actually a nice guy; Ellis, the invisible man; and, Alec Dunham, the laid back alpha werewolf, are additional members of the group.

Dr. Gretchen Grimes is the medical examiner who adores spending time in the courtroom.

Rehu is Kai's former lover and a lot closer to the story that's told of him. The mercenary Van Helsings, of course, are much worse, going after every monster, at the forefront of every mob...working it with whoever is paying the most. Sam and Georgia Winslow have their own untold tale.

The Cover
The cover has an Andy Warholish feel to it with its blocks of bright color showcasing four comic versions of the monsters in this story. I liked the strong bolt of lightning stitched to Natalie's block!

The title covers so many interpretations, but all lead this group, this society, this Club Monstrosity.

[JB · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Find this and other reviews @ The Demon Librarian**


I love the premise for this book. I mean, c'mon, literary monsters holding regular support group meetings to help them survive and cope with life in the human world? Someone hunting down those same monsters and trying to kill them, just as they were killed in their stories? I was hooked before I even finished reading the book's blurb.

Natalie Grey is the last surviving Frankenstein's monster (not a Frankenstein - as she would be the first to tell you, Frankenstein was the doctor, not the monster). She has an apartment, a job as an assistant at the morgue, and all she wants to do is safely fly under the radar. She's seen what happens to monsters who draw attention to themselves, and she's been in enough hot water herself over the long years to know to avoid it. Being chased by angry mobs is not her idea of a good time. So she keeps her head down, attends her weekly Monstofelldosis Anonymous meetings, and tries to live a quiet, normal life. Well, as normal as you can get when you're made up of assorted dead body parts, are stronger than the average bear, and riddled with unsightly scars you can't risk anyone seeing.

I connected with Natalie's character right away. She's a monster in name only; everything else about her is human to the core. She's incredibly easy to sympathize with and relate to, and best of all, she reacts to situations and dangers believably. As a reader, I appreciated that. She's got some snark and spunk in her too...as if I needed more reasons to like her!

Natalie's leading man, wolfman Alec, was a total kick. I smiled at least once (usually more) during scenes told from his POV. He's such a charmingly irreverent rascal, the kind of guy who always has a joke or snappy comeback ready. He really brought the fun to this book, and yet, he could also be heroic and sweet too.

Most of the story is devoted to solving the mystery of who is hunting the monsters down. It's the first time the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous have really had to band together, uniting against a common enemy. It's an uneasy alliance for most of them, marked by the usual disagreements and personality clashes, and I rather liked that the author didn't try to force them all around the campfire to hold hands and sing Kumbaya at the end. They still have their differences and kinks to work out. Something I am sure we'll see more of in the next book.

There is a romantic subplot between Natalie and Alec but it's very tame, PG-rated stuff. I confess I was disappointed by that. I wanted more and got less. I'm crossing my fingers there will be more bow-chicka-wowing in the sequel. (Hey, a girl can dream, right?)

Club Monstrosity is a satisfying blend of light and dark storytelling, with a hero and heroine you're sure to love. Give these monsters a try, my friends. I guarantee they'll show you a good time.

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie_la_geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this review and more my blog

Yes, Jesse Petersen, Yes!

I am a big fan of the urban fantasy genre but I do sometimes get a little fed up with the repetitive nature of it. Sometimes it is hard to find something new and original and I often find that they tend to follow the same patterns. Then Club Monstrosity came along and proved that there is still originality and imagination to be found in Urban Fantasy.

This book was just such a breath of fresh air and from the first page I knew I was embarking on an entirely new adventure. Club Monstrosity revolves around Natalie, one of Frankenstein’s creations and the monster support group (Monstofelldosis Anonymous) she attends. These support group members are just trying to live a normal life and just want to blend in but when they start getting killed off they know their cover is blown.

Club Monstrosity is quirkily written; it is ‘tongue in cheek’ and often made me laugh. It is smart and quick witted and was a joy to read. I like sarcasm and this was full of it so I was bound to be impressed.

What really makes this book work is the characters. Natalie is a strong lead and easy to relate to, I loved her wittiness and look on life, it is hard being a Frankenstein’s monster, having to deal with scars and re-sow on body parts but she handles it well. Her right hand man is Alec the wolf man. I really liked Alec he has to shave often and has a pot habit but he is a sweetie and a loved the understated romance between them.

The supporting characters are all amazing as well there is the snobby Jekyll and Hyde, the bitchy but beautiful Mummy Kai, the over emotional swamp monster Linda, the dramatic Dracula or Drake and Bob the blob. Each of them has amazing monster characteristics that often add to the humour.

There were times where I felt this lost pace and it needed to move on a little and it didn’t always flow but these are small issues and really did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Club Monstrosity is an original and sweet urban fantasy that I highly recommend. I cannot wait to start reading the next book and see what happens to these amazing characters next.


The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Jessie Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

What it's about: Jesse has created a world where the monsters of the world are actually in need of a support group. The monsters meet once a week to talk about the pressures and issues with being infamous. There's every kind of monster in the group: Frankenstein's daughter, an Egyptian mummy, Dracula and a very cute wolfman. When one of their group members, the Invisible Man, is found dead the group must band together and find out the truth or perish themselves.

Why you should read it: Jesse Petersen is a very humorous author. I loved the Married with Zombies series, and Club Monstrosity is a great and solid beginning to another humorous series. The characters are all colorful, and though the plot is a bit typical, it is still a very fun read. I enjoyed most of the characters, though there was a weepy one I wanted to smack, and I liked their interactions and sleuthing. If you love old-school monsters, and you need some humor for a rainy day, I'd recommend picking up Club Monstrosity.

To read what the author has to say check out the HEA Blog!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of monsters hiding in a modern city meet once a week in a church basement. It's a support group for the struggles they go through, but after all the years, it's gotten a bit tedious. Members include a mummy, a vampire, a werewolf, Jekyll & Hyde, and an invisible man.

When the invisible man turns up dead, it's suspicious. When the leader of the group, a blob called Bob, also ends up dead, it seems like someone is hunting the monsters down. Not only hunting them but matching their deaths with the ones in "their stories." They way they die in their respective books or movies. It's a lighthearted detective novel with a hint of romance and lots of humor. There is a sequel and this book does have an open ending.

The characters are interesting and quite human, in spite of their monstrous lives and pasts. It's all about what makes us different, what we do to fit in and the people we surround ourselves with to make our lives interesting. I really liked it.

I was given a review copy of this book by Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Club Monstrosity (Club Monstrosity #1) by Jesse Petersen, is a light hearted story on the whole, but interesting none the less. What do you if you were a monster in the modern world? How would you fit in? There are self-help groups for alcoholics, for gamblers, and every other diverse form of life, why not monsters? At least that was what our characters thought they were dealing with. Just working through the modern world with all their history, their own horror stories, and love lives over the centuries. Until two of their members went missing, and they learned that there is more than what they expected in the world. This is a great story, with some hilarious moments, and lighthearted mystery and love story. It would be great to share as an inspiration to students, teaching them how misconception and perception can both be a problem for everyone. They can also learn that they are valued for the conduct of their character in a lighthearted way. I think this will be a great generation gap fill, and also show children that acceptance is not only skin deep.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous meet in a church basement twice a week and discuss things like when was the last time they were outed, problems they are having and anything else that comes to mind. When Ellis the Invisible Man not only turns up dead, but has been killed according to His Story (by H.G. Wells), the others begin to get uneasy. Is there someone in New York City going around killing monsters? They need to get to the truth quick before more members die because no one wants to go out like they did in their Story.

This is an interesting, creative, humorous take on monsters. Well-written with well-developed characters this is a mystery that had me turning the pages as fast as I could read them. I’m happy to see there will be another story involving the monsters from Monstofelldosis Anonymous. I look forward to reading it!

*Book source ~ Many thanks to Pocket Star Books and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have so many other books to read right now and though I made it about halfway through Club Monstrosity, I just couldn't seem to get into it enough to want to finish the book. Maybe when I have more time I'll go back and try again but when you have a TBR list as big as mine and numerous books to review, you can't force yourself to read a book you don't love.

I love the old monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, etc.) so there was a a lot of potential for Club Monstrosity as well as the series. A group of monsters meeting in a church to discuss matters of their day-to-day life? Oh hell yeah! I really liked the concept of Club Monstrosity but it was lacking depth and world building so it just didn't hold my interest. Unfortunately Club Monstrosity was a DNF for me.

*ARC PROVIDED BY EDELWEISS*

[sj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm having a difficult time figuring out what to say about this, since it is dangerously close to something I started writing last year for NaNoWriMo. Mine didn't feature monsters, but [REDACTED] instead - other than that, though, this story is eerily close to my outline.

Blergh.

[Alica McKenna-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun!!!! I have never read a book like this one, so unique, good mystery, believable monster characters, and SO SO funny!

[Ziggy Nixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and 19/28ths stars! What an absolutely wonderful surprise!

"Club Monstrosity" has shown up a few times recently in my recommended reading lists and after finding it for just around 3 bucks on a 'major supplier of e-books', I thought what the heck, let's go for it: if it stinks what the heck, I'll just click delete and toss it, right? But seriously, I couldn't be happier to let you know that I found this to be a very fun read and I'm so glad I broke the bank to get it (ok, so one less candy bar this week as penance)! I might describe it almost as a cross between "Hotel Transylvania" and, I don't know, the great 70s sitcom "The Bob Newhart Show"... but then if I did that, you'd all know how old I am! But Jesse Petersen's book has got some of the better elements of A.Lee Martinez in it (esp. "Gil's All Night Fright Diner"!) and as I've said before: anyone who treats the mortally challenged as, well, real people is AOK in my book!

Using a 'self-help group' to introduce our cast of monstrosities and their interactions with each other and the world around them is sheer brilliance. From Natalie the Frankenstein creation to Alec the Wolf Man (oh and please don't offend Linda the Lagoon monster, she will sob her eyes out if you do!), each and every character has a unique and well-rounded personality to go along with their daily struggles to fit in (or not) into life in the Big Apple. Heck, even those we don't get to meet alive (undead-er?) are well-described and sympathetic!

If anything, I was a little put off by the fact that the book is far too short and that the conclusion is somewhat rushed and anti-climatic particularly as things were just getting really good. However, the plot of CM seems to be a good springboard to the next book which I have to confess I have not only already purchased (again, very affordable!) but am halfway through reading! If you want to find the affordable copies, perhaps you should Gooooooogle!!!! them, hint hint bloody hint! Worth every penny and then some, trust me! Enjoy!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie (a Frankenstein's Monster) and others pause their group counseling meetings to hunt for the murderer of the Invisible Man.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. I love monsters and this one is spilling over with them - mummies, a werewolf, Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, the blob. It felt very fresh and contemporary by having the monsters living in New York, trying to not be noticed by anyone, and figuring out how to live a day-to-day life.

I also enjoyed this author's "Married with Zombies" so I'm planning to read the sequels to both of them (and I'm excited that the sequel to this one apparently brings in Cthulhu, too!)

If you'd like to read a more serious take on 'monsters' in group therapy, try Daryl Gregory's "We Are All Completely Fine" (such a good book!).

[Cinzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original, funny, unusual and so cute.
I enjoyed a lot reading the story told in this first book of the Monstrosity series, I didn't know this author and she was a wonderful surprise.
Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong?

Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting.

Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies—the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe—maybe—if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way.

The characters featured in the book are amazing, with their own neuroses and fears, with their need to appear absolutely "not monster" that leads them to do absurd things like the monster of the swamp, in this case, which must constantly cover and fix her makeup to hide her Green scales, or Kai the Mummy, which must costantly moisturized her skin to avoid falling to pieces, litterally.
In short, all funny and very odds situations that we can find in this unusual group, which of course they meet in a room owned by a church.
Suchas Natalie, Alec and Kai have a leading role than the others, especially during the killings' investigations, but they all contribute to making truly unique the whole group.
The murders created a special bond among the group members, highlighting flaws and merits of each of them and giving a start to a love story between two "monsters".
A very cute series, enjoyable to read and well written.
I also really liked the cover of the book, with some of the monsters shown as Andy Warhol's pitcure, it's fresh and cool.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pocket Star for the book's preview

RATING: 4 stars

TITLE: Club Monstrosity
AUTHOR: Jesse Petersen
SERIES: Monstrosity # 1
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star
PUBLICATION DATE: April 29, 2013

Originale, divertente, insolito e terribilmente carino.
Mi sono divertita tantissimo nel leggere la storia raccontata in questo primo libro della serie Monstrosity, non conoscevo questa autrice ed è stata una bellissima sorpresa.

Natalie è una delle creature nate dagli esperimenti di Frankestein e lavora presso la camera mortuaria di New York. Sente il bisogno di partecipare a una terapia di gruppo. Lei e i suoi amici - i suoi compari mostri - hanno formato uno dei gruppi di supporto più esclusivi e anche tra i meno funzionali. Cosa potrebbe andare storto?
Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob e gli altri (incluso l'attraente lupo mannaro Alec) vivono la loro vita nel mondo moderno nascondendo la loro vera identità, sotto la costante pressione di mantenere l'anonimato; si incontrato regolarmente per parlare della pressione a cui sono sottoposti nell'essere degli sconosciuti nella Grande Mela. Gli argomenti degli incontri includono: il rivelare a quanto tempo prima risale l'ultima volta in cui sono stati scoperti, come le leggende e le storie su di loro creano degli stereotipi che non possono mantenere e - incredibile - a volte anche quello che provano. Ma quando uno di loro, il pervertito Uomo Invisibile, Ellis, viene ucciso con la stessa modalità utilizzata nel racconto di H. G. Wells, risulta evidente che la loro esistenza è stata scoperta e si potrebbe scatenare una caccia al mostro.
Guidati da Natalie - e certamente non aiutati dagli impulsi sanguinari di Hyde - i membri del gruppo di anonimi mostri deve rimanere unito per difendersi e investigare.
E forse - forse - se non finiranno per essere uccisi, potrebbero riuscire a diventare amici lungo il corso delle indagini.

I personaggi protagonisti nel libro sono eccezionali, con le loro nevrosi e paure, con il loro bisogno di apparire "non mostri" che li porta a compiere cose assurde come nel caso del mostro della laguna, in questo caso femmina, che deve costantemente ricoprirsi di cerone e trucco per nascondere le sue scaglie verdi, o Kai la mummia, che deve costantemente mantenersi idratata per evitare di cadere letteralmente a pezzi.
Insomma tutte situazioni buffe e al limite che ritroviamo in questo insolito gruppo di auto-aiuto, che naturalmente si incontra nei locali di proprietà di una chiesa.
Alcuni protagonisti, come Natalie, Alec e Kai hanno un ruolo di primo piano rispetto agli altri, soprattutto per lo svolgimento delle indagini sugli omicidi, ma tutti contribuiscono a rendere veramente unico l'intero gruppo.
Gli omicidi creano l'occasione per far conoscere meglio tra di loro i membri del gruppo, evidenziando difetti e pregi di ognuno e facendo nascere del tenero tra due "mostri".
Una serie molto carina, piacevole da leggere e ben scritta.
Mi è piaciuta molto anche la cover del libro, con alcuni dei mostri rappresentati alla Andy Warhol, fresca e spiritosa.
Si ringrazia Netgalley e la Pocket Star per il libro

VOTO: 4 stelle

TITOLO: Club Monstrosity
AUTRICE: Jesse Petersen
SERIE: Monstrosity #1
EDITORE: Pocket Star
DATA PUBBLICAZIONE: 29 aprile 2013

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the characters in this book quite bit. Enough to investigate the next in the series.

It was a fun ride, recommend.

[Dena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Fangs for the Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many support groups out there for all kinds of problems – and even the monsters have problems, albeit, rather more unusual ones than most people’s problems.

Chief among them is not actually getting caught (made difficult because Dracula will not stop wearing that damn cape); but even that fades when they start disappearing – and turning up dead. And dead by the same methods as is found in their stories.

This causes Natalie - Frankenstein’s monster – to try and rally her fellows in the most difficult task of all. Actually working together with minimal hissy fits.

This book gets massive points for originality. Just by taking all the monsters of so many schlocky, horror movie fame and putting them together is pretty new – especially lesser seen versions like the swamp monster (Linda, the weepy, emotional, needy one), the Blob (Bob, who has a hoarding problem because he accidentally absorbs things), the Invisible Man (wants to be an actor) and the Mummy (Kai, has a severe need for moisturiser) is unique in and of itself. Werewolves and vampires we see, but the others? Not so much.

And their need for community, their need to have people to know who they are and have their support has brought them together even if they don’t like each other very much. I think that’s the ultimate humanising element of these monsters, actually making them more human than so many human characters in other books. They’re not nice people, they don’t like each other very much. They’re not over the top “mean girl” villains, they’re just normal people who, like most normal people, can be a little irritating. Whether it’s Alec with his inappropriate humour, Linda with her desperate neediness and emotional outbursts, Natalie with her sarcasm, Kai with her impatience, Jekyll with his wealthy clueless bubble or Drake with his over-believing of his own legend.

And when danger threatens they rally together! Except not. Because people don’t. They bicker, they argue, they get distracted, they go into denial, they bury their heads in the sand – which is exactly what the group does. They lie about silly things and keep secrets that don’t matter and argue about things that are irrelevant. It’s some incredible human and real about them – they act like normal people. Not monsters, not heroes, not characters – but people. I especially like how this adds in to what Linda says in that she clings to her over-emotional neediness because it makes her feel human; even the flaws, even though it’s an irritating habit, it’s a human flaw and it’s a way for this monster to reconnect to their humanity

The path to humanity is an ongoing theme and a major part of Natalie herself – part of her not wanting to go on the rampage isn’t just from conscious but from rejection of her monster nature – she doesn’t want to be a monster, she’s trying to fit in, she’s trying to be human, to act, think and live as a human. She carries pepper spray on her keyring, because human women working at night would feel the need to, even though she could rip any attacker’s limbs off. She works in a morgue to cover any possible smell, even though Alec the werewolf says she doesn’t smell even to his enhanced nose

This same insecurity about their humanity is an ongoing theme – Linda and her concealing make up, Kai being sensitive about her need for moisturisers, even Alec obsessing about razors to try and tame his raging facial hair – it’s a real theme and very well and subtly presented.

While this humanising makes for some awesome characters (and Alec is cute and I can definitely see the scruffy scruffy werewolf with puppy dog eyes) it makes for a rather… realistic story. They don’t spend a lot of time investigating, they’re not very good investigators. The enemy rather falls into their laps rather than them seeking them out. It’s decently paced, but it’s decently paced with more character interaction and development. Which is excellent, but the plot kind of drifts with it.

Again, this adds to the realism of the book. Real people aren’t organised don’t do well in a crisis, do get distracted and don’t really know how to track down a murderer. But while it made for awesome characters, it made for a plot that was more good and awesome. Amusing, with excellent characterisations and an amazing concept; certainly, but not the most exciting murder mystery ever.

But I’m not sure that would have worked. I don’t think it could have been exciting or twisty or complicated and kept the very nature of the book itself.

Read More

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: It’s hard enough to get through every day in New York as a monster straight out of the old horror movie, but its even harder to get through every day when there’s some lunatic trying to kill you and your friends.

Opening Sentence: The basement of the Holy Heart Church on East 125th St in New York City smelled like a strange combination of dust, hundreds of years of age, and the leftovers of charity dinners cooked in the kitchen hovering just above it.

The Review:

Club Monstrosity was a fun and quick read that centered around some of the famous “monsters” of movie history like the wolfman, swamp thing and, of course, Dracula. Natalie Gray is the main character. She is one of Frankenstein’s monsters and like the others she is trying to fit into the world by layering make-up to hide her scars and always keeping people at a distance so that they wouldn’t notice anything odd about her like the fact that her body is made up of a bunch of different parts of different people’s bodies. She seems to want to be human more than any of the rest of the monsters but struggles more than the beautiful Kai, an undead mummy from ancient Egypt or the handsomely rugged werewolf, Alec.

The relationship that forms between these three is easy to spot right from the beginning. Natalie acknowledges that while Kai is usually a bit high strung and overly confident, Natalie has a begrudging respect for how she handles the disappearance of another member of their group who also happens to be their leader, the Blob or Bob. Alec, is a pretty basic pretty boy character. He gets a lot of girls and that fuels his ego which in turn makes him obnoxious but deep down he’s actually sweet and intellegent. That is sort of the trend of the book. Nothing is super complicated. Yes, this group of misfits is searching for someone who is methodically killing off members and yes they are monsters trying to pass as humans. However, the characters aren’t super deep. Natalie is the nerdy outsider, Alec is the hot guy, Kai is the hot girl, Linda is the crazy one, Dracula is the old fashioned guy, Jekyell is quiet, Hyde is the barely restrained rebel. The entire story is very straight forward and simple but very enjoyable as well.

Notable Scene:

Earlier in the day, Alec had said she was a little more monstrous. Now she felt a lot more monstrous. And not in a good way. She wanted to rip this man’s arms off. Which would only prove his point. Instead, she leaned closer to him and growled, “Do you know who might be behind these attacks, Mr. Van Helsing?” He stared at her evenly for so long that Natalie began to think he might have died and no one had noticed. But finally, he cleared his throat. “Describe this person who is supposedly following you,” he ordered, his tone dripping with condescension. Natalie coutned to ten in her head as she quickly described the person outside of Jekyll and Hyde’s apartment. “How narrow a description,” Van Helsing sneered. “Yes, I’m sure we can pick this person out of a line-up. She bit her lip. “He was wearing a medallion, as well. Square, large, possibly with a jewel in the center.” Van Helsing’s stare jerked to her face briefly, but then he shook his head. “I can assure you, my family has nothing to do with this. Now leave.” “But–” Natalie began. “No. And if you monsters use this fancy of yours to interfere with the Van Helsings, know that our war will rekindle. I’ll make certain the world knows what kind of disgusting mistakes you all are.” He straightened up in his chair and Natalie could see a glimpse of what he’d been before disease and age had wizened him. “We have more money than ever, Ms. Grey, and with modern technolgy, your lives could be hell on earth. I will destroy you in every way. If there is war this time, it will not end until you are ended.”

FTC Advisory: Pocket Star/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Club Monstrosity. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Jaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

So…The Wolfman, Dracula, The Mummy & Frankenstein’s Monster go into this bar, right?

Wait, no, that’s not it. Not a bar…a therapy group, that’s it!

Well, why not? There are therapy groups for everything – alchoholics, sex addicts, overeaters, bookaholics – so why not a therapy group for monsters? It must be tough in today’s world to be a monster – hiding from everyone yet trying to live a normal life, finding lotion for dried out skin if you’re a mummy, controlling all that extra unwanted hair if you’re the Wolfman etc.

Led by The Blob…er, Bob…the dysfunctional group meet each week in the basement of a church in New York city. Supposedly it’s to discuss their problems and find support, but more often than not, they are arguing amongst themselves. But when Natalie, a Frankenstein’s Monster – not Frankenstein thank you very much, he was their Creator, not the name of the monster – discovers one of their fellow members, Ellis The Invisible Man, on the slab at the morgue where she works, and is told of the manner of his death, she realizes something is going on. And why is their group leader Bob missing? And more to the point, is this mismatched group going to do anything about it?

Natalie informs the rest of the group of the Invisible Man’s murder, and badgers them into trying to find Bob. The discovery of his frozen body in his apartment leads the group on a wild adventure to find out why the monsters are dying exactly as they did in their books, and who is doing it.

Natalie is wonderful! Along with the pressure of trying to live and survive in a big city and hide her nature, she worries about her scars and mismatched body parts. It’s Natalie that is the driving force behind the group. She’s the one who discovers someone is killing the monsters, she’s the one who makes the rest of the group go looking for Bob, she’s the one who seems to keep them together. She remembers all to well the horror of being chased by villagers with pitchforks and flaming torches, and she definitely doesn’t want that happening again. And she knows that’s the fate awaiting her if the murderer finds her.

Joining forces with Alec the Wolfman, Dracula (yes, that Dracula), Jekyll & Hyde, The Swamp Monster & The Mummy, they must discover the identity of the murderer before it’s too late. And perhaps, just perhaps, she’ll discover a little bit of romance along the way with Alec. :D

I’ve liked Jesse Petersen ever since discovering her wonderfully humourous zombie series, Living with the Dead. In Club Monstrosity she has created a very realistic view of what it would be like to be a monster living in today’s world.

I think Natalie and Alec are the most rounded characters – we get to know them more than the others. It’ll be interesting to see if the other monsters – or new ones – are highlighted in further books.

Jesse Petersen seems to take a genre and turn it on its head – how many times have you ever read a book about the zombie uprising, where the lead characters are married? And how often have you read a tale about legendary monsters living in contemporary times, just trying to make it through the world like the rest of us?

A good solid read, Club Monstrosity has great characters, snarky and funny writing & dialogue, and a nice mystery. I’m looking forward to reading more in the series!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer

I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

To see the review with all the Glitz and Glam drop by My Blog and check it out.

My Review

When I requested this book at NetGalley, I did it solely because of its blurb. Who could turn down the chance to see our favorite classical monsters adjust to modern day times? That they feel that they need to have a support group in order to be able to deal with all the changes that come with centuries of human evolution was just the icing on the cake. Based on that premise I was expecting to have a grand time while reading the story; and I’m so glad to say that the novel delivers.

Although the story is mostly mystery and horror, none of the deaths that occur throughout the narration are described as they are happening. No, these occur behind the scenes and we later find out about their gruesomeness alongside the characters. In a story about monsters that is quite a refreshing approach, so my hat tips to Ms. Petersen.

Aside for the obvious conflicts, the story keeps a lightness that is very welcomed. Not to mention that I was smiling like an idiot as I was reading it. The story has a good balance between the comedy, the horror and the humanity of both the characters and their surroundings.

Although the file that I received through NetGalley had a little over 233 pages, the story is addictive enough that it reads pretty quickly.

The characters are as far away from humans as you can imagine. We have Natalie, Frankenstein’s daughter (one of his many creations); Alec, werewolf extraordinaire; Drake, Dracula of course; Dr. Henry, both Jekyll and Hyde; Linda, a swamp monster (but please don’t call her a monster); Bob, the blob; Ellis, the invisible man; Rehu & Kai, your run of the mill dehydrating mummies. And a special appearance of none other than… hmm, nope, won’t spoil it for you. ;D

To be honest, often times I have problems with books that tackle the classical monsters because I usually end up feeling like they weren't truly made justice. I’m happy that this book didn't take that particular turn. The characters might share their monstrous characteristics with their classical counterparts but they are also so removed from their original concept that they avoid the stereotype, which is quite a challenge when you have Dracula walking down New York City while wearing a cape.

There is romance in the story, but there are no overly descriptive sex scenes, but there is a good amount of tension between the main characters. Speaking of the main characters in the story, can I keep Alec for myself? He is such a sweet and hot werewolf. He is perfect for our heroine. Which as Frankenstein’s daughter you’d normally will picture her as some clumsy brute, but she is quite possibly the most ‘normal’ of all the characters. A girl that tries to do the best she can with the circumstances she’s been given. Natalie is my favorite character of the book.

The bottom line, this isn't your average paranormal novel, which is what makes it so brilliant. The characters have their wacky moments but they also show great humanity. This is a book that I definitively will recommend.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy provided by publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest view

Originally reviewed for and posted at Vampire Book Club

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

I’m not entirely sure I would have picked up Club Monstrosity if I hadn’t been reviewing it, which would have a huge shame. I would have missed out on a fun, quirky and quite heartwarming story that was unlike anything I’ve read before.

It centers around Natalie Gray, one of Frankenstein’s monsters, and her attendance at Monstofelldosis Anonymous, a support group with a difference. Every week this group of misfits meets to discuss the trials and tribulations of being a supposedly fictional monster trying to stay hidden in modern-day New York City.

Even though they share their deepest secrets with each other, none of the members would consider the others their friends. When one of their group Ellis (the invisible man) is killed the exact same way as his story and another, Bob (the Blob), is missing they soon realize the only way they’re going survive this unknown threat is to open up and trust one another.

The cast of characters in Club Monstrosity is as colorful as the cover. On first meeting the support group each seems to live up the stereotype of their literary alter ego: Dracula is an out-of-touch snob, Jekyll is long suffering whilst Hyde is a psycho, Alec (the werewolf) is a dog when it comes to ladies and has a shaving addiction to name but a few. Natalie just wants to be left to work her job at the morgue (it hides the pesky decomposition smell) and do her best to keep her scars hidden.

It isn’t until the threat of pitchforks and prejudice rears its head once again that they truly start to connect with one another. The plot moves along a brisk pace and I really enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery of the killer alongside the characters. The action is well written and the overall style flows very nicely. The world building isn’t vast, but it does a good job of giving background and I liked the nods to Gothic literary greats.

What stood out to me the most about Club Monstrosity was the relationships. Every member of the group has flaws, some paranormal but also some that were so incredibly human. Each discovers a lost part of him- or herself, whether it’s the ability to forge a friendship, striving to be comfortable in their own body or to open themselves up to the prospect of love. Watching how the dynamics of power shifted as the story goes on was fascinating, especially when it came to Natalie. I loved watching as she began to shed the ‘monster’ stigma she’d carried for years and actually think of herself as a person with hopes and dreams.

On the surface Club Monstrosity is a quirky mystery that pays homage to some of the most famous characters in history. Underneath though is a layered tale of human connection that had me smiling long after I put it down. I’m really excited to see where this series goes in the next installment The Monsters in Your Neighborhood, out July 29th.

Sexual content: Kissing, references to sex

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

My blogging bestie, Lisa at Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews, mentioned this book to me so off I went to check it out (she orders me around a lot :) ). I thought it was such a unique premise that I snapped it up on Edelweiss. I really looked forward to reading it. As I read the ARC, I had some issues with the POV(s) and it took me a little bit to get into the groove of the story but once I did, I really enjoyed the eclectic group of characters and the mystery of who’s killing them off.

Characters / Setting / World Building

The whole premise of the story is that all those monster stories you heard growing up are actually, partially true. Those monsters exist. The authors who penned their stories just might not have gotten the monster’s details quite correct. For instance, we all know Frankenstein was actually the doctor’s name and he built “the monster”. But in this world, he built several “monsters”, one of which is Natalie Grey. She’s several hundred years old and does her best to blend in with the good folks of New York City.

But Natalie isn’t the only monster around New York City. And to help each monster blend in and stay unnoticed, they get together in a support group who meet in the basement of a church. Just like any other support group in New York City.

This is how we meet all the characters of our eclectic cast. Despite some of the problems I had reading this story, I think it was the characters that held my attention most and kept me reading. I think besides Natalie, my favorite characters were Kai, the mummy, and Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Ms. Petersen’s take on the split personalities of Jekyl and Hyde was fantastic. Especially as the story progressed.

Story / Tempo

Although I had a bit of trouble getting attached to this group of misfits during their first support group meeting, I hung in there because the story quickly evolved into a mystery. From that point on, the story picked up speed and kept up the decent pace all the way to the end. I can’t recall any frivolous scenes.

My main hangup with the story, and this may be because it was an ARC I read, is that this story is written in the third person and I often have a problem with this POV. Often times, third person sounds way too close to first person to me. When Ms. Petersen would have the narrator switch the character’s POV, I was lost for a few moments until I figured out whose mind the narrator was in.

Despite that little POV issue, the uniqueness of the story had me reading all the way to the end. Once there, I was surprised to find out that there is actually another Monstrosity coming out on July 29th, 2013!! I’m actually pretty excited for the next one, both to get back to see where Ms. Petersen takes her characters and to get some closure on a few loose ends.

Review appears on My ParaHangover

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

See more reviews on The Best Books Ever!

I didn't really know what to expect in reading this book, but I ended up loving it! Club Monstrosity was a fresh, unique look at traditional monsters in a contemporary world, and combined the best aspects of a crime/mystery stories, romance, and comedy into an engaging story.

The book follows Natalie, a creation of Dr. Frankenstein himself, and a group of other monsters (vampire, werewolf, mummy, swamp creature, etc.) who all take part in a Monsters Anonymous self-help type group to talk about the problems of being a real, legitimate monster in modern New York. The little touches that modernize the monsters -- Natalie works in a morgue to help explain away her constant smell of rot, Kai the mummy is constantly moisturizing, Alec the werewolf has to shave all the time -- are savvy ways to bring these classic characters into a contemporary context.

The who-done-it part of the book has plenty of false leads and red herrings before the villain is revealed, and while that storyline comes to a close, it spawns plenty of other plot points for future books. I didn't really guess the bad guy while reading, which is always good, and I liked the slowly growing romance between Natalie and Alec as they learn they've got more in common than you might think. They work well together as a team and balance each other out, so I'm excited to see what's in store for them next. Natalie's character growth is pretty awesome in this book, and is written in a way that doesn't seem too artificial or repetitive.

My complaints are pretty minor about this one. There were a few POV shifts that were somewhat jarring -- we read most of the book from Natalie's perspective, but there are a few scenes that shift to follow Alec, which left me a little confused at first. All of the characters are distinct, although some of the more minor ones come off as a bit one-note. (Linda, the swamp creature, for example, spends most of her time crying and being upset at being thought of as a monster. It's pretty much her sole personality trait.) While the leads, Natalie and Alec, get fleshed out, I'd like to see more depth to the secondary characters, too, and hopefully this will be accomplished in later books in the series.

This was a fun, easy to read book that keeps the action moving from start to finish. Despite the serious subject matter -- monsters being killed by an unknown attacker -- the book is mostly lighthearted in tone and doesn't ever really stop being fun, or funny. There are a lot of little pop culture references, especially in the beginning, that may seem dated with time, but right now, they're spot on. There's a lot of adult language, so I'd recommend this for slightly more mature readers. A follow-up book is slated to come out over the summer, and I'm already pretty excited to read it.