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Only Monsters Remain
“Donahue at his best plumbs the souls of his characters. In this tale of a crushing apocalypse undreamed of by man, beast, or Bibliomancy, he redefines humanity as well as the nature of monsters.” —Ef Deal, author of Esprit de Corpse
“Masterfully crafted cosmic horror, vivid and visceral, with dynamic characters driving the story to its epic conclusion, Donahue is quickly forging his place among the likes of John Langan, Laird Barron, and Thomas Ligotti.” —Candace Nola, author of Bishop , creator of UncomfortablyDark
Jillian Futch relocates to the peculiar coastal town of Pell, Rhode Island, to pursue her work as a mortician’s apprentice. Having spent most of her life as a misfit, she believes she has finally found a home where she can blend in among her fellow “freaks.” Her peaceful existence turns to chaos when a horde of tentacled monsters descends from the clouds and destroys the civilized world.
As the invaders retreat, Jillian emerges from the rubble intent on rebuilding her life. She helps her fellow survivors heal from unimaginable loss by hosting primitive funerals for loved ones killed in the months-long apocalypse. When a cadaver enters her embalming room bearing an impossible surprise, Jillian realizes the otherworldly horrors have only just begun.
“William J. Donahue ’ s Only Monsters Remain takes the idea of a post-apocalyptic world and focuses it on the life of one woman. Jillian, a wonderfully nihilistic and plucky heroine, along with one oddly charming cephalopod, will face monsters raining from the sky and descending from the hills while exploring the bonds of friendship and the truth of the modern human condition. Only Monsters Remain is an apocalyptic adventure and a strangely heartwarming horror.” —Heather Daughrity, author of Tales My Grandmother Told Me and What the Dead Leave Behind
“Masterfully crafted cosmic horror, vivid and visceral, with dynamic characters driving the story to its epic conclusion, Donahue is quickly forging his place among the likes of John Langan, Laird Barron, and Thomas Ligotti.” —Candace Nola, author of Bishop , creator of UncomfortablyDark
Jillian Futch relocates to the peculiar coastal town of Pell, Rhode Island, to pursue her work as a mortician’s apprentice. Having spent most of her life as a misfit, she believes she has finally found a home where she can blend in among her fellow “freaks.” Her peaceful existence turns to chaos when a horde of tentacled monsters descends from the clouds and destroys the civilized world.
As the invaders retreat, Jillian emerges from the rubble intent on rebuilding her life. She helps her fellow survivors heal from unimaginable loss by hosting primitive funerals for loved ones killed in the months-long apocalypse. When a cadaver enters her embalming room bearing an impossible surprise, Jillian realizes the otherworldly horrors have only just begun.
“William J. Donahue ’ s Only Monsters Remain takes the idea of a post-apocalyptic world and focuses it on the life of one woman. Jillian, a wonderfully nihilistic and plucky heroine, along with one oddly charming cephalopod, will face monsters raining from the sky and descending from the hills while exploring the bonds of friendship and the truth of the modern human condition. Only Monsters Remain is an apocalyptic adventure and a strangely heartwarming horror.” —Heather Daughrity, author of Tales My Grandmother Told Me and What the Dead Leave Behind
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2023
3 people are currently reading
2227 people want to read
About the author
William J. Donahue
17 books53 followersWilliam J. Donahue lives in a small but well-guarded fortress somewhere on the map between Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. When he's not writing fiction, entertaining his cats, or wandering quietly in the woods, he works as a magazine editor and features writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 29, 2023
Donahue’s novel is filled with fascinating characters and creatures- in a cosmically annihilated version of our world.
“The first twenty-nine years of Jillian’s life had passed with her standing on the edge of the lightless void. She had since become one with it, consumed by it, a ghost peering out of the abyss.”
I really enjoyed Jill’s cynical and bleak thoughts, she is absolutely someone I can relate to. Even before the end of the world she had been let down by other people and was overall disappointed in the human species. She is an excellent mortician and even if isn’t a “people person”, she ensures that she shows empathy and professionalism to the all the folks utilizing her services.
Sev was my favourite “voice” within the narrative. An excellent choice by the author to feature such an inquisitive fellow. He is very much like Jillian, insofar that they each defy their society’s norms.
This was a captivating read; I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys dystopian/apocalyptic horror, cosmic monsters, strong narrators, and adventurous survival tales!
“The first twenty-nine years of Jillian’s life had passed with her standing on the edge of the lightless void. She had since become one with it, consumed by it, a ghost peering out of the abyss.”
I really enjoyed Jill’s cynical and bleak thoughts, she is absolutely someone I can relate to. Even before the end of the world she had been let down by other people and was overall disappointed in the human species. She is an excellent mortician and even if isn’t a “people person”, she ensures that she shows empathy and professionalism to the all the folks utilizing her services.
Sev was my favourite “voice” within the narrative. An excellent choice by the author to feature such an inquisitive fellow. He is very much like Jillian, insofar that they each defy their society’s norms.
This was a captivating read; I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys dystopian/apocalyptic horror, cosmic monsters, strong narrators, and adventurous survival tales!
February 9, 2024
Only Monsters Remain
By William J Donahue
🐙🐙🐙🐙/🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙
Jillian has been an outcast her entire life. She moves to a small coastal town in hopes of finding her people. She becomes a mortician's apprentice and seems to be fitting into her new life. However, extra-terrestrial cephalopods decide to take over Earth in hopes of enslaving the human race. Through a series of unfortunate events and the eight tentacled beasts destroying the town of Pell, Jillian finds herself becoming the undertaker for a post-apocalyptic sleepy town trying to move on with their lives and establish their new normal. She finds herself with an unsuspecting friendship blooming. Her new counterpart warns her that things are about to become much worse.
When I first started reading this book I kind of had low expectations as I had no idea where the story was going. With that said, the further along I got in the story, I was pleasantly surprised with a perfect mix of cosmic horror and fantasy. This story had a little bit of everything from Sasquatches, mercenaries and a creepy religious zealot group. The author did a wonderful job in bringing this story to fruition. The writing was cohesive and also well edited. I had no issues with the imagery aspect and at times was able to envision what I believe the author's vision for the sleepy coastal town was. The twist and turns had me guessing and the story was not easily predictable, which was nice. I will definitely read more works by this author in the future.
I give this story 4/5 stars because I feel like more time could have been spent expanding on the world building and character development since this story is primarily plot driven. With the way the story ended, I can easily see this becoming a series.
By William J Donahue
🐙🐙🐙🐙/🐙🐙🐙🐙🐙
Jillian has been an outcast her entire life. She moves to a small coastal town in hopes of finding her people. She becomes a mortician's apprentice and seems to be fitting into her new life. However, extra-terrestrial cephalopods decide to take over Earth in hopes of enslaving the human race. Through a series of unfortunate events and the eight tentacled beasts destroying the town of Pell, Jillian finds herself becoming the undertaker for a post-apocalyptic sleepy town trying to move on with their lives and establish their new normal. She finds herself with an unsuspecting friendship blooming. Her new counterpart warns her that things are about to become much worse.
When I first started reading this book I kind of had low expectations as I had no idea where the story was going. With that said, the further along I got in the story, I was pleasantly surprised with a perfect mix of cosmic horror and fantasy. This story had a little bit of everything from Sasquatches, mercenaries and a creepy religious zealot group. The author did a wonderful job in bringing this story to fruition. The writing was cohesive and also well edited. I had no issues with the imagery aspect and at times was able to envision what I believe the author's vision for the sleepy coastal town was. The twist and turns had me guessing and the story was not easily predictable, which was nice. I will definitely read more works by this author in the future.
I give this story 4/5 stars because I feel like more time could have been spent expanding on the world building and character development since this story is primarily plot driven. With the way the story ended, I can easily see this becoming a series.
August 2, 2024
Only Monsters Remain is a touching tale of a girl and her Cephalopod. Oh, and cosmic horrors that destroy the world.
In Only Monsters Remain, the world as we know it gets destroyed by giant octopi from space. In the midst of this, Jillian is a mortician who shows compassion to the families of those that have died in the ensuing mayhem that is life on earth. That is until the real monsters make themselves known, nick her generator, enslave her, attempt to eat her and finally rain holy hell on the town that she lives in. And when she makes a friend of one of the invading aliens, things go from shit to worse.
I have to say that Only Monsters Remain was one of the barmiest books that I have read in a long time. In between talking octopuses, cannibal priests and delusional leaders, there’s an army of sasquatches roaming the countryside. I mean, go figure… it happens everyday where I live.
I am going to be honest with you, I have no idea about how to talk about this book, it’s just crackers. It goes to places I didn’t expect and don’t expect that I will ever read again.
Was it good? Yeah, on the whole it was. There were points where I thought this is getting too much now, which usually occurred when the human antagonists entered the fray. However, as soon as I thought that this has gone into the land of yawnsville, up pops some itinerant wackiness that shook me out of my reverie.
Sometimes, when I go into a book blind, I can usually get a feel for a book and know how its going to turn out. However, with this one, I had no clue. There was always something to send my head in the direction I was not expecting.
To be quite frank, when writing reviews for books, I often think about who I would recommend it to, but with Only Monsters Remain, I have no clue. If you like books that have gone a bit way out west, followed the signs for a bit and then decided to completely disregard all of that and then made their own undulating way back to the path, then this book is for you.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In Only Monsters Remain, the world as we know it gets destroyed by giant octopi from space. In the midst of this, Jillian is a mortician who shows compassion to the families of those that have died in the ensuing mayhem that is life on earth. That is until the real monsters make themselves known, nick her generator, enslave her, attempt to eat her and finally rain holy hell on the town that she lives in. And when she makes a friend of one of the invading aliens, things go from shit to worse.
I have to say that Only Monsters Remain was one of the barmiest books that I have read in a long time. In between talking octopuses, cannibal priests and delusional leaders, there’s an army of sasquatches roaming the countryside. I mean, go figure… it happens everyday where I live.
I am going to be honest with you, I have no idea about how to talk about this book, it’s just crackers. It goes to places I didn’t expect and don’t expect that I will ever read again.
Was it good? Yeah, on the whole it was. There were points where I thought this is getting too much now, which usually occurred when the human antagonists entered the fray. However, as soon as I thought that this has gone into the land of yawnsville, up pops some itinerant wackiness that shook me out of my reverie.
Sometimes, when I go into a book blind, I can usually get a feel for a book and know how its going to turn out. However, with this one, I had no clue. There was always something to send my head in the direction I was not expecting.
To be quite frank, when writing reviews for books, I often think about who I would recommend it to, but with Only Monsters Remain, I have no clue. If you like books that have gone a bit way out west, followed the signs for a bit and then decided to completely disregard all of that and then made their own undulating way back to the path, then this book is for you.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 3, 2024
This book was a delightful surprise. I didn't expect it to be this cute. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of gore; a bunch of humans meeting gruesome deaths, and gigantic tentacled monsters descending from the sky to enslave humanity – you know, the usual stuff 😝... but then there's also a sentient talking alien-octopus, and I just can't handle the cuteness. 😍 I need to know more about Sev and his world.
The main character is interesting and relatable. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Also, can we talk about how awesome it is when authors mention their pets in the acknowledgments? 💜
The main character is interesting and relatable. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Also, can we talk about how awesome it is when authors mention their pets in the acknowledgments? 💜
February 27, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Cephalopods, Sasquatch's, an apocalypse and lots of gore, I mean who wouldn't love that?! When you think of an apocalypse you normally think of brain eating zombies, but Donahue took this apocalypse to a whole different level and it made this story so much more enjoyable. I got lots of Walking Dead vibes, especially when the humans have to be careful with going outside because all hell could break loose at any minute. And also how the survivors have to go and loot for what they need to keep surviving. I secretly wish I had a little Sev of my own because he just sounds so dang cute!
March 27, 2024
Only Monsters Remain....and the monsters are human beings. This has all the hallmarks of a Donahue novel: dark, laugh-out-loud humour, deftly interwoven plot strands, rich, love-to-hate characters and dashes of man-made Hobbsian bleakness to quietly remind the reader that it is people, not the world at large, that often renders our lives solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. This is the amazing thing about this story: we have cosmic beasts emerging from holes in the sky to tear holes in the earth, yet they are not the enemy; it is the greed and selfishness of the individual that proves to be humanity's downfall. That's how you do genre fiction properly: with a message about the present.
In Donahue's last novel, Crawl on Your Belly All the Days of Your Life, the protagonist kept snakes and lived in a Florida-Project-like budget motel. In this one, the protagonist has an octopus buddy and lives in a funeral home. If nothing else, he certainly has a penchant for choosing occupations and settings that I would consider off the beaten path. The result is all the more enriching given that the prose and the descriptions feel so genuine and lived-in. Has Donahue ever lived in a funeral home or embalmed a corpse? On this evidence, I'd say it's likely.
Overall, this is a novel that deftly walks the line between cynicism and hope, with a balanced blend of cinematic setpieces and quiet introspection, outlandish characters and attention to the smallest detail. I hope the author goes for out-and-out sci-fi next, because I want to see how he would bend the genre to his worldview.
In Donahue's last novel, Crawl on Your Belly All the Days of Your Life, the protagonist kept snakes and lived in a Florida-Project-like budget motel. In this one, the protagonist has an octopus buddy and lives in a funeral home. If nothing else, he certainly has a penchant for choosing occupations and settings that I would consider off the beaten path. The result is all the more enriching given that the prose and the descriptions feel so genuine and lived-in. Has Donahue ever lived in a funeral home or embalmed a corpse? On this evidence, I'd say it's likely.
Overall, this is a novel that deftly walks the line between cynicism and hope, with a balanced blend of cinematic setpieces and quiet introspection, outlandish characters and attention to the smallest detail. I hope the author goes for out-and-out sci-fi next, because I want to see how he would bend the genre to his worldview.
May 28, 2024
This was a fun, Lovecraftian take on the apocalypse! And while the world is ravaged by the creatures descending from above, they aren't the only monsters that remain.
There are great themes that we've seen before, and while I wish I could have learned more about Kip's compound, I think the story still stands up well.
There are great themes that we've seen before, and while I wish I could have learned more about Kip's compound, I think the story still stands up well.
June 20, 2024
I can honestly say that I have never read a book like this before. With each page brought a new challenge for Jillian. Having experience in the funeral industry it made reading this book that much better. Sev was my favorite part. Definitely give this one a go if you like suspense and mutants.
September 11, 2024
This was a VERY interesting, slightly Cthulhu-esque take on an apocolypse.
Take an introverted, probably autistic, definitely an outlier, young woman and introduce her to the end times. Set back and watch her butt heads with the very worst of human traits mostly embodied in human males, and then cheerfully embrace the 'white women will pet anything' meme.
Imminently readable and a brilliant nod to Lovecraft. I really, REALLY enjoyed it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Take an introverted, probably autistic, definitely an outlier, young woman and introduce her to the end times. Set back and watch her butt heads with the very worst of human traits mostly embodied in human males, and then cheerfully embrace the 'white women will pet anything' meme.
Imminently readable and a brilliant nod to Lovecraft. I really, REALLY enjoyed it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 10, 2024
*4.5 stars*
No more heroes - only monsters remain.
This book tackles the apocalypse in an extremely different fashion. No zombies, no plague, no human war, but hundreds of massive octopi tentacles suddenly appearing from the sky, causing absolute destruction wherever they touch down.
This book follows Jillian, an assistant mortician turned only mortician several months following the first attack from the Ochos, the name she has given to the tentacles in the sky. Grieving family members and friends come to her once someone they love has perished, usually to the Ochos, rarely to natural causes. Life is as good as it can be right now. She has a friendship with one fellow survivor, Laurie. She has a decent amount of provisions in the funeral home. She enjoys being able to give people closure for their fallen loved ones, providing some sense of normalcy in a world that's completely falling apart.
One fateful day, everything changes while preparing a body for a viewing. She's introduced to Sev, an unlikely ally who attempts to help her get through it all.
New enemies make themselves known. Relationships crumble. And the threat of even further annihilation is heavy in the air. Jillian doesn't know who to trust, and doesn't know if she can make it through the incoming atrocities.
This book was an extremely fascinating read. It was so different from any other apocalyptic book or movie that I've experiences before. Threats come from every angle, as usual, but the thought of having to survive in a world where massive creatures appearing from the heavens absolutely terrifies me.
The only issue I had with this book was the amount of spice/smut/etc. in it. I'm not a fan of unnecessary adult themes, and it was over the top for me. One scene near the end of the book was fine, everything else was too much for me. Otherwise this would be a 5 star read.
No more heroes - only monsters remain.
This book tackles the apocalypse in an extremely different fashion. No zombies, no plague, no human war, but hundreds of massive octopi tentacles suddenly appearing from the sky, causing absolute destruction wherever they touch down.
This book follows Jillian, an assistant mortician turned only mortician several months following the first attack from the Ochos, the name she has given to the tentacles in the sky. Grieving family members and friends come to her once someone they love has perished, usually to the Ochos, rarely to natural causes. Life is as good as it can be right now. She has a friendship with one fellow survivor, Laurie. She has a decent amount of provisions in the funeral home. She enjoys being able to give people closure for their fallen loved ones, providing some sense of normalcy in a world that's completely falling apart.
One fateful day, everything changes while preparing a body for a viewing. She's introduced to Sev, an unlikely ally who attempts to help her get through it all.
New enemies make themselves known. Relationships crumble. And the threat of even further annihilation is heavy in the air. Jillian doesn't know who to trust, and doesn't know if she can make it through the incoming atrocities.
This book was an extremely fascinating read. It was so different from any other apocalyptic book or movie that I've experiences before. Threats come from every angle, as usual, but the thought of having to survive in a world where massive creatures appearing from the heavens absolutely terrifies me.
The only issue I had with this book was the amount of spice/smut/etc. in it. I'm not a fan of unnecessary adult themes, and it was over the top for me. One scene near the end of the book was fine, everything else was too much for me. Otherwise this would be a 5 star read.
March 20, 2024
This is an interesting and twisty book. It has all the dark details you may not expect. It gives Lovecraft’s Innsmouth vibes. Perfect summer read.
February 8, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised with this book! The author was generously sending free copies of his book to readers so I decided to check it out.
After surviving a devastating attack on humanity by giant tentacled monsters Jillian must navigate this new world the only way she knows how, by helping others in her community. Through her services at the funeral home she is forced into a new kind of nightmare.
I wasn't too sure about this book when I first started but about half way through I started to really enjoy it. I liked the main character and feel like the story itself was imaginative. I feel like it probably could've been a little bit longer just to continue the world building/plot development but overall it was a nice read. I'll definitely be checking out some of the author's other works!
After surviving a devastating attack on humanity by giant tentacled monsters Jillian must navigate this new world the only way she knows how, by helping others in her community. Through her services at the funeral home she is forced into a new kind of nightmare.
I wasn't too sure about this book when I first started but about half way through I started to really enjoy it. I liked the main character and feel like the story itself was imaginative. I feel like it probably could've been a little bit longer just to continue the world building/plot development but overall it was a nice read. I'll definitely be checking out some of the author's other works!
May 15, 2024
Received as arc after publication?
The Ochos came from the sky to eradicate human life. Long tentacled creatures like octopi
Survivors lived in fear but Jillian was the town mortician who tried to help others in their loss until one day something was in one of the cadavers. A small version of the attacking Ochos. Confused at first they become friends and companions. While the other humans were creating destructive military factions, or local nobody who was just trying to better by bringing worse, as well as of course religious extremists twisting it to brutal ways. Are the monsters the Ochos or the humans most likely both.
The Ochos came from the sky to eradicate human life. Long tentacled creatures like octopi
Survivors lived in fear but Jillian was the town mortician who tried to help others in their loss until one day something was in one of the cadavers. A small version of the attacking Ochos. Confused at first they become friends and companions. While the other humans were creating destructive military factions, or local nobody who was just trying to better by bringing worse, as well as of course religious extremists twisting it to brutal ways. Are the monsters the Ochos or the humans most likely both.
August 19, 2023
Donahue gives you the whole package: a great horror story, great characters, including a baby alien, and best of all, wonderful prose that will keep you reading right to the final page.
January 2, 2024
I really loved this book and the writing. Fun read for me . I highly recommend!
January 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. This is my first time reading from this author and it definitely won’t be my last. Loved the characters and the writing.
January 21, 2024
I won this book as a giveaway. It was a decent read packed with action and twists. And that was surprising to me. Very glad I read this book.
November 22, 2025
Wow, this was one surprise after another….a cosmic apocalyptic invasion with a main character who is focused on helping her fellow survivors say goodbye to their loved ones….and she doesn’t even like people but still feels the need to help them grieve. Then humans start acting like their worst selves and almost destroy her new life and she meets one of the invading aliens….and things go batshit nuts! This book was unpredictable at every turn and the world that Mr. Donahue created was utterly enthralling. The characters were all fantastic and fascinating….Jillian was totally relatable and you will fall in love with Sev! This story had tons of apocalyptic tropes and some fantastical ones….but done so creatively that they all felt new. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! I am SO lucky I received it in a Goodreads Giveaway because I probably never would have found it otherwise. Definitely a top, very weird read of the year!!!!! If you enjoy apocalypses done in a Lovecraftian manner but with more humor and heart then this is the book for you! I am hoping that a sequel will be written because I really, really want to know how everything turns out for Jillian & Sev & the world.
“Jillian Futch relocates to the peculiar coastal town of Pell, Rhode Island, to pursue her work as a mortician's apprentice. Having spent most of her life as a misfit, she believes she has finally found a home where she can blend in among her fellow "freaks." Her peaceful existence turns to chaos when a horde of tentacled monsters descends from the clouds and destroys the civilized world. As the invaders retreat, Jillian emerges from the rubble intent on rebuilding her life. She helps her fellow survivors heal from unimaginable loss by hosting primitive funerals for loved ones killed in the months-long apocalypse. When a cadaver enters her embalming room bearing an impossible surprise, Jillian realizes the otherworldly horrors have only just begun.” (From the book blurb)
“Jillian Futch relocates to the peculiar coastal town of Pell, Rhode Island, to pursue her work as a mortician's apprentice. Having spent most of her life as a misfit, she believes she has finally found a home where she can blend in among her fellow "freaks." Her peaceful existence turns to chaos when a horde of tentacled monsters descends from the clouds and destroys the civilized world. As the invaders retreat, Jillian emerges from the rubble intent on rebuilding her life. She helps her fellow survivors heal from unimaginable loss by hosting primitive funerals for loved ones killed in the months-long apocalypse. When a cadaver enters her embalming room bearing an impossible surprise, Jillian realizes the otherworldly horrors have only just begun.” (From the book blurb)
April 1, 2024
What a delightful fever dream! This novel presents a unique and engaging take on the apocalyptic genre, blending elements of cosmic horror, dystopian despair, and unlikely friendships against the backdrop of a world ravaged by extraterrestrial forces. The narrative follows Jillian, a disillusioned mortician whose life takes an unexpected turn when Earth becomes the target of invasion by otherworldly cephalopods. Through her eyes, we explore a cosmetically annihilated version of our world, where the remnants of humanity struggle to find a new normal amid the ruins.
The book excels in creating a captivating universe filled with fascinating characters, creatures, and a plot that balances cinematic setpieces with introspective moments. Its blend of humor, horror, and humanity offers a fresh take on genre conventions, with a message that underscores the complexities of human nature in the face of cosmic adversity.
Its unique premise, coupled with a balance of cynicism and hope, makes it a compelling read that stands out for its creativity and thematic depth. The potential for expanding this universe into a series leaves readers eagerly anticipating more adventures in this strikingly envisioned world. Donahue's narrative is a testament to the enduring allure of dystopian fiction and the power of storytelling to explore the human condition under extreme circumstances.
The book excels in creating a captivating universe filled with fascinating characters, creatures, and a plot that balances cinematic setpieces with introspective moments. Its blend of humor, horror, and humanity offers a fresh take on genre conventions, with a message that underscores the complexities of human nature in the face of cosmic adversity.
Its unique premise, coupled with a balance of cynicism and hope, makes it a compelling read that stands out for its creativity and thematic depth. The potential for expanding this universe into a series leaves readers eagerly anticipating more adventures in this strikingly envisioned world. Donahue's narrative is a testament to the enduring allure of dystopian fiction and the power of storytelling to explore the human condition under extreme circumstances.
January 15, 2026
Only Monsters Remain by William J. Donahue is a haunting, emotionally grounded work of cosmic horror that blends apocalyptic spectacle with deeply human grief. Set in the strange coastal town of Pell, Rhode Island, the novel follows Jillian Futch, a mortician’s apprentice who finally feels she has found a place where she belongs just as the world is torn apart by an invasion of unimaginable, tentacled horrors.
What makes this story stand out is not just the scale of destruction, but the intimacy of its aftermath. Rather than focusing solely on survival or spectacle, the novel centers on mourning, ritual, and the fragile work of putting meaning back into a shattered world. Jillian’s role in holding funerals for the dead becomes an act of quiet resistance against chaos, and her emotional steadiness anchors the reader even as the story descends into increasingly unsettling territory.
For readers who enjoy cosmic horror that is as reflective as it is terrifying, Only Monsters Remain offers something rare a story where the end of the world is not just a battle against monsters, but a meditation on loss, identity, and what it means to remain human when everything familiar has been erased.
What makes this story stand out is not just the scale of destruction, but the intimacy of its aftermath. Rather than focusing solely on survival or spectacle, the novel centers on mourning, ritual, and the fragile work of putting meaning back into a shattered world. Jillian’s role in holding funerals for the dead becomes an act of quiet resistance against chaos, and her emotional steadiness anchors the reader even as the story descends into increasingly unsettling territory.
For readers who enjoy cosmic horror that is as reflective as it is terrifying, Only Monsters Remain offers something rare a story where the end of the world is not just a battle against monsters, but a meditation on loss, identity, and what it means to remain human when everything familiar has been erased.
June 12, 2024
Giant octopus apocalypse! How could I not want to read this book?
At first, it was really great. The main character, Jillian, was interesting, one of the few remaining survivors or the apocalypse. She was still trying to do the right thing under the worst conditions.
About midway, my enjoyment started to decline, and by the end, I just wanted it to be over. Jillian turned out to be an idiot. She made so many boneheaded decisions. I couldn't believe any human would make a couple of choices that she did , only to turn around and do the exact opposite later on. Like, if you're going to take that kind of ethical stand, then commit to the end.
Anyway, I'm sure other readers will love this book. The basic scenario was pretty cool. The very, very last scene packed a punch.
At first, it was really great. The main character, Jillian, was interesting, one of the few remaining survivors or the apocalypse. She was still trying to do the right thing under the worst conditions.
About midway, my enjoyment started to decline, and by the end, I just wanted it to be over. Jillian turned out to be an idiot. She made so many boneheaded decisions. I couldn't believe any human would make a couple of choices that she did , only to turn around and do the exact opposite later on. Like, if you're going to take that kind of ethical stand, then commit to the end.
Anyway, I'm sure other readers will love this book. The basic scenario was pretty cool. The very, very last scene packed a punch.
January 9, 2024
4.5 stars
Holy heck I loved this book. I went in blind and I’m so glad I did. It was full of surprises and action and humor.
What a ride.
The pacing was just right, and there was no lulls in the story at all. I loved the mc and her sidekick. This was a full and fun book.
I’m am 100% satisfied with this entire story. I cannot wait to see what Donahue puts out next.
I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from this book, I hope it makes you laugh as hard as I did, and makes you want to read it even sooner:
“Our vaginas make us as valuable as propane and twinkies!”
Holy heck I loved this book. I went in blind and I’m so glad I did. It was full of surprises and action and humor.
What a ride.
The pacing was just right, and there was no lulls in the story at all. I loved the mc and her sidekick. This was a full and fun book.
I’m am 100% satisfied with this entire story. I cannot wait to see what Donahue puts out next.
I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from this book, I hope it makes you laugh as hard as I did, and makes you want to read it even sooner:
“Our vaginas make us as valuable as propane and twinkies!”
February 7, 2025
Jillian has to find her way in a world being attacked by giant sky octopuses. She loses everything while learning how to adapt to an apocalyptic world filled with otherworldly monsters. Happy endings aren't always "happy."
This was my first real creature feature. I loved the writing style and the flow of the story. It kept me engaged and wanting to know how she was going to get through the next disaster. I found the main character relatable and likeable, even through her slight naivety. Highly recommend!
This was my first real creature feature. I loved the writing style and the flow of the story. It kept me engaged and wanting to know how she was going to get through the next disaster. I found the main character relatable and likeable, even through her slight naivety. Highly recommend!
May 8, 2024
Hang on for a tense tale of survival and resilience in the aftermath of an alien invasion! William J. Donahue's "Only Monsters Remain" delivers apocalyptic horror with a dose of humor and a hint of satire.
Jillian Futch's journey from misfit to mortician's apprentice takes a terrifying turn as she navigates a world overrun by cephalopods. Donahue skillfully blends elements of horror and cynical humanity, keeping readers on the rapt until the very end.
Jillian Futch's journey from misfit to mortician's apprentice takes a terrifying turn as she navigates a world overrun by cephalopods. Donahue skillfully blends elements of horror and cynical humanity, keeping readers on the rapt until the very end.
July 6, 2024
I got a free copy of this book from BookSirens in return for a review.
I wasn't expecting the book to turn out the way it did, I was expecting a creature feature, which it is, but it also turned into a book that is the horror that humans does to each other when things break down.
The characters are fully fleshed out, and believable, the things they do feel natural, and not just there to further the plot, there is reason behind their actions.
Really enjoyed this one.
I wasn't expecting the book to turn out the way it did, I was expecting a creature feature, which it is, but it also turned into a book that is the horror that humans does to each other when things break down.
The characters are fully fleshed out, and believable, the things they do feel natural, and not just there to further the plot, there is reason behind their actions.
Really enjoyed this one.
February 26, 2024
Loved this book! This is primarily a horror story, but has elements of suspense and humor as well. The main character, Jillian, pulls you into the story - a brave and spunky young woman trying to survive on her own after an alien invasion. You will be rooting for her throughout the book all the way to the satisfying ending.
February 23, 2024
I simply adored this book. ..and now I'm off to find more by this author.
August 21, 2023
Only William Donahue can bring monsters to life in such a way that you can see, feel, and recognize them, even embrace them. He demonstrated this skill in Burn, Beautiful Soul and Crawl on Your Belly All the Days of Your Life, and Only Monsters Remain is another frightening examination of the monsters due on Maple Street, the monsters within and without, the ability to transform, and the deep-seated obsession for power and control when chaos reigns.
"When heroes go extinct, only monsters remain."
The book opens with a gripping portrait of the invasion from above, bloodthirsty tentacled creatures that eventually wipe out most of mankind. Jillian runs a funeral home, and she's kept busy by those killed by the invaders and those who try to deny the reality of the threat of the "Ochos," as the aliens are called. She also goes out on her own to seek out corpses who have died unacknowledged. This gives us a portrait of her character: on one hand, she can master her emotions when confronting the breadth of human suffering or cruelty, feigning sympathy or somber detachment at funerals, keeping her wits about her when challenged; on the other hand, she is compassionate enough to keep a sense of duty to the dead. As a mortician, she has been indulcated with an appreciation for human beings' capacity to serve others, a true mark of civilization ironically tied to the rituals of death.
Along comes Kip Detto, a big strong man to save the day, a bully who demands all remaining humans join his little compound, or at least be willing to have their assets appropriated for the cause, in order to satisfy his need to prove himself in the shadow of his deceased brother. In Kip's world, even the women are assets. He demands the funeral home's generator for his Citadel, which Jillian refuses.
Jillian's next post-mortem taps into the compassion that makes her the hero in this apocalyptic scenario when she makes two alarming discoveries: towns are warring with one another for the right to be the last human stronghold, and one of the invading cephalopods is part of a conspiracy to undo the work of their "Generals."
Sev ~ short for Seven, since Jillian removed one of his tentacles ~ reveals the master plan of world domination by the Ochos who have come through a portal to Earth: Humans worship what they fear, and the Ochos will fill that role. But he reveals also "Do not think your leaders knew nothing of us, or of the portals. They shared our thirst for cosmic dominance. Your military sent warriors through the portals to see what mysteries they held, to understand how to make use of them, to seek new enemies to fight. They found us. You might say their incursion awakened us and trained our eyes on your world." To which Jillian admits, "Of course. Ruining one world couldn’t possibly sate the American appetite. The human virus would never relent in its quest to find new places to infect and exploit."
Jilllian wants no part of the warring factions and refuses to be an "asset" if it means surrendering her autonomy. There's a difference between service and slavery. In a wonderful irony, when Kip steals the generator in the middle of a funeral, Jillian is energized to fight back. Her efforts to thwart and evade Kip lead her to the realization that the Ochos aren't the only monsters
Nomadic militias attack the militaristic compounds, and the battles are compounded by returning "Generals" and Sasquatches. The Ocho Empress appears. Jillian and Sev push on, hoping to find a portal of their own to escape the new world a-borning. Humanity is reduced to maggots, and only monsters remain.
"When heroes go extinct, only monsters remain."
The book opens with a gripping portrait of the invasion from above, bloodthirsty tentacled creatures that eventually wipe out most of mankind. Jillian runs a funeral home, and she's kept busy by those killed by the invaders and those who try to deny the reality of the threat of the "Ochos," as the aliens are called. She also goes out on her own to seek out corpses who have died unacknowledged. This gives us a portrait of her character: on one hand, she can master her emotions when confronting the breadth of human suffering or cruelty, feigning sympathy or somber detachment at funerals, keeping her wits about her when challenged; on the other hand, she is compassionate enough to keep a sense of duty to the dead. As a mortician, she has been indulcated with an appreciation for human beings' capacity to serve others, a true mark of civilization ironically tied to the rituals of death.
Along comes Kip Detto, a big strong man to save the day, a bully who demands all remaining humans join his little compound, or at least be willing to have their assets appropriated for the cause, in order to satisfy his need to prove himself in the shadow of his deceased brother. In Kip's world, even the women are assets. He demands the funeral home's generator for his Citadel, which Jillian refuses.
Jillian's next post-mortem taps into the compassion that makes her the hero in this apocalyptic scenario when she makes two alarming discoveries: towns are warring with one another for the right to be the last human stronghold, and one of the invading cephalopods is part of a conspiracy to undo the work of their "Generals."
Sev ~ short for Seven, since Jillian removed one of his tentacles ~ reveals the master plan of world domination by the Ochos who have come through a portal to Earth: Humans worship what they fear, and the Ochos will fill that role. But he reveals also "Do not think your leaders knew nothing of us, or of the portals. They shared our thirst for cosmic dominance. Your military sent warriors through the portals to see what mysteries they held, to understand how to make use of them, to seek new enemies to fight. They found us. You might say their incursion awakened us and trained our eyes on your world." To which Jillian admits, "Of course. Ruining one world couldn’t possibly sate the American appetite. The human virus would never relent in its quest to find new places to infect and exploit."
Jilllian wants no part of the warring factions and refuses to be an "asset" if it means surrendering her autonomy. There's a difference between service and slavery. In a wonderful irony, when Kip steals the generator in the middle of a funeral, Jillian is energized to fight back. Her efforts to thwart and evade Kip lead her to the realization that the Ochos aren't the only monsters
Nomadic militias attack the militaristic compounds, and the battles are compounded by returning "Generals" and Sasquatches. The Ocho Empress appears. Jillian and Sev push on, hoping to find a portal of their own to escape the new world a-borning. Humanity is reduced to maggots, and only monsters remain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
What begins as the outdoor adventure of husband and wife Samantha and Paul hiking in the Adirondacks, quickly takes a torturous turn Into the Wild, and by the end of the first chapter the reader is left wondering if they had embarked on apocalyptic nightmare. Things become much clearer when apprentice mortician Jillian Futch, who moved to a quirky little town of misfits named Pell, Rhode Island, where she plans to start a new life among “her people,” listens to a client giving a eulogy, who ask, “I only wish someone could tell me what happened to the other half of her,” referring to a loved one. This is where author Bill Donahue does a remarkable job creating an unreal world that comes to life. He describes a world in which octopus tentacles descend from the sky to destroy civilization, and creatures emerge from inside cadavers, and he cuts no corners describing the physiology of corpses, the anatomy or crustaceans, the mortician processes and tools. Even a relationship between Jillian and an octopus that emerged from a client’s cadaver is filled with emotion (The Color of Water anyone?) More Goth than businesswoman, Jillian is compassionate to her community at a time of great loss, organizing wakes at Cozen Family Funeral Home for deceased loved ones of survivors. There are no shortage of twists and turns, plots and subplots. Townspeople like Kip who runs a fortress known as the Citadel who may or may not care about his neighbors’ best interest, Laura, Jillian’s one female friend, who always keeps her guessing whose side she’s on, Daniel who appears an unlikely savior only to fall under the influence of rival factions, and Sev (short for Seven after Jill cuts off one of his tentacles with a scalpel,) the octopus whom Jillian falls for. Only Monsters Remain is an action-packed story from page one that never slows down and always keeps you guessing.
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