Once Upon a Time in Monto

by B.C. Hollywood

An Extreme Horror, Victorian Bloodbath of Werewolves, Demons, and Dark Machinations.

Dublin, 1888. The Monto red light district conceals a malevolent secret.

Lorcan Crowley longs for death, Fea Murrigan escapes captivity only to be ensnared again, and Fiachra Mactire yearns for freedom from The Sisters. In the grimy streets of Monto, dark forces conspire, ancient bloodlines collide, and the end of the world approaches.

Will any of them survive, and what will be left worth surviving for? Discover the Victorian nightmare unleashed in Book II of the Darkle series.

This book is an extreme horror story. It contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024

About the author

B.C. Hollywood is an Irish author specializing in supernatural fiction rooted in authentic Celtic folklore and history. Drawing from Ireland's rich mythological tradition and dark historical legacy, he crafts horror and dark fantasy that spans from 18th-century Hellfire Clubs to contemporary werewolf villages and post-apocalyptic wastelands.

His deep research into Irish folklore, historical records, and cultural authenticity brings genuine Celtic atmosphere to modern supernatural fiction. Whether exploring the shadowy corners of Georgian Ireland or the supernatural threats lurking in today's Irish countryside, Hollywood's work captures the ancient darkness that has always dwelled in Ireland's landscapes and legends.

When not writing, he continues researching Ireland's forgotten histories and unexplored folklore, always seeking the next story that bridges ancient Celtic wisdom with contemporary horror.

Reviews

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I had the absolute pleasure of beta reading this one! It’s book 2 in the Darkle series, but takes on a whole new aspect of the events we saw in Book 1, “Shadow Apocalypse”.

B.C. Hollywood channels horror sub genres galore to bring you a wild tale with supernatural, cosmic, cult, extreme, and dark fantasy elements. This melting pot story is really one of the best I’ve read this year, and I’m already waiting for the instalment!

“Once Upon a Time in Monto” gives readers a bit of the back story to the apocalyptic and dystopian world our “Shadow Apocalypse” characters lived in. It’s also setting up for more books in the series (yay!)

There are a ton of new main characters, mysteries, and layers of intrigue amongst the pages, and you have an amazing 1800s Dublin setting as well.
The vibe is gritty, dark, and bloody, with lots of human (and otherwise) monsters roaming the streets for prey.

If you’re starting with Book 2, make sure to go back afterwards to read “Shadow Apocalypse”. For everyone that read Book 1 first, don’t worry, you may see a few surprises that connect back to Lillian and Brendan!

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dar-kle 1. To appear darkly or indistinctly. 2. a. To grow dark. b. To become gloomy.

This is book 2 in the darkle series, and as much as I loved book 1 and its gore, I think I actually prefer book 2.

This book gave me one of my new favorite villains, The Nuns. I grew up Catholic, and so these creepy nuns were great. As a child, I always thought the sisters were super human anyway. Dumb I know..
But as a small child, I never saw them eat at school, go into the bathroom, and they were always sneaking up on you. If you were doing something, you shouldn't be and were sure you weren't being watched....there they were out of nowhere! But enough about me....

Book two is still definitely dark and decently creepy. It's not without gore, but it's nowhere near as bloody and gross as the first. I loved the dark and gothic atmosphere, and I really enjoyed all the characters, especially the villains. I really loved the werewolf, too, and his development within the story was a pleasant one. You have to love when a villain redeems himself.

Please, please, please consider a book in more depth about Mother/The sisters and give Fiachra his own book too 🙏 🤣

[Dion Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars out of 5

This book was awesome, I'm a sucker for a good werewolf story, and this one has not just a werewolf, but a dark magic, evil nuns, all set in a gritty Victorian Dublin.

This is book 2 of the Darkle Chronicles, but it easily works as a stand alone story, but there is a little of a teaser that points back to the first book, and a few unanswered questions which no doubt with be explored in the rest of the series.

The characters are well developed and likeable despite some of the horrific things some of them do, but you cant help feel for them.

I don't know how many books are in this universe, but I'm looking forward to reading them all.

This story has a great mix of familiar elements to it, a bit of Lovecraft here, a bit of The Dressden Files there, and but with more of a darker and gritty feel.

[TheWizardLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you love the show “Penny Dreadful” yet wish there was more blood? Well, you are in luck because this is the book for you! Set in Dublin in the year 1888, “Once Upon a Time in Monto” follows a group of characters whose lives and actions lead them to intersect with dire consequences.
This book is stunning. It is the follow-up to “Shadow Apocalypse”, though they are about as different as you can imagine. Where “Shadow Apocalypse” is a zombie apocalypse horror novel with no heroes, “Once Upon a Time in Monto” is Victorian fantasy horror and there are heroes, though that line blurs frequently. For being such a short novel, there is so much world building and character development that it feels much longer. I had so many emotions as well! B.C. Hollywood knows how to tug the heartstrings in such simple ways, you won’t even realize it’s happening until it’s too late.
I highly recommend this book if you are looking for horror with some dark fantasy elements. You will not want to put it down once you start. You can read this without having read “Shadow Apocalypse”, but I can promise if you enjoy this one you will need to go back for that one once you finish because you will simply need more of the world.

[Stephanie Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read by B.C Hollywood, but will not be my last. I’d classify this as dark fantasy horror. It’s set in 1888 Dublin and immediately sucks you in to the dark streets, dark magic, and the wonderfully portrayed creatures. The character development is excellent. It’s so very well written! I highly recommend this book. This is book 2 of the Darkle Chronicles. I have not read book 1, but will in the future.

[Sara Mcfadden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this arc for my honest review.

This is a 3.5 star read for me. It is an extreme horror book so the triggers abound and you need to read responsibly as the author more I are responsible for your feefees and delicate minds.

Think Irish Victorian Era Werewolf horror with demons and machinations that will rip out your throat with glee. This was a hardcore fast paced book. I was in turns queasy and wholly fascinated. I highly recommend if you dig extreme horror.

[Jennifer Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up for review this evening 2 quick reads of extremely different horror flavors.

I read Monto first and Shadow Apocalypse second. They are book 2 and 1 of The Darkle Chronicles by B.C Hollywood. To me, they read like standalones due to the polar opposite of horror flavor, and I saw no connection between the two.

Monto will transport you to dark streets, dark magic, and creatures of the night. Fully engages you in the short time it has you. It was a most excellent adventure.
Bringing me to Shadow Apocalypse...

Shadow is going to give you a Birds eye view of what is happening this way - when the world is looking over that way, trying to survive the Undead. It's uh, .. pretty f'ing sick. Very well written, though, and a great love to hate them situation where somehow you kinda still end up rooting for the sick buggers.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You B.C. Hollywood

This novel is a Dark and Creepy. It's set in Victorian Dublin, Ireland. This section of Dublin reminds me of White Chapel. It's so much more then a werewolf novel. The main story revolves around rescue and survival. This is the second story in this series. A third book about marionette is coming out in 2024.

I Recommend this 4.5 to lovers of the Supernatural.


Supernatural
Graphic
Spicy

[Asia Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so right up my alley with what I enjoy reading! And it was so wonderfully written. I'm excited for everything else B.C. has written and has yet to write!

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It is a story of absolute carnage. Werewolves, witches, a blacked eye devil, what more does a horror novel need. The nuns creeped me out a little, not going lie...lol. Excellent writing and great character development throughout the book. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I hate fantasy in most of its forms, I know when it'd be a huge blunder to allow prejudice to keep me from a book in that genre. Especially when it's penned by B. C. Hollywood; especially when it's the second entry in his splatterpunk-extreme horror series, "Darkle," taking place in Ireland. And I was right: 'Once Upon a Time in Monto' is indeed dark fantasy, with some horrific aspects (think werewolves on rampage, demonic nuns, and life-draining magical objects) and some gory elements (think carnage, carnage, carnage!), but certainly not as much as in the first book. It's also excellent in so many ways, I devoured it in a single afternoon! The world-building (Victorian Dublin, its worst neighborhoods), the atmosphere, the characters, the dialogue, and the plot -they're all terrific. But what floored me was the epilogue: I didn't see that coming, and was happy I'd read 'Shadow Apocalypse' first! That was a nice surprise!

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming into this straight off Shadow Apocalypse, Once Upon a Time in Monto is another heavy hitter in the Darkle Chronicles. This time, readers are treated to a victorian Dublin, Ireland. But don't let the time and setting jump scare you away. This entry provides some backstory for its predecessor, while introducing more classic horror tropes such as vampires and cults. However, this is such a fresh, twisted take that I guarantee you have read NOTHING like this!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished once upon a time I monto. An amazing book. Got really invested in the characters in a very short space of time. Was a riveting emotional roller coaster which I couldn’t put down.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantasy horror from a master in genre crossovers.

While this had more of a (very) dark fantasy feel to it, the writing is poetic and you sail through the words. It generates empathy where it should be absent; intrigue at every plot device.

If you like your fantasy dark, then absolutely read this. By point of comparison, The Dark Tower series was a bit too deep in fantasy for me to fully immerse - and that’s not bad company to be in!

The epilogue hit me excited. So I ain’t finished with this series quite yet!

[Jaime (the macabre bibliophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lorcan has lost all that he loves and longs for death. He stumbles upon a staff with a mysterious and dark power. Fiachra is a werewolf that has been imprisoned by the sisters for years and would do anything for freedom. Fea has escaped from the sisters and will do anything to not return to their control. The destiny of these characters intertwine for a fun, dark adventure.
“Once Upon a Time in Monto” is the second book in the Darkle Chronicles. We have demons, creepy cultist nuns, werewolves in a Victorian Ireland setting and it’s a bloody good time.