An original, odd little horror story. A boy grows up alone along the shore, being abused until he's big enough to fight back. Killing is remarkably easy for him and he likes to do it. He notices that Herr Leickenbloom, a small dandy who is the last of a aristocratic family, is a sorcerer, though one who works in insignificant ways. Johann, as the man who believes he's a monster has named himself, takes on the job of Florian Leickenbloom's manservant, partly because he's so attracted to the snob, but he also recognizes that Florian is an angry man who has been plotting for years. ( )

A good little dark treat. ( )

This is fantasy, not romance.

CW: body horror, murder, mutilation, blood and gore, pain as pleasure.

It's a dark and grisly tale of magic that's written with a grotesquely beautiful vividness that'll keep you turning pages. There is a kind of romance, but I wouldn't call it a happy ending so much as a justified one. ( )

I'd read glowing reviews of this book in an online group, so chose to check out the audiobook based on that praise. I was sorely disappointed.
This read to me like a first attempt at a story, as a draft. It felt like a string of attempts at shock-factor, held together with an overarching plot, but lacking description in too many places for it to be a truly good story.
The plot was compelling. It could have been a great story had it been polished some. ( )

First and foremost, the author did an amazing job building up the storyline that focused on Florian and Johann sick and twisted relationship that hit the odd and quite romantic venture in this horror and fantasy novel. At first I wasn't sure where this read was heading to but due to the easy writing style and the author's ability to create a unique concept and verse group of leading characters, it was not hard to become immersed in our lead monsters fantasy world. I would notate that despite actually somewhat kinda sorta liking this horror read, the characters lacked depth and towards the end, the grittiness lost its momentum when the romantic aspect dropped in but that did not in any way shape or form defer me from enjoying this read. To sum it all up, I would definitely consider reading from this author in the future if she continues to release similar concepts and refreshing characters such as she did with "The Monster of Elendhaven".

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