Tag monsters

Deep blue cover with a decorative metal filigree of holly leaves and a small bird.

The Wren in the Holly Library by K. A. Linde

Kristen B. Leave a comment
Deep blue cover with a decorative metal filigree of holly leaves and a small bird.

by Kristen B.

Maybe you’ve heard? Romantasy is IT! Nevermind that it’s really a newly coined termed for something that has existed for a long time (romance in your fantasy or fantasy in your romance). If you like to read on trend, you should take a peek at The Wren in the Holly Library by K. A. Linde, published by the same group that brought you the Fourth Wing series.

The idea that the world is full of monsters is not new, whether in real life or urban fantasy. In New York, sometime in the near future, the Monster Wars have ended and the vampires, goblins, wraiths, and werewolves have signed peace accords with humanity. Basically, it’s a pact of non-interference even though everyone is in each other’s business anyway, but life has begun to return to some semblance of normality – complete with tourists in Times Square. As always, there’s more than meets the eye. I have to say that the idea of troll toll-takers in the subway made me smile.

Kierse, master-thief and child of the streets, is clearly a New Yorker, one who loves the neighborhoods and byways of her city. She’s involved in a heist to steal a huge diamond that would provide financial security for herself and two best friends. As she sneaks into a wealthy brownstone in the Upper West Side, she can’t believe there’s seemingly so little security at the mysterious Holly Library. The unthinkable happens when, despite all her preparation and all her skill, Kierse gets caught. Graves owns the Holly Library, and he is the beast in the shadows with an agenda all his own.

This Beauty and the Beast tale, complete with library and helpful staff, takes off from there. It not only follows the classic story’s desire to rehabilitate the monster, it also contains a wild mashup of another, bigger heist, training sessions, a house party, sexy times, meaningful friendships, and ancient Irish legends. For the most part, the author manages to combine it all seamlessly into the bigger picture. I could wish for fewer side stories that distract from the main action, but it’s a fun book.

Kierse and Graves are the heart of the story – beautiful and beastly each in their own way. Trust is an issue, as is loyalty. Can you have the second without the first? Tragic personal histories haunt both main characters, but in the end you can’t help but be in their corner. The ending leaves the story wide open for at least one more installment, and I’m already looking forward to it.

The Wren in the Holly Library is available in print, e-book, and e-audiobook.

Kristen B. is a devoted bookworm lucky enough to work as the graphic designer for HCLS. She likes to read, stitch, dance, and watch baseball (but not all at the same time).

The book cover depicts a little girl in a blue print nightgown and ponytails with pink ribbons, in bed with her pink teddy bear. She has hands on her hips as if she is confronting the six monsters surrounding her, whose expressions range from menacing to goofy to friendly.

Mostly Monsterly

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By Eliana H.

Does your family have monsters on the mind? If you’re looking for inspiration for wacky Halloween costumes or just want to enjoy some cute, silly monster stories, look no further. Here are a few of my favorite monstrously fun picture books. 

Monsters Go Night-Night by Aaron Zenz

The book cover depicts a blue monster with orange hair and a dragon-like tail and a smaller orange monster bouncing with gleeful smiles above two white pillows and some white feathers, as if having a pillow fight at a slumber party.

Be prepared for your little one to beg you to read this over and over again. Each page presents a question of how monsters get ready for bed with multiple answer options. Your little one may be surprised, even if you are not, by what monsters use in familiar bedtime routines. 

The book cover depicts a little girl in a blue print nightgown and ponytails with pink ribbons, in bed with her pink teddy bear. She has hands on her hips as if she is confronting the six monsters surrounding her, whose expressions range from menacing to goofy to friendly.

Monster Trouble! by Lane Fredrickson 

Poor Winifred Schnitzel has some trouble with monsters. They keep pestering her at bedtime, keeping her awake, and nothing she tries works to trap them or scare them away! Until one night, Winifred is so exhausted that she’s half-asleep and tries something completely different. Check out this fun, rhyming book to see what you might be able to do to get rid of any monsters bothering you! 

The book cover depicts a blue monster with pink horns and four sharp teeth, wearing a black and white striped shirt and running with arms outstretched.

There’s a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher 

Part of a series of interactive titles, this book comes with its own monster. Oh no! What do we need to do to get rid of it? Follow the directions on each page together and see if you can get this (actually very cute and friendly-looking) monster out of your book. 

The book cover depicts a one-eyed green monster with a red mouth and three teeth, holding a blue bowl of mac and cheese that also has a red mouth and three teeth on the side.

The Monster Mac & Cheese Party by Todd Parr

Todd Parr is a favorite author and illustrator with a very distinctive style and many, many books under his belt. I was excited to see this new one hit the shelves, especially in time for spooky season. A range of different monster-y creatures bring their own twists on macaroni and cheese to The Monster Mac & Cheese Party – no humans allowed! But if the book makes you hungry for some people-friendly macaroni and cheese, check out the recipes at the back to try making your own. 

The book cover depicts a red monster with a little at its side in bed, clutching the bedcovers and looking up and to the side as if frightened.

Love Monster and the Scary Something by Rachel Bright 

Even though Love Monster followed all his usual bedtime routines, he can’t fall asleep. Then, he hears some spooky sounds coming into his house and finds himself even MORE awake! What could that scary something be? What will Love Monster do?

The book cover depicts a child in a monster costume, seated cross-legged and reading a book cloud to a large group of varied monsters, mummies, witches, ghosts and dragons who are arrayed behind. Branches with a few leaves and the moon are above in a night sky.

I Will Read to You by Gideon Sterer 

Another new title that’s a perfect fit for our monstrous menu, this book calls to mind Where the Wild Things Are but with a child who encourages calm rather than clamor. As a mother offers to read to her child, he asks her about who takes care of the monsters! Then, the two walk together to a spot where they summon creatures of all kinds to come and listen to a bedtime story. Mother is supportive and proud, then the two head home for the human child’s turn to be read to. A very sweet perspective on monsters, perfect for your big-hearted little one.

Eliana is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Elkridge Branch and co-chair of the HCLS Equity Committee. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

The cover of Volume 1 shows the main character, Stanford, with some of his janitorial tools in a tool belt slung over his shoulder. He is surrounded by some fellow cadets in uniform, with several robots in the background against an orange sky.

Robots, Monsters, Battles, Oh My!

Peter N. Leave a comment
The cover of Volume 1 shows the main character, Stanford, with some of his janitorial tools in a tool belt slung over his shoulder. He is surrounded by some fellow cadets in uniform, with several robots in the background against an orange sky.

By Peter N.

Are you a fan of Pacific Rim? How about Mighty Morphin Power Rangers? Or even Neon Genesis Evangelion? 

Then this is the graphic novel series for you! Every year in the near future of Mech Cadet Yu, sentient robots descend to Earth and bond with a select cadet of the Sky Corps Academy to aid in the ongoing battle between Earth and the monsters that plague the planet.

Stanford, a janitor at Sky Corps along with his mother, never thought he’d become a Sky Corps cadet. Seemingly out of the blue, during the yearly appearance of said robots, he comes into contact with a robot that mysteriously shows every sign of choosing him, even though Stanford is nowhere near cadet rank. Because of this bonding, he now has the opportunity to do what he never could: to help defend Earth and make his mother proud. Due to his less-than-stellar upbringing and status, he’ll not only have to find the confidence to become more than who he thought he’d be, but also earn the trust of his fellow cadets. 

As I mentioned, if you’re a fan of anything related to giant robots battling giant monsters, with a protagonist who thinks they’re not worthy or capable of their designated mission, then this is the series for you. And as I always say, if I like something so much that I want the accompanying action figures, then it’s a winner. As a bonus, Mech Cadet (based on the series) is a forthcoming animated series from Netflix due to release on August 10.

Volumes 1 and 2 are available for checkout at your local HCLS branch and volume 3 is available for download from Hoopla Digital.

Peter is an Adult Instructor and Research Specialist at the Miller Branch and always wanted to be a Power Ranger.

Provided by Penguin Random House: a red background with white type, "Read the Entire Series" then the four covers in the series featuring illustration of the main characters and fantastical creatures.

Trilogy and Beyond

monaerivers 1 Comment
Provided by Penguin Random House: a red background with white type, "Read the Entire Series" then the four covers in the series featuring illustration of the main characters and fantastical creatures.

by Monae R.

Kelley Armstrong, a Canadian writer born in 2001, completed a wonderful children’s series in June 2022. Originally an author for teens and adults, her Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series, illustrated by Xavière Daumarie, comes as a nice refreshment for children. The first book, A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying (followed by sequels The Gryphon’s Lair and The Serpent’s Fury) was a Black Eyed Susan 2021-2022 nominee. Despite its enticing and interactive story, it did not win the award. The series follows the story of a princess and her journey to become the Royal Monster Slayer of her Kingdom.

Rowan, a 13-year-old girl, is adamant to fight alongside her aunt in the battle to understand and drive the monsters of the kingdom back to the mountains. Her journey towards this encompasses loss, friendship, family, and excitement beyond belief. Rowan’s bloodline, that of clan Dacre, gives her a gift many cannot fathom and allows her to find friends in unusual places.

Many see Rowan as a young, incapable princess. Over time, they see the error of their ways as she fights to increase her knowledge and strength. Her journey takes her out of the kingdom and past the mountains, where many have not traveled before, where she encounters rare and extinct monsters and develops relationships with bordering clans.

This series is full of unexpected twists and turns. The characters are silly and relatable and the monsters are fascinating and frightening. As someone who is deeply in love with fantasy stories, I could not put these books down. I placed a hold on the fourth book, The Final Trial, as soon as it was on order here at the library.

I highly recommend this inclusive fantasy quick read.

Monae is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS East Columbia Branch.

A black cover with gold text and a mysterious illustration of the phases of the moon, a mystical eyes, and spiral all centered above a book.

A Deadly Education

juliefitzreader 1 Comment
A black cover with gold text and a mysterious illustration of the phases of the moon, a mystical eyes, and spiral all centered above a book.

By Gabriela P.

Did you think your high school years were tough? Count yourself lucky that you could at least eat lunch without having monsters come at you. In Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education, Galadriel “El” Higgins goes to her classes, studies, and navigates her social sphere all while trying to stay alive. She attends the Scholomance, a school for magic, where there are no teachers, holidays, school events, or friendships. Attending students are suddenly thrown into this school located within a terrifying inter-dimensional void. With monsters, or “mals”, in every shadow and around every corner, the students have only one goal – to graduate, which means staying alive.

El is a junior at the Scholomance, and has a unique problem. While every other student has to figure out how to protect themselves from mals and students-gone-dark, she has to concentrate on not destroying everything she touches. A rather bothersome prophecy, something about her being the bringer of mass destruction, keeps her more preoccupied with making sure she doesn’t end up destroying the world than with making friends. Though in this school, friendships are usually strategic. When we are introduced to the snarky, anti-social El, she makes it clear that her only plan is to make it as close to graduation as she can without attracting unwanted attention to herself. Then, in her senior year, she plans to figure out how to impress students from well known magical enclaves to guarantee her and her mother’s safety during and after graduation. However, her not-so pleasant disposition means her chances are slim.

Orion Lake, a student from a major enclave with a major savior complex, is famous among the student body, mainly because he is pretty much responsible for the higher-than-normal survival rate of their junior class. When he saves El’s life once, then twice, the spotlight suddenly turns to her. Suddenly El has to figure out how to use the attention for her benefit, but ends up finding herself drawn into a much bigger problem. On top of all that, she finds herself stumbling upon the discovery that she might be…making friends.

A Deadly Education is a refreshing spin on well-known tropes; magic schools, I-hate-him-I-like-him, monsters with a taste for children – the usual. Naomi Novak skillfully builds a fantastical universe with dynamic characters that you can’t help but fall for. Darkly funny and terrifyingly captivating, this book is definitely one that you won’t put down until the end.

You can borrow A Deadly Education as a book, an eBook, and an eAudiobook.

A dark green cover with golden text and illustration of a keyhold with points and rays, and a dangling key.

The story continues (which you will want to do immediately) with The Last Graduate, and the third installment, The Golden Enclaves, is due this fall. The second book is also available as an eBook and an eAudiobook.

Gabriela is a customer service specialist at the Miller Branch. She loves long walks, reading with her dog, and a good cup of coffee.

The picture depicts a teal-colored fish-like monster with a yellow eye next to the book, which has a teal color and depicts a variety of monsters, including dragons, snakes, and Dracula.

Explore the Ghoulish side of the Globe with the Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts!

Claudia Leave a comment
The picture depicts a teal-colored fish-like monster with a yellow eye next to the book, which has a teal color and depicts a variety of monsters, including dragons, snakes, and Dracula.

By Claudia J.

Ok, I’ll admit it: I love Halloween but I’m not the biggest fan of scary things. You won’t catch me at a movie theater watching the latest film from the Halloween franchise or reading IT by Stephen King. I tend to focus on the lighter side of the season. Yet, when I was browsing through some of the oversized books that live upstairs at the Miller Branch, I stopped at a bright teal atlas filled to the brim with whimsical illustrations and trips around our world. However, instead of historic sites and tourist destinations, this atlas is filled with MONSTERS and GHOSTS!

Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts by Federica Magrin, with immensely detailed illustrations by Larua Brenlla, takes readers on a ghastly trip to hunt down the most fearsome creatures known to humanity. Each continent is covered throughout the pages, highlighting monsters and ghosts with cultural significance. I’m sure most of us already know of Bigfoot, King Kong, and the Boogeyman through classic stories and tales. But have you heard of the Smok Wawelski from Poland, a fearsome dragon from the cave at the foot of Wawel Hill? Or Krasue, the spirit from Thailand with the floating head who feeds on anything in her sights? These monsters and spirits are not only highlighted, but their stories are tied in with learning about each country’s tales and fables. One particular feature of the atlas that I enjoyed was that it gave special sections to the monsters and spirits of Greek Mythology and the ones from Japanese folktales, both of which have been spotlighted in various other stories, movies, and video games.

One fair warning for all my budding Monster Hunters: some of these stories, no matter your age, are not for the faint of heart despite its art style and its publisher, Lonely Planet Kids. Nevertheless, it was an interesting, spooktacular read, one that may send a chill up your spine, but which will definitely teach you something new along the way. What I learned is to not visit the places where these creatures have been spotted! I think I’ll opt for a warm beach instead.

You can borrow or request Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts at all HCLS locations for your horrific, spooky enjoyment.

Claudia J. is an Instructor and Research Specialist for Howard County Library System. She enjoys stories in all forms, from books to graphic novels, movies to video games: you name it!

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

Kristen B. Leave a comment
A Navajo woman dressed in jeans, leather jacket, and tradition Navajo footwear and wrappings stands on the roof of an old red pickup truck, holding a shotgun and a long knife. Lightnight arcs across the image, with dust yellow storm clouds behind.

Review by Kristen B.

Meet Maggie Hoskie: monster hunter, Navajo (Diné) clan warrior, and first person narrator of Rebecca Roanhorse’s debut novel. In Trail of Lightning, the world as we know it has been mostly destroyed by earthquakes and subsequent floods. A strange thing happened during that time: Navajo history, gods, and legends came back to life and walls appeared around what was the reservation, protecting Dinétah from the worst of the predations happening in the outside world. It was something of a mixed blessing, for while traditional Diné clan life continued stronger than ever, it also brought back the scary parts of legend along with the good. As the book opens, Maggie doubts if she’s one of the good guys or just another one of the monsters she hunts. (Just to note: given the nature of the story, this book is chock-full of fairly graphic violence.)

This quick-paced, smart-mouthed action-adventure story takes place entirely within the Navajo world. The book opens with Maggie chasing a monster across the high desert hills, one who had kidnapped a young girl. We learn that Maggie’s clan powers include swiftness and battle rage, which serve her well in her vocation. In the aftermath, we meet her honorary grandfather Tah and Tah’s actual grandson Kai, who may or may not be a magician but is definitely something of a fashion plate. Tah practices the traditional scheme of grandparents everywhere by throwing his two favorite young folks together, in hopes of friendship and maybe even romance.

Maggie’s life is further complicated when her old friend Mai’i (Coyote) turns up at her trailer asking for a favor. Coyote plays his usual trickster part, but honestly, he’s only trying to make things better. The story becomes a race to find and eliminate a growing threat to Dinétah, which eventually involves a wide range of locals and legends. Maggie ends up having to deal directly with her one-time mentor and lover, Neizhgani, the (sort of) god of lightning. Maggie achieves some clarity and closure in the end, but it is a hard won truth that leaves everyone a little heartsore.

I had visited the Navajo reservation shortly before reading this book, and I could picture the locations clearly with the rock formations and scrubby landscape. Roanhorse is Black and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, and her husband and daughter are Navajo. She uses Diné terms for the clans and their powers, for the legends and gods, and it’s as strange in its own way as any other fantasy setting. This is the language of the WWII Code Talkers, which no one else in the world could decipher. It’s a powerful way to display Native American culture, asking the reader to figure out terminology from context without a glossary or other appendix. Roanhorse uses the place and language to good effect, creating a sense of other-ness that’s actually grounded in reality.

If you love this book as much as I do, I also recommend the sequel, Storm of Locusts. Maggie ventures out into the wider world … in a story no less filled with monsters and companions for the journey.

Kristen B. has worked for HCLS for more than 15 years, and currently hosts the Books on Tap discussion group at Hysteria Brewing Company. She loves reading, Orioles baseball, and baking.