Book Review: “Monster Born” (Northern Creatures #1) by Kris Austen Radcliffe

“Monster Born” (Northern Creatures #1) by Kris Austen Radcliffe (2017)

Genre: Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Page Length: 218 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Two hundred years ago, Victor Frankenstein reanimated a stitched-together corpse. But the man once known as Frankenstein’s Monster refused to embody his father’s malice. He escaped his origin – and stumbled into a small Minnesota town overflowing with magic.

Now, the Nordic elves of his new home call him family. The werewolves call him friend. When the town’s vampires disappear and innocents die, Frank realizes the demon responsible might be the one force capable of pulling to the surface the horrors he’d learned to suppress.

Frank must stop a rampaging evil bent on murdering the people he loves the most. But can he save his town without losing himself?

Review:

If you like stories of witches, werewolves, and magic then Monster Born is an urban fantasy that you should check out. I love retellings of classics especially horror and this spin on Frankenstein’s monster feels fresh. The story is entertaining from beginning to end.

Taking more of a serious tone, with a few bits of humor here and there, the story follows Frank as he tries to uncover the mystery of strange occurrences happening within his small town. Trying to discover the truth leads him down a path of searching through his tumultuous past, doing lots of research, and trying to keep the peace of the small town at bay. This new dark force that appears is stronger and faster than the elves and other citizens of the town have anticipated, and Frank does his best to keep those he loves safe from harm.

Though the series’ first installment has a small town and intimate setting the world building feels vast in the plot. Among the ordinary lies a secret world hidden behind glamour from the mundanes who have no idea just what secrets the town holds. It’s an immersive reading experience that takes readers everywhere from Frank’s lakeside home, the grandeur of the great hall of the elves, and even a forest filled with a witch’s cottage. It provides fun fantasy elements and action-packed scenes that keep the reader entranced by the story.

There still lie a lot of mysteries to unfold and things mentioned in the book are unexplained so I hope those ideas will be expanded on in the next novel. I think having a glossary of terms would help especially with all the myths, folklore, and legends packed into the novel. What I appreciated the most is Frank’s character development and realism. Most Frankenstein stories don’t give “the monster” a more human touch and in this series, readers empathize with his struggles and self-growth as he tries to overcome his past.

Fans of urban fantasy series will want to add Monster Born to their reading list!

Final Verdict: