Monday, May 22, 2023

Review: Man of Shadow and Mist (Of Monsters and Men Book 2) by Michelle Griep

About the Book
“The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.”
–Bram Stoker, Dracula

England, 1890

Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated. Librarian Rosa Edwards intends to drive a stake through the heart of such superstitions. But gossip flies when the mysterious Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.

James hates everything about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Yet he must stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.

When Rosa sets out to prove the dark gossip about James is wrong, she discovers more questions than answers. How can she accept what she can’t explain—especially the strong allure of the enigmatic man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.

Can love prevail in a town filled with fear and doubt?


MY THOUGHTS

Where do I even begin? This book was so good! It's the kind of Gothic yet faith-filled read that I can never get enough of. And what a wonderful homage to Dracula! Since Dracula is one of my all-time favorite books, I loved all the nods to the classic. I had to smile every time I noticed a familiar name or place.

I liked James and Rosa right from the start. Rosa's the kind of bookish, spunky, and determined heroine that I love reading about. James was charming, chivalrous, and just an all-around good guy. He was the very definition of swoony. I really felt for him, though. The way others treated him with suspicion and superstition regarding his health condition infuriated me. I didn't know much about porphyria beforehand, so it was really interesting learning about it.

I can't say enough good things about this book. It's one of the best I've read this year. If you're a fan of Gothic historical romance, you're sure to love it too. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

2 comments:

  1. Dracula is one of my favorite books, so I love the sound of this one! I sadly still need to read Lost in Darkness, but I have it on my summer reading list and I've promised myself I'm going to read it before school starts up again. :D

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    1. I hope you enjoy Lost in Darkness! It was one of my favorites last year. I'm pretty sure this one will make my list this year. :D

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