Reviews with content warning for Violence - A Cosmology of Monsters

A strange conglomeration of horror, fairytale, and depressing reality this book really takes you across all genres it seems and leaves you at the end asking, where is the rest. Something that the author does on purpose. Throughout the book you are teased as to who or what the antagonist is, why it is Noah, why his family is involved to reach a somewhat titled ended.

While I think the ending of him taking the place of his family and becoming apart of the City is twist that seems obvious yet shocking is is what he ends his narrative with that sticks even more.“Oh God. It hurts.” And that’s it. Nothing more. Nothing less. We are even told my him he wanted to end the story where it ends, not where it is happy. Something I think is refreshing in horror, with authors usually be afraid to let their drama end not in bright hopeful joy but reality that this is going to hurt.

. My only real critique is that it seems to use sex as a shock and awe tactic to up some of the horror or confusion as to end.

There is pedophilia, grooming, statutory rape, homophobia, religious trauma, dubious consent; among other triggers that just don’t get a build up to or a warning or notion it was going to happen. <spoiled>. All in all I enjoyed it, except the surprise

monster fucking

like I coulda used a basic ass warning for that

Content Warnings

brianna_moye's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

keen's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

For the Hamill's first novel, this was great. I read this book without fully reading the summary, so that was a big ride to go through. I had no idea where things would go. Throughout the book I felt tense, literally shaken, happy, and like I was going to cry. I enjoyed the smooth transitions from section to section, chapter to chapter, and year to year. Eunice is also a character I related to so much it made finishing the book painful at times. I'm not happy with how some characters ended up, but I'm fine with it. It's a book that feels very realistic with how not everything can be wrapped up in a neat and tidy bow, which makes me more sad than disappointed.

Usually I don't reread books, but I can see myself rereading/skimming through to see what I missed.

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