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A review by the_one_krissy
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
What I got from this novel was not at all what I was expecting when I picked it up.
In a nutshell, this is the tale of Dr Warthrop, a monstrumologist, and Will Henry, his assistant/apprentice/ward, who discover their home town is plagued by monsters and have to do something about it. Sounds simple enough, and it kind of is, except the book starts with the very gruesome discovery of one of these Anthropophagi and its victim, quickly followed by the autopsy of said monster.
And let me tell you I was shaking in my boots and fighting to keep my dinner down before I was fifty pages into this book. Rick Yancey does not skimp on the grisly details, and the monsters infesting the town are aggressive ravenous beasts and absolutely terrifying. At times I had to put this book away for a while because it was making me physically ill.
Not that it isn't a good book, because it is. Just... a bit heavy with blood and gore.
Both main characters are likable, poor Will Henry in particular. The monstrumologist is the archetypal manic-depressive mad scientist, whose work is his life and who seems able to function without food and sleep indefinitely. He's fond of raspberry scones, though, which instantly endeared him to me.
Plot-wise this was a rather straightforward monster tale - not too complicated, although it did have a bit of depth as far as the main characters were concerned. A strong three stars, I think, but I'm frankly undecided if I'll continue with this series. Maybe, once my stomach has stopped churning.
In a nutshell, this is the tale of Dr Warthrop, a monstrumologist, and Will Henry, his assistant/apprentice/ward, who discover their home town is plagued by monsters and have to do something about it. Sounds simple enough, and it kind of is, except the book starts with the very gruesome discovery of one of these Anthropophagi and its victim, quickly followed by the autopsy of said monster.
And let me tell you I was shaking in my boots and fighting to keep my dinner down before I was fifty pages into this book. Rick Yancey does not skimp on the grisly details, and the monsters infesting the town are aggressive ravenous beasts and absolutely terrifying. At times I had to put this book away for a while because it was making me physically ill.
Not that it isn't a good book, because it is. Just... a bit heavy with blood and gore.
Both main characters are likable, poor Will Henry in particular. The monstrumologist is the archetypal manic-depressive mad scientist, whose work is his life and who seems able to function without food and sleep indefinitely. He's fond of raspberry scones, though, which instantly endeared him to me.
Plot-wise this was a rather straightforward monster tale - not too complicated, although it did have a bit of depth as far as the main characters were concerned. A strong three stars, I think, but I'm frankly undecided if I'll continue with this series. Maybe, once my stomach has stopped churning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Blood