Monster Fiction

"Perfect deadpan marks the opening of Ali Simpson’s The Monster'" writes Susan Merrell of The Southampton Review in her introduction to this issue of Recommended Reading.

Paxton is heartbroken. His best friend, Alice, is moving away in a month, and their summer plans seem dashed. Determined to have one last adventure together, Alice and Paxton vow to explore deeper into their nearby forest than ever before. Soon, the pair stumbles across a cave that hides a great, big, hairy secret. Alice is over the moon! She wants to strike it rich by capturing a picture of a legendary creature. But Paxton isn’t sure that’s such a good idea.

Kaci and Abby are not BFFs. But when a joint family camping trip throws them together, the girls must make the best of it. Luckily, a rickety old amusement park down the road provides the perfect distraction—until Kaci mysteriously disappears for two hours in a fun house. Abby is furious—but then she experiences a bizarre time-lapse of her own.

At a comic convention, a boy picks up an issue showcasing an oozy villain named the Glob. But then the cover starts to swirl. Slime drips out. The Glob is free from the pages of the comic book, and it’s hungry! This looks like a job for the greatest hero of all . . . the Librarian!

Between the blood of gods and monsters, I am both killer and healer. The Darkhavens were once my obstacle. Now, they may be the only safe haven I have left. The Gods are lying to us all. They are not Gods at all, but creatures that came from another world to rule over ours.

Everything is on the line is this epic conclusion. Dean and his team climb the Minotaur's Maze to new heights in a last ditch effort to fix all that is wrong with the universe. Will they fail or prevail?

This third edition to the Prince Roger Series takes the Bronze Barbarians across the Eastern Ocean of Marduk, facing giant sea monsters, pirates, and the barbarian nations that dwell on the other side. Their destination is a spaceport held by humans of questionable loyalties. As Roger comes nearer to making his way home, he learns that his attempted assassination was part of a larger plot. Not all is as it seems on Earth or on Marduk.

Tales from the Half-Continent is a captivating addition to DM. Cornish's richly imagined Monster Blood Tattoo series. This collection of two enthralling stories invites listeners to journey deeper into the Half-Continent, a world brimming with danger, wonder, and intricate lore. Known for its unique blend of 18th-century fantasy and detailed world-building, the Half-Continent is a place where iron ships sail vinegar seas, monster-hunters enhance themselves through perilous surgeries, and humans coexist uneasily with the monstrous. This fourth from D. M.

Julien Doran arrived in sleepy Maudit Falls, North Carolina, with a heart full of hurt and a head full of questions. The key to his brother's mysterious last days might be found in this tiny town, and now Julien's amateur investigation is starting to unearth things the locals would rather keep buried. Perhaps most especially the strange, magnetic manager of a deserted retreat that's nearly as odd as its staff.

Life as a single mom to a kid that's an entirely different species isn't easy, but Charity is chugging along, doing the best she can. Keeping up with a precocious dragon shifter and working at The Monster's Den account for all her free time. And she's mostly okay with that, if a little lonely. Only the universe seems to love to keep Charity on her toes… She has a shifter stuck in wyvern form living in her courtyard, an antagonistic dragon residing next door, and a djinn who won't stop following her around. They all have one thing in common—they claim Charity is their mate.

As Kelvin, the battle junkie Summoner hailing from another world, continues his extraordinary exploits, Goddess Melfina finally returns to his side, finally having completed her artificial body. When she grants him her blessing, he gains the power to summon a Hero of his own . . . who wants to become his stepsister?! As Kelvin and his party grow stronger by the day, he receives a summons for his Rank S promotion exam. The contents of the exam involve saving an elven settlement from the threat of a terrible monster, but just how much is the militaristic nation of Trycen involved?

This audiobook is an enchanting collection where young minds not only indulge in delightful tales but also gather vital tools to conquer anxiety, practice mindfulness, and nurture self-belief. Each narrative entwines a unique charm, subtly imparting invaluable life lessons for kids to carry through their formative years.

The Full Moon Resort in western Canada looks all but abandoned when Hunter, his twin sister, Maeve, and their parents arrive. The outdoor pool is in disrepair, and the cabins are overgrown with strange plants. What a dump! And to make matters worse, Hunter and Maeve’s aunt and uncle, as well as their two kids, fail to show up for the family vacation.

After the makeover of the century, I walk onstage in too-high heels… and trip in front of thousands of people! I'm saved from becoming a face-plant meme by Brokk, who catches me in a romantic dip that makes my tummy flutter. Which it so totally shouldn't. Because Brokk's not just the hunky model on my book covers. He also lives 24/7 in an orc costume with tusks and green skin. I might write monster romance and wish I had an orc of my own, but monsters aren't real! How can I take this guy seriously?

The Princes of Carnage were my enemies once. But from the ashes of the lies and betrayal between us, something else grew. Something that has roots so deep they go all the way down to my soul. And now the dark figure who’s been toying with my life from the shadows is threatening to destroy that. But I won’t let him. I’ll get Atlas back in one piece. Even if I have to give up everything to do it.

You've heard of the Little Mermaid: a naive mermaid, a bargain with the sea-witch, and a happily ever after with a charming prince. This is not that story... On the night of her Emergence ceremony, Delphine ascends to the surface world for the first time, ready to claim her first victim. But instead of luring a man to his death with her siren song, Delphine saves Prince Elian.

For my kind, to be without a mate is to be doomed. I know it is too late–all that awaits me is retirement and death, and I’ve embraced it. But when a suicide mission lands on my old boss’s desk, I’m the one he calls. Who better to tackle the mission in the deep, oppressive mines of my own ancestral homeland, if not an Arachnae already slated to die? And it’s not a rescue mission–he wants me to retrieve the corpse of a billionaire’s daughter kidnapped by a terrorist organization. Except our intel was wrong. She’s alive. Tortured and injured–but alive.

A weekend with friends, fun in the sun, and huge, naked orcs. What could be better? That's what three suburban elves think when they book a trip to an orc nudist resort, well-known for its libidinous residents and hedonistic parties. Ris, Lurielle, and Silva arrive with plans to sample the DTF locals and work on their tans, not catch feelings. When Lurielle meets a syrupy-voiced gentleman who seems interested in more than just a weekend fling, she finds sticking to the plan is easier said than done.

Discover the original bone-chilling adventures that made Goosebumps one of the bestselling children's books series of all time. Now with all-new bonus materials! Werewolf Village. The Doom Slide. The Coffin Cruise. These are just a few of the terrifying attractions that await Luke and Lizzy Morris at HorrorLand. Step right up and join the Morris family as they ride each ride - and scream each scream - for the very first time. Because it might also be their last.

In a realm of orcs and powerful men, Geva Okoro is a proud, impoverished governess trapped in a dismal, dead-end post—until the day the orc breaks in. He's a huge, insolent, arrogant brute, swaggering with smooth, shameless wickedness. But unlike the orcs from the terrifying tales, he only wants one thing from Geva… her employer's gold. There's no escaping his devious clutches, and soon a furious Geva is reduced to raiding her employer's house with an orc. Compromising her career and destroying all her dreams… until the orc proposes another shocking scheme.