Publication: 29th August 2024 – Gollancz
Be careful of the dark and those that call it friend.
Katherine Woodrow is fey, and all she wants is to graduate from the Institute of Magic. But when the prejudiced mortal council threaten her position at the institute, she is left with only one option: accept a Mage Partnership with the elusive Lord Blackthorn.
Emrys Blackthorn is a riddle Kat is fearful of solving. The mysterious, cursed war hero with his stormy eyes and unpredictable ways leaves Kat with more questions than answers. What she does know is that she is irresistibly drawn to him . . . no matter how forbidden it might be.
When a string of murders and fey disappearances herald the return of dark magic, Kat and Emrys are thrown into a world of ancient books that hide hideous monsters, dark fiends who play with nightmares and mortal men who wish nothing more than to see them both burn.
But what haunts them both are secrets even ghosts dare not whisper, while insidious shadows lick their teeth and sharpen their claws, waiting for the moment that all tales will come to light – even the monstrous ones.
A beautiful and suspenseful gothic story, a slow-burn forbidden romance, and a dark academia setting kept me completely glued to Tales of a Monstrous Heart.
The protagonist is Katherine Woodrow, a powerful fey living in a prejudiced human world that sees her only as a monster, but she is determined to graduate from the Institute of Magic. Enter Lord Emrys Blackthorn, mysterious, broody, an expert in dark magic. And the pages sizzle with the chemistry between them, so much so that even Emrys’ magical house seems to play matchmaker as it moves rooms around to try to get them together as much as possible. However, there are dark forces in the horizon, an ongoing fey rebellion, a series of murders and disappearances, and Kat’s past trauma that keeps haunting her.
I really liked the characters of Kat and Emrys. Kat is smart and loyal, fearless and brave, and determined to be considered as the others, so it was heart-breaking to see her being belittled and isolated from a Council made of old stupid men who hate her for being different. Luckily, she doesn’t care and she doesn’t let it affect her. And also, she has a mysterious and dark man always ready to protect her. I adored Emrys and I can’t wait to find out more about him. I also really liked the two supportive characters, William, Emrys’ adorable assistant, and Alma, Kat’s best friend/pretend-maid.
Tales of a Monstrous Heart is a gripping, beautifully-written story with an explosive ending that made me gasp in shock, but glad that it’s not a stand-alone novel (as I wrongly thought!).
A huge thank you to Gollancz and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this incredible novel in exchange for an honest review.
Jennifer Delaney lives in Liverpool, England. She has always had a deep love for troublesome characters, heart stopping romance, and all things gothic.
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