The Monster of Elendhaven

Skyril

THE MONSTER OF ELENDHAVEN was like an entire story of poetry. Lyrical, artful, concise, vivid, and beautiful. Intoxicating in its darkness. "Elend" translates to misery, an apt name for a dark little town in the edge of a gray shore in the shadow of a mountain where strange monsters and disease both run rampant, coaxed by dark magic. (*Trigger warnings for THE MONSTER OF ELENDHAVEN are located at the bottom of the review*) Where to even begin? I just finished this book - a book I stayed up late to read, something I almost never do anymore - and then sat in the dark for almost five minutes turning the last two chapters over and over in my mind and feeling all the emotions. This is a world full of myths and fate, and yet it's all somehow contained in a novella. Giesbrecht is a *master* storyteller, from character-building to writing style, she SHOWS not TELLS. As a reader, I was led to a lot of conclusions about feelings and thoughts and actions rather than told. Everything was in sharp focus, but with only as much information as necessary. It's obvious Giesbrecht trusts in the ability of the reader to comprehend, which I thoroughly appreciate but have only seen in a handful of some of my favorite novels. There's no need for superfluous detail when every scene is sharp and tingly. I want to live in worlds this author creates forever. When's her next book? I need it. Florian and Johann were a wonder of character study, dark and unique and *conspicuous* villains and yet easy to root for. ~•° A monster and his master °•~ No matter the consequences, I wanted Florian's dark scheme to succeed, while Johann's murderous tendencies were somehow intoxicating and attractive and occasionally humorous through Giesbrecht's skilled hand. Johann and Florian are unique from one another and yet fit together like a half moon and its dark side with fascinating chemistry. I was not expecting The Monster of Elendhaven to have any type of romance, let alone M/M romance, and yet it did have it. Gloriously. I didn't know I could feel so much in a horror novel with fade to black romance, but I savored every second, every admiring look, every brush of lips. I listened to scenes over again with my heart in my throat, they were so good. Those scenes played out in my head later, when I was waiting and wanting to come back to this audiobook. Johann and Florian's dynamic is unequal in an interesting way, both with power and both dangerous. Monster and master, monster willing to be the subject and master willing to give in. It's a dynamic that was cute and charming and dark and delicious all at once, the cherry on top of a wonderful Gothic fantasy horror novel. The plot of which was character-driven and littered with twists that kept surprising in a revelatory way right up to the end. Giesbrecht was clearly god when she wrote this book - the past, the present, and the future all laid out before her simultaneously as she wove her tale, knowing all, and feeding you only bits of what you needed to know and when you needed to know it. I am entranced. I don't say that lightly. I don't find books that scratch before-unknown itches often. I will read whatever else this author puts out, hands down. I listened to the audiobook for this story, and it was excellent. The narrator was so good I'm going to look up what other books he's done. But I also plan to read THE MONSTER OF ELENDHAVEN again in text form because it's the kind of book that's wonderful both ways, and you see things/hear things a little differently depending on how you read it. Either way, I can't recommend this book highly enough to anyone looking for a dark, quirky little horror novel and who enjoys some M/M romance dynamics. The best book I've read this year by far, and one that's going on my Favorites shelf. A spectacular read, but only for the right audience. Is it skillfully crafted? Yes. Will everyone like the actual story? No. If this seems like a story you're curious about, and you're confident it won't trigger you, then try it. A++ Highly recommend. I'm still reeling... and it feels wonderful. **TRIGGER WARNINGS** (possible spoilers ahead) ~Non-graphic rape of the MC right in the first few pages when he's still a boy (it's mentioned here and never again; if you can get past this, there's nothing else like it in the rest of the book) ~Gore, lots of murder throughout, some mutilation, pretty intense sometimes, but not gore for the sake of gore; nothing egregiously graphic ~Sickness, plague-like diseases throughout ~Strongly implied past incestuous feelings