Title: The Monster of Elendhaven

Author: Jennifer Giesbrecht

Publisher: Tor.com 2019

Genre: Horror

Pages: 159

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Random TBR

The city of Elendhaven sulks on the edge of the ocean. Wracked by plague, abandoned by the South, stripped of industry and left to die. But not everything dies so easily. A thing without a name stalks the city, a thing shaped like a man, with a dark heart and long pale fingers yearning to wrap around throats. A monster who cannot die. His frail master sends him out on errands, twisting him with magic, crafting a plan too cruel to name, while the monster’s heart grows fonder and colder and more cunning.

These monsters of Elendhaven will have their revenge on everyone who wronged the city, even if they have to burn the world to do it.

Such a twisted little novella. Definitely not for the squeamish. I was drawn in by the cover and then by the very first chapter. I was completely sucked into the very strange world of Elendhaven and the mysterious figure of Johann. I thought this was going to be a Jack the Ripper style story, but then Johann meets Florian and we get a totally different story. I loved the inclusion of folklore and magic and just a touch of science. I loved not knowing what was going to happen next. I was hooked until the very last sentence. In fact I was so engrossed with the story that I read it in one sitting. Definitely the perfect read on a cold day.

Next up on the TBR pile: