A Mastery of Monsters

By: Liselle Sambury

Narrated by: Angel Pean

Two starred reviews!

Ninth House meets Legendborn in this “bold and bloody” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) first book in a dark academia fantasy series about a teen who’s willing to do anything to find her brother—even infiltrate a secret society full of monsters and magical creatures.

When August’s brother disappears before his sophomore semester, everyone thinks the stress of college got to him. But August knows her brother would never have left her voluntarily, especially not after their mother so recently went missing.

The only clue he left behind was a note telling her to stay safe and protect their remaining family. And after August is attacked by a ten-foot-tall monster with fur and claws, she realizes that her brother might be in more danger than she could have imagined.

Unfortunately for her, the only person with a connection to the mysterious creature is the bookish Virgil Hawthorne…and he knows about them because he is one. If he doesn’t find a partner to help control his true nature, he’ll lose his humanity and become a mindless beast—exactly what the secret society he’s grown up in would love to put down.

Virgil makes a proposition: August will join his society and partner with him, and in return, he’ll help her find her brother. And so August is plunged into a deadly competition to win one of the few coveted candidate spots, all while trying to accept a frightening reality: that monsters are real, and she has to learn to master them if she’s to have any hope of saving her brother.

Amazing Dark Academania!

I loved this book! Sambury's world creating skills are only rivaled by her character building. I can't wait for the next one in this trilogy!

Super Entertaining

Liselle doesn't disappoint and this one is definitely a series I want to complete. The ending was very promising too.
There were some weak areas where actions didn't make much sense given the circumstances,but I gave them a pass because they kinda made sense for the characters. The horror bits were very ... horrible too... in the best way...

Story line

Beautiful, excited to read the next one. The way that August shined throughout the book and how things didn’t go the way you expected.

Excellent Character Work

This is the third novel I’ve read by Liselle Sambury, and once again, I’m impressed by her talent for rich worldbuilding and compelling character work. While Tender Beasts still holds the top spot as my personal favorite, A Mastery of Monsters delivers a gripping, atmospheric story that kept me invested from start to finish.

Sambury excels at creating worlds that feel lived-in and characters that feel real, complex, flawed, and deeply human. The relationships are layered, the stakes are high, and the magic feels both dangerous and enticing. Her writing draws you in with vivid imagery and an almost effortless sense of place.

While this book stands strong on its own, it also sets up intriguing threads for what’s to come. I’m already looking forward to the sequel and seeing where these characters’ journeys lead next.

Liselle Sambury continues to prove she’s an author to watch, and A Mastery of Monsters is a worthy addition to her growing body of work.

A mastery of monsters

This writer is atmospheric in her details. A dark academia fantasy, slow- burn tension/ enemies-to- something chemistry. I totally related to the trying to fit a narrative of others. The body shame and its effects that are forced feed into you all your life. But I love that the main character overcame and broke expectations for her.