Book Review: The Monstrumologist

These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for nearly ninety years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets. The one who saved me . . . and the one who cursed me.

So starts the diary of Will Henry, orphan and assistant to a doctor with a most unusual specialty: monster hunting. In the short time he has lived with the doctor, Will has grown accustomed to his late night callers and dangerous business. But when one visitor comes with the body of a young girl and the monster that was feeding on her, Will’s world is about to change forever. The doctor has discovered a baby Anthropophagi–a headless monster that feeds through the mouthfuls of teeth in its chest–and it signals a growing number of Anthropophagi. Now, Will and the doctor must face the horror threatenning to overtake and consume our world before it is too late.

The Monstrumologist is the first stunning gothic adventure in a series that combines the spirit of HP Lovecraft with the storytelling ability of Rick Riorden.

— From Simon & Schuster Website

Cover Inspection:
The cover above is the one that I got from the library and I LOVED it. It’s so creepy. I like the newer cover also, but I think it looses some of the creepiness factor.

First Thoughts:
Oh Will Henry. Poor poor boy.

***

My Review:
Can I please begin this review by professing my love for Will Henry? I’ll be honest. He was the one thing that really bound me to this book and made it so enjoyable for me. A mere child, he saw the world with such unflinching honesty. His abject devotion to a man who rarely shows him any affection or even acknowledgement impressed me. That, and this boy was able to deal with some of the most gruesome deaths I’ve read about. Needless to say, Will Henry is amazing. His character made me a part of this book from the first few chapters, and I didn’t look back.

Filled with twists and turns, The Monstrumologist is absolutely one of my favorite reads of the year. The vivid writing in this book is (and yes this is a pun) to die for! Set in the late 19th century, Rick Yancey shows very well how much research he did into the era. The setting is dark, gritty and raw. After thinking for a long while, I really couldn’t think of a better place to set a book like this. Some of the things that Professor Warthrop does are, well, questionable. It is his status and his friendships that allow him to get away with it in this Victorian era.

Reader be warned, this book is not for the faint of heart. Although this book has a younger protagonist, there are some disturbing parts that may not be appropriate for younger readers. There are scenes in this book that even caused me to feel a little queasy. However the writing is so fascinating that it pulls you in and literally makes you read on. Let it be known though that the gore in this book is not just there as a scare tactic. It is a crucial part of the overall storyline. It gives us a glimpse at the darkest parts of human nature. The scientific aspect that goes with the monstrumologists’s hunts also makes it less difficult to deal with. After all, he’s just doing his job, right?

I’m not actually sure what else I can say about this book without spoiling it for those who haven’t yet read it. As you can tell from my rambling review, I loved it! As long as you are strong willed and okay with some gruesome scenes, this book will have you reading until your eyes hurt. For those of you who need to be captured within the first 100 pages? This book will do that for you. Go out, get a copy, read it. You won’t be disappointed!

Book Details
Title: The Monstrumologist
Author: Rick Yancey
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: Hardcover; 448
Source: Library

Final Rating:5 Keys to My Heart
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