Monster Crush: Bookly Beasties We Love!

Monsters evoke a lot of emotions in us. In many ways they are fragments of our vulnerabilities and our fears, given shape and story by artists brave enough to dream them up. They’re also sometimes the object of our affections—fear isn’t the only emotion at play, folks!

We’ve compiled a list of monsters, deities, and mythical creatures we love. Enjoy 😈

opens in a new windowZinandour, Dragon of Qarsazh — The Unspoken Name & The Thousand Eyes by A. K. Larkwood

She is the flame that devours and definitely a bad influence—a profoundly tragic force of banished calamity. Her magi are infinitely suspicious of her, and they should be, because Zinandour is the intrusive whispers in their minds, the little voice that wheedles wouldn’t it be nice to burn everything and languish in the heat of the inferno? She’s scary, and what’s scarier: you’re starting to think she might be right…

— a cat, Assistant Marketing Manager

opens in a new windowThe Bennett Family – The Green Creek series by TJ Klunes

Do we really need to explain? THEY ARE WEREWOLVES. Werewolves. As they say, packpackpack. Sometimes they will leave a dead rabbit on your doorstep. Other times they really need a good tackle hug to get their scent on you. Every so often, one will lose control and you’ll be there to guide them back to who they are at heart. It’s a lifetime commitment, but with a giant wolf by your side, what more could you want?

– Becky, Senior Manager of Ad/Promo & Marketing

**opens in a new window[REDACTED] – Book of Night by Holly Black**

I can’t really describe the character because it’s such a spoiler! But shadowshadowshadow! I think anyone who has read the book will know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t read the book then you need to.

– Julia, Marketing Manager

opens in a new windowArthur Parnassus —The House in the Cerulean Sea & Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

This man is on fire. As the loving caretaker for a motley crew of magical children, Arthur screams family material. Hello, daddy. He is kind and wise and determined to protect his kids. So, what’s so monstrous about a middle-aged chap with impeccable dad energy? He’s a literal phoenix. So, if you’re into fiery birds, Arthur is The One for you.

– Burns Alike

**opens in a new windowJohann – The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht**

Johann, the titular monster of this dark little novella, commits brutal crimes aplenty and yet he still has my heart. He’s a pale, slinking thing that creeps through the shadowed streets of Elendhaven murdering with abandon, but frankly, he has his reasons, and at the end of the day, he just wants to be loved. I spent the whole book rooting for this depraved creature of the night to find his happy ending.