Monstrum

Monstrum

* From the winner of the BBC Young Writers' Award 2020 * What does it mean to be different in a world that values perfection, at any cost? 'Lottie's writing is a superb flight of the imagination' A.S. Byatt, author of Possession 'Haunting, luridly beautiful, and at times shockingly, deliciously gruesome’ Jenn Ashworth, author of Ghosted A 'Best Book for May 2024' according to Cosmopolitan From Lottie Mills, the winner of the BBC Young Writers' Award in 2020, comes this beautifully crafted collection of stories. A father and daughter build a life for themselves on an isolated beach. But the outside world is pressing in. It's only a matter of time before their secret refuge is discovered. A young disabled woman opts to receive a perfect, pain-free body. Soon, however, she finds herself haunted by the one she cast off. A travelling circus master discovers the ideal addition to his cabinet of curiosities: 'damaged', 'grotesque', gifted. He plans to make her the star of his show; she plans to take her revenge. Monstrum captures the experience of characters excluded by a society that cannot accept their difference. Eerie, fantastical and hugely ambitious, this collection announces the arrival of an outstanding new literary voice. 'Lottie's stories reminded me of what matters' Claire Oshetsky 'Magical and haunting' Jan Carson

Monstrum

In the third volume of the Fourth Talisman series, the hunt is on for the three daevas whose powers saved the world once before…. On the White Sea, realm of smashers and sea monsters, a ship is carrying Nazafareen and Darius to the Isles of the Marakai, where the wise woman Sakhet-ra-katme has guarded the secret of the talismans for centuries. But another is searching too, a daeva born in the brutal prison of the Kiln, who plans to use the talismans to free the Vatras and their mad king. When their paths collide at the emperor’s lavish palace in Tjanjin, Nazafareen and Darius face their deadliest and most cunning foe yet. In the mountain fastness of Val Moraine, the Pythia’s minions are on the scent of another talisman, this one from the Danai clan. Trapped behind a thick wall of ice, everyone’s going slightly mad—the perfect cauldron of suspicion and betrayal for Thena, who sees a chance to redeem her failure and bring the talisman back to Delphi. Then she’ll be free to indulge her twisted obsession with Darius—and make him pay. And in Samarqand, Javid is drawn into the treacherous currents of a royal succession. When the old king dies and his son takes the throne, the depths of the prince’s depravity become clear. A journey north reveals the source of the spell dust he’s addicted to—and leaves Javid with an impossible choice. Praise for Monstrum "The plot is complex and rich, every turn is filled with either action, love, or lies. Kat Ross writes binge-worthy fantasy stories. Get Nocturne and Solis and Monstrum, lock yourself away somewhere with lots of snacks and read them!" –I Love a Good Book "Ross keeps all of her narrative plates spinning at top speed… High fantasy marked by restraint, subtlety, and deep character maneuvering." –Kirkus Reviews "A dark and potent fantasy….Monstrum is her best book yet! This story is rich and haunting, with a potent kind of magic that’s barely contained, and an incredible cast of indomitable and morally complex characters." –FlyLef Reviews "Monstrum was another dashing read and I can’t wait to see what Kat Ross does next. There were both revelations and new questions raised in this novel and I have no doubt the next one will be as thrilling and sure to both answer them as well as raise others." –The Rest Is Still Unwritten "Monstrum is something truly special. Ross really upped the stakes this time and the characters are forced to make tons of difficult decisions. It was action-packed, fun to read and all consuming. My heart was beating non-stop the entire time!" –Rattle the Stars "This is Book #3 in an epic fantasy that has me utterly addicted. From the corrupted and twisted to the noble and lost, every person has their place and Kat Ross has you yearning for their stories." –Books2Blog "I honestly don't know if I can find the words to really explain how awesome this book was. A whirlwind of a story [that] will leave you breathless and eager for more." –Jazzy Book Reviews

Monstrum