Hi, I'm looking for a fantasy book with monsters or monster fighting. Not like a monster romance book, I mean books where there are spooky monsters who main characters fight or just in general are scared of. I recently read Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy and really fell in love with the magic system and the monsters in that book. I also recently read Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken and that was exactly the kind of monster book I was looking for except I hated it lmao (not because it was bad, it was just too much death for my liking). But the monsters in it were really gnarly, creepy, horrifying things and I want a book with monsters like that.
I love an original monster, instead of the classic monsters like zombies, vampires, werewolves, etc., but something imaginative like in The Host or the monsters in Sweet Home. Only caveat is I don't really love horror–I like monsters in a more adventure-y R.O.U.S kind of a way. If you can recommend a book that's specifically about Yokai,,,, I will be very pleased because those are the best monsters tbh.
In general, I do prefer Urban Fantasy, but I am alright with historical fantasy too as long as there are monsters. 🙂
I think in a certain way, I'm looking for something similar to Rick Riordon, but ideally not middle grade/YA. When I was a kid, Percy Jackson was one of my all time favorites because it's literally just FILLED with monsters and mythology and there's never a dull moment.
While I do love ghost books, I'm not sure that's really what I'm looking for right now. Same with dragons, I love dragons but they're not exactly 'monsters'.
The vibe I think I'm looking for in a book is something that feels almost like a D&D campaign. Like Fantasy High, Neverafter, or Cloudward Ho. Really exciting and adventurous and fighting monsters (funny is a +++++++++ too).
Some super not vital preferences of mine:
- Queer characters
- Asian characters, Asian setting (I'm Korean)
- Third person
- Disabled characters
- I would say I prefer to avoid YA but it's not a dealbreaker.
- SOME romance is good as long as it doesn't distract from the larger story.
Finally, important trigger warning for me would be body horror, SA, or torture, but other than that I am willing to give anything a try.
(I am sorry I'm all over the place and if this is confusing–it's the ADHD)
by queeriero