Review: Three and a half stars: A fast paced and entertaining adventure with all your favorite monsters.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 11, 2013
It has been six months since the Van Helsing attack on the Club Monstrosity support group. The monsters have settled back into their routines, and they have resumed their weekly support meetings. A new member, Patrick a cthulhu, has joined the gang. However, the peace is short lived since the Van Helsings are dead set on starting a new war. When a video of a Frankenstein Monster attacking someone in New York goes viral, Natalie and the rest of the monsters realize they must take action immediately to prevent the Van Helsings from gaining an upper hand. Can Natalie and the rest of the Club Monstrosity stop a war?What I Liked:*The Monsters in Your Neighborhood picks up six months down the road and it is a fast and furious adventure. I love that these books are short so you can pick one up and read it in one sitting. Even though it is a quick read, it delivers a fun story that leaves you satisfied. If you are in the mood for novella type books that deliver and won't leave you wanting, get this series.*Once again, I loved the creativity and new twists on the age old monster lore that we all know and love. The Frankenstein monster is a female named Natalie, and there is a lovable and smart werewolf Alec, along with the Lizard woman Linda and two centuries old mummies. There is a new addition to the line up, Patrick who is a cthulhu, which is a winged creature with tentacles on his face who lives in the sewers. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the characters, and I think the spin on the famous monsters is a blast. Even Igor, minus his humpback thanks to plastic surgery, makes an appearance in this one.* I was excited to see the diabolical and monstrous Hyde return, and he certainly does not disappoint. Hyde is evil and scheming, a true villain, one who will thrill and chill.* I enjoyed the fast pace of the story. The entire novel moves at a quick clip which means the plot never drags. Everything whips along at a rapid but even rate. There is never a dull moment. This book is energetic and entertaining.*The sequel outshines its predecessor with more humor, action and adventure. This book has more depth, and I found it to be much more engaging than the first book. Hopefully, this series will continue to grow and deliver.And The Not So Much:*Once again, I was a bit disappointed with the romance between Alec and Natalie. In the first book, there is an attraction and it moves quickly to a romantic relationship. I was expecting this time around for a little more heat and spark, but it remains a bit on the shallow side. I would love to know more about how a wolf and a Frankenstein monster make their romance work. The bit of romance that is present is enjoyable, and I do like the relationship between the two. This is an urban fantasy, and books in the UF genre are not known for romance. So if you are a true UF connoisseur, you won't be feel cheated by the fast romance.*I am completely unfamiliar with the cthulhu. I wanted a bit more description and detail on this monster. What are its powers? Weaknesses? I don't think I am the only one who hasn't encountered this sewer dwelling, tentacled creation. Aside from being ignorant on the cthulhu, I found Patrick to be a thoroughly likable character, one I hope to get to know better down the road.*The ending is a bit open, not a cliffhanger, but here are some interesting ideas presented on how the monsters are going to deal with the latest threat of exposure to the humans courtesy of the Van Helsings. I am very curious as to how things will develop, and I am hoping there will be a third installment.The Monsters in Your Neighborhood did not disappoint with its fun storyline, entertaining monsters and fast, adventure packed pace. If you are a fan of books that you can whip through in one sitting and you enjoy monsters, definitely give this series a whirl. I love the ingenious twists on the old favorite monsters.Favorite Quotations:"Rehu was another mummy. The mummy, if you wanted to get technical about it. He was also Kai's super-longtime off-and-on boyfriend (think thousands of years of Facebook status changes) and a former member of their group."I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.