May 1, 2014
Gr 9 Up-In the final book (after "Isle of Blood") in Yancey's acclaimed gothic horror series, Will Henry, now 16, confronts his personal demons and waning sanity while rebelling against his strict master, Dr. Warthrop. Soon Warthrop questions Will's loyalties and the two become involved in a dangerous scheme with a most gruesome monster. Fans of the series may be surprised by the decidedly more dark and tragic tone of Will's story, but the ending is satisfying and realistic. The prose is well crafted, but unfortunately, the jumps forward and back in time can be difficult to follow. Luckily the narration, performed by Steven Boyer, is rather helpful in navigating these complications. Boyer deftly personifies Will and clearly transitions from character to character throughout the various settings and times. The audio highlights the poetic elements of Yancey's writing and is highly recommended for readers who may have struggled with comprehending the challenging text. Teens who enjoy some philosophical musing with their horror will devour this like one of Dr. Warthrop's hungry creatures.-"Nicole Lee Martin, Grafton-Midview Public Library, Grafton, OH"
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2013
In the fourth and final volume of the Monstrumologist series (a blend of gothic horror, cryptozoology, and Sherlockiana), Yancey diverges somewhat from his successful formula. In addition to a menacing atmosphere and highly stylized nineteenth-century prose, each previous book (The Monstrumologist; The Curse of the Wendigo, rev. 1/11; The Isle of Blood, rev. 11/11) has featured a plot that pivots on an unspeakably horrible creature and the subtle and nuanced characterization of the monstrumologist and his apprentice, Will Henry. But here the plot recedes into the background (abetted by the disorienting fragmentation of the narrative into three time frames), while the characters take center stage for their last hurrah. To be sure, there is another important monster to be dealt with here, one whose legendary fame ensnares various players in a tangled web that will ultimately decide the fate of monstrumology. But the real monster here is arguably Will Henry in the stormy throes of adolescent rebellion, as he seeks to escape the jealous, inscrutable, and domineering Warthrop and hopefully wrest the affection of Lilly Bates away from a rival suitor. The title and the various epigraphs appropriately reference Dante's Inferno, reinforcing the book's darker themes. Yancey has taken some considerable risks here. They will probably confuse casual readers, but they should thrill and horrifyin the best way possibleardent and loyal fans. jonathan hunt
(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
January 1, 2014
Gr 9 Up-After his parents died, William James Henry became the ward of and apprentice to eccentric Dr. Pellinore Warthrop. One of the last of his kind, Warthrop is a practitioner of "aberrant biology," a monstrumologist. During the years of his strange education, Will has been exposed to the monstrosities of both humanity and nature and has come to resent the mutually destructive nature of his relationship with his aging mentor. Unfortunately, his dissatisfaction could not have happened at worse time. There is a mysterious threat to Warthrop's career: an attempt to steal the last living specimen of a rare species with venom that could be used either as a destructive weapon or a powerful drug. This supernatural, noir-like thriller effortlessly builds intrigue as Will contemplates the past mistakes that have lead him to his current situation. The premise of the book is that Yancey is an editor who is trying to decipher Will's journals; he is unsure whether the incredible events he reads about actually occurred or if he is the victim of an elaborate hoax. This device makes the story less narrative and more contemplative, with many of its short chapters devoted to poetry and philosophy. Overall, Yancey's latest installation in the series is strong enough to stand on its own.-Ryan F. Paulsen, New Rochelle High School, NY
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from August 1, 2013
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* It can now be said with assurance that The Monstrumologist series is a landmark of modern YA fiction. Even given the remarkable Printz Honorwinning first book, who could have predicted the haunting, profound developments of the subsequent titles, none more so than this penetrating, devastating coda. Yes, there is a monster: the T. cerrejonensis, a dangerous reptilian creature thought to be extinct for 100 years. But the true monster is Will Henry himself, now 16 and becoming the most aberrant of aberrant life forms. Though his upsetting maturation is logical, even inevitable, fans will be shocked to see their beloved Will surpass the cruelty of his master, Warthrop, as he fights, in gruesome manner, a crime organization for possession of the monster. Will goes too far; some readers might wonder if the author goes too far as well. This, however, is Yancey's finest hour, as he jugglesno, meldsthree time frames and stares unblinking into humankind's darkest heart. It is a work of tremendous courage; both Yancey and Will are forced to consider the void: The innocent perish. The stupid, the banal, the wickedthey go on and on. Beyond a simple finale, this is a brave statement about the duplexity of good and evil, and the deadly trap in which all of us are snared. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Yancey's a big best-seller now, thanks to the The 5th Wave (2013), and all that new attention should rub off on this final volume in a critically adored series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)
September 1, 2013
The Monstrumologist quartet wraps up in a haphazard, patchworked finale. Even though Yancey offers a tone-setting disclaimer via an "editor's note" at the forefront of the novel that the manuscripts he "translated" into this work were "nearly indecipherable, physically as well as contextually," fans will still come away ultimately unsatisfied--possibly even feeling cheated--by this disjointed conclusion. In the main narrative (there are at least three), Will Henry, now 16, often drunk and colder than ever, helps Monstrumologist Pellinore Warthrop track down the T. cerrejonensis, a giant, snakelike critter that poisons its human prey then swallows them whole. At the same time, the novel also fast-forwards decades later to 1911, when Will returns to care for an elderly Warthrop and then reverts back to when he was first taken in by his employer. All this makes for a confusing read, and the future plotline serves as a spoiler to the central narrative. Also inserted are broken stanzas of poetry and italicized rants on the meaning of love and life that connect at a much more simplistic level than the earlier books. Still, parts of the novel are quite exciting and will induce just as much stomach-turning if not full-on gagging. At the end, the results feel rushed, as if Yancey were trying to quickly finish the job. Even the relatively anemic page count implies it. A fizzling anticlimax. (Horror. 14 & up)
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January 1, 2014
This fourth and final volume of the series (a blend of gothic horror, cryptozoology, and Sherlockiana) features apprentice Will Henry in the throes of adolescent rebellion as he seeks to escape the jealous, domineering monstrumologist Warthrop and wrest the affection of Lilly Bates away from a rival suitor. Yancey has taken some considerable risks here, ones that should thrill his ardent fans.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)