A Mastery of Monsters
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Overview
Two starred reviews Ninth House meets Legendborn in this "bold and bloody" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) first book in a dark academia fantasy series about a teen who's willing to do anything to find her brother--even infiltrate a secret society full of monsters. When August's brother disappears before his sophomore semester, everyone thinks the stress of college got to him. But August knows her brother would never have left her voluntarily, especially not after their mother so recently went missing. The only clue he left behind was a note telling her to stay safe and protect their remaining family. And after August is attacked by a ten-foot-tall creature with fur and claws, she realizes that her brother might be in more danger than she could have imagined. Unfortunately for her, the only person with a connection to the mysterious creature is the bookish Virgil Hawthorne...and he knows about them because he is one. If he doesn't find a partner to help control his true nature, he'll lose his humanity and become a mindless beast--exactly what the secret society he's grown up in would love to put down. Virgil makes a proposition: August will join his society and partner with him, and in return, he'll help her find her brother. And so August is plunged into a deadly competition to win one of the few coveted candidate spots, all while trying to accept a frightening reality: that monsters are real, and she has to learn to master them if she's to have any hope of saving her brother.
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9781665957366
- ISBN-10: 1665957360
- Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
- Publish Date: July 2025
- Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 2 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.65 pounds
- Page Count: 592
- Reading Level: Ages 13-17
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Liselle Sambury is known for exciting, genre-bending stories filled with enough mystery, magic and intrigue to keep any reader hooked—and A Mastery of Monsters is no exception. August and her family are still reeling from their mother’s disappearance a year earlier when her brother, Jules, a sophomore at Queen’s University in Canada, goes missing too. But Jules’ case is . . . different. He’s actually left behind a warning: Don’t look for him, stay away from secret societies and, most unsettling of all, monsters are real—and they might be coming for August. When they’re both caught in a terrifying encounter with one of those monsters, August meets, and saves, Virgil Hawthorne, a bookish student who introduces her to the Society for the Pursuit of Fundamental Learning. The Society is a racially diverse, supposedly egalitarian organization tasked with averting the apocalypse (no big deal!) by keeping rogue monsters known as Wilds and their potential masters in check. Virgil wants August to join the Society, and though it may be the very group Jules warned her against, August is desperate for a way to uncover what happened to him. In order to earn a spot in the Society, August must enroll at Queen’s and undergo grueling training and study, a selection process that could change her life forever—or end it. Part dark academia, part classic campus novel and full of supernatural excitement, A Mastery of Monsters has a little something for everyone. August is a firecracker of a heroine, a perfect mix of moody and bold. As August navigates learning the folklore of the Society, attending college and attempting to solve the mystery of her brother’s disappearance, readers will meet a host of standout characters to root for, ship together and also side-eye. There’s Margot and Corey, a tough, savvy sibling duo who might make powerful allies—even if they are hiding something big. There’s also Bailey, a charismatic student at Queen’s with ties to a rival organization that operates outside the Society’s reach, but is strangely connected to its founding. Adult characters shine in their own rights with secret agendas, feuds and histories that add depth and richness to the already vivid world building. One favorite is August’s newfound trainer, the no-nonsense Violet, who has more than a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to winning at the competition and the nonstop political games plaguing the society. At nearly 600 pages, A Mastery of Monsters is a sprawling, immersive ride, but it flies by. With high stakes, layered relationships and a world brimming with magic and secrets, it’s the perfect read for anyone craving a big, bold story. And with its thrilling ending, it practically begs for a sequel.
Liselle Sambury is known for exciting, genre-bending stories filled with enough mystery, magic and intrigue to keep any reader hooked—and A Mastery of Monsters is no exception. August and her family are still reeling from their mother’s disappearance a year earlier when her brother, Jules, a sophomore at Queen’s University in Canada, goes missing too. But Jules’ case is . . . different. He’s actually left behind a warning: Don’t look for him, stay away from secret societies and, most unsettling of all, monsters are real—and they might be coming for August. When they’re both caught in a terrifying encounter with one of those monsters, August meets, and saves, Virgil Hawthorne, a bookish student who introduces her to the Society for the Pursuit of Fundamental Learning. The Society is a racially diverse, supposedly egalitarian organization tasked with averting the apocalypse (no big deal!) by keeping rogue monsters known as Wilds and their potential masters in check. Virgil wants August to join the Society, and though it may be the very group Jules warned her against, August is desperate for a way to uncover what happened to him. In order to earn a spot in the Society, August must enroll at Queen’s and undergo grueling training and study, a selection process that could change her life forever—or end it. Part dark academia, part classic campus novel and full of supernatural excitement, A Mastery of Monsters has a little something for everyone. August is a firecracker of a heroine, a perfect mix of moody and bold. As August navigates learning the folklore of the Society, attending college and attempting to solve the mystery of her brother’s disappearance, readers will meet a host of standout characters to root for, ship together and also side-eye. There’s Margot and Corey, a tough, savvy sibling duo who might make powerful allies—even if they are hiding something big. There’s also Bailey, a charismatic student at Queen’s with ties to a rival organization that operates outside the Society’s reach, but is strangely connected to its founding. Adult characters shine in their own rights with secret agendas, feuds and histories that add depth and richness to the already vivid world building. One favorite is August’s newfound trainer, the no-nonsense Violet, who has more than a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to winning at the competition and the nonstop political games plaguing the society. At nearly 600 pages, A Mastery of Monsters is a sprawling, immersive ride, but it flies by. With high stakes, layered relationships and a world brimming with magic and secrets, it’s the perfect read for anyone craving a big, bold story. And with its thrilling ending, it practically begs for a sequel.