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The Monsters We Defy

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The Monsters We Defy

By: Leslye Penelope
Narrated by: Shayna Small
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About this listen

 'Rich and immersive. . . full of mesmerizing magic!' P. Djèlí Clark, author of A Master of Djinn

'This gorgeous historical fantasy combines a folkloric bent with a truly excellent heist' Holly Black, author of The Cruel Prince

A dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history and romance.

Clara Johnson can talk to spirits - a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that's left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.

Clara can't pull off this daring heist alone. She'll need the help of an unlikely team: from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody, to an aging actor who can change his face.
But as conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one - an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life.

Praise for The Monsters We Defy:

'Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect. . . Readers will be wowed' Publishers Weekly

'A high-stakes, delightful read' Buzzfeed

'An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell' Justina Ireland

Reader reviews:

'Omg this book is a MUST READ!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Absolutely wonderful' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'One of my favourite books of the year' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'With seamlessly blended fantasy and history, complex characters, and a little touch of romance, this is a practically perfect read!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Glorious! Absolutely gorgeous!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

' I loooooooved this book. I love a good heist novel and this one was delightful' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I loved this book and I know it's one I'll be going back to reread in the future, It was an absolute blast to read, a mystery to solve heart pounding suspense, a little romance, and absolutely incredible characters. I can't recommend this book enough!!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I adored this book! It's witty, adventurous, romantic and heartbreaking ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐©2022 Leslye Penelope Action & Adventure African American Fantasy Fiction Historical Paranormal Celebrity

Critic reviews

Rich and immersive. . . full of mesmerizing magic! (P. Djèlí Clark, author of A MASTER OF DJINN)
This gorgeous historical fantasy combines a folkloric bent with a truly excellent heist . . . This book has one of the cleverest magic systems I've come across, plus a delightful array of performers and outcasts (Holly Black)
An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell (Justina Ireland)
Stolen destinies, dubious bargains, and unlikely groups of allies, all in a city whose history deserves more fame; a fresh and engaging take on historical fantasy (Marie Brennan)
Masterfully crafted. This smart and entertaining magical heist novel hits all the right notes (T. L. Huchu)
Clara is a heroine for the ages, and her 1920s Black Washington society, both the glamour and the grit, is so compellingly evoked it's as though Penelope has given us a peek behind the veil to hear the tales of our ancestors (Alaya Dawn Johnson)
A high-stakes, delightful read (Buzzfeed)
Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect. . . Readers will be wowed (Publishers Weekly)
A great blending of realistic characters, spiritualism and magic, fantasy, mystery, a heist story and a strong element of romance. I love it when I encounter a book of a type I don't often read and get completely carried away with. And The Monsters We Defy is such a book that draws you into a brilliantly recreated historical world (SciFi Mind)
All stars
Most relevant
great and well researched.tale set in Washington DC based loosely around history and exploring the nefarious doings of spirits called enigmas and their interference in the lives of humans. the lead, Clara Johnston is great heroine and her assorted cast of damaged humans create a heartfelt centre to a beautifully drawn out world. lots of twists and turns, the stakes are high, and injustices run deep but the world here is never hopeless in this whistle stop journey through African American culture, history, superstition and society.

Spirits and Sleuthing Adventure

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Loved this book. it's getting harder and harder to find urban fantasy that doesn't just feel like a rehash of previous books, but this felt fresh and unique. Well-drawn characters, great writing and a fantasy world hidden beneath our own that felt like it could really exist.

Excellent urban fantasy

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Yet a generic fantasy heist novel but gains a lot by its setting. Fine reading.

New setting

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The end was exactly what I needed, mostly satisfying and made reading the entire book worth it

Nice twist

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