The League of Beastly Dreadfuls (Book #1)

What I Loved:

Full of adventure and excitement, The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is a fast-paced and highly entertaining read. The story mixes the perfect amount of dark and quirky with comic relief and enjoyable characters. The writing flows wonderfully and pulls the reader in expertly, making this an excellent choice for reluctant readers.

Anastasia is a fantastic, clever heroine who knows how use her mind as her most powerful weapon. She is surrounded by mysteries, and she does her best to uncover what is really going on. Her reactions to the aunts and her strange situation are realistic and heartfelt, and I found it impossible not to wish the best for her and hope for a successful escape.

The suspense is incredible. I get creeped out easily when reading a story, but even so, Holly Grant weaves a scary array of discoveries and mysteries that are on the darker side. Areas of comic relief help balance this out, but the dangerous situation Anastasia is in is made very clear.

What Left Me Wanting More:

While some parts of the humor had me laughing out loud, most of the humor didn’t work for me. There are times when it seems a little too silly and occasionally uncomfortable. However, that is absolutely a me-specific note, and I can tell that others could easily enjoy the funnier parts to the story.

Since this is the beginning of a series, the story naturally leaves off with some open mysteries. However, one or two bigger questions that go on during most of the story are still cut off at the end. I hoped for a few more answers than were provided after all the intrigue, but I know they are sure to be answered later in the series.

Final Verdict:

Though this isn’t a favorite, I highly enjoyed The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. The story is quick, quirky, and holds strange and lovable characters. I am eager to see what the author does with the next book in the series, and I would recommend this to readers wanting an entertaining story with a bite.