Lesser Known Monsters by Rory Michaelson - Book Review

Lesser Known Monsters by Rory Michaelson is a thrilling blend of detective fiction, mystery, and paranormal romance. The novel follows Oscar, an anxious and sweet-natured Health Care Assistant with low self-esteem who finds himself called in to comfort a little girl who has been viciously attacked. When the little girl identifies her attacker as Dmitri, the cute doctor who ghosted Oscar - and who Oscar definitely still has feelings for - a whole new world opens up in front of Oscar's eyes.

Although monsters do exist in the story, the focus is primarily on the protagonist and his two friends. The book's title may suggest otherwise, but we don't get much lore about the monsters. However, Michaelson's originality and inventiveness keep the story fresh and exciting. The author does an excellent job of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, much like Gaiman's Neverwhere.

While the book starts off strong, it loses momentum in the middle. However, I found the dynamics between Oscar, Zoya, and Marcus to be quite enjoyable. Their endearing personalities with a touch of dorkiness and wit added depth to their characters. The chemistry between Oscar and Dmitri was palpable and the way the romance was woven into the story was well done. Overall, the characters were well-crafted and engaging.

Despite the lack of focus on the monsters, the identity of the antagonist was a good twist that kept the mystery alive for future installments. While I would have wished for a bit more character development, Lesser Known Monsters was an interesting read.

Overall, Lesser Known Monsters is an engaging and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of paranormal romance, detective fiction, and mystery with a diverse cast. Michaelson has created a world that is both thrilling and intriguing.