The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Book Information:
Genre: Mature YA Paranormal
Pages: 434
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: September 22, 2009
Recommendation Level: High
From: Bought at Strandbook Store (website)

These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for more than forty years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for whom I kept these secrets. The one who saved me...and the one who cursed me.

So begins the journal of Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, a man with a most unusual specialty: monstrumology, the study of monsters. In his time with the doctor, Will has met many a mysterious late-night visitor, and seen things he never imagined were real. But when a grave robber comes calling in the middle of the night with a grueso me find, he brings with him their most deadly case yet.

The Monstrumologist is amazing! The action in this novel is non stop, and it captures the darker side of man perfectly. I really hope this is a series, because I am dying for more.

The characters are fascinating...especially Dr. Pellinore Warthrop. He came off a little cold (as well as a tad bit crazy), but he had his reasons. He was highly intelligent, and did not seem able to function with other people. His demands from Will Henry (at times) had me shaking my head at him. What could he be thinking taking a child to a place like that! The doctor's idea of morals did not seem to even exist or they were strongly demented. I would say that if you'd seen the things he had that you wouldn't look at life (or other's lives) the same way. Will Henry was strong, but it wasn't like he had a choice. The doctor's required tasks would eventually give you a strong stomach, I'd say. I felt bad for Will. He was stuck with this man who showed him no compassion or love, and he spent his days doing whatever he was told to. He had no time to be a child. I think that my favorite character had to be Kearns/Richard/Cory. He had about the same moral standards (less really) as the doctor's, but he was a riot. He could not decide what his name was, and it started to get on his other acquaintances' nerves. Here's a great example of this:

"Let's get on with it, Kearns."

"My name is Cory."

"All right. I've had enough. Dr. Warthrop has engaged the services of this...person who purports to have experience at killing these things. I would tell you his name, but at this point I'm not sure even he knows what it is, if he has one at all."

The Monstrumologist is not one to skip over. This exciting novel will have you looking over your shoulder at night and wondering, "Could these monsters truly exist?"