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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Monsters by Samantha Carlomagno follows Lana in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by both undead threats and hostile humans. After her mother, Diana, is mortally wounded, Lana becomes responsible for her own survival and the safety of her group, which includes Trisha, Trevor, Oliver, Shayna, Foster, Malcolm, and a few others. She leads supply runs, secures shelters, defends the group from corpses and violent intruders, and rescues vulnerable individuals like Trevor and Oliver. Lana repeatedly assesses resources, maintains vehicles, and organizes defenses while forming close bonds with Shayna and her parents. Throughout, she balances immediate survival—acquiring food, weapons, and shelter—with ensuring the safety and integration of new group members. The story is essentially about Lana taking on the role of protector, strategist, and rescuer, managing life-and-death decisions in a chaotic, decaying world while keeping her group alive and moving toward safer locations.
Samantha Carlomagno’s Monsters demonstrates a crisp, measured writing style that, from the word go, immerses readers in the textured world the author has created. The crumbling church, cluttered community center, and overgrown streets are described in wonderfully cinematic detail, turning abandoned spaces almost into their own arenas. I love that the women are strong and capable, which extends even to ancillary characters. Lana’s careful inspection of Rebecca, Shayna’s quick identification of a hidden part, and Diana’s calculated rooftop all lean into this. Supply runs, defensive actions, and improvisation progress with exactly the degree of suspense we want in a dystopian story. Readers are given multiple viewpoints that shift between locations and perspectives, all adding to a multidimensional outlook of what unfolds. Overall, this is an intelligent and entertaining story. Very highly recommended.
