Of Monsters and Men Books in Order

Of Monsters and Men is Michelle Griep's darker, moodier corner. These are standalone Gothic historical romances, linked less by recurring characters than by a shared question: what really makes a monster? Not the storybook version, but the human kind, the kind built from fear, ambition, cruelty, and rumor.

The first book, Lost in Darkness, draws on Frankenstein. Set in 1815 England, it follows travel writer Amelia Balfour, her badly disfigured brother, and surgeon Graham Lambert, who begins to suspect that a bold new medical procedure is heading toward disaster. The story leans into shadowy streets, experimental medicine, and the pain of being judged by appearance. It has Gothic bones, but the emotional center is very human. Grief, guilt, pity, pride, and love are all pulling at the same scene.

The second book, Man of Shadow and Mist, shifts to 1890 North Yorkshire and tips its hat to Dracula. Rosa Edwards, a librarian with more sense than superstition, refuses to accept village gossip about Sir James Morgan. The town whispers about curses and vampires. James is actually fighting illness, suspicion, and the misery of being treated like a threat before anyone knows the truth. The setting, with its moody coast and old-manor atmosphere, gives the book a classic Gothic chill without turning it into full horror.

That question about monsters is the spine of the series.

What makes these books work is the way Griep uses famous Gothic touchstones without simply retelling them. She borrows the unease of Frankenstein and Dracula, then brings in her own interests: tender romance, moral tension, strong faith under pressure, and characters who don't fit comfortably in society. The danger in these stories often comes from human choices, not supernatural spectacle. Mad science, panic, prejudice, and secrecy do far more damage than any legend.

Readers who like Griep's lighter historical romances may be surprised by the tone here. The stakes feel sharper. The settings are gloomier. The atmosphere matters more. Even so, these are still approachable books. They are not gore-heavy, and they never lose sight of compassion. At their best, they ask readers to look twice at the person everyone else has already condemned.

You can read either novel on its own, but together they make a neat pairing: Lost in Darkness first, then Man of Shadow and Mist. If you want historical romance with candlelight, storm clouds, uneasy questions, and a real affection for classic Gothic fiction, this is the Michelle Griep series to pick up.