Description

What does it mean to be different in a world that values perfection, at any cost?

‘Lottie’s writing is a superb flight of the imagination’ A.S. Byatt, author of Possession

‘Haunting, luridly beautiful, and at times shockingly, deliciously gruesome’ Jenn Ashworth, author of Ghosted

A ‘Best Book for May 2024′ according to Cosmopolitan

From Lottie Mills, the winner of the BBC Young Writers’ Award in 2020, comes this beautifully crafted collection of stories.

A father and daughter build a life for themselves on an isolated beach. But the outside world is pressing in. It’s only a matter of time before their secret refuge is discovered.

A young disabled woman opts to receive a perfect, pain-free body. Soon, however, she finds herself haunted by the one she cast off.

A travelling circus master discovers the ideal addition to his cabinet of curiosities: ‘damaged’, ‘grotesque’, gifted. He plans to make her the star of his show; she plans to take her revenge.

Monstrum captures the experience of characters excluded by a society that cannot accept their difference. Eerie, fantastical and hugely ambitious, this collection announces the arrival of an outstanding new literary voice.

‘Lottie’s stories reminded me of what matters’ Claire Oshetsky

‘Magical and haunting’ Jan Carson

Publisher Review

‘I was struck by the sheer verve and imagination of it all… A book that is often beautiful, appalling and fantastical, but always utterly truthful.’ Deborah Kay Davies, author of Reasons She Goes to the Woods ‘A magical and haunting collection of captivating stories. Lottie Mills’ writing manages to tread the fine line between the grotesque and the exquisite with seemingly effortless ease.’ Jan Carson, author of Quickly, While They Still Have Horses ‘We were blown away by ‘The Changeling’, it’s simply beautiful. I love the way it uses fairy mythology to tell a story about difference, disability, acceptance and coming of age.’ Katie Thistleton, BBC Radio 1 presenter and Chair of Judges for BBC YWA 2020 ‘It’s wonderful to encounter the ‘spirit animals’ roaming through Lottie Mills’ stories. There’s something essential about their presence, not just to the authenticity and depth of her telling, but to the healing of our broken world.’ Em Strang, author of Quinn ‘I can’t remember the last time I sat down to read a book and became so captivated that I forgot everything else until I came to the end… Lottie’s stories reminded me of what matters.’ Claire Oshetsky, author of Chouette ‘These gleefully modern fairy tales are absolutely alive with the joyful energy of difference, the prose haunting, luridly beautiful, and at times shockingly, deliciously gruesome.’ Jenn Ashworth, author of Ghosted: A Love Story