The Monsters We Defy

'Rich and immersive. . . full of mesmerizing magic!' P. Djeli Clark, author of A Master of Djinn

Clara Johnson can talk to spirits - a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that's left her indebted to the cunning spirit world.

So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.

Clara can't pull off this daring heist alone. She'll need the help of an unlikely team: from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody, to an aging actor who can change his face.

But as conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one - an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life.

Praise for The Monsters We Defy:

'Leslye Penelope blends magic, mystery and mayhem in this deliciously complex historical fantasy' Veronica G. Henry

'Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect. . . Readers will be wowed' Publishers Weekly

'A high-stakes, delightful read' Buzzfeed

'An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell' Justina Ireland

'A fresh and engaging take on historical fantasy' Marie Brennan

'Masterfully crafted. This smart and entertaining magical heist novel hits all the right notes' T. L. Huchu

'Clara is a heroine for the ages' Alaya Dawn Johnson

“Rich and immersive. . . full of mesmerizing magic!”

Rich and immersive. . . full of mesmerizing magic! -- P. Djèlí Clark, author of A MASTER OF DJINN
An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell -- Justina Ireland
Stolen destinies, dubious bargains, and unlikely groups of allies, all in a city whose history deserves more fame; a fresh and engaging take on historical fantasy -- Marie Brennan
Masterfully crafted. This smart and entertaining magical heist novel hits all the right notes -- T. L. Huchu
Clara is a heroine for the ages, and her 1920s Black Washington society, both the glamour and the grit, is so compellingly evoked it's as though Penelope has given us a peek behind the veil to hear the tales of our ancestors -- Alaya Dawn Johnson
A high-stakes, delightful read -- Buzzfeed
Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect. . . Readers will be wowed -- Publishers Weekly
A great blending of realistic characters, spiritualism and magic, fantasy, mystery, a heist story and a strong element of romance. I love it when I encounter a book of a type I don't often read and get completely carried away with. And The Monsters We Defy is such a book that draws you into a brilliantly recreated historical world -- SciFi Mind

Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning author of fantasy and paranormal romance. Equally left and right-brained, she studied filmmaking and computer science at Howard University and sometimes dreams in HTML. She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast and lives in Maryland with her husband and furry dependents.

'Rich and immersive. . . full of mesmerizing magic!' P. Djeli Clark, author of A Master of Djinn Clara Johnson can talk to spirits - a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that's left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.Clara can't pull off this daring heist alone. She'll need the help of an unlikely team: from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody, to an aging actor who can change his face. But as conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one - an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life. Praise for The Monsters We Defy : 'Leslye Penelope blends magic, mystery and mayhem in this deliciously complex historical fantasy' Veronica G. Henry 'Penelope's blend of fantasy and history is pitch perfect. . . Readers will be wowed' Publishers Weekly 'A high-stakes, delightful read' Buzzfeed 'An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell' Justina Ireland 'A fresh and engaging take on historical fantasy ' Marie Brennan' Masterfully crafted . This smart and entertaining magical heist novel hits all the right notes' T. L. Huchu' Clara is a heroine for the ages' Alaya Dawn Johnson

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