England, 1882. In Victorian London, two children with mysterious powers are hunted by a figure of darkness—a man made of smoke. What follows is a story of wonder and betrayal, from the gaslit streets of London and the wooden theaters of Meiji-era Tokyo to an eerie estate outside Edinburgh where other children with gifts—the talents—have been gathered. There, the world of the dead and the world of the living threaten to collide. And as secrets within the institute unfurl, Marlowe, Charlie, and the rest of the talents will discover the truth about their abilities and the nature of what is stalking them: that the worst monsters sometimes come bearing the sweetest gifts. > “Ordinary Monsters is one of my favorite books of the year—it’s full of surprises, atmospheric as hell, and moves like a runaway train. Nothing in this book is what you expect it to be, and it couldn’t be more satisfying.” –Kelly Braffet, author of ‘Save Yourself’ and ‘Last Seen Leaving’.