Risingshadow
Speculative Fiction Books
  • About
    • Home
    • Articles
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Staff Members
    • Newsletter
    • Finnish (FI)
  • Books
    • New Releases
    • Coming Soon
    • Books of the Year
    • Bookshelves Activity
    • Recently Added
    • Advanced Search
    • Reviews / Comments
    • Genres and Tags
    • * Submit Book
  • Community
    • Discussions
    • - Recent Messages
    • - Recent Topics
    • - Hot Topics
    • - Popular Topics
    • - Search
    • CHALLENGES
    • - Reading Challenge
    • - Book Trivia Quiz
  • Home
  • Books
  • John Corwin
  • Chronicles of Cain
  • Monster Squad

Monster Squad

Chronicles of Cain #8 / 12
by John Corwin
Monster Squad (Chronicles of Cain #8) by John Corwin
Unrated

Cain is now doing the unthinkable—he's working for the fae.

Gaia has an eldritch problem, and Cain is tasked with stopping it before it gets out of control. To do that, he'll have to make an uneasy alliance with a human black-ops organization called Aegis. Run by the US government, Aegis has the personnel and resources to stop an eldritch invasion in its tracks. The problem is, Aegis has been taking a short-term approach, blowing up eldritch wormholes as they form on Gaia rather than cutting them off at the source.

Cain knows that this game of whack-a-mole is a losing proposition. The best solution is to invade the wormholes after they form and steal the power sources so the eldritch can't create wormholes anymore.

These power sources aren't just batteries, they're the sentient ethereal remains of Ekhsis called Enlightened. The Enlightened are trapped within crystal wombs called crystalae. Cain hopes that by liberating them, he's not only shutting down eldritch wormholes for good, but also rescuing godlike beings who lived when Ekhsis was flourishing.

But Aegis has other plans and their disagreements with Cain threaten to shatter their fragile alliance. To make matters worse, the fae are embroiled in an interdimensional civil war. If Cain can't keep Aegis under control, then the eldritch will overrun their defenses and infest Gaia Prime.

Cain will stop at nothing to save Prime because if he doesn't, then he'll never be able to enjoy another frosty mangorita.

And that's the worst thing that could ever happen.

Amazon: Check Best Offer

FantasyUrban Fantasy
Release date: October 6, 2022

Book Order
Amazon
Kindle
Audible
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon Europe

Your Rating
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Standard Shelves

Readers also enjoyed

Creation's Captive (Broken Souls Trilogy #1)
★ 9.56 / 9
Ninth House (Alex Stern #1)
★ 8.56 / 9
The City We Became (The Great Cities #1)
★ 6.14 / 7
The Red Scrolls of Magic (The Eldest Curses #1)
★ 8.00 / 5
Hounded (The Iron Druid Chronicles #1)
★ 8.46 / 15
Written in Red (The Others #1)
★ 8.18 / 11
Rivers of London (Rivers of London #1)
★ 8.14 / 15

Join the Discussion
You can post as a guest or sign in for more features.
Have questions about this book or want to share your thoughts? Join the conversation!
John Corwin

John Corwin

John Corwin didn’t set out to become a writer, he stumbled into it the way some people stumble into magic. What began as a late-night experiment in blending teenage angst with supernatural absurdity turned into a career filled with vampire cheerleaders, snarky heroes, and more than a few demonic mishaps. Best known for his Overworld Chronicles, Corwin has carved a niche in the world of urban fantasy and young adult fiction where sarcasm meets spellcraft and nothing stays serious for long.

Read more ...

Raised in the American South, Corwin's storytelling is laced with that region’s sense of charm and rebellion. His characters tend to be outsiders, smart-mouthed, underestimated, and often caught between worlds they never asked to save. The blend of magic and high school drama in his books hits that rare sweet spot between laugh-out-loud irreverence and surprisingly heartfelt moments. Readers drawn to his work often come for the action and humor but stay for the emotional undercurrents and character growth woven through the chaos.

Unlike many fantasy authors who lean into sprawling epics or gritty dystopias, Corwin embraces the strange and the ridiculous without losing sight of the human (or inhuman) core. His writing is fast-paced and voice-driven, balancing sharp dialogue with moments of introspection. Whether it's a nerd turned necromancer or a love triangle involving demonic contracts, his stories always have a pulse, a reminder that fantasy can be both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

Though he hasn’t dominated bestseller lists, Corwin has built a loyal readership that thrives on the relatability of his flawed heroes and the unpredictable paths they walk. For fans of supernatural misfits, chaotic good protagonists, and magical systems that don’t take themselves too seriously, his books are a wild and rewarding ride.

When he’s not writing, Corwin is reportedly brainstorming new spells, researching obscure mythology, or quietly plotting world domination, presumably through fiction.

Chronicles of Cain

In a world where shadows stretch longer than the truth, Chronicles of Cain plunges readers into a darkly humorous, blood-soaked journey through the eyes of a protagonist who never asked to be a hero or a monster. Twisting classic vampire lore with a sharp, modern edge, this series explores what happens when immortality comes with baggage, sarcasm is a survival tactic, and redemption is never straightforward.

Read more ...

Cain isn't your typical brooding vampire. He's impulsive, brutally honest, and far more comfortable swinging a sword than soul-searching. But when ancient forces rise and secrets buried in blood begin to surface, he's forced to confront the kind of legacy that can't be outrun. The story unfolds in a world where magic simmers beneath the surface, alliances are fragile, and power always has a price.

What makes the series stand out isn't just the supernatural action or gritty world-building. It's the raw emotional core wrapped in biting wit. The dialogue crackles, the pace never lets up, and even in the darkest moments, there's a flicker of self-aware humor that keeps things grounded. Fans of urban fantasy with a darker, character-driven focus will find a lot to sink their teeth into.

Gritty, irreverent, and emotionally charged, Chronicles of Cain offers a fresh take on the vampire antihero and the heavy cost of power, loyalty, and truth. It's not about saving the world. It’s about surviving it on your own terms.


Chronicles of Cain consists of eleven books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

To Kill a Unicorn (Chronicles of Cain #1)
Unrated
Monster Squad (Chronicles of Cain #8)
Unrated
Gates of Yog-Sothoth (Chronicles of Cain #9)
★ 9.00 / 1
Shadow Over Tokyo (Chronicles of Cain #10)
⧗ 8.00 / 1
Into the Multiverse (Chronicles of Cain #11)
⧗ 9.00 / 2
Chronicles of Cain Book 12 (Chronicles of Cain #12)
⧗ 9.40 / 5


^ Top
Follow Us: Newsletter | Facebook | X | Mastodon | RSS
Hosted by Planeetta Internet Oy
© 1996 - 2026 Risingshadow. All rights reserved.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Privacy Policy