Originally posted as part of Queen’s Book Asylum’s SPFBO X reviews.

The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids is, at its core, a family story. The POV switches between each of the three Lambros sisters, Melpomene, Calliope, and Thalia, gradually learning about their lives, hopes, and secrets, many of which they are scared to share with each other.

Mel, as she prefers, is the most practical and grounded of the trio. She is the one responsible for the upkeep of their home, something which is getting harder to accomplish with their limited finances. Calliope is the one who bonds the most strongly with the animals, particularly the very protective sasquatch, Harriet. And Thalia, the youngest and most rebellious, desperately wants to leave home and find her own path.

Thalia wish to get away is hampered somewhat but the arrival of Asha Singh into her high school class. The attraction between the two is evident pretty quickly and, since there are also sections from Asha’s POV, we get to see their relationship develop from both sides. It’s quite sweet, with some of the typical teenage trials and tribulations balanced with the more plot specific issues they have to deal with.

In fact, all three sisters are given love interests during the course of the novel, something which does strain probability, but I will admit that this didn’t matter as much while reading, standing out more when thinking back. And, in a book which has a number of the titular creatures and cryptids in it, that’s hardly the biggest ask.

The various creatures inhabiting the sisters’ house and grounds were my favourite part of the book. From the saber-toothed wolves, to the teleporting hedgeguins and an ancient owl who speaks in rhyming couplets. Some are given greater page time than others but the little journal entries with sketches and descriptions inserted between chapters helps highlight some of the ones that receive less plot focus.

However, the book does have its flaws. As mentioned above, I did feel like many convenient coincidences were happening to and keep the sisters’ story moving. To me this became particularly apparent in the last ⅓ of the novel, where things shift from the more steadily paced family drama to a more frantic action thriller, with surprise introductions, betrayals, double-crossings and conspiracies. It also left me feeling this latter section was trying to cram so much in that everything felt rushed and, although there are a few threads left dangling, the resultant wrap-up felt just a little bit too neat and easy.

3.5 out of 5 hedgequins