Announcing the BFS Book Club!

Yet another perk of joining the BFS: get to know some of the best new speculative fiction reads, and chat about them with the community.

As part of our mission to shine light on new and potentially under-appreciated reads from speculative fiction authors, the British Fantasy Society this week announced the first edition of its new book club – and the first book under the microscope will be Susan J Morris’s debut novel, Strange Beasts.

This is more than just an online book club, though: not only can members read along and join discussions on the BFS Discord server and in our Facebook group, but we’ll also have exclusive perks for BFS members, such as live Q&As with the authors.

It’s all being run by BFS Secretary David Green, who says: “I’m so excited that STRANGE BEASTS is kicking off our Book Club. Not only is the novel a brilliant meeting of fantasy and horror (not to mention Sherlock Holmes and Dracula!), but a book club is something the BFS has been aiming to launch for a long time, and I’m delighted to finally do it. Hopefully the book club becomes a well-loved aspect of what we offer for readers and writers alike, and I’m happy we get to shine a light on new and under-appreciated reads.”

Get your copy of Strange Beasts – whether you request it at your library, purchase your own copy from the bookstore of your choice, or listen to the audio version – and then join the BFS Facebook group or members-only Discord server to chat about the book as you read (no spoilers, please!), or for the main discussion on Sunday 24 November. It’s totally fine for readers to not enjoy the selected books, but we do ask that you express your thoughts in a kind way – you never know who’s a member and following the discussion!

This book club will grow with members’ needs, so David will ask for feedback and tweak the formula after that first discussion. Head over to our Facebook group or members-only Discord server and start getting involved. Not yet in the Discord server? Contact us to request your invite link.

See you at book club!

About this month’s read

In this fresh-yet-familiar gothic tale—part historical fantasy, part puzzle-box mystery—the worlds of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes collide in a thrilling exploration of feminine power.

At the dawn of the twentieth century in Paris, Samantha Harker, daughter of Dracula’s killer, works as a researcher for the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. But no one realizes how abnormal she is. Sam is a channel into the minds of monsters: a power that could help her solve the gruesome deaths plaguing turn-of-the-century Paris—or have her thrown into an asylum. 

Sam finds herself assigned to a case with Dr. Helena Moriarty, daughter of the criminal mastermind and famed nemesis of Sherlock Holmes and a notorious detective whom no one wants to work with on account of her previous partners’ mysterious murders. Ranging from the elite clubs of Paris to the dark underbelly of the catacombs, their investigation sweeps them into a race to stop a Beast from its killing rampage, as Hel and Sam are pitted against men, monsters, and even each other. But beneath their tenuous trust, an unmistakable attraction brews. Is trusting Hel the key to solving the murder, or is Sam yet another pawn in Hel’s game?