Monsters Omnibus

Gaslamp Faeries Series, Books 1-3

By: Ren Ryder

Narrated by: Greg Patmore

Length: 19 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Here there be monsters.

Dive into New London’s gritty underbelly in this dark fairy tale spanning worlds.

Follow Kal and his bloodthirsty sylph familiar, Bell, as they navigate a complex web of challenges that serve to weave together their fates.

Includes books one through three from the Gaslamp Faeries series.

Book one: There's No Such Thing as Monsters

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them have sharp teeth and beady red eyes.

New London. A thriving metropolis at the forefront of technological advancement and a shining gem of civilization.

Faeries. Whether they come off cute and cuddly or downright predatory, they all bring misfortune or are heralds of it.

Experience is a harsh taskmistress, but her lessons sink the deepest. Having been taught the lesson at great cost, Kal’s rules for dealing with faeries are simple: Don’t talk to them, don’t look at them, don’t give them the time of day. 

His little sister, Sammie, a natural mage, is taken by Ouroboros, a criminal organization made up of raving lunatics who profit off the misery and suffering of others and have everything to do with all the crimes of magic in New London.

Kal will go to any lengths to save his sister, even to his death. Accompanied by his sylph companion, a mischievous pest, Kal dives deep into the dark underbelly of the city, but are his hands enough to dig his sister out from the muck?

Book two: The Monster's in the Details

Are monsters born, or do bad actors take shattered people and shape them like putty, molding them into unrecognizable shapes?

The Otherworld. Made up of Dayside and Nightside and separated by the Twilit Boundary, the Otherworld is a plane of existence lost from time, bursting with magic and vibrant life.

Kal floats on the verge of life and death, struggling to find a reason to keep on living. In an odd turn of events, Kal's sylph familiar, Bell, may care more about keeping him alive than he does. Bell makes a deal with the merfolk on Kal's behalf to save him from a fatal wound, but in doing so the wily fishes curse him to do their bidding.

More than a hundred champions galivant across the Otherworld in search of a kingly title shrouded in mystery and dark deceit, the mantle of the Seven Year King.

Kal will undergo his own crucible along his path of thorns. Tests, trials, and tribulations will force him to wrestle with his nature and face himself fully, warts and all. If he survives, Kal will emerge clothed in legitimacy and empowered to pursue his own ends.

Book three: The Monster at the End of Its Road

Kal may be on his way to becoming a monster, but with Bell at his side, at least he’s in good company.

New London circa 1912. A few short months have passed since they stabbed Kal in the back and cast him into the abyss.

Ouroboros. A criminal organization with deep pockets and deeper connections that infest the highest ranks of the nobility. Ouroboros specializes in trafficking, crimes of magic, and deals in all that is immoral or illegal. Dark forces are brewing, and Ouroboros stands in the eye of the storm.

New London is a city that never sleeps...until now. Storefronts are closed, windows are shuttered, and doors are barred while dark entities terrorizing the streets at night bring indiscriminate death to all. And in broad daylight, a serial killer continues to wreak havoc on the magical community.

©2021 Derek Edgington Productions LLC (P)2021 Derek Edgington Productions LLC

A fantastic series!

I was fortunate enough to listen to the (first) three books in this series as they came out, and now they are available In this set! A truly enjoyable listen!

Ren Ryder does a fantastic job with building the world and creating interesting characters. I really hope there is more to come.

Greg Patmore’s performance is amazing. He brings each character to life with their own voice. I honestly forgot there was only one narrator.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Great Character, Enchanting World

There is No Such Things as Monsters
I really enjoyed this book. I love that this urban fantasy is set across the pond; the narrator's accent is fun and gives the character a lot of personality. This is reminiscent of Harry Dresden and there is good humor. The main character does grow into his own in this book making it stand out from The Dresden Files.

The Monster is in the Details
This second book in the Gaslamp Faeries is as entertaining as the first. The beginning got off to a rough start (I imagine the written version might be smoother with the repetition). But then I was drawn into the story. You know things are going to go down when Oberon the Faerie King appears. During Samhain, Kal must stake his place as a champion and participate in a variety of trials for the title of the Seven Year King. Ren Ryder has created an empathetic character and the narration is engaging.

The Monster At the End of It's Road
I really loved this entry! From the first moment, we are in another world: a world of magic and danger. Ren Ryder gives our protagonist real stakes and I was scared for him and his familiar. This was exciting and tense. The narrator is perfect as usual and takes me into the Gaslamp world.


I received an audio version from the author; all opinions are my own.

I lost myself in this story

It was so much fun learning about the massive world of the Gaslamp Faeries. Kal and Bell have a unique relationship that I found refreshing. The author, Ren Ryder, puts an original twist on familiar creatures that make them come to life differently than you expect.

The story is fast-paced and has enough twists to keep you guessing. There is more than enough intrigue to keep you turning pages, or listening to the next chapter.

Greg Patmore delivers an excellent narration. His accent, tone changes, and attitude bring the characters to life.

More,more,more!

Get swept away into a different type of a world. Tired of the same ol same ol? Really looking for a reluctant hero with a snarky sidekick? How about a little other world action???
Step onto the grit and grime of New London, where you will follow Kal and his familiar through battles,monsters and magic. A little bit of blood letting too (really is that so bad?).
Into the other world of the fae, so magical and well, full of mayhem and ..... opportunity?
Fighting the real monsters and standing up for what is right! The last book will leave you like... What???!!!!! When is the next one
Greg Patmore (of course) paints a one of a kind picture, where you can chew the dirt, taste the blood and feel the battles,,battles, and defeat. Masterful performance!

So, who's ready for an advemture?????

Great series

Incredible series. So entertaining and well written and performed. Loved listening to it! Helps that its from one of my favorite authors too!

Highs & lows but overall balanced stories

Narrator definitely keeps storyline flowing. Could get lost just reading. A good story to listen to.

Gaslamp Fairies EPIC SERIES!

Gas lamp Fairies Series book 1-3.
Excellent series!
Ren Ryder is a great writer!
Starts off Kal is the older brother of Sammy.
They’re taken in off the street by a man of the cloth, Father Gregory.
Sammy was kidnapped which spun a ton of events into action.
Kal can see ghosts and the fare folks and so much more of the hidden world. A Hasty partnership with a fairy.
She’s not Tinker-bell! He’s worried he might be regretting that decision.
Never a dull moment!
At the end of Book 2 was a serious cliffhanger. I began to scream Nooo! I feared the end of the 3 books! Thank you Ren for connecting all 3 books! The 3rd book did not disappoint!
I’m not going to ruin it with telling what happens! But before the end of book 3 I already have looked into the release of book 4 in November!!
This is my totally honest review.
I was give this omnibus to review and am quite pleased to recommend these books! Also the author Ren Ryder is now on my following list! I can’t wait for book 4!!!

Fabulous

We loved this collection! My kids and I had a lovely time listening to the adventures of Kal and Belle. The narrator did a fantastic job.

Folklore and myth brought to entertaining life

While each volume of this trilogy is its own setting they tie together seamlessly. We're here, we're there, and we're back again. The depictions of the monsters and other folk of fairy tales are quite well done and the story flows well across the three volumes. I was really saddened to reach the then of the series, such was the pleasure of listening to this tale.

The narrator did a great job of keeping his voicings distinct and clear, with the exception of just about every male Englishman, who all sounded quite similar.

There were a few anachronisms here, where the main character (mostly) used expressions that were not in use nor even created during the time frame of the books. Such expressions as "got your six", "go-go dancers, and "reverse engineering" came into existence way after the dialog and narrative here.

Entertaining

I enjoyed listening to this box set. Listening to how the characters grow throughout the series is fun. You won't regret getting this series. I did receive a copy and this is my honest review.