• Our Hideous Progeny

  • A Novel
  • By: C.E. McGill
  • Narrated by: Florence Howard
  • Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (201 ratings)

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Our Hideous Progeny  By  cover art

Our Hideous Progeny

By: C.E. McGill
Narrated by: Florence Howard
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Publisher's summary

“A gripping Gothic tale of grief and ambition, passion and intrigue.” — Jess Kidd, author of The Night Ship

“An immersive blend of historical and science fiction brims with surprises and dark delights. . . . An incisive exploration of women’s rights within the field of science. . . . Readers will revel in Mary’s personal and scientific discoveries and root for her to succeed in an unfair world.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A LAMBDA Literary finalist for Lesbian Fiction

A Triangle Publishing finalist for Debut Fiction

It is not the monster you must fear, but the monster it makes of men . . .

Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her great uncle disappeared under mysterious circumstances in the Arctic, but she doesn’t know why or how. . . .

The 1850s are a time of discovery, and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary is keen to make her name in this world of science alongside her geologist husband, Henry—but despite her sharp mind and sharper tongue, without wealth and connections their options are limited.

When Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the shocking truth behind her great-uncle’s past, she thinks she may have found the key to securing her and Henry’s professional and financial future. Their quest takes them to the wilds of Scotland; to Henry’s intriguing but reclusive sister, Maisie; and to a deadly chase with a rival who is out to steal their secret.

A queer, feminist masterpiece inspired by Mary Shelley’s classic, Our Hideous Progeny is a sumptuous tale of ambition and obsession, of forbidden love and sabotage and a twisty Gothic adventure that may forever change your view of human nature.

©2023 C.E. McGill (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

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What listeners say about Our Hideous Progeny

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excellent read

This is a fantastic book and I'm excited to see what else this author comes out with in the future. Definitely worth the read.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Immersing and Thrilling

A world so real and characters so complex that I felt as if they were people I knew. Mary’s frustrations, feelings, successes were my own. Wonderfully engaging! I can’t stop thinking about the implications.

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1 person found this helpful

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What a treat!

I loved everything about this hidden gem! So well written and performed. Sad to see it end. So many directions it could be taken, and wondering after where it did.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Not my usual genre, but I loved it

I normally read military fiction, sci-fi, or apocalyptic novels, so I’m used to fast paced action. This book was much subtler. The persistent themes of morality and social expectations acted as an ideal backdrop for the main characters, who are all pariahs. Women suffering the patriarchy and chronic illness was so relatable. Wonderful slow burn.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant but a bit depressing until I realized...

SPOILER ALERT: Plesiosaur, plus Scotland if it survives, equals.....I figured this out half way through, maybe not as fast as some might have.

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1 person found this helpful

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Really good!

Loved everything about this book and didn’t want it to end! Please write a sequel :)

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1 person found this helpful

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  • 07-19-23

Incredible

I can’t believe this book isn’t being talked about more widely. It’s brilliant. Everything about it is amazing. From the prose to the historical context to the relevancy to modern issues, it’s wonderful. The narrator did an amazing job. The writer implemented humor into the book as well which elevated the story even more. Don’t skip this one. It’s worth a credit, heck I’d pay full price for this one. It’s that good.

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28 people found this helpful

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FANTASTIC

a wild, beautiful, and extremely well performed story! Loved every minute! Go in blind like I did!

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Loved it!

This might be one of my new all time favorite books. It was the perfect read for autumn, cozy, a little eerie, and utterly captivating. I loved the depth and relatability of the characters and the fresh perspective on Frankenstein’s themes. The narrator was also very good and has a lovely, soothing voice.

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Love

It is creepy, sciency, gay, scrappy, and has a beautiful setting. Perfect for strange women obsessed with curiosities.

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